Too Good Not to Post

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A Day In the Life......

Guest Writer today is Ms. Lana Mojo Lola Jo-Jo Sydney Bristow Valentino.

This morning I woke up....and my moms took me outside for chi-chi and boom boom. The elevator is broken again so I had to go down the stairs....I don't mind because it's fun. Then Mama left for work, she said bye to me before she left. So I ran back upstairs to mommy. We waited to see mama dirve away. I like when we do that.

Today is Monday which means I get to do luandry with mommy. I help her carry the basket, well I at least run down to the laundry room to make sure that everything is in order and no one is in there.

After we put the laundry in the washer we get to go back and I play with my best friend... Nemesis....

Sometimes I help her clean the tough spots to reach. She can be annoying but, I like to help out. Sometimes when I'm helping her she bites me. I don't like this.....so I tell mommy and she makes Nemesis leave me alone.

Then I get to go out back onto the balcony and watch the birds....

Sometimes Midnite and Nemesis sit out there with me. We really like the breeze and the sun. Callisto sits inside and watches us. I think she's afraid of me.... but then she come and snuggles with us, when I'm snuggling with mommy....

After we finishes folding laundry, mommy plays a game with me and I get really tired. I run and run and run, and then drink alot of water. It's sometimes really hot outside. So, when we come back upstairs mommy let's me relax wherever I want, so I lay right on her favorite pillow....

She must really love me... lol.

After I take a nice long nap, I help mommy keep the kitties in line. They like to act up and I have to get them back on track.

Then it's time for mama to come home and I can hardly contain myself. We wait outside for her, and then I go running to the stairs and greet my Mama! she's the best I love it when she comes home and pets my head and tells me she loves me. It's the best time of the day!

So, that's my day, I really like it and I really LOVE my moms!

WOOF WOOF!!

Blasts from the past

Wow....I can't believe how many old friends I've found lately. I tried looking on Classmates before but it costs money.... So Myspace to the rescue. I found so many friends old and new. I'm so happy for the chance to reconnect and see how everyone has grown. And yet see how much I haven't....lol...sort of.

I'm still the same goofy kid I always was. I've got a few more issues I'm dealing with, but mostly...I'm still Donna. I would love to spend time with all of the friends that I've found again. I miss hangin out and havin fun.

My new therapist is super nice and seems really willing to work with to help me get better. Nicole Diaz.... she's gonna start actually charting my progress. I'm looking forward to getting into my head and figurin it all out. Try not to get frustrated with myself in the process. Nothing is moving fst enough for me.

Well.. that was a convoluted post...sorry.....

So, this is my old closet door. How creative was I? How cool were my folks to let me do this to my door? And my walls? Some of my friends will remember this door and all the silliness that went with it! Art contributed and pictures.... Some really good memories with this door and so many metaphorical things too.... lol ....Just thought I'd post a blast from my past.

Peace ya'll!

Ok...WHAT THE?!?!?

Ok so I guess my dog is feelin a little insecure. Her and Nemesis (or cranky cat) are like best friends/ worst enemies. Lana cleans her all the time. And chases her and plays with her. Well, last night we were sittin in the room and Lana comes in and proceeds to try and HUMP Nemesis. WTH?!?!?!? I nearly fell off the bed laughing. Aforementioned creatures are both girls and both "fixed"

Anyone know what this is about? I'm assuming it's about social dominance. I was just curious.... Lol...it was soo funny....Nemesis had this look on her face... like, "What the hell do you think you're doin???
lol

Broken already.....

DEATHTRAP STRIKES AGAIN!!!!

Stuck open on the first floor!!!

Well, let's act like we're surprised. I would if I was, but sadly, the inept morons that put this thing together can't even fix it properly. I'm not surprised. Frustrated, yes, angry? Yes....

It's absurd that the elevator was working for 5 days??? Good grief. We'll see who long it takes them to come out and correct the problem this time. It's a WHOLE brand new elevator!!! For heaven's sake!!

Anyway, there ya go....HAppy Valentine's DAY!!!

HELP with Snoring!!

Anyone have ANY ideas? Suggestions? Home Remedies?
I'm open to ANYTHING!
Pillow over my face?


Sleeping while standing?


Mouth full of feathers?


Shot of Camel spit???


Kitty Litter?

THe CLumping Kind??


Anything??? Let me know if you have any suggestions.... PLEASE!!! Before I snore my honey right outta my life!!!

Thanks!

100 things about me...,.

1. I am a natural Redhead
2. I have 2 brothers, 1 sister, 2 step sisters and one step brother.
3. I hate to fly.
4. I am Claustrophobic
5. And Agoraphobic
6. I have severe panic disorder.
7. I HATE it.
8. I love the smell of gasoline.
9. Fall is my favorite season
10. I do NOT like nuts in my brownies.
11. Or my cookies....(usually)
12. I'm a picky eater.
13. You can't tell by looking at me.
14. I'm unusually good at distracting myself.
15. I love to alphabetize CD's.
16. Sometimes I keep too many keepsakes.
17. I have a friendship egg that's about 20 years old.
18. I once lost myself in somebody else.
19. I FINALLY found myself.
20. I am a fidgeter.
21. I am very tactial.
22. I can't sleep unless my honey is in the house or I know she'll be home soon.
23. It's hard for my to be proud of myself.
24. Little tiny, toys make me smile.
25. I really hate smiley faces.
26. I collect too many things.
27. Postcards at night are my favorites.
28. My puppy is one of my best friends.
29. She has helped me leave the house.
30. I love to sing.
31. With my mom.
32. I play guitar
33. And a little piano
34. I read comic books.
35. I'm a backseat driver that sits in the front seat.
36. My first job was at The Chosen Children's Foundation.
37. We tried to sell trash bags and Cards during dinner.
38. It sucked.
39. I drove the driving range cart at a golf course. (Yes they try to hit you)
40. I was never hit.
41. I flooded the driving range once.
42. I worked at a preschool.
43. I loved it.
44. I used to have ALOT more energy
45. I used to be healthier.
46. I LOVE to dance.
47. Haven't danced in a while.
48. Yes, I LOVED the Spice Girls. Still do. (So?)
49. I have glow sticks from the first club I went to ever.
50. It was called The Edge.
51. People used to think I was an Angel.
52. I was just a naive girl.
53. I'm not so naive anymore.
54. I've always been Gay.
55. Just never knew what to call it.
56. The smell of Hugo Boss for women makes me smile.
57. One of my prized possessions is an autographed backstage pass to Cyndi Lauper's Girls' just wanna have fun tour.
58. Scary movies that are realistic freak me out. I don't like to watch them.
59. Stupid People shouldn't breed.
60. Sometimes my friends disappoint me.
61. Sometimes I disappoint my friends.
62. I disappoint myself alot.
63. I bite my nails.
64. I think I was a ninja a long time ago.
65. HAHAHAHAHA I'm lkaughing to hard to write this one.
66. I'm fierceley protective.
67. Terribly insecure.
68. I'm a Christian
69. I haven't been to church in a LOOOOOOONG time.
70. I miss it.
71. I don't think I want to be judged by them.
72. God made me in HIS image tho.
73. God don't make mistakes does he?
74. Sometimes I wonder if I'll go to Heaven.
75. Then I remember my bible verses.
76. Laughing is the best thing on the planet.
77. My friend Tara is the first person who knew I was gay...(after me)
78. I am lucky enough to know my soulmates.
79. I want to travel the U.S. at some point.
80. I want to stop being afraid.
81. I'm left handed.
82. I have stubby toes.
83. I'm surprisingly flexible
84. Sometimes I take things for granted.
85. I'm always grateful that Trink comes home everyday.
86. I am a morning person.
87. Who talks alot.
88. I wish I wasn't so judgmental.
89. I sometimes fart in my sleep.
90. I can pick up almost anyting with my toes.
91. I have trouble finishing things I start.
92. I'm determined to change that.
93. I'm an optimist.
94. I'm pretty sure God has a plan for me.
95. I wish it was winning the Lotto.
96. We hit a casino jackpot once.
97. I nearly pee'd myself!
98. I have 11 nieces and nephews and half of them were born in February.
99. My middle name is Frances.
100. WOW!! Look I finished something!

Well Wonders Never Cease!

It's Official!! The Deathtrap is Operable!!!

It's amazing! It's a miracle!! I did a dance with the head of maintenance. It was ridiculous....and actually quite funny. Me and Victor the head guy doin a dance out front. It was funny.

I'm stunned into speechlessness.......

HOORAY!! HOORAY!!!

Peace ya'll!

I don't want to Jinx it....

There may be an end in sight. I was doin laundry and I saw the elevator guys out there with who I think was the county inspector. I saw a light come on. A door open....and some movement.

The deathtrap may be resurrected!!

Hallelujah! I'll let you know for sure...

Peace Ya'll!

Ice, Cars, and Sisters....OH MY!!

Well, my mom called me tonight to let me know that my sister and step-sister were in a car accident. For those of you who have been around, my step sister was in a TERRIBLE accident just before Christmas. Mom said that tonight they were going to bring my pop some food at work when they hit an icy patch and slid off the road into a ditch and hit a tree. My sisters door was smashed in and she hurt her neck and her hip. The ambulance was on it's way when my mom called me.

I just really want my mom to have some peace. I can't even begin to tell you what all she has been dealing with.

So much all at once and all the time. I wish they lived closer, then maybe I could help her somehow. As it is, they are in Arkansas...and I'm in SOUTH Florida...so......it makes it really hard to help.

Just sendin prayers their way that nothing is broken or out of place. My step sister broke lots of bones in Dec. So.......

I'll know more tomorrow.

Thanks....peace!

Later that day....

The view this afternoon from my 4th floor loo window. oooh if I zoom out all the way the screen looks less and less like a jail cell. yippee!!

Today was a tough day. Had a bad panic attack this morning. Keep tryin to work through it. I just wish I could figure out WHY they happen so I can make them S T O P!!! UGH!!

I'm feel better. I LOVE the new blogs I've been reading. They make me smile. I guess I did too much yesterday rearranging everyting by myself and not getting any sleep. Oy to the Vey! Loopy girl that I am. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my nice Florida weather...lol. I wish it was snowing...like it is at my mom's!

Peace ya'll!!

View from my Loo 2

The moon was HUGE and beautiful this morning. I tried to get it with my digital camera, but it's just so sad. I wanted to share the view from my loo. Sometimes it's beautiful out there. Sometimes it just looks like jail.

I think I've created a new project for myself...muahahaahah!! Maybe I'll post another one later today.

Peace ya'll!

Hi ya'll!!

What a day today. I actually had some N R G and decided to rearrange our room. ALL BY MYSELF. I think that may have a been a little silly on my part. Cuz, now I'm exhausted. We are expecting our bed hopefully tomorrow or Friday. What a relief that will be.

My brain sure is stuck on empty today. I just wanted to say hi and I hope all is well with ya'll!

Peace!
Frannie

Sunday Sunday...

Man, I've been reading a few new blogs lately. Some of them are really interesting. And some, like mine are "fluff". I wonder if people read these because they find other peoples opinions interesting, or just are curious about life in general. I've always been curious about other people's lives. How they live, what they do, who they love.

I've always considered myself a "people" person. All until this whole panic crap started. It's hard to be a people person when your social network consists of your partner, your puppy and your cats. lol.

I've got to have a sense of humor don't I? This is just so silly already. I can't take some days. It's frustrating and upsetting. So what do I do? I take a deep breath and look at the good things in my life. I plant a new seed in the window box and see what grows. ya know? Well, I'm gonna put a couple of new links up to some blogs that I think are fun.

Enjoy! And Thanks for checkin in!

Peace ya'll!!

Bad ME!! !

Well, I've been focused on my other project... paint365.blogspot.com But I thought I might update ya'll on what's going on here. The deathtrap is STILL broken and I have been getting the runaround still from the office about when, where, who and all the flotsum and jetsum of BULLSHIT!!!

So, I have decided that I will call all day everyday and annoy them until the elevator is fixed. Soemthings got to give this is INSANE!! What if something happens to someone on the fourth floor? Are the paramedics gonna really run upstairs with a gurney?? I mean this is a serious risk. I think I'll remind the office. MUAHAHAHAH!! I think they'll just get annoyed with all the calling...what do you think?

Peace ya'll!
D

DeathTrap Update

Well, I can hardly believe it, but they are workin on the elevator for the second day in a row! I don't want to say, that it could be working soon...because as you all know it's been WELL over a year! BUT they are working on it~!

Supposedly, it will be "done" soon. I don't want to hold my breath...but it sure would be a nice Christmas present.

It's been insane around here without that elevator luggin presents up and down the stairs...and all the groceries....

I'm beginning to lose hope that it will ever be fixed!

Merry Christmas to all and to all....a Gnight!

PEACE!

** OH Christmas Tree **

Where the heck have I been? Crazy....visiting craytown and trying to escape! I can't believe it's December. Where did the year go? Passed me right by! Babies and parties and craziness!

Well hopefully all of you will have a Safe and Happy Holiday. Let's try to be a little nicer, a little more thoughtful, and alot less stressed this year huh?

Merry Christmas Ya'll!

Peace on Earth....Good will toward everyone!

R.I.P. Scraggely Opossum

Taking Katrina to work this morning we stopped for breakfast. Lana was so excited about her bacon. Me and Trink were both achy...too much stress in the house right now. Drivin along in our loaner car, (cuz our car had a total engine meltdown apparently). I turned down the nice quiet street heading to her office...

"donna watch out!!"

"OH MY GOD!!!" screech! Swerve! Crunch crunch....

"I killed him...I killed him!!"

"Donna it's ok...accidents happen. Stupid thing ran into the street..."

I'm in hysterics...I just killed an animal. Sure we joke about roadkill all the time. But I have NEVER been a part of creating it. Ya know? It's traumatising. Suddenly, I felt bad for it's family. Maybe he was just trying to get to work ya know? Minding his business. He didn't look up. I don't think he really knew what hit him. I felt it tho. I took his little life from him. And I feel really bad. What do you do in situations like this? I mean a card isn't really appropriate.

I have to say, I don't ever want to experience anything like that again.

So, little fuzzy, creepy looking thing, I am sorry for what happened today. I didn't mean to hurt you. We are all God's creatures even though we may not always understand each other.

I hope your family wasn't around....

Peace ya'll!!

......five years later.....

I remember sitting at my desk in Fort Lauderdale... and hearing the people around me talking about New York. Hearing something about a plane and buildings. The information was slow in coming....as if no one really new what was going on...

I remember my heart flying into my throat. I remember thinking, the world is going to end. Is this World War 3? Where are they going to attack us next? Then I thought about my sister. She was supposed to fly the next day. To come own here. I called my family in Arkansas. Pop what's going on?

I'm watching the news now...is everyone ok?

Yes, sweetie we're ok, don't worry. i'll keep watching the news and let you know what's going on.

I could hear him trying to tell my grandmother, what had happened. She didn't understand what she was seeing, she thought it was a movie. I remember going downstairs with Cindy to the Progressive lounge and watching the TV to see what happened. Everything was still....so quiet. People were trying to call New York and get in touch with loved ones.

The office stood still trying to make sense of what happened....I got a ride home from my friend. I sat in front of the TV dumbfounded, wondering how something like this could happen. We heard rumors that buses and trains were under attack. Then the 2nd plane hit and it became real that someone was attacking us. Everything that day changed.

Five years later and still we are fighting and not winning, dying and not living....where does it end? When will it end?

Fighting for PEACE really is like screwing for virginity....

PEACE Ya'll! May God Bless the families that have lost so much!

DNA Test?!?!

Check it out!!

My Personal Dna Report

Panic Shmanic....

So, I still have the occasional, panic attack. Crowds, warm places, long drives.....
I'm working on them...or rather working on me. Yeah, it's hard. It's grueling and disturbing and frustrating. Sometimes I can't really get my thoughts together. So many things running through my head. I worry about my family. I worry about me and my "family".

Lori (my therapist {isn't that soo 80's?}) tells me that I need to stop being so involved and playing the middle man in my family issues. Apparently I'm addicted to the stress? hahahaha....yea that's me!! PHUEESHAW!!

Oy to the Vey focus is so hard for me. I need a list...any suggestions? Anyone? Anyone out there? Listening? Little guidance please....

Peace ya'll!!

^--^ ANTS IN THE BATHTUB ^--^

I'm sure you've all heard of the Snakes on a Plane movie right? Well, I got ANTS in MY BATHTUB!!!!

It's an invasion! I don't know where they are coming from, they are swarming out from the walls. I kill one...and then thousands come rushing out...I'm assuming, mourning the lose of yet another loved one. I have caulked and sprayed and spakled. Still they come scurrying out.

While sitting in my lovely tub today, I began to ponder my ants. I watched as they poked their heads out of the tiniest of cracks. I'm sure they could see the giant, pale, naked woman sitting in the water. it didn't seem to phase them. They came scurrying out anyway.

They raced back and forth search for what I can only gather, could be called food. (In my shower?) No food, only body products...soaps, shampoos and the like. They are relentless.

Annoyed, I lean forward and CRUSH the tiny little buggers. What a mistake that was! apparently I angered them! I have never seen such an influx of creatures. The first few out gathered the crushed little ant body and scurried it back into the crack in the wall. The rest of them, came rushing out shouting what I can only imagine were obscenities. Shaking their little ants fists and wailing in horror.

I started to feel kind of bad. What if I killed someones brother, or sister. So willy nilly, I snuffed out this little ants life. Am I so hardened that I do not respect ALL life? I sound like a hippie now.

Granted, ants are God's creation, what they are for, I'm not sure? They seem to only come out during the summer months when I guess it's too hot inside our walls to stand it.

The angry mob is dispersing and scattering about the tub now. some of them are headed my way. I splash water onto the walls, I throw bubbles at them. They swim. They float and little angry ant voices scream as I pull the plug and watch them go down the drain.

DAMN ANTS!!! Squish Squish....

Peace Ya'll!

THe SAGA Continues!!!

Not to sound excited or anything....(note the sarcasm...) The deathtrap may actually be fixed sometime soon....

Yeah that's what I said. {insert various sounds of doubt} I've seen them working on it...I think. I mean there were several guys huddled around the open door. The promise has continued to be the end of this month...wait...isn't that tomorrow? You mean it will be fixed tomorrow?!?! YIPPEE!! Shee-ya! right... what's todays date?


<----These are the lies we've been told.







Nevermind I guess...two fat chicks walkin up and down four flights of stairs....who cares? Good exercise. Right? Yeah...PLECH! I'm done hoping. However...I am NOT done BITCHING! I will continue to harass, prode, poke, demand, and insist that this unjustice be corrected!! HUZZAH!!!!

Peace ya'll!

Where Oh Where has my little brain gone?

Well, we spent my birthday with a couple of friends. We went to dinner at Ruby Tuesdays, which has surprisingly good food. Then headed back to our friend Shannons house where we opened presents and ate cake! It was hilarious. I love our friends and was surprised by one person I had bad feelings about.

Brian Dean, whom we all call Dean decorated a wooden cross for me with my name and some flowers by hand. He pen drew them on. This is a man that I did not have good feelings about and here he surprised me with a gift that meant something to him and to me. It was a surprise.

Our friends Brandon and Micki had just gotten back from Barcelona where they purchased candy and a change purse for me....it was sooo cute.

Shannon got me a paint by numbers set so that I could practice my painting. He's soo good about gifts.

Jaime got me $25 Tate dollars which are always useful.
June bought dinner.

and Salty got me a drinking game, and some shot glasses...soo cute!

I truly love our friends and how much we all get along. They even got Jaime, June and I a birthday cake. Did I mention that our brithdays all fall around the same time? Jaime (15th), Me (19th), and June (21st). We celebrated together!

Left to right is Jaime, Me and June
at Ruby Tuesdays...






And our Cake....













Just for the record Costco makes and AMAZING Cake...Cream Cheese frosting and all!! WHOOO!!! Like the rainbow? lol

Then this weekend Katrina and I went to see X-men the last stand YEEHAW!! soo good...and today we went and finally saw the DaVinci Code...they were very true to the book. So exciting.

Therapy has been going really well. I think I am finally allowing her to help me instead of fighting against her. I'm working really hard toward getting over these issues.

Thanks for the constant prayers. I love ya's!

Peace Ya'll!

D

Deathtrap Strikes AGAIN!

So, I just put a call into Resident Relations of Aimco. Talked to a gentlemen named Tracy. I explained the problems to him that we have been having in this craphole of a complex. Naturally he was uninterested. Took my informtaion and asked me if there was anything else I wanted him to know at this time. I was like yeah....For what I'm paying in rent this place is a FUCKING SHITHOLE!!!

UGH!! I so want to get out of here!! If anyone has a spare couple grand lying around they feeling like lending me...( I will gladly pay it back)....Katrina and I would love to have our own place that's not out somewher ein the boonies. DAMMIT!!!!

Sorry....venting a little. We can afford a mortgage but apparently what we get approved for wouldn't buy a box of cardboard under I-95.

PEACE!

I gotta tell ya!

I want to talk about my baby sister. All her life I have wanted to protect her and take care of her. She's nine yrs younger than me. I remember getting into my first car accident because I was rushing out of the yard to pick her up from school. I was late. I couldn't stand it when she got hurt. I fixed her boo-boos, and I ignored her alot when I turned 15.

I always wanted a little sister. For some reason I couldn't save her from all the tomrnet she managed to get herself into. She got into some bad things as a kid. Alot of stuff she never talked about and still doesn't. I still want to take care of her. I still worry about her. But not obssesively like I used to.

She has put my family through alot of SHIT, mostly my mom. BUT, even though she's done that and made some bad decisions her heart is soo generous. She is kind, and tenderhearted, even when she's hurt and hurting others. She's lashes out because I think she feels so much. She's had to grow up so fast. So fast....I think we forget that. I think we think she should be able to handle all the things she's dealing with. But she doesn't have the tools the rest of us have.

I love my sister. I have always loved my sister and have always had a soft spot in my heart for her. I want her to be happy and healthy more than anything I have ever wished for her.

My sister is beautiful.
My sister is loving.
My sister is generous.
My sister is special.
My sister is creative.
My sister is amazing.
My sister is tough.

My sister is one of my favorite people.
My sister makes me laugh like no other.
My sister, I miss her so much sometimes.

I love her. My sister, my friend.

Peace Ya'll!

Skinny Dipping AGAIN

Good Grief the water was COLD. What is it about skinny dipping that people find so fascinating? LOL....the water was COLD.

So, just to catch you up, things have been going well. I wasn't able to make my last appointment because I hurt my back. I have no idea what happened. Couldn't possibly be the terrible bed that we have? Anyway, it's been going really well. I haven't had a severe panic attack since I started the new dose of Effexor...(Tom Cruise be DAMNED!) ROFLMAO!

It's also helping that my therapist is willing to go above and beyond to help me get over my fear and work my way through it. I guess it's mostly helping because I am letting myself be helped.

((((RANT COMING)))
Now, remember back when I first started this thing? Some of you will recall the "deathtrap". Yes it's Baaaaaccckkkk....PIECE of SHIT!!!! Mind you the exercise is doing both of us some good, but I REALLY don't like being FORCED to exercise. We are starting a 2nd week of stair climbing. Same bullshit from the office, "It's getting fixed, we're getting it taken care of." YEAH RIGHT!! GGrr....I really hate that. We are paying an arm and a leg to live here and still they can't keep anything working.

Well, I think that's it for now....

Peace Ya'll! Have a blessed day!

Hyper-Vigilent

??????? Yeah that's what I said. Huh? Apparently my therapist thinks I'm hyper-vigilent. What does this mean? Well when I asked her she said, "The way you watch your back and your aware of everything around you. It's why you locked yourself up in your house." ???? Huh?

We were talking about how my father and older brother used to come into my room and take my deoderant or cologne or whatever. Without regard for the fact that it was mine, or that I was even in the room.

She said they acted like I didn't exist, that I was not important. This was something that I had never thought of. When I moved out of my parents house, I slept with my bedroom door locked. (Of course I had moved in with my older brother.) But I wanted to feel safe, like no one could get to me. Now that I am not living with any of my family, my door is not locked.

My therapist told me to write down how it made me feel that I was treat as "unimportant" and a "non-entity" by my father.

I guess, it sucks really. I mean, I look back and certain things were really raunch. And other things were not so bad. The fact of the matter is, I feel like, that's just the way my childhood was. Like it was normal how most people think of their childhoods, until they grow up and find out that.... "WHOA! That wasn't normal at all."

Right? Sure...I don't know. I told her that I didn't really care about what happened when I was a kid because I have a stepdad...who I have a hard time even calling him stepdad...he's my POP. My mom married him after she FINALLY divorced my dad. He treats me like a daughter. Like I am HIS daughter. He has never treated me any other way. He's been such a good, GREAT dad to me. It's hard for me to accept really, because I'm not used to it. I feel like he should yell or something, ya know? But he doesn't. He's so mellow and laid back. And I feel like I can talk to him about anything.

Lori says that my father HAS affected me and that I need to resolve those things before we can move on....well.....how will those things EVER be resolved? Honestly?


Peace Ya'll!

<<< HI!!! >>>

Things have been going pretty good lately. I gotta say, something is shifting. Me and Trink have been happier, more relaxed about things.

I gotta tell ya, we had ZERO money this weekend, and ZERO food. WE were scraping sme change together to try and get some chicken for the week. On our way to the store, we checked the mail. In the mail, Katrina got a letter letting her know that she would be getting some money. Later that day, while I was walking the dog, I found a 20 dollar bill in the grass.

How COOL is GOD? Seriously? Just when we think that we are forgotten or things just can't get any worse along comes stuff like this. It's soo cool.

I hope everyone is well. Sorry I don't have much more to talk about. I'm loopy.

Peace Ya'll!

Well Gosh...

i have no idea what quiet means. ten minutes seems like a long time when you are a fidget like me. no wiggling. no noise. ten minutes with just me and my thoughts. well let's see what happens huh?

3...2...1...start the timer...

i've been playing this game conquer online. i think i may have a disorder. i LOVE it. yes i do love it...i have no idea why. it's this really just crazy rpg game. i have a couple of characters i created and i run around killing monsters and getting money. i don't really care about what the point of the game is....i really just want to get as much money as i can. my one character is a lvl 49 healer. i have a teammate who lvled me up really quickly....i try to be nice to the newbies like he was nice to me. some ppl get on there and just kill everyone, because it's a pk game...Player Kill. which means basically that anyone can just randomly come up and kill you. i don't like that. i created a character to play with my little nephew Caleb when he plays, named Aunt Saphira. i know he likes dragons.

My best friend called me today.....told me that she wouldn't be able to make our annual trip to the Ren Fest on Mar 4th. I gotta tell ya, it really is freaking me out how much that bothers me. I'm not mad at her or anything, but for the past.....10 yrs I guess, we've been going to this thing. She's never missed it. Not once. Sure she's had to cut it short some times, but never missed it. I'm truly bugged by this. It's nothing she can do anything about, but it bugs me. I'm sad, and quite disappointed.

5 minutes left and I'm using this really pale yellow so that I don't correct anything that I may make a mistake on. I can't see what I'm typing so if there are typos...Oh well! I'm finding that I am happier and more energetic since my Dr. changed my perscritption. Upped my dose of Effexor. Yeah...head drugs....me and my loopy head. I am almost starting to feel normal again. Whatever normal is. More like myself. My 9ld self. that used to go out and have fun and not worry about panic attacks. I miss the old me. I want to get back to the point where I can do things by myself. I walkec with Lana to the appointment with my therapist. I'm gonna try and go by myself this time. Friday is my nbext appt. and I will walk over alone. It's part of the desentizition. Getting used to things that make me uncomfortable and not making such a big deal out of them. r

Fear is like this dense fog in front of you that you can't walk through, and when you try to go around it, it just keep sgetting bigger and bigger until you are paralyzed. I'm learning to walk through the fog and into the sunshine on the other side.... I am tired of being afraid of nothing. I want to liv e my life again.

1 minute and this is what's come out.

Peace Ya'll!! Check back soon!!

Desensitizing has begun....

Well, my first session went VERY well. I walked to my therapists office with my puppy and didn't panic, and didn't call anyone. I was so excited. I was so proud of myself. Lori said I did really well and so did Trink. It seems so simple to me. Something I should do easily, but it's not easy for me. I have to remember that. Every step I take little or not, is a step I am taking to get better.

GO ME!!!

Peace ya'll!!!

~~Systematic Desensitization ~~

Yeah for therapy!! This is what my therapist and I are working on. Started back up on Satruday. Apparently I'm a control freak. Who knew that my panic disorder stemmed from me needing to be in control of my environment. So Thursday she said I should walk to my apartment with my puppy. She's only about a block away. Now, all I can think about is walking there and not being able to call Katrina. Lori...(my therapist) told me that I was NOT ALLOWED to call Katrina if I started panicking on the way there. I am to call her. So, now that's all I can think about.

How is this helping my panic? I have no idea....but it's helpful that i'm aware of what I'm feeling right??? Right....sure....


Peace ya'll!

Ever Wonder....?

What your words do? Seriously......think about it....sometimes words hurt more than anything else we can do to somebody. Especially someone we love. Is it because we know them so well? And we know just what to say to make them mad, sad, hurt, confused, annoyed? Why do we lash out when we shouldn't?

I've been thinking about words today. It's amazing sometimes what happens when we say certain things. Like, "I love you." or..."I'm sorry."....or..."I'm an idiot" Words can lift you up or tear you down. I don't think we take words seriously enough. I think we abuse them and take them for granted.

It seems we have an endless supply of words....expressive and emotive..... ie.... SHIT! FUCK! DAMN! Curse words yes, but SOOO expressive.... and can be used in such a variety of ways.

Today my words are wounding and callous. Today I suffer for my lack of thoughtfulness. Words can really fuck up your program sometimes. Sometimes words aren't enough..... sometimes silence is GOLDEN.

Peace Ya'll

Friday....and where is my incentive???

So, I've been playing this game online with my little brother. He's always getting me into new games....(shame on him). I haven't much been keeping track like I had intended. SHOCKER. The plan is to go shopping this weekend for "good stuff" and throw away all the bad stuff in the house. It's just one of those things.

Also, I think we're gonna try looking for a new place to live again. I hate this frickin place. It's making me nuts and probably making us sick. A whole lot to think about. I guess we'll see.

Anyway, I'm ashamed of myself for not being better at this.....but if you fall....you might as well get back up right???

Right.

Peace ya'll!

Monday Monday....la la la la la

Hey Ya'll!!! Long time no talky...... Brain brain go away....
So, if you've never done it, I suggest that for just one day....you write down everything you eat. Don't try and keep track of calories at first....just get an idea of what goes in....ya know? WHooooo!!! I'm gonna try it here....... talk about CRAZY!!! This is what I had this weekend.

UGH!!...

5pieces of fried dough with cinnamon and sugar.
4cheesy garlic biscuits.
chicken, brown rice, and cheesey saucy burrito.
glass of chocolate milk and scoop of peanut butter.
3 HUGE glasses of water.
Bowl of Smart Start cereal.
2 Blueberry Eggo waffles
glass of strawberry milk.
left over chicken cheesy, brown rice burrito....
5 leftover fried dough pieces.
3 Huge glasses of water.

HOLY CRAP!!!!!

What about you guys???? Drop me a note and let me know what you eat in a day??? Or a weekend!! I'm curious what everyone eats.!

PEACE YA'LL!!

MERRY NEW YEAR!!!

Lana sure had fun on Christmas morning. What a great holiday we had. It was good to spend time with our family and friends. We went to our friends Brandon and Micki'e house in WPB for Christmas Eve and Secret Santa gift exchange. What a great idea that was. Me and my secret santa had each others names. And we got each other pretty much the SAME thing! Me and My Santa Shannon! We got to meet Micki's folks who were visiting from Washington. We had heard so much about them! What a great time we had! I'm always amazed at how awesome our friends our. We have this GREAT circle of support for everything.

Then for New years....we went back up to Brandon and Micki's....and WHOOO BOY!! Things were CRAZY!!!! I drank a little..... Trink drank a little Everyone had a great time.....

We laughed and hugged and remembered our friend Stella who passed away in May. We cried, for missing her. What a tremendous blessing she was to our lives... we were all grateful to have known her.


So, this year things are gonna change....you will see a healthier Donna and a healthier Katrina....hopefully this will serve as some sort of accountability for us. It's just about that time....this is NOT a resolution...it's a life CHANGE!!

May you all have a happy, healthy, prosperous NEW YEAR! Love and appreciate the ANGELS in your life!

Peace ya'll!

Where've I Been?

I've had my nose in some books....that's where i've been. Reading the Left Behind Series....I can't seem to put those books down. I've been Christmas Wrapping and looking forward to hanging out with friends and family. Creatively, I'm in a slump. My brain is swimming.

I finally gave in and signed up for Classmates, so that I could reconnect with some old friends. To my surprise I had a message waiting for me. It's really cool when poeple pass through your mind and then you're able to contact them. So its been really cool to find out how some of my old friends are doing. Surprising but, really, really cool.

I've had a bunch of ideas for my stories in my head, but I can't seem to focus and get them in order.

It's cold outside today...HAHAH....55 degrees.....perfect for me! COld for Florida....

I'm babbling.....

Peace ya'll!
F

Little Life Lesson.....

Just for the record, HOT instant oatmeal WILL Burn the SHIT out of your hand. Yes, I thought I would have myself a nice bowl of vanilla, cinnamon oatmeal. I took it out of the microwave and it somehow sloshed onto my hand. Now, hot oatmeal is like NAPALM on your frickin hand! I didn't know what to do first drop the bowl or stuff my hand in the freeze. I dropped the bowl and stuck my hand under some cold water. The oatmeal however, STUCK to my hand, burned my fingers and continued to burn well after the water had rinsed it away. Yeah, so if you're feel for some oatmeal, DON'T SPILL IT ON YOUR HAND!

Peace Ya'll!

And Then There Were 3......

Let's pick up where we left off....home safely at my mother's. No sleep and hungry. Did I mention that? Yeah, well.....okay. So, we are keeping my grandmother company, God bless her she's got alzheimer's. It sucks because she tells the best stories, but over and over and over again. I try to ask her questions to make her thing of other details, but somehow she manages to just re-tell the story. I love her so much and it makes me sad that this happens. Finally my mom gets home with the kids from the wedding that she participated in. She had made a pot of beef stew for us, but it didn't look quite finished. We sat around while my mom puttered with the stew..... now, usually my mom is a GREAT cook, but this stew....EEEWWW!

We sat and chatted and I could feel my throat and my ears getting sore. I woke up on Friday morning with a bunch o'congestion. I figured it was my normal morning stuff. No such luck....enter sinus infection stage left.

Well, what are ya gonna do?? So, we enjoyed my family, my niece and nephew. Sunday morning, we walked down to the lake. Lana was having the best time ever! We took the kids down to throw rocks into the lake and wouldn't you know that my crazy dog just jumped right on in and went looking for the rocks. Weirdo! It was so cold, I was worried that she would get sick. YEah right! Her and Flash, (my Pop's dog) were having so much fun! My brother and his family came over to see us. It was crazy! So many kids running around like looney tunes. We had a good time! We went shopping with my mom for turkey day. My pregnant sister and the kids. I was feeling worse and worse. We baked, we cooked. It was relaxing, and good to be with my family.

Every morning that we were there, my pop would get up and cook breakfast for me and the kids.

THAT's My POP and my little bro.
French toast and bacon....it was AWESOME!! I LOVED the weather. It was cool in the mornings and would warm up in the afternoon. The leaves were beautiful. Katrina got to sleep in as much as she wanted or could. My mom's house is kinda crazy. I kept feeling worse and eventually lost my voice. My mom took me to her doctor and he gave me MAJOR antibiotics. I started feeling better right away. Then, wouldn't you know it Katrina started getting sick. Not good she has bad, bad tonsils. So, we tried to keep her away from my grandma.
We ate yummy turkey dinner, made a fire and roasted marshmallows, and played cards. It was fun but no good that we were feeling so lousy. My sister kept having labor pains, it was frustrating. What can you do? Doctors don't like to come in during the holidays. We tried to just enjoy our last couple of days there and relax. Things were starting to get hectic as they usually do around my family. OY! Saturday morning, we loaded up the car, ate breakfast, and got on the road. I tried so hard not to cry. I LOVE being in Arkansas, the mood is so different. People are nicer, and it's just so quiet there. We waved goodbye and hit the road again. Poor Lana, was so sad. She couldn't understand why were leaving the best dog park EVER! I drove, because it was daylight and poor Katrina was feeling HORRIBLE!!!! I made it all the way to Jackson, Ms. We got on yet ANOTHER funky road because there were no signs for 98 South. Oh MY GOD!! It was TERRIBLE!! More scary road, just trying to find our way. Rain, bridges, and all the dark, inky black darkness. No lights, no houses, SCARY for us. We just needed to find our way. FINALLY we get on 98 North so we can make a u-turn and go South.

Katrina Got us to Pensacola around midnight that night. We had planned on stopping so we wouldn't be exhuasted again. We stopped at the Red Roof Inn off of I-10. Lana got to stay in the room with us. What adventures Katrina and I have. It was pouring rain when we woke up in the morning. We got gas, got breakfast and off we went again at about 7a.m. The closer we got to 75 the worse and worse traffic got. Oh my goodness it was terrible. Literally a CRAWL. We should've been home around 4:30 in the afternoon and didn't get home until almost 8p.m. Katrina felt lousy, luckily she had Monday off to try and re-couperate. As we pulled into our parking lot a terrible thought entered my mind..... The Deathtrap. Would it be working? What will we do if it's not working?

Katrina took Lana to go potty....I went to check the deathtrap. Oh surprise it's NOT WORKING!!! I just want to pull my hair out!! I RUN, yes, RUN up 3 flights of stairs where said trap is stuck. I am determined to beat it into submission. I kick, I push, I jump. Finally the doors close and it begins to go to the 1st floor. Now, most sane people wouldn't EVER get into this DAMN thing, but not me. I have this fucker under my control. I get Katrina, we unpack the car and get in the elevator. No problems, it takes us up to the 4th floor. We get stuff into the house and have to make one more trip. Katrina decides that she will do this. She heads downstairs gets the rest of the stuff and gets back into the deathtrap. It comes up 2 1/2 floors and jerks to a halt. It starts up again and jerks to a halt. It finally releases her onto the 4th floor. I am going to blow the damn thing up I SWEAR!! I hate this FRICKIN place!! UGH!!

Home in our bed, in our home..... SLEEP..... THANK GOD we got home safe. Now I gotta get Katrina to the doctor. Monday morning, she goes and we get her antibiotics. We also went to see HArry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!! YEAH!! Awesome movie...NOT for kids at ALL!!

Okay, I'm tired now. I feel like I just went through all that driving again.

Peace ya'll!!

Moving Right Along......and Whatnot

Let's continue shall we? Okay.......so with car and creature packed and ready off we go. I'm driving because I cannot drive at night. Katrina is chillin and puppy Lana is thinking that we are gong to a dog park.....BOY will she be surprised. No problems driving, a little rain, a little traffic.... it starts to get dark. Now, as previously stated I cannot drive in the dark so, Katrina and I switch places just outside of Orlando. She doesn't have a problem with this. I, however begin to panic. Yes, PANIC.....I tell her to turn around I want to go home. I'm freaking out. She does her best to calm me; but I have to work through it. Apparently I am too far from my comfort zone. I'm desperately trying to calm down....deep breathing....smacking of the head. I know it's ludacris to try and trun around now....we've come so far. Next rest area we stop. I walk the dog, (distracting), I go potty, (also distracting).....I get a hug from Katrina....all is well with the world. God bless her she knows what to do in these situations and doesn't leave my ass on the side of the road.

Finally, we get out of Florida, (longest state in the WORLD! UGH!) 3a.m. and Mobile Alabama is giving us fits....for some reason we always get turned around in Mobile. we pull off the road and ask directions to the road we need. Now, let me just give you a little history....Katrina is terrible with "directions" ie... N, S, E, W.....buit is a phenomal driver. I am the navigator extraordinaire....yes, me and my Atlas.... I have marked our path and we are sticking to it. After getting directions from the kind people at the gas station, we head back on our way. Now, just to be clear the road I chose to take us into Mississippi I thought was a highway.

Route 45, is NOT a hwy. Rte 45 is the DEVIL! A Dark, DARK devil.... Katrina somehow manages to navigate the winding, hilly, pitch black roads at evil o'clock in the morning..... we are desperate for any sign of life....another car, a porch light....ANYTHING......as I am looking at my Atlas I figure out that we can cut over to 84 and take us into Mount Olive and Magee, MS.. our savior from our last trip....however, we have to figure out how to get there from where we are. Finally a light out of the dark takes us to a gas station.....we get out, 2 women travelling with their dog ALONE....we're nervous. But I'm BRAVE and I get out of the car with my Atlas about to go into the station, when this big, dark man stops me.... "Whatch ya'll lookin fer?"
I show him my atlas and explain that we're trying to get to 84 to Laurel. He explains the directions and points the way. I thank him VERY much and get back in the car. Katrina is done pumping gas, and I tell her where we're going.

As we are pulling out of the station, the man whips is car beside us honking his horn and pulls in front of us. We assume he wants us to follow him. Mind you we are apprehensive....(SHAME on US) we follow him. I tell Katrina that if I think he's taking us somewhere we shouldn't be, we will pull off the road and head in another directions. We're both a little worried that he might be driving us somewhere to get us lost with his buddies. HOW WRONG WE WERE!!!!! Let me tell you something....whenever anyone in our family travels, my mom always says, "ANgels, Angels, Angels." Now this is if we are going to work or anywhere outside of the house. Well, ANGELS IN ACTION. This kind, kind man drove us all the way to the hwy we wanted, made sure we got on in the right direction and then made a u-turn and went back the way he came. God sent us an angel that night.

Now, at this point Katrina and I are both exhausted, we decide to find a hotel and get some sleep. No, of course we didn't make a reservation. Well, of course there are no hotel rooms to be found. We pull into a Comfort Inn Parking lot, in LAUREL, MS; find the most well lit spot and try to get some sleep. God Bless our puppy she is sooo very good. Poor Katrina is soo tired but cannot sleep. I, however, do not have this problem. No sooner do I close my eyes at 4a.m., than I am asleep. For about 1 1/2 hrs. I sleep. 5:30 rolls around and we decide to just bite the bullet and get going. I take over driving because during the day is the only time that I can. I want Katrina to sleep, poor thing.

We get to RT 49 which takes us to I-20 in Jackson...YEAH!!! We will be on I-20 for a while. All the way to Shreveport where we'll catch U.S. 71.....YIppee which will takes us right into Mena, Arkansas. I'm loving the changing leaves, the wonderful Fall colors....I'm so happy. Katrina is able to get a little sleep....and I drive for the next 5 hours. We switch 3/4 of the way there, because I'm starting to tense up. I just want to get there. Trink gets behind the wheel and off we go.Finally, at about 2p.m. Saturday afternoon we arrive at mom's house.....OH THANK GOD!!!


At this point all we can think of is sleep. It's funny, no one locks their door in Mena, it's so safe....we let Lana out, who is so excited she doesn't know what to do with herself....I can hear her little doggy mind....(This is the BEST DOG PARK EVER!!!) My mom lives on 5 acres on a mountain top. We go inside to let my grandma know we're here.....she's soo excited. We unpack the car and just as we're about to lay down...... up pulls my sisters, Heather and Chelsea. We didn't stop to see my little brother Todd on the way in because we're so tired....but the girls show up because they need to use the phone. I'm so tired....we chat with them and then I tell em they got to go because we need to sleep.

We didn't sleep, we couldn't we were full of adrenaline. We tried....boy did we try. Nothing doing. My family comes home from the wedding they were at....and hugs and kisses ensue. YEAH we made it safely!!! WHAT A Trip!! But wait......it can't be that easy.....can it?

Not if you're me and Trink.......(to be con't)

The Best Laid Plans.......

Hello All.....we're home from a beautiful Fall vacation. Where shall I start? Ay yes....the beginning....



Scheduled to leave on November 18th we were so excited to get going. Thursday night had different plans for us. Thursday night, we had planned on seeing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at a midnight showing. Yeah we're so excited because we are geeks and just couldn't wait to see it at any other time. Okay....so Katrina orders tickets online and we're ready to go. 5pm comes around and I get a phone call..... "D, the car won't start." "WHAT?!!" "The car....won't...start. Listen." Various clicking and wheezing noises come through the line.... "HOLY SHIT ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!" I begin FREAKING out....yes, I'm pissed. Not because I'm worried about my vacation, but because we want to see Harry Potter..... (My priorities are screwed up!) "Hold on I'm gonna call Roadside assistance....I'll call you right back.


"Roadside is on their way, you'll get a phone call confirming time etc..."
"Okay.... are you sure?"
"Yeah they'll be there and then will tow you to the dealership. Call me when they get there I'll see if I can find you a ride home."

I proceed to call my friend June who is on her way home from work. She agrees to bring Katrina home, and to just give her a call if anything changes. I love our FRIENDS. Katrina calls me and lets me know that her friend Paulette is going to bring her home and that the tow guy is here. Great..... come home and we'll figure everything else out.....


Trink is home....and we're stressing....naturally the dealership is closed for the night....(6pm) but they'll take a look at the car first thing in the morning. Sounds like the battery, but we'll check it out and make sure....

Damn we wasted $16 on Harry Potter tickets.....

Fine, we figure we'll get Katrina to work somehow and take care of the car in the morning and still be able to leave at noon when we had planned. Sure, the car isn't loaded up or anything, but small setbacks.

FRIDAY MORNING::
We wake up knowing that things are gonna be insane today. Katrina calls work to let them know that she is not gonna be able to make it in, because she has no car. Thank God she has the best boss in the world. No problem. Now onto the next dilemma. How to get to the dealership? We call them to make sure that our car got there. "Yup it's here, we're getting the paperwork together and them we'll get a look at it. We'll call you when it's done."

"We have to leave for vacation today." I tell him this as if he gives a rats' ass.
"No problem, it's probably just the battery."

Okay, Okay....long story short, we get the runaround all morning and about 12:30 we decide to take a cab over to get on someone's ass about it. Now, I don't know how many of you have taken cabs before??? Well, never AGAIN!!! F*CKING RIPOFF!! Moving along...... we get to the dealership, and wouldn't you know it? Tim tells us.... "I was just about to call you guys....it's all done we're just gonna wash her for ya and you can be on your way."

"FUCK YOU TIM! FUCK YOU!! I don't want a wash, just gomme my car now. I've got to go!"

Car under our butts we head home and get the car all packed up and the animals all fed, and the dog all dressed. 1:30 finally we're on the road......

TO Be Continued...

It's a MIRACLE!!!

The Deathtrap LIVES!!!!!!!!!! It's amazing!!

I've got to say, I really dispise living here, and since the storm...the place looks worse than ever. I really miss the trees and the bushes. However, I think it's amazing how people become less self involved when there's been a common disaster. I walked Lana yesterday morning and one of my neighbors was outside having a cigarette. As I was passing him he asked me how my apartment was and we ended up talking about all the events of the past couple of weeks. He's had it WAY worse than me. It's nice to know that people are concerned and that they're nice. Where I live you tend to look at everyone suspiciously. Sad but true.

So finally our door is fixed and the elevator is functioning. I got in with trepidation and was so excited when it opened on the first floor.

So, this weekend we will be up in Arkansas having a great time with the whole fam damily!!! YIPPEEE!! I'm looking forward to it...we'll see if the drama lessens any.

Will update when we get back!

PEACE ya'll!

^-^ ME and CHOCOLATE ^-^

Well, that says it all doesn't it?? Me and chocolate. I have a SERIOUS sweet tooth....and when I'm craving....there is NO stopping me. I gotta tell you....I have THE best girlfriend in the WORLD.....somehow she manages to love me....even when I eat chocolate that's not mine. I'm a nighttime, alone, emotional eater. I know I shouldn't be eating....(there are signs up everywhere) But I just can't stop myself....if there's nothing I like in the house....I don't eat....so...that's the solution right??? RIIIIGGGHHHHTTTT....and then I have to deny my girlfriend which I am really really bad at..... I'm amazed at how much she loves me really.... I would've kicked my own ass if I could still reach it....

Moving along to hellhole that is our apartment.....my KNEES are killing me....going down the stairs is way worse than coming up them. I asked our apartment manager when the "deathtrap" would be fixed, mind you that it was supposed to be fixed the week of WILMA, but...NOOOOO......so I figure that since its already on the schedule that would take place soon right? Her reply? "Next week sometime...maybe it's going to take a couple of weeks." THANK GOD we'll be in Arkansas visiting our ARKY family.....I'm looking forward to Turkey.....yum yum.....

Peace ya'll!

OH THAT Hurricane Part Deux....

DANGLING ROOF......^

Okay, picking up where we left off....our apartment was TRASHED. No warning, no notice NOTHING from the leasing office. I lost it. I mean, LOST IT! There was stuff all over our bed from the bathroom, from our walls. I didn't know what was broken, what was ruined. NOTHING. I started crying terribly. Where would we stay? We had no ceiling, no walls....our apartment was fine when we left in the morning. So, of course I call my family....my brother THE COP being the first person I call. He tells me to call Plantation Police and make a general report with them. He also tells me that he's on his way up from Kendall and he's taking off work because I'm soo upset.... (My HERO).

Plantation PD tells me there's nothing they can do. We should find somewhere to stay....(easy for you to say...where the hell do we go?) We start documenting all the damage with our video camera. I don't even know where my digital camera is. I start calling some friends to see if there's anywhere we can stay. My head hurts, my cats are FREAKED OUT and I've got to pack them all up and find somewhere to sleep. Hotells are booked for WEEKS....and well we're on the kindness of our friends. My brother shows up and all hell breaks loose.....he's PISSED. Helps us get the car loaded up and tells us to raise holy hell with the leasing office.

Trink calls our friend Shannon to see if we can stay at his place even though he doesn't have power....he says "SURE! We're all over here at Jen's though why don't you come here get a shower and some sleep though." So, we head up to Jen's....she's got a tiny 2/1....and there are six people already staying there....OY VEY! Me, Trink and Lana get an air matress in the livingroom. We are SOO VERY grateful. The cats are downstairs in the complex "common room". It's midnight and Jen is up with us, making sure we're okay....God Love her she's got such a big heart. I can't calm down....I'm having a panic attack and Trink is desperate to calm me. Jen goes to sleep, and Trink and I try to get some. Rough night....terrible.....but oh were we happy to be somewhere safe with people we love.

The next morning.... we decide we just can't stay here and Shannon tells us to setup at his place. The cats can have the guest bedroom and we can have his room. This way we don't have to pack the creatures up whenever we leave to get stuff down. Again, we are GRATEFUL and happy. He has no power but we don't care. We drop off the cats and head out to our leasing office to find out... WTF?!?! When we speak with our manager her words are..... "They did your apartment? But you didn't have any damage!"

Our reaction was priceless.... "NO SHIT!!! So now what?"

"Well, I don't understand what is going on, can you find a hotel?"

"Are you kidding me? What about all of our stuff? That was strewn about? What is things are broken? Those PEOPLE came into my home tossed all of our stuff around....took our ice, our water and our food. WHAT THE FUCK are you going to do about that? I'm pressing charges on someone! SOMEONE is paying for this disaster!"

Her: "I understand why your upset...they must have found damage when they were doing your neighbors apartment."

Us: "Why didn't you give us any warning? Give us the chance to move our things? Make sure that nothing was stolen??"

Her: "Weeeellll......we kept telling corporate that we needed to warn the residents...but they said, things had to be done right away.."

Us: "Annndd.d....this means WHAT to us? Our apartment was fine ALL frickin week and now all of a sudden there's an emergency?"

Clearly we are getting nowhere.....I tell her she better make it right. She tells us she'll give us a credit on our rent....and will take care of any items that may be damaged. DAMN RIGHT YOU WILL!!

No what do we do??? Find another place to stay......so we stay at Shannon's and get rained out of his place on Tuesday morning..... leaks springing up all over the place. We pack up all the animals, and head up to Jupiter where our friend Tammi is going to put us up. THANK GOD!!! But Let me tell you...they are going to take the gas off of our rent as well..... DAMMIT!!!!

Cut to Wednesday and our anticipated arrival home...... They have the drywall up...and the ceiling.....HALLELUJAH!!!! We unpack everyone and make them safe....SCRAPE off our bed...and sleep......

Thursday morning...they came in and sprayed and painted and plasticed....and.....CRAPOLA are you ever going to be done? I giggle as I watch them try to use the DEATHTRAP HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH It laughs at them unmoving...... I am happy to be home....but it's not the same....it will NEVER be the same again......

DAMN THAT Elevator....my knees are killing me!!!!

PEACE Ya'll!!!

OH! THAT Hurricane

HOLY CRAP!!!!! I don't even know where to start. Hurricane Wilma came through here and blew everything around us to SHIT! We lost power on Monday night (Oct 24th) at 7a.m. We took this instride no big deal. Our thoughts subsisted of "Will that branch come through the kitchen window?", "Will our windows hold?", "How many games of monopoly can two people play?".

We listend to Bryan Norcross tell us that Broward County would be sustaining the worst weather....and wouldn't you know, that smack dab, right in the middle of Wilma's path is me. We remained calm, unshaken. I told myself, 'I lived through Andrew, I can handle this.' Hours passed, seeming like days. The wind howled and shook and tried to tear our roof off....(it did in some places). Our apartment remained unscathed. In the end the only damage we had was to our front door. Water leaked in and made it soggy. No problem. We were alive..that's what matter..... I looked out my kitchen window...at the DEATHTRAP, there, it remained a staunch sentinel refusing to budge. No surprise here. I had hoped that it would have been destroyed in the winds...taken away to a place where elevators that refuse to do they're jobs are tortured endlessly by working consistently. But I digress....

With the power out we played board games and listened to the radio. Watched dvd's on our portable player. Our management came by to assess the damage... we had none, they took notes. Friday came and we still had no power. We were not concerned, we were able to get food and water....we needed gas and waited in line for 2 and 1/2 hrs to fill up. We were happy to do it! My big brother called to let me know that he had power in Miami-Dade and we should come down and do laundry and have a hot shower! So Saturday morning, first thing we packed up and drove on down...happy as could be. We did our laundry, had hot showers, and ate our first hot meal in days....We left his house about 8p.m....to beat the curfew of 11p.m.... dooo dooo dooo!! We were happy happy.... as we trudged up stairs we passed some neighbors... "Hey guys, are you okay? Able to stay in your apartment?"
"No, they put us up in the Holiday Inn...we're going there until they're done."
"Okay, take care..." Doo dooo dooo!! Home again...lalalalalal....

I open the door to our undamaged, electric-free apartment.....and what do I find???.... That's right people.......they came in and tore down walls, and ceiling, and our bathroom was torn to pieces....WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED!!!!!?!?!?!?!?

I'm astonished and can hardly catch my breath. The apartment that had sheltered us so well through the storm and ALL week was now a SHELL of it's former self........

The saga and what followed will continue tomorrow.....TUNE IN!! I'm back......

PEACE Ya'll!