Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 7:13 PM
Words Women Use / Say and what they really mean:
1.) FINE: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2.) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five Minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3.) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in “fine”.
4.) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don’t Do It!
5.) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a nonverbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6.) That’s Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7.) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you’re welcome.
8.) Whatever: Is a women’s way of saying SCREW YOU!
9.) Don’t worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking “what’s wrong,” and for the woman’s response to that, refer to # 3.
10.) CAN’T WE JUST BE FRIENDS? There is no way I’m going to let any part of your body touch any part of mine, ever again.
11.) I JUST NEED SOME SPACE. … without you in it.
12.) DO I LOOK FAT IN THIS DRESS? We haven’t had a fight in a while.
13.) NO, PIZZA’S FINE. … you cheap slob!
14.) I JUST DON’T WANT A BOYFRIEND NOW. I just don’t want you as a boyfriend now.
15.) I DON’T KNOW, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? I can’t believe you have nothing planned.
16.) COME HERE. My puppy does this, too.
17.) I LIKE YOU, BUT… I don’t like you.
18.) OF COURSE I LOVE YOU. … just not in that way.
19.) YOU NEVER LISTEN. You never listen.
20.) WE’RE MOVING TOO QUICKLY. I’m not pursuing this relationship until I am positive I can’t do any better than you.
21.) I’LL BE READY IN A MINUTE. I’m ready, but I’m going to make you wait because I know you will.
22.) I NEED NEW SHOES. The other 40 pairs are simply the wrong shade.
23.) I HEARD A NOISE. I noticed you were almost asleep.
24.) DO YOU LOVE ME? I'm going to ask for something expensive.
25.) HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME? I did something today you're really going to hate.
26.) IT'S YOUR DECISION. The correct decision should be obvious by now.
26.) YOU'RE SO MANLY. You need a shave and you sweat a lot.
27.) THIS KITCHEN IS SO INCONVIENENT. I want a new house.
28.) DO YOU LIKE THIS RECIPE? It's easy to fix, so you'd better get used to it.
29.) I'M SORRY. You'll be sorry!
30.) I WAS WRONG. Not as wrong as you!
31.) ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME? Too late, you're dead!
What a Man says and what he REALLY means....
1.) I’M HUNGRY. I’m hungry
2.) I’M TIRED. I’m tired
3.) DO YOU WANT TO GO TO A MOVIE? I’d eventually like to have sex with you
4.) CAN I TAKE YOU OUT TO DINNER? I’d eventually like to have sex with you
5.) WOULD YOU LIKE TO DANCE? I’d eventually like to have sex with you
6.) CAN I CALL YOU SOMETIME? I’d eventually like to have sex with you
7.) NICE DRESS! Nice cleavage!
8.) YOU LOOK TENSE, LET ME GIVE YOU A MASSAGE. I want to fondle you
9.) "LET'S TALK" I am trying to impress you by showing that I am a deep person and maybe then we can get down to business
10.) "WHAT'S WRONG" I don’t see why you are making such a big deal out of this.
11.) YOU LOOK UPSET. I guess sex tonight is out of the question
12.) "I LOVE YOU, TOO" Okay, I said it…we’d better have sex now!
13.) YES, I LOVE YOUR NEW HAIRSTYLE. I liked it better before
14.) YES, YOUR HAIRCUT LOOKS GOOD. $50 and it doesn’t even look different!
15.) I LIKED THE FIRST DRESS YOUR TRIED ON BETTER. Pick any freakin’ dress and let’s go!
16.) "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" I want to make it illegal for you to have sex with other guys.
17.) "I'M GOING FISHING" "I'm going to drink myself dangerously stupid, and stand by a stream with a stick in my hand, while the fish swim by in complete safety."
18.) "LET'S TAKE YOUR CAR" "Mine is full of beer cans, burger wrappers and completely out of gas."
19.) "MY WIFE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND ME" "She's heard all my stories before, and is tired of them."
20.) "IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN" "I have no idea how it works."
21.) "I'M GETTING MORE EXECISE LATELY" "The batteries in the remote are dead."
22.) "I GOT A LOT DONE" "I found 'Waldo' in almost every picture."
23.) "HONEY, WE DON'T NEED MATERIAL THINGS TO PROVE OUR LOVE." "I forgot our anniversary again."
24.) "THAT'S WOMEN'S WORK" "It's difficult, dirty, and thankless."
25.) "YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS" "I remember the theme song to 'F Troop', the address of the first girl I ever kissed and the Vehicle Identification Numbers of every car I've ever owned, but I forgot your birthday."
26.) "I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT YOU, AND GOT YOU THESE ROSES." "The girl selling them on the corner was a real babe."
27. "I HEARD YOU" "I haven't the foggiest clue what you just said, and am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you don't spend the next 3 days yelling at me."
28. "YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE" "I am used to the way you yell at me, and realize it could be worse."
29. "YOU LOOK TERRIFIC" "Oh, God, please don't try on one more outfit. I'm starving."
30. "I MISSED YOU" "I can't find my sock drawer, the kids are hungry and we are out of toilet paper."
31. "I'M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WEHRE WE ARE." "No one will ever see us alive again."
32. "I DON'T NEED TO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS." "I am perfectly capable of screwing it up without printed help."
33. "I'LL TAKE YOU TO A FANCY RESTARAUNT." Someplace that doesn't have a drive-thru window."
Catch up on what tiggerprr's scratching post has to offer....
Her latest is The Foo, A Goody Exchange and Other Random Stuff.
Don't forget to read her latest run up of the Fox TV show 24.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 4:54 AM
My eyes rim with tears as I think of my father.
I blink quickly trying to clear the blurring of my eyes, as tears come unbidden to roll gently down my cheeks. For you see, my father passed away last year and if I think too much on it, a great sadness overwhelms me.
Why tonight my thoughts turned to 'Pop', I have no idea. Maybe it was because I had too much time on my hands, and my thoughts turned reflective. I don't know.
I really didn't think I would post anything about how this affects me, and at this time, I am just unsure if I should proceed.
Not to go into great detail, suffice it to say, when I was young, tender age of around 4 yrs old I believe, my mother left with me and hid from my father at that time. He, I believe was 36 and she still not yet 20. She had me when she was 17. things did not work out and she fled to her side of the family and I was essentially raised with my father not knowing where I was and not in my life at all.
I will not judge them for how they were during that time and it doesn't mean they are the same today as they were back then.
Moving on....
It wasn't until I was 26, out of the Army and back living in Michigan that my half-sister found me and contacted me. After a while of phone calls and talking, I went to Florida to visit and met my dad, "pop", for the first time in over 20 years.
Skipping ahead, I did get to know him better, but not as much as I should have or wanted.
On his side of the family, he did not have one Grandson from any of his children, except mine, Comedian, his one and only Grandson.
I hear he was extremely proud that he had a grandson to carry on the family name, and to tell you the truth so am I.
[heaves a deep sigh and wipes away the tears]
I cannot help how this makes me feel, it still tears me up real bad, and writing about this, it just makes it harder as I think more and more about it.
Anyways, as I was saying, pop was real happy that he had a grandson. Essentially the long lost son newly found, has given him the grandson the rest of his children had not.
I really should have visited sooner. I had no clue he had cancer. No one told me.....
I was at work when I got a call from my wife, that my older sis called and told me that my father was dying of small cell cancer - that he was in the hospital and they did not think he would last the week.
When I hung the phone, I stood still for a minute, then lashed out at the first thing I could find, kicking a chair across the workplace to slam into the wall on the far side of the room.
I turned and talked to the next person in charge, my boss wasn't around at that time, I didn't ask, I told them I was leaving to drive to Florida, and they need to find a replacement, because I was leaving now.
I walked out of the building got in the van and drove home. My wife, bless her heart; I don't know how I would have survived without her. She took care of everything, calls, arrangements, kids, packing. She had most of everything ready to go within an hour and we piled in to the van and took off.
We drove, most of it is hazy at this time...but I remember my wife suddenly crying in the back of the van and telling me to pull over. So I pulled into a rest stop at 3am, where she proceeds to tell me that pop had died that morning. My sister wanted her to wait to tell me till I got down there, but it was tearing my wife apart and she had to tell me.
I was too late. Pop was gone, and I missed.. I missed...the chance to say goodbye. I missed the chance [chest heaves in a silent sob] for him to see his one and only grandson. I missed the chance for him to meet my wife for the first time.
I MISSED ..... LOST...THE CHANCE...GONE!!!
He never got to see my family!!
I wanted to scream into the night. I was angry. Oh God was a I angry, not at my wife or my sister, but that I was late, that my chance was gone, it was lost.....
I wandered around the rest area for probably 30 minutes, then after smoking several cigarettes, walked back and we got back underway, heading to Florida, now not to see Pop for the last time, but to bury him.
At the funeral, I felt like a lone ship on the ocean, drifting. I had family and friends around, but I was distant, withdrawn. Anger still filled me that I missed the last chance for him to meet my familty, my wife, his grandchildren. My fists were clenched till the knuckles shown white and my teeth were clamped down hard as I tried not to let the tears flow.
I stayed... stayed until almost everyone had walked off, driven off. Only my brother Harley was near me then he waited over by his truck till I was ready. He would not leave until I was ready.
I stayed, crouched at his grave where they had lowered him down, there...there I let the tears flow and the deep sobs that racked my chest as my shoulders shook with grief.
[heaves a large sigh]
It's been probably a year since then, and it still affects me, the tears still cannot be controlled as I write this; they flow down...still.
It...I...I don't know how. I haven't been in contact except a christmas card to my brothers and sister since then. No phone calls, letters...
I know I should call, write.... do something, but I don't know what to say or where to start.
I am still that lone ship on the ocean, my compass is broken and I don't know what direction to take or how to begin plotting that course home.
And so I drift....
[Editor's Note - It has been brought to my attention (wives will do that) that Comedian was not the only grandson, there is another from my sister. What I meant to say was that Comedian is the only grandson with my father lastname. It was also brought to my attention that it has been closer to two years and not one since my father's death. My apologies for these few mishaps in the writing, I was on an emotional rollercoaster at the time I was writing this.]
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 10:36 PM
I am not 36 years YOUNG, I am 36 years OLD, and getting OLDER by the minute.
I have a few gray hairs at my temple, and as my children grow older I expect the gray will probably multiply by each year they grow older. (yes, they will grow older, not younger)
It seriously chaps my ass to hear people refer to others as "so and so is 70 years YOUNG!"
Are we that afraid of getting older?
Well, let's see what Dr. Seuss has to say about growing older?
There are great things associated with getting older:
* Finally you can eat dinner at 4:00 * Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off. * Kidnappers are not very interested in you – unless you are filthy rich. * It’s harder for sexual harassment charges to stick (but don’t mind doing it) * If you've never smoked, you can start now and it won't have time to hurt you. * People no longer view you as a hypochondriac. * Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either. * Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size. * Your eyes won't get much worse. * Things you buy now won’t wear out. * No one expects you to run into a burning building. * There’s nothing left to learn the hard way. * Your joints are more accurate than the National Weather Service. * In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first. * You are smarter, much smarter, at over 50 than when you were only 25. * When a sexy babe catches your fancy, your pacemaker opens the garage door nearest you. * You consider coffee one of the most important things in life. [it isn't? - sanity] * You talk about "good grass" and you're referring to someone's lawn. * You got cable for the weather channel. [My mother to a tee - sanity] * You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there. * You know all the answers, but nobody asks the questions. [That will be my kids teen years - sanity]
Yes, I am getting older.
Guess what! So are you....
So I don't want to hear any more silly talk of 'years young', got it?
Click on over and visit my renter. Join her in wishing her dear friend Desert Songbird a happy birthday, also click on over and see what you would look like as an M&M!
Mine would not be plain, it would have to be with nuts. Just a big ol' candy-coated sugar daddy who is just a bit nutty.....
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 10:03 PM
While watching Thomas the train over and over and over and over and over again...can seem tiring, repetitive and perhaps drive you a bit stir crazy at times...
Someone has taken to dancing to the music.
Sorry no music, this was captured on digital camera (3.2) and while it allows for small clips of video, it does not record audio.
I would like to replace the camera sometime with one that takes excellent pictures, and can do decent video clips with audio.
Click on over and visit my renter. Check out her cloud with a silver lining, her Welcoming of Foo, and her Friday's Feast.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 11:50 AM
It was a hard choice to choose from so many bidders, but after narrowing it down to three, there was one that caught my eye the most and a New Renter was chosen.
What you want to know more about her? Well, it was hard, but I did some sluething and found video footage of her.....
[chuckles]
Ok, a few things to know about her then.....
I was a tomboy when I was little. I much preferred running, jumping, climbing and playing football or baseball to dolls and tea parties. I think my Dad hoped for a boy.
Oh, I think it is not as much as that though. My daughter is 4 and will rough house just as much as her little brother who is 2, both to come flying across the room and jump on daddy who is laying on the floor as I catch them and tumble them end over end. If its fun, kids will do it.
I am a huge procrastinator.
So am I. I made a New Years resolution to start being on time more often, and it was about the only thing I was 'early' on, it got broken quickly.
Maybe I will just post this tommorrow.....
I’m deathly afraid of heights.
I don't mind heights, it's falling that I am scared of.
I am annoyed by stupidity. I try to be tolerant, but it’s so hard.
I know the feeling. Probably why I love Bill Engvall's "Here's your Sign" so much. If they were wearing their 'sign' we would know how to treat them....
I have exponentially more online friends than “in person” friends. And it’s not because I just moved.
I know, and to an extent I am the same way. It is easier to be friends with someone online than it is in person. Schedules, time and well, meeting in person every day can be a pain. You still have the ability to be yourself, and can be more like yourself when you are not face to face with another. Plus I write better than I talk.
I am on a neverending quest to make a meal and have my husband say, “Wow, that’s delicious!” So far, it’s usually “It’s fine.” Wives out there understand that “Fine” is NOT what we wish to hear about outfits or cooked meals. So if you have any “WOW!” recipes, send ‘em my way. Just remember, no fish. He won’t eat them either.
[chuckling]
I know, from a guys point of view, a couple of things that could make me say "WOW! That's delicious" and not be talking about the food...[laughs]
Seriously though, we will need to know more of his tastes to bring that about. Meat and Potatoes? Chinese? Meatloaf?
If we know ,more about what he likes, we can help with possibilities.
There! now you know a bit more about her, and if you want to know more, you will just have to click and go visit her.
Welcome her properly, swing on over and explore her site.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 10:49 PM
Just how perverted are you?
When you looked, did you see a man and woman in a sexual position, or did you see the DOLPHINS?
Can you find the baby in the picture?
Oh, so you think your getting good, eh?
See if you can find the 10 wolves in the picture.....
Just a little man begging for a drink?
Doing the Wave.
Sailing, Sailing away....
I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did!
Now, so my renter will feel all fuzzy and warm, click on the link (or the page icon here) and go visit her site. Check out what she is up to, what swaps she has done so far, and what she has received.
If you are interested in what she is doing, you can sign up to participate.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 11:28 AM
Well, we finally got snow on the ground, though not alot.
Drama Queen is still waiting to be able to go play in some massive snow, so waiting on the first real good snow and we will go out and have a good ol' fashioned snowball fight.
Just the youngsters against the adults.
And this video proves that just because we are older, doesn't mean we aren't smarter. [chuckles]
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 12:49 PM
Memories......
One such is Korea, seems like so far away....has it really been 17 years ago when I was in Korea?
I think I was, what...hmmm, 19 or 20 years old here in this picture.
Yes, I realize that is not regulation head gear, not unless the Army adpoted No Beer, No Work" as normal head gear for soldiers. [chuckles]
Ungh, do you realize I could drink most adults under the table and then some at age 19 just from being in Korea? There was not that much to do when your base is so close to the DMZ and out in the boonies. At 20 years old, after I got back to the States, my next duty station ended up being Fort Campbell, KY and I met up with a buddy of mine that just got back from Turkey...between the both of us, we drank 13 pitchers of beer.
2nd Infantry Division.
Man I was so proud to wear that patch, it was like a badge of honor.
I guess it was party cause I am part Indian myself, it felt like fate I suppose.
Ah, too funny, ran across someone from the Silver Star Outlaws in Korea, seems this person built a website for those in '97. I can probably add pictures from my day in '90, by the way, I had 2 names, "Roo" and "Shutterbug". I was always taking pictures...[chuckles]
Silver Star Outlaws was a Korean Bar outside of Camp Casey (pictured above), which was about 2 hours east of where I was stationed at Camp Edwards. The Korean city was Dongducheon, or commonly referred to us as, the TDC.
Hmmm, doing a little searching ran me into a few more Silver Star Outlaw member sites, Brians' page has some pics of the bar and a few Silver Star Outlaws.
Definately a special group. A home away from home.
Hmmm, doing a little more research seeing if I can find more pictures on the net to show you, found that Camp Edwards seems to have been closed and given back to South Korea.
Well, I will see if I can dig up some of the "interesting" pictures of what soldiers do when off duty...and post some of them. [laughs]
Meanwhile head on over to my Tenant and go check out her blog.
Go on, you know your curious...c'mon click it.....
Need to make sure she gets her moneys worth and I do so try......
It seems her blog started off as her experiences and an outlet for her to talk herself through Invitro Fertilization (IVF), which she started blogging back in September 2004, but seems to have morphed beyond just her experiences with IVF and encompasses many other topics and interests.
Read and understand what things are like going through IVF. Surf through her site, explore her writing, and her thoughts on many subjects.
Her latest is very interesting and perhaps you too would like to participate.....
OK, so I have decided to give this a go. I’m hoping to find a swap buddy somewhere in the world. I can send you anything I can find in the stores here in Finland. I just need you to check what can be sent to your country. I can for example get you local candy (we have very good chocolate here) or that CD from Finland. I can go shopping for fabrics and yarn and other crafty things. Just let me know what you want.
....
What would I like to get then? Right now I would really, really like to find Biker Mice, Ninja Turtles, Darth Vader or Transformers clothing size 120 cm or equivalent (pajamas, t shirts etc.). Or just about anything with one of these characters on it. Or Duel Masters, Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon. Or if you can’t find any of these, something that the 6 year old boys in your country are crazy about. I’d really like to get something for my DS with every swap I do, as he gets so exited when the packages come and so disappointed if there is nothing for him. And no, edible things do not count.
Other than that I’m interested in chocolate, I’d love to taste what kind of chocolate you have in your part of the world. I especially like dark chocolate with at least 60% cocoa. Or if you have something else you think I might like, I’m sure we can work out something.
She has gotten a few swaps already, one from Portugal and another swap from a reader in the US.
I think this is a fascinating idea, and a great way to indulge a bit in other cultures, from food to postcards.
I collect postcards myself, and hope to one day put together a big scrap book for my kids, one that has several postcards of each state in the US, and then hopefully another for countries around the world, postcards and perhaps small amounts of money from each country so they can see what each country has for currency. I think it is a good way to introduce the kids, including myself, to different cultures.
I like this idea she has going on swaps very much, enough so that it colored my choice for renter and I chose her blog. Plus it may give me a chance to explore more on the subject of swaps and other cultures more during the week.
Welcome her properly, swing on over and explore her site.
[wonders what Finnish chocolates taste like........]
I might have to do a swap so the wife can enjoy some interesting chocolates...she says US chocolate tastes...waxy. You know she is a Canadian, eh?
Monday, January 15, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 3:27 AM
It's been awhile and I decided to check out who is coming and going through my blog on sitemeter when I ran across this "search" that brought up my blog....why I have no idea....
Was it because I have a daughter (Drama Queen) and I talk about her? Where the kissing and privates came from I don't know...but....ungh...do not come here please.
Thank you google for making my post sound raunchy and sexual...ungh. I looked at what the search brought up and this is what google cached on my post:
Taking a Sanity Break: December 2006 I have seen little boys kiss a girl on a cheek, I have seen two little girls ... and responsibilities on children who know that their privates are for going ... breakinsanity.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_breakinsanity_archive.html - 95k -
Way to make what I was writing sound sexual about children....[sighs]
Hmm that was a search done through Blogger itself, which brought up this post from my blog:
Taking Politically Correct too far 21 Dec 2006 by Break from Sanity The incident was described as "sexual harassment" on the school form. School officials consider a student's age and ... Fifteen of those suspensions were for sexual harassment. ... Children do not think of sexual harrassment, adults do. ...
Interesting what mixes of words will bring up.
What else can I find people searching for that come up with my blog.......
Hmmm, this one I can fully understand:
Referring URL http://www.google.co...c &btnG=Search&meta= Search Engine google.com.au Search Words lower back sores after chiropractic
Since I did a few detailed posts and charts on what has happened to my back (I am still recovering) and how much pain I was in, I feel for you (person searching) if you are going through problems with your back. It is nothing to take lightly. You take for granted bending over to put on or tie your shoes...until you can't.
Hmm, a few minor news searches on "leg buckling" (related to what I wrote about my back problem) and another news search on a Walmart break in, related to an earlier posting I wrote probably about shopping at Walmart during Christmas.
Other searches noticed:
Luxury yachts: Oh boy, you picked the wrong section. I have a plastic toy boat though if you really want one....
Dance fads of the 1970s: Ummm, that would be DISCO. C'mon, you know you want to sing it....IN THE NAVY....or how about ....MACHO MACHO MAN...[chuckles]
[Rolling on the floor laughing at the moment.....]
Bengay smell: Ok, c'mon...you were searching for a Bengay SMELL? Scratch and Sniff? [laughs]
TAKING ME FOR STUPID: Yes, that is exactly how the search was typed out, and it looks to be that the searcher was ANGRY. Funny thing is, my blog post was 1st up on the hit that search got. [chuckles]
Save me from stupidity: Funny, same post as the "TAKING ME FOR STUPID" search came up number one again.
I should check out who is out there searching and hitting my blog. Makes for a quick chuckle here and there.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 2:30 PM
It is difficult to write lately, mainly because of lack of subjects to really write about I suppose.
For an update on life around here...
- My back is better, to a degree. I no longer feel like a cripple anymore. It is an extremely slow process it seems for the road to recovery and I miss rough housing with my kids. I am sure they miss flying across the house to come run, jump and land on daddy. OOOFFF!!
I miss it too.
- Kids are growing, getting mouthy, more daring, not listening worth a damn, down right beligerent at times, ignoring me and their momma. When did my 2 and 4 year old turn into teenagers?
I wish I could get them to stop hitting each other.
- Still no snow, though it has stopped raining and has gotten colder. Strange weather for Michigan. Normally within the first 2 weeks of January we have our first snow storm. Hey Denver, care to send some our way? My kids are dying to go play in the snow, and I am dying to hit them with snow balls...heh heh.
- Work? Well not much I can say about that. Still that same ol' same ol. Not much changes for right now. One thing I need to do is do some studying and expand my knowledge with things I do around work, and on the worst case scenario that if I ever lose my job, that I would have something valuable to offer another employer.
- Wife and I have begun talking about getting a house. Not sure if she knows it, but I really would like to get a house, with a nice yard for the kids to run around in. We aren't exactly rich, but have good credit (thanks to her helping me clean it up), and she believes we can get something decent enough as long as we budget better. She is probably right, though don't tell her I said that....she might get a big head or something...[chuckles]
Seriously though, we pay between $600 and $700 now for a two bedroom apartment, which has heat included. We should be able to get a mortgage for around $700 to $800 for a 30 yeard fixed, depending on what the interest rates are. We would have to pay additional utilities, but normally the worst ones are electric, and we pay that anyways at the apartment. I think it is possible, I am just extremely nervous, because that is alot of money to be getting and I want to be able to make sure we can afford it for one. I also hate having to pay rent with money that could be just as easily going into a house.
Do you realize, even at the lowest point for rent of say $600, and being at the place we rent for the last 5 years....
$600 x 12 (months) = $7200 each year. $7200 /yr x 5 (years renting where we're at) = $36,000 we have paid in rent (approximately) in the last 5 years.
That is $36,000 that could have been going onto a house. [sighs]
I want the best for my family. My wife and children deserve better than an apartment. I want my kids to have a yard ot play in, a sand box, swings, a place to play. What they have now is a goose crap filled lawn outside our back door of the apartment.
They deserve better and I want to be able to give it to them. I am just not sure if the wife wants to stay in Michigan, we both agree we would love to go and live in Tennessee, but my job is here in Michigan. I am not sure if I should even entertain the idea of looking for possible work in Tennessee, which may not be stable or long lived, where I have vested time in the company I am at now. Plus we have very good insurance, which is something I had hoped for my family.
I don't know.
I want a house, but wonder if I should even think about it with my wife's thoughts wanting to get out of Michigan. Not that I blame her....if I could, I probably would go in a heartbeat, but I just don't think it is a possibility at this time.
So do I continue to rent, giving someone else money that could be going into a house....
Or do I look into buying a house, and lock us down here in Michigan for quite a while?
Friday, January 05, 2007
Posted by Break from Sanity @ 3:59 PM
I found something that seems fitting at the start of this year, that I received in an email some time ago....
Double Dog Dare
Before the Internet or the MAC Before semi automatics and crack Before SEGA or Super Nintendo......
Way back..........
I'm talking about hide and go seek at dusk Sititng on the porch Hot bread and butter
The Good Humor man Red light, Green light Chocolate milk Lunch tickets Penny candy in a brown paper bag
Playing pinball at the corner store Hopscotch, butterscotch, doubledutch Jacks, kickball, dodgeball Mother May I?
Red Rover and Roly Poly Hula Hoops and Sunflower Seeds Jolly Ranchers, Banana Splits Wax Lips and Mustaches Running through the sprinkler The smell of the sun and licking salty lips...
Wait........
Watching Saturday Morning cartoons Fat Albert, Road Runner, He-Man, The Three Stooges, and Bugs Or back further, listening to Superman on the radio Catching lighting bugs in a jar Playing sling shot
When around the corner seemed so far away, And going downtown seened like going somewhere.
Bedtime Climbing trees An ice cream cone on a warm summer night Chocolate or Vanilla or Strawberry or maybe butter pecan A lemon coke from the fountain at the corner drug store A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers Cops and Robbers Cowboys and Indians Sitting on the curb Jumping down the steps Jumping on the bed
Pillow fights Running till you were out of breath Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt Being tired from playing....Remember that?
I ain't finished just yet......
Eating Kool-aid powder with sugar
Remember when....
When there were two types of sneakers for girls and boys - Keds & PF Flyers - and the only time you wore them at school was for "gym?"
When it took five minutes for the TV to warm up, if you even had one?
When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there?
When nobody owned a purebred dog?
When a quarter was a decent allowance, and another quarter was a miracle?
When milk went up one cent and everyone talked about it for weeks?
When you'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?
When girls neither dated nor kissed until late high school, if then?
When your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?
When all of your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done, everyday?
When you got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, for free, every time? And you didn't have to pay for air? And you got trading stamps to boot?
When laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?
When any parent could discipline a kid, or feed him or use him to carry groceries, and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it?
When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaraunt with your parents?
When they threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed...and did?
When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited a misbehaving student at home?
Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of drive by shootings, drugs, gangs. etc. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of us are still afraid of them!!
Didn't that feel good... just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that!" There's nothing like the good old days! They were good then, and they're good now when we think about them.
I want to go back to the time when.............
Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo"
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "Do over!"
"Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "Monopoly."
Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening.
It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" ffriends.
Being old, referred to anyone over 20.
The net on a tennis court was the perfect height to play volletball, and rules didn't matter.
The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was "cooties."
It was magic when dad would "remove" his thumb.
It was unbelievable that dodgeball wasn't an Olympic event.
Having a weapon in school, meant being caught with a slingshot.
Nobody was prettier than Mom.
Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.
It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the amusement park.
I brought Drama Queen with me to get out of the house and give Momma a break.
After the initial I have to go potty, and getting in there and not having to go, things went a little smoother. I really wish she would stop that.
A bad time to go shopping to, since they were doing restocking and it was like a driving test for shoppig carts as we dodged boxes and pallets.
Hey, quick question....
Why isn't eye makeup remover either with eyeliner or other eye makeup, or in the face cleaning / nail polish removing part? I ended up finding it on the bottom of the shelf, I think in the lipstick area?
No, it wasn't for me. I was shopping for the wife again and yes, I have picked up womens pads before. I am just waiting for the time some cashier gets smart and laughs about it...I will open the box up and peel the sticky off and stick it to their forehead, then say, "There, now we BOTH have something to laugh about."
Speaking of cashiers, ungh, 10 people in line with carts and ONE cashier open at 10pm. Come on, at least have a few people standing by that can open a lane or two, don't wait till people are glaring at every Walmart person going by because we are all stuck in one line and no one has thought to open another register.
Oh, another bitch and moan about Walmart, heck not just Walmart, but any grocery store....why do you put mangled boxes, smashed cans, tops cut up on cereal up on the shelves? Do you really think I want to buy it? Do you really think it makes me think, wow their store has some good stuff when I see things like that up on a shelf?
Ah, this one especially for Walmart...the Price scanners that they have strategically throughout the store....Why are they ALWAYS broken?!?!? I asked someone about that at the Walmart I go to, and they say it is the kids breaking them. It is strange since I have been to Meijers and other grocery stores and THEY don't seem to have that problem and every single one of them work.
Ah, and you have to love the signs marked CLEARANCE, but nothing is marked...and you can't check anything because all the scanners are broken. Makes me just want to buy them all right?
Anyways, pretty uneventful time at Walmart, nothing outrageous, and got soaked getting back to the van to drive home.
Soaked with rain...in January. Fun.
Either going to be a light winter or perhaps a late one, but we ALWAYS get snow, so I will be very suprised if we don't get anything. Maybe Denver can ship us some, i am sure they have had enough at the moment.
Catch up on what tiggerprr's scratching post has to offer....
