tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46076348639278194052024-02-18T19:41:23.390-06:00Life in the fast laneI'm just your everyday southern gal.Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-52599393919676631632014-09-27T11:55:00.000-05:002014-09-27T12:04:58.502-05:00Not your ordinary lunchI spent all day yesterday shopping for my grand daughter. Her 3rd birthday is coming up and her momma told me she had no fall/winter clothes that fit her. Well, I decided to remedy that by buying her everything I could afford. After raising 3 boys, buying little girls clothing is actually a fun activity that involves a lot of "ooooh'ing" and "awwww'ing"... even when you are by yourself. Needless to say I enjoyed spending my husbands hard earned money on tiny pink articles of material.<br />
<br />
After buying out the store (haha) I realized that all that shopping had made me hungry. I drove to Chic-Fil-A and ordered my usual meal. It was such a beautiful day I thought it would be ideal to eat my lunch at the park instead of alone in the restaurant or by myself in my car. The short drive to the park was pleasant and only took a few minutes. I resisted eating my freshly cooked waffle fries until I arrived at my destination. Ok, truthfully I didn't fully resist but I did half heartedly try. I only had one or five. When I arrived at the park I found the only open parking spot and wouldn't you know it, it's shaded. I smiled because that was just the kind of day I was having, a good one. I pulled into the spot, rolled down my windows and took in a deep breath of fresh air. It was such a beautiful day.<br />
<br />
I reached into my bag and stuffed a waffle fry in my mouth as I looked up to see the beauty of the creek before me. I heard an out of place muffled noise and when I looked to my right to see what it was I realized the guy in a small green truck next to me also had his window down and he was apparently having a better lunch than I was. All I could see was a head of dark brown hair bobbing up and down in Mr Green Trucks lap. <br />
Was I seeing what I thought I was seeing? <br />
No, surely not. Not in the middle of the day at the park.<br />
At this moment I realized that I was staring because the bobbing dark brown head of hair now had a brown eyeball that was now looking at me.<br />
My mouth was obviously gaping open because my waffle fry fell out of my mouth and laded on my lap.<br />
Oh...my...goodness. I quickly put my car in reverse and backed out of the parking spot. Oddly enough, in my haste I nearly hit a school bus that was parked nearby.<br />
<br />
-Chantele Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-47032329165309629022014-09-26T07:12:00.000-05:002014-09-26T07:12:07.008-05:00I'm a dreamerAs far back as I can remember, I have always had very vivid dreams. Sometimes I can even remember multiple dreams that I had during the night. The dreams that I enjoy the most are the ones when my dad shows up. Since his death in January 2013 he has appeared in my dreams multiple times. When he shows up its like my regular dream gets put on hold and all my focus goes to him. Last night was no exception. I was having a dream where I was walking through a partially constructed home. I turned a corner and walked almost directly into my father. I hugged him and told him I loved him. In a past dream he had actually gotten on to me for the way I acted when I saw him. He had told me that I had to stop crying and holding on to him every time he appeared in my dreams. So this time there was no crying but I couldn't help but hug him really tight. He looked good. He looked like the daddy I remembered before the cancer. <br />
<br />
He walked around a table and stood across from me. We talked for a while. <br />
I asked him "What do you do all day?'<br />
To which he replied in his typical Roger Allen style "stuff".<br />
"What kind of stuff?" I looked at him as he just shrugged his shoulders and then replied "Just stuff."<br />
He thought for a moment and then said "I gave up wifing." (pronounced Wife+ing)<br />
"Wifing?" I asked<br />
"Yeah, I don't have anyone else to take care of." <br />
His words sounded kind of sad. Almost lonely. And as if he could read my thoughts he continued with "I don't need to be around others. It's different here. It's as if I don't care. No, that's not the right word. It's as if everything is less."<br />
Somehow I understood what he meant. "You don't have feelings or emotions in the afterlife?"<br />
"Yes, well no. I still have them they are just ..." He was searching for the right word. "Diffused."<br />
We could hear footsteps coming near us. We both knew they belonged to my mother. My father looked at me and said "I should go."<br />
"No daddy wait. Momma hasn't seen you in her dreams. Just say hello to her." I begged him.<br />
He sighed and stopped walking toward the back door and came and stood next to me. I grabbed his had and walked toward the sound of my mothers footsteps. She saw me come around the corner and I said to her "Mom, guess who is here to say hello to you?" Then daddy walked around the corner and she saw him. She just stood there, frozen. Not really knowing what to say. "Momma, it's really him. You can ask him anything." <br />
"Roger?!" She said as she gazed upon him. They just looked at each other and I could sense that they had a lot to talk about. I wanted to leave them so they could have some privacy but I didn't want to go.<br />
"Daddy?" <br />
He looked at me and smiled "Yes Chantele"<br />
"How come mommas never seen you before?"<br />
He squeezed my hand a bit then said "We choose one person to connect with. I chose you." Then he turned to go talk to my mom and I woke up.<br />
<br />Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-75575831815212061022014-06-22T03:55:00.000-05:002014-06-22T03:55:30.629-05:00Life as I know itSometimes I wonder why I ever had children. Then I remember, oh, yeah, I was only 16 when I found out I was pregnant. I will never forget the day I told my parents the news. The look of disappointment on my fathers face was too much for me to bare. My mother was furious and started saying horribly mean things to me. She called me a whore (amongst other things). She instantly wanted me to have an abortion. She thought that this unplanned pregnancy at such a young age was a discrace to the family and that I should end it before anyone found out. She told me that I was an embarrassment to her and my father. Within the next 24 hours she even made the appointment to have the pregnancy ended.. Her reasoning was that I was only a minor and therefore she could dictate any healthcare choices for me, whether I wanted them or not. I hadn't planned the pregnancy. I didn't want a child. I was only 16.<br />
<br />
I refused to follow through with her intentions. I couldn't imagine killing the child just because I was too stupid to comprehend the true meaning behind the saying "If you play, you pay." I left home the evening before the appointment and didn't come home until dinner the following night. My mother was mad at me but later agreed to respect my decision after I explained how the words "Thou shall not kill" kept ringing in my head and how strongly I felt the conviction in my heart that I simply will not murder this baby.<br />
<br />
My mothers next mission was becoming insistent that I give the child up for adoption. She pointed out that many people can't have a child of their own and would love to adopt my baby. I refused. I didn't plan this pregnancy. I didn't want a child. But yet, I didn't want to make another life decision that I knew I would regret for eternity. She took it upon herself to make an appointment anyway. This time she didn't inform me about it ahead of time. When we arrived at the adoption agency I was completely surprised because she tricked me by asking me to go shopping with her instead. I remember being taken into an office and told that there are many wonderful couples that I could choose from to give my baby too. The lady behind the desk showed me pictures of them, told me all about their lives, and discussed the entire process with me. She was a very kind woman and was doing her darnedest to sell me on the idea. She almost had me convinced it was the best possible option until she mentioned that "at birth adoptions" meant that as soon as I gave birth, the baby would be given to the adoptive parents and I would not be able to hold him or ever see him again. She insisted that they have discovered that this method was actually easier on the birth mother in the long run.<br />
<br />
I was only 16. I didn't plan this pregnancy. I didn't want a child. But yet, the thought of never holding my baby, this little piece of me, was the definite deciding factor. I politely told her I had no intentions of giving my baby up for adoption and I stood up and walked out of the office with my mother following angrily behind me.<br />
<br />
Over the next few weeks my mother became accustomed to the fact that I was going to have a baby. <br />
<br />
I hid the pregnancy very well at school. I was only a Junior in high school at the time. No one knew I was pregnant until my sixth month. I just woke up one morning and all of a sudden I couldn't hide that I was showing anymore. I was a tiny little thing that only weighed 98 lbs prior to being with child. By then end of my pregnancy my weight skyrocketed all the way up to 168 lbs. My mother took me shopping for some maternity clothes because nothing I owned fit. My feet were even swollen and I couldn't wear any of my shoes. I'll never forget the look on the sales clerk face when my mother asked her where the maternity department was. The clerk looked at me then at my mother then back at me. The look of disgust on her face. She said "For her?! She looks 12!" I guess it didn't help that I am only 4'11" and have always looked very young for my age. My mother grabbed my hand and replied to the clerk "Well, she's not." Then she marched away and found the preggo clothes on her own. <br />
<br />
The type of reaction that the sales clerk gave us wasn't rare. Every where I went, that was the type of treatment I received. Even at school. I had gone from having many friends and the ability to mingle with many different "clicks" to only having a select few friends that would still talk to me and even fewer that would be seen in my company. It was 1992 and 16 and pregnant was not an every day occurrence in the TN school system. The whispers and the giggles and the false rumors of guys I never knew existed being just a knotch on my bedpost were rampant. I realized who my real friends were. Oddly enough, it wasn't the ones I had expected. I did my best to hold my head high and tried to keep my mouth shut. Constantly hearing the words "Slut", "Whore", "Tramp" as I walked down the halls made both of those things very hard to do. One afternoon I was called into the office and was told that my pregnancy was a disturbance to the other students. I was instructed to complete the school year out by being home schooled. At first I was offended, then I was relived and thankful. <br />
<br />
During my last trimester my parents and I went on vacation in Florida. Big mistake. The ride down there was miserable. The air conditioning in my daddys blazer quit working half way there. Which is also why my parents from that point on started renting a car when they travel so they don't have to deal with costly repairs while away from home. It was a particularly hot summer with temperatures into the 100's. I remember sticking my head out the window like a dog trying to cool off as we drove down the interstate. It didn't help. With temperatures that hot the wind was hot too. It was like blowing a heater in my face instead. We stopped in a nearby town so we could get the air fixed. The story goes that the mechanic knew we were in a hurry to get it fixed and that we were traveling and when my dad asked him "How much will it cost?" The mechanic said "How much do you have?" My dad opened his wallet and the guy said "Yep, that'll do." While they were working on it, we went over to a nearby Denny's to get something to eat. When we walked in the hostess looked at me with a look of pure disgust on her face and asked if I "would you like a childs menu?" I'm not sure if my mothers maternal instinct kicked in, or if it was from the heat, or from spending all our spending money on the air conditioner but she went off on that woman. I don't remember the exact words she used but I do remember that she put that woman in her place and I felt proud of her for sticking up for me even though I knew that I didn't deserve to be stood up for.<br />
<br />
I tell you all this only to go back to why I began this post in the first place. My son, who I fought to have and keep, who is now a 22 year old adult male child aggravates me to no extent. He got this hair-brained idea to move to California and start a career selling solar energy with a guy he met by playing video games with him online. He calls me and says he wants to come home. He's been there 3 months and he has been sleeping on other coworkers floors. He hasn't even had a bed. I ask him if he is sure he wants to come home because if he is, I'll fly out there and ride back with him so he won't have to make the cross country drive by himself. He assures me that yes, he is sure. I buy the plane ticket so I can fly there then ride back with him on following Tuesday (Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly). Saturday night he calls and tells me that he has changed his mind, he isn't coming home. He is going to stay and make it work there even after he had already quit his job. He was offered a job at another company and he wants to stay and see if he can make it work in California. He says he is afraid of being considered a quitter and wants to see this through. <br />
<br />
He is stubborn. Like his momma.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-89222556427700790952014-04-12T13:06:00.001-05:002014-04-13T11:12:03.693-05:00Life goes on<b>A lot has happened since my last post.</b> I landed a job that I loved but with a company that had no morals, I ended up leaving after only a year and a half. I've been home writing novels since then. I just submitted my first fantasy fiction novel to a literary agent. <b>Cross your fingers and toes that I get published.</b> I read somewhere that J.K. Rowling was turned down by dozens of agents and it took her over a year to get someone to publish her first Harry Potter book. I am keeping that in mind as I wait to hear a response from submitting for the very first time. I'm sure I will <i>(eventually)</i> post something here about when it finally happens.
<P /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/941636_10201081209733983_700167073_n.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px;" src="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/941636_10201081209733983_700167073_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="Daddys Grave" /></a>2013 wasn't a good year for me. <b>My father lost his battle with cancer</b> and passed away at his home on January 16th. I was at work when I got the news and a huge part of me died that day. My dad was always the one person that I went to for wisdom and advice. Here it is 15 months later and I am crying as I merely mention his passing. <b>I miss him so much.</b> My dad and I were very close. My sisters were older then me and never wanted their baby sister to be in their room or playing with their stuff so I ended up hanging out with my dad instead. He always welcomed me to come sit on the couch with him or to assist him out in his shed or in the yard. I was my daddy's shadow. Where ever he went, I was right behind him. I can't count the number of times we went to junk yards and pulled parts off cars together. He taught me what every tool is called and what it's purpose is. <b>My dad also taught me that a real man treats his family with love and respect.</b> I never once heard him yell or lose his temper. He was always jolly and fun to be around. I miss him so much.
<P /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1.0-9/13889_10201949811168476_2059301075_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px;" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1.0-9/13889_10201949811168476_2059301075_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="Sugar" /></a>In October I lost my dog Sugar. <b>She was 15 years old and loved me till her last hour.</b> She was a loyal dog that I had since she was only a pup. We suspected that Rosco would probably follow in her footsteps and were saddened to discover we were right. In February 2014 he had a stroke and was <b>buried in the yard next to Sugar</b>. Losing him was harder than losing Sugar. I guess my grief meter was full and toppled over. I should learn how to write a country song because I think I have enough sorrow to fill one. Even my dogs are gone.<P /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t31.0-8/1800070_10202966700870083_1536463108_o.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px;" src="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t31.0-8/1800070_10202966700870083_1536463108_o.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="Rosco" /></a>
<P>On a happier note, my youngest child, Tanner, <b>graduated with honors</b> from high school last May and is about to complete his freshman year at Middle Tennessee State University. He would like to become a <b>college professor of mathematics</b>. He has many years of school still ahead of him. He is one of the smartest people I know, <b>I believe he will succeed</b>.
<P><b>On an even happier note</b>, in July 2013 my husband and I went to Hawaii for 2 weeks to <b>celebrate our 20th anniversary</b>. While there we fell in love with the way of life, the people, the culture, the beauty of the island and have recently come to <b>the decision to move there</b>. I checked into the price of shipping our possessions over there and it was outrageous. We have decided to sell everything and start fresh in Hawaii. We want to live a simple life once we get there. We plan on living off grid with water catchment and solar energy. <b>In order to make that dream a reality we will have to sell everything we own including cars, trucks, motorcycles, house, furniture, tools, crafts, artwork, electronics, dishes, appliances, clothes....<i>EVERYTHING!</i></b> We plan on only taking what we can fit in our luggage.
<P>I was doing some research online and read that if you are going to sell everything you own that it's best to set up a blog to list the stuff on. I will also be creating Ebay listings with most things starting at <b>$0.99 with no reserve</b> because I have to sell everything so I will just <b>let everything go for whatever it goes for</b>. Whatever we make we will put towards our Hawaii Fund. I'm sure we will also have several yard sales through out the entire process too. Be on the lookout for more info.
<P><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t31.0-8/1075542_10201469753287329_1351084334_o.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px;" src="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t31.0-8/1075542_10201469753287329_1351084334_o.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="Sugar" /></a>Once everything is sold, including the house, we will live happily ever after in paradise.
<P>You have not because you ask not.
<P>If anyone has a kind heart and deep pockets, please feel free to aid in making our dream a reality.
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<P><P><BR><P> - ChanteleChantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-43714378762522034272012-04-15T01:04:00.002-05:002012-04-15T02:01:02.867-05:00Endurance"Oh, the gift that God could give us to see ourselves as others see us." From my last few blog posts I can only assume the worst of what others may think of me. I am not usually a whiner. In fact, I try to be positive and upbeat most of the time but lately life just has been harsh and remaining positive has been nearly impossible. After dwelling on my circumstances (for far too long) I have decided to refuse to allow them to control me anymore. Oh, my problems aren't gone. In fact, they have unbearably gotten worse. I am now in a position where I truly have no idea what will come of me but at the same time, I have decided to not let it affect my outer persona any longer. <br /><br />I am determined to help myself and by doing so the first thing I must do is start searching for employment. I had hoped this could have waited until my father was healthy again but unfortunately, life doesn't always go according to plan. I hate the idea of not always being there for him. I keep his spirits lifted and when I am gone for just one day, it shows in his demeanor. This is the part that bothers me the most because I know that he really needs me. I am not one to walk away from responsibilities but when looking at the cards I have been dealt, returning to work it the obvious next step even if it does mean not being there to help take care of him. I'm so sorry daddy.<br /><br />One way or another things will work out, life always seems to find a way. It's just a matter of time and heartache along the way. I am stepping into unknown territory and even though the "who, what, when, and where" are not determined yet I have faith that I will be just fine. Although, it is hard to prepare for a journey especially when you are unsure of your destination. <br /><a href="http://www.babygadget.net/suitcase-couverture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="http://www.babygadget.net/suitcase-couverture.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-55596518525839406562012-04-08T01:41:00.006-05:002012-04-10T15:36:52.433-05:00"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao-tzuI did it. I took the first step. FDR wasn't entirely accurate when he said <span style="font-weight:bold;">"You have nothing to fear but fear itself."</span> but I am strong and I know I WILL persevere, one way or another.Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-87494295857287037422012-03-16T05:09:00.002-05:002012-03-16T06:10:54.267-05:00Hard decisions<a href="http://www.aldiscorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/easy-button.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 360px;" src="http://www.aldiscorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/easy-button.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Life isn't always fair or easy. This comes to no surprise to anyone as everyone has already learned this truth on their own. This is the one similarity that all of humanity shares with one another. Our bond that holds us together, so to speak. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Road Not Taken</span><br /> <br /> <br />TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, <br />And sorry I could not travel both <br />And be one traveler, long I stood <br />And looked down one as far as I could <br />To where it bent in the undergrowth; <br /> <br />Then took the other, as just as fair, <br />And having perhaps the better claim, <br />Because it was grassy and wanted wear; <br />Though as for that the passing there <br />Had worn them really about the same, <br /> <br />And both that morning equally lay <br />In leaves no step had trodden black. <br />Oh, I kept the first for another day! <br />Yet knowing how way leads on to way, <br />I doubted if I should ever come back. <br /> <br />I shall be telling this with a sigh <br />Somewhere ages and ages hence: <br />Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— <br />I took the one less traveled by, <br />And that has made all the difference. <br /><br />- Robert Frost</span> <br /><br /><br />I find myself standing at a crossroad and wanting to walk in a new untrodden direction but discover I am afraid to move. Frozen, if you will. My fear of not only the unknown but also of the known. Every crossroad has choices. Every action has a reaction. Every decision has a consequence. <br /><br />Life really does need an easy button.Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-45546032152273374382010-11-18T03:12:00.004-06:002010-11-18T03:46:34.798-06:00Fingers and ToesIt's funny how you learn things about people. Things you never thought you didn't know. We were in the car driving back from my daddys first visit to the Oncologist. My dad was talking about how he is more worried about what mom is going to go through than what he is. Upon hearing this, my sister who was sitting in the back seat next to me asked "Mom, is that how you felt when you had cancer?" <br />"No, when I had it, it was different."<br />"How so?"<br />"Well, I had ovarian cancer. It was easy to cure. They just had to remove all my parts. But they made me get pregnant first."<br />"What do you mean?"<br />"When I found out I had cancer, they flew us to Germany so I could get pregnant."<br />I asked "What do you mean? They made you get pregnant? Why?"<br />"Well, I wanted another baby and it was now or never. They were going to have to remove my ovaries. So, they flew us to go be with your daddy who was stationed in Germany."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OOLhdhz2EoLWaEqpku0yNOCek5bDlM5VHg6K4GDbcFDQD8Q0I2A5IZu1THJSozmuV2MbFAamzl7nReAGO_7L1aoBAJuOPJNcRy0EmKbpFhTEqGTGHz-EknETAxYu4xYbyCWdtjXL1Ec/s1600/fetus.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OOLhdhz2EoLWaEqpku0yNOCek5bDlM5VHg6K4GDbcFDQD8Q0I2A5IZu1THJSozmuV2MbFAamzl7nReAGO_7L1aoBAJuOPJNcRy0EmKbpFhTEqGTGHz-EknETAxYu4xYbyCWdtjXL1Ec/s320/fetus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540823577116737586" /></a>That was part of their story I never knew. My mother did get pregnant soon after arriving in Germany. Several months into her pregnancy she began bleeding. She was rushed to the hospital and the doctors informed her that her baby had died. They preformed a DNC and removed the fetus. My mother was heartbroken. Several weeks passed and she returned to the doctor. She told him that she still felt pregnant. They told her she was imagining things and sent her home. She returned again, insistent that she was still carrying a child. The doctor examined her and much to their surprise discovered that she was correct, there was still a fetus in her womb. They were certain that since a DNC had been preformed that the child would be missing part if not all of their limbs and tried to pursue her to have an abortion. She refused. She continued carrying the child for the rest of her pregnancy but in constant worry of the deformities that they child may have. On January 24, 1974 my mother gave birth. The first thing she did when she saw her baby girl was to count all my fingers and toes. Yep, they are all there. :)<br /><br />They didn't have all the high tech gadgets they have now days. No one even knew she was carrying twins. I sometimes feel an absence in my heart and wonder if it's just me missing the twin that she lost. I must admit that it makes me feel rather special though to know that God must have wrapped me up her womb and protected me from the procedure. It makes me feel as though I have a purpose. I just wish I knew what that purpose was...<br /><br />-ChanteleChantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-18710525251931604382010-11-01T03:25:00.002-05:002010-11-01T04:06:35.394-05:00Lessons learnedRecently I have learned several valuable lessons.<br /><br />Lesson #1: Do not think that just because you have watched the girls in the nail salon apply acrylic nails to your hands numerous times over the years in any way gives you the inheritable knowledge of how to do them yourself.<br /><br />Lesson #2: Always watch the instructional video included in the acrylic nail kit PRIOR to attempting to just "wing it" and do it on your own. Refer again to lesson #1.<br /><br />Lesson #3: Do not apply acrylic nails for the first time while in a hurry. <br /><br />Lesson #4: Applying only the white powder to the entire nail is a bad idea as well. Use clear or pink even if your not doing the french manicure look. <br /><br />Lesson #5: Fingernail polish will not make your crappy nail job look any better.<br /><br />Lesson #6: Learning how to successfully remove said crappy acrylic nails takes a very long time and lots of patience.Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-88127057855806229742010-10-03T01:03:00.002-05:002014-04-12T07:43:54.595-05:00Here I go againI suck at blogging. I sporadically go through spurts where I decide to come here and write something. Today happens to be one of those days. I don't really have anything interesting to say. I guess the reason I suck at blogging is because I realize that no one wants to read about my mundane existence. Its boring enough living it. That's not entirely true, my life is far from boring. Well, I'm no rock star but I am a motorcycle momma!<br /><br />We closed Scrapbook Obsessions on August 31, 2010. I feel as though I have been in mourning over it. Silly, huh? Mom and I built that company from the ground up. We grew rapidly and were very successful for several years before the recession hit. Since we are in the hobby industry we discovered that is the first place that everyone started cutting back in their budgets. We felt the hit hard. We tried holding on, for too long really, before we realized that it was time to finally let go. It's sad but it was the right thing to do. I will miss it terribly. I don't want to leave the craft industry forever though. It is where I feel at home. It's what I love to do.<br /><br />Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-5201907587406166062010-03-02T21:17:00.002-06:002010-03-02T22:31:12.702-06:00Swirly<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/dc/11-07%20brush%201.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 389px; height: 427px;" src="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/dc/11-07%20brush%201.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It's been a while. Have you missed me?<br /><br />You know what I was thinking about today? Swirly's. You know, when a bigger kid takes a smaller kid and flushes his head in a toliet. Yeah, that's a swirly.<br /><br />You know what else I was thinking about today? That I'm not a good blogger. I remember an old saying "Good girls keep diaries. Bad girls don't have the time." Now, I'm not calling myself bad but I definitely don't have the time. <br /><br />My lack of time is due to my inability to turn down a challenge. I have taken it upon myself to redesign my website (that I poorly designed years ago) and wow, has that been a major undertaking. I had no idea that I would have done as much as I have. I have taught myself how to code html and css. I learned how to use javascript to make my site interactive with galleries and chat areas. Oh, and now I'm learning how to use MySQL to design an entire user friendly shopping cart program. Not just download a program, I am creating the programs (with help from others). It's fascinating. I love doing it. I just wish I already knew it all so I wouldn't have to keep going back and fixing mistakes that I didn't realize I was making. But, I guess that's part of learning. <br /><br />I have also taken on a VERY big project at work. I am excited as to where this may take me and I have been working diligently to getting it off the ground. I can only hope and pray that it pans out for me because if it does, wow. That's all I'm gonna say.<br /><br />My life is like a whirlwind right now. I am being pulled in so many different directions at one time and I am doing my best to keep up with all of them. I'm not complaining though. I enjoy my brain working in constant overdrive. It lets me know that I'm still alive and not merely existing. Although, it does kind of feel like God is the one giving me a swirly right now...but if He is, than I guess I deserved it.Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-70647045497833448852009-08-23T02:18:00.002-05:002009-08-23T03:11:08.817-05:00SerendipityI woke up this morning not wanting to get up and go for a ride only because I stayed up so late the night before. I had gone with my sister, Kayla, for some drinks at a local pub. We met some old friends, hung out, and listened to the band. The band was awful but what do you expect from a group of doctors, anesthesiologists and other medical professionals? They tried miserably hard to play songs everyone already knew but couldn't recognize until the chorus because they made them sound completely different than what anyone could recall. I actually went as Kayla's designated driver since I knew I had to get up early to go on a motorcycle ride.<br /><br />Tom woke me up when he got home at 6:30am. We took a shower then I hopped on my bike and rode to meet the others. Before taking my bike out of the garage I stepped out into the driveway and spread my arms. This is my non-scientific way of testing the air temperature for riding. I stand there, with my arms out to my side and I spin around in my driveway. By doing this I create wind and I am able to feel the temperature of the air + wind sheer so I can estimate if I will need a jacket, long sleeve shirt, or other warmer article of clothing to layer over my shirt. Now that I type it out I guess it seems kind of cheesy but in all actuality, it is fairly accurate. The temperature you feel on your skin when your riding your bike at 80mph is a lot cooler then the temperature you feel when you are just standing outside. <br /><br />It felt chilly but the sun was shining and felt warm on my skin. I ignored my first impulse to put my sweatshirt on and instead tucked it in my saddle bag. I figured that I could at least get started down the road and if I got too chilly I could just pull over and put it on. But, knowing me, you must realize that I was running late so even though I did get chilly on the way to the meeting point I didn't have time to make that comfort stop. In fact, I got on the interstate and pulled my throttle as far as it would go the entire way there. I didn't want them to leave without me and I was enjoying feeling the power of my engine beneath me. I even surprised myself because I believe I had my bike going the fastest it's ever been. I was going 93mph and would have loved to go faster if my bike would have let me. Times like this really makes me want to buy a larger bike but I keep telling myself that mine is paid for and I don't really NEED that power...I do definitely want it though. LOL! <br /><br />As soon as I made it to the meeting point I gassed my bike up. I'm only riding a 600 and those I'm with have 1700's, 1900's, etc. and so I usually gas up every time we stop so I don't run out of gas in between stops. We usually only stop every 70-80 miles and my tank will only go 118 miles per tank. Even after fueling up my tank I contemplate not going on the ride and just heading home because I just wasn't "feeling it". But I didn't. We pulled out of the gas station and headed down the road. Instantly I felt great. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds and felt so warm on my back. The roads were nice and curvy and even though we were traveling a little slower than my usual pace, I was having a great time. The entire day was perfect. Tons of curves, a great lunch, fun with friends, really, what else could anyone ask for? It was a perfect Saturday ride.Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-10598432474244061962009-08-04T22:29:00.005-05:002009-08-05T01:33:32.233-05:00Not the best of daysToday wasn't a day like every other day. Some days you wake up happy. Some days you wake up sad. Sometimes you wake up wondering why you ever woke up. Today was that day. The alarm went off, I hit snooze...for an hour and a half I hit snooze. I would just lay there awake staring at the ceiling listening to country music blaring out of my clock radio because sometimes I was too uninterested in moving my arm slightly to actually hit the snooze button to turn it off. I just couldn't get myself out of bed. I knew I had to get up. I knew I had to get a shower and get ready for work. I knew I had an appointment at 10:30am but I still just laid there, numb, not ready to actually get up and start my day.<br /><br />I heard movement coming up the stairs and knew that now I really had to get out of bed. Tom was home and he is going to wonder why I'm still in bed. Especially since he was late getting here since he had to make a stop before he got home. He gets so dirty working all night long at a tire planet and he comes home smelling like burnt rubber and I won't allow him to climb in bed and go to sleep for fear of him ruining our nice sheets so I insist that he showers every morning. Which also means that I know he is going to make me get up and take a shower with him (something we do together every day, yeah, weird I know but oh well, that's just the way it is.)<br /><br />The door opens up and I close my eyes hoping that Tom will think I'm still asleep and he will walk in quietly, go into the bathroom, take a shower, then sneak back to bed without waking me up. He does that some mornings, but not this morning. He came to the bed and said "Sweetie, it's 8am don't you think you should get out of the bed?". <br />I say "yeah, but I'm not ready". <br />"Do you have any appointments this morning?" <br />"Yeah."<br />"What time?"<br />"10:30"<br />"It's 8:00 now."<br />"I know."<br />"Don't you think you should get up?"<br />"Yeah, but I can't."<br />So he grabs the blankets, tosses them off of me and they land on my dog who was sleeping in the bed curled up next to me. She wiggles free and starts doing her "I'm so happy to see you dance." I look at her and think to myself "I have no idea why you are so happy to see me. You slept in my bed snuggled up against the back of my legs all night and you still act like you haven't seen me in a week. Weird dog." Then I rub her head and she leans her head into my hand like she's hugging me. I sure do love that dog.<br /><br />Next, Tom grabs my wrist and pulls me into a seated position then he grabs my hand and leads me to the bathroom, turns on the shower and closes the door. I climb in the tub and allow the hot water to pour all over my body. We have a lot of pressure in our house, which I love. So I just stand there, wetting my hair and enjoying the feeling of the hot water hit my skin. You know, I have often said that a hot shower is the number one on my favorite things list. There is just nothing like a nice, long, steaming hot shower. When I'm sick and finally get out of bed and force myself to take a shower I instantly feel soooo much better. I guess that is what I was counting on to happen today. I wasn't sick but I was still secretly hoping that my steaming hot shower would instantly make me feel better and able to start my day, but not today. Instead I just stood there, numb almost, staring at the wall while the hot water wet my skin. You know how sometimes you can catch yourself daydreaming because you kind of snap back to reality but you can still recall what you were daydreaming about? Well, that's how I felt standing there staring at that wall except I wasn't daydreaming because absolutely no thoughts were running through my head, I was just motionlessly staring. Tom got in the tub with me and just looked at me strangely and said "Are you alright?"<br />"Yeah."<br />"Are you sure?"<br />"Yeah."<br />"Baby, I'm concerned."<br />"Don't be. I'm fine. I'm just sad."<br />Sad isn't really the right word. I wasn't sad. Well, I was sad but sad just isn't a good enough word to describe it. I am more like numb. Completely numb. Nothing makes any difference to me. That's not exactly true, a lot of things still make a difference to me but it explains my emotion better then sad. Don't freak out, I'm not depressed or suicidal, it's not that kind of sad/numbness it's just more like a "ho-hum" kind of feeling that you makes you just don't really care one way or another about anything.<br /><br />By me saying "I'm just sad." made Tom drop the conversation and start wetting his bar of soap. He knows why I should be sad. My cousin, David is being buried tomorrow and his visitation is today. His death came as a complete shock to everyone. He was only 38 years old. He has been married to Jamie for only 4 years. They were together 5 years before they married. She has two boys from a previous marriage but David loved those boys like they were his own. I believe their ages are 17 & 14. David had been their father figure since they were 8 & 3. He had been having chest pains so he went to the hospital and they did an EKG and ran some tests. The doctor said he was fine and was just having an anxiety attack and sent him home. A few days later he was at work and was complaining of chest pain, thinking he was having heartburn he took some antacids and when it didn't relieve his symptoms he went out on the loading dock to get some fresh air. When he didn't return within 10 minutes a coworker went out to check on him and found him on the ground dead. He started doing CPR, the ambulance came and they continued doing CPR on him. He arrived at the hospital and they continued the CPR but they could never revive him. They pronounced him dead last Friday afternoon. This is my cousin. My cousin that I grew up playing with. The guy that tormented me as a child because we were around each other so much that he felt more like a brother that I never had then a cousin. He is only 3 1/2 years older than me but as a little kid 3 1/2 years is a huge age gap. I bugged the crap out of him and he enjoyed getting me in trouble. As we grew older we didn't torment each other as much as we went out and got into trouble together. We moved away and we weren't as close as we used to be but as we grew up we started to become real friends. He came to visit me a couple times after Tom and I were married and bought our first house. I went to his house for his wedding reception and then I hadn't seen him again until last December when we attended our cousin, Staceys' funeral who was only 20 and died from Cystic Fibrosis. We vowed to not allow time to pass before seeing each other again. I invited him for Easter dinner but he couldn't come because he had to work. I called several times and tried to get together but our schedules just wouldn't line up. Now I won't ever get the chance again.<br /><br />That is why Tom thinks I'm sad. And it's true, I am sad because of that but on top of that I am also dealing with the thought that David is close to the same age as my husband. My life would be completely turned upside down and devastated if I lost Tom. My heart aches for Jamie, Davids wife, to have to go through this. It truly aches. I can't help but think what she is dealing with and how even though I consider myself a pretty strong person that I know that my life would be completely turned upside down and I would not be able to function if I lost Tom. We have been through a lot of things together but even through it all I can honestly say that Tom is the love of my life. He is my best friend and the only person that I could ever imagine sharing the rest of my life with. I honestly believe that not every person is lucky enough to find true love. But I have. Tom truly is my better half. He is a great guy. He is kind, generous, skillful, thoughtful, trustworthy. You name a good quality and that's Tom. He is a genuine nice guy. I have no idea how I ended up so lucky as to have him has a husband. This must be the feeling my dog gets when she wakes up and sees me for the first time every morning. She truly loves me. I have no idea why, but none the less, she does. <br /><br />So, anyway, I muddle through the shower, get dressed and ready for work. I takes me forever to decide on which pair of shoes to wear because the snake skin heels looked the best with the outfit but they kill my feet so I put on a pair of brown suede heels that aren't as high as the others so they don't hurt my feet as much but they don't look as good with the outfit I have on either. After going back and forth and back and forth I finally settle on the snake skin heels and walk downstairs (kissing Tom on the cheek before I leave the room because he is already in bed snoring). It's 9am. I call my 10:30 appt to confirm and no one answers their phone. I go downstairs, look over my schedule and I get in my car and head toward my appt even though they didn't answer to confirm. A few minutes into driving, my phone rings and it was my 10:30am appt telling me they need to reschedule for Thurs at 8pm. No biggie, it happens.<br /><br />Instead of driving to my appt I take an alternate route and go to the nail salon. I've been meaning to get my nails done. It had been a little over 2 weeks since the last fill in so they really needed it. I walk in the salon, sign in, and take a seat and wait for the next available chair. It looks like its gonna be a few minutes because they were already pretty busy in there. So I grab my cell phone and call my next appt. She answers but instead of confirming, she has to reschedule for a day next week due to other obligations. Ho-hum, No biggie, whatever. <br /><br />I got my nails done, ran some errands, went to the bank, then headed to the office. It's now close to 11am. I walk in the back door and no one is there. I enjoy the solitude and use the time to be productive. Around 1pm I leave for lunch and head home. Woke Tom up when I got here so we could have lunch together and he ended up grilling me some chicken and made mushroom jack fajitas. It was pretty good too.<br /><br />I head back to the office, try to get some work done but my brain just doesn't seem to want to function. I pick up my smartpad and turn it on but then I forget why I turned it on so I turn it off. I get up from my desk, go to the bathroom, walk around the office, talk to other agents, remember why I turned my smartpad on the first time. Go back to my desk, turn it on again then just sit there and stare at it because I have forgotten why I turned it back on again. This process keeps repeating itself until my boss walks up to me and tells me to go home because I am just no use to him in this state. So I pack up my stuff and leave. I start to head home and then I remember that David's viewing is today from 11am-8pm. I hadn't planned on going. I was just going to wait and go Wednesday to the viewing before the funeral but something tugged in my heart to go. So I did.<br /><br />I had to call information to get the address to the funeral home so I could type it in my GPS, which by the way was no help because it couldn't locate the address anyway. It took me to Nolensville Rd and I eventually found it on my own. I pull up the steep drive and come around the bend to find 3 men standing out front, taking a smoke break. As I get closer I notice that only 2 of them are actually smoking and the guy in the middle is my Uncle Michael. The funny thing about Michael and I is that we are the same age. We grew up together. We went to school together. We were in the same grade. We had the same friends. I hadn't seen him in almost 18 years and there he was standing right in front of me. I didn't even park the car. I just stopped and rolled down my window and just stared at him for a second. He looked back and smiled and came walking up to my car. I took off my seat belt and got out and hugged him. Man, I missed him so much. I didn't want to let him go. One of the other guys that was standing there was my cousin Jarrett. Of all days, his 15th birthday is today. What a way to spend your birthday as a kid then to spend it at a funeral home burring his cousin. He offers to park my car for me. I ask him "Do you have your permit yet?"<br />"Nope, just turned 15 today."<br />"Can you drive?"<br />"If you let me. Can I park your car?"<br />"Sure, just don't wreck it."<br />"Seriously?!"<br />"Yep, go on. I've got insurance."<br />Then he hops in and I roll the window down as I shut the door. Mike says "What are you doing?" <br />"Rolling the window down so he can hear me yelling at him if he screws up."<br />We laugh then I instruct Jerrett to put his foot on the brake and move the car into Drive. He does as instructed so I tell him to take his foot off the brake and slowly move forward pressing lightly on the gas. He takes off a little wobbly but goes around the side of the funeral home and parks in a space between 2 other cars. Gets out, brings me my keys and hugs me. That was his first time driving. I'm glad that I could make him smile. This poor guy has a rough life. He and his sister shared a deadly incurable disease, Cystic Fibrosis. Last December he was the unlucky soul that found his sister, my cousin, Stacey dead in her bed when he returned home from school. She died of the same disease that he has and that will eventually take his own life. To be 15 and to have that much burden on your shoulders must be unbearable but you can't tell from his actions. He's a good kid. <br /><br />I spent the next few hours visiting with family members I hadn't seen in a long time, viewing all the beautiful flower arrangements that were sent, and looking at my cousin David laying in the casket, still in total disbelief that he's gone. He looked like he was just laying there waiting to pop up and start talking. I hate funerals. I hate them even more when it's someone you know and love. I hate crying. I'm not a "crier". I typically don't cry, ever. Hearing Jamie cry the cry of a woman who has lost her husband unexpectedly was heart wrenching. I had to leave the room. There were people all in the hallway too so I ended up walking out the front door and into the parking lot. I got behind a large red full sized pick up truck that was parked near the front of the building and took some deep breaths. I got my composure back and I called my husband. I opened my mouth to tell him how much I love him, but all that came out were sobs. He talked to me and told me how much he loved me and that he was sorry that he wasn't there for me tonight but he will be there tomorrow for the funeral. I hung up then stood there just staring at the grass. Not knowing if I should stay or go. Then I looked up and saw my Uncle Michael outside smoking and he smiled and motioned me to come near him. The next few hours were a blur but I know that I ended up making it home safely and just in the nick of time to miss a thunderstorm that was headed my way. <br /><br />I got home, changed my clothes, grabbed a sprite and headed to the screened in porch in my back yard. I sat in the swing and enjoyed listening to the sound of the rain falling. The occasional bolt of lightening would light up the sky and the sound of the thunder cracking was always close behind. I just love sitting out there when it's raining. Thunderstorms are just an added bonus. So, the lightening struck and a tree in my yard was illuminated and just for a second, the shadows that were cast made it look as though one of the trees had a face. I kept looking at it to see it light up in the next bolt of lightening and the face was still there. I knew it wasn't really there, it was just the way the light was casting but it got me to thinking about fairy tales and stories we used to tell as children. I started wondering when is that point in our lives when we quit using our imaginations? When do shadows become just shadows instead of faces, or monsters, or fairy tale creatures? Why do we lose that ability to truly imagine a world of possibilities, no matter how unbelievable they may be? So, I tried to "pretend" in my mind. And it was amazing what happened. I'll save that story for another day though.Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-56565263384840502232009-05-27T13:15:00.002-05:002009-05-27T13:30:34.825-05:00What a wonderful day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://search.freecause.com/?rm=click&mod=images&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cardyologies.com%2Fimages%2FOne-Smart-Cookie.jpg&clicktype=100&userid=12560681&toolid=58819"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://search.freecause.com/?rm=click&mod=images&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cardyologies.com%2Fimages%2FOne-Smart-Cookie.jpg&clicktype=100&userid=12560681&toolid=58819" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I know I haven't posted in a while. I've just been kind of spazzed out and not had any time to do anything fun. I am in the process of getting my Life, Accident, and Health Insurance License for the state of TN and I have been studying my butt off for the real test. I had no idea there was so much information to learn about insurance. I thought it would just be plain and simple but oh, no. They really want to make sure you know what your doing. Well, to make a long story short. I've been taking my training course online and I just finished it last night. I have passed all my practice exams, I went and got my fingerprinting and back ground check today, and now all that is left to do is for me to go take the actual test on Saturday. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I know it's gonna be hard but I am confident that I will do well. I'm a smart cookie. <br /><br />I don't know if it was the fact that I passed my final practice test last night before I went to bed or what but I woke up this morning in the most amazing mood. Man I love days like this. I could skip along all day singing "Oh what a beautiful morning" but I'm sure others might look at me funny. LOL!<br /><br />Everybody cross your fingers and say a prayer for me to score high on my test on Saturday!!!Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-25341636200101475142009-03-24T07:09:00.002-05:002009-03-24T08:09:32.583-05:00I love my life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.areyougame.com/images/items/LCR0002.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="http://www.areyougame.com/images/items/LCR0002.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>This past weekend I had so much fun hanging with some friends and learning to play LRC. LRC stands for <span style="font-weight:bold;">Left, Right, Center.</span> It's a dice game that is very easy to play but definitely gets you laughing especially <span style="font-weight:bold;">when you've had too much to drink</span> <span style="font-weight:bold;">and you can't remember which is your right or left</span>. LOL! We didn't make it home until <span style="font-weight:bold;">after 4am Friday night</span> because we were having so much fun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://steynian.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/new-top-secret.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 125px; height:" src="http://steynian.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/new-top-secret.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Saturday I chilled at the house with my boys. <span style="font-weight:bold;">It was nice to just be home.</span> I was able to stay in my scrapbook room all day long and just play until my heart was content. I started making a <span style="font-weight:bold;">special top secret project</span> for our new website. I almost have it finished. I can't wait to launch our debut. Shhhhh, this is all very secretive...but you know me. I can't keep a secret for too long. (hint...hint)<br /><br />Sunday I woke up at 6am. Yeah, you heard me right. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Me....up at 6am</span>. Oh, I am sooooo not a morning person. It took all my strength to get my lazy butt out of the bed and into the shower. You know, I think that the <span style="font-weight:bold;">hot water heater</span> has got to be one of the <span style="font-weight:bold;">greatest inventions of all time</span>. God bless the person that came up with that idea....<span style="font-weight:bold;">kudos to whomever you are!</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-h.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2108/167/94/1280684413/n1280684413_30270591_3777.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; " src="http://photos-h.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2108/167/94/1280684413/n1280684413_30270591_3777.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>So, after my shower we get all geared up and jump on our bikes. It was <span style="font-weight:bold;">only 36F degrees</span> when we left the house. I made the mistake of not putting on my winter gloves and by the time we went 20 minutes down the road to meet up with a friend I was ever so eager to rummage through my saddle bag to find them and put them on. We then met up with about 50+ other SCRC friends and spent the entire day riding over this beautiful state of TN. <span style="font-weight:bold;">It warmed up rather quickly.</span> Before noon we were all pulling off our layers of clothing and stuffing them in our saddlebags. It ended up being a very beautiful <span style="font-weight:bold;">73F degree day</span>. We had so much fun and didn't end up getting home until after 6pm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs031.snc1/2588_1115174681158_1280684413_30333639_207793_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; " src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs031.snc1/2588_1115174681158_1280684413_30333639_207793_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Here is a layout I made of me on my bike using the current <a href="http://www.scrapbookobsessions.com">Scrapbook Obsessions</a> kit.<br /><br />Monday <span style="font-weight:bold;">after work</span> I came home, <span style="font-weight:bold;">hopped on my bike</span>, and headed out for a few hours on my own. Today the plans I had were canceled so instead I plan on spending it outside playing in the <span style="font-weight:bold;">beautiful foothills of TN</span> on my motorcycle. <span style="font-weight:bold;">God I love my life!</span>Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-33904523835414377772009-03-15T01:07:00.005-05:002009-03-15T01:49:26.650-05:00Suck It Up!Ok, <span style="font-weight:bold;">it's been a while</span> since my last post. Obviously, as I am sure you have all discovered I'm not too good at this blog thing. It's not that I don't want to be, it's just that <span style="font-weight:bold;">my procrastination gets in the way</span>. How on earth can a girl get everything done when she waits until the last minute? Ha! Ha! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mousehunt.hitgrab.com/wiki/images/mhwiki.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 113px; height: 128px;" src="http://mousehunt.hitgrab.com/wiki/images/mhwiki.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>I have become addicted to a little online game on Facebook called <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/mousehunt/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mousehunt</span></a>. It is a game that can be played without taking up too much of your time...or so it seems in the beginning. See, the concept of the game is that all you have to do is bait your trap and press the button to go on a hunt. Sometimes a mouse will succumb to your trap, other times it won't. You can only press the button once every 15 minutes so it's <span style="font-weight:bold;">not like you have to sit there and play the game constantly</span>. Well, that's what they WANT you to believe. In reality, you discover that you can play this game all day long while still working, cleaning your house, cooking dinner, etc. but <span style="font-weight:bold;">soon you find yourself living your life in 15 minute intervals</span>. "Do I have enough time to go take a shower before I can press that button again?" "I've really got to go to the bathroom but I know that if I just wait one more minute my horn will appear again and I can press it." Pretty soon I feel as though I may start sleeping in 15 minute intervals too. LOL!<br /><br />Hmmm, what else is going on in my life? Oh, <span style="font-weight:bold;">I cried</span>. Yeah, I'm not a big emotional person. I don't pour on the tears very often. I usually hold it all in and put on my big girl panties and pretend that all is good in the world...but last week I cried. It wasn't a big "boo-hoo" sobby cry but it was tears none the less. You wanna know what brought it on? <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.riverdalewarriors.com/football/images/stories/slideshow/slideshow22.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; " src="http://www.riverdalewarriors.com/football/images/stories/slideshow/slideshow22.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I took my son to his Freshman Orientation at the high school. We went inside the gym and were instructed to find seats and wait for the presentation. We get seats at the top against the wall and <span style="font-weight:bold;">all is good with the world</span>. Then the <span style="font-weight:bold;">lights go out</span> except for a spotlight. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Smoke</span> is starting to drift across the gym floor. The <span style="font-weight:bold;">cheerleaders</span> run out with their pom poms high in the air. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Then the music starts to play</span>, it's the marching band...they begin playing the Riverdale Warriors school anthem. Everyone in the crowd starts to do the <span style="font-weight:bold;">"Indian Chop"</span> with their arm. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Na...Na...Nanana....Nanana....Nanannaaaaa.... </span> OMG! All the memories of me attending this school and now the realization that my youngest child will now be enrolled here is just too much emotion hitting me at once. I feel a tear well up in my eye. I blink. I blink again. It doesn't help. Soon both eyes are watery. I feel the wetness run down my cheek. I use my scarf and wipe my eyes. Surely no one noticed. It was dark. <span style="font-weight:bold;">OMG! My baby is going to high school!!!</span>Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-47706313184679293992009-01-21T06:38:00.005-06:002009-01-21T08:07:14.946-06:00Growing older<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oQH3F5Jei6JeReN3j1lIJBcFbsISZ6TpMJFNhQ0girCjWKteVnKzcCMmiy5ebazDmGa2BJRLOucRuU_vPZh98ZoPHAmV4dwtSBluursESbEBgJQ_jHQwdpbcQ4Ws-9C5398YvQnk830/s1600-h/1111Topsy_Turvey_Birthday_Cake_by_p.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oQH3F5Jei6JeReN3j1lIJBcFbsISZ6TpMJFNhQ0girCjWKteVnKzcCMmiy5ebazDmGa2BJRLOucRuU_vPZh98ZoPHAmV4dwtSBluursESbEBgJQ_jHQwdpbcQ4Ws-9C5398YvQnk830/s200/1111Topsy_Turvey_Birthday_Cake_by_p.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293740670503348002" /></a> On Saturday <span style="font-weight:bold;">January 24th</span> I will be <span style="font-weight:bold;">35 years old</span>. Not that age really matters to me anymore. Birthdays only seem to be of any importance when they are special milestones and most of those happen in childhood. I remember that <span style="font-weight:bold;">turning 10</span> was an awesome birthday because I was now in the <span style="font-weight:bold;">"double digits"</span>. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Turning 13</span> was another milestone because then I was finally a <span style="font-weight:bold;">"Teenager"</span>. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Sixteen</span>, of course, was monumental because, well, I was 16 (and not too sweet either). LOL! Naturally, <span style="font-weight:bold;">my 18th birthday</span> was a huge deal to me because I was <span style="font-weight:bold;">"officially an adult"</span>. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Twenty one</span> is another big birthday but I had just found out I was pregnant with Tanner so I didn't even get to have a drink to celebrate the fact that I was finally <span style="font-weight:bold;">"of drinking age"</span>. After that, I quit caring about birthdays. I assumed turning 30 would have been difficult because you are <span style="font-weight:bold;">leaving your youth behind</span> or something silly like that but to me, it was just another number. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Internally, I still feel 18.</span> My mind feels as young and vibrant as I did when I was in high school. The only difference is that my body does not reflect the same youthful appearance. LOL! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDC7dBdgyG4QqqUARwORQN9fsnuMYP9Znj1qyGLMfu0vezr-NAAx-IfA6B9xujUuaOsjqbOp3YLcIwsyNwAX69UgrAa3eAVDr_75IU5HL4-dNuGe85SvxisIQ6xJOfOe64vTULToGPmI/s1600-h/New+Image.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDC7dBdgyG4QqqUARwORQN9fsnuMYP9Znj1qyGLMfu0vezr-NAAx-IfA6B9xujUuaOsjqbOp3YLcIwsyNwAX69UgrAa3eAVDr_75IU5HL4-dNuGe85SvxisIQ6xJOfOe64vTULToGPmI/s200/New+Image.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293747997839154466" /></a>I remember sitting down with my grandfather and asking him what his <span style="font-weight:bold;">internal age </span>was. You know what he told me? He told me 24. I was a little taken aback but in a way, not too surprised all at the same time. He explained to me that <span style="font-weight:bold;">we are who we are</span>. There comes a point of time in our life when we wake up and become adults. It doesn't happen the moment you turn of legal age, for some it happens earlier for others later. The important thing is that it happens to all of us when <span style="font-weight:bold;">"we wake up and smell the coffee"</span>. When life seems to take on new meaning. When we realize that we are who we make ourselves, when we know that our actions and choices we make will change our lives in positive and negative ways. When that happens, we are <span style="font-weight:bold;">mentally fixed to that age forever</span>. <br /><br />Once I discovered that <span style="font-weight:bold;">my grandfather and I were peers</span> in our internal age, our relationship changed. Instead of just the grandfather - granddaughter relationship, <span style="font-weight:bold;">we became friends</span>. I feel blessed to have been fortunate enough to know him this way. It has also helped me realize that growing older does not matter. Age is only a <span style="font-weight:bold;">number</span>, a natural progression. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Who we are is what really matters</span>.Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-4239306526954200752009-01-02T00:11:00.003-06:002009-01-02T00:48:50.802-06:00Happy New Year!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/16846/2572757090049597998S600x600Q85.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; " src="http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/16846/2572757090049597998S600x600Q85.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />We started off the New Year by going on a <span style="font-weight:bold;">Polar Bear Ride</span> with our SCRC friends. About 80 of us met for breakfast at Crackle Barrel this morning then we took off on a short 55 mile motorcycle ride through the 30 degree temperatures. It was fun...cold...but fun. LOL! I actually rode as a <span style="font-weight:bold;">Fender Bunny</span> on the back of Toms bike today. Something I don't do too often (actually this only makes the 3rd time) but I didn't trust my reflexes today due to me being sick and the fact that I may have just partied a little too hard last night at the New Year Eve party. LOL! Oh, well, what can I say? It was fun!<br /><br />So, I guess since this is the 1st of the year <span style="font-weight:bold;">I should consider making some resolutions</span> that I know I will give up on but the fact of the matter is that I begin the initial effort of at least writing them down. LOL!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">My 2009 Resolutions</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">#1</span> <span style="font-weight:bold;">- Keep in touch with my cousins.</span> I miss having them in my life and I want to get closer to all of them this year. I would actually like to get all of us together for a family reunion sometime this year if at all possible. I miss my Peeps!<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">#2</span> <span style="font-weight:bold;">- Exercise regularly.</span> I really need to get up and exercise at least 3 times a week. I have a tread mill in my bedroom, a Wii fit, and a membership to the gym. Why am I not using them all?<br /><br />That's all I can think of. Those should be fairly easy to keep. We will see though...<br /><br />Happy New Year!Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-3996457018087616302008-12-03T02:02:00.004-06:002008-12-03T02:41:53.510-06:00Deep Thoughts<span style="font-weight:bold;">How many of us ended up being the person we imagined we would be when we were kids?</span> I had great ambitions of becoming an attorney, but that didn't quite work out as I had planned. Not that I'm complaining...ok, maybe I am just a little bit cause that big attorney salary would be pretty sweet right about now. LOL! Do you ever sit back and think "<span style="font-weight:bold;">who have I become?</span>" or "<span style="font-weight:bold;">how did I get here?</span>" - not necessarily in a negative tone either. I mean come on, who in their right minds ever thought I would end up creating scrapbook kits and riding motorcycles? Definitely NOT me or anyone that knew me. Honestly I never wanted to get married or have kids. I wanted to be the type of person that allowed my career to take me everywhere I wanted to go and I didn't care who I had to step on to get there....<span style="font-weight:bold;">I am not that person anymore</span>. I can't imagine my life any different that it is now. <span style="font-weight:bold;">My husband and my boys are my entire world</span> and I think they have turned me into a more compassionate, honest, caring person. I recently signed up on Facebook and I see the names of all the people that I went to school with and I am half tempted to contact some of them and then again not because I am not that person that I used to be. I'm sure we all have our regrets, things we wish we could go back and change...I know I do. I don't associate with hardly anyone I knew back then, because <span style="font-weight:bold;">I am not the person I once was</span>. For those of you that didn't know me in school, well, don't think that I was some horrible person, I wasn't. I just wish I could do things over. But that gets me wondering...if there were a way to go back and change things...would you? <span style="font-weight:bold;">Do the things that happen to us make us the people that we are? Or do the things happen to us because of who we have already become?</span> I have pondered that question a lot. I believe in Karma, to a degree. I believe that <span style="font-weight:bold;">what comes around goes around</span>...but what about those that don't deserve bad things and they happen to them anyway? Is it luck, chance, or fate that works its hand? Is there just evil running a muck that causes the horrible things to happen to good people? Do we control our own fate or is our destiny all laid out before us and we are just following it along on its unvarying path? I am a Christian so <span style="font-weight:bold;">I do have faith and I do believe that my life has purpose</span>...I just have no idea what it is. Was I put here to be a mother to boys, to give them life so they can continue to populate the earth? Was I put here <span style="font-weight:bold;">to marry the man of my dreams and live a complete and fulfilling life</span>? Yeah, I like that answer but is it the right one? Ok, enough deep thoughts tonight...Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-23425112656688776332008-11-07T15:03:00.003-06:002008-11-07T15:12:42.770-06:00What a beautiful fall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3rGKNR6lEIUcJTtRj75b69u1tf7o_29iI4siLx8sakv_qB2Mp0dxgg_n4uuCnOi67jXO_TP5DovyrlQawP7syhAHoEiBkyaR6n935oZ368s3wqm239hNIBrMfeeTpgQrAf4PXL0rrtc/s1600-h/1106081121.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3rGKNR6lEIUcJTtRj75b69u1tf7o_29iI4siLx8sakv_qB2Mp0dxgg_n4uuCnOi67jXO_TP5DovyrlQawP7syhAHoEiBkyaR6n935oZ368s3wqm239hNIBrMfeeTpgQrAf4PXL0rrtc/s400/1106081121.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266026189516946034" /></a><br />I feel blessed to live in such a beautiful part of this amazing country. Tennessee is always so lush and green in the spring and so vibrant and full of color in the fall. We just had our first cold snap so the trees just turned amazing shades of reds, golds, and oranges. Yesterday it warmed up a bit and Tom and spent our day off riding our motorcycles in the smokey mountains. We had an amazing time and took tons of pictures (all of which are still in the camera LOL!). Here is a photo I took on my cell phone of my bike and a yellow maple in the background.Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-29624369362396499382008-10-21T09:14:00.004-05:002008-10-22T12:04:53.249-05:00Life in the Fast Lane received another award!Don't worry...<span style="font-weight:bold;">I won't make another video acceptance speech</span> this time. LOL! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4K-TccDPz00XHLRl9ptGnBZePI-2kkFCLeT_k3bPtXdyO274uZH5ERkAs91jujnHMTei2CX_Ew5e6aCVCsByEfl2fvdkUHPt5rivVf-GroAYEoLSAANebCim8Cua6VwTf8t9MvaXlZQ/s400/kreativ_blogger_award_copy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4K-TccDPz00XHLRl9ptGnBZePI-2kkFCLeT_k3bPtXdyO274uZH5ERkAs91jujnHMTei2CX_Ew5e6aCVCsByEfl2fvdkUHPt5rivVf-GroAYEoLSAANebCim8Cua6VwTf8t9MvaXlZQ/s400/kreativ_blogger_award_copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">I have received the Kreative Blogger award</span> and with this award comes rules that I must follow. Hmmm, kind of reminds me of the Spiderman movie when they said <span style="font-weight:bold;">"With great power comes great responsibility"</span> or something like that. LOL! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Rules.... list 6 things that make you happy then pass this award on to 6 people to make them happy!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6 Things that make me happy:</span><br />1. <span style="font-weight:bold;">My husband</span> - Tom is <span style="font-weight:bold;">the love of my life</span> and I can't imagine what my life would be like without him. He is my rock.<br />2. <span style="font-weight:bold;">My boys</span> - Codey and Tanner are <span style="font-weight:bold;">AWESOME</span> kids! I guess God knew I couldn't handle anything less... LOL!<br />3. <span style="font-weight:bold;">A HOT Shower</span> - Oh, I can't even begin to tell you just <span style="font-weight:bold;">how much I enjoy a nice, hot, shower</span>. I swear, a hot water heater is probably the <span style="font-weight:bold;">best invention...EVER!!!</span><br />4. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Riding a motorcycle</span> - The sound of the motor growling when you accelerate makes you feel <span style="font-weight:bold;">powerful</span>, the feeling of the wind pressing against your body makes you feel <span style="font-weight:bold;">virtually weightless</span> almost as though you were <span style="font-weight:bold;">flying</span>, just being open and exposed to the world surrounding you gives you this feeling of <span style="font-weight:bold;">ultimate FREEDOM</span>...<span style="font-weight:bold;">it's AMAZING!</span><br />5. <span style="font-weight:bold;">My family</span> - <span style="font-weight:bold;">My parents deserve a medal</span> for all the things I put them through during my teenage years. LOL! And my two sisters are still my best friends.<br />6. <span style="font-weight:bold;">My life</span> - If I were to die today I would die completely fulfilled and content. <span style="font-weight:bold;">I love my life!</span><br /><br />I'm passing this award on to these awesome bloggers: <br />1. Nancy of <a href="http://nancywithajones.blogspot.com/">That's Nancy with a Jones</a> <br />2. Lynnise of <a href="http://lynniseb-shadesofbleu.blogspot.com/">Shades of Bleu</a><br />3. Jing Jing of <a href="http://thislittleartofmine.blogspot.com/">This Little Art of Mine</a><br />4. Jan of <a href="http://scrapmyworld-janwilliams.blogspot.com/">Scrap my World</a><br />5. Michelle of <a href="http://michellegranger.typepad.com/my_weblog/">Acknowledge and Move On</a><br />6. Carole of <a href="http://carolejansons.blogspot.com/">3 Dimensional Me</a>Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-55322825956006756002008-10-18T21:10:00.005-05:002008-10-18T22:13:39.102-05:00I am exhaustedThis has been one heck of a weekend and it's not even over yet. Friday started off wonderful because both Tom and I were off of work. Tom allowed me to sleep in while he got the kids ready for school. <img src="http://www.co.washington.or.us/deptmts/sup_serv/hr/risk/wellness/graf0800/sleeper.gif" align="left"> After they were out the door<span style="font-weight:bold;"> he crawled back in bed and we slept until 11:30!</span> OMG! I can't even remember the last time I slept that long. We got a new box spring and mattress set and it just sucks you in and makes you never want to leave the bed. LOL! After sleeping that late we went out to lunch, did a little shopping, ran some errands, etc. Later in that evening we <span style="font-weight:bold;">met friends for dinner</span> at 6:30pm. We went to celebrate Debbie (Bones) completion of her Masters Degree. I think 25 or so of us were there and believe it or not they had us all seated at one really long table. Ok, so it was a bunch of smaller tables lined up end to end but you know what I mean! LOL! <span style="font-weight:bold;">I had 2 margaritas</span> <img src="http://lukehoney.typepad.com/the_greasy_spoon/images/2007/11/09/margarita.jpg" align="right" width="100"> and OMG! they were strong. By the time I walked out of there I was feeling <span style="font-weight:bold;">comfortably numb</span>. LOL! I'm a lightweight when it comes to drinking, in case you couldn't tell. LOL!<br /><br />After dinner we headed to a club in the 'boro to see my friend Pam's (Goodwill) son perform on stage. Her son Brandon is <span style="font-weight:bold;">the guitarist</span> for <a href="http://www.popeater.com/music/article/framing-hanley-give-lil-waynes-lollipop/210957">Framing Hanley</a>. <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/draven99/music/framinghanley.jpg" align="left">They were the <span style="font-weight:bold;">headlining band</span> so they didn't even go onstage until 11pm. The music was awesome, but OMG! did I feel OLD in there! I swear all the people there were between the ages of 18-24 and here I was with <span style="font-weight:bold;">my 34 year old self looking like a total mom in the middle of all these kids</span>. LOL! Oh, well... Since my judgment was already impaired by those margaritas I had over dinner I decided to drink a few...<span style="font-weight:bold;">or FIVE</span> beers before we finally left at 1:30am. Oh, I haven't drank that much in many, many, years. <span style="font-weight:bold;">BUT IT WAS FUN!</span> LOL!<br /><br /><img src="http://janeward.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/bulldog-with-headache.jpg" width="200" align="right">...until I had to get up at 6am to go help a friend, Christy (Dodger), move to a new home. I thought my head was going to explode every time I bent down to pick up a box. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Now I know why I haven't drank like that in years!</span> LOL! Now, where's that advil?<br /><br /><div><font=Comic Sans MS><size=5><color=#0000FF><b>Chantele</b></color></size></font> <img src="http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/mcsmiley4.gif"></img></div>Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-73862146507005157092008-10-14T21:16:00.004-05:002008-10-14T21:27:41.574-05:00BUNCO!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.yourheadgoeshere.com/%20media/sports-art/bunco.gif"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.yourheadgoeshere.com/%20media/sports-art/bunco.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><P>Yep! I am a Bunco playing fool. Well, not really...but last night I was on a roll. I ended up winning the most games (29) and the most Buncos (6). I walked away with a really nice prize - thanks Penny!!! I'm just a sub. I don't actually belong to my own Bunco group but hopefully that will all change soon. This weekend I plan on printing out invites and giving them to all my neighbors. I hope at least 11 of them will want to play and we will start our own neighborhood Bunco group!!! Cross your fingers for me that all goes as planned.<br /><br /><div><font=Comic Sans MS><size=5><color=#0000FF><b>Chantele</b></color></size></font> <img src="http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/mcsmiley4.gif"></img></div>Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-58206773510317144272008-10-05T15:51:00.007-05:002008-10-05T18:09:37.868-05:00What a weekend!Friday didn't start off too well. In fact, <strong>I had to work late </strong>because we have been overwhelmed with sale orders. Which, by the way, ends on Wednesday so if you haven't ordered yet you better hurry or your gonna miss out on some really cheap scrapbook supplies such as <strong>ALL</strong> patterned papers (including double sided) are only 6 @ $1.00, all of our past kits are only $20 OR LESS!!!!, and everything else in the store is marked down between 20%-80% OFF! Ok, that was enough of a plug don't you think? LOL! Oh, I forgot the link: <a href="http://www.scrapbookobsessions.com/shopping">Scrapbook Obsessions Online SALE!</a><br /><br />Ok, so, what was I saying? Oh, yeah, Friday didn't start off too well cause I had to work late. Usually I'm out the door by 2pm - 3:30pm at the latest. On Friday I didn't leave until 6pm. I know, that doesn't seem like "late" to most of you other hard working folks out there but that was <strong>4 hours later </strong>than I was supposed to leave and I, for once, had plans on a Friday night. LOL! Before marriage and kids I used to look forward to my weekends because no matter what happened all week I knew I would always have something fun to do on the weekends. But I guess things all changed when I got married, had kids, and then 15 years later I discover I have turned into a <strong>homebody who never goes anywhere </strong>except to go shopping, work, or out to eat. Kind of sad when you think about....<strong>so, lets NOT think about it anymore</strong>. LOL! <img src="http://bluebison.net/backgrounds/2007/0907/haunted-house-halloween-1280.jpg" align="left" width="200"> Anywho, to make a long story short, I had made plans to meet some friends in Nashville to attend a <strong>Haunted House </strong>at 7:30pm. Tom and I arrived at <a href="http://deathrowhauntedhouse.net/bloodandguts.html">Death Row Sanitarium</a> to meet a group of about 20 or so <a href="http://www.midtnscrc.org/">SCRC</a> members. Since there were so many of us they didn't allow us to all go in together and ended up breaking us up into several smaller groups. Tom & I went in the first group. <strong>We had fun.</strong> I can't say that it scared me at all but I would give out the occasional "OH!" when something would pop up unexpectedly. It took us close to <strong>45 minutes just to walk through the entire thing</strong>. It is in a huge warehouse so I think you definitely get your $10 admission worth. <img src="http://homepage.mac.com/artsyfartsy/.Pictures/blog_content/hooters.jpg" align="right" width="200"> Afterwards, we all went to Hooters for dinner. No, it's definitely <strong>NOT my favorite place to eat </strong>but OH WELL!! While we are eating we all decided to go to another Haunted House after dinner. So, we all went downtown and went to the <a href="http://www.slaughterhouse2k.com/">Slaughter House</a>. I don't know if it was the alcohol that I drank during dinner but this one did seem better than the first one but it was much shorter. I think we walked through it in about than 15 minutes and it cost more. It was $15 whereas the other one was only $10. But, we had a great time with our friends and have already made plans to go some more haunted houses next weekend!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2egjgBqRvo9v_NIQ-0fxIzU829-x4uXJekX8RBxdaYFarp7kpJM2aNrT4lXo4mkDe4_70T_jXegeKvyqpi27G1QoYjKG9fV-nD994chYNJfp7JqfWZq0jZYn94jXESLI7dBqRMDWEoo/s1600-h/hangglide2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2egjgBqRvo9v_NIQ-0fxIzU829-x4uXJekX8RBxdaYFarp7kpJM2aNrT4lXo4mkDe4_70T_jXegeKvyqpi27G1QoYjKG9fV-nD994chYNJfp7JqfWZq0jZYn94jXESLI7dBqRMDWEoo/s320/hangglide2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253796371720541570" /></a>Saturday we got up early and went on a <strong>294 mile motorcycle ride </strong>with some SCRC friends. It was a little chilly when we started out but within an hour or so we were already pulling off our sweaters/jackets because the sun started shining. It turned out to be <strong>a beautiful day </strong>and RickRick lead us through some <strong>awesome roads in this beautiful state of TN</strong>. We were even able to go to <strong>the top of a mountain </strong>and watch the <strong>TN Treetopers</strong>, a club of hang gliders jump off the mountain. Now, I WANNA LEARN HOW TO DO THAT!!!!!!!! Wow! <strong>To watch them take that giant leap of faith as they literally step off the mountain is amazing!</strong> I took tons of pictures because it was just so surreal. Afterwards, we split apart from the group and headed home around 4pm because I had a Pure Romance party to attend at 6:30pm. I had a great time with some of the SCRC ladies and didn't get home to well after 1am.<br /><br />Tonight some friends are coming over and <strong>Tom is working his magic on the grill</strong>. He makes the BEST steaks EVER!!!! Always so juicy and flavorful. <strong>My man can work that grill</strong>! LOL! <br /><br /><div><font=Comic Sans MS><size=5><color=#0000FF><b>Chantele</b></color></size></font> <img src="http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/mcsmiley4.gif"></img></div>Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607634863927819405.post-60877809153122939132008-10-02T11:27:00.007-05:002008-10-02T14:50:10.667-05:00It's strange isn't itIsn't it strange the way life seems to speed up the older you get? I'm only 34 and my days seem to vanish into weeks and the next thing I notice it is a whole month later. It's October already. <img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jacobs1817/SOT-tcGkSfI/AAAAAAAAADc/yYVdrgAGP4g/s128/October-2008xbold.gif" align="right"> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Where the heck did the summer go?</span> The weather here in TN has cooled off dramatically in the past week or so. Just this morning I actually had to turn the heat on in my car while I was taking Tanner to school. <span style="font-weight:bold;">THE HEAT!</span> Just last week it was 90F and I was riding my motorcycle in a t-shirt and blue jeans while feeling the sun on my back. This morning it was 47F and I had the dang heat on in the car. Tom is planning a bike ride for some friends of his next week and the high temps are only expected to be in the upper 70's. I'm so not looking forward to taking off at 7am in 40 something degree weather. {Sigh} <span style="font-weight:bold;">I want my summer back!</span><br /><br /><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/jacobs1817/SOUjFnMWaKI/AAAAAAAAADs/Fu2E9hNzPzg/s128/harvest1.jpg" align="left" width="200"> I decided to decorate my house the other day with fall stuff. <span style="font-weight:bold;">I figure I can't pretend it's still warm and summery </span>so I might as well enjoy the beautiful colors of fall while I'm still indoors. I bought this cute giant looking bottle cap at Hobby Lobby. It was half off and I thought it was cute so I brought it home and hung it on a door in the hallway. Not bad for only $4.50!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ7MhM9l0W4BO1VA-JAp80drxD_zFg4T8hNo3ocB5FQmrHO5uDUWUijSdAMPshvNtDrmTp8yWfduGWNVDVNvZj_zmW01hwHbQQZoG2CmH_SUJON4MNmNaVq-W7VCoHPw4Rf726Jauu1A/s1600-h/1mum.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ7MhM9l0W4BO1VA-JAp80drxD_zFg4T8hNo3ocB5FQmrHO5uDUWUijSdAMPshvNtDrmTp8yWfduGWNVDVNvZj_zmW01hwHbQQZoG2CmH_SUJON4MNmNaVq-W7VCoHPw4Rf726Jauu1A/s320/1mum.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252642555069941570" /></a>Yesterday Tom and I went to Martins Greenhouse in the 'boro bought these <span style="font-weight:bold;">HUGE mums</span> for only $9 each! These suckers were in 12" pots and I haven't seen them that big for that cheap anywhere else so I snatched two of 'em up and put them in pots outside my front door. Kind 'of purdy huh?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.scrapbookobsessions.com/pictures/2008Kits/Nov08Kit1.jpg" width="150" align="left">We posted the new <a href="http://www.scrapbookobsessions.com">Scrapbook Obsessions</a> kit picture yesterday and the <a href="http://www.scrapbookobsessions.com/store/AddOns/November08AddOns.html">addons</a> have almost completely sold out already. I've already got plans doing something with one my favorite pictures with this kit. <img src="http://www.scrapbookobsessions.com/forums/uploads/1166069652/med_gallery_2_1_144452.jpg" width="150" align="right"> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Doesn't Sugar look adorable?</span> Poor thing...I better go give her a bone for being such a good sport about getting her photo taken.<br /><br /><div><font=Comic Sans MS><size=5><color=#0000FF><b>Chantele</b></color></size></font> <img src="http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/mcsmiley4.gif"></img></div>Chantelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05358329526590349463noreply@blogger.com3