We are busy busy busy packing for the trip of a lifetime! I am so excited about it too.

We will head from Chattanooga, Tn down to Quitman, MS to visit my friend Molly from highschool. Then we will go to Midlothian, TX to visit my step dad and step mom and some siblings. From there we will head on down to Early, TX to visit my Bio mom and her hubby and more siblings! Then up to Lawton, OK to visit Aunts, Uncles and cousins. After that we'll drive to the Grand Canyon in Arizona for a camping expience. And THEN to San Diego, CA to visit my hubby that I haven't seen since August.

While there, we have a lot planned. A museum, a few amusement parks, DISNEY LAND!!! and more. Then when his leave is finished and he has to go to work, we'll head north to Ontario, Cal to visit my Grandma (who I haven't seen in 18 years!) and spend some time with her.

After that we'll head north to Libby, MT where we will visit Daddy David, Carol and Sky (who we haven't seen in 18 years! either). After a visit there, we'll head to Springfield, Illinois to see Donna and family and then head home after that.

We leave Sunday or Monday and will be back around December 15th!!! I am so happy to get to go. I really need to feed my nomadic spirit that has been restless for a couple years now. By the time we get back, We'll have been through 17 states this year (We also went to Florida a couple weeks ago). I can't wait!

I found a very cool website for spelling. It is sequential spelling and teaches the kids to spell using sequence. Miles has done lesson 1 and 2 in the 1st sequence and really LOVES it. It even has "Home School" on the notebook covers which is a HUGE plus to Miles. He hates anything that has grade levels on it and frankly, so do I. It also has a program for reading, writing, typing and spelling. All taught together as they learn the alphabet. I am so excited to get started.

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Here is the AVKO webpage for homeschoolers

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But first I need to rest b/c I have whatever is goign around right now. I feel miserable. My body aches, my head is going to explode and my ears keep clicking. I keep getting dizzy too. I am going to rest for now b/c I have the next 16 days off so I'll have plenty of time to recover.

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I am going to go browse the AVKO website.

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Until next time

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Dotchi

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Somewhere between lack of sleep and massive sinus pressure, I am not quite ready to play the role of mom today. Let me paint the picture for you.

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It's 5 pm... I've gotten to sleep 4 hours. I keep nodding off at unexpected times and am very tempted to get checked by a doctor b/c I am WAY sleepy. Yes, I am busybusy! But even after 36 hours oif sleep I will still be tired. Not kidding. We've worked sort all weekend so I really am tired. And just who said that the nursing home residents sleep at night? Show me that nursing home. I want to go there! LOL

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SO... I get home, kick dh out of bed. I see he brought the magazine called Military spouse and I think I made it pass 2 sentences and dosed off. Then the whole head jerk thing woke me up and I kept reading... I think. Not that I retained anything I read, except the part about the pregnant lady moving cross country whilst trying to call the move a vacation. LOL Ah, I remember the days. Eventually, dh said to go ahead and sleep, he'd keep the boys occupied and then have them busy when he left at noon... Or something like that. So I fell asleep. Back hurting, knees throbbing, head pounding, feet so sore that it hurt to wiggle the toes, and shoulders just killing me.

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I wake to a whining 6 year old telling me that his brother did something and his brother saying "Well, he started it!" *grumble* Nap over, must be awake. So I am up now and very sleepy and took everyone's blood sugar and I'm trying to be patient with the whining little people that stole my son... And the man-wanna-be has decided he's just too cool to hang out with his brother anymore b/c he's so much younger than him (and tomorrow they'll be playing games again!).

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So I walk into the kitchen, dh has left for work, my kitchen is trashed, I think there was an explosion in the laundry room, somewhere around the bottom of the hamper b/c there are clothes all over the place! The extension cord is on the floor too. I think the clothes were attempting to escape when I came in... akin to toy story toys. If my clothes start talking, I'm committing myself. The diningroom table is covered with computer projects and apparently no one can fold clothes anymore. They all end up in baskets. The sink is piled with dishes, there are noodles on the stove and it looks like someone was trying to make a decoration out of them b/c they are on the counter and wall! The bathroom toilet was not flushed (on the bright side, no one is constipated or has diarhea... I know this for sure now) and when I went to take blood sugars, the lancet setting was on kill and I didn't think my finger would ever stop bleeding. Poor kids, no wonder they said "OUCH!" when I took there blood sugar. The little whining one did quit whining for a while because he wanted to see how long he make his fingertip bleed, then proceeded to make a bloodspot happy face ON MY BED! I'm alright. This is going to be a science project on hydrogen peroxides effect on blood stains on mom's freshly washed blanket.

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I can barely stand anymore fun for the day so now I am hiding. SHHHHH! Don't tell them where I am.

I started building a website for family and friends. It will be good practice for me for when I build my business website. I am hoping to have it doen this week. I am building it through tripod. If anyone knows how to create a link with html, please tell me!

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I am going to try this... if it doesn't work I'll fix it later. Here it goes Dotchi's Chunk Of Cyber Space!
That's the website, or should be... if It's not, here is the link. Let me know how to do it. http://silvermoonacademy.tripod.com

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I need to get ready for work now. It should be an easy night.

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Until next time

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Dotchi

Hubbies orders for August 8 to October 1 were turned down. The commander is appealing the turn down though. I am still going to take the vacation days, but I am going to talk to Tammy, the schedule co-ordinator, and take my days after everyone gets back from their vacation so we don't have to work short again.

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I worked two doubles the last two days so I am very tired. I got to sleep today, but I can still feel the exhaustion, even after 8 hours of sleep. I was up 35 hours with only 1 hour of sleep before that. I think I'll still take Thursday through Sunday off though... I might work Sat and Sun to get my weekends back to normal. That way we can go to church every other week like usual.

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I think it is so funny listening to the newer CNAs complain about stuff that is new to the company. One girl complained that she was tired of working "short" with only 4 CNAs, she wants the 6 or 7 that she is accustomed to. Funny, b/c when I started, 4 was the norm. We were exstatic to have 6 work... but most days we were happy to have 3 show up. And there were a few days I remember being happy that ANYONE showed up besides me. That was mostly flu season and the month that the rhino-virus went around. It's rare, bit it does happen. She threatened to walk out after a week of working with 5! We long-timers just laughed b/c it is so funny.

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Hubby got the lawn mower fixed. Miles was happy about that. Now he gets to mow the lawn! He loves doing that. It's a riding lawn mower so he feels like he gets to drive. I am working with him on cleaning up after himself. He's getting better at it.

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I am working with Lil Mendel on cleaning up after hisself and not destroying a room just because he can. I think with a LOT of patience he will eventually get it. I am going to spend the next few days resting and working, then I'll work on printing out weeks 2-6 of the ambleside reading.

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Off I go for now

Dotchi

"Ethical" Defined

After more than 100 dead dogs were dumped in a trash dumpster over four weeks, police in Ahoskie, N.C., kept an eye on the trash receptacle behind a supermarket. Sure enough, a van drove up and officers watched the occupants throw in heavy plastic bags. They detained the two people in the van and found 18 dead dogs in plastic bags in the dumpster, including puppies; 13 more dead dogs were still in the van. Police say the van is registered to the headquarters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and the two occupants, Andrew B. Cook, 24, and Adria Joy Hinkle, 27, identified themselves as PETA employees. An autopsy performed on one of the dogs found it was healthy before it was killed. Police say PETA has been picking up the animals -- alive -- from North Carolina animal shelters, promising to find them good homes. Cook and Hinkle have been charged with 62 felony counts of animal cruelty. In response to the arrests PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said it's against the group's policy for employees to dump animals in the trash, but "that for some animals in North Carolina, there is no kinder option than euthanasia." (Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald) ...Oops, my mistake: that's "Playing God" Defined.

In his author's notes section, Cassingham had more to say about this story:

The more I learn about PETA, the less I think of them. The story of them killing animals isn't even unusual. According to PETA's own filings, in 2004 PETA killed 86.3 percent of the animals entrusted to its care -- a number that's rising, not falling. Meanwhile, the SPCA in PETA's home town (Norfolk, Va.) was able to find loving homes for 73 percent of the animals put in its care. A shortage of funds? Nope: last year PETA took in $29 million in tax-exempt donations. It simply has other priorities for the funds, like funding terrorism (yes, really). But don't take my word for it: I got my figures from http://www.PETAkillsAnimals.com -- and they have copies of PETA's state and federal filings to back it up. The bottom line: if you donate money to PETA because you think they care for and about animals, you need to think some more. PETA literally yells and screams about how others "kill animals" but this is how they operate? Pathetic.

And you know what I wonder? PETA's official count of animals they kill is 86.3 percent. But if they're going around picking up animals, killing them while they drive around and not even giving them a chance to be adopted, and then destroying the evidence by dumping the bodies in the trash, are those deaths being reported? My guess: no. While 86.3 percent is awful, the actual number is probably much, much higher. How dare they lecture anyone about the "ethical" treatment of animals!

(This is True is a weekly column featuring weird-but-true news stories from around the world, and has been published since 1994. Click the link for info about free subscriptions.)

Today I ended up sleeping for 1 1/2 hours to start. Tehn I got up and helped hubby get ready to leave. After he left the house we started getting familiar with the Fly routines.

We do fine with the morning routine but after that we go down hill. I am not sure why it is harder now than before but, I am sure it just takes time and we'll get in the swing of things.

My vacation days start on the 4th of Agust and I don't go back in until the 20th! WOOHOO! I'll have a chance to spend more time with the boys, catch up on the house and work on my business (which is going slow right now. I need to build a website!)

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I also got a rasie at work! WOOHOO! It's only 3.5 % raise but it does help some.

Hubby's orders have been submitted, so if all goes well, he'll be off to San Diego on August 8th and I can go to 3 days a week on September 15th. Oh I hope!

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It is supposed to be 100 degrees here today so we'll be doing a lot inside. With my angio edema (heat related) I am stuck inside most of the year. I sure wish my vehicle had air conditioning. Right now we haven't even gone to the homeschool group b/c it's just too hot for me. But when it cools down again we'll start going again.

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The boys got to see a bat (the nocturnal creature). I hot one on the way to work the other night and when I stopped for coffee it was in the truck on the floorboard. I nearly cried. But it was so beautiful! Today I am going to look up bats and see what we can find on them.

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Dotchi

1. What is your favorite all-time movie?

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Hmmm, good question. Let me think on this... I really love the Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof. Can they be a tie?

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2. Where is your favorite place on earth?

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Any navy town near the sea. I grew up a navy brat and I miss it terribly!

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3. Do you run a home business, and if yes, then what is it you do?

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I run a company called Silver Moon Company. We sell quality merchandise at affordable prices. (It’s very new... I’ll post the website when I get it done.

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4. What are some lessons in life you had to learn the hard way?

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My favorite lesson is to be the coffee. There is a story that goes like this...

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If you take an egg, a carrot and coffee and place them in separate pots of boiling water let them boil for awhile, 3 different things will happen.

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The hot water will eventually make the egg become hardened and brittle and it will crack easily under pressure. The carrot will become weak and mushy bending and mashing easily. BUT, but the coffee does not become hardened or weakened... the coffee changes the water altogether.

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The choice is yours... you can be the egg, the carrot or the coffee. I choose to be the coffee.

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5. Assuming you're a parent, what is the one thing you are happiest to see in your children?

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Creativity and imagination. Although sometimes they carry it too far LOL.

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6. What would you like written on your headstone someday?

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Daughter, auntie, wife and mother

1 great sister and 4 great brothers

My life to you I’d love to tell

Rest in mind, I lived it well

So, Sit and stare in awestruck wonder

Of who lies here, six feet under

Nestled resting beneath your feet

Finally I get to sleep!

Be strong now and be brave

(but do not step upon my grave)

Tell my story and make it clever

And my name will live on forever!

7. What is the one thing that you wish you had done by now?

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Go to LPN school when I had the chance instead of wasting my life away goofing off (but it’s been fun!)

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Til next time,

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Dotchi

One day when I grow old, and I know I will, I hope I do it gracefully. But most likely I will not. I wonder what I will be like and how I will act and how I will be remembered.

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I want to be remembered like Clyde. Even now we can still his laugh and anytime you find a picture of him, he was smiling and it's like he is still right there with you, next to you, waiting to tell a joke.

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But even Clyde died a slow and painful death of cancer. I see it all the time in my profession. People going from the person you know and enjoy, to a child like person you don't recognize if you only you sat them and their earlier self next to each other. You watch them slowly waste away and watch their happy faces turn downward and their eyes stare off into space where they only are. And I wonder who will take care of me when I am old? And what will I go through?

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If I need elderly care and my family can't do it, I want to go to a nursing home with loving CNAs and nurses. I want them to smile coming into work and smile leaving. I don't want to see any frowns. I want them to leave their issues outside in the hallway and pretend, even if just for me, that life is perfect. And talk often about their children. I want to see smiles like Clyde's smiles.

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And should I cry on a bad day, I wish someone would hold my hand and let me cry on their shoulder. And don't say they know how I feel, b/c no one does. Just let me cry and tell me it's okay to cry. Sometimes trying to make them be happy all the time is unrealistic. We're not happy all day long, why should they be?

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And when I can't find anything good to eat on my tray, don't panic! And when I am hungry, please feed me. Everytime I bring in soup, I share it with Genia b/c she loves homemade soup. And when we have fish, Ms. Molly is sure to have some too. And buttermilk with cornbread in it is a treat to Ms. Elma and at 105 years old, she can have all she wants!

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As I age, please be gentle with my aching joints and understanding when my gait falters and I scoot rather than walk. Like Little Me, who can take an hour to walk down the hallway, but can leap a flower bed if she thinks she can escape! LOL And Ms. Willy who needs the heat on furnace and the light on for 15 minutes before she even decides to get dressed.

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As I grow older, please don't talk to me like a child. I will be old, I just won't be 6 months months old. We have some men and women who could tell you all about thinks that makes me feel uneducated. One man could play the piano like no one could. One man sat and told me about electronics and diods and stuff like that for an hour! And that was his bad day.

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As I grow old, there may be a day that I know I am dying... please don't tell me that though. One lady held on for SIX MONTHS b/c we kept telling her she would live forever and asking her to stay. About 2 months of that was without any food b/c she quit eating. Even if they are comatose, I still talk to them like they are there and ready for a conversation. Who says they can't hear me?

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And when I am ready to go, I hope someone holds my hand and tells me it's okay to leave. Like Ms Betty who wanted to go but was afraid we'd hate her. I said No and that she should go if she was ready and that we'd still miss and love her forever. She laid her head on my shoulder, said thank you and never woke up again.

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So many things hurt to watch in a nursing home and it rips at the soul when no one else is looking. It's hard and it's depressing, yes. But those times that you look into their eyes filled with tears and hear them say "Oh thank you! You don't know how much this means to me", that is when I know I have done a good job.

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And when they smile at me and say thank you, I know I have done a good job. And in the moments when I am depressed and the weight of my duties bear down on me and it seems too much to hold; I remember that someday I will be old... and how do I want to be treated. And I think of that when I am caring for them also and then I know I will do a good job!

First, thank you everyone for the comments. Hi, Shannon! Hey Mshanane! (I hope I spelled it right). And LoneStarMom... and I can't think of the other names LOL.

Saturday Morning after work we 3rd shifters went to Shoney's for the breakfast buffet. It was me, Nika, Mika and Mary. Then Mika's boyfriend. We had so much fun! It was nice to get out with some adults. I ate everything I shouldn't eat and enjoyed every minute of it. Well, until I got home and the pain in my side set in. Then I was doubling over and in horrible pain. I took an ultram and went to bed. I left the house and boys in hubbies hands. He woke me at 7pm for dinner and a movie. We watched the incredibles. That is SO funny! I loved it! After the show I went to work. I was 5 minutes late... oops!

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Last night at work went okay. There were two of us until 2am. Then 3 until 3am, then back to 2 CNAs. One of our men is dying. I don't expect he'll be there tonight. His family is all there sitting with him in turns. It's very hard to watch someone you've cared for slowly die. It's the most taxing part of the job. My friend brought her son to work and I brought him home with me for the weekend. I got a lawn mower battery so we can actually cut the grass... It's about 3 feet tall now. Not that anyone cares, we're in the country. We have about 8 acres... half that needs mowing. Especially down near the creek in the meadow so we can go swimming!

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I finished my weekly plan in my flylady notebook. I need to go do my morning routine though. And today I am doing missions that I made up and decluttering my zone and about 15 minutes in each room. Eventually this will look like a house again!

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Today is Sunday so I am changing sheets, hanging the curtains (that I made from indian blankets... they look cool) Wish I knew how to pst a picture... I'd post before and afters of my house. Of course, AFTER it is clean LOL.

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.I better go for now. I have a lot to do and I still need to sleep. I'll get in bed around 3pm tonight and get up about 9pm to get ready for work.

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Until next time, Dotchi.

LOL Lughnassadh. It is a harvest festival. Here is a link that will explain it better than I.

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http://www.celticspirit.org/lughnasadh.htm

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I still don't know how to make links though, so you will have to copy and paste. I'll work on the links thing later.

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Til later, Dotchi

I decided to revamp the diningroom today. I am moving the long table to the small hall and turning it into my business center and moving the small shelves into the diningroom. I'll keep the encyclopedias and currently used books over there, plus the ambleonline years 1-6 folders on the second shelf. I think that will help tremendously with the clutter.

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I finished making my control journal and tonight I will start with the bedtime routine. I am not trying to kill myslef with the housework, just trying to take control. I did finish the laundryroom though. All I need to do is get the clothes put away and put the rug back.

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I realized that living in the country, I will need to change the air filter for the A/C twice a month instead of once a month. It gets filled with dirt pretty fast.

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Hubby is out at the store right now getting movies to watch and we're making dinner. Miles is making veggie cheese soup, I am making vegetarian stew, and Lil Man was helping until he grated his finger and part of his nail.

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My realistic goal for the house is to have my routines down pat by August 1st that way we can celebrate Lughnasadh with a fairly orderly house. I am also working a new alter since the top of my old alter kept falling off. We couldn't even like candles for fear of setting the house on fire.

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Til next time, Dotchi.

Are we supposed to just post about homeschooling on here? Or can we blog about whatever we feel like?

I was never a great housekeeper. I found flylady.net and it helped tremendously. But then I started working full time and now it is like I can never get anything done. I can't keep up. Yes, the kids help... please don't suggest that. I am just bummed out b/c my house never seems to get better. I wish I could be a SAHM again. Then my house would look good again.

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It's such a struggle for me to accomplish everything in just 24 hours, especially when I work 8 of those, drive 3 of them and still have to figure out when to sleep. I could never be a single mom. They really do need medals!

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I just needed to vent a bit. I still have a lot to do and now we have new neighbors and I would dread if they happened to come over here.

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Off to attack this tornado zone. Thanks for listening.

Dotchi

I got called into work last night. I clocked in around 1 AM. We did a dry round and then played spades. We have new residents too. Some of our wing was moved to the other wing. That's good b/c that means they aren't in need of skilled care now. One new lady kept pressing her call button thinking it was her TV, her light cord, or just trying to figure out what it does. It was amusing. We had a good night though. Almost everyone stayed in bed and slept well. There were a few that sat up with us. They mostly watched TV and kept telling us that we were cheating at cards LOL. I got through early this morning.

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I was going to stay and help out first shift but it is going to be very hot today and I can't handle this Tennessee heat. It's too much on my allergies so I decided to get home early. As I was leaving the building the back alarm system went off. I turned it off and when I went to go back outside, the door locked. One of the girls I work with had put a wanderguard bracelet in my purse. It locks the door so the residents can't wander off and get lost, especially our alzhiemers patients. They got a good laugh and I finally found it at the bottom of my purse :)

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On my way home, after I got off my exit, they skies looked very bad. So bad that I was starting to worry. They looked like tornado clouds. There haven't been any warnings though. They were dark and thick and hung low in the sky. At some points it looked like they could touch the ground. The rolling hills made it look even eerier. The wind got high at one point and I had to slow down to keep it on the road. I was quite nervous until I got my highway and it seemed like I drove out of the night and into the day. I am missing a few fingernails now b/c I chewed them all off. It was just too much on my nerves!

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Now I am going to go drink some coffee and wait for the rest of the house to wake up. Then I'll sort my orders and check them.

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Til then

There is a storm on the horizon to the east. I can see the lightening and hear the thunder so I am off here for now. My blogging time for tonight is up. I am going to go work on my Flylady notebook and get to cleaning the house and plannign meals.

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Have a great night (or day)

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Brightest blessings, Dotchi

I called to make sure I was on the schedule for tonight, but Jen told me I'm not. So I guess I'll have another night off. I am going to ask Tammy to let me work a double this Saturday to make up some time... and on Monday, I need to get my schedule straightened out!

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With the free time, I am going to menu plan for a week or two, prep meals, clean up the house, check on orders, and get some rest.

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Bright Blessings, Dotchi

Another blogger mentioned that she wanted to try out camping but had no clue what to do. So I thought I would share my experince with camping (especially with small ones)

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BEGINNING... The first thing I did was I went to http://www.organizedhome.com/printable/showgallery.php/cat/509 (sorry, I'm not sure how to do links yet) and I printed off the 4 listed that are there. Then I packed what I thought I would need on the lists into large rubbermaid buckets. (the ones with wheels) and loaded the truck. Some of the items on the lists I didn't feel I would need so I left them off. Other things I thought of and added to the list (like my mist sprayer) The last thing I did was go down the "Before You leave list". Unless you plan on camping for a month, you can skip most of what's on the list. I found it helpful to remember to turn off the coffee pot, make sure I had my keys, lock the door, count kids, etc.

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DESTINATION! You should really plan this first. We have 8 acres and for a quick minute or two drive down the hill and through the woods, we have the best spot to camp. Next to a spring fed creek in a meadow that is just gorgeous! Lots of trees, a little fire circle (rocks placed in a circle so we can have a fire without setting the woods on fire) If you aren't blessed with a wonderful camping spot, try looking up state parks or asking around for camping sights.

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SET UP! Once there, take a few minutes to enjoy the view, breathe in the fresh air, stretch, put on sunscreen, etc... after a one minute treck down a hill, it doesn't take long. But, if you traveled for an hour or more... you might need this. Then we pull out the tent box. We keep ours stored in a rubbermaid bin. Lay out the tarp, lay out your tent and set it up. Don't forget to put a tarp or canopy over it incase it rains. Most tents come with a rain fly. For light rains, this will work wonders... for downpours, you might end up bailing water from your tent if you only use the rainfly. Open the windows of the tent and then "move in". This is going to be home for a couple of days so drag all the clothes bins, bedding bins, and other things that could be in your home. Next set up your kitchen area. We have a folding table that we set up near the firepit and then keep the cooler on there. the food bin goes on there too. We have a small tent that we use to keep the food bin and cooler at night. A lesson we learned year 1 of camping when our dog ate the food while we slept. If your vehicle is close enough, you could keep it in there.

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UNPACK! Most of the bins will stay packed, like for clothes and shoes, toys and food, until the items are needed. But now would be a good tiem to set up the bed area so you aren't trying to set up while totally exhausted, in the dark. Make a bed for each person making sure each has a pillow, blanket and a pad (or air mattress). Set up lanterns or flashlights for at night. Place a blanket or rug in front of the tent so people can wipe their feet. We usually habg rope between two trees and hang hurricane lamps from that. It makes a very nice lighting at night.

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Now that you are unpacked, you should start a fire or make sure your stove is ready to go for mealtime. If your starting a fire and you do as well as I do, dowsing the firewood with starting fluid works wonders and makes it more enjoyable when you don't spend the first 12 hours trying to get a fire, worth speaking of, going. Once you start the fire, keep it tended so it doesn't die and the rest is pretty much fun time.

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At night... When I had wee ones, I found that I slept better if I was blocking the door. Keeping a flashlight nearby in case they are afraid of the dark also helps. I usually keep a small box or cloth bag full of toys that they can play with in the tent only. This makes inside the tent time less boring and seem more special.

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Have fun! Once you pack your things and make it home... set up your tent again and let it dry, sweep the inside, spray it with febreeze or oust, clean off any koolaid spots, etc. Once it is nice and dry, fold it and put it back in the box. Clean off the tent stakes and dry them. If anything goes into your box wet, there is a chance your tent will mildew and smell funky. It could take days to air out then. Trust me! BTDT. Wash all the clothes, put away the camping gear box, wash down the sleeping bags (I take mine to a laundro-mat), wash the dishes and put them back, make sure the oil is stored safely, etc. Then shower! You'll need it! LOL If you shower first, then your just going to be hot and sweaty when you're done unpacking.

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Any questions?