Just Random Stuff

Happy new year…

Feb 7th, 2012

I know, it’s February.. but since this my first blog post of 2012, I thought the post title was fitting!

So what’s new? Nothing. Do you have anything new to share? Okay so there are a few new things. I’m working again- and enjoying being out of the house way more than I thought I would. I enjoy this line of work, always has. What’s it I’m doing you ask? Income taxes. And yes you read correctly… I enjoy it. Right now I’m studying and prepping for IRS’s EA Exam (Enrolled Agent). Don’t ask me why because I don’t yet have a clue. The only thing I do know, for sure, is corporate taxes make me want to pull my hair out of my head and run for the hills. HAHA Not really, but you got a good visual didn’t ya?

My divorce will be final next month. Yes divorce. When the one you’re married to finds the grass greener in someone else’s pasture and consistently lies about it and tells YOU that YOU are crazy for being suspicious… yeah, that’s a good indicator that it’s time to move on. And yes I am crazy, but I was right! The past couple months have been…difficult and trying, but I’m hanging in there thanks to some incredibly wonderful friends and my awesome Mom. Life goes on, and this life is definitely going on.

I have picked up a new hobby, well sort-of hobby that is. I’m an apprenticing tattoo artist– something I’ve always wanted to do but never had anyone I trusted to apprentice me. Well, now I do!! Still have a long way to go but it sure is fun getting there!

And since I’m at work and technically not supposed to be on the net… I must get off and do some real work. You know, the kind that pays the bills…bahahahahaha.

Later peeps….

It’s Been a While……..

Dec 29th, 2011

by Nickie.

3 comments

Quite a while actually. And a lot has happened since last time I was online. Of course, the reason for me net absence is that I moved and no longer have access to my wonderful (NOT) cable internet. Who knew I’d actually miss it, but I do. My only options are satellite net… Hughes or Wild Blue.. and as of yet I haven’t made my mind up which is the better of the two. So… no net for me.

In more pressing news… my hubby left me about three weeks ago. Packed up and moved out. Shocking? Yes, it was to me as well. But life goes on right? I’ve survived worse in my life… and then some. Needless to say, I am one angry scorned woman and you know what they say about a woman scorned.

He came up with this crazy notion that we should date each other. Date. We’re married. I don’t see how that could work and to be quite honest, I’m just a tad bit too angry for that at this moment. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever be to a point where I trust him enough to let him back into my world. And the kids… his moving out has done a number on them too. My Lil Man is seeing a neuropsychologist for other things so I talked to the doc about it and he said Lil Man will be just fine. In fact, he said that he’ll handle this better than me. He said to just keep doing what I’m doing by trying to keep his normal routine as much as possible and he’ll bounce right back. That was a load of this mama’s mind for sure.

Who knows what the future holds… certainly not me. I’m taking each day as it comes. One day at a time as the old cliche says. So far so good.

So I decided to go back to work since I now need an income of my own. Starting January 5th, I’ll be back into the work of income taxes. Can’t say I’m really excited about it- it’s a job; one that will get me by till another comes along which will hopefully be before the end of tax season. Keep your fingers crossed and say a few prayers for me. With two kids to support, I can’t live off rental income and child support alone. BUT, I’m gonna be okay. I am, I know I am. No more Debbie Downer here… I’ve had enough of that.

Maybe with some luck my online presence will increase back to normal in the next few weeks. I’ve certainly missed you all and my lonely little blog… my outlet.

Until next time… peace & love to ya!!!

What was I thinking?

Feb 11th, 2011

by Nickie.

5 comments

I hate when I end up asking myself that question. But, well, this morning I’m asking myself that question because I did a DUH! My email… well, let’s just say I use one of the free web mail programs and have had the same email address since 1999. Welllll, a few months back I was getting bombarded with a lot of junk and spam email so I went in and changed my filter settings. Guess what? That wasn’t a good idea! Apparently, some non-junk emails have been going directly to my junk folder which are promptly deleted. *sigh*

So no wonder I’ve been left scratching my head when folks have asked if I got the email(s) they sent. And, no wonder I waited and waited for emails (like subscription verifications or password resets) and never got them!

Was that a duh moment? Me thinks so. At the time, it seemed like a good idea. I mean, after all, I was getting a lot of junk and who likes junk? Ya know? I didn’t know it was going to mean that good emails would be forever lost in oblivion! Oy. Maybe I should have read the little description in the fine print huh?

Chalk that one up to a lesson learned.

Along those same lines, but completely unrelated to email… I have asked myself “what was I thinking” several other times… like when I decided that I needed to cut all my hair off, short, really short. The answer to that one was… I wasn’t thinking. And, going back to the digital world, there’s some of the awful blog layouts I’ve had. Obviously I liked them at the time… has my taste really changed that much in such a short amount of time? (For the record, I have been blogging officially since 2007… but used LiveJournal for a couple years before that and customized it quite frequently. To me, that’s a short amount of time.. hehe)

Of course, the “what was I thinking” moment of all “what was I thinking” moments has to be some of the outfits I’ve worn, and sadly been reminded of by those oh so lovely photographs that just had to be taken when wearing such hideous apparel. I’m not talking about two decades ago, or even a single decade ago. I can go back five years and ask myself “WHAT WAS I THINKING?” Obviously I thought what I was wearing looked “good” but really… did I look in a mirror? Ay ay ay. I have thought, a time or two, about taking a quick pic of myself to see what I really look like before walking out the door, but haven’t actually done it. Thankfully, I have a daughter who is old enough now that she doesn’t mind telling me when what I’m wearing looks hideous (her word) or not quite… right.

So, do you have any “what was I thinking” moments? I’d love to hear them!! (If for no other reason than to know I’m not alone in this world… haha!)

Random thoughts…

Feb 2nd, 2011

by Nickie.

Comments are off for this post

I’m so happy that my internet is back in the working world… thought it’s not back to normal. I’ll take what I have over nothing. The CableOne guys have been working their fingers to the bone, I gotta say. Yesterday’s weather certainly hindered their progress, but they have been really good about keeping in touch and explaining what’s going on the past couple days. Can’t ask for more than that! (Well, other than having properly working internet, but one thing at a time… heh)

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We prepared for storms to roll through the area yesterday… those storms never happened. According to all the weather forecasts, and I do mean all of them, we were to get strong damaging winds, isolated tornadoes, and torrential rain. We got the rain. I prayed like crazy Monday night and Tuesday morning, while waiting for the mess to hit. I asked God to calm the clouds and wind, bring the rain we need, and keep the storms away. He answered my prayers! God is so good!

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We’re in the process of getting ready to put the house on the market. Hopefully it won’t be much longer until it’s sold and we have cash in hand (I’m hoping we’ll be moving by summer *fingerscrossed*). That will make such a huge difference in our financial situation. It’s all in God’s hands, and I’m not worried.

We do have to start searching out a location for the new house though. That could take a while. I’m sure the right place will come along at the right time though. It’s all in His hands.

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Since JoJo now has a job, and Nay has school four days a week… plus Lil Man and Priss are both in school until 3:00 everyday… I have a few hours of quite time now. It’s much needed and much welcomed. It’s amazing how much I’ve been able to catch up on in the few hours of quite I get to myself. Minus the several times I have to take the pups out, let them in, play with them, feed them, love them, and pet them. But hey, I’m not complaining.

As much as I love the kiddos, it is nice to have some “me” time… quite time, restful time, peaceful time, and time alone just me and my Father. That is the best part of it. The absolute best! There is nothing like the feeling of overwhelming peace when it’s just you and God… and you just “be still.” Soul peace. Mind peace. The kind of peace people spend lots of time and money searching for– and the hundreds, thousands, of gurus out there will tell you they can help you find, but can’t– and never find because they are looking in all the wrong places. That kind of peace doesn’t lie within ourselves.

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Yesterday was like Christmas all over again in my house. I received a delivery from DaySpring/(in)courage… Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts. I am so very grateful to DaySpring and Zondervan for this book. And I am so thankful for Bloom Blook Club. I’m really looking forward to diving into this book.

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Do you keep a prayer list? I heard a story the other day of a little lady who kept a prayer list in her Bible. Her list was a list of people she prayed for everyday. Neighbors, friends, acquaintances, family. People who she loved, even if she didn’t really know them. What an amazing thing to do. And the best part about it is… even just writing those names down and thinking of their needs, whispering those things in her heart and mind… those needs went directly to the One who could fulfill them. Prayer within prayer. Amazing.

I am starting a list of my own. I’ve had a mental list for a long time, but sometimes my ‘mental’ isn’t so good at remembering every name on that list. Putting those names in writing is a great way to make sure no one is forgotten.

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Have I told you lately how much I love and appreciate you? Yes, you. I haven’t, and I should have. You, taking the time to read the words I’ve typed on a white screen… you mean more to me than I can express. Even if there is only one of you, just one person reading these words that flow from my fingertips… you are so important to me. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for taking time out of your day to read my simple words– especially since I’m a terrible writer! You are loved. ♥

(And forgive me for typos and bad grammar. I’m not proofing this post. It’s late and I’m tired. Good night blog world.)

What do you do when you’re netless for 6 days?

Jan 31st, 2011

by Nickie.

1 comment

You complain, a lot. Actually, the complaining sort of tapered off after the first four days. Because, honestly, what was the point in complaining, really? It wasn’t doing any good, that’s for sure!

Right now I have a love/hate relationship with CableOne. Last Monday, one week ago today, our internet was working fine. Then Tuesday morning, nothing. No connection, nothing. At around noon Tuesday, we were showing connected on the modem but neither computer. Then finally, my computer was showing that it was connected… but, and there’s always a but, I couldn’t open anything. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

After several phone calls and a scheduled service call that never happened, it was determined that there was an area wide outage plus an issue with my connection specifically.

I called everyday up to Friday. On Friday, after the service call that was supposed to happen Wednesday but was rescheduled for Thursday DID NOT happen, I was told there was still an issue specifically to my connection and another service call would be needed… and the earliest date available was Tuesday. *sigh*

So this morning, Priss (who was more frustrated by the lack of net than me) hopped on just to “see” if it was working and VOILA… it’s working! I don’t know for how long, but it’s working now and for that I am so very thankful! I’m also thankful for the one week credit CableOne is giving us for our lack of service. See, that’s where the love/hate relationship comes in. CableOne has a GREAT bunch of folks working for them… they just have really crappy lines around these parts.

It could always be worse though… I could be completely netless like I was for almost a year. Today is definitely a day to be grateful for what I have!

Now I have some serious catching up to do!