Survey says....

I got this from Lyn, who got it from Dawn (Below the Surface)  Survey says.... :

Feel free to copy and paste and play along! 

1. What are your siblings MIDDLE names? Mello & Marie.  Mine is: Anne.  My mother gave my brothers her maiden name, but didn't give it to me or my sister...why, I don't know..  After the divorce however, I kept my added my maiden name.   

2. Where is your dad right now?  In heaven.

3. What was the last thing you said? "This guy is 6'10!"  (Said it to my supervisor.) I'm at work, and I just entered a new probation grant for someone, entering all his personal information..  That's a tall glass of water, hey? 

4. What is something you've learned about yourself recently?  I like lattes!

5. What color is your watch?  It's silver with little white rhinestones around the face..  $7.50 and NY & CO... :)

6. What do you think of when you think of Australia? Kangaroos!

7. When was the last time you squatted to pee?  Right after Thanksgiving at a gas station near Needles, California.  It was dirty, gross, and the door to the bathroom was open!  It was like 3 am, and there was a weird looking guy working the register.  Scary, I know..

8. Who is the last person you liked? Um..I still like him... Love him even!  :)

9. Are you close to your mom?  Yep...sometimes too close for comfort.

10. Where does your best friend work? He works in Santa Clara with  very large laser machines.

11. What is your least attractive feature?  My stretch mark scars.  :(

12. What color are your pants? Blue jeans, baby!

13. Do you have a roommate? Yes, and kids.

14. Do you prefer paper or plastic? I like paper, but I use plastic a lot---I save them and use them in my waste paper baskets.  Good for soiled/wet clothes too.

15. What color is your bedroom flooring?  Light brown.

16. Do you have a chair in your room? Nope.

17. What time of day were you born? Right after midnight.

18. Do you know anyone engaged? Yes.

19. What's your favorite number? 4

20. Do you know anyone named Laurie?  I know someone named "Lori", and she is engaged.

21. What color is your mom's hair?  Reddish/brown.

22. Do you have a dog?  Nope.

23. Where did you live in 1987?  Santa Cruz, California

24. What happened to you in 1993?  I was pregnant with my second child.

25. Does your first memory involve your dad? Sort of.  You won't believe this, but I remember being in my crib in my parent's room.  I remember laying there and looking up at them.  I told my mom I knew where my crib was in her room, and she couldn't believe me.  I obviously don't know how old I was, but I was very, very young. 

26. Do you remember singing any songs as a kid?  Oh yes..  I remember singing in the car in the back seat during road trips.  Jack Jingle Hammersmith...that's my name too... etc. etc..  And don't forget BINGO was his name..Oh!

27. When was the last time you went swimming? Oh..this summer---in the Atlantic Ocean, in the Azores... :Sigh:

28. Has your luggage ever got lost?  No, but we did forget one piece of luggage at the airport at baggage claim. 

29. When was the last time you talked to one of your siblings? Thanksgiving.

30. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Other than science camp, no.

31. Do you play an instrument?  I used to play the clarinet in school, and the organ/piano. 

32. Have you ever thought it would be cool to smash a guitar? Yes!

33. Do you like fire? If it's controlled like in a fireplace, or campsite, yeah!  Otherwise, it's pretty terrifying.

35. Are you allergic to anything? Not that I know of. 

36. When was the last time you cried? Oh gosh, yes.  My favorite radio station is doing a Make A Wish Christmas and asking listeners to call in donations for various families in need.  Some of the stories have been heart-breaking.

37. What kind of shampoo do you use? Now?  Avon!  Here is another shameful plug!  Visit my website at: 

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Write in REPSS for coupon code for FREE shipping for an order of $15 or more!! 

38. Have you ever been to a spa? No, not really.

39. Were you popular in school? I don't think so, but I graduated with people I knew from kindergarten--most everyone in my class "knew" me.

40. Did you take science all four years of high school? Only the classes I needed to graduate. 

41. Do you like butterflies? Yes.

42. What is the last book you read?  Oh gosh, one of those mystery novels by Collins--don't remember the name.  It's been a long time.

43. Do you like Coke or Pepsi more?  It doesn't matter, as long as it's diet.  I can't really tell the difference to tell you the truth. 

44. What is one thing you miss about your past?  Nothing really--only the people that are no longer in my life-those who have passed on.

45. Did you ever see the school nurse?  A few times when I threw up at school may be.

46. Have you ever wanted to be a teacher? Yes.

47. What is one thing you've learned about life? Karma--what goes around comes around, AND not everyone will like you for some reason, so make sure to like/love yourself.

48. Are you jealous of anyone? Nope. 

49. Is anyone jealous of you?  I hope not

50. When was the last time you were in an elevator?  At my mom's medical clinic.  For some reason we always get off on the wrong floor!

Kids..

I just don't understand kids nowadays... 

Looking back, I think I was a good kid.  I NEVER skipped school unless I was with my parents.  I only ditched one class during my senior year, but never got detention, sent to the principle's office..etc..etc...  Always turned in my homework and passed all my classes, and I ALWAYS told my parents where I was if I wasn't home.  In fact, I was such an obediant child, my parents wouldn't let me go out at night unless it was with my friend Denise---who was a Salvation Army bell ringer, and whose mom used to go to our church.  I guess they felt I was safe with her, and vice versa--and yes--I was pretty safe if you don't count the time I with her to the city and spent the night at her uncle's house for Halloween.  And that doesn't even count because we didn't even get into trouble--we just went on the subway and shopped in San Francisco, and attended the Halloween party at her uncle's condo duplex where we sipped soda, among all the 30 something singles.  We met one kid our age who befriended my friend Denise.  This guy  wanted to smoke weed, but Denise preached the word of the Lord to him.  (No I'm not kidding.)  Denise did her "what would Jesus do" speech, and he was long gone.  Yes I was safe with my friend Denise.  We didn't smoke, drink or anything, and when we  dated with our blind dates, we drove in separate cars--yeah strange I know--but safe.  My parents had it made with me! 

I don't expect my kids to live in my footsteps of being exceptionally geeky throughout their teenage years.. (Yes I admit I was a geek..) BUT... In the age of cell phones, why or why can't our children CALL when they are late?  Why can't they CALL so we know where they are?!?!  There is just no excuse!!  I can't sleep very well if I don't know where the children of the house are at midnight!  I find myself looking through windows--and worrying.  It doesn't matter it's my natural born children or not-I worry like a mother hen.  Well, my step-son creeped in later in the night.  There are different times that are being claimed of when this happened of course. 

This morning I went to check on my daughter because she worked late last night, and she said she had a particular bad migraine.  I was a little worried that I didn't see her sleeping away in her bed this morning.  I didn't hear her say ANYTHING about leaving early this morning with her best friend to take finals at her school.  Of course I called her cell phone and no one answered...  And of course later, I finally get a condecending toned message saying:  "I don't know what the big deal is....etc..etc.." 

Sigh. 

It's raining here in California, and boy--is it chilly  outside.  Not as chilly as it is in New England I'm sure, but it's a cold rain over here.  I really need to head to the store and get some pants for my son who refuses to wear anything but shorts.  I cannot believe it's already December!! 

I have more shopping to do, and little time to do it!  Hubby brought home a new camera yesterday to replace the one he lost.  He felt so badly..  The new camera is the same Lumix--but, even better---and cheaper too!  :)  I'm a happy camper!  Thanks honey--feel free to leave anything else on the roof of your car...ha ha ha

Now I can take super, super Christmas pictures of the kids near the Christmas tree!!  I still need that holiday photo!
 

 

Pretend Babies/Avon Free shipping...

You want to hear something pathetic? 

Well, I went to McD's for lunch today, and among the usual suspect of transient people sitting at the corner waiting to pounce McD customers for spare change, I saw this very transient man holding what I thought was a baby. 

The first thought in my mind was:  "Oh that poor baby!"  Right?  My second thought was:  "Someone contact CPS!"

Well, upon entering the McD's I saw this guy come in with the "baby"..  It was a doll for crying out loud!  He was holding it very close to his body with a dirty blanket, and all you can see is a bald head underneath this guys out of control straggly beard.  I know it was a doll, because I saw the little toy clenched baby hand creep out stiffly under the blanket. 

Don't get me wrong..  I DO give out spare change from time to time only if they promise to buy food---but no way I was going to this guy. 

Have you finished your Christmas shopping?  Not me...  But--I have yet to enter a mall to do it.  I drop off my daughter there for work, and I've seen the parking lot frenzy.  It's really vicious out there.  I intend to do most of my shopping online---Etoys/KbToys, Amazon...etc..or at stores that are detached from malls.  I need to stop at the Disney Store though--it's one of my favorites.  Oh yeah, and of course-Avon..  Duh.  I cannot believe it's already December!  A lot of places won't deliver on time past next week for Christmas!  Man I have a lot to do!!!  May be that is why I feel sooo frazzled and letting transient men holding dolls get to me.  Anyway..if you want FREE SHIPPING with Avon---

Here it is again: 

http://julielangley.avonrepresentative.com/

Type the following in the coupon code box at check out:  REPSS.  That will give you FREE shipping, for minimum of $15 order. 

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Christmas Meme

Thanks Donna for above graphic..

Gee..  It's Monday---already.  Sheesh..  The weekend just flew by..  I don't know why, but I just felt "out of it" all weekend.  I felt hurried, frustrated and exhausted.  Perhaps it was because I started my Saturday going to the dentist.  Going to the dentist on a Saturday morning is just asking for a sucky weekend.  But--at least my teeth are "done" until my check up in March.  Whheww..  Glad that's over. 

Our dentist lets us watch movies while they work on our teeth.  I got to watch the movie, Click by Adam Sandler.  My daughter had seen it before, and made a point of buying the DVD to send to her father a few years ago.  Adam Sandler resembles her dad-quite a bit--it is almost scary sometimes.  Anyway, she told me that she cried when she saw the movie.  Well, I cannot tell you how embarrassing it was to be crying on the dentist chair.  Hopefully the dentist didn't notice the tears rolling down the corners of my eyes, and just figured he sprayed me a little too much with his dental hose. 

Oh well..  This weekend I did manage to get my tree up with Nicholas, and work on some Christmas cards.  I was all ready to send the cards out to the ex-inlaws, when Lizzy informed me that I was "not going to use that picture" of her for the card.  I need to take more pictures of the kids, and I will do that as soon as hubby dear buys me a new camera.  He left my digital camera on the hood of his car and drove off after Andrew's flag football game.  Poor guy felt terrible about it.  Oh well.. Stuff happens.  At least I downloaded all my pictures already. 

What is a Monday without a Meme?  Here is one I snatched from the QUEEN, (Dawn) who snatched it from:

 Marty at Porch Stories, via others... you have probably seen it around!   Cut and paste and do it too!!  :)

                             1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? 

                                 Hot Chocolate!  I despise egg nog!!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?   Everything gets wrapped! 3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?   Colored inside and outside. 4. Do you hang mistletoe? No.  Cute idea though.  May be I'll try it this year.   5. When do you put up your decorations? Whenever I have time--the tree went up this last weekend--but the lights outside probably not until the weekend coming up.  

                    6. What is your favorite holiday dish?

                       Oh gosh...  I dunno--the candied yams?

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:  My first Christmas overseas in the Azores.  The weather was rainy & cold, and there was a lot of Christmas spirit--it was an olf-fashioned Christmas with a lot of partying.   8. When and how did you learn the truthabout Santa? I believe in Father Christmas--St. Nicholas.  I believe his message still lives on through everyone who celebrates gift giving.  Yep, there is a Santa Claus; not just one but many.  9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? When I was younger, our family would open presents on Christmas Eve--usually after midnight mass.  In the morning, Santa left more presents at the fireplace.  Now, because we have relatives that spend Christmas Eve with us, we open presents from relatives who visit on Christmas Eve, and our own presents on Christmas morning. 10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Usually alone!  Bah humbug!  Hubby sets up the tree, and I standing there with boxes and boxes of ornaments from Christmas past.  Usually I buy a few new ones every year.    11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Since I live in California, we don't see snow unless we head up to the Sierras.  I personally LOVE the way snow looks.  It's fun to play in for awhile, but I detest driving in it, and it is very wet and cold after awhile...but, snow is very magical looking...  IN other words, as long as I don't  have to shovel it, I love snow! 12. Can you ice skate? No.  I wish I could.   
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My Barbie discotec, and the Barbie kitchen...  Oh, and those light brown suede boots..  I loved those boots.  Oh..and those diamond earrings my husband bought me when we celebrated our first Christmas ...  14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Remembering our saviour's birth with family. 15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?  Cookies, and fudge. :) 16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?   My favorite?  Hmm..  Getting together with family and relatives, and watching the kids open presents they really love.    17. What tops your tree?   A star. 18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?   I like giving; but I also like being surprised.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?  I'll Be Home For Christmas, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas...   And Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer 20. Candy Canes?  Yes.  As long as they aren't in someone's hair or in my carpet. 21. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Or is it still magical for you? It's commercialized a little too much at times.  I hate seeing Halloween decorations displayed with Christmas in October.  I cringe when I pass homes with a little too much lighting displays--it's like Christmas threw up in their front yards...  I keep thinking someone should make a life sized Elvis Santa to put in some of the front yards---I'm not kidding..it looks like a mini Las Vegas in front of some homes!  But, all in all...it's Christmas--it will always be a magical time of year for me.

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Tis' Friday!!

Friday...  Allelujah!!  It couldn't have gotten here any quicker!!! 

It's bbbrrrrrrrrrrr COLD over here.  According to the weather people on T.V. this weekend it's suppossed to be the coldest.  What I will be doing this weekend:  Christmas cards--for the overseas people in my life--the ex-in-laws.  The other overseas cards are going to be personally delivered by our friend, Mr. Almeida.  He is going over to the Azores next month to visit his family, and his beautiful girlfriend, my cousin's daughter-Tania.  They are such a cute couple.  I have some photo CD's still to make, and albums to buy...  

I got my first Christmas card in the mail!!!  All the way from Florida----Thanks Lyn :)

Thank you for your comments in regards to the pictures I was contemplating to buy for above the fireplace.  I didn't purchase either one of them.  I am still undecided.  I let my daughter look at the selections, and after she looked at what I had picked, she gave me a grin and announced that they were all boring selections.  Oh well.  My daughter is honest..almost brutally honest to a point.  I went looking some more, and found myself in the "humor" art section of the website I was looking at.  I kid you not that I was toying with the idea of getting these for over the fireplace:

Kind of cute...or what about this one?

Or, why not this..the ever classic? 

Sorry, I have a weird sense of humor at the moment. 

I did some shopping with my daughter yesterday evening.  Shopping is actually tolerable during the late hours.  We found a coat my daughter really, really wanted, and other gift items.  I love Marshalls.  I don't know if you are familar with that store, but they have the cutest stuff for the home there.  I had fun smelling all the fancy olive oil soaps.  We got home after 9:30, and we would have stayed longer if we didn't have Nicholas with us. 

I realized that I sent an email for Avon free shipping to a few of you where you had to buy $40 worth of stuff...  That wasn't the email I intended to send!  Let me make it easier for you all.  When you go to my Website :

http://julielangley.avonrepresentative.com/

Type the following in the coupon code box at check out:  REPSS.  That will give you FREE shipping. Oh, by the way...  Thank you Miss Mary. :) 

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!!!

  

Thursday

Yes, Christmas music is now blaring form the radio station at work.  Oh, now Wham!  is playing on the radio...  "Last Christmas"--cute song.  Before the Pointer Sister's came on it was "Christmas Shoes."  Oh I can't stand that one--the words always make me cry--I always get suckered in with that song. 

This morning I went out "fishing" for customers at the county building--leaving Avon brochures in all the women's bathrooms on each floor of the building , and then in the cafeteria.  I must say--it was good exercise.  I have still some more to put in the bathrooms, here in the ghetto.  Yesterday I was surprised to get a call from someone from the IRS office.  I don't know if I mentioned this before, but the IRS people here are a strange group of people.  They work behind unmarked doors, and don't talk much to others that work in the building.  The IRS woman that called me sounded a little mysterious.  She told me to knock "3 times" at her door when I made my delivery.  Isn't that an Orlando and Dawn song?  "Knock 3 Times On the Ceiling If You Want Me..."  Remember that oldie, but goodie?  Anyway, I guess the IRS people have a "secret code knock"...  Good to know, huh? 

I know it's not even December yet, but a lot of people are all decorated for Christmas already.  I need to send out some Christmas cards to overseas by this weekend, and hopefully this weekend we can put up the Christmas tree.  Nicholas is really excited about this--the other kids I don't think could care less.  It's a sad reality, but once kids get older, into their teens they aren't too excited about decorating the tree, and I and husband end up doing it all ourselves.  I was NEVER that way.  May be it is because I was the youngest child, but I always loved doing the tree at Christmas, and it never was up soon enough for me.  Oh well--I didn't have internet access back then or Myspace, or an Ipod, or CD player. I just had a record player and enjoyed lip syncing to Pat Benatar and Abba. 

So far today I've managed to hit my knee on the door at McDonalds, and hit my head on the trunk hood of my car.  Lovely.  I've also dropped numerous files on the floor.  Hmm..  I guessI'm having a clumsy day---or if you believe in old world folklore--"someone" is trying to contact me with some good news.  Hmm...  I will keep you posted. 

Since it's Thankful Thursday, here are a few things I'm thankful for today:

1.  My job.  Yep, the gas money on this commute I could do without, but I am thankful for a very flexible schedule, and really nice supervisors and staff that are very family friendly.  If I need a break to walk on the ocean--I can.  Not many places can let you do that, huh? 

2.  My car.  Yep..it's getting a tad old and dirty, and a few scratches here and there, but it gets me from A to B.

3.  My kids & family.  They drive me crazy sometimes; but they keep me sane.  I know that doesn't make sense-but I don't like being alone. 

4.  My hubby.  No matter what a crazy day I have---the craziness just goes away when I'm with him--just like a 6'2 teddy bear.

 

 

Whhoohhoooo!!! Extremely good news for Extreme Fans!

I was listening to the radio this afternoon, and I shouted with delight upon hearing the news!  Whoohooo!!!  Go Nuno, go Nuno!!!  (Remember the story of how I met his brother? HA HA HA HA!) 

 

From Billboard Magazine:  http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003677311

 

 

Update: Extreme Reuniting For 2008 Album, Tour

Extreme November 26, 2007, 12:00 AM ET Jonathan Cohen, N.Y. and Gary Graff, Detroit Boston-based rock outfit Extreme is reuniting for its first studio album in 13 years and world tour in 2008, Billboard has learned. The group, best known for the 1991 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit "More Than Words," disbanded in 1996 but reformed briefly in 2004 and 2006. Details are pending on the album, which is being produced by guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, and the tour dates. Extreme now includes original members Bettencourt, frontman Gary Cherone and bassist Pat Badger, along with new drummer Kevin Figueiredo. Of late, the band has reached a new audience thanks to the inclusion of its song "Play With Me" in the video game "Guitar Hero." "It's a real record," Bettencourt tells Billboard.com of the new Extreme album, which will likely include such songs as "King" and "You're a Star." "It's not just a throwaway to tour with. i think it's gonna be one of our better records yet."   Extreme will likely perform a new song Saturday (Dec. 1) at the Boston Music Awards. "Me and Gary are still e-mailing back and forth trying to finish up the lyrics on this one," Bettencourt admits. "We don't even have the lyrics or the title in it. That's kind of how new everything really is."