Prayers Go Out To Joplin, Missouri - What Do You Need?

To all those affected by the horrendous tornado that tore through Joplin, Mo yesterday our thoughts and prayers are with you.

In the comments section you can post any needs that you have, family and friends have started gathering items and I will make a run to Joplin.

I will post when and where I will be with the requested items. We have quite a few items of clothing already.

Please let us know what you need and we will try our best to get it to you.

I have so many "issues" to comment on

I have a lot to say about several topics that have been bugs up my butt lately. I will give you a brief summary of topics I will address over the next couple of weeks.

1. Idiot vets; as in the kind that are animal doctors - You will not believe this story
2. Lack of manners among people especially in public - The ick factor
3. Liars
4. My amazing extended family and our recent family reunion in Louisiana

If you are ready for my screwed up views then these are must read topics.

Young Adult Children Should Come With an Instruction Book for Parents

I am one of those people who don't see the age of 21 as the magical age where a person becomes an adult. I guess legally yes, as a matter of fact according to most state laws they are adults at age 18. Granted some young adults of this age are prepared to venture out into the big world and live alone, earn a living, pay their own bills and make adult decisions but there are some who are too easily swayed by others to make these adult moves.

I love and adore my adult children. One is 32 and the other is 22, both female and amazing people. My oldest daughter was raised by me as a single parent, a young single parent age 18, she has always been very independent, has a lot of common sense and a survival instinct. My youngest daughter was born with my current husband, she is spoiled, never wanted for anything and just does not have that surviror blood she never needed to acquire it. My parents' live nearby and we have a lot of other family here which was not the case when my oldest was growing up.

What Has Happened to the Handshake Agreement?

Once upon a time people would seal important and unimportant deals with a simple handshake. Today a handshake is not enough (as I recently learned), 2 lawyers have taken the place of making a handshake deal in the vast majority of cases no matter the complexity of the deal.

It is rather sad really that the morals and ethics of our society are only making attorneys richer.

I do believe in karma so to the people who 4 months ago backed out on their portion of our handshake deal and continue to make my life miserable...... you had better watch your p's and q's cause karma is a bitch.

What is Wrong With People?????

What has happened to common human courtesy? I was born in Texas and spent most of my life there, it is home and it is also where I learned' Please, Thank You, Where Real Men held the door open for me, we said mam & sir (something I do to this day), if you saw someone in need such as a flat tire or broken down car you stopped to help (these days with laziness prevailing stopping and calling AAA would work).

When we lived in Singapore and Mexico City we had to be on our very best behavior. We were visitor's in these countries and my parent's did a lot of entertaining some of which involved having bigwigs over to the house or taking them out to dinner. My brother and I could not stab at our food, chew with out mouths open and we were taught the proper way to use a knife and fork to cut our food. We were invited to some pretty amazing places because we minded our manners and were courteous towards others. Mom and daddy would have left us at home if we weren't at the top of our game.

More Sicko's in Kansas, Westboro "Baptist" Church

This is what you see at many military funerals in the area. A group of 12 or fewer encased in yellow caution tape (so they don't get the shit beat out of them) protesting; let me repeat that.. these mindless, idiots are protesting military funerals. They are willfully and knowingly creating greater grief for families and friends during a time of unmentionable sorrow. They do this in the name of God, their sick, distorted view of God.

I lowered myself and went to their horrible website to get a quote on why they picket and protest military funerals and the below is their perverted rationale;

"WBC engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth. We display large, colorful signs containing Bible words and sentiments, including: GOD HATES FAGS, FAGS HATE GOD, AIDS CURES FAGS, THANK GOD FOR AIDS, FAGS BURN IN HELL, GOD IS NOT MOCKED, FAGS ARE NATURE FREAKS, GOD GAVE FAGS UP, NO SPECIAL LAWS FOR FAGS, FAGS DOOM NATIONS, THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS, FAG TROOPS, GOD BLEW UP THE TROOPS, GOD HATES AMERICA, AMERICA IS DOOMED, THE WORLD IS DOOMED, etc.

Perceiving the modern militant homosexual movement to pose a clear and present danger to the survival of America, exposing our nation to the wrath of God as in 1898 B.C. at Sodom and Gomorrah, WBC has conducted 43,023 such demonstrations since June, 1991, at homosexual parades and other events, including funerals of impenitent sodomites (like Matthew Shepard) and over 200 military funerals of troops whom God has killed in Iraq/Afghanistan in righteous judgment against an evil nation."

I Have Hit a Wall

This year has not started off all that well and it is finally catching up with me.

Jan. 13 my mom passed away suddenly. As if that were not a big enough kick in the teeth; my dream, my antique shop that I had open for only 1 1/2 yrs had to close due to the economy. Our last day of business was Feb. 20 and we had to be out of the bldg. by Feb. 25.

I was doing pretty well up until 2 days ago, doing some of the final close up shop work, getting consignor's and dealer's sales entered (21 sales books worth), cleaning up my home work space and looking forward to planting my garden this year. Then WHAM I can't get anything done all I want to do is sleep,

I cannot stay on task with anything and this damn house (garage, patio and backyard) filled with boxes is driving me crazy. I know that it is depression, I have endured 2 great losses in a little over a months time. I have lost the person I would go to with problems such as the closing of my shop, issues with my daughter, etc. Now hubby has got a bug up his butt and I don't know why frankly at this point I could care less as long as he leaves me alone.

That's really all I have to say about this. I will get through this but it will take some time.

It's about pocketbooks, not politics - KansasCity.com

It's about pocketbooks, not politics - KansasCity.com

I wish that I was getting mention in the ONE and only major newspaper in the KC metro area for any reason other than the one in this article.

I love Mike H. he does not beat around the bush ... or the Obama for that matter.

And a resounding NO to listening to what "Mr. Change" has to say tonight. He has nothing to say that I want to hear other than "I resign." Like his big head would let him do that, he hasn't finished destroying middle class America yet.

I am sorry but I am a little bitter that I am watching my dream, my AMERICAN DREAM, I am a fucking American, go down the crapper.

Despite the economy being crappy and effecting my business the apathetic attitude of the policy maker's in this city have done a great deal of harm to the Old Town area. I say this as a citizen of Old Town and as a business owner in the area. Apathy is what is running this country and apathy is what is killing this country.

I promise I will do everything in my power to bring the community back into the area. It is to late to save my business but maybe I can play a part in saving at least one small business in Old Town Lenexa.

Thanks Mike for another great article let's hope it makes at least one person think about "change" the next time they place their vote.

Merry Christmas.... Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas to all
Happy Holidays
Be kind
Be thankful
Tell those you love that you love them
Be healthy
Be happy
Take nothing for granted

From me to you.

Lenexa, Kansas HATES Their Small Businesses & Has Forgotten Its Roots

I have lived in Old Town Lenexa, Kansas for 23 yrs., I have seen the city officials attitude toward the Old Town area go from bad to worse. They are even building a multi-million $$ shopping center and have had the balls to call it the "new downtown."

It is as if our city officials aka mayor, city council, city admin and other policy makers want to forget the roots of this city and bulldoze the entire area. When all around us the other communities are embrassing their old downtown areas, they have created vibrant, busy, centers of their respective communities.... but not Lenexa.

Tonight was the "Lighting Ceremony" our Old Town businesses have been strung with lights and are all lit up and pretty. The lights on my shop are plugged into MY electrical outlet so I get to pay the bill. Most of the other shops are plugged into the street light outlets so they don't get an additional $50 tacked on to their December electric bill.

I would not complain about this if the lighting ceremony was held in the Old Town parking lot where it had been held for many years but last year (my first Christmas in business) the ceremony was moved across the RR tracks to the community center so that all the activities could be held indoors. The rational behind this is "because it is cold outside." No shit people it is Dec. in Kansas!!!! But no, the powers that be don't think that folks have the common sense to bring a jacket and stand in the cold for an hour, at the most.

They have a group of kids that dance..... can't their costumes include tights??? Can't their be a blow heater of some type put up on the stage to keep the dancer's warm? Give me a fucking break, these kids get out and play in the snow, walk to school in the cold, play in the cold, why can't they dance in the cold.

Last year I purchased snacks, hot chocolate and cider thinking that the event would be held in the parking lot and customer's would wander into the shop during the event. Boy was I ever surprised because of course the Old Town Merchant's were not informed of the decision to move the event across the tracks.

This year I didn't bother to do anything special and as I was preparing to close the store I had a small rush of customer's. These were people who had come to watch the lights get turned on but were watching from the parking lot to have a better view. I had a few sales and lot's of conversation with these Lenexa resident's who feel like I do about the whole lighting ceremony thing.

All of the businesses in this area are small independantly owned businesses who would benefit greatly from having a hundred or so warm bodies mingling in their immediate area.

The activities and events that Old Town Lenexa has lost since I have lived here are;

• 4th of July Community Days
• Farmer's Market
• Old Town Lighting Ceremony
• Car Show

The only event still in Old Town is;

• The Chili Challenge.... and they will probably pull that pretty soon

In this economy there are events and activities the city and parks and rec can still pull together and hold in Old Town with minimal cost. This would not only bring the community back together but would bring exposure and business to the small businesses in the area. Aiding small businesses boosts the tax base and we all win. The crime rate in our area has risen but studies show that when people, especially youth, feel connected to their community the crime rate goes down.

A group of citizens tried to pull a group together but it fizzled out after a couple of years. I would love to bring the Friends of Old Town (FOOT) back together but I am having to put all of my energy into keeping my business alive.

Old Town Lenexa is rich with history and is a beautiful area it is truly a shame that the city officials including parks and rec. do not see this or flat out don't give a rat's ass anymore.

Shame on you all..... shame on you.

Tiger Woods Is Buying His Wife.... Ummm isn't that called a prostitute....

I am feeling a little sorry for Tiger, I like Tiger Woods and I am not a golf fan.

Sure he messed up by fooling around with other women but we had a President do the same thing and as far as I know he and the Mrs. are still married.... a good, solid marriage can survive this type of indiscretion.

Now it is being said that Tiger is going to up the ante on the pre-nup, shorten the amount of time she has to stay with him and give her 5 mil or more to agree to stay with him. Does this now make her a prostitute? She is being paid, and very well I might add, for staying in her marriage plus a bonus when she divorces him in 2 yrs.

I would just kick her to the curb and say if we can't make this work you don't get the money honey. I will be by to get the kids this weekend.

What he did is not right or moral but what he is trying to do now is plain assinine.

I Have a Beef, So What Else is New....

What is it these days with women using the excuse of being pregnant when they don't want to do something? Since when did pregnancy become an illness or a condition that hampers day to day activity when in fact it a very normal and natural bodily function for women.

If you are getting proper prenatal care and taking care of your physical health, the pregnancy should not limit daily activity. Yes, you have aches and pains. Yes, you might get a little more tired than usual but this only occurs in the last couple of months of a full term pregnancy.

Which brings me to another point..... "but I am a single parent" oh my gosh if I hear that one more time I am going to barf. I was a single teenage parent and was single until my daughter was 8. I had her when I was 17.

Back in those days (late 1970's) you could not go to a public high school if you were pregnant, I was kicked out in my juinor year. The only thing I knew for sure when it was just my daughter and I was that we had to eat and have a place to live. I got a lousy job but I was able to take my baby and her playpen to work and avoid the cost of child care.

I eventually got tired of working for pennies and started at the local community college. I did get my GED and then my Assoc. of Applied Science. I now have a BS degree.

No I am not some heartless uncaring person. I have volunteered many years with a child support advocacy organization, I volunteer with an anti-bully org., I spent many years with a youth group as a volunteer, board member and every thing else you can thing of.

I just get very tired of hearing the excuse "I am a single mother so I can't ....." or I am a single mother that is why my child misbehaves so badly. Don't thing of your self as a single parent..... you are a parent.... you must put on many hats and work your butt to the bone but you are simply a single parent.

Okay I am off that soap box for a while.... whew......

My Daughter's Wedding Was Beautiful

My eldest daughter got married this past Saturday. It was a beautiful wedding and reception, with a sit down dinner for 100, all done for less than $3,000.

She and her now husband had family come in from all over the U.S., California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Washington State and I don't know where else. Her father's family was there in force including her step-mom (her father passed away 3 years ago and we have been divorced since 1978).

How is it possible to put on such a lavish affair for so little money? You call upon your good friends. She asked each of her best friends to cook 1 dish to feed 100 people, her neighbors smoked and BBQed several briskets, turkeys and lamb, of course family members brought a dish and I contributed fruit, cheese and cracker plates as appetizers on each table while we waited for the bride and groom to get to the reception. My neighbor made her stunning wedding cake and gave it to her as a wedding gift. A photographer friend of mine made me a deal I could not refuse on photos. She also had several friends taking photos therefore we have a wonderful selection of pictures of the big day.

I used my tax ID # to purchase all the flowers at wholesale prices and my sister-in-law and I made the bouquets, corsages, centerpieces and boutonnieres. Her dress was on sale for $30, regularly priced at $300. Members of the wedding party wore dresses they already owned in black, white or both.

They searched high and low for a reception hall and found one for $200 which included the tables, chairs, wine glasses, a kitchen, stage and DJ area. Music was a Bose stereo hooked up to an IPod with a wide selection of music. She knows a beer delivery guy and he got them 10 cases of beer.... free. The wine and champagne were all that had to be purchased as far as alcohol goes. The wedding was held in a local park in a beautiful area surrounded by big trees. My youngest daughter took on the task of creating an aisle of shepard's hooks, chiffon and rose petals.

Yes, it was a lot of work for all but the end result was a very expensive looking affair that cost very little. Everyone had an amazing time. I even had a friend of mine who is with a Flamenco dance group to come in and do a wonderful performance of their dance.... this was a huge hit with all.

It was a very memorable and wonderful day for all and one I don't think anyone will soon forget.

One down and one to go...... she will not be able to do her's on $3000.

Cash for Clunkers and We Go 2 TRILLION Deeper in Debt

All I have to say is that I plan on keeping my 1989 Cadillac De Ville with 60,000 original miles on it as long as it will run. The last time I went car shopping it took me 3 weeks to find a car that did not look like every other vehicle on the road and I refused to get an SUV due to the gas mileage and nuisance they are with their height and bulk.

My Caddy found me and it was love at first sight.

Another bust Obama, I guess your next big hit to our pocket books will be your dumbass, unthoughtout health care reform.

Kansas Snow In March

The interesting thing that one can say about Kansas, and not start an arguement or create disention is, you never know what the weather is going to do.

Last Saturday we got 9 inches of snow at my house... WHAT?!?! I slid on down and opened the antique shop and actually had one customer but about 4 pm. I packed it in and went home.

This time of year when the flowers start peeping their little heads through the leaf mulch, the trees are budding and the grass is greening up is my favorite time of year. I actually get Spring Fever. I cannot think or fully function, I want to be outside doing something even if it is just sitting in a chair doing nothing. Then 9 inches of snow and cold weather comes along and shoots it all to hell.

Maybe we will be back to Spring next week.

For anyone who attended Singapore American School in the 1970's or early 1980's

I have posted photos of the reunion we had here in the Midwest last summer. Feel free to take a look at them and go back to that fun time in our lives.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=72549&l=146a8&id=601620739

Happy Holidays To You All

Happy Holidays to all who take the time to visit and read my rambling blog.

May next year bring us jobs, a better economy, health and happiness.

From my family to yours,

Michelle

What is Family?

According to the dictionary - Family; " A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children." I believe that it also includes the spouses, if the children are married as well as their children... but my dictionary does not include that part.

I have been reading the blog of a "family" member, I have posted comments so she should be aware that I am reading it, yet we are excluded from this blog when discussion of family arises frankly we (my parents and my little family unit) are totally excluded period. Their is discussion about the blogger's sisters and that side of the family but this side is MIA. I guess that it is difficult to write about someone when you don't talk to them and know nothing about what is going on in their lives, all the good, bad and ugly.

I find it ironic that there are numerous posts made about telling people how you feel about them when they are alive yet they seem unable to find time to communicate with us, my brother and I talk frequently but that is where it begins and ends.

There was a recent post about attending someones funeral service and comments about a video slide show and choice of music (country music versus hymns) the comment was made "why didn't these people tell ___ these things while she was still alive" who is to say that they didn't tell this person how much she was loved when she was living and that they opted to make a public proclamation of their love for her. As for a choice in music, it is my feeling that a funeral should reflect the type of life that a person led, the things they enjoyed in life. Most people don't do this, they follow the status quo and have the traditional church songs, sermon, prayer, eulogy with no personal touches of the deceased at all. You walk away from that service feeling as if there has been no closure or thought put into the service. Wait until they attend my funeral service, actually there will not be a service only a memorial with catered B-B-Que from my favorite place, my ashes will be in an antique cookie tin, the only hymn type song will be Amazing Grace played on bagpipes with the rest of the music being Cd's I have made up of my favorite musicians from Austin, Texas all singing the blues. I want a celebration of my life not sadness and sorrow.

I love these family members with all my heart and soul, some day we will be all that we have as far as family when my parents pass on. Yet I read this blog and get a sense of hypocrisy, passing judgement and insincerity. Could this be because the page is loaded with Christian logos, Christian rhetoric, the type of Christian lifestyle they live, etc.

To me family is family warts and all. You love them, you express that love, you spend time together when possible, talk often to stay up on how everyone; especially the kids are doing. You embrace what you have because it could be taken from you in a heartbeat.

I guess that I felt the need to comment on this today because I just found out that a dear friends former daughter-in-law had passed away a few days ago leaving behind a 6 year-old son, a sister (who she was at odds with), 2 nephews and her mother (who lost her husband 2 years ago.) They aren't sure why she died at the age of 39 but believe that based on her history she died of a drug overdose. My friend maintained contact with her ex daughter-in-law primarily due to their grandson but she also was concerned about her substance abuse problem and we had made several attempts at getting her into treatment. They failed of course and we feel that it was because we did not have the support of her sister and mother. Her sister was not talking to her and her mom was in denial.

Her son will now grow up without his mom, yes he still has his Dad and will probably move in with him now but he will never get his mom back. Both sides of the family and all members of this family will play a role in raising this little boy, as it should be under such tragic circumstances.

It is usually a tragedy that makes people reflect on what they could have done differently. I guess I have seen enough tragedy and death in my years on this earth that I take nothing and no one for granted anymore and it saddens me when I see someone who has yet to learn that life lesson and probably won't until it is too late.

A Haunted Antique Shop... Tell me it ain't so

As a matter of fact the antique shop that I opened 10 weeks ago appears to be inhabited by beings that are not of the living world. It is currently being investigated by a local paranormal group because things were just getting too out of hand, being pushed when going up the stairs was the last straw for me.

I had the feeling that I was not alone in the shop when I first began moving in and setting the shop up but was never absolutely sure if I was seeing things, hearing things and the items that would go missing only to turn up hours later were real or I was simply tired. I spent many hours at the shop alone trying to get it ready to open and was getting very little sleep.

Yet once I opened the store and the activity increased, I was touched a couple of times by someone or something that I could not see, have a physical reaction whenever I go into the basement along with several other unexplainable things I began to pay more attention to what was going on around me.

Customer's have asked me if the "house" aka the shop was haunted to which I have responded "gosh, I don't know." I could tell by the look on their faces that they were sensing something our of the ordinary.

As I stated, when I was pushed or something ran right through be a couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to call in the experts. I will keep y'all updated on what the findings are or aren't.

I feel that I am at this particular location for a reason. What that reason is I have yet to find out. I am not afraid when I am there, it is a comfortable and loving place to be and to shop only now we have a little extra to offer those who are open to the experience.

What an amazing roller coaster ride I have been on since I got the keys to the place in August and I don't see it letting up anytime soon.

My Opinion of Barack Obama

I posted a previous comment on this man... totally my opinion based on articles I have read in a variety of newspapers such as the NY Times, The Singapore Straits Times, Washington Post, USA Today, political blogs and what I have heard political "experts" and pundits say about him (you cannot get into the man's website without signing up for his newsletter). I personally know people who personally know Obama who are not voting for him. They are friends with him but do not trust him to run this country, this speaks volumes.

I am entitled to my opinion as is everyone else in this free country.

I had one anonymous person post a comment on that post deriding me for my comment and opinion, this person is from Illinois... of course. I responded to this comment in what I felt was a fair and reasonable manner. Today I come on to post a different topic on MY blog and there is yet another comment from this same anonymous person stating that all the information I have is wrong. I guess when the blinders are on you cannot see the forest for the trees. This time, I did not publish this person's comment, I am not going to get into a political debate ie: a losing battle on my personal blog space.

So, Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous please don't bother to post any further comments on this subject on my blog. Your mind is made up as is mine.... end of story. If you would like to "talk" about this man please start your own blog or website.