My Afflation

I found this gem while trying to clean up photos. Before it was uncool to be in a photo with Mom

On the Mark Twain, back when my son was shorter than me and I was skinny.

So this happened today ... Your legs make great scratching posts... ...and pillows So I'm walking to the store (mostly in my own world) and this homeless lady asks me if I want a kitten. "Excuse me? Can you say that again?" "Do you want a curtain?" "A curtain? You need a curtain?" (I'm so confused)  ... "No, I said, do you want a *kitten*?" pointing into her cart ... At first I misunderstood her and thought she was a bit off and asking about curtains (probably because I had blackout curtains on the brain). She proceeded to tell me about her situation and how she couldn't care for the kitten, that she found on Friday 13th, thought she wanted a companion, but a 6-7 week kitten definitely wasn't it. After much hemming, hawing, and purring... Geez I'm a soft touch. Especially after she said she tried a shelter but was turned away because they were full. And the poor thing was almost dehydrated.... I think I wi...

20 years ago this week I gave birth to this kid here: At 13 he was already a charmer and looker And he finishes finals today, sophomore year in college. Damn, how the time flies Pin It

Goofing off with my son while a friend tests his new digital camera. Circa 1997 Pin It

The boys Pin It

Image from http://www.duy.im/2011/10/happy-new-year-2012.html   This has been quite the year! Last year about this time I thought I was dying, but it was just a kidney infection . This New Year's Eve I am stuffed up and alternating between being a mouth-breather and imitating Niagra Falls. I can't remember the last time I had a good New Year's Eve. Probably back in Oregon when I threw Shindigs (as in Browncoat parties). I've been debating for days what this last post of 2011 should be. A Best of? A collage? A worst of? A general summary? I'm still debating. I'm just glad it's over. It wasn't a bad year overall, started out sick, ended sick, and in between ... I managed to finally lose ten pounds and gain about five of it back in the last two months. I have about (1)50 posts in drafts, so if you read my blog via RSS, you're not going crazy, I'll just be knocking out the relevant ones. So let's try the recap approach. I take photos a...

And still under 190. I'm at 185 this week and blaming the one pound weight gain on water weight -- not on the candy corn. I've actually been pretty good, it took me about a week to go through one bag and I only raided the Halloween candy a few times. I keep thinking "portion control" and "stay UNDER 190!!" After about 6 weeks of little to no activity I rode my bike into work the past two mornings. My legs are confused and I have never been so glad to sit at my desk. Riding gets my blood moving but I think I need a chiropractic adjustment to get those endorphins into my brain. You would think that a 3-4 mile ride in brisk air would wake a girl up! It's good to be moving again and I am so happy that despite not exercising a lot I have been losing weight.  Regarding Halloween candy -- The Teen is allergic to food dyes but has the OK from his doctor to eat fatty foods because he's ectomorphic . I keep telling that will be in his favor until he ...

5/365 Bad Hair Day Originally uploaded by Nannerlady My son had a bad hair day on Saturday. I bought him his own trimmer a few years ago in a cost cutting measure. I can't cut hair to save my life, but he's pretty good at it. Except for when the guard falls off.... I suggested he get Airbender tattoos until his hair grows back.

Photo courtesy of turbomagazine.com I’m not ready. But, I don’t have much choice. He’s ready. Engine revving. Foot practically to the metal. So few things excite him. Driving definitely does. My son goes to take his permit test today. I've called the insurance company and warned them added him to my policy. Got a quote for when he does have his license. He has 6 months to find a job. Otherwise ... he's going to have his permit for a very long time (insert evil laugh). Soon he'll have his own car (a gift from Bio Dad) and I won't have to play taxi anymore. I have mixed feelings about that. Soon he can pick up his sister from school without complaining about the 1mile walk ("but Mom, it's 2  miles for me!"). Soon I can send him to the store. But will I? He's so excited to drive ...

Image by Nannerlady via Flickr Tweet I think my son hates moving. The upheaval of it all. He's been counting. I don't count as it stresses me out and starts a whole lot of negative thinking, which spirals into either an anxiety attack or mild depression. Neither of which I have time to deal with right now. In 53 days (yup, already started counting down) we are moving from the boondocks of Lancaster, back into the L.A. Metro area (HELLO! 30 minute commute instead 2 hours!) I'm already stressing thinking about it. The move that is, not my shorter commute. That excites me! FlyLady.net: Moving Tips : "With our SHE mentality, when we look at the whole picture, we become overwhelmed and paralyzed. This is just how we are made, but I can give you some simple rules to follow. As SHEs, we usually wait till the very last minute to start doing anything. I can hear you now. 'I work better under pressure!' NO YOU DON'T! IT MAKES YOU SICK AND THAT IS THE LAST TH...

You know, the older I get, the less I want, at least around holidays. I like to get gifts throughout the year (who doesn't?!?) This year, all I really, truly,unequivocally want … I just want my kids to behave. Preferably when they are together, but as singles too. For one, it won't matter. He's off to NY to visit family. The other ... who knows. It's been a hard few months since August and it feels like more than a year has already passed in the emotional investment arena. I just want a relaxing, temper-tantrum and drama free Christmas. As I write this I feel as if it's wishful thinking.   Though if you insist on getting me something, my Amazon Wishlist is mostly updated.

What an exciting week!  Not. Tiresome. Emotionally draining. And other phrases that just thinking about them bring your spirit down. To recap: Monday – I don’t recall very well. It’s a blur. It involved Joy being sick. Green, icky, snotty, coughing, etc. Oh yeah, short day at school. Wouldn’t get up. Care provider had appointment and couldn’t watch her. Josh was supposed to pick up from school anyways. Executive decision – Joy stays home from school, supposedly bored out of her ever-loving mind, only allowed to come out of her room to eat (I wanted to make a point. If she was faking, she’d be bored, if she was sick, she would rest and be glad to). She convinced Josh to let her watch DVDs downstairs. He did get her to put dishes away and eat dinner early, so that was a win. Tuesday – Normal morning, hellish evening. Joy wouldn’t do her HW after much cajoling, posturing, punishment, caving to her demands, etc. At 9 I finally sent her to bed and told her I would wake her at 5AM ...

Summer's Last Glow Originally uploaded by Nannerlady The last light coming home from a roadtrip to Las Vegas to see my dad and brother. This was the first summer since we've moved to California that my kids did not spend part of the summer with their grandfather. My dad and stepmom said they missed having Joy this year. I know she missed going out there. The kids did keep themselves occupied though. Josh did a ministry program and a missions trip to Haiti while Joy spent one last summer with friends from her old school before moving up to Lancaster with me. It's been a busy summer, but a good one. In addition to the kids activities I was blessed enough to get an assignment mid-May that's lasted all summer and hopefully into the fall. The kids are healthy even if they aren't always happy. We're just living the new American dream -- keeping food on the table, clothes on our backs, and a roof over our heads. Here's to fall and the beginn...

We all know that kids are expensive and getting more and more so the more we let go of “simple pleasures” and try to “keep up with the Joneses. Not to mention inflation! I came across this inspiring piece:   " What do you get for your $160,140.00? (not including college) * Naming rights . First, middle, and last! * Glimpses of God every day. * Giggles under the covers every night. * More love than your heart can hold. * Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. * Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. * A hand to hold usually covered with jelly or chocolate. * A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites. * Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.. For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to: * finger-paint, * carve pumpkins, * play hide-and-seek, * catch lightning bugs, * never stop believing in Santa Claus. You have an excuse to: * keep reading the Adventures of Pooh and Piglet, * watch...

I grabbed this photo from Lancaster Pulse Ministries , the team that Josh went to Haiti with. This is one of the soccer clinic photos.

Josh is well on his way to Haiti when the overseeing group, GPM , comes back and says that they need Josh's father's signature. The church is being the go-between. I explain that his father has never had custody. GPM comes back with -- they still need his signature and permission. What THE heck?! I know they are just covering their financial @$$ from being sued, but how can the non-custodial parent sue? Does he really have any rights in this area?

Josh is running a half-marathon to raise funds for his Haiti trip this summer. He's going with Pulse Ministries  in order to bring hope and help rebuild a community devastated by a 7.0 earthquake. The youth group cannot meet this goal on their own and are asking our friends, family, and community to help get them to Haiti. There is more information about the half-marathon on their facebook page . If you would like to help Josh financially with his trip, please fill out the the form below. Gifts are tax deductible. Checks can be made payable to First Assembly of God of Lancaster with Haiti Youth Missions on the memo line. Please mail financial support to: Leave a comment and I will email you our address

14/365 Time with Josh Originally uploaded by Nannerlady No, it's not bring your child to work day, though it might seem like it. Josh had an optometrist appointment litterally down the street from where I work. Afterwards we had lunch together. I had suggested Pit Fire, but ... the kid in him wanted a hot dog. @DC66Steps has told me they have some pretty good dogs. (There goes my diet for today). So here we are. And he's telling me about how he truly feels about pickles. You don't want to know. It will turn your stomach. I love taking pictures of my son even if he doesn't appreciate my enthusiasm. ~~Annette -- please excuse typos, sent from my phone.

"Two for 1" 6/365 Originally uploaded by Nannerlady I couldn't decide which one to pick for my 365. Yesterday was a long day, but pretty amazing. We had to get up early for a doctor's appt. for Josh and on the way down caught the sunrise. That in itself is a minor miracle. I hate getting up before the sun. Later that day I was surprised by the cutest flower arrangement that definitely brought a smile to my face.