http://jsandusky.multiply.com/ I am a happily married mother of two young boys. I married my high school sweatheart almost 8 years ago and we are approaching our 18th anniversary of being together. My purpose for this site is to write, to read and to meet new and interesting friends. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:25:30 -0000 Tue, 1 Jul 2008 04:39:00 -0000 http://images.jsandusky.multiply.com/logo http://jsandusky.multiply.com 100 100 1. I want to blog but I can't find the words. 2. Depressed and down. 3. I know I'm in a low spot when I avoid calling or taking calls from friends. 4. This list of thoughts is my weak attempt of reaching out to my friends so that I'm not completely in darkness. 5. Isn't it funny how a person can have high blood pressure or high cholesterol and its no big deal but to struggle with depression makes you feel completely defective and inadequate? 6. Not sure I can formulate ten thoughts. 7. Ironically, while I'm in this very low place I'm in the process of talking to two other women about getting help for their depression. 8. I made princess Fiona cry today when I described what depression feels like. 9. It was good that she cried - she bought a puppy on a whim from a pet store the same weekend that she is getting rid of one of her cats because it annoys her! GGGRRRRR 10. Funny how bitching about someone else's issues makes me feel http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/223/Ten_Thoughts_About_Not_Thinking Tue, 1 Jul 2008 04:39:00 -0000 Last night we got a visit from a police officer and it wasn't my brother. Apparently we have a new neighbor kitty korner behind us. She was doing work out in the yard - the corner that meets our fence corner - and she said Sadie barked at her the entire time she was out. We weren't home and the dogs have a dog door to come and go as they please. I was more than irritated at this news. I tried to contain my sarcasm when I told the officer what seemed obvious to me: Sadie is a dog. Dogs bark especially at strangers who are near their yard with tools. We've lived there with Sadie for nine years. The only new variable is the new neighbor. Now we have to lock them up every time we leave the house. Today one of them peed in the basement but at least the neighbor wasn't http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/218/WTF_Wednesday Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:00:00 -0000 1. Today I am wearing beautiful emerald earrings that were a gift from an amazing person and the earrings make me feel pretty and girly. 2. Because my foot is still the size and color of an eggplant I can only wear a very plain and flat loafer which makes me feel short and dumpy. 3. We got our furniture on Saturday which is so beautiful and comfortable that it makes me feel relaxed and happy. 4. I ate two donuts today which made me feel sick and disappointed in myself. 5. My friend at work was "talked to" about her performance and I felt sorry for her. 6. I've been given even more responsibility at work and I feel useful and efficient. 7. I spent Saturday evening with my boys and my niece at my moms where it was sunny and I felt content and in love with summer. 8. I'm sitting alone in a diner writing my blog and I don't feel awkward or lonely with myself. 9. Evan's 6th bday is a week from today which makes me both proud and a little sad. 10. Owen spent his first night away fr... http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/217/10Feelings Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:49:00 -0000 1. I love jolly ranchers. 2. Exel spreadsheets are fun. 3. The best lunches are free lunches. 4. I had the most amazing pasta salad that had garlic and parm. 5. I went shopping yesterday and myself some new clothes for work. 6. I am writing a childrens book and my main character is based on my baby niece Charlotte. 7. I'm reading a new book that is even better because it came from a friend. 8. Kippy really knows how to seal up a package. 9. I want a new camera and a new computer. 10. We bought our 8 year old nephew 3 days at math camp for his bday and he is really excited about it (he is a jock http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/214/10_Fleeting_Thoughts Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:30:00 -0000 Lisa entered a contest to design a green bag for Kroger. You can vote once a day every day! Please help her out and VOTE! This is one vote that can be a happy, non political, non racial, gender equality aside vote! http://jsandusky.multiply.com/links/item/9/Vote_for_My_Sisters_Bag_Design Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:36:51 -0000 A friend of mine here on Multiply has posted a blog which is not only extremely relevant but should be mandatory reading before a vote is ever cast. Regardless of your political preferences, being informed is the key to making a difference in this country and the key to making your vote "count". Please check out his blog (linked with permission) and give some real thought to the candidates on the ballot this election year - all of http://jsandusky.multiply.com/links/item/8/Astra_Navigo_-_Civics_101_-_Representative_Democracy Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:21:21 -0000 <P>December 28th to be exact.&nbsp; That is the day that my sister, <A href="http://meadresearch.multiply.com/">Lisa</A>, was born.&nbsp; Of course, because I am younger than she is, this story will be hearsay until we reach 1974 or the 80's which is when most of my memories start!&nbsp; </P> <P>Lisa is the first child born to our parents, Betty and Jimmy.&nbsp; She came 4 years after they were married and was apparently such a handful that they didn't dare have another for 5 more years!&nbsp; Just kidding.&nbsp; Lisa was a quiet and docile child, full of sweetness and content to play on her own for hours.&nbsp; She had a vivid imagination and even had several imaginary friends in her early years.&nbsp; Her most famous friend was Limen.&nbsp; Limen once ran out into the street and our dad's friend had to go out and save him before he was hit by a car.&nbsp; <A href="http://jsandusky.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/R3Up9woKCiQAAHBJHhQ1"><IMG class=alignmiddleb src="http://images.jsandusky.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R3Up9woKCiQAAHBJHhQ1/lisa%202.jpg?et=F6uSK7qaqPNN5WaNkq%2BXwA&amp;nmid=" border=0></A>Here she is at age two, sweet yes? This is probably one of the last pictures we have of her smiling as a child because she developed a sincere distaste for having her picture taken.&nbsp; ... http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/107/Oh_What_A_Night_Late_December_Back_in_63... Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:42:00 -0000 <P>This week is the second phase of our renovations.&nbsp; Our goal was to wrap it all up before Christmas but we just didn't have enough time sans children to get the bedroom and the living room clear.&nbsp; Therefore today the living room and hallway are being refinished.&nbsp; When we did the first bedroom, Randy got saddled with all of the labor.&nbsp; He had to clear the room, pull up the carpet, move out the furniture and pull up the tack strips and staples.&nbsp; He stayed up all night one night to complete the job and his hands and his back were a mess.&nbsp; This time, I think he feared the same thing would happen.&nbsp; Not so!&nbsp; I headed straight to the house from work yesterday and changed into my grubby gear.&nbsp; I was ready to get down and dirty and that I did.&nbsp; Randy had already cleared out most of the room.&nbsp; However the couch, the fish tank and the tv were all still in the room as well as most of the carpet.&nbsp;</P> <P>&nbsp;</P> <P>&nbsp;</P> <P><A href="http://jsandusky.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/R2vfkgoKCiQAAAsu0f01"><IMG class=alignright src="http://images.jsandusky.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R2vfkgoKCiQAAAsu0f01/bye%20bye%20couch%20and%20carpet.jpg?et=8nNWD%2BwFYnOjaRrJXfxELg&amp;nmid=" border=0></A>&nbsp;I decided that I wanted... http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/104/More_on_My_Floors Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:36:00 -0000 <P><A href="http://jsandusky.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/9/27"></A>Our Christmas shopping is nearly done.&nbsp; Randy has been doing all the legwork this year and he seems to be having a great time doing it.&nbsp; I have to admit, I do miss it a little bit but it is just as enjoyable for me to hear the excitement in Randy's voice when he tells me about his latest find as it is for me to find it myself.&nbsp; All the kids in our family are going to have a great Christmas when it comes to receiving gifts.&nbsp; I think we got Evan all the major things he has asked for and a few he didn't.&nbsp; Randy had my gift in the back of the car yesterday and he was terrified I was going to see it.&nbsp; He warned me several times not to look.&nbsp; I didn't and I didn't want to.&nbsp; I like the surprise that comes with opening&nbsp;a well thought out gift.&nbsp; </P> <P>Thinking about all the gift giving that will be happening in a few days made me think about gifts I have received in the past.&nbsp; We never had much money growing up so I always made my list keeping i... http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/103/The_Christmas_Gift_I_Never_Received Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:51:00 -0000 CWA is a unique blend of policy experts and an activist network of people in small towns and big cities across the country working to address mutually held goals and http://jsandusky.multiply.com/links/item/5/Concerned_Women_for_America Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:03:32 -0000 I find this chart to be helpful in those middle of the night moments when a doctor isn't immediately available. It offers a dosing guide for common childhood medications like Tylenol, Motrin, Triaminic, Benadryl, Dimatapp, Advil and http://jsandusky.multiply.com/links/item/4/Dosing_Guide_for_Childrens_Medications Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:27:41 -0000 Check out my husband's band! Great music. Randy is the lead singer and writes the http://jsandusky.multiply.com/links/item/3/Ordinary_Mile_-_Progressive_Rock_-_Home Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:26:15 -0000 This is a great website to help you get your house and your life under control. If you join, there are a lot of emails sent to you throughout the day which you can either act on or choose to delete. Flylady has changed the way I approach housework and has made it more manageable. The Flylady shop also offers a lot of great tools for cleaning and organizing. The site has links to sites to help you plan your menus and grocery shop and even to learn how to shop for your body type. http://jsandusky.multiply.com/links/item/2/FlyLady.net_Your_personal_online_coach_to_help_you_gain_control_of_your_house_and_home Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:56:18 -0000 This is a great website for advice on parenting, marriage, relationships, faith and child development. It is the Focus on The Family website affiliated with Dr. http://jsandusky.multiply.com/links/item/1/Focus_on_the_Family Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:53:59 -0000 <P>I know that this blog isn't going to make much sense.&nbsp; I'm upset and frustrated and I rarely make sense in that frame of mind.&nbsp; I feel very helpless and and I just don't know what to do next or how to make things better.</P> <P>Evan is 5 now.&nbsp; He is a very smart boy.&nbsp; At heart he is sweet and loving and really enjoys doing things for other people.&nbsp; But he has a dark side.&nbsp; He goes from sweet to intensely angry in a matter of minutes.&nbsp; When something isn't going his way, he gets very upset.&nbsp; He will clench his teeth, ball up his hands and shake while he gives you a very intense look.&nbsp; Usually, he can come down off of that pretty quickly.&nbsp; Sometimes though, he is so angry that he lashes out and hits.&nbsp; There have been times when we have had to physically hold him, with him struggling against us all the while.&nbsp; These times are not usually frequent but have been happening a lot more in the past few weeks.&nbsp;He is a passionate child in ... http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/80/An_Angry_Child_A_Sad_Mommy Fri, 9 Nov 2007 01:33:00 -0000 <P><IMG class=alignleft src="http://images.jsandusky.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RzH4OwoKCiQAAEA9V781/410315.jpg?et=wvWLllUYTGbMN9ARkZ5xMw" border=0>I'm sure that even posing this question in such a public forum must qualify me for a certain level of insanity.&nbsp; But I can't help it.&nbsp; I have to know.&nbsp; I'm just gonna go ahead and put my crazy right out there for all the world to see and ridicule.</P> <P>I'm writing this novel for NaNoWriMo.&nbsp; The idea came to me so quickly.&nbsp; The plot is developing and taking on a life of it's own.&nbsp; Each characters personality, story and history is coming at me like someone opened a floodgate.&nbsp; I don't even feel like I'm controlling this story anymore.&nbsp; Am I nuts or has anyone else ever felt like their story was writing itself?</P> http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/79/Time_for_the_Straightjacket Wed, 7 Nov 2007 17:31:00 -0000 <IMG class=alignmiddle src="http://images.jsandusky.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RzC7CwoKCiQAAB9W3Hs1/nano_participant_icon_large.gif?et=tzJXxsjUuDcZcfpv%2BbM%2BDQ" border=0> <P><BR>&nbsp;</P> <P>Ok, as some of you know I decided to participate in NaNoWriMo at the last possible second.&nbsp; Actually I think my decision was about 10 minutes before it officially started.&nbsp; Many thanks to Steve and Jaime for inspiration and encouragement to make the attempt and a wholehearted thank you to my one and only love, Randy, for giving me the confidence to take a shot at it.&nbsp; (This is starting to sound like an acceptance speech...cue the music!) My darling has spent countless hours listening to me prattle about my three girls and their lives, contributing, tolerating and smiling all the while.&nbsp; </P> <P>I'm not much of a starter and I work the best under pressure so I assume that most of this novel will be written during the last 2 weeks of November.&nbsp; I thought I would post a little update so my friends can hold me accountable by asking if I'm done yet.&nbsp; I have character studies written on each main character but not a whole lot of actual novel has made it to pap... http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/78/My_NaNo_Attempt_Feeble_though_it_may_be Tue, 6 Nov 2007 18:42:00 -0000 <A href="http://jsandusky.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/Ry1JjwoKCiQAAFPO1781"><IMG class=alignleft src="http://images.jsandusky.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/Ry1JjwoKCiQAAFPO1781/text%20message.jpg?et=lCwM7DdbbFLcGbk2sdLKMQ" border=0></A>I remember when my brother first got a cell phone.&nbsp; He was always sending text messages and it used to really irritate me.&nbsp; I couldn't figure out for the life of me why anyone would want to sit and type something out using teeny tiny buttons and a million fingerstrokes&nbsp;when you could just pick up the phone and call the person.&nbsp; When I got my phone, he started to text message me.&nbsp; At first I would just call him to see what he wanted.&nbsp; Then I started replying to his messages.&nbsp; It wasn't long before I found myself texting more than I was calling.&nbsp; It's quick, it avoids excessive chatter and prevents the need for a get off the phone excuse.&nbsp; Text messaging became a useful tool for me strictly for utilitarian reasons with one exception, my husband.&nbsp; Randy and I work opposite shifts.&nbsp; I work days, he works afternoons.&nbsp; This arrangement is great for childcare reasons but not so great for quality time, although some may argue that it ... http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/77/Text_Me_You_Love_Me Sun, 4 Nov 2007 04:50:56 -0000 I imported my blogs finally and it's starting to look like home again.&nbsp; I'd been putting it off.&nbsp; Maybe it was denial.&nbsp; Maybe it was my general tendency toward procrastination.&nbsp; But at the encouragement of one of my closest girlfriends, I went ahead and clicked that little import icon and lo and behold it was actually easy.&nbsp; It actually worked.&nbsp; What a concept and frankly a foreign one to this 360 refugee!&nbsp; I really like Multiply so far although I have been struggling a bit to figure out how to make it my own.&nbsp; I like the way I can connect to so many different people and enjoy so many great blags.&nbsp; I've made some wonderful friends on 360 and I've already made some new friends here on Multiply.&nbsp; I'm really looking forward to exploring my dreams of being a writer as well as having friends to give me feedback and support when I feel like I'm the meanest mom in the world.&nbsp; So, for my first actual blog composed on Multiply I would like ... http://jsandusky.multiply.com/journal/item/67/I_made_it Fri, 2 Nov 2007 18:43:17 -0000