Hello All,

I'm finally getting around to updating. I've been under the weather sick and my computer is acting up. Le sigh to the computer of doom. I cannot wait for my tax returns so I can get something much more speedier and more useful. It has lived out its life span. I would like to point out my new nifty gingerbread/holiday/festive/layout of doom that the lovely Autumn_mist made for me. It's so pretty. I need to figure out some coding to make my user profile pretty and than I'm all set. I have a nice banner she made, I just have to figure out the coding to make it look nice, with some blinkies. I think it's called a toybox code or some such? The only real issue is that every time I look at my layout I want to eat gingerbread. My poor hips will be yelling at me by the time the holidays are over with.

Though the one nice thing is that the layout has inspired me to make some pretty gingerbread blinkies that I'm offering in Faded_Graphics, as surprise. Yay for pretties. I also need to get my next fairy offer up for Enchanted, and work on getting some others up as well. Work has just been kicking my bottom. I've been working over time, and I'm still not over this darn cold/flu/whatever you want to call it. Seriously it needs to go away. I am not in the mood for anymore sickies. My knee is also acting up like crazy. If it isn't one thing it is honestly another. I also need to call my doctors to make sure they will take the new insurance plan in Jan. I really do not want to have to find another set of doctors. I am also not happy about having to do a new insurance plan, but what can you do, they are getting rid of my current plan in Jan. Le sigh to that. But I have insurance, so I'm honestly much better off than most. I really do appreciate that, trust me.

I'm still needing to finish up my book for my book club on Monday. I started it and than got sick and that. All my energy went into getting dressed and going to work each day. Thank goodness it is not a long book, so I will be able to get through it this weekend in plenty of time for Monday's meeting. The husband has really been enjoying books on tape at work. I'll have to see what else to get from the library for him this next time around. If anyone has any suggestions for him let me know. He loves war, history, science fiction topics.

We are not doing anything much for Thanksgiving. The husband and I will be eating out. He made reservations at Black Angus, they are having a turkey day meal deal, he got a coupon for. It will be nice, to enjoy a good meal and have no clean up afterward. We are going to clean up the house some more, eat some good food, and watch movies when we get home. All in all it will be a quiet day. Next year I'll do the turkey and the fixings, but it is nice to take a year off now and than. It is just the two of us as well, and we don't really go through left overs much.

This weekend is going to be more getting the house ready for holiday guests and we do game on saturday. It is going to be a pot luck dinner. We are making a makeshift turkey dinner. Chris and Cindy will be doing the turkey, Scott and Renee will be doing the mashed potatoes and I'm still trying to twist his arm for some sweet potatoes, I'm going to be doing the green bean casserole, and Sam will be doing homemade apple pie. It will be a great time. I love our gaming group. They are such an awesome group of people. I am so thankful to have made such great friends. Seriously the best thing we did is answer their ad at Game Depot.

I haven't started Christmas shopping, nor do I want to think of such a thing. We will be low on funds this year with needing to put money aside for when the family is here to help eating expenses and the like. Hubby is freaking out, I keep telling him, we will find a way. We always do. The season isn't about the gifts anyways, it is just about enjoying each other. He still wants to be able to afford to feed them as well.

So far the gate seems to be holding Leo in the yard. If it continues to do so that will be a huge relief in getting the house in order for guests. He is such an imp. I don't know why he wants out the yard so bad. He doesn't do anything but go to the bathroom in someone's lawn. Bad boy! Let me tell you, that dog has it good. The hubby says too good at times, but honestly he couldn't get it better in the neighborhood. Silly boy. Oh speaking of pets, I saw the cutest little outfits at the pet store the other day. Little reindeer hats for the cats! I wanted to get some very badly but the husband said no. I cannot buy them anything until my mom is here, as she will spoil them rotten.

Other than that, I think I'm all caught up on the doings of us. Oh everyone say Happy Birthday to my mommy. It was her birthday today. Happy birthday mommy! Eat lots of cake!

Hello All,

I know, I know finally an actual update with some substance, at least I hope it has some substance to it. I've been feeling better lately. Part of the issue was I was taking the wrong medication. For some reason one of my husbands bottles got mixed up with my stuff on the table and I didn't read the label and I ended up taking his thyroid medicine for about a week, instead of mine. It should be noted the husbands stuff does exactly what my should NOT be doing. His needs to speed up, mine needs to slow down. I have just a little bit of congestion left, but otherwise the sore throat of doom has toned itself way way way down.

I'm working overtime, which is nice for the paycheck but bad for my stress levels and rest. I really need to be able to get a good nights sleep. I just can never seem to get to sleep, or if I do it is for only a few hours and than my mind just starts racing and does not shut down enough to allow me to sleep. I'm hoping with getting work in order better and feeling better myself, that the sleep will get better over time. This weekend I'm going to try and rest and take it easy. I need to really tackle the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom and living room areas, but I also need to figure out a way to not over due it and just make sure I'm taking care of myself too. It is a hard balance to achieve, that is for sure.

Today I got in about 4 hours of overtime, and than the husband and I went to a local Goodwill to see if there was a computer chair we could get fairly cheap as his broke broke finally. We found one that we got half off, and ended up being $3.00, so we were also able to get him several much needed shirts as well there. They are all in good condition and look new really. So tomorrow we shall wash them so he can wear them and than throw out some of his older ones that no longer fit. We also tried some food for the first time at a place called 'Filibertos'. They had the most wonderful chicken asada burritos. Nummy in the tummy! It is a dive of a place, but has good food and is fairly close to the house so I'm sure when we are craving Mexican type of food we will go there, as we both do not like Taco Bell.

I'm all caught up on my graphics, all the long over due requests have been filled. I'll work on filling open offers tomorrow, and work on getting new ones up as usual. I'm doing much better at keeping caught up now. I think it also helps that I've been distancing myself from our online forum game. That game has ended up being way more stress than it needed to be, and I have to say I'm much more relaxed and happy now that I've kind of let it go emotionally. If the game falls, it falls. I think I finally have come to terms with being perfectly alright with that.

I need to work on reading my book for this months book club. I plan to have some good reading time to myself tomorrow, while the husband gets lost in his new computer game, 'Champions Online'. Oh how I wished I could play some online games but my computer is too outdated to play anything. I'm hoping with our tax returns this year I can get a new desktop, we shall see. It will all depend on the credit card situation at the time. I know the husband is really craving for a flat screen TV as well. He has been window shopping for awhile and I know he really really really wants one badly.

A little over a month and my mommy will be here and than it will be retail shopping time! The house is going to be all festive for Christmas. I cannot wait to be able to have a big normal size tree for the first time in several years. The husband is anti-decoration but has finally given in and realizes how happy it makes me. I just always love this time of year. It is the best time of year! I also hope *fingers and toes crossed* that the in laws will be able to come as well. They are having issues with getting tickets, so we hope they are able to get them, if not we shall set some time this coming New Year to have them over.

I was finally able to rotate my icons out. I have the Winter/Christmas ones up, and I did have to take down some summer/spring/older icons. So don't worry if you made me one and I was using and now am not. After the holidays I will put them back up, I just love all the winter ones. Yay for Christmas! The temperatures have dropped here and it is freezing at night. I wish the husband would let me turn the air temp up, but he has to have it cold cold cold. I need more blankets I think. I will end this post here, I'll post more tomorrow *pinky swear*

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Time for me to curl up on the couch, watch some girlie HGTV or Cooking something or other and than bedtime for me!

Hey Guys,

I'm in need of help with a community called pinkfoam . The members are wonderful, but the mod is a bit stressed and I'm the only maker right now, and I only do blinkies. The members are really needing to see some icons, banners, sig tags offered, maybe even some things for layouts, anyone want to help me out? I'll snuggle up for hours with you if that would help bribe you. Let me know, thanks bunches!

Hello All,

I know that I was going to try and update more often and be better at journaling but I've been busy with the husband being uber sick with the cold of doom. He was out for several days, and just now is beginning to feel better. On top of that this last week I worked roughly slightly under 12 hours of over time, so by the time I even got home and would make sure he was all taken care of, I would just want to crawl into bed and pass out and start the hetic day all over again. Of course now that he is getting better, I'm getting hit with the uber horrid cold of doom. I'm doing my best to rest, but I really don't have time to be sick. Seriously cold, come back when I have the proper time to roll around in misery and awfulness.

I cannot take any time off work. All the sick time I have left is slotted for the holidays with my mom and hoping the in laws as well. The in laws are having some issues with their tickets and they might need to postpone the trip for the holidays, we will miss them greatly if that is the case but will always welcome them here at anytime. I'm bummed but I totally understand. The holidays are one of the worst times to travel. I am looking forward to having veterans day off work. It is a new holiday that we are getting this year and thank goodness as I'm sure by than I'll be even sicker. It seems the cold gets worse each day for about a week and than will ease off.

I'm also doing my best to take every over the counter thing I can so that I don't get anywhere near as sick as the husband did. I always get hit with things harder and I swear I cannot afford nor deal with a hospital visit of doom. No thanks, again no time to be sick! The cold should have checked my calendar first before just hopping on the first train to Darklingville.

I wanted to update more and do more things, I have to post for Faded the promo contest, and get the graphic cook place redone, it looks Jennifer left me and the place :( and I still need to do the surprise graphics for the winners of the raffle at Juicy Grapes and the heart bags at CoffeeClutch and get the layout up for the makers at Enchanted. I don't suppose anyone is good at layouts I could beg some help from in making it look simple but nice? I have the header, just need to figure out the rest.

My body is protesting being awake, so I will listen and crawl back into bed. I will try and do an actual update as there were some fun things of the weekend to share.

Hello All,

Sorry it always seems to take me forever these days to update but I shall strive my best to getting better at it. One of these days I might actually post more than once ever week or so. I will try and get all caught up with our lives, there really isn't that much going on. First on Thursday was our 4th wedding anniversary. Neither of us had money or felt well, so we ordered some past to be delivered and ate at home on our little poker table. It was actually really nice and relaxing. We talked, ate food neither of us had to slave over a hot stove and, just spent time together. No computer on, no games going, just talking about anything and everything. I think I enjoyed it more than if we had gone out to a fancy place and spent tons of money.

Halloween was a mismatch of fighting as we didn't communicate with each other well about what we had planned for the day. He worked later than I thought, but I was able to go to Borders, get myself a coffee, buy myself a cookbook really really really cheap on sale, pick up Holiday cards for this year and just basically enjoy myself. Than the husband brought a bunch of candy home so the trick or treaters. He didn't think we would get any, I thought we didn't have enough candy. We got around 40 kids, and we both actually ended up having a blast. It was fun to see the little ones all dressed up. It was happy to see the neighborhood is as wonderful as I thought it is. A really great residential neighborhood with great neighbors.

Today the husband's cold has gotten worse but he is being stubborn and pretending he isn't sick. Ha, silly man, he has a bad cold and the more he comes to terms with it, the better off he will be. Our dvd player died today so we did price some new ones, we are debating about getting a blue ray one, since that seems to be the craze for the future. I of course don't like the high price tag but we will see. For now we can watch movies on the computers, until we get some extra together for a new dvd player. I did get some new work clothes as we stopped at Kmart to pick up new a vacuum. The one my mother in law got us that I love love love love love, was stolen in the old house. The husband got a cheap one when we moved in to make up for it, and it broke not even a month after having it. I couldn't find the one my mother in law got us, so we found one kind of smiliar. I'm going to try it out in a little bit and get the floors in the living room and hallway done.

I have started my new book for this months book club, 'The Cellist of Sarajevo' so far it seems really interesting, it is not a long book and the reading is easy so far. I did enjoy the last one we read, 'The Weight of Silence' and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good read. I'm now ready for Winter and Christmas to being. I'm skipping over Thanksgiving this year really. The husband and I are going to go out to eat, rather than making a big meal again this year for just the two of us. It will be nice to not have any dishes to do, mess to clean up, or left overs to get rid of. We will be making a big meal for Christmas so it will be nice to take Thanksgiving easy.

Tomorrow starts a new work week, and I was just beginning to enjoy my weekend. I hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween.

Feel free to ignore this, it is just so I can keep track of the things I need to get done this weekend. Once my back is feeling better and I've slept some more I will be doing an actual update.

To Do List of Doom for Graphics:

1.) Need to fill JG requests for both offer and raffle prizes
2.) Need to fill CoffeeClutch requests
3.) Need to fill Sanddollar requests
4.) Need to fill Potof_Gold requests
5.) Need to do intro and first offer at Graphicdelights
6.) Need to do intro and first off at pinkfoam
7.) Need to make new offers at all other communities
8.) Need to work on maker community for ER
9.) Need to post promo and maker stuff at maker community for FG
10.) Need to work on putting up new layout Phyncke did for my cooking community

To Do List of Doom for Life:
 
1.) Call and pick up meds at Walgreens Anthony has one we are waiting on Dr's refill, hope to have Monday
2.) Need to call Anthony's jury duty to see if he has to show up on Monday   He wasn't picked for Jury Duty
3.) Go to the post office and pick up packages from my mom
4.) Find some meal ideas for this coming week Found 2 good slow cooker meals to try
5.) Go food shopping for this coming week
6.) Do laundry and put away clothes
7.) Go shoe shopping to find a good pair of shoes and a good pair of slippers
8.) Go to home depot and pay credit card bill
9.) Get pair of clippers and clip the animals nails
10.) Work on reading my book for the book club this month

Wish me Luck in getting everything done!

Hey Guys,

I am around just a very short periods of time. I have had really bad back for the last week. I've not been able to sit at the computer for more than 10 minute time frame, without being in tears from the pain. We have discovered that my shoes are the issue. I need to get shoes with better supports on them. So next paycheck I'm going to make my way to payless and see what I can find with good soles and support. But I might be a bit behind on things until than. I will get back into updating once I can sit at the computer for longer period of times. I promise.

Hello All,

I will do an actually update in a bit, but I wanted to give a good shout out to a great maker who is need of some awesome members to her little community.



Please go join, but fill out the application located here first before you do:

http://community.livejournal.com/stardust_twink/1275.html

It really is a great community that is trying to grow.

Thanks!

~Darkling

The weekend is here and I'm trying my best to get in some relaxation time as well as productivity time. It is always difficult to balance the two. I did manage to get my very old and over due requests filled in CoffeeClutch, working on Potof_Gold next and than Graphical_Mask, than I can finally get on with my new requests. I have not put them up until I completed all the over due, really old ones first.

We went to Kmart last night and got a glass measuring cup and some much needed baking sheets. They were cheap and I'm still saving up for the better quality ones but at least now I can bake stuff in the oven and am able to get it out as well. Yays for that! I did get a cheap coupon holder as well. We are now cutting coupons to help with the food expenses and to keep our budget as low as we can so we can payoff our credit cards and get a savings started. I have arranged them all so when we go food shopping today, I will be all organized for once. I have one I really want to get on amazon, cats, but I didn't have the money for it, so I got a blue plastic one for the time being. Anthony approved of it as he felt it looked more manly and business like, as opposed to the really garish neon pink one they carried.

On the agenda for today is food shopping, Anthony is going to take the car to Firestone, pick up a new tire and have it looked at to see what we need to save up for in order to fix it, do the dishes, get my kitchen back in order, do the floors and wash some clothes. I'll make a to do list later on for the weekend but thought I should do an actual update.

I did end up getting up way to early today, before 7 and on a Sunday sheesh, I couldn't motivate myself for church but going next week or else! I really do miss it. I am curious to see the new Pastor and to just get back to my faith as well. I always feel more balanced and peaceful when I go and it really does start my week off better. My mood feels lighter, it is the only way I can really describe it.

I'm also trying to get together something fun for New Year's as my mom and the in-laws will be here as well. I'm not sure what yet but I've got my thinking cap on. Also need to get a list and see what is going on around than that I can take the families too. I know the zoolights will still be on and I've always wanted to see it as it is suppose to be a big draw. I'll figure out something.

Welp I thought I had more to talk about and I really don't, so I'll end this now and start off my to do list with getting the food shopping done.

Hello All,

Back to work with me today, fehs I'd rather stay home and get more things done but alas I need the paycheck and the house does not pay that well as work does. I didn't get near the graphics stuff done I wanted too but I did manage to get farther along than I was before so that is something I guess. I watched Top Chef last night, totally am in love with the new Vegas season. They are really mixing things up this season and for the first time last night, the looser of the quickfire went home. Eeeks, one can never feel too safe as you really do not know what they are going to throw at you next. I'm looking forward to next week as it hinted that Tim Love would be the guest judge and he is a doll and than some.

The chicken dinner I was not overly happy with, but the husband loved it lots. I the breading did not get me the crunch, or enough of it I was looking for and the bottom parts of the chicken was mushy and had no crunch at all. The chicken was very moist though and cooked perfectly. Not dry and had a hint of flavor but nothing over powering. The marinade I thought was good the breading I need to work on. Maybe do bread crumbs rather than the panko. Not sure yet, but I will say that I was surprised that chicken thighs have a lot more too them. We always do breasts but it is nice to do a different part of the bird and I thought it held the flavor better than the breasts have in the past. Might have to try it again and see if I can get that crunch I'm looking for.

The noddles I made were a huge success though so that is great. I think it is nice to do something different than mashed potatoes all the time. I might get a rice dish as well. I like the variety. My pudding did not fare so well. It is not setting right at all. I'm unsure what I did wrong. It still is really liquidy and it has been in the fridge most of yesterday and all night last night. Hmphs. I have another box, so I can always try again. I might add some whipped cream or something to give it a bit more bulk to it.

Tonight going to be kept easy and simple tuna helper. Tomorrow I'll do something with some really thin pieces of pork steak we got. I just want something easy peasy tonight. I know today is going to be hell at work, with having to play catch up from being out yesterday. When I get home I'm going to want to just crawl into bed I'm sure. On the bright side, the week has gone by a bit faster with getting two days off during the week. Next week will be even more hellish as we are loosing two members to a 3 week training class, so their files are going to be giving to us and that is two less people to get files, answer phones, etc. Oy vey. I may need lots of wine to get through next week. I hope no one calls in sick or has any issues as I don't think we will be able to keep up than.

Welp I'm off to get ready for work. I hope everyone is having a decent day and week.