This weekend was very nice. I started out being a bit depressed because Mr. Sweatpants went to Kansas City. He had planned on running the marathon, but that bout with that nasty virus did him in. Rene� didn�t get back to speed until the last moment, and it was too late. Still he went to watch his godson Hunter run the race. If it wasn�t Halloween weekend, Jackie and I might�ve went too. I miss him when he�s not around.
Salsalita and I made plans to take the kids together trick 0r treating. It was perfect out; I think it was in the 60�s. No rain, just right.
Going with Lisa I thought was a great idea because neither she nor I would be bored, and the kids would have someone to hang with. How true this was! Even though I was frustrated with Jackie for not wearing her Scary Movie mask, and not wanting to carry her sickle, Lisa and I laughed at our kids. We crack up so much when we�re together.
Jackie and Jake compete with each other. Even though they swear at their young age that someday they will grow up and get married, for the time being they are more concerned with who gets to what first. Who gets more? Who�s winning (who said this was a competition)?
Jackie was driving me nuts. She�d run ahead of Jacob to a house. Then, she�d get mad if he got candy before her. I�m worried she isn�t using her manners, and she�s worried about someone getting something before her. I can tell she�s an only child, can you? Seems all the good manners I taught her went out the door. I guess I need to be talking to her more about taking turns.
I�m thinking�no matter what, you get candy. Who cares when you get it? The fighting was driving me berserk. And then, I bought accessories to go with the hooded robe, and she didn�t want to use them. This is the last year I buy a mask or anything for her to carry besides a bag.
Finally, I just started sending Jackie ahead so that Jacob could enjoy his experience without her being a sour puss. They are the same age, but Jackie is already acting like a 12-year-old princess.
Lisa is so much fun. I�ve never had a friend like her. She has such a warm mothering quality, and always thinks of everything. Like pictures, for example. She took pictures of the kids. I didn�t even think about that.
She remembered a flashlight; I�d be stumbling around in the dark. And glow sticks. I mean, she thinks of everything.
I admire so much about my friend. Lisa also more patience then I do, but my favorite quality about her is that she can tune irritating behavior out. At the same time I might be snapping at Jackie to stop it, Lisa�s ignoring it. That�s probably why I got so irritated with Jackie (I was hoping she wasn�t ruining Jake�s experience) and Lisa kept her cool. That is something I deeply admire.
We dragged the kids down one really long street. I think, back and forth, it was probably almost a mile. But it felt like fun. Maybe Lisa and I should start walking. I can do this to lose weight, I think.
We get the kids back to the car. Jackie�s whines that her legs hurt. Jeez, honey, we�re all tired, but we can�t fly to the car. I tell her that she can rest when we get back in our car.
I feel bad for not staying at Lisa�s after we were done. I was worried that my medicine would start making me tired (it usually does) and I wouldn�t be able to drive us home. In addition to fatigue, sometimes I also have a hard time talking. For some reason, I know the words, they just don�t come out right, and I don�t want anyone to see me like that. This is a side effect that will go away, my doctor says.
I was thankful for not taking Jackie treat seeking in our neighborhood. There were only 3 apartments that answered the door.
I wanted to stay up watching scary movies, but there were only sitcoms on. I went through Jackie�s candy and gave her the entire bag. I told her, since it�s Halloween, you can have 5 pieces. But you are limited to 3 a day after tonight. So, she made her selections, being careful to toss my way anything she didn�t like. Jackie sat back on the couch with her candy. I think she may have eaten two pieces, but before I knew it, she was fast asleep on the couch.
Saturday was my Grandma�s birthday. Earlier this year, I found out from my aunt Abby that my grandmother never had a doll as a child. Her family was really poor. I mean, you got 8 brothers and sisters, and dolls were a luxury. Well, knowing this, I went to Marshall�s and found the closest thing I could to a rag doll. It was a Madeleine doll; red yarn hair, cloth body, and a sailor dress. I also bought my grandma some Ghirdelli chocolates.
I only bought these two things because anything more and she�d get mad at me. She really doesn�t like people to spend money on her.
So, this Saturday morning, Jackie and I woke up, got dressed, and went to the ghetto to see Grandma. You know, I go down there once a week and I never get used to seeing such a hopeless and bleak environment. In all the broken run down houses, there sits my Grandma�s house. It�s nothing spectacular, and is actually quite ugly itself. But, my Grandma seems like the only light there.
On the way to Grandma�s I got breakfast from McDonald�s. She looks forward to talking over the week�s events over sausage biscuits and hash browns.
Once Jackie and I arrived, and were inside, I put the breakfast bags on the table. And once Grandma was in the kitchen with us and seated, Jackie handed grandma the colorful bag with the gifts inside.
Jackie and I sat across from her while she opened the bag.
�What�s this?� And she grabbed the doll first. It was really silent in the kitchen now. Grandma said softly, �A doll..� and I said, �Jackie picked it out for you Grandma. She thought you might like to have it,� and Grandma�s smile went wide. The ran her weathered fingers over it�s yarn hair, the dolls red lips, and the little cloth Mary Jane�s.
Jackie hopped off my lap and walked over to Grandma and wedged herself into Grandma�s side. They looked at the doll together.
�Well thank you Jackie!� and she gently placed the doll back in the gift bag.
�Chocolate!� and I explained that the chocolate was individually wrapped and came in 3 different flavors: mint, dark chocolate and milk chocolate.
I felt like I had done something special for her. And I never let on, the whole visit, where I had found out this news. Hopefully, Grandma will maybe, even though she�s 78, have a sit, and play with little Madeleine.
And maybe the little girl in Grandma that never had a doll will grow too.
Saturday afternoon I got a call from Aunt Abby. I was really tired, so regardless, she did all the talking. I think she must�ve had a lot of caffeine in her system.
She told me that Grandma told her about the doll and how happy she was. She also mentioned that my relatives are expecting a phone invitation to Thanksgiving at my house or they are not coming. Fine. I�ll call them. I don�t remember my cousin Jackie calling everybody when it was at her house, but I digress. It�s not enough stress that I�m having it at my house, I also have to cater to a bunch of big boobies.
She tells me she talked to my mother�s brother Nathaniel about me, and that she told him she understands me now. She then mentions, to my disbelief, that she is going to �pray� that I go to brother Jeff�s church and even though it�s a small church it�s a good one, and it�s in my blood and I�ll be saved. So that�s what she�s going to pray.
It occurs to me to tell her that this is one prayer that will not be answered. In the gentlest way I know how, I tell her; she won�t see me at an apostolic church. Meaning, Oneness Pentecostal, which I see, in my own mind, as cult like. I tell her that the reason is that I see Apostolicism as being too strict. I also mention, in all honesty, that when a church is more about abiding by manmade rules, and pleasing man, than pleasing God, it�s not a place where I will be.
It was hard to tell her this. But she needs to not entertain any false notions. Maybe I can help her understand that many paths lead to God, and that god hates the egotism that surrounds most churches today. People are so confident they are the only church, the only ones with the truth, that the spirit of love, forgiveness and friendship is lost on them.
You shouldn�t just love the people in your religion, I tell her, and it� s preposterous. I hope she understands.
I have to be truthful with those I love. Even if is something they don�t want to hear. I don�t want to be Apostolic Pentecostal. I want nothing to do with Pentecostal. I don�t want to be Mormon either. I want the freedom to choose my own religion and to be left alone by my relatives about it.
Speaking of the Mormons: on Saturday, I got a letter from Member Records in Salt Lake. Now, you may recall that I�ve written 5 letters to the church locally, asking to be taken off their membership rolls. This is as to prevent another group of missionaries or visiting home teachers popping up at my door. It�s irritating. After 4 of the letters and no response, and no letting up of Mormon visitors, I sent a letter to Salt Lake, asking for this action to be done, waiving any rights to blessings and my place in the so called Celestial Kingdom.
Er�I got a letter Saturday acknowledging my request was received in Utah. However, they consider this an Ecclesiastical manner, so the local stake will be contacted and they will contact me regarding this. Hmm. I asked them not to send any more Mormons to my door. No phone calls. Just a letter telling me I�m free as a bird. I�m starting to think I may have to bring my attorney into this. I left that church two years ago and these people will not leave me alone.
Sunday was a good day. I got up, sorted laundry and Jackie and I went to the Laundromat.
When we came back, I called my friend Dot, who is also a Mary Kay independent Sales associate.
She lives in rural Missouri, so she met me halfway, and we went out to her beautiful home by the lake. We spent the afternoon in her makeup room while Jackie watched movies and terrorized Dot�s husband. It was awesome.
To make a long story short, I am the newest Mary Kay salesperson. I love makeup. I�m the way about makeup that some women are about shoes, or sales, or shopping in general. I�ve been using this product for 7 years, and not only is it great for your skin, but it also sells itself. Wish me luck on my beauty adventures!
9:34 a.m. - Monday, Nov. 03, 2003
Recent entries:
What you missed - January 16, 2012
%%older_entries%%From hell - October 19, 2010
%%older_entries%%a rant from a few weeks ago - August 17, 2010
%%older_entries%%Tired - June 20, 2010
%%older_entries%%A beautiful lie - March 11, 2010
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