Becky and Kristen's Big Black Friday Adventure

So my lovely daughter, at  Our Crazy Bunch ,  talks me into going shopping on Black Friday with her.  The plan is, we will send Rosie and Carter home with my Mom on Thanksgiving to spend the night, and that way her hubby only has the boys to watch.  I was asked if I wanted to work the day after Thanksgiving and normally, that is not a problem, but this year, nooooo, instead of overtime, I spent money!  

Thanksgiving Day I asked Kristen if she had a plan.  What was the plan of attack?  After all, Black Friday apparently starts Thanksgiving Night @ Toys R Us.  Wal-Mart is open all day Thanksgiving Day, Old Navy opens at Midnight, many of the stores in the mall open at 3 or 4 a.m.  Kohl's opens at 3, Target at 4, Wal-Mart blitz starts at 5.  Wow!  She had no plan.  So I have a brilliant plan!  We'll just go on into town and stay out all night, and be done by 9 a.m.  HAHA This is us at the beginning of our adventure:

First we sent a text to my BFF, telling her to be ready in 45 minutes, we were coming to kidnap her.  We drive up and she has family over, part of which were leaving  Alas,she is smart, even though her DH, daughter and Bubba were trying to get her to come with us, she bowed out.  Bubba really wanted to go, but I didn't encourage it, since BFF wasn't acting like that was a good plan.  We would've taken Bubba.  We get into town about 9, and this is the line for Toys R Us: 

Yes, I know it is dark and hard to see.  Since yall don't know the town, let me give ya a little background.  Toys R Us is in a shopping center that we used to have a little Wal-Mart in, so the line was from the entrance past TJ Maxx on the left of it, down the parking lot to the highway, and down the high way about to the Lowe's parking lot that is about 2 blocks away.  REALLY?  Just how long have these people been in line?  Did they not celebrate Thanksgiving?  And if they did, when? At breakfast?  Oh yeah, we are making fun.  HAH!

Little did we know.

We cruise around the mall, and check out the line waiting at Best Buy, Old Navy, Target and Kohnl's.  Kristen finds it hilarious that someone is outside of Target in a tent. Lines at all 4 of those locations are manageable, so we decide to go to Wal-Mart.  Well, let me tell you, all the crazies were there, to include us.  We are just walking around checking stuff out, and trying to figure out exactly where the hard drives that were on special were going to be at.  People were breaking open pallets of merchandise, putting it in their buggies, and we heard, stealing stuff out of other people's buggies.  (For you Northern folk, that's shopping carts.)  Wal-Mart has a few specials starting at midnight, but most of the stuff was for the 5 a.m. sale.
It was so nuts in there that people were trying to follow an employee setting up lines for the big items, with numbered balloons.  This lady behind me kept bumping me in the butt with her buggy.  I mean, I can understand once, and it's an accident, and you apologize.  But repeatedly?  There was fixin' to be a fight!  I did say something not so nice, loudly to Kristen, that was pretty much the end of the butt bumping.

When we had enough of the idjits in Wal-Mart, we decided that we'd go on over to Old Navy and wait in line there for them to open at midnight.  We get there at 11 and the line was from the front door all the way around the building to the back of the building.  Before midnight the line was all the way to Belk's.  We get everything we need there and get in line to pay, yep another line wrapped around the inside of the store.  Took about an hour in line.  Craziness!  But then, we went to Toys R Us, walked right in, got what we wanted and did not have to wait in line to check out.  Amazing, considering the line earlier! 
Then it was time for some nourishment, thank goodness for Steak N Shake!  After some food, we hit the mall, then back to Wal-Mart, then to Target!  Finally!  We are done, except for Carter's childrens clothing store down the road at the Outlet Mall..  Wait!  We had an hour to wait on Hobby Lobby to open so we could return some things for Kristen's sis in law.  Nope, they were already open.
  Hooray!  I think the funniest thing that happened was we went to Starbucks, right as they opened, then went to Wal-Mart.  So I park and Kristen fell asleep on me, and I let her sleep for about 30 minutes then tell her to come on, let's go in.  She gets out of the car and goes, "where is the store, where are we?"  A little punchy from lack of sleep!  Considering she had gotten up at 6:30 a.m. and I got a couple hours more sleep than she did!

We don't look that bad for no sleep! 

Finally, we go to Carter's, then to pick up the girls.  Yeah, we get home about 12:30. 
One things for sure, we were tired, but it was fun!  Here we are when we got home, don't think we look too bad, actually!

Will I do it again?  I doubt it, but I've learned, Never say Never! 

Come on and join in

the fun of a Christmas ornament swap! 

Ornaments can be homemade or store bought, but please nothing used!  

Deadline to enter is Dec. 1st and packages need to be sent out no later than Dec.8th!  

I have joined in on the ornament swap over at
  Mommy to a lil lady [bug] 

I am looking forward to finding out what ornament I get in the swap.  I love Christmas.  Don't you?

Men, need I say more?

Men, you gotta love 'em.  An acquaintance of mine and I got into an interesting conversation about men and how they have changed over the years.  She is about 10 - 15 years older than me.  We were talking about how her husband prior to retirement, would come home from work and expect the house to be clean, dinner on the table, even though she worked a full time job also.  How men in general would come in, sit down, read the newspaper and relax, while the women would come in, tend to the kids, house, dinner, and whatever else needed tending to.  I told her how my Mom worked and then came home, tended to us, cleaned up, fixed dinner, cause when my Dad got home we ate.  Dinner was like clockwork, 5:30 p.m. on the dot.
Then she said that her son, wasn't like that.  I said my husband wasn't either, but he could try.  haha
I think that men who came into adulthood in the early sixties or earlier did have a more defined role and expected their women to also fill a defined role.  Even if women worked, the men were the 'breadwinners' and women were the 'housekeepers'.  True, that it was more common for women to be stay at home wives and mothers than it is today.  Father Knows Best anyone?  Most households can not afford for the wife to stay at home these days.  Not to mention that women, since the sexual revolution and women's lib movements of the sixties, have wanted to have some independence financially, in their own right. 
My husband and I both work full time.  He is a truck driver who comes in late after 5 days out on the road, is home 2 days, and goes back to work early the next day.  I work 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts.  My schedule rotates every 3 weeks.  Sometimes, I work the days he is off, like today, so he usually has supper made, or is cooking when I get home.  Now that I have more time off, having recently changed from administration (Mon - Fri) back to being a peon, and actually have more time at home, I don't usually expect him to clean house, wash clothes, etc.  We did have someone come in before about once a month to do deep cleaning, but I don't need it now.  Unfortunately for him, I ran home from work this morning for a minute and gave him a honey do list.  It wasn't much, fold what is in the dryer and dry what was in the washer.  Easy enough.  But for him to expect dinner at the same time every night that he's home, etc, etc... oh no....that wouldn't work.  Not that I am some ultra feminist, but I'm no push over either!  Just my thoughts.....:)
So most of the bloggers that I've come across are a generation younger than me. What are your thoughts on men these days?

CSN Giveaway

Go over to The Dalai Mama and check out her CSN stores $35.00 gift card giveaway!  That's awesome!

Wal-Mart Gift Card Giveaway! CLOSED

How about a little giveaway? 

With it being the Christmas season and me feeling extra giving I thought I'd have my first giveaway!

How to enter you ask?

It's easy...

1. Follow Life or Something Like It publicly on GFC

2. Tell me what you want Santa to bring you for Christmas

3. Blog about this giveaway


This giveaway will end on December 1st at 1159 EST and the winner will be drawn via Random.org

S-E-X! Why is it TABOO on family blogs?

This is not going to be explicit or X rated, but the seed for this blog was planted by my daughter @ Our Crazy Bunch .  She tells me that she is going to do a review of costumes and she couldn't figure out when she saw this on another bloggers site, why, since it was after Halloween, the company still was looking for reviewers.  I started laughing at her since I figured it out right away.  Yes, readers, bedroom costumes, you know the kind to spice up your sex life.  Anyway, she asks her husband to pick out an outfit.  He says why?  She explains that she is going to review whatever he picks out.  His next comments befuddled me....'You are going to write about it on your blog?  Isn't it a family blog?'
My comment was, hello?, how'd you get to be a "family" blogger without sex?  No subject was taboo when my kids were growing up.  I was the one that the kids came to asking all their questions, and answered them, to the point of, ok Mom, that's enough, I don't want to know anything else. lol  (Not sure if that was the nurse in me or not.)  They know that I am sexually active especially the boys, (when in their teens) who have come through a locked door and walked in on me and their Dad.   I mean, once you start having sex, it is as natural as breathing, and as necessary as breathing.  That is if you enjoy it, and I'm so sorry if you don't.  And I'm not just talking about heterosexual relationships.  So it shouldn't be a hidden away, not talked about subject.  Maybe it is my generation, we came of age during the sexual revolution and the baby boom, just prior to the scourge of HIV/AIDS.  Maybe things have gone back to a more sedate, more prim and proper sexuality.  Maybe that is why the world seems to be gone to hell in a hand basket, or at least partially.  Personally, I plan on having sex until I physically can't anymore and hopefully, that time is no time soon!  Anyway, that's my crazy selfs ramblings on the subject.

REFLECTIONS

Reflections on 49 things that make me, well ME!  Good and bad.  In no particular order they are:
1.  Kristen Our Crazy Bunch

 

2.  Michael

3.  Chris

4.  The grandbabies

5.  Kenneth

6. Being adopted, afforded me a much better life.
7. Becoming a nurse.
8. Living on islands in the South Pacific growing up, specifically Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands and Majuro, Marshall Islands.

This is the lighthouse that was our playhouse on Navy Hill in Saipan, of course, with specific instructions to not play in or around the lighthouse! lol
9.  My first lover (and love) who was gentle and patient and introduced me to different aspects of making love one at a time.  Thank you, and I'm really sorry about the whole Mill House thing, still mortified about that!
10.  And while I'm on that subject:  variety is the spice of life.
11.  Learning that too much spice can cause heartburn.
12. Being a DJ, and dear friends that helped me along on that journey.  Still the best job I ever had, kind of wish I'd stayed in it.
13.  Living in Louisiana when Kristen was a baby and meeting Kathy and Tim.
14.  Moving to Germany and not really appreciating it until just before we left.
15.  Jacksonville, FL
16.  Nursing school at VSU.....incredibly hard, great friends, and went by too fast.
17. The laundry basket incident at Eschborn Towers in Germany.  (haha, I think only Mike would know what I'm talking about there)
18.  The whole 2nd marriage thing.  Trust me, don't get married when you've been drinking heavily for a year or so, inebriation will make you think you can't live without someone, that you should so live without.
19.  Taking a commission in the US Army, then resigning said commission.  That is still one of my biggest regrets, but then I wouldn't have met Kenneth....
20. Letting the kids live with their Dad while I was in nursing school and going to go in the military.....
21.  My Mom and Dad.  They have influenced me in ways they don't even know.  As my DH says....you are so like your Dad.
22. Having unresolved issues with my Dad that will never be resolved now.
23. Meeting my birth-family.
24. Not having DNA done when I had the chance.
25. Having pets.  I never thought I'd want an inside dog, but he is our furbaby:

And the best Kitchie Kat ever, RIP Kitchie:

I love this picture because Kitchie looks like he was shooting laser daggers at Kujo.
26.  Knowing that sometimes when you eat your words they are sweet, not bitter.  Famous last words:  "Fine, I'll meet him, but I am not fixin' to move to Homerville."  Still here 15 years later.
27.  Working in administration, and knowing when to go back to "just" being a nurse.  Being a nurse is so much more rewarding.
28.  My bestie,  Nancy.  The sister I never had growing up.
29.  My other dear friends, Melanie, Shelly, Janice, Sandra, Theresa, Janet.  Love yall.
30.  Death, in my line of work, you can't avoid being around it, and sometimes they are friends.  It's hard, but it makes you appreciate life a little more.
31.  Wasting my time and my parents money the first go 'round of college.
32.  Paying my own way through college the second go 'round.
33.  Friends of my children that are our adopted youngin's.  Although they are grown adults now.
34.  Living in Homerville.  Not just Homerville, per se, but living in a small town.  Definitely has it's benefits even if it doesn't have a Wal-Mart.
35.  Having strict discipline growing up.  Yes, once I started becoming independent I totally rebelled, but appreciate it so much now.  You know what they say about Preacher's and Principal's kids.
36.  Growing up in Lake Park.
37.  Working at TG&Y.  
38.  Learning to dance at said job, getting lessons from Linda and Stephanie when we were supposed to be cleaning up after the store closed. lol  I do have rhythm thanks to those two.
39.  Becoming "Ma" at 38, too soon, but I wouldn't trade her for the world. 
40.  Having your trust in someone totally crushed.  There are things worse than a spouse having an affair, and said trust was crushed several years after the divorce.
41.  Learning to forgive, even though you never forget.
42.  Figuring out that life is way beyond high school and the drama that is always a part of your life then.  You don't realize it at the time because you think you are invincible and immortal.  Life comes at you quick after HS, and doesn't slow down.
43.  Loving others more than life itself.  Opens you up for worlds of hurt, but makes you stronger too.
44.  College football, especially the LSU Tigers! lol
45.  Making mistakes, there are life lessons in every mistake you ever make, you just have to be open to them.
46.  Having my mid life crisis at the age of 21.  I would say I was an over achiever with that!  Age hasn't really bothered me since, but we'll see next year with that half a century mark.
47. My Granny.
48.  John, my brother.
49.  Knowing Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I am not perfect, but Jesus forgives me, and will forgive you too, you just have to trust in Him, believe in Him and ask forgiveness for your sins.  John 3:16


I know that there are many other things that have shaped me as a person and many other people that I have not listed here, so here are some of the others that have influenced me:

The Quarterman's 
Paul and Cindy
Evelyn and Paul
Mrs. Dorothy Williams
Mrs. Polly Pollett
Mrs. Ximena Holcombe
Mr. Steve Rampley
Mr. Bill Herring
Mrs. Dorothy Pearlman
Mrs. Gwen Burgman
(The previous has since remarried, but don't know  current last name.)
Daisy, Sandra and Donna
Ann, Beth and Wendy 
Glynn, John and Sea
Susan, Cindy, Steve and Aubrey
Ashley and Steven
Joey, Mayumi, Belle and Suzanne
Karen and Glynn

Thank you all for the positive influence you had/have on my life.

Happy Birthday & The USMC Marathon in DC

Just wanted to say on the blog Happy Birthday (one day late) to my own "Great Pumpkin", Chris.  I'll never forget waking up Halloween day, 1985, walking to the bathroom and feeling my pelvic bones jiggle.  Yes, they literally jiggled!  I had an appointment that day and told them that and they promptly sent me over to L&D.  Once there they did an ultrasound and lo and behold I was in labor and met Chris before I had him.  Some time I'll have to blog about the lady in the cubicle next to me when I was having false labor.  Anyway, Happy Birthday a day late, Chris.  (I don't feel bad about this because I didn't forget his birthday yesterday, I just didn't blog about it then) I wish I had a then picture, but here is a now picture of my "Great Pumpkin".

I'd also like to take a moment and say to the son in law that I am very proud of him for completing his first marathon, the Marine Corp Marathon that benefited St. Jude's Hospital.  Joey raised $1000.00 in sponsorship for this marathon.  Kenneth is proud of you too!  Joey had an impressive time of 4:40:15, half of it run with a pulled hamstring.  Lesser beings (me for sure!) would not have been able to continue on with that injury.  Hope you heal and continue to be a marathoner.  I think, from what I hear, you have the fever now!

Here he is after he finished, and looking pretty darn good: