Family Photo 2006

 

Havent posted in awhile---

Got this from a friend: a great way to start my blog again,....

Merry Christmas y’all


1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
egg nog

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Santa wraps presents, and what santa learned is as the kids get older they recognize wrapping paper, so santa uses a 'different' wrapping paper......hmmmmmm

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Tree-- white lights (green cord hee hee) and house---would love lights on, but alas---no time, no ladder...

4. Do you hang mistletoe? no---

5. When do you put your decorations up? Day after Thanksviging. (except this year, i was a day or two late)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert?) I try to make any dishes that I didnt get to make at thanksgiving-
watergate salad, pretzel salad, grandmas green salad...


7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: my mom always unrapped the ornaments and called our names to hang them on the tree, since she dated them, she would remind uf of the date...

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My cousin Shannon, ( a teen-ager) told me when we were all at grandma and grandads, After she told me (i think i was 7-8) i proudly announced at dinner time who Santa was--and who told me...
Shannon got in big trouble that night....

9. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve?
We go to Dax's family for christmas eve, and the kids tear through those gifts...

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We get a new ornament every year, for each child, and try to get a family one too...then i have my old time ornaments my mom passed to me...I let the boys decorate when i do what my mom did.. (see question #7)

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I would love a weekend of it, but I lived in enough places to know the issues of snow...many a sidewalk and driveway Did I have to clear--- BUT, on theother hand, i remember the hours of fun, with snow forts, and snow ball fights....I wish we had snow, so I could teach my chiildren to watch out for yellow snow....(Bark, Bark)12. Can you ice skate? Never tried....

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I think the favorive gifts I had, some I still have, my pink purse, my diary, my little pony, small jewelry box, (I guess for a tom boy, i kept my girly stuff)

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Relaxing...

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Listed above...#6- (the salads are actually desserts)

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Other then getting a new ornament every year, setting out cookies for Santa, I buy all of us matching shirts to wear on Christmas eve......I dont know why.....I started this tradition with mason when he was a baby...

17. What tops your tree? Light up star...

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? GIVING!!! I really dont like receiving...well unless someone handed me a big check with lots of 0000000000's!!!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Right now? I like the "rocking around the christmas tree", Ava Maria, O holy night...
I love the childrens choirs....

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yummy? Some to taste the season.....

Well, that's my story.

Wells Fargo Bank- Rich People Welcome..

I figured it out...Wells Fargo only wants to service rich people...if you are paycheck to paycheck you can get screwed! But first they want to squeeze out as much money from you as they can....

I just wouldnt feel right if I can prevent others from opening a Wells Fargo banking account...theres an old saying...
FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU! FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME!
I allowed to be convinced to re-open an account in wells fargo bank.
1st , I had opened one on 1997 as a savings account for my son, through several moves, i let the account go dormant, and when i found an old account card, went to check to see about that account, and it was "gone" hmmmm i dont ever remember closing it...anyway-
i reopened one about 2 years ago, savings, checkings, CC ---
The fees were sooooo high, they will take 10$ service fee, and then ding you 33$ if your acct goes into negative because of a service fee....you get charged if you talk to a teller, or call too many times in a month to talk to someone...
So i close the acct like a month ago....
So today i go in to get copies of statments for the last year...because i never received paper copies- ( i think you would have to pay for that)
and not only do i have to wait in the lobby with my 3 kids for like 30 min, before someone can even help me, when i tell the lady, i need copies of statements, my acct is closed, she clicks into snail mode.
I tell her the customer service said it cost 2$ a statment (another fee) she tells me she thinks its $5, and must call the manager to get the fees
(see we all know that paper and ink toner cost so much)
she does confirm that it is $2 a statement. When she asks me how Ill pay, since i have no account, I told her I have an ATM/debit card or check from my other bank...she tells me that she cant take a check because its not from her bank..and she cant take my card either.
I was livid at this point, clearly a bank can take my check, run it through tele-check, or what ever large computer system is connected to my account to verify funds...
anyway- i go outside to the wells fargo ATM (another $2 fee) to pull out cash to pay for my paper statements.
she walks up to the counter and assists more people and chit chats for another 15 min before bringing me back my change-

See Wells Fargo is for rich people, people who would have enough money to not worry about their fees, and people who would hire other people to handle their banking, so they dont have to wait in line, in lobbys, or in cubicles for rude bankers to bring your change. Those rich people would have their children with their nannys instead of occupying them in a bank.

Average Citizens...you shouldnt bank at Wells Fargo.

Family Picture 2006  

My last memory of my Grandma 

been a while-scattered thoughts

ive been feeling anti-social --thats stress related. I hate feeling this way! Kids are home on summer break, grandma dies, hubby changes jobs, work is not doing what i want it to do....planning for the future...AHHHHHH
My birthday is in 10 days, when do you go from wanting a birthday to wanting to avoid a birthday? Ive been feeling that way I think since I turned 29.
I played the lotto the other day...im always saying Ill do this or that, or do great humanitarian things when I win the lotto, but I never play---but i didnt win.
I for sure thought the numbers from the fortune cookie would win...then i realize those fortune cookies dont give you the date you should PLAY those numbers.
So back to my grandma...she was a tough cookie. Never sick, injured, very witty- we have know for about 7-8 years her memory has been off--- we suspected early stages of Alzehimers, and did our part to keep that in mind when we talked to her.
Right after Mothers Day she fell down- and 4 weeks later she died. its wierd but in just those few weeks she was diagnosed as having multiple myloma ( it think thats how its spelled) and its a blood cancer. Becasue she could trick all of the family that she was "just fine" - it was a real shock as she basically withered away.
My Mom was able to be there when she died. They think she was talking with her deceased brother Glenn in the last hours she was alive. They even set up an empty chair next to her for Glenn to sit as she passed. And all this from a non- spiritual family. Her last word was "Don", my grandfathers name.
The funeral was nice. Brings the family closer...isnt that sad? I think thats why I hate funerals. I can actaully deal with the fact that the person is gone, but I dont like the fact that we are only able to meet up as a whole family until someone dies.
My grandfather gave all the grandaughters one of her rings. I'll need to get mine sized, she had small fingers.
Well , i guess thats all for now- on to another day-

So Im at my goal

Through Starting with Weight Watchers last Feb 05- and working with my Doctor- I hit my goal this April 1 2006 and lost 100 lbs!
this aint no April Fools joke!!!

Companies I Love/Hate...

I decided I would post my reviews about companies I Love or hate..these are my opinions based on my personal experiences..I will update this often- If you ever want to know more reasons why...email me!

Hate:
Manhattan West Mortgage- Well, it came down to having our entire house contents sitting on the front yard of a rental house, and they still didnt finish the paperwork! There's way more to that!
Wells Fargo Bank- They kiss your butt to get you as an account, then your just a face in the crowd.
Phoenix Schools- Horrible to staff!
Cingular- It dosnt matter if your a great customer for several years, get behind on one payment even for hardhip and your screwed!
SBC- Won't work with you with mix ups either!
Costume Hut- Out of Canada- Beware!



Love:
JC Penney's- Gave me my 1st Credit Card!
Target- Gave me a credit card when I was dirt broke, this was how I was able to diaper my child back then...CREDIT
Chevys- Wonderful quality and service each time, even if they mess up!
Claim Jumper- Besides the awesome food and service, they even gave me free dinner for 4 once, becasue they felt their service was too slow!
Pizza Bell- My favorite Pizza place in the whole world!
Metro PCS- Finally someone makes sense with the cell phone!
WINCO- Even though I can't shop there as much as I would like- the prices are excellent!
Mongolian BBQ- West Sac-Not the prettiest restaurant, but they remember us and treat us well!

Its been a long hard year...

But I'm officially down 85 lbs-- Ive hesitated at journaling all the details of my weight loss but I wanted to post at my 1 year mark since I started this journey.

Sarah

Blog Challenge- 10 things that bug me..

I thought I would participate in this blog challenge, that was posted here:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=1598040

So here goes....

10 THINGS THAT BUG ME... (not in any particuliar order)

1. Mean and stupid people: the ones who wont let you merge over on the freeway, or the ones that dont look before merging

2. Seeing peoples earwax---GROSS!

3. Long Hair on little boys, now a cute bowl cut or surfer cut is all right- but come on moms, when you cant see your boys' eyebrows, or ears, give it a little cut!

4. ATM Fees-- Come on dont banks make enough money???

5. Door to Door Salesman who ignore my NO Soliciting sign, and try to just hand me a business card- and tell me they arent selling anything just showing a product.

6. Dust- it gets in the worst places to clean!!! Plus it turns to mud when you do try to clean it!

7. Bills- especially in December

8. The neighbors cats poopin in my flower boxes and front yard landscaping--- OOYYYYEEEEE
that one really bugs me!

9. Not having a babysitter, I sure would like to know what its like to go out on a date!

10. Property taxes! Geesh! I especially hate it when then increase it due to "community enhancements" that wasnt my decision!!!

oh and one more that makes 11-- the Jerry Springer Show...not that I watch it, but the commercials are horrible enough!!!!

im sure i could think of more, but these were the ones that came to mind...

Sarah

Its official!

Im a store owner! I was able to go in partners with my friend Helen, and we bought the Scrapbook Addict in Elk Grove. It has a very good reputition- and well known in the area- we bought it from a wonderful lady who not only showed us the ropes, but set us up for a path of success! (thanks monique)
the new website is www.imascrapbookaddict.com - our online store will be up shortly!
I am enjoying working, i will work 9-2pm, M-F and some nights and weekends for classes and crops.
so that is all for now! check out the site, and look at the pics!!!!