Hallelujah He is Risen! : )

i am so grateful for His salvation, the TRUE reason we celebrate Easter.  the baskets are nice, the toys & CHOCOLATE delicious.  but through all of it, i don't want to forget the Reason.  :  )  


other tidbits about today - got up at 9 and laid on the couch watching The Family Man.  trish gave it to me for my birthday, and then i hadn't had a chance to watch it til today!  i liked it lots!  and remember seeing it in the theatre & liking it.  : )  then, while i was in the shower, mom called & said plans for the day had changed & phil brought the kids over early.  when we chatted last night, they were coming over after lunch & we were all going out for dinner.  instead, they all went out for lunch.  i was already fixing my leftover steak & potato when i noticed the message, so i'll just go over there later this afternoon to hang out.  : )  


meanwhile - more renegade!  


still no word from bret.  i guess i know where he's at.  if it comes down to it & he doesn't end up getting his stuff & returning my key & dad's duffel, i'll just sic mom on him.  or carol.  or grammy ... oooh.  LOL  


ttfn!

bubbles, steak & bruised hearts

happy day before Easter!  today was super long & SUPER fun!  : )  


leyton woke me up at like 6:30.  "is it morning yet?"  uh, no, kid, go back to sleep.  or, at least let me go back to sleep for a couple more hours?  LOL  he didn't start pestering me to get up til 7, tho.  "aunt carrie, the sun's up, that means it's morning.  GET UP!"  hahahaha!  good thing i love him.  


we did some more jumping, decorated eggs, put together a lego digger, watched phineas & ferb, and basically had a funtastic morning!  

 inspired by the photos my dear friend, jana, has kindly made into postcards for me.  little people are great postcard subjects, don't ya think??  : )  

 i have not loved a cartoon as much as Phineas & Ferb since Kim Possible.  this is my first PF dvd, and i now think i need some KP action!  : )   

we left an hour & a half later than i'd planned, so i didn't get to the PO to mail out the Easter baskets.  oh well, they'll be May Day baskets... LOL  oh, so the flyer they handed out about donations for NC said they'd be accepting them from 10 - 2 today.  however, when we went to the office at 12, no one was there & it was locked up tight.  *sigh*  i hoped they just left for lunch & would be back, and left the bin by the door.  i called & left a message letting them know i'd left it & to call me if they didn't get it for some reason.  thankfully, there was no call & when i went to get the mail on my way home the bin was gone, so ... rah.  : )  


i wish i had pictures, but there was too much other stuff going on (uh, like DRIVING) - leyton really wanted to blow the bubbles i'd put in his easter basket, but we just didn't have time to play outside before leaving.  so, my brilliant idea was to let him blow bubbles out the window on our way!  it was awesome!!!  he had so much fun, and the bubbles looked amazing flying past my windshield!!  : )  


we went to mom's so leyton could get dressed in cat-hair-free clothing (cuz jen's allergic (and possibly anthony as well)) & then went to sancho's for lunch.  YUMMY tacos, of course!  however, i think their prices have gone up, as the cost was a bit of a shock!  but it's not surprising that restaurants will be having to raise their prices as the cost of fuel & food itself goes up.  i totally get that.  *sigh*  anyway, the food was delish & leyton had fun playing w/ the bowling game.  : )  he wanted to play the lotto "game" but we explained that he had to be 21 to play that one.  and it cost more than a quarter... 


heh.  after lunch, we took leyton to marty's to take a nap & then they were gonna dye eggs.  fun fun!!  he & anthony're coming over tomorrow after lunch to spend the afternoon for easter.  woot!  i think this will be the longest stretch of days in a row when i've seen leyton in a while!  (wed - thu - fri - sat - sun!)


mom & i went to best buy so she could get a new virgin mobile phone.  she wanted to switch to the same kinda plan i have.  actually, she wanted to get the same phone i have, but they've discontinued it!  LOL  so she got a different one & i'm a little jealous, actually, because it's a slide out keyboard!  heh.  anyway, we spent about an hour in best buy because they very kindly called VM to set up the phone for mom.  : )  EXCELLENT customer service.  now, about the virgin mobile customer service ... eventually, they did the right thing & got everything squared away properly.  but it was a struggle, and i don't understand why it always is w/ them?  their phones & system work GREAT, their plans are reasonable & fair, they are a great company!  so... why the difficult customer service?  if it was just one rep, then ya know, shrug it off.  but every time one of us has had to change phones, there are issues.  they get resolved, eventually, but should it really take two or more reps and over an hour?  i don't think so... 


on the drive home i played w/ her phone, adding in her contacts & picking a ringtone for myself that sounds like a yanni song.  : )  sweet!!  


when i got home, i watched celebrity apprentice - computer only shut down 3 times, so i got thru the episode in just under two hours.  : )  finally mr. trump did the right thing!  sad that the men's team had to be so decimated first, tho.  grrr.  hopefully w/o captain crazy pants they can win some challenges!  i switched over to renegade around 8:30 & have been greatly enjoying this show!  


aunt carol called & asked how i liked having my house to myself again.  i was like, "oh, so apparently bret has talked to everyone BUT me about officially moving in w/ nick???"  and she was shocked that i didn't know.  *boggle*  seriously how can he do this to me?  i am so hurt by his actions, and most especially because every time i send him a note, he posts on his FB something about being a man of God or Jesus knows his heart or something "Christian" when he's treating me in a very un-Christian manner!  every time he posts some status like that, 30 seconds after i've written an entreaty for him to just talk to me, it feels like a punch in the heart.  it feels deliberate.  it feels ... well, mean.  is that what he's going for?  i can't think it could be!  


*sigh*  anyway, so my last note to him was that since he didn't want to talk to me, please come over on monday after work to pick up his hollister coat & toiletries & whatever else he's left here, and leave the key & my dad's duffel bag that he borrowed to go to KC.  i guess we'll see if he does it.  i'd hate to have to change the locks because he won't give me the key back.  actually, i'd sell his hollister coat to pay for a new lock.  *grumble*  okay, you're right, i probably wouldn't do that.  it's not like i think he'd do anything bad w/ the key.  really, i'm more concerned w/ getting the duffel bag back, because mom really wants it back.  that's the way it goes when you lose someone, ya know?  you cling to things that were theirs... and are irritated when other ppl don't treat them w/ respect... (not to say that has happened w/ this duffel; just a general statement.)


so... after that phone call w/ aunt carol & the subsequent FB drama (seriously dislike playing out drama on fb.  i think that's dumb.  i just can't think of any other way to do it since he's not answering me!  i am kinda hoping that one of his friends will read it & be like, "yo, bret, you need to be more respectful of your sister cousin who helped you out!" ) - i decided steak sounded good, so i called up applebee's for some curbside to go service.  steak, baked potato & veggies w/ a diet pepsi.  YUMMY!  and the steak & potato were both big enough that i cut them in half & will have lunch for tomorrow!  woot!  : )  


anyway, praise the Lord He mends the bruised heart!  i pray His forgiveness for my sins, and His help to forgive others for any wrongs or slights i feel against me.  i pray JOY to you on this Easter, and i pray HEALING to each of us this day as well.  


ttfn!  

GOOD Friday Part II

i picked leyton up from the sitter's & we met mom at the theatre for Rio.  CUTE movie, and one that i will want to own!  also i might want the soundtrack!  : )  leyton really liked it, he was literally dancing to some of the songs, which was also so cute!  : )  


after the movie, we splashed in some puddles on the way to the car.  then we splashed in some puddles on the way back to the theatre cuz leyton had to potty.  LOL  then we splashed back to the car.  yes, it's a little rainy.  the mississippi is way flooded.  : (  it's supposed to start going down after the weekend, tho.  and tomorrow & sunday are supposed to be nice... 


we went to gordman's because i had a giftcard.  leyton got a cute Cars toy - we'd just been talking about how he needed a Mater, and this is the one he picked: 

we got some toys for the north carolina donation box, and then headed to WM for the other donation stuff - mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deoderant, diapers, wipes, q-tips, shampoo, pain relievers, eye drops, contact solution, dog food, cat food, feminine products... and then i'll put the blanket & food in there & give it to the office tomorrow.  leyton did so well picking out some things, for the ppl in NC.  loved it!!  he also tested out some exercise equipment and picked out the bin ... 

we checked out & i spent a *ahem* little more than i had planned... oops!  might have to move some funds into the checking account til next week!  d'oh!  


we went to wendy's for dinner (a LATE dinner cuz he was still full from popcorn til then!) & played w/ the new 'mater for a bit before coming home to wind down w/ a thomas movie.  

well, of course before the winding down there was some jumping.  i mean, this IS aunt carrie's emporium of fun, after all.  LOL  

finally it was bedtime, and i am watching some more Renegade while reading & writing the blogs, but i should make it bedtime for myself soon.  it's 1 am & i know even though he went to bed late, he'll be up no later than 8!  then i think we'll hide some eggs, paint some other eggs, maybe jump some more, maybe watch phineas & ferb (or more thomas...LOL)... it'll be a good saturday!  


so grateful for this day!  i hope you are blessed as well!  


ttfn!

GOOD Friday

so far so good!  : )  very grateful to have today off!  got to sleep til 10, get some easter baskets together, watch some renegade.  mmmm.  wrestlers (jesse ventura, yes, he was a wrestler at one time!) guest starring!  as well as some familiar faces from walker.  woot woot!!  : )  


met mom & phil at tsunami buffet for lunch.  good times, good food, CUTE boys at the table next to ours, AND got to chat w/ my friend kris who was there w/ her mama.  : )  super fun!  i love running into ppl out & about.  sometimes that's the only time i see them!  of course, now days i am all about scheduling lunches & dinners & actually HANGING OUT w/ my friends.  a meal is a great place to hang out, imo.  good food, and lots of time to talk.  and unlimited refills!  


i came home for some more reno raines because that's how i roll.  lol  i'm glad i did, because if i'd done my shopping right after lunch, i would have missed the dude coming door to door to remind me about taking donations for one of our mobile home communities that was destroyed in north carolina last weekend.  i'm going to get a plastic bin & fill it w/ as much as i can for $20 - i'm thinking some diapers & wipes, a blanket (i have one left from christmas), and some toiletries, and a bag of the cans i got for the food drive, too.  mom was pretty much - "i don't have the money" and i totally understand, but we just went out to lunch for $20... and i'm taking leyton to a movie this afternoon for $20... so i think i can give $20 to someone in need.  especially because, if - God forbid - something happened here, we could be dependent on ppl elsewhere donating things for US.  


God has been blessing me w/ overtime, and w/ the money that bret did give me previously... you know?  anyway... if anyone is in the area & would like to donate anything, please let me know!  if you have an extra $5 and can buy a pair of shoes for a little one, or a pack of diapers (i know they cost more than $5)... if you have a food drive going at your work or collection bins around town, i encourage you to buy an extra can, an extra $.75, to put in the bin.  every little bit helps, and every little bit might help us someday... 


okay, that's all i have for now!  i'll be back w/ a review of Rio later!!  


ttfn!

did you know?

that there's a whole group theorizing that the new madrid fault is set to rumble??  i was completely unaware of this theory until today.  and i can't decide - from everything i've been reading - if it's crazy conspiracy stuff or really something that's on the way...


either way, tho, it got me to thinking about getting the old Emergency Bag going again!  i think i need to do it on a much grander scale now, tho, because i would want to make sure i had enough for mom and leyton, phil & anthony & jen if necessary.  and angel, of course.  would have to make sure to add in water & food for her.  i didn't just start thinking about it because of that article, tho - the starting of the lists was put into my head when i read those disaster books a few months ago, remember?  food & water,  clothes, of course.  batteries & flash lights, blankets, umbrella... these spring to mind immediately for everyone, i think.  some things i might've forgotten about, or not thought of needing a few months' supply anyway - medicine, feminine products, TP, pens & paper... i'm pretty good about packing things, from all my travel.  but there are still things that when i see them on other ppl's lists, i'm all like "ohhhh!  right, that would be helpful!"  heh.  


my problem w/ things that i use all the time (TP, FP, meds) is that it's hard to keep an "extra" supply, ya know?  and things like bottled water - i don't drink bottled water, and idk how long it lasts?  so how do i buy it for "emergencies" when it could expire?  and how does water expire?  it's water!  


anywhoo!  something to work on, i guess.  along w/ getting my house organized and decorated.  so many things i want to do, so little energy to DO them!  


i spend my energy on playing w/ leyton!  : )  and it's so worth it!  tonight i met him & mom at CFA for some nummy food & an easter egg hunt & of course the cow.  : )  leyton took a nap on the car ride over, and he wasn't really in the best mood when he got up, so i don't really have any pictures!  i know, is a shocker!  i did take some w/ my phone, but haven't sent them to myself yet.  LOL  we had fun anyway.  


and tomorrow will be super fun!!  i hardboiled some eggs when i got home tonight, and other than the problem that is i want to eat them all, things turned out okay!  hopefully i will resist the urge to eat them all before we get a chance to decorate them.  heeeheee!  while at WM buying the eggs, i also picked up $20 worth of canned food, PB & ramen for a food drive we're having at work.  most of the time i don't have the money to donate or i forget about it.  


this month, tho, is about sacrifice.  tomorrow is the day we remember Christ's sacrifice for us.  and sunday is the day we remember HE IS RISEN!  : )  i am so grateful to my Savior, Creator, Healer, Friend... and in honor of His sacrifice, i've chosen to step outside of my box a little bit & donate some goods!  i'm sure i could donate more... 


for instance... had i not bought my Renegade dvd's and instead donated that money.  but, i did, so i'm going to enjoy reno raines!  and one of these days i'm going to find lorenzo's other series on dvd & have an Immortal marathon.  oh yes, i'd forgotten all about that show til just now!  i can't believe that one only lasted one season, tho - seems like i watched more episodes... lol  probably merged my memories of that show w/ Highlander... hmmm.


i'm a little all over the place tonight, right?  still haven't heard from bret.  :(  but i talked w/ misha & that was nice anyway!  


what else?   i don't know!  i had many thoughts in my head, but as the night wears on, and i get distracted by shiny things... yeah.  *laugh*  well, disc 1 of renegade is over, it's 1 am, and i think that's my cue to go to bed!!  : )  thankfully, tomorrow is also about SLEEPING IN!  whenever i get up, i will get my Easter packages packed & watch more Renegade or Buck or Celeb Apprentice & Survivor if my computer cooperates...!  : )  then picking up leytonbug & RIO!  


have a great friday, and remember - JESUS LOVES YOU!!!  : )  


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glitteratti

i don't even know if that's a real word... lol  


nearly my entire work day was taken up w/ memorials.  and i didn't even finish them!  and ppl kept asking me the oddest questions - i even got a phone call from someone in a parking lot, wanting to know if they could park there for a class, or if they'd get a ticket.  i was way confused, especially when they kept repeating that my number was on the meeting notice!  and i felt bad because i had no clue where they were even at, or what the parking guidelines were at that location.  :(  d'oh!


after work, i made my way to pick leyton up at the sitter's.  forgot that the river's flooding right now, or rather i thought that the detour would be easier to follow.  *sigh*  i hate when i get turned around in my own city!!  of course, i did get to look at some pretty brick houses, so i guess it wasn't a total fail.  : )  


we were going to hickory garden for breakfast for dinner, but then leyton decided he wanted to eat at my house, so we came here & i made scrambled eggs w/ cheese, sausage & toast.  mmmm!  i actually made my toast into a grilled cheese.  heh.  i didn't think he was really hungry, but he was!  he ate an egg & a half, a piece of sausage & a half, and two pieces of toast!  we jumped on the couch a bit before getting anthony's call... 

i didn't have a key to jen's so was waiting til anthony got home - except when he called it was to tell me he was there, and he didn't have a key!!  d'ooooh!  took leyton forever & a day to get swiped down (lint roller - anthony & jen are both allergic to cats), shoes on, coat on... lol  he just wanted to PLAY!  we picked anthony up & went to where jen was reffing for volleyball to get the key.  whew!  then anthony was hungry, so we stopped by checker's for him.  


when we got to jen's, anthony ate his dinner while leyton got all jammied up.  then we played wwf or wwe or whatever the initials were on this game, all stars.  that means we got to play w/ Hulk Hogan!  woot!  

then leyton & i played w/ his bowling game that he convinced me to let him open tonight.  heh.  and then it was time for zzzzz!  anthony was thrilled.  LOL 

jen got home around 10 & i came home to watch a really good (but sad) Glee & read a few blogs & zzzzzz myself!  tomorrow will be more memorials, then dinner w/ mom & leyton (anthony's spending the night w/ a friend) & then ... i can sleep in on friday!  woot!  


still haven't heard from bret.  still feeling hurt, ignored, whatever.  :(  still praying thru.  


hope your wednesday went well & your thursday is one to be thankful for!  


ttfn!