NEVER UNDERESTIMATE

I don't blog everyday because I like to put a lot of thought into what I'm going to say. Friday's might be my blog day from now on.

OK family. I think I have two faithful followers and I'm grateful. If more come along that would be great too.

I will touch on a topic today involving little known or known things that if taken into account could make your lives more meaningful to you over the course of your lifetime.

Below are a list of things that you should never take for granted OR UNDER estimate the value.

In no particular order.

1. Flossing. This little piece of string when used properly can save you literally thousands of dollars in dental bills. It staves off periodontal disease which we now know is linked to high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks. It's cheap, easy to carry and user friendly. So to all my fans with bleeding gums...floss...floss floss.

2. Compound interest. A small investment of $50.00 a month invested every month for 30 years would net thousands of dollars if done right. You could be set for your old age retirement if you are smart when you are young.

3. A mother's knowledge. I have a friend who has 2 children. She suffers through normal childhood crisis' like she is the only person to ever raise a child. Everything is blown out of proportion and everything is a big deal. When you are two, nothing's a big deal. Just ask for help or some friendly advice. This too shall pass as I do not know too many 5 year olds that are not potty trained.

4. A saved receipt. Save all receipts as a store will be nicer to you if you can prove you in deed did purchase their product. They deal with sleazy lying people all day trying to get something for nothing. You will have their attention when returning a coat that is one year old without the tags. But be sure to follow their store policies. If something can be returned at any time, save your receipt. You did not make the rules, you are just following them. Of course they are surprised that you do have the receipt after one year.

5. Hugging your loved ones. Some people say I love you all the time and is does not mean anything after a while. I hear people on cell phones where the ending to every conversation is "I love you." I think it loses it's special meaning when thrown out there. Kind of on the same lines as "Hi, how are you....I"m fine how about you? Everybody says it with the same response. But a hug, a good hug means I love and miss you all in one motion.

6. Punctuality. Oh my God, Dr Phil has this one right. When you are late, you are telling that person that your time is of no importance to them. They are rude. If someone does not tell them how inconsiderate they are, they will continue to take advantage of you. It's a courteous gesture. Rude, inconsiderate late people need to be fired from all job sites. This includes construction workers, cable people and all others who say to stay home between 8-5 and don't show up till after 6. This happens without even a phone call to explain why they are so late. Don't blame the traffic...leave your house earlier!

7. A balance checkbook. I always want to know where I stand financially. Don't you? Everyone makes mistakes in their accounting methods. Balancing you checkbook keeps you in check each month.

8. A good orgasm. As we girls all know, not all orgasms have the same intensity. Enough said.

9. Knowing how to give a great blowjob. again...enough said.

10. A college degree. I don't have one and it is my biggest regret. But I can't help but ask the question, what would I hope to accomplish if I did have a degree and for that matter in what? I have a good job that pays just like I have a college degree. Anyway, I think that those right out of high school should continue learning at least until they grow up a little more.

11. A loved one. Never take advantage or underestimate you loved ones. They are all you have for your lifetime. You need them and they need you. They will disappoint you from time to time but overall they will bring you endless amount of joy.

I'm off from work for the week so will blog a little more. My next blog will be about raising heterosexual and homosexuals children. I did it and so can you.

Untechnical ME

I grew up in a very non computer world up until the age of about 34. That's when the computer world went nuts and every one was getting PC's. We got one. We turned it on. It did stuff like write letters without mistakes. You did not need white out or carbon paper for copies. As time progressed, the children took computer classes as part of their school classes. Buff took a class too. But no one taught me anything. I would ask questions to my 10 year old and she would show me editing, margins, spacing and how to add clip art. If two weeks went by and I did not get on the computer. This was way before email when you checked your email everyday. I would forget and ask again...the same questions. After a while I could not take the deep sighs of exasperation from ALL the family members so I just stopped asking. I played around with the computer and learned very little over the years.

So now comes the wonderful world of blogging. I like to write. I can do this. So here I enter the screen at "start your own blog" and I am terrified. But you know what? I did it all by myself. And you know what else? My very computer savy Bettylou is very proud of me. It's not a fancy page. Bettylou says she can help me next time she visits. I will take her help even if I don't commit to memory how she does it and I have to ask her again at another date.

But you know what I can do? I can type 50 wpm on a manual typewriter. Buff can do 90. I can sew just about anything from scratch or from a pattern. I can parallel park...uphill. I can swim really really well. I can balance a checkbook without a computer. I can refinish furniture to make it look new again. But more importantly, I've managed to keep the man in my life happy and full. Because the best thing I can do is cook. I don't particularly like to cook but I can do it. I don't mean microwave and serve. I mean defrost, from scratch baking of pies and cakes, smells from the oven, squish your avocados, make my own tortilla cooking. To me this is what separates one generation from another. The "proof is in the pudding" because I know where my family (sans one LLS who lives in another state) will be on Thanksgiving. They follow the smell home because nothing is as good as the 4 hour turkey smell coming from the home of MOM.
I've been told on many occasion that "I don't need to learn to cook a turkey"...I will be home every year for Thanksgiving. Be careful...every year is a loonnggg time. Just so you know, every year I will have the smells and real mashed potatoes waiting for you. I will never let you down.

And one more thing..I'm really good at being a mom.

POINT: Learn something new. You will be very proud of yourself. I know I am proud to be blogging and I'm proud of you.

On to happier topics

So at 4:30 this morning, nature called and I dragged my self out of bed to hit the potty. Too bad the dogs cannot tell time. They were hot on my heels in hopes of going outside too. I calmly told them that it was still dark outside and they would have to wait till 6:30 like all the other dogs in the neighborhood. You would have thought I told them I was taking them to the vet. Then the licking began. First it was the big dog and then the little dog. They make such a slurping sound and it's quite annoying. It didn't bother me but it woke Buff (husband) up and he shlept them ouside. I pretended to be sleeping. I could not go back to sleep thinking about all the things I wanted to write about in my very own personal blog. Since my very first blog effort was quite sad (sorry...death makes you weepy) I thought I would write about happier things. I have a feeling that I will be talking about all the things I know, namely family and friends. I guess since I'm a first time blogger I should have a glossary of abbreviations so you all can follow along in the program.

Mother to Betty lou=Me
Buff=husband of 29 3/4 years
JG=journalistic genius=daughter #1 (also known as Betty lou)
LLS=luscious lesbian sister (name given to her by JG)=daughter #2
the baby=daughter #3

I'm almost done for today. Today is election day and I voted absentee. I voted with a guidebook in hand and I can almost guarantee that Buff and I are opposite on all the issues. That is the way it has always been. That's why we can still talk to each other. He's always interesting to talk to even after 29 years. He and I have things to agree and disagree upon. That is what keeps a marriage going.

POINT: To all you singles in the world. Find someone to talk to. Because when the honeymoon is over and you are not having sex every day...you need to find other stuff to do. When you get older sometimes talking and laughing is the best entertainment of all.

Death and taxes

I've known Karen for 10 years. She use to come in my dental office coughing a lot. She cleaned houses for a living. She told me her coughing was from asthma. She had an inhaler and her doctors were monitoring her disease. As the years progressed, Karen was told that she did not have asthma afterall. She indeed had a lung disease. Time progressed very slowly for Karen as her disease now required her to be on oxygen 24 hours a day. I saw Karen 2 weeks ago. To me she was breathing a little harder but she assured me that things were the same. She really needed a lung transplant but she was not hopeful that it would happen any time soon. Bob (Karen's husband) called me this morning with the news that Karen had passed away in her sleep on Saturday. Through the tears, I told Bob how sorry I was. Karen and Bob were married a long time ans had no children. Karen was crazy about her nieces and twin sisiter but she was more in love with Bob. We will miss Karen a lot. My point is that we knew Karen was dying and we knew that the end was near. But no matter how much you know and how much you prepare yourself, it is still a shock and very sad to all. Love your family and friends today. Pass it on.