Instead of going through my usual spiel about how I swear this will be the last time I change and blah blah blah, I'm just going to give you all the new name, LOL!

I am now: xsweetpea2009x.

I'm going through adding folks to my flist. A lot of it will be friends only, I think.

If you love me you'll add me! :) I know it doesn't seem like I use LJ anymore, but (as usual, lol) I really, really want to! I also read my flist every day, and I like to keep up with yall. :)

Tonight is Josh's first night at work. It feels so weird with him not being here. I hope he's having fun! I know he'll do great. :)

I don't really know what to do with myself, lol. I don't have anyone to bug. I can't bug mom cuz she's really not in a buggable mood. Hmmness.

I cleaned out our dresser like I've been threatening to do for the last week or so. I got rid of a couple things, but found out it was really just how we had everything stuffed in there that was causing the drawers to be hard to shut.

We don't have too much to do before the baby shower Sunday. Got some dusting to do in the living room, and gotta clean up the carport a little. Then there's sweeping and mopping, but that's about it. Maybe I'll get in here in a little bit and put my gift together. We'll see, lol.

Mom and I talked a little earlier about her sister. She's getting worse, and it could come down to either her moving in here or mom moving in over there pretty soon. I'm not happy with either option, but what else can we do? If she moves in here, we'd have to set up a hospital bed in the dining room. Yes, the dining room. It's like I told mom, though, with her sister's COPD (she's in the final stages), our house isn't the best place for her to be. I mean, seriously, with all the smoking we do, plus the pet dander, the dust and literal amount of dirt that gets tracked in from the yard because we don't have grass, it just isn't safe for her. I don't want mom to have to move in there, either, but I have a feeling that that's what she's going to end up doing. I just know it. And I told her, too, now that Josh is working, we can hold down the fort (bills and all that) until she's able to come back. I've been over our budget a billion times in the last 2 days. We can handle it. We'd be fine.

I hate that it's possibly coming down to this, though.

But it's time for me to work on some laundry, I think.

I'm rather bored. I miss my honey.

It feels that way, anyway. And I'm coming down with another sinus infection. Yay. Can't breathe. Lots of pressure. Lots of snot. Yay.

I just got through giving Bouncer a bath, and I'm half-tempted to call that my work-out for the day. Whew! I'm beat, lol. Bathing a 90-pound lab isn't easy, but I've learned that if I coo at her and tell her what a good girl she is, she takes it a lot better. I even got some kisses out of it! I'd scrub her, then get sugared, lol. Too cute.

Josh starts work tomorrow at Jack's. I think I'm more excited than he is, lol. We may be out of a car soon, so we're going to keep living off my paychecks and save his up til we can buy a car outright (and save whatever we can out of mine, too).

For different reasons, his dad is letting us use one of his cars for the next month. This will take a bit of the load off, because if mom needs to go somewhere when I get off work, I won't have to hurry home, change clothes and run back out the door. I won't know what to do with myself!

Kim's baby shower is this weekend, and there is so much to be done! The house is a complete wreck right now, so I'm going to spend most of today cleaning after we go get the car. I've got to start putting her gift together, too. I decided against the diaper cake, because quite frankly, diapers are expensive. So instead, I'm doing a basket. It'll still be pretty, though, lol! I'm hoping I can get a lot of the cleaning done today and then just maintain it for the rest of the week, because I don't get off until 2 Saturday (I have one day a week I get off at 2, the other 4 days I get off at 11), and Saturdays kill me anyway, so I know I'm not going to be worth anything when I get off.

I guess that's about it. Time to go clean out the tub and get my shower. I hate smelling like wet dog, lol!

I just have to say, wow, I feel seriously accomplished today.  I'm starting to change my way of thinking a bit.

Work was pure torture today.  It was a long day and it just in general wasn't a good day.  Somehow, though, when I got home, I managed to change clothes and Josh and I walked twice what we normally do.  I think 2 times to the end of the street and back is going to be our norm now until we're not winded from it, then we'll move up to 3 times.  But what I'm proud of is I didn't make any excuses. I  got home, sat down a minute to catch my breath, then off we went.  It felt so good!  I really need to start stretching before we do that, though, lol.

It's friggin hot outside!  76 degrees!  A week ago today it was snowing.  WTF?  I hope the weather is going to stay consistently warm, though.  I'm ready to put away my winter clothes and get out my summer clothes!  I might start doing that tomorrow.  It's always so fun to change out wardrobes, because I always end up finding a couple of shirts or something that I forgot I even had.  We've seriously got to get in here and clean out our dresser, too.  It's getting to the point that we can barely open/shut the drawers.

Our friend, Jamie, came over yesterday afternoon and we had a lot of fun just bullshitting around.  He said he's going to have to take us out to a club or something one night, lol.  I've never been to a club or a bar.  Never really felt the need to go.  I don't drink.  I don't like big crowds, but still it sounds kinda fun to just do something different.

Anyway, I'm gonna go find something to do until time to go pick up mom.  I'm so sore, though, I don't want to get up, lol!

I'm feeling really good today. I slept in a little bit, but not too-too much, so I was up about 9:00. So far this morning, I've gotten my shower, cooked breakfast, cleaned up the house and have a load of laundry going. I'm feeling very accomplished.

It feels so nice outside! Right now, it's 69 degrees. The high today is 78! I hope this weather is here to stay because I am seriously sick of cold weather. It feels like it's been winter forever. Winter used to be my favorite season, but now I'm dying for warm weather and to be outside! (I used to hate being outside, too, lol!)

Ever since Josh and I went to the doctor on the 3rd, we've walked 2/10ths of a mile every day (to the end of the road and back to the house). The first day almost killed me, lol. It took me forever to catch my breath. But, every day we've done it, I've gotten a little better about controlling my breathing. I'm starting to look forward to our walks every day. Today, we decided that we're going to the walk twice, making it 2/5ths of a mile. I'm determined now more than ever to get this weight off of me. i didn't really try and I lost 6 pounds in 3 months. If I actually try, what will I have to show for it when we go back in June? I'm excited to find out. It feels so good to no longer be at my highest weight, even if I am only 8 pounds under it.

So, while he's getting up and ready to start the day, I'm going to work around the house a little bit. I love it when I'm off on Saturdays.

We're giving his sister a baby shower next Sunday, and I haven't bought the diapers for the present I'm making for her! I started out thinking I was going to do a diaper cake, but that would end up being really expensive, so mom came up with this idea for a sort of mini-diaper vase of "flowers". I'll take pictures if it ever gets done, lol. I think it'll be really pretty.

But that's it from me for now. Gotta go get to work! Who knows? Maybe I'll get a batch of soap done today, and maybe it'll work this time, lol!

So the snow the other day was almost completely melted by the end of the day. It was nice while it lasted, though! It finally quit snowing around noon. I did put up a couple of videos I took if you want to take a look: xxkissybabydollxx @ YouTube

We had a lot of fun. There's still some snow lurking in the shaddows here and there, but it's almost completely gone. It's 39 degrees right now, but Thursday it's supposed to go up to 70! Gotta love Alabama, seriously.

Anyway, Josh and I went to the doctor this morning for our 3-month check-up. He said we're both sounding good and that he's proud of me. I love 6 pounds since I saw him in December! Now, it could have been more because that was 3 months ago, but I'm still proud because I just knew I had gained some. I'm down to 290, so I've lost 8 pounds since I've started seeing him. It feels good to have that accountability, cuz I just knew that he was going to yell at me for something, lol. We don't have to go back to see him until June 9th.

He referred me to an optomitrist and an orthopedist at my request. I need glasses desperately, and I told him about the problems I've been having with my knee and my ankles (locking up, giving out, PAIN, etc) and he said that he'll refer me, but it's basically my weight bearing down on my joints. Here's how he described it: A woman's knees are already kind of bent inward a little because our hips are wider-set than mens. But with me being heavy, it's bending them in more and putting pressure on the outter part of my knee, causing the bones to grind together, basically. He said he's going to send me over to the orthopedist, but that he really encourages me to start walking again and to keep losing the weight to get the pressure off my joints and basically get me back to where I'm supposed to be.

I swear, I felt so pumped up when I left! Josh and I did our walking for the day (bout killed me, but I did it, stupid hill) and as soon as my drink's finished (we had breakfast at Jack's this morning, it's paid for, I'm drinking it, lol), I'm going to do my very best to go back to drinking nothing but water. I told Dr. Allen that I did do the water and walking thing before Christmas, and the first week I lost 6 pounds, so that's motivation enough, me thinks. I've got to do this, though. I've got to do it for me! I'm getting so tired of being in pain all day every day. I want to know what it feels like to go a day without hurting. When the XBox comes back from being fixed, I think Josh and I will play DDR a few nights a week. I know that'll help. Hey, maybe I can learn to move both feet at the same time! You should've seen me the last time I played it. I can't jump on the outside arrows at the same time, or the front and back ones. It was really funny, LOL!

I need to get on the ball with my soap-making. I've had a couple of failed batches lately, which has had me kinda down, but I might try another one here in a minute and see how it goes.

For now, off to do some cleaning.

IT IS SNOWING IN ALABAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're in the middle of a mini blizzard! It started snowing around 3am this morning. It's 10am now and it's still going strong! Winter Storm 2009! Woohoo! *dances happily*

( PICTURES!!!!!!!!! )

Later, I might try to put some videos up. I've taken tons! But right now, it is soooooooooooooooo time to climb back in to bed. It's 32 degrees! Brrrrr!

When I got off work today, I had to talk to Josh about something important that was really, really bothering me. I thought I had messed up. (Let's just say I was having problems with a debt collector.) Well, honestly, I was terrified to tell him about it and the decision I had made. I don't know why I was so nervous about telling him about it. We talked and the weight of the world was just lifted right off my shoulders. Oh, how I love that man!!!

In other news, we got our state tax return back today, finally. We went and paid to have his XBox 360 fixed, so it should be ready Monday. I'm so happy that we were able to get it fixed. He has 2 brand new games that he's wanted for a while and hasn't even been able to play yet. And now my nephews have their own 360 so he'll actually get to play, lol!

We went to Food World this afternoon and I found coconut oil for my soap making, A LOT cheaper than online, for the same amount! I didn't make any soap today, though. I have plans to do some when I get home tomorrow since I'm off Saturday.

Josh has been napping for a few hours, so I got bored and worked out our budget. Starting next month, we are going to start paying the phone bill and the water bill to help mom out more. That does make us a little tight, but still in the green. And, if we can both manage $10 a day on ChaCha, that's an extra $600 a month to go towards paying off our debts. I've been on ChaCha for a few hours and I'm almost to my $10 for today. Once I hit it, I'm gonna get my bath and hop in bed. This is the first day in a few days that I haven't taken a nap after work, and I'm pretty tired, lol. I'm trying to get out of the nap routine, though, because it is completely impossible for me to take a short nap and I feel like I'm missing too much (like time with my hunny!).

Anyhoo, tis about that time. Yall have a good night!

For about the past hour, I've been helping my nephew, Zac, with a project for school that's due tomorrow. We found out last minute, of course, (lol, I remember doing that to my mom) but it really makes me miss school.

If I had school to do over again, I'd take it a lot more seriously than I did. Towards the end of high school, I was there just to be there (and because mom would murder me if I wasn't there). I got my first F in 3rd grade, after making straight A's up until that point, and I just stopped caring.

I've been like that a lot throughout my life. If I failed at something, or didn't do every aspect of something perfectly, I just gave up on it. It's like an old boss of mine told me one night, "You had a rough start to the day and decided the entire day was going to suck, so it did. You gave up before it really began." That's basically how my thinking used to be. For about a year now, I've been working very hard on my "stinking thinking", as FlyLady says, and I've come a very, very long way.

I can't go back and change the past, but it's nice to think about how things would have been if I would have had a different, better attitude. I have a book called "101 Ways to Get Straight A's". I think I got it in like 4th grade or something like that, and I've had it ever since. I like to go back and read it. It does give some useful tips. I used to love reading it, but I never put any of it into practice.

Early on in my education, I got labled as a "goody goody" and I spent most of high school trying to (safely, mind you) get away from that title. I think that's part of why my grades suffered so much.

I don't really know where I'm going with this. Just reminiscing, I guess. I've learned a lot about time management, too, which has helped me tremendously. Who knows, maybe one day I'll go back to college and put everything I've learned into practice (and have my "101" book with me every step of the way!).

I guess that's enough rambling from me for tonight. I hope everyone has a good night!

I swear, I love making biscuits on Sundays. Getting off early is always a plus, lol! I got off around 9 this morning. Heck, I've been up since 2:30 this morning, and I'm not really tired. I think I'm on my second wind, lol.

But anyway, I made some more soap this afternoon. There's an update (and a pic!) about it over at smellgoodstuff.

On our way home from picking mom up at work tonight, we passed by the Bent-n-Dent, and they were actually open for once, so we stopped by. I got some soybean oil and olive oil for my soaps, so when I get home tomorrow, I'm going on a soap binge, LOL! We stopped at Dollar General, too, but they didn't have the castor oil I was looking for. *pout*

We went and ate at Waffle House, too. Josh's friend, Jamie, was working and I swear it was like dinner and show, lol. He's supposed to be coming over sometime tomorrow to hang out with Josh. I told Josh he needs to see if he's gotta any chick friends that I can hang out with, lol.

But anyway, it's getting around 9 so I guess I should get a shower and try to wind down so I can get some sleep. Yall have a good night!

I've been feeling really drained lately. I layed down for a nap about 3:30 yesterday afternoon and woke up at 2:30 this morning. I get off work early this morning so that batch of soap I was going to do yesterday will be done when I get home this morning instead.

The other day, we dropped the XBox 360 off at one of the game stores in Gardendale to see if they could figure out what's wrong with it. They called and told us it was the DVD drive, and they could go ahead and fix it and we could pick a day to pick it up. So, we'll have it back home on March 2nd. Yay! My poor baby has 2 new games he hasn't even gotten to play yet, so I'm really happy we're going to be able to get it fixed.

There still hasn't been any sign of ET. That cat ran away last Friday, and we haven't seen him since. I don't know what he was thinking. At first, we thought maybe he was up a tree somewhere because the last time he was gone overnight, he was up a tree and couldn't figure out how to get down. But this time, we haven't seen him or anything. We've even sent Wilma out to look for him (his sister) and she can't find him. I miss him a lot (he was my child!), but honestly, I'm not too worried about him because he makes you instantly fall in love with him, so I'm positive he's in someone's house somewhere cuddled up next to a fire. I am considering putting up some flyers around town, though, cuz quite frankly, I want my baby back.

Nothing else to report today. I've gotta go get a shower and start getting ready for work. I love Sundays because I get to be in the back by myself and make biscuits. Here lately, since I've been getting so many hours during the week (and we can't go over 40), on Sundays I can only work for like 4 1/2 hours at the most before I get too close to 40 to stay. It's a very welcome break.

I hope everyone has a good day!

I made my first batch of soap tonight. It was... interesting, lol. I made an LJ for it so I can keep all my crafty things separate from usual blogging (which I SWEAR I am going to start doing!).

Anyway, you can find the info on the soapy goodness over at smellgoodstuff. Add me to your friends lists!

I'm going to go look at it again, LOL!

My absolute favorite Winnie the Pooh character is Eeyore, but I think I identify most with Rabbit.

I had a great day at work today, and came home to a cozy, comfy couch, a nice warm blanket and my favorite TV shows. Life is good.

This also means that I napped the entire afternoon away, which is ok.

I think I'll work on cleaning up the kitchen a little bit.

Comfortable, hands down.  I'm in my pajamas most of the time while I'm at home.  If we're going out somewhere, though, I'd like to at least look like I have some kind of fashion sense, but I'd still want to be comfy.