European Plastic Bags

by Bebbi

Ultimate Dog Tease

by Bebbi

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The Secret to Courage

by Bebbi

In honor of the mighty Leo I am writing this blog.  Today is the start of the astrological calendar for Leo and I thought I would write about my experience with courage.  I should have written this at 4:00 a.m. when all this stuff comes to me, but I waited until I got to work (shhhhh!)…  Courage is….well, I am still learning every day what courage is, but here are my experiences so far….

I have struggled with courage at different points in my life. I have not had the courage to write down my thoughts and feelings because I was afraid that someone would take it and use it against me (which happened in my past).  I have learned that I can’t be afraid of what someone else will try to do to me, that I have to do what I need to do to make myself whole. What they do is THEIR problem, not mine. 

I have struggled with mental and physical games used by others to manipulate and control me. I have allowed this and haven’t spoken up because I don’t want to “rock the boat”.  I will have the courage to always stand up for myself and not allow them to pull me down by their hatefulness and their pains of unhappiness with themselves.  If I feel the attacks coming, I will remove myself from the situation after standing up and speaking out! No one knows that you are not going to take their crap if you don’t tell them you are not going to take their crap anymore.  And then, FOLLOW THROUGH..don’t be afraid to just do what your mind is telling you to do.  They will learn your strength if you follow through.  I will have the strength and do what I need to do to prepare for my future of being a fierce and courageous person!

I have the courage to live everyday for myself and for the people that have good intentions towards me and the rest can go to hell.  I have the courage to do this because I love myself and I alone allow others in. I, ALONE, allow others in my life.  I have the choice to have them in or not, and I can change my mind if I want! 

This has really helped me because since I have lost weight I am getting a lot more attention from men. I am not a “super hot mama” or anything but I have gotten more attention from men than I have in a long while. It makes me feel good to get compliments but in some ways it was easier for me to be heavy because I didn’t have the courage or wherewithal to hold back the advances (not that I got any, lol). Just because I am thinner doesn’t mean I want your attentions anymore than I did when I was heavier and it doesn’t mean that I am suddenly your “sex toy” either! No means NO!  Hey, I was a frigid ice princess before I lost weight, why would that change now? I don’t think there is a man in this world that could thaw me out!

I will have the courage and conviction to watch out for people who want to poison, manipulate and control my life.  I won’t be taken in by this anymore because I KNOW the secret.  I can’t share with you the secret because everyone has to learn it on their own and in their own way but here is a little hint (okay, maybe a big hint):

The Labrynth is a favorite movie of mine.  My son watched it when he was 3 years old so much that he had all the lines down. He was so cute when he would play he would say them.  My favorite quotes from that movie reminds me that I have the Leo in me and it is the heroine (Sarah) of the movie telling the Goblin King (Jareth) something. The first part of this is about Jareth’s feelings of what he’s done for Sarah and the second part is Sarah’s discovery of how to get the child (symbolizing anything you might need to obtain).

Sarah: Give me the child.
Jareth: Sarah, beware. I have been generous up 'til now. I can be cruel.
Sarah: Generous? What have you done that's generous?
Jareth: *Everything*! Everything that you wanted I have done. You asked that the child be taken. I took him. You cowered before me, I was frightening. I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for *you*! I am exhausted from living up to your expectations of me. Isn't that generous?

Sarah – “Give me the child “Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great...
[thunder rumbles]
Sarah: For my will is as strong as yours, my kingdom as great... Damn. I can never remember that line.
[Sarah looks up the line from the Labyrinth book]
Sarah: You have no power over me.”

The key to that is the last one….YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME.  That is a part of the secret but the rest you will have to figure out on your own and believe me, it’s NOT an easy road to travel!

I know that with the ebbs and flows of life I will misplace my courage, but the lesson here for me is that I can live through anything and be happy and at peace. Also, I have the courage to dream, while I am awake or sleeping..I have the courage to dream!

Now, all I need is the secret to finding my car keys in the morning when I am heading out to work…..and I am still working on that! 

I know that I am the sappiest owl ever, but I want to thank all of you for giving me courage too. Your words and kindnesses as I have struggled with issues in my life have helped me more than you can ever know! I love you guys! Also, this blog is dedicated to one mighty Leo and he knows who he is!

Tell me about your experiences with courage. Do you feel you have courage? Do you feel that there are areas where you need to gain more courage?  Tell me about times where you found courage in yourself that you didn’t realize was there…

Tomato Cages

by Bebbi

I love to garden. In my years of gardening I have learned something important. When growing tomatoes, the tomato cage is very important.  It helps to grow a better crop of tomatoes and they produce bigger better tomatoes! 

Last year my mom bought 3 tomatoes. I planted mine in the back with a good sturdy tomato cage. My mom planted hers in her garden with a good sturdy tomato cage and my sister got the biggest plant and she had it on her front step. With mine, hubby and I watched the tomato plant and adjusted the tomato cage as needed. If it fell over or seemed to get unsturdy, we reinforced it and adjusted the limbs of the plant until it was balanced again.  With my mom, she put the tomatoes in and left them, she did not readjust them and did not tend to them as much as two people do.  With my sister, she left her plant on the front step and didn’t water it.  It soon died.

My mom’s tomatoes were good but not huge and also she did not have very many. With Mr. B’s and I’s the tomatoes were huge and the crop lasted long into the fall. It was so wonderful to have those tomatoes..they were big, full and delicious. We were very proud of them.

I went to Walmart today and bought 3 tomato cages. We have 4 plants this year but we have a tomato cage left from last year. I am probably going to replace it because it is a little used up. As I was driving down Shelbyville road I realized the correlation between being a parent and being a good tomato cage.

A good tomato cage will be made of strong material. It will be flexible but sturdy. It will need to be adjusted as the weather blows it around and it will have to be tended to.  All these things are like being a good parent and your children being the tomato plant. To be a good parent, you should be made of a good strong material, be flexible but sturdy and adjust to the winds of change.

Also, in this, that is why it takes two people, because it is a lot of work to keep adjusting and monitoring the success of your tomato plants. It’s just wiser to have two people to do it.  It’s not always possible but the two people that do it don’t have to be “husband and wife” they just have to have a commitment to the tomato plant!

I would like to hear your opinions on my analogy.  Do you agree or disagree?  What are some times that you felt like you’ve been a good “tomato cage”.  Do you adjust to the winds of change?  Are you extra "sturdy” Are you flexible, but strong?  Who has benefited from your support?

~ Handmade with Love ~

 by Bebbi

Things that my daughter made mean a lot to me.  She has always made cute handmade mementos.  In the picture above are three of them.  The middle one is the latest thing she made.  She made it for Mother's Day and it says, "Mothers hold their child's hands for a short while but their hearts forever."  She did this one with her "Little" in Big Brothers/Big Sisters.  Her "Little" made one for her Mom, too.

The one on the right is one she made for me when she was probably ten or eleven.  I still use it!  It is well worn but the "Mommy" has held up well over the years.  It also has stars and hearts around it too.  :D

The one on the left is one she made to commemorate her first trip as an adult.  She and her girlfriend drove to Cocoa Beach and they each made one to remember their trip.  The souvenir reminds me of the anxiety I had worrying about her during that trip...haha.

I have quilts from when I was a baby and I have crocheted blankets my grandmother made for me and for my kids.  I have lots of clothes my mom made.  I have a cross stitched bird I made for my grandmother.  I got it back after she died and it hangs in my kitchen.

My Mom makes Memory Bears.  She takes an item of clothing from the person that has passed and makes it into a bear.  This can be treasured for years by the loved one.  She has even made one in flannel to represent my grandfather.  She puts a picture of the loved one on the front in a handmade frame.  The saddest one she did was of a baby boy.  The Mom had her made a bear out of his baby blanket.

Do you have handmade things that you have had for years?  If so, who made them and what makes them important to you?  Are there any handmade things that you like to make and give to people?  What is your one most treasured homemade item...whether you made it or you got it?  I can't wait to hear your stories. :D

Crackers And Diet Coke

by Bebbi

So, it's a Saturday night and Mr. B doesn't want to go out.  I have had a busy day, but I am BORED!  I mentioned this on FB and Ms. Tina suggested I write a blog.  Okay, good suggestion, and I have been meaning to write about this anyway.  My topic: Diet Coke and Crackers!

I personally could live on these two items alone.  Of course, since I have lost weight and made healthy choices, a lot of people ask me why I don't give up the diet sodas.  Well, I really like them!  Also, I don't drink coffee so I always have a diet coke in the morning to get my caffeine fix.  Really, do I have to give up everything!!?!!...

As far as crackers, I just love saltines.  I buy the "hint of salt" Premium Carckers or the unsalted tops Kroger brand.  I like the Hint of Salt a lot better, but only a couple of stores carry them so when I go to a store that doesn't, I have to buy the lowest sodium ones possible.  My mom has high blood pressure and I never want to have it, so hence the low salt diet.

I don't know why I love these two foods, but they are important in my life.  I NEED them.  They are my comfort foods and they taste so good together!!  What comfort foods are a must in your life?  Is there any food combinations that are really a must for you?  Do you have any foods you feel for sure that you could live off of if you had to?

So, if I ever had an emergency like Carol, I wouldn't want chocolate.  I would want a diet coke and a sleeve of crackers!  Haha....

Thanks Tina for suggesting I do something really productive with my Saturday night. :D

Embrace Your Wrinkles?

Chosen by Bebbi

I saw this on Rosie’s Radio Recap Blog updater..it is so perfect.  I LOVE It.  I am embracing myself..from now on out! Hahaha…perfect. Of course for  me, but not anyone else on the nest.

Are there really ever any “Missed Connections”?

by Bebbi

Connections change our world. With Facebook I am able to be in contact with people that were at one time just a fond memory. It is so nice to connect with people that have helped build who I am or I have help build part of their history. Also “Missed Connections”, like on Craig’s list or other sites make it easy to reconnect again today than it ever was before. Is there such a thing as two ships passing in the night anymore?

There is a commercial on television right now that shows a president being inaugurated and it flashes back in time to a man on a train platform and he sees a girl and changes his ticket on his quick wonderful phone to get a seat beside her. That caused me to reflect about how one connection leads to another which can ultimately be the person you spend your life with.

This mental journey leads me to one of my favorite poems:

Reason, Season, or Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
— Unknown

My favorite line besides the “Reason, Season & Life” is this: “friendship is clairvoyant”. Clairvoyance is defined as the power or faculty of discerning objects not present to the senses and ability to perceive matters beyond the range of ordinary perception. What makes me realize that someone is important? What makes us want to make it a “Lifetime” rather than a reason or a season? Is it something within us or is it something more? Are some people more predisposed to want one of the three – Reason, Season or Life? Do we need all three?

When writing this blog, I thought to myself there are really three blogs here…one about making connections, one about keeping connections and one about missed connections.. I would love to hear y our stories of your connections… Have you missed any and then found them? Have you had people come back into your life again and been very happy for it? Do you think that it should be “it is what it is”.. and people should move on? I always have hope for more, not sure why, but I do. Do you mind being two ships passing in the night?

Center for Women & Families Pegasus Parade 2010!

by Bebbi

As many of you know, I walked the Pegasus Parade for the Center for Women & Families on Thursday before coming to Chicago to meet all of you.  The Pegasus Parade is the official parade of the Kentucky Derby Festival. The Kentucky Derby Festival is the two weeks of activities that precede the Kentucky Derby on the First Saturday in May.  The Center decided this year to participate for the first time and I was fortunate enough to be able to volunteer!

The Center for Women and Families is Louisville’s shelter for anyone who may need an escape or safe haven from a domestic situation. Also, they help any victims of sexual violence.  They do so much good for the community.  I work as a hospital advocacy volunteer. I go to the hospital when someone needs to have a representative from the center to coordinate assistance and be a general support to the victim.

It was a really long day in the hot sun. I arrived at the Center at 1:00 and we didn’t hit the parade route until after 6 p.m.!  We were through by 7:30 or so. While we were waiting for our spot in the parade I was able to pet the dogs from the Humane Society and talk to a lot of people.

We had to do a short routine and I will admit I was not very good at it. We all had trouble though when we got in front of the cameras. The music started unexpectedly and we were all over the place..but not a single person cared. We all laughed about it on the way back to the Center.

While we were walking that parade almost all of us had a touching moment. – by either  a child pointing to us and telling their Mom..”look there’s the Center!”,   Or women holding up a fist and saying thank you, or whole sections of the crowd bursting out in a small roar when we went by.  This really made you realize how many lives the Center has touched. It was to say the least, inspiring!

The group consisted of a group of cheerleaders, volunteers and Center employees. Many of the Center employees said they saw people that had been through the Center. After the parade, the Center Director said thank you and we basked in the true happiness we felt.  I am so glad I did it and would do it again in a minute!

Have you or any of your family ever walked in a parade?

The Strange Flight Home

by Bebbi

I got to the airport really early. I had a nice salad for lunch and the plane arrived twenty five minutes early so they did pre-boarding early too. When I got on I sat down in the front row on the left. I wanted to be able to get out fast when I got home because Mr. B was coming to pick me up and I didn’t want to make him wait too long.

When I sat down there was an older man at the window and a younger man in the aisle seat. I know that people are always disappointed when someone takes their “extra” middle seat so I felt a little guilty. I didn’t realize the seats in the front row had no under storage so I had my bags under my legs. The flight attendant had me put them up in the overheard which was fine. I was really glad that we were going to get off on time and then the last minute this girl comes on….

The first thing I hear is, “I need a bloody mary”, and around the corner she appears, this girl who was young and very pretty but definitely disheveled. She was small and cute and had what looked like mascara running down her face. She smelled of alcohol and went to the back of the plane. Everyone in the front really took notice and eyebrows went up and there were a few comments about how she really needed her bloody mary. We laughed because we all thought she was a drunk flier. So the flight attendant is preparing us to depart and guess who holds up the show??...yep, you guessed it..

“Bloody Mary Girl” was in the restroom and the flight attendant had to get on the speaker and tell her to find her seat. It was one of those situations when you just shake your head and really wonder about people. So, the younger man beside me was really nice and we started talking. We joked about bloody mary girl and he was very kind and flirting with me. He told me I looked 35 and that really made me laugh. But we had a good laugh over Bloody Mary Woman.., he would look back and see what was going on. So, after our delay we got up in the air fine and we went through the 58 minute flight, it went by fast with Mr. Flirty Thirty Something. He was so cute! Right after we landed I grabbed my bags quickly. I hurried downstairs and put my purse and carry on in my car I told Mr. B I had to go in and get my luggage. I went back in and the turnstile that had our flight on wasn’t working any longer. After a few minutes they said over the speakers that another turnstile was the only one working and had us go one over to it. I walked to the far end away from the cute thirty something flirty guy…and was standing at the other end. Well, I noticed someone crouching on the floor. Sure enough, it was “Bloody Mary Girl”. She was on the floor and almost in tears with pain! The “mascara” was actually a black EYE and her arm was hurting and she couldn’t get her large checked bag off the turnstile. I told her not to worry and I would grab it. Her bag was a large taped up broken bag. She told me her boyfriend had beaten her up and her mom was picking her up to take her to the emergency room.

I got the bag off the turnstile and then realized that I couldn’t carry her bag and pull my own. So, I looked across the turnstile and 30 something’s eyes and mine met and I motioned to ask him to come over. He didn’t hesitate and came right over. I told him the situation and asked him to help carry out her bag. He was so funny and kind. He carried the bag outside for her and I stood with her until her mom came. I really could have given him a big hug and kiss for jumping in and helping like that. When we were walking over to go outside he was asking the girl what happened and she said it was a “long story”..well, while we were on the flight he was asking me things and I told him they were a long story too. While we were walking he said, ‘Well, I guess I am never going to get to hear the long story!” He sounded so downhearted and It made me laugh and realize that a lot of women (and men too) have, “Long stories”. I waited with her while her Mom drove down to us. “Blood Mary Girl” gave me a hug and thanked me several times and so did her mom as I put her big bag in the back of their truck for her. So, from this I really learned that I shouldn’t judge people so quickly. I had no idea that this poor girl was beat up and not just a drunk woman on a flight. I did give her information about the Women’s Center and felt like a real bad person for judging her when these are the people that I volunteer to help!

Have you ever judged something too hastily and then realized your mistake later? I thought this was also a good thing to ask because of all of us meeting too. We all think about how we “think” someone is and then when you meet, it may be different. Or, you meet someone and after getting to know them realize that there is so much more. I am excited to hear your comments on this one.

The Exercise You Really Need~!

by Bebbi

I am MAD…! Why? Because of the lies that are being told to people about how much exercise you really need. The recommendation is 30 minutes, three times a week and a healthy diet. Well, I am here to tell you from GREAT experience that is a bunch of Malarkey!

There was a study done on this recently and I read it on Yahoo. I didn’t have to read it though, because I have been living it. I have been stuck at the same weight for over 6 months~! AND, I exercise an hour MINIMUM EVERY DAY (no days off, mind you). Also, I eat healthy…lots of fruit and veggies (okay, I do “mess up” occasionally but you would think all the exercise would compensate!). Besides elliptical, I do strength training, yoga, and Zumba. I am impressed with how much I am doing but not impressed with the results on the scale

I could go on and on about this all day. Did you know that an hour of elliptical is 600 calories and 3….yes THREE cookies can be 600 calories. So, I may “bitch and moan” but I know that my issue is a math issue, more intake than out-take in my caloric values.



The article is called, “Why Overweight Women Struggle to Slim Down” by LiveScience. Here is a little snippet, but it is worth going to read the whole article. “The study involved more than 34,000 women in the United States, and looked at how much weight they gained over a 13-year period, from 1992 to 2007.

The women were divided into three groups: those who engaged in less than 150 minutes of moderate-level physical activity per week; those who performed 150 to 420 minutes of this type of activity per week; and those who did more than 420 minutes per week, which comes out to one hour a day. Moderate-level activities included things like brisk walking, gardening and leisurely bicycling.

On average, the women gained about 6 pounds (2.6 kilograms) during the study period. Those in the two lesser activity groups (less than 150 minutes or between 150 and 420 minutes) gained significantly more weight than those who exercised more than 420 minutes a week. “

Click here to read it

So there you have it. That is the source of my anger, we are being lied to about what level of exercise will actually help us fight the battle of the bulge. How much do you exercise each week? What do you do? Did you think you could exercise 30 minutes, 3 times a week and lose weight?

Do you know how I release my anger about this? I go and EXERCISE! J

An Ode to Maxine~!

by Bebbi

I love Maxine. All her comics really tickle my funny bone. I got a bunch of new ones from my Dad in my email today and thought that would be a perfect blog!

I think DeeDee is like Maxine. Funny, up in age and very wise! There are a few others that are like Maxine too. In my mind, Bonachichi is like a younger Maxine (Maxine in Training!). I am a Maxine-wannabe!

What comics are your favorites? Why haven’t you done a blog about them yet? I would love to hear about them!

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Being a Kind Poo Goddess

My idea of what the "Good" Poo Goddess would be
~ Kindness, Love, Patience, and a Empathic soul~
(in other words: Jennifer)

by Bebbi

I really liked Jennifer’s story about being the Poo Goddess. You can tell she is a “good” Goddess because in her story she deals with the children in a way that will be good for their soul. There are some Poo Goddess’s that are not so kind and careful.

This may be a miss-perception and I am hoping Jennifer (or anyone who has been a teacher) can enlighten me. I just have had experiences as a parent and would truly like to hear the teacher’s point of view.

When my daughter was in 4th grade she came home very upset. It turned out the little boy next to her had an “accident”. She was so upset because the teacher would not let him “go” and he had that accident. We still talk about this incident to this day.

Well, another friend of mine recently posted on FB how angry she was at her children’s school and the local school system. I got to talking with her about it and here is the story. Her daughter asked to go to the restroom at recess and the teacher denied the request. Because of this action, her daughter had an accident and had to change clothes. They put her in a skirt. My friend did not know this happened until her daughter came home in different clothes. No call, nothing. Also, another friend of hers who’s daughter is in the class got in the car after school and immediately told her mom that “Sally” had to go and the teacher told her she couldn’t and “Sally” pooped herself. OH, and btw, this girl was 6 years old.

Come to find out, this happened with this teacher in the past. My friend got her kids changed to a different school, not just for this reason but this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I found out when my daughter saw this happen to the little boy who sat beside that her teacher had a history of this too. Why are their teachers that do this to children? Don’t they realize the long term ramifications this can have on a child? It is such a sensitive subject, our bodily functions, and yet why do teachers forget they are dealing with young children who can be scarred emotionally?

Am I over-reacting? Does anyone else ever feel this way? What are your opinions/stories?

Hearts Don’t Break Even & the Shards Can Cut Those Around Us

by Bebbi

A couple of weeks ago my son broke it off with his girlfriend of 4 ½ years. This has been especially hard on me. Her parents are both dead and she came over every weekend and stayed with us. I have grown quite attached!

When my hubby texted me that it happened, it was quite a surprise. We had just gone out on Saturday for my son’s birthday and everything seemed fine.

To me, their relationship never seemed “hard”. It was a good match, they got along well and really care about each other. A lot of their friends said they were their “favorite couple”. I always felt a lot of pride in them because there relationship was so good.

I can understand my son’s life is his life. I can get through this, it just makes me really sad when something that seems so right has to be broken apart. I do think my son makes very good decisions and he understands the importance of being 100% sure of things in his life. This young man has an exceptional mind and heart. I am very proud of him.

Also, she is quite awesome. She works hard in school and has to deal with so much in her life. She has a good attitude and will always do well. I want her to know that I love her and miss her. She will always have a place in my heart.

The first week after it happened I would randomly start crying. I would check their Facebooks to see how they were holding up. I wanted to reach out to both of them but didn’t feel like it was my place. I did put some quotes up on my wall, hoping they would look but they probably didn’t..LOL. She was coming over this past weekend to get her stuff but I missed her because we were still coming back from Florida.

Have any of you had to deal with growing attached to someone and then losing them because of this type of situation? How did you handle it? Do you still have relationships with any of your children’s previous girlfriends or boyfriends?




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Meanings in a Song

by Bebbi

I love this song so much! I have Regina Spektor’s cd and for some reason this song just really is uplifting. I play it on my short ride to work every morning. The second part when she sings, “Outside the cars are beeping….” Really touches my soul. What do you think it means? I would love to know everyone opinions. She has a lot of cool songs and the meanings to them intrigue me.

Thanks and I hope you enjoy this.




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Life of their own.....

by Bebbi

I remember the initial disappointment in not being able to play Little League like my brother. The hardest thing for me was that I felt like I was better than him when we played in the neighborhood. I don’t want to see women let down by society and not be able to fulfill all of their aspirations because of society’s need to keep males and females in boxes. This little story wasn’t about my breasts, but it got me to thinking about how my body, in particular my chest region, has shaped my life.

I got to wanting to write this blog because I was at work and started thinking about how my big boobs have held me back all my life. I liked to run and play sports but when I got my boobs they bounced so much that it embarrassed me and I quit running. I get treated differently because of my boobs and I have found myself “dumbing” down to keep with people’s image of me. I see where people try to fit into the boxes that others create for them. It is time to step outside the box.

One of my first experiences with boys was in the library in sixth grade. Some other boys dared one boy to come up and grab my boob. I was so embarrassed and appalled. I went to a teacher and it went to the principal and the boy had to go for counseling. His name was Jeff and he lived right across the street from me. From that time forward, my boobs held me back and I had no idea of the power they held until I was in my 30’s and 40’s! There was never any holding my boobies in, they have a life of their own!

When I was young and they were perky, men could only see my boobies. I spent most of my adolescent years and twenties with men and boys looking at them instead of my eyes. About 8 years ago I was at the bookstore working and a girl came in with very attractive breasts. I realized that if I had only realized how attractive they were I could have so used that to my advantage instead of to my disadvantage. So many young women these days realize the asset that their large breasts can be. But they come at a price too. I wonder if the people who have breast implants have noticed the price they pay for getting them? Maybe it is a figment of my imagination or my excuse to take the easier path?

Overall, I love my body. I especially am happy to have been losing this weight (as most of you are aware). I have never been comfortable in my femininity and it is ironic that now that I am older and getting hairs in unwanted places and sagging all over the place, I am finally comfortable in my womanhood! Boobies Rock!

In the future, and for all the young females I meet. I am going to make sure they do not get held back by being a woman. I will do whatever I need to do to help them understand that they can run, play ball, and be who they want to be regardless of their body and society’s constraints.

A song for you

Chosen by Bebbi

I heard this song today (Monday, 1/26/09) when I was coming back from lunch and going into work. I had to stop and listen to the whole thing before I could go in. This song expresses my feelings for the people in the nest and the nest itself. I thank God every day for it. I feel really lucky to be a part of such a great group of women. I know, I am sappy, but hey..this is how I feel. We all build each other up so much. It is just NICE..the nicest thing I have experienced in a long time.

It is Plain White Tees 1 2 3 4

Thanks for sharing it with me :O)

Shopping Trips to Costco!

by Bebbi

Well, I went and did it. I got a membership to Costco even though Sam’s is right around the corner from my house and my mom works there. I have to say, I have had the membership less than a month and I have had so much fun cheating on SAM!

My place of employment had a special offer for employees; if you join at Costco you get a booklet full of coupons to make it worth your while. I haven’t got the coupons yet, they will come in 2-4 weeks. They did give me a $10 gift card for joining too. That was so nice of them!

Someone wrote a blog a few days ago about “unexpected pleasures” or things that turned out to be less than what was anticipated, well, Costco has brought me a lot of joy and has been even more fun that I ever imagined!

First off, I went with Mr. Bebbi and we looked all around. I got so many steps in, and I enjoyed seeing the different items and trying the Costco samples. We stayed for several hours. At their snack bar, they have Churros instead of Pretzels and they still have Polish Sausage which Sam’s quit carrying a while back. I like the Churros a lot and Mr. Bebbi likes to get a Polish now and again. The drink cups are smaller but that is fine, free refills both places! Mr. Bebbi loves to tease me about the snack bar. I always enjoy getting a soda and a snack while I shop!

After my awesome trip with Mr. Bebbi, my daughter and her boyfriend hadn’t been so we went to look around! We walked and walked all the aisles, comparing prices again. I bought a couple of things I saw the first time that I was still pondering. We figured out that the size made a differences when we compared to Sam’s so we would have to keep that in mind when comparison shopping. My daughter commented on how surreal it was to be in a place that looked so much like Sam’s and yet was different. They didn’t have as many half prices deals after Christmas like Sam’s did. I guess they didn’t over buy some items.

Okay, so the next trip was with my Mother! I stayed overnight with her and we decided that we would go and look around at Costco the next day. She and I walked the whole store again. She really enjoyed it because no one that she worked with was there and she bought a few things. We split a piece of pizza. It was really fun.

Okay, so the next time I went was last night [Sat. January 2, 2009], I took my daughter’s boyfriend’s grandmother! Okay, I know that is a stretch, but I enjoy so much going and walking around and looking at everything!! We walked all around, looking at all the stuff again. I bought some more items that I was pondering. I called my mom at Sam’s and we compared the prices of peanut butter. The peanut butter at Sam’s was two 40 oz for $7.07 and the peanut butter at Costco was two 48 oz for $8.48. That makes it exactly the same price per ounce regardless of which you purchase ($0.09). Silly huh? Well, I guess I win the prize on the blog for most price comparison shopping! Also, did you know that the Joint Juice was $0.17 cheaper at Sam’s than Costco’s for the exact same item! Too fun, huh!!

The next planned trip is with my son and his girlfriend. She is a Costco virgin and my membership is going to get her in! I can’t wait!

What places do you enjoy to go and shop/look around? What big unexpected pleasures did you get out of something that you didn’t expect? Do you comparison shop? Okay, enough questions, I hope you enjoyed my shopping experiences at Costco!! Woo hoo hoo!

Wishing Wells

by Bebbi

Ever since I was a young child, I have always loved wishing wells. It used to be that every chance I got to throw a penny in a fountain or well and make a wish, I would. For me, wishing wells hold the hopes and dreams of my youth. Also, I loved shooting stars, picking up pennies, and any other way that you can make a wish. I do still, to this day, pick up pennies and say, “See a penny, pick it up and all the day you’ll have good luck.”

I guess that is the Disney child in me, the whimsical, wistful, naïve child who dreams of rainbows, lollipops, tooth fairies, Santa Claus, and all things magical. I think my first memory of far away lands was probably the Wizard of Oz. Also, I loved H.R. Puff ‘N stuff, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Chronicles of Narnia and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. To me, wishing wells are one of those truly mystical things. It is the Happy Magic, the good and the sweet kind that isn’t scary or ugly.

When I was at my dad’s house this past weekend, I was walking (yeah, I know, you hear about *that* enough) and came across this awesome wishing well. I have seen it before, but now I have an outlet for the thoughts and stories that turn around and around in my head! I decided I would take some pictures of it and write a little piece.

In August, when Shiann and I went to my dad’s house, I walked by that well. As I passed it, I thought that maybe, just maybe, it was a real wishing well. Just by itself, in the middle of this property, quietly waiting for someone to come along and grant any wish that one would want to make. The odd thing is, I haven’t made a wish in it yet. Actually, I hadn’t gotten really close to it until this last visit. I don’t want the disappointment that comes with finding that awesome magic that I have in my imagination isn’t real. I would rather just dream. Sometimes, fantasies are way better than the realities. I love that little sparkle of hope and innocence in me, but I will keep my fantasy and I will not go to that well and make a wish. Does that sound cynical? Maybe I should make that wish? Would you throw a penny in and make a wish?

I think the wishing wells of today are those chain emails that come around. Forward this to 10 of your closest friends and your wish will come true. Forward this, and in exactly 11 minutes and 11 seconds you will get a phone call that will change your life. Hmmmmm, I don’t usually send them. I will send them if it is a pretty picture though. Those do not fulfill my need for my wishes to come true, they just make me feel a lot of pressure that if I don’t send them, something bad is going to happen.

Frank Kafka said, “Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” I see beauty in this old wishing well and with that, I can touch and live those hopeful moments of my innocence again. Maybe I will go and pitch a penny in it the next time I visit my dad.

Fabulous Fads!

by Bebbi

I just came back from walking. I took my MP3 player and was listening to songs. I came across this song and it made me start thinking about all the wonderful fads there have been.

I have personally lived to see Pop Rocks, Pet Rocks, Gum wrapper chains Clackers, Big Wheels, YoYos, Peace Sign, Disco Dancing, Rubik’s Cube, Hamster Dance, That Dancing Baby, Macarena, Mood rings, Roos and Jelly shoes are a few that come to mind for me. My kids would say Barney, Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a whole host of other fabs.

I picked this video because I don’t think there is a much happier thing that this song. It really gets you to smile, no matter who you are. I think that is what fads do for me. They make me smile and think back fondly of a period of time. Just like music can bring back memories, fads can too!

Gum wrapper chains were an important fad in my life. It helped me to make a way through my parents divorcing when I was 10. I worked on that thing nonstop! I wanted it to go around the house and believe me, it did. I had a piece of it up until a few years ago. It really helped me through a hard time to focus on such a mindless task. I am grateful for that gum wrapper chain. As I was chaining it up, my world was falling apart. It held me together, to go and work on it for hours and not think of all the chaos in my life.

Another important and great fad in my life was disco dancing! My brother and I would go to the teen clubs and do a disco routine. We had a lot of fun together doing that. We would practice and practice on it. My brother is very outgoing and he always made friends wherever we would go.

One fad that made me sad was Roos. I always wanted a pair of the “real” Roos but we could not afford them. So I substituted and got Kmart brand Roos. It just wasn’t the same. To this day, I have a bookmark for Roos at Zappos. I am going to buy myself a pair of the real ones someday.

So Enjoy the Hamster Dance and tell me all about which fads mean a lot to you?