Water Aerobics Anyone?

I'm a fatty. It's not from lack of knowledge, that's for sure. I've been known to eat cookies while I read books on dieting or have a piece of pie while I watch a workout show. The truth is I am more comfortable fat... psychologically. Someday I hope to break those chains for good.

The motivating factor for me getting my badonkadonk moving is that Mr. Macchiato has been hiking and I can't go on the hikes he does. I can walk forever on a flat surface but we are in the foothills of the Rockies. There just isn't much flat to be had around here. It is near impossible to find hikes that don't have significant elevation changes and those elevation changes make me feel like I'm going to have an aneurysm right there on the trail.

I was in a jet ski accident in 1993 in which I fractured my L3 vertebrae. Part of the bone actually broke off to the outside of the spinal column and then later reattached on the side. I hope and pray that does not come back to haunt me when I am older. It was about a year and a half after the accident that I was introduced to water aerobics. I loved it! It was a way for me to exercise without much risk of injuring myself.

Throughout my married years I have been a yo yo weight wise. Nearly every Monday I say I'm starting another diet. I really don't get why I love Mondays so much when they end up in failure most of the time. I guess I have a more optimistic bent seeing as I am very much a morning person as well.

Soooo... this morning I dug out my swimsuit. I really avoid looking at myself in the mirror but I took a good long look this morning. The swimsuit that fits is a tanktini, you know, separate bottom and top but the top covers your whole belly. It also has a little flippy skirt thingy. The ensemble definitely looked better with that on! I had not remembered the top being so low cut, although when I noticed that I remembered that Mr. Macchiato was pretty fond of it. I tied the little key hole thing in front tighter as well as the halter straps. That gave me cleavage up to my neck and I felt like I might be decapitated so I had to loosen it up. I took it off the little skirt and threw it into my gym bag and then put my sweats and t-shirt on over my swimsuit.

When I got to the gym the class was about to start and I didn't have much time. I threw my stuff into a locker and put on the skirt, grabbed my towel and made my way out to the pool. Thank the good Lord there were just ladies in the class. I won't tell you about the old men that would walk by the windows over looking the pool while we were in it. I quickly got in the water and realized I was going to have to take the skirt off because it floated up around my arm pits. The class started while I was still monkeying around with that and I didn't know I was supposed to get water weights out of a bin so I had to get back out to do that. I felt like a great white whale.

The class was hard. It was one of their boot camp classes. At one point we were supposed to heave ourselves up out of the water and do these push ups on the side of the pool with half our body in the water. I might could have done that if I was in the shallow end and could jump up but I could not do it in the deep end. I had to be the youngest person in that class by at least 15 years! I think a few of them may have even been 30 years older or more... and they were doing those push ups! Talk about humiliation!

And my top. Good Lord. Not only was I falling out the front, the belly part would not stay down and I may as well have been in a bikini. Uhhhh.... not something you want to see. I wouldn't have worried about it too much because we were in the water but I saw a couple ladies looking at my belly. I even tried to tuck the top into my bottoms but it wouldn't stay. I am definitely getting a new swimsuit.

Just so you know, I'm not fond of being in a room with naked women. It's just not my cup of tea. I mean... where do you look? Do you talk to people when they are naked? I don't want anyone talking to me when I'm naked! This is probably due to the fact that I did not have a sister growing up and my mother is very modest. I went to the shower area, where there are curtains, removed my swimsuit, rinsed off and then tried to get myself as dry as possible while still behind the curtain. As I made my way back to where my locker was I saw many naked ladies and started to panic. I had not noticed when I first picked my locker earlier that there was a little alcove in that particular section that afforded some privacy. Thank. You. Jesus.

I looked around at the people working out as I made my way through the gym to leave. Which brings me to my next installment of Weirdos at the Gym.

Well, it was a couple of them actually. Old ladies lifting weights. Old ladies with amazing bodies. Old ladies with amazing bodies that were waaaaay tooooo tan. The kind of tan you get by baking in a tanning bed. Seriously, they had these amazing bodies... and pretty nice hair... and dried out leathery faces. Carved apples dried in the sun faces. I tried not to stare. I really did.

Ahhhhhh... Monday Once Again.

I've got a busy day! You know... my life really has not been conducive to blogging lately. And it is summer! What is up with that? Well, and there's the ongoing computer difficulties. I've started to suspect that Mr. Macchiato has set up some dastardly system in an effort to keep me off the computer! He has problems with it too, but not to the extent that I do.

I've worked out the last three days. It's been interesting. I would like to start a new segment on this blog called, Weirdos at the Gym.

#1. There was a woman talking on her cell phone in the locker room. She was obviously making it sound like she was at her office and was on some sort of conference call. She was on the toilet.

#2. There is a movie room with a huge screen and a bunch of machines. It is nice because it is dark and the temperature is cooler than the rest of the gym. I won't mention the fact that they played the same Harry Potter movie over and over the last three days. Anyway, there was this woman that got on an elliptical machine and only made it 15 minutes. At first she was all gun ho and chugging along at a good pace... then she started going slower and slower. She got off that machine and went up front to one of the bicycles. She obviously couldn't figure anything out on it because it was too dark. Once she did get going on it she kept it on manual and on the easiest level. When she went to drink from her water bottle the cap went flying. She tried really hard to find the cap and even crawled around on the floor feeling under machines. She then left with her cap less water bottle and keys.

Okay, okay... so weirdo #2 was me. Today I will be attempting a water aerobics class. I have not put a bathing suit on in two years and am praying that the class is full of old people.

P.S. Have any of y'all experienced the blogger spell check highlighting words that are spelled correctly? What is up with that?

Oh My Goodness...

My children are, among other things, an endless source of amusement. Double Shot had a friend spend the night last night who went to church with us this morning. On the way out afterwards I dropped my bible on the ground.

Double Shot: Smooth move ex-lax.

Friend: What is ex-lax?

Double Shot: I don't know. It has something to do with gas.

hApPy bIrThDaY Double Shot!!!

In a big hurry this morning! I've got to take Double Shot to summer school. Bummer he has to go on his birthday. Me thinks he will be doing ALL his homework this fall!

Double Shot has requested a family membership to the gym for his present. Most definitely will be a great source of blog fodder for me!

sMaSh-O-gRaM

Yup. Had one yesterday.

Any men that read this that get squeamish about girlie stuff... you might want to move along to another blog.

Mr. Macchiato forced me to go. He'd been nagging me about it for a looooong time. A couple weeks ago he called me and said be there on this day at this time. Period.

When I was 28 a mass was discovered in my left breast during a routine exam at the doctor that I was completely unaware of. We had an HMO at the time and everything had to be pre-approved. They put in for an ultra sound, which took days to approve and then I had to go back to the doctor to get the results... then they had to put in for a mammogram, which again took days to approve with a doctor visit a day or two afterward. Then there was the attempt to do a needle biopsy... meeting with a surgeon... phone calls every day... waiting for results... waiting for appointments. It was five weeks from that first appointment to the day of my surgery and the mass was benign. Our children were 6, 5, and 3 at the time so it was extra stressful dealing with the fear.

Several years after that we had another round... only when the doctor said he wanted to do surgery I went home and told Mr. Macchiato everything was fine and didn't go back.

About 8 years ago I started to stress about the fact that I ignored the previous doctor and went to have another mammogram. Everything was fine. By the way, I do not recommend ignoring doctors and keeping that sort of information from your spouse. I should have gone for a second opinion.

So, I schlepped into the imaging center yesterday.

Let me tell you... there is a major difference between getting a mammogram when you are 28 and not overweight and getting one when you are 42 and a blubbernuggett. Instead of pressing up against the machine and trying to get the goods where they need to be... the tech, with cold hands, just picks those babies up off your chest and slaps them down on the platform. It still hurt like a ma jiggy and at one point I thought one of them was going to pop.

I was sent back to the waiting room with all the other ladies naked from the waist up in their over sized hospital gowns. Then I was called back to an office... my doctor needed to be called to order a diagnostic mammogram. More waiting. Then back for some more of the prodding, pulling, smashing, squishing and breath holding.

Waiting room...

Office...

Waiting room...

Waiting room...

Office... given a bag for my clothes and another gown to be moved to another department.

Waiting room... starting to panic...

Ultrasound... Tech points out the very large cyst they found. Then gives me a hard time about not getting mammograms regularly. Left me on the table with the picture of the cyst up on the big screen on the wall.

While I was lying there I was thinking. I wonder how much my boobs weigh... I'm definitely getting implants if I have to get them cut off... What will they look like naked? Will there be scars across them or will they make it so you can't see them? I wonder if I can google reconstituted boobs after cancer and find some pictures... What happens to the nipples? Oh my gosh... would they look like mannequin boobs? Do they make fake nipples? What if I have to do chemo? I wonder how much weight I would lose... I don't think my head shape would look good with no hair. Cute hats or a wig? Both. That way I can go with however I feel that day. What if it's gone too far... what if I don't survive... Would Mr. Macchiato remarry? Oh my gosh... what if he likes his second wife better than me? I had better be the favorite wife!!! Oh my gosh... the kids... I want their children to have their grandma! What is my problem?!?!? WHY did I not go for my regular appointments?!?!?! I am so stupid!!!

The ultrasound tech and the radiologist came back into the room. The radiologist explained that the cyst is the non-cancerous kind and it is better just left alone... however, he doesn't like the tissue all around the cyst. They want me back in six months to do all this over again.

HALLELUJAH AND THANK GOD!!! I now have six months to absolutely make sure I am the most favorite wife ever! Just kidding... kind of.

Ladies, if you have put off getting your mammogram, GO!!! Pick up your phone right now and make the call. If they find things early it can be taken care of.

My Tree

Everyday I spend some time sitting on my couch looking out of this window. I think about a lot of things while I sit there. Often times my thoughts turn to that tree in my yard.

Mr. Macchiato and I came here in July of 2002 looking for a home to buy. We could have bought a brand new home but I wanted to be in a neighborhood that had trees. I have always loved trees.

Our first year here we noticed something very odd about this tree. Like other trees, its leaves changed color in the fall. However, its leaves did not drop. I found this to be quite annoying. I wanted my tree to be like all the other trees in the neighborhood.



Several years ago we had a blizzard hit early in the fall. The leaves had not even turned on the tree yet... even though most of the other trees had already done so and lost their leaves. We heard the tree break. It was very loud and we were very upset.

Even though I was not happy with the tree, I did not want to lose it.

The tree had split through the middle and many of the branches were broken. We did not see how it could survive but rather than cut it down, we decided to do what we could.

Mr. Macchiato pulled the main trunk back together with hose clamps and cut the tree way back.

The leaves turned and they did not fall. Each spring we always think that the tree is dead. All the other trees sprout green leaves while our tree stubbornly holds on to its dead leaves. Eventually, the leaves are blown away by the last of the spring storms.

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Our tree then stands naked and exposed.

The wounds from the catastrophic blizzard are evident. The hose clamps that have held the trunk together now restrict the trunk and it bulges around the clamps.

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It makes me think of events that happen in our lives that we survive but that in some ways still hold us back.

And even though we are held together, those scars still remain.

And those areas that cannot recover. They are cut from us and gone forever.

In time and through tears we learn to start growing again...

Sometimes it is a very slow process. Slower than those around us think it should take.

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Sometimes when we are watching someone else we get frustrated with them as they struggle to recover and forget how hard it is.

Sometimes we hang on to those dead leaves to avoid our hurts being visible to others. We don't like to be vulnerable.

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I've thought of my tree often while going through some trouble with our children. At one point I was very frustrated with one of them and remembered that I knew nothing of what was going on inside... new life may be stirring deep down and it may just be a couple more storms before the old leaves are blown away. Just as I've needed people to be patient with me, I need to be patient with them.

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I am not the keeper of time and it is not my place to say how and when things should occur.

My tree did not sprout leaves until mid June this year.

It is once again full and green and beautiful. And the sun shines brightly through its leaves.

We do not all go through the same seasons in the same ways. Some of us are full of scars. Even so, our lives can still be made into something beautiful.

Sixth Picture in Your Sixth Folder

Angela did this last Friday and posted a video here. Since I am exercising my world class procrastination skills, I decided to see what my sixth picture in my sixth folder is.

Yikes!

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I should explain...

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Back when I had my first blog I did a post on the mannequins in JC Penney.

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Why?

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Well... Mr. Macchiato and I were shopping and I noticed that the mannequins in the chubby chick part of the store were different.
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I decided to go back with a friend of mine and document the gross misrepresentations I found.

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The above behind is what all behinds are supposed to look like, right?

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Uh...ummmm... if my behind ever looked like that I would have proudly worn a thong walking down Main Street while throwing my own confetti into the air.

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Not really.

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And my behind did look like that.

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When I was twelve.
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Here is the standard mannequin.

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Perky little thing...

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Here is the mannequin in the chubby chick department.

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Where I shop...

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Number One...

that mannequin ain't all that chubby.

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Number Two...

Do chubby chicks not wear supportive bras?
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Are they serious?

Really?

aThose are some droopy boobies!

Yes.

aYes, I did.

aI had to take a peek to see what a droopy mannequin boobie looks like.

aI have an inquiring mind.

Another Monday...

Another list. Oy.

Again I say, OY!!!

Too much baseball.

Again I say, TOO MUCH BASEBALL!!!

My list must be accomplished. Cuppa Joe's parents are going to be here this weekend. They met Frappy and spent this last weekend with her and Cuppa Joe. They live in Pennsylvania. I'm nervous.

Again I say, Nervous!

Cuppa Joe told Frappy they like her. What if they don't like us? What if we embarrass Frappy? Pfffft... more like how bad will we embarrass Frappy?

Why... why oh why does our backyard look like we let two dogs do whatever the heck they wanted back there???

Fairy Godmother??? Are you there? Can you come wave your magic wand over my backyard? Please?

She never answers me. Never.

Problems with Internet

I haven't been able to stay online long enough to get a post out... Very frustrating!

Mr. Macchiato

Our guests left before noon yesterday. We had a wonderful time and hope that we can see them again soon! Mr. Macchiato took a couple days off of work so we had the rest of the afternoon to relax and hang out.

We decided to take Double Shot with us to see a movie after he got out of Summer School. I was surprised by how many people were at the theater with it being a work day afternoon. Half way through the previews the strobe lights started flashing as an alarm sounded. A voice said over the loud speaker that we needed to calmly exit the building. We didn't know if it was a fire drill or what. While we were all standing in line to get out the voice came back on and said that we needed to return to our seats and wait because it was a false alarm. Everyone schlepped back to their seats and sat down. The strobe lights and alarm kept sounding. A good five minutes or so passed when the voice came back on and said, again, that it was important for us all to remain in our seats.

Without a word to Double Shot or myself, Mr. Macchiato stood up and left. We looked at each other with our mouths hanging open. Double Shot was shaking his head and saying that we are supposed to stay in our seats. I was grateful he didn't get up and leave me there too. After another five minutes Mr. Macchiato appeared and took his seat between us, the alarm and strobe lights still going.

Me: Where did you go?

Mr. Macchiato: I wanted to see what was going on.

Double Shot: They told us to stay in our seats!

Mr. Macchiato: That could have been a terrorist telling us to stay in our seats.

Me: You just left us here without saying anything.

Mr. Macchiato: I knew you were safe.

Me: Laughing... What were you going to do?

Double Shot: Laughing too... Yeah, it's not like you have mad ninja skills.

Mr. Macchiato: Angry... I was going to come back here and tell everyone to get the hell out.

Double Shot: We are watching a movie... not in one!

Me: What is going on?

Mr. Macchiato: The fire department is out front and they are the ones that have to cut off the alarm after they check the building out.

A movie employee came in and told us that it wouldn't be much longer and our movie would start back where it left off... and that we'd all be receiving free movie passes after the movie. A few minutes later the alarm stopped and our movie resumed.

Mr. Macchiato to all outward appearances is a pretty mild mannered guy. He is an accountant. I think the last physical altercation he was involved in with anyone other than his brothers was in the 10th grade. In fact, it didn't even get physical. At that age Mr. Macchiato was one of the small guys. The kid that told him to meet him after school so they could fight was a bully. Some kids gathered and after the bully yelled some things as he was getting ready to kick Mr. Macchiato's butt, he looked him in the eye and said, "Go ahead and hit me. What are you going to tell people? You beat (his full name) up?" The bully put his fists down and stared at Mr. Macchiato as he simply walked away.

Mr. Macchiato has never served in the military or been in law enforcement. He's got a bit of a baby face and didn't even need to shave every day until he was in his thirties. In fact, Mr. Macchiato has never played organized contact sports. He's just not one of those guys that people look at and think... Don't mess with him!

Five years ago Mr. Macchiato got a call from his dermatologist the day before we were leaving on vacation telling him that one of his moles they tested came back with melanoma. He called me and said that the doctor wanted him to come in that afternoon to have it removed. It was a little disconcerting, but it was just a little mole on his back. When he got home he was in a lot of pain. I found it funny because I thought he was being a bit of a baby about it. We were still going on vacation and just had to make sure Mr. Macchiato took it easy and didn't lift anything. I thought that sounded like a pretty good deal for him since we would be lugging suitcases around.

Later that night he really was not doing well and asked me to check his back. I wasn't really surprised by the amount of padding and dressing they had put on his back because medical professionals tend to over do that sort of thing. However, when I pulled the bandages back I was horrified. The doctor told Mr. Macchiato that she had to remove surrounding tissue... He had a large six inch long cut across his shoulder blade. I felt so bad. He hadn't been being a baby at all.

Mr. Macchiato did not want to cancel the trip so he pushed through. He would only take over the counter pain medication because he was driving most of the time. He doesn't like it when I drive because... well, I have a bit of a lead foot.

While we were visiting my Dad we took the kids to a go cart place. Mr. Macchiato had to pretty much just stand back and watch everything we did on that trip, not much fun for him. Double Shot cut the wheel on his cart too far to the left (he insisted I tell y'all it was because Chai Tea cut him off, and she did) when it was time to come in and his foot slipped off the brake... he hit the concrete curb full force, crumbling it. Before I could blink Mr. Macchiato had vaulted over the fence and was running to Double Shot.

Mr. Macchiato has been under a lot of stress. Being in construction, things are starting to get scary as there is less and less work to be had and other construction companies are under bidding just to get a job. He has always been faithful, loyal to friends, a great provider and an involved father. He has integrity in all areas of his life. He's down to earth and real. He is my husband. He is our Mufassa.

** NOTE: Just in case you don't know who Mufassa is... He's The Lion King.

Men... Don't Get 'Em

I took Benny to the vet on Monday. He was overdue for his yearly shots. We haven't gotten him neutered yet because... well, we kept forgetting about it. It's one of those expenses that is easy to put off and Booper has never exhibited the type of behavior that has you running to the vet to get it done. Well, he did try some stuff as a little guy but Lu Lu... well, you just didn't mess with her. Before Benny got bigger than her she really put him in his place and he never forgot it. Also, because Benny is so furry, we don't see the goods that often.

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When we got to the vet I was hoping they wouldn't put us in the room we had Lu Lu put down in. They didn't. Instead they put us in the room we had Eve put down in. Ugh. There was some problem so we ended up waiting almost an hour too. I was feeling uncomfortable too because I was feeling like a bad pet owner because we haven't gotten him fixed yet and he's two and was not looking forward to that conversation.

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When the Doctor came in he asked how we were doing. Both he and his wife were with us when we put Lu Lu down. His wife was the one that put Eve down almost 2 1/2 years ago and no one that was there that day will forget Double Shot's reaction. It still chokes me up when I think about it.

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Benny is really healthy. The doctor did give me a hard time about his nails. Well, claws really. I am always afraid to cut them... so I don't. I asked him about the pedi-paw thing I've been seeing on TV that files them. Oh my Lord. My mild mannered vet said, "Those things are sh*t, don't waste your money!" Then he apologized and explained that they are not powerful enough and the sand paper thing isn't gritty enough and that if I wanted to take care of his nails that way I'd be better off to buy a dremel (sp?) tool at Lowes. After we were done he sent a tech in to teach me how to trim his nails.

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When we got around to talking about getting Benny fixed I explained why we hadn't yet. When I was done he told me that vets have to recommend spaying and neutering and in most cases he agrees that it should be done. However, in Benny's case, if he were his dog, he would not. He said that because Benny doesn't... ya know... hump stuff, mark his territory in the house, show aggression toward us, and is well controlled that it is healthier for him not to be neutered.

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We had another golden retriever named Reggie that we gave to my mother-in-law when he was 10 months old (yes, I have a thing for goldens). We were moving from California to Mississippi and having a hard time selling our house. We decided not to buy in Mississippi. We were afraid we would not be able to find a place to rent where we could have a big dog. We sent him up to Seattle on a plane by himself. My husband did find a house where we could have had him but we had already sent Reggie to his mom. When she came to visit us several months later we didn't have the heart to take him back. She was in love and we figured she needed him more than we did at that point.

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We had not neutered Reggie. Mr. Macchiato has a hard time with that where the boy dogs are concerned. Girl dogs? Not a problem for him there. Anyway, he didn't want his mom to either. She didn't until she found out he had testicular cancer when he was around 8 or 9. He, like Eve and Lu Lu, died when he was 10. I brought what happened to Reggie up to my vet. He said that if Benny has his testicles he does risk getting cancer but there are also health risks associated with getting neutered that affect his health. Goldens tend to put on a lot of weight and there are risks associated with that. In the end, of course, it is our decision whether we do it or not.

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When I relayed all this to Mr. Macchiato he was so happy... beaming with pride happy. He has said the following to Benny:

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Oh Booper, you are such a good boy! You get to keep your nads!

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Oh Benny, Dr. P saved you!

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Benna Boo, Dr. P is your new best friend!

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Booper, you are such a gooooooood boy!!!

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When Double Shot heard about it... he beamed with pride too!!! What the heck?!?! He also says similar things to Benny.

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Good Lord.

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Do y'all remember the Mr. Jumbo McFat Ass Pants? Well, yesterday afternoon Mr. Macchiato called me...

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Mr. Macchiato: Very grumpy... I'm so friggin uncomfortable. I ate too much for lunch and have felt like crap all day. My clothes are pinching me in two. I feel like a worm that got pinched and put on a hook.

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Me: Laughing... A worm?

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Mr. Macchiato: A big fat pinched worm on a hook.

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Me: Laughing so hard he starts laughing too.

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This Morning I was getting his clothes for him. I had ironed him a shirt and was going through his pants in his closet to get a matching pair. Mr. Macchiato can't match stuff. I even have to hand him his socks or lay them out or he'll put on whatever he grabs. When I'm mad at him I don't do this and then snicker to myself when I watch him head off to work in one of his disastrous ensembles. It's called passive aggression and I've got it down.

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Mr. Macchiato: Standing there in his tighty whities... Hey, can I wear the Mr. Jumbo McFat Ass Pants?

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Oh, yesterday Double Shot had a baseball game. Last week I bought him new baseball pants because his were too tight. The sports store we went to didn't have any adult medium so I got him large. I didn't feel like running around town and I figured he's still growing... he's got a belt. They are HUGE on him. We stopped at Loaf-n-Jug so he could run in and get some gatorade on our way to the field. He's been complaining about the pants since I got them.

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Double Shot: Leans into the car before running into the store... Are these pants one of your little passive aggressive deals? Because they suck!

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Me: Laughing... and thinking... hmmmm.... maybe...

Lord Have Mercy!

Boy, Mondays seem to be coming closer and closer together these days!

Guess what?!?! We've got company coming for a couple days later this week. Woot Woot!!!

Unfortunately, we've been experiencing technical difficulties. It seems my laptop has died. Our desk top keeps losing its internet connection... problem with the wireless card and very frustrating. And Double Shot's computer is so filtered that I can't post or do research for the Uneducated blog. All very frustrating for me!

Well, I need to get at it. I'm going to be running full steam to get this house in order before our guests arrive!

Got Prayer?

Angela at FREE SPIRIT HAVEN is so faithful each Friday to lift those bloggers up who are in need of prayer. If you'd like to join with her go here.

I've made a list of all y'all who comment and am praying for each of you by name today. If you have a specific prayer request, you can leave me a comment, or you can e-mail me privately at coffeebeankel@earthlink.net .

God Bless You!!!

Ya Just Gotta Love It...

My Mother-in-Law sent me the following and I just had to share!!!

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Grandma is 88 years old and still drives her own car. She writes:

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Dear Grand-daughter,

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The other day I went up to our local Christian book store and saw a 'Honk if you love Jesus' bumper sticker ..

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I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting..

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So, I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper. Boy, am I glad I did; what an uplifting experience that followed.

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I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good he is, and I didn't notice that the light had changed.

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It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed.

I found that lots of people love Jesus!

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While I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed,

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'For the love of God!' 'Go! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, GO!'

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What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus!

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Everyone started honking! I just leaned out my window and started waving and smiling at all those loving people.

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I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!

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There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach.

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I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air.

I asked my young teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant.

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He said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something.

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Well, I have never met anyone from Hawaii , so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back.

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My grandson burst out laughing.

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Why even he was enjoying this religious experience!!

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A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me.

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I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed.

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So, grinning, I waved at all my brothers and sisters, and drove on through the intersection.

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I noticed that I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared.

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So I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.

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Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!!

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Will write again soon, Love, Grandma

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I pray we all have the perspective of "Grandma" today!!!

**Note: Just to clarify, this was a forward... this is not my or Mr. Macchiato's Grandma.

Awwwwwwww...

Little Mama gave birth to this little fawn yesterday outside Mr. Macchiato's office!