What I learned. 1/31/16

What I learned. 1/31/16

1. I always liked make up. As in it's fun to play around with but when 40 is knocking on the door I am overdosing on skin creams, wrinkle protections, serums, skin tightened, etc. I think I'm becoming obsessed! 

2. For my birthday I'm starting a gofundme for Botox! Kidding....I think!! 

3. Momma needs a vacation out of the Dale stat. 

4. I had a night completely to myself, child free. What did I do? Fell asleep on the couch by 10:30. How on earth do people live alone? 

5. I get so mad at myself when I can't fix something alone. To the point I just cry. 

6. We are on day 756 of my thumb being gapped open. It's pissing me off. And don't tell people you super glue it closed---it creates some controversy. 

7.  PA---where it snows 20+ inches one weekend, then the next it's 64 degrees. 

That's all this week. Hopefully next weekend brings 80 degrees and sunshine. One can wish. Have a good one. 

What I learned. 1/24/16

What I learned. 1/24/16

1. Single life: Once you sleep alone, no one tells you at 3am to stop reading, shut off the light, and go to bed. 

2. I need to get into the habit of doing these again. I completely forgot last week. 

3. Super gluing hand cuts works miracles. It's so nice to not be all wrapped up in sticky tape. Thanks to friends for suggestion. 

4. I like the idea of snow storms more than actual snow storms. I've never felt so very trapped before. Thanks Geoff for plowing me out. 

5. I'm turning 40 next month and went into crazy lady skin care. I could de-wrinkle Scottdale with all the creams I have. 

6. I realized single parenthood means you're the bad guy all the time. I have no one to balance the good guy/bad guy role with. 

7. When you get frustrated in Target with your whiney kids and you yell at them to 'shut the F' up', they tattle on you to your parents. I'm going to be 40 yet I fear my own parents might ground me!!  

8. If anyone finds themselves impregnated next month after the snowstorm my porch is still available. 

9. Having chicks in the winter turns to full blown, smelly chickens in my house that can't be acclimated to zero degree outdoor weather. 

10. I forgot how much I miss the mail when the mail doesn't come. I've never known the mail to not deliver. Isn't that part of their motto? 

---till next week. Hope you thaw and melt! 

Updated life in 5,000 words or less

I'm I'm I'm I'm Just facts, no emotions....if the blog abruptly stops it's because I can't control my emotions. 

Whew. Ok. 

Here's goes nothing. 

December 2014---last blog posts. Over a year has went by and nothing. It's like I disappeared. Well, kind of. I lost myself. 

But, more importantly and more heartbreaking, I lost my husband. Not as in he found another hottie and moved on. Lost, as in gone. As in passed away. As in died...... 

I'll pause here to compose myself. 

Here's the facts. Rich's back started to hurt in April 2015. Thought it was normal, getting older back hurt. 

May 2015. Rich goes to Dr. Gets steroid and ibuprofen. Next few days Rich's walking was being affected. Rich goes to local ER to be then ambulances to big, city hospital for tests. An MRI and CAT Scan later Rich diagnosed with cancer which advanced to his spinal column and he had a tumor which injuries his spinal cord. Rich can not longer walk. Rich needs to fight cancer. 

6 months minus 1 day, Rich was flooded with chemo and had radiation. Neither would allow him to walk again. Both would contribute to his death. 

Just the facts...cancer sucks. It stole my husband. It stole my kid's father. It stole my life, my dreams. Fuck you, cancer. 

My dear, sweet Rich, I'll love you forever. Make our Heaven home beautiful. I'm coming home one day. 

Ok, now I'll let my emotions overwhelm me. 

R. I. P. 

Richard 

May 11, 1974--November 9, 2015 

What I learned 1/10/16

What I learned 1/10/16 

1. I need and anticipate snow delays as much or more than my kids. 

2. No matter how many times I make my kids come from various places in the house to shut a cabinet or dresser door or shut off a light, they never learn to just do this. 

3. When you order a new dishwasher it will come in a day after you get stitches in your hand from hand washing glasses. 

4. The job of a welfare mom has many hazards and no workmans  comp. 

5. I'm officially reached the age of having children that are embarrassed of me. Game on. 

6. The house has gotten De-Christmased but the dog still is sporting a Christmas scarf. Someone Un-Christmas the dog please. 

7. I have the strangest sleep patterns.  Why can't I just sleep normal?! 

8. Single parenting is super hard. 

9. Steelers games raise my blood pressure. 

10. I've not reflected on what I've learned in far too long! Welcome back! 

MIA Mommy in the 'Dale

I just thought I better update and let everyone know I am still alive and well.....that's an overstatement.....I'm not sure I'm ever well....I got the crazy tiche' gene!
But I have been busy....you know I'm a Mom and a social worker and that takes up all my time.
I had to escape to Starbucks tonight to get a post written...crazy.
My ADD kicks in at home and I get sidetracked with laundry and cleaning up. I might go two weeks before I mop or hand scrub my floors, but suddently when I sit to post a blog, it's amazing how distracted I get! ADD brain,,,it's a thing! And you know I self diagnosis myself often!
I also have been pomdering the booth I have at Saturday's Treasures in Mt. Pleasant. Although I love refinishing furniture and painting, the booth has became a second job to keep it filled. It's hard, yo!
And I pay $175 a month for the booth and the most I have made over the fee is around $100.  It just doesn't seem worth it. The deciding factor was my desire to stop painting because I have to, not because I want to. I much prefer to paint at leasure and pleasure. Sanding , refinishing and painting quality pieces is a pleasure and mental escape for me. Doing it because I have to takes the pleasure and fun out of it. That was thedeciding  factor. 
Fear not the Mommy in the Dale furniture will continue but on a personal basis and will be posted on this blog and usually for sale on Facebook sale/trade/wants.  The pieces will get more love and time.
Whew.....I feel like a weight has been lifted.
I still dream of opening a store at some point, where speciality paints will be for sale and classes to teach techniques is still a dream of mine, however that's when I can give up the social work gig....but it pays the bills right now!
Speaking of my child welfare social work days, cases are limited at this point and the down time is ok. It's like ebb and flow...the rush will come again. December is a notorious terrible billing/work month. People cancel constantly. I do have one visit with a little guy I just adore.
I'm still on the wait for a 'porch baby' to show up, because Rich refuses to in-pregnant me.  Plus I'm getting too old to reproduce. So a porch baby seems perfect.  Know anyone just willing to give one up, I'll take it!!! Like a hospital/fire department drop off center! I'll keep checking!
Christmas will be here before we know it...crazy....where did 2014 go? My kiddos keep growing and I need to pause time! How can I be a wife and parent......I feel like I'm still playing house!
I'm so thankful for a great group of girlfriends to keep me semi-sane. They know who they are.... I just love them.  It's great to know you can call someone up when you need to chat.
I haven't had any "What I learned" posts lately, simply before sometimes I just survive and get  by day by day and forget to focus on learning little lessons.
I am still active on my facebook if you don't follow my on there...search Carla Keefer-Rhodes. I share crazy things my kids say and do.....isn't that the perk of parenting! Embarrassment is necessary at times for all the crap (Literally when babies) I had to deal with!
I am also active on instagram.....search Mommyinthedale. See lots of pictures, mainly of my best friend...my dog! 
I am also a total addict to the Dollar Tree and post pictures and hauls on youtube. Search Mommy in the 'Dale. My picture is me in a hat with sunglasses on the beach----looking incognito like I'm famous! Follow me!! The number of followers make me feel good! I'm well on my way to being famous..watch out Ellen! (I should probably start a diet if I'm going to be on tv!!)
On youtube you get voice funnys!
Well that's all peeps. Sorry for my lack of posts----I'll get better. Soon I will do a picture entourage of  my house for Christmas.  I'll work on getting back to learning and sharing things again....my poor brain needs to focus!
Later peeps, love ya!

10/26/14 What I learned!

10/26/14

1. How do people who wear socks to bed know the joy of rubbing their feet on a blanket or cool sheets?! 

2. Friday nights are spent sleeping with a dog, cat, and my daughter. I prefer to sleep with a moose rather than her. The moose would give me more room 

3. I remembered I had one cookie from Sheetz after coming home late one night. I totally pocketed that cookie and ate it alone in my bathroom! I'm all for food sharing with my kids,but not my one and only cookie. 

4. After said cookie I got a tummy-ache. Stupid karma. This also happened after I stole some of my kids Halloween stash--double karma.  

5. This time change thing needs to happen. I can't wake up yo darkness all the time. 

6. I binge-watched Orange is the New Black, Season 1 on DVD. Now I need netflix.  

7. The disgusting Jesus house on the block is getting torn down--.can I get a "hallelujah, Amen!"  

8. I'm still confused by the Renee Zellweger photo. 

9. But perhaps more confused by the Honey Boo-Boo/momma June dates a sex offender scandal. 

That's all for the week.  Enjoy the beautiful weather to start the week. I'm certain by the weekend it will snow! 

What I learned....10/19/14

10/19/14

1. I missed what I learned recently because what I've remembered is I love to nap and procrastinate. I already knew this things but those are my excuses and I'm sticking to it. 

2. Every-time I get a headache (which is about daily...back/neck issues and stress, yo).... I convince myself I have a brain tumor. Which I know isn't true because I've had CAT scans. 

3. It's all fun and games with fake nails until you get an infection on your fingertip. Great...guess I'll cancel my fake tit-tay appointment next week! 

4.  I'm still on a Steeler/NFL strike and now cheer/midget football season ended soooooo.....how will I a fix?! 

5. I'm seriuosly OD-ing on pumpkin everything. Candles, lotions, body spray, teas, coffees....now I hear there's pumpkin flavored rum?? Say wha....???! Girl you know I'm headed to the liquor store ASAP on Monday morning! Cancel my work schedule!! 

6. I saw the movie 'Gone Girl' last week...totally recommend it. It's the next 'boil the bunny/crazy lady movie'....did you get the boil the bunny reference??? Total score if you did....if not see below! 

That's all for this week! Enjoy.... Come sit with me and have some pumpkin flavored everything! 

....'boil the bunny' reference is from 'Fatal Attraction'. That women was cray-cray! 

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