I know its Sunday... but here are my Friday fill ins...

Friday Fill in... day late... dollar short,lol.


1. I must __find love___ before I die.

2. You can't stop __time___.

3. I wish I never had to buy __tires___ again.

4. _franklin covey____ has helped me change my life.

5. I know the song __what the world needs now___ by heart.

6. If I weren't so afraid, I would _trust more easily____.

a peek into our christmas

This is my jokester josh... My camera was on some freaky setting while opening presents... so when I asked him to recreate the scene... well.. this is what I got.

We had a wonderful time w/ family... as always.

Hope everyone else had a wonderful time too.

Peace

ho ho ho

Merry Christmas!

Just a quickie

Just some journaling prompts from another site...


1.My stomach is crampy.
2. Broccoli cheese casserole is what I ate the most of on Thursday.
3. The yard is ok, just ok.
4. My scraproom is where I'd rather be at any given time.
5. The smell of apples reminds me of when i was teaching.
6. Peace is what I need right now!

Happy Thanksgiving

As in recent years' past... the boys and I headed to my Mom's for Thankgsgiving.Again, as usual... I took the rolls and the pies... if I do say so myself, I make the best rolls and the best pies on the planet.

My dad had a football game to go to, and my sister and her husband had a basketball game to go to, so after dinner when everyone cleared out, my mom colored my hair. All of a sudden Joel remarks "hey... its quiet in here... oh yeah... Grandpa left" LOL... which lead to a huge discussion about how grandpa is,lol.He is the nicest man ever... but is always talking!!!

Max was so excited to have everyone around that he didn't eat much... but he was a pretty loud guy too. He is starting to learn people's names, and he could say Josh's name, so he just kept saying it over and over and over. Too cute!!!

I am more thankful for today however... stay home w/ a new magazine on a cloudy arizona day... very cool indeed.

ouch

Well... you know how we celebrate our children's milestones? I am not celebrating,lol. It's Joel's first accident. Ugh....

What I am celebrating is the way he handled/is handling himself. Being a 911 dispatcher I often hear about people leaving the scene, or starting fights, or behaving badly in light of a stressful situaton.

What Joel did was call his brother first...(and while I am a little annoyed at that... he was on the way to pick him up) stayed there, checked on the people in the other car, was respectful to everyone there and handled himself in a generally grown up fashion. Of course I was at work. Since I have been working there I had always wondered how I would handle things if one of my kiddos had an emergency while I was there. More on that tomorrow... its a "deep thought" thing,lol.

Not sure what we are going to do w/ this car exactly- it all depends. For now, he is skateboarding everywhere he needs to go, which is pretty convinient for him at school.

Drive safely everyone! ( and no he wasn't texting at the time of the accident,lol.)

updates and a new photo

The date was fine. He is nice, he has a lot of the same family values as I do. That's the good part... He seems to have a facinaton w/ dragons... I am not sure what is up w/ that yet... I may go out w/ him again...

I did go to the zoo on Saturday as well... and I always take pics like I have never been there before,lol. But who could resist this sweet face?? Our zoo is working on a new exibit for these guys... a multi million dollar project... It is in process now... anxious to see what happens.

I had a pretty busy weekend... didn't really relax much... now I am going into my work week a lil tired. I guess I am not as young as I used to be,lol...


Short post... that's all for now! Peace!

being sociable is tough

or is it just me??? Meeting new people, smiling, dating... being nice... ugh...

I think I just am going to buy some cats... and become the crazy old maid on the corner,lol.

Ok... I am going out to dinner tonight... lets see how this goes

I'm back baby... I am back

This photo was taken at the end of october- at the first game that I have been "allowed " to go to in over a year. Last year, Joel played w/ some college friends, but he said " Moms don't go to their son's games if they are adults... geez". So... I didn't go, but I was sad. I get that he's an adult.. and this isn't T-ball anymore.

But, for years, my whole social live revolved aroune his sports activities and when he went off to college all of that stopped. I had nowhere that I had to rush to... no games to watch.

I was thrilled to be invited to this game. Joel is playing w/ some kids from his former high school... that I used to watch him play baseball with. That was awesome as well. I was bummed to find out that last week (when I wasn't invited,lol) he hit a homerun... ahh well... maybe next week! They won this game... as well as the game that would be played the next week.

Again.... we are back in 1993 (can you tell this is how far I have gotten in my LOM photo organization,lol) anyway, thats my sister, and my boys... hanging out waiting to go trick or treating...

This Halloween, in 2008 we are all doing our own thing. Joel is in Tempe... going to a party that I am pretty sure I want to know nothing aobut.Josh is going to a party with his girlfriend ( and to be honest... they both do not need costumes) so today, after telling me yesterday that "costumes are gay" we had to go on an emergency shopping expedition in our small town,lol. He is a "zombie doctor" whatever that is. They are attending a party at her church.

I had a few different things to choose from. I am going on a dinner date, and then to karaoke... at least... at 5 pm... thats what I think I am gonna do..

Anyway... Happy Halloweenie to all....
lisa

advice

I don't know if this is advice exactly... It is something I said to someone last week, and for some reason has been weighing on my mind a lot today...

Marriage is hard...Divorce is hard...Life is hard...

Not sure why its on my mind today. Maybe I am supposed to remember that as I go to work today, or maybe I need to remember it at my own house...

Today I am going to do my best to be as kind to people as I possibly can... everyone is having a hard time.

Lisa

Max

This is Mischievous Max. He isn't really,lol but that look on his face almost has me convinced otherwise.

I had my sons at 22 and 23 yrs old. I had been married 4 years when we had our first-Joel. Josh came 18 months later, and although at the time I was one tired mama... I wouldn't change a minute of it. I am still tired,lol much older but it has been a great ride. Joel is now 19, Josh is 17.5.

As with most people without children... my sister knew she was a way better parent than I am. For 16 years I stood by... doing my best, however imperfect it was... listening to how I was doin it wrong. Its only fair... I taught for 8 years before I had Joel, and while I would like to think I was not as judgemental as my sister... I am sure I thought at least once that I could do it much better. Karma.... lol.

Joel was so intense from birth. He cried loud and hard and knew what he wanted. As he got to be 2... His temper tantrums were as intense. So was his joy... but no one ever faults a parent for that,lol. Josh was more easygoing... which was great then, cuz Joel was about enough...

Max at 2 is very different from either of my kids. My sister is a much older first time mom than I was... 36 at the time of his birth. She parents very differently than I did. Not wrong.. goodness knows I have learned never to say that... but different. Maybe Max is different because she is different... or she is different because Max is... who knows.

That boy adores my dad- which is pretty cool to see. My kiddos were closer to their dad's dad... and me. Max is able to sit in a highchair for what seems like forever to me. Joel was one of those kids who had to be walked around outside until the food came. Max is quiet. Really quiet. Joel was... well not quiet. Josh was quieter, I think, but not too sure since Joel was making so much noise. Joel and Josh both were very confident kids- not shy... talk to anyone/everyone...and wanted to do everything themselves. We had many a meltdown if I opened the doorknob instead of checking who's turn it really was,for example. Max does not talk much at all... is very shy and doesn't seem to be as insistant at "doing it himself" and looks at my dad before he makes a move to do anything.It is really interesting to see.

Now that my sister has had him... she realizes it isn't easy as it looks... I am hearing through my mom that my sister thinks her assessment of me may have been too harsh. Like I said... Karma.

Have a good one... and lets try to be uplifting to all parents out there!

the desert

This photo was taken over 15 yrs ago,lol, in the dead of summer.It pretty much always looks like this here... what everyone has heard about us not having seasons. We have hot and hotter,ya know?


I am liking my new schedule... it is more "normal" than I have been working most of the last 2 years. Weekends off.. and working swing shift. I can sleep in every day... woo hoo!

Paintball season is going strong again... Josh has been busy w/ that... and I have been busy shuffling him everywhere he needs to be,lol.

Joel is doing well at school... I hardly see him anymore... sniff sniff.

I have become an absolute IPOD freak. I embarrass myself,lol but I love it. I have accessories now too... I spend hours adjusting playlists... it is almost becoming a hobby... must stop...

I decided to try to loose weight again. I was successful last time... and at some point kinda gave up... I haven't really gained any back.. but I would like to keep going... with my new schedule I think I am going to try to start walking... My motto is no pain... no pain... so I will never be a runner or big into fitness,lol but I think I could walk a little bit.

And... I went back to church last week... something else I have not had the opportunity to do in the past 2 years. It felt great... I am going to continue that.

me a-z

A. Attached or single? Single

B. Best friend? I don't have one

C. Cake or pie? Pie

D. Day of choice? Love Sundays

E. Essential item? I dunno- water and medication I guess,lol.

F. Favorite color? navy blue

G. Gummy bears or worms? worms

H. Hometown? Phoenix Az

I. Indulgence? Sonic Drinks, scrapbooking supplies

J. January or July? July

K. Kids? Two

L. Life isn’t complete without? my kids, of course

M. Marriage date? eh who cares,lol

N. Number of brothers & sisters? 1 sister

O. Oranges or apples? I'm picky. Green apples

P. Phobias? change/chaos/disorder

Q. Quotes? Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start over and make a brand new ending. ( Thank God for this, huh?)

R. Reasons to smile? happy healthy kids, a good job, everything we need

S. Season of choice? az really doesn't have seasons but I don't like the cold

T. Truth or dare?? Truth.... always

U. Unknown fact about me? I do not like any raw vegetables

V. Vegetable? sweet potato

W. Worst habits? I worry waay too much.If I am not worried, I start worrying that I am forgetting what I am supposed to be worried about... working on it,lol.

X. X-ray or ultrasound? I've had both.

Y. Your favorite food? pizza

Z. Zodiac sign? I'm a Virgo

the times they are a changin.......

Joel doesn't need to call me every day anymore.

Josh is almost done w/ high school- probably will be taking classes at the community college next semester.

My schedule is changing again at work ( I am happy w/ the change, but I hate changing so freaking often,lol.)

The weather is cooling off a bit- we don't get over a hundred anymore.

I am beginning to like technology. I also still love the slow old fashioned antique-y kinda stuff, but this fast computer,ipod,digital camera etc stuff is kinda cool too.

Ok well- I am stumped on anymore changes,lol. Apperantly since I don't really like change that feels like a lot but when you write it down it doesn't seem as much.

nap time

My kids were good sleepers. They really honestly were. I was lucky like that.

Except that any time we tried to deviate from nap/bed time, this is what we got. Kids falling asleep on us,lol. No matter what, no matter where, if it was noon or 8 pm, they fell asleep.

Once when Joel was 5, it was a Saturday night and we were enjoying the company of some friends at their house. Kids playing, adults watching a movie, just relaxing and having a good time.

Joel read the clock and panicked- it was 755 pm. He made such a production about how his bedtime was at 8 and we needed to start for home. Alas, since he was sucking all the fun out of the evening,lol... we did.

When Joel went to first grade, he told his teacher on the first day that he would not be able to stay until 230 pm, since his nap was actually at noon.

He actually made it though school, but his entire first grade year he took a nap right after school.

He stopped taking naps in the second grade, but as a teenager started napping again, and now, at 19 still loves his naps.

'cuz i am cool like that........

This picture is of my kids dad, and both kiddos.The point of this photo is that my youngest son, seen here in the red sweatpants and diaper- a fashion trend in its infancy.

Who could have predicted that 16 yrs later, he would still be wearing his pants like that? More pics to follow,lol.

the annual birthday bash

The end of Aug/beginning of September brings many birthdays to the Trebitowski/Smith/Brown group. My birthday, my late FIL's birthday and my new nephew's birthday is all on the same day- whew! Joels birthday comes 2 days later, and them my sisters during the next week. This year we met again, at the Native New Yorker for some good food and good converstation. This year we had a 2yr old at the table, who I am pretty sure was quieter than the two teenage boys I brought w/ me,lol.

Josh always gets 20 dollars from Grandma/Grandpa with a card that says "just because". Joel gets the same on Josh's birthday. They started that when they were little, and I guess it is a tradition now.

We all got funny cards, very fitting for our personalites. I am not going to share the cards here- its just a lil bit too honest,lol.

Things I hope I never forget about this day:

1) When Josh ordered a hamburger and the waitress asked him how he would like it cooked, he replied " Um..Good??" He reported after dinner that it was, in fact, good.

2) How my dad is w/ my nephew. He is very doting, tries to fix each and every thing that could potentially bother him, and jealous if anyone tries to hold/talk to him. He even took him away from my mom today,lol. I will admit that if I had to guess, my dad is my nephews favorite person in the whole world.

3) Today, I noticed that I like to chew on straws ( today I was not but I often do) Joel likes to chew on straws ( this I had noticed before, since he also leaves them around the house) but my nephew also, loves to chew on straws. We are weird.

4) My family, as nutty as they can be- are very supportive of me, and my kids. That's cool.

Papa

This photo is from the mid 90s, I think 1995, not sure really. Its a picture of Josh and his paternal grandfather. After my sons were born, he was known to just about everyone as "Papa". Papa was a good kind man, who valued family over everything else. He really enjoyed fishing, camping, riding quads/4x4. He was always up for coming over for dinner, going out for a quick snack or just doing the regular everyday things.

He and I shared a birthday, that was pretty cool.

He lost Joel once, in a store, before Joel was even walking ( don't ask, I still don't understand how it could happen) and 2 years later he lost my dog. I never let him watch anything again,lol- even though I found both my son, and my dog.

After the boys' dad and I divorced, he and I stayed close, I still considered him my FIL. He was still there for the boys, went to as many activities as he possibly could, and always had time for their phone calls. He even, from time to time, listened to me vent about his son. He was an amazing man.

He passed away suddenly a few yrs ago, a great man gone too soon. There are just no words to express all he did for me, and my sons during his time here.

Joel and I were going through some scrapbooks the other day and Joel, a boy of few words, and even fewer feelings said simply "I wish Grandpa was still here"

Me too... Me too.

just so you don't think i am on crack

heres the picture referenced in the post below,lol.

flashback

This is a pic of my sons back in Dec of 92. They loved the zoo as much as I did back then. This tractor was in the childrens zoo area and it was important for us to visit and take a pic each time we went. Good Times, good times.

I only got to the zoo once this summer. It is hard to go when it is so hot and this summer I have been working nights so that kinda complicated things also. I am hopefully switching to days in the not to distant future and w/ the weather cooling off I plan to visit it often, if for no other reason than it is a good place to walk.

I have been doing a lot of organizing lately, organizing photos on my computer, as well as files and actual pictures. I have even organized my scrap area and I could scrap there if I so desired,lol. Maybe next week- I am too pooped from the organizing part,lol.

ipods and little update

My ex, after realizing that although i would let him stay here, that I was not a bank decided that this is not the best place for him to stay (lmbo). So, it is over already and w/o any ugly. I guess he did have somewhere else to stay after all,lol.

I had decided that 2008 was going to be the year that the Browns moved into the era of technology. I know, most of you are already here,lol it sometimes takes me awhile to catch up.

I got a new computer, ditched dial up and now we even have ipods. I think we were the last three people on the planet to not have an mp3 player, with the exception of my parents.We are all 3 in love w/ ours, and now I am on the hunt for a good speaker/dock. There are so many choices, I am overwhelmed,lol.

Joel is getting ready to go back to ASU, Josh is going to take GED classes and stay in his online highschool program ( I know, I know. But no dropping out allowed here- if he passes I will let him stop going to high school,lol) All three of us are working ( me a little too much, josh just right and joel a little too little,lol) and have lots of good stuff going on.

I started reading Photo Freeom and am obsessed w/ this organizational method- so thats taking up a lot of my spare time.

And- I went to the movies w/ someone. Pretty exciting in and of itself,lol lets see what happens here.

drama, karma, kindness

My life has not been without drama, but as of late, I have spent my time attempting to create a drama free life. I have done a pretty good job, especially considering I have two teenage boys.

Some drama entered my life today. My kids dad has found himself w/ no where to go. We have a long history, most of it not good. We met at 15, so that was 25 yrs ago. I will save the long story of why the marriage did not work. Since we have been divorced, he has been shall we say, less than kind. When my second husband and I decided I should be a stay home mom, he called me lazy and every other possible name in the book. He is months behind on child support. Now, here he is on my doorstep, thousands of dollars behind on child support, asking for me to support not only the two kids by myself, but him too. He is not working and at this time has no prospects. He has a total of 4 children.

He did not even have the gas money to get to my house. That he borrowed from Joel, my oldest son.

People sometimes think that I allow people to walk over me. Thats fine, they can think that, and surely I have been taken advantage of.

I say it takes a lot more strength to be kind to someone who has given you no reason to be kind to them, than it does to be mean. I say tonight when I lay my head on my pillow- I can sleep knowing that I was a decent human being.

That said, I am already supporting two kinds and myself and have no desire to support a man. ( If I was interested in that, I would at least choose someone who was going to give me some benefit,lol.)

I decided to let him stay for a bit. This does put a cramp in everyones style. It may not work very well at all, it could get ugly. It could also be ok. We just don't know.

I guess we will see, drama, karma, or kindness.

Rockin with the rhythm of the rain......

I have been going through some old pictures here lately- attempting organization,lol. I came across this one, and it made me smile. My kids loved these swings, and those goofy boots, and their yard and home. These were mostly happy times, especially for them. It is raining here tonight, so this one caught my eye.

I loved watching them play out there- this night was no different. We had just had a huge storm ( see the large tree branch on the ground in the back?) and it was just sprinkling now. They are swinging away in the rain singing Rain Rain DON'T go away- they loved it.

Good Times...

karaoke

I love karaoke. I honestly really don't know why I like it. I am not a "center of attention" type person.When I do go to karaoke, I stand kinda off to the side. I don't dance, or create any type of attention to myselr- I just want to sing. I think I do ok, no one has ever asked me to stop. I do joke around that the more you drink, the better I will sound,lol.

I am one of the few people in az happy that there is no smoking in bars anymore. I used to be coughing and hacking by the end of the night- not particularly condusive to singing,huh?

I like the smallerish town I live in, I usually see someone I know when I go into my favorite karaoke spot.

The above photo is of the resturant/bar near my parents' cabin. They have karaoke on occasion, and I actually try to plan my trips around when they are going to have it. My dad loves to go too. My mom doesn't love it quite so much,lol and stays home.

I most often sing country songs, usually Wynonna, or Tricia or Martina. Sometimes I get all crazy and sing Cher or Joan Jett.

My sons have been, when they were younger. Both of them can sing, they really liked it back then.... now, they are too "cool".

Anyway- to quote Forrest- "thats all I have to say about that"

Have a peaceful week,
Lisa

rough week at work

I usually don't bring calls home w/ me. So far, I have been pretty good about that. This week was a little rougher to do that, for me.
The first call that tore my heart out was from a man who came across two young boys who had been dropped off at a rest area along the side of the highway. When he met up w/ them, they had been outside for 4 hrs alone. There was a serious langage barrier, between me, and the caller. I was kind of a dork during the call, spanish is not my strong suit, and my first "second language" is police code, so at the end of the call, after trying to decipher his spanish I answered him in police code,lol. But- we got through it. Got the kids some water, some dinner and made contact w/ a relative. Man- some people suck.

The second call, will be w/ me probably forever. A man called and said there were 3 people here that he needed removed from his house. I asked the questions we usually ask, and come to find out they were his children. 4,5,and 6 yrs old, and he wanted "them and all their stuff out of his house" because he wanted to continue drinking and they were not letting him have a good time. He ended up getting arrested, thank God. I hope they let him listen to himself when he sobers up.

I did help some people this week, and hopefully made a difference in someones life. I love my job........ I love my job.........

back from flagstaff

here we are- the back porch. Probably my favorite part of my parents' cabin. I spent the last 4 days there, w/o the boys, but w/ my parents,lol.
We went to a 4th of July BBQ and my dad and I went to Karaoke. I also gave my dad the DVD player for the cabin for Fathers Day( just a little late,lol but just in time for my visit) and I was able to get all caught up on my Netflix movies. I am now just waiting patiently for Monk season 6 to come out on DVD on the 8th and my week will be all set.
I had a rough week last week at work, some pretty crazy stuff happening. I suppose it always happens, just kinda got to me last week.
Anyway- crossing my fingers this week goes well, and we don't have anymore record highs here,lol.

I am still alive

but barely,lol.

Been working a lot, which is both good and bad.I am back on nights, and have weekends off. That is kinda cool, haven't had that in awhile. Maybe I can snare me a man??

ok sorry to be lame for my first blog entry in over 6 months but:

2 things I am wearing:
1) denim dress
2) sandals ( shh they are a brand name sandal that my mom and sister are into- I thought they were crazy to be this excited over a flipping shoe, but they really are comfy)

2 names I have been called:
there are many,lol but nice ones are
1) Lisa, not a lot of nicknames for that one
2) teacherlisa- that was a huge part of my identity for many years. Preschoolers all over az called me "Teacherlisa"... I miss it.

2 things I like to do:
go to the zoo
go to karaoke

2 things I want:
love
sleep

2 favorite beverages
sweet tea
chocolate diet cokes from sonic

2 pets:
Charlie ( my first dog)
Taz ( my favorite dog)

2 things I did yesterday:
work
sleep

2 people I talked to today:
Joel
Josh

2 things I am doing tomorrow:
work
sleep ( see the pattern)

2 longest car rides:
the ride home from carlsbad NM
my sister and I in the back of a stationwagon arguing for 4 days as we drove home from WI as kids.

Gonna go to the zoo tonight, then karaoke. I hope to do more blog entries than I have been lol- just in case anyone still checks on me.