Just Fine!

I was driving into work this morning and Mary J's song "Just Fine" came on. I've heard it a couple of times, but never really paid attention to the words. I am loving this song! I was jammin' on my way to work.

Play the video and make sure to listen to the words.

My Birthday in Pictures

Well, it's after 10pm, and my birthday is coming to end. Here's my day in pictures.

My day started about 7am. The alarm went off at 6am, but I hit the snooze a few times. I was turning off the alarm in this picture. Aren't I cute in the morning?

Out the shower and off to get ready for work.

Dropping the boys off at school

Once I dropped the boys at school, it was off to Mickey D's for my cup of coffee. I don't care what anyone says, McDonalds premium coffee is da bomb. It can compete with Starbucks, and it's only $1.50 for a large!

Off to work!

Working.......working.......working........working..........

After work, I pick up the boys, meet Fonzy at home and we're off to dinner. LoneStar, here we come! Wanna know why we picked LoneStar? Besides the food being tasty, kids eat free on Tuesdays! Can't beat that.

Waiting for our dinner.

The boys love this longhorn and the Don't Mess with Texas sign

My dinner: steak, medium rare, grilled shrimp, rice, salad and ice water w/lemon.
YUMMY!

After dinner we headed to Elijah's basketball game.

Fonzy and I on the bleachers. Ezekiel took this picture. He has been my official picture taker today. He did a pretty good job.

Back at home, showered and ready for bed, but not before I blog about my day.

OK, I'm off to get a massage and my 37 whippings....

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yep, today is my birthday and I plan on sharing this day with you all. I have been taking pictures since I hit the alarm clock this morning and plan on posting all my pictures before I go to bed tonight. Until then, I want to share what was up on this date in history. Top TV shows, Hit songs, and famous people I share this date with, so here goes....

Hit songs in 1971

Black Magic Woman - Carlos Santana

Got a black magic woman,
I got a black magic woman
I got a black magic woman got me so blind I can't see
I got a black magic woman
She try'in to make a devil out of me

Turn your back on me baby,
turn your back on me baby
Turn your back on me baby don't turn babe
Turn your back on me baby You might just pick up my magic sticks

Got your spell on me baby,
got your spell on me baby
Got your spell on me baby turnin my heart into stone
I need you so bad magic woman I can't leave you alone

I think Fonzy would agree with song. Here's a list of a few more hits in 1971.

Imagine - John Lennon
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Proud Mary - Ike and Tina Turner
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Temptations
Hot Pants - James Brown - In my younger days, that would of related to me.
Wild Horses - Rolling Stones - I love horses!
River Deep-Mountain High - Supremes & Four Tops
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers - cuz ain't no sunshine when I'm gone.
Mercy Mercy Me - Marvin Gaye
Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver - ok, I like this song. I grew up in Dunkirk, NY and yeah, it is kinda country, so take me home, country roads. Just replace West Virginia in the song with Dunkirk, NY
Never Can Say Goodbye - Jackson 5

OK, on to top TV shows in 1971.

1. All in the Family
2. The Flip Wilson Show
3. Marcus Welby, MD
4. Gunsmoke
5. ABC Movie
6. Sanford and Son - the best show of them all
7. Mannix
8. Funny Face
9. Adam-12
10. Mary Tyler Moore

No big news happened on the day I was born. I guess I was the big news of the day.

And last but not least, famous people I share this date with.

Linda Blair - star of Exorcist - hmmmm......no comment

DJ Jazzy Jeff

Diane Lane

Bill Bixby - star of Incredible Hulk series, which I loved!

Sam Cooke

Piper Laurie - the crazy mom in the movie "Carrie"- hmmmmm, again, no comment

I almost forgot to add, Starbucks was established in 1971. I LOVE me some Starbucks!

1971 was a good year!

If it's Goya, it has to be good!

You can't be Puerto Rican, and not know the name Goya. Every Puerto Rican uses some sort of Goya products. If you are lazy like me, and have never made your own sofrito, you use the Goya kind. Of course the homemade is better, but Goya sofrito will do. And every Puerto Rican must have Adobo. If you have nothing else, you must have Adobo. Oh, and Sazon. Those are two products every Puerto Rican has. If you don't use these two spices, you really aren't Puerto Rican.

For dinner tonight, I made chicken in the sauce. At least that is what I call it. I'm sure there is a name for what I made today, but I have no clue. I need to call my step-mom, and ask her what this is called since she is the one who taught me how to make it. Of couse she uses her own freshly made sofrito and it tastes so much better, but mine is ok. Here are the ingredients, well, at least the main ones. I add a few more spices, like black pepper, and garlic, but that's about it.

I add all the ingredients in a pot. That is chicken, potatoes, gandules (I usually use Goya pink beans, but didn't have any) and all the seasonings. Doesn't look that great, but it's really good. Ezekiel claims this is one of his favorite meals and better than Granndmas. Gotta love him.

Boiling rice


The finished product...chicken in the sauce over white rice, with a salad and french bread dinner roll.

When Fonzy saw this picture he said, "so that's why I got a real plate" We always eat on paper plates, but I couldn't take a picture of the meal on a paper plate. That would of been way too ghetto!

It was suppose to snow!

The weather man predicted we would have 1-3 inches of snow today, which is a big deal here in NC. Everyone was so excited. Snow!

By noon, the boys were getting impatient and bugged the heck out of me.

Mom...I thought you said it was going to snow.

Mom....where is the snow?

Mom...when is it going to snow?

Mom....you said it was going to snow?

Mom...you lied, it's not snowing.

Me: No, I didn't lie, the weather man did! Now leave me alone! I have no idea when it's going to snow!

Finally, around 5-ish, it starts to snow. Well, if you want to call it snow....more like sleet. But the boys were excited! I really wanted the snow too. I kept looking out the window, wishing the rain would turn to big, fluffy flakes. Never happened. Maybe we will wake up to a winter wonderland. Hey, we can wish, right?

Shrink Fat with Hemorrhoid Cream

Did you know you can shrink fat with hemorrhoid cream? No. Well, according to one of my friends (who shall remain nameless, she knows who she is) was told that if you rub the cream on your stomach, it will help shrink the fat or make your stomach tighter. Now I have hemorrhoids, thanks to pushing out 4 babies, and there is nothing better than some PreparationH when they flare up. It helps with the pain and yes, shrinks the hemorrhoids, but do you really think it can shrink the fat on your stomach? Do you? Well, I think that's just crazy.

Hmmm, I wonder if I have some PrepH in my medicine cabinet.......

I have a friend....

....who sometimes I just want to shake, she frustrates me so! I've had this friend for about 10yrs. We met at work. When I met this friend, she seemed to have it all together. I was even kind of jealous. She was in college, had a great job, had the cutest clothes, had money to spend on whatever she wanted etc. She had her own place, which her Dad paid for, including all her utilities. He was paying for everything while she was in school. Well, she started seeing this guy. He moved in with her and it all went down hill from there. Her dad quit paying her rent and bills, because she had this guy living there. This guy turned out to be a loser. He couldn't keep a job, was always drinking and eventually started to abuse her. At first I think it was verbal abuse. He would tell her she was no good, was not all that, she was stupid, etc. She became isolated from her Dad, and also her Mom. Anyone who has dealt with domestic abuse knows how the story goes. It starts with the verbal and goes to physical. I know that he has hit her, but she stayed. Now, I am not one to judge. I try to support my girl anyway I can. They have been together for almost 10yrs now and have 3 kids, ages 6, 4, and 1. My friend has made some bad decisions, gotten into trouble with the law, I think even dabbled in drugs. She has had several jobs, but has been unable to keep them. Every time we talk, there is drama going on. Well, last year, her man was put in jail...not really sure for what, but he is due out in Feb. While he has been in jail, his family has been keeping tabs on her and reporting back to him. He has sent her several letters calling her all kinds of things, a whore, bad mother, etc. He claims once he gets out, they are done! I'm saying YAY! Pack your stuff and move now! But then he turns around and says he loves her and wants to make it work. With all the crap his family has told him, I believe he would kill her when he gets out. I even went as far as to call the domestic abuse center in her city to see if they could help her. The gave me all sorts of info for her, to help her leave and start a new life. Did she do anything with it...NO. She gets involved in another mess!!!!!

While her man has been in jail, she was working for a temp agency, and met this guy on a job she went to. At least I think that is how she met him....really doesn't matter how she met him. He is from out of state, and they started seeing each other. He would help her out with bills, etc. Well, during the holidays, she decided to go with him to his home, in another state, about 1,000 miles away! She told her man, his family and her mom she was going to visit her aunt in another state. So I get a call from her, from this other state. I could not believe she went. She hardly knows this man, and she took her kids. What really frustrates me, he is just as bad as her man, with being controlling and possessive. Not good signs. And she went to another state and took her kids! Now to top it all off, she is stuck there!!!! He has no car to get her back home and he lives with his momma!!! So how in the heck was he going back and forth before for a job, but all of sudden can't get her back home! The 6 yrs old is going on missing 2wks of school! Her water has been cut off and the assistance she was getting for childcare has been cancelled, but I guess that doesn't matter, because it will be a miracle if she still has a job! And hopefully she gets home this week, because if the 6yr old misses any more days of school, she will be held back. IN KINDERGARTEN!!!!! Can you feel my frustration????? Oh, and how do you suppose she is going to keep this from her man. Her 6yr old is going to tell Daddy all about their little trip. My friend said they have been calling her friend Uncle, but so what! Her daughter is not dumb....she is going to talk. What 6yr old wouldn't. I seriously fear for her life. From both her man and this new guy. He could say he was taking her back home, and kill her along the way, and dump the body. Her kids too!!!! All I have is a name and phone number for this person. It's just crazy! I no longer live in the same state as my friend, but I always try to maintain contact with her, because I fear for her life. I have even gone as far as calling the local police in her city to check on her when I can't get in touch with her due to phones being disconnected. What more can I do? I guess all I can do is continue to pray for her, pray that she will make it back home, pray this guy won't do anything crazy and pray her man won't kill her when he gets out. I have even told her to get a will. Yes I did! I know she didn't want to hear it, but if she ends up dead, I told her I want the kids. Her father has passed away and her mom would be unable to take care of them. And the daddy's family is horrible. The brothers beat their girlfriends too and the mom(their grandma) treats them like crap! I try and tell my girlfriend straight up how the stupid decisions she is making are effecting her kids. Her little girls will grow up thinking being hit is normal, and her son will grow up thinking it's ok. I asked her how would she feel if her girls were in the same situation she was in. She started to cry, but crying is not good enough! Make a change, do something! Then I asked her, how she felt about his family raising them, and she was dead set against it. Well, that is where it's headed....he is going to end up killing her when he finds out about all this, he will go to prison and the kids are left to his family. I have a headache just thinking about it. What can I do???????

Workout Room/Guest Room

As you all know, I have been trying to lose some weight and get into shape. Yeah, yeah, I know. I've been saying this for a while now, but I am serious now. I hate taking pictures now, because I look so fat in them. I swear, when I see myself in the mirror every morning, I do not look like that. I now believe when they say the camera puts on 10lbs, or is it 20lbs. From the pictures I've seen of myself, I really think it's 20lbs. Either way, it's too much! So I've committed again, to stop being lazy, work out and eat better. So here is my workout/guest room. As you can see, I have my TV, DVD player, weight bench, weights, exercise ball, trampoline, along with a nice comfy bed for guests. (Pay no attention to cords hanging out from the TV. I wasn't going for looks in this room....it's a workout room)

Along with all my equipment, I have DVD's. I am always hearing of a new workout DVD, that I just have to have and swear this is the one I will work out with and lose those 20lbs. I have the Firm serious, Yoga Booty Ballet and Windsor Pilate's, and tons of others. Yep, all those DVD's were going to make me look J-Lo like. I'm not quite J-Lo like yet.

Here's my weights and my little squeezy(sp?) ball for Yoga Booty Ballet.

The weight bench, and oh yeah, my stepper.

This should be enough to get me in shape and to look J-Lo-ish right? I guess I have to actually USE the stuff and stop procrastinating. Remember my slogan....2008 - No more Procrastinate! Yeah, that's it. Once I get home from work today, I'm heading straight to workout. So I can look like this....

How many lunges do you think I have to do to get a Booty like that....a million???? I don't think Yoga Booty Ballet is going to cut it.

Slave for a week

Yay Giants! Because of you, I have a slave for a week. One glorious week and it just so happens to fall on the dreaded week of the month, when my little friend comes for her monthly visit. My slave is in for a fun week, huh? Oh, who is my slave you ask...my dear sweet hubby, who happens to be a VERY SORE LOSER!


Fonzy and I decided to bet on this game, being I'm from NY and he is from TX. Now mind you, he cannot stand the Cowboys and have never rooted for them before, but he thought for sure they were going to win. I also can't stand the Cowgirls and don't particularly like the Giants, but we couldn't pass up the NY vs TX thing. We originally said the winner would have to keep the house clean all week. We are so bad about keeping our place clean. We clean on the weekends and by Monday, it's a wreck again. I don't know how we do it. So the loser has to make sure that before they go to bed, our home is nice and clean. I decided on Sunday morning to add something new to the bet, the loser has to cater to the winner. Whatever the winner wants for this whole week, the loser has to do. Oh, the things Fonzy had in mind. He was so confident the Cowboys were going to win. Before we agreed on the second part of the bet, he said, there are a few things I may want to know before I up the ante like that. First, the Cowboys had already beat the Giants twice in the regular season and they were playing in Dallas. Yeah, yeah, whatever. I have to admit, I was kinda nervous when he said they were playing in TX. So I asked who the quarterback was for Cowboys. I really don't keep up on who's quarterback, etc. Once he said Romo, I knew we were going to win. Romo is too wrapped up in Jessica Simpson to play football. We women have that power over men. And I told Fonzy as much.....Romo is too wrapped up in Jessica to win, even if she's not at the game. It's that voodoo that we do so well.

For the first half of the game, we were at Jay's (my brother) house. He was going for NY also. We left during halftime and had Jay call us if the Cowboys got a touchdown. Of course, they didn't, they had to settle for a field goal. Once we got home, Fonzy was talking mad junk. That picture up there was when he thought they had a chance and he was thinking of all the things he was going to have me do. See the smirk on his face. Well, that didn't last long. We got down to the final few seconds and I thought for sure the Cowboys were going to get that last touchdown, Romo threw the ball, and it was intercepted in end zone (this is what they call it, right, the end zone?) I jumped up and started screaming! The Giants had won! Beat the Cowgirls in their own house! I had my camera ready to take a picture of the score on TV, but Mr. Sore Loser wouldn't let me, he jumped in front of the TV and turned it off! He wouldn't even let me take his picture. That's why I'm posting this now, instead of last night. He may have thrown my laptop. Jay called as soon as we won and asked if Fonzy had his maid uniform on yet and was I getting my feet rubbed? Hahaha......of course Fonzy wouldn't even talk to him. Poor baby.

I will try not to go to hard on him this week. I did have him rub my head last night. I had a terrible headache from all the screaming, so that was the first thing my slave had to do....once he got over being a sore loser :) On second thought, I know he wouldn't go easy on me if he had won, so....all is fair in love and war :)

Fonzy wanted to do double or nothing on next weeks game, NY vs. Green Bay. I really don't like the Giants like that, but I guess I will bet again. But not double or nothing. I want my week of being catered to.

Flashback Friday

Who is this cute little girl? Me of course!

I'm not sure how old I was here, maybe 5? I wonder what I was thinking then, what I did the rest of that day, and why Mommy decided to take my picture, or even IF she took the picture? Was it a special occasion, or was it just because I was so cute?

I also wonder who that little girl wanted to be when she grew up and have I fulfilled her hopes and dreams..

We're playing basketball.....

Curtis Blow
Basketball

Chorus: They're playing Basketball,
We love that Basketball,
They're playing Basketball,
We love that Basketball

(Now rapping Basketball, Number 1, Kurtis Blow)

Basketball is my favorite sport,I like the way they dribble up and down the court,

Just like I'm the King on the microphone, So is Dr. J and Moses Malone,
I like Slam-dunks, take me to the hoop,
My favorite play is the alley-oop,
I like the pick-and-roll, I like the give-and-go,
Cause it's Basketball, uh, Mister Kurtis Blow...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

We are in the midst of basketball season. Fonzy is assistant coaching at Apex Middle and the boys are playing in the city league. We try to keep the boys involved sports. They've played Little League baseball, PeeWee football and now basketball. Who know's what's next....hockey maybe?

The boys love watching Apex Courgars play, so we try to attend all the home games. Tonight was the first home game since Christmas break.

Elijah and Ezekiel amazed that there favorite player on the team sat in front of them.

Elijah kept saying, "Mom, that's Quincy. I can't believe that's Quincy. Take our picture!"

Huddle up - see Coach Veale on the left.

Coach Veale coaching.

See what happens when Coach Veale coaches - SWISH - nothing but net!

Final score - Home: 60 Guests: 42

GO APEX COUGARS!

Now on to the boys games. First up is Elijah's (number 22 on maroon team) game. Now Elijah is what you call a ball-hog. He is a good player and knows it and he doesn't want anyone else to get the ball. He said when someone else get's the ball, they never make the shot. They just keep shooting and shooting. He said he alway's gets his shots. Very humble, huh?

Coach Veale/Daddy

Next up is Ezekiel's game, also number 22. I told them to get number 22 for my birthday, Jan 22 and for Fonzy's and I wedding anniversary, Feb. 22.

Ezekeil was fouled, so here is, making his free throws. He missed the first one...

But hit the second one!

After their games, the boys decided to play a little one on one....

First Annual Veale Flag Football Game

This is a new tradition the Veale family has started on Christmas Day...a family flag football game. Christmas afternoon, everyone meet up at Ector football field for the game. It was all the kids, and the parents. We had jerseys and everything! Check us out.

Are you ready for some football?????

Group picture

Laying out the rules...you know for us non-playing people.

Here's the kick-off to start the game. OK, I don't think there even was a kick-off, but it sounded good.

FIRST HALF

I guess since this is my blog, I should point out myself for the ones who were not there. That's me, running in the corner with the gray/w white strip down the leg sweat pants. See how fast I was running!

HALF TIME

During this time, I had to have a ride back to the house to pee! You know after you have kids, and get older your bladder is not what it use to be and I didn't want to be on the field and have an accident. I would of never lived that down.

SECOND HALF

Look, I even had ball once!

Let me tell you, after this game, I was in pain! My knees were killing me. I think I'm too old for this stuff. If I'm not in better shape next year, I may have to be the official photographer.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, the game was a tie.