Filed under: Alaska, My Business, News

I can’t wait to see how people find this post on Google!

I wanted to update this last week when Obama won the election, but life got in the way.

There is so much to tell!
First off, YAY OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Forrest, Lauralei and I were downstairs watching the election together. Lani had gone upstairs to get her shower. We were waiting on a commercial to end and soon after it did, this image of Obama pops up on the screen and reads “44th President of the United States”. I did a double take, because for a second I thought it was a NBC showing us what it would look like if he became president. Then Tom Brokaw began commenting about it and it clicked! I screamed OH MY GOD! and began freaking out. Lani came down about that time after wondering what all the ruckus was. Forrest and I were woo-hooing and clapping our hands. The last time I cried so many tears of joy was after seeing my babies for the first time. So, it was a wonderful moment and I’m glad I was able to share it with them.

My joy has continued for a few days now, though last night wasn’t the best. It was my first *real* party for my business. And in a way it wasn’t the way my parties are supposed to go, because it was a bachelorette party. I had to start more than an hour later because the Bride didn’t arrive on time. The hostess explained to me that the Bride was the only one receiving the lesson, so instead of getting paid about $300 for about 12 people, I got $15 for one person and half-price because November is “free” hostess month (the Bride got the hostess benefits since the real hostess didn’t want them). The sucky part of the whole evening was NOT ONE person ordered anything! And I have no parties booked. I do have one person who was interested in booking, and I plan to call her tomorrow. I could have done so today but I don’t feel cheerful enough to speak on the phone.

At the party I hit my head on a beam and it was probably the worst damage I have ever done to myself (I’m clumsy by nature, so I tend to have “accidents” lol). I arrived home about 10 last night and went straight to bed. Unfortunately Lauralei woke up 4 times! I think she needed reasurrance that I was home. She hates it when I leave the house for more than a couple of hours. Anyway, when I woke the first time my head felt like someone had whacked me with a hammer. I think it was the injury just letting me know it was still there. Luckily my headache is very minor right now, but my head hurts and there is a slight bump.

I have a lot of thoughts about my business and whether or not I should continue doing the spa half of it. The company makes me crazy. They want me to spread out and get an upline started. But I really don’t want to bring anyone into this mess. They are still very unorganized and are changing things around all the time. Their catalogs suck and don’t even have the prices in them yet and they are really expensive! I don’t think most people want to go to a party and pay $25 for the pole lesson and then expect to buy spa products that run over $40! Maybe that is why I haven’t done well.

So I may leave the company if things don’t start looking up. Of course that would mean a whole lot of things for me. I would literally be working for myself. I would have to come up with a real name for myself. I would have to buy a business license. I would have to buy business insurance. I would have to get new business cards AGAIN. I would have to make a website. Ugh. All of that stuff costs more money! And I have spent so much already. I guess my plan for now should be to stay in for as long as I can and earn back what I’ve spent. And go from there. Unless the company kicks me out. I have to earn $350 in parties, in 3 months or I go Inactive. I have only earned $150 so far.

The Brown Bag girl at the party last night was really supportive and offered to join her. But again, it would be more money to spend on their starter kit. It does seem very promising because they earn 50% (I earn 25%) and they have several consultants here in Alaska and they aren’t unorganized! But I have to think about it. I don’t really want to sell sex toys… lol.

Filed under: Alaska, Family, News

So its been snowing. And snowing. But here on the south side of town we haven’t been getting much. I am very thankful for that. My mom has been making me chauffeur her around town to appointments. I love that woman but she drives me insane! She leaves Friday, so I’m sure by the weekend I will be crying my eyes out and saying I miss her. But really, you can only take my mom in small doses. I realized the day after she arrived that living with her would not work. My mom needs her own place. I’m glad the bid she put on the retirement home was accepted!

Today we went for coffee. The mom’s group I’m in meets at a cafe every Wednesday but today nobody showed. I was very disappointed. We drove right back home after grabbing ourselves a latte and danish. On our way some asshole driver in a truck who thought he was God got behind me and honked his horn while I was yielding to traffic in the roundabout. I HATE ROUNDABOUTS! But, I know how to use them and there were two cars coming! He pissed me off. So once we got onto the main road I gave him some attitude and swung my head around in circles and put my fist in the air. I don’t think he liked that much though because he stayed behind me the entire drive home. The second I turned down my street he sped up and passed me honking his horn three times. That time I almost flipped him off, but my mom was in the car with me. Bastard! I hate people like that. Especially when I have precious cargo in the back. Getting a license shouldn’t be so easy!

Mom took my brother and I out to Cattle Company. When we arrived my brother was standing at the door with a suit and tie on! My mouth dropped to the floor. I never knew he cleaned up so well! Dinner was delicious and very enjoyable. I think Joey is finally maturing into the man he is supposed to be. Granted he isn’t quite there yet and still makes some stupid decisions, but at least he is trying. My mom had to pick my mouth off the floor once again when he showed us his car. It was cleaner than mine! And actually quite nice! I’m proud of my baby bro. Just wish he’d figure the whole military thing out.

As I said, mom leaves Friday and she is making me take her two more places this week. I will just have to deal with it I guess. Our washer broke so we have to stay home tomorrow since the new one is being delivered. It doesn’t come with any cool features. Just your standard super capacity washer. One of these days though, I’m going to buy myself one of those expensive front loaders.

Filed under: News

My mom and I went to the retirement community homes and took a peek again. We did this two years ago when she thought she was sure of moving back. This time we were shown a lot more and my mom was in much better spirits. They are kind of like condos, but she won’t have to worry about any maintenance. There is an underground heated parking garage, a shuttle bus to the grocery store, a beauty salon, a little gift shop, a dining room where dinner is served every night. There are events every month for the residents and they hold family nights, especially during the holidays. There are emergency pull cords in each room and the staff can make the bathroom handicap accessible which is what my mom really needs.

She found a 2 bedroom that has the most spectacular view of the mountains (that have snow on them right now) and put a bid on it already. It went back and forth for a couple days but the owner agreed to her last bid and we found out this morning she just needs to put some money down and its hers! I’m excited but yet a bit skeptical. My mom has never gone this far before with wanting to move back, but everything could go downhill once she arrives in Florida. She is just so unpredictable at times.

I really want this to happen and I so hope it does. She needs us and even though she drives me crazy, we need her too.

Filed under: Baby, Family, News

Good news! My mom finally stopped feeling sorry for herself and all that jazz and came to Alaska! She is here right now, sitting across from me, reading the newspaper and drinking a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks! I am so happy. She arrived last week and it seems like it has gone too fast. My aunt is having hip replacement surgery and mom has to leave Friday afternoon. However! She is moving back. She seems very keen on the idea now and keeps telling me she was so wrong to stay in Florida, and blah blah blah. I said “Mom! I told you all this 3 years ago!” but she never listens to me. Luckily she found it out all on her own. Now the wait and see stuff begins. I have a terrible feeling she will go back and tell me she thought she could move but can’t. That is what she did last time. Tomorrow we’re headed to the senior housing she looked at 2 years ago. Its such a nice place! I hope she puts down some money on one of the apartments. That will entice her to come back. Maybe. For now I’m just going to relish having her near me. (p.s. She is blissfully in love with little Lauralei - but who wouldn’t be? :mrgreen:)

My brother is being a wuss. Somehow he found a loophole to get out of going to boot camp. I guess he thinks he can’t handle it. Why oh why did he sign up in the first place? He is sending his letter to whom it may concern and we’ll probably hear back from him in a few days or so. He isn’t out of the clear yet though.

And my dad…well its a very long story. My brother picked him up and took him to the psychiatric hospital. My dad checked himself out the very next day instead of going to another hospital for their detox program. He went right back to Seward, to his apartment and began drinking immediately. I have gotten his brother and mom involved, but they can’t do much. I guess my dad will just drink himself to death. He was fired from his job because he didn’t go to detox and has no income. I suppose he will get on unemployment but that money will go where his mouth is. Its so sad and such a waste. And there is nothing I can do.

A friend from the local mom’s group I’m with came over and took pictures of Lauralei. She is a professional photographer and is simply amazing. I’m going to buy the CD of our session so I can have them all because I can’t pick just a few prints out. Lauralei is too beautiful in every one! As soon as I get a copy I am going to post some of them here.

Lauralei is 5 months old now. Friday was her birthday. I can’t believe how big she is now. She is trying desperately to sit up on her own, is eating solids, and is almost rolling over. And boy can she talk! She jabbers away all the time, so I have a feeling she will be exactly like Lani and never shut up. But I love it. I keep telling myself to put some videos on my You Tube page of her, but I forget! I swear I will get around to it soon.

I’m happier than I have been in months even though my dad isn’t doing so well. The holidays are coming up and the kids are healthy. I’m healthy. Matthew and I had our first date in months last night. Things are just good. Really good!