My Playground

The band that has had the most profound impact on my life from a musical standpoint would have to be:

RUSH

Geddy, Alex, and Neil have been a part of my life since I was 12 years old and saw them in concert the first time at the TeXXas Jam 1979 (July 12th, to be exact)

Ever since then...every time they come out with new music...there is at least one song on each album / CD that describes / fits my life in the stage that it is at that time...

They make me think...it seems like they listen to me...and they are my favorite band of all time.

As to their affect on the musical world: Geddy Lee is ranked in the top 5 bassists of all time, Neil Peart is considered to be the ultimate drummer that every drummer in the world wishes they could be, and Alex Lifeson is among the top 10 guitarists of all time...

Hell, YYZ is on Guitar Hero and considered one of the hardest songs on there...*laughs*

That's me...everyone's opinion matters, and so as others are different than mine...it makes them no less valid...just different.

Matthew and I helped to save a life tonight.

We were leaving Bert's house and were on 121 and Preston when we were passed at a red light by a silver car doing in excess of 100 mph.

As they shot through the red light, we made comment of "where's a cop when you need one?"

A few streets later...on 121 and Legacy...

The same little silver car and a little red car...had danced in the middle of the intersection. Witnesses to the accident said that the silver car had run the red light...

No one seemed to have a phone...or at least a phone that was working...or had the idea to call 911.

So, as Matthew went to check on survivors...I called 911 and reported. I was impressed with the response time...we're talking about 5 minutes, max.

Matthew was trying to get Mike, the young man of about 20 in the silver car, to respond. He was also holding a clean towel against Mike's bleeding arm. He was barely breathing, but Matthew kept trying. Luckily, he wasn't pinned and Paramedics were able to get him out.

They called Careflite...

We don't know if he's going to live or not...We hope he does.

We hope that the young lady that was in the red car will be okay, too...

We've made the kids promise...once again...that they will never never never never NEVER...drive while drunk...or get into a car where someone else is driving drunk.

We've told them that if they are ever somewhere where they or their ride are drunk and they cant' stay there...then to CALL US...we will come get them...no questions asked, no yelling at all. Just CALL US...because we would rather come get them and take them home, than be called at 2:25 in the morning by the police telling us that they've been in a horrible accident and the paramedics aren't sure they're going to live.

I was sleepy....I'm awake now.

*sighs*

I'm gonna go hug my kids...

Start seeing a bit of clear patch in the clouds and something else comes along to kick us hard...

Now the car's broken again...nothing huge, just a hole in a radiator hose...

The only problem is where it's at, it's going to be a pain in the ass to fix...and if Matthew can't get to it or get it to come off, then we have to take it into the shop again...and we don't have the money for that. (we're down to $60.00 for the week until Matthew gets paid...and we haven't paid the electric bill yet...but, Rent's paid, so that's a good thing.)

Why couldn't this wait a week? *chuckles*

*sighs*

Figures...

He fixed the TV so that I can watch FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!

I've got the Fox Network and I can watch Football!!!!!!!!!

I'm a very happy Cat!!!!!!!!!!!

You scored as Captain Jack Sparrow. Roguish,quick-witted, and incredibly lucky, Jack Sparrow is a pirate who sometimes ends up being a hero, against his better judgement. Captain Jack looks out for #1, but he can be counted on (usually) to do the right thing. He has an incredibly persuasive tongue, a mind that borders on genius or insanity, and an incredible talent for getting into trouble and getting out of it. Maybe its brains, maybe its genius, or maybe its just plain luck. Or maybe a mixture of all three. </td> Captain Jack Sparrow 96% William Wallace 88% Lara Croft 88% Indiana Jones 83% El Zorro 83% Batman, the Dark Knight 79% Maximus 71% The Amazing Spider-Man 67% The Terminator 58% Neo, the "One" 54% James Bond, Agent 007 54% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

and that I'm going to a very special Hell designed for people who are as wrong as I am...*smile*

You see, I'm a Sims 2 Addict...

and I have a new family in my Sims 2 Game that I am currently playing...

The guy is Seanta Claus...and he's a toy maker and ruthless businessman...gothy and pointed ears and everything.

Then, there are his two girlfriends: Brooke and Demi...

And they all three live together in this big beautiful house...

And each of the girlfriends has a baby by Seanta...both of them are girls...

The first one I named "Lorelai"...because I'm evil that way...

The second one I named "Sahiri"...because I'm even more evil that way...

Anyone notice a trend?

I'm just waiting for the chance for one of them to have another girl...and she will be the most evil of the three...I will name her: Isyllt

Of course, if they both have girls...then, the 4th girl will have to be the most evil of them all...I will name her: Jenn

And that's why Matthew says I've hit a new level of "Wrong" and that I'm going to the special hell...*grins* Because I've earned it...

*giggles*

Took the girls clothes shopping today for school. Luckily, it is Tax Free Weekend and we were able to get a few things for them, even though I only had $40.00 to spend on each of them, since we HAD to pay the electric bill so that we don't die in the heat. ($450.00 that one...ouch!)

I'm in complete agreement with Matthew on one major thing: The Powers That Be need to leave Cartwright, Brian, and Joy alone. These poor kids have been through enough...their father being arrested and deported back to Kenya by Homeland Security, their mother having dual strokes that have left her an immobile invalid for the rest of her life, having to make the decision to send their mother back to Kenya so that she could get free medical care--since they didn't have the money or insurance to pay for it, and now...finding out that their father has died...

They can't take much more...they're going to break. So...PTB, Fates, whoever happens to want to listen:

QUIT IT! LEAVE THEM ALONE!

I love them all so much and I'm hurting for them. Seeing the sadness in their eyes, how quiet they've all become...they have each other, and I'm really thankful for that...but for how long? That's the problem...

Matthew sent up a promise to Joe (their dad) last night that I echo completely. We aren't much, but we will do everything in our power for them...we will take care of them and protect them as best we can.

Continue sending warm thoughts and love to them...they really need it right now...

It's not so much that I have not had a computer for the last several days, simply that I have been unable to go home, because the air conditioner is broken and our land lady is out of town and the people she called to come fix it haven't gotten there yet. She called today to ask if it was done yet and I told her that it wasn't...so, she called them and then told me that it would likely be tomorrow.

We have wonderful friends who have been offering us crash space, because if we were to stay in a house that is 108 degrees F, then the majority of us would either be: A - Sick, B - Hospitalized, or C - Dead.

We've been staying at Michelle's place. We owe her a great deal for this. MJ and Reza have offered, as has Bert, and it is muchly appreciated.

Other than that, nothing much is going on. I still hate my job. I worked a 12 hour day today, which wouldn't be bad except for the fact that today was supposed to be an 11 hour day. *sighs* And I don't get overtime...I get that crap that they're allowed to do to "salaried employees".

I still haven't been able to find another job. I've been looking all over the place, but sadly, to be able to get another job, I'm likely going to have to move...and I can't do that...not for another 3 years. We promised...and as much as I hate the Dallas area, Matthew likes it here and wants to stay...therefore, here is where we are. This is, of course, until he finally lands that job on one of the Carribean Islands that he's been putting in for. *smirk*

JA is signing up for classes at Brookhaven Community College. It's a place to start until he can join the Coast Guard. On an interesting note, Matthew and I found a couple of classes there that we were considering taking...but, sadly, the money for college just isn't there for us this semester. We need to help JA...that's much more important.

Amber has decided that she no longer wants to be on the Swim Team. That's fine. She is now a Member of the Colour Guard...The Flag Corp that travels with the Marching Band and dances with flags while the band plays...

That's cool.

Joy hasn't decided exactly what she wants to do from here. But, she is taking core classes. She's still studying French, so that could be good for her.

The Bear starts into 5th grade this year. She got the teacher she wanted, Ms. Case. I've already talked to her. I like her very much. She is really interested in helping the Bear succeed. She intends on talking with Ms. Usey, the Bear's teacher from last year, and get the inside scoop on our Bear. As I said, I like her a lot.

So, that's really about it...there's nothing much going on. I have a lot of email to answer...that's really about the gist of things.

I wish you all the best...

	This is our beautiful daughter, Joy.
	This is our beautiful daughter, Amber
	This picture of the Bear is a bit blurry, but that's because Nash was playing "Orange Blossom Special" on RDA and she was singing along and bouncing...*smile*

Second interview...

Tuesday at 2PM.

GO ME!!!!