Pizza Pizza!

I have this Sunday tradition, where I get up....get my first glass of crisp Coca-Cola, take my meds, and get on msn.com to check out the goings-on in the world. I have been a devout msn.com-homepager since the tender age of 11...that's ten years!! So today, I started looking around...there was an article on the coming-of-age of theatres, then one that included a photo gallery tour of Michael Vick's home that is up for sale to help him pay off his huge debts, and then there was this other article...the kind of article I normally pay no mind to - an article about Pizza.

As carrier of both diabetes and Celiac's disease (allergy to gluten - wheat), Pizza is no friend of mine. There are ungodly amounts of sugar in the pizza dough, the sauce, and even the cheese and pepperoni! Then there's the obvious wheat factor.....that humongous base of wheat, the foundation of this whole scrumptious concoction that shouts "Warning!! Upset tummy ahead!!" .... but, oh, how I love it. About once monthly, sometimes even less than that, Daniel & I - Maddy too! - give in to our craving for oodles of cheese & toppings. Here in Asheville, you can find some damn good pizza.

Now, I'm not talking those chain places like Pizza Hut, Domino's, or Little Ceasars (which is probably the best out of all the chain groups) --- I'm talking down-home, hole-in-the-wall places such as Blue Mountain Pizza or, the better-known Asheville Pizza & Brewery Company. These places are fantastic! Yeah, it's gonna run you a pretty penny to actually have a sit-down with a pitcher of beer and a couple salads (which don't come with at these places) - but if you get it to-go, it's not so bad. The atmosphere and ambiance you'll find at these places are at levels your dining room could never attempt to compete with. And at the Asheville Pizza & Brewery Company, you can even have your pitcher & pie in their very own movie theatre!!!

Although I am quite the ameteur when it comes to good pizza....I still know what's the best-of-the-best, and I still long for a bite of that cornbready-deep-dish that Chicago is home to, and (most of all!!) I dream of hearing that crunch!-chrunch!-crunch! sound that New York's infamous crispy thin crust pizzas will bring. Mmmmm!! I have no desire - other than for this specific reason - to ever visit either of these cities ....... Oh, I cannot wait until that day comes! I cannot wait until I travel to New York for simply a slice of pie! Ahhhh!!!

Too bad Daniel is bed-ridden with an absolute monster of a toothache.....or we'd be out the door & on our way to Blue Mountain Pizza!!!! Mmmmmmm......

What the f*!k is going on in the world?!

Everyday I open up my internet browser, and everyday there's some more crazy ass shit posted on msn.com ... it never, ever fails. Here are just a few of today's bizarre headlines:

Woman has 911 meltdown over McNuggets
Man stuffs kitten in homemade bong
Busted for lawnmower DUI

What in the hell?!?! This dude that stuffs the kitty in the bong....now that is just f&!cking wrong dude. That's just horrible. And the DUI thing is simply ridiculous && -- as bad as I hate to say it -- very redneck as well, haha. Seriously though, what the hell is up with people --- specifically to the United States is what seems to show consistent. Not surprising, eh?? Think on that for a while!

I am a total weird-o...

Yeah, for sure. I realized that tonight. But it's okay I guess...you probably are too if you read my blog lol. If you know me though, then you know I really don't care!! Everything is great, I got a job!!! I am working at Nick's Grill here in Asheville. It's a great job--it pays good, the people I work with are all really nice, and I really can't complain one bit! I am getting a lot more hours than both Daniel & I initially talked about me having, but it's working out fine so far. I still think we need to at least start looking into getting a babysitter, or at least look into possible babysitters, ya know? Just to be on the safe side, that's all I'm sayin'. But that's me, I always come up with the worst possible outcomes you could imagine, so therefore I sometimes have a tendency to plan off of those scenarios....lol. Yeah, that's me.

Maddy is walking!! How exciting is that?!?!?!!! And she is a pro at it, too!! It was really, really freakin awesome to experience that, all three of us like that ya know? It made it extra special. So between starting a new job & getting paid (suprisingly) more than what was originally expected, getting great hours, our daughter walking, and just being content with life....life is going pretty damn good. I am very, very thankful for everything I have in my life. I notice that I keep coming back to this point, also...the whole thankful thing. I think about how there really are a lot of people out there who never experience the wholeness & fulfullment that I feel in my life. I guess I earned it, ya know...I've changed so so much, it's probably very surprising to some people. To others, not so much, haha...but oh well. Anyway~~

I'm gonna stop blabbing and go to bed, gotta do a split shift tomorrow.

Typical me!

Yes, that's right. Typical me! I always complicate things. I don't know why, but it's something I've always done unintentionally. So I decided to simplify my blog here. I am downloading Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9 right now, and I am going to make a banner/header (I don't know what you tech-savvy bloggers-slash-web-designers are calling those types of graphics these days...) to put at the top of my blog...we're getting fancy here, folks! Anyone that really knows me knows that I just love Kellie Pickler! Her latest self-titled album is great, and I just love the song "Rocks Instead of Rice" - and OMG! I *just* discovered the fact that she (apparently) re-did "How Much I Loved You" and put it on this album!! I am so excited!! I have loved this song for a long time, actually since I first started listening to Pickler. She wrote this song a long time ago, and I think it's finally going to get popular! It's a very good song, and this time around, Kellie seems to put more of a Rock-y edge on it. I absolutely love her!!! I'm sure alot of you are groaning right now, or rolling your eyes, but c'mon now! Give me a break! You know I love country....and this Kellie Pickler album really just keeps getting better and better!!! If you like country at all, you really have to check this out! She writes all of her own songs, too, so that makes it even better!! She isn't just a singer, and she isn't just a country girl! She is very intelligent.

So far, my new year has gone pretty good. Daniel got in all his W-2's, so we are able to do our taxes this week. We are getting a new car! It's not going to be brand-new, but we've got to get out from under this damn Pontiac. It's unbelievably, outrageously expensive, and we just can't do it! So yeah, besides the car (which I think may end up being this really nice Cadillac!) we are also going to pay off my fine, which will finally get my warrant to go away! Yay! And amond little things for the house that we need to stock up on, and for Maddy also, we are hoping to get a gaming system. I really hope so, I've been wanting to get one since last tax season, and we just weren't able to then. I think it would be really fun for me & Daniel to play a game against each other, or whatever! You get the picture, lol. But what's nicest is getting rid of the car & my warrant, and also catching up on bills, ya know?! That's always a relief, huh?

Not much has changed in our lives...Maddy now has 2 molars, she got the one directly above the 1st. That's Mommy's lil' alligator! I love her so much! Sometimes I get teary-eyed from how much emotion I feel for her...that's my angel!!! She's somethin' else! I really love being a Mommy...I wish I was in one of the mommy-blogger networks! =( Pssshhh. Maybe someday I will be recognized enough to be included in one, but as for now...I'm only dreamin'! *Singin'....you can't always get what you want...

Well, I am going to make my banner! Have a great week everyone....but before you go, take one moment, just one moment to think about everything you are truly thankful for in this life. Take a moment to appreciate each and every person that matters to you. Let them know that not only do you love them, but you also appreciate them & are thankful for everything they do!

The stoned age...

Life is....kickin' dirt, fiddle-fartin around....it's gettin' there. But I'm not complaining. No, no...I'm actualy quite the opposite; I'm grateful. And it feels good to feel grateful. Because that's the kind of life you should live....the one where you really don't regret anything. I wish I had always lived this kind of life, but some things we "just learn the hard way".....myself included. It's a blessing to be on the sunny side (at least to the majority of things). I truly hope life is better than it was for you guys, too. That's what life is about, anyway....striving to be better, right? At least that's what I've gathered from it all!

I'm enjoying a Madellynn-free weekend....it's been very relaxed. Very...low-toned, go-with-the-flow =D The best kind of weekend! I just wanted to write for a minute....

For now, however...it's back to dinner.

One, two, buckle my shoe.

Happy new year, everyone! For the first time, I am very excited to see what the upcoming year has in store for me & my family. Life has changed tremendously in the past year, and all for the better...my 'Good Karma' is finally starting to come around, I believe. I believe that I have worked, and continue to work, as hard as possible to redeem my mistakes and bad choices in the past, and now I am finally being rewarded for my sincere efforts. I used to think that happiness was something that, if deserving enough, would just end up on your doorstep one morning on your way out to get the paper. Boy, was I wrong; Oh, the naive ways of my childhood (yet I thought I knew it all!) I have never in my life been any happier than what I am at this very moment. I really have began to leave my past behind me. My vices no longer have a death-grip on me. I can finally take that deep breath of air that I've needed for so long.

Our final day of the new year did not look as if it was making way for a bright entry into the future, however. It was a day of hell, lol. First-thing yesterday morning, we found out that we would not be getting our new tags for our vehicle (which expired this morning), due to the simple fact that we don't have insurance. They have never said anything about having/not having insurance before when Daniel has gotten them renewed. It wouldn't be such a big deal, but we absolutely cannot afford insurance right now. Our car payment (which we can't afford either) is outrageous...to the point that we wish someone would blow up the damn thing. But even if we found a way to scrounge around and be able to make that payment, there's no way in hell we could afford the insurace! That's another $250/mo, because Wells Fargo financing company requires you to have the maximum coverage available on any vehicle you finance through them. So...yeah...haha. I seriously laugh out loud at the thought of affording those two things. And seriously people, I don't understand how a family making any less than what Daniel does at his job actually survives in this world!

Sheweee, this is something Daniel & I have been pondering on a lot lately. It makes me so damn mad that people can be out here, have 8 kids, NO job or any type of income for the family except government assistance......and yet, these people have a drug habit, somehow they always seem to have gas in their cars, always shopping here or there for something.....HOW THE HELL DO YOU FUCKERS DO IT?!?!? I'm talkin about the people who, for some reason, have a hand full of pills, a fridge full of food & drink, a tank full of gas, a carton of cigarettes, a Fifth of Jack....and yet they are hittin their Mama up for this month's rent. How do people like this tend to live so lavishly, but all the while not being able to afford it. I don't think I am really getting this out the way I wanted to...I have a tendency to do that w/ my blog sometimes. But I mean, it really just has aggravated me this past month to see people living way out of their means even with the economy the way that it is. These people are the fucking idiots of the nation, and in my personal opinion need a swift kick in the ass (across the Pacific to somewhere in China...).

It's just that it's very, very discouraging to be doing the very best we can, and making it just fine, but not being able to afford the luxuries in life.....and then see someone in a broke-down pickup truck walking around with a Coach purse and arms-full of shopping bags and groceries. Or see people who aren't workin' a damn day at all able to afford the Clinic the way they do, like it's nothin' to them. It's very frustrating to see now that we have worked so hard to get here, to North Carolina, to a better life, to being back on our feet - it's frustrating to see people who don't do jack shit to better their quality of life getting shit just handed to them, like they're getting a favor done for them. You know, Christmas was wonderful. I truly, truly enjoyed it. But we didn't have the money for Christmas. We made ourselves have the money, but we didn't ya know. So we didn't get each other much...Daniel got the phone he had been wanting really bad, and he has worked his ass off to deserve a fancy phone like he's got - so he got it. I gave him some of my Christmas money to help him get it, and he used some of his own money, too. He got me a bad-ass Mastodon tee, took me out to dinner at Cracker Barrell, got me some amazingly comfy PJ's...and that's all I can think of, I think that's it. We barely were able to get anyone in the family a gift, and Maddy comes first always, so we didn't really care too much (at first, then we started to get really down about it the closer the day came). Maddy, however, made out like a bandit. But the thing is, we didn't do anywhere near what we wanted to do for her. Just because it's Christmas doesn't mean that rent isn't still due.....or the rest of our bills. So we did as much as we possibly could for her, but I know that Daniel still wanted to do more. He especially wanted to be able to do more for himself, and me too. We have come such a long way this past year that we deserved to have an awesome Christmas.

In the end....I have realized that I got my awesome Christmas. I got the Christmas I felt like I deserved. It may not have come in the form of wrapped gifts.....but it damn sure came in the form of Spiral Ham & Green Bean Casserole! Dinner was definetly my favorite part of Christmas. Daniel's grandmother cooks so damn good! His whole family does, really! Mmmmm....and I always get the foods that my Mother never fixed when I was a kid, so that makes it even better!!! Up until Thanksgiving '07, I was a Green Bean Casserole virgin!

Lol, really though....this was a very, very special Christmas & New Year for me this year. 2009 is very significant for me. You know how there's certain time periods in your life that have a sort of "haze" to them, and each "haze" is it's own, so that way you instantly know what time period you are reminiscing at the very second you sense the "haze"....right? Right. Well, 2008 is definetly one of the years in my life that has a very unique "haze" about it, very distinct. It's been a life-changing year, a year that I absolutely could not have left out of my lifetime....it was such an important part of the "new me" that I have become...along with my "new life", and also my "new relationships". The joy & happiness I've been blessed with, the way I feel like I'm right where I need to be, the opportunity to better my quality of life, the wholeness I feel upon completing this year....I just can't describe everything that this year encompasses for me. This year is very, very special.....I feel as if I have been blessed tremendously by someone, something...blessed for making 'becoming a better person' my top priority......

The past year has blessed me for being the wonderful, loving, generous, caring, and dedicated Mother, Lover, Daughter, and even (Grand)Daughter-In-Law that I have become throuought this past year. Thank you, 2008, for being the best year of my life.....so far, anyway.

Money sucks.

Grr. I can't wait to blog later about our day!! This has been one thing after another...its scary!