%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |  Pearls of wisdom, inappropriate thoughts and the occasional rant. |
|
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** We celebrated over 20 years of friendship with fun tattoos! I'm the peanut butter & she's the jelly! |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I use red as much as possible to brighten my day. |
Now that I've got the kids set up, it's time for the Queen to think about the month. Here are a few of my goals. READ The Jezebel Remedy by Martin Clark- I can't pass up a Dollar Tree book. I mean come on, it's brand new book for a dollar. Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue- Found this well-loved beauty while sorting donations for my church's second-hand store. I'm glad I was volunteering that day because normally the other (older and more devout) volunteers will set nonreligious books aside to go to Goodwill. Especially ones about prostitutes in 1748 London. Animal Farm by George Orwell- I admit I did not read this in high school like I was assigned. Who had time for that nonsense when there was VC Andrews?! This is the pick for August for "CLOSED!The Monthly Reading Challenge"  , so I decided to see what I missed out on previously. WRITE I want to keep trying the"Invalid Item" because I adore Oriental Poetry and it challenges me to learn new forms.I also need to write a couple of things out of my comfort zone. I think"Twisted Tales Contest" "The Lighthouse Poetry Contest" and"Invalid Item" will help me accomplish that.I need to keep up with my"The Snail Mail Forum" buddies.LEARN I just signed up for a course called "Indigenous Studies: Australia and New Zealand". This is a perfect fit for my fascination with both history and other cultures. SOCIALIZE I need to find something to be actively involved in here on WdC so that I'm not just that Unsocialized Weird Homeschool Mom. |
| 1. What Was Your Most Precious Childhood Possession? I can't really remember anything that stands out. But I did grow up with a little black poodle. He was my best friend until he passed away when I was a teenager. That was one tough dog. As a kid, I painted his nails and dressed him up. Until my sister was born, then I dressed her up! 2. What Were Your Favorite Childhood Shows and Characters? I think my choices will clearly show that I was a child of the 80's. Punky Brewster will forever remain in my heart as the best show. I loved to following outspoken Punky on her adventures. Good Morning, Miss Bliss was another favorite. How could I not watch grown-up Hayley Mills? I always wished for a teacher like her at my school. I was sad that were was only one season, but I continued to watch the spin-off Saved by the Bell until I became a busy teenager and discovered that I would never go to such a cool school. My favorite character was Jessie Spano, always fighting for her causes. Ghostwriter was an obscure show I discovered on PBS and watched religiously. These kids solved mysteries with the help of an invisible ghost that communicated by manipulating whatever letters and text that was around. It was set in Brooklyn, so I that made it much cooler. Degrassi Junior High was another PBS jewel. Set in Canada, these kids dealt with real-world problems that I could identify with on some level. I also watched Degrassi High and later Degrassi: The Next Generation with my daughter. It was quite a kick to see baby Emma, born at the end of Degrassi Junior High, start junior high herself in The Next Generation. Beverly Hills 90210 fascinated me with the average twins thrust into a fabulous California lifestyle from mediocre Minnesota. 3. What Were Your Favorite Picture Books When You Were Little? My mom used to read me a book called The Monster at the End of the Book. It was some type of Sesame Street book, but boy I loved that thing! 4. What Things Did You Create When You Were a Child? I was a very creative child. I was always writing or drawing. I covered my bedroom walls with an assortment of collages. My sister once knocked over a mirror that shattered in a hundred pieces, and I gathered them up and hot glued them to a poster board. It was definitely a conversation piece. 5. What Places Do You Remember Fondly From Childhood? My favorite place was my great-grandparents house in Hope, Arkansas. We would go each year around Thanksgiving. Growing up in the city, I loved the small town vibe of Hope. The trees were shedding their leaves in beautiful shades of red and brown. It seemed so quiet and peaceful. My great-grandmother always had coffee cake set out each morning. I wish I had that recipe. It was such a happy time at their house. 6. Have You Ever Felt Embarrassed by Things You Used to Like? Um, I used to wear those awful velcro MC Hammer pants. Enough said. 7. Do You Wish You Could Return to Moments From Your Past? I've made a lot of mistakes in my past. I used to think I'd love to go back to a simpler time. But now I'm not so sure. I try not to dwell on the past because it's very easy for me to get stuck in my head, lost in my thoughts. 8. Was There a Toy You Wanted as a Child but Never Got? I'm sure there was, but I have no idea what it was, so I guess it wasn't too life-shattering not to get it. 9. What Objects Tell the Story of Your Life? This is tough. My extensive book collection for one thing. I have over 2000 (at last count) and by glimpsing at the titles, you can get a pretty good idea of my interests. I have an autograph collection. Pretty much everything in my house. I had to start over from scratch after my divorce. Money has been tight since then, so any trinkets I have are considered special. 10. What Are Your Best Sleepover Memories? My childhood best friend, Tina, and I had sleepovers all the time. I don't think we ever had a bad time. I loved staying at her house. All we did was listen to music and gossip all night, but it was fun. 11. What’s the Best Gift You’ve Ever Given or Received? Before I moved out of state, my grandmother gave me her bible. Later I discovered all kinds of handwritten notes inside. It was a treat to read her thoughts. In the back, I found a slip of paper where she had started composing her obituary. It really touched me that trusted me with it. 12. What’s the Most Memorable Thing You Ever Got in the Mail? There are too many things to name! I had several overseas penpals as a teenager and we would exchange all kinds of things. My friend, Marilyn, lived in Brunei and sent me a package of sugared cuttlefish. It was the weirdest tasting thing I have tried, but apparently, it was quite a treat in her country. 13. What Nicknames Have You Ever Gotten or Given? Pumpkin! Now I admit to having a slight pumpkin obsession. I've always wanted a pumpkin farm. But before that weird dream, back when I was in junior high, I had a little mishap with a bottle of Sun-In. The summer before 8th grade, my best friend, Tina, and I decided to lighten out hair with a cheap over the counter product that you spray in your hair and then let dry in the sun. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that because my hair is darkest brown, that it wouldn't work the way I wanted. Instead of having lovely, natural highlights, I ended up with orange hair. So when school started I was dubbed Pumpkin. 14. What Have You Learned in Your Teens? I'm 38, so my teen years were a while back. Although I did a lot of stupid things, the one thing I learned is that life can be cruel. When it comes down to it, you can't depend on anyone but yourself. 15. What Personal Achievements Make You Proud? Well, the kids are still alive and they haven't haven't committed any crimes yet. 16. What Are Some Recent Moments of Happiness in Your Life? I've been working on building my credit in order to buy a house one day. I just hit my personal best of 727. 17. What Are You Grateful For? My Soul Sister, Angie. I've known her for over 20 years. She's my best friend and has been there for me through some pretty terrible times. 18. What Rites of Passage Have You Participated In? I'm not sure about this one. I haven't been Baptised. I plan on it though. It just hasn't worked out yet. 19. What Advice Would You Give Younger Kids About Middle or High School? I have had this talk with Cupcake & Zak often over the last couple of years. Friends? Who needs them? Obviously, we all need a few people in our lives that will always be there for us. But how many friends do you really need? What makes them a friend? I have 4 non-family members in my life that I'm truly blessed to call friends. It seems too many kids worry about being popular and what others think about them. But in the real world, none of that crap matters. 20. What Can Older People Learn From Your Generation? Not to get stuck living in the past. Progress with the times. 21. What Do Older Generations Misunderstand About Yours? I'm Generation X, and I don't really think there were too many misconceptions. Definitely not compared to the Millenials. 22. Who Is Your Family? The people I choose to share every moment of my life with is my family. 23. What Have You and Your Family Accomplished Together? We started this great homeschooling journey together and have learned much about each other along the way. 24. What Events Have Brought You Closer to Your Family? The homeschooling. Not only do we get to spend more time with each other, but it's quality time. Mostly. I mean we do butt heads every now and then, but I think that's going to happen in any house with teenagers. We've learned how to work through those disagreements better. 25. What’s Your Role in Your Family? I'm the caretaker. The glue that holds us together. 26. Have You Ever Changed a Family Member’s Mind? I'm not sure, but I try as often as possible! 27. How Do You Define ‘Family’? The people closest to me that I have chosen to include in my life and the kids' lives as well. 28. What Are Your Family Stories of Sacrifice? When my ex-husband left, he took every penny we had. Even our only vehicle. I had no money, no job (or usable skills), and no transportation. But I also had a 7-year-old. We slept on my mom's couch while I worked 2 minimum wage jobs for 9 months before I was able to get a crap car. Yeah, my mom is not big on helping too much. Half of my money went to paying her for room and board. The first 2 years were pure Hell for me. There were many, many times I went hungry so that I could just keep Cupcake fed and clothed in hand me down school uniforms that didn't look too shabby. But I managed it and my daughter knows that I will do whatever it takes to provide for us. 29. What Possessions Does Your Family Treasure? Old photographs and letters. 30. What Hobbies Have Been Passed Down in Your Family? I don't think any hobbies have been passed down. We are all different. 31. How Much Do You Know About Your Family’s History? I think I'm pretty knowledgeable. I've always been curious and interested in history, so I've learned a good deal about my family's history. 32. Did Your Parents Have a Life Before They Had Kids? Of course. I know quite a few amusing stories! 33. How Close Are You to Your Parents? As an adult, I'm much closer to my mom than I ever was when I was younger. Sometimes the parent/friend line gets blurred and things can get tricky. My dad passed away when I was 18 and he was the one I was closest too. I feel like I'm pretty close to Cupcake. As close as you can get with a 14 year old, that is! 34. How Are You and Your Parents Alike and Different? I had much more in common with my dad. My mom and I have always clashed. 35. Do Your Parents Support Your Learning? My mom always expected so much from me that it didn't seem supportive. 36. What Have Your Parents Taught You About Money? Work hard, save, make good choices. 37. Do You Expect Your Parents to Give You Money? Hell no. If I borrow ten dollars from my mom, I pay her back thirteen the next week. 38. How Permissive Are Your Parents? My parents were super strict. 39. Do You Have Helicopter Parents? Yes. Growing up my mother inserted herself in every aspect of my life. She still tries to control things, but I'm 38 and have learned how to deal with her now. 40. How Do Your Parents Teach You to Behave? With manners and grace. 41. How Do You Make Parenting Difficult for Your Parents? By not taking her advice and figuring things out on my own. 42. If You Drink or Use Drugs, Do Your Parents Know? Since I'm 38, I'm honest about my glass of whiskey and my medical marijuana. 43. Do You Talk About Report Cards With Your Parents? We definitely had a lot of report card talks. Mainly that I wasn't reaching my full potential. Which was pretty true. High school had too many distractions for me to focus on my grades. Even though I did well, I could have done very well. 44. Would You Mind if Your Parents Blogged About You? That is not going to happen. My mother can barely manage Facebook. But I try not say too much about my daughters. "Cupcake" is 14 and going through such an emotional stage that the last thing she needs to see me sharing personal information. 45 How Well Do You Get Along With Your Siblings? Not too well. I've been raising her son for 14 of the 15 years he's been alive while she's been partying. I love her and I pray for her, but I can't let myself get to close to her. The kids come first. 46. How Well Do You Know Your Pet? Extremly well. I can generally tell when somethings off. 47. What Role Do Pets Play in Your Family? I don't pamper them as much as some owners do, but I treat them very well. We lost one last month and we're still dealing with the grief. 48. What Is Your Racial and Ethnic Identity? Well, I'm caucasian. My ethnicity is a nice mix of Cherokee Indian and British. 49. Have You Ever Tried to Hide Your Racial or Ethnic Identity? Nope. 50. How Do You Feel About Your Last Name? I like it just fine. Now. I hyphenated my last with my husband's when we were married. Both the marriage and the hyphen were a big pain in the ass. When we divorced, I dropped his and went back to just one last name. When I remarried, I chose not to change it. 51. What’s the Story Behind Your Name? The story behind my handle is better. My sister couldn't pronounce my name when she was little. It came out Kissa and then evolved to Kissy. She's 7 years younger than me, so when we would play together, I told her I was always the Queen and she was the princess. I wasn't bossy at all. 52. What Are Your Favorite Names? The names of my children, but I don't feel comfortable making them public. Each one was mulled over and thought about for quite a long time before I was sure. 53. How Have You Paid Tribute to Loved Ones? I have tattoos that have special meaning for me, symbolizing loved ones and/or special events. 54. Community and Home Wasn't too sure if this was a mistake. Where we live now is not "home" for us. It's just a small town that we are using as a stepping stone on the road to where we truly want to live. 55. Would You Most Want to Live in a City, a Suburb or the Country? My goal is to live in the mountains. 56. How Much Does Your Neighborhood Define Who You Are? None. This is just a temporary place to live until we can move onto something better. 57. What’s Special About Your Hometown? Well, singer/actress Selena Gomez grew up there too. 58. What Would You Name Your Neighborhood? I have no idea. I'm not fond of it, so probably something tacky. 59. Who Is the ‘Mayor’ of Your School or Neighborhood? Jim Goldworthy. But I don't really don't follow local politics. It's too much of the "Good Ole Boy" system. 60. Who Are the ‘Characters’ That Make Your Town Interesting? Khalid, the owner of my local convenience store. He always has a smile and time for a chat. Nicole, my favorite barista, is the perkiest person I've ever met. Dean, the crazy old man that lives across from my mom. He's a retired judge and has plenty of stories to tell to anyone that will listen. |
I finally got caught up on some school stuff for Cupcake. We've spent the last month reviewing materials she struggled with previously. But August is bringing new courses and I'm excited to get started. She has Geometry, UK History, Geology, & Personal Finance for the time being. I don't like doing Language Arts and Maths at the same time, so we won't start that until Geometry & Personal Finance is completed. Language Arts includes literature, vocabulary, composition, and grammar mechanics, so it can be overwhelming. Tomorrow I can figure out what the nephew will cover. They are complete opposites in learning styles & interests so I've got to use different methods and materials. Since the Queen requires a full 8 hours of beauty sleep, I'll be on my way. |
Carry On by Fun Although it's not exactly my genre, it's not a bad song. However, I would probably change the station if it came on the radio while I was driving. I think, in general, music can be an influence on mood. This song is a nice, hopeful number that probably cheers some folks up. I'm not like other people though, and this song actually made me feel a little sad. It reminds me of my Soul Sister, who I only get to see once or twice a year. I think the word I'm looking for is wistful. I sure do miss her, but boy we set the night on fire when we get together! Unless of course, Cupcake is with us. We can't get too rambunctious with a 14-year-old in tow.  |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
but seems to be okay today. I worry about my poor circulation, scrub my toes with a soft bristle brush, watch discoloration come and go. I probably need new arteries or veins but hey... "Heathcare" USA (enough said?). I may be better off trying something here in Thailand. But still... wish I lived in a country that had adequate patient based healthcare. Thailand and Taiwan mostly do, but I can't access it. First world systems like Europe, Canada and Australia do, but again, I can't access it. 