Arsenic Kitchen is Back Better than Ever!!

      Last night...well this morning. (December 19, 2018)....I woke up at 3 AM and could not go back to sleep. I decided to check Facebook and see if it would put me to sleep. The first post I saw was Arsenic Kitchen's newest release, The Air that I Breathe! I was so excited! I have loved that song from the first time I heard it. It was so beautiful and dear to my heart that it brought tears to my eyes.

     In case you do not know who Arsenic Kitchen is, it is a band my oldest son Blake started in 2012. They were actually well on their way in 2014 but things happened and they did not move forward at that time. They have been away for awhile but now they are back with an amazing new lead singer!   I am glad that they took the time off because what they have now is the best sound ever!

     Their first song in many years is The Air that I Breathe. It is one that Blake wrote and had always said he would not release until he felt the time was right and the vocals were exactly what he wanted. It is a song that was near and dear to his heart. Well now it has been released and it is beautiful.

     I always told him I wanted him to find someone to sing it. It had to be just the right person. I even tried to find people who I thought would do it justice. Blake finally has someone on his side who has done it justice.

     I am very proud of my son, I am proud of his accomplishments and his perseverance. He did not give up when it seemed like things were going the wrong way. Music is a part of who he is and he has not let that go. I believe it is worth it and I believe that the new revived Arsenic Kitchen (AK) will go far!

    I am proud of Arsenic Kitchen! They are amazing!

     Please listen to the song on sound cloud. I  will attach the link. If you love it as much as I do like it, share it, like their Facebook Page, share it, and follow them for updates on their up coming album to be released in January.

Update 2020: Arsenic Kitchen has more music on iCloud to stream. They are also about to release their 2nd music video. You can follow them on Facebook.

The Air that I Breathe by Arsenic Kitchen

Photo property of Arsenic Kitchen

+music +rock +Arsenic Kitchen +band

https://soundcloud.com/arsenickitchen/air-that-i-breathe?fbclid=IwAR0Sh5x7T0ZI_adTOHsUqrT3xoewvy2-xKaeBtM0mZMFYLJMAQG-ZqfP2R0

Bohemian Rhapsody Rocked Me! Did it Rock You?

    I just read a review of Bohemian Rhapsody by Vanity Fair. The review said that the movie will not rock you and that it is barely watchable. Hmm I wonder what movie the critics watched? Were they just in a bad mood when they watched Bohemian? Do they just not like Freddie for some reason?

    All of the reviews I have seen by the movie goers have been that it is fantastic! Everyone I know who has seen it has loved it! I absolutely loved it! It was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I rant it up at the top as one of my favorite movies.

     They did an amazing job portraying Freddie and his musical walk to the top. The movie showed how he became the legend that he is. It did not focus on his death which was great! The focus was on his life and his flamboyant personality, talent and drive to do what he loved! He loved music and when he was dedicated to his music he did amazing things.

    I can't even find the words to describe how much I enjoyed this movie!

     I think the movie was fantabulous and I will be watching it again. I will also buy it when the movie comes out.

+Bohemian Rhapsody
+excellent

Addictive and Deadly Power of Opiods They Discriminate Against No One and Can Kill the First Time

     Today as I scrolled through Facebook I saw a YouTube message from Eric Bollling about the loss of his son and the dangers of opioid use. I researched and found another video where he talks more in detail about the night his life changed forever.

    Mr Bolling speaks about how many people place a stigma on others for opioid use but that it does not discriminate. They are so dangerous and anyone can become addicted to them, anyone can die from them. It can be using them over a period of time or one time as with his son.

     The story in the attached videos is so sad.It made me think of my own personal experience with opioids and how easy it is to become addicted to these pills. I am not the kind of person who even I think might become addicted to them. I do not drink and never thought I would want to use artificial means to deal with life struggles. I  like to be in control of my actions. The thing with opioids is that you are somewhat in control, you just feel great as you do things.

      I did not let the addiction rule me or overcome me but I was addicted. Thankfully I recognized where it was heading and was able to stop taking them. But oh how easy it would be to get totally hooked.

     Back in 2011 I had knee surgery. I was given Percocet for pain. I am thankful for it because it helped with my pain. I took them for several weeks, I probably could have stopped taking them sooner but life was rough at the time, I was dealing with teenagers on my own and well, I felt stressed. My pain pills made me feel good. I had no clue they were going to make me feel so good emotionally.  I absolutely loved them! When I was tapering off and only taking them at night I looked forward to my night time pill.

     Finally the time came for me to ween off of them so my doctor cut me way back. I hated it and tried to tell him that I hurt and needed more but thankfully he told me that I could manage the pain with Tylenol. So finally I was done. I felt lost and missed them for a while but I also knew that I could not keep taking them.

     A few years later I had a severe toothache and my doctor prescribed Percocet. I did not fill it because I was afraid that I might not have the control it takes to use it only as directed. I knew how much I loved them and recognized the dangers of having that temptation around me.

     Recently I did fill a Loratab prescription because of tooth pain. I told myself that I could handle having it around. I took it for the pain and oh how I loved that feeling of euphoria. I only took them for the severe pain though. A couple of times and then I stopped.

     When I had some rough times recently I thought about them, how they would make me feel better but I told myself that is not the answer and refrained. But oh how easy it would be to just take them.I mean they are legal for me, they were prescribed for pain.

     When life gets rough, my mind wanders to the feeling of euphoria I get from opioids. I think of how easy it would be to just take a pill and feel better. But then I think of where that might take me and I do no want a pill to rule my life.

     I think of people who have let them take control and know how easy it is. I only took them for a short time and I still want them. So we really should not look down on people who become addicted. It can sneak up on you without you even realizing what is happening. It can knock on your door many times and force you to close that door time and time again. As Mr. Bolling says they do not discriminate, anyone can become addicted. I did simply because I needed meds after surgery.

    During those times when I think of artificial ways to stop emotional pain I talk to my friends but mostly I pray. I ask anyone who struggles with these pills, please get help, find ways to battle these demons. I know for many people it is not as easy as it was for me to stop taking them or refrain from taking them. It is next to impossible for some people but it can be done if you lean on others.To those who know people who are addicted, love the addict, understand and help them because you never know when the person addicted to them might be you.

     I hope you watch the attached videos. There are good messages in them. As a mom my heart aches for Mr. Bolling. I appreciate what he is doing by speaking out. His son was not addicted, he died the first time he took them so you never know how and when they might kill.

Eric Bolling on Opoids

Eric Bolling Speaking out at loss of son

Picture by Google.com

+opioics
+percocet
+addiction
+Bolling

Noah's Potato Head Playhouse and More

     My little grandson loves to tell stories, he also loves to watch recordings of himself so I decided that we would record his little shows and share them with others. He gets some of his ideas from the videos he watches on youtube and mixes them with his own stories. He started this at 5 years old but has told stories since he could talk.

     He started out telling stories about his potato head toys but it has evolved into Thomas the Tank Engine stories, Ooblek play time and more...

     I will use this blog to post his video creations so you will see new additions as they are created. Enjoy the creations from Noah's Potato Head Playhouse and more.

    Just follow the links to his stories

     Thomas the Tank Engine Crash Set 

     Star Wars Mini Potato Head

     Noah's  Disney Potato  Head Story

     Pirate Potato Head

     Ooblek with Noah

Star Wars Mini Potato Head Toys by Playskool

     Here is another addition of my grandsons Potato Head fun. He just loves to make his little video shows.

    This show is poorer quality because my camera was stolen at Disneyland this year and I had to use my phone It does not have the good quality that my phone has. But Noah is still adorable and his little show is cute.

    Star Wars Potato Head Minis

Noah's Potato Head Playhouse Fun

     My grandson has started some potato head videos on youtube. They are cute and fun. I noticed that he watches a lot of videos of kids just playing with their toys and decided he might as well have some fun with it.

    Noah is very outgoing and a little theater kid. He is not at all shy so had no trouble with his video's. He had a lot of fun making them.

     I hope you enjoy them. The first one is from some Disney Potato Head parts my sons and I got several years ago at DCA. You paid one price and filled the back of the spud with different parts and also put as many as your could in your box.

     The other video is of Noah's Playskool Pirate Spud.

     The last video is of Noah's Potato Head story. There will be more stories to come...

Mr Potato Head Disney Spuds

Mr. Potato Head Pirate Spud

Mr Potato Head Disney Story by Noah



   

Look at Yourself Through Others Eyes:The Eyes of Love

We are always hardest on ourselves, at least I am. I am never good enough, I am never satisfied with how I look. I envision myself looking like I did when I was young and pretty but then I look in the mirror and no longer see that person. I look at old pictures and see pretty but the ones that are taken in the present day make me want to cry and shy away from the camera. But people who love me tell me I am beautiful. I think to myself when they say that "are you blind?". But as I have been thinking about this lately I realize that they see me through the eyes of love.

When I was a young child and my grandma was not even as old as I am now I thought she was beautiful Of course she was "old" to me but always beautiful. As she aged, and I did too, I still saw her as beautiful. I still saw her in the same way at 80 as I did when she was in her 40's. She was beautiful to me, even in pictures when I look back she is beautiful. I remember her saying she looked old and ugly in pictures but she did not care. She smiled and she was happy and to those who loved her she was beautiful until the day she passed away.

It is the same with my own mom. When I was a kid I always thought she was one of the most beautiful women I knew. As she aged and said how old and ugly she looks I still saw, and still see, a beautiful woman. That is who I see when I look at my mom. She might see old and ugly but that is not who she is, it is not what those who love her see.

As I was saying how I wished I was pretty again I had a friend tell me that I was still beautiful. I told him that he was wrong and had not seen me in a while.He told me that it is not up to me to say whether or not I am beautiful.Others see me that way and I don't have the right to tell them they are wrong, that me beautiful is not what they see. That made so much sense because those who love me see me through different eyes. Those who love me see me through the eyes of love. This was comforting and made me realize that we are hardest on ourselves in every aspect of life even our appearance.

I finally realize that those who say I am still beautiful are not lying, they still see me that way. They look at me through eyes of love. So I am going to work hard on looking at myself through the eyes of those who love me. It will take some time to change my mindset but I need to be on my way, it may take some time but I need to look at myself through others eyes, to look at myself through the eyes of love.

Don't Let Difficult Times Define Your Life

It is sad that people let their struggles in life guide them and define their life....granted there is a time to be sad, upset and annoyed but don't let it define who you are and guide your life. Overcome it! Don't waste all of your time being upset, sad and annoyed. Get out there, do things and enjoy life!

This past year has been one of the most difficult times in my life. I will not say the most difficult because I have had some very difficult times but it has been very challenging. In the past I have had a good support system at my disposal. This time I had a support system but for the most of the time it was from afar so I had to deal with things on my own. It was not easy.

I moved to a new town, started a new job with pretty much no support system at all. No one to tell me things would be ok when I felt down. No one to tell me that I should not give up. Yes I had family and friends from afar and am so thankful for that but sometimes you need that support system where you are.
So when I say I did not have a support system in this post, I mean one right there, one to lean on where I was.

The entire move was not what I thought it would be. The cost was way more than I imagined leaving me in the hole and broke for quite some time.

The job was definitely not what I thought it would be. I did not make friends right away like i had in the past. I have never had trouble making friends but I did in this new place that I was hoping to call home.

I moved where my oldest son is and rented a home with him for a while thinking that we would do things together but, really that is unrealistic and I understand his need to have his own life but it was hard at first not being a huge part of that life. He does include me sometimes and that is amazing but not as much as I had hoped for at first. This would make me sad.

I have friends and some family in the new city area but the distance made it harder than I had thought. They are all at least an hour away from me so we have to really make plans to be able to spend time together which is difficult when we all have different schedules.

Things back home with my adult child that was left there were not great and my home there was not being taken care of either which was costing me money as well.

There were many times in the beginning that I just wanted to crawl in bed and stay there, weekends I did not want to do anything except feel sorry for myself because nothing was going as I had hoped. Things were desperate and dismal. I felt alone, lonely and defeated.

I did not give into those feelings though, I tried and tried to make plans on weekends when I did not work, If I could not find anyone to do things with I did things alone which was something new for me. Granted I was used to doing things on my own but I usually had my kids with me so was never really alone. All of the sudden I was alone, just me. I did not like it, but I did it.

I finally realized that my son needed his own life and did not let him actually living it hurt me anymore I simply tried to find one of my own in this new home. For a long time it was not working well and I really wanted to give up but,I kept going...

Work because progressively worse, you would think things would get better but they did not. ( the job is a later blog) I cried at work, I cried when I got home at night and I cried before I went. I would drive to work fighting back tears. I wanted to stay in bed and cry all day long but knew that I could not do that. I signed a contract and needed the job. There were many times though that I considered just throwing in the towel.

Things in Colorado also were not getting better, they were getting worse. Money was also getting progressively worse too. I felt lost, discouraged and extremely worried!

Instead of being depressed though I would find simple things to do such as go to the store after work and just walk around. I would also still find things to do on the weekends even if they were alone. I did not give myself time to feel sad.

Finally I did make a couple of friends at my new home and that made things much easier. I did lean on my support system in Colorado and New Mexico more too as well as the family I have on the other side of the city.

Now I am doing better, the job is over, I do things with friends sometimes, I have made it a point to get together with my cousin on the other side of the city once in a while...every month or two which helps a lot. My friend who lives next door is a great source of help too. Before work was done I had a support system which helped me make it through the difficult year.

I do get worried and distressed because the job hunt is not going well at all. My youngest kid has decided to no longer have anything to do with me. There are days when I want to just give up but, I am not going to let these difficult times define me. I am going to live life, enjoy things and move forward. I can't imagine how life would be if I had given into those difficult times.

My main point is that life can be hard, there are times you just want to give into the difficult times but, don't! Find ways to make it better, and if you can't make it better just keep doing things to keep busy so you don't have time to dwell on the things that are wrong with life. Don't let the difficult times define you, they are difficult times, not who you are.

Moments Become Memories, Make Each Moment Memorable

     Looking back on my childhood I do not remember

the things my mom bought me. Well I do, but those things do not stand out in my mind as memorable. When my kids used to talk to me about memories they did not talk about the things they got, they talked about the memories we made. Some of them were even memories made out of negative moments.

     I remember when I was a kid my mom would make me clothes for my dolls. I remember her making them and thinking how special I felt that my mom took the time to sew doll clothes for me.

     As years pass by I recall less and less from my younger days but some memories do still stand out. I remember the times I traveled with my entire family  and the fun we had together. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and I would go on vacations together, camping and we had many gatherings at grandma and grandpas home. Those memories are some I hold close and dear to my heart.

    In my teen years and early adult years I visited my grandparents and remember playing marbles. Some of my happiest memories are of my grandpa and I teaming up and beating my mom and my grandma.

     Of course there are so many more fond memories from my childhood, those are just a few.

     My kids told me that they remember all the times they spent with their great grandma, grandma and me. They remember the fun we had going to Disneyland. The times we went to the park and they played and even the memories of us being stranded for hours on the freeway. They have talked about fond memories such as those. I am sure they have many more.

     When my kids were little I tried to make our time together memorable. I spent time with them so that they would look back on those memories fondly. Sometimes it was simply reading a book at the end of the day, the traditions we created at Christmas time and the moments that we just were together.

     I now have a young grandson who I am making what I hope are memorable moments. I enjoy spending time with him, reading to him and just being with him. I hope he looks back someday and remembers those times with grandma as fondly as I remember mine with my grandma and my kids remember with theirs.

    There are negative things in life that do make it difficult sometimes but I think those memorable times are the ones that we hold closest to our heats and at the end of the day those will be the times we cherish most of all.
   
      Every moment can't be memorable,there are some you simply forget and there are some you want to forget but it is important to make more memorable moments with those that you love than just moments in time.

Adsense New Policies Sign In Trouble

     I went to check my adsense income tonight and found their new policies. I read them and was going to accept them but there is no link or tab to accept. I am tried to find contact information but they have nothing. I feel like I am going in circles.

    Does anyone know how on earth you sign the policies or is their their way of not paying?

     Here is a picture of what I see on my end. It offers me a way to sign out but no way to accept the policies but I have to so I can continue to earn.

     Please help if you can.

+adsense +policies +sign

     

Squatters Leave a Mess

    The people who squatted in my house not only left it filthy but when they left the opened every door in the house, all windows and turned the heat up on high. The house is electric so the bill will be very high. While they lived there they ran the electricity bill up too. And since it is in my name I had to pay it. The squatters are responsible for nothing.

     They also had the nerve to take every light bulb in the house. Talk about losers. You move into someones house, live there for free, run up the utilities and then take the light bulbs. WOW.

     One of them also liked to punch walls and did a lot of damage to the walls.

     My house was always clean. I will show the pictures after the squatters were there. I just can't believe people live that way. It is just gross. Thankfully I have someone cleaning it up so will show the after shots too...

+squatters + Colorado

One of the least filthy areas of the house.

Car port, those are cigarette butts.

Dishes in the sink

Disgusting bedroom

Someone likes to hit walls

More wall damage

The livingroom

They even took the light bulbs! 

Squatters Have More Rights than Home Owner

      Yes the title is correct, squatters have more rights than a home owner, at least in Colorado they do. I never thought that was true until I had squatters of my own. Mine were a bit different than your run of the mill squatters but they were squatters none the less.

     Imagine you leave your house for the winter, upon your return you find people living there. You did not invite them, they broke in and took up residency in your home. They have a legal right to be there and you have to evict them.

     The run of the mill squatter is the person who enters a vacant home and takes up residency. Doesn't matter how they get into the home, once they move their stuff in and stay there they have possession of the home and the owner can't even charge them with trespassing.

    The owner has to actually evict the squatters, yes the owner who pays for the home, the utilities etc, has to evict people who break in and live there. The squatters are given 3 days to get out.

     It does not always end there though, if the squatters decide they do not want to leave the owner has to take legal action. Yep the owner has to pay to get them out of their home.

     I was shocked to learn of this, appalled and disgusted that the criminal has more rights than the property owner. But then that is how it is with our society today...pitiful.

    Now on to my squatters...mine is a different type of scenario but they were unwelcome people in my home so squatters nonetheless.

     I moved to Arizona and not being quite ready to sell my home in Colorado allowed my youngest child to live there. A family of squatters took advantage  and gave him this hard luck story, then without my consent moved into my home. When I said it was time for them to get out I was told that I had to evict them. I was livid but had them served with notice. I gave them 7 days to get out. Thankfully they were out in 7 days but they left the house a mess. I cannot believe anyone can actually live in the filth they lived in. But then they were squatters...

    Please if you have your own squatters look this up and seek legal advice. I am not a lawyer, I am only going on my own experience.

Don't Go With Sprint if You Want Good Service: Inadequate is Ok By Them!

     I used to have a cell phone contract but went with Straight Talk and was totally pleased not having a contract. But my son went with Sprint because he wanted an iPhone, He asked me to take one of the phones but I did not really want to...well the lousy service and high cost is why.

     Sprint has constant dropped calls, our texts do not always go through, there are areas where they are not deliverable. This is in the city where my son was promised great service. So we have been trying to cancel the service because it is so substandard...

     Tonight we were told that the signal is fair by tech support. I was sent to customer service and we were told by a manager that the service is not inadequate enough to allow us to cancel the contract. Hmmm so what is inadequate enough? I mean that is a far cry from great.... what they promised!

     So for Sprint inadequate is good enough, fair signal is ok. It is fine if the people you call can't hear you or calls are dropped as a norm. Texts don't send and oh yea, the GPS only works if you have a cell signal. They charge a huge monthly fee for bad service and they are ok with that! They wont' even discount their fees.

    We are stuck since they do not care that their service is extremely lousy, so once the contract is up we will not renew but then maybe they don't care...they get you to pay a huge amount of money for poor service..not caring that you are upset even when you tell them you will not renew.....they must make enough that they do not need repeat service.

 

Review: Bahama Bucks

     When I first tried Bahama Bucks I thought it was ok. I was not super impressed but my mom and aunts love it. They make sure to go every time they are in the Mesa/Phoenix Arizona area.

With Cream

     So I decided when we were in Mesa a year ago to give it another try. I learned that I LOVE Bahama Bucks and the Bahama Mama Rama.

     What is a Bahama Mama Rama you ask?? Well it is a different kind of shaved ice treat. You get ice cream and then the shaved ice and flavoring and then you get a cream on top of the shaved ice. At first I thought it was the cream I did not like but, the other day I accidentally had them put it on and I determined that I love it!

Without Cream

     I have moved to the Surprise Arizona area and sadly we do not have a Bahama Bucks nearby...I love it so much though that I make it a point to get one whenever I am in the Mesa or Phoenix area. I have to drive an hour but it is worth it.

     I discovered a location that is only 33 miles form me in Laveen, AZ so now I go there when I am not taking a trip to Mesa. Yes I make a special trip to get a Bahama Mama Rama. It is that good! I enjoy it that much!

     I think my favorite location is on Southern in Mesa though because you put the little umbrella in the post outside showing your love of their treats.

     I need to try some of their other wonderful looking treats but I am a creature of habit and since I have to go so far to get one I tend to get what I know I love.

     If you are ever in the Phoenix area be sure to check out Bahama Bucks and try a Bahama Mama Rama!!

+Bahama Bucks
+Bahama Mama Rama

If Teachers Only Worked During the Time they Get Paid Lessons and Grading Would Be Ineffective

      As a teacher my thoughts have been turned toward how it might look if teachers only worked the hours they are "clocked" to work like other working class folks.

     Most people go to work, do a great job at work, put in their hours and go home. Once they are off the clock, they are off the clock. They get to go home and either take care of the responsibilities home life brings or go have fun. They are able to spend time with family and enjoy life.

     It is a different picture for teaches. They go to work early so that they can run copies, pick up around the room and prepare for the day. They work their tails off all day to keep on top of things. Yes they get prep time but it is usually a whopping 35-40 minutes where they run to the restroom - because teachers have to learn to hold it most of the day. They try to plan lessons and grade papers but really that small window of time is not enough to really get much done. Many times they have meetings and other commitments during this precious planning time. Then comes the 30 minute lunch where they also rush to the restroom, find some time to eat, don't drink liquids for fear of needing to pee and just take a much needed brain break. Then its back to the rest of the day where they teach and manage their classroom. The bell rings, the kids leave and they run copies and grade papers until well past their contract time. Finally after wearing tired of the classroom they pack up a bag, take papers home to grade and post. Sometimes this takes until 7 or 8 at night....

     Weekends are just as eventful. They get to enjoy one day, sometimes two but before the weekend is over it is time to lesson plan. This can take hours depending on the resources available.

     "But they get afternoons in many schools free of students." Yes they do but, those are meant for professional development. Those are times the teachers go to school. There is no planing time written in for teachers those days. Actually there is in most districts no actual planning or lesson time written into the day. The small chunks of time are simply not enough to effectively plan and grade.

     If a teacher only worked the hours that are paid lessons might not get written, assignments would not get graded or posted and well, the class would be in complete chaos. Nothing would get done.