I have found that I do not like September!  The first is the anniversary of my Mom's death.  I cannot believe she has been gone for three years now.  There are days it seems just like yesterday and then those that seem like forever.  I think feeling like I am an only child this year has not helped at all.  I often wonder if my sibling wanted things that way so he has no reminder of where he came from.  He often would tell me I look like my Mother and at times he said I acted just like her.  Personally I do not think so and never will.  There are several reasons and most are personal and I do not wish to share them at this time.

On another note we have been very busy while Don was off work this week.  Yes he actually took a vacation.  We really could not afford it but he needed a break from all the stress and not only that he deserved it too.

Saturday the 29th of August we visited a Art School in Novi for Tabitha.  It was very interesting and I really think it would be great for her too.  The cost is allot but the program is eighteen months long.  Her thing would be grapic design but she has to make the decision if that is what she really wants to do.  While there we noticed a beautiful pond and bird of prey enjoying the fish under the water.  There was a total of six that we saw but I am sure there where more around the bend that we could not see.      

From  there we went to Kensignton Metro Park which has a really lovely nature trail.  We did take one of the shorter trails though but when entering the park we ran into so sand cranes.  There was a family actually, parents with two young ones.  They did not seem afraid of people but the parents were on guard.

Over the weekend we visited Lake Erie Metro Park.  That is one the cleanest parks I have ever seen.  It is so peaceful there but I wish the trail had been a bit longer.  I would go again though.

On Wednesday evening while Tabitha was a Marching Band practice we went to the closest park from home, Metro Park.  It use to be such a beautiful park but you can see the funding is used elsewhere.  I also think that those that visit the park have very little respect for it.  The nature trails need a great trim and a clean up too.  I was surprised though for we actually saw deer there.  As you can see from the photo below it was a little darker in the wooded area.  Oh and the bugs, they could have picked us up and ran off with us, so it was a very fast walk through this short trail.

Yesterday we visited Stony Creek!  It is one of my favorites for they have so many trails.  There are the bugs but not as bad as Metro.  We managed to cover two trails there and I want to say covered about six miles.  For the first time we went on the one across from the main one.  At some points the trail is so small that you have to walk one in front of the other.  I love going there and I hope to go again soon.  As you can see the leaves are starting to change.   I know that the color of reds will show up very soon and I personally cannot wait.  Fall and spring are my two favorite seasons.  You can keep the hot summer and the cold winters away.

Today it is Saturday and we have stayed home most of the day.  Just ran an errand.  Right now Don is putting some hot dogs on the grill and I made tuna salad earlier so this day is almost over.  Tomorrow we really have no plans that I know of.  Being that school starts on Tuesday, which means back to work for me and Don's vacation is over we will need to get back into the schedule so I think relaxing are in order for us.  Oh the holiday we have no plans which is just the way I love it.  A few hours of Jerry Lewis and a quiet day (I hope).  We will go get Tabitha when they call us but other than that our time our own for now.

God Bless!  Happy Holidays

  It has been a rough couple of days for me.  There was a bid/bump meeting yesterday for my cook's job.  I still have a job but what I will be doing will be different than the last two year.  I will now be put into a job that requires me to rotate four different jobs.  I am fine with three of them but the one that requires me to make the fries really worries me.  I have chronic tennis elbow that can flair up for no reason.  The new head cook is not a very nice person and I really think that her new position has gone to her head.  She is not kind to others and shows favoritism with people.  I think everyone should be treated the same and I know that the saying one day she will get hers but in the mean time she is hurting others.  I am not the only one!  I am hoping and praying that a position opens up at Don's work.  If it does he is going to talk to George, his boss, to see if they would consider hiring me.  It would mean working 40 hours a week and all year round.  I would really miss my time off during the summer  but I know it would be better move for me as well as for our families finances.  SO if you read this please prayer that there is a new road for me to travel and if is not what is the best for me, help me find something good in this position.

On another note I am including Tabitha's graduation photo.  My friend from work gave her the money for her graduation early so that we could get these photos.  I am very grateful to her for she really was helpful so we could have her picture in the year book too.

Isn't she beautiful?  Yes I am her mother and I can say that.  I do hope to be able to share these photos with family for the cost to buy more was so expensive. 

Well Don will be on vacation next week.  We have no plans to go anywhere.  It has been a very hard summer so I do hope we can hit a couple of the local metro parks.  We have a pass so the cost would be the gas only.  We have not really talked about it yet.  There are so many roads closed or having repairs that it is hard to go anywhere, but as I said I am hoping to try.

Thanks for reading and God Bless!

IT has not been a easy day.  Today is my brothers birthday and I refuse to call him.  I have decided I will not be treated like I have been, now I just have to stick to my guns.  I know stay strong and do not give into my urge to give him a ring and say "Happy Birthday".                                                                                                          

Right now I am on spring break from work.  Tabitha is also on spring break from school.  I wish we could have gone some where but with the exonomy it is not possible.  She did have a friend over today.  I like her friend and she seems to have it together.  I also think she is a good influence for Tabitha.

Well that is it for now.  Take care and I hope you have had a wonderful day.

It has been less than a week since a sibling told me I could be replaced and it still hurts.  I know that it will take time for me to understand that I am not important to him or his family.  I also know that I may never see my nephews for a very long time.  This also means that I will not let him into my life.  I am so tired of the way he treats me and talks to me.  He thinks he can be my boss and he is no where near that.  I will not reach out anymore.  It was I who reached out last time and I believe the time before that too, so as of now I am done.  I know in my heart that this is best for my own peace of mind but it does not take away from the hurt it causes me.  I know I was not right but I was only reacting to they way he was talking to me.  His actions were as if he was talking to one of his sons.  I am not his child and never will be.  I will never ask him for help again on anything.  If I have a PC trouble I will work it out myself or take it somewhere else.  He is not longer my friend.  Now if the hurt would stop.

Yesterday was Don's birthday.  I called in to work sick and I was really sick but we did spend the day together.  I did sleep for the whole morning though.  We went to get his licence renewed, which he did pass the test.  He had to take his CDL test and got 38 right out of the 40.  Pretty good if you ask me.  He had been studying for a few days to refresh his memory.  Afterwards we did go to Red Robin for lunch.  He received a coupons for a free burger due to his birthday.   The server wanted to know if he would like them to sing happy birthday to him....huh, no thanks!   It was a nice lunch. Afterwards we went to Macomb Mall and walked around.  So many stores are gone or closing.  So sad to see this!  We were killing time before we went to pick up Tabitha from school.

Once we got home I started to get things done for stuffed shells.  I made about twenty of them.  There are two left!  I also had a toss salad to go with it.  A nice filling dinner and something I try to make for his birthday each year.  He cleaned up for I was really tired and had a horrible head ache.  Tabitha did some of the work, but Don did the major stuff.

Work is going okay and only about 45 more days of school.  Than it is summer vacation and no pay checks.  That will suck!  I cannot believe that Tabitha will be a senior next year.  I can still remember taking her to preschool and crying all the way home.  Someone please stop the clock. 

Take care and God Bless!