Shupe's Refuge

Thanks Joe!

Okay LK- You should LOVE This one!

let's all ROCK this joint!!!!

Perfect song for my mood today!

And some of what they have been hearing this week:

"......crunching sounds from under my feet while the river talks it's own tune.........."

"..and what exactly do you know software wise so we can tell this company? I have already forgotten what we discussed......"

"you'll be rich one day- you just need to move out from Utah!"

"Do you think you might have time to meet up with us on Friday morning at 10AM?"

"You NEED to go and apply for unemployment right now and food stamps!"

"I'm moving back to San Fran, oh, and yes, my 18 yr old is pregnant and getting married- NOT happy with the whole idea of her right now!"

"My dog took off"

"Hey butt munch, sit down and deal!"

"Rorw, Rorw"

"MEEEEEOOOOOOOOW"

My Brain has had it's own interpretation of all of this!

-NO more hiking hung over and dehydrated. Lesson learned! Will go back soon though.

- Look at the resume that you have a copy of sweetheart- and you'll already know what I know- Not that difficult.

- RICH? HA! Doubt it! MOVE from Ut? DOUBT IT!

-Do you think I have time? Hmm, let me check my sleeping schedule and see if I can make my ass get out of bed before 8 am for ya! DUH!!!

- I don't apply or ask for help unless I'm on the verge of being homeless, and even then, I just do something about it- mind your own business lady!!!

- I will miss her, but about spit out my water over the baby part, and MARRIAGE part.

- Being Auntie to this ruppy- I didn't fall asleep until he came back- 2AM was about when he came prancing back, like, Hey Dad! I am done with my walkabout now- got food?

-Kids and old grouchy women playing cards- A laugh a minute

- Kitty crack on it's way Rucca. Now quit licking my nose!!

-Yeah, you too Cleo- move yer fat ass out of the way so Rucca can eat too!

7 years ago, about this time of day- I was taking a shower as that I was NOT about to go to the hospital stinky, dirty, and unshaved legs. Full on labor had set in, but I needed to eat and get ready for this wonderful day.

Little Miss was born at 5:30PM August 6, 2001. She weighed in at 7LBS 10oz and 21 inches in length. Her delivery was all great and dandy until the pushing part. We kept losing her heart rate and she just did NOT want to come out. After 2 hours of pushing- we noticed why- Her chord was around her neck twice. Not much flexibility in those things of course, so my mid-wife hurried to cut her loose and rush her over for oxygen. About 24 hours later we were all home, happy family and all.

Of course this all changed too. A week later we were in the ER at the children's hospital trying to figure out what was going on. She wasn't eating, nor sleeping. Come to find out- she needed her first heart surgery. 15 months old, we had a repeat session for her Mitral Valve- surgery number 2.

The little bugger has been a pure fighter since the first day of her life. She is full of spunk, kindness, attitude, love, and also bright as the sun. She warms your soul with her fantastic hugs and kisses. Her smile melts the room, and her laid back attitude gives full meaning to "live life" to it's full potential.

15 months into her life- I was more worried than ever for her to make it to 5 years old. This was a huge stepping stone for her and her heart. And here I sit with my baby girl turning 7.

SEVEN!!! She is seven years old already!! Okay, if I'm having a hard time with her turning 7- what will I be saying when she turns 12, 21, 40?  Ya, I'm slowing down and not going to get ahead of myself here! I'm so excited for her.

2nd Grade this year, her brother will be in school with her, and we've gone 5 years without any heart problems that require another surgery. She is not out of the wood works yet. I doubt she ever will be. But this is ONE more year to add to our "We're clear" stages. That, I am most thankful for!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LIL MONKEY!

I LOVE YOU ~

mom

Standing in line at good Ol' Lee Mart, Sonny is ringing up customers at his local convenience store. People call him Lee, but his name is Sonny. He's engrish is cute, as he is still learning to speak proper English. Normally when I go there, it's his wife who is working, but being jobless, Sonny and I have our daily hellos. See, I too have a bad habit, which standing in line one day- I noticed something very odd.

2 children standing in line with Energy Drinks. Not the little RedBull cans, but the big Giant Monsters and Rockstars. These boys couldn't have been more older than 10 or 11. The 2 boys put up their drinks, and seriously- the guy in front of me, Sonny, and I all in unison ask- "Are you 2 drinking these? Why?"

The confused children looked at one another and reply "No, these are for our parents!"

Sonny rang them up. What could he do? It's not like you have to be 18 to drink them. I swear there should be some law that you should at least be 16 to buy them though. We all shook our heads in disappointment from these kids.

Shouldn't children have ENOUGH energy on their own that they don't need to be pounding energy drinks into their system?

This also got me to thinking about the soda craze, coffee, candy, snack foods, cigarettes, beer, drugs and everything else in between.

If you are hooked on something as a child, even as small as having candy all the time, what other habits will come about in your life?

I look at my own daily habit, and know, it was all on my own accord. Oddest thing really. I just picked up a pack, took a drag, and liked it. I hated smoking as a child. The smell still bugs me, but I still seem to pick up a cigarette even when I'm not quote, unquote in the mood for one. Mostly, I smoke out of pure boredom.

My children keep asking when I'm going to quit. This is what makes me want to the most. Them. Being the "Mother of the year" though, I look at Little Miss and tell her "when you quit sucking your thumb, I'll quit smoking"

God, I'm horrible. 

I don't drink soda, eat candy, do drugs, or eat horrible food. So why in the HELL do I smoke? I'm all about being healthy and teaching my children to be the same, and yet I have this horrible habit that I've tried breaking many times.

While I was pregnant both times, quit. I've quit for years at a time. Still I start up again. This is what I worry about. If I have done the bungee with quitting and starting up again- I feel I'm just screwed for eternity.

Okay, could be exaggerating there a bit. Where was I going with this? See, circling brain functions again. I really need to be working. This lack of using brain cells is just making me gonzo.

So, what do we do about our children? Mother's protect don't they? Show the way- be a good example. Well, all parents should at least, not just mothers. Looking at my 2 littles daily- I just want to put them in bubble wrap and hide until they're 30 and then MAYBE, just maybe though, set them free for our fucked up world.

In paint now! See what happens when I don't have a job?

So, one more down- I have 3 more doors out there to cover. Let's hope I can do it! Who is bringin the beers?