Book Readers Come Hither!!

Guys, I am not sure who is more excited about reading and reviewing books, me or the person I am helping!!!!  Stay tuned for more updates.  

XOXO ~ Nicole

Sick, but Still a Coupon Princess 👸!

 This stomach virus I picked up from Bingo, it ain't playing.  I started feeling better yesterday I thought but then woke up again in the middle of the night, super sweaty, and had diarrhea again.  I didn't get out of bed until around 9:30. Ate some bland noodles, drank lots of water, laid back down.  Woke up again with well, you know, drank more water and laid back down.  It has been a day.  But I was able to get some couponing done in between!  I told Bryan, now this was over a few days, but when I told him he said, so you just woke up and made sure to check deals when you were sick??

No silly, I had some things I had to check on and while I did those, scanned a few deals and voila!!  You're welcome.

That is 3 13.5 lbs. of cat food, 18 total.  The smaller bags were an oopsie and paid sadly 18 for those but that was on me.  Damn you sickness!!!  And then that is 5 12 count toilet paper for..... 8 bucks!!!

XOXO ~ Nicole

Well, That Wasn't on My Bingo Card

Wow, what a few days it has been!!!  We went to Mandy's birthday party at the bingo place.  It wasn't too far luckily but we were to be there at 6:30. We stopped at the gas station to get us each a Monster.  We stopped drinking those after we stopped Door Dashing, but we knew we were going to need them going out later than the norm.  We are home bodies and I am a day drinker.  Plus, I don't care for crowded places, but I really wanted to go for Mandy, and I would have loved to have won some monies!!!!

When we walked in, they have a guard at a desk.  There is a sign no bringing drinks, food, etc. because they have a kitchen and "bar".  The games started at 7, but Mandy wanted to make sure they had enough tables/seats because there were quite a few of us.  I noticed it smelled like stale cigarettes but figured it was from when they used to allow it maybe.  It was an older building.  Bryan pointed out that it was tied to VFW so that was cool.  After we sat our stuff down and gave Mandy her gift to open later, she pointed us to the line where you buy your stuff to play.  We got in line and (they take cash only) I told Bryan what Mandy has said to buy.  Like I said, our first time (and last!!).  We each got the 60-dollar packet, and they kept mention computers.  I even saw on the website win computers!!  My ass thought they were talking about laptops.  Nope.  They were not.

We walk over to the table where Mandy is sitting with us (Thank God) clutching our receipt with these little other receipts to it.  She explains to us we need to go over to this other area to get the "computers", and when she pointed, I had assumed it was the bar because it said Triple Crown in big lights, it was not and apparently the name of the place.  We go over there and there is one gentleman who does not speak English manning the "computers".  I shall call them tablets from now on because they reminded me of those you can play at Buffalo Wild Wings.  We show him our tickets like we are in line at Costco, and he just pointed to the tablets and said, any one!

Bryan and I each had 5 tablets.  I gather mine up and precariously walk back to the table looking like a complete dumb-ass, I am sure.  I look around and see then how they just stacked theirs on top of each other.  Touche. 

Mandy shows us how to set them up.  Kind of in a half circle shape.  I'm stressed, so Bryan and I go to the concession/bar.  They actually had some delicious looking food; I can't complain about that.  Their little bar was to the left, and I was shocked they had beer on tap!  I thought, score!!!  7 bucks for a pitcher of Bud Lite - sold!!!  Order my pitcher, was it the biggest pitcher, no - but I could easily get 4 glasses out of it or share if I choose to in my plastic cups.  In front of Mandy and her two friends sitting across from Bryan and I, they have the paper sheets with a "dauber" AND the tablets!  I start to get a little overwhelmed, thinking I had to keep up with both - I mean that is a LOT going on y'all.  Husband of the Year saw right away though, we both started asking more questions, I poured another cup of beer, and lo and behold the tablets played on their own and we didn't purchase the paper ones!  That meant sit back, drink, eat, and watch your electronic devices!  Now right now you may ask about the cleanliness.  Negative.  I never saw anyone wipe those stupid tablets down - but I would wash my hands when I went to the restroom and drink more to not think about it.

But guys, no one told me that we were going to be there until 11 pm at night!  I ended up getting a second pitcher, only finished half, Bryan and I shared a fry because we had all intentions of grabbing a bite on the way home.  Playing was expensive enough (and no wins) so we didn't want to spend more than we had to.  Between games, I got bored and wandered around.  Guys, they had slot machines!!!!  I love slot machines, but as soon as I opened the door and walked into the "room", people were smoking.  And there was no roof!  It was just an area for the machines and closed off I guess enough.

We left; Mandy loved her gift and card I made for her that I posted the other day.  We start driving home and every place is either closed or the drive-thru is around the block because it is after 11 and now the good folks coming home from bars/clubs need sustenance.

We get home, I am exhausted, animals still need to be fed, Taylor checked on (he did great other than forgetting to lock the front door) - Bryan, bless his heart, took care of everything while I got ready for bed.  Brushed my teeth, walking to my bed, and I throw up on the carpet.  Not a lot, I used to be as Bryan and Claire would say, The Puke Queen (I hated it), but enough where it did need a little cleaning.  I had started on it but then Bryan came to check on me, so he cleaned up the rest and I went to bed.

When I woke up yesterday morning, I felt awful.  Like hangover awful so I figured maybe drinking the draft after not for some time and no dinner, and lack of sleep.  You know girlfriend needs like 9 plus.  I ate some ramen with some Tylenol, went back and laid down for a few hours.  Oh, and made sure to drink lots of water and some pickle juice!  Laid back down around 12 and slept for a few more hours.  I was having diarrhea by then.  Again, chalked it up the draft beer.  But I just felt crummy all day, no matter what.  At 7 pm, I called it a night and went to bed.  All night, I had the worst pressure in my lower tummy.  I knew it was gas but the best way I can compare it to is after you have surgery and it is all just "stuck" in there.  If I tried to toot, I was scared I would shit my bed.  My stomach would just make these awful growling noises and cramp so badly.  Each time I woke up, my blankets and pillow were SOAKED with sweat.  I kept trying to find a nice safe dry place like back in the old days when you would have sex and didn't want to sleep in the wet spot.  And then you lay there shaking cold as the sweat dries on your body on somewhat damp areas.

Finally, never thought I would be so excited, but I started passing gas around 4 am.  They gave me such relief in my damp, sweaty, cold ass bed.  I hope and hoped for more and I occasionally got larger ones that smelled like something died.  I tried my best to get in like the fetal position but it hurt so much to move.My stomach is still very sore, feels like I got punched in my stomach a few times, but I can see the Sunshine on the horizon!!!!  And I will never go there again.

Love, Nicole 

PS.  Mandy's gift wrapping - Hey, got to use what we got!

PSS. Sorry I didn't get to post yesterday.  Google has been taking a crap on me.

Who Are You Today?

 How did you sleep last night?  I slept well, like I mentioned in a previous post, that is not an issue this time around.  Some mornings I do not even get out of bed until noon.  Bryan and I have this thing where if I am not up by 11 am, he comes and checks on me.  When you have a wife with mental health issues, I am sure it is compared to turning the handle on that damn Jack-in-the-Box.  Awful toy.  But he is my rock.  And he can tell just how I respond if I am having a good day or bad one.  I kept waking up in the middle of the night for one, and then it seemed like my left arm was hurting, tingling, so then I thought I was having a heart attack and sniffed for burnt toast.  Something I have been told.  No clue if is real or not though.  Imagine when I used to watch House.  I was pretty sure I was dying from whatever disease they had going on.  I had to stop watching that for my own mental health.  LOL.

Then that one stopped and a little later, the right arm started doing the same thing!    And sometimes, it felt like my fingers were asleep.  After I got up, my wrists were bothering me and so is my upper back, around my neck area.  I took some IB Profin about an hour ago so that is helping.  I guess it is just one of the wonders of getting old.  As my dad says, getting old is not for the weak.  Now of course it didn't help that I went to bed worried about money, the text I sent for help, but the Zoloft is still helping tremendously.  Somehow, I am able to just shut that off and go back to sleep.

I am very happy someone close to me is helping with the bills.  I still have that one application pending, continue to pray on that one.  That was a sigh of relief when the text response was good news, but then I log in to check on my status for getting approved to make a profit on my blog, only to get discouraging news.  If you are a writer, or even a dreamer, you know how that can hurt.  If any of my blog readers have any ideas or ways to help, please do.  We would be so appreciative!!  It made me not want to write.  It made me think why am I doing this?  And then I remembered that you are doing this because Nicole you like to write.  And you love blogging.  And you do have readers out there that care. 

This evening Bryan and I are going to Mandy's birthday party.  It is BINGO Ya'll!!   At first, I was like I do not have gray hair.  But she got me ad Bud Lite and the snack bar.  And Bryan is the DD!!!!  Wish me luck!

~ Nicole

Ramen for you, Ramen for me....

 Are you a ramen fan? I know I am, and my family. We like to get the cheap ones that I am sure most of you guys are familiar with. But we add things to the ramen to make it "fancy". Hard boiled eggs, maybe some veggies, and recently I used the beef flavored ramen and added some canned diced tomatoes and of course some of the juice. DELICIOUS!! What all have you tried?

***This post is originally from different platform, but the responses are so AWESOME, I must share!!!! I will post more another day.

XOXO ~ Nicole

PS. I highly suggest you watch The Ramen Girl. It i scute, makes you hungry, and feel goods inside. <3

Holding It Together-ish

 I feel like I have so much going on right now.  I don't, but it seems like it.  I guess it is more emotional than anything.  I have one position left still being reviewed that I applied to for a worm from home job that pays salary AND commission.  I know, a Unicorn for sure!!!  Claire has been helping us along with other friends and family members, but we are at the point now where Claire needs to use her funds elsewhere and family/friends are spent.  I am hanging on to that positive response from that company.  Not sure what will happen after that yet, but as they say, one day at a time.

It does mess with my head a bit.  Zoloft thus far has continued to be a hero, but I have found myself sleeping more than normal in the last few days.  But I would much prefer that over that damn insomnia!  And continue to take my "old lady" pills before bed, magnesium, black cohosh (ladies if you are going through this peri-menopause thang or menopause, you want to know about these.), potassium, and Zinc if I am feeling an illness coming on possibly.  I take a few others in the morning but those are my blood pressure and Zoloft.  Oh, and sometimes Vitamin D!  It is hard to get milk around this bitch with Taylor.  But I do try to get out in the sun as much as possible however the Sun these days?  I think The Devil himself set that up.  But I try to knock out all the badness and negative comments that tell me I suck, you are a loser, you would be better off not here - I am able to get past those and snuggle back down and sleep.  In my safe, pink, comfy, squishy, vanilla scented bed.

And then my brother.  I don't think I have spoken much about him in a long time, but he has struggled for a while with drugs and alcohol and then his young daughter was taken from him.  He is in a much better place now, mind and location, and I am super proud of him.  We have been in contact since he decided to get clean.  Our Mother on the other hand is hell bent to try and get to him and especially take his daughter.  She is safe and sound in another state with her maternal grandmother and thriving.  If you have read my blog for some time, my Mother is not a good person.  It would be like picking this beautiful fruit and then you bite into it, and it is rotten to the core.  With bugs and mold too.  Since she doesn't know where he is and no one will share the information, she has decided to file a missing person's report for him.  And she decided to name myself and Dad as people of interest.  How do I do know this?  My Dad told me and showed the emails.  My brother is working on filing a restraining against her which I fully support.  He will not get better with her in his ear.

I am trying my best to be there for my brother.  I am proud of his accomplishments, and I do believe he will succeed.  I just don't want to have to speak, email, any communication from Mother.  When she passes away, it is going to be a sad day for her because not one of her 3 children will be there or care.

Please keep me in your prayers for this new job and Momma making some money!!!  💵 💵

XOXO ~ Nicole

Amanda

 Amanda today is your birthday.  I'm not sure if we have ever even celebrated each other's birthdays in person.  I don't recall them, so I am guessing no.

I remember when we became best friends, and we spent as much time as possible together.  That summer, I had to go and visit my mom in Georgia.  It was going to be the first time we had been away from each other which to us seemed like the end of the world.  

Your Mom took us to Galveston.  I believe she had a Jeep Cherokee at that time.  She loved this song called "Ain't Even Done With The Night" by John (I think he lost the Cougar or Mellencamp, I forget which one) eventually.  She played it often, so it was a good thing we liked it so much!!  It was the end of the trip, you guys were bringing me back home and we heard Clint Black (you had such a crush on him with your red cowboy boots - I personally thought he looked like a Shar-Pei.) and Wynonna Judd's song "A Bad Goodbye" and it became "our song".  

I gave you my Fievel, from An American Tail, he was my most beloved possession at that time.  When we reconnected, I remember you bringing him up when I came to swim with you.  I glowed inside and probably out (could have been that damn sun), that you remembered him.

Most people can't say they are in touch or see their HS bestie often, but I get to!

***PS.  I still hold it against her for finding new friends while away tho.  ;)***

Love, Nicole