When Did I Get So Old?

 *Singing*  Here I go, again on my own....

That is just a lame way of saying yes, I have been absent again from you guys.  I am still in the process of finding a job that is hourly or salary, and not just commission.  We can't live like this, if you want to even call it that.  And like I mentioned, the family and Claire have been helping.

I had an interview yesterday, well 2, the first one with HR and then the hiring manager.  It was all via Google Meet because the position is a work from home which I really need.  I'm old now.  I can't stand 8 plus hours like I could when I was younger.  This position is only paying 14.00 an hour, but I gotta start somewhere.  It's sad to think how much I was making and where I am now.  I really like the life insurance, but I feel like all of my hard work is just getting eaten up by chargebacks etc.  Doesn't seem worth it.

As I was saying, the interviews went alright.  Of course, both of them are around Claire's age.  I also had to take assessment tests and Lord let me tell you, when I saw the math portion, waaa waaa waaaa.  I am HORIBBLE at math.  That's why God made calculators!  There were percentages, subtraction of huge numbers, and what comes next on these weird shapes.  When she told me I fell below the score slightly, I figured it would be that one, considering most of my shit were guesses.  But nope, it was the email portion.  I failed to remember there was a certain number of letters that needed to be used.  She loves me, so she chatted with guy who would does the final interview and he agreed to interview me.

That was fun.  Not.  He mentioned he was in The Philippines.  Tell me why my dumbass said, Oh wow - How is Thailand?  Yup, I did.  That's another thing about me.  I suck at geography and get lost super easily.  Everything went great until we did the mock customer phone call.  Started off well, and then I started getting nervous and choked.  I talked to the HR girl after, and she pretty much told me that was the only issue and how he has one more interview the next morning.  She let me know she was going on vacation but stay by the phone because she wanted to hopefully get me rescheduled to try that part again.

I didn't sleep well because I kept waking up to look at my phone to see what time it was because I can easily sleep until 10-11 am.  Plus, Bryan and I went to Uncle Albert's for a few hours.  I needed out of the house.  Listened to music, watched people, I had 2 beers and a nasty shot.  Bryan drank his Coca-Cola.  He is so stinking cute!  I was in bed sound asleep by 11 pm which is not abnormal for us.  Makes me think of my great-grandparents because every night they watched the 10pm news and then went to bed.  I got up around 9 am, took some Tylenol because I'm old, ate, and just been dragging.  Definitely not my normal energetic self.  Oh, and there were some tears last night also prompting to want to get out of the house for a bit because I am trying so hard for this 14.00 an hour position.  It's hard to wrap my mind around it but God knows what is best.

I am still waiting.  I never heard from anyone this morning.  Now she did tell me she was going on vacation but begged and pleaded I be available.  So, I sit here thinking, is no news good news?

XOXO ~ Nicole

Happy 17 Years My Love!

 First, I wanted to start off apologizing for being kind of missing.  Been having what I call sad days.  Especially today.  I have no idea why, it is our 17th wedding anniversary, and I was so excited yesterday only to feel like impending doom was on its way when I woke up.  I know it has a lot to do with the fact that I still do not have a job, no income coming in but family and friends that help, Bryan has his social security, and we are still working hard on Taylor's.  I knew Bryan wanted to go and eat, and don't get me wrong, I love to eat especially out to eat because it is something we do not get to do very often being broke jokes.  But my stomach has still been a little cranky since I got so sick from Bingo.  I went though, and yes, the food was delicious and who doesn't like people watching?  We go to this buffet which I know sounds ridiculous for an anniversary lunch, but it is close to the house, and the variety and choices like sushi, veggies, honestly everything is so fresh and yum.  Came home, feeling a little stuffed, I tried hard not to shovel food into my face because after my sickness, I lost weight! LOL.  Imagine that!  Got home and decided to take a nap.  Yes, I know, awful for you but I hoped to "feel" better after mentally.

I didn't.  Actually, I started feeling a bit anxious in between catnapping.  Still not sure why.  Luckily, I was able to book an appointment for my refills and chatted with my doctor about it.  It was kind of ironic because she got up and closed the door and then talked to me about how she also was having a sad day.  She said she was normally happy, bubbly, (like me), but at lunch she was sad.  That made me cry again but smile as well.  Then I found out from hu hubby's step brother-in-law that he was gifting us the X-Box giveaway that I missed out on!!  Bryan and Taylor are going to be so excited! So, through all the tears and fake smiles, it has been a good day.  Happy Anniversary Husband-Of Mine!  Forever and Ever!!!!!!!

XOXO ~ Nicole

Holy Crap, Santa is Hiring!!

 The hubs found a good deal on a rack for the plants. He has quite the green thumb and keeps the outdoors and indoor plants happy and heathy. I kill them all. Anywho, he was so excited when the box arrived this morning. Like a little kid, it was super cute!

I continued doing my thing and then come out into the living room and see my man looking like he signed up for Santa!!!

All jokes aside though, he is enjoying doing this, said it is like big Legos. And it helps a lot for exercising his hands. I love him so much!!

XOXO ~ Nicole

PS. Final photo coming soon! <3🌱🌲🌷🌹🌸🍂🍁🌼🌺

Final product!!!  <3

You guys, I do not know what is going here with the black etc.  We shall just call it art!

Baby Momma Bear 🐻

 As you guys know, Claire is pregnant and lives in Kansas.  I like to say currently because I hope and pray daily, she returns back home.  She has been approved for KanCare or something like that.  For me, it is equivalent to WIC, Medicaid, etc.  They told her she needed to get her social security card updated because it still has the last name Fige instead of Moore.  Feel free to dig into older posts for that "Jerry Springer" story.  She had the paperwork with her as well from Bryan's dad who was a lawyer that drew up the documents to have her last name legally changed to Moore.  She called us afterwards and said, "That lady was so rude!"  Bryan and I both told her unfortunately many of those people do not enjoy their jobs.  I had one a few weeks ago that made me so angry, I almost cried.  But as we know, Claire is a red-head and tends to have way much more firecracker than her Momma.  Below is her conversation with the rep in person.

Lady:  Why wasn't this taken care of when the paperwork was done?

Claire:  I don't know, I was 4.

Lady:  Well, why didn't your parents get it taken care of?

Claire: Again, I don't know, I was 4.

All I can say is watch out for pregnant red heads y'all.

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.