Someone I Used To Know

Happy Early Saturday everyone. I'm sorry I'm using this as an outlet but since I met what I thought was my friend through this blog, I feel the urge to write about my feelings which are really hurt at the present moment in this blog. Without getting into major details, I will try to give you the Cliff Notes version. This friend and I lost contact like a year and a half ago. She had a major change in her life, but really kept to herself about it which is her business & I will respect that & not post any details. This happened right around the time of my diagnosis for Multiple Sclerosis. I was really starting not to feel good for quite some time and going through the diagnosis process which was quite lengthy. I left blogging and tried to focus on my getting my health under control. just seemed like I was having a stroke of "bad luck". I was finally diagnosed in October of 2011. Then in May of 2012, my beloved 19yr old cat Harley passed away whom this friend knew was my entire heart. I honestly thought she above else would understand my situation because she had recently lost her beloved senior kitty. I was just devastated for her. When he passed I was SO sick about it. Because of our mileage distance, I couldn't be there physically for her so I felt I had to "do something to honor his memory" for her. So I had sent her something I had made in his honor. Now please don't read anything into this. I am Italian..we do things like this. We send gifts, we bring stuff to dinners we are invited to. Trust me, PLEASE know, it is not about "a gift". Because I don't want any "physical thing" from her. I just wanted and needed the support of family and friends. I had a very rough time coping with his loss. It was really bad for the first 3 months without him. You have to remember, he was with me my entire adult life. I tried to tell her about Harley. At least I don't anyone had told her. We had some mutual blogging friends that may have still kept in touch somehow with her that could have told her. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and say she didn't know then. But regardless, she does know now about him. All I wanted was for her to acknowledge that she knows he is gone. The one special part of our friendship that we shared was our mutual love of our animals.

I have reached out to her on more than one occasion. I have left her messages on her blog and told her about my MS diagnosis and about Harley's passing. I waited almost two months to see if she would reply, text, call, email me or even send a snail mail letter. I assume her cell number changed because I had texted her back 18 months ago and somewhere in the middle but never got a reply. There is only so much one could do. But even after all of the explaining I went to click on her blog to see if she maybe responded to my comments in the comment section and guess what, I wasn't able to see because....

"Blog is open to invited readers only".

I guess I got my answer.

To now be blocked, without even asking 'How are you feeling?' or even acknowledge Harley's passing even if it is 7 month's later. Better late than never. It's OK. I guess it is God's way of making me see who my true friends are. True friends welcome you back even after any type of separation like a day never passed. Time to move on and realize that God placed her in my life for a reason. I just hope she is happy & healthy. I wish only the best for her & her son & her furbabies.

Sunday Stealing On New Year's Eve

Three names you go by, other than your given name:
Jo, Jod, Honey

Three things you like about yourself:
Honesty, friendly, love animals

Three things you don't like about yourself:
Procrastinate, lose my patience easily,

Three parts of your heritage:
Italian American: Apple Pie, Gravy, and being loud. (Little bit of both heritages. LOL)

Three things you are wearing right now:
Hoodie, fleece pajama pants and slippers. I'm freezing. HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE! LOL!

Three favorite bands/musical artists:
Elvis Presley, John Lennon/Beatles, Kenny Rogers

Three favorite songs:
"The Wonder of You" by Elvis Presley
"Watching The Wheel's" by John Lennon
"Crazy" by Kenny Rogers
Runners Up...
"One" by U2
"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel

Three things you want in a relationship:
Love, trust, and honesty

Three things about the preferred sex that appeal to you:
Great smile, beautiful eyes, great sense of humor

Three of your favorite hobbies:
Blogging, reading, animal rights

Three things that scare you:
Sickness, poverty, and losing someone I love

Three of your everyday essentials:
iPhone, Keurig coffee machine, and my laptop

Three places you want to go on vacation:
Graceland, Italy and Ireland

Three careers you have considered/are considering:
Have considered teaching, nursing
Are considering...to be determined

Three things you want to do before you die:
Go to Graceland, run a marathon, and travel to Europe

Three things you want to do really badly right now:
Have 2012 be over and done with..it hasn't been the greatest,
Have my sinus infection be done with
Go to sleep and wake up and 2013 be here and make a new start!

Sunday Stealing: The Mixed Bag Meme

1. How many songs are in your library?
It wouldn't tell me the number of songs, but I can tell you this..it would tell me I have 17 1/2 hours of music in total.

2. Do you like Christmas music?
I do. But I don't think it should start playing on radio stations before Thanksgiving.

3. What magazines do you have subscriptions to?
VegNews and Catholic Digest. I am the ultimate nerd.

4. What is your favorite scent?
Fresh brewed coffee

5. Do you give money to charity?
Yes

6. What is your theme song?
"Free Fallin" by Tom Petty (Just the beginning) "She's a good girl, loves her Mama, She loves Jesus, and America too. She's a good girl, she's crazy about Elvis, she loves horses, and her boyfriend too."
This picture was taken last summer in 2011 when I went horseback riding on the weekends. It was on my "bucket list" of things I wanted to do when I lost all my weight. I just adore horses. One day when I win the lottery I want to buy a big farm and raise horses, cows, and goats. I love them all so much.


7. What's in your wallet?
Normal stuff that is in wallets. LOL This sounds like a commercial.

8. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?
I try to think before I act because I don't get myself into trouble that way.

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?
Yes a few things. I have a sick relative, my kitten Daniel had a little intestinal issue, my best friend's Mom passed away last week, and the whole Sandy Hook tragedy. It has been really a bad month.

10. Do you have a good body-image?
I do now. I mean it is better than it used to be that is for sure since losing the weight.

11. How are you spending your holidays?
In-laws on Christmas eve and one of my sisters houses on Christmas..both with the hubby. He is finally off on BOTH days! I'm off on Christmas Eve I'm using it as my float holiday.

12. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?
Two things totally unrelated. One is a TV show and the other is something for my coffee addiction.

First. I LOVE Storage Wars! And I love that Dave Hester is FIRED! Noooope!!!! No more Yuuuppp!!!
Second. LOVE my soy creamer - it is vegan, and 15 calories and 1 gram of fat and so creamy. A coffee addicts dream especially when they don't drink dairy by choice anymore.

13. Tell us a secret?
Larry bought me tickets to see my boyfriend Kenny Rogers in concert in March. I am SO friggin excited!!! It is an early Valentine's gift. Plus it will be our anniversary of being together for 17yrs. Plus he knows that I've loved Kenny since I was a little girl. Just as long as Elvis.


14. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head?
"I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" ~ Dean Martin

15. What’s your favorite item of clothing?
A pair of brown corduroys I got from Macy's in a size 8. I almost died because they were the first article of clothing that I bought in that size. So they will forever be my favorite article of clothing. Now I have the corduroys in navy, gray and black too. LOL!

16. Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?
No

17. Is Santa real?
I have proof that he is!


18. What should you be doing right now?
Sleeping...and on that note everyis one...I will post this and comment on everyone's SS tomorrow as it 1:40am!!!

Saturday 9: Happy Holidays Meme

1. As you can see, Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?

As you can see...I still believe in Santa. LOL! I LOVE this Santa. Me & my hubby go to see him every year. Actually the true story is he is at the mall near our house that is quiet during the week and where I go that my local Whole Foods is at. So we have become very friendly with him.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?
It really depends on the day. If you take into consideration the well-intended things I do and the fact that I think I'm a pretty good person, I would say I'm on the nice list. If you take into consideration my lack of patience, my road rage, and my mouth like a sailor with a weekend pass, I would be on the naughty list.

3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest?
Only one family member who shipped one to me and I took that as a 'I guess we aren't getting together for the holidays" so I mailed my present to her as well.5 We are about 25 miles apart.

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?

No

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie?
Regular movie: Home Alone / Animated/Cartoon: Rudolph

6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day?
No

7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party?
Actually it wasn't embarrassing. It was acutally quite funny. I don't normally drink. I will have some wine at parties or sangria etc. Well, we had our company Christmas party out at a restaurant. One of my co-workers bought me a shot of tequila to drink to toast the holidays. It also turns out tequila makes me dance with our company medical director. LOL!! My hubby was there and doesn't even come to rescue me. He thought it was funny.

8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather?

Coffee. The larger, the better. Some things never change.

9. What will you remember most about 2012?
I loved my Harley for 19yrs. He went to Heaven on 5/20/12.

Sunday Stealing: The Deleted Meme

Who is your favorite artist (Any field.):

Love Thomas Kinkade. I also love Impressionism. Claude Monet would be my favorite of that genre.

Describe yourself:
I'm sad today because of the whole Sandy Hook tragedy.

How do you feel today:
Very sad to be honest. It has been a very tough week. My best friend of 35yrs Mom passed away. So on Thursday night I went to her wake. Friday morning was her funeral at 9am. During her funeral little did we know the unthinkable was happening 70 miles away in Newtown, CT.

Describe the area where you currently live.
It is a town of approximately 25,000

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
Graceland. I mean really!

Your favorite form of transportation:
Car

Your best friend is:
Colleen. I have known her for 35yrs. We met playing hopscotch the first day of school in kindergarten.

You and your best friends are:
Like sisters of the heart. Coll is on the left and I'm on the right.


What's the weather like:
Cold. It was a little icy before.

Favorite time of day:
When I go home from work!

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
Procrastination

What is life to you:
Life is what you make of it.

Your relationship:
Married

Your fear:
Not fulfilling all of my dreams

What is the best advice you have to give:
Never think you can't do something. The power is in you. Even if you are a procrastinator. (LOL!)

Thought for the Day:
Hug the ones you love and tell them you love them and never take them for granted.

How would you categorize your soul's present condition:
Right now my soul is very sad because of the whole Sandy Hook Tragedy.

Thursday Cuteness

Today I'm off early to go train someone up in another one of our offices...so I will leave you with a little bit of Daniel.

It is also a very sad day for me because my best friend of 35 years (since Kindergarten) Mom passed away and tonight is her wake. She has been sick since May. Very sad day for my best friend. Plus for me too because she has been like a psuedo-mom for 35yrs. On top of this all, I am fighting a very bad sinus infection. I have a full day ahead of me. So..I am not on top of my game at all. :( Then tomorrow is the funeral.

So...I needed to post Daniel's face to make me happy. Here he is in all his creamsicle glory.

Monday Listicles

I just found a new Meme for Mondays! Well I will give this a go since Mondays I don't have much to say.

Today's Monday list is: 10 Foods I love
265 pounds ago this would have been an easy list! Now being much lighter and vegan, this is a much harder list to come up with!!! But I will try.

1. My typical morning breakfast consists of: 1 cup of Arrowhead Mills Sprouted Multigrain Cereal with a cut-up banana & a cup of almond milk (Blue Diamond)

2. A Gala Apple cut up with cinnamon & truvia

3. Colombia Gorge Protein Bars


4. Favorite dinner out: Veggie Heaven Restaurant - Cashew Soy Chicken w/Vegetables over Brown Rice.

5. Oreo Cookies (yes they are vegan can you believe that!) are still a splurge every once in awhile. I allow myself 2 which are a serving size. The old Jodi could eat them by the sleeve. LMAO!

6. Banana with a teaspoon of natural peanut butter

7. Avocado

8. Veggie Chili

9. Does coffee count as a food?

10. Believe it or not...I absolutely love the Veggie Patty from Subway either in a 6 inch sub or chopped salad. I know it sounds ridiculous. But it really is very tasty.

OK...That concludes my list for now. I thought on the fly because I was rushing. Hopefully next Monday I will have a little more time to think of my list.

Have a good day everyone!!!

Sunday Stealing: The 11/11 Meme

I am going to be lazy and just answer the 11 questions. I cannot think of 11 questions to ask because...it is nearly 11pm and I'm going to post this at midnight. My tiredness has gotten the best of me.
What is your favorite possession?
It's a toss-up between my Keurig coffeemaker and my iPhone.

Do you like to read? If so, which books do you love best?
Amish Fiction and "Chick-Lit" or Christian Chick Lit

Do you have any pets?
My Daniel who will be 6 months old on Dec 16th..My other cat Harley passed away in May. He would have been 19yrs old :(


What was your favorite food as a child? Is it the same now?
When I was a kid, I could eat almost a whole box of this myself. I didn't have to lose 265 pounds for nothing you know. I earned every one of those pounds. This was the deluxe version and it was when the cheese was in a can, not in the packet. No powder versions for either. And nope, it is not still my favorite food now. My current favorite dish is something at a vegan restaurant Larry and I go to. It is a Cashew "chicken" (soy) & vegetables dish with brown rice. Believe it or not, I don't have to drag him to the restaurant. He likes to go. They have two dishes he likes there. But since we have opposite days off, he goes and gets his 'fix' at Burger King without me. LOL.


What is your favorite thing about blogging?
Connecting with old friends and writing about everyday life.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Amish Country because that is where I find my peace.

What is your favorite number?
265. Hey..speaking of numbers..where the hell are the numbers??

Which of these things would you find hardest to give up for a year? Chocolate, reading, coffee or smoking?
COFFEE - holy moly! I would probably need therapy or something.

If you could make your life into a movie, what would you name it.. and who would you want to play you?
Hmm? A title.."Finding The New Me". I think Jodi pre-weight loss would be played by Melissa McCarthy because she is so funny and I would want the me now to be played by Drew Barrymore because she is fun and a free spirit.


If you had £20,000 for a shopping spree, what would you buy?
I honestly would pay some of my credit cards and then buy a new car..preferably an all wheel drive so I won't be nervous in the winter driving. Oh and thanks a bunch for allowing me the pleasure of converting the denomination. That was fun. It was also fun to discover it was enough to buy a new car though.

If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be?
This is an easy one!! She happens to be the one person I have yet to meet..but my greatest desire to meet. I have watched her since 1987 when she appeared on an HBO Comedy Special "Women of the Night" and have loved her since. She is hysterical and we both have the whole vegan thing going on so we would like the same type of food. LOL!!!!

Now that was the fun and friendly lunch date. Now if you want the reeeaaallly FUN and FRIENDLY lunch date....here is who I would choose.

Some things never change.

Saturday 9 Meme: Blue Christmas

Now since you all know I am an Elvis fan, hence the Elvis tattoo and umm, the title of this blog...I found this meme to be the most fitting meme of all to give unto me! And this happens to be my most favorite Elvis photo and he happens to be in a BLUE suit and my blog address is Moody BLUE and this meme is BLUE Christmas!!! LOL!

Man, I got to lay off the coffee.

Ok, shall we begin?

1) Do you ever suffer the blues during the holidays?
Well by the looks of things, you would think no, but actually I do suffer the blues during the holidays. This is the first year in 19yrs that my cat Harley won't be with me. I also miss my Mom during the holidays (and everyday of course).

2) More than 18 million visitors have toured Elvis' home, Graceland. Have you ever been there?
As an extreme Elvis fan for 35 of the 40 years of my life, I humbly hang my head in shame and say, no, I have never been to Graceland. But, I plan to go. I promise. I want to go in the worse way. But I do have an Elvis tattoo. Does that count? I am very dedicated!

3) Elvis dyed his naturally light brown locks black. Do you dye your hair?
I dye my hair blonde and have highlights and lowlights.

4) He also insisted his young girlfriend, Priscilla, dye her hair jet black. If your lover asked you to change your hair, would you?
Well my hubby has asked me not to cut my hair short and I have accomodated him and not cut it short. So I keep it shoulder length or longer for him. But I really wouldn't cut it short anyway, I'm just used to having it this length. If I really wanted a short hair cut I would just do it because it is my hair anyway right?

5) Elvis served his country at an Army base in Friedberg, Germany. Have you ever been to Germany?
No

6) Elvis famously had an affair with Ann-Margret during the filming of Viva Las Vegas. Have you ever indulged in a dalliance with a coworker?
Yes. When I was 16 I dated one of the customer service managers who was 21 at Steinbach. I was just a kid so it really wasn't a "romance".

7) Thinking of his movies ... Elvis was, by and large, unhappy with his film career and once said, "The only thing worse than watching a bad movie is being in one." Are you happy with the way your career is going/has gone?
So far so good.

8) Elvis lost "the battle of the bulge" toward end of his life. Are you happy with your weight?
After 40 years I can finally say - YES!

9) As a teenager, Elvis worked as an usher at a movie theater. What was your first job?
When I was 14 in a dental office answering phones and cleaning the rooms. Then I worked at Steinbach as a retail associate after school.

The Sambuca Tried To Kill Me

It was all going fine. I had a busy day at work. I scheduled the day well. Closed alot of patient charts. I was scheduled to leave at 3:30pm. Last night was Larry's work's Christmas party. There was only 12 of us in total, not a huge deal. It was just his "section". A few people brought their significant other's (him being one of them).

This is now the 3rd year in a row I have went. This is now the "thinnest" I have been. I don't know if it is that, because I did eat my dinner? But I am really convinced that...the Sambuca tried to kill me. Let me explain...

Dinner went fine. We were all having a good time. We were there from 4pm. In the course of the 4 hour night I had maybe 2 glasses of Moscato and a cup of coffee. At the end of the night this waiter brought us over the Sambuca as a "thank you" from the owner. It was a shot.

I was done.

All I know is this. That "thank you" really to me was FU..you guys are staying here way too long. Go home. Here is some death in a glass now get out. I don't know what it was. Was it the weight loss? I don't know. Because I thought I was going to die. I felt HORRIBLE. I just got so exhausted like I couldn't even hold my head up tired. And I just wanted to go immediately home. Yes, I had 2 glasses of wine but over the course of 4 hours and that was way earlier in the night and I had already eaten. And I was fine just before the shot! I had their same death tonic thank you last year and I don't remember it having the same effect. Larry said this year it was strong too. Hmm?

All I know is this. Luckily I have my life this morning. From this moment on I will never fall for another "thank you" shot from this place again. I will play it safe!

Anyway, off to work now. Have a good day everyone :) ~ And note to everyone...if you are ever in an Italian restaurant and the server gives you a complimentary shot to say "thank you" for your patronage and it smells or tastes like licorice do like Nancy Reagan's old slogan from the 80s!!!!

Sunday Stealing - The Not So Manly Meme

1. Boxers? Briefs? Boxer briefs? Thongs? Bikinis? Commando?
Boy, now aren't you getting kind of personal? Well lucky for you I do wear underwear! I could never go commando because I just think I would feel like something was missing. Well literally. If you must know, I like hi-cut briefs preferably from Victoria Secret. I like her place.

2. What’s your fussiest personal care routine?
My hair probably. When I get out of the shower, I have to spray a leave in conditioner in it to get out the tangles, then comb out the tangles and let it dry natural for awhile. Man this is boring...LOL.

3. Do you have a favorite tool? Power or manual?
My coffee machine. Keurig. That is the only tool I need.

4. Can you change your own oil? Do you?
Are you serious?

5. What’s the “manliest / 'womenliest” thing you do on a regular basis?
Get my eyebrows waxed.

6. What’s something “manly” that you never learned how to do?
Change my own oil. But I can check the level of my oil!

7. Do you ever cry? If so, what’s your trigger?
Yes. I'm a sap. So just about anything is my trigger. Animals are a trigger. Let's see sad stories as well as inspirational stories.

8. Do you have a chivalrous streak? How does it manifest itself?
I appreciate chivalry so maybe this question does not apply.

9. Do you have a chauvinistic streak? How does it manifest itself?
Hmm? That is a double edge sword. I do think sometimes I can, I must admit. I want to make the same amount of money as a man does, but I don't think women should be lifting boxes that weigh more than themselves.

10. What’s your favorite movie?
Drama - Gone With The Wind. Ahh, Rhett Butler!!. Comedy - Grumpy Old Men

11. What’s the dumbest, testosterone-inspired thing you’ve ever seen?
Lots of different sports that I won't name so I don't offend anyone ;)

12. What quality do you think makes a good man good? Do you have that quality?
Genuine honesty and respect for all living things. I have that quality as a woman but not as a man since I don't have a penis. LOL!

13. Toilet seat up or down?
DOWN for the love of God and all things that are holy!

14. If your significant other is away, do you cook for yourself or eat out of cans and boxes (or rely on local drive-throughs and delivery)?
All of the above because me and my husband eat different diets anyway. I eat a vegan/vegetarian diet so it is a constant struggle all the time.

15. What societal expectation of being a man / women do you most resent?
That as a woman you are expected to have had a child.

16. What’s the best part - societal-wise - about being a man / women?
Women most of the time get more attention.

17. Will you stop to ask for directions?
YES!

18. What’s one thing about your significant other that you just cannot understand, no matter how hard you try?
His obsession with wrestling. (WWE, TNA...sports entertainment wrestling)

19. What do you need to have in the shower?
Shampoo and umm soap. Since the MS diagnosis I have such a sensitivity to soap since one of my symptoms is numbness in my fingertips. So I use a vegan soap called Dr Bronner's. They use it in hospitals. I LOVE it! It smells so good and I have no reaction with it.

20. Do you burp/fart/scratch? Do you do anything stereotypically male?
I eat a lot of vegetables. You do the math.

Saturday 9: Beer Barrel Polka Meme

1) Have you ever danced the polka?
Umm..No but I have met & had a conversation about being vegan with POLKA & parody music artist Weird Al Yankovic. That's about as polka as I get.

2) Frankie Yankovic was a stellar accordion player. What instrument have you mastered, or would like to learn?
Master of the recorder. LOL! I wish I could play the piano. My mother, God rest her soul, was so musically inclined. She could play the piano by ear!

3) When Frankie died in 1998, his obituary proclaimed him as "America's Polka King." Lucille Ball was "The Queen of Comedy" and Michael Jackson was "The King of Pop." What royal title do you deserve?
Queen Of Procrastination

4) Do you like light beer?
I don't like beer at all. I don't even like the smell of it. The color also reminds me of something else.

5) In 1901, daredevil Annie Taylor successfully went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. She was badly bruised but otherwise fine. How much money would it take for you do to do something that dangerous?
Not enough money. I value my life too much. I would go off a high dive at a town pool but that is about the extent of height I would drop.

6) When was the last time you visited a pet store?
Last week. Daniel likes to eat & he is very spoiled with toys.

7) What's your favorite salad dressing?
Balsamic or Catalina

8) Sam Winters is crazy about her smart phone. She uses it to take pictures, record videos, listen to tunes, answer emails and surf the net and, oh yeah, she even uses it to make calls. How indispensable is your mobile phone in your day-to-day life?
Let's put it this way. I have been known to turn around on my way to work because I forgot it at home.

9) "Kocham cię" is "I love you" in Polish. Can you say "I love you" in a language other than English (and Polish)?
Ti Amo ---> (Italian)

New Obsession: Storage Wars..Step Away From The DVR Timer

OK, so I have not just been taking a blog break since 2010. Apparently I have been hiding under a piece of cement slab or something. Or maybe, just maybe I've been hiding in one of the lockers (normally we in New Jersey call them storage units) that Storage Wars cast members bid in auctions for. How come I just discovered this show?!?!?! Seriously? It has been on since 2010!! This show is SO friggin funny! There are many reasons why you should love this show....

Reason #1

Barry Weiss ~ What is not to love about Barry? He is SO funny and so animated. Just the glasses alone! He comes to each auction dressed in the most interesting outfits in the best cars. He has FUN doing it too. He doesn't need the money. The man is just recently turned 60 years old and used to own a produce wholesale company with his brother. So he is in this now for the sport.

Reason #2

Darrell Sheets - Love his personality, his voice..his interactions with the others, the things that comes out of his mouth, how excited he gets over something, and how pissed off he gets at Dave. He is Mr Tattooed Tough Guy Teddy Bear. He is trying to teach his son the business.

Things that frustrate me:
1)Dave Hester
2)Dave Hester
3)Dave Hester
4)Dave Hester saying "Yup"
5)Dave Hester's long ass truck
6)Dave Hester driving up the bids of the "lockers" on spite
7)Dan Dotson's auction voice
8)Laura Dotson saying "Don't forget to pay the lady"
9)How miraculously no one else ever wins an auction except the cast! Also, did you ever notice no one hardly ever bids on any of the auctions the cast bids in even though there are about 50 "extras" there.

Lastly...The last point I will make then I am going off to bed. It is just a random thought Larry and I came up with. I don't understand why people abandon their lockers/storage units. Now, people are coming in there and bidding on them, then selling the stuff inside. Why wouldn't the owners come in if they knew times were getting tough, get their stuff out, at least some of it? They could actually do what the show is doing to help pay for their bill! It is a win-win situation. They could sell some of the stuff out of their storage unit so they could 1) settle their bill with the company so they don't damage their credit 2) junk stuff they really don't need and lastly 3) get stuff out the truly is priceless like family keepsakes that these auction people are getting their hands on and either keeping for themselves and/or selling. I know someone who has a storage unit and their agreements says it gets locked after a month and sold to auction after 3 months. So it isn't that far-fetched.

All I know is this, if Dave Hester ever bought my stuff and "Yuuupped" his way into my "locker" I'd have to kick him in right in his shins because he is one of the most annoying, pompous, egotistical individuals I have ever seen. Every cast member has fought with him and with good reason.

OK, on that note, I'm going to bed now. And in case you were wondering. There is a Storage Wars marathon on tonight. I may be DVRing it.

Don't judge me. I just got to be me.

Sunday Stealing: The Social Meme

1. Where was your profile picture taken?
In a mall in Central Jersey by my husband.

2. Name someone who made you laugh today.
My kitten Daniel (sorry, not a person) because he was acting very silly. Two bloggers posts made me laugh too but I don't know their real names to say who they are.

3. Do you believe exes can be friends?
That is a tough call. Usually if children are involved on some level they should try to be. If children aren't involved then no because friendship just usually leads to friends with benefits or mess around with each other in between relationship sex.

4. How do you feel about Dr Pepper?
I feel more for Diet Dr Pepper and even more for Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band

5. Who was the last person you took a picture of?
My kitten Daniel (not exactly a person)

6. Are you upset about anything?
Auditors coming to work this week so it will be a stressful work and I don't do stress well especially with MS.

7. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
This is a dumb question

8. Are you a bad influence?
I don't think that I am. Like I have never been arrested. I'm so boring I haven't even gotten a speeding ticket. So I take that back. I'm a good influence! I vote. I pay my taxes. Oh yeah and I don't cut the tag off the mattress either. Maybe I'm just a nerd. Or boring. Or both.

9. Night out or night in?
Night in normally

10. Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
Sure..my boss last week when I found something for her. We have been preparing for audits and it has been very stressful at work so if I found a paperclip I would be perfect at this point. But it was just used in passing I'm sure. If only I was perfect. LOL! Actually..I am starting to think I am getting close to perfect because I had TWO blog posting days in a row!!!! After a 2yr hiatus that is pretty impressive!!!

11. What song is stuck in your head?

12. Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be?
Umm no one because I live where the only access to my window is a fire freakin escape so if someone is knocking on my window I'm either A)calling the cops or B)getting a baseball bat.

13. Do you smile a lot?
Hell yes! I also laugh alot which gets me in trouble especially at work. And when I used to go to church.

BLAST From the PAST!!! Yes it is Really Me!

Hi Everyone! I can't imagine you all could even possibly remember me anymore. I think the only ones who can even like me anymore are those I keep in touch with on Facebook. And that is who I blame. Facebook. It has made me lazy. It has taken away my writing capability. And for that I apologize.So much has happened in the past two years since I posted. Well for one - I hit my goal weight! I have lost a total of 265 pounds! I know it is like the size of my husband I lost! LOL! I tell him like I lost your existence. He is 6'5". It is hard to comprehend. This is a picture I took at one of his wrestling events. Those are wrestlers behind me. I tried to crop them out. I need to do another before/after collage. I am down to a size 8. I don't think I ever was a size 8 in my life. I went from a husky in grammar school to a size whatever in high school. LOL! I don't ever remember single digits!

I went vegetarian back in January of 2012 and actually went for the gusto and went vegan in April of this year. I did it for more than health reasons (which you will read about in paragraphs below). As you all know I LOVE animals & I just could not continue to eat meat. Every once and a while I will have tuna or a piece of shrimp. But other than that in almost a year I have not consumed meat. As for dairy, I was never a "milk" person. The most I ever had was 1/2 a cup of skim in my cereal and some fat free half and half in my coffee and cheese and frozen yogurt. So it wasn't that much I had to give up. Now for substitutes. I love, Love, LOVE almond milk. Blue Diamond Original is my favorite. That is what I have in my cereal. For my coffee I have Organic Valley soy creamer. For cheese, I use substites Daiya shredded cheddar or pepperjack and slices a company called Galaxy International Vegan cheese slices in American or pepperjack flavor. So I am set. A future post about this and "How I get my protein" will follow because a lot of people don't get it and I would love to share.

Let's see what else has gone on. Back in the summer of 2011, I started not feeling well. I got really strange symptoms of numbness in my hands (mainly fingertips) and severe vertigo. I will spare you the back and forth of doctor visits. My gut told me I had MS. So I went to an MS Specialist/Neurologist. After MRIs of my head, thoracic and cervical spine and the good old spinal tap for good measure it was confirmed in October of 2011 that I indeed have Multiple Sclerosis. They found "white matter" (or lesions) in my brain (none in my spine luckily).

I immediately went on medication. I take a daily shot called Copaxone. My daily symptoms I have are still some numbness in my fingertips and I sometimes get vertigo. I sometimes have some cognitive issues as far as if I'm tired I'll drift off into la-la land and not comprehend something if it a really 'hard' subject. I have extreme cold sensitivity. I thought it was the weight loss but it goes beyond that. I am always cold. I get migraines. I get them bad. I am on a preventative medication for it called Topomax that has helped control them somewhat. I really cannot complain because a lot of people with MS have it so much worse. I just went for my first anniversary MRI/EEG check and I am proud to report "no new lesions" so my disease has not progressed! It has stayed the same. So the doctor said what ever I am doing, I am doing right. He said I am living a healthy lifestyle and taking my medicine daily and following his orders. I sound like Montell Williams but "I have MS, but it doesn't have me!!" And...the one thing I am blessed with is I have my mobility and I will do EVERYTHING in my power to keep it! As a matter of fact, this past April I participated in the MS Walk 2012 which was 5K and I even ran part of it!! Jodi..run? Yep! I'm sorry. Seeing the word's I and run in the same sentence is quite comical

It is with a BROKEN heart that I write that the love of my life Harley passed away on May 20, 2012. It was oddly the 21st anniversary of my blessed Mom's death as well. It was like she was welcoming him into her arms. That day was seriously the worst day of my life. I will not go into detail because it is just too painful for me to put into words. I will tell you all this. I promised Harley that he would never have a painful day in his life. He lived 19years and blessed me every day. I knew he would give me a sign when the time was right. He gave me a sign on the 19th. Now you all know Harley really did not like to be loved. The night before I brought him to the emergency vet, he let me hold him in my arms all night long. That was our time. Our time to say goodbye for now.

When we got to the emergency vet she assured me that fluids would only keep him alive for a few more days and we would have to bring him back and with his age his quality of life was not there. His body was a step away from shutting down. I would not do that to him. I promised him no pain. So I had to make the hardest decision in my life. The vet was SO incredibly patient. She allowed me to hold him the entire time before, during and I stood with him after. 19yrs is a long time.

I had him cremated and have his ashes in a special place along with his collar and photos. I also added to my wrist tattoo of his name and have his face above it. Larry got that for me for my 40th birthday in June.

I said I would NEVER --- EVER get another cat again. I was too heartbroken. I was actually almost in a state of depression when Harley died. Then something just clicked and I went and looked at this shelter website. I saw a picture of this cat that looked like Harley. I went to see him. It was just too eery. I said I am doing this for all the wrong reasons. He looks like Harley and then guess what. The cat bit me! LOL! Yeah, too much like Harley! LOL!!! My heart told me I needed to get another cat that looked nothing like Harley and one that was younger that I could train the way I wanted...so I should think of looking at kittens. I knew they were alot of work. So the lady said they had a few kittens if I wanted to see them. They were all rescues from overcrowded kill shelters. I walked into the room and my eyes look into this gorgeous orange and white 3 month old tabby kitten's eyes and he reached his paw out of the cage to me. SUCKER!!! I was sold and it was love at first sight. The name that they gave him was Brave Heart. We changed it to Daniel. If anyone has seen Mister Rogers, he is named after the puppet Daniel Striped Tiger because his body has stripes and spots too! He is just the sweetest things and he was able to bring back love into my heart. This kitten LOVES to be loved. He actually comes up to you and cries to be picked up. When you kiss him, he throws his head back so you could kiss his neck. He sleeps with me every night. He actually "spoons" with you. It is unbelieveable. I know this may sound weird, but I honestly feel like Harley had "his paw" in on this. He knew I needed love and affection and saw too it that I found a kitten who would accept the love I had to give and would reciprocate.

And lastly in big news...first there is Elvis and John Lennon ...then there is Kenny Rogers and if I cannot meet Elvis or John Lennon for obvious reasons, my ultimate desire would be to meet Kenny Rogers. And guess what?! I did!! I had the ultimate experience this October. I was able to meet him during his book tour. I told him that I loved him my whole life and he told me that I "should have caught him in between marriages". If only!!!!! Me and his wife are only 2 years apart in age!!! I met her there and she and him have a HUGE age difference. He wasn't kidding! It could have been possible. LOL!!!! He is still SO handsome. Truth be told, if we both weren't married, I would have taken him right there in the biography section. 34yrs my senior or not. LMAO! If you click on the picture it actually shows it to you in a bigger size and you can see how happy I am. It was one of the best days of my life. If I smiled any wider I would have had to have sought medical attention for lock jaw.

On that note my old friends. I am so sorry that my post has taken 2 flippin long years to write. So much has happened. For those of you have kept me on your blogroll thank you!!!! I will try to keep this updated more regularly.