***The Family Blog is not dead!! Dec 12, 2011

Since my 6 younger siblings and/or their spouses and myself have joined Facebook, it seems that our poor blog has been abandoned. I am about to change that right now.

This year (2011) has been fairly mild for me and for that I am happy!! My kids all seem to be on an even keel except for a few bumps along the way. Stuff like broken cars and bankbooks. That is how life goes...right? If not for my parents, siblings, kids and grand kids my life would be empty, dull and boring. I spend more time alone than anyone else I know. ALL of my friends are married or have a significant other and do things with other couples...things that need even numbers. I can't remember what it is like to do things with another couple...maybe because I have been single for a long time. Yeah...I dated a few guys but not for long! One of them..(I swear he is gay but in 100% denial about it) only wanted to eat and drink which was obvious by his size. The other...a very heavy duty drinker! Never had money for anything unless it was booze/bar related. So much for internet dating sites but hey...I had to give it a try. I did meet some nice guys other than the previously mentioned but there was no spark or they lacked personality big time. C'mon guys...learn how to converse! I don't really mind being single, its the fact of having nobody to do things with.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MY SUMMER

The main highlight was fishing on Mille Lacs Lake and catching a 28-1/8" Walleye!! The biggest I have ever caught. We caught over 20 between the two of us that day (the heavy duty drinker) all but two had to be thrown back...too big!! I went camping only once all summer which really bummed me out! I so love being outdoors! BUT...It was a fun weekend!! I was able to see Split Rock Lighthouse from the water. The heavy duty drinker brought his boat up and we went from Knife River all the way to the lighthouse. What a sight that was!! We also did some trout fishing along the way and once again...I caught the biggest fish.
Kale came home for a visit. It was great to see him with his little brother Gabriel. I drove him to the airport and it was heart-wrenching watching him say good-bye to Katie & Gabriel. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it.
I went to Iowa for the annual PT Cruz-In. The Cruz-In was a blast and I was looking forward to next summer before this years ended. Cruiser people are awesome! I've made friends with people from all over the United States.
Jodi and I had some fun at Trails Of Terror in October. The corn maze was terrible. The corn didn't grow well and you could see everyone the whole time. It was a joke! The Haunted House was awesome!! The haunted hayride...lame...especially when you end up sitting at the front of the wagon right behind a gigantic tractor tire kicking up dust and dirt. That sucked.
I had a girls night at my house in August. My sisters, two of my sister-in-laws, an ex sister-in-law and some friends from work showed up. Little did I know that my friend Sandy was coming all the way from North Carolina!! I didn't know until she rang my doorbell. What a GREAT surprise after 13 years of not seeing each other! She stayed for 10 days. I am hoping I can afford to fly out and see her next summer. I think I deserve a nice vacation. Its been a long, long time.
On Labor Day weekend I ended up at 'Howie's Mud Bog' in Finlayson, MN. A bunch of big trucks and some cars...all with huge tires and souped up engines tried to drive through a huge mud pit without getting stuck. No, they did not all go at once. :) It was fun to watch and I really wanted to ride with one of them but never asked. I wish I had! There was a different band every night and each one got progressively worse than the other. I guess those country hicks have no idea what real music is!

I'm now up to December. My new grand daughter will be born soon. She isn't due until Jan 13, 2012 but Katie has the same thing happening that she had when she was PG with Gabriel. Not gaining weight which means the baby isn't gaining like it should. The doc had planned on inducing her labor but her visit last week changed that. She has started to dilate and doc now thinks by Christmas. I haven't strayed far from home in the past few weeks because Katie had been sick and then from coughing so much and so hard she wound up with a severely torn ligament. How about that on top of being PG! She is worried about going through labor & delivery with the injury and I don't blame her. I would be scared too!
Jayden spent a night with me last weekend and we decorated the Christmas tree. Last year both she and Gage helped me. Jayden's spacial awareness has vastly improved! I didn't rearrange a single ornament!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Deb

life changes

These past six months have been crazy for me. I went from being engaged and was to be married in August and three months before the wedding I determined I was not ready to get married... so we called the wedding off, thinkning that we were going to work on things... man was I wrong; we broke up. In the mean time I was moving to a new apartment, working two part time jobs and trying to save money. Now, I am moving back home to my mom's, working one full-time job and reflecting on the last few months. I have dated a two guys since Pat and I broke up... nothing has stuck. I know I need my time from that.

It is crazy how fast things. I have realized so much after everything I have been through. I am amazed how much things have changed.

Patiences

How does one gain patiences?

I've learned I do not have very good patiences.. I need to learn how to gain it, but how?

*Summer of 2010

This summer has been much better than I ever thought it would be. I went sailing with Dad & Myrna last week and it was awesome. We went to Bayfield on Sat. July 10. On Sunday we left the marina and sailed to Cornucopia WI. What a cute little town that was...if you can call it a town! I think it had 1 store and 3 restaurants. The locals refer to it as "Corny". I sat at the beach for an hour or so taking pictures of the sunset and playing in the water. Myrna and I wandered through a few cute shops that are at the marina there and later all 3 of us walked through the town...dad was in search of ice cream! I think he was having withdrawals because he hadn't had any from the Candy Shop in Bayfield since our arrival. Once we left 'Corny' we sailed back along the shoreline with the Apostle Islands in view on the other side. I got some great pictures of the sea caves on the mainland. Going between Sand Island and the marina was a bit hairy due to the shallow water there. The lowest I saw was around 6 feet. Myrna got us through it on the way to Corny and her and dad both got us through on the way back. I'm happy to say they are excellent sailors and we made it through without getting caught up on the shoals. We anchored off-shore near one of the islands...I think it was Hermit...we had Happy Hour there and then sailed back to bayfield for supper and showers. On Monday we sailed amongst the islands and on Tuesday we sailed over to Madeline Island where dad ended up working on the boat. The foot pump for the water was leaking and the alchol stove was clogged. While he worked Myrna and I wandered more shops on the island. I was in search of souveniers for Jayden, Gage and Gabriel. I also saw some cool things to add to my list of crafts to make. Can't tell ya though coz you may get one for a Christmas gift! We passed an ice cream shop and I mentioned that if it weren't so hot we could bring dad some ice cream. It would have melted fast because it was near 90 degrees that day. Once we left Madeline we had some great sailing!! I took another turn at the wheel and it was fun!! The waves were making the boat rock in all directions. We had full sails! I loved every minute! Its amazing the power you feel from the wind. We went back to the marina for Happy Hour, supper, showers and some packing for home. On Wed morning before we left I walked to the Coast Guard Station and got a tour of one of their boats...how cool. We hit some storms on the way home and had to pull off the road in Hayward WI. The rain was coming down so hard that Dad couldn't see the road. Small branches were all over the roads and we saw a power line that had been knocked down. It was scary. Once we got home it was about 92 degrees with tornado watches all over the state. I won't be going to Wefest this year due to a change of plans but thats OK. In August I will be going to the Minnesota Bluegrass Festival in Avon MN with my friend Debbie Denzer and her boyfriend Dave. Dave plays Bluegrass and has a band. Its fun music! I'm looking forward to 3-4 days of some fun there. The following weekend I will be heading to Dubuque IA with my PT Cruiser car club. Deb

??

I am sad and lonely;
that feeling is back again.
Don't know where I'm going; don't know where I've been.
I walk around in circles because there is nowhere else to go.
If there is a reason for my time on earth I don't know what it is.
Do I really serve a purpose or am I taking up space?

Change

It has been 42 days since I have not worked. I am bored, frustrated somewhat depressed and are having anxiety attacks that do not let me sleep. Everyday during the week I get up around 8:00 a.m. make my coffee get on the computer and do job searching for around 2-3 hours.
I have had some phone calls back and some interviews, no job yet. It makes you feel like a loser and not worth a whole lot that you cannot contribute to your family's needs the way you would want. Jamie, being the rock of my life is so supportive and helpful getting me through this, he does have to put up with my spoiled butt. Yes, I have finally admitted it, I am spoiled.

I have decided after watching Jamie do his college classes that I would enroll and really do what I want and feel that I need to do with my life. I enrolled through Kaplan online services, they are an accredited school. I will be getting my associates degree in Human Services. I have not yet decided what area of Human Services that I will do, there are so many things I have thought about: Drug Rehab, counselor for married couples having problems, grief counselor, the list goes on and on.

I am so excited that I am doing it, elated actually. I wish I would have done it earlier but I really felt like I was stuck at a job, I was making $18.00 an hour. I mean really, who could turn that down? (It makes it very difficult to find a job these days that I have to make to pay the bills, It doesn't have to be $18.00 closer to $14.00 & part time is out of the question.)

I finally figured out that Tom my old boss was using me and paying me that much to keep me there because he didn't want to do any work on his own. It's not that he even liked me as a person, apparently I am too blunt, I wear my feelings on my sleeve, If I don't like something I will say it. Long story with him which I will write about, maybe someday.

I have realized I am much happier, healthier and meant for something so much bigger.
I was told he was in hell without me there and regrets getting rid of me, which was his daughters idea. Karma sucks!

Enough about me.

Jamie is doing classes in Business Management geared towards the Human Resources end of it. He is getting a 4.0 right now and will not accept anything below that. Jamie is so smart & intelligent that I know he will be great at whatever he does.

Tyler is Tyler, he moved about a couple of months ago and is finally working. YEA!
He still hasn't heard when he gets deployed but has been doing a lot of live training action. This weekend he goes to Camp Ripley to play with Grenades and to take is Military driving test, he has to take that because he will be ambulance driver over in Afghani. Nice big X on the top of his truck :(

I am so looking forward to Brandi's wedding!! I love when family is together. Huh? J.K.

Life is great!

Love ya all

Jode

The Sun is here!!

Spring is almost here, the weather is getting nicer and nicer each day!! I am busy planning the wedding, the the last few fine details done and out of the way. I am also working 3 jobs. Monday March 29th is my last day at the college. I put in my notice. I am still working at Aldi, it has been just over a year. I recently got a new job at North Country Ford Lincoln Mercury in Coon Rapids. So Far I like. There are a few things I still need to learn, but I have caught on pretty quick.

Pat and I will be moving in May. We do not care for the apartment we are in-it is kind of crappy. We are moving to North Pointe, down the street from my mom :) I get to live on the street I grew up on. That is my mom's dream, to have all of her children close to her... ha ha so kidding.

Hope all is well!! Looking forward to August and seeing you all!!

Love,

Brandi