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Monday, January 4, 2010

My first car -- A stroll down memory lane

I want to take you on a stroll down memory lane today. I have talked a little to friends and started reminencing about my first car. My dad got me my first car. He was always trading with someone to get cars ( his brothers did too). He got me a  1976 Pontiac Lemans. The car needed a paint job bad but I loved it.   Here is a pic of a   Lemans similar to the one I had.

My car was grey and blue. The vinyl on top needed replaced, it was torn and sun bleached. I had planned to repaint it someday metallic blue with white pin stripes (I never got too).  Anyway the car had one big problem... I could only fill the gas tank half way due to a hole in the tank.  I learned to deal with it though and had to watch it when I turned left or my tank would leak. Dad never did fix it. Eventually  reverse went  out of it so every where I went I to make sure I could pull out of I was stuck. That sucked. I told dad and he said I will find you another car.

Dad did find me another car and he brought it to me. He got me a 1976 Ford Granada.   Here is a pic of a car similar to that one.The car I had was real close to the color of this one. (We owned a bronze looking one too). I didn't like the car as much as the lemans but it was better and safer than my first car.  Dad decided he liked the granada and came over one day in a Ford Mustang II (it was a 1976 or 1979 I can't remember). I commented on the car and he laughed and said I got this for you  and I'll drive the other car. Dad was good about that kind of stuff. He was also good about fixing them if he could. He was good at tune ups and brakes.  The biggest issue I had with the  Mustang was a power steering leak and the sunroof was sealed shut otherwise the car was great. Here is another pic of a similar one.

The one I had was a deep almost golden brown color. without the stipes like the one in the photo.I drove that car for several monthes when mom came home one day in grandma Mary's old car an Oldsmobile royal eighty eight. She told me she was going to sell my mustang and I could drive her 1979 Plymouth Duster. Grandma got a new car signed her other one to her and I get the duster. I was angry for a few but the Duster had nothing wrong with it and it would be safer for me to drive in the long run. I wasn't happy  but I did as I was told ( my mom scared me so I usually just agreed with her).  Last pic of the simialr cars.
 
The Duster I had was sun bleached red. It looked rough but it drove great. The only thing was in the winter time it  hated to start. I would cover the engine with a blanket at night  so it would start in the mornings. LOL!   Dad always put a piece of cardboard  between the radiator and grill to help in the wintertime. I loved that car, dad taught me how to do tune ups on it myself and he always did the oil changes for me.  I drove that car for years.  I had it for 3 years into my marriage to Randy when the  (slant 6 engine)engine finally locked up.  We needed diapers and baby food for Gage so I finally parted ways with that car and sold it to a junk yard. (Honestly I cried when they took the car away, I wanted to rebuild it). I still miss that cold natured car to this day. I loved my first car but for my forth car (technically) I loved it as if it was my first. I had alot of good times with that car and a lot of funny memories.  It amazes me how some memories will just pop up and give you a smile out of nowhere (especially with a car).

Friday, January 1, 2010

Top Banana


I just wanted to say thank you so much to Cliff  of WIXY's Gone Bananas for  choosing me for the Top Banana Award. I was linked with several wonderful bloggers.  Here's what cliff had to say on his blog.


Top Bananas go west!



HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!


Cliff Note:This post was originally going to go up yesterday afternoon, but the events of the day delayed my writing of it. I want to thank everybody for your support on the last post. I also want to make you aware that I will not use my blog to launch any venom at my former employer as there are some who work there and read this blog. It's also not my style. No on with the Top Bananas!


First I want to say that you folks are great! So far, the awards have achieved one of my goals for them, and you all are checking out my other friends. I hope they all soon become your friends also. They always are fun to present and very much a privilege for me to do. I also get a kick out of the creative streak it brings out in me. Most of the awards are made up as I go along.


Now lets hop in my covered wagon as I go west to present this round of the 2009 Top Bananas.


I first have to go to Arizona, as no one was at their ole' Kentucky home. The Bluegrass Around the Cactus Top Banana goes to Jen, of Unglazed fame. Jen is a great supporter. Her blog has plenty of fascinating photos and she has also hosted a neat feature called A-Z Monday's where participants took the week's letter and posted something concerning a subject that began with that letter.


Now I need to backtrack to Kansas. A first time Top Banana is the Rookie Green Thumb award. This goes to Clean and Crazy, aka Suzie, of My Recovery fame. Suzie has been clean now for close to five years and is very active in Narcotics Anonymous. She is very proud of her daughters and is very supportive of other bloggers. This past summer when my older brother passed away, she sent me a card she had crafted herself that had a photo of her daughter on front. She also took a page from my book and wrote a post called "For Cliff of WIXY's Gone Bananas fame". It was an I Like...because post she dedicated to me.


Another first timer is Speedy, of Speedcat Hollydale Page Page fame. Speedy receives the You Never Know Where I'll Pop Up Top Banana. He is very avid on both Facebook and Twitter. He is also very creative in his writings and photo shopping himself in many pictures on his blog. And like me, Speedy has an affinity for fried chicken.


The Let's Have a Great 2010 Together Top Banana goes to Michelle Dawn of Rusin Roundup fame. Cliff Note: I know these are the 2009 Top Bananas, but let's face it, 2009 sucked. Michelle Dawn has had bouts of depression and has also, with her husband Randy, struggled with the recent past. But this hasn't stopped her from writing a good blog and supporting her online friends. Michelle Dawn lives in Indiana.


Now from Indiana, I go to Michigan. Jessica of Five Pines fame gets the How Much is that Doggy in the Window Top Banana. The Five Pines family got a new puppy for Christmas and Jessica is acting like a proud mama with all three of her canine family members. She is also proud of her husband, son, and daughter.


The last Top Banana in this post goes to Building A Log Cabin fame. Shelley receives the I *Heart* My Dog(and Cat) Top Banana. She posts great photos of her log cabin, cat Marvin, and new addition this past year, her dog, Scout. She also includes fantastic nature shots and sometimes she will photograph her husband, Greg.

I think this is my 2nd or 3rd time winning this award. Check out all of the blogs and check out CLiff's blog for other recipeints of this award.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Bye 2009, Hi 2010

Goodbye to 2009. This has been a rough year for everyone and I have had several ups and downs this past year.  Here's a brief rundown  of my year. Randy and I fighting a lot and trying to work things out. ( Definatly Improving). Our fighting still happens as it would in any marriage and some of you have read my complaints and actions that caused the problems,  We renewed our vows in May. Got a new place to live. I finally found a job after a year of not working. I quit counseling ( but reconsidering that one). I found out this past summer that I have a heel spur that has grown more and still waiting to get it fixed. I'm learning more about my anger issues and my depression (which I refuse to take meds for).   I was made a member of my church this year. I have negleted my blogging but I'm slowly making a comeback.
  The kids have made wonderful progress this year in all aspects.  (still working on the chores issue) but doing great in school. I'm ready for a new year and hopefully more progress in the right direction. I would love to quit smoking sometime in the new year and to be  healthier mentally and physically and emotionally.  I hope we all see improvement in the economy and in the  market for jobs.  I wish you all a Happy and healthy New Year! Be Safe!


Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Wonderful Christmas Eve Surprise

After working an 8 hour shift I left  work went home already exhausted to pick up the kids  to go to Christmas Eve Service at our church. When we got there we talked to a few people just before services began and one of  our fellow friends brought us 3 bags wrapped up and said these were sitting on the bench in the library for you. We said Thank you of course and when we read the tags on the bags one said to Gage from Santa, To Faith from Santa Claus and to Randy and Michelle from S. Claus. We were stunned to say the least. I did fill my heart warm over such generosity and I felt the love that went into this wonderful surprise. (It made my having to go back to work for 2 more hours just a little more bearable). Here are pics of what we all received in the bags.


This was Faith's Bag of goodies.



This was Gage's Bag of goodies.


Randy's & My Bag of goodies.

I have never felt so blessed as I do with all of my blogging friends, online friends , family and church.  I hope you all had a safe and wonderful holiday and all my best for you in the new year.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I have to work both days but we will get to have a small quick Christmas with some relatives.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

My goodwill find

I have been looking for a new skirt for awhile. I could never find what I like or what I liked wasn't in my size. One day I decided to go to goodwill with my son to look for him a coat for winter. He finally found something he liked for around $6.00. We walked around just to look real quick ( I had to be at work soon). I wanted to see if they had couches in so I could price them. On our way to that section of the store I found a pretty skirt that caught my attention. Not expecting it to be in my size I went ahead and looked at it and it was in my size. I was so excited and it cost $5.00. Here is a picture of the skirt.

The skirt fit me perfect and it is so comfortable.