Things I've Done:

smoked a cigarette, one puff, caughed, said you guys are nuts.
crashed a friend’s car; backed into one with my car.
stolen a car
been in love
been dumped
shop lifted-
been fired-
been in a fist fight- .
snuck out of your parent’s house-
had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back; Mel Gibson
been arrested and/or in spent a night in jail-
gone on a blind date
was a blind date
lied to a friend
skipped school, then told the school I was only gone four classes got caught!
seen someone die; my dad & bro Fred.
had a crush on one of your internet friends
been to Canada
been to Mexico
been to Jamaica
been on a plane
been on a train
been on a cruise
purposely set a part of yourself on fire
eaten Sushi
been skiing
met someone in person from the Internet
been to a concert; lots
taken painkillers
love someone or miss someone
laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
made a snow angel
had a tea party
flown a kite
built a sand castle
gone puddle jumping
played dress up; still do.
jumped into a pile of leaves-
gone sledding
cheated while playing a game
been lonely
fallen asleep at work/school
used a fake id
watched the sun set
felt an earthquake
touched a snake
slept beneath the stars-
been tickled
been robbed-
been misunderstood
petted a reindeer/goat/kangaroo-
rode a horse or any other farm animal
won a contest
ran a red light/stop sign
been suspended from school
been in a car crash; several, with people I love.
had braces
felt like an outcast/third person; still do sometimes.
eaten a whole tub of ice-cream in one sitting
had deja vu
danced in the moonlight
liked the way you look
witnessed a crime
questioned your heart
been obsessed with post-it notes
squished barefoot through the mud
been lost
been to the opposite side of the country
cried yourself to sleep
played cops and robbers
played cowboys and Indians
recently colored with crayons
sung karaoke
paid for a meal with only coins
done something you told yourself you wouldn’t
made prank phone calls
laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose-; my dad used to tell funny stories, coffee came out of my nose.
caught a snowflake on your tongue
danced in the rain
written a letter to Santa Claus
been kissed under the mistletoe
watched the sun rise with someone you care about
blown bubbles
made a bonfire on the beach
crashed a party
gone roller skating, roller blading, and/or ice skating; hated it.
had a wish come true
jumped off a bridge-
ate dog/cat food
told a complete stranger you loved them
kissed a mirror
sang in the shower
had a dream that you married someone
glued your hand to something
got your tongue stuck to a flag pole - or anything frozen
kissed a fish
sat on a roof top
screamed at the top of your lungs
done a one-handed cartwheel
talked on the phone for more than 5 hours
stayed up all night
I've been to college
picked and ate an apple right off the tree
climbed a tree
had a tree house
scared to watch scary movies alone; at all
believe in ghosts
have more then 30 pairs of shoes
worn a really ugly outfit to school
gone streaking
gone doorbell ditching
played gay chicken
pushed and/or fell into a pool/hot tub / lake with all your clothes on
told you’re hot by a complete stranger; just recently, after I lost weight.
broken a bone
been easily amused
caught a fish then ate it
caught a butterfly and/or firefly
laughed so hard you cried
cried so hard you laughed
cheated on a test
forgotten someone’s name
French braided someone’s hair
cut your own hair-my bangs
gone skinny dippin’ in a pool/hot tub and/or lake or ocean
been threatened to be kicked out of your house
been kicked out your house
loved someone so much you would gladly die for them- God, my husband, and my children
Rules: Copy and paste this whole list, highlight those that apply to you and add comments if you wish.

Good Morning, Good Sunday! Hour of Power time.

Here's my non-schedule: get up with the sun, which is 6:45 am; make the 12 cups of coffee (in the bathroom, during remodel); turn on boob tube for the best or least offensive preacher; I love the Hour of Power, the Crystal Cathedral; turn on computer while t.v. noise is going; read a few blogs, starting with Kandysdish My dear oldest daughter; from hers I link to other blogs like, Mom and More; Before I link to outside the family its to Gates of Eden, my second dear daughter; then to The Force is Strong with this One, dear son, Bryan. HEY, I DID IT BY MYSELF, I LINKED OTHER'S BLOGS TO MINE, whoo hoo!!

Well today off Mom and More, I linked to OMA, because I knew that meant Grandma. Anyway, Oma had a cute picture of a 50's bathroom, a mom and daughter weighing themselves on scales, the caption reads (in large font); "Mommy when I grow up I want to be a total bitch just like you." .

So that started a whole scenario of thoughts that the caption has more truth than fiction. It's something we daughters try so hard not to be like our mother. But alas I have turned into my bitch mom, but I am my own bitch. I won't let people walk over me like she is so passive. Actually she is passive-aggressive, She pays back secretly. I pay back openly and right away. You really don't have to guess what I am thinking, it shows in my actions, my face. That's is why Ilike blogging, I can erase a whole sentence before posting my thoughts that may hurt someone else. My kids sometimes call me "Debbie Downer," or "Drama Queen." I say like Mary Engebreight, "It's good to be Queen!"

I joined The Red Hat Society, so I can be with other like minded bitches. Altho, my mom attends with me, and acts her stupid self, then I give her dirty looks instead of laughing with her. Um, now I understand why my kids don't want to hear SEX talk coming out of my mouth, it's disgusting to hear your own mom talk dirty. (I usually don't say bitch very often, so I guess I'm experiencing freedom of speech!) Freedom of the spirit, I am "Soaring over California!"

The fifth & last child: Thomas the doubter...

Surprise, pregnant again! Hey, I just want to say that these last two were conceived (TMI) in a getaway location, very romantic. Dianna, S-I-L, said "Sorry, we can't buy any more gifts for any more nieces & nephews." So we asked them to be God-parents, so we have their blessing. Instead of praying for any specific on this baby, I just asked for good health, and oh I did want another girl. During last part of pregnancy, when only my stomache was a basketball, I knew it was a boy.

Labor went a little longer, but still on a school morning. He weighed 8:5, my smallest baby. We had no name picked ahead like with all the other children. I wanted to see what this kid's personality or birth was like first. We named him Thomas, because he doubted whether he wanted to be born, middle name John for my uncle. Tommy John, was a pitcher, in 1984, for the Angels or Yankees (anyone know?) Um, Bryan or Bob, will you look that up for me? Thanks.

Well as children are, this last one (I made sure it was last) was very active. When you put a ball in the baby's hands, in the infant seat, he knew what to do with the ball, throw it. He was a happy child, and those cheeks (both top & bottom) had dimples. All the siblings played with him. As Tommy grew into a toddler, I did spank that butt. Oh BTW, the size of the butt determined the amount of spanks. You figure out which size you have and see if I'm right. As my children have expressed already, this last child, did need more discipline than I adminstered.

Then he grew and played every sport available near by. He is 21, and still very active. He still lives at home, and we hardly see him. The older siblings used to say, "Tommy get out of here!" Well he remembers that, and now the adult siblings say, "Tommy we want to see you, come over!" What I am so very blessed having raised these five children is that they are very loving to each other, and everyone is a good citizen, Godly character, and loving.

I wish and pray for them to grow closer to God and Jesus. Some have chosen to worship at home, as they say. All I can say is that fellowship with other believers strengthens our faith. I love seeing all my children together, having fun with each other and their spouses. Of course grandchildren are a crown of the aged. And I would not trade my children for anything else, I loved being a mom. Empty nest isn't as lonely as I thought, I have my college classes now.

The end, I mean beginning.

Time for fourth child, 2nd son...

This is a long story, and you are forwarned. Fourth child, I was sick almost the whole pregnancy, no ultrasound. Same time of morning for labor as Bryan, time for girls school to start in the morning, me trying to make peanut butter/ jelly sandwiches. A boy, 8 lb 15 oz, with a 100 other babies born at the same time. My sister said the baby was breathing funny, like panting, and she said he looked purple. I asked the nurse to have him checked, and they did a brief check.

We named him Philip from Bible apostle, and Bruce middle name. So we bring him home, he got jaundice (yellow), had to bring him back & forth to Dr's for blood tests. Then he had a 2 week check-up, where our pediatrician heard a heart murmur. She called in a cardiolist. Then after he checked and listened to Philip's heart, they told me to make other arrangements for my other children. I said "Why?" They said the baby needs to stay in the hospital for more heart tests. I was to stay with him.

Well, grandparents, Ginger, sis-in-law, took turns babysitting while these tests were prolonged to a week. Then we end up in a downtown Los Angeles hospital, where an open heart surgery was to take place on baby Philip, only 3 weeks old. Then it was Karlene's 7th birthday, which I missed while being at the hospital with Philip.

Bryan you commented on the effect of other siblings to each other, and maybe a 2 1/2 year old as you were could not understand the implications of heart surgery on your brother. I could understand that you may have felt left out of the loop when all this catastrophy was happening so fast, and where was my mommy? "Why do we have to stay somewhere else?"

A side note, Philip's baby cry was tape recorded for a Life of Jesus play, as baby Jesus. At the end of the play, as a teenage "Jesus" hung on a fake cross, 3 yr old Bryan shouted out, "Why did they kill Jesus!" The whole church, turned and smiled or cried at the truth of this little boy's question.

As Philip grew, slowly, he would get asthma, and we would have to rush him to the hospital for breathing treatments. I don't remember trying to make you understand what was happening with your baby brother, but I did ask you to be kind to him, and not tease him. You kids thought I did not discipline Philip, but he did not need it, well I thought not. Now you guys tell me how he used to tease you all the time. OK, so he looked like the Puss-in-Boots on Shrek II, with those big blue eyes.

The stuff that you don't know about is going to stay that way. The secrets God wants me to tell He will reveal, and probably shout from the rooftops. Um that's a Bible verse.

Third child, first boy story...

Your Dad and I belonged to Marriage Encounter, a Bible verse was given: from John 15: 16-17, which Jesus says; "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my commandment; Love each other." So we asked for a son, and shortly after that became pregnant. I knew before an ultra-sound that this was a boy. Back in 1979, ultra-sounds were only given if they thought you were having twins, which is what they thought with me. They could not tell the sex of baby, just that it was very big, or my due date was sooner.

Then, on March 14, after only 3 hours of labor, a 9.15, boy came sliding out. I remember saying, that was easy, let's have another! We named him Bryan with a 'y',and middle name Dale after paternal grandfather, and his Dad's middle name. Also cousin Ben has same middle name and initials. Your sisters thought that you were their baby. You slept with your butt up in the air. Then you grew and grew, tall and thin and so cute. You had a Beatles, or John John Kennedy hair cut, when you were 4 and under.

College classes started back, I love it!!! I better remember this post when I get overwhelmed with midterms and finals.

It's a place where there is built in friends, from previous semesters. I feel very happy about going, even driving the freeway to get there. A therapist says she tries to tell other people my age what a good thing going back to college is! I give credit to a high school teacher where I used to work. Everyone needs some encouragement!

Friday, my birthday was great, Larry the contractor, took Bruce & me out to lunch at a new place, The Wood Ranch Steakhouse. Do you have one in your area? OOH, Yum, prime rib, hmm. Then Bryan & Kristin came over and gave me a nice gift and card, thank you! Earlier in the week, Karlene & the boys gave me some sweet smelling Bath & Body handsoap and cards, thanks! I have used the soap, and gave myself a pedicure with my new nail polish from Kristin.

We tried to have a yard sale, Sat, with Ginger & her grandson. I lost money on my end; bought some of his toys & clothes for my grandsons, bought lunch for us. Ok, any suggesstions for a more successful yard sale?? I'm just keeping the stuff under tarps until it is off my property. Should I put a FREE sign out?

Ginger never just sits, she went up to my crafts room, and reorganized, man, Kandy you won't believe what she did. You would like it; she took the non-built-in closet out of the closet and put it over where the drafting table was. Then she put the drafting table next to the closet with stuff in the closet that needs shelves. Some of my stuff is in the hall, I guess I still have too much stuff! Time for the FLYLADY fling. At least I have a clean room to start my college homework. She scrubbed the floor too!

Happy birthday to me!

Son requested that I pinch my blog shorter, so here you go...

Thru the new window can see alley apartment, they can see me at computer. Insullation is in, makes it quiet here. Went to 2 concerts in parks, with Josh, Cabes, Karkey... she made me leave too early Wed. Thurs, I wanted to leave early.

College starts Mon, if I get too stressed out, Dr. said to up my pill to double dose. We had an enjoyable dinner with dear son & DIL last Sun. 2nd son & DIL came over for 2 minutes to see work in progress of kitchen.

I was going to talk about each one of my children as they were born, its Karlene's turn. She was a little butter ball, wanted to eat every hour till I was sore. She cried loud, slept very well, had a cheerful disposition mostly, until hungry. Her big sister loved her, mostly. Later as she grew (2nd born) I loved her loong hair and would love braiding, or different styles, I pretended she was my "Barbie" cuz she let me. The oldest hated hair being brushed. So we kept it short. My mom kept my hair short cuz she had no patience with me, but I wanted it long enough for a pony tail.

So see Bry, this is my blog, and I do tend to ramble on too many subjects. Dad calls it changing the channel without telling him. Would you like to hear about my 3rd born, or skip to the 4th child? Each one has a different story, or buying something that attaches a memory to that child. Thanks for reading my blog and commenting, I do appreciate the time you give!

Oh, Dad got another loan thru credit union, now we can finish fixing the house! Josh has already planned a Mexican Mariachi party when the kitchen is finished. So when it is almost finished, I'll take him and we'll make / buy things for the party. He is so smart, he asked how to make conga drums, gourds, shakers.

The windows finally came, 10 minutes after the contractor left. They are nice windows, not the cheap vinyl that looks warped when you see it. These are from Certainteed, sliders with cross bars, built-in screen, double locks, tinted with a good e-factor. Larry will put those babies up tomorrow, and then we can have our nice cool breezes coming in.

The lights work! Guess what kids? There is a lightbulb in the middle of the liv rm, that we never had while we lived in this house for 21 yrs! Of course, without a lamp shade, it just looks like white trash.

I told Larry that this remodel is not as bad as I anticipated. We have the fridge running in dining rm, microwave plugged in the liv rm, coffee in the bathrm. Hey, it's better than camping in a tent! In fact, I would like to have a BBQ in the patio.

My birthday is Aug. 19, four days after Kandy, my first born. We are both Leos, both simular personalities, both creative & talented. Both can butt heads and be stubborn in our views, also loving, caring, giving. When she was born, I saw that mound of dark hair, and knew she was her father's child (I have light hair). Her first day with me in the hospital, I just smiled at her big dark eyes, I fell in love with that cutie, my very own baby! I had been loving babies since FOREVER. She was a quiet baby. My mom said let her cry, I said (because I was breatfeeding), "I know when she is hungry, my milk starts leaking." OK, I know TMI, but I loved being pregnant and nursing, it is a wonderful feeling to be the soul source of someone else. What I did not realize, but could have read any where, is that a child has her own personality, separate from mom. I thought that a child is a clean slate and we teach them everything.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I wanted a girl, a sign I would get along with. I wanted 2 girls and a boy. I got that and more... 2 girls and 3 boys, A Full House! The second born, I thought would be the boy, cuz the baby was so active in my womb. I had big babies: 8.10, 9.1, 9.15, 8.14, and 8.5. The one in the middle is Bryan, he is the boy we prayed and believed God would send us a son. Then God blessed us with 2 more sons!

http://www.paulsadowski.com/Numbers.asp

My name is Rae Corrine, this number thing, umm, I believe in God and Jesus Christ His son, not all this numbers and name theory. The number 7 is my number, which is God's perfect #, 8 is beginnings. And it says I am a perfectionist, like to work alone, like to help people, very giving. But the negative side shows frustration. Hmm, I don't think I needed numbers to tell me that.

Back on the farm... well it used to be a farm, until suburbia took over.
Larry installed a lot of recessed lights; 10 in the dining rm and 9 in the kitchen. Wow is that gonna be bright. The lights are on different circuits, so we can control the amount of light, I will love it! School starts next week, will tell my fellow students and teachers the progress of remodel. Last semester I took a lighting class, so I knew how much light I wanted. Larry is good with electricity, he made sure we had power in Liv rm also, eventho we still need to order antique looking lamp. Sat, I ordered the cabinets from Kraftmaid. Larry needs that window for sink, called window place, they said it is on its way, from Corona ( not far from us). I overheard Larry on his cellphone say he would be a couple more weeks here. Then the cabinets arrive mid-September. Of course don't contractors always say "a couple more weeks?"

Reminds me of movie, "Mr. Destiny," where his house was in constant state of remodel, and the contractor kept saying, "couple more weeks." Now some of you may think that our house is "Money Pit," but the clawfoot tub has not gone thru the ceiling. Don't say "yet!"

Anyway, I showed Kandy these cabinets and island; http://www.kraftmaid.com/doorsfinishes/index.cfm?navigationid=312X0&doorstyleid=7, http://www.hookerfurniture.com/print_detail.cfm?item=426-75-903.

So now, a little break till Ginger helps me have a yard sale with so much junque. Oh, the plumber was here Sat, dug a trench into cement to garage, then back side of garage to alley water main. He installed new copper pipe from house, thru garage, over the rafters, down the back side and out garage, into the water main. This little scenio is a lournal, so I can re-read all the work that is being done this year. Last year it was the bathroom-laundry-water heater remodel, when we went to Ohio. Same workers this year. New loans, need more money still, gonna have a beautiful retirement home, cuz we can't afford to move now, home. Open-house will be planned when all is said & done!

I just thought of something else... (oh no, she's thinking again!) A lot of our moves depended on children. First apartment, in So-Cal, was when I got first pregnant. First rental home, big pregnant, first puppy, Frosty. First home buy, pregnant with second child, we have had the same unlisted phone number since then (30 yrs). Second home buy, my dream Victorian-home-until-I-go-to-my-Mansion-in-Heaven, pregnant with 5th child. Now making way for those grandchildren to come visit and enjoy this home with us, and all my children, their spouses, and so on & so on. That is what is important; FAMILY. Then food, folks and fun!

This is my cabinet color choice. My windows are vinyl (yes we succomed to modernity)with the mullions on the inside of 2 pieces of glass, sliders to make it easy over the sink, NE corner of kitchen, and laundry room. I also ordered 2 new bathroom windows same style, the one upstairs will only be 2 ft high so I can take a bath in privacy, frosted glass.

I'm Yoda, yeah, hurray! Well I guess its about time to go see the last Star Wars movie since I'm such a geek. And all my kids have seen it and make movie comments that they won't explain until I see the MOVIE.

I love Yoda, and his Frank Oz voice. Now you know that's also Seseme Street's Grover, Oscar, Cookie Monster, and a few other voices? Frank Oz was also in a "Lethal Weapon" movie, he was the guy who gave back the prisoners possesions when released.

Back to the farm house: The plumber is here on Sat to drill the water main. Umm it's been leaking for years! No wonder our water bills are so high! The contractor got rid of the corner windows facing the garage. We're wating for the rush order on the center window that will go over new sink. I went yesterday to pick cabinets from the same place I bought the appliances. What a good deal! Probably a better price than the cabinet place I "worked" at. I decided on Kraftmaid, maple, honey spice color, and a raised panel door style.

Too MUCH NOISE, contractors sawing, pounding. But yeah, the 8 ft opening is a huge friggin beam. The dimensions changed less than 2 inches, which is why I could not order cabinets until the size is real.

So glad I been in VBS to distract me from noise. I spend time at Karlene's which distracts her. My grandkids are in the 2 largest classes in VBS. Last night I took them to a concert at our city hall. So they should be totally tired, as I am.

Tonite is a RED Hat dinner out with my mom. Maybe I'll take a nap ...zzz...

It's been a whole week without email, how did we survive without email??? I had 20 to read. Now I want to catch up on blogs. Wait I haven't read my darling kids' blogs. Ok, I'll send this, then read theirs, since I don't get phone calls from them, I find out about them by reading their blogs. Except Karlene, we talk quite often, as she does talk to the rest of the siblings. Of course she gets the oportunity to see my anxiety up too close & personal. Oh well, rasberries with my tongue stuck out!

I was anxious at her house because, Larry the contracter (not cable guy, thanks Bryan) was installing recessed lights into dining room and I wanted to be there to see where he was putting them. As it is , I got home much later on Thurday, cuz we went to get her car fixed, then picked up food, then went to concert-in-park. I know it was a very looong day for both of us. Larry had put the switch-hole ina place I did not want. But we will have more than one switch. There is 10 recessed lights, so I want a dimmer switch.

Bryan, the island will go where the doorway was, now will be an 8 ft opening. OK, so went and picked out 2 new windows for backwall of kitchen. I still wish I could figure out how to show you a scanned view of the layout. Anyway, all windows are going out of kitchen. Then we put 2 new ones, one in middle, one in corner NE, so we can see dogs. And then the alley apartments can see straight thru house. I will make good curtains to give privacy. Haven't ordered cabinets yet, but probably will pick Kraftmaid, cuz they are made in Middlefield, OH, where I once lived. I can order them from the same place I bought the appliances.

Remember the software that was downloaded to design kitchens? Well it gets disconnected in less than 7 days. So, I guess the whole reason for me to have been at the cabinet place was to design my own kitchen. And I did learn CAD, which I will take that class this fall.

So, Kandy, do you think that blue & yellow, flowers & stripes fabric will look good for curtains? I saw it on curtains that I like. Then I thought of blue & white Spode dishes for daytime use. One or two cabinets will have glass doors to show dishes.

Oh, I finally bought 2 novels to read; "What to Keep," by Mary Schramski; and "She's Come Undone," by Wally Lamb. Man, summer's almost over, and I only went to 2 concerts-in-park, and this is first time to read. I used to read as much as Kandy, that's probably where she learned to like reading.

Vacation Bible school starts tomorrow, I'll be helping with registration and crafts. talk to you soon, LOve MOM.