GITRDONE's Blog

Don't be alarmed!  It'll just be me...my 3 youngest are going back to school tomorrow.  At 7:20 am (PROMPTLY), I will be dropping the little darlings off at their school.  I will stand there by my car, waving, with tears of joy streaming down my face.  At 7:25am, the bell rings and I will hop in my car, put the top down, crank up some Big & Rich and let out a yell that'll be heard for miles around!

Don't get me wrong now, I love the little angels...but Lord have mercy on a poor mom that has had all 8 of them, 2 grandkids, 1 grandchild due next month, 3 big dogs, 2 turtles and a husband under foot all Summer long!

All school year (last year), I had to fight with them to get up for school.  Granted, it's hard waking up at 5am (no matter how young or old you might be), but out here, school starts promptly at 7:25 am.  I have a half hour drive into town to take them to school.  But miraculously...come Summer, those little buggers are up at 5am with no prompting.  Not only that, but they were asking me at 6am if they could go out and play! I was like "No sir! I am not turning y'all lose in the yard at this hour! My neighbors would take up a petition to have y'all muzzled and leashed by noon!" Crazy, I'll tell you!

All Summer long I heard "Ma, I'm bored. Can we go shopping? Or can we spend a couple nights at a hotel so we can go swimming?" Lord! When I was a kid, I was happy to just go out and play. Not kids these days.  They want to be busy spending money or being entertained. Heck, I didn't stay in a hotel until I was married and had 4 kids.

I can't complain about their choice of music, since all 8 listen to the same stuff that I do (Country!). I also can't complain about too much of anything else about them. It just that they were ALL here ALL Summer long, wanting to go everywhere and do SOMETHING right that second.

My baby is starting first grade this year. Daddy is very proud of her. I just sit back and giggle because she is so much like I was at that age. She doesn't like school, she wants to stay home and run barefoot around the property, catching frogs and caterpillars and bugs. She's such a tomboy that it's scary! She doesn't take any smack from the older ones. She stands her ground. If one of them picks on her or messes with her, she can really cut loose!

My next oldest is starting 4th grade. He's smart as a whip. He skipped 2nd grade because of an I.Q. test. He's the one that has wanted to be a Priest since he was 3. He got to meet his teacher lastnight...she's really awesome.

Then my next one is going into 6th grade. He's my "Mr. Cool". He's too cool to wear this or that, too cool to get wet in a water fight...just TOO cool.

All three of them go to a Catholic grade school out here.

Then there's my (almost 15 year old) daughter...she starts at the high school this year. That girl holds the world's record for time spent in the bathroom. She's always "flat-ironing my hair!" or whitening her teeth. I just started teaching her how to drive last week and now, that's all I seem to be doing. She keeps dragging me (screaming and kicking) out to the car.

The other four kids are all over 18 and out of school. They work for me in my glass block company. One is starting up his own glass block company and another is opening his own replacement window company.

These and SO many other reasons are why I will be whooping it up come 7:20 am tomorrow! Mama is going to come home and enjoy having the house to herself. Of course, I may have to scream periodically...just to see if I have gone deaf!

Have a wonderful Thursday y'all! I know I will!

GITRDONE!

Back on March 31st, I wrote a post about 3 of my family members being stricken with cancer. It started a very hard period in my life. Watching perfectly healthy people wasting away in hospital beds was really an eye-opener for me. Not only did I get more in touch with my own religion, but I recently found out that I brought one of them closer to their religion as well.

My moom's cousin (whom I have called "auntie Mona" since I could talk) passed away on August 10th. The doctor said that she didn't suffer physically, which I was very grateful to God for because I saw how cancer can physically torture a person when my mother-in-law passed away after 2 years of suffering.

When my mom called me on August 10th to tell me of auntie Mona's passing, I didn't cry. Not because I didn't care, but because I know that she's not really gone. She is very much alive in every life that she ever touched.

At the funeral, I walked up to the casket and stroked her hair and placed a kiss on her forehead. I told her that I love her and that I would think of her and pray for her every day. My mom was crying and I told her as plainly as I could "That's not her mom. She's not here. Ya know how a catterpillar spins a cacoon and then turns into a beautiful butterfly, leaving the cacoon behind? This is merely her cacoon." Well, that just made mom cry even harder, but she got the message.

Another one of my aunts (Arlene) approached me and told me that Mona wanted me to know that she (Mona) continued to fight and hold onto her faith because of me...that just blew me away. I guess Mona began praying faithfully and even found a priest to hear her confession and give her communion on a regular basis after I gave her the Brown Scapular, the Green Scapular, the Rosary and the prayer cards. SEE! The Green Scapular DOES work...it DOES convert souls!

Auntie Mona's favorite flower was the yellow rose, so we filled her funeral with yellow flowers of every kind, but especially roses. I laid a bunch of yellow roses on her grave.

That day, after we burried her, I came home and sat on a chair on my patio, just to think and enjoy the gloriously beautiful weather. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a yellow butterfly flew around my head and landed on a chair across from me. It sat there for a few minutes while I admired it's beauty and then it crossed my mind how ironic it's appearance there at that moment was. I laughed out loud...then I cried. Not for Mona, for myself...for selfish reasons. For MY loss. Since that day, my yard is overrun with yellow butterflies. I say "hello auntie Mona" every time I see one and I say a silent prayer for her.

It's that time of year again!  Time for the National P.O.W./M.I.A Recognition Day event.

WHEN: Friday Sept. 19th from 9am-7pm with a candlelight vigil to follow at 7pm.

WHERE: HWY. 100 & Janesville, in front of the Hales Corners K-Mart.

Please come out and help us pay tribute to all of the P.O.W.'S AND M.I.A.'S and their families by holding up a flag or a sign in support of the day.

This is a rain or shine event, so please dress for the weather!

Even if you can only come out for an hour or so...please come on out and show your support.

Free cookies and lemonade for all Veterans, police officers and fire personel.

Always remember...NO MAN IS DEAD UNTIL HE IS FORGOTTEN!!!!!

GITRDONE!

Well, I never imagined I would say this, but I sold my big trucks and have gone with a car.  I shopped around for a while. Put up with sales pitches and slick salesmen's greasy lies. Then this car found me. Kind of like when picking a puppy from an entire litter. Ya gotta let the right one pick you. The right one will cautiously but curiously come up and check YOU out.

I have never even pictured myself in anything that wasn't lifted six inches and sitting on at least 38 inch tires, but this little baby has won my heart.  I'll admit that upon entering this little thing, it was slightly more than odd. I felt like I was getting into a go-cart.  But then after a minute or two, it was feeling pretty cool. Leather was nice!  Air conditioning was nice!  And a convertable top was way too cool!  Then I drove it...it even drove like a go-cart! I could park it ANYWHERE! Incredible handling, smooth ride, no slamming up and down over every little bump! And FAST! I think I may love this baby even more than the hubby!  LOL (just kidding...I think!)

It's supposed to get about 22 MPG...AHEM! Well, maybe some day! Right now I am having too much fun to care about being a conservative driver.

I had to keep at least one reminder of my trucks though, so I took the 2 fox tails off the rear-view mirror of my TRUCKASAURUS REX and put them down low in my new baby.

See y'all on the road!!!

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It has been quite a spell since I blogged with y'all!  The last time I blogged, I had quit a very crappy job.  So many things have happened since then...I immediately started another nursing assistant job, working third shift.  I have sold my big trucks and bought a car (of all things!).  I have also stepped back in my life and realized that I was beating myself up emotionally by putting too many high expectations on myself.  I have not given up on trying to be a better person, I have merely come to the realization that a higher title in life does not necessarily mean you are more successful. Please allow me to elaborate...

I lost my grandma Rose back in 1981.  She was my idol. She worked all of her life...right up to the very end. She had lived through 4 very bad and abusive marriages. She raised her 4 kids and ran her farm by herself. She worked in a factory during the war, making ammunition for the military. Later she became a cleaning lady at the Childrens Detention Center in Milwaukee (for MANY years). She never took off a single day of work.  She lived a simple life and had nothing along the lines of material posessions. She drove a 1977 Gremlin. Everything she did and everything she had was for her 4 kids, her 16 grandkids and her 2 great-grandkids. She literally worked herself to death for her family.

Her passing left me devastated to say the least. I was 18 years old.  I thought her to be invincible.  I took her for granted. I never even dreamed she would not be in my life one day. But then she was gone. No fireworks, no parade in her memory...just gone. So many feelings of guilt and sorrow washed over me and consumed my life from that moment on.  Thoughts like "God, if she were only here now, I would bring her roses every day." and "I would take her in and she would never have to work again." filled my head constantly.

There isn't a moment in any given day that I don't try to make her proud of me. I work my butt off...I own my own business, raise 8 kids and try to be a good granny to my 2 grandkids. I have also been setting goals for myself to be "good enough to make grandma Rose proud." I have tried going to school for becoming a medical assistant, for becoming an administrative assistant in healthcare...you name it...I have tried it.  Only to fail because it didn't apeal to me. I felt myself to be a failure.

I haven't been to grandma Rose's grave since the day they burried her. I just couldn't do it.  I felt this overwhelming need to make her proud of me first. I have beat myself down numerous times for "letting her down."

It wasn't until I got this job as a nursing assistant that I had a change of heart.  At first, I was like "Well, this is it for me...I'll never do any better than this."  Then, while talking to my mother, it smacked me upside my head.  My mom invited me to go visit the gravesite. I again refused.  When asked why, I replied "I have to make grandma proud of me first." My mom stopped me before I could go any further. She said "Why wouldn't she be proud of you?" I told her that my goal was to be a nurse or something with a really cool title first. I reminded her of how hard grandma's life was and how grandma wanted all of our lives to be much better than hers was. That she sacraficed everything so that we could do and have better than her. My mom asked me what I do for a living...I replied "I wipe butts! That's it! I'll never amount to anything more."  My mom then said "You take care of people. You make a difference in 40 other lives every single day. You care about people. You touch their lives and make them feel good and give them dignity and self respect. They all know that you love them. Nikki, you bring all forty of those people home with you in your heart every single day. You pray for all of them constantly. Are you crazy? Of course grandma is proud of you! You ARE successful." With that, I broke down and began bawling.  I realized my grandma wouldn't be impressed with a "title"...but I am hoping she would be pleased with hard work and trying to help others in their final years.

I was in this line of work for a few years, about 19 years ago...I quit because I wanted to better myself.  Little did I know, I had it right there in my hands and I threw it all away.  Talk about running in circles chasing yer tail!

My next goal? Going to grandma Rose's gravesite with 2 dozen of the most amazing roses I can find and asking her to forgive me for being so stupid. I also intend to make sure that every life I touch at the nursing home is comforted and respected, just like I would want for my grandma Rose.

Thanks for letting me vent all of that.

Y'all have a great weekend!

GITRDONE

On May 29th, I started my job as a nursing assistant at a local "Assisted Living Center". I was hired on as part time, but took on extra hours because I love helping people. The pay was average, but it wasn't my top priority.

Since that day, I have put in 106 hours...not too bad, except for the things I wittnessed there. First of all, I saw people being left to sit in their own urine and feces for hours upon hours at a time. Secondly, I saw a resident...I will call him John...who is severely declining mentally (suffering from dimensia) that wandered around the entire building-urinating on the diningroom floor, in the plant pots, in other people's rooms and closets.  He was also known to get combative on occasion. There are no nurses or doctors at this facility, just nursing assistants and caregivers. The nursing assistants and caregivers were trained to pass meds at this facility. So when "John" would start acting up, they would give him a pill mixed with applesauce to calm him down. If he didn't calm down withing 10 minutes, they gave him another pill. I saw them give him as many as 4 pills in 20 minutes.  I found out that these pills are called Lorazopan, which are like taking valium. After he took the 4 Lorazopan, he just zoned out for a while and then slept the rest of the night.  The nursing assistant who administered these pills looked at me and laughed when she said "You didn't see anything!"

The next thing I wittnessed was the nursing assistants laughing at and mocking the residents, stirring up their tempers and just basically pissing them off on purpose. These residents were taunted and teased and bribed with food or beverages.

I was extremely disgusted to witness the mental abuse of these senior citizens and the neglect of their personal upkeep and rights to privacy and dignity.

The corker for me was when I went in to work on Wednesday at 2pm. The day was going like any other day. Suddenly one of the residents...I'll call her Mary...who was only 64 years old and was only there because a botched surgery left her paralyzed in both of her legs and her left arm, wheeled herself over to me. She was crying and said she was in extreme pain and she couldn't handle the pain any longer. I ran to get the shift's meds passer. I told her of Mary's pain and her crying. The meds passer looked at me and said sarcastically "Oh, she's always in pain. She's such a freaking drama queen." This woman finished what she was doing and sauntered over to "Mary" and said "What's the problem?" Mary, who was holding a bath towel and was sopping up the sweat from her face with it, said in reply "I can't bear the pain anymore...I can't take it. I need one of my pain pills." The meds passer snarled "Too bad, I can't give you anything until 8pm. That's when you are scheduled to have your next pill, so deal with it hun!" It was only 6pm at that moment, which meant she was supposed to "deal with it" for 2 more hours? Why couldn't the meds passer call Mary's doctor and get special instructions? At 8pm, Mary was given her meds. My shift ended at 10:30pm. On Thursday at 2pm when I went back in to work, Mary was not there. During report, I was informed that Mary was rushed to the hospital at 3:30pm...the day before. I thought there must be some mistake. I tried questioning the nursing assistant that read the report to me, but she insisted that Mary was transported via ambulance to the hospital at 3:30pm on Wednesday. I began to try to correct the situation by saying "There must be a mistake, she came up to me at 6pm lastnight and told me she couldn't handle the pain anymore." She snapped "YOU are wrong! Now just leave it alone." Then I found out that Mary was laying in the hospital with internal bleeding and only had hours to go before she would die. I think I was in a state of shock for the next few hours, but I finally managed to muster up the words "I quit! Tell management to stick this freaking job up their @$$!" and I walked out.

They tried calling me on my cell phone, but I was afraid of what I might say to them if I answered, so I didn't answer my phone.

No human being deserves to be treated in such a manner as these residents are being treated. I wish their family members knew of this treatment, maybe then the $2400.00 per month per resident (to have a semi-private room) would go to a better facility. This just sickens me beyond words.

This has to be one of the best weeks I have had in a long time.  It's been a long time comin'!  I finally decided to go back to being a nursing assistant.  I went yesterday for my interview at a local nursing home.  The interview went very well and I got the job on the spot.

I am a little nervous about starting at a new place, but I am very excited to get back to doing what I love to do (helping people).  On the other hand, I am very confident about being able to perform my job. I did it for a few years (about 18 years ago) and I did it very well.

I also found out yesterday that my daughter (SadItalianEyez) is having A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say, I am extatic about this news.  Now she will have a girl and a boy!

The pregnancy has been safe for both mom and baby thus far.  No complications with this one...knock on wood.

Granny GITRDONE is on top of the world this week! The kids and grandkids are all safe, healthy and sassy. God is definitely smiling down on me this week.

Second shift may take a little getting used to, but it'll all be good in the long run.  This way, I can run my glass block business first shift, working at the nursing home second shift and then come home and do all of my paperwork at night.

The mandatory working of every-other weekend may get a little hectic, but it's all good. It'll break up the routine a little. It will also make me appreciate my weekends that I have off.

Right now, I am trying to make a decision on buying a car.  I have it narrowed down to a few different makes and models. I really have my eye on a 2007 Dodge Charger. But then again, there's a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix that caught my eye as well. There is also a few others that are interesting too! I hate making car decisions. I am used to driving my trucks and cars are just a different breed altogether. I LOVE muscle cars, but I don't love hearing everyone talk about the price of gas. I like sporty little coupes, but I hate their small trunk areas.  I DO know that I want automatic on the floor...and power EVERYTHING! Oh...I also hate dealing with salesmen.  I was litterally attacked by swarms of sales-vultures every time I stepped onto a lot this week.  I have enough business cards from these lot-stalkers to have one hell of a bonfire! I have also printed up so many pictures online that it looks like I am going into car sales. 

But all-in-all...it has been a wonderful week thus far.  Now if the weather would just follow suit...!

Well, I found out by doing some DEEP research that the Green Scapular has been used for healing and for conversion of the soul. So, I thought I would give it a try.  I obtained 2 of them recently.  After doing my research, I took one Scapular and wrote my husband's name on it and hung it inconspiculously in our room. The other one, I wrote my son Jimmie's name on it. I followed the directions and prayed for them.

My husband was Baptized Luthran as an infant. We have been married for 27 1/2 years and he has never really shown any interest in religion at all. My son Jimmie was the one I spoke of on occasion on here that was battling with alcohol and drugs (well over a year ago).  He never really believed in God after he turned 15 years old.  I wrote Jimmie's name on one of the Scapulars and tucked it under his mattress.

Anyway, I prayed for them with the Scapulars. I prayed hard and I prayed faithfully. Never in front of either of them.  On Tuesday May 6th, my son told me that he wants to be closer to God.  He told me that he doesn't ever want to say the words "I want to FIND God", because God isn't the one who is lost, but he knows that he is lost.  That alone, blew me right out of the water! Then, my husband came to me and said that he's thinking of converting to a Catholic.  He said that he is impressed with my devotion to the Blessed Mother and wants to join me. I was like, floored! 

Jimmie actually began reading a Bible and found a Psalm that he felt he could really relate to was Psalm 143.  I read it and cried like a baby. 

I am here to tell everyone that I BELIEVE!  I believe in the powers of our Lord God.  I believe in and adore the Blessed Mother Mary.  And I totally believe in the Green Scapular!  Amen, I believe!  I have now gone and bought 18 more! I plan on praying for a lot of people.

Just thought I'd let y'all know (after my last Green Scapular blog) that I have received positive results by praying with the Green Scapular. 

Pass it on, it works!  But y'all have to truly have faith and dedication.  Check it out for yourselves!

Have you ever seen something and thought "Wow! That looks like..."? It could be a vision of a holy person, or whatever. Our minds tell us what IT is picking up.  I have had many experiences like that, some good and some bad. I have seen images of Jesus, the Blessed Mother Mary, Saints...you name it.

The thing that bothers me is when people come along and try to rationalize the image. They HAVE to find some way to discredit what you believe you have seen.

Let me give you an example. The day that Fox6 had a picture of the church burning on the main page online here, I looked at the page and from across the room, my son Jimmie said "Mom! Isn't that Mary?" I asked "where? " And he told me to look at the flames on the steeple. I just glanced at the photo and sure enough! There she was, plain as day! I printed a copy of the photo and showed it around. I never TOLD anyone what I saw, I merely asked them what they saw. Out of the 20 people I showed it to, 19 said they saw Mary. One person said "At first glance, it LOOKS like Mary, but if you look closer, you can see demonic images. Mary would never appear in flames. It is an evil picture. The Devil likes to trick people by appearing to them as a holy image to fool you and play with your mind." By the time this ONE person was done talking like this, they had 5 other people believing that they saw evil images as well.

Why can't people ever just take a signal grace for what it is? Why couldn't it have been the Blessed Mother? Why does everything have to be gloom and doom and Hell and damnation? Is it so hard to believe that Mary could have tried to make herself known to the people because this church needed a miracle?

Why is it that people have to be SO analytical to the point of disecting everything to death? Why can't they just see something and actually accept it for it's face value? Where is the faith? Where is the pure innocence of belief in your religion?

Do we as humans believe in anything anymore? I was amazed by what I saw in that photo. I felt blessed by seeing it. It came to my eyes in a very critical time in my life with everything happening in my family, with having 3 family members diagnosed with cancer in one week. I have never prayed so much as I have lately. I actually believed it was a miracle. Thank goodness I have negative people in my life to p!$$ on my parade and bring me back to the harsh realities of life.

While sitting here at my desk last night, I thought "It's been quite a while since we had a 'Let's Talk' blog...I wonder if anyone's still out there?!?!" So I decided to give 'er a whirl.

For those of you that are new to blogging, a 'Let's Talk' blog is just a simple blog where a bunch of people come on here and talk in a friendly fashion and TRY to get along. We talk about absolutely anything. Some folks simply pop in to say "hi!" It's usually a great group of people that responds to this blog. Heck, we have spent many a nights sitting up on here until the wee hours of the morning! So please feel free to join in!

We do have a few house rules in this particular blog though...First off, y'all need to be nice to eachother. Keep the bickering for your own blogs. Secondly, if there is any name calling, rudeness, gossip and the like, I will have to delete your comment. We're all adults, so let's act like adults. And lastly, EVERYONE is welcome.

For those of you who are old pros at 'Let's Talk', welcome back! I can't wait to talk with each and every one of y'all, oldies and newbies!

So, pull up your favorite seat in the house, grab your fuzzy slippers and your favorite beverage and...LET'S TALK!!!

On Sunday April 20th, my eight year old son Mason will be making his first Holy Communion...it will also mark his 9th birthday! He is so excited to have both things on the very same day.

Many of you may remember me telling you that he's the one that has wanted to be a Priest since he was two years old. He spends nearly every waking moment of his day talking about God, reading the Bible, praying or something having to do with religion.

So, for his Holy Communion day to fall on his birthday, well, that just set him over the top! He believes that it was a birthday gift from the Blessed Mother Mary. He's just tickled pink about it. He goes around telling everyone "The Blessed Mother sent me my Communion day on my birthday! It will be a glorious day!" It just tickles my heart to see him so excited about religion. I pray that the weather is nice...it'll just be the icing that this cake needs.

We just got home from picking up his tuxedo. He's wearing an all white tux with white shoes. He has his cross tie-clip, his medals, his Scapulars, his Rosary from Fatima...I think he's set to go! He's busting his buttons in anticipation for Sunday. Just like a kid waiting on Christmas.

Please join me in a little prayer for him on Sunday. His faith means so much to him. He's a very good boy, with a very rare gift of belief.

Thanks and have an awesome weekend, I know I will!

I am writing this in hopes that Garden Designer (Vanessa) will read this and know where I can find some Madonna Lilies to plant in my garden. I am also wondering where I can find Heather to plant. I have checked with the local nurseries and garden centers, but as we all know, they are run by teen agers that haven't a clue. Also, I have found the really tiny carnations, but haven't been able to find the full-sized carnations. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

GITRDONE!

In the past week, I have had three phone calls, all giving me very bad news. The first call was my mom telling me that her brother (my uncle) was hospitalized with cancer in his neck. My uncle is only 46 years old. They told him that they aren't sure exactly what stage his cancer is in, but they say it doesn't look good. His throat is swollen almost shut and he cannot take in solid foods.

The second call came the very next day. Again it was my mom telling me that my cousin (whom I was raised with, almost like brother and sister), his wife went in that day for a complete hysterectomy, only to discover during surgery, she has colon cancer and they aren't sure which stage the cancer is in. She is 48 years old.

The third call came in the very next day from my mom (again) telling me that her cousin is in the hospital with cancer of the liver, kidney and bladder. Her doctors say they give her about 6 weeks...tops. She is 68 years old.

My uncle is at Columbia St. Mary's. The other two are at St. Lukes (right across the hall from eachother).  I will be spending a lot of time traveling from hospital to hospital for some time to come.

I have to admit, this is some pretty scary stuff to deal with. I am a very strong person, trust me, but this situation has knocked me back on my heels.

My mom's cousin has always been a very nice person. So, when I say that she lived a pretty hard and wild life, I mean her no disrespect. She has been married several times. Each husband was just as bad as the last. They treated her pretty crappy. She was no saint, by any means. But now, as she lays there in that hospital bed, she's been doing a lot of soul searching. She told my mom that she needs to get right with God before she dies. My mom has never been a religous woman. Heck, she doesn't even have a cross or a Bible in the house. So, since I pray all the time, and I pray the Rosary as faithfully as I can, I have decided to take her a few things that I hope will help her.

First off, I need to get a Priest up there to hear her confession. Then I need to get her Communion every day. I am taking her some Holy Water, Blessed Salt, a Pieta Prayer Book, a Rosary, a Brown Scapular, a Green Scapular, some Holy oils of St. Philamena and some prayer cards and a few medals. I hope this will jump-start her getting right with God. The rest is up to her.

I feel it my Christian duty to come to the aid of someone looking to get back to the Lord. I am also asking everyone in my family and everyone I know to pray for these three, but especially for her.

Today, I have such a heavy heart. I have nevr been faced with anything like this before. Thank you for letting me vent.

GITRDONE