Campers Behaving Badly and Meet & Greet Monday

As I already mentioned Mr. Misery decided to make this summer camping summer.

After our 10 day camping trip in the mid July we decided to leave our trailer at the resort till our boys have to go to school.

We go home every week for a day or so to make sure that we still have a house and to pay bills, of course. Other then that we are here doing pretty much nothing.

As lovely as it sounds I am counting the days till this never-ending camping trip is over. It's been an experience and I learned a lot about human nature.

You don't want to know the things I've seen and experienced while observing humans out of their natural habitat from my lawn chair.

My only hope is that the majority of these people don't behave like that on daily basis.



What is it about tent or trailer, campfire and alcohol that turns responsible and respectable (wishful thinking) adults into wild animals?

Is it the combination of all three that takes away all boundaries?

Seems like nothing is forbidden and everything is allowed.

Is there a camping rule that I don't know about?

A rule that lets you say and do anything that pops into your head while you're intoxicated and your children are watching you?

I am not a prude at all. I love to have fun, enjoy few drinks while camping, but I am aware at all times what I am doing, where I am and most of all where my children are.



Don't get me wrong. I did enjoy and still am the summer of camping and I've met few very nice people, but the things I've seen make wonder.

Why do some people behave worse then animals just because they are on vacation?

No wonder majority of children with parents behaving badly were rude, disrespectful and very loud and obnoxious. They don't know any better.



I've experienced children being punished for behaving the same way as their parents.

Why?

Do as I say and not as I do! Yes, we live in a world of double standards. Till we start paying attention to our own behavior we can't expect our children to behave properly.

So to all of us adults out there.......please, let's stop behaving badly when our children are watching. We can still have fun and be respected in the morning.


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Today I decided to join Meet & Greet Monday @ Southern Reflections. This is my first time joining this blog hop and I hope you will join to.

I love this blog hop. It is for Family Friendly Blogs ONLY ! The wonderful host of this hop is trying to spread the word about great organization called International Christian Mission.

For every follower her blog Southern Reflections gains she will donate 25cent to ICM. Isn't that wonderful?

So hop over there, join the party and become a follower as well.

Almost Time To Move On

Summer is almost over and I just realized in 40 Day my Journey From Misery to Happiness will END.

In 40 short days this blog will end and I will have to move on.

Yes, I will have to move on, but I am not planning to leave you and this wonderful blog world.

When I started this blog 325 days ago I was 40 year old mom at the lowest point in her life.

Within few weeks of blogging I met so many wonderful, encouraging and supportive people.

Unfortunately, many of them I no longer keep in touch with. They stopped blogging for whatever reasons (mostly family problems). I do think about them a lot and I hope they are doing well and if they happen to read this: "Thank you, for everything you've given me".

On the other hand some of my first blogging friends are doing very well with their blogs and they stopped coming over. They moved onto better and bigger things I guess. I pop over and visit here and there and they stop over once in awhile, but the connection we had is not there anymore.

I am very happy for them and wish them well. I will keep popping by to say: "Hi, I am still here". Maybe one day we will re-connect again.

Some of you have been with me from the beginning . Life gets busy at times and many of us don't have time to visit everyday, but you keep coming and giving me support and encouragement. You are cheering me on and leaving me the most wonderful comments. I love you for that and I hope one day I will get the chance to meet you in person and tell you how much you helped me to come out of misery and find happiness.

For those of you who are just getting to know me (it's scary I know) I love meeting new people and I promise that I am here for the long run. I might take little life breaks here and there, but I am here to stay.

This blog will end in 40 days, but this mom will keep blogging and I hope when the time comes you all will come over my NEW blog that I am already working on.

I promise you that new blog will stay my personal blog (I do have a working blog). I will continue to share with you the most embarrassing moments in my family's life. I will share with you all of my defeats and victories...

....I will shamelessly promote my working blog.....that's a promise!


So, Thank You for supporting me and being there for me.

P.S. I am not leaving this blog yet. I wasn't planning on writing this today, but once I started things just kept coming out. So I went with it.

WW - Day At The Carnival

Last weekend we decided to leave the campground and venture out.

There was rodeo in town and of course with every good rodeo there is also carnival.

Hormone Boy is getting little big for most of the carnival rides, but we still ask him to ride with Little Peanut or his little cousins.

He was not very happy with me snapping pictures of him on kiddie rides, but in the end he was pretty good sport about it. After all I bought him wristband for unlimited rides.




If you ask me, he doesn't look very unhappy on the carousel.




I felt little bit guilty for asking him to go on the mini roller-coaster.




Is it a little smile I see? Oh, my....it is a smile.....GOTCHA!




He's definitely not smiling now!!!




And being good cousin.....gotta love him.


This week for Wordless Wednesday I am joining A Lot Of Loves and Seven Clown Circus .



Don't forget to enter my awesome GIVEAWAY that promotes healthy and active kids.



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Don't forget Wednesday Is Friends Day at The Mama Zone





Wednesday is also Follow Me, I'm Canadian - The Great Canadian Link Exchange day. If you would like to meet fellow Canadians hop over and join.

Double Scoop of Me and Mine

I am finally starting to feel better and I am also beating the summer lazy blues.

It's time for me to return to full time writing and blogging. For last few weeks I have been using every excuse I know for staying away from the cyberspace.

It's not that I don't enjoy writing, sharing and visiting anymore. It's just that the laid-back camping environment got me all confused.

Not anymore......I got up this morning and I decided: "This is it!!!"

So today I bring you a Double Scoop of Me and Mine. Not sure what it means, but I think it's catchy.


FIRST SCOOP

I have a new and exciting GIVEAWAY on Guide For Busy Moms site.

Pump It Up The Inflatable Party Zone launched brand new and really cool Goodie Bags that promote active and healthy living.

I was honored that they asked me to review one of their new goodie bags. Not only LP received awesome goodie bag to review, but Pump It Up people are giving away new and improved Pump It Up Goodie Bags to 3 lucky readers that enter my giveaway.

So don't forget to visit Guide For Busy Moms to enter this great giveaway!




SECOND SCOOP


Last week I received The Versatile Blogger Award from fellow Canadian blogger Kat @ Kat's Confessions.

This award comes with it's own rules, but as many of you know I do march to the beat of my own drums and following rules is not my forte...(but this is.....get it?).

Anyway, I do want to be a team player so I will try to follow just a little bit.

I am suppose to tell you 7 things about me. I decided that 5 is plenty. I don't want to overwhelm you with all that knowledge of awesomeness I wish.

#1 Sometimes often I come across as a B***h. I can assure you that I am not. I just have a low tolerance for stupidity.

#2 I don't like burgers, Hamburger Helper, Kraft Dinner, Hummus and pizza (whew, so glad it's finally out in the open).

#3 I am guilty of pushing my kids too hard sometimes in loving way. I know it's not right, but I just don't want them to grow up like majority kids around me. I don't want them ever say that I didn't support them or push them hard enough. So if I have to use "mother's guilt" for them to accomplish something I have no problem with that.

#4 Recently I developed secret love affair with Brie and Smoked Gouda. I used to have a fling with both of them, but somehow things got out of hand and I am in a love triangle. I just hope they won't ask me to chose.

#5 I love British comedy. I would watch it over and over and over. Give me Coupling, Keeping Up Appearances and As Time Goes By and I will never leave my couch.


Now I am suppose to share my award with 15 newly discovered blogs. Honestly, I think you all deserve it so grab it and share it with others.

~ Thank you, Kat ~

My Story - Chapter 3

Chapter 3


It’s Friday night and this is the last night we will spend in our apartment. The apartment I know as my home since I was 3 years old.

We are still in Slovakia , but our life is already somewhere else.

Gigi was running around all day not having a clue what was about to happen. She is 13 and all she is concerned about is hanging with her friends and looking forward to the 8Th grade. Finally, she is going to rule in her elementary school as a senior.

In the morning my father left for work as usual. I spent the day helping my mother packing and organizing. We didn’t talk too much. Both of us were trying to keep busy so we don’t have to think what lies ahead.

Family vacations to another country are just a dream for majority of Slovak families.

Every person wanting to travel needs a passport with a special permit and visa to enter foreign country. Visas are given at local police department and the possibility of the entire family getting a visa was next to impossible.

This was another way for the communist government controlling the masses. I had no idea how my dad is planning to get us across the border as a family.

Dad returned home early today. I guess he didn’t want anybody to see him pull into our parking space in an old junkyard car.

Yes, he left for work in his brand new Lada and returned home in old Skoda.

It turned out that instead of work he went to sell his car and paid a visit to his friend who happened to be the chief of police. I guess I should have realized that my father has friends in high places.

Not only he came home with an old car, but in his hands he was holding our passports with tourist visas to Yugoslavia.

Gigi still doesn’t know what is going on. Everything is happening so fast. I am trying to get few hours of sleep, but that’s impossible.

Finally, I hear mom getting up. It’s time to load up the car and head west to the unknown.

I must admit there is little bit of excitement about it, but mostly fear. Can we really pull this off? Can we really leave everything and everybody behind and start brand new life in a strange country?

It’s 3am. Car is loaded and it’s time to wake up Gigi and tell her we are leaving on family vacation to the Adriatic Sea.

Meet Me On Monday

While I was lurking around and checking out my favorite blogs I came across awesome blog called Never Growing Old.

Every Monday Java @ Never Growing Old hosts great blog hop called Meet Me On Monday. I decided to join her this week.



It's a fun hop where you get to answer 5 fun questions about you and meet new people as well.

This weeks questions are:

1. What is your favorite dessert?
2. What do you wear to bed?
3. Do you get regular manicures/pedicures?
4. Did you play any sports in high school?
5. Do you have an iPod?


My answers are:

1. What is your favorite dessert?

Tiramisu - hands down (made by me, of course)



2. What do you wear to bed?

Boys boxer shorts and tank top in the summer. PJ long pant bottoms and oversized T-shirt in the winter.



3. Do you get regular manicures/pedicures?

I get regular manicure once a month and pedicures from May till September (3 times).My friend owns a beauty salon so I try my best to support her.



4. Did you play any sports in high school?

I played volleyball and basketball.



5. Do you have an iPod?

Yes, I do have an iPod. I do have an eye on my son's iPod Touch.

Happy Birthday, Little Peanut!

Happy Birthday, Little Peanut!





You are my sunshine, my love, my life. You keep me grounded and accountable.

You make me smile, you make me cry. You are the reason I get up in the morning and try to be the best mom I can be.

You are my sweet angel and little devil rolled in one and I wouldn't change a thing about you.

You are my sweet, beautiful, caring, sensitive and giving boy. You make me proud every day of your life.

You will accomplish great things some day, but for now just be my baby and enjoy every minute of your childhood.

The day you were born I made a promise to love you, protect you and teach you.

Since that day you are loving me, protecting me and teaching me everyday.


I Love You My Sweet Baby Boy!

You Can Read The Menu...

To those of you those who are waiting for next chapter in my life story I must apologize.

I was sick last few days and wasn't able to finish it on time. I do promise, it will be posted sometimes this week.

Since there is no story to read, let me entertain you with person that is ME.

Yes, ME.

I have been married to wonderful and talented Mr. Misery for over 17 years. We've seen each other at our worst and at our best.

There is no secrets, there is no lies, there is no jealousy. There is deep respect and understanding.

Now, that I described my relationship to you in a nut shell and I can go on with my story without being accused of having wondering eye, bad marriage or other unpleasant things.

The only thing I can be accused of is saying wrong things at the wrong time. Putting my foot in my mouth. Speaking without thinking. Thinking aloud or just plain being me...

Last week after grocery shopping Mr.Misery took me for lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant.

As I was enjoying complimentary basket of chips and salsa I noticed Pepsi delivery truck in front.



It was scorching outside and I looked closer and saw this good looking truck driver sitting inside his cab and his co-worker (girl) locking up the doors around.

Me: Check out that lazy guy. He sits in the A/C cab while his co-worker who is a girl is running around in this heat doing his job.

M.M.: She's just locking the last door.

Me: How do you know?

M.M.: I saw them unloading together and I don't think he's taking an advantage of her cause she's a girl. I think take are taking advantage of each other......

Me: ????????????????????

M.M.: When they were inside they were acting like co-workers with French benefits if you ask me.

Me (looking closer at the driver): I don't blame her.....I'd hit that....

Yep, it just came out. No thinking, no caring......just came out!

M.M. (looked up from reading his menu cool as a cucumber): You can read the menu. You just can't order a meal.

Then he kept reading his menu.

M.M.: What was is I ordered last time? I really liked that.

Me (thinking): Combo plate and that doesn't mean Blonde-Brunette-Redhead.

See, what I have to live with?

I don't think there is anything that will catch Mr.Misery of guard so far into this wonderful game (institution) we call marriage.

Love you, Mr.Misery!!! (just in case he's reading)

WW - Pool Pigs Village

When you are camping you have lots of time to waste watching people and trying to guess what makes them tick.

Well, at least I do. I am a shy person by nature so people watching is my hobby.

There have been several large groups passing through the resort we are staying at. I call them villages.

Just to make sure I don't get them confused I watch them for a day and then I name the villages.

There has been Fabio Village, Danny Bonaduce Village, Crocks ' n ' Socks Village, Rednecks with Bad Tan Village and many others.

Some are nice and some not so much, but that's another post.

Today for Almost Wordless Wednesday I would like to introduce to you Pool Pigs Village.

Why Pool Pigs you ask?

The resort we are staying at has almost 50 individual campsites and 20 motel units.

It also has a decent size swimming pool that has been shared in harmony (mostly) by all the campers.....till Pool Pigs Village arrived.

The village itself occupies 4 campsites.

On the day of their arrival they decided to cool down at the pool. There is nothing wrong with that, right?

Almost the entire village decided to enter the pool. Little crazy, but still borderline acceptable.

Well, what would you say if I tell you that when we arrived to the pool there was NO ROOM to even dip our toes in?

7 adults were laying in a group on large floaties having drinks and just floating around.

7 kids were continuously jumping into their oversize large floaties while screaming and 2 children were sitting in the middle of the pool in a large river raft.

Did I mentioned there is a large lake about 30 steps away from the pool?

That second I name their village Pool Hogs. They didn't seem to care about anything and anybody.

When I looked around all I saw was floaties, lawn chairs, towels. It's like I crushed their family pool party.

The village of Pool Hogs was lounging around the pool since lunch till almost dinner time.

Finally, dinner time came around and we decided to take advantage of some pool time.

After entering the pool area I renamed the Pool Hogs into Pool Pigs.

They did leave the pool, but they decided to leave everything they brought with them at the pool.














Just in case you are wondering....they did not come back to clean it up. The resort staff piled it neatly for them at closing time so they can continue the next day.

I say.....OINK, OINK to Pool Pigs Village.....we won't miss you around here.


This week for Wordless Wednesday I am joining A Lot Of Loves and Seven Clown Circus .



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Don't forget Wednesday Is Friends Day at The Mama Zone




Wednesday is also Follow Me, I'm Canadian - The Great Canadian Link Exchange day. If you would like to meet fellow Canadians hop over and join.

My Story - Chapter 2

Chapter 2


“ Do you want to go for a walk by the river?” mom asked with hesitance.
“ What’s going on, mom?”
“You haven’t ask me to go for a walk with you in years” I replied while putting my shoes on.
“ Nothing, I just want to get some fresh air and see what you have been up to. I don’t see you that much anymore.” Somehow for whatever reason I knew my mother was lying to me.
Once we were outside mom explained to me that she couldn’t talk in front of my little sister Gigi. It turned out that she needed to talk to me in private about a very serious matter that will affect all of our lives.

Once we were alone and walking mom kept looking at me. I never seen that look on her face.

Finally, first words came out.

“How would you feel about moving?” mom blurted out.

“Me?”

“ I am happy where I am and things are going great for me. I can’t imagine having a better job or to be surrounded with a better group of people. I even started dating again.”

Suddenly mom stopped, looked at me and tears filled her eyes: “No, I don’t mean just you. I mean all four of us.”

My first reaction wasn’t the best: “Did dad get a better job?” “

“There is no way, no how I am leaving and you could not pay me enough to work for him again.”

“No, your dad didn’t get a new job. He’s been having little problem with the government.”

“What kind of little problem causes people to move to another city?” I was getting upset and I could not understand how my father’s little problem is becoming a big problem for me. I was not ready to give up my life and I was not ready to move in with my parent again.

‘It’s not another city, baby.” Mom stopped and hugged me tight.

“It’s another country.”

That second I knew our life will never be the same and I had so many questions. Somehow I knew this time my mom didn’t have all the answers. My strong and independent mother. The woman I look up to and fear at the same time was scared. She looked afraid and fragile. She was looking for the same answers.

For next half an hour we walked holding hands as mom tried to explain my father’s situation to me.

It turned out that few days ago my father had a visit from government with an unusual request followed with threats.

He was asked to spy on his hotel guests from Western block as well as North America.

Every time these guests checked in he was suppose to leave an unoccupied room next to them. This room would become the surveillance room during the guests stay.

My father voiced his displeasure and pointed out how unethical that would be.

After voicing his opinion he was given a week to get ready to cooperate. Otherwise he was reassured that if he doesn’t follow the orders he will find himself without a job and the only job he will be able to get was digging ditches.

From custom made suits to dirty overalls. Well, that wasn’t my father.

As we walked back home hand in hand we didn’t talk. We didn’t know what the exact plan was and how we are going to solve it.

The next few days will be hell and everything we do has to be done with smile on our faces and in absolute secrecy. It will be me and my parents against the world.

My work was going through slow season so I called my boss and asked for two weeks off . Two weeks off for fun family vacation.