Another Day Goes By

Well time goes by and I guess that's the good news. I remember a friend of mine saying one time that he was "sitting in the sub burbs waiting to die" . Some days I feel like that. Gotta do something to change that. I don't intend to spend the rest of my life sitting in this house waiting for who knows what.

I am getting the house so clean that it's kind of sick. I am washing our coverlet to the bed today, did sheets a couple days ago. My sister Diane and her family are coming to stay for the night on Monday so I want it nice for them. Now that the sprinklers are fixed, and I wont have to use the one on the hose, I am gonna wash these windows really good to get the hard water spots off. It was hardly worth it before cause as soon as I drug that sprinkler around the water pressure fluctuates so much that I would inevitably get water on the glass. So clean windows.

Went for a walk with Charlee and Gabbi last night and really enjoyed it. Gabbi is so darn cute. She wore her flippers and kept saying her feet itched. She did good and walked the whole way. She had to tell every dog hello and one of the neighbors has columns on their fence that have big concrete frogs topping them. She always has to stop and kiss the frogs.

Trying to get everything done cause I go to Vegas Friday night so I can watch Harlee on Saturday. Then Teddi is gonna take me to the airport on Sunday. Have to check the Grand Junction weather to see what clothes to pack. I have taken everything but my toiletries out of the 5th wheel cause I haven't been there that much so I'll have to take everything I need. I can tell you more and more I understand why Cliff hates that place so much. Lately I hate it too.

Another Monday

Saturday at Teddi's love this baby!

Well I woke up this morning to Cliff's text of "Good Mornin Hun" It made me so sad. I miss him a lot and hate all the miles he is away. It seems this just goes on forever and never ends and just gets worse as time goes on. We text all day but it does nothing to abate the loneliness. Sometimes I feel physically sick from it all. Wish I could wish it all away, but life doesn't work like that. Problems don't solve themselves.

Raoul came by and he and his cousin are fixing the sprinklers. Parts of them have been broke and I have had to water the side yard with the hose and a sprinkler. Then a valve went bad and I had to turn off the main sprinkler valve or the system leaked and our water bill was 125.00. It will be nice to have it back working.

I went to St George and got another shot in my knee. It wasn't bothering me but the doctor said one more shot and that should do it. Sure am thankful that I was able to get it treated. I was in a lot of pain but it's A-OK now.

I am going to cook dinner for Cha and family, just burgers and homemade fries. It's just a little thanks for all the work Raoul did today. I will get to see the kids and I hope that helps my mood. I don't why I am so blue today but it comes and goes. I pray non-stop and try to be positive but some days it's really hard. Hope tomorrow is better.

Got to talk to Cliff for about 20 minutes but he was yawning so that I figured he was either real tired or real bored and either way thought I'd put him out of his misery and get off the phone. He did get to talk to Gabby and she asked him when he was coming so they could go swimming. Angel heart girl. Lol

My new girl

Well here is the evolution of my new cowgirl. She is different than what I had originally intended but that's what happens when a good tattoo artist gets his hands on you. Teddi went with me and we got there about 7:00 pm and Donnie finished about 2:30 in the morning . Starborn is on The Strip and Sahara right in the "Naked City" and I can tell you it's an interesting place on Friday night at 2 in the morning. When we finished, Donnie had to walk us out to the car and muscle his way through the crack heads and ladies of the evening. Anyway it was fun. We met Donnie when he did Teddi's first tattoo when she turned 16 and the rest is history. He's sure an interesting guy from Baton Rouge, LA. I can tell you a good time was had by all. I spent the evening sipping cinnamon coffee cause I heard that blood sucking vampires are allergic to cinnamon.

Mr Donnie starting my work
The rough drawing
Part way through with the shading
Starting to add color
The finished product

Nothing Like a New Tattoo

I've got an appointment with Donnie at Starborn in Vegas tonight at 6 to try to work up my new tattoo. Gonna have him take this horseshoe ( I like the worn industrial look of this horseshoe) without all that crap around it and then take my cowgirl ( picture below) and have her sitting in it like a swing. Then I want clouds around her head and roses around her feet with a banner that says Honky Tonk Angel. Can't wait to see what he comes up with.

Cliff wanted me to have it done in Greeley while we were at Traci's but I didn't want my arm to be sore while we were there and traveling, plus I didn't know the tattoo artist and there is nothing worse than a shitty tattoo. Turns out the woman who did Cliff's work in Greeley was really good and did an amazing job with finishing his muscle car and Betty Paige tattoo. But the real reason I didn't get it done was I think I may have to get it done in stages because it's gonna be the whole top of my arm, so I wanted to get it done where I can get touch ups etc. Plus I know how good Donnie is and outside of Kat Von Dee (who I cannot afford) he's the man.
I like the one below for my right boob as soon as they finish all the work on it next spring, but instead of the laurels I want flames around it. Maybe I'll have them add the words "burn one down for me" It's a Day of the Dead in memory of my right boob that is dearly departed HA HA.

Why do we love tattoos? I don't know, but we do. After I get my arm done I want a picture with my daughters that focus on our tattoos. I'd like Toby in it but the chance of getting him down here is slim and none. Maybe he can Photoshop himself in LOL

Busy Day

Well I got up this morning and realized I needed to keep busy or I'd go nuts today, so I have been cleaning house like a mad woman. Got our bedroom done except for dusting the blinds and then started on the spare bedroom. Had to clean it out after our Cheyenne went home for the summer. She's a junker and I always have to clean under the bed cause she stashes stuff under there. I had looked all morning for the broom and was just getting ready to go buy one when I started cleaning under the bed and there was the broom. We cannot figure out why she hordes stuff but she sure does. Sometimes even brings home junk she finds in the street and hides it under the bed. Cliff says she will end up running Van Gundys, a junk yard in Grand Junction. You want to laugh but somehow you realize it's not funny. Poor baby.

I took a hand saw and sawed off the top part of the foot board on our spare bedroom log bed. It was so high you couldn't lay in bed and see the TV and I got sick of moving the TV so the kids could see it so I decided to just solve the problem. It is gonna work out way better. Now I am washing all the rugs in the house and getting ready to clean both bathrooms and then I might be done for the day. Save the kitchen and dining room for tomorrow or later today. I still want to go to the gym and go swim laps so I think I'm about done.

Peachy Day

Got 15 quarts of Palisade peaches ready for the freezer. That was one of the first thing Cliff asked me this morning was if I got the peaches done ha. He said "yummy". Boy will they be good this winter. My little baby girl was a peach of a helper. Now getting ready to run to the doctor.

Dog Days of Summer

Well I just got back last night from taking Cheyenne back to Colorado after summer vacation. We really has a good time and I was sad to see her go. Had our usual drama with Michelle and it was nothing but a fight with her calling the police, screaming matches between her and Cliff, and finally her getting scared we would take her back to court and all her felony convictions would come out so she finally played nice. In fact when I dropped Cheyenne off she invited me "onto the driveway" and we talked for about a half hour. It was her usual trying to justify her actions but she actually did thank me for taking good care of Cheyenne and thanked me for all the nice things I had done for her, so it's progress of some kind and that is nice for a change. I just feel so sorry for Cheyenne caught in her mother's web. It is beginning to show and that's the sad part but I told Cliff this is the part where we just have to hold on and pray for the best. Let her know we are here and love her and provide as stable an environment as we can. She is such a beautiful little girl I just pray she can come thru it all without the scars being too deep.





Cheyenne saying goodby to Digger for the summer
Cheyenne on the ride back showing me her mustache. She wants to bring her vampire suit out and go back down on Fremont street and be one of the costume characters that hang out down there. She is to little to realize they are mostly weirdo's and crack heads. Some are legit but most of them not so much LOL
Got to see Alecia and she spent the night with me. The next morning we went peach and corn hunting. Cliff was laughing and asked if we had bagged our limit. I told him we were out of tags so guess we were done. We bought the peaches next door to Lon and Marlene's so we dropped by and I told Marlene how happy I was that her breast lumps were not malignant. She is still having problems and did not look good at all. It's worrisome. Just hope and pray she is alright. Alecia loves her Grammie so much it would kill her to have anything happen to Grammie.

After we got our peaches and corn we went to Main Street Bagels and had a yummy bagel and coffee well Alecia had a smoothie (had to get that sugar ha) but I had "hot coffee". Then we hugged and said good by. I thought it would be Thanksgiving before I saw her again but now it looks like I am flying back over on Labor Day weekend. Dad Cole has called a family meeting and asked me to try to be there he said it was real important to him so I got a flight for 49.00 and will fly in on Sunday, Dad and Mom Cole will pick me up at the airport, then Cliff will be there on Wednesday and we will have the meeting Wed night and we will come home on Thursday morning unless Cliff wants to leave Wed night then we will do that and I can drive home

Saturday Swim

Here are the shark girls getting ready to swim




Charlee came over today and took the kids to the splash pad in Bunkerville. I sure was glad cause I was in a funk and didn't feel like doing anything. Later in the day they came back and we fixed them something to eat and they played sharks in the kiddie pool till it was almost dark. They were so cute diving under the water and pretending to bite each other. So sweet. It was so hot during the day they didn't even want to swim but once it started to cool off they swam for about 2 hours. Then Cheyenne went over to Cha's for awhile cause she wanted to keep playing with Doodle Bug. I was in bed by the time Charlee brought her home.

I had mowed about half the yard last late in the afternoon so I was ready for a bath and to cool off. I will finish it in the morning and change the water in the kiddie pool as I am sure they will be at it again this afternoon lol.

Tomorrow will be Cheyenne's last day here for the summer and it sure went fast. I will really miss her. By next summer she will be acting and looking like a teenager, she is already headed in that direction, such a pretty girl. Cliff is determined that we will have her all 6 weeks next summer and I do hope it works out that way guess we will have to wait and see. Seems like it is always the children that suffer in these things.

I know I wish I had been smarter when I was young and not subjected my kids to a lot of the things I did but I guess hind sight is 20/20. I was just young, immature and selfish, and the older I get the more I realize what a piss poor excuse that is.

Super Mima

Got back from Vegas tonight. Cheyenne and I went to Teddi's and watched Harlee for three days. I thought that Olivia would be there too but she was at her Daddies. We did get to see her for a minute Friday afternoon but not nearly long enough. Cheyenne's friend Emerald went too and it was a good thing or I think that Cheyenne would have been really bored. But the big girls did really good and I was proud of them. Teddi and I got a chance to talk for the first time in a long time and I really enjoyed that. I love her so much and am so proud of her. Both my girls are so sweet to me and so loving. I am lucky. And Toby is the best son in the world always concerned about his Mama. I love my kids.
Poor Harlee is wondering which direction she is headed lol
Sweet girl is 7 months old and still doesn't have any teeth . She is teething so bad I felt sorry for her. Then her Mima kept trying to get a picture and the flash would make her close her eyes. She is such a good sweet baby always laughing it was hard to see her hurting from her teeth.
Here is the whole crew Cheyenne, Olivia, Harlee and Emerald

Back to Black

Well he's gone again. I hate this job more than I can say and wish we could do anything but this to survive. I really don't see how anyone survives it. Brent and Laurie have been doing it for 4 years and it has come so close to destroying their marriage that it's not funny. The big question is will we get thru it in one piece. I told Cliff this morning I would rather live in a hole and eat dirt than do this but when you have responsibilities you have to man up and do what's needed I guess.

It's amazing when you get through something as hard to deal with as breast cancer and make it you feel like you have survived the worst thing that can happen to you, then you find out life keeps throwing you curve balls and most you catch but once in awhile one hits you in the head.

Cliff must have told me he loved me twenty times between last night and this morning. Its so hard for him to leave

Bee's Knees

Well I went to see Dr Andrus at Zion Orthopedics yesterday about my left knee. He said it really wasn't in too bad a shape and felt like if he gave me a steroid shot in it it would be ok. He said we are 15 years off from a knee replacement and said if this didn't work he would scope it and give me some kind of acid shot that he said really helps. So we will see. I am hoping this helps, I am tired of it hurting.

Golden Nuggett

Sunday we took Tony and Cheyenne to the Shark pool and slide at the Golden Nugget. Charlee and Raoul met us there. We had a great afternoon swimming and sliding down the slide with all the kids.The slide is a tube that goes thru the middle of the shark tank so that was big stuff for the kids. It was packed and we had a hard time finding a place to sit but finally found a big lounge couch and it was on. We got a bucket of beer and laid in the sun and just kicked back and relaxed.
Nice afternoon. We had gotten a room and but Cha Raoul and Tony headed back to Mesquite. They had to get the Gordy Cheese. We wanted to take her but it was her Dad's time and he was an ass and wouldn't let her go. I don't know why adults are so stupid where kids are concerned.

After we went to the room and showered, we had dinner at Tony Roma's and then walked up and down Fremont Street watching the bands and all the crazy acts. What a trip. I let Shiner wear my high heels and she thought she was big stuff. I wore her flippers and was glad cause my feet were starting to hurt. We finally sat sown at Starbucks in their little sidewalk cafe and had a cup and rested a minute. By then it was 10 so we figured we better put the little Shinny Butt to bed. Headed home the next morning greatful for some fun family time.

Sunmmer with Cheyenne

We have had Cheyenne here all week and really had fun. We have been swimming, and bowling (hey I beat Dad one game), target shooting and of course getting ice cream. It always makes me miss Alecia, our ice cream girl. When we went shooting I didn't hit a thing but Tony and Cliff killed all the Christmas ornaments. We took some old ones and hung them in the trees and shot at them. It was too windy for me to hit anything but they did pretty good.

It was fun but hot and muggy. The monsoonal moisture has been awful this year, Hope it gets better as fall arrives.

AC Mechanics

Leo came over and brought the baby. We were at the Virgin River last night and had a few beers and talked to him. Cliff told him how much he missed hanging with him so he dropped by today . Baby Leo is so dang cute. He brought Gabby too so Cliff got to see his baby. She was so funny and pulled all her shenanigans on us. I took her and Cheyenne to Walmart and bought a movie and some stickers. They have been so good. Of course Gabby wanted a fish but I got out without getting her one. I made everyone biscuits and gravy, eggs, hash browns, that way Cliff could have his "haystack". Now the boys are playing PS3 and waiting for the football game to start. I am blogging and Cheyenne wants to go to the pool. Do I have the energy to take her, I dont know. I should take her since her mother called her screaming at her and made her cry. That woman is psychotic. I guess my lot in life to to deal with Baby Mama drama .


The boys worked on the air conditioning this morning and got it fixed on the car and truck. We had to take the car to the shop and have a new coil installed that was another 257.00. We have spent and easy 1000.00 this month on car repairs. Hope they are all fixed now for awhile. Cliff schooled Tony on how to change out a compressor. They had fun working on it. Tony is so damn funny.

Cheyenne Gabby and Tio

Back to Black

Cliff always likes my hair better dark so I did it back dark brown for him this morning. Love ya Babe

Our Trip to See Traci & Ryan

We left on Friday after the funeral to go see Traci and Ryan. We had planned on taking the Amtrak for our anniversary and even had a sleeping car reserved for our "romantic trip" but at the last minute the train was cancelled due to some problem in Sacramento and we drove not nearly as romantic but we did have fun. It was a nice drive and we had a good time talking and listening to music. We met the kids at Casa Bonita and had the worst dinner you can imagine but had fun running around in the restaurant. Then we drove up to Greeley and stayed with the kids. Saturday Ryan had to work so we toured campus with Traci and had a good day. Cliff gor his tattoo worked on and his arm was so sore but it sure looks better. We had to hurry and get Ryan and then we went to the Colorado Speedway and went to the races. Oh that was after a great dinner at Texas Roadhouse. We had a great time at the races and th Ricky Booby car won the main event. So fun/

Cliff and I in Blackbeard Cave

Traci took us on a tour of her college campus on Saturday . This was on campus
A blurry picture of us at Casa Bonita
Clifford riding the bucking bronco at Casa Bomita


Traci & Ryan exploring

Dad and his big girl on campus
More Casa Bonita

And then Life throws another curve

Got up early and cleaned the house while Cliff and Cheyenne slept in. We have had the most stressful week in a long time and guess Cliff needed some rest. If any of you have ever prayed for us , now would be the time. Sometimes the universe sends tests that you wonder if you can survive. I have always felt like such a strong person but sometimes I wonder how much one person can take in a life time. I just am thankful for my understanding of family and of what is important in this world and just pray God gives me the strength I need to get thru the next trials.

We went to the casino for awhile last night and had a couple beers and that helped us both relax. I actually got a buzz and that's not like me. We played the slots and tried to win some money (ha) but only ended up losing a hundred dollars. Every vehicle we have is in the shop or Cliff is working on it. And it's mostly air conditioning. We got little red fixed when we were in Grand Junction so now it has A?C and Dad Cole and Cliff changed the fuel pump in his work truck, then the AC went out in the car and his work truck and we barely made it home. Cliff changed the AC condenser on the mustang and now has to do the work truck today. Poor thing working out in that heat but he gets it fixed and that's what the issue is. Hope that's all the car trouble we have for awhile.

Stanley Hotel

Wanted to get these pictures posted of our trip to the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Co. It is the inspiration for the Stephen King book "The Shinning". Traci has wanted to go for a long time so we went and took the Ghost tour. It was really fun and we got to see room 217 where Stephen King stayed and had the dream that inspired the book. If you read this blog you know what big ghost hunters we are, so this is the latest in our hunt for ghosties.

Yhe hotel was really beautiful. I love old buildings
The tunnel. We were glad that this was included on the tour because we saw it on Ghost Hunters and the kids were excited to explore it.
The newly engaged couple. Traci was bummed because her engagement ring was getting sized and she didnt have it for the trip. Ah, young love
Traci and I on the sofa where women are suppose to have ghostly experiences. Cliff had us sit there so we could see if the ghosts touched us HA

Aunt Mary's Funeral

Cheyenne and Grandma Ciole. We were pretending that we were in Hawaii
Me and Alecia
Our baby Cheyenne


Had a good time visiting with Mom and Dad Cole last week . It was a sad occasion of Aunt Mary's funeral but it was good to see all the family. I felt sorry for Mom as it her last surviving sister and I know she will miss her so much. The funeral was beautiful and well attended. Uncle Lee looked really tired and I felt sorry for him. They are such sweet people.