Queenies Little Kingdom

Once again I was up & down all night. Two nights in a row!  Last year I blogged about a pinched nerve in my back. I wandered around aimlessly for a week with some of the worst pain ever. Finally, the pain was so bad that my principal had to help me to the parking lot where my hubby had pulled up to get me.

Away we went to the doctor, who lovingly prescribed truth serum and pain medication so I could breathe and pull up my own pants again.

So the news today is I'm down in the back …. again!

Pray for me…I don't want to share how I really feel by way of good drugs. I'd rather be like everyone else and hide it! Hehe

I'm a sucker for a good long weekend.  I had big plans to enjoy this one but somehow fell into the pit of DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH lady!  When I came home to chaos on Friday, I knew….dun dun dun, home would not be the haven I had dreamt of all week.  
 

After verbally wounding all the people I love, including the dogs….I crawled up on my bed for a retreat nap cry escape rest and prayed for God to help me face all the attacks satan was throwing my way.  Then, I called my husband and confessed my meanness to him and begged him to come home and help me.

Before they killed me and hid my body.

No, I wasn't PMS'n either.  Trouble was just knocking on my door and I was caught unaware and answered it.  Idiot!  I did mention it was FRIDAY?  I love Friday's.  Just not this one.

The new puppy, it's up and down with the potty training.  My house smelled terrible and the laundry was piled high because of cleaning up the "accidents".  Not a good thing to come home to.  I work hard all week, I didn't want a puppy and I don't want to come home to work cleaning up after one.  Would you?

While I'm crying sulking praying on my bed, I hear my son yell, "Oh no, she peed on my iPad!".  Then I hear him stomping around up and down the stairs obviously taking his bedding to the laundry room and cleaning up the mess.  I can only assume that his new 64g iPad 2 is ok, since he isn't in my room having a total meltdown.  So, I let him handle his problem.

Until I hear the scariest screaming banging noise I've ever heard.  I jumped straight out of bed and ran searching for the source only to smell stinky smoke coming from my laundry room.  NOT THE LAUNDRY ROOM!!!  I cannot believe my eyes when I walk up to my washing machine and see that  E V E R Y blanket, cover, sheet and pillow case off of his king sized bed is in my washer!  It's poking out of the top (just like a scene from a Lucy & Ethel shenanigan) except it's not funny at all.  The washer is dead and my 21 year old son is the killer!

I have to walk away.

All of this kickstarted the "fun" weekend of searching everywhere for a belt (hoping that was all it needed) which NO ONE carried.  Why did I stop at 3 children?  I'll never know.  Laziness, maybe?  Remember all the smelly laundry?  Yea, it was now moved to the living room because hubby had to pull out the washing machine to work on it and needed to clear out the floor space.  Note:  House messy, smelly & cluttered!

After driving all over southern Indiana and biting my tongue at all the sales people who informed us they do not sell parts only new appliances–we ended up at a farm store that sold belts (for tractors and such).  We were desperate and after measuring them all against our washer belt decided to try it for $8.99.  Otherwise, we could order one and wait the week out for it to arrive.  Uhh, trying it!

By that evening, the tractor belt was on my old Maytag washer which now has a permanent screamy screech when it spins and can only handle baby loads.  Thanks hubby!  According to him, the damage is beyond the belt (a bearing, maybe) and it's only a temporary fix.  We need a new washer!  🙁

I spent all of Sunday washing the piles of gross wet laundry.  But I wasn't complaining.  Downton Abbey (my favorite show) was coming on at 9pm and not only was it the season finale…..I didn't have to get up for school this morning!  Weeeeeehawwww!  

I was almost caught up with all the laundry…

Until 1am when Ally came into my room flipping out because her dog was sick all over her bed.  By morning, she had barfed on everything repeatedly and even managed to hit the staircase.

Awesome.

Guess what I'm doing on my first President's Day off in 10 years?

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Ps. 90:12

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jer. 29:11

My friend (she's a librarian) and I both have Kindle's.  Each of us love books but hate paying BIG DOLLARS to put them on our e-reader.  So, often we share about our sneaky finds that are either cheap or free.  Free being the most special, ya know?  If it's something really important, I'll pay for it otherwise I wait or search it out in a giveaway or the online Library system.  

Every once in a while I luck up and find a good one.

This past week I purchased the new hot-off-the-press book about JFK and the mistress who had an 18 month affair with him.  I wasn't sure if this was something I could enjoy especially after paying full price for it.  Yea, I'm that cheap!  I've always been intrigued by President Kennedy.  His life, his story & his tragic death all fascinate me.  I'm not sure why (we're on opposing parties, politically) other than the history of it all.  No one, democrat or republican deserve to be assassinated for the position they hold.

This story isn't about his death.  It's about a girl who was raised by a good family, educated at a prestigious prep school and given an exciting opportunity to intern at THE WHITE HOUSE during her summer before college.  But things would take a serious turn.  As a mother, reading it was heartbreaking!  As a woman, I felt humiliated for her.  Even though she doesn't try to paint the President in a bad way…it's hard not to judge him by his actions.

I devoured the book.  The author kept me glued to every page.  I admire her for the courage to write such a revealing (and not in a flattering way) book.  I can't think of too many women that would want the world to know the secrets that this lady held onto for a lifetime.  I wish more young people could see the devastation of promiscuity that she so openly shares in her story.  She recognized the effects of it in her failed marriage.

Profound news, people.  Don't give yourself away UNLESS IT'S YOUR SPOUSE!

I totally recommend the book.  If you're looking for a peak into Camelot and ready to have your eyes opened to some painful truths.  Get it!

Once Upon A Secret by Mimi Alford