Aerosmith global warming tour

Yayy! My band is on tour again! not only that...concert season is about to be in full swing!

This year, some Aerosmith girls are having a get together in Chicago. And for once in my life, I am actually going too!! It started out really stressful...ya know, the whole ticket ordeal and the fanclub being way overpriced. you have to have $$$ to be close...or else some awesome luck.  Of which, I have neither! So on a hope and a prayer, after I was ready to give up, we finally got tickets.  Not great tickets, but they are floor tickets, at face value.  and it ended up another friend of mine is coming as well!

Honestly, after the week I had with the tickets stress, I am just happy to be going.  there are some great people that are going to be there and it is going to be so much fun.  I can hardly wait till June. 

I also will be trying to go to the Philly show 7-21.  I haven't bought tickets for that yet because I am waiting it out.  Rumor has it that the best tickets get sold at the last minute...so I wanna test that theory. As for chicago, I didn't really want to travel all that way and then end up NOT getting a ticket, which is the chance you take when you wait till the last minute. 

Like I said..I am not stressing anymore...and I am just happy to be going.  Here's hoping some luck travels my way and my dream of meeting Steven Tyler (for free) comes true. 

If I close my eyes really tight and tap my heals together...it might happen!! :) *sigh*

March Wins

March wasn't as great for wins as the past few months, but I'm not complaining.  i will take whatever I can get for free! :)

Wins for March 2012:
Another Bacardi Tshirt (ARV $4.99)
$50 Gift card for Triumph Brewery in Philadelphia
Free Sirloin Dinner at Outback (ARV $9.95)
40 bonus coke rewards points
Access to ten (10) Marvel Avengers Classic Digital Comics online. (ARV: $5.00 each)

And a free $50 Visa gift card!
I also received a "REWARD" at work from a co-worker, which was a $10 Panera Bread gift card

March 1, 2012

Well, March 1, 2012 has come and gone. This is my day.  My new year.  My goal setting day.  I hate goals.  Oh yeah, i might have mentioned that once or twice!

the good news is that this date marks 11 years since I have quit smoking. Yay! Now I'm a hypocrite..cuz it stinks and is nasty and blah blah...hubby is trying to quit too.  He hasn't bought a pack in over a month! :) still bumming every once in a while though.

the bad news is that my goal that I set last year started to work out and was great...then failed.  It wasn't a total loss, but the goal I set for myself was not met.  I hate goals....most of all weight loss goals.

the good news is that I am 10 pounds lighter and 1 size smaller since last year at this time...and I am healthier, all around healthier.  I eat healthier, I am more apt to avoid bad stuff (aka junk food)...haven't completely given it up, but Im working on it.

the bad news is I don't exercise enough and I'm not sure why exercising every day or even a few times a week is such a problem for me. 

the good news is that I exercised more (lately, and in the past year) than I have ever done in the past.

the bad news is I didn't lose 50-60 pounds in a year like I wanted too...I did get down to 20 pounds lossed at one point...but I could not maintain, even though some stuff was beyond my control...no matter what the excuses are...FAIL! lol

The GREAT news is that I'm still trying!!!  I keep hitting bumps in the road, but I know in my heart and in my head that I CAN do this.  It is just taking longer than I thought, and I'm not as disciplined as I thought.  I need more practice, and I need to stop being so lazy.

So this March 1, 2012...I have set the same goal as last year...starting over...one more time. 

Good luck to me...
I need to look good in a bathing suit for when I finally win my tropical vacation! ;)

More Wins! :)

Sweepstakes Wins for February 2012

40 Coke Rewards Points (50 = $5 giftcard)
Free Mars Candy Bar Coupon
Free Reeses Candy coupon
$25 Gift Card (E gift card to be used towards any online purchase!) :)
A months worth free bacon (issued in 4 coupons for free bacon!)
$5 Visa gift card (surprise win)
A Bicardi t-shirt (ARV = $4.99)

On the last day of February (LEAP DAY 2/29/12), i received a phone call stating that I won 4 tickets to the Monster Jam monster truck show, these tickets come with meet and greet passes and a pre-show tour. ARV of the four show tickets is $100!  My boys are excited! 
AND then, later that night, I played a text to win game and got a message saying I won...click the link to claim my prize.  The link to me to a "referral" page rather than the claim form...so I am in the process of contacting the company to try to claim my prize.  (the prize is EITHER a family dollar $10 gc, or a $50 gas card or a $97 prize pack (including paper towels, household stuff, cleaners etc.)  I am getting really frustrated with the company, but i cannot give up...especially if it is a gas card!

That makes my total wins for February around $161 + the prize I don't know about yet!!!  That is pretty awesome.  :)

progress-less

I just read my May 2011 post about progress.
Wow.
I realized a few things:
1. I'm glad I wrote that!
2. I need to write stuff like that every day, not every six months!
3. I was doing great in May...and actually did get close to 20 lbs lost...close by the end of June...beginning of July.
(another story to be filled in later of why I failed from July to September-ya know Dr's and meds, boo!)
(by October I was back to where I was in May)
3. I failed over the holiday season (as usual) and had to "get back on the wagon"
4. I am still determined
5. I can do this!
6. I kinda like myself.... LOL (its the awesomeness!) ;)

Damn! I feel better :)

Wins for January 2012

So far January has been an okay month for wins! :)

Coors Light Tshirt (ARV=$8? - surprise win)
$50 Giftcard to Safeway (surprise win)
4 Tickets to the PA Auto show (ARV=$32)
4 free Mars Candy Bar Coupons (ARV=$4)
4 Tickets to a Monster Truck Show in Indiana PA (ARV=$75) -
3 or 4 Free Music downloads :)
1 bottle of Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion (ARV=$5?)

The monster truck show was too far away-3.5 hours-and they didn't notify me ahead of time that I had won, tickets arrived the day before...so I couldn't use them. :( what a bummer!

I know my big win is coming! I can feel it! :) I won't give up, thats for sure!

winner!

Some of the things I have won from entering sweepstakes in 2011...

as of 12/31/11

Shaw Floors R2X floor cleaner

Pink Ipod Shuffle ($49.99 ARV)

Corona Rolling Cooler

Coupon for a 12 Ounce Bottle of Axe Shower Gel

more free music

10 free photo prints from Fujifilm/RiteAid (ARV $1)

Larabar water bottle filled with Larabars

free printable sticker and 5 disney reward points (ARV .10! LOL)

tons of Mt. Dew Double XP time for PS3

coupon for FREE Stouffers Sautes for Two

 

 

Original Post ... as of 10-2-11

Coupon for Free 12 pack of coke

Dispicable Me DVD

Subscription to Better Homes and Gardens (from Avon)

Anew skin care kit ($65 Value from Avon)

Smirnoff Ice tshirt

$5 Subway gift card

$5 Walmart Gift card

$20 Visa prepaid gift card

$10 Live Nation Cash Code

Penn State Gift Basket ($72 Value-incl PSUornament tshirt ballcap, football, pretzels, flashlit)

Cars 2 Movie Pass

$3 off coupon for movie pass

Coupon for Free Axe Product

2 coupons for Free Pantene Product

Coupon for free Skittles product

Coupon for free Snickers (mars) product

Tons of free music downloads...at least $50 (min.) from Emusic

I also won a $30 gas gift card in September for having my insurance papers in on time at work! :)

Easter Fun!

always a character in our group! ;)

Me and Vin are sooo cute...hey!

egg decorating...




Alex's special egg for Vincent! :)

Me and my sister! :) <3

vins first fishing trip :)

We took Vincent on his first fishing trip on Mothers Day. Yes, I hate fishing...but it was Mother's Day and they begged me to go with...so I took my brand new book, Does the Noise in My Head Bother You BY STEVEN TYLER :) and read while they fished...oh and took pix of the fish. I was good for something...definitely not worms, or fish, or .... Frogs? LOL :)


fixing the line...mom's tryin to help! lol



the bullfrog




excited about his fish! dwweeeb! lol

i asked him to smile "nice"

Yeah real nice Alex! thanks!

yay! first fish of the day for mom!

togetherness...

Vins first fish! :) He wouldn't touch it! lol

but he had a blast...and so did I! ;) (just don't tell anyone!)

progress

wow...that last post was so long, even i got bored. ;)

I had some more big goals too...didn't I? I need to stop that shit! lol

middle of may...im down 10 pounds. I have kind of lightened up a little and have been slacking on the exercise (again) but I still do more than I did at the beginning of this year, and in my defense, it HAS been raining a lot. lol Usually, i would do a workout routine at lunch, but lately (past 3 wks) I have been doing more walking than anything. I still take the steps everywhere I go. I just need to keep up what i AM doing and add in some lunch workouts.

I still eat lots and lots of salad...so much that Alex says i'm like a rabbit! lol I need to drink less tea and more water. I definitely have not been eating as much crap. I find that I eat stuff like pretzels, popcorn, and apples w/ peanut butter. Although, we splurged and bought some licorice that was on sale, and i ended up eating almost the whole bag of cherry nibs..in like 2 or 3 days! :( that wss not good. but i havent done anything like that since. not even a candy bar. I'm back to it.

I haven't completely fallen off the wagon, but I haven't completely stayed on.

If I keep it up, I should be down close to 20 pounds by summer. Which would be good cuz then I can return the new bathing suit I bought and really don't like that much...cuz it will be too big! ;)

I am sticking to this. I wont give up. even if I have to read my own stupid long ass posts to remind myself how hard that first month was. I have come a long way. lol

Now if i could just write more? lol

Hello to ME! :)

Hello Me...I'm back! :)

Did ya ever just feel like u have been gone from yourself for a while? or haven't paid enough attention to yourself? or neglected your own needs?
Yeah, that's where I was! But not anymore.
March 1, 2011 was the 10th anniversary of me quitting smoking!
Wow! Awesome job if I must say so myself! LOL When I decided it was time for me to quit, no one thought I could do it. Heck, I didn't even think I could do it! I shocked myself! I had determination on my side. One of my good qualitys ;) (hey, I need to start a list of good qualities!) I was determined to prove I could give something up for good, forever, for my health! No matter what anyone said.
So naysayers I proved you wrong!! :) Yay me!

I didn't come here (yes, I've noticed my long absence too! LOL @ me!!) to brag about my anniversary, even though it is pretty awesome to be able to say I haven't smoked a cigarette in over 10 years! :) I came here to write about my new determination, goal, life change, etc.
Ever since I started writing this blog I have been trying to transform myself. My mind, body, and soul. For the better. I thought writing would help me. I wanted big things from this blog, but now I realize I'm talking to myself (mostly) and I'm okay with that...for now. lol!
One goal at a time...we all know how much I suck at them. Cept when I'm determined.

Yeah I know that no one reading this will really understand unless they truly know me...and my silly ramblings. But I do have a point.

On March 1, 2011 I decided to make changes in my life, for the better. Again, 10 years later...I am finally determined again.
I want to be healthy. I have decided to track what I eat every day, change the way I eat, start exercising regularly, and just over all feel better about myself.
I must say, I was kind of nervous at first...I mean I know all the rules already...i know that I haven't been following them. What makes it so easy now? Why all of a sudden am I going to be able to give up sweet treats and chocolate (my fav love next to ST baby! lol). How am I going to exercise, and not be so lazy. Probably why it has taken me a full month to write about it.

My determination...that's how.

I gained over 50 pounds since I quit smoking.
So far, since March 1, 2011...I have lost 8. eight lousy pounds in one month of torture! (or what seemed like torture at first!)
I'm finally adjusting. I haven't checked inches though, and I did fit in a smaller size, so I'm happy with only 8 pounds. I'm convinced that I have to have some type of muscle conversion thing going on somewhere.

I have been exercising regularly, and on Tuesday (which is weigh in day - it just so happened this is the day March 1 fell on, so it works?), one month since I made my changes, I started taking the steps every where I go! No more elevators!
I work on the 5th floor! :)
108 steps to the top (from 1st floor, 125 from ground floor). Strange enough, I had to go to the NOB today, and climbed up 110 steps to get to the fourth floor. Then back into my building to go up 108!
Yes I count them to distract myself from not being able to breathe! :) I'm getting better though.

I truly do feel better. I know I am going to lose at least 10 pounds in this next month (yeah, that's another goal...even though I suck at them!) and hopefully I can just continue on this path. I'm just gonna keep writing about it too and try to keeps tabs on myself by writing here as well.

I do need to say...I have been learning new things about being healthy since 2007, I tried several times to follow a "diet" plan and actually stick to it. It never worked.
This time, I made the decision to change my life for the better. Again.
I have made up my mind and am determined to get in better shape, lose some weight, and feel better about myself. I have learned some new perspectives in the past few months, and what a better time to prove to myself that I can do this, than on my 10th year-of-not-smoking anniversary, right?

I have been reading some new books, including "Made to Crave" by Lysa Terkearst and "A Course in Weight Loss" by Marianne Williamson. These books are about spiritual learning and weight loss. Nothing like I have ever read before...I am on my second time through Made to Crave, and haven't quite finished the other one yet. (I have to read that one at my computer, I have a Kindle for the PC). They are awesome books that helped give me the final "push" to do this.

My friend told me about the free exercises on Comcast, which I just got, on Exercise TV. I tuned in and watched one day...just watched.
On Monday, when i went to work, I found some free ones from Exercise TV online!
So I have been trying new workouts. I was doing P90X, for a while, then stopped, then started again (the bad cycle of before) and started out at the beginning of this month doing it again. There are just certain things I don't like to do in P90X, therefore, it makes me not want to do it all. (Excuses) so I am looking for a perfect exercise video, or maybe not even perfect, just something I LIKE. so I can continue...every day. Exercise TV gives me FREE (lol) variety to try all kinds of new things. So that helps A LOT. I just started these new ones this week. I think I will keep checking and maybe combine some of them, or do them on and off, while I keep trying different ones.

I have also started a journal basically tracking what I eat each day and what exercise I do as well. We have made dramatic changes in what we eat. I went to the store and bought all fruits, veggies and meat.
If it don't come from the ground, or have a mama, Im not eating it! (for the most part! lol) I learned to stick to the perimeter of the store for groceries...it works! :) No more High Fructose Corn Syrup! No more chocolate, or chips, or fattening cereals. Yes, this is drastic, and I heard lots of complaints (as late as just the other day, after being a month into this!) ...
my new motto is if I do the grocery shopping, then I get to pick what we buy.
If you want bacon, then YOU go to the grocery store. (yes turkey bacon was the latest battle with the boys!) I did allow them to keep the katchup and the grape jelly (which both have HFCS). I haven't completely cut them off, but I did me. I refuse to keep poisoning my body!

I do allow myself a treat once a week, which is usually a McD's Mocha! mmmmm...I love them, and YES I did give them up too! I have faithfully had one each week, with the exception of 1, the week I had chocolate as a treat.

Hey, nobody's perfect!
I am already seeing results. I just need to stick to it! ;)

I heart Rite Aid :)

Check it out! :)

This is what I did last Wednesday...

Paid $1.63 out of pocket!

Actual Value $66.09

This is what I did yesterday...

Paid $0.66 out of pocket!
Actual Value $61.02
Check out those cute boxers...V-day..they say "hot stuff" or something like that...but they were a pair of BOXERS for $2 (originally $7.99) so I snatched em up! lol

And today...I went back for more of the Johnson and Johnson deals. It was great!

My free stuff for today was: 3 boxes J&J Qtips, 2 J&J Baby Shampoos, 1 J&J Baby Wash, 1 Desitin. (lucky for me I know someone who is having a baby soon, so I am prepping for the baby shower gift) ;) I also bought 2 sm bags of Halls and 1 large bag of Halls for $$1.89!

I didn't want to buy them, I had to! :( Alex is sick and we were completely out of medicine can you believe that? So I had to spend money (oh no!) on some cold medicine. I don't keep a great stock pile of medicine because we don't get sick often and it usually expires...but I can guarantee that I will have something on hand from now on. I had to pay $5.49 for Rite Aid Brand Cold/Flu medicine (at least they were buy one get one free), and then I paid $3.99 (with only a $1 off coupon) for the smallest bottle of Tylenol. I can hardly believe that I ran out of Tylenol, of all things! and had to buy it at retail. *sigh*

only for my baby! :)

Lesson learned...stock up, even if it is going to expire...it really don't matter if it's free, right? :)

Winner Winner! Chicken Dinner?

I hate that saying...lol but I am a winner...and it rhymed ;)
I just need to note some of things that I won in 2010...


I just recently started entering sweepstakes (within past year) and I found out that sometimes, it is really worth entering. You can't win if you don't enter is the truth, and afterall, you just have to spend some time entering, not money. So if you win, all the better! You know what I say, nothing better than free stuff! Especially when it's good stuff! :)


One of the biggest prizes I won last year (or ever!) was a Fantasy Football Pack and $250! I was shocked when the check came in the mail, in a box with a bunch of other cool stuff.
but because I never win anything, I examined it thoroughly, thinking "what's the catch?" lol I made sure there was no "non-negotiable" printed on the check or fine print saying "when you sign here, you bascially sign your life away and your soul is ours for eternity or you get our stupid product worth nothing but we will bother you forever and ever"
I must have stared/examined that check for at least a half hour! I couldn't believe it!
Just a letter saying I won, enjoy! a big fat check :) and some bottle openers and can coolers...It was wonderful!! :) It was the best prize I won so far!

Some other things here and there
a stuffed plush whale
tons of BuyOneGetOneFree Sobe coupons (which meant free Sobe when they were on sale!)
6 Coupons for Free Toaster Strudels
Coke Reward Points
Free Music
3 Margarita Balls (woohoo!) lol
free game plays
free pogo membership
free tshirt
a zumba book/cd
A breast cancer awareness back pack filled with notecards, pins, info. etc.

thats off the top of my head...I will add to the list as I remember or think of more stuff.

So far this year, the first thing I have won was a free 12 pack of coke.
I haven't been entering as much because of time constraints, but I try to enter something (at least once) every Saturday

A few things I would like to win ;)
A trip...anywhere really, but to disney would be awesome!
A vehicle
Money...anytime! ;)
An HDTV
an Xbox (for my baby) or Wii (for me) lol
and finally TICKETS!!!

there you have it...you'll be the first to know if anything that awesome happens...off to enter ;)

Fun @ Rite Aid :)

so much for weekly...

I could talk about all this snow...and how I stayed home today and didn't really have to, because everything was cleared by 10am ... and now another storm is coming tonight, but it's not snow ... its ICE!
:( Blech!
OR...

I haven't posted a good deal in a while so I will share today's deal...cuz it's kind of funny too...deal first, then funny part! ;)

I got all this stuff and made a $4 profit at RiteAid :)
$65.44 worth of stuff, retail value ($41.35 sale price)
I used 38.48 in coupons (& rollover UP rewards)
I had $2 UP rewards when I went in.
I paid $3.02 total cash out of my pocket! :)
I walked out with $9 UP Rewards for next time!

Here's the Funny Part:
Hubs and 15 yr old son were with me...
I'm focused on my deals and my coupons...
and am wandering around the store...son is randomly following me around...
follows me right to the condom/K-Y section..and immediately walks away with red cheeks...lol

I proceed to check out the deals...ya know...
right in front of the pharmacy area, where theres a uhm PHARMACIST (not my pharmacist lol) like a foot above you (yes, a raised pharmacist, so they can watch over you when you buy the "fun" stuff haha)

I found some KY brand stuff for 4.99, buy one get one half off - cheapest stuff they had, man this stuff is EXPENSIVE...but i had coupons ;) and could make a profit on the deal, so I grabbed two and put them in the cart.
..and apparentlya little while after that, when I was back to focusing on deals...
hubs and son were having their own little party. Son pointed out what was in my cart, and he was giggling and laughing...and as I went to check out...apparently another customer was at the next register with a "huge" box of condoms (according to my son, who so graciously informed me of this after the fact...in the truck on the way home...thank God!)

Can you imagine what the scene was like?
my kid is laughing his butt off thinking this is one of the greatest, funniest and most embarrissing moment of his life...and dad is cracking jokes cuz he is thinking hes gettin lucky? hahaha....not likely lol :)

During the conversation in the truck I explained to my son that the reason I bought the stuff was because of the profit...
His response was "riiiiiiight!!" *rolls eyes & plugs ears*
LOL ;)

Withdraw Sucks

I need to try to write here daily... HA!
Okay, let's be real! I'm going to try weekly :)

Fortunately for me, I love to talk! I also have lots to talk about. Stuff. Lots of stuff. Some of it good and some of it...not so much. Nonetheless...I need to get all my thoughts down, so that when I'm a hundred years old and I'm reading this blog, I can actually REMEMBER the stuff that happened back when I was a hot, young(er) whipper-snapper. (LOL, nm...I don't want to be a blue haired, drooling 100-year-old!) Let's make that eighty!
And by the time I'm eighty, the "computer" will be obsolete...kinda like eight tracks are now!

So, to the point already!
What was my point? Sheesh, who needs to be 100 yrs old to forget things? ;)

Oh yeah, to talk about stuff...

Like the withdraw I'm dealing with and going through right now :(
No, don't worry! It's not heroin, crack, or even pot or alcohol...
its not cigs or a crazy food obsession (although I could use some chocolate right about now) or any type of sexual fettish (well, not that I'm disclosing here anyways! lol)

It is ...
CONCERT WITHDRAW!! UGH!
I feel like I NEED to be in a front row...I don't care if it's freezing, below 10 degrees, and raining/snowing/icing into an open stadium...I'm up for it!!!!!
but...my pockets aren't! :( *siiiigh*

Someday, when I do a "rant and rave" post about how horrible my financial situation is right now, all will be understood. Till then, let's just leave it as "broke as a joke" and not even funny! We got slammed from mid-November till end of December with bad luck and everything going wrong...Therefore, I haven't a dime to spare for anything...especially not concert tickets - a.k.a. my expensive addiction.

For a while it was okay...cuz there wasn't anyone worth my hard earned pennies to waste a small fortune on...but now, that has all changed.

Again, I *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh*

There are so many bands and such little $dough$...and even my second most favorite band (Buckcherry) is going to be on tour in February! not really NEAR me, but that depends on what is considered "near"! (within 3 hours is NEAR to me...if the band is worth it!) Two shows are "near" me...each one about two hours away and within one week of each other. AND my girlfriend texted me and told me the first one is on a Saturday (which NEVER EVER happens) and they are doing a "girls weekend in Baltimore" for the show.

I will not sigh again. :( I promise.

Now, had I won - er, uhm...I mean...bought a ticket for - that megamillions jackpot the other night (and then won that $355 MILLION) I would be following them all over God's green earth...well, at least until Aerosmith goes back on tour...then, I have to change my path! :)

BUT since I didn't even waste one Stinkin $ on a stupid ticket, I guess I won't be travelling anywhere for the next month or two. Which makes my stupid Winter Blues even worse.

Maybe I can sell something...like the hubby.
He cooks, ya know!
Pfffft...I will have to pay someone to take him.

*leaves to go find some chocolate...or a needle* ;)

Holiday Photos

I have been wanting to have Professional "family" photos done for a while now (meaning all five of us) but timing is always wrong, or someone cant make it...blah blah...

I also always wanted to do photos with just the three of us too. Since this was the first year that "just the three of us" are left at home, we decided to just do it.

Our photographer (Kristen, from Portrait Innovations) told us she has "never had this much fun photographing people" LOL (I'm pretty sure she meant it as a compliment, but it could be because we are all just downright crazy!! :))

I wanted a nice Christmas photo...first and foremost



and I wanted a fun, silly, happy one too...
and Kristen just kind of looked at us funny when we pullled these out...then she just smiled and went with it!! :) :) Favorite...although, I kinda wish I was between the guys, alex looks far away



My silly boy...LOVE this one, not only is he being silly, he's wearing his "I'm up to something" smile...and you just have to love that tie!! ;)



This one turned out great too...I probably like it so much cuz I'm not in it! lol



I was not properly prepared, or I would have had my nails done (duh! didn't even think of it!)
Even so...We look pretty cute together...and happy! :) I think he looks like me??



This is where she made me pretend I like my hubby...seriously! ;)



Another family shot...just okay...


We did have fun doing it and YES, I spent way too much $$$ (or at least more than I budgeted by like $30) but that's okay...I think it was worth it! :)

Hate the Blues

I hate winter. Well, not actually hate it...it's like "the blues" I guess. I hear people say "everyone gets the blues once in a while" but man...this crap has got to end.

therefore...in honor of the winter blues...I'm going to make a list of the things I hate. (real nice way to "return" to the blog huh? lol)

Heres some of the things I hate...in no particular order (at this time)
1. cold
2. stupidity
3. nagging
4. whining
5. short days
6. haters (lol)
7. being broke!
8. rudeness
9. psychos
10. politics
11. golf
12. other stupid sports
13. automated phone systems
14. banks
15. the grocery store
16. distance
17. know-it-alls (a.k.a. snobs or teenagers)
18. running out of toilet paper
19. making hate lists
20. :( (sad faces)
21. thiefs
24. misery
25. winter blues

in the end it is just one vicious hamster wheel...so why even bother "hating" anything.

Peace out

I Rocked Rite Aid! :)

You are never going to believe what I paid for all this stuff!

Kelloggs, Glade, Schick, Crest, Nivea, Clorox, and Pledge oh my!

I bet you couldn't even guess the value, or the cost!
I was pretty excited about this deal...it was a great deal to end a really crappy day! :)
There is $115 worth of stuff here, and I paid only $9 out of my pocket!!!
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!
SCORE! :) :)

Major score because all the Toy Story 3 stuff was on sale for 75% off (school stuff is too! but I don't need any of that!) I stocked up on the TS3 stuff for Vincent for his birthday/xmas in December! :) There is actually $56 of TS3 stuff there! (retail, it was about $15 on clearance)
I think that is an amazing deal...and I'm pretty sure he will too! Even though he's only going to be 4! lol
All my stuff would have probably been free or close to free if it weren't for this clearance stuff. but even at clearance price, I paid less than $15... and that does not even include all the other stuff!

I need to go check out the sale items at the store by work tomorrow...just to see if I can "score" something different or better! lol

Yeah, I rocked rite aid!! ;)

Aerosmith Part 2

Go here for Part 1
http://smsrls24.blogspot.com/2010/09/aerosmith-82810.html

These are not my videos, but I put the links here, because they sort of explains the anticipation...at the start of the show.

This was my view...this girl was right next to me...I was to her left :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mybMVNALlKc

Watch this one closely! see me in my nice new self-upgraded catwalk spot! ;) Woohoo!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM5LBRkw4Rk

Search youtube for more great videos...I just searched Aerosmith 8/28/10 Atlantic City...and I got tons...some better than others and the two links above are two of my favorites. Thanks for sharing whoever you are! :)

Honestly, I don't even think I remember "it's gettin hot in here" playin from the show...I watched the vids and thought to myself...either I was that excited to see the show from my new spot or Im just getting old...either way, Im thankful that there is video to remind me of what happened. It was so much fun! (i might have mentioned that?)

Yes, that was the beginning of an amazing show...to top off an amazing night. :)

*sigh*

How could it not be amazing with this in your face?? :D haha!

oooh la la! ;)

this guy wanted the same pic as me! lol

guitar hero joe!



Tom

Brad

Joey...it's hard to get a good shot of the drummer!

I almost had one of his drumsticks too, but the security guard gave it to another girl..I presume she was cuter than me...hey, I can't win with the looks every time! lol ;)

This was the Setlist:

• Back in the Saddle
• Train kept a rollin
• No More No More
• Love in an Elevator
• Falling in love (is hard on the knees)
• Livin' on the Edge
• What It Takes
• Pink
• Last Child
• Cryin'
• Drum Solo
• Rag Doll
• guitar hero Joe
• Stop Messin'
• I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing
• Come Together
• Sweet Emotion
• Draw the Line

Encore

• Dream On
• Walk this Way

The band rocked! they were definitely on fire! I loved every single second! :) and my new friend Bill was impressed too (as I assured him he would be)!

It is a sad time when the lights go back up because with Aerosmith...they transform you into their world...and it is an awesome place to be...and you don't really want it to end (in my opinion)

but I did manage to capture this shot at the end...I am not sure what Joe Perry was thinking...but whatever! ;)

I'm praying this was not my last show...but in the same sense, I'm just thankful that I got to see them again (after 2 0r 3 cancellations from past tours) even if it was the last time...at least they kicked my ass into next week! :)

I wanna do it again for sure!

Aerosmith 8/28/10

I wanted to write about this while it was fresh in my mind...ya know, like the day after the concert...but of course I didn't...so the details may be a little fuzzy! but I figure a month after the concert wont be so bad in about 40 years from now...right? ;)

Here's the re-cap.

After a three hour drive from our house to Atlantic City...and a bunch of weeks of anticipation...it was finally time!! we were here!! Paid $20 freaking dollars to park at the Trump! and when I tried to take a picture, Hubs looked at me funny, like I was a nut! Hey, ya never know when it's gonna be ur last pic...is what I always say! ;) so it gets blurry, and he's impatient...i give up. I had a chance a at much better shot from the street!

the building next to it is Boardwalk Hall, where the Aerosmith show was...but we were headed to the Trump to see Draw the Line. It was like two for one, Draw the Line is an Aerosmith Tribute band. I actually saw them before for free. And this show was free too. :) the excitement is building...

We showed up around two-ish...and I texted a couple of my friends... another great thing about this night (like what could be great than seeing an Aerosmith Tribute band and then AEROSMITH??) is that A LOT of my friends were going to be here!! It was going to be great!
None of our friends were ready...or around yet...and DTL hadn't shown up yet. I thought the show was supposed to start at 3 at the Trump Beach Bar. we were way early! lol We get to this place, and I immediately feel overdressed in jeans and an Aerosmith t-shirt (yeah, like I have to mention this shirt is BLACK!)

Heck, the waitresses were serving in bathing suits! lol Oh well, sux to be me at 3pm in the afternoon, by the beach in the 90 degree sun...but Im still not complaining!! :) We tried to find seats, but the place was packed...after walking around like 2 times, Hubs decides it's time for a drink. We find a spot (a tiny little hole...lol) by the bar and FINALLY order some drinks. yeah, there goes another twenty...but whose counting?? : / I got a frozen strawberry margarita...it tasted pretty good, in that heat! :) So we walk around like two more times and think we finally spotted a table...walk up to it, the waitress says "you can't sit there, that is reserved...these guys are having a bachelor party" I looked over at the 6 or so guys standing there around ONE table full of empty beer bottles ;) and I either looked really pathetic or really cute (haha) but the one guy looked back and said "no, no, let them sit there! they can sit here!" I said "r u sure?" he said "sure!!" after all, it was just two of us, and they weren't using the table anyways. :) I found out later that they were in town for their bachelor party and for the concert! (now that is def the way to celebrate your last night of freedom!) haha Yay! we have a seat!! right to the left of the stage! :) Damn..that was luck. seemed to be on my side this night! So we ordered some food and hung out.

People watching is kind of fun when your bored (or bein dorks, lol)...and this nice lady comes over and strikes up a conversation about Aerosmith. We hit it off right away and chatted it up...her and her friends found some chairs and sat down.

"Vicki" told me her friend was friends with DTL and they said the band is stuck in traffic. They were late. Oh well...our friends are starting to show up. Plenty of drinks to go around.

John & Joan show up.
(and Trish & Scott - not shown)
Then Linda, Rosie, and Sue show up (my first time meeting Rosie and Sue).
Finally Aimee and her friends show up.

This is getting to be so much fun..saying "hi" and chatting. I saw BethAnn, Lauren, and Lindsey, Kris, Kim, Barb and her daughter, and all these new people!!

the band shows up next! Party is about to begin, but some folks have to head out because they are going to the Aero-prepartys! lucky ducks! :) We had our own pre-party going on though...and the fun is just beginning!! :)



DTL sounded great. We had so much fun. We even got pix with them between sets. I will have to see if I can find the setlist that DTL played that night. Hubs wanted to head over to see Sammy Hagar, but I really wasn't interested...I wanted to hang with the DTL crew! and my friends.
We did end up leaving and making it over to the show for the last two Sammy Hagar songs...I stopped with some friends by the merchandise shop and am VERY proud to say I didn't buy a thing! bob ended up spending $5 for some stickers...against my better judgement...but he gave them to me, so how could I be too mad!

Finally we get inside...I realized where my seats were and I was disappointed. :( We are on the floor, but we are way in the back section of the floor...the stage isn't even close! :(
I say to Bob..."this isn't gonna work for me..."
He just looks at me ... like yeah what r u gonna do about it. We hang there for the last two songs of Sammy, and when the lights come up...we search for friends. Head down the aisle..there we see John and Joan like 3 rows back from the catwalk!! :) stop to chat with them again, till we get kicked out...about 5 mins later...the people come for their seats. We could have gave up and went back to our seats, but I said, "let's just wander down here and see if we see anyone we know" ;) we head down...we r right next to the catwalk and what do you know...it is is an empty row? WHAT? I told bob to act like he belonged there, cuz he was getting all paranoid that security was checking tix in the front. We were hangin out in like row 10...some friends stop by to chat...we hang, then "Bill" shows up.
Bill is my new Aero-friend who had the last seat in our row (the next seat was unclaimed). He asked us if these were our seats, and I had to confess and told him the truth. LOL he seemed cool enough, and boy was I right... HE WAS. He kindly told us if security didnt say anything, we could stay there. :) He didn't mind, after all his ticket was FREE!!! O_O I told him of my ticket dilemma, and he asked me if I was a big fan...I showed him my tattoo and he eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head. He agreed that I was a big fan, and agreed to let me stay in that row!! YAY!!! :) :) :) This was his first show! Of course I bragged up my boys and assured him he wouldn't be disappointed. Here was another new friend, a kind generous man, who couldn't have been nicer to two strangers (you don't find many folks like this guy! unless you're at an Aero show!!) ;) So I was happy with my "self-upgrade" on the catwalk...this works for me!!! so much better! :D

The show is about to begin. the curtain is up! about ready to fall...my band is about to rock my world (do ya feel the anticipation??!! lol) Next thing ya know the guy on the inside of our row looks over and asks if these were our seats...so this time, I lied and I said "yeah why?" (they kinda were mine now LOL) he said "just wondering...Hi, Im Ian!" Hey, I know this guy...his name keeps coming up on my facebook page saying we have lots of friends in common! So I tell him this...we laugh, yes it's him. He told me to fb friend request him. So cool...one more cool friend to add to the list. :) this is turning out to be quite a night, and the band didn't even start yet!! :) but I am sooooo ready. . .

to be continued...