Catholic Animal Lover!

Let it be known beforehand that I suck at video games. I usually do. Although I did beat the Marios in my heyday, lol. But anyway!

Just got done playing Halo 4 on X-Box LIVE with my 2 brothers. They’d wanted Peter to play, but husband had worked 12 hrs, and was beat, so he was off to bed. I’m the only other one here who remotely knows the game, so I was picked. Plus, I was the only other one here who could play.

I personally was a huge fan of Halo 1, and heard 2 wasn’t that hot. I didn’t really see 3 on the normal 1-player mode, of course, but it didn’t seem that bad. The jist of it is like every other game where you battle: grab a gun, run through a level, try not to get killed, kill the other team’s members.

I’m really bad at controlling my gun/speed/view, so I usually didn’t get more than 2 kills before I was murdified a zillion times! But Halo 3 was fun in the aspect of colorful, and good graphics. I really liked being able to run to the side waterfall and hide in the mist–which was working fine for me till my brother shot me from far off land on a jeep-looking-thing!

Which was another fun aspect. In most of the games, all three of us were on the same team (red or blue). But sometimes we just would turn on each other in a silly way–or they would shoot me because instead of picking up a gun, I was just walking into the wall trying to walk to where it was, being totally stupid and lacking any sort of control. So I would swear I was going to hunt them down, and try to do it.

It’s called a betrayal, but we weren’t overly-excessive with it, so it was ok.

On one game, it was 4 teams of two–except at the last second one of my brothers’ team-mate left him high and dry, leaving the X-Box LIVE game, so leaving him stranded to fight alone. I was ironically paired with my youngest brother, who is the best player of all of us, and he told me to just hide and let him shoot, heh.

I really liked the feature–whether from Halo 3 or X-Box LIVE I know not–where we could replay and watch the entire “battle” like a movie, except an interactive one where you could move the camera anywhere you wanted, to any angle. It confused the heck out of me, but my bro used it to show us cool things happening all over the map, with other players, that we wouldn’t have otherwise known.

Of course, none of them were having as much as we were, I can assure you. I think sometimes people take the whole gaming thing waaaay too seriously! If you can’t laugh when someone elbows you off a cliff you didn’t know you were standing on in the game–then you have a problem and should get your funny bone re-adjusted!

I enjoyed playing with my brothers, a rare moment, and laughing so hard, and even perhaps learning to be a bit of a better player (…..riiiight!). I enjoyed Halo 3 cause it’s not all blood and guts, but more stratagy and color and staying alive and control. And I loved playing as Master Chief! YAAAY!

The only downside to X-Box LIVE is if you don’t have it muted, you get to hear all the weirdos that are prone to play using curse words for no reason.Especially the little kid punks who must just think it’s cool cause their parents are asleep or something….

Desperate times call for desperate measures! I’ve begun drawing again, as I’d mentioned. I’ve also started doing some painting–Acrylic is what I decided to start with–and so have begun to be “on a roll”, as it were, with my artistic side. Whether it’s any good remains to be seen!

I’ve started with Acrylics, because I don’t really like the way Watercolors can look, and I’m not skilled enough to dabble in Oils (no way, no how!). Plus, you can buy the little bottles at Walmart for like, $.60, which is good news to those of us struggling!

I also purchased a mess of discount paintbrushes, which are all from China (oh well), and all different sizes/uses. There are even a couple of those small black foam looking things with the wooden handles that you use when you’re painting in your house, and alwaze break, and are good for nothing, heh. But beggers can’t be choosers, and I’ve been enjoying testing out the different brushes and finding what they’re better for.

I was really glad there was a tiny brush, because I wanted to have something workable for detail, till I can buy some good ones.

So, I have carved out a little nook for myself on the dresser that resides in the room hubby and I and Berzerker (cat) reside in. We have no room for anything, but I need a space to work! I’m currently working on several projects, including an 8X10″ canvas, a couple of plaster animals (2 of which you can see in the picture), and my first ACT/ACEO card!! I have an idea what I want to paint, but man is it hard to paint something on a card the size of a baseball card! But it’s a fun challenge, and something new for me to try…

As you can tell from the photo, I also am using cheap palettes, and am not really following any protocol. But it’s art, right? Do I have to?!

The little plaster animals are a bugger to paint with Acrylics, but I realized after the kitten I did came out less than great, that it’s better to go over the whole thing (or as much as one can) with the base color, and work over that. The good thing about Acrylic paint is that it dries really quickly, so you can paint something, then go right into painting something over it.

I am hoping to get used to painting the plaster animals, which I think are adorable, and then perhaps sell some of them–after I coat them with a sealer, of course.

There are a lot of other crafts I want to do as well, but I have to make sure I don’t go all ADD and get distracted. Luckily we don’t have the money right now for me to do anything but little ones, heh. But hopefully down the line, even after the baby, I can get back into some things–like the wreaths I used to make–and can get good enough to maybe sell them at crafting fairs or something.

I really want to focus this year on using as much of my creative talent as I can–even though Peter (hubby) is constantly saying I don’t use my talent enough, lol.

ETA: Ok, I had trouble with the photo–for some reason they’re not showing up full size–only one side of them. So I made it a thumbnail image. Hopefully it shows up ok and there aren’t two of them!! Sorry it’s so tiny..

So my goal is to sometime today/tonight find out the true background story behind St. Valentine’s Day, and why in the world America has a random Catholic holiday?! I mean, at least St. Patty’s Day goes along with all the Irish immigrants, right? So when hubby and I read the Propers for today, I’ll look into it.

Today was the first day for husband’s new job–it’s a 12hr shift that he had to be up by 5:30am for. But the day will end up being really long for him (and brother), because he left at about 6am. He’s gonna be hurting today, I know that much. Not much longer till he gets home, thank God. I miss him, and feel for him; I woke up earlier today, but made myself get back in bed just trying to kill time till I see him again–my heart misses him when he’s gone, even to work. Especially since I know it’s going to be tough day for him.

But he and my brother lucked out with this contract job, and because they wouldn’t work on Sundays–they get tomorrow off, and only have to work a few days a week before 2 or 3 off. It’s a weird schedule, and shift, but beggers can’t be choosers, right? I am thankful for the job, I really am, and am hoping we can save the $ that comes in from it, though I pretty much suck at that aspect of life (oy vey!)!

The tough thing about this job is it’s a temp job, really. The branch they’re working for is normally a swing shift–which hubby can’t work, with me and everything–and doesn’t give Sundays off. So, this job is only guaranteed for about 2 months. Then they may kick them out, or say they have to work swing, which my man won’t. So we’re still looking for a “real” job, and it’s tough.

I know it’s tough on him, and his provider instinct. But he doesn’t realize what an amazing man he is, and how much he does indeed provide for me. No man tries harder, and he has it where it counts–in his heart. We must just accept God’s will for our lives may be to struggle right now *or forever lol*, and we have to learn to trust Him…But man, it’s hard!

Older Sister and her hubby and baby came up today for an overnight stay. I was planning to stay away, but after searching my heart, and praying for strength, I decided against it, and was glad I had. The baby loves her Aunt Audrey, oddly enough (I have a thing, and kids just like me, I swear!), and I am glad to see her and respond to a baby, even if I don’t approve of everything older Sis does with her fam.

But it’s alwaze been like that; we’ve never gotten along too well (except when maybe we were little kids), and have never been on the same track of life–we do so many things opposite, and rarely approve of what the other does. Plus, given the lack of God-factor, it’s tough to connect with her. But I connect with the little one, and that’s what matters to me.

I am trying to be a good Aunt, so when the little baby is older, she doesn’t only remember raging showdowns between her mother and me, but rather a good Catholic Aunt that loves her. It’s an area where I can be a witness, of some sort.

So, it IS indeed St. Valentine’s Day today, which is of course a highly commercialized holiday, and one which I really don’t enjoy, because of that aspect. I hate the concept of a specific day when you’re supposed  to give your loved one/s gifts/flowers/candy, etc. That’s one of the things I love about my Man–he’s amazing, and will buy me something special and heartfelt when I don’t expect it, thereby making the gift so much more special. Expecting stuff on Valentine’s Day is obnoxious!

But, silly man that he is, he got me some kind of secret gift!!! The rat! I love him so much, heh. I guess Mom and little siblings knew about the gift, which was something he ordered and arrived with his name on it. Mom had the box in her room, and I only found out last night when Little Sister found a package with my name on it, and I wanted to see if it was the ATC cards I ordered to paint. She didn’t want me to open the package,and told me why. So I let her open it, and sure enough it was what I ordered from Artfire.com.

But I guess husband’s gift arrived today and was in Mom’s room hidden, till Dad brought it out, asking what it was. Mom tried to stop me from getting it, but BWAHAHAHAHA! I really want to open it, but heh, I’ll wait till Hubby gets home, so he can give it. He’s so cute, really. I have no idea what it is, though it feels  like a VHS or a book or something. I have no idea…

Excited! Surprises are fun–even if it is St. Valentine’s Day, and I don’t normally enjoy that concept, heh!

More on the ATCs later…I’m really trying to get my creative level up; got a couple more plaster animals–turtle and a dinosaur–to paint and hopefully sell. I want eventually to get some classes on painting so I can be worth a dang, but for now I’ll have to practice with my own brain!

Ok, so I FINALLY read a thread about the update Today.com is doing on their blogs, and finally realized that while they seem to have gotten rid of the themed blog templates, they made the bland normal one a color-coded scheme, so you can make it your own.

It’s not that bad, really. I have updated this blog, as you can tell (if anyone reads this), as well as MY OTHER BLOG , changing all the colors, so they’re not so bland. I like colors, and love to change them, so expect that with my blogs!

I have a bunch of stuff I’d like to blog about concerning life, methinks, but I’ll wait till later. This was just to inform everyone that I’m ok with the new Today.com blog scheme! The world will go on…

First and foremost–for a while I’ve been trying to look at new “looks & feels” for this Today.com blog, only to find that all the themes I was given the option to view/pick when I started my blog–are gone. Not only that-!!!–but the them I HAD picked is also gone, thereby making my blog plain and boring and running with basically no theme *the today.com theme*! Uh..did my background/theme have a time limit or something I didn’t know about? Was there a memo I missed? As far as I can tell, none of the other people on my blogroll are having this problem.

I haven’t checked my other blog on today.com– Entertainment To Me — But I’m figuring the same thing is happening, as I know the themes have also been vanishing for an option from that blog as well. What’s up, Today.com? Anyone else struggling with this? I didn’t like the theme I’d chosen for this blog, but am fine with the one I have for my other blog. But either way, I apparently can’t change either! So needless to say, this is annoying me to no end…

Also, how come I can’t delete the “Uncategorized” category in my list?! That’s so stupiud. Why would I put a blog under no category? Uggg. Some things…

Sisterly Connection–

On a lighter note, I’ve been learning some things whilst we’ve been stuck in this house. Hubby and I are besides ourselves to leave, and it’s ridiculous. But I really have been being brought closer to my fam, and have been enjoying the time I get to spend with my 4 youngest siblings (and the next 2 up even), who are still here at home.

Little Sis and I have ended up spending some time nearly every night together–whether by pupose, or accident. But the laughs have been a comfort I long have needed.

It brings back the memories I have of her and me. We’ve alwaze been close–even though there is a 10yr gap between us. She’ll be 17 in a couple of days–can you belive?! Wow. I’m old…..teehee..

Annnyway. Older Sis and I have never been close, and have never been a team. But I bonded with the little one ever since she was born. My fondest memory of her young is that I am the one who single handedly (I swear!) taught her her colors as soon as she could learn them, using little books and colored pencils and markers! I was (and obviously still am, heh) so proud of that when she first started to learn and we bonded that way, and I was able to help her.

And ever since, it’s rare that we don’t get along. When I first got here, there was a chance I could’ve screwed up my relationship with her, but I saw that soon enough, and now we’re back on track.

On the 9th, I introduced her to Whose Line Is It Anyway clips on YouTube. None of my younger siblings have ever seen Whose Line, and I think Little Sis and I watched clips for about almost 2hrs! We were laughing so hard, and cracking up over jokes and even inside jokes of our own. It was great fun!

Then last night (cause it’s almost 1am on the 11th), we set up to watch Harry Potter 1, since she’s been wanting to watch them all again. She fell asleep, so I stopped it so we could finish next time.

Just like we share the same allergic reaction to nickel–we share a lot of the same traits and interests, though she is–thank God–very different from me.

I truly love her so much, and she makes my time here much more bearable.

It’s almost 5am, and I really shouldn’t still be awake. But I am, sadly. I’ve been sleeping badly as it is, but last night, husband and I decided to watch a movie with 2 of my bros–a 2 1/2 hr movie–and whilst watching it, I drank a giant mug of coffee, which was ridiculous. And I know it’s a Saturday night (i.e., Sun. morning now!)! But I wanted some of that great Irish Creme creamer before it was all gone, so the only way to have some was to have coffee, right?!

Anyway, I don’t know what will happen about Mass in the morning. But with everything going on, I wanted to write right now, so here I be.

With all the stress, and depression, and slight bitterness clouding my heart these past few days–not to mention the pains in my stomach and obnoxious baby (!! Like Mother like baby)–something had been tugging at my heart for a while to do, and I have, in not doing it, been struggling to cope, methinks.

I had a divine sort of commission, if you will, at Christmas of ‘07. It was unmistakable, and unexplainable. And yet, I’ve mulled over what I was told to do till just tonight, when I finally started (or rather, this early morn). I’m not quite sure it was something for anyone else but myself to see or hear of, but I am extremely excited to have finally started what I was shown to do, and feel a great peace right now.

It all has to do with my creative side, and all the artwork I’ve been wanting to start on again, for about 4 months. I’m so glad I finally started! We shall see what happens. But methinks I’ve already got an idea for my first painting job (!!)–though I’m not any good at painting, so have no idea how that will turn out. But I think if I see it, I can create it, if it’s something asked of me, right? I’m so restless, and peace is something I need in major spades right now.

I know this doesn’t make much sense to those reading, but if you feel a tug at your heart–especially if Our Lady is involved–do yourself a favor–stop fighting it. Pray. Ask for guidance. And stop hiding in fear. That’s what I think I’m learning to do. I want to leave a legacy of bravery and obedience for my child/children, and God knows I’m not very good at the latter, or the former, I don’t think.

I’m going to go post in my other blog now (in case you want to read it–it’s here on Today.com — LINK! ), but Mom said that she has a scanner, so hopefully I can start showing off some of my artwork if I feel the need, soon!

May our Lady guide and continue to pray for us. And may I learn to sleep…oy…!

So I spent most of the early afternoon trying to get an appointment with an OB/GYN Dr. Anywhere! Grr. Frustrating.

First, I had to call the clinic I’d gone to, to make sure they’d faxed my Ultrasound information over to our assistance caseworker, for the proof of pregnancy/due date. The girl at the clinic said she already had, but would do it again…When we called the caseworker, she’d not recieved either copy. Grrr…

Then I tried several Dr.s/Clinics to see if I could get in to be seen by and OB/GYN for the baby and check up, but no one seems to be able to get me in before the end of March! By then I’ll be about 6 1/2 months! Which is waaay too long. I probably should’ve been to one already, but oh well. Everything’s taking forever.

So I tried the Mothers-To-Be clinic, which finally scheduled me for an interview (??!)–which they said will take about 2hrs!–on the 17th of Feb., and I guess that’s the earliest I have found so far. So we’ll see what happens. I may just be stuck with them. But it’s tough.

The Baby is breached, and according to the woman at the clinic, I’m a high-risk pregnancy for several reasons–it being my first, my thyroid, and etc. She wouldn’t tell me what else over the phone. GRRR! So on Sunday, we’re just going into the clinic after Mass, and finding out what’s up.

We have to get a couple of copies of the proof of pregnancy/due date for the Mothers-To-Be as well as our caseworker (since the faxed version had never showed up), so hopefully we can at least get that cleared up.

Man, this is such a pain. And I need to get this Baby checked!! GRRRRRR!!

Heya. So it’s been a crazy weekend, and it seems soo far away! Alas, it’s only Monday, the 2nd of Feb, so I guess it wasn’t all that long ago that Friday happened, eh?

Friday was my Ultrasound. I was so psyched to be heading towards finding out what gender of child I was having! But I was NOT psyched about all the water I was supposed to drink beforehand–I mean c’mon people! I had spoken to one of my best friends about the situation (she’s pregnant at the same stage as me, and had hers not too long ago), and she told me about how I was supposed to not go to the bathroom and start drinking the 4 glasses of water an hour before my appt.

They had told me 5 glasses. That’s 40 oz, people. That’s more than a half gallon of water! Which is fine if you’re drinking it througout the day. But to drink that much when you’re pregnant, and keep it all in-especially when you already have a miniture bladder (ok, I don’t, but it feels like I do most times!)–is craziness.

Needless to say, that totally wasn’t happening. I ended up having to stop not once, but 3 times before my appointment for a bathroom break, as well as trying to drink the last of my little half-gallon too fast, and throwing it all up within 20 seconds of finishing! It was ridiculous… People can’t actually complete that task!

So anyway. We arrived at the hospital, on the wrong floor, and having no idea where we needed to be. Because of all my stopping, we were about half an hr late, so the whole thing almost couldn’t happen. But they were nice enough to direct us, and quickly help me register.

When I finally went in for the thing, I was just waiting to find out what I was having, the rest didn’t bother me.

After a few pictures (and by a few I mean like 35), the woman told me I could go empty my bladder (again!!), because I had to pee so bad my leg was shaking and I wasn’t holding still (couldn’t help it!). So I did, having to wipe off all that goopy gel they cover you belly with (gross stuff. It doesn’t wipe off, it just gets all over you and your towel and makes a mess), and then start again.

I swear, they took about 90 photos! We were there an hour or more. Because I already have pains in my belly, the ultrasound wand pressing all over really hard hurt like crazy. I didn’t enjoy it at all. Not only that, but most of the pictures on the screen looked like I alwaze imagine ultrasound photos to look—like grey and black masses of nothing, or wose–alien-like!

It was AMAZING, though, to hear the babies heart beat! It sounds like a submarine moving through the ocean, heh. I got to see its little hands and legs, and brain. It waved at us! It was awesome.

But apparently my baby has a fat butt, lol. It sat the whole time with its legs too close together to see what the gender was!! GRRR….I was so dissapointed. Not only that, but the nurse chose which photos to give us–3, in fact. All “profile” pictures, and only 1 of which I’m sure is a baby…The others I’m convinced are either apes or birds. They’re terrible! But then again, I didn’t expect much–I hate ultrasound pictures, heh. People alwaze show them online and such, and I’m alwaze holding back saying “what is it?”.

And I am no different with my own, so don’t worry, lol, I’m not biased! I dont’ think I could be with an ultrasound photo. What’s mostly ridiculous is that there were much better shots in the midst of those 90 photos. But she chose to give us the ugly profile pictures. I would’ve preferred one profile, and some of the others. Like the hand! Or that shot from the top of the baby’s head and face and arms and hands and legs scrunched up….grrr..Silly nurse.

Well, anyway. So yeah. Hopefully I can get another scheduled, because I really want to know what we’re having!!! But all seemed well otherwise. The baby is almost 22 weeks, and big and cute.

Ironically–when I got home, I felt dehydrated, and spent the whole evening drinking water like it was going out of style!

SSPX Parish in Pittston

Saturday nigh, after watching “16 Blocks” with brother and hubby, I ended up not getting to bed till around 3am. Then I woke up at about 5:30am for a bathroom break, only I couldn’t get back to bed…ARGH! I hate this new “hi-I-can’t-sleep-or-get-comfortable-” routine at night!

So when the 8-something alarm went off, I was nearly crying, after having watched the stupid red numbers on the alarm clock all early morning, trying to sleep–cause I knew husband would be disappointed in not being able to get to morning Mass. And I was too! After all the times I stupidly missed it, now I want to be there whenever I can, but I was never going to make it driving the whole way, not eating, on no sleep.

But hubby wasn’t angry, and said maybe we could go to the 4:30 Mass in Pittston at the SSPX Church. I never thought my parents would let us, but I asked Mom anyway. She said yes!

Hubby helped me fall asleep by rubbing my back (husbands rock!!), and then we woke later to go to Pittston.

The little parish was ugly looking outside, kind of plain inside, had zero heat (I’m convinced), and had a low Mass. But it was the Traditional Latin Mass, and it was said at a good parish, so it was safe.

The humorous thing was the priest. There were only about 10 people there, and they were mostly all old, except the priest, who was younger, and totally French! You couldn’t really tell when he was saying Mass, but when he got to the parts where he read the Epistle/Gosple in English, and said the homily, I almost burst out laughing.

French accents alwaze make me laugh, but it was ridiculous, because I couldn’t understand half the stuff he was saying, and every time he’d try to correct himself of a mis-pronounciation, he’d get it wrong in the end!

Unfortunately for us, the sermon consisted of a long praise of the ex-communication being lifted of the SSPX–which of course the priest kept insisting was NOT an excommunication–and little else relating to spiritual life. But I kind of understand. The excommunication of the Society of St.Pius 10th was just recently lifted by Pope Benedict , and it’s cause for rejoicing to traditional Catholics everywhere, or so it should be! The Church needs all the good people it can get, eh?!

Anyway. The priest was cute, though, and made all kinds of jokes. Everyone at the parish seemed nice, and they invited us for Lasagna afterwards. We couldn’t stay, because we had to get back to go to the Superbowl party at my parents’ church *we were just going for the food*, and meet Mom there…But I’m glad we got to see the parish in Pittston, and it’s good to know there’s a Society parish we can go to if ever we miss morning Mass.

Although, they normally have Mass at 10am, except for choice weeks in the month, when the priest says it randomly at 4:30pm!