Back again. Thought I'd add a picture of the family cemetery. I forgot I had this. 
I'd like to go there one day and see if I can get some pictures and maybe some stone rubbings. I have to contact the distant family member that takes care of the place and set something up with her. Not that I would need permission, but it would probably be best so she knows who it is that's poking around the place. Besides I'd need directions to get there anyway.
Before I go, to answer Sunny's question... Yes, I did get my coffee tonight. LOL I went up there a little earlier and one of the regulars was working. I told him how upset I was that I almost didn't get my coffee. He told me how sorry he was to hear that and gave me a few more freebie cards. But I found out they have been closing it early depending on who's working because they were robbed a while back. So I can understand that. But don't mess with a girl's coffee!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Back again
St. Patty's Day
Happy St. Patrick's Day! I know the day is nearly over, but I'm still in the Irish Mood. I thought I'd share a little family history today. I have a bit of Irish in me on my biological father's side. I have traced my family roots on this side of my family way back to the mid 1700's. Haven't been so lucky with my mom or stepfather's family. But I'm still working on it. Ancestry takes a long time though. I've been researching for about 10 years now. Anyway, on to the history.
My g-g-g-g-grandfather, Peter, was born in Ireland in 1743. He came over to America from England in the early 1760's. He married his wife, Margaret, in Poughkeepsie NY in 1766. Margaret's family was German, possibly from Prussia, and they possibly first settled in the States, in Maryland, around 1672-1679.
Peter and Margaret moved and settled in Washington Township, Fayette County, PA and had many children, about a dozen. Peter died February 15, 1813. Margaret was still living when Peter died, and I've not been able to find her date of death.
Peter formed a church and held services on his property. Next to the church was the family cemetery. Last I heard from a distant relative both are still standing today. This distant relative's family now "own" both the church building and cemetery, and she takes care of the cemetary. Many babies are buried there from what I have been told. Peter is also buried there. Margaret may be buried there. I have a copy of Peter's last will and testament. He was pretty well off when he died. He left 1.00 and property to each of his children and left money and property to his wife.
My g-g-g-grandfather, Levi, was born September 24, 1784. His wife, Sarah, was born April 17, 1786. They married in Fayette County about 1801. Sarah's family was from Wales. Levi died December 18, 1867. Sarah died February 4, 1864. Both are buried in the family cemetery.
They had a large family also, 12 children. My g-g-grandfather, Israel, was the second youngest of the 12. He was born about 1827. His first wife, Lucinda, was born July 31, 1821. They had 2 children together, one of which was my g-grandfather, Ira. Lucinda died August 6, 1875.
Israel married his second wife, Sarah, in 1878 (she was a year younger than his youngest son, my g-grandfather) and had two more children with her. Sarah was born around 1856 and died around 1893. She is buried in the family cemetery. Israel died around 1898. (Poor guy, buried two wives before he kicked the bucket)
My g-grandfather, Ira, was born about 1855 and married in 1891. His wife, Maude, was of Scottish descent. They had 7 children. I have no date as to when Ira died, but Maude died March 22, 1973. I have vague memories of her from when I was a small child. I don't have any memories of Ira. Neither are buried in the family cemetery.
Which brings us to my grandmother. She was the eldest of Ira and Maude's children. Grannie was born September 10, 1913 and died right before Christmas in 1983. My grandfather's name was Joe. He was Slovak. He was born August 20, 1911 and died in May of 1975. They had 6 children, one of which is my biological father. Not much to talk about as far as he goes. Well, there is, but I want this entry to be a positive one so I won't go there.
Have a great evening and a wonderful tomorrow!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Just a random entry
Isn't that the truth though? I just came back from the BP station near my house. I go there every night for a Double Mocha Cappuccino. Usually I get them free depending on who's working. Or I use one of the many freebie cards that a couple of the employees give me constantly. But tonight it's a new employee and he had the door locked already. They usually don't lock it until 11pm or so. So there's a line and I have to wait, which I hate to do in the cold. THEN he tells me no coffee when the door is locked! What?? No, see I get a coffee every night, it's what I do. So don't tell me no coffee. His reason... "well if I put it in the bin under the window you might burn yourself and blame me." I said "listen, I can burn myself in there and blame you and then go postal on your ass, be happy I'm on the other side of a bullet proof window. Now I WANT my coffee please." So I got it, but the jerk charged me for it and he didn't even fill it all the way. Ughh! So see, the little graphic is correct. Because he caused me mental anxiety. And if I didn't get my coffee I would have had a mental breakdown. Men!
All in all today was a pretty good day other than the coffee episode. My daughter managed to catch up on a lot of her work. We'll still have to do a few things tomorrow which stinks. I hate doing anything on Sunday because for one it's NASCAR day and for two I just don't want to do anything. But she still has 5 assignments that need to be submitted by midnight tomorrow so I guess I have no choice.
Before I forget I want to thank those that have stopped by my journal and left me comments. I haven't even been here 48 hours yet so that was a nice surprise. I'll be sure to stop by your journals when I'm done with my entry.
I spent the better part of the evening fixing up my journal. Can you tell I am addicted to blinkies? Does it show? LOL It took me forever to figure out how to get images into the side bar. And then my counter was just a little box with that annoying red x inside. So I disabled the AOL counter and found a free counter site. Seems to be working I guess.
Well I think I'll wrap this entry up and poke around some other journals for a while. Have a good night!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Another aggravating day
So it's just after 10pm here and my daughter has put in about 1
hour, if that, of school work. And the youngest boy has only put in about an
hour. This is becoming a common event here. I'm really getting tired of it
because here I am sacrificing my time, not to mention my sanity, and it's a
constant struggle lately.
Of course there is a reason for their lackadaisical attitudes. The oldest, my
stepson, has been like this for over a year with his school work. I have tried,
more than any one person should even have to bother, with that one to get him
straightened out. For ten long years! The problem is his mother is a horrible parent and has
absolutely no parenting skills. Well, she does have some because she uses them
with her other two children. But even then it's not much. Then there is his
father, my husband, who is also a poor excuse for a parent. But that’s another
story and I’ll save that for a different entry.
So… now the other two think if he doesn’t have to be serious about schoolwork why should they. And it’s just really getting to be too much more than I can handle. I try to nip it in the bud and put my foot down. I’m then told I’m being extremely unfair to him and look for reasons to get on his case. Like I have time to be that petty. Hello? I’m too damn busy fighting with the other two!
I’ve been thinking more and more lately that the only alternative
is to pack up and move on, take my son and our daughter out of this
environment, and start over. Because I simply cannot raise kids with this man.
His idea of parenting and mine are two different things. And I’m not usually
one to say I’m a better parent than another parent. Because kids don’t come
with guides and everyone does things differently. So if it works for you then
that’s great. But his parenting style doesn’t work! So when it comes down to it
between him and I… I can honestly say that I certainly am a better parent.
My oldest finished school on time, has a wonderful career
with plenty of room for advancement, and has held the job for a year. My
youngest boy is just barely 16 and will graduate shortly after he turns 17.
Both my boys couldn’t wait to get their first jobs at 16 ortheir temporary
permits. Not my stepson. Nope! I had to force him to get out and find a job this past
summer or he still wouldn’t have one. He still doesn’t have his temporary
permit. No interest at all I guess. What boy doesn't have an interest in driving?
So I don’t know what to do. I can’t keep doing this though, I know that. I’m worried about my daughter and how she will grow up. Already she wants to play games all day instead of school work. I put a stop to it and put my foot down and can get a few hours out of her most times. But then my husband will encourage her to play video games with them and that’s when I lose her interest. I don’t want his parenting style to turn her into a lazy unmotivated young adult like my stepson has become. And I can't talk to him about it because he doesn't listen. Or when he does he just totally ignores my feelings and calls me unreasonable.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
A little about me...
A little about me... I'm a married 40 year old mother of four from Ohio. I'm a SAHM and I home school my kids whose ages are 9-1/2, 16-1/2, and 18. My 20 year old was home schooled in his last year of high school and is now out on his own. We have a dog, a cat, and 2 rabbits, and whatever else might wander in from time to time.
I don't always find my life to be rewarding and my marriage isn't a happy one. It used to be, or maybe I just thought it was. I spend too much time doing for others and not nearly enough time doing anything for me. I've gained weight gradually over the last 5 years that I need to take off. So I'm working on that right now. I quit smoking recently but that seemed to be contributing to my weight so I started again. I'm trying to quit again.
I'd like to get my life straightened out and get back to work. Right now it's hard with the homeschooling. My daughter, who is the youngest, is not motivated enough to work alone if I was working. But I miss working and can't wait to get back to work. I have a college education and a degree that I'm not even using right now. ::sigh:: But I made the commitment to home school them, so I have to stick it out at the moment. Unfortunately my husband is no help in that area. Or any area really. But that's a topic I'll save for another time.
By this time next year I'd like to be back to work, about 40 pounds lighter, and no longer smoking. I was doing the South Beach Diet a few years ago and did really well on it. But then I lost my motivation, went through a depression, and just gave up. I'm going to start the diet again and stick to it this time. If anyone else is trying to diet, this diet or any other, and wants a diet buddy feel free to leave a comment. Likewise if anyone is trying to stop smoking and wants a quit buddy I'd love to have one!
