Daily Happenings

So, its been a few days since my last post, but things around here are hectic. This Mississippi heat is sucking all my energy, and the dang humidity is weighing me down like a sinking rock. This stinkin heat is a relationship wrecker, let me tell ya. Hubs and I have been arguing a lot lately and I'm blaming the fireworks season. The stress of managing a mega-tent and 100+ temperatures must be to blame. Luckily there is only about a week left and we're home free.
I have to tell you I'm so excited about July and August! July has 3 pay days and that in itself is enough to make me jump for joy! But I am really looking forward to my August trip to Houston to visit my parents! It is so much fun to hang out with them and my 2 youngest sisters that still live at home! My middle sister is going to make the trip with us as well, and that is extra fun, because she has spent almost the entire summer with me. I'm not sure how the new baby will like a long drive, but I guess we'll find out. Since my trip will be after my big fireworks payday maybe I'll do some shopping while in Texas... LOL, probably not.
I've recently conquered some new truths, so here you go:
Just because you love someone does not make them perfect. Children are like mirrors, if you don't like the way they act, examine yourself. Some people are capable of taking you completely off guard, don't underestimate anyone. Your parents will always parent you, regardless of how old you are. Take time to enjoy it, they don't live forever.

Christina, Chrystina

So I had this best friend in middle school, and her name was Christina. We were insepreable from 6th grade to 10th. She had the best outlook on life and was truely fun to be around. About 10th grade we had a difference of opinions on moral values, and had a falling out. We worked at the same fast food joint, but didn't hardly speak there, much less at school. It was a tense, uncomfortable situation that pretty much left me feeling almost hollow. Then for some reason, the summer after our junior year, she decided to be friendly again. Christina always said the craziest things, like " Girl I was so nervous I was sweating like a whore in church" and really insane stuff, like the fact she didn't see a future for herself. She was convinced she would die before she was 20.
 She was so funny, beautiful and always the center of attention. I was so happy to be hanging out with her again. We spent a whole saturday at a waterpark together laughing and having a great time. Then we went to work and it was just like the good old days. That saturday, June 4th, 2004, was the last time I saw my best friend. She had plans to drive down to the gulf coast early the next week to have some car repairs done. She never made it home. She and her mother were both killed in a car accident on their way home from the coast. Funny how fate treats us, huh?
Two years later I was pregnant with my first daughter. What to name this child? I racked my brain of all the family names I liked, all the friends names I liked, I bought the baby name books, everything. But my heart knew. Somewhere deep inside I could not let go of the name Chrystina Grace. Perfect. When she was born I looked in her eyes, and they agreed. Chrystina Grace it was. As my beautiful daughter grows, I can tell I made the right decision. She says the funniest things, sings every song she knows at the top of her lungs, she has deep green eyes you could get lost in (as did my dear friend), and she has a happy, upbeat, light hearted attitude that makes you smile. I hope she goes through life loving her name and loving what it means to me. Today's truth: Love loudly, today may be the last tomorrow.

Explosives

I am a fireworks manager. I run a big tent that is the SUPERCENTER of fireworks. We sell everything there is. Lots of manual labor, lots of downtime, and *hopefully* a fair amount of cash. Not that I can keep the cash, I get a 15% comission. An endless bundle of sunburn, blistered hands, sweat, blood and bruises fill my days during the June-July season. All the crap proceeds the wonderful Main Day. You know, the 4th of July. We celebrate our independance by selling explosives to those of you who have the money to blow stuff up in your backyard. Funny thing is, I would never buy fireworks if I didn't manage a tent. I'm really not that fond of them, and neither is my oldest daughter. But I love the fireworks season! I hire whoever I can, which usually means my sisters and my closest friends end up sitting around laughing, joking, and catching up while waiting patiently for the customers to come to us. We run radio ads and use social networking to let everyone know we're open, but we still have hardly any customers during the beginning and a million on the 4th. I had a c-section 5 weeks ago yet I find myself hauling boxes that weigh more than I do, fixing electrical work, fussing with security systems, using the drill to put together register stands and asking myself WHY? Have I lost my mind?! Its 102 degrees in the shade for heaven's sake!! I haven't seen my children in 2 days for this!! I haven't had a home cooked meal, and won't have a home cooked meal for 2 more weeks!! WHY WHY WHY!!?!? Oh, thats right.. because when you're poor you do whatever you have to. This little seasonal work dropped in my lap and provides 1/3 of my yearly income. That and the gun powder must be laced with something because I find myself drawn toward the sale of fireworks. Something about it seems so wonderful. The whole season I complain and say how much I don't like it, but I'm sad to see it go and ecstatic when its that time again. So, the truth today is..... I'm hopelessly addicted to the sale of fireworks.

THIS is how we roll... back in 2009 anyway...

So this is me, being sneak attacked by a toddler with my camera. Gotta love those munchkins.

The Truth

So, TRUTH. What a powerful word. The truth is I'm a loving wife, devoted mother of two, and we are poor. The truth is my husband works his ass off for next to nothing. The truth is I have a very loving, large, loud, Catholic (immediate) family spread all over the south. The truth is I didn't finish college, instead I decided to get married and have babies. The truth is, I wish I had the time and money to finish college, so we could have more money and a better life. Money may not fix everything, but being able to pay bills on time and have something left over sure would be nice. The truth is I'm tired. Chasing babies, running errands and cleaning house is seriously enough to wear a person out. Tired of running around like a chicken with my head cut off to make everyone else happy. The truth is I'm a people pleaser, so I will ALWAYS go out of my way for others, and if there was no one to make happy I wouldn't be happy.The truth is I am sorta happy. Happy for the ability to have children, happy my husband thinks the earth revolves around our family alone. Happy to have a few friends that I can talk to. Happy I have finally realized my personal life is, in fact, personal and I don't have to share everything with everyone.
But thats enough for now, here are a few "truths": The milk will always be empty or sour the second you need it. Toddlers will always say or do exactly what you told them not to do, because it MUST be fun. Little girl children are born with attitude, and boy children are born with energy. Just because a woman is a mother does not make her an idiot. Teenage pregnancy has gotten out of hand. Gas prices are crazy, but serious job security for my father. Idiots are everywhere, and they are job security for my husband. The southern part of our great country is the most beautiful place ever. Driving through the Rocky Mountains is stressful enough to make you crap your pants. Being poor is a vicious cycle, passed down from generation to generation. The parenting skills of Americans seem to be dwindling. The public school system in this country is enough to scare me. The word "drama" has taken on the worst meaning in the past decade, some people will go out of their way to start crap just so they have something to talk about later. Children see things in the most truthful light, and we should listen to what they think.
That is all for now, Good morning everyone!