Demi, Ellen, financial aid and too much alcohol?

Last night was a nice break. My best friend invited me to the mountains, where she is now living. If that brings to mind images of neanderthal man or big foot- let me clear the air. She, being a fellow single mother, of four boys is living in a small mountain town in her parents basement apartment. 

One of our many reservoirs in the area was holding a celebration of sorts which happens to fit smack-dab in the middle of both out nations independence day anniversary and our states discovery- by the pioneers. There was to be a picnic in the park, live music and fireworks. Because the mountains are approximately 10 degrees cooler than the valley, and it has been sweltering here, I took her up on the invitation.

We didn't take any food, I ate before I left- budget constraints. We packed a cooler full of beer she had on hand- also cheap and available. It would sure help the cool-down factor. We threw in some chairs and blankets and headed for the hills/lake. Neither of us are big drinkers- one or two beers, glasses of wine or cocktails and we are happy- and done. So we took four. 

It was a good time. Not much to report. Music, chatter with a good friend, and then the finally with the fireworks. Most people were there in family groups so it was certainly not a location for meeting anyone. 

But- here is where the story gets a little weird.

I climbed into bed at about 1am. The alcohol helping me to slip into slumber. And I awoke around 7am. 

Now, I rarely have dreams and if I am dreaming, it is rare that I remember them much longer than a few minutes upon waking. But this morning, I remembered clearly. 

My dream began with my standing in line at the unemployment office (which with the invent of the internet I have never had to do). I was explaining my situation and in return getting grief as to why I was not working when I have a college degree. Words such as lazy and no good were used excessively. 

My face was turning red, I am still not sure if it was from shame or anger. And in walked Demi Moore- yes, Demi Moore. She had on a pair of coveralls and her hair pulled up into a beige baseball style hat. I did not recognize her at first. 

She snagged my by the crook in my arm, as I have not been pulled since grade school and pulled me out the door and down the street into a very fancy office. The office was very modern and clean and empty. She asked me to wait there and that was when I recognized her. Who could mistake that velvet voice? 

I was alone- waiting. It was then that my parents appeared. Not saying a word. Just sitting near me and smiling. And I didn't say anything to them. Next came my kids, same scenario. 

I knew the look on my older daughters face, she never could keep a secret and that is what her face was saying now. But she didn't speak. From somewhere below, I could hear many voices. Almost like an audience. Clapping and one person speaking. Letterman? No- a woman's voice.

And then a woman with a clipboard came into the room. She took my children and ushered them down a tall staircase more resembling a ladder than stairs. Where were they going? More applause.

After a few minutes- my parents descended. Applause once again. 

I waited, getting nervous... is this the day of reckoning? Have I done all I could have? Was it punishment for not being able to take care of my family to the best of my ability?

And then he appeared. A man much taller than I. By at least a foot. Blonde hair hanging over his eyes. He spoke softly. Telling me not to be nervous. Telling me that this will be over soon. Ashton?

I look down at my hands wringing in my lap and discover that I am still in my ratty cut-off shorts and dirty T-shirt I mowed the yard in this morning. Should I be dressed more appropriately? And what would be appropriate?

I began to descend the same ladder-like stairs and down into the bright light....

And then see my family, they are spread across one of those oh so familiar talk-show guest couches. And there at the end? In the single, hosts seat? Ellen Degeneres.

I cried. She said she could help. I cried more. I remember telling her, I don't deserve this. I am a college graduate, I can support my family. So many need this more than I do.

But, I was helped.  I think. It was not clear after that.

The audience broke into a quiet roar... I woke up.

_____________________________

I am not making this up. I couldn't.

I couldn't help but laugh. Had the alcohol messed with my subconscious? Had I watched too many day-time talk shows this week? Is the stress getting to me?

What in the world do Demi and Ashton have to do with anything?

And as I sit here writing this, I am reminded of the soap box I perched myself upon in my latest post.

You know, the one about bailouts and easy fixes. And then had a good laugh with my morning coffee.

Ellen, if you are reading this, I would not turn down the offer- If however you have yet to visit my humble blog, or my dreams well then I suppose it is up to me.

Happy dreams everyone.

The first Contest on this blog ever!

The first thing I want to mention is it seems to be my lucky week. Not one- but TWO wins for me!
They were each passed on to me by fellow single mother bloggers.
The first award was this one:

Given to me by  new blogger and twitter friend notyouraveragesinglemomma. The challenge that come with this particular award is to create a list -Ten things that make me happy. The way the past few months have gone, I see this as a refreshing, eye-opening task. However, I have not yet had the time to get it posted. The second part of the challenge is to pass it on to ten bloggers whom I find inspiring, I welcome the opportunity for this too. I will get to it soon.

The second award was a fellow bloggers support on her New Year's Resolution. She has made a resolution to watch less Television this year. A challenge that I believe we all wish to accomplish at periods in our lives. She put up the challenge to her readers to post a comment and take a guess just how many days she would make it through her challenge before watching television again. I hardly remember commenting, I wanted her to succeed. But my guess was that she would last no longer than I would, and guessed 4 days.
I was unaware that she would be under the weather, and also entertaining friends with games which used her television. You can hardly blame the girl for her demise. But thank you so much Aljolynn  I can hardly wait for my little taste of Hawaii. And good luck with the restart of your personal challenge I know you will do fine.

Which brings me to my own very first contest.

Everyone has an opinion on the right way to roll – over or under – and both points-of-view have been argued in households for ages. This January, Cottonelle brand sets out to settle this Great Debate once and for all. Are you Team Over or Team Under?
 

Cottonelle

 As a member of the Mom Bloggers Club, I have the opportunity to win an entire months supply of Cottonelle tissue. And honestly who cant use toilet paper. With two teen girls in the house smack dab in the middle of cold and flu season we use a lot. Seems I am the one left with the bare cardboard roll staring at me as I attempt to reach for the box of tissue.

But the best part of this whole toilet paper debate??? You as a reader of this humble blog can also be a winner. Simply leave a comment below and you will be entered to win 1 of 10 Cottonelle gift baskets randomly chosen on January 29, 2010 from all entries.

 What beats a contest open to all? I would love to hear from my regular commenters as well as some silent readers I just know are out there. And I cannot think of a better time to come out.
So leave a comment and good luck and I will work on my happy list.

Summer mountain air and great music - lets dance

I have lived in this state my entire life. For a single mother with a very limited income I have made it my mission to expose my children to as much culture as possible within our monetary limits.
We have taken spur of the moment road trips. We have been hiking in the nearby hills. Attended local fairs and festivals so much to see and do for very little money.

This past Wednesday night was no exception. A mountain ski resort holds a free local artist concert every Wednesday night throughout the summer. We have not been able to attend for years with my being enrolled in night school. This past week my youngest daughter and I decided to go. It was a rush to get there as my older daughter had just pulled in to town from her summer in Texas and I was a little late getting off work. But after changing into more comfortable attire and saying good bye to daughter number one who had other plans for the evening, we headed out. It was beautiful weather and the crisp mountain air was nice.

Nothing beats an open air concert. The way that the music bounces off of the cliffs nearby, the openness of the canyon is better than the best of acoustics in an indoor theater or music hall.

We spread our blanket and settled in with a fresh squeezed lemonade from a shack at the park. Which strangely tasted like a mojito drink. We didn't bring a cooler and I didn't notice the beer and wine area until we were walking out. But it was refreshing none the less.


Because we were late getting there, we were not very near the stage and I was OK with that. the aforementioned acoustics afforded everyone a great show regardless of your seating. There was a nice crowd but not over crowded. Up near the stage there were people dancing feeling the spirit of the night. We were near the top of the hill and no one in our section seemed to know there was music being played. Talking and laughing getting louder and louder.

Until my daughter and I began dancing. Yes, right there in the middle of the chatter. All eyes were on us. But we didn't care. It was our concert too. It was our stress relieving night out in the mountain air and we would spend it how we chose. No one in our section stood and danced. we got a lot of attention for a while and then they let us dance without the looks of disdain.

It was a great night, a couple hours was all it lasted but the scenery and the ambiance cant be beat.

Who says you need money to have a good time?

I believe it is the company you keep that is most important.

My 5 minutes of fame

So about a year ago I joined an online community- Freecycle.org

It is a free service which started out as a way to keep the environment green and keep things out of the landfills. It serves many purposes.

You Offer: If you got junk- you don't need and someone might need it. (one mans treasure....)

You Request (want): If you need something - that is too hard to come by, or you cant afford new and cant find used.

When spring and fall come and we all clean out our closets, garages, yards, basements, tool sheds, and find all that stuff, stuff stuff, there is now a great way to get rid of it! Without holding a yard sale, without hauling it to the thrift store or the dump, you find someone looking for that very thing.

When you need that one doodad that cant be found anywhere, when your significant other or child wants a certain unknown no-where on earth replica of an action figure that they had when they were two and it is no longer for sale anywhere...

No worries- just hop on the freecycle.org bandwagon and you just might get rid of what you have and find what it is you are looking for. It really is a great idea. you wouldn't believe the things you see on there.

Just the other day a man was posting asking for goats, or sheep, something to put on the land he had just purchased. Last year, there was a horse up for offer- someone who didn't have the money to board it, there is crazy stuff but it is also really great!

well, other than endorsing this site for free-

Here is the reason I bring it up today:

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/283018/17/

Yes that is yours truly- front page of the local newspaper.. I suppose that the link will expire at some point so I will post a copy:

Shani Green of Pleasant Grove holds up a dress she got for free from a north Utah County Freecycle list-serve.
Friday, 03 October 2008
'Freecycling' gaining ground in Utah


Caleb Warnock - DAILY HERALD
If you need to get rid of, or just need, a goat, piano, flower bulbs, satin dress, grapes -- anything, really -- chances are, your neighbor has it or wants it. Freecycle, an online community of people who give away what they don't need in an effort to keep trash out of the landfill, is thriving in Utah Valley.
A north county group, called Lehi Freecycle, has more than 2,500 members, while the Provo group boasts more than 5,000 and the Spanish Fork group has 852. Globally there are almost six million members in 4,600 regional groups.
"It's awesome," said Carolyn Nelson of Lehi, who has been freecycling for years. "The best thing I've gotten is a piano. People say 'I have peaches that need to be made into jam today' -- just about everything imaginable."
Nelson said she recently gave away the contents of her kitchen, which she is having remodeled. Moving from Colorado to Utah, she gave away all the furniture she could not take, she said. A popular freecycle item is moving boxes.
"All of this stuff would have been hauled to the dump," she said. "And if you need something, you just post it there and people have it laying around."
"This is about the best thing since sliced bread," said Shani Green of Pleasant Grove. "It keeps way too much good stuff out of the landfills, ensures it is going to a family who needs it, and helps us all get rid of and haul off things that we may never think to or be able to haul away."
Emily Peery "owns" the Lehi Freecycle group, meaning she is one of four volunteer moderators who approve posts, mediate disputes and kick anyone deemed hostile off the Web site. About once every three months, the four north county moderators get together for lunch to review the success and goals of the process.
"You used to know the neighbors well enough that if you had a couch you could say, Who needs one? But now people are connected a little less," Peery said.
While getting free things is nice, the group has a specific purpose, she said.
"People focus on the free, but the real focus is the cycle," she said. "The purpose of freecycle is to reuse goods and keep them out of landfills. It is a very environmental organization."
Peery said she has given away perhaps hundreds of things, including a hide-a-bed, office chair, lamps, computer and monitors, televisions, back massager, unused Christmas gifts, clothes and fabric, baby stuff and "lots of little things."
In a typical week in Utah County, dozens of items are likely to be given away. Peery said most of the time the process is smooth, and moderators only occasionally have to resolve a dispute, usually when two people have accidentally been promised the same thing. Only a few times in the past two or three years have people been kicked off the site, usually for demanding things from people, she said.
People are not allowed to post their addresses on the Web site, and are discouraged from posting their phone numbers.
"It is an online group and any crazy stalker person could be on," she said. "What I recommend is that when someone is responding to you [via e-mail] you have a couple of communications with them to see if they are respectful and polite. It gives you some interaction before you jump into this.
"You kind of have to use your brain a little, you have to think it through a little, but that is the other reason why we try to keep as small a group as possible. The smaller it is the safer it feels."
Before giving her address to people, Peery said she uses the interested person's e-mail address to search their history on the freecycle site.
"And you get to know people who you recognize from their posts," she said.
For information on freecycling in Utah Valley, search for "Lehi Freecycle," "Provo Freecycle," or "Spanish Fork Freecycle" online.
Lehi Freecycle experiences:
"At the beginning of the summer, the poles to our swing set were bending from the rust and would soon break.¬ I priced new poles at the local metal shop, but they would have cost more than a new swing set.¬ So I posted a 'wanted' note on freecycle for swing set poles.¬ Someone responded that they were throwing away their old swing set and would be happy to give us the poles -- less for them to haul away.¬ It turned out, the family had the exact same swing set we do, so the replacement poles fit perfectly.¬ The poles would have gone to the landfill.¬ Instead we are getting some more use out of them.¬ That's what freecycle is all about."
-- Becky Kendall, Lehi
"I learned about freecycle from a blog I was on after breaking my ankle a couple of years ago. At that time, I was able to receive a foot massager for my healing ankle, as well as a treadmill for when I became full-weight-bearing again.¬ I have received things such as beds, chest of drawers, sewing table for my mom, exercise equipment, a rabbit hutch and more.¬ I told my friend about it and they ended up with a hot tub.¬ We have cleared our house of many things such as bags of clothes, old scooters,¬ a swimming pool."¬
-- Carlin Hadlock, Saratoga Springs
"During this troubling time when ... everything feels a bit unstable it's nice to know that we can all help each other. Passing it on, paying it forward, however you look at it we can make someones day, even if it's just by giving away stuff in our house we don't use."
-- Jennifer Morrison
"I coordinate the Lehi Sub-4-Santa.¬ I have been letting all of the recipients know about Lehi Freecycle in the hopes that they would be able to find things they really needed throughout the year. Many of the needs were met. ...¬ It is a win-win situation. I had an old wood-burning stove that I really didn't want to throw out to the dump.¬ It still works fine.¬ A freecycler needed one for their mother and came with a truck and strong men and took it away.¬ I was very pleased."
--¬ Linda Turner
"I was able to get a lot of wood that someone wanted out of their yard and take it to my friend who needs all the wood she can to heat her house all winter. Also, my daughter was able to get a dress to wear to her prom last year, that there is no way we could afford otherwise. A lot of the reason that I love freecycle is the fact that not only is it keeping things out of the landfill, but I am beginning to hate the local thrift stores -- it seems that the stuff that people really need isn't getting into the store."
-- Shani Green, Pleasant Grove
"I love freecycle because you feel as if you are genuinely helping people by giving them items they may not be able to purchase, and in turn you clean out your house.¬ There's something about giving something away that makes you feel good, and makes you feel even better when it's out of your way!"¬
-- Shelly Thompson, Lehi

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uggh did I really show my age by saying 'sliced bread'? I take it back! It is Sick- Sick I say! I'm hip, I'm up with the times.... there really is no hope for me is there?