Pay it Forward

So I'm not a wealthy person. I don't ever claim to have enough of anything, but I do realize that I'm fortunate. I have good friends, family, community support out the ying yang. I'm not totally overextended with my house but kind of. I'm just trying to have decent things and live a decent life with what has been presented to me. It's not always easy. It's not even a little glamorous but I do try.

I've always been a HUGE supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and all the amazing things that they do for "the sick kids". I love the families there and their strength and think we could all learn something. Our lives are not that bad. They are way better than others. So this is why I pay it forward as much as I can. People helped me out when I was in need. Pregnant, single and scared. I had no clue how I was going to make this work. Quite frankly sometimes I'm still not sure how I'll make it all work but I keep putting one foot in front of the other. So at this time of year when I hear of those that are suffering, either from job loss, or whatever, I want to help as best I can. People have always been good to me and my family and if they weren't I simply wouldn't have anything to do with them.

The call went out today from a friend of mine for a friend of hers. She's a single mom struggling to make ends meet this year. So I rallied my troops. I don't have young girls at my house. I have older girls running around but I do know a few people. So I called in my friends for help and am happy to be able to donate some clothing

You see over the years I've always "donated" Drexel's too small clothes to friends and family. The same thing that others have done for me. Just a few weeks ago a friend was in need of a table and chairs. I gave him mine. Plus he's getting my portable dishwasher and a few other things. Why, because now I can do things for myself. I'm a big girl now. I don't have to depend on others so I can get a good night's sleep. Right now anyway, and if I ever find myself needing a hand out again, I'd hope those same people would return the favor to me.

This really is what the Christmas Spirit is all about. Go do something good for you and those who do not have all that you do. Money is tight for all of us, but it won't cost you a penny to give away something you're already not using. Go ahead! Do it!

Zip a dee doo dah

I'm having one of those days! The good kind of days! Everything is going my way. Well, kind of. As one of those people that just expects to get my own way it's hard for things to not go my way, but many times they don't and I adapt nicely...or so I think. However, today, I woke up with my husband on one side of me and my son on the other. For those of you that don't know this isn't normal. He normally isn't here on the weekdays. Today he is thanks to a four day weekend. So I got to sleep in and while there was some confusion over clothing options for school and such we made it work and out the door on time which meant I could go to Starbucks! And the better news...they still had Pumpkin Spice! That's not even the best part...the best part is when I pulled in the parking garage this morning I got Rock Star Parking!! Like 3rd one in! Normally since my start time is later I'm in the basement dungeon. It's ok I like it there, my car stays drier. But 3rd one in!

Oh yeah...one other little thing going well in my day...I'm in the paper and NOT police beat!!

Well, the mess to clean up

I'm so bad about this whole posting thing since my life is a mess with this thing that ripped through my neighborhood. It was a pretty busy time getting things cleaned up. I did have to take 3-5 days off work and that was frustrating. However, some great friends did come to help and I'll upload some pictures here when I get a moment.

I lost all my trees, my pool, my front and back deck, my siding, my roof, all have to be replaced. Plus there was a big hole in my living room and a window or two that needs some replacing as well. Now 3 months later, we have all the trees fully down, the wall patched, and remodeling taking place as well. It's so hard to get it all back together. Not to mention that around every corner we find more things that are wrong and more that we have to deal with and fix as we go which expands our budget a little more than we would like.

We are fortunate to have our home. Just with some updates. I can't wait to get it all done!

Tornado 2009 Part 2

I told mom I was on my way and I'd be there as soon as I could. She said to go to Loves and park, I'd have to walk in. Traffic was miserable as word was all over the radio that there was damage in Williamsville. A small little community of about 1100. So when we have issues, everyone comes out and tries to make sure we are okay...and my phone continues to blow up with text messages and phone calls. "Are you okay, we just heard about the tornado," they would say. "um Yeah I heard about it too, sure can't tell what's going on right now. I'll keep you posted."

Ugh, can someone please tell me what is going on??? Please? Call the police chief, he'll know! Why on earth did I NOT think of this sooner?? So, I call Shawn, my trusty neighbor.
ME:"How bad is it?"
Chief: "Well, my garage is gone, the house is pretty bad."
ME: "OMG I'm so sorry. How's my house??"*
Chief: "I can't tell if your house is there or not."
ME: "Ok, I'll be there as soon as I can"

really!!?? No one can tell me if my house is still standing??!! Really???!!! *sigh*

So I finally get to a place where I can park my car, change my clothes, my shoes, and start hiking and try to get to my house. Cars are parked all over the place and no one is getting anywhere very quickly. So I keep walking, my phone is dying and it's a long walk to my house...even into town from the truck stop.

I made the long haul, realizing now that my car is parked really far away my phone is going to die and there is no power. Lovely. Oh and did I mention that I was walking in my flip flops after I dropped my drawers and changed right by the side of my car. Oh well, it was done and fortunately I had other clothes in my car. I was completely hysterical trying to figure out if I was going to have a home. My neighbor said that he knew my house was standing at least from the front. My brother's classmate who is also the next town over cop, calmed me. I was in a mood to hurt someone at this point.

Now, to get my dogs and hopefully see my house.

Tornado 2009

Well, many of you know already that I've been affected by the tornado that came through here on August 19, at 3:20p.m. I was at work debating on going to the basement or standing outside and watching the clouds roll by. One of the girls had her radio on and I had been listening to it on and off but nothing real determined at that point in time. I even posted on my facebook and my twitter account that I found it humorous that we were all upating those instead paying attention to the storm sirens going off. Some of the comments I got back included, no go stand out on the front porch, or we're in the garage or some variation of not enjoying the storm but paying attention and the "really nothing ever happens when they go off" It's just a warning, TO GO INSIDE AND BE SAFE YOU IDIOT!

Now here's where everything is really different for me. Normally I know where everything is going on. At least I did when I was a reporter for a radio station. I had access to most everything and I was in the "know" of where the action was and I was telling people on the air to go and be safe. Heed the warning. But when It came to ME listening I was more curious about being the first on the scene and reporting back. It's the reporter in me. I can't help it.

This particular night Drexel was to show in the Pee Wee Sheep Show at our state fair. I text my mom (after making sure she and the kids were safe of course before) after it was all over and said, please make sure D is at the sheep barn at 5 for the show. He'd been looking forward to it for weeks. Ever since he'd won his first trophy in Missouri. My mom text back, I'm headed toward home to check the damage. I'm like, ok, nothing ever happens to us, so go for it but "make sure he's back in time for the show". We had a sheep reserved and we were really busting our butts to get him there. My phone started blowing up with text messages and phone calls, asking if I was ok. I was fine I was at work...wtf are you talking about. Then they told me that the Casey's General Store (by my house) was flattened. Um, OMG! that's by my house. Hysteria begins to set in. I'm trying to wrap up phone calls and get my desk organized from the cluster of not knowing what to do during the sirens (do I stay in or go out?) that I was really confused. So I called mom. Of course a little freaked out.
Me: How's my house?
Mom: I don't know Leah, I'm trying to get there.
Me: Why didn't you tell me it hit Williamsvile???!!!!
Mom: Because I knew this would happen.
(yes, she's mom and she knows me well)
Me: fine, I need to know if the dogs are ok - urgency running in my voice and my head
Mom: as soon as I get ther I'll let you know what I can.
Me: do I need to come home?
Mom: with more urgencey - LEAH - I don't know. As soon as I know something I'll call you.
Me: fine. Call me when you know something. Do you have the boys?
Mom: Yes.
Me: Make sure my dogs are ok!
Mom: Leah! I will
Me: bye.

So I then started to collect my thoughts. And it hit me. OMG my house is probably gone!! What about my dogs??? OMG! My dogs. I need to know if my dogs are ok. I went to my boss and she's like get the hell out of here already. So I took off.

My neighbor and good friend called me crying. The first words to her were not how are you, are you ok, but DO I HAVE A HOUSE? ARE MY DOGS OK??? She says "I don't know but my house is gone." Oh man, reality bites! "I'm on my way!! I'm on my way!!" Can someone please go and check on my dogs. I was really worried about the pooches.

Mom called me not long after that and said, you need to come home....I'm on my way I told her.