tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34875963489283755062024-02-06T18:11:40.676-08:00Welcome to Miscellanea.....happiness on a shoestring.....Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-35732586169656868282013-08-01T17:17:00.001-07:002013-08-01T17:24:25.579-07:00Apples take overWe are blessed with an abundance of fruit growing freely in our backyard. Three apple trees, a plum tree, a peach tree, and grapes that travel over our fence line from our next door neighbor's yard. There is also a grapefruit tree growing in the abandoned yard directly behind our house, where I like to take the kids and liberate the tart little orbs.<br />
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This year our apple trees are producing like I've never seen, so I needed to find something to do with the plethora of green fruits. </div>
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Thus, my first attempt at applesauce.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">picked fresh today!<br />
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I poked around on <a href="http://pinterest.com/mrsmiscellanea/boards/">Pinterest</a> for a recipe, and found (of course) dozens of crock pot applesauce pins. I decided to Frankenstein a couple recipes together to come up with my own.</div>
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Step one:</div>
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Peel, core & dice 6-8 apples (depending on size.)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after this, I just gave them a really rough chop. not too small.</td></tr>
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Step two: Stir together 1/2 Cup water, 1/4 Cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 Tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.<br />
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Step three: Add cut apples to crock pot, then pour liquid mixture evenly over apples. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">omg yum.</td></tr>
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Step four: Set crock pot to "Low." They cook for about 4 hours total, but halfway through, I gave them a stir. (Ok, maybe I just wanted to get a really good whiff up close, cuz man oh man, did this smell amazing!)<br />
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Step five: turn crock pot off and mash apples with potato masher. Let cool & refrigerate. Or serve warm! Whatever you want! </div>
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I'm thinking about making some pie dough & making dumplings with the mixture. Or topping my waffles with it. Or my ice cream, or stirring some into my oatmeal.....</div>
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The possibilities are endless :)</div>
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Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-87172336265472907022013-07-31T10:32:00.000-07:002013-07-31T10:32:13.079-07:00Inspired by SarahI have this beautiful, amazing, posi, friend Sarah, who I had the fortune to "meet" through twitter about 4 years ago (wow, when I think about that, it's a pretty long time). Anyway, she has started doing these instagram posts that she calls "Daily Words" and it's always some amazing little chunk of wisdom, written up on a handmade chalkboard (did I tell you she's really crafty, too?).<br />
Every day, no matter what, there it is.<br />
So, I was inspired by Sarah to do something similar to try and up my PMA, and while I was at it, maybe up the collective PMA of my community.<br />
I started writing cheese little inspiring quotes on the squares of the sidewalk in front of my house every morning. It makes me feel good.<br />
I hope somebody reads them and they feel as good as I do when I write them.<br />
Anything is possible.<br />
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Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-28527537746584822962013-07-31T10:30:00.000-07:002013-07-31T10:30:48.825-07:00Brand new dayOne week from today is my 34th birthday.<br />
There's nothing particularly special about turning 34, and I'm not the kind of girl that expects or needs to be celebrated. But, the last couple years of my life have not been easy.<br />
Ok, so maybe the last 20 years haven't been easy.<br />
That's not what I'm here to talk about, but that is <i>why</i> I'm here.<br />
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Most people make resolutions on the dawning of a New Year. Not me. I save mine for my birthday. I hope that doesn't make me sound like a narcissist. I just think that your birthday is the perfect time to reflect on the previous year and all the things you did or did not do.<br />
I have been through the ringer lately, and on many days I have wondered if (not when) I will ever be happy, if I will ever have the chance to live a life free of this onslaught of daily sorrows.<br />
And then I realized that I don't have to wait. Life goes on whether you spend it crying or laughing.<br />
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So, for my 34th birthday I have decided to make a promise to myself.<br />
I will do at least one thing every day to make myself happy.<br />
I will do the things I have always been afraid to do.<br />
I will live not just for others but for myself and I will not feel guilty.<br />
I will have a meaningful life.<br />
I will find myself again, and I will be happy.<br />
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Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-59224185097908707662012-11-18T16:28:00.002-08:002013-07-31T10:24:28.575-07:00Untitled<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I joke to my husband that I am made of marshmallow. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">You can lay your head on my ample bosom, my soft swell of belly or my round ass</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">and be comfortably lulled to sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I am a stacked 5'9, 168 lbs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> 36/26/37 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">and when I look in the mirror I know with certainty that I am <u>sexy</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">and I don't care if that offends the masses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I know what people mean when they tell me that I am a beautiful person, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">they want me to know that there is more in life than physical beauty, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">but they don't even know they are blind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I am beautiful in <i>every</i> sense of the word.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I don't conform to traditional standards of beauty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I love my body in it's current state and you might think that means I have given up, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">thrown in the towel and decided to attempt to accept this milky, white, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">imperfect fat suit of a body because I just don't care about myself enough,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">or can't control myself</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">or don't feel like I deserve to be what you think I should be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">But I am the picture of health and vitality and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I am a Goddess in a size 12.</span><br />
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-41766612386278391472012-11-16T09:05:00.002-08:002013-07-31T10:24:28.558-07:0016I was 17 when my son was born.<br />
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I remember laying in the delivery room and listening to the volunteers talk about me like I was trash. </div>
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But I was not trash, I was a mother. </div>
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I had a beautiful blue eyed baby that </div>
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I loved.</div>
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I am the mother of a 16 year old half man/half child, who is unsure of everything, and wants nothing</div>
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but the one thing his father does not know how to give.</div>
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He's so smart, smarter than he thinks he is.</div>
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He makes me laugh, </div>
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and cry.</div>
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We are a family now with many different parts. </div>
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We move together like a machine, working through life and even when we feel stuck, we push and push </div>
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and eventually we get through.</div>
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Our love is a force than can</div>
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break through walls.</div>
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Today my son is 16.</div>
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I wonder to myself, how we made it to this point and I smile because </div>
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we did what nobody thought we could,</div>
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and that is something.</div>
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He grew, and I grew, and we grew up<br />
together.</div>
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Happy birthday to my boy. </div>
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Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-25460674114215387912012-09-27T17:16:00.000-07:002012-09-27T17:45:58.961-07:00Tales from the hood<br />
When my family and I made the decision 2 years ago to move from an affluent neighborhood in the suburbs to the heart of Central Sacramento, I knew there would be adjustments. Many of our friends and family had warned us about the area we chose, but the price was right and the house adorable. What could go wrong?<br />
Well, many things. Many, many things could and did go wrong.<br />
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2010 was a rough year for our neighborhood. Our house was one of many that were robbed, and it took the entire block holding vigil to get the City & Police department to start enforcing the law on a particularly bad house. The home across from ours housed a degenerate who was prone to engaging in bare-knuckle street fighting with anyone walking by who dared give him the side-eye.<br />
Thankfully, virtually all of the previous "problem" houses are now filled with families with young kids.<br />
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The grass is cut and the sidewalks are swept by myself and a nice man who doesn't say much more than "Good morning" every now and then. The street sweepers don't come to our neighborhood, it's up to us to clean up after the folks who use our quiet block as a thoroughfare between 2 major city streets, they leave behind discarded bags of cheetos and the like.<br />
It's not their home, they don't mind the mess.<br />
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Many people who don't know any better will tell you they don't feel safe walking down my street.<br />
They cringe when I tell them I ride my bike after 10pm across this city, through what they consider the ghetto, to the bustle of Midtown and back again. I have a light that flashes and no more than a detachable basket to carry what I might need on an evening out with a girlfriend.<br />
I don't have pepper spray or a taser.<br />
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I send my son to the grocery store on the corner, and let the kids walk down to play at the Community Center with no escort, and am not afraid for them. Not at all.<br />
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This area is poor, it's true. People getting off the bus a block away might not have a problem coming right up to you to ask for change. There is a prostitute that gets free meals at the church and we all know she likes to be called Janet Jackson. There's Miss Tabatha, who may or may not be homeless, it's not the kind of thing you ask someone. She can be seen pushing a double stroller filled with a myriad of trinkets & fodder for the recycling center. She loves babies and won't pass by without stopping to ask you how you're feeling on this fine day.<br />
Maybe these aren't the kind of people you want in your subdivision, and I suppose if I had to plan my perfect community, it wouldn't look exactly like this. But Oak Park is not what you think it is, it's what you want it to be.<br />
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It's home.<br />
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-84512065041807019232012-08-07T15:24:00.000-07:002013-07-31T10:24:28.613-07:00And then, a decade had passed in the blink of an eye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ten years seems like an impossibly long time, and yet it feels as small as a moment. </div>
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I didn't think I was going to be able to love a child as much as I loved my first, but then my 2nd came along and it is so easy to love him. He is smart, and funny, and a little nerdy</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-25993123666814963552012-07-30T15:32:00.001-07:002012-07-30T15:33:34.549-07:00Amusement parks are not so amusing<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Saturday, I turned 33 and spent the day at 6 Flags with 4 of our kids. The husband's company picnic was held there and we thought "wow, how cool is THAT? OMG, the kids will have so much fun!" </div>
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Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. </div>
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That foolish optimism makes you think I had never taken multiple children anywhere before, right?</div>
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Hey, give me a break here. I try to just go with things. Life is supposed to be an adventure, right? Well, 6 Flags with a 4, 7, 9, and 15 yr old was certainly interesting. Let's just say, the husband & I are really happy we decided not to take the family to Disneyland this year like we had planned. </div>
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6 Flags was a smashing success, in that we learned that this family is not amusement park ready. </div>
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Well, that and also because this happened:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcIVtwpFfA7_V9Xly5ICRsnvQvnOVH8vWO9JT6nJ_nf7hDNQxcXyrsOUMRF9GMt6IeRf5_tFFkJGOsRR17-vEqh0OnmdwQmMoA_cD9qxFKJvbKd6455dkg6yQ9SHSC1Pjk4wyphNSdydd/s1600/wonder+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcIVtwpFfA7_V9Xly5ICRsnvQvnOVH8vWO9JT6nJ_nf7hDNQxcXyrsOUMRF9GMt6IeRf5_tFFkJGOsRR17-vEqh0OnmdwQmMoA_cD9qxFKJvbKd6455dkg6yQ9SHSC1Pjk4wyphNSdydd/s400/wonder+woman.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BOOM.</td></tr>
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-40141733400920711872012-07-24T10:42:00.000-07:002013-07-31T10:24:28.557-07:0033<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2ZDOUpSJ4Y/UA7dwl3NHoI/AAAAAAAAUMk/VogQn8wYUAw/s1600/flower2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2ZDOUpSJ4Y/UA7dwl3NHoI/AAAAAAAAUMk/VogQn8wYUAw/s320/flower2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This Saturday, I will be 33.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">So, here are my 33 resolutions for the upcoming year:</span><br />
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<ol>
<li>Grow my hair out a little. Between chin & shoulder length sounds good to me</li>
<li>Take a bicycle maintenance class</li>
<li>Wear more hats</li>
<li>Be less flaky</li>
<li>Spend more one on one time with each of my 4 kids</li>
<li>Take a dance class</li>
<li>Visit my family in my hometown way more often</li>
<li>Have a family picture taken</li>
<li>Build up my savings account</li>
<li>Go to a professional football game</li>
<li>Have people over for dinner</li>
<li>See live music once a month</li>
<li>Always have my nails painted</li>
<li>Remember to take movies back on time</li>
<li>Re-learn to drive stick-shift</li>
<li>Get that Sylvia Plath tattoo I've always wanted</li>
<li>Go to the DeYoung museum</li>
<li>Put the laundry away as soon as it's done</li>
<li>Go to a play</li>
<li>Have more picnics</li>
<li>Buy a real camera & learn still life photography</li>
<li>Take/teach my kids (and husband) to ride a horse</li>
<li>Learn to hit a baseball</li>
<li>Return phone calls & messages</li>
<li>Say no when I need to</li>
<li>Hike Mt. Tam again</li>
<li>See the Sundial bridge in Redding</li>
<li>Volunteer somewhere</li>
<li>Teach my teenager to drive</li>
<li>Lose 33 lbs</li>
<li>Take an all girl's trip</li>
<li>Write more</li>
<li>Watch a sunset from Muir beach with my family</li>
</ol>
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I like the number 33, it has a nice ring to it. I think it's as good a time as any to get going on some simple life goals, don't you? :)</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-62836337377666626872012-07-17T18:02:00.003-07:002012-07-17T18:02:51.560-07:00Summer obsessionsThings I am obsessed with right now:<br />
<br />
The Heartless Bastards:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F8wqmh3KybI" width="560"></iframe><br />
I love her voice, it's unique and sexy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/ourbrands/lclaurenconrad.jsp?searchTerm=LC%20Lauren%20Conrad">LC by Lauren Conrad</a> which is available at Khol's:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwHBFMh-wIh0jKT9ZrBZahtOb3wWDDJSDHDFMT4dZxIXRmNMbmzSvVp3KL_Q8y4yTODmIjTLgS-t9ZL8apMVA2NjU9uEqSLc6rEmDVWIT1lJh8nrIt-P39Du1upgsRgD-OTAUvhaDz-YN/s1600/lc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwHBFMh-wIh0jKT9ZrBZahtOb3wWDDJSDHDFMT4dZxIXRmNMbmzSvVp3KL_Q8y4yTODmIjTLgS-t9ZL8apMVA2NjU9uEqSLc6rEmDVWIT1lJh8nrIt-P39Du1upgsRgD-OTAUvhaDz-YN/s320/lc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I want every piece in this line.</div>
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Edible gardening:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbuetpSWbsYt-X_PpDLXvwFwjc2N2vRvPisd096NcHRy2MKK9Wez4Xg2lTXdy97xX48iwE71b1OObnhnwaoWUdmCu3fah9u6eYQndnHTJJ_YBrnzU4icS_Pivg_xEbvpDq2o8OeUOesW3/s1600/553765_10150941391642635_1707017151_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbuetpSWbsYt-X_PpDLXvwFwjc2N2vRvPisd096NcHRy2MKK9Wez4Xg2lTXdy97xX48iwE71b1OObnhnwaoWUdmCu3fah9u6eYQndnHTJJ_YBrnzU4icS_Pivg_xEbvpDq2o8OeUOesW3/s320/553765_10150941391642635_1707017151_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I not only grow people, now I grow my own food. So. Cool.</div>
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-8951883524683483492012-06-10T10:28:00.000-07:002012-07-17T10:28:30.418-07:00If you're broke and you know it, go to WIC<br />
I qualify for <a href="http://www.dhhs.saccounty.net/PRI/WIC/Pages/Women-Infants-and-Children-Home.aspx" target="_blank">WIC</a> and their services have been a real blessing.<br />
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We are provided with 3 gallons of milk, 2 boxes of cereal, a carton of eggs, 1 lb of cheese, 2 bottles of juice, a bag of beans (or jar of natural peanut butter), 2 loaves of whole wheat bread, and $6 in produce. This is a savings of $40-$50 per month for us. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The produce coupons differ from the other ones, in that it has an actual dollar </span><span style="text-align: left;">amount</span><span style="text-align: left;"> instead of a list of items. This is important to note, since produce prices vary greatly from store to store, and if you want the most from your coupons you should shop at the cheaper stores.</span></div>
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One of the best things about the program is the nutritional counseling they provide. I am pretty smart about this stuff, but I learn something new in every class. I know that the program is flawed and a lot of people have criticized it for not having the very most healthy, organic, vegetarian friendly options, but with 4 kids, 2 adults and a solitary income, it's been a life saver for us.</div>
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I thought I'd show you what we're able to get with our $6 produce allotment each month:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OehUPlb87iGYivWhuwHzXgaDVly_9-Ud7JFIHfOMzo1EbLTg72voER3yKPSrmp7bF-6WuAX7YkL-t0bbs_07ViIb-BBMbmcl4Gv8qjAAIeR2gIreqgrJtLOmd5mI_wPEU82gKqreKQyZ/s1600/wic+produce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OehUPlb87iGYivWhuwHzXgaDVly_9-Ud7JFIHfOMzo1EbLTg72voER3yKPSrmp7bF-6WuAX7YkL-t0bbs_07ViIb-BBMbmcl4Gv8qjAAIeR2gIreqgrJtLOmd5mI_wPEU82gKqreKQyZ/s320/wic+produce.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">June's bounty</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">This month we got a 5lb bag of carrots, a HUGE head of cauliflower, 2 giant zucchinis, green onions, celery, and an avocado. This isn't going to last the whole month but it does go a long way in supplementing what we pay for out of pocket. I can't wait to get cooking :)</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">WIC is a national program designed to help low income women & young children get a healthy start.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you think you might benefit, go <a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/" target="_blank">here</a> to locate your local office to see if you qualify.</span></i></div>
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</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-86966574596147120222012-05-22T10:26:00.000-07:002012-07-17T10:26:27.257-07:00Gunther's: it's worth the wait.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlVvsiBV57MHZRyi1EtioHEloLCDlHXzCsyfkQu431kiPj_SwgBAOrR_P8qsZ1wE9toGTPIaTCJYJrDWv_MQB_6_tR-C8GQgQC91vLs-VmY5HxbNca9e_EhRDiIcu4-OLoJdi7VwMJteW/s1600/2012-05-19_16-05-39_801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlVvsiBV57MHZRyi1EtioHEloLCDlHXzCsyfkQu431kiPj_SwgBAOrR_P8qsZ1wE9toGTPIaTCJYJrDWv_MQB_6_tR-C8GQgQC91vLs-VmY5HxbNca9e_EhRDiIcu4-OLoJdi7VwMJteW/s320/2012-05-19_16-05-39_801.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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It's not technically Summer yet, but with 90 degree weather, I think we can all agree that Sacramento has officially downgraded from 4 seasons to 2. Good bye 5 minutes of Spring, though your 70 degree days were loved. </div>
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Hello hellacious temps.</div>
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Lucky for you & me, Sacramento has an abundance of places to cool off on a hot day, and one of the most beloved spots is <a href="http://www.gunthersicecream.com/" target="_blank">Gunther's Ice Cream.</a></div>
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Gunther's sits in Curtis park, one of my favorite Sacramento neighborhoods.<br />
It's such a funky little area with a great, kind of artsy vibe. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98Xzz8faOQva2Yz-0O_u9bqjMBBJd_ysTvtzvH0uJdMnAOFMAOFv_4zN4oDQ1xCTdQaEy8rGkmkYu7xZ1Z-TmEbufnyggfk2YmZXiiSXBuBg22OWZ5d4sQwytZSj6lH0xcXRyfKYc_zM6/s1600/2012-05-19_15-40-51_733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98Xzz8faOQva2Yz-0O_u9bqjMBBJd_ysTvtzvH0uJdMnAOFMAOFv_4zN4oDQ1xCTdQaEy8rGkmkYu7xZ1Z-TmEbufnyggfk2YmZXiiSXBuBg22OWZ5d4sQwytZSj6lH0xcXRyfKYc_zM6/s320/2012-05-19_15-40-51_733.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gunther's have been serving up their locally made (right there on the premise!) ice cream to grateful Sacramentons since the 1940's, and you can tell how much they care about both their product and their customers in just one bite.</div>
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It's really that good.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOX2f5-swR25r6AClN55WNjJ2qFYGmoYQFfKS7suHQWJk5RKr92QddkciVTKSoVPmwYaIxnVGVt-2vVu4tze4M5AUdJiRdzC5N4pjAIwRcYHfPwq5yoJRJX1s83CgFJvr9Q80tIoK-2rf/s1600/2012-05-19_15-39-09_414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOX2f5-swR25r6AClN55WNjJ2qFYGmoYQFfKS7suHQWJk5RKr92QddkciVTKSoVPmwYaIxnVGVt-2vVu4tze4M5AUdJiRdzC5N4pjAIwRcYHfPwq5yoJRJX1s83CgFJvr9Q80tIoK-2rf/s320/2012-05-19_15-39-09_414.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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A word of advice- be ready to wait for your treat. This place is ALWAYS packed. I've never been to Gunther's and not had to wait in a line that goes out the door. Their service is (thankfully) pretty quick, but if you've got a bunch of little ones with you, I recommend sending an adult in to get your ice cream and waiting outside with the kids, unless there's a booth available inside, then just have a seat. It's gonna be worth the wait.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_WVDsY5stjB-PYMG0oXnBPEuUxl-8mZ0H7inxtAQk6eKjgPRVG5qeLXCUZRiKZfpXVz8SwRjRPnBp4EJp8iH2-pwtWF-Xyw96EWYj-dNmgj_UBCiUZCi3xm3ExYjq3dj_c7hyrlmCW9r/s1600/2012-05-19_15-56-53_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_WVDsY5stjB-PYMG0oXnBPEuUxl-8mZ0H7inxtAQk6eKjgPRVG5qeLXCUZRiKZfpXVz8SwRjRPnBp4EJp8iH2-pwtWF-Xyw96EWYj-dNmgj_UBCiUZCi3xm3ExYjq3dj_c7hyrlmCW9r/s320/2012-05-19_15-56-53_6.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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I got the peach ice cream the last time we were there, and it was amazing. Creamy, flavorful goodness. </div>
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I don't have a particular flavor that I love most, since I am an equal opportunity ice cream lover. </div>
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There are over 50 to choose from, and I'm betting they're all good.</div>
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A single scoop will run you about $2.60, and you can choose your cone. I don't like those ones that taste like Styrofoam. Go with the waffle cone. Trust me on this.</div>
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Gunther's has cakes, milkshakes, freezes, dipped cones, sundaes, floats, sandwiches, etc etc.</div>
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There's something for everyone, even the sugar or dairy free folks can find something delicious.</div>
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So, next time you're out & about and thinking of ice cream, bypass the chain and hit up the local spot.</div>
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Gunther's Ice Cream is located at 2801 Franklin, Sacramento, CA 95818</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-17467635267967591252012-04-20T09:28:00.000-07:002013-07-31T10:24:28.535-07:00The Hunger Games (aka, I am late to the party as usual)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hrQqAhbukfA/T5GLsK_2DcI/AAAAAAAAUHA/iSpivbjoxCU/s1600/hunger+games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hrQqAhbukfA/T5GLsK_2DcI/AAAAAAAAUHA/iSpivbjoxCU/s320/hunger+games.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I succumbed to Instagram as well, obviously.<br />
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I finally got around to reading the 1st book in the Hunger Games trilogy. It is definitely YA reading material, but I liked it nonetheless. It's something new and even though I don't normally read sci-fi, I'm more of a fantasy & historical lit girl, I gave this a try and it turned out to be a good bet. </div>
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This is exactly the kind of YA I think adults should be reading and I'll tell you haters why:</div>
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They're not your over-done teeny-bopper romance, and I can read these books quickly, get some enjoyment out of them, and then pass them on to my tween & teen to read. Bam! We now have a shared interest to pour over together that we didn't have before, and how can that possibly be a bad thing?</div>
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I think of myself as pretty literary, with a particular love for very wordy 1000+ page tomes, but I don't pretend like I'm too good for a YA series. If you go around judging every book before you've even cracked the cover, just because it's YA, you're probably a judgmental douche rocket. Just sayin'.</div>
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Anyway, I liked the book and think it's a good choice for an interesting, entertaining piece of brain candy. </div>
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-54806406936449881912012-03-25T11:02:00.000-07:002012-03-25T11:02:14.878-07:00No place like home<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZgjZwozT-aUKS7OnilWrrMg6x6uPIkRiaT-DcYQbWPyW4oK2mUsEj_8gycZ-IyiKqrEfFtv-cqOkZe_TmEbIySIWYuWdDe799adwQ8f91cJVJ8ySyr9Mx9JEIU7mresHCQMIh5hjZnvG/s1600/n629597634_1898978_1546525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZgjZwozT-aUKS7OnilWrrMg6x6uPIkRiaT-DcYQbWPyW4oK2mUsEj_8gycZ-IyiKqrEfFtv-cqOkZe_TmEbIySIWYuWdDe799adwQ8f91cJVJ8ySyr9Mx9JEIU7mresHCQMIh5hjZnvG/s320/n629597634_1898978_1546525.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-left;">Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to. ~John Ed Pearce</span></span></td></tr>
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Growing up in a somewhat small bedroom community surrounded by farmland, lots of my weekends as a little girl were spent visiting my parent's friend's horse ranch. I fed, groomed & rode horses from the age of about 7-15. I helped clean out the barn & shovel poop. Their house was surrounded by rolling hills and there was an undeniably beautiful silence out there.<br />
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When my mom was a little girl, she spent Summers out in the fields picking tomatoes. You could walk from one end of town to the other in under an hour and never feel the need to glance quickly behind you in fear of an unknown follower.<br />
And though it's had a lot of urban sprawl over the last 20 years, my hometown is the kind where most everybody really does know your name, and if they don't know yours, they certainly know your folks, or your grandparents. It's a place where people settle in to raise their children and stay for generations.<br />
<br />
I loved it there when I was little, but then I hit that age when all small town girls decide their dreams are just too big to be fenced in.<br />
I moved to a far-away city at the age of 17, and have kept on moving ever since.<br />
In the last few years, though, I seem to slowly be making my way back home again.<br />
At the age of 32, with a husband, 4 kids, a cat, and a dog, I think I am finally ready to set down roots.<br />
And isn't it ironic that the place I ran from 15 years ago is exactly the place I find myself heading towards?<br />
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</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-12457719126928492072012-03-21T16:34:00.002-07:002012-03-21T17:42:47.143-07:00Working Class Wednesday: The Art EditionMy husband Jude is a Systems Analyst by trade and an artist at heart.<br />
We need not ever spend a dime on reproduced prints for our walls.<br />
He has created some awesome original pieces that did not cost much to make but are definitely priceless.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWeL12_u8En7_qQTGJx-jnGPI_HGYpxU94xJrJw1KWji72bvbuOMxbmahLmDtH7603nzyCka2SUSKjUYKK4kvg_WOCxao3GrG-P4JW0x_B_gLkb0nwrBA3dUWMIJAWhQLX-WSzo1SFv5V/s1600/jude+boob+wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWeL12_u8En7_qQTGJx-jnGPI_HGYpxU94xJrJw1KWji72bvbuOMxbmahLmDtH7603nzyCka2SUSKjUYKK4kvg_WOCxao3GrG-P4JW0x_B_gLkb0nwrBA3dUWMIJAWhQLX-WSzo1SFv5V/s320/jude+boob+wing.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">©</span> JAC 2012 </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mdUoZvXLQ3Y/T2pk4v8IIDI/AAAAAAAAUGM/oMr6Yk1VTgA/s1600/jude+squares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mdUoZvXLQ3Y/T2pk4v8IIDI/AAAAAAAAUGM/oMr6Yk1VTgA/s320/jude+squares.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">©</span> JAC 2012 </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lnnSrkQhoeB61vpDJ0tP3wZyfN9F8Yzg_q6FmK2UOe41C-j4u3UTzbBJN738OKXdMe0dkgUa_vPdWmUivx_5iVWblGvEiSqHVC_Hqm00zIeFPpN7EtaSIx_7xM-zKkbMWIID4poPvoz4/s1600/jude+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lnnSrkQhoeB61vpDJ0tP3wZyfN9F8Yzg_q6FmK2UOe41C-j4u3UTzbBJN738OKXdMe0dkgUa_vPdWmUivx_5iVWblGvEiSqHVC_Hqm00zIeFPpN7EtaSIx_7xM-zKkbMWIID4poPvoz4/s320/jude+trees.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">©</span> JAC 2012 </td></tr>
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Explore your artistic side, and see what you come up with. You might end up with some unique, beautiful pieces to display.</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-90657538401383900282012-03-17T08:36:00.001-07:002013-07-31T10:24:28.616-07:00Things my husband saysMy husband (playing Skyrim): "You know, while I'm out adventuring, I have my wife at home working."<br />
Me: "That's how you know it's not real life."Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-68121008770768018992012-03-14T17:07:00.001-07:002012-03-14T17:07:21.764-07:00Working Class Wednesday: College on a budget<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSEXfxlDiiYQHv3V1FDKEtsw8K2DG49-IzCBmI1BpuW_4bXQUqXsuJIRbOc0a4MO3YzEPeNIPbaqykP6sDJuRTM1XkN15CDcXUBnaPy8vOVWSJfNN_PHVC-JQmnT9gWJymRrgbZJ2j37-/s1600/AmhpQcSCIAAUM6j.jpg-large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSEXfxlDiiYQHv3V1FDKEtsw8K2DG49-IzCBmI1BpuW_4bXQUqXsuJIRbOc0a4MO3YzEPeNIPbaqykP6sDJuRTM1XkN15CDcXUBnaPy8vOVWSJfNN_PHVC-JQmnT9gWJymRrgbZJ2j37-/s320/AmhpQcSCIAAUM6j.jpg-large" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what my weekends look like now</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I recently went back to Community College, after taking about 3 years off. My husband is also a college student. With 1 income, 4 kids, and 2 college students in our household, we were sure things would be tight for us this semester.<br />
Turns out, we could not have been more wrong.<br />
It's true, with the rising cost of tuition (currently capping out at a hefty $46 per unit here), books, and transportation, things might look a little bleak. But thanks to government Pell grants and a little something called the <a href="http://www.scc.losrios.edu/Current_Students/From_Enrollment_to_Graduation/Financial_Aid/Financial_Aid_Programs/The_Board_of_Governors_Enrollment_Fee_Waiver_(BOG_fee_waiver)/BOG_Fee_Waiver_Eligibility.htm">Board of Governor's Fee Waiver</a> here in California, we managed to have all of our tuition & administrative fees paid in full.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, financial aid does tend to come a few weeks after your classes start. So what happens when you show up to class with no books because the text is $150? You're S.O.L. right?<br />
<br />
Wrong.<br />
<br />
There is an awesome website called <a href="http://www.chegg.com/">Chegg</a>, where you can RENT textbooks for a fraction of what the school bookstores are charging you to buy them.<br />
For example, my Criminal Law book was listed as $134 in the bookstore and we paid just $46 for it.<br />
That. Is. Awesome.<br />
<br />
If you have any desire to go back to school, make sure you fill out a <a href="http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/">FAFSA</a> to find out if you're eligible for federal grants. Grants are most often money that you do not have to pay back. Did you read that? You don't have to pay it back! There are contingencies, like- you can't bomb your classes or drop out, or you might be asked to pay back a portion of the grant. So, get an A. Or a B. Or a C at the very worst. There are also tons of scholarships available to help get your butt back in school, you just need to know where to look. A good place to start is the school counselor & financial aid office.<br />
<br />
Also, it's much MUCH cheaper to attend a Community College and transfer to a University when you're a Junior. You could quite possibly get through 2 years of college without having to go broke or take out a student loan. It's totally worth it.<br />
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<br />
If you've been putting off school because you think you can't afford it, do yourself a favor and look into it again, you might be surprised at what you find.<br />
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-64286914548400688132012-03-09T06:00:00.000-08:002013-05-15T21:07:26.182-07:00Don't just stand there. Do something.When you see something happening that shouldn't be, do you just stand there, or do you DO something?<br />
I've been thinking a lot about the culture of "not my problem" that we're living in. We all love to pretend as if we're making a difference by posting some "awareness" status on Facebook, or re-tweeting a video on twitter. But when it comes right down to it- what are you really, physically DOING to help?<br />
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The sad reality is that there seems to be a serious lack of empathy these days. People are afraid of putting themselves out there (maybe even in harm's way) to help a fellow human. I don't understand this line of thinking. To me, that equates to "better you than me."<br />
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About a month ago, I was driving home from dropping the kids off at school and I noticed some guys in their late teens/early twenties in my neighbor's driveway. I had never met this neighbor, but I'd seen her several times, and I knew these guys didn't belong there.<br />
The closer I got, the more I could see what was going down.<br />
The guy in the driveway had broken her window with a rock.<br />
The other guy was keeping watch.<br />
There was a car waiting around the corner.<br />
This was not good, and all I could think of was what it felt like to come home after our <a href="http://www.welcometomiscellanea.com/2011/10/life-is-hard-but-i-keep-on-living-it.html">house had been robbed</a>.<br />
I remember how my 6yr old cried all night, and for several days after, my kids would huddle together in the same bed, too afraid to be separated.<br />
I did not want another person to feel that violation.<br />
<br />
So, I stopped my car, got out, started yelling, and chased the guys away.<br />
<br />
Me.<br />
A 32 year old mom in her jammies, with no weapon other than a stern voice.<br />
<br />
Then, I went inside my house, called the police and went back out to see where they had gone.<br />
At no point did I feel like I was in danger, and maybe that was because I really didn't care.<br />
Because I wanted them to be caught.
<br />
Who knows what they were really after? It could have been a quick smash & grab, or they could have been casing her house, only to show up later & assault her.<br />
The point is, I did something.<br />
<br />
Daily violations occur because people look the other way.<br />
This is not ok.<br />
Be vigilant. Don't be afraid to report a crime.<br />
If you see someone who needs help-HELP them.<br />
If the situation is too dangerous to intervene- call 911.<br />
For Pete's sake, just DO SOMETHING.<br />
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<br /></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-56409427578021323262011-11-19T10:17:00.000-08:002013-07-31T10:24:28.570-07:00EnigmaYesterday, I was looking back through all of my posts and realized that nothing really goes together.<br />
It's like I have multiple personalities and they each take turns writing posts.<br />
<br />
There's the funny one who writes posts like <a href="http://www.welcometomiscellanea.com/2010/08/house-hunting-makes-me-stabby.html">"Househunting makes me stabby"</a>, the depressed one who obviously wrote <br />
<a href="http://www.welcometomiscellanea.com/2010/09/when-i-was-bad.html">"When I was bad"</a>, the slightly bitchy baby-mama who penned <a href="http://www.welcometomiscellanea.com/2011/10/to-all-baby-daddies.html">"To all the baby-daddies"</a>, the know-it-all who is responsible for such gems as <a href="http://www.welcometomiscellanea.com/2011/01/oh-what-void-there-is-in-things-psa.html">"What a void there is in things"</a> and the total over-sharer who brought you <a href="http://www.welcometomiscellanea.com/2011/03/poor-people-shouldnt.html">"Poor people shouldn't"</a>.<br />
<br />
I have tried many times to do a blog-reboot, to define myself more clearly, to state obviously who I am and what I'm all about.<br />
But I think I'm realizing that it's just not possible.<br />
<br />
<br />
I am who I am, and that changes almost daily.<br />
I refuse to define myself by any one personality trait.<br />
I try weird hairstyles, change jobs, move to new cities, change school majors. I make statements and then recant them after rethinking them ALL THE TIME.<br />
<br />
I am often wrong about things. This is one of my favorite things about myself.<br />
I don't believe in absolutes.<br />
If I'm ever asked to describe myself in one word, I will answer with:<br />
Enigma.<br />
"A person with puzzling or contradictory character"<br />
"An inexplicable occurrence"<br />
<br />
Yes, I think that suits me well.<br />
<br />
So, I don't think I'll be doing anymore blog-reboots.<br />
I'll stay in the <a href="http://www.welcometomiscellanea.com/p/about.html">Land of Miscellanea</a>, where I am free to be as strange and incongruous as I like.Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-9083728295447559632011-11-17T20:41:00.001-08:002013-05-15T21:13:04.158-07:00That is love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmP5TWzd2VE/TsXkUygdcKI/AAAAAAAAT-4/eHE8nkeUiuc/s1600/DSCN9993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmP5TWzd2VE/TsXkUygdcKI/AAAAAAAAT-4/eHE8nkeUiuc/s320/DSCN9993.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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There are days when everything around me seems like it is<br />
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sparkling<br />
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and if I reach out my arm and stretch my fingers open wide</div>
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I can grab hold of the atmosphere and </div>
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fold it over us like a blanket </div>
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and forever be kept</div>
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warm and safe and happy.</div>
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That is love.</div>
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</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-89512983272324334352011-11-01T10:37:00.000-07:002011-11-17T21:15:43.155-08:00October, it's a wrap.<br />
October highlights.........<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLdH9uX944-qepCESPnsFoYtvN0iXfkZ3KSFfbrhDiXLr4ArGayvPe_aSwaKPLIecFL_5J-rpbMXOpENFE4IechBfL43DGg6_I176Ba-Bjg2bDojsslW3XDJb5QcOATjxts4WSgeHVzCe/s1600/1016111745_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLdH9uX944-qepCESPnsFoYtvN0iXfkZ3KSFfbrhDiXLr4ArGayvPe_aSwaKPLIecFL_5J-rpbMXOpENFE4IechBfL43DGg6_I176Ba-Bjg2bDojsslW3XDJb5QcOATjxts4WSgeHVzCe/s320/1016111745_0001.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adopted Abbey Road, the best terrier mix pup EVER.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sq__R3P8hXE/TrAp6nYlh3I/AAAAAAAAT6M/tRVGjispg2c/s200/1021111616.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="181" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got a Bride of Frank tattoo just for fun</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got dolled up & went to the LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring symphony with my husband</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLMFRbcIOS6BlnH5C5XE8psA-_8Kw3llyiUYb35yM5ke1PfHvpYIks2PAyuFpBU7i5hk_oSj9VFjZ8n7YOAKBeDu1KTqWb_EqoaH94lrl8fUd56P-lORSIBnnbfPq_9DFJZP7jLpBOtd5/s1600/327311_297696623593869_100000606022736_1131055_1100002144_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLMFRbcIOS6BlnH5C5XE8psA-_8Kw3llyiUYb35yM5ke1PfHvpYIks2PAyuFpBU7i5hk_oSj9VFjZ8n7YOAKBeDu1KTqWb_EqoaH94lrl8fUd56P-lORSIBnnbfPq_9DFJZP7jLpBOtd5/s320/327311_297696623593869_100000606022736_1131055_1100002144_o.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took my teenager to his (and my) first professional football game. Go Niners!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdxncRztqc1owB9Zloxjnu-j566yM3nlQKR4MMlTfwrWSHOSdBxw_PDXzhQxzLwAkCadzovsh93vdtKyHfQ41yFyVbSCaMRmm6SyiAjm4y9qEWJM9qMb0agnFGUi8KpJj8gE8T1Qtde1F/s1600/1030111808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdxncRztqc1owB9Zloxjnu-j566yM3nlQKR4MMlTfwrWSHOSdBxw_PDXzhQxzLwAkCadzovsh93vdtKyHfQ41yFyVbSCaMRmm6SyiAjm4y9qEWJM9qMb0agnFGUi8KpJj8gE8T1Qtde1F/s320/1030111808.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watched the sun setting over the Bay Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmB0-zZo4Z3F_LfyBMI8Y4aTq3e0uG8f8A7HtZQLKnZ4SVMc6FkwjGraXltzcPMJ_I204_kQfh8I3eopxvYasbpplmAxE8TsrMTa4dk9H9z6Iaie6fDav04YV1Dj4lWwFgpjwV3xo7TWf/s1600/1031111556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmB0-zZo4Z3F_LfyBMI8Y4aTq3e0uG8f8A7HtZQLKnZ4SVMc6FkwjGraXltzcPMJ_I204_kQfh8I3eopxvYasbpplmAxE8TsrMTa4dk9H9z6Iaie6fDav04YV1Dj4lWwFgpjwV3xo7TWf/s320/1031111556.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrated Halloween with a Crazy Princess, a Samurai, and a Serial Killer.</td></tr>
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November, you better bring it.<br />
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-4228340154761988502011-10-27T20:28:00.000-07:002013-05-15T21:13:04.149-07:00Random thoughts are random<br />
Sometimes I wish I was flat-chested so I could wear those deep V-neck tees without looking slutty.<br />
<br />
I really like that whole ombre thing that all the boho girls are doing with their hair. But isn't it funny that they pay all that money for it to look like they're growing out their dye job? Hm.<br />
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I was totally addicted to trying cupcakes form every dessert place in the greater Sacramento area, but I think I'm gonna switch it up and try the cannoli instead. People underestimate the cannoli.<br />
<br />
This year has been rough.<br />
<br />
I feel guilty for some unknown reason but I really want an iPhone.<br />
<br />
I keep telling people I'm 35, even though I'm 32. I don't know why.<br />
<br />
Parenting 4 kids is hard. If I don't get a vacation soon, I will probably have a complete psychotic break.<br />
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I finally figured out how to get/have/do what I want. It's called "just do it." I'm gonna go with that.<br />
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Somebody once told me they don't really listen to music. It's not a coincidence that I don't remember who that person was.<br />
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I really love Phantogram.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fin.</span></i><br />
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-36887506945182737102011-10-25T09:09:00.000-07:002013-07-31T10:24:28.548-07:00Family matters<br />
My mom titles all her emails to us "Family matters". I know that she is referring to matters, as in "issues", but I like to think that it's more like "Family MATTERS". It <i>means </i>something.<br />
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My family is huge, and with huge families comes a lot of crazy. There's always a few people who are not speaking, who have waged some kind of war on each other over some words that were said and probably not meant. But words are just words and my family is big on forgiveness and even bigger on love.<br />
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I think all parents & kids have issues that strain their relationship, especially when the kids are in their teens & 20's. Somehow all problems seem larger than they really are when you're still young and have yet to really experience the way that life can cut you in two.<br />
When you get a few more years under your belt, you start to realize that life is bigger than you. Other people have feelings and the things you say & do have a real, lasting effect on the ones you love.<br />
You also find yourself making some of the same choices as your parents and finally get a glimpse of understanding just what the hell the people who raised you were thinking.<br />
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And, when you are a parent and you hit a rough patch with your own children, it is really, quite humbling.<br />
You will want to call your mom <i>(and your dad & grandpa & grandma & aunts & uncles & even maybe some of your old teachers)</i> and apologize for having been a complete and total mess of a human being in your younger years.<br />
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But when you do call your parents and ask them how they got through those days with you and they answer that they had no idea what they were doing, either, it's like the biggest weight being lifted off your shoulders.<br />
There's nothing more encouraging than knowing that the people you respect and look to for guidance & support are just fumbling through life doing the best they can, too.<br />
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They never had the answers, either, and somehow you all made it out alive.<br />
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<br /></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-8447768689980221512011-10-20T20:59:00.000-07:002013-05-15T21:13:04.154-07:00To all the baby-daddies<br />
To the ex's, the one night stands, to the court- mandated visitors, the DNA questioners, the child support evaders, to all the baby-daddies:<br />
<br />
I don't know if it's occurred to you, but this whole parenthood thing? It's a full time gig.<br />
Even when your kid isn't with you- you're still a parent.<br />
<br />
When you're at work- you're still a parent.<br />
When you're out of town- you're still a parent.<br />
When you have a date- you're still a parent.<br />
When you're sleeping- you're still a parent.<br />
When you're drunk- you're still a parent.<br />
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And when life gets hard, and believe me it gets <i>really</i> hard, (especially during those teen years) you don't get to check out.<br />
If you lose your job, your girlfriend dumps you, your cat dies, your bills are piling up, you still have to get yourself out of bed every morning and make sure your child has everything he needs<i> </i><br />
<i>-including a feeling of being genuinely loved for exactly the person that he is <u>right in this moment</u>- </i>because all of that stuff? That's adult stuff<i>, </i>and the last time I checked, none of that stuff was your kid's responsibility.<br />
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Love your child.<br />
Treat him with respect.<br />
Tell him you're proud of him.<br />
Give him a reason to want to make you proud.<br />
And for the love of God, don't disappoint him.<br />
Just, be a dad. A <i>real</i> one.<br />
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Signed,<br />
Mama Bear<br />
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3487596348928375506.post-75589140273074407282011-10-18T08:44:00.000-07:002013-05-15T21:13:04.153-07:00Suck it, robbers.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Remember <a href="http://www.welcometomiscellanea.com/2011/09/my-other-car-is-bike.html">this post</a> where I went on & on about driving less & loving my bike so much? Yeah? Well, do you remember <a href="http://www.welcometomiscellanea.com/2011/10/life-is-hard-but-i-keep-on-living-it.html">my post</a> where I talked about our house being robbed? Are you connecting the dots yet? The jerks stole our bikes. The ironic part- my FAVORITE PART- of that story is how we had kept our bikes<i> inside </i>our house so they wouldn't get stolen. And then, our house was broken into and they stole the bikes <i>from inside the house. </i>I laugh every single time I tell that story. It never gets old. </div>
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I spent about 5 minutes being really bummed out, but then I remembered the bike my grandma had given me a couple years ago. It was an old, rusty, 10 speed, with non-working brakes and only 5 speeds, a seat covered in duct-tape and generally in disrepair. That old, ugly bike is a dream come true. I slapped on a new seat, had the husband fix the brakes & convert it into a 5 speed, invested in a heavy-duty lock, added a handlebar bag and some fancy lights and <b>BAM</b>.</div>
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Behold my hoopty it all it's cobbled-together glory!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3i6AlZiUxw/Tp2cfiSgw4I/AAAAAAAAT5w/UbH9lAbZ0lo/s1600/332555_10150333588002635_629597634_8190877_1785427235_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3i6AlZiUxw/Tp2cfiSgw4I/AAAAAAAAT5w/UbH9lAbZ0lo/s320/332555_10150333588002635_629597634_8190877_1785427235_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You better believe I am racking up the miles and bombing hills on this bad bitch all over town.<br />
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You cannot steal my joy, so<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> SUCK IT, ROBBERS!</span><br />
<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05590025935266741624noreply@blogger.com4