Bookbinder
Current mood: awake

  Dr. George Zeller was a man ahead of his time. He was the first to try an "open" campus approach to his mental hospital. His patients were able to walk freely around the courtyards, while the residents had the peace of gigantic chain-link fence guarding the asylum.
  On one particular day, a bus came in from Chicago with new patients. After a complete diagnosis for each patient, Zeller came across a rather unusal patient. He was mute, but there seemed to be nothing physically wrong with him. Dr. Zeller tried to give patients who were well enough jobs to keep their spirits up. Since this mute man looked healthy and stong, Zeller decided to place him working in the cemetaries on campus.
    "What is his name?"
  No one seemed to know. There was no medical records about this man. All the records showed was he worked binding books. Thus, needing a name, the records clearly stated his name as A. Bookbinder.
  Bookbinder worked hard in the cemetary. On the day of his first funeral, Bookbinder and a couple of other patients dug the 6 foot hole. After a while, the priest, a couple of nurses, and Dr. Zeller came to the ceremony. The priest started his ceremony when a wail could be heard. Everything stopped and all turned to the noise. Leaning his body onto a Weeping Willow, Bookbinder buried his head into his arm and grieved for the poor soul. Most were startled for this was the only sound they ever heard from Bookbinder. The funeral continued. Afterwards, Bookbinder pulled himself together and started to cover the coffin.
  Every funeral would be the same. Bookbinder would dig the hole. As the funeral would start, Bookbinder would head over to the Weeping Willow and mourn for the poor soul. His tears were real. His sorry was real. No one knew though why he felt the need to mourn for those he did not know. Maybe it was because so many of them were property of the State of Illinois. The patients had no names, but just numbers to keep them in record books. Even their tombstones were imprinted with a number. To everyone these patients were just empty humans, but to Bookbinder they were living, breathing people with wants, needs, and fears. Or maybe he cried because their familes had forgotten all about them. They were locked away and lost all ties with everyone in the outside world. Maybe Bookbinder cried because he felt someone needed to mourn the dead.
  After the funeral, he would go and start to throw the dirt on the coffin til the job was finished. He would then carry on with his life.
  Bookbinder spent many years on the asylum campus. He became a very well-liked man, which is why the day he passed, many of the staff and patients felt a great loss. The day of Bookbinders funeral was more of a shut down of the facilities as many of the doctors, nurses, and patients came to give their final respects to the kind, silent man.
  The priest started the opening prayer when the sound of wailing was heard from beyond the crowd. The priest stopped and all eyes turned to the Weeping Willow. There stood Bookbinder, plain as could be, weeping for his own soul. Dr. Zeller ordered some men to open the coffin lid. As soon as the coffin was open. the wailing stopped. Bookbinder laid dead in his coffin. Dr. Zeller insisted the funeral go on, even though some became frightened of seeing the dead Bookbinder at the tree and ran off.
  Afterwards, the old Weeping Willow tree started to wither. Dr. Zeller did not want a dying tree on his property, so he ordered it to be chopped down. A yound man went to go and do the job. He returned after a short while, claiming that he could not chop down the tree for everytime he hit the tree with the axe it wailed as if in pain. The man excused himself and decided not to finish the job.
  A few months later, the Weeping Willow was slipping farther into death. Dr. Zeller ordered to have the tree burned to the ground. He hired three men to do this. All of them went, but returned rather quickly. All of them claimed that as soon as they set fire to the Weeping Willow it began to cry in pain, so they put out the fire and left. They would not burn down the tree.
  Dr. Zeller assumed Bookbinder still had an attachment to the Weeping Willow, so he let the tree stay there slowly dying until in fell over in a storm.
  The Weeping Willow may be gone now. No one quite knows where A. Bookbinder was buried. But to the residents in Bartonville, Bookbinder still lives on the hospital grounds.

http://savethebowen.com/default.php  And if you go here, you can save the Main hospital building we all know and love!

3:56 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Tired and Bored...a Winning Combination
Current mood: blah

  Sometimes I get bored. Yesterday was one of those days. The kids were at school, Rick was sick, and I had all the time in the world for the most part. What did I end up doing? Spending money, of course. Isn't that what yuppie moms do?? Of course, I didn't make it to Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel, but I did manage to make it to Once Upon A Child, where I bought Ricky a Thomas comforter. I did buy Brendan some birthday invitations, so he can have a party. And I did manage to find Brendan a cool Indiana Jones costume because I know he will love. About the only thing I bought for myself was a new pair of khaki pants and white polo shirt. And some Starbucks....yum!
  Today is just a blah day for me. I have a lot to do at work today and I am not sure if I am going to be able to get it all done. I hope so...I have 8 hours to do it, but you never know what will happen. Sometimes people just drive me batty. But then again, I am sure I drive some people batty. I am a little tired. Last night I was exhausted, but Ricky did not want to sleep. And he kicked me in the face.
  Thinking about Christmas lists for the boys right now. Need to get that started so I will have a good Christmas for them. I have learned that if you try to do it around the Christmas season, you end up spending a lot more money and being depressed because of the lack of green you have. If you space it out just right, then I can have the boys done by November for the most part and worry about family and during the rush of it all. I think this year I am going to be very sparse on my spending. I do however want to have some kind of party. I want people to come and see me. I like that idea.
  I should go and do the things that a mom has to do like clean. I don't want to though...but the house is calling. grrr!

Currently listening : Let Go of Your Bad Days By Salteens Release date: 2007-01-08

1:45 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Autumn is Coming
Current mood: bouncy

  Summer is once again coming to a close. I yearn for the warmth of the sun, long days, and for everything to be full of life once again. Now that Autumn is right around the corner, I feel a little sadden by it. But do not think I am depressed. I am looking forward to FOOTBALL! Oh yeah! And all the holidays that make time go by a little faster. 
  Halloween was a magical time to dress in costume and run around you neighborhood gathering candy. As soon as you would get home, you would dump out your stash to see what goodies were in there. I, of course, always ate the chocolate first, so I was stuck with the suckers, Now and Laters, and Sweetarts after a couple of weeks. I would devour my candy so quickly, enjoying piece after delicious piece for twenty-four hours if my permitted me to. She wouldn't. My sister on the other hand would hord her candy until Christmas. As you grew older, Halloween became less and less of a thrill. Now that I am a parent, Halloween has a whole new context. I get to watch Brendan (and Ricky this year) make their way in whatever costume they desire to candy heaven. I think for the most part, I will be eatting Ricky's candy, but only the ones he can't eat.
  Thanksgiving was the holiday that was so boring to me. So I got to eat a lot of food and pie, but besiides that I was bored as hell. Now, it is a different story. I get to sit in front of the TV, watching the games, and eatting until I can eat no longer. I love it.
  Christmas is the holiday I look forward to the most. I love that time of year. Having children, the joy has changed though to watching their eyes fill with delight as Santa brings them presents. Unfortunately, I am hurting for a couple of months after that, but it is worth seeing them get all excited about the season. I love being with my friends and family. I love eatting all of those delicioius treats. Unfortunately, it seems that Christmas is shoved down our throats before October, so I hold of on bubbling over until that season approaches. I get stressed out enough around the holiday season, I don't want to add any extra stress before then.
  After New Year's, I have nothing to look forward until Spring. And Valentine's Day, of course. However, I long for Spring to come and melt Winter's cold snow and warm up the wind, so I can once again look forward to another year to play out in the sun.

1:50 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

I hate doing this to you guys
Current mood: adored

  Well, it is that time of year! And I bet you are all wondering what I am talking about. I am here to tell you!!! It is time to buy wrapping paper! Woo-hoo...everyone rejoice, kind of.
  If you have children, then you know what I am talking about with the whole fundraising bit, I am sure you all remember doing this in school too. Well, that is what my sweet little Brendan is doing right now. The great thing is he is registered online, so all of you people who I don't see on a regular basis can still order. Isn't that fabulous??
  Half of your purchase goes to his school. And let me tell you, Brendan really does go to a wonderful school. Click here to see the school. I am happy to see so much progress in Brendan too. So really you are helping out for a good cause.
  So all you have to do is click on the link that I have pasted here. (And it is a safe link.) Take a look around and if you see something you like, then get it. I know he is in Second grade and could care less about selling these items, except for maybe the chocolate, but as any 8 year old, he would like the points he gets so he can get prizes. (Remember those prize points. hehe!) So click away and have some fun.
  P.S. Please no comments on how I am trying to get you to buy something from my son. If you don't want anything, I am not going to hound you on it, but please refrain from leaving your comments on this blog.
  P.S.S Orders are due September 12th. Here is the link:

Seller: BRENDAN Seller ID R15102D
School: BARRETTS SCHOOL
School Number: 122220

Click the link below to visit Innisbrook.com and they will recognize me and my school automatically.

http://www.innisbrook.com/index_students.cfm?id1=R15102D&id2=&id3=

If the above link does not work:
1. Click below
2. Enter the Seller ID R15102D
www.innisbrook.com/id.cfm

 

2:14 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Spiders! Spiders!

  This week I have been a bug magnet. And not just any bugs, but spiders. If you know my fear of arachnids, then you will know that it gives me the willies. Don't know why they are attracted to me this week, but for some reason they are.

  Live has been good. Nothing really to report so far. I am sure I will have more to say. I just wanted to send out a note. Wanted to let people know that I am still alive and kicking!

4:37 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Done and Over With
Current mood: content

  I can now breathe a sigh of relief. For once, I can sleep without thinking of the 8 million things I should be doing. So lets pack up the bags and wait one more year until I have to do it all over again. That is right...all over again...but maybe not in one year...maybe in a few more months. I am not sure. We will have to see where this will be. Have to be married in the Catholic Church and not in a "park." But let me tell you, this "park" was beautiful.
  Did everything run smoothly? Of course not, but it ran as smoothly as possible. There were things that I wanted that did not happen. I am just happy that now I can say I am married and I am ready to continue to the next step forward, which would be retirement. hahah!
  Some of you have been asking me what we are doing for our honeymoon. Well, Rick and I want to take a week cruise. And if you know anything about the weather, you will know that a cruise right now is not the right time. If you have no clue, go to the Weather Channel and check out the Atlantic. I don't want to be docked at some port while a Category 5 hurricane is hitting the Carribean. So while you are all freezing up here in the Midwest, I will be soaking up the sun. We thought about Europe, but decided do nothing for a week would be a lot more exciting.

  I will get some pics up here soon. Just keep looking, Love ya all!

9:48 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

H-E-Double Hockey Sticks
Current mood: moody

   The last couple of weeks have been hell or at least that is how I have felt. I go to bed with thoughts filling my head, slowly giving me tension headaches. I wake up in the morning, drowned in a subdued conscience, to go through the motions of the day, and find myself in the same boat that night. I am thankful for Kathleen, who has been my confidant the last month or so. Thankfully, my panic will be over, but it has been one living nightmare for the most part.
  I am irritated because people that I care for will not be there for my special day. Some of these people I gave notice to as soon as everything was set in stone to find that these people will not be there. This irks me quite a bit, because I would believe that they would want to be there for my special day...Maybe once this all over and done with, I will understand, but at this moment, I do not.
  The invitations have been all screwed up. I have gotten invitations back because I had the wrong address. Also, I have found a couple scattered around because I was trying to keep them out of little people hands. I feel horrible, because there were people that I wanted to invite, did not have the room for, so I decided to make room for others to find out they will not be coming. I feel bad because there are people out there who probably hate me because they were expecting an invitation and never got one. 
  On a brighter note, I got in touch with my friend, Eric. I am so happy to hear from him. We are going to meet up here soon before he goes to Afghanastan. I pray that the silly little punk I knew doesn't do anything silly, so he can come back and we can have more wild and crazy times. I have missed my good friend. I am glad that he is back in my life.  And Eric, if you ever read this, you know I love you so much!! You have been there a lot for me. And thanks for the flowers you sent me a long time ago...you made me smile. And your note still makes me laugh when I think about it.
  I should be going off to bed. I have a lot of people to call...and a lot of stuff to do tomorrow. But I love you all!!

Currently listening : Perfect Day By Cascada Release date: 2008-03-04

10:04 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Yeah, I’m Bored
Current mood: bored

  I am bored. Oh, so bored. I am here in the house with no kids, no Rick, and no work tomorrow. I should be out having the time of my life right now, but I am not. Nothing to do. No where to go. No life and no car either.

Rick is in Montana, which explains why there is no car here. I have been working, so that has passed the time a little bit. When I am not working, I am here at home...wishing I could be out doing something or with someone to have a friendly chat with. Kind of sucks.

Someone drop me a line...I need to feel like I have a life.

1:32 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Life as a Sim
Current mood: pissy

  I have told you all that my days of sanity are numbered. Well, I think this was the very last one. I am at the brink of losing my mind. I wish I could say that all of this chaos has made my days exciting, but that would be a lie. In fact, it makes my days drab and unbearable when I think of all the things that must be done. My life is a SIM. I just move and click my actions because half the time I am not sure what I am really doing.
  I wrote all of my bridesmaids last week. Kind of an impromptu of "who still wants to be in my bridal party?" And guess what...No one wrote me...not a single one. I have waited patiently, checking my email everyday to see if there is anything in my inbox. I am kind of sad by all this. I was just going to have my mom order all of the dresses on her credit card and have the bridesmaids pay back what they could when they could, so there would be none of the "I don't have the money now." I at least thought that way there could be a little bit of a payment plan. So without knowing how many bridesmaids there are, I cannot call and set up an appointment to get all of our hair done. And I don't want to wait any longer because if I do, then I will not be able to get the dress I want and then I will be up a creek without a paddle. So I guess I will wait until Wed. and if I don't hear anything then I will talk to my mom and just tell her to get a dress for Shawna. I am a little sad by this. I guess I thought people would be overjoyed. And I am down here with no one to share my ideas except for my coworkers.
  I am going to quit bitching....and go to a world I can control: The Sims. At least for the most part, they listen to what I tell them to do.

7:10 PM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Losing my sanity
Current mood: rushed

  My days of sanity are numbered. That is if I was already sane to begin with, because I am thinking that I have never been. The last couple of weeks have been really freaking me out.
  Last weekend we went up to Peoria. I was hoping to be up there for the entire weekend, but I had to work on Sunday. Bummer, I know, but that is the way it happens sometimes. It was probably a good thing because there was a lot of things that I had to get done in a short time span. However, we were up in Peoria. It was time to go and look for bridesmaids dresses and all that jazz. The first place we looked at was so horrible rude to us that I decided that I would not get anything from there. We stayed there for a short time and left. The second place we tried was so helpful that I had no problem finding the dress I wanted in the color I wanted. Rick and I were so happy about it. Now I just have to wait for my bridesmaids to get in contact with me. Silly girls. However when we showed the dress to my mom, she had to put in her two cents too. The color was so dark and why did we choose such a long dress? First off, the dress is really light and airy, nothing to worry about. I have to wear a 500 pound dress, so I am more worried about me, then anyone else. Also, the colors of out wedding out burgundy and pink. We choose burgundy because that was the color the dress came in. Taken care of though. Today, I have to pick out the courses for the food we will be serving. My dad (putting in his two cents) wanted this buffett, but I am not going to do it. You want to know why. 1) I don't want a buffett and 2) I don't like the idea that fried chicken is one of the choices as a meat entree. I am not that much of a hick. And I don't want my poor guest to feel like the have to use twenty napkins to eat. Also, let us not get started on the ceremony and my dad's ideas. One of them is a CD player for the wedding music. Ummmm....no! But I am going to end this thought right now.
  So yesterday is when our Regional VP came into our store. That is one of the reasons that I had to go and get the basement all ready. Let me tell you, it looked good. I love my little team. But he showed up with Pat. While Ed (our RVP) was talking to Ellen, Pat (our District Manager) and I went to go grab a paper. She told me that she was telling Ed all about me. How she liked my energy and spirit. OK, good that the district manager likes me, but why if Ed doesn't this. I showed him the basement. Went through the tour with him down there. And talked about other things...told him things that I had done to fix it. And he was wondering if I had done this all before. Ummm, no I have not. But he was impressed that I have taken this position and have done so much in less the two months. Yeah for me! Now i can breathe a little bit easier.
  So after all this going on yesterday, I came home and took a nap. When I woke up from my nap, I rolled over and realized Ricky was not there. I started freaking because he is always with me in the early morning. I looked over the side of the bed. He was not there. I ran down the hallway looking in the loft, Brendan's room, and the bathrooms. He was not there. I checked the stairs with my worst fears that he fell down them and no one heard. Then it hit me, that Ricky was at Mimi's house and he had not been with me at all. And also, it was not morning, but 6:30 in the evening. I am such a dork.
  Well, I have so much to do. It is my day off and that means I have so many people to call and so much to do. Hope everyone has a good hump day.

6:05 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment