Saturday, December 20, 2008

Textually active....

text Pictures, Images and Photos


Surprise texts ROCK MY WORLD!! And, keep me dreaming and hoping for a better future.


Had a nice Christmas dinner tonight with the in-laws...albeit, at a restaurant. It was nice, civil, and I enjoyed myself with several members of the family. The children are always darling, and if you know me even a LITTLE bit, you know that I will always find the babies and hold them. They are like heat-seeking missiles to me. (chuckle)

Anyways....going to bed at a "reasonable" hour tonight.....between now (11:15pm) and midnight. Beats the heck out of the 2am-4am that I have been doing recently.

Night all!

Friday, December 19, 2008

I have so much to tell....

Gave away my little Yorkie, Teddy....much to my dismay. Luckily, to a wonderful new home.


I get to go meet Quincy Jones and have cookies with him at his house in LA in January!!


I am having jaw splints made next week to treat my TMJ. :(


I have finished my Christmas shopping.


Was emailed pics last night of the person who attacked me when I was 15. Am having difficulties sorting out my feelings about that...


Have started physical therapy again....for my TMJ.


Am looking forward to spending 2 weeks of Christmas vacation at home with my daughters.


I am having HUGE Disneyland withdrawls currently.


I am sleeping HORRIBLY. Going to bed between 2-4am, and waking up at 9-10am.


Am anticipating a great 2009!


I am elated and broken-hearted all at the same time. Full and yet empty at the same time. But, thankful for my life.


I am running crazy.


I think that's just a brief run-down. I noticed a few "regulars" popping on and not getting any updates....so, until I can process complete thoughts, this was all i could spit out of me while being slightly numb.


If I don't write sooner....Have yourself a VERY Merry Christmas!!!


OH!! I'm a Facebook addict now. For those of you who didn't know that already....

Friday, December 5, 2008

Life's been....

....a steep downward fall in the last +2 weeks.

I want to have a comeback like this gal:


Britney Spears

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

I see y'all....

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I have a bunch to catch you up on....but, I have a TON of paperwork to do for Dean.

Hopefully, I will finish up tonight or tomorrow, and be able to get my blog groove back on!!!


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Monday, November 24, 2008

It's that time again....

Christmas card: Santa's cutbacks Pictures, Images and Photos


I've got my Christmas cards ready to go, and a brand new address book to input names, addy's, home/cell/work/fax numbers, email addy's, birthdays, and anniversaries.

If you would like to make sure you get a Christmas card this year, please make sure that you email me AT LEAST your name and address!! I am hoping to get them out RIGHT after Thanksgiving!!


Have a FABULOUS Thanksgiving!! We will be sharing it with my family in southern California...AFTER celebrating it with both of our families that are here in town. Hopefully we can digest all that turkey during the long car rides!!!

Take care and thank you all for your thoughts, love, support, and prayers.

~M~

Thursday, November 20, 2008

I'm ready for a new title....





Well, I went and spent four hours (was scheduled for ONE hour....good thing I had nothing else to do) at school today. Getting registered, taking an admittance test (which I passed with flying colors!), getting a tour of their crime lab, checking out the evidence collection box that I would be assigned, and speaking with three of the directors of the school. I'm pumped. The cost is SSOOO much more than I was expecting....but I got a bunch of "insider" information about some grants and scholarships that very few people know about. I guess my age is going for me, also! (Nice to know that it comes in handy for SOMEthing!)

So, I came home and asked the girls what they thought about having a detective for a mom. I got mixed reviews. lol Bri says she doesn't like it because detectives get shot on TV. I told her I would wear a bullet-proof vest. ;)

Anyways.....thought that I would share that I am at least making sure the ball is rolling....little by little.....

"Detective Kumpe".

I could get used to being called a detective....

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Looing for my next endeavor....




That's right. CSI. Crime Scene Investigation. Looks like I am heading in that direction. I have an appointment with a tech school on Thursday. Get to walk through their lab, get a run-down of what schooling I will be needing, different jobs that I can go into upon completion of receiving my degree.

I'm leaning in a couple different directions. I am presuming that I will be starting out with either the city PD or county Sheriff's Dept. I'd like to work my way up to DOJ (Dept. of Justice), specializing in covert Internet crimes. (If you haven't already seen "Untraceable"....THAT'S EXACTLY what I would like to go into...)

Anyhow...we shall see how it goes. I had seriously considered becoming a Mortician. Looked into it extensively...but, a few points came up that I didn't think I could deal with well. So, I took that career off my list. I had a great reverence for morticians before....but, even more so, now.

I have a few connections in the Fresno PD...and Fresno County Sheriff's office...should I end up there. Another idea is to go into Private Investigating, which is very intriguing, also.

Many possibilities. I want to make sure I get it right. Choosing something that is not affected tremendously by the economy....has decent pay....a career that I can take with me no matter where I may live....and great benefits. I'm still young enough to make sure that I make the correct choice for my future....doing something that I REALLY enjoy.

Wish me luck! A new start...and I'm SO excited!

Friday, November 14, 2008

How can I.....

...feel like I'm in


Stairway to Heaven Pictures, Images and Photos




...when I feel like I am regularly trapped in



HELL Pictures, Images and Photos

Thursday, November 13, 2008

AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!

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Friends and Family, Please take one moment to read this email and support your local economy…..

Next week, Congress and the current Administration will determine whether to provide immediate support to the domestic auto industry to help it through one of the most difficult economic times in our nation’s history. Your help is needed immediately to let your US Senator and Representatives know how important the Domestic Automotive Manufacturers and their continued survival is to the future of this country.

We have created a fast and easy way to make your voice heard. All you have to do is click this link and then where it says MOBILIZE NOW, please enter your information and an email, addressed to your local US Senator and Representatives, will know you support the loan that the manufacturers are requesting in session next week. It is not only critical to the manufacturers but to you and the overall economy of this great nation.

It is critical for many reasons and many of them you can read about on the facts and fiction web page. We cannot stand another financial meltdown at this time. Whether you own and drive an American built or Import vehicle, the survival and success of our domestic brands are important to you. How many more jobs can we afford to lose? I bet you know somebody that would be directly affected if GM, Ford or Chrysler were gone tomorrow. Have you considered how it would trickle down to you yet?

This current crisis knows no geographic boundaries. What happens to the U.S. auto industry also has an immediate impact on Wall Street and Your Street. Did you know….

·4% of U.S. gross domestic product is auto-related and represents 10% of U.S. industrial production by value.
·1 out of every 10 U.S. jobs is auto-related, supporting approximately five million jobs across all 50 states.
·Domestic auto industry has invested nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars in the U.S., including $10 billion alone last year.
·The auto industry purchased $156 Billion in U.S. auto parts and is the largest purchaser of U.S. steel, aluminum, iron, copper, plastics, rubber and electronic and computer chips.
·Autos account for $690 billion, or about 20% of all U.S. retail sales
·Auto sales generate more than $10 billion dollars of annual tax revenue
·U.S.- based carmakers have 105 plants in 20 states, including California, Texas ,Kansas, Louisiana and Maryland.
·They support 14,000 dealers across the country, and these dealers in turn employ 740,000 people, with a total payroll of $35 billion a year.
·The auto companies provide pensions for 775,000 and health care benefit for 2 million.

Because carmarkers are so tightly woven into the fabric of the U.S. economy, the collapse of this industry would reach far beyond Detroit. The Center for Automotive Research predicts that a collapse would lead to:

·Widespread failures of supplier companies
·Put nearly 3 million people out of work
·Personal income would drop by $150 billion


Thanks for your support!

Friday, November 7, 2008

First one out of the gates....

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Well, it's official!!!


Briana got engaged to Lee this evening during their dinner together!!

Plans are for a summer 2010 wedding!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Not many things make me......

.......speechless.


Until tonight.


I really don't have anything to say, but God help us.



Saturday, November 1, 2008

Halloween 2008

For Halloween this year, I volunteered at our church "alternate" event....getting kids off the streets to a carnival environment where we pass out candy. We had about 200 - 250 people attend. I was running a booth for preschoolers, so I didn't get to take a bunch of pictures. I DID get 4 though....so, here they go.

They were taken on my Blackberry, so they aren't overly clear, and I an't fix the red eye....so, please forgive me. ;)




Me and Napolean

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Me and Gnome Gwendolyn

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"Rambo Wars"

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....and, my little Princess Katrina

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I hope you all had a FABULOUS and memorable Halloween!

Friday, October 31, 2008

What shall it be....TRICKS....or TREATS???

I know, I know...


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Looks like Batman ate one too many mini-Snickers.....

Halloween Pictures, Images and Photos



Beer and candy just don't mix...

HALLOWEEN Pictures, Images and Photos


How computer geeks spend their Halloween......ONLINE.....

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When good babies go bad....

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....and for my favoritest cousin who ROCKS at decorating.....





However you spend YOUR Halloween.....make it a FRIGHTFULLY delicious night!!!


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Party on!

Well....I have returned from my 4th trip to southern California in as many weeks. Went to a friends 50th birthday party in Mission Viejo, and had a great time. Saw old friends, and met some really great new ones. I'm waiting for some pics to come back from the birthday boy, so that this post doesn't look so....."naked". Until then...it's strictly text. Sorry.

Been getting into the mode of deciding what to do for a career. Looks like I will be going back to college, which is fine. Kicking around a few options. Since the entertainment biz is dry here in Fresno, I think I will just rely upon my connections for futher jobs in that area. Watch out....the choices here are gonna cover quite a wide spectrum. If you don't know me well enough by now, I'm quite diverse and multi-faceted. Looking at professional writer (travel/wine/restaurant critic), some sort of crime investigation (whether it be CSI forensic work or internet crime investigation), mortician (don't be so shocked!) or last but not least....Dean is really trying to get me to become a teacher....best possibility for me would either be Spanish or ESL. I don't think we have enough ESL students in the district where I want to work, though.....so, Spanish would be my choice. Looks like pension kicks in after 15 years, and the benefits are incredible. Just not sure if that's the direction I want to go. We shall see....

Anyhow, that's a quick update on me and my weekend. Will type in more luego!! ;)

Saturday, October 18, 2008

How long.....

....has it been since I last blogged??


Does anyone care??







Just wonderin'........

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Invited again....and Briana gets called for City Hall!!

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Remember that lovely charcoal sketch that Briana did a few months ago in BEGINNING art class???


Wellllll...........she decided to enter it, and the Marilyn Monroe sketch, into the Big Fresno Fair's fine art contest. With the drape sketch, she won 3rd in the "Advanced Art, Mixed Media" catagory!! YEA!! The fair opened today, and goes until October 13th.



Wanna hear some even COOLER news?!?!?!




She got a call tonight (actually, they had to leave a message on her phone because we were at church...), but she was asked if she would allow the sketch to be hung inside Fresno City Hall!!! There will be a reception on November 6th, with dinner and the whole she-bang! Too cool! I'm sure she will be meeting our Mayor, Alan Autry ("Bubba").





VERY cool for Briana!! She's already had it hung at Fresno City College....then published.....now this!! I'm BEAMING proud of her!!!



Wanna hear something ELSE that's too cool?!?!?





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Well, a few of you know that I had been invited to Quincy Jones' home...and didn't go. I hung with my cousin (and my daughters) a little over a week ago, and we all had a BLAST!! Besides driving my cousins new Bentley Continental GT (which I will need to do more of..), we all just had way too much fun! Welllll.....I got a note from her this evening, and she is wanting me to come down and she'll take me over to his home. I'm thinking I'm gonna take her up on her offer this time. To be invited ONCE and miss it is bad enough. But....to miss an opportunity like that TWICE....would just be flat out stupid! Sssoooooooo......for those of you who are interested, I will DEFINATELY take my camera, and get some pics of me and "Q" while I am there! I am not one to get star-struck at ALL....but, this is pretty damned cool, if may say so myself!

Anyways.....I'm gonna be a couch potato tonght.

Play a little on the computer....read some of the book that I am on....then try and crash. I have been sleeping a BUNCH the last two days, which usually means I am trying not to get sick. So, sleep I shall!




Lemme know whatcha think about the whole "going to Quicy's" field trip. I know that YOU'RE excited Kohl..... (chuckle)

xoxo

~M~

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Quick Pics...

Ok....so, I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off.....only....I'm gimping, because I have a new orthopeadic ankle brace. (Another story for another time....)

I'm gonna flash up some pics from our fabulous weekend, and then do a play-by-play when things (hopefully) calm down this weekend.


These are pics from Malibu at my cousins house....famous lounge/restaurant Moonshadows.....me driving her new Bentley.....and some from Disneyland.

Enjoy!!