Torn Rotator Cuff at AGE 10????

Yesterday, Ds came home from school to tell me that they had played, "Crab Soccer" at school. They got on the hands and feet with their chests pointed up, then had to "run" around AND try to play soccer at the same time. He said it was hard and they all got knocked down by the ball a lot. This morning, when he got up, he couldn't move his shoulder without it hurting. I called the doctor and got him right in - (which really surprised me). The doctor said he had over extended his shoulder and may have possibly even torn his rotator cuff. He's out of PE for two weeks at least and can't move, lift, push or carry anything with his left arm for at least two weeks. He's got to keep ice on it and rest it completley for a few days. So, he will stay home again tomorrow. I went to school to talk to them and explain what was going on. I met all three of his teachers and they are WONDERFUL, I am happy to report. They raved on DS and told him to take care of himself and not worry about anything. Thank goodness. I am a perpetual worry wart and don't want anyone to think he or I are less than perfect. Which, we are, but shhhhhhh.

I've Got the Blah's.....

I haven't got any energy and I don't feel like doing anything. All summer long I heard msyelf say, "When school starts, I'll yadda-yadda-yadda". Well, school started a week ago and I haven't done yadda!

I have spent far too much time on the computer looking at other blogs. I am intrigued by all of them. Everyone has such a passion. It's funny - when you pass someone in the aisle at the grocery store, you wouldn't dream they had a passion for something so strong that they had to write about it an dream about it. I love thrift stores and yard sales and really thought that it was something that I did for fun. But, now I find there is a whole bunch of folks out in Blogland that love them too. And they are obsesed like ME! I am NOT alone!

So, if it's not bad enough that I go saling and thrifting - now I have to photograph it, write about it and BLOG it too! As long as I keep up with the laundry and have a hot meal ready...maybe DH will never notice!

I (Heart) Nature

Isn't it fascinating how nature can do the most wonderful things? I took this picture this summer and I just love it.

Yes, I changed my blog name...again

I have been using monkeybox on ebay and every other site I fequents, so why not call this blog monkeybox too?

I was making breakfast yesterday morning when I noticed the odd array of dishes that I was using. All of these items were purchased at thrifts or yard sales. I just got the cool old 1950's red metal tray at the thrift last week for 50¢. My son's favorite color has always been orange. He found a set of bright orange 1970's metal enameled cups at a yard sale when he was about three. The fish plate is metal too. I paid $4.00 for a large bowl, four plates and four smaller bowls all with the same fish motif. Nearly all of my dishes are metal - they never wear out or break. The only downside is that they can't go in the microwave, but that's why paper plates were invented! As a wedding gift, I received two sets of really heavy duty nice blue specked enamel camping dishes. I have been using them every day for 15 years and they are still as good as new. In the background of the photo you can see one of my other favorite items - a set of metal enameled stove burner covers from an old coal stove. They are white with black speckles and are very heavy. I paid $2.00 for them at the Salvation Army years ago and even bought my new existing white stove with black accents just to match the covers! Now that deal devotion!

A New Blog Name

You might have noticed that I updated the name of my blog today. I seem to be talking more about myself and my lafe lately, but I will always talk about my bargains and any deals that I find!

Monday I got stuck outside the school in my car for over an hour during a horrible storm. They did a lock down and wouldn't let the kids OUT or the parents IN. Once we finally were reunited and started home, the streets were flooded and trees and limbs were down everywhere. We arrived home to a power outage and it didn't come on until 7:00 that night. This morning it was doing the same thing. We got ready and tried to go school. But, the street I live on was flooded, the highway was like a river and the lighening was cracking down everywhere. In the picture, you can't tell it, but there is a three foot ditch that runs between the sidewalk and the street. I just did not feel confident leaving him in those conditions. So, we came back home. I told him I wasn't sure if that make me a good Mother because I wouldn't leave him or a bad Mother because I didn't make him go to school. He said, "I think it makes you a GOOD Mom!" Of course, playing hookey makes anyone think their Mom is GREAT! Hopefully, he won't miss anything too important. I'll call a classmate later to see if they had any homework.

Sweet Little Chinese Babies

Have you ever bought something at a thrift (or otherwise) that just mde you smile? I picked up these four sweet litle Chinese babies last week for $2.00. Each one is made of Chinese silk and they are stuffed with husks or pods from rice or something organic. Each one fits right in the palm of your hand. Their cute little faces just beam up at me. I don't know what their intended use is but they just make me smile. They are in my kithcen near where I work just to make me happy for now.

Sock Monkey

I am always on the look out for sock monkeys when I go thrifting or yard saling. I may have mentioned this before. Once at a yard sale, I bought 11 sock monkeys for $10.00. They were all vintage and had personalities. So, when I listed them on ebay, rather than calling them Monkey #1, Monkey #2, etc., I named them Monty, Maggie, etc. and gave them life stories. They ended up selling for about $25.00-$50.00 EACH for a grand total of $287.00.

Not too long ago I bought two pairs of red heel socks at the thrift for $1.00. They were brand new and still had the sock monkey pattern included. So, last week, I decided to make a sock monkey - my first. I used to be quite "crafty" for lack of a better word. But, lately other interests had responsibilites have taken over my crafty time. It only took me a little over an hour to make him. Since this photo I have added a fun blue striped hat and striped scarf to him to give him character. I'm considering making some and listing them on ebay. I would love to find a niche that allowed me to sell on ebay, but not bring home so much STUFF all the time.

"When Can I Stay Home With You Again Forever?"

When DS started Kindergarten, he and I had not been apart for one minute since the day he was born. A rare occurance in today's society. If he couldn't go with me, I didn't go. And, really, I still pretty much do that today. On his first day of Kindergarten, after I picked him up, he got on my lap and asked, "When can I stay home with you again forever?" And, the hardest truth I ever admitted to him came out of my mouth - "Never." Growing up is hard, but he has progressed. Today he started Midle School - a new school, new teachers, a new schedule, etc. But, he'll do fine. I remember learing a lot of new things in 5th grade - not just polishing up math, handwriting and spelling like the previous years - but actually learning science, history, etc. He has a very sharp mind and can remember anything so I know learning new things will be right up his alley. Now, if I could just adjust....

The Big 4-Ooooh.

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 40. I don't even want to say that out loud. Mostly because I remember my 30th birthday like it was a year ago. Time is going too fast and I don't like it -not one little bit. My son starts Middle School on Monday and I am not dealing with all the emotions of getting older and him growing up very well right now. Have you seen that commercial where the lady is doing her son's laundry and they play, "Baby Boy is Growing Up..." and then the big 18 year old boy walks in? Damn, that makes me cry. That's going to be me - Mom to a .....MAN!

We got Stu the VUE back today after a week of driving the tiny rental around. It was something in the computer board, but it was all under warranty so it didn't cost us a dime. The really odd thing is that I noticed the mileage is 22,552 and I KNOW it was only 18,000 when they towed it to the dealership. DH got out the paperwork they gave us today, and sure enough, the mileage reads 18,052 on the paperwork. So, somehow when they reset the new computer board, it messed with the mileage and added 2,000 mies to it. Or someone took it to California for the weekend.....A call tomorrow will straighten it out, but I doubt they can change it back or fix it. I guess I am lucky that it wasn't 20,000 miles!

My Step-father's Mother died today. I only met her once, but she was a sweet lady and she meant the world to him and my Mom. The funeral is Saturday morning.

We went to the Open House at the Middle School on Monday night and met the teachers. His homeroom teacher seemed nice, but we really only said hello to her. Some of his friends are in his class, so that will help him adjust.



My son is ten years old and very bright and smart and grown up and all that good stuff. He has a very active imagination and still loves to play. I am going to stay close to home the next few days before he goes to school so he can play and be his three year old inner self. He gets into these games in his head and I don't have any idea what he is is doing. But, he's happy and having fun, so who cares! Other boys his age are into 4-wheelers, Playstation and dissing their Mom's. He still loves his Mama!

Stu the VUE, Where Are You?

DS and I were going to go to our favorite cheapy thrift yesterday morning. We went out to get into the car and it wouldn't start. I was freaked. I hate car trouble - it makes me feel so dumb and out of my element. I did have enough sense to realize that the fuel guage wasn't moving but the A/C, radio, etc. was all coming on. So, I am assuming it is the Fuel Pump. Luckily, it is all under warranty, so Saturn paid for it to be towed to the dealership and they sent me Hertz rental car. It is a 2006 Ford Focus with 21,000 miles on it. It's funny, becuase my VUE is a 2004 and it only has 18,000 miles on it. It is a nice car, but so small I feel like everyone is about to run over me. I want my VUE back. For the record, we have a Nissan Quest Mini-Van (Stan the Van) and the Saturn VUE (Stu the VUE). We should have Stu back on Wednesday of next week.

Today we took the little car out and did our errands. I got my driver's license renewed after the friendly Hertz guy reminded me yesterday that it was about to expire on Tuesday. (My birthday!) We went to the Salvation Army and the Attic thrift store too. I bought a lot of small stuff. My best find was a wooden nursery lamp with a wooden ferris wheel on it that revolves. That was $2.00. I also got a tiny itty bitty pottery pot with a cork in it. It's about as big around as a quarter. I have a terrible passion for miniature things. I also bought four small handmade little silk balls that are actually little Chinese babies. I'll post a photo soon. Not sure what on earth I will do with them, but they just spoke to me. Too cute!

Our Toliet Seat is Round, NOT Elongated!!!

How's that title for an attention getter??

I decided to buy a new toilet seat this week. Yes, a new one. Not a thing one would want to buy at a yard sale or thrift store, eh? So, I went to Lowe's in the 100 degree weather, walked across an acre of hot asphalt to get in the store and then I had to walk to the very, very way back of the store to find the toilet seats. Then, the one I needed - the elongated one - was on the top shelf where I couldn't reach it from my 5'2" status. So, I walked halfway up one of those really long aisles and pressed the "NEED HELP" button. Then a nice man came and handed me down my new toliet seat. So, then I walked back down the aisle, through the check out, across the asphalt and back into the now 100 degree car. Got home hot and ready to stay home. Went in to put on my new fancy-shcmancy toilet seat. D@mn! I should have bought the round one.

So, today, I went back to return it. Across the hot asphalt, across the store, etc. But, as I am walking across the back the Lowe's guys roll out these huge carts of Clearance items. Well, Clearance is my middle name so I stop and check it out. Stuff was marked crazy cheap! I bought two Christmas gifts that were $19.98 for only $3.00 each. I got a great hanging storage shelf unit for the closet that was $24.98 for $3.00 and two white wooden mantle wall shelves that were $29.98 each for $5.00 each. The elongated seat netted me a $25.05 refund so I applied that to the Clearance goodies and the ROUND seat and I only had to pay another $18.00 for the rest of it.

Moral of the story - A big mistake may turn into a great deal!

Diaper Bags, Wicker Table and Beanie Babies

A week ago I went to one of my thrifts where I really like the people that work there. The lady that runs the whole thrift showed me these great diaper bags and asked me if I sold on ebay. Actually, she said, "You sell on ebay, right?" I told her yes so she offered me these eight diaper bags that were priced at $69.99 for $4.00 each if I bought them all. So, I decided to try them. They are a brand called Rub-A-Dub-Dub, so I googled them and found out that these are the rage right now. Apparently Katie and Tom even use them! I have one listed right now and it has a lot of watchers and a few bids. I am interested to see how it ends and how I will do with them in the end.

Went to Hobby Lobby on Tuesday to see if they had any furniture left at 66% off. I have been wanting something to store all my scrapbooking stuff in, but I don't want one of those clear plastic rolling carts. I found a wrought iron table with three basket drawers. I will put all my stickers, scissors, punches, papers, etc. in it and it can be out in the open where I can access it, but no one will know that it is my scrapbooking stuff. So, I am pleased. It was $99.99 which is an outrage, but I paid $33.00 for it, so that is a good thing!

This morning DS and I went to the thrift quickly (I don't even remember what I got there - it's still in the bags)and them to Lowe's. We passed a yard sale and stopped even though the temperature is already nearing 100 today. DS found a tub full of mint with tags Beanie Baies for 50¢ each. Now, I know that these aren't worth much, but he loves them and it gives him something to collect that we can store and display. He has bought a few at stores, but mostly they come from the Salvation Army, thrift stores and yard sales. He only buys new clean ones with the tags, so maybe someday they will be worth a little bit since people are getting rid of them now. Anyway, he got $12.00 worth so that is 24 Beanies. Most had $15.00 price tags on them and they were the old ones like Quakers, Peanut, Righty and Lefty, etc. I got a cool old turkey planter from the 50's and a hand stitched felt watermelon for my Watermelon collection.