lizardblog ( the blog of liz creech

November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving

There are many things to be thankful for today. I am a simple person and this morning the thing I am thankful for is that everything is timing out how I want it to. The turkey came out at 7a.m., I did a copy cat recipe for honey baked ham, and it looks wonderful too. I made quich for breakfast and it was good and came out how and when I wanted it to. Now I just have to time out the stove top items and we are golden.

There are some years where the thought of the holidays just wears me out. I hate the "have to's" and the commercialism. This year everyone gets a homemade gift, because we don't have the money to buy things, and I think I am going to fill their stockings with cookies and other simple homemade things, or we may just do away with stockings this year, we will see.

Alan and I have never really spent a lot, compared to many others. Years ago, when Katey was little, we decided to only buy them 2 gifts each, one thing they need and one thing they want. This came one year, after opening a huge pile of gifts, when one of our children turned and looked at us and said, "Is that all?". Sad, but true. I try to focus on being together as a family and having fun.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

posted by Liz at 9:20 AM - permalink - -

November 14, 2008
Grateful for Honda

We have a 2000 Honda Odyssey and I am very grateful for that vehicle. I have an idealized notion of how I want things to be but inevitably I am too lazy to make it that way. I said that to say that we are pretty hard on our cars. We usually don't have the money to change the oil when it needs it, not that it doesn't get done, it is just done later than it should be.

The only real "trouble" we have ever had with that car is at 108,000 miles when both the transmission and catalytic converter went out. Thankfully the dealer got it covered under warranty and we didn't have to pay the 7000.00 it would have been otherwise. In the last month or so it had started to run a little rough and I was concerned that something bad was going to happen. The check engine light had been on for awhile, I knew what it was, but we just didn't have the money to have it fixed. Ultimately, we had the EGR valve replaced, the cause of the check engine light, and it is back to running great. Our mechanic told me we need a new battery, I knew that too. The one I have in there is a 2003 and it is starting to struggle. So, I guess I will get a new battery on Saturday.

I have a tendency to always thing something bad is going to happen to one of the cars. So I drive around on pins and needles, not good. I just got to thinking yesterday after we went to pick up the Odyssey about how lucky we really are with that thing and I wanted to share it with you all. And the things they say about how good Honda's are - BELIEVE THEM!!

posted by Liz at 8:48 AM - permalink - -

October 25, 2008
I think you should wait

I think you should wait for a lot of things. What I am talking about is going to college and deciding on what you want to do for the rest of your life. I just wonder how many people actually change careers half way through their life? When I think about it, probably not many because it is easier to take the easy road, to not think about it and just do what you do. I never did anything in my degree, Corrections and Juvenile Services. I had Katey right before my last semester of college and we decided that we would be a traditional family and I would stay home and raise my own kids. Now, a million years later, I no longer want to do what I am doing. My kids are "grown" and I have a little more time to do what I want. I want to find something that I like to do and makes enough money to support my family - seems that is harder than I thought.

I want to change my future. I want to change my job. Now, the decision is what do I really want to do? What do I have to do to make something happen? There are options out there, but finding the time, energy and money to possibly make any of it happen is an issue.

Do I go back to school and become a nurse? Or do I try to start a business? Or do I help the domestic violence shelter start something that will help them earn money and in the future would help me with our monastery?

I just wish it was easier to see what would be best, what my family would benefit most from. If only I had a magic ball that would give me the answer. What if I make the wrong choice and worse things happen than what we are going through now?

posted by Liz at 10:15 AM - permalink - -

September 21, 2008
"When it rains it pours"

That is what the vet said when I had to take Peter to the vet the day after we spent WAYYYYY too much money on Angus.

Peter hadn't been acting right for a couple of days but with the obvious problem of Angus, he got over looked a little. So, on Wednesday morning I had to take him in because he was a sick kitty.

Turns out he had a blocked urethra. Let's just say that if the damn thing stops up again, he is going to have to be put down. I know that a lot of people don't like hearing that, but seriously, we just can't afford surgery for an animal. He ended up spending 2 days in the "hospital". It was tough going, and even though it wasn't as bad as one of our kids being gone, it came pretty close.

Oh, the end prognosis on Angus was that he had a type of mange. Mange, which I didn't know, is caused by parasitic infestation of the skin, microscopic mites . The vet said that all dogs have it but their body usually keeps it in check. I guess due to Angus age, 12, his body just wasn't fighting it. I would put a picture up of the poor dog right after we brought him home, but it is gross.

So, there has been a lot of pouring rain going on at the Creech household this week. I have to believe that "this too, shall pass". I hope.

posted by Liz at 11:50 AM - permalink - -

September 16, 2008
Pray for Angus

I wouldn't usually ask such a thing, but he and our children need your prayers. I took him to the vet today due to a re occurrance of a skin rash. Over the past couple of days it has just gotten worse, and last night he was pretty lethargic. When I took him in today, they started shaving hair to see the problem and it just kept uncovering more and more "wounds". It could be something as simple as an allergy or as bad as cancer. I am praying that it is an "easy" fix and he will just have to be shaved and wear a cone around his neck to keep from licking. I had to leave him at the vet so they could do some work on him, take blood, ex-rays and possibly a biopsy. So pray for our puppy.

posted by Liz at 12:30 PM - permalink - -

September 03, 2008
I don't know why I even still do this

Seems like have a pretty strong opinion on a lot of things. I just don't really have the time, or make the time to get on here and talk about it. Working 50-55 hours a week in a restaurant eats up most of my time and when I am off I am pretty physically tired. I am no wimp but working on a concrete floor just messes with a person. And dealing with people who just don't care, or are just out for something free wears on you as well. And I don't like the job as well as I thought I would, I can do it just fine, but it really doesn't make me happy. I don't see how people work for years and years in a job they don't like. So, it seems like the logical solution is to look for something else. I never really wanted to stay in the restaurant business anyway, nothing else came along when I really needed it. Believe me when I say that I am very grateful to have a job at all, and in general it is just fine, I just don't want to keep doing it until I retire.

Next topic. Alan and I bought the girls a "new" car. It is a 1999 Subaru Forester with (gasp!!) 199,900 miles on it when we bought it. It has now rolled on over to 200,110!!! It is a nice little car that drives like a dream. I know a new engine is coming, but we got it cheap just for that reason. And Subaru's are pretty safe and that is one of the main reasons we bought this one. I spoke to the lady who owned it before us and she really hated to let it go, but she drives an hour to work and she didn't want to get stuck on the road. I figure that even if we have to replace the engine "soon" it will end up being worth it. Everything inside it works and the brakes and tires are good. The back window wiper doesn't work, but that too can be fixed. The pressure it relieves by not having to drive everybody everywhere everyday makes it well worth having it. Oh, and the girls are excited too. Not their dream car but it is a car.

posted by Liz at 9:27 AM - permalink - -

July 05, 2008
Visit to old Haunts and friends

Yesterday I went back to my home town of Somerset, Kentucky. I had been trying to get back and visit for some time and finally, since I am on vacation, I took a day and went. It was better than I had hoped. I drove around for about an hour, past the house I lived in, past the church I went to, and in general was amazed by how much it had all grown. I am pretty sure that the houses in the neighborhood where I grew up have shrunk. My house had 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, living room, kitchen, dining room, and a den. I guess it was about 2000 square feet or so. When my mom and step-dad bought it they paid a whopping 13,000 for it in 1972 or 73. Crazy! I think that house now would sell for about 113,000.

I went to visit my friend Sheila, she does an awesome imitation of a chipmunk, which I did not ask her to do. She used to hate it because we asked her to do it soooo much!! We sat and talked for about 3 1/2 hours and could have sat for longer, but I had told other people I would meet them at specific times. It was very interesting how parallel our lives have actually been.

I visited Robert, my younger sisters father. I only stayed for about an hour, because there was really only so much we could talk about. It was good to see him though.

Then I went to eat with my childhood friend Rhonda. We grew up down the street from each other, and inevitably, if I was getting into trouble, it was with her. I always loved horses and she had one. It is a wonder I didn't die messing with that horse as much as we did. At one time, we were riding that horse, barebacked with a rope halter. I was on him and turned him back to where we had come from and he took off with me. I slid off and under him. His hoof hit my chest then caught my chin and I still have the scar from it!! Yeah, stupid I know. But we were dumb kids and I just wanted to ride.

It was a good time and I look forward to getting back together with them and trying to stay in touch. Good times to find out where and who people are now.

posted by Liz at 12:25 PM - permalink - -

spiritual

> vine & branches
> vineyard central

blogs

> Garden Escapades
> Trish Hiduk
> Maryann
> Alan Creech
> The Vine
> Little Houses
> Amber Bishop
> Jody Nixon
> Laura Ogle
> Debi Warford
> Jason & Brooke Evans
> Eric Keck
> Beth Keck
> Pete Matthews
> Trudi Matthews
> Brian Phillips
> Bryan Sherwood
> Malie
> Kim Johnson

Homeschool

> vegsource homeschool
> discovery school channel
> saxon math and phonics

general interest

> john rosemond's affermative parenting
> lisa welchel
> thunderstruck
> Homestar Runner

gardening

> Kids Gardening

books i like

Here are some books I suggests if you are looking to homeschool or just for information. I gleaned a lot from them. Our church gets credit if you buy through these links.

In their Own Way
by Thomas Armstrong

Seven Times Smarter
by Laurel Schmidt

How to Talk So Kids Can Learn
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Teen Proofing
by John Rosemond