So  how was every ones Christmas vacation? Mine was more of an ADVENTURE:)
It all started when my son came down from Fort Lewis Washington. He is now Private Sierra. Airborne special ops ammunition specialist:)
We end up spending the night at Earlimart and then off to our semi adventure. My younger brother is living in Mesquite Nevada. So Me ,both my sons ,my brother and my sons girlfriend drive 7 hours to get there. We get there and its already dark. My brother says lets go to dinner and follow us. He takes my son in his car and we follow him. Well we should have said are we staying IN STATE? The next thing we know we are leaving Nevada. A sign says your now in Arizona. We are then entering some sorta gorge. Its called Virgin River Gorge. If your not familiar with that ,,it can be scary just to drive up and all of a sudden HUGE MOUNTAINS on both side of you. I tell my brother He does know we just drove 7 hours right? I mean come on. We then see a sign that says UTAH!!! There is NO CELL PHONE for about 20 miles through this gorge. I say THATS WHY HE TOOK MY SON:) He took him so that way we would have to follow him. Smart guy. We did have a great dinner about 45 minutes after we arrived in Mesquite and you  know it was nice but a warning would have been NICE:)
We spend another day there with him and his family and we do what most people do when in Nevada. GO SHOOTING:) I love to go shooting and its a family bonding deal:)

The rest of his visit was really laid back. We spent the rest of our vacation just at home doing a movie marathon week. Just  us  and I couldn't ask for a better time. I do miss my son when he is away training in the  army and I am very proud of him. His orders keep changing. So who knows when I will next see him but it was such a gift to have him home:)

OK Your at a bus stop. There are kids in your van and your a day care operator and so you have some kids in the van. Its two adults and so you both decide to get out of the van..HOW STUPID IS THAT THOUGHT? You leave some babies all alone in the van WHILE ITS RUNNING! SO what happens? You guessed it. Someone steals the van. There are people who are just fresh out of jail or Prison at the bus stop. SO I am glad the kids are ok and both women got arrested.

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From Channel 23 news.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A Bakersfield day care provider and her daughter have been arrested after police said they left four young children outside in a van that a man then stole with the children inside.Police said Joyce Lilly and her daughter, Carla Littlejohn, left four kids in a running van at the Greyhound bus station on 18th Street while they went inside.While Lilly and Littlejohn were inside the station, a man jumped in the van and drove away from the station.
Police said one of the kids became so terrified she jumped from the moving van and suffered some scrapes.Police found the van a few blocks away with children inside and unharmed.Lilly and Littlejohn both face child endangerment charges.Police are still looking for a 50-year-old black man who they said jumped in the van and drove it. He’s about 6 feet tall and 170 pounds.Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bakersfield Police Department.
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Then this link wont work but its MORE STUPID PEOPLE.

OK Your in Delano and Mcfarland right. SOOOO you ALLEGEDLY  kidnap someone and want 60,000 dollars. GOD DAM. THEN your allegedly selling drugs.YOUNG AND STUPID

http://www.bakersfield.com/...

Do you let the horrible and great things in life define you? Do they make you who you are?
I was reading about some person that went deaf in life. That they didn't let the deafness be something that was negative in their life. They didn't let it be the main characteristic that defined them.
I have to say I have had some less then great things happen in my life. Deafness in 2001 was one of those things. But If I hadn't become deaf? Would I be a different person now? I would have to say YES. I don't know if I would have been as strong or positive in life. I try to seek positives in things and at times say Why would that have happened? I am at loss for a few things butttttt,,,,,
I know it shaped me. It made me really listen better to my family and friends. Made some of them more understanding and with MORE PATIENCE:) BUT it doesn't define me. I have learned to adapt. I have my cell phone and I am a text kinda gal and email girl:) I do have my SPECIAL phone which can be so much fun at times. BUT not everyone knows how to use a VCO phone call. A VOICE CARRY OVER conversation is with me talking on the phone and then saying GA which tells the other person Go Ahead. Then that person talking and an operator types  what is said. ALWAYS FUN:) You get no privacy but something it needs to be done. I always tell the operator god bless because I am sure they aren't paid enough. Last week I told the operator If I don't get you again soon,,HAPPY THANKSGIVING. She said I have had you before,, I hope to have you again. Now I find that HILARIOUS:) You see the code for the operator as some numbers and then a F or M at the end. For female or Male. Sometimes I wonder how the males handle GIRL calls:) Oh well,, tis the life for them I guess. BUT GOD BLESS THEM since I would be lost without them at times.

There is two ways you can call into the 711 system. Computer,,or home regular TTY machine. If you call on the computer. You type and the operator has to say what you type:) now that's where my fun can happen. YA,,,, I have typed to a friend,," WHAT UP HO!" She almost died because my operator has to say it. If I were to say"I buried my neighbor in the backyard for doing the Macarena  naked with the window open". THEY CANT TELL ON ME. NOPE. They are legally obligated NOT TO TELL. See how my funny trait can deal with that? Ya:)

You know if I had to become deaf,,then so be it. It could have been worse. The tumors COULD have and would have killed me if I had never done a thing. BUT I don't think of myself as this "deaf " helpless girl.  I think people who end up with NF2 are the some of the strongest people alive. I mean who wants never ending MRI's done every year? Who wants to live their whole life thinking of tumors could be happening all the time? Since I have it,I have donated my hearing nerves,,my tumors and my surgeries are taped. I even said they need a guinea pig look me up. How else do you let them learn? How else can I help my family? Its genetic. So I want to help my family down the line.
Just don't let the negatives hurt you in life. Try to turn them into something that defines you in a  postive light. I wont be that girl was know as OH THAT DEAF GIRL? I want to be known as the girl that was always smiling:) NO MATTER WHAT.

I think us Bakotopians need to start cleaning out our closets. If your not able to donate money I think you could possibly donate things or clothes that you really don't need. I mean do you really need all those Jackets? You cant wear them all at the same time. And its going to be getting VERY cold soon. I cant believe how many fires are going on right now. SO get busy and I challenge all Bakotopians to DONATE!!! There is so much love here in Bakotopia ,,now is the time so SHOW it :)

I went to the Burn the Witch show on Saturday. I LOVE The show. It is an ALL WOMEN show. All the art done there is ALL WOMEN. I have to say I am so biased:) Many of the artists are my friends. So I get there and its VERY CROWED. There is so many people. There was more people THIS year then last year. And the art I think was just as amazing. I know that people are going to come again this Saturday. Its from  5-7 pm this Saturday the 20th.
I say lets make this a field trip:)

So how was your weekend? Could you breath at all? I am shocked if you could.
I took some pictures because the sky was so dirty. I know its from that fire over the mountains but gosh dam! We have the dirtiest air and its had on us year round but this is just gross.
My son has asthma and this doenst help. We are one of the dirtiest air cities in California. We get everyones dirty smog and it stays here.
PROOF!!!!

So my younger son has been in some trouble. Most teenagers do right. Well its a bit harder when the single mom is deaf. Especially when there is police or judges involved. My son has had a wild streak and it seems to be calming down. My older one was the same and he is very responsible now.
SO today we had court. I went to speak to the public defender for him today. Let me  say  I am  deaf. I have been for 6 years and I do not sign.   I had him write things down since my son was not with me.
The day before he had court. I got him there at the wrong time and they said that there is now a warrant for his arrest. So I said ok, what do I have to do to fix this? They said go call his probation officer and then bring him to juvenile hall tomorrow morning before 10 and he will have court at 1 pm. So I did that and said ok so we have court at one? They said go speak to him probation officer again and she will let you know. So I go see her and she said yes. Come to court at one. I get home and my cell phone is ringing. I had my sons girlfriend with me so I hand the phone to her. She is telling someone that I am deaf. Then she hangs up and said its someone at juvenile hall and they said that they are keeping him and court is at 8 am. If she wasn't there at my house then I wouldn't have known that. I mean who calls a deaf parent on a cell phone to give them information? Apparently Kern County.

SO today I spoke to his Public defender who always would seem to talk to my son rather then try to talk to me when my son was there. So I had him write down things today for me. Then I told him. Ok I am NOT going to hear you call for me when he gets to see the judge. I said my sons girlfriend will be with me to listen but if she doesn't hear it come get me. I want to be there when he gets in front of a judge. He said ok.
So then its 11 am and court was at 8 and there is usually many people they see and I thought oh we are the last this time. Its taking forever so I open the door to check to see whats going on. I usually don't do that since well its a minor and your not supposed to open that door. Only when they call you. I open it and what do I see? The judge getting up and leaving. My sons public defender gone. The prosecutor was getting up to walk out the door I  just opened. I said " Where is my son?" He said who is your son? I told him and he said oh he was called and charged and pleaded and sent off. I said WHAT?!! I said I was waiting right here! Why didn't you call me? He said we announced it on loudspeaker. I said I AM DEAF. He said we announced it on loudspeaker. I said YA DEAF. As in I cant hear as in ears don't work. He said  What? I said deafffff. He said" OH SHIT. He then said did your lawyer know that? I said yes. I told him to call me that I would be here. He then walked back into the room and then came out and my lawyer all of a sudden appeared. He told him You knew she was deaf? He said yes. I was astounded,,UPSET!! AND CRYING. I mean my son isn't a saint but he deserved to have me there. I didn't do anything wrong and I deserved to be there. I said So that's it? Your sending my son off and now I cant see him? They said yes you can today at one. Today is NOT a visiting day but they said go see his probation officer and then you can see him at one. I did. She said yes the lawyer represents you so you don't need to be in the courtroom when he is charged. HELL he is 16 and I say he does need him parents in the courtroom. So I got to see him for a whole dam 30 minutes today. My heart hurt to see him there. They are keeping him for a week there and then shipping him off to boot camp for two months. His I thought charges didn't warrant that but he has been in trouble before. I just thought they should have made sure his deaf mom understood what was going on. I mean how hard is it to open a door and get me? How hard is it to write things down to make sure I understand? His father couldn't be with me to court since he just had a surgery two days ago and is at home recuperating. I feel as though I was treated wrong and different and punished for being deaf.

So I decided to take my sons to see family in Clovis yesterday. For those who aren't local. It's a tiny ass town in the middle of nowhere next to Fresno. There is a park there called Wild water adventures and my family was going to be there.
SOOOOO
I went and tend to forget I am not 20 anymore:) My body reminded me all today and I am pretty sure all tomorrow.
I went on just about everything there. The one clue I shouldn't have went on this ride called the RAMPAGE was maybe I couldnt get the board up the three flights of stairs I need to carry it. Thats what my son is for I guess. I had him carry it. You go up three flights of stairs with this sorta boogie like board and my balance is off and I just couldnt do it:) SO there was my son  GABRIEL!!  And he came and said YOU SURE MOM? Yup. OK ,, so he carried that shit. And it didn't help that the young boy before me chickened out right on the conveyor belt right before me. You put small board on the conveyor belt and then you get on,,you get put to the edge and then they let you see what they hell your going to do., and THEN BAM! You get let over the edge. Straight forward about 3 stories down and then sorta skip over the water:) The kids before me said OH HELL NO! He was like 16 and I was just about to go over and the guy is telling me,,don't lean back. My son was there and said don't lean back mom:) I grabbed the gate and said ummm,, wait ,,wait,, pretty comical. And said nobody died doing this shit right? He said you can do this :) This coming from some stranger,,ya ok,,I said fine and whooosh,, I was gone. OMG I lost my voice!!! Let me just say that looks MUCH better and less scary then in real life:)


I went to the man made wave pool. At the deepest its about 7 feet. SO my twin got a inner tube that fits 3 but I wasn't IN the inner tube. I was merely hanging on. SO then my brother in law puts us in the deep end. Most of you know my swimming skill suck since the last brain surgery. YA. I know I cant tell what way is up and what way is down when my head hits the water now. My equilibrium is sooo messed up. Anyways I panicked. When the waves started I was ok. BUT others in that pool were I say danger. They were hanging on the edge and there is nowhere to really hold on so they only put the waves for a few minutes and then turn it off and they watch really good to well,make sure nobody drowns. Anyways. I was holding on and another raft slammed into me,, lets say my dumbass started to lose a grip. I PANICKED. SO I didn't want to freak out my niece and drown either. SO I looked to my left,,nope,,to my right YES,, My cousin who is like 6 ft 4 was right there,,I screamed for him and he is HUGE! So he comes walking like the waves are mere an inconvenience:) He gets close and I say I am scared and falling,,he goes under and just flipped my legs like a rag doll:) I know I probably would have been able to dog paddle to the edge and get out but there was HUNDREDS of people and if a wave took me,, I would have freaked out. I know me. SO thank god for HUGE cousins:) Lets give a pat on the back to LOUIS!!


I Then went on all the inner tube stuff and the wild water rides. I say I refuse to act my dam age:) I REFUSE IT:)
BUTTTTT
My body drop kicks me every time to remind me:)
I had so much fun with my sons and family though. YUP:)
Not bad for a girl who has had 4 brain surgeries and one spine one. SHSHSHS don't tell my doctors:) You know that would have been a waste of life If I drowned. I swear to drown in some adventure park after going through what I have gone through in life,crazy!!
Here are a few of the pictures from that day:) It was just a great day:)
Some of my family had not seen my tattoo and hahaha,,funny:)

My son Anthony is Coming home from BOOT CAMP:)

Its his first visit home:) He is flying home the 3rd of July from Atlanta Georgia where he has been at Airborne school. His first jump is this coming Saturday. But we got the plane ticket today:) I haven't seen my son since his first main boot camp graduation at Fort Sill Oklahoma in March. I am very close to both my sons but I really almost dont remember my life without this son. I had him pretty young and we have grown up together. I am SOOOO proud of my baby boy. I am proud of BOTH my sons:)
I cant wait to see him! People aren't allowed to be this happy are they?:)

That's my baby boys:)
This is some of what he has been doing:)


This is going to be the last time I see him before he gets sent to Iraq. My heart hurts about that. I just worry.
I had a phone conversation with him the other day. I do text with him and we do talk on the phone. He does worry about his momma:) He said mom,,Are you OK? I said I just worry about you. He said " Do you always do that mom?" I said YES:) THATS MY JOB:) And he said" AWWW MOM,, I love you!" We say we love each other more now:)
I cant wait to see my son:)

Location: 1301 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301

YES I WAS A ZOMBIE:)
I took the classes , two days of classes to learn how to walk and fall like a zombie. Let me just say I didn’t do good in the classes:( But that’s because I was nervous and at first didn’t know what they really wanted. I did watch an awful lot of zombie movies in my life. I have two boys and one brother that is just a ZOMBIE LOVER! SO I kind of always wanted to be a zombie and eat people. Some girls want to be ballerinas. I wanted to be a zombie. SO when Hectic films said they needed extras for the movie. .I WAS GONNA BE THERE!
SO I show up Sunday morning at the Downtown Hotel at 13th and Chester with a shotgun and swords and fake guns. Ya what’s a girl to do in Bakersfield ?:) I was one of the last to get my makeup on but that’s ok. I did miss a few scenes and that’s ok too.

THEN THE TRANSFORMATION:) I was in makeup about 30 minutes and you feel different with the makeup and I wasn’t as nervous as before. SO I did a scene where we all claw at a window and that was cool. It was pretty hot that day and the makeup didn’t help.
THEN I WAS GOING TO COMMIT TO IT,, ya me ,,I was really nervous and they put me and three others to sort of chase this van all zombied out and I was to get shot in the head and fall. I wasn’t going to be all delicate.  I decided since what zombie braces their fall? not me says baby bear! SO I did it, the guy shot me in the head and I was the first to fall. Let me say THAT HURT,, that falling hurt. But I was committed to being a good zombie and BAM WOOF WOOF WENT DOWN! Five times. Yup FIVE takes. And every time I tried to give it my all. I didn’t want the guys to say wow, she is lame! And lets just say something I found funny about that. OK I fall and I am looking up or closing my eyes. I am sure at some point they yelled CUT!!! But um the deaf deal didn’t let me hear it so there I was just laying there thinking wow they are probably  laughing since I am not getting up. But I got up every time and they said again. BAM,, WOOF WOOF WENT DOWN!!! I thought I hope I did good and when they said ok we got it, I just dusted my butt off and went to get something to drink and watch the rest of the movie being made. They said I did really good and gave me a high five. That made me feel good and then I watched as they did the rest of the movie.


SO It was the most fun I had in a long time. I have to say GO WATCH THE WRETCHED FLESH!! Watch me get shot:) And you can say "HEY I KNOW THAT GIRL"!!