Thrilling, edge of your seat fascinating life details of John & April Osbourne. As well as thought provoking ramblings, with a sprinkle of humor here and there. Cool pictures, and pictures of my pets.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Sunday, March 29, 2015
You’re in charge of your happiness
You’re in charge of your happiness |
This is your life, this is the only life that you’re ever gonna get and you’re in charge of your happiness. Don’t let anybody ever take that away from you. You go out there and you live your life and if you fall down, you need to pick yourself back up and you keep going because there’s always gonna be bad stuff, but there’s gonna be so much good stuff. So don’t ever forget that. If you change the way that you look at things, the things you look at change. If you really want to live your life to the fullest and realize your greatest potential, you must be willing to run the risk of making some people mad. People may not like what you do, people may not like how you do it, but these people are not living your life. You are! —Iyanla Vanzant |
Friday, March 27, 2015
iPad
Previously, I had a Kindle he bought me a few Christmas' ago, so I am familiar with the "Tablet" craze. Loved my Kindle, LOVED. I almost felt guilty, like I was somehow abandoning my beloved Kindle for the new iPad.
As soon as I started using the iPad, all feelings of guilty disappeared. I LOVE this thing, and because I have it on my Verizon account, I can use it anywhere and access the internet. Also, its linked with my iPhone, it displays any text messages I receive.
You know what else rocks? When I work out on my elliptical, I can watch something on Hulu Plus, Netflix, or my new favorite - Youtube. I created a work out playlist specifically for my iPad when I work out.
My name is April Osbourne, and I am a techy geek.
No matter how hopeless things seem, you will make it!
Thursday, March 26, 2015
You Didn't
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
Thursday, February 19, 2015
I no longer have patience for certain things...
I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature.
I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me.
I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate.
I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise.
I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance.
I do not adjust either to popular gossiping.
I hate conflict and comparisons.
I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities.
In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal.
I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement.
Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals.
And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience.
The above text was written and published by the great Portuguese Author, Jose Micard Teixeira
Monday, February 16, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
One Broken Heart for Sale
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Truth
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
Accept me or walk away
This is me damn it! I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel,
love the way I love! I am a whole complex package. Take me. . . or leave me.
Accept me--or walk away!
When you are strong enough to love yourself 100%, good and bad--you will be amazed at the opportunities that life presents you.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Releasing the Past
Ask yourself this question: has "beating yourself up" about the past ever helped you or made you feel better? If the answer is "no," I hope that you will make a commitment to stop this self-defeating behavior.
The successful person takes this approach: learn from past mistakes and make adjustments in future behavior. The strategy of berating yourself for past conduct solves nothing and only serves to lower your self-esteem. You create a vicious cycle where negative experiences and negative feelings are reinforced, which leads to more negative outcomes and more negative feelings.
You are not going to change one bit of your past. It's gone. Learn from your past experiences and move on. You did the best you could given your awareness and understanding of your options at the time. This does not imply that your conduct was praiseworthy; however, you will gain nothing from self- condemnation, except feelings of misery and inadequacy.
If you have done something in the past which you can do something about, then by all means take action. If you have been unkind to someone, offer a sincere apology. If you failed to fulfill a promise which you make, take steps immediately to fulfill that promise.
If you insist on dwelling in the past, I suggest that you focus on your past successes. Visualizing and thinking about past successes is an excellent way to build confidence and self-esteem. What you think about is what you become. Therefore, when you concentrate on your successes, you help to create future successes.
When you find yourself starting to dwell on past negative experiences, immediately halt and remind yourself: "There is nothing I can do now which will change what happened. I learned a valuable lesson and will act in a more constructive manner next time." You see, regardless of what you have done--or failed to do--the only sane approach is to accept it and move forward. The successful individual does not waste precious mental energy dwelling on past events which cannot be changed. Instead, he or she uses past mistakes as learning experiences and springboards to future successes.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
9/11/01
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Hurt
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
August Osbourne Update
April Miller-Osbourne
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Gym Membership Dear Diary
For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.
Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
______________________________
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!
Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!
Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!
______________________________
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.
______________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.
My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair master. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other sh*t too.
______________________________
THURSDAY:
Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late - it took me that long to tie my shoes.
Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny ***** to find me.
Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.
______________________________
FRIDAY:
I hate that b*tch Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it.
Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.
The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the
drama coach or the choir director?
______________________________
SATURDAY:
Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.
______________________________
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little sh*t) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!
Thursday, June 19, 2014
love
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Music
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Happy
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
April Update
Thursday, May 15, 2014
"My Life"
We used to be real close
Said he couldn't go on the American way
Closed the shop, sold the house
Bought a ticket to the West Coast
Now he gives them a stand-up routine in L.A.
I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright
I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home
I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life
Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone
I never said you had to offer me a second chance
I never said I was a victim of circumstance
I still belong, don't get me wrong
And you can speak your mind
But not on my time
They will tell you you can't sleep alone
In a strange place
Then they'll tell you you can't sleep
With somebody else
Ah, but sooner or later you sleep
In your own space
Either way it's okay
You wake up with yourself
I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright
I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home
I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life
Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone
I never said you had to offer me a second chance
I never said I was a victim of circumstance
I still belong, don't get me wrong
And you can speak your mind
But not on my time
I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life
Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone
Monday, April 7, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
American Made Cars vs Foreign
If this event had happened in the summer or fall, it wouldn't have been a problem, all I would have had to do is drive the 1993 Camaro Z28. However since the Camaro has very large racing tires, it didn't seem like a good idea to pull it out of storage to drive in this awful Minnesota winter.
I was authorized the use of a brand new Volkswagen Jetta. Under normal circumstances, I'd probably never have the chance to drive this type of car, because from the time I was a kid, it was impressed upon me the importance of buying an American made car, seeing as numerous family members, my Dad included, all held a job for Ford.
Naturally most of the family drove Fords, not only because they're good, reliable cars, but because employees get a pretty nice discount on new cars. Plus, since they work for Ford, most of them worked on cars too, so it made sense.
Anyway, I really enjoyed driving the Jetta, much more so than I thought I would. I went as far as looking into costs, and things like that.
I got my car back on Monday, and it sure is nice to have it back. My Focus has snow tires, and the Jetta didn't, so I definately saw a difference there. In retrospect, I wonder if the reason I liked the Jetta so much isn't so much the brand per se, but the fact that it was brand new.
My car has 141,000 miles on it, and I know with the miles I drive everyday to and from work, it won't be long and it will be time to look for a new vehicle. As of right now, here are the cars I'm considering:
Ford Focus
Ford Fiesta
Ford Fusion (Love this one)
Dodge Dart (Love this one too)
Volkswagen Jetta
Its nice not having a car payment though,and until we pay off the Harley Davidson, we can't afford a car payment anyway..
Thanks for reading! :)
Thursday, March 13, 2014
You're Always There In My Heart
Spring is shining and its blowing,
but you're always in my heart.
life's wonderful, everything beautiful,
'cause you're always my other part.
summer coming, sun keeps shining,
'cause You're always in my heart!
Seasons come, seasons go
But you're always there in my heart.
Raindrops fall, breezes blow
But you're always there in my heart.
Photos fade, years have gone
But you're always there in my heart.
Time goes by, life goes on
But you're always there in my heart.
You're a part of me, as I am of you
I can't leave you behind.
You're a part of me, and whatever I do
You're always on my mind.
Through the years, joy and tears
You're always there in my heart.
Always near, ever dear
You're always there in my heart.
Always there in my heart!
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
The Stand, by Stephen King - big screen movie!
Trashcan Man - Billy Bob Thorton
Friday, February 28, 2014
Rear Ended - AGAIN
Monday February 24th at exactly 4:40 pm, I was on the way to go pick up John from work. I was at the interesection of 18th Ave NE and Fillmore. I stopped at the 4 way stop (it is a residential type neighborhood), and had just started across the intersection, when B A M! I was hit from behind. I didn't see him coming at all.
The other driver drove a foreign made pick up truck and had slid right through the intersection and slammed into me. He did try to swerve, so most of the damage is on the rear passenger side of my car. My bumper is broken on both sides, and cracked in the middle. It looks like its going to fall off.
When the guy came to talk to me, he didn't want to give me his name, phone number or insurance info. He said all I needed was the licence plate number.
Really?
So....what I just look up the information on the internet or something? Right.
I insisted on getting at least his policy number and the name of his insurance company.
What a run around I am getting from them.
At first, it would be a day or two tops, and they'd get my car into a garage and fixed. Then it would be another day or so. Now its looking like next week.
Yesterday the insurance adjuster came and checked out my car.
The roads here in Minnesota are absolutely HORRIBLE. Pure solid, thick ice on most side streets, and then in other places, thick ice mixed with dry pavement, giving you that genuine off road experience while driving.
This has been by far one of the worst winters on record for Minnesota, and I know I speak for MANY when I say we're ready for it to be D O N E.
Friday, January 24, 2014
26 Things Minnesotans Do That Seem Odd To Everyone Else
Some things Minnesotans do are actually mind-blowing-ly odd to people from other places.
1. We use snowballs to play fetch with our dogs. Sometimes they don’t know what to do with them.
2. At random during the winter, Minnesotans take a break from their day to just start their cars. Not to go anywhere, just to hear the glorious sound of an engine starting (and to make sure the engine will start at -40 degrees). We also leave our cars running sometimes when we go shopping. We rely on Minnesota nice maybe a bit too much.
3. We get so much snow on the top of our cars that those scrapers just don’t work. So we use push brooms.
4. What’s that you say? The temperature is over 32 degrees? Shorts and t-shirt weather.
5. In April, yes April, we sled down 2 story tall snow hills created by plowing snow off of parking ramps.
6. We eat hot dish. The rest of you call it casserole, but you’re wrong.
7. We consider sledding a date night activity. Nothing says romance quite like bundling up like the Michelin man and going up & down the hill until you just tackle the other person, all beautiful with rosy cheeks and running nose.
8. We own the Ice-skating bike.
9. Have you ever seen a frozen waterfall? We have. Yep, it’s that cool
10. We buy large, expensive machines called snowmobiles to only drive a couple months out of the year.
11. Hockey – an amazing game where talented folks strap blades to their feet and hit each other with sticks. In Minnesota, that’s what we call a good time!
12. We walk on water. Well, frozen water that is.
13. We drive trucks on water too, and even put houses on our lakes and drink beer in them. Sometimes people call this beer-drinking-on-lakes, “ice-fishing.”
14. A favorite winter activity of ours is lying in the snow and flailing our arms and legs around, also known as snow angels.
15. We go outside in the middle of blizzards.
16. We use can coozies, not to keep our beer from getting warm, but to keep it from freezing. They’re like a little jacket for our beer.
17. We make our dogs wear jackets and boots. And not just because it’s cute….even though it is.
18. We grow beards not just for the look, but for the functionality of keeping our face warm.
19. We call beverages like coca-cola, mountain dew and sprite, pop. Can I get you a cold pop?!
20. We think that the “No Wake” sign for plows on the highway makes perfect sense.
21. We ride our bikes in the snow, and have ingenious ways of keeping them from getting covered in snow by plows while they are parked.
22. “Whatever” means we’re disappointed. We say “You bet” because we don’t have a strong opinion. “That’s different” means you have an opinion but don’t want to discuss it.
23. Not all of us are coordinated enough for skating. Or maybe we just had one too many beers. In that case we play broomball or boot hockey. Sometimes we wear special shoes and sticks for broomball. Sometimes we duct tape old brooms and use those.
24. We don’t worry about our beer getting warm. Snow = permanent beer chiller.
25. We skijor. That’s where we tie up our dogs and have them pull us across the snow on skis.
26. It takes us a really long time to say goodbye. We just don’t want you to feel like you have to leave and we want you to know that we really like you and enjoy hanging out with you…
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay a little longer? We could make you some cocoa. It’s cold out there! What about some leftover tator tot hot dish? We could heat some up for you. Speaking of heating up tator tot hot dish, do you happen to have any new hot dish recipes? One of the ladies in the church basement said she tried crushing up some wheaties on top of some chicken……”
……and soon it has been 30 minutes and you’re still standing in the doorway all bundled up saying goodbye.
27. We play Duck Duck Gray Duck. The rest of you that play that other game are just wrong.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Merry Christmas Baby Goose
We didn't get out our big indoor Christmas tree, we didn't bring in our assortment of beautiful ornaments, we didn't bring in our stockings with the names on them. We have a 12" tree sitting on our kitchen table.
Neither John or I wanted to bring the big tree, ornaments and stockings in. Neither of us wanted to see Katie's stocking that we wouldn't be hanging this year.
Every day I miss my Katie Goose. Very much more so now, as I am not buying presents for my Goose.
John and I bought a little Boston Terrier ornament and put it over by where Katie's ashes are, that is our present to her and my sweet Rommy bear.
I just found out, that the neighbor who lives behind us, upon hearing of Katie's passing, cried and cried. I found out that she would play ball with my Gooser every day when I was at work. Such a special little dog.
Thank you God for allowing me to know and love Katie for the 12 years you did.
Merry Christmas Baby Goose,
Love, Mom & Dad
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
Being right - Rachel, this one is for you
Instead of looking at our own behavior, we believe that the other person is the problem. We believe we are justified, reasonable and more than fair. They need to change.
When I believe I am right, I spend an exorbitant amount of time re-hashing the situation in my mind. I obsessively review the other person's responses and actions to find the evidence I need to be right. In this internal dialogue, nothing changes. I try to rebuild my case, yet I get nowhere. If I continue down this path, when the time comes to discuss the matter with the other person, I've already become the judge, jury, and executioner.
It really does take more energy to hold on to being right than it does simply to be responsible for our behavior. When we are willing to let go, problems can be solved more easily. People are more willing to listen, to be open, and even to acknowledge responsibility when they are not under attack.
Practice
Identify Your Expectations:
First acknowledge you have expectations. Then ask yourself if you are willing to give them up. Stop expecting others to read your mind, to know what you want and need, and to satisfy your unspoken expectations. Stop waiting for people to complete you.
Stop Keeping Score:
Yesterday's argument doesn't have to carry over. Don't bring it into your next dispute. Don't throw things in each other's faces. Accept that we are all human. We all make mistakes. We have our moods, our reactions, our fears.
Acceptance:
Love people for who they are and who they aren't. Allow them to change and grow. Be willing to see them newly. Don't put them in a box. Instead of trying to make them be who you want them to be, give them the space to be who they are.
Give up Being Right:
Ask yourself--how important is your position, really? Is being right more important than your relationships?
Vehicles of Osbourne
I am going to give you a brief overview of the vehicles my husband John and I own. (in no specific order) 2002 Pontiac Trans Am Firehawk - ...
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A song just played on my iphone and it made me recall this. There is this one hit wonder called: "Bobby's Girl" by Marcie Bl...
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Greetings & Salutations! (anyone know which movie that particular greeting comes from?) Recently, we've had some rodent issues in ...