Some "Stuff"

As I am attempting to "clean up" my computer a bit, I ran across this in a document labeled "blog stuff." When I opened it and read what I had written (typed...) I realized I had done this when I was super busy (you know, like usual...) but had stolen a few minutes to record this so I didn't forget it. (It seems to be a side-effect of one of my medications, that if I don't do/write down something immediately when I think of it, it's gone forever. At least I hope it's a side-effect of a medication. . .) I then promptly forgot about it. Luckily I was smart enough to date it, so it's not pointless drivel from "sometime." It's pointless drivel with dates : )

So, without further ado, I will now post it, a bit late (cheat so I don't have to think today, LOL)

April 4, 2008

So I go downstairs to get some water (and what’s up with that..? Water, not coffee..? At 9 A.M. ish?) and my boy is sitting on the toilet (yes, we have attempted to foster a lack of inhibitions in our child, which includes allowing him to go to the bathroom at home with the door open, It's a natural bodily function, and shouldn't be a cause for shame or embarrassment...) Gameboy in his lap looking at his fingers…

Him: “Mommy..?”
Me: “Yes?”
Him: “Do you know what 3 plus 2 is..?”
Me: “What is it?”
Him: “It’s 5! ! ! !”

It is five…like him…should he be adding already? I ask myself, as I have on numerous other occasions. He doesn’t go to school…not even pre-school, just to his 2^nd Mom’s every weekday (that’s another entry…)

“That’s right, it’s 5…you’re so smart !” and I go and give him a kiss. As I’m walking away, he does one of those THINGS

Him: “Mommy….you smell so good1”
Me: “I do..? Thank you” and I float away to finish getting ready for work…is he really only five,,? Will he retain that ability to make a woman (yes, I am Mom, but still a woman who appreciates compliment, no matter the source) feel special & appreciated?

April 3, 2008

The boy is psychic…not a joke…he has proven this numerous times, both in small ways and large…

Example (small) My morning routine is pretty staid…I get up, stumble to the bathroom, pee, put in teeth, fall downstairs to get coffee, crawl back up to my computer and proceed to try to become human again. After about an hour, I begin to stir, take a shower and get ready for work, if it’s a workday, or go get more coffee if it isn’t. I am NEVER even SLIGHTLY functional when I wake up. However, last night I decided, as I was laying in bed, that I would get up and jump straight in the shower, dragging my boy with me as the wee one was in need of cleaning, I figured if we got in and out very first thing, it would make the morning go smoother. I made this decision in my brain, in the dark, just before I drifted to la la land.

This morning the boy comes in for wake up snuggles. After a minute or two of snuggling, I notice it’s pretty light outside & check the clock…8:27 OH S*&T! So I sit up real quick like, and jr scrambles off the bed, looks at me and says “Mommy, are you ready to shower now..?” I have NEVER, EVER, during this child's lifetime, gotten straight out of bed and into the shower.

Creepy, no?

A Little Bit of Catch up (I really wanted to type "ketchup"....)

Alrighty then! I am going to try to squeeze out a post between phone calls, and maybe - just maybe - I might get caught up a little bit. No promises, because you know, even though I sat here for 10 minutes with nuttin', as soon as I typed that, call came in - go figger.

Ok, the Tooth Fairy came, and boy is she GOOD! When the (mostly) sweet (monster) boy lost his first tooth, finally! after weeks of it being loose, Mommy took it and put it in her wallet for safe keeping until bedtime & under pillow insertion...Well, my boy has a tendency to fall asleep on the couch, where we let him stay - sometimes all night, sometimes he gets up & goes to bed. Naturally the couch isn't conducive to tooth hiding, and it really wasn't planned that he sleep there, so the tooth stayed in my wallet overnight. Twice. And twice I had a broken-hearted boy the next morning. But the third time, well the thrird time the tooth fairy got sneaky.
He came in that morning, asking for his tooth, so he could put it in his room and remember to put it under his pillow. Well, Mommy doesn't wake up well, as we all know, so grumpy Mommy, awake all of five seconds is listening to "But MOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM, if I don't put it under my pillow in my room, the tooth fairy won'y be able to find it! She won't even know a I lost it! What happens if she soesn't know I lost it?"
Me: "She knows."
Him: "But what happens if she knows I lost it and she comes to get it and it isn't there?"
Me: "She won't come until it's under the pillow. That's what sends her the message." (Not bad for 10 seconds awake, huh?)
Him: "But what happens if she got the message when it came out and she comes and it's not under my pillow..?"
Me: "Fine! Go get my purse!"
Him: "Where is it?"
Me: "Where is it always?"
And he ran off downstairs to get my purse while I stumbled to the bathroom. @ minutes later he burst back up the stairs with my purse.
Him: "Here you go Mom! Can you get it for me?"
Me: "Do you see me sitting on the toilet..? Have you lived with me all your life..? Why are you asking me to do anything this soon after I crawled out of bed..?"
Him: "But Mom....my tooth...."
Me: "Grrrrrrrrr."
Him: *sigh*
I finished my bidness, and went for coffee, a VERY impatient 5 year old hot on my heels. Down the stairs. Up the stairs. When I sat down at the desk, he immediatly came at me again about the stinkin tooth.
Me: "If you want it that bad, YOU get it."
Him: looking dubiously at my purse "Where is it..?"
Me: "It's in my wallet where it won't get lost."
Him: Digging through my purse to grab my wallet. "Where at in your wallet?
Me: "In the zippered pocket." Did I mention it has several zippered pockets..?
Him: Looking over wallet, trying to decide where to start. "Uh Mom..?"
Me: "It's the outside one silly boy."
He unzipped the pocket as I sipped my first blessed sip of coffee. Then got a confused look on his face.
Him: "It's not in here."
Me: "Yes it is! It's the only thing in there, I made sure the wasn't anything else in there with it."
Him: "It's not in here." At this point, I'm hearing a hint of desperation in his voice.
Me: "Shayne, it's there. I know it's there. It's the only thing in that pocket. Quit doing the "man look"
Him: "There's something in here, but it's not my tooth - it's paper."
Me: "You must be in the wrong pocket, there isn't anything in there with it."
Him: Pulling out a five dollar bill "This is in here - that's it"
Me: "Where'd you get that? I didn't have any cash...Which pocket did you get in?"
Him: "This one." Pointing at the place where the tooth was
Me: "That's where it was - Are you sure it's not in there? And are you sure that's where you found that money?"
Him: "I'm sure."
Me: "Huh..." and suddenly a little light comes on in his eyes...
Him: "You told Daddy last nigh5t you didn't have any money..."
Me: "Yepper, I don't, er, didn't."
Him: "You said my tooth was in here."
Me: "Yep."
Pretty sharp kid, huh?
Him: The tooth fairy took my tooth from your wallet!"
Me: "Well, whattdya know, I guess she did."

And so, the tooth fairy came.

Then we had the "bubble wrap incident" as it is being referred to. I awoke on a Saturday to find my Hunny still asleep - on the couch - downstairs. Now him falling asleep in the living room isn't all that rare. He tends, on the weekends, to get comfy in his recliner and fall asleep in true couch potato style. No biggie. About 80% of the time he wakes about 3 am-ish and stumbles upstairs to bed, and the other 20% he just stays in the chair until about 6ish - which is sleeping in for him. FInding him on the couch though...that's not usual at all. And, let's not forget, by the time I got up it was somewhere between 9-10. My hunny is a morning person. a very morning person. For him to still be asleep at that hour..? Now that's rare.
Me: "Honey..?"
Him: **Groan.
Me: "What's wrong..?"
Him: "I hurt my back."
Me: ***a bit puzzled - after all, he was fine when I went to bed at about 10:30. I was fairly certain he hadn't gone anywhere, as our boy was still up - "How'd you hurt your back?"
Him: *mumbling *"Bubble wrap..."
Apparently after I had gone to bed, Hunny and the boy were down in the living room. Hunny got up to go in the kitchen for something, and on the way he bent over to pick up a piece of bubble wrap and couldn't get back up. He was down for a week. Because of bubble wrap. My big, strong, redneck truck driver was down for a week because of bubble wrap...I know it really isn't funny, and NOTHING about back pain is comical, but still - bubble wrap...

On the way to Stacey's a couple of weeks ago, as we're driving along we passed a car hauler with a seriously wrecked car on it. From the back seat I hear "Mom! Did you see how damaged that car was!?"
I heard it, but since it was coming from the mouth of a five year old, I didn't quite comprehend what I heard for a few seconds. It didn't quite process properly. Banged up..? Wrecked..? Smashed..? Even crashed.. any of those words would have computed immediately. But damaged..? From a five year old..? It just didn't compute right away. Hell, I'm not sure that verbiage - even though it is proper - from an adult would have computed right away...He scares me sometimes. Not in a convetional way, but rather for himself. It's tough being smart and being a kid. It was tough as a girl, and we're half-assed expected to be of above average intelligence, but to be the smart boy..? I tell myself he'll be fine, he has a great personality most of the time, he's not a bit bashful, he's pretty athletic, in a non-sportsy kinda way (does that make sense..?), he's a good looking kid. But still, kids can be very hateful. And it scares me. That child has never experienced someone being "mean" to him. I'm not even sure he'd know they were being mean...He's generally good natured, and doesn't hold a grudge. He can be madder than a wet hen one minute and loves you the next. He'll even make a point to tell you "I'm mad at you right now but I still love you..."
Ok, there's a start at the catch up. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to spend more time here, and get (closer to being) up to date. Then I'll have one less thing, one my list of many, to feel guilty about!
See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzz! ! ! !

First Day - A Little Delayed....

Here are some pictures from the boy's first day of school - which, yes, I know, was almost two weeks ago. . . .sorry. . . .

Making friends took all of 2 minutes . . .


With the little boy down the street he rides the bus with


The School


Huh. . ? You means there are girls here. . ?


My little Romeo - we're so proud !

First Day of School & Wanderings - As Usual :)

Today is the first day of school for my boy. We leave for school in about an hour & a half - and he's driving me absolutely BUGGY! I was woke up by the question

"Do you know what day it is?" posed to me before I even got my eyes open. . . never a good thing. I do mornings very poorly to begin with. And the child hasn't been more than 2 or 3 feet from me, except when I am at work, for the last month. It's starting to wear on me. That last statement isn't an exaggeration, either. I feel like I've grown an extra limb. When he's not up my butt, I hear "Mom?" literally every two minutes. If I get up to go downstairs, he follows on my heels, walking 6 inches behind me while I attempt to do whatever needs doing. He won't go upstairs alone. He won't go DOWNSTAIRS alone. He barely will go in his room alone, and I'm about over it.

Not very Mommy-like, huh? Yet another item to add to my things-I-feel-guilty-about list *sigh*

This morning, about every 10 minutes I hear "Mommy? When are you going to get dressed" or "Mommy? How many more minutes until we go?" or "Mommy how many minutes has it been?" This started at about 8:00. It's now about 11ish, and we don't leave for another hour - hour and fifteen minutes. AAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH.
I'm very happy that he's excited about school starting, and hope he retains that desire to go to school for the rest of his school career, and I keep telling myself that this pestering to go is a good thing, but DAMMMM, I've heard all I want to! I am nearly as excited as he is, and I'm sure a lot more nervous. I mean c'mon - this is the arena where my (our) parenting skills will be judged, Daily. He's a good boy, but very energetic. I foresee ADD accusations in his future - with which I will  heartily disagree. I do believe ADD is a real "disease" and that there are children who have to try to function through it. But I also believe there are MANY MORE parents - and schools for that matter - who are unable or unwilling to deal with an energetic child and go looking for this diagnosis so they can medicate said child and therefore have a more pliable and calm child who will no longer challenge them.

The premise - nay the NAME - of ADD is Attention Deficit Disorder. This implies problems PAYING ATTENTION to something - anything. It doesn't mean a child who is high-energy, intelligent, full of challenging questions,and is basically - though not always - undisciplined. Yet (in my opinion) the majority of kids diagnosed as ADD are exactly that. And the adults in their world can't or won't cope with it. I truly fear for the world of these children's generation. What happens when they become adults? Does ADD go away when you reach a certain age? Or will they be medicated for life? And truly, aren't the adults who allow this to happen just giving these one-day adults an excuse not to be productive, responsible people? "Oh, I can't hold a job - I have ADD", " I can't be bothered to pay bills - I have ADD", "I'm not responsible for my actions - I have ADD" Kinda scary, if you ask me. We already have a generation of "It's not my fault . . ." adults who refuse to take responsibility for their own actions because they have a million reasons why nothing is their fault which have been spoon-fed to them since childhood.

Wow - I really do have a propensity for wandering from my original subject - that wasn't what this post started out to be at all . . . and just think - this is how my mind works all the time . . .

Ok, so, back to school and my boy. Who is currently sitting on the floor, leaning against the desk, about a foot from me. And every few minutes trying to crawl up in my lap . . . Don't go thinking I haven't paid any attention to him either. I have. A lot. I always do. I answer his questions when possible - even the pointless ones. Well, mostly. Except for the "What happens if . . " questions, which I DID answer for months, but have told him I will no longer answer if they aren't "real" questions. What are "not real" questions you ask? Let me give you an example.

Stacey lives about 10 miles north of us. We were going to get my car last weekend, which was even further south than our home, and passed a fire truck & ambulance with lights on going south. Here's the conversation:

My Boy: "Did you see the fire truck and ambulance?"
Me: "Yes . . . " (how could I not? I was driving.)
My Boy: "Where are they going?"
Me: "Well, someone is probably sick and they're going to help them and maybe take them to a hospital."
My Boy: "Or maybe they're hurt."
Me: "Yes that's possible, too>"
My Boy: "Maybe there was an accident."
Me: "Yeah, there might have been an accident, but we just came from that way and didn't see one."

OK, now here's where it gets jinky . . .

My Boy: "What happens if they're going to Stacey's house?" Now remember they were going SOUTH, Stacey lives NORTH - way NORTH from where we were . .

Me: " I don't think they're going to Stacey's, she lives the other way from where they were going."
My Boy: "But what if they were?".
Me: "Honey, they aren't going to Stacey's. Stacey lives that way *pointing north* and they were going that way *pointing behind us - south"
My Boy: "But what happens if they were? What happens if someone is sick at Stacey's? Or hurt?"
Me: ***starting to get slightly exasperated - mind you this is a very intelligent kid. As a rule, he grasps concepts and knowledge the first time around. He remembers things he was told, or heard, literally YEARS ago, and he's only five.*** "Shayne, honey they aren't going to Stacey's. No one is sick at Stacey's, and no one is hurt. If they were going to Stacey's, we wouldn't have seen them, because they would have been going the other way. Now please drop it."
My Boy: "But what happens if . . ."
Me: "That's just about enough 'What happens if . . .' questions. If you have an actual question, about an actual situation, I'll answer them all day long. But no more hypothetical questions. I'm done."
My Boy: "What's hypothetical mean?"
Me: *sigh* and we were off again . .

Ok, well I guess I oughta go clean out my car, since I'm picking Hunny up so he can go with us. Hopefully I'll be back later with first day pictures :)

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzz ! ! ! !

International Disturbed People's Day

I don't care if you lick windows,take the special bus or occasionally pee on yourself..
You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin' special...
Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Today is International Disturbed People's Day -

Today's Message of the Day is:

Life is short,
Break the rules,
Forgive quickly,
Kiss slowly,
Love truly,
Laugh uncontrollably,
Never regret anything that made you smile.

Ha! It's Been Less Than A Week!

And here I am, back and posting! Woohoo! I'd prefer to do it daily, but then again, I'd prefer being independently wealthy, too...I got my car back on Saturday. In addition to the obvious stuff I took it in for (you know the overheating issues) I had also mentioned AGAIN that there is a vibration at 60mph and a kinda wobble when you turn hard right. This was first mentioned to them in December of 2006, along with the lifter rattle at start up, (which it still does). See, according to the mechanics, the lifter rattle was caused by a "non-Chrysler oil filter" which supposedly will allow the oil to drain out when the car isn't running, and will in turn cause the lifters to rattle on a cold start. They changed the oil & installed the "Chrysler oil filter." It still rattled. Ahem. I think I took it back 3 or 4 times, and every time I was told they "couldn't reproduce the issue". How convenient. I finally got fed up and took it down there on a Friday night and parked it, taking the keys with me. Once started, it has to sit for at least 6 hours to do it again. Saturday morning, Hunny & I went down there, got the manager as well the service guy I always deal with. We opened the hood, and with the guys all standing around the front of the car, I started it. It rattled. Huh, imagine that! I was able to reproduce the issue simply by following the implicit instructions I left every time - it must sit at least 6 hours, preferably overnight to reproduce the noise. That time they replaced the rocker arms and lifters, and something else. It still rattles. They still can't "reproduce the issue" - imagine that...As far as the vibration at 60mph at the "rocking" when I turn hard right, I was advised I needed new tires. Whatever.
Now, I know I have bumps in my shirt, so I couldn't possibly know anything about cars beyond how to start it and make it go...but even if that were the case, there is a major flaw with the whole "tire" theory. The tires on my car were installed at the end of March, 2006. The car had roughly 52,000 miles on it at that time. It has about 74,000 now. The tires that were put on it..? They are 90,000 mile tires. For those of you who are car challenged, that means they are made to go 90,000 miles before they should need replaced. 90,000 MILES! But supposedly, in December of 2006 (8 months after they were put on....) they were in such bad shape that someone who does front end repairs (!)took my front end apart (so you would think, right..?), found nothing wrong, and determined that my 90,000 mile rated tires needed replaced, after approx. - oh I don't know - 8,000 miles had been put on them.
Are any of you buying this..? Yeah, me neither, but again, I have bumps in my shirt, so I couldn't possibly know anything about cars beyond how to start it and make it go. (If you should ever feel a need to piss me off in a hurry, start a conversation with me about cars and mechanical problems, then talk down to me...I promise, we'll be scrapping shortly thereafter!)
So, I took it home, and drove it for a bit. Shortly after that (in July) was when the tranny went, and they had it for 6 weeks, because apparently, there were no trannies in existence, that weren't already in use, that would go in my car, and Chrysler had to build one for it...really!
Anywho, they have again decided I need new tires. Tire Barn put it in writing that there isn't anything wrong with my tires, and they rotated them, so I now have "new" front tires. So now I get to spend my next "not a day-off" at the Chrysler dealership, using single syllable words to explain to the front-end guy that no, I don't need new tires, the ones on the car are perfectly fine and still have approximately 65,000 miles before they are required to be changed. That I have indeed replaced the front tires that were on it with the tires that were on the back, an therefore have "new" tires on the front, and guess what..? I still have the same vibration at 60 mph! Now I'm fairly certain that if this work were being paid for out of my pocket, instead of by warranty, they'd have found all kinds of stuff to repair/replace...it just pisses me off that I have to spend what little free time I get sitting at the car lot waiting for them to fix what should have been fixed at the very least a week ago when it was in there, and actually should have been fixed back in Dec 2006, when it was first brought to their attention, or in July of 2007 when they had it for 6 weeks and had again been advised of it.
GRRRRRRRRRRR
Why do I keep going back you ask? Well, I have rental coverage on my warranty, but not first day. But the guy I deal with down there always manages to get me in a car as soon as they determine the issue & that it's covered. And he kept me in a rental car the whole 6 weeks they had it last year. He has also managed to knock down my "portion" of the bill considerably, several times. But I'm about done, yanno..?
Ok, gotta go, got work stuffs to do ewwwwwww.
See ya laterzzzzzzzzz!

Quick Update My Car

After spending the day at one dealership or another, the determination (so far) is that the cooling fan module went bad in my car, which is what caused it to overheat.

My car overheated, which blew the head gaskets.

The head gaskets blew, which warped my (aluminum) heads....

So, I am in a rental car for Goddess knows how long this time. Essentially they have to tear my motor apart. At this rate, by the time the warranty is up (THANK GODDESS FOR WARRANTIES!) I'm going to basically have a new car, motor-wise.

It just flabbergasts me that this car gives NO WARNING! When the tranny went out last summer, it happened like this:

Tuesday on the way to work, about 10:30ish, my check engine light came on. I called the dealership & made an appointment to bring it in and get it checked WHILE STILL ON MY WAY TO WORK. It went the rest of the way to work, and back home, a total of about 25-30 miles.

Wednesday on my way to work, as I was going from one interstate to another, at roughly 50 (ok, 60) mph, my jumped out of gear and stayed that way. I had to have it trailered to the dealership. They had it for 6 weeks.

This time really wasn't much different -

Monday on my lunch break I ran over to KMart - about 3 miles - and then back to work. When I pulled in the parking lot, the dummy light for the temp was on and my guage was in the red. The only place it went from there was home & then to the dealrship (again) All the damage was done in a matter of about 20 miles - from first warning to being "broke"

See..? No warning! Most vehicles, the dummy lights come on, and you've got a bit of time to get it checked out & fixed before it becomes major. Not my car - oh no, that'd be too easy! By the time my dummy lights come on, it's too late, the car is already essentially broken!

*Sigh* Oh well, such is life! This too, shall pass :)

Ok, gotta get ready for work.

See ya laterzzzzzzzzz!

Day off..? Yeah Right!

Still gotta catch up - it's on my list, but that list is getting outta hand....
Today is supposed to be my day off...ROFLMAO! Let's back up a bit...Saturday I got off earlier than usual (5:00), and Ashley had my boy - and wanted to keep him for a while, so I had a few hours to myself - that never happens! So I needed to get my (new!) phone looked at, because I couldn't close the door over the charger port, it would cut calls off to reboot for no good reason, and half the time when I opened it, it would start loading an email application or Sprint music store application, and I would have to wait for it to finish loading to exit out to do what I needed to do. And, I used it as an alarm last week, while working early, and when it went off Saturday am, the only way to turn off the alarm was to turn the whole phone off - at 6:00 am...
SO I went to Sprint, told 'em my issues, and got in response "Huh. This is one of the best phone we offer (ic902), it's really unusual to have problems with one of these. I have to get it to reproduce the issue to do anything (which it surprisingly did right on cue). Ok I can swap it out, but I don't know what I'll swap it for, these don't exist anymore (?!?), they are being "revamped" (uh-huh). you can't get these anymore, (?!? "one of the best we offer???), so I'll have to swap for a comparable model, which would be the i880 (I'm ok with that)"
Then she went to the back of the store, out of hearing (go figger) for about 10 min, when she came back out she said "We can swap it out, but you'll need to go to the Greenwood store, We're out of them, since we've been swapping so many of them out (?!? uhhhhhh...did she just tell on herself? If there's rarely problems with this phone, why are you swapping so frequently you're out of the replacement..?) So I went to Greenwood store. My point here is I lost 1 1/2 hours of "time to myself" jacking around with Sprint - again (that's another post I need to get up *sigh* I really need a clone...)
So when done with that I went over to DSW Shoe Warehouse to see what they had that I couldn't live without (no, 35 pairs of shoes aren't enough - yet another story to come...) They didn't have anything, so I figured I'd go across the parking lot to Kohl's. When I went to start my car (see I DO eventually get back to my original point...), I hit the key, it turned over, but it didn't catch. *sigh* I hit the key again, this time it caught - sorta. Now I've had my share of hoopdie rides. For years I was always having to decide if I wanted my car to go or stop -fixing the motor or tranny so it goes, but the brakes are so bad it won't stop is usually a bad idea, but fixing the brakes on a vehicle that you can't get to go over 20mph due to motor/tranny issues is kinda pointless...but in fairness, it's been a looooong time since I've had to deal with that. My Hunny is awesome at keeping me in GOOD vehicles. But....it was like she wasn't getting any gas, when I hit the gas I could hear the motor sucking air - never a good thing. I finally got it to catch, and held her at a higher RPM to blow out whatever the problem was, and she ran - mostly - fine. Until yesterday (yes, that's two whole days)
When I came back from lunch yesterday, my dummy light indicating she was hot was on, and the needle was in the red. I only went about 5 miles each way, and didn't idle at all. I told hunny, so he came by when I got off to follow me home. At least that was the plan...We got about - oh I dunno 3 MILES and she was back in the red. Pulled over, cooled her down, added coolant. (Mind now, the motor is aluminum, so I have to have a "special mix, using only DISTILLED water" per instructions on the cap). A half hour later, I headed for the house and he headed for our boy. Have you ever had to drive a vehicle, with the heat on full blast in 95 degree heat..? Not fun, lemme tell ya!
I got about 6 or 7 more miles, and she was back in the red. We finally limped her home with the help of Mike & Missy. I just wanted to go get my boy, go home, change to swimwear, go to the pool, relax for a bit, and have a nice peaceful evening, then spend my day off just being OFF. Silly me, what was I thinking..? That NEVER happens...We ended up having Stacey keep our boy overnight (yeah, I had to take him back at 9:30 last night), and while I did that, Mike & Missy followed Hunny to the dealership to drop my car off, then he took them home & kept Mike's truck. He's really not happy with that - he HATES driving someone else's vehicle! (So do I, so I understand...)
Oh yeah, did I mention our air conditioning is out..? Again..? So I had to get up at 7 when the air guy called, to let him in - apparently the coil's leaking. They may or may not have one, so it may or may not get fixed today...here's our forecast for the next week...
So, here I am, on my supposed "day off" I have to deal with the air guy, deal with the car dealership (although I will say, the man I deal with down there is awesome - he's the reason I'm willing to take my car 25 miles to be fixed when I could go 5), oh yeah, and the power steering is squalling on the truck (which we bought new in 2006, and have had in the shop about 7 - 10 times...), so even though I dodged having to sit at O'Brien's all day waiting on my car, I get to go to Skillman's and sit all day waiting on the truck...
AND I was supposed to go to the doctor's today. Needless to say that's been rescheduled.
Ok, now I feel a little better, since I've actually posted here. I still have a bunch more to write, but It's gonna hafta wait a bit. I need to get a laptop, so I can do this shit somewhere other than home, since there has apparently been a new Universal Law added to my list of rules, right under "Can't leave house without forgetting something", "Not allowed to buy a vehicle without major issues" and "If reminded of something - anything - it will promptly be forgotten" that says "Not allowed to spend days away from work doing anything other than running around like chicken with head cut off."
*SIGH*
Ok, gotta go run like chicken without head!
*GRIN*
See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzzz! 

Catching Back Up (Kinda Sorta...)

OMG, OMG, OMG - I am SOOOOO behind here! There is so much I want to get in here - Holiday World, Tooth fairy, the rotatation of the planet, damaged cars, bubble wrap & back injuries, undone laundry, air conditioners that quit working (and the accompanying "notthebrightestcolorinthecrayolabox" owner of the house's spouse issues). And a whole buncha other stuff I've already started to lose *sigh*


BUT time has been scarce (scarce..? Hell it's bee almost non-existent!) and I just haven't gotten here, which really SUX! 'Cuz I know the three of you spend you days in a heightened sense of anticipation, just waiting to see what's coming next...*snort, giggle*


BUT - the wonderful man over at The Vinyl Village has given my my very first BLOG AWARD! and I haven't even had the time to acknowledge it let alone thank him :(


THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! If someone had told me I would win a blog award, I'd have probably laughed in their face! I didn't even know I was in the running, or competing or whatever it is you do to get an award - the last award I won was for Extemperaneous Speaking - a century and a half ago, when I was in 6th grade...


Wow.


I'm aware I may seem to be being a bit facetious, but truly, I am so flabbergasted at this that I am at a loss. Plus, I have no idea how a normal person should react to an honor like this, since I'm not anything even remotely resembling normal...


Anyways, this beautiful award, the “Arte y Pico" comes with some stipulations, rules & regulations & stuffs :)

Winners must:

• Award five blogs that contribute to the blogging community through creativity, design, and interesting material, regardless of language.


• Name each of the five blog authors and provide a link to his or her blog.


• Award recipients must show the Arte y Pico Award image and the name of the award-giving blog author, as well as the award-giving blog author’s blog link.


• Award recipients must provide a link to the Arte y Pico blog.


• Award recipients must show these rules.

So, here goes

I will award to Tom, at Fate's Acquittal This blog consistently has wonderful enteries, and I feel it is a definite plus to the blogging community. Great content, always interesting, and not at all distant, but rather a real person who acknowledges comments and questions.

I will award to (another) Tom, at Tom's Hideaway Here you find interesting info, a lot of sports stuff, and an opportunity to compete in a Daily Trivia Challenge! That rocks - or at least it does for me (when I do well...)

I will award to Reas (not her real name) at Trench Warfare Here's a woman doing her best to help where she can, and finding herself thanked with kicks to the head - yet still she slogs onward, with style & humor -when possible.

I will award to Anji at Anji Patchwork simple observations & sharing of life. Always a nice place to visit, and sit a while.

FInally, I'll award Goob at Hey It's Free! The only thing better than cheap is free! And he has the free! He also throws in the occasional contest to keep things interesting :)

Ok, gotta go home. Will try to add more info on all of the things I want to get to * sigh*

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzz!

The Life & Times...

HAS GONE TO HOLIDAY WORLD! SHOULD (HOPEFULLY) BE BACK MONDAY, TUESDAY AT THE LATEST!

:)

Where Have I Been..?

Ok, I guess this is what I get for daring to say things had been "slow". *Slap in the face* That'll learn ya! Let's start with the boy & his tooth...

As you know, we've had a loose tooth for quite some time now. Well, It finally came out Tuesday. Lemme tell ya - that boy was excited! And of course he had a bazillion questions...as usual! Which I really wasn't up tp answering...

You see, this is where the "keepyourmouth(keyboard?)shutandNEVERsaythingsareslow" comes in. I had a doctors appointment Tuesday. Nothing major, just an Rx fill, and having a couple of skin tags removed on my neck. Which I wouldn't have bothered with, except they happened to be right where my necklaces hang, and right where my tags hit my back, when I wear a shirt with a tag (I try not to - there are so many tagless options now, and I LOVE THAT!). But they were irritating, so I figured I'd have the doc take 'em off. No biggie, I mean really - how bad could it hurt? I've given birth!

So I took my boy to Stacey's and dropped him off about noonish, and proceeded to the doctor's. I actually got my car most of the way cleaned out, since I got there early! That's a feat! My car creates shit...anyways, I went in, paid sat for a minute or two (they're really good about not making you wait if you have an appointment - now coming as a walk-in is a different story). After about 5 min id the room, the doc came in explained what he was going to do, and did it. Not bad at all, kinda felt like having hairs plucked out. He rubbed some antibiotic ointment on the spots, gave me my prescription and I was done. In and out in about 25 minutes total.

I had gotten a coupon for a $25 gift card from CVS for a new or transferred Rx, so I headed on down to CVS to get it filled, since it was in the area (I usually - almost always - go to Walgreens...). As I was driving down there, I was talking to Hunny, and telling him how easy it had been.

"Hell, they don't even hurt, it's more like an itch where they took them off" That would be me tempting fate again...

I got to CVS, and as I was walking in, my hands, palms and inside of wrists, began to itch. "Cool! I'm coming into money somewhere!" Yeah, right...I went back to the counter, gave her my card & id, all the while scratching my hands & wrists surreptitiously. She said it would be about 10 mins, so I figured I'd stroll the aisles and see if I could find anything I couldn't live without. But then I got a little light-headed, and my scalp started itching pretty bad - and scratching was BAD. I went over to the waiting area and sat down, and told hunny I was going to go. I was feeling pretty bad, and didn't want him freaking out...he was at work nothing he could do. By now I was thinking it might be a bit more than a sign of incoming income. My hands were starting to swell, and my whole body was turning bright red.

They called me up to get my medicine, and the little gal asked me "Are you alright..?"

"I don't think so."
I went and sat back down for a minute, then asked directions to the restroom, pretty sure I was about to hurl all over their waiting are. Now mind you I NEVER vomit. Ok, not never, but in 41 years, 14 of which were spent as a dancer who got paid by the drink, and another good 10 as a bartender, which means I DRANK, I'd bet I've only gotten physically ill 10 times. EVER. So this feeling keyed me to the fact that I might be in serious trouble. I didn't actually get sick, but it was a near miss. I went back to the waiting area and called the doctor's office. I had only been gone 15 minutes max, and I was only about 3 miles down the road.

Me: "Hi, this is Jodi, I just left there, I really, really, really need to talk to Linda or Dr. _____" My voice sounded a bit shaky to my ears...

Receptionist: "I'm guessing this is an emergency..?"
Me: "Yeah, I think so..."
Linda came on the line momentarily...

Her: "Hey Jodi, what's up?"
Me: "What was the stuff the doc put on my neck>"
Her: "It was just a triple antiboitic, why?"
Me: "I think I'm having an allergic reaction to something in it..."
Her: " Have you ever used it before? Ever shown any reaction?"

Me: "I've used antibiotic ointment on every tattoo I have (please understand what I am saying when I say that - I quit counting tattoos when I get to 40 - and there are still more to go...), and I've never had any problems with it."

Her: "Well do you think a couple of benedryl will help? What's happening with you..?"

Me: "Well, I'm shaky, I itch everywhere, my body's turning red, and it's kinda hard to breath..."

Her: "So you're having trouble breathing? Is your throat closing up?"

Me: "Starting to.."

Her: "You might want to think about coming back up here, how far away are you?"

Me: "Just down the road at CVS."
Her: "You better come on back..."
Me: Ok, on my way."
I went up to the counter to get my stuff, and the gal asked for my CVS card. I was shaking so bad, she took the ring out of my hand and said she'd find it. She also said that she wasn't sure she was comfortable letting me leave in the state I was in (and truly..? She probably shouldn't have) But I told her I was going to the doctor's office up on 56th St. we were at 34th St. and she let me go.

I got back to the doctor's, and they whisked me in the back. I ended up getting two shots of Epinephrine AND a shot of cortisone, to reverse the reaction... My skin was bright red, swelling (the rings that usually are trying to fall off my fingers left marks where the skin swelled around them), and itching to beat Hell. The whites of my eyes even turned red. Scary shit. But within 45 minutes of getting back to the office I was pretty much fine, not 100%, but probably 80%.

Apparently at some point, I have acquired a sever allergy to bacatracin(sp?)

Meanwhile, my boy was busy losing his tooth during a water fight *grin* He was so excited when I got there he could hardly stand it! And, he got his first bee sting - the same way I got my first bee sting, running through a sprinkler and stepped on it. I'm fairly certain he took it much better than I did. I HATE bees. I actually broke my tailbone some years ago trying to back away from a bee...
Damm! Gotta go for now, but will try to get back soon! Work calls again...
See ya laterzzzzzzzzz!

Awake at Five A M

Hey all. Yes,  I'm still here, and I actually have a few minutes to myself. Kinda. It's more like, despite it being five a m, here I am, awake. So I figured I'd take a bit of time to check in. There really hasn't been much happening here, lately, Probably the most exciting thing recently just happened yesterday - I finally got a table - ok desk- to set my sewing stuff up on. Woohoo. Yes, I am easily amused,,,

I haven't heard back from my dil on watching one of the boys...I don't know if that's good or bad, I'm gonna go with good, on the assumption that she found someone else, and it's no longer an issue,

My boy's tooth is now just hanging by a thread, so to speak, The new one is growing in behind it, I tried to get a pic, but the kid just isn't capable of holding sill long enough for me to get a clear shot,,, Hunny says it's the same tooth he has recessed, I'd never really noticed one being recessed until he pointed it out - guess that means it's just not that noticeable, and I just won't worry too much at this point,

Ok, gonna go try to sleep again, Hope it works, cuz five am is entirely too early to get up and still be functional to drive home 23 miles at 9pm,,,

G'night - I hope

See ya laterzzzzzzzz

Horrible Gramma

Ok, so here's the deal...I got a call from my daughter-in-law Monday. She left me a voice mail (I was at work) asking if I could keep one of the boys when she & my son go to Vegas in August. This is bad. In today's world, it is accepted, Hell, even expected that grandparents will care for their children's offspring on a regular basis, even to the point of raising them. This is the "way it works" so to speak, in most families.
My in-laws rarely keep our boy, and my parents are both gone, so we don't get much "help", and time child-free is almost non-existent for us. On occasion, Stacey or Rosa will keep him over night, and on very rare occasions (usually if I have to work on Saturday, which kinda ruins the benefit) she'll take him to the lake for a weekend in the Summer. But as a rule, if we aren't at work, we are in the company of the (usually) sweet (monster) boy. And he requires a lot of...well, something. I'm not implying in any way, shape or form that I think this is bad, just trying to explain our situation, and why we feel the way we do about this request.
We are not a typical Grandparents (in case you hadn't picked up on that). For one thing, Hunny and I both work full time (I work at least 40 a week, and he usually works 60 a week). My schedule is really screwy, and what time I have off is usually so full, I work harder on my days off than I do when at work...Now I know many of today's grandparents still work full-time, as grandkids are coming along earlier in life. But let's add in to my mix the fact that I have a five year old of my own. I still deal with a little one, usually to the point of exasperation every day. Most folks who are grandparents have children that are grown, or at least mostly grown.
If my (usually) sweet (monster) boy had never put in an appearance, my life would be very different. I would be more than happy to take my grandkids and keep them for a weekend, or a week, or...well, you get the picture. But he did. My life is much better for that, but consequently much fuller, and quite frankly I really have absolutely no desire to chase a 16 month old, Mama's boy who freaks out whenever his parents aren't in sight, or provide the constant attention required by a 4 month old. And deal with my 5 year old. He's a handful all by himself!
I talked to Hunny about this, and my reluctance to do this, and he agreed with me (I love my wonderful, supportive husband!).
She hasn't called back yet, which her message said she would do, but when she does, I'm afraid it's going to start a "family feud." I love my grandkids, but between work, my (usually) sweet (monster) boy, and ongoing health issues, I'm just not up for it. I'm a horrible gramma. And probably a horrible mother-in-law...
Any feedback, comments, opinions or advice would be welcome at this point. I really do love my grandkids, as well as my son & daughter-in-law, but I just can't go there. I think it would be a bad idea, for everyone involved.
Ok, gotta get ready for work...ugh!
See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!    

The Day Has Arrived (I hope)

We're off to the doctors today, to see if we get to be cast free. I hope so. Do you have any idea how hard it is to bathe, or even shower, a five year old in a cast, and not get the cast wet..? Can you say impossible? Yet it is stressed how important it is to keep it dry. *sigh* Not in this house...

OK, I'll be back after the dr.

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzz!

***Edited to add*** We no longer have a cast. Woohooo! We do still have a wrist brace for another 3-4 weeks, but doc said he can sleep without it in about a week, and it can come off for baths, swimming & sprinkler running. I now have one happy little boy. He has already figured out how to slip it off over his hand, rather than undoing it - not sure if that's good or bad...but I guess it is what it is :)

Ok, back to the grindstone...

See ya laterzzz!!!

Popping In

No time for a real post this morning, but I wanted to pop in and say all is still well. Today begins my Hell-weeks at work. Because July 4 falls in a week that I have Tuesday off normally, I don't get it off. I think the theory is that they're giving us the holiday off, we don't need a regular day off....So I work M-F this week (yes, I volunteered for the 4th) then M-S the following week. and I worked M-S last week, Ugh,

My boy has a little mark on his forehead. I've asked him about 5 times what he did, and I've gotten 5 answers, not the least of which went like this:

Me: "What'd you do to your head?"
Him: "Where?"
Me: running my fingers lightly over the spot "Right here."
Him: "Ow, ow, ow, ow." Mind you, this is just a teeny, tiny little scab, bout 1/4" round - it almost can't be seen....
Me; "So it hurts..? How'd you get it?"
Him: "You did it."
Me: "I did it..? When did I do that?"
Him: "Yep, you did it. "
Me: "When did I do it..?"
Him: "Yesterday."
Me: relieved "How could I have done it yesterday? You were with Rosa all day."
Him: "Oh yeah, I was, wasn't I?"
Me: "So how'd you do it?"
Him: "If I'm really, really good while we're at the store can I get a toy?"

And that was the end of the conversation. Oh yeah, did I mention we were at the return counter of Wally World when this conversation took place..? There I am being accused by my child of hurting him, while all the neighborhood biddies listen in. How many do you think actually heard the whole conversation, and how many just the part about "You did it"?

Oh well, such is life. This mornings questioning about it got me the response that Buster or Bandit (Stacey's pets) must have done it. I guess I'll never know. Well, gotta go put my nose to the grindstone (or ear to the idiots as the case may be...)

Oh yeah, wanted to add tomorrow's the big day. We go back to the doctor's. Hopefully the little guy will get that cast off. It's gotta suck, being in a cast most of the summer : ( Oh, and we're still awaiting the falling-out of the loose tooth.

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzzz!

Well Alrighty Then...

Well, it seems I placed first in weekly points in the trivia competition over at Tom's Hideaway this week, which is cool! Tom was kind enough to link to my blog so everyone can come visit, which is also cool. That means I have to post here, or risk looking like a slacker - not cool...Oh well, such is life. I'll just look at it as motivation, to get me to post more regularly than I have been, 'cuz I really don't have enough other shit to do to keep me busy *innocent look*

Thanks Tom.

No really, I do appreciate the link, I love to have folks visit, even though I really have been slacking. My other blog, A Witch In Time does get updated daily. Usually. But it is more structured, with a particular subject matter each day, and I feel like a school kid not doing their homework if I don't update it....I expect my 2nd/3rd/4th grade teacher to come knocking on my door: "Jodi...do you have your homework from yesterday's assignment..?" That would be Mrs. Kinnenninen (No names are being changed to protect the innocent, as there are no innocents here).

When we moved to Kansasville I was in 2nd grade, and she was the teacher. We didn't really hit it off so to speak. Mrs. Kinnenninen was 350 lbs of bleached out, frizzy afro-having, lime green Cadillac-driving meanness. And that was on her good days. Her idea of classroom discipline was to grab a child by the hair on their head and shake them until their teeth rattled. Lucky me, When I moved on to 3rd grade, she was moved over to teach the 3rd & 4th grade class. (Yes, it was a small school, 3rd & 4th were in one room...).

This was the woman who tried to flunk a straight A student (me, A's on all assignments, A's on all tests) because I never took homework home. Huh..? Her logic, as related to my mother when she questioned her about why I brought home all A's and had an F on my report card, was "Well, the other kids see that she never takes any homework home. They'll think they can not take homework home and get A's if I give her an A..." Needless to say, Mom got the grades changed to A's.

Hmmmm.....my how the mind does wander....

So, I've been kid free since 11:30 yesterday morning. Not that I could really take advantage of it, I had to work from 12:30 to 9:00, and by the time I stopped at Wally World ( speaking of Wally World, The Vinyl Villager has a great post about Wally World over on his blog. Actually he has a lot of great posts...go check it out!) and got home, I had just enough energy to eat and fall out. *sigh* What an exciting life I lead. I didn't even have the energy to redo my toenails in relative peace. And hunny has just left to go pick him up. Which is good, 'cuz I miss the little shit darling.

I get to spend today doing laundry, 'cuz I lost my Tuesday off due to the holiday (My employer has this really screwy policy that if a holiday falls in the week of your "flex day" you have to work it. Not sure how it qualifies as a "flex day" as it 's my regular day off, every other week...but if I want a job, I have to do what the company says...) so I don't have a day off until this upcoming Saturday. And today is the first I've had in the last 7 days. Friday is the Fourth, and is a company holiday, but I volunteered to work. How could I not...I got overtime for yesterday, 'cuz I have to work Tuesday, And I'll get overtime and holiday pay for Friday.  Doesn't give me much free time, but hey, the bills never stop!

Ok, gotta go do the laundry shuffle, plus squeeze in grocery shopping, a shower, a bath for the boy in a cast (always fun...NOT), cooking some kind of meal, and dealing with all of the little crisis' involved in having a stubborn 5 year old and even more stubborn 41 year old home together...should be an interesting day!

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzz!

Oh yeah! I've been meaning to put this up, and since I'm here now, I better do it before it flees my mind and never gets done. (Yes, that happens frequently in my world...) I was over at Hey! It's Free catching up on the freebies I'd missed in the last few days, and came across this - Chacha. It's a website where you can go and ask anything and get the answer. But that's not the exciting (yes I know, I have a pathetic existence and I am easily amused) part. The exciting part is they also offer this as a text service. You can send a question - any question, about anything - to 242242, and get a response in just a minute or two. I tested it by asking "who was Carter's vice president?" (fairly easy) and "When is Lammas?" (not quite as easy) and I got correct answers in about 30 seconds. I also got a bit of background info about the answers ( for example, the answer to "When is Lammas?" was "Lammas Tide -August 1, beginning of harvest cycle & rests in early grain harvest as well as those fruits & veggies ready 4 picking" Now that's a complete answer!)

Now why does this excite me? you ask...Well, I don't know about you, but I have found myself in a conversation about some trivial, off-the-wall, not necessarily mainstream subjects. More often, I find myself at a loss for answer to something I know. It is buried so far under all the other crap, stuff, useless information, knowledge I have amassed, I just can't access it. This would (will) be great in that situation. Standard text messaging rates apply, but since we just changed our plan to unlimited everything, s'not a problem for me : )

Ok, really going now...*grin*

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzz!

Perception - At Least That Was The Plan....

Do you ever wonder how the "world" perceives you? What it is other people see when they look at you? Do you think others see the same things you are trying to project? I have no idea why I am wondering these things, my mind tends to go where ever it wants to, and I just go along for the ride. And believe you me, there have been some dooseys :) As I was getting ready for work, which involves looking in the mirror, I wondered if what I was seeing is what others see. I don't think it is.
To begin with, let's look at my perception of me physically. Like many people, my weight tends to fluctuate, I have been as heavy as 190, when pregnant, and as low as 130 (many, many, many moons ago, when I was still dancing, working physically every day). But no matter what my weight, when I look in the mirror, I don't really see myself as fat - even when I am lol. Yes, I said fat. I'm really not big on being politically correct, as you know if you've read my past posts. But really, if you're 5'5" ( I am) and you weigh 176 ( I did) face it, no matter how "well-proportioned" or evenly distributed it may be, you're FAT (I was). But I didn't see it when I looked in a mirror. It was glaringly obvious in pictures, but when getting dressed / made-up, I truly didn't see it. I did know I was "big", I was wearing size 16, some 18, but I still didn't look fat to myself. My hunny, bless his big 'ol heart, tells me constantly that it doesn't matter if I weigh 125 or 250, he still loves me as I am. I believe him. Why? Well, actions speak louder than words, and after almost 10 years, the man's sex drive has, if anything, increased.
Now, I can't decide if this mis-perception is good or bad. I mean, as a plus, it implies a positive self-image. But on the other hand it implies self-delusion. I wonder what I really "look like"..?
I have since lost weight, I now wear anywhere from a 7 to an 11, depending on the mfg. But I don't really look that different to me. I dunno, it's weird. There are other things, too. Things like age. How old do I look? How old should I look? Public figures, particularly movie types, seem to not age much. You see a woman who is 60 years old, and she "looks" somewhere between 35-40. Yet in the real world, many of the people I know look much older than they are. I've been told I don't look my age, quite often, but what does a 41 year old mother-of-three-grandmother-of two look like? I don't fell like I imagine a mother-of-three-grandmother-of-two should feel. At least not usually. I do have some issues, but I deal with them. I remember babysitting for a neighbor when I was about 14-going-on-40. She was 21, and to my thoughts, she was ANCIENT. It doesn't seem like that was almost 30 years ago...I used to joke that I would never wear "40 year old's jeans", referring to what I now call "Mom jeans" - high-waisted, wide hipped, narrow at the bottom and usually at least an inch or two too short. I still don't wear them, and don't think I ever will, but you notice the change in terminology..? Yeah, 'cuz I'm a 40 year old ( and then some). I've been thrilled since low-rise, bootcut has come back in style, and I imagine I will wear them even if they go back out. I'm ill-bilt, as we say in these parts, and the usual women's styles just don't work for me. Really. If they are long enough, the waist sits just under my boobs. If the waist is even close to where it should be, they will be at a minimum 4 inches too short, probably closer to 6. Does that mean that low-rise, bootcut is the new "40-year-olds-jeans"..?
I got an email from one of my cousins in Wisconsin the other day title "The 40 Year Old's Dress-code" which included the following advice :
1. A nose ring and bifocals don't go together.2. Spiked hair and bald spots are a bad combination.3. A pierced tongue and dentures shouldn't be in the same mouth.4. Miniskirts and support hose, not flattering.5. Ankle bracelets and corn pads, bad idea.6. Speedo’s and cellulite, not user friendly.7. A belly button ring and a gall bladder surgery scar, not complimentary to each other8. Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart monitor shouldn't be worn together9. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge, also not viewer friendly.
10. Bikinis and liver spots don't go there.
11. Short shorts and varicose veins, don't go there, either.12. Inline skates and a cane don't work well together.And last, but not least . . .13. Thongs and Depends, what were you thinking?
Now why would she go there? you are wondering to yourselves...Well lemme tell ya, I happen to be guilty, an aficionado of, a wearer of, uhhh, some of that is stuff that refers to me. Like the pierced tongue/dentures remark..? I happen to have both ( and lemme tell ya, Hunny is a big fan of both, if you know what I mean...). And the bellyring/gallbladder remark? Well, it just so happens I have both of those,too. Kinda. I definately have the gallbladder scar. And it's not one of those dainty little, three-one-inch-cuts scar either. It's the real deal. It starts just under my ribs on the right side, and is somewhere between 10 and 12 inches long. It's been there for 24 years. Yep, you read that right, 24 years...I got that scar 3 weeks after my 17th birthday. Then I got pregnant again, and had my oldest boy 10 months to the day after the surgery. I can't remember it ever really bothering me, appearance-wise. I've never striven to keep it covered (kinda hard to do when you dance nekkid, or nearly so for a living...). I wear short shirts, bikinis, etc... So, I take a bit of offense at that list - or at least fell like I should, truly it doesn't bother me a bit. I should care..? Not!
Hmmmm... this isn't really where I meant to go...see? my mind just goes where it will, LOL.
What I had in mind was more along the lines of perception, personality, not so much physical appearance. How am I perceived? Do I come across as I am..? No. I know I don't...well, I do, kinda. To begin with, apparently I am pretty intimidating. Not intentional. Usually. *looking innocent* I think it is a combination of self-assurance, intelligence, and a large vocabulary. I'm really not that imposing physically, 5'5", about 140ish now, but I do have pretty good posture. My shoulders are wider than the average woman's from years of pole work & upside down push-ups, but not to the point of looking too manly. I do have long legs, which translates to long strides, and apparently I don't walk, I strut. I used to have girls tell me they wished they could "strut like you do".
I think a lot of it is attitude. Unlike many females, I don't fear. Well, I fear a lot of things, but not in such a way that anyone would know it. I once had an ex tell me he hated walking into a bar with me, because I walked in like I owned the place. Yeah, and....? What's the problem with that..? Do you see a problem with that? How should I walk into a bar? Should I lower my eyes and hunch into myself..? Hide the $250 pool cue I'm carrying..? What..? Not happening! I tend to walk with head up, eyes watching all around, and taking long strides. I'm not afraid of eye contact, and I'll speak, as long as you aren't a drunk jackass thinking you're God's gift and that I should fall at your feet in worship. That'll NEVER happen.
The tattoos don't hurt. Well, they hurt a little to get...but they add to the intimidation factor, I'm sure. There's a dragon on one arm, and a dragon & pentacle on the other. I have more, but those are the ones most likely to be visible. But as a rule, I don't set out with the intention to intimidate people. I'm friendly, mostly. I'm considerate, I'll help someone load groceries into their car, if they look like they need help. I carry heavy bags for elderly or handicapped people, I will grab stuff off the top shelf for someone in a wheelchair, most of all I NOTICE these types of things. Whereas the majority of the population would just go about their merry way, not even acknowledging that someone other than themselves might not only exist, but actually need a little assistance. You know who these people are. They live next door, drive SUVs & sportscars, and minivans. They are the "average american family" John & Jane Doe and their 2.5 kids - who they are teaching the same blindness and self-absorption to. And that is what it is - learned blindness & selfishness.
And yet, I'm still the scary one. The intimidating one. I once had a little girl (okay, she wasn't so little, she was like 16 or 17 at the time) tell me I terrified her until she saw me interact with my son. Because I am self-confident, tattooed, not shy about speaking my mind (without resorting to cussing, screaming or yelling), will look you in the eye, practice witchcraft, of which I am not a bit ashamed, love my husband without a need to belittle him to others, and numerous other things, I'm the scary one.
Hmmmm.....well it looks like I'm not going to actually get to write about what I wanted to, because apparently my mind has other things on it's...well...it's mind.
Reading back over this, it seems a bit rambly, but I guess it says what I need to say. Not necessarily what I wanted to sit down and write about but there it is...
Gotta go back to work....ugh!
See ya laterzzzzzzzzzz!

I'm Still Alive

I feel absolutely horrible not having posted here...I've been meaning to - I've even started to, a couple of times. But it seems everytime I sit down to write, something else needs done, and it needs done NOW. I wouldn't know how to act with 2 or 3 hours to myself, uninterrupted - no kid, no hunny, no phone...I'd probably wander aimlessly, looking for someone to holler at me "Hey! I need...." I can just see me wandering the neighborhood, "Excuse me, do you NEED something..?"

I sit my boy down with breakfast, and think "Ok, I have a few minutes to myself" I sit down at the computer and start to type and I hear "MOOOOOM" ('cus he's hollering at me from downstairs, so of course it has to be at the top of his lungs...) "Yes, son" And then he pops off with some out-of-left-field-has-no-relevance-to-anything kinda question. And you HAVE to answer, because my son is nothing if he isn't persistent. IF you try to collect a few moments by not answering he will ask again. And again, and again, until you DO answer. And don't try to blow him off with some simple-quit-asking-questions kinda answer. No sirree Bob, that won't cut it. The kid is very logical, and if your answer doesn't make sense logically, or is too simple, well then it becomes a conversation, not just a question. The kid wears me out - not just physically, but mentally as well.

*Sigh*

The Perils of Parenthood.

Well, we still have a cast. The appointment is for Tuesday. Hopefully it'll come off then. Not that it has really hampered the little shit darling, other than that he can't go swimming. Not that he has kept the damm thing dry - oh no, can't have that! But he still plays just as rough, fights with the big kids and goes to Karate.

Speaking of Karate, this week was "Crazy Hair" week at Karate. I wanted to do him up with bright orange hair (it is his favorite color) but couldn't find any orange : ( So I got bright green and neon blue, and did it half and half - kinda like Mommy's. Uhhhh, no wait, my hair isn't green & blue, although...NO strike that thought. But my hair is two-tone. It is red on top, and black on the bottom. It's pretty cool if I do say so myself ! At least, I get lots of compliments on it, so I can convince myself it's cool...

OK, back to the boy. Here's a pic.

Well, it's that time again - the slave drivers - aka work - call. Gotta go get ready to be "professional" like (ugh). But at least I popped in to say Hi. I just feel so bad - I haven't even really gotten to check in on the blogs I follow...Ah well, such is life...

See ya laterzzzzzzzzzz!

George Carlin - R.I.P

I am a big fan of George Carlin, and have been trying to think of/find an appropriate way to reflect this. I will miss him, and his views that, while claiming to be comedy, actually hit pretty close to the mark - at least with me. I went to Tom's Hideaway, like I do every morning, to play the daily trivia game, and found this waiting for me. I hope Tom will forgive me for stealing borrowing his post....but it is probably the most appropriate, for me....

George Carlin died of heart failure last night after checking into a hospital complaining of chest pains, he was 71.
Here is one of the many rants he performed in his great comedic career:

GOD

When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims, religion.
No contest.
No contest.
Religion.
Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day.
And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do.
And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!
But He loves you.
He loves you, and He needs money!
He always needs money!
He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, but somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullshit story.
Holy shit!
But I want you to know something, this is sincere, I want you to know, when it comes to believing in God, I really tried.
I really, really tried.
I tried to believe that there is a God, who created each of us in His own image and likeness, loves us very much, and keeps a close eye on things.
I really tried to believe that, but I gotta tell you, the longer you live, the more you look  around, the more you realize, something is f*@ked up.
Something is wrong here.
War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption, and the Ice Capades.
Something is definitely wrong.
This is not good work.
If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed.
Results like these do not belong on the resume of a Supreme Being.
This is the kind of shit you'd expect from an office temp with a bad attitude.
And just between you and me, in any decently-run universe, this guy would've been out on his all-powerful ass a long time ago !!

R.I.P. George

A bit of Info, Since I've Been Slacking (Sorry, Again)

OMG! I have so not gotten this blog updated! Damm! And I really don't have time to do it justice this morning, either...but I will do what I can.

It has been a relatively quiet week in my world - and I'm sure the fates read that and will make sure that it doesn't stay that way for long - I had to get up early every day this past week & take my boy to meet Stacey so he could go to Vacation Bible School. Imagine, me, a witch, getting up early so my child can go to church! Ah well, we firmly believe he can't make an informed choice later in life if he doesn't have all the information. So we let him go to VBS.

But, it did make life a little rough for the week. Everyone knows I don't wake up well...I had to get up at like 6:30, so I could be functional enough to drive by 7:45, then I had to pack the boy into the car (rarely an easy feat) and drive up to Speedway (about 6 miles) and wait for Stacey to show. The agreed meeting time was 8:10, but Stacey, bless her heart, despite being a Christian definitely runs on Pagan Standard Time (habitually late). Even though I know this, I still show up on time - it's one of my Things. So I went, and waited, and waited, and waited. She usually showed somewhere between 8:20 & 8:30. Then I got to drive home, rush to get ready, and head out to work. Fun, fun!

But that's over now, whew!

Like I said, the week was pretty uneventful, I spent Saturday sewing & cleaning (love to sew, hate to clean) I didn't get my Friday post up over at A Witch in Time until Saturday, and then it took me most of the rest of the day to get Saturday's up. Which was actually Wednesday's. (don't ask). But I got the house (mostly) clean, one top (mostly) done and a good start on another. The kids came over yesterday with the grandbabies, and we spent the day visiting & eating rotini (rotini...mmmmmmmmmmm)

Hunny got slammed with a Migraine about 5:00 yesterday, and has been in bed in a drug-induced stupor ever since (poor man, has absolutely no drug tolerance. I'm surprised Aleve doesn't knock him out *grin*)

Ok, so there's a little bit of catch up. I have to get ready for work now ewwwwwwwww! But I swear I'll try to do better! Gotta go for now.

See ya laterzzzzzzzz! ! !