Pick a drawer... any drawer or a closet for that matter

So I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit this but I shall anyways since I am so proud of my hard work and accomplishment this evening. My house was overrun with papers. With junk mailers, shit I've kept for some unknown reason. In true packrat fashion, close to my roots, I have saved every piece of shit that has been mailed, given or handed to me and packed it all in drawers, closets and more drawers. Every single drawer I could find in the common areas of my house that were not dedicated to silverware or utensils had become a "junk drawer". Coffee table, end tables, desk drawers and 4 kitchen drawers all included for a massive total of 10, not including one closet.

The other night I mentioned to hubby in, I believe after we had crawled into bed, that we needed a shredder, a good one. One that cross cut and did not fit on top of a trash can. A couple days later he told me he had gotten one of my Christmas presents through his work and that it had come in that day. I quickly mentioned that I had already given him 3 of his Christmas presents in the form of shirts I found big time on sale at Belk that he could wear to work. Without too much twisting of the arm he went out to the car and came in with a box revealing the beautiful little black and stainless steel shredder that I had in passing requested. (oh he does listen after all). Since then I have been shredding and shredding. We also went out today and purchased a pretty filing cabinet and 4 bins, one to go under the bed for Ashy's artwork, one for her cards (I always save have and will continue to save these), one for markers and one for playdoh so they can all be neatly put away in the closet. This evening I have cleaned out 11 drawers and demolished the contents of a closet that hubby cleaned out this morning and everything with the exception of a small stack has been filed. I have more to do in the form a storage room that is built into our garage but I am thrilled to pieces with the fruit of my labors in the form of a more organized less cluttered life with only 1 "junk drawer" left to speak of. Ahhh, it's embarrassing but oh it feels so good. I leave you with that as I go to sit on the couch and feel good knowing what is NO LONGER hiding in all those drawers! Wait, now I'm so pumped up I'm off to the kitchen to reorganize the food closet. Here's to a shredder, a pretty filing cabinet and beautiful plastic containers to store goodies away neatly and massively organized!

So it's been a while. I've been keeping up with you all though, despite my own blogging absence. Life is happening, as it always does. I'm in full Christmas spirit mode now. Enjoying the Christmas tree and the lights and the beauty of it all. Loving to hear the screams (even though they are much too loud and attention getting) that come from my daughter's mouth at every glimpse of Christmas. The lights and trees in the stores, the pictures and hangings of Santa Claus and snowmen. It's a wonder and amazement that never ceases. I love it.

Apparently though, the Trooper that I passed going 67 in a 55 failed to have the Christmas spirit as I was issued my 1st fast driver award in my 11 years of driving. Now don't go thinking that I had cried my way out of other tickets because the last time I was pulled over for speeding was 7 or 8 years ago. I have a 5 over rule that I follow pretty closely. Well on Wednesday morning I was headed down to work and Ashley wanted, needed, was asking for a cracker. So I turned around just ever so slightly to hand it back to her. As I did so, I paid not a lick of attention to just how fast I was going. When I turned completely forward again... there he was... and I looked down and saw the glorious 67 that I was traveling. Of course, I stepped on the brakes and began to say a silent prayer or maybe it was a "shit" or a "damnit" but at any rate he whipped himself around in the wide open country and flipped on his lights. I wish now that I was going to tell you I turned down a side road, went on a roaring chase, but there was no where to go, I'm too scared of breaking the rules and I'm just not that smooth so I sucked it up and pulled over well before he even got to me. No point of driving further full well knowing my fate. He pulled up behind me, took forever to get out, came to the car, introduced himself (my how nice of you Trooper Pittman), told me how fast I was going (well duh), I gave him my license and registration, he asked me if I was wearing my contacts, I answered "yes sir" (of course I am d.a... I'm so blind you'd never had had the chance to pull us over cause I'd a hit a tree or a person a while back down the road for not being able to see). He took my info back to his car, spent another forever back there, came back with my fast driver award, told me when my court date was and asked if I had any questions. My answer was, of course, "no sir" but in the back of my mind I was asking "was that really necessary?". This sounds bad of me to say but I'm just not that worried about it. It does stink that both of hubby's old tickets just hit their 3 year mark and fell off his record and therefore our insurance so me having a new ticket will cause our insurance to go up another 3 years (if I'm convicted) but here's where I sound like a nanny nanny boo boo. I work for an attorney's office. One that has an attorney who handles "criminal" matters (woo hoo I'm a criminal now) which means I don't have to "hire" an attorney... I was able to walk in the back door of work, straight to his office and tell him "hot off the press" that I needed his help. My court date is January 28. Wish me luck. He's going to try to handle it that day in court and have it reduced and ask the Judge to throw the costs out. Now THAT would be grand. If not, I'll just have to pay the costs of $150.00 but at least he will/should be able to have it reduced to improper equipment - which does not count against your driving record. Well BahHumbugg to you too Mr. Officer.

Funny thing of it all is Ashley says to me "Wha ya doin' Mommy" when I pulled over on the side of the road. "Mommy got pulled over" she tilted her head to the side in that cute cute way and said "oh, got pull over, Mommy" me: "yes baby, I got pulled over". Then she recognized the uniform similar to the one from the other night when I locked my keys in my car and after he left the window she said "Mr. Office pull you over, Mommy?" Chuckle chuckle. I should not be in not such a bad mood over this, but I just am... what can ya do?

I know I may have mentioned before that I am a bit of a ditz from time to time. Rather gullible and naive and innocent of the sort...

I order Ashley the V.Smile game system for Christmas. She's a bit young for it just yet but I didn't want to buy her "more junk" so I ordered it the other night off Walmart.com. The item came two days later. Joy you can count on Wal-mart thick through thin. When I opened the box I noticed the tape that sealed the game box was rolled back and therefore the game was already "open". Figured it wasn't a big deal, took it home, opened it that night and noticed that the microphone was not in the box. I didn't open or unwrap any of the other contents because I was scared if I did that they wouldn't let me return it seeing as video games are to be returned "unopened" and all. Called Wal-mart the next morning. They apologized, gave me options of returning to the store, returning via mail exchange. I choose to try to take it back to the store. Luckily they had another one there so I got that one instead. Got it back to the office and NO MICROPHONE. I was peeved. So I called V.Tech - the manufacturer and after a few quick questions the lady (from India) began to chuckle and told me that the microphone could be located inside the unit itself as it is stored in the compartment. Ha ha... joke it on me. I had bitched, gripped, whined and all but worried myself to death that they were going to think I stole the microphone and then was returning it and then... WALA... it is stored inside the unit compartment (which you can't see through the tissue paper and plastic they pack it in). So I'm a ditsy d.a. that has returned an item to Wal-mart because part of it is missing that probably was never really missing at all. I thought of calling the store to advise them of this but was advised by a co-worker to "let it die" that they would really think I was an idiot then.

I tell you what - this also just called to mind of a ditsy Wal-mart story. I have also absently mindedly "stolen" curtain ties that I didn't see hidden beneath my mums (flowers) in the basket last year. I saw them in the bottom of the cart when I took the mums out to put them in the car and threw them in the back seat real quick. I didn't know why to do... I was going to be late for work and had to get back. The whole way back to work I worried that I was being followed that someone knew that I had "shoplifted" without meaning to. I felt guilty, I felt awful, I felt ashamed so I took them back to the store and told the friendly old greeter man that I had gotten them "yesterday, and when I got home I didn't see them on my receipt so I just want to pay for them". He laughed. But I did (all $4 worth)... and I felt better for it.

Hubby is at work now and will be at work from 11a-2p and then 5p-10p tomorrow. Hopefully I can wrap up this weekend with getting a picture for our Christmas cards and get the house straighted up just a tad more. Until next time I'll leave you with this little beauty...

I'm such a slacker

So it's been way too long since I've posted so I'll provide a top 15 of the recent occurrences and occurrences soon-to-come here in North Cackalacky...

1. Last Sunday Ashley & went to Wal-mart while Hubby was at work (pizza delivery boy). Pulling into the parking lot I heard a radio commercial for On-Star. My car just isn't that nice or that new. The commercial talked about all the vehicles they were able to remotely unlock over the past year. I thought to myself (how dare I)... it's been a really long time since I did that. Now that I have a remote to my car it's hard to do. We parked, went inside, shopped, came out, I put my stuff in the truck and slammed her shut - just as I realized that I had put my purse, with keys, in the truck before unlocking the doors. Damn me.

2. Ashley is having a hard time going to bed. I can not believe I am about to admit this, but I have to lock her door at night to get her to stay in her room. We have lovely levers, instead of knobs, and therefore she can open any unlocked door she so desires. I feel terrible, awful about having to lock the door but she only cries for a short time before getting in her bed and falling fast asleep. At night she tells me "no yock door Mommy" in her stern miniature voice. I remind her that she knows the rule, that Mommy will not lock the door if she stays in her bed, but if she gets out of her bed Mommy will have to lock the door. She repeats "no yock door Mommy" and then, if I allowed would proceed to come out of her room 20 times over (I have learned this lesson and now only allow once). Before bed I always unlock the door and leave it cracked so she can come out in the morning. It's funny, once she's in there and asleep she's fine, even if she wakes up and I hear her moan or cry out she still manages to get herself back to sleep without coming out *fingers crossed*. I am keeping myself sane by reminding myself of all the people that have told me they were told to do that exact thing by their pediatrician, the fact that mine told me it would not be traumatizing to allow her to cry for an hour plus, without soothing... besides, really, it's no different than putting a child in a crib and letting them cry it out there. Geez I feel really do feel terrible about this.

3. Thanksgiving is this week. Ashley and I will be going to my Grandma's house. Most of my extended family will be there. Hubby has to work and will not be able to travel the 6 hours with us. He has said he wants for us to go, but my feelings are very hurt that he will not have turkey (unless its coldcuts) for Thanksgiving Dinner!

4. My boss is in China. China??? Really??? He will be gone until November 30th, which I love, but there are tons of crazy clients chomping at the bit, and although this should also be a mini vacation for me, it is not.

5. I have hopes and dreams of winning the lottery. Happened yet, I think not.

6. For the past month, Hubby has worked his part-time job for all but 1 or if he's lucky, 2 nights a week. The money is nice but I feel so bad for how tired he must be. Poor kid probably works 70 + hours a week between leaving for his regular job to be there around 7:00 a.m. or so to arriving home around 10:30 or 10:45 p.m. from his part-time job. Geez I'm one lucky girl. Definitely married a keeper!

7. Since really cracking down and Hubby having his part-time job, Hubby and I have managed to pay off the remainder of 3 medical bills that having been hanging over our heads in the form of "small" or "not-so-small" monthly payments. We have also paid off a "small" credit card. Keep on trucking!

8. I hate when my phone rings. It is never, "oh, someone was thinking of me, someone wants to talk to me". It's more of a "what do they want now, what am I late on again" feeling. I dread until the caller id clears my mind.

9. I have taken up the hobby of making hairbows. I have made more hairbows than Ashley has hairs. It is so much fun to me. I'm thinking of starting to sell them. People around here love to put big-ass hair bows in their babies hair - even when they don't have any to speak of.

10. I CAN NOT wait to hang up Christmas lights and put up the tree. Every night on the way home (30 minute drive) Ashley and I search for "Cismas Yights". She loves loves loves them and the thrill and excitement for her makes me feel like a kid again myself. Hubby and I have planned to do the decorating on Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving. Yay for that!

11. I don't like not knowing where you stand with someone. If you like me, you like me and act that way. If you don't, you don't... now lets move on.

12. I raked all the pine needles, cut down the dead and part way dead plants in my "garden" on Saturday. Hello blisters! Our yard looks the best and I am the proudest. I bet the neighbors are pissed.

13. Laundry, Laundry, Laundry there is no end.

14. My dog will get his hair cut tomorrow. He is a 4 year old yorkie boy. There is a lady in our area that drives a retired ambulance that she has converted into a mobile grooming salon. Tomorrow she will find our hidden key, come in the house, get the dog, take him outside into her Zoom-n-Groom mobile, wash him, groom him, the whole 9 yards, put him in the house, take her check, lock the door and rehide the key. Now that's what I call service!

15. I only have to work 1 1/2 more days this week. Yippy for that.

Been awful busy...

So it's been a while. We have been busy. Hubby worked his part-time job every night except Monday and Wednesday this past week. He is scheduled for this coming week every night except Wednesday. It was very nice last week that hubby was able to be here for Ashygirl's first time out trick-or-treating. We had fun and as usual I took the monumental occasion to torture everyone with the camera as I so love to do.

Ashley is acting better, for the most part. We had a rough time the week before last, from sun up to sun down. She was usually fine until I needed to redirect or change directions and it was then that she fell to pieces. Whether it was regarding taking off her pjs, changing her pull-up, dressing, combing the hair, going to bed, STAYING IN BED, etc., etc., etc., it was horrifyingly impossible. This week has been much better.

I'm not much in the mood for writing more than I have already (I figured I had been absent for too long) so I will share pictures from the past week of fun (pumpkins, Trick-or-treat, playdoh and makeup)! Enjoy!

I'm simple

inspired by Augs, wordless style:

All you ebayers out there...

I'm thinking of selling some things on ebay. I've had a little bit of luck in the past but I'm looking for tips that anyone has to share that they feel contributed to their success!

Reduced to Nothing...

that's how I feel, that's who I am right now. I guess the patience I was praying for last night did not or could not have gotten here fast enough. After our spell last night I thought that maybe after some rest (not much more on my part) that today would be a brand new day. How wrong was I?

This morning, I was running a little bit behind (as usual) but decided that I would get Ashley up before I was ready so that she could lay in her daddy and I's bed and watch Blue's Clues (or Cue Cue's as she calls it)... I figured this would give her some extra time to wake up before I needed her to function and cooperate. This is not an out of the ordinary move for me, as we have done this countless times.

So, I woke her up, gathered up her, her tassy and her beloved teddy bear and laid her in our bed, that wasn't quite right though, cause she wanted to lay on her Daddy's pillow instead of mine, as she usually does. That was fine, didn't have a problem with that so she laid on her Daddy's pillow and pulled the sheet up for her.

After I finished getting ready I grabbed a pair of pants and two shirts (so that she could have a choice - she always behaves better when she has a choice and what's the big deal anyways?) She does have a little mind of her own and so long as I pick both choices it's no skin off my back. Grabbed a new pull up, her no more tangles and some "tail" holders and went back to our bedroom.

The next 20 minutes were spent screaming, thrashing, yelling and crying. Where has my child gone? I had to "man handle" her to get her pull up off and her shirt on. I wasn't strong enough nor quick enough to get the pants done. Finally, I had to get up and leave. She cried and screamed for me but I had other stuff to get ready. I got the rest of the stuff ready and she came out of the bedroom with her other shirt. I went and got the pants and attempted yet again to put them on her. We wrestled, she fought, I fought, she screamed, I screamed. Still, no pants. So... I pulled the age old "do I need to call your Daddy", her response "yes". I called him and told him of my situation, the situation in which I was about to go friggin' nuts because she is B.A.D. bad and I can't take it. The one in which I have been trying to put pants on her for 30 minutes, the one in which I know I am going to be LATE for work, yet again and there is not a damn thing I can do about it. She wouldn't talk to him and eventually threw the phone down.

A few minutes later, still screaming and crying and now I've joined in on the crying because I'm at the end and I don't know what else to do. I can't make this little human want to cooperate. I can't talk her into cooperating, I'm helpless... all at the hands of a 2 year old. She walk up to me, from just a few feet away, and began to brush the hair from in front of my eye as I hung my head down and she handed me the tissue I had used to wipe her nose. Do you think she was ready to cooperate after showing she cared that Mommy, for some unknown reason was crying? No. She was ready to scream and yell and throw herself on the floor. She said she wanted to call Daddy, so I did. He told her again to get her pants on and simple as that. Like "oh, you want me to put my pants on, why didn't you say so" she bent down and picked her pants up and started to put them on. Are you kidding me? This point, I'm still crying and I've shrunk about 5 feet all the way down to an inch. That's when hubby tells me I need to do this and I need to do that to get her to listen to me and why are you so upset? Some of which I know, some of which I feel I already do. But at any rate I don't suppose it matters cause obviously none of it is effective.

So... finally I get her out of the house and into the car. Crying for her tassy (which is not permitted other than at bedtime) and yelling about how she wants to give Kyle a kiss (that's the dog). Ah, she's strapped in and now she is yelling for cheese. She loves nothing more than string cheese. Guess what. We're out, I don't have string cheese, I only have cheerios and juice. Do I need to even ask you if you think that will do?

Over the next 30 minute ride to work she cried and she screamed and she yelled between wanting cheerios and not wanting cheerios (thankfully she got over the cheese pretty fast), wanting her Daddy and wanting her tassy. Now that's a long ride.

I explained to her, not long after our 30 minute drive began, in my very loving voice (I'm serious here) that Mommy and Daddy need for Daddy to work 2 jobs so that we can take care of her and buy her the things she needs, yada yada yada. I know, sounds silly, that didn't work either.

20 minutes into same I look back in my handy dandy baby viewer mirror and see that she is now, one arm out of the car seat as I drive down a dangerous 2 lane (1 each way) highway in the rain. I had to pull over in some church parking lot to get the rouge arm back into the strap as just asking, telling or screaming at her to do it wasn't effective (which allowed the big miller beer truck that I had already passed to pass me. Perhaps I should have waved him down and asked him for a cold one). The rest of the ride scream, cry, yell was all about cheerios, Daddy, tassy and juice (the middle two items, unfortunately were not producible at that given time).

When we finally got to her school we went inside to the bathroom (they request that you wash your child's hands before entering the actual school hallway, which is inside the church). Then she wanted to go potty. Not a good thing at this particular moment. In order to go potty she must strip below the waist because one could not possible go to the bathroom with their pants just pulled down or their shoes on. But - she didn't want me in the stall with her. She wanted to shut it and tell me bye bye. P.S. Not gonna work, that toilet is as tall as her chest.

She wouldn't wash her hands so I did the best that I could and we left the bathroom. We saw one of the teachers in the hallway and instantaneously there she was, my girl was back.

We walked into her classroom she smiled, she gave me a kiss and immediately began playing with her teacher (who I did tell that she was B.A.D. this morning) and that was it. No crying, no kicking, no screaming, just one happy girl.

I'm kind of wondering if this all does not have something to do with Daddy being at work on some nights. When I pick her up from work we always have the discussion about whether or not Daddy will be home from work and I truly believe she understands. The concept Daddy or Mommy or Nana or Poppie is at work is not a new one but she seems to be worse off when Daddy worked the night before, thus meaning that she doesn't seem him the morning before, she didn't seem him that night and then he's gone again the following morning. I know she misses him, and I know he misses her but what is a Momma to do in the meantime, attempting to hold it together, while Daddy is out there busting his so we can pay our bills?

Comments please, just not ones that tell me I am a bad or incapable mother as I really just don't think I could take that right now...

More Patience Please!

It's 2:00 a.m. I'm awake now, although yawning because after a rough night with Ashley I fell asleep on the couch after putting her to bed. Hubby had to work tonight and due to my falling asleep early, I missed his arrival home from work only "waking" for a few seconds, if that, to smile at him. I'm thinking now, that I hope I remembered to tell him I love him, but I can't recall if I did. Hubby usually arrives home from work (his 2nd job, delivering pizzas) around 10:45 on the week nights when he works. Generally, I'm worn out from playing "single mom" for the night. Ashley listens to her Daddy much better than she listens to me, as I suppose I come off as a softy most of the time and when I do try to get tough, I suppose it comes across as being mostly a joke or that what I say, not necessarily is rule, but more of a suggestion for what I would like her to do (not at all the case). "Let's get your pull-up on", "no", kick kick scream scream, "I no like it". She's all 2, what can I say? I love her to pieces but there were clear moments of absolute aggravation tonight, however, I do think I was doomed from the get go with the impending arrival of AF. For some reason, will I ever learn, I also decided that I would treat her to a little sliver of chocolate pie (oh its the best), which I think contributed to the absolute meltdown that occurred as she told me she wanted to "watch Elmo Potty Time", after which time I turned it on she proceeded to run back and forth between me, the couch, the chaise lounge and bouts on the floor crying while turning it on and off, screaming "I no like it, I no like it" and "watch Elmo Potty Time". I'm not quite sure what the lapse in communication was but she was off the chain!

It's hot and steamy here in NC. It was only in the 80's today but it rained and the humidity is/was enough to melt a person. It's raining again now, something I don't think I'll complain over due to reading and hearing of the wildfires in California. Now that must be a time, an unimaginable time.

Last night we celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary with dinner from Chick-fil-a (I hadn't had it in forever cause the closest one isn't close and its sort-of a joke between Joey and I because we ended up going there on our "first date") and despite the steaming hot weather, hubby built a fire in the fireplace (doesn't it make sense to have your fireplace burning and the air conditioner on) so that I could do one of my favorite things and roast marshmallows over the fire. Don't I love him the best!

Hopefully tomorrow will be "a better day", not that this one has been truly bad, just that I'm praying to more patience. I foreseen now though that I am bound to be tired beyond belief as it seems that even if you get an early evening catnap on the couch it doesn't help to count towards the normal sleep one (well me anyways) needs at night. You think that you would get credit for your nap, but it just doesn't work out that way. I think at this point I am mostly awake and mourning over having stayed asleep after hubby came home from busting ass to make ends meet and that I failed to even have a good conversation with him all day long.

2:21 a.m. and my list of to-dos is not yet complete - I still have a lunch to make for Ashygirl for school tomorrow and I need to get my clothes together for Curves - 2 tasks that I imagine if I had to complete in the morning I'd be 2 hours late rather than my usual 15-20 minutes as getting out the door in the morning is no easy feat. Might as well understand that I'm one of those people they talk about that will be late to their own funeral. What can I say, I was doomed from birth, it's in my blood. Good night, good morning, good day to all!

Anyone seen this teddy bear?

I went to Wal-mart today to get an identical teddy bear to the one that Ashley has been dragging around day in and day out. The one that rarely gets washed and is beyond dirty. The one she takes to school and carries on the playground, the one she asks for as she climbs into bed every night. The one she woke up crying for the night I did decide to take it and "give teddy bear a bath". Do you think they had it? No. Do you think you can buy it on ebay, yes, for $37.99 (it is out of stock on Walmart.com but before it was I see it was reduced to $10.00 w/ 4 other items included). Next time you go to Wal-mart, do me a favor, take a peek in the infant/toddler section to see if this teddy bear is still in stock at your Wal-mart as my investigation has revealed it is discontinued. I will pay you, just not $37.99.

Pajamas

So I wrote a blog yesterday, but am afraid to post it cause it has some info regarding a publicizied trial that boss man is in right now so I'll have to wait on that one until the trial is over, probably end of the week or so.

Today is hubby and I's 3 year wedding anniversary. Has it really only been 3 years? Feels like more but not in a bad way, just in a sort of way kind of like 'what did I do before him or without him?'.

Hubby asked me what I wanted for dinner tonight and he would cook it for the occassion. I had not a clue but I was to get back to him before 12:00 to let him know. I called him at 12:05 and told him that I thought he should surprise me. He said he'd figured it would come down to that.

While I was on the phone with hubby I told him of the new and exciting plan that I have come up with. For Christmas I want for hubby, baby and I all to have matching pajamas. Doesn't that sound like the best idea ever? I told hubby regardless of whether he wanted to participate or not that Ashley and I would have matching pajamas. He said it would depend upon the attire that I picked out (I guess it can't be too loud or girly or blah blah) but that he was not completely opposed to being included in my venture however he did ask me where I came up with all the wonderful ideas that I have all the time, if there was a website I go to to search for random ideas to torture him with or something. Answer to that is: Of course not, it just comes natural to me - lol. So - I have spent some time this morning looking for matching pajamas. You would think that Old Navy or some place like that would have some of the same matching prints in womens, mens and children's but no. There are a few places online that sell matching pajamas for the whole family but I added some stuff to the cart to see how much it was going to cost me and I came to over $100.00. I guess the hole in Miss Salvation Army's wallet has tightened cause it's no longer a burning and that just sounds outrageous no matter how badly I think I want matching pj's for the fam.

On another note, my daughter is contining to crack me up these days. She turned two on October 11th and has quite the vocabulary. The other day she said "I have hiccups, Mommy" and she did, she had the hiccups. (I had no idea she even knew what the hiccups were and she rarely gets them at that). Here recently she is on a kick where if you ask her a question that she doesn't like or perhaps doesn't know the answer to that begins with "why" she answers the question with "cause". Now tell me - how is it that my darling, who is just barely two already has enough attitude to answer a question with the one word answer "cause"? I thought that was my job as her mommy to answer questions in such a fashion - seems to me the only thing missing off that answer is "...I said so".

My Birthday Princess

This past weekend we had Ashley's party for her 2nd birthday. Attendees were: my Mom & Dad, one of my sisters, her 2 children (ages 8 & 1 1/2), Joey's Mom & "friend", Joey's older brother and his girlfriend as well as one of my friends from work. We had a marvelous time... or at least I think we did. There were no games and chaos, just family fun and socialization. Ashley really enjoyed having the attention, her finger nails being painted, the money put in her pockets (literally), the gifts as she careful removed pieces of wrapping paper placing them directly in the trash bag provided and making sure that every scrap of paper was removing from the box before attempting to discover the gift she had been given, among other things. My house is empty (but tore up) now, as everyone had to go home yesterday (sadly enough as I don't think I nor Ashley can ever get enough of my parents, Nana & Poppie to Ashley).

One thing that surprised me was a gift that Ashley received, love and paid attention to. It was a gift from her Uncle Jimmy & Aunt Sharon (Joey's older brother & girlfriend). I had no idea that she would put this on and wear it. I wish I had a camera on hand to capture this little girl's face as I took her back to the bedroom to see herself in her crown and earrings once she had them on. However, although I do not have a picture of her expression it will be forever in my heart...

problem w/ slideshow

It appears to me that my slideshow below is not always loading correctly. However, if you click on the little "view show" button it will bring it up in a second window and you will then be able to view the pictures of my darling child in her purple dora sunglasses that she wears all day everyday :)

Mike's Farm

Friday Hubby and I joined Ashley on her first field trip. The field trip was to Mike's Farm. A neat little farm with fun things to do about 1 1/2 hours from home. I took so many pictures and tortured Ashygirl a great deal while doing so. I couldn't choose just one so I have created a slideshow for your viewing pleasure. Oh how I love this little girl...

10/11/2005

Today my darling baby is turning two. With all my heart I can not find where time has gone.

I knew I was pregnant, I swear it to you, from the day that I conceived. I took 2 pregnancy tests that were negative before I was actually far enough along to have a positive one - and even then - I had no clue of what was yet to come.

I got pregnant 3 months after hubby and I were married. It was not planned, it was not un-planned. For some strange, odd reason I did not think (probably the invincibility of a teenager that still hung on inside me at 23 that I could or would become pregnant. (*not talking about premarital sex - simply speaking of all the things teenagers think could never happen to them*) Now silly, silly me.

Over the next 9 months hubby and I fought and fought and fought - over anything and everything. I would say knock-down-drag-outs but there was no violence (other than one incident when hubby got so mad he ripped his shirt open, causing all the buttons to pop off - perhaps it was a superhero moment without the "hero")... Oh how I laugh now. I KNEW - I was convinced - that our marriage wouldn't last that much longer - that I could take my baby and move. Geez - the raging hormones (mine and his)! I hope he's laughing too - remembering all that we've been through as he reads this blog.

And then - a week late - I was induced on 10/11/05 @ 7:00 a.m. and was blessed and fortunate enough to deliver a 8 lb, 21", blue eyed, healthy baby girl @ 7:57 p.m. that same evening. Oh how I have loved her and loved her ever since.

That was in Virginia. Between then and now she has grown and grown and many things have changed:

1 house has been sold, 3 jobs have changed, 2 part-time jobs have been worked, 4 day cares, 1 house has been purchased, 1 truck has been sold, 1 ear surgery, many sickness, a gazillion diapers, 1 dog has seizures, many things have broken (cars, appliances as well as families), things have gone unpaid, we have done without, we have found a way, visits and travels have occurred, we have loved, we have laughed and most of all we have told ourselves not to ask if it can get worse because it will....

and so I suppose that is exactly where our time has gone... Here's to holding on to the next two years and continuing to realize just how precious and amazing life is.

Our Theme Song - for your listening enjoyment or un-enjoyment if it's not your style :)

Things go wrong and life goes on...

Yesterday, I called hubby on my way home from work, as I do most evenings. When I leave work I go the couple blocks to Ashley's preschool, pick her up and hit the road to get home. It's about a 30-40 minute drive. In my opinion, not too bad... I don't mind cause there really isn't any traffic involved other than the occasional slow driver going down the 2 lane "highway" (they call it a highway but it really doesn't look like one too me). Hubby was also on his way home, which was good news to me - knowing that he was gone all last week - I've been pretty worn out from my turn at being a "single" working mom. Getting Ashley ready in the morning as she chooses to look at me and tell me "I need time out Mommy". (She really is cracking me up these days - apparently she watches other children at school get put in time out and thinks its such a cool things, perhaps a privilege. I've confirmed with her teacher that she herself has not been put in time out as of yet) and then to get home and do it all over again plus getting the "chores" done was really taxing me.

So... there I was, excited that hubby was also on his way home from work and that he would be there to help me. We live about 15-20 minutes from his work, however, in the opposite direction. I let out my usual "yay" and told him we'd see him at home. Not even 5 minutes later hubby calls me and tells me "I'm kind of broken down". The nightmare of all nightmares seeing as we still do not have our "emergency funds" built up - to say the least - we can go ahead and say they really don't exist and won't until Christmas Bonus time (another huge yay). He explained to me that the car was still running but that the gear shifter was loose and was all but ineffective. He called his friend at work, who he thought might know something about the car. His friend came to get him and somewhere in that time he/they (I'm not sure which) managed to disassemble the console to figure out what was wrong. Apparently some rubber piece that holds the gear shifter to the transmission cable has broken. His friend took him back to work and his boss told him that he could use the company vehicle (don't get excited - its an old Explorer) so he/we wouldn't have to worry about how he was going to get to work (praise the Lord for that). Today hubby called the Saturn dealership to find out how much it would cost to fix. Apparently they choose not to fix the rubber piece that is broken, but instead, the whole damn contraption. Estimate for parts and labor: $500.00. Tonight hubby found the part on Ebay for $22.00 (including shipping). Please keep your fingers crossed for us that this works.

Second part of the story of things go wrong and life goes on picked up tonight. Around 10:00 p.m. I was walking into the bathroom and stepped on a wet patch on the carpet. I paused, looked down, nope, didn't look like muttly Kyle had pissed on the carpet so I thunk it to be even more odd and puzzling. See - thing is this... the bathroom door is right next to the closet that contains our heating/air conditioning unit. That's right - you guessed it folks. Air conditioner is freaking leaking and the carpet is WET. Hubby wasn't feeling like investigating so I got online and got the number for the home warranty company. Looks like we are going to get to add another item fixed/replaced (to be determined tomorrow) to our Wonders of the Home Warranty List. The lady on the phone told us - duh - that we needed to shut the air conditioner off cause that was the only way to make it stop leaking. Check that box - already done. So... we sit and wait w/ no air conditioning, at least it's not F-ing blazing hot this evening, we have ceiling fans and its only supposed to be around 81 tomorrow. I'll let you know the deal of $55.00 trade fee for the home warranty gets us tomorrow.

My boss told me today that he feels sorry for us for all the stuff that has happened to us - it's been bad here recently (however, I know it CAN and WILL probably get worse). Hopefully he will decide he feels sorry enough for me to give me a raise. What do you all think - ha ha - yeah, I'm laughing too. Until next time - here's to days when live goes on when things don't go wrong.

I AM a Curves Quest Conqueror

2 posts in 1 day. Go me. Really, they were on 2 totally separate topics so I thought I'd split it up in order to maintain my direction.

Last year hubby, baby and I spent Christmas at my parent's house in Virginia. Since we got married (3 years ago) we developed a system (sucky but fair) of going to Thanksgiving at one of our family's houses and going to the other one for Christmas and then reversing it the next year (we grew up on different sides of the state, therefore impossible to attend both family celebrations for one holiday). So we were with my family. When we are at my parent's house we always attend Midnight Mass. So there we were at Midnight Mass... in the middle of HIGH SCHOOL REUNION part VII. You see, I moved away from the town I grew up in 5 years ago and have only visited since and really don't keep in touch with any of my "friends" from high school (with the exception of one or two) because they are not friends and therefore not worth the time, effort or heartache. I guess you could say if there is anyone I don't smile and say hello to it's most of my high school class. lol. I usually pretend they aren't really there. But anyhow - there I was... thinking I was looking pretty good (I mean, I had just had a baby 14 months ago (who was I really kidding??? 14 months???) and if I didn't look as good as I did the last time they saw me I didn't think I really cared. Hubby loves me no matter what. So as I sat there suffocating and in pain for my girdle like object jabbing me in the ribs and my fat roll expanding over the top of it (yeah, I'm sure that was hot) I looked around (I know, I know... it's Midnight Mass - not really the H.S.R. part VII) and began to feel more and more like s.h.i.t. There were others that had babies. There were others that looked fabulous and I sank. I thought I had done pretty good without even trying or giving effort to it but perhaps that was my "light bulb on" moment. My "tada" in which I realized I didn't feel good about myself. I didn't even really feel like me.

It was then that I began to think that maybe the whole of the 58 pounds I had added to my 5'1 frame during my pregnancy wasn't just going to fall off all by itself and although my body is forever changed (those that have had babies will know EXACTLY what I am referring to) perhaps there was something more I could or should do. I wasn't so delusional that I dreamed I would ever be the same size I was in H.S. - fly on the cheerleading squad but Hello - the remaining of the 58 pounds doesn't scream healthy, does it?

So - after pondering and pondering and a few commercials later, when we returned home I decided I would join Curves. Yup - you know the one. The Curves that the 60 and 70 year old ladies work out at. The Curves that couldn't possibly be a work out... I mean come on... It's just that ring of machines and walking platforms - better know as "The Circuit" 30 seconds on each one - are you kidding??? Well I am here to tell you - many inches and pounds lost later that "The Circuit" is EXACTLY what you make of it.

On January 5, 2007 I marched myself into Curves and said I wanted to join. Owner, Lisa, looked and me and laughed saying she could tell I was going to be a very hard sell. I got myself all signed up and have been going 3 times a week (sometimes more faithfully than others) since then.

I don't think I've ever stuck with any other exercise plan this long. I appreciate that "The Circuit" is exactly what you make of it and while the other ladies march and barely puff along I can sweat my eyeballs out. I appreciate that I now have many 60 and 70 year old friends. Oh the wisdom that I have found there within those walls. They've done it, they've seen it and they are more than willing to talk about it (you'd really be surprised).

I was afraid I would be looked at funny, that they would wonder what I am doing there and I think sometimes I am. Sometimes, when women are there that aren't usually at the same time as me they ignore me, probably wondering why I've brought my 26 year old body in there to torture them. But for the most part, I have found a sisterhood, a love and friendship that I never could have imagined. We are measured monthly and the owner will tell the others that are in there working out how many pounds or inches the other has lost (they don't tell weight, just the amount lost) and we clap for each other. When I am in a bad mood or feeling sorry for myself, I go anyways. They are expecting me, they will be happy when I walk through the door. We cheer each other on. We love each other. It is wonderful. I love that place.

So... for the month of September there was a contest - Curves Quest. Each week your goal to stay on the island (to complete the challenge) you had to come 3 times a week and complete one other challenge (like wear a Hawaiian shirt or do a crossword puzzle). I know it doesn't sound hard but getting there 3 times a week can be tricky for me. I can only go MWF because they are closed during my lunch on TTh (and after work I have to get my baby). One time I missed because of lunch with my boss (so I went on Saturday out of town in VA) and then this past Monday I missed cause of the "sounds of summer in my wall - aka the crickets" - had to go home during lunch to post the eviction notice. So - yesterday I pulled my tired tail out of bed and drove the 30 minutes down to the Curves I go to (it's near my work) and got my 3rd workout in for the week. They are only open from 8:30 -11:00 on Saturday but I MADE IT and now - due to my dedication - going 3 times a week - No matter what and completing my challenge each week I AM A CURVES QUEST CONQUEROR. Although I'm talking about some corny contest at my Curves where I go and do a work out that many perceive to be nothing (but I promise you it's something) I am so proud of myself (and I really hope I won the t-shirt). Next month (can't believe tomorrow is October) we will be climbing "Curves Mountain". Wish me luck! Here's to a safe trek and another successful month!

The Pizza Delivery Boy

That's right... this post is about the Pizza Delivery Boy. I have to admit that I really have a crush on him, although I also must admit that its really something more than that.

When he comes to my house I can't help but to think about the wad of $1.00 bills he has in his pocket and the places that I could spend them or the bills I could pay with them. I only wish that I had the money to eat pizza more often. He may smell like pizza and other things of that variety, but it doesn't bother me to say the least. He has a full-time job and he's said that this is his part-time gig to get the job done, to get the bills paid and to help carry his family through rough times. Now that is what I call a man! A man so dedicated to his vows, to what he promised to do that he is willing to do what it takes to bring home the dough (hahaha) to support his family. Should I ever be so lucky. So there you have it, I'm in love with a married man but I think I'm probably prettier than his wife....

Wait a minute... I AM his wife. That's right folks, this is a tribute to my most wonderful, darling husband who has picked up a part-time job as a pizza delivery boy. Perhaps, when he's not delivering pizzas, he'll stop by and see that I love him, adore him and think that he's way more of a man that I could have ever dreamed of marrying and calling my own.

I love you Joebaby!

Hmmm...

Today I am compelled to write about one of those things "I think about blogging about during my day". I think we probably all do that although usually when I find myself thinking of something I want to blog about I play it all out in my head, word for word and that works it all out for me, leaving not much of a reason to blog about it or make attempts to sort my feelings out. But I'm just so baffled by what is going to appear below that I will blog although I've already pondered and pondered:

I was up to the Courthouse the other day. Don't worry, nothing unusual for me as in real life I am a assistant/secretary of sorts to an attorney that concentrates in Admiralty/Maritime and Personal Injury cases. So there I am, getting ready to go into the door to the Civil Division to file something and headed towards me in the hallway/foyer area are a guy and girl, of Mexican decent (or so I assume and would think it's safe to do so). As I had my hand on the door knob I hear the guy say to the girl something in spanish. Having taken spanish for 3 years (mostly coasting through) I pick up on some words and often times can figure out the gist of the conversation. He said something about 'punta', motioned toward me, and promptly she turned to me to ask me where they needed to go to pay their car taxes. I directed them accordingly and then proceeded in the door to the Civil Division. Upon entering, Michael, one of the deputy clerks asked me what was wrong as I looked pissed off. I told him, in my cheerful yet normal ditsy and kind of slow sort of way that I was just confused because some guy had just referred to me as 'punta' out in the hallway. I said "that's a bad word, right?". He laughed and said he thought so. Hmmm...

This evening after work I was going into a gas station. As I approached the door 3 young men, of Mexican decent (or so I assume and would think it's safe to do so) approached the door at the same time. They were looking at me, one says something about 'punta' and another held the door open for me. Hmmm...

I tell you. I am not making this up.

What I don't understand is this: why is it okay to talk about people, in front of their face in a different language and ASSume that they will not understand?

I'm not at all making the argument that they or anyone else that speaks another language needs to speak english, because you see, that's just not my point. It's not that I care that they were speaking spanish... that's honestly fine. It's just that I wouldn't go to Mexico or France or Africa or Timbuktu and call some random man a dick or some random woman a bitch in english and ASSume they won't understand me (and if I did I especially wouldn't ask them for directions after I did so).

So do tell... why do I keep getting called a 'punta' as I'm busy minding my own? (I feel the need to mention I am usually minding my own in a cheerful sort of way. I almost always smile at people and often I add in a "hi" or "hey".) I work on the philosophy of attempting to spread cheer, being friendly and I always try to be kind to others I meet (even when its really hard) as I TRULY believe that each of us is fighting our own battle. But even if each of us is fighting our own battle how does that make me a 'punta'?

I don't suppose I really expect an answer to what is more of a rhetorical question - I'm just smiling and confused in my normal ditsy and kind of slow sort of way.

Here's to days when I am not referred to as means things in languages other than my own...

Being a Mommy

Being a Mommy is perhaps the most wonderful, fulfilling adventure I have ever been given the gift of. However, there are times, thankfully few and far between when I have to admit that I do not want to be a Mommy (or maybe I just wonder if I can really really handle it). I know, I know, that's terrible but the times that I am referring to are the times that my baby is sick. Those are the times when I feel so completely helpless, perhaps incompetent, when I would do anything to take it away from her and give it to myself, no matter the ailment. I can not stand the feeling of watching my baby, the heart outside my body, suffer and feel bad.

She's only 2, so hopefully we have many more ailments, colds, fevers and other whatnot to come, due to the fact that the alternative would be life without her, because fact of the matter is that children do get sick and as my Mom would so endearingly say, the alternative is the "big dirt nap" (of which I am also terrified).

So I'm sure you are wondering what on earth is wrong with my baby to make me say all this. Honestly, just a cold for the past 2 weeks and a fever that she had when I picked her up from preschool this afternoon. I have watched stuff pour out of my darling's nose for the past 2 weeks, which I hate so much for her, for obvious reasons. I found myself wondering tonight how her head feels and although she has been acting like her usual darling self until tonight I have wondered if she has been as annoyed by the "stuff" as I would be if it were my head or if that is more of a "learned behavior" to be so aggravated by it. And now, the fever. She didn't even want to eat dinner and I tell you this child has a very healthy appetite. Looking at her you'd think she never misses a meal... and believe me, she doesn't when she is feeling well.

I held her for the longest time tonight because I didn't want to put her to bed with her head on fire as it was. Held her for a good couple of hours and finally, a little while after giving her the tylenol she began to cool down a little and doze off. It's funny too, that I know, because she wants to be cuddled that she doesn't feel well, she has never been a cuddle bug, which has always been sad to me, however, nice at bedtime because even as an infant she always wanted to be put down and left alone to fall asleep. No endless hours of rocking and soothing as she has always wanted to do this on her own. I tell you what... she's Miss Independent.

In her short little life she has been a reasonably healthy child and I do indeed count my blessing for that.

Before we left the hospital 2 days after she was born we were visited by a pediatrician from the office I had selected for her care. She had come to release her from the hospital so we could go home. The pediatrician said that her bilirubin levels were kind of high and that they would let me take her home if I immediately called their office when I got home to set up an appointment for her to come in the following day. Of course, I agreed and did so. The next day we went into the office to have her bilibubin levels rechecked. Results? Levels were higher. So, the next day we did the same. Results? Levels were higher. This continued over the next few days with the same results. There was talk of admitting her to the hospital for light therapy (as was done me when I was a baby) but the hospital where she was born did not allow babies to be admitted back to the nursery after they were discharged and they did not have other facilities. That left us with the option of a children's hospital "over the water" or about 45 minutes from home. Doctor's didn't want to do that so they contacted a home health agency to bring us a "biliblanket" (a unit about the size of a greeting card with a long cord attached that goes on the baby's back and gives light therapy). She stayed on the biliblanket non-stop except for diapers changes and rare occasions for the next 2 weeks, during which time, every morning a home health nurse came and pricked my baby in the heals to test her levels. The levels went up and down, up and down. Doctor's were confused but decided the blanket was ineffective and to discontinue use while letting nature run it's course (after sending us to the children's hospital for a complete hepatic panel). Then, 1 night it was little my baby's body rid itself of the jaundice in a matter of hours (through a series of really odd looking diapers) and my nightmare in which I worried about liver function, brain damage and other terrible things was over as quickly as it began.

Last year we went through a major rash over ear infection of a 7 month period of time that resulting in hubby and I making the decision for her to get T-tubes in her ears. The thought of anesthesia was terrifying to me... although the whole procedure took no more than 5 minutes total and she was back in my arms within 20 minutes I AGONIZED over it for MONTHS before I convinced myself that it would be for the best. Since last December, when she got her tubes, she has had 0 ear infections and I realize that my agonizing made my baby suffer longer, leaving me feeling incompetent yet again.

Other than the jaundice and ear infections we have been so blessed and thankful. I live this life without the question "could it get any worse?" because if we don't all know, we should know, it can and it will.

So... now I'm questioning as to whether or not I should post this entry in which I admit that there are times that I do not think I can handle being a mother. Truly though I always feel like I manage to keep my composure and comfort and soothe even if my heart is hurting so bad while my head spins with feelings of incompetency. Please do tell... do all mothers feel this way?

For now, here's to having enough tissues and tylenol.

Sweetness

Daddy is gone for work until Thursday so Ashley and I made him this video and sent him it to him via email... I had to share (hope it works!)

Just a simple request...

KILL THE BASTARDS. By "the bastards" I mean the sound of summer that is in my bedroom walls. Over the course of summer, from time to time I have heard crickets chirping in my daughter's bedroom wall. I never thought too much of it because it doesn't wake her up... well, if it does, she doesn't cry and I am unaware.

Last night around 3:30 I was awoken by the sounds and movements of hubby climbing out of bed seemingly pissed off. Of course, 1/2 asleep I asked what was wrong. His reply 'you don't hear that cricket?' (I'm pretty sure profanity was thrown in there, however, I don't remember the exact choice word and even so it probably won't be appropriate since I've already said bastard 2... oops... 3 times in this post). Before he hurled himself from bed and thrashed about I hadn't really noticed our little cricket friend chirping away in the wall and then... it was all I heard and sleep was done for the night. Apparently a cricket or two have taken up residence in the siding on my house, as the bugman has told me they sometimes do in the fall, and has proceeded to chirp his little legs off all night. Finally, after realizing sleep was no longer going to occur I hurled myself from bed and went to the living room to browse the internet. Guess what... the sounds of summer were in full effect in the exterior wall of the living room as well.

First thing, after arriving to work nearly 30 minutes late (I managed to fall back asleep 30 minutes before I needed to get up and then slept right through my alarm), I called the bugpeople that do our annual termite inspection. A cheerful voice answered the phone. The first and only thing I said before pausing for her response was "I have crickets in my walls". She was a little puzzled but said she would have the technician call me. I asked how long she thought it would be before he could come to my house and she said he would have to call me but it could probably be some time this week. Well I'll be shitted and damned. Sometime this week(???) and in the mean time my walls and singing and chirping. I figured that was the best answer I was going to get and told her thank you. Just an hour or so later I received a call that the bugman could come and spray in and out (I guess so the crickets don't get mad about spray being on the outside and decide to come in instead of go out) at 2:00 today. I live 30 minutes from work and only have 1 hour for lunch for I knew I'd be longer and later but I asked my boss if I could take a late lunch anyhow. He's a good guy and of course said that was fine. I called and scheduled my appt. 2:00 bugman came and sprayed... very thoroughly too. I don't see many bugs in the house and I've never seen a cricket in the house but I figured it was best to let him do his thing. He was there about 45 minutes spraying his little heart out (even sprayed some of my fire ant hills).

Before the bugman left he told me if I still hear my little sounds of summer within a week to give them a call back and he would come bait them around the perimeter of the house. Good stuff. So today, Ashygirl and I came home from work and on the front porch I found my first twitching cricket. As I watched him laying on his back... I gave an evil, evil laugh and didn't think much about it the rest of the evening. I fell asleep on the couch around 8:30 or 9:00, woke up around 12:00, made Ashley's lunch and walked back to the bedroom to listen for a minute. I cut the light on and stood in SILENCE and then... guess who got the last laugh? Apparently the brother of the twitching cricket on my front porch that has since been killed. I told him I'd get him but I'm not sure he was listening cause he still hasn't packed his stuff and left yet. Perhaps he's waiting for me to call him a cab.

So maybe, hopefully, pray for me, he and the rest of his crew will be gone within the week.

Wikipedia has provided me with the following information:

In Barbados, a loud cricket means money is coming in; hence, a cricket must not be killed or evicted if it chirps inside a house. However, another type of cricket that is less noisy forebodes illness or death. (Forde 1988) In Zambia, the Gryllotalpa africanus cricket is held to bring good fortune to anyone who sees it (Mbata 1999).

Crickets are popular pets and are considered good luck in Asia, especially China where they are kept in cages (Carrera 1991). It is also common to have them as caged pets in some European countries, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula. Cricket fighting as a gambling or sports betting pastime also occurs, particularly in Macao.
The folklore and mythology surrounding crickets is extensive. [1]
The singing of crickets in the folklore of Brazil and elsewhere is at times taken to be a sign of impending rain, or of a financial windfall. In Brazilian history, the sudden chirping of a cricket heralded the sighting of land for the crew of captain Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, just as their water supply had run out. (Lenko and Papavero 1996).

Crickets are omnivores and scavengers feeding on organic materials, as well as decaying plant material, fungi, and some seedling plants. Crickets mate in late summer and lay their eggs in the fall. The eggs hatch in the spring and they usually hatch in groups of 2,000.[

SHIT. I have evicted the crickets that began chirping 1 night after hubby and I figured out we could and are going to be DEBT FREE w/in the next 36 months. Oh what have I done? Perhaps, if I'm lucky, they've mated in the wall and the eggs will hatch in the spring in #'s close to 2,000! YIPPY!

Here's to hoping the windfall comes our way despite the eviction notice...

Battle Wounds

Meet my baby... and her battle wounds. Ashley has now been bitten 3 times at daycare. The last occurrance being today. Oooooh am I mad and oh aren't I glad we gave 2 weeks notice on Friday (school policy requires this) as she will be starting a new school on September 4th. The little boy that did this also bit 3 other children today. He has been suspended from school for the rest of the week which I feel good and bad about. We have to ask and wonder if a week from school at 1 year old is really going to teach a child they have done wrong and that "biting hurts". Here's to days without wounds.

Early Start to the Day

When my alarm clock goes off at 6:30 a.m. (really 6:10 a.m. as it is set 20 minutes fast), I never ever ever actually get out of bed. I spend the next hour or so, until the very last possible minute before I'm going to be late and then wait 10 more minutes, before I actually get out of bed. It is then that I run around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get out of the door on time... to which never occurs. My hubby asked me why this is today when I made the comment that I really should get up that early every morning. My response: "Because I like to sleep more than I like to be on time". I guess I've been lucky so far, but not everyone likes to get out of bed minutes, much less a hour or so earlier than they really HAVE to. I am a sleeper, have always been a sleeper and will most likely remain a sleeper for the rest of my life. At any rate... here's the reason as to why I actually did get up when my alarm went off at 6:30 (6:10 really) this morning. Because Hubby, who was up and getting ready for work said to me, the split second my alarm went off for the very first time, "you might want to get up".

Me: "Why"

Hubby: "Because the hot water pump is leaking"

Me: "How bad"

Hubby: "not too bad"

Me: "Well is there water everywhere"

Hubby: "No, the washing machine was open so it's leaking into there"

See... that's the beautiful thing. I always wondered why the damn hot water heater was suspended into air, 2 feet or so above my washing machine, boxed in, in such a fashion that I managed to hit my head at least once during each laundry session. And I always wondered how or why my husband hadn't managed to get us a new washing machine hose so that the washer and the dryer could swap places so the dryer would be on the right as nature intended. Now, I know why, so when the hot water heater leaks the water doesn't flood your garage and into the house... instead it just goes straight into the washing machine after which time you can hit the "drain" cycle and wa-la... problem solved.

So... on to my next wa-la... the most beautiful, ever useful Home Warranty. When we purchased our first home, a townhouse in the ghetto in Virginia, I insisted, without caring what hubby had to say that we would be purchasing the home warranty. Total up front cost is around $400.00 and each time you need a repair that is covered there is a trade fee of $55.00... TOTAL. When we sold that house, warranty went with it, unused, of course. When we purchased our house in N.C. I insisted, once again, that we would be purchasing the home warranty. Cost was round about the same as the first warranty. The warranty lasts a year and can be renewed. You may think... but $400.00 is a lot up front and $55.00 each time something breaks? Do not kid yourself. It costs way more than $55.00 get get a plumber or electrician to your door. Not to mention the cost of replacing said item that is broken and labor for the man with his crack showing to fix it should you not wish for your husband to tear something up worse trying to do so himself. That means, should our hot water heater need to be replaced today, which I just found out it does, instead of being sick over it, crying wanting to die... it's going to cost us $70.00 (the warranty people say we have to have some sort of valve installed that wasn't there before so we need to have it installed and they won't pay for it... $15.00 extra (I know that this really does need to be added because it is a safety thing we had to have installed to sell our home in VA). I shall keep a list of the items our home warranty, which has now been renewed one time, has so wonderfully replaced:

1. On/Off valve for refrigerator water. Hubby and FIL managed to strip it while turning it on. You see... WE broke it... but for $55.00 they fixed it;
2. Built-in Microwave. The house had a built in microwave that began cutting out occasionally after 2-3 seconds. Damn-it. Then you'd have to reset the time & date before you could begin cooking your food again. Try that happening 3 or 4 times when you are trying to warm something for 30 seconds. They replaced our 4 (or so) year old built-in microwave with a new one, Home Depot value of: $299.00;
3. Hot Water Heater; plumber said the value on this would be $360.00. I asked hubby to ask him how much his total "parts, repair & labor" bill would have been put I have not heard the results as of yet.

Now I shall keep a list of the items that I think I wouldn't mind if they broke:

1. Dishwasher. It has begun making this terrible, awful crying/groaning/whining sound as it transitions between cycles.
2. Heat Pump... I think it might be kind of old... but please, please, please on a wonderful spring afternoon!

I have told Hubby that we will be renewing this warranty every year until they tell us "hell no". You see. Right now. I am laughing, I am care free over this, I'm not about to go over the deep end because of "one more thing that we can't afford but can't afford to live without". Oh the joys of owning a home. So for today, until tomorrow when I move on to other subjects I'm itching over such as motherhood or pressure washers... Here's to Home Warranties and fully operative appliances!

Just another day

Although I wish I had something interesting to blog about, I can not say that I do. Same old stuff really.

I do have to comment that every time, without fail, that I take a day off work, my daughter ends up sick within the next week. I am currently awaiting a call from My School, my daughter's daycare, saying that I need to come and pick her up. They called me earlier and apparently she has been laying down all day and has already had one bad poopie. If she has another I will have to go and get her... and guess what... in the middle of that last sentance... as if I were psyhic... the call came in. I have to go get her. She's had another bad poopie and she didn't eat any lunch! Now I know for sure that she isn't feeling well. This baby is quite the chow hound! So I guess that cuts this short as I am off to get my darling baby from My School. Good afternoon and here's to un-sick days!

Back to the grind...

So hubby, my daughter, puppyboy and I went to VA for the weekend. What a wonderful time but I am so sad today. We left NC on Thursday night around 7:15 p.m. and arrived in VA around 2 ish on "Friday morning". I know it sounds "ugh" but it really wasn't a bad drive. On Saturday we all had lunch with my Mom (she had to work) and then we took the kids to the neighborhood pool. My daughter didn't care much for the water, I think she would really like it is we had the chance to go more often, but we don't have access to a pool in NC so I can't blame her, at 22 months, for fearing it. Come to think of it, I'm glad she fears it at least a little. At least she doesn't try to walk right off into the edge of the deep end as my mom tells me I did when I was little. On Saturday we... well... what did we do... I can't honestly really remember and on Sunday, yesterday, we left to go home around 4:30 p.m., leaving us to pull into the driveway around 11:15 last night. It was a nice long weekend, however, the nice long weekend ended way too soon, leaving me teary and sad today. #1. I miss my "VA" family and #2. I am very sad that I will not have the chance to even think about seeing my "TX" family until next summer. The moments I remember the most this weekend are those spent talking. It's fun to get together, reminisce and tell stories and learn things about those close to you that you didn't already know. And oh yeah, if I do say so myself, I made the most wonderful oatmeal chocolate chip cookies this weekend. I have been craving them for weeks now but don't have all the stuff to make cookies at my house, so I hadn't been able to but since Mom & Dad's house is full of all the necessities I baked some up and boy were they yummy. I have the recipe and plan to bake more sometime soon! Also, at Mom & Dad's house it is always the BEST EATS of all time. Steak, Kabobs, homemade french fries and Klondike bars! ALL the yummies!

I think one things that I will take away and laugh to myself from time to time about it how INCREDIBLY funny my nephew, T, is. That kid, now I tell you has a promising future in stand up and the best part of it all is that he does not intend to be funny, which would make him not funny, it's just natural. For example:

My hubby was upstairs in the bathroom shaving. T came up and was flicking the light on and off. Hubby jokingly says to him "if you don't stop that I'm going to tell your mom". His reply... "or you could just give me a wedgie". Now that's great.

Then there was the time that T asked my hubby if he could stop his work (he had house drawings to do on the computer for work - he is an AutoCad drafter). Hubby replied that he was really busy right at that moment. T replied that he could "always stop for family". Wake up call... for the record, Hubby agreed and obliged.

Another time, my sister, Mrs. Happy, was telling him something she did or did not want him to do. His reply... "end of discussion". And the best part of it all is that is was not disrespectful, it was not rude. It was just sweet, innocent, hilariousness.

T was full of the best comments and tidbits to add to conversation all weekend long. Quite the entertainer. I get the feeling that he gets it from his Dad, Mr. Happy, who, although I've only met once, I'm sure has just the same delightfulness about him. After all, I have heard that he is "delicious". lol.

E, my niece, is also quite the cutiepie. She is so mature for her age and my daughter absolutely ADORED her. They had the best time (my daughter did anyways) playing together. I mean come on, who else on this earth could my daughter possibly get to climb the stairs with her over and over and over again just cause she was too sweet to say "no" until after the 100 millionth time? Too bad its a 20 hour drive from our house to TX (yes, I've already mapquested it and looked at the price of plane tickets for next summer) or else she would make the most wonderful babysitter here in a couple years!

I've also been amazed, even further than I was before, regarding the similarities that my sister and I have despite the fact that we did not grow up together. At the pool we discovered we have the same bodies (lol, sorry sis) and although some other things may be considered coincidence, the similarities move right on down the line from parting on the odd side (although my Mom does this too) to which pickles are the best.

So I had the best time, seeing my Mom, my Dad, my brothers and sisters and my niece and nephews. I love them all so much and wish for many more visits.

Until then, I think I'll be sad... Here's to a better afternoon than this morning.