I got a record player for Christmas when I was in second grade. (I kept trying to open the cardboard box to get to the "real" present inside. I was too used to my Mom using spare boxes around the house to wrap gifts and never for one moment believed that she actually bought me a record player!) Not too long after that, I got Michael Jackson's Thriller on vinyl.
My brother and I would put it on while cleaning the house, playing the title track over and over while trying our best Vincent Price impersonation. It certainly made dusting the tables and cleaning the bathroom go a little more enjoyable.
Michael was sooooo cute back then. He's one of the few musicians who made it in picture form on my bedroom wall (Until he was later shot with a bee-bee gun by my brother. Seriously, my brother was such a jerk.).
Even when I got older and my music tastes um, adapted, I still had a little bit of a thing for Michael. He was just so darn talented, and I completely respected that. And although I didn't buy any of his albums past Thriller, I still enjoyed watching the videos on MTV--you know, back when MTV actually played videos.
...I'm sad you're gone, Michael.
------------
Can I just interject one thing, here? John and I were watching some of the coverage on TV last night. When they actually FILMED the body being moved, we had to turn the TV off. Are you kidding me? You filmed the BODY being MOVED? That's just WRONG! And GROSS! Or are John and I the only two people on the planet who did NOT want to see that? *shudder*
And poor Farrah. She got upstaged on her last grand day!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Random
1. Izzy has started saying "humungo." As in, "That piece of pizza is HUMUNGO!" or "Clifford is a HUMUNGO dog!"
2. I started using that tanning lotion stuff. It's been three weeks. Yeah. Makes absolutely NO difference on my pasty, white legs.
3. I took Keith to get his haircut at a local barber instead of the usual SuperCheapPlace. I had gone there previously, but I wasn't too happy with the results--but I figured I'd give it another shot. I was fully entertained by the fact that there were eight people in the shop, and Keith and I were the only ones not speaking Italian. Do you KNOW how cute it is to see three little girls running around a barber shop while chatting in Italian? And this time: the cut was absolutely PERFECT.
4. Mary's haircut has grown out enough now that even John admits that it looks "pretty decent." She just needed softer-looking bangs than that blunt first-day cut we were staring at!
5. Being on Facebook has made me somewhat homesick for the hometown for which I never thought I'd be homesick.
6. Izzy just seems to have GROWN UP overnight. So tall now! It's hitting me more and more that she is starting school in just a few short months. HOW did she get so big so fast?
7. Keith gets to play an extended season of baseball. *sigh* Just when I was looking forward to the end! ;-)
8. I killed my tomato seedlings when I grabbed one of the kids' cups to water it. It ended up being apple juice! D'oh!
9. A "free to good home" plea in addition to a "persuasive" essay from Mary is probably going to lead to an addition to the family--a Guinea Pig named Hazel. It'll be Mary's "great job at school this year" gift. Do you think a pack of Pokemon cards for Keith will counter-balance that? LOL.
10. I should probably get back to work. If only I had something to DO!
2. I started using that tanning lotion stuff. It's been three weeks. Yeah. Makes absolutely NO difference on my pasty, white legs.
3. I took Keith to get his haircut at a local barber instead of the usual SuperCheapPlace. I had gone there previously, but I wasn't too happy with the results--but I figured I'd give it another shot. I was fully entertained by the fact that there were eight people in the shop, and Keith and I were the only ones not speaking Italian. Do you KNOW how cute it is to see three little girls running around a barber shop while chatting in Italian? And this time: the cut was absolutely PERFECT.
4. Mary's haircut has grown out enough now that even John admits that it looks "pretty decent." She just needed softer-looking bangs than that blunt first-day cut we were staring at!
5. Being on Facebook has made me somewhat homesick for the hometown for which I never thought I'd be homesick.
6. Izzy just seems to have GROWN UP overnight. So tall now! It's hitting me more and more that she is starting school in just a few short months. HOW did she get so big so fast?
7. Keith gets to play an extended season of baseball. *sigh* Just when I was looking forward to the end! ;-)
8. I killed my tomato seedlings when I grabbed one of the kids' cups to water it. It ended up being apple juice! D'oh!
9. A "free to good home" plea in addition to a "persuasive" essay from Mary is probably going to lead to an addition to the family--a Guinea Pig named Hazel. It'll be Mary's "great job at school this year" gift. Do you think a pack of Pokemon cards for Keith will counter-balance that? LOL.
10. I should probably get back to work. If only I had something to DO!
Last Day
It's the last day of school and coupled with the increasingly-horrible job situation I have found myself in, I am finding myself sighing and lamenting over the fact that I won't be home with the kids this summer.
Last summer was absolutely beautiful.
I am frustrated that I let "little things" like the rigors of early motherhood and lack of money keep me from getting my permanent teaching license. How silly of me! (That was said mostly tongue in cheek--as I do realize that there was not much I could have done to change the $ situation!)
Well, I am frustrated that despite the fact that I KNOW I could do any number of jobs (I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit...), I do not have the experience in anything but clerical work--leaving me feeling way over-educated and under-paid for the jobs I can manage to reel in.
But the flip side is....I did what I needed to do for my family. And despite professional (and monetary!) frustrations, I CANNOT be too harsh on myself or the lot I have in my life. I've got a great husband, three great kids, and I did get ONE year to be home with those kids. And when I needed to, I did the right thing and went back to work for them.
And I keep hoping that once they get a little older, and more of that @#$% student loan debt is paid off, then maybe, just maybe, I can go back to school and get that Master's, and focus a little more on ME.
Now is their time. My time will come.
Until then, I will keep putting on my happy face. I will keep looking for whatever opportunities to enhance my working life may come. And I will shuttle the kids to day care where I know that they will have a fun, relaxing summer.
And maybe it's time to start playing the lotto....
Last summer was absolutely beautiful.
I am frustrated that I let "little things" like the rigors of early motherhood and lack of money keep me from getting my permanent teaching license. How silly of me! (That was said mostly tongue in cheek--as I do realize that there was not much I could have done to change the $ situation!)
Well, I am frustrated that despite the fact that I KNOW I could do any number of jobs (I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit...), I do not have the experience in anything but clerical work--leaving me feeling way over-educated and under-paid for the jobs I can manage to reel in.
But the flip side is....I did what I needed to do for my family. And despite professional (and monetary!) frustrations, I CANNOT be too harsh on myself or the lot I have in my life. I've got a great husband, three great kids, and I did get ONE year to be home with those kids. And when I needed to, I did the right thing and went back to work for them.
And I keep hoping that once they get a little older, and more of that @#$% student loan debt is paid off, then maybe, just maybe, I can go back to school and get that Master's, and focus a little more on ME.
Now is their time. My time will come.
Until then, I will keep putting on my happy face. I will keep looking for whatever opportunities to enhance my working life may come. And I will shuttle the kids to day care where I know that they will have a fun, relaxing summer.
And maybe it's time to start playing the lotto....
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Father's Day Follies
1. Flaring tempers during helter-skelter preparations to get family pictures taken (first time in 3 years!).
2. Flaring tempers when "STOP KICKING ME" kept getting screamed in the back seats of the mini-van on trip back.
3. Desperate plea to kids to "GO AWAY, I'M TAKING A NAP," when they REFUSED to take a nap themselves.
4. Attempts to cook nice dinner for Father of The Year thwarted by "I'm not hungry" and "I just don't think I like meat" by 2/3 of the kids.
5. After dinner clean-up ruined by FLARING TEMPERS again when kids gave attitude about helping clean up the mess.
6. Dead cell phone won't give up my own Dad's phone number to call him and wish him a happy day. Rushed email to compensate (at least I sent a card!).
7. Cookie cake. And BIG apology to the Father of the Year for screwing up his holiday. (Kids in bed--feel much better now.)
Honey, despite the temper tantrums (by our kids AND myself) today, know that you are loved and adored, and we just couldn't be a family without you.
2. Flaring tempers when "STOP KICKING ME" kept getting screamed in the back seats of the mini-van on trip back.
3. Desperate plea to kids to "GO AWAY, I'M TAKING A NAP," when they REFUSED to take a nap themselves.
4. Attempts to cook nice dinner for Father of The Year thwarted by "I'm not hungry" and "I just don't think I like meat" by 2/3 of the kids.
5. After dinner clean-up ruined by FLARING TEMPERS again when kids gave attitude about helping clean up the mess.
6. Dead cell phone won't give up my own Dad's phone number to call him and wish him a happy day. Rushed email to compensate (at least I sent a card!).
7. Cookie cake. And BIG apology to the Father of the Year for screwing up his holiday. (Kids in bed--feel much better now.)
Honey, despite the temper tantrums (by our kids AND myself) today, know that you are loved and adored, and we just couldn't be a family without you.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Look! Look!
My wonderful middle school art teacher has her own Etsy shop! Go visit! Beautiful stuff there!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Ain't no cure for the summertime cold
Yes. I caught a summer cold. Yes, I was miserable most of the weekend. Yes, I had to drag kids all over the place and "pretend" to be all happy and playful at Adventure Landing when all I really wanted to do was curl up in the car and GO TO SLEEP.
Saturday morning we all got up early and took Keith to his game. Not too much excitement. He got one hit, but no real action as far as plays to the infield/outfield go.
We left early to take Keith to the AL birthday party for his BFF from our previous residence. My plan was to drop off Keith then take Izzy to the mall or grocery store or something to hang out until the party got out. I knew I wouldn't know a lot of people there. But as soon as we all walked in, the mom asked Izzy if she wanted to stay and play, too. Well, how can I tell a 4-year old no to that? So we all got into the shoot-em-up-with-foam-balls room and ran around after each other. Me--coughing and gasping the whole way. Izzy showed once again how different she is from her siblings and went right down the huge curly slide--her siblings weren't so brave with that at that age. She was too little to climb on some of the equipment, so I had to help (hence the coughing and gasping from my poor, virused, respiratory system). Keith and his friend played together THE WHOLE TIME. And sat next to eat other during pizza/cake/present time. And...I just wish we could get him together with this little boy more often, because it was so sweet to see.
We ended up being the last to leave the party (UGH). Mary had a softball game at 2:00 (and wasn't SHE bummed she didn't come with us to drop off Keith at that party! heh). I pulled into the parking lot, walked Keith and Izzy across to the field, didn't recognize any of the girls/moms playing, and THEN I remembered that it was an away game (read: cold messing with synapses in brain). As we started driving away, Keith says, "Mom, I'm tired. Can we just go home?" Why YES, WE CAN. Keith played Mario Kart while Izzy and I took a much-needed nap (not that my phlegmy self SLEPT, but at least I was IN BED and not on an uncomfortable bleacher in the somewhat chilly air trying to cheer my daughter when I was so miserable! Sorry, Mare!).
Mary also had a somewhat uneventful game (although she did get to play catcher twice). She and John came home. I dragged my butt up and got to the store to throw together dinner (hamburgers AGAIN?!), and we watched some Avatar.
Sunday was simple. Laundry. Read. Chores. Read. Laundry. Read. Dinner. Read. Laundry. Read. Landry.
Well, I did start perking up around 8:00, so I dragged out the Dance Dance Revolution and made that my new cop-out work-out plan. Works great!
Then I passed out in bed. And tried REALLY HARD to focus on all the student loan debt that is forcing me to make a presence at work. @#$%. Ah well. At least I still have a job!
Saturday morning we all got up early and took Keith to his game. Not too much excitement. He got one hit, but no real action as far as plays to the infield/outfield go.
We left early to take Keith to the AL birthday party for his BFF from our previous residence. My plan was to drop off Keith then take Izzy to the mall or grocery store or something to hang out until the party got out. I knew I wouldn't know a lot of people there. But as soon as we all walked in, the mom asked Izzy if she wanted to stay and play, too. Well, how can I tell a 4-year old no to that? So we all got into the shoot-em-up-with-foam-balls room and ran around after each other. Me--coughing and gasping the whole way. Izzy showed once again how different she is from her siblings and went right down the huge curly slide--her siblings weren't so brave with that at that age. She was too little to climb on some of the equipment, so I had to help (hence the coughing and gasping from my poor, virused, respiratory system). Keith and his friend played together THE WHOLE TIME. And sat next to eat other during pizza/cake/present time. And...I just wish we could get him together with this little boy more often, because it was so sweet to see.
We ended up being the last to leave the party (UGH). Mary had a softball game at 2:00 (and wasn't SHE bummed she didn't come with us to drop off Keith at that party! heh). I pulled into the parking lot, walked Keith and Izzy across to the field, didn't recognize any of the girls/moms playing, and THEN I remembered that it was an away game (read: cold messing with synapses in brain). As we started driving away, Keith says, "Mom, I'm tired. Can we just go home?" Why YES, WE CAN. Keith played Mario Kart while Izzy and I took a much-needed nap (not that my phlegmy self SLEPT, but at least I was IN BED and not on an uncomfortable bleacher in the somewhat chilly air trying to cheer my daughter when I was so miserable! Sorry, Mare!).
Mary also had a somewhat uneventful game (although she did get to play catcher twice). She and John came home. I dragged my butt up and got to the store to throw together dinner (hamburgers AGAIN?!), and we watched some Avatar.
Sunday was simple. Laundry. Read. Chores. Read. Laundry. Read. Dinner. Read. Laundry. Read. Landry.
Well, I did start perking up around 8:00, so I dragged out the Dance Dance Revolution and made that my new cop-out work-out plan. Works great!
Then I passed out in bed. And tried REALLY HARD to focus on all the student loan debt that is forcing me to make a presence at work. @#$%. Ah well. At least I still have a job!
Monday, June 08, 2009
The Highlights
Maybe having the hair out of her face helped, but Mary KICKED BUTT at her softball game. After begging every game, the coach finally let her pitch. Hello! Skinny little thing CAN PITCH! She actually struck out the very first batter. And made a few more great plays when the opposing team was hitting the balls right back to her. It was a short inning. She showed her stuff. And coach was all, "Mary! Why didn't you TELL me you could pitch like that?" Um....she TRIED, but you kept pushing her aside (Oh! Isn't that cute! Little Mary wants to pitch!).
Perhaps the coach's attitude will CHANGE now, and Mary will get the attention (and credit) she deserves.
That's my girl!
Perhaps the coach's attitude will CHANGE now, and Mary will get the attention (and credit) she deserves.
That's my girl!
Bad haircut
John and I sort of "had it" with Mary's hair always hanging in her face and her complete lack of interest in combing it or keeping it nice. She's been trying to grow it out, but it's just a straggly mess. So we talked her into getting some of it cut off.
Saturday morning I rushed her in to the SuperCheap place--it was just a few stores down from the CellPhoneStore where I wanted to take my suddenly dead phone to get it looked at. Well, the wait ended up being longer than they said (and the CellPhoneStore had moved out! The nerve!), so Mary and I passed the time perusing the haircut books trying to pick out something that she would like. The kid who two days prior was almost crying over the fact that I said she needed to get a "good trim" as her hair was so damaged, and I wanted her to have something easier to take care of, was now, "Oh, I don't care" about the style of her hair. And then moved to, "Oh...whatever."
So, when her time was finally up (and I was getting nervous by this time as she had a softball game in about 45 minutes--in another part of town--and she didn't even have her uniform on yet....), I gave her to the stylist, showed her the length Mary and I agreed on (just below her shoulders) and then said, "If she wants bangs, it's completely up to her, I don't care," and I walked away (to put up with wiggly Izzy and a set of brothers who were pummeling each other in the waiting area while grandma was getting her hair cut--fun!).
Well, Mary decided on bangs. ("It's kind of fun to try something different!" she said.) And Izzy and I sat there and watched the lady cut them. And I immediately thought, "WHY was I so trusting to let her pick her own hairstyle! I HATE dealing with bangs! And WHY is that lady cutting them so short? And...AUGH!"
Well, we got home, John rushed Mary off to her game (for which I was mistaken--it started a half hour EARLIER than I thought). I took Keith to his game. We all met up later (@#$% inconvenient not having a cell phone!), and John had to tell me, "I hate her hair. SOMETHING must be done about her hair."
Well...WHAT can be done now? The bangs are CUT, and there is no getting those straggly pieces of hair back. And I don't think anything can be done to fix how short they look. And I'm afraid of having someone cut more off the sides (That's part of the problem--a year ago, we had the sides cut to "frame" her face--and those chunks of hair just really make the bangs look stupid. But we want to grow them OUT now, so surely cutting them even shorter would be counterproductive?) and making it look worse. And, Mary actually LIKES her hair (and she got a lot of compliments on it at her game--probably everybody was just thrilled they could see her face). And...we'll just have to start pulling the sides back (it DOES look pretty decent like that)...and wait for everything to grow back.
I should have known better than to mess with it. I should have known better than to let her pick bangs or no bangs. I should have known to just stop at "Please clean up the scraggly ends."
Two years. It'll probably take at least two years.
*sigh*
Saturday morning I rushed her in to the SuperCheap place--it was just a few stores down from the CellPhoneStore where I wanted to take my suddenly dead phone to get it looked at. Well, the wait ended up being longer than they said (and the CellPhoneStore had moved out! The nerve!), so Mary and I passed the time perusing the haircut books trying to pick out something that she would like. The kid who two days prior was almost crying over the fact that I said she needed to get a "good trim" as her hair was so damaged, and I wanted her to have something easier to take care of, was now, "Oh, I don't care" about the style of her hair. And then moved to, "Oh...whatever."
So, when her time was finally up (and I was getting nervous by this time as she had a softball game in about 45 minutes--in another part of town--and she didn't even have her uniform on yet....), I gave her to the stylist, showed her the length Mary and I agreed on (just below her shoulders) and then said, "If she wants bangs, it's completely up to her, I don't care," and I walked away (to put up with wiggly Izzy and a set of brothers who were pummeling each other in the waiting area while grandma was getting her hair cut--fun!).
Well, Mary decided on bangs. ("It's kind of fun to try something different!" she said.) And Izzy and I sat there and watched the lady cut them. And I immediately thought, "WHY was I so trusting to let her pick her own hairstyle! I HATE dealing with bangs! And WHY is that lady cutting them so short? And...AUGH!"
Well, we got home, John rushed Mary off to her game (for which I was mistaken--it started a half hour EARLIER than I thought). I took Keith to his game. We all met up later (@#$% inconvenient not having a cell phone!), and John had to tell me, "I hate her hair. SOMETHING must be done about her hair."
Well...WHAT can be done now? The bangs are CUT, and there is no getting those straggly pieces of hair back. And I don't think anything can be done to fix how short they look. And I'm afraid of having someone cut more off the sides (That's part of the problem--a year ago, we had the sides cut to "frame" her face--and those chunks of hair just really make the bangs look stupid. But we want to grow them OUT now, so surely cutting them even shorter would be counterproductive?) and making it look worse. And, Mary actually LIKES her hair (and she got a lot of compliments on it at her game--probably everybody was just thrilled they could see her face). And...we'll just have to start pulling the sides back (it DOES look pretty decent like that)...and wait for everything to grow back.
I should have known better than to mess with it. I should have known better than to let her pick bangs or no bangs. I should have known to just stop at "Please clean up the scraggly ends."
Two years. It'll probably take at least two years.
*sigh*
Friday, June 05, 2009
It's a beautiful day!
I'm always somewhat nervous about what I post here as I know my employer can find this blog if they really wanted to (maybe they already HAVE! Dum Dum DUUUUUUMMMMM!!!!)...but I guess it's public knowledge now, so I can legitimately let slip to you all that my employer just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Yeeee Haaaaaw!
They were smart and did their lay-offs BEFOREHAND, so now they can say um, with confidence?, that they are not planning any more lay-offs at this time.
I've been holding on through this whole um, "crisis" in the hopes that once the dust cleared I can perhaps move up into a better position (er, if I survived the multitude of lay-offs--which I guess I did). Cuz where I'm at right now is most certainly NOT where I want to be even six months from now.
So, employer, if you're reading this, please take note that my current position, for which I'm GRATEFUL, NO DOUBT, is in no way challenging or busy enough for my fancy. I need something with more responsibility and at which I can utilize my AWESOME, HARD-WORKING TALENTS to their fullest potential.
Thank you. And I hope you zip through that Chapter 11 "thing" just as well as you did when you did it 10 years ago.
*super-winning SMILE*
Yeeee Haaaaaw!
They were smart and did their lay-offs BEFOREHAND, so now they can say um, with confidence?, that they are not planning any more lay-offs at this time.
I've been holding on through this whole um, "crisis" in the hopes that once the dust cleared I can perhaps move up into a better position (er, if I survived the multitude of lay-offs--which I guess I did). Cuz where I'm at right now is most certainly NOT where I want to be even six months from now.
So, employer, if you're reading this, please take note that my current position, for which I'm GRATEFUL, NO DOUBT, is in no way challenging or busy enough for my fancy. I need something with more responsibility and at which I can utilize my AWESOME, HARD-WORKING TALENTS to their fullest potential.
Thank you. And I hope you zip through that Chapter 11 "thing" just as well as you did when you did it 10 years ago.
*super-winning SMILE*
Monday, June 01, 2009
Weekend in a Flash
A movie, two baseball games, concession stand duties, one softball game, one over-night (thankfully at OTHER kid's house), and a camp-out in the den (to entertain two remaining kids).
By Sunday: over-tired Mom who JUST WANTED TO READ! But had WAY TOO MUCH LAUNDRY TO DO! Smarter Dad realizing we all just needed a trip to the park.
Ahhhh.... Refocus.
That was fun.
(BTW: "Up" is completely, totally AWESOME!!)
By Sunday: over-tired Mom who JUST WANTED TO READ! But had WAY TOO MUCH LAUNDRY TO DO! Smarter Dad realizing we all just needed a trip to the park.
Ahhhh.... Refocus.
That was fun.
(BTW: "Up" is completely, totally AWESOME!!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)