"After you rattle around all morning, the first day, fascinated by the fact that you are home alone and the day is WILD with potential, you will settle into days that resemble this. . .
1. Drop off kids, send off husband who says, since you're home now, could you do x,y, and z? You say, "Sure" because you have all day to do that without distractions!
2. Pour coffee and actually finish a whole cup while it's hot.
3. Repeat step 2 and make list of good intentions and relish the idea of having "all the time in the world to do it"
4. Answer calls or emails from jealous fellow co-workers or confused replacement.
5. Review list and put away breakfast dishes
6. Begin a load of laundry
7. Find right after the clothes go in that you are out of soap. Stop washer.
8. Run to the grocery store ALONE to get more laundry soap. You have forgotten the giant list at home but decide to "wing it" You treat yourself to a mocha latte - with whipped cream of course.
9. Wander through the store, stopping at every tasting station. Explain to each of them with a huge smile that this is your first day of freedom and are going to actually enjoy this shopping trip. While in check out, you realize school is almost out and you rush out, throwing things in the car and spilling what's left of the mocha latte.
10.Put away groceries as kids unpack from school and realize you are missing at least one key ingredient to all the possible menu items for the week.
11. Put children in the car and return to grocery store, swearing under your breath all the way, You have list this time but, with kids, this 15 minute run lasts 45 minutes longer and costs 30% more.
12. While doing homework, one child reminds you that they have some meeting, game, practice or school activity that requires a certain item of clothing and you suddenly remember that you have a whole load that WAS in hot water but is no longer and you put in the soap and start the cycle all over.
13. Greet husband who asks, "How was your day? Did you get x,y and z done like I asked?"
14. Refrain from murder. and promise you will get to it tomorrow.
15. Wonder what happened to the day and promise you will get more done tomorrow."
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Obligatory Birthday Post
After all the reminders, I'd better give a shout out to MR on his birthday.
Don't get too trashed--you have to go to work tomorrow. :-)
Don't get too trashed--you have to go to work tomorrow. :-)
On Why We Will Need a Retake
Keith came home from picture day with spots of ketchup all over his mouth.
Mary came home and proudly told me that she put her barrettes in "all by herself."
Yeah. Retakes will mostly likely be in order. With obsessive Mom standing in the wings with combs and barrettes and wet-wipes in hand....
Mary came home and proudly told me that she put her barrettes in "all by herself."
Yeah. Retakes will mostly likely be in order. With obsessive Mom standing in the wings with combs and barrettes and wet-wipes in hand....
Saturday, September 29, 2007
One mean mama
Mary had a front tooth DANGLING for the last three weeks. The very first week, John asked me not to "obsess" about it (who me?), so I let it go. And let it go. And tried very, very hard NOT to pester her about it. But, oh my God, it was just HANGING there. I tried to be nice. I tried to offer my help (I have, in fact, pulled all of her previous loose teeth but one--which I ended up finding out that a teacher at school pulled for her....which I thought was kind of strange....). I tried vanity. "Grandpa would LOVE to see you with both teeth missing. Can we pull it so that he can see while he's here?" and "Remember how cute Katie looked with her two front teeth out? You will be SO cute! Let's get it out now!" I tried teasing, "The tooth fairy has been knocking on the door for the last two weeks, are you going to finally let her in?" I tried the sanitary argument, "Honey, I think if you leave it too long, you might cause your gums to get sick." Laughable. Realizing that she seemed very adamant on pulling the tooth herself, I even offered bribery, "The tooth fairy will probably leave you more money if you pull it yourself." No avail. She was scared. And wanted that tooth to just fall out of its own accord.
I tried so hard to be understanding. Even though Mary had been through this four other times, it IS a bit of a trauma to go through. I let it go. And let it go.
On the night that her toothbrush just barely touched the tooth and it started to bleed, I tried to be demanding. "It's gone on long enough. It MUST come out. NOW." Seriously. Only a quarter of the tooth was still stubbornly attached. How easy to pull it! No go.
Finally last weekend, my "unobsessive obsessiveness," i.e. pestering/nagging, must have finally got to her (not to mention the reassuring confidences of her best friend Katie who said SHE ALWAYS pulled her own teeth). She tried all weekend to pull her tooth. She would tug and pull for minutes on end until she would get frustrated and stop--while my mind was screaming, "Just one more tug! Surely! She CAN'T be pulling hard enough!" But, I let it go. She will do it when she's ready darnit! LET IT GO!
Then comes Monday. We get a neat little notice from the school that Friday is to be Picture Day. I'm looking at that stubborn dangling tooth in Mary's mouth--which is SO loose that it is pushed over to practically the middle of her mouth. Oh no. NOT on picture day. THIS will not do.
So I entreated her again. She was determined to stay on her course of non-action. And I let it go for just a few more days....
Wednesday night was Curriculum Night. John went, and I stayed home with our three darlings. And decided that it was to be the night of the attack.
After begging and consoling and giving reassurances ("Remember, it only hurts for a second?"), I finally had to lay down the law. And get mean.
It's not my finest hour. I definitely should have let it go. But the thought of that horribly hanging tooth in her school yearbook, my own vanity of what my kid looked like, got precedence. And I pulled her tooth. And she was not happy about it. She fought and fought and screamed--even after giving me permission to do it. And if I hadn't had to fight with her, it would have only taken 10 seconds (and why wouldn't she listen to REASON when I told her so in the beginning?). 'Cause that tooth was just BEGGING to come out, folks.
And not even 10 SECONDS after it was out, Mary was FINE. And giddy. And so very, very happy to see her tooth and to put it in the pocket of the little stuffed tooth fairy doll she'd gotten years ago from Grandma Mary.
So, did I do the right thing? Even John reassured me that indeed, the tooth HAD to come out before Picture Day. Seriously, you just should have SEEN it, folks. And Mary even reported her teacher saying, "Wow. I thought that tooth would NEVER come out." So, others were obviously noticing it. And upon rinsing the tooth in the sink, I even noticed food particles in it, and who knows how long they were stuck there and whether or not, if left alone, that darn tooth may have caused an infection or SOMETHING icky to grow in her tender gums.
But I wish I could have held out a little longer. Wish Picture Day could have been put off for another week. Wish I could have had the self-control to let her do her own thing and pull it in her own time. Because she really, really needs to learn to do this. And I really, really need to learn to let her.
But, last week, in the middle of all this drama, Mary discovered yet another loose tooth. Guess I'll have another chance to let her do it her own way--even if it's just letting it go until it falls out of its own accord, and she runs the risk of swallowing the tooth in her sleep (seriously, obsess much?).
I will try very hard.
And hope that she does not need a re-take of her pictures.
I tried so hard to be understanding. Even though Mary had been through this four other times, it IS a bit of a trauma to go through. I let it go. And let it go.
On the night that her toothbrush just barely touched the tooth and it started to bleed, I tried to be demanding. "It's gone on long enough. It MUST come out. NOW." Seriously. Only a quarter of the tooth was still stubbornly attached. How easy to pull it! No go.
Finally last weekend, my "unobsessive obsessiveness," i.e. pestering/nagging, must have finally got to her (not to mention the reassuring confidences of her best friend Katie who said SHE ALWAYS pulled her own teeth). She tried all weekend to pull her tooth. She would tug and pull for minutes on end until she would get frustrated and stop--while my mind was screaming, "Just one more tug! Surely! She CAN'T be pulling hard enough!" But, I let it go. She will do it when she's ready darnit! LET IT GO!
Then comes Monday. We get a neat little notice from the school that Friday is to be Picture Day. I'm looking at that stubborn dangling tooth in Mary's mouth--which is SO loose that it is pushed over to practically the middle of her mouth. Oh no. NOT on picture day. THIS will not do.
So I entreated her again. She was determined to stay on her course of non-action. And I let it go for just a few more days....
Wednesday night was Curriculum Night. John went, and I stayed home with our three darlings. And decided that it was to be the night of the attack.
After begging and consoling and giving reassurances ("Remember, it only hurts for a second?"), I finally had to lay down the law. And get mean.
It's not my finest hour. I definitely should have let it go. But the thought of that horribly hanging tooth in her school yearbook, my own vanity of what my kid looked like, got precedence. And I pulled her tooth. And she was not happy about it. She fought and fought and screamed--even after giving me permission to do it. And if I hadn't had to fight with her, it would have only taken 10 seconds (and why wouldn't she listen to REASON when I told her so in the beginning?). 'Cause that tooth was just BEGGING to come out, folks.
And not even 10 SECONDS after it was out, Mary was FINE. And giddy. And so very, very happy to see her tooth and to put it in the pocket of the little stuffed tooth fairy doll she'd gotten years ago from Grandma Mary.
So, did I do the right thing? Even John reassured me that indeed, the tooth HAD to come out before Picture Day. Seriously, you just should have SEEN it, folks. And Mary even reported her teacher saying, "Wow. I thought that tooth would NEVER come out." So, others were obviously noticing it. And upon rinsing the tooth in the sink, I even noticed food particles in it, and who knows how long they were stuck there and whether or not, if left alone, that darn tooth may have caused an infection or SOMETHING icky to grow in her tender gums.
But I wish I could have held out a little longer. Wish Picture Day could have been put off for another week. Wish I could have had the self-control to let her do her own thing and pull it in her own time. Because she really, really needs to learn to do this. And I really, really need to learn to let her.
But, last week, in the middle of all this drama, Mary discovered yet another loose tooth. Guess I'll have another chance to let her do it her own way--even if it's just letting it go until it falls out of its own accord, and she runs the risk of swallowing the tooth in her sleep (seriously, obsess much?).
I will try very hard.
And hope that she does not need a re-take of her pictures.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Week of Lasts
So, you all might be wondering why my blog hasn't been updated more since I had absolutely nothing to do this last week and a half? Well, fortune, although not so kind to a co-worker, forced a change on me. My 8 mos. pregnant co-worker got pulled out of work for a few days as she was exhibiting the symptoms of pre-eclampsia. So, the honors of training my replacement did indeed, fall on me--at least for a few days. As then the co-worker, whose swelling and blood pressure went back down (thank goodness!), came back, and I was pulled from my training duties again. After that, I was still involved in transitioning my work and winding down out of the job. So, I apologize to Dave and Jage--I couldn't blog nor send emails as I ended up being much busier than anticipated.
So, Monday was my last payroll. And Tuesday was my last lowlist (don't ask--but it's a big part of my job). And then Wednesday we took the boss out for her birthday to the new Cheesecake Factory (ouch! that hurt the wallet--but very, very good). And then on Thursday, the boss brought in a breakfast pizza and a HUGE cake--and gave me the added bonus of granting me a day off today. SO, I got to "retire" early, and as of today, I am officially a stay at home mom.
So, now I'm home. NOW WHAT???
Yikes.
So, Monday was my last payroll. And Tuesday was my last lowlist (don't ask--but it's a big part of my job). And then Wednesday we took the boss out for her birthday to the new Cheesecake Factory (ouch! that hurt the wallet--but very, very good). And then on Thursday, the boss brought in a breakfast pizza and a HUGE cake--and gave me the added bonus of granting me a day off today. SO, I got to "retire" early, and as of today, I am officially a stay at home mom.
So, now I'm home. NOW WHAT???
Yikes.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Smokin' Mad
So, I went out of my way to stay this extra month at work--despite having the gosh darn RIGHT to gripe when they allowed my lower-seniority co-worker go a month early. I had hardships trying to find daycare for a freakin' month. I'm having to pay a MINT for said daycare which, frankly, has put us in a slight bit of a financial set-back. All this JUST so that I could be a nice guy and help them train my replacement.
AFTER ALL THAT, and we FINALLY get my replacement in here....imagine my surpise when they get here...and my boss decides to have SOMEONE ELSE train them IN MY JOB.
WTF???????
UM....WHAT WAS THE POINT OF MY BEING HERE FOR THAT EXTRA FREAKIN' MONTH?????
Now I basically have NOTHING to do for the last week and a half of my gainful employment and get to sit idly by while someone else does my work (and gets my 5% training pay).
I've suddenly turned into the most guilable, used-up, washrag in the telecommunications industry.
Nice to meet ya.
AFTER ALL THAT, and we FINALLY get my replacement in here....imagine my surpise when they get here...and my boss decides to have SOMEONE ELSE train them IN MY JOB.
WTF???????
UM....WHAT WAS THE POINT OF MY BEING HERE FOR THAT EXTRA FREAKIN' MONTH?????
Now I basically have NOTHING to do for the last week and a half of my gainful employment and get to sit idly by while someone else does my work (and gets my 5% training pay).
I've suddenly turned into the most guilable, used-up, washrag in the telecommunications industry.
Nice to meet ya.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Digging Out (i.e. Dad's Visit)
So I haven't gotten around yet to discussing my father's visit last week. I'm sure he's peeved that he hasn't gotten this momentous occasion discussed to the web at large, so I'd better get this post out there.... ;-)
John and I spent most of Saturday and Sunday completely rearranging our furniture and cleaning our house getting ready for the visit. We've never been happy with how our den was set up, so now ALL the furniture in the house is now in the living room (We actually had to cart it out the garage, outside, up the side of the house, and then into the front door in order to move it. Thank goodness for the hand truck or else I would have been even more entirely useless than I was and John would have had to grab a neighbor or two for help with that freakin' heavy sectional). Now we have all this mis-matched furniture in the living room, but there was actually room for everyone to sit, and we didn't feel so "squashed" in while watching TV. The den has now become the play room, and the previous play room is now being transitioned into a spare room/office.
All this, and Keith's room is STILL not done.
Anyway, Dad and Ruth came in Sunday evening, and the kids were just beyond themselves with joy. We haven't seen the folks since we were in Indiana last Thanksgiving, so it's been almost a YEAR of growth he's missed out on there!
As school has now started, only Izzy got to stay home with the folks on Monday and Tuesday while John and I were at work. The grandparents got exposed to our darling Izzy's exuberant personality. The child chats and chats and chats non-stop. She is certainly the least-shy and most-friendly of the three kids. "She's a trip" was Dad's comment. And indeed, she is.
Monday night, the folks treated us to dinner at Beale Street where we all pigged out. Tuesday night Dad cooked(YES!). And the kids got to share one of their favorite movies--Cars--with them.
Keith and Mary got played with more, and the house was noisier than ever with Grandpa teasing them. Wow--my house has good acoustics!
Dad brought us some Indiana home-grown tomatoes, and there were so many, I brought them to work and Leona's house to distribute to others. No way we could have eaten all those before they went bad! Most delicious. He also brought some home-grown squash. I need to figure out what to do with that (anyone got any good recipes for butternut squash? I only know of ONE).
Wednesday morning, the folks headed back home to Indiana, and for the next two days, Izzy kept asking about them. "Where's Grandpa?" and "Grandpa's not going to play with me?" [with a big sob] were heard on many occasions. She even mistook Daddy's car for Grandpa's car--in her hopes to find him waiting for her when we came home Wednesday evening, I'm sure.
Two days playing with Grandpa and "Grandpa Ruth" were not enough time for the little girl. Dad, you need to come visit again, and longer, SOON.
John and I spent most of Saturday and Sunday completely rearranging our furniture and cleaning our house getting ready for the visit. We've never been happy with how our den was set up, so now ALL the furniture in the house is now in the living room (We actually had to cart it out the garage, outside, up the side of the house, and then into the front door in order to move it. Thank goodness for the hand truck or else I would have been even more entirely useless than I was and John would have had to grab a neighbor or two for help with that freakin' heavy sectional). Now we have all this mis-matched furniture in the living room, but there was actually room for everyone to sit, and we didn't feel so "squashed" in while watching TV. The den has now become the play room, and the previous play room is now being transitioned into a spare room/office.
All this, and Keith's room is STILL not done.
Anyway, Dad and Ruth came in Sunday evening, and the kids were just beyond themselves with joy. We haven't seen the folks since we were in Indiana last Thanksgiving, so it's been almost a YEAR of growth he's missed out on there!
As school has now started, only Izzy got to stay home with the folks on Monday and Tuesday while John and I were at work. The grandparents got exposed to our darling Izzy's exuberant personality. The child chats and chats and chats non-stop. She is certainly the least-shy and most-friendly of the three kids. "She's a trip" was Dad's comment. And indeed, she is.
Monday night, the folks treated us to dinner at Beale Street where we all pigged out. Tuesday night Dad cooked(YES!). And the kids got to share one of their favorite movies--Cars--with them.
Keith and Mary got played with more, and the house was noisier than ever with Grandpa teasing them. Wow--my house has good acoustics!
Dad brought us some Indiana home-grown tomatoes, and there were so many, I brought them to work and Leona's house to distribute to others. No way we could have eaten all those before they went bad! Most delicious. He also brought some home-grown squash. I need to figure out what to do with that (anyone got any good recipes for butternut squash? I only know of ONE).
Wednesday morning, the folks headed back home to Indiana, and for the next two days, Izzy kept asking about them. "Where's Grandpa?" and "Grandpa's not going to play with me?" [with a big sob] were heard on many occasions. She even mistook Daddy's car for Grandpa's car--in her hopes to find him waiting for her when we came home Wednesday evening, I'm sure.
Two days playing with Grandpa and "Grandpa Ruth" were not enough time for the little girl. Dad, you need to come visit again, and longer, SOON.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
"Mock" Roast
I based this recipe on a campfire recipe we did in Girl Scouts when I was a kid. I make this when I don't have much in the house, but I'm still craving a "real" meal.
I call it "mock" roast since it's made out of hamburger, but has all the fixin's of a pot roast....
1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, sliced
3-4 stalks celery, sliced
3-4 carrots, sliced (when I'm really lazy, I just use the baby ones)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
3-4 potatoes, sliced (if I'm lazy, I don't peel 'em)
Spray a 9X12 baking dish with cooking spray (or, use a roaster pan if you have one. I don't and get along fine with my 9X12, thank you very much). Mold your ground beef into a flattened loaf and plop it in the middle. Dump the soup all over the meat and along the sides of the dish. Put in all your veggies--I try to drown them in the soup as best as possible. Season. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake 350-400* until the meat is done.
I have wanted to try making a generic meat loaf (you know, with crackers and eggs and all that) with this, 'cause I'm sure that would be good, too. And I've even thought of trying mini loaves to make the cooking time go down faster. Must try that this winter....
(And in case you're wondering, what we did in Scouts was put individual hamburger patties in foil packets and put the onions/celery/carrots/soup on top of the burger. Then we put the packets in the coals to cook. Absolutely the best campfire meal I'd ever had.)
I call it "mock" roast since it's made out of hamburger, but has all the fixin's of a pot roast....
1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, sliced
3-4 stalks celery, sliced
3-4 carrots, sliced (when I'm really lazy, I just use the baby ones)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
3-4 potatoes, sliced (if I'm lazy, I don't peel 'em)
Spray a 9X12 baking dish with cooking spray (or, use a roaster pan if you have one. I don't and get along fine with my 9X12, thank you very much). Mold your ground beef into a flattened loaf and plop it in the middle. Dump the soup all over the meat and along the sides of the dish. Put in all your veggies--I try to drown them in the soup as best as possible. Season. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake 350-400* until the meat is done.
I have wanted to try making a generic meat loaf (you know, with crackers and eggs and all that) with this, 'cause I'm sure that would be good, too. And I've even thought of trying mini loaves to make the cooking time go down faster. Must try that this winter....
(And in case you're wondering, what we did in Scouts was put individual hamburger patties in foil packets and put the onions/celery/carrots/soup on top of the burger. Then we put the packets in the coals to cook. Absolutely the best campfire meal I'd ever had.)
You can only have this much fun once a year
Yes, it was THAT time a year again. Time for the annual exam.
Now, I like my ob/gyn. She has a kind of dry humor that I get. And she's also got three kids! But sometimes....
She complimented me on my hair cut. When I told her that I cut off 12 inches, she was incredulous. "You can grow that much hair at your age?!"
At my age? AT MY AGE????
HEY! I'M NOT THAT OLD YET! Check the chart! The CHART! I'm NOT that old yet!!!
Oh God, do I LOOK old?????????
Now, I like my ob/gyn. She has a kind of dry humor that I get. And she's also got three kids! But sometimes....
She complimented me on my hair cut. When I told her that I cut off 12 inches, she was incredulous. "You can grow that much hair at your age?!"
At my age? AT MY AGE????
HEY! I'M NOT THAT OLD YET! Check the chart! The CHART! I'm NOT that old yet!!!
Oh God, do I LOOK old?????????
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Please don't remove the Name Tag
Yesterday when John went to the school to pick up Keith and Mary, they only presented him with Mary. (Um...didn't I order TWO???) After a bit of scrambling, the teachers/adults involved found Keith. Apparently, his teacher sent him and another child with an adult helper (or whoever). One child was supposed to go to after-school care (those children are shuttled to a different school) and of course, Keith was supposed to go to the cafeteria--which is the parent pick-up spot. I don't know how it got confused, but Keith was found playing on the playground--with all the other after-school care kids.
Whew!
The first two weeks of school kindergartners wear NAME TAGS which also announce their am/pm status, HOW they're getting to school (bus, drop off, whatever) and HOW they're leaving (bus, pick-up, after-school care). I did remember to put Keith's name tag on yesterday morning, but for some reason, he wasn't wearing it. Hence, the reason he got "lost." (Oh, he wasn't really "lost!" See, we found him! He was just right there!) But, if John had been even a few minutes late, good grief! The kid would have been on the shuttle to the Y program half-way to the other elementary school. How fun to track him down THEN!
When questioned, my son said that "a teacher" took his name tag off. Poor little guy couldn't remember who or when, but he finally surmised that it was at the day care center that morning. I did check with the center this morning, but there was no name tag there, and they swore that they didn't remove it ("I remember it being on him when I put him on the bus!"). Not that I was being accusatory or anything, I just needed to FIND it. 'Cause now that he doesn't have it for another day, who knows if he'll make it to the right pick-up place?!
And how nice to know how much my kids pay attention to us. No big deal on the five-year old. I can't really expect too much of him, I know. But the seven-year old? How many times I explained the pick-up procedure and how she needed to find her brother in the cafeteria at the end of the day? And good grief--she couldn't mention to a teacher that "Gee, I don't see my brother here?"
Oh well, she's not her brother's keeper, I guess.
Whew!
The first two weeks of school kindergartners wear NAME TAGS which also announce their am/pm status, HOW they're getting to school (bus, drop off, whatever) and HOW they're leaving (bus, pick-up, after-school care). I did remember to put Keith's name tag on yesterday morning, but for some reason, he wasn't wearing it. Hence, the reason he got "lost." (Oh, he wasn't really "lost!" See, we found him! He was just right there!) But, if John had been even a few minutes late, good grief! The kid would have been on the shuttle to the Y program half-way to the other elementary school. How fun to track him down THEN!
When questioned, my son said that "a teacher" took his name tag off. Poor little guy couldn't remember who or when, but he finally surmised that it was at the day care center that morning. I did check with the center this morning, but there was no name tag there, and they swore that they didn't remove it ("I remember it being on him when I put him on the bus!"). Not that I was being accusatory or anything, I just needed to FIND it. 'Cause now that he doesn't have it for another day, who knows if he'll make it to the right pick-up place?!
And how nice to know how much my kids pay attention to us. No big deal on the five-year old. I can't really expect too much of him, I know. But the seven-year old? How many times I explained the pick-up procedure and how she needed to find her brother in the cafeteria at the end of the day? And good grief--she couldn't mention to a teacher that "Gee, I don't see my brother here?"
Oh well, she's not her brother's keeper, I guess.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Back to School
Tuesday Mary and Keith had their farewell party at our day-care provider's house (Izzy will still be there till the end of the month). They had an ice cream sundae party with a million toppings. Leona got them all a going away present and had the other kids sign them (so sweet!). I had to leave work early to take Mary (with the Keith and Izzy ducklings in tow) to her classroom to meet her teacher and dump off her $100 worth of supplies we had to buy this year. Remembering the chaos of last year, I decided not to rush and to take her at the end of the open hour. So at ten to four, we four traipse in--to a practically empty school. Mary got to meet her teacher, and I got to distribute all the supplies withOUT fighting through a mad crowd. Awesome! Go me! We stopped and said hi to Mary's first grade teacher (who is teaching second grade this year) and headed home.
I found out a few days before that I had a Girl Scout Service Unit meeting Tuesday night (funny how I'm now an official member of the service team and yet had received no word on any of the service team OR service unit meetings--to which I'm REQUIRED to attend). So the Girl Scout chaos has also officially started. Wee! I'm in the process of merging my old troop with another troop. It's funny how I've been in communication with the leader of the other troop several times, but I can never seem to reach my co-leader from my current troop--she doesn't even know yet that we're attempting to change locations for meetings--or even when we're attempting to HAVE a first meeting--or even that I OFFICIALLY merged the two troops and that we're actually dropping OUR troop number and gaining the OTHER. Funny how I can NEVER reach that woman when I need her....
*ahem* I digress....
Wednesday was the kids' first day of school. Mary had a full day, but Keith only had half of his half-day of school--it was an orientation of sorts for two hours WITH parent required. So Wednesday morning I had to take just Mary to the new day care center (John worked from home in the morning and took Keith to the orientation that afternoon). Keith was apparently too excited about his first day of school. He got up at 5:45 in the morning and proceeded to follow me around while I was struggling to get myself and his sisters ready--making loud and annoying noises the whole time ("WHERE'S MY PEN!" *GIGGLE GIGGLE* "WHERE'S MY PEN!") Yikes! I eventually had to tell him to go grab his new game and GO BACK TO BED.
Mary fell right into place at the new day care center no problem (one of her classmates from this year and last went there, so she was actually excited about it). She got on the bus no problem and seemed very excited about her new class and new teacher. She was only upset when John showed up to pick her up ("Why are YOU picking me up?") We're trying to figure out why she had anything ELSE in her head since we've been talking to her and Keith till we were blue in the face about the transportation set up???? Whatever.... I had to make a run back to the day care center that evening because I'd forgotten to take the check book in that morning, and they demand payment on the first day--and charge $5 for every day you're late. I understand why--but what a pain in the neck!
Thursday was the first day I had to get all three kids up--and I almost forgot. It took me about five minutes after waking Mary up to realize that cripes! I had to get Keith up, too!
It was a bit of a slow morning, and I didn't have time to even blow dry my hair. Oh well. No big deal. I work in a super casual office and no one really cares. Well, about a half hour into the day, one of my co-workers mentions something about people going to a company luncheon. Oh crap! That's right! The company threw together a very nice luncheon for us "retirees" (I still get the giggles when anyone calls me that)in a hotel in downtown Rochester. Needless to say, although my laid-back look was fine for the office, it certainly wouldn't do in a swanky downtown hotel! So, I went to my boss and said, "Um, I've got a fashion emergency...?" I left for the luncheon early, raced home, and changed into a shirt/skirt combo and heels and attempted a better "definition" to my hair do. Took me 10 minutes. Then I was back on the road and made it to the luncheon on time. Unfortunately, John completely forgot about the luncheon, too. He was supposed to be my date. He'd already made plans and meetings for the day and couldn't go, so I went solo. The food was excellent--topped off with an awesome piece of chocolate cake--and the company gave everyone a nice little desk clock with their names and "This award is presented in appreciation of your years of service and loyalty to Frontier" engraved on them. Very nice.
(And I must have done a good job in my 10 minute quick change. I got a LOT of compliments. Goes to show you that sometimes the dress does indeed make the woman!)
Keith came home from his first "full" day of school in good spirits and eager to go back. Interestingly, he seems to prefer the day care center--and remembers the kids in his day care class better than from school. Guess that's to be expected since they probably have more play time at day care.
Friday I was relieved that I had a day that was basically normal--everyone on schedule and no important luncheons or forgotten bills to be paid. It was nice to have a "normal" day for once.
I found out a few days before that I had a Girl Scout Service Unit meeting Tuesday night (funny how I'm now an official member of the service team and yet had received no word on any of the service team OR service unit meetings--to which I'm REQUIRED to attend). So the Girl Scout chaos has also officially started. Wee! I'm in the process of merging my old troop with another troop. It's funny how I've been in communication with the leader of the other troop several times, but I can never seem to reach my co-leader from my current troop--she doesn't even know yet that we're attempting to change locations for meetings--or even when we're attempting to HAVE a first meeting--or even that I OFFICIALLY merged the two troops and that we're actually dropping OUR troop number and gaining the OTHER. Funny how I can NEVER reach that woman when I need her....
*ahem* I digress....
Wednesday was the kids' first day of school. Mary had a full day, but Keith only had half of his half-day of school--it was an orientation of sorts for two hours WITH parent required. So Wednesday morning I had to take just Mary to the new day care center (John worked from home in the morning and took Keith to the orientation that afternoon). Keith was apparently too excited about his first day of school. He got up at 5:45 in the morning and proceeded to follow me around while I was struggling to get myself and his sisters ready--making loud and annoying noises the whole time ("WHERE'S MY PEN!" *GIGGLE GIGGLE* "WHERE'S MY PEN!") Yikes! I eventually had to tell him to go grab his new game and GO BACK TO BED.
Mary fell right into place at the new day care center no problem (one of her classmates from this year and last went there, so she was actually excited about it). She got on the bus no problem and seemed very excited about her new class and new teacher. She was only upset when John showed up to pick her up ("Why are YOU picking me up?") We're trying to figure out why she had anything ELSE in her head since we've been talking to her and Keith till we were blue in the face about the transportation set up???? Whatever.... I had to make a run back to the day care center that evening because I'd forgotten to take the check book in that morning, and they demand payment on the first day--and charge $5 for every day you're late. I understand why--but what a pain in the neck!
Thursday was the first day I had to get all three kids up--and I almost forgot. It took me about five minutes after waking Mary up to realize that cripes! I had to get Keith up, too!
It was a bit of a slow morning, and I didn't have time to even blow dry my hair. Oh well. No big deal. I work in a super casual office and no one really cares. Well, about a half hour into the day, one of my co-workers mentions something about people going to a company luncheon. Oh crap! That's right! The company threw together a very nice luncheon for us "retirees" (I still get the giggles when anyone calls me that)in a hotel in downtown Rochester. Needless to say, although my laid-back look was fine for the office, it certainly wouldn't do in a swanky downtown hotel! So, I went to my boss and said, "Um, I've got a fashion emergency...?" I left for the luncheon early, raced home, and changed into a shirt/skirt combo and heels and attempted a better "definition" to my hair do. Took me 10 minutes. Then I was back on the road and made it to the luncheon on time. Unfortunately, John completely forgot about the luncheon, too. He was supposed to be my date. He'd already made plans and meetings for the day and couldn't go, so I went solo. The food was excellent--topped off with an awesome piece of chocolate cake--and the company gave everyone a nice little desk clock with their names and "This award is presented in appreciation of your years of service and loyalty to Frontier" engraved on them. Very nice.
(And I must have done a good job in my 10 minute quick change. I got a LOT of compliments. Goes to show you that sometimes the dress does indeed make the woman!)
Keith came home from his first "full" day of school in good spirits and eager to go back. Interestingly, he seems to prefer the day care center--and remembers the kids in his day care class better than from school. Guess that's to be expected since they probably have more play time at day care.
Friday I was relieved that I had a day that was basically normal--everyone on schedule and no important luncheons or forgotten bills to be paid. It was nice to have a "normal" day for once.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Days of Non-Labor
*Warning! This post contains much griping and whining (shocking, I know!)*
Here was my Labor Day weekend....
Sat: Allergy attack and massive sinus headache. Ordered the kids to clean out their toy room and bedrooms in preparation for upcoming visit from father. Started laundry. Wrote out list of chores to be completed (even with dollar amounts the kids could earn if THEY did them). Nachos for dinner!
Sun: Worked 4 hours (my LAST early payroll! YES!!). Still had massive sinus headache. Took a nap (well, more of a "lie there while whining about aching head"). Did more laundry. Dug through a couple of the boxes in the basement. Got distracted with family albums and finally-uncovered, much-coveted, falling-apart-at-the-seams Jane Austin book. Kids not interested in chores. I'm not interested in bribing them or doing them myself. Wendy's for dinner 'cause we waited so late to go to the store.
Mon: More laundry. Got all the sheets/towels washed in house. Eventually gave up chores as lost cause (the house'll just get dirty AGAIN and I'll just have to clean AGAIN before father arrives next weekend) and returned to Jane Austin. Sinus headache down to dull nagging sensation--no longer booming. Finally felt I must do SOMETHING and sorted through all the kids' summer/fall clothes. Grilled sirloin for dinner.
Exciting, no?
John was actually more productive than I this weekend. He started out the weekend determined to finish Keith's room in time for the start of school (um, TODAY). There's so little left to be done, but once you start it, you realize there really IS more to be done than you thought. *sigh* He did finish painting the closet. Now he just has to finish painting the trim. He put in a valiant effort, but he still didn't get it all done in time for the start of school. Oh well--Keith really doesn't seem to mind!
John also got to spend some time brushing up his computer skills as his external hard drive bit the dust. John pulled out the old server and found all the family photos (which were the only files he really cared about). He lost all of his burned music--but basically because he figured he was planning on re-burning it all anyway, so he just "let it go." BUT that's 500+ CDs! Well, I guess it'll be a good winter project.... Um...IF we ever get Keith's room done, that is.
So even though I whined all weekend about my head and basically got NOTHING done, I'm kind of glad for it. It's the last weekend before school and Girl Scouts and all the OTHER fun fall activities coming up, so WHY NOT waste it with napping and reading and daydreaming(and yes, I did play with the kids, too).
Will post later about the first day of school--once I get the low-down from the kids on how it all went!
Here was my Labor Day weekend....
Sat: Allergy attack and massive sinus headache. Ordered the kids to clean out their toy room and bedrooms in preparation for upcoming visit from father. Started laundry. Wrote out list of chores to be completed (even with dollar amounts the kids could earn if THEY did them). Nachos for dinner!
Sun: Worked 4 hours (my LAST early payroll! YES!!). Still had massive sinus headache. Took a nap (well, more of a "lie there while whining about aching head"). Did more laundry. Dug through a couple of the boxes in the basement. Got distracted with family albums and finally-uncovered, much-coveted, falling-apart-at-the-seams Jane Austin book. Kids not interested in chores. I'm not interested in bribing them or doing them myself. Wendy's for dinner 'cause we waited so late to go to the store.
Mon: More laundry. Got all the sheets/towels washed in house. Eventually gave up chores as lost cause (the house'll just get dirty AGAIN and I'll just have to clean AGAIN before father arrives next weekend) and returned to Jane Austin. Sinus headache down to dull nagging sensation--no longer booming. Finally felt I must do SOMETHING and sorted through all the kids' summer/fall clothes. Grilled sirloin for dinner.
Exciting, no?
John was actually more productive than I this weekend. He started out the weekend determined to finish Keith's room in time for the start of school (um, TODAY). There's so little left to be done, but once you start it, you realize there really IS more to be done than you thought. *sigh* He did finish painting the closet. Now he just has to finish painting the trim. He put in a valiant effort, but he still didn't get it all done in time for the start of school. Oh well--Keith really doesn't seem to mind!
John also got to spend some time brushing up his computer skills as his external hard drive bit the dust. John pulled out the old server and found all the family photos (which were the only files he really cared about). He lost all of his burned music--but basically because he figured he was planning on re-burning it all anyway, so he just "let it go." BUT that's 500+ CDs! Well, I guess it'll be a good winter project.... Um...IF we ever get Keith's room done, that is.
So even though I whined all weekend about my head and basically got NOTHING done, I'm kind of glad for it. It's the last weekend before school and Girl Scouts and all the OTHER fun fall activities coming up, so WHY NOT waste it with napping and reading and daydreaming(and yes, I did play with the kids, too).
Will post later about the first day of school--once I get the low-down from the kids on how it all went!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
More trouble than it's worth
So I called Mary and Keith's school last week to make arrangements to have the bus pick up Keith from the sitter's house for the first month of school. Come to find out that Debbie's house--even though it's practically in my back yard--is apparently zoned for a different elementary school. The transportation department absolutely REFUSED to pick up Keith from Debbie's home--even though she's been running a day care for 15 years and hasn't had a problem having kindergarteners bussed before now!
The parents have the right to choose whatever elementary school their kids go to in the school district, but sometimes there is a transportation problem with the shuttling of kids back and forth (no room on the shuttles)--and sometimes if a parent demands a certain school--or even a certain kindergarten slot--then the parents just might be responsible for transportation. Well, Debbie's house has been on the line right between two different schools for a while, but both schools have bussed to her house no problem (older kids go to a bus stop, kindergardeners are taken straight to the door)--until *I* need it, of course. Now I could still have Keith picked up from the Scribner bus stop--but it's quite a long walk from Debbie's house. Keith can't possibly walk all that way by himself. And I'm not going to ask Debbie to walk him when she's got to drag a house full of day care kids with her every day.
So last Friday the search for new day care began. FOR A MONTH. How frustrating is THAT? I didn't know of any other at-home people who were in the school's bussing zone, so I started hitting all the day care centers. One had a spot for Keith, but no after-school spots for Mary. One had a spot for Mary, but no room for Keith. One didn't return any of my phone calls (how do the PARENTS reach them?) (and--it's too bad 'cause we "inspected" them last year and liked them). One was closed due to the fact that somehow or another a man snuck in last year and molested a four-year old in the bathroom (OH yeah! That's why the number had been disconnected! Yikes!).
Meanwhile, my union rep is BEGGING me to let her go to labor and management to force them to let me leave on Friday. You see, my co-worker also originally had the September 28 exit date, but she got another job and asked them to let her leave by the August 31 date instead. They agreed. My union rep's beef is that they should have offered the same date to ME--especially since I have more seniority! I actually thought the same thing when that happened. But at the time I was under the foolish impression that all my eggs were tidily in their basket and that I could afford to be a "nice guy" for an extra month and help train my replacement. I wasn't expecting THIS. I told her to hold back until I had exhausted ALL my resources.
John and I put our heads together again. He said he could probably pick up the kids as long as I found a place to take them both in the morning. So I called back the center that could take Keith to see if they could take Mary in the mornings. "Well, we do have a spot open, but it was promised to another family. They have until the end of the day to confirm it. We'll call you back tomorrow." Fine. All morning yesterday I waited for them to call me back. Nothing. I called them around 11:00. "OH! We're having one of THOSE mornings! We haven't even had time to meet and discuss it yet! We'll call you back in about twenty minutes."
Tuesday is one of my busiest days at work, so I didn't have time to call them again until around 3:30. "OH! Well, the director isn't at her desk right now! But I think we've made a decision." [on hold for five minutes] "OK, well, the director is out with the kids right now, so I'll just tell you that we decided that we could take her!"
GRRR....
So last night I went to the day care center (and it's a Lutheran Church, how ironic is that) to sign all the paperwork. Great! $50 registration fee. Great! They demand payment UP-FRONT on the first day every week (which is only truly a hardship the first week--as I'll have just made a payment to my OTHER provider the Friday previous). (And don't get me started on how much they charge for a half day and a couple of hours care.) Whatever.
So today the center calls to tell me that I didn't put down the dates the kids were going to start going there (I specifically remembering doing that on ONE of the million forms I had to fill out--just apparently NOT on the form they wanted it on). AND I didn't write down the approximate time of drop-off (I don't remember seeing a blank for that on ANY of the forms). "Oh, and you forgot to pay your registrations feeS." Fees? "Yes, it's $50 PER CHILD." OI VEY!
I'm REALLY wishing I had taken Sue's advice and just demanded to leave Friday. This is more expensive and more hassle than it's really worth for me to just be a "nice guy" to a company I only got to leave just so that they wouldn't have to lay off someone else.....FOR A FREAKIN' MONTH!!!
I demand LOBSTER with my steak at my company luncheon now, Thank you very much!
The parents have the right to choose whatever elementary school their kids go to in the school district, but sometimes there is a transportation problem with the shuttling of kids back and forth (no room on the shuttles)--and sometimes if a parent demands a certain school--or even a certain kindergarten slot--then the parents just might be responsible for transportation. Well, Debbie's house has been on the line right between two different schools for a while, but both schools have bussed to her house no problem (older kids go to a bus stop, kindergardeners are taken straight to the door)--until *I* need it, of course. Now I could still have Keith picked up from the Scribner bus stop--but it's quite a long walk from Debbie's house. Keith can't possibly walk all that way by himself. And I'm not going to ask Debbie to walk him when she's got to drag a house full of day care kids with her every day.
So last Friday the search for new day care began. FOR A MONTH. How frustrating is THAT? I didn't know of any other at-home people who were in the school's bussing zone, so I started hitting all the day care centers. One had a spot for Keith, but no after-school spots for Mary. One had a spot for Mary, but no room for Keith. One didn't return any of my phone calls (how do the PARENTS reach them?) (and--it's too bad 'cause we "inspected" them last year and liked them). One was closed due to the fact that somehow or another a man snuck in last year and molested a four-year old in the bathroom (OH yeah! That's why the number had been disconnected! Yikes!).
Meanwhile, my union rep is BEGGING me to let her go to labor and management to force them to let me leave on Friday. You see, my co-worker also originally had the September 28 exit date, but she got another job and asked them to let her leave by the August 31 date instead. They agreed. My union rep's beef is that they should have offered the same date to ME--especially since I have more seniority! I actually thought the same thing when that happened. But at the time I was under the foolish impression that all my eggs were tidily in their basket and that I could afford to be a "nice guy" for an extra month and help train my replacement. I wasn't expecting THIS. I told her to hold back until I had exhausted ALL my resources.
John and I put our heads together again. He said he could probably pick up the kids as long as I found a place to take them both in the morning. So I called back the center that could take Keith to see if they could take Mary in the mornings. "Well, we do have a spot open, but it was promised to another family. They have until the end of the day to confirm it. We'll call you back tomorrow." Fine. All morning yesterday I waited for them to call me back. Nothing. I called them around 11:00. "OH! We're having one of THOSE mornings! We haven't even had time to meet and discuss it yet! We'll call you back in about twenty minutes."
Tuesday is one of my busiest days at work, so I didn't have time to call them again until around 3:30. "OH! Well, the director isn't at her desk right now! But I think we've made a decision." [on hold for five minutes] "OK, well, the director is out with the kids right now, so I'll just tell you that we decided that we could take her!"
GRRR....
So last night I went to the day care center (and it's a Lutheran Church, how ironic is that) to sign all the paperwork. Great! $50 registration fee. Great! They demand payment UP-FRONT on the first day every week (which is only truly a hardship the first week--as I'll have just made a payment to my OTHER provider the Friday previous). (And don't get me started on how much they charge for a half day and a couple of hours care.) Whatever.
So today the center calls to tell me that I didn't put down the dates the kids were going to start going there (I specifically remembering doing that on ONE of the million forms I had to fill out--just apparently NOT on the form they wanted it on). AND I didn't write down the approximate time of drop-off (I don't remember seeing a blank for that on ANY of the forms). "Oh, and you forgot to pay your registrations feeS." Fees? "Yes, it's $50 PER CHILD." OI VEY!
I'm REALLY wishing I had taken Sue's advice and just demanded to leave Friday. This is more expensive and more hassle than it's really worth for me to just be a "nice guy" to a company I only got to leave just so that they wouldn't have to lay off someone else.....FOR A FREAKIN' MONTH!!!
I demand LOBSTER with my steak at my company luncheon now, Thank you very much!
Darian [urp!] Lake
Our friends Dave and Leona got some free tickets to go to Darian Lake when they bought their season passes and bestowed them upon us. Up until the end of last summer, Darian Lake was owned by Six Flags. Apparently Six Flags decided to drop them, but the amusement park is still running--just for cheaper tickets AND without the Looney Tunes theme (and no more "freaky guy doin' that freaky dance" commercials).
Last Sunday, we set out to meet our friends at the park. We headed out later than intended and then John and I were talking and missed our exit. The kids were getting quite impatient, but we finally found the place and met Dave and Leona at the water park. All played in the wave pool and a few of the other water attractions. Then it was getting to be around 2:00, and we were all hungry, so we got some hamburgers and hot dogs at the concession stand. $35.00 for two hot dogs, two hamburgers, two orders of fries, an order of chicken fingers, and ONE drink. Yikes!
Well, we ate and then decided to head to the kiddie attractions where Dave, Leona, and their kids were waiting for us. On the way there, we got on a couple of rides.
[Now, I had a problem when we were at Sesame Place (oh, guess I forgot to mention that) where I got very nauseous and had to back out of rides for a couple of hours. It was well over 90* that day and extremely humid, so I chalked it up to that. I was smart and sat down with Izzy (still in the heat, though--ugh) and drank Sprite and ate a pretzel until I felt better and was able to get on rides again.]
Well, the first ride we went on I was basically OK. It was kind of like a swing and went around and around. I rode it twice; I felt a bit dizzy, but not too sick. Then John and Mary went on the "Silver Bullet." This one not only goes around, it goes completely upside down, too. When they got off, Mary grabs me and begs me to go on with her, too.
Now, I was eyeing that thing with some trepidation, but since I made it fine through the other ride (and darnit! I LOVE upside-down rides!) I figured I'd make it OK. Big mistake. I was fine until the thing went completely upside down and the centripetal forces started pulling on me. When we got off, I was dizzy and a bit out of it, so I figured I'd better steer clear of those spin-ny rides for a while.
We got in line for the Ferris wheel. A big, huge one, too. It took forever to load/unload people on the thing, so the line was very slow. As we were standing there, I was getting more and more nauseous. I felt as if I were still spinning on that stupid Silver Bullet. I said to John, "I don't feel good." I started to feel faint, so I sat down. I felt better, I stood up again. I got dizzy again, and I sat down. Meanwhile Izzy thinks it's funny and is trying to sit in my lap while I'm on the ground (Oh, PLEASE stay off Mommy, honey!). Finally, I got a huge surge of dizziness and ended up laying down on the floor. John said I turned as white as a sheet (which is really saying something since I'm such a pale person, anyway). Within seconds, my portion of our $35.00 lunch was spilling onto the floor. Lovely.
The girls running the ride were freaking out and asking if they should get an ambulance. About 20 people asked if I were diabetic. Um, no, I'm not diabetic. I don't need an ambulance, I just need help OUT OF THIS LINE. Someone shoved a cup of water at me. Meanwhile, the ride has stopped and people are trying to get past us to get on the next ride. I'm moaning, "Um, watch your step, please!" Apparently the employees hadn't noticed my high-dollar lunch clogging up the line yet--they just thought I'd fainted. Finally the girls start yelling at the other people to stop so that they could redirect the line away from me and my pile of puke.
The medic shows, helps us out of line, and eventually puts me on the golf cart to take me to the first aid station. John and the kids were walked to it by another medic. The medic wouldn't let me leave until I had a bottle of water, my pulse slowed down, and my blood pressure got a little higher.
I think poor Izzy was a little scared at the site of seeing her mother sick like that. While I was lying down in bed, she kept crying to John, "I don't know what to do!" I wonder if she wanted to help me?
Mary and Keith were pretty good. Although they did keep asking me if I felt better yet so that they could go and ride on more rides.
After probably about an hour and a half I felt well enough to brave the amusement park again. But no more rides. I'm sure by the end of the day I could have pulled off one of the roller coasters, but I decided to just play it safe and be the boring "Izzy watcher" all day.
Yep. Learned my lesson. No more amusement park fries. And no more round-and-round upside-down rides. I'm sticking to the roller coasters now and THAT'S IT.
Dude--it SO sucks to get old.
Last Sunday, we set out to meet our friends at the park. We headed out later than intended and then John and I were talking and missed our exit. The kids were getting quite impatient, but we finally found the place and met Dave and Leona at the water park. All played in the wave pool and a few of the other water attractions. Then it was getting to be around 2:00, and we were all hungry, so we got some hamburgers and hot dogs at the concession stand. $35.00 for two hot dogs, two hamburgers, two orders of fries, an order of chicken fingers, and ONE drink. Yikes!
Well, we ate and then decided to head to the kiddie attractions where Dave, Leona, and their kids were waiting for us. On the way there, we got on a couple of rides.
[Now, I had a problem when we were at Sesame Place (oh, guess I forgot to mention that) where I got very nauseous and had to back out of rides for a couple of hours. It was well over 90* that day and extremely humid, so I chalked it up to that. I was smart and sat down with Izzy (still in the heat, though--ugh) and drank Sprite and ate a pretzel until I felt better and was able to get on rides again.]
Well, the first ride we went on I was basically OK. It was kind of like a swing and went around and around. I rode it twice; I felt a bit dizzy, but not too sick. Then John and Mary went on the "Silver Bullet." This one not only goes around, it goes completely upside down, too. When they got off, Mary grabs me and begs me to go on with her, too.
Now, I was eyeing that thing with some trepidation, but since I made it fine through the other ride (and darnit! I LOVE upside-down rides!) I figured I'd make it OK. Big mistake. I was fine until the thing went completely upside down and the centripetal forces started pulling on me. When we got off, I was dizzy and a bit out of it, so I figured I'd better steer clear of those spin-ny rides for a while.
We got in line for the Ferris wheel. A big, huge one, too. It took forever to load/unload people on the thing, so the line was very slow. As we were standing there, I was getting more and more nauseous. I felt as if I were still spinning on that stupid Silver Bullet. I said to John, "I don't feel good." I started to feel faint, so I sat down. I felt better, I stood up again. I got dizzy again, and I sat down. Meanwhile Izzy thinks it's funny and is trying to sit in my lap while I'm on the ground (Oh, PLEASE stay off Mommy, honey!). Finally, I got a huge surge of dizziness and ended up laying down on the floor. John said I turned as white as a sheet (which is really saying something since I'm such a pale person, anyway). Within seconds, my portion of our $35.00 lunch was spilling onto the floor. Lovely.
The girls running the ride were freaking out and asking if they should get an ambulance. About 20 people asked if I were diabetic. Um, no, I'm not diabetic. I don't need an ambulance, I just need help OUT OF THIS LINE. Someone shoved a cup of water at me. Meanwhile, the ride has stopped and people are trying to get past us to get on the next ride. I'm moaning, "Um, watch your step, please!" Apparently the employees hadn't noticed my high-dollar lunch clogging up the line yet--they just thought I'd fainted. Finally the girls start yelling at the other people to stop so that they could redirect the line away from me and my pile of puke.
The medic shows, helps us out of line, and eventually puts me on the golf cart to take me to the first aid station. John and the kids were walked to it by another medic. The medic wouldn't let me leave until I had a bottle of water, my pulse slowed down, and my blood pressure got a little higher.
I think poor Izzy was a little scared at the site of seeing her mother sick like that. While I was lying down in bed, she kept crying to John, "I don't know what to do!" I wonder if she wanted to help me?
Mary and Keith were pretty good. Although they did keep asking me if I felt better yet so that they could go and ride on more rides.
After probably about an hour and a half I felt well enough to brave the amusement park again. But no more rides. I'm sure by the end of the day I could have pulled off one of the roller coasters, but I decided to just play it safe and be the boring "Izzy watcher" all day.
Yep. Learned my lesson. No more amusement park fries. And no more round-and-round upside-down rides. I'm sticking to the roller coasters now and THAT'S IT.
Dude--it SO sucks to get old.
Par-TAY
The gang at work threw myself and my co-worker a "Farewell" party last Thursday night (SHE gets to leave at the end of August--this FRIDAY--lucky girl). It was the same ol' crowd there who always goes to the bars after work. John wanted to go, but we couldn't find a babysitter, so I went solo.
Had a good time. I even drank a beer and had a couple of shots. Amber kept getting shots sent her way and foolishly kept accepting them. I said, "Hey! We've got to work tomorrow!" Well, she got quite toasty and ended up sharing her shots with the parking lot out in front of the bar. At that point the rest of us figured it was time to go, so we shut down the party around 10:00.
And she's a YOUNG whipper-snapper, too! Sheesh!
Anyway, the bosses are taking us out for a Farewell lunch tomorrow. AND the company is throwing a swanky luncheon next Thursday, too. My job is getting wrapped up nice and quietly, and I'm still not used to the fact that I won't be here come Monday, October 1st.
Had a good time. I even drank a beer and had a couple of shots. Amber kept getting shots sent her way and foolishly kept accepting them. I said, "Hey! We've got to work tomorrow!" Well, she got quite toasty and ended up sharing her shots with the parking lot out in front of the bar. At that point the rest of us figured it was time to go, so we shut down the party around 10:00.
And she's a YOUNG whipper-snapper, too! Sheesh!
Anyway, the bosses are taking us out for a Farewell lunch tomorrow. AND the company is throwing a swanky luncheon next Thursday, too. My job is getting wrapped up nice and quietly, and I'm still not used to the fact that I won't be here come Monday, October 1st.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Scene from the day care
Izzy wasn't paying much attention to me yesterday when I was making several feeble attempts to get her to drag her eyes away from "Toy Story" and get out to the porch to put her shoes on to go. Leona, trying to see if making it a game would help, chimes in, "Hey, Izzy! See if you can beat Mom..." She was going to say "...out to the porch," but cut off in throes of laughter.
My precocious child had run not to the porch, but back to me--and started flailing her fists and feet in my direction.
Um, "NO, not BEAT Mommy! See if you can get to the porch first!"
Little brat. I'm still cracking up over that one!
My precocious child had run not to the porch, but back to me--and started flailing her fists and feet in my direction.
Um, "NO, not BEAT Mommy! See if you can get to the porch first!"
Little brat. I'm still cracking up over that one!
Friday, August 17, 2007
The Tooth Fairy is a Canuk!
Last June, Mary lost one of her bottom teeth. The tooth fairy was quite generous and gave her a dollar bill. But strangely, when John was getting up with Mary that morning, she showed him the dollar AND two Canadian quarters the fairy left her! Amazing! The dollar MULTIPLIED: AND into Canadian money, too!
We let Mary know, with very carefully phrased wording (er, I least I *think* so anyway) that we knew the Tooth Fairy wouldn't leave Canadian money, and if Mary wants extra change from our change mug, she needs to talk to us first.
So last night Mary lost one of her front teeth (oh! so cute!). This morning when I woke her up, Mary hesitantly picked up her pillow to find the four quarters the Tooth Fairy very quickly deposited there last night instead of a boring dollar (Mary still only vaguely understands money--last time she really did think two quarters was worth more than that flimsy piece of paper--hence the breaking into the change mug to get "more"). She's rifling through her pile while I'm attempting to wake up Keith. "Hey! One of these is Canadian!"
D'oh!
"Um, yeah--I can 'exchange' that for you," I tell her and quickly run to get one WITHOUT the "deer" on the front.
Yeah, guess the Tooth Fairy's going to have to pay more attention as she goes through her money bags. *Ahem*
At least the kid can tell an American quarter from a Canadian one now!
We let Mary know, with very carefully phrased wording (er, I least I *think* so anyway) that we knew the Tooth Fairy wouldn't leave Canadian money, and if Mary wants extra change from our change mug, she needs to talk to us first.
So last night Mary lost one of her front teeth (oh! so cute!). This morning when I woke her up, Mary hesitantly picked up her pillow to find the four quarters the Tooth Fairy very quickly deposited there last night instead of a boring dollar (Mary still only vaguely understands money--last time she really did think two quarters was worth more than that flimsy piece of paper--hence the breaking into the change mug to get "more"). She's rifling through her pile while I'm attempting to wake up Keith. "Hey! One of these is Canadian!"
D'oh!
"Um, yeah--I can 'exchange' that for you," I tell her and quickly run to get one WITHOUT the "deer" on the front.
Yeah, guess the Tooth Fairy's going to have to pay more attention as she goes through her money bags. *Ahem*
At least the kid can tell an American quarter from a Canadian one now!
Beer Bread
I'm posting this recipe because I thought some of the mommy bloggers who happen to come by might be interested in it....
Beer Bread
3 C self-rising flour **
3 T sugar
12 oz beer
Mix and bake at 350* for 45-60 minutes.
**If you don't have any self-rising flour on hand:
1 C self-rising flour = 1 C all purpose flour + 1 1/2 t. baking powder + 1/8 t. salt.
I can't even make the expensive Name Brand stuff without thinking of my buddy JJ--who introduced me to the stuff when we were in college.
Beer Bread
3 C self-rising flour **
3 T sugar
12 oz beer
Mix and bake at 350* for 45-60 minutes.
**If you don't have any self-rising flour on hand:
1 C self-rising flour = 1 C all purpose flour + 1 1/2 t. baking powder + 1/8 t. salt.
I can't even make the expensive Name Brand stuff without thinking of my buddy JJ--who introduced me to the stuff when we were in college.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Our Vacation
We left Sunday and drove straight to Sesame Place in Philadelphia. Let me just say, that this is a great amusement park for kids 7 and under. We went before--when Mary was 4, Keith was 2, and Izzy was just a bump in my belly--and liked it so much we decided to go again. It's very clean with lots of age-appropriate rides. It's a tad expensive--I think it's now up to $44.00 for ages TWO and up--but that buys you two-day passes, so it's a good deal if you use it. We got there around 4:00 Sunday and stayed until just about 7:30 (they close at 8:00).
We headed out towards the hotel. And had our first issue with Yahoo maps. After driving back and forth down the same road for almost an hour looking for our hotel, we finally figured out that the map was telling us to go the wrong direction down the road. What was really frustrating is that after we found it, we realized that one of the times we'd turned around--thinking we had missed it--we turned around just one office park next to the bloody hotel. If only we'd gone just a tad further!
Monday morning we woke up to a rainy, overcast sky (with the weatherman calling for scattered thunderstorms). Remembering that these were the exact conditions we were at Sesame Place three years before--and that there were hardly any lines for any of the rides--we decided to chance it. Mary was getting very grumpy about having to wait around for breakfast (this place didn't have continental breakfast, and we didn't rush around since we were on VACATION--HELLO!), and then she started complaining that her head hurt. We had packed several snacks for the trip, so I suggested she eat a pear or an apple. She gobbled down the pear, and we finally made it to the hotel restaurant (kids eat free!) for breakfast around 9:30. Well, she didn't want to eat (strange for her), and then she started complaining her tummy hurt.
After breakfast (of which Mary ate NONE), we decided to find a pharmacy to get Mary some Tylenol (she rused to take the kind I had on me, and we were hoping she'd go for a different kind)--and maybe some Dramamine. How come there is a freaking pharmacy or even a freakin' Wal-Mart on every street corner in America, but when you NEED one, you can't find one for MILES! We drove around forever. Meanwhile, Mary's moaning in the back seat. Finally we found a Rite-Aid. While John was in the store, Mary couldn't wait anymore. I helped her out of the van, and she did a Jackson Pollack all over Rite-Aid's mulch. There goes the pear!
Mary felt better. We convinced her to take a Dramamine (Oh God, you just don't want to hear about the drama of getting that child to take medicine). Thinking it was just waiting to eat too long making her queasy (plus the horrible, horrible heat, plus the motion sickness of the car), we piled back into the car and started heading to Sesame Place again. On the drive over, Mary's tummy starts acting up again. I threw a grocery bag to her. She was filling it up as we were paying the ridiculous parking fee to get in. Well, there went the meds.
Mary was fine the instant we walked in the park. We suggested she wait a half hour or so before going on rides, but she wasn't having it. She and John got on the Super Grover roller coaster the minute we walked in. And she was fine the rest of the day. (Thank goodness).
We didn't leave the park until almost 7:30 again and then headed for our next destination: Absecon, New Jersey. John found a decent price on a hotel there--and it's only about an hour from Ocean City. Once again, Yahoo maps let us down as upon getting there, it took us forever to find our hotel as Yahoo maps got their directions (East vs. West) backwards again.
Tuesday morning we headed out to the beach (thank goodness this hotel had continental breakfast, so Mary could be fed the second she woke up). Of course, it ended up being one of the hottest days EVER! We stopped at a beach store and bought a couple of chairs and an umbrella. The we walked the boardwalk. Ugh! So hot! The kids weren't interested in the really neat stores and foods on the boardwalk--they wanted to get in the ocean, darn it! Well, John and I stopped our silly, touristy thing, and we all got in the ocean.
Mary and Keith loved it. Mary kept wandering farther and farther out, jumping into the waves as they came in. Keith preferred to keep a tight grip on a grown-up's hand--where he would swing out with the big, big waves--giggling the whole time. Izzy was fine at first, when we were in the shallow water. But she didn't like the big waves that would come in and almost knocked her onto her butt. John and I took turns holding her. She kept saying, "Pick me up! Pick me up! Don't drop me! Don't drop me!" What a great time we had.
Wednesday morning we headed back home. A short vacation, but a most enjoyable one. We're thinking of maybe looking into renting a house for a few days next year so that we can spend more days out there and maybe see a little more of the city and the boardwalk.
(Oh! On the way home, we had to stop in Philadelphia to get gas, and give motion-sickness Mary a slight break. As John is filling up, and Mary and I are standing around, I thought I felt something tickling my leg. Thinking it must be a fly or something, I look down--no! it was a praying mantis! After I got over the startle, I let him walk back and forth on my hands to show Mary. I was showing it to Keith through the window of the mini-van when the mantis apparently decided he didn't want to be a freak show and flew away. That was pretty cool, though. Startling at first, but cool!)
Maybe one of these days--hey, maybe after September 28!--I'll find the time and the energy to download the photos onto flickr.
We headed out towards the hotel. And had our first issue with Yahoo maps. After driving back and forth down the same road for almost an hour looking for our hotel, we finally figured out that the map was telling us to go the wrong direction down the road. What was really frustrating is that after we found it, we realized that one of the times we'd turned around--thinking we had missed it--we turned around just one office park next to the bloody hotel. If only we'd gone just a tad further!
Monday morning we woke up to a rainy, overcast sky (with the weatherman calling for scattered thunderstorms). Remembering that these were the exact conditions we were at Sesame Place three years before--and that there were hardly any lines for any of the rides--we decided to chance it. Mary was getting very grumpy about having to wait around for breakfast (this place didn't have continental breakfast, and we didn't rush around since we were on VACATION--HELLO!), and then she started complaining that her head hurt. We had packed several snacks for the trip, so I suggested she eat a pear or an apple. She gobbled down the pear, and we finally made it to the hotel restaurant (kids eat free!) for breakfast around 9:30. Well, she didn't want to eat (strange for her), and then she started complaining her tummy hurt.
After breakfast (of which Mary ate NONE), we decided to find a pharmacy to get Mary some Tylenol (she rused to take the kind I had on me, and we were hoping she'd go for a different kind)--and maybe some Dramamine. How come there is a freaking pharmacy or even a freakin' Wal-Mart on every street corner in America, but when you NEED one, you can't find one for MILES! We drove around forever. Meanwhile, Mary's moaning in the back seat. Finally we found a Rite-Aid. While John was in the store, Mary couldn't wait anymore. I helped her out of the van, and she did a Jackson Pollack all over Rite-Aid's mulch. There goes the pear!
Mary felt better. We convinced her to take a Dramamine (Oh God, you just don't want to hear about the drama of getting that child to take medicine). Thinking it was just waiting to eat too long making her queasy (plus the horrible, horrible heat, plus the motion sickness of the car), we piled back into the car and started heading to Sesame Place again. On the drive over, Mary's tummy starts acting up again. I threw a grocery bag to her. She was filling it up as we were paying the ridiculous parking fee to get in. Well, there went the meds.
Mary was fine the instant we walked in the park. We suggested she wait a half hour or so before going on rides, but she wasn't having it. She and John got on the Super Grover roller coaster the minute we walked in. And she was fine the rest of the day. (Thank goodness).
We didn't leave the park until almost 7:30 again and then headed for our next destination: Absecon, New Jersey. John found a decent price on a hotel there--and it's only about an hour from Ocean City. Once again, Yahoo maps let us down as upon getting there, it took us forever to find our hotel as Yahoo maps got their directions (East vs. West) backwards again.
Tuesday morning we headed out to the beach (thank goodness this hotel had continental breakfast, so Mary could be fed the second she woke up). Of course, it ended up being one of the hottest days EVER! We stopped at a beach store and bought a couple of chairs and an umbrella. The we walked the boardwalk. Ugh! So hot! The kids weren't interested in the really neat stores and foods on the boardwalk--they wanted to get in the ocean, darn it! Well, John and I stopped our silly, touristy thing, and we all got in the ocean.
Mary and Keith loved it. Mary kept wandering farther and farther out, jumping into the waves as they came in. Keith preferred to keep a tight grip on a grown-up's hand--where he would swing out with the big, big waves--giggling the whole time. Izzy was fine at first, when we were in the shallow water. But she didn't like the big waves that would come in and almost knocked her onto her butt. John and I took turns holding her. She kept saying, "Pick me up! Pick me up! Don't drop me! Don't drop me!" What a great time we had.
Wednesday morning we headed back home. A short vacation, but a most enjoyable one. We're thinking of maybe looking into renting a house for a few days next year so that we can spend more days out there and maybe see a little more of the city and the boardwalk.
(Oh! On the way home, we had to stop in Philadelphia to get gas, and give motion-sickness Mary a slight break. As John is filling up, and Mary and I are standing around, I thought I felt something tickling my leg. Thinking it must be a fly or something, I look down--no! it was a praying mantis! After I got over the startle, I let him walk back and forth on my hands to show Mary. I was showing it to Keith through the window of the mini-van when the mantis apparently decided he didn't want to be a freak show and flew away. That was pretty cool, though. Startling at first, but cool!)
Maybe one of these days--hey, maybe after September 28!--I'll find the time and the energy to download the photos onto flickr.
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