My husband is paranoid. Well, actually, that's kind of an understatement, but what I MEAN to say right NOW is that he's paranoid about his extremely talkative wife. And I'm not even talking about my tendency to blurt out really dumb/inappropriate/blonde things at all the most embarrassing moments (it's a sickness, and I apparently can't help myself!). I'm talking about his paranoia of what I say. to my friends. ABOUT HIM. when he's not around.
John doesn't like to be NOTICED (well, unless he's drinking, of course!). Why on earth he married (or was even ATTRACTED to) a loud, obnoxious woman is beyond me.
So anyway, John is under the impression that when chics get together, all they do is sit there and bash their husbands. And he's just plain FREAKING OUT about what I might say about HIM.
First off, we chics do NOT just bash our husbands when we get together. We may also rant about our bosses, our inconsiderate neighbors, some teacher who seems apparently clueless about the personality of our child, some inane policy at school or work, a friend-of-a-friend who also seems clueless, other friends who could not show up that night (heh!), our mothers/fathers, in-laws, sisters/brothers, obnoxious and unfair banking fees, the idiotic clerk at the store, our weight, and our depressing wardrobe--JUST TO NAME A FEW THINGS.
Um, but yes, our husbands may perhaps be in the *cough* top three spots (depending on what dumb-ass thing he may have done that day).... heh.
But here's what he just doesn't get. We NEED it. Read any article about women getting together over coffee, and it'll tell you. We really, truly NEED it. John does NOT want to hear all my inane verbalizations about every minute detail of every person and/or thing that is bugging me. Not to say that he doesn't listen when I DO choose him as the person to whom I spew--just that it DOES get old to him after a while, and I get that and don't really hold it against him. And I realize, as a some-what rational adult human being, that he does NOT need to be subjected to every tiny little thought about what bugs me about HIM--that, my friends, is called NAGGING. And I do my best NOT to be a nag (yes, I know there are days where I fail, but we're not all perfect, OK?),
So that stuff gets pushed back into the "Let-it-out-at-the-next-coffee-hour" vault and dumped open at that very next opportunity.
OK, finally onto "the benefit" of the rant. After I've spewed what's bugging me, I listen to what my other friends have on THEIR minds. And an interesting thing occurs. Stuff that seems SO ANNOYINGLY NIGHTMARISH to me before the purge, is suddenly NOT SO BAD. At least among the group of friends *I* got, we all seem to be pretty much complaining about the SAME things (Which makes me think--Whew! So it's a GUY thing, and I can just LET IT GO). Every now and then someone will come up with a doozy about THEIR guy which makes me think, "OK, so John can get annoying, but at least he doesn't do THAT." Which isn't to say that my friends' husbands are worse than mine. There is a certain level of "I'll put up with 'X'" that we've all got. And I'm pretty sure we are ALL walking away with that, "OK, so I really AM at the right level with the husband *I* picked," feeling. We're good. We're good.
It's a give-and-take purging session where all the annoying things in my life just simply BALANCE OUT, and I can go back to my husband, and when he asks me what-all terrible things I said about him, I can truly, honestly say, "Nothing."
Get over the paranoia, dear. No one's going to think any worse of you for the purging (which REALLY does NOT happen as often--or with as many gory details--as he seems to think). We're all too busy worrying about the housework, what to cook for dinner, the next load of laundry, whether or not the kids got their homework done, will Johnny need braces, WHEN is this kid going to stay dry through the night, where on EARTH did I put my glasses, is that sales price still worth purchasing that new skirt, what's for dinner, OH DEAR GOD, WHAT'S FOR DINNER!!! to give you or our friends' husbands' annoying habits any second thought.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Picture Sunday...and a Quest
Sunday I FINALLY got little Izzy in for her THIRD birthday pictures. What? She's turning FOUR in a month, ya say? Um. WHOOPS!
So, yeah, I went out shopping and found her an adorable pink and brown jumper to wear. Then went all "Clueless Shopping Spree" on her and got matching pink/brown spotted tights and even some pink/brown plaid shoes (trust me, it was adorable). I pulled her hair back into a cute pink bow, and we were off.
There was a wait, with some impatient, hungry kids, but the photo shoot wasn't too long, and of course, the pictures were adorable. The pictures won't get emailed to me for eight more days, so I got NOTHIN' to show ya.
After the glamour shots, I went through a drive-thru to feed the starving masses and then decided SINCE WE ARE OUT....we should go find our Halloween costumes.
So, onto FIRST poor-folks store. I had seen a couple decent costumes there a few weeks ago--ah, but there was NO Power Ranger, NO Spiderman, and we only found the horns and trident of the Devil costume.
OK! Onto SECOND poor-folks store. Nope, the bargains I had seen a few weeks ago were GONE (should have bought them then, but I wasn't 100% sure what the kids wanted to be). So....
ONTO Walley World--where I know there isn't the biggest selection, but I'm running out of stores conveniently located close to the house. After digging and digging and digging and digging, we finally found the Power Ranger costume (Blue!) for Keith. The Spiderman costumes seemed to be either too little or too big for Izzy. It took a while, but I finally talked her into being Super Girl (at least now you'll be able to see her face!). Poor Mary. No devil costumes to be seen. More tridents, more horns, and even a tail, but no costume. SO...Mary decides she wants to be a witch instead. After looking and comparing over and over and over again, she finally picks the "Teal Witch." Lovely. Let's GO!
Not home five minutes and the costumes are ON. Power Ranger looks AWESOME. Super Girl is ADORABLE. Teal Witch is TOO FREAKIN' BIG. Poor Mary. The costume was just hanging on her petite little figure. "I look stupid!" she cried. I looked it over and decided that even wearing a shirt underneath it wouldn't help.
So I calmed my child down by telling her that I would continue the quest for the Devil costume on my lunch hours from work.
I found one yesterday, but the costume was a size smaller than I ordinarily would have bought her. Double-checking on their return policy (I had until Friday!), I went ahead and bought it. (Just a note here to mention that I KNOW I should not be surprised, but it simply blows my mind how skanky costumes--FOR EIGHT-YEAR OLDS--are. I mean, they have FRENCH MAID costumes in my daughters'--yes, that's right, even for the three-year old!--sizes! SERIOUSLY?! Um, so part of the Devil costume Quest was finding one NOT skanky and mother-approved.)
Well, Mary tried it on last night, and the skirt is a tad short (but she'll be wearing shorts and red tights), but the sleeves are actually too long. She was ecstatic.
So Mary is actually going to be wearing a costume one size SMALLER than her brother's. Huh?!
Quest: successful. Sorta.
So, yeah, I went out shopping and found her an adorable pink and brown jumper to wear. Then went all "Clueless Shopping Spree" on her and got matching pink/brown spotted tights and even some pink/brown plaid shoes (trust me, it was adorable). I pulled her hair back into a cute pink bow, and we were off.
There was a wait, with some impatient, hungry kids, but the photo shoot wasn't too long, and of course, the pictures were adorable. The pictures won't get emailed to me for eight more days, so I got NOTHIN' to show ya.
After the glamour shots, I went through a drive-thru to feed the starving masses and then decided SINCE WE ARE OUT....we should go find our Halloween costumes.
So, onto FIRST poor-folks store. I had seen a couple decent costumes there a few weeks ago--ah, but there was NO Power Ranger, NO Spiderman, and we only found the horns and trident of the Devil costume.
OK! Onto SECOND poor-folks store. Nope, the bargains I had seen a few weeks ago were GONE (should have bought them then, but I wasn't 100% sure what the kids wanted to be). So....
ONTO Walley World--where I know there isn't the biggest selection, but I'm running out of stores conveniently located close to the house. After digging and digging and digging and digging, we finally found the Power Ranger costume (Blue!) for Keith. The Spiderman costumes seemed to be either too little or too big for Izzy. It took a while, but I finally talked her into being Super Girl (at least now you'll be able to see her face!). Poor Mary. No devil costumes to be seen. More tridents, more horns, and even a tail, but no costume. SO...Mary decides she wants to be a witch instead. After looking and comparing over and over and over again, she finally picks the "Teal Witch." Lovely. Let's GO!
Not home five minutes and the costumes are ON. Power Ranger looks AWESOME. Super Girl is ADORABLE. Teal Witch is TOO FREAKIN' BIG. Poor Mary. The costume was just hanging on her petite little figure. "I look stupid!" she cried. I looked it over and decided that even wearing a shirt underneath it wouldn't help.
So I calmed my child down by telling her that I would continue the quest for the Devil costume on my lunch hours from work.
I found one yesterday, but the costume was a size smaller than I ordinarily would have bought her. Double-checking on their return policy (I had until Friday!), I went ahead and bought it. (Just a note here to mention that I KNOW I should not be surprised, but it simply blows my mind how skanky costumes--FOR EIGHT-YEAR OLDS--are. I mean, they have FRENCH MAID costumes in my daughters'--yes, that's right, even for the three-year old!--sizes! SERIOUSLY?! Um, so part of the Devil costume Quest was finding one NOT skanky and mother-approved.)
Well, Mary tried it on last night, and the skirt is a tad short (but she'll be wearing shorts and red tights), but the sleeves are actually too long. She was ecstatic.
So Mary is actually going to be wearing a costume one size SMALLER than her brother's. Huh?!
Quest: successful. Sorta.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Like it's 1999
Last night we FINALLY had the neighbors over to play. Who knew that organizing having people walk across the street could be so difficult? I mean, they invited US over for dinner LAST SPRING, and we still haven't made it. Sad.
Well, I got up Saturday, spent an hour or two on the computer and drinking my coffee (I'm now only drinking coffee on the weekends, I've managed to completely cut it out during the week). Finally just after 10:00, I got out the cleaning supplies and got the crew to work.
I sprayed down the bathrooms with foaming bubbles and got Keith to wipe it up (he LOVES doing this). Mary got to clean up the toy den and of course the bunny cage (the former really suits her I'll-work-alone-and-get-everything-put-away-just-right style, the latter she HATES, but they are HER rabbits, and that's part of the DEAL, lady!). I gave Izzy a wet washcloth and had her wipe down every wall/surface within her reach. She loved it. And she kept finishing before I was ready, "What now, Mama?" Um.... Everyone picked up their rooms (well, a little). I focused on cleaning the kitchen, sweeping and mopping all the floors, getting some laundry caught up, and picking up some of the clutter. Keith was supposed to pick up the toys in the living room, too, but this was apparently just TOO MUCH for him. He kept getting distracted and IN TROUBLE, and that's when I sent him to pick up his room (which didn't really get done, either, but at least he was OUT OF MY WAY for a while). I decided Mary was old enough to start using the vacuum, she did NOT like it and complained, "I'm never doing this again!" Well, it IS still a bit too heavy for her spaghetti arms right now, but oh yes, child, you WILL become acquainted with the vacuum again!
The house looked smashing. Except for the fact that I forgot to finish dusting. Ah well.
The neighbors called while I was in mid-purge and invited us to go down to the garden store three houses down for their "Family Fun Day" around 4:00. Sure! So after the house was done, and John was on his way to pick up our copy of Indiana Jones and all the groceries for the hors d'oeuvres-only party, the kids and I got our jackets on to see what all the fuss was about.
Well...I'm not going to kick up much of a fuss about that Family "Fun" day. Not only were the pony rides a whopping $4 (we carefully distracted all the kids away and didn't walk by them again!), but even the bounce house and the lame hay ride was $3 a piece! There is also a Haunted House that the place runs (we hear the "screams" and "yowls" on most evenings while sitting in our living room), but we weren't sure if it would be "scared-down" enough for our little ones and didn't go in (gee, wonder how much THAT was).
So we're not COMPLETELY cheap, we did let the kids in the bounce house, but THAT WAS IT. And then we went in the awning which had samples and coupons and FREE EAR BUDS (but, for what?).
John caught up with us as we were picking out pumpkins. John and I have found that this place is overpriced ALL YEAR LONG. I mean, it's sad when there is a garden center down the street from you, but you go to one across town to get your mulch because its cheaper--EVEN THE DELIVERY. We have found that the pumpkins are usually "pretty reasonable" and usually do get them there. So the two families walked home with four pumpkins, and the promise to meet up after we fed the kids (and I got my cheeseball and other foods prepared).
Around 6ish, the neighbors came across the street bearing their pack'n'play for the 18-mos old (BTW: JJ, I gave ours to my friend L, as I figure the next time you all visit Christopher will be WAY TOO BIG for it, and no other visiting families I know are planning more kids soon--and I can always borrow it back if they do), a sleeping bag for the three-year old, and some kick-@$$ dip.
After the dime tour of the house, we settled the kids into the den, and the adults tried to play some games.
Our first attempt was Beyond Balderdash--for which we had no instructions. Um, OK, let's play our electronic Scattorgories--which has never even been opened. Upon reading directions, it seemed it would be kinda dull with only four people. Ah well, then, the ol' fallback: EUCHRE!
Even with crappy hands all night, Brittni and I managed to barely scrape a win from John and Bill. Lucky. I hardly ever win when I'm playing against John.
We did get the instructions to Beyond Balderdash from online and played a few rounds. But everyone's brain cells seems to be sluggish (maybe it was the beer?), so we decided to put the games away, lay the kiddies down in their sleeping bags with a movie in the den, and get out the ROCK BAND.
Brittni and Bill took to it like ducks on water. But the noise was keeping the kids up. The baby did pretty well in his pack'n'play in Keith's room, but little M just would not stay down! Brittni finally gave up after a while, and let her sit with us on the couch and watch us rock out. We would finish a song and she would clap and say, "Play 'nother one?" Finally at midnight, all adults decided that it was time to clear out and maybe get the little three-year old in bed--in her own house. Our three had finally fallen asleep without the distraction of little M downstairs with them!
Thankfully, the kids "sorta" slept in this morning. And I'm expecting a visit from B&B sometime this morning to pick up the pack'n'play that we told them they could leave here last night instead of dragging it back across the street (um, but they did take the baby out of it FIRST).
I'm glad we've finally got some neighbors with young kids to do stuff with (if we could possibly get our act together and DO the stuff more often). Good times. Good times.
Well, I got up Saturday, spent an hour or two on the computer and drinking my coffee (I'm now only drinking coffee on the weekends, I've managed to completely cut it out during the week). Finally just after 10:00, I got out the cleaning supplies and got the crew to work.
I sprayed down the bathrooms with foaming bubbles and got Keith to wipe it up (he LOVES doing this). Mary got to clean up the toy den and of course the bunny cage (the former really suits her I'll-work-alone-and-get-everything-put-away-just-right style, the latter she HATES, but they are HER rabbits, and that's part of the DEAL, lady!). I gave Izzy a wet washcloth and had her wipe down every wall/surface within her reach. She loved it. And she kept finishing before I was ready, "What now, Mama?" Um.... Everyone picked up their rooms (well, a little). I focused on cleaning the kitchen, sweeping and mopping all the floors, getting some laundry caught up, and picking up some of the clutter. Keith was supposed to pick up the toys in the living room, too, but this was apparently just TOO MUCH for him. He kept getting distracted and IN TROUBLE, and that's when I sent him to pick up his room (which didn't really get done, either, but at least he was OUT OF MY WAY for a while). I decided Mary was old enough to start using the vacuum, she did NOT like it and complained, "I'm never doing this again!" Well, it IS still a bit too heavy for her spaghetti arms right now, but oh yes, child, you WILL become acquainted with the vacuum again!
The house looked smashing. Except for the fact that I forgot to finish dusting. Ah well.
The neighbors called while I was in mid-purge and invited us to go down to the garden store three houses down for their "Family Fun Day" around 4:00. Sure! So after the house was done, and John was on his way to pick up our copy of Indiana Jones and all the groceries for the hors d'oeuvres-only party, the kids and I got our jackets on to see what all the fuss was about.
Well...I'm not going to kick up much of a fuss about that Family "Fun" day. Not only were the pony rides a whopping $4 (we carefully distracted all the kids away and didn't walk by them again!), but even the bounce house and the lame hay ride was $3 a piece! There is also a Haunted House that the place runs (we hear the "screams" and "yowls" on most evenings while sitting in our living room), but we weren't sure if it would be "scared-down" enough for our little ones and didn't go in (gee, wonder how much THAT was).
So we're not COMPLETELY cheap, we did let the kids in the bounce house, but THAT WAS IT. And then we went in the awning which had samples and coupons and FREE EAR BUDS (but, for what?).
John caught up with us as we were picking out pumpkins. John and I have found that this place is overpriced ALL YEAR LONG. I mean, it's sad when there is a garden center down the street from you, but you go to one across town to get your mulch because its cheaper--EVEN THE DELIVERY. We have found that the pumpkins are usually "pretty reasonable" and usually do get them there. So the two families walked home with four pumpkins, and the promise to meet up after we fed the kids (and I got my cheeseball and other foods prepared).
Around 6ish, the neighbors came across the street bearing their pack'n'play for the 18-mos old (BTW: JJ, I gave ours to my friend L, as I figure the next time you all visit Christopher will be WAY TOO BIG for it, and no other visiting families I know are planning more kids soon--and I can always borrow it back if they do), a sleeping bag for the three-year old, and some kick-@$$ dip.
After the dime tour of the house, we settled the kids into the den, and the adults tried to play some games.
Our first attempt was Beyond Balderdash--for which we had no instructions. Um, OK, let's play our electronic Scattorgories--which has never even been opened. Upon reading directions, it seemed it would be kinda dull with only four people. Ah well, then, the ol' fallback: EUCHRE!
Even with crappy hands all night, Brittni and I managed to barely scrape a win from John and Bill. Lucky. I hardly ever win when I'm playing against John.
We did get the instructions to Beyond Balderdash from online and played a few rounds. But everyone's brain cells seems to be sluggish (maybe it was the beer?), so we decided to put the games away, lay the kiddies down in their sleeping bags with a movie in the den, and get out the ROCK BAND.
Brittni and Bill took to it like ducks on water. But the noise was keeping the kids up. The baby did pretty well in his pack'n'play in Keith's room, but little M just would not stay down! Brittni finally gave up after a while, and let her sit with us on the couch and watch us rock out. We would finish a song and she would clap and say, "Play 'nother one?" Finally at midnight, all adults decided that it was time to clear out and maybe get the little three-year old in bed--in her own house. Our three had finally fallen asleep without the distraction of little M downstairs with them!
Thankfully, the kids "sorta" slept in this morning. And I'm expecting a visit from B&B sometime this morning to pick up the pack'n'play that we told them they could leave here last night instead of dragging it back across the street (um, but they did take the baby out of it FIRST).
I'm glad we've finally got some neighbors with young kids to do stuff with (if we could possibly get our act together and DO the stuff more often). Good times. Good times.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
A Long Over-Due Post
OK, with the craziness my life has been lately with the whole job search, interviews, puking day, and finally GETTING a job, and starting that, and just general pulling my hair out stuff, I kinda just glossed right over the fact that MY FATHER VISITED ME LAST MONTH.
OK. First off, Dad, you need to plan your visits better. Come while the kids are OUT OF SCHOOL so that you can spend more time with them! Please!?
Oh....sorry....anyway, Dad and Ruth visited about a month ago. I got my house beautifully cleaned in time, and the kids were beside themselves. Especially my most-excitable Izzy.
Ruth and I spent the first morning buying all the fixin's needed for the picnic Dad brought to share (OMG--it was soooo good, and the kids just ate it up!). Dad took Izzy to the park down the street.
We spent Friday at the museum with Izzy, where Dad and Ruth FINALLY got to see the old toy collection upstairs (when we attempted this when Mary was a toddler, she went into one of her full-fledged temper tantrums, and we had to leave). Izzy got spoiled by a ride on the carousel AND the train there. I was happy to take Dad and Ruth there as the museum had been majorly overhauled since we took them all those years ago, and there were many new things to see.
Mary got to show off her violin skills. Keith got to show off--his cello. Um, he hadn't started lessons yet, so well, here's the instrument he WILL be playing, um, once he learns how!
John got out the Rock Band Friday night, and we all got to show off our jamming skills. BTW: Mary is really mastering those drums. I sense a change of musical instruments in her future? After some persuasion (and after the kids had finally gone to bed), we got Dad and then even Ruth into the action. We had our four-piece band going, and we were ROCKIN'!
John and I meant to take Dad and Ruth downtown to see the Upper Falls, but John ended up swamped at work and had to work late both nights they were in town. Then Dad ended up having to leave a day earlier than we wanted as he was told by his boss to report to Chicago for a last-minute training.
The visit was way, way too short. And I wish Keith and Mary could have seen more of them. And I am glad that I hadn't found a job yet and was able to spend more time with them.
I'll be sad when his visit comes again next year, and I'll be stuck at my job all day instead of visiting with him. :-(
OK. First off, Dad, you need to plan your visits better. Come while the kids are OUT OF SCHOOL so that you can spend more time with them! Please!?
Oh....sorry....anyway, Dad and Ruth visited about a month ago. I got my house beautifully cleaned in time, and the kids were beside themselves. Especially my most-excitable Izzy.
Ruth and I spent the first morning buying all the fixin's needed for the picnic Dad brought to share (OMG--it was soooo good, and the kids just ate it up!). Dad took Izzy to the park down the street.
We spent Friday at the museum with Izzy, where Dad and Ruth FINALLY got to see the old toy collection upstairs (when we attempted this when Mary was a toddler, she went into one of her full-fledged temper tantrums, and we had to leave). Izzy got spoiled by a ride on the carousel AND the train there. I was happy to take Dad and Ruth there as the museum had been majorly overhauled since we took them all those years ago, and there were many new things to see.
Mary got to show off her violin skills. Keith got to show off--his cello. Um, he hadn't started lessons yet, so well, here's the instrument he WILL be playing, um, once he learns how!
John got out the Rock Band Friday night, and we all got to show off our jamming skills. BTW: Mary is really mastering those drums. I sense a change of musical instruments in her future? After some persuasion (and after the kids had finally gone to bed), we got Dad and then even Ruth into the action. We had our four-piece band going, and we were ROCKIN'!
John and I meant to take Dad and Ruth downtown to see the Upper Falls, but John ended up swamped at work and had to work late both nights they were in town. Then Dad ended up having to leave a day earlier than we wanted as he was told by his boss to report to Chicago for a last-minute training.
The visit was way, way too short. And I wish Keith and Mary could have seen more of them. And I am glad that I hadn't found a job yet and was able to spend more time with them.
I'll be sad when his visit comes again next year, and I'll be stuck at my job all day instead of visiting with him. :-(
Friday, October 17, 2008
I'd like to admit...
...it's getting better.
Someone must have put Izzy's switch back on to "Good." She has been getting up in the morning ALMOST with a smile (and a tired, "See, Mommy. I'm not crying!"). She gets dressed mostly by herself (she just needs to do it more quickly!). She has been putting her shoes on by herself. She has MOSTLY been getting her jammies on without a fuss (it DOES take her a long time as she keeps getting distracted with her TALKING). She greets me at the day care with a "Hello, Mommy!" and might even come and hug me if she's not too busy playing. This morning she was so happy and cheerful as I dropped her off at daycare, I got a million hugs and kisses goodbye--and well, I just feel like my sweet little Izzy is BACK.
Now we're working on her getting her own socks on--correctly. Socks are just so darn tricky! She can pull them on, but they're usually backwards or crooked across the toes. And then she comes to me to fix them. And up to now, I've been a LAZY mommy and just said, "Oh, let me do it!" as then it gets done quicker.
Yes, it's MY FAULT she doesn't do some of this by herself (er, well, more accurate to say, "seems to depend on so much help"). So I'm trying to LEAVE THE ROOM while she gets dressed ("I'll be back in a minute, honey!"), so that I'm not there to inhibit the "independence progress" and be so readily available for "help." I find that she does dress quicker (albeit still BACKWARDS) when I'm not there.
That being said, I still won't send my kid to daycare if I notice her underwear/jeans/shirt/socks are on backwards.
Hmmm.... I may just have to wake her up EARLIER to give her more time to do all of this.
As for myself, I've been working now for just over a week, and I've got the messy house to prove it. I've mostly kept the kitchen SOMEWHAT clean, but the rest of the house just looks SCARY. Toys and clothes and papers and the guts of backpacks and dust and CLEAN laundry and DIRTY laundry, and oh GOD.... It's simply a mess. I'm too tired to deal with it during the week. And then on the weekends, it's just so overwhelming (and then the thought of the kids just trashing it again) that I just IGNORE it.
No more excuses THIS weekend. I invited the neighbors over for a game night on Saturday. So now on Saturday morning everything HAS to get done, or I face major shame and embarrassment.
It's just like my mama taught me--just live with it until company comes, and then CLEAN LIKE THE DEVIL.
We need to have people over more often.
Someone must have put Izzy's switch back on to "Good." She has been getting up in the morning ALMOST with a smile (and a tired, "See, Mommy. I'm not crying!"). She gets dressed mostly by herself (she just needs to do it more quickly!). She has been putting her shoes on by herself. She has MOSTLY been getting her jammies on without a fuss (it DOES take her a long time as she keeps getting distracted with her TALKING). She greets me at the day care with a "Hello, Mommy!" and might even come and hug me if she's not too busy playing. This morning she was so happy and cheerful as I dropped her off at daycare, I got a million hugs and kisses goodbye--and well, I just feel like my sweet little Izzy is BACK.
Now we're working on her getting her own socks on--correctly. Socks are just so darn tricky! She can pull them on, but they're usually backwards or crooked across the toes. And then she comes to me to fix them. And up to now, I've been a LAZY mommy and just said, "Oh, let me do it!" as then it gets done quicker.
Yes, it's MY FAULT she doesn't do some of this by herself (er, well, more accurate to say, "seems to depend on so much help"). So I'm trying to LEAVE THE ROOM while she gets dressed ("I'll be back in a minute, honey!"), so that I'm not there to inhibit the "independence progress" and be so readily available for "help." I find that she does dress quicker (albeit still BACKWARDS) when I'm not there.
That being said, I still won't send my kid to daycare if I notice her underwear/jeans/shirt/socks are on backwards.
Hmmm.... I may just have to wake her up EARLIER to give her more time to do all of this.
As for myself, I've been working now for just over a week, and I've got the messy house to prove it. I've mostly kept the kitchen SOMEWHAT clean, but the rest of the house just looks SCARY. Toys and clothes and papers and the guts of backpacks and dust and CLEAN laundry and DIRTY laundry, and oh GOD.... It's simply a mess. I'm too tired to deal with it during the week. And then on the weekends, it's just so overwhelming (and then the thought of the kids just trashing it again) that I just IGNORE it.
No more excuses THIS weekend. I invited the neighbors over for a game night on Saturday. So now on Saturday morning everything HAS to get done, or I face major shame and embarrassment.
It's just like my mama taught me--just live with it until company comes, and then CLEAN LIKE THE DEVIL.
We need to have people over more often.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Taking Requests
The requests are coming in on what to get the Evil Izzy for her birthday. Listen, folks--I really don't know! She plays with EVERYTHING and just has NO preferences! Dolls, stuffed animals, little pieces of lego that she wraps up in jump ropes--there is NO main obsession like the horses for Mary or outer space for Keith. She just PLAYS.
So, I've started throwing a few things together I thought she might like. The link is on the right. -->
She seems to be more interested in puzzles lately, so I threw a few of those on there. She likes her dolls, but I don't think she plays with them enough to justify buying a new one--or even a ton of accessories for them. She's still really into stuffed animals/dogs, so if you want to save time, you could send her a gift card to Build-a-Bear.
She definitely needs clothes. I've been buying her 4T pants and 5T shirts. 4/5 shirts would probably work, too. We're really looking for simple clothes that she can wear to day care, and I don't mind her ruining (like knit pants).
...So, uh...anyone got any ideas of what to get a four-year old for her birthday? 'Cause *I* still gotta go shopping!
So, I've started throwing a few things together I thought she might like. The link is on the right. -->
She seems to be more interested in puzzles lately, so I threw a few of those on there. She likes her dolls, but I don't think she plays with them enough to justify buying a new one--or even a ton of accessories for them. She's still really into stuffed animals/dogs, so if you want to save time, you could send her a gift card to Build-a-Bear.
She definitely needs clothes. I've been buying her 4T pants and 5T shirts. 4/5 shirts would probably work, too. We're really looking for simple clothes that she can wear to day care, and I don't mind her ruining (like knit pants).
...So, uh...anyone got any ideas of what to get a four-year old for her birthday? 'Cause *I* still gotta go shopping!
The Evil Within
I know that my going back to work is going to be a bit of an adjustment for our little family. I expect crazy mornings, super-fast, probably not-so-healthy cooked dinners, lagging housework and laundry, and quick tempers. I did not expect my darling (almost!) four-year old to turn into Evil Incarnate.
Let me be fair--we seem to have ironed out the crying jags when Mommy picks her up at daycare. And I really don't think her behavior is MUCH different than it was before I went to work--I think I just have less time/patience to deal with it now and rules have to be reinforced.
So lately we're having a problem getting the Beast up in the mornings again. And I feel as if I'm being pretty patient so far since I know it's hard for this NON-morning person to get up and get dressed (SO like her father!). But last night at bedtime it was an absolute NIGHTMARE.
She refused to put on her pajamas. Such a little thing, right? Well, it turned into a BIG thing with a huge temper tantrum that culminated in my putting her in bed without jammies and not even her pull-up (which she SO still needs). The anger in this child! She did her usual temper tantrum fare and pulled all the stuffed animals/babies off her bed--but then topped that with yanking off the comforter, sheets, AND the shower curtain I have on there as her "wetness" barrier. A poltergeist in the makings here, folks!
When I went in to check on her and hopefully calm her down and put her "properly" to bed (that's when I discovered the destruction of the bed), she yells at me, "Put my sheets back on!" What--Didn't you WANT them off?! I finally made a deal with her--if she managed to calm down and stop screaming for 15 minutes (I know! But this had been going on for a LONG time!), then I would put her sheets back on.
INSTANT quiet.
And ten minutes later, I went in, put her bed back together, and she put on her jammies.
Izzy and I had another talk about the kind of behavior I expect of her. She needs to get up and get dressed in the morning WITHOUT a temper tantrum. She needs to put her OWN shoes on (suddenly she "can't do it"). She needs to greet me with a smile and say "Hi" to me when I pick her up from day care--and NO temper tantrum. She needs to put on her pajamas at night--again, WITHOUT a temper tantrum.
It's a lot, no? But I guess we can boil it down to the simple: Do what you're told and stop fussing about it! Grrrrr!!!!!
*sigh* I hate having to be even MORE mean than I really am.
P.S. She got up like an Angel this morning--a somewhat groggy Angel, but STILL....
Let me be fair--we seem to have ironed out the crying jags when Mommy picks her up at daycare. And I really don't think her behavior is MUCH different than it was before I went to work--I think I just have less time/patience to deal with it now and rules have to be reinforced.
So lately we're having a problem getting the Beast up in the mornings again. And I feel as if I'm being pretty patient so far since I know it's hard for this NON-morning person to get up and get dressed (SO like her father!). But last night at bedtime it was an absolute NIGHTMARE.
She refused to put on her pajamas. Such a little thing, right? Well, it turned into a BIG thing with a huge temper tantrum that culminated in my putting her in bed without jammies and not even her pull-up (which she SO still needs). The anger in this child! She did her usual temper tantrum fare and pulled all the stuffed animals/babies off her bed--but then topped that with yanking off the comforter, sheets, AND the shower curtain I have on there as her "wetness" barrier. A poltergeist in the makings here, folks!
When I went in to check on her and hopefully calm her down and put her "properly" to bed (that's when I discovered the destruction of the bed), she yells at me, "Put my sheets back on!" What--Didn't you WANT them off?! I finally made a deal with her--if she managed to calm down and stop screaming for 15 minutes (I know! But this had been going on for a LONG time!), then I would put her sheets back on.
INSTANT quiet.
And ten minutes later, I went in, put her bed back together, and she put on her jammies.
Izzy and I had another talk about the kind of behavior I expect of her. She needs to get up and get dressed in the morning WITHOUT a temper tantrum. She needs to put her OWN shoes on (suddenly she "can't do it"). She needs to greet me with a smile and say "Hi" to me when I pick her up from day care--and NO temper tantrum. She needs to put on her pajamas at night--again, WITHOUT a temper tantrum.
It's a lot, no? But I guess we can boil it down to the simple: Do what you're told and stop fussing about it! Grrrrr!!!!!
*sigh* I hate having to be even MORE mean than I really am.
P.S. She got up like an Angel this morning--a somewhat groggy Angel, but STILL....
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Whole Wheat Banana Bread
Devan recently posted a delicious-sounding whole wheat brownie recipe, and it put me in mind of this one. Amusingly, I got this recipe out of a set of Sesame Street books I've had since I was a kid (Number 14). And amusingly, I never did make the recipe as a kid--and forgot all about it until I started reading the books to the kids as an adult.
Whole Wheat Banana Bread
3 peeled, ripe bananas
3/4 Cup honey
1/4 Cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 Cup whole wheat flour
Mash the bananas in a big bowl. Add the melted butter. Add baking soda, flour, and honey. Stir until mixed together. Pour into greased bread pan. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees. Check with toothpick. Let cool before slicing.
**And of course, I throw in like a half a cup of mini-chocolate chips 'cause that's the way my kids like it (I LURVE banana bread without the chips myself).
Mary just helped me whip up a loaf, and it's in the oven now! Mmmmm! Enjoy!
Whole Wheat Banana Bread
3 peeled, ripe bananas
3/4 Cup honey
1/4 Cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 Cup whole wheat flour
Mash the bananas in a big bowl. Add the melted butter. Add baking soda, flour, and honey. Stir until mixed together. Pour into greased bread pan. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees. Check with toothpick. Let cool before slicing.
**And of course, I throw in like a half a cup of mini-chocolate chips 'cause that's the way my kids like it (I LURVE banana bread without the chips myself).
Mary just helped me whip up a loaf, and it's in the oven now! Mmmmm! Enjoy!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Completely Exhausted
Well, I'm back to the grind. I must say, I do like my new company and my new job. Very friendly folks. And then I discovered that someone I knew from my former company is also now working here! Too funny!
Izzy did pretty well her first day back to day care. I woke her up ultra-early, and she did NOT cry (she promised me she wouldn't), and she apparently had so much fun at day care that when I came to pick her up last night, she did NOT want to leave. She threw a complete screaming temper tantrum all the way home. Unfortunately, I did not have time to deal with her properly as I had about 20 minutes to get ready and out the door for our GS meeting. I had Mary make herself a sandwich while I changed and checked that I had everything I needed for the meeting (with Izzy whining and following me around the house). Mary and I got home late (had to finish cleaning up and HAD to get gas before work in the A.M.), so I didn't even get to kiss Izzy goodnight. Poor kid.
This morning when I got Izzy up, she said, "Where are we going?" "To day care." "AGAIN?!" Um, yes. EVERY DAY now.
I've only burst into tears twice: during both morning commutes.
Izzy did pretty well her first day back to day care. I woke her up ultra-early, and she did NOT cry (she promised me she wouldn't), and she apparently had so much fun at day care that when I came to pick her up last night, she did NOT want to leave. She threw a complete screaming temper tantrum all the way home. Unfortunately, I did not have time to deal with her properly as I had about 20 minutes to get ready and out the door for our GS meeting. I had Mary make herself a sandwich while I changed and checked that I had everything I needed for the meeting (with Izzy whining and following me around the house). Mary and I got home late (had to finish cleaning up and HAD to get gas before work in the A.M.), so I didn't even get to kiss Izzy goodnight. Poor kid.
This morning when I got Izzy up, she said, "Where are we going?" "To day care." "AGAIN?!" Um, yes. EVERY DAY now.
I've only burst into tears twice: during both morning commutes.
Monday, October 06, 2008
SCORE!!
Got the job! Starting TOMORROW!
Spent all afternoon confirming child care. What a pain in the butt. I think I've talked my neighbor into taking Keith and Mary from after school till 5:30. Izzy is going to an at-home women around the corner. She's not our first pick, but most of the day care centers around here are booked, or can only accommodate us a couple of days a week, or are just WAY TOO FREAKING EXPENSIVE for the ONE HOUR my after-school children will be there (after the hour-long shuttle ride to the center due to its being zoned for a different elem school) (and let's not even TALK about how much they want for Izzy).
Um....on to more pleasant thoughts.... My new job is a bit farther to drive then I was hoping, but they're paying me what I asked, and they were really, really friendly and ENCOURAGE promoting from within. In fact, they only wanted to hire someone who wanted to try to move up within the company. AND...it's practically right across the street from where John works. Maybe he and I can do lunch sometime. (Too bad we can't carpool, but John is putting the kids on the bus in the mornings, and that's too late for my 8:00 start.)
Thanks for all the well-wishing and prayers. Dave and MDH--your turns are next!
Spent all afternoon confirming child care. What a pain in the butt. I think I've talked my neighbor into taking Keith and Mary from after school till 5:30. Izzy is going to an at-home women around the corner. She's not our first pick, but most of the day care centers around here are booked, or can only accommodate us a couple of days a week, or are just WAY TOO FREAKING EXPENSIVE for the ONE HOUR my after-school children will be there (after the hour-long shuttle ride to the center due to its being zoned for a different elem school) (and let's not even TALK about how much they want for Izzy).
Um....on to more pleasant thoughts.... My new job is a bit farther to drive then I was hoping, but they're paying me what I asked, and they were really, really friendly and ENCOURAGE promoting from within. In fact, they only wanted to hire someone who wanted to try to move up within the company. AND...it's practically right across the street from where John works. Maybe he and I can do lunch sometime. (Too bad we can't carpool, but John is putting the kids on the bus in the mornings, and that's too late for my 8:00 start.)
Thanks for all the well-wishing and prayers. Dave and MDH--your turns are next!
Friday, October 03, 2008
The stolen mimi
Thought this was cool, so I stole it from Shelly.
Take the list and bold what you HAVE done.
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped (watched) an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band(orchestra)
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone kayaking in the ocean
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem not for school
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Gone deep-sea fishing
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Commented on a stranger's blog
Take the list and bold what you HAVE done.
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped (watched) an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band(orchestra)
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone kayaking in the ocean
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem not for school
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Gone deep-sea fishing
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Commented on a stranger's blog
Thursday, October 02, 2008
...A Window Opens
Got an interview for 4:00 tomorrow now. A little farther than I really wanted to drive....but if they like me, I may get to start as soon as Monday.
One of their requests was for an "energetic" person. I SO fit that description better than "polished."
Just keep smilin'....
One of their requests was for an "energetic" person. I SO fit that description better than "polished."
Just keep smilin'....
Nope
I wasn't "polished or professional enough."
Which doesn't surprise me. In my efforts to be less sickly and more cheerful--and in my nervousness, too, I'm sure--I KNOW I came off even more goofy than normal.
BACK to the jobsites!
Which doesn't surprise me. In my efforts to be less sickly and more cheerful--and in my nervousness, too, I'm sure--I KNOW I came off even more goofy than normal.
BACK to the jobsites!
What Happens When Mama's Sick
I dragged myself to my interview and put my best effort into NOT looking like death warmed over. I think it went pretty well. Of course, I was their only recent applicant, so if I don't get it, they REALLY didn't like me (oh dear!). I should hear something today. Cross your fingers for me.... (And all I can think of now is how this nice guy shook my hand and took my pestulant germs home to his twin sons and expectant wife last night. OH, I hope not!)
When I got home from the interview I said to John, "Can I go crash now?" I greeted the kids as they got off the bus, pulled on some comfy clothes, and delegated myself to the bedroom. I did try to come out once, but John insisted I keep my germs to myself. I had a slight fever by this point, anyway--so back to bed!
The house is a complete disaster. I was getting behind on housework anyway due to all this job hunting and interviews, but yesterday....ugh. The garbage was over-flowing and the sink was full of dirty dishes (and probably residual puke), but every time I entered the kitchen...BLEH...I had to run back out. I felt better around 6:30, and washed a few of the dishes and soaked the rest. It's all I had the energy to do. John took out the garbage--SHOCK!
John cooked dinner--which means that he ordered a pizza for himself and the kids. My diet for the whole day consisted of several cups of tea (minus the one that ended up in the kitchen sink), three pieces of toast with jelly, and a half a stack of crackers.
We skipped Keith's first CS meeting (John said he wasn't feeling too well either).
The kids kept popping their head in the bedroom door to say hi to me. "Are you feeling OK?" They don't see Mom sick very often, I could tell they were a bit confused about the whole thing.
I finally went to sleep around 10:00. John decided to steer clear of my germs and slept on the couch. Good thing. I woke up at 1:00 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep for a quite a while. The aches and fever were back, and it seemed to take the Advil FOREVER to finally kick in. Miserable.
Woke up this morning feeling 110% better. Still don't think I'm going to water aerobics, though--too tired. And I doubt much of the housework will get done either. And now I'm trying to decide if I want to bother signing up for this other staffing agency today at 3:00. They didn't have any tempting jobs posted on their website the other day....
When I got home from the interview I said to John, "Can I go crash now?" I greeted the kids as they got off the bus, pulled on some comfy clothes, and delegated myself to the bedroom. I did try to come out once, but John insisted I keep my germs to myself. I had a slight fever by this point, anyway--so back to bed!
The house is a complete disaster. I was getting behind on housework anyway due to all this job hunting and interviews, but yesterday....ugh. The garbage was over-flowing and the sink was full of dirty dishes (and probably residual puke), but every time I entered the kitchen...BLEH...I had to run back out. I felt better around 6:30, and washed a few of the dishes and soaked the rest. It's all I had the energy to do. John took out the garbage--SHOCK!
John cooked dinner--which means that he ordered a pizza for himself and the kids. My diet for the whole day consisted of several cups of tea (minus the one that ended up in the kitchen sink), three pieces of toast with jelly, and a half a stack of crackers.
We skipped Keith's first CS meeting (John said he wasn't feeling too well either).
The kids kept popping their head in the bedroom door to say hi to me. "Are you feeling OK?" They don't see Mom sick very often, I could tell they were a bit confused about the whole thing.
I finally went to sleep around 10:00. John decided to steer clear of my germs and slept on the couch. Good thing. I woke up at 1:00 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep for a quite a while. The aches and fever were back, and it seemed to take the Advil FOREVER to finally kick in. Miserable.
Woke up this morning feeling 110% better. Still don't think I'm going to water aerobics, though--too tired. And I doubt much of the housework will get done either. And now I'm trying to decide if I want to bother signing up for this other staffing agency today at 3:00. They didn't have any tempting jobs posted on their website the other day....
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Woe is Me
The position at my former company is NOT appealing. If I get desperate.... God, I hope I don't ever get that desperate.
I have a "real" interview today at 3:00. And at 9:00 I was making a run for the kitchen sink to purge the cup of tea I had just swallowed...(no way I could have made it to the bathroom).
Good news is that there has been no further purging since the incident this morning. But I haven't attempted to eat lunch yet....
Oh dear. This could be bad.
What would YOU do? Cancel the interview in the hopes that your possible new employer will be "understanding" and not consider this a Bad Mark? Or choke down the bile and perhaps contaminate your possible future employer and co-workers?
I'm going with the contamination. And I'm bringing a big purse.
Urp!
I have a "real" interview today at 3:00. And at 9:00 I was making a run for the kitchen sink to purge the cup of tea I had just swallowed...(no way I could have made it to the bathroom).
Good news is that there has been no further purging since the incident this morning. But I haven't attempted to eat lunch yet....
Oh dear. This could be bad.
What would YOU do? Cancel the interview in the hopes that your possible new employer will be "understanding" and not consider this a Bad Mark? Or choke down the bile and perhaps contaminate your possible future employer and co-workers?
I'm going with the contamination. And I'm bringing a big purse.
Urp!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Little Bites: REVISITED
9:00 this morning: Went to a Community College to discuss options for Medical Billing field. (TWO YEAR PROGRAM! Are you @#$% kidding me? I already HAVE a Bachelor's [that I'm STILL paying for]--why on EARTH would I want an Associates? I just want a CERTIFICATE!)
3:00 today: Sign up with staffing agency for Admin Assist job.
Complete waste of time! Only job they had available was for $9.50/hr. Hello! This is not 1996 anymore! But I completely SMASHED their typing and Excel tests! Go me! Maybe something else will come up soon....
8:00 Monday: Sign up with ANOTHER staffing agency for another job for which I've applied (probably Admin Assist also--sad that I don't really know as so many resumes have gone out now).
Had to reschedule to Thursday at 3:00 due to conflict with JOHN'S schedule. Having kids while looking for a job is a PAIN IN THE BUTT. But I looked on their website--nothing they have posted really looks too appealing, anyway....
11:00 Monday: Phone interview for Exec Assist position that my FIRST staff agency set up for me (first I've heard from them in over two weeks).
Interview lasted six minutes! But I must have done OK, 'cause I scored a "real" interview next Wednesday!
4:00 Tuesday: Interview for contract position with FORMER EMPLOYER. (Too bad it's not my former JOB--but we'll see what happens.)
Scheduling conflict AGAIN! And when I called to reschedule, I got an ATTITUDE and that there were NO OTHER OPEN TIMES. Guess I'll ask the neighbor to watch Izzy and get Mary/Keith off the bus.
Hmmm....Maybe I should slow down the resumes for now.
3:00 today: Sign up with staffing agency for Admin Assist job.
Complete waste of time! Only job they had available was for $9.50/hr. Hello! This is not 1996 anymore! But I completely SMASHED their typing and Excel tests! Go me! Maybe something else will come up soon....
8:00 Monday: Sign up with ANOTHER staffing agency for another job for which I've applied (probably Admin Assist also--sad that I don't really know as so many resumes have gone out now).
Had to reschedule to Thursday at 3:00 due to conflict with JOHN'S schedule. Having kids while looking for a job is a PAIN IN THE BUTT. But I looked on their website--nothing they have posted really looks too appealing, anyway....
11:00 Monday: Phone interview for Exec Assist position that my FIRST staff agency set up for me (first I've heard from them in over two weeks).
Interview lasted six minutes! But I must have done OK, 'cause I scored a "real" interview next Wednesday!
4:00 Tuesday: Interview for contract position with FORMER EMPLOYER. (Too bad it's not my former JOB--but we'll see what happens.)
Scheduling conflict AGAIN! And when I called to reschedule, I got an ATTITUDE and that there were NO OTHER OPEN TIMES. Guess I'll ask the neighbor to watch Izzy and get Mary/Keith off the bus.
Hmmm....Maybe I should slow down the resumes for now.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Speaking of things Lost
'Round about the time of the mysterious missing pajamas, I also misplaced a book. Actually, it's inaccurate to say *I* misplaced it. Izzy is to blame for THIS Bermuda Triangle incident.
Ya see, I was on the phone (probably with my mom or dad) and also picking up the house (I simply can't get on the phone without also walking around the house picking up clutter. Sometimes I purposefully call people--like JJ!--because then I know I'll have X amount of minutes that I WILL get the dishes done or the pile of crap picked up off the coffee table. Of course, all the walking around almost always guarantees I will lose connection at least ONCE. Ah well.). Um...anyway.... I had been reading a book, which is in a SERIES of sci-fi books that I own and love and usually read AT LEAST once a year. And it had in fact been TWO years since I last read them 'cause they were "lost" in one of the boxes of books stuck down in the basement. BUT! I had JUST re-discovered them and was enjoying our reunion when the phone rang.
So...while I was wandering around the kitchen, I see Izzy with the book I had just set down. She was PUSHING it across the kitchen floor. I finally had to stop and ask her what she was doing? "It's a boat, Mommy!" Ah! I see! And I had quite a chuckle about it with whichever parental unit I was talking.
Well, I got off the phone and caught up with the Iz-meister so that I could start reading my book again. She didn't have it anymore. I checked the kitchen. Hmmmm.... I wandered all through the house. Um...."Izzy, where's my book?" "You're wipe [white] book?" "Yes, where's Mommy's book?" The two of us looked in the kitchen more diligently. It was NOWHERE.
I've looked and looked and looked for that book. I didn't want to read the next book in the series until I had finished THAT one. It doesn't matter that I've read the book at least five times! I HAVE to finish it!
I never found it.
And after a while, I DID finally decide that the book must be permanently lost and read ON (Gasp! Can you believe it?!).
Yesterday, Izzy was playing with her babydoll; she decided to wanted to feed her. I got out the toy diaper bag and dug up the bottle and baby spoons for her. While I was at it, I started collecting all the other baby doll clothes/paraphernalia from the toy basket and shoving them "away" into the bag. I checked the little front pocket...
...and THERE was my book.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cracked up and showed Izzy. "You're wipe [white] book!"
Indeed.
[Brat!]
Ya see, I was on the phone (probably with my mom or dad) and also picking up the house (I simply can't get on the phone without also walking around the house picking up clutter. Sometimes I purposefully call people--like JJ!--because then I know I'll have X amount of minutes that I WILL get the dishes done or the pile of crap picked up off the coffee table. Of course, all the walking around almost always guarantees I will lose connection at least ONCE. Ah well.). Um...anyway.... I had been reading a book, which is in a SERIES of sci-fi books that I own and love and usually read AT LEAST once a year. And it had in fact been TWO years since I last read them 'cause they were "lost" in one of the boxes of books stuck down in the basement. BUT! I had JUST re-discovered them and was enjoying our reunion when the phone rang.
So...while I was wandering around the kitchen, I see Izzy with the book I had just set down. She was PUSHING it across the kitchen floor. I finally had to stop and ask her what she was doing? "It's a boat, Mommy!" Ah! I see! And I had quite a chuckle about it with whichever parental unit I was talking.
Well, I got off the phone and caught up with the Iz-meister so that I could start reading my book again. She didn't have it anymore. I checked the kitchen. Hmmmm.... I wandered all through the house. Um...."Izzy, where's my book?" "You're wipe [white] book?" "Yes, where's Mommy's book?" The two of us looked in the kitchen more diligently. It was NOWHERE.
I've looked and looked and looked for that book. I didn't want to read the next book in the series until I had finished THAT one. It doesn't matter that I've read the book at least five times! I HAVE to finish it!
I never found it.
And after a while, I DID finally decide that the book must be permanently lost and read ON (Gasp! Can you believe it?!).
Yesterday, Izzy was playing with her babydoll; she decided to wanted to feed her. I got out the toy diaper bag and dug up the bottle and baby spoons for her. While I was at it, I started collecting all the other baby doll clothes/paraphernalia from the toy basket and shoving them "away" into the bag. I checked the little front pocket...
...and THERE was my book.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cracked up and showed Izzy. "You're wipe [white] book!"
Indeed.
[Brat!]
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
That was weird
Whilst visiting the H clan last summer, we harassed JJ into purchasing some new D-store jammies and t-shirts for the kids with her employee discount (they were super cheap already!). Well, somehow or another, the bottoms to one set of Izzy's got misplaced. I recalled that I threw the bottoms into the laundry basket after a "EEEEEWWWWW!" moment when her pull-up leaked the previous night. And then I sorta lost track of them. The top got washed just fine....but the bottoms did not miraculously "show up" as I figured they would.
I started casually going through all the laundry bins, all the piles in the basement, the garage sale bags, and even Mary's dresser looking for those darn PJ bottoms. What the....?
Fast forward about six weeks later. That would be, um, yesterday. I am folding the latest load of the umpteen-million loads of laundry I do each week. And guess what? Yup--THERE THEY WERE.
Where the FREAK did they come from? I do NOT recall throwing them in the wash, nor putting them in the dryer. I have not seen them in ANY of the multitudes of dirty clothes piles hanging around the house. Where the heck were they, and how the heck did they manage to get CLEAN again without my knowledge? Did they hitchhike across the galaxy with the old towel and their electronic thumb?
And I don't fret so much about lost singleton socks. It happens, folks, so I just deal with it. But WHY and HOW is it that in a house where laundry is washed at LEAST four times a week--and usually EVERY DAY--is Izzy suddenly completely OUT of socks? I'm serious! All that is left in her sock drawer are the pairs of ankle socks I don't like and don't put on her. Where did the other TEN PAIRS of simple, white bobby socks GO? And why did they suddenly start disappearing the VERY WEEK of the return of the pajama bottoms!!!!!
I think I need a job just so that I have other, legitimate things to complain about.
I started casually going through all the laundry bins, all the piles in the basement, the garage sale bags, and even Mary's dresser looking for those darn PJ bottoms. What the....?
Fast forward about six weeks later. That would be, um, yesterday. I am folding the latest load of the umpteen-million loads of laundry I do each week. And guess what? Yup--THERE THEY WERE.
Where the FREAK did they come from? I do NOT recall throwing them in the wash, nor putting them in the dryer. I have not seen them in ANY of the multitudes of dirty clothes piles hanging around the house. Where the heck were they, and how the heck did they manage to get CLEAN again without my knowledge? Did they hitchhike across the galaxy with the old towel and their electronic thumb?
And I don't fret so much about lost singleton socks. It happens, folks, so I just deal with it. But WHY and HOW is it that in a house where laundry is washed at LEAST four times a week--and usually EVERY DAY--is Izzy suddenly completely OUT of socks? I'm serious! All that is left in her sock drawer are the pairs of ankle socks I don't like and don't put on her. Where did the other TEN PAIRS of simple, white bobby socks GO? And why did they suddenly start disappearing the VERY WEEK of the return of the pajama bottoms!!!!!
I think I need a job just so that I have other, legitimate things to complain about.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Old Haunts
I had several errands to run today, and since a few were on the other side of town, I fit in a visit to the ol' workplace. All those people for which to perform? Izzy was IN her element.
While Izzy showed off her repertoire of "Pterodactyl" and "Dragon" impressions, I caught up with the crew. Here's what I heard a lot: "Boy, you look really good!" "You look so relaxed!" "You look great!" "Bet you're not as tired now!"
Makes me wonder--how was I looking a year ago when I quit? Tired? Stressed out? Apparently not as well-groomed?!
Yeah. That last two years I was working WERE tough. I knew it was getting to be a little too much, but I didn't understand HOW much until I finally got to quit. And actually take a breath. And not have to drive across the city every day. And....
Well, it's just a shame I have to go back to work, that's all. 'Cause I doubt if a year off is really going to be enough.
But here's some good news I noticed at my annual this morning: I've apparently lost weight. I don't typically weigh myself, so I had no idea. So water aerobics twice (er....sometimes only ONCE) a week DID help! Still doubt I could fit into my old "interview" suit, though. *sigh*
While Izzy showed off her repertoire of "Pterodactyl" and "Dragon" impressions, I caught up with the crew. Here's what I heard a lot: "Boy, you look really good!" "You look so relaxed!" "You look great!" "Bet you're not as tired now!"
Makes me wonder--how was I looking a year ago when I quit? Tired? Stressed out? Apparently not as well-groomed?!
Yeah. That last two years I was working WERE tough. I knew it was getting to be a little too much, but I didn't understand HOW much until I finally got to quit. And actually take a breath. And not have to drive across the city every day. And....
Well, it's just a shame I have to go back to work, that's all. 'Cause I doubt if a year off is really going to be enough.
But here's some good news I noticed at my annual this morning: I've apparently lost weight. I don't typically weigh myself, so I had no idea. So water aerobics twice (er....sometimes only ONCE) a week DID help! Still doubt I could fit into my old "interview" suit, though. *sigh*
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