Friday, December 31, 2010

Auld Lang Syne

Okay, so I did a 2010 in Review.  So next up, logically, would be a 2011 New Year's Resolutions post, right?  Well, all you guys probably read  my 40th birthday post and my Thanksgiving post so I honestly don't know why you would think I would do something like that.

Oh, you hopeful, hapless souls.  How I love your optimism.  I laugh at it, but I love it nonetheless.

Here's what I WILL do for you, however.  I will make resolutions for other people.  Less pressure on me to perform, yet you still get a New Year's Eve post.  Win-win.

For Sara:
Sara resolves to have no more health issues.  She resolves to put those pre-teen hormones in check.  She also resolves to help her mother more around the house.

For Jacob:
Jacob resolves to be less mouthy (despite the fact that it's clearly genetic).  He resolves to wear something other than his University of Michigan hoodie every day.  Following his sister's lead, he also resolves to help his mother more around the house.

For Mitch: 
Mitch also resolves to have no more health issues.  He resolves to watch less "Pawn Stars".  He resolves to train this dog before I get rid of her.

For Gracie:
Gracie resolves to stop jumping on the furniture.  She resolves to stop stealing things out of the kids' rooms.  She also resolves to stop unrolling the toilet paper rolls, because that is really, really annoying.

For Jenni:
Jenni resolves to continue doing well without me there.  She also resolves to call me as often as possible.  She resolves to come out here to visit.

For Jen:
Jen resolves to continue being the #1 waitress/bartender in the Greater Kalamazoo area.  She resolves to spread her gift of sarcasm at a global level.  She also resolves to continue being a great support to me by helping me to laugh through my tears.

For Maryann:
Maryann resolves to keep me up to date on the goings-on at our favorite place of employment.  She resolves to stay alert to any possible purple purses that I may enjoy owning.  She also resolves to continue with her way cool nail art.

For My Brothers:
My brothers resolve to remember I am the best sister EVER.  That's enough for them, I think.

For My Sisters:
See above "My Brothers" resolution.

For My Parents:
My parents resolve to spend more time with their grandchildren, by taking them for at least 2 weeks during the summer.  (That's 2 weeks per parent, btw.)  They resolve to send me cool presents for no reason.  They resolve to do this often.

For The World:
The World resolves to stop doing stupid things like earthquakes, floods and fires.  It also resolves to achieve that World Peace thing I've heard so much about.  The World resolves to be a better place for everyone.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

2010 In Review

Copied from this blog  http://duwaxloolu.blogspot.com/ .   There are a lot of questions, but I'm going to give it a shot.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Moved to Utah, saw an MRI of my daughter's brain, quit a job after only 2 days

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My only New Year's resolution was to not run as many yellow lights and I think I did that.  I'm still working on this year's - stay tuned

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My niece just had her 2nd daughter last week.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.  Unfortunately, several close friends lost family members, so I am sorry about that.

5. What countries did you visit?
Isn't Utah another country?  No?  Then no.  You all should know I don't really like to leave this country.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Write more: blogging, fiction, whatever.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 1 - the day Jacob and I arrived in Utah
September 5 - the day we first took Sara to the ER. 

 8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making that drive from Michigan to Utah with Jacob by myself.  Five days and a million miles, but we made it.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Finding a real job here. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had some back trouble, but really, considering everyone else in this house, I'm in good shape.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
This laptop.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jacob really has adjusted to the move much better than expected, and he was amazing when Sara was first injured.  He's a good brother.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No comment on a personal level.
And on a celebrity level, Brett Favre.  Could he have gone out a bigger jackass?

14. Where did most of your money go?
Medical bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Mt. Rushmore

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
1000 Miles per Hour - Ok Go

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?
Sadder
b) thinner or fatter?
The same, I think
c) richer or poorer?
Richer probably, but that's going to change shortly.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Listening

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Talking

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Here in Utah, with just the 4 of us.  It was unlike any other Christmas we've ever had as a family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Yes - with my kids' new school  :)

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Really?  Law & Order: SVU, same as always, with Fringe a close 2nd

 
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't know about HATE, but my opinions of some people definitely changed for the worse.

24. What was the best book you read?
I cannot pick just one.  Seriously.  I really enjoyed the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, Sarah's Key by Tatiana DeRosnay, and the books of Cody McFadyen.

 
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ummm.....

26. What did you want and get?
A Kindle - sorry Maryann and Jen, I won't talk about it anymore.

27. What did you want and not get?
Fiesta Ware dishes

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Eclipse.  And Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 40 this year and we went to dinner at McGrath's.  It wasn't great, but I didn't have to cook and it's seafood, so it was sufficient.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Moving all my friends out here to Utah with me.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Comfort and casual.  Same as always.

32. What kept you sane?
My blogging friends and my facebook friends.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Again, bringing up my celebrity crushes.  Christopher Meloni, obviously.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

35. Who did you miss?
Everyone.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Joshlin 

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Seeing even one picture of your kid's brain is one picture too many.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Under Heavy Manners

Mitch and I have always taken a “divide and conquer” approach to parenting. That is a nice way of saying what I generally say, which is that “Mitch wants to raise decent human beings; I just want it to be quiet.” Clearly this approach has some consequences, as I’ve noticed over the last several weeks that my kids’ have the table manners of small, clothed savages. This is wholly unacceptable and I aim to fix this immediately. I am searching Amazon RIGHT NOW for books on table manners for kids. But I keep getting sidetracked by books like this:



This 1910 classic provides helpful information, such as what to do if you’ve accidentally married an inefficient man for love. Foolish girl.

And then there’s this:

This fabulous 1832 book will help you to treat dysentery, educate one’s daughters, and prepare buffalo tongue.

Both are free books. It’s all I can do not to click “Buy now”.

Ten on Tuesday

10 things I got for Christmas.

  1. Kindle
  2. Cool purple slippers
  3. Label maker
  4. Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell
  5. Ghiradelli chocolates - caramel, caramel latte and pumpkin spice.  (Pumpkin spice?  Further proof that Mitch does not know me AT ALL.)
  6. Wool socks (because Mitch does not like me to put my cold feet on him)
  7. Aloe infused socks
  8. Lint roller
  9. Bubble bath and bath salts (in which to soak while I read my Kindle)
  10. Scratch off lottery tickets from Illinois of which I won $2
How was YOUR Christmas?

Saturday, December 25, 2010

This Christmas Day

It's Christmas Day and we are officially exhausted.  Turns out, staying home a million miles away from family isn't really any more relaxing than being close to everyone and driving around from house to house all day.  Plus, someone here has to cook dinner (a task previously undertaken by my mother-in-law) or we're all going to be really really hungry soon.

Sara got us up at 7 AM.  I thought this would be the year the kids would sleep in, but no dice.  And seeing as she was up until after 11 PM last night, apparently too excited to sleep, it meant Mitch and I were up late too.  I'm still unsure what the believability status of Santa is in this house, and the kids aren't saying.  So we continue with the status quo of Santa bringing gifts.

I know when Jacob was in 1st grade, there was a lot of talk that Santa wasn't real.  He expressed some concerns then, but seriously, we haven't heard another word about this since.  Sara wanted to know how a few weeks ago how Santa was going to get in since we don't have a fireplace here, but then said she didn't need to go see Santa this year or write him a letter.  So I just don't know where we stand.  We marked some gifts from Santa, and some from Mom & Dad, as is our custom.  And Sara said last night that she couldn't wait to see what Santa said in his letter this year.  (Every year, Santa leaves them a letter after eating the cookies.)  Needless to say, I was typing up a Santa letter at 10 PM last night.

We've adopted a serious "Don't ask, don't tell" policy around here.  It's more work than talking, if you ask me.

I don't know.  Jacob is 11, so I don't think he believes anymore, but Sara's 9, so she very well might.  I guess we'll just have to see what they say next year.    

I'm thinking of heading out to Kohl's tomorrow to buy myself a set of Fiesta Ware dishes.  We'll see how ambitious I am.   Sundays I am not traditionally ambitious.  It might wait until Monday.

I hope you all had a great Christmas, or a relaxing day, depending on your religious affiliation.  And I hope Santa was good to you, if you still believe. 

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas is Coming

So I feel that since I'm not working for the next two weeks, I should be posting every day.  But it's amazing how the days go by. 

Yeah, whatever.  Like I'm sitting here curing cancer or developing alternative fuel sources.

Today I went to the bank and then the doctor's office to get proof that Jacob had his 2nd Hepatitis A shot.  If I don't have that, he can't go back to school on January 3.  And he's definitely going back, believe me.

I wrapped gifts tonight and while there should still be some stuff coming tomorrow, we're pretty much done.  This is unusual for us, since we're usually wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve.  Everything that needed to be shipped has been.  Cards are mailed.  Tree is up.  I might make some fudge or cookies tomorrow, but maybe not.  We got the kids way too much stuff, as usual, but seeing as Jacob got stuff for Boy Scouts, and books and clothes, it's not really that bad.  We would have bought him that stuff anyway. 

Shut up, that's how I'm justifying it.  Oh, and 2 sets of their grandparents sent us money to get them their big gift. 

2 sets?  You might ask.  How many grandparents do your kids have?

Get out your scorecard, here goes.  My parents are divorced and both are remarried.  Mitch's parents are divorced and both are remarried.  So our kids have 4 sets of - count 'em, that's 8 individual - grandparents.

You know how when a kid's parents get divorced, there are people who say (in a lame attempt to show the kid the bright side of divorce) "Well, now you get TWO Christmases!"

I say "lame attempt", but yeah, that is cool.  But you know what's cooler?

When that kid grows up and marries another kid whose parents are also divorced so their kids have 4 sets of grandparents.  Think about that. 

Four. Sets. of. Grandparents. 

Who wouldn't want to be those kids? It's the 2nd generation broken home upside none of the experts ever predicted.  Christmas and birthday jackpots for those kids, my friends.  Jackpots.

I could get my kids celery and shoelaces for Christmas and they wouldn't even notice.  Seriously.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Ten on Tuesday - Old Photo Edition

I had this thought about this earlier and it took me a while to find some old photos.  My oldest albums are in a box somewhere, so it was harder than I thought.

And Amanda, if you read this, it's not that I don't love you as much as our brothers/sister.  But all my photos of you are in those above mentioned albums.  When I find them, my dear, I promise to do an entire post of baby pictures of you.  Because I have that many.  Because you were THAT STINKIN' CUTE.

Without further ado:


Me and brother Dan, let's say 1973ish

Me holding baby brother Dave, with Dan ignoring us, 1974
Me, kindergarten 1975


Me and Dave.  Don't know the year, but that's our house in Cedar Rapids.  And yes, he's wearing a cowboy outfit.  It was cool then.

Me, Dan and Dave.  Dan's 9th birthday so 1981.  Dave and I look completely unimpressed. 

Sister Katy.  I'd say she's a year old in this photo so 1983.  This may very well be the only photo of Katy in a dress. :)

Mitch and I at his mom's in Texas.  1992 probably.  And yes, he still owns that shirt.


Jacob


Jacob and Sara

Sara

Monday, December 20, 2010

Sara's Appointment

Where is Maryann's Monday Madness?  What will I say?  Ugh, the pressure.

Sara had her follow-up at the neurologist this morning and it was basically good.  In spite of the fact that she's had three seizures now since September 9, they are not pushing to put her on anti-seizure medication.  I told them that my only concern is if she starts worrying a lot about having one or it starts interfering with her life, I would like to see her on something just to give her that peace of mind.  She's so self-confident and we'd hate to see anything change that.  The doctor and nurse practitioner both want to wait and see if she has any more before getting into medication.  The reason being that once a child starts anti-seizure medication, they need to stay on it until they are seizure-free for 2 years before trying to come off it.  The downside of no medication is that if she continues to have seizures, it will in effect "rewire" her brain and the seizures will be more frequent and more severe.  So we decided to wait with the agreement that if she has more seizures, we will take that step. 

Another unusual thing:  Sara's seizures always start with a visual hallucination that is very clear.  The first time, she "saw" her classroom while she was in bed, the second she "saw" houses in her classroom and last week she "saw" people in the cafeteria that weren't there.  The neurologist said that based on where her calcium deposits are - in the right rear lobe of her brain - hallucinations are usually spots or squiggly lines or flashes.  Because hers are so well-defined, it leads them to believe that the seizures are actually taking place in further in her brain, the temporal lobe.  Why this is they aren't sure. 

We're keeping her on the aspirin a day regime - that is to try to thin the blood and increase blood flow in the area of her brain where the calcium deposits are restricting it.  She will have another MRI in March and we'll meet with the neurologists again shortly after that.  Unless she has more seizures or we have concerns, when we could go back at any time. 

As far as the mood swings we've noticed, well, there the news is bad.  Apparently, that's just almost-10-year-old-girl related and we can't do anything about THAT.  Bummer.  There's never a pharmaceutical solution when you REALLY want one. :)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Sunday 8PM

Tomorrow Sara goes back to the neurologist for her follow-up.  We'll also be discussing the fact that she had that other seizure in November, as well as some issues last week.  Nothing that developed into a seizure, but she did have some hallucinations.  We don't have to go all the way to Salt Lake City tomorrow, which is nice, but to Riverton, which has a Primary Children's facility there.  It's the hospital we'd been taking Mitch for his face.  Incidentally, he goes back to the allergist tomorrow afternoon.  We do our part to support the health care system here.  Anyway, Riverton is closer and I don't have to get on I-15, which is good, since I always schedule these appointments at 9 AM, forgetting that A) I'm not a morning person; and B) I don't want to drive in rush hour traffic. 

Upside:  I think Riverton Hospital is fairly close to an IHOP.  So I think I know where Sara and I will be going after the appointment.

We are off school now until January 3.  I am mostly ready for Christmas.  The kids and I have to go out so they can get some stuff for Mitch.  But other than that, we're ready.  I'm still waiting for a couple of packages from Amazon, but the site assures me they will be delivered before Friday.  We'll see.  Amazon hasn't let me down yet so I will give them the benefit of the doubt.

I have a great many things I want to do while we're off, all fun stuff like stitching and scrapbooking and making cards, but if the past is any indication, I'll most likely sit around watching TV and Facebooking.  Which is good too in my opinion.  Maybe I'll get some blogging and reading in too.  Stay tuned, faithful readers.  I may have something interesting to say!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Fun Fact Friday

A smattering (because isn't that word fantastic?!) of Utah trivia for your reading pleasure.

** State symbol: The Beehive symbolizes thrift and industry.

** The average snowfall in the mountains near Salt Lake City is 500 inches.

** Because of the state's inland location Utah's snow is unusually dry. Earning it the reputation of having the world's greatest powder. 14 Alpine ski resorts operate in Utah.

** The name Utah comes from the Native American Ute tribe and means people of the mountains.

** Utah's professional sports teams include the Utah Jazz of the NBA, the Salt Lake Buzz of Triple A baseball, the Utah Grizzlies Hockey club of the International Hockey League and the Utah Starzz of the WNBA.

** Utah was acquired by the United States in 1848 in the treaty ending the Mexico War.

** Utah covers 84,900 square miles of land and is ranked 11th largest state in the United States.

**Utah has the highest literacy rate in the nation.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Things I Should Be Doing Instead of Sitting Here on Facebook and Watching Law & Order: SVU

  1. Cleaning bathrooms
  2. Getting ready for work
  3. Dusting
  4. Drying my hair
  5. Laundry
  6. Buying teacher gifts
  7. Buying stocking stuffers
  8. Starting dinner
  9. Cleaning out my van
  10. Walking the dog

Monday Madness on Tuesday

Whatever.  Don't judge me - it's the holidays.  And I work now at a place where I can't sit and play on the Internet all day.  But here you go.

Thanks Maryann.  As always, I and my loyal readers are grateful that you give me structure.  Otherwise, I tend to just babble. 

Like I'm doing now.  Geesh.

What's your motto?  Hmmm, I guess there'd be two really.  One given to me by a former boss "People are stupid and they lie".  Honestly, I've never heard a truer statement.  And one I've always used is "Get over it".  I mostly use it towards other people, but really, I sometimes say it to myself to remind me to let stuff go. 

 Do you like the name you were given? Is there a name that you think would suit you better?  My name is fine.  It must be, because years after I got it, my stepmother used it to.  And actually, I know some pretty awesome Nancys so I think it works.  Because I'm awesome.  In case you didn't make that connection.

 What's the one thing you always dread?  I dread lots of things: dusting, driving on the highway during rush hour, blah blah blah,, you all probably know all my phobias by now.  But I really dread parties and social situations.  Because I suck at small talk and usually I end up drinking too much and then I get that "next day drinking sickness".  Which I also dread.

Do you use anything to alter your consciousness, like alcohol or drugs? Why, or why not?  See above. 

 If you could have ANY animal as a pet, what would it be?  I think I'm good as far as pets go.  I think polar bears are really cute, but I can't imagine the size of the poop bag you'd need for one of those.

What's your favorite place in the whole world?  Specific or general?  Generally, I love libraries and bookstores.  Specifically, I really enjoy Qdoba.

 Everybody needs a pat on the back now and then. Thank yourself for something you're proud of having done recently, and then tell us about it.  I'm really proud of actually having made my Christmas cards this year.  Usually, I plan to and buy all the stuff and then procrastinate to the point that I buy cards and send them out all mad at myself.  But this year I really made them and sent them out.  (If you didn't get one, I probably don't have your address so send it to me and I'll send you one.  I have extras!)

 What do you want your life to be like in five years?  In five years?  I don't know.  Jacob will be driving - God help me - and Sara will be in high school - God help us all.  I want to be sane.  Maybe that's as much as I should hope for.

 Who's your best friend?  Dana is my best friend.  She knows too much!  But I've got the dirt on her too so I'm not too worried about that.  Jenni, Maryann, Jen and Trina are right up there.  And I'm fond of Mitch, mostly.  And I love all of you too, lest you feel offended.

If you could change one thing about your appearance, what would it be? Or would you change anything at all?  If I wanted to change anything, I guess I'd have it done.  :P  Okay, not really.  But what's the point of changing anything now?

What's one skill you wish you had?  I wish I could parallel park.  It would solve a lot of problems for me.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Fun Fact Friday

** Odontophobia is the fear of teeth.

** The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians in 2000 B.C.

** The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.

** On the average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily.

** The "pound" (#) key on your keyboard is called an octothorp.

** The average four year-old child asks over four hundred questions a day.

** It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.

** All polar bears are left handed.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Car Talk

Sometimes, in the car, my kids have the strangest conversations.  This was tonight's:

Jacob: I'm going to have to find a job soon.

Sara: Jacob, you're ELEVEN.

Jacob: I know, but companies are laying off like crazy. It's bad now, how bad is it going to be in 5 years?

Sara: The economy is predicted to get better in 2011.

Jacob: The people who say that are like weather forecasters. They can PREDICT it, but that doesn't mean it's actually going to happen.

Sara: Jacob, I had to learn all about Utah's economy. Do you have any idea how BORING that is?



Apparently, it's just boring enough for her to remember it and engage in a wise and insightful economic discussion with her brother.

Please note that I had nothing pertinent to add to this conversation.

I did not raise my kids this way, I promise you that.

Lunatic Fringe

We finally have a diagnosis for Mitch:  idiopathic angioedema.  Basically, it means he swells up and they don't know why and there's nothing we can do except treat the symptoms.  So there's that.  He has a sackful of drugs and an refill for the Epi-pen and a follow-up appointment for December 21st.  You can look it up yourself and see some pictures that pretty much show what Mitch has been going through.  And it will tell you what I just did about what we can do for him.  So...nothing.

An interesting thing is that one of the websites said that angioedema mostly occurs in African-Americans, is more common in women and tends to show itself in early puberty.  Which is clearly Mitch.  Or not.  It's not like medicine is a SCIENCE or anything.  Geesh.

Post continued 7 hours later...

Sorry, a phone call from my brother interrupted my posting, which clearly wasn't really going anywhere anyway.  And then I had to go to work and then take Jacob for his 2nd Hepatitis A shot, which he needs for school here.  He very much liked leaving school over an hour early, not so much the shot. 

And I can tell this post still isn't going anywhere.

So...do you watch Fringe?  Because you should.  It's a very cool show, science fiction and futuristic and funny.  It's currently on Thursday nights on FOX, but at the end of January, it will move to Friday nights.  If you check it out, here are a few things you need to know:

- There are 2 universes, but the characters are the same in both.  Our universe is obviously the good one.  You can tell which universe they're showing by the character Walter:  if he's scattered and goofy, it's our universe.  If he's well-groomed and together, it's the other one.

- I don't know what the purpose of the cow in the lab is, other than a source of milk.

- Our Walter took large quantities of LSD years ago and suffered a break of some sort.  As a result, he offers many hysterical and off-beat zingers during each show.  The other Walter, or Walternate as he is called by us fans, is not nearly as amusing.

- Peter is a nice enough guy, but oh my goodness, if you don't know that the woman you are sleeping with is not the woman you've been in love with for the last 2 seasons, then I guess you aren't the man I thought you were.  At some point, he should have figured it out BEFORE a random cleaning lady called you.  Duh.

Go watch it.  Maryann and I can't be the only fans.

I will fully admit that this is the WORST. POST. EVER. 

Friday, December 3, 2010

Random Stuff Friday

- We spent some time together as a family last night.  In the ER with Mitch.  He's fine, but his throat was feeling tight and funny after he ate Del Taco (which may just be a normal side effect of Del Taco).  So at 9 PM, we all hopped in the car and drove over.  They gave him his IV drug cocktail, asked him his story, and the kids and I watched some Disney Channel.  We got home at 1 AM.  To say I'm tired is an understatement.

- I only watch "Lord of the Rings" to see a blond, pointed eared Orlando Bloom.  Dreamy.  I'm watching it right now, so sorry if this post is all over the place.

- I took the kids to the Chuck-A-Rama last night, which is a buffet similar to Old Country Buffet.  Mitch worked late, so I told them it was a surprise and I'll tell you, it was crazy in the van when we pulled in.  They've wanted to go FOREVER but Mitch doesn't eat buffets so it's been no luck for them.  It was hilarious.  (I should also get extra-credit cool mom points for taking them at 5:15 on the interstate.  I had to MERGE for goodness sake.  I hate merging.)

- Jacob talked our ears off.  Apparently, if you take an 11-year-old boy to an all-you-can-eat buffet and let him stuff himself full of ham, fried chicken, lime jello and carrot cake, he'll tell you anything you want to know.  And a whole bunch of stuff you don't want to know.

- This site cracks me up:  ecards    Cracks. Me. Up.

- My quest for a Qdoba substitute continues.  I feel a bit like Frodo.  (See above "Lord of the Rings" reference.)

- I'm changing the title of this post from "Fun Fact Friday" to "Random Stuff Friday", because it's so disjointed and ridiculous that it's all I can do not to delete it entirely.  But I know how you all would suffer without my words of wisdom.  And I really wanted to get in that point about Orlando Bloom.

- Ok, enough.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Things on Thursday

- The mouse for my laptop isn't working right.  And I am just plain unable to work the touchpad.  It's brutal. 

- The job is going well.  I worked my first outdoor recess yesterday and it wasn't too bad.  I wasn't sure what was allowed and what wasn't, so I watched the other 3 "duty guards" and followed their lead.  I constantly surprised by the number of kids not wearing boots or even coats.  Oh, did I mention that one of those kids was my son?  Yeah, good to know that he wore his snow boots all last week when there was NO SNOW but now that there is snow, he can't be troubled.  And coats are optional apparently.  I could just strangle him sometimes.

- Mitch's face started to swell up Monday night so he carted himself off to the Emergency Room.  His appointment with the allergist isn't until next week, so he called them to try to get in earlier, but no luck.  They told him to keep taking all the medications he was given at the ER, so hopefully we can make it until then without another incident.  He thinks it's the solution they inject into pork chops and pork roasts at the store.  I don't know about that, but I'm not really arguing because I don't care for pork and if he turns out to be allergic, I don't have to eat it anymore.   It would be a double win for me:  no more puffy faced husband and no more pork chops.

- How is it possible that there is not one good picture of my kids together for my Christmas card?  There's actually not even one good picture of Sara by herself.  I guess I'll be taking pictures this weekend and hoping for the best.  I bought Christmas cards, even though I fully intended to MAKE my Christmas cards this year, but time is running short and I've hardly started.  Ugh.

- It's that time of year where the kids make Christmas lists and Mitch and I sit and laugh about what they think they're getting.  No Sara, given your recent head issues, there will not be a pogo stick or moon boots under the tree.  And Jacob, FTLOG, we're not buying you an XBox.  You have nine million computer video games, a DS, and a Wii.  Get over it.  I do love that Sara's list says "new camera or new batteries for the camera I have".  So I have the option of spending $100 or $6.  Decisions, decisions. 

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Post Thanksgiving Debrief

Mitch got called into work - at 7 PM on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend - so I'm taking the time to catch up on stuff.  And by stuff I mean paying bills and eating nachos.  And of course, writing here.  And eating fudge.  (It's almost gone though, which will leave a huge hole in my days.)

Thanksgiving was uneventful, which is just the way I like it.  We ate turkey around 12:30 PM, had a nap and ate some more turkey.  We went to see Harry Potter, because I mistakenly thought it wouldn't be too bad on Thanksgiving night.  Please note the use of the word "mistakenly" in the previous sentence.  Even half an hour early, the only seats we could find were in the 2nd row.  And I like Harry as much as the next person, but holy smokes, I don't need to be that close.  My neck and eyes were aching by the end.  Sara was getting a headache about 45 minutes in, so she and Mitch ended up standing further back against the wall.  (Any mention of her having a headache makes us nervous any more.)  I'd like to go back and see it another time, just to get another look.

If you didn't already know, Mitch had to go the ER last Tuesday.  He had another swelling reaction and this time it was his lower face, including his mouth.  I'd post a picture, but he'd be really mad and then you'd all be coming to my funeral, so let's leave it at you wouldn't believe it even if you saw it.  They hooked him up to an IV and gave him 4 different meds and managed to get it under control.  He's got an appointment with an allergist next week and a steroid prescription along with an epi pen.  He's also under strict instructions that if his face swells again AT ALL to take some Benadryl and come to the ER.  They were pretty convinced it's going to affect his throat next.  I'm hoping this allergist can get him figured out.  He can't keep having these episodes.

We had some snow overnight so that's been fun.  I didn't go out at all today so I can't speak to the condition of the roads.  We'll see tomorrow, I suppose. 

Tomorrow is Cyber Monday.  I'd appreciate it if all of you would stay off the Internet and away from the great deals I'm anticipating scoring.  Thanks in advance. :)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thankful Thoughts

Here on Thanksgiving Eve, I'm sure it's reasonable to think this would be a post about things I am thankful for.  To that I ask:

Did you people learn nothing from my 40th birthday post?

I won't bore you with the fact that I am of course thankful for my husband and kids and various extended family members.  And you already know I am thankful for all my fabulous friends, who at this point in my life are spread over a great many states but thanks to the power of the Internet and free long-distance don't seem any further that just down the street.

Health has been tricky here for us the last few months, so let's just settle for I'm thankful for the degree of health we currently enjoy and hope that by this time next year, we can remember where we are now and be glad this is all behind us.  I am well aware that many, many people have health problems far worse that what we have/are currently experiencing and I think of people like this often.  A daughter who who has some deposits on her brain that don't interfere with her daily life is indeed a blessing after you've spent any time at all in a pediatric hospital and have seen what others are going through.  And Mitch's swelling face is still a mystery but as long as it doesn't explode all together, we're good.

Even though I'm not spending the holiday with family, I am thankful to know that they are all safe wherever they are celebrating, when there are many, many servicemen and women who are spending their Thanksgiving far away from everyone they love in places that are not the safest.  I am thankful for those men and women as well and do not forget what they are sacrificing that allows me to sit in my house peacefully and gorge myself on fudge and turkey.  (Okay, well maybe just fudge.)

And while many of you are surely shocked to find out I am working in a school - around CHILDREN, no less - and even though I'm only 3 days in, I am thankful to be there.  Jobs aren't easy to come by and despite my reckless disregard of the first one I had here, I do know that.  That this one allows me to be close to my kids in case Sara needs me and understands when I have to call in on my third day because my husband is in the emergency room is something to be thankful for indeed.  And I really like those 2nd graders, let me tell you.  The rest of them are pretty awesome too.  It's maybe not what I had planned on doing here, and it's not what I'm used to at all, but it's perfect for me right now.  So I'm thankful for that.

I am thankful for you, dear readers and Internet stalkers, whether you be friend or family or random stranger.  Whether you read this because I bullied you into it or because you think I'm slightly crazy or because you're slightly crazy or because you are truly interested in my little life here, I always love to look and see how many people have stopped by.  I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you are.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Maryann's Monday Madness

Maryann posts these and tells me to do the same and I obey.  You can repost and answer on your own blog, just come back and leave me a comment so I can go read your answers.

Some people hate curse words, some people love them. Which side are you on? And what's your favorite curse (or curse-substitute) word?  Okay, I think we all know I swear.  A lot.  I don't like to play favorites.  I'm an equal opportunity curser.

What's the best thing that could happen to you right now, and if it did, what's the first song you'd turn up loud and start dancing to?  The best thing would be for all these medical issues we're having here to just go away.  And basically, I turn everything up loud and sing along.  But right now, my two faves are Taylor Swift's Mean and Sugarland's Stuck Like Glue.  (Shut up, I never claimed to have great musical taste.)  And there will be no dancing.  I don't believe in dancing. 

Who's your favorite writer, and what work of theirs would you recommend we read first?  Stephen King is my all time favorite writer and I tell everyone to read "Thinner".  He wrote it under a different name and it's not very well known, but it's amazing,.

Post a photograph that means something to you and then tell us why you chose it. (It can be your photo or someone else's.)



This picture is totally Jacob and Sara.  He would never want anyone to see him being silly with his sister, and she lives to make him be silly.  She adores him, and would rather spend time with him than anyone else.  You never hear Jacob laugh the way he does when he's with her. 

Happy Labor Day! What's the first job you ever had?  Besides babysitting?  Then Taco Bell.  For a whopping $3.35 an hour.  Oh, and the free brown polyester uniform and matching visor.  What a vision of loveliness I was.

What's the difference between men and women?   Ummm, really?  Did you not take 6th grade health class?  Seriously though, the difference I see is that women have an incredible amount of daily information in their heads - what kid needs to be where and when, what time school starts and lets out, family birthdays, their husband's family birthdays, etc.  Men, on the other hand, have an incredible amount of useless information in their heads - the price of gas in 1989, the final score of the last football game they played in high school, a "better" route that the GPS doesn't recognize.  Stuff like that.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Just a Job to Do

I started at the school today.  I'm a math factor tutor for seven classes (15 minutes per class) and the last 15 minutes of my day, I am out front helping with Track A dismissal.  I will also be doing playground duty starting on Monday, so I can add an extra hour to my time card bringing the grand total to 3 hours a day.  I fully expect to be exhausted.  But I don't have to be there until 11:30 so that will help. 

But I got my very own whistle today so that was an unexpected surprise.  Who knew this job came with accessories?  I thought it would just be flashcards. 

To celebrate my new employment - do you think maybe I should wait a few days to see if this sticks before I start celebrating, because we know new jobs aren't carved in stone with me - I went to Yogurt Bliss and it was delicious.  Obviously.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Random Things on Thursday

- Mitch is going to a dermatologist today in (yet) another attempt to determine why the left side of his face swells up.  And now this morning he said his left hand is swollen as well.  I've decided that Utah is bringing out the weird health issues in this family.

- I hate drinking out of cans.  I prefer bottles.  Glass for beer and plastic for soda.  I harbor a bizarre belief that my clumsiness will result in cutting my lip open while drinking from a can.  Which may explain my stress level this week while I try to finish off this case of Dr. Pepper cans I bought while Mitch's dad was here.

- Note to James Patterson:  I just saw your commercial for your new book "Cross Fire" and you, of all people, should know that "unputdownable" is not a word.  It's not even acceptable as "un-put-downable".  I'm making my disappointed face at you for allowing the voice-over guy to use that non-word.

-  The local CW station here follows a noon showing of "Law & Order: SVU" with "Matlock".  Seriously?  "Matlock"?

- I have a grocery list a mile long for Thanksgiving dinner and it's just the 4 of us here.  It seems unlikely that I seem to have NO SUPPLIES for this meal, yet that appears to be the case.  And I have to buy stuff to make for pumpkin pies and I don't even like pumpkin pie.  Ironic, I know.

- Tonight begins Thursday night football and it's the Bears vs. the Dolphins.  I love Thursday night football.  I won't say who I'm rooting for, since sometimes my brothers read this blog and I don't want to make either one of them mad.

- My most recent "completely attainable, yet highly unlikely I will actually do" goal is to read my camera book and find out how to use all those features past "Easy".  Because since they went to all the trouble of putting those features on the camera, it seems that the least I could do is try one of them.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Eight Days a Week

Again, where have I been?  Ugh, as soon as I wrote last Tuesday's post, things went crazy!

I had a job interview that day.  It went well, except it was about 30 minutes away and only paid $7.50 an hour.  The hours were not fabulous, 9 to 5:30.  I was pretty sure I wasn't taking it when I left, though you never can tell with me.  I do have a history of taking weird jobs.  Funeral home receptionist, anyone?

Anyway, I got home and was goofing off, waiting for it to be time to pick up the kids from science club, talking on the phone to Jenni, when the call waiting beeped through at 3:20.  I didn't recognize the number, but thought that I should.  (Do you ever have that?  Hmmm, the number isn't immediately recognized, but I think I SHOULD know it, so what to do?)  Good thing I answered, since it was Sara's teacher.  He said Sara wasn't doing well and wanted me to come get her.  I could hear something in the background and finally said, "Is that her crying?"  and he said yes.  I clicked back over to Jenni, changed out of my yoga pants into something more publicly acceptable, and drove over to the school.  Luckily, we're only 2 miles away.

Kids were getting on the buses when I pulled in and I went straight up to Sara's classroom.  She was sitting on the floor with her teacher, holding a trash can.  I said "Hi Sara" and she looked toward me and then back at her teacher and said "Is that my mom?  Is she here?" 

I could tell from her voice that it was another temporal* lobe seizure.  When she stood up and came to me, she started saying "I need to go home, can we go home, let's just go home" and variations of that theme.  She said she was going to throw up and she needed to take the trash can with her.  I knew she wasn't going to, that it was a symptom of the seizure, and convinced her we couldn't take the school trash can home.  There was another teacher in there and she went to the science club room to get Jacob.  We took the elevator downstairs since she wasn't in any shape to take the stairs and I didn't feel comfortable carrying her and got her out to the car. 

She was a little better in the car, but still agitated and saying she needed to go home.  We got home and she barely made it in the house before collapsing on the couch.  She slept for 3 hours and woke up with a headache, but it wasn't too bad and some Motrin took care of it. 

I called the neurologist's office Wednesday.  They said they don't necessarily need to see her since she has an appointment already scheduled for the end of December, but if she has another one, they will want to.  They also said to make sure she stays hydrated and gets enough rest, because any kind of compromise to her system may contribute to a seizure.  They confirmed there isn't anything to do while she's having one, except wait it out and be there.

SO that kept us freaked out for a little bit.  Then Mitch's dad and Annette came on Thursday and stayed until Monday morning.  It was a great visit.  We went up to Salt Lake on Friday and to Antelope Island on Sunday and ate at the Red Iguana  twice.  Seeing her grandparents was just what Sara needed and took her mind off the seizure. 

I had a job interview at the school on Friday and they called right after to say I got it.  It's just as a Math Fact Tutor, 2 hours a day, but it's close.  And maybe too close, but until I feel more comfortable about Sara, I need to be close.  And with any luck, it will lead to something else with the school district next year when hopefully everything is back to normal.  Or back to acceptable anyway.  I went for fingerprinting today and will be starting soon.

So while we're in Salt Lake Friday morning, the agency called about the receptionist job.  I had no intention of taking that job, remember, but I wasn't going to tell HIM that. 

So I said, "Well, Mr. Job Guy, you said you'd call me on Wednesday.  I didn't hear from you so I figured they weren't interested.  I took a job with the school district an hour ago." 

Mr. Job Guy:  "Oh, no.  They called yesterday and they think you'd be perfect."

Me:  (To myself:  Well, of course I'd be perfect.  Duh!)  Out loud: "Sorry, but even if you'd called yesterday it would have been different.  Like I said, I took this other job this morning."

Unnecessary?  Yeah, probably.  But whatever.  I have few opportunities to be snarky anymore, I gotta take what I can get.

What have YOU been doing this past week? :)

* Corrected from earlier post:  I had written frontal lobe seizure which is not correct.  It's a temporal lobe seziure. 

Sunday, November 14, 2010

More Photos




Some Photos I've Enjoyed



I did not take any of these photos.  I found them on the Internet.  There are more I like and I will post them as I find them.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

So Swell When You're Well

Where have I been?  Apparently, I turn 40 and all my good blogging habits go right out the window.  I don't really have any excuses, nothing really awesome going on or anything like that.  Just regular day to day stuff that gets in the way of keeping you all informed.

There's a guy here cleaning our carpets right now, in preparation for Mitch's dad and stepmother's arrival on Thursday.  Honestly, if he'd started when he got here instead of standing around making small talk with me, he'd be done by now.  And who wants to stand around and make small talk with me?  I'm not very good at it.  He found out we moved here from Michigan though and had all kinds of Utah/Michigan carpet cleaning comparisons that he'd picked up from chat rooms on the Internet.  I don't even want to know why there are carpet cleaning chat rooms on the Internet.  But I guess there really is something for everyone out there.  Anyway, without knowing I had worked for a funeral home, he wanted to know if it was true that they don't bury dead people until spring. 

Now, as much as I would have like to look him straight in the eye and say "Why, yes, we just stack 'em up like cordwood and then come spring dump 'em all in a mass grave somewhere," I didn't.  I said, "Well no actually, I worked for a funeral home and we buried people every day of the year."  (Also not true, but I suppose for the right price, we would have buried your loved one on Christmas day.)

What else I didn't say: "Get to cleaning there sir, I didn't ask you here for entertainment purposes."

Again proving that not everything I'm thinking comes straight out my mouth.  It just seems like that sometimes.

Mitch's face swelled up again Sunday evening.  He had been to the ENT a couple weeks ago and was told it was a deviated septum and a blocked tear duct that keeps causing this.  It's been happening more and more frequently over the last year and it's happened at least 6 times since we moved here.  If you're not familiar with old swollen face here, what happens is the left side of his face, usually around his cheekbones, swells. Last time, the swelling was so bad, his eye was swollen shut.  We always associated it with an allergy to some seasonings, but more recently, there's been nothing to trace it back to.  And on Monday morning, his entire left side was swollen including his jawline.  It looked like he had an abscessed tooth or something.  He stayed home from work, because hello - he looked goofy - and I finally got him to call the ENT again.  He went in yesterday afternoon and they did a CT scan.  The doctor called this morning and wants him to go over to see an opthamologist this afternoon.  So maybe we'll get some answers this afternoon.  The radiologist yesterday said she thought it was cellulitis, but we googled it and it doesn't seem that's it.  ( I know what's wrong with that statement.  No need to point it out to me.  We don't really think google is more accurate than a well-trained radiologist.)  So now we wait.

Note:  This whole move to Utah so far has really just been a test of our medical insurance.  If Mitch needs anything major, he's having it done before the end of this year.  I'm not starting over on this whole deductible thing.

So since this is a health related post somehow, I will tell you that Jacob hurt his ankle at school yesterday.  He didn't tell his teacher.  What he DID do however, was get off the school bus at the first stop in our subdivision and walk home.  A good 5 blocks or so.  In the cold rain.  With a possibly sprained ankle.  (Maybe we've sent the wrong kid to a neurologist all this time.) 

I looked at it when he got home and it does look swollen - a recurring theme in this house apparently - so I gave him an ice pack and a lecture about why walking on a possibly sprained ankle might not be the best idea he's ever had.  But no, I did not take him to ER.  Mitch wrapped it when he got home and we'll give it a day.  Or until his grandparents show up and shame us into taking him in. 

The carpet cleaning guy is done.  He did mention, however that his equipment got tangled up in the dog leash and he cut his finger on an exposed wire from the dog leash so now he's going to get a tetanus shot.  Really?  Can we not do ANYTHING here without it turning into a trip to the doctor for somebody?

Friday, November 5, 2010

Fun Fact Friday

This was sent to me in an e-mail from my mother today.  I've seen it before and it's always funny.  So I share it with you.

Adult Truths

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.


2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font. So True!!!

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.


14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important...which makes perfect sense

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Dear Comcast

Dear Comcast,

Hi!  It's me.  Again.  I know, right?  We're developing quite the relationship, wouldn't you say? 

So, let's recap, shall we?  We've had your service since the end of July.  Cable, phone and Internet bundle package.  $180 a month.  So far on our two TVs, we've had 5 different cable boxes.  Then you were here yesterday because my DVR wasn't recording well.  According to my phone call today, where I spoke with a supervisor, we've had 4 service calls.

Since July.  All for cable.

The Internet is fine.  The phone is fine.  It's the TV you can't get right.

This morning, when I got up, the guide was on the screen and wouldn't go away.  So I had to unplug the box and plug it back in.  And then this afternoon, while watching Law & Order, I went to check the guide and the remote wouldn't work.   It works to turn the TV off.  It works to run the sound system.  It just doesn't work with the cable box.  I called Customer Service and the very nice girl there ran me through a half dozen diagnostic tests to come to the conclusion that:

The remote and the cable box are not communicating.  But I can bring the remote back to the service center and get a new one.

Well, that's convenient.  Or not.  Mostly not.

So I spoke with a supervisor who confirmed that yes, we've had a high number of service related issues.  No, that's not right.  Yes, she can understand my frustration.  So you will send a technician out tomorrow to try to resolve my issues.

Again.

Somehow I'm not optimistic.  But let's consider this a final chance to not have me lose my mind and cancel your less than stellar service.

We'll see. 

Sincerely,

Me

P.S. - I fixed the remote.  By unplugging the cable box yet again.  But I don't consider that a long-term solution.  I'm not a fan of crawling behind my TV.  It's dusty back there you know.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

To A Vote

So it's back to the real world today and the housework awaits.  I started some laundry, vacuumed and dusted.  Which I absolutely HATE dusting, so that really counts as two jobs. 

I'm really glad these elections are over.  I'll just come out and say it: I didn't vote.  I only got my driver's license a couple weeks ago, as you may remember.  They asked me at the DMV if I wanted to register to vote, but then I saw online that there is actually a form at the DMVs used to register.  And since we haven't been here very long, I don't know the candidates or the issues here.  So I skipped it.

And before you get all "It's your duty" and "How unAmerican" on me, keep in mind that I've voted in nearly every election for at least the last 10 years.  And I generally get those voting information things from the library so I know who I'm voting for and why.  (Those are especially helpful for the proposals.  Do they purposefully word those things so by the time you finish reading it, you don't know what to vote?  I think so. )  The bottom line is that missing one for my reasons doesn't bug me much.  I don't really care much about your voting habits either.  Vote or don't vote.  I don't care.   If you go, great.  If you don't, there are fewer people in line ahead of me.

Truth is, I'm really only in it for the sticker.

Anyway, now we get like 20 minutes before the next round of political ads and government bashing begins.  Enjoy it, friends. 

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Forty or Fifty

Well, here on my 40th birthday, I bet you're expecting some funny little blog post about everything I've learned during my tenure here on this fine planet.  Unfortunately, this is ME you're reading, so you had to know that basically:

I GOT NOTHING.

I've lived 40 years and done a fairly decent job, I'd say.  I've got a great husband, a couple of awesome kids, and an incredible group of parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.  I have some terrific friends, most of whom are far away now, but I know I'll always have them in my life.  I've got this dog, which the jury is still out on, but she's not nearly Cherin's Charlie, so I won't complain.  (Hi Cherin!)

I don't think there's much I've done that would come back to haunt me if I chose to run for public office, and even if there is, we didn't have the technology in those days to document it for all time.  Thank God for that.  But I'm not a hugely political person, so running for office isn't a life goal of mine anyway. 

I've been on television once, during the high school teacher strike my freshman year of high school.  I've written 2 letters to the editor of the newspapers in Virginia Beach and in Kalamazoo.  I don't like to speak in front of groups of people.  I don't like crowds and loud places, so I haven't been to a concert since my sophomore year in high school.  I can't parallel park, so I don't even try. 

I hate consultants.  :)

I love crab legs and chimichangas.  Not together, because that would be weird.  And I don't guacamole on my crab legs.  I love strawberry milkshakes.  I read a lot.  Stephen King is my favorite, but I also like Dean Koontz, Jodi Piccoult, Stephenie Meyers, Suzanne Brockmann.  I watch Law & Order: SVU, Big Bang Theory, Fringe, Two and a Half Men.  I don't scrapbook or cross stitch as much as I'd like to.  I drive a minivan, and I like it.   I had a little Toyota truck for years and I liked that too.

I've lived in Rolling Meadows, IL, Cedar Rapids, IA, McHenry, IL, Virginia Beach, VA, Suffolk, VA, Kalamazoo, MI and now Utah.  I've liked them all.  Every place has its good things and its bad things.  It's always the people I meet that make it worth being there.   

I make lists, lots of lists.  Every day has a list of things to do.  I never get them all done, but it helps me remember what I want to do.  I put stuff on my list I know will never get done, like scrapbooking.  I also put easy stuff on my list just so I can cross it off.  Once everything on my list is done, I guess I am too.  Luckily, dusting will always be on my list so I might live forever.

I am 40 today, at least that's what it says on my birth certificate and BOTH of my parents mentioned it when they called.  (I don't know why they thought it was so funny - if I'm 40, how old does that make them?) But most of the time, I don't think I know any more than I knew at 14.  I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. 

Maybe when I'm 50.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Rocket

I spent this morning standing on a hill behind my kids' school in 45 degree weather and a wicked wind, watching a rocket launch.  It was very neat, even though the wind complicated things a bit.  The kids had to use the smallest motor available, even though most had ordered bigger motors, and still at least half the rockets ended up on the roof.

Except for the one that went straight up, and plummeted back into the bystanders and landed nose first into the ground a foot and a half from a lady and her little kid who were looking in the opposite direction.  Pay attention folks!  Rockets launching!

I went to Sara's class yesterday to help with the reading program.  I worked with 2 boys and granted, I am not a teacher, but they didn't seem to need that much help to me.  I'll go every other Wednesday afternoon.  The room mom that helped me get started was really nice.  And now I'm bringing juice bags for the Halloween party tomorrow.  Must. Stop. Volunteering.

Some questions I currently have:

- When did they start putting pockets on Snuggies?

- Why would "SVU" be a rerun on the same week "Fringe" is not on due to the World Series?

- When did "That 70s Show" change Lauries?  I liked the first Laurie better.

- Why do I watch so much TV?  It's not on the list of things Mitch and Sara say I do all day.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Happy Birthday!

It's Mitch's birthday and as much as I'd like to write a post about him, he would not at all appreciate it.  I think he does not feel the same level of comfort in disclosing all his life secrets over the Internet that I do.  He's funny that way.

So let's just suffice it to say that it's his birthday.  It's pretty much a normal day, work for him, school for the kids, Scouts for Jacob and the like.  So we'll be doing something nice for dinner over the weekend.  Because I am the queen of last minute, I went out and got him some gifts this morning.  It's somewhat comforting to know that even after 16 years of marriage, and 19 years together, I still have no idea what to get him.  Asking him is pointless, because it would either involve a trip to Cabela's to get something I have no idea about, or he says he doesn't want anything.  Which is how, one of the first years we were married, he got a flashlight and a handheld video poker game for his birthday.

For the record, we still have the poker game.  So I guess it wasn't a bad purchase after all.

***************************************************

Yesterday's post generated some response, which is good.  It's good to know someone is reading this.  Another point I wanted to make, but didn't think of til later is this:  Once you have that really good dog, that is the dog all future dogs will be measured against.  That's it.

***************************************************

I am volunteering in Sara's class this afternoon, helping kids with reading.  Which generated humor from Mitch and horror from Sara.  And then this charming conversation:

Mitch:  "Come on Sara, reading is what your Mom does all day,"

Sara:  "No, she also yells at the dog and Facebooks,"

This is what they think I do all day.  While apparently, the laundry, cleaning, cooking and driving fairies come around and pick up the slack so I devote all my time to reading, Facebooking and yelling at the dog.

They'll both be singing a different tune when they're out of clean underwear at the end of the week.  Maybe they can write a book about it.  I have time to read it apparently.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Dog Tales

I have a theory about dogs.  Want to hear it?  Well, you must or you wouldn't be here.  And if you don't, that's too bad because here it is:

You only get to own one really good dog in your life.

There, I said it.  Dispute it if you will, but that's my belief based on a not-so-random sampling of people I know who own dogs.  My experience is that it's usually your first dog.  Maybe because it's like your first kid:  they somehow know you don't know what you're doing so they tend to be a little more understanding.  By the second dog, you know what to expect and what you want in a dog and are less tolerant of stuff. 

And to clarify:  I generally find that it's the first dog you own as an adult.  I had some really good dogs as a kid: Holly and Bill, specifically.  But they were both the first dogs owned by my parents.  Holly was my mom and Kim's dog, Bill my dad and Nancy's.  Good dogs.  And I loved them.  But they weren't MY dogs. 

My dogs were Abby, Sophie, Tiyo, Murphy, Dibbs and now Gracie. 

Abby was the chosen dog.  Mitch took 30 days leave from the Navy when we got Abby as a 12-week-old Newfoundland puppy.  (Please note: He took 4 days off when Jacob was born.  Our firstborn child.  FOUR DAYS.)  Abby didn't drool, she was smart, obedient, and other than the mounds of black fur she left everywhere, perfect.  She loved kids and was great with them.  My kids crawled on her, pulled themselves up by grabbing her ears and pretended to ride her.  She died at 10, which is really old for a Newfoundland, of arthritis.  She rarely barked, didn't get on the couch, and only slept on the bed when invited.  She didn't try to eat the cats.  Really good dog.

Sophie was a Newfoundland puppy we only had for 3 weeks.  We sent her back to the breeder because she had a birth defect.  But even in those 3 weeks, she was completely different.  She was stubborn.  She refused to walk on a leash and Mitch spent those 3 weeks dragging her through the grass in the backyard by the leash.  She had a bladder problem that was the result of poor breeding.  (Always check your breeders folks, the good ones aren't in it for the money.)

Tiyo we got when he was 2 years old.  Also a Newfoundland and big as a house.  And DUMB as a STUMP.  God help us, that dog was dumb.  The only living Newfoundland who was afraid of water.  He would walk AROUND puddles.  When we took him and Abby to the lake, he would wade in to his dog ankles and stand there, shaking and drooling, while Abby swam and swam for hours.  He drooled like crazy anytime someone different would come into the house.  We had to keep old towels around to clean up the drool.  He was a farm dog and when we got him, he had never seen stairs.  His technique was to go down them as fast as possible.  I always said I'd find him at the bottom of the stairs with a broken neck one day, or in the tub drowned in an inch of water. He died at 12, when we had to have him put down.  No one told him Newfoundlands don't live to be 12.

Then there was Murphy.  A good dog candidate, except for his pesky habit of biting kids faces.  He would have been good if he had had a better puppyhood, I just know it. 

Dibbs was my nephew Joe's dog, who we fostered when Joe went into the Air Force.  And Joe would probably say he was a good dog.  But he wasn't really our dog - we only had him for a few months before he went to visit his grandmother for a holiday and just never came home.   Lisa needed him more than we did, and she was definitely due a good dog after Riley, the wild beast.  Dibbs was goofy looking and had a tiny little head stuck on his fat body.  He reminded me of Yoda and whenever I pretended he was talking, it always came out in Yoda-speak.  "My head to small for my body it is" and stuff like that. 

And now Gracie.  I don't know what it is about this dog that drives me crazy.  Maybe it's her habit of jumping up on the couch, even though she knows she's not allowed.  Maybe it's her favorite game: unrolling the toilet paper.  Or her other favorite game: taking tissues out of the box on the end table.  She's starting to grow on me some, but she's got a look in her eye that tells me it's going to be a long road.  I like my dogs big and lazy and this one is not there yet.  Once we get past this puppy stage, I think we'll turn a corner.  Let's hope so anyway. 

But I still stand by my theory.  One really good dog in your lifetime.  Once you have that really good dog, the others might not quite measure up.  Sure, I loved all those other dogs - especially Murphy, in spite of his obvious flaws - because they were all good dogs in their own ways.  Tiyo was a good dog, so was Dibbs and so is Gracie.  But really good dogs?

Those are hard to find.

Maryann's Monday Madness

Either I missed this yesterday, or she really didn't post it until today, but here goes.  You might know the drill by now: I copy these from my friend Maryann and then answer them.  You can do the same, and then come back here and leave me a comment so I know you did it!

Where were you and what were you doing ten years ago?  Let's see, ten years ago, we were in Kalamazoo and I would have been a stay-at-home mom to Jacob, who would have been 17 months, and pregnant with Sara.  So I would have been TIRED.

What's the first play you ever saw live?  Besides elementary school plays, I believe that would have been Diary of Anne Frank.  Junior high. 

Everyone has a trick they depend on, a shortcut for something like fixing a flat, curing a headache, making a kid stop crying, or choosing a cantaloupe. What's yours?   My laundry shortcut is to give my kids two baskets in their rooms - one for whites, one for darks.  Then I can just grab a basket and throw it in the washer.  My trick for hiccups is to drink 10 swallows of water without taking a breath.  It cures them every time.  I think I learned this from my stepmother, who never failed to entertain us kids with her knowledge of such things.

What's one thing you can't start your day without?  Pepsi or Dr. Pepper.  Caffeinated soda of some sort.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Sick & Tired

Ugh, I'm tired.  I've got a cold that's been on the cusp for a few days.  I think I caught it early enough that it's not developing into a full blown cold, but I'm just hovering on that line where I'm tired and achy and blah and not quite right.  Okay, so maybe I've been "not quite right" for a while, but you know what I mean.

Somewhere in the middle of this feeling, Saturday evening, I banned the kids from playing video games for a week.  The constant arguing is driving me insane.  And then they start hitting or not hitting each other, depending on who is talking, i.e. "He hit me!" "No, I didn't, she kicked me!" "No, I didn't!"  ENOUGH.

Yesterday was the first full day of no video games and it went fine.  Sadly for them, I think we're on to something here.

So here's my new complaint.  I am SO SO SO tired of fighting with them to do stuff that they volunteered to do.  Like Science Club, band, Scouts, etc.  The science fair is not mandatory this year I guess, but 4th through 6th graders could join this club after school on Tuesdays and still have a science fair.  Both my kids wanted to do it.  Jacob went on Tuesday, since Sara was at the dentist, and got the information and brought it home.  They had to read a couple pages in this packet and fill out some worksheets.  But would either of them do it?  No. 

And will Jacob practice his trumpet?  No. Because most of the band kids are beginners and he's not, so "I don't need to practice that stuff, Mom." 

Will Jacob read his Scout book to complete some more stuff he needs to advance?  No. Because it's boring.

So this is what I told them last night, while I was high on cold medicine and just tired of all of it.

"These are all things you guys WANTED to do.  Nobody is forcing you to do them.  I take time out of my life to drive you to band, and to scouts, and to pick you up from Science Club, and I am happy to do it.  But if you're not going to do what you are expected to do, it's not worth my time and gas.  So if you don't practice your trumpet, I'm not taking you to band and we'll return the trumpet and save ourselves $30 a month.  And if you won't do your Science Club work, then you will quit.  And when you go to Scouts and they ask you why you haven't worked on this stuff, you can tell them you don't want to and then we won't drive you to Scouts anymore.  It doesn't matter to me anymore and I'm not going to drive myself crazy making you do the work.  Because I AM DONE."

Well, the Science Club work got done.  And Jacob may have read his Scout book, but I don't know for sure.  I know there was no trumpet practice. 

Was that too hard a line?  I don't know and honestly, don't care.  He's 11 and he wants to do this stuff.  The Scout stuff is way different, because now he's a Boy Scout and the boys are expected to take responsibility for their own advancement.  It's not troop driven anymore, it's boy driven.  And if the boy is lazy and only wants to play video games, then he won't succeed.  But it's not up to the leaders to take him by the hand and drag him through it.  Mitch and I will help him as much as we can, as long as he's willing to do the work.  But I will not try to force him to do it.  Because trying to force Jacob to do anything is pointless.  The harder you try, the more he resists.  I can bang my head against the wall on my own time over my own issues, thank you very much.

And it's not all Jacob.  Sara just usually caves much easier.  We went through something very much like this with Sara over softball.  Complain, whine, moan.  We made it through that season, but the next year when she wanted to play again we had a similar conversation.  You complain about going to practice or games and you won't go.  Ever.  Again.  And she didn't complain last season. 

They can complain all they want about school and homework.  They still have to do it and I still have to make them.  I'm good with that.  But all this extra stuff?  No thanks.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Fun Fact Friday

I had another post written out, but it went nowhere.  So here you go, Fun Fact Friday.  Believe me, you're grateful.

The names of Popeye's four nephews are Pipeye, Peepeye, Pupeye, and Poopeye!

It's illegal to drink beer out of a bucket while you're sitting on a curb in St. Louis!  (Nancy's note: I don't know if it's illegal to throw up in said bucket after you drink all the beer.)

It's against the law to pawn your dentures in Las Vegas!

In Natoma, Kansas, it's illegal to throw knives at men wearing striped suits.  (Nancy's note: It might be illegal, but it's certainly understandable.)

The average American/Canadian drinks about 600 sodas a year!  (As I always suspected, I am well above average!)

You'll eat about 35,000 cookies in a lifetime! Wow!  (Again, I am above average here.)

A person uses approximately fifty-seven sheets of toilet paper each day!  (Probably because of all that soda they drink.)

Men are 6 times more likely to be struck by lightning than women!  (Because they often say "May God strike me down if I'm lying...)
Every 45 seconds, a house catches on fire in the United States!  (This isn't that odd, except for when I first read it, I thought it said a HORSE catches on fire, which did seem odd.)
Happy Friday folks!  Have a good weekend!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

9 to 5

I am not a business owner, nor do I aspire to be.  I am not a head honcho type either.  I am a secretary, plain and simple.  I started when I was 18 and I've been at a few different companies, but pretty much always in the same capacity.  Administrative support, administrative assistant, secretary, receptionist, clerical, office help, whatever you want to call it.  It's all the same.

 
I'm the person who does a lot of the work so higher-ups don't have to.  I'm the person who gets dumped on when something bad happens.  I'm the first person most callers encounter, whether it's because I answer the phone or because the phone tree led them to my extension.  So I'm the first person they can yell at.

 
I have always enjoyed my jobs.  (Well, mostly.)  Sure, people may yell at me for no good reason - because hello higher-ups, being a jerk is actually NOT a good reason - but those are the same people who will come to me when they realize they actually don't know how to do their own jobs without my help.  If customers yell too much, I transfer them to someone else who gets paid more to listen even if they still don't know how to solve the problem. 

 
So I feel a little bit qualified - because I think 20+ years of secretarial work does make me qualified - to give bosses/owners/anyone whose title is a series of letters that stand for something longer, a little employee  relations advice. 

Please note:  Below, "secretary" is used as a generic term for any office help you currently employ.

 
In the words of the Lorax, I speak for the trees.  So listen up, tree killers.

 
  • You cannot survive without your secretary.  You may THINK you can, but you really can't.  (One company I worked for unplugged their fax machine a month after I left because there was a paper jam and no one knew how to fix it.  True story.  Sad, but true.)  The work we do is the stuff you can't be troubled to worry about.  Sure, you can type on your little laptop and print to the office printer and call us repeatedly on your little cell phone, but we are the ones who know where to order the printer ink and who to call when the printer breaks down.  We know where to order pens, and while you certainly can keep bringing them from home or stealing them from the banks, eventually wouldn't you just rather go to the supply cabinet and get one?  Yes, you would.  And we're the ones who make sure there are pens in there.  The specific type of pen you like.  We know that stuff, even if we roll our eyes at your insistence.
  • In every office, there are two types of secretaries:  those who do the work and those who shuffle papers around to make you think they do the work.  And let's face it, you know who is who.  If you don't have the - hmm, let's say SPINE - to fire the ones who shuffle, then you don't.  We know you don't.  But it doesn't mean you can shift all of a shuffler's work to the actual workers.  It's annoying and makes us crabby.  And you should know you don't want us crabby.  Because eventually, we'll get frustrated and leave to work someplace else and you'll be stuck with an office full of shufflers who unplug the fax machine to stop the constant beeping.  See previous paragraph.
  • Don't ever - EVER EVER EVER - say we're replaceable.  We might be, and we know that, but here's the bigger secret: SO ARE YOU.  The difference is, you don't seem to know it.  One company I worked for transferred executives every couple of years.  Example: In 7 years, I worked for 7 different executives.  I knew all the employees, I knew the business, I knew the customers, I knew the terminology.  I knew the history of the office, the gossip and the best place for a salad at lunch.  I knew the bars we hit after finishing a big project.  My last executive came into my office - because I had been there so long, I had an office - a few weeks after he transferred in and said to me "I've asked around, and while no one here can tell me exactly WHAT you do, they all agree that things don't go well when you're not here.  So I'm giving you a new title and a raise."  There was a man who knew what was what.  We got along great after that.  Because to transition right into my next point: 
  • Flattery is nice.  Praise is nice.  But if you really want us to like you, give us a raise.  Don't give us a big speech about tough economy, industry depression, blah blah blah.  Don't give us a "performance bonus" that is based on goals that are unattainable or based on the performance of others.  (See previous paragraph regarding shufflers.)  Just show us the money.  Base it on a performance review if you must, but give us something.  Because nothing says "I don't think you're important" like not giving us a yearly pay increase while you attend "industry conferences" on a damn cruise ship or some tropical island after parking your brand new car in the airport parking lot.  We're not stupid.  No real work gets done at those conferences.  I've been to them and once you get off the plane and collect your luggage, all the work is done.  We've seen you come back from those conferences so hungover you admitted that you threw up in a little bag on the entire flight home.  So shut up and put some extra money in my paycheck.  That will get you off the hook for a few weeks, at least.
  • Finally, if you came to your position by moving up the ranks, don't forget that you were once one of us.  If not a secretary, you were once just a regular old peon with no real power.  We may have liked you then.  We may have hung out and had drinks.  We may have laughed at the higher ups with you about their over-blown sense of importance.  We may have skipped out on the afternoon and sat in a bar to celebrate the end of a big project until we were all too drunk to drive home.  Once you move up the ladder, we don't forget that, even if you would like us too.  Don't expect us still be your "buddy" if you're going to turn around and tell us to "just quit complaining and do what I tell you".  It doesn't work that way.  You don't get our respect because of your title, you still have to earn it. (Or earn it back if you are stupid enough to say something like that.)  I'll do my job, without question, but all the other stuff I do that really isn't part of my job?  Yeah, that will go right out the window if you start walking around with your head all swelled up and acting like a jerk.  So just don't do it.  Or you may find that your tuna sandwich isn't quite cold.  Or that client you've been avoiding is suddenly ringing through to your cell phone.  These things happen when your secretary is unhappy.

So the bottom line is this: be nice to your secretary, receptionist, office help, whatever.  Don't be an arrogant fool.  Your job might be very important.  But so is ours.  Maybe more than yours.  Because we make it possible for you to do your job well.  And if you piss us off, we can make you look like an idiot. But if we're at this point, it probably wouldn't take too much to do that.

Ever see the movie "9 to 5"?  Go back and watch it.  See what happens when bosses get too full of themselves.  I suspect that was based on a true story.  Except for Dolly Parton's chest size anyway.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

To The Teeth

Sara has a dentist appointment today to get a cap on one of her teeth.  When she went in last week for a cleaning, she was complaining that one of her teeth hurt.  They came back and said she had 9 cavities.  (The one she was complaining about was down to the root.  That's the one that needs the cap.)  She was crushed, not that she's scared to get the fillings, but since she wants to be a dentist when she grows up.  And she's so competitive, I think she views a cleaning as a test and 9 cavities is a bad grade indeed.

But here's the thing - she had a cleaning not even a year ago.  She's a little behind due to the move, but it hasn't been more than 9 months since her last one.  And that dentist supposedly "sealed" her teeth, to prevent cavities.  So how does she go from no issues less than a year ago to 9 cavities?  I have to believe one of these dentists is doing us wrong here.  Either the first dentist didn't catch things or this one is trying to soak us.

I sure wish we had a dentist in the family that could clue us in here.  Oh wait...

Darn far away family.

She does have the pain in the one so we'll get that taken care of today.  Then I think I'll make an appointment for Jacob and see what they say about him.  Because if his cleaning comes back the same way, I think we're going to have to get another opinion. 

And there isn't a shortage of dentists around here, believe me.

Once we get that squared away, we need to get Sara to an orthodontist.  That child's head is costing me a fortune these days, I tell you.

Side note: I'm still getting used to typing on this laptop, so please forgive any typographical errors here.  I'll get the hang of it eventually I'm sure.