Thanksgiving Preparation

I always take off work the week of Thanksgiving. Mainly because I love to cook and it takes me days to make sure I have everything I need. Today I am making pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake, apple pie, and my breads for tomorrow's dinner. Tomorrow will be consumed with the turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, sweet potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, and Mikayla's requested corn and peas.

I love cooking and its rather depressing cooking for my family. They are all picky eaters. I have decided to just start cooking for me and what I want to cook, if they eat they eat if not.......there is always cereal.

This year my friend Jodi and her boys will be joining us for Thanksgiving. That also excites me because her boys LOVE to eat! And really nothing makes me happier than cooking for others. That is when I am the happiest.

So now I am off to continue on my self inflicted euphoria of joy. Later today I will be joining my friend Vicky in a viewing of New Moon.

Have to say ....... today is a good day!

Hoping all of you, my virtual friends, have a wonderful, restful, Thanksgiving!

The Parrot

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every work out of the bird's moouth was rude obnoxious and filled with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music, and anything else he could think of the "clean-up" the bird's vocabulary.

Finally,John was fed up and he yelled at the bird. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angriet and even ruder. John, in despiration, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then sudeenly there was total quite. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly open the door to the freezer, the parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerrly remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgiving behavior.

John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot waht had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued,,,,

"May I ask what the turkey did?"


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Thyme Out

This past Saturday Jodi and I met up again with some old high school class mates at a little restraunt called Thyme Out.

Jodi has pretty much been my side kick since May. We have been doing a lot of things together. We have found that we like doing the same things. I have been really enjoying Jodi's company and hope to continue building our relationship.

Mindy (second from left) and I use to get in trouble for giggling in math class. How I have missed those carefree giggles.

Kathy (next to me) and I have gotten to get reunited quite a bit lately. I am really glad she came Saturday. I twas a lot easier to talk this time. We had a lot of fun. Kathy and I discussed about getting together with the husbands next time. We found we the same past times.

Another Reunion of Sorts

A few of my High School classmates decided to get together at a local bar. Since it was close to home Jodi, MD and I decided to go. This was almost an entirely different group of people than showed at the reunion picnic.

Some people changed a lot, never would have recognized them in another setting. Such as these two goofballs! The gentleman (ha) on the right, I totally remembered his name but his face.......no way. Even after sitting and talking with him, still nothing. Could have been because he was totally trashed.

Then the fellow on my right, Mark. He looks exactly the same, one of the only guys I have reunited with that looks absolutely the same. It is so funny that he is back at our high school as a teacher and coach. He absolutely LOVES it. And you can hear it when he talks about it. It was good seeing Mark again.

Tracy's husband is in a band, Jodi and I are hoping she lets us know the next time he plays in town. She is always so happy and full of energy.

Jo Ann and I both have boys the same age at the same school. Amazing that we have not run into each other before. But then again her son is in sports to where Devin has chose not. Lindin I have not seen since High School. He married a gal that I was friends with and am so happy that they are still together. My faith in young marriages is strengthened when visiting with Leah & Lindin.

Speaking of Leah (in the middle) she has not changed at all. Still just a beautiful as she was in school. I have seen pictures of her daughter OMG gorgeous must run in the family. Her daughter is freaking model exotic beautiful.

Poor Kim was blinded by MD when he snapped this picture. I don't think she knew it was coming.

Halloween

Mikayla was our only one this year that went trick r treating. MD was a little bummed as he loves rummaging through the kids candy "inspecting" it.

This year it was our house for the GATHERING. We had all these crazy girls getting ready and doing that "girl" screaming around the house. UGH 13 year girls are squeaky loud.

We got a very cute little pumpkin visitor this year. This little guy is the cutest little thing ever. He is the grandson of my very good friend VH.

Felicia snuck home for the weekend, and MD asked her to pick up white soda. What she brought home MD would not touch. You see MD works for Pepsi, has worked for them for 30 years. And she brought home a Coke product. Goofy girl.

I was very impressed with the kids this year. They showed lots of initiation and creativity in their costumes this year.

It was a good night.

Neighborhood Halloween Party

This morning I am playing catch up. I have been dealing with crazy kids,major amount of work hours, and just trying to deal with life in general.

Luckily yesterday the kids and I got the housework done, they are currently still asleep, so I am taking advantage to the QUIET.

The weekend before Halloween one of our neighbors had a Halloween party. Now last year no one dressed up. So MD and I opted our of dressing up this year (besides I was sporting a major headache and only went because MD wanted to go so bad). Well we were definitely surprised when we got there!

Our hosts looked very cute as Bill & Sookie from True Blood. I think Mark enjoyed playing Bill running around "biting" people.

Everyone had very creative costumes this year. My headache subsided a bit, I guess eating helped. They had some adorable food almost too pretty to eat.

See what I mean?

Once again we had a fabulous time with our neighbors and I am looking forward to our next gathering.

I See New Appliances in My Future

As I sit here writing this my dishwasher is making to most awful noises. The sad thing is, is that the darn thing is only 6 years old. I wish builders would put reliable appliances in the house when they build them.

Like we aren't paying ridiculous amounts for a new home in the first place?

I just refuse to go buy another until this one absolutely quits working.

Ah the joys of owning a home.

Hindsight

After ready my last couple of posts I feel, well I feel bad. Yes I am extremely glad that Dexter is not with us. I believe that he needs to be at home with his mom. But the main reason for that is that she knows his illnesses. The boy had some serious issues. And I think that is what scared & stressed me the most.

He was not up front with us about them. he mom explained a little when I saw here. But when I went to the school, well they scared to crap out of me. The boy was in the hospital for 6 months and missed an entire year of school because of the seizures. In that 6 months at the hospital a good portion of that was in a coma. He had not idea who what and when, when he came out of the coma. And from what the nurses stated there was a whole lot more going on with Dexter.

Of course when I said anything to Dexter he started spinning his stories. Everyone else did not know what they were talking about. And I was wrong for listening to them. I think that is what bothered me most because I could see he had no intentions on following what MD and I would request.

The second and most important reason for wanting him out was Mikayla. She was extremely uncomfortable with him here and did not like being alone with him. I did not want to be uncomfortable in her own home. My responsibility is to her first she is my child not Dexter. This was not conveyed to him as I did not believe he needed to know. But this is her home first.

MD said Dexter came by yesterday afternoon to pick up his medicine that he forgot. MD said that he seemed like he was on drugs or "stoned". I explained that he seemed like that before he left. I asked who brought him here, was it his mom? He said no and he did not know who it was. Dexter said everything was okay. I feel bad for him, but he brings on most of his problems himself, not those around him.

Off to work I must go. The landfill work calls. Man them places are loud, dusty, and stinky.

Back down to Three

So Dexter's plans to get a ride to school failed him. At 11pm the very evening he was arguing with MD and I about riding the bus his friend called and said he COULD NOT pick him up. HA lesson learned there, MD & I are usually right.

Yesterday morning Dexter got on the bus, I finished getting ready and started to leave the house to take Devin to school. The phone rang, it was Dexter. He forgot to take his medicine (if he does not take his meds he WILL have a seizure)so that left me responsible to get him his medication. So I got Devin in the car and off the Dexter's school we went. I got there and the nurses refused to accept the medication (knowing full well Dexter needed it) because I did not have a doctors note nor did I have the pharmacy bottle (this I never had). I explained that I did not have the time to wait for Dexter's bus to get to school. They suggested that I go speak with Ms. Principle. Fine I knew her very well thanks to Devin so hopefully she would help me.

I found that Ms. Principle was in a meeting, I did not care. I walked to the door and tapped, politely asked if she could speak with me for a minute. Surprisingly she came out. I explained what was going on and she lifted her eyes to the ceiling and held out her jacket pocket. I immediately took the hint and dropped Dexter's meds in her pocket. She asked how things were going with Dexter at our house, so I briefly gave her a rundown of things going on. She said that when she spoke with him and found out that he was with us she had to laugh. She told him that he went from the frying pan to the fire. He said he did not understand what she was saying. So she told him that she knew me and that I was even stricter than his mother. And that I never take no for an answer. She said she just had to giggle. I explained I had to go and that I was going to be late for work and still had to take Devin to school.

They day went on then Dexter's mom called me to explain that he was trying to leave school early. I was thinking "this is my problem why". She went on to say that if he left he was getting 10 days suspension. She knew that if he did not go to school he would NOT be staying any longer at my house. we talked (rather she talked) of other things and I finally said that I needed to get back to work. Within the hour Ms. Principle called asking if I was still at work? My reply was yes. She asked what time I got off work, my reply 5pm. She went on to tell me that Dexter left school but was still wondering around the school grounds trying to get a ride to my house. I explained that I was NOT going to leave work to get him. He wan walk since he decided to leave early and refused to ride the proper bus. She talked some more then again I explained that I needed to get back to work. An hour later Ms. Principle called again. wanting to discuss the suspension with me (um why? I am not mom), at that point I explained that Dexter was at my home (Mikayla called and let me know) and that I could not discuss him at that moment. She asked if she could call the house to speak with him, I gave her the number.

I had called MD explained everything that went on with my day and Dexter. I am stressed beyond stressed. I have not been this stressed even with everything with Devin and that is ridiculous. While I was running errands with Mikayla MD explained to Dexter that he had to go, that I was a mess and he could not have that. I took Dexter home after we had dinner. His mom I don't think really wanted him to come home but I was not giving either of them a choice. Dexter tried several times in talking me out of it. My answer was work this out with your mom. He repeatedly tried making me feel guilty for making him leave and I called him on it. I told him that it was not helping him that he kept doing that and all that was doing was making me mad. When I got to his mothers she was not answering the door, so I called her, told her he was at the door and to let him in. When she did I drove off and never looked back.

We really need to start saying no in the future.

Never take anything at Face value

In my last post I mentioned that we have let one of Devin's friends stay with us after a police officer asked that we let him stay for a while so he and his mother could cool off.

Well that was 4 days ago and we still have the young man here. I asked that he speak with his mother on Sunday to work things out and make sure he had plenty of medication (this is something I will go into in a bit). When he was brought back again by the police I asked what happened. He said she is crazy and refused to give him clothes and they got in another arguments.

He tried with all his might to get Felicia to side with him in the arguments. I would not budge in this. I tried explaining to him that we as mothers only want what is best for our children. Even if it does not seem like it to the kid.

Needless to say the stories kept coming. I tried to keep giving this confused young man the benefit of the doubt. Plus he somehow got on MD's soft side. For once it is I who is the heavy and MD is the soft one. I don't know what he sees in this kid I mean he is a nice kid and all but there is just something that bugs me. I don't know what.

MD and I had a discussion tonight with Dexter. Asking what his plans are, explaining that this was a temporary situation. Dexter started with stories on how awful his mom is, how awful his life is etc etc etc. MD sucking it up the whole time. Meanwhile I started see HUGE holes in his stories. Things he has told us before not jiving with what he is telling us now. We told him again that he needs to speak with his mom and work things out. He said that he could not she will not let him come home. She will not work things out with him. So I asked if it would help if I spoke with his mother. He adamantly refused that. Said that I could not and should not speak with his mother.

The bug got buggier!

I had to go take Mikayla to dance and on the way back I saw a policeman sitting in his car. I stopped and asked him questions. He said said that my idea about talking to his mom was a good one and I should probably do so. I said I was not exactly sure of where she lived, I just an idea of where. So he did me a favor, first he asked me the last name, I did not have that. So he check the police records of the two days that I mentioned. He found her address and gave it to me and bid me good luck.

I had a nice chat with his mom, found out a lot of the things he said were not true. He told us he had no other family to turn too, his grandmother was dead. That little bit of info crushed his mom. His grandmother is alive and well. Dexter has MAJOR medical issues. More than I am comfortable handling. She did say he was not welcome unless he was willing to follow her rules.

OMG he is doing it again right now, arguing with us about how he is getting to school. We told him to ride the bus he argued with us. I already spoke with his mom she said the principle tried to get him on the bus and he refused. Now he is arguing with us about it. I and starting to get very frustrated. Because now he does not want me to call the school.

His days are numbered I am telling ya. I don't like people trying to make a fool of me.

The House with The Swinging Door

Years ago when Felicia was still in high school she had a friend that was having problems at home. Kay (is what we will call her) was bouncing around from friends house to friends house. She was running out of places to go so Felicia asked if she could stay with us till graduation. I said yes with one stipulation, she had to follow the rules of the house. I did after all have brother and sister to think about.

Following house rules meant in by curfew, with the exception of being at work. Going to school everyday. And if you don't go to school you don't go to work. And helping around the house and picking up after yourself.

Well it lasted for a couple of weeks. Things happened and I explained to Kay that if it happened again she would not be welcomed to stay any longer. Then we found out that Kay had lice, since she slept with Felicia I check her and YES she had lice also! Bummer we have never had to deal with this ever. Then I check Mikayla and BAM she had them too. Devin escaped the bugs. I went to the store bought what I needed to de-bug the girls. They all of course had to stay home from school. Which meant they miss work. Kay decided she needed to work. I explained that 1 it was a health issue she should not be working at a restaurant with bugs in her hair. and 2 that was breaking the house rules. She said she was going to work. I said then she would have to find somewhere else to stay.

Now I did not totally turn my back on the girl, she still would come over and I would treat her hair. Then when they graduated she got ready here and I took pictures of the girls. But I could not have her staying here with refusing to follow rules. I do have to say we miss Kay and she was a very sweet and her and Felicia were such good friends and still are. Felicia just flew to Texas for her wedding. Kay brought her boyfriend here so he could meet us which I loved. I am glad she understood the reasons I would not let her stay with us.

Well it seems it's Devin's turn to bring home the lost puppy. We now have another boy living here. We will call him Dexter. The police showed up here Friday night and asked MD if he could stay with us for a while. What was MD going to say ....no? From what we understand there was a fight between he and his mother and she had him in a head lock and hitting him. I was shocked, I have met this women before, she is this little petite thing. It was hard for me to imagine this but then again I did only meet her once. He is 18 so I guess that is why the police let him go to a friends house vs family services. But now MD and I are wondering how long he will be staying. To listen to Dexter he is here forever or at least till graduation. I am not so sure about that. We will have to see how this affects Devin. So far it has been a good thing for Devin, but I can see where it will wear on him. I guess when that happens we will then have to decide what to do then.

What I can not believe is that these kids parents are not going nuts looking for them, wanting them back home. Kay never went back home. She left my house in early December, graduated high school a semester early (in December) and went to Texas to stay with an aunt. I wonder if we are going to have Dexter here that long?

And We Have Lift Off

Just received a call from a gentleman at Quest. We have an intake meeting appointment tomorrow at 1pm. He starts his new school on Wednesday. I was told that if I could get in at 9am tomorrow he will stay for the rest of the day.

I can't swing that at work on this short of notice. I mean I guess I could just do it but then I am leaving my office in the lurch with no assistants. We are all scrambling as it is trying to fiqure out how we are going to get everything our clients want done completed befroe the end of the year!

Funny coincidence is that first thing this morning the school finally emailed me back about a staffing meeting for Devin, we settled on a date and time, then couple hours later Quest called. Guess I can cancel the school meeting.

My calendar has so many scratch off marks from schedule changes it is ridiculous!

Mom and Dad don't worry about Devin. We are all HOPING that this is a good thing for him. The whole school is supposed to be like an IEP (Individual Eduction Program)and Devin will get a lot of individual attention/assistance. Or at least that is what we are told. Only down fall is that we have to provide transportaion. But they know we both work full time and are willing work with us on providing one way, either there or back. We shall see how that works out with everthing.

I think I need a drink.

We are in a Holding Pattern

I haven't said much lately about Devin and his goings on. Basically because that is we are in a holding pattern. He is not in trouble any longer legally with the exception of being on probation. That will not go away anytime soon. But when it comes to school the boy has mentally checked out.

For some reason this year he has decided he cannot get to his 1st or 4th hours on time. Our school district has this nifty little website that I can at anytime check in and see class work grades, attendance, tardies, special announcements, and lunch account balances. So when I noticed that he was having a problem getting to his 4th hour class I immediately emailed his principle looking for suggestions on what to do to head this off. Her response "let's wait till he gets to 10 first". Okay first off when you get to 10 tardies you get a 4 hour Saturday detention, which violates his probation (get in NO trouble in school or at home). I was very upset with this suggestion, I did not want to wait until it got out of hand. Guess the school does not believe in being proactive just reactive. SUCKS!

So I TRIED to head it off myself, explaining to Devin what will happen when he gets too many tardies. He of course gave all kinds of excuses on why he is late to just his one class. And nothing I could say would sink in. He ended up not only getting 10 tardies (which like I said got him one 4 hour detention) he got so many that he got 20 hours of detentions!

As if getting ALL these detention hours were not enough, Devin decided he would NOT do them. Which resulted in 3 days of in school suspension. And then I guess he got "bored" in that setting and goofed off. That landed him a 1 day out of school suspension. And then the next thing i know he has another 3 days in school suspension.

He did not get a clue on how his actions in school would affect him out of school. When we kept talking to him regarding just this fact he would respond every time with "my probation never said anything about tardies" and "they can't do anything about me in school".

Last Friday he was proved VERY wrong. His probation officer had us come in for a meeting, and SHE explained to Devin that what and how he behaves in school very much affects his probation. She was very upset with him and she let him know it. She explained that everything he does everywhere affects his probation and the courts decision on what to do with him. She revised his probation rules explained each in detail. Hoping I guess to make him understand the severity of the situation.

It did not sink in.

She showed up for her bi-weekly meeting with him that very next Monday. And found out from him, MD, and I that he did not follow his rules over the weekend! She was set to send him to DYS (division of youth services). Devin plead his case and talked her out of that. But he could not talk her out of sending him to Quest. Quest is a state run transition school for kids coming out of DYS or kids on their way in.

Oh did I mention that NOW the school wants to discuss Devin's progress or there lack of. Now really? I have been asking for help for the last 2 months. I explained that I would love for them to finally help me and Devin. And that I have already contacted the Learning Disabilities Association (at the request of his neurologist) and they too are reviewing his IEPs and grades. Funny thing, after I mentioned who I contacted, they never responded back to me. Still waiting.

Probation officer contacted me Friday to inform me that the Quest office will be contacting me this upcoming week to schedule and in-take meeting and get Devin transferred.

On the up side!!!!!!! Devin has been working with MD on the weekends. They have been getting along much better. And as far as his attitude..........it has been fabulous. That is the one thing that throws everyone. Even when he is in the principles office for the tardies, she said he was extremely pleasant to speak with. Probation officer says the same thing.

So just sitting on the holding pattern, waiting for take off.

Who is Your Inner Pegan Goddess

Diana

Diana is the chaste huntress of Greek/Roman mythology. She is also the goddess of the moon, therefore her movement is just as mysterious and shadowy. She is very moody, the opposite of her brother the sun god Apollo, but very protective of innocence.

Okay I buy it.

Another Business Endevor

Audrey is once again looking for that extra income to help her make ends meet. It is hard being a single mom. But what's harder is a single mom with expensive taste, and that is my sister. Don't get me wrong she has toned down her spending since she got her divorce. But she still has champagne taste. That and the ex doesn't seem to want to pay his child support. Oh but that is a different rant for another day.

She has taken on little side jobs (so to say) to help supplement her income. I forget all of them but I do remember there was Pampered Chef and now Lea Sophia jewelery. I hosted a party for both of these little endeavors. Of course I did benefit also, you know getting the "free" stuff.

My friends and neighbors were great, they all came to show support for my sister.

They showed SO much support I was able to get over $700 worth of jewelery for $130. And Since I rarely wear jewelery I shared my good fortune with a few friends that are in tough spots right now. Some are single moms with college kids, some are in the middle of a separation/divorce. So I let them partake in some discounts also.

Besides I really do not need that much jewelery.

Even our friend Cindy flew in from New York to come to my party to help Audrey!

Actually she was flying in anyway, Missouri is part of her territory and she gets to visit whenever she has to be in town.

I wish Audrey all the luck in the world. But what I really wish is that she would get out of the money pit house she lives in and move her butt closer to me. Lot easier to help and hang together if it didn't cost 1/2 a tank of gas to see her!