MDx3Mom

What a View

2012-01-16T13:05:00.000-06:00

Mike and I once again attended the Greater St Louis Restaurant Associations Annual Awards Dinner. A Pepsi thing that we have to do, rather HE has to do and I get drug along.

This year though I for some reason was looking forward to going. Hungry I guess. That and Mike did not make me wear a dress. It was like 20 degrees outside!

The dinner this year was at Kemoll's downtown St. Louis. And WOW what a view.

If you can't tell, that is the St. Louis Arch. I didn't know that a building could be taller than the Arch, but apparently there is and I was in it.

Now I took these pictures with my VERY OLD outdated phone so it is not of the best quality. But you do get the idea of the view I had.

AMAZING!

Happy New Years!

2012-01-04T13:01:00.000-06:00

We spent our New Years out of the house and with friends. It was an enjoyable evening to say the least!

My New Years Resolution this year is To just take one day at a time, Accept every adventure that heads my way, and stay away from the negative and bath myself in the positive!

Happy and Blessed New Years to you all!

Another one joining the 40 plus group!

2011-12-27T20:42:00.000-06:00

This time it was Mitzi's turn to have the BIG 40 Birthday. And this lady sure does know how to celebrate. She didn't just a birthday day, more than a birthday weekend, she had a week long birthday celebration.

Personally I would have been wiped out after the 2nd day. May the Goddess bless me with just some of her energy!

Happy Holidays To All of you

2011-12-25T12:50:00.000-06:00

Tis Christmas Day. The presents have been opened, meals shared. Mikayla is off already with Nathaniel to his parents and grandparents gatherings, Felicia will be off to visit her late friends parents. Mike and I have decided that we don't want to sit around here twiddling our thumbs (yes I had other ideas of things to do but as true to form.......he declined) so we have decided that we will spend some time with our dysfunctional family at the casino.

Here is hoping all of you the happiest of Holidays and are enjoying time with the ones you love!

Blessed Be to you all.

Ack!

2011-12-05T16:29:00.000-06:00

I am at work, trying to kill the last hour before I get to leave. My office has gotten so caught up we are now desperately looking for work to do. I have assigned training classes for some of my staff, but the rest of us are still without things to do. Can't wait till next week as I have work scheduled for then. Unfortunately I have done everything now that I can do and have to wait until next week to finish. UGH. End of year is always either too much or not enough. Never just enough.

They are calling for snow flurries tonight and possible ice. I will believe it when I see it.

Mikayla update: She and Nathaniel are still an item. And yes I question frequently (and snoop when needed) whether they are having sex. Mikayla's response: EWE no mom, I have no desire to have that area of my body ruined. And sex will ruin it.

I about peed my pants laughing so hard at that response. And also have to believe her with that one.

She is doing well in school and is overall being a great kid. She has been doing something everyday to help me around the house. No she is not doing this out of the kindness of her heart, she wants a ride to school in the mornings. And that is our trade off, since I have to get up and leave earlier to take her to school then she helps me with the house. Has been working great so far.

Devin update: Still not doing anything about getting his high school diploma or GED. Refuses to get a job. Stays up (or out) all night and sleeps all day. Refuses to help around the house or do anything with the family. We don't talk much at all. Keeps the fighting to a minimum that way.

Missin My Girls

2011-11-15T14:53:00.000-06:00

Fall is here in my neck of the woods (as I am sure it is in most of yours) and with that the end of Sand Volley Ball.

I LOVE playing and really enjoyed the last team I was on.

One of the girls is a coworker (Erin), one a wife to a coworker (Jen), an old college friend to Jen's husband (Kendra), Coworker to Kendra (Nicole I think), and Pam a church friend of Jens. We also have a wide age group Erin being the youngest at 29 and Pam and I at the ripe old age of 45 (tee hee).

Surprisingly we play very well together and get along fabulously!

Pam, Jen, Kendra, and I have actually played together before although briefly. That was when I played indoor volley ball and the ankle went out.

Kendra has gotten all of us to play indoor again (YEA!!). I tried bowing out due to the ankle and hard surfaces but she would ear nothing of it. Told me to wear my brace and get over it. Ha so I did.

That starts in January. And I am very much looking forward to next spring when sand starts again!

The Girl Who Plays Dress Up

2011-11-08T12:34:00.001-06:00

Felicia LOVES dressing up, always has. Since she could crawl she would put "things" on to play dress up.

Even now that she is older the habit has not changed.

Needless to say she loves Halloween. It's a "grown up" excuse to play dress up.

This year, as you can tell, she was Black Swan. The reason for this particular outfit?

She wanted to use some of her lingerie that she has accumulated from Fredricks.

not sure if I am mortified or not, but a great costume none the less.

Joining the Over 40 Club!

2011-10-26T16:39:00.001-05:00

Another one of my friends hit the BIG 40 recently. Funny how NOW that I am in my 40's that 40 doesn't SEEM so old anymore. And for that matter neither does 50.

Her husband set up the cutest things for her. A week long birthday present to be exact. He called different sets of her friends / co-workers and everyday of the week he had coordinated a different activity for her.

One day she went to a Cardinal game with co-workers, dinner and winery with neighborhood friends, another night she had spent with other friends, and two different days of parties with different family each time.

I thought it was a very cool idea. That way she was able to celebrate with everybody.

We of course had our little celebration at the Wine Cellar in Cottleville. It is our little hang out about once a month. They have a little band and some amazing wine slushies. Oh and we put away some Brie when we go.

The REALLY nice part...........No kids no husbands. Just us girls!

Warrior Dash - What Was I Thinking

2011-10-25T12:40:00.000-05:00

Just for inquiring minds......................... It WAS FANTASTIC!

Kind of unnerving having to jump over fire.

Out of 6855 people I finished 5035. Not bad as far as I am concerned! Especially since I do not run ever, and have not been to the gym for a workout in over 3 months!

After I slid out of the mud pit, I went to where the local fire department was hosing people off (OMG that was cold). Mike made me go back 2 more times telling me I was NOT getting in the car with mud all over me.

Note to anyone that wants to go to these types of events...... BRING TOWELS!

In the end I went to the car and just stripped out of my clothes (still dropping mud everywhere), cleaned off what I could (with one of his athletic jackets I found in the car), put my sweat jacket on and some clean underwear. Then got in the car, jacked up the heat and told him to NOT get pulled over.

I enjoyed a VERY long hot shower when I got home.

Paging Dr. House

2011-10-21T09:14:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago Mikayla complained of a pain in her stomach. She complained about if for a couple of days. I finally asked her if she wanted me to call the doctor (she very much dislikes seeing the doctor) and she said yes. Uh Oh I knew she was serious then!

I am at work with the doctors office on one phone and Mikayla on another. I had asked several times if they just wanted me to bring her in. The nurse just kept asking more questions about what was going on with her. Finally she put me on hold, then came back and told me to take her to the Emergency Room.

Great.

I take Mikayla to Progress West. It is a newer hospital in our area, and everyone that I know that has used this hospital has liked it so I figure why not. We only sit in the waiting room for about 2 minutes before some child (actually he was in his early 20's) comes and escorts us to a room. And Mikayla gets worked on right away. You know vitals and such. Within minutes another child (doctor this time man I am getting OLD) comes into the room re-asking a zillion questions and poking around on Mikayla's abdomen. Then he informs us that the attending doctor will be in (he was apparently a student) to decide what they will do next for tests.

When the Attending Doctor comes in (again he couldn't have been over 30) and pokes around on Mikayla he explains to her ALL the things it "could" be and what they will do to her depending what the results show. Well didn't THAT just throw her into a hysterical crying jag. Thank you very much.

First test - pee in a cup. Results high white cell count which means infection and an increased red cell count which means blood in the urine. Conclusion Urinary Tract Infection

Second test - putting in an I.V. and drawing blood (several tubes) and then hooking her up to a saline bag to give her fluids (they never explained why they did this).

Third test - xray of her appendix (they were thinking she had an appendicitis)

Fourth test - 2 ultrasounds (one of her liver and one of her gallbladder)

Fifth test - more blood.

Finally 6 hours later Attending Doctor comes in and says that they appendix, gallbladder and liver all look fine (even though she still presents with appendicitis symptoms) they cannot find any stones either. Apparently they thought she may have gall stones. The only things they cannot explain is that her billy Ruben is elevated (strange) and that her urine shows she has an infection.

They offered to do a pelvic exam and Mikayla said absolutely positively no freaking way. I explained that she is NOT sexually active (this the doc already knew because of their "private" talk) and that she has not yet had a OB visit with exam. So doc said that he would not go with that exam just yet.

We left the hospital with a diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection and a prescription for antibiotics. This was a Wednesday evening. Then on Saturday the Attending Doc calls my house to check up on Mikayla. I thought that was pretty cool. Then he goes into how they did a culture and that their diagnosis was wrong. She did not have a UTI (just great). So I asked what she DID have. His reply was they have no idea. She did grow several bacteria but none of them they could identify (SERIOUSLY?!). He said that he still wanted her to finish the antibiotics that she was on, but then told me that they probably would not work on the kind of infection she has. And that if she has anymore paid to get into see her doctor.

So basically we are back to square one and have no idea what is wrong with the kid. And she refuses to tell me if she still hurts or not since the phone call from the ER Doc.

Seriously we should be on a House episode.

It's Thursday.....We're Closed

2011-09-29T12:53:00.000-05:00

I am sitting here at work board out of my mind. It is a slow time here for us currently. I should be thankful because within the next month I will be so busy my head will spin and be wishing for this slow time again. Aw who am I kidding; if it is not stressed out going crazy around here I am not happy and get easily distracted.

My work quality and production is much better when it is crazy around here. When it is slower I tend to get distracted easily…………….like sitting here writing a post and getting lost in my headphones listening to Pandora. LOL

I also snack quite a bit more. Currently I am polishing of an apple and caramel-dip. Nom nom nom! I actually have just finished the apple and am now doing the most childish act. Licking the container of caramel, and no caring who is seeing me do it. Marzetti’s is the best tasting that I have found. That is next to melting Kraft squares that is.

Well that is my day in a nut shell. now I am off to the fridge to get my carrots and vegi dip.

Ho-Hum

2011-09-27T14:11:00.000-05:00

First off, I did it. I am signed up for the Warrior Dash October 15th in Old Monroe Missouri (no I have no clue where that is, I have to follow a friend). I am hoping that I survive or rather that my ankle survives.

Second, for those curious minds. Yes Devin has officially QUIT school. Or rather I should say the school has officially kicked him out for missing so many days. That I believe was his end goal so he could say they kicked him out, he didn't quit.

What is he doing now you ask (as does anyone who asks about Devin)? Absolutely nothing. Stays out all night with his friends, sleeps all day, doesn't work, doesn't help around the house (unless it is to occasionally mow the yard). Walks around like he owns the joint or runs the place (whichever way you want to look at it).

What am I doing about it? Pretty much nothing. I can do nothing. And before you go on about how I can force him to .......... blah blah blah. You are wrong. I know this because I have checked with hospitals, clinics, Youth in Need, and the Police. There is absolutely nothing I can do.

How is that possible you ask. Simple he is 17.

What difference does that make you ask. Again Simple..... they call it the grey area for a teen. If he were 16 I could enforce rules upon him. If he was 18 I could kick him out. But no, he is 17 and at 17 you can:

- Quit school without your parents permission
- Come and go from the home at his leisure (no curfew enforceable)
- Leave home for weeks at a time, but you HAVE to let them back should they choose too do so.
- Get into financial trouble and YOU still have to flip the bill.
- Get into legal trouble and the powers that be hold YOU financially and personally responsible.

His days are numbered. for his 18th Birthday I am planning to place all his belongings on the front porch, have all the locks changed, and pay a police office to sit there and explain to him how things will change for him.

Okay so maybe I will maybe I won't do that. But right now, with they way he is acting. I plan on it.

Mikayla has serious attitude issues when it comes to dealing with said brother. She is upset with me because I "LET" him stay home from school, and "LET" him come home whenever he wants.

Just another day in the neighborhood.

Warrior Dash

2011-09-22T11:10:00.000-05:00

Got my weird on again.

I have been asked to participate in this crazy race on October 15th. I am still thinking about it, but am leaning towards yes. I know crazy right!

Check it out here http://www.warriordash.com/. Watch the video, and then you will agree that I have finally lost my marbles.

This is called the Muddy Mayhem. You scramble beneath barbed wire as you near the finish line.

This is the Warrior Roast in which you leap over the Warrior fires to get to the Muddy Mayhem.

This is the Cargo Climb which you do just as you see. Maneuvering over cargo nets. I am thinking at this point is when my damaged ankle will rebel.

This is the mud hill that is after the Muddy Mayhem and before the finish line.

The coarse is 3.17 miles with 12 difference obstacle courses throughout. Hopefully I will survive and with pictures!

From Ace to Ass in 3 Days

2011-08-29T14:23:00.000-05:00

In my previous post I mentioned Devin had a rather good IEP (individual education program) meeting with his case manager on Thursday. I was there and was witness to it.

Friday came no problems.

Today is Monday and he has hit his down side.

5:45 am he refused to get up this morning to get ready to catch the bus. he state "I have a ride".

6:00 still refused to get up, stating he didn't need to be up yet.

6:15 starts the cursing

6:45 still cursing when I try to get him out of bed

At this point I disappeared to the garage with my coffee, book and cigarettes to "unwind" and "calm down". To try to not sound so "crabby" when trying to get the boy up.

7:00 again told to leave his room and leave him alone. (not in just those words)

I head to get my shower and get myself ready for work.

7:30 At this point first bell has already rung 10 minutes ago. And I tell him to get up that school has started and he was now late. I was informed he was not going. I wanted to pull the Tasmanian devil on him at this point!   But alas I cannot as I am to be the "responsible" "grownup" party here (ugh). I said that if this is what he was going to continually pull he needed to leave my house. Oh, and give me the cell phone. I was told no. My reply was no problem I will call Sprint and cancel the service and if I do that it will not get turned back on. His reply was fine, I will get my own.

In my head I was thinking "HA I got you by the short hairs here little man!" I simply replied that he could not get an account for ANY cell phone until he was 18 and that he was 9 months from that. His reply was simply "get the F (no he didn't say the whole word) out of my room). I walked away (if to do nothing but keep myself from ripping his head off), then came back asked for the phone again. He handed it to me (after taking out the battery).

TRIUMPH! He knows the phone is a goner. And he didn't want me seeing his text messages and see his contacts. He thinks he is being sneaky. But at this point Mike realised Devin was still home and in fact not gone to school. Round two started.

Mike likes to repeatedly ask the same question over and over. That is until you give an answer he likes. That was not going to happen this morning. So he then proceeds to tell Devin if he chose to ditch school he needed to get out of the house, that he was NOT going to support a dead beat lazy kid. I simply told Mike to walk away, don't let Devin get to him (1 that is my job and 2 he will end up with a coronary).

Mike wants to take him to this rehab place not far from home. I asked him why and to rehab what? His attitude? We have been told before and repeatedly that Devin is the way he is and there isn't much (not even medication) we can do to change it. Mike said put him in for smoking pot. I told Mike that is a waste of our money. Devin needs an attitude adjustment and he will NOT get that at a drug rehab place. I know why Mike wants to send him. To give the rest of us a little peace and tranquility, and to say he has "tried" everything to deal with Devin.

We have tried everything, and honestly I like Devin better after he has smoke a little. I know BAD MOM. But really, don't judge until you yourself have attempted to raise a child that absolutely HATES you, can't be civil around anyone in the house (not sure how he acts around his friends families), is constantly angry no matter what you have or have not done, doesn't have a civil word to say. And then he comes home one day in a great mood, helps around the house, speaks nicely to you and the entire family, willing to sit and do homework, what ever. I can only WISH that stuff could come in pill form and was legal.

I know your thinking the kids has SOMETHING going on in his head. You are right, but for the life of me I have tried to find out what that is. We have been to ........ 6 psyhcologist, 1 psychiatrist, 2 neurologists, 1 behavior specialist, a handful of MDs, and 4 Therapist. We have had just as many diagnosis. several ADHDs, ODDs, Asperbergers, Depression, and several repeats of "he is a very strong willed by". Seriously?!   And not one of them has given us anything to help with Devin. We followed advise from one doctor and ended up with DFS at our door telling us we were psysicologically abusing Devin. And we have been dealing with this since the 1st grade thank you very much.

So here I am sitting at work trying to get it all out of my system and into this post, to where I would love for it to stay and make everything better at home. It cannot.

We have friends that want us to vacatio with them. I would love to but again we feel we cannot. Devin is near impossible to take anywhere and we absolutly refuse to leave him along for any length of time at the house. Another friend jokes "well that is why you have insurance no?" Um NO I don't want to have to come home to a party trashed house, or gracious knows what. THAT would be irrisponsible on our parts we think, so no vacations. I am hoping to sneak away with Mikayla later this year. Maybe to Floriday, somewhere warm. Maybe I will allow Mike to send Devin to rehab. Maybe then we could take a vacation and not have to worry.

I like control, and right now............................. we have no control.

Sporatic is my Middle Name

2011-08-25T13:41:00.000-05:00

Blogging (and even reading posts) have been sporatic of late. I know bad me. I got a new toy. A droid tablet. I AM IN LOVE. I have been downloading books like crazy and reading non-stop. Now I always thought that I could never give up my physical books. I love the textures and smells of a book. But the instant gratification of having multiple books at your disposal, and being able to get just about any book you want instantly (sometimes free of charge) is euphoric at times.

So that is where I have been, nose down in a book (screen). Blistfully enjoying a fantisy world and being able to disappear from the real one.

With that said.................

I had a meeting at the high school today for Devin. His annual IEP meeting. For years I fought to get Devin more support in areas I thought he needed it. Some years the school has been helpful, others not so much. This year I just sat there, it is up to Devin now. He is made to attend these with me and has more decision and input requirements than before. Today was not all that bad as we found out that he could still graduate this year. Providing he petition the school board into letting him do what they call Credit Recovery. Basically it is night school in addition to regular school classes. Unfortunately is it ALL self study and that is not a strong suit for Devin and he was not really interested in that option. His other option is to take 3 credits next year first semester then graduate. Mike and I had been trying to get him to understand last semester that if he could pass he classes he would have been able to graduate this year. But no, again Devin has to learn things the very hard way.

To date he is carrying all A's and 1 F. He has been switched out of the class that he was failing (he said it was because he was lost) and into another. I am not hoping that he will keep his As, all I am hoping for is for him to pass all his classes.

And so it begins

2011-08-23T07:13:00.000-05:00

School has started and I can tell you I had some serious mixed emotions about that:

Good:
- I get some time to do what I need in the morning without the fear of waking anyone up.
- my utilities will go back down (no TV, radios, and lights on all day)
- my days off are quite after everyone leaves

Bad:
- The boy's mood swings are usually (almost always) bad in the morning
- lots of grumpy, foul, loud language to start my day.
- more mom taxi duties

I actually think I was dreading school starting more than I was looking forward to it. Devin makes like around here hard enough but then throw in the fact we are making him get up every morning at an hour he would rather stay asleep, he makes everyone pay. Not a great way to get your day started, and usually sets my mood for the day. My only up side is that I have an hour to cool down and relax after he leaves and before I have to go to work.

Mikayla (lucky for me) is pretty quiet in the morning which is probably a very good thing. Helps me keep myself level because I am already on edge after having to deal with the boy.. Who who has refused to take ANY of his medication and I am tired of fighting with him about it. Sorry teachers and school.

Devin keeps telling me he is going to quit school. We tell him there will be slip pickings for what kind a job a high school drop out can get and WE will NOT be supporting him forever. He states he doesn't care, school is stupid, teachers are stupid, etc. He knows we cannot stop him when he turns 18 so he likes to remind us that he will NOT be going to school next year. We do remind him that had he not failed all the classes he has he would have been graduating this year. Just do the work, show up, pass then you can be done with school. He thinks he doesn't need to graduate.

By the end of this conversation (usually yelling involved as well as swearing on Devin's part) I am worn out. When we tell him that in order to live in our house he must go school and pass his classes. He likes to remind us we are legally obligated to PAY for everything he needs including clothes food and a place to live. We cannot kick him out. I remind him at that point he is correct but I do not have to buy $100 jeans, his favorite foods. All I legally have to provide is food of my chosing, clothes can be from good will and do not have to be the top of fashion (if that what he calls what he wears). Oh and when he turns 18 and he does not follow OUR rules, we can LEGALLY toss him out on his butt.

Will I actually follow through on that threat? Yea probably I will be forced too. He should know this by now since I have followed through on everyone I have said so far. He knows that it was me that asked his probation officer to put him in juvi for 2 weeks, never hid anything from her. He has learned that when I say do this again and this will happen. Unfortunately he makes me follow through with every threat. I don't know what compells the boy to continue on his path of self distruction.

Time to meditate and put myself in that happy place. :)

Well she IS Determined

2011-08-14T21:07:00.001-05:00

It seems Mikayla is enjoying her drawing. And she is now moved on from paper as her medium of choice,

This is what she drew on her friend Deionna's shoulder. Not sure what spurred this on, guess they got bored after a day of shopping at the mall.

This is Mikayla and Deionna sometime today. I think these two have changed outfits at least 3 times today.

This is another picture of the TODAY (notice the different outfits) in the mall bathrooms.

They both want to get tattoos. Both are only 15. And it seems that both Deionna's mom and I think alike. No was the answer from both of us. At least not until they have moved out of our houses (or 21 I guess the case may be in our house since Felicia set that precedent).

Another Art Day

2011-08-03T18:00:00.000-05:00

Mikayla's latest "work" drawing. It started out as a tree and this is what she ended up with. Where her mind goes...........

I rather like what she draws when she is waiting for me to take her to work.

Oh! Did I mention Mikayla got a job? She is 15 and just as ambitious as her sister. Working already, you go girl.

A Feel Good Weekend

2011-08-01T19:42:00.001-05:00

This past weekend a few coworkers and friends went to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is building a small subdivision of houses near where I live and needs all the volunteers that they can get. John (coworker) organized the trip this past weekend.

We were lucky it was an overcast day, but the humidity was thick. We were huge sweat balls within an hour of starting. Needless to say we went through LOTS of water. Well most of us Erin went through lots of soda.

This is John. He was in charge of cutting the boards that we were putting on the roof. Yes I said putting on the roof. I and several others volunteered to shimmy up on open trusses and put on the roof. Crazy I know!

This is Jennifer (John's wife - Standing) and Erin (coworker - sitting). Jen was freaking amazing! She was lifting boards and winging them around as if she was on the ground. Girl is crazy. But one of the nicest people you could ever want to meet.

Oh, and Jen and Erin are also on the volley ball team I joined.

This is Pam (we play volleyball together). She's a sneaky bugger turning her head before I could get her picture.

This is Matt (coworker). Thanks to this pose his new nick name at work is GQ Matt. He is our youngest in the office (born the year I graduated high school)

You have to excuse my hand in this picture. I was getting shaky since it was getting close to lunch. Erin and Matt were obviously nervous being up on the roof. I can't say that I wasn't nervous, but once I was up on the roof I was fine. It was just crawling up and down the ladder that made me nervous.

Yep this is me. We were waiting for the next board to be hoisted up.

Just in time for lunch storm clouds rolled in. So while we ate we finally got the rain we so needed. But because of the rain we were unable to go back and do any more work. We are planning to get together again for another Saturday trip to work on some more houses.

Art Exhibit Day 2

2011-07-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

I actually remember to grab some more of Mikayla's work. Well one actually, I thought I had more.

This was one of her other pieces of work that was in a show.

Artist in the Making

2011-07-25T16:18:00.000-05:00

I know I post a lot of stuff about Mikayla.

What can I say, she is still living at home, willing to spend time with Mike & I, and/or not always sleeping. It does feel at times that we have only one child left at home.

Would love to post more information (and pictures) of Felicia, but a lot of what Felicia and I discuss is usually sex related (the life of a twenty something!) and THAT I don't think I should be posting. And the pictures that I can get of her have been taken with a phone and rarely of good quality or are too blurry to even tell what is going on (again the life of a twenty something) Nor would I feel comfortable posting about those kind of discussions here. I am glad that she does choose to discuss this area of her life with me, just sometimes I wish not to hear so much detail.

But over all Felicia is living the good life in the Chicago area and doing well. So well that we are unable to talk her into moving back home. I guess that is a good thing after all.

So back to Mikayla.

I have been promising my parents that I would get some of Mikayla's art work on here. Alas failure again! Sorry I will get more as I remember to scan it.

Mikayla has been entered into 3 art shows throughout her Freshmen year. She LOVES to draw, paint, color, you name it.

Last week I had to take her to the dentist and afterwards she had to hang out at the office with me. This is what she drew to keep herself busy till I was able to leave and go home.

Looks like something someone would get for a Tattoo no? She has been drawing Tattoo ideas for about a year now. At first it was little ones for the ankle area mostly. Once in a while she would use a sharpie and draw them on herself to "test" run what it would look like.

She has actually drawn some really unusual and interesting ones. I really liked one that she had done earlier this year and if I had seen it before I got my M&M tattoo I would have probably gotten one she drew. If I ever get the nerve to get another I will have Mikayla design it first.

This was another one she did while sitting at my office after another dentist appointment back in June. At least it is a quite past time (insert large smile here).

Mom and Dad as soon as I remember to bring her drawings to work and scan them I will get them up here.

We have ANOTHER new look

2011-07-24T22:27:00.000-05:00

Mikayla gets board with things and gets board with them quickly. Particularly with her hair. If she is not wanting to constantly change her cut or style it is her color. She has been blond, red, brunette and highlighted.

Several months ago she finally wore me down and talked me into allowing her to go real blond.

This is her blond (sorry its black and white. All I could find quickly)

The darker hair are extensions that she got from a friend. She still has relatively short hair. Which was another change she just HAD to have. Now she wants extensions because she said that her hair grows too slow.

(again she has extensions in, so the longer pieces are not her actual hair)

Well she again wore me down with wanting her hair colored. I had to use my color on her due to the fact she had such blond hair. It took me forever to make sure EVERY piece of hair had color on it.

When we were finished I was pretty proud of myself. It came out pretty good! What blond did show through looks like natural highlights.

The dark sure does make her blue eyes just pop right out, don't ya think?

Lessons

2011-07-07T10:44:00.000-05:00

Mikayla has decided that she wants to try out for the girl's Golf team at school. Why you ask. Well apparently she has been told that there is a lot of scholarship money available for girls who play golf. My response WHO RAH!

Luckily an old friend of ours plays golf A LOT. And he agreed to give Miakyla (and myself) golfing lessons. LOVE FREE LESSON.

Uncle Le the "pro golfer" in his mind at least (tee hee).

Yes I said Uncle, not by blood but because he has been a fixture in the kids entire lives. His boys are referred to as cousins by the kids even. Le and his wife were both in our wedding. He is one of Mike's oldest friends. And a great guy.

Mike asked how Le was as a teacher. Let me tell you what. The guy was fantastic. He spoke softly with patience. He gave great instructions and encouragements.

Funny, I never noticed before, but Mikayla seems to be taller than Uncle Le. Going to have to show him this picture.

As you can tell we worked on our swing the whole time. FOR TWO HOURS! And even at 9:30 in the morning, fans running, it was HOT. I decided that I didn't need to go to the gym that day as I must have sweated off 3 pounds just swing clubs.

When Le was assisting me, he kept saying I moved my head too much. I was standing there with him holding a golf club on my head. Luckily Mikayla couldn't find the camera!

When we swung well he said so. It was nice to hear we were not screwing it up all the time.

He really was an inspirational teacher. I am hoping she sticks with it this time. At least she has a friend already on the golf team, so that should help her with commitment at least.

This is how we both felt after the lesson was done. I believe that Mikayla went home and took a nap.

We are planning to go again next week to the driving range and practice our swings. But I think this time we will split a bucket of balls vs. two buckets. That was a little much for the first time I think.

The Dooms Day'er

2011-06-30T15:55:00.000-05:00

I get a text from my son (yes I gave him back his cell temporarily) yesterday out of the blue. Our conversation went like this:

Devin: Nulear war starts augest 2end (No I am not correcting his horrible spelling)

Me: What is that? (thinking he is speaking of a movie or music group) and are you bringing home my money? (that he "borrowed" from me)

Devin: China is threting the us with nukes because the national debt is tooo high and the greece stock market failed so there rioting alot over ther and then another nuke lab leaked or something aka world is ending

Me: How about my money

Devin: Ill talk to u when i get home. (He never did come home)

I think the boy should NEVER watch the news. He only picks up on the bad and negative reports. There was one day not too long ago that they were predicting to be the end of days. He was totally freaked out and upset.

And he still swears that the Mians have called the End of he world right.

Maybe that is why he has decided to stop going to school, drop out of the "functioning" population and just do what ever the he$$ he decides he wants to do.

These news reports, gossips are not doing his personality disorder any favors. It takes weeks for me to get him re-regulated after he gets this way.

Mulch Mulch Mulch

2011-06-29T20:54:00.000-05:00

I am going to have the arms of a wrestler by the end of the week! Mike and I have been putting mulch on ALL the landscaping. And I am now realizing that I may have over landscaped my yard. Gracious!

We just emptied the truck for the third time this week and we are still not done. And when I say empty, I mean we shovel the mulch into 5 gallon buckets to carry around the house and dump where we want it. Then spread it around. It does help a little that I park the truck in various places around the yard (let me tell ya I get some weird looks from the neighbors for doing this) so we don't have to walk that far.

So it looks like I will be stopping once again on the way home from work to pick up yet another truck load of mulch.

Pictures to come when I am done and CLEAN. Messy stuff Vern.

PS. And I have been still going to the gym for my normal work out. I think I must be crazy.

Don't Be Fooled

2011-06-17T14:03:00.000-05:00

Look into this little face.

Adorable right? Innocent, lovable?

Does tricks for treats, craves attention, graver of everyone else's attention.

Don't let her innocent looks deceive you!

She is a KILLER!

This little trouble maker defends her yard to the death. By which I mean that stray animals beware. Over the years the rabbits have learned to not have their nests in our yard. Bailey will dig up (if she can find them) their nests and KILL all the babies. Then she leaves the "parts" all over the yard (as if in warning). Last spring was the first time we did not have baby rabbits in our back yard.

She has now taken her little aggressions out on baby birds. Poor things that end up out of the nest but not just yet able to fly, finding themselves in our backyard, find that their lives are short lived. Mike found a dead bird in the landscaping several days ago. Not sure what was going on (Bailey had never gone after birds before) he flung the carcase over the fence. Yesterday evening we saw another baby just sitting on the stone wall near the fence, trying to be as still as possible. Mike asked if I knew what it was. Told him a baby dove. He then figured out what was going on and said Baily has decided to be the bird hunter. This morning Baily was going through the plants and we caught her but not before she found the other baby bird. I got Baily into the house, Mike went after the bird to see how badly Baily got it. He never told me if it made it.

Baily's response, just prancing into the house licking her lips to wipe off the feathers stuck to her mussel.

Her nick name use to be rabbit killer, now we just call her Devil Dog Protector of Yards.

Life is the messy bits

2011-06-16T13:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I watched Love letters to Juliet. Defiantly a chick flick but a decent one. I mean I wouldn't go running out to the theater for it. What I really like about it was for the great quotes you get from it.

My favorite of course was my post title. Life is the messy bits. It for some reason makes me be less stressed about situations at home.

I have adopted it as my mantra and when I start feeling stressed about goings on I calmly and quietly repeat to myself:

Life is the messy bits

See watching the "boob tube" is not all that bad or waste of time. Cheers!

Holy Crap Pets are Expensive

2011-06-13T21:50:00.000-05:00

This little guy is starting to cost quit a bit of money here lately.

A week ago we had our annual Vet visit (well actually it was 5 months late, I dislike going to the vet in the middle of winter).

First of all the poor guy is allergic to his rabies and distemper shots. Starts puffing up like the stay puff marshmallow man. That of which requires several steroid shots before and after then several days of steroids. Then add in a 6 month supply of heart worm/flea & tick treatments for both dogs and the costs of their annual physicals, nail clipping and gland emptying. Total for that trip $545.

Fast forward a week, just a week. Now Budweiser has decided to get a nasty bladder infection. We of course did not know this at first. First we thought he had a hurt foot or something. Then we noticed that his belly was really HARD. Jump to yesterday and a friend comes over and steps on poor Buddy (she always steps on him every time she comes over) and he decides he is not going to walk any longer.

Today we tried to get him to go outside to the bathroom, had to carry him outside and put him in the grass (in the rain). Nope he just sat there. Just great. After Mike went to a couple of meetings he called me to let me know he was on his way home. I called the Vet got Buddy an appointment. Mike and Mikayla took him in, got x-rays, blood work, a walk (they tried walking vs and enema). Finally he relieved his bowls and bladder. The x-rays showed that his bowls were seriously blocked and was his bladder. We left him at the Vet for a while as they said they were going to give him an enema (which they decided to walk him instead). When Mike got back there to pick him up they said that they tested his urine and that he has a bladder infection, they also think he may have hurt his back (common in Dachshunds) and gave Mike medicine for me to give him over the next week. IF he is not better within the week we are to bring him back for another visit.

Today's total $300. Guess the mulch is going to have to wait just a little longer.

Some Things Never Change

2011-06-12T09:02:00.000-05:00

Felicia came home for a friends wedding this weekend. It was great having her home and getting to actually see she is doing well.

The wedding was for a sorority sister which meant kids from all over came in town for it. AND which meant we were hotel D. for the evening. Mike of course was the cool dad and made them Bloody Mary drinks when he got home for their "pre-reception party" and showed Felicia how to use the hot tub and fire place for the "after reception party". He can never say no to her.

It was a stay in night for Mike and I as he is still sporting a nasty head cold. So after I made dinner (baked cod in a lemon butter sauce and salads) we watched Drive Angry (not a movie I would highly recommend). Mikayla and her boyfriend were out back in the hot tub (no worries we have security cameras all over the house and could watch them without going out there). Devin even blessed us with his presence (he was eating non stop so I can only guess what state he was in).

Then somewhere between 11 and 12 pm Felicia and her herd came home. I had forgotten how loud drunk people are, especially 21 to 24 year old drunk people (Felicia was DD and started drinking again when she got home). They headed off to the backyard when they heard Mikayla was back there with her boyfriend. They wanted to do a "hand check".

Ah poor Mikayla and Devin don't realize that they had gained more older sisters over the years. Devin received SEVERAL lectures from Casey. She chased him down several times to "discuss" his behavior. She was quit startled to see how tall he had gotten since she last seen him (I believe he is at 6' 1" now). And from what I gather from Mikayla the girls had gone after her boyfriend also (they don't approve of baggy pants, or drooping pants or how ever it is these boys are wearing them) and were commenting on Mikayla's figure and how she needed to cover up more. Those girls are definitely more prudish with siblings than I am with my daughters. Obviously Mikayla and Nathaniel left the back yard and chose to watch a movie in the living room. Probably a good choice.

I had to keep reminding them that we had neighbors. Again WOW young people are loud. Oh, and did I mention that Felicia's friends seem to be totally comfortable around Mike and I? So comfortable in fact that they don't hold back with their conversations when we are around. There are just some things Parents do not need to hear, even IF we know they are doing these things we don't need verbal conformation.

Finally sometime after 2am the ones that lived close (and were sober enough to drive) left and the rest started making their way to bed. And here it is 8am and I am up already. Just less than 6 hours sleep.

Humm should I start cleaning up from last night? Making A LOT of noise, and wake them up? Guess I would not be cool mom any more if I did that hu? Guess I will play another round of Domino's on the computer and give them till 10 to get up. But after that it is all fair game.

Just Random Thoughts & Pictures

2011-06-11T09:58:00.000-05:00

Do you ever wonder what makes you want to read someones thoughts, look at their pictures, and follow their every thought they post on a blog? I have been surfing though tons of blogs this morning (procrastinating as long as possible) and the blogs lately that get my attention don't say much at all. They have pictures. Amazing pictures, pictures of absolutely nothing, pictures of everything.

(I found this little momma in one of our Cherry trees)

I don't mean that what people have to say is not important, just seems this morning I am in a visual mood. That and Mikayla has had my camera stashed in her room and I guess I have been missing it.

(Mike's new toy. Wasn't this pretty when he first got it)

Most of the Blogs I came across are moms with young children. To me, not so interesting hearing about their daily trials of parenting. Probably as I have enough child issues of my own and really don't have the energy to read someones issues with potty training. I am sure to them it is a trying time, but with what we are dealing with now in our stage of parenthood that type of discussion is a bit trivial.

But some of the pictures ...... say so much more then their words.

Pictures seem to capture a moment. A moment you can never get back. And gazing through pictures makes a person remember, good or bad. And remembering sometimes is not a bad thing.

A smile. It truly is contagious.

Friends are always there to get your back.

And a silly picture is worth its weight in gold.

A silly friend is priceless.

Paradise

2011-06-10T20:41:00.000-05:00

The feeling of floating on a billowy cloud,

The roar of a waterfall to drown out the cicadas,

The feel of a babbling brook massaging my shoulders and back,

Glass of wine in my hand,

My husband sitting next to me...................

Where are we you ask? Well I have to admit we are not at a secluded island resort. Just in our back yard paradise enjoying the hot tub for the last 20 minutes.

Now back to reality, bummer.

But for your viewing pleasure .......... Showing off my backyard paradise:

We ( I ) always wanted to close in a room under the Gazabo. This was our way around the "shed" rules of the subdivision. It is now the pool storage and winter furniture storage room. YEA

Still wish we had the money to have bricked a lot more of the back of the house. There is just way too much siding for my taste.

This rocked area was the last thing we did. We were having a hard time growing grass here and dirt was splashing up on the door all the time. It looked nasty. Not any more.

The sun HAD to be on a wall. It use to be on the wall under the deck, but the door is there now. Gotta love Mike he knew I wanted it up so this is where he put it. Perfect spot!

Our newly renovate room under the deck. Only thing left we want to do is add the mosquito curtains. Those are so cool. But pricey hence the reason you don't see them yet. Maybe a project for next spring.

My only flowers that I will plant every year just outside one of the basement doors.

It's Thursday ......... We are closed

2011-06-09T21:41:00.000-05:00

Holy crap what a day! First off Mike is feeling under the weather. What started out as allergies in the beginning of spring has now turned into throbbing sinus blockage that is trying to turn into a sinus infection. Mr. Mike has an ad version to doctors so I herded him toward the Walgreen's Nurse Practitioner. She gave him a plefera of medications and sent us on our way. BUT not before lecturing him about getting a sleep study done (which of course he will never do).

And of course all his stuffiness and coughing kept me up most of the night. Enter 6 am! I am dead dog tired. Upside, school is out so there is no need to attempt to get the kids (kid) up and ready for school. So there is only me to get motivated to get a move on. Made it to work only 10 minutes late, but 2 hours before the boss decided to show up!

It was just Nipa and I today. The other two admins were out of the office one sick and the other out in the field. We had a wonderfully productive day. It was 5 o'clock before I knew it. A coworker who also owns a lawn service company (seems we all have our own side companies) brought back my mower I had him do some work on had it in the back of his truck. He was still out in the field on a job site. So I coerced another coworker to assist me in putting it in the back of my truck, and left an envelope of money on Neil's desk for payment of the repairs to my beloved mower (I dislike Mike's riding mower and refuse to use it). I should have had enough foresight to make sure I had someone at home to help unload the darn thing though.

Of course traffic was not cooperating this evening and I only have 7 miles from work to home. Tonight it took over 30 minutes to make that short jaunt. Finally get home, unload the mower (by myself), dash in the house, chug some water, change into workout clothes, and head off to the gym to meet with Taylor (my new trainer since Tommy left). Again I was late. Meh

The workout tonight was great! e did abs and chest and arms this evening. All the areas I want addressed. Then I leave there and get home to immediately start working on the monstrosity that is my front landscaping. It seems that two of our trees want to grow a forest. Their roots have shoots that grow like weeds and it seems that every two weeks I have 20 plus little trees in addition to the weeks I have to clean out.

Another upside Mikayla and her friends got another ride home from Six Flags and I didn't have to go get them.

And now here I sit with Mike and his body aches watching a movie. I am number 4. Very productive day, whew.

Hi its me again

2011-06-08T21:04:00.000-05:00

First off I have to share a picture of a friends little guy! Isn't he just adorable???!!! Usually this little cutie pie has the most serious looks. I was too excited to see they got this picture of him smiling!

Okay now a picture of my baby! Mikayla has had a great year in school, her 3rd art show, and she now has her first job. She has been borrowing (stealing) my camera to take pictures of EVERYTHING.

And of course she takes them of me too. (insert sad face here).

Do I look stressed? I am feeling stressed.

Let me introduce you to what/who has spiked my stress levels

Background: A couple months ago Devin was sneaking (Felicia said it was not sneaking he was just leaving) out and I requested from his probation officer that she put him on house arrest. That way he couldn't just come and go at will. What she did was release him off probation. I told her that if she did that she was just giving him free reign to do what he wished with no repercussion. She released him anyway.

Soooo since then he started doing poorly in school, fighting with us more about everything, starting hanging out with the "wrong crowd" again. He recently decided that since he was failing 5 of 7 classes he was done with school and started not going. Then he turned 17. And a week later he decided he was done with school. The daily calls from school were getting old and interrupting. I finally told the school that if he was not at school and I did not call then he was truant. Next Memorial Day came and Devin decided to pick yet another fight. Then he left and didn't bother to come home for 6 days. Then came home for one night then left again for 3 days. And that is just part of my stress.

We are now the Parent Inn.

At least he got a hair cut.

Hi Againg

2011-06-06T18:14:00.000-05:00

I am still here, just busy. Be Back soon.

Lots going on..... craziness.

Monica

P.S. the boy got a haircut! Almost a crew cut. Wonder who talked him into that, how he got it and/or how he paid for it. Yes details and filling in later.

Oh and Mom and Dad yes he showed back up here Saturday night. Not saying much.

A Little ADHD Going on Here

2011-05-22T11:19:00.000-05:00

I know my post go all over the place. I start on one topic and ramble onto another. Well, I guess I get distracted easy. Or maybe I am just a too tired to keep dwelling on things. Anyway this post is about food.

I get into the mood to cook a lot but only seem to have the time to do it on the weekends. A couple of weekends ago I made a beef brisket. And if I say so my self......................... it was amazing.

This was after browning both sides.

MD was in heaven when he walked and smelled this cooking in the kitchen. He LOVES mushrooms and onions.

If I remember correctly Dad was in town, he even got to be my Guinea pig. I also made a creamed spinach as a companion dish (also made from scratch and never made before). MD sometimes worries when I go after new recipes. that we have never even seen made before. But this time it actually turned great.

Tonight's dinner nothing fancy just a pork loin. Today also marks the re-start of couponing. I have a friend that started recently and is saving a incredible amount of money. I haven't done it in years. And yes it takes a lot of time preparing if you want to save some real money. I will let you know how it goes, but for now I am off to scour sale adds and search for on-line coupons.

Cheers!

New Coming

2011-05-16T19:07:00.000-05:00

I know, I haven't been here in a while. But those that actually know me, know what we are dealing with here. Will update soon and let you know how it comes out.

Meanwhile I am putting all positive energies out there.

I Have The Best Daughters Ever

2011-05-08T12:45:00.000-05:00

My Mother's Day gift from my Girls.

The Card on the basket reads

"We all know how hard you are working to look extra sexy in that bikini, so it's only right for us to help you reach your goal like you do ours everyday!"

Yes Felicia you are correct, you should work for Hallmark.

Fruit basket was a perfect gift! And the Buckle gift card is going to be sweet when I get to go shopping.

They are sweet babies even when they are a pain in the BUM and driving me crazy.

Love you Girls!

Week 4 of Training

2011-04-28T14:44:00.000-05:00

I have mentioned that I have a trainer. MD was not happy with the thought of spending money for a trainer, especially when I have a membership to said Gym. But I am a procrastinator and a good one at that, so I wanted someone I had to be responsible to besides myself (I can always and easily talk myself out of going).

We are in week 4 and may I say something................. UGH he is killing me about the food stuff! Yes the workouts are hard. I mentioned once that it felt like he was abusing my upper body. his response "well I can't abuse your leg (ankle) yet". Well that my friends stops tonight. Doc gave me the go ahead to use weights but no twisty bounce aerobics. I have only lost 1 pound and according to that stupid little hand held "fat" meter I have lost no body fat. WELL, I am here to tell ya, I know I have lost something, as my jelly belly roll is not as pronounced and my jeans have been fitting a bit better.

But I have not mastered this whole eating healthy business. Yes I have added more salads and veggies. But I am missing my morning cheerios as they are not allowed. Trainer wants me to cook breakfast. HA this young man does not have two teenagers to get motivated before 6:30am. Nor does he have a husband that can't sleep unless it is totally black and quiet. So every week I boil eggs and that is my morning breakfast. Too which trainer smirks. I have to keep food journals, not really how much or keep track of calories. He just wants to see what I am eating. Ham off the list, salami off the list. He said to eat turkey and chicken. Man does not know what he is asking. Bacon off, sausage off, white bread off, whole grain white bread off, pasta off. Lots of days I do eat quite a bit of fruits and veggies. Again I get chastised, about where my protein is.

You know I LOVE to eat, and normally I do eat often (except weekends when I get busy and forget) and healthy (or at least I thought so). But I am not enjoying this change. I am thinking that when my 6 weeks are over with Trainer I will cut it down to 1/2 hour visits cutting out the food part. Because if I have to change too much at once I will do none of it. I know not a very positive statement, but hey I know me, I know how I am. And how I am is a slow changer. So while I am adjusting my life and schedules to include the time to go to the gym I am not just quite ready for the food change. So I will keep his list and adjust a little at a time.

I have however, stopped soda (well 2 glasses in 4 weeks). No alcohol (that was not a big feet though), no candy what so ever (now that one was hard!), have started eating more turkey and chicken and fish. Have tried eating more "meals" instead of grazing. That is actually harder said than done.

I guess I will have to invest in some new cook books.

OMG it has been a while

2011-04-19T19:29:00.000-05:00

Where do I start or how do I begin? I keep telling myself I need to get on here and get a post up before I forget what it was I wanted to say in the first place.

Okay here we go:

This past Sunday I hosted a Pamper Chef show at my home. Jodi forbid me to take any pictures, she is such a party pooper. It was not that I needed or wanted any more items (but holy crow they had some cool new stuff). But it was more to help out a fellow blogger Davi. I have been following her for some years now. I was nervous as all get out to actually meet her. You know you read people's thoughts, feelings, posts about whatever, and get an idea in your head what they are actually like and I was wondering how far off I was. I have only actually met up with one other person I met in the blogoshpere (Leslie at Greathouse) and she was "normal" so I don't know why I was so nervous about meeting Davi. My nervousness was for not. She was great, friendly, and too totally adorable. Though I did picture her as being taller. Probably because everyone I meet is usually taller than I am. Not that I am short by any means. I am of average height (5" 4") but it does seem that most people I know are taller than I and I am use to looking up at people.

What else? Oh! My dearest Felicia has a new boy (I mean man) in her life. She sent me a picture of him so I could see what he looks like. Of course I passed it around to my friends for group approval. And they all agreed DEFINITELY COUGAR MATERIAL and all gave their seal of approval for Felicia to continue with this young man.

This is not the picture she sent me, I had to go steal this from her FaceBook page (yes I am the mom stalker). The one she sent me was even better than this. So ladies..................... what do ya think?

The rest of life has been, well the same. Still waiting to see the orthopedic surgeon about the ankle, which by the way I have had to go back to wearing my ankle brace because it has been hurting again to walk on it. Thinking the doc is going to do surgery and I am none too happy about that.

MD is busier than ever with both his remodeling company and his regular day job and with the stuff we are doing to our own house.

Mikayla has now has 3 more of here drawings in shows. She did a great self portrait including her nose piercing. The other two were abstract drawings. MD and I are so proud of her and her drawings. I know, Mom I need to get some pictures of them and post them. They will be coming soon.

How is Devin you ask? Come back in a couple of weeks and maybe I will have good things to say about him but right now I don't think I am in the mood to discuss our Mr. Devin.

Just another Kink in the Road

2011-04-10T18:21:00.000-05:00

I mention a few posts back that I hurt my ankle playing volley ball. I am use to playing in sand, and when asked to play on an indoor team over the winter of course I jump on the chance. First night, second game in I was going for a ball. Stepped forward, and all I heard was CRUNCH. I finished the second and third game hobbling. But I finished and even made a few good shots (no jumping of course).

MD made me go to urgent care the next morning to get an xray to make sure I didn't break anything. And no I had not. But 3 months later I still had swelling in parts of my ankle and running was defiantly out of the question. Even going DOWN stairs still bothered me. So I made an appointment with my family doc to get it looked at while he did my annual physical. He then decided that after 3 months it should have been healed and sent me for an MRI.

The MRI showed I have 2, yes TWO torn ligaments in my lateral ankle and the swelling is due to inflammation from the tears. So now I have to see and Orthopedic Surgeon. And don't you know, they didn't have an opening until the end of the month. So on the 27th I get to find out if I have to have surgery or something else. But me being me could not wait that long for a response so I was checking around with a few people in the know about these things and they tell me to anticipate getting surgery. They say that tears usually will not heal on their own. Just Great.

This biggest disappointment about the whole thing is that I have been benched from playing volley ball for the rest of the summer!

I have been going to the Gym and working with a Trainer. He is great. His name is Tommy and I can always tell when he is up to something..................just in the way he has this crooked little smile. I know that he is about to get me to do something I am so not going to like. He does not have me doing any cardio other than walking every day that I don't see him. I did ask the reason behind this and he said that I will burn more fat longer working with weights than with cardio. With cardio when you stop doing it you stop burning the calories, but with weights you will keep burning for many hours after you stop. Made sense to me so YEA no cardio. But let me tell you what, sinse he can't abuse the lower body because of my ankle he has been taking it out on the middle and upper body for sure.

I just can't believe how hard this winter has been on my body. What I porker I became.

Monday Funnies

2011-03-28T15:57:00.000-05:00

I am currently at work but I just had to post something that was emailed to me from my sister in-law.

Cigarettes and Tampons

A man walks into a pharmacy and wanders up & down the aisles. The sales girl notices him and asks him if she can help him.

He answers that he is looking for a box of tampons for his wife.

She directs him down the correct aisle.

A few minutes later, he deposits a huge bag of cotton balls and a ball of string on the counter.

The sales girl says, confused, "sire, I thought you were looking for some tampons for your wife?"

He answers, "You see, it's like this, yesterday I sent my wife to the store to get me a carton of cigarettes, and she came back with a tin of tobacco and some rolling papers; cause it's sooo-ooo-oo-ooo much cheaper. So I figured if I have to roll my own, so does she................"

Tee Hee! Happy Monday! Cheers!

2011-03-05T10:20:00.000-06:00

When is enough, enough. When can you say I have done all I could and I can not do anymore? When can I say THAT was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back?

I could chalk it up to my moodiness. But that lets others off the hook for their behavior. Lets them off the hook for their responsibilities. Why is it I am held to certain standards, expected to behave and abide by these standards and others get the free pass, no matter the reason?

I am a person who likes to be in control. I know this, I work on this all the time. Especially since my children turned into teenagers and let me know I was never really in control of anything. Except in my head.

But when do you say enough. I am done with you and this ridiculous behavior. You are responsible for yourself, your actions, and your behaviors, and ultimately your consequences. It is not my fault if you fail, if you can't do you job, if your upset, if your having a bad day.

Is it my turn to be selfish, to not care what anyone else thinks? To say hey back off I am in a bad mood so don't get in my way and don't even think of asking me to do anything that is expected of me. If I don't feel like doing something, then not do it. With no repercussions. If the house is a mess, someone else will clean it. If I feel like surfing the net all day instead of working then so be it. Tip toe around me for once, worried that if you say the wrong thing at the wrong time I will blow up in front of the entire office and then it can be your fault I did it because of how you spoke to me or asked me to do my job. Come home when I want and not let anyone know where I am or what I am doing. Have someone support me and my every whim and not give anything back to the household or for that matter even say thank you. Do poorly in school and not care. Do poorly at work and not care.

Yea this grown up, working, family thing ............... not all it was cracked up to be sometimes. Why anyone would be in a big rush is beyond me. But then again like I said before I could just be extra moody today. Not that all of the above doesn't really happen, just usually better equipped emotionally to handle it normally.

I think I have lost my mind

2011-02-24T18:31:00.000-06:00

Like I said in my previous post, I agreed to let Mikayla get her nose pierced while I got my tattoo. All I keep thinking was.................

WHAT WAS I THINKING????

The needle kind of freaked her out a bit.

But she kept her smile on.

Even with that big ole needle sticking through her nose.

The last time she got her ears pierced she threw up. Not this time. She definitely was a trooper.

It is barely noticeable so with that I am good. And she paid for it and with that I am good too. She would have never gotten it if she had not because I wasn't going to pay for it.

Check another Thing Off the Bucket List!

2011-02-22T20:34:00.000-06:00

I finally got my tattoo! I have wanted to get a tattoo for years but never knew what exactly I wanted. And with this being a VERY permanent thing I wanted to make sure I got what I wanted . I knew I wanted M&Ms for the last few years just didn't know how I wanted them.

This is the drawing my tattoo artist came up with. She combined several pictures I brought her.

(looks like I have goose bumps, quite the opposite I was sweating)

This is after she got done with the outline and shading. At this point it was almost two hours on that table. She could have stopped here and I think it would have looked good! But no I wanted color. So on to another hour on the table.

And here it is with color. The big question (next to "what was I thinking") is why M&Ms? Well Lets see MD and I have M's in our first name. Green because that is my favorite color AND is the only girl in the bunch. Yellow? Well if you knew MD you would totally understand. But mostly because he is my NUT.

Up close. Love the detail!

So to answer other questions I have been asked:

Yes it hurt! But I should clarify, the outline was not so bad. It was more of an irritation. That was the first hour! The shading, that was uncomfortable. And the longer she worked the more it hurt.

I was on the table for just under 3 hours, but was at the shop for 4 hours. Made for a very long night.

I got the work done in Chesterfield at the St Louis Tattoo Company. Chelsea is the name of the gal that did the work. How I found her? I work with her sister and I checked out her work before I actually chose her. Plus her sister (the one I work with) has several tattoos that Chelsea did.

Now just waiting for it too heal to see how it will really look. I am told that the color will be much brighter when it is done healing.

P.S. Stayed tuned for Mikayla's adventure with me that night. She got her nose pierced. I think I may be losing my mind, agreeing to such things.

So mark another item off my bucket list!

Strange Mood

2011-02-15T20:02:00.000-06:00

Have you ever been in an unexplainable mood? One where no matter what you did you were not satisfied and kept looking for something else.

Well that is me tonight. MD is sitting with Mikayla watching Young Frankenstein. I am trying to get into the movie, but I am bored. Cleaned the kitchen and got bored. Started laundry and got bored. Played a video game, and yep you guessed it, I got bored.

Even sitting here trying to write this down, bored. Serious thinking I am in need of some sunshine. That should help get my mojo going and get me some energy.

Yep this picture pretty much explains how I feel.

A Hallmark Holiday

2011-02-14T18:39:00.000-06:00

Yes, as we gratefully leave the frigid cold of January behind, we embrace the month of love…which, for my old & newly single friends, leaves a frigid cold place their hearts. And they are quick to tell you what a crappy day it is. I personally have no use for this particular holiday. I enforce the no gift giving rule with MD (and he rarely listens). And as V-day creeps closer and closer with each passing day, I dread it more and more.

Everywhere I go I am reminded of the impending doom. watching TV and listening to the radio I see and hear what seems like hundreds of people telling me and my significant other that it is expected of us to BUY something for that special someone. Really? Does a cluster of cold diamonds on a chain really say I love you and I am there for you and always will ? Or better yet a $50 - $100 bouquet of roses that die within days really say "Hey your are my number 1"? Not in my book, and there are better ways to spend/save that money.

The pressure of the media to buy buy buy drives me absolutely crazy. Really are we as a society not in debt enough with everything else that we are pressured to buy?

Can someone pass me some chocolate and shoot the cupid?!

I have no idea where this irrational fear of V-day came from. It was never a holiday that I got all excited for, but I enjoyed it as much as the next person. If nothing else, I always loved the fact that I had someone around who would buy me all that stuff if I so desired and wait with me for two hours to get a table at a restaurant to eat.

MD felt the NEED to buy me something, the little turd. I came home to a card (with his beloved wiener dogs on it) and a bag of Hershey kisses and a monster Hershey bar. He said he knew these were my favorite candy and he HAD to get me something. I smiled, laughed, and then kissed the top of his head and told him to get out of the house (he was getting ready to go to the hockey game).

So here I sit in an empty house (no I have no idea where my kids are) on the couch with a huge bag of kisses. I guess it is a good day after all.

Oh, hold that thought Devin just walked in. So much for the quiet part.

So that was weird

2011-02-12T17:05:00.001-06:00

This past Monday MD & I had to head to the Juvenal Court for a meeting with Ms. Probation Officer. She wanted to discuss getting Devin off of probation. I believe Devin knew this was coming and has been on his BEST behavior lately. He has not argued about anything we have asked. He has even gone out to eat with MD and I (that is if Mikayla didn't go). He has texted me if he was not going to be home when I got home. He has gotten home BEFORE his curfew. He has even texted asking what chores he needed to do before I got home.

WEIRD

This pattern has not changed since he has been released off probation. He did ask what he "new" curfew would be. I told him and he has not complained once. He has not even asked to stay out later, not once.

Just WEIRD I am telling ya.

Md and I are wondering if it is just a case of getting "the monkey off your back" syndrome or what. But what ever it is I sincerely hope he keeps his nose clean and out of trouble.

Oh, these pictures are some his friend took while they were playing in the woods behind our house. I never even knew there was an abandoned car back there!

Done with a Lot of things

2011-02-10T19:52:00.001-06:00

Okay I have made a new list (yes I am a list person). Things I am done with:

1. So done with the cold

2. Done with snow

3. Done with feeling lazy (because it is so cold out)

4. Extremely done with this sprang ankle.

I need some sunshine and warm weather. Something to motivate me off this couch. Come on March lets get February over with!

Okay now I feel better, maybe I will go tanning also.

In Need of Time Travel

2011-02-01T10:20:00.001-06:00

We are ice/snowed in. And how I wish I could get out. We have not been all in the house for more than 24 hours and the bickering has already begun. I have to thank the boy for that. I wish I could figure out why he is angry all the time. Even when he gets his way or what he wants he is just down right mean. Yesterday all that would leave his mouth was foul language toward MD and I and his sister. When asked to turn off the video last night he threw a fit. Yes a real live 2 year old temper tantrum. He was informed that he would not be allowed on it today if he kept it up. Well that just made him worse.

This morning before he got up I took the power cords. So when he got up (already crabby) we informed him there would be no video games. That started the arguing, swearing, and trashing of his room. He has kept up the meanness for over an hour now.

I wish I could travel forward in time to see how this young man turns out. To see if everything we have tried to do and have put up with was worth all this grief. Because at this very moment I don't see how it could. Part of me wants to just beg his probation officer to find somewhere else for him. He is wearing on our last threads of sanity, to the point that he gets everyone in the house on edge with everyone else.

And we are looking at being stuck together for days under the same roof with no escape. I am not looking forward to this at all.

He is now talking on the phone, we hear him discussing WALKING somewhere. Really there is a blizzard out there. To stop him or not to stop him. When will he learn and grow up? I know he is going to call and want me to drive in this mess (as if I could) to pick him up from where ever is.

Oh Calgon take me away.

Imblog - February 2nd

2011-01-30T13:19:00.002-06:00

By February, most of us are tired of the cold, snowy season. Imbolc reminds us that spring is coming soon, and that we only have a few more weeks of winter to go. The sun gets a little brighter, the earth gets a little warmer, and we know that life is quickening within the soil.

No matter how you celebrate it (if you celebrate it), this is a time to enjoy the light, and remember there are only a few more weeks of winter to go.

So my blessing will be the End of Winter Meal Blessing:

The winter has come to an end
The stores of food are dwindling,
And yet we eat, and stay warm
In the chilled winter months.
We are grateful for our good fortune,
And for the food before us.

Blessed Be

Got Nothing

2011-01-29T12:35:00.001-06:00

Yep I have absolutely nothing to say. Does that make me boring? Not sure, probably. But really, absolutely nothing new here. Just the normal cleaning (again), reading, music and cooking (though this I will HAVE to talk about later....YUM).

Have a wonderful uneventful day.

You could say we had some snow

2011-01-22T19:29:00.000-06:00

You could say that we received some snow Wednesday night. It started falling around 7:30 pm. This picture was taken around 11pm. The Weathermen were saying we were getting an inch an hour.

At this time it was not yet too much a problem for the puppies to do their thing. But they sure didn't like it.

This was taken about 2 am. Why was I up at this hour? MD was still out shoveling the driveway! I woke up and noticed he had still not come to bed. I made him come in, 2 hours was long enough.

Any way this is how we measure how much accumulation we get.

This is at 7 am Thursday morning and it was still snowing.

MD had to go out and shovel the driveway again in the morning. He said that at least it was easier than if he had not done some the night before.

No I did not go to work. I had planned on a vacation day Friday but switched it to Thursday after hearing the weather report. Good thing too, I heard it was nasty out there.

The kids sure enjoyed the snow day. That is Devin in white jacket. Mikayla and her friend came home caked in snow and freezing. I have been doing laundry everyday and all the time since we received all this white stuff.

Now they (the weather people) are saying we are going to have another storm roll through Sunday night through Monday. This one may bring with it another 4 plus inches of snow. Then someone else said that we are going to get some tonight also.

WTH! My kids are never going to go back to school. Not that they have a problem with this at all. But I am getting tired of cleaning up after them and all their friends everyday.

2011-01-20T10:16:00.003-06:00

New Year's Eve was spent at a neighbor's Jim & Michelle. We had a wonderful time. Other neighbors went as well.

Karen & Juan

My stud muffin MD

Sharon

Jodi, Sharon, & Duane

Michelle & her daughter Cristal

Mr. MD Stud being goofy as usual

Jeff & Alicia

We did have a crowd

Jim just LOVES his Blaze, they are so funny together.

Jamie & Crystal (yes another one)

Cristal & Ricky

Jeff & Michelle

Michelle & Jim

I got to meet new friends

Me & Devin

I can't believe how tall he is getting.

Picture Updates

2011-01-19T22:16:00.000-06:00

So lots of pictures on this post, so if that kind of thing bores you don't continue.

Christmas was a good one this year. I had told the kids when they were writing their wish lists that this year there would be no electronics. After the grumbling they asked why. Why they have more electronic gizmo's and rarely take care of them. So the lists had all clothes on them. EXPENSIVE clothes.

Even the puppies enjoyed their presents! Bailey enjoyed hers a bit too much, she bit me when I went to move her and her bone. She lost her present the rest of the evening.

But the best part of the evening was when MD finally opened up his box with the Hot Tub info in it. I wanted to put something in there besides a brochure. So I scoured the mall for Hawaiian swim trunks. Do you know how hard it is to find swim trunks in December? Well I do, nearly impossible. Dick's sporting goods to the rescue. Then my friend Jodi suggested SPEEDOS! I was reluctant at first, but then the thought of it grew on me, by the time I got home with them I loved the idea.

MD however was very confused.

His very next words "that is just not right"

We had to explain to him to look further in the box. And the look of surprise was .................. priceless.

Felicia was so happy to be with her puppies. Slept with them every night she was home.

Coming soon New Year's Eve Pictures

People should mind their own business.

2011-01-18T21:07:00.001-06:00

My cousin is at the beginnings of a divorce. One that he said he didn't want. He misses his wife and misses the kids more.

His wife and I are friends on FaceBook, well I should clarify we WERE friends on FaceBook. She was publically trashing him and her friends just fed the fuel. I never commented on any of her posts, but today I had finally had it. But I still said nothing negative. She was posting about how he wants to go to counseling. I just said that I thought that was a great idea if she was wanting to try to work things out. But it was going to be work on both sides. (still trying to stay neutral). Then one of her negative (and I mean super negative) friends then bashed me and told her he was the Devil. WTH! At that moment I deleted my comment, unfriended her, and sent her a note stating I hoped the best for her in whatever decision she made but I could not sit there and watch any more of the negative bashing that was happening on her page.

I have to give my cousin credit, he never said anything negative on his page. But that is the kind of guy he is. I honestly can say I don't remember him every really saying a bad word about anyone. He is the goofy type a guy who always tried to put a good spin on all things.

I know there are two sides to every story and I know my cousin in no saint. And I know I may have gone overboard a bit by unfriending her. But I really don't want to see that kind of negativity popping up on my page and especially about family.

One of my New Years' Resolutions were to get negativity out of my life. That was definitely negative, so bye bye.

Cousin's wife just replied to my note, stating she is not listening to anyone but herself, and she has agreed to go to counseling. I certainly hope she is going into this with an open mind.

It is a chain reaction

2011-01-12T21:18:00.000-06:00

So the ankle is doing well. Still have it wrapped and believe it or not using vix vapor rub and salt. Why? A friend of mine FREAKED when she found out when I told her what happened with my leg. She said her husband had a coworker whose wife was just taking a walk and sprang her ankle. She developed a blood clot and died, from a sprang ankle. So supposedly the vix helps open things up and the salt is supposed to thin the blood. Go figure. Don't know if it is helping or not but it makes her feel better. And since she got MD all worked up, it calms him down also. Bonus!

It seems now that I should have asked to Doc check out my shoulder also. That is the body part that is screaming/burning all day today. But I think I did the initial "hurt" the Monday after Christmas. At our practice night. I thought it was just my tendinitis acting up, but it got WAY worse after that night. Now I am taking Advil (4-6 of them) for the last 2 days. I never take meds of any kind if I can help it. But every time I move my arm it hurts. Guess I will be making an appointment with my chiropractor now. GREAT.

Yep getting old sure does bite. And all this snow is not helping with getting around.

Getting Old Bites

2011-01-08T16:46:00.000-06:00

I love volley ball. Rather I should say I love playing Volley Ball. Played Sand Volley Ball all last summer so when I was asked to play on an indoor league I of course did it.

We had a practice night back in December, so we could get to know each other (I only knew one other person on the team) and learn how each other plays. It was great. I met some great ladies and had a good time.

Last night was our first game. And we were rocking that ball. First game we won something like 25 to 12. Then we started the second game. We were rocking this one also. Then 1/2 way through (guessing time) Jennifer and I were going after a ball. I have no idea what I did, but I definitely heard it and definitely FELT it. And straight to the floor I went. To explain the sound, grab a piece of paper, hold it in your hands, now wad it up. That is what I heard but really loud. The pain, can't explain that one. Just that my stomach did flip flops for a while. The next thing I see is Jennifer diving after the ball I missed (due to being on the floor) and hitting the floor herself.

I got the pain under control and finished playing the game. I must say that I didn't do as well on one foot. Har har har. In the end we won that second game also. We played the third for fun, so I didn't feel bad when I missed the ball.

MD made me go to Urgent Care this morning because when I moved my foot in certain directions it felt like someone stabbing me. Did not get a very good night sleep. I got xrays. Luckily (and like I told him) nothing broken. I tore and crushed a few ligaments and tendons but broke nothing. Needless to say the doctor said no more volley ball for at least two to three weeks. That blows. And as for the gym, well no lower body workout only upper for at least 4 weeks.

MD is enjoying this. He has been telling me for over a year I was going to get hurt. Butt head. But I am so not letting this little thing get in my way. Besides doc said as soon as it started feeling better I can play again.

Getting old totally bites. Youth is totally wasted on the young.

Hump Day Humor

2011-01-05T20:47:00.000-06:00

Bumper Sticker Philosophy:

Life's all about ass: Covering It, Kicking It, Kissing It or Trying to Get It

It is definately going to be a work in progress

2011-01-03T22:24:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I wonder......................... If I knew what I know now when I was young and deciding to have children................ Would I still?

Raising children are not for the weak at heart. You must have nerves of steel and no feelings what so ever.

You give these amazing little darlings your heart the moment you meet them. You can't help yourself. All it takes is the second you hold them and they look up at you with those tiny little eyes and your a goner. While they are young they are the most loving little creatures you will ever encounter. You are their security, their safety blanket. They make you feel like an invincible giant, a super hero so to say.

Then they enter elementary school. My little darlings still allowed me to kiss them goodbye before going into the school, getting on the bus, or running off with their friends. But you feel it, little by little you are not their security or safety blanket. By grade 6 you are no longer the super hero. You are a source of money, food, clothing, rides.

By Middle School you shaunt dare even think of getting a hug much less a kiss as they leave you for what ever the reason. They are starting to "test" their boundaries. Not all of our little angels will push their boundaries, or at least not with venom. But here in this wonderful institute that we send out children to learn...... well they learn. Unfortunately it is not always what we wished them to learn. Their circle of friends grow and you are not always able to keep them from bad influences.

Then comes high school. And your loving little angels are hormone induces devils. They talk back and say some of the most nasty things. A goddess forbid you make them live by the rules that you have requested, enforced, and lived by all of their natural born life. All you are to them now is a bank, a chauffeur, a cook, a maid. And all hell will break out if you even get the notion to request their assistance in the upkeep of said abode. I have been told many a time that "my room is my sanctuary and I will keep it as I see fit". Clean their own bathroom, heaven forbid. And before you know it they are speaking to you as you are some piece of dirt.

That is where MD and I are. Those retched teen years. They make you feel you have lost control, or that you never had it. They force you to be a drill Sargent, a police officer, and prison warden. None of which are "good vibration" types of jobs. Everything and I am not exaggerating here when I say EVERYTHING I ask turns into an argument. Did you brush your teeth? argument. Time to get off the video game....argument. Time to go to bed, time to get up.....argument. Did you do homework, come to dinner, not make dinner, try talking to him, don't talk to him. Everything is an argument.

Even telling him I love him in the morning will put him in a grumpy mood. It takes nothing to "turn the switch" and usually takes exrtreme measures to get him in a calm mood again. But by the time I get him back he has already done to damage to the rest of the family. Putting MD over the edge and getting anyone in the house involved. Don't get me wrong the girls are/were NOT saints, but at least more manageable. That could be the wrong word, I as/was not able to manage them, but they did tend to go with the flow (so to say) a lot more than the boy. I don't understand why is he sooooo angry all the time.

So like I said................ If I knew then what I know now............would we have continued having children???

Unfortunately I am a gluten for punishment and probably still would. But may the goddess help me live through the next couple of years. I am at least a determined one, and he WILL learn how to be a functioning human being yet. Not some thug is progress.

New Years Resolutions

2011-01-02T20:40:00.000-06:00

As the holidays draw to a close every year, most people begin to contemplate, “What’s my New Year’s resolution going to be this year?” While you inevitably grow and make changes all throughout the year, there’s something refreshing and definitive about resolving to make changes at the beginning of a brand-new year. Many people even have a standing New Year’s resolution that they commit to anew every January, only to lose momentum somewhere along the way.

That is me to a T! I fizzle out probably before March. So to help me get through my Resolutions this year I am not thinking of them as Resolutions, I am making them GOALS. Goals seem to me to be more attainable. And goals are a work in progress, and are we not all a work in progress?

It is also a list in progress, I think that also is what will help me complete them. Not overwhelming just always growing. That way it doesn't seem like to much to take on. And most of it involves the "Clean Out" and "Start Fresh and Positive Energy" I wrote in previous post.

So here is the start of my Goals for 2011:

1. Cut down on smoking (that way I will get use to less and then can quite)
2. Get all the closets cleaned out (I got two done today!)
3. Get the storage room clean out (I did 1/2 yesterday and will get to the other half when I get more room in the trash can)
4. Try a new recipe twice a month (friends beware you will be used as guinea pigs)
5. Get another two (2) bills paid off and keep them paid. (last year I actually accomplished this and going to try again this year).
6. Take my kids to Hawaii for vacation. (I am currently saving money for this).
7. Actually tell my kids every morning I love them and how much they mean to me.
8. Kiss my husband every time he leaves out the door and when we go to bed.
9. Grow a garden
10. Recycle more.
11. Get my family eating better
12. Get more exercise (MD got me a membership to Golds Gym so that is a start)
13. Smile more often even when I don't feel like it.

That is my start, I have other things in mind but to not overwhelm myself I will start here and as I complete one I will add another. Obviously some will take the whole year. But that will get me trained and use to doing them. Let us see how this turns out.

Just remember when you are working on your New Year's GOALS expect that your plan can and will change. Life has a funny way of throwing unexpected things at us, and flexibility is required to complete anything but the simplest goal. Sometimes the goal itself will even change. Most of all, recognize partial successes at every step along the way. Just as a resolution isn't accomplished the day it's stated, neither is it accomplished the day you reach your goal. Rather, it's accomplished in many small increments along the way. Acknowledge these incremental successes as they come.

Blessed Be!

1-1-11 Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T11:51:00.000-06:00

We thank the Holly King for all that he's done.

And welcome the Oak King who brings the Sun.

We bid farewell to the darkness of the old year,

And welcome the light as Spring begins to draw near.

Wishing everyone a Blessed and Prosperous New Year!

Cleaning Out

2010-12-28T12:35:00.000-06:00

Holiday decorations are down and put away. The storage room has been cleaned out (mostly). Going to do a few returns today as I didn't get Mikayla's pant size correct on the jeans she received for Christmas.

Wanting to start the year "fresh" and "clean" and "rejuvenated" with no negative energies. So this week is a clean out week. A start fresh week. Kind of feels good.

Now only to figure out how "clean up" other people's negative energies and I would be set. That way their negative vibes don't intrude and taint my happy little world.

Little Surprises are a good thing

2010-12-27T10:23:00.000-06:00

As I posted earlier, I gave MD a hot tub for Christmas. He has been wanting one since we moved and left our with the old house. That has now been 7 years and I know he REALLY wanted one.

Well yesterday I took him to the store so he could see exactly what he was getting and so I could put the deposit down. We walked into the store and I took him straight back to the floor model. When I got to it I stopped dead in my tracks.................it was $1,000 cheaper! Oh, yea when my sales guy came over I mentioned the price difference. He said it was for the floor model end of year close out. Well, of course MD wanted the cheaper price, I wanted the colors I picked out. So we compromised. We picked out the BIGGER tub (in my colors) and it was still cheaper than the smaller tub I picked out.

YEEE HAWWW!

Then after taking Felicia to the airport to go back to home we (and when I say we I meant I) decided to stop at the casino on the way home. We won (and now when I we I meant MD) $500.

Definitely a nice day of little surprises.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-26T10:10:00.002-06:00

Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays and brightest New Year!

I hope you follow your dreams in 2011 and remember the power of positive thoughts and actions. Please step into the new year with dignity and integrity, and when you can choose love...always love...with your whole heart!

Blessed Be!

Don't Tell Me To Have Faith in My Kids - I Know My Kids

2010-12-23T21:52:00.000-06:00

So this year my sister has offered/suggested/requested that we have Christmas at her house this year. She wanted my family to join her at her church then go to dinner at her house.
I replied to my sister that we would have no problem coming to her house for dinner but we would not be interested in attending her church.

Now before anyone gets wind up their skirts let me give you a little background here. My eldest is die hard Catholic. I have been studying Wicca (my sister thinks I am going to hell) and the rest of my family has no desire to attend her church.

To this she didn't reply and for that matter stopped talking to me for about two weeks. Then she emailed me a dinner menu and asked that we be there about 4:30. Told her okay. Then she said that she wanted everyone to play rob your neighbor. I told her I would talk to the kids. She got mad at me and said was was for everyone not just the kids. Yea no way MD was going to get into that. She texted my kids herself (of coarse they said fine) then emailed me back and told me I needed to have more faith in my kids. They said they were up for it. Well THAT was two weeks ago.

Today I am getting crabbed at by Devin because he doesn't want to go over there. He said my sister said they were coming over to our house. Mikayla threw a fit about going over soooo early then wanted to know how long we were staying. And Felicia thought the whole rob your neighbor was silly with everyone playing. Too much of an age difference.

My response: All of you told your Aunt you would play/wanted to play so you are playing. So there! Make me look like an idiot, oh no you won't.

Ha I think I know my kids....my kids are home bodies, well Devin is. I also knew that they would all not want to play games as that means staying longer at their Aunt's house and longer before we get home to have our own celebrations.

They are all now hoping we get a ridiculous amount of snow so MD will not drive in it. Yea I know my kids!

VACATION

2010-12-21T21:49:00.000-06:00

Vacation

I am on vacation until Next Year!

I am going to put on my comfy sweats and keep them on for the next week and a half. I am not answering my phone and I am letting the answering machine speak with all callers (because I know my boss and coworkers will call, they always do). I am going to read all the books I just got stacked on the counter. I am going to enjoy my kids watching them do their thing. I am going to sit with my husband while we watch his football games(yes I will still be reading).

I am so looking forward to doing absolutely totally nothing and everything I want.

Happy Solstice!

What a Cutie -- Do these come in my age???

2010-12-19T22:39:00.000-06:00

Jodi and I just watched Carlie St. Cloud. Was not a bad movie. But what sticks with me the most ........... This kids eyes. These things could stop traffic, at least in my opinion.

I just can't say it enough Absolutely beautiful eyes. Just Love them.

2010-12-16T20:19:00.000-06:00

You would all WISH you were standing at my house this evening when I got home.

We had a little ice accumulation last night that did not go away today. When I got home from work this evening I noticed my driveway was as shinny as glass. And that is saying something since I get home in the dark!

I drove Monster Truck today since MD is in Kansas City for work. Just so you know, Monster Truck is a big boy. He is an F-150 that been lifted 4-inches and big 'ole tires put on him. My co-workers tease me saying I need a ladder to get in it (sometimes I actually do). Oh and it is so tall that the only way to get it in the garage is to back in otherwise you would hit the garage opening.

So I put this big bad boy in 4wheel high and start backing up the driveway, get almost to the garage and then do nothing but spin tires. Once I let off the gas I just slide down the driveway. I did this 5 times and every time I just slid back down the driveway. So on the last try I put it in 4Wheel Lo and gun it backing up the driveway. That time I FINALLY got into the garage. Now I had to get the darn thing straightened out so MD could "try" to get the car in when he gets home this evening. Sooooo back and forth I went until I got it straight enough on my side of the garage.

I went to the mailbox to get the mail and could NOT get back up the driveway to the garage. I had to walk through the yard as not to fall and go through the front door. Then I went and put fertilizer (we cant use salt on stamped concrete) on the driveway hoping some of the ice would melt.

Was comical from outside of the situation I am sure.

MD just got home, he couldn't make it into the garage either. He tried 5 times and gave up and left it in the drive way. And he laughed at me when I told him about my experience!

2010-12-13T20:57:00.000-06:00

Today was a rough day for me. Can't figure out why I am so grumpy about it. It started before I even got out of bed, which in turn got Devin up late, which made him grumpy, which turns me grumpy. So I took Devin to school and decided that since I was out anyway I went on into work early.

It was good for a while, but then it went down hill fast. I work with a person that just crawls under my skin. I try like crazy to get a long with this person. Actually its more like avoid this person. But today I could just scream.

I really dislike people who take advantage of a good thing. Sit there all day barely doing any work then claiming a full weeks work plus overtime!

And my bosses don't do anything about it. Yes they have been informed and don't seem to really care or at least they have not made a move to correct the behavior.

At one time I figured if they were not going to do anything about it then why should I work so hard. I tried to sit during the day and just read a book, surf the web, text on my cell, and just chat around the office. I just could not keep it up. I actually have work that I like getting done and doing a good job.

Luckily I have a few coworkers who know my moods and they take me outside for a smoke break. Calm me down, make fun of me, and such. Then we go back and I am better until she starts chatting again.

I need to develop a relaxation technique for work so I can get back into my "happy place" because other than her I really love my job and where I work.

Just a Question

2010-12-12T21:25:00.000-06:00

MD and I have been discussing weather or not we should invest in another new mattress. It seems that his beloved pillow top mattress actually bites. We have not had very many good nights sleep since he ran out and bought this "wonderful" new mattress.

We have thought about getting the sleep number bed. Many friends have mentioned that they love theirs. I am just not ready to sink that much money in another mattress so soon.

But this discussion brought up another question.

Do they still make water beds? And do people still use them today?

2010-12-12T09:32:00.003-06:00

The first snow of the year/season. Not enough yet to have fun but just enough to cause trouble.

But we here at the MD house never worry about snow as we have our monster truck. And it can go through just about everything.

MD and I have decided that after we have our big breakfast of bacon eggs and toast we will head out and go to the grocery store. Devin has drained us of milk and lunch meat again.

MD said something this morning about the kids getting up and shoveling the drive.....I said this is Missouri, it will probably be melted by this afternoon.

That is when we have trouble. The snow melts and temps drop again and our driveway turns back to ice. No amount of shoveling will help that.

2010-12-12T00:14:00.002-06:00

Md and I went shopping today and finished up our Christmas shopping. And just in a nick of time, as we started home this evening it started snowing. Weather reports say we have a snow advisory tomorrow until Noon.

You know what that means................ all day curled up on the couch with a blanket and a book. I just got a bunch I ordered off Amazon delivered Friday. So I have plenty of reading material to keep me busy for a while.

I am so happy that it is snowing. I mean if I have to put up with the cold then I like it to be pretty.

High Road is for the Birds

2010-12-08T19:19:00.002-06:00

So s I have mentioned in a previous post that Mikayla had a little incident at school. She was in an argument with another student (friend) that resulted in the student taking a swing at her which she blocked. Student then swung at her again an ended up slapping Mikayla in the face.
Instinctively Mikayla threw her dink that was in her had at the student. And in doing so doused several other students. Both Mikayla and the student received 5 days out of school suspension. Okay fine school rules, you can't even retaliate or you get suspended. To not get suspended she would have had to stand there and take it, or try to walk away and still take it.
Today was Mikayla's first day back. I received an email from her principle and this is how our discussion went:

Principle: I just met with Mikayla about the total for the clothes. She will need to pay $192.40 for two pairs of boots, some sweaters and some leggings (they were all light colored clothing). I asked that she bring it to me next Monday, or by next Wednesday at the latest. I told her it would be best that she bring cash, as I did not want you all to spend extra money on money orders, nor did I want your name on a check going to another family.

ME: I want the clothes that she supposedly ruined before I pay for them. If you don’t mind. If they don’t want to give them up I don’t want to pay for them. I don’t mean to sound snotty about this, but if the girls are going to stand around and encourage the dispute that was going on between Mikayla and Student then I don’t see why Mikayla or rather I have to pay for ruined items. But I understand your position. Therefore I want the clothes before I give up the cash.

Principle: Would it be okay if I gave the other parent your phone number (let me know which one) so that you can discuss this?

ME: I would rather they did not have it. If they are claiming their clothes are ruined and cannot be worn and are wanted retribution for them, they should have no problem giving them to you. After you have received them I will give you the money to hand out.

And I was wondering, where did the amount of $192 come from?

Principle: Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to get those items for you. Two building administrators (one of whom was Mr. Head Principle) determined the items were ruined. The two who had clothing items ruined were innocent bystanders who had their backs turned to the entire incident; in fact, they actually saw nothing that had occurred. The girls’ clothes were covered down their backs and the sides of their legs, and both of their boots were covered on the sides and backs in hot chocolate. The $192.40 comes from the information for the clothing for the two girls (one was an outfit that had just been purchased; the total also includes replacement costs for both girls’ boots). Because restitution is part of the suspension, if Mikayla does not pay the fine by next Wednesday, she will be added to the fine list.

My question is really? I have to pay for clothes that the school determined was ruined and did not even bother to get cleaned but will not let me have even at the exurbanite amount?

Oh and being on the fine list means you don't get report cards or if you are a senior you don't get to graduate.

Anyone who has any legal background I would love to know if I have any ground on which to stand? I don't have a problem paying for the ruined clothes I just want the clothes.

An acquaintance told me to let them know I will be filing a claim in small claims, that way they would have to bring the clothes. I just don't know. What I do know is I am really erked!

2010-12-07T18:56:00.002-06:00

Today Devin has his quarterly appointment with his neurologist. First my question is......Why do doctor offices schedule you for 9am but you don't even get to a little room until 9:45? I mean really like I have nothing else to do....I did have to take off work and my child is missing school.

Anyway Devin is now officially 5'11.5" tall and 126 lbs. The kid weighs less than I do and he is 6 inches taller! Doc had us sit after taking measurements and tested reflexes. He asked questions

Question number one (as always) how have been things going
Devin: Now, okay I guess.
Dr.: What do you mean now? Did you have problems before
Devin: Just school drama.
Dr.: What do you mean drama
Devin: People fighting, acting stupid, other people arguing and such. My school has too much drama going on.
Dr.: Are you fighting
Devin: No, well not at school. (me thinking UGH
Dr: How are your grades? How is your behavior going at school
Devin: Eh grades have been better. Attitude is fine
Me: no his grades are not fine, first quarter they were all As, Bs, and Cs. Now they are Cs, Ds, and Fs. His "attitude" is argumentative to say the least.
Dr: Is he taking his ADHD meds and the Behavior meds
Me: Yes and it is when he started back on ADHD meds his mood and grades plummeted

Dr then asked what time is Devin going to bed, Devin answered midnight to 1. Dr. wanted to then know when he got up. I told him I start attempting on getting him up at 5:30 am and he finally flies out of bed at 6am and runs out the door at 6:19 for the bus. Dr wanted to know what time he got up on the weekends. I said anywhere from 10 to 2pm. Dr seems to think a lot of Devin's "problems" are lack of sleep. Said we need re re-train his sleeping habits. Dr also mentioned that even though Devin thinks he needs the ADHD meds he believes that they are not helping and in fact are another thing adding to his "grumpiness". He now wants to try this sleeping aid. I said that Devin has been on sleeping aids before. They got hi to sleep but never stayed. Dr. said we are trying a new med, this will help him get to sleep and stay asleep. So of course I asked what it was going to be like trying to actually get him up. Dr explained that if Devin got enough sleep it should be no problem (after a while) on getting up on time

UGH more med changes, and in 30 days he wants to possible adjust. Then after we get his sleep patters they way they should be he will ADD ANOTHER medication for his "attention" problem. How many drugs does this kid have to take?

Wondering if I can find herbal alternatives to help Devin so he does not have to take so many meds. Off to the wonderful Internet knowledge search.

Brrr it is cold here!

2010-12-06T19:16:00.002-06:00

Weather report told from the St. Louis Zoo.

Baby it's cold outside!
Current Temp 24 (with wind chill 16)
High today 31
Low today 16

But I am wondering if the cold really caused his condition (tee hee)?

Tis that time of year

2010-12-06T17:46:00.002-06:00

Blessed Be and Hello!

It is that time of year that I get stressed over what to get who and who to get what. This year I am falling behind again. Well sort of. MD is done, not only is his Christmas present bought but it should cover his birthday as well (seeing how I am going to be paying for it all 2011). Felicia is completed as of today! And my parents....well I am 1/2 way there.

Devin and Mikayla have been no help and are proving difficult this year. Although they gave me a few clothing ideas. But since I said no electronics for them this year (they have way too many now) they said they have no idea what else it is they are wanting. That right there shows that we give them too much all year long.

This writing everyday is getting hard.....not sure I have anything else to offer up. So until tomorrow.......... here is hoping everyone stays warm and healthy.

SAM I AM

2010-12-05T08:37:00.004-06:00

MD's new play toy and consumer of his time and money is a 1988 Suzuki Samuri. For anyone who does not know what that is, it is a type of jeep looking vehicle.

No it is probably not worth all the money he is putting into it, but for some reason he had to have it. And Mikayla is dying to drive it.

He was coming home from a job one day saw it parked in some one's yard so he stopped. Negotiated a price and brought it home. When I came home and never even saw it parked in the garage. Devin enjoyed making fun of me for that. I know, how observant am I? But you have to understand, MD had TONS of stuff in our garage. So much so that we can barely park 2 cars in our 3 car garage! And right now no cars get in. Besides Mikayla was with me when I got home and she too walked right past it and didn't even notice it either.

See what I mean??

And he "cleaned" the garage before he brought SAM I AM in. What's with the SAM I AM you ask? Mikayla named it right after he brought it home. They have been trying to get some version of the name for personalized plates. Goobers both of them.

Jeff arrived bright an early Saturday morning around 8:30 AM, he didn't leave until 1 AM Sunday morning. And I think he is coming back over today. How they could spend all day in that garage and breathing in all those fumes is beyond me. I only saw them when they came in to eat (yes I was the good wife and prepared lunch and dinner for them).
Mikayla has tagged the jeep as hers. MD has already let her drive it around the neighborhood. (Ummmmm she is only 14 what was he thinking and it is a manual 5-speed transmission.) They banter back and forth all the time on weather or not she will get it when she is 16. MD tells her we do not purchase cars for the kids. We only Match what they have saved for a car. She said she will have no problem paying for SAM I AM(I would have called it POS I AM) when she is 16. Then with a flip of her head she turns to walk into the house, but as she gets to the door she turns and tells her father.............................. "Make sure you do a good job on my baby dad". And proceeds into the house. MD always laughs to himself and shakes his head when she does this. It is cute when they discuss SAM.

Devin said that IF anyone gets the car he should..he is older than Mikayla. Funny thing is, is that I think Mikayla will get her license before Devin does.

2010-12-04T10:42:00.002-06:00

I read somewhere that to "properly" Blog one should write something everyday. It could be anything at all but just get into the habit of doing it everyday.

If I did that I think I would bore you all to death. But then again this is supposed to be like a journal right. What is going on in my life and how I feel. Right..... boring.

So here is my shot at writing today:

Today MD is working on SAM (his Suzuki, jeep thing), his latest toy. Devin is still asleep and Mikayla is still at a friends for a sleep over.

I am reading, trying to learn more of Wicca and it is incredibly interesting. I have found that most of the beliefs are the same as mine. I do not care for organized religion. Every time I have gone in the past I feel as if I am being judged and lectured. "Do as I say not as I do". It has been pretty much how I felt about religion all of my adult life. The only reason MD and I got married in a Church is because that is what my father said we had to do if we wanted him to pay for our wedding. We wanted to get married on a beach at sunset. But at the time we could not afford to do ourselves. So church wedding it was. Next year is our 20th anniversary, we are going to go to a beach (we are thinking of Hawaii) and renewing our vows on a beach at sunset, as we had wanted to do in the first place. I can't wait.

Anyway, Wicca seems as it would be an easy "religion" to fall into, it is just that I cannot seem to find anyone else to talk to about it or ask questions locally. Postings I have read stated that Covens are still very secretive and sometimes difficult to locate and even harder to get into. So I am going about it as instructional still. Getting all info I can get my hands on.

Off for reading then some house chores. Oh and Brrrrrr it is cold outside winter has come with a tight grip.

Lessons Have Been Learned

2010-12-01T18:01:00.002-06:00

Mikayla has learned a lesson the very hard way today. little back ground..................

I was just about to walk out the door to go to work this morning, and before I could get out the door Mikayla called. Stating I had her homework (which I did, it was her Bucket List project) and she needed it by first hour. So off I went to her school instead of to work. After all she didn't have her homework because of me.

I get to the school not 10 minutes later, call her on her cell and tell her I am out front. She said she was in the principals office and can't come out. I asked her why she was there and did I have to come in. She started crying saying someone hit her and yes I needed to come in.

So I go to Ms. Principles office, I know it well as Ms. Principle is/was Devin's and Felicia's principle also. I peak my head in and she smiles (remember we KNOW each other) and asks what's up? I stated that I was told Mikayla was here. She nodded and smiled asking if she was one of the "hot chocolate girls". Not understanding what that meant I told her I suppose so if that included a girl hitting a girl. She rose from her seat, explained to the person sitting in her office she needed to leave and walked toward me. As we both made our way out of her office we ran right into Devin. We both in stereo told Devin "go back to your class". He laughed and did just that.

Mikalya as you can tell was NOT in her principals office......she was in the BIG PRINCIPLES office. UGH that means you are in some serious trouble. Great. I am asked to sit in some chairs and wait........and wait.........and wait........and wait. Finally after what felt like forever but was actually only about 40 minutes I looked at my phone to check the time. I noticed Mikayla texted me asking me where I was. I replied I was in the chairs and asked where she was. That was when Ms. Principle came out and asked me back.

So apparently Mikayla and this girl have been having words for the past couple of days (according to cell texts and FB comments) and it all came to a head last night. Decisions were made that they were "meeting" up this morning to throw cuffs. Mikayla admitted as much. Then I was told that the girl threw first, Mikayla blocked it. Girl threw again and this time caught Mikayla and royally made her mad. She had her hot chocolate in her right hand (her dominate) and chucked it at her. Or I should say all over her. So Girl gets suspended because she threw first, Mikayla gets Suspended 5 days because she retaliated.

Only upside is that she said Mikayla gets to complete all missing work. So basically she will be home schooled for the next 5 days.

I am hoping that she learned that there are better ways to handle a person who is bullying a friend. But yet I am proud of her for standing up for her friend.

What's on your Bucket List

2010-11-30T20:23:00.003-06:00

Mikayla was assigned to do a bucket list for school. This is what she wrote:

1. Bungee jumping
2. Fly a plane
3. Ride in a hot air balloon
4. get a job
5. get my own house
6. get married
7. Invent something new and useful
8. Win the lottery
9. guest star in a TV show
10. Jump out of an airplane (ahhh girl after my own heart)
11. write a book
12. own over 10 TVs (competing with her dad who owns 8)
13. get a talking bird
14. meet Johnny Depp
15. have a Hollywood star
16. Own my own company
17. become a hair stylist
18. Trash a hotel room
19. biggest paint ball war
20. Build something
21. Move to Italy
22. Move to Ireland
23. invent a new flavor of ice cream
24. name a star after someone (I have done this 4 times)
25. fly to the moon
26. become weightless
27. experience a tornado
28. go to the Superbowl
29. find a new element
30. be in a movie
31. go to a very fancy hotel (I hope this is not the one she trashes)
32. invent my own Six Flags ride
33. shoot a gun
34. become an artist
35. find the other end of a rainbow
36. Buy a Lamborghini
37. own a mansion
38. live in Chicago (sounds like she wants to move in with Felicia)
39. meet the President (I wonder if it our current president she wants to meet)
40. Volcano Surfing (this one she got from me)

I absolutely love some of the things she wants to do with her life....thinking maybe I could help her out with a few as she gets older.

So whats on your bucket list????

Shhhh Can You Hear The Silence???

2010-11-28T20:51:00.004-06:00

It is Sunday 8:51 pm. And it is seriously quiet around the homestead this evening.

This morning we got Rolland (Felicia's friend from university) packed up and got him on his way back to Truman. After which we got Felicia packed up and on her way back to Chicago. She hitched a ride with a friend of ours son. He is heading to Chi town to see a hockey game and is going to stay with Felicia. So for free room he is giving her a ride home. Saaaweett deal for me, saved me an airline ticket.

We put up all the Christmas decorations and the tree yesterday so that left me with nothing to do today. So I picked up my BF Jodi and shopping we went. We bought MD his Christmas present. In a million years he will never guess what he is getting this year! And he is trying, but I will never crack.

But since he doesn't read this blog I can tell you. I am busting to tell.

It's not white though, it is cobalt blue with dark grey sides. MD has been going on and on for years about getting one. Just something else has always come up and we never got it. Sooo now he is getting it. But I did get a killer deal on it, or at least I think so. I have been looking around for the last 4 months. I am wrapping a picture of it in a box within a box within a box so he will never guess what is under the tree. The hot tub of course will not be delivered and set up until January. Can't have it before Christmas so a picture will have to do until January.

But now I sit here watching It's Complicated (laughing so hard I want to pee my pants) and the house is still so silent (except the movie and laughing). Strange how Felicia will either calm things down or wind them up. But quiet is good. I'll take it over the alternative.

Blessed be and I hope all of you had a "quiet" holiday.

Watch for what one wishes for.................

2010-11-25T12:36:00.003-06:00

Yep today is Thanksgiving. And I hope all who happen across this post are found to be in good health and cheer.

I have ALL my family once again under one roof, just as I wished.

What WAS I thinking. In no time at all the arguing and teasing commenced. Oh dear Goddess it is like they are small children again, except then they were easier to manage. Time to separate them to diffuse any possible explosions.

And to add to that, it is impossible to go outside. The winter weather in Missouri has decided to finally show up. Yesterday was 24 hours (or at least felt like it) of rain. Sometime hard sometimes soft, but always falling. This morning the rain has turned to sleet, with rumors of possible snow. So we are now cave dwellers, locked up together. Pretty much why I am held up in my recliner in the office reading and writing you. Devin is at the computer with head phones and now the only noise he makes is the tapping on the keyboard. Felicia and MD watching football in the family room and Rolland with Mikayla playing some video game in the upstairs loft.

Is this what it is going to be like at holidays? Together but not? Well at least it is quiet now and leaving me wondering how long it will last. And when will they ever get along.....quietly?

Cooking round one done

2010-11-23T14:51:00.003-06:00

Today I finished my white/dark layer cake and all but put the finishing touches on my apple spice cheesecake.

Dad I know when you read this you WILL start drooling. But this is a big no no for you mister. But you can at least enjoy the picture.

The layer cake really doesn't look like much, that is not until you cut into it and see the layers of white and dark chocolate. Bummer that my chocolate was melting off the strawberries before I took the picture.

The Apple Spice Cheese Cake needs the finishing touches of whipped cream to "dress" it up. But that will have to wait until Thursday. Cream spoils too easily. (the brown layer on top is apple butter.... YUM)

The Pumpkin Creme Brulee is also awaiting finishing touches Thursday.

So now all my desserts are complete save for the pumpkin pie MD has requested I make. I said I would head out to a store and purchase one. He said no you have to make it. The man has no idea what he is asking.................seriously I have never made pumpkin pie.

The Ethics of Harry Potter

2010-11-23T14:45:00.002-06:00

Check it out, I just read that a school in Massachusetts is now offering a new kind of Sociology course based on Harry Potter.

The first book about a boy wizard named Harry was released in the US in 1997, which means that if you were an elementary school student (and part of the target demographic) then, you're probably a college student by now. Bridgewater State is tapping into that market by offering a sociology course based on JK Rowling's characters, and how they interact within the Potterverse.

"The Ethics of Harry Potter" is a seminar that relates the actions and motivations of Harry and his friends (and of course, his enemies as well) to the ideas of Aristotle. "(The series) speaks to fundamental questions of the human condition: What is justice? Courage? Good? Evil? Every person and every culture must ask and answer these fundamental questions."

Where were these kind of classes when I was in college? Would love to hear from someone who takes this class.

YESSS

2010-11-22T21:20:00.002-06:00

My boss totally rocked today!

Background is I was supposed to be on vacation this week. For 11 years I have always taken this week off. Due to some changes in our clients billing requests and this being a pay week I was schedule to go into work today and tomorrow.

I went into work at 7 am to get a head start on things. When payroll was completed I started working on invoices. I presented everything to the boss before 11am. An hour later when I had not seen any progress in getting things done I ask him if he was going to be able to get to the invoices today. He said sure that he would be able to get the lump sum done, why did you want to leave early? I said no I was going nowhere today but I did not want to be here tomorrow.

Then about a half hour later he started piling invoices on my desk. Not only did he get our "lump sum" invoices completed he got our "time and material" invoices completed. As he placed the last invoice on my desk he said that any that are not completed will wait till the December billing period. Then told me to have a nice rest of the week off.

Yea he totally rocked today!

Are You Ready???

2010-11-21T10:11:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving is 4 days away. Are you ready? Have you purchased your turkey and other items for your meal? If not be prepared for some major lines at your local grocery. The one near my house gets crazy around the holidays.

We have not one but two turkeys. One we fry and the other we roast in the oven. I haven't decided if I am going to use a brine or injection yet. Guess I better decide soon. I am usually off work the whole week of Thanksgiving. I need that time to prepare all the food that I make (crazy since there will only be 7 at dinner this year) But this year, thanks to my companies new billing practices and payday ending this week, I need to work Monday and probably Tuesday. So today is a get my house clean and cook like a freak day.

Today I will be attempting to make an Apple Spice Cheesecake and Pumpkin Creme Brulee. If it works I will have pictures later.

Did you catch that I mentioned 7 at dinner this year? With my parents wintering in Florida and my sister doing I don't know what this year, it will be just the 5 if us (Felicia is making it home from Chicago for the holidays!). The additional 2 are some close friends of the family. Jodi (a friend of mine) has both her boys out of state. One is in school in Arizona and the other ............ well currently he in at Camp LaGune (spelling) in North Carolina. But by the time Thanksgiving gets here he will be in Afghanistan. There is no way I am letting that girl spend the holiday by herself. The other is one of Felicia's besties (as she puts it). Rolland still attends Truman but is heading to Chicago to spend time with my girl. Then they are coming here for Thanksgiving. He is from Alaska, it is an expensive and long trip for a short holiday. So he is spending it with us.

Devin's mood is still ......... grumpy, disregarding, and self serving. This makes crazy holidays a bit harder to handle and the stress level in the house in building up. You can feel it. Mikayla does not help any situation either. She adds to it. Picking arguments with Devin, telling us how WE should handle him, and telling us what SHE will and will not do, and demanding things (rides, cell phone and such). Still wondering what we did so well with Felicia and not with these two. Keep your fingers crossed that an emotional bomb doesn't go off.

Cravings

2010-11-20T16:00:00.004-06:00

Today I woke up with the desire to cook. And not the heat something up kind of cooking. I mean make the mess in your kitchen and yourself kind of cooking.

I went to the grocery store and loaded up on some major food. So for this evenings dinner I will be serving pan seared scallops in a white Parmesan cream sauce served on a bed of angel hair pasta and sprinkled with bacon. A Cesar salad and garlic cheese bread. For desert we are having angel food cake covered with blackberries and strawberries and topped with whipped cream.

Now I had to invite some friends over because my kids will never eat what I have made and I made A LOT. And this particular meal is not good as a left over.

YUMMY

PS Just a little thought..................I cannot wait until Devin turns 18, graduates from school, and moves on. Sad but true.

Thursday

2010-11-18T12:10:00.003-06:00

Today MD is supposed to be coming home from North Carolina. I can not explain in words how I feel about this. But giddy will do.

Maybe now I will sleep ALL NIGHT. This getting up in the wee hours of the morning is for the birds.

Just another day

2010-11-16T19:47:00.003-06:00

Tuesday

MD is out of town for work in North Carolina. He is there until Thursday. Last night was hard to sleep without him. Then just when I was kicking the REMs the phone rings.

1 AM!! And of course it is for the child that does not even live here anymore. The boy apologized and said this was the last number he had for her, that he was a friend from high school. I said she lives in Chicago now I can't remember her cell number as I was sleeping and he can FaceBook her to get in touch with her, then hung up. It took what felt like forever before I was able to go back to sleep.

The kids have actually, so far, been tolerable. Actually Devin has a GIRL over tonight. So far she seems to be a good influence (on this only time will tell). He has been in a very good mood and playful. Even sat to dinner with me (and the girl), then he cleared dinner dishes.

Mikayla is not talking to me because I took her cell phone for the F's she received on class work last week. Devin has yet to surrender his phone due to his F's but I am not pushing it until the girl leaves.

I hope tonight I can sleep better, I hate it when MD is gone. His snoring has become my white noise. Cannot believe I actually miss it.

Heavy Sigh....................

2010-11-15T20:06:00.002-06:00

Friday was a wild roller coaster ride. Wind in your hair can't catch your breath whip lash ride. The day started out quite, peaceful, and just me time. Got into reading/finishing a book I had just started (Fallen). About 11:30 ish we took off for the requested DRUG TEST. We have never had to do this before and we are only doing it now because 1. his grouchy attitude 2. his constant disregard for rules and 3. he flat out admitted to Ms. Probation Office that he has in fact partaken in smoking pot.

After which we headed to his meeting with Ms. Probation Officer. We go into their "chat" rooms. The chat started off well. Then WHAM it dropped, whip lashed you around a corner while dropping 100 miles an hour. I became the worst parent in the world of parents. Ms. Probation Office got mad, so much so that she swore. Now this is the most patient soft spoken lady I have ever met. And to see her get angry with him. I WAS GLAD TO SEE IT. But with him blaming me for all his woes and the end of the world, I was done. Got up and walked out. Left him there to face his music on his own.

Oh and his drug test was negative.

Ho-Hum

2010-11-11T13:43:00.002-06:00

I wanted to post something, anything. Seeing how it usually helps clear my head out. But as I sit here staring at the screen trying to put in writing something about my day I come up blank. Don't get me wrong, I am in constant motion. Getting up at the wee hours of 5am and on the go until I drop back into my bed around 10pm. Just nothing interesting, or at least I am not thinking so. You know what I mean?

For instance today: Actually woke at 4am, probably because I was hot as hell (wonderful early menopause I guess). Fall back asleep after kicking off all the covers. Then at 5:30 MD wakes me asking WHAT I was dreaming about. He stated that I was enjoying myself quite a bit and making noises and talking. I said well if I was talking then you should KNOW what I was dreaming. He just laughed at me and rolled over. What a butt head. Oh wait I guess I could have gone into what I was dreaming about. Would have made for interesting material for sure. But probably quite embarrassing on my part. Gotta watch what books I am reading that's for sure. They are starting to leave subconscious impressions.

Finally getting up at 5:45 to get the kids up for school. Then head to the kitchen, clean up last nights dishes, smoke (yes I do), get kids up again, straighten living room, get Devin his meds and usually get him up again, then hustle them out the door Devin at 6:15 for the bus and Mikayla at 6:45 for her ride (she refuses to ride the bus when she has friends that drive). Then I hustle to the shower and get ready for work, getting me out the door by 7:30. Work from 8 to 5 (usually no lunch). Stop at store on the way home for milk and whatever I feel like making for dinner that night. Get home, search out kids, ask about chores, homework and what nots. Get dinner going, help with homework. Taxi whomever I need too to wherever they need to go. Try to hit the treadmill for 1/2 hour (yea not usually happening). Also try to hide and read for a spell. Go to bed.

Yep that is my life pretty much everyday. Boring right?

Though tomorrow I may have some interesting news. Devin and I have a couple of places we need to visit. He is NOT looking forward to them but we were told it is required. Will let you all know how THAT goes tomorrow.

Determination

2010-11-10T15:07:00.002-06:00

Determination:

- The act of coming to a decision or of fixing or setting a purpose.
- Ascertainment, as after observation or investigation
- the settlement of a dispute, questions, etc as by authoritative decision
- the decision or settlement arrived at or pronounced

I guess you get the idea.

One of the “NEW HOUSE RULES” is the cell phone would be taken away a day for every F received on an assignment. That went for both Mikayla and Devin. I informed them that every Monday I would check the parent portal (we can see all kinds of things going on with this school-parent web access) and review the last weeks grades received. If any F’s were received then I would get the phone.

Mikayla has had a HUGE problem with particular rule. Sad thing is when I started the rule she had no F’s. Then the next week she received one, the following was two, and then this Monday when I checked she had 3. Trying to prove something????

Monday night I presented the printouts of her grades. She stammered this is stupid, why am I being so mean, Devin blab la blab la. I told her it is what it is and she could not argue with me. She was warned and the grades were in her hands, "hand over the phone".

WELL………this afternoon I received a call from my youngest child. She explained that one of the F’s were extra credit. I said it did not matter WHAT it was for, the grade was recorded and went against her final grade therefore it could not have been “extra credit”. She stated that the teacher is emailing me regarding this grade and that the web site WILL BE corrected. She then proceeded to another F stating that it was NOW a score of 15 out of 15 and therefore an A.
She then went on saying that she wanted her phone back and that I needed to stop this silliness with the F’s. I laughed and told her that it is not I that she should be upset with. She needs to stay on top of her teachers and let them know that I am checking regularly. She stated she did just that and repeated “I want my phone back”.

Holy crap the kid went after her teachers! I defiantly am raising them to stand up for themselves and do right……at least the girls that is. Or maybe I am raising Debaters or Lawyers. Definitely not going to get walked over.

Just goes to show:

A Gremlin Lives in My House

2010-11-05T20:39:00.002-05:00

What a whirl wind week. Devin FREAKS out because his girlfriend breaks up with him. That I think he could have dealt with except it was because the "made out" with one of his friends at a party. That is what really made him mad.

So huge fits were thrown, threats of going out to fight with this friend. THANK THE GODDESS he just went on Facebook a swore like a sailor and complained about life. I will take that form of venting over destroying any part of my house and property which he is so known for when he gets that upset.

Then today his probation officer shown up at school for one of their meetings. He found out that I held up my threat. He didn't seem that upset.. Yes that would be weird he is always upset when I talk to his probation officer. When I arrived home from work I was anticipating a huge yelling match. When I opened the door I got nothing at all what I expected. He CALMLY talked with me about what they discussed. Told me how scared he was. That he knows he messed up over the weekend. But he told me Sunday night that he was going to be better and he meant it (which actually this week he HAS been pretty good). We talked I mean talked.

About an hour later he came up to me discussing math and how easy it has been and how he is going to ace this upcoming test. Then asked if I would take him to the school football game. When I dropped him off he walked to my side of the car leaned in and said "come here and give me a hug". IN FRONT OF HIS FRIENDS EVEN. Then walking away he said "love you".

Now I would normally NEVER EVER complain about this. What mother would. I mean really this is always what I wanted from him. To do what was asked, do well at school, be considerate of his family. But this has rarely ever been something Devin has done. And when he has been like this he either has wanted something and/or never lasts more than a few days.

he even just now called to ask what he should do about a situation at the game. One of his friends got into some trouble with a police officer at the game. Devin said he walked away, but didn't know what he should do. I told him to either catch up with his sister or I could come pick him up. he chose his sister, and said that there was no way he was going back where his friend was, he didn't want to be associated with him. He can't afford to get in trouble.

So here I am loving the moment, and biting my nails waiting for the other shoe to fall.

The Boy Is Going To Learn the Hard Way

2010-11-01T11:59:00.002-05:00

After Friday Nights adventures, Mikayla and Devin were both told that they were grounded. For a week. I will give Mikayla kudos as she pouted but threw no fits. And she refused to had out candy saying "I am not handing candy to the little monsters". Okay she WAS going to be one of those little monsters but whatever.

At dinner (which I ate cold with having to answer the door ever other minute) MD asked Mikayla why she was not out with her friends for Halloween. REALLY!!!??? She replied, um dad I am grounded, remember. He just looked at me and said really it's Halloween.

I am now totally dumbfounded. He is the one who said they were grounded! Anyway, he told her that she could go if she still wanted. I then mentioned that he has to let Devin go also. He said oh no. Again though his offences were worse I said you can't undo for one and not the other. At that point Mikayla informed us that Devin was gone and no longer at home. Again REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I verified her statement by checking the entire house for him. And yes he was gone! Little Shit! I went straight to the computer, pulled up facebook, found his girlfriend, and sent her a note: Girlfriend, please let Devin know I am calling Shae (probation officer)tomorrow, thanks, Devin's mom. (remember I took his cell phone away for poor grades)

Oh, yea that got a VERY quick response. He called (now I have girlfriends cell number ha ha) and tried explaining that they were just trick r treating. I repeated the fact I said they were grounded. He PROMISED not to be home past his curfew. At this point I was mad, and when I am really mad I usually just say whatever is in my head. So I just called him a liar, and that he has to now deal with his own consequences. He started pleading at that point and I hung up. He called back and pleaded some more and I hung up. He couldn't have been that worried, or maybe he just figured that since he was in trouble anyway he might as well make the most of it. Because he didn't come hoe for another 2.5 hours at his curfew.

Yes I am going to speak with Probation Officer about what I can do with him. Of course I want to try to handle this on our own before she has to get further involved, because that is a road I really don't want to have to go down again. But he is going to have to learn he can not walk all over me anymore. Now I mean business, well I always have but he didn't believe it so now he will.

I informed him last night that he would be grounded a month. If he wants to see girlfriend (which is why he keeps leaving) then she needs to come here. He will get a job, he will not receive any more tardies at school, he will not receive any F's on assignments, he will do chores, he will stop cursing, he will jump threw any hoop I give him and not argue about it. He was soo scared that I was "turning him in" he agreed to everything. Tonight I will have him sign an agreement and let him know that Shae will also be signing it as a witness. Though I am sure she is going to have some amendments, which he is going to have to deal with.

I hate that we have become a Jail house, but I have been given no other options.

No Children Allowed

2010-10-31T10:39:00.004-05:00

Last weekend we attended a Halloween Party. It was a nice escape from my own issues so I was looking forward to it. BUT it was costume require. I have of late NOT been in a creative mood. So I relied on my sister this year for my costume.

She wore this last year. And of course everyone loved it and teased MD about what a great way to keep me quiet. Yea thanks guys love you all also! (Yes I do know they were teasing).

No I really don't know anybody, though there were two other neighbors there that I did know. But as always MD had a great time (this was one of his construction clients)

These are our hosts. Last year they were Bill and Sooky from True Blood. I think it is cute how they always do couple costumes.

Then this past Friday (yes the night that seemed hell broke loose here) we attended another Halloween party. Some ex neighbors (miss them a lot) had us to their new house for a party.

Laure has the bubbliest personality and you can not help but love her.

And Jim makes the best beer and port around.

Karen (another neighbor) was there and we all played catchup. And yes we are silly together, but because we can it makes good fun.

This couple smuggled in Kentucky moonshine. Never had moonshine before..............it was surprisingly good. But Goddess you DO NOT want to drink much of it or you will be on your butt quick.

I could not put myself through another night of full face paint. So I found the "static cling" idea and went with it. Walked around all night with underwear, socks, and dryer sheets pinned to me. Not overly fancy, but hey my face did not feel like it was peeling off.

Of course after Devin & Mikayla pulled their stunts. And after I gave myself some Blogging therapy (yes I have found that if I spill my guts here and divulge all our personal laundry for the world to see I feel microscopically better), and Devin was not home yet, MD went to work on someones deck. I decided yesterday that I needed to get out and escape being a mom, wife, maid, chauffeur, cook,.....etc.

Some girlfriends and I took off for wine country. It was may I say AMAZING.

We (me) polished off two bottles of wine and had a beautiful family/responsibility free afternoon. We seem to have all needed it at least that was the consensus.

Isn't Augusta just amazing in October???

Then again I am a nature freak and am more level amongst the trees.

For those inquiring minds..........MD got home around 5pm, Devin was home. They had some sort of discussion but just now my brain is nonfictional and I cannot remember it. MD asked Devin wehn he got home, Devin replied an hour ago. MD asked Devin why he bothered and that Devin could go back to where ever he was last night. Devin's response "I can't I am not 17 yet so I will get in trouble".

Dude really! You were not 17 Friday night either, so would that not equal to you getting into trouble anyway???

Oh, and for those that are interested and live in the state of Missouri (not sure if it is the same in other states). If your child is 17 years of age, he/she can come and go at will and want. No matter what your rules are or if there is a home enforced curfew. If said child decides they do not want to come home they do not have too (nope not a damn thing you can do). But you cannot keep them from re-entering the house either.

It seems that (and i have verified this with law officials) the age of 17 is a "gray" area. 17 year old are NOT considered run aways if they do not come home, but you are also not allowed to throw them out either until they are 18. SOOOOOO what that means is that your child can tell you to go to hell and leave as long as they like and come home when they like. BUT YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS WHILE THEY ARE GONE.

I am just saying...................

We Are Falling Apart At The Seems

2010-10-30T08:09:00.004-05:00

What can you do with/to a teen who disregards everything you say. Has no care for your authority. Pushes you to your breaking point every minute of every day?

This is where MD and I are at. We have tried rewarding as well as punishments. We try to be fair. But in the end we are basically told they will do what they want when they want and we have no right to be upset, angry, or disapproving.

REALLY!

At this very moment I can not think of the word I want to use (probably because I can only see/think red) but I believe it is entitled. They think they are entitled to have everything just given to them and to do as they see fit..........................oh how wrong they will see they are.

It became painfully clear last night. MD and I had been planning on attending a Halloween party at a old neighbor's (they just moved two weeks ago). Both kids knew we were going as they were first told that they were going to go with us, then it was decided to not be "kid friendly" so I told them they didn't have to go.

I get home from work right behind MD. We get into the house, no kids, no notes on their whereabouts. We leave for the party. Still no calls or text messages (though Devin's phone has not been returned to him due to poor grades). Sometime around 9 pm I get a text from Mikayla ............. when are you picking me up? Picking her up? I don't even know where she is. With some text bickering back and forth MD and I decide to leave the party go get her (oh and play taxi to others again without knowledge of this till we show up) and go home to an empty house. Mind you it is now after 11pm.

No Devin. His COURT APPOINTED curfew is 9pm. I sit reading/playing on the computer till midnight, still no Devin. MD stands looking at me asking what we have done wrong as parents? All I can do is shrug my shoulders and say too him..........."we gave them too much". That is the only thing I can see we have done WRONG.

At this point MD is fuming and all I can think is that Devin is bringing this on himself. MD goes around and verifies that all windows and doors are lock. Locks the garage door. This way he HAS to ring the front door bell if he wants in (and it is like 30 something degrees outside). No Devin all night, even as I write this, no Devin.

So this morning I have removed ALL electronics from his room and will be "cleaning it out" shortly. I informed MD that Mikayla will be receiving the same removal from her room.

With things bouncing around in my head I have decided that a formal listing of "HOUSE RULES" need to be inforced. Following is list of rules that I have come up with and enforced (how I just have not figured out yet) at the MD House:

1. No electronics what so ever in bedrooms (this means laptops, TVs, I-touches (Internet access) etc.

2. No more eating in bedrooms

3. Curfews WILL BE OBEYED

4. No F's allowed on any assignment (we currently take the cell phone away a day for every F that is why Devin still does not have his back)

5. Chores will be posted and completed before I get home from work.

6. Devin will apply and obtain a job within a month. All funds will be stopped in 30 days. No more money for lunches he can make a lunch a bring it from home. He is after all 16 and since he has no desire to do homework or sports he can go to work.

7. No longer will disrespectful talking be allowed. If your mad, fine but go to your room and work it out there.

8. Absolutely no one is allowed in the house while MD and I are not home.

9. The Internet will be allowed only on one computer in the house and you will have to ask permission to get on it. Oh yea there will be a password on it.

I am sure I will think of more as the day goes on but this is what I have come up with so far. So now I am trying to think of "punishments" for breaking these rules. With Mikayla that is not too hard. Grounding and taking the cell phone away still works for the most part. It is Devin who is going to be the challenge. I mean if he is not afraid of breaking probation rules (which he know will get him sent back to court) what could I possibly do to him?

Like I said falling apart at the seams

Check it Out St. Louis Made the Top 10!!!

2010-10-30T08:07:00.000-05:00

Someone actually put St. Louis in the top 10 list, and NOT for its crime rate!

Best Online Colleges Online.net had an article

10 Best Haunted House Attractions. You can click the link or if you are lazy (like me) I have put most of the story here. Well the St. Louis Part.

Today’s haunted house attractions are more terrifying and believable than ever before, thanks to state-of-the-art animatronics, visual effects and talented actors that have the power to scare just about anyone and everyone. Expert ratings and reviews say these haunted houses are the best of the bunch and the best boo! for your buck.

1.The Darkness Haunted House
Missouri is the Show-Me State, and St. Louis will show you a frightening time at its renowned haunted house, The Darkness. The Darkness features two floors of your worst nightmares, as monsters, ghouls and 3D clowns and killer circus animals chase and taunt you till the very end. Expect new additions to The Darkness this Halloween, such as a turn-of-the-century funeral home with mirror mazes, ancient graveyards and an animated falling barrel wall.

Going to have to ask Devin his opinion on this particular topic. He has been to several this year alread. And I know this was one of them. So if you happen to be in the St. Louis area this Halloween weekend maybe you should stop by and get a frightful!

I crack myself up sometimes.

Never want to do that again

2010-10-29T13:25:00.002-05:00

Collin's funeral was harder than I expected. Facing Debbie & Steve was the hardest thing I think I have done to date. MD gave Felicia and I trouble (teasing trouble) later in the evening. Saying that they (Deb & Steve) seem to be holding up great considering the situation. That was until they took one look at us (Felicia and I) and lost it.

Yea, I have to admit it was a cry fest when we greeted them. Steve hugged me so tight I couldn't breath then he just looked at Felicia and started sobbing. I mean not just tears, the man was sobbing. It broke my heart. Then as I turned to Debbie, I tried to smiled a little, she let out a squeak and that was all it took we both started crying. MD looked lost and very uncomfortable, he absolutly hates seeing me upset or crying. and he knew there was absolutly nothing he could do to help any of us at that moment. We have never had to deal with this type of situation before, I mean we have had family members / fridnes pass. Of course they were either old, sick or both. So dealing with this type of death was difficult. None of us said a thing to each other, all we could do was hug.

As we approached Collin's casket it was very difficult to keep our composure. Felicia was crying so hard and turning side to side. Looking at her, it made you think that she was trying to figure out which way she run to get out of the church. In the end she just leaned into my arms and cried. I have never felt so helpless in my life. Nothing I could do could fix anything. MD just put his arms around us and led us to the side of the church and walked us out.

Collin's entire Fraternity came and did some sort of service gathered around his casket. It was moving to say the least.

What was heart wrenching was watching grown men talk about things they remember about Collin and having to stop because the would start crying. Seeing grown men cry always tears at my heart.

One of Collin's and Felicia's friends (he was one of Collin's best & longest friends) found Felicia and I. Grabbed us and hugged us. He looked horrible, not doing very well with the situation at all. Poor boy could only nod, couldn't say a word. Sadness engraved so deep on his face, again I could say nothing to ease his pain. Chris had told Felicia the day before he had come to terms with Collin being gone but from what I saw, he apparently had not.

After the services they had a dinner provided for everyone. We couldn't handle staying any longer. We found Steve and Debbie said (cried) our goodbyes. They threatened kidnapping if Felicia didn't make it by when she came back in town. I told Deb if she wished, the next trip I made to Chicago she could come. She said she would look forward to that, thinking it actually would be a nice get away. They have always told Felicia she was the daughter they never had, they had only boys.

A Trip to Chi Town

2010-10-22T15:35:00.006-05:00

Now for a happy story. Earlier this month Mikyla, Nipa, and I took a road trip to Chi town to visit Felicia and check out her new spot she calls home.

She lives in a lovely tree lined community. All the streets look like this. I wish that our neighborhoods here would do this, it is gorgeous!

She lives in a northern suburb of Chicago, and with traffic and parking in the city the way it is we opted to take the train into the city. Besides Mikayla has never been on a train. So mark one off the new experience to do list.

It didn't make the trip any shorter, but at least I didn't have to pay attention to where I was going or who was in my way. Besides Chicago seems to have road construction EVERYWHERE.

We went to Navy Pier (not first but close). We saw pirates fighting and scurrying about.

Then they saw the girls...........and grabbed them.............

.....and you know I always have my camera on the ready.

But I think the girls liked the attention too. They were not shy at all about getting dragged to the side of the pier to pose with some older boys.

Mikayla even attracted some shrimp LOL.

We traveled around the city on the hop on and off Bus. Which at first I was a bit sticker shocked at the ticket prices ($30 a person) but then we were jumping on and off all day at different places around the city. So we figured what we would have to pay for taxi fare to do what we did.........I saved a bundle!

(me taking a picture of Nipa taking a picture of me)

Mikayla fussed at me for taking this picture. But the way I look at it is if you going to "dress" to stand out like this you deserve to have your picture taken and then plastered all over the Internet (or at least my blog and FaceBook pages). Besides they really didn't seem to mind that I was standing there just clicking away.

I was totally NOT listening to our tour guide on the bus and missed what they called this blob of Mercury looking stuff. But it was pretty cool. Felicia had Mikayla and I lay on the ground underneath it to get this odd looking picture. She explains that everyone wants this picture (though I saw no one else laying on the ground)

It was an amazingly beautiful weekend. Thought for sure it was going to be cold (news channels stated also that it would be) but we could have not asked for a more beautiful day. Defiantly wore ourselves out. I am looking forward to another visit. But this time instead of an "all over city tour" we will pinpoint a street or location and concentrate on those. With enough visits I'll get to see absolutely everything in the city.