West Coast High

Reanimation

2010-10-06T18:10:00.001-07:00

So I thought I would reanimate this poor dead blog that I have long neglected. I am currently working on my Masters of Education and am doing my student teaching. I have had a rough few years and am finally feeling good again. I feel new, happier and more stable. My relationship with my husband has expanded and grown into a very healthy happy fulfilling relationship. It has taken 16 years of work but for the first time in my life I can truly say that I am happy from my head to my toes. I know that for some all this happy is sickening and to them I say...try it, it feels really good, and is totally worth all the poopoohing that people do. I have not felt this good since I was a little girl, six years old, before anything bad ever happened, before I got sick, cuddled on my Daddy's lap. Part of me is afraid that it is just a mood swing but it has been going on for way too long for it to be that simple.

Anyway, the boys are doing good, S is in 8th grade and R is in 5th. S is now taller than me by 1/2 an inch and has taken up the trumpet which he can really PLAY!! He is able to listen to a song and figure out the tune!! I am so proud of him. R is goofy as ever, my little snuggleupagus.

Hubby has a new job which isn't much but it is paying the bills. He also quit smoking again but I think it is going to stick this time mostly because we are in it together and I am fully supporting him rather than before I got better when I just wanted him to stop being grumpy and so told him to get a pack of smokes so I did not kill him...lol.

I've got great friends and I am pretty sure that my student teaching is going along swimmingly. I just got observed in my toughest class today and my supervisor only had good things to say about me. My students like me. The only thing I don't like about teaching so far is grading but that is handleable as I only have to do it every so often.

Wow!! Nothing to complain about...something must be wrong!!!

I will try to blog more often, which computes to more than once a year but I think I can handle it.

=)

Putting off the inevitable

2009-09-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

Well here I am, procrastinating...yup, thats me...just don't wanna do my homework so I thought I would blog. Not a lot going on really, same ol same ol.

The boys are doing good, they have started school, (well a month ago). R is doing really well with his new medication, he is now on Abilify and it is working wonders for his ability to sit through a class and not have a tantrum or have difficulty starting his day. S is loving Jr. High. I can't believe I have a Jr. High schooler.

I turned 34 recently, yay me :). I truly at one point in my life thought I would die at 25 so this is like bonus time really...lol. I am doing better medication wise as well, I am on three different meds to manage my schizo-affective disorder and it seems to be working well. A day here and there where there are some breakthrough symptoms, doc is working on it to get it so I don't have any breakthrough days...that would be blissful. I am still having the occasional issue, but that is getting better too. Truth be told, now that I think about it, I haven't had a bad day in about two weeks, which is off the charts for me. I know that getting help for depression or what ever is troubling you is difficult and hard to fathom but it is totally worth it to get out of the depths that have consumed you. It feels like you are trudging through super thick water when you are in the shit. It had been months since I had felt airy and light hearted enough to truly laugh at something when I was deeply depressed. It seemed like no one was doing anything right by me, like I was just being wronged in so many ways. I was "sick" quite often, mostly because I just could not deal with what was going on around me. I was very ill and my work situation was not helping in the slightest. Neither was my home life for that matter, but once I got help it all did not seem so bad. The shitty stuff is/was still happening in both major areas of my life but it is HANDLEABLE. I did not want to hide from it or get tired when I thought about it...I just deal with it now....it gets BETTER with help. .

My great friend Shel was the one who gave me strength to get help...seeing her go from where she was to where she is today was enough of a miracle to me to say that I was unusual in how unhappy I was...I sought help and got it...and I feel better now, much better...much, much, much better...lol.

Anyway...I just had to put that out there for my hypothetical reader who might be in disarray (sp?), what can I say, it was on my mind today for myself and how much I had needed to hear that from someone, anyone.

Other than that work is shitty, lol, no changes there. Although I spent today (Sunday) there working and it was really pleasant to just do my job and not worry about office politics or the boss...I really appreciated that time to just do my thing :).

Okay, have successfully put homework off long enough that I don't have to do it...tonight anyway...yay! You all take care out there, take care of each other and yourselves.

C

Revelation

2009-08-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

I was laying in bed trying to take a nap but the kids were making too much noise and there was too much light. I thought maybe I could take my husbands wooby and place it over my eyes like he does to block out at least the light and maybe even some of the noise. Within moments of placing the wooby over my eyes I had a flashback to my mother standing in front of the mirror at our old house in Gridley, the non-haunted one. She was leaning in, holding up her lip and wiggling her teeth. I have had this flash back many times, at least twice a week for years now. This time instead of brushing it off as I normally do, I followed it. I saw how messed up her face was, it was bloody, she had a black eye with blood in it. I remembered the night it happened and how her face got that way. Her boyfriend, Gator, had beaten her to a pulp right in front of me, my brother and Gator’s son. I had gotten scared and gone to call 911, but the gravel in the drive had hurt my feet too much. Gator’s son Butch had chased me down and stopped me. I had called to him though when he passed me in the dark. I felt that that was a betrayal of my mom.
Back to the flashback, for the first time my vision of that flashback panned back to reveal a little girl standing next to the doorway peeking around the corner at her mom. Her mom said nothing comforting, she said, “What are you looking at?” That is all I remember visually. I do remember being very afraid, more fear than I had ever known, even more than when she and Jerry had fought. This was before Jerry was in the orchard next door with his friends looking for the house. But, that little girl was more afraid than any little girl should be, I was only 8 or 9. I had never realized that I was that little girl, had never acknowledged it…now for the first time not only was I acknowledging it…I was embracing it. That little girl was me, that afraid, sad, uncomforted little girl was me. I suddenly started crying…for the little girl without a mother, for the loss of my childhood, for the fact that no one stepped in, for the fact that my father was fighting but destined to fail. I cried in sadness, fear, hatred and acceptance all the same time. I cried a lot, but I also walked away with a vow or two. I vow that in my power as a teacher I will never let a child go without comfort, I will never allow abuse or neglect to go unchecked. I vow that I will never be my mother, a selfish horrible bitch who put the bottle and her own desires above the needs of her children. She stopped being my mother when I was six, I will finally stop chasing her approval and her love. She hasn’t been my mother for 27 years, why do I keep hoping that she will suddenly become motherly? Well, I have stopped doing that too…I am done with her. I don’t feel sorry for her except as one would feel sorry for someone else’s mother who has dug a trench around her.

171

2009-07-10T12:48:00.001-07:00

Last weekend ranked up in the top five of all time weekends for me. It was really great, I got to go camping, fishing, hung with my dad and brother, had a fish fry, I climbed a mountain with my boys and my brother, I came home and snuggled with my hubby, saw fireworks with the boys, hung out with my friends at a bbq. I really had a great weekend. The oddest thing though, when we got in my brother's truck to go find the trailhead to climb the mountain he had been listening to my favorite singer of all time, John Denver...really sealed the deal on the good weekend to know my brother appreciates him as much as I do.

That is not to say there were not bad points, I just did not focus on them. I think alot has to do with my new meds...the doc just got me on three new ones and we got rid of the old ones and the last two and a half weeks have been great...I think the old ones were not working...wierd how you do not realize that until you take stock on how your days have been. All the trouble at work, the stress from surgery, stress at home and other places had taken a toll on me for sure, add to it the meds not working and you have one pretty stressed depressed person. It is not that I now don't care what is going on around me, I just seem to have a more positive take on things. And the bad stuff is literally rolling off like water off a ducks back...it just doesn't bring me down like it used to, I don't focus and obsess on it...I deal with it and move on.

Anyway, enough about how wonderful things are for me, the boys are doing great...they are having fun on their vacations what with the camping and going places and fishing. S is now 5'4" and only has 4 inches till he is my height...damn he is tall...he is only 11 too!! R is being his goofy self. I love those boys.

Hubby is still working on going active...I hate being in limbo though...grrr.

Anyway, that is me for today...

So it's been a while

2009-06-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

Well, things have been alright...Work has been good and the boys are fine.

My new doc changed my meds...the old ones were NOT working. So far so good, I can't complain, no bad days but it has only been since Monday. Actually that is pretty good...almost a whole week with no bad days....huh, go figure.

Anyway, got to meet up with one of my old grade school friends this weekend...it was really interesting...she has been through a lot, lots of rough stuff went on for her and it is not looking better right now, but she seems fairly positive and I hope things work out for her.

Hubby signing up for active is on hold right now, his recruiter (my brother) is on vacation right now and so we are waiting for him to be back...sigh...wait, hurry up, wait, hurry up...army life.

Took the boys camping this last weekend and they had a blast, we were skipping rocks and fishing and eating s'mores...it was a really good time.

We are going again next weekend for longer this time, my plan is to hike to the top of a nearby mountain and have a beer. We are also going to be going to the coast here real soon, like the 21st of July. I am really excited about that trip...really excited. Just have to beg for the time off from work...hope for me will ya.

Anyway, that is what is going on....good stuff all around for the most part...did not mention the not so gut...don't want to.

I have some homework to do right now so I will be getting on that

C

WOO I feel good!

2009-06-12T12:57:00.001-07:00

Hubby and I went on a walk/run today and we went 4.1 miles....I was a baby and whined a lot, he was so patient and encouraging. I did it though, everytime he said we should run, I ran and every time we crossed a road we sprinted...my legs feel like jelly right now but the sense of accomplishment is really nice.

Gratitude

2009-06-11T21:26:00.000-07:00

Not sure what to talk about, just wanted to let people know I am still alive. I have of late been contacted by several friends from a long time ago. I have talked with them about the different things going on in their lives and have come to a conclusion. I am incredibly grateful for the fortune that has come my way. Some of my old friends have suffered job loss, home loss and even multiple deaths in their families. I have suffered very little in my adult life, my parents are still alive, my kids are healthy and I have a roof over my head. My husband loves me and we have a great relationship. I have a good job with excellent health benefits and have the opportunity to continue my education. I am so incredibly grateful for what I have in my life today...

New, old and pledges

2009-05-31T19:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here I was in my own mind being miffed at my friends who do not blog often and I realized that I have not blogged in forever. So to correct that I have decided that I will be blogging more often.

So what has been up with me, lots.

I have been going to school again. Decided to get my teaching certificate, not sure if I mentioned that before. Anyway, had to change schools. I was going to University of Phoenix but am now attending at National University. Seems there is this rule about getting good grades for persons who are working on a masters degree and by good grades I mean better than a B, not a B- but a B. So I will keep things a little tighter this time.

Work has been surprisingly good. Less harassment and more positivity (is that a word). I still can't wait to leave but it is less pressing now. Speaking of leaving...I am going to be beginning my student teaching in February...woohoo.

I have fully recovered from my surgery. I did not lose any weight from it but I did lose a few inches from my waist (for a while, gained them back in fat...sigh) from the severe amount of swelling from inflammation in my intestines and the section being removed. They removed 12 inches of colon and I feel wonderful after. I have more energy, feel better and just all around feel well.

Boys are good, the oldest is getting ready to go into junior high and it makes me nervous. He is my baby....my first and it kinda makes me sad to think that my baby is growing up...I know it will be harder when R starts but for now I will struggle with this one.

C and I are doing pretty good, we have been working on some areas that need work but for the most part we are doing good. We also have some plans in progress that may take us away from Chico, but they will be better for us as a family and it is something we really need right now.

Lets see, anything else...yup...one more thing. I have low self-esteem, I recently discovered that I am okay...that I am going to be okay and that I need to stop worrying so much about who likes me and who doesn't. I need to stop worrying about what they might be thinking about me and know that in ten years they won't remember what I wore, how my hair was, how jiggly my thighs are and that they will remember how I treat them in general and that is the most important. I have friends...they love me...I am okay.

On that note, I am also going to be more positive. I will stress out on things less and remember to take my medication at the same time everyday. I am going to get healthier and be happier. I will make more friends and explore new things. I will get healthier habits and quit biting my nails. I will wash my car and vacuum it out. I will take time to spend with my boys everyday and make sure they are doing well. I will take time out to spend with my hubby that is positive and healthy. I will keep in better touch with my old friends and remember their birthdays. I know that these things will be difficult but it will be okay, I have a strong will and can do anything if I put my mind to it. I will also try to chronicle my progress on this blog as often as possible.

Whew...sorry about the wierd pledging there, but I gotta put it somewhere...lol. Well, I will be seeing you.

C

Surgery and stuff

2009-02-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

So surgery went well, the best part was that the doctor even took out my appendix! I have had a fear of appendicitis for years! I blame my mom, she always was telling the story of how she had hers taken out and how scary it was for her, she was only a kid. So from now on when I have pain on my right side I will no longer run screaming, "appendicitis" to the doctor. I have found the cure of phobias, cut em out!

Seriously, surgery was good. I was a mess the first two days. My wonderful friends came by or sent flowers and really helped me through. The boys weathered well, R is still missing being picked up by me but he will be okay, S was always rather subdued when he came to my room. I don't imagine seeing me like that was comfortable for them. They are back at school this week, they had vacation last week and lived it up on video games. Been having trouble with R sneaking candy...he always gets caught, but still does it regularly, you'd think he would learn.

I have enlisted my good friend Shel to help me with a diet that I can follow and I hope to stick to it. She is wonderful with nutrition and stuff.

Well, still a little pain...okay lots but not as much as when I first got out of surgery. I can walk short distances, sit and stand on my own...getting better every day!

Thanks to everyone for all their support during this time, we really needed you and you pulled through for us...no one could wish for better friends!

Love ya
C

What's going on

2009-02-07T10:34:00.001-08:00

I realize that with my last post I was rather vague. Sorry about that, I just wanted to vent a little and that was what came out.

I have surgery on Tuesday for my large intestine resection. I am a little nervous, I will be in the hospital for five to seven days...come on by and visit or give hubby a call he will be home with the boys who will be on vacation...I will be at Enloe. Doc says he will be taking 12 to 16 inches but that after that I will be able to eat all the fruit, vegies and nuts I want, it is going to be a complete cure. BTW, I have diverticulosis...essentially small hernias in my large intestine, the only sure fire cure is to remove the affected section of bowel. It has gotten bad enough that the doc thinks that it has perforated through to my bladder...ick. So all that should be repaired on Tuesday and I should be back to new soon, about 6-8 weeks. I am going to use this time to reboot my system, I will be coming off caffeine (sp?) and sodas and junk food and fast food. It is going to be tough but I think if I view it as a lifestyle change and one for the better. I will also be exercising more.

Work is work, I hate it. I love most of the people I work with but the lady in charge of me is a real witch. I had my annual performance review on Thursday and she tore me to pieces...not one positive thing to say about me. On one level it pisses me off, I hate dreading going to work I hate feeling like I am under a microscope and that everything I say and do is being observed (it is totally true too, she had a stack of notes on me, things she heard me say and do...it was kinda scary). On the other level...I just don't care, I am leaving this place asap...I am updating my resume, looking for a teaching position that will carry me through and help me get some experience.

School is good, I am enjoying it. I taught my first lesson a couple Fridays ago and it went really well, the kids were great and were in third grade so they were still fresh and eager to learn...easy as it were. But the preparation and and actual lesson went really well and I thought the kids liked it. I was so excited and nervous but even the veteran teacher (22years) who observed was surprised that this was only my first lesson, she said I seemed like a natural. woot!

Anyway, gotta go make some coffee for my beeb.

You all take care and take it easy :)
C

Life anew

2008-12-22T15:03:00.000-08:00

When I was 14 I had my palm read by a lady at a fair. She said that mine was the strangest she had ever seen...I am sure it was all a hoax but still. She said that I would have three major changes in my life that would cause me to become a different person.

I know a bit about change, it is painful, not fun but you come out the end usually a better person. I believe my first change came about when my mother got sober, she and I became best friends and this helped me come out of my shell a bit. My second change came about because of a man who wanted to get a better grade so he could get his high school diploma, it made me a person who never gave up. I am not sure but I think my third is in progress.

There is a lot going on with my life right now, I am going back to school to become a high school science teacher, I am very close to a occupational realignment whether it is voluntary or not is still to be seen and I am medically ill and will have to have surgery soon, this surgery will make me skinnier and change my diet drastically. There are other issues of a more personal nature that are going on and I am working on those too. It is a very stressful time and then you add the holidays on top, it may just be considered to be a lot. But in all this stress and trials and tribulations I have found a saying that is helping me through..."We'll all just float on"

Thanks Modest Mouse, I think I will just Float On

Enjoy life

All the world's a stage...

2008-08-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

So, it has been FOREVER!! So sorry about taking so long to blog again. I will start by updating everyone on my and my families goings on.

Hubby is back home, yay. It is sooooo good to have the other parent back and supporting! Also, of course, it is fantastic to have my best friend back with me. I really missed him while he was gone this time, had a very rough time with kids, housework, storms, fires and cars breaking. He came back with such good things about working out and shaping up, I have not lost any poundage but I have lost a couple inches (okay one so far) around the waist! He is looking good too, all muscley and hot.

Boys are good, started in school again we are now the family of a 6th grader and a 3rd grader...god they are getting so big!! S is 5 foot 2....R can still be picked up by me though, it will be a very sad day indeed when I can no longer pick him up...sigh. S got a cell phone, three now actually, they keep finding their way to a watery death some how or another. His friends keep calling on it, he has become so much more social.

Work is goodish. I am going to be starting at CSU Chico again in the spring. I have decided after much deliberation that I am going to get a degree in teaching science to high school kids. I am really excited about it, I really like kids and I love science, I am a good teacher so the three should go well together...I am going to be subbing just to check and make sure, however.

I am going to a Poison concert tomorrow night...I am so excited! I know, I know...I have already received much ribbing about the fact that I am going to an 80's hair band concert....but I LOVED Poison when I was a teen and I think it will be fun...besides, I haven't been to a concert in years.

The new car is great! It runs like a dream...you just don't know how bad a car is running until you drive one that runs well. The old car was hauled off last week and we even got a hundred bucks out of it! It was kinda sad to see it go, though it was hauled away while I was at work. It has seen us through both the boys infancy, toddlerhood and beyond. Sigh.

Lets see, what else...I think that might just cover it...there is other stuff going on but not ready to discuss it here yet...there are still some things that need finalizing first...nothing bad...actually kinda good.

Anyway...gotta go...I have to update my resume...boring!!

C

What a piece of work is a man...

2008-04-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

So, in conclusion to the past drama.

After much, much, much hunting, headache and not a little heartache I have a car, a very nice car, a car that I REALLY like. It is a VW Passat of the 2004 variety, I will post some pictures as soon as I get around to taking them. It is in mint condition, looks, feels and drives like a brand new car. I LOVE THIS CAR. I am not usually one to go bananas over a silly thing like a car but wow, the VW makes a really nifty car. Anyway...I really owe a big thanks to all my friends who helped me through my carless phase, giving me rides, picking up the things I forgot because I was so scattered and in general being great friends. So thanks to Evan, Denise and John. And an even specialer (is that a word?) thanks to John who tried his best to help with the car search and hooked me up with some really honest folks at Courtesy Motors.

C

Alas, poor Yorick

2008-03-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

Goodbye, white 1996 Nissan Sentra GXE, you have served us well. The headgasket issue is just too much to fix. We are in the process of buying a new car, I will not comment on the progress of that (superstition) but I will say I have picked out a new car that is a Nissan as well. You just can't leave a brand that has stood up so well. Let us review; 228,000 miles, few oil changes, one tune up, 12 years old and ran great till the day it died...my plan is to treat this new one like a queen...oil changed on time, tune ups regularly etc...maybe it will last even longer. So all of you out there cross your fingers for me in hopes that I get the car.

C

To Be or Not To Be

2008-03-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

Today is the day I mourn the possible death of my long hardworking car. It broke down on the side of highway 99 yesterday and it turns out it has a blown head gasket...$1200 to fix. Any of you all who know my car knows it is not worth a quarter of that. So my car is totalled, do I fix it or do I try (probably in vain) to buy another car? I just don't know...nothing to slow you down like a broken car.

C

Rants and changes.

2008-03-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

Wow, I know it has been forever, but life gets in the way sometimes. I am mainly writing for two reasons today, but I will take a moment to update a little. Hubby is doing good over there in San Antonio, he is having to study hard and has quit smoking, I am really proud of him but am ready for him to come home and stay a while. S is doing good, he was at a friends house last night, I was of course a little nervous. R is doing good too, he has to switch medications coming here shortly because his is doing a number on his belly and not working so great anymore. I am doing pretty good, missing hubby and gearing up for what looks to be another very busy baseball season. Work is okay, I am ready for something new, a promotion perhaps...who knows.

Now for the main reasons I am writing. Yesterday I was approached in front of my local Walmart by a man looking for people to sign his petition, normally if the petition is worthy I will sign, but this guy wanted me to sign one that will keep marriage between a man and a woman. I was angered by this, it is so freaking discriminatory! I, of course, said, "no thank you" but later thought of some cool things I could have said instead. Who the hell is the government or these idiots to tell people who they can and can't marry. What if he had said to keep marriage between white people only, let me tell you, the shit would hit the fan. So why is it okay to discriminate this way? Anyway...nuff said.

Secondly, my very good friend Evan wrote in one of his first posts of the new year that he wanted not to make a new years resolution but to choose a word and work the entire year to become more like that word. This really stuck with me, I have thought about it since his post about it and I have finally decided on a word. It is friendly. I know, for most of you reading this I am a very friendly person, but you all are in my circle, this is meant for those people that are not in my circle. Let me tell you, it is a lot of work trying to be friendly to other people...I am working on trying to remember things about people, their kids, their spouses and even their names. It is kind of a good challenge though.

Anyway, that is what is up with me.

C

My uneventful weekend.

2008-01-07T18:19:00.000-08:00

So I guess it is time for an update on the crazy goings on that have made up a really rough weekend.

Thursday I dropped my hubby off at the airport, we had to drive him to Sac because the flight from here in Chico was delayed so much that he would not make his connection in SF. The trip there was nice, we got to hang out with eachother and talk and just be together. The boys played video games in the back seat most of the way there and then again home. The actual dropping off of him was a little anti-climactic (sp?) as there was this very slow line for the check in and then we had to say good bye very quickly. Our tearful good-bye made the lady behind the desk cry too. I did not begin bawling until the boys and I were outside and even then I held it in check...mostly. The trip home was quiet and uneventful. Hubby made it to his final destination just fine and we started on day one of no baby at home.

Friday morning I awoke to hubby calling me to find out if I had made it to the bank...it was 8:30 am and my alarm had not gone off...this was because the power was out. This was the beginning to a very bad day...a VERY bad day. Suffice to say that things just got worse from there with downed powerlines, trees that fell in the street, fences that are no longer fencing, a pool shed no longer shedding, traffic, screwed up pay checks, a bank that could not cash the screwed up pay check and lastly...the straw that broke the camel's back, a bank card in my wallet that should have been in his (and that is just to name a few). I broke down...cried like a baby in the middle of the bank...how embarrassing!! But things are getting back on track from that day. I did have some good in the day, my very good friend D came over and we took the kidlets to Mickey D's and let them play while we talked and drank too much soda...enjoyable as we have not had much chance to talk lately. Evening I had to go out with the FIL and go shopping for supplies, in general a rather frustrating experience as he kept wanting to buy a generator and that was a little out of our reach financially speaking. Came home and made sandwhiches for dinner by flashlight.

Saturday, still no power, but getting used to moving around via flashlight. Spent the day and evening with the kids playing card, board games, I spy and other very wierd games that they made up. In the evening/late afternoon I got a call from hubby about some mail stuff and rushed out to mail it but there was no joy there, mail place closes at 12:30 on Saturdays...had to wait until Monday. Tried my darnedest to make chicken on the grill...now I have never done this, so they turned out black and raw at first....ugh....but then I put them back on and cooked them correctly, and they were pretty yummy!

Sunday, still no power. I had to work and getting up using only my phone for a wake up call proved difficult but I made it. Work was light and easy, got done in 6 rather than the usualy 8-9 hours. Hubby called me and we were able to talk again, we have been talking on the phone alot since he left, all good, all nice all appreciated. He was bored as they had nothing to study or do while waiting for the first day of his school to start. I talked to him several times that day...good stuff really. Visited shortly with D after work, she was very kindly watching the boys for me. Came home and made hamburgers cause the POWER was back on!!! Woohoo...was getting really sick of living by flash.

Monday, work again. Not too bad, busy day, went fast. Got the kidlets from school and mailed the package to hubby, went shopping for some groceries and came home.

That was my very (un)eventful weekend. I am ready for the next one to be a little less uneventful...lol.

C

Update #323492378

2007-12-21T16:35:00.000-08:00

Wow, it has been a bit since I last blogged. Somewhat of a lot has been going on, nothing big just stuff. I got a sort of lateral promotion...I will be training to work in the microbiology/PCR lab...woohoo, for now it will be just fill-in when someone is sick but soon, my sweet, soon...

I have been sick for the last week maybe longer with this very strange bug that starts making you tired and achy, then attacks your sinuses and makes you headachy, achy and tired, then it makes you have vomity (and other ended) goodness. UGH...I felt awful and was only able to take one day off from work because I could not afford to take more, not yet anyway. I am feeling much better today, matter of fact today is the first full day of me not coming home and crashing on the couch or wherever I end up landing.

Hubby leaves in two weeks and I am still in denial, I don't want him to go, I want him to stay here. I know that it is a reality, he has his freaking tickets. OH...for those not in the know...he is going back to school for the army to become a licensed physical therapist assistant on Jan 3...how come they did not have these kind of opportunities when I was in?!?!? They probably did I just never looked. Anyway, he will be gone until late July, but the good news it that he will be able to come home some weekends, when we can afford it and as often as possible of course. I will take the time now to thank those of you who I will be leaning on again, you all are what keeps me sane at times like these.

Still have not done any x-mas shopping, have put it off until VERY late again...grrr.

Well....there was more but I cannot remember it...oops! Okay, I am a gonna go...need to get ready for Christmas shopping...woohoo!

C

Sigh...stuffed...content

2007-11-24T09:28:00.000-08:00

I ate so much on turkey day that I am still feeling stuffed. It was a good Thanksgiving, lots of food, friends and some card games. I was pretty busy at the end of the day right before the feasting but in the early part of the day there was strangely not much to do. Other people, mainly Denise, were making the bulk of the food that was required to be made early and so I was only doing the things that had to be done at the last 1/2 hour or so. Hubby made the turkey, fantastic, as usual. Denise made lots of goodies and cookies, good stuff...one type of cookie I will have to make sure we have all the makings for here tonight because I want more, it was a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie...my mouth still waters when I think about them!

I am having a strange urge to decorate for Christmas right now. I really am looking forward to it this year, perhaps because this will be the first one after getting a good job and there will be less worry about making ends meet....dunno, maybe thats it. Maybe tomorrow morning I will haul out the boxes and set up everything but the tree. I always get a real tree, I love the smell of a real tree at christmas time, however, it means that I have to wait for a while before getting the tree. I know some may say that you can keep a tree alive for a long time after bringing it home if you water it and give it sugar water and other such stuff...the key there is that you have to water it...I always forget and the poor thing is losing lots of needles before the end of the holiday. I also think I am going to get a real tree skirt this year, we always use a sheet and I am thinking that it might be time to move up in the world there.

All is going well at work, really well as a matter of fact, I have been nominated to learn our PCR machine and plate key out. (WHAAA?) To explain, PCR is a method of using an enzyme to amplify certain sections of DNA to detectable levels and then run a test to determine if a tank is infected or not. We rarely get positives but still, it is very cutting edge and fun stuff. Plate key out is looking at petri dishes and determining what is growing on them...the stuff I was made for!!! I am also working more and more on our GC machine, alcolyzer and spectrophotometer...all cool stuff. My supervisor feels that I need to start taking on some of her responsibilities since she is so swamped and she feels confident that I can do them. YAY!!!

Boys are good. They are on Thanksgiving break right now, a whole week off! They have been melting their brains with video games and doing chores mostly...S has a huge project due on Tuesday so he has been sorta half-heartedly working on it so far, but today he is going to work on it for real. R has been increasingly antsy, I think school helps take some of it out of him, Thank God they go back on Monday!

Hubby is getting ready to get his EMT 1 license (State of California version of what he already has...silly) and then will be doing that sorta stuff. We are doing really well, especially now that my crazy bits are coming under control...he has been so patient and good with me through it all, I really appreciate all he has done, has put up with and is doing for me and our family...

Ugh, I have to start evenings again on Monday, 11-7:30pm...not too bad, but apparently come January we will be working graves as well...suck!!! I switched with a friend for a morning shift on Thursday (for him he is going to a concert) and Friday (so I can be home for R's birthday). Can you believe R is turning 7!! He still seems like a little, little kid to me, probably cause he is so small...but still, SEVEN!!!

Well, I gots cleaning to do...hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

C

Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T09:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Turkey Day Everyone!

Hope you get stuffed and eat lots of turkey...I mean ham!

The face of terror...

2007-11-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

First I would like to start by saying congratulations to my friends:
1. Evan and Denise: I was fortunate enough to witness the birth of their #4, Tasmia, and let me tell ya folks, the baby is beautiful!!! Congrats you two!

2. Shel and Trav: Congrats on your upcoming anniversary! So how many years is this? I never can keep track!

3. um...I forgot.

Well that said, I have to explain my title I guess. Today I went and saw a CIVILIAN podiatrist, now I know that the military/VA lies, but what I did not know is that they would lie so very badly. Had I known then what I know now I would probably still be in the military...well, maybe not but still I was lied to folks. My shiny new civvie doc says that the majority of my problems can be fixed, the most intense of which is the remaining nerve damage from that fateful surgery that the military doc fucked up. Yes ladies and gentlemen, if all goes very well I could be running again, and not just running but running pain free, I could walk barefoot over gravel and not end up crawling, I could....well, you get the point. I have started a series of three injections of steroids in the bottom of my foot to shrink the severely damaged nerves from the surgery, if all goes well I will be cured by the end of them...now, I have lived with this for 10 years so forgive me if I am doubtful...I just cannot believe that this could have been fixed so "easily." Now for the real explanation, the freaking shot!!! OMG I was so very terrified that it would be incredibly painful (and it was!) that I was shaking, turning cold and in tears. The shot was incredibly painful, but honestly if it does fix my foot it would be worth it!!! The rest of my feet problems can be gradually fixed by some of the standard methods, so...yay!

All that aside, life is good, things are getting fixed for my "little" bits of crazy with some medication (again I am doubtful here but I will take the ride and see where it goes). Work is great, I am getting recognition for the things I do now, who woulda thunk it...communicatin and all that! Hubby and I are getting along famously. The only thing that is not quite as wonderful as all the rest is I really want more quality time with the boys, but something inside me says I have to spend money to do that and seeing as how we are a little short on the extras of that sort of thing I am at a loss as to what to do with them...I am sure it will just take a little more thought. S and I have been doing some cooking together and we played a couple games of Connect Four, but somehow it never seems to be enough unless it is spectacular to me...I know it is silly...so I will take them to the park or go on a bike ride or something....anything...lol.

Okay, gotta go, gots me some pizza!!

C

Report Cards

2007-11-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

I just came home from R's parent-teacher conference, where the teacher discusses your child and how they are doing and gives you their report card, etc. Last year R's was negative as were all his report cards, only one E (excellent) for the whole year...just one and that was in classroom participation for the last trimester.

I am so very freaking pleased to say that this year, (thanks in parts to Daytrana, his teacher and R himself) he had a damn near perfect report card! only two S's (satisfactory) and the rest were E's. I saw the card and almost pushed it back at the teacher thinking she had given me the wrong one! She stated, however, that he was the top in the class! I am going to write Shire, the makers of Daytrana, and thank show the change in his cards, he should be their freaking poster boy! He LOVES school, he gets upset when he can't go when he is sick...just...wow!!!

S's was a little disappointing, not so hot, but it kinda comes down to the same thing, he is on the patch too now and already has finished his homework...(it is 3:08 now and he got out of school at 2:10)...he was finished about 15 minutes ago and normally he takes until about 5pm to finish! Most of his problems also stem from losing the work and therefore missing the grades. We have worked out an oragnization system to keep the paper loss to a minimum...we will see how well that is going!

Anyhoo...work is good, home is good, hubby is good...

C

It's a pumpkin funeral Charlie Brown

2007-11-04T10:51:00.000-08:00

Ah, how I love the holidays, the cheer, the joy, the giving and receiving of gifts, the ghosties and ghoulies...and apparently, the pumpkin funerals. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, yesterday I attended my very first ever (and probably the first in written history) pumpkin funeral.

The story goes like this...

R loves his jack-o-lanterns, very much. We grew our pumpkins this year in the back yard and he apparently loved his even more because of it. We carved said pumpkins at the home of our friends E&D on Saturday and come yesterday, one whole week later, R's slumped in on itself all moldy and covered with flies. He cried for a very long time...a...very...long...time. When the tears began to subside I suggested throwing him (yes it took on the proper pronoun even with me) into the garbage...big mistake...he started crying again and in my rush and desire to abate his tears I suggested the unthinkable, a funeral. So there we were, S and I trying to contain smiles as S dug the grave and I put the pumpkin in and R covered it up. Then we had to make a marker...we found a wooden plank and R inscribed the following:

Black

Widow

Died by

flies

11-3

-07

And that my friends is how you have a pumpkin funeral. (BTW: Black widow is the name of the deceased)

Your pumpkin burying friend,

Rants

2007-10-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

I decided to take the plunge and write my mom an email just letting her know what is going on in my life. I know, I know, just setting myself up for the same old drama...well the "good" news is that she changed her email, so now I do not have to worry about contacting her or trying to make things right or anything of the sort. I have been cut off. Sure I could write her, I could call, but at this point, do I really want to? Shouldn't the lack of "Happy Birthday from your mother" and the cutting off of the common way we communicate (albeit badly) be enough to dissuade me from attempting contact with someone who apparently no longer wants to be contacted. Am I reading too much into this? Perhaps she had to change her internet provider for some reason making her have to change her email, her computer crashed causing her to lose my email address so she couldn't let me know her new email, her address book was burned in a fire so she couldn't write, her date book had acetone spilled on it blurring the words so she couldn't tell it was her daughters birthday and her only mutual contact with me (my brother) has fallen into a coma along with the rest of his family from a severe attack of Asian rheumatic fever. Perhaps...but somehow I think my initial instinct may have been a little closer to the truth, no matter that she has no solid reason for cutting off communication with me...that is of little consequence to someone who is insane.

Anyway, on a lighter note, today is payday...and all the money is spent...suck!! It is spent on good things though, like a pumpkin patch visit with the boys, costumes and general halloween fun. Oh, and food and rent and the like...lol. I am happy that we are able to take them to the pumpkin patch, it has been such a huge part of my childhood, one of the happy times and I really want to share that with them, plus I really love hay rides. I have pictures of me at R's age or younger sitting on top of a pumpkin that I could have literally crawled inside of. My dad brought it home and left it in the garage, come summer he finally decided to move it and it melted into a large stream running down the driveway and into the street...lol. My mom was pissed but God it was funny! We will be going to the same pumpkin patch I grew up going to, Bishop's. It has gotten huge (and a little expensive) since I was a kid, but some of the same stuff is still there and it is lots of fun.

Work is work, been on the evening shift the last two weeks so I haven't had much interaction with the boys because they are on the way to bed when I get home...that's no fun. Plus, last weekend was rather busy and I worked so even less of the interaction. But this weekend with the afore mentioned pumpkin patch I also plan to take Sunday and just hang with them, maybe go to the park or something fun and cheap. Next week I go back to the 5am shift, the one that I have become a veritable expert on because I worked it for 6 weeks straight. But it is okay, we finally have two good people taking the positions and that means less stress and less overtime correcting other's mistakes. Good fun stuff.

Hubby is good, I had an appointment Monday to get my feet checked out in Sacramento and he came along, it was really nice to be able to spend the day with him, no kids, no other responsibilities...just him and me...nice.

My feet...ugh...doc says I have a degenerative disorder that should take a very long time to get worse and so there is nothing he is going to do for me unless they start getting worse...idiot, I wouldn't have come in to a podiatry appointment in Sacramento and had to take the day off from work and freaking told him they were getting worse if they WEREN'T GETTING WORSE!!! So I have checked with my current medical insurance about getting a 2nd opinion through them so I can show it to the VA and then boot them all in the butt...they approved the 2nd opinion so yay...I just want someone not connected to the VA or the Army to take a look, if they say the same thing then fine I will sit with it, if they say different I will be all over the VA like white on rice...lol, I have always wanted to say that!

Okay, what was going to be a short rant about my mother turned into a very long rant about everything good and bad...sorry, hope you made it to the end, if not I understand that too...rants can be rather boring!

okay, gotta go pick up that paycheck!

C

Evil Glee

2007-10-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, there are times when justice is served and there are times when it is poetic justice. Such has happened at the work place. There is a lady, we will call her Crazy, who quite often spends most of her day emailing or talking to people who have made simple mistakes. For instance, I once was in the middle of my workday and took a break, she came into my work area and started cleaning, straightening and rearranging it. Another instance: she, over the past two weeks has been emailing our support staff almost daily telling them that they need to be sure to wash off this certain cart. There are many such stories, they are all passed around and thoroughly enjoyed like campfire ghost stories. Today, Crazy had to do some "menial" work that she would rather have not had to do, but because we were short a person, she HAD to pitch in. This menial work was so beneath her that she left half-way through, leaving the equipment turned on, the fume hood a huge mess and in general not doing the same sort of job she "expects" from us. Well, needless to say, the last part of my day was spent in a bit of glee at her misforune of being assigned a task that she screwed up on, and sharing with others of her victims, ways in which to return her frequent reminders about cleaning and turning off equipment. Someone (not me) left a little note in the fume hood stating that it was left a mess, the date that such mess happened and that it was not the way we should leave our equipment. I know, I know...this is all a little juvenile, but hey, you gotta find your fun where you can find it.

Work has been really busy, they lied when they said that July was our busy season, Now till January is our busy time...course that may just be for us in the lab.

Boys are good, tried an experiment on S this week. He has been having trouble since starting in 5th grade with staying on task, organization and other such stuff. These have always been problems but lately it is really starting to show since 5th grade is a little more self-directed. So the experiment was set up in such a way as to give a difinitive answer as to whether he too has ADD, and guess what...the teacher pulled me aside on the first day of it (she did not know anything) and commented on how very improved his attention, organization and on taskedness (I make up my own words!) had been that day and that the talk we had on Friday must have had a great impact. I will be writing her soon to let her know the truth! So he is getting through his homework faster! So, there ya go.

Hubby is good, he is going to have to go to a 4 day drill next month...ick...I will say now that I am eternally grateful for the help of my friends, they have always been there for me and they have always helped me out when he is gone, with or without the car!

I have been thinking about going back to school, just part-time, to get another degree, this time in teaching for single subject...I think I could be a good teacher...eh...food for thought.

Okay, well I have rambled enough for now...have a great day you all, lots of love to everyone...blah...blah...blah

C

What I am up to.

2007-10-09T14:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I guess it is time for a new post, just not sure what to put in it... Things have been good here, busy, but good. I have been working quite a few extra hours, we got a new piece of equipment (a GC or gas chromatograph) and I have been doing training in addition to my regular shift...ugh...lots o' work time, good paycheck on Friday though. I have also been running an experiment on loss of flavor and bitterness through the filtration process. This started small and has gotten huge, so big that in the next few weeks I will be presenting my findings to the owner and all the other managers...did not mean to get this big...I really don't like speaking in front of large crowds or even small ones, hell I get nervous when I ask a question in our monthly staff meetings! I am also a little proud too, of course.

The boys are good, R has been sickie, he got the kiss of the green slime monster and he has been feeling rather under the weather. S has been healthy as a horse, and hopefully he stays that way!

Hubby was supposed to go to drill last weekend but they rescheduled him for this weekend and neglected to tell him, so I was happily surprised by his arrival home!

Other than that things have been pretty much the same old same old. Not boring, per se, just good. My inner drama queen occasionally wantw me to get things messy but I do not give in!

Mom is still not speaking/writing to me, I am kinda glad, she is a bit of a negative pull. Hmmm, what else...that is about it, slow news week.

Gotta go make some foil pouches for dinner...yum, yum.

C

Another LOOONNNGGG meme

2007-10-05T15:42:00.000-07:00

What is the story behind your couch?
We purchased it many years ago when I got out of the army. I had gotten a pretty decent settlement and used part of it to buy the set we currently have, the entertainment center, side tables, coffee table and dining set. Hubby had been working at a furniture store and we had spotted it in the store and fell in love. It is truly one of my favorite posessions.

-What do you use your kitchen table for most?
Eating, D&D, games, homework for the kids, setting things on when I get home and it is where I most prefer to have my friend D give me tarot readings.

-Do you make your bed?
No, usually my bed is never made. One of the main reasons is because I am lazy, the second and close runner up is that my hubby likes to have the bed made around him before we sleep, weird…I really don’t like having someone do that but he does…freak.

-How did you spend Sunday night?
Sunday night was spent getting the kidlets ready for bed, lunches made and clothes picked out for the next day of school. Afterwards hubby and I spent a few precious minutes snuggling and watching a movie before going to bed, we were both tired and him sick so off we went.

-Beer? Wine? Liquor? What's your poison?
I actually used to hate all of them, but having obtained employment at a brewery, attended a class on wine tasting and learned to make some nifty mixed drinks I actually like all of them equally. I may lean a little closer to the beer side of the house simply because I have learned so much about them and have discovered that there are many beers out there…this leads to undiscovered country and adventure in my book so I have begun trying new beers. I used to think I liked the lighter (usually lower BU) beers best but I have also recently discovered stout and like it too.

-What happened to your first love?
I was infatuated with an airman from the nearby base, he dumped me as I would not submit to his desires…but I do not think that was love. I truly believe my first love was the man I married. He was the first one that I still wanted to be around after spending all day with him, he was the first one I couldn’t stop thinking about, he was (and is) the first one to bring a smile to my face when I think of seeing him or being with him. He is the person in this world I trust the most and the one I want to sit next to when I am old and wrinkled with my boobs hanging to my knees and his head bald and shiny…

-How do you get your laundry done?
Used to be I would work on it over a weekend or even all week then sit down and fold while watching Law & Order…however, hubby has recently taken to doing the laundry on Friday (halleluja and thank you very much!!) so I sit on Friday evening or Saturday morning and fold…while watching law & Order.

-Coffee... want or need?
NEITHER!!! I hate coffee, unless it is the frufru coffee with the chocolate and blended and nice and cold…then I will drink it…but my drink of choice is Diet Coke, it just clears the throat and is so very refreshing!!!

-Are you over ramen noodles?
Sadly, no, I love them, I do not eat them as often as I used to but I do still like them.

-What is your guilty pleasure movie?
I will follow my friend Evan’s lead and list them according do genre (especially since he already listed the genres and I won’t have to remember them all).
Musical: RentHorror: Evil Dead
Comedy: Jackass (sorry, I know…but it is so fucking funny)
Action/Crime: Lord of the Rings (is that an action movie?)
Drama: Pursuit of Happyness, Beaches, What Dreams May Come
Porn: Not telling, if you know me that way, you know my likes…
Children's: Harry Potter 1 & 2
Chick-Flick: See Drama
Sci-Fi: Slither, The Thing
Fantasy: Lord of the Rings (oh, I guess this is where it fits)
Gay: I have only seen one…so, Brokeback Mountain

-How do you justify using your credit cards?
I do not believe in credit cards…If I don’t have the cash I don’t need it that bad. Although there have been times when I wished I had one, when my mother had a heart attack and I did not have the money to go visit for instance.

-How do you feel about Harry Potter?
I love, love, love, love the books….only the first two movies are worth beans though…sadly….

-What do you look for in 'the one'?
Understanding, patience, love, friendship, thoughtfulness, passion. I love to receive a small gift, a flower from the side of the road, a piece of chocolate or some little token that shows he was thinking of me while he was out…not everyday…just occasionally. I have a tendency to be a little crazy on occasion and it is really helpful that he is patient and understanding. I love to be silly and laugh and play…

-What newspaper do you read?
I do not currently read a newspaper, I feel that I should simply because I should be a little more up to date with the world and what is going on in it. If I were to read a paper it would probably be the local one and then CNN online. I like to know what events they are having locally.

-What is the mantra you use to get through the rough days?
”I have gotten paid less for doing worse” I have had several jobs, some of them not good, and lots of them did not pay enough for the shit you had to do…So having a good job now and getting paid decently for it is not so bad really… As for the rough days at home, I don’t have a mantra, I just set things right and move on…luckily this has not been much of an issue lately…

-How do you "pick up" at bars?
I suck so bad at picking anything or anyone up…I cannot flirt…just…so…very…bad.

-How many one-night stands have you had?
One.

-Do you remember your dreams?
Considering that most people dream away most of their sleeping/REM time, I do not remember even 1%. But the ones I do remember are very strange and a bit like watching a Twin Peaks episode.

-Do you want kids?
I always have, I even want to have more but I do not want to have anymore babies…I like where my boys are at as far as being able to take care of themselves for the most part but still needing a mommy hug sometimes.

-When do you want to get married?
Um…NEVER…just kidding…

-What is your magic number?
I don’t have one really..I sometimes think it might just be 13 though.

-Where is that special someone right now?
Playing with google earth on the new HYUGE tv.

-Do you have a will?
I do not, I need to make one, but they are expensive and more than a little scary…I have a fear that if I were to actually have one it means that I will then die and no longer be on this earth.

-What was the best day of your life?
February 7, 1994, May 5, 1998, November 30, 2000, May 21, 2006. In order: my wedding day, S’s Birthday, R’s birthday, the day I graduated from college.

-Is it harder to be rejected or to reject someone else?
I do not deal well with rejection of any sort, it can send me into that sort of craziness that my poor hubby has to have patience for. Because of that I cannot reject other people with out feeling incredibly guilty even if they are being horrible people.

-Who's your favorite person?
There is not a single person who is my favorite, I like everyone for different reasons and in different ways.

-What are you listening to?
My husband and my son talking about google earth and each wanting to look at different views such as the grand canyon, our house, where poppy spent his army time, etc.

-What's the last thing you drank?
Water with dinner…I really should have some more though…oohh perhaps with some crystal light…mmmm good.

-Have you been on a date in the past week?
I was supposed to go on Friday last but it didn’t work out…maybe next weekend
-
where are you going on your next vacation?
I am really hoping to get to the coast very soon…although it is going to be rather cold right now. I would also love to go on a cruise someday…like to the Carribean…the water looks so very peaceful in the pictures.

-Have you ever thrown up from working out?
Yes, when I was in the army I ran my final PT for AIT with the thought that my passing the test would mean that my then fiance and I could go up north later that day and get married…I passed, puked and got married.

-Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
Most of my friends are old friends, meaning they are good ones…even if I have only known them a few months.

-Have you ever gotten so wasted you didn't know what was going on?
Ugh…yes…I have on several occasions…that is always more than a little scary.

-Do you like pulpy orange juice?
ICK!!! I don’t like juice wether it has fruit carcas in it or not.

-Are you touchy-feely?
No, very much not. I am with my kids and my husband but with most people I am a non-toucher…unless I have been drinnking, I tend to get a little handsy.

-Do you prefer the tanning bed or the sun?
I prefer the sun. I like to swim, fish and camp…I have been considering going hiking and taking that up as a hobby so the sun kinda comes with the territory. However, if sun is unavailable due to the complete lack of a comfortable temperature in which to do these activities or working many hours, I will go to a tanning booth.

-What are your biggest pet peeves?
Oh wow…this is gonna be a long answer. People who lie or try to one up you, people who are mean. Bad drivers, bad hygeine, crusty plaquey teeth, BO, people who sit and let others work their butts off. People who know they have a glaring fault and make no attempt to change it. People who talk down to me or treat me like a child. People who would rather go through my boss for a problem with me than talk to me. Slow computer connections, my car window that will sometimes get stuck in the down position. Rain on a good hair day, my forgetfulness, other people being forgetful. Wrinkled tee-shirts, wrinkled jeans (mine, I don’t care if yours are). Having to hunt for socks or underwear, forgetting to grab a towel before jumping in the shower, burning myself on my hair straightener, people who are not understanding or empathetic. People who say they are alergic to something rather than just say they don’t like it. Governmental intervention in my parenting style (I mean, come on, there is abuse and there is discipline, a very fine line but with out discipline you end up so frustrated that abuse is a possibility). Well you get the idea…I am sure if I thought about it I would come up with more, but I think I may be done complaining/listing them for now.

-Do you consider yourself bi-polar?
Perhaps. There are times when I think I may be but who really knows.

-What's something your friends make fun of you for?
My very poor Turbo Cranium skills. Clowns. Bwwwhhhhaaaaa…you know what I am talking about…lol.

-What's your worst personality flaw?
Moodiness, drama queen tendencies.

-Would you ever parachute off of a plane?
Nope, I was signed up to go Airborne in the army and on the trip to basic training (in a plane) I realized I am very scared of heights so I did not go Airborne…chicken, I know.

-Have you ever ridden an elephant?
Yes, at Six Flags they had an elephant ride…not in the slightest way comfortable.

-Are you Irish in any way?
I am certain that somewhere in my history there are some Irish people. My mother often alternated between calling me a Heintz 57 (57 different counrties) and a mutt.

-Have you ever been to a nude beach?
No I am incredibly self conscious and therefore going to a nude beach would be tantamount to me climbing Mt. Everest (with my fear of heights).

-Have you ever drank Jack Daniels?
Yes, I used to really favor Jack and Coke but not so much anymore.

-What are you saving your money up for right now?
I only wish I could truly save money…(sigh)…if I were saving money, it would be to first pay off some bills and then eventually buy a house…I have realized that I would really love the chance to do the little home improvement ideas that I have and know that it is being done to something that is mine and that I will be able to enjoy for the rest of my days…plus, I want a kitty and don’t want to have to pay a humongous deposit to have one.

-What was the last gift card you received?
Christmas? No, I got one from my dad when I got hired permanently at SN. A congrats gift for having gotten a real job…finally…lol.

-Does the number of people a person's slept with affect your opinion?
No, as long as they used protections, honestly, it is not even a subject that comes up for me, it is not one of those make or break things.

-Have you ever gone to a party where you were the only sober person?
Yes, for quite some time if would not drink, and therefore was the designated driver or whatever. Sometimes it was hilarious, sometimes it was freaky, most of the time it was pretty good though.

-What do you do when you spot a bug in your house?
Scream hysterically, especially if it is a roach, which, fortunately I have not had in my home since hubby and I lived in Louisiana…the roaches there were big enough to take off with small children! Mostly right now we find a few spiders here and there, nothing big…although I still hate spiders I just don’t hate them as much as roaches.

-Where's your cellphone?
In my pocket, I always try to have it on me, it is my lifeline, the people call me for the most part call my cell, when hubby was away it never left my side because he would call me on it. It is also part of my multi-alarm system to wake me up for work, so it really should be attached. I am hoping to get a new one, the one I have is the free one you get for buying other phones, you know, the cheapie. The one I want is like a Blackberry, with all the bells and whistles, date book, notebook, budgeting abilities, alarms, calendars, etc.

-Who are you talking to?
Noone, I am trying to type and typing and talking do not go well together.

-Who are you crushing on?
Hmmm, I really like Will Smith (he is such a fantastic actor, he can access the spectrum of emotions and play them well, plus he is cute), Orlando Bloom (my sister-in-law got me a signed picture of him…mmmmm yummy, not so much with the acting yet, but he has potential) and Jessica Alba (God she is hot).

-Ever had sex in a graveyard?
No, just waaayyyy too creeped out by them…perhaps that is something I should try though!

-Ever had sex in a church?
No, (sigh) I am starting to sound boring here…going to have to get more adventurous.

-Ever tried the 'Bloody Mary' trick in the bathroom?
Yes, it didn’t work…bummer.

-Ever played strip poker?
Yep, and seeing as how I suck at poker I was nekkid pretty quick..lol.

-Ever played video games?
I have played them but I don’t particularly care for them, not my thing I guess. Though I do love the SimCity.

-Ever played pool?
I have, I suck at this too, although I believe I have lots of fun playing it!

-Do you love weapons?
No I am a die hard (lol) pacifist. I do not believe in using violence to solve problems or get my food, that is what the grocery store is for, let the guys at the slaughter house have the guilt. I have had enough violence for my lifetime.

-Ever killed someone?
No, I have thought about it, played a part in the potential death of one person and been touched by someone being killed…I guess that is enough.

-Ever been arrested?
No and I have never been pulled over in the United States either…weird, I think I am one of the most lead footed (is that a word) persons I know…80ish all the way baby!!

-Do you watch 'Jackass'?
Yes, the movie(s) nearly made me pee my pants…good funny stuff.

Birthdays

2007-09-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

There are a bunch of birthdays in September...Terry, Lash, Genny, Paul and myself. If I have forgotten anyone I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart, nay, the cockles of my heart. This plethora of birthdays is unusual for me, as growing up I was the only birthday in this half of the year. I want to first say thank you to Denise for making me a very wonderful and very tasty cake last weekend...I could actually taste it (weekend before I was sickie and couldn't taste anything)!!

I would also like to include a description of the card given to me by the very sweet and thoughtful Aeia:

The front:
happy birthday Crissy (decorated with a balloon with the letter C on it, presents, cards and a happy face with long curly hair)

The inside:
(decorated with a picture of my living room with people sitting around the table with a birthday cake in the center with candles)

"Birth day

wishes

happiness

Hold on to your

dreams

ask questions,

plan to succeed,

proceed with

confidence,

invest in the right

attitude,

Never stop belliving,

Enjoy the detours,

save time for little things

Share a smile every day."

The Back:

Stars, lots of them and "Crissy you rock"

This is the best card I believe I have ever gotten, it is so very sweet and wonderful, thank you Aeia!

Hubby was away at drill that weekend so we are going to do a little celebratin' this weekend too...woohoo...the longest birthday ever! My work gave me a cake that I get to pick up next Friday, my dad sent a really nice card and Lash and Aeia called on the actual day to wish me a happy birthday (that was really sweet), my baby took me to mexico (a mexican restaurant nearby) for dinner on the actual day and my brother and his family called to sing me "Happy Birthday." All in all a very good birthday!!

Now on a bit of a downerish note...stop here if you want, I won't blame you or even get upset, in fact I probably won't even know...lol. My mother failed to send a card, call or even email me. At first I brushed it off and acted like I wasn't upset, however, all this week I have been getting increasingly anxious, I could not put my finger on it until I was on my way home today. I have been waiting for something from her, hoping she would atleast send me a stupid e-card. Now I recognize that I am very angry at her for not doing the slightest thing to recognize my birthday. This usually indicates that she is angry at me for something and I usually end up being the one to initiate the conversation to figure out why, I ignore my own feelings to determine what has caused her to ignore mine. I usually don't even bring up the fact that I am angry, in fact I usually don't even recognize that I AM angry, I simply take it out on those closest to me by lashing out and not dealing with the real reason I am angry. Now, I have been doing some research, I am a child of an alcoholic, we all know this, what I did not know is that being a child of an alcoholic actually means something psychologically. Primarily dealing with this issue is that children of alcoholics tend to ignore or repress any feelings of anger or resentment especially towards the alcoholic parent. Having recognized that this was what I was doing all week, getting more and more anxious and getting upset at others more easily and etc...what shall I do about it? I am still in the process of deciding what to do, but I am seriously leaning towards...nothing. I am angry, very angry (for more than just the card mind you, for the fact of her not sending anything being her way of manipulating me and her way of playing passive-aggressive) but I have decided that the expected action will be to come running to find out what is wrong. I am not going to feed into that bullshit anymore, I am done, stick a fork in me. I have been on this path for a while, getting more and more honest/brutal in my emails to her and just simply getting sick of the drama. I can't say I want nothing more to do with her because I still do want a mother, a normal relationship with shopping, lunches and a connection to someone female who was a significant part of my upbringing whether for the good or bad. I am just no longer going to chase after it, I am 32 years old, you have to let go of the daydreams sometime.

(sigh)...there...it is off my chest, certainly not forever, but for now...

Anyway, thank you to those of you who have wished me a happy birthday...you all have with out a doubt surpassed in making up for the one little card/email I did not get...thank you, thank you, thank you...

2007-09-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

I was unaware of the effect that most recent post would have on people! Just wanted to clarify some questions that may have been brought up by my ambiguity. I am not upset at anyone, I was pointing out my hypocrisy in that I too had not blogged about the weekend. The need for sanity thoughts being sent my way has nothing to do with the blogging...it is an issue that I have a tendency to have to deal with and it is helpful if there is some sanity floating in the air, I have the distince hope that I might get a contact high from it and start feeling better faster.

Anyway, things here are going pretty good, work is...well, work, it is neither good nor bad at this point, the current setup of our schedules sucks in that the position I am usually on right now because of the need to train two people in on only three shifts is incredibly boring and you end up doing much in the way of maintenance, cleaning and general busy work. The good at work is that I have been finally entrusted with a project, I get to set up a new test we are starting, it is determining the sodium in different things throughout the brewery...I get to set up the standards, known values and testing schedules!! I know, this sounds incredibly boring, but this is actually fun for me...so I am not so bad there.

Boyos are good, we have run out of R's medicine for his ADHD and won't be able to get more until tomorrow afternoon...bummer, I hope he doesn't drive his teacher crazy and he still has a good time at school. He does have good days where he seems as if he doesn't need the medicine but who knows if that will be the case tomorrow. S is thouroughly addicted to video games again... I really want him doing more active things, but today when I kicked both boys out to play he grabbed a book and started reading on the porch...grrr...silly boy.

Hubby is good, we know now that he has at least two years of stability in his unit, meaning he is not going to Iraq any time soon. He is however in a unit that really pushes for extra training so he may be leaving here and there for more of that stuff...I can handle that way better than Iraq.

I am just getting over a head cold that had me feeling terrible for the entire Labor Day weekend, and a headache for the actual day. But I am, of course, feeling better just in time to go to work on Tuesday...figures...lol. I am on the 4:30 shift tomorrow, super early, but it will be a nice 4 day break from the dreaded 5:00 am shift mentioned above, I get to go back to it next week though...but atleast I get a break!!

Anyway..gots to go, Heroes in HD is starting!!

C

Weekend

2007-08-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Ah, so here we are, things are back to normal and all is going well. I, of course, am being a nutbag but that is something I am working on and absolutely will improve upon, and this is not something I care to elaborate on but please just send sanity thoughts my way!

I was looking over my favorite blogs and noticed that although last weekend was a pretty big weekend for us all, none have blogged about it, I started getting upset as I wanted to be able to see what they thought and felt about the visiting that took place...then it dawned on me...I had also not blogged one single word about the weekend! HA...silly me.

So...last weekend...lots and lots of fun, with the kegging and going out and much more consumption of alcohol than I usually do, leading to some rather funny memories and also some fuzzy ones! I was so happy to see S and T too, they are looking GOOD!! So slim and healthy!! I am in the process of convincing them to come here...not sure how well it is working...hmmm.

It is sssssoooooo good to have hubby home, I really missed him...

Lets see...what else...work is good, they had a memorial for Steve Harrison today, I did not go to it as I never met him. I have to work tomorrow but I fully intend to be finished early so I can come home and enjoy my pool, my baby and my boys.

Well, I am gonna go, I have some other stuff to do...blech...folding laundry...atleast it isn't socks!!

C

Home again II

2007-08-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

Good news everyone! Hubby is going to be able to stay until atleast September 8th, his first drill is that weekend and then we will probably know more, YAY...that is such a relief, I was so worried that he would call his unit and they would say that he had exactly one week from the date of his graduation and then he would be shipped out...

Having him home again has been wonderful, we have been hanging out with the boys, we went to six flags. That was a really good time, the boys had fun and S even got up the courage to go on Kong with hubby and Boomerang with me, I am really proud of him, considering that most 9 year olds would not yet be allowed to go on those that took some real bravery! R wanted to go on them too, but alas he was too short. We took him into the Looney Tunes area where he was able to go on rides and we were not, he had much fun! There was also a junior roller coaster that both boys went on with us and we had lots of fun, R was scared to at first but eventually put his hands up. All in all a really good family day. We also spent some time cleaning, not what I originally envisioned his first days home being but it felt really good to do it for two reasons, 1) most of the clutter was left over from before he left so I did not feel TOO bad about it, but I did feel bad, 2) afterwards the house being so clean and smelling so good really gave the feeling of a fresh start, good feelings and happy home.

I did want to take a little time to discuss the missing executive where I work. For those not in the know, our VP at Sierra Nevada went missing a week ago, they found his car, keys and a prescription bottle near the Sac River. They had dogs come and sniff the area three or four times and each time the dogs led them to the same spot on the river on three separate occasions on three different days. The people at work are all very worried for him and the place is like a family, so everyone has been trying to help search and what not. The part that is starting to bug me is the fact that the searchers are concentrating on a "small" area around the location where the dogs kept leading them...is it just me or is that absolutely rediculous...it is a freaking RIVER, it moves lots of things in it along down stream...why are they not looking further down stream, even down to Sacramento by this time? Secondly, why did they bring several different dogs in to search the same area on several different days, the dogs were allowed to search down stream for 1 1/2 miles, but is that really far enough? Perhaps it is, what do I know about searching for missing people? But seriously, the sticking point is why in the hell aren't they looking downstream in the water!!! Regardless, I feel for his family and his friends and being one of his employees I know he will be missed...I hope that there is some closure or something for everyone to have at some point in the near future.

Now finally, our very good friends the E's will be here tonight or tomorrow, I am soooo looking forward to their arrival! They have done so much for themselves and just worked so darn hard I just can't wait to see them and give them big hugs!

Well gotta go, I will write more later.

C

Home again

2007-08-09T23:27:00.000-07:00

Well, all is finally right with the world...my hubby is home with me and the boys, safe and sound. It was wonderful to see him here again, to have him drive us home and to have him here to touch and kiss and just be next to. I cannot tell you all how much it means to me to finally have him here. Tomorrow starts the business of getting in touch with his unit to find out what plans they may have for him, but tonight he is mine...

Thank you everyone for your support and friendship during what has been a rather difficult time, thank you, thank you, thank you.

C

2007-08-05T17:59:00.000-07:00

Well, we are now down into the single digit days until hubby gets home, I can only say single digits, not how many as we do not yet know exactly which day he is flying home. Speaking of which, I am not sure if I mentioned it in the earlier blogs but we are not going to be flying out to watch him graduate, we decided that it would be money better spent on a trip for the family somewhere fun and special...like six flags! I am nervous about his arriving home, I have not completed all of the projects I wanted to have done but the porch is finally painted thanks to my friend D who has motivated me to do most of the projects that I HAVE gotten done, the woodpile, the garden and the porch...thanks D!!

All in all, right now I am tired but I need to go out and put all the furniture back on the porch. Incidentally the paint turned out to be too light, so bummer, have to repaint it but that is okay, the light paint was actually light enough that a dragonfly got confused and started trying to dip and get some water...you know I love dragonflies but they are kinda dumb...lol.

Anyway, boys go back to school in about a week(ish) and hubby is on his way..woohoo!! I really can't wait till he gets here...

C

Quick update

2007-07-26T21:27:00.000-07:00

Well, all is well on the home front, working LOTS of hours trying to get some overtime for spending and also because there are some staffing problems in my section of the department, mainly that I am the only one there...lol. Boyos are good, fighting and arguing a lot but otherwise healthy and happy.

Hubby is coming home in two weeks...just cannot put into words what this means for me and the boys...we really miss him, I can't wait to have my best friend back...my world will be right again. He is doing good there, has to go to the field (sorta like camping but not fun) for the next week, it is raining cats and dogs but they are gonna make him go anyway. No word on the whole "going to have to go somewhere someday" front, rumors but that is about all. I worry that we may only get a few days with him, a week then he is gone again....I try not to think about it, but it is a possibility. An equal possibility is that he will remain here for some time...I am hoping, of course, that this is the one that actually happens.

Well, like I said short, I am tired and have a double shift tomorrow, lots of thanks to E and D and my FIL for all the babysitting support!

C

Friday

2007-07-17T19:31:00.001-07:00

The trip to San Antonio was uneventful as far as the getting to Sacramento, getting on the plane, landing in San Antonio and getting to the hotel that I had reserved. Hubby texted me to ask if I had arrived and then called me and we made arrangements for the next day. The very first hitch turned out to be that the person I had made the credit-card-ensured-reservation was an idiot, she did not enter my phone number or the credit card so that they would hold it since I was arriving on a late flight, therefore, when the hotel started filling up they gave mine away…needless to say I was pretty pissed, yelled at the poor guy running the hotel that night and then called a taxi to take me to the next hotel down the road. It then occurred to me that if the low(ish) rent hotel I had made reservations at was full the nicer ones like Days Inn and others would probably be full too. I borrowed a phone book from the afore mentioned hotel clerk after apologizing for my yelling since he was not the idiot who made my reservation. I started calling hotels, eight hotels later my taxi arrives, there are so far no open hotels and I am virtually in tears since there are no openings so far. In all, with the help of my cabbie to find ones that are relatively close, I called seventeen hotels finally finding one on the other side of the base. They charged me $75 per night for a hotel room that had dirty sheets, mold in the shower and very dirty walls, but I was happy to find a room.

Saturday

2007-07-17T19:30:00.001-07:00

I woke up early since the plan was for hubby and I to meet at about six and go to breakfast. He pulled up in a convertible PT Cruiser that he had rented…awesome!! It was lots of fun to ride around and play music and just be together. After breakfast he took me back to my hotel and I checked out after confirming that I could have a room at a closer (not to mention nicer) Motel 6. He had a formation during the time I was checking out and we met up at the local Walmart, the cabbie who took me there explained that there were seven SuperWalmarts that he knew of and I asked him to take me to the closest. I also learned that San Antonio was the 8th largest city in the US. Neat. Hubby met me there and since we had a little time before I could check into the new hotel we went to the theater to watch the new Harry Potter movie at a theater that serves you food right in the theater while you are watching the movie, you could also order alcoholic drinks and I had a mimosa, my first and it was rather strong. The movie was pretty good, not as good as the first two and they skipped lots of the good, funny parts but I liked it. We made our way to the Motel 6, finding the way to it was very interesting, I gotta say, wireless internet in a moving car is freaking wonderful!! We were able to get on the internet and get directions which I gave to him while he drove, soooo cool. The hotel was unable to give me the room for about another 45 minutes (grrr) so we went to the Denny’s next door and he changed to civvies…looking goood….and had a cool glass of water. We finally got to the hotel and I will leave that part there. Later we went to dinner at the Tower of the Americas, it was really cool, the restaurant was one of those that spin slowly so you get a full view of the city while you eat. We were in a good spot to watch the sun set and had some really good steak and just talk. It was really nice, romantic and just what I needed. After we had to head back so he could get to his formation for accountability. The next day was looking rather bleak as he had fire-guard (literally what you think, watching for fires) until 9am and they were thought to be going to collect weapons at 1pm meaning a 12:30 or earlier accountability formation or even possibly not released at all. I had resigned myself to hoping for only a few minutes with him.

Sunday

2007-07-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

I was awoken by a phone call from my baby, saying he was on his way to get me, I looked at the clock, it was 7:30, one of his buddies had taken over his shift so he could have some time with me…thank you!!! He still had formation at 9 but we were looking at about an hour together, yippie!! He came and got me, I checked out of the motel (later learning that was a bit hasty) and we rode off to get some breakfast at Burger King on the post and then eat it while talking and sitting together outside his company, again really nice time. At 9 he went off to formation and I was going to wait for about a half hour to see if by chance he would have a little time after the formation. About 20 minutes later he came back with some friends in tow and told me he was released till 3:30!! I was soooo happy!! We dropped the friends off at the commissary and took him back to change into civvies, I wanted to hold his hand and kiss him in public…they kinda frown on that when he is in uniform. We then made our way to Lackland AFB, he wanted to see the BX (department store) there and compare it to the army base. After getting a little lost thanks to Google’s wonderful directions we got there and turns out the BX was about the same as the PX. Then we made our way to the Riverwalk and walked around there just checking things out and looking at the sights. We had lunch at a place called Joe’s Crab Shack, we used to go to one of them in Austin when we lived there and it was as good as we remembered it. We picked the boys up some souvenirs and then had to head back to the car because it was nearly time for him to go back to the unit. We stopped in at the Military Clothing and Sales and got him a CamelBak (a backpack made for holding lots of cold water) and some more souvenirs for the boys and the FIL. On the way out it became a little more real that he and I were going to be parting company because his unit was the next stop and I got a little teary. We stopped outside his unit and said good bye…it wasn’t as teary as previous goodbyes but I cried. We reminded each other that it was only three more weeks (hence the lessened teariness) and that then it would be home for him and we would be together again…like peas and carrots. I drove off, dropped off the rental car and the rental company gave me a ride on their shuttle to the airport. I am now sitting here, about an hour away from taking off and writing this…missing him terribly. Three weeks doesn’t seem nearly as long as seven months but I am afraid it will drag and drag…I cannot wait for him to be home, in the pool, making me laugh, being my spoon.

All in all, it was a fantastic trip, totally worth whatever hoops I had to jump through to move it back from the previous date and the hotel issues. Just a little longer….a little longer.

Alternate ending...

2007-07-10T21:42:00.000-07:00

I was originally going to blog today about the drama and various crazy things that have been happening in mi casa so far this week...I have decided against that tactic as this week will, I repeat will, end beautifully. I am leaving this Friday after work to visit my wonderfully in-shape and sexy hubby. I am so looking forward to this visit that I get butterflies whenever I think of it...I really miss him, it makes me appreciate him more when he was home. I will hopefully be able to visit with him on Saturday and Sunday and then I have to leave at around 6 or 7 on Sunday. I hate that I will have to go, but he will be home just four short weeks later!! He unfortunately may be very busy and we might only have a few minutes, but any time will be wonderful.

Work is good, kids are still alive...for now, FIL is still kicking...for now and BIL is going to be getting his drivers license come hell or high water by next week. He is fighting it in his passive-aggressive way...but that will all come to naught...(sinister laugh)...he will be legally driving...dammit!!

Anyway, gotta get some sleep as I am extremely tired...3:30am comes early to those who stay up too late!

C

The obscure meme

2007-07-10T21:37:00.000-07:00

1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged must make a post about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don't forget to leave them each a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

Eight Obscure/unknown things about me.

1. I usually stop going to stores once the people who work there start to recognize me. I don’t know why this is but it makes me incredibly uncomfortable for someone to see me in the store buying what could be very personal stuff and they know me, recognize me or anything like that. I know I said that I could be buying personal stuff but this is even true of some convenience stores where I usually do not buy anything personal.

2. I absolutely hate to ride in those big boat cars from the seventies. My father-in-law owns one and I avoid riding in it at all costs. As a child many of my mother’s “friends” owned them and it just makes me feel like so much white trash.

3. I often wonder how I ended up with such a great guy.

4. I try to give my inner drama queen a fix by watching a sad movie. If you see me watching Beaches, The Pursuit of Happyness, What Dreams May Come or some other such sappiness I am feeling the drama queen inside rear her ugly head and am trying to stop the shit I often stir up when this happens.

5. While most people know I am a complete space cadet and I would forget my ass if it wasn’t attached, they may not know that it has a cause and I am working towards curing/reducing my perpetual dingbattiness.

6. Most people also know that my mother and I do not get along very well, but I sometimes wish that we did and that we could go shopping together or do things together that other mothers and daughters do and there would be no judgment and no drama.

7. I am trying to reach a goal in life and it is to become more like my dad, self-sufficient, able to help friends and family financially, emotionally and physically, to be healthy in all those areas as well, still have the energy to deal with an active life at age 60, and have the best darn place for my grandkids to go and play (I know those last two are pretty far off but still…it’s good to have goals).

8. I am usually the one manning the camera because I don’t like how I look in pictures.

9. Bonus (why not E did it): 90% of the time I still don’t feel like a grown-up.

Unfortunately, the afore mentioned E has taken all my tags, hmmm, I will just pretend that I tagged them and that they are answering for me... :)

C

Has it really been that long?

2007-06-24T15:36:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last blogged! Sorry, have been in a little bit of a wierd space. Well, all is going well with everyone here in our family. Hubby is getting closer and closer to coming home (I can't freaking WAIT!!!) he is now only six weeks away! I will be going to see him in three, can't wait for that either!! He is officially a nationally licensed EMT and is now training on how to repair people in the Army. He is doing sooo good, near the top of his class! I am so proud of him and all he has done!

The boys are doing great, thanks to E for watching them everyday...honestly I would go crazy, but he does really well. We went camping at Little Grassvalley this weekend and both boys caught tons of fish! They had so much fun fishing that I think they are officially fishermen now. S practiced with a pole and lure for like 6 hours on Sat and just loved it, got really good at it too, he can get the lure into a bucket from about 25 feet.

I am doing well, working what seems like hours on top of hours but really it is not that bad...just late ones...11am-7:30ish pm. The ish is for when I have to work over time...about three times a week and not for very long. That is about it for me, I am tired, I miss my baby but I am doing okay.

So there ya have it...an update...hopefully I will update sooner next time!

C

my weekend so far...long post

2007-05-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

Well, this weekend is going pretty good, the boys had a blast at the fair, S faced some fears of large scary rides and realized they were more fun than scary. R wanted to ride everything, even the things that he was too short for...we actually went on the YoYo (swinging chairs that spin), bumper cars, Tilt-a-Whirl, a couple of those walk-through fun houses, a mini-roller coaster and a rather cheesy rocket ride. The boys won two prizes each and ate cotton candy and really yummy corndogs.

We got home really late and had to get up early for Turtle bay. My sister-in-law joined us for that one. It was really fun, they were having an exhibit on the Titanic...one of the main reasons I wanted to go. As you are entering the exhibit they give you a boarding pass with a name history and even travel mates, you carry that pass with you throughout the exhibit, and at the end you look your name up on a wall to find out if you lived or died...kinda morbid but it really gets you into the feeling of the whole ship...both R and S's people died, mine and SIL lived...the boys thought there was a conspiracy...lol. The rest of the exhibit was fabulous...there were facts about the microbes that eat the iron and leave the long orange/brown ropes of iron ore from the ship (probably my favorite part), there were also lots of artifacts that were brought up from the bottom of the ocean and preserved (they told you all about how each type of item was preserved and why it was preserved that way, they also had people stationed about that would talk to you about what they "did" aboard the Titanic, one guy in particular was supposed to be a coal shoveler who won the honor of working aboard the ship, he talked about how he missed his wife and would we please tell her he loves her (you know me, I was nearly bawling) then asked us that if we found out we did not make it would we please bring with us a pint of Guinness!

The turtley part of turtle bay was great too, although the turtles were suspiciously absent. There was a part where you could feed birds, they were just cockatiels and parrots, but the kids loved it, the birds would actually get on your hand and sit there and eat if you stood still, the boys would get one on and then move suddenly to show me or SIL and away the thing would fly. There was also a butterfly display, the boys kept trying to get the butterflies to climb on their fingers the same way the birds did, but the butterflies would have none of it.

Lastly there was a water thingy...only word I can think to call it. it was a (very small) waterfall leading to a little pooling area, leading to a fast water area, to a table where they could put little slats to hold up the water then remove them and have a huge rush of water heading out to a water wheel, the kind that were used long ago to create energy for milling and what not. The boys had a blast playing with that for a while as SIL and I took a much needed break. Oh, I almost forgot, in the midst of this we visited the Sundial bridge...it was really neat...I have some pretty cool pictures too...I will be sending those out via email.

Once we got back home we went to dinner at the Olive Garden...S complained when we first settled on this place to eat, "but I don't like olives" lol. The food was good, I of course, ate too much... really need to stop that..but the food was good!!! Then we went to see "Pirates of the Carribean 3" It was really good, a little on the bad halucinogen trip in some parts but all in all certainly better than Spidey. The reason I say this is because the critics are saying that Spidey is better than Pirates...BS!! Pirates rocked...make sure you watch the first two before you go watch three though...you may struggle a bit to catch up...I did, but then again I have a TERRIBLE memory...so you might be okay.

Well that is about it for now...going to have to go do some laundry and get ready for my dad's...it has been a busy but very fun weekend so far...looking forward to the rest!

C

Better...

2007-05-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, sorry about that bummer post, I guess I just needed to let it out a little. Things are looking better now, I have come to the conclusion that I will have to go to Okland and kick some ass if they want to send him away right after he gets back.

As far as the rest of us, the boys are doing good, they are excited at the prospect of the fair, Turtle Bay, seeing Pirates with their aunt and going to grandpa's this weekend...not sure how all that is actually going to work out...but hey...you only live once! It is shaping up (as you can see from above) to be a pretty busy weekend, add to it, I have to work for a few hours on Monday, Memorial Day. Wont be getting paid extra for it either! Crapola!!

All in all a pretty good thing I have been busy because nights like last night would happen more often if I had time to think!

Well, gotta go, chilli is ready...last post title got me in the mood for chilli!

Later
C

I want my (Chili's) baby back...(ribs)

2007-05-23T22:40:00.001-07:00

Missing hubby a lot tonight...a little weepy...okay a lot weepy. Talked to him today...(I am so grateful for being able to talk to him everyday) and he pointed out that the weekend after his graduation he will have to check into his new unit and could very well be deployed right away...for some reason, I had it in my head that every time I said "we expect him to be deployed within six months" that it would actually be six months away...I was trying so hard not to fool myself, and I did it anyway. It is kinda scary, he could go to Iraq, and I know that I have said in the past that he picked a pretty safe job, he did not, medics are a good target, they are on the road a lot. I think about him going away for a year and I get butterflies and weepy. I don't let myself think about any other possibilities that could occur while he is away, I just can't.

I will also not be able to go see him on the first weekend in June, it looks like he will just not have time to visit...but a couple weeks later we may be able to reschedule.

We did figure out that he is only 10 weeks from graduation, yay...I can't wait to see him...my super hot baby.

Think I need to get to sleep...will update on our goings on when I am not so funky feeling.

C

Sigh

2007-05-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

OH, it is so nice to finally have a week where there is only one baseball game instead of five! The sigh in the title is one of relief...I really love watching the boys play baseball games but I was just simply wore out!!!

We are all doing good here...some better than others. S is doing really well, he has only one more game after the one today and unfortunately I am going to be working (but I will escape for a few hours for the game) so I am going to have to do some juggling for the transpo on this one. R got in trouble yesterday, his little girl-friend told him to hit another GIRL and he, not being one to ignore a girl he has a crush on, went right over and punched her. Needless to say I was pretty livid, he was grounded to his room for the night and only got to come out to eat dinner. I have tried very hard to hammer it into their heads that you NEVER, NEVER, NEVER hit a girl!! I don't care if people think I am being a non-feminist, but women should be protected by men and never hit. So I really gave him what-for and he was to go to school today and tell the little girl that told him to hit another girl that if she was going to tell him to do things that were wrong he cannot be her friend, and also appologize to the girl he hit. I hope this is the end of the issue, but we will continue to talk about it.

Work is good, they are changing my schedule next week, as I alluded to above, to 9-5:30....sucky but the shift I am going to be training on is usually12pm-8:30pm so I really can't complain! And it is doing microbiologyish stuff...yay...not so much with the chemistry and now with the micro!! woohoo! (sorry, let my inner geek slip out there)

Hubby is doing really well in training, he is still in the top part of his class. We are hammering out the details of the trip for August and I am going to take a dry run (yay) at it the first weekend of June...not sure what to tell the kids as I promised them that they would come with me the next time I went to visit hubby but I have realized that I really need to know ahead of time what is coming otherwise I willgo crazy trying to deal with them and a new situation...I have been given the idea of a business trip from my good friend D, but I am not a great fibber and I don't want to lie to them anyway...gonna have to mull this one over for a bit.

Our pool is acting up, it is still swimmable but the pool guy can't get enough suction to clean the bottom and sides with the vacuum. I know that we usually have to flush the system frequently and that may be what needs to be done...apparently it is not good for the filters to be flushed a lot though...but ugh...it is green on the sides!!

Wow, I really can ramble can't I!!! This was going to be a short post but look what happened! It got all big!

Well, I am going to go, I have kidlets to pick up and get ready for baseball!

C

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

To all the mothers out there who work their butts off to raise good children, even the ones working to raise good puppies and kitties, Happy Mother's Day, I hope that you woke up to good things, and get all the love and appreciation you deserve on this day!

Mine is starting out really well and I am certain that it will end up even better!

C

Good news...

2007-05-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

Woohoo!!! I got the permanent position!!! The new bossman called me in today to tell me, I can't say anything at work until after he has informed the people who did not get the job (makes sense). He started the meeting out with a light slap on the wrist for me about an issue that happened Monday where I did not communicate an issue in a timely manner and it resulted in a large amount of beer being put on hold...I took total responsibility for it but at the same time was thinking, "bummer, I thought I was getting the job..." Then he goes on to tell me that he really likes my work and that they are going to offer me the permanent position!!

anyway...sorry for the long time no posting but I am still having trouble with blogger and logging in and posting on certain computers and etc.

Hubby is doing really well in Texas, he was at the top in his class but is now something like second or third. He was really bummed about the test that he did not do well on but I told him that as soon as they let the doofuses go out on pass, they are going to stop studying and he will be back at the top.

Boys are good, they are getting ready for the swim season, speaking of which, the pool is officially ready, it is at 69-72 F during the day. S's birthday party was a hit...I think I may have gone a teensy overboard, but the kids LOVED it and it was lots of fun and even a bit relaxing...okay...that last one was a lie...it was incredibly stressful for me because other people's kids are difficult to control at first...but they got better and then we all had fun...they actually jumped in the pool (the kids did), the temp at that time was only 62!! Crazy, crazy, crazy!!!

I am dead tired from going to work at 4 each morning and getting to bed around 9:30-10...but next week there is improvement on the horizon, I will be working at 4:30...hey! Don't laugh, that half hour makes all the difference!!

I have decided that the money I got back from my books for this past semester (Never used...started working) will go towards me, I am going tomorrow after work to get a massage...I am SSSOOOO looking forward to it!! I cannot wait, I have never had a professional massage before, hubby usually massages for me but he is not here so I have to do this...lol.

Well, I had better go, S is chomping at the bit to spend his birthday money.

C

Updates and happy thoughts

2007-04-30T21:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know it has been a long while since I have given a real update, so I thought I would go ahead and do another half-assed one.

Hubby is doing great in his new station, he is being tested about two times a week and is doing very well in the scoring. The drill sergeants there are totally cushy and easy on them, they get smoked (punished with physical work) but they still get computers, phones and what have you. He still doesn't get much time but I do get to talk to him everyday, which makes me VERY happy. I am thinking I will go and see him again at the end of this month, I had previously promised the boys that I would take them with me the VERY next time I go and here I am planning a quick trip and likely not taking them....I don't want to lie to them but I don't want them mad either. We are totally going to see him graduate though, that will be SSSSOOOO much fun for them, we will probably go to Six Flags, if not there then here in Ca.

R is still adjusting to new meds, the first ones, Straterra absolutely did not work, they made him fall asleep in class and also gave him an upset stomach. So now we are on the Daytrana patch, which I requested based on the testimony of a friend with a child of similar age and going through the same situation. So far I am unsure of the patch, the side effects are lessened but the peeling of the backing is troublesome. He was sleepy in class today and got virtually no work done, that may be because this was the first time he really had it on (with out the backing screwed up) all day. I am going to give it about a week or two before I pass judgement though.

S is doing really well, he is loving baseball and has recently started watching some of the games with his Grandpa (the one here in the house) which I think is good stuff. He is in a reading program where he gets two tickets to see the local baseball team for every two books he reads. We all know what a great reader he is, so I have a feeling that I will be seeing a lot of the Chico, Outlaws! He also saved me from having to call the insurance company to come out and rescue my keys from my locked car. He figured out he could push the window down and squeeze his arm in and unlock the door...totally saved me a headache! He is going to be turning 9 (can you believe it!!!) on May 5th...Cinco de Mayo baby!! I am planning a party at the house with a bounce house (maybe) and sleepover and then Spiderman 3 on Sunday. We were going to do the movie on Friday but his best school friend is having his own party that day so his mother and I coordinated the parties so they would be able to go to each of their parties...boy are they going to be partied out by Sunday (I hope). Luckily he is not too hard to buy for but that also makes it hard...I want to give him everything his heart desires, and so does hubby (especially now that he is away) but there has to be a limit...I am just not sure where to draw that line. Eh...you only turn 9 once!!

I am still loving the job and things are still just as up in the air and unsure as they were two-three weeks ago, but I know now that enough people have worked with me and like how fast I learn and what not that if the new boss wanted to let go of a temp I have a pretty good chance of keeping my position...that makes me feel a little bad for the other temp who apparently has not made such a good impression...I really like her and she is really sweet...hopefully it doesn't come to that though...the general opinion is that everybody's jobs are safe. I had my sixty day review and it went well...the permanent position is just a signature away from being officially open as a permanent one (it was going to possibly end up another temp one). This means that I have to go through another job interview, this time with people I have been working with and it is a little harder to charm and BS my way through an interview with people who know me, so I am a little nervous about it...but not really, strangely, all it will mean is job security (which I am pretty sure I already have), benefits (covered there for now with hubby's insurance and leftover other medical) and more beer bucks (free beer, I don't really drink that much of it any way so not really losing much). So really I don't need the position except for the vacation and sick time...which isn't much anyway. Heh...guess I am gonna be okay either way...now if any of those listed above was an issue, I would be a total wreck!!

Anyway...enough of my rambling...lol...I gotta get some sleep, 2:30am comes pretty early especially if you are up till 9:45 posting!!

Take it easy everyone, good wishes towards the E and D with their car issues, Shel for her fantastic work on her physical and emotional self and hubby cause I love him and Trav cause he is the mostest sweetest and Hammer cause he is forging the way to a better work environment for the down trodden masses, and anyone else who needs good happy thoughts their way!!

C

ADHD

2007-04-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it is finally official, R has been diagnosed with ADHD. I am not sure where I sit with this, I have always felt that he had some form of attention issue, I know that he has all the signs, I also know that now that we have an official diagnosis the school HAS to make some adjustments...but I am also a little sad, I fear that this will color any future teacher's perception of how bright, funny and wonderful he is. I also fear that putting a label on him at such an early age is very likely a mistake...I just did not know what else to do, there isn't time right now to experiment with his diet, there are only a few months left in school and I want him to be able to focus on his studies rather than get so stressed out that he doesn't like school. I am afraid that if he doesn't start focusing the evil woman that poses as a teacher will flunk him...that would be terrible for his self-esteem and motivation. I guess the only thing I can do right at the moment is cross my fingers and hope.

He will start the medication (Strattera) on Wednesday, tomorrow he has an appointment to get an EKG done to make sure his heart is healthy...apparently the medication has issues if you have any weaknesses in your heart, that is for long term use, he (hopefully) will only be on it for a few months!

So I guess now I will educate myself and find as much information as I possibly can about the medication, ADHD, and other possible treatments. I know that I wanted to get this diagnosis, but now that he has it...I am sad for him.

I gotta get some sleep...another LLLOOOONNNGG day tomorrow.

C

Attack of the lone clapper

2007-04-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

So I have a few things to vent about, not sure who to vent to right now because hubby is gone but here goes...

1. Going to baseball games for my youngest son is rather strange, it seems as if there is no real grouping happening with the parents. I say this because they don't cheer for the other kids...for instance, when a kid hits the ball, especially in tee-ball, you cheer, no matter what, you cheer lots, clap etc. Atleast that has been how it was in our other league...this new league it seems almost as if the parents come to the games to socialize with eachother, they only clap and cheer for their own kids and not the other kids on the team...consequently R has a lone clapper in the audience, me. I guess that I should not be complaining, there are other kids who have me as their lone clapper too...not sure what the parents are doing but they sure aren't encouraging their kids. Sheesh! But, I clap for all the kids, cheer too, louder and longer for mine but all the kids should be cheered on...hopefully the other parents will catch on too.

2. R's teacher is really beginning to bug me...she is really negative, not giving R any in the way of positive reinforcement. I understand in the situation that R is in, there is probably not much to give positive reinforcement for right now...but I really feel that if she were to give him kudo's once or twice a day (not too much fucking work is it?) she would see a world of difference. As it stands right now, R isn't completing much work in the classroom, when he does, however, she grades it and if there is one thing wrong he gets it back to redo...this goes into the finish up folder and today there was a stack of about 15 papers in it...a little overwhelming for a 1st grader with an incredibly short attention span to try to tackle on his own...with NO supervision or guidance. So he gives up, you can see it quite often too. Add to this that most of her criticism is unconstructive and you can just see him shutting down when she starts talking about something he did wrong. She is also getting really nit-picky...used to be if he had one thing wrong on his paper she would send it home, now it goes in the finishup folder, if he was distracted she would send him outside to collect himself, now she gives him the equivalent of his name on the board which won't be erased till next week! I remember when I was a kid, you started each day fresh...he has to wait till the next week to start over...so if he gets his name on the board on Monday he feels like "what's the point in trying this week...I can't get my name erased!" Ugh...frustration, I wish, I wish I had forced his move to another class at the beginning of the year, but I fooled myself into thinking that she was being truthful when she said she would make allowances and have tools for him to stay focused...now he is so stressed he is crying at the drop of a hat. I mean really, his father leaves for the army, I get a new job, and she is getting nit-picky...WTF...there is atleast ONE thing that can be changed here...it is her...I just don't know if it would be a good idea to move him now, so close to the end of the year...i just see him slipping into that gray area of hating school and feeling like he is drowning...it scares me, grrrrr!!! He is such a smart wonderful boy...I just want to slap her...I am certainly going to recommend her retirement at the end of the year if nothing else.

I think that may be it...sorry for the venty post but I am working #2 through and I had to get it on "paper" so maybe I can get thru it.

C

Beer baths, bunnies and baseball

2007-04-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody,

I have an idea that it is my regular computer that is having the trouble posting...I hope! This is being written on the laptop.

Beer baths:
I never knew the joy of taking a beer bath until this past Friday at work. I was removing the tap from a pressurized keg and forgot to turn off the pressure...beer sprayed everywhere, dousing me, my hair, my clothes and shoes! It wasn't so bad until after work when I went to pick up the boys from their day care...I realized that here I am picking up my kids, middle of the day (1pm) and I smelled STRONGLY of beer...lol.

Bunnies:
Easter was really fun, I went to my dad's and had a barbeque...consisting mostly of hotdogs, but that was okay..they were good ones! We hid eggs for the kids and they had lots of fun finding them, although S had to learn that the ones that were just laid out in the grass were for his smaller cousins, which he thought was rather unfair.

Baseball:
R has a game today, his first real baseball game, I am really excited for him, the tee ball games are really fun to watch too, the kids all have the attention span of a gnat and within a few minutes they are pulling grass, playing in the dirt or in R's case lifting the third base to see what is underneath. S's next game is on Thursday, but I think he has a practice tomorrow. He has gotten really good and he knows it too....lol.

Other:
I finally got my car fixed, also on Friday, I am so proud!!! It no longer sounds like a diesel engine it sounds like a kitten purring!! Imagine that, 215,000 miles and it now sounds fantastic!! Having driven for the last several years with the annoying clanking and pinging sound, it is almost scary at times, I sometimes think it is not running, and I don't have to shut it off at the drive thru so they can hear my order...yay!!

I am currently working on taking me, the boys and hubby's sister to Texas to visit him in the next couple of months...I hope that it all works out and we can do it...I miss him already, even though we get to talk daily for now it's not the same.

Okay gotta go, makin' chili (chilli?)

C

I have returned...

2007-04-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

Well folks Oklahoma has been interesting. By far the most interesting is the changes in my hubby, he has slimmed down considerably, He looks fantastic, six pack and all, well, okay it is a 4 pack, but still, considering that he went to basic with a good amount of extra weight and now in comparison he is SKINNY!!! He has worked very hard and I am so very proud of him. (the little white specks are the never ending rain of Ft. Sill)

3/28 Flying in

The first flight was uneventful, nothing broken, nothing crazy. I did forget to eat before getting on the flight and so just as we are about to take off I realize just how VERY hungry I am, and the flight is a non-snack flight, meaning if I want anything to eat I have to pay through the nose for it…turned out that I only had to buy a $5 salad that was just enough to hold me over to my layover in Dallas. Once I got to Dallas, I went straight for my next gate and found the nearest eating place. I go up to the bar and ask for a veggie burger and a soda. The girl behind the bar then tells me that Kid Rock is standing over by the gate across the way. I look over and sure enough there he is, after some (very little) consideration I walked over and asked him for a picture and autograph both of which he happily gave. So now I have a picture with me and Kid Rock! And of course his autograph! Also, it turns out that he was going to be on my flight, he was headed for Altus Air Base to play for the airmen there. So there I was on a little twin turboprop with a famous person and it slowly dawns on me that this is eerily reminiscent of the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and Richie Valens…cloudy night, stormyish, famous people on the plane, etc. As this is dawning on me, the flight is taking off so there is no turning back! Finally, we hear from the pilot (Captain Dan…not exactly confidence inspiring is it?) that we are going to be landing in 5 minutes…I breathe a small sigh of relief because it looks as if my fears were unfounded. So, 5 minutes pass, then 10, then 15 and we still have not landed. Captain Dan comes on the line and tells us that their main hydraulic pump has malfunctioned and they are taking steps to get the LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS down manually. There are several ex-military pilots on board, of course, and they start talking about what the pilots are having to do to fix the problem…it is a freaking hand pump! A few minutes go by and the steward comes through looking through the windows to make sure the landing gear is down and they eyeball the number of degrees the flaps have been tilted! Finally we start to land and one of the ex-pilots pipes up with, “oh yeah, aren’t the brakes hydraulic too?” At this point I am cursing fate and Kid Rock for being on the plane but with a little see-sawing we land safely (I am assuming the see-sawing was from the uneven application of manual braking). I am off the plane quickly…wouldn’t you be? And then off to my hotel to get some z’s before going to see my baby in the morning.

3/29 Family Day

The family day demonstration was rained out and all the soldiers were relieved because I guess the demonstration had them laying in the mud for 2 hours! We did get to see them in their ACU’s and hear a little of the accomplishments they achieved, such as live fire, night fire, mounted combat, and the huge tower that you have to rappel down…very scary to me. After the “demonstration” we were able to talk and hang out with them a bit, it was SO very good to see him, he was tired, achy and sore but he was my hubby and it felt so good to just hug and be with him. Next we went to the local NCO club and they had a luncheon for all the families and soldiers. It was the first time we got to see the soldiers in their class A’s and he also looked very good in those. Once the incredibly loooonnnnngggg luncheon was over the families walked and the soldiers marched (I got some good video of this) to their barracks and were able to sign them out on pass. Hubby and I had to go and first rent a car, but then we went and I showed him my hotel and…um…other stuff J . Then we went and met some of his fellow soldiers and their families for dinner at Red Lobster, yummy, hubby and I finally did what we should always do at RL and we ordered the appetizers and shared a plate of shrimp linguini. They shared lots of very funny stories about their time in basic and the things they did. Even though hubby says he is glad to leave, hated it and all that, you can tell he made some very good friends while there. One of the stories involved alien abduction btw…ask me later! I got some good pictures there at RL of him and the guys. Next we had to go to the PX so we could pick him up a couple of new suitcases for his trip to Ft. Sam Houston. After this we had to take him back to his barracks so he could sign back in off of pass.

3/30 Graduation

I got to the theatre where they were holding the graduation and they were selling some t-shirts for each platoon that had their names listed on the back, I bought one of them for me and one for S, then got one that says, “my daddy defends freedom in the U.S. Army” for R. I walked into the theatre and all the soldiers were seated in the front section in the middle, probably 25% were asleep, they were SO tired! I quickly spotted hubby, he was in the front row…and all the guys were unable to look around or smile at anyone they recognized (they were actually seated at attention…it looked very uncomfortable) I have pictures, of course. Once the ceremony began they made long speeches, most of which I have on tape, and congratulated the soldiers on their huge accomplishments. Then they started the actual graduation, where the soldiers crossed the stage and got little rolled up pieces of paper. Hubby being in the first row was significant in that he was named an Honor Graduate and was given a Certificate of Achievement and a letter in his file, this is a big thing because it meant that he was graduating in the top 10% of his class. For a guy of 33 with a bunch of 18 year olds that actually rocks! After the graduation he had some out-processing to do and then he was mine again… We ate dinner at a Korean Restaurant, he had been really wanting some Chinese/Korean food. We went to the mall, and walked and talked. Then we drove for a bit and talked and sang songs, then we went to the PX because I had to change my flight so I could drive him to the Oklahoma City airport and just leave from there on Saturday. Mostly we just enjoyed being with each other, holding hands and being close. At 8:45 it was time to return him to the drill sergeants L. After dropping him off I went to my hotel and shortly after I got a call from him saying that the DS on duty wasn’t going to let him ride with me to the airport the next day…ooohhhh I was angry, had I known that they were going to pull this BS I would have made my good bye a bit more significant. About 15 minutes later he calls again and tells me that things changed…again…and he could ride with me, woohoo!! Of course, I was not hanging my hat on it until I had him in the car with me.

3/31 Flying out

That night there was a fire in the Laundromat of my hotel and six or so fire trucks and some police cars come tearing in sirens blaring at 3:00am. The fire wasn’t enough for them to evacuate the hotel but the sirens woke me up and I could not get back to sleep. I had to be at the barracks to pick up my hubby at 6:00 anyway so I got moving on showering and whatnot. After I got my stuff in the rental car I drove over to pick him up. The drive to OKC was very nice, just me and him, holding hands, little kisses and music. His flight left 20 minutes before mine was supposed to and so I walked him to his gate, stood in line with him and kissed him good bye, and cried…a lot. The airlines had given all the soldiers a boost to 1st class but because hubby had been hanging with me he missed that chance…he said it was totally worth it…he would rather hang with me than fly first class any day…he is such a sweetie. My flight was TWO hours late and fortunately I had a 6 hour layover here at Houston so I did not miss my flight to Sacramento. Hubby kept calling me to make sure I was alright whenever he could, before take off, after landing or while he was changing planes…he knew I was really broken up about him and I going separate ways and he was just checking on me. I called him as I landed here in Houston and let him know I finally made it. My flight here from Houston has been changed from leaving at 6:35pm to leaving at 7:00pm (it is only 4:45 right now)…I really just want to get home before tomorrow rolls around…lol. As it stands I will not get in until 9:30 and probably later because everything is running late here in Houston because of the weather. The terminal I came into was so packed with people it was starting to need to have air circulated because it smelled of people funk. The one I am in right now is a little better as it is not so crowded and is much larger. After I land I still have to collect my bags, find my car and drive the 1 ½ hours home. Going to have to get some caffeine running in my veins for that drive! I am home now and posting this finally, two days later, but hey, what do you want from me...I was tired!! I finally got home at about 12:30pm and crawled into bed right away. Hubby and I have been talking back and forth since he left on his plane, and it looks like he will be able to keep his cell and any other electronics he has, for this reason we decided to go ahead and purchase a laptop with wireless internet ability so that he can email and blog now instead of waiting till he gets back. Hopefully this whole keeping of the electronics will actually happen!! He is doing good and is in good spirits. I picked up the boys on Sunday and was able to visit with my brother as well for the first time in about 2 years! It was a really nice visit and the boys had a blast at the ocean, I will soon have a picture of R at the beach covered from his eyes to his toes in sand and mud! anyway...on to the rest...

In conclusion:

I am incredibly grateful for the chance that I had to be with him and spend time with him, however, I am, of course, going to be greedy here. He was placed on leave (travel time) until the 2nd, but we were only able to fly out from OKC on Saturday the 31st. Why did they not book a flight for the 2nd or at least let us drive down or something that would have given me some more time with him. Ok, greed has been stated and now I do have to say that this trip would not have been possible if not for my wonderful friends Evan and Denise, my dad and of course I have to give Stan some credit because without the job I could not have afforded it at all.

Some interesting things happened at Ft Sill and also at the airport while with hubby. At Ft Sill people kept coming up to him and congratulating him on his graduation (they knew because of the PFC rank and the Class A’s he had to run around in) and at the airport people shook his hand and said, ‘thank you’ or were friendly in a way you did not see happening with people who were in regular clothes. I have heard stories of people being really nice or shaking hands or even applauding the soldiers they come in contact with but seeing it was rather moving. The bumping them up to 1st class was another example of this.

Well, you all know me, I can’t blog without getting a little schmaltzy, so here goes….

Being apart from him for 10 weeks and finally being able to see him and be with him again was an interesting experience for me, for all of our married lives I was the one going away or being shipped somewhere that he had to wait to join me. You learn things about your relationship by being apart. The most important of which is how strong that relationship really is. Another is just how much a part of your life that person has become. I quickly realized that he is my rock, my foundation and my very best friend, he is the person with whom I can talk about anything, who when I touch him I feel comforted and warm and happy and right. If there truly is such a thing as a soul mate he is mine. Coming back together is another of those things that can teach you something about your relationship, if you can continue where you left off, if you still have the same connection with that person, I believe that you can bet that your relationship can last through just about anything.

Anyway…that was my trip, in a nutshell

I can't wait to see hubby!!! Yay

2007-03-27T21:57:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Ev and Denise for watching the boys

2007-03-27T21:56:00.003-07:00

I will be gone a week...

2007-03-27T21:56:00.001-07:00

I am leaving tomorrow...

2007-03-27T21:55:00.001-07:00

The definition of frustration:

2007-03-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

Lets try this again...

2007-03-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, this time I am going to copy the blog entry and put it in word, and after I try to post if it has been consumed by the blog monster I will just send the post to every one via email.

The boys are doing good, they got their report cards and S got straight A's except for writing but he improved his previous grade in that area. R did not do so well, he dropped in many areas and did not get a single E (exceeds expectations) most were N (needs improvement) and a few were S (satisfactory). I recently got a note from his teacher because he has been rather self abusive (both verbally and physically) in class and she is worried, because of this I have decided to start him in his therapy again. We are also waiting to see the doctor still about the possibility of ADD/ADHD. If they DO diagnose him with either one I will ask for medication to get us through the school year, and hopefully we are lucky and find the right meds right away. After school is over I will take him off the meds and try to figure out if it is something we can change with diet. There are still a few methods I have not yet tried, e.g. fish oil.

The boys have started their practices for baseball they both practice two days a week, S on Tuesday and Thursday, and R on Monday and Wednesday. Needless to say this is making our weeks very packed and busy, with homework, school, chores and practices they have only about an hour a day to play. But they are both loving playing baseball and really look forward to the practices. Their opening day for their season is on Saturday the 24th and they should both be playing short games. After that they will be playing regular games but I am not sure if it will be two or three games a week...three I think may be a bit much, two would be okay but still very busy.

Hubby is doing good, he passed his final PT test last week and is guaranteed to graduate, YAY...I leave in about 10 days to see him and I can't wait!!! He has lost about 6 inches around his waist and I am certain he is looking VERY hot!! They have been keeping him very busy lately and I have not been able to talk to him since last weekend...I am totally bummed about this because he called on Friday and I missed it. He said in the message he left that he would probably not be able to call this weekend or next. This means I will not be able to talk to him before I see him on his graduation. Bummer!

I am doing great in my new job, a little clumsy...I have broken over 5 rather expensive dishes since I started only a month ago. Overall though I am doing good, they (the bosses) say that I am learning the tasks faster than most. We will be getting a new big boss while I am gone, he is coming from Canada and everyone is all kinda nervous. I have been working a difficult shift, 4:30am to 1pm and while I love being able to pick up the boys from school, I do not usually get to sleep until 10pm and have to get up at 3am. This means that by the end of the week I am totally worthless, on Friday I was so tired I convinced myself somehow that I did not have to leave the house to go to work until 4:30...the time I have to be at work...that kinda sucked! All in all though I really love my job...good money, good environment, good people etc.

So that is the update in a nutshell, if this works I will try to update more often...this blogger thing has to either be fixed or change!!! I have been so busy however that I have not been able to put any real time into fixing the problem...

Anyway...I gotta get a couple boys out of the tub before they turn to prunes...

C

Okay...lets update

2007-03-08T21:29:00.001-08:00

Lets see if this will post now...

2007-03-08T18:33:00.000-08:00

Testing one two, testing...testing...

Happy Birthday Baby!!!

2007-03-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

Update

2007-02-24T07:12:00.000-08:00

Well, new job is going good. Hard work, but fun and good people.

My tooth is doing better, the doc here can't work on it because it has already had a root canal and they have to redo it I need to see a specialist, an endontist who will make the determination if I can keep my tooth or if I have to lose it. My regular dentist gave me some antibiotics to relieve some pressure until I can be seen by the endontist. However, thanks to my wonderful state insurance that I am truly grateful for having and am not complaining about it because of the fact that they have taken care of my family during nearly the entire time I was getting my degree, the nearest endontist that will take my insurance is in Fresno 300 miles away.

I have new insurance coming up through Chris in the military and I guess I will give them a try before I drive 300 miles! Thank God my dentist gave me the antibiotics because I do not think I would be able to make the wait if it was still so very painful!

Good news...maybe...on the job front. To begin, I am what is called a "temporary employee" which is just code for, "you are a junior employee and we do not want to provide vacation, sick days, insurance or other bennies." This is not a complaint, if I ran a business I would do the same thing...however, for my department (QA) this temporary employee label has gone from a 90 day probation period to nearly a year and a half...the good news, we are getting a new manager, he will be in on April 1st (hopefully this isnt a joke) and they are going to put on his things to do list, getting rid of the temp employee program or atleast bringing it back to 90 days. That is fantastic! Woo hoo....I will get vacation AND free beer...lol.

Hubby is doing good, he is cold and yucky sick but he is gonna make it through..only 4 weeks 5 days!! I am sooooo excited...everyone who can write, type or draw send him a letter, I know from my own experience how good it feels to get letters from home. If you don't have his address then shoot me an email or call or leave a note here and I will get it to you...it means so much to hear from your friends and family when you are going through something like this...ah, should also mention that his time to write letters is very limited so he will probably write back and it will be short but trust me, he REALLY would appreciate a letter, card, anything.

Anyway...kids are making noise so I guess I should go feed them...

C

Ouch

2007-02-20T20:37:00.000-08:00

Ugh, some may remember when I had to have a root canal, those who don't remember probably have not missed the great gleaming metal tooth that resulted from it...

Well folks, the stupid tooth is at it again...Hurts worse this time, at times my whole left side of my face feels like it has had a screwdriver shoved rather ungently into it. This of course means that I will have to go back to the dentist......I hate the dentist, they are an evil lot. The sad news is that I am not sure if my insurance will pay for it to be root canaled (sp?) again...this may mean that I will have a great gap where my silvery goodness currently resides. Not sure which I prefer...although I am beginning to think that the flipping thing needs to go...hurts too much!!

Eh, we will see tomorrow...hopefully I will atleast be in less pain.

C

Brewin' Beer

2007-02-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I love my new job, they have lots of perks, free t-shirts, free shoes and free beer up the ying-yang...everyone going home from my house right now will probably end up with a free six pack. I got a free 12 pack last weekend and walked into work today to another free case of beer, this is in addition to the free case we get with our bi-weekly paychecks...not sure what I am going to do with it all, so will probably give it away or wash clothes with it...lol.

I came home today and gave my boys a hug and realized that my hands still smelled like beer...Ya know, I like beer as much as the next girl, but I am getting a little wore out on the smell!!!

Anyway, right now they have me working 7-3:30 and it is a pretty good shift for me, hopefully I can convince them to keep me on it for a while.

Hubby is doing good, qualifies on the M-16 Wednesday...go baby go!!

Boys are good, going back to school tomorrow, thank God!! Took 'em to the zoo on Saturday in Sac. They loved it and we had lots of fun looking at the new baby tigers they have there, they are sooooo cute!! I have some great pics that if I ever figure out how to post them I will do so.

Congrats to Shel for hitting the century mark!! I know it has been a lot of hard work and I am very proud of you!!

Gotta go now.

C

HBT Update #6

2007-02-15T18:52:00.000-08:00

Well, hubby is doing good in basic, he has been there for 4 weeks now and is getting the hang of things. This week they are doing Basic Rifle Marksmanship or BRM. To do this, they do a really long ruck march out to the training site and "camp" out for the whole week...this sucks for him because when I went through it was only three days!

Anyway, he is doing that right now and there is no post so don't expect anything for a while. He is VERY busy so if someone gets a short note from him please don't take offense, he is just trying to get to everyone.

I have planned to go to see him graduate, I also plan to take the camera so after the beginning of April if anyone wants to see the film, just come on over on a Saturday that we are gaming early and I will have it to play. I will be leaving March 28 and returning April 2. I am sooooo excited!!

Okay...gotta go for now...

C

Spelling Bee

2007-02-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

Spencer made 2nd place in his school spelling bee today...I am so proud of him, we have only been studying the word list for about two days so this was actually fantastic. The word he got out on was skein. He did so good, and he is so proud... he will be going on to the county spelling bee in March...I believe Spencer and Lash will be going up against eachother! woohoo...good job baku

Yay Spencer!!

C

Scratch that!!

2007-02-06T16:21:00.000-08:00

I got the job, I got the job, I got the job!! Woo hoo!!! Yay, Yay, Yay!!!

They called while I was at work (so long Mickey D's!!!) and my brother in law took the call...then called me!!! I was ecstatic!!

I should be starting Monday, they have to do a background check...no problems there, except if they are checking credit, but they apparently REALLY want me!! They even bumped the pay 50cents...not a big pay raise but that effectively doubles my current pay!!

I do have to say thank you soooooo very much to Stan who was the one who called me about the job, he had seen it in the Classifieds and thought of me...THANK YOU STAN!!!!

Yay

C

How Fucking Stupid...

2007-02-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

FUCK FUCK FUCK...

I just blew a job interview, big time blew it...it was for Sierra Nevada Brewery as a QA microbiologist, practically a fucking dream job and I go and blow it!!! WTF!!! Dream job in that I would not have to move to a different city to get a job as a microbiologist, I wouldn't have had to pull the kids from a different school, I could have stayed in Chico and to top it all off they are a DAMN good employer. Me and my big freaking mouth...going to get some fucking duct tape next time and just have a good time making sure I don't even speak in the interview...would have had a better chance getting the job.

ARGH...

C

Mememememe

2007-02-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

Ten Things About You

1. I am a bit forgetful
2. I am terrible at keeping up with people
3. I love the field of microbiology
4. I will not participate in research that involves animals
5. I have two boys who are the light of my life
6. I miss my husband very much
7. I sometimes like to talk about my self too much
8. I wish I could have a kitty
9. I do not react well to being hurt
10. I try to be a good friend

Nine Things You Love

1. My husband
2. My boys
3. Food
4. My friends
5. My family
6. long drives
7. Music that touches your soul
8. planning my future
9. Chasing

Eight Songs You Love

1. Mr. Blue – I don’t know
2. Freshmen – I don’t know
3. Rocky Mountain High – John Denver
4. Mr. Brightside – I don’t know
5. Wind beneath my wings – Bette Middler
6. Lady in Red – I don’t know
7. I’m a Bitch – I don’t know
8. The Dance – Garth Brooks

Seven Things You Wear Daily

1. Hair tie
2. Deodorant
3. Green cammo bracelet (gift from R)
4. Wedding and engagement Rings
5. Underwear
6. Jeans
7. Hoodie Sweatshirt

Six Things That Make You Smile

1. My boys
2. My husband
3. Laughing children
4. When things work out unexpectedly well
5. nice people
6. Coming home to a clean house

Five Things You're Looking Forward To

1. August
2. Letters from my hubby
3. Monday the 5th of February at 9:30am (and now Tuesday the 6th of February at 8:30am)
4. Summer and swimming and being warm again
5. Being fnancially stable

Four Things You're Scared Of

1. The dark
2. My boys not being happy
3. Becoming my mother
4. The dark

Three Things That Annoy You

1. Mean people
2. Having to ask for help
3. bad service at a restaurant

Two Of Your Favorite Books

1. A Harry Potter (no real preference here...just one of 'em)
2. It

One Thing You Can't Live Without

1. Happiness

Finally!! HBT Update #5

2007-02-04T22:11:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to post for days...finally got in by posting a comment on my last entry and that kept me in long enough to post!! GRRR

Well here is HBT Update #5

Well, sorry that I have not been updating but blogger is sucking the life out of my blog…it will not let me blog…kinda pissing me off really!

Hubby is doing good, he is starting week 2 (I think) of his basic training. He misses everyone a lot but is keeping his spirits up thinking of those of us at home.

We are thinking that perhaps when he is graduating from Basic I will come down to see him for the weekend. I would really like that very much!! We will take the boys on the next available weekend where they can come too, but this time finances (and we) have determined that it will just be me. So I would be leaving March 28 and returning late April 2. I still have to make the arrangements with the credit cards and what not but I am very excited…VERY VERY VERY.

Well, I have to get to bed, I have a job interview with Sierra Nevada Brewery (thanks Stan!!) tomorrow for a QA Microbiologist position…cross your fingers (plus think of all the BEER!!) .

Night all

C

At home update...

2007-01-25T18:43:00.000-08:00

Things have been somewhat busy here with getting things going for my school starting and what not. I am taking some really reading intensive classes this semester and I do not know how I am going to do it...I am not a text book reader...normally I just read what the instructor doesnt cover...if that much. I just don't learn that way. I am going back to work at Mickey D's as mentioned in the last post, that is not so bad really, maybe I can take some revenge on that evil shake machine!! woohoo.

S has his very first school friend sleepover tomorrow night, he is so excited. The friends mom will be picking him up at school and then dropping him off again Saturday afternoon. I am incredibly nervous...my baby is going over to a friends to sleep over!! Not supposed to happen yet!!

Over Christmas I called my mother as usual to wish her a Merry christmas and she never called back. Recently speaking to my brother I found out that she had chosen not to call me, because she was AGAIN mad at me for some slight or another. So, I of course, decided to write her an email, I updated her on the goings on in my life and asked her how she was doing. Well, to make a VERY long story short, she went a little crazy, as my mother is wont to do. I decided to stop pussyfooting around with her and tell her like it is...gently mind you...she is a bit crazy. She FINALLY talked to someone else about the issues and they gave her some perspective...and now we are starting to get a little closer to a real live mother/daughter relationship...not that I have any real expectation that this will be something that will last but hey...ya gotta take it where you can get it.

Well, I have some MORE reading to do...grrr

C

HBT Update #4 (I think)

2007-01-25T18:34:00.000-08:00

That is pretty bad, I am only on number 4 (maybe) and have already lost track of the number!

Just talked to hubby this afternoon. He is doing good and after a slight hiccup involving the PT test he is on his way to Basic Training (finally) tomorrow. Having not spoken with him since Monday, hearing from him today was really, really nice. I told him everyone says hi and that we all miss him. After he gets to his BT unit tomorrow we will finally have an address for him, that is not to say that I will actually have it yet, but he will be able to send me a letter with it on the envelope and I will be able to get it out to whoever wants it.

The next time that I might be able to expect a phone call will be Sunday...hopefully, it may be that he will be too restricted at that point to be able to call, but...fingers crossed.

The boys are doing better than expected with him leaving. They are pushing their boundaries and S has been kinda sad but they are good. I am hanging in there, keeping busy and probably going back to work next week, (yes at Mickey D's...grrr).

There ya go, consider yourself updated!!

HBT Update #3

2007-01-22T08:21:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of creativity on the posts for "Hubby's Basic Training Updates" but hey, I am saving up the creativity...not telling more!

Anyway...Hubby is doing good, he is in the Reception battalion and they have already given him his uniforms, shaved his head and issued his ID card, this week will hold the rest of his inprocessing such as...paperwork, paperwork and yes you have it...more paperwork. He should be getting his shots this week as well...this includes all shots that everyone else gets AND a bonus shot of gamma globulin that is VERY VERY VERY painful for about a week which the drill sargeants take full advantage of.

He has been able to make calls lately but I know that I probably should not even think that it is something that will continue because once he starts the "real" basic training they wont let him breathe without permission...

We all miss him very much, S had a dream last night in which he invented a time machine and travelled back through time and visited with his poppy for a bit...then he travelled back to the Civil War and broke the machine...don't ask me where the Civil War came from...that one is beyond me...lol.

I have had some troubles while watching the TV show Scrubs...we usually watch it together and since I missed him so much after watching the new one, I have decided that I would wait to watch the rest of the season untill he gets back...

Anyway...a bigger update for all who are reading...

C

HBT Update #2

2007-01-18T16:25:00.000-08:00

Just got a call from Hubby and he is on the bus to Ft. Sill. I probably won't hear from him on his cell again, but there is always the pay phone...and of course snail mail!

C

HBT Update #1

2007-01-17T23:01:00.000-08:00

Hubby flies out of the state tomorrow at the butt crack of dawn...something like 4:45am...everything is set to go and he is very excited.

If anyone wants his address when I get it just email me or call and I will be sure you get it. I don't expect to have one for him for minimum a week, maybe two. We should be in phone contact during that time however so that will be okay.

Sorry this is short but as of right now there is not much to report and I am pretty tired...so good night all!!

C

It is done...

2007-01-16T23:36:00.000-08:00

I dropped off hubby tonight at the hotel where the inprocessing takes place, he is re-swearing in tomorrow and flying out on Thursday. It was a very difficult thing to do, the whole trip up I hung on to the hope that they would want him to wait longer for one reason or another but to no avail...he got into the hotel easy as pie and tomorrow he begins his trip. He won't be back until mid-August...UGH...seems so very long away!!

I would like to thank my very good friend E for going with us and riding back with me...I know that if he had not been there I would be feeling VERY lonely right now and would be still at the side of the road bawling my eyes out. The fact that he was with me is enough to assure me that I am not alone and have some very wonderful friends by my side and that means the world to me...

I would also like to thank R and D for watching the boys on short notice tonight while we took this trip to Sac to drop off hubby. Thanks alot you two.

I am sad to see him go...I cried...alot...and I mean ALOT. I am going to miss him so very much...but I know that this step is incredibly important for our family and him.

Thanks everyone for your offers of support and happy thoughts towards hubby...

C

Endings and what not...

2007-01-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

Well today was what will probably be my last day at Mickey D's!!! Yay....hurray...hurrah!!! I have them hanging incase there is a need for extra cash at some point but it was my unofficial last day...and the customers seemed to know...so did the evil shake machine!!!

How I knew the customers knew...got yelled at by not one but two of them...bastards...so what if the water tasted funny and your stinking Sausage Egg and Cheese McMuffins were not ready when you wanted them to be ready...trust me buddy, you did not need them anyway!!!

How I knew the evil shake machine knew...first some background....this machine is the worst ever...if you push the freaking button to get some chocolatey icy goodness it doesn't give the chocolate...just the icy!! Today when I started making a shake and the EVIL machine exploded HOT shake mix all over me and innocent bystanders! Was quite funny actually but still...lol.

Anyway...hubby leaves on Tuesday and while a little nervous I am confident that things will be fine...he is joining the Army Reserves btw...incase you did not see it on his blog...I am trying to get hubbied out...you know, sick of him so that when he goes I maybe won't miss him so much...unfortunately my plan sucks...how does it suck? Easy...I am married to him for a reason...I love him...difficult to accomplish the getting sick of someone like that. But perhaps it will still work if I become attached at his hip...lol...j/k, Seriously though...am very happy for him and all he is trying to do for us and for him...Will try to keep an update on his progress here or on another place to be determined later so all can be in the know.

Good luck to my baby!

C

Belated Merry Christmas

2006-12-27T20:23:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone...hope that yours was happy, fun and christmassy...

And Happy New Year too!!

C

The longest meme ever...

2006-12-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

1. How old do you wish you were?
22...things just seemed simpler, and I spent too much time in my own head

2. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
In bed.

3. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Get really upset and start to cry...then go to the manager and ask for a refund. Just kidding about the crying part...but I do ask for a refund.

4. Do you consider yourself kind?
Mostly I try to be but I know I am not as forgiving about stupidity as I probably should be.

5. If you had to get a tattoo, where and what would it be?
I really want a dragonfly tatoo on my shoulder, this is because I have always felt that if I sit still enough one will come and land on my finger (it being held out for the purpose of their landing of course)...this way, I don't have to sit so still all the time!

6. If you could be fluent in any other language what would it be?
Spanish...It seems to be the spoken the most around here besides English.

7. Do you know your neighbors?
Just to wave...

8. What do you consider a vacation?
A Trip to the ocean, lake or stream...fishing, camping and hanging out with my family.

9. Do you follow your horoscope?
Sometimes...and sometimes it creeps me out to the point I stop for a while.

10. Would you move for the person you loved?
Without hesitation.

11. Are you touchy feely?
Only with certain people...otherwise I am pretty hands off.

12. Do you believe that opposites attract?
Absolutely.

13. Dream job?
Working in a lab, identifying cultures and testing them for their verility.

14. Favorite channels?
Not really...I don't even know what channels my favorite shows come on...thanks TiVo

15. Favorite place to go on a weekend?
Out...to a club, a friends, movies...stay in to watch a movie or play cards

16. Showers or bath?
Showers usually because baths take too long and I get bored...but baths when I have a book or something to do.

17. Do you paint your nails?
No, but I bite them...

18. Do you trust people easily?
No, unfortunately I do have trust issues but I am getting better.

19. What are your phobias?
THE FREAKING DARK (or being blinded)! You never know what is about to grab you!!!

20. Do you want kids?
Yes...I have two now and they are fantastic...I want more but I don't think my poor head can handle the grey that they induce!!

21. Do you keep a handwritten journal?
No, I hate handwriting.

22. Where would you rather be right now?
On a beach, watching the kids play in the sand.

23. What makes you feel warm and safe?
My bed, my hubby

24. Heavy or light sleep?
I am a very heavy sleeper.

25. Are you paranoid?
Can be...especially if I suspect someone of being false...usually it is in my head.

26. Are you impatient?
When I am driving I am probably the most impatient person...mostly though I am patient.

27. Who can you relate to?
I have a tendency to be able to relate to most people in some way, shape or form.

28. How do you feel about interracial couples?
It is not a big deal.

29. Have you been burned by love?
Nope.

30. What's your life motto?
Carpe Diem

31. What's your main ringtone on your mobile?
The Blue Wrath - Monster

32. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Sleeping...poorly

33. Who was your last text message from?
My hubby.

34. Whose bed did you sleep in last night?Mine.

35. What color shirt are you wearing?
Teal and grey and white checked

36. Most recent movie you watched?
Jackass II, loved it.

37. Name five things you have on you at all times?
Well there are five things I should have on me and whether or not I have them is a different thing all together. Wallet, ID, Phone, sunglasses and keys

38. What color are your bed sheets?
Tan checkers.

39. How much cash do you have on you right now?
dunno.

40. What is your favorite part of chicken?
Boob meat.

41. What's your favorite town / city?
Heidelberg Ge.

42. I cant wait ‘til...
Christmas and July next year.

43. What did you have for dinner last night?
Focaccia sandwhich from Safeway...yummy

44. How tall are you barefoot?
5'8"

45. Have you ever smoked crack?
No.

46. Do you own a gun?
Nope..am a bit of a pacifist...

47. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Diet Coke

48. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?
You mean there is a way to do that!!

49. Do you have A.D.D.?
Sometimes my inability to finish projects makes me think so but ...no

50. What time did you wake up today?
6:30...my one day to sleep in and I had to get up early...isn't that the way it always works!!

51. Current worry?
Job

52. Current hate?
Not really a hater...a lover...

53. Favorite place to be?
anywhere that feels happy, good and no pressure.

54. Where would you like to travel?
Europe..then Hawaii.

55. Where do you think you'll be in 10 years?
A bit more financially stable, and hopefully in a house much like the one I am in now, only I own it.

56. Last thing you ate?
Eggs, Sausage, Muffin

57. What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don't sing outloud....but it never fails my hubby gets one stuck in my head and I think about it the whole time...

58. Last person that made you laugh?
My hubby.

59. Worst injury you've ever had?
Crushed pinky...or...yeah that is it.

60. Does someone have a crush on you?
I could not tell you...I am usually rather oblivious...

61. What is your favorite candy?
Toblerone.

Bloggers block

2006-11-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

Well all, sorry I have not posted in quite some time, I have been a bit busy with the working and the schooling...next week is going to be worse as I have asked for MANY more hours for the preparing of the holidays and all the spending that goes with them. Also...my computer is on the blink, the fan has burned out, a freaking ten dollar fan and I have not had the time to go and get a new one...this sucks cause my computer is my grounding thingy and I feel like I am just dust in the wind!!

Good(ish) news though, one of my managers at work got fired because she was arrested for selling drugs and I am going to be asked to replace her...wierd...I have worked for them all of three weeks and they are promoting me over all the others who have been there for years!!! Anyway..i am going to take the promotion if they are actually going to ask me and make the extra bucks until I find a real job...please God don't let me keep working here forever though!!!

Anyway...gotta go stir some soup!

C

Seeking advice on internet message boards...

2006-11-07T15:39:00.000-08:00

I was perusing a health message board and found a question posted by a young teen girl entitled "Help, this isn't working for me..." :

Young teen girl question:
okay so i have tried fingering myself and it doesnt go all the way thru.is this normal?am i doing something wrong?

Answer:
i think it's a sign from above that you need to quit. DO YOU WANT TO BE DOING THAT WHEN JESUS COMES?

Enough said!!

Working

2006-11-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

Well, it is official...I am now an employee at Mickey D's...again. I am actually rather excited...it will be brainless work so it won't take all the stuffing out of me so I can train my focus elsewhere and they seem to be totally willing to work with my hours. The boss seems to be pretty strict but nice and as long as you don't break her cardinal rules (don't eat the food while you are working and come to work with all of your uniform already on) you dont have a problem.

I did my good deed for the day the other day and I feel pretty good about it, I am glad that timing just lent itself to me being in the right place at the right time. I am glad that my friend's son is relieved and able to concentrate on being a kid again because of it...he is a good kid.

Anyway...I am doing okay right now...just went through a wierd spell of being extremely tired, wanting to leave school and crawl back into bed, or leave appointments, job interviews etc just to go home and go to bed...I dropped into my doc's office yesterday and talked to him about it...he is so very cool...he thought it might be an effect of some medicine that I am on being out of whack so he put me on a once a day pill that will deliver the same amount of medication all day that I have been having to take (and forgetting to take) twice a day. I still have not gotten the prescription filled (duh) but I plan to today...

Besides all that, things are good, I am still working towards the county, state and fed jobs that are in line but nothing solid yet...so again...not talking about it...I think I might be afraid of jinxing the job...

C

Long time no post...

2006-10-31T12:38:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been a while since I have done a real post...this is mostly because I have been a bit down...I have been trying to job hunt and even got an offer from Mervyns but they have not given me a training date...grrr bastards. So I have been still hunting. This has been rather frustrating as I have been hunting for nearly two months with naught but two real nibbles (interviews) and they went no where (see above).

Today, however, things changed...I went to two interviews, have another scheduled for tomorrow AND actually was hired (with an orientation and start date) at one of the jobs on the spot. It looks like I may have my choice of jobs...strangely I think I may be taking the one that I was offered today. Why strange, you ask? Because this job is for McDonalds...I hate the idea of going back to McD's and working there again..especially since I worked there as a teenager and the idea of coming back full circle kinda sucks. BUT...I will start Thursday, this means money coming in on time for R's birthday, also, I will be able to work an 8 hour shift before picking the boys up from school on M and W. This means that I wont have to work as many hours on the weekend or try to squeeze in working time rather than being with the boys or studying when I should be sleeping so I can hang with them. So, as strange as it may sound, Mickey D's is looking like the right job.

School is going...that is about all I am gonna say about that.

I have some irons in the fire for a real job too, working with Butte or Shasta county...but I will keep my lips sealed on that as well...seems everytime I bring up a job that may actually go somewhere it falls through...so my instincts tell me to shut up about it.

The boys are doing very well, S is dressing up at school today and is all excited, he is going as a dead-reaper-undead-skeleton-carrying-a-trident-with-a-mask guy. R is going as the devil, he calls it You-Know-Who, and his explanations to the people who are not in the know are rather funny, he points to the floor and whispers, "I'm going as You-Know-Who...you know..the really bad guy!" It was really difficult to find him a set of horns that weren't glued to his head but finally I found a set, they were the head band type and they were all glittery with feathers....ugh...took a bit of sewing to fix the "girly" problems...but now the band is black and the horns are a cloth red...he loves them...wears them everywhere...even to bed. Yesterday S and me and their uncle got S's shirt for his outfit going...that was funny...we were trying to make the shirt look old and ragged so we decided to burn it a bit...lol...it caught on fire and burned A LOT!! But it is still wearable and S is happy with it...not to mention he got to watch the eruption of the flames AND the subsequent panic trying to put them out, all of which he found absolutely fantastic!

Well that is it for me!!

C

Strange that there are so few Chrissy's

2006-10-25T21:09:00.001-07:00

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
19
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Yay me!!

2006-10-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

I have been on the job search for a while now and today I finally landed a job!!!

Not a big fancy one that will pull me from the depths of my self attained poverty but still a job...I am no longer among the ranks of the unemployed!!

I now work for Mervyn's ...one of my FAVORITE stores and it is soooo cool because I will be getting a 15% discount on top of the fabulous sales they have! Still looking for something that pays a little better but this is a start! I should be starting next week some time..pending a background criminal check...I have no worries there...and a drug screening...none there either!

Well...that is my update...

C

2006-10-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer you all, but I have to put this in...

Some may know my feelings on the war in Iraq. If you don't then here goes...I think we went in for the wrong reasons, we were lied to during a time when our country was at it's most emotionally vulnerable. The president (capitalization left out on purpose) misled this country who had been badly wounded out for a blood hunt that was illegal and wrong both on a moral and political level.

However, if anyone out there were to suggest that because I do not support the war I, therefore, must not support the troops they would be sadly mistaken. I was a soldier, though not in a time of war, and served in places that were both dangerous and very far away from home. I can relate to the soldier in the field...away...scared...lonely. I know the feeling of being forgotten, as if life were continuing for everyone else while mine had been put on hold indefinitely. I know the feeling of missing your husband, wife, kids, mother or father so badly that you cannot breathe.

What prompted all this melancholy talk you ask? While surfing the web tonight I came across this site. It is a breath taking and very inhuman listing of the troops who have died for each month we have been in Iraq...click on one of the bars and read the names...remember that these soldiers, airmen, marines and seamen are someones father, brother, mother, sister, child...they were living, loving, human beings just like you and I who chose to serve their country and were sent to fight this war...remember also that these are not all the people who died in this war...there were civilian contractors,Iraqi men, women, and children...

Veterans day is coming in a little over a month and Memorial Day is in the month of May...

Don't Forget

Hmmm....

2006-10-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

Not sure if this is really me...what do ya think???

What type of Fae are you?

I'm not that kind of scientist!!

2006-09-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

I feel awful...I am not the kind of scientist that is okay with experimenting on animals. We had to do a surgery today on a rat and remove one of it's kidneys, it was knocked out but all we had was dull scissors and forceps. It was horrible, brutal and unnecessary. In two weeks we have to remove the other one and determine the difference in weight of the kidneys. The realization will hit you in a few seconds...yep, thats right, it will die....cause ya can't live with out at least one kidney. I love biology...but this is why I did not go into research, this is why I am thoroughly done in today...I want to drop this class, I don't want to be the reason for the death of this rat...I am so frustrated that I have to keep the fucking class though...why the hell do I need Vertebrate Physiology as a MICRObiologist...microbes don't have vertebrae!!!

I am going to bed.

Eh...I will join the bandwagon.

2006-09-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

“30 Questions You’d Probably Never Think to Ask”

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
(sigh)

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters?
No, I like the thrill of seeing what is coming at me.

3. When is the last time you went sledding?
Must have been about 28ish.

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
Someone else, as long as that someone else is my hubby…

5. Do you believe in ghosts?
Only when it is dark and they start trying to scare me by making things creak and go bump!!

6. Do you consider yourself creative?
No, unfortunately I guess I skipped that line when they were handing out the goods.

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
No, I know, I know everyone else does but somehow…those gloves….

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?
Angelina with out hesitation.

9. Can you honestly say you really know anything about politics?
Yeah…unfortunately…I know just enough to be opinionated.

10. Do you know how to play poker?
Yes

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
I dont know if I would call it awake, more zombieish near the end there.

12. What’s your favorite commercial?
It has to be those Citibank commercials where the person has had their identity stolen and they speak in the voice of the person who stole it…those crack me up every time…just funny as hell!

13. Who was your first love?
Chocolate!! Oh, you mean person…I used to think that I had been in love before but now…Well, lets just say that I fall in love every day with my hubby and it is nothing compared to puppy love.

14. If you’re driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around, do you go through a red light?
I would but then I get incredibly paranoid that there was a police car near by or that they had installed a camera and had my picture so I just avoid that whole scene altogether and stop at the lighe.

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
Yup

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
San Francisco 49ers!! We are talking about football here right?!?

17. Have you ever been Ice Skating?
Yes, with my cousin when I was about 10, it was really fun and she was really good at it. However, now I just like to watch it on TV.

18. How often do you remember your dreams?
Two or three times a week, and usually they are weird enough for me to go and check the continued existence of my family and friends.

19. What’s the one thing on your mind right now?
One? You are kidding right?!? I hope Shel has her surgery, I hope I passed the mid-term I took today, I wonder if I should just find a job or if I should continue with school, I hope my boys are happy and have lots of friends and fun at school, I wonder how in the hell the holidays are going to work with all the people to visit, I hope my …

20. Do you always wear your seat belt?
Yes, just about the only thing I do religiously.

21. What talent do you wish you had?
Yes, I wish I could express myself in some creative way.

22. Do you like sushi?
Only the ones with out the raw fish.

23. What do you wear to bed?
Tee shirt and undies…unless it is really hot, then it is in my birthday suit.

24. Do you truly hate anyone?
Yes.

25. If you could meet one famous person, who would it be?
Bill Gates, to tell him to send some of his charity money to the kids and schools here in the US.

26. Do you know anyone in jail?
Yes

27. What food do you find disgusting?
Beef fat, gristle whatever you want to call it, if you have to chew it for longer than a few minutes and it is not gum it should not be eaten!!

28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
No…don’t think so...but then my memory is bad and I can’t even remember what I had for breakfast.

29. Have you ever been punched in the face?
Yup.

30. Do you believe in angels and demons?
Sometimes…see #5, I guess everyone believes in that stuff when they need to.

R

2006-09-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

Now, my son R is a strange and very interesting kid...we all know this...but he still finds ways in which to surprise me...

For instance...one day we were at the school carnival (some have heard this one...if you have just skip down...I wont mind) we walked up to a lady who was working one of the booths and gave our tickets so R could play the game (whatever it was). He tells her matter of factly, "You are kinda scary." She replies to this by laughing and asking him, "It is the beads isn't it" (she was wearing a string of very gaudy beads). He dead pans and replies "No, it's your face."

Needless to say I was floored here and just blustered and tried to appologize and chastise him...but he got me again.

Now, to the most recent one...

He got in trouble at school today...

Why you ask...

He and a friend were in the bathroom "testing the acoustics" by screaming at the top of their lungs. A teacher ran into the bathroom and asked if they were hurt...they apparently looked blankly at him and said they were okay. He asked why they were screaming...their reply... "cause it sounded neat"

lol...my boy

C

Finally some outcry!!

2006-09-14T20:38:00.000-07:00

Well, if you have ever sat with me for more than a few minutes you have probably sat through my rant about how the super-skinny-matchstick models (and women) are disgusting and simply a skeleton with skin stretched over. Well, finally people are doing something about it...maybe not here (yet, you know how we can't resist trends) but in Madrid they have banned any models whose body mass index is below a certain level. HURRAY!!!

It is about freaking time someone takes a stand and says that this is unhealthy, disgusting and awful to look at! How can anyone find these women beautiful...their bones are jutting out of their bodies!!

Oh, and I especially liked the part where the guy says "anorexia was a "rare phenomenon" in the fashion business" Yeah Right...have you seen some of these women!! take a look at the woman in the article!! HA...

Anyway...this concludes my rant on the super-skinny-matchstick women!

C

Sunday

2006-09-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday dear meeeee
Happy Birthday to me!!!

Yay...today is my 31st birthday...I thought I would have a hard time or feel old or something...but this morning looking at my two beautiful boys eating their breakfast, or watching my hubby do some "Honey Do's" for me made me realize that I feel pretty good for 31. Maybe it is because I don't feel like the last 31 years have been wasted, like I have done something good with my life.

Anyway...enough saccharin sweetness...thanks for the happy birthday wishes from everyone!

C

An end to the rattle and ping of my car?!?

2006-09-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

Went to get the car smogged today and guess what...finally found someone who knows what they are talking about! They said that the diesel sound that my car makes is due to the timing chain possibly going out or a little bracket that holds it in place...

Yay...perhaps I will have a quiet car again! The problem comes in that if it is the chain it will cost roughly $600 but if it is the bracket probably around $60. Here is to crossing my fingers for the bracket!! The other side of the coin? The car probably will not pass it's next smog...bummer...but the thing has given it's all you know!! Any way...wanted to share the good news!

C

Dogs...or something approaching that description.

2006-09-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

I saw a girl today with one of those little yappy dogs that girls are carrying around now a days. You know the ones, in a little carrier or bag, they just sit there looking around kinda startled like...totally a fad and some sort of status symbol. I just don't get it...but it started me thinking... What is going to happen to these dogs when the fad is over??? Will there be a new misfit island..."The Island of Unstylish Dogs" If little shaky nervous dogs are in style now...what is next? I had considered ferrets...but they would bite and while funny to watch the little girl owners would found a new island for "Bitey Ferrets" faster than you can say, "They're biting the stupid gits!" I also thought maybe hairless cats but they are ugly and no fads surround anything ugly...unless you count the dogs of course. Gerbils are out because of their tendency to be found in the colons of those on the more extreme side of sexually adventurous. Cats would not put up with being held for so damn long, riding in cars and they have very sharp claws. So that leaves what? Maybe baby mice...they are cute...and if you raise them from little babies they might not bite...they love to be held, if they are used to it...hmmm...we will see!

Classes and the like

2006-08-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Well the first week of school for me and hubby, and the second week for the boys is finally over. It has been a mess of adding and dropping classes for me...started out with spanish II and that was WAY over my head, seems I forgot quite a bit since Spanish I. So, I dropped down to Span I and the instructor was TERRIBLE...I mean really awful...she didn't teach so much as speak a very fast string of spanish at us and expect us to comprehend and pick up the few vocab and other words that were on the test Friday...which I did not do well. So I dropped that and have now picked up German I which I am hoping will go a little better because I was there for so long in the army...I had to have picked up something right?!? Also am now taking a wines class that I am totally psyched about...maybe I will find another wine that I like to add to the ONE that I already do! Still taking Vertebrate physiology...seems that this is going to be much harder than bacterial physiology...go figure...lol.

Hubby is getting into his classes pretty easily in comparison, and he likes them. Boyos are loving school, S really likes his teacher and his homework is rather more difficult than 3rd grade. The speech therapist for the school called me about R, they want him to start speech therapy...anyone who has tried to have a conversation with the poor boy when he is rushed knows why! So perhaps there will be changes on that front. He is really liking school too...his first week of homework starts this next week.

That is about it...my dad took the boys for the night last night and so hubby and I are going to go see Snakes on a Plane today while we still can...will fill you in on dinner last night and the movie today later!!

C

Joy!!

2006-08-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to find a new ring for my phone for quite some time. And finally after watching Shawn of the Dead I realized this was the song I wanted! So now it is on my phone...hehe...isn't it great!

C

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The first day of school...

2006-08-15T21:59:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are on the evening after the first day of school and I have two VERY tired boys, one of whom fell asleep in the backyard in a chair while some friends were playing nearby. R has a tendency to find a nice quiet place to sleep when he is sleepy and so it can be difficult to find him if he has found a good hiding spot, one time I found him under the table in his room sound asleep! This time he was so tired he fell asleep on the spot and even still denied being tired after waking up. Turkey!

The boys loved the first day, S's teacher is very strict and S seems to be liking that. R's I will be meeting with after school tomorrow to discuss his...issues. All seems to be in order, I was totally expecting a phone call today from R's teacher but he was apparently very good...so yay!

Well, I am tired too so off I go to bed! Night!

C

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!

2006-08-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

Boy...you gotta love Target, they totally sum up the parent's view of back to school!

The boyos are getting ready for their last night of freedom...they start school tomorrow, backpacks have been bought, clothes picked out and ironed, classes known, and they go to bed in about an hour! Yay...tomorrow I will have 6 hours of time with just me and hubby...that will be very nice. The plan is to relax, swim, sun and other such fun stuff!

School for hubby and I starts up again next week Monday...I am looking forward to it and not...I just have totally enjoyed this summer...my first one really off since I turned 16...that is a lot of years! I so enjoyed this summer that I am really thinking of doing the teaching thing....weekends off, summers, holidays...my Dad is a teacher and I know it is not all that easy but still, you cant beat the schedule being the same as your kids!

Any way...gonna go...

C

Untitled

2006-08-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

So I guess it has been a while since I last posted...lol...thanks E for pointing that out!

Can't even say I have been busy...well I have but not so busy I can't post...just have not been in a posting mood. boyos are getting ready for school starting on Tuesday next week, R will be in 1st and S will be in 4th...it is going to be very strange having them gone for most of the day, I know I will miss them a lot so I have been trying to get in as much time with them as I can while they are still on vacation, tonight we went to the Thursday Night Market and they played on a bouncy slide. R, of course, was rather scary with his leaping off the top and bouncing his way down the slide head over heels, while S was a bit more cautious until he saw others bouncing their way down too and he tried it and the look on his face was priceless!! Tomorrow we will be hanging around the house playing games and swimming...ah, such is life! Am a little nervous about R starting in all day school, with a new teacher, new hours, no routine like last year and to top it all off his Kindergarten teacher left on a leave of absence so he can't go and touch base with her...which will make things a bit tough...hopefully the new teacher will listen and understand that he is a handful if you don't handle him the right way! I know, I know...she is going to have 19 other students to worry about but I will help as much as I can by volunteering if she will have me.

I start school the week after the boys and am kinda excited to start a semester that is NOT looking to be a hell semester! Woohoo...maybe I will keep my sanity through it!! During this upcoming semester I will be getting my application together for Clinical Lab Science internship at UC Davis and/or SF. This is more nerve wracking to me than anything else...for some reason I usually don't get nervous about things till they are right on me, bearing down, but this time I am nervous and they don't even accept the applications till Nov 2. Mostly because I know me, I will put off the app filling out stuff till last minute...maybe if I am nervous I will get it done early. I will keep an update going of the progress on the application...maybe that will keep me going too!

My mother is wierding out on me again but not totally surprised there...lol. She has invited (insisted) me up to her house for turkey day this year even though I don't have a car that can make it, a place to stay when I get there and she wants me to stay the week! I nearly laughed, but didn't...I will be going up on a train the night before and leaving the morning after...maybe, well that is the tentative plan anyway. It would be nice to spend a holiday with her...have yet to do it...but want to be able to spend some of it with hubby, dad and hubby's fam too. I hate holidays for this reason...not enough time to visit everyone indiscriminately so someone is going to feel short changed...I am lucky my dad is very cool about the no pressure thing...just wish my mom would get the message...seriously I choose to visit my dad more because he has not pressured me in any way.

Well, enough about my wierd mother...I know I am supposed to write some questions for E soon..and soon I will...just gotta sit and think...maybe after the boys are in school.

Wow, this turned into quite a long post...guess I did have a lot to say.

Oh, last note before I go to bed...I am debating between more Spanish and starting Latin...reason for Latin is that most of the scientific names are in Latin and knowing their roots would help with the bugs...any comments?

Night all
C

Evan's questions

2006-07-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

1. Chrissy, your blog is titled West Coast High. Why?

One of my favorite musical artists is John Denver…he sings a song called Rocky Mountain High (also one of my favorite songs) and this is an homage to an artist who has touched my life with his music.

2. If you discovered the cure for one of the major diseases (AIDS, Cancer, Alzheimer's, etc.) but the development of the cure would somehow require the complete annihilation of a plant or animal species, what would you do?

Assuming that the plant or animal would no longer be required to continue to make the cure I would without hesitation develop the cure. I think we all too often try to save everything from extinction without consideration that species of all sorts have become extinct throughout history and new species have come in to being in their stead. “Mother Nature” has a plan and while we may be screwing with it by systematically wiping out a large number of species on the planet through some of our more irresponsible practices the loss of human life to some of these diseases is too great to dismiss in an effort to save a single species.

3. You and your hubby have a lot of entertainment commonalities. I know well where your tastes in film differ, and fairly well musically. Where, aside from his comic reading, do your tastes in reading differ? Is there a novel or author that is a favorite of yours that he can't stand?

Yes. I am inexplicably attracted to V.C. Andrews…you know the one that writes about young girls and incest galore…I really don’t know why I like these novels but I do and he does not.

4. In your estimation, what are your best and worst qualities?

Argh…this is one I always struggle with in my own mind…lol. I guess my best quality is my ability to consider situations from other peoples perspectives…I think this helps me be a better parent, friend and wife. It also helps me to play the devils advocate. My worst quality would have to be my tendency to worry too much what people think of me and therefore be a bit of a people pleaser. I am constantly trying to guage if people are mad, happy or whatever with me…and trying to fix it if they are mad.

5. What's your favorite country and why?

Of the countries I have visited and lived in my most favorite is Germany, the majority of the people are very receptive to Americans, the scenery is absolutely beautiful and I have a strong love of castles of which Germany has many. Turkey is also a contender…mostly because the culture there is so very different from our own that there is always something new to learn about the Turks. Also because they thought I was so very unique with my blonde hair and blue eyes!

Bicycle adventures

2006-07-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

Took R to the school today so he can practice riding with out training wheels. He is a whiz at it...I had this image in my head of us practicing for a while and then heading home after many bumps and scrapes...however, he fooled me again! He is riding like a pro, even tried to ride without any hands...nearly fell but did better when he tried to ride with only one hand and no feet...wish I had grabbed my camera :(

All is well elsewhere...trying to stay cool even though it is in the 100's again today. The weather man must have taken a vacation because yesterday they were saying that today was supposed to be sunny and near 110 but instead we have hot muggy clouds and are around 100. now tell me, how does a WEATHER man miss the huge amount of clouds that were over us today?!? lol.

That is about it for me...

C