TGIF?

In the *normal* business world, TGIF brings about a sense of relief, a sense of accomplishment. That feeling that you are only a matter of hours away from your two day reprieve from work.

In the world of the work at home individual, who has had one commitment after another this past week, Friday is just another day. Saturday and Sunday will, unfortunately, have to be work days in order to meet quota for this week. A depressing thought, really. I used to be the envy of a few of my friends ... gosh, you are SO lucky to be able to work at home. Man, must be nice to be able to set your own schedule.

Yes, I AM lucky to have this job. I am lucky to set my own schedule. But a lot of people don't realize that that schedule is a hard one. It isn't easy having to summarize a case here, a case there in order to make quota. I have to be able to have a block of time, which I don't have a lot of days, in order to really make a dent in my work week. Hence the reason that I need to work over the weekend a lot of times. Last week, I didn't have to. I did work a little on Saturday, but I had Sunday free and clear of anything. It was a wonderful feeling, knowing that I could go home from church and have NOTHING on my plate to do. This week, not so lucky, I don't think.

So, with all of that being said, I guess I am off to download a case before I am bombarded with requests from young people ... To the rest of you, TGIF, man.

Observations of a choir member

When we are getting close to a production, our director gets nasty.

Don't ever make fun of the "three hour tour" AKA Palm Sunday 2005 in the presence of said cranky choir director because it will only elicit a defensive reaction *but gets giggles from the remainder of your cronies*.

Said choir director becomes very agitated when people don't listen to him, making him revert to his high school teacher days, treating the adult choir like his middle school students.

Said choir director becomes downright condescending when you aren't singing the correct part, when you were never told what the correct part was until you started singing, and then you are informed at that very moment that you are singing the incorrect part, even though that knowledge was never imparted to said choir member.

Tell me WHY I want to be in the church choir? Because apparently I have a listening disorder as well as an inability to read music.

On another note, it has been nice to not have to rush around here this morning getting M ready for school. I used to abhor two hour delays ... as recently as a few months ago ... now that I am chauffeur to the Princess, I actually enjoy them.

Oh ... and another thing ... WHY can't my child be picked up from Kids' Club when we come to GET him? WHY is my husband told that he has to wait to collect Evan, when it is readily apparent that he had to come back to church to pick him up, and he has two other children in tow? WHY can't Evan be *released* when we NEED him to be released? I mean, that is presumptuous and rude.

I am in a bitchy mood today.

Way to Go Upward, Way to Go (clap clap)

As much as I have complained about the fact that I had Upward commitments, having to be somewhere EVERY Saturday for the past two months, sometimes two places because I was helping out with a concession stand, last night was the icing on the cake, and the people at Upward really did an awesome job of recognizing these kids and their accomplishments.

They started off with the lights off, the official music (you know ... Let's Get Ready to Rumble... I don't know a basketball team in the United States that hasn't used this) starts up, and they announce the team names, starting with the cheerleaders. Jennifer and I had a hard time hearing when they called the Spirit squad .. ok .. who am I kidding. I didn't hear it at all, but Jennifer did.

So the girls go up, get to their places for their dance routine and cheer, and they introduce the teams. Jennifer said they used to call each player by name, and they would run through the tunnel. I could NOT imagine sitting through 1000 names and 1000 kids running through a tunnel. I think I would be blogging from the UofF Koehler Center right now.

The girls had an awesome time. They had an illusionist, who delivered the message of salvation. And let me tell you something: I love the sound of my kids' voices. I loved hearing them talk for the first time, coo and sound all sweet. But there is NOTHING sweeter in this world than sitting there, listening to the sound of tiny voices, repeating the prayer of salvation out loud. Not all of them did it, and that was the cool thing. Jennifer and I were crying after that. Wendy Houck came up afterwards and had tears in her eyes. It was the most profoundly beautiful sound ... ever.

The girls got little stuffed megaphones that they were supposed to have autographed, but one of our girls left early, one was sick, and the other was on her way out by the time that Jennifer and I clued in that we had a Sharpie marker. Ok... who am I kidding. I knew we had the markerl; I just didn't clue in.

It was a top-rate production, and I was definitely proud to have been those girls' coach. They were a joy to work with, and I love each one of them dearly.

McCayla had a BLAST! They gave some things away at the end, drawing names of parents and players and cheerleaders alike. McCayla got all excited when they were giving away family packs and basketballs and a Game Boy. They are serious gift givers.

It was an awesome production. My hat is off to you, Upward planning and decorating team. Kudos.

Did you know ...

that you can mix 1 TB of baking soda and 1 TB of Borax, and use it as a dishwashing detergent?

I found that little recipe/life saver on another board I visit ... here's the site you can look up other little homemade recipes on ... yes. Ended with a preposition. Bad, bad grammar. http://mixes.cdkitchen.com/recipes/cat/609/0.shtml

Tonight is the lovely Upward Awards Night. I KNOW M will be nervous. I am not going to tell her the massive amount of people who will be watching her. I think it is nerve-wrecking for a first grader to have to perform in front of all those people ... the basketball players don't have to. Why make the cheerleaders? I know... cheerleaders work harder than the players do. Not a slam. Just an observation of the obvious.

Patrick is really enjoying his new job. His boss took Patrick to his Rotary meeting yesterday afternoon for lunch (Patrick is a fellow Rotarian). He said they even sang songs. They don't sing at his meetings. I don't think they sing at my Dad's meetings (the more traditional group). He was trying to remember a song they sang, and I piped up "oh I'm proud to be a Rotarian... where I know my lunch is free ... "That wasn't it. It was "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." I am not sure what the significance is for that song in particular, but then ... you just never know.

I have run out of my favorite creamer, so I am drinking coffee with no flavoring right now. Driving me a little batty. But ... it is the caffeine infusion that I need right now. Woke up at 5 and really couldn't get back to sleep. Mind went into overdrive as soon as I saw that it was only one hour from my alarm going off, so I laid awake, thinking of the things I have to do today.

I need to snap a pic of the little books I did for the cheerleaders. They really are cute! I need to finish up one with the ribbons on the side, and need to stamp her favorite cheer in the book (I tried to match up some cheers ... I had two girls who loved one cheer, so I put those words in their books). McCayla's book is a little bigger because I only had six in one size. I am going to make hers up sometime this weekend and give it to her. She knows it is coming, and I told her she can help me hand those out tonight to the girls.

All right. I need to go finish up this case, jump in the shower, and get the day started. Preschool Adventure Party, here we come! Jacque... will certainly miss you, but I know you will be having a rip-roarin' good time at your breakfast!

Oy vey!!

Dr's appointment with McCayla this morning. Thought for sure we would have enough time.

Then I got to the office.

And saw all the cars in the parking lot.

And saw the 10 people in the waiting room.

Then remembered that today is Monday.

What was I thinking?

I had to reschedule M's appointment for Spring Break week. I won't take her out of school anymore. She has missed enough days as it is.

And now Evan is complaining that his tummy is hurting. Will it EVER end? personally, I think if he ATE something, it wouldn't hurt anymore. But no ... don't listen to Mom or anything.

One of those weeks where you wish you could be at Friday...

Monday: McCayla dr. appt. 10 am. Drop Evan off at preschool for his special day, take Jenna to Jacque's, take M to her appt., leave to get Jenna and Evan, take M to school, feed E and J, put J down for a nap, pick M up from school, and then leave for class tonight.

Tuesday: Take M to school, preschool adventure party, feed the kids, J down for nap, prepare Contract Law Final, pick M up, get ready for Upward Awards Night (be there at 5:25), Upward Awards Night.

Wednesday: Take M and E to school, take final to Brown Mackie, come home, vege, pick E up, lunch, nap, M up from school, church, choir, Worship Team, home.

Thursday: Take M to school, home, lunch, nap, pick up, come home, get M ready for dance pics, 4:20 Baker's Photography, come home, drop off kids, take off for class to administer final, if time, swing over by Cheddars to see if choir women are still there, stay there for a while, come home.

Friday: M and E to school and then NOTHING but catching my breath for the rest of the day.

Can you see why I want it to be Friday already? This is going to be a week from he**.

Shhhh.... what's that I hear ....?

A Sunday with nothing to do? A Sunday where I don't have to be somewhere, taking a child somewhere, or what not? Certainly you jest ...

Alas .. no. No jesting here. A Sunday, free and clear of any predetermined obligations. My mother will be coming over this afternoon to go to Goodwill with me and the older two kids. Then I will SCRAPBOOK this afternoon. Well, alter really, but hey ... I get to get out papers and tools and adhesives and have at it! I am so excited.

Have you stubbed your toe so badly that you SWEAR it is broken, but from all outward appearances, it doesn't look broken? I have broken my pinky toe more times that I would like to admit. The first time it hurt ... a LOT. Couldn't put on a shoe, couldn't walk too well, and I was in college. That was a lot of fun, trekking all over the University of Kentucky with a broken pinky toe.

So I have re-broken that about 4-5 times since then, and I know when I have. I can hear it crack, and then it swells and turns all shades of black and blue.

When entering the shower today, I slammed my index toe into the door casing. And it felt GOOD!!! I can bend it, but it is a pain to walk on.

Poor, pitiful Meredith, right. Boo Hoo.

Bought some shoes at Payless yesterday. Here's how it went.

Evan goes with me. He enters the store, and diarrhea of the mouth starts up. Mommy ... are those my shoes; look at these shoes; oh they are pink ... boys don't wear pink; only sissies (sisters) wear pink; pink is McCayla's favorite color; what size do I wear; let's meausure my foot; what does that say?; 13 or a 1 ... wow ... that's big; where are my shoes; yes, those fit; ok ... let's go look at your shoes; Mommy, didn't you say you wore a 10?; why are you looking at the 11s, Mommy?; can you wear an 11, Mommy?; did you see these shoes; weren't there backpacks there; look at these silly socks; aren't they funny?

He has an energy force around him. It is contagious. He was skipping/running through the hallway after Sunday school today, and one of my fellow choir members, Jim, said "wouldn't it be great if we ALL could be like that?" and he proceeded to do the Evan step. It was rather humorous watching a 6'6"+ man running like that. But like I said ... contagious.

Patrick is out getting Taco Bell for lunch. I remember making a trip to Huntington, WV to just go to Taco Bell. We were that desperate at the University of Rio Grande. Now they have one on campus. I think the city of Huntington called the college and pleaded with them to keep the students in Ohio.

Hope everyone has a good day today. Tomorrow it all starts up again. Have to take M in for her follow up on her headaches tomorrow at 10 after I drop Evan off at preschool, and then get her to school and then go get Evan, and then prepare for tomorrow night's class. Oh yea... I have to work in there, too. Don't know WHEN.

Happy Saturday morning

A robin is outside the living room window, giving me his version of a wakeup call (I am already awake, obviously). We used to have an apple tree right beside our bedroom, and we would always have some robin family or two nested in there, along with the occasional mourning dove. I could handle the dove. The robins were a little too vivacious for me that early in the morning. And, guaranteed, if the robin woke us up, it woke the kids up. As much as I loved having that tree for shade and privacy, it is nice to not have that there anymore.

Robin... if you read this weekend, what did you end up doing last night? I hope you got my message in a timely manner ... I felt bad! But I was attached to my computer last night, and I am again this morning and for most of the day today (shudder). But the nice thing is, Lexis has pretty much guaranteed that I will have Sunday off as they are upgrading our system, and the program I do work under will be out of commission pretty much all day. Hence the final push to get done today.

The house is quiet, the aroma of coffee is in the air ... ahhh... the endless possibilities of a Saturday. Even though I will be working, I won't be doing it all day (I promised myself), so there are things I want and need to do. I would like to take M to Payless sometime this weekend because we want to get some crocs. We have already picked them out, and I also want to get some brown and pink tennis shoes .... and then there is a pair of sandals that I want. But I will have to decide between the tennis shoes and sandals, I think. I also need to get those little books for my cheerleaders done. I also have to prepare material to have a comprehensive review in my class, as well as get the final done so I can be done with the class this week. Then I pick up a Civil Procedure book, and start teaching that next month, but on an independent study basis.

This morning is the LAST GAME for Upward!!!!!!! {<----Shouting from the rooftop of my ranch home ---->} We will be meeting the squad and their families at Stevi B's this morning for some pizza and let the girls play some games. The nice thing is, we don't have the stay the whole time. If I want to leave, and I will have to excuse myself to go work, I can.

Well, the 2 1/2 year old alarm clock has gone off ... later than normal, thank goodness. She is starting to push more toward seven in the morning. FINALLY! Later, dudes.

Separated at birth?

Ok ... these aren't the BEST pictures to compare, but sadly, I don't have many pics of Patrick in the photo albums.

So many people have told us that Patrick looks like Mike Krzyzewski, Duke's head coach (who, by the way, were BEATEN last night by an SEC team LSU ... even though it wasn't the correct SEC team (UK), it was a sweet victory, nonetheless). Patrick has been to Dietsch's, our local ice cream store, and the guys in there are like "hey ... has anyone told you you look like Coach K?"

Patrick takes it all in good stride. Even last night when I kept saying "LOOK at him ... can't you see it?" or when I called my sister at 25 seconds to go to let her know that LSU had it in the bag, and my brother in law would say things like "oh Patrick" whenever they would show Coach K.

So at 2 this morning, when Jenna woke me up from a deep sleep because she had wet her sheet, and I laid awake for the better part of an hour to an hour and a half, I started thinking ... I wonder if Coach K and Patrick are related. But, Coach K grew up in New York state, so that puts that idea out of the running.

And darn... I was ready to claim some fame.

When do you say stop

Saying no is the hardest thing for me to do. I WANT to do everything that I WANT to do, but I end up doing more things that I NEED to do, and then I get mad at myself for not getting to do the things that I want to do.

I need to work. That is a given. But the things that I want to do get in the way of needing to work.

I need to teach. That isn't so much a given, but I have agreed to it, and I have an obligation to the school and the students to do it in a manner that imparts knowledge on the students.

I need to do housework. But that is just too depressing, so I FIND something that I want to do, and do it.

I need to knit. Yes. This is a need. I have a small business. I have customers. I have people who are waiting on things from me. I can't say it is a want when it is work-related. But, my need to knit projects take precedence over the want to knit projects.

I need to have a filter installed in my brain to tell me when a need takes precedence over a want, and vice versa.

I think this is one of the reasons why I feel guilty when I do something I want to do, because I don't have the ability to differentiate when I should do something I want versus doing something I need to do.

Now, I need to take a shower. I need to download a case or two to work on because I am now a day behind in work, and if I don't watch it, I will be two days behind. And then three. And then I will resent myself. And thus the deep thoughts this morning....

Mom, the bus driver

I had taken M to school yesterday morning because she didn't get in until after 10. I offered to pick her up all this week and take her to school. She has now decided that she wants to be a "picked up" kid and not a bus rider anymore. She said that the fifth graders are giving her a hard time on the bus, and I won't let her be in that environment. So we just adjusted a few things here and there, and now we will be taking her to school and picking her up from now on (unless something comes up and I can't do it).

Being thrown back into the throes of taking care of everyone again has worn me down today. We took a trek over to Patrick's store and it is NICE! It is big and has a lot of stuff in there. Not only do they carry the hardware you would expect to see, they also have toilet tissue, paper towels, aluminum foil, Ziploc baggies and containers, trash cans, trash bags, small appliances... and that was only after going down two aisles with Jenna. I really think Patrick will love this job, and finally have a place he feels comfortable. A small owned family business is MUCH better than retail banking.

As I drove past Clyde Findlay Area Credit Union today on my way over to bring him his forgotten lunch, I raised my fist and yelled "you didn't defeat him, horrid, horrid place." And it didn't.

Looking back on this past year, it has been a trial and a tribulation. Patrick needed this. He needed to see: (1) that he didn't need to be a banker to make a living; (2) that it IS hard to be a stay at home parent; (3) that my job really IS important, and not to be taken lightly; and (4) that, in all circumstances, sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves and put your nose to the grindstone.

So CFACU and your president and vice president, thanks to your decision last year to terminate the employment of an extremely wonderful, caring husband and father, you made him grow. You made him a stronger person, a more loving (if that was at all possible!) father, and an attentive and more caring husband. Don't get me wrong; I am NOT thanking you. I am acknowledging it. And moving on.

Goodbye, Jorge

I will miss you.

WOO HOO!!!!!

Yes... you read that right. Patrick is FINALLY gainfully employed!!!!I was at church on Sunday morning, and one of my fellow choir members asked me if I could talk to a woman who was working for him at his Ace Hardware store. She is going through a nasty divorce, and he wanted me to talk to her about MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). He also said that he was needing to find someone for Accounts Payable, and Lawn and Garden. Didn't even DAWN on me that Patrick would fit the AP job.

Another choir member, who knows Patrick has been looking, came running up to me after the first service, telling me that Dan was looking for someone. I said I would talk to him after the second service. I found Dan and Greg after the second service, and Dan asked me if Patrick was looking for something. I was like "umm.... YEAH!"

So Dan handed me his card, told me to tell Patrick to call him Monday (yesterday). Patrick did, and they set up an interview time for 1:30 this afternoon.

Patrick went over to the store (there are two... one in Fostoria, about 20 minutes from here, and another outside of Cleveland that Dan's son runs.. both owned by Dan) this afternoon, and at 2:45, he called me to let me know he is gainfully employed!It was originally for the AP position, and part-time, but Dan told Patrick he really wanted to utilize all of his talents, and made him the Office Manager over both stores!! And that means it will be more fulltime than anything.So yippeee!!! He starts tomorrow!!!

Deep Thoughts or Why You Should Never Eat Taco Bell at 9:45 At Night

Last night, I was finished with class around 9. We had covered what we needed and, since we are nearing the end, we got a little earlier than usual. Not satisfied with the Cheerios I had for dinner (although I do love me some cereal for dinner), I decided that I would *treat* myself to a Run for the Border. Got a bean burrito and a nachos supreme ala Meredith (take off that nasty meat, that was once rumored to be kangaroo), the tomatoes, and the sour cream, please.

Eating dinner # 2 on my couch while watching The Apprentice, thinking about these people who are bending over backwards for a shot at a job with The Donald, I started to calculate some things in my head.

Now, I'm not known for my high math skills, so it took me a minute to realize ... I am twice the age I was when I graduated high school.

Depressing? Not in the least. I am 36. I will readily admit that (that is, when I really remember that is my true age... McCayla had to remind me one time that I was no longer a 35 year-old just about a month ago). I have no problem with admission of my age.

It just boggled my mind a little.

Why did it seem to take FOREVER to get to high school graduation, but it seems like yesterday that I graduated from high school?

Why do I remember outfits that I wore in high school, but given the opportunity to try to remember in high school what I wore on my first day of first grade, I wouldn't be able to render any memories?

Why do I remember that one time when I yelled at my mother in front of her senior class (my then-boyfriend's class) and getting grounded because I back-sassed her, but I probably couldn't remember the last time it was that my father would have spanked me (he only spanked me when I was little ... Mom doled out a lot of the non-physical punishment, except for the occasional whack with the rubber spatula, having long since abandoned the wooden spoon after she broke it on my brother and he laughed at her... you don't laugh at my mother when she is mad)?

It seems like it was only a few years ago that I found out I was pregnant with McCayla, Evan, and Jenna. It seems like only two days ago that I went into labor for McCayla, was induced for Evan, and had Jenna via c-section.

It is just interesting to me that these last 18 years, which matched the number of years it took for me to get to high school, flew by in a matter of a few years.

Oh bean burrito, how you make me think.

1:26 p.m.

At this time, I expect the temperature to warm up to a balmy 60 degrees, all of the germs to be washed away out of my house, and the promise of only sunny days from here on out. I wouldn't mind the occasional spring thunderstorm. Those are fine. Oh, and the ground hardening up so my kids can go out in our yard without getting their shoes muddy ... that would be great, too.

What I do not expect to see:

• Snow
• Snow
• Snow
• Temperatures in the 30s
• Cloudy skies
• Snow
• Oh, and snow

I am SOOOOOO ready for the beginning of spring. I am also SOOOOO ready for that clock to jump up an hour. But it doesn't appear to happen this month at all, so I suppose I can wait for April for that to happen.

Typical week this week. I am keeping M home one more day, but it is readily apparent that she is feeling better. She had a fever even LAST NIGHT in the 102 degree range. But, she is bouncing around right now as if she hasn't a vegetable on our couch for the last 3 1/2 days.

Jenna made if a whole TEN minutes more this morning, arising at 6:40. She started to cry out at 11:30 last night, and I feared that it was going to be another one of those nights. But it wasn't, so I accepted the 6:40 morning hour. Of course I accepted it because Patrick was awake and took care of her.

Well ... off to download a case or two. I have the typical day of class stuff to do. Oh joy.

Mom of the Year...

Ah yes. That last entry. Type type type type type type type type type type type ... hmmm... that sounds good.

What's that sound?

No McCayla, the door isn't open. That is the window that opened up.

I have no idea why you can hear the chimes so well.

Oh... there's Nana and PawPaw. Don't want them thinking I am ignoring my kids so better wrap up the blog.

Hey ... who opened the door?

Hey ... WHERE'S JENNA?!?!?!!?

Dad walking up the walk, Jenna walking in the door from the backyard. No coat on, wearing a long sleeved shirt, shorts, and Baby Legs.

However ... she did have the knowledge (and time) to put her shoes on.

Good girl.

Sunday

Did my duty, sang in church for both services, came home to relieve my parents from taking care of M while Patrick took Evan to church and is now helping with Evan's class. M is STILL having her headaches, so I don't know what is going on there. Maybe she and Robin need to get together and work it all out. So I think she will be staying home from school AGAIN tomorrow. This is making a decision to homeschool SO appealing right now. Not to shelter my kids, of course, but to keep an eye on them and ... well ... control things. I am a CONTROL freak.

Upward this afternoon. What a flipping colossal waste of everyone's time. Seriously. The person who is running the program is not at all organized. She doesn't have a clue as to what is going on. And why she thinks she needs to have these girls for a SIX hour cheerleading clinic is SO beyond me right now. Hey ... I went to church. I can have these thoughts.

So I will be going without M today, and she will also be missing the very well-orchestrated, what becomes a pain in the arse of every mother who has a child at Becky's School of Dance ... the pictures in her costume. And, to top it all off, it can't just be her pictures, they HAVE to have a group pic of all of them. Drives me INSANE.

Ok .. enough complaining. My Mom and Dad are back with our lunch. Later.

WHEN is that time change?

because I swear my children have their internal clocks set to the rising of the sun. And it can't be the kids who can entertain themselves and who I trust out in the living room, watching cartoons. It HAS to be Jenna. She has been up since 6:15 this morning. She was up at 6:25 yesterday morning. And she isn't GROGGY or anything. She has to be in full Jenna-mode when she comes out of that room. It drives me INSANE!

Something else that drives me insane? Knowing I have to go be somewhere on Saturday afternoon, and not only is it not good enough that I give an hour and a half to the Upward program today, I have to devote my WHOLE Sunday afternoon to it tomorrow! I mean, what is up with that?

Craft night at the church last night... Um yeah. Jacque, you are no longer my friend, and I think you know why. And Robin ... Kendra said you were going to try to make it. Yeah... off that friend list, too. Seriously, Robin .. how ARE you? How was your dr. appt?

Can I just say that I am ABsolutely loving Bitter is the New Black ? She is absolutely hilarious. Patrick is quite impressed that this is the first book in a number of years that I have torn through. I could probably sit and read the whole thing in a day, but I have other things I am doing .. like working ... but it sits next to me at my computer. I have been caught reading it too many times to count yesterday, and that is probably the reason I am up early to work on those remaining piddly little cases.

Oh wait ... no ... I'm up early because I have a child who doesn't understand the statement "go back to bed or I am withholding your allowance for 25 years."

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Phone calls from the school... You know you hate them. You are settling into a routine for the day and then, RING. You know, I think we might have been much better off before the dawning of caller id. Sure, you can dodge those phone calls from telemarketers who have somehow skirted around your state's No-Call List. Sure, you can skirt around the calls from people who just suck the life out of you (speaking of NO one who reads here). Sure, you can prepare yourself for the conversation when you see a call coming in, and you just have a feeling you know why that person is calling.

Findlay City Schools. HATE seeing that on my id. The only time I received a call from the school when M was in Kindergarten was when she took a header off the bus. She stayed at school, though. She never was in the school nurse's office.

This year, we have gotten probably five calls from Whittier. Some from the office, letting the bad parent know that their child's lunchbox is still in the refrigerator. But these last few times, they have been from the school nurse.

RING! feeling of dread overcomes me, because as you all know from a prior entry, I have emetophobia.

Hi. This is Wendy, the school nurse. McCayla said she has a headache (we have an appt. at the end of the month to get these checked out), and then I felt her head and she felt warm. She has a temp of 100.2.

I think to myself .. So? Is that REALLY a temp? No. They say it isn't a temp until it hits 100.8. So call me back then.

Of course, this is the conversation in my mind, not coming out of my mouth. I, of course, was the concerned mother, telling the nurse I would be there in five minutes. Thankfully, we really do live five minutes from the school.

So she has some undefined funk. Headache, no lack of appetite, and lower fever. Nothing like it was a month or so ago. She is out in the living room, entertaining her father with her diatribe on why blue trees are just weird, but red trees are ok. Why does Dora talk so loud? Mommy, can I have some Teddy Grahams? I think Jenna drank from my cup.

This is one of those "not well enough to go to school, but not bad enough to be down and out for the day" illnesses.

And then there is Jenna. She keeps terrorizing the cat. She says she is giving him hugs. But those hugs end up in bites because he has had enough. He is SO not a kids cat. And she keeps taking her clothes off. She took them off between 10-12 times yesterday, and her father was becoming VERY fed up with it.

Evan is doing just fine. He and I had a conversation on the way to preschool about him being part Irish. I was trying to explain to him about St. Patrick. It is kind of hard to explain something to a child when you don't know the story. So I finally said "ok Evan... remember that story at the beginning of Sumo of the Opera (a Veggie Tale movie)?" and I could physically see the lightbulb go off in his head. Oh yeah! St. Patrick. Well, when did you live in Ireland? I didn't live in Ireland, Evan. Our relatives are from Scotland and Ireland. Oh ... when are we going?

Evan. What a little man.

Back to the salt mine

Back at it today. My three days off are officially over, and now I have to return to the salt mine of summarizing federal case law. I also have to come up with a test for my class tonight, but then they are going to be working on drafting contracts, so I just have to hand them their assignments, and be there to answer any questions that they might have.

Patrick's trip went well yesterday... down and back within 11 hours. I know he was beat, though, but he said he had good weather the entire time (the sun was out the WHOLE time, he said!), and very minimal traffic problems. He said he initially met with the assistant controller, who told him that he was supposed to be meeting with the controller as well, but he was in a meeting. She then said that they might have to schedule a time for Patrick to come BACK DOWN to meet with him. Luckily, the controller got out of his emergency meeting to meet with Patrick. I told Patrick that I would have just flat out told them heck no, they would need to meet with me over the phone. He said the controller was very impressed with the fact that Patrick had received the phone call only the day before, and was able to make it down to Lousville the following day.

They won't know anything until April 1, and hopefully they hold true to their word and let the people know, either way. Then he had contacted an old boss, who is running a call center for the city of Greensboro, NC, asking if they had anything open there. He LOVED working in the call center at ComWavz, and he loved working for this boss. She said they did need someone, to put his resume in, and she even had a spare bedroom if we wanted to come down to take a look around.

Choices need to be made here... in a way, it is terribly exciting, but in another, this is home to me. I know, I know. Home is where you make it. But I've made it here. But ... I can move my job anywhere in the contiguous, so I really have flexibility.

All right... speaking of that job that I can move anywhere to do ...

My scrappin' sistahs

Unfortunately, this Sunday will not work out for me as I have two things to do Sunday afternoon ... both of which are not exciting, and actually something I would rather not do, but duty calls.

The first is a THREE hour cheerleading clinic. Now mind you, they already did a clinic two weeks ago and taught the girls what needed to be learned. But NO... they have to return for ANOTHER three hours. Now, the basketball teams .. they don't have to do a darn thing. The cheerleaders, on the other hand, have to dedicate more time to this program.

The second is a group photo and individual photo for dance pictures, right smack dab in the middle of the clinic. What joy.

So, as much as I would LOOOOOOVVEEEE to get together this weekend, it will be an impossibility. Now, if it was Saturday afternoon, I would be game.

A trip to Louisville and a child who is coughing only at night

Jenna... she is coughing ONLY at night, and it is like clock-work. No matter the fact that she was given cough medicine last night before bed, the kind that knocks you out until the morning, she was up at her mandatory 1 AM to wake me up with her coughing. It starts innocently, and then it becomes a nuisance, and then I have to get up to get her something to drink. This morning when I got up with her, I was met by Jenna at her door, wide awake. So I gave her some of the cough medicine with codeine, and put her back down. It quieted her down ... for a whole TWO hours. She was back up at 4 this morning, coughing again, and then up again at 5 something. THEN she got up for the day at 6:30. SO fun to be me this morning.

Patrick is on the road to Louisville as I write this. He is going to The Galt House for an interview for an internal auditor position. As much as you don't want to turn an interview down, there is that little voice in the back of your head that says: (1) do I REALLY want to move to Louisville, (2) will this be like the other times when he interviews, and nothing comes of it, and (3) PLEASE let him be safe.

The Galt House is where he took me to dinner the night he proposed to me. I had a feeling it was coming (the proposal, not the interview), because it was such a nice place, and the timing was right. So ... there is some sentimental value to the The Galt House. It is a hotel in downtown Louisville on the Ohio River.

If we moved to Kentucky, I was hoping that it would be Lexington because it is just ... prettier. Louisville is ok ... it is nice and large, but there are places that you can live that makes it less large. Lexington is really just the right size, growing every minute, but in a good way. I just love Lexington to death.

So ... he is going down for an 11:15 appointment, to then go over to his parents' house for lunch, and to get back on the road around 1 or so. I hope it all goes well for him.

I was observed by the person in charge of my department last night. I received some good comments, and a few suggestions. But overall, it was an excellent review considering I have never once taught a class in my life (well, to people who were potty trained, that is).

Tonight is choir and Worship Team, which means I have the duty this Sunday.

I am so tired right now. Off to pour some coffee.

Patrick's trek

This morning, I am out here on our living room computer, and I cannot STAND this keyboard. I don't think it follows the uniform keyboard rules...

This morning, I have had to deal with the following:

• McCayla's attitude when I would not allow her to wear a skirt this morning. The wind chill is in the teens, and the shirt did not match. In McCayla's world, all pinks are the same.
• McCayla slamming our bedroom door when I told her she had to apologize to her brother for yelling at him when he "left Jenna all alone in her room." In McCayla's world, she is the mother.
• McCayla's attitude when she had to apologize to her brother for abovementioned infraction.
• McCayla's attitude when I made her open and close our back door 25 times as punishment for slamming my bedroom door. She made it to the high teens and then had to start all over again at one when she decided that she had had enough and slammed the door again. I would say she opened and closed that door at least 75 times.
• Jenna's decision to empty a water bottle that McCayla decided to have in her bed for some assanine reason down the side of the bunk bed, wetting all the poor stuffed animals that had been shoved off of McCayla's bed during the night. Oh, and Evan's sheets, too.
• Jenna's decision to transfer the contents of her baby Goldfish bowl, which included many, many crumbled up fish, to her brother's empty baby Goldfish bowl. A number of times. I had to get out the dustbuster that decided that it didn't want to work all the time, so I had to slam it down on my hand more than a few times.
• Evan's requests to find: the dominoes, the Bingo game that has 40000 pieces, the Junie B. Jones Leapster game (he found this himself), and his father.

Where IS Evan's father? He is up in Maumee, taking a math aptitude test. We aren't begrudging that at all.

Decided not to travel to the MOPS meeting today due to the fact that Evan is now working on cold # 50150 for the season. I SWEAR, this kid gets more colds than a normal kid. Whenever a germ floats his way, he catches it and makes best friend's with it. Jenna was also up twice last night. coughing. So I decided to keep the Typhoid Twins at home today. Sorry guys. Hope you all had a good time.

Bitter is the New Black

I have been reading Susie Sunshine's blog for a while now, and she mentioned this new book, Bitter is the New Black, and how she had spent time on her trip to Chicago with this woman named Jen Lancaster. I had popped over and read a few blog entries of Jen's, and decided that I would purchase the book with my B&N Gift Card I had received from redeeming points on the My Points system.

If you don't mind lack of political correctness (I certainly don't because we have become too PC for my tastes), and if you don't mind the expletives (I certainly don't because I could have peeled the paint off the walls Friday night after Battlestar Galactica), this is a pretty good read. I am only on page 40 something .. or 50 something ... and I am quite enjoying myself. She is certainly entertainment. Oh, and she's funny, too.

Three glorious days off

Last week, I felt like I was losing touch with reality, and needed to take a break from work. On Friday, I pleaded with my manager, telling him that I needed to take a break from work, and asap. So he was nice enough (and thinking I was going to go off the deep end if I didn't get my request) and let me go these three days.

So, what will I do with my time? Who knows? I do have some serious knitting to do. I have a few orders that need to be tended to, and then I need to decide what I am doing after those are finished. It seems that everyone and their mother (or grandmother) are knitting the things I make, so I am not sure what to do. I was telling Robin that I was thinking about closing up shop, and whoever came over to my house for a visit would leave with my excess yarn. Like my grandfather who liked to send us grandkids home with something .... candy or fruit, mostly ... I could say "here .. take this home with you."

We are under a tornado watch this morning. Freaky weather already. I know it is the middle of March, and this should be expected. But still.... then they are talking about STUPID SNOW SHOWERS tomorrow afternoon. Ever seen The Day After Tomorrow? I mean... come ON!

Robin .. I am glad you didn't witness the McCayla debacle yesterday morning. That gives me some solace, knowing that maybe it wasn't as obvious as I thought it was. It was right during that last prayer before the kids came down from the platform. M is doing JUST fine. Jenna is coughing for some unknown, freaky reason. She started yesterday afternoon. I thought something went down wrong, and she just kept coughing and coughing. She went to sleep at 1 for her nap, which is ealier than normal, slept 3 hours, had to be woken up, but was in a good mood. She wasn't coughing as much, but you could tell that she had irritated her throat. She started up again last night before bed, and begged to go to bed at 8:15. THAT is a rarity.

But she is also back up at it this morning. She has coughed a few times, but nothing like yesterday. So PLEASE let this bypass us.

Evan has informed Daddy that he didn't feel like going to school today, so we shall see what that is all about.

Second week of classes beginning tonight. I am being observed tomorrow night for the first hour of lecture. Hopefully I don't say stupid things. Well, no more stupider than normal, that is.

Ok .. HAVE to go out and make my coffee, and prepare for class so I can have that done for the day.

Another boring entry in the life of Meredith.

Ah yes... one of my hugest fears

There is this fear of vomiting. I am being serious. It is called emetophobia. It is a true phobia. It discusses a person's paralyzing fear of vomiting in public.

I am always afraid that one of my children will do this. It is just a fear I have. Can't get over it. I HATE vomiting. Hate it with a passion. I hate being on pins and needles, waiting for it to either happen or for it to re-occur.

This morning, my greatest fear was realized.

McCayla, who sings in the Elementary Choir, was up on the platform in church this morning. They wear long sleeved DARK shirts, and they stand up under the lights that even the adult choir complain about. I have been up there. I KNOW the heat that comes off of those lights. But it all has to be about APPEARANCE. They can't wear something light because, while it makes the kids cooler, it reflects the lighting, thereby making every child look like ghosts with kids' heads. They can't NOT have the lights on because it won't be good lighting for the telecast of the service. I mean, God forbid that we actually make our kids COMFORTABLE.

McCayla is prone to getting really hot. Is she a wimp? No. Her mother is the same exact way. It doesn't matter .... I feel heat quickly, and so does M.

So they have made it through the first service, and McCayla was looking a little wilted, but she was smiling, so all was ok. They get up for the second service, and she starts off looking just fine, but then as soon as they are ready to come down (THANKFULLY during prayer), I look up at her and she is looking pretty white. I mouth "is it your head?" because she is becoming more and more prone to migraines. She shook her head no, and pointed to her stomach.

Well, you can imagine the fear that stole over me. I rushed up to the stage, and told her to get down. At first, I didn't think she was going to come down, but then she CUPPED HER HAND OVER HER MOUTH! I told her to get down immediately, and she did. I am DRAGGING her out of church, and she is wretching all the way down the hallway to the bathroom.

Thankfully she didn't get sick sick... she just kinda wretched and then I got her a cold paper towel. She is doing just fine now, but you know ... I just had this feeling and was SO thankful that mother's intuition was kicking in.

So now ... my child will be known for a while as the one who almost puked during the prayer.

And the Oscar for the Bad Parent of the Year goes to ....

Meredith and Patrick Pitt.

Meredith and Patrick couldn't make it to the ceremony tonight because they are too busy eating crow over the fact that the Tooth Fairy failed to make an appearance last night. Meredith and Patrick would like to thank the Sci Fi Channel for the success of last night's failure for airing the last episode of the season for Battlestar Galactica. It is believed that Meredith, verklempf over the fact that the new season will not be starting until October, blogged in anger and promptly went to bed.But they tell us that all is well because their firstborn believes that she should have left a note, and therfore, because her Daddy told her not to, that is the reason why the TF did not make an appearance last night. All will be remedied this evening, the Pitts have informed us.

On their behalf, I thank you for this award.

Lest you think I went off the deep end...

I am sure there are those who think I went off the deep end last night. Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't. :)

Feeling better about it today, but yes Jacque, it is like hearing that you won't be able to see Lost for a while. We all have our shows, don't we?

Speaking of, the oddity known as Nip/Tuck ... I think this pretty much sums up its oddity, don't you? http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/niptuck/main.html Just weird is that show, but it is also VERY addictive. I have seen every episode. I was upset when it ended, but not as upset as I am with the Sci Fi channel. I don't think I have been angrier at a network .. well, maybe I was a little bitter when they took the original Battlestar Galactica off the air when I was eight years old. Or maybe I was bitter when they cancelled Buck Rogers. I was SO in love with Gil Gerard.

I didn't mind when they took Cheers off the air, or Seinfeld. I certainly didn't care that Dallas ended, or Knots Landing. A little verklempf when The Greatest American Hero ended its run ... yes, but not so much when Family Ties ended.

Do you see a trend ... I love the out of touch with reality shows. The Battlestar Galacticas, the Nip/Tucks.... maybe I NEED to start watching the Lost episodes to add another one to my list.

So in answer to when does Nip/Tuck start back up, probably not until summer. I was thinking that I heard July, but I could be totally wrong on that one.

Ok... off to finish up work for the weekend. And then off to the concession stand at church. And then off to an Upward game, all to be rounded out by my sister's Pampered Chef party this afternoon, where she wanted to serve alcohol. I told her I didn't think that was such a good idea.

But after last night, maybe it is.

Dear Sci Fi Channel

What the FRAK do you think you are doing, making me wait until FRAKIN' October for the new season to start? What the FRAK is that all about, huh?

I sat, mesmerized on the floor tonight, thinking that the one year later was merely a dream. But it wasn't.

And what the FRAK is up with the "good" Cylons? Didn't they "soften" up a bit? Well I suppose that not going out and immediately killing the humans on New Caprica was "softening" up, huh?

And, wth is that THING on Adama's lip? And did Lee gain weight? WTH? Why did you have to create so many FRAKING questions in me, only to leave me hanging until OCTOBER!

Do you know that:
1. My third child will turn three before that show starts.
2. My middle child will turn six and enter Kindergarten before I figure out what the Cylons want with Kara Thrace.
3. My first child will turn EIGHT and be in SECOND grade before I find out when the Galactica and the Pegasus will jump back, coming to the rescue of those poor souls on New Caprica.
4. We will be closing down TWO soccer seasons by the time I can sit down at 10 on Friday night and cuss out the wimp that is Gaius Baltar?

Did you know that this show meant this much to me?

I sure didn't. I didn't realize how much I count on it, how much I love it, how much I want it until I started hurling expletives and cloth diapers at the television screen when I read that one word .... October.

October. What the frak?

Does anyone else have two friends named Holly?

Because I do.

Holly Neyland... a very dear friend of mine. I met Holly at The Disney Store in Lexington. She was my assistant manager, and when I first met her, she was blonde. She made a good blonde. You know ... there are people you don't think look good blonde. Holly did.

I remember when Holly was pregnant with Loren. I remember being jealous because I wanted to have a baby of my own. I got my wish, and spent some good time in the bathroom at the Store, wondering why I had wished pregnancy on myself. Holly, on the other hand, was a good pregnant woman. She never threw up. She never had a moment of discomfort. I hated her for it.

I didn't work with her very long at the Store because my morning sickness was too much for me to handle, and I was already working a full time job at the Better Business Bureau. We kind of fell out of touch for a bit but then when Loren was born, I called her to find out how everything went. We went to the same OB office, and she recounted horrid tales of the on-call OB, wishing me luck that he wouldn't be on call when my child was born.

I remember calling Holly when I lost my plug (yeah.. TMI, sorry) but I was SOOOOO excited. It was imminent (should have been ... I was 2 weeks overdue .. thank you very much, McCayla), and Holly was so excited for me. It was like her very own Baby Story (she got me hooked on that show after M was born .. I would sit there for an hour and SOB at all the birth stories ... thank you very much, Holly).

I had McCayla, Holly came up to visit me, and we became very steadfast friends. We shared horror stories of the same OB who delivered Loren because, of course, he was on call that night when I had McCayla. My OB was on the call the following night and weekend, so we missed Dr. Looff by a matter of 12 hours.

We would go to Target, the mall, the grocery, together. We had formed a friendship before, but motherhood drew us closer together. We needed one another, really. She was from Arkansas, me from Ohio. Neither of us had family in that area, so we had created one amongst ourselves. She would keep M for me when I needed, and I would keep L for her when she needed.

I moved back to Ohio, she moved back to Arkansas. I have had two more children she has never met, she had one more. But we talked this week, and it is like no time had passed between us. There is a love between us that will never die.

Then I have an on-line friend, Holly Clark. I was supposed to meet her and her sons, Jaeger and Lorenzo today, but she had to go further south. You see, Holly is the Energized bunny. Seriously. She lives in Helena, Montana. She is unstoppable. She is on a cross-country trek with L and J right now, going to Fayetteville to meet up with her soon to be deployed (for a second time) husband. She started from Montana on Monday! And she is now going across KY, and will be in Fayetteville TONIGHT! Holly... I admire you, mama!

Holly is unflappable. She has an opinion, and will not be the first to suppress it. It is blatant open honesty that a lot of people could NEVER muster, but she can do it with style and grace. We have talked on the phone a few times (last night being one ... keeping her awake and giving her hotel information for KY), and she is just the sweetest person. I am truly bummed that I will not get to meet the infamous Holly, but I know we will at some point.

She is also a very giving person. She was a surrogate mama for a couple in South Carolina, and she is getting ready for another transfer date to give them another baby. She is truly remarkable.

Holly... good luck on your trip. I hope that it all turns out well, and you aren't too worn out to enjoy your time with Karl. You so deserve it.

Thursday morning...

I have some things that need to get done, and here I sit. Updating my blog. Because you know, that is THE most important thing in life ... right?

Last night during choir, one of my choir friends leans over and points something out to me in our little announcement packet.... we are singing a musical called Believe at Easter time. There is a song called "Save Us" in the musical. This is not my favorite of all things we have performed, as it isn't for this person who was pointing this out to me... the passage read like this:

PALM SUNDAY - We will be singing Save Us from the musical.

Now, I know the rest of it is not capitalized, but we were reading it like "Save us from the musical" as that being the song. Our director laughed about it, but I don't think he found great joy in that. In fact, I don't think he likes it when we sit together. But oh well... now I want to get tshirts that say on the front: Save Us and on the back: from the musical. Because seriously... save us from the musical.

Ok ... I need to go get that one case done and turned in before I am chewed out again by my manager. Oy.

Ahhhh... the power of home shopping

Where were we before cell phones? Where were we before TIVO? Where were we before text messaging? Where were we before answering machines? Where were we before the Internet?

And where, pray tell, were we before the home shopping networks?

Where else but America can you be sitting in your pajamas, hair all over the place, no makeup on your face, making a life-altering decision about whether your wardrobe would be complete with that pair of pants from Susan Graver? Or, most importantly, making that justification that $ 27.00 REALLY IS a good deal on 172 pieces of Wild Asparagus paper. But sorry ... if you didn't get in on the deal, it is gone. Sold out. But my friends, Robin Powell and I were on the phone at the same time, ordering the same exact product because, you see, we appreciate the institution of QVC.

The verdict is still out for me on the QuickKutz system available in four easy payments of just over $ 40 a piece.

There are certain people I should not seek QVC advice from. Two of them have been in my life since I was born: my mother and my sister. They are QVCaholics. I have now found a third.

So if you are ever with me and something comes up on QVC, and you see me reaching for the phone, swearing I am not calling in to place an order, take the phone from me because I am calling my enabling support group.

What is MOPS?

Well, let's see ... MOPS is a place where Mothers Of PreSchoolers get together, eat tons of egg casseroles, talk about things that they wish they didn't have to talk about because they want the program to start on time, and where they win door prizes, but not everyone, and where they think that $ 5 a month is too much to pay for something they see no benefit conferred. Oh yeah.... and they want to meet more than once a month .... or at least that is the MOPS program I am in.

Just yanking your chain, Jacque!

Seriously... it is a program for moms of preschoolers, Christian-based. I am on the steering committee as the Publicity person, but don't ask me what I have accomplished in the time since I started. I can't even put out my newsletter this month because, while I have time to update my blog twice a day, I am just too strapped for time to put out a newsletter that it could possibly take me five minutes to do. But I got another committee member to feel sorry for me (or she really wanted to have a half-decent newsletter this month as opposed to the piece of crap I put out last month), so she will be doing it. Which reminds me, I need to get that emailed to her.

So that is MOPS. In a nutshell. Of sorts.

Good Tuesday Morning

Didn't I just go to bed five minutes ago? I think I did.

Why is it that sleep evaded me last night? I am sure it was because I am not used to being in an artifically lit room for four hours at a time. My senses were on override, and then coming home and watching War of the Worlds. What was I thinking?!?!? I think I was more freaked out over this movie the second time around. I heard a noise when I was falling asleep, and BOOM ... my eyes shot open.

Because really .. what are the chances of an alien nation being jettisoned down from space in lightning bolts to man their already planted gargantuan killing machine ships? Highly unlikely, I am sure. But last night ... wasn't quite as sure.

Well ... off to the salt mines I go. I have three cases that are sitting in here since yesterday morning, and with having a MOPS steering committee meeting this morning, I need to bust it.

All have wonderful days!

One down, 11 to go

Ah yes... the first night of class. Four whole students in my Contract Law class. It wasn't too bad, actually. Let's see how the remainder of the week goes.

My Mommy was there, too. It was nice to have her in the building with me. She came down and checked on me when I got in, and came down again later. She was taking great joy in watching me walk past her door five or six times because I had to hunt down someone to sign me on because my username or password weren't working at all for some reason. I will have to get that squared away before tomorrow night.

So here I am, having taken a nap this afternoon, thinking I can't sleep. Maybe I can. Maybe I should. Just watched War of the Worlds for a second time. I love me my doomsday movies...

DH stopped and left me a note in my car tonight .. he is such a good ... man. There, Patrick. Called you a man. Not my wife. Ooops.

Well, that is all for now. Hopefully I will be able to fill up my four hours of lecture tomorrow night. They have four assignments to do during the four hours, so that should take up a little bit of time... I hope.

Off to bed. I have a MOPS steering committee meeting in the morning ... and hope to see you there, Robin!

Good Monday Morning

Well here I am, another day at the computer. I am debating on whether I should just bite the bullet and get started on work for the week right now. I need to go out and get some coffee started first, of course. And see what the children are up to ... I heard the older two leave their room earlier. So nice to have older ones who will entertain themselves, and not wreck the whole house.

This week (this month, really) is just crazy busy here. We have a Brownies activity almost EVERY week this month, McCayla has dance, pictures for dance, finishing up Upward, and then my classes for four weeks, three nights a week. I am getting nervous. I don't know what I got myself into ... but I will ride it out this month and see if I survive. If I don't, then I can chalk it up to experience.

Well ... that is really all from here. Need to get started on Monday.

Really?

So many sweet sentiments in those little Valentine's Day sweetheart hearts...
Be Mine
Love Always
Love You

Their saccharine-sweet messages are only matched by the saccharine-sweetness of the candy itself.

Then there's the employee who might not have received the memo of the day ... or an employee who was having a really bad day. Instead of going postal, he decides that he is going to get his revenge in a different way.

What kind of sexist am I raising?

For those who know me, and know me well, you know that I am not really a die-hard feminist, but I am known in my circle of friends and family to "wear the pants in the family."

I want to raise my son to believe that women are truly equals.

So you can imagine my dismay when we stop in to visit my Dad at the Upward basketball game yesterday morning, and this is uttered from Evan's lips (after he has observed the third and fourth grade girls playing basketball):

Hey ... why are there a bunch of cheerleaders playing basketball?

AAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!!

Other people's crap

It was a garage salers dream today ... two establishments were running garage sales. One at Brinkman's, the second over at the Humane Society. McCayla is in LOVE with garage sales. We have gone out on a few, but I am very choosey in my sales. I do not like to stop by places that you can't tell are having a sale, or if that is just the accumulation of crap in their yard.

So we head over to Brinkman's for the Christian Clearinghouse sponsored sale. And I don't think it is through any misnomer that it is called Clearinghouse... there were things in there that should never have even seen the light of day, let alone had a price tag thrown on. I guess they aren't too picky on the things that go on sale there. One of those HUGE console tvs for what we thought was a measly $ 500. We aren't sure.

Then there was the Singer sewing machine/table that was already sold. I highly doubted that the sewing machine was operable, and I am sure that it would look nice as a decoration. But it truly reminded me of something that my long long sister, Kathy Bates, would have used in Misery to hobble James Caan.

Then there were the 20 dress shirts that used to be my Dad's boss'. So, if anyone knows of a larger man whose name is Paul Geyer, get them over there ... there are tons of shirts with your name in them already.

Then there was the sale at the Humane Society. This is a little more reserved, not allowing in the "high ticket" items.... so no 1970s era couches, or matching recliners that really should have been retired a few years ago. BUT this is the place where my kids touch EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING! There were stuffed animals that Patrick wouldn't let the baby touch, and would say things like "do you think those can go in the washer?" There were toys that made noise, the ones that you knew were give to a grandchild by grandparents to torture the parents on their long trip home from the grandparents house.

There were baked goods. There were clocks made with that really thick polymer stuff, with Buckeyes lovingly glued in the place of the numbers. Those same Buckeyes were also targeted by my third born ... she couldn't pry them off, though.

It is amazing to me that there is this *stuff.* Stuff people don't want anymore and stuff that should really be thrown away. But people will go out and shop it just in case there is something in there that they cannot live without.

Then there are those annoying train whistles ... you know ... the kind that you can't believe people buy for their kids. Yeah ... we have three now. I DID get some ribbon for my scrapbooking.

You know .. .someone else's trash is someone else's treasure.

A Karen sighting

I saw my CADD sister, Karen today at Upward! I was SO hoping to see her, and when we did, it was magic.... I am sure our husbands probably wonder about us, but that's quite all right. Karen... so good to see you!

I am all for another trip ... whenever and whereever ..... just tell me when and where, and what time. I will be like the dog in the car on vacations ... just sitting there, ready to go at a moment's notice.

Mr. Pitt and I are going out for a little dinner this evening. Mom and Dad have offered their services to watch the yung'uns for us tonight. We went to Millers last night for dinner, which was overshadowed by Evan getting carsick (no upheaval, but nauseous and not hungry and wanting to lie down in the van), so Patrick and I need to get out on our own for a change. Evan was just fine, in case you wonder ... he had a miraculous comeback as soon as we got to the house .. he ran in and immediately got on the computer. He ate two bowls of Goldfish. Not sure what that was all about but ...

So now to decide where to eat. I also need to see if I can slam through two days worth of work in 4 hours. Probably not, and have a good audit for next month. And yes .. yesterday was audit Friday. I HATE audit Friday. I have a few challenges I need to submit but have NO extra time to do that next week as I need to work when I have the time to work since I start teaching classes next week.

All right ... I am procrastinating. I do NOT want to work. I do NOT want to summarize these cases. I do NOT want to be in this bedroom. I want to be doing something fun. I don't know what, but certainly nothing to do with summarizing some piddly case.

Ugh. Ok.... time to get back at it.

Blogging celebrities

There are a few blogs that I read religiously. Susie Sunshine is the one I read the most, on a daily basis if she would let me. Imagine my titillation (the superficial version, not the sexual .. get yer minds outta the gutter) when I read Threadbared, another I read religiously, and commented about the latest installment on Susie's blog. She actually responded to me, and then she went to Threadbared and commented there (not about me, but about the fact that she thought it was the best Threadbared entry in all of Threadbaryness *I think that was the term she used*). So, in essence, I caused her to respond on Threadbared because I was so thoughtful and let her know that Threadbared was all about her (she has an obsession with aprons .. it is rather humorous).

It is like when Jacque gets all excited when she reads her name in Robin's blog or mine. But Susie to me is a national celebrity. She is a brilliant writer, and has an eye for talent because she links to some pretty awesome blogs in her blog. I read those on occasion, taking great delight in Miss Doxie's recollection of taking her dachshund to the vet's office yet again because he had propelled himself off her couch and injured his foot. She likened him to an octopus with his defense mechanisms... brilliant stuff, really.

So you know you have them ... your own little lesser-known celebrities. So totally fun to read about. And Susie... if you should EVER read my blog, I would probably pee my pants in titillation.

Apparently my son is more clairvoyant than I had anticipated

Remember Evan dressing up yesterday?

Well check this out...

Dr. Seuss' Birthday - March 2, 1904

Scary, huh?

Oh how the north wind doth blow

I was in 4H with the rest of the farmhands. My mother was my 4H leader, and I got to participate in such things as Hamsters: Almost Mice, or Microwave Mini Meals: Preparing Tomorrow's Mother... Today.

I was never allowed near a sewing machine. I think that was attributed to the fact that my sister sewed EVERYthing. She made her clothes. She made her drapes. She re-decorated her room for a project. I remember her peeling the wallpaper of her walls in her room ... replacing the funky, huge-ass pink and orange 1970s look, with the subdued look of a young woman who was forced to use the wallpaper her mother picked out, and her father approved. She replaced the fun, hot pink shag carpet with the stains where our cat, BC (Barry's Cat ... who was lovingly placed in the dryer at some point in time) would spray with a nice short shag carpet in a hue of blue that complimented the forced-upon wallpaper.

Me ... I raised hamsters. Many, many hamsters. I was brought into the profession by my sister. She had her own hamsters at some point in her life, and that hamster had babies. We were thrown into the hell of watching the mother consume one of her own, while lovingly raising the others. I never understood this.

One of the cool things those baby hamsters would do was jump. Jump when you blew on them. So imagine how much fun a six year old could have with a brood of baby hamsters that would practically jump out of their skin when a gale force wind, smelling of Pepsi and Doritos would come rushing at them.

Did you know that if you blow on baby hamsters a lot, it give them pneumonia, thereby causing their demise? Yeah... whoda thunk, huh?

So you can imagine how perturbed said sibling was when I killed off her 4H project. So I decided that I would take care of her fish for her .. .with the baby powder on my sister's dresser.

You wouldn't think that my mother would entrust me with another living thing again, but when you are eight (the minimum age for 4H'ers in those days), she figured that it would be ok. I did take good care of them, naming the first one Caesar (did I mention that my mother is a retired English teacher?).

Did you know that hamsters hibernate?

Leaving my hamster for dead in the upstairs bedroom during the Blizzard of '78, I went downstairs with the rest of my family to eat soup that was heated over the fire. Although the power had been out for quite some time, we were cozy in our one room with the fireplace burning and the sheet in front of the doorway. It was with a sinking heart did I realize that I had left Caesar upstairs to fend for himself.

Certain that he was dead, I was crying my eyes out until my sister, who HAD learned something with her hamster 4H projects (or made the whole thing up just to get her baby sister to stop bawling) stated "hamsters hibernate ... let's put him in the closet next to the fireplace and see what happens." And sure enough, Caesar was alive. Good thing, too because he was going to just be pitched out into the snow like a snowball.

I went from Caesar (who lived a nice long while) to Lucifer. Now, I think this is when a mother or father should step in and let their child know that it really isn't a good idea to name ANYthing Lucifer. But, I was a Battlestar Galactica fan, and there was a cylon named Lucifer (of COURSE there was), so I had to follow suit.

Lucifer was a good guy, but not as nice as Caesar. Lucifer spent many a day in his plastic exercise ball, taking a trip down the 25 stairs in my house, looking rather stunned when he reached the bottom. Lucifer is the one who would send my Aunt Darlene running in the opposite direction, screeching "GET THAT MOUSE AWAY FROM ME!"

There were a few others after those two, but none quite as memorable.

Good times.... every one of them.

The best $ 5 ever spent ... EVER!

Do you have those? Those little purchases for such a little amount of money, thinking to yourself every day "I couldn't have spent my money more wisely?" (bad grammar .. who knows and who cares?).

I have those ... a few Pampered Chef items, some knitting things, you know, just .... things.

This is my latest in the best money ever spent category.



No... not the kid and not the stuffed animal. The costume. $ 5.00 at our local consignment store ... it was just going to be a Halloween costume for Evan, and it has now turned into something more ... He has a love affair for all things The Cat in the Hat. Even repeating such memorable movie lines like "There's no magic in this hat" and "dirty ho." Yeah... we're so proud.

BWAH Sue!

Patrick read me the docket item this morning, and he made the EXACT SAME COMMENT! My mother would be appalled if she only knew....

Julie ... I miss you. Wendy ... I miss you. Christie ... I think I miss you ;). You all .. I just MISS you. Seeing Robin last night was like coming home ... we HAVE to go back. Did you all see the three nighters that they have available? There are 10 spots on some of them.... seriously, you all give me the word, and I will start putting my money away now.

I am obsessed. I am crazed. I am happy to be back in this craft. I still love knitting, but it is nice to have this that isn't at all work-related.

Speaking of, I suppose I should go do my time with Lexis, b**ch that she is.

You know it is going to happen

You are sitting at a restaurant. Your youngest child is trying to get from one chair to the next. Your extremely able spouse is sitting in the chair next to the one your child is trying to get into. You see your child, attempting something she really shouldn't, and then BOOM. Down she goes, milk and all. She stands up and you really don't want to laugh, but you do because your screaming child is .... well... crying over spilled milk.

Jenna was COVERED in milk tonight at the Woodland. I am SURE that Matt is H-A-P-P-Y with Robin for divulging their eating location this week. I am sure he thinks he are just following him around from one eating establishment to the next.

It was just one of those nights.

And then Robin lets you know that it isn't just scrapbook supplies that she is obsessed with.

Beep Beep ...Coming through

Did I mention that I was meeting my mother for lunch? Ah yes... previous post.

Met my mother at Panera Bread. She wanted someplace quiet so she could discuss my class teaching strategy.

While some of the things she stated made perfect sense, I couldn't help but feel as if my mother was a Mack truck, running herself through my conversations.

When you talk to my Dad, he listens. He offers his advice. He gets out of the conversation. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

When you talk to my sister, sentences and thoughts are shared and finished because you really are on the same page. Or you say something like "well, you know that turkeys really are the dumbest creatures... they will go out and turn their head up during a rainstorm and drown themselves" to your vegan sister who is trying to enlighten you on the slaughter of innocent turkeys during Thanksgiving, thereby resulting in an alienation of sorts.

When you talk to my brother, you get a curt conversation, very matter-of-fact, get in, get the information, get out lest you spend another wasted minute in discussions.

When you talk to my mother, you get this:

1. What I was thinking about doing was this (and this is where I interject my ideas of what I could talk about for my introduction).
2. Yeah... and then you could ... insert some irrelevant comment here.
3. Ok... well then I was thinking about spending an hour or so on these exercises.
4. Yeah... and then you could... insert the second irrelevant comment here.
5. All right ... then I was thinking about ...
6. Yeah... that sounds good. Just make sure that when you talk, you don't talk too fast because you can lose people really quickly because you have a lot of information to cover.
7. Did you hear what I just said?
8. Ummm.. yeah... and then you could...

My mother. The Mack truck. She has stopped hurting my feelings and making me feel as if I don't have anything important to say. I am just keeping mental tabs on her behavior for when I turn her over to the nursing home.

Congratulations and Kona Town

to sister Robin Powell for her maintenance as Design Team Coordinator! Can't wait to see what you work on, ma'am. And loving that 30 percent off coupon in the email today. I don't think I have ever been so excited with an email before.

I have sent the wife out for some donuts before his Rotary meeting this morning. Bless his heart. He is SUCH a good man. I just love him to death.

Kona Town. This is my mother's favorite place to eat. She was over here last night, taking the overlap shift of watching Evan and Jenna while I was at Upward practice with McCayla. Dad, Barry, and Patrick went to the UF basketball game last night. McCayla and I wanted to get something for dinner, but I didn't have my wallet with me, so I had to go home. I said to McCayla "you watch.. I am going to say I am going to run to get something .. where do you think Nana will suggest?" and McCayla, without a moment's hesitation, pipes up "KONA TOWN!"

Kona Town is this little place where they sell coffee (which isn't too bad), and various food items. They are a tad bit pricey, so we never get anything to eat there. Ever since they opened, my mother RAVES about them. "Oh ... have you had their hot dogs?" Well no, Mom ... I normally don't like to spend over $ 2 for a hot dog. "Well, what about their shredded chicken sandwich?" Well, there's that cost again, Mom ... Over $ 3 for a shredded chicken sandwich is a little too rich for my blood.

I have gotten coffee there, on occasion, because it is like 2 minutes from my house. But my mother ... she openly admitted last night that she does eat there more often than not. She just loves it there. It's the place where everybody knows your name, even if you don't want them to. There is nothing creepier to me than to walk in, and hear the owner say "Aloha, Mary!"(my mother). He has done it to me on more than one occasion.

One time, Mom and I were heading somewhere, and she even commented on how the owner had this conversation with my brother, Barry, but didn't say a word to my mother. She was crushed. I said "well I guess you have now witnessed where you are Scott's food chain, mother." She didn't like that comment.

So anywho... Mom and I are talking last night (after I had run to Taco Bell, McCayla's choice, which is right across the street from Kona Town), and she suggested that we get together for lunch tomorrow to discuss my teaching strategy (I am teaching a contract law class this month). Guess where she suggested we meet?