Orphie the Wonder Dog

A quick one

2008-04-09T17:16:00.004-05:00

This post was originally written 4/4/08, but my other blog wouldn't post it. I'll be posting here until I can get the other one fixed. Cheaply.
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Okay - yesterday Hubby and I left our hotel for the airport in St Thomas at 10:15am. After mechanical problems forced us to spend the night in Chicago, and a flat tire on the van delayed us further, we finally made it home at about 12:06pm today. Even with the time zone change, that's over 24 hours of travel.

Not fun. We're so glad to be home!

We have just enough time to do laundry and pack, because tomorrow we leave for Orlando with Bubba and The Princess. We will be belatedly celebrating Bubba's sixth birthday.

We will be staying in a Jimmy Neutr0n room at the N1ck H0tel. The Princess gets the bottom bunk and Bubba gets the top. And since tomorrow is my birthday, we will be celebrating with dinner at the World's Largest McD0nald's!

I'm a lucky girl.

We will go to SeaW0rld on Sunday, and The Mag1c K1ngdom Monday. Bubba will also enjoy lots of water fun time at the hotel pool, where he will be slimed repeatedly and also attend Sp0ngeB0b's B1kini B0ttom Beach Bash!

We will attend many shows, take in dinner theater and a character breakfast, watch fireworks and parades. All for Bubba.

The Princess will sun her growing belly at the pool, drinking frozen virgin drinks, and swimming occasionally.

Hubby and I have had our fun. Now it's their turn.

Talk to you when we get back!

2004-03-29T16:44:00.000-06:00

My new website

Please join me for the further adventures of Orphie the Wonder Dog at my new website:

www.orphiethewonderdog.com.

Carry on.

2004-03-28T19:10:00.000-06:00

She Bangs

The title above refers to today's blog topic, as well as an inside joke in the Orphie household.

Bubba yells "She-Bangs!" whenever he sees Daddy. We don't know why, but it probably has something to do with the great reaction he gets whenever he yells it. That's the inside joke.

Anyway...back to today's topic, which is of great importance to the global community.

My bangs are getting long. They are brushing my eyelids. Here is my dilemna*:

Do I cut them, or do I let them grow?

*Is it just me, or did it used to be spelled that way when I was young? Or was it always dilemma? Or did they change the spelling when they started bastardizing the English language? Don't get me started. Let's just keep our minds on the bangs issue. I'm leaning towards cutting them, but it's usually a mistake. I'll keep you posted.

2004-03-27T09:56:00.000-06:00

The Importance of Good Manners

I am in a self-congratulatory mood today. I had the foresight to teach my children good manners and it's paying off.

Bubba and I were in the Wallyworld store yesterday. He ran up to the bakery counter and said loudly, "Can I have a cookie, pleeeease?" He was rewarded with one by a tickled bakery worker. Then he said, "Thank you." Which tickled the worker further. She complimented me on my well-mannered child.

The Princess was at a the restaurant for a job interview yesterday, and the manager was running late. She waited for fifteen minutes, and while she waited, she held the door open for many older folks including one who was using two canes. The manager called her in for the interview, and said, "I don't need to ask you all these questions. I saw you holding the door for all those people, and you're hired."

And I can't tell you how many compliments I've received from our senior citizen neighbors on the behavior of my children. The neighbors are more inclined to give the kids the benefit of the doubt. And that's a good thing.

You'd think it would be such a little thing, but really it's not. Good manners are a sign of respect.

And people dig respect.

2004-03-26T14:33:00.000-06:00

The Productive Orphie

Really, there's nothing new going on around here. So if you don't have time to waste, you wouldn't be missing anything if you didn't read further.

Bubba and I went on a long walk to Wallyworld, where we bought some fruit and tropical fish. On the way back we stopped at the playground and had fun and got filthy. Then we came home and ate lunch. After that, I brought him in the shower with me, and he loved it! He's been very anti-bath lately, so I was very happy he got clean, and had fun doing it. Then he dried himself off (a big deal), and went down for a nap in the big bed with just his diaper on. The ceiling fan was on, his blankie was freshly washed, and the linens had just been changed.

Sometimes I wish I was a baby.

As he napped, I called my Gram on the phone, made fruit salad, cleaned the sink, and marinated some flank steak. I am starting to make some chocolate chip cookies right now, then I'll work on dinner. I'm hoping someone else in the family will be around to take Bubba out to play when he wakes up so he can have fun while I finish up the dinner work.

Otherwise, it's a beautiful day here in Kansas once again. The sun is out, the breeze is heavenly, all the windows are open and the fans are on. Blondie is letting me listen to her "50 First Dates" soundtrack while I bake.

Life is good.

And that doesn't necessarily mean something bad will happen soon.

I'm just sayin'.

2004-03-25T15:59:00.000-06:00

A day like any other

...except my house is really clean.
...and the baby pooped three times so far today.
...and my brother-in-law and nephew are due to arrive here this afternoon.

I love the feeling I get when my house is clean. You would think I would be able to relax then, but no. I'm paranoid about anything getting messed up. Ask my kids.

I asked Hubby for my birthday present today: a professional cleaning of all the windows in my house, inside and out. He sputtered, and pooh-poohed the idea, saying "I'm not gonna pay someone to clean my windows." But I'm hoping he'll relent. It's the only thing I'll request for for my birthday. How can he deny me?

The current status of each member of the Orphie family: Bubba is napping, The Princess is at physical therapy (I love that she can drive herself), Bro is off wrestling with his friends in someone's backyard, Blondie is napping downstairs (I hope she's not messing anything up), and Hubby is at work awaiting the arrival of Tim and Tim Jr.

My spaghetti sauce is simmering on the stove, the meatballs are made, laundry's a-washing, the dishwasher's a-running, the windows are open and the breeze is a-blowing, and I've really got nothing to say today.

Like you couldn't tell.

2004-03-24T13:19:00.000-06:00

Back in the mundane groove

As you know, I hate being diverted from my regular daily housework routine. But there's also a side of me that has to be forced into taking care of large-scale chores. For example, even if the carpets are really dingy and dirty, I usually won't clean them unless a dog pukes or somebody has a big spill. Using that reasoning then, the dog puking is sometimes a good thing.

That being said, my brother-in-law and nephew are coming out to visit tomorrow for a long weekend. This is a good thing because (1) we haven't seen them in a really long time, (2) they've never been to Kansas or seen our house, and (3) I actually have to get off my butt and clean the house.

The big plans for Tim and Tim Jr mostly consist of going to the dog track every day (and maybe every night), at least one dinner out, watching the new HDTV, and maybe some golf or something. They'll be staying in Blondie's room, which thankfully is still pretty clean from when Grandma came out earlier this month. (Yes, Mom. I did fix the curtain rod in Blondie's room.)

Another good thing about their visit: Hubby hasn't mentioned painting the deck this weekend. Whew! I think we dodged that bullet once again!

Right now, Hubby is occupied with disposing of the two broken treadmills we own. As you know, he has to do this before he can buy a new one. Yesterday he was able to get the one from the storage room out of the house and into the van. He'll be trying to find a dump that will take it today. Then he'll work on getting rid of the one in the garage.

A little purging is a good thing.

A lot would be better.

2004-03-23T17:02:00.000-06:00

HDTV is the TV for me

We got our new TV today. It weighs over 200 pounds and just fits into our built-in cabinetry. On top of the wet bar. Which we never use. And from which we have removed the faucet.

So if you think about it, the TV is on the sink.

Anyway, after wading through the myriad of cables and ports and RCAs and Components, and S-video, and digital audio and all that crap, I have acheived HD nirvana.

It looks really neat. Amy is right. I can see every pimple. But I can also see every ripple in the water, every leaf on each tree, every rock in the canyon, and every feather on each duck. Tres cool.

But now I have to resume my regular duties, which were so rudely pushed aside in order to ready the Holy HDTV.

And soon, I will have to interrupt my mundane schedule again to accomodate Hubby's new treadmill. Which he can't purchase until he gets rid of the other two he ran into the ground. Which are in the garage and the storage room. Under piles of crap. Not literally.

Wasn't this year the year of the purge?

2004-03-22T12:45:00.000-06:00

The Cruelty of Baked Sweet Potato Fries

My family is a vicious, cruel bunch. By family, I mean the man I married and the spawn I carried and bore for him.

Last night, I made a healthy alternative to french fries to serve my cruel family for dinner: Baked Sweet Potato Fries.

I washed the potatoes, peeled them, sliced them into long skinny strips of sweet-potatoey goodness, tossed them with olive oil, seasoned them, and baked them.

All in the interests of my family's health.

The Baked Sweet Potato Fries were pooh-poohed.

No, they were scorned. The cruel family members joked about who would puke first. They gagged in melodramatic fashion. They dared each other to eat more than one.

Then the cruel family turned on me for even suggesting they try them.

I was ridiculed, laughed at, pilloried and flogged. They sniggered as I enjoyed a nice-sized portion of the yummy-but-different side dish. Who knew a wholesome, healthful tuber would be the catalyst for such cruelty?

The Orphie family motto: We fear change.

Even dietary.

2004-03-21T11:01:00.000-06:00

Lopping and Flogging

I spent the past couple of days lopping and pruning. As you know, I tend to go into a kind of lopping frenzy periodically. Well, this was definitely a lopping frenzy.

Last week, I lopped all the roses of sharon to less than half their height. They were ten to fifteen feet tall, and were tipping over and crowding the air conditioner units.

This week, I cut down all the vines from the rock wall which runs the length of my driveway (at least double the length of an average driveway). I lopped off all the dead stuff on the sedum plants and tall grass plants. And - the coup de grace - I lopped off and pruned the eight conifers that sit atop the rock wall.

Turns out three of the conifers are unsalvageable, two are borderline, two are just okay, and one is thriving and in need of a trim. So I have to call a tree guy to see about removing the dead ones, and hopefully replacing them with something smaller, softer and columnar.

Why the previous owners planted such huge trees in such a small sliver of dirt atop a rock wall is beyond me. They were an effective screen against headlights for our neighbors (their home sits next to and slightly behind ours), but they were just way too big, and when I watered them, all the water would just run right out of the rock wall. In effect, they were just very very big potted plants that had to be watered every day at least once. I have no time for that kind of impracticality.

After the lopping frenzy subsided, the kids and husband had to go out there to remove the debris and haul away the casualities. I could gauge how productive I was by the quantity and volume of moaning coming from the clean-up crew.

Boy - was I productive! And - remember my Annual Christmas Tree Rash? Well, I got it. And so do Bro and Hubby. All up and down our arms. Mine was so bad last night, it was burning. I put on moisturizer and cortisone ointment and long sleeves and took a benadry1 before bed. It's better today.

Hubby just told me we're having the office people and their spouses over to watch the Final Four game on our new TV Tuesday or Wednesday.

Time for a cleaning frenzy!

2004-03-19T13:33:00.000-06:00

The Biggest Battles

Why is it that the biggest battles you get into with your teenagers are over the stupidest, smallest things?

Today, Bro was pissed because we were considering punishing him for not checking in when he was at the skate park yesterday. He was there from before six pm to nine pm without calling us once. We don't mind him staying out until 10 or so, but he knows we need him to check in periodically. I mean, he knows that. Then he hits us with this righteous teenage indignation about how our expectations are unreasonable and we're over-protective, and the rules are stupid, so he doesn't have to follow them.

And The Princess is also pissed at us. Because we won't let her use OUR van to go tanning today. She's had free and liberal use of the van all spring break, since we hadn't needed to use it. But today, Hubby is buying a gigundo-mondo-uber-humungous-200 lb TV, so he needs to pick it up using the van. You wouldn't believe the hissy-fit she threw about it.

These kids have a fucked-up sense of entitlement that just chaps my hide. I know they have it because of something we did while raising them, but I just can't figure it out. They seem to think that the world should revolve around them and their wants.

Wait a minute.

Actually, isn't that the definition of adolescent behavior?

Duh.

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In other news:

Bubba and I spent the morning at the park with our friends Catherine and Dolores. We flew kites (tried to), chased ducks, ran around the pond, had snacks, threw sticks, saw a dead fish, and had a good time. He's good for a long nap today.

Blondie is on her way to Chicago as we speak. She went to breakfast at the restaurant at which she works, and saw Priest Holmes. Then she hit the road. We warned her not to go to any rest stops. We worry when she drives all that way alone.

Hubby is putting off the painting of the deck until next weekend, since he's getting a new TV tonight and will want to bond with it over the next few days, I'm sure. He asked me out for dinner tonight or tomorrow. We'll see if we can get permission from the kids.

I'm ready for another vacation. The kids go back to school Monday!!!

2004-03-18T14:24:00.000-06:00

A Beautiful Day

It's a beautiful spring day in Kansas.

The magnolia is starting to bloom, the willow is turning green.
It's warm and sunny.
I had a killer workout this morning.
I just turned off MSNBC and popped in an Emotions CD.
The baby is sleeping and the kids are out.
I just bought myself a new lopper and a shrub rake so I can finish chopping down the old vines on the rock wall.
I bought Blondie some contacts for half what she was going to pay.
I was driving with the sunroof open and the windows down, listening to some great music.
Bubba and I have a kite-flying date tomorrow, when it's supposed to be in the 70s.
My new website is coming along.
I finished my taxes, and got recertified in CPR online.
I submitted resumes to three different places, not really caring if I get a job or not.
My jeans are saggy in the butt.

Now if we can just get the Shrub out of office, and prevent Hubby from painting the deck, everything will be okay.
Have a great day!

2004-03-17T19:46:00.000-06:00

Please show your support

There's a domestic crisis looming at the Orphie household.

This weekend, Hubby plans to paint our deck.

Three years ago, he painted the deck at our old house. Many different shades of streaky red. He also painted the bushes, grass, and parts of the house itself.

When we moved out here and my mom saw our two-story deck, the first thing she said to me was "Don't let Hubby paint this deck." And she loves the man.

So I'm asking for your support. Please sign our petition by leaving a comment for Hubby.

Please do your part in helping us to avert this catastrophe.

Thank you.

2004-03-17T16:22:00.000-06:00

The glory in a four-hour nap

Yesterday the Bubba took the above-mentioned four-hour nap. Freeing me up to do many things, including:

- vacuuming the whole first level
- washing all the wood floors
- dusting the whole first level
- doing two loads of laundry
- cleaning the kitchen
- doing our taxes (federal and state)
- doing a load of dishes in the dishwasher
- making a couple of phone calls without interruption or interference
- trying to set up an in-home network between the laptop and desktop (not successful yet)

And then, the oven repairman came to fix the oven - right when I was supposed to make dinner!

It was a good day.

2004-03-16T14:21:00.000-06:00

Chicky and the Iceman

My favorite story about Chicky:

We are on a boat in the middle of an alpine lake in Switzerland. It's a big boat with a band on each level, tons of food, lots to drink, and many loud revelers on board. And we were drunk. It was not quite dusk yet, and we were on the starboard side of the boat, enjoying the scenery.

Chicky shouted: Look! There's a rainbow! We all looked. It wasn't just one rainbow, but two! A double rainbow over the beautiful lake, framed by the mountains. How lucky were we?

Later, we were inside the boat, eating dinner, drinking some more. It was a clear dark night.

Chicky shouted: Look! A rainbow!

We all looked. Because we were drunk.

I guess you had to be there.

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My favorite story about the Iceman (as in iceberg):

We didn't personally witness this event, but he tells us this story every year. I think he's proud of it or something.

He and Chicky are in a hammock in Hawaii, relaxing and enjoying the perfect day. A friend and his wife come by, stop for an extended chat, then take their leave.

The Iceman looks down.

His sack is hanging out of his shorts. And had been during the whole previous encounter with his friend and his wife.

Obviously, blatantly, proudly exhibited for all the world to see.

But it was never mentioned or commented upon by the friend and his wife. Until later that evening, when we were all gathered for dinner.

Yes, the friend and his wife had noticed. And no, they didn't say anything about it. They just figured he was really proud of his sack or something.

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Everybody, please meet Chicky and the Iceman. Our very old friends.

2004-03-15T15:10:00.000-06:00

Peace

I've been feeling kinda guilty lately about the war. And other countries' tragedies, which we pretty much ignore on a daily basis. And the Iraqi people, who are damned if they do and damned if they don't. And our poor troops defending themselves against the very people they are trying to help.

I sort of feel that I should be doing something. Some kind of penance, maybe. For being so fortunately untouched by this whole thing. So I checked out some internet peace activism sites. Many seem way too radical. I'm a housewife, people. I'm not going to march on the streets or give large donations.

Or maybe I'm just lazy. I signed a few petitions online. Big deal.

I think I'll pray. Maybe just a daily prayer for peace.

Do you think that'll help?

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In other news:

There really is no other news. Things are kinda quiet at Casa Orphie today. The kids are still on spring break. Bubba is napping and growing as we speak. He and The Princess kicked me out of the house today, forcing me to go to the gym (thank you). The Princess is doing trivial errands, driving the van as much as possible, savoring this new freedom. Bro is working at the doggy day care all week (they had 29 dogs yesterday). Hubby is shopping for a new sexy TV. Blondie is working doubles all week so she can go to Chicago this weekend.

And I'm just sitting on my fat butt waiting for baseball season to begin.

2004-03-13T14:54:00.000-06:00

The Amazing Bubba

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think it's normal for a not-quite-two-and-a-half-year-old toddler to be able to dropkick a ball. And kick it far.
Accurately.

I mean - think of the mechanics. The kids has to be able to simultaneously drop the ball, balance on one foot, and accurately kick the ball with the other foot.

He's freakishly talented, I tell ya.

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In other news:
- The Princess is now an insured driver. Only of the van. But she's happy. Everybody watch out.
- My brother is a goddamned genius. He agreed a dry riverbed next to the house would help deal with the flow of rainwater off the neighbor's driveway, but he also suggested graduated levels, separated by railroad ties or something similar. This would slow down the flow, decreasing the amount of erosion in our yard. A goddamned genius.
- We got our yearly bonus, so now we're not poor. I paid off the credit cards, bought a new website design, and then went to Wa1greens to buy a bunch of crap. Yay! Hubby will soon be shopping for his fancy new TV.

You think now Hubby will let me go back and live on the resort?

2004-03-12T14:14:00.000-06:00

Yippee. Spring break.

Yep. It's spring break time at the Orphie household. I'm so pumped.

Not.

This means that the kids are all in my hair all day, or they're bombarding me with "Mommy, can I...?" or "Mommy can you...?" a million times a day. Or they're gone and I don't know where they are.

Or they're bored. Until I find them chores to do.

I'm so pumped.

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I gave Bubba a haircut yesterday. It was traumatic for him, but not as bad as it had been in the past. Maybe because it was at home instead of at the haircut place. I think it was more traumatic for Bro, who was holding Bubba still for me throughout the whole ordeal.

The haircut looks nice, except for the back, where I couldn't get to his neckline because he was bucking and screaming so much. I'll try to touch it up when I can sneak up on him from behind with my sharp scissors and ambush the stray hairs. Yeah - like that's gonna happen. Not without a fight, baby.

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It looks like my backyard is sliding down the steep hill into the golf course. Since the last deluge of rain we had, most of the grass and soil in the dog run and the south part of the yard has washed away. When it rains hard, a river runs rapidly down my neighbor's long driveway, down a small hill, into the grassy area between our houses. Then it courses down the slope, through the dog run, across the yard, down the 'wilderness'-covered steep hill, into the golf course.

When I went out there yesterday, I saw it, and was amazed at how much soil had eroded from around the cement holding down the dog run fence posts. I think it looks like it needs very expensive rehab.

I think we need to put up a border of VERY large rocks along the back edge of our yard, drop in truckloads of soil to even up the grade of the yard, and resod it. And maybe we need to make a dry riverbed in between the houses to steer the waterflow away from the dog run and down the slope. Hubby wants to just cover the dog run with pea gravel, but that doesn't appeal to me at all. Of course, he'd rather waste shitloads of money on half-assed solutions, trying to save a buck, but we all know, don't we, that this is gonna end up costing us big bucks to get it done right eventually.

Yeesh. There goes my tax refund.

2004-03-11T13:18:00.000-06:00

Thank God she's pretty

I asked Blondie to start the spaghetti for me the other day when we were at the orthopedist.

She burned it.

She burned the spaghetti.

She threw about five pounds of noodles into a pot of boiling water, kept the burner on high, and never stirred it once. Some of the noodles were hard and clumped together, some were soggy, a lot were burnt to the bottom of the pan. And since the pan also had scorch marks on the outside bottom of it, we had to throw the whole thing out.

Her response? "Well, I DID wash the dogs!"

Now I'm afraid we'll never marry her off.

2004-03-10T12:50:00.000-06:00

These boots were made for walkin'

The Princess went to the orthopedist yesterday for her two-week post-surgical checkup. He removed the cast, took out the two stitches, and told her she could do whatever she could tolerate.

So she threw away the crutches, and is now walking around in an ace bandage with a cam boot. I think by the end of spring break, she will need neither. She's pretty happy about it, naturally, but she still remains skeptical of the surgical result. She still thinks she'll need surgery annually for the rest of her life. I'm praying she's wrong.

She starts physical therapy Monday and goes twice a week for four to six weeks. Her left calf and shin muscles are wasted, and her gait has always been weird, so I'm hoping they can correct these things in the course of therapy.

And she can go back to work soon! Yay!

In other news:
Bubba and I went to the workout place today. We both got red and sweaty and had a good time. Aside from a teeny bit of lingering neediness, everything seems to be back to normal.

But after a week of pampering at a first-class resort, all I can say is:

Where's my server? And why hasn't my room been cleaned yet?

2004-03-09T13:27:00.000-06:00

I am back

I have so much to tell you, it's gotta be in list format.

Things I did in Palm Springs:
- cried the entire first day, from the car to the airport, to the plane, on the plane, in the next airport, on the bus to the hotel, then in the hotel. Then I stopped. And I had fun.
- rode a horse for three hours straight.
- got a saddle sore. No kidding. The Princess says it's karma. She says I got it because I left them.
- got a tan. Okay, a sunburn.
- got a massage, a french manicure (my first), and a pedicure.
- ate lots of red meat after a really long time without it.
- ate tons of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- ate tons of gourmet desserts.
- gained only two pounds (yay!).
- saw a dear old friend.
- walked with said dear old friend a few times.
- got blisters on my feet.
- worked out on the elliptical once.
- worked out with weights once.
- did 50+ lbs barbell squats (go me).
- drank a Green Flash while eating lunch at courtside with the girls.
- oh yeah - Andre Agassi was playing tennis right in front of us.
- got dressed up and got my picture taken with my equally-dressed-up husband.
- sunbathed in my underwear on my private patio.
- went to a hoedown.
- went out to many wonderful dinners with my husband and friends.
- spent a lot of time holding hands with Hubby.
- wore contacts and makeup almost all week.
- wore low-rise shorts and sleeveless tops with cleavage.
- watched my friends get drunk and funny.
- turned in early just about every night.
- took lotsa pictures.
- had the most wonderful time in a really long time.

On the homefront:
- Dad handled Bubba and the kids really well. This is despite the fact that it rained (heavily) for two or three days straight and they couldn't go for walks. They got into a nice routine, and are good buddies now. He really did a good job, and I'm very grateful he enabled me to have a great vacation without worry.
- Mom cleaned the whole house before I got home. She even made Blondie clean and organize her room AND closet. You'd pass out if you saw it. And she bought tons of candy, cookies, and high-octane soda. No kidding - right now there is a huge bowl of assorted chocolate candy on my counter. Oh. My. God. The kids might need detox now. She provided Dad with much-needed relief and support. I think Dad and the kids were all very glad to see her.
- The Princess is having a lot less pain now and has unfortunately once again become a pro at crutching. Before Grandma arrived, she was Bubba's mommy. She is very nurturing towards him and she stepped up to the plate for him. He really needed her.
- Bro got a buzz haircut. He had had long blond curls for a while there, but capriciously decided he needed a change. He looks older. He took over Bubba's care after school for a few days, so Punka could have a break. The brothers love each other. Their playtime provided Bubba with a desperately-needed physical outlet.
- Blondie not only cleaned her room and closet, she also was home for dinner every night. She also was kind enough to give Grandma rides to and from the airport. And she brought muffins home for Bubba because he loves them.
- Bubba is glad to see me. He's following me around from room to room as I do my chores. He slept in his own bed last night, after sleeping in the big bed with Punka or Grandma for the past week. And he only got up once, because he was wet. When I came home, I jumped into the bed to wake him up from nap. He was groggy, then surprised, then SOOOOO happy! He crushed me flat like a pancake, then gave Daddy a chop in the chops. Things almost immediately went back to normal.

I was sad the fun was over, but it's really good to be back. I've decided to make more of an effort to make and keep girlfriends. I forgot how much fun it was to be an adult with other adults. The resort food inspired me to make more of an effort to eat fresh fruit and veggies. And now Hubby and I feel more like a couple, and not so much just a set of parents. Which is a good thing.

Back to my post-vacation chores.

2004-03-02T20:23:00.000-06:00

Do not adjust your television sets

Orphie is going on vacation tomorrow. I'll see you on March 9th.

Same bat time, same bat channel.

2004-03-01T21:30:00.000-06:00

When K Lo's right, she's right

A month or two ago, K Lo mentioned in her blog how much she loved the new low-waisted style of pants. I think she thanked God for them, actually. I thought she was nuts.

Today I went to 0ld Navy to get some shorts and summery tops for my trip, and I tried on the low-waisted shorts.

The woman is so on the mark, you wouldn't believe.

Yes, I did go down a size in regular-waisted pants, but in the low-waisted ones, I went down TWO sizes - no lie! So I ended up buying a ton of shorts, and even a skirt, which would be a miniskirt if I pulled it up to my waist.

And I bought a denim jacket. Big deal, right? The last denim jacket I had was in high school. So, yes, big deal.

I haven't had to shop for a trip in three years. And it was never fun before. Today, I just couldn't get enough. I'm gonna be stylin' this summer people.

Yay!

2004-03-01T12:55:00.000-06:00

Two down, one to go

Bubba and Punka (my dad) are presently napping in my big bed. This is good.

This morning, Bubba was extremely cranky. I think it had a lot to do with two things: a pending poop, and a sneaking suspicion that something was up. The first one took care of itself, but I think he's feeling insecure about the second.

We went to WallyWorld in Punka's giant van after we dropped off some vic0din for The Princess at school. Then we came home and had some lunch. A second poop by Bubba ensured a peaceful, happy naptime for Punka as well as himself.

But now I have to go pick up The Princess from school. The vic0din isn't working because her leg is not elevated and she's exhausted from crutching from class to class. So I'll bring her home, tuck her in for a nap on the couch, and make a quick getaway. I plan to stop at 0ld Navy to get some shorts for my trip, then come home and clean The Princess' room and do paperwork. Tomorrow she's going to school drugged up, and I'm hoping she'll be smart and use the wheelchair, which would make her life so much more easy and less painful.

But I'm feeling the crunch now. I leave Wednesday very early for my trip to Palm Springs, and there are a million things to do. And I'm starting to feel the pain of leaving my baby. I know he'll be well taken care of, and I know he'll be just fine, and I know I'll have a wonderful time with my husband at a luxurious resort, but I'm going to miss him so much.

2004-02-28T21:09:00.000-06:00

My mother is crazy

I talked to my mom just a few minutes ago, and she told me about a really strange dream she had. I wish I could tell you about it, but I can't. It's just so funny and weird.

Whenever I think about it, I crack up all over again. Thanks, Mom.

2004-02-27T14:34:00.000-06:00

Waiting for The Princess and Punka

The Princess is at school right now, taking an Anatomy and Physiology test. It's her first time out of the house since her surgery Monday. She's already pooped from her shower, and her ankle is starting to hurt, so she'll surely need some pain med the instant I get her home. I'm waiting for her call to pick her up. I hope she does okay, physically and intellectually.

Punka is on his way here from Chicago. He left around six this morning, so he should be arriving very soon. I hear he has a van full of chips (he's a retired Frit0 salesman), so Bubba is sure to be excited about that.

Bubba is sacked out on the couch watching Nem0. It's the first time he's had the couch and the TV to himself since The Princess' surgery. I figured since I had to wake him from his nap to take The Princess to school, I'd reward him with a little couch and DVD time.

I don't get much computer time anymore, since The Princess uses the laptop most of the day, but that's okay. I had lots of chores to do. Right now, I have a bit of a respite until I have to get ready for Palm Springs. Can you believe I leave Wednesday? I could pass out right here. I'm so excited.

I so deserve this vacation.

2004-02-26T13:06:00.000-06:00

Better

The Princess is feeling better today. How do I know? She's bored. So I knew it was time for homework. She finished all her math, and is scheduled for an Anatomy and Physiology test Friday afternoon. The studying should keep her busy. Her pain seems better controlled lately.

I've been in a cleaning frenzy for the past few days. Which I usually enjoy, once I get in the zone. But, with waiting on The Princess, making Hubby's special Thanksgiving turkey birthday dinner, running after the Bubba, squeezing in workouts, and not getting enough sleep, I'm pooped.

Bubba, who was sleeping through the night for many days in a row, decided to get up multiple times the past few nights. And Blondie, who I've been nagging relentlessly to clean her room, decided to do it after midnight last night while she jabbered on her cellphone. Her room is directly under ours, so we could hear every sound she made. And when she started screaming about the spider in her room, I finally called her and told her to knock it off. I think the next time I will get a full night's sleep will be in Palm Springs.

But the entire basement, with the exception of Blondie's room, is immaculate. I wouldn't mind living down there, I tell ya. Now I just have to wash the couch slipcovers and blankies and I'm done down there. I'm debating whether I should intervene in the cleaning of Blondie's room or not. I went down there this morning expecting a clean room, since she was up all night working on it, but I could only see about one-third of the floor. And don't get me started on the closet.
Her room is the bane of my existence. Maybe I'll just torch it.

I must say - this entry was really fascinating. Sorry. Seems I have to blog about housecleaning every so often to get it out of my system. And maybe to prove that I really do do something all day while I'm at home. Yeesh.

2004-02-25T15:40:00.000-06:00

Sssshhhhh!

The babies are sleeping! I put both the 16-year-old and the 2-year-old to bed after lunch and they're still knocked out. I'm sure they'll be up soon, because The Princess' pain medicine is due soon.

Yesterday got sort of tough for The Princess late in the afternoon. She started to throw up after dinner, and we were afraid she wouldn't be able to take her vic0din anymore. But she eventually was able to, and everything turned out okay. I think she got sick because she was lying flat too soon after eating.

She's now taking her pain pills about every 5 1/2 or 6 hours. And they're not the super-strong ones anymore. The pain seems to be abating somewhat.

Ooops - they just got up. It's after 3pm, so her cell phone is ringing - the Call of the Wild Teen. And her girlfriend just stopped by to give her flowers and candy. Nice. Soon the boyfriend will arrive.

Bro and I have a date to clean his room this afternoon. I'm sure Bubba will want to help us - he loves the basement.

And that is all from here. Things are pretty okay.

2004-02-24T11:22:00.000-06:00

Day 1 Post-Op

So far, not too bad.

The Princess took two vic0din at midnight and passed out until 5:45am. My alarm was set for 6am, since she's supposed to take the meds every six hours. She woke up moaning and crying because the nerve block the doctor had given her had worn off. And so had the meds. So I gave her two more and prayed she could go back to sleep. But the vic0din hadn't taken effect by 7:15, so I gave her a torad0l. I put an ice bag on her ankle, but her dressing is so thick that she couldn't feel the cold, just the heaviness, so I took it off right away. Then I sat and talked with her about stupid things, trying to distract her from the pain. That's the hard part.

Eventually, I could see her relaxing and talking more than listening. I knew the meds had kicked in. That's the good part.

She dozed for a while then. I never realized what a chatterbox Bubba was until I tried to keep him quiet while he ate breakfast.

The Princess just took another dose of two vic0din (11am), and now she's attempting a shower in my room. I put a plastic patio chair in the shower, and wrapped her leg in a trash bag. I know it's been only five hours since her last dose, but I'm not taking any chances. It's just too hard to get back on top of the pain once it gets ahead of us.

After her shower, I'll feed her a little lunch, then tuck her into the big bed with Bubba for a nap. Then I'll start cleaning the basement.

I'm hoping tomorrow morning I'll be able to squeeze in a workout at the gym while she naps. I take one day off from my diet, and I gain three pounds. Life's just not fair.

Ask The Princess.

2004-02-23T19:44:00.000-06:00

Is it just us?

The Princess and I were just wondering -

Is it just us, or has 7th Heaven become a showcase for aging movie stars with bad plastic surgery?

We're just sayin'.

2004-02-23T17:45:00.000-06:00

The Princess' Surgery

Well, it's over. We had been hoping that the doctor would be able to graft some healthy cartilage from her knee to her ankle.

But no.

If there was a small patch of badness surrounded by healthy tissue and bone, he could have done it. But the defect was large and spread out, so all he could do is go in there and clean it up, removing all the cartilage flaps, scar tissue, bone chips, etc. Now we're hoping for pain-free walking. Forget anything else for now.

I cried when I heard. We all had such high hopes.

And The Princess is royally pissed. She is convinced that now she'll have to have arthroscopy done every year or so, since she had it a year an a half ago. I cannot convey to you how deeply she HATES crutches. And pain - don't forget the pain. Right now she's blaming the doctor, but soom I will be the recipient of her vitriol.

But that's okay. It's gotta go somewhere.

My poor baby girl.

Shit.

2004-02-22T10:59:00.000-06:00

Shit or go blind?

I have so much on my plate that I don't know whether to shit or go blind.

Tomorrow's The Princess' surgery. That, obviously, is my priority right now. But I also have a lot of other things to think about:

- preparing Bubba for my time away from him
- cleaning the house
- buying clothes for the trip, including a dress for the awards dinner
- making notes for Dad for when I'm gone
- making a big calendar-like poster of the things we're doing each day on our trip for Bubba to follow
- squeezing in workouts
- staying on the diet
- day-to-day crap like making dinner and doing laundry.

But all that aside - I REALLY really really can't wait to go to Palm Springs! I haven't been away from the family for three years, and I really need it. I can't wait to feel the sun on my bare shoulders and toes. I'm looking forward to being pampered in every way at the luxurious resort we're going to. I'm going to get a massage and a facial, and maybe some other stuff. I can't wait to eat whatever gourmet food they put in front of me, three times a day (or more). I can't wait to lie by the pool with a frozen drink, doing nothing all day but lounging around with a good book. And I can't wait to be all alone with my husband for six whole days. We will dance and drink and eat and laugh with our friends. It'll be like a really long date!

OhmyGod! I have to get ready!

2004-02-20T13:24:00.000-06:00

Bad mother

Last night after eleven, The Princess came into my room to wake me up. She was in hysterics, crying "I don't wanna!" over and over again. I woke up, disoriented, and tried to figure out what was going on. Oh yeah - the surgery on Monday. I gave her a benadryl to help her sleep, then walked her up to her room with her crying the whole time. She was so distraught I didn't know what to do. And she was unapproachable in her grief-fueled fury.

So I put my sixteen-year-old baby to bed, and tried to talk to her. I told her that I knew she was afraid of the pain and the surgery and everything, but Daddy and I think it's the best thing for her. I pointed out, for the millionth time, that she's forgotten what it's like not to have pain in her ankle. I told her that the surgery was going to happen, and that she had to start dealing with it. Then I told her to stop being so dramatic and just get through it.

So much for sympathy and empathy.

I felt like there was nothing I could do for her when she's in that state, so I went back to bed. She cried and ranted for a while, then fell asleep.

I really don't know what her state of mind is right now. I think she's more afraid of the social implications of her crutches and boot than anything else. She seems to think this will end her life as she knows it. I wish she could see the big picture: a week of almost total immobility, a month of crutches and boot, another month or two of just the boot. After that, hopefully, freedom to walk without pain. And who knows? Maybe she'll even get to do more than that.

All we can do is pray. And just get through it.

2004-02-19T17:11:00.000-06:00

Overwhelmed

Yes, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. I have to get ready for The Princess' surgery Monday. I have to buy new clothes and prepare for my trip to Palm Springs. I have to clean the house (or coerce the tenants to do their part). I have to prepare Bubba (and myself) for my absence. I have to make many lists and pages of instructions regarding the care and feeding of my family while I'm gone.

And I have Bubba's cold.

Last night, I woke abruptly from a dream. I couldn't breathe - I was choking to death. I dreamt I had a head made of overripe blueberries that were slowly disintegrating and turning to goo. In the dream I was choking to death on my own melting head. When I woke up, I was choking to death on my own boogers. Yuck.

Yeah. I'm stressed.

But it was a beautiful day today. I opened all the doors to air out the house. We played on the deck in the morning, we took a walk down to the swollen creek in the afternoon. Bubba is playing on the deck right now. Our first taste of spring. When I get back from vacation, it will be like this most of the time.

I can't wait.

2004-02-18T13:24:00.000-06:00

I swear - this family is falling apart

1. The Princess' surgery has been postponed. It was supposed to be Friday, but the nurse called today to say the doctor had an emergency surgery to do then. Excuse me - emergency surgery two days away? WTF!? And this is after days of hyper-super-mondo-teenage angst to the nth power. She's been walking a fine line, and the whole family has to when we are around her. I don't blame her, but this will just exascerbate it now. She doesn't want the surgery at all anyway. I think she's just been living with pain for so long, she has forgotten what it's like to be pain-free. Yeesh.

2. Blondie is working 40 hours a week as a waitress. She rarely does laundry, she gets sick frequently, she just broke up with her boyfriend, she has many bills, she doesn't have much fun anymore...I just wonder when she'll finally come to us and say "Send me to school!" I mean, this can't be what she plans to do for the rest of her life, can it? So what's next for Blondie? I don't know and I don't think she does either. I feel really bad that I won't do any of her laundry, or buy her chai tea, or make her a grilled cheese sandwich, but this is how her life will be if she doesn't do something to change it. And if I start doing things for her, she'll just get comfortable with it, and start to expect it. I can't do that to her. Double yeesh.

3. Bubba has yet another cold. The poor kid - every time I take him to the workout place (which he really enjoys), he comes home with a new virus or contagion. So he has a River of Snot running down (and sometimes across) his face, and he's miserable. And he's going through some kind of sucky toddler phase in which everything makes him upset. We're at playgroup (or gym class, or preschool pals class, or the store, or insert your own scenario here), and after about twenty minutes, he starts whining and moaning and saying "I wanna go home!" or "I want my blankie!" or "I don't wanna!" Shortly after that, he starts throwing himself on the floor in desperation, and increasing the volume of his complaints. It's enough to make me want to saw through my wrists with a rusty butter knife. We end up leaving wherever we are within a half-hour of getting there, going home and having a good cry (both of us). I call it "The See-How-Bad-My-Mother-Is Show." Triple yeesh.

So far, Bro, Hubby and I seem to be hangin' in there, but I'm waiting for the rest of us to implode.

I'll keep you posted.

2004-02-16T09:08:00.000-06:00

My husband loves me

Although he was away so much this week, including for Valentine's Day, I forgive him. He took today off of work because I asked him to. He plans to take Bubba to the library and out to lunch so I can have some quiet time to myself. And I'm getting lots of hugs and cuddling.

I win.

-------------------------

In other news...

Bubba was repeating something last night over and over again. When I listened closely, this is what I heard:

You're not the boss of me now
You're not the boss of me now
And you're not so big.

The theme from Malcolm in the Middle. He was so cute, Hubby and I couldn't stop laughing. Then Bubba took a huge poop, and slept through the entire night. And so did I. Sleep through the entire night, that is. What a treat! I'm a lucky girl, really.

My dad gets his first cataract removed today. The surgery takes place in the early afternoon, and my brother will be there with Dad at the hospital. My dad's eyes are so bad, that he can't even read street signs anymore. It scares me that he drives all the time with eyesight that bad. But I'm glad it'll be better when he comes to take care of the kids when I go to Palm Springs.

***16 more days!!***

2004-02-13T12:48:00.000-06:00

Just for giggles

The other day I switched around the cereal and soup bowls in the cabinets.

The whole family is confused and unsettled.

Heeeheeeheee. Don't tell me I don't know how to have fun!

2004-02-13T12:08:00.000-06:00

"Me" Weekend

I've been depressed lately about Hubby going away so much. He left again today for three days in Chicago with his father. So in order to get myself through this weekend without too much trauma, I've decided to make this a "Me" Weekend.

If I screw up on my diet, I will forgive myself immediately.
I will do whatever I think is best for me.
I will treat myself gently.
I will keep up with my workouts, because they save me.
I will watch movies by myself, maybe take the kids out to dinner, maybe shop if I feel like it.
I won't make any major decisions or impose any major discipline.
I won't let anything get to me.

If anybody feels like joining my on my "Me" Weekend, let me know.

Maybe I'll go out and buy myself a Valentine's Day present, too.

2004-02-11T13:36:00.000-06:00

My dad

My dad's birthday was yesterday. He turned 63. It was also his first day of retirement. He spent it at the auto show with my brother and uncle.

The auto show has been a tradition since I was a little kid. Dad would drag my brother and me every year. We would get plastic bags and fill them with brochures from each and every display. We would be ecstatic if we got some kind of swag, like a button or a magnet. We would lug them through miles of walking, getting whinier as the day went on and the bags got heavier. But we did it every year, and we'd bring the brochures home and go through them like playing cards, comparing and trading and saving them until we realized we never really cared about them anyway. And that's what I remember about Dad taking us to the auto show.

My dad was a scoutmaster when my brother was in scouts, so I got to go along and do everything with the pack, except camping. I got to go to the Blue and Gold dinner and the Pinewood Derby - cool stuff that other girls didn't get to do. When Bro was in scouts and the Pinewood Derby came up, he and I built the winning car. How? We put lead weights in the bottom of the chassis, making it as heavy as we could without exceeding the guidelines. My dad showed me that. And no, it's not cheating, although some not-as-smart parents thought so.

Babies love my dad. The tinier, the better. He is the only man I know who is not afraid of newborns. They attach themselves to his chest like velcro, and he just rocks or walks with them, crooning to them under his breath, and they pass out cold. This enables him to combine two of his favorite activities: holding babies and watching TV in his recliner. He should actually volunteer in a NICU somewhere.

My dad used to smoke a pipe. Now he smokes cigars, which are not nearly as good. When he smoked his pipe, he would smell good, like the cherry kind of tobacco we always bought him for Christmas and his birthday. And he would blow smoke rings, making his lips form a big O like a fish, popping his jaw with each smoke ring he created.

Dad used to take us camping when we were kids. One time, we went without Mom because she was pregnant with Amy. So Greg, Dad and I went up to Ludington (I think - or somewhere) and pitched a tent. I remember it rained the whole time, and we were bored, and we saw lots of bugs, like praying mantises and walking sticks. I remember Donny Osmond singing "Go Away Little Girl" on the radio. Dad really liked to camp.

Dad likes to fish too. He took me and my three oldest kids to his sister's (my Aunt's) trailer home resort so we could fish in the pond there. He put the worms on our hooks. And took the fish off our hooks. We caught sunfish and bluegill fishing from the shore. Then we went home and there was a big storm right when we got there.

Once my dad got from the NW side of Chicago to Downers Grove in thirty minutes. This is not something I would advise. But he did it. That's when The Princess was in the hospital with osteomyelitis when she was two. And since he couldn't get there immediately, he called his sister (my Aunt), who lived only two minutes away, and told her what happened and would she go to us right away? She appeared and I wasn't alone anymore. And Mom and Dad arrived shortly thereafter. And it was easier.

My dad was visiting when The Princess had her surgery last August. When it was time for him to leave, The Princess was writhing in pain on the couch, and I was stroking her hair, trying to soothe her while we waited for the pain med to take effect. And Bubba was nervous, and Bro was trying to occupy him, and it was hard for Dad to go. But he did. After he sat crying in his van on the driveway for a few minutes.

My dad cried when the Enterprise blew up in the second (or was it the third?) Star Trek movie. He cried when Walter Payton retired. And when he died. He cried when the Cubs took a victory lap around Wrigley Field in 1986 (or was it 89?). He cried when the Cubs retired Ron Santo's number. Dad cries easily. But that's because he has a soft heart.

Happy birthday, Dad. I love you. Now go get some kleenex.

2004-02-11T13:05:00.000-06:00

Ladies and gentlemen, the neurotic has left the building

...well, at least temporarily.

I spent yesterday aching all over from that morning's workout and my husband's absence. I self-medicated with large quantities of food, knowing it wouldn't make me feel better, just fatter. But there is some comfort to be had from a full belly. I'm just a mammal after all, I guess.

Anyway, I also started knitting again. Or, I should say, resumed learning how to knit. I successfully knitted about fifteen rows of thirty stitches each, and as soon as I successfully bind it off, I will begin my first real project: a scarf. I bought some bulky gray-tan-white yarn, and some mondo-jumbo knitting needles today at the Wallyworld, so I'm ready to go. But it still puzzles me that most women find knitting relaxing. I am tense throughout the whole process, but I guess that's because I'm just a beginner. Someday maybe.

Also at Wallyworld, Bubba and I bought some new fish. We bought these transparent fish that are injected with fluorescent dye. It sounds so cruel, I hope it's not true. But at least they're living in a nice tank in a loving home now instead of the store. They went into Bro's tank downstairs, which has a neon theme. The fish are neon orange, pink, yellow and green. And we bought some orangeglow tetras too. Bubba says Bro will pass out when he sees them. We also bought a couple of danios and algae eaters for the upstairs tank. Had to shake up the ecosystem a little now that the guppy puppies are gone. Such fun we have here.

In other news...

We asked The Princess' orthopedist to consider letting a plastic surgeon repair the scar on her ankle after the orthopedist is done fixing her bone and cartilage next week. His office person seems to think he won't do it, because that's adding a whole other procedure to the mix, and he might be worried that the other surgeon would screw up what he's already done. I can see his point, but I'm hoping that, since he's seen the abominable keloid monstrosity on the front of her ankle, he will take pity on her and let it happen. We'll see. I'll put that in my prayer box.

Blondie has still not cleaned her bathroom. And that's all I have to say about that.

2004-02-10T13:39:00.000-06:00

There is something terribly wrong with me

This entry is entirely introspective, so if you don't want to hear about me, me, me, tune back in tomorrow. Right now I must wallow.

I have a problem. Whenever Hubby goes out of town without me, I get unstable. I weep at the drop of a hat, I yell at people for tiny reasons or no reason at all, I eat like a horse with no self-control.

I know I am a capable, responsible adult who can handle a household and four children by myself with no problem. And to tell the truth, Hubby mainly serves a supportive function when he is home. He'll take up the slack with the kids, or do chores when I ask him to, but otherwise, he's pretty much in his chair watching TV, or working out, or in the tub, or taking a nap. He serves as a buffer between me and the kids when I'm having a hard time with one or all of them.

I think I have been damaged by our transfer to KC. I don't remember having this problem when we lived in Illinois, even when we were in Peoria. But I was never more than two or three hours away from my family. Now I'm an eight-hour drive or an hour flight away from them. I think I feel abandoned when Hubby leaves me here alone with the kids. Maybe it's from the lack of local support. I don't have many friends you know. Okay, I really don't have any - just acquaintances.

So Hubby is really my only local adult contact. He is my best friend, comforter, sounding board, boyfriend, breadwinner. He enables me to stay home with the kids, but I am totally dependent on him financially.

I think I still feel bad that I was pretty much forced to come out here. I would go anywhere he wanted me to because I love him, but I did not want to move again. Now I resent it when he abandons me to go on his trips, even though I know he has to for his work. I've been out here for two and a half years now.

What is my problem? Why does this still hurt so much? I hate that I have this terrible weakness. I am generally strong person.

So I will now assume my usual holding pattern. Try to remain calm and unflappable, let things just roll off my hard candy shell, wait until Hubby comes home to make any large decisions or dole out any discipline. Don't make waves, don't let anything bother me, just be and observe.

And get through it once again. Until the next time.

2004-02-08T19:42:00.000-06:00

Listage

I'm kinda tired, having a hard time stringing together two thoughts, so I'm just going to do this in list form.

- My dad's last day at work is tomorrow. As of Tuesday, he'll be retired. That big gust you felt is our collective sigh of relief.
- I have to call The Princess' new orthopedist tomorrow with lotsa questions, like: can we bring in a plastic surgeon to fix the scar on her ankle (that she's had since she was two)?, will she have a large scar on her knee if they take an autograft of cartilage from it?, will she need any special rehab for her knee, or will she have to wear a long leg brace?
- Bubba says some new things: I am sorry. Pebbles and Bam-Bam. Actually his vocabulary is pretty much unlimited, but he says these in a pretty cute way. He can also almost sing the alphabet song.
- Blondie's bathroom is so disgusting and she won't clean it and I'm freaking out about it again. And she finally got rid of all the shoes and boots she had laying on the front stoop and inside the front door (I think there were at least twelve pairs in all. Seriously. For weeks.). She had her boyfriend help her. This is only after I told her that all the shoes would be in the trash Tuesday night. I think we should consider kicking her out. I think Hubby is considering it too. I sincerely hate that we are being made to feel this way.
- Hubby is going to Phoenix tomorrow and Tuesday. Then he's going to visit his dad in Chicago Friday through Sunday. I am not looking forward to this.
- The kids have another four-day weekend coming up. I am not looking forward to that either.
- I had a makeover at the MA*C counter at Njordstroms yesterday. Bought a shitload of cosmetics. Came home and washed my face. Threw out all my old makeup (some of it is older than Bro). Bought undereye cream because I'm old and wrinkly.
- I am planning to buy some new fish for our two aquariums this week. I know you're excited about it.

That's enough. Good night.

2004-02-07T09:57:00.000-06:00

Happiness

Prevention magazine says that "happiness is not a finite entity unto itself, but is the sum of the twelve most important qualities of happiness:

Love
Optimism
Courage
A sense of freedom
Proactivity (forging your own happiness, not waiting for it to happen to you)
Security
Health
Spirituality
Altruism
Perspective
Humor
Purpose."

Good. Now I have a new to-do list.

2004-02-06T13:52:00.000-06:00

Where's my stash?

Bubba is a packrat. I realize that most toddlers are. But it's been kinda weird around here lately. I straightened out the living room and play area today.

Under the couch cushions I found change, assorted dried beans, some foam stickers, a few magnetic shapes, and a couple of plastic Easter eggs.

In the entertainment center by Hubby's CDs, I found a large cache of magnetic shapes.

Next to the TV, I found a package of googly eyes stickers.

In Hubby's lazyboy, I found a miniature Reese's peanut butter cup, which I promptly ate. It was stale.

-----------------------------------------

The Master Manipulator Award goes to...

The Princess has plans to go to a concert tonight. Fine. But the only problem is that the band she really wants to see goes on after 11pm. Her curfew with us is 11 to 11:30pm. Hubby didn't want her to go at all.

When she pressed me about it, I told her to take the issue up with her Daddy. I guess I missed the brouhaha.

Hubby came to me in the laundry room afterwards. He looked damaged. He said that she told him "After my surgery, I'll pretty much be grounded for a whole month (sniff, pout, tear)!" Crying always works with Hubby. When he held fast, she got mad and told him "I'm never going to speak to you again (more tears, angry pout)!" (She hasn't used that one since she was just a tiny manipulator.) He yelled back at her, but she had already won.

He was emotionally drained afterwards. Yes, she'll be going, but she better answer her phone, and there better be a band playing, and she better bring home a receipt from the event.

Yeah - that's showing her who's boss.

Poor Hubby. He never stood a chance.

------------------------------------

Snow day redux

The kids are off of school today. Again. The roads are fine. There's no more snow forecast. But the schools are closed again.

I can't take anymore of this.

I told The Princess and Bro that they each better find a major chore to do before they think about going anywhere.

Whatever.

***26 more days until Palm Springs!***

2004-02-05T14:21:00.000-06:00

Winter wonderland

I finally figured out that in Kansas snow control efforts do not even start until the snow stops falling.

That being said - it's still snowing here. Big fluffy flakes. Lots of them. We went out to play and I could only take a few pictures before my camera was covered in snow.

Bro and I shovelled the snow from the garage half of the driveway over the side, so we could have a snow mountain for sledding and whatnot. Bro jumped down it a few times, then Bubba got into the act. It was so funny to see him tumbling down the hill in slow motion with his Charlie Brown snow clothes on, yelling "Help me!" all the way down. He loved it!

Then we all got wet and cold, and Bubba's mittens and boots kept falling off, so we went in and dried off and warmed up. We'll be going out again in a little while. You can't even tell we shovelled.

Yay!~

2004-02-04T14:48:00.000-06:00

Look what I can do!

Take a gander at the actual Orphie the Wonder Dog on the upper right corner of this page. I did that!

I scanned her picture (with my new handy-dandy scanner), then I messed around with it in Adobe Photoshop, then I resized it, uploaded it, and plugged it into my template.

There's HTML hope for me yet! I'm so excited about the whole thing.

In other news...

The Princess is scheduled for surgery on February 20th, unless there's a cancellation on the 13th (which I hope there is).
Hubby's dad is sounding stronger.
Bubba doesn't like to share. We found that out when we hosted playgroup here today.
It's supposed to snow tonight (really!), so maybe the kids won't have school tomorrow. Wallyworld run!
My Gram had cataract surgery today and did well. She can already see better, but she's pooped.
Bro's hair is probably longer than mine is right now.
Blondie's boyfriend is going to school in Houston in August.

More news as it breaks.

2004-02-03T12:50:00.000-06:00

On the medical forefront

First an update on Hubby's dad. I guess his potassium level wasn't as high as everybody thought. The doctor will retest him on Friday. On the other hand, Hubby's mom says dad has been sleeping since 9pm yesterday, which is completely not like him at all. He's usually up almost around the clock with scattered naps on the couch. Hubby's sister is running home to Lake Forest from downtown Chicago to take his vitals and see what's going on. Poor Hubby's mom is panicky. Although dad has been up twice to go to the bathroom and is on oxygen, he is very weak. She can rouse him but he falls right back asleep. Either he's getting better and is exhausted and finally able to get some sleep, or he's getting worse. We'll see.

Secondly - The Princess. We went to the new muckety-muck mondo uber ankle orthopedist at WhatsaMattaUMed today. He wants to do surgery. Either a basic arthroscopy and debridement, or a grafting of cartilage from her knee to her ankle bone (talus), depending on the severity of the defect when he gets in there and eyeballs it. Either way, it means four weeks of crutches (a word you don't use in front of The Princess or she'll cry), plus one or two months with a boot cast after that. But this is the first time we heard somebody say that she might - just might - be able to do sports again someday. He might be able to actually fix it! Or at least make her able to do more than zero with it.

She's having a hard time with it right now, but she realizes this may be her only chance at normality and maybe a pain-free ankle. I'm hoping that we can get it done Friday February 13th, which is followed by a four-day weekend for her. I don't want her to miss too much school, and she doesn't want to waste her spring break on recuperation. Again, we'll see.

Thirdly, Bubba. He is still snotty and congested. But we're still having playgroup tomorrow morning, dammit. Everytime he goes to the workout place with me, he picks up a new germ and then we can't go for a couple of days because he's sick. I know it's better that he gets all his viruses done while he's still little, but it's just not fair! I want to go work out! Hubby says I can go tonight maybe. I guess that's if his dad is okay. Okay - I'll stop being selfish now.

2004-02-02T12:51:00.000-06:00

On a more serious note...

I told you that Hubby's dad was sick. Well, it looks like it's getting a little more serious.

He has a chronic degenerative disease, kinda like ALS, but they don't really know exactly what it is. And he's been getting weaker and weaker in the past few years. He's been contracting pneumonia more frequently and more severely lately, because his respiratory muscles are just not strong enough to expel crap from his lungs.

So he's in the middle of a bout with pneumonia right now. Doctor told him he could do certain things at home, or he could get checked into the hospital. Dad chose to stay home (duh). And he was able to get up a lot of the crap in his lungs the other night, after a very very bad day, so they all thought he would be okay.

But he's getting weaker and weaker. And the doctor just found that his potassium levels are very high. This is very bad - it could mean his kidneys are failing, and worse - it could cause a fatal heart arrhythmia.

Right now Hubby is trying to get a hold of his family in Chicago to see what's going on, but no one's answering. My hope is that they went to the hospital to get Dad fixed up. This kind of thing can be corrected fairly easily if he gets the right treatment.

But poor Hubby is frantic. It's so hard to be so far away from our families, even on the easiest days. This kind of thing compounds it exponentially.

And yeah - his dad is the ultimate rebound king, bouncing back from one life-threatening crisis after another. But his heart is weaker now, his body failing, his breathing labored and ineffective.

Please say a prayer for Hubby's dad and his family. They could all use some strength and support right now.

2004-02-02T12:36:00.000-06:00

Oops.

My right boob just accidentally pooped out of my removable-chest-plated costume. Thank God I had on my metal solar nipple cover. Here - let me tuck that back in real quick.

There - now where were we?

Oh yeah. Nothing like a little wholesome family fun during the most-watched event of the year, huh. Of course, I'm sure it was an accident, since Justin was singing about stripping me naked by the end of this song and everything. Nothing like glorifying rape or involuntary female exposure by an aggressive male in front of a massive audience, I always say.

What the Fuck?! This really angers me. Could we possibly objectify women any more? Talk about a desperate attempt at publicity by that fucked-up Jackson person. That was even worse than Britney's faux-marriage publicity stunt.

And how many pre-teen and teenaged boys do you think saw that? And how many dads yelled "Yeah!" in front of them? What a great way to teach by example.

Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the award for the Most Demeaning and Exploitative Act by a Male Perpetrated on a Female During a Family-Oriented Nationally-Televised Show goes to.....

oh, never mind.

2004-02-01T16:53:00.000-06:00

Iced over and crabby

Well, the snow we expected has turned out to be mostly ice and freezing rain. Crap. It's so depressing outside. And nobody can go outside, either to play or drive, so we're all stuck in the house together.

Yeesh.

I couldn't go to the gym, so I had to improvise a workout at home. Bubba has a ton of boogers again, and they upset his belly and made him throw up when he should have been napping. Then we had to wash the Blanky, which made him have a mondo fit. The Princess has Hoody over downstairs and they're watching Seabiscuit. Hubby just finished his workout on the elliptical, so now he has to drink beer and play loud music until suppertime. Bro is cranky because I insisted he spend a little time playing with his baby brother. Blondie had to brave the ice to go to work at the restaurant, which will probably be devoid of customer traffic due to the ice and the Super Bowl.

Hubby's dad is fighting pneumonia again. He got a call from his one brother saying that his dad was dying, another call from his sister saying his dad was going to be okay, and another call from another brother saying something in between. With the ice storm and all, Hubby decided to stay home for now and just keep updated on the phone. High stress for Hubby.

I've decided to learn HTML and try to build my own web page. Now to find a course or book or website to educate me. Wish me luck.

Now I must rejoin my crabby family. At least Hubby's playing something by Squeeze.

2004-01-31T15:04:00.000-06:00

UFO

I just went out and bought myself a printer/scanner/copier/fax today. It's top of the line and was so cheap!

Only two problems: the ink cartridges are mondo uber-expensive, and the thing itself is HUGE! It looks like a spaceship!

But it does print with really great resolution. I scanned an old picture of Orphie the Actual Wonder Dog giving us her I'm-gonna-bite-you-look, then played with it in Adobe Photoshop Elements. I printed up a dozen versions of the picture, using all kinds of different artistic filters. I'm going to use one of them on my blog page sooner or later. Maybe I'll rotate them - they're all so cool.

Otherwise, we're all just sitting here waiting for the ice/snowstorm to begin. I hope it's mostly snow - that ice kills me. When we had that terrible ice storm two years ago (almost to the day), it bent a large part of our willow in half, almost killing it. It rebounded amazingly well, but I don't know if it can take another storm of that magnitude.

And how can you go play out in the ice?

2004-01-30T14:17:00.000-06:00

Batten down the hatches! Lock the barn door!

There's huge snowstorm forecast for this weekend here in the KC area. We're all getting excited and pumped and anxious. The kids are already counting on a three-day weekend, and everyone's already adjusting their plans around the upcoming storm.

I plan to go the Wallyworld Supercenter after we pick the kids up from school, where we will stock up on EVERYTHING, just like the rest of the panicky population. I'm kicking myself for not buying that sexy shovel I saw at Home Despot the other day. What to stock up on? Hubby says Debbie cakes. I'm thinking door weatherstripping.

--------------------

In other news:

Bubba got his first time-out at the workout place today. He was throwing blocks at the other children. He was bummed. I asked him if he had a good time. He said no. Did you go on the slide? No. Did you climb in the playhouse? No. Did you play with your friends? No. Did you get a time out? Silence. I told him that I knew he wouldn't throw blocks at his friends anymore, and that he would have a great time next time we go there. Then he told me all about the slide, and the climbing, and his friends. He really did have fun after all.

I've mentioned before that Bubba has The Princess' temperament. She didn't believe us, but now she KNOWS it. She always would tell us she didn't love us or want to be our friend. Now Bubba's doing it to her. Are we good friends? No. Do you love me? No. Can I hold you? No. All because she told him if he threw the ball in the tub again, she wasn't going to get it for him. She was really upset about his rejection. Payback's a bitch.

Bro's lost about eight to ten pounds in the past few weeks. He's been working so hard! Skateboarding all the time, walking everywhere, coming to the gym with me occasionally, watching what he eats. And he looks great! His face is skinnier and his pants are falling off (just like he likes them). His shoulders look huge! I told him that chicks dig big-shouldered boys. Heehee.

Blondie seems to be happy. She's working hard, but she likes it. She's got a boyfriend she likes. She's putting some money in the bank as we speak. She seems to be trying to work on her financial situation, which I'm staying out of. She has tomorrow off, so she's looking forward to a little fun over the weekend.

Hubby's going to the dog track tonight. He packed a sack lunch so he can have more money to gamble with. Yeesh. If this ever turns into a full-fledged addiction, I'm in trouble.

2004-01-29T13:21:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday, Amy!!!

My sister Amy is 32 today. So to honor her, I'm dedicating today's entry to telling you what I like about her. Here goes.

She has a pretty smile.
She is smart, although she has a propensity toward accumulating useless trivia.
She is very good with babies. They can tell she is a mommy inside, because she has a soft voice, loving eyes, and a confident snuggle.
She is the only one who can keep my dad and brother in line.
She has a nice voice. I wish she would sing more.
She has no control over her dogs. And she likes it that way.
She is my Gram's best friend, and will become just like her when she's old.
She loves my children, even the teenagers.
She loves me, and takes my side against the world.
She is fierce in her devotion - just be thankful she is on your side, and watch out if she's not.
She has a hard outer shell and a soft mushy cream center.
She has a beautiful figure, but doesn't show it off much.
You always know where you stand with her.
She has a kind husband, whose patience is rubbing off on her.
She is a thoughtful hostess, anticipating her guests' every need.

My sister - I think I'll keep her.
Happy Birthday Amy!

2004-01-28T12:31:00.000-06:00

The easy way out

How come I never get to take the easy way out?

If other people can't lose weight, they get the bypass surgery.
If other people have flabby bellies, they get a belt lipectomy.
If they have wrinkles and sun damage, they get chemical peels and laser treatments and collagen.
If they have saggy eyelids and frown lines, they get blepharoplasty and botox.
If they have droopy boobs, they get them lifted and inflated.
They have nannies raise their kids, accountants take care of their finances, housekeepers clean up their messes.

I'm just so tired of having to work so hard just to stay even.

If you can't tell, the never-ending battle with my weight is really getting to me today. I'm giving myself the day to sulk and cry and feel sorry for myself. Tomorrow I'll get back to work.

Shit.

2004-01-27T16:02:00.000-06:00

It's not snot!

Okay - I just squirted half the contents of a glitter pen into my hair.

It's green and sparkly and looks like green sparkly snot. And it's hanging from my hair. And Bubba's yelling, "Get it off! Get it off!"

Fun with arts and crafts.

2004-01-27T13:57:00.000-06:00

Snow day

The kids are off of school today.

I'm not sure why.

We did have one to three inches of snow last night. But there was plenty of time to plow before the morning rush.
It is pretty cold. I think it got down to 4 last night. But it's about 18 now, so that can't be it.
It was pretty windy last night - 20 to 30 mph winds. But it's pretty calm out now.
The sun is shining, the streets are salted and plowed...

So why the hell are these kids home!!!???

So far, I've just kinda been ignoring them.

Bubba and I went through our usual morning routine (even though we were woken by a Bobcat plowing the driveway next door at 12:30am and guys shovelling our stoop at 6:30am). We went to the workout place, where we both exhausted ourselves (By the way, I started up my diet/workout blog Food=Love again if you want to take a peek at it). Then we came home, showered, ate lunch, and laid Bubba down for a nap. The Princess is at the movies with her boyfriend Hoody, Bro has a friend over downstairs, and Blondie has been at work since 6:30 this morning.

I was thinking about Blondie yesterday, as our cars passed on the street. She was on her way to work, in her uniform, and Bubba and I were coming home from Preschool Pals class. I was thinking that right now she really has nothing to look forward to each day. She works as a waitress, business has been slow, she's not in school right now, she has mondo bills, and a boyfriend who's always late and can't stay out past 10pm legally anyway.

I just want her to be happy. But you can't make someone happy. They have to find it in themselves. Hard lesson to learn, but important.

Bubba's happy. Yesterday for the first time, he participated in a parade. The whole bunch of toddlers in his Preschool Pals class marched all around the classroom behind Miss Debbie. The smile on his face and the excitement in his eyes left me breathless. I looked around at the other mothers, but I don't think they felt the way I did. It was just thrilling to see him so joyful. But then I thought "Some other woman has made my Bubba happy," and "He looks so big. He's not a baby anymore." And I was briefly bummed. I so don't want him to grow up.

Please God, can't we keep him little all the days?

2004-01-25T17:44:00.000-06:00

100 Things

I got this from Mimi, in her locked blog.

Instructions:
1. Copy this whole list into your journal.
2. Bold the things that you have in common with me.
3. Whatever you don't bold, replace with things about you.
Please add a note if you do it so that I can come read it!

01. Green tea with nutrasweet is my drink of choice.

02. I pay cash for as much as I can and have minor credit card debt.

03. I like to read.

04. I am loving my life.

05. I like broccoli.

06. I have a pretty good relationship with my mom.

07. I have some regrets, but I know I can't change the past.

08. I sometimes wear contacts.

09. I like cooking things that are simple, quick, and familiar.

10. I love all kinds of animals and have a two dogs and many fish. I can't wait to get another Yellow Lab.

11. I'm still trying to learn how to knit.

12. My husband is Irish-American.

13. I've never been to Aruba.

14. My favorite color is red.

15. I like staying home with my kids, but I can't wait to go back to work.

16. I like every kind of music but metal.

17. I like to spend some time by myself.

18. I tolerate MTV.

19. I want to travel (some of) the world.

20. I think naps are a waste of perfectly good daylight.

21. My favorite meal is Chicago pizza.

22. I love seared ahi tuna.

23. I was initially confused by Southern-style sweet iced tea.

24. I used to be a Dunkin Donuts counter girl.

25. My biggest vice is reading.

26. I consider myself very intuitive.

27. I don't work outside the home so I can be with my kids when they get home from school, and my toddler all day.

28. Only my immediate family calls me Susie. Most people call me Sue, but I prefer Susan.

29. I don't use birth control because I don't need it right now.

30. I almost always finish a book once I start it, even if it’s bad.

31. I don't own enough pillows.

32. I don't really like shopping.

33. I took piano lessons for one year and wish I had kept with it.

34. I wouldn't go back in time for anything.

35. I vote.

36. I am not as wealthy as I appear to be.

37. I consider myself Democrat.

38. I care what other people think of me.

39. My parents are not Ward and June Cleaver.

40. Fall is my favorite season.

41. I really enjoy thoughtful gifts, even if they cost nothing.

42. I love to bake.

43. I do all of my banking online.

44. I've never been a nailbiter.

45. I feel a man should treat a woman well, open doors for her, and make her feel treasured and protected.

46. I love having a fire (in the fireplace)

47. Madonna annoys me.

48. I never watch Sex and the City.

49. I don't chat online with my friends.

50. I drive a Nissan Maxima.

51. I love silence.

52. I have deeply held religious convictions, but I feel they are private and rarely talk about them.

53. I’m smart.

54. I try not to procrastinate.

55. I’ve been divorced.

56. I don't care for the state I live in.

57. I like to play sports with my kids.

58. I can be very serious and tend to look at all sides of an issue.

59. I don't wish I owned my own business.

60. I don't work in an office.

61. My boss is three feet tall and wears a diaper.

62. I tend to look for the easy way out of things.

63. I overreact about things sometimes.

64. I don't have many friends.

65. I sometimes remember my dreams.

66. I like to people watch.

67. Silly people annoy me.

68. I love getting hand written letters.

69. I like Lyle Lovett.

70. I like seeing bands in concert.

71. I love comfy clothes.

72. I lotion my face and hands every single day.

73. I have few online friends.

74. I haven't quite learned to say no.

75. I love to dance!

76. I rarely eat cottage cheese.

77. I get tired of working to become a better person.

78. I have a man in my life who is my best friend.

79. I have never been arrested.

80. I have four children.

81. I had a flu shot four years ago and I haven't really had the flu since.

82. My boobs are natural.

83. I graduated from high school in 1980.

84. I hate feet.

85. I love the smell of a library.

86. I daydream sometimes.

87. I worry more than I should.

88. I live far from any ocean.

89. I have good taste in decorating (at least I think so).

90. I am easily annoyed.

91. I am unable to stand doing things that do not interest me.

92. I'm ready for this list thing to be over.

93. I like giving presents as much as getting them.

94. I have a fantasy of living on the beach, on the ocean.

95. My maternal grandmother is a role model to me.

96. I don't always appreciate honesty, especially if the truth sometimes hurts.

97. I like to help people.

98. I have a no job right now.

99. I buy things for people just because.

100. I'm glad this is done!

2004-01-24T14:51:00.000-06:00

Screw Captain Kangaroo

Chicagoans my age all over the country are saddened. They've lost an important part of their childhood.

Ray Rayner died January 21st.

My brother and I watched him on TV throughout our childhood. We loved the way he tried to feed Chelveston the evil Duck, while Chelveston, obviously still pissed from the ride over to the studio, tried to bite his ankles at every turn. We loved the little notes he pinned all over the jumpsuit he wore for the show. We loved his visits to Cuddly Dudley, his stuffed doggy friend. We loved his visits to Dr. Lester Fisher at Lincoln Park Zoo. We loved his arts and crafts (his never turned out half as nice as the premade example). We loved the cartoons (Hardrock, Coco and Joe, Susie Snowflake). We loved his wacky sense of humor.

Captain Kangaroo had nothing on this guy.

Thanks, Ray. We'll miss you.

2004-01-23T11:30:00.000-06:00

Have we met?

So I'm at the health club today. I do my 37 minutes on the elliptical, then go through my circuit of resistance machines. Next, I go through a series of exercises with dumbbells, and finally move on to the big ball to do my crunches.

I move the ball to a place where I won't be exposed to the masses, and lay back on it. I'm doing my crunches on it - slowly bringing up my chest, then squeezing up my pelvis at the end of each rep. I do two and a half sets of fifteen each, when I notice a man's head peeking up at me from between my legs.

There's a guy in the hot tub on the other side of the glass wall, watching me intently. With a tampon's - oops - bird's eye view of my crotch.

I have about eight more crunches to go, then I'm done. Do I stop?

Hell, no. I've worked too hard on this, dammit. I proceed to finish my reps, then roll off the ball, glare at the bastard, and leave.

Somehow I feel dirtier today than I usually do after a workout. Jerk.

2004-01-22T13:21:00.000-06:00

Not quite Bubba yet

Bubba and I went to gym class today, after a month off due to winter break and last week's illness.

He lasted fifteen minutes before he had a meltdown. We sat and watched his friends play for a few minutes, then he tried again, only to dissolve into a teary pile of frustration after a very short time.

So we went home, climbed on the couch with blankie, and watched Nemo.

He's been walking on the edge since then, crying at the drop of a hat, clinging fiercely to me, wanting me at his side every second.

And now he's napping (after a pretty good fight). Hopefully he'll feel better when he gets up. I won't have to pick the kids up from school, so he'll have plenty of time to sleep.

-------------------------

In other news:

I received a Spacemaker CD player from my parents for Christmas. When I went to register it online, I found out that my old Spacemaker cassette player had been recalled - something about catching fire - so I sent it back for a replacement.

I got a new Slim Spacemaker CD player in the mail today! I win!

The Princess had a nice, if uneventful birthday yesterday. She got pretty flowers from Ciocie and Uncle John, and a beautiful comforter from Grandma and Punka. We'll probably give her a gift certificate to a clothes store. She wants a digital camera, but they're more than we want to spend.

Bubba and I made her a pretty cake, and we all enjoyed it after she got home from work. Bubba could hardly wait all day for her to come home - HE WANTED THAT CAKE! He's finally getting his appetite back. I don't think he lost too much weight, but I always worry when they're little.

Hubby asked me out to dinner tomorrow night! We'll probably go to our favorite restaurant here in Kansas. Once we find a good place, we stick with it. In Chicago, we had Mi Pi, in Peoria it was the Church Mall, in Oswego it was Danielli's, and here it's JAlexander's. I love the seared ahi tuna on a bed of greens with wasabi vinegarette, and Hubby sticks with the steak. Great place if you're on Atkins or South Beach.

Speaking of diets, anybody know of a pill that will make me lose weight? The exercise is making me stronger, but I haven't lost any weight. You know how you go through phases, and when you're really ready for something, you can do it with no problem, but if you're not ready, there's no way in hell you can do it? Well, I just can't seem to stick with any kind of diet right now. I don't want to be the fat girl in Palm Springs. Help!

2004-01-21T13:17:00.000-06:00

The Princess is Sixteen

At 12:52am, sixteen years ago, at Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago, The Princess was born.

I know this because I was there.

I had no meds, no anesthetic, no anything. I labored in the shower and gave birth in a queen-sized bed with no doctor or midwife on hand. The midwife was down the hall with someone else. The nurse actually tried to stop the baby from coming out by pushing her back in. If I had had a free leg, the nurse would have been across the room.

I screamed a lot, loudly, Hubby worried and fretted, and voila! The Princess came out and looked us in the eye quietly for about an hour. I got the feeling she was sizing us up. I don't know if we passed muster, but so far she's stuck around for sixteen years.

The three of us took a nap in the bed in which The Princess was born, then we went home. We were in the hospital less than eight hours. By choice. We came home and presented The Princess to her big sister Blondie, who gave her a gift. Everybody was tired and sort of stunned, so it was quiet. I took to my bed, nursed a lot, left the extraneous stuff to Hubby.

The Princess didn't cry much. She was a thoughtful baby who seemed to take everything in stride. She seemed to mull things over extensively before making any kind of judgment or commitment.

She had light brown hair and light eyes. Very long eyelashes and sparkly eyes. She had a rosebud mouth that was always pursed. She gave out smiles sparingly. When her hair grew, it came in curly - only at the ends.

She was bowlegged until she was two. At which point she discovered an intense love for girly things. Jewelry - the sparklier the better. Dresses and shoes - with frills please. The Little Mermaid. Makeup. She rarely wore pants.

She had a love/hate relationship with her father. She would scream and cry and hang on his leg when he tried to leave for work - "Please don't leave me!" She would tell him "Shup," and "I love you but you gotta go." He played her Beatles songs and she wrapped him around her little finger.

It's funny how she's really not that different now than she was as a baby. She is still reserved and thoughtful. She still loves/hates her daddy. She still likes girly things. Thank God she's not bowlegged.

She is a deep well, a sweet girl, a thoughtful person. She is intelligent and confident. She is stubborn and flexible.

She is a joy.

Happy Birthday from Momma.

2004-01-20T15:23:00.000-06:00

New to me

I'm trying out a new blog on a different host, so I've been kinda busy working on that. I have a thirty-day free trial, so we'll see how I like it. I'll link to it when I think it's sexy enough to show you.

We're all still kinda crampy and queasy around here. Bro, Hubby and Blondie haven't become sick yet, and I hope it stays that way.

Hubby submitted all our information for the Palm Springs trip today. It's official, now I have to go. I'm getting excited. Soon the excitement will eclipse the worry and doubt and guilt I have about leaving Bubba. I know he'll be fine - I just have to do a lot of prep work with him.

I thought Howard Dean was going to explode last night, didn't you? After turning red, don't you usualy go to purple, then sputter, choke and keel over? I was waiting, but it didn't happen. Rats. Not that I don't like the guy's views, it's just that he seems to be a petulant big baby type of guy, and I don't want that kind of person in the White House with his finger on the big red button. And they said John McCain was a hothead - huh.

The Princess turns sweet sixteen tomorrow. Lock up your men and get off the road! Oh. My. God.

2004-01-19T14:21:00.000-06:00

Cramps X 3

Yeah - it's not pretty around here these days.

I have cramps. Can't tell if they are from (1) my abs, which I worked into numbness Saturday, (2) my GI tract, which has been suffering mightily since yesterday morning, or (3) my uterus and corresponding organs, which have just shifted into monthy menstrual overdrive.

That said, I feel pretty good otherwise. I'll be very glad when everybody goes back to school and work tomorrow. Bubba and I have an appointment with the workout place in the morning, where I hope to learn how to do a squat.

Seriously.

Unfortunately, I can barely even lift the 40-lb bar that I'm supposed to be laying across my back while I do a deep and perfectly-formed squat.

Gotta work on that.

Gotta go. Bubba calls.

2004-01-17T11:51:00.000-06:00

I've made a commitment

Yesterday, I decided that I would go to Palm Springs with my husband for the entire trip - all six days - not just for a weekend.

I really need this trip.
I really need to get away from this house for a little bit.
I really need to be alone with my husband.
I really need to remember what I am like independent of my house and kids.
I really need the sunshine and warmth of Palm Springs.
I really need a frozen tropical drink by the pool.
I really need to socialize with adult-sized people who lead actual lives.
I really need to be pampered, fed and massaged.
I really need a tan.

The way I figure it, I left Bro and The Princess and Blondie to go to Hawaii with Hubby when they were just barely one, two and five, respectively. And everything was fine. No one was scarred for life.

I made pictures of everything Hubby and I would be doing each day we were away. We called once a day. The kids got along fine without me. And they got some happy parents out of the deal.

This means that my dad will be watching the kids Wednesday til Friday alone, then my mom comes out and they tag-team it until we come home on Monday. No prob Bob.

Now that I've made the commitment, I can officially move forward. I have to lose at least ten pounds, get the kids (and myself) mentally prepared, buy new clothes, and get buff by March 3rd.

God help me.

2004-01-16T10:51:00.000-06:00

Better Bubba

Well, at least a little better. He had a pretty good day yesterday - no puking at all, and just a little bit of nausea. He ate like a baby horse all day (mostly cocoa pebbles and toast), and drank a lot of water.

Since Hubby was home, The Princess and I went to the health club to workout. Yeah baby - I kicked my own ass. Bubba was good for daddy and a great time was had by all.

Updates

Bro: having a great time everyday, wrestling on a trampoline, skateboarding, walking all over creation, hanging out at the coffeehouse - all with his posse of friends. Life is good for Bro.

The Princess: has a fun job that doesn't demand too much of her time, is starting to hang out with her girlfriends more, has a little more freedom every day, works out with me occasionally (although I wish she'd stay off the step machines). Life is good for The Princess.

Blondie: is looking for a new job because it's been very slow at the cafe lately, thinking of selling her car and getting a cheap one, gets mad at poor Barley (her boyfriend) everyday, everytime she looks at Bubba he screams "Don't look at me!", has been finding new homes for the guppy puppies. Hanging in there.

Bubba: feeling better but not 100% yet - I'd say about 74%. He's starting to tell stories. Not lying, mind you - just making up interesting stories that sound really good. Watch Bubba's imagination grow!

Hubby: decided to forego his trip to Chicago this weekend. Felt too tired from so much travelling lately. I'm glad he'll be home obviously. Now we're planning out trip to Palm Springs. I think he's going March 3 - 8, and I'll join him March 5 - 8. (Of course, I'd really like to try to go the whole time,but I don't think that's gonna happen.)

Me: Bought the health club membership. Heavy-duty commitment, but I'm determined. I printed out a weight training workout off the internet, and I'm going to bring it with me each time. Much cheaper than a trainer. Yesterday I did 42 minutes on the elliptical, lots of ab work, and many arm and ab machines. I have orientation on Tuesday morning, so I can figure out how to work all the other fun toys there. The health club also has a website where I can keep track of what I eat, what exercises I do, how much weight I've lost, my measurements, and the amount of weight and reps I do on the machines. Tres cool.

Today it's gloomy,cold and rainy. A perfect day to hunker down with Bubba and just relax and get him all the way better. That is, if he cooperates.

Have a great day!

2004-01-14T21:17:00.000-06:00

Mother

You know you're a mother when your toddler pukes all over you, soaking even your bra, and all you can think of is "Thank God it didn't hit his blankie."

I'll be in the shower.

2004-01-14T10:46:00.000-06:00

Mish mosh

My day today is just a big mish mosh of stuff. No rhyme or reason.

- Bubba is feeling sick again, after having a semi-good day yesterday. I think he has a lot of postnasal drip that makes his stomach upset. Poor baby. All I can do is rub vicks on his chest, and hold him while he watches cartoons.

- I need to go to Sam's Club sometime today. We are perilously close to the end of our diaper and kleenex supplies, and Bro needs soda.

- I also need to get to the post office to send back a valance I ordered for above the sink. It looks way too brown, and I thought it would be black and white. I'm trading it for a wine and sage one. It looks better than it sounds.

- I want to go to the bookstore soon to get a book about weight training. I figure if I build more muscle, my metabolism will speed up, making it easier for me to lose weight. At least that's the plan.

- Cool story: The Princess (who is a 5'7" former gymnast) and I both did leg abductions and adductions with the same weight the same amount of reps on the same machines the other day at the gym. Guess who's still sore? Heehee! (PS It's not me!)

- Last night, I did 32 minutes on the elliptical at home, using a high-resistance program, then I did an ab workout and a whole bunch of hand weight stuff. I'm not sore, but I know I did a good job. I found the new FitTv channel last night just in time for the ab workout.

- We've found homes for about eight of the toddler guppies. And the owners don't seem to care if they get boys or girls, so GREAT! Anybody out there need a few guppy puppies? Free to a good home!

- I want to paint something a bright color. I'm thinking of doing something in the sports closet, or on the wall above the breakfast area, outside The Princess' fake window. There's a ledge there and an open space that's just begging for a mural or something. I refuse to put silk dust-magnetic plants up there. I wish I were talented. I'll think of something.

- Hubby gets home late tonight. I hope he cancels his trip to Chicago this weekend. I need a break from this single parenting crap.

Have a great day!

2004-01-13T14:39:00.000-06:00

I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair

...or at least my carpets.

I feel very resentful of Hubby going to Florida for five days (including a weekend), coming home tomorrow night, then leaving for Chicago Friday after work.

Usually when I'm upset, I eat. A lot. And I have been, so I've started the self-loathing thing again.

But I put a stop to that today. Instead of brewing and stewing and eating and steaming, I decided to clean.

Yesterday, Bubba was sick. He threw up five times. On the playroom floor, many large blankets and towels, multiple toddler outfits, Momma, his bed, the couch, and worst of all, his blankie (twice).

I don't know if it's this way with you, but I usually put off cleaning something until I really really really have to. I almost have to be forced into doing the big jobs. But once I am, watch out!

So I shampooed the playroom rug yesterday, dusted the first floor, and did four loads of laundry. Then today, I did two loads of laundry, vacuumed the first floor, and shampooed the living room carpet and the kitchen rugs.

When Bubba gets up, we'll have to play downstairs, which will force me to straighten up and dust the basement, then either vacuum down there, or start cleaning out the storage room or the book closet.

So there ya go.

----------------------------

Bubba hasn't thrown up today (knock wood), but there were a few close calls. When he feels it coming, he yells "Momma, get it out!" But then he fights it, making it much harder on himself. He really was a sad, sorry baby last night. It was heartbreaking. The kids hovered around him, trying to make him feel better all evening. But every time he'd start to feel okay, or if he took a drink, he was down for the count less than a minute later, feeling sick and urpy.

He still has that sick look in his eyes today, but no fever, and he's eating and drinking again. We'll see if he's up for gym class tomorrow. He did have his first Popular Preschool Pals class yesterday, and he really had a good time. He loved all the activities, songs, dances, crafts, and stories. Yay Bubba!

----------------------------

The Princess started work yesterday at the park district. She assisted with a few gymnastics classes (including the Tiny Tot PM class - Bubba goes to the AM class), and she actualy got to teach a Level II class all by herself. She loved it! I hope it becomes a permanent thing for her, since right now she's just subbing for someone on maternity leave. Yay for The Princess!

That's about it from here. Back to scrubbing!

2004-01-12T13:48:00.000-06:00

Not very special

I don't feel very special today. I get restless, crabby and depressed when Hubby is gone for extended periods of time. And I'm overweight, sore from exercising, and probably premenstrual. So I'm devoting this blog to making myself feel better.

I'm a lucky girl. I'm a lucky girl. I'm a lucky girl. I'm a lucky girl....

Did you know I once sang backup for an Elvis impersonator?
I participated in a swimathon (100 laps) and a couple of March of Dimes Walkathons (when they were 26.2 miles long).
I once drank Evian water in Evian, France.
I've been parasailing (1200 ft up) in Hilton Head, hot-air ballooning in Phoenix or Palm Springs (I forget), and flew a glider in Phoenix.
I sailed on a catamaran in Kauai, took a yacht across Lake Geneva in Switzerland, had a black-and-tan in a pub in London.
I walked across Abbey Road (just like the album cover), kayaked in Bermuda, jetskied in Mexico.
I have draped my ample body across the hood of a $100,000 Ferrari (I got yelled at).
I have a picture on my fridge of me, Hubby and Bruce Jenner.
I have a swiss-army knife bought in Switzerland (actually, I've had two).
I rode on the Orient Express (where I first ate lamb).
I don't have to go back to work until I want to.
I have an attentive, loving husband, and four healthy, busy children.
I have two cute dogs, and too many fish to count.
I live in a gorgeous home on a goddamned golf course, for chrissakes.

Okay - I'll stop feeling sorry for myself now.

I'm such a butt.

2004-01-11T10:02:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday!!!

The momma guppy had a new batch of babies today!!!!

We think there are about twenty. It's wild how big the toddler guppies look compared to the newbies.

Now we have way too many fish.

After workout, we're going to transfer momma and the new babies to the new tank downstairs. What fun!!!

------------------

Bubba and Blondie go on a Date

Yesterday after nap, Blondie took Bubba out for an adventure.

Blondie put the baby seat in her car and didn't want anybody else to go with them.

First they went to the Petland store. Bubba talked to a parrot ("Hello." "Hello." "Hello." "Hello."), looked at the Nemo fish, and petted a bunny.

Then they went to the cafe where Blondie works for dinner. Bubba ate fries, and drank water out of a straw. They were gone for about two hours, but it seemed like an eternity. Blondie's phone wasn't working, so I was freaking out. Blondie had never taken Bubba out alone before - ever.

But they had a really good time, and Blondie took a big nap when she got home - yes, Blondie. Bubba wore her out.

The way things are going right now, with Bubba spending more time away from me without any problems, I'm starting to think things will be okay when we go to Palm Springs in March.

Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer.

2004-01-10T13:36:00.000-06:00

Properly exhausted

Took the kids to the health club today. The Princess used the recumbent bike, the stair machine, and the ab equipment. Bro used the bike, played basketball, and used the weight machines. I did a half-hour on the elliptical, ab stuff with The Princess, and ab and arm machines with Bro. Bubba ran and jumped and climbed and played chase for an hour and a half.

I can't tell you how freeing it is to be able to finally leave Bubba for an hour or two so I can do something for myself by myself. He's having fun with total strangers and not worrying a bit about where Momma is! Yay!

Now we are all appropriately exhausted. Bubba even lay down for a nap without a fight.

The computer is fixed. I had my doubts, because they said nothing was wrong with it, but it works, so there ya go.

So Hubby is off to Florida until Wednesday. We are left to our own devices for a while. I plan to take the kids to the health club as often as possible, to facilitate major nappage.

Hey - The Princess starts a job at the park district Monday. She will be a gymnastics instructor two days a week after school. She is psyched. She also applied for many other jobs, so maybe she'll have another for the weekends.

That is it from here. I'm pooped.

2004-01-09T14:19:00.000-06:00

Self-improvement

I am so sick of all the 'new year - new you' crap out there right now. Everybody wants me to be a better communicator, lose twenty pounds, reorganize my finances, redecorate my home, add some zip to my love life, make my kids love me better, get thinner thighs, a smaller butt, tighter abs, a bigger, thicker penis - wait! That must have been spam!

Sorry.

The point is: why should I do any or all of those things (except the penis part, of course)? Maybe my goal for the new year should be self-acceptance. But that wouldn't cost any money, would it? I wouldn't have to buy any books, exercise equipment, special foods, or anything. God forbid.

That said, and since I'm a total hypocrite, I went to the health club today for a tryout before I sign up.

Yeah, yeah. I know, I know.

I still want to lose at least ten pounds by March 1st, and I think the only way I can do that is with exercise. I eat pretty healthily, except when I go into binge mode. I hope that by being out of the house and totally exhausting myself exercising I should be able to avoid a majority of my usual binges.

The club was good. I took a CORE interval class. It's just like a step class, but you do it on a platform mounted to a base in the middle, so it wobbles around when you work out. Very cool, but kinda hard on the ankles (at least until they get stronger). Then I took a tai chi class, which was really neat. I felt like the old folks in the park on the vioxx commercial (or whatever it was). Bubba was in the Kids' Club the whole time, obviously running on high rpms the whole time. When I went to get him after almost two hours, he was redfaced and begging for water. He had a great time an so did I.

I know I'll sign up for a membership after my free ten days are over (if Bubba still likes it), but I want to see if I The Princess likes it too. Since she can't really do any sports except swimming and biking, I thought she might like the machines, the pilates and yoga classes, the strength training, etc. And they do have a lap pool there. Of course, her biggest draw is the tanning booth. Yeesh.

Come to think of it, all the naked ladies in the locker room had brown butts.

Hmmm.

2004-01-08T15:02:00.000-06:00

Brief purge update

Let's see...since we last checked in on the hausfrau, she has...

- emptied the baker's rack in the kitchen and filled it with cookbooks (maybe if she sees them, she'll cook some more)...
- thereby emptying two cabinets in the laundry room...
- which she will use to store her laundry room stuff (that she will clean off the laundry room counter tomorrow).
- She has totally cleaned off her kitchen counters of all correspondence, bills, pending stuff, and other detritus, leaving a clean new slate. It looks naked. But clean.
- She redecorated the mantle in the hearth room with her yelloware bowls and plants. Looks nice.
- She bought and set up a new five-gallon aquarium in the lower level for the female guppy and her female babies.
- She did heavy-duty cleanup action in Bro's bathroom when his sink spewed pasta, peas, etc the other night. Turns out the disposal can't handle pasta now either.
- She checked out the health club nearby, and loved the child care facility - it's better than Burger King! Tomorrow she and the Bubba will go to the workout place to try it out!
- She updated her palm and her datebook and posted the next two months on the fridge.

That is all for now.

2004-01-08T13:50:00.000-06:00

WTF?!

Okay, so the desktop computer upstairs hasn't let me run disk cleanup in many moons. And it stopped letting The Princess and Hubby burn CDs a couple of months ago. And, even with the support of the Sony people online and over the phone, I still can't write pictures to a CD.

And now the damn thing keeps locking up and spitting things out at me. It's the G drive that's the root of the problem, but it's kinda like an iceberg - it's not gonna be an smaller under the surface.

Carl at Sony support says I have to bring the stupid thing in because something is very wrong with it.

Great - now I get to see how big (and expensive) the iceberg will be.

Hubby's not going to like this one bit.

2004-01-07T18:37:00.000-06:00

Smells I like

Bleach - it reminds me of the pool at Independence Park in Chicago, where I swam just about every day for years.
Pinesol - I know it's clean if it smells like that.
Buttercream - one of my favorite Yankee candle scents, along with Sage and Citrus and Cucumber and Melon.
Love's Baby Soft - my first perfume. I definitely overused and abused it.
A baby's head - my all-time favorite.
Oranges - but not orange-scented cleaners.
Brut - I swoon.
The ocean - memories of Hilton Head.
A sweaty child just in from a hard day of play - I tell him/her that he/she smells like outside.
Brownies in the oven - oh. my. god.
Lilacs - spring is here.
Lily of the valley (muguets des bois) - my second perfume. Also abused, but not so overused.
Lake Michigan - I know I'm home. Reminds me of dancing to Rock Lobster on North Avenue Beach with the other rec leaders from summer day camp.
My husband's smell - not that he's smelly or anything. He just smells good.
Williams-Sonoma Basil Hand Soap and Lotion - I'm buying it just before spring comes.
Benzoin - that smelly stuff nurses apply to skin before they put on steri-strips. I used to sniff it at work in the cath lab.
Bandaids - I loved sniffing them as a kid. Don't tell Ma.
Baked beans - they smell so good as they cook all day.
Chocolate chip cookies in the oven - stop that now.
New car smell - yeah baby.
Fresh laundry - nice and warm, straight from the dryer.
Clean dog - as opposed to dirty, goose-pooped, or wet dog.
Dunkin Donuts coffee - reminds me of my days as a donut pusher. I don't drink coffee - never have.
The smell of the desert flowers in Arizona - I think it was yucca, mesquite, honeysuckle, and sage.
Coppertone suntan lotion - before sunscreen and PABA were important. I would smell it in the winter and the summer would come flooding back to me.
Gasoline - when I accidentally get it on my hands at the pump. I kinda like it.
Butter and garlic - I told you to knock it off.
My own farts - c'mon, admit it. You like yours too.
Fresh cut grass - after taking claritin of course.
Christmas tree - ditto.
Clinique happy - current perfume of choice, not that I ever wear it anymore.
Musk - my third perfume. I still like it but it reminds me of the 80s.
Rain - a steady shower on a warm spring day.

That's all I can think of right now. What's your favorite smell?

2004-01-06T18:41:00.000-06:00

How to be a bad friend

Drop the ball when it's your turn to initiate contact.
Turn down invitations to visit.
Give half-hearted invitations for people to come out and stay a few days.
Exert minimal effort regarding keeping in touch.
When you do keep in touch, do it by email. Email is fastest, least personal, and doesn't require picking up the phone, participating in conversation, picking up a pen and paper or walking to the mailbox.
When a friend does call, say 'uh-huh' and 'I bet' and 'how about that?' a lot to simulate paying attention.
For Christmas, send out cards with just a signature and a picture of the kids - no personal note or anything that may acknowledge any form of commitment or devotion.
Make excuses like 'I've been so busy' or 'I live so far away'.
Keep making excuses until all formerly-devoted friends have given up on you.

Consider this expert advice. No charge.

2004-01-05T13:26:00.000-06:00

Torn

My husband and I are supposed to go on a trip to Palm Springs March 3rd. We will be treated like royalty - all the best foods, accomodations, events, activities, great company, sun, pampering, and frozen drinks by the pool. We will be alone with each other for the first time in three years.

It is a much-needed break for us, and something we've given up for the past few years. The people in my husband's company are beginning to think we're divorced or I'm dead. And we always have a wonderful time - rediscovering how much fun we have together and how much we love each other outside of the context of our family.

Problem: Bubba.

I have many small worries about leaving him, but the biggest one is this:

I don't want him to think, even for a second, that Momma has left him. I don't want him to grieve or suffer or worry that I might not be coming back.

I would stick a dagger into my eye before I would let him suffer because of me. He is very attached to me, as two-year-olds should be. How can I know that he will be placated and pacified sufficiently while I'm gone? Will he be able to accept comfort from me via phone? Will he understand it when his brother and sisters and grandfather tell him "Mommy will be home in five days."?

Here's what I think will happen: he will scream and cry and suck his thumb raw, and hold on to his blankie for dear life 24/7. He will worry himself into a sad, sniffly state. He will grieve the whole time I'm gone, and no one will be able to console him.

This is not me thinking I'm more important than I am. This is me scared to death of scarring my baby for life.

My kids will be here, of course, along with my dad. They are all competent, individually, to take care of Bubba. But they each have their own issues with each other that will distract them and interfere with their ability to totally devote themselves to my baby -

who will need constant distraction, and a calm, matter-of-fact, secure, compassionate, and infinitely patient mother substitute who he can trust to take care of him until Mommy comes back.

Because Mommy always comes back.

Now if only Mommy can leave.

2004-01-04T15:18:00.000-06:00

The purge continues

Today, in my continuing quest for unencumbrance, I did the following:

- cleaned out the medicine cabinets in the master bath
- cleaned out both vanities in the master bath
- cleaned out the front hall closet (there were at least FORTY pairs of shoes in there and I don't know how many jackets!)
- cleaned out the 'sports' closet
- made The Princess and Bro each fill two giant trash bags with crap from their closets
- got Hubby to fill one bag from his side of the closet (so far).

I intend to tackle the rest of the first floor this week. That means the kitchen and the laundry room are next. I've never ever disposed of a kitchen utensil, gadget, or appliance in my life. I will have to pull the van out of the garage so we can store the garbage until trash day Wednesday, but I don't care.

I've become compulsive, and I like it.

Everybody waaasssshhhout!

2004-01-03T11:04:00.000-06:00

Purge

In 2003, the word was Patience. In 2002, Persevere. Same thing in 2001.

The word for 2004 is Purge.

I intend to live cleanly, to jettison all the detritus of my past life, to travel lightly. I've been feeling the weight of all my unnecessary possessions dragging on me for a while now. Some of the boxes in my storage room have been moved to and from four or five houses - some unopened! Most of this stuff has lost any sentimental value it may have once had, and is now just acting as a stone around my neck.

So it's going.

And the purging theme also applies to my self. I intend to pare down my body size some more. I left ten pounds behind last year, and I want to pare off another ten or twenty this year. Hopefully, ten by March 1st. I think it's doable. I just have to start doing good things for my body. The first steps I took this year were: resuming walking, and buying Colon Blow cereal. No, that's not it's real name, but you get the idea. There's 9g fiber in each one-cup serving. I can feel it scouring my innards clean as we speak. That, plus one or two salads a day should keep me pretty full, so I don't turn to the refined crap. And purging the house of detritus should keep my idle hands busy and out of the kitchen. So even if I don't walk (although I will make the effort), or get on the elliptical (I'm trying, but it's not easy), I will be ocupied with activities other than eating.

That's the plan.

Already today I've cleaned out my half of the closet. Mind you, this is a two-story walk-in dressing room. I got rid of pants that are older than The Princess! I had to face the fact that they will never come back into vogue, if they ever were in the first place. I also cleaned out my dresser. I filled four large trash bags with old shoes, maternity clothes, and wishful-thinking clothes.

I feel lighter already.

Maybe it's just the Colon Blow.

2004-01-01T13:44:00.000-06:00

Looking back on 2003

Bro: After a tumultuous two years of middle school in Kansas, Bro started high school. And *Surprise!* - he took to it like a duck to water! I give credit to Bro and to his PASS class teacher. She's the nagging-mother-type teacher they assigned Bro to keep him on the right track. And Bro's really been working hard. He also started working at the doggy day care. Most of the time it's on a volunteer basis, but sometimes he gets paid - and he really loves the dogs! And he received no major injuries from skateboarding this year, either. All in all, a good year for Bro.

The Princess: She got her driver's permit this year, so she's been bugging us a lot to practice. I'm so glad my car's a stick shift! She gets her license this month, so everybody watch out! Also, after a lifetime of involvement in cheerleading, she finally had to give it up last month. Her ankle just won't tolerate the punishment, and I really want her to continue to be able to walk. It was an easy decision to make, but a hard one to live with. She's doing pretty well, though. We see a new orthopedist next month, so I have high hopes. Also this year, she got her cell phone. I think she may have been grounded from it more often than not, but it's become an extension of her right arm. Yeesh.

Blondie: After quitting the receptionist job at the vet, and another waitressing job, she settled in at the cafe where she works now. The tips seem to run hot and cold, which makes it hard, but she's doing pretty well there. School is another story, however. I think she's done for a while. I hope she goes back soon, but I think she needs a break, at least until she gets her priorities straight and figures out just what she wants to do with her life. But how many of us knew at twenty? She also went through a couple of cars, surviving a nasty crash with her new Sunfire in spring. She seems happy with the car she has now, and we're just glad she's safe.

Bubba: The changes that occur between ages one and two are innumerable. Suffice it to say that he's become a toddler now and is determinedly plowing his way to preschoolerhood. Hubby and I get so blue thinking about how fast he's growing up and how he's our last little one. Why's he in such a hurry? He also survived his first set of stitches, which he received on his forehead after running into the corner of a wall. The scar is just about invisible now, but I'll always be able to see it on his beautiful head. Bubba took his first plane flight to Arizona this past spring, and made two or three eight-hour trips to Chicago in the van with the family. He really gets around, that baby. He runs us all ragged.

Hubby: Hubby never seems to change. He seems to me the same as when I met him, just a little more grown-up. And I do mean little. He keeps things fun around here. He went to Switzerland without me this past spring for a business conference. His work life is going very well. He's hired some great employees, his staff love him, the mucky-mucks at work love him - he's their golden boy. He works out regularly, does the Atkins diet a few days a month, and is in great shape. I hate him.

Me: I think this was the year I finally realized that I live in Kansas. I didn't "just get transferred" and I've lived here longer than either of the last two places we were. My last baby was born here, for chrissakes! I still don't have many friends, but I have many acquaintances and am on friendly terms with the neighbors. I am finally settling into this house, painting and decorating room by room, making it my own. Yes, I hope someday we do move back to Chicago, but right now my life is here. My family is thriving, my parents and siblings visit often, and I guess we're making a niche for ourselves here. I also lost twenty-something pounds and gained back all but ten. Time to re-lose the remainder and then some. Yuk.

My Chicago family: Mom got a new job after her position was eliminated at her old one. It was really tough for a highly-paid older woman to find another good job, but she did it! My dad is getting ready to retire next month, and is already planning to come out to visit more often. We're so glad! My brother is still working as an electrical contractor with much success, and is happy to come home to his very well-trained lovable pitbull terrier. My sister and her husband bought their first house, and it's a beaut! She was born for homeownership, I tell ya. They also just got a new chocolate lab puppy to keep Buddha company. Everybody watch out! Gram is plugging along, keeping her sugar nice and normal, taking care of her feet. We had a scare earlier in the year regarding her health, but that was all it was, thank God. She got a new washer for Christmas, and she also sees a really cute new foot doctor frequently. Yeah baby.

I know I just skimmed over the high- and lowlights of 2003, but I'm too busy looking ahead right now. I have a feeling 2004 will be a very good year. Next post, I'll tell you about it.

Happy New Year, everybody! Peace and love to all.

2003-12-29T22:42:00.000-06:00

Heredity

There are certain traits that are handed down to your children by heredity. But I think there are many traits, quirks, attitudes, and weirdnesses that are also hereditary, which they haven't found a genetic marker for yet.

Like the way the baby growls just like his sister did when she was a baby.
The way Bubba crosses his leg and plays with his foot like Daddy does.
Body shape - I got my dad's.
Bubba has many of the same facial expressions that Grandma has.
Eating habits - that could be attributed to environment, I guess.
Tics like chewing fingernails or picking teeth.
Susceptibility to cold sores (maybe they already found a gene for that one).
Attitude and temperament: The Princess has her daddy's demeanor.
Physical ability and skill: Bro shares his dad's natural talent for baseball and football. The Princess got hers (for cheerleading and gymnastics) from her Aunt Lisa. Blondie shares my gift for uncoordination. Bubba is already a natural athlete like his daddy.
My mom, sister, and I all share a predisposition to excel in grammar- and English-related activities, including writing and proofreading.

There's more, I'm sure. I'll try to write them down as I think of them tomorrow.
Do you have any you can think of?

2003-12-27T21:47:00.000-06:00

Our Christmas Miracle

We have nine to twelve new babies in the house!!!

The day after Christmas, I got up with the baby, changed and fed him, fed the dogs and let them out, and fed the fish and turned on the aquarium light. The big goldfish was dead, so I scooped him out.

That's when I saw them.

Nine to twelve of the tiniest living creatures I have ever seen: guppy fry!

Turns out one of our four guppies is a she, not a he, and she had babies. It's kinda hard to count them since they keep moving and they're so small and blend in with the gravel. But I think we have eleven or twelve.

What fun!

I figure the she-guppy probably gave birth before, but the goldfish ate the guppy-puppies right away each time. Now that the goldfish is gone, well, there ya go.

Each guppy-puppy is about one-quarter of an inch long and unbelieveably cute and quick. They are the color of mud with eyes about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. The current of water from the filter flings them across the tank if they try to swim through it.

Many laughs. Highly educational. Nature at its finest. Life's rich pageant.
-------------------------

Amy and Mom are here. It's so nice to see them to be with them. I'm with my womenfolk! Yay!

Life is once again good.

2003-12-24T21:46:00.000-06:00

A Very Special Christmas Gift

In today's Very Special episode, we find the blogger, clearly depressed, making dinner after cleaning the basement yet again...

The doorbell rings, the dogs go nuts. There is a package left on the front stoop. She shouts "Merry Christmas!" to the fleeing Fedex person, and picks up the package.

Hmm. It's from Target direct. I thought I got everything I had ordered already.

It says it's for me. Hmm.

She opens it. It's an item from her Christmas list that she almost ordered for herself yesterday. It's beautiful. She's mystified.

Where did it come from?

The card says, "Merry Christmas my friend Suuuuusan." It's from Eileen, who she loves dearly, but hasn't seen in years.

She cries. Sobs actually. She's so touched she can't speak to anybody about it for a few hours.

Eileen thought of her.

She calls Eileen when she thinks she can do it without breaking down. Answering machine. She leaves a husky-voiced message of thanks and promises to call in a day or two.

She's floored. She thanks God for Eileen and her thoughtfulness. She is completely and utterly humbled by the unexpected and touching gift. She cries on and off throughout the evening, whenever she thinks of this kindness.

--------------------------------

Eileen - I love you and I thank you from the deepest part of my exhausted heart for the gift and your thoughtfulness. I will probably never be able to convey how much this meant to me and how it came at just exactly the right time. It amazes me that you can still read my mind when we've been so far apart for so long. You are and always have been very special to me. Thank you so much for popping back into my life.

Merry Christmas my friend Eileeeeeeeeeeeeen.

2003-12-24T13:23:00.000-06:00

Help! Get him offa me!

I am in desperate need of a solvent. The baby has attached himself to me and won't let go. I mean it.

He woke up three times last night just to see if I was still around. And when I got there each time, he was mad I took so long. No wet diaper, no drink of water, no nightmare. Just wanted to see where I was.

He was pissed this morning when I didn't want to get up with him and suggested that he eat breakfast with Daddy.

He threw a major shit fit when I stepped away from the table and went to the bathroom while he was eating lunch.

I really can't take much more of this crap. If I hear "Mommy. Mommy" one more time, I don't know what I'll do. Thank God the kids are home from school. (Did I really say that?)

I can almost see why he screams for me when I'm not there. But when I'm in the same goddamned room?

How the heck am I going to be able to go to Palm Springs with Hubby in March?

I wanna cry but it's Christmas.

-----------------------------

I bought a light-up Holy Family and a donkey for outside today. I'll put Baby Jesus out tonight before I go to bed.

That makes me happy.

-----------------------------

I love Dolly Parton's "Hard Candy Christmas" song. It's from "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" movie that she made with Burt Reynolds before his many facelifts. The song makes me cry.

Back to crying again.

I think I'll go watch "It"s a Wonderful Life."

That'll do it for sure. Then I'll feel better.

2003-12-23T11:48:00.000-06:00

Final Dead Pool Deadline

Hey, campers!

Today is the final day for Dead Pool submissions. If you would like to participate, please email your list to me TODAY at itsgottabesomewhere(at)yahoo.com.

That is all.

2003-12-23T11:45:00.000-06:00

The Lull After the Storm

Dad and Greg (who will heretofore be known in this blog as "Uncle") and Little left this morning at 8am. It was so nice to have them here. I think we all enjoyed the visit.

Except....

Yesterday I went to my husband's Christmas party at the Cheesecake Factory. I left at 11:20am. My dad, Uncle, The Princess and Bro were assigned Bubba-watching duty. Bro was the one in charge, since nobody knows Bubba better. Bubba skipped the lunch I made him, then watched Nemo, falling asleep on the couch for one hour.

Then he got up.

He started crying for Momma, and wouldn't stop. They tried everything: Nemo, blankie, going to play in the basement, distraction, toys - everything. And Punka (my dad) got flustered by the nonstop wailing and moaning Bubba was broadcasting at high volume. Then low volume. Then high, medium, high and low volume.

Next time you see my brother, ask him to sing you the "Mommy Song."

Anyway, Bro and Punka abraded against each other, nothing could alleviate Bubba's suffering, and The Princess was told to get on the phone and get me home.

I got there within ten-fifteen minutes. At 1pm. Then everything was okay.

I got the scoop from The Princess: Bubba slept for one hour, then cried for a half hour. That's how long it took for everything to fall apart.

Bubba kicked their asses in a half-hour.

He is a force unto himself.

-------------------------

So now things are temporarily quiet. Today the Schwan's man came, which is just a good as Christmas, if you ask the kids. And I'm cleaning the house, because everybody knows that Santa won't come to a dirty house.

It's so much easier to clean a house that's already pretty clean, dontcha think?

But I haven't wrapped a thing yet. Not one thing.

I'm recruiting Bro and The Princess to do some of Bubba's stuff, and Hubby volunteered to help wrap after work, so it shouldn't be too bad.

We're all getting really excited about Christmas around here. The Princess even came down from her room singing "Jingle Bells."

Life is good.

------------------------

Mom comes out the 26th and Amy the 27th, and they each will be staying a couple of days.

I'm really looking forward to being with my womenfolk. There's just an easiness between us. Not that I'm uneasy with my dad and brother or anything - I really enjoy hanging out with them and having them around the house. But there's something about being with Amy and Mom that just makes me feel like I'm with the people who know me best and still like me fine.

I think it's funny that Mom comes out here to relax. Heeheehee.

Yep, life is good.

2003-12-21T13:59:00.000-06:00

Christmas visitors

My dad and brother are here! And Little (my brother's dog), too.

They arrived in time for dinner, ate, played, watched the Chiefs game, ate ice cream, watched dumb TV and went to bed.
Last night, everybody had plenty of blankies and slept well except for the occasional distant train whistle.

Today, we had big breakfast and took a nice walk on the bike trail. Dad, Greg, Bubba, Little and I took the stroller and explored Bubba's favorite place. We kicked lumpy balls down the hill, threw rocks in the creek, played on the playground, and explored the woods. Then we walked home and Bubba played outside some more with Bro. Poor baby was so tired he didn't know whether to shit or go blind. He was hungry and overtired and thirsty. He ended up eating while I held him, then I laid him down for a nap with Daddy. He put up only token resistance.

Then I fed the men. Chicken quesadillas etc. And they ate well considering they had grabbed the Subway sandwiches out of the van and ate them while I was cooking their lunch.

Now Greg and Bro are laughing loudly at the TV downstairs, Little is napping by the fire, Bubba and Hubby are sleeping in the big bed, The Princess is playing with her phone, and Dad is watching TV in the front room - undoubtedly on the edge of a nap himself.

I'm so happy.

2003-12-19T21:51:00.000-06:00

How to make life hell for one hour

...or "How to severely piss off your toddler and earn many dirty looks from your wife."

Hubby spilled cocoa pebbles and milk all over Bubba's blankie this evening.

We had to endure continuous screaming, crying and sobbing "Bankie!" for an hour. And that was just Bubba. By the end of the hour, we were all crying and sobbing "Bankie!"

We ended up giving it to him slightly wet at the corners. The ensuing silence was actually deafening. Kinda like at the end of a rock concert where you've sat next to the speakers all night.

Within five minutes, Bubba was falling asleep on the couch, wrapped up in the love of his life. Poor baby.

------------------------------

What I got done today:
- I defrosted and cleaned the mini-fridge in the basement.
- I cleaned the basement kitchen, both bathrooms, the living room and Blondie's room.
- I took all the crap that was on Blondie's floor and put it in garbage bags. She can sort through it all and see what's garbage or not, or what's clean or dirty.
- I rearranged Blondie's room. Now that all the furniture's moved, you can see I cleaned in every corner of the room and behind every piece of furniture.
- I vacuumed all rugs and floors except for Bro's room.
- I shampooed the spots and traffic areas in Blondie's room and the living room.
- I washed all the downstairs comforters, sheets and blankies.
- I put slipcovers and new pillows on the basement couches.
- I put the dismantled table in the storage room.
- I moved the elliptical to a different spot so we can bring Bubba's playhouse/slide thing downstairs.

The only room I didn't clean was Bro's. It's almost done, and I'd like him to finish it himself if possible. As long as it is clean, a little clutter is okay.

I'm so happy I got so much done. It looks and smells great down there now. It's a joy to be able to send people down there without disclaimers. And the couches look really cute.

Yay me.

2003-12-19T12:06:00.000-06:00

Everybody say "Yeah!!!"

Bubba only got up once last night, and he was cool and not too congested. I gave him tylenol and water and put him back down successfully. He did get up before dawn, but that's okay.

So far today, he's eaten pretty well, took his medicine without a problem, had a big poop, went to target, ran around the bank while mommy did business, and watched some of Nemo (duh).

Now I get to do some cleaning. Finally! I am psyched about reclaiming the guest room (if only for a week or so). I warned Blondie I was going to clean it, so she can't say she didn't know about it. She keeps picking up shifts at work, so she's never around to clean (like she would anyway). I defrosted the downstairs little fridge, bought a new slipcover and some pillows for the couch, relit the fake tree and put more ornaments on it, and had Bro dismantle the kitchen table down there.

This afternoon, I will vacuum and shampoo spots on the carpet, clean the bathrooms and bedrooms, and make everything look pretty and clean. I like going down there, but only if it's tidy. I have a really nice basement. It's more like a cool apartment, except the kitchen doesn't have a stove. But the big-screen TV balances it out, dontcha think?

--------------------------

My brother keeps calling me for no reason. He and Dad are coming out tomorrow and we're getting really excited. I think Greg is too. It'll be like two Santas coming to our house with a van full of presents!

Wheeeeee!

--------------------------

Amy got a puppy yesterday - a chocolate lab girl. I don't know what they named it yet, or how Buddha took to it, but I'm looking forward to hearing about Amy and John's new addition. I like the name Dolly. Or Chubby. All labs are chubby.

Anyway. Back to work.

2003-12-18T21:39:00.000-06:00

Completely and utterly

Exhausted.

Last night was by far the worse night of Bubba's short life. He was up for at least three hours before we finally put him in bed with us. Then he got up every twenty minutes or so to cry and thrash. I had even made Hubby get up with him after about the two and a half hour mark. Then Bubba wouldn't sleep in, either. We were up before dawn with the most miserable toddler in the world.

And the day continued a lot like the night, only with brief periods of happiness and sunshine. His naps was taken in fits and starts, and was completely unsatisfying for both of us. I had many chores that just didn't get done. Thank goodness Bro and The Princess chipped in. He took Bubba off my hands for a little while, and she did many chores.

This evening, Bubba had low-grade temperature and refused to take any meds again. I was forced to lay on the couch with him for hours, even though there was a lot of other stuff I had to do. Nothing like a toddler to realign your priorities, huh. He really liked the Grinch. Well, the Grinch's dog. Don't we all. I finally got him to take his ibuprofen - I tricked him into it. And I pushed fluids on him as best as I could.

There's nothing more stubborn than a miserable toddler with a low-grade fever.

I just put him to bed (in his own room). He was happy and tired and will hopefully fit a few good hours in before the next bout of parent-testing. I love my Bubba. I hope he feels better tomorrow.

We may just find out how many times a baby can watch Nemo in one day.
This momma's tired. Good night.

2003-12-18T16:15:00.000-06:00

My sickly husband

My husband, the strongest man in the world, has a hiatal hernia.

He has a consultation appointment scheduled for December 30.

You could knock me over with a feather.

More to follow...

2003-12-17T11:39:00.000-06:00

Dead Pool Alert

The Dead Pool deadline (heehee) is coming up! Have your list of nine people you think will die in 2004 submitted to me (at itsgottabesomewhere{at}yahoo.com) by December 20th if you want to participate.

That is all.

Turmoil

I haven't blogged or returned anyone's calls (sorry Greg and Amy) in the past two days, but I have a good excuse.

I was really concerned about Bubba's breathing. As you know, he's had a cold the past few days. Yesterday, I lay down with him to get him to nap, and I noticed that his breaths were shallow, rapid and looked like they required a lot of effort. And this was even when he was sleeping. But he didn't seemed distressed at all.

First I thought it was because he was sucking his thumb, and his nose was kinda clogged. But he did it even when he wasn't sucking his thumb. I listened to his lungs and they seemed okay, but he was yelling at the time. His circulation was fine - his toes were pink and warm.

But it still didn't seem right.

So we went to the doctor. She corroborated my assessment of his lungs and circulation. She didn't know what was going on, but she had me give him a breathing treatment. Have you ever tried to hold a mask on a screaming, bucking toddler for seven to ten minutes? What a nightmare. And it didn't seem to make a difference.

So she prescribed a steroid and albuterol, both in syrup form, and we went home. He wouldn't take any of it - no way, no how. And he was still breathing like that. So I gave him an OTC cold medication (thank God for chewable tablets), ran the shower in his bathroom, and put vicks on his chest. He slept on two pillows.

Until 5am!

At 2:40, I went to check on him, and he was still breathing funny, but in no distress at all. Then when he called for me at 5am, his nose was stuffy, so he was breathing through his mouth.

Slowly and deeply.

My stubborn toddler just didn't want to breath out of his mouth before, so he chose to struggle to breathe through his nose all day. And freak out his mother.

Now I'm back from the edge of panic and will resume my regularly scheduled holiday frenzy.

God bless us everyone.

2003-12-15T15:00:00.000-06:00

Aimless

Blondie, my twenty-year-old, has been going to college for three years now and still does not know what she wants to do. She just flunked two out of her four finals at the junior college. She says she's not going back to school. She doesn't like either the juco or WhatsaMattaU anymore. She wants to maybe go to a technical school and become a med tech or something. She wants to move out by the time she turns twenty-one in October. She thinks if she works many doubles at the cafe, she'll be able to make enough money to move out.

The girl is clueless.

She thinks I hate her boyfriend. It's true that I get mad whenever I see him. All I can see when I look at him is another reason for her not to study for her classes, which I know she's flunking. Hate him? No, there's nothing for me to hate.

She thinks I hate her. It's true that I feel mad whenever I see her lately. That's because all she does is party with her friends instead of study. And she doesn't pay her bills. And she doesn't lift a finger around here to help out, even though she pays no rent. And she expects me to make her dinner and complains when it's not there. And she trashes the house as if it were her own to trash. So, yes, I'm plenty mad at her, but I don't hate her.

I am sick with dread about her future. I worry that she will drift about aimlessly, racking up more credit card bills and not paying them, getting fired or quitting one job after another, not getting a decent education that would guarantee her decent money, going from boyfriend to boyfriend, and friend to friend until she alienates everybody, going out partying, drinking too much, getting in one kind of trouble or another, and ignoring the reality of her life and future.

And ending up stuck in a dead-end marriage with a lot of responsibilities that she can't ignore anymore and no joy in her life.

Yes, I know that sounds a lot like someone I know (me). And if I hadn't found Hubby, I'd probably still be working customer service for no money, bouncing checks, living in a basement apartment and trying to raise my Blondie alone.

I want so much better than that for her. But I can't give it to her or buy it for her. All she has to do is tell us what she wants to do or be - what would bring her joy - and we would fall all over ourselves, move mountains to make it happen for her. But we can't study for her, we can't work for her, we can't make the tough choices for her.

All we can do is watch and wait and be there to catch her when she falls. I'm trying to give this one over to God to worry about, but I'm having a hard time letting go of the worry. It'll consume me if I let it.

Take a deep breath and count to ten. What brings you joy?

2003-12-14T09:39:00.000-06:00

My two cents worth

We got him. So now what are we going to do with him?
If he's to be tried by Iraqis won't he be jailed there? And won't his fanatical supporters try like heck to get him out?
And wasn't Osama bin Laden the one who masterminded the 9/11 attacks? Wasn't capturing him the original goal? And isn't he much more dangerous than Hussein?
I'm just sayin'.

Partyin' with the Old Folks

As you might know, we live in a retirement community with maintenance included.
(Hey - Hubby had 24 hours to find a house out here and this one was a STEAL.)

We attended our subdivision's Christmas party last night. I'm sad to report that there was no chest hair aflame, no dirty dancing, no lewd and crude behavior. No wonton drunkenness.

Of course, we left at 7pm. The Princess and Bro had plans and Blondie was working, so there was no one to watch Bubba.

There might have been an orgy after we left - I couldn't tell ya. I wouldn't put anything past those crazy old folks.

Bro was there acting as the coat room attendant. He looked nice and acted nice and made us look good. Thank you Bro.

I had three small glasses of wine, and felt drugged afterward. I passed out early, leaving Hubby to wait up for The Princess. He didn't make it either. We're older than the old folks.

It's pretty sad when senior citizens can run circles around you when it comes to having a good time.

Yeesh. I have to go make spritz cookies and peanut butter balls now.
Ho ho ho.

2003-12-12T14:51:00.000-06:00

I love this!

Check out this picture:

You can read the article about it here.

I'd like to get a bumper sticker that says: Are you saying, "Mommy would you please kick my ass?"

I say it to my kids sometimes. It's a joke, really.

Well, the kids get it.

2003-12-12T12:26:00.000-06:00

Why I Can't Ever Be Without Hubby

I noticed a trend recently.

Whenever Hubby goes out of town (home to Chicago, away on a business trip), I eat.

A lot. Mostly refined highly-processed carb crap.

I have concluded that I am an emotional eater, and that I use food to self-medicate when I feel insecure, lonely, bored, depressed, you-name-it.

And Hubby is my anti-drug.

2003-12-11T17:37:00.000-06:00

Therapy

There's something therapeutic about hacking away at a thick layer of ice with a shovel, donchathink?

When a big slab comes up with little effort.
The finesse you must employ to hit the slab at just the right angle to break a big chunk off.
The brittle clak sound it makes when the ice fractures and shatters.
The chunks of all sizes and shapes that are a product of your efforts.
The satisfying sight of a much clearer driveway and a pile of various-shaped ice shards.

All accomplished with a warped and battered plastic shovel.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

2003-12-11T13:18:00.000-06:00

Eraserhead

Okay, I took Bubba to the special screaming-baby-quick-haircut-place today. He was growing a pretty good mullet there and I just couldn't take it anymore. I figured fifteen minutes of screaming toddler hell and we'll be done.

I was right. It even took less than fifteen minutes.

But he looks like Eraserhead now.

I can fix the long dangly section on the right side of his forehead, but I can't fix the gaping white bald patch on the back of his little head. It's only the size of a dime (okay, maybe a nickel), but it's white. It stands out.

The hairdresser did the best she could under the circumstances. I admired the way she dove right in and didn't seem at all intimidated by my toddler's screams and contortions and flailing limbs.

And hair grows. By the time Dad and Greg get here on the twentieth, the bald spot should be filled in and the whitewalls should not be white anymore.

Thank God I took the Christmas picture before he got this haircut. Mom would've killed me.

2003-12-10T15:24:00.000-06:00

At least they're all clean...

Attempts to take a picture of the kids for the Christmas card:
(By the way, that's Blondie, Bubba, Bro, and The Princess)

It's like trying to hold on to a greased pig...

Yes, your hair looks fine...

Quit looking at the dog!

Okay. This was the best of the bunch. Everybody be free.

Yeesh.

2003-12-10T13:58:00.000-06:00

Things are looking up

The Princess got a call today from the gymnastics department head at the local park district. She had applied for a job there a couple of weeks ago, and he wants her to come in and interview, and discuss times she would be available! Yay!

She's very happy - she didn't want to end up with a job she hated. She was initially reluctant to do anything related to gymnastics or cheerleading, but face it - that's what she's good at, what she knows. So her interview is at 2:30 today and we're all very excited!

---------------------

The kids are off of school today for a snow day. Yeah - here in Kansas, if we get three or so inches, it's called a winter storm, and no one should leave his/her house! They close all the schools and the panicky weatherpeople get on the tv and warn everybody to "not go out if you don't have to", then it all melts by noon. Yeesh.

----------------------

I am finally making a dent in the Christmas card pile! I got all the kids together this morning for the family picture. Everybody was clean even! Then I signed all the cards and put the return address labels on them. I'm printing up the pictures for inclusion in the cards as we speak. Then all I have left to do is address them, and send them to work with Hubby so he can mail them. Too bad he's on a business trip and won't be back to the office until Monday.

----------------------

My natural greenery decoration on the mantels is not working out. The evergreens are doing okay, but the holly is wilting. I think I'll just remove the holly, then see how it looks. Maybe I'll replace it with artificial, or more of the other greens. Or just fill the holes with ornaments or pinecones or something. Such problems I have.

----------------------

My fridge is so full, I don't really have to cook for a week. Leftovers rock! I still think I'll order pizza while Hubby's gone. I am a lazy woman, you know.

------------------------

I'm in the mood to purge. Details forthcoming.

Consider yourself warned.