Zanajune

Happy New Year!

2008-01-07T13:02:00.001-05:00

So....I love my perfect job. All has worked out well. However I will admit to all sorts of second guessing last week when I bumped into the gal that would've been my supervisor for the Library Tech position and she said she was training someone for MY job.

So it's a new year. I have too many resolutions to list, heck I can't even remember them all, so for now I'm concentrating on the two big ones...to read my Bible every day and get in shape. I've been very good about reading the Bible every day. I have a NLT read-the-Bible-in-a-year Bible and haven't missed a day yet!

The getting in shape thing....well, since Hubby was home with Bugman during Christmas Break, we decided to wait and start today to make it easier, have some structure, insert excuse here.

Breakfast - awesome smoothie with mango juice, tropical fruit and strawberries
Lunch - leftover Qdoba quesadilla and too many chips with salsa

Okay so the quesadilla wasn't so good for Day 1, but I couldn't eat it all yesterday and I can't let it go to waste. Will have to work it off later doing some Wii boxing or heck, it's 50-something degrees today...maybe we'll take a walk.

Note to self: Go buy a scale!

I got it!

2007-09-20T14:36:00.000-05:00

So Hubby met me after my shift at 1 for lunch, but we swung by the house first to see if SHE called. I was so excited to see that there was a message on the machine, but it was from the library. They want to interview me for a Library Tech position...basically everything a librarian does minus the degree. It's $15 something an hour to start, but is nights and weekends, but it's also the kind of position one can build a career on.

About 2:54 I call HER...she said if I hadn't heard from her by 3, to call...close enough. Got voicemail. Damn.

As soon as Boogie and I get in the car and start to head home my cell rings. It's HER. Offering me the job. I accept. Whoo-hoo! So I start next Tuesday. Monday is me and Hubby's 13th anniversary..we're taking the day off together. (All together now....aaawwwwww)

So now I'm trying to figure out what to do about this other library position. The admin position I just accepted is PERFECT for our family. Perfect hours, perfect location, pays well. But the Library Tech position pays more and it's a career. So heck, I don't know. I feel like I need to do what's right for my family, but I worry about losing this opportunity. On the other hand, I'm not at all qualified for the Library Tech position but may be able to bs my way through the interview and I know the gal doing the hiring likes me. So heck, I don't know.

But yeah, I got the perfect job!!!

Update!

2007-09-19T15:52:00.001-05:00

Interview went very, very well. I mentioned it's near the house, yes? And 50 cents an hour more than I was hoping. Only 30 hours a week, which is perfect, so Bugman and I will get home about the same time every day. And the chick I'll be working for seemed very cool with curly red hair and kick ass shoes. Seriously, I LOVED her shoes.

And she said to me . . .

"I can't tell you that you have the job b/c I have two more interviews today, but you can feel pretty comfortable."

and...

"You are exactly what I'm looking for."

The position sounds enjoyable, challenging enough, but nothing I'm intimidated by and it sounds like she keeps an upbeat office. So I'm way excited. She is supposed to call tomorrow by 3, but I half expect her to call tonight. So I may very well start working there next week since she's willing to work around my library schedule while I give them notice.

*fingers still crossed however*

In brief...

2007-09-18T12:15:00.000-05:00

So Bugman got an awesome teacher this year. However, Bully is in his class. You'd think that common sense would motivate the principal to make sure this didn't happen, but ....

So a couple weeks ago I colored my hair a seriously bright fiery red. It's faded enough that I like it now. Hated it at first. Last night I was working at the library and a patron commented on how much she loved the color, but then said..."Now that pink that you're wearing...it doesn't really go with the hair". It's unreal just how rude people are sometimes.

Later though a little girl, probably about 6, told me 'I like your hair' with a great big smile on her face. Kids are awesome.

I have an interview tomorrow for a 30 hour a week Admin Asst position with a company within biking distance.

I've applied for a promotion within the Library...sure hope I hear something about that soon. I'd rather have the Library position. It's more hours and starts at $15 an hour.

Will let you know!

2007-07-03T20:52:00.001-05:00

I feel like poo. I've been depressed and anxious for about a week now and can't seem to shake it for any significant length of time. But in an effort not to depress you as well, and I guess so as not to dwell on all the negatives my brain can think up, (and there's plenty) I'll keep this light.

I finished listening to The Greatest Generation Speaks today. There were so many moments that touched me. I guess the story that stayed with me most was the one a daughter of a soldier who had died in the war. She described how she and her brother would say their prayers every night..."Our Father who art in Heaven..." and as children they thought they were praying to their Daddy.

I was talking with a co-worker tonight about how obsessed I've become with learning about WWII. She shares my obsession and has a personal connection. Her father was in the war, even served in the Battle of the Bulge. She still has pretty close ties to the local VFW and offered to take me to their next open house. I can hardly wait.

In the meantime I've found the number to call to volunteer at the local VA Hospital. I'd like to do SOMETHING. Even if it's just knitting hats or blankets or whatever.

Oh yeah, tonight at work....I did you not....there was a little girl, probably 10 who asked her Dad, while I was checking out their books, "When can I get a credit card Daddy? I want a credit card." AND THEN she swiped a pencil from the cup and dropped it into her bag!

Kids these days....

Tomorrow I get to go see my Mommy and Daddy. We get to the spend the whole day together doing the usual 4th fare...cookout, bonfire and fireworks...and Dad has an awesome surprise for Bugman. But I can't say anything more about that lest he read this. I chatted with Mom a bit last week during a particularly difficult day with depression and it helped immensely, so I'm hoping actually seeing her and Daddy will kick me out of it.

I'll let ya know.

Post drama.....

2007-06-28T12:11:00.000-05:00

Soooo....well....nothing really happened. I think Bully was suspended for a day and that was it. The following weekend we discovered two bruises on his upper arm from where Teacher had grabbed him. Took pics of those and sent them to the principal. Principal said she'd follow-up with an investigation procedure according to school policy, but that we would not be made aware of any disciplinary action against Teacher.

Three weeks goes by and we hear nothing from Principal. At this point Bugman has said that Teacher is being much nicer to him, but I'm still curious about why we haven't been contacted regarding the investigation. Shouldn't they have additional questions for us? Wonder if we took him to see a doc? Contacted a lawyer? But nothing. So I email Principal asking where we are in the process and this is what I got back....

"As I think I explained, outcomes of disciplinary investigations are confidential, so I'm not sure what I can share with you at this point except to say that I did investigate and follow through on the "formal procedure.""

Slightly snotty, I'd say, wouldn't you? And how exactly did she conduct a thorough investigation without asking us or Bugman anything?

But in better news....SCHOOL'S OUT! Bugman will have a new teacher next year. And though policy dictates that we cannot request a specific teacher we did so anyway, because there's a 5-6th grade teacher that Bugman has a good relationship with already. On the last day of school I asked Principal if she could tell me who Bugman was 'likely' to have. Naturally she wouldn't tell me, but I made my point that we had put in a request and that it meant a lot to us.

Anyway.....Bugman and I have been playing the last couple of weeks. Not doing quite as well with studying math as we'd planned. But there's still time. My goal was to arrange at least 1 playdate a week and so far we've made 2 each week. We've been to the pool, to a Pokemon tournament at the library, have re-arranged the furniture in the living room and were the first ones in line to get the new Pokemon game. I still want to make it to the farmer's market some time this summer, and the zoo, and to pick strawberries, and....oh yeah....teach my son multiplication and division. Can't forget that.

We're all signed up for the library's summer reading game. Adults only have to read 5 books, kids have to read 10. Bugman wasn't too happy about that, so I agreed to read 10 too. Of course all I get is a coupon for a free loaf of fancy bread and he gets a free book. I wanna free book. But I'm 3 books into my 10 already, while he's at 1. I've read....

From Baghdad, With Love...about a Marine in Iraq who falls hard for a puppy and does everything imaginable to get the puppy back to the States. Sweet story peppered with real life scenes, often sobering, of what life is really like for our soldiers in Iraq. Made me really wonder what my Uncle did and saw over there during the first Gulf War. It's not exactly the long-range, impersonal way I thought modern war was fought.

The Good German...awesome story about a journalist trying to solve an American soldier's mysterious murder while also trying to track down the married German woman he's in love with. The movie with Cate Blancett (love her) and George Clooney (I'm female-love him too) just came out on DVD. Can't wait to watch it.

Lust in Translation...very interesting report of infidelity in other cultures. Did you know that in Japan it's not cheating if you pay for it? Or in Moscow, even men who do not have girlfriends will lie and say that they do because that's the standard? And in South Africa the men will seek out impotence treatments because they can only have sex once or twice a day and that's not enough to keep up appearances with their wife as well as their girlfriends? I found it very interesting that in so many cultures women clearly outnumber men, but yet we continue to allow ourselves to be treated poorly for a little financial stability.

Now I'm on My Father's Secret War....memoir of a daughter who discovers her ailing father was once an Allied spy in WWII, under cover within the SS. I just started it, but I adore memoirs, spy stories and anything to do with WWII, so this one doesn't need much else to hook me.

Oh, and I'm also listening to The Greatest Generation Speaks. Gosh how I wish I could be more like those folks. Live simply, do what you say you will, a sense of personal responsibility, putting family before anything else....I wanna be like that.

Drama!

2007-05-05T09:14:00.000-05:00

Oh how I love drama.

Last week....Bully told Bugman he wished that Bugman had been at Virginia Tech. Talked to principal. She assured me they were taking it very seriously though she could not discuss consequences with me.

Monday....Teacher told Bugman that he "taunts" Bully and that's why Bully is mean to him. I planned to discuss this with her Wednesday when I'm there for book groups.

Tuesday...Bugman was confused about which art group he was supposed to be with, so Teacher pulled him roughly by the arm and hurt him and began to yell at him for arguing with a grown-up. I've since talked to said grown-up who assured me he certainly was not arguing.

Wednesday...I meet with the principal, am assured that she will address the above with Teacher and get back to me. I proceed to book groups where Bully and his buddy proceed to makek fun of Bugman right in front of me, reducing him to tears and Teacher concludes that Bugman instigated the whole scene. No I am not kidding. Teacher could not stay after class to discuss with me, so I email her and cc the principal.

Thursday....no word from Teacher or Principal. Bugman reports no problems.

Friday...Bugman has not been sleeping well and clearly needs a break from the drama, so I keep him home. I call into the school to excuse his absence, the principal answers the phone and simply replies 'Okay'. No follow-up from our conversation or the email. No call later in the day either.

At this point I would really like to just home-school him for the next 6 weeks, but they likely wouldn't hold his place at the school for next year and there's a pretty good chance he's going to get an awesome teacher. I know that he is way behind in math and have already started on a workbook with him in the hopes that we can catch him up this summer.

Next week Bugman's class is going on a 3-day, 2-night fieldtrip. Bugman will not be going. I simply don't trust that he will be cared for appropriately and that if something did happen that she would provide him access to a phone.

....sigh....

Happy President's Day!

2007-02-19T10:14:00.000-05:00

Yay for presidents! I have the day off, Bugman has the day off....so does Hubby but that's because he's sick, poor guy.

I'll probably take the kid sledding later this afternoon after it warms up...you know...something above freezing.

The other day I grabbed the VeggieTales 'Lord of the Beans' from the library and oh my goodness was that cute, but now I have the VeggieTales theme song STUCK IN MY HEAD! Make it stop!!!!

Secrets

2007-02-12T16:54:00.000-05:00

Dear person who posted this secret on http://postsecret.blogspot.com/,

Thank you. Thank you so much. My Grandpa always smelled like Wrigley's Spearmint gum and coffee. I don't have many physical things to hold and think about Grandpa. Knowing I wouldn't receive anything from his wife, the day he died I left his house still holding a cup of coffee, a cup in the style he always used. I still use it on occasion, though it always scares me to put it in the microwave (gotta heat up the milk). Well I have one other thing of Grandpa's....as we were leaving the funeral home the director ran up to Hubby and I and handed me a clean, neatly folded, faded purple flat sheet...this apparently was the sheet he died on. It never fails to remind me of him, but....

After I saw your secret I explained to Hubby that I could have sent it in. So of course, the next time I sent him to the store for something we were missing for the dinner I'd planned, he came back with a pack of Wrigley's Spearmint gum. Looked a little different, they must've changed the packaging, but one sniff was all it took.

Everytime I grab a piece to freshen my coffee breath or see the packaging or notice a minty smell on something that happened to be near the gum in my bag, I feel a little bit closer to him.

Thank you.

Damn right I want fries with that!

2007-02-10T19:15:00.000-05:00

So I'm really pissey and Hubby's prob'ly sick of hearing about it and I need to further vent/digest.....anyway, Thursday night at work a patron, whom I had dubbed the 'crazy Kroger girl' asked me if I was pregnant. I'm not...not even close and thankfully so. She said she wanted to ask first before she made a comment...you know, because it woulda been impolite to just comment....um...okay. So being slightly pissey, but determined to just blow the crazy Kroger girl off, I went to vent to my friend Ilse. Ilse just gave me an odd look and said that she was going to ask me last week but didn't want to seem rude. Then she went on to demonstrate the exercises that I should be doing because I've "let myself go". Oh yes she did. She said that.

AND THEN...as we were leaving for the night she tried handing me two magazines she'd come across...one of which I believe was Health and featured an article on '10 ways to a flat belly' or some such nonsense. Oh yes she did.

Now granted, to cut her some slack, Ilse is not American and there may be some cultural stuff going on here...but I assume if she knows it's not polite to ask a woman if she's pregnant, she probably understands it's not polite to tell a woman she's let herself go.

Have I gained weight in the past year? Yep, you betcha. I have only one pair of jeans that fit...a couple of skirts that fit only because they have elastic waistbands. I'm not all that uncomfortable with the weight gain...it's still in the healthy range (or maybe just above it) and Hubby's still attracted to me...I'm just too cheap to buy myself some new clothes.

Part of me wants to say SCREW YOU WORLD, I rather like the bigger boobs this weight gain has given me! The other part wants to say I'LL SHOW YOU WORLD, I can have the flattest belly in the neighborhood if only I wanted to. The former part, however, was in charge when I went grocery shopping Friday morning and I ended up with ingredients to make Paula Deen's mac & cheese and ice cream and a cinnamon danish that I've managed to each 3/4 of all by myself thus far. But hell, I grabbed some fresh veggies and cheese tortellini to make a stir fry and a bag of baby spinach and a Boca veggie chicken patty for a salad...just because it sounded good.

I don't know...I'm mad that it happened and I'm mad at myself for being so upset...who the hell cares what I weigh besides me, Hubby and my doc? I've looked this way for months and yet now that's all I can think about. I can't blow it off or laugh if off like I'd like to...and can't decide if it's time to do something about it (Hubby needs to lose weight, doc ordered, and it would probably be easier for both of us if we did it together) or just continue to sooth myself with some occasional homemade, gooey, creamy mac & cheese.

I guess it just comes to....I want to get back in shape eventually, but I don't want this to be the motivation.

So in conclusion.....ARGH!

Trippin'

2007-02-08T10:19:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks ago mommy-guilt led me to completely lose my mind and agree to accompany Bugman and his classmates on a field trip to a small art museum featuring 'contemporary Native American art'. I love my boy, but that five minute bus-ride reminded me (LOUDLY!) why I only have one kid. But all in all I have to say the boys in my group were pretty well behaved, but the exhibit itself was kinda lame (in my humble opinion). The kids had already toured the website and oddly enough our guide chose to feature the exact same pieces on the tour that the kids had previously viewed on the website...which basically led to several bored children....and everybody knows how fun bored children are!

I have to admit that contemporary art really isn't my thing, but there were a couple of decent pieces. Like this one...

I don't know what the artist intended, I'm sure if I overthought it I could come up with something pretentious, but this one looks like a gravestone to me and I love cemeteries.

Not sure what the artist named this one, but I call it 'Lame'. There were a lot of pieces like this...a little bit of technology slapped on something traditional.

Ice Storm of the Century (or until the next one hits)

2007-01-15T14:47:00.000-05:00

Not that I'm complaining about having a day off, but how is it that I, a city employee for the library, get the day off but the poor fella who picks up the trash still has to work? I didn't put my trash out last night, assuming they wouldn't pick up today. Bugger.

Thankfully, both Bugman and I had the day off or we woulda had to go out in the Ice Storm of 2007 (cue dramatic music) like poor Hubby did. Well, then again, he had power and therefore, heat at work, whereas we did not. It didn't get too bad in here, 50-something...cool enough, but we were both pretty darn happy when, after a long game of Monopoly, a game of scratch-off Pokemon and two rounds of Mancala, the power came back on.

Anyhoo....some pics of the Ice Storm of 2007 (DUM DUM DUUUMMMM)

Our poor little tree! Hope he survives!

Ack!

2006-12-20T22:20:00.000-05:00

So for some reason I haven't been able to get into Blogger to update this thing in a while....at least that's my story....

I only have a couple minutes before Hubby comes back from taking care of goodness knows what so we can watch the last 2 episodes of last season's 24. Jack Bauer kicks much booty. Not quite sure how we're going to manage watching it only once a week now though....we've been rather spoiled with the dvds.

If I can, I'll post more later, but basically Hubby and I have been sick...some kind of flu disguised as a headcold. Bugman thankfully only had a stuffy nose for a couple days because he was smart and got a flu shot.

Well Hubby's back and if I wanna watch Jack save the world before I fall asleep tonight (which I do) I'll gonna have to go and post more later.

Hugs & puppies!

Why I love my job

2006-11-25T21:14:00.000-05:00

A little boy, I'd say about 3, approaches the desk, card and book in hand.

'May I help you?' I ask.

He hands me his card then lifts the book over his head, as far as his little hands can reach, and pushes his book onto the counter. The book is 'If You Decide to Go to the Moon'.

So I ask him, 'Are you planning a visit to the moon?'

'Yep!' he declares, with a huge grin.

Bugman's all better!

2006-11-14T18:43:00.000-05:00

Bugman had his follow-up appointment with the doc yesterday. He's all good and now we have a preventative plan for the winter. Yeah!!!

But while we were in the waiting room . . .

'Am I getting a flu shot today?'
'Yup'
'Do I get a treat?'
'Well, we can probably go to Paula's (ice cream shop) later'
'Awww...that's it? I think I should get a new video game!'

Uh-huh....with that kind of logic I think I should get a new house for a colonoscopy then.

He was great with his shot though. He was totally in big boy mode, which is really quite a relief b/c he's really been struggling lately with deciding whether he's gonna be a big kid or remain a little kid....and sometimes he gets big kid confused with snotty teenager. Anyway, the plan was that he would read me a book while the nurse poked him, but he didn't even get three words read when she did it and he didn't even flinch. Hah!

So...tomorrow I have the day off....anyone wanna bet on whether or not I get a migraine? Hmmm...anyone?

Quinn

2006-11-08T15:39:00.000-05:00

Bugman's doing a focus study at school about training dogs. It's been quite a hoot watching him try to teach our 4 year old overgrown puppy how to stay. She just gets so excited about the prospect of those milkbones it's all she can to not dance and jump around, let alone sit and stay. But today he's got a different problem. He's got her to finally sit and even stay, but she looks at him all confused when he says 'Okay Quinn, come!'. He has to holler a few times before she gets it and ambles over.

She's not the smartest dog, but she's damn cute.

No Public Thinking Allowed

2006-11-03T13:11:00.000-05:00

My Mommy came over yesterday for her Bugman fix. She let me enjoy her company too. Bugman sure likes her. Daddy had to trick him off her lap so she could go, otherwise I think she'd still be in my chair with Bugman on her lap.

This morning the very Southern president of the library rewarded our participation in the summer reading program with an authentic Southern breakfast. We had homemade biscuits with real butter, fresh fruit, coffee cake and mmmmm cheesy grits. I never had grits before...ever...which makes no sense at all because I LOVE hominy. She used jalepeno cheese and oh my goodness gravy were those good. She agreed to send the recipe around, so don't worry Mom I'll be making them for Thanksgiving dinner along with the pies.

But I'm gonna cheat today and post up this 70 questions thingey I filled out a couple days ago because, you see, I have a migraine and I've taken my meds. I sometimes get a little loopy on my meds. I don't think they're addictive or anything, but I shouldn't drive...or think publicly while I'm on them.

1. The phone rings. Who do you want it to be?
The folks from the lottery to ask how I want my check made out.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
Yep, either in the store or the cart corral. If I'm with Boogie, he'll usually do it though.

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?
Listener. Always. People are nuts.

4. Do you take compliments well?
No. It's a personality flaw I need to work on. ; )

5. Are you an active person?
Nope. Well my hands are always moving, but you can usually find me in my chair.

6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive?
Not because I have any sort of skills, but by sheer will and faith, you betcha.

7. Do you like to ride horses?
Nope. I rode a friend's pony once and it kicked me off and started running down the road.

8. Did you ever go to camp as a kid?
Yep. Girl Scout camp not too far from home. It was fun, but I'd do stupid things like pick a sports camp thinking it would make me enjoys sports more or make me an athlete so I'd be stuck being the worst player no matter what sport we tried.

9. What was your favorite game as a kid?
That dice game we always played on the holidays at Grandma and Grandpa's. What the heck is that called?

10. If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he/she was married, would you get involved with him/her?
Considering that I, too, am married...no. But even if I was single I don't see myself going there. I went out on a date once with a guy going through a divorce and well, he had issues.

11. Are you judgmental?
Probably more so than I'd like to admit.

12. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you?
It would appear so.

13. Do you like to pursue or be pursued?
If I can think back that long ago....I think both.

14. Can you speak another language?
You mean other than igpay atinlay? I had two years of German, but unfortunately have forgotten most of it. On a Russian kick now and grabbed a CD from work last work that I've yet to listen to. It's on my list of things to do before I die. Learn a foreign language I mean, not just listen to that CD.

15. If you had to choose, would you rather be deaf or blind?
Considering I already have a hearing loss, I guess I'd say deaf.

16. What's your favorite food?
Only one?!? Hmmm...right now I'm hungering for hamburgers on the grill with lots of cheese, sour cream and onion potato chips with pecan pie for dessert.

17. Do you know how to shoot a gun?
In theory. It's also on my list of things to learn before I die.

18. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed?
Nothing. Just get my boys out of the house and hopefully the pets too. There's things that have sentimental value of course, but there aren't too many 'things' I'm attached to. Auctioning all your stuff when you're 13 will do that to ya.

19. How often do you read books?
Every day. I've also taken to listening to books on my iPod at work when we're getting things set up to open or while knitting. It's awesome.

20. Do you think more about the past, present or future?
Past. Probably too much. I've been catching myself lately thinking about my previous employer and what an awful time that was. I hate it that I still spend any energy at all on that place.

21. What is your favorite children's book?
One of my favorite books to read Bugman to sleep with was 'Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel'. My personal favorite book is probably Charlotte's Web - it was the first book I read without pictures.

22. What color are your eyes?
Green

23. How tall are you?
5'8"

24. Where is your dream house located?
Somewhere safe with lots of acreage so I don't have to deal with my neighbors.

25. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Hubby. He was calling to get me back online so I could help him with his art...which you can all view at www.scottra.com.

26. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth?
Yep. Boogie and I did them together once.

27. When was the last time you were at Olive Garden?
Early last summer I think? Don't go there very often, but I was going through an Italian phase and wanted a glass of wine.

28. What are your keys on your key chain for?
House, car and bike lock.

29. What's your favorite color?
I don't know anymore. It was green for the longest time, but now I kinda like orange.

30. Where was the furthest place you travelled today?
To work....around the block...about a 7 minute walk.

31. Where is your current pain at?
In my migraine spot. How'd you know? It's at the very beginning of my right eyebrow.

32. Do you like mustard?
Heck no, that's nasty.

33. Do you prefer to sleep or eat?
Oh man, I love them both so much. Umm....sleep.

34. Do you look like your mom or dad?
Mom I think, but I got my Daddy's temper!

35. How long does it take you in the shower?
10-15 minutes unless I do the whole exfoliating thing and pumice my feet.

36. Can you do splits?
Why the heck would I want to do that at my age?

37. What movie do you want to see right now?
The Prestige. Christian Bale's my favorite and I read the book this summer.

38. Do you put lotion on your dog or cats?
Um...no.

39. What did you do for New Year's?
Stayed up with the boys and watched the ball drop on tv.

40. Do you think The Grudge was scary?
I don't know about scary, but it was one of the creepier films I've seen recently.

41. What was the cause of your last accident?
I accidentally poked my kid in the eye reaching for a stray hair.

42. Do you own a camera phone?
Nope. Hate those things.

43. What are you drinking?
Water.

44. Was your mom a cheerleader?
I don't think so.

45. What's the last letter of your middle name?
E - What an odd question.

46. Who did you vote for on American Idol?
I've only ever caught bits and pieces of the audition episodes of American Idol.

47. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
Go to bed usually around 11...alarm goes off at 6:30...around 7 hours I guess.

48. Do you like Care Bears?
I don't dislike them. Boogie got into them a couple years back. They're pretty harmless.

49. What do you buy at the movies?
Just popcorn. We usually try to sneak our own drinks in and candy for Boogie.

50. Do you know how to play poker?
Not a clue.

51. Do you wear your seatbelt?
Yep, ever since I was with Mom when she did several 360's on an icy road in the Gremlin way back when.

52. What do you wear to sleep?
PJ top and undies. Can't wear pants to bed, they twist.

53. Anything big ever happen in your hometown?
I don't know where my hometown is anymore. I know it's not where I currently live, b/c I hate it here.

54. How many meals do you eat a day?
Three. Four if you count the nightly huge bowl of popcorn.

55. Is your tongue pierced?
Heck no! Ears are, belly button is...that hurt enough.

56. Do you always read MySpace bulletins?
Usually just the subject line.

57. Do you have pets?
A dog, Quinn, two cats, Mia and Evee and two hermit crabs, Sheldar and Hermie.

58. Do you like funny or serious people better?
Funny. The world is too serious as it is.

59. Ever been to LA?
Nope. No plan to either.

60. Did you eat a cookie today?
Nope.

61. Do you use cuss words in other languages?
Nope. Heck I can't even think of any.

62. Do you steal or pay for your music downloads?
I think we pay for them. That's Hubby's area of responsibility.

63. Do you hate chocolate?
Yep. It triggers my migraines. Apparently isn't my only trigger however since I've been avoiding chocolate for a while now and I still get them.

64. What do you and your parents fight about the most?
I'm old enough now to know that my parents are pretty smart, so I don't fight with them. We do however, avoid talking politics.

65. Is your cell usually on vibrate or ring?
Ain't got no cell.

66. Are you a gullible person?
Yup.

67. Do you need a boyfriend/girlfriend to be happy?
No, I'm pretty happy with just a Hubby thankyouverymuch.

68. If you could have any job (assuming you have the skills) what would it be?
Professional knitter. I'd be paid gobs and gobs to sit around and knit all day. Alas, such a thing doesn't exist.

69. Are you easy to get along with?
I think so.

70. What is your favorite time of day?
The evenings when my boys are home and we're just together.

Halloween!

2006-11-03T12:13:00.000-05:00

Here we are!

That's Bugman as a hermit crab, Hubby as a creepy zombie dude and me as I'm-trying-to-kick-a-migraine-and-still-be-festive.

The sound of one woman screaming

2006-11-03T12:04:00.000-05:00

May I use this forum to express my ....I don't know....disappointment in, frustration with, pissed-offedness with the high profile Christians in this country. It's bad enough for the rest of us try to live our lives in a secular world that is increasingly becoming more and more anti-Christian due to the morally superior, judgmental judgeyness you project. But when you're all hypocritical and preach about how evil homosexuals are and how we should fear & hate them while having an adulterous affair with a male prostitute it doesn't help. If they weren't already repelled by anything labeled Christian by the judgmental judgeyness, this should probably seal the deal.

I'm just so frustrated and upset I can't even complete a coherant thought.

Be who you are. Preach what you practice. Do unto others....

Okay - a real, non-political post soon. Promise.

Sick baby

2006-10-28T19:22:00.000-05:00

Crap. Sorry it's been so long. I worked 11 days in a row, had one day off, and was scheduled to work another 7 in a row, but I called in today b/c we we very nearly had to take Bugman to the hospital last night. He's okay, but here's what happened.

Last month he had a asthma thing that never completely went away. On Wednesday he started in with a wierd cough, we kept him home from school Friday and snagged the doc's last appointment of the day. He looked okay, acted like himself, kept saying he was okay, but when they checked his oxygen with the little finger alligator thingey the doc got real quiet. His oxygen was 88....normal is around 98. So we did some breathing and steroid stuff right there at the office and got the oxygen up to 92. I think if this wasn't his regular pediatrician, we would have been sent straight to the hospital. But since this doc knows us he made a plan, trusted us to stick to it and scheduled us for first thing this morning.

Needless to say, I was freaking terrified. How can he look and act so normal and be so incredibly sick? And of course I always have my Grandma in the back of my head and though I know the treatments and technology is far superior now compared to when she died, it still scares the hell out of me.

This morning his oxygen level was 98. *sheeww*

So other than being a little bored of sitting on the couch and sick of having this mask stuck to his face for a half hour four times a day and slurping down nasty tasting steroids, Bugman's fine.

More later. Promise!

Halloween!

2006-10-17T10:30:00.000-05:00

We love Halloween around here. Hubby and I watch lots and lots of scary movies. As a kid I scared way too easily and avoided all those spooky movies, so I've got a lot of catching up to do. The other night Hubby and I stayed up way too late watching 'Freddy vs. Jason' and Oh My Goodness was that funny! Though there is something slightly disturbing when you find yourself cracking up over someone losing their head.

Anyhoo...this past Sunday we spent a bit of time getting our yard decorated for the season. We're not quite done just yet, still have the jack o'lanterns to do, but here's how it looks thus far....

This is my ode to Martha Stewart. Just a plastic urn that I painted with that special paint that makes things look like stone. I just picked up a bunch of sticks from the yard and covered the bottom with fallen leaves.

The deck 'bedecked' with the Martha-ey urn tree thingies and Quinn bottom. There's Jason laying in the front yard by the cemetery. You can barely see them but there's bones hanging from the tree too. If you look in the lower left corner you'll see the newest addition to the decoration collection, also Hubby's anniversary gift, light up hands coming up from the flower...er, weed garden.

Close up of Jason. Hubby came up with him last year. You wouldn't believe how many people drive slowly by the house to check him out.

Lastly, the lovely graveyard and our beautiful firey bushes. Isn't that an awesome deck? My Daddy did that.

Greasy attitude

2006-10-12T22:08:00.000-05:00

I should be in bed. Oh yes, yes I should. But I'm not. Tomorrow's a day off, so I can get Bugman on the bus and go back to bed if I like. So there.

Tonight I treated Bugman and myself to Paula Deen's mac & cheese and fried chicken. Actually it wasn't Paula's chicken recipe. Her's calls for hot sauce and Bugman doesn't like things hot, so I just made it like Grandma did, and with chicken breasts since I had a couple in the freezer. I can't even remember the last time I made fried chicken. Hubby's not too fond of chicken, though I can occassionally get him to eat it if it's in small bits mixed with a bunch of other stuff. So when I took that first bite and tasted that greasy, salty, peppery floury breading I nearly had tears in my eyes it tasted so good...and so much like Grandma. Course there are many who'd rightfully disagree, but I was the only one eating it with the memory of Sunday afternoon fried chicken dinner at Grandma's house and I'm saying it tasted close enough. So there.

Got a bit of an attitude tonight, don't I? Guess maybe I *should* go to bed.

The mac & cheese was alright. Too many eggs in the recipe I think. It wasn't nearly as creamy as I figured it would be. I followed the recipe exactly too, except I used reduced fat cheese (for crying out loud, when you're using a bag of cheese, sour cream and 1/2 a stick of butter and plan to eat fried chicken too...you gotta reduce somewhere). So next time I'll try it with one less egg and perhaps a bit more sour cream and maybe I'll have it with rice cakes and carrot sticks so I can use regular cheese.

Tomorrow Bugman and I are making Monkey Bread. Mmmmmmmm.....monkey bread.....

Bad Mommy Day

2006-10-11T11:59:00.000-05:00

Today Bugman has swimming at school. I'm always really conscious of the underwear he chooses to wear on swimming days, not wanting them to be too 'little kid' (like Bob the Builder or something) so he doesn't get picked on, but today the only clean pair he had was a 'Finding Nemo' pair.

Guess I'm doing laundry today. : )

A single little mitten

2006-10-11T09:52:00.000-05:00

Sooooo....here's my half done mitten.

At this point I'm a little stuck. I'm not sure if I should keep going. I need Bugman to come home from school so I can size it. I think it's gonna be too small for him, he's got extra long fingers like his mama, but it'll fit some orphan somewhere, right?

The yarn is my favorite, Malabrigo 100% wool, but it's the softest stuff you'll ever touch. It's like a cloud, I swear...not that I've actually touched a cloud, but you know... The first time I bought a ball, a variegated red, pink and white, I didn't know what to do with it, so I'd occasionally just take it out and pet it. Eventually it became a hair do-dad that I'm going to have to frog (that knitter speak for rip out...rip it, rip it...get it? hah! knitters are funny! really!) because it's too big for a hair do-dad and I've never actually worn it.

The second ball, a variegated blue, became an ipod case for my mother-in-law and a pair of wrist warmers. Well now, to be honest, it's not yet a pair...it's a single wrist warmer waiting for my lazy bum to make the match. That single wrist warmer should hook up with the single sock I made and tie me up until I make their mates.

Bad Bugs

2006-10-10T13:38:00.000-05:00

Now see, I totally intended to keep up with this now that I know ya'll are reading, but that whole 'life' thing, not to mention this lovely bug that I've caught, keeps getting in the way.

Sunday - went to work, came home to sparkly clean kitchen, which totally put me in the mood to cook, but I threw some ham and potatoes in the oven and called it a night. Frugal tip of the day - when ham goes on sale at Christmas and Easter stock up. We buy one big one and then chop it all up into meal-sized pieces and freeze it. Granted, there's only 3 of us, so we were able to get 5 or 6 meals out of the Easter ham.

I started on a mitten for Children In Common...it's a group that provides lots of things (including knitted items) to orphanges in Russia and Eastern Europe. (www.childrenincommon.org) I think if I was the adopting kind, which, since Bugman is 9, I don't really see myself doing, but if I was, I think I'd look into a Russian foreign adoption. I guess the next best thing is to send mittens, hats and socks knit with love in every stitch. I got this thing about Russia, I don't know where it came from. I had this really crazy Cold War inspired dream when I was 14 that I woke up to knowing I'd have a blond haired son. Then a couple years ago, in the middle of reading the 'Left Behind' series I got me a hankerin for some Russian history...so I found a couple of books at the library book sale for $1 each. Unfortunately by the time I was done with the series I was no longer in the mood for Russian history. I still got 'em though. We'll see if some mad crush on one of our amazing Russian-born Red Wings won't re-awaken that hankerin.

But anyway, see if I was a good little blogger I'd have a picture here of a half done mitten. My first mitten no less! But alas I don't and here's why . . .

Monday - went to work, started feeling kinda nauseus with about 10 minutes left of my shift and it hasn't really stopped til just now. That was one ugly bug. Yesterday I couldn't even keep down a single slice of apple, but today...so far anyway...I've had a piece of toast and a bowl of rice. (knock on wood) Hubby's got it too, but he still somehow managed to drag himself to work today. Bugman? Oh he's fine. Probably getting sick of making himself microwaved pizza bites for dinner though.

Popcorn 101

2006-10-07T15:18:00.000-05:00

So today I picked up Julia & Julia

....this gal Julie spent a year spent a year making every recipe in Julia Child's 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' and blogging about it every day. Which got me to thinking that perhaps I could do something similar, but not French cooking, I'm into the whole French thing. I like Italian culture...and it'd go great in my Tuscany-painted kitchen, but I'm not a tomato sauce and pasta kind of girl. I could do it with my new Paula Deen cookbooks! That'd be darn yummy, but I don't think my doctor would like it much. So heck, I still don't know what this blog is about....but since food is on my mind lately today it's going to be about popcorn.

Love popcorn. My Mom told me that as a wedding present someone got my folks a huge tub of popcorn. I imagine there's been very few days since that you couldn't find popcorn kernels in the pantry of my parent's house. That's true for mine as well.

Anyhoo...this week I watched as Giada GoodnessOnlyKnowsHowToSpellHerLastNameItalianChick and Rachael Ray tried to show the world how to make the perfect bowl of popcorn. Nuh uh. My Momma should teach Popcorn Making 101 and seat them both in the front row. Since my Momma is not blogging this and I am and I don't make such a crummy bowl of popcorn myself...here's my recipe....

First you find the cheapest can of shortening....the one your Kroger card will work on and you have a 20 cent coupon for. The shortening that's so white there's no way it comes from nature...Momma would use butter-flavored shortening...so brightly yellow it too doesn't come from nature...or any part of nature you'd want to eat anyway.

Even though you know you can get it 30 cents a pound cheaper at the bulk place near Hubby's work but you always forget to and since you are already in Kroger pick up two bags of Kroger brand popcorn kernels....one white and one yellow (Hubby likes yellow, I like white...mix 'em together - everybody's happy).

So now you're home, getting ready to watch a spooky Halloween movie...or a CSI rerun...or some serious channel-surfing, you don't really need a reason you just want some popcorn! Go grab your 'popcorn pan'....mine is medium-sized with blackened burned grease covering the outside. Melt two or three hefty spoonfuls of shortening (Paula'd be so proud : ) Once completely melted then go ahead and throw in the popcorn kernels and turn the heat up to med-high. Now see, this is where those famous chicks went wrong...their shortening to popcorn ratio was way off. You want those kernals looking like they need to pop or else they'd drown in the shortening.

Now when I pop popcorn, I usually bust the lid open, have to pour out half the pan and quickly throw it back on the fire. It's either that or making two batches and well, I'm lazy.

As soon as it's done you slather that bowl with salt....and butter too if you're adventurous, but I've never been accused of being adventurous, so I haven't been doing the buttah thing lately. ; ) You know, moderation and all. I think my Grandma used to sprinkle her popcorn with Lawry's. Now I love me some Lawry's, but not on my popcorn. Probably the only thing I'd disagree with Grandma about.

So yeah, I just wanted to add that if I'm gonna get harrassed into updating this thing more often, ya'll better start commenting from time to time. Love ya!

UPDATE!

2006-10-05T18:22:00.000-05:00

Dang peoples, my ear hurts!

So yeah....update....so you know how I'm a good kid that's never been in trouble? Well I've had the cops called on me twice in the past few weeks. TWICE! ME! COPS!! First time because we had some chairs by the curb hoping that some frat boy would come by and swipe it for his porch. Apparently there's a City code against that. Today the cops were called because Boogie still hasn't brought up our recycle bins from Monday's pickup. There's a code against that too. My tax dollars at work.

Meanwhile....the Junk House in the neighborhood (named such b/c of the large pile of broken tables, aquariums and various other abandoned items that have been there since we moved) sits happily with it's junk.

So yeah, between the neighbors, the taxes, feeling harrassed and having no privacy, we're pretty much ready to move. Problem is where.....If it was up to me I'd go South...Hubby wants to go North...that's a problem.

Okay more tomorrow....My Boys are playing. Love My Boys. Oh yeah...and Hubby and Bugman too. ; )

Happy Anniversary to Me! (well...and Hubby too)

2006-09-24T22:40:00.000-05:00

As of today I've been married for twelve years. I like twelve. Always have.

Didn't do much to celebrate though. I had to work and all three of us are suffering from a cold. But I had a good time surprising Hubby this morning with Halloween goodies and enjoying pizza and hockey tonight.

Hubby gave me my present LAST NIGHT, a day early....well, actually he gave it to me at about 11:40, so if I'd waited another 20 minutes it woulda 'technically' been the right day. But anyway, shortly after I got home from work yesterday my poor ill Hubby took a nap. So Bugman and I watched Food Network all night....Iron Chef America (secret ingredient - eggs!), then a bio on the star of one of my new favorite cooking shows, Paula Deen...immediately followed by Paula's Cooking Class, where she shared her recipes for southern fried chicken and her mac & cheese. Oh good golly. Paula's awesome. She's the kind of beautiful southern lady I daydream of becoming some day. Maybe it's because I was born in Virginia...maybe it's because I read Gone With the Wind on summer break in high school....or maybe it's just because almost every southern lady I meet has this charming, genuine, warm....thing....about them. Paula oozes it.

Anyway...the present....after being all hyped up on Paula Deen and dreaming of being a southern lady and drooling over that mac & cheese recipe....Hubby presents me with TWO Paula Deen COOKBOOKS! Ack! The mac & cheese recipe is in there! Oh lordy, the pounds I'm gonna gain just from READING that recipe.

Mmmmmm...

Here's to another twelve.

Beauty in everything

2006-09-21T08:54:00.000-05:00

I've been in a rather I-hate-people mood lately. Just lots of little things...people in general not being considerate. But today I saw the most beautiful thing that seriously made my day.

I dropped Hubby off at work and was driving home when I noticed a car ahead of me getting very very close to a bus as it was getting into the right lane. Car apparently noticed Bus was right on top of him and immediately corrected itself. Not 10 seconds later, Car decided to go ahead and cut Bus off anyhow. Bus had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting Car (probably throwing all the passengers around).

THEN....Bus quickly passed Car, cut Car off like the car had just done to the bus and then made a STOP! Car was stuck behind the bus for a good long time.

I laughed and laughed. It was brilliant. I don't know...maybe you had to be there...but I rather enjoyed seeing a jerk get what's coming to them. Made my morning.

My Boy's Nine!

2006-09-19T08:22:00.000-05:00

Bugman is nine years old! How the heck did that happen? Though I had a migraine, Daddy gave him a lovely birthday. Saturday we had a party for him and his friends. Along with 1,003 more toys that we have no room for, his lovely Aunt got him a hermit crab!

Here's Shellder

Once we got him home and settled Boogie started to read the care booklet and noted that hermit crabs are very social creatures that live in packs.

So the very next day we went back and adopted Hermie!

Aren't they adorable?

Manners and the History of Socks

2006-09-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

Nearly made a serious error in judgment last night at work. A patron was being particularly obnoxious and curtly demanded that I renew her book. Something in the rude way she said it brought out the Momma in me and I very nearly reminded her to say PLEASE. Part of me regrets NOT reprimanding her like a 5 year old. Is it really that hard to be polite? I think not.

So school....going good so far...I think. Well, Boogie did get in trouble one day and insists he's going to fight with his bully tomorrow by kicking him in the leg. Not really sure how to handle that. I want this kid to leave him alone, and I can pretty much see that if this kid gets a good butt kicking he'll leave Boogie alone, but I also don't want Boogie to get in trouble either.

Since Boogie's been in school I've taken the opportunity to knit while listening to books on CD. I'm halfway through an Alexander Hamilton bio....which led me to ask Boogie if he knew who Hamilton was. Nope. No idea. He knew that George Washington was the first president of the US, but I was surprised to realize that he hasn't really learned much history at school....which of course has me on a mission now to find some history books he'd be interested in. There's a fantastic series of historical fiction called 'American Girl' which of course, is aimed at girls and features girls and therefore he wouldn't touch it because girls are gross. I haven't had a chance to talk to our children's librarian about a boys equivalent, but I have a feeling there isn't anything.

But also, I need to be tricky. Now that he knows that I know that he doesn't know much about history, I can't just hand him a kids history book. There's no way he would read it. So some historical fiction would be great...especially in comic book form. Hmmmm.

Hubby says I need to include pics in my posts to make this blog thing more interesting. If I was organized I would have lovely pics of the single sock and the lace hat that I finished while listening to the Hamilton book, but alas I am not. Oh, I do have a pic of the sock in progress. Pics of the hat will be forthcoming. No makeup today means no pics of me in hats today.
So here's the sock mostly done on my badly-in-need-of-a-pedicure foot.

I miss my little guy.

2006-09-05T07:56:00.000-05:00

This morning I took my Buddy to school for his first day of 4th grade. I've been looking forward to this day for weeks now. I'll get time to myself! I'll clean out the closet! I'll turn the basement into a hip funky exercise room! I'll listen to books while I knit fabulous things! I'll have terrific healthy meals prepared every night! The house will be spotless and warm cookies will be waiting when he gets home!

But instead....I'm sitting here drinking re-heated coffee and writing this and feeling sad. I miss my little guy.

How can summer be over already? We only went to the pool once! We never got to the zoo...or the museum...or the farmer's market. We never went camping. We didn't do half of the things that I wanted to do for him this summer. And for that I feel pretty crappy. But we did cuddle every morning. We played together. We laughed. We learned a lot...about each other. Every day.

Library woes

2006-08-18T14:30:00.000-05:00

The problem with working at a library is...in a word...books. There's too many good ones and I see them all. I used to hear about a book on NPR or catch a review in the news or a magazine and that did me quite well thankyouverymuch. But now....now I always have a long list of things I MUST READ. And of course, if I'm on the waiting list for one, then 4 or 5 come in at once.

I currently have about 20 pages in a short novel about a dog titled Dog: A short novel. Then I have to decide between:

...a historical fiction about the mystery surrounding Edgar Allan Poe's death. I love Poe. I need to seriously finish the biography I started forever ago. In lieu of the biography, this offers mystery, suspense and "devious twists" that "does honor to Poe".

...a memoir and family history of post-partum depression. I'm a memoir junkie. I think it's really the best way to learn about experiences that I'll never have. It was really the subtitle that grabbed me 'A Memoir of Madness and Motherhood'...even without suffering post-partum depression I can relate to that subtitle.

...a tale of the afterlife in which the dead 'live' in the City of the Dead, that is...as long as they are remembered by someone yet alive. Just sounds like an interesting premise. And ya know, I'm all about dead people.

...Jon Katz writes another one about lovable dogs and offers advice and techniques that work for him. I just finished Jon Katz' A Dog Year about a year with a crazy border collie and two labs. I absolutely loved it. It made me want to be a better dogmom. He has a wonderful and touching way of telling stories and making the most ordinary events in a life with a dog seem...I don't know...a little more meaningful I guess.

...autobiography of porn star, Jenna Jameson. It's a life I'm never going to lead, one I can barely even imagine...so what's it like? I think there's something to be learned from everyone.

Sooooo, what do I do?

Manny

2006-08-16T09:08:00.000-05:00

Pre-season hockey is just about a month away. Even though my darling Manny Legace is no longer a Red Wing, our beloved Captain Stevie retired and Shanney has moved on, I still find myself as excited as ever for the new season.

Last night's dream didn't help any. It was another dream about Manny. I have them fairly often. I honestly can't think of anyone other than family that I dream about more.

Background: My darling Manny was let go under less than ideal circumstances. There are actually a lot of us Red Wing fans that aren't too happy about it. I've stated aloud...and will do so here publicly... I hope Manny gets a shut out against the Wings.

So anyway, last night's dream....The Wings were playing the Blues, at the Blues arena, which looked much more like a small community ice rink. I hovered at the edge of the rink, trying to find Manny, not sure what his number was with this new team. I looked everywhere and couldn't find him. I was afraid that maybe he had the 'Red Wing flu' and was being a sissy.

Then Punky decided he needed a bath, so we walked around the hall to where there were several homey bathrooms and he climbed in a tub while I took advantage of being 'backstage' and continued to look for Manny.

Alas, I never found him. But I had a clean kid.

God Loves America!

2006-08-15T11:49:00.000-05:00

Two-day migraines do not make for good blogging.

So please entertain yourself with this picture of Jesus. I declare it as proof that God Loves America! Because you see, this is the only remaining stain from our 4th of July fireworks.

Okay, humor me.

Drugs are baaaaaad.....m'kay

2006-08-12T19:55:00.000-05:00

So yeah, I was over at Mom and Dad's yesterday. My folks live in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road across from a farm. Something, no matter the time of year, *always* makes my allergies go all berserk. Yesterday was no exception. Mom offered a non-drowsy over-the-counter 12-hour type drug that I hadn't tried before. Some crazy little white pill that, within an hour, made me light-headed and ditsy (or ditsier than usual) and really really sleepy. I am STILL feeling the effects, more than 24 hours later.

Made for a rather interesting day at work however. I was so out of it. I just kept hoping that nothing out of the ordinary would happen. But wouldn't you know, as soon as the more experienced gal went on her break, all hell broke loose. Well okay now that's exaggerating, hell didn't really break loose...hell let out a gremlin in training or two. At one point I was walking around the library (home to those without one) asking everyone if they had a Mercedes. The owner apparently has enough money to cover the Mercedes and a hefty vet bill...he/she'd left their poor pup in the car with the windows closed. Why do people continue to do that? People really aren't that stupid....but it's nicer to think that they're stupid and simply don't know better than to realize they're just cruel and careless.

Anyway...other than that and a couple of other bumps (kids with an infant left unattended at closing - Come to the library! Free babysitting!), work was fine. Better than my previous shift at least, when we had to call the cops because a male patron was enjoying himself a bit too much on the computers.

PSA: Never, ever use the library computers without latex gloves and lots of antibacterial wipes. I'm just saying...