Sample Weekend

Now I know where this year has gone. Take this weekend, as an example. Thankfully, baseball and softball seasons are over with for the summer, otherwise, it would have been even crazier.

Friday AM 6:10 - DH calls from work. He's going to be late. Some fucking asswipe broke into his car, his partner's truck, the lady next door's car and various other vehicles up and down the street at the ambulance station. His window is gone, the dash is torn up, the tachometer is in pieces...but that seems to be the extent of his damage. His partner's truck window is gone, stereo, speakers, etc are all gone. Neighbor's trunk is open, stuff scattered down her driveway, window gone, and stereo gone. Similar damage to all other vehicles. And his partner's truck has blood all down the door. (excuse me while I chuckle over this. again.)

Friday AM 8:00 - DH finally makes it home. He's beyond pissed off. Not only was this the 65 Ford Ranchero (aka his baby) that he's been restoring and retro-mod-ing, windows are hard to find. And the dash plastic and chrome is nearly impossible to find. And very expensive (roughly $1K for three pieces). *sigh* And of course, because he doesn't drive it very often, we don't have comprehensive coverage on it. Shit. I go to work.

Friday PM 4:20 - DH calls, for about the 5th time. I'm hoping it's good news. He's finally located a window. And it's cheap!!!! Much less than the $200 we were looking at for a custom piece of glass to be cut and fit. Except it's over on the complete opposite side of Dallas. 100 miles away. And, his F250 won't make it over there...it's going in the shop in the next week or so to have the transmission repaired.

Saturday AM 8:30 - Meet up with Rotten2's softball team and bum a ride from her BFF's mom to the water park. DH takes my car (the only reliable transportation with all windows) to the other end of the world.

Saturday PM 5:30 - Rottens, Rotten2's friend, her mom and I finally leave the waterpark sunburned a bit, exhausted and water logged. Call DH to discover he's been home, the window is in his car, and life is good.

Saturday PM 6:15 - We finally get home and Rotten2 scams me.....her BFF is granted permission to spend the night.

Saturday PM 11:00 - All kids finally in bed and asleep.

Sunday AM 9:00 - All kids are awake, DH is at work, and I'm cleaning house.

Sunday PM 1:00 - Drop Rotten1 at his friend's house, meet up with Rotten2's friend's mom to drop her off, go grocery shopping and head home

Sunday PM 2:15 - Rotten1 and friend appear at the house to play. I continue cleaning and scrubbing and steam cleaning.

Sunday PM 5:00 - Rotten1's friend heads home, kids and I wash my car, eat dinner and go swimming. Ice cream for dessert.

Sunday PM 9:00 - Rotten2 crashes out on the couch watching the Disney Channel.

Sunday PM 10:00 - Rotten1 crashes out on the floor watching the Disney Channel.

Sunday PM 11:00 - Sparkling clean house, dog bathed, me showered, and finally I go to bed.

Monday AM 5:45 - Up and at 'em for another exciting week of work. Blah.

Welcome to Summer at my house!!! I'm so glad baseball is over...otherwise there would have been 2-3 practices and one game mixed in that craziness. And of course, DH's car break in wasn't a 'normal' event, just one more of those things that tend to happen just when things are way too busy or you are way too stressed.

Late Breaking News!!!

Apparently? I'm stupid.



I had a few minutes and decided to check OT for the first time in a month or so. And right there, at the top of the page, was a political thread. I thought I'd read, just to see what was being said. And in it, I learned something. I'm stupid.

Wait? It's almost JULY!?!?!

Where the heck has this year gone??? Holy crap.

And it doesn't feel like I've accomplished much. I mean, I know I have and I'm on track for some other things I want to get done, but....wow.

Looking around, I can't believe my kids are growing up so fast. Rotten2 went to work with her grandma today and they were all remarking on how much she's grown up since last summer. And they're right. She is a much 'older' child than she was last year at barely seven. Rotten1 is growing up too...and attempting to turn into a surly pre-teen on me. Ugh. Hopefully we're working through that before it becomes a problem.

As for me, it's all about work and the kids and the house. I seem to be slightly over my funk (it's still nagging, but not as all-consuming) and into a redecorating mode. This always gets me in trouble with DH though. Although, he did admit that rearranging the living room was a good idea and said he likes it better now. I should have repainted before I rearranged though. Ah well. I need to get the deck re-stained soon. Maybe that will take care of the desire to paint.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!!!

Summer Funk

I'm not supposed to be in a funk - it's beautiful, if a bit hot, outside. It's summer, my favoritest time of year. And yet, here I am trying to decide if I want to pull myself out of this or wallow for a bit.

Social - not feeling it, at all. Both my dad and best friend called and emailed several times in the last couple weeks wondering where I've been, if I'm okay, etc. Oops. Guess I've been in a funk longer than I thought.

Around the house and at work, I'm slightly withdrawn or just not very....outgoing. But nothing's really wrong. I'm just.......here and there, I guess. Just not feeling very talkative or open these days. Sorta blah, but not in a bad mood or anything.

*shrug*

I want summer to be like it used to be - no work and all play. I miss those days. And my week at the farm only enforced that. Maybe I should seriously consider packing it in and moving up there. I'd love it, DH would, the kids would, but we'd be sooooooooo far away from everything and everyone here. New jobs, new schools, new house. *shudder* Maybe not.

Maybe I just need to get the hell out of my funk and make an effort to be myself again.

Sick of Summer already.....

and it's not even summer.

Kids went to the lake with the ex-in-laws over Memorial Day weekend. Four days, lots of sun, lots of water. I sent TWO types of sunscreen - lotion and spray. Neither was used and both kids were pretty badly burned. Fast forward a few days...peeling has begun on both kids, Rotten1 is peeling and generally worse off than Rotten2, but not horribly awful or anything.

Except, Friday was 'Field Day' at Rotten1's school. And they had 'Water Day' instead - water guns, wading pools, water slides, bounce houses, etc. I send the spray sunscreen, I tell him to keep his shirt ON no matter what because he's still getting over his first sunburn and still peeling. What does he do? Forgets his sunscreen in his bag and takes off his shirt. Enter 2nd degree sunburn complete with blisters on both shoulders.
*sigh*
He couldn't play in his baseball game Saturday, so he was the bat boy. He couldn't spend the night at his friend's, even though he tried to tough it out over there and ended up calling at 11pm last night in pain and tears. He couldn't go to another friend's today because we've banned him from the sun.
*sigh*
He's being a trooper, very little complaining or whining about any of it. And he even admits his lack of responsibility and refusal of what he was told to do. Poor guy.

hi

its been a nice, quiet, relaxing memorial day weekend around here with a bit too much sun, just enough drinks and too much peace. i'm actually ready for the kids to come home from the lake with their grandparents.

beyond that, very little was actually accomplished this weekend. i desperately need to figure out how to rearrange the living room. *sigh* and i had big plans for making new living room curtains. that went as far as ... thinking about it. no fabric store, sewing machine still in its box.

ah well. i was able to relax. thats what was important.

Edited to add (on Wednesday): Who knew? I have taken a 'staycation' .... apparently that's the new term that's all the rage for staying home and just bumming and checking out the local attractions instead of going on an expensive vacation. I feel so....'in'

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I am officially mad at the writers of NCIS. Stupid season finale leaving us with the cliffhanger of the team being split up. And killing the Director! Argh.

That was just.plain.wrong.

Talk to me..........

about flat irons, please.


I need a new one. I have a cheapie Conair one that works, but it takes for.e.ver. to straighten my frizzy thick hair. This morning, I didn't wash my hair (washed it last night), so I didn't have to blow dry it. Still took over 30 minutes to straighten it. If I had actually washed my hair this morning, I would have spent close to 20 minutes blowdrying plus another 20-30 minutes straightening it. Ugh. That's waaaaaaaaaay too long for me to fool with my hair in the mornings.


So, what type of flat iron do you have? Do you like it? Can I get a good one for under $50?

So.....

It's update time.
*Life has been a crazy whirlwind of ball practices - Mondays are my only 'free' nights. Got the Rottens' baseball/softball pictures this weekend, need to scan them so I can post them.
*My flower beds look absolutely awful. They are in desperate need of weeding and planting and mulching. I just can't seem to find time to do them.
*For the first year in .... forever .... I have not done the deep spring cleaning. *sigh* I do not feel good about this.
*I re-injured my hand/wrist last weekend helping Larry unload his motorcycle out of the back of the truck. Stupid tendons.
*Speaking of the truck, *sigh* Apparently someone told it that it's almost paid off because now it's having issues.
*The washing machine WAS having issues, but a $8 belt fixed the spin cycle. Thank goodness. I did NOT want to have to buy a new washing machine.
*We got our stimulus payment on Friday. By Friday night, it was gone. But, several bills got paid off or caught up, so all in all, it's a good feeling.
*I desperately need to go shopping for summer clothes. I don't want to. I don't even know what's cute for this summer.
*I have 3 pairs of shoes I need to list on ebay. Need to do this soon. Very soon.
*Rotten2's birthday is in 2 weeks. She's going to be EIGHT! And she wants to have a slumber party. Should be fun. Either that, or I'll be admitted to the looney bin.

*smooch*

Fill in the blank.......

Happiness breeds ..........................

Stolen from Bravie, who stole this from Nookie, who stole it from Glow.

RULES:
1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Put this on your journal.

1.If someone says, "Is this okay?" You say? The Forrester Sister's "I'd Choose You Again"
2.How would you describe yourself? Did I Shave My Legs for This? by Deana Carter (Okay, so lately, this would soooooooooo apply)
3.What do you like in a guy? Face to Face by Alabama
4.How do you feel today?" Brotherly Love by Earl Thomas Conley
5.What is your life's purpose? Garth Brooks' Red Strokes (Yet another that .... wow. Makes me think.)
6.What is your motto? Hank Jr's Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound (Yikes...this might have fit a few years ago, now not so much. I don't think. Well, maybe some days.)
7.What do your friends think of you? Trick Pony's On a Night Like This (hunh. odd choice, but okay...we'll roll with it.)
8.What do you think of your parents? Let it Rain by Eric Clapton (Holy crap...where did THAT come from? Yeah. I know.)
9.What do you think about very often? Video Killed the Radio Star (*snort*)
10.What is 2 + 2? Whiskey by Highway 101 (*giggle*)
11.What do you think of your best friend? He Didn't Have to Be by Brad Paisley (Hunh. Yet another that makes me think....)
12.What do you think of the person you like? That Ain't My Truck by Rick Trevino
13.What is your life story? Lost and Found - Brooks and Dunn (Title fits, song not so much)
14.What do you want to be when you grow up? Stronger than I Am by Leann Womack (Holy crap, do all my songs fit me like this????)
15.What do you think of when you see the person you like? Paint Me Back in Wyoming by Chris Ledoux (apparently, they do)
16. What will you dance to at your wedding? Texas Cookin' by George Strait (LOL)
17.What will they play at your funeral? Ronnie Milsap's What a Difference You Made
18.What is your hobby/interest? The David Lee Roth version of California Girls (um....Bravie? I swear....my mp3 player was thinking of your answer, not mine)
19.What is your biggest fear? Don Williams' Good Ole Boys Like Me (*checks* Nope, I'm not a boy, and I happen to like those good ol' boys.)
20.What is your biggest secret? Trace Adkins' Chrome (Yeah...my love of chrome is a secret. I think NOT)
21.What do you think of your friends? Set This Circus Down by Tim McGraw (LMAO...Okay, so that is probably a true statement)

Dustbusting Queen

Spike, the longhaired hamster, lives in a wire cage with a plastic bottom. Spike likes to toss his bedding (and occasionally his droppings) outside of the cage. This has been driving Rotten2 absolutely batty as she has to clean off her dresser daily.

So last night, I showed her the Dustbuster and how to get it off the charger, turn it on, use it and put it back. For two nights in a row, she's Dustbusted her dresser, the floor in front of her dresser, her bathroom AND the tiled hallway between her bedroom/Rotten1's bedroom/their bathroom.

And now all I can hear is this:
You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen
And I want to sub in Dustbuster Queen

because kimmah said so

And because with the weather we're having today, I need to get the tornado off the top of my blog.......

1. Are you a righty or a lefty? Righty
2. What is your official job title? Operations Manager (now, if I only got PAID like most Ops Mgrs....)
3. You can only watch one show---there are limitless episodes. What do you pick? NCIS
4. What color eyeshadow do you wear most often? An Avon duo in sand and a darker brown. I'm on the hunt for new colors though. I'm bored with these.
5. Describe your current favorite outfit. Levis, boots and a fitted t-shirt, maybe with a button down shirt over it.
6. What color is your kitchen? Coffee with cream colored with sage accents
7. Who was your first kiss and what was the situation? Real kiss? Hmm...I don't remember. It was in 6th grade though.
8. Who is the smartest person you know online? There are lots of smart people online
9. Why do you not have a myspace if you don't have one? No When are you going to get one? Probably won't If you DO have one--how long have you had it?
10. Who is the most annoying famous person? There's too many to list, but I'd start with anyone who's famous (ie. TV, tabloids, in the news) simply for having daddy's money.

tornado on the farm

late last night, a tornado hit the farm. from what dh's dad has said, the house and bigger barns are fine. it touched down about 2 miles north of them, they heard it on the fire radio and had enough time to grab the dog and get out into the tornado shelter. it lifted and touched down about 1000-1500 feet or so behind the house, near the corral. a few smaller barns and buildings are gone, one has one wall standing, and more trees than they could count are uprooted, some over 7 foot in diameter. from what i'm hearing, it ran a pretty decent path between the two pastures - about a quarter mile or maybe a bit less. i think all of the cows are okay, not sure yet. they were checking fences and barn damage this morning.

thankfully the house and the in-laws are okay.

Happy Spring!

It's official. Spring is here. How do I know?

1. I can smell the flowers...crocuses and daffodils
2. I can hear the chirpy birdies
3. I can feel the warm sun
4. I can touch the green grass
5. I can SEE colors...no more browns and grays!
6. I can taste spring rain

But best of all, the crack of baseball and softball bats is in the air! Six days a week, at least an hour and a half a day. That's lots of bats, balls, and crazy kids. Yay for spring!!!!

*big grin*

It's been three days.

Three. Days.

And it's amazing how different I feel in just three days.

Remember what I said?

No more pets, right? *rolls eyes* That lasted all of a week. And this time? it was DH. He got pissed off during the Great Lizard Tank Exchange of 2008 (more on that in a moment) and decided he was setting the two African Cichlids free. They are assholes, won't live with each other or anyone else, and he was tired of it. They are now swimming happily in the neighbor's pond with the catfish. And probably beating the hell out of/trying to kill the catfish. *rolls eyes* So now he has 8 little peaceful, happy, easy going pretty fish. In a new to us 55 gallon tank. That required a custom cabinet built by DH.

*sigh*

Of course, this happened at the same time that we realized 3 boy golden geckos in one tank was NOT a good thing. Apparently, geckos stress out easily. Apparently boys will try to kill other boys. Thankfully, ours just stressed and found various places to hide and not come out.

So. Now we have:
1 Yellow Lab
1 Cat
8 fish (Gouramis and two other pretty fishes)
3 lizards in 3 seperate tanks
1 hamster who has new tunnels and a new spinny running wheel

Anyone wanna visit the petting zoo?

Weather WTF.....

Last Friday morning, we had snow.

Today? Our high temp is supposed to be 90.

No wonder half the state is walking around with nearly-pneumonia.

My house, the pet store....

As of 7pm tonight, the official count is:

1 yellow Lab, Trouble, age 8
1 white and gray kitty, Belle, age 2
2 African Cichlid fish, Fasty and Slowy, age 1 1/2
3 Golden Geckos, Buddy, Schizo, and LittleMan, owned for 2 weeks (Buddy) and 2 days (Schizo and LittleMan)
1 Long Haired hamster, newly christened 'Spike', now with us for 3 hours.

When did we become the pet store???? What's next? I swear, no more pets. At least, not indoor pets.

Snow!

The first wave of snow on Monday missed us and left us with a couple inches of rain.

The second wave of massive snow Thursday (4-9" of snowfall) missed us completely, although we did get 3" of rain and some sleet.

The third wave of snow (very early this morning) finally caught us. Barely. We got about an inch or so of the heavy wet stuff. So pretty though.

Of course, being in Texas? It is now super sunny and in the high 40s. All that pretty snow is now pretty puddles.