There’s a Diva in All of Us...

So I skipped a few days...

2011-03-11T17:19:00.003-06:00

Was really trying to get back here on a semi/quasi/dailyish basis and then once again - life happened.

Work has been busy. I'm hiring and firing them left and right. Anyone want a job? I pay good and I'm really not that big of a bitch, I swear, just expect you to SHOW UP and SELL INSURANCE. Really, that's all I ask. Sigh...

True story - today I fired one that I let hang on WAY too long, but sometimes you just keep hoping that they'll turn it around. Personally this woman grated on my every single nerve and I would have let her go a long time ago but my partner kept telling me to let her have one more chance... So for the eighth time in less than 4 months she calls in sick yesterday. I haven't called in sick 8 times in 4 years - wtf? Anyway, I fire her this morning and actually felt very calm and knew that I had made the right decision. Believe it or not, it's not easy firing people and normally it's a gut wrenching, horrific experience for me more than them.

Anyhoo, let her go, sent her packing and went to let the other troops know that she was gone and why she was gone (maybe they will get the hint that I expect them to show up and work?). Morning moving along nicely and at lunch time I decided to go sit in the lunchroom with them to let them know I'm a team player, a little morale booster, ya know? THE STORIES THEY TOLD ME! YEEGADS!

Apparently this woman and her husband were 'swingers' and not only had she offered her 'services' to everyone in the office (throwing up in my mouth right now), she has a website where the 'solicit' other swingers, (again throwing up in my mouth), and they spend their weekends 'meeting' new couples and 'swinging' with them all weekend (ewwww.... threw up for real this time). I mean first, you would have to have met this woman and seen this woman AND her husband to realize how gross and nasty this is (again...) but to 'solicit' my other employees - yikes! Thank goodness I let her go so nobody sued me for a perverted work enviroment!

I mean WTF??????? (once again...)

Things not to be bitter about…

2011-03-01T17:17:00.001-06:00

So I flew to Houston this morning to be with my friend Tammy for her visit at MD Anderson. As always happens when I travel alone I find such fun and adventure… Not.

So lucky me first thing this morning going through security and I get chosen to be one of the elite that gets to enjoy the pleasure of THE FULL BODY SCAN… I actually feel sorry for those people that got to see my x-rayed naked body, hope they hadn’t eaten recently because I’m pretty sure the were dry-heaving after that… Actually gave me quite the perverted pleasure thinking about them all lining up at the toilets…

I did get my coveted aisle seat, which is a necessity when you a) have extremely long legs that make it almost impossible to sit on an airplane and b) are a severe claustrophobic and don’t like being in an enclosed space with people touching you or breathing on you…

However my coveted spot did have it’s downside, as it always does, because it seems I am a magnet for either a) deaf mothers with uncontrollable screaming children or b) smelly men. Hooray for me the smelly men won out this go round. It appears the five gentlemen sitting in the seats directly in front of me had a little contest this morning to see who could wear the most of the strongest, most disgusting smelling cologne. I was so praying for that oxygen mask to drop from the sky…

But better yet, little dude next to me that probably only weighed 80 pounds soaking wet, could never be weighed soaking wet because I don’t believe he has ever let water or soap touch his rancid smelling body... Go me!

I do believe airlines should go back to the good ole’ chauvinistic days of flight attendants being cute, little sexy things and re-institute a weight limit for them. Yes, I actually said that. Why, you ask? Because if the extremely large, male flight attendant’s ass hit me in the face once, it hit me about 2 dozen times as he walked past me in my coveted seat… Nice.

Of course this sounds like another blog about things to be bitter about, but it’s not I assure you. Why? Because the sole purpose of coming to Houston was to be with my friend and possibly share in her disappointment, has turned in to a rather Grande day for me (and her of course)!

After enduring my enjoyable travel experience, we won’t even go into the rental car fiasco, and then waiting hours upon hours for her while she was in her doctor’s appointment, we learned that there is an experimental drug that she can be placed on that has had a high success rate of reducing or stabilizing the growth of the kind of cancer she has. Can I get a “THANK YOU SWEET JESUS”?

Yes, after months and months of every kind of torture possible she will begin taking this new drug tomorrow and must be back in Fort Worth at 9:00 am to have her base Cat Scan and begin the treatments. It’s not necessarily a cure, but there have been people that have been on this drug for up to 10 years and done remarkably well in stabilizing the growth of the cancer.

I am beyond ecstatic and full of joy and now I get to sit here in Houston this evening all alone because they are rushing back to Fort Worth to start our new plan tomorrow. But I’d rather sit here alone being happy than holding her hand and crying our eyes out. Looks like I will have a long day tomorrow doing nothing waiting for the business dinner I have scheduled at 7:00.

But I’m not bitter, not one little bit!

The Bitter Blog…

2011-02-26T22:15:00.001-06:00

Well today was a rather long, boring day but one of my favorite type of Saturday’s, Hubby had to work and C3 had Lacrosse practice so I got to sleep in and hang out in my pajamas until noonish. I guess it’s not really nice of me to admit that I LOVE it when Hubby has to work on Saturday, but we all know niceness isn’t one of my strong suits…

Basically after doing absolutely nothing all day but sitting on my ass, this evening I decided the I was craving chocolate. Seeing how it’s only a mere two weeks since Valentine’s Day and I didn’t receive the obligatory CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES, I decided to trek to the store and get the stuff to make my own. They’re still in season, right?

Let’s forget the fact that I gave my three children the obligatory/traditional Valentine’s Day gift of card/candy/VD boxers (yes they do actually wear them and it is the traditional gift for every holiday that they produce holiday boxers):

For good measure I even threw M1 into the mix and got her a cute little VD sleep set with boxers. Made sure Hubby was not left out and had three bags of his favorite candy, that nasty Butterfinger thing, with the sappy card. And what did I get you ask? Not a damn thing, not even a stupid card. Bitter? Yes, as a matter of fact I am. Still.

Anyhoo, I made my chocolate covered strawberries

even doubled the batch and I managed to eat six, well maybe eight, right away. And now I have a huge stomach ache and a gazillion chocolate covered strawberries… Bitter about that too.

I’m also a little bitter about some of the other sucky parts of my life too...

C2 and M2 broke up right before Christmas and he’s still having a hard time with it. He’s had his good days and his bad days but he seems to have slipped into another of his really bad periods.

A lot of things about this make me bitter, bitter that it’s my lot in life to deal with the perils of having a bipolar son. Bitter that a girl that I actually liked and welcomed into my family hurt my son. Bitter that no matter how hard I try I can’t help/heal my son. Bitter that I still have the Christmas gifts I carefully and lovingly picked out for M2 are still wrapped, sitting in the closet. Particularly bitter that I bought personalized gifts that cannot be returned and will never be used.

And to make it worse, I’m actually a little bitter that I have so much bitterness in me right now…

The things that suck about life...

2011-02-25T16:28:00.002-06:00

Last June while vacationing in Florida I was awaken one morning by a phone call from one of my very dearest friends. It wasn't the sort of news that one wants to hear while on vacation, or at any other time as a matter of fact.

My friend told me that while being treated for pneumonia and not getting better, that they had discovered by x-ray that she had a large tumor in her lung which in fact had collapsed her lung. Once a full body scan was done, it was also learned that the cancer had spread to her liver, pelvis, left butt cheek and right femur. Within a few days we had a plan and the party started.

Radiation and chemo began and we were all on 'Team Tammy' and even ordered blue plastic wristbands for support. The radiation worked on the tumor in her lung and it virtually disappeared, which was wonderful news and we were all ready to celebrate. Unfortunately the next scan showed that the tumor in her liver had grown along with the cancer in her femur.

But that was okay, we were on a team and ready to fight the battle! After a dangerous radiation treatment on the liver and radiation on her femur and continued chemo, we knew we had this thing licked. But that was not to be the case, the radiation did work on tumor liver and it started to die from the inside out but two more had appeared as well as one in her kidney. Then the radiation on her femur caused the bone to become so fragile that it virtually disintegrated above her knee.

But that was okay, she could use a wheelchair while we fought the new tumors, we were still in the fight. Never once giving up hope or faith that we were going to beat this devil. She continued her treatments, became weaker and frail, losing her hair and then it started growing back. She started gaining her strength back and once again it was time for the scan and we were ready to celebrate yet again.

Sadly, before the scan could be run about a month ago she developed a massive headache, a pain so unbearable she had to be rushed to the hospital. A cat scan showed that she now had two brain tumors, brain swelling and a blot clot on her brain.

But that was okay, we were ready for the next game plan. So she started radiation on her brain, started taking steroids to reduce the swelling and coumadin to clear the clot. We were back in action and fighting the fight! She finished her radiation treatments last Friday and her steroid treatment on Saturday.

Tueday she called me and asked me to come have lunch with her on Wednesday. She asked me to bring lunch from 'our' restaurant, the one we have shared meals to discuss good times, bad times and sad times. She didn't sound as peppy as she had before but I wanted to believe she wanted to share the good news with me in person, even though in my heart and in my head I knew that wasn't true.

So I took her lunch from our favorite restaurant and went to spend the afternoon with my best friend. Sunday she began having symptoms of brain swelling again, she lost control of her motor skills, she couldn't speak and was not comprehending. They rushed her to the ER and the catscan showed that yes the brain was swelling again and the tumors had not shrunk but grown. She wanted to tell me in person that we might not win the fight. They started her back on steroids and the symptoms went away and she has lost her hair again.

She is lucky enough to have been accepted at MD Anderson in Houston and she leaves Monday for a two week testing period. She has not given up hope, but she is tired and she is in pain and told me that she did not know how much more she had to give. This may very well be our last chance, our last hope. I will be traveling to Houston with her on Tuesday and will be able to stay with her for two days to hold her hand. I wish I could go for the whole two weeks. I've not given up hope, but my faith is wavering and I feel helpless.

I do know that not many people are lucky enough to have a friend like my friend. I consider myself to be the luckiest person in the world to not only have known her for 25 years but to have had her as my best friend that entire time. We speak every day and we have yet to end a conversation without telling each other that we love each other. Not many friends do that and if they do they don't mean it like we mean it. I feel blessed to have walked through more than half of my life with her and I hope to keep on walking with her.

Tammy, I love you!

I'm baaaaaaaccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkk....

2011-02-22T20:22:00.002-06:00

Well maybe and maybe not...

It's been pointed out to me that I have not blogged in a really long time. I don't have much of an excuse, really I don't, but life has just been so busy. Sigh...I won't even bore you with the details.

You all know that I've been a secret blogger for many, many, many years and I have never let anyone in my private life into the sanctum, not even hinted that I have a blog. Lately several of my relatives have started blogging, like it's a new thing or something, duh, where've you been? But I have one special relative, one of my many nieces, that I've let into my secret blog world. It was petrifying at first, letting someone I know see the 'true' inner me that I've only shared with my favorite blog friends. But I think I'm okay with it, just probably won't share with the others, because most of them are like the 'others', you know from Lost... But I am shouting out to you Turtle Face, hope you enjoy the craziness of me...

For those of you that don't know, C1 has officially been engaged to M1 since December. They are not planning on doing the BIG thing until May 2012, but things have been a swingin... I am fortunate to have a future daughter that has made more than the required effort to include me in every aspect of the planning. How did I get so lucky? With 3 heathen male children, I never thought this would be a possibility.

We've been to a bridal show, which was quite overwhelming thankyouverymuch, we've gone and looked at a few different venues and she (they) have finally decided on one, the ONE that I picked out originally. It's a beautiful place and it felt so perfect when we were there and she liked it! And I picked it out!!

She and her mother asked me to go dress shopping with them and I regretfully declined. I think that is definitely the one thing that she should share with her mother alone. Besides Turtle Face was more than gracious to allow me to accompany her on her search for the perfect wedding gown, so I've had the experience. It was a wonderful experience, full of laughter, joy and tears and to the day I die, I will never forget sharing that experience. BTW, she chose the dress I picked out, so I must have incredible taste, just sayin...

I actually told M1 that I wanted to wait to see her in her dress until she walked down the aisle to marry my son. I want no details of the said dress, though she taunts me relentlessly, I want to see her in all of her glory for the very first time on the day she becomes my true daughter. I want to share in the awe and excitement along with my first born son. I want to be able to be surprised and cry on that glorious day. So does that make me weird?

Tonight, C1 called for C3 and he officially asked him to be one of his groomsmen. I actually thought C3 was going to cry! I don't think I have ever in all of his 17 years seen him so excited and proud to have been asked. He told us over and over again tonight, how honored he was . That made my heart shine and fill with pride. He's already been online to find out what his 'duties' are as a groomsman and shared all the details with me. He is so fricking cute! God I love that boy! Not sure what C2's reaction was, although C1 told C3 that he was calling him tonight as well. I sure hope the next 14 months fly by...

Looking forward to the planning to come, the changes in our family dynamic and hopefully I won't be so lazy and I'll be here to share it all with you.

Wowsa...

2010-10-25T09:43:00.002-05:00

Really it's been 2 1/2 months since I've been here?

This and That...

2010-08-10T16:19:00.001-05:00

I'm bored. I really, really hate being bored. Business is slow and I shouldn't be complaining about that because I do have a job and they are still paying me good money to sit here and be bored but it's really hard to sit here and be bored all friggin day long. Run-on sentence anyone? There are only so many facebook games that one can play to fill an 8 hour day... I am trying not to worry about this little bit of slump that we are currently in but I am losing sleep over it. Or it could be that I'm losing sleep over the fact that I do absolutely nothing all day long and then go home and fret about doing nothing all day long and then I can't sleep all night long. Now if this wasn't a boring paragraph I don't know what it was...

So last time I left you with a little bit of a mystery to solve and that was an epic fail. No I have not taken in any more dogs to my abode but I would like to introduce you to my (hopefully, fingers and toes crossed) future grand-dog daughters...

This is Bella:

Bella belongs to C1's intended. Now I say intended because they are not 'officially' engaged and I don't know when exactly that will happen, BUT, they have had the 'talk'. You know, the 'would you marry me if I asked you to marry me' and 'let's buy a house together' sort of talk. Now C1 is an odd duck and after dating M1 for 2 years and shacking up with her for almost 1 year, the thought never crossed his mind to have such a talk with the poor girl. However he did have this talk with his MOTHER. He seemed a little shocked that I suggested he have the talk with M1 because he didn't think that was 'how it was done.' I do often wonder how he managed to graduate college, really I do? I guess after much prodding from me, they finally had the talk and they are in agreement that they want to marry and live happily ever after so I will become the grandmother of another D.O.G. Just my luck.

This is Zoey:

Zoey belongs to M2, C2's intended. They are also not 'officially' engaged but have had the talk and openly discuss the plans of marriage. No ring on the finger yet and if I didn't think it would bring bad luck I'd actually go buy it myself before C2 screws this whole deal up. I like this girl and for some odd reason she likes C2, that makes her a keeper. Hopefully he can keep her and then I will once again become the proud grandmother of another D.O.G. Two for the price of what?

C3 is still dating his little girlfriend, which BTW, guess what letter her name starts with??? There's something about this girl I don't like, can't put my finger on it but Hubby and the boys all swear it's just because C3 is my baby boy. But I don't know, I'm a pretty good judge of character and my first impressions are usually dead on, and unfortunately for M3 my first impression was... skank... Time will tell.

Finally after about two months, the hubs and I came to an agreement on what flooring should replace the perfectly good flooring that was already in place but was all destroyed in the Destruction 2010 project. Bitter? Yes, yes I am. How long will I be bitter? Haven't decided yet. So today when I get home there will be new wood flooring covering the entire BIG OPEN ROOM with the exception of the kitchen because I did actually get my way on one thing. The tile, practically brand new tile I might add, will remain in the kitchen area. I guess that is what we came to an agreement on, he gets his way as always and I get the smidgen ass whoopin of a decision. He made a comment last night that "hopefully this was the very last remodel job we will ever have to do." To which I turned and gave him the evil eye and responded, "Yes, it will, unless you plan on being buried under the backyard deck that you love so much." Anyone want to place bets on this one???

Yes you have just read the ramblings of a very BORED woman...

Really, it's been a month????

2010-07-22T17:07:00.001-05:00

oops... a whole month has passed since my last entry... How did that happen?

Quick catch-up, still no flooring in the one big happy room and after the bids I've gotten you should all be happy that I'm not in jail for murdering my husband for destroying my little happy home...

C3 and I went on vacation to sunny Florida and had the BEST time ever and I came back all tan and happy. Then I went back to work... However, in addition to having the BEST time ever, we also had the great honor and pleasure of spending some quality time with my blog buddy from the very beginning! Some of you may know her as Plain Jane and some of you may know her as Connie, I luckily know her personally and cannot even begin to tell you how lovely and sweet she is. And a wonderful hostess! Her daughter is adorable and precious and just as pretty and sweet as her mother.

Thank you sweet lady for a wonderful time!

Have other developments to share, but time has run out for today... But I will give you two hints...

Hmmm....

Almost There…

2010-06-22T20:26:00.002-05:00

Fart Garfunkel finally finished and I can actually see ‘the vision’ of what’s to come. Now if the money fairy would drop by and help me with the flooring options all will be good…

View from the hallway…

Circular view, if I were good at taking pictures that is…

But I can wait on the money fairy because Saturday morning – I’m leaving on a jet plane…

This is what you do when the day never ends...

2010-06-17T15:37:00.001-05:00

Really I wish someone would just shoot me and make this day end! I feel like I am living in a virtual hell right now. My house is a disaster and it makes me not want to even go home after work. Yet, I am exhausted from dealing with the messy crap condition that my house is in and having no rest, for there is no where to rest, so my days at work drag on into eternity.

So what does one do to pass the time living in remodeling limbo?

I had a makeover is what I did!

Before:

And After:

What you can't see is not only did I have a virtual facelift I also stole Catherine Zeta Jone's body! So you want to have a virtual makeover? Just go here:

http://www.marieclaire.com/hair-beauty/trends/articles/virtual-hairstyle-makeovers

Calgon (or Gypsies, I don't care) TAKE ME AWAY!

Remodel Hell

2010-06-11T12:20:00.002-05:00

So we are at the end of week one of the remodeling hell project. With two more weeks to go, not real sure who will die first, Fart Garfunkel construction dude, Hubby or ME!

This is my life, don't you wish you were me?????
Click here to view photos

Things that really piss me off…

2010-06-04T15:07:00.001-05:00

People that are liars or people that don't do what they say they will do really PISS ME OFF!

The first group, liars, really get on my last nerve. So C3 had the little fender bender, rear-ended someone coming up to a red light. At most, he was going 5, maybe 10 mph. Not a MAJOR collision with tons of damage, actually there is a 2" scratch on our bumper. No other damage to our car, none, zippo. The other guy of course tells me at the site that he has been rear-ended before and the other guy had no insurance. It was quite apparent that he never got his bumper fixed and I actually took pictures just in case he tried to screw us:

Here’s our car:

How about a close up of the damage:

I mean REALLY, there is a 2" scratch on our bumper and this much damage to his car - I don't think so. Especially since our car is a little BMW that sits MUCH lower than this car.

My first question when I arrived on the scene was "IS ANYONE HURT?" Of course not, they were ALL fine standing around, even told me they were all just fine. NOW, the claim has been upgraded to an 'Accident with Injury' - WTFever! Of course this means they have hired one of those lawyers that advertise on TV that claims they can get you MILLIONS of dollars for your injuries. I'm so pissed off right now I could spit nails because I'll probably lose my insurance or it will go up so high that I'll have to sale my house. Son of a frickin basket eater...

Speaking of houses... the Fart Garfunkel construction dude has pissed me off too. I purposely was late to work yesterday to give him instructions on where to put the dumpster that was supposed to be delivered at 9 am. Of course by 9 am it wasn't there but I told him where to put it and also explained that we had moved all furniture possible and covered the rest with tarps because I did NOT want my good furniture getting dirty. Hmphh! He called Hubby later and told him that the dumpster they delivered was too BIG for the driveway and couldn't deliver another until Monday. He asked if we wanted him to wait and start on Monday. Of course he was SUPPOSED to start on Tuesday but moved that to Thursday for unknown reasons so Hubby told him no, go ahead and start. The PLAN was for him to build a supporting structure around the area to a) make sure the ceiling and roof did not cave in and b) to contain the mess. This is what I drove up to at 6:00:

FRICKING AWESOME! Let's see how fast the City can fine me for this!

And that supporting structure wall? No where to be found but this big old mess is what I have:

And the final thing to piss me off – C3 himself. Just got his report card, not really happy with the fact that he FAILED Spanish and had 3 C’s to boot. On my shit list, you better believe it!

The destruction begins - A pictorial...

2010-06-03T12:15:00.002-05:00

So today is the BIG day! I took my 'before' pics to share with you last night but somehow managed to forget them today. That would probably be because Hubby was acting like a Sergeant General last night and forcibly making C3 and I move ALL of the furniture and knick knacks out of the three 'under construction' rooms so that nothing got 'messed up.' Have you ever tried to move 3 rooms worth of furniture and STUFF into one small spare bedroom? Good times, good times.

I am a little, shall we say concerned, about this new demolition project of Hubby's. I'm not so sure 'concerned' is the right word, more like SCARED TO FRICKING DEATH...

The walls that are going to be, um, deleted, from my home are actually what are referred to as load bearing walls (thanks Chris!).

Yes, LOAD BEARING WALLS, so can you see my concern?

I guess I should have faith in the contractor, however he doesn't really look like a normal contractor. He actually looks like a mini-me Art Garfunkel, remember him?

The only real difference is that he's sporting the old Beatles bowl cut, you remember those?

Actually if this dude picture had blonde hair, it would look very similar to the contractor... It's really hard to tell if his hair is real or a really bad toupee. Scary.

My faith was a little rocked yet again this morning when he showed up wearing these, which were at least 40 years old and 3 inches too short...

Yeah, that was something I dressed my TODDLERS in...

Better yet, his two 'workmen' reminded me of these fellows:

Seriously.

And this my friend is all Hubby's idea. I'm putting this in print just in case my roof caves in when the fireplace and LOAD BEARING WALL removal causes my roof to collapse and I am homeless...

Thanks HUBBY!

And here we go again...

2010-05-30T22:29:00.001-05:00

Well I think that C3 broke the record of all three of my boys with lightening speed! Exactly nine days into being a licensed driver he rear-ended another car at a red light. Nine whole days, gawd!

Thankfully nobody was injured except for some pride. Wasn't even really much damage to our car and I'm 99.9% positive the damage to the other car was there previously, however with our luck they will be permanently disabled and sue us for millions...

The new "project remodel" begins on Wednesday and I've been informed that it will probably take about three weeks, MINIMUM! I spent today cleaning out two of my storage closets that I will lose and combining them into one which I had to rearrange to fit the stuff from the other two. Not easy my friends, not easy at all. I've also learned that while this destruction, I mean construction, is underway the three rooms that will be effected will have a temporary wall built around them and we will not be able to use them. Since this is the kitchen, my office AND the living room, it appears we will be living in the bedrooms for the next month or so. Hmmmm... Good news is that I won't be able to cook for a month and the bad news is that we will be living in the bedrooms for the next month, together.

Just about completion time of this project, C3 and I will be leaving for our annual vacation. I couldn't have planned that better! We were planning on heading back to Destin and it's beautiful beaches again this year but due to the oil spill I was afraid to make that commitment. Instead, after much cajoling by sweet Connie, we are heading to West Palm Beach/Ft Lauderdale for a week of glorious beach time. And better than that, I will finally get to meet Connie and her lovely family! I can hardly wait! Hopefully I can make it until then without murdering Hubby or C3...

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day, take a moment and remember those that have served our country.

It was not meant to be...

2010-05-27T14:46:00.001-05:00

So C2 and the girl (whom I've decided will no longer be called the porn star, because, well I kind of like her, so she will be M2) made the decision that it was not the right time for them to start a family.

Of course this was after the first decision that they were going to have the baby and I actually got really excited about that despite my initial reaction of nothing. And I was REALLY excited and bursting at the seams waiting to share the news. But then for some reason they changed their minds. Which is okay, and I stand behind their decision, because I love them and want them to be happy.

What I wasn't prepared for was the overwhelming grief that I would feel and still feel. My heart hurts, an actual pain in my heart. I'm sad and I don't know if I have the right to be so heartbroken, but I am. I almost wish that C2 hadn't shared any of it with me because ignorance is bliss and instead of going on my merry way and being blissful, I'm distraught. I haven't been able to share my feelings of despair with anyone, so I am sharing it with you, hoping to make myself feel better. But it's not making me feel better.

I guess becoming a grandmother was not meant to be, at least for now, and hopefully soon I will shake this feeling of sadness. Maybe someday I will quit thinking about what it would have been like, how much I would have enjoyed it, how much I would have loved her/him and I'll be happy once again.

Just when I thought life was easy...

2010-05-20T19:38:00.008-05:00

My sweet baby has had two very exciting days in a row this week! Yesterday, we ventured to the local DPS at 7:15 AM so that he could take his driving test and get his drivers license. For the past couple of months I've been telling myself that I couldn't wait for this moment. My days of being the chauffeur and staying up late to pick him up were over. In reality, I'm sick to my stomach!

The trip to the DPS was relatively uneventful, except for the fact that we arrived at 7:15 AM and didn't leave until 10:00 AM! Seriously, why would they just have O.N.E. trooper that gives driving tests? The day before Hubby took him after school and after waiting an hour in line they were told (AFTER they did the paperwork AND paid the money) that the don't give driving tests after 3:00 PM. I'm pretty sure that most 16 year old kids don't get out of school that early, but okay?

He thankfully passed on his first try (I had some serious doubts about this) and acted like a toddler in a candy store. I am proud to say that he actually hugged me right there in the middle of the DPS and didn't care who saw. I however was near the vomiting stage from the stress and told him to go get in line and get it over with. He insisted that I stand there with him and although I wanted to run outside and secretly shed tears, I was the dutiful mother and listened to his giddiness. At one point, he even put his arm around me and laid his head on my shoulder and thanked me for being his Mom - ahhh...

He wasn't exactly thrilled when we walked to the car and I told him to give me the keys because I was driving... but he was already 2 hours late for school and we needed to book it. He asked if I was going to go to the house so I could get my car and he could drive to school to which I replied, "Not today Son." Surprisingly he took that very well.

He had to work yesterday at 4:30 and after a long conversation with his father, we decided to let him drive. Hubby pointed out that it was less than two miles straight down the road and I had to relent. That 10 minutes between the time he called me telling me he was leaving and the time he arrived at his destination were the longest 10 minutes of my life! My anxiety level was so high that I actually gave myself a migraine! But alas, he arrived alive and made it back home safely again.

Today he had to go to work yet again and I unfortunately was stuck in a meeting when he called to tell me he was leaving. I have trained him well however because I was greeted by two voice mails when I got back to my office. Both exactly 10 minutes apart, he had left and he had arrived. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that he stays this good!

Upon arriving home a few minutes ago he was once again giddy and jumping with excitement. He had received his very FIRST paycheck! A whopping $14.78 and you would have thought he was a millionaire!

Last week we he accompanied me to the bank he asked if he could get a bank account when he started getting paid. I told him absolutely, we would set up two accounts because he needed a savings account (little does he know he already has one of those) and told him that he had to save 25-50% of each paycheck and the rest would be his spending money. He asked me how much I put into savings each week and I did what all good mother's do, I lied and told him that I did 25%. He agreed this was a great plan. Ahhh...

So as he was jumping around waving his paycheck around I asked him how much of that $14.78 would be going into savings? His response, "Uh, $7.00?" I thank God everyday that he is a sweet and good looking child, because a math wiz he is not...

To my sweet baby, C1, although it's killing me that you are growing up I am thankful for every single day I get to spend with you. I love you, you are the sweetest boy E.V.E.R!

And So It Begins... AGAIN...

2010-05-18T11:31:00.001-05:00

Addictions are a serious issue and can cause a lifetime of pain to those that love you. There are many different addictions that people suffer from whether it is drugs or alcohol, smoking, sex, gambling or perhaps even hoarding. Overcoming and seeking help for one's addiction to whatever succumbs them is often a long and hard battle for the addicted person and those around them. Sadly, some people just can't be helped, no matter how hard they want to stop or try to stop.

My husband has an addiction and I think he needs serious help. No matter what I try to do to stop the addiction, no matter how much money is spent, it appears that our life is entangled on this perpetual roller coaster.

So once again, we travel down the path of ...home remodeling... When will it be enough I ask? Just when I get to the point of feeling complete and done there is another project. Another project that destroys the previous projects that were just done! WHY??????

It has only been a few years since we re-did the living room/office, den and kitchen with new flooring, paint, appliances,furniture, etc. NOW, he wants to knock down the walls between these three rooms and make it one big happy room! All THREE rooms have different flooring, which means we will have to figure out how to make that gel. The ceiling in the den and kitchen is different from the living room/office, that's a problem. One of these walls houses the new double oven that has barely been used and there is no other WALL for this to move to which means that now I have to re-do the counter top and cabinets to make room for a drop-in range. Let's not even mention the cabinet space that I am losing from the destruction of this wall! We won't even discuss the dirt and dust and inconvenience construction people bring with them!

What's next people? When will this madness stop? Someone please take me away...

To Be or Not To Be…

2010-05-14T14:20:00.001-05:00

IS that the question?

Watching two of my soap opera's last night, Grey's and Private Practice, left me emotional and teary eyed. Okay, actually I was sobbing uncontrollably at the last one... The theme of both of these shows centered on finding or going after your 'true love' and doing what makes YOU happy. Of course there was a lot of other stuff thrown in there to make me weep...

I lay down with my stuffy nose and headache after allowing myself my little nervous breakdown and was just on the cusp of falling asleep when I got one of those late night phone calls. It's been a really long time since I had one of those and as always it startled me awake and left me with a racing heart.

It was C2 and when I learned that he was neither hurt nor needed bail, I started to calm down just a little bit but I could tell by the sound of his voice that he was sad and needed to talk. I quietly got up and left my bed so I didn't wake or disturb Hubby and could talk to him for however long he needed.

He dropped a bombshell on me when he said, "Well today you would have been a grandmother." WTH? What exactly does that mean?

It appears he and the porn star have actually been in the discussion stage of becoming grown ups and having a future together. You know all that let's buy a house and live happily after ever stuff... Apparently they discovered yesterday that she was pregnant. Wow, hmmm... Before I could even let the shock/excitement take over however he told me that she wanted to have an abortion but he didn't want her to.

We had a long talk about this and I tried to talk to him about how she must be feeling and even though they weren't seeing eye-to-eye on the subject. It sounded like he said all the right things and tried to do the right things but she was too upset to deal with it. As I was giving my advice and trying to be the loving mother that I was supposed to be, it shocked me to discover that I had no feelings one way or the other. I consider myself an emotional person that wears my feelings on my sleeves and I've always thought I was a caring person, most definitely a person with convictions that is never afraid to voice my opinion or my beliefs. But last night, I had no feelings at all, none, zippo.

How could it be after sobbing for two hours while watching stupid TV that when my son drops a major bombshell on me that I feel nothing? Shouldn't I have cared? Do I care? Still today, nothing. He called me a little bit ago and talked to me some more and again I tried to get him to see things from her point of view. She's young, she's scared, having an abortion doesn't mean she doesn't love you she's just not ready to be a mother. I was being calm and rational, I'm not a calm and rational person.

For the record, I don't believe in abortion. That is my conviction but I don't hold this conviction on to anyone else, I believe that everyone has a choice. I would not and have not held it against anyone that has made this decision in their life. So what's wrong with me? With a decision like this looming over my head, why do I not feel anything? Is something wrong with me?

Lost - You've Lost Me...

2010-05-13T11:07:00.002-05:00

I am admittedly a TV junkie... My DVR is so full right now and I can never find the time to catch up on all my shows. Since I was a 'Lost' devotee from the very beginning and never missed a single episode, I have purposely made time each week this season to watch it. This is the final season after all...

What started out as a really good soap opera (that's what Hubby calls my shows) has turned into a complete - WTF? Seriously! If I could wring the writers/directors/whoeverthehellisincharge's neck, I would.

I know, I know, we are suppose to be "LOST" but really? You told me you would give me answers. You haven't given me any answers, you've given me more shit that makes no sense and you've ruined the whole thing. You really have. I don't like you very much right now. I'll keep watching just to see if you really are going to answer all the questions, but honestly, 'Lost' - you've lost me...

So how goes it?

2010-05-12T16:30:00.001-05:00

Did you know it is the middle of May? Damn time flies!

I wish I could tell you that my life has been so extremely interesting and exciting that I've been too busy to blog, but I'd be lying. I can tell you that Health Care Reform will soon be the death of me, can almost guarantee that one...

So to catch up, hmmm... well let's see... Let's not go back too far because that hurts my head...

C1 - still living with M, guess this might be the one? 'Tis okay, I like her more than I like him. He's getting ready to start on his third gym, somewhere in Oklahoma.

C2 - still living in Dallas but wanting to move out of the city - yeah! Has a girl, oh yeah, remember the "Porn Star", well it's her and I think they might be getting a little serious, but this is C2 and tomorrow's another day. Still working for his dad but just re-took the real estate test to get his license back.

C3 - well now, that's an interesting story... let me see, first, he broke his pelvis about a month or so ago running track, he's healing and will be fine. He decided to quit football, which broke my heart. He's dating a skank. And he's completed all his classes and will be an official lifeguard this weekend, and oh yeah, he gets his drivers license next week - SHIT!

Had a really great Mother's Day with all three of the boys showing up and bringing PRESENTS - gotta love the girlfriends for at least that. Hubby WAS going to make me this great Salmon dinner but the recipe proved to be too much for him to handle, so I made my own dinner and it only took 3 hours. They said it was good, don't know was too tired to eat it.

I got a promotion at work, not that it matters at this point since we are talking lay-offs and I'm trying to protect as many as I can. Thank you Congress and Mr. Prez, you are adding thousands to the 'line' any day now...

But alas, I will worry about that another day, today I'm penning my blog and looking for a vacation destination. Just wish I knew where that dang oil spill was headed?

I've been quietly visiting all of you and trying to catch up. It's pretty dang hard to read 5 months worth of blog entries! Did ya miss me?

Just popping in...

2010-04-05T16:54:00.002-05:00

Don't really have to time to catch up at this point, but I will soon...

Shameless Plugging and Bragging... Week 3 2010

2010-01-22T09:13:00.004-06:00

So this week has been crazier than normal. I have a HUGE project starting at work that is consuming my entire life. I actually worked until 9:30 last night, wtf?

Photography class was a little bit easier and I will share tips soon I promise, just really don't have time right now.

C3 started the driving part of driver's ed this week - if you are on the roads in the DFW area - take cover.

C1 had his grand opening of his second gym and I took the time to drive the 2 hours to be there, work be damned! Here are a few shots, just because I am extremely proud...

So that's it for week three, going back to slaving over the salt mine...

Week Two 2010

2010-01-15T13:24:00.003-06:00

Truthfully, nothing exciting happened this week, at all.

I did start my photography class at the college, and I did freak out about having to park and walk in the dark, but it all turned out fine. I don't think I understood a single thing the instructor said, but next week we bring our camera and this is good because I am a visual learner.

Been dealing with a migraine for the past couple of days, which sucks. Thought it was gone this morning but after 5 hours of work I assure you it's NOT.

Hopefully next week will be more exciting, but, probably not...

Week One 2010

2010-01-08T16:28:00.003-06:00

Well good thing I did not make this my New Year's Resolution...

Week one wasn't so bad. Hubby decided for his New Year's resolution that we should do more things together, try to find more interests together and plan a weekend away each month. Hmmm... after 27+ years of togetherness I don't know what to think about that one...

So... we went to see The Blind Side on New Year's Day. Awesome movie, loved it, can't wait to own the DVD! I so want to be that woman! She is a DIVA like no other!

On Saturday we went to Academy (sporting good store) because Hubby's company gave him a rather large gift certificate, like as in $500! We couldn't spend $500 in that store if we tried. We bought stuff for all the boys, the girlfriend too, as well as ourselves and still ended up with $90 to spare - arghh... Hubby went back yesterday to buy a coat, Carhart coveralls and thermals, since we are in the middle of an arctic blast, and we still have $20 left - gah! The gift that keeps on giving...

Sunday we went antique shopping, which was actually Hubby's idea. I could antique shop all day long and never get tired of it, he was bored in about 30 minutes. We then headed to the Gun Show. Have you EVER been to a gun show? I know I'm from Texas but I don't do guns, I don't do hunting and quite honestly I have never touched a real gun in my life. OMG! You would NOT believe the kind of people they let into these places AND they let them buy guns! WHY does anyone need an UZI machine gun? I mean seriously? I have never been so scared in my life, and held onto Hubby like there was no tomorrow. Needless to say, I prefer antique shopping.

Played hookie on Wednesday with intentions of pampering myself. Guess what I did? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Well I did take a 2 1/2 hour nap, that was good.

As I mentioned we are in the middle of an arctic blast, and NO I don't want to hear about all of you that live in sub-zero areas or have 26 feet of snow until April, it's fricking colder than a witches tit here and I don't like it! This morning it was 17 degrees with a wind chill of 2. THAT'S TWO PEOPLE! They said it hasn't been this cold here since 1983! It's supposed to be colder tomorrow. I wish I could hibernate.

Don't know what we have planned for this weekend, maybe, if I'm lucky, Hubby will have forgotten about his resolution and I can go get my nails done and a pedicure...

Out with the old, in with the new or is it the opposite?

2009-12-30T16:40:00.002-06:00

Shouldn't be doing this right now with a ton of work on my desk and the Devil that wears Prada and the Big Guy running around here acting like they actually work more than 4 hours per week... Sorry, I will not rant...

But, as I was cleaning out old 2009 files from my computer I ran across a lost folder that I didn't know existed. Well I guess it wasn't really lost since I didn't know it existed it was more of an unknown folder. Anyway, it appears that this folder contains blog entries dating back 3 years from my old blog! Not all the entries but some. And for some reason it brought joy to my heart. I haven't had time to read them all but I really can't wait. Maybe I'll even share a few so you can see that I was a lot funnier then than I am now...

So on this eve of New Year's Eve while everyone is busy making resolutions and cleaning out the old and bringing in the new, I had to stop for a minute and say I sure have missed blogging and my blog buddies. I've missed the friendships and the stories and even the worries. I don't make resolutions because I always break them so why bother, but I do want to try harder to get back here more and visit all of you more. Anyone want to join me?

I tip my hat to each of you and hope that you have a safe and blessed New Year and all your dreams come true!

Love, Kat

Another one down...

2009-12-27T20:45:00.001-06:00

Well I made it through Christmas and managed to be done and ready before Christmas Eve! We actually had a "WHITE" Christmas here in Texas! Yes, we had a blizzard on Christmas Eve and it snowed all day long and into the night. It was beautiful and lovely and colder than crap! Of course by evening the roads were iced over and made for some treacherous driving so the annual party with in-laws was almost a total bust, but those of us who showed managed to have a good time. Guess what a 50 year old drunken male does when it snows in Texas?

He makes the Perfect Snow Angel, such a proud moment from Hubby!

I know our blizzard wasn't a blizzard in some of your standards, BUT, this was the first white Christmas in Fort Worth Texas since like the 1930's and it was a blizzard to us. Here's C3 having a good time in the snow:

Christmas Day was good, a little different with M joining us for the first time. But I like her and hope she's around for a long time. Christmas afternoon was at my mom's and actually wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Sometimes getting together with LOADS of people is not so easy but Hubby and I discovered that a shot of tequila before heading over there helped A LOT! Will have to remember that for next year.

Hubby and I spent the day with C1 and M at their apartment putting the grill together that we got them and then having a cookout with his friends. I really enjoyed that and it didn't even feel weird to hang with them and their friends. Is that a sign?

Today my oldest sister and I took our Mom to see the New York Radio City Rockette's Christmas Show. Actually was dreading hanging with my sis for that long, but it was a really good show and my mom enjoyed it so much, her joy brought tears to my eyes.

Now it's Sunday evening and I can't believe that I have to go to work tomorrow. Thankfully it's another short week, which I should be thankful for, but I know that this short week and another long weekend will bring on a very LONG couple of months ahead with no time off. I really need a vacation! I do have one thing to look forward to, if I can make it until the end of February! I am finally going to meet two of best buds in the whole world whom I met here in blogland! Yep, Hawkeye Chick, Sarah and I are finally meeting for a 24 hour whirlwind meet-up and I cannot wait. It will get me through the next two months of hell, that's for sure!

Hope all of you had a WONDERFUL and MERRY CHRISTMAS and here's to a very BLESSED NEW YEAR to all of you!

Christmas Swap!

2009-12-21T20:56:00.008-06:00

This was my first Christmas Swap and I was so excited to come home from a long day and have a package waiting for me by the front door! Thank you so much Stacy, it was perfect!

A perfect ornament, titled "Mi Casa su Casa" (which just happens to be one of the only things in Spanish I know!)

And a beautiful Christmas kitchen towel, I'm assuming it's homemade, and I don't have a Christmas kitchen towel and it looks perfect on it's new home the oven:

Something for me to make for a Christmas snack, how did you know that I love Tastefully Simple?

And last but not least, a perfect way to end my evening! I've been wanting to get this book, but haven't found the time... Some perfect chocolate, along with cinnamon candles and a lovely homemade bookmark. All just waiting for me on my pillow! A glass of wine and now I feel so special!

Thank you so much Stacy, I couldn't have asked for a better gift! Merry Christmas to you too!

A pictorial Merry Christmas to all...

2009-12-15T20:34:00.010-06:00

Okay, life has not gotten any easier nor has the workload decreased. In an effort to save time and money I asked my sister to come take family portraits for our Christmas card. I had to use bribery and cash to get my entire family there and looking HALFWAY decent. Unfortunately I should have used some of that bribery money towards a real photographer, nevertheless - here is my family and if I don't have time to visit each and everyone of you before Christmas - may yours be merry and filled with many blessings. The only thing I've asked for from Santa is time and sanity, probably not going to happen...

C1 C2

C3 The Boys
The Family
Hubby and I
Me and My boys

where does the time go?

2009-11-30T21:59:00.002-06:00

So what has been happening in the past month? Really don't have to time to think about all of it but will try to hit the highlights, surely I will forget most of them.

I am actually stiIl alive.
I've missed my blog buddies, really I have.
Due to the decision of insurance carrier to leave the States of Texas and Illinois, in which my company had approximately 1700 policies with, I've been dropped into crisis mode in attempting to contact all of these policy holders to ensure that they can move their coverage to another carrier without losing coverage. This has meant hiring 6 temporary employees and working non-stop 10-12 hour days... Deadline was today.
In the midst of that major crisis, another insurance carrier filed bankruptcy and basically decided to stop paying the agents their commission. To the tune of approximately $2.5 million of income to our agency per year. Major hit financially and currently working through this mess and stress.
I hate my job.
I am thankful I have a job.
C1 moved in with M and I'm the worst mother E.V.E.R. because I have not taken the time to visit their new abode. When am I supposed to fit that in?
C2 has dated and broken up with approximately 10.5 different 'girls' and I've given up on who's who...
C3 is finally in drivers ed, which is killing me. 3 1/2 weeks of class from 6:30 - 8:30 every night, to be followed by 3 weeks of drive time - definitely don't have time for that.
Was suckered into hosting Thanksgiving at my house for the in-laws on the condition that they could use my house but I did not have time to plan or organize. Hmmm... started cooking at 5:00 Wednesday until 2:00 AM Thursday, took short siesta and was back at it at 7:00 AM, won't even go into the details. The bitches.
Hubby turned 49 this weekend and his employees wanted to throw him a birthday cookout. At MY house. That happened on Saturday. The good thing was I didn't have to do anything, they did it all. The bad thing I was the only female there, well unless you count the stripper that C2 brought as his date... I have pictures but I'm too tired to transfer them right now.
Have not given Christmas a single thought, nor do I know when I will...
Got fired by liver doctor because I 'failed' to make my 6 month MRI check up. Tried to call immediately to set appointment and left a message for the nurse to call me. That was on November 9th, no call yet. Hmmm... decided I would do the firing and sent a very nasty letter to said doctor.
Found a new liver doctor, go on the 15th, I think, have MRI on the 8th, I think.
Squeezed in annual exam, found out my cholesterol is still high, WTF? Why have I been taking that damn pill once a day for three years?
Pretty sure I've forgotten something, but I'm hungry now.
Calling for snow tomorrow through Friday? WTF?
Will try to catch up soon...

Technical Difficulties...

2009-11-02T21:19:00.000-06:00

Due to technical difficulties, er...life, this program will postponed.

Calgon take me away, please!

Catchy Title Should Go Here...

2009-10-24T10:56:00.002-05:00

Well I suck at blogging lately... But I did just spend the time to go visit everyone as I sit here at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday morning in my pajamas, all alone, still drinking coffee and listening to MY music, ahhhh..,

Nothing too exciting happening around here. Only two more football games left for the season which is kind of sad since then I won't have anywhere to go on Thursday or Friday's for awhile. Won't even discuss the Booster Club bullshit, it constantly infuriates me to the point of tears. Just about ready to throw in the white towel on that deal...

Hubs hasn't had a Saturday off in as long as I can remember thanks to the wonderful rain that seems to never want to end. Seriously thinking that we have mysteriously transformed into Seattle or something...

Kids are all cool, at the moment, seems that C2 is in one of his 'good periods' right now and that makes life good.

Work is overwhelming. It seems that ObamaCare has scared the masses into buying health insurance before it's too late. Which is FANTASTIC for me and my company but I haven't worked this hard in many, many years and truly was on the verge of considering retiring but now... Well, seriously can't pass up the money right now...

Not looking forward to the holidays, can already feel that doom and gloom feeling coming on, bring out the Prozac! But I am thankful that the weather here feels like fall, a true fall, like other places - wow! C3 announced yesterday morning when we left the house in the morning that it smelled like Christmas? Dude, you live in TEXAS what exactly does Christmas smell like? Normally sweat...

This must be the most boring post ever...

I know, I know, who cares?

2009-10-15T09:48:00.003-05:00

I know that high school football might not be as big everywhere else like it is in Texas, and I know that you probably REALLY don't care about our little ol' school...

BUT, each week one of the local TV stations has a game of the week and it is a big honor. They come film at the school, during the pep rally and at the game. This week are game is up for the vote and again I know you REALLY don't care, but we are neck and neck in the standings with another game and WE WANT TO WIN!

So if you have a minute, it REALLY only takes a minute, please go vote for our school.

http://foxhilitesdfw.ning.com/contests

The one to vote for is Colleyville Heritage vs LD Bell. GO BELL BLUE RAIDERS! And REALLY how can you say no to this cute face????????????

Thank you...

Homecoming 2009

2009-10-09T23:06:00.006-05:00

Wasn't on the top of my game this year with the homecoming mum but here's C3 and his date (and yes it's the same date from last year, but supposedly they are just friends...) One difference in this year's photo that I must point out, her boobs don't look as big as they did last year or C3 is taller, not sure which...

However the ONE thing that didn't change, I still made the Mum all by myself, uh, hello, June...

Because Betsy asked so sweetly...

Wow what a difference!!!!

Sixteen

2009-09-30T15:40:00.004-05:00

Happy Sweet Sixteen to my baby boy! I can hardly believe that he is sixteen already, man how time flies....

Maybe...

2009-09-29T22:15:00.001-05:00

Peace and serenity. I feel it coming, hopefully soon. Thanks for all of your for being here for me!

This too shall pass...

2009-09-21T20:24:00.003-05:00

I don't think that I have ever described in full detail what life is like being the mother of a bipolar child. I'm not even sure I know how to describe it to be quite honest with you. I can tell you that it is gut-wrenchingly hard, it breaks my heart and it destroys my soul during the bad times. During the good times there is no love better than the love of your child. I wish I knew the secret. I wish I knew the answer. I wish I had the cure. I wish that the fog that has been hovering for so long could be lifted. I wish I had the sweet, loving little boy of years past back in my fold. I wish I could hold him in my arms and instead of promising that everything will be alright, that I could make it alright. But I can't. And I never will have that power. I just have to try and make it to the end of the latest fog and pray that it does clear. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I just have to hold my head high. I just have to continue to pray to the higher being. I just have to keep believing that HE will answer my prayers. And on days like today, it's okay if I lose my ability to do all of these things and lay in my bed in the fetal position and cry my heart out and grieve for that little boy that I miss so much. And hope and pray, that this too shall pass. Even though the feeling to scream and get mad at HIM for placing this burden on me and my son is overwhelming. This too shall pass... Please God let it pass.

just when you think you've seen it all...

2009-09-19T00:24:00.002-05:00

I'm all for equal rights among the genders. I think women can do anything a man can do, and of course be paid the same for any job. But I guess I've been guilty of reverse discrimination when it comes to men doing the same things women do...

Tonight at the high school football game, on the other team there was ONE male cheerleader. Okay, not too out of the norm, have seen this before, especially on the college level. But then there was ONE boy on the drill team. You know the high kicking, dance group that performs at half time? A little strange, but probably the best high kicker on the squad, but when they ended the routine with the entire line going down into the splits? Weird and painful to watch. Still yet, they had ONE male on the flag corp with the band. You know the girls kind of like the old day baton twirlers but they now do routines with flags and such, throwing them in the air and catching them? Now that was definitely weird, and goes into the things I never thought I'd see category.

Most impressive were his fellow flag throwers, all female, wearing their sparkly HALTER tops, all wearing bras. With their bra straps showing! With halter tops! I guess they don't sell strapless bras in that town? My favorite though was the variety of colors of the bra straps, from the traditional white and clear straight to the black ones and a pink one and to top it off a purple one!

Just when you think you've seen it all...

It's Here!

2009-09-15T18:11:00.002-05:00

It's Here! It's Here! It's Here!

Season Premiere of THE BIGGESST LOSER starts TONIGHT!

Happy Dance, Happy Dance, Happy Dance.

Even though this day sucked....

Shhh... I have a secret

2009-09-12T22:50:00.002-05:00

I'm pretty certain that most of you are aware that I can easily be classified as a strange bird. I know, it's true, and it won't hurt my feelings if you admit it...

Many, many years ago when I was a wee child, my mother got me addicted to, uh, well, um, soap operas. A little embarrassing to admit but yes, no matter how professional I may appear in the workforce, nor how sophisticated and divaish I appear in social situations, in the privacy of my bedroom, in the safety of my home - I am addicted to soap operas.

Not so addicted that I have to watch them every single day of my life, but addicted enough to record them every day and read the synopsis of the episode before deleting it. I'm also addicted enough to read the weekly update in the newspaper and if nobody I know is around to see, I might pick up the Soap Update at the grocery store checkout and sneak it into my purchases. How sad is that?

I have such fond memories of watching soap operas with my mom. There was nothing more special than having a sick day from school and being able to lay on the couch with my sprite and crackers, snuggled up with a blanket and pillow sharing the daily soaps with my mom. It was a bonding experience like no other. Summer vacation days were scheduled around the daily soap schedule so I could catch up on everything I missed during the school year. My senior year of high school when we were allowed to leave campus for lunch was spent at my bff's house drinking sweet tea, smoking cigs and watching our favorite soap before hustling back to the real world of school.

The greatest thing about soap operas is that you really don't have to watch it every single day to 'know' what's going on. Occasionally some new character might show up that you're not quite sure where they came from, but all I had to do was call my mom and she'd fill me in and instantly I was caught up.

Everyone has their own 'favorite' soap opera and there are a few people in the world besides my mom that I share this secret obsession with so it's always fun when I get to talk about my soaps with another human being instead of keeping my addiction inside the closet. Since I'm spilling my guts now, my favorites have always been (in no particular order and always varying in ranking) The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, As the World Turns and Guiding Light.

Back in June I heard that they were planning on taking the Guiding Light off the air after some 50 or so years of production. I was stunned! This was the one soap that my mom and I shared a passion for. Still to this day I can go to my mom's house and we can watch a recorded episode and talk for hours about the lives of our favorite characters. How sick is that? Still I found it sad that I was going to be losing this part of my history.

I never have time to watch my soaps much anymore and even though I record them daily, I usually erase them at the end of the week after reading the highlights. Since June I have been keeping all of the episodes of the Guiding Light because I thought one day I might like to go back and watch them so I could see how it all came to an end. Last week we were having some cable issues and when the tech dude came out he told me that the box was going out and we needed a new one and unfortunately I was going to lose everything that we had recorded to the DVR. I almost died! But none the less, I soon got over it but vowed to start watching my Guiding Light episodes just in case something else happened and I lost them too.

Friday afternoon, after an extremely long and tiring week, instead of going to get my nails done or a pedicure, which I desperately needed. Instead of taking a long afternoon nap, which I desperately was coveting. I sat down and watched a week and a half worth of Guiding Light episodes. As I sat on my couch for 5 solid hours, I cried and I cried and I cried. I then called my mom and cried with her about all the story lines and how I could 'feel' them coming to an end. I know that sounds really hokey and probably a little psychotic, but the Spauldings and the Lewis' and the Coopers and all the other great characters that I had grown up with had become not only my friends but my family.

I hardly know what the world will be like without Josh and Reva, Philip and Beth, the Bauers and all the other great characters on this show. It's like a death in the family and even though this show has gotten pretty hokey in the last couple of years, okay it's always been hokey, I will miss it and I will miss all of them. Farewell Guiding Light family, thanks for being part of my like for the past 46 years!

And shhh... all of you need to keep my secret!

WTF is up with that?

2009-09-09T21:47:00.003-05:00

Just when you thought you finally figured me out and you thought I was going to get on my soapbox this evening and nag about health care reform and the Prez' speech tonight, (didn't you?) I throw a curve ball and today I'm just going to be totally random... wtf is up with that?

I would like to send out (and request please) some thoughts and prayers for my niece. She left today for a tour of duty in Iraq. Not only does this make me extremely sad, but I am frightened for her. I know she will be okay, I know that she will be fine. I know that she knows I love her because I made sure to tell her at least a million times in the past month, mostly in the last week, at least half of those last night. And this morning. Okay will stop that now because the tears are flowing... wtf is up with that?

I have two birthday boy's this month, C1 turns 26 and C3 turns 16. What to do, what to do? I don't have a clue what I am supposed to do or what I am supposed to get either one of them. Maybe I'm birthday'd out? wtf is up with that?

C1 and M are planning on cohabiting beginning the first of the month. I'm not sure if I'm getting old or menopause has taken over my soul but I really don't have any feelings about this, one way or the other. Hell I don't even care if my Mom finds out, wtf is up with that?

One of my stupid cats in currently in my room and won't leave. I don't like animals in my bedroom. Each time she comes out from under the bed and C3 or I try to pick her up and take her out to the garage (her official home), she swats at us and runs back under the bed. I probably wouldn't care so much except she won't quit meowing, wtf is up with that?

I am watching a double header recording of the Duggars' 18 and counting. I honestly think these people are strange, having that many children is just not normal, wtf is up with that?

I went to the doctor today because of some recent stomach issues. Maybe this is TMI but I'm on Day 12 of stomach rot and explosion. Serious explosion issues. Since I refused to join in the festivities of specimen collection, we are going on the assumption that perhaps I have a parasite or intestinal infection and I'm on medication. Anyhoo, I've been a little testy since I fully expected to have lost a gazillion pounds due to the issues, yet my scale at home shows that I have not lost any weight, at all, not one friggin OUNCE, in the past two weeks. Every day same weight, no matter how I stand on that scale. But today at the doc's office, their scale showed I had lost almost 10 pounds since my last visit... wtf is up with that?

Even though I have rotting gut, I really needed a chocolate fix so I just ate a Dove dark chocolate. Yes it tasted really good and yes my stomach is not pleased with me. My message for today - "Start a good habit today" - wtf is up with that?

Can we do this three day weekend every week?

2009-09-07T19:35:00.002-05:00

I really could get used to having a three day weekend every week, well only if Hubby only got a two day weekend...

Saturday, with no direct intention, I stayed in my pajamas ALL.DAY.LONG. It was heaven! Actually didn't even realize I was in my pajamas until Hubby came home from work at 2:30 and caught me playing Wii, in my pajamas! Slept in until about 9:00, sat on the deck and read the newspaper and drank a pot of coffee, C3 challenged me to a Wii bowling/golf tournament (I won), he got pissy and went to sulk, so I kept playing and Hubby showed up. Oops. Then I decided that since I was still in my pajamas, what would be better than a nap? Woke up around 6 pm and sent Hubby out to rustle up some dinner. What a wonderful day!

Sunday got up around 8:00, read the paper on the deck and drank a pot of coffee, went to church, came home and took a short nap. C3 decided that he wanted to go to the zoo, so off we went! We hadn't been to the zoo since he was really small, probably before he started school! They have done tons of work at the zoo and it was actually a really good time and of course we forgot the camera!

Today, I had to play catch up for my two lazy days and did a week's worth of laundry and went to the grocery store, made fried chicken for dinner and took a long walk with Hubby to work that off. Now I'm just relaxing and looking forward to a short work week. Well not really looking forward to work, but at least I'm relaxed enough to handle it!

Hope your weekend was great too!

Dead Creatures and Varmints

2009-09-02T21:12:00.002-05:00

Back in the day raising three boys it took a LOT to freak me out and get the heebie jeebies. For some reason the older I get the easier it is to freak me out.

Things that freak me out to the point of dry heaves and possibly hurling:

Rodents and varmints, including but not limited to mice, rats, chipmunks, squirrels, opossums, raccoons
Flying bugs, including but not limited to flies, mosquitos, bees, wasps, dragon flies
Blood, including but not limited to fresh blood but pictures of blood
Open wounds, including but not limited to bloody open wounds
Smells, including but not limited to body odor, dog crap, dead animals

Monday when I came home from work there was a 'smell' as soon as I came in the house. My first thought was now that C3 is back in school the trash does not get taken out on a daily basis and that was were the stench was coming from. Empty the trash, sprayed the trash can down with Lysol, lit some candles and went on with my business.

Tuesday when I came home from work there was a more potent 'smell', actually it smelled kind of like someone had just cooked Brussels sprouts. My first thought was that since I am have been severely slacking on the cooking and shopping department that there must be some rotting food in the fridge. There was, so I cleaned that out and scrubbed it down and took the trash out, lit some candles, sprayed some Lysol and went on with my business.

Today when I got home from work there was a 'stench' a very indescribable stench. Hubby had already lit all the candles and sprayed the Lysol but it had not made a dent in the stench. My first through was that the toilets had overrun and possibly backed up into the tub. Hubby's first thought was that the line in the kitchen was backed up. I checked that and it was clear, toilets were fine, nothing in the tub and Hubby said it smelled like really strong mildew or mold. His thought was to check the laundry room to see if the washer had been leaking, which it had not. I do not know why,maybe a calling from God, but for some reason I was compelled to open the closet that hosts the air conditioner and heater unit.

It didn't take me long, kind of like a split nano second, to slam the door while excreting a blood curdling scream that would not stop nor be controlled as I ran around the house alternating screeching and screaming, violently shaking and only stopping for the dry heaves. My reaction freaked Hubby out so bad that he was afraid to open the door and all he kept doing was chasing me around the house, shouting "What, WHAT, WTF is WRONG WITH YOU?"

It took several long minutes, but between the drive heaves, I managed to blurt out "Dead, Dead, Dead!" This only freaked Hubby out more and from my reaction he was thinking I saw a decapitated head or something and was too scared to look in the closet. When I finally made it outside to the back yard and I finally stopped dry heaving and hyperventilating by placing my head between my knees, I screeched "DEAD OPOSSUM IN THE CLOSET!"

Hubby thinking that by my reaction that it must be a big ass frickin opossum, geared himself up like he was going into a nuclear reactor plant and headed to the closet. I can't actually tell you what happened from that point until he came back outside to tell me he took care of it because I was busy doing the labor breathing outside in order to not hurl all over the deck, but his explanation that it was a 'tiny, baby opossum' that must have crawled through a crack into the attack and fell to his death from the vent in that closet, didn't ease the hurling reflex, nope they got worse. Bad enough that we had to leave the house for a couple of hours until I was brave enough to come home.

Even as I sit here typing this, the hurl reflex is in full force. What if I fall asleep and some crazy ass Momma Opossum decides to find her way into my house and kill me in my sleep for allowing her baby to die? I may never be able to sleep again. I know I will never be able to eat again, the hurl thing is to strong. AND I will NEVER in my life open that closet door again, E.V.E.R!

Conversations with Da boys

2009-09-01T21:50:00.001-05:00

C1...

Phone Message from C1 - "Mom, I need you to call me as soon as you can, I really need to talk to you about something serious."

My initial thought:

Reluctantly I call him back....

Me: "What's wrong?"

C1: "I really need to talk to you about something serious."

Me: "Well just spit it out."

C1: "Well you know M and I are talking about moving in together, and I wanted to know how you feel about that?"

Me: "Son you're 26 years old, an adult making your own way, I don't think my opinion really counts."

C1: "But I want to know what you and Dad think about her? About us?"

Me: "We like her just fine, she's a sweet girl, but it's not us that will be living with her."

C1 "I really think that I want to spend the rest of my life with her. We've talked about a future together."

Me: "Uh, um, uh, I think that's wonderful for you."

C1: "I love her Mom, I bet you never thought you'd hear me say that."

Me: "Actually, no I never did. I tell people all the time I will never have a daughter in law or grandchildren. I've kind of came to terms with that."

C1: "She wants kids, a couple of them at least. But am I too young to feel this way?"

Me: "You aren't too young to feel this way, but you are too young to start having babies. You should wait AT LEAST 4 years."

C1: "I agree, but why 4 years?"

Me: "Obviously you forgot what I told you many years ago. You make me a grandmother before I'm 50, I'll have to whack it off!"

C1: "GAWD MOM! I tell you I'm in love for the first time ever and you threaten to whack it off?"

Me: "There are rules son. You KNOW the Diva rules. These rules can't be broken..."

C1: "I was expecting something more like, congratulations."

Me: "Did aliens take over your brain child? This is your mother you're talking to."

C2...

Text message to Hubby: "Wow Dad, today was the greatest day ever! It reminded me why I love this job and working with you! Love you Man!"

Text from Kat to C2: "Wow, I don't ever get such loving texts from you?"

Text from C2 to Kat: "Who is this?"

Hmmm...

C3...

Upon getting in the car after football practice...

C3: "Mom, I've decided what I want to do. I'm moving to California!"

Me: "Hmmm... Don't let the doorknob hit you in the ass on your way out."

C3: "GAWD Mom, not today! When you cut me off the payroll..."

Me: "That could be accomplished sooner than you think..."

And the winner is?

2009-08-29T20:52:00.004-05:00

When it comes to modern technology, the Kat family is pretty much a day late and a dollar short.

We've had Internet connection at home for a long time but that was mainly because it was a work requirement. Which means we had a computer in the house but until sometime in the last year or so never had a laptop, but once again because of work both Hubby and I each now have one of those.

We've had cable TV or satellite TV or Uverse TV since it's inception mainly due to the fact that I am a TV junkie and the rest of the testosterone beings in the Kat family are sports fanatics. I never really had the desire to upgrade any of the televisions in our house to the flat screen HDTV model and now,in less than one year we have two?

We've had pretty much every game system since Atari but since C3 is a XBOX360 snob we never jumped on the Wii bandwagon despite all the hype. Well until last week when I finally convinced Hubby that we needed some family bonding tools before it was too late and C3 didn't want to bond with us anymore.

Through our journey into the technical device era I was considered the 'techie' of the family and was able to connect and figure out how most of the new fangled devices we bought worked. When we finally got a VCR I was able to hook it up and we could rent movies and watch them although I never figured out how to record anything on it. Of course about a year later that was on the verge of becoming obsolete with the invention of the DVD player but we held firm until we could no longer rent movies on VHS... We finally got a DVD player and while I was able to hook it up neither Hubby nor I could ever figure out how to get a movie to start without calling C3 into the room.

Next we upgraded to satellite dish and didn't actually need that DVD player anymore because we could string that 100 foot telephone cord across the living room into the kitchen phone outlet and order movies directly to our TV. It even had that DVR feature that allowed any brainless twit to figure out how to record shows. The only problem was when it rained or was cloudy or tornadoes were imminent, we had no reception.

We moved up and onto digital TV when we upgraded to Uverse TV and then I could not only record stuff on one channel, I could record stuff on up to four channels and watch something different. So COOL! Thankfully they came and set up all the TVs and remotes and all I had to learn was how to work the remote control.

Then we purchased our first flat screen HDTV and all by myself and some color coded stickers I was able to hook the box back up to the new set and we were still in business. However I never could figure out how to get the TV and the box to work off one remote so we were stuck with keeping up with two remotes. Of course the TV salesdude convinced us that the new TV wouldn't work properly unless we upgraded to HD service from our supplier and we immediately call and ordered that and started paying the badgillion dollars every month. Honestly, although Hubby swore he could tell the difference between the regular channels and the HD channels, they all looked the same to me except the HD channels didn't fill the whole big screen so we mostly watched regular channels.

Then came last Christmas and C2 bought us a surround sound system that we could play DVD's, listen to the radio and I could hook my ipod up and listen to my music. Hooking that up was an experience and because the first system was faulty and not all of the speakers worked so we took it back and got another one which we had the same problem with, then eight hours later and the third upgraded system, we were able to have surround sound with movies but nothing else. We came to the agreement that was the way it was supposed to work and now had three remotes to keep track of.

So last week when I convinced Hubby to pull the trigger and get the Wii system, I finally got it working except I could only get in to work in black and white. GAH! Throwing in the white towel we scheduled the GeekSquad to come out and figure out how to make it all work together.

We learned some pretty valuable lessons today, one that HDTV really does look different than regular TV, who'd have thought? Second, surround sound does work whether you are watching normal TV or a movie or listening to the radio or the ipod, who knew? Third, we also learned that playing Wii is not only competitive but majorly addictive...

As of now, some 12 hours later, I have mastered not only bowling and hold the house record in that game and even though I've never in my life picked up a golf club or hit a golf ball, I am the reigning family champ in that sport as well. The baseball bores me but Hubby and C3 can be really aggressive in that game. Tennis obviously isn't my game and boxing, well we had to hook up the joystick looking things for that and we can't find where we put one of those... I do know that even though I'm the big winner for the day every frickin muscle in my body hurts and my joints are aching so bad that I had to take a whirlpool bath to even lay down comfortably. But, I can not wait until tomorrow...

I swore I wouldn't do it again...

2009-08-24T21:44:00.001-05:00

Today was the first day for C3 at the high school. I can't tell you the mixed emotions that come with his entering his sophomore year. I can tell you that I cried like a baby when I dropped MY BABY off at the front door of the school. All this time I've been saying that I'm almost done with so much bravo, it was/is all a facade. I'm depressed as hell...

However in his good child/humor the hormonal mother spirit he allowed me to take the annual 'First Day of School' shot - ain't he adorable?

He even let me take a self portrait, he's such an angel...

God I love this kid!

So tonight I did something I swore I wouldn't do again. It all has to do with my big mouth and my tendency to not be able to shut it... Last week I went to the football booster club meeting, because we want to support our school, our football team and our son. There were only about 10 parents there but I figured it was because school hadn't officially started. Several requests for volunteers were made and I held my ground and dug my heels in and refused eye contact with anyone. I've done my time with the first two, it's time for the young folks to get involved...

I drug Hubby with me tonight assuming that there would be MORE of a crowd and I didn't want to go alone. With Hubby, there were a total of 13 parents there. Thirteen friggin parents with a total roster of 178 football players - wtf?

I sat and listened to the poor President stammer on and on as she made more requests for volunteers and then told us all the things we could NOT do because of the lack of funds. You know football is a big thing here in Texas and all the schools have these elaborate tunnels/helmets that the Varsity team runs through at the beginning of the game. Our school's helmet bit the dust apparently 4 years ago and all we have left is the tunnel that is on it's last leg. To get a new one the booster club needed $6000 and had secured a sponsor for $3000 but couldn't come up with the other half, so, no new tunnel... Wow, 178 football players and they can't get any of the parents to help raise money or commit to spending $35 per player to buy this? wtf?

Before I could even slap myself silly, my hand was raised and I asked one simple question - Where the hell are all the parents? After a long discussion and tears from the President I found that I had nominated and ELECTED myself to the Membership Chairman position and committed to writing a letter and mailing it to the parents of these 178 boys. wtf?

I really wish there was a button that I could push that stops me from getting on my soapbox and opening my mouth before my foot gets stuck in it...

Happy Anniversary to Me

2009-08-21T21:02:00.005-05:00

So I finally got my day off today and it was pretty uneventful, sort of.

Had to get C3 to school at 7 am for his 9:00 scrimmage. Of course a huge storm blew in about 6:45 am with the most magnificent lightening show and horrendous thunder and flooding rains. Dropped him at the school assuming that they would cancel the game and told him to call me and I'd pick him up. Came home and went back to bed and woke up at 9:00 and the sun was shining - crap! Threw myself together, stopped for a starbucks and flew the 20 or so miles down the road and made it just in time to sit on a wet bleacher and soak my shorts and watch them do the handshake thing and head to the bus... That sucked. Mom of the Year once again!

Since I was out anyway I decided to go shopping and buy Hubby a new wedding ring for our anniversary today. 27 years. Or is it 28? Anyway, got a slamming deal on a nice ring, shopped some more, came home and took a nap. Decided to do a low key celebration without getting all gussied up and went and had some good Mexican food and a couple of sangria's. Nice.

I was rather proud of my purchase since he has gone ringless for many, many years, (because he lost the last two...) and presented it to him at dinner. He was quite impressed and said it was the perfect ring. And then, because I am the luckiest woman in the world, married to the most wonderful man in the world (well today anyway), he took me to get my present. And he picked out this:

What a good man that Charlie Brown...

The Diva Speaks...

2009-08-19T16:42:00.002-05:00

Being a certified DIVA (shut up, I have papers to prove it) I am all about the do's and don'ts of fashion etiquette. Why I practically made most of them up! There are RULES people! There is a time and a place for every outfit, every accessory, and every shoe. I've slipped a few times in recent years, like last week taking C3 to school at 7:15 am with wet hair, but in my defense I did a quick up-do and wore my Jackie-O sunglasses, lest someone recognize me... Just ask a few of my friends, my opinions on choices of outfits and SHOES run freely. I don't offer these opinions to be mean or anything, but because I want all my friends and fellow woman-kind to have their true DIVA shine through. It's not just a look, it's a whole personality.

So, today I saw that there is apparently a big hoopla because the Prez's wife, the First Lady, had the audacity to wear SHORTS that showed her LEGS while visiting the Grand Canyon on vacation last week. Puhleazzzeeee... STFU!

Any true DIVA knows that in certain situations it is perfectly acceptable to wear shorts whether you are the Queen of Sheba or the First Lady. Uh, hello, visiting the Grand Canyon in the 100 degree heat qualifies as one of those times. She's NOT the Messiah or anything special besides being the First Lady and if you people haven't seen legs before then get a frickin grip! Maybe there is some secret code book that says it's unconstitutional or something, but then none of us would be wearing shorts now would we? GET OVER IT!

Of course, I do have some issues about 'THE' outfit that she choose and a little bit of advice for next time...

First and foremost, no disrespect here, but us larger gals probably should make sure the scale of our outfit does not accentuate our um, largeness... Those shorts were hideous and looked like she'd had them in her drawer for about 20 years... A nice pressed pair of Bermuda's would have worked here.

The buttoned shirt as a cover-up, so 80's, tres' tacky... She should have tried something a little more flowy with a nice bright print. I mean yes, she is touring the Grand Canyon, but was she planning on digging another hole and needed the extra pockets?

Did anyone but me notice that she was NOT wearing a bra with her little cami/t-strap shirt? Mmmm, bad, bad, bad. We always wear a push up bra even under the cami... gravity is not always our friend.

And the hair? Honey, that hair do is only to be worn while taking off our make-up and moisturizing before bed. That is definitely not a public do... No matter how hot it is, we always do our do!

Finally, and I saved the worst for last, the SHOES! DEAR GAWD!!!! Sneakers/tennis shoes were made with ONE purpose in mind, exercise. There is NO other reason to wear them and I don't think you were planning on doing any jumping jacks in the Canyon now were you? With so many other CUTE, yet comfortable, options available to you, WHY, oh WHY, did you wear sneakers? Yuk!

I hate school!

2009-08-14T21:39:00.004-05:00

This has been a really long week and I've worked really long hours. Actually it's been a really long month and I've worked really long hours all month. So I'm tired and I want a day off. I want a day that I can sleep in and nobody wakes me up. Can I go out on a limb here and say I really hate that school is starting in a week? I guess it technically started this week because C3 started football on Monday and that screwed up my already screwed up week.

He has to be there at 7:15 am. Normally, and every day this week, I am in the middle of blow drying my curly hair to make it straight at 7:15 am. So I've had to make myself get up earlier every day this week. Did this solve the dilemma? Uh, no. Because now instead of three cups of coffee before starting the beautifying routine that I must endure to be my true Diva self, I'm sitting on the deck drinking 6 cups of coffee to wake myself up from the lack of sleep. Which means at 7:10 am I am in the middle of drying my hair and must stop and drive him up to the school. With WET HAIR in PUBLIC!

The past 4 Friday's in a row I scheduled to take the day off. Why? So that I could have a sleep in until I want to get up, pajama day. I picked Friday because C3 didn't have work outs on Friday mornings at school (yes this is Texas and we LOVE our friggin football but it technically wasn't football during the summer, it was working out... wtfever). Needless to say my Friday off has been cancelled 4 weeks in a row. Damn job. NOW, that we have the official okay to start football practice and they start an hour earlier AND school starts in one week and there won't be any chance of sleeping in, I decided that tomorrow would be my chosen sleep in day. And just you guess what I found out about 15 minutes ago?

Yep, I got the "Oh Mom, forgot to tell you we have football practice at 8:00 am tomorrow..." Are you FRICKIN KIDDING ME? On Saturday TOO? Can't we just have one more week of summer vacation, just one??????

And I'm back with more to say and you probably wish I'd shut up already...

2009-08-12T22:26:00.004-05:00

Wow, I got quoted and such over on Jenn's blog! I feel almost famous!

Jenn and other fellow bloggers, make no mistake I am not a Republican Nazi that needs to be reported to Nancy Pelosi, I am a registered Democrat. I am all for health care reform, truly I am.

However, unfortunately the scare tactics and misinformation are flowing pretty freely on both sides of the political bandwagon. Even our President has made some blatant false statements about insurance.

I find it disheartening that health insurance and health insurance companies, as a WHOLE, are being blamed for all that is wrong in the health care system today. Currently ALL insurance policies are governed by every single state and there are millions of regulations and laws that must be complied with in order for an insurance policy to be approved and sold to the public. If the insurance plan that you or anyone is currently on is not up to 'par' then there has always been the freedom to choose to purchase a policy that is exactly what you want.

However, many people today want a plan with Cadillac benefits yet only want to pay for a Kia, and then want to scream and bitch that the insurance companies are ripping them off. If someone wants or expects an insurance plan with all the rich benefits they desire, then they probably need to put their money where their mouth is and fork over the cash...

Health insurance is no different than auto insurance or home insurance. You purchase the benefits that you want based on the price that you want to pay. We all accept that if our car is damaged that we have a deductible to pay and if it's totalled that the insurance company is not going to pay for a brand new car but give us the current value of the wrecked car. We all know that we have a deductible for our homeowner's insurance and hopefully we all realize that if our house burns down that they are not going to replace everything at 100% of current market value. Why is it then that we all get upset that health insurance policies have deductibles and expect us to cover some of our own costs?

Insurance should be purchased for catastrophic cases, just like you do for your auto and home. Why do we expect the government to take care of our medical needs when we don't take care of our own personal health?

If you think for one minute that a government run health insurance plan can give you all of the bells and whistles that you desire and NOT cost you a fortune, you need to seriously think again. The government run program for a family of four with an income of $80,000 will cost $1,200 per month. It is tiered down for people that make less money. I can sell that family a Caddie product right now that will have more than enough benefits, including 100% preventative care, for less than $400 a month. Which plan would you rather pay for?

The proposed plan will not be free and coverage for everything under the sun will not be in it. The proposed plan has a deductible of $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for families. Do you have that kind of money? I don't, and I much prefer to pay the lower premium I have now and stick with my $2,500 deductible plan than be forced to come up with 4 times that amount.

Health care reform should focus on fixing the things that are broken versus trying to force the American people to buying something that will not end up being what they think it is. We should work on the current government run plans like Medicare and Medicaid.

We hear all about the low income people not being able to afford health insurance, are we ever told that you have to be poorer than poor to receive Medicaid? I know many people that don't have an extra nickel to their name that have been turned down by Medicaid. Fix that system and make it work like it was intended.

Despite having paid into the Medicare system for more years than some of you have been alive, the Medicare system is broke. Why? Because the government did not have a check and balance system and has been overpaying doctors for years and years and years and the doctors took the money and kept their mouths shut.

Should a prescription really cost me $500 a month or should we relax the FDA restrictions and stop rewarding the pharmaceutical companies because they line our politician's pockets, both Republican and Democrat?

Should there be insurance for people that are sick? Sure and all the major insurance companies have stated that they would be happy to insure them and charge them the same premium as the healthy people, IF, the government enforces that we are all required to have insurance. We require this for autos and homes, why don't we make this a requirement for human life?

Sorry I got on my soapbox once again, but I do think it is highly unfair to place the blame on an industry that 80% of the people that have purchased a product from state that they are happy with their product. Let's reform health care, let's not blame one industry for the faults of many.

101

2009-07-29T23:25:00.002-05:00

Got me another email from the Prez today. I actually can call him that since we have become quite the email pals lately. Well actually we're not quite pals since he sends me his shit 'canned' emails but doesn't seem to want to reply to my questions or observations...

Don't understand it really, I mean just because I called him a bold face liar and said that he must not have been a very good lawyer since he seems so unfamiliar with the law... Anyway, our friendship doesn't really matter, what matter is the truth, right? Apparently not so much, since I don't seem to be getting through to him in our little email matching game, but admittedly he is a busy man. I guess you'll know if my blogging just disappears that the secret service dudes showed up at my office to cart me away (did you really think I'd give him MY home email address? Geez...)

Today his emails was to blast us 'nay-sayers' that are spreading misinformation and using scare tactics, and I quote,

"Over the next month there is going to be an avalanche of misinformation and scare tactics from those seeking to perpetuate the status quo. But we know the cost of doing nothing is too high. Health care costs will double over the next decade, millions more will become uninsured, and state and local governments will go bankrupt. "

Really, misinformation and scare tactics, you don't say? Dude, I think the majority of misinformation and scare tactics are coming from your camp. I'm just sayin...

So here is the outline of his agenda, to which I have added my comments in red (you know just based on my over 20 years in the insurance field as a licensed agent that must take 40 hours of CE every two years and all)...

THE SECURITY YOU GET from health insurance reform:

No Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions
Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history. You know this sounds pretty good, but let's consider that American Dude A has perfect health and takes care of himself and American Dude B drinks too much, smokes, is morbidly obese with high blood pressure and diabetes. If we accept everyone in to the same pool of risks, if you were American A would you think it was fair that American B was paying the same monthly premium but usurping all the benefits and their cost of care was probably 100/1 of your cost of care? It sounds great to American B, but really is this the only choice available?
No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays
Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses. Okay this is my favorite of all of them. So what you are telling me Prez is that I am getting all of this quality care for FREE*? I won't have to meet my deductible, pay any out of pocket expenses or co-pays? Cool, but isn't that going to cost the country a whole bunch of money, because I think all these procedures cost money, but why do I care, your picking up the whole tab for free, right? Yearly caps on how much the insurance company can charge for out of pocket expenses. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it the doctor and/or hospitals that are actually CHARGING these out of pocket expenses? And isn't it the insurance companies that actually PAY these charges? But again, you're picking up the tab so it's free to me, so what do I care?
No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care
Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics. No Cost Sharing for Preventive Care! Wow this free thing gets better and better! Of course the majority of all the carriers that I market for already HAVE THESE BENEFITS in their policies, seems a little more like a scare tactic to me... Lucky for me my insurance company pays 100% of these benefits, but good thing I won't have to worry about that because once again, you are picking up the tab, thanks Prez!
No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill
Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill. Correct me if I'm wrong Prez, but in all the years I've been doing this I do believe that there are all ready LAWS that prohibit this practice and I'm pretty sure that there are LAWS and REGULATIONS that policies must comply with in order TO BE APPROVED BY THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT OF EACH STATE! Seriously this is my biggest pet peeve with you Prez, I know you are a lawyer, surely you know the law, and I'm almost positive you would KNOW that it is against the LAW for any insurance company to drop anyone because they became seriously ill. Could almost put my life on the fact that there are only two reasons that an insurance company can drop your insurance coverage, 1) You don't pay your premiums and 2) they cancel every policy holder, no matter what their illnesses are, that is on that same type policy. Must totally admit, I have NEVER seen that happen in the past 20 years. Just another scare tactic, we insurance lobbyist are touting, huh Prez?
No Gender Discrimination
Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender. Dude, I'm actually going to give you this one and say I totally agree. Never have understood why because I am female that I have to pay more for my insurance coverage than a male the same age as me. So good one dude, way to go!
No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage
Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive. This is awesome! We will have no worries whatsoever because no matter what the insurance company AND the government health plan (or are we just going to regulate this to insurance companies?) will have to pay every single dime of every single procedure no matter what! A little skeptical here Prez because all this limitless and free health coverage is starting to add up to some big money. Where did you say we were going to get all this money to pay for all of this?
Extended Coverage for Young Adults
Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26. How generous of you! Uh, hello, I'm sorry to inform you Prez, but most states already have passed a law very similar to this. You really might want to get some of the people on your team to research these laws, can't be MISINFORMING the American people now can we?
Guaranteed Insurance Renewal
Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick. Oh my, here we go again with this lawyer/law thingy, where did you say you went to law school again? I don't think I have ever seen a policy that didn't renew each year as long as you kept paying your premium! Oh but there is that sneaky little scare tactic about losing your insurance because you get sick, naughty, naughty Prez! Just to let you know, a little misconception here, I swear I won't tell anyone you haven't figured this out, but so sorry once again, by LAW there are only two reasons why a policy can be canceled and sickness ain't one of them. Dude, you're really striking out here. Might want to stop playing with that snoodle bar dog every night and start study that law stuff again...

If you are as worried as I am regarding this health reform bill that the Prez is trying to stuff down our throats, Please contract your local senator or congressman and tell then to STOP THIS FRICKIN MADNESS before it's too late!

*FREE - don't let this misinformation fool you, this will not be free! Not only will this cost you in premium dollars but it will cost you in tax dollars. It will also still have a deductible and co-insurance percentage that you will pay out of pocket...

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

2009-07-23T13:03:00.002-05:00

Woo Hoo!

This is my 100th post on Blogger!

Woo Hoo!

Back in my Spaces days, it did not take me half as long to get to this point! But through the years (which BTW was a Kenny Rogers song way back when, actually sung at my wedding over twenty something years ago, which BTW still makes me want to vomit in my mouth, the song, not the wedding, geez people) I have started slacking on my blogging.

I don't know why exactly, I could lie and say it was because I am such an important and busy person, but that's probably not it. Best guess, I got lazy and tons of my blog buddies disappeared. WTF People? When you have no reason to go blog walking because nobody is blog writing... well then you start slacking. I'm just sayin...

But, here on blogger, it looks like we finally made it (okay, another cheesy song, but it's my theme song for Hubby and I, so go ahead and vomit...)!

100 entries - woo hoo - just trying to make it special!

Back in the day when I started blogging, it was easier to come up with something to write about because C1 and C2 were in college and full of stupid shit to share. They've gotten a little boring here lately I must admit. C3 is obviously entering a new phase in life by moving over to the 'big' high school and turning 16 in September which might give me some new material, but between you and me, I pray NOT. My best guess is that you are probably as sick of hearing about menopause as I am of suffering through it. My job is pretty stale at the moment besides the fact I don't know how long that will last if Obama sticks a fork in me. So I guess you might be stuck with just plain ol' boring me for 100 or so more entries?

I'll try to keep it interesting, though I can make any promises. I'll also try to get off my current step stool on Health Care Reform, for today...

I will leave you with a little something that C3 likes to torment hubby and I with, until we are are pulling our hair out, screaming and begging him to turn it off... Enjoy:

Click Here

Now, ain't that special...

JUST IN CASE...

2009-07-22T15:35:00.001-05:00

Just in case some of you received an email from our President today and just in case you plan on tuning in tonight to listen to his press conference, I just wanted to set the record straight on one simple point.

In his email he states, "It will limit your own out of pocket costs and prevent your insurance company from dropping your coverage if you get too sick."

BY LAW, insurance companies CAN NOT drop your coverage if you get too sick. Sadly, he does not know this law nor have his advisors educated him on this law, which makes this health care reform bill even scarier to me.

I probably will end up in jail because I was so enraged that the leader of our country was either not aware of this law OR just decided to blatantly lie to scare the American public, that I sent an email to him... So just in case you don't hear from me again...

PS - If you would like a copy of the letter please let me know and I will be happy to email it to you in it's full glory, typo and all...

And today's lesson...

2009-07-21T11:13:00.002-05:00

I believe that each and every day we should make an effort to learn one new thing. In one year's time that's 365 new things you will have learned, doesn't the sound of that just make you feel smarter?

As a mother of a teenage boy I am constantly learning new things - sometimes MORE than one per day...

When your teenager's buddies are visiting your home and sitting out on the deck, acting all cool and stuff, smelling like they bathed in their cologne, they can still fool you into thinking they are such cute kids.

When they come in and say "MommaKat, will you please cut up that watermelon because we are all starving and needing a snack?" It will touch your heart because you will think that all of these boys really do love me because they all call me "MommaKat". And they do, so it is nice.

So with a big ol' smile on your face you will slice up that watermelon that's big enough to feed 20 or more people and you will keep on slicing until you have made a huge mess and filled up that giagantic tupperware bowl until it is overflowing. You are pretty sure those boys won't be able to eat it all, but since you are always dieting, you think to yourself that you might want to enjoy some for lunch the next day. Then you proudly walk outside and hand them that big ol' bowl and you tell them you hope they enjoy it and you ask them to please bring the leftovers in.

This is WHEN you will learn your valuable lesson for the day.

DON'T hand over an entire bowl of watermelon slices to teenage boys. Yes they will bring in the leftovers and yes there will be plenty of it left for you to snack on, BUT... because teenage boys do not understand that less is best when it comes to cologne, and, let's be honest, who knows when the last time they washed their hands were? You will pick up that one piece of watermelon and pop it in your mouth and instead of enjoying the mouth-watering taste, you will be instantly gagging and spitting and trying not to vomit when your watermelon tastes like a big ol' soggy piece of men's cologne. Trust me.

The Great Debate

2009-07-20T20:24:00.002-05:00

I'm not really wanting to get into 'The Great Debate' regarding the proposed Healthcare Reform Bill... HOWEVER, since it does totally effect (or is it affect, crap?) my livelyhood I will throw in my two cents worth. Well actually if it is passed, that might be all I have left to my name...

First and foremost, unlike most of the American public, including the Congress, Senate and most likely, President Obama, I read the friggin 1018 page proposed bill (again, my livelihood...). Quite honestly, it SCARES THE HELL out of me on many, many levels.

The first being (ref. pages 16-17) if this bill passes as written, it essentially will destroy the health insurance industry as a whole. Seriously. Because if you DO NOT have health insurance coverage IF this bill passes, you are shit out of luck and MUST take the government plan, regardless of the cost or coverage. If you DO have health insurance coverage, let's hope you like it and it's good coverage because IF the bill passes, you are STUCK with that insurance UNLESS you move over to the government plan, forever. IF you are brave enough to move to the government plan, once again you are STUCK with that plan, forever, and won't be able to move back to a private health insurance carrier. EVER.

Secondly, IF this bill is to pass, as written, it will essentially shut the entire health insurance industry down. HOW? Because the health insurance companies will no longer be able to solicit new health insurance policies AS OF THE DAY THE BILL PASSES. Thus, they will no longer need health insurance agents, marketing people, administrative people, etc. and eventually they will no longer be able to pay your claims because without bringing NEW BUSINESS in the door and only PAYING OUT CLAIMS they will go bankrupt and shut their doors, thus leaving 100's of 1000's of MORE people unemployed creating an even worse economy and more taxes for all the employed American's to pay for all of us welfare recipients.

Third, the government health plan, which by the way the President nor the members of the House or Senate have elected to be a part of (because they're special you know), will not only cost you more in premium dollars but will also have a minimum of $5,000 deductible for individuals and $10,000 for families. Do you have an extra $5k or $10K laying around to pony up BEFORE the plan pays for any healthcare? I don't.

Fourth, of the 47 million uninsured Americans today, the VAST majority of them choose NOT to pay for insurance and that is their right. Granted there are MANY that can't afford to pay for insurance and I am totally for giving them government assistance, ALL FOR IT. However, I am NOT in agreement that we should give all illegal aliens in this country FREE insurance and FREE healthcare and paying for it out of my own pocket. They don't pay taxes, why do I have to pay more taxes so that they get this free coverage?

Fifth, I do not want ANYONE, except me and my doctor, deciding HOW and WHAT the best course of treatment for me is. NOBODY. As a member of a FREE society, in a nation that FREEDOM is the basis of the constitution, I should have a right to choose not only my healthcare options and treatment but I should have the right to choose my own insurance plan, if I WANT an insurance plan.

And finally, the total cost of this healthcare bill alone, not including all the bailouts and bullshit that we are already bankrolling, just this healthcare reform alone, will not just be paid for by you and me, but it will set this country back so much that not only will my children be paying for it, not just my grandchildren, but my great grandchildren will be paying for it.

I am a Democrat, I voted for Obama, but I want this madness to end. Seriously.

meme share

2009-07-19T20:19:00.002-05:00

1) What is your salad dressing of choice? Italian

2) What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? ??????

3) What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of? Chocolate

4) What are your pizza toppings of choice? Pepperoni & Jalapeno

5) What do you like to put on your toast? Margarine and Strawberry Jam

6) How many televisions are in your house? 3

7) What color cell phone do you have? Black with Pink Cover

8) Are you right-handed or left-handed? Right

9) Have you ever had anything removed from your body? Yes, female parts

10) The last heavy, item you lifted? Groceries

11) Have you ever been knocked unconscious? No

12) If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? No

13) If you could change your name, what would it be? Never thought of it but I've never like my name...

14) Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? No

15) How many pairs of flip flops do you own? Too many to go count

16) What’s your goal for the year? Being Happy

17) Last person you talked to? Hubby

18). Last person you hugged. Hubby

19) Favorite Season? Fall

20) Favorite Holiday? Don't Know...

21) Favorite day of the week: Saturday

22) Favorite Month? February

23). First place you went this morning? To pee

24) What's the last movie you saw? An old movie yesterday afternoon with Vince Vaughan, don't recall the title, he had a boy and his wife left but wanted to come back...

25) Do you smile often? I suppose

26) Do you always answer your phone? If I hear it ring

27) It's four in the morning you get a text message, who is it? Wrong number

28) If you could change your eye color what would it be? Blue

29) What flavor drink do you get at Sonic? Cherry Limeaide

30) Have you ever had a pet fish? The boys have, they always dies

31) Favorite Christmas song? Hark the Herald Angels Sing...

32) What's on your wish list for your birthday? Diamonds, but of course

33) Can you do push ups? No

34) Can you do a chin up? No

35) Does the future make you more nervous or excited? A little of both...

36) Do you have any saved texts? No

37) Ever been in a car wreck? Yes

38) Do you have an accent? Ya'll might think so

39) What is the last song to make you cry? Smile

40) Plans tonight? Watching Army Wives and sleeping

41) Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? Maybe, I don't know

42) Name 3 things you bought yesterday. Pedicure, 2 dresses, birthday present for nephew

43) Have you ever been given roses? Yes

44) Current hate right now? The heat

45) Met someone who changed your life? I suppose so...

46) How did you bring in the New Year? Watching tv

47) What song represents you? Crazy by Patsy Cline

48) Name three people who might complete this? Mrs K, Chris, Sarah

49) What were you doing 12 AM last night? Watching the HawtoRNe marathon

50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I have to pee

We had a cold front people!

2009-07-17T22:53:00.002-05:00

For those of you that have never experienced living in the bowels of hell, um okay Texas, you won't appreciate this very much. For those of you that DO, was the cold front NOT the best thing that has happened around here in weeks?

Of course our cold fronts aren't the same as other cold fronts, but the high today was only 93 degrees! You guys think that's hot don't you? When the AVERAGE high in my car the last couple of weeks has been 110 degrees, no lie here people, and yesterday hit an all time reading of 118, 93 degrees felt like pure heaven! Funny thing is that is has been so flippin hot that even while indoors you can't cool off because the air conditioners can't beat the heat either. But today, I got a 'chill' in the store! Really, honest to gosh truth! Ahhh...

This cold front couldn't have come at a better time since I was supposed to attend a combined class reunion tomorrow. Can you believe the moron's that planned this event planned an outdoor BBQ? Seriously, in the middle of summer, in TEXAS, I am supposed to show up in my full Diva only to die of heat stroke? Not dignified at all! Unfortunately (truthfully - THANK GAWD) I will now be unable to attend since the memorial service for our friend's daughter will be tomorrow evening and I feel this is much more important than drinking with people I don't even remember. Definitely would have to drink in abudance to endure it...

In other news, Betsy you were right on the money about yesterday's post, the child (C2 but who's placing blame?) was the child I was cranking and moaning about yesterday and YES he did also lose his very own CAR. Still can't fathom how someone does that...

Hope everyone has a wonderful, relaxing and cool weekend. I personally will be enjoying this cold front in all it's glory!

Lost and Found

2009-07-16T21:43:00.002-05:00

I may have mentioned before that I am a tidbit anal about organization. If you saw my office or even my closet you might have reason to disagree with me. Even though these two places may appear in complete disarray, I know where everything is or I can find it relatively quickly. The real point being is I have never LOST anything of importance.

I have never lost my driver's license, my social security card, wallet, credit card, keys, birth certificate or ANY other important document. My true anal personality doesn't even allow this to happen. I put everything important to me in the same place all the time.

When I pay for an item, I hold my wallet in my hand until my change or my credit card is put back into the wallet and put the wallet in my purse. When I come home from, well anywhere, I place my purse in the same spot every single time. When I unlock my car, my office or the front door of my home my keys go directly back into my purse. Thus, I have never lost my keys nor have I ever locked them in my car. As in N.E.V.E.R!

Now my children and my husband are a complete different story. They have lost all of these items, not once, not twice, but a countless number of times. They have had to get a new driver's license at least twice a year. They have had to cancel bank accounts and credit cards too many times to count. And they have paid the equivalent of the national debt of some small nations ANNUALLY in locksmith fees. WHY?

How hard is it really to keep up with this stuff? How hard is it to put things in the same spot in order to always know where it is? And WHY is it MY problem or MY fault when these things happen time and time again? Honestly on some days if my husband wasn't asking where something was that he couldn't find, we probably wouldn't even speak to each other. Is this all my fault? Am I the enabler because I either FIND the missing stuff or arrange for the new one to appear?

Sometimes I wish that they would lose me and never find me again...

I'm really not as mean as I sound...

2009-07-15T21:21:00.002-05:00

Today was another long day just stretching this week into eternity! I had nothing on my calendar at work and was planning on playing catch-up and just chilling through the day... That didn't last long since I received a call on my way to the office and found out that a 10:00 meeting, 11:30 lunch AND a 1:30 meeting were scheduled for me - ugh!

Made it through the first meeting and the lunch unscathed, hurrying back to the office for the 1:30. We had a couple executives of an insurance company coming in to woo us into to selling their products. Pretty much a start up company which is something we don't do, we stay with top carriers. But as a favor to an old friend we agreed to meet with these dudes. One of them had just invested $7 million of his own money into this company and since distribution is key, I was thinking they really needed us more than we needed them...

1:30 rolls around, and goes, then 2:00, then 2:30 with no phone call and then they finally show up. Rudeness. So to make a point we let them sit in the conference room and stew a little bit longer.

When I entered the room, (always making a grand entrance ;)) I was taken back by the ugliest man that I have ever seen in my entire life! Seriously, I am not trying to be mean, but this man was so ugly that it was extremely hard to look at him. His clothes were wrinkled and too small, his hair was a cross between Don King and Art Garfunkel, and of course he was 2 feet shorter than me. Definitely did not look like a man that had an extra $7 million to throw into an insurance company.

It was very hard to contain myself and act in the professional manner that was expected of me without downright staring at him and at the same time being so repulsed that I couldn't even look at him. GAWD the things I have to do to earn a living... Thankfully they were behind schedule and had to leave at 3:30 to make a flight because I do not think I would have lasted much longer in that room.

So, do you think I am as mean as I sound?

Tuesday...

2009-07-14T15:11:00.002-05:00

Is it seriously only Tuesday? Arghh... feeling kind of random today...

There is always a good and an evil to being on good terms with the children...

Yeah MOM, for creating budget and helping me with my finances! BOO C1, for calling me 4 times per day with stupid questions that should not be asked by a business entrepreneur with a college degree...

Yeah MOM, for being the kind of Mom that listens when I want to talk. BOO C2, for telling me things that I really DO NOT want to know...

Yeah Mom, for being my personal chef, laundress, house keeper and chauffeur. BOO C3, for getting snippy when I say no, I do not want to stay up late AGAIN so that you can go watch the home run derby with your buddies and eat wings, on MY dime...

Having some serious muscle spasms in my back today, can NOT for the life of me figure out what I did. Pretty hard to pull muscles while sitting on your fat ass eating strawberry ice cream (new love) and watching the last 6 episodes of Gene Simmons, 5 episodes of Kendra and Nurse Jackie. GAWD I love my DVR.

Anyway, it hurts and I'm whining because nobody here wants to listen to me. Took Tylenol first thing this morning, didn't do zip. Took a handful of Advil around 10:00, didn't do squat. Took two Excedrin around 11:30, helped for about 30 minutes. You don't even know what I'd do for a Vicodin right about now...

Has this been the longest day in history, or is it just me?

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers for my dear friends. I do believe in the power of prayer and know that this will help them.

Sad Day...

2009-07-13T18:34:00.002-05:00

Today has been a sad and shocking day for some dear friends of ours. Their daughter, the same age of one of our own sons, passed away from an apparent heroin overdose. Unfortunately her parents were the ones that found her this morning. My heart bleeds for them and my sadness truly has no words. Please pray for them.

Hell must have started to freeze over

2009-07-11T22:42:00.005-05:00

Spent a lovely afternoon with C1 at his gym helping him set up a personal budget. Good times! It made me feel uber important when he kept introducing me to all his members. One even said that we look alike - NOT! That was actually the first person ever in 26 years to have said that to me. So technically he's off the shit list, even wants to come over tomorrow for dinner...

And then he dropped a bombshell on me that I was not expecting. At. All. As we were discussing finances and I relayed to him that it wouldn't be a bad idea to look into a roommate - he stated that he and M have discussed cohabiting. Now that wasn't the bombshell that blew me away, didn't actually shock me even.

The big one was the 'L' word. He told me that he has told her that he loves her and then asked me why I thought he told her that? Um, because you really like her? To which he replied, "No, Mom I think I'm in love with her, wait, no, I know I'm in love with her." SCRREEEEEEEEEECCCCCHH!

Actually I am quite happy for him. And her. I like her, I really do. I hope this is something that works out.

But of course, his Momma is still his best girl, or so he says...

As the world turns...

2009-07-09T22:04:00.004-05:00

Not much new in my life, still struggling day to day at work to complete the mysterious projects that were assigned to me in my absence. Thankfully, I haven't actually murdered anyone as of today though there is still one more day in this week...

Nothing exciting on the homefront either, well except if you count the fact that I am pretty close to being done with this mothering thing. The children keep rotating to the top of the shit list on an hourly basis and I am considering adoption. Anyone want to adopt me and take me away from my life?

In an effort to try and relax this evening I decided to grab a bottle of wine, a bowl of popcorn and work on my never ending picture repossession project. You might remember my little feud with that flucker picture website, you know the one that STOLE my pictures and made me pay ransom to get them back? For those of you with short memories, here's the story...

Anyhoo, been slowing working on this project and when I went back to it this evening I discovered that I had been copying THUMBNAILS of all of the pictures, not actual pictures. GAH! So I completely had to start over and I now have successfully copied about half of the almost 1300 photos to my laptop. Good times... Although tedious labor, it at least kept my mind off other things like work, laundry and doing anything else. Hopefully soon I will be able to transfer these photos to a USB drive thingy and then erase them from the hard drive to start the process over with the remaining pictures. Once that is done, I will be sending flickr a little letter telling them exactly what I think of them... Gotta get all my pictures first though.

Unrelated, has anyone read or seen the movie, My Sister's Keeper? I finished this book on vacation and I am DYING to talk to somebody about it but I know there are a few people that have NOT read the book or seen the movie and you can NOT talk about this story to anyone that wants to read it or see it. So humor me and let me know if you have had the pleasure of enjoying this story. I just gotta talk to someone about it! Just don't give away anything in your comments please!

Other than that, my bottle is empty as well as my bowl, so I guess I will go to sleep, but just for shits and giggles I will leave you with this most horrifying picture and you see if you can guess how long ago it was taken...

Vacation - what?

2009-07-07T16:40:00.003-05:00

Next time I tell you guys that I am planning a superb, relaxing, well-deserved vacation, please thump me in the head and remind me that it is never a good idea for me to take a vacation because either hell will freeze over or some other major catastrophe will happen at work, thus causing major stress in my life, thus reversing all that relaxing that I had previously done, thus causing me to have an ulcer and possibly minor, or major, heart palpitations, and a horrible crick in my neck all due from the stress.

Also remind me that I deal with idiots on a daily, hour by slow hour, basis and that if I am to leave the office for any short moment of time, they become bigger idiots and seem to lose all capacity of remembering their very own name, let alone any other thing that I possibly could have trained them to do so it just is not worth the extra effort that I will have to go through to re-align the stars and the moon and everything other fricking thing to make the world right again.

Just remind me of all this, will ya?

When do I get to retire?

2009-07-06T16:29:00.001-05:00

Back at work, have nothing to say, stressed out, can I retire soon?

Just a few shots of our little vacation...

2009-06-30T22:31:00.001-05:00

and on the fifth day, there was vacation...

2009-06-26T22:01:00.002-05:00

I do not believe that I have had a week as rough as this one in a really long time. TG it's over and the annual vacation has begun!

C3, C2 and I leave at the ass crack of dawn Sunday morning to our fabulous vacation destination - Destin, Forida! Whoo Hoo!

Found me a killer deal on a whole package and we will be staying in a nice 2 bedroom condo overlooking the canal and golf course, with 5, did you hear me FIVE, swimming pools and the lovely white sand PRIVATE beach. Can we get another WHOO HOO?

Yes there has already been a few requests of pictures of C2 shirtless, I'll see what I can do for you lecherous women... But sun, relaxation and hopefully not as much dang heat as we've had around here, is the only thing on the agenda. Can. Not. Wait.

Four days in a row the thermometer in my car has hit a triple digit mark - like 111 on Tuesday, 107 on Wednesday, 109 on Thursday and 110 today at 6:00 PM - gotta get out of this hell hole for awhile...

I'm sure I'll keep you posted...

Um.....

2009-06-25T16:50:00.000-05:00

Life is not cooperating today....

Can we talk about panties again?

2009-06-24T09:58:00.001-05:00

I am considering appearing before Congress to demand regulation of the panty industry. I mean come on, we have bail-outs and committees for all other kinds of crap, why not this? Looking for some support here, anyone want to join this grassroots campaign?

I know that one's panties are a personal issue and they come in every style, design and material imaginable. Let's see, we have bikinis, boy shorts, briefs, hi-cut, low-cut, mid-cut, hipsters, french-cut or thongs. There are no-ride up, seamless, firm control, tummy control, thigh control and wedgie free. They come in pretty, delicate, lacy, satin, cotton, stretch cotton, nylon and many more textures, too many to name actually. Whatever your choice is, that's your decision and you should relish in your choice.

Here's my problem - when it comes to the actual SIZE of the panty all common sense is lost. I'm personally tired of buying panties that don't fit, anyone with me? Let's face it, this garment is NOT one that you can go into the dressing room and try on. There is no guarantee that the size you guess to be your's is going to fit. There is no guarantee that the one you choose is going to be comfortable. How many of you have bought panties that were too big, too little, rode-up your ass, did not control your tummy, thigh or anything else? Had them roll down you stomach to accentuate your muffin top when in fact you were trying to hide your muffin top? Cut off circulation in your thigh or stomach? Or they were just too damn uncomfortable to ever wear again?

It's not like you can WEAR them and then take them back and say "Excuse me, these rode up my ass all day and I just can't wear them." NO, you are stuck with a drawer full of panties that you refuse to wear yet you can't throw them away because you spent so much damn money on them! This isn't the sort of garment you can throw in the Goodwill bag either, now is it? Am I RIGHT?

So what is up with the sizing of panties? They have size 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 - NONE of which actually coordinates with the ACTUAL size of clothing that you wear. If you wear a size 10 in clothes and bought a size 10 in panties, you could literally fill those puppies up with water and take a swim. WTF?

Then there is S, M, L and XL. Common sense would tell a person that wears a size 10 that they would wear size M in panties. Nope, not if you want to have actual blood flow to your lower extremities. WTH?

Why can't they just size them the same way they size clothes? Can I get an AMEN?

Please sign my petition quickly so I can book my flight to DC...

In My Humble Opinion…

2009-06-23T09:24:00.001-05:00

As many of you did last night, I watched Jon & Kate plus Eight and learned what we all have been expecting, they are divorcing. There has been an over-abundance of media attention to this family as of late, and like many of you, I was a bit tired and skeptical of the whole mess. But watching last night all I could feel was deep sorrow for Kate.

Many people say that she is a bitch and is stuck in the glory of her own fame as well as exploiting her children. I admittedly thought those things too, but watching her in her pain last night, I suddenly turned. Yes, she is a domineering woman with a take charge attitude but how many of us have lived in the role as a mother of eight children? Someone had to step up and take charge or there would be total chaos.

Being raised in a large family with seven children, I know for a fact that getting nine people out of the front door for any outing, whether it be grocery shopping, going to church or a family trip, it takes tons of organization. All of that organization needs leadership thank goodness Kate Gosselin had/has the maturity to step up to the plate. Quite obviously her spouse did not. Strangely, if she were a man nobody would be calling her a bitch it would be the exact opposite, she would be a great father AND a smart businessman, and that my friend is not only wrong but sad.

I had a hard time feeling any sympathy for a man that not only cheated on his wife, which he denies, but come on the cameras caught him, but decided to ride the coattails of his wife’s success and quit his job to stay home. Where are his balls? I don’t fall for his crap that someone had to stay home with the kids. I, like millions of other mothers, have always worked a full-time job while raising my children. Granted my children aren’t perfect but I don’t believe it was detrimental to their well-being to stay with babysitters or in daycare.

My husband traveled extensively during the upbringing of our children, sometimes being away from home for over a year with visits every other weekend. I still worked to help provide for my family, I didn’t quit my job to sit on my ass or to go skiing with my buddies in Utah. I went to work each morning after dropping my kids off at daycare or school and I came home every night and fed them, bathe them, spent quality time with them and put them to bed. Many a summer I would actually hire someone to come to my home so that my kids could enjoy being in their own space. Did any of this hurt my children? Certainly not. I feel fortunate that my husband was a real man and worked even harder than I did to support my family.

Say what you will about Kate exploiting her children, what I see is a woman that was dealt a situation and used her intelligence to figure out how to support her large family. We all know that it costs a fortune to raise a child, or two children or three. Heaven knows what the cost would be to raise eight children and make sure that there was enough money to support them and send them to college. Quite obviously that wasn’t going to happen on Jon’s computer nerd salary. So Kate took the situation into her own hands and figured out how to make an empire with her family to give her children’s those blessings. Bravo to her.

Sickening to me, Jon shows no remorse for tearing his family apart. No matter how ‘hard’ it was to stay home with his children while his wife traveled making all that money to support the children, why didn’t he man up and figure out another way if it was too much for him to handle? Where are your balls Jon? The fact that he is acting like a victim in this situation makes me want to vomit. He is not a victim, poor Jon is a pussy that let his wife take control and now wants to whine about it. Let’s see how much he whines when she continues to build the empire for her and her eight children and he has to go get a J.O.B. Guess what Jon, that’s what real men do.

Sadly at the age of 32, Jon feels that his ‘new life’ will be exciting and an adventure. Yep, that’s what he said, he’s excited. Seriously, you’re excited that you are a cheater and abandoning your family. You are a pathetic loser, plain and simple. A real man, even at the age of 32, would have admitted his mistakes, BEGGED forgiveness from his wife and figured out a way to make it work for the sake of his children. After all that’s what he keeps claiming he’s doing this for, the sake of his children. He has no right to be mad at his wife for what she has done for this family, no right at all. At the age of 32 he should realize that he made his bed when he decided to act like the immature brat that he is and screw some 20-something year old.

I’m sure everyone has a different view or opinion on this. I’m sure that many of you don’t really give a rat’s ass, but I felt compelled to get my opinion off my chest. I will pray for Kate and her children and I will hope that without Jon her life is full of happiness and the true meaning of family. God Bless you Kate in your journey.

Well you didn’t ask, but here is 20 reasons why I am bitchy today. You'd better sit down, this might be a long one.

2009-06-22T10:38:00.003-05:00

1) Went out to dinner Friday night and we had a horrible waiter and the restaurant (Chili’s) was dirty and the bathroom was disgusting which made me not want to eat my food. Ordered an appetizer which never came, “Oh forgot about that…” he said. NEVER got a refill on our drinks and I had to actually get up and go find the dude and beg for the check. Very small tip for him.

2) Hubby somehow hurt his knee and has been whining and complaining since Friday (STFU already, made him make his own appointment – go me – and he will be going to doc at 2:00 today) so I was driving home. It was dark, I do not see well in the dark, and nearing my exit there was a broke down car on the side of the road which I was carefully trying to avoid. Said car had a blowout and low and behold the tire was right in my lane and it was too late to do anything but hit it. At the VERY moment I saw it and cannot possibly do anything, Hubby screams “Watch out for the tire” – no shit Sherlock. To which I proceeded to retort – “Watch out for the tire? Could you have said something before I hit it?” To which he retorted “you’re such a bitch” – and it went down from there.

3) Said tire that I ran over proceeded to – guess, just guess – make me have a blowout. ARGHHH. Not really a blowout but it broke the stem on the tire and deflated the tire but I was so busy arguing with my stupid husband that I didn’t realize it until we were on our street. Fiasco.

4) Saturday morning Hubby got up to go get tire fixed which turned into a major ordeal because our Nissan dealership insists that you have an appointment to fix anything, so he took it to Discount Tire and they fixed it, FOR FREE.

5) Electrician that was supposed to come to our house on Saturday and run electricity to the deck, install ceiling fan, install our surround sound and mount the TV in the bedroom, all in one day, He completed only getting electricity wired to deck. Since this was BIL’s friend and he owed BIL $800, he was doing the whole job for; you guessed it, $800. We were to pay BIL, which we did, and now have tons of work left not completed. This does not make me a happy camper but doesn’t faze the Asshole Husband.

6) Asshole hubby was an Asshole all day on Saturday and was even rude to very pregnant SIL and dared to ask her how much she weighed – what an Asshole! Which btw she finally gave birth yesterday to my new godson (YES she asked ME to be the Godmother! too bad she also asked Asshole hubby to be the Godfather) at 12:59 pm.

7) At 6:00 pm Asshole hubby decides to start staining/waterproofing the deck and was making quite the ruckus about doing it. So after preparing dinner, I proceeded to go outside to help. He started on one end of the railing and I started on the other end. He proceeded to get one section (4 feet people) done and said he was done with that. I, in an effort to a) not be in the house with him and b) to show him up, proceeded to put on my iPod earphones and complete the entire railing BY MYSELF. Took me 4 hours but was mighty proud of myself.

8) Asshole hubby wakes me up at 6:30 AM yesterday morning by mowing the yard, I’m certain my neighbors hate him too.

9) Got up and dressed and planned to go to the cemetery before church to visit my Dad. Got a call from MIL who asked what was wrong with my mother because she didn’t look good at church and one of her friends told MIL that she wasn’t going to breakfast (something she does every Sunday and has for like 20 years, even went the Sunday after Dad died) because she didn’t feel good. Thank goodness for gossipers at church. Call my mother and she is crying (not something my mother does, ever) and told me she didn’t know what was wrong but she didn’t feel good and wanted to go back to the ER. Told me my sister was coming to take her but since I was out I went over there and she didn’t look good. Bitchy sister showed up and asked “are you taking her?” to which I told her no, I had to drive C3 to Denton (an hour drive) to football camp but keep me updated. She retorts that she really doesn’t want to sit up there alone. GAH. Call and wake little bro up and ask him to please go with.

10) Go to church, little bro keeps texting me to call him, and so I go to the restroom and call him and he tells that they are doing a spinal tap, trying to rule out meningitis and mother is hysterical. My mother does NOT get hysterical, so I begin to worry and get an upset stomach.

11) Get home from church, pack up C3s crap and ask Asshole hubby if he wants to go with me but he doesn’t understand why I don’t ask one of the ‘other parents’ to take him. Uh, this is my baby and he is not going to a 3 day camp in far city without me taking him and getting him settled. I don’t care how old he is. So I leave to drive him myself.

12) Got that taken care of and I am driving home about 4 pm when little bro texts me and says that they are sending mother home, don’t have a clue what is wrong with her but think she needs to go to a rheumatologist, WTFever that is. Text him back that I am driving back and will stop by the house.

13) Stopped and shopped because I needed the retail therapy, bad.

14) Decide to stop at the house and a) pee and b) cook dinner real quick because a) I need to pee and b) I’m hungry and c) I could take some to my mother. Bitchy sister calls and says “Where are you at? I thought you were coming over here. I haven’t eaten all day long and I’d like to leave.” I say, “I’m sorry I stopped at the house to pee and make dinner for mom, can she not be left alone?” to which she retorts “She’s sleeping and I can’t just leave while she is sleeping.” To which I respond “Well I left my keys over there this morning, please find somewhere to put them and I’ll be there as soon as I can and just wake her up and tell her you are leaving.” To which she retorts “THANKS KAT” and precedes TO FUCKING HANG UP ON ME! OH. NO. SHE. DIDN’T.

15) I turn off the grill and proceed to jump my happy ass into my car and speed over there while calling my little bro’s wife and cry and complain and bitch… She’s my sounding board, PTL for her.

16) Get to my mother’s house and march my happy ass in and tell my sister “OKAY Princess, you are off duty now, excuse me for taking SO LONG!” And she say’s “What’s wrong?” OH. NO. SHE. DIDN’T.

17) I proceed to tell her that “she has no right to hang up on me and that the last time I looked there were 5 other siblings that she could have called and I think I have been doing pretty much more than my share taking care of MY mother and if it was too much for her to handle, she could feel free to leave because I was there to continue doing it!” Then she wants to talk about it - and she “didn’t mean to upset me” and “she didn’t realize she hung up on me” and blah, blah, blah. I told her to kiss my ass and to please leave because I had NOTHING to say to her. And in the process woke up my mother – damn.

18) She left, I took care of my mother and had a nervous breakdown and cried like a baby (which btw typing this is making me do THAT again) and tell my mom that I was worried about her and Father’s Day sucks and they should abolish the holiday and I never got to go to the cemetery and now I feel horrible. She sent me home and told me she was fine and she’d make an appointment first thing in the morning. GAWD I’m a loser.

19) Went home and cried myself to sleep.

20) Got up this morning and took the car to the dealership because the “Tire Flat” light was still on even after having tire repaired. Them sonsofbitches, would not LOOK at my car because I did not have an appointment. Told them to kiss my ass and drove off. Went to Discount Tire and they checked all my tires and told me that sorry, it must be a computer glitch because the light won’t go off but my tires are fine and don’t worry about driving the car. Great, now I have to call them sonsofbitches and make an appointment...

Betcha, you’re glad you didn’t ask why I was bitchy today now, aren’t you?

I have a good one, but...

2009-06-19T13:36:00.002-05:00

So I'm on a roll thing here with this blogging everyday and I don't want to choke on it like I do everything else and I have a couple of really good blogs on my mind, but...

Today has been a hell day and it is now 1:30 and we know what that means right?

It's the start of my weekend! Pedicure chair, here I come!

Buh Bye!

Love me a good bargain...

2009-06-18T14:16:00.001-05:00

The past couple of years we have been very busy updating the inside of the house. All of the new furniture came from Broyhill and there were a few pieces that we wanted, yet cost was an issue...

A month or so ago Hubby decided that he wanted to get an end table so off we went to the local Broyhill store. It was closed and every time we drove by it was closed. There was no signs and the store was full of furniture, curious? This past Sunday we happened to drive by and there were huge signs saying the store was closing and no offer would be refused... but, they were closed?

Monday night we trekked over there yet again and discovered they were open, woo hoo! Apparently the stores in our area are a franchise and they have filed bankruptcy so to our good fortune, everything in the store was on sale. MAJOR sale! We scored both coffee table and end table to complete our living room for HALF of the original price of just the coffee table! See:

And the matching end table:

We also were given a great price on the dining room table that we have been coveting. BUT, there's always a but, since they are selling all of the floor stuff only, the table only has four chairs. Gotta have more than four chairs. The hutch that goes with the dining room table also is a little bit out of the price range that I'm willing to cough up and I want a complete set not just one of the pieces. Would be too hard to match the wood, etc... So I am thinking about trekking over to the other store in another city to see if they have more chairs and trying to cut a better deal. I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Why I did NOT become a nurse...

2009-06-17T14:32:00.003-05:00

Way back in the day when I grew up I wanted to be a nurse. I don't think the calling was to 'save lives' or 'heal people', I think the calling was really about the money.

Of course, after being accepted to nursing school and in the process of quitting my full time job, hubby accidentally fell three stories from a building and I became a non-paid nurse maid for about a year. Since I instantly became the sole bread winner and we had a mortgage, a couple of car notes and two kids, quitting was just not an option. So I postponed it and eventually continued to postpone it until it was too late and too much of a distant dream.

I do believe that the Good Lord was sending me a clear message. I was not to become a nurse, it was not the job for me. How do I know that this was the message? I've learned it by several million different ways.

I cannot stand the site of blood, it makes me want to vomit and then pass out - ditto needles. I'm not very compassionate with the sick and the lame, I wish to tell them to 'buck it up and get over it.'

This has been quite evident in the past couple of weeks dealing with the FIL's knee replacement surgery, the impending surgery of the MIL's hernia and today's favorite of all, the 'caregiver' to my mother before, during and after her colonoscopy.

Besides the fact that I had to get up at 4:30 am to pick her up and have her at the surgery center at 6:00 am. And besides the fact that I was actually having to answer questions for her while she completed her paperwork, like why it was necessary to sign her name and then print her name and how exactly she was the 'self' in the relationship to the person signing the form. Actually, that one didn't turn out well, because I said "That would be YOURself" in response to this question and that is exactly what she wrote in the blank - 'yourself' - arghh... and having to explain why all these 'unnecessary' forms were not stupid but important.

There were those things and the part that I was being forced to force her to awake after the surgery and to remember to breathe or they weren't going to let her go home. That and the fact that she kept asking me the same questions over and over and over and I tried to be patient and answer them over and over and over again until I finally just ignored her and she'd fall back asleep. Then there was the pleasure of seeing her completely BUTT naked and having to put her panties on as well as her other clothes. There were ALL of those things that were irritating me and I wasn't very compassionate.

But there was always the worry. The worry that she was really incoherent and babbling nonsense, not just a she's on drugs nonsense, but almost a dementia nonsense that floored me. Then once I got her home and discovered that she had turned the air off because it was 'so cold' yesterday. It was 102 degrees yesterday... and a mere 80 degrees in her house this morning. Also the state of her disarrayed house which is totally out of character since she has always been OCD about a clean house, was disturbing and yet there were tons of dirty dishes stacked in the sink, the counter was filthy and looked like it hadn't been wiped in a long time. The dog food that was scattered all around the kitchen floor, a pair of shoes in every room, the only food in the house was about 20 cans of green beans in the pantry with nothing in the fridge or freezer. These curious things just went on and on. It screamed "SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE!"

But there was also the fact that even after I finally got her home and in bed, that she couldn't stay awake. ALL. DAY. LONG. Even though I left her alone, which made me physically ill to do, and even though I called the little brother and made him swear to check on her in the afternoon and take her some lunch and even though I called and woke her up two times in 3 hours to 'check' on her, it worried me and made me uneasy and made me realize that I was never cut out to be a nurse. God works in mysterious ways but this mystery has definitely been solved...

The Deck...

2009-06-16T08:41:00.001-05:00

Came home yesterday and discovered that the deck was actually, finally, complete. Just another one of those "1 week" jobs that only took 3 1/2 weeks... Hubby sure knows how to pick em... The very best thing about the new deck is that I can walk outside and not have three dogs instantly want to lick me, nose me, or jump on me - heaven...

So for your viewing pleasure, a pictorial...

Now don't get me wrong, I love my puppies, I really do, just wish they weren't so loving back sometimes...

Cuervo

Tequila

And Duke

I'm in a quandry...

2009-06-15T09:49:00.002-05:00

It appears that some fellow blogee's have had their blogs hacked and their templates eaten... Mine seems okay, but after an exhaustive search I cannot find the website where I stole my cute little template.... Does anyone have any suggestions on where to find these????????

In other non-related news. Weekend was okay, yet tiring and I'm actually glad it's Monday. Well not really, but I'm pretending anyway...

Had a baby shower on Saturday for my sister-in-law and was pretty sure that the time I put on the invite was 1:00 pm-3:00 pm. Because I am the world's biggest procrastinator, I was at the grocery store Saturday at 10 am deciding what to SERVE at said shower. Rushed back to the homestead at 11ish and not only needed to shower and dress, but prepare all food just purchased.

Because I am good under pressure, I was able to get my diva on, prepare the food, clean the house (which I do not do anymore but the cleaning lady failed to show on Thursday, arghhh...) and was sitting waiting at 1:00 pm. And nobody was there, not even the mom-to-be? So I frantically began searching for a copy of the invite to see if a) I had gotten the day wrong or b) I had gotten the time wrong...

Of course I couldn't find it and was beginning to get frantic because of all the food that was sitting out. At 1:20 just when I thought I was going to just scream and call one of the other SIL's she drove up to the house. When I asked her what time I put on the invitation, she said 1:00 but when she drove up and no cars where there she thought she had the wrong date and her girls refused to get out of the car...

So then I called the mom-to-be and she was running late, and I gave her some slack because she is due on Thursday. After that the guests slowing started dragging in, with the last to arrive at 2:30 - HELLO!!!! Which part of 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm did these people not get????? I attribute this all to my in-laws total lack of being able to tell time and the cultural difference, but I shouldn't have to make excuses for them. Totally inconsiderate, the whole lot of them...

I have to pee

2009-06-12T11:33:00.004-05:00

YOU: And why are you telling us this?

ME: Because I am trying to make a conscious effort to blog every day, at least every day during the week, until I reach 100 blog entries so I had to say something.

YOU: Why are you doing this?

ME: Who the fuck knows, but I gotta pee, so can I go now?

YOU: (Please fill in the blank)

Can I Quit This Job?

2009-06-11T13:58:00.003-05:00

Feeling a bit on the "I'm so tired I could crawl up in the fetal position and die" side of life this week... I know that I am a very 'controlling' person, though I'd like to think of it more like a 'take-charge' kind of person, but when did I get elected to being in charge of everything?

Story A
The FIL had knee replacement surgery last Thursday. I am married to the only son of 6 children. Not sure how that makes me 'in charge' of all things related to his family but I guess since his sisters are either big wusses or bitches, that leaves me, right? So besides ME and the MIL, who else sat in the waiting room during surgery? That would be my husband and his little brother. His little brother is really his nephew, and if you have followed me for a long time you would know that my husband's oldest sister, whom I don't even recognize as a human being, thus she definitely falls into the bitch category, but has no given name, abandoned her son at the age of 2 to be raised by his grandparents because her then fiance refused to allow that half 'rican live in his house. Nice, right? He's now 34 and for all purposes related to me and my family, the little brother.

So you might ask, where were all those sisters? Um, busy? Nevertheless, I took good care of my MIL and FIL that entire day even if I was there from 6 am until 7pm. The following day we had planned on leaving town to attend a football camp with C3, and we did although it was cut from a weekend away to a 17 hour round trip ride to Austin and back because... Because the sisters could not handle the responsibility of the in-laws for one day! Before we were an hour out of town the calls started coming and they all expected me to snap my fingers and make miracles happen. I was supposed to determine, by 5:00 pm, which of four rehab facilities that my FIL would go to from the hospital. Didn't matter that I was going to be more than 4 hours from the homestead. I was also called to clean up the mess that the sister with no name caused when after all these years she decided to rear her little head and decide that she was 'concerned' about her father. Yes, after not being able to reach my MIL by cell phone or in the hospital room (she had gone home to shower and eat) sister with no name called the hospital and demanded to speak to the head nurse about her father's care... After cursing and berating the head nurse about this care (which I'm not sure she can determine since her happy ass hadn't BEEN to the actual hospital), she then left a cursing and berating message for my MIL on her cell phone and instructed her that she was not allowed to EVER leave his side AGAIN and if she did, she was to call sister with no name and inform her of her reason to leave and whereabouts. Of course this started a whole course of sobs and complaints from Wuss 1 and Wuss 2, and they needed me to handle it. Hmmm...

So bright and early Saturday morning, I took a big batch of donuts and sausage rolls with me to the hospital to do some major ass kissing with the nurses and make sure they did not smother my FIL in his sleep. Then came Sunday when Bitch One and Bitch Two reared their little heads and told the MIL that they did not want their father going to a 'nursing home' that they felt he should be attended to at home. Yes, great advice from two women that were 'too busy' to take the time to come wait during surgery. Let's not even take into consideration that the MIL is nearing 80 and has a hernia that is scheduled to be operated on next month. And did these two plan on volunteering their services to attend FIL's needs? Uh, no, they have to work. More phone calls and more sobs from Wuss 1 and Wuss 2... So off again I go to the hospital bright and early Sunday morning to lay the law down to my MIL and FIL because of the fear that the idiot sisters, Bitch One and Bitch Two, put into their heads about 'nursing homes'. GAH!

Thankfully he is currently rehabbing quite nicely at the rehab center of MY choice and we hope to have him up and at 'em and home in a week...

Story B
We had some severe storms roll in last night and even a tornado or two. As I was watching the news I noticed that a possible tornado had been spotted and was heading directly toward the little town that C1 lives and has his gym. Knowing that he pays no attention to such, I called him but had to leave a message because, well because HE NEVER answers my calls. He's busy you know...

About 45 minutes later, I receive a frantic phone call from C1 because the tornado sirens are blaring and the wind is blowing 80 mph and the rain is seeping through the glass wall (that would be the entire front wall of his gym) and flooding the gym. He is panicked and asks me what to do? Uh, seek cover? I asked him if anyone was in the gym and of course being right after work it was packed, so I told him to get everyone into the interior restrooms and ride it out. He immediately starts shouting the orders before we lost connection. Yep, picture that, Mr. Big Bad Ass Business Owner calling his mommy and asking her what to do in an emergency? Priceless.

Story C
After the bad storms last night, we were still having some bitchin weather this morning. About 10 am, I received a text from the BIL (see above) which said, "Hey! Can you call me? Nothing wrong." Assuming that it had to do with either the MIL or FIL or possibly the sister with no name (which btw they do not speak and she has never been involved in his life) I immediately called him back. Here's his story - His wife, S, went into labor about 2 am, after going to the hospital at 7 am they decided to send her home because she had only dilated to a 2. Their house didn't have any electricity (tens of thousands of people still don't) but he left her there with their 5 year old son and was going to work. Could I call and check on her? WTF? STOP! Because of the horrid reception and the storm it actually took three or four phone calls to get that much out of him. So then I berated him for being an idiot.

First, they live 30-45 minutes away from the hospital IF the moon is aligned correctly. Second, they had NO ELECTRICITY. Third, he was heading to work which was 45 minutes in the OPPOSITE direction, in a STORM, so it could possibly take him 2 or more hours to get from work to get her and then to the hospital. What was he thinking? I immediately call S to inform her that I would come pick her up and take her to my house, which has electricity AND air conditioning, which is only 5 minutes from the hospital. She doesn't answer. Not the house phone or the cell phone. I then panic. What if she falls asleep and goes into real hard labor and dilates to a 9 before anyone can get there? Huh? Then what happens if I get there during this process and she has the baby in my car? Huh? Not in MY car!

Needless to say, she finally called me back, the contractions are still 5 minutes apart and she says she is fine. Oh, and the electricity came back on. Oh, and I guess I have to now cancel the shower I am throwing for her on Saturday... Apparently now I am not only in charge of the elderly and the lame, I am also in charge of the newborns - GAH!

Can I quit this job?

Excuse Me, May I Take a Moment to Bitch?

2009-06-09T08:50:00.003-05:00

One of the many downfalls on being a menopausal woman is that you magically grow an increased waist size and large ass in addition to packing on some extra tonnage. In the past year due to this downfall, I have packed on roughly, give or take a few, um, 20ish pounds. (This is my story and I'm sticking to it so shut up!)

Due to this extra, um, poundage, I have discovered that my shorts no longer want to encompass my large ass. Now I don't actually want to go out and purchase a whole new wardrobe because I do have hopes that through a little voodoo and some fairy dust I will be able to stop this widening process and perhaps even shrink it. However...

However, living in the glorious hell hole we call Texas, it is not a luxury to wear shorts, it is a downright necessity. Just this morning driving to work we had a cool temperature of 81 degrees which actually might be considered hotter than hell in your part of the country, but it is a typical morning low in hell. By the time I get off work today it will probably be a mere 98 degrees, thus the necessity of putting on a cool pair of shorts in order not to immediately die from heat stroke should I walk out my front door.

Normally I wouldn't step out my front door in the evening during this time of the year but my precious baby, C3, has signed up for summer football which is played two evenings per week at the not so coolest hour of the day. Nope, not high noon, when it is not probable but maybe possible to still breathe in the heat, but at 5:00 sharp the hottest portion of the entire day.

This is where I start to bitch (NO, I have not started yet!)... In my quest to find ONE, maybe TWO pairs of enlarged shorts I have discovered that they no longer make normal shorts. As in normal I mean, normal. Shorts a middle aged, wide girth, hormonal woman can wear in public. Is it just me or is there only two options in shorts these days? You have your 'Bermuda' look which are so long that they hit you at the knee or you have your 'Daisy Duke' version, which in reality is a small slip of cloth that barely covers your ass. Trust me when I tell you, NOBODY wants to see this ass.

Bermuda shorts, albeit cute, are not exactly reasonable when the temperature is 199 degrees and also leave an undesirable tan line. Daisy Duke's, well once again nobody wants to see it... Also most popular seems to be little bitty short 'tennis type' mini-skirts. Um, no, I don't think I want to be showing my peek-a-choo to the opposing team while sitting in my lawn chair on the sidelines, and heaven forbid I would need to bend over! I can see the mobs of other parents passing out from the sight of THAT, let alone the heat...

What happen to normal shorts? You know shorts that hit maybe mid thigh? And speaking of normal, when in all things holy did the 'natural waistline' move to 2 inches below one's belly button? Um, MY natural waistline (well when I actually had one) is about two inches ABOVE my belly button. When did it become normal to display one's muffin top over one's pants? HELLO I am trying to HIDE that muffin top along with the large ass, not display it!!!!

Don't even get me started on shirts. Okay too late - shirts, can I have just plain sleeveless? Do I have to have only halter tops or spaghetti strap shirts to choose from? That's a whole other area of flab hanging over and out that I don't wish to share. And when, my fellow Americans, did it become acceptable to wear a purple, green, yellow or blue bra with a white spaghetti strap shirt? Huh, when? I applaud women for actually wearing a bra with these shirts but DO I HAVE TO SEE YOUR BRA STRAPS? Huh, do I?

grab yourself a cup of joe, take a seat and let's have a little visit...

2009-06-04T14:57:00.001-05:00

Been awhile since I've visited blogland and since I can't seem to keep it going, thought I'd throw it all out there at once, even though there is not much to say...

Still haven't seen the tattoo in it's full glory, hear that it is still in the 'creative process', but I have quit crying about it. Not much I can do now... Thank you all for the nice comments about C2, you bunch of cougars...

School is officially out for the summer and having a little problem with my baby going to HIGH SCHOOL, just sayin...

Went to a wedding last weekend with M, C1's girlfriend (he was in the wedding) and I wonder if it is possible to trade in one's oldest child and replace them with the girlfriend? I'd do it in a red hot minute...

Once again there is construction at the house, seems hubby decided we needed a deck and so... we are getting one. Why does this not work for me when I decide I want something?

Need to go visit some blogs, miss catching up with all of you! Was really happy to see Omaha Momma was back at it, just need Jane! to get back at it and then there is June, Tracie, hmmm... where is everyone?

How to make your momma cry without even trying

2009-05-20T12:02:00.002-05:00

I'm sure that C2 didn't even THINK about me before he did this. Nor should he have, but needless to say this has devastated me...

Because I'm the momma

2009-05-09T14:35:00.001-05:00

From the moment I became a Mom some 26 years ago, this has been my favorite song and have I have played it over and over again for each one of my boys. It is one of their favorites too, something that we all share. Without my three sons, whom I love with all my soul, there would be a huge, empty hole in my heart.

Today, I share our song with you in honor of all mothers, especially those with boys. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Happy Mother's Day!

My Mommy

2009-05-08T11:39:00.004-05:00

Thought I would jump on the loving devotions to mothers today even though loving devotions are just a little bit out of character for me... Hallmark be damned.

My mom is the youngest of 10 children and was born on a farm somewhere in Central Texas with a population of about 200 (and I think they counted farm animals). To hear her tell it she had a wonderful childhood, but it always seemed like a depressing place to me. Because my mom was an unexpected child (or that's what we always teased her about because she was born on April 1st, so we told her she was an April Fools joke that couldn't be sent back), a few of the older siblings were already out of the house and on with their lives when she was born. The oldest had entered the nunnery (okay that may not be the official word for it, but you get the picture) and my mother did not meet this sister until she was 6 or so years old. How bizarre!

Upon graduating from high school, my mom moved to the big city of Fort Worth, TX and lived in a 'girl's only' boarding house while working as a secretary during the day and apparently cruising bars in the evening because that is where she met my dad, at a bar...

They married a short time later (after dad converted first, rules you know) and had seven children (the most loving of course would be ME, the middle child, and the only one writing this devotion to her mother. Oh and BTW, I'm also the favorite but she doesn't like me telling the others that because she is afraid it would hurt their feelings.) I do believe that this year would have been my parents 50th anniversary had my dad not passed. But then again I could be wrong because menopause is messing with my memory lately...

Although my mom has some flaws, we all do don't we, she has always been there for me. Through it all, the good, the bad and the ugly and she probably doesn't even know how much I love her because I probably have not told her enough. But I do, she's my rock and life just wouldn't be the same without her.

I love YOU Mommy!

Another, I couldn't make this shit up if i tried story by Kat

2009-05-06T09:24:00.006-05:00

First, the good news is that the car has been recovered, YEA! Most of you will be amused to know that you called it right and he had actually valet parked it at a club (assuming strip club because he has yet given UP the name of said club), was too drunk to remember, thankfully walked home and did not actually remember until one week later. Walking by said club (or returning to the scene of the crime) on Friday evening he had an epiphany (his exact word) and after paying a week's worth of storage cost, drove his car home...

Of course this epiphany couldn't come before all the crap that I went through last week dealing with a stolen vehicle. Having first turned down the use of a rent car because we had an extra car for him to drive, said extra car broke down on him on the way to work one morning. Hubby went to rescue him and I was summoned at 6:30 am to not only produce a tow truck, but to pull a rental car out of my ass. Long story short, after many phone calls and screaming matches, car was sent to the car hospital and I was to meet the car rental people at the house for car delivery at 12:30 on Friday.

Left work early to make sure that I was home on time, received a phone call that they were on their way and sat and waited and waited and waited and waited. Over an hour later, after having to cancel my nail appointment, rental car dude calls and says that he came to my house and knocked and rang the doorbell for 10 minutes but nobody answered. No, I'm sitting right here in my little office next to the front door, losing my butt at 21, and nobody has come to my house. Swears he was there, recites the directions to my house to which I agree are correct and then tells me that there was a white Silverado pickup in my driveway. No, don't have one of those, but there is a white NISSAN in my driveway dumbass. So another long story short, they finally arrive and after all the switch and bait of cars, C2 drove off to his beloved Dallas only to find his fricken car 5 hours later...

Several months ago I came home from work to discover a yellow post-it note stating 'No Solicitors' attached prominently next to my front door over the doorbell. Upon questioning Hubby about this attractive new feature to our decor, he told me that he was sick and tired of coming home every day and having thousands of flyers on the porch or rubber-banded to the door handle (I believe he even said something about saving the trees...) in addition to the constant stream of product hawkers, lawn care specialist and young men trying to save our souls.

Having learned many, many years ago some things are better left alone and not worth fighting over and I chose not to tell him what an idiot he was (although I do believe I mentioned something about white trash...) and let him keep his little post-it note on the door. Truth be told, it actually worked. Weeks and weeks went by and no more flyers were left at our doorstep and not a ringing doorbell was heard. Both C1 and C2 ribbed him about his little post-it note every time they came over but he was adamant that it worked. Occasionally, if he knew we were having guests, he would remove the post-it note and stick it on the desk by the door. After a few days of his forgetting to put it back outside we would have stacks of flyers once again and back out came the post-it note, by now being secured by scotch tape.

Not sure why but last week the post-it note was not attached to the door and as we were sitting down to dinner the doorbell rang. Sending Hubby to the door, C3 and I sat down to our dinner, lest it get cold... Poor Hubby even though he doesn't want evil solicitors coming to his door, he is just senseless enough to talk to any stranger than comes a knocking. In the beginning I didn't pay any attention to the conversation, just went about eating my meal and occasionally catching a word or too. I did hear Perfect Stranger Sales Dude mention that "Big Mack across the street uses our service and thought YOU might be interested... and this will just take a minute..." and kept right on stuffing my face. Until...

Until I hear THESE words come straight out of Hubby's mouth, not only Perfect Stranger Sales Dude to hear, but for anyone within ten miles that might be listening... "Yeah, WE USED TO HAVE AN ALARM SYSTEM BUT WE NEVER EVEN TURN IT ON ANYMORE."

OH. NO. HE. DIDN'T!

Thankfully, by this time Hubby is bored with the conversation and tells Perfect Stranger Sales Dude that he really needed to talk it over with 'the wife' (just in case you are wondering, YES, that is what he calls me in public, wtf?) could he possibly leave him a brochure or a business card and we would call him back if we were interested. And just as I expected, Perfect Stranger Sales Dude tells Hubby that he doesn't have any brochures or cards and asks him when a good time to come back would be?

I didn't really listen to anymore because my head was spinning exorcist style and my ears were ringing and the steam coming out of them was clogging my hearing, but then Hubby comes and casually sits at the dinner table to start his meal. I feel my blood pressure rising quickly, the hot flash from the stress and my temples pulsating from my head that is just about to explode and I say - "ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?"

Okay, I didn't say it, I screamed it so loud that I am pretty sure that Perfect Stranger Sales Dude, who by this time was scoping out my house to see the best way to BREAK AND ENTER it, heard my every word. And to my surprise, Hubby looks at me with that stupid man look and says "What, what are you talking about?"

So after berating him for well over an hour, well maybe for the next four hours, I think he actually started seeing the light and not only has he been diligent in making sure every door and window are locked and secured each morning and evening, he actually went out this week end and bought a real 'NO SOLICITORS' sign and secured it to the front door and threw away his little post-it note....

Phone Calls after 10 PM

2009-04-28T15:04:00.004-05:00

Being the mother of three darling (cough-cough) male children I have learned the hard way that no good news ever comes via the telephone after 10:00 pm. It is most certainly never someone calling just to say "HI" or "Miss you and Love you MOM" - no, no, no, it is always most definitely a bad call, a very bad call.

Since I pride myself on having common sense, one would ponder why I actually ANSWER the phone after 10:00 pm? Wouldn't it make my life easier if I just ignored that ringing sound and rolled over and went back to sleep? Maybe, subconsciously, I get some mysterious, perverted pleasure of jumping straight out of bed in the wee hours of the night, causing my heart to pump fast enough to produce a major coronary attack, sweat beading around my upper lip and pouring from my underarms along with the instant feeling of self induced vomit rising in the back of my throat? Do you think that's it? Hmmm...

Thankfully, for the short term anyway, the after 10:00 pm phone calls are at a rare minimum. With a 15, almost 16 males species still living in the adobe, I know those days are numbered...

Sunday, approximately 2:38 AM, well not really approximately, exactly at 2:38 AM, because I always LOOK at the clock when the phone rings in the middle of the night so that I can pronounce my own time of death... C2 called to inform us that his car had been stolen. Stolen right out of his very own parking lot. That gated, secured and monitored parking lot. Hmmm...

Needless to say, he was a little irrational at the time, well actually his butt was not only irrational but a little on the tipsy side. Okay, a little more than tipsy, whatever... so the story was a little, shall we say, convoluted? I have yet to figure out why he felt compelled to wake me up at that time to tell me the news. Yes, he was upset but wouldn't the car still be missing at say, 8:00 am? Hmmm...

All the proper procedures have taken place, the police were summoned and a report was written, the insurance company was called and a claim filed and as of today, nothing. I keep wishing that they find the car and I don't really care if it's stripped bare, just let it be able to be repaired because the alternative is not pretty. But then getting screwed over is never pretty is it?

And for today...

2009-04-22T15:30:00.001-05:00

Have absolutely nothing to say but didn't want to stop the streak, so THANK YOU BECCA, you may now consider yourself officially TAGGED. Muwahahahahaha!

Stupid Tags...

2009-04-21T16:52:00.002-05:00

In response to THE tag... and has anyone noticed 3 posts in a row? I'm just sayin...

8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. Summer and sunshine, well until it gets to friggin hot.
2. Grandbabies
3. Friday night football
4. A vacation, whenever that is
5. It’s Tuesday, so what else, The Biggest Loser…
6. The weekend
7. Retirement
8. This is hard – I don’t know…

8 things I did yesterday:
1. Worked
2. Had a salad for lunch
3. Worked late, again
4. Wrote a scathing letter to an insurance company and got my point across
5. Found the deck design that I want and asked for bid
6. Ate Mexican food for dinner, that diet lasted long…
7. Watched Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters and Keeping up with the Kardasians
8. POSTED a blog entry

8 things I wish I could do:
1. Be a millionaire
2. Live on the beach
3. In a mansion
4. With a pool
5. Own a yacht
6. Park my yacht at my mansion on the beach
7. Have the perfect body without working out
8. Get a nose job

8 shows I watch:
1. The Biggest Loser
2. Grey’s Anatomy
3. How I Met Your Mother
5. Lost
6. Private Practice
7. Little People Big World
8. Office

8 people I tag:
1. Sarah – because I’m mean
2. Hawkeye Chick - ditto
3. Betsy- because you need to get back to blogging- where the hell are you woman? AND because Connie did…
4. Patsy – ditto #2
5. Bev – ditto #4
6. Tricia – ditto #5
7. Lulu – ditto #6
8. Tracie – ditto #7
9. Jane! - because I skipped something above...

The Girl and The Girl

2009-04-20T15:40:00.006-05:00

I know that I have been slacking lately but Connie that DOES NOT mean that I will be dealing with your tag today, wench...

It does however mean, that I forgot to mention that I finally met THE GIRL!

Hubby and C3 went out of town last weekend to a football camp and since I am the wild woman that I am (right...) I called C1 and asked him if he would like to go to dinner on Friday night and bring THE GIRL. He gladly accepted and plans were made. He tried to back out of it on Thursday with an excuse that THE GIRL had already made plans to go out with an old friend (uh, helloooo, at 25, you do NOT have old friends, maybe at my age...) and wanted to know if I could rearrange my schedule. GUESS what my answer was?

So the plan was that they would come pick me up at 7:30 and we would head out to a nice seafood restaurant. Thankfully I had the day off and decided to go to the mall to seek out THE perfect outfit to one up THE GIRL. Me, shopping at the mall, what next? Managed to find a good outfit, that said 'Mom' but definitely 'Hot Mom' then went and had my nails done, got a pedicure and took my time divaing myself up and then sat and waited and waited and waited. They finally arrived at 8:45 and luckily for THE GIRL, I can honestly blame this on my own child.

I greeted her with a big ol' Texas hug (thought I'd throw her right off) even though I'm not a hugger unless I know someone. Think that shock effect worked well... Dinner went well and after a cosmo (or more) my nerves were settled. And I actually liked her. Couldn't find any fault with her, she was definitely more nervous than me and wasn't a huge conversationalist but admittedly I was on top of my game and didn't give her much opportunity. Score Kat!

She's cute, not as cute as the pictures I had seen and she definitely didn't go shopping for an outfit to impress me, hmmm... A little on the thin side, or maybe that was just my jealousy and my being on the not so thin side... But anyway, so far, it's been a little over a week and they are still dating, so I think we can officially rename her so she will now be called 'M.'

That would be because we now have a new THE GIRL but this one would be C2's...

Don't know her name yet nor have I met her, but I have seen pictures. She's cute, blonde (darn), a college graduate (yea) and employed (double yea). They seemed to have hit it off and C2 is smitten. Smitten enough to tell his Dad, that she 'might be the one...' Of course time will tell and until then she is now THE GIRL.

Could this mean, would it happen, is it possible that maybe someday I might actually get to be a grandma? Yep, I doubt it too...

And Today... Sweet Revenge

2009-04-17T09:44:00.002-05:00

I learned something yesterday, there is ONE slightly good thing about menopausal rages. They can actually scare asshole husbands into submission...

Hubby has been pouty and pissy about the hours I've been keeping at the old J.O.B. He tried to say that he 'felt' (like he actually has feelings) that I loved my job more than my family. Truth be told in man language this means - "I miss you being at my beck and call and having dinner on the table every single night and having to fend for myself because I am a lazy male and can't do or think for myself."

His childish antics haven't exactly been sitting well with me for several reasons. First, the last time I looked we pretty much make the same amount of money and I'd be just as happy to live on his salary and be the diva I deserve to be. Second, the last time I looked I was not his personal slave and at the age of 50 the man should be able to make a meal or two on his own, pick up after himself and take care of a 15 year old kid. Third, what makes him think I ENJOY the hours I've been keeping? Yep, I really want to work 12 hour days and deal with idiots until my head explodes, it's my passion. Men are so stupid.

He made the random mistake yesterday afternoon of asking me a smart-ass question. "Are you planning on going to C3's district track meet or are you planning on working late, again?"

Oh. No. He. Didn't!

All my bottled up hormonal rage came pouring out, loud and clear, over the telephone, sitting in my office, with employees running for cover. It was not pretty. But it worked, for the time being, and I am back on top of my diva pedestal and being treated like the queen I am. So today my plan is to take a long afternoon nap, with the air turned down, and the thunderstorms rocking me to sleep and Hubby will get off work in time to pick C3 up at school. Ahhh... feeling better already.

Score one menopausal rage.

And Today... MEN SUCK

2009-04-16T16:08:00.002-05:00

Really, there's not much more to say because the title says it all. MEN SUCK. Particularly men in the shape of husbands. I would rant more however I am currently suffering a hot flash along with an intense rage to murder someone and the sweat pouring off of me must be mopped up before some employee slips and falls and sues the company or something...

Menopause Sucks

2009-04-15T11:20:00.003-05:00

I'm not unhappy, yet I'm not happy.
I'm not sad, yet I feel no joy.
I'm lethargic, yet I'm not tired.
I'm bored, yet I have plenty to do.
I want to write, yet I have nothing to say.
I want to exercise, yet I just sit on my ass
I want to talk to people, yet I cringe every time the phone rings.
I don't want to rage at people, yet I'd like to claw someones eyes out right now.
I want drugs, yet I don't want drugs.
I want to be not hot and sweaty, yet I freeze when I turn the air on.

I could go on and on, yet it is suffice to say Menopause SUCKS...

Blue Northern

2009-03-30T20:38:00.004-05:00

Betsy, what are you from Minnesota or something? This is just for you....

The term blue norther(n) denotes a weather phenomenon where a rapidly moving cold front that causes temperatures to drop quickly 20 to 30 degrees with heavily blowing winds and that often brings with it precipitation followed by a period of blue skies and cold weather. Due to the flat lands in Texas, it is said that it is possible to see the cold front coming from miles away and one can actually watch the clouds that form the cold front as they engulf the blue sky.

What is peculiar to Texas is the term itself. The derivation of blue northern is unclear; at least three folk attributions exist. The term refers, some say, to a northern that sweeps "out of the Panhandle under a blue-black sky" that is, to a cold front named for the appearance of its leading edge. Another account states that the term refers to the appearance of the sky after the front has blown through, as the mid-nineteenth-century variant "blew-tailed norther" illustrates. Yet another derives the term from the fact that one supposedly turns blue from the cold brought by the front. Variants include blue whistler, and in Oklahoma, blue darter and blue blizzard. Though the latter two phrases are found out-of-state, blue northern itself is a pure Texasism. The dramatic effects of the blue norther have been noted and exaggerated since Spanish times in Texas. But that the blue norther is unique to Texas is folklore.

Much ado about nothing...

2009-03-27T23:32:00.004-05:00

Believe it or not, work is still kicking my butt on a daily basis. So much so that I am actually planning on working tomorrow. ME, working on a Saturday, voluntarily, what is the world coming to? Seriously need some quiet time with nobody bugging me or phones ringing so that MAYBE I can at least get organized.

I just finished catching up on every one's blogs, I think. I haven't been blog walking in so long! I was actually feeling bad about not checking up on all of you to make sure you were all okay (even though I have been the biggest slacker in posting) but guess what I found out - most of YOU were slacking too and I bet you didn't even miss me!

Spent today at a MARATHON track meet and did not have a good time. For some asinine reason they started it at 1:00 in the afternoon, telling us it would keep it from lasting so long (the last one ended at 12:30 AM). So I had to leave work at noonish and drive to friggin DALLAS, gah! and got to sit in the rain, watch and feel a blue northern come in, and literally froze my arse off. It was 77 degrees when I arrived there and 42 when we finally left at 9 flippin 30 PM!

Just a little side note to the powers to be at track meets, starting it 4 hours EARLY actually made it last LONGER. Someone explain THAT one to me... Okay so we got home at 10:30 or so, not 12:30 but I had to be there at 1:00, not 5:00, and they don't sell fish in concession stands so I had to eat soggy, processed cheese nachos for my Friday Lenten dinner instead of going to some nice seafood restaurant, hmpff...

Okay, didn't really have anything to say and I am too tired to bitch about anything else, so hola! my friends, catch ya later....

My 25 random things plus some...

2009-03-11T14:58:00.001-05:00

1. I am lucky to still be married to my best friend and after 27 years I still kind of like him.
2. Well most of the time anyway.
3. I hated the movie ‘The Bucket List’ mainly because I never could look at Jack Nicholson after the movie ‘The Shining.’
4. I have my own Bucket List.
5. Contrary to popular belief, experiencing the joys of menopause is not one of the items listed.
6. Ironically, due to the joys of menopause, my youngest son and I are growing our first mustache together.
7. When I was young I wanted to be the next Stevie Nix.
8. Sadly, I cannot carry a tune.
9. But, I would have looked damn good!
10. I could live the rest of my life happily as a hermit.
11. If I had cable tv, a dvr and internet connection.
12. And a pool and lived near a large body of water.
13. And had unlimited supplies of Eskimo Pies.
14. I am addicted to ‘The Biggest Loser.’
15. I am also addicted to watching this show while stuffing my face with Eskimo Pies.
16. I have the best in-laws in the world.
17. Sometimes I think they like me more than their real children.
18. I take joy in pointing this out to my sibling in-laws and husband.
19. I always wanted to be a Great American Novelist.
20. I started a book once.
21. The title was, ‘The Joys of Motherhood: How I Survived the Upbringing of Three Boys in Today’s Society Without Succumbing to Alcoholism, Drug Addiction or Murder.’
22. After the title, there was really nothing left to say.
23. I love all three of my children with all my heart and wouldn’t trade one of them for the world.
24. Today.
25. My middle son’s pet name for me is ‘Satan.’
26. My pet name for him is ‘Spawn.’
27. I have a great job.
28. They pay me way more than I’m worth.
29. Please do not tell them this.
30. I have brunette hair.
31. Today.
32. I’d make a great comedian.
33. As long as nobody watched me.
34. I hate daylight savings time.
35. I think we should always stay on the reverse cycle.
36. I like it when it gets dark at 5:30 p.m.
37. It gives me a legitimate reason to go home and get in my pajamas.
38. I never have regretted that I didn’t have any girl children.
39. I wouldn’t know what to do with a girl.
40. Actually there is only room for one diva in my house.
41. I do however love all my nieces greatly.
42. I take great pride in being the favorite aunt.
43. I know it hurts my sister’s feelings, but too bad for them.
44. I AM the favorite aunt.
45. I have great sister-in-laws.
46. I think of them as my sisters, truly.
47. Lately I’ve begun to think that I am turning into my mother.
48. This causes major panic attacks.
49. I never did this tag because I didn’t think I could come up with 25 items.
50. Now I can’t seem to stop.

Just one more reason to send me over the edge...

2009-03-10T12:40:00.001-05:00

About a year ago I decided to buy a new computer. I had tons of pictures on my outdated 10 year old computer that I didn't want to lose and being a cheap ass I didn't want to pay someone extra money to come transfer all my stuff to the new computer.

So, being the bright genius that I always think I am, I discovered that through my Internet service provider, I had FREE capabilities of uploading ALL of my photos to be forever saved on the world wide web. It was pretty cool too since the same Internet service provider was also my cable TV provider and I had a whole channel on my TV dedicated to seeing my pictures! Too cool for school!

Now I am not one to often go back and look at these old photos, but just last night I went searching for that ONE photo that I needed to share with an old friend. Went to my f.l.i.c.k.r. (now more appropriately known as flucker) account only to discover that as of January of this year this is no longer a FREE service and if I ever wanted to see my pictures again, I had to pay a $24.95 ransom for the privilege of looking at them. SON OF A ...

So today, just in case I thought it couldn't get any worse, and needed just one more excuse to drive me over the edge, I get to copy and save, ONE by frickin ONE the 1,268 photos of my family and friends and vacations and holidays and so forth and so on for the past 6 friggin years onto my computer so that I can quite possibly crash the hard drive by overloading it with 1,268 additional pictures.

Since the ransom affords me 1 year of free looking at my pictures, MY PICTURES, or the opportunity to purchase MY PICTURES, I figure if I take my time and download 3.57 pictures per day, I should have all of MY PICTURES back in my possession, where they belong, before having to pay another ransom. SON OF A ...

Frickin sob's - Flick THIS!

And on the 12th day her head spun like linda blair's...

2009-03-09T21:02:00.004-05:00

(Sorry Jane!, stole part of your heading but maybe that will make Junie comment here for you again tomorrow...)

So today was Monday. The day AFTER what was supposed to be two relaxing days of time off from the hell J.O.B. But, today was Monday.

Tomorrow I may just very well put VODKA in my water mug and see how that works, because the water ain't quite doing the trick. And if the Big Guy dares come in my office and suggests one more time that I either A) learn to delegate or B) should just take a few minutes and clear my desk and then maybe I could get something accomplished, then I probably won't have to worry about the J.O.B. any longer because I will be on trial for a serial killing...

Had a professional photographer in today to snap some action shots. This was me at around 9 am:

Needless to say, there was no afternoon shots taken. Well there were but only the ones that appeared on the news:

They say, tomorrow's another day...

My Day

2009-03-05T19:57:00.002-06:00

when work gets in the way of life...

2009-03-04T20:54:00.002-06:00

Actually nothing really exciting is going on in my life right now for which I am thankful because my work life is sucking the big one and I'd be pissed if it was messing my personal life up. Damn that was a long sentence...

Unfortunately one of our employees has come down with a serious illness. Unfortunately that means I am doing her job and my job and 'tis the season to make the big deals happen... It's hard enough to pretend to do all the work I do on a regular basis without having to pretend to all my work PLUS her work too! And so it sucks to be me, and yes I would like some cheese with my whine...

One thing I hate about this double duty is the working late and I'm tired (well also I'm lazy and this is seriously messing with my sitting on my fat ass and watching mindless tv). Monday night I didn't get home until after 6:30, last night it was 8:30 and tonight 6:15. That blows!

Something else that blows is because of these long hours I have missed an opportunity to meet THE GIRL yet again. You see, C1 is currently in Mexico working some deals to open a few of his gyms in Cancun (now wouldn't THAT suck to have to go visit my son in CANCUN?) and last night my niece called me and asked me if I wanted to meet her and THE GIRL for happy hour. The opportunity to not only meet THE GIRL on my terms, without C1, but to do it with the protection of my niece would have been great! But no, foiled again.

Speaking of nieces, one of my 17,049 nieces became engaged on Valentine's Day! Isn't that sweet? A little too mushy for me, but I am happy for her and extremely excited for her.

And speaking of fat asses, which I believe I mentioned above, I won't give you the ACTUAL number of pounds I gained while cruising the seas, but let's just say it was in the DOUBLE type number range. I can actually see my fat ass following me, so I started a diet Monday. THAT is not going so well, because, well because I am FRIGGIN starving to death. Cutting ones daily calorie intake by some odd 200% tends to make me grouchy on top of whiney... Just warning you.

That my friends is my life, must head off to bed now so I can work another 12 hour day tomorrow. Now where in the hell is that cheese?

Quote of the Day

2009-02-25T17:09:00.006-06:00

"YES, I know I have something on my forehead..."

WTF People!

My dear friends, this is a chicken:

I don't know WTF this is, but it ain't no chicken...

Cruising Day Eight - the end of the line

2009-02-23T21:59:00.001-06:00

We are finally at the Port in Galveston! Our scheduled departure is not until 10:00 am but I am up and at 'em at 7:00 am - I want OFF this boat! Have my last day of coffee on my balcony, and take my final, parting shot:

However I had to RUSH back inside to change into sweats and tennis shoes because it was 42 friggin degrees! Spent the rest of the morning hurrying up and waiting and standing in long line after long line. It took FOREVER to get off that damn boat. The whole process took us until NOON to finally get to our car for the long drive home.

Although it was a stressful process, only because I wanted OFF that damn boat, it was a wonderful feeling to be back on land, even though I knew it would be at least another 6 hours before I was finally HOME!

I don't think I would ever take a long cruise like this again, I'm too much of a homebody to be gone that long, I do admit that it was a good time. As much as I dreaded this trip and thought I would never make it through, I am glad that I let myself enjoy it. Just don't tell anyone!

Cruising Day Seven

2009-02-23T21:44:00.001-06:00

Slept in this morning until 10:30, this rocking and swaying of the boat is really relaxing to me and I have slept like a baby all week. Had room service breakfast again (yes I did this everyday except one, and yes I can be anti-social in the morning.) Still no outside contact but not willing to pay $1 per minute to use the boat's computer...

Got up and dressed and the weather was too cool for pool time so just went exploring the ship. Did some shopping again, met some people for lunch, went to the casino and threw some money away and then headed back to my room for some napping. Got all my bags packed, I am SO ready to get off this damn ship. I have really had a great time but it is past time to go home. I miss my baby and actually missing C1 and C2. Need to get home soon!

I finished packing up and I am taking my time getting ready for dinner. Decided to sit on my balcony and catch the sunset, something I haven't taken the time to do yet. It is breathtaking:

Though my camera did not do it justice!

Got ready for our final dinner and I'm just not feeling the desire to be social tonight. Did manage to take my camera and catch a few shots:

This is actually my little brother and his wife, one of my bestest friends, who happens to be our travel agent. It was nice to spend time with them among the craziness of all the agents!

Here's a shot of me, does it appear to you that I am TRYING to act like I am having a good time? I'm not sure my fake smile was working here...

But, this one, this is a genuine smile! Although I can see the fatigue on my face.

If you have ever been on a cruise you know that every night you get some 'animal' made out of towels. Every morning all my fellow passengers would share the elaborate animal they received and I would share that my towel animal was either unrecognizable or something really stupid.

For example on the night we left Grand Cayman, I got what I assume was a Sting Ray - a towel folded into a square and a wash cloth twisted in what appeared to be a 'tail' - totally LAME. It became a big joke that my attendant must not like me for some reason. So on the final evening when I saw my animal and wasn't even sure it was an 'animal' I decided to take a picture to share. Myself, I think it looks like a creature in bondage - but you tell me, what the HELL is this?

Heading HOME in the morning!