Michelle Meanders...

A work in progress

2007-06-12T22:55:00.000-07:00

Things are still progressing here in the Pacific Northwest. We have been moving and unpacking and moving some more. Moving twice, can it be? Not as bad as it sounds, I promise. Chellisms...

Taking too long

2007-05-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

Either she got tired of waiting for lunch or the Benadryl kicked in.

Thursday Disappointment!

2007-05-10T14:51:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Thursday. I was supposed to have news for you today. Exciting news, even! Okay, exciting for me, maybe not so much for you. I only had one phone call as to the pregnancy possibility. Let me clear that one up right away, I AM NOT pregnant. On June 21st of 2003 The Man got snipped, every anniversary of that day is cause for celebration in our house. Things have not gone as planned this week. Blame it on cat puke, snot bubbles and me procrastinating. I'm not quite ready to share. Bring on the disappointment, I feel it too.

Makes me think of Lion King

2007-05-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

It's Gymboree Circle of Friends time! Today through Sunday, May 13th get 30% off everything in store and on their website. Online promo code is CFFRIEND, leave me a comment or drop me an email if you want a copy of the e-mail so you can print an in-store coupon. Love Gymboree!

Saying Goodbye

2007-05-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

27 has come and gone and I am ready to make year 28 the best year ever.

27 saw Taylor graduate kindergarten, start 1st grade and lose a ton of teeth! Tim got out of the military, started an awesome new job and is loving life learning new computer things while wearing jeans, tennis shoes and a beard to work. We made a long distance move to the place where we want the kids to grow up. 27 saw Bailey get her first set of x-rays, learn how to ride a bike and make me laugh endlessly over her love of Cheez-its. 27 was filled with laughs, friends and new experiences. 27 was good, don't get me wrong, but 28 will be even better.

27 also had some downs. I lost my grandfather a couple of months ago. Moving 1,254 miles to a new location took me far away from my dad. The kids had to make all new friends and Tim and I left much loved friends behind.

28 is going to be special. 28 is going to be about new experiences, for all of us. I can't wait! I have so many plans for this coming year. The girls and Tim are signing up for karate classes together. We get to move into our new house! I am learning new things this year, taking a cake decorating class* and learning html and web design. Bailey starts kindergarten in a few months, not soon enough for her liking! Taylor will move onto 2nd grade and is already looking forward to being the "big sister" at school. I am already signed up for next years PTA and look forward to volunteering in the girls' classes. Friends are coming to visit and we plan to visit friends and explore new places.

Most of all, 28 sees us putting down roots. We will get to live together full time with no underway periods, no work up cycles and no deployments to get in the way. We get to sit down and have dinner as a family every night.

Here's to making 28 the best ever!

*Don't laugh, I love to bake but my decorating skills are slightly, um, lacking! ** Yes, I know it's Thursday. I didn't forget.

Oh, stop it!

2007-05-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

No, really, please stop it.

Pleeeeeeaaaase make them stop.

The neighbors have been at it since 5:30 AM. And by it I don't mean IT, although that might be a nice change. My moms house is actually a two story townhouse with common walls on either side of the house. The neighbors to the left* are older, he is retired and she is a school teacher. Sounds nice enough, right? WRONG! They start slamming the door between the garage and house at about 5 AM every morning. This continues all day, interspersed with some yelling at each other just to keep things lively, until bedtime at around 10 PM. That is roughly 17 hours of door slamming. 17 HOURS!

Now, there are breaks during the day. The wife works and the husband does take each dog on a walk at least 3 or 4 times a day. Other than that the door is constantly slamming. How do I know, you might ask. Because mom's house shakes every time it happens. The best part is that Tims and my bedroom is on the common wall with their garage, fricking wonderful.

It is now 11:30 AM and I have counted 58 door slams since 5:30 AM. I was out of the house around 8 for 20 minutes or so to take the kidlet to the bus so my number might be a little low. I don't understand why they do this. It must be an innate ability. Pete has spoken with them about it but he was told that it just happens.

Apparently it does, 58 times in 6 hours.

*Just in case you know the neighborhood, it is the neighbors to the left if you are standing in the street looking at the houses. The guy on the other side is a cutie.

News!

2007-05-06T16:57:00.000-07:00

I haven't written in a few days. Okay, more like a week. Maybe even two. I was waiting until I had something really great to share, and it took awhile. Man, are we boring.

But I have news! Exciting news! We signed the papers on the house last night!! So excited I can barely contain myself! Hell, this is my blog why do I have to contain myself?? Okay, no more containment.

Let's see, where to start? 1900 square feet, 3 stories, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, granite counters tops in the kitchen, eating bar in the kitchen, hard wood floors in the dining room, a fully finished rec room, 2 car garage and numerous other yummy things that I cannot wait to take pictures of and show you!

We were originally supposed to move in the end of May but it is being painted and professionally cleaned and won't be ready for possession until the 4th of June. We are okay with that, I am just happy that all of the paperwork is done and that we are no longer homeless, if only on paper.

My one complaint? The peep hole on the front door is too high or I am too short. Even on tiptoe I can't see out of it.

Who wants to come help us move in??

I might also have news to share on Thursday. Check back and see!

(If you e-mail me or leave a comment asking if I am pregnant I will IP ban you! )

(Ha!)

Homesick

2007-04-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

It is nice and sunny outside and I am inside feeling blue. I am homesick. For Hawaii.

I know that sounds odd being born and raised in California, but Tim and I both consider Hawaii home. It is the first real place that we were together almost full time as a family. Sure, he traveled but he wasn't only home on weekends and gone for six months at a time.

This move to Washington has been hard. I am grateful to my mom and Pete for letting us stay here but at the same time it is hard sharing a house with other people when you are used to having your own space. I love the area, the weather and all of that. But I am farther away from my friends. Yes, we have made new friends but it isn't the same.

I can't replace Tam, Ashley and Lisa and I miss them all tons.

Strike, you're out!

2007-04-24T10:51:00.001-07:00

I have written 3 different posts this morning and have deleted them all. I really have nothing to say.

Tim got a job. Good pay. He started yesterday. There shall be no more blogging on this subject. I would like for him to keep it.

Jack Johnson has a song titled Banana Pancakes, how awesome is that?

I hate when people type kewl in place of cool. I may have already said that here, but it bears repeating because I really, really hate it.

Did you know that Who Can It Be Now was sung by Men at Work? Hmmm, I didn't.

Do you consider System of a Down punk? Cingular does, I am not so sure I agree.

I need a new ringtone for my cell, I can't pick mine out of a crowd. People are starting to leave me nasty messages saying that I never answer my cell. I probably get dirty looks and eye rolls too, I know I give them when someone doesn't realize that the sound they hear is their phone. Hello??

Hmmm, maybe I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2 is a good choice for me. That way I look and sound like an idiot when my cell is buried in my purse.

The cats piss me off.

The military pisses me off too.

Should there be a comma between off and too in that last sentence? I need a grammar/punctuation lesson.

This post was filler and sucked. Sorry you wasted your time.

Crap, now I am off to research proper comma usage.

Wanted:A Stress-free Future

2007-04-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

Yikes!

I have officially gone from slightly stressed to OMGWTF!!11!! stressed. What the hell were we thinking when we decided to pick up and move 1,300 miles away from steady income? Did we not think this through? Are we fricking nuts?

Tim had an interview this past week that went very well but we are still waiting to hear back from them. They did say we would know by the beginning of this coming week, I just want to know RIGHT NOW. He is officially unemployed in exactly 2 weeks, 14 days, one more paycheck, holy hell.

We had originally decided that Tim would find work and I would stay home with the chicklets until Bai started school. That sounded like such a good idea in the beginning. Now I am not so sure. I hate to put the kids back in daycare. I want to stay home and volunteer at the school and be able to take the kids back and forth to extracurricular activities and go on field trips and be able to pick them up when they are sick and get them off to school each morning and pick them up each afternoon. But really? I want to be more financially secure.

Which is more important in the long run? Does anyone have the answer?

Send the rescue squad

2007-04-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here with my laptop trying to blend in with the green fabric of the couch.

Mom and Pete are on the other couch arguing. Not fighting so much as he is being obstinate and she is trying to get him to do something.

I am sitting very still trying to go unnoticed. Maybe if I don't move they won't pull me into the conversation. Tim was sitting here with me but he tossed my ass to the wolves and went to get a haircut. I am afraid that if I get up I will draw attention to myself. Please send help, the conversation is escalating!

I have pics from yesterday, I just need to figure out how to get them from my phone to lappy.

Um, wow...

2007-04-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

I knew it had a been a few days since I last posted. I didn't realize it had been 9 days. Holy geez, I am a huge slacker.

To make it worse I don't have anything awesome or inspiring to write about tonight. We have been doing tons of stuff, I just haven't gotten on the laptop to write about it. Tomorrow, I promise I will have more. Working with clay with 6 and 7 year olds, an Easter egg hunt, plastic shoes, catnip mice and more. Tomorrow we are going to see the Grossology exhibit at the PacSci Center, that should provide tons of entertainment! Boogers, snot, bodily noises, what more could you ask for?

Durb...

2007-03-30T21:38:00.000-07:00

That's my new word, durb. Kind of like dur but with more dumB emphasis. Durb. I have been feeling a bit durb lately, kind of in an "out of my element" funk.

Obviously Tim hasn't been the only slacker in the family as of late. There is so much going on that I haven't had a lot of time to actually sit down and write.

Hopefully I will get back on track in the next few weeks. For the time being, peruse the quick update list.

Tim's interviews went well. He is actually considering signing on as a contractor. Just to see how he likes it in the civilian world before committing to a permanent position. He has gotten a few offers on jobs and is considering those. I am pretty sure that I am more frantic about him actually taking a job than he is.
We went to see the inside of the townhouse that we are considering. It is very nice, 3 story, 3 bedroom + bonus room, 2 1/2 bath with just over 1900 square feet. Should be available the first part of June.
Tay has made friends fast. I took the girls to a play date this week and it went very well. We went to her school sock hop carnival tonight, they had a great time at the dunk tank.
No bedroom furniture yet. Durb...
I gave a cat a bath this week. Don't ask...
My grandfather passed away on Tuesday. He was an alcoholic and I hadn't had a lot of contact with him in the last few years. I am not going to expound on this one, I am not sure exactly what to say or I will just leave it be.
There is a fast food restaurant here that serves tater tots. That made me laugh.
My moms cat, Madison, has no top eyelids. He has bottom ones that roll up over his eyes. Freaks me the hell out.
Got lost yesterday. Got to see Rainier Beach and Mercer Island.
Bailey asks everyday if it is time to start school yet. She has kinder round up on May 4th, she cannot wait.
I am pretty sure that we have decided that I am going to to wait to go back to work until Bai starts school.
I owe Tammie pictures of suburbia. Will do that this weekend.

I got nothin' else. Later peeps.

When it rains...

2007-03-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

It fricking pours. We had our first real rainy day today. Of course it had to happen on the day that we drove 55 miles south to Bremerton. It rained so hard we had no idea what the freeway signs said. It made the drive kind of interesting.

When we moved from California we got rid of our bedroom set. Mattress, bed frame, dressers, the whole works. At this point we have nothing for our room. We drove to Bremerton hoping that we might find furniture that we could buy now and put in storage until our house was ready. It was a bust.

Speaking of houses, I think we found one. Not ready to share particulars quite yet, I don't want to jinx anything. I don't want to seem overanxious but I want this place.

I should probably back up and tell you that the job hunt is going well. Tim has gotten a few different offers after posting his resume just this past week. He has 2 interviews on Wednesday. More on that later, I don't want to jinx that either.

Ugh, off tomorrow to look at more furniture.

Wish me luck, I think I might need it.

Welcome to suburbia!

2007-03-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

All I can say is wow. I feel like we live on Wisteria Lane.

This is the first time that we have lived in an area where there were parents our own age. This is also the most suburban area we have ever lived in. This friggin rocks!

I met one of the other first grade moms Monday afternoon as we were waiting for our girls at the bus stop. She seemed nice enough but we only had a short conversation. Tim has taken Tay to the bus stop alone the last 2 days and he has met more of the neighborhood and has made tons of connections.

The first mom I met sent Tim the info for where they have their kids in gymnastics. I also got invited to start walking with them. Tim talked to one of the dads about looking for a job, and today the dad told him that his wife's law firm has openings for an IT guy. How awesome is that?

I love this neighborhood.

One of us had better hurry up and get a job so we can afford to live here.

My husband, the slacker

2007-03-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

The man is in serious slacker mode. He hasn't shaved since the 9th.

He is obsessed with the airport channel. They have a cable TV station that broadcasts nothing but a real time image of Sea-Tac airport. No sound. Not even runway footage. Just the darn airport.

He got into a hissing match with the cat yesterday. I think the cat may have won.

He is sitting downstairs watching the E! channel. He even turned to it, not me.

He is trying new sodas like a fine wine connoisseur.

He has gone into geek mode as well and is attached at the fingertips to his laptop.

Oh well, he isn't officially unemployed until April 29th. He deserves a break.

Quick Update

2007-03-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

Where to start?

Moving to a new place is always hard. We are all freezing our tooties off. Supposedly they are right in the middle of a heatwave, meaning it gets up to about 48 or so in the afternoons. I must still have thin Hawaiian blood because that seems damn cold to me.

The girls are doing great. Tay starts school on Monday. We have bad timing though, her new school is on minimum days next week for parent teacher conferences. Bai has been busy terrorizing the cats, she just knows they really want her to pet them all of the time. The cats freak her out because they like to get in the shower with you.

The job search begins next week. I did a brief phone interview on Friday but I am not sure how it went, we were in the middle of packing and I was slightly stressed. I hope to hear back within the next week or so. Tim also has a couple of leads, we shall see how those pan out.

We got new cell phones yesterday. We both got Cingular 8525's. I haven't quite figured mine out yet, if you call me and I hang up on you don't take it personally. I think I e-mailed everyone with the new numbers, if I missed you pop me an e-mail and I will send it, tmtbferguson@gmail.com

We are meeting a friend tomorrow night for dinner. Imagine that, we have friends! Or 1, at least.

We made it!

2007-03-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

Finally.

We wound up staying the night in San Diego Friday night. Friday was a craptastic day all around. Tim wound up having to go into work 2 separate times since they didn't have his final paperwork signed. It was submitted a while back but no one signed it until late Friday afternoon. I was slightly stressed that afternoon. If no one had signed it we would have been stuck in CA until Monday or until someone finally got around to signing it.

All in all we had a pretty smooth trip once we got on the road. We visited a few truck stops. That was quite an experience. Tim took to calling the truck The Beast. It was a pain in the butt to park with the Jeep being towed.

We pulled into Kent around 12:30 yesterday afternoon and headed straight to the truck place to get rid of the car carrier. Then off to storage we went, unloading everything by 5. The girls were very happy to see us, we were pretty darn happy to see them too.

It felt great to actually be somewhere comfortable last night.

We have to take the truck back today and go back to storage as I forgot to take one or two things out that we need. Then we are off to check out the closest Target, I love Target.

I took a couple of good pictures in the Shasta area, they are up on Flickr.

5 minute ramble

2007-03-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

Tim is at work picking up last of the paperwork. Picked up truck this morning. Car carrier won't be available until this afternoon. Out of moving pads. The guy who runs the scale at the weigh station is late to work so we couldn't get the truck weighed. Also, we can't load truck until it is weighed empty. Final inspection between 1 and 3. Doing the last of the laundry, bedding, right now. Could not sleep last night. Took headache pill and Vicodin and was still up until 1. Back up at 5. To top it all off, Tim and I are fairly certain that the guy at the truck rental place was high. It was quite entertaining. Oh, Tim just called. His paperwork is not signed. He is coming home, taking the truck to get it weighed and then loading and then going back to work. And people wonder why he is getting out of the military?

Back on solid ground

2007-03-08T21:09:00.000-08:00

The girls took their first solo flight this evening. We armed them with the DVD player, Peter Pan, Cinderella III and new headphones. I almost didn't get to say goodbye. Tim sat in the waiting area while I went to buy a bottle of water and Cheez-Its and when I came back they were gone. A steward had them on the ramp and was ready to seat them. I was able to shove the snack in their hands and give them both kisses and off they went.

I didn't cry. I paced nervously by the window until they were in the air. Then I came home and sat in front of the computer, hitting F5 on the Alaska Air site until their plane landed. And I may have nagged my mother by cell phone when she didn't call as soon as they landed (sorry, mom).

All in all I think they did well. They each visited the bathroom on the plane 3 times each (ah the novelty of an airplane bathroom, how quickly it fades) and Bai felt pukey. They managed to keep track of each other and their bags. They are headed home now and then straight to bed.

It is almost 10 PM and I am a bit wired to say the least. Today was supposed to be the mans last day at work but they screwed something up and he has to go in tomorrow. That throws our plans off a bit, but what else can we do?

I am packing the last few boxes, the odds and ends that seem to pile up mysteriously. Tim has been in bed since about 8, he has a cold and feels like crap. Doesn't that sound like a great way to start a 1,300 mile road trip?

Um, I was supposed to take pics of 2nd floor moving and well, uh, the camera might be packed. Or lost. Or in Seattle with the kidlets...

It just hit me

2007-03-08T12:56:00.000-08:00

I am 27 years old and moving back in with my mom. (I had a four letter word that starts with an "F" in here but I couldn't bring myself to publish it) What in the hell was I thinking?

It Spread

2007-03-07T14:08:00.000-08:00

Whatever is going around has run amok in my house. Tim came home from work with the cold/flu funk. I doped him up with Tylenol Severe Cold and stuck his furry ass in a bean bag, he is currently stretched out between the girls' 2 bean bags asleep in the living room.

Why isn't he in bed or on the couch? The couch is in the garage. The bed has been gotten rid of. The air mattress that is acting as our bed is standing along the wall in our bedroom as to be out of the way.

We managed to get the couch downstairs, just the 2 of us, last night. The TV and entertainment center are my biggest worries. The TV is uber heavy and the wall unit is so tall that it has to go over the railing on the way down the stairs to make it through the doorway.

I think you need a tutorial of moving out of a second floor apartment, complete with pictures. Let me grab my camera!

Wake me when it's over

2007-03-05T18:37:00.000-08:00

Hmmm, time sure has flown this year. Didn't it just seem like I had 80-some odd days left until we move? Aren't you tired of hearing about this darn move? I know I am. 4 days left until we set out on our road trip 3 days until my kidlets embark. on an airplane. alone. without me. Boxes packed at last count was 42. But that still doesn't include the 6 Rubbermaid containers of Christmas stuff or the 8 boxes that are sitting around half full or the 6 containers that contain paraphernalia for various hobbies (his, not mine). There is light at the end of the tunnel. I can see it, either that or Tim is waving a flashlight at me from his end of the tunnel. It never fails that when we get close to doing something huge one of us gets sick. Bai was down last week with the pukey bug and Tay spent yesterday in bed with a 103 degree fever. She has an awful cough today but her temp is way down. Needless to say we spent yesterday doing move stuff around here. At least this time no one wound up in the ER. The man came home Friday night, just in time for Tay's birthday celebration. Lisa and John drove down for it as well. Tay chose Outback for dinner, I was pushing for CPK but I lost. She opened presents and then decided that she didn't feel good and wanted to know if we could save cake for Saturday. So Saturday afternoon we had Rosa Maria's for lunch and ice cream cake for dessert. Yesterday it was just the four of us. Tim and I packed, Bailey played and Tay coughed and slept. It wasn't a great day and we didn't get tons done but that's okay. We got a ton done today. The girls' loft bed was taken apart and stuck in the garage, they are sleeping on just the mattress and box springs. The ends for the entertainment center made it downstairs, only the huge, heavy middle piece needs to go down. Tim and I are sleeping on an airbed as we got rid of our bedroom furniture. We have it in the living room. I can sit in bed and watch TV, it rocks. The kitchen is packed. The girls bags are packed for Nana's house and Bai wants to know if they leave tomorrow. Bribing the guys from the ship with food and alcohol one night this week to help get the middle piece of the entertainment center and the TV downstairs. Maybe the couch and recliner too. And the girls' dresser. Other than that I think we are pretty much set. Or not, what the hell do I know?

A paper dressing gown

2007-03-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

Ah, the paper dressing gown. It had been so long since I had last donned one. I had the damn thing on backwards and tied wrong.

I had my neurology appointment this morning. I learned numerous things. Showing up early does not get you in faster. Doctor isn't real happy that you make an appointment and then move a week after said appointment. Cough drops offered to Hog riders make the waiting room more enjoyable. Coordinating bra, underwear and knee socks impress no one but me. Neurologists get all of the fun toys, I got poked with a pin.

Oh, I also learned that I get migraines. Um, yeah, duh. My lackluster sleeping skills might be partially to blame. He wasn't real thrilled with my coordination skills. HA! I haven't been thrilled with them over the past 27 years either.

On the bright side, I got a prescription that should help prevent my headaches and should help me sleep. However, the side effects kind of freak me out. Confusion, hallucinations, severe tingling, numbness, skin rash, the list goes on and on. I think I am going to wait until Tim gets home to start taking them, one of us needs to be sane.

Bailey thought the paper gown was very attractive, she wanted to bring one home with her. Or take pictures with my cell phone. I vetoed both ideas.

Undiagnosed

2007-02-26T11:34:00.000-08:00

Having a sick kid is never fun. Having a sick kid and not knowing what is wrong with her is even worse. Bai started up with the pukey flu-like thing again very early this morning. Crying because her tummy hurt that bad. After getting Tay to school, with Bai puking twice along the way, I called for a doctor's appointment.

Overreacting? Maybe. Tired of a puking child? Definitely.

Off to the doctor's we go. My first thought upon arriving at the office was, holy shit, we are going to be here forever, please don't puke on my shoes, again, and thank the stars Bambi is playing. I signed in, we sat and 5 minutes later we were in a room waiting for the nurse practitioner. Either they took pity on us or all of the other people were walk-ins.

Long story short, the NP checked her over, listened to her tummy and sent us for x-rays. That was an adventure all in itself. The tech was awesome though, she showed Bai how to move the table around and let her try it. We waited for a diagnosis and got nothing. The doctor and NP aren't sure what it is. It could be her appendix but I need to take her to the ER to have more tests done for that but it probably isn't because she isn't running a fever and she can hop, kind of, on one foot (she got my mad coordination skillz!). It might be the flu but she has no other symptoms. Back to square one, I am to watch her for 24 hours. If she doesn't keel over or explode then it might just be a flu bug.

We stopped at Wal-mart on the way home to get Pedialyte and Gatorade. Somehow puking in Wal-mart is much more acceptable that puking in Target.

Wait, let me write that down

2007-02-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

Is memory loss at 27 a normal thing?

I have the worst memory ever. I have taken to carrying a little notebook around in my purse to write things down in. Lists, I love lists. Now I don't just love them, I need them.

I was laying in bed last night thinking about things to write about. This morning I cannot remember what ideas I came up with. The worst part is that I am pretty sure that at least one of them was a really good idea.

I come up with these great ideas and then forget before I can use them. Why can't I forget the crappy ideas instead?

Germ Warfare

2007-02-22T11:08:00.000-08:00

Would whomever passed germs to Bailey and I please come retrieve them, they are no longer welcome in this house. We are anxiously awaiting your arrival.

Bai is currently taking good care of the upset tummy/pukey germs and I am harboring the scratchy throat and hacking cough germs. Thankfully there were only enough germs for two, Taylor is at school oblivious to her germ infested family.

edit: it's worse than I thought, Bai is actually taking a NAP

Phobic much?

2007-02-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel like you stick out in a crowd? Like you just don't belong?

If you answered yes, then welcome to my world. I hate crowds, especially the ones where I know no one. I hate standing around feeling like an outsider. Also, I am not too thrilled with meeting new people.

On the other hand, I hate being the center of attention too. I abhor public speaking, I would rather teach kindergarten or work at a daycare (more on that one tomorrow).

I was at a party over the weekend and I felt out of place. Everyone knew everyone else and I was the sore thumb. I kept to myself and the kids. Ironically, kids are not my typical companions of choice but in this situation they were the safer choice.

I hesitated writing the above since I know the hostess reads this regularly. I have known her for a few years and she made us feel welcome, she always does. Now I have to explain it. It was not her fault and had nothing to do with her or the people at the party, her party just happened to be the latest event I could use as an example. If I had thrown the party and known everyone there it would have been the same feeling.

I am not sure if I am afraid of being judged or sounding stupid or what. I don't want to call attention to myself, I just want to blend in.

I am that girl you pass on the street and can't describe a few seconds later. I am not flashy, there is nothing extraordinary about me. I am just me.

Mostly Good

2007-02-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

The awesome four day weekend that I was going to take tons of pictures of for you? It happened. It was good. I forgot my camera and didn't realize it until I hit Fallbrook, too far to go back and get it.

Had almost no traffic. Shopped at North County Fair on the way up and had lunch with the kidlets.

Tam has the cutest kids ever, it was great seeing her and the rest of the family. They have an adorable puppy, Jules, Bailey has decided she wants one. I keep telling her she wants a Basset Hound and she keeps telling me she wants a Jules. Ethan is adorable. Maddy and Christian are cute as well, Tay was attached to Christian and his Pooh jokes and Bai was enamored with Maddy. Then we get to Makenna, she was the best part of the weekend. If I could have gotten a picture of her shoving her ice cream bowl at Tam, saying she was done it would have been a perfect weekend. Both of the girls were most excited to see Ryan (sorry Tam!), Tay has always been very attached to him and I think Bai just kind of followed her lead. Tam did get a pic of the girls with Ryan which I think she is sending me.

Bai discovered about halfway through dinner that Makenna was a baby, she just turned 2 but evidently that is too young for Bai. Halfway through dinner she traded places with Maddy so she wasn't sitting by Makenna anymore. She made sure to inform Tammie that she does not like babies. I am pretty sure she avoided Ethan all weekend.

Staying at Lisa's house was great as always, feels just like home except I can't walk around naked. I got to see the cat. He does exist. I didn't get to pet him but at least I know that he is real.

Saw my Dad on Saturday and that was good too. Wasn't too cold when we first got up the mountain but that soon changed and we were all freezing. Down the hill it had been mid-80's or so up the hill it was much cooler. It is always good to see Dad and Georgette, the girlies had a great time. Bai did decided that Grandpa has too much facial hair for kisses, she has learned to kiss his nose instead.

I was sorry to see the weekend come to an end. We are going to miss everyone a lot and I have my doubts that anyone will come visit but, well, Washington here we come...

Are you my mother?

2007-02-15T23:18:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I check the stats on this site every once in a while. Okay, more like once a day. I need validation people.

I see readers. I don't know these readers. Do I?

Readers, won't you please say hi. Leave me a comment, a simple hi is fine.

Take me away from here

2007-02-15T22:57:00.000-08:00

Leaving in the AM for the weekend. The big kidlet has a 4 day weekend, since Monday is a holiday they are using an in-service day in order to have tomorrow off. Her school is awesome like that.

The man is out of town and this is a perfect opportunity to drive north and stay for the weekend. Kidlets and I will be staying at a friends house and they have a cat. I have never actually seen the cat, he dislikes people, but I am convinced he exists as he makes Tim sneeze something awful. Maybe he really doesn't exist and Tim's allergy is psychosomatic.

Going to see my dad and step-mom too. I think he forgot we were coming, oh well. Won't he be surprised!

Will have tons of fun and have pics to share when we get back, Sunday or Monday, or whenever.

Have a great weekend, catch you on the flipside!

Who the hell is Imogen Heap?

Little Addictions and other meanderings

2007-02-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

Littlest Pet Shop, cutest little things ever! I am as enamored of these things as the girls are. It's like the Beanie Baby Craze all over again. Seahorses! Hermit crabs! Butterflies and caterpillars! Dogs! My favoritest ever, the chow! Little things are addictive. It's the most happiest time of the year! Cadbury mini eggs are out in stores and I have already bought my first bag. Not the creme eggs, those are nasty, these are the hard shelled eggs with solid chocolate in the middle. Yum-O!

Gymboree, sale this weekend. Gap, 20% off online all weekend. North County Fair is on my way North this weekend, sounds like a good place to stop and stretch our legs.

Maintenance guy was just here to inspect our unit to see if we have anything that needs to be taken care of before we move. I need to spackle and paint the bracket holes where I hung sheers, no surprise there. Have to get the carpet cleaned, CA law, $45 if I let them do it. Best part, the cleaning crew will clean the entire apartment, appliances, blinds and everything for $45. I might just let them do it.

Been using Tim's shampoo because I am out and haven't been anywhere to pick up new, got Head & Shoulders in my left eye this morning and then rubbed it. Looks like I was on an all night bender.

Birthday party and dinner with Tam this weekend, cannot wait! Excited to see the kidlets and of course her and Ryan. And the new puppy!

That Magic Eraser sure does erase

2007-02-14T22:00:00.000-08:00

Heh, did you know that a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will take the paint off of your walls? No? Me either. Hey, look on the bright side, the finger prints are gone as well.

Crap.

Hold me closer Tony Danza

2007-02-14T05:54:00.000-08:00

If you understand the title then you and I are soul mates. Well, not really since I prefer to think that I married mine. But it's the thought that counts, right? Happy Valentine's Day! We celebrated last night. A trip to Target, one to Rite-Aid (shame on me for putting off buying Valentine's cards), out to dinner at Miguel's (pink grapefruit margarita, yum-o!), and then back to Target. Seriously, people, the dipping sauce for the chips is to die for at Miguel's. I haven't tried that particular recipe, yet, but it should give you an idea of what I am rambling on about. So, um, moving right along. The man left this morning and should be back March 2nd. Which means I need to get my butt in gear and start packing. I really need to get on that, but it is so much more fun to read a book or turn the TV on or, well, almost anything is more fun. Even laundry. Is there time for a nap before I have to actually be out of bed? 2 hours of sleep is not enough, damn insomnia.

___________________________________________________________________

Days until Freedom: 74

Days until move: 23

Boxes packed: hmmm, let me get back to you on this one...

Holy Back to Work Anxiety, Batman!

2007-02-12T16:01:00.000-08:00

I have been looking at companies online to check for job openings in Washington. I have come across a couple that seem promising. I have been working on my resume today, I have written one. Deleted one. Written one. Deleted one and so on. Vicious cycle, I know.

I just got an e-mail prompting me to e-mail a resume to someone. Can I just say, yikes! Not just yikes, but YIKES!!

Must go get salsa, chips and margarita then head back to the pc for some resume loving!

Thanks for getting me in gear, Tam! I wish you were closer, I need margarita support.

What a concept!

2007-02-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

Do you know how hard it is to find a new hair stylist when you move to a new city? Harder than I expected. We have been back in CA for 14 months and I just found someone I really like and now we move in less than 4 weeks.

On to the point of this entry, have you ever been to an Aveda Concept Salon? You have to try it at least once, and I paid no more than I would have if I had gone to my regular girl in Hawaii. It was awesome, I made an appt. Friday night for Saturday morning with a stylist named Amanda. When you go in they offer you tea or water and have you lose your shirt in favor of a robe/smock type thing (this makes me laugh, the darn thing was made for someone 6 feet tall, it hung down past my knees). Then I got to meet Amanda, I immediately liked her, she had dark brown and pink hair and stars tattooed from her left foot up her calf. Kindred spirit, that's all I have to say.

Once I got seated at her station Amanda went over what I had and what I wanted, she played with my hair and gave me a couple of different options. Once I told her which route to go she offered me a neck and shoulder massage, with their Blue oil. Fricking awesome people, the headache that had started brewing was gone and the oil, peppermint and blue chamomile, was heavenly. Back to the hair washing area, where I was offered a facial. She even asked if I had looked at any of their products and were there any that I wanted to try, which, duh, of course I did. The hair came out great too, exactly what I had asked for.

The whole morning was great, Amanda was awesome and I am already wondering if four weeks is too soon to get another cut.

The one where I whine

2007-02-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

This has been the week from hell. Yesterday was the icing on the cake.

I started with a headache on Monday, yesterday I was at the nauseous stage and just wanted someone to shoot me. I made an appointment with my doctor for late yesterday afternoon hoping that she could give me something that would help, over the counter stuff hadn't touched it.

I drove myself to the appointment, that was my first strike. Once I got there she took me right in and checked my blood pressure, 135/75, not so great. She suggested I take an Imitrex in the office and wait about 30 minutes to make sure I had no reaction, that was my second strike. Imitrex is a bad thing, it made my head worse to the point of me being in tears, I got really hot and my muscles got really tight (my jaw still hurts). She took my blood pressure again, 150/85, and decided that it was a bad enough reaction that I needed something to counteract it. I got a shot to counteract the Imitrex and about 10 minutes after that I got a shot of Toradol, that might have been the third strike. One of the three made me slightly hyper, it was not a good night.

I got a prescription for Vicodin and a referral to a neurologist. I almost got a prescription for Maxalt, but after the Imitrex reaction she decided that the neurologist might be better equipped to deal with me.

I drove myself home, and am thankful that I live only 3 miles from her office.

On the flip side, my head does feel better today. My jaw is still a bit sore and my arm hurts like hell, but I can live with that.

The best part was when she asked if I could be pregnant, I almost fell off the table laughing.

Mom ruined dinner!

2007-02-07T19:50:00.000-08:00

I love to cook. My real passion is baking and candy making but I like food, a lot, so I like to cook just about anything.

Tonight was not one of my brighter cooking moments. Tay has homework every night, sometimes we breeze right through it. Sometimes it takes awhile. Last time I went major grocery shopping I was looking for ways to cut corners, make after school/evening time more family oriented and not have me stuck in the kitchen all night. Well, somehow I wound up with one of those boxed dinner things. I thought it was one that you add chicken breast too and bake. Well, it wasn't, it had a can of creamy chicken stuff in the box along with potato flakes (ew!) and biscuit mix. There might have even been some veggies in with the chicken stuff, I am not sure.

Suffice to say I made the darn thing. I hate meat out of a can, that is disgusting, and I am still being a good vegetarian so I knew this was going to turn out bad. All I can say is that is was not good. It was very not good. It reminded me of a pot pie, kind of. We went to the Claim Jumper a few years back with Tammie and Ryan and he ordered the pot pie. I have never seen someone turn over the dish and dump it onto a plate to eat it, it pretty much ruined me for all things pot pie-ish (sorry Ryan!).

The girls hope that I ruin dinner more often, we wound up with McDonald's. Fruit and yogurt for me!

Things I have discovered while packing

2007-02-06T13:49:00.000-08:00

The last couple of times we have moved I have remained blissfully ignorant of the whole process. The military came in, packed for us, loaded, unloaded and it was wonderful. With us doing it ourselves I am no longer blissful nor ignorant. I have discovered numerous things along the way, let me enlighten you: I married the Imelda Marcos of men. The man has as many pairs of shoes as I do. Forearm Forklifts are a moving must have. I had my doubts but it is the best money we have spent on this move, buy them at your local U-haul. Tim and I have carried all of our bedroom furniture downstairs (18 stairs, 2 nightstands, 1 double dresser, 1 desk, 1 bookcase), just the 2 of us with no moaning or groaning. Gap tees are my absolute favorite shirt ever. I have packed 8 of them in various colors so far. I have no work clothes. I mean NONE. I last worked in the home loan processing department at Washington Mutual in Hawaii, I wore capris and flip flops to work. Somehow I don't think that will fly in Washington. Tim also has no work clothes. I don't think he can wear his uniform to work once he separates. Damn. Maybe I can get him to keep one and model it for me, heheh. Anxiety makes my stomach feel ooky. Tums eventually stop working. I have moved on to chugging Mylanta or Pepto, is that bad? I HATE kidlet socks. They fall next to the washing machine, behind the dresser, under the bed or they just plain disappear. Someone needs to make disposable socks, nice ones, not the ped type try on things. I think I might be addicted to Rubbermaid storage containers. A box, as a nightstand, blows. I think Tim is beginning to realize that my idea of getting rid of all of our furniture and starting over was actually a pretty darn good idea.

__________________________________________________________________

Days until Freedom: 81

Days until move: 30

Boxes packed: 25 (not counting the containers of holiday decorations, scuba equipment, paintball guns and parts and other Rubbermaid storage goodness.)

Fun is...

2007-02-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

Fun is: Dropping a new box of 500 round toothpicks all over the floor. Your wedding ring falling into the garbage disposal as you try to scrape pink frosting out of the bowl. Coming home from grocery shopping and finding 90 lbs. of empty moving boxes on your front porch. Using your new shredder to dispose of old bank cards and discs, then dumping the trash bag onto the carpet and having to pick it all up, by hand. Backing your car out of the garage and misjudging the closeness of the framing of the garage door. The Weather Channel saying it is going to be 70 outside when, in fact, it is 91 and you sent your kid to school in jeans. With a sweatshirt. The chick in the management office where you live not knowing if military separation orders are acceptable when breaking your lease.

Monday, Monday

2007-02-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

The move is back on at Casa de Ferguson. Things have been sorted out, asses have been kissed and we move on.

Uneventful weekend. Packing, kid puking in the car, more packing and so on.

Blah, blah, blah...

One more reason

2007-02-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

The man called me yesterday afternoon on his way home from work:

Tim: What's the worst news you could get right now?

Me: You totalled the Jeep?

Tim: No, they disapproved* my leave chit and we can't move when we had planned.

Me: I think I am going to be sick.

Once again the military has left me disillusioned. I already bought plane tickets and rented the moving truck, shelling out about $2,000 so far. Are they going to reimburse us for this or pay to have it all changed? Nope.

I give up. I have nothing left at this point, I just want it to be over.

*it was approved when I made all of the arrangements to move, someone changed their mind.

Death Becomes Her

2007-01-31T09:32:00.000-08:00

Bailey wound up with my morbid fascinations. The child is a tad obsessed with death. If something is bad for you, it will kill you. If you don't follow the rules and look both ways when crossing the street*, you will die. Tim and I are not exactly sure where this stems from, I do have a dark sense of humor but we don't talk of killing and dying all of the time. Actually, I am pretty sure it rarely comes up in conversation. Evidently the whole death thing was bugging her, but I think we have it settled, for now.

Bailey: Mom, do shots keep you from dying?

Me: Shots keep you healthy so that if you do get sick it isn't as bad as it could be.

Bailey: Even if I get shots I can die?

Me: Everyone dies at some point, that is just the way it is.

Bailey: I don't want to get shots, or die.

Me: Bailey, you are 5, you don't need to worry about dying. Shots are just a part of life, too.

Bailey: What happens when you die?

Me: I am not sure Bai.

Bailey: Do they have snacks after you die?

Me: Well, uh, I don't know.

Bailey: Can you pack me a bag of Cheez-Its just in case?

Me: Yes, I can definitely do that.

*No, they aren't allowed to cross the street alone. Call me overprotective!

Screaming Meme

2007-01-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

I am officially in a funk. A moving funk. A single parent funk. An all around, pissed at the world, I want new shoes and Toblerone cheesecake funk. Oh, and a haircut funk too.

I am tired of packing. I am tired of the man being gone. I am tired of homework, scavenger hunts, book reports, math pages, boxes, dust, packing tape, sleepless night, sleeping alone (lying awake alone?) and cooking for unappreciative kids.

I am cold, the weather sucks and the tortilla slathered with butter and salt did not taste as good as I would have liked.

Someones having a case of the Mondays...

___________________________________________________________________

Days until Freedom: 90

Days until Move: 39

Boxes packed: 8

Me, being Random

2007-01-25T15:12:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I thought that today was Wednesday. All day I have thought that. Guess what. It isn't. It's the day after Wednesday, Thursday. That makes tomorrow Friday. Crap, I have company coming to stay this weekend and they will be here tomorrow and it still looks like a moving company exploded in my living room, and the hallway and I can't get into my bedroom right now. I kind of have stuff everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

Pics from Bai's B-day mini celebration: The cake. there are 5 candles, one is kind of hiding behind the other cupcakes. Celebrating by candlelight.

Our Baileybug.

___________________________________________________________________

Days until Freedom: 94

Days until the move: 43

Boxes packed: 2

For the record

2007-01-23T21:51:00.000-08:00

Stepping on one of those big, galvanized staples barefoot sucks. So do moving box papercuts. Boxcuts? Cardboard cuts? Oh, and I still don't have anything packed.

The countdown begins!

2007-01-23T18:04:00.000-08:00

Freedom Day: April 30, 2007

Days until Freedom Day: 96

Moving day: March 9, 2007

Days until moving day: 45

Boxes packed: 0

Days Tim will actually be home to help me back: 18 (non-consecutive) (holy hell!)

Also, I got boxes today to start packing. Who wants to come help me? Or watch my kids? Anyone? Please?

Grandchild-less

2007-01-22T15:09:00.000-08:00

Bailey comes out of her room to see a mom on the Discovery channel with a newborn in a carrier strapped to her chest. Bailey: Why is she holding the baby? Me: That's what you do with new babies, they like to be held a lot. Bai:Ugh, I am never having babies.

Bailey's Big Day

2007-01-19T11:56:00.000-08:00

Bailey-bug, Today you are 5 years old. You are growing up so fast. There were times when I couldn't wait for you to hurry up and grow, you didn't sleep through the night until you were 2, I couldn't wait for you to outgrow that one. Now that you are 5 I want to keep you that way forever. You are my best buddy. You love to shop with me and run errands in the morning, just the 2 of us. You love to help me cook, even if you get bored after 10 minutes or so. You share all things mint with me, while your sister and father turn their noses up. You love purses and shoes, for that alone you are awesome. You are so much like me it is kind of scary. You have absolutely no patience. Instant gratification is where it's at for us both. You love to snuggle in bed. You asked me yesterday for pink hair, that rocked my socks. You hate to make your bed, you love root beer, you love make-up and all things girly, you are afraid of dogs, like red cars and think that your dad rules the world. You hate to sleep, are always afraid you are going to miss something. I love to hold you and tickle you and even lick your nose because it grosses you out to no end but you laugh hysterically. I love that you smell your dads feet even after he tells you that they stink and that you can pretty much find anything that I have lost around the house. You make life exciting, things are never dull when you are awake. I love you so much and cannot imagine my life without you. Happy Birthday, Big Girl, Love, Mom

Birthday Wishes and Stressful Dreams

2007-01-17T09:06:00.000-08:00

To Tam, wishing you the happiest birthday ever! Hope you are having an awesome time on vacation with the fam. Miss you tons!

Slightly stressed, but I can't tell you why. Government secrets and all that. Shoot me now, please?

Good Idea, Bad Idea

2007-01-16T10:16:00.000-08:00

A weekend at our house: Good idea, buying fleece pants for running Bad idea, fleece pants being 7 inches or so too long Good idea, new MP3 player from Tim for Christmas Bad idea, the shuffle mode that you shake 3 times to activate, I look like an idiot trying to get it into shuffle mode Good idea, new running shoes Bad idea, blisters on back of feet Good idea, running in the morning Bad idea, fricking 40 degrees in Southern CA at 9AM Good idea, Kleenex for runny nose while running Bad idea, leaving Kleenex at home on counter Good idea, becoming a vegetarian, going very well Bad idea, the guy who lives near my run path grilling steak at 9AM... I just might hurt him Good idea, Philosophy's Purity Made Simple face wash, fricking awesome Bad idea, Purity up your nose in the shower Good idea, Bailey turns 5 on Friday, I asked what she wants for her birthday Bad idea, Bailey replying with "nothing, we just had Christmas" My personal favorite of the weekend: Good idea, Tim turning up the water heater because our showers were beginning to get cold too soon Bad idea, the knob to said water heater falling off in his hand

No Wonder Barbie is a Happy Girl

2007-01-12T09:18:00.000-08:00

Check out that shower head, must be the reason for that perma-grin.

All she eats is crap. Yes, that is a wine bottle up top. The bottom box looks like veggies and those nasty ass black licorice bites. Grapes in a box. Frozen dessert thingy x2, banana milk type stuff and cookies. On top of all the booze and cookies, she has a hot tub with party lights and music.

The whole thing is darned annoying.

To have and have not

2007-01-11T11:22:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had something and not wanted it or just not used it and then the second that you can't use it or get rid of it you can't live without it? I am so there...

Worrier, Is Me

2007-01-11T09:12:00.000-08:00

The worrier gene must be dominant in my DNA. I blame this solely on my mother.

I am totally freaked out over our upcoming move. I had a dream last night that we hired a moving company and all of our stuff was sold on the side of the road and then the rest was burned and while we were driving the Jeep to WA we went over the side of the road and that was the last of us. Holy hell, it was bad. I just want to fast forward and have it all be over. NOW.

Over the past 7 days I have interviewed and gotten quotes from 19 different moving companies. Things were going well. We knew from the beginning that the Navy wasn't going to pay for everything, and were prepared to come out of pocket with the difference. They pay about $.35/lb. and most moving companies charge between $.45-.53/lb., doesn't sound like a big deal but when you are moving 7,000 lbs or more it adds up. We were okay with putting in that much money of our own, kind of figured it was inevitable. Long story short, I had narrowed it down to 2 companies and was feeling pretty good about one of them, until... I discovered this website. After reading horror story after horror story and checking the blacklist we have decided to rent a truck ourselves and go from there. This means towing the Jeep and sending the girls to WA on an airplane by themselves.

That last part makes me a tad bit nervous. Hell, who am I kidding. The entire thing freaks me the hell out. But that is what we are going to do. I have already spoken with the airline and the girls will of course have an escort. We can take them to the gate and load them on the plane and my mom will do the same on the WA end. They have to be signed on and off the plane, ID shown and all of that good stuff. I am still a bit uneasy with this but I don't see a way around it.

Next comes the packing. I am actually excited about that, kinda freaky, huh? I can't wait to clean out and see what I have forgotten about and get rid of crap. More excited about packing than I was about Christmas. I bet it wears off within the first few boxes.

The worst part? Waiting. I just want it to be over with. I am all about instant gratification, can you tell??

Headed out for a run, later taters!

Resolutions

2007-01-08T14:45:00.000-08:00

Oh, so many... Get down on the floor and play with my kids more Be comfortable in my own body, whether I lose those 10 (15?) pounds or not Relax, let this be the year that Tim worries Stop using $10 words Learn to meditate Visit the library more, the bookstore less No more meat! Regular vitamins Visit the doctor for the migraines Regular "Date Night" Eat breakfast, everyday Get a brazilian, professionally Run more Convince Tim to join me in doing Yoga Learn to make tortillas and a Toblerone cheesecake Renew my wedding vows, pink cadillac convertible, drive-thru, Las Vegas and an Elvis officiant

Happy Happy Birthday, Baby

2007-01-05T09:23:00.000-08:00

Did you sing the title as if you were Roy Orbison? If not, go back and do it. That is the way it is meant to sound.

Tim,

Today is your 29th Birthday. I love you more now than I ever have.

You make me laugh constantly. You take all of my silly teasing and jokes and laugh along with me. You don't stress or worry ever, it kinda drives me batty but one of us has to be sane. We can argue over a bit of trivia and you are dead set on your answer, when mine turns out to be right you won't admit it. Secretly, I love that. You don't tell me when my cooking sucks and you let me experiment with whiskey and pineapple and brown sugar and never complain.

You sing along with Slipknot as if you were number 9, I love hearing that. You are the best dad ever, you have so much patience it is unbelievable. You sneak up behind the kids, grab one and flip her over your head. Watching her sit on the ground laughing hysterically afterward is the best.

You help me get my character to 50 when I know darn well that you would rather be working on your villain. You let me sleep in on Saturday mornings even when I know you would rather be the one sleeping. You drive everywhere because I have serious road rage. You are patient when explaining things that are way over my head. You make fun of me when I don't get something simple, sounds bad but you make it funny.

You let me stress out, yell, freak out, cry and then when the storm has subsided you tell me it is okay.

You pronounce fruition like fruitation and I love that. You do it on purpose just to make me laugh.

You are silly, yet serious. You are stern, yet loving. You are calm and patient, you never get mad.

More than anything you make me feel like the girls and I are your whole world, I love you most of all for that.

Happy 29th.

Loving you more than ever,

Chelle

Busy Little Beaver

2007-01-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Been up and running since 0500. When I made the transpo appointment I didn't consider that we needed to be out of the house by 0645 in order to get there on time. Girls had to be up at 0600. Fun morning. So, we went to our transportation/separation appointment this morning. Tim didn't warn me that we had to sit through a 40 minute audio tape explaining a checklist. The girls loved that, thank the stars for Leapsters and headphones. The appointment did not go as well as I had expected. It wasn't a total bust but no one hopped up and said "you guys are cool, and Tim has been a a great guy so we are just going to pay for the entire move." We did find out that his orders were printed wrong and need a correction, thankfully he can get it fixed on the ship. We also discovered that the type of appointment we were there for was not the right one, that is half good and bad. We kind of needed to start there anyway but it feels like a wasted morning. The good news is we got a hard cost sheet of what the Navy will pay for, how much they would charge to move us to WA and what our cost would be. Let's just say that they are about $2,500 higher than the independent quotes I got and the amount that we have to cover over and above what they will pay is over $3,000. This move just turned into a Do It Yourself, or a DITY move! (DITY is an actual military term, I didn't make it up!) Freakin' out, peoples! Actually, I am only kind of freaking out. I haven't had to resort to a paper bag for breathing yet so all is well, for now. I have gotten 9 or 10 moving quotes this morning and all is looking well. I just have to convince Tim that it is cheaper in the long run to use a moving company rather than renting a U-haul. One more drawback of using a U-haul, we have to send the girls ahead of us. Meaning they would fly solo, on an airplane, for 3 hours, without me, to WA. Not sure I am ready for that.

________________________________________________________________

Okay, I wrote the above stuff this morning and saved it as a draft instead of publishing it. Instead of starting a new one, let's just continue this one.

I have calmed down and set dates. We are doing the packing ourselves but a moving company is loading, driving, unloading and wrapping the furniture. This means that I don't have to stress about the overly large (3 piece) entertainment center. By packing the boxes ourselves we come in under the Navy's contribution, plus we have enough left over to cover gas for the 1250+ mile trip. We have decided to make it a family mini-vacation.

Now I just need to sit down and plan out the stops. Need some help with this, any suggestions? Driving from San Diego to Seattle, with a 5 and 7 year old. Yikes!

For my mom

2007-01-03T21:15:00.000-08:00

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Start wearing panties again.

Get your resolution here.

I know you are all thinking the worst, but I always wear panties. I swear the pc thought my mom clicked the resolution button instead of me.

To Ashley, With Love

2007-01-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

Tim wants to know if you are twitching yet? Love you, miss you tons!

Good news!

2007-01-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

I have awesome news, my internet friends! Tim got his hard-copy orders this morning and I just got off the phone with the transportation office, we have an appointment tomorrow morning at 0730 (I had to use military time, since it is a military thing) to schedule our move and find out how many $$$$'s it is going to cost us! Isn't that exciting? I am sooo excited. Dancing around the house singing Billy Idol's Dancing With Myself. Yippee!

Neighborly fun

2007-01-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

Dear Neighbor,

You have seriously pissed me off. One of your children screamed off and on from 11 PM to 9 AM. You made it worse by screaming back. With all of your windows open.

Could you not console the child? Stick him in his room with the door shut and let him cry? Close your fricking windows and scream all you want?

I realize kids cry, sometimes all night. But you did nothing to alleviate the situation.

Your neighbor (for not much longer),

Crabby

Things I've learned...

2007-01-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

It is only January 2nd and I have already learned several things. Let's go over them, bullet style!

Bella Dancerella is the most annoying dvd, song, toy in the universe
Bella's words and mouth don't match, this annoys the heck out of me
me+Bella ballet=laughs for all
Platial is a pain to use, or I am an idiot
International Delight, Mint Chocolate Truffle coffee creamer is awesome
too much MCT creamer gives me a tummy ache
my husband in a pain in the butt to shop for, he turns 29 on Friday (that part I knew)
Bailey inherited my coordination skillz
Taylor inherited my bossiness and nosiness skillz
if you find a blog you like reading, bookmark the darn thing. Googling for it later will not work
Duty days suck
117 days until freedom, HOLY CRAP
It's Official! (okay, I knew this one already, but it deserves a bullet)
Littlest Pet Shop is the new toy craze, and Bailey wants more for her birthday

I have more and will update as I think of them, or after I pay homage to the starving monsters that are my children. Whichever comes first.

Blue Diamond Smokehouse almonds and Roasted/Salted almonds are NOT the same (I thought all Blue Diamond almonds were smoked)

2007 Motto

2007-01-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

Everyone else out in internet-land is posting their resolutions for 2007. I'll get to mine, soon. Today is all about setting the feeling for the year to come, that means choosing a motto.

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. - Eleanor Roosevelt

Spoiled Much?

2006-12-31T16:22:00.000-08:00

Looking back through Christmas photos I can definitely see that my kids are spoiled. Eh, oh well.

Photos are up at Flickr.

Revelations, Part 2

2006-12-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

I am not sure where to start with this one. Somehow the religion revelation was easier to write.

A few months ago I got an e-mail from a friend that was a petition, asking me to sign it or contact my congressman. Basically it explained that there was a bill being discussed in the senate that would make California textbooks include sexual orientation of historical contributors, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders. The bill stated that it would also bar negative portrayals of those individuals.

Let me just say that I did not sign my name nor did I contact my congressman. Why not? The petition was against including these individuals in textbooks.

I did not respond to this e-mail in any way. I read it, disagreed and deleted it. I didn't try to change my friends decision or influence her in any way. She feels one way, I feel another. She is as entitled to her opinion as I am mine. I am not sure that I understand her stance on this, and I know she doesn't understand mine.

I think for some, homosexuality is a way of life. Just as for others it is not. Who I am to say what is right or wrong? It isn't a disease that is going to be cured or disappear over time.

This affects our children. Shouldn't we supply them with all of the facts and knowledge and tolerance that we have and let them make their own decisions? Don't we want them to be happy, no matter what?

This is the part where the waters get a little murky for me. I am not entirely comfortable around gay/lesbian couples, but I am not disgusted either. I hate major public displays of affection, doesn't matter if the couple is straight or homosexual, the publicness embarrasses me no matter who is involved.

I have not yet explained to the girls yet that homosexuality exists, but over the next few weeks I will. I haven't even explained sex to them yet, I think I dread that one more.

This post came out very different that I had intended. It sure seems to be a bunch of jumbled thoughts rather than the neat essay I had planned. I am definitely unhappy with the way it turned out, but am publishing it anyway. I can fine tune it later, consider this a rough draft.

Finally over

2006-12-26T13:21:00.000-08:00

Christmas is finally over and I have told the kids they cannot speak of next Christmas until after Halloween. So far, so good.

We had an eventful Christmas Eve, when all I really wanted was peace and quiet. Bai started running a fever Sunday night and couldn't sleep. Tay was restless and couldn't sleep, she wound up in the guest room in bed with Tim and I wound up on the couch. I think I had the best end of the deal, the leather couch was warm and comfy.

Only problem, I couldn't sleep. At all. This made Christmas Day extremely fun.

Tim and I have wrapper rage. Why must toy makers use so many twist ties and clear rubberbands on kids toys? Why must Bailey unwrap each present by removing 1-sq. inch of paper at a time? Kudos to Santa Papa and Grandma for putting the girls' bikes together prior to gifting, I shall love you forever for that alone.

At some point over the weekend I rubbed my eye and now have a right tear duct that is swollen and bright red. After fighting with the insurance company over coverage that they never transferred from Hawaii I have an appointment tomorrow to have it looked at. They have to touch my eye. My EYEBALL people! Even I don't actually ever touch my own eyeballs. The mere thought of this freaks me the hell out. Am off to alternate cold and warm compresses, you can bet your ass that if I can get it to clear up on it's own that I am cancelling that appointment.

Merry Christmas to all...

2006-12-25T19:29:00.000-08:00

And to all, a good night.

Long day, but more on that tomorrow. Let's save the crappy ass post for a non-holiday.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, or a just plain wonderful Monday.

Kisses all!

Woot!

2006-12-21T20:22:00.000-08:00

Good day overall! I got logged into Blogger twice, that ought to make it a good day all on its own. On top of that the dreaded jewelry store called this morning to say that they could not fix my wedding ring, but that they had replaced the entire set. While I should probably be feeling a little sentimental about this I am totally not. A ring is a ring, nothing more. But I am glad to have it back, I no longer feel nekkid.

Excuse the kind of blurry, shadowed pic. Evidently I suck at photography. The ring sparkles all pretty like and I ruin by sticking my big head in the way of the light. Did you have any idea that I am that pasty white?

Found this at the grocery store on Friday night, it made me stop and do a double take so I had to buy it. If you have ever sat at a table with my youngest while she eats her veggies then you know why I did so. I thought for sure that if Cookie Monster was on the can that she would eat it willingly. I was wrong, but she still ate it. We forced her. Mean parents, I know but what else can we do? The only veggie I can get the kid to willingly eat are carrots. Anyone have any tips on how to get my picky eater to eat her veggies?

A day late and a dollar short

2006-12-21T08:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, more like a week late and money doesn't really come into play, but you get my drift. Right?

Blogger and I have been arguing over the last couple of days, today is the first day that I have actually been able to log in. I have things to post, news to share, but am busy this morning. More this afternoon, barring login issues...

Revelations

2006-12-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

I have been mulling over this post since Wednesday. I waited to actually write it until I had a chance to talk to my sounding board, since he came home last night I figure now is as good a time as any to post this.

My first post on Wednesday got a comment that said "there is a god and he is looking out for all of you." It was left as anonymous, but I am fairly sure that I know who anonymous is.

This comment made me stop and think. Have I misrepresented myself? Then I stopped and thought about it a bit more and realized that it is what the writer believes, not me. Astounding that it took me a bit to figure that out. Want to know what really threw me off? It was the God part mixed with the all of you part. Once I saw the G-word I stopped and over analyzed the hell out of the comment.

Getting to the point here, bear with me.

I am an agnostic, as is my husband. While I do not believe in God, per se, I do believe that higher beings may exist. I don't doubt that there was a guy named Jesus Christ who had a wife named Mary. However, I do not believe that he is the end all be all creator of everything. I try not to post "oh, my lord" and "my god" on this page, not that I don't say them. I do say them aloud, as sayings only, and I don't think that that reflects over the Internet when you can't hear my tone.

That being said, I should also let you know that my children are not baptized. Long before we had kids Tim and I decided that we did not want to have our children baptized for one simple reason. What would we have them baptized as? Who are we to decide for them? Whatever they choose is fine by us. If they decide to be Buddhist, Jewish or decide to praise Allah and read the Qur'an that is okay with Tim and I. We want the girls to decide who they are, this is an important decision that they need to make for themselves. We do explain different religions to them. I have no problem taking them to a Jewish Temple if they want to experience that.

I have a feeling that I may have offended a few of you with this post, and even lost a friendship or two. That was not my intent, I am setting the record straight. I don't look down on you for your beliefs, give my family the same courtesy.

This one was a doozy to write, but I do feel better that it is off my chest. Come back next Friday, I have another revelation that might cost me a few more friends.

Gingerbread woes

2006-12-13T15:42:00.000-08:00

Before Tim and I were married (this makes me about 16 or 17, and Tim a year older) we spent a few days around Christmas with my cousins at my aunt and uncles house in Huntington Beach. While there we attempted several times to make a gingerbread house. Just one house. Out of a kit. That failed. So we tried again with homemade gingerbread. That we burned. Needless to say that attempt failed as well and we eventually gave up. To this day I hate gingerbread anything, the smell makes me gag, and I want to trash all of the pre-made houses that are so beautiful that you can buy at stores.

About 2 weeks ago we got a note home from school asking for candy donations for the class to make gingerbread houses with. Like a good little mom I ran right out and got what was on the list and sent it to school. I warned Tay right from the beginning that I would not be coming in to help on the days they were making the houses and she was okay with that, I think she may have gone to school and told her teacher that her mom has gingerbread nightmares. The class made the houses yesterday and decorated them today, they also brought them home today. Well, the rest of the class brought them home today. Somewhere between leaving school, getting on the bus and arriving home Tay managed to lose her house. The bus driver was nice enough to help us search the bus, just in case she had mislaid it. We did not find it. She cried all of the way home.

I volunteered to go buy the stuff and help her and Bailey make one here at the house. If this doesn't earn me brownie points with the fat man in the red suit nothing will.

Anyone have a recipe for marshmallow glue?

Hyperventilating Hooplah!

2006-12-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

Is today Wednesday or Thursday? I am pretty sure that I have lost a day somewhere. If today were Thursday that would mean that Tim is coming home, that is too good to be true so I guess it must be Wednesday.

I was thrown for a loop yesterday and have not recovered yet. My mom called me last night to let me know that my stepdad (I hate that word) is thinking of taking a job in CA, so they might be moving back. This might seem like great news, I live in CA so them moving closer would be great. But... we have a move planned to WA (where they currently live) scheduled for March. Of next year. As in about 90 days from now. Excuse me while I hyperventilate.

While we aren't/weren't moving for the sole reason of being closer to them, they had a lot to do with our decision. They were going to be our support system for starting off in a new state. They were going to watch the kids so Tim and I could have a date.

I am so torn now. Tim has no clue yet. I have this ball of anxiety in my stomach. Do we move? Do we stay here? Do we move to Kansas and say to hell with everyone? I feel like the weight of this move rests on my shoulders and it is bigger than I am. If we don't move as soon as he gets out of the military will we ever move? Do I want to live in CA forever?

Holy hell people, I need some advice!

Who knew?

2006-12-12T15:14:00.000-08:00

Seems like everyone has a blog these days. Seems that Santa has one out there as well. Check it out here. He even tells you what it takes to make it on the good side of his ever present list. I, for one, cannot wait to point out to my children that this includes picking up your toys when finished playing with them. Oh, and the eating what your parents make for dinner is great too. Although, I have a feeling that if the man in red were to see Bailey gagging over green beans that he might take this one off his list. Elfred Elveson even gives craft tips, he is such a multi-talented elf!

Santa has gone hi-tech, kinda scary. Anybody want to bet that he gets a MySpace page next??

Houston, we have a puker

2006-12-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

Why is it that the kids never get sick until Tim is out of town? Do they save up all of their pukiness for me? Bai was puking at 7 this morning but seems to be better now. Today was going to be groceries and errands but that can wait until tomorrow. 24 hours without puking sounds good to me.

Yesterdays trauma, I decided I am a weenie and it doesn't deserve it's own post. Let's just say that it involved me, the girls, a train, being lost, and the ghetto. I will leave it at that.

The puke-meister calleth... blech

New Record

2006-12-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

A new record has been set today. I have been traumatized and scarred for life before 6AM. More details to follow, right now the wounds are still too fresh to speak of.

Please keep in mind this comes from a drama queen.

It's beginning to look a lot like... snot?

2006-12-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

I was originally going to write about Christmas, the tree, the shopping, the preperation and plans. Then I got sidetracked by snot. That's right, snot. I woke up yesterday morning with a stuffy nose, sore throat and ears. I was hoping to wake up and be miraculously cured this morning. Didn't happen.

My new best friends.

If you need me this afternoon I shall be curled up in the recliner with Tim's laptop, coffee with mint chocolate truffle creamer, a book and the tv remote. Dinner is in the crockpot, laundry is in the washer and Bailey's belly is full for the moment so this sounds like the perfect time for a nap. Or not, the washer just stopped.

We are a Disney family, just sayin'.

Okay, on to the Christmas happenings. 17 shopping days left! I started shopping very early this year, something I normally I do not do. I live for the Christmas shopping season, I love the hurried shopping, the masses of people, the valet parking at the mall. I have to admit that I am missing it this year, I say that now as I am sitting all cozy in my living room. The couple of times I have had to run to the mall in the last few weeks have been hell, as soon as I see the cars in the parking lot I want to turn around and go home.

Because every tree needs a little Zero.

The other night I asked Tim what he wanted for Christmas dinner. I suggested maybe filet with a blue cheese crust, lobster tail, some thing a bit fancier than we would normally do for a Monday night dinner. Bailey piped right up with her suggestion, she wants Chipotle. I am okay with that.

So excited!

2006-12-06T12:38:00.000-08:00

I originally sent this link to Ash in an e-mail a few weeks ago. Now it is being talked about in Amalah's Advice Smackdown and a couple of other blogs I read. I have a feeling that your tastes and mine differ a bit, so I have to share it with you here for fear that you don't read the same sites that I do.

How awesome is this stuff? I want someone to try it and let me know how it works out. For unspeakable reasons I shall not be trying it, but I might entertain you later with tales of self waxing (oh, the hilarity). God, do I have to go furry to try this stuff?? I want it in the hot pink and then I want to wear the shirt too.

Only problem, I would want to show people and I might get arrested for that.

Anti-procrastination Day

2006-12-06T08:38:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Wednesday's are Anti-procrastination Day? I sure didn't, I probably could have gone my whole life without knowing. Let's face it people, I am a procrastinator of the worst sort. If we continue to put things off they will eventually go away, right?

I can put things off with the best of them. Those jeans I sorted 2 months ago to get rid of? Still sitting on my bedroom floor. The unsold books that need to be taken to a library? Sitting in boxes. The Rubbermaid case of summer bedding I packed up a month or two ago? Sitting on the floor in my bedroom (clean, I may be a procrastinator but I am not dirty). The messy desk I keep meaning to unclutter? Still messy. The car that needs to be washed, really badly? Still dirty. The haircut I have needed for about 2 weeks? I might get to it sometime before the New Year.

I don't put things off because I am lazy and it isn't because I don't want to do them. The problem is that I start to do one thing and then I get sidetracked with 40 gazillion other things and by the time I make it back to the original task I get sidetracked with something else.

So, maybe I can procrastinate all week long but then on Wednesdays I have to actually do the stuff I set out to do. Can I maybe borrow some ADD meds? I am off to stop procrastinating, wish me luck as I fear I will need it.

First order of business, pants*. I must go put on pants. But the jeans that match my shirt are in the washer so I will be putting this off until they are done. Washer just stopped, sticking them in the dryer now. Um, well, first I have to fluff and fold the clothes that are in the dryer. Then put those away. And then my pants will be put in the dryer. Before 3:30 this afternoon I will have pants on... I swear!

*Okay, the pants. I had pants on this morning when I took Tay to the bus stop, what happened from there belongs in another post with pictures. Bai and I are both pantless and shoeless at the moment. I did not pee myself, nor did Bai pee on me. Just sayin.

Which dwarf am I today?

2006-12-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

I have a headache. I have had 4 cups of coffee. My wedding ring has been at the jewelers for 19 days. My wedding ring will be there for about 29 more days. I hate the jeweler. People piss me off. I am not PMS'ing. I want a job and daycare. I want a job that will pay for daycare. I want this move to be over with. Is Christmas almost over yet? Can we fast forward to St. Patricks Day?

Just call me Imelda

2006-12-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that I love shoes. Over the past few weeks I have been trying to track down 2 specific pairs of shoes, one by Steve Madden the other by Rocket Dog. I have failed on both searches, I went so far as to check Ebay and Craigslist and still I have failed. However, I did find many other wonderful pairs that I might someday call my own.

I have no idea where I would wear these, but they are gorgeous!

Love these in polka dot, but do I really need to point out that these will not add to my height challenged frame?

Kinda funky, but I like!

Oh man...

I wear my Rocket Dog's almost everday, if I could only find them in red.

These may very well be the next pair I buy.

Most comfy shoes evah!

I heart these in the worst way. If I only wore purple...

My pretty red toes want these so bad!

I think I just found my new favorites, and on sale... hmmm, where did I put my purse?

Okay, enough about shoes...

And the worst mom of the month award goes to...

2006-12-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

I did so frickin good last month, we had no major explosions or meltdowns. Then we get to the 1st day of December and I am suddenly the ultra-bitch mom. I am pretty sure Tay was thinking that as she got on the bus crying this morning. I am pretty sure the other parents were thinking it as well. You know what? Bitch that I may be, I would do it all over again because I was right, damnit.

Tay gets her backpack ready herself every morning. I just question her to make sure she has everything. I asked her if she had a sweatshirt in her bag and she said yes, her gray Gap hoody. That is where the problem began. She wore that sweatshirt on Tuesday as a shirt and I know that I had not washed it yet, and ew, wearing it again without washing it is gross. I made her take it out of her bag and then we left for school.

We get to the bus stop, the bus gets there and she informs me that she needs a sweatshirt. Um... right. Let me pull one out my ass, do you have a preference in color?

I told her that she should have grabbed a different one before we left and she would have to go without. She has on jeans, two layered long sleeved shirts and Vans. It is supposed to be mid-70's today. She won't freeze. This leads to a meltdown, she is angry with me and crying, her friend walks up to her and she waves a hand at her to go away. She got in trouble for that one and I pulled her out of line to get on the bus. I explained that it would be warm enough that she wouldn't need a jacket today and that she cannot be rude to a friend just because she is mad at me.

No calls from the school yet to pick her up. I bet they think I am an awful mom, too.

The part I left out... I asked her to make sure she had a sweatshirt as she was getting dressed and she told me she was using her Gap one. I told her then that it was dirty and that she could not wear it.

I may be an awful mom, but I am still right.

I wanted to lick it

2006-11-30T11:26:00.000-08:00

I am not a huge TV watcher. I tend to DVR things and then let them sit for weeks. When I do finally sit down to watch it, it is almost always because the DVR is almost full and then I fast forward until a 60 minute show takes about 15 minutes to watch. I accidentally recorded the first episode of 3 lbs. I love Stanley Tucci's character, Dr. Doug Hanson. He is an ass and rude and I love him for it. The best part, he is bald. I luuuuurrrrrvve bald men. I just read that CBS cancelled the show after only 3 episodes. My bald loving heart is broken. Sexy bald men: Stanley Tucci Vin Diesel this one is for Ash, I am not feeling it... Patrick Stewart Bruce Willis Steve Austin this one is for my mom, she would lick it Kelly Slater David Draiman Chris Judd Darin Bennett oh, the eyes on this one! Moby the man is beautiful Tim wears his hair short enough that when it is first cut I could include him on the list, still a bit too fuzzy to lick though. I had a hard time finding pics for this list. Appropriate pics, that is. I do not recommend Googling Sexy Bald Men.

I forgot one

2006-11-29T09:57:00.000-08:00

I forgot to put this one on my list, probably because I assume most people are smart and can figure it out for themselves.

UNDERWEAR!*

What in the hell are you* women thinking??

*These pics are not work friendly. Yeah, I like gossip, sue me.

I will make fun of you

2006-11-29T09:23:00.000-08:00

I don't claim to be a fashionista. I do however have standards and I will make fun of you for the following offensive fashion faux pas.

skinny jeans, this especially applies to men
leggings under a skirt, just because Jessica Alba does it doesn't make it right
the Jared Leto emo hairstyle
the Jared Leto eyeliner for men, makeup is never okay for a guy
bubble skirts
ankle boots
pleather anything
large belts, over sweaters and shirts especially
Uncontrollable boobage. Breasts are meant to be in a bra, a good bra, without teensy straps. Bra fitting is free in numerous stores like Macys, Fredericks, Victoria's Secret. There is no excuse for boob overflow, boob underflow, or smooshing.

It is not just me, check out what the girls at Go Fug Yourself have to say.

I am in luuuurrrrve!

2006-11-28T17:45:00.000-08:00

Ash sent me this link earlier, her dad sent it to her. Thank you, Ashley's Dad!

I love it! Isn't that great? Imagine all of the presents you can fit under that sucker! I want one, but I already have my tree up this year...

Zales Chicks?

2006-11-28T13:53:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the latest Zales ad on TV? It makes my think of the movie White Chicks and everytime I see it or even hear the music I break into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. It's the Vanessa Carlton song that does it, I just picture them in the car on their date singing. Awful movie, but still hilarious at the same time.

Jealous!

2006-11-28T11:44:00.000-08:00

This is my mom and Pete's house in Kent, WA. I am jealous of the snow. But please pay special attention to the $70,000.00 truck in the garage. It deserves some love too. 4WD here I come! So, which one of you is volunteering to teach me how to drive in the snow?

Darn it!

2006-11-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

I missed another Sunday Confessional. Oh well, must wait another week.

Had a great time on Saturday, I could have spent numerous more hours with Tam. It was great to catch up especially since it was just us. The kids are all great but adult time rocks! I took my camera, but I didn't take any pics. Lame, I know. Didn't buy anything spectacular, maybe next time. Did get the last couple of things I needed for Christmas.

Ash got a new wedding ring for her anniversary. No pictures on that yet either... waiting patiently.

No Dooney at my door yet. It has been a month since I got the call that I could pick a new one and I am impatient for the new one to get here. This is the one I picked as a replacement. It says large but the dimensions don't seem that big. What do you think? Ordered it in brown, I am not a black purse type of person. This is the one I sent it that had the defect, but mine was navy with cream and pink. I am in love with this one, in the pepper, but the nubuck scares me. I would have it ruined in no time. Isn't it beautiful though?

I got nothing, I stretched it for as long as I could but I am pretty sure you could tell I had nothing. Oh well, coffee calls!

Up with the chickens

2006-11-25T07:21:00.000-08:00

Me, up early on a Saturday? Unheard of! Oh, but I am and have been for a couple of hours. I skipped all of the shopping and wondrous sales yesterday (okay, except for sitting on the 54 for an hour trying to get to Las Americas only to turn around when we got off the off ramp because it was so frickin packed) and I am headed to Temecula today to meet Tam for some shopping. I cannot wait! The thought of spending the day with Tam excites me more than the actual shopping and the hour and a half drive to get there. Woo hoo! I am a dork and need more friends!

Turkey and Teeth

2006-11-22T14:36:00.000-08:00

Toothless Taylor and her turkey!

I wish today were Tuesday. I could use some serious alliteration in this post.

Tay made a apple, gumdrop, licorice, raisin, marshmallow turkey at school today with her 5th grade buddy. She also lost another tooth today. That makes 6, are we done yet? Please say yes!

Technically she didn't lose the tooth, I pulled it. Aren't you proud of me? When they get really loose you just grab ahold with a paper towel, close your eyes, bite your lip and pull like hell!

Like mother, like daughter

2006-11-22T07:59:00.000-08:00

I have passed along my love for funky socks. I am so proud.

Tantric Tuesday

2006-11-21T11:21:00.000-08:00

I posted earlier that my kids were irritating me, I am over it now. It only took 90 minutes of yoga to get there. The best part, Bai joined in for a few minutes and while she did break my concentration I laughed my ass off at her wobbling in the tree pose.

Sometimes I take the girls for granted. I love them to death, but I can be very short with them. I expect them to be perfect 100% of the time, and I know that isn't feasible. I should just expect them to be kids. They are great kids.

I can already see myself in both of them. Tay has to be in charge of taking care of someone or something. She loves to mother Bai. She can grab a book and curl up in a chair for hours. She is prissy, and yes, she gets that from me. We are both girly girls. Tay tends to be more anxious and worrisome, that is definitely from me but she is also more sure of herself. She may doubt a situation but she rarely doubts herself. She will try anything once.

Bai is another story. Yes, I can see myself in her as well but she is so different as well. She gets her emotions from me, wears them like a cloak, a shield if you will. Bai used to be a bit reserved, hell, she used to be downright antisocial but that has changed. She is outgoing, honest to a fault and does her own thing regardless of anyone else. Bai is much more laid back than Tay, she gets this from her father.

I want more for them. I want them to have the self confidence that I don't have. I want them to be leaders, not followers. I want them to get the most from life and follow their dreams. I want them to grow up without needing external validation. I want them to have no fear, no anxiety, to be self-starters, to be happy and sure of themselves.

When I grow up, I want to be more like my kids and more like what they have the potential to become.

Irritable me

2006-11-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

My kids are irritating me in the worst way.

Bai woke up emotional, you know how she can be. I thought she had snapped out of it when she informed me that "when I say okay, I mean yes." I thought maybe we had moved past emotional to sarcastic. Evidently not. She must think I am an idiot this morning. It is 53 degrees outside and foggy, she has on shorts. I told her it was going to warm up to around 75 later but was going to be cold this morning. She complained the entire way to the bus stop and the entire way back. I usually wait for the bus to leave to make sure there are no malfunctions, not this morning. I got Tay in line, saw the bus coming down the street and I took off. Have to get the whiner home where it is warm.

Then there is Tay. She was actually doing good this morning until we were ready to walk out the door and she informed me "you didn't get my backpack ready." Um, excuse me, but you have been getting your backpack ready yourself since the beginning of the year. When did it become my responsibility? No homework = no recess, maybe I need a timeout. We finally get outside and I ask her if she has her food drive cans in her backpack. She says yes and then takes them out. Then complains they are heavy. I ask if they were heavy in her backpack and get a no in response. Then put the damn things back in your backpack and lets go.

Now we are home and all is well, right? Wrong. Bai just ran to her room with a "mommy hates me." Eh... I am thinking the morning run I had so been craving is shot to hell. An hour of yoga might do me some good though. Or a shot of tequila. Ohhhh, tequila and yoga! Nah, downward dog and tequila do not go together.

Sunday Confessional, Part 2

2006-11-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I said that I was going to start posting regularly on Sunday's, I picked a theme and everything. While I did post last Sunday it did not have anything to do with confessing. Let's try again, shall we?

I drive 80 on the freeway with my kids in the car and think nothing of it. Put Tim in the driver's seat doing the same and I freak out. He is a better driver than I am.
Okay, that 80 should actually be an 85. And I was moving with the flow of traffic and was not in the fast lane.
The cop didn't give me a ticket, he just waved.
Krispy Kreme and Ruffles for breakfast.
I am not very fond of Krispy Kreme donuts, but I ate it anyway. Too sweet, I wish they didn't glaze them with that sugar glaze and then the chocolate. The chocolate would be enough.
I took a shower this morning and then got back in my jammies.
36 shopping days until Christmas and I am freaked out. I know I said I was almost done and I am, but I still have my dad, stepmom and stepsiblings to buy for and I have no idea what to get them.
I will be up Friday morning at 3 AM to shop, I don't necessarily need anything but I love the excitement of the crowds.
I like to watch people fight over the best sales on black Friday.

That's all I have people. Lame, I know. Suck it up and get over it.

The coat does come in pink!

2006-11-17T11:21:00.000-08:00

It does, I saw it! But they sent a small, made for someone with no boobs so they will be back later. I shall be hiding in my bedroom closet waiting patiently for them. I am looking forward to them returning, I hear it is peaceful where they are taking me. I could use some peacefulness. It has been one of those mornings. I got up early this morning with the intention of having a pretty calm day. It was peaceful until about 7 or so. Bai is not a morning person and pulled the covers over her head to avoid me waking her up. Tay spent 35 minutes playing in her closet in her underwear instead of getting dressed making me feel very rushed. We did manage to get spelling words reviewed and get to the bus on time. We get home and I sit down to balance the checkbook. I hate this task, I put it off for as long as possible. I usually use Quicken but since I reloaded the pc last week I haven't been able to get logged onto the website to reinstall it. I can get to the site and I know my username and password but the site just spins and spins when I try to log in. Okay, back to the balancing part. So I log onto the BofA site and notice a charge that I didn't make, and I know Tim didn't make it as he has been underway. I call BofA and am on eternal hold for 30 minutes or so, they were very helpful. Reversed the fraudulent charge and issued a new card to both Tim and I. Then I repeat the entire process with USAA, except they have fast customer service because they are the roxxors. This whole fraud thing started yesterday. If you use PayPal make sure you pay attention to your e-mails. I got one yesterday that looked very legit and did not fit any of there spoof criteria, it addressed me by my first and last name and the link address was very close to a true PayPal URL. So, like the idiot I am I logged into the link and then noticed it wanted a bank card PIN number. I knew then that I was screwed. I called PayPal to verify and they assured me it was a spoof. Afterward I changed my password and hoped that I did it fast enough. Evidently I wasn't. Be careful and let my mistake be a lesson. Okay, back to today's crappy ass venting session. Then I sit down to watch Grey's Anatomy, and accidentally restart the damn thing 3 times. I also noticed that one of the diamonds in my wedding band is loose. The same one that they had to replace in 2004 because it fell out. I can take it in and have it repaired no problem if I can find the paperwork. Which I couldn't, I packed it in the important paperwork folder when we moved. Unfortunately I haven't seen it since. I bet it is in a suitcase in my closet. I have a walk in closet so please tell me why it is so full? Why is it that for a family who never travels together that we have enough luggage to open a fricking Samsonite store?? Why is it that today feels like a Monday? Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Headed to my closet, going to move some luggage out to make room for me. Remember, send the pink coat guys back my way!!

And why the hell is Blogger screwing with my spacing??

The men with the white coat will be here soon

2006-11-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

They are coming for me. I know it. I am seriously losing it people. Over the course of the last few days I have managed to misplace several things around the house and have simply forgotten things. Like just now, I had a thought and then poof, it's gone. I hate that!

Last week or week before last I managed to put the vegetable oil bottle in the freezer and the frozen hash browns in the pantry. I have misplaced a loaf of bread. Not a slice of bread, an entire newly opened loaf of bread. The tub of butter, yeah, it was last seen yesterday near the tortillas. The bag from Gap with the girls' new socks, your guess is as good as mine. I wish I could tell you my house is a mess and I am typically scatterbrained but that is not the case.

Oh, and remember when I posted on Sunday and said that my fire alarms were on my table and my carpet was wet? Yeah, no idea. I asked the maintenance guy and he looked at me like I was off my rocker and said he had no idea what the hell I was talking about. That just makes me feel wonderful on so many levels. Someone was in my home when I was not here. But all they did was move the fire alarms? And dump water on the carpet? I am thoroughly confused. I have no idea what is going on. Personally I think this is still maintenance's fault and they are just non-communicative idiots.

Hey, maybe there is someone living in my non-existent attic and they are stealing the missing items. Butter and bread, they go together. Maybe that have really small cold feet and they needed the 12 pairs of socks to stay warm. And the oil and hash browns, that was just them screwing with me to let me know they are smarter that I am. The fire alarms and water, that was just to spook me into not leaving for a long weekend again. Crap, did you notice that it went from "someone" to "they" living in the attic. They are multiplying. Damn, I should have ordered a bigger ham and turkey from Honeybaked.

Oh my stars, I am going to turn into a 27 year old shut in with 85 dogs roaming my apartment. You will be able to smell it for miles around. And then the police are going to come and I am going to cackle and say that I have no idea what they are talking about I don't have any pets and the dogs will all be piled into the bedroom being quiet because they are used to this as it happens once a week or so. And I won't have any friends and no one will call me and I will be by myself for the holidays and the neighbors will feel bad for stinky old me and bring me leftovers and I will throw them away uneaten because I hate other peoples cooking and I will have a teenager do all of my errands for me and my hair will grow long and become unkempt and my eyebrows will look like furry caterpillars died on my forehead.

May I have the white coat in a medium, please? Does it come in pink?

I am an awful person

2006-11-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

I am, I swear! Just ask my family members and friends who I don't see or talk to enough. When I first found out that we were moving back to CA I had this wonderful dream that I would see my family and friends all the time and talk to them even more. Heh, what a crock of shit. I talk to Ashley pretty much everyday but she is my bestest friend from Hawaii so this fantasy theory didn't really apply to her.

I haven't seen my paternal aunts and uncles and grandmother since December and I have not been to seen my maternal family at all since we have been back. I wish I could say that it is the 150 mile drive that deters me but it isn't. It is the drama. I have an alcoholic grandfather, a homosexual family member and a downright drama filled family. The first is a major problem for me, I don't want my kids subjected to that. The second doesn't bother me at all, how that family member lives their life is their own business and frankly it's the way of the world and isn't going to go away anytime soon. The only reason the second even comes up is because not everyone knows and not everyone is happy with it.

Then we get to the third, it deserves a paragraph (or two) all its own. The drama people, the drama! On my paternal side I have a father who has not spoken to his family in over 20 years and prefers to think of himself as an orphan. I have aunts and uncles who think he should get over it. The drunk grandfather resides on this side of the family along with the grandmother in poor health. With this side of the family I always feel like I am tiptoeing around the subject of my father. I am stuck in the middle. Do I agree with his stance on a self imposed orphanhood? I am not sure, I really try to have no opinion. The grandparents did somethings that hurt him very badly and he will never be able to forgive them and that is his right. Is it right or wrong? That isn't my call to make. He is doing what he feels is necessary for him and as long as he is happy that is all I can ask for. But man, do I feel squeezed into that middle space when I am asked about him or asked to contact him to relay a message.

On to the maternal side of the family. This one is a little less clear cut. I am not sure I can even give you specifics on what makes me dread visiting. The one thing that stands out is my grandmother. She is brutal. Brutally honest that is. "Your hair looks like shit. You gained a few pounds. Your clothes look awful." I could go on and on for hours. The thought of visiting makes my stomach knot.

The friends are all pretty normal. We just all have families and tons of stuff going on. Takes a bit of juggling to get our schedules to mesh.

Then I go and write this post and wind up sounding brutally honest like the grandparent I avoid. I am not trying to be hurtful, that is the difference between us. She doesn't care if she is hurtful and I avoid it like the plague. Maybe I am trying to justify my feelings and my avoidance. I do need to visit, I should just get it over with. I think I need a Xanax first though. Maybe a Valium too.

I never thought of myself as high strung, but my stomach is in an upheaval just typing this. I may yack once I hit the publish button.

I prefer to live my life uncluttered and as calm as possible. I don't need a ton of interaction to keep me happy. I joke about needing adult interaction but it is always on my terms. I hate crowds, I hate parties, I hate everything where I might become the center of attention at any moment. Maybe I do need a Xanax.

Ugh, I just reread through this post. I really am an awful person.

More reasons to stay at home

2006-11-12T19:59:00.000-08:00

That title is very appropriate considering my weekend. I wish I could tell you this is going to be a short entry but it isn't. Grab a beer, some popcorn, prop up your feet and stay awhile. Let's rewind to Friday. I decided that this would be a great weekend to drive the 150 miles to see my dad and some friends. Tim is out of town, my friend has a cat and Tim has a cat allergy and basically I need some adult interaction. The best part, I get to leave on Friday morning because Tay has no school due to Veteran's Day. Ha! I started out my day with 1/4 tank of gas so I headed to the Chevron station only to find it surrounded by yellow tape. So I headed to the "on the way to the freeway on ramp kind of but really out of the way" Chevron only to discover it fenced off getting new tanks. I decided to take my chances and get gas further down the road. As soon as I got on the freeway I saw the Amber Alert sign flash a message that there was an accident on the 15 North and to expect long delays. Well, I had long delays long before then. I get off the 805 onto the 15 and then get off the freeway to get gas, only to discover that the street lights are out and traffic is willy nilly all over the major intersection. I make it to the gas station, get gas and get back on the road. Or so I thought. Well, I get near the on ramp only to discover it is a right hand on ramp and I am in the far left lane and the Dodge truck coming at me was just rear ended by the silver focus behind him. And the cop is blocking my lane to get to them. I drive up to Murphy Canyon, turn around and I finally get back on the freeway about 30 minutes after getting gas. All is going well at this point. The freeway is moving and all is going well. Or so I thought. I get to Miramar only to discover that the freeway is stopped due to the accident the sign had warned me about. They were correct when they said a long delay. I sat for over an hour before being able to cut over 3 lanes and take a carpool detour. After that I thought we would be okay, we stopped at North County for lunch at McDonalds and ran into Gap to return a pair of jeans. I should have just kept on driving. We hit so much more traffic turning a 2 1/2 hour drive into an almost 5 hour road trip. The time spent up there was perfect, we had a great time. We did have a bit of heavy traffic coming back but nowhere near as bad as Friday. When we got home we discovered someone had been in the apartment while we were gone. The fire alarms are laying on the dining room table. Oh, and the carpet in the hallway in front of my bedroom is wet. As to what happened while we were away... your guess is as good as mine. If I manage to put the pieces of this puzzle together I will let you know.

Military news

2006-11-09T17:16:00.001-08:00

As much as I rant about the military I don't think it is all bad. This makes me very happy. Friends and I have talked about this and I feel pretty safe in saying that we are all in agreement that this is what needs to happen. I believe that the Army did the right thing by not accepting a commission resignation from Watada. Did this guy think that he was going to join the military and pick and choose what he wanted to do? Did he think everyday was going to be sunshine and roses? The military doesn't work that way, it never has, never will.

When you join the military you are basically signing your life away for at least 8 years. They will use you when they need to and that is their right. You signed up for this, you basically agreed to all of this when you signed your contract.

On one hand I think good for you, Watada, you do what you think is right. On the other hand I think you signed up for this. You gave your allegiance to this country, this government and said that you would do what they think is right. You can't not do something because you disagree. Basically I feel that if you sign up you need to suck it up, fulfill your commitment and get over it.

Oh, and if I managed to piss you off please keep in mind that this is my soapbox and that it is my name up in the URL not yours.

Running Amuck

2006-11-09T10:25:00.000-08:00

I have this new pastime. Running or walking, really depends how I feel and how patient Bai is going to be. I don't have time to go to the gym and it just plain costs too much. I would have to pay for a membership and babysitting fees for the child. Plus I don't always have the car. We do have a Curves within walking distance but... meh. There are a couple of ups and downs to this new hobby.

First the ups. It is an hour, hour and a half in the morning that I don't have to entertain the child. She sits in her stroller with her leapster, a bag of grapes and a water bottle and is content. It is quiet time for me, I either have my MP3 player on or I have tuned out the world (Bai has to wave her arm to get my attention). Morgan Hill is very nice to run down, it is shaded and quiet, just perfect. The best part, it makes me tired. By 9 PM I am ready for bed. Those of you who know me know that I don't sleep well. I typically get between 3 and 5 hours a night. Lately I have been in bed around 10ish and actually asleep shortly after instead of laying there awake for hours.

Then there are the downs. Bai is always impatient and wants to stop before I do. I have won all of these arguments so far. This is my time, I beg, I plead and she must realize I am desperate and she gives in. I have discovered that my running shoes hurt my heels, I bought these shoes for running the trails on Hickam in Hawaii. Hence, they are trail shoes. I am running on concrete, huge difference. Must remedy this. My Champion sports bra sucks ass, the Nike one is so much better. The biggest down, Morgan Hill sucks to come back up. The "No Wheelchair, Steep Grade" sign should have clued me in, I still run it everyday (glutton for punishment).

Running isn't exactly new to me, I ran in high school before having the screws removed from my knee (sucked too, because I didn't work up the courage to go out for track until my senior year and then I wound up sitting out the season due to recovery). My partner was a dirtbag but he was a great running buddy, and he was stupid fast. He was a sprinter and I was distance, we paired together out of the need to push each other out of our comfort zone and boy did we. I used to sporadically run the trails on Hickam but then I discovered that shopping was more fun. This time I vow to stick with it. Shopping is still more fun, but we are trying to save, save, save for our upcoming move so I will be running instead of shopping. Think of me while you are perusing Gap and drinking your Mint White Chocolate Mocha from Seattle's Best.