Oh man, here we go again. Blogging during the wee hours of the morning when normal people are sleeping. But then again, I DID test at less than 50% normal........
My baby girl Kendall is on a mission to give me gray hair. Her favorite phrases have been "No thanks!!!" and "Not really!!". Now granted, at least the girl is showing manners, but she uses these phrases, usually with an emphatic waving of her hands, for everything. For instance, she has gone on a clothing strike, which, for a three year old, is not unusual and something I'm willing to run with as long as we don't have to be anywhere besides home. But for the past few school days I've had to drop Maggie off at Glenwood instead of walking her in for the simple reason that Kendall, clad in maybe the underwear I wrestled onto her, was not decent enough to leave the car. She'll let me dress her without a fight once we're at GSPS, the stinker. Again, I really wasn't that bothered by this other than the fact that Maggie was getting shortchanged in the mornings, as she loves me to walk her into her classroom. The main problem with Kendall's nakedness at home is that apparently, for her wearing clothing is a reminder that when she has to pee she needs to do it on the potty. If she doesn't have clothes on apparently she decided to adopt the 'squat and go wherever' philosophy, especially in her own room. As a result, I feel like I'm the owner of a LARGE puppy in need of being housebroken. What the heck am I supposed to do here?? Rub her nose in it and tell her 'Bad girl!! Bad girl!!'?? I'm telling you, the act of getting her in clothes, which seems to stop this behavior, can require a full-body wrestling match. I'm frustrated and feeling low on the scale of good mommyhood. I love this child more than life and yet she can push my buttons like an old pro. Frustrated because there are so many times I feel like I suck at balancing the work-housecare-childcare-spousecare demands on my time. And yet I know I should be thankful that I have these stresses, because it means I have a home, healthy children, and a hubby I love who accepts me for the weirdo I am. Just keep swimming..........right??
Shout out to Dawn, my increasingly skinny, less-lumpy-jawed friend. BTW, my text about the cookie eating was more of a confessional than an act of bragging. But it occurred to me that when I made the 'won't eat another cookie 'til we can share one' promise a week ago you may have been under the influence of Lortab. I texted you because I felt bad for inadvertantly breaking that promise and wanted to fess up, even if you'd never have known otherwise. Not to rub it in. Honest!!!
Got to get to bed, as I have, after stepping on the scale yesterday, a renewed vow to exercise and eat better. Don't even really care about the weight, just how my clothes aren't fitting as well as they did about 6 months ago. Gotta be all those powdered donuts Jeff & I get on our tailgating weekends in Norman. Or at least that was a part of it.......wish me luck!!
Monday, November 27, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Hey they're what made Krispy Kreme famous, so don't knock 'em!!!!
| You Are a Glazed Donut |
 Okay, you know that you're plain - and you're cool with that. You prefer not to let anything distract from your sweetness. Your appeal is understated yet universal. Everyone dig you. And in a pinch, you'll probably get eaten. |
Insomniatic ramblings........
One: Potty trainer
Go Kendall Rae!!! My baby girl is firmly on the road to potty training. I haven't had her in a pull-up (except at night) in over a week. She is down to maybe one accident a day. Wooo hooo!!!!!
Two: Random kid-show observations
So this past Saturday morning, as Jeff & I were killing time in the 'ole RV, we ended up watching the Disney show "That's So Raven." (needless to say we hadn't figured out the Dish and were stuck with a very limited number of channels). Now I've come across this show while flipping channels but I've never really watched it. I have to say I was totally amazed, and not in a good way. Every single white character on this show played a person who was an absolute idiot/airhead/dumbass/you name it. I watched in amazement as it dawned on me that if the roles were switched between white & African American actors, the show never would have seen the light of day because it would have been classified as completely racist. Yet this show is a hit and seems to be well accepted by the public. Talk about a double-standard.
Three: Premature senility???
I'm a bit worried about me. I'm only 33 and I cannot keep up with what should be important things to keep up with. Example: Jeff needed the title to the Vette. Oh sure, you think, that's an easy one because like a responsible person you keep documents like that in a special place, like a safety deposit box, right?? Well, I used to do that but somewhere along the way I guess I got distracted and the title didn't make it there. I checked my usual places and found nada. Zilch. And we're not talking about just the Vette title, but ALL of them (Excursion, BMW, Vette, RV, F-250). What the heck happened that I didn't take care of something like that, huh??? After tearing the house apart, I did manage to come up with three of the five, but the other two, including the Vette, are in that mysterious place in my life that random things get sucked into and disappear, kind of like my own personal black hole. This worries me. I mean, if I'm like this now, what does the future hold??? Am I going to have to have one of those little electronic tags attached to all my stuff that beeps when I press the master receiver button (think "Along Came Polly" here)?? At the rate I'm going I'll probably loose the stupid receiver. Then what'll I do??? Luckily getting a replacement title isn't a huge deal, and I've vowed that when the two new titles come into my possession they're going straight into the safe with the other three, but it's the point. Arrrrrggggghhhhhh. Not good!!!!
Four: ''Hearts" to Dawn from your paranoid friend!!! Maggie would LOVE to have another friend's little brother/sister to play with, and it'll keep me from explaining to her that, come Friday, her daddy will be fixed and it just ain't happenin' again in this family!!!!
So it's nearly three a.m. now and I'm going back to bed. See ya later.
Go Kendall Rae!!! My baby girl is firmly on the road to potty training. I haven't had her in a pull-up (except at night) in over a week. She is down to maybe one accident a day. Wooo hooo!!!!!
Two: Random kid-show observations
So this past Saturday morning, as Jeff & I were killing time in the 'ole RV, we ended up watching the Disney show "That's So Raven." (needless to say we hadn't figured out the Dish and were stuck with a very limited number of channels). Now I've come across this show while flipping channels but I've never really watched it. I have to say I was totally amazed, and not in a good way. Every single white character on this show played a person who was an absolute idiot/airhead/dumbass/you name it. I watched in amazement as it dawned on me that if the roles were switched between white & African American actors, the show never would have seen the light of day because it would have been classified as completely racist. Yet this show is a hit and seems to be well accepted by the public. Talk about a double-standard.
Three: Premature senility???
I'm a bit worried about me. I'm only 33 and I cannot keep up with what should be important things to keep up with. Example: Jeff needed the title to the Vette. Oh sure, you think, that's an easy one because like a responsible person you keep documents like that in a special place, like a safety deposit box, right?? Well, I used to do that but somewhere along the way I guess I got distracted and the title didn't make it there. I checked my usual places and found nada. Zilch. And we're not talking about just the Vette title, but ALL of them (Excursion, BMW, Vette, RV, F-250). What the heck happened that I didn't take care of something like that, huh??? After tearing the house apart, I did manage to come up with three of the five, but the other two, including the Vette, are in that mysterious place in my life that random things get sucked into and disappear, kind of like my own personal black hole. This worries me. I mean, if I'm like this now, what does the future hold??? Am I going to have to have one of those little electronic tags attached to all my stuff that beeps when I press the master receiver button (think "Along Came Polly" here)?? At the rate I'm going I'll probably loose the stupid receiver. Then what'll I do??? Luckily getting a replacement title isn't a huge deal, and I've vowed that when the two new titles come into my possession they're going straight into the safe with the other three, but it's the point. Arrrrrggggghhhhhh. Not good!!!!
Four: ''Hearts" to Dawn from your paranoid friend!!! Maggie would LOVE to have another friend's little brother/sister to play with, and it'll keep me from explaining to her that, come Friday, her daddy will be fixed and it just ain't happenin' again in this family!!!!
So it's nearly three a.m. now and I'm going back to bed. See ya later.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
You Never Know With Me.........
| You Are 50% Weird |
 Normal enough to know that you're weird... But too damn weird to do anything about it! |
Monday, September 11, 2006
Reflections on 9-11.......
Like most people, today my thoughts have been about that sad, sad day five years ago. I woke up early and decided to lounge in bed while I watched GMA; Maggie was only 8 months old and usually slept until at least 9:00 am so I could get away with it. Suddenly they broke into an interview to say there'd been an explosion at the World Trade Center, but at that point they didn't know what caused it. They went live to the scene, discussing possible scenarios, when you see a plane come into view. Just as you're thinking "That's strange....." yet still assuming it'll appear on the other side of the towers, you see the explosion. I sat there in shock while my thoughts raced in my head. I called my mom and got her voice mail. My message surely sounded frantic and she called me back as soon as she'd come in from watering her outside plants. Shock. Dismay. Fear. Unsettled. Uncertain of anything anymore. I remember I decided to take a shower before Maggie woke up and came out just in time to see the first tower collapse. I cursed the people who deliberately caused this. Angrier and angrier I got. How dare they!! Then I heard my sweet baby girl babbling in her crib. As I went to get her she gave me one of those gummy smiles only babies can look cute with, and suddenly I broke down crying. As I fed her breakfast, I watched the second tower fall and thought 'Oh Lord, what is happening??!! This kind of stuff doesn't happen here!!!". I placed a call to Mercy Heart Hospital, where Jeff's aunt was scheduled for surgery that morning, to make sure she wasn't near a television. Luckily the nurses were on the ball and managed to isolate the patients from the relentless coverage of the disaster. I got to speak with Jeff when I went to give him something he needed at work and had to explain to him that the towers were gone. "What do you mean 'gone'??" he said with disbelief. "They both collapsed, honey. They're gone.". Shock on his face, but after a hug he had to compose himself for another case. Rumors were rampant that there were still planes that were unaccounted for and where they might attack next. Then it was home for me & Maggie, to sit in our house and wonder what came next as I guiltily searched the TV for a channel displaying anything but that day's news. That night I was scared of the dark and had to have every light on in the house. Over the next few days, as the news replayed the disaster as well as the personal stories of heroes, survivors and of those left behind to grieve, I found myself wondering how life could ever be the same as 'before' and how life would be in this new era the terrorists had forced on us. We'd always talked of having two kids, but would we want to bring another child into this world when we were so uncertain what it was going to be like?? Did we have to worry, with several bases in the same state, would we be targeted next?? Should we trust anything we received in the mail?? Why do they hate us so much?? What drives them to be so willing to die?? So many questions; so much uncertainty; so many fears.
I'll be the first to admit I never want to experience that kind of uncertainty again; I doubt any sane person would. I think I still feel guilt for the distance, physically & emotionally, that is between me and those who experienced it firsthand, but I'm also greatful for the isolation it seems to give us. I pray for those who lost so much that day, for the loss of innocence & trust, and for the future of our country. I also pray that those who have such hatred in their hearts somehow discover the God I believe in and love, that they may see He is not vengeful and that vengeful acts don't secure you a higher place in Heaven. I pray for those putting their lives on the line on the other side of the world in the belief that freedom is good, not evil.
Hopefully we've all learned from that terrible day, that mistakes were probably made, and that we can use them for preventing anything similar in the future. I'm proud of my country and hope you are, too.
Never forget.
I'll be the first to admit I never want to experience that kind of uncertainty again; I doubt any sane person would. I think I still feel guilt for the distance, physically & emotionally, that is between me and those who experienced it firsthand, but I'm also greatful for the isolation it seems to give us. I pray for those who lost so much that day, for the loss of innocence & trust, and for the future of our country. I also pray that those who have such hatred in their hearts somehow discover the God I believe in and love, that they may see He is not vengeful and that vengeful acts don't secure you a higher place in Heaven. I pray for those putting their lives on the line on the other side of the world in the belief that freedom is good, not evil.
Hopefully we've all learned from that terrible day, that mistakes were probably made, and that we can use them for preventing anything similar in the future. I'm proud of my country and hope you are, too.
Never forget.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Honest, I just really like snow............
| Your Hidden Talent |
 You're super sensitive and easily able to understand situations. You tend to solve complex problems in a flash, without needing a lot of facts. Decision making is easy for you. You have killer intuition. The right path is always clear, and you're a bit of a visionary. |
Yet again, go figure........
| You Should Get a PhD in Science (like chemistry, math, or engineering) |
 You're both smart and innovative when it comes to ideas. Maybe you'll find a cure for cancer - or develop the latest underground drug. |
Thursday, August 31, 2006
GSPS Starts in 5 days. Can I get an AMEN!!!!????
Yes I'm still alive and yes we've all survived the summer. Maggie is almost finished with her second week of big-girl-kindergarten and seems to like her class and teacher. She's not very open with the details of her day, but all I can do is keep trying, and as long as she seems happy I'm not going to worry. The biggest surprise so far has been having to sign an emergancy transfer for her because apparently our address is considered part of the Byng school district. Who knew??
Kendall, on the other hand, has been an absolute pill since she lost her built-in playmate to Glenwood. She fights me at wake up, dressing, drop-off, lunchtime, playtime, worktime, pick-up, bedtime, etc. The fourth day of school, last Wednesday, the principal had to take Maggie to her class because Kendall was in the middle of a you-can-make-me-do-it-when-I-don't-want-to-but-I-sure-as-hell-won't-be-happy-about-it fit and I'm pretty sure her screams reached every nook and cranny of the school. She's not a bad kid, I think she's jealous of this strange place that takes her sister away from her 5 days a week while she's left at home. Patience, I keep telling myself, patience.
I seem to be in the midst of a subconcious masochistic vandetta aimed at the left side of my body. Last Wednesday, the day of Kendall's mega-loud tantrum, I was messing with my hair as I headed through a door. Sadly enough for my elbow, I didnt' account for the extra width and knocked into the corner of the door frame with enough force to see stars and be nauseaus enough that I was sweating like a dog. I had to lay down for 10 minutes before it passed. No fracture, just a busted bursa. Just as the arm is feeling better, I'm going to pick up Maggie from school on Monday and my left ankle rolls outward and pops, knocking me & Kendall to the ground. Kendall was fine once I fixed the cover on her Leapster, and I was just shaking my head at myself thinking 'you have GOT to be kidding me!!!!'. What kind of clutz am I?? I'm happy to report that the swelling is almost gone and the bruising is not bad at all, so I should be running again by next Tuesday. Have I mentioned that's the first day of GSPS??!!!
We're headed to Norman tomorrow for a weekend of tailgating and Sooner Football. Wish them (and us) luck!!!!
Kendall, on the other hand, has been an absolute pill since she lost her built-in playmate to Glenwood. She fights me at wake up, dressing, drop-off, lunchtime, playtime, worktime, pick-up, bedtime, etc. The fourth day of school, last Wednesday, the principal had to take Maggie to her class because Kendall was in the middle of a you-can-make-me-do-it-when-I-don't-want-to-but-I-sure-as-hell-won't-be-happy-about-it fit and I'm pretty sure her screams reached every nook and cranny of the school. She's not a bad kid, I think she's jealous of this strange place that takes her sister away from her 5 days a week while she's left at home. Patience, I keep telling myself, patience.
I seem to be in the midst of a subconcious masochistic vandetta aimed at the left side of my body. Last Wednesday, the day of Kendall's mega-loud tantrum, I was messing with my hair as I headed through a door. Sadly enough for my elbow, I didnt' account for the extra width and knocked into the corner of the door frame with enough force to see stars and be nauseaus enough that I was sweating like a dog. I had to lay down for 10 minutes before it passed. No fracture, just a busted bursa. Just as the arm is feeling better, I'm going to pick up Maggie from school on Monday and my left ankle rolls outward and pops, knocking me & Kendall to the ground. Kendall was fine once I fixed the cover on her Leapster, and I was just shaking my head at myself thinking 'you have GOT to be kidding me!!!!'. What kind of clutz am I?? I'm happy to report that the swelling is almost gone and the bruising is not bad at all, so I should be running again by next Tuesday. Have I mentioned that's the first day of GSPS??!!!
We're headed to Norman tomorrow for a weekend of tailgating and Sooner Football. Wish them (and us) luck!!!!
Friday, July 28, 2006
Confirmation of my nerdiness......
| You Passed 8th Grade Science |
 |
Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?
I'll never go hungry in OK and Weems: watch out!!!
| Your Monster Profile |
 Brutal Demon You Feast On: Armadillos You Lurk Around In: Sewers You Especially Like to Torment: Dentists |
Thursday, July 20, 2006
OK, OK, OK; I'll do a non-Blogthing blog for once!!!
First of all a big shout out to my friend Kim D. who, no matter where the heck we were, always managed to see somebody from Muskogee. Congrats on the engagement, girl!!!! I can't wait to see you again!!!
Second, I am very proud to say that as of late this afternoon my office only has one computer and thus one billing system running. For anybody who didn't know (must live on another planet) I switched billing software late last year in an attempt to find a more cost effective and user-friendly system. But because the old system wasn't friendly enough to share it's info with the new one I've been running both of them concurrently, with two separate computers, hoping I'd be able to last long enough to clear all the claims I'd already sent out on the old system. Seven and a half months into this and I finally managed to clear out about 98% of the old stuff; the other 2% is stuff I can deal with in the new system. Can I get a whoop whoop!!!!!
I realized that this summer has gone by so fast that I haven't even kept a countdown to the first day of school like I did last year. I think that's due to the billing stuff and the fact that my kids take maybe a nap each per week and we've been involved in swimming lessons, VBS, and lots of pool time at the club. Maggie, the girl who wouldn't even get her face in the water a few months ago is now jumping in, touching the bottom, and actually swimming. Yes it's all happening in the shallow end, but it's a huge improvement for her and I'm a proud mama just watching her!!! Kendall, who still prefers being towed around by anybody who will take her in the water, is actually getting a stroke that resembles a doggy paddle but she still has to be reminded to kick her feet. My babies are growing up so fast it kills me!!!
We all survived our first real vacation as a family, and we can honestly say we had a great time in Branson, MO. So many firsts for the girls: fishing, water parks, Silver Dollar City, Butterfly Palace, wildlife museums, Titanic museum, LOTS of time with their Mommy & Daddy. The RV worked out great, although it was nice to come home to all this space!!! An RV is not the best place to be when you have a bout of insomnia; I usually get up and do something until I'm sleepy again but in an RV there's nowhere to go!!! Luckily that only happened on 2 nights. I am firmly convinced, however, that after an 8 day trip with the fam in contstant company I could really use some alone time, or at least some adult time!!! Something to ease me back into the daily grind, because I've been dragging this week. My stamina has been down on my morning runs and I don't know if it's the 10 day layoff, the heat, the humidity, the asthma & allergies, or a combination of them all. I hope it goes away soon!!!
Speaking of heat: all I have to say about it is WTF???!!! I can't remember a string of days like this, especially in July. The temp gauge on my truck has read as high as 106, and that was coming straight out of my garage and watching it climb, not even sitting in the sun! Seriously guys, this is crazy. So take care, drink lots of water, and stay cool. You know the K Hoo will!!!
Second, I am very proud to say that as of late this afternoon my office only has one computer and thus one billing system running. For anybody who didn't know (must live on another planet) I switched billing software late last year in an attempt to find a more cost effective and user-friendly system. But because the old system wasn't friendly enough to share it's info with the new one I've been running both of them concurrently, with two separate computers, hoping I'd be able to last long enough to clear all the claims I'd already sent out on the old system. Seven and a half months into this and I finally managed to clear out about 98% of the old stuff; the other 2% is stuff I can deal with in the new system. Can I get a whoop whoop!!!!!
I realized that this summer has gone by so fast that I haven't even kept a countdown to the first day of school like I did last year. I think that's due to the billing stuff and the fact that my kids take maybe a nap each per week and we've been involved in swimming lessons, VBS, and lots of pool time at the club. Maggie, the girl who wouldn't even get her face in the water a few months ago is now jumping in, touching the bottom, and actually swimming. Yes it's all happening in the shallow end, but it's a huge improvement for her and I'm a proud mama just watching her!!! Kendall, who still prefers being towed around by anybody who will take her in the water, is actually getting a stroke that resembles a doggy paddle but she still has to be reminded to kick her feet. My babies are growing up so fast it kills me!!!
We all survived our first real vacation as a family, and we can honestly say we had a great time in Branson, MO. So many firsts for the girls: fishing, water parks, Silver Dollar City, Butterfly Palace, wildlife museums, Titanic museum, LOTS of time with their Mommy & Daddy. The RV worked out great, although it was nice to come home to all this space!!! An RV is not the best place to be when you have a bout of insomnia; I usually get up and do something until I'm sleepy again but in an RV there's nowhere to go!!! Luckily that only happened on 2 nights. I am firmly convinced, however, that after an 8 day trip with the fam in contstant company I could really use some alone time, or at least some adult time!!! Something to ease me back into the daily grind, because I've been dragging this week. My stamina has been down on my morning runs and I don't know if it's the 10 day layoff, the heat, the humidity, the asthma & allergies, or a combination of them all. I hope it goes away soon!!!
Speaking of heat: all I have to say about it is WTF???!!! I can't remember a string of days like this, especially in July. The temp gauge on my truck has read as high as 106, and that was coming straight out of my garage and watching it climb, not even sitting in the sun! Seriously guys, this is crazy. So take care, drink lots of water, and stay cool. You know the K Hoo will!!!
Who, me???
| You're Totally Sarcastic |
 You sarcastic? Never! You're as sweet as a baby bunny. Seriously, though, you have a sharp tongue - and you aren't afraid to use it. And if people are too wimpy to deal with your attitutde, then too bad. So sad. |
Friday, June 30, 2006
With a socialite name like that, who wouldn't want me at their party?? As the live music??
| Kimberly Jo Hood's Aliases |
 Your movie star name: Chips Jacob Your fashion designer name is Kimberly Venice Your socialite name is Duck Dallas Your fly girl / guy name is K Hoo Your detective name is Dog Piedmont Your barfly name is Fruit Beer Your soap opera name is Jo Sharon Lane Your rock star name is Chocolate Car Your Star Wars name is Kimcoo Hoojef Your punk rock band name is The Tired Furbies |
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Thursday, June 15, 2006
I'm not THAT bad. Really........
| You Should Drive a Ford Shelby Mustang Cobra |
 You have an extreme need for speed, even when you're not in a hurry. And while your flying by, you don't want to look like every other car on the road! |
Figures; I have this recipie memorized.........
| You Are a Chocolate Chip Cookie |
 Traditional and conservative, most people find you comforting. You're friendly and easy to get to know. This makes you very popular - without even trying! |
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Hey I thought he was HOT in the 80's...........
Your Famous Blogger Twin is Wil Wheaton |
 You're a friendly, funny guy (or girl) next door With more than a touch of geekiness |
Boy this makes me sound good!!!!!
| Your Birthdate: February 6 |
 You tend to be a the rock in relationships - people depend on you. Thoughtful and caring, you often put others needs first. You aren't content to help those you know... you want to give to the world. An idealist, you strive for positive change and dream about how much better things could be. Your strength: Your intuition Your weakness: You put yourself last Your power color: Rose Your power symbol: Cloud Your power month: June |
Friday, June 02, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
This pretty much sums it up, especially the last part.....
| Your Stress Level is: 54% |
 You are somewhat prone to stress, especially when life gets hard. When things are good, you resist stressing over little problems. But when things are difficult, you tend to freak out and find it hard to calm down. |
Doin' the pigeon.........
| You Are Bert |
 Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others |
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
She's Finally at Peace......
You all have heard me talk about Angie, who has been battling ovarian cancer for several years. She died on Monday night and although I don't know the details I can be sure that she is at peace and her soul is with the Lord. Her funeral is Thursday afternoon at 2:00 pm at our church and will probably be very crowded, a testament to Angie's spirit and the blessing she was to get to know as a friend, if only for a short period of time. It really brings all this fuss over the dance recital into perspective for me, the one who stresses out over every detail of it. Keep her family in your prayers, especially her daughter, that they can know she's at peace and can move on with their lives as she would want them to.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Don't know how well this really describes me, but it IS U2 so it can't be that bad.......
| Your Theme Song is Beautiful Day by U2 |
 "Sky falls, you feel like It's a beautiful day Don't let it get away" You see the beauty in life, especially in ordinary everyday moments. And if you're feeling down, even that seems a little beautiful too. |
| Your Five Factor Personality Profile |
 Extroversion: You have low extroversion. You are quiet and reserved in most social situations. A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you. You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people. Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You're generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have medium agreeableness. You're generally a friendly and trusting person. But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism. You get along well with others, as long as they play fair. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism. You are very emotionally stable and mentally together. Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly. Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is low. You're a pretty conservative person, and you favor what's socially acceptable. You think that change for novelty's sake is a very bad idea. While some may see this as boring, many see you as dependable and wise. |
Other than the neroticism (remember I identify most with Pablo here) I think this pretty much describes me. What do you think????
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Ramblings of an insomniac......
AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!! I finally slept through the night on Friday for the first time in over a month and was so excited. So how come I'm once again blogging during the wee hours of the morning??? I thought I was through with this crap! Some possible reasons:
1. Maggie, my girl who used to sleep like the dead, has decided she's scared of thunder. So we had a guest in our bed for about 2 hours while the latest storm rumbled through. Anybody who has attempted to sleep with a child in their bed knows how impossible that is. Amazing the effect a 35 pound child can have on two people in a king-sized bed.
2. I, in a moment of insanity (there are so many), planned a birthday party/cookout in honor of my baby girl turning three. No biggie except our backyard is weed city, I'm behind on my office work dealing with the end-of-the-month paperwork overload, Jeff is being held captive by VV (didn't get home until 11:00 pm and he wasn't even on-call), Maggie has extended rehearsals for the recital next week, the OK medical license board decided we needed to be audited for his CME credits, we won't be home for most of the day before the party, and the day of I've got a bell choir concert at church and have to be there at 8:15 for rehearsals. WTF was I thinking???? Good thing those coming love me enough to embrace the chaos that goes with me!!! Martha Stewart I definitely am not, but we figure enough alcohol will keep anybody from noticing...
3. The dance recital is May 11. Now at least I've been through it once and have some idea what lies ahead in the next 8 days, but it isn't conducive (sp??) to decent sleep. Plus Maggie is balking at going and the only way to get her there is to remind her the end product involves dressing up and getting to wear makeup.
4. This is Meals-on-Wheels week for the Alliance. I don't really mind doing it other than it just cuts my day in half. You just start to get into your office groove and have to leave for an hour. It's a good program and I feel good when I participate, but you know how it goes......
All that aside, there have been some good things going on in the Hood household. First of all, Jeff loved the pictures and was totally surprised that I pulled it off without him knowing. Score!!!!! Second, we became the proud owners of a 39 foot class A motorhome last Friday (think 'bus' and you get the picture). Sure Jeff got the trial by fire by driving it for the first time on I-35, in construction with the concrete barriers on either side, in a thunderstorm, but he's a quick learner and did fine. We spent most of the weekend hanging out in it, with all the slides and awnings out, in our driveway. Excuse me, but do I have a big 'L' on my forehead??? (for some blondes out there, that stands for 'LOSER'). Doesn't matter 'cause we all had fun, except for the moment Kendall whacked her head on the corner of one of the slides, but she's fine. We saw the RV movie the next night, and took lots of mental notes of what NOT to do on our first family trip. We are working on OU tickets for next season and plan to be in Norman for all the home games. Talk about a party rig!!!!
As my eyes get heavy, I'll leave it at that for this morning. See ya later!!!!!
1. Maggie, my girl who used to sleep like the dead, has decided she's scared of thunder. So we had a guest in our bed for about 2 hours while the latest storm rumbled through. Anybody who has attempted to sleep with a child in their bed knows how impossible that is. Amazing the effect a 35 pound child can have on two people in a king-sized bed.
2. I, in a moment of insanity (there are so many), planned a birthday party/cookout in honor of my baby girl turning three. No biggie except our backyard is weed city, I'm behind on my office work dealing with the end-of-the-month paperwork overload, Jeff is being held captive by VV (didn't get home until 11:00 pm and he wasn't even on-call), Maggie has extended rehearsals for the recital next week, the OK medical license board decided we needed to be audited for his CME credits, we won't be home for most of the day before the party, and the day of I've got a bell choir concert at church and have to be there at 8:15 for rehearsals. WTF was I thinking???? Good thing those coming love me enough to embrace the chaos that goes with me!!! Martha Stewart I definitely am not, but we figure enough alcohol will keep anybody from noticing...
3. The dance recital is May 11. Now at least I've been through it once and have some idea what lies ahead in the next 8 days, but it isn't conducive (sp??) to decent sleep. Plus Maggie is balking at going and the only way to get her there is to remind her the end product involves dressing up and getting to wear makeup.
4. This is Meals-on-Wheels week for the Alliance. I don't really mind doing it other than it just cuts my day in half. You just start to get into your office groove and have to leave for an hour. It's a good program and I feel good when I participate, but you know how it goes......
All that aside, there have been some good things going on in the Hood household. First of all, Jeff loved the pictures and was totally surprised that I pulled it off without him knowing. Score!!!!! Second, we became the proud owners of a 39 foot class A motorhome last Friday (think 'bus' and you get the picture). Sure Jeff got the trial by fire by driving it for the first time on I-35, in construction with the concrete barriers on either side, in a thunderstorm, but he's a quick learner and did fine. We spent most of the weekend hanging out in it, with all the slides and awnings out, in our driveway. Excuse me, but do I have a big 'L' on my forehead??? (for some blondes out there, that stands for 'LOSER'). Doesn't matter 'cause we all had fun, except for the moment Kendall whacked her head on the corner of one of the slides, but she's fine. We saw the RV movie the next night, and took lots of mental notes of what NOT to do on our first family trip. We are working on OU tickets for next season and plan to be in Norman for all the home games. Talk about a party rig!!!!
As my eyes get heavy, I'll leave it at that for this morning. See ya later!!!!!
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Feeling WINE-y, But In a GOOD Way!!!
So I am totally looking forward to the wine tasting tonight!! It is kind of sad that my social life is so pitiful that I've been looking forward to this for weeks, but what can I say? Two kids with a total age of less than eight, a doctor hubby, and a home office to work in and attempt to keep clean pretty much speaks for all my time. The last time the hubby & I were seen in public together without the kids was Lad's birthday party. Before that?? You'd have to go back to early March and run into us in Dallas on the anniversary weekend. For the people I know are going, I know we aren't the only people who need a night out, so lets make the most of it, OK??!! I say let's head to the club afterwords to use up some of our meal allowance on some dinner!!! Who's with me??
Red, red wine......
Red, red wine......
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
In the Jungle, The Mighty Jungle, The Lion Sleeps Tonight......
So since my nightly wake-up time has moved to about 1:30, I've been spending more and more quality time learning useless facts by the light of the computer screen. Coolquiz.com has just about every type of quiz you can think of, and they have a whole slew of 'Friends' quizzes. This was the answer to one of the questions I saw yesterday and it's been stuck in my head ever since. I've decided to use my time at night to bone up on my Friends trivia in the event I ever get to play the game. So watch out!!!! My other fave, which shows my geekiness, would be the science quiz. Other than the physics questions I do pretty darn well plus I've actually learned some stuff. Jeopardy, here I come!!
My other new habit is the re-discovery of ebay (thanks Dawn!!). I already have one Michael Stars tee on the way ($12.00 baby!!) and have bids on three others. Probably not the best way to spend my time, but at least it's on sale, right???
I'm sorry to hear my bitchiness from the recent past has spread to others. I hate those days when my fuse is so short that even totally inanimate objects can make me see red. Annoying people?? Forget about it!!! It just takes so much out of you when that mood hits; I really hope it doesn't last too long for anybody. If so, I can always serenade you with a variety of songs to focus your attention elsewhere.
GSPS enrollment was a bit of a bummer when it hit me that I only had to enroll one this time. My Maggs will be in big-girl school next August. I never thought I'd get all mushy over this, but it's been so nice to have her at our church preschool, among people I totally trust, in a class with only 8 other kids this year. I have nothing against public school; it's the path I took as a kid and I think I turned out OK. There's just so much I know she's going to be exposed to and it just makes me nervous. She'll be just fine; I'm the one who'll be a nervous wreck!! So be ready to hear me blubber in a few months!
I am soooooo looking forward to this weekend. Wine tasting and adult prom. Can't beat that!!! I'm getting my hair done and everything, so don't try and touch it Saturday 'cause you might not be able to get your hand out!! My only concern is that my dress will slip off my shoulder, so if I have a Tara Reid moment please promise you'll tell me!!!!!!
Sorry for the randomness of the post. Gotta do something with my time........See ya later!
My other new habit is the re-discovery of ebay (thanks Dawn!!). I already have one Michael Stars tee on the way ($12.00 baby!!) and have bids on three others. Probably not the best way to spend my time, but at least it's on sale, right???
I'm sorry to hear my bitchiness from the recent past has spread to others. I hate those days when my fuse is so short that even totally inanimate objects can make me see red. Annoying people?? Forget about it!!! It just takes so much out of you when that mood hits; I really hope it doesn't last too long for anybody. If so, I can always serenade you with a variety of songs to focus your attention elsewhere.
GSPS enrollment was a bit of a bummer when it hit me that I only had to enroll one this time. My Maggs will be in big-girl school next August. I never thought I'd get all mushy over this, but it's been so nice to have her at our church preschool, among people I totally trust, in a class with only 8 other kids this year. I have nothing against public school; it's the path I took as a kid and I think I turned out OK. There's just so much I know she's going to be exposed to and it just makes me nervous. She'll be just fine; I'm the one who'll be a nervous wreck!! So be ready to hear me blubber in a few months!
I am soooooo looking forward to this weekend. Wine tasting and adult prom. Can't beat that!!! I'm getting my hair done and everything, so don't try and touch it Saturday 'cause you might not be able to get your hand out!! My only concern is that my dress will slip off my shoulder, so if I have a Tara Reid moment please promise you'll tell me!!!!!!
Sorry for the randomness of the post. Gotta do something with my time........See ya later!
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Unwanted Night Owl Tendencies.......
Oh I was so on my way to sleeping through the night, but Kendall randomly woke me up at 2:45 am. Of course she's back asleep like everybody else while I'm back at the computer catching up on news and checking blogs. For whatever reason I go through periods of semi-insomnia where I manage to fall asleep pretty easily but wake up (or am awakened) at roughly the same time every night. The time right now for me seems to be 2:30 am. I've learned through experience that I can toss & turn in bed until just before it's time to get up for the day or I can go ahead and get up for about an hour on the computer and then manage to catch a few more hours of shut-eye. Amazing how that one hour break in your sleep catches up with you during the day, though. I can't really identify the stresser that's bringing this particular cycle on, because I'm actually feeling pretty good about life right now. The girls are still practicing the occasional emotional warfare on me, and after the scene in the park yesterday I can probably blame the sleeplessness on that for now. I just looked at some pics of my adorable nephew living it up in Florida and the whole family seems happy, so I'm really hoping it will be the right move for them. My mom should have gotten home sometime on Tuesday from China, but I don't expect to hear from her until later today.
I am totally looking forward to next week: wine tasting on Thursday and what I'm calling the adult prom on Saturday (school foundation fundraiser). I may be solo at both events, but who cares??!! ;-) I am planning on having a lot of fun with my friends no matter what!!!! Have a good Wednesday everybody!!!!!
I am totally looking forward to next week: wine tasting on Thursday and what I'm calling the adult prom on Saturday (school foundation fundraiser). I may be solo at both events, but who cares??!! ;-) I am planning on having a lot of fun with my friends no matter what!!!! Have a good Wednesday everybody!!!!!
Monday, April 10, 2006
So I'm pleased to announce that the funk I'd found myself in last week seems to have lifted. I think that listening to a fellow mom describe the ordeal she went through when her little boy developed a tumor at the base of his brain was the kick I needed. I had a good cry as she described the 80+ surgeries they went through only to lose him in the end, and I think it all worked to set me back on the right track again. Amazing what a little perspective can do, huh??
It's been a good weekend. Friday was great with the girls and Jeff & I spent Saturday and Sunday working in the yard. Not our pick of activity for the weekend, but we both feel better having made a dent in the yard work that's been staring us in the face for weeks now, and we both are sporting a nice pink glow on our sunburned skin as proof we finally got outdoors for a while. My turn as a Sunday school teacher for our class even went pretty well, although I wouldn't call myself a teacher, more of a discussion leader. The topic was the release of a recent study attempting to quantify the effects, if any, that prayer had in the healing of cardiac patients. It was just a story I came across on my daily Google news run that I thought was interesting enough to keep our class in discussion for about 40 minutes (was late and had to leave early for bells) so I was glad it worked out.
Looking forward to everybody coming home: Dawn (blanking on where she went), Jeri (from Vegas), the girls (from the cruise), and my mom (from China). I want to live vicariously through all their stories without the hassle of travel, customs, sea-sickness, and over-stimulation of the casino. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
That's about all I have to report from my corner of the world. Talk to ya later.
It's been a good weekend. Friday was great with the girls and Jeff & I spent Saturday and Sunday working in the yard. Not our pick of activity for the weekend, but we both feel better having made a dent in the yard work that's been staring us in the face for weeks now, and we both are sporting a nice pink glow on our sunburned skin as proof we finally got outdoors for a while. My turn as a Sunday school teacher for our class even went pretty well, although I wouldn't call myself a teacher, more of a discussion leader. The topic was the release of a recent study attempting to quantify the effects, if any, that prayer had in the healing of cardiac patients. It was just a story I came across on my daily Google news run that I thought was interesting enough to keep our class in discussion for about 40 minutes (was late and had to leave early for bells) so I was glad it worked out.
Looking forward to everybody coming home: Dawn (blanking on where she went), Jeri (from Vegas), the girls (from the cruise), and my mom (from China). I want to live vicariously through all their stories without the hassle of travel, customs, sea-sickness, and over-stimulation of the casino. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
That's about all I have to report from my corner of the world. Talk to ya later.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Hello........My Name is Mrs. Whiiiiiiiineeerrrrrrr......
Man, I'm doing it again and it's still over a month from the dance recital: insomnia and blogging at 3:00 am. I am in a funk and I'm not totally sure where to put the blame; I hate feeling like I'm the constant guest star in my own little pity party. WARNING WARNING: WHINING AHEAD....... Several things I can think of:
1. My brother and sister-in-law suddenly up and moving back to Florida, taking my baby nephew with them, and I didn't get to see him before they left. The Saturday before they leave (the following Wednesday) I get the following e-mail: "Kim, We are leaving this Wednesday. If you guys wanna see Bryce before we head out, Sunday or even Tuesday afternoon might be good. We are packing the POD and won't have much furniture to sit on or anything like that. Let us know. Love ya. Sean. " Now keep in mind, they don't live around the corner from me. To see them works out to be almost a 300 mile round-trip for me, a 5-year old, and an almost 3-year old. Now when I learned they were moving a few weeks earlier I had mentioned the possibility of getting together before they left, but I was thinking along the lines of converging at my mom's house in OKC, which is about a 180 mile round trip for both families. Maybe I was thinking they'd like to see us (especially his nieces) before they left as well??!! Call me sensitive, but my feelings were hurt. The option of even trying to go was taken away by the fact that my baby girl was running a fever and I woke up Sunday morning with a sore throat that turned out to be from a strep infection (that's what Kendall had, too; I'm soooooooo not in the running for Mother of the Year 2006) . So we didn't get to see them and that was the last contact I had from my brother through today i.e. no "Sorry you're sick and we couldn't get together." or even "We all made it to FL safely.". I know he's busy, but damn, I'm his only sibling and I worshipped the boy when we were growing up in the way that only a little sister can. Ouch.
2. Kendall ran a fever for a full week. Jeff & I thought she had a viral infection called roseola, which is categorized by a high fever, a rash, and maybe a runny nose, which fit her symptoms to a T. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if the kid would take her Tylenol by mouth, but since she's mastered the medicine-spit-out, we had to resort to suppositories when her temp was hovering in the 104-105 degree range. She was miserable and so were we. She wasn't eating, so we put her back on whole milk just to give her some extra fat and calories. She also wanted to be held all the time and basically monopolized my time and attention, as any sick person will do when Mommy is around, and this totally didn't sit well with Maggie. Anyways, I wake up Sunday morning with a horrible sore throat; I'm talking the clench-your-jaws-before-swallowing-because-you-know-how-badly-it's-going-to-hurt-sore-throat. I go to see the family doc on Monday for a strep screen, because I'm pretty sure that's the culprit, and I make an appointment for Kendall just to get her checked out as she's been febrile pretty much since the previous Tuesday. After my test is positive, Dr. Carpenter looks at Kendall's throat and says "Hers is pretty red, too. Do you want a strep screen on her, too??" Might as well as I think "Crap. Why didn't I get her here sooner??!!! Roseola what??" Of course her test is positive as well, which makes me wonder if her throat felt that bad for a week or if she actually had two infections back to back. Either way I feel like posting a sign on my forehead that flashes "BAD MOMMY!!!!". Then that afternoon the preschool calls to tell me Maggie is running a fever and I need to come get her. On the way I call the doc again and she says the chances she has strep as well are pretty high and wants to put her on antibiotics as well. So I had both kids home on Tuesday, even though all three of us were much better (Kendall's fever finally broke that morning), I didn't want to send them to school until they'd been fever free for at least 24 hours. It was sooooo nice to hug my baby and not feel her burning up. Kicking myself for not taking her in sooner, although we honestly thought roseola was to blame, and the fever with that can run as long as 7 days........whatever to lessen the guilt......
3. Work. Work. Work. Since I'm on my own as far as childcare and any billing help as well as in the middle of a software switch, I've been struggling to keep up. Add to that the fact that I had kids home on two days they're usually in school has made things mount up even more. I want to do my job, and I want to do it well, I'm just trying to figure out that balance of work and home, even though my office IS home. I can get caught up with work, but the housework suffers and vice versa. I know I have the option of hiring some help, but I have this insane desire to prove I can do it all on my own (I just had a flash of Lola from 'Charlie and Lola' here, if anybody knows what I'm talking about). Plus, I can get really territorial sometimes and I just don't want to deal with having somebody else in the house, having to show/tell them what to do, having to watch what I say, etc. I also have a need for time alone in my house, even if I'm working the whole time. I'm becoming a control freak. I know there's a balance out there, I just have to find it without shortchanging anybody. I know Jeff takes the brunt of that right now, and God love 'em, he still puts up with me even though I think he's still trying to figure out all of my weirdness. Ahhhhhhh....going for the position of Supermom is sooo stressful........
4. Jeff's dad had bypass surgery on Thursday. Even though I think we knew it'd be OK, it's still stressful and worrisome whenever open-heart surgery is involved. I worried for Don, of course, but also Jane, for her role as wife and care-taker, and for Jeff, because it's his dad and that involves a whole different set of emotions. He's also a doc himself, so he knows the risks involved. He got to see him the day of surgery and on Monday, so I think that was good for all of them to be together. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that Don listens to his docs and follows the rules for recovery, even though I know he hates not being able to be active and feel really good. It'll happen, he just has to be patient. Keep him in your prayers.
5. My mom, my main sounding board, left on Thursday for China. (!) I'm excited and worried for her, but I hope she has a blast. I am just missing being able to talk to her right now. She'll be back in another week........
6. I saw Angie on Sunday and I spoke with her briefly, but I feel guilty because the whole situation makes me totally uncomfortable. Not that any of us is comfortable dealing with a dying person, but I just don't know what to say or do. The typical "How are you doing??" or "You look great!!!" just don't seem to fit when you're speaking to somebody laying in a hospital bed in their living room, breathing oxygen, and you know they're going to be gone soon. I was scared to get too close because my family has been passing infections back and forth and she has no strength to fight anything off right now. To be honest I don't want any of her time left here on earth to be miserable with a cold she got from me or worse, for my cold to be what kills her. I feel guilty that I couldn't just sit and have a conversation with her, because she's a wonderful person, but dealing with sick people is not my forte, which is why I worked in the hospital lab: I could help people without having to deal with them. When I took dinner on Monday night, she was asleep. I just tried to get a good look at her, because I don't know if I'll see her again. I totally feel like a coward but I don't know what to do. I just pray for her and her family and just keep them close to my heart on a daily basis.
7. I know it's petty, but right now I feel like I'm caught between two groups of friends/acquaintances but not really an integral part of either of them. There have been some recent events that happened that I really didn't know about until somebody asked me if I was going or why I wasn't when I never was invited in the first place. Maybe if it'd been one or the other it wouldn't bother me so much. I don't think it was personal, I just feel like I'm in junior high again. I think this is the point that makes me realize the funk is on, because I don't think it would bug me if it wasn't. I also know that it would be considered overreacting that I didn't get an actual invite, but I guess I think that if I was meant to have one my name would have come up on the list in the first place. I know it's my fault as much as anybody's; I've pulled out of some things and have turned down offers from other groups/events because Jeff's schedule, my schedule, and the kids keeping me busy. Yes I know there are such things as sitters, but to do all these things I'd go broke paying them plus I'd never see those little rascals, hence more mommy guilt. Plus, I really have to work up the nerve to ask somebody to watch my kids, which I think goes back to the control freak issue and the fact that I know they have their own lives to live or other people to help. AAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH. The cycle never ends.
To conclude, I'm in a funk and I think these are the contibuting factors. I feel better just having blogged about them, less guilty than I'd feel if I had cornered some poor soul and dropped my whine-bomb on them when they have their own things to deal with. I'll get through it; it's just been one of those things.
Thanks to my consignment store shopping buddy; I think I really needed that trip, too (maybe not as badly as you, though!!!) even though we had to wait for the tornados to pass by before we could leave. I think we both got some needed venting done, so I'd say it was a very productive trip indeed!!!!!
Now, I think I need some cheese........all that whining has made me hungry.......
1. My brother and sister-in-law suddenly up and moving back to Florida, taking my baby nephew with them, and I didn't get to see him before they left. The Saturday before they leave (the following Wednesday) I get the following e-mail: "Kim, We are leaving this Wednesday. If you guys wanna see Bryce before we head out, Sunday or even Tuesday afternoon might be good. We are packing the POD and won't have much furniture to sit on or anything like that. Let us know. Love ya. Sean. " Now keep in mind, they don't live around the corner from me. To see them works out to be almost a 300 mile round-trip for me, a 5-year old, and an almost 3-year old. Now when I learned they were moving a few weeks earlier I had mentioned the possibility of getting together before they left, but I was thinking along the lines of converging at my mom's house in OKC, which is about a 180 mile round trip for both families. Maybe I was thinking they'd like to see us (especially his nieces) before they left as well??!! Call me sensitive, but my feelings were hurt. The option of even trying to go was taken away by the fact that my baby girl was running a fever and I woke up Sunday morning with a sore throat that turned out to be from a strep infection (that's what Kendall had, too; I'm soooooooo not in the running for Mother of the Year 2006) . So we didn't get to see them and that was the last contact I had from my brother through today i.e. no "Sorry you're sick and we couldn't get together." or even "We all made it to FL safely.". I know he's busy, but damn, I'm his only sibling and I worshipped the boy when we were growing up in the way that only a little sister can. Ouch.
2. Kendall ran a fever for a full week. Jeff & I thought she had a viral infection called roseola, which is categorized by a high fever, a rash, and maybe a runny nose, which fit her symptoms to a T. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if the kid would take her Tylenol by mouth, but since she's mastered the medicine-spit-out, we had to resort to suppositories when her temp was hovering in the 104-105 degree range. She was miserable and so were we. She wasn't eating, so we put her back on whole milk just to give her some extra fat and calories. She also wanted to be held all the time and basically monopolized my time and attention, as any sick person will do when Mommy is around, and this totally didn't sit well with Maggie. Anyways, I wake up Sunday morning with a horrible sore throat; I'm talking the clench-your-jaws-before-swallowing-because-you-know-how-badly-it's-going-to-hurt-sore-throat. I go to see the family doc on Monday for a strep screen, because I'm pretty sure that's the culprit, and I make an appointment for Kendall just to get her checked out as she's been febrile pretty much since the previous Tuesday. After my test is positive, Dr. Carpenter looks at Kendall's throat and says "Hers is pretty red, too. Do you want a strep screen on her, too??" Might as well as I think "Crap. Why didn't I get her here sooner??!!! Roseola what??" Of course her test is positive as well, which makes me wonder if her throat felt that bad for a week or if she actually had two infections back to back. Either way I feel like posting a sign on my forehead that flashes "BAD MOMMY!!!!". Then that afternoon the preschool calls to tell me Maggie is running a fever and I need to come get her. On the way I call the doc again and she says the chances she has strep as well are pretty high and wants to put her on antibiotics as well. So I had both kids home on Tuesday, even though all three of us were much better (Kendall's fever finally broke that morning), I didn't want to send them to school until they'd been fever free for at least 24 hours. It was sooooo nice to hug my baby and not feel her burning up. Kicking myself for not taking her in sooner, although we honestly thought roseola was to blame, and the fever with that can run as long as 7 days........whatever to lessen the guilt......
3. Work. Work. Work. Since I'm on my own as far as childcare and any billing help as well as in the middle of a software switch, I've been struggling to keep up. Add to that the fact that I had kids home on two days they're usually in school has made things mount up even more. I want to do my job, and I want to do it well, I'm just trying to figure out that balance of work and home, even though my office IS home. I can get caught up with work, but the housework suffers and vice versa. I know I have the option of hiring some help, but I have this insane desire to prove I can do it all on my own (I just had a flash of Lola from 'Charlie and Lola' here, if anybody knows what I'm talking about). Plus, I can get really territorial sometimes and I just don't want to deal with having somebody else in the house, having to show/tell them what to do, having to watch what I say, etc. I also have a need for time alone in my house, even if I'm working the whole time. I'm becoming a control freak. I know there's a balance out there, I just have to find it without shortchanging anybody. I know Jeff takes the brunt of that right now, and God love 'em, he still puts up with me even though I think he's still trying to figure out all of my weirdness. Ahhhhhhh....going for the position of Supermom is sooo stressful........
4. Jeff's dad had bypass surgery on Thursday. Even though I think we knew it'd be OK, it's still stressful and worrisome whenever open-heart surgery is involved. I worried for Don, of course, but also Jane, for her role as wife and care-taker, and for Jeff, because it's his dad and that involves a whole different set of emotions. He's also a doc himself, so he knows the risks involved. He got to see him the day of surgery and on Monday, so I think that was good for all of them to be together. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that Don listens to his docs and follows the rules for recovery, even though I know he hates not being able to be active and feel really good. It'll happen, he just has to be patient. Keep him in your prayers.
5. My mom, my main sounding board, left on Thursday for China. (!) I'm excited and worried for her, but I hope she has a blast. I am just missing being able to talk to her right now. She'll be back in another week........
6. I saw Angie on Sunday and I spoke with her briefly, but I feel guilty because the whole situation makes me totally uncomfortable. Not that any of us is comfortable dealing with a dying person, but I just don't know what to say or do. The typical "How are you doing??" or "You look great!!!" just don't seem to fit when you're speaking to somebody laying in a hospital bed in their living room, breathing oxygen, and you know they're going to be gone soon. I was scared to get too close because my family has been passing infections back and forth and she has no strength to fight anything off right now. To be honest I don't want any of her time left here on earth to be miserable with a cold she got from me or worse, for my cold to be what kills her. I feel guilty that I couldn't just sit and have a conversation with her, because she's a wonderful person, but dealing with sick people is not my forte, which is why I worked in the hospital lab: I could help people without having to deal with them. When I took dinner on Monday night, she was asleep. I just tried to get a good look at her, because I don't know if I'll see her again. I totally feel like a coward but I don't know what to do. I just pray for her and her family and just keep them close to my heart on a daily basis.
7. I know it's petty, but right now I feel like I'm caught between two groups of friends/acquaintances but not really an integral part of either of them. There have been some recent events that happened that I really didn't know about until somebody asked me if I was going or why I wasn't when I never was invited in the first place. Maybe if it'd been one or the other it wouldn't bother me so much. I don't think it was personal, I just feel like I'm in junior high again. I think this is the point that makes me realize the funk is on, because I don't think it would bug me if it wasn't. I also know that it would be considered overreacting that I didn't get an actual invite, but I guess I think that if I was meant to have one my name would have come up on the list in the first place. I know it's my fault as much as anybody's; I've pulled out of some things and have turned down offers from other groups/events because Jeff's schedule, my schedule, and the kids keeping me busy. Yes I know there are such things as sitters, but to do all these things I'd go broke paying them plus I'd never see those little rascals, hence more mommy guilt. Plus, I really have to work up the nerve to ask somebody to watch my kids, which I think goes back to the control freak issue and the fact that I know they have their own lives to live or other people to help. AAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH. The cycle never ends.
To conclude, I'm in a funk and I think these are the contibuting factors. I feel better just having blogged about them, less guilty than I'd feel if I had cornered some poor soul and dropped my whine-bomb on them when they have their own things to deal with. I'll get through it; it's just been one of those things.
Thanks to my consignment store shopping buddy; I think I really needed that trip, too (maybe not as badly as you, though!!!) even though we had to wait for the tornados to pass by before we could leave. I think we both got some needed venting done, so I'd say it was a very productive trip indeed!!!!!
Now, I think I need some cheese........all that whining has made me hungry.......
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
A Tenth HE Won't Forget......
Jeff & I got back late last night from celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary in Dallas. Overall, the weekend was wonderful and just what we were needing. The Mansion at Turtle Creek is AWESOME and I highly reccomend it to anybody needing a weekend getaway to a five-star hotel. Nevertheless, it got off to a rocky start.........
Let me set the scene: Friday night we are traveling down I35 South in the BMW, which Jeff has lovingly washed and detailed by hand the previous day so it would look extra good for it's stay in the big D. Things are going well until we hit Marietta, OK, about 15 miles north of the state line. Suddenly, we are in a traffic jam that goes on for as far as the eye can see. In the middle of freakin nowhere. With no exits available until the Winstar casino at mile marker 1. Unbeknownst to us, we were caught in the horrible mix of fans headed to the Big 12 tournament in Dallas and construction on I-35 which narrowed it down to one lane for about 8 miles. It took us two freakin hours to drive 15 miles. You have to understand, I married a man who, like the rest of us, absolutely hates getting stuck in traffic but add in the fact that we were in a HUGE traffic snarl in the middle of Nowhere, OK and it was almost too much to take. I'm talking sitting on the interstate, not moving at all, while you watch traffic on the northbound side whizzing by at full speed. Apparently, though, somebody upstairs thought we could take a bit more and added in a thunderstorm. Did I mention it hailed?! Three waves of it? Ranging from pea- to nickle-sized?? Now I know that's not very big, but if you've ever been in a car while hail is raining down on you and your vehicle you know it doesn't sound pretty. Especially in your BMW M5 that you spent last night polishing by hand. I'm telling you, the stress of watching my hubby go through that on what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend without the kids was enough to leave me with mouth ulcers by Sunday morning (a delayed effect of stress in me) . The only blessings are that we had plenty of gas in the car (we came across several that died on the side of the road after running out) and neither of us had to pee. Be thankful for the little things in life!!!! I am very happy to say that once we broke free, a few miles into Texas, the rest of the weekend went without a hitch. Dinner at the Restarant was awesome and they started us off with champagne and finished by writing "Happy Tenth Anniversary" in chocolate around the edges of our dessert plates. Sometimes a little butt-kissing is so awesome, and the Mansion is supposed to be one of the best in the world. Jeri: you'll be happy to hear that Thomas is still there and giving WONDERFUL massages. He's also still acting as bellman, too, which makes seeing him the next morning after he's done your massage to be picking up your bags interesting.......On the way home we stopped for brunch at the Cracker Barrel located at the Outlet Mall of Gainsville. After totally cleaning our plates (Jeff was like "Wow. You WERE hungry!!") we cruised through Gap. Jeff totally go into picking out clothes for the girls and it was very sweet for me to see him like that. He picked out their Easter dresses and several outfits for summer. Awwwwwwww. It was one of those precious, sweet, totally sappy random moments when you realize how much you love your spouse, and that after 12 years of knowing him he can still make you feel all mushy inside and lucky he chose you.
The girls had a wonderful time with their grandparents other than Maggie getting what was some kind of 24 hour bug with a fever on Sunday. I think Kendall really got to bond with them, and since she's been so affectionate lately, they were eating it up all her hugs and kisses.
My mom was originally supposed to keep the kids but ended up spending most of the week with my grandmother, who we recently had to move into assisted living after she fell and broke her shoulder. She's had a hard time adjusting (who wouldn't?) but seems to be doing better. I sent her a bunch of pictures of the kids and I'm hoping that'll cheer her up. She doesn't want any of us to see her just yet, so we're going to have to try and keep her spirits up via mail & phone calls. Keep her in your prayers.
That's about all I have to report. Hope everybody here had a great weekend!!!! Call me if Spring Break at home with the kids starts getting to you; we'll get together!!
Let me set the scene: Friday night we are traveling down I35 South in the BMW, which Jeff has lovingly washed and detailed by hand the previous day so it would look extra good for it's stay in the big D. Things are going well until we hit Marietta, OK, about 15 miles north of the state line. Suddenly, we are in a traffic jam that goes on for as far as the eye can see. In the middle of freakin nowhere. With no exits available until the Winstar casino at mile marker 1. Unbeknownst to us, we were caught in the horrible mix of fans headed to the Big 12 tournament in Dallas and construction on I-35 which narrowed it down to one lane for about 8 miles. It took us two freakin hours to drive 15 miles. You have to understand, I married a man who, like the rest of us, absolutely hates getting stuck in traffic but add in the fact that we were in a HUGE traffic snarl in the middle of Nowhere, OK and it was almost too much to take. I'm talking sitting on the interstate, not moving at all, while you watch traffic on the northbound side whizzing by at full speed. Apparently, though, somebody upstairs thought we could take a bit more and added in a thunderstorm. Did I mention it hailed?! Three waves of it? Ranging from pea- to nickle-sized?? Now I know that's not very big, but if you've ever been in a car while hail is raining down on you and your vehicle you know it doesn't sound pretty. Especially in your BMW M5 that you spent last night polishing by hand. I'm telling you, the stress of watching my hubby go through that on what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend without the kids was enough to leave me with mouth ulcers by Sunday morning (a delayed effect of stress in me) . The only blessings are that we had plenty of gas in the car (we came across several that died on the side of the road after running out) and neither of us had to pee. Be thankful for the little things in life!!!! I am very happy to say that once we broke free, a few miles into Texas, the rest of the weekend went without a hitch. Dinner at the Restarant was awesome and they started us off with champagne and finished by writing "Happy Tenth Anniversary" in chocolate around the edges of our dessert plates. Sometimes a little butt-kissing is so awesome, and the Mansion is supposed to be one of the best in the world. Jeri: you'll be happy to hear that Thomas is still there and giving WONDERFUL massages. He's also still acting as bellman, too, which makes seeing him the next morning after he's done your massage to be picking up your bags interesting.......On the way home we stopped for brunch at the Cracker Barrel located at the Outlet Mall of Gainsville. After totally cleaning our plates (Jeff was like "Wow. You WERE hungry!!") we cruised through Gap. Jeff totally go into picking out clothes for the girls and it was very sweet for me to see him like that. He picked out their Easter dresses and several outfits for summer. Awwwwwwww. It was one of those precious, sweet, totally sappy random moments when you realize how much you love your spouse, and that after 12 years of knowing him he can still make you feel all mushy inside and lucky he chose you.
The girls had a wonderful time with their grandparents other than Maggie getting what was some kind of 24 hour bug with a fever on Sunday. I think Kendall really got to bond with them, and since she's been so affectionate lately, they were eating it up all her hugs and kisses.
My mom was originally supposed to keep the kids but ended up spending most of the week with my grandmother, who we recently had to move into assisted living after she fell and broke her shoulder. She's had a hard time adjusting (who wouldn't?) but seems to be doing better. I sent her a bunch of pictures of the kids and I'm hoping that'll cheer her up. She doesn't want any of us to see her just yet, so we're going to have to try and keep her spirits up via mail & phone calls. Keep her in your prayers.
That's about all I have to report. Hope everybody here had a great weekend!!!! Call me if Spring Break at home with the kids starts getting to you; we'll get together!!
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Fashion Faux Pas and Five Year Old Fits
So if you see my older child in the near future, please let it be known that I am not responsible for the fashion statement she's trying to make with her bangs. The only thing I'll take credit for is being stupid enough to leave scissors within her reach. She apparently felt that her bangs were too long and therefore her eyes couldn't be seen, so she decided to give them a trim. Only in certain spots. To a length of about 1/4 of an inch. Cut at an angle. I repeat: I had nothing to do with this one!!!!
Then this morning, my usually can't-wait-to-get-out-the-door-into-the-world child (the same one sporting the new 'do) throws an all-out hissy fit when I tell her it's time to get dressed for church. You know, our church, good old FUMC, a place she feels totally at home in. Well, today she did NOT want to go and if I made her it was going to be kicking and screaming. So, worried that something has happened I don't know about, I repeatedly ask her if something went wrong/somebody said something mean/etc... until she finally shouts 'NO!!!!'. But she won't give me any reason at all other than she just doesn't feel like it. I try telling her how important it is that we go, how much she loves Sunday school, that she'll get to see me play bells in church, all to no avail. So, realizing that reasoning is getting me nowhere and the clock is ticking, I tell her she has to stay in her room until we leave. This leads to all-out screaming, so I shut the door in a vain attempt to drown her out, which makes her even madder. I go to get dressed then physically force her into the car. She sulks the whole way there and doesn't acknowledge my existance when I drop her off at her class. But wouldn't you know it, when I see her in church after Sunday school she's all smiles and is soooooooooo glad we came. I swear kids this age are bipolar. It used to amuse me before I had my own kids and I'd see somebody else's little angel acting schitzo; now it's my life. You just have to try to deal with it the best you can and laugh about it whenever you get the chance; otherwise YOU'LL be the one with a script for lithium.
My condolences to Dawn & Chris on your loss; I know you're feeling both relief and sadness at the same time. Know we are thinking of you. Same goes for Amy & Mike; you are in our prayers. Can we send a treat your way?
Jeri: hope the snow is awesome and you're getting to see some sunshine.
Kami: hope your healing is speedy and you are feeling great.
Then this morning, my usually can't-wait-to-get-out-the-door-into-the-world child (the same one sporting the new 'do) throws an all-out hissy fit when I tell her it's time to get dressed for church. You know, our church, good old FUMC, a place she feels totally at home in. Well, today she did NOT want to go and if I made her it was going to be kicking and screaming. So, worried that something has happened I don't know about, I repeatedly ask her if something went wrong/somebody said something mean/etc... until she finally shouts 'NO!!!!'. But she won't give me any reason at all other than she just doesn't feel like it. I try telling her how important it is that we go, how much she loves Sunday school, that she'll get to see me play bells in church, all to no avail. So, realizing that reasoning is getting me nowhere and the clock is ticking, I tell her she has to stay in her room until we leave. This leads to all-out screaming, so I shut the door in a vain attempt to drown her out, which makes her even madder. I go to get dressed then physically force her into the car. She sulks the whole way there and doesn't acknowledge my existance when I drop her off at her class. But wouldn't you know it, when I see her in church after Sunday school she's all smiles and is soooooooooo glad we came. I swear kids this age are bipolar. It used to amuse me before I had my own kids and I'd see somebody else's little angel acting schitzo; now it's my life. You just have to try to deal with it the best you can and laugh about it whenever you get the chance; otherwise YOU'LL be the one with a script for lithium.
My condolences to Dawn & Chris on your loss; I know you're feeling both relief and sadness at the same time. Know we are thinking of you. Same goes for Amy & Mike; you are in our prayers. Can we send a treat your way?
Jeri: hope the snow is awesome and you're getting to see some sunshine.
Kami: hope your healing is speedy and you are feeling great.
And for anybody out there who knows Angie: she really would love for visitors to come see her. She will leave her front door open if she's feeling up to company and closed if she is not. Keep the visits short (10-15 minutes) but make them if you can.
Take care everybody. Remember to smile.Saturday, February 25, 2006
Where to begin???
Wow. It's been a while. Been meaning to come here sooner but just haven't gotten around to it. Sounds like the story of my life. I don't mean to put things off, I'm just extremely good at getting caught up in all the things that make up life in general.
I've come to the realization that I have a nasty tendency to take things for granted. I have a very blessed life: a husband who loves me despite my faults; two beautiful kids who are healthy and energetic enough to keep me busy (as it should be); a wonderful home I feel safe and secure in; and friends to keep me sane. I think that, getting caught up in all the little stuff, I tend to keep the focus on myself and not on what's important. I've mentioned Pablo from the Backyardigans and how I identify with him (wierd, I know, but I do tend to see a LOT of him on a daily basis) and it makes me see how silly I look in my monumental efforts to make mountains out of molehills. It also makes me realize that, when under stress, I tend to focus on me, to think/say/do things without thinking of the consequences or effects to others I care about. I know I'm not alone in this, but that doesn't make it OK, especially to someone I've hurt, even if that was not my intention. I'm a big girl and need to slow down before I act. Venting is not a bad thing; it's actually a great stress reliever. The problem comes when, in the heat of the moment, something is aired publicly that should have been dealt with one-on-one. It's always easier to 'say' things from behind a computer screen; it's a whole 'nother enchilada to do the adult thing and deal with it face to face. I tend to shy away from any conflict or unpleasantness; I have some innate need to minimize my feelings to others in person. Let me tell you: that'll get you into trouble. Either you end up throwing it out there for everybody to see at once, or you bottle it inside until one day the straw breaks your back and you explode over nothing. The whole process can cause a lot more hurt that if the initial problem/feeling/etc. had been dealt with correctly in the first place. What can I say?? I'm a chicken. But my realization that I need to honestly take care of what's important to me makes me determined to work on it. The really good things in life require care, work, and attention; those things that come too easily usually aren't the things that are worth keeping or holding close. Call it a late resolution for 2006; it's about time. You'd have thought I'd have figured it out before now. So I'm slow. At least I'm trying.
For those who wondered how the ski trip went, it was great. Maggie did really well in the car, especially considering we forgot all the DVD's and she had to do the trip the old-fashioned way without movies. It snowed really hard our first day out, so she finally got to experience snowflakes you could actually see without squinting. She seemed to enjoy ski school after the daily morning pep talk from Jeff & me. She got to spend some quality time with her daddy, eat steak, and most importantly, make an actual snow angel, which was her only goal for the whole trip. For Jeff &I it was obviously a different type of vacation than we've been taking the last few years, but it was fun to be there as a family (don't worry, we're going to include Kendall once she's potty-trained and actually listens to other people; how long that will take is anybody's guess). On our last day skiing, Jeff & I snuck into the ski school area and got some pics of her; since we were covered head to toe, she had no idea we were there. I'd really like to be able to go skiing more than once a year; everybody knows how I love the mountains and cold weather. Plus I've lucked out with a ski partner who skiis at my level and likes the same type of runs that I do; no pressure to do harder stuff and no problem with the ski straight through from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm before heading in to the bar for a round of Fat Tire and a late lunch. Ahhhhhh.......the life.
The family is doing much better healthwise than the last time I blogged. Kendall is getting another set of tubes on Tuesday, but she's feeling great. Jeff's mom figured out that the 'trick' to getting her to take medicine is just to use a big-people spoon. Wow. Wish I'd thought of it. Maggie has a kind of nagging-kiddy-crud-sounding cough that sounds awful, but other than last Tuesday, when she ran a slight fever, she seems to feel fine. My only worry is that it's starting to sound like she may have passed whatever it is on to Jeff; he started hacking last night. Hopefully it'll be a mild one for him. I finally got caught by the stomach bug everybody else was dealing with last time. I lucked out and was able to get some Phenergan on board within a few hours; although I spent most of the next day sleeping off the Phenergan hangover, it was totally worth it. I wouldn't have traded my case for what Jeff went through for anything. I am so not a nurse and I feel sorry for my family for how I deal with them when they are sick. I want to help but there's also a strong sense of self-preservation there...........
So that's where things stand in my life right now. In addition to the usual, I've been working a lot lately trying to get old patient files onto my new billing system, so I feel like I've been in my own little world lately. I promise I'm still here and I'll try to come more often so you aren't stuck reading my blogs that go on and on and on and on..................................
Take care. Hope all is well.
I've come to the realization that I have a nasty tendency to take things for granted. I have a very blessed life: a husband who loves me despite my faults; two beautiful kids who are healthy and energetic enough to keep me busy (as it should be); a wonderful home I feel safe and secure in; and friends to keep me sane. I think that, getting caught up in all the little stuff, I tend to keep the focus on myself and not on what's important. I've mentioned Pablo from the Backyardigans and how I identify with him (wierd, I know, but I do tend to see a LOT of him on a daily basis) and it makes me see how silly I look in my monumental efforts to make mountains out of molehills. It also makes me realize that, when under stress, I tend to focus on me, to think/say/do things without thinking of the consequences or effects to others I care about. I know I'm not alone in this, but that doesn't make it OK, especially to someone I've hurt, even if that was not my intention. I'm a big girl and need to slow down before I act. Venting is not a bad thing; it's actually a great stress reliever. The problem comes when, in the heat of the moment, something is aired publicly that should have been dealt with one-on-one. It's always easier to 'say' things from behind a computer screen; it's a whole 'nother enchilada to do the adult thing and deal with it face to face. I tend to shy away from any conflict or unpleasantness; I have some innate need to minimize my feelings to others in person. Let me tell you: that'll get you into trouble. Either you end up throwing it out there for everybody to see at once, or you bottle it inside until one day the straw breaks your back and you explode over nothing. The whole process can cause a lot more hurt that if the initial problem/feeling/etc. had been dealt with correctly in the first place. What can I say?? I'm a chicken. But my realization that I need to honestly take care of what's important to me makes me determined to work on it. The really good things in life require care, work, and attention; those things that come too easily usually aren't the things that are worth keeping or holding close. Call it a late resolution for 2006; it's about time. You'd have thought I'd have figured it out before now. So I'm slow. At least I'm trying.
For those who wondered how the ski trip went, it was great. Maggie did really well in the car, especially considering we forgot all the DVD's and she had to do the trip the old-fashioned way without movies. It snowed really hard our first day out, so she finally got to experience snowflakes you could actually see without squinting. She seemed to enjoy ski school after the daily morning pep talk from Jeff & me. She got to spend some quality time with her daddy, eat steak, and most importantly, make an actual snow angel, which was her only goal for the whole trip. For Jeff &I it was obviously a different type of vacation than we've been taking the last few years, but it was fun to be there as a family (don't worry, we're going to include Kendall once she's potty-trained and actually listens to other people; how long that will take is anybody's guess). On our last day skiing, Jeff & I snuck into the ski school area and got some pics of her; since we were covered head to toe, she had no idea we were there. I'd really like to be able to go skiing more than once a year; everybody knows how I love the mountains and cold weather. Plus I've lucked out with a ski partner who skiis at my level and likes the same type of runs that I do; no pressure to do harder stuff and no problem with the ski straight through from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm before heading in to the bar for a round of Fat Tire and a late lunch. Ahhhhhh.......the life.
The family is doing much better healthwise than the last time I blogged. Kendall is getting another set of tubes on Tuesday, but she's feeling great. Jeff's mom figured out that the 'trick' to getting her to take medicine is just to use a big-people spoon. Wow. Wish I'd thought of it. Maggie has a kind of nagging-kiddy-crud-sounding cough that sounds awful, but other than last Tuesday, when she ran a slight fever, she seems to feel fine. My only worry is that it's starting to sound like she may have passed whatever it is on to Jeff; he started hacking last night. Hopefully it'll be a mild one for him. I finally got caught by the stomach bug everybody else was dealing with last time. I lucked out and was able to get some Phenergan on board within a few hours; although I spent most of the next day sleeping off the Phenergan hangover, it was totally worth it. I wouldn't have traded my case for what Jeff went through for anything. I am so not a nurse and I feel sorry for my family for how I deal with them when they are sick. I want to help but there's also a strong sense of self-preservation there...........
So that's where things stand in my life right now. In addition to the usual, I've been working a lot lately trying to get old patient files onto my new billing system, so I feel like I've been in my own little world lately. I promise I'm still here and I'll try to come more often so you aren't stuck reading my blogs that go on and on and on and on..................................
Take care. Hope all is well.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Other than the gay spouse thing, not much of a shocker here
Which F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Cast Member are you? (pics!)
Ross
You are Mr. Smarty!!! This may come off as nerdy sometimes, but you can also be quite charming!!
Quizzes by myYearbook.com -- the World's Biggest Yearbook!
Friday, January 20, 2006
Can I please have some cheese with my whiiiine?!
Do you ever catch yourself, after a day (or days) of constant bitching and think "You know, if somebody were recording everything I said and played it back to me I'd probably want to smack myself!!"?? Welcome to my world of whine as life around the Hood household hasn't been very conducive to happy thoughts lately.
The good points of the last few weeks: 1) USC LOST!!!!!! WooooHoooo!!!!! No matter how cute Matt Liener (however you spell his name) is, I wanted to smack him when he stated after the game "Well I still think we're the better team......". Oh good Lord; just get over yourself, would you?? It all just supports my grudge against a team who thinks they all float somewhere above the rest of us, especially those hicks from the Big 12. Ugh. Almost makes me consider sporting some orange and white, but not quite. 2.) We all survived Christmas break intact. 3) OU made a decent showing at the Holiday bowl and managed to win. 4) I did get to spend a little time with the hubby.
Now for the main reason I blog, to vent about life in general. First of all, we decided to hire a new financial consultant. I'm all for this, as our spending habits have gotten out of control lately and we need to be putting that money towards our retirement. But all the pressure is on me to produce a budget, list of expenditures, etc. and right now, being in the middle of changing my billing software, I haven't had time to deal with it. Jeff just doesn't get it. I work at home so I should have time, right??!! I'm trying to cut back and be sensible about things, and I know that we both went towards convenience because we've been so busy lately. Then Jeff sees this PBS special about healthy eating, etc., and wonders why our kids don't get more home-cooked meals, healthier foods, etc. Because they require planning ahead?? Preparation?? Cleanup?? If he wanted June Cleaver he married the wrong person. I'm trying, OK??
I just got the Christmas decorations put up last weekend. I love to decorate but putting everything up bums me out, so I tend to procrastinate where that's concerned. The house just isn't as colorful now. I did leave out all my nutcrackers in our new spare bedroom downstairs; I think they're just too cool to pack away and have out one month a year. So there.
Then there's the stomach bug that's going around. Both kids have had it (ask Jeri how Kendall managed to puke across the entire length of my kitchen Saturday night), but were over it within 48 hours. Jeff started feeling bad on Wednesday and from about 4:00 am to 11:00 am this morning couldn't get more than 10 feet away from the bathroom, and I'm not talking about vomiting. He's a typical guy when he's sick, whiny, needy, and basically another child for me to take care of. Is it bad that, him being #3 this week, I'm getting a little resentful having to be the one to meet everybody else's needs all the time?? I love my family, but I'm in need of some serious alone time where I'm not constantly wiping things down with Clorox and anti-bacterial gel while trying not to breathe through my nose. I have managed to escape my family's fate so far (knocking furiously on wood here) and I hope to stay that way. Please keep your fingers crossed for me; our pharmacist says this is one of the more virulent stomach bugs he's seen in a while, and a lot of the hosptial staff has been dealing with it. Wash your hands everybody!!! Antibacterial hand gel is your friend!!
Jeff was supposed to leave today on his boy's ski trip but is wisely backing out. Somehow the thought of having the runs while driving through rural Kansas doesn't sound appealing, and I'm sure his driving-buddy-to-be appreciates this. The ski trip itself has been a bone of contention between us for over a month. This weekend was supposed to have been the girls-only scrapbooking trip to Norman, as scheduled months ago, but the boys managed to 'forget' that when they planned their trip. How convenient for them. When I saw the OR call schedule for this month and noticed that Lad & Jeff were both off this weekend I knew I'd been screwed. When I confronted him about it, he just threw his hands in the air and said "Sorry. Had nothing to do with the scheduling." with an undertone of 'get over it". I feel bad for Jeff, because this stomach bug is really kicking him in the butt (no pun intented) but when he whines "This sucks!! I never get to do anything!!" I'll admit I have to fight the urge to smack, if only so I won't contaminate myself. Arrrrgh. Here's my idea: once we decide on another date for the scrapbooking trip, we need to show up as a group to a poker night , announce our plans and the date, and hand out reminders to everybody there. I'm willing to be obnoxious if you are. Sound good??
Lately I've been identifying with Pablo on the Backyardigans (he's the blue penguin). Pablo has a habit of panicking under stress; I swear it's like looking in a freaking mirror. Just ask Kiah and Kami about my whirlwind entrance into gymnastics. It's like I lose control under stress, and that drives me crazy. Pity the soul who innocently asks me at that moment "So how are you doing?" because they are unknowingly giving me permission to vent uncontrollably. (sorry Kami & Kiah). Really starting to wonder if the dose of prozac needs upping. What bothers me is that I can't pinpoint why my stress level is up and my anal-retentive nature is being driven crazy by that.
Sigh.
I need a vacation.
From my family.
Just kidding.
Kind of.
Drinks at the Martini Bar, anybody??
At least I can say I feel better now. I've been wanting to blog for a while but the site has been slow (couldn't be that I'm impatient, no sir!!!). This has become my sounding board and allows me to vent without trapping some poor soul into listening to it against their will. Thank you to my friends who keep checking on me and keeping me in line. I don't know what I'd do without you guys!!!! You rock. Thanks for putting up with me. Stay healthy.
The good points of the last few weeks: 1) USC LOST!!!!!! WooooHoooo!!!!! No matter how cute Matt Liener (however you spell his name) is, I wanted to smack him when he stated after the game "Well I still think we're the better team......". Oh good Lord; just get over yourself, would you?? It all just supports my grudge against a team who thinks they all float somewhere above the rest of us, especially those hicks from the Big 12. Ugh. Almost makes me consider sporting some orange and white, but not quite. 2.) We all survived Christmas break intact. 3) OU made a decent showing at the Holiday bowl and managed to win. 4) I did get to spend a little time with the hubby.
Now for the main reason I blog, to vent about life in general. First of all, we decided to hire a new financial consultant. I'm all for this, as our spending habits have gotten out of control lately and we need to be putting that money towards our retirement. But all the pressure is on me to produce a budget, list of expenditures, etc. and right now, being in the middle of changing my billing software, I haven't had time to deal with it. Jeff just doesn't get it. I work at home so I should have time, right??!! I'm trying to cut back and be sensible about things, and I know that we both went towards convenience because we've been so busy lately. Then Jeff sees this PBS special about healthy eating, etc., and wonders why our kids don't get more home-cooked meals, healthier foods, etc. Because they require planning ahead?? Preparation?? Cleanup?? If he wanted June Cleaver he married the wrong person. I'm trying, OK??
I just got the Christmas decorations put up last weekend. I love to decorate but putting everything up bums me out, so I tend to procrastinate where that's concerned. The house just isn't as colorful now. I did leave out all my nutcrackers in our new spare bedroom downstairs; I think they're just too cool to pack away and have out one month a year. So there.
Then there's the stomach bug that's going around. Both kids have had it (ask Jeri how Kendall managed to puke across the entire length of my kitchen Saturday night), but were over it within 48 hours. Jeff started feeling bad on Wednesday and from about 4:00 am to 11:00 am this morning couldn't get more than 10 feet away from the bathroom, and I'm not talking about vomiting. He's a typical guy when he's sick, whiny, needy, and basically another child for me to take care of. Is it bad that, him being #3 this week, I'm getting a little resentful having to be the one to meet everybody else's needs all the time?? I love my family, but I'm in need of some serious alone time where I'm not constantly wiping things down with Clorox and anti-bacterial gel while trying not to breathe through my nose. I have managed to escape my family's fate so far (knocking furiously on wood here) and I hope to stay that way. Please keep your fingers crossed for me; our pharmacist says this is one of the more virulent stomach bugs he's seen in a while, and a lot of the hosptial staff has been dealing with it. Wash your hands everybody!!! Antibacterial hand gel is your friend!!
Jeff was supposed to leave today on his boy's ski trip but is wisely backing out. Somehow the thought of having the runs while driving through rural Kansas doesn't sound appealing, and I'm sure his driving-buddy-to-be appreciates this. The ski trip itself has been a bone of contention between us for over a month. This weekend was supposed to have been the girls-only scrapbooking trip to Norman, as scheduled months ago, but the boys managed to 'forget' that when they planned their trip. How convenient for them. When I saw the OR call schedule for this month and noticed that Lad & Jeff were both off this weekend I knew I'd been screwed. When I confronted him about it, he just threw his hands in the air and said "Sorry. Had nothing to do with the scheduling." with an undertone of 'get over it". I feel bad for Jeff, because this stomach bug is really kicking him in the butt (no pun intented) but when he whines "This sucks!! I never get to do anything!!" I'll admit I have to fight the urge to smack, if only so I won't contaminate myself. Arrrrgh. Here's my idea: once we decide on another date for the scrapbooking trip, we need to show up as a group to a poker night , announce our plans and the date, and hand out reminders to everybody there. I'm willing to be obnoxious if you are. Sound good??
Lately I've been identifying with Pablo on the Backyardigans (he's the blue penguin). Pablo has a habit of panicking under stress; I swear it's like looking in a freaking mirror. Just ask Kiah and Kami about my whirlwind entrance into gymnastics. It's like I lose control under stress, and that drives me crazy. Pity the soul who innocently asks me at that moment "So how are you doing?" because they are unknowingly giving me permission to vent uncontrollably. (sorry Kami & Kiah). Really starting to wonder if the dose of prozac needs upping. What bothers me is that I can't pinpoint why my stress level is up and my anal-retentive nature is being driven crazy by that.
Sigh.
I need a vacation.
From my family.
Just kidding.
Kind of.
Drinks at the Martini Bar, anybody??
At least I can say I feel better now. I've been wanting to blog for a while but the site has been slow (couldn't be that I'm impatient, no sir!!!). This has become my sounding board and allows me to vent without trapping some poor soul into listening to it against their will. Thank you to my friends who keep checking on me and keeping me in line. I don't know what I'd do without you guys!!!! You rock. Thanks for putting up with me. Stay healthy.
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