being IN the movie

I watch a lot of movies. I collect them actually. I am in the design phase of building a wall unit to shelve my DVD collection because it has outgrown any collection unit or shelving unit currently on the market.

Because of this, some may think that I am numb to becoming drawn in to a movie, immune to the trappings of being caught up in the moment. This could not be farther from the truth. Maybe that is why I love movies so much.

Now, I have never had this happen with a comedy, usually drama, action or thriller type movies.

A few weeks ago I had Alex DVR a movie for us that is a few years old, but I had not seen. "The Day After Tomorrow"... anybody seen that one? It was ok, not bad, but here's the deal, it sucked me in.

First off, those of you who have not been in our home need to have the movie-watching mood set for you. We had a finished basement, with a large family room as the main area. We have a very big screen TV with surround sound. With the overhead lights out it is almost like being in a movie theater, minus the sticky floor and teenagers making out behind me.

So when a movie is good, it's easy to get sucked in, all other distractions are blocked out.

In the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" the weather is, shall we say 'chilly'. After watching this movie I went upstairs to let the girls outside to go potty. I found myself grabbing my big winter parka even though it was roughly 45 degrees that afternoon. Yes, even in midday, it is that dark down there, so dark that one cannot see outside to see the sun shining and the few melting remains of winter.

Just now, Alex and I watched a movie that I bought quite some time ago, shortly after the Oscars in fact. Now I know why "The Departed" won Best Picture. It was amazing. Anyone who has not yet seen it, I will not ruin it for you, but I will say this: GET YOUR ASS OUT THERE AND SEE THIS FILM!

Ok, Alex fell asleep midway through the movie, so he did not see the (amazing, gruesome and twisted) ending.
It did not have the same 'weather' affect on me, but it did leave me with this incredible feeling of "I cannot believe that..." Sort of like everyone felt at the end of "The Sixth Sense" when they realized that Bruce Willis' character IS DEAD... except in that instance, looking back, it all made sense, but with The Departed, I think I will have to watch it a couple more times to get those subtle nuances and hints that are only alluded to in the end.

Truly a fine piece of cinematography... left me shaking my head in awe.

breathing different at the dentist's office

I do this, do you?
When I have my mouth open and the hygienist or dentist has their hands and/or instruments in my mouth, I breathe through my nose...

usually

today I could not do that, because I am sick. I am completely plugged in the nasal regions. I felt bad having to breathe through my mouth. I even explained to Lisa, the very nice and almost overly perky hygienist, that I was sick and was all stuffed up.

Anyway, all 3 kids and me, done with the dentist for another 6 months. When I made the appointment for the next visit, October, I said (with a smile) "JP will be here, add him to that, if you could"... I made an appointment that you have to be here to keep, ok honey?

All 4 of us had good reports, too. No cavities. Alex's molars are working on coming in and once they're in, it will be time for him to have an ortho consult...

I have a busy day tomorrow, but that will have to wait for an "after" report, it's already after midnight, and I need to sleep.

Midterms, Murphy's Law & Ib dsick

Also known as The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Midterm grades have been trickling in since we got back from our break. Got the last one in tonight in Speech. Yeah, I'm pulling a 4.0 so far this semester... Damn, I am smart! (hell, I have to gloat now, I am pretty certain it won't last!) This is the "good".

Now for the bad... Murphy's Law ("anything that can go wrong...WILL") is all over my ass. The furnace pump went out. I woke up to 55 degrees this morning. The one saving grace of this episode was the entire transaction with the plumbing and heating place I called. Called them at 9:15... guy was knocking on my door at 9:45 (after the lady on the phone said he could PROBABLY make it by noon). He was a nice guy, too, younger than the usual plumber types, and (thank you God) NO PLUMBER'S CRACK. Wow, just gets better and better, ya know? He was done replacing the pump and gone by shortly after 11. I was very pleased.


Now, for the Ugly...
dYes, I ab dsick. Did you eber dodice now fuddy peepo dtalk whed dthey are dsick?

Yes, I spoke those words out loud so I could type them phonetically. I sound stupid because I am getting sick. It's all in my sinuses for now, nose dripping like a rusty dirty old prison faucet, my eyes and nose feel puffed out as if I were receiving a Novocain drip.

I managed to last all freakin' winter without getting sick, and now that it's finally getting nice out, here I come being all snotty and sneezy. Sunuva...

Gimme meds and gimme my pillow...

Sore body, tired Nik and FABULOUS bowling

I came home from class today at 3 and went directly to bed. I napped until 6 then went bowling.

I had a great night, considering the way I started out. I threw a practice frame before we started the games, and apparently, when I nap, I also swell. The ball sucked off my thumb and was AIR BORN for damn near half the distance to the pins. Straight to the gutter. Second ball also sucked my thumb, but managed to stay on the lane to pick up one pin. I was not enthused.

But, game time baby, it's all about game time!!

First game was 125
Second game was 156
Third game was 142

Considering that my average before tonight was 112, this was a very good night. But, we still only beat those obnoxious loud drunk bitches in one of three games.

Steven is coming up on Friday... just for lunch with Mom and I. That's nice, nice and short that is!

The new Menard's opened last weekend, it is WONDERFUL. I think Mom and I will be able to get all the supplies we need for the desk and the DVD unit. I will have to put up pictures of the before and after... we have the plans drawn up, and they are going to be wonderful!

Time for bed now, girls need to go out, then maybe I can get back on a decent schedule of sleep.

No energy, no willpower, no gumption

Well, here we are, Day 1.

Emma's hockey bowling/pizza party was this afternoon. We spent the earlier part of the day doing a Comedy Central Blue Collar Comedy Tour marathon along with a Laundry Folding Party.
(meaning, I made the kids do their laundry, but let them fold it out in the family room so we could watch the funny guys on TV while doing so)

The bowling was not too bad... I had a 149 for my first game, and Alex had 2 strikes. For the second game, it was horrible... The people on our left had a small child using one of those ball-launching ramps every time, and on our right was a family with young children... 3 of them...

Child One, "the baby" was a boy about a year and a half... and let's just call that little puker "The Wanderer"... I'm standing there ready to bowl, and suddenly short and stinky comes wandering over IN FRONT of me... breaks the concentration... not a happy Nik.

Child Two was a lovely little girl, around 3 or 4 years old. She was using a ramp, too. She did not bother me, she had a smile on her chubby little face THE ENTIRE time... sweet little monkey.

Child Three aka SATAN'S SPAWN. He was probably about 6. If one of my children ever pulled a temper tantrum like this little fucker, I would have whooped his ass and dragged him kicking, screaming and crying out the door. He sucked at bowling, as kids his age generally do, but he took it very personally. He refused helpful advice from Daddy, in fact, screamed and hit his father. (that right there would have done it for me...but wait, there's more!)
When the Spawn's little sister (angelic sweetpea) would go up to bowl, he would go up behind her and kick the backs of her knees, trying to knock her down, and make her suck as bad as he did!
And of course, Mommy and Daddy were the wishy washy types... "Now, Spawn, that's not very nice"
OMG, remove this hellion and PUNISH him!!

So, anyway, they arrived as we finished up the first game, so my second game was full of distractions, that's what I'm blaming for my score, a measly 92. Eric got a strike in his second game... should have seen his face BEAMING with joy! Verra cool.

After bowling, all the hockey people met at Godfather's for pizza. They did a really smart thing, set it up so the kids sat ----------------> OVER THERE and the adults (and I kept Alex with me) got to sit elsewhere. It was really nice, and they gave gift certificates and cards of thanks to the coaches, too.

Now we are home, and I really need to get my Excel homework done, but I don't understand it. The teacher (maybe I've mentioned him, Marcus) is a nice guy, but I think he expects too much from us. Like, he expects us to KNOW this stuff... um, no, dude, it's YOUR job to TEACH us this stuff. I feel dumb in that class. But, after looking through my schedule for the next year, this is the last time I will have one of Marcus' classes, and there are only 7 weeks left... I can make it!
I think I can
I think I can
I think I can

I got another email today, another KIA over there. We just had an email like that on Friday, too. I feel so awful for those families. If not for the extension, those two guys would be on their way home, or would BE home, instead, they got extended and sacrificed their lives... and for what?

That's it, stick a fork in me, I'm done.

Senate Bylaws Meeting and calendars

OK, MrsWho asked about this senate thing I keep referring to.
I am the student senate secretary at my college. That's the senate. Just a little Podunk college and their silly little geeks trying to be all Parliamentary Procedurally correct.

I kind of got shoved into the position last September, and I have enjoyed it, for the most part, but I will be glad when it's over... in roughly 7 to 8 weeks.

Today's meeting was just dumb... ok, not really dumb, what was dumb was this year's Executive Board having to be there for it. We were rewriting the constitution, things that won't take affect until next year. Um, 3 of the 4 members of the Exec. Board are graduating and me, the other one will not be serving on Senate next year, so why the hell should we have any say in how this document is worded??

I think we should have helped the newly elected Executive Officers to know how this meeting was run, and then left them to revise their constitution. It is after all, THEIRS, not ours anymore.

What a waste of a day anyway, we were there from 9 til 2, on what was easily the most beautiful day of 2007 to date.

What made today not so beautiful was that the calendar countdown on my fridge is at zero... today.
Today should have been the day.
If not for the extension, my husband would be home with me today.

Now we can start the count all over again. This time, instead of counting down, we are counting up. We know we will not have to count past 125 though. That puts us at the end of July, beginning of august.

I'm feeling a bit melancholy and contemplative today and yes, a bit disillusioned, too. (can you tell I've been using my 'word of the day' calendar?) haha...
I'm sure my mood is based entirely on the fact that I feel cheated. Cheated out of having him here.

So the only flashbacks I'm doing today are just thinking back to the last time my husband LIVED with us. Not just 'visited', but really lived here. That would be September of 05. My god, that sounds so long ago... but there's a reasonable explanation for that...

IT WAS SO LONG AGO!!
too goddamn long for a family to be apart.
When JP left,
Alex was 11. He is 13 now
Emma was 8. She is 10 now.
Eric was 7 and he is 9 now.

My husband will end up having 2 birthdays in Iraq. Last year, I sent him a calendar I had made on the Kodak website. It was full of pictures of me and the kids, and the dogs. The calendar ran from May to April. It was supposed to be a countdown for him... when the last page of the calendar is reached, it's time to pack up and come home.
So, now what?
Do I have to send him another one?

I just want it to be over with.

I'm the old one, aren't I?

I came to an icky realization today.
All my friends, Gina, Charity, Karmeen and Jacqui... younger than me.
It does not make me feel old exactly, but I REALIZED it, I was made aware of it today.
They're all in their 20's. I will be 35 in September.
I rarely feel a generation gap with them, OK, occasionally, I think Karmeen's taste in music is a bit AWFUL... but then again, my taste in music is far older than I am myself. I prefer 60's &70's music to the rap noise she listens to.

But it has gotten me thinking about who I think I am. I associate with younger people, I always have. When I worked at McShithole, the people I got along with best were the teenagers, not the 'dayside ladies'.

Those old ladies are nice, but holy crap, BORING and settled and OLD.
Thing is, most of them were within 10-15 years older than me.
The people I consider my friends are all around 10 years YOUNGER than me.

Not just thinking about who I am, but WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? kind of thinking.
Do I look ridiculous when we go out... do I look like that old lady hanging out with the young crowd? Trying to fit in with them...
I don't FEEL old. But am I?

I don't dress like those silly little 20 year olds, shirts high enough to show off their belly rings and thongs. I would never, THAT would make me feel old.

I have a 13 year old kid... when I was 13 and my mother was roughly this age, I thought she was old...older I guess. Now, 34 doesn't seem old. Now that I'm here.

Gina and Charity and I are going out to the bar tonight... that's another reason this line of thinking is invading my brain right now.

Guess I will think on it awhile.

Oh, and due to STUPID SENATE MEETING, Flashback Saturday may be on hold. I have to be there at 9 am, and I don't know how long it will take. Hopefully I will be home by noon, but I am not holding out hope for that!

Psych! Next Year's Schedule

Finished writing up my Psych notes today... nothing like waiting til the last minute- test is tomorrow morning!

I also figured out my classes schedule for the rest of my academic career... Yeah, I MUST plan that far in advance, and I MUST have the answers... drives me nuts to have things up in the air!

So Here It Is!!!

Summer '07 (6 credits total)
Ethics 3 credits
Coll. Writing II 3 credits

Fall '07 (17 credits total)
Managerial Acct 4 credits
Computerized Acct II 3 credits
Intermediate Acct 4 credits
Business Communications 3 credits
Business Income Tax 3 credits

Spring '08 (13 credits)
Intermediate Acct II 4 credits
Fund/Nonprofit Acct 3 credits
Macroeconomics 3 credits
R.A.P. Review 3 credits

Taking those transfer electives this summer will really help me take it easy next year, especially next spring. I've heard nothing but horror stories about Macro, so I think taking that with a really light 13 credits is a good way to go. That R.A.P. Review is some sort of study course for a test for accountants. Accountants with an Associates Degree. I'd have to go longer if I want to become a CPA for example. I haven't decided on that yet.

I just figured that with JP coming home, I'd want to make it as easy on myself, and US as possible. Plus, with the way these classes I have are structured, most of my classes are done by noon or 1... so I could easily get a part time job and start contributing again, gawd I feel like such a slackass without a job!

I just don't know what I'm going to do with myself tomorrow, I get out of class at noon, and other than cleaning up the house, gosh, I just don't know!

Who am I kidding? I will work on homework or something dull like that!
Oh well, maybe I can pull another President's List out of my ass!

WWWOOOOOHHHOOOO

Somebody check the links, I THINK I finally figured the buggers out! I click on them and go to the blogs I read... somebody else let me know if it works!!

(blog links, on the right, scroll down just a bit!)

Stuck on an island with a jackass and a polar bear

No real reason for the cute pic, other than it is a cute pic! No, it's not Hailey and Comet either, just a couple of Goldens I found online. I still haven't gotten new batteries for my camera, otherwise I'd post pics of my girls, because they're MUCH cuter than these two!!

I finished up my computerized accounting today, after finding that $500 that was missing. I had inadvertently NOT closed the drawing account into the capital account. I know that may mean squat to some people, but anyway, THAT is where I screwed up. All better, fixed and DONE now.

I am getting a bit annoyed with my President. No, I am not talking about Georgie Porgy, although he annoys me nonstop. I am talking about President Slinger. He's being a pompous ass the last few days. Just a real prick. He informed me today that we have a meeting ON SATURDAY at 9 am. We will be there until we are done... with what? What could possibly be the task that is so important as to bring us in on a Saturday morning?? To amend the bylaws in the Senate Constitution. Um...? huh? Why can't we leave that to the people who will be IN the senate next year, when the changes take affect?? I'm going in my jammies, and the first time he decides to be a jackass (aka HIMSELF) I will leave.

Survivor is on tonight, because of NCAA basketball so I will have both my hours of weekly TV tonight. Survivor at 7 and LOST at 9.

Had you noticed... both of the shows I will not miss each week involve people stuck on a tropical island? I think it would be wonderful if they could incorporate elements of each show into the other one. Vote out that horrible Julia or creepy Ben from LOST, or have the tribes on Fiji do their next immunity challenge as a polar bear wrestling match...

OK, I am the biggest dork. I may as well have been comparing Star Trek to Dungeons & Dragons, right? And I bowl...my gawd, my poor husband.

It's like that banner ad for classmates.com with the pic of the hot popular guy next to the big geek girl, and the title is "What? He married Her? And they've got 7 kids???"

Tell me y'all have seen that banner ad?

Ok, time to go get the kids out and get settled in to veg for the night.

"The Talk" and everything else

Emma told me on Monday that the 4th grade girls would be taken this week to watch a movie... just the girls, not the boys. Uh-Oh... think I know what this is about. She said (when I asked her what it was about) "I dunno, but I think it's gonna be icky, and I don't want to know"

Sorry, babe, you really have no choice.

So tonight, she and I sat down, as promised, and I gave her 'the talk' so she would be prepared and not so embarrassed/grossed out on Thursday when they show the movie.

Favorite part of the conversation (besides the ENDING of it) was this question:

"Ok, I get all that, gross... but, um, what's 'sex'??"

I got some grades back today, some good, some bad. That accounting test on stocks that we took home over spring break? Yeah, I suck ass at that, got a high C... shit.

Got back our midterm exams from Intro to Public Speaking... that was the one I didn't even know we were having until I walked into class. Yup, aced that sucker... only got 4 wrong, without studying A BIT! I'm so cool.

AND

AND

In speech class tonight we were to give our 4-5 minute long commemorative speeches. I wrote mine, as you will recall, last week in the waiting room of the oil change place. I never once read it out loud, didn't have any idea how long it would be. My outline was pretty rough, too, very short. I figured I would just wing it... less stress that way, right?

The teacher sits out among the students during our speeches, so she can see us for the critique sheets she fills out. I can see these sheets from where I sit. I was the last one to give a speech, and up until me, the highest grade given was a B...

I got an A.

She wrote crap about "being well written and well prepared" hehehe, if she only knew! I read through it for the first time as other people were giving their speeches. (Which, btw, sucked... I thought she was being rather generous with her B's)

When I got home, I didn't feel like cooking, so I called the Pizza dude. Then I ran to the store while leaving the children home to straighten up the house... No cooking, no cleaning...

Well, there ya go, that's my Tuesday in a nutshell. Now if you will excuse me, I have a buttload of Accounting homework to do. Must atone for my pitiful showing on the last test.

Thumb sucking

I'm about ready to have my thumb surgically reduced.

140, 119 and 88. That gave me a 347 for the night, and that's an average of 115, still above my 112 season average, but that damn 88...

The ball sucks my thumb and sticks and when it finally pops off, it heads straight for the gutter.

Dodged a bullet today

Today in the Senate meeting we held elections for next year's officers. My friend Adam nominated me for Treasurer. I had the blessing of the current Treasurer, the President and the Faculty Advisor.

What I didn't have, was the desire to do the job. OK, originally, back in January when Slinger and Eric came to me and asked me to do it, I did say yes. But as I spent more and more time with April learning it, (April is the current Treasurer) I realized that it's a buttload of paperwork and time and headaches. I was starting to regret saying that I would run for the position. BUT, I said I would, so I wasn't about to back out at the last minute.

Along comes Lori. She got nom'd for the position as well. Bless her heart. I was so happy to come back into the room to see her name circled on the sheet of nominees.

Yes, it will be sad not to go to G.A. next fall, it was alot of fun, and it will suck not to get that lovely stipend check at the end of those 2 semesters...BUT, with what I'm doing this summer (taking 6 credits) setting myself up to have a cake walk last year, and now realizing what a P.I.T.A. the job is, I think it all worked out as it should.

Besides, next fall my wonderful husband will be back, and I would rather not be spending that much time at the office doing financial reports etc before and after classes.

So, Lori, good luck to you, and I really hope you choke on it, you limey bitch (HAHA, I am kidding! Even though I didn't really want it, I do hate to lose.... but it's for the best... but I hate losing... dammit)

OK OK, it's fine,just had to get the catty nastiness out of the way quick there, sorry.

Update to follow, IF I have a good night bowling! Otherwise, assume I bowled like crap, and I will post tomorrow or something.

Off by a bunch

Was it just me, or was today like, THE LONGEST day EVER?

I feel like I have been up a helluva lot longer than 12 hours. I am so caught up/ahead on my computerized accounting, very pleased there. Well, sort of. Hit a brick wall and quit for the night.

No, I still did not get past page one on the psych paper, shut up.

I got the mountain of laundry down to a mole hill. I didn't touch my Nano today though... and tomorrow is a busy day. Class from 8-10, then from 10 til 11 I am working on a mix of Senate stuff and finishing up my computerized acct, because I came to a point where I am off by A BUNCH OF MONEY, and I want to compare to Jacqui and Karmeen and see what they have. THEN, I have class from 11-12, and a Senate meeting at noon, where I hope to be voted in as next year's treasurer. Can't hold the same executive board position longer than one year, and I sure as hell don't want to be Prez or VP. But I really like being on the Exec Board.

Then I have class from 1-3, and I will have to bail a few minutes early, since I have an ortho appt at 3. Then I have bowling at 6:30, but THANKFULLY, I don't have to juggle hockey in there anymore.

Today was the day the ice died. The arena in town took the ice off today. No more... til next fall, and then, Honey, it's ALL YOU, ALL THE TIME!! I am taking a 2 year vacation from hockey... well, vacation from running her ass to practice all the time, and vacation from doing the hockey parent crap. I will go to her games, of course, but that is as involved as I am going to be, for the next 2 years! That's it! I have done my time, I deserve to be released for good behavior!

Yeah, ok, whatever.

So tomorrow is a busy day. I should almost go to bed now. I am tired, and I have been sleeping like shit lately.
Had a bizarre dream the other night. I was a student, but it was a middle school. It was a HUGE middle school. I remember sitting in a big commons area, and seeing all these goofy kids, I was on my laptop, trying to navigate the school's website. It was almost as confusing as the building itself...and then having to go find my locker, and I couldn't find it, and I was lost, and then Michele, my Acct teacher was there, and she helped me find my locker. We stopped on the way to get a newspaper though, and she scolded me because she put in the money to open the door, and grabbed a paper, and I took one too, she said it was stealing, since we only paid for one. I remember rolling my eyes and saying "Everybody does it, can we get going?"

just weird.

Yup, might be bedtime... gawd I am old. It's 20 past 8 and I want to go to bed.

Just weird.

Flashback Saturday~ The Ouija Board

I alluded in another flashback post about the day my brother and I sat down with the Ouija board, so I thought I would tell the whole story today.

As previously mentioned, I MOVE THEM, not Satan, just little ol' me. Mom was there, not really paying attention, Dad was not...he was probably out cutting wood or some other chore as a way of avoiding spending time with his family.

Rather than paint the whole picture (I have alot of stuff to do today) I will simply give the Q&A's, and their results... cuz I AM PSYCHIC!!

• WHEN WILL MR. VOSS DIE? (Mr Voss was a horrendously rich man that my grandmother worked as a housekeeper for) I had just read about 'the Ides of March', so I said "MARCH 15TH" We were doing this silly game in roughly January or February, by the way. Well, of course, March 15th came and went that year, and Mr Voss kept on breathing. BUT the next year...yup, he died ON MARCH 15TH. I know alot of stuff could be chalked up to coincidence, but to pick the date, out of 365 days... I must say, this one and the JP one are the ones I am most impressed with. May he rest in peace, of course... BUT I WAS RIGHT!! LOL


• (I don't remember how the question was asked on this one) We got into Mom, and who she would date after Dad died. (Yeah, sorry Dad, I said that you'd die, and that's how Mom would end up back in the dating pool) Well, I mentioned that Mom would date a guy she met at the cemetery. His profession? GRAVEDIGGER... So years later, after my parents divorced (Dad is not dead, although married to that soulless bitch he's got now, he might as well be) ANYWAY, my Mom started dating. Her sister set her up with a guy, Ted, whom she had known for a few years. Ted owned his own business. His own excavation business. Ted had, on occasion DUG GRAVES.


• Of course, the previous story about my future husband being named JP...


• I did get one wrong. After Steven asked about my future mate, I had to retaliate. I asked about his. And I answered... Stacy. Wow, was I wrong there...

Well, just a quick one this week, I have a new toy to play with, I got the invisible shield that I ordered for my Nano today, I want to get that put on.

The kids and I went to McDonald's for breakfast this morning, what a mistake! We waited almost 15 minutes for our food! Gawd, that place just SUCKS.

Interestingly enough, on our way home from McShithole, we were followed by Gimli on a Harley. I kid you not, it was Gimli the Dwarf, riding a hog. The kids thought it was real funny, til I reminded them, while sitting at a stoplight, that I had the window down, and Gimli could probably hear them laughing at him... Gimli looked pretty tough covered in leather except for his face, and that telltale beard, the kids were certain that he had his axe lashed to his back, ready to pull it out at any second and cut small children to shreds. They shut up.

Oh, and about Alex, and the making out... we've had "the talk", so he's good there. I am very appreciative that he feels comfortable enough to tell me about stuff like this... I am fairly certain that it won't last so I am doing all I can to keep that communication open as long as possible. He is actually trying to find me a picture of this new girl... so at least he still wants me involved. So, ya know, I got that going for me...

Last day of freedom

I really didn't fully enjoy and benefit from my last day of Spring Break freedom. I talked to JP a bit this morning, then laid down and went back to sleep.

I did get a nice relaxing shower today though, nobody knocking on the door, no worries about hurrying because I would be late for class.

I did go to Emma's school today though. She volunteered me to be one of the parent drivers to take them to the local nursing home. Their 4th grade class goes there every other Friday to visit the residents. They play card games with them, do art projects, basically just visit. I was really impressed, it was so nice. In addition to being a driver, I also got to sit in on one of these visits. There were 5 residents, 4 kids and me and one other mom/driver. Turns out that this other mom and I have a ton in common, she's really nice, and we visited with each other and a few of the residents, too.

I even talked to some of the staff about taking Hailey and Comet there for a visit. Emma was really excited about that, too. So now that hockey is over, maybe we will have a free minute, and we can take the girls... it will be good for the girls and the residents. A win-win situation.

Now the kids and I are vegging out with junk food and movies. I made the mistake of letting them choose... youngest first. Eric chose the "Best Episodes of Family Guy"... Emma is next, I shudder to think what she will select. I am already assuming Alex will decide upon "Tenacious D and the crappiest movie ever"

Oh, well, at least I picked up some Mike's, so if need be, I can just ignore what's on the TV and play at Pogo all night. Yes, I know I should be working on that damn Psych paper, but it's not due until the 30th and it's extra credit anyway. But I still want to do it.

Well, Alex just told me something I didn't ever want to hear, as his mother. He had a dance today after school, and while there, he MADE OUT with some girl... NOT the girl he asked to go to the dance with him, either! OK,OK, to see the bright side of this, at least he trusts me enough to talk to me about these sorts of things. But really... what a horrible thing to do! I'm really not impressed with his lack of ethics here.

Well, the girls are whining at me, they need to go outside.

Here's a hint: ice is HARD

I don't remember it being that hard when I was a kid skating on the lake with my brother. Of course, I didn't fall down as much then, either.

Old knees and old butts land harder I think.

Yep, you guessed it, today I was playing hockey. Every year at the end of the girls' season we have a game of parents vs girls. I have figure skates... a huge source of laughs for all the girls, btw.

"You're a figure skater?? HAHAHAHA"

"No, I am not a figure skater, I am a MOM... now be nice and don't hurt me!"

I did get a few good shots... no, no shots on goal, but I managed to slap the puck with the stick AND stay on my feet quite a bit... yeah baby!! The parents won the game... ok, technically, the score was tied at the end, 7-7, but we were up 7-3 and time was running out, so some of the better skaters (mostly the dads) were scoring on our own goal for the girls, to get it even. I was pretty surprised, some of those dads are really good. I wish JP had been there, he's so fun to watch... he's just a little squirt in a grown man's body.

I have to go buy batteries for my camera, then tomorrow I am sure the bruises will be all sorts of pretty colors, so I will share then... just the knee, not the HUGE purple and blue colors on my bum...

Before leaving for the game I threw a bunch of stuff into a pot and threw it in the oven, boneless skinless chicken breasts, potatoes and cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soups. It was ready when I came limping in the house, thanks to Alex staying home and watching it, stirring it on occasion. He was pretty cool about it too, something different, and he didn't turn up his nose at it, in fact, he was raving about how yummy it was. That made me feel good.

I worked on my computerized accounting today, SO glad I bought that printer, it has really come in handy this week. I only have tomorrow left without the kids, so I think I will have to use that time to write that Psych paper. I have one page written so far, but it's supposed to be 5 to 7 pages.

Well, that's it, time for bed, and some pain killers I think...

got a bunch of stuff done today

I am exhausted:

• fixed the rug in the sun porch, using, of course, poor man's chrome... a roll and a half of duct tape! But that stuff is there to STAY now...
• fixed the area of the hallway carpet that Comet ripped to hell... again, duct tape.
• took the truck in for her oil change
• while waiting for the truck, I sat in their waiting room with my laptop and wrote that damn speech.
• cleaned out the grooves of the sliding door, and WD40'd them... slides really easy now.
• I scrubbed the garbage can, and the cupboard under the sink where it sits... pewwwwie. All better now.
• I took all the burnable garbage out to Mom and Dave's.
• After cleaning the sun porch, I started a pile of tubs etc for rummage this summer.
• Of course, before doing the rug in the porch, I had to sweep and mop in there, it was such a beautiful day, it was up to 50, so all the furniture in there was sitting in the driveway while I worked in there.
• I finished copying chapter 7 and started on chapter 8 (last one!!) of my Psych notes.
• Washed, dried, folded AND put away 4 loads of laundry.

I think that was it... oh, and I helped Gina figure out her iPod, and took Emma to hockey practice. We found out that Thursday, their last practice, is not really that. THAT is the parents vs the girls game. Crap. I know it's fun for them, but I feel big and dumb and clumsy... and Emma laughs at me because I have figure skates. Oh, the sacrifices we make for our kids...

She's worth it... I can take a bruised butt and a bruised ego for her...

Motto for the day: If it doesn't move, and it SHOULD: WD40... if it moves, and it shouldn't: Duct Tape!!

I am turning PRO!!

I had a good night bowling tonight... I even printed out a copy of it to mail it to JP. First off, my average is (was) 110....

first game: 154
second game: 167 (including 3 strikes in the 10th frame)
third game: 123

I peaked at the second game because I was drinking Mike's Hard Berry and by the 3rd game I had had a couple too many. THAT is about as wild as I get on spring break...

I should now get to bed, I have to take the truck out for an oil change at 8am.

I should buy stock in the Rubbermaid company

First off, stocks... I finished the test on stocks, and I SORT OF understand that crap. Enough to know that I could get into the stock market a little bit... like sticking my toes in the lake to check the temperature... not gonna just run off the dock and jump in like a lunatic.

Second, I have been kicking butt today on my spring cleaning. I have filled 6 Rubbermaid tubs... you know, those ginormous suckers!? I haven't even been downstairs yet, or in the kids' rooms. This is just from the kitchen, dining, bathroom and my room...oh, and the 2 hall closets and part of the front door closet.

Not to mention the ton of burnable stuff I am taking out to Mom and Dave's tomorrow to torch and be rid of. I also took the Kia in this morning for an oil change, and JP's truck has a similar appointment tomorrow morning.

I am going to have to get more tubs. I love them. And they fill up so quickly.
I did really good, too, when going through my closet. I didn't think I had that many pairs of shoes... turns out I just couldn't find them, so I'd buy more. 4 prs of black dress shoes, but in my defense, it was one pair of high heel/slinky, one pair of high heel/sensible and 2 pr of flats... I gave up the one pair of flats that I love the least. Same with the brown shoes...only kept one pair of heels and one pr of flats. My summer sandals, I had to part with 3 pair, and I was still left with 3 pair! I also have 3 pr of white tennis shoes... well, 4 if you count the ones I keep out in the sun porch for lawn mowing. They used to be white, but they're green now. Holy crap, just call me Imelda! And I thought my mother was bad!

I also found the beautiful pair of cowboy boots I bought last August, and have never worn. I put them on while I was walking around the house, I have to break them in, because I will wear them to WE Fest this August. They are just gorgeous, and best thing, they make my feet look TINY! They do hurt a bit, that's why I have to get them broke in. I figure I will wear them all week around the house, and after that, I will wear them if Gina and I go out on a Friday night "For a drink or two" again.

Anyway, the cleaning portion of the day is done, now I am on to the homework portion (can't you tell?) I am trying to write a speech. I dread writing this the most of all the homework I have left, so I am forcing myself to get it done before I go on to the "fun" homework. Besides, it's due before the other stuff is.

I have to bowl tonight, too. Can't wait to see how my thumb does with the new reamed hole in my ball.

Wow, I have procrastinated a whole hour away here, and that speech isn't gonna write itself (dammit) so I have to do this NOW!

Spring BROKE

HaHaHa!! I am off for Spring Break, and the weather is BEAUTIFUL!! Melting everywhere, sun shining, just wonderful!!

I started the "Spring Break Spring Cleaning" list this weekend... got my homework desk (which is just a big dining room table we had spare) all cleaned off, got my papers from this semester filed away, and got started on my Accounting test.

I also did some research for my Psych paper. I am doing it on Compulsive behavior...namely, LIARS. Don't ask why. I'd just lie about it anyway!LOL

I also wiggled with my iPod today... happier and happier with that little bugger...

The kids and I spent the day driving down to the Cities to visit my brother and his hubby. I had a few things here for Steven, and he had some stuff for me, so we did lunch and swapped belongings. It was a long drive, but it was nice to see him. Plus, I knew it was killing him to have his new car and not have anyone to show it off to from the family. I let him drive me around in it. It's actually really nice on the inside. From the inside, you can't see how FUGLY it is. Toyota Prius.

It's almost time for the kids to go to bed, and I will retire to my room to mess with the printer. Maybe spend a little more time on that damn Accounting test. It's a chapter on stocks... maybe she doesn't get it either, and that's why she sucked at teaching it to us. Completely lost. Good thing I've got a solid A in there, I can afford to suckass and get a B on one test.

I now have no energy and no (phone call from mother in law, COMPLETELY LOST my train of thought) well, crap, what was I gonna say?

Nevermind, I'm done for the night.
Have to go set up a printer.

Flashback Saturday

The Game

My parents, when married and raising Steven and I, seemed happy. We had a pretty good childhood. I give partial credit for that to the fact that my parents had their kids when they were young themselves. They were 21 & 20 when Steven was born, and 22&21 when I came along. I really believe that being young with your kids is the way to go... that is, in part, why I too had my children at the relatively young ages of 21, 24 and 25.

My parents were fun. They were fun to be around. They played with us. We had a goofy game we played, the four of us. It never really had a name, all it required to start was my mother grabbing the bright orange uglier-than-all-get-out pillow. It was a fake fur, almost like the fabric one would use to create a Muppet. It was roughly 12x12 square. My mother would grab the pillow and give Steven and I a look, raise an eyebrow and the mischief would begin.

There were a few rules of the game, first off it was only played at night. It had to be dark. The lights were all off in the house, save for one, the obligatory light over the kitchen sink. that was more for safety than anything, but sometimes, even that little bulb will not stop the inevitable.There were two teams for this game, kids versus adults. Steven and I had our 'base of operations' in the basement. Looking back, this was pretty crumby. It was not a finished basement, it was a dirt floor, cob web filled, dank, dark scary place. We didn't actually go down there for our 'meetings', we simply shut the door at the top of the stairs and stayed glued to the backside of the door. This is where we hatched our plans.

Mom and Dad had the rest of the house. They also had the orange pillow. Steven and I had the task of capturing it. My mother would hide it somewhere in the house, usually as far from the basement door as possible, and they would hide and wait in the dark to attack and tickle us as we tried to find and steal the pillow.

The main fun of the game was not the hunt, but rather, find them and SEE them before they could jump out and scare the bejesus out of us. We accomplished that task about as often as that damn pillow made it to the basement. but it was fun to be with my parents, and looking back, I think that was what made the game so great.

There were a few spots in the house that became obvious hiding spots for them, they used them often. As you walked through the kitchen, there was a counter top separated it from the dining room. You could almost count on either Mom or Dad to be crouched behind the counter on the dining room side, to grab your legs as you walked through the doorway. From the dining room you took a right turn into the living room, where, on your right was usually the other one waiting just inside the archway between those rooms. If not there, there was always the area by the fireplace in the family room, or the dark hallway leading to the bathroom and the stairs to the second level. We were used to being scared from those locations, they were 'the norm'.

We were not prepared for the hiding place Mom found on the last night we played the game. It was a great place to hide, but getting out of it in one piece proved to be her (literal) downfall.

As you walked into the kitchen the fridge was directly on your right. Sitting next to that was a counter top... not built in, just a metal type cabinet with a linoleum top to it. It was wedged between the fridge and the stove.Unbeknown to us, as we plotted our next attack behind the basement door, my Mother climbed up on that metal cabinet. Her plan was to jump out and block our path back to the basement after we had retrieved the pillow. Dad's job was to come from behind us and scare us after we turned to run from Mom.

As we crept into the house, we checked the 'normal' spots... no parents. It was easy...too easy to find the pillow. We should have known something was up when we saw it laying right there on the couch. Normally they hid it under a desk, or on a dining room chair that was pushed in all the way. But we were kids, and decided it was just our good fortune to have come across the 'treasure' before we came across the 'enemy'. Steven grabbed the pillow and lead the way as we scurried back through the dining room, heading towards the kitchen, and beyond that, the safety of the basement. We were going to win! For once!

But it was not to be... As we entered the kitchen, Mom was off on her timing. I made it past her, just barely. I think Steven heard her before he saw her, and grabbed me and shoved me ahead of him, throwing the pillow into my arms. Later, he said that he gave it to me because he knew that THEY knew that he always had the damn thing, and they were probably coming after him... he was willing to sacrifice himself for the team.

She did manage to grab him, by the shirt as she went down. I am not sure exactly HOW my mother did what she did, as I said, I was already halfway through and almost to the basement door when we heard the crash. I believe she had shifted her weight to the front of the cabinet, and with a deep toe kick on it, the darn thing just became too front-heavy. Mom, and the cabinet, and all the pots, pans and other various cookware stored within came bursting forward into the middle of the kitchen with a loud clutter and a few choice swear words. I think my Mother's pride was the second most bruised, right after her knees.

She had been crouching, and when she flew, she landed on her knees, amidst the cookware. That ended the game for the night, and, sadly, it was the last time we played.

I just wish I had that damn pillow, maybe carry the tradition on with my kids... besides, all of my kitchen cabinets are built in!

Got what I needed

I said I needed to quit wallowing, stop thinking about it, and that's what I did today. I had my Psych class this morning, even worked on those damn pesky notes IN CLASS. Yeah, that's right, for 3 hours STRAIGHT I took notes. I wrote up 9 pages of notes today. I am midway through chapter 7, all that's left is finishing that, and writing up chapter 8. The test is in two weeks, and it's on my list of things to do during spring break, so I was basically just getting a jump start on it today.

I got out of class, and Gina and I ran over to Fargo. Oh, yeah, her boyfriend came along, too.

I took my bowling ball back, had them ream it out a bit in the thumb area, and bowled a quickie to test it out...perfect.

I had to get dog food and cigarettes (do not even say anything, JP, now is NOT the time to ask me to quit... I WILL go postal if you try to make me) and then we ran to Target to pick up a few things.

I got a new printer that will be living IN MY ROOM... no kids anywhere near it. I need one here at home so I can work on homework stuff during the break.

I also found out that patience DOES pay off. The last 3 times I have been to Target, I have had, in my cart, a white hoodie. It's plain white, but I just love it, it's big and roomy. The first time I had it in my cart, I put it back, it was $24. The second time I had it in there it was $19... 3rd time it was down to $15 and yes, I am that friggin' cheap, I put it back... BUT TODAY!! Today it was on the clearance rack for $7.50... yup, brought that baby home, it was meant to be.

I also splurged and got myself the Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner that I love.

Yes, I admit it, today, I used the old female stand-by

SHOPPING THERAPY

I gotta say though, I do feel better.

OH! I also got a new coat hook rack for the kitchen, will put that up next week, that should help eliminate some yelling at the kids to hang up their jackets and backpacks etc. AND I got that movie that I have wanted to see... THE DEPARTED. I think I will watch that tomorrow.

Let's see, what else did I accomplish in retail therapy today? Oh, got a new bra... yeah, exciting, I know. I also got the girls some tartar control scooby snacks... the vet said at their last visit that they both have nasty build up on their teeth. So between switching them to "dental care" food, and now tartar control snacks, they should be improving.

After the shopping, we did a quickie lunch, and headed for home.

Emma has her friend spending the night, and I am taking them to the movies in a little while. She actually cleaned her room today, I had to reward her...maybe it will get cleaned more often if she sees the benefits of it!

Well, time to get the girls settled and fed so I can go to the mall with 2 LOUD 10 year old girls...

Time to think about this

Well, with what happened yesterday, he's been on my mind alot, ok, CONSTANTLY...

I have had several people say things like "I can't imagine how you must feel" and things like that. Yeah, it has given alot of perspective to things, but at the same time, I could say the same thing to JP. After all, this horrible thing happened TO HIM... not me. Yes, if the outcome had been different, had been the most horrible thing imaginable, then, yes, it would have a great and life-long impact on me, and my kids. But what happened, and what ALMOST happened... happened to him. I just want to be near him. I want him to know how incredibly blessed we both are, and how lucky I feel to still have him with me... even though I don't, and won't for another 5 months.

I can't imagine how you must feel, what you must be thinking and feeling.

Yeah... imagine the only home you have, the few things you have to remind you of those you love, who love you, a few little things to remind you that across the Earth, you are loved... That little feeling of safety and home... gone. One minute sitting there taking that stuff for granted, just feeling safe knowing it's there, assuming it will be there tomorrow. Get up and walk away only to have it destroyed a minute later.

I was thinking of JP and his room, his pictures of his kids, his STUFF... but reading back over it, I could also be talking about me and the kids, and that wonderful man.

I hate thinking of it, but I can't help it. I can't seem to stop thinking "what if he'd stayed?" "What if his Internet had been up and running... " he'd have been in his room... quite likely talking to me on instant messenger when it happened. I can't bear to think about it, and yet I CAN'T STOP.

I can't imagine how you feel, what you must be thinking and feeling.

I know I love him, I have known I love him for a very long time, but thinking of life without him makes me realize how much he is a part of me, part of who I am, and who I want to be. I want to be his wife forever. Yesterday I came far too close to being his widow and that realization scares me to even type it. I'm sitting here sobbing now just thinking about it.

But I have to get this out, and get over it. I can't allow myself to keep thinking like this, to wallow in it, and I sure as hell have to get over it before the kids see me. I'm crying, and I'm scared, but I am also very aware of how lucky we are. Some people do not believe in luck, some would call it karma, some would say it's God watching over him, I don't know what it is, or what made him get up and leave that room when he did. I cannot begin to describe how grateful I am that he did.

Words cannot describe how fortunate I feel today... which is, by the way, the 16th anniversary of JP's and my first date... funny huh?

I love you honey, more than anything or anyone. I don't know when you will be back online, I hope it's soon, I miss you.

Don't wanna be psychic

Remember in my Flashback Saturday post about how JP and I met, I think I'm psychic? OK, OK, no I don't really think so, but I do think it was a weird coincidence.

I have a bad feeling. Ever get those? Just a gut feeling, something isn't right. No real PROOF exactly, but I just can't shake this feeling that something bad has happened.

I haven't seen JP online for a few days (3 or 4, and that's not normal for him) so that's got me a bit cranky... Then today in class my phone was vibrating, pulled it out, didn't recognize the number... besides, I was in class, not lab time either, she was actually lecturing. So I did not answer it. Thought whoever it is will leave a message. I checked it after lecture, during lab time, no message. I mentioned it to my friend Jacqui, and the teacher heard, she said "Maybe it was JP" Well, no it really probably wasn't, because he NEVER calls. But it started eating away at me...

Then when I got home, I did the usual, grab the mail, check the phone for any messages. No messages, but about 5 minutes before my cell phone rang, the home phone rang. It didn't list the number, just said "Unknown name, unknown number"... now I can't help but think maybe it was JP, using a calling card, therefor I would not recognize the number.

So now I'm really starting to get worried. I know, it was probably just a credit card offer, or something stupid, solicitation or whatever, but WHAT IF IT WAS HIM? What if he was calling from a hospital? What if he's hurt, and that's why he hasn't been online?

Now, the rational part of me is saying I would have heard from the jackasses in the military by now if something had happened, but I just cannot get rid of this eerie feeling that something is just not right. I know that this feeling will stay with me until I can talk to him, too.

As if last night's 'blow a nut' episode weren't enough, now I have this hanging over me, nagging at my every thought.
I am really too stressed out. I just want to talk to him. I want to know that he's alright.

I didn't sleep for shit last night, I literally laid in bed from 10:30 until shortly after 3 when I must have finally dozed off. Then I forgot that I had reset my alarm for 9:30 on Tuesday morning when I laid back down because I didn't have class til 11 that day. So I woke up this morning at 7, and had to run like hell, and make the kids run like hell to make the bus. I couldn't even have given them a ride if they missed it, since I had an 8am class today.

Is it Spring Break yet???

UPDATE: Holy shit, I hate being right. I hate being psychic. He did call. He called again around 7 tonight. They have bombs come into the base on a regular basis, once or twice a week. JP had today off work. His roommate was there, too. Their Internet had been down for a couple of days, JP was bitching about it, and he and Paul decided to go to the base computer lab, so they could get online.

They walked away from their room, and a minute later, it was hit. He lost pretty much everything except the most important thing, his life.

I am trying to see the bright side of things, but a part of me can't help but go back to the "what if"s.
I have to believe this man is the luckiest man ever.

Hockey Tournament Pics

Freaking Moose girls... I know they had boobs under their gear... they had to be between 14 and 17, there is no way a 10 yr old could be that freaking big, and that MATURE looking... Wish I could have gotten a picture of their faces... they could BABYSIT my kid, not to mention kick her little ass on the ice.

Must Vent before I REALLY explode!

I have class until 6 p.m. on Tuesday nights. I usually call the house during our break, around 4:30. I called, talked to Emma. She asked me if she had hockey practice tonight. I'm sorry, I do not have YOUR schedule memorized. I told her to call her coach and ask him. If she has to be there before I get home, ask him for a ride. Leave me a note telling me what time practice is done, and I will be there to pick you up. IF you don't have practice until 6:30, then I will be home in time to take you, and there is no need for a ride. ALSO, if that IS the case, DO NOT call me back, as I will be returning to class in a few minutes, and CANNOT be interrupted... Just wait til I get home and tell me then.

She called... of course she did. I was shocked she waited as long as she did though. It was shortly after 5:30 when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I shut it off, and ignored it as soon as I saw that the incoming call was "home". When I left school at 10 to 6, I called her. WHAT? WHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT IT COULD NOT WAIT? She had the balls to say "Can it just wait til you get home?" YEAH, IT CAN WAIT, WHY CAN'T YOU???

I get home, and thanks to the new fallen snow, I see that Alex has not let my girls outside since he got home. I walk in and see that Comet amused herself today by chewing up a tablet. It was not one of mine for school, therefore she has been allowed to live.

I ask Emma if she had gotten ahold of Steve, her coach. "no"... WHY NOT? I didn't bring my planner home, so I didn't know his number. Then she proceeds to tell me that Steve called here and wants me to call him. ?????? UGH, why didn't you just say that? I go to the caller ID to get his number, and he did not call. She insists that he did. I check the other phone's caller ID list...nope.

I'm getting really cranky here. Then I see that my brother called just a few minutes before I got home... his name? Yeah, Steve.

By this time I am just freaking out furious. I beat the dog with the remains of the tablet (after I made Alex take her outside, didn't want to scare the piss out of her and have ANOTHER mess to clean up) While he took both girls out, he only brought one in. Hailey decided that she didn't need to listen to him. I stormed out there, opened the gate and (as usual) Hailey did that STOP, playful stutter step and start to run off... as if we are going to play. I shouted her name so loud, I am sure the entire neighborhood heard me. DON'T CARE. Made her stop. Then she realized I was mad, and didn't want to come to me, didn't want to come anywhere near me in fact. Finally after repeating the words Hailey, COME several times, she did.

I walked into the house, and came online, found out Emma has hockey NOW... at 6. I came out to the kitchen and told her and said "You're not going" ...

Walked back into my room and SLAMMED the door. Beautiful end to a beautiful rant.

Now I am going to post some pictures and try to relax and calm down. MAN, I AM BITCHY NOW...

Meme on Monday

Here's another meme I bummed from Flat ( Ok, woman, now teach me how to do a list on the side bar there (--->) so I can put you and the other blogs I read over there so people who read this can go check you out!)

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. McManager
2. Robot Welder Operator
3. Cabinet door hanger in Winnebago motor homes
4. Parts & Inventory in a shit-spreader factory

Four movies I have watched over and over:
1. The Breakfast Club
2. The Big Chill
3. A Knight's Tale
4. The Cutting Edge

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. Survivor
2. LOST
3. South Park
4. That 70's show

Four places I’ve been on vacation:
1. Spain
2. Budapest, Hungary
3. Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
4. Pensacola Beach, FL

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Salmon, grilled
2. Johnsonville Beer Brats (with mustard)
3. Lasagna
4. My mom's Chili recipe

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Back on that beach in Playa
2. Back on that beach in Lloret De Mar (Spain, Mediterranean Sea)
3. New York City
4. Las Vegas


Bowling was good tonight, 110, 117 and 133. LOVE the ball... but I am taking it back on Friday to get the thumb hole reamed out a bit more, still sticks as the night goes on... my thumb must swell during the course of the games...

No Details, just a quickie

Well, that nap turned into a 6 hour nap (yeah, I KNOW!!) That's like a night's worth of sleep... zonked out at 3:30, woke up at 7, looked at the clock and thought "I'll just doze off for a few more minutes" and holy crap, I woke up at shortly after 9, as Alex was herding the younger 2 kids into bed...without a fight, I might add.

Alex did real good by his momma today. He took Emma and Eric outside and they played in the HUGE snow piles for a few hours (tired them out, yeah!!) and then came in and made supper for them (chicken pot pies in the microwave...good enough, nice job, thanks buddy!) and was in the process of getting them to bed when I finally reappeared.

So, the weekend. Emma's first game was Saturday morning, they lost. It was a 16 team tournament, 2 brackets of 8 teams. They played again Saturday afternoon, they lost. I had signed up to work the penalty box for 2 games that afternoon and Alex volunteered to help. He worked the other penalty box at the same games. Yeah, he VOLUNTEERED, I didn't have to bribe him or anything!!

Saturday night I went out with some of the girls from school and we went Moonlight Bowling. Starts at 10 pm, ends around 12:30. I made .75 for picking up 3 spares worth a quarter each (WHHOOOPPPEEEE) but it was a good time. We did see a guy make a strike for the "strike pot" worth $810... not bad for throwing a ball around! I didn't drink because I knew I had to be back at the arena by 7:15 Sunday morning. I bowled great though, had a 117, a 120 and a 136.

Not enough sleep, and after being cold all day, and sore and stiff, so Sunday morning came WAAAYY to quick.
I worked Sunday morning in the concession stand, while Emma's team played their last game. I didn't get to see it. They lost.

Yeah, our girls took last place in their own damn tournament. How sad.

ANYWAY... I was scheduled to work from 7:30 til 10 in the concession stand, but when 10 rolled around, our replacements did not show up. So the 3 of us who had been there stayed until 11 when those lazy fuckers finally showed up to relieve us.

I had to work 2 more games of penalty boxes, at 11:45 and 1. So I ran home and ate something, then headed back to the arena. Emma stayed there the whole day, she was having a good time, running around with her friends, and watching some pretty damn good hockey.

I took some pictures at Emma's second game on Saturday and I will post them tomorrow. The team they played, F*CKING MOOSE GIRLS! I'm not kidding, I want to see the birth certificates on the majority of those girls. NO DAMN WAY THEY WERE U-10. They looked (not just size, I'm talking facial features) like 16 year old girls. Of course they whupped our little girls.

So I did the penalty boxes for the consolation game (3rd and 4th place) and the Championship game. I also took my Income Tax take-home test with me and worked on that whenever I could. Helped a lot, I got quite a bit done on it!

So there, that's my weekend, in a nutshell, and now, 10:40, I am going back to bed. My morning class 8-10 is cancelled, so I don't have class til 11 tomorrow. That's good, too, because with me not being home much this weekend, the house is a pit. So I will clean house tomorrow morning. Yes, Alex did a great job around here, but he did not supervise housecleaning efforts. I don't blame him... all 3 kids survived the weekend and were fed and kept happy, so I am pleased with the boy.

And, of course, with being gone all weekend, I did not have time for a Flashback Saturday, but I will be ready next weekend, I already have one in mind. Sorry about that... no, I'm not, I'm too tired to be sorry! HAHA.

Too Tired to type, Must Nap Now

Just got done with the hockey tournament, had a long 'too much awake time, not enough sleepy time' weekend, and I am going to take a nap, update will occur this evening after I have had a good 3 to 4 hour nap.
Thank you for your participation...

It's March already

Been busy the last couple of days. Gonna be busy today.


Wednesday I did something really good... I gave blood. There was a blood drive at the school, and I gave 2 pints...
I received blood years ago, with the birth of Alex, aka Moose Baby, and I have tried before to give blood, but something had always stopped me... Once it was too soon after I received blood, once it was too soon after I had gotten a tattoo, and once it was too soon after I had been down to Mexico to the Mayan ruins...

BUT THIS TIME!!

I think it's really important to give blood. It didn't even hurt, well, yeah, it was a bit uncomfortable for awhile, but so easy and such a small price to pay when you consider the lives it will save.

Thursday with the 3 day blizzard kick starting, I did not go to class. I only had one 1-hour class anyway, so I skipped it and got errands etc done instead. I went to the bank, the post office (mailed bills out!) and then I hit the grocery store. I must have looked like I was preparing to feed an army. The cart was darn near overflowing! But I got enough stuff to last us for 2 weeks (other than the milk and diet pepsi that will need to be picked up here and there) AND it only cost me $116! I was so proud of myself, I didn't buy one single thing that wasn't on the list!

This morning, the kids didn't have school anyway, for a teacher in-service day, and I only had one class scheduled: Psychology from 9-12. My college cancelled classes til 11, and I couldn't see going up there for 1 hour, and I am pretty sure the teacher didn't come anyway, I think she lives over in Fargo.

Today, interesting things happening... First off I went online to my bank, and LO AND BEHOLD!! Our Federal tax refund was deposited... (BIG SMILE) So I got a check ready for that amount to take to the bank and get a Cashier's Check to send off to Kia.

Then I went to take a shower, and, as usual, I stripped neekid, without watch or glasses even (need all the help I can get) and got on the scale. (BIG SMILE) I have lost 5.5 lbs since starting those Special K bars as snacks instead of PopTarts!!

I'm feeling skinny and rich today, so it's a great day!!

I even went out and shoveled the walk to the mail box for the mailman.

So my plan for today is simple, I've had 2 days off school, but I still have work to do. I have a test in Accounting (take home) that's due Monday, I have an assignment in Spreadsheets (Excel) that's due Wednesday, and I have an Income Tax test (take home) that's due Thursday. I also have to start thinking about the speech I have to give. We have the outline for it due Tuesday night. Plus next Friday in Psych we will be having a test, and I need to transfer those damn notes for the next 4 chapters again... I've actually started at least, I'm halfway through the 2nd of the 4 chapters.

With Emma's hockey tournament this weekend, I know I won't have much time to work on stuff Saturday and Sunday... Plus a bunch of us are going Moonlight bowling Saturday night (that's the whole 'make a reservation' thing... I made a reservation Wednesday)

Well, it's after 10 am, so I should get moving. It's still snowing and blowing, and we are in a blizzard warning/watch (whatever) until 6 pm tonight.

UPDATE:

I went to the bank, wrote them a check for $7860.00 and they made out a cashier's check.
I went straight from the bank to the post office and mailed that sucker!

Holy Crap, we're really doing it, I'm so happy!! Just yesterday I mailed them the regular payment of $400... Since the 21st of February I have now thrown $8660 at them... I still have the State check (that's another almost $1800), AND JP's combat pay check (that'll be almost $1100) to send them once they show up here. Plus once JP gets past 12 months 'over there', his 'extension bonus' will kick in, that's an extra $1000 per month until he comes home...April, May, June and July... so there's another $4000... plus the $400 normal monthly payments for another $1600...(doing math in my head here) Holy crap, those numbers add up to $17,160.

(the balance back in Jan was 17,136)

OMG!! We WILL have this paid off before he comes home!!