DRIVERS: PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PAY ATTENTION
This is just happening too damned often: http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5178185.html
Jason worked at the same precinct as my sister, Tnk. Jason's brother Ty, mentioned near the end of the article, is Tnk's fiance's best friend.
We're all very saddened by this, particularly since Tnk's accident last year could very easily have ended up the same way. We are so blessed that she survived, yet can't help but feel extreme sadness at the realization that we could just have easily have had to bury her as to help her recuperate.
Jason's family will not have that choice.
Please pray for the family and friends of this dear man, and also for Tnk. She is struggling with feelings of guilt for having survived her accident. No one can really explain it, but at the same time, her feelings are understandable.
Thanks. Again. And please - hang up and drive.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Sunday, September 30, 2007
AS THE TILL BALANCES
Fish, the till did balance - once I got there and adjusted it, that is. The new girl had paid out about $30 that she did not notate, so I just had to put that under Expenditures and Voila! Balance was restored.
Last night we went to hubby's sister's house so that the kids could play Halo 3 with my brother-in-law's XBox 360. They had a blast. That said, however, I absolutely refuse to get a 360 - the kids just bought a Wii this week (with their own money ... wow), and that brings our game system total up to around forty-seven. Let's see, we have the original Atari, two Nintendos, a Nintendo 64, a GameCube, an XBox (sans the 360), and now the Wii. Pey has a GameBoy Advance, Ry has a Nintendo DS, and Kane has both the GBA and the DS. If you toss in all the PC games we have, well, it gets kinda pathetic.
We do actually get out of the house sometimes, I promise.
Today has been fairly uneventful - among the five of us, at least one went to the grocery store and Office Depot, and did lawn mowing and tree planting and laundry. We also went out to lunch (Mexican food!) at Los Compadres - yummy, but gawd am I ever full. Bleh.
Tomorrow is back to the grind for all of us - hubby and me back to work; kids back to school. Next weekend should be doubly-good: it's a three-day weekend, and Saturday marks seventeen years that dh and I have been married. We've got some big plans which include an overnight at the beach while the kids spend the night at the grandparents' house. Heh, I can't wait... ;>
Fish, the till did balance - once I got there and adjusted it, that is. The new girl had paid out about $30 that she did not notate, so I just had to put that under Expenditures and Voila! Balance was restored.
Last night we went to hubby's sister's house so that the kids could play Halo 3 with my brother-in-law's XBox 360. They had a blast. That said, however, I absolutely refuse to get a 360 - the kids just bought a Wii this week (with their own money ... wow), and that brings our game system total up to around forty-seven. Let's see, we have the original Atari, two Nintendos, a Nintendo 64, a GameCube, an XBox (sans the 360), and now the Wii. Pey has a GameBoy Advance, Ry has a Nintendo DS, and Kane has both the GBA and the DS. If you toss in all the PC games we have, well, it gets kinda pathetic.
We do actually get out of the house sometimes, I promise.
Today has been fairly uneventful - among the five of us, at least one went to the grocery store and Office Depot, and did lawn mowing and tree planting and laundry. We also went out to lunch (Mexican food!) at Los Compadres - yummy, but gawd am I ever full. Bleh.
Tomorrow is back to the grind for all of us - hubby and me back to work; kids back to school. Next weekend should be doubly-good: it's a three-day weekend, and Saturday marks seventeen years that dh and I have been married. We've got some big plans which include an overnight at the beach while the kids spend the night at the grandparents' house. Heh, I can't wait... ;>
Friday, September 28, 2007
FRIDAY
Today hubby took the day off and stayed home playing video games this morning while I went to work. I know that sounds weird, but the truth is that we both really enjoyed it. I liked the feeling that he was just a couple of minutes away, and he liked...well, not being at work.
I came home early and we went out to lunch at a local place called Puffabelly's. They have good burgers and very good chicken fried steak. I got the burger and was only able to eat about half of it. It was huge.
After that, our car was blocked in by an 18-wheeler, so we couldn't leave. No biggie; we went for a walk around Old Town Spring, where I got a mint chocolate chip milkshake. I've never had one before, and it was delicious.
I got two phone calls from work while I was out to lunch. The new girl we hired has been "in training" all week, yet she seems to lack the ability to complete even the simplest of tasks. I'm going to go back to the store this evening and check her work. I suspect the cash register till will be quite a bit off.
Anyway, overall it's been a good day. Fridays usually are.
Today hubby took the day off and stayed home playing video games this morning while I went to work. I know that sounds weird, but the truth is that we both really enjoyed it. I liked the feeling that he was just a couple of minutes away, and he liked...well, not being at work.
I came home early and we went out to lunch at a local place called Puffabelly's. They have good burgers and very good chicken fried steak. I got the burger and was only able to eat about half of it. It was huge.
After that, our car was blocked in by an 18-wheeler, so we couldn't leave. No biggie; we went for a walk around Old Town Spring, where I got a mint chocolate chip milkshake. I've never had one before, and it was delicious.
I got two phone calls from work while I was out to lunch. The new girl we hired has been "in training" all week, yet she seems to lack the ability to complete even the simplest of tasks. I'm going to go back to the store this evening and check her work. I suspect the cash register till will be quite a bit off.
Anyway, overall it's been a good day. Fridays usually are.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
DIDN'T MEAN TO OMIT ANYONE
In my last post, I thanked, by name, the people who'd commented on my Appearances post. I just wanted to add here that I am also deeply attached to several other online friends, including but not limited to:
In my last post, I thanked, by name, the people who'd commented on my Appearances post. I just wanted to add here that I am also deeply attached to several other online friends, including but not limited to:
- EvilAmy, who sent me flowers last year when I was on the verge of a breakdown. She may have saved me with that gesture, and I'm betting she doesn't even know it.
- Fish, who I met at a Steve Burns concert and instantly connected with. I'll always treasure the memory of her calling me at 6:00 a.m. to pray for Kane when he had surgery last year.
- Katie, who has no idea how much I admire her - not only for her strength in raising a large family, but also for her raw honesty. Knowing I'm not the only mom who sometimes just wants to be left the hell alone is strangely comforting.
- Shelly, who I really REALLY wanted to meet when I was in SoCal, and who has always been very supportive of me, no matter how whack I got.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
YOU GUYS ROCK
You know, I've had some good friends in my life. I've even had great ones - tell-all-your-secrets-to, commiserate-with, closer-than-sisters great. But I must say that I never thought I'd feel that way about people I've never met.
Yesterday was a very hard day for me, and all of you were right there when I needed you. So to Robin, Pez, Kim, and Beth, I say this:
My world is a better place with you in it, and I love you all.
And hubby, for all you've done for me and for all the support you gave me yesterday through my umpteen desperate phone calls, I also thank you. You're my rock, and I can't imagine life without you.
You know, I've had some good friends in my life. I've even had great ones - tell-all-your-secrets-to, commiserate-with, closer-than-sisters great. But I must say that I never thought I'd feel that way about people I've never met.
Yesterday was a very hard day for me, and all of you were right there when I needed you. So to Robin, Pez, Kim, and Beth, I say this:
Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
My world is a better place with you in it, and I love you all.
And hubby, for all you've done for me and for all the support you gave me yesterday through my umpteen desperate phone calls, I also thank you. You're my rock, and I can't imagine life without you.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
APPEARANCES
Why do all the hairdressers I've ever met feel the need to comment on everyone's appearance? And what makes them think that their clients want to hear negative things about themselves? Because I've never once heard one of them say "oh, nice highlights!" or "what a pretty color your hair is!" Or anything positive for that matter.
My 11-year-old son, Ry, has beautiful light green eyes and jet black hair. He also has patches of gray hair on his head. He is not self-conscious about it right now, but puberty is approaching and I know that he probably will be sometime soon. You'd think that someone meeting a preteen with any kind of obvious physical issue would not speak of it. I mean, WHY bring it up? Because basically what you're doing is saying, "Hey, look how not normal you are!"
This happens to Ry every.single.time we take him for a haircut. And it's done L-O-U-D-L-Y.
Today it was my turn.
One of the store's "regulars" came in today. She is a hairdresser. She is also a pain in the ass, because she thinks she's the only customer in the world and we should bend all the rules for her. But I digress.
Let me paint a picture: I'm standing at the cash register. One of my co-workers is standing at the end of the counter. My boss is to my left. Three other customers are in line around the counter. This is the moment this person chooses to ask me what kind of shampoo I use. Thinking, wow, I am having a good hair day! (I thought I was), I answer "Pantene." She says, "I have this forty-dollar bottle of shampoo I can sell to you because I see that you're losing your hair. It's really falling out, isn't it?"
I was shocked into silence.
She kept on talking, and I finally looked her in the eye and said, "Stop. Stop it. Stop talking right now." She finally did shut up, paid for her purchases, and left.
I checked out the rest of the customers with a pasted-on smile on my face, and when they all left, I broke down and cried.
How dare she - or anyone - point out something like that in a crowded store? I don't think I've ever been so humiliated. My mother had thin hair, so I may have a predisposition for it. I didn't think it was all that bad, but now, of course, I'm upset and freaking out. I feel like everyone's looking at me and thinking the same thing.
Damn, sometimes I hate people.
Why do all the hairdressers I've ever met feel the need to comment on everyone's appearance? And what makes them think that their clients want to hear negative things about themselves? Because I've never once heard one of them say "oh, nice highlights!" or "what a pretty color your hair is!" Or anything positive for that matter.
My 11-year-old son, Ry, has beautiful light green eyes and jet black hair. He also has patches of gray hair on his head. He is not self-conscious about it right now, but puberty is approaching and I know that he probably will be sometime soon. You'd think that someone meeting a preteen with any kind of obvious physical issue would not speak of it. I mean, WHY bring it up? Because basically what you're doing is saying, "Hey, look how not normal you are!"
This happens to Ry every.single.time we take him for a haircut. And it's done L-O-U-D-L-Y.
Today it was my turn.
One of the store's "regulars" came in today. She is a hairdresser. She is also a pain in the ass, because she thinks she's the only customer in the world and we should bend all the rules for her. But I digress.
Let me paint a picture: I'm standing at the cash register. One of my co-workers is standing at the end of the counter. My boss is to my left. Three other customers are in line around the counter. This is the moment this person chooses to ask me what kind of shampoo I use. Thinking, wow, I am having a good hair day! (I thought I was), I answer "Pantene." She says, "I have this forty-dollar bottle of shampoo I can sell to you because I see that you're losing your hair. It's really falling out, isn't it?"
I was shocked into silence.
She kept on talking, and I finally looked her in the eye and said, "Stop. Stop it. Stop talking right now." She finally did shut up, paid for her purchases, and left.
I checked out the rest of the customers with a pasted-on smile on my face, and when they all left, I broke down and cried.
How dare she - or anyone - point out something like that in a crowded store? I don't think I've ever been so humiliated. My mother had thin hair, so I may have a predisposition for it. I didn't think it was all that bad, but now, of course, I'm upset and freaking out. I feel like everyone's looking at me and thinking the same thing.
Damn, sometimes I hate people.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS
On my feet today. It's not a record - that currently stands at 11.45 hours - but it's long enough. I listed only one thing on eBay, then spent the rest of the day managing the shop. I do enjoy my job; I really do. I am just so wiped at the end of the day that all I want to do is come home, take a bath, and go to bed. I'm exhausted.
But it's a "good" exhaustion, you know? I mean, I like being productive and making sales and meeting new people and even dealing with irritated customers. In fact, I think I may actually be pretty good at dealing with grouches - I've noticed lately that the madder they get, the calmer I get. That is totally not my personality, LOL, so I don't know what's going on, but I am thankful for it.
Today I had the following going on at one time:
Somehow I handled it all. All by myself. And without losing my cool. I'm kinda proud of that.
In other news, Ry's bus came ten minutes early this morning. Naturally he was not out yet, so he missed it. I swear, I think I have bus driver issues EVERY year. I'm just waiting for the fun day when I get to deal with the bitches in the front office.
Dang, thinking about them killed my good mood. I think I'll go soak my feet now and revel in the warm bubbly water.
Toodles!
On my feet today. It's not a record - that currently stands at 11.45 hours - but it's long enough. I listed only one thing on eBay, then spent the rest of the day managing the shop. I do enjoy my job; I really do. I am just so wiped at the end of the day that all I want to do is come home, take a bath, and go to bed. I'm exhausted.
But it's a "good" exhaustion, you know? I mean, I like being productive and making sales and meeting new people and even dealing with irritated customers. In fact, I think I may actually be pretty good at dealing with grouches - I've noticed lately that the madder they get, the calmer I get. That is totally not my personality, LOL, so I don't know what's going on, but I am thankful for it.
Today I had the following going on at one time:
- One annoyed customer on the phone
- One annoyed customer near the register
- Me trying to ring up another customer's items
- A child pulling over a large mirror
- Three customers trying to get my attention for "just one quick question"
Somehow I handled it all. All by myself. And without losing my cool. I'm kinda proud of that.
In other news, Ry's bus came ten minutes early this morning. Naturally he was not out yet, so he missed it. I swear, I think I have bus driver issues EVERY year. I'm just waiting for the fun day when I get to deal with the bitches in the front office.
Dang, thinking about them killed my good mood. I think I'll go soak my feet now and revel in the warm bubbly water.
Toodles!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
WAFFLING
I need to go back to work after K gets home from school. I don't particularly want to, but I *need* to. I'm feeling unproductive because the afternoon dragged - a lot - and so I did not get much done. Except that I did get a lot done this morning. But the afternoon is more recent, so the "did not get much done" feeling is what I've got going on.
Does that even make sense?
I have several eBay auctions to post, but this morning all I did was Craigslist (then hours of store-minding, which is torturous when I need to do my online stuff).
I suppose the world wouldn't end if I waited until tomorrow morning.
Sorry for the rambling. That is all.
I need to go back to work after K gets home from school. I don't particularly want to, but I *need* to. I'm feeling unproductive because the afternoon dragged - a lot - and so I did not get much done. Except that I did get a lot done this morning. But the afternoon is more recent, so the "did not get much done" feeling is what I've got going on.
Does that even make sense?
I have several eBay auctions to post, but this morning all I did was Craigslist (then hours of store-minding, which is torturous when I need to do my online stuff).
I suppose the world wouldn't end if I waited until tomorrow morning.
Sorry for the rambling. That is all.
Monday, August 27, 2007
AUCTIONEER EXTRAORDINAIRE
That's what they ought to call me. This morning alone I posted fourteen eBay auctions, one Craigslist posting, and helped out in the store. It was a VERY productive day, due in no small part to the fact that most of the customers did not interfere with me while I was working. My desk is at the back of the store, and most people don't really see me back there. And I don't advertise. ;) I guess what usually happens is that they usually follow the sound of the pounding keyboard.
Today was not like that, and I am not complaining. It's nice to be able to get your job done in the time allotted.
Oh, and in other tiny little baby Jesus news - the kids started school today. Yawn.
I am KIDDING! It was a big morning - K had to catch the school bus at 6:45 a.m.; Pey's bus came at 7:45; Ry's at 8:15. The biggest shocker (so far) was that all the buses were within ten minutes of their "due" time - typically, first days of school they run a lot later.
We'll see what happens this afternoon. Wish us luck!
That's what they ought to call me. This morning alone I posted fourteen eBay auctions, one Craigslist posting, and helped out in the store. It was a VERY productive day, due in no small part to the fact that most of the customers did not interfere with me while I was working. My desk is at the back of the store, and most people don't really see me back there. And I don't advertise. ;) I guess what usually happens is that they usually follow the sound of the pounding keyboard.
Today was not like that, and I am not complaining. It's nice to be able to get your job done in the time allotted.
Oh, and in other tiny little baby Jesus news - the kids started school today. Yawn.
I am KIDDING! It was a big morning - K had to catch the school bus at 6:45 a.m.; Pey's bus came at 7:45; Ry's at 8:15. The biggest shocker (so far) was that all the buses were within ten minutes of their "due" time - typically, first days of school they run a lot later.
We'll see what happens this afternoon. Wish us luck!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
MMMMMMojitos!
Contrary to what you might think, it turns out that I'm not hung over. I did have one drink at the game last night, then dh opened a mojito for me when we got home. That second one went right into the fridge, though, as I was sweaty and tired and really not in the mood for a drink at the time (gasp!).
However, as it is now fourteen hours later and I've cooled off ... ! :-D
The Dynamo tied the Crew last night. The Crew was even down one man to red cards, yet we still couldn't pull it out. I guess I should be thankful for the tie, as Columbus was up 1-0 for most of the game. At least we scored a goal.
This morning I went to my personal hairstylist (a'la "Supercuts" - and btw, I also shop at a fancy little boutique called "Tarjay") for a trim and a straightening. I was hoping for uber-straight - meaning, this suckass Houston humidity wouldn't have its usual fun frizzing my hair - but the stylist said that the flat iron was not necessary. Granted, my hair does look and feel pretty good, but it's not STRAIGHT straight FLAT flat. This picture from last year is what I was wanting:
Instead, I got soft but not stick-straight. It's okay, I guess, but I paid for the styling because I want it to last for several days with no touchups - if I have to work on my hair tomorrow morning, I'm going to be pissed.
Okay, that's enough gritching. The kids head back to school tomorrow, so we're going to hang out as a family today. I'm thinking lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings, then hours of game playing - XBox, Phase 10, and UNO.
But first, let me get that mojito.
Contrary to what you might think, it turns out that I'm not hung over. I did have one drink at the game last night, then dh opened a mojito for me when we got home. That second one went right into the fridge, though, as I was sweaty and tired and really not in the mood for a drink at the time (gasp!).
However, as it is now fourteen hours later and I've cooled off ... ! :-D
The Dynamo tied the Crew last night. The Crew was even down one man to red cards, yet we still couldn't pull it out. I guess I should be thankful for the tie, as Columbus was up 1-0 for most of the game. At least we scored a goal.
This morning I went to my personal hairstylist (a'la "Supercuts" - and btw, I also shop at a fancy little boutique called "Tarjay") for a trim and a straightening. I was hoping for uber-straight - meaning, this suckass Houston humidity wouldn't have its usual fun frizzing my hair - but the stylist said that the flat iron was not necessary. Granted, my hair does look and feel pretty good, but it's not STRAIGHT straight FLAT flat. This picture from last year is what I was wanting:
Instead, I got soft but not stick-straight. It's okay, I guess, but I paid for the styling because I want it to last for several days with no touchups - if I have to work on my hair tomorrow morning, I'm going to be pissed.
Okay, that's enough gritching. The kids head back to school tomorrow, so we're going to hang out as a family today. I'm thinking lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings, then hours of game playing - XBox, Phase 10, and UNO.
But first, let me get that mojito.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
BLOGGING WHILE TIPSY
Woo! Y'all, this is totally fun, and you should totally try it! Whee!
I have inadvertently combined two Sudafed with one (so far, lol) Bacardi Mojito, and it's a wild ride. In fact, it's all I can do to form a cohesive sentence - even harder to form one with non-misspelled words. Yowza. (Took me three tries and a one-finger hunt-&-peck to stop spelling that word "Ywoolza" - ha!)
Yes, I do realize that everything is funny to me, and none of this is eliciting laughter from you. Unless you've also been drinking, which I doubt, as it's only 1:42 p.m. CST right now. It's five o'clock somewhere, I've heard, so I have no qualms about my condition at the moment.
Qualms is a funny word.
I spent the morning (pre-drunkenness; don't worry) trying to round up school supplies for Ry & Pey. I went to Target, whose remaining selection was lacking, then to Wal-Mart, which I hate with the red hot passion of a thousand suns, and whose selection was also terribly pathetic ("Notebook paper? No, we're out. Rulers? No, we're out of those, too.") Who runs out of rulers?
Office Depot was my saving grace. I shall forevermore start and finish my school supply shopping there. Unless I don't. But for this year at least, they were good to me. Hey, maybe I should buy Office Depot a mojito and share the love.
Tonight we're going to the Houston Dynamo vs. Columbus Crew soccer game. I don't really feel like going, as it's hotter than Hades and I'm sick; however, I'm also working on a good buzz, so maybe I won't notice the heat and my clogged nasal passages. (Bonus!) Plus, the games are almost always enjoyable, so I know I'll be glad I went.
Woo! Y'all, this is totally fun, and you should totally try it! Whee!
I have inadvertently combined two Sudafed with one (so far, lol) Bacardi Mojito, and it's a wild ride. In fact, it's all I can do to form a cohesive sentence - even harder to form one with non-misspelled words. Yowza. (Took me three tries and a one-finger hunt-&-peck to stop spelling that word "Ywoolza" - ha!)
Yes, I do realize that everything is funny to me, and none of this is eliciting laughter from you. Unless you've also been drinking, which I doubt, as it's only 1:42 p.m. CST right now. It's five o'clock somewhere, I've heard, so I have no qualms about my condition at the moment.
Qualms is a funny word.
I spent the morning (pre-drunkenness; don't worry) trying to round up school supplies for Ry & Pey. I went to Target, whose remaining selection was lacking, then to Wal-Mart, which I hate with the red hot passion of a thousand suns, and whose selection was also terribly pathetic ("Notebook paper? No, we're out. Rulers? No, we're out of those, too.") Who runs out of rulers?
Office Depot was my saving grace. I shall forevermore start and finish my school supply shopping there. Unless I don't. But for this year at least, they were good to me. Hey, maybe I should buy Office Depot a mojito and share the love.
Tonight we're going to the Houston Dynamo vs. Columbus Crew soccer game. I don't really feel like going, as it's hotter than Hades and I'm sick; however, I'm also working on a good buzz, so maybe I won't notice the heat and my clogged nasal passages. (Bonus!) Plus, the games are almost always enjoyable, so I know I'll be glad I went.
Friday, August 24, 2007
SUMMERTIME COLDS SUCK, AND OTHER BREAKING NEWS
I abhor summertime colds; I really do. This one is a mystery, too, as no one else I know is sick. I do work around the general public every day, so I'm sure I caught this from one of them. I'd love to know who, though, so I can send them a big fat "thank-you."
This morning I got the tire fixed on the van, then dh and I took Pey to meet her teachers. She is not happy about her assigned class, as she's apparently heard that her main teacher is "mean." We're trying to tell her to give the teacher a chance and make that determination for herself, and I hope she's listening. I have learned many times over that it's better to judge for yourself than to follow the pack. If only I'd figured that out when *I* was nine...
DH took Ry and Pey to the Houston Aquarium this afternoon. I begged off because I don't really feel well enough to walk that much. Kane begged off because...I don't know why, but I do wish he'd gone with his dad. They don't get much time together, and I'm afraid he'll have regrets. I already regret not going with them, although I know that I'm better off resting as much as possible while I can - Monday I go back to work, and I want to be well by then.
Tonight's plans include watching a "Star Trek: The Next Generation" movie (I forget which one) and eating lots of junk food. Natch, I have no sense of smell or taste right now, so this will suck for me. Or maybe I'll load up on spicy stuff and clear my sinuses...yeah, let's go with that!
I abhor summertime colds; I really do. This one is a mystery, too, as no one else I know is sick. I do work around the general public every day, so I'm sure I caught this from one of them. I'd love to know who, though, so I can send them a big fat "thank-you."
This morning I got the tire fixed on the van, then dh and I took Pey to meet her teachers. She is not happy about her assigned class, as she's apparently heard that her main teacher is "mean." We're trying to tell her to give the teacher a chance and make that determination for herself, and I hope she's listening. I have learned many times over that it's better to judge for yourself than to follow the pack. If only I'd figured that out when *I* was nine...
DH took Ry and Pey to the Houston Aquarium this afternoon. I begged off because I don't really feel well enough to walk that much. Kane begged off because...I don't know why, but I do wish he'd gone with his dad. They don't get much time together, and I'm afraid he'll have regrets. I already regret not going with them, although I know that I'm better off resting as much as possible while I can - Monday I go back to work, and I want to be well by then.
Tonight's plans include watching a "Star Trek: The Next Generation" movie (I forget which one) and eating lots of junk food. Natch, I have no sense of smell or taste right now, so this will suck for me. Or maybe I'll load up on spicy stuff and clear my sinuses...yeah, let's go with that!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
I AM HERE, AND I AM SICK
Summer colds suck.
Well, next Monday marks the first time I'll have three kids in three different schools. I am not sure just when my baby Kane got old enough to go to HIGH school, but there he is. I just know it will be like next week when he heads off to college. I am constantly getting teary-eyed about that, and the time hasn't even come yet.
Ry is starting junior high (here it's called "middle school" or "intermediate school" - grades 6 through 8) next week. Tonight the kids got to pick up their schedules and walk the building to get a feel for where they'll need to go when school starts. They also got their lockers, which I think was the most exciting part of all for Ry. It's good that he's a tall kid, by the way, as he has a top locker - and they're in columns of three high. When I was in 6th grade, giving me a top locker would have been a waste. Fortunately, my kids seem to have inherited their dad's normal height, as opposed to their mom's diminutive stature. Whew.
Pey will be in 4th grade at the elementary school. She was tested for the Gifted & Talented program last spring, and she scored a 93! So now we're the proud parents of a GT kid, which thrills us to no end. I mean, all our kids are smart, but I think Pey has something really special - she is the most creative little girl I've ever met. Sometime I'll post one of the songs she's written. You'd never believe what comes out of this 9-year-old's mind.
DH is doing well at work - keeping busy, as usual. A couple of weeks ago, his company sent him to L.A. for a week, and I got to tag along. Man, does that part of California have some beautiful scenery AND weather. No wonder the real estate values are out of this world. Daaaaang. I've decided that when we retire, hubby and I need to move to San Clemente for awhile. Absolutely.breathtakingly.gorgeous.
I'm also doing well at work. I sold over a thousand dollars worth of items on eBay just this week! The boss is happy, and we all know how good that is. I'm going to be auctioning off a bunch more stuff in the coming week, so check out my listings: my seller id is "discjones" and here is one of the neat-o items I've got listed right now.
Tomorrow dh and I both took off work so we could spend one last summer day with the kids. We have "meet the teacher" at Pey's school in the morning, but had planned to do lots of fun stuff after that. Naturally, I left work today to find a very flat tire on the van, so I guess "Go to Discount Tire" has made the "fun" list. That, and "Buy more Sudafed." Woohoo.
I need to upload a bunch of pictures and videos for your viewing pleasure, but right now what I really need is some Sudafed and a hot bath. Then beddie-bye.
Have I mentioned that I hate being sick?
Summer colds suck.
Well, next Monday marks the first time I'll have three kids in three different schools. I am not sure just when my baby Kane got old enough to go to HIGH school, but there he is. I just know it will be like next week when he heads off to college. I am constantly getting teary-eyed about that, and the time hasn't even come yet.
Ry is starting junior high (here it's called "middle school" or "intermediate school" - grades 6 through 8) next week. Tonight the kids got to pick up their schedules and walk the building to get a feel for where they'll need to go when school starts. They also got their lockers, which I think was the most exciting part of all for Ry. It's good that he's a tall kid, by the way, as he has a top locker - and they're in columns of three high. When I was in 6th grade, giving me a top locker would have been a waste. Fortunately, my kids seem to have inherited their dad's normal height, as opposed to their mom's diminutive stature. Whew.
Pey will be in 4th grade at the elementary school. She was tested for the Gifted & Talented program last spring, and she scored a 93! So now we're the proud parents of a GT kid, which thrills us to no end. I mean, all our kids are smart, but I think Pey has something really special - she is the most creative little girl I've ever met. Sometime I'll post one of the songs she's written. You'd never believe what comes out of this 9-year-old's mind.
DH is doing well at work - keeping busy, as usual. A couple of weeks ago, his company sent him to L.A. for a week, and I got to tag along. Man, does that part of California have some beautiful scenery AND weather. No wonder the real estate values are out of this world. Daaaaang. I've decided that when we retire, hubby and I need to move to San Clemente for awhile. Absolutely.breathtakingly.gorgeous.
I'm also doing well at work. I sold over a thousand dollars worth of items on eBay just this week! The boss is happy, and we all know how good that is. I'm going to be auctioning off a bunch more stuff in the coming week, so check out my listings: my seller id is "discjones" and here is one of the neat-o items I've got listed right now.
Tomorrow dh and I both took off work so we could spend one last summer day with the kids. We have "meet the teacher" at Pey's school in the morning, but had planned to do lots of fun stuff after that. Naturally, I left work today to find a very flat tire on the van, so I guess "Go to Discount Tire" has made the "fun" list. That, and "Buy more Sudafed." Woohoo.
I need to upload a bunch of pictures and videos for your viewing pleasure, but right now what I really need is some Sudafed and a hot bath. Then beddie-bye.
Have I mentioned that I hate being sick?
Monday, July 09, 2007
BIG NEWS
DH's sister graced us with the news last week that she is pregnant with her first child. She and her husband are pretty excited. I'm so pleased for them, and can't wait to have a new baby in the family!
MORE BIG NEWS
Tnk is getting married! Y'all, I am beyond thrilled. Finally she will have a man in her life who worships the ground she walks on - and it's about damn time. Her first husband used to hit her, lock her in their spare bedroom (and then he would f'ing GO TO WORK and leave her there!), and cheated on her constantly. He'd go out to bars and come home at 3:00 a.m. with marks on his neck. When she asked him what was on his neck, he'd nonchalantly say, "Hickeys." As IF, asshole.
So.
Tnk gave me the good news about her and D last week, and the very next day we went shopping for bridesmaids dresses and flowers and invitations, oh my! It is SO much fun to be able to do all this stuff with and for her, and welcoming a good guy into the family is just a bonus.
D, by the way, used to be Tnk's partner at the precinct they both worked for. He was off the night she was hit by the drunk driver, and I think still blames himself to some extent for not being there. Of course, he could not have prevented the wreck, but I guess he thinks that he's superhuman and could have prevented four tons of metal plowing right into her at 63 miles an hour. He's a great guy and all that, but I doubt even he could have made a difference that night.
What IS important is that he was there for her from the start of her hospital stay and throughout her recovery. He even left the precinct last fall when he was told that he could not be with her because they were partners. He got a better job with another precinct so that he could propose to Tnk. This whole process took well over a year, but throughout it all, his intentions have been clear: he wants to make her happy.
I want that, too.
DH's sister graced us with the news last week that she is pregnant with her first child. She and her husband are pretty excited. I'm so pleased for them, and can't wait to have a new baby in the family!
MORE BIG NEWS
Tnk is getting married! Y'all, I am beyond thrilled. Finally she will have a man in her life who worships the ground she walks on - and it's about damn time. Her first husband used to hit her, lock her in their spare bedroom (and then he would f'ing GO TO WORK and leave her there!), and cheated on her constantly. He'd go out to bars and come home at 3:00 a.m. with marks on his neck. When she asked him what was on his neck, he'd nonchalantly say, "Hickeys." As IF, asshole.
So.
Tnk gave me the good news about her and D last week, and the very next day we went shopping for bridesmaids dresses and flowers and invitations, oh my! It is SO much fun to be able to do all this stuff with and for her, and welcoming a good guy into the family is just a bonus.
D, by the way, used to be Tnk's partner at the precinct they both worked for. He was off the night she was hit by the drunk driver, and I think still blames himself to some extent for not being there. Of course, he could not have prevented the wreck, but I guess he thinks that he's superhuman and could have prevented four tons of metal plowing right into her at 63 miles an hour. He's a great guy and all that, but I doubt even he could have made a difference that night.
What IS important is that he was there for her from the start of her hospital stay and throughout her recovery. He even left the precinct last fall when he was told that he could not be with her because they were partners. He got a better job with another precinct so that he could propose to Tnk. This whole process took well over a year, but throughout it all, his intentions have been clear: he wants to make her happy.
I want that, too.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
GOOD HEAVENS, IT'S ALMOST JULY
Did I really last post on June 20th? Wow.
So, updates...
Work is going well. I'm probably going to jinx myself by saying this, but work is going really well. Gary (my boss) has been on vacation for the past three days, and the shop has exceeded it's daily sales goals every one of those days. I'm sure that has nothing at all to do with his absence, as he's actually a beneficial presence, but it's great that the store thrives even when he's gone. He was very stressed about leaving because the last time he did, the woman who he left in charge actually closed the store because she "needed a nap." A three-day nap, apparently. The store took a huge financial hit, and Gary's been extremely nervous about leaving town ever since. So I'm really happy that things are going well this time - maybe he'll relax a bit.
I've been doing well with the eBay sales, too. Oh, and by the way, Craigslist rocks! I listed a Coach purse that we had in the shop, and a lady in Virginia emailed me about it. She actually paid for the purse and shipping that very day! I didn't think you could get to other towns' Craigslists, but I guess I've been proven wrong.
Craigslist is actually my favorite selling site - it's free, and usually doesn't involve shipping (that purse was the only exception so far). I just give people our address and they come to the store and buy what they saw online. Much less work than eBay, which means I get more done, which means more money for the store, which means a happy boss and likewise happy employees. Whee!
Hi, I'm Pley, your friendly neighborhood Craigslist cheerleader. Give me a C!...
---
DH is back home from a week-long trip to southern California. The kids and I are very happy to have him back, and he's glad to be home, too. Right now he's playing XBox with the boys, which I find strangely cozy and comforting. I think the boys are giving him advice on his game. That's a strange situation to find yourself in - your kids giving YOU advice. I'm still getting used to it.
---
Right now I'm listening to "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" by Def Leppard. It's on my iTunes list, which I'm playing through the computer. I used to listen to Yahoo radio, but it doesn't seem to work very well with either Windows XP or Mozilla or Yahoo beta mail (likely the latter). Those are the only things that have been updated on this computer since I used to listen to Yahoo radio, so if it's not those, then I'm just lost.
Last song played - "Independent Woman" by Destiny's Child. Next up - "February Song" by Josh Groban. MAN I love JG's voice.
I just realized that I've got a weird lineup on iTunes. I guess I'm just a diverse girl.
---
Earlier this afternoon I printed out my Grocery Game list for Kroger. Not as many good deals this week as last (all of which I missed out on because my coupons are not organized! wah!), but I can still work with it. I'm particularly looking forward to getting more Softsoap for a buck, as we are all but out.
---
Fish looks exactly the same as she did twenty years ago. We should all be so lucky. On that note, I love blogs with pictures. I should post more of my own.
---
Kimmer - I want to reiterate here, where my loyal readers (all three of them) can see - I'd be glad to help you with eBay stuff, if you need me. :)
---
Okay, I talked myself into it. Here's my senior picture, circa nineteen eighty-something:
And here's me at the Alan Parsons concert last year in Florida:
And with that, I'm out! Have a great weekend!
Did I really last post on June 20th? Wow.
So, updates...
Work is going well. I'm probably going to jinx myself by saying this, but work is going really well. Gary (my boss) has been on vacation for the past three days, and the shop has exceeded it's daily sales goals every one of those days. I'm sure that has nothing at all to do with his absence, as he's actually a beneficial presence, but it's great that the store thrives even when he's gone. He was very stressed about leaving because the last time he did, the woman who he left in charge actually closed the store because she "needed a nap." A three-day nap, apparently. The store took a huge financial hit, and Gary's been extremely nervous about leaving town ever since. So I'm really happy that things are going well this time - maybe he'll relax a bit.
I've been doing well with the eBay sales, too. Oh, and by the way, Craigslist rocks! I listed a Coach purse that we had in the shop, and a lady in Virginia emailed me about it. She actually paid for the purse and shipping that very day! I didn't think you could get to other towns' Craigslists, but I guess I've been proven wrong.
Craigslist is actually my favorite selling site - it's free, and usually doesn't involve shipping (that purse was the only exception so far). I just give people our address and they come to the store and buy what they saw online. Much less work than eBay, which means I get more done, which means more money for the store, which means a happy boss and likewise happy employees. Whee!
Hi, I'm Pley, your friendly neighborhood Craigslist cheerleader. Give me a C!...
---
DH is back home from a week-long trip to southern California. The kids and I are very happy to have him back, and he's glad to be home, too. Right now he's playing XBox with the boys, which I find strangely cozy and comforting. I think the boys are giving him advice on his game. That's a strange situation to find yourself in - your kids giving YOU advice. I'm still getting used to it.
---
Right now I'm listening to "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" by Def Leppard. It's on my iTunes list, which I'm playing through the computer. I used to listen to Yahoo radio, but it doesn't seem to work very well with either Windows XP or Mozilla or Yahoo beta mail (likely the latter). Those are the only things that have been updated on this computer since I used to listen to Yahoo radio, so if it's not those, then I'm just lost.
Last song played - "Independent Woman" by Destiny's Child. Next up - "February Song" by Josh Groban. MAN I love JG's voice.
I just realized that I've got a weird lineup on iTunes. I guess I'm just a diverse girl.
---
Earlier this afternoon I printed out my Grocery Game list for Kroger. Not as many good deals this week as last (all of which I missed out on because my coupons are not organized! wah!), but I can still work with it. I'm particularly looking forward to getting more Softsoap for a buck, as we are all but out.
---
Fish looks exactly the same as she did twenty years ago. We should all be so lucky. On that note, I love blogs with pictures. I should post more of my own.
---
Kimmer - I want to reiterate here, where my loyal readers (all three of them) can see - I'd be glad to help you with eBay stuff, if you need me. :)
---
Okay, I talked myself into it. Here's my senior picture, circa nineteen eighty-something:
And here's me at the Alan Parsons concert last year in Florida:
And with that, I'm out! Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
TO GET THE DEAD BABY OFF THE SCREEN, AND OTHER FOIBLES
Makes no sense; I just like the word "foibles." Heh.
The kids and I watched "Robot Chicken" today. It was the Star Wars version, but it had one skit with an animated Dubya that we found more than amusing (I did fast-forward through a couple of scenes that aren't exactly child-friendly but still made me laugh when I watched them alone). All evening I've been saying, "That'll teach you, George Washington!" and the kids and I crack up. "Tacos rule" is another of our new favorite sayings.
Ah, the joys of misspent youth. Next week: poker!
---
Well, the dreaded insomnia has reared its ugly head again. I've been forced to resort to Advil PM to help me sleep at night. Before that, I was waking up from around midnight every night, and not falling back to sleep until at least 4:00 a.m. I have to get up around 6:00 every morning to get myself and hubby ready for work, so that sleep schedule just wasn't working for me.
Unfortunately, a regular dose of Advil PM is a bit too strong. I took two Monday night, and spent all day Tuesday in a fog. Last night I took one pill, and was only foggy this morning. I'm going to try and skip it altogether tonight and hopefully can get a full six or seven hours. The insomnia and aunt flo's unwelcome visit this week are making my life a living hell. Well, not quite hell, but definitely an unpleasant purgatory.
I'm off to bed now. Wish me luck.
Makes no sense; I just like the word "foibles." Heh.
The kids and I watched "Robot Chicken" today. It was the Star Wars version, but it had one skit with an animated Dubya that we found more than amusing (I did fast-forward through a couple of scenes that aren't exactly child-friendly but still made me laugh when I watched them alone). All evening I've been saying, "That'll teach you, George Washington!" and the kids and I crack up. "Tacos rule" is another of our new favorite sayings.
Ah, the joys of misspent youth. Next week: poker!
---
Well, the dreaded insomnia has reared its ugly head again. I've been forced to resort to Advil PM to help me sleep at night. Before that, I was waking up from around midnight every night, and not falling back to sleep until at least 4:00 a.m. I have to get up around 6:00 every morning to get myself and hubby ready for work, so that sleep schedule just wasn't working for me.
Unfortunately, a regular dose of Advil PM is a bit too strong. I took two Monday night, and spent all day Tuesday in a fog. Last night I took one pill, and was only foggy this morning. I'm going to try and skip it altogether tonight and hopefully can get a full six or seven hours. The insomnia and aunt flo's unwelcome visit this week are making my life a living hell. Well, not quite hell, but definitely an unpleasant purgatory.
I'm off to bed now. Wish me luck.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
Y'all know I work in a consignment shop, right? If I haven't mentioned that before, well, there it is.
Now that we have that out of the way...
A couple of days ago, a man came in with a bunch of antique stuff he'd found while going through his late mother-in-law's storage shed. Among the items he brought in was an antique doll stroller, complete with an old, dusty, dirty plastic doll with frizzy hair. The stroller generated a lot of interest from customers in the store, but since it was a new arrival and had not yet been coded and priced, we couldn't sell it right away.
Tuesday morning I had a few minutes on my hands and decided to clean the stroller up a bit so that I could take some pictures. My thinking was, with that much customer interest, it might do well on eBay.
I pulled the old doll out of the stroller and tossed it into the trash. When I turned back toward the stroller, I nearly had a heart attack. There was another doll in the stroller - one that had apparently been laying beneath the other one for a good 30 or 40 years. Now, I've never seen a real human baby decomposing before, but I imagine it would look something like this:
Note how its right eye opens sideways to stare at you and haunt your soul.
"Hey you, over here! Hi! I'll be the one to haunt your dreams forevermore."
"You cannot hide from me. My extra eye sees everything."
Decomposing fingers of death...
Sweet dreams, y'all.
Y'all know I work in a consignment shop, right? If I haven't mentioned that before, well, there it is.
Now that we have that out of the way...
A couple of days ago, a man came in with a bunch of antique stuff he'd found while going through his late mother-in-law's storage shed. Among the items he brought in was an antique doll stroller, complete with an old, dusty, dirty plastic doll with frizzy hair. The stroller generated a lot of interest from customers in the store, but since it was a new arrival and had not yet been coded and priced, we couldn't sell it right away.
Tuesday morning I had a few minutes on my hands and decided to clean the stroller up a bit so that I could take some pictures. My thinking was, with that much customer interest, it might do well on eBay.
I pulled the old doll out of the stroller and tossed it into the trash. When I turned back toward the stroller, I nearly had a heart attack. There was another doll in the stroller - one that had apparently been laying beneath the other one for a good 30 or 40 years. Now, I've never seen a real human baby decomposing before, but I imagine it would look something like this:
Note how its right eye opens sideways to stare at you and haunt your soul.
"Hey you, over here! Hi! I'll be the one to haunt your dreams forevermore."
"You cannot hide from me. My extra eye sees everything."
Decomposing fingers of death...
Sweet dreams, y'all.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
OF SOCCER AND YOUNG LOVE
Sunday afternoon we took K and his crush, A, to the Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas soccer game at Robertson Stadium (the official football stadium of the University of Houston). It was K's first "date," but I think his dad and I were more nervous than he was.
The four of us went to the game alone - we left Ry & Pey at the grandparents' house. The drive to the stadium was long, but not as uncomfortable as you might think. DH had coached our very shy son with questions he could ask A, and I think K asked every single one! To her credit, A was very sweet and gracious and answered every question, although she didn't elaborate much. We later remarked that she was almost as quiet and reserved as K, to which he replied, "that's the first time ever." Apparently she's a very outgoing girl. That makes sense, actually, as she's already made the freshman cheerleading squad at their high school.
The day was very hot and sunny, and K has a smarting sunburn right now. But both kids had a good time, and the Dynamo won (yay!) so hubby and I had a good time, too.
I wish there was more to tell about my oldest child's first date, but it was blissfully uneventful. I also wish to heck I'd taken my camera! Dang it.
Sunday afternoon we took K and his crush, A, to the Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas soccer game at Robertson Stadium (the official football stadium of the University of Houston). It was K's first "date," but I think his dad and I were more nervous than he was.
The four of us went to the game alone - we left Ry & Pey at the grandparents' house. The drive to the stadium was long, but not as uncomfortable as you might think. DH had coached our very shy son with questions he could ask A, and I think K asked every single one! To her credit, A was very sweet and gracious and answered every question, although she didn't elaborate much. We later remarked that she was almost as quiet and reserved as K, to which he replied, "that's the first time ever." Apparently she's a very outgoing girl. That makes sense, actually, as she's already made the freshman cheerleading squad at their high school.
The day was very hot and sunny, and K has a smarting sunburn right now. But both kids had a good time, and the Dynamo won (yay!) so hubby and I had a good time, too.
I wish there was more to tell about my oldest child's first date, but it was blissfully uneventful. I also wish to heck I'd taken my camera! Dang it.
Friday, June 01, 2007
MIZZOU
So the family took that long drive to Missouri and back last week. All in all, we drove over 1750 miles and were in the car 31 hours. It was actually a pretty good trip, and although there were a few minor annoyances, it was perfectly splendid considering we spent four solid days in the ever-present company of family and in-laws.
I drank a lot of wine. So...yeah.
The first two nights were spent in Lowry City, Missouri, in dh's grandmother's parent's home. It was built around the turn of the century, I think, and looks it. Grandma's father actually died in.the.house. His funeral was held in.the.house.
Shivers.
Truth be told, I completely love it - the creaky floors, the funky windows, the old-house smell. We opened all the windows and awoke to the sounds of birds every morning. Perfection.
The family reunion was held Saturday at the Boy Scout meeting hall. There was lots of good food, tons of people I didn't recognize, and a foosball table. What could be better? Oh yeah, beer. My brother-in-law brought a cooler of beer and we all took one...then we were informed that we actually weren't allowed alcoholic beverages in the Boy Scout hall. Oops. I poured mine into a plastic cup and tossed the bottle. Problem solved! Who says Girl Scouts can't be innovative?
The next day we drove all over central Missouri and visited a bunch of cemeteries, where we saw all the old family graves. DH's dad can tell a story about almost all of them, and we should have been videotaping. I am so annoyed with myself for not doing that.
Monday afternoon all the grandkids (that is, DH, his sister, and their three cousins) met up at Grandma's other house in Kansas City to go through her things. (She passed away last October, just days shy of her 96th birthday.) We were all encouraged to take whatever we wanted, as there was well over 100 years worth of things there. I ended up with some punch bowl cups, a couple of old pieces of china that date back to the turn of the century, and some hand-crocheted doilies, among other things. Pey was gifted with a bedroom set from the 1940s. My favorite new possession, though, is a bound set of the old musical monthly called "The Etude Magazine" from 1929. In the back of the notebook, Grandma stuck some extra magazine covers that still bear her address label. The labels read thusly:
And that's it. How cool would it be to send a letter to someone and only have to put their name and city on it? My how times have changed.
While going through the house, we also came across some old postcards sent from family members, to family members. They carried one-cent stamps and were postmarked 1907. Oh how I wish we'd been able to keep those! I think hubby's aunt took them, though, so at least they'll stay in the family.
It was a sentimental trip, and it carried extra sadness for us because in all likelihood, we won't ever be able to go back to that house again. As soon as it's cleared out, it's going on the market. I guess I'm not used to being a player at the end of an era, but the sale of Grandma's house is definitely closing a chapter.
Grandma, we thank you for your legacy and for all you represented. I hope that when I grow up, I can be just like you. You are very much missed.
Love,
T
So the family took that long drive to Missouri and back last week. All in all, we drove over 1750 miles and were in the car 31 hours. It was actually a pretty good trip, and although there were a few minor annoyances, it was perfectly splendid considering we spent four solid days in the ever-present company of family and in-laws.
I drank a lot of wine. So...yeah.
The first two nights were spent in Lowry City, Missouri, in dh's grandmother's parent's home. It was built around the turn of the century, I think, and looks it. Grandma's father actually died in.the.house. His funeral was held in.the.house.
Shivers.
Truth be told, I completely love it - the creaky floors, the funky windows, the old-house smell. We opened all the windows and awoke to the sounds of birds every morning. Perfection.
The family reunion was held Saturday at the Boy Scout meeting hall. There was lots of good food, tons of people I didn't recognize, and a foosball table. What could be better? Oh yeah, beer. My brother-in-law brought a cooler of beer and we all took one...then we were informed that we actually weren't allowed alcoholic beverages in the Boy Scout hall. Oops. I poured mine into a plastic cup and tossed the bottle. Problem solved! Who says Girl Scouts can't be innovative?
The next day we drove all over central Missouri and visited a bunch of cemeteries, where we saw all the old family graves. DH's dad can tell a story about almost all of them, and we should have been videotaping. I am so annoyed with myself for not doing that.
Monday afternoon all the grandkids (that is, DH, his sister, and their three cousins) met up at Grandma's other house in Kansas City to go through her things. (She passed away last October, just days shy of her 96th birthday.) We were all encouraged to take whatever we wanted, as there was well over 100 years worth of things there. I ended up with some punch bowl cups, a couple of old pieces of china that date back to the turn of the century, and some hand-crocheted doilies, among other things. Pey was gifted with a bedroom set from the 1940s. My favorite new possession, though, is a bound set of the old musical monthly called "The Etude Magazine" from 1929. In the back of the notebook, Grandma stuck some extra magazine covers that still bear her address label. The labels read thusly:
Miss A Grandmasmaidenname
Lowry City, Missouri
Lowry City, Missouri
And that's it. How cool would it be to send a letter to someone and only have to put their name and city on it? My how times have changed.
While going through the house, we also came across some old postcards sent from family members, to family members. They carried one-cent stamps and were postmarked 1907. Oh how I wish we'd been able to keep those! I think hubby's aunt took them, though, so at least they'll stay in the family.
It was a sentimental trip, and it carried extra sadness for us because in all likelihood, we won't ever be able to go back to that house again. As soon as it's cleared out, it's going on the market. I guess I'm not used to being a player at the end of an era, but the sale of Grandma's house is definitely closing a chapter.
Grandma, we thank you for your legacy and for all you represented. I hope that when I grow up, I can be just like you. You are very much missed.
Love,
T
Thursday, May 31, 2007
DISHING
Under my Bookmarks, I have flagged my blog as "Musings." I should just go ahead and rename it that because I honestly can't remember why I named it Her Vichyness in the first place.
Oh wait, yes I can. I did that so that my family wouldn't be able to find the blog should they choose to do a search. After the fiasco that followed Tnk's accident last year, I wanted their blog-reading privileges suspended. As far as they know, I no longer do any online journaling, so theoretically I could gritch about all of them all day long and they'd never know. The thing is, now that I'm gainfully employed, I hardly ever see the fams anymore and thus have little information to share about them anyway. Maybe one day I'll repost the stuff about Tnk's accident, as she now - and you won't believe this - WANTS ME TO GO TO THE MEDIA. She's been dealing with a bunch of crap since she went back to work and is frustrated with the politics in her precinct. But that's a long story for another day.
Actually, there is this one thing I've been itching to dish about: EMTsis, her hubby, and spoiled daughter, are selling their quarter-million dollar house, complete with the pool and social status they always wanted, and moving into an almost-quarter-million dollar townhouse. Where they will share not one but TWO walls with neighbors. Where they're giving up not only their own personal pool, but also a community pool, which for some strange reason does not exist in this place. Oh, they're getting to choose everything from scratch - countertops, carpet, etc. - which is ... woo freakin' hoo. Shared walls, people. For that kind of money, I want my own four walls (or hell, even five). And a pool. And a maid.
Now, I've lived in my share of apartments, and even two townhomes, and was perfectly content in almost all of them. But I was single and childless most of that time, and when I wasn't, it was strictly finances that led me to live in a place with shared walls. Let me share a little background on sis and her hubby that may shed some light on why I can't believe they're doing this...
They only drive a car until the tires get low, then trade it in for a new model (slight exaggeration, but not much). They have every new gadget the second it hits the market. Remember the original car phones? The ones that weighed seven pounds and cost $400? They had two. They bought a new car last year - their third vehicle - because their daughter "will be driving before we know it" and they wanted to have a car ready for her.
She's ten.
They also forked over almost $3500 for said daughter to go to Sylvan for math tutoring, when the school offered tutoring for free. Plus, I'm pretty good at 4th-grade math (!) and could certainly have helped her out, should sis and bro-in-law not be able to. But no, that wouldn't have been good enough. Aye yi yi, the money that's flowed through that family over the years...
It's not that I'm jealous, because I most assuredly am not. And here's why I'm not - they're in debt up to about fifty grand, at last count. That's all credit cards, with a few 401(k) borrowings thrown in for good measure.
Wow.
Anyway, all this rambling to say that I just don't think they'll be happy in the townhouse. My predictions are: (1) they'll never actually move in because they'll come to their senses before the unit is completed in September, or (2) they'll move in but put it up for sale within the year, going even further into debt.
BUT.
And you knew this was coming, didn't you?
EMTsis is a good person; she really is. If I ever have to call for an ambulance, I would definitely want her on it. She's a fantastic EMT, and would have made a great doctor or nurse. Her husband is an okay guy, too, but I admit that I liked him better before their daughter came along. And I'll leave that one alone right there, mmm-hmm. The daughter can be really good sometimes, but when her mom's around, she drives me nuts. I hate hate hate spoiled-brat syndrome, and baby, she has it in spades.
That's the dish. My next entry will be about our trip to Mizzou. Go Tigers.
Under my Bookmarks, I have flagged my blog as "Musings." I should just go ahead and rename it that because I honestly can't remember why I named it Her Vichyness in the first place.
Oh wait, yes I can. I did that so that my family wouldn't be able to find the blog should they choose to do a search. After the fiasco that followed Tnk's accident last year, I wanted their blog-reading privileges suspended. As far as they know, I no longer do any online journaling, so theoretically I could gritch about all of them all day long and they'd never know. The thing is, now that I'm gainfully employed, I hardly ever see the fams anymore and thus have little information to share about them anyway. Maybe one day I'll repost the stuff about Tnk's accident, as she now - and you won't believe this - WANTS ME TO GO TO THE MEDIA. She's been dealing with a bunch of crap since she went back to work and is frustrated with the politics in her precinct. But that's a long story for another day.
Actually, there is this one thing I've been itching to dish about: EMTsis, her hubby, and spoiled daughter, are selling their quarter-million dollar house, complete with the pool and social status they always wanted, and moving into an almost-quarter-million dollar townhouse. Where they will share not one but TWO walls with neighbors. Where they're giving up not only their own personal pool, but also a community pool, which for some strange reason does not exist in this place. Oh, they're getting to choose everything from scratch - countertops, carpet, etc. - which is ... woo freakin' hoo. Shared walls, people. For that kind of money, I want my own four walls (or hell, even five). And a pool. And a maid.
Now, I've lived in my share of apartments, and even two townhomes, and was perfectly content in almost all of them. But I was single and childless most of that time, and when I wasn't, it was strictly finances that led me to live in a place with shared walls. Let me share a little background on sis and her hubby that may shed some light on why I can't believe they're doing this...
They only drive a car until the tires get low, then trade it in for a new model (slight exaggeration, but not much). They have every new gadget the second it hits the market. Remember the original car phones? The ones that weighed seven pounds and cost $400? They had two. They bought a new car last year - their third vehicle - because their daughter "will be driving before we know it" and they wanted to have a car ready for her.
She's ten.
They also forked over almost $3500 for said daughter to go to Sylvan for math tutoring, when the school offered tutoring for free. Plus, I'm pretty good at 4th-grade math (!) and could certainly have helped her out, should sis and bro-in-law not be able to. But no, that wouldn't have been good enough. Aye yi yi, the money that's flowed through that family over the years...
It's not that I'm jealous, because I most assuredly am not. And here's why I'm not - they're in debt up to about fifty grand, at last count. That's all credit cards, with a few 401(k) borrowings thrown in for good measure.
Wow.
Anyway, all this rambling to say that I just don't think they'll be happy in the townhouse. My predictions are: (1) they'll never actually move in because they'll come to their senses before the unit is completed in September, or (2) they'll move in but put it up for sale within the year, going even further into debt.
BUT.
And you knew this was coming, didn't you?
EMTsis is a good person; she really is. If I ever have to call for an ambulance, I would definitely want her on it. She's a fantastic EMT, and would have made a great doctor or nurse. Her husband is an okay guy, too, but I admit that I liked him better before their daughter came along. And I'll leave that one alone right there, mmm-hmm. The daughter can be really good sometimes, but when her mom's around, she drives me nuts. I hate hate hate spoiled-brat syndrome, and baby, she has it in spades.
That's the dish. My next entry will be about our trip to Mizzou. Go Tigers.
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