Work

Remember the move "Gremlins"? Add water to the cute little guys and they multiply? Feed them after a certain time and they turn into monsters? Well, someone has been watering and feeding my desk.

AND I have found myself embroiled in a situation that really ticks me off. We have a person in the office who did something REALLY unprofessional, offensive, rude and just plain stupid. To give you an idea: Remember the movie "The Rainmaker" with Matt Damon? (If you haven't see it, you should.) In the movie, an insurance company writes a letter to the mother of a child (albeit grown man) with cancer and says, "You must be stupid, stupid, stupid." Our employee basically did the same thing, but in reverse. She sent MANY letters to an enormous insurance company telling them how "IMCOMPETENT" (yes, that is how it was spelled) they are and how they aren't being "FARE" to "THERE" insureds. The examples could go on...but you get the point.

So anyway, in the midst of finding this stuff out, I also find out SHE TRIED TO BLAME ME. Not for sending the letters, but because I hadn't finished the form letters she is supposed to use. Now, let's all keep in mind that ANY time she came to me and asked me to do one that she needed right way, she'd have it within a half hour. She hasn't asked me for one in a LONG time, so I assumed (we all know what that does) it was safe to take my time since I have a half billion other things to do around here, too. Apparently I was mistaken. In any event, at no time, in no way, would I have written anything even remotely similar to the content she did. That isn't to say I wouldn't have thought it...but I definitely wouldn't have put it in writing.

Not only did what she send out make me furious, but the fact that she blamed me for not giving her the form letters really TICKED ME OFF.

Yeah, so while I'm processing all this, guess who gets told to do the write up form????? Guess what I wanted to write...

Monday, November 19, 2007

The weekend was good in parts and not so good in parts.

I didn't have my usual childcare on Friday (although I know I could have taken him to Liz), so I decided to work at home some and do my typical routine with Evan. I did alter it a bit, though, by taking him to have his pictures made and taking him to my office to show him off. (Normally what I do is work, go pick up Pat's check, go to the bank and then maybe the store before I get Evan.) It made for a long day and Evan didn't get much of a nap (maybe 45 minutes in the car), so he fell asleep at home at about 5:30. He slept pretty much from then until about 7:15 a.m. Saturday morning.

On Saturday, Pat went to work and Evan decided he needed to go swing (which is something that he talks about almost every day since he can see the new play/swingset thing the neighbors two houses down built). So we did some things around the house (he likes to help with laundry and loading and unloading the dishwasher, sweeping - although that is sometimes messy - all the big kid stuff), then we loaded up and went to the park in Summit Lakes. That didn't last long, though. I think he was bored. And there were MILLIONS of little black flying things around. Cobwebs, too. UGH. After that we went to Lowe's and got stuff to fix our fence so the maniac doesn't get loose. We helped (ha ha) Mikel fix the fence (Evan was so cute banging on the fence with his little sand rake) and then went to Wal-Mart. That's where things got not-so-good, but we'll just leave that out. I'll just say that Mikel and I got into it at Wal-Mart and things went downhill really quickly...kind of like watching the winter Olympics...Add the OU loss to that and the end of the day was pretty much a disaster.

Oh...and then Evan didn't really sleep ALL NIGHT, which, in turn, caused me to not sleep. It was terrible!

Sunday was much better. We went to church (Evan LOVES Journey Kids), then to Sam's (where I got both diapers and Christmas gift ideas). Evan fell asleep on the way home and slept for FOUR hours. We went to Nora's birthday party after that and then home again. Pretty uneventful, really. Nice, but uneventful.

Long Time, No Post

So, it's been a while since the last time I posted anything. Let me think of what has been going on...

Evan turned 2 in October. Did I mention that previously??? Of course, since I only have two readers, who both already know anyway, the point is rather moot.

Mikel will turn 18 (God help me, please) on Thanksgiving.

I have recurrent, extremely irritating cocydemia. Yes, I have a pain in my butt. Both literally (like dislocated tailbone) and figuratively (caused by household members and employers).

I have a torn meniscus in my right knee. Well, they're about 98% sure that's what it is. To be positive, though, they want to send me for an MRI, which is totally expensive and I'm not doing that unless it is so bad I can't walk and think I need surgery. Or unless my deductible is met...

I read in a ParentCentral e-mail that a two- to three-year-old should have about a 50 word vocabulary. That made me laugh. Evan's vocabulary is unreal. Now, granted, there are plenty of times you have to get him to repeat or slow down and he gets tongue-tied because his brain is on overdrive and he's trying to talk like a grown up, but man...

I have a LOT of things to do to finish my house - like finish painting. And Lord knows I'm going to be the one to do it.

I really need to figure out what is wrong with the plants in my front flower bed. They look dead and I just planted them.

I really need to do some Christmas shopping, but sometimes it sucks to do it alone. Any volunteers?

Hmmm...Let's See What...

I can COMPLAIN about today....

The weather? Nope. It's really nice today. Cool, clear...FALL!

My oldest kiddo? Nope. He's been REALLY good lately. (Granted, he isn't without his moments, but overall, it's been good!)

My youngest kiddo? Nope. He is growing and learning and playing...just like a healthy little boy does!

My house? Nope. Well, not really. I'm getting it painted (just have to finish), I planted my flower beds (thanks to help from my mom...now I just hope they live), I'm getting stains out of my carpet (that I didn't think would EVER come out!)...

My husband? Nope.

My former childcare provider??? ...


HA HA HA! Not on your life! No complaints there, either!

I do have to say: Why does anyone bother to comment on a blog and leave it as "anonymous"? Kinda chicken, isn't it? (That's not a complaint, mind you, just an observation/opinion.)

Mikel

So, he may have sustained his first may-need-continuing-medical-treatment-keep-him-from-bullriding injury. He got his arm hooked by a bull horn in Choctaw on September 30. We finally went to the doctor yesterday. (Yes, I am a terrible mom, but you know, sometimes you just DON'T know with kids. Is it real, or is it, "I need some attention"?) Anyway, they took x-rays, came back in and told me he has an appointment with an orthopedist on Friday morning. Apparently there is a bulge in his bone and it could just break. He can't really use it for anything substantial right now. However, that doesn't keep me from making him do stuff around the house. We'll see what happens Friday. I just hope they don't say it actually needs to be broken and then set to correct the problem. Lord, please, no...

New Things About Evan

As we all know, the child has had an incredible vocabulary - especially for his age - for quite some time. His vocabulary continues to expand and his skillful use of language is amazing. From what I have observed of other children, his language skills are closer to that of a three-year-old than a not-even-two-year-old. He says things like, "More drink, please, Mommy." If he thinks you are hurt in some way (physical or emotional), he will pat or rub your back and say things like, "What's matter?" or "I'm sorry," or "It's okay." He may see something he likes and say, "Do you see that flag, Mommy?" or "Look at the school bus." He can be very polite and say, " 'Cuse me," when he wants past you or he thinks he is in your way. He is also very verbal when he doesn't like something you are doing to him. If you are holding him down (as in chasing him around to tickle him after he's had enough), he'll stay, "Stop that right now," or "Let me go!" But the very best thing he has learned to say is, "I lub you." And he will say it without prompting or hints. Yesterday we were leaving and he told Mike, "Bye Bubbie," (that's what he calls big brother), "I lub you. See you later." Now, granted, many of his words are still "kid-speak," as in the pronunciation isn't exactly correct, but STILL!!!

For several weeks, he was telling me he wanted to go potty...both ways. Talk about EXCITING! But that's kind of slacked off, and I don't push him. I know he'll start again when he's ready. Honestly, though...I don't think he really likes HIS potty. I need to look into a new one. Lord knows I need one with a "splash guard."

He has been able to match pieces to a puzzle for a while, but he has really started being able to fit them in now, too.

We have gotten into another phase of not eating much. I am working under the assumption that's normal at this age just like it was 6-8 months ago.

Man...there are so many things!!! I could probably sit here for the next four hours and go on and on. I won't though.

Clean

Don't you just LOVE that "clean" smell? And it comes in a variety of scents, depending on the cleaner you use. I did a pretty deep clean (well, as deep as it could get with a toddler running in and out and throwing things around that I just put away) on our bedroom today and man, when you walk in it smells like Pledge and Windex (the Mountain Berry scent). I think the Pledge is something like fresh linen...not sure.

Then there's the right-out-of-the-dryer clean laundry smell. Love that, too.

I also like the clean kitchen smell, but it never seems to linger or last long because it gets messed up faster than anything else. Then there's the food smell that takes over, too. Let me tell you, bacon is the WORST and lasts - in the whole house - for DAYS! Ugh. Can someone pass the Lysol and Clorox???

Misplaced.

So, here's the deal: I DO NOT GET LOST. And rarely, VERY RARELY, do I get "misplaced" or "displaced." I am not a direction idiot and, if you give me a general area - maybe a major intersection - and some fairly decent general directions, I can find where I need to go. And if I consult a map (which I love to look at, by the way), there is a 98% chance I'm going to find where I need to go on the first attempt. I give myself a 2% rate of error in the event the map is incorrect or I'm given the wrong information. Of course if you think about it, those wouldn't really be my fault. So, on with the story.

I was running errands for Pat and taking some things to him in the neighborhood where he was working in Yukon. Well, if you look at a map, it's a clear, straight shot. No WAY to get lost - I mean, misplaced. Now, Pat told me on several occasions that he has driven around in circles to find this neighborhood and has yet to find a good way to get there. I didn't really let those previous conversations enter into my plan because he has more of a tendency to get misplaced (actually, he gets lost) than I do. So, yeah, I checked my map (actually, it was Mapquest, which supports my long-voiced theory that Mapquest is NOT accurate and WILL screw you up at times) and went on my way.

Remember the yellow brick road in The Wizard of Oz? (Rhetorical question...) Anyway, Dorothy had to start in the very center and then keep walking and work her way out. Well, this was the exact opposite. I was trying to work my way IN and had to keep going in circles. One road would dead end at a barn or something and I would have to turn right or left to find another road to turn on to go to another road to meet up with the road that came to a dead end. (Yeah, this was a pretty rural area...in places.) Now, I knew where I was supposed to be. But it was like there was NO WAY to actually get there. Kinda like one of those little maze games you played as a kid - has the bb in it and you're trying to get it in the center hole...It was HORRIBLE and let me tell you, when I get misplaced, it REALLY ticks me off. (I say "misplaced" instead of "lost" because I knew where I was and I knew how to get out of that particular purgatory. Lost is when you have ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE WHERE YOU ARE OR HOW TO FIND ANYONE OR ANYTHING.)

Anyway, I FINALLY found the place and Pat said, "See? I've gone through that more than once." Well, I can say that if I ever have to go back, I know EXACTLY how to get there. I won't have to zig zag. I refuse.

As it turns out, I figured out the way to and from as I was leaving. Kinda made me feel like a total idiot.

Beware those of you who might have to travel off the beaten path and into the mystical maze-land that is FAR northwest Oklahoma City/northeast Yukon/almost Piedmont/Edmond...it's a jungle out there. Don't trust Mapquest. Call the experienced...

Tuesday...no, wait...It's Wednesday...

Ever get the feeling like you're stuck in that movie, Groundhog Day??? I have had the hardest time remembering what day it is. Sometimes I have to remember what day it is based off of the scheduled events for the day. For example, Pat plays his regular men's league softball on Tuesdays and church league on Thursdays. And I know Addy has gymnastics on Wednesdays. Although, you'd think it wouldn't be that difficult for me to remember Wednesdays because they fall between Tuesday and Thursday.

So, let me see if I can remember what has gone on this week.

Monday: Yeah, that was a good one. Ha ha hee. I got to work on Monday and my boss asks me if I got the message she sent me over our system. Here's basically how the conversation went:

"Did you get my message?"

"What message?"

"The one I sent you over the system."

"Nope. What did it say?"

"Just go read it and come back."

(I should've known then that it would irritate me...)

So I read this message and she's telling me how I need to be in the office every day. Um, hello? Am I invisible? I HAVE BEEN IN THE OFFICE EVERY DAY. And, as we all know, that was not part of our original agreement. However, to keep her off my backside, I've been coming in every day, at least for a half day.

Anyway, I go back to her and tell her I have been coming in every day. Her response was that I'm not staying all day and that she needs me to get caught up. I told her I can't get anything done here because I wind up dealing with stupid stuff that people don't seem to be able to manage ONLY BECAUSE I'm here. I told her I get MUCH more done at home. Her response was that when she sees stacks of stuff, it doesn't look like it to her. Well, since you don't really know what I do, you wouldn't really know anyway. So I explained to her what was stacked where and why...and she asked me to put it away in a file because when she sees it like this she doesn't know what it means. Lord help me.

So when did I leave on Monday? 3:30. Go ahead. Laugh. It's funny.

Tuesday: Went to work. Left, ran some errands for Pat. Went to Yukon. Got misplaced. Not lost, mind you, just misplaced. For more info on that, see a post with a relevant title that will most likely be posted in a day or two. Maybe later today, but you never know.

Wednesday: I'm here at work. Multi-tasking. Go ahead. Laugh. It's funny.

It's a good thing I type something like 85-90 wpm...

The Garage...

Has anyone ever noticed how The Man always gets domain over the garage? If there is space to park a vehicle in the garage, The Man gets to park there. Never mind the fact that we (women) are the ones who have to get kids in and out of the car, fix our hair and make up, dress up...it would be REALLY nice for us to get to use the spot that is out of the elements...

Monday, August 27, 2007

We've started a new series at church called, "One Life." In a nutshell, it's about the one life we are given, what we do with it, where we choose to go, how we choose to get there...

We were created to reflect the image of God. Everything we do is supposed to reflect His image. Attitudes, actions, everything. I'm not going to get into the whole deal because, while I totally "get it" and believe it, I'm not eloquent enough to put it all down here, nor do I have time. Besides, my two readers already know it anyway...

So, anyway, I'll just say this: Today was a day I was REALLY struggling with my reflection!!!! Granted, my reflection probably always has a wave or crack or two, but today was pretty ugly. I suppose, however, that it's a good thing that I recognize this. I had a phone call from a patient today who really tried my patience. She even had the nerve to tell me I cussed at her the last time we spoke. Now, I'm certainly not perfect and I've been known to let a less-than-appropriate phrase fly on a rare occasion (thank goodness I only have two readers who haven't known me all that long...), but, I would NEVER cuss at a patient. (Not that it's okay to cuss at anyone.) Anyway, that really set me off. I told her - in a very stern manner - that I DID NOT cuss at her, and I do not cuss at patients...all the while thinking to myself that today might be the day. She wore me SLICK. I suppose, in hindsight that while stern and, well, somewhat loud, I wasn't rude, hateful or mean. But it was just one of those conversations that left me feeling like I had no reflection at all.

Later on in the day, my boss told me she thinks I should plan on working 8 hours a day for a while until I'm caught up. HA HA HA HA...caught up. HA HA HA HA. My desk doesn't get "caught up." My desk is a gremlin. Just add a small dose of my boss and it multiplies!!!! Now, let's keep in mind that I worked 11.25 hours today. I was working at 6:00 - a.m. AND p.m. And it's because I've actually gone in the office every day since I went back that I'm "behind" (and that isn't even a good term - swamped, but not behind). I get much less done in the office than I do at home. Too many people interrupting me for nothing...Ugh. Anyway, that conversation certainly didn't improve my reflection...

The highlight of my day: picking Evan up from daycare. He had an up and down day. I did get to watch him for a few minutes when I got there to pick him up. He was so cute, playing with purple tamborines! (Did I spell that right???)

Posting Again

I am really going to try to post regularly. I just find myself with no time and MANY jumbled thoughts. I think I need to read Liz's more...I need to remind myself that it doesn't have to be set, specific, orderly...just what I want to say.

So last week was HECTIC. I had a thousand different things going at once and I really thought I might have a nervous breakdown.

I took Evan by his new "school" a couple of times in the mornings just to say hello and start getting familiar so he wouldn't be in total shock when he started. Then after that, I would take him back to Liz's. That isn't that big of a deal - if you don't have to get to work someplace, too. Across town, back and then across town again to go to Oklahoma City...all before 9:00 a.m.

I also had the pleasure of going to the fabilous Norman High School to enroll Mike and try to get his schedule arranged if I could detect "issues" in advance. (Of course there were issues...) I can honestly say I will be SO GLAD when he is out of there. I just hope we don't have the same issues with Evan. Ever feel like you're just getting singled out??? I could go on about this issue, but I'll save that for another time.

Oh, then on Thursday I had to take Mike to court. Again with the singled-out issue.

And by the way, when my kid is wrong/bad, I admit it. And he hears about it. But I AM a Momma Bear and if you try to mess with my cub when he doesn't really deserve it...I will come after you. If people want to make "examples" of kids, why don't they do it with kids who are really BAD? Not the ones who carry a hat around (as opposed to actually wearing it, which is suddenly against school rules)?

Again, I'll save it for another day.

I really can't remember the weekend. I know it RAINED again, thanks to Tropical Storm Erin. Parts of Oklahoma got 9 inches. My office mate lives close to the South Canadian River and she's still having issues and it's been 5 days.

Church was GREAT on Sunday. And two of my friends came!!! I was SO THRILLED!!!! I just hope they keep coming back.

Evan and Daycare...

Okay...so Evan started daycare at an actual facility on Monday, August 20. That was very traumatic - for both of us, but definitely for me. I'm used to him being at an in-home daycare, which I was totally comfortable with. Switching has been very hard the past couple of days! I don't feel like he isn't safe or that they won't take care of him...I just have this "thing"...I don't want him to feel unloved or unwanted - by anyone. Does that make sense??? I just don't want him wandering around somewhere like...well, like I don't know what I mean. And I have this fear of walking in and seeing him sitting by himself, crying, feeling and looking lonely. That would devastate me and, most likely, I would quit my job and stay home with him - even if that meant living in a box because I quit my job...

I am smart enough to know that these thoughts and feelings stem from when Mike was a little one and the horrible places he went. I will not talk about that anymore. He knows. And boy does he know how sorry I am...

So, enough dramatics.

I suppose, really, the new daycare situation has gone fairly well. Yes, he has cried. (So have I.) Yes, it has been a shock to his system. (Mine, too.) But, overall, I think it's okay. We'll just see how things go over the next couple of weeks.

Things to write about

SO many times (usually at the most inopportune times, like when I'm driving) I think of things to blog about...and then forget them. I sit here at the computer and rack my brain cell trying to remember, and fail miserably.

Quite frankly, I just don't think my life is interesting enough to blog. My kids are pretty much the best and most interesting things, and when I start to write about them, I think I'm just repeating myself.

What I need to do is get over myself and use this as MY "dairy" and stop thinking about what everyone else will think. Hard to do sometimes...

Rain

So, we've had a LOT of rain. The quantity and the manner in which it has fallen has been disasterous for some (many), and, on a less important scale, just plain inconvenient for the rest of us. Just about the time we plan to mow the yard...it rains. We have an outdoor event planned...it rains.

You can call me crazy, but here's my theory:

Last year we had no rain and a lot of wildfires. As we all know, wildfires are nature's way of cleansing the earth and starting over. Now, in the west coast region, they had a ton of rain last year.

This year, we have a ton of rain and the west coast is burning up.

Bare with me...I'm getting there...

So, this is what I think about the rain. Don't whine, gripe, moan, complain - no matter how inconvenient or frustrating. I think all this rain is God's way of, again, cleansing - and COOLING - the earth. This much rain has surely cleaned some of the junk out of the air and has definitely cooled things off. (When was the last time you recall having 80 degree temperatures at 3:00 in the afternoon in July?) And all the rain has definitely cut back on a lot of activities that cause pollutants in the air, which said pollutants are causing global warming. God has His way of cleaning us up for the time being, and teaching us some lessons. ("Hey, I gave you this land you farm for ME to honor ME so I can bless YOU, you better take care of it or either it burns or floods...or the earth combusts and you're out of luck!)

I have NO IDEA if this made any sense to anyone but me...it's just some thoughts I have on the issue.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

I have to say, I love my church. I go to Journey Church here in Norman (yeah, yeah, I know we're a knock off of LifeChurch!!!) and I really and truly learn something EVERY TIME I walk through the doors. This Sunday we started a series about the Sermon on the Mount. Man...Who knew the steps to the Kingdom of Heaven were both so easy and so hard at the same time? I try...fail miserably most of the time...but I am trying.

Now, I'm not quite as adept and eloquent as Michael at this point in time about sharing what I learned in church (and I have SO MUCH to learn), but give me time (literally and figuratively) and you'll get an "earful" from me, too.

I'm trying to remember what I did after church...I know Evan took a nap, I did some cleaning and... oh yeah, I went to Sam's (woo hoo!). I think I went to Blockbuster at some point.

My life is pretty uneventful and uninteresting, really...

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Saturday, July 7 - you know, 7/7/7, started off fairly promising and I had all kinds of things planned to do. First, Evan and I decided to give garage saling a go. Well, let me tell you, that was a bit of a challenge. Hitting garage sales with a 20-month-old is...well, trying. It didn't last long. We only made two. I figured out, however, that while he is somewhat of a handful (and usually is, but this was a whole new ballgame), I don't like dealing with the traffic on the street (of which there is too much on a very narrow street) or the pushy-shovey-grabby people. Maybe this isn't the norm (as I have virtually no experience going to them), but it wore me slick! Evan was particularly cute at the second sale. They had a toddler bed for sale. He LOVED it. He was just dying to get down on that bed and bounce and roll around on it. It was brand new - only used about three times. I was about two minutes from buying it when the grandpa and dad of the little boy to whom it belonged basically talked me out of it. They kept telling me about how he (the little boy) kept falling out...something tells me that if grandma knew what they were saying, she'd ring some necks! Anyway, I left there empty-handed. I actually drove through a couple of other neighborhoods looking for signs, but really didn't see any. Normally I see signs all over the place, 30-40 a weekend. This past weekend, I bet I saw a grand total of 10. Weird. But, it really didn't break my heart. Maybe garage sales are best done and better enjoyed when with another adult...

By the time I got finished trying my hand at garage sales, Mr. Rarin-to-Go was passing out in his carseat. That was my first cue - and the only one it took - to get him home and down for a nap. I planned to do other things that day, too, but it turned out to be one of "those" days where nothing goes as planned and everything you didn't plan on pops up and gets in the way. Right now I can't even remember what it was I planned to do. Nothing major or important, I hope...

My "Order"

I was recently given an "order" to start blogging regularly. I'll give it a shot, but honestly, I'm a blogging idiot. I don't know how to make my page all fancy, do links and all that. Nor do I have the time to really write involved, meaningful blogs. So, whoever decides to read this is in for somewhat of a roller coaster ride...HANG ON, YA'LL!

Mike's Friend, Andre

My oldest son, Mike, has a friend named Andre, who he has been friends with for probably 6 or 7 years. They met when they both lived in Colorado. Actually, I think they met when Andre and his parents and sister moved there from South Africa. Andre's mom tells me that Mike was Andre's first friend after they moved here. They have both moved away from Colorado (Mike moved back here in 2003, and I think Andre actually moved before that), but have stayed really close, which I think is AWESOME, especially given the fact that they are young and sometimes young kids don't recognize the true value of a true friendship.

Anyway, Andre came to visit yesterday and will be here for a week. This is the first time I've met him, and he seems like a very, very nice young man. Exceptional, actually. I'm hoping a little rubs off on Mike! Mike is exceptional in his own way and I am terribly proud of him, but he does need a little polishing (and he refuses to let me spit on my thumb to wipe his face!)...

I hope they have a good time while he's here!

When I'm Ready to Go...

I realized this...oddity...about myself this morning. Maybe I'm not alone, but even I think it's strange. But it's not something I can change, for whatever reason. I've TRIED!

When I am ready to go somewhere, I'm ready to go THEN. I do not like to get ready for an event and then have to wait before I leave. For example, if I am getting ready to go to church, when I get my shoes on (which is typically the last thing I do), I am pretty much ready to pick up whatever I need and walk out the door. I suppose, in a way, I should be a "last minute" person in order to save myself the "problem" of having to wait on someone else. If I could train myself to get ready at the last minute - when I know everyone else will be ready when I am (NEVER GONNA HAPPEN) - then maybe I'd do okay. Oh - I don't like to get ready too early, either, even if I'm the only person who is going. If I have to be somewhere that requires me to leave at 9:00 to get there on time, it drives me nuts to be ready at 8:40, have nothing to do, and then have to WAIT. Yeah, I realize there is always something to do, but unfortunately, the things I think about doing at times like that are things that I can't start and then leave to finish later.

Maybe it's some type of time management issue...if I have nothing to do - or things I need to do can't be completed in the filler time - maybe my mind thinks it's wasted time. Another thing that makes me crazy is having an appointment in the middle of the day and then having to arrange everything else around it.

I know...I know...you don't have to say it...

My Dad

My dad has a different sense of humor. In fact, many don't understand it or find it funny at all. Sometimes I do; sometimes I don't. Dad's idea of funny is to purposely give you a hard time and irritate you. And sometimes he likes to try to gross you out. He thinks that's just HILARIOUS. (Actually, that description sounds a lot like Shipley, too!)

Ask my step-mom about a particularly event that involved a particular action that was extremely offensive to the olfactory senses and trapping someone under sheets.

And there was the time he put in what I call "hillbilly teeth" when we were at a restaurant just to see what kind of reaction he would get out of me. (He did succeed in irritating and embarrassing me, just for the record. Needless to say, he loved that!) Oh! Right before we got to the restaurant, I kept hearing this...well, "noise" (see first event involving my step-mom in case you don't get what the "noise" sounded like) as he was driving down the road. I kept scrambling for the window button. He complained of "tummy problems." As it turns out, he had a device that generated the "noise." Again, he thought that was really funny (and, I have to admit, it was). I did, however have to put my foot down when he attempted to take the device INTO the restaurant...

My dad...what a GEM!




And you know what???? I wouldn't trade him for the world! Love you, Dad!!!

Tick Tock

Okay, seriously. I am literally almost counting hours until my last day at this job. I'm definitely counting days (8, including the rest of today). And because of my unique situation (of still doing work for my old job, which is the one I am going back to), I find myself with an even stronger "short-timer" attitude. Why? Because I have work at my "new" job that I need to get going on and part-time isn't getting it for me anymore. I have this overwhelming sense of duty and responsibility to that job now...probably because I actually have what I term a "real" job there now. I'll still have some of my original functions, but I'm also going to be the Compliance Officer, which is something that will actually allow me to use my brain and make a "bigger" difference. (It's also a huge task right off the bat, but will taper off and be more steady once the plan and details are done.)

I am also really looking forward to not HAVING to get up and be out of the house at 7:00 or 7:15 every day, unless I want to get out earlier to get home earlier. (I just LOVE snuggly mornings with Evan!)

Contest Comment

Just so all (all 3 or 4 of you) who read this know, I do this because I LOVE getting Michael wound up (hee hee)! Actually, it's because I love to see what he's going to say next. Very interesting guy, he is!

Contest - Question 3

Describe the most beautiful thing you have ever seen and the ugliest thing you've ever seen. Either one can be tangible or intangible (as in, an act or action performed by another entity).

Blog Training

I think I need some training. I'm a little out of the loop and know-how on this stuff. I love it and have a blast reading and commenting on other people's posts (okay, the two people I know who do this), but I don't know much about how to really DO it. Do you two wanna teach an old dog a new trick????

Flowers, Plants, Gardening

Normally, I am NOT a gardener. I typically don't enjoy getting out and pulling weeds, tilling soil, digging holes, etc. I really haven't enjoyed trying to decide what I want IN my flower beds. And I don't relish spending the money on it either.

I think that may have changed in the past few days.

A while ago, we pulled up EVERY plant, bush, shrub (whatever you want to call them) surrounding our home. I hated what we had, so my personal opinion is that barren looks better than the mess that was there previously. I have, however, started to get sick of the way the house looks with nothing but weeds growing in place of those bushes and junk. Our lawn looks great; Patrick does a great job with that. And while he gets these grand ideas about the beds, he hasn't done anything except complain about them. So, last Saturday I poured Evan a nice cold cup of juice water (as it was really hot and muggy that afternoon) and headed to Lowe's to find SOMETHING to plant. I bought some pansies and Mexican Heather for the bed around the tree in our front yard and some "monkey" grass and caladias for part of the bed in the back yard. (I've pretty much focused on annuals for this time of year because 1.) it's so late in the season and 2.) I don't know exactly what I want.)

I didn't just run right out and plant these things when I got them home. In fact, they were probably in danger of being left in the containers and dying because I was SO unmotivated to do anything with them. Pat said he planned to plant them anyway, so that worked for me.

Well, by Monday nothing was planted. Oddly enough, I got ants in my pants and decided to head out front and start planting. Pat was barbequeing (did I spell that right?) so Evan and I headed out front to plan out the plot. (Some planning it took...I had four pots of pansies and four pots of heather. Let's just say it's pretty well balanced and symmetrical.) Other than having to holler at Evan occasionally to come back to where we were (instead of moving toward the Autoban that is our street), we had an absolute BLAST. He helped me dig and put the plants in the holes (well, okay, he just kind of dropped/threw the first one, so I did the rest of the placement), and then cover them back up with dirt and potting soil. Evan pretty much decided he was in charge of the potting soil. He was so cute...reaching in this big bag and getting his big little handfuls and throwing it on the bed. Then as I moved farther around the circle, he tried to drag the bag and got REALLY mad when he couldn't quite get it. After we got finished planting, he helped me pick up the trash and get the boarder all cleaned off. By the time that was all said and done, he (both of us, actually, since he threw potting soil in my hair) was a MESS and I literally had to hose him down.

Last night we planted the things in the back. This time he had his little pail and hand rake. He just worked and worked and worked. His favorite thing was getting water out of the faucet in his pail and watering the plants. He got pretty irritated with me when I hooked the hose up so I could really water them because then he couldn't get his pail under there to get more. He didn't quite grasp the concept - and wouldn't listen - as to how he could get more water from the hose.

Anyway, all this has really made me start thinking about what I want to plant, baskets I want to get, and how to arrange things. This is a true first for me and I'm pretty excited about it.

Now if I can just manage to keep the dog out of the flowers in the back...

CONTEST - Question #2

Use one word - only one - to describe your:

1.) Shoes
2.) Car
3.) Belt
4.) Home
5.) Wife

Think carefully!!!

WOO HOO!!! I finished giving my notice!

Yea for me!!! I gave my notice to everyone who matters! They took it pretty well, too. (My feelings are hurt...I wanted them to cry and beg me not to leave! And if you believe that, I have some ocean front property in North Dakota...)

So now I'm here through the end of June and then I'll go back to almost like it was before. Yippee!!!

CONTEST - QUESTION 1:

(If you are not familiar with the rules, see original contest post.)

QUESTION: Please describe, with specificity and in detail, the color of the sky.

(Remember, anyone can answer, but only Michael Shipley can receive points. Of course, answers he may give in response to other players' answers, as well as the contest question, could improve odds of receiving a point. In other words, the more who play, the merrier! Let's make it a challenge for him!!)

CONTEST!

Here are the rules:

1.) You must answer the question in order to be eligible for a point.

2.) If I don't like your answer, you don't get a point.

3.) Anyone can answer the questions, but only Michael Shipley is eligible to receive points (not that he will).

I think I might be a mean person

I don't really know if I am a mean person or not, but sometimes I feel like it. Especially when it seems like I have really negative thoughts about people or things they do. And I don't mean just random people; I mean people I see/deal with on a regular, daily basis. (And no, I don't mean you, my one reader!) For example, there is a lady I work with (not associated with the Nosy Bodies post) who fell this morning when she was going up the steps. Now, I felt horrible for her when it happened (I saw her do it). Thankfully, she was fine. Nothing was broken, just a little - and I do mean little - scrape and maybe a bruise on her forearm. It certainly could have been A LOT worse. But she's fine. Any guesses as to what I've heard about ALL DAY? I mean ALL DAY.

I suppose I'm not as mean as I might think since I'm not voicing the thoughts that have run through my head (such as, "SHUT UP! IT'S OVER!!! YOU'RE FINE, FOR THE LOVE OF PETE AND MARY!!!!) I suppose venting here makes me a little nicer. I just feel mean since I think like that. Am I?

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart, in my opinion, is one of those necessary evils. I hate the place, but I have to shop there. Unfortunately, the prices are lower overall than other places and if I have a great deal of shopping to do, that's where I have to do it. One of the reasons I dislike Wal-Mart is that they have been instrumental in putting a lot of little guys out of business. I can say I don't blame small towns for wanting to keep Wally-world out. Eufaula, for example, has fought tooth and nail to keep Wal-Mart out of there. There is a Super Center in McAlester and a smaller, original Wal-Mart in...I think it's Henryetta and maybe even Checotah. That's close enough for the people of Eufaula. And, as a result, a lot of the little businesses get to stay in business. Other things that drives me nuts about Wal-Mart are: the way people (who apparently LOVE to be there) just mosey around, they stand in aisles and block the flow of other shoppers, they look at you like you're an idiot if you actually try to move around them to complete your own shopping, the way people who have no clue what they're doing use the self-checkout lines. Wow. Oh...and the people outside looking for parking who will watch me go to my car with a basket full of stuff - AND A TODDLER - and they WAIT, blocking traffic, just to have a parking spot 3-5 places from the front. And more often than not, they look at me like I need to hurry up. That makes me want to put my stuff in the car, take my child and the shopping cart and GO BACK INSIDE.

I could probably go on for days about Wal-Mart. But, since the only person who will probably ever read this has heard me say these things before, I'll stop.

Things I can't wait to do today

1.) Grab my baby and give him a kiss and hug! Then fill up his cup a half dozen times and fix him dinner and snacks and change pants and give a him a bath and say his prayers and watch him drift off to sleep.

2.) Watch Grey's Anatomy (new 2 hour show - yea!)

3.) Read 1.5 pages of my book and fall asleep.

Time keeps on dragging, dragging, dragging...

Seriously, this day is going by so slowly I'm starting to think it's yesterday. I'm having one of those days when I don't have much of anything to do and I feel like it's a complete waste of my time to be here - except, of course, for the money part. I suppose I shouldn't complain that I'm making money to do not too much. I think one usually considers herself a government employee to be able to make that statement, but I don't happen to be. The past few days I have been pretty busy and time went pretty quickly. Today is killing me.

"Nosy Bodies"

From time to time, everyone is guilty of sticking his nose into places where it doesn't belong or isn't welcome. There is no shame in admitting you've done it. In fact there is probably more shame in NOT admitting it because that's a flat out untruth.

As someone who has been a nosy body, I admit that there are times when you just have to accept someone else's nosiness and shrug it off. Many times I believe people are nosy out of interest, not maliciousness. Maybe someone hears a portion of a conversation and just injects a comment or thought and moves on. That's sometimes irritating to the parties involved in the conversation, but not that big of a deal.

BUT when someone is CONSTANTLY butting in to your business...that's a completely different story.

For example, I work with a person who likes to believe she is my superior. Not so. When I first started working here (which was only a few weeks ago), she told me how she was instructed to give me all this information on procedures and, for lack of my own better terminology, chain of command. Her version of the chain is that she is above me. I'll leave out the tedious details of everything she has tried to push off on me and get to the good stuff and the point of this particular rant...

She is now going in and doing a search on EVERY DOCUMENT I CREATE and reading it and trying to figure out whether she should have credit for it. I have even found instances where she has altered things in some fashion and put her name on them. Now, if these were situations where she was told to do these things or make corrections or whatever, fine. No problem. BUT THAT ISN'T THE CASE.

Oh, did I mention she listens in on coversations - purposely - and then gets involved in some fashion, tries to take over and then screws things up??? And the best part??? After screwing things up, she passes the buck on to someone else and can't ever seem to remember having anything to do with it. She'll just look at you with this "sweet" and completely "blank" stare and tell you point blank she didn't have anything to do with the topic.

I suppose I could go confront her, but if I do that before I cool off, I'll make her cry. So, I'm using this as my release...we'll see how things go...

Now What?

Okay, I've started this out of curiosity - and the often-strong need to express my thoughts and opinions on certain matters - and now I have drawn a total blank. I suppose I should ask my friends what I rant or ramble on about that they don't really want to hear and then start a blog from those things.