Bartender...I'll have a Chewbacca please!

So Andy and I are at the bar Friday night for the $500 dart tournament. We rarely get out to these anymore and thought since this was a kid-free zone all weekend we'd venture out into the snow and go play darts.

Now this is a whole-in-the-wall Redneck bar with a bunch of drunk old farts, random trailer trash chicks wearing way too much makeup and prancing about in their coochie cuttin jeans. My friend is the bartender there and she's brought in a younger crowd, plus the "dart peeps" are there... and if you've ever played darts or seen a tournament, this is an entirely different world of people lol.

Well you mix all these folks up and you've got my favorite bar in town. The drinks are strong and cheap, the company is good for a laugh, and there is darts and karaoke every Friday night! I love it!

So my good ole boy Rusty is perched on his usual spot at the bar. He's like "Norm" from Cheers. He's a totally sarcastic, always drunk, rather rotund man who looks to be in his 50s. For some reason when I first started coming to this bar, Rusty took a liking to me and he's been my protector of sorts. He might be big, and he might be a drunk ole fart, but he can kick some bar butt!

I'm on my way to the juke box b/c Andy wants to hear "Country Boy Can Survive", one of his dart playing mojo songs he loves to hear. Rusty pulls me over to him and starts yapping about a new shot he's been doing at the bar. Now, he's a Jager kind of man and I couldn't imagine him venturing off.

Rusty: Denise, you've got to try this one. It's a Chewbacca.

Me: Like Star Wars Chewbacca? Ok what's in it? (I'm always game for a new shot!)

Rusty: Hell I don't know. All I know is I had three of them the other night and it did for me what 10 Jager's would do...

Me: Well you know Rusty, you have a Jager-tolerance like no other. NOBODY can put away Jager like you. Is this shot gonna put me on my ass?

Rusty: No no, it's good. And it's sweet too. It was so sweet I had to have a lemon. Don't even need a chaser. C'mon just try one with me.

Me: I'm going to ask Cathy (the bartender) what's in it. I don't trust you. You're just trying to get me drunk so I'll try out your new bath towels! (Long story - maybe I'll share that one another time LOL)

So I meander over to Cathy ask what the hell Rusty is talking about:

Me: Cathy, he says he's got a new shot for me...a Chewbacca.

Cathy: A what?

Me: A Chewbacca. What's in it?

Cathy: Never heard of it. Where did he get it?

Rusty: C'mon Cathy. It's that damn shot you've been giving me for the last three nights!

Immediately Cathy cracks up. Rusty and I are standing there looking stupid because we don't get it.

Cathy: That's TUACA Rusty, not CHEWBACCA!



After I finished pointing and laughing at Rusty, I bought him a Chewbacca. He wasn't lying, it is Yum!

Toilet Paper Nazi

I'd just like to know... for real... am I the only one in this house who knows:
Where we keep the toilet paper?

How to get a new roll on the fancy little toilet paper holder?

How to rinse off dishes with the oh-so difficult to use faucet?

What all the intricate buttons on the dishwasher mean? "Start" being the hardest one to figure out I guess.

When the trash can is full, that the bag full of nastiness can be transferred out to the polly cart in about 15 steps?

Exactly where the new trash bags are kept?

How many items can fit in the washing machine without it making a CLANK CLANK THUD noice b/c it can't spin properly?

That bras should not go in the dryer?

That the entertainment center is for entertainment, not a catch-all for homework, books, keys, mail, trash and receipts?

The tool box is where we keep the tape measure, screwdrivers and hammer... not in the place where we last used them?

To make the vaccum cleaner work, all you need to do is plug it in and push?

And the fancy thing about the broom is, you don't even have to plug it in?

The toybox is where the toys go, not under the couch, under the playpen, under the dining room table and on top of the damn entertainment center?

That sanded and beautifully refinished desk, efforts of Andy, in the teen/tween room is actually for homework?

An after school snack does not consist of 35 pizza pockets and some tater tots smothered with catsup and ranch dressing?

If you trip 15 times over your tennis shoes sitting in the middle of the livingroom floor, that's actually a signal to put them where they belong instead of grunting and moving them over a few inches?

When I say I need to see your bedroom floor before you go to bed tonight doesn't mean swoop all the clothes into a pile behind the door and hope they find their own way to the washing machine?

Seriously... am I the only one who knows these things?

LOSER!

OMG I can't believe I have lost one of my Holocaust books LOL! I was diligently working this morning and early afternoon and finished up my paper on Elie Wiesel's Night. Ok, so I'm digging through my handy dandy book bag and can't find the other book. I have two 1-page conversation starters due tonight (and no ink in my printer mind you, so I'd have to go to the school early to print them) and I can't find the damn book! How in the hell do I have Maus, Night, two copies of the syllabus and then I misplace just ONE of the books? I haven't even cracked that book open yet and it's gone! GRRRRRRRRR

Best case scenario it's in the minivan and I'm not a complete dope.

However, this is NOT a class I will attend unprepared, so I guess I'll be skipping tonight. Crap! I like this class and for the first time since I've been back in school, I don't want to SKIP!

Ok, back to searching for the book. I wonder if it somehow got in the toddler's toybox... hmmmm.

Writing...

So I ran across the blog... Mama's Losin It (one day I swear I'm going to figure out this linking thing in here) and she posts a writing exercise every Wednesday. I'm going to try this out. I'm not good at following directions, or following through... lol, so this might be my only week. I have, however, enjoyed reading the many responses... there are many, many talented folks out there with great stories!

Prompt 3: What are you putting off right now?

Homework. Need I say more? I should, since this is an exercise for writing huh?

I'm enrolled in a private Christian university to finally finish up my degree, a journey that I started 15 years ago mind you, and I'll be the first to say... some of their classes are really odd.

We have 5-week sessions, 5 sessions in a semester, and end up with 15 credits. Nice. We get to work on one class at a time, and although we are there for FOUR HOURS STRAIGHT, it's really not that bad, being one night a week. The down side is the amount of reading required... especially if it's a subject you aren't thrilled about.

Current class: Intro to Holocaust.

Yeah, I'm a HUGE procrastinator and as I sit here "exercising my mind", I'm feeling guilt. Because I should be finishing up (I've got my first paragraph done dang it) my 5-7 page review on the book "Night" by Elie Weisel. I should also be reading the six articles and picking two of which to do my 1-page conversation starters on.

Blogging... homework... blogging... homework.

Blogging wins. Hands down.

But blogging wasn't how I started my day. Where in the hell did the day go? It's 5pm and I'm still not any further in my homework than when I got up at 9. What about Saturday? I have no idea where that day went either. I know I was hung over. But darts on Friday night was SO much fun. Not to mention my wonderful Andy brought home the bacon by taking 1st in the $500 tournament! Go baby go!

I have the attention span of a fly. I've neglected my cleaning duties that I generally save for the weekends, I haven't done a lick of homework and my fat arse is still sitting right here... in front of this PC.

talking to myself -->>I really don't have to do it today. I'm good at working on the fly... I've got until 6pm tomorrow before class to finish my paper and get my reading and other papers done. No biggy!<<--

Ok... I've talked myself into it. I'll grab the laptop Andy is currently playing virtual pool on and head to my room for some quiet and much needed homework devotion time...

...right after I read another 234897234 blogs

~20 Questions~

I swiped this from another blog, and if I wasn't blogger challenged, I'd be smart enough to link it here... LOL (any help would be lovely, and thank you in advance)

1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a doctor b/c I was scared of blood and I wanted to get used to it lol. My mom has an "interview" on tape where I said that.

2. What have you done in the past week to help someone else?
Alerted the proper authorities about an alleged abuse allogation with one of my kid's friends.

3. Who is the best-dressed person you know?
Probably would be my sister and her man. They do fancy stuff.

4. What is on your nightstand?
Lamp, a book and an alarm clock.

5. If you were a cat, what kind of a cat would you be?
The kind that poops outside. No WAY would I stick my feet in the sand that I just pooped in earlier! GROSS!

6. If you lived in a house surrounded by acres of trees, what particular type of tree would you want flourishing on your land?
Um, the kind that's big and green?

7. What do you find to be very overrated?
Binge dieting.

8. How many email addresses do you have?
Two.

9. Have you ever felt replaced?
Not that I can remember.

10. Would you rather watch football or baseball?
Football.

11. What is the wallpaper on your phone?
A pic of my kid.

12. Name a lyric from the song you're listening to.
I'm listening to the rumble of my PC.

13. Do you use a feed reader?
Google reader.

14. What chocolate do you always leave in the box?
All of them. I don't like chocolate.

15. What would you do if you found out your ex is engaged?
Any one of my ex's I don't care about, but when I found out my child's father was engaged, I felt relieved.

16. Do words hurt you?
Only from the ones closest to me.

17. Are you a talker or a listener? Is it ever possible to really be both?
I talk and I listen. I get bored easily though, so if I'm not looking right at you, I'm probably not listening. And even when I'm looking straight at you, if you take too long to get to the point, my mind has already wandered off into never never land.

18. Have you ever walked on the beach at night?
Yup - LOVE IT!

19. Who is your favorite professional athlete?
As if...

20. Which TV show have you seen pretty much every episode of?
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (only the ones with Vincent D'Onofrio of course)

I Figured out my "Bear"

I've been talking with my sister, who is much more atune to the planetary involvement in my life than I (yes, I have had charts drawn up and do think if the atmosphere can control the tides of seas, it certainly has a bearing on my being as well), about my bear sightings as of late. It's a weird feeling to stand back from yourself and take a gander at what has been going on. And hard to do. So I call my sissy to help me figure things out and to get another perspective. She knows me so well and thinks outside the box.

Anyhoo - We had a fiascal (yeah, that's right, fiascal is really a word in the dictionary of my head) Wednesday night. Our 15 y/o has a friend who has been talking about running away. I guess she deemed last night to be "the night". She made claims of being hit at home by a drunken parent, a step-parent who works at some unknown bar who leaves for work at 4:30 in the morning and doesn't come home until the wee hours of the night, a bio mom in another state that she is at odds with, and no other local family to turn to. Ok... I smell lies. Regardless, there is a teenager at my door in the middle of the night with her bags packed and obviously in distress, not to mention a nice little red mark on her face showing the alleged assault.

Without getting into too much detail here, Andy and I decided we would be the "safe house" for ONE NIGHT only, but the next morning she would have to let her father know where she was. Half of me didn't even want to go that far and I figured her father or the police would be at my door before sun-up looking for her. At this point I thought her father knew where we lived, since this kid is at my house EVERY single school day from the time she gets out of school until about 5 pm, but I later learned she kept that a secret from her dad (imagine that!).

We made it through the night without the police or her father. Andy took the girls to school like normal and then called the principal to give her heads up. I know the principal personally and love her to pieces. She has kept a watchful eye out on my kid since she has been in that school and couldn't be more grateful.

We did our part and informed the school who then had to proceed with their legal obligations of notifying the father, the police and of course CPS b/c of the alleged abuse. All we had to go on was the words of this kid, whether we believed them or not, we had to get folks involved. Turns out this kid really needs some serious counseling. Her father reported her missing to the police that night, but there wasn't much that could be done... and from what I've learned, this isn't the first episode for this child.

We learned so much about this whole ordeal from a source who will remain a mystery, but a source I totally trust, and I've come to the conclusion that whether the allegations are true or not, this child needs help. She is crying out for something and the road ahead will be a long one, for both she and her parents, if she doesn't learn how to cope and deal with whatever is eating at her.

Point of this whole story is... she was my bear. The interpretation of my dream is this: The gun that I couldn't reload in the dream represented the extend of the help I could offer. I threw up my hands that night and told Andy I didn't know how to handle this... so I stayed in bed while he let the girl in and talked to her about the situation. I let the bear near him. The bear nearly attacking Andy was a sign that there was something coming that neigher one of us would be able to handle alone and we would have to call for some help. Before I even realized she was my bear, the minute we talked to the school principal, I felt an emormous load lifted from my shoulders, and so did Andy.

Lions and Tigers and Bears OH MY!

"Dreams are illusions... from the book your soul is writing about you." Martha Norman

So the other night I had a dream that a bear was chasing Andy. He was trying to distract the bear from me so that I could shoot it. Sounds easy enough. Well, from all my hours playing Hunting Unlimited 2009 (complete addict) I knew that if I hit the bear in the forehead, the bullet would slide right off the top of his head and wouldn't kill him. So I had to choose my shot carefully. Well, this wasn't a game and I was frantic! And to top it off, I only had a shotgun. TWO bullets. I aimed, shot, missed. Aimed, shot, hit the bear, but didn't stop him.

Here's where panic overtook me. The bear is coming straight for Andy and I didn't know how to reload the gun. I don't even know if I had more ammo, all I knew was reloading wasn't a task I'd ever been shown. I was going to watch the love of my life be eaten by an angry black bear!

Usually, I have the ability, while still sleeping, to stop the dream, rewind the scene and direct it the way I want it to go. Tonight was different. I couldn't redirect the bear. The same scene just played over and over again and I woke up in a cold sweat, heart beating outside of my chest and body trembling. I was almost in tears as I reached out for Andy to make sure he was still there.

HORRIFYING!

So the next morning I remembered the dream and told Andy what had happened. He was appalled that I would let him get torn to shreds by a bear. He thought it was funny at first, but quickly changed his mind. I couldn't help it. I did manage to stop the dream before he was eaten alive, thus it has no ending. And I couldn't find the clear meaning of the dream. For the life of me I couldn't put that dream into perspective. Other than the fact that he needs to make sure I know how to use and LOAD a damn gun. We have guns in the house. For arguments sake, lets say an intruder comes in while he's gone away to some hunting or fishing trip and I'm alone with the kids. What the hell am I going to do to save my family? I believe I'd blow a robbers head off if I felt there was danger, but HOW with no BULLETS???

Anyway... the following week Manny, the 3-year-old, wakes up at 6 a.m. and crawls in bed with us. "Daddy, I'm scared".

"Why son?"

"The dinosaurs are going to get me."

"Don't be scared son, I'll kill the dinosaurs," as he squeezes him in closer, protecting Manny. We all snuggle up together, covers pulled up close to our faces.

Shortly after, we all get up and Manny heads to the hall bathroom while Andy is getting our girls up.

"Dad... watch out for the bear!" Manny hollers from the bathroom.

Needless to say, I'm a little freaked out but I don't say anything. How did Manny know about the bear? Hmmm. Something is off kilter. A threatening feeling, but I'm not sure what it's about.

I honestly believe that our subconscious mind tries to warn us about certain things. It tries to protect us from events or situations that we might have otherwise avoided, or it uses dreams to make us aware of something that is or could be coming our way.

Manny and I are apparently incahoots on something... I just wish I knew more.

Intro to The Holocaust

So last night was the first session of five for Intro to the Holocaust. Traditionally, I hate history. I have traumatic memories from high school trying to memorize dates and details of historical events that seemed too trivial for my party mindset. Perhaps it was my teachers that didn't engage my mind, perhaps it was me being lazy, knowing exactly what I had to score on a particular assignment to nail a good grade in that class... and that instructor wasn't getting anything more than my minimum.

At SNU, I've been enrolled in "bridge classes". This is an adult study program where I can go to school one night a week (4 hours) and in five weeks, I've finished a class that would have taken me an entire semester. It's wonderful for those who are working and just can't devote 4 to 5 nights a week to class. I take five classes a semester, but I take them one at a time. It works for me! Granted, it's a private university, so the cost is a little high, but it's worth it to me.

Anyway, some of my classes are kinda odd. And truth be known, you really don't get a lot of say-so in what you are enrolled in. The object is to get you to the credit requirement so you can start your degree program requirements. Basically, whatever you need is compared to whatever is available at that time, and that's what will end up on your schedule.

For the Spring semester I ended up with Juvenile Delinquency, Earth's Natural Disasters, Discrete Math, Intro to the Holocaust and Intro to Art. All of them were a piece of cake as far as I could tell, except for the Holocaust class. I already had anxiety about that one, and this was at the beginning of the semester lol. The syllabus even had me more anxious. I glanced over it in January to find that I would be writing two 5-7 page papers, three 1-page video response papers, 10 1-page conversation starters and have a final exam. I about crapped my pants. FIVE WEEKS MAN! This class is only five weeks! Oh... and I had to read "Night" by Elie Wiesel prior to class and have one of the 5-7 page papers done, and then another paper was to be on an assigned book we would get the first night of class. Oh! And there was a Genocide project that was also due by the 5th week consisting of ANOTHER 5-7 page paper and a 1-page oral presentation. WTF!

Not only do I not like history, I don't like reading about history, I don't like history videos, and I certainly don't like writing papers on historical events. I love to write. But I love to write about things I'm comfortable with. Things I know about. This... the Holocaust... was definitely unfamiliar territory and I hadn't the faintest clue how I was to bullshit my way through this class.

So I get to class and thank God I was 4 minutes early. My instructor, a lean, tall man looking to be in his 50s... bald head, pressed jeans, cowboy boots and a gray blazer over a Harley Davidson t-shirt... looked intimidating. I immediately thought of Bull from Night Court when I saw him, but only in a scary kind of way. Then precisely at 6 this man tells us, "Thank you all for being here on time. I start promptly at 6, but tonight I will give 5 more minutes because this classroom is difficult to find."

Then again, promptly at 6:05, he started class. Not only was I scared to death of this class, my face was beet red after climbing three flights of stairs and running through every hall imaginable in this building to find my classroom. I'm fat. Fat girls don't run down halls and willingly climb stairs when there are elevators available.

So he starts rambling on about his own personal history. I could feel my insides twisting and turning, thinking this class couldn't possibly get worse. He tells us he joined the military at 17 and retired after 32 years service. He has also worked for SWAT and other special forces in the Oklahoma City Police Department. He described himself as a "crotchety old bastard" and told us that if his occasional cursing offended us, to report him. He further explained, we wouldn't be the first to report him and he's certain we wouldn't be the last.

Gulp...

After the first 15 minutes or so of class I caught my breath and was able to relax a bit. This professor, even with his background, seemed very personable, joking with us and all that, so I didn't fear him nearly as much as I did 15 minutes prior.

The lecture started and I can honestly say, this man put this whole time in history into perspective for me. I didn't even have to ask any questions because he had already answered them. He put things into terms where even a 5th grader could understand, and if there was something that was unclear, he was pretty good at reading faces and tried to invoke conversation within the students. And to top it all off... not only did I understand what the heck he was saying, I was excited to learn more. It was really refreshing.

Oh! And not only was he able to get through my mental block for history, he cut down our workload as well. He completely wiped out one of the papers we had to write... the one on Genocide. Instead, he told us to find any case of genocide in history and answer these questions: Who? When? Why? What? and of course... How? He said to make an oral presentation of no more than 5 minutes to answer those questions. Easy enough. Then he cut out the final exam. WOO HOO! He said our video response papers are due at the beginning of the last class. We still have to write two 5-7 page papers, but I can certainly deal with that! Oh - and because he cut out the final exam, which was worth 20% of our final grade, he decided to put that 20% toward, punctuality, preparedness for class and participation. Nice!

I am honestly looking forward to next weeks class!

You are in BIG TROUBLE Mister!

So I'm up at 5:30 this morning, determined to get a head start on work before the kids get here. All seems to be going well... I'm working, laundry is going, and the house is quiet. Then Nish gets up, shortly followed by Andy. Why in God's name are they up so early? Couldn't be the 4 hours naps we all took yesterday until about 7 pm LOL!

At about 7, I'm in the kitchen doing my normal routine. I get Andy's lunch ready for work, get coffee fixed and get his fancy schmancy coffee cup we got him for Christmas out to take to work and then shove Andy and Nish out the door about 7:30. Well... I can't find the coffee cup. This isn't just your ordinary thermos style coffee mug mind you. I had is specially designed for him. SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR HIM!

Ever seen those stickers on cars?



They look kinda like that. Well, I didn't want one on the truck b/c I wanted our real names on there, and I thought that was just a bit invasive to plaster on our vehicle like that. So after an exhaustive search (30 seconds on Google) I found a site that custom makes coffee mugs, mouse pads, decals, etc., and you get to design the people, including their attire, hair style, age, and then name them all.

I picked out an aluminum coffee mug for him and put us plus our four kids on there. It was too cute! So cute I couldn't wait until Christmas to give it to him and let him open it early.

Anyhoo -

He takes that cup to work everyday. I'm looking for it in the dishwasher. Nope. Cabinet... Nope. Sink... NOPE! I'm getting pissed. I ask him to go look in the truck. He finally reveals.... "I must have left it at the office."

That would have been fine if it were the OFFICE that he goes to EVERYDAY! But noooooooooo, it's at the office that he went to for 2 days last week, the office that he hardly ever goes to. Granted, it's a mile from our house, but it closes too early for him to get there after he gets off, and I have no idea when he'll be there next. And it's too far away from the office he's at normally to make it there during lunch and get back on time.

So I'm pissed. He's in trouble. Big trouble! I specially designed that dang cup for him! I fill it EVERY morning with his dang coffee and send him out the door with hot java and smooches every morning! How the hell do ya forget your cup!?!?

I let him know, repeatedly, that he's in big trouble until he gets his cup back.

7:30 a.m. I shove him out the door with smooches, a glare and no coffee cup.

11:13 a.m. I get picture mail on my celly.



Got my cup back! See?

LMAO. He apparently worked some magic and had someone bring the cup to him. See why I love this man! I informed him he was safe to come home now and not fear for his life. It's a beautiful day!

I LOVE MINIVANS and BANANAS!

So we bought a Minivan this weekend. It's cute. I'm very happy with it. This is "my" car (technically speaking of course, it all comes out of one account) and Andy has the macho man truck. We traded in my car that Andy swears was a heap of junk... but it wasn't. It was a nice little car that needed a little work. I loved the Alero, but we couldn't fit everyone in there. When Andy went to buy the truck in July my only stipulation was that he get one big enough to fit all six of us in there. Job well done! So we decided to get something a little cheaper on gas and that was more "mom friendly". We've been talking about buying a minivan for a while, but we thought we might just wait until the car was paid off. HA! That idea lasted for all of six months lol.

So far, there are only three ladies in the family with cars, and I was one of them. The rest have SUVs. Of course all of the guys have trucks (RAWR)! So I know I'm going to get some razzing for being minivan mom lol. All good. I can take it.

The funny part is Andy is taking the minivan to work. He says he's "Rockin the Mini" and takes all the jokes from his work buddies in stride. What a champ! See why I love him?!?!?! It was a complete manipulation tactic to take the mini to work. We work well together this way. I know he wanted to drive the new car to work. He knew I wanted to keep it in the driveway and stare at it all day long, knowing I wasn't leaving the house. It's my new toy and I want to stare at it. I love new toys! So instead of just telling me he's going to take it and dealing with me throwing a fit... he asks me a question "Do you think I should take the mini to work?"

Crap! I'm stuck! He knows this makes me feel like I get to make the decision, so I'm all happy about that. But he also knows I'm going to make a sensible decision too. And the sensible decision was to watch my new toy leave the driveway every day because it's cheaper on gas. Crap crap crap!

I've learned, in relationships, if you "suggest" instead of "demand" you get your way more often without any ill feelings or feeling like you have to give up a "man-card" or lose cool points.

Another example. We weren't going to move into a house until another six months or so. We decided we'd get everything taken care of financially that was going to cost us big bucks in the near future, and THEN take on the responsibility of higher rent, more bills, etc. Well... I knew I was going to get a tax refund this year, and I was way too excited to get into a bigger place and didn't want to sit in that apartment any longer. I knew Andy wanted to move as soon as we could too, but he's more careful about bills than I am. I've been robbing Peter to pay Paul for so long, a move wouldn't be any more difficult than anything else I've done in the past.

So, I propose this idea of mine to Andy. It's still just an idea in my head at this point. What I'm doing is planting the seed. I say "Babe, I saw a house for rent down the street... wanna go take a look at it, just for fun?" So that gets the ball rolling, and before we know it, we are actively looking for a house and now it's become something that has to be done within the next month instead of the six months from now. We moved into our house the last week in January, a mere three weeks after my initial "suggestion" to Andy.

I LOVE the power of suggestion!

In the past year (because we've been together a year now YAY) he's moved into the apartment with me, then we moved into a bigger house where all the kids could have their own space, we've purchased new vehicles for both us, I'm back in school full time and back to transcribing, and his divorce is almost final. I think it's been a productive year. So one year down on our five year plan. I can't wait to see what the next four years bring us!

It's been a busy week

...here in Okieland!

First, I've located my brother that I haven't seen in over 20 years! I have two siblings from my dad, an older sister and brother. I was just a kid when I last saw either one of them. I never really looked for either of them b/c I didn't want to get wrapped up in all the mess my dad created. I don't have very many good memories of that man, and it was just too much drama to deal with. I figured they'd turn out just like him and frankly, I didn't want any part of our dad. So the other day, I'm looking at Myspace and decide to look for my brother. After a days search, I found him and he looked good! I mean GOOD! He has my dad's eyes... but he seems normal. And productive. And happy. And away from all the drama and crap our dad instilled in our genes. And the best part is... he's only a few hours away from me! I can't wait to get to know him all over again!

This Wednesday was the last session for my Discrete Math class. I don't think I got an A, but I'm sure it's a high B. I missed a couple of assignments at the beginning of class and I think I got lazy and just didn't turn them in or something. It's totally my fault, but I'm ok with a B. Next class is Holocaust. Ugh. That syllabus is intimidating. I don't do well with oral presentations, and it seems like there is one every damn week in this class, not to mention an inordinate amount of reading. Grrr! On the bright side, it's only one night a week for five weeks. Surely I can make it through.

Andy and I went out Wednesday night after I got out of class. I got smashed lol. Michelle was there (first time she'd been back at this bar since the "incident") and we had a great time. We don't get to the bar much these days and it's a good thing! Man when I think about how much money we spent in the bar when we were throwing darts... it makes me sick. But that was back when I was stalking Andy and Patron was my right-hand-man. Oh... good times. I sure don't miss the hangovers though. Yesterday SUCKED big time.

On top of being hung over, Andy was sick. I guess the kids and I passed on our cold we had last week to him. Poor guy.

Then this morning, Friday the damn 13th, I guess Nisha thought it was "dress like a hood rat day" at school. She comes out of her room with some booty shorts on that are obviously way too little for her big butt and some leggings under them, thinking that if she wore leggings she could get away with it. Ba ha! That's not gonna work sister. Go change into some real clothes. So I guess she thinks she's slick. She comes back out of her room with a pair of jeans on, but I don't think she knew that I knew she still had on her leggings under the jeans. Which leads me to believe she's got those damn booty shorts in her bag. I just laughed and let her run with it. The folks at the school and I are very close, and they don't hesistate to call me if something stupid happens... I anticipate a phone call by 10 this morning lol. Hell, haven't we all done that? Changed our clothes or put on our "real" makeup after we got to school b/c our moms thought we should be little "Outhouse on the Prairie" type kids?

So then Erin calls and says she's going to be late with the girls b/c there is something wrong with her truck. No biggy. That gives me more time to wake up. Andy and Nish leave and I'm sitting here waiting on the babies, when Andy walks back through the door. He's still sick. My poor guy! I sent him back to bed. He sounds miserable, and apparently his boss told him not to bring his contaminated self up to the office to spread that crap around. So he gets a 4 day weekend. Nice! I love having him home anyway. He's a great snuggler.

Ok - time for me to go check on him, dope him up and curl up next to him for a bit. High of 35 today and my toes are freezing!

The End of the Sopranos

So last night we finally finished watching the entire set of The Sopranos. Andy has already seen it of course, and this all started out simple. He introduced me to the big gangster movies when we first got together and I loved them. So he thought I might like The Sopranos. I was addicted half-way through the first season. Lately, I've tried to space them out a bit because I knew we were coming to the end.

Last night we watched the final disc and I'd like to say... I FEEL ROBBED!

When you have an open ending, the kind where you have to guess what happened, it just leaves you feeling empty. Now when I'm in the theatre or watching a flick on DVD that ends abruptly leaving you with many questions... I'm ok because I've only invested an hour and a half. But when you are six seasons deep, invested countless hours to these people and their lives... and you are left with a NON-ending like this... it's PAINFUL and DECEITFUL and ROBBING! GRRRR! I feel like I know these people. I've been in their home for six seasons worth of viewing! I've been to work with them, in their bedrooms, watched them murder and go to a billion funerals. I've watched Uncle Junior come to his mental demise. I've wanted to punch Janice in the face for being such a dip-wad. I've been there everytime Tony was in therapy, pouring his heart out without saying too much. I was there when Ade was killed (on her way to see Christopher in the hospital down a long, winding road in the middle of the woods lol). I was there when AJ tried to kill himself and when Meadow decided to pursue law instead of medicine. I was there DAMMIT when Carm almost got busy with "the Father" and then got jealous because one of her whore friends was acting the same way! I was right next to Paulie when he almost met his demise on the boat with Tony before they headed back home.

HOW COULD THEY DO THIS TO ME!!!

I hate it when the kids are sick :(

Tuesday started like any other day... the babies I take care of during the day arrived, LOML headed to work taking Nish to school on his way and the day looked good. Nish comes home from her choir performance after school and looked like straight death. I doped her up and sent her to bed. The babies leave with their mama, LOML comes home from work, we go to the grocery store and then pass out.

The next morning the babies show up, I keep Nish home from school b/c she's running a fever and still in a coma. Doped her up again and sent her back to bed. Then by 10 o'clock Baby K starts running a fever. I text her mama, she arrives an hour later to take her to one of the "doc in a box" clinics around here where you don't need an appointment. She ends up taking Nish with her to be seen as well. Apparently both girls have a nasty viral infection and Nish is out of school until Friday. Both girls have prescriptions and are told to push fluids and get plenty of rest.

These poor girls! I hate it when kids are sick. They are clingy and in the "I need my mama" stage. Poor pathetic lil things! I just want to sit and coddle them all day, but I've got things I've got to get done (LOL @ my to-do list earlier in the week that I'm still trying to get done two days later). I tried to quarantine Nish to her room, but that doesn't work so well. She's at my ankles needing a hug and back rubs that of course, only mama can do right. I know I'm a big baby when I'm sick and I just want to be comforted. LOML takes such good care of me... I'm so blessed!

Today, Baby K is feeling a little better, but still so snotty and congested that she can't sleep unless she's at an incline. I hate letting her sleep in her carseat, but that's the only place I can put her where she'll be able to breathe and get some real rest. Nish says that her throat is opening up a bit after starting her Z-pack and some Robitussin AC. Booger sucking Baby K is definitely not fun, but she actually sits still for me to do it, and oddly enough laughs. I think it tickles her throat or something. I can't help but laugh at her. The only way to get her to sleep the last couple of days is hold her on my chest until she passes out. She leaves a lovely snot blob on my t-shirt every time.

So far today no one is running a fever and Baby K is sleeping soundly. Nish is catching up on American Idol and I think I might have a few minutes of peace and quiet to get some of my seedlings in their new condos. Lil K helped make some paper bag condos before she was sent to take her nap too. She got a kick out of that. Can't wait until we can actually get some of this in the garden; she'll really have a blast outside.

Hopefully my sicklings will feel better this afternoon and we will be able to enjoy this sunshiny, beautiful day!

LOML and I have BIG plans tonight. I'm going to make some heart healthy spaghetti (turkey and wheat pasta) and we are going to sit in front of the boob tube and watch some Sopranos. We are almost finished with the entire set! He's already seen them all, but I am completely addicted!

Welp, off to do some indoor gardening while I have the chance!

So It's Tuesday!

Weekend came and went. We actually had the house to ourselves until about 8:30 on Sunday evening! Woo hoo! We shopped, finished moving out of the apartment, played with the sprouts in the kitchen, and layed around watching TV. It was superb!

I had a houseful of munchkins yesterday. Four kids all under the age of 5! Actually, it wasn't bad. They all get along pretty well and we had a good time.

Today LOML (that's what I'll call him... today) has an appointment with the soon-to-be ex-wife with the divorce attorney. We are both excited that it's finally off the "to do" list and moving to "actively being done" lol. They really have a great relationship and I'm really relieved that both of them don't create or allow any of the drama or horror stories that are so common. She has a really good head on her shoulders and they both keep the kids at the center of priorities. I know it can't be easy with another woman in her children's lives. Been there, done that. But I've realized over time it's only as hard as I make it.

I've got to get off here though... time to get on my "to do" list for the day:

Work (lol, I actually did laugh out loud about that one
Homework
Hall bathroom scrub-down
Finish at least 2 loads of laundry today
Grocery List
Unpack at least 2 boxes in the garage
Get my potatoes and onions in the tubs and newspaper roll the demon corn
Feed the babies breakfast and lunch
Get supper started (or at least some meat out of the freezer lol)

And this is all while babysitting the 3 y/o and the 9 m/o kids and needs to be done by 5 before LOML gets home from work. Lil K should be entertained pretty much with following me around the house and asking 9 billion questions, and thank God for the walker LOML got for Baby K. She's just scooting through the house like crazy these days. I'm so glad we have wood floors in the new house b/c that carpet in the apt was just too thick for her to be mobile.

Guess I'm off to do my chores!