My Son, the Graduate.

OK, here's the 411.  Brett didn't graduate with his class, and didn't walk the stage.  He was 1/2 credit short.  He had a chance to make it up in summer school, but it didn't look like it would happen.

IT HAPPENED!  My son is a high-school graduate!  I'm so happy that he did it.

My Aunt and Uncle are moving across the state tomorrow.  They visited Mom and Dad with another Aunt and her husband, and another Uncle.  They were all in the shop, lying and laughing, and I got some pictures.

I need sunshine.  I'm losing my everlovin' mind.

Alone

OK, here's some nonsense.  Just a bunch of pictures I've snapped in the past few days.  Congrats, Amy.  I love ya, and am happy for ya.

By the way, I'm home alone until Sunday afternoon.  I need this, and I love this.  I need some time.  This is a good thing.

See ya!

Feelin' good!

I stayed up too late Monday night, doing laundry.  I need a lot of sleep.  Less than 7 hours leaves me groggy and fuzzy.  Monday night, I got a bit over 5 hours.  I came home last night tired and cranky, and the girls started arguing over silly stuff.  I lost it.

I sent them to bed at 7:15, and told them to stay in bed or work it out, because I wasn't dealing with it.  Kevin got out of the shower to me in super-bitch mode.  He told me to go to bed and he'd deal with the evening.  I was in bed by 7:40, asleep by 8! 

I woke up at 4:45 this morning, feeling quite awesome!  It's going to rain today, I'm going to be ready in plenty of time to get some little extra things done at work, and tonight will be much better for everyone involved.  Yeah, I need my sleep.

Can I please have seconds?

On the way home, there was an extra large helpin' of idiots on the roadways.  Here are some tips for you idiot drivers out there:

1. If it is "rush hour", you should maybe consider going the speed limit.  Your POS car can't do 65?  Take another route.  Seriously.  This is an interstate at 5:00 PM.  45 is gonna get you killed.

2. If you need to turn left in 500 ft, and the car coming toward you in the other lane needs to turn left in 200 ft, it's best not to go into the turn lane at 300 ft.  I'm just sayin'.  You're both gonna sit there and look at each other like you're long lost cousins from a family tree that doesn't fork.  Fork you.

3. If you have a green arrow to turn right, you don't need to stop and spend 15 seconds looking for oncoming traffic before turning.  There is nobody coming.  Honest.  Now, I can understand the casual glance to make sure another like-minded idiot isn't running his light, but chances are, you're OK after a short glance.  Get outta my way.

4. I'm sure the person on the other end of your cell phone conversation is quite witty, but laughing at him/her until you almost side-swipe me is immediate cause for aggressive driving.  OK, I won't run you off the road or "pop a cap in yo' ass", but you WILL get "the look" and a bit of a scare as I drive by.  I'm just sayin'.

5. That semi that you're driving behind?  See him?  Yeah, he's gonna start that corner on green, and will be half-way done during yellow, but when he's done?  Yeah, it's gonna be red.  Don't just hop on as a tow bar and ride through on red, stopping traffic.  It's stupid and rude.

6. If you're going 45 in a 55 and I have plenty of time, I'm going to pass you.  It's not dangerous or risky.  I can see for 1/2 mile, and need much less than that to get around you.  There is no reason to give me "the look" (I coined that look, loser) or slam on your brakes.  We're good.  Just stop annoying me.  I wanna get home to the a/c.  My windows on the car are NOT down for the fresh air.  'Nuff said.

OK, that being out of my system, here's why I'm so grumpy:

1. I came home hot and sweaty, to find a big ol' Hawkeye poo in the hallway.  I could tell he'd been sick (I know, ewwwww, but you need to know he doesn't typically do this.)

2. After stripping off the jeans and cleaning up poo, I hadn't put on shorts yet.  I went to lower the window shade the last 2" and it fell the HELL out of the brackets.  There I am, t-shirt and drawers, in front of a window with no shade.  Lovely.

3. After fixing the shade, my cell phone rings.  My favorite aunt is moving...ACROSS THE FRIGGIN' STATE!  We don't see each other often enough, but she lives so close, I always know she's there.  When is she moving, you ask?  in 5 days!  ACK!

4. While trying to take all of this info in (I take some time to process big news), I walk toward the kitchen and see a big ol' pile of Hawkeye puke.  Yup, he was sick all right.  *sigh*

5. Now, I'm all amp'd from bad stuff, and I can't revel in my raise.  Damn communists.  I'm sure the communists are to blame.

A very productive half-day

I have been shorting myself on sleep for 3-4 days straight, so Friday night, I slept HARD.  In fact, I didn't force myself into permanent vertical until 10:00!  I NEVER get to do that.  This morning, I woke much earlier, but didn't get productive until after noon.

Yeah, there was a lot of Dirty Job episodes on TV.  There was a Nascar road race (One of these days, someone's gonna kick Juan Pablo's ass...I'm just biding my time.)  There was CBS Sunday Morning (best show on TV.) There was some chick flick on the estrogen channel.  Yeah, it was a VERY lazy day for the first half or more. 

Then, I kicked into high gear.  If I want Kevin and myself to eat decent, healthy lunches during the week, I have to do most of the prep work on Sunday.  I cut veggies, make Jello (with fruit this week!) cook chicken breasts, make a monster batch of tuna salad, etc, etc.  I was in the kitchen, cooking, chopping, washing dishes and dirtying them, for over 3 hours.  I would take occasional peeks at the race, then get back to it.

Now, it's almost bed time, and the prep is done.  The problem is, the house didn't get cleaned this weekend.  We always clean house on either Saturday or Sunday.  Not this week.  I guess I'll limp along with a messy house until Friday night.  Kevin will head South with the girls, and I'll be alone all weekend.  I can crank up the radio and clean with no bodies in my way.  Well, except two lazy, hairy mutts.  Even they have learned to clear me a path when I'm cleaning, though.

Here's to an uneventful week.

a bunch of crap. don't bother

Here are some random pictures that sat on my camera this week.  It's all empty now, so the next post should be more timely...Or not.

Just some 'N Stuff

I love the cartoons that Russ does with the pear.  It makes me giggle.

I'm printing Bingo cards for National Bingo Night.

I'm so tired, I could go to bed right now with no problem.

I hope Mom has some green beans with new potatoes left, so I can take them for lunch tomorrow.  I may be too late.

This room is a mess, and the fan is blowing stuff off the desk.  I look at the fallen stuff, but do nothing to retrieve it.  *sigh*

I think, if Hawkeye could talk, he'd have a very deep voice.

It's hot and humid, but no a/c tonight.  I'm frugal (or a tight wad...you decide.)

My car is quite dirty.  Would one of you wash it, please?  Maybe just a quick wash?

Work is hard.  I'd rather draw a salary and sit around doing nothing.  Any ideas?

Lucy's bark makes me want to drop kick her across the room, but she's cute, so I don't.

"Copperhead Road", by Steve Earl, rocks my world.  Great song.

I hope I win the powerball tonight.

Cosmo is a soft porn magazine.  Trust me.  It was a free subscription, and I have to hide it from my kids!

This music is loud.  Thanks, Kevin, I needed this.

Tomorrow is trash day.  I hope I remember.  Or that Kevin remembers.  Or that the trash fairies come to take it to the curb.

My company contributed to the golf tournament for Steve's memorial fund.  Rock on.

"I Get To" by Blue County, is an awesome song.  Turn it up, Kevin.  Thanks.

Lucy eats things.  Not just food things.  All sorts of things.  She eats pencils and paper and dolls and underwear and all sorts of things.  Pick up after yourself around here, OK?

That's enough drivel.  Later, tater.

 

 

A list of good things

OK, I whined yesterday.  I feel that I owe it to you to follow up with a good-day report.  I told you that I was an optimist, and that today would be better, didn't I?

1. The 2 days from hell seemed to end at 2 days.  Today went more smoothly, and I caught up all of the work that had fallen behind while spending 2 days on 1 mess.

3. It looks like Kevin will accept the job offer that equals about the same bring-home money without the overtime.  No weekends, off at a normal hour at night, better management.

4. The humidity was lower today, resulting in beautiful blue skies, no pit stains, and an enjoyable ride home from work (no A/C, remember?)

5. Glowing. Review.

6. A raise that is reflected in the glowing review.

Time to relax and know that things DO turn around.  Now, dance with me, my friends.  Dance in circles and sing this song: "Rachel got a raise, Rachel got a raise, all is right this wonderful night, Rachel got a raise!"

A list of problems.

This is an entry that you do NOT want to read.  You were warned.  Turn away now.  Nobody should be forced to read this whining.

A list of problems at this specific moment in time:

1. Because we are so determined to give our kids every opportunity for fun, we blew our cash at the local fair and are struggling to figure bills this week.  Typical, rookie mistake, or just plain screwed up priorities?  You be the judge.

2. I had a day today that was a repeat of Friday.  Worst. Day. Ever.  It's over now, and the problem is fixed, but now I'm 2 more days behind in regular work.

3. My review was to be Friday, it was postponed until today.  Guess what?  Yup, now we're aiming for tomorrow.  Quite frustrating.  I want that review!  I kick ASS around there.

4. My house is covered in dog hair.  Yeah, I'm used to it, but when I'm in a crabby mood, it adds to the anger.

5. It's humid and sticky so I'm not cooking tonight.

6. I'm a whiney butt tonight.  I annoy me when I'm whiney.

OK, now I'm off to wallow in self-pity for a while.  When I'm done wallowing, I'll go to bed.  Tomorrow, I'll be better.  That's the advantage of being an optimist.  I have down moments, but I can get over them.

Pass me a beer, please.

Happy Everything!

So many celebrations, so little time.  Let’s list them:

 

1)      Dad’s birthday.  This is a birthday that may have never happened, if Mom hadn’t insisted on him checking out the source of his heartburn.  I had some horrible times, wondering if he’d make it through. He did, and he’s healthier than ever.  Heck, they’re gone on the motorcycle so much, I can barely get over there to visit!  I love you Dad.  Happy Birthday.

2)      Mom and Dad’s anniversary.  How many people stay married anymore?  Not many, on the first try these days.  They are a perfect set.  They play off each other and love each other more than anyone else and they wouldn’t be right with anyone else.  Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

3)      Father’s Day.  Happy Father’s Day, Dad and Kevin!  Dad taught me how to do so many things, I wouldn’t dream of trying to list them all.  He’s the reason I can troubleshoot a friends car problems, and the reason I can fix the small problems, instead of calling a repairman.  Kevin takes the girls places and does things for them, even when his body is protesting and he’s put in over 80 hours of work in a single week.  I love you both.

4)      My anniversary.  This is a second marriage for both of us.  Neither made it more than two years the first time.  This is number 12.  Kevin does everything he does with his family in mind.  He is a pessimist while I am an optimist.  He is a morning person while I am a night person. There are so many differences, but it just works.  I love you honey.  Thanks for doing what you do for us.  Thanks for loving me, as hard as I am to love.  Let’s face it…nobody else could do it.

 

Carry on with your weekend, everybody, but I’ve got some celebrating to do!

Fair, days 2 and 3

Well, for the most part, the fair is over.  I'm sore, tired, hot and broke.  I think that means we had a great time.  Right?  RIGHT?  LOL  Yeah, we did.  It was quite awesome, actually.

Yesterday was a horrible day at work, but 5:00 eventually came.  I stopped in the town we used to live in to pick up Tara, a friend of Monica's.  She planned to attend the fair with us and spend the night.  Also invited were Missy (my friend from growing up in this little town) and her son, Cole.  When Tara and I got home, they were waiting for us.  We all packed up and headed up the street.

Friday is "wrist band" night, where the kids can ride all night for $15.  That's the only night we let them ride, since buying tickets gets VERY expensive.  They rode and rode and rode.  We saw a lot of old friends, but nothing compared to the kids.  I swear, they knew every kid there.

That's what I love about this tiny little town.  Everybody knows everybody.  I feel safe letting my girls run off with friends, (checking in with me between each ride because I'm a normal, paranoid mom,) but running off anyway.  Kevin came home a bit early, since his job is extremely physical, and he was tired and sore, and Missy and I made it until about 10.  We rounded up our four charges and headed home.

Today, I slept until 9!  I couldn't believe it.  Everyone got dressed and ready (Cole spent the night, too) and we walked up there again.  At 10:00 am, it was already hot.  We looked around, had a healthy breakfast of corn dogs and ice cream, and Natalie played some games.  The other kids were MUCH to mature to participate in such nonsense.  They had people to see, places to go.  That's why there are more pictures of Natalie than the others.  (Here is a video of the Hula Hoop contest.)

We came home shortly after noon, and Tara and Cole were picked up mid-afternoon.  Then, Kevin and I napped.  We slept a long time!  Natalie woke me up (in the recliner...I'm old, ok?) and said, "Mom, it's 6:30."  ACK, the parade starts in 30 minutes?  I got up, slammed a Diet Coke to wake me up, and we walked to the parade, leaving Kevin waking more slowly in bed.

After the parade, Kevin walked up with a couple of chairs and a small cooler of sodas.  We listened to the band, and the girls networked a bit.  We ate more carnival fare, and the girls were cool with the fact that there was no riding tonight.  That was, until IT happened.  My friend from high school, Tony, walked over and handed me a book of 25 tickets!  He was walking away when I closed my gaping mouth and said "Thank You."  How cool!

The girls almost peed themselves with excitement.  At 3-5 tickets per ride, they only rode 4 rides, but it was such an unexpected surprise, they were happy as clams.  We walked home more sore, tired, and broke than ever, and we deemed the weekend a success. 

Tomorrow is a day of rest.  Well, we have to mow the yard, weed-eat the bank, go to the store, clean the house.... *sigh*  Oh well, I can promise you there will be another nap in there somewhere.

Fair Night 1, and a few leftovers

The first half of the pictures are from the Nashville airport, when I was trying to come home.  Thank goodness they have a smoking room.  The problem is that it is enclosed in glass.  Glass that doesn't seal well, so the asthmatics are dying, and the non-smokers can glare at us.  *sigh*

I waited a LONG time for my flight.  I was there 3 hours early (not many flights from Nashville to KC) and my flight was delayed 3 times (by 10-15 minutes each time) so we sat around a LOT.  I got the front seat on the way home, beside a guy taking his Mom home after a 2 month visit.  She was not in good health, and he took SUCH great care of her on the flight.  I send prayers up for both of them.

Tonight was opening night of our little town fair.  Tomorrow night, a $15 wrist band lets the girls ride as much as they want, so tonight was just to "scope it out."  They decided what they would ride and what they wouldn't.  After last year's fiasco, they will NOT go upside down.  No more tears for me to dry.

It is awesome to live in a small town.  Every 2 minutes, one of the girls were shrieking "HEEEYYYY!  COME HERE!!!" and having a VERY important conversation with a friend.  It rocks.  They were surrounded by friends much of the time.  They were planning for tomorrow...where they'd meet, what they'd ride, what they'd eat, etc.  I love this shit.

The girls split a funnel cake.  I ate a corn dog.  Kevin drank a nasty Diet Pepsi.  That was all we spent tonight.  Tomorrow is the money loser.  Tomorrow, we spend our mortgage payment on the fair.  OK, not really, but the all-you-can-ride wristbands are $15 and I want them to have a good time.  It'll be a ton of pictures that will bore you to tears, so check back in 2-3 days, and it will be over.

:side note, more important than a town fair:

Ben is doing so well that, when he got to the hospital in Texas, they deemed him too healthy to be there.  He's in an outpatient facility with more freedom.  Most guys there are missing one ormore limbs, so he's happy to be only missing a hand.  Tammy and her hubby will fly down on Saturday, and she'll hug him for all of us.  Thanks for the prayers.

Stupid, random pictures. Don't waste your time.

So, I was bored, so you must suffer.  Don't take it personally.  My family lives with my nonsense every day.  Digital cameras have ruined me.  I would have NEVER done this with film.

Here I sit, all broken hearted....

All right, those of you who "get" the joke in the title...GROW UP!  You should NOT know how that line ends.  Sheesh, how old are you?

I'm sittin' in Nashville, and I'm thinkin'.

There are some deep thoughts, like when I wondered how long my career will keep me as happy as it does now.  Will I ever get bored with it?  Will I get to a salary cap that no longer keeps up with inflation?

Then, there are the random thoughts, like when I wondered how many bubbles, I mean the EXACT number, collect on the edge of my glass when I pour a Diet Coke.

Why all the shorty glasses in hotel rooms?  I'd like a big ol' tea glass, thankyouverymuch.

Why do hotels decorate with the weird patterns on the carpet?  None of us want this crap in our homes, so why do you think we would find it wonderful in your hotel?

8 TV screens on a wall in  your sports bar?  Volume on one of them?  Seriously.  What if the very game that I want to watch has no sound?  How can I hear the interesting banter of the play-by-play guys?  Who cares.  I don't watch baseball.  Never mind.

Why is it so important to have a tiny cell phone?  I need to be able to hang onto my phone.  Those tiny little stylish things don't seem practical at all.

One of our outfits that we wear at trade shows make me look like a hotel employee.  I saw one walk by today, and thought that my company had sent in reinforcements.

My dress shoes are 1/2 size too big.  I've worn them to 8 or more shows...just noticed today.

I like jazz. (shhhhhh)

Some sales folks try too hard, and tend to annoy the crap out of me if their booth is too near mine.  I cough into my hand while saying "bullshit!"  Then I laugh when their cell phone rings and it's a girlie ringtone.  HA! Wussy.

OK, enough random.  I'll be back with pictures in a bit.  I think.  But then again, I'm obviously thinking too much.

Some pictures

Here are some pictures that could be taken without changing out of my PJ's (which I've been wearing since around 5pm.) They are just "in the room" shots.  I'll get some better stuff tomorrow.  Right now, I'm a hermit. 

Gotta go call the family now.  I've got two cute girls and one cute guy to visit with.  Ciao!

Nashville, TN

Well, I'm here, and I'm checked in.  The flight was on-time, and that's always a good thing.  It was bumpy all the way here, so the flight attendants had to stay buckled in the whole time...no Diet Coke.  I WANT A REFUND!!!

Upon arrival, I found the place to get my rental car.  It's a Hyundai (is that how you spell that?) Accent.  LOL  Anyway, it had working a/c and my map got me here just fine.  We won't talk about the GPS.  That lady was a bit confused.  I think her database needs to be updated.

I'll get some pictures later.  This is a nice place.  I went to a grocery store called "Publix" for some supplies.  I decided to get food and Diet Coke and such (since I have a microwave and refrigerator in the room) instead of going to dinner tonight.  Being a recluse is sounding REAL good.

Especially since I will be with customers for the next two days.  Kevin's 80+ hour work week has made me into a temporary single mother, and I'm kind of frazzled from that.  It's been 12 years since I was a single mother.  I need tonight to sit back, surf the net, eat some Pizza Rolls, and watch TV. 

On another note from Kevin's previous week, he gets to wind down from an 80+ hour workweek by being a single father.  Poor guy.  I hope he makes it through.  I LOVE YOU HONEY!

Ben, before.

Below is a video of Ben.  Ben on the day he was being taken away to join the army.  Ben when he had both hands. 

This is the little boy that my son played with...rode bikes with...laughed with.  This is Ben.  Ben went away to defend my right to keep this stupid blog and to say whatever I want.  I can say anything, because Ben says so, dammit.

I love you, Ben-jammin.

 

Stupid War

My best friend called me today.  Her son, Ben, was in a vehicle hit by a weapon yesterday.  It actually went into the vehicle.  All four soldiers were hurt, one very seriously.  Ben lost his right hand.

He's being taken to Germany today or tomorrow.  If he isn't able to travel back to the states soon, the government is flying Tammy and her Husband over there to be with him.  They are fast-tracking a Visa for each of them already.

Damn.

National Bingo Night

Tonight is National Bingo Night.  Poor folks need weekend recreation, too, ya know?  I'm excited.

I leave midday on Sunday for Nashville.  I have all of Sunday afternoon and evening to myself.  AWESOME!  Monday night will probably be dinner with customers.  Tuesday evening, I fly home.  I will be driving a rental car in the unknown city of Nashville on Sunday, which is going to be filled with folks in town for CMT music festival.  Driving will be fun, huh?

It's OK, I'm practicing a new persona.  I am confident and assured and I look people in the eye and make known what needs to happen.  This is a far cry from my old persona.  The one where I look at my shoes a lot and humbly ask questions while feeling stupid for not knowing the answer.  I'll let you know how that works out for me.

Plus, you all get to look forward to boring, annoying pictures from the hotel!  YEAH!

:: added later::

We lost on Bingo.  Are you shocked?  We got nothin'.

The rest of the night.

OK, Kevin couldn't find a belt to fit the attic fan, but he got the name of a place that will have one.  Tomorrow, we'll be fixed up.  Tomorrow won't even hit 80, but we'll be set for the next time it gets hot, right?  LOL

I took 109 pictures of the sky, trying to catch lightning.  I got a few, and I'm proud of them.  I can't believe how hard it is to catch lightning.

Goodnight, friends.

Ups and Downs

I came home to a hot house...VERY hot.  The humidity is awful, with this storm system trying to move through, and for some reason, the house was WAY hotter than normal:

86 may not sound like much, but it is HOT and STICKY in here.  My first thought was, "Why didn't we leave the attic fan on, like we usually do?" 

I was putting some things away, and told Monica to turn it on.  She reported back, "Mom (this sounded more like MOOOMMMMMM!) it doesn't come on, it just makes a low sound."  Ah crap.  It had been on all day, but not working.

Yeah, I know there's paint on the bottom of the switch.  Let it go, will ya?

I called Kevin and told him about it.  He was bummed.  I said, I wonder if we burned it up?  He got more down.  Then the part of me that is my father said, "Hey, it's JUST a fan.  How tough could it be?  We'll just look at it and fix it.  No biggie."  He didn't sound convinced, but then he said, "Maybe it IS just a belt or something, I'll look when I get home."

We had to unload 4052 blankets from the closet, where the attic access door is.  The girls helped me move them all to the guest room.  We have a LOT of blankets, but we finally got them out so I could climb up into this dusty hole.

Here is blanket mountain.

I was SO relieved to find this.

A very worn, very dirty, very broken belt.  PHEW!  With any luck, Kevin can get one on the way home and we'll be cool again.  By the time I climbed out of the attic, I was quite hot and sweaty and dusty. (sexy image, huh?) I stepped outside to let the impending storm cool me off.

The wind is cool and wonderful, and the thunder sounds great.  I am ready for a storm, but it doesn't look like we'll get much of it. 

While I was cooling off, I strolled around my flower bed, and cheered up at this sight.

How pretty are these? 

And THAT, folks, was my first 15 minutes at home.  What further adventures will this evening bring?  Stay tuned to find out.

Kind of bummin'

I talked to Jim today.  He's in bad shape.  At least he's home.  60 staples in one place, 20 in another, and an unknown number of stitches where the bones (yes, plural) were sticking out of his leg.  He hurts, and he can't put weight on it for 6 weeks, then therapy starts, and he can't come up in July.

I miss him.  It was easier when we didn't get along.  I hurt when I think about it, and hurt even more when I hear the details. 

He wasn't driving 100mph down the highway, he was putting around in a parking lot that he's driven a dozen times or more.  He wasn't being careless.  He wasn't being stupid.  Why is he in such bad shape?

ANYWAY....

I leave Sunday for Nashville for a convention.  I will get a rental car and find the hotel by myself, so I'm playing with a work laptop and Mom's GPS software.  It's working, I just have to get the voice turned on.  Right now, she's not talking to me about my trip.  Could the GPS lady be mad at me?  Probably.  I'll go coax her into helping me out on my journeys.  See ya later.

Natalie, the photographer

We FINALLY got the yard mowed today.  It stormed in the wee hours, but quit this morning, and it was an absolutely beautiful day.  I did a lot of projects around the house (the aquarium is finally clean) and Kevin and I got the yard done.

Natalie asked if she could take some pictures, so I turned her loose.  I deleted all of the blurry and out-of-focus ones, and now you can see what was left.  Interesting, maybe.