Whirlwind weekend

It was my turn to work a half-day this weekend, so I went in yesterday morning.  It started out pretty busy, but I ran out of much to do by 10.  Since I needed to stay until noon, I started cleaning and organizing my desk and work bins.  By the time I headed home, it was as clean as on my first day.  What a relief.  It feels good to accomplish that much.

We found out something about Jonathan this weekend, too.  My stepson has had a lot of bumps along the road that is his life.  Little run-ins with the law, dropping out of high school, etc etc.  I used to wonder if he'd ever turn it around, and it seems he has.  He's kept this job longer than any job before, and it has paid off.  He got a promotion, and a transfer to a nearby town with a bigger store (it's a grocery store) and it involves a raise of $2 an hour!  WooooHoooo!  Go Jonathan.  He was so happy, you could hear it in his voice when we called to tell him how proud we are.  He also took the last section of his GED (the only portion that he hadn't passed) and will get the results soon.  There is hope for Brett yet.  I won't give up.

We went to mom's for lunch today, and got to see Aunt Maxine before she heads to Texas for the winter.  It's so cold and windy today.  It feels more like winter than fall.  The wind bites your nose and blows right through your coat.  Kevin and I got the house cleaned, oven and all.  It's been needing it quite badly.  I'll be flying out of town next Sunday, and knew that if it didn't get done today, it'd be two more weeks.

Well, time to wind it down for the evening.  The girls need to shower and we'll do a couple more loads of laundry.  It's that time of year...the time of year that will find me under a quilt any time I'm sitting still for more than a minute.  Brrrrrr.

Saturday Six

1. How many products throughout your home are labelled "antibacterial."
Probably about 3.  I'm not going to count, but there is hand soap, dish detergent, and spray that I can think of.

2. As a general rule, and assuming any required knocking on wood, how often do you get anything more serious than a sniffle or mild cold?
Maybe once per year, on average, I get a sinus infection.

3. John Scalzi ran this story about research that suggests the increased use of "antibacterial" products aren't necessary for people who are generally healthy, and might be causing the creation of "superbugs" that are resistant to antibiotics.  Are you more likely to avoid these products after reading about studies like this?
Not really.  Something new is going to "kill us" every time someone does a study.  Is coffee bad for you, or good?  How about wine?  Beer?  Carbs? I'm quite sick of it, frankly.  Yeah, sick...Aachooo!

4. Take this quiz:  Will you pass the U.S. Citizenship Test?
Nope, I failed.  My torch has been extinguished, and I've been voted off the country.

5. Now that the gas prices have dropped just a little (but nowhere near enough), what's the most you've paid for a gallon of gas so far?
$3.19 after Katrina, $2.16 today.  Sheesh.

6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #76 from Psychfun:   What was your favorite cereal as a kid?  When was the last time you had a bowl of it?
I don't remember.  Mom usually cooked hot breakfast, if I remember correctly.  I remember wanting Cookie Crisp cereal awfully bad, but it wasn't that great, and mom was mad I didn't eat it! LOL  I think Cap'n Crunch has always been a favorite, though it's been a year or so since I've had it.

A post for the sake of posting?

Well, I don't like to post unless I have something to say.  I have nothing to say.  I guess I'm posting for the sake of posting.  The family is good, work is fine, we're broke and happy.  The dog is fine, the house is fine.  It's all fine.

Survivor was good.  My fantasy league is going fine.  I'm winning!  LOL  Tonight's Pringle's choice was regular and salsa flavors.  Both wonderful.  It's cold, windy and misty.  Yup, it's October.  I'm OK with that.  The trees are beautiful and I am using the heater in the car for both trips, to and from.  Haven't turned on the furnace yet, but will probably have to soon.  I have to buy propane soon...yuck.

Well, I need to finish watching "ER", or "errr" as we call it at work.  It's great, and I don't want to miss anything.  See ya later!

Yelling at my kids, Nstuff

I woke up this morning a bit later than usual, but still in time to get ready.  As I woke the girls up and started getting them around, I had to step over a million things (maybe a *slight* overstatement) and there were other problems.  The trash can was full, there was no toilet paper in  the upstairs bathroom, and there was a KoolAid stained cup on the dining room table.  ARRRRRGGGGG!!!

Being the person I am, I started yelling.  "I'm sick of being treated like a maid around here!  I will NOT walk around picking up after people who are *PERFECTLY* capable of picking up after themselves!  This is a bunch of *CRAP*!"  and so on.  It was ugly.  I hate when I do that.  I can talk rationally and not yell, but I didn't use that discretion today.  Damn.

Tonight, when the girls got home from church, I made an announcement.  All three children would spend the next 15 minutes cleaning.  Take the garbage out to the curb, take all of your stuff to your room, put all shoes and jackets neatly in the closet, and generally pick up.  15 minutes later, I was happy, nobody complained, and life was good.  Why do I blow my top instead of talking rationally?  Why am I a "yeller"?  Why don't I use my brain more often.  Any kid can handle 15 minutes, but screaming "clean the house" is a bit overwhelming to me, let alone a kid. 

Sheesh.  Sorry kids.  Yes, I will tell them that myself, not just in my journal.  I will admit that I could have handled it better.  I made a mistake, and left my kids this morning under less-than-perfect circumstances.  I'll try not to let it happen again.  I love second chances.

Another boring day? Nah.

Well, those of you looking for excitement may want to move on.  Today was another day in the life of me.

I put some beans in the crockpot this morning, with bacon and onions, salt and pepper.  I dropped the girls off at moms and headed to work.  Work was good, got to head home on time, pretty much "caught up" which doesn't happen real often this time of year.  Kevin got home before me, so picked up the girls and headed to the house.  Cornbread was added to the meal, and the three kids started washing Kevin's truck, with him watching and offering advice.  They had a ball.

We're broke this week.  B.R.O.K.E.  No extras.  Still, we laughed and had fun, ate a great dinner, and enjoyed life.  The girls did the little school work they had, and we kept laundry moving.  The girls showered, and the dog did his business.  We laughed some more.  Brett has a head cold, but is dealing with it quite well.  We watched some TV and checked out our favorite internet sites.  Life is good.

I work with rich people.  Not a lot of them, but some.  They have lake homes and boats and expensive cars.  They spend $100 on their hair and more on clothes.  I get a cut at Fantastic Sam's and buy clothes at WalMart.  I'm happier...I'll guarantee it.  They have the stress of managing money.  I have none to manage.  I get to laugh at a kid's fart, intstead of yelling at them to take their shoes off at the door.

Yup.  Just another day in the life.  Just another wonderful day that sends me to bed with a smile on my face.  Just another day that sends my kids off to bed with full bellies and happy thoughts.  Just another day that makes me thankful to have a good man beside me.  Just another day to appreciate my mother watching my girls.   Another evening of no drama, no stress, and no worries.  Good night, friends.  Good night indeed.

Girlie Day

Natalie and I are having a great "girlie day" today.  We drove around with the top down and had some good luck, too.  I topped off the gas tank in the car and went in to get a drink for each of us.  I had found 2 lottery tickets that were free-ticket winners, and took them in with me.  Got our stuff, including the 2 free scratcher tickets, and headed to WalMart.  I needed milk, butter, laundry detergent and light bulbs.  I looked in the checkbook and realized that it was gonna be ugly.  I had less than $18 in there, and had to buy a Bday present for the girl that invited Natalie to the party.  Well, OK, I'll have to crap some money to deposit.  So be it.

Right before we went in, Natalie said, "can I scratch one of the lottery tickets?"  Oh yeah, I forgot.  "Go ahead," I said.  She did, and it was a loser.  I scratched the other and won $60!  WoooHoooo!  The wolf has been temporarily locked out at the door.  Good luck indeed.

We went to Libby Lu's, for Emily's birthday.  Natalie was the only one that showed up, which was fortunate for Emily's dad, since I saw that he paid $30 each for the two of them.  ACK!  The girls got to choose the look that they wanted, then got pampered and preened over.  They mixed their own concoctions of perfume, shower gel and body lotion.  They got to choose 5 free items each to put in the free backpacks.  It was real cool.  Also, real girlie.  All pink and fluffy, everywhere you looked.

They had a great time, and I'm glad she got to go.  She's not usually a girlie girl, but she had a great time today.  The only problem was, she kept covering her belly.  She didn't like it showing.  That's my girl.  Your daddy would be proud.  Keep that attitude into your teens, ok?

A quiz that's right?

I usually avoid tests, since they get rather old, but I did this one, and it pretty well nailed me.  Hmmm.  Kinda fun.

the Ham
(28% dark, 69% spontaneous, 36% vulgar) your humor style:
CLEAN | SPONTANEOUS | LIGHT

Your style's goofy, innocent and feel-good. Perfect for parties and forthe dads who chaperone them. You can actually get away with cornyjokes, and I bet your sense of humor is a guilty pleasure for yourfriends. People of your type are often the most approachable andpopular people in their circle. Your simple & sillygood-naturedness is immediately recognizable, and it sets you apart inthis sarcastic world.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Will Ferrell - Will Smith



The 3-Variable Funny Test!
- it rules -

If you're interested, try my latest: The Terrorism  Test  


My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 9% on darknessYou scored higher than 93% on spontaneityYou scored higher than 50% on vulgarity

Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on <a  ="" href="http://www.okcupid.com">Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test