Bloomington, IL

I picked Mom up at 5:30 and dropped her off at the house to watch the girls.  I had to stop at WalMart for a quick second, then back on the road.  I forgot that my exit was closed for construction, it was raining pretty steadily, and other drivers are stupid.  All in all, I was running late.  Knowing the company owner was waiting for me freaked me out.  I'm terminally early, and hate hate HATE being late to arrive anywhere.

As it turns out, I was only about 10 minutes late to the Lees Summit airport, and the plane wasn't there yet.  They flew out of the downtown airport, and the weather held them up a bit.  PHEW!  What a relief.  We were finally on the plane and leaving at about 7:45.

We landed in Cahokia, IL and drove to Belleville to help some customers.  Around 3, we headed back to the plane, for a short hop to Bloomington.  Tomorrow, we visit another customer in Gridley, then we head home.  I hope to be home by 6ish.  The weather here is calling for snow tonight. *sigh*  LOL

I told Kevin that I was in Bloomington and he said, "Hey!  Colonal Henry Blake was from there!"  Sheesh, honey, M*A*S*H is too imbedded into your brain, honestly. 

The owner, the pilot, myself and my coworker found a nice place for dinner.  The boss really does take care of you when you travel.  We ate early and got back to the hotel by 7.  At 7:30, there was a knock on my door, and the coworker and the pilot were standing there.  Coworker says, "Come with us.  There's a beer in it for you." 

Yeah, I went.  We laughed and visited for about 45 minutes, and I excused myself to go back to my room.  I'm just tired, and have a big day tomorrow.  Plus, I think I'm getting old.  It's 9:00 and I'm thinking about turning in for the night.

I promised you a boring entry, I just didn't deliver on the boring pictures.  I didn't take many.  It's grey and drippy here, just like home.  No good views when your room is on the first floor.  No touristy photo ops in Bloomington, IL.  I got a few cool shots on the plane, but several of you have sent death threats if I post another cloud picture.  LOL

See ya tomorrow, from home.  I think I'll be there in plenty of time for Survivor, and that makes me happy.

Somebody had a case of the Monday's

Well, it's good that I didn't post yesterday.  Monday's are NOT my strong point.  Yesterday proved that fact.  Then I got home, and my desk chair was broken.  Brett had a friend over, and the back is almost ripped off of it.  I got so frustrated that I didn't sign onto the computer all night.  "To heck with it!" said I.

I'm better now.  Tuesday was much better than Monday, and my honey bought me a new chair from WalMart.  I put it together when I got home.  It is sort of stiff, right now, when leaning back, but it's quite comfy and it doesn't fall over when you sit in it.  That's always a plus.

I leave at 5:30 in the morning for a short business trip.  I'll pick Mom up and drop her off at the house, so the girls don't have to wake up at 5.  I feel kind of bad, because Kevin will have to pick her up on Thursday at 5:30, too.  Poor Mom.  I'm just thankful that she's willing to help out in these situations.  My trip was moved back 30 min. or so, due to impending weather and St. Louis air traffic.  I'll be in Illinois for 2 days, then home on Thursday evening.

Saturday morning, Kevin and I will leave home at about 4:45 to go to the airport.  He is going with me to Dearborn, MI.  I will work the booth, he will play.  He really needs this trip.  After he helps set up our booth (everything comes with a price, honey) he will have 1 1/2 days to play.  I bought a ticket to the Henry Ford experience, or something like that, so he can check out the Automotive Hall of Fame and such.  He'll have a ball.  Plus, I've promised him room service for Sunday's breakfast.

It's rainy and drippy and cold, but the promise of Spring is on the horizon.  I can smell it.  I can see it in the green of the grass.  I can see it in the buds on the trees.  I can hear it in the birds. I can taste it in the Hamburger Helper I'm eating.  OK, probably not.  I've gone too far, huh?

Speaking of Hamburger Helper...you've gotta try Cheesy Enchilada flavor.  It's better than most homemade meals, I think.  OK, not MOM'S homemade meals, but better than any other quick meal out there.  Yummy.  Trust me.

Time to go pack.  Boring pictures from the plane tomorrow.  I promise!  OK, don't get all excited about it like that.  You'll just have to wait.

Lazy Lazy weekend

I've had two naps this weekend.  I watched Carl Edwards win the Busch series race.  I found out we have free HBO for the weekend.  The girls have candy and toys, Brett has candy and energy drinks. New CDs for all.

Lots of travel coming up in the next week, but home for now.  I need to do some things around here, but lazy is sooo nice.  Maybe later?  I know there is spaghetti and garlic bread in my near future.  I just have that warm and fuzzy, good day kind of feeling today.

Molly doesn't live here any more.  Everything they told us about her was untrue, but they were quoting the other rescue place that they got her from.  She was NOT housebroken, proven by the poop in my floor.  She was NOT wormed, proven by the first poop she actually took here.  She was NOT fixed, proven by the fact that she came into heat while here.  She is a doll, but we couldn't take on that many challenges.  We did get her wormed before we took her back.  The lady said she could tell we'd taken good care of her.  She'll find a good home, with a face like that.

Kevin bought Milk Bones biscuits for the remaining pooches.  He bought the "large" size.  Ever seen one of those?  LOL  It's funny to see little Lucy with that big ol' thing.  She has to work at it for 15 minutes to get it broken down to size, but she does it.  Kevin didn't realize how large "large" was.  Hawkeye says, "It's about time we get some decent sized treats around this joint."

Where are my children?

I'm much better, and danged near over it.  I know how to kick this crap without a doctor's care.  Yeah, I'm that good.

Mom left town today.  She left town and took my kids.  OK, I'm OK with a night off, but what to do with it???  I took a friend to pick up her car (in the shop for a broken door handle) and followed her to her house.  That was fun.  I had a good time.

Then, I stopped to see my best friend in the WHOLE world, Tammy.  They were at Joker's (a pizza joint that we all love) so I stopped to say "hey".  Then, I saw her.  I saw a friend that I hadn't seen in 12 or so years.  It was weird.  I thought it was her, so we called her name.  She came over and we talked like life hadn't stopped.  Life has stopped.

Her ex died 2 years ago.  He was an awesome person, and I was sad to hear that.  Her little boy, who I babysat, is now 20.  *sigh*  I'm old.  She's having the same problems that I'm having with Brett, only magnified.   We talked forever, and I finally had to go.  After all, Sadie needed to pee, and I had to get home.

I headed home, and took Sadie for a pee.  She was more than happy to oblige.  Then, I did it.  I loaded her in the car and brought her home.  I can't stand for her to be at home, inside or out, and not know where her "people" are.  Now there is a lot of sniffing and barking going on.  It'll all be settled soon. Sadie needs to be with people, and now she is.

Yeah, I'm a sucker for dogs, and for old friends.  I'm going to go to bed happy, knowing that my girls are getting a much-needed vacation, and that Sadie is warm and happy, and that I have friends, and that my husband bought me a CD that I wanted desperately.  I LOVE this band.  Give Little Big Town a listen.  Honestly.

Seriously.  If you like Fleetwood Mac, and their harmony, you'll LOVE Little Big Town as much as I do.

TMI Alert!!!

This is SERIOUS TMI, guys.  Really.

Still here?

OK, you were warned.

I felt a *tiny* bit of symptom yesterday, but ignored it.  This morning, there was no ignoring it.  I'm getting a UTI.  I had them in my childhood.  I had them in my young adulthood.  After Natalie was born (weighing 10lbs3oz) they became more frequent.  I'm talking 4-6 a year.  Yeah.  Really.

I finally had a GYNO who suggested surgery.  I had the surgery (to put my innards back where they belong), and didn't have another UTI for several years.  Now, about 7 years later, I'm suffering my second in 6 months.  *Sigh*  I know that surgery isn't forever, but 7 years?  Sheesh.  Maybe I'm over reacting, and it's a coincidence, but we'll see.

I know how to head these things off.  I consumed, before 2pm today, a BIG bottle of cranberry juice (no sugar...that'd be bad) and 6-20oz bottles of water (I hate cranberry juice AND water).  I bought the now-over-the-counter medication that relieves symptoms (doesn't cure anything) so now I have BRIGHT orange pee.  Jealous yet?

4 times out of 5, I can stop this before a Dr. visit is necessary.  If I still hurt in the morning, I will start antibiotics.  I hate antibiotics.

***IF THIS HASN'T BEEN TMI SO FAR, IT IS GETTING READY TO BE WORSE***

Antibiotics usually cause a yeast infection.  A yeast infection is worse than a UTI, and requires yet MORE medication.  *sigh*  It's also the worst possible medication known to man.  I don't want to deal with any of this.  I am out of town with the boss and a coworker next Wednesday and Thursday, and Kevin and I leave for Detroit next Saturday.

Here's hoping I'll kick this in my stubborn, non-doctor way.  I feel great tonight, but it's the over-the-counter stuff.  Morning will tell.  Time to go eat pizza and watch Survivor and hope that morning brings relief.  I want to drink Diet Coke all day, NOT water.  Did I mention I hate drinking water?

Better? Yeah. I'm better now.

Well, this morning started off the same as yesterday evening.  I got the girls to mom's house, a bit late (even though there is a meeting each Tuesday morning, requiring a 30 minute earlier arrival,) and I headed down the road.  20 minutes into the trip, a major monsoon-type rain hit.  I couldn't see ANYTHING, so I just stopped.  Right there.  On a two-way highway with no shoulder.  I worried someone would hit me, then realized that nobody else could drive either, so I was probably ok.

About 2 hours later (or maybe 3 minutes...yeah, probably more like 2 minutes) it let up enough for me to see a tiny bit, and I could tell that I *was* on my side of the road, and only *two* tires were off the road.  PHEW!  I started moving again, at the rapid pace of 15 mph.  After the monsoon and hail, I was shaking so hard that I could barely hold it in the road.  I passed a school bus in the ditch (not a big enough mess to cause injury, but still scary) but 3 cars had stopped, so I didn't.

I got to work, only 1 minute late for the meeting, and life began.  It was super busy, but I handled it superbly.  On the way home, things went as they should, and there were no disasters.  Kevin got the girls on time.  I got home to find BLT's being prepared, and all of Brett's promised chores done.  I ate, called a friend, and had a cold beer (not lukewarm.)  I think things are normal.  Well, as normal as can be expected here.

Now, for a much needed *sigh*.  Ahhh, that feels great.

My terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

I had a rough day at work.  We were working with about half-staff on the phones, but I was prepared for that.  The concert was great Saturday, and I worked all day Sunday at the local convention.  More on those later, maybe.  Anyway, I was prepared for a rough day, since the other half of customer service would be at the local convention today (half of us attended yesterday.)  I was prepared, and it was fine.

Calls were fast and furious, with too few people to answer, so I stepped up and took WAY more than my share.  Sound bad?  Nah, not to bad.  Then, at 4:40, an emergency broke out that I *might* be able to handle, but I wasn't sure.  By 5:59, I had it fixed and under control.  Yeah, I was feeling pretty cocky about my ability to display poise under pressure.  I'm JUST that good.  Yup.

Then, I headed home.

Yeah, home is better, right?

Nope.

I left work at 5:15, after waiting to see if my *fix* worked on the emergency.  It did, so I headed home with a head so swelled, it barely fit in my car.  I am JUST that good.  I called Kevin to make sure he was on the way to pick up the girls by 6.  He wasn't.  He was stuck at work and didn't know when he'd be done.  HUH?  How in the HELL would I make a 55 minute trip in 40 minutes?

I decided I'd deal with it and get there, so I drove like a friggin' idiot.  In and out of traffic I dodged... I was brilliant.  All the right lane choices, low traffic due to opening day for the Royals, and expert driving skills all combined to make me golden.  Then I looked down at the gauges.  Yup, practically out of fuel.

OK, fine.  I stopped for fuel, then took off again.  I got to Mom's at 6:02, after more ticket-worthy driving.  Awesome time.  No problem.  Then, I found out that the girls were arguing and fussing there.  Mom can handle that, but in less than 2 weeks, I have a sitter for the entire weekend, and they aren't known for being well-behaved for sitters.  Mom and I agreed that said sitter could call there if needed, and if a call was needed, spankings would be distributed.  They are too old to act like this.

So, I came home being frustrated by their behavior, but I was still invincible.  Still OK.  I got home to see that Brett's car was gone.  Where was he?  He probably asked, so I'll call in a minute.  I walked in to see NOTHING had been done by him.  Laundry hadn't been touched, dishes were still stacked, dogs were out of food.  I called.  He had asked to go play baseball with friends...I had said yes.  I remembered when he told me, but he still hadn't done ANYTHING!  I informed him that he would work his ASS off tomorrow.  OK, handled.

I decided that I needed to escape for a few minutes, so after Monica started chores and Natalie started homework, I went outside.  I tied the dogs out, sat a chair down, and drank a half-warm beer in the sunshine.  Oh, did I forget to mention that the back porch refrigerator was open 2 inches all day?  Yeah, it was.  Monica got me a soda this morning, and didn't get the door shut.  *sigh*  Half warm beer it is.  I immediately threw 2 in the freezer.

So, I sat outside and sipped my warm beer and watched the dogs eat grass/weeds which will surely result in green vomit on my floor.  No problem.  I had 20 minutes to be alone, right?  Wrong.  The girls came out and asked to ride their bikes down the street.  Chores and homework was done.  OK, but not barefoot.  "Go inside and put on shoes, and you can go" says the mother-of-the-year.  They came back out 42 seconds later in flip-flops.  I started to tell them "no" and "put on tennis shoes" but I didn't.

They headed down the road, and 10 seconds later, I hear screaming.  I ran down there, less than a block away, to see Natalie in a heap.  She started to go down and the flip flops didn't help.  She tore the end of her big toe damn near off.  She was screaming, neighbor kids were coming to check on her (bless their hearts) and Monica was beside herself.  I picked up her bike and helped her get home.

We got a wet cloth for her toe, and I suggested sitting on the edge of the tub withher foot in cold water.  In the bathroom, I see a "not quite completely flushed" toilet.  I flush it and it almost overflows.  Great.  I plunge the toilet and carry on with getting Natalie's tub filled with cold water.  As I'm getting Natalie settled, Monica came in saying the dogs' chains were tangled and she couldn't get them fixed.  ARRRGGGGGGGG!

I settled Nattie, and stomped outside.  As I'm unhooking the first dog and flinging her inside, Kevin pulled into the driveway, after a 12-hour day with no lunch break.  I tell him the short version in a grumpy tone as I untie the second tangled dog and fling her into the house.  He walks in and puts his stuff down.  I begged him to take over parenting so I can disappear for 5 minutes, and he agrees.

As Kevin sat on the closed, unclogged toilet and talked to Natalie, I sat on my bed, smoked a cigarette, drank a warm beer and cried.  I cried pretty hard, actually, then I got up and carried on.  I dried her toe (actually, *she* did it, so I didn't hurt her) then I bandaged it.  No PE tomorrow for her.  I got her settled and started thinking about Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.  If you haven't read it, you need to.  Maybe I'll go to Australia?

Nah, I still love my life.  I still love my family.  I just need a "do-over."  We get "do-overs" when needed, right?  No, wait.  I don't want to relive Monday.  I think I'll just try for a better Tuesday.