stWednesday NStuff

I did type up the story, and will send it, but not tonight.  Mom granted us a "date night" and we met a couple of friends at Joker's.  I picked up the girls at 7:50, we caught Brett in another lie, and now we're doing the nighttime thing.  Showers, trash-to-the-curb, Idol results show, and picking up this wreck of a house.

I can't wait for summer.  It's not a season thing.  It's not a vacation thing.  I need May to end for several reasons.  Please, let May end soon.

*added later* Oh yeah, do you watch MSNBC or CNN?  We're a natural disaster area.  Gotta be famous for something, and the sports teams aren't cuttin' it.  We're famous for destruction.  Wet, wet destruction.  *sigh*

I just wanna go to work from Mom's, without taking a detour.  I'm selfish like that. 

I vow to NEVER again gripe about mowing or weed-eating the huge hill out front.  The huge hill means that we're safe from flooding.  There is something to be said for living at the highest point in town.

The Dallas story, if you ask

OK, I can't post EVERYTHING here, so if you ask, I'll send you the story of my trip.  I also deleted a comment, made by my mother.  Heck, anyone can google me, so I have to be careful, since I'm anti-private at this time.  Boy, do I have a story, though.  Wednesday, I can type it up and send it out.  Email fierro6@earthlink.net if you want it.

We may adopt the "stray" that Mom has.  We'll bring her home this weekend, and see if she's housebroken.  That's "almost" my only stipulation.  She's friendly and loving and loyal.  I could pay the Vet bills for the same cost as adopting, and this dog has proven herself.  We'll see.

I mentioned this weekend.  It's mother's day.  Last year, we went to see Kevin's Mom.  This weekend, he needs to go again.  It's not just her, it's the memorial softball tournament, and he needs to help.  Last year, we went down for Mother's day, and this year, I want to see my mother.  It's just a thing that you do when your parents live far away.  You take turns.  I hope Linda understands.  I know she will.

For mothers day, I don't know what to do.  I'm food-oriented, so I want to cook for her, but they eat real healthy now, so I'm not sure what I'll do.  Just hang out?  Take her to New Life (I'd love to go?) Cook something for her? Find a way to ride horses with her?  Mom?  This is your chance?  What is your Mother's Day wish?  I owe you my life (literally) and am willing to give much less than that.  LOL I cracked myself up with that one.

One more note: My flight home from Dallas last night was delayed, so I waited, and when we boarded, many folks were already on this flight, connecting through Dallas to KC.  Who did I sit in the middle of?  Dare you ask?  The baseball team from Mizzou.  They were wild and funny and "almost" out-of-control, and it made the flight fun.  Thanks, Mizzou boys, thanks for the laughs.

Here I am in Dallas, finally.

OK, here are some things from my day that I find quite funny:

1) I went to buy an overpriced Diet Coke ($2.32? Are you serious?) and the lady at the register asked, "Are you with the special Olympics?"  I struggled to find the words.  Special, I am. Olympic, I'm not.  It wasn't until 20 minutes later that I realized I had on a Torch Run Tshirt, supporting the Special Olympics.

2) When we were about ready to leave, this late hoochie got on the plane, and started at the front row, continuing back, asking, "Is this seat taken?" At. Every. Row.  There were tons of seats available, but she had to try EVERY row.  She settled in front of me.  She had burgandy hair, several piercings, BRIGHT green (we're talking amphibian green) eye shadow, and her burgandy hair sported a head band AND a pony tail.

3) I shared my exit row with Mr. Military.  His hair was buzzed to nothing, he had perfect posture, and he said "ma'am" a lot.  I was impressed.  5 minutes into the flight, he fell asleep.  He didn't wake up until the landing gear hit the runway.  Bless his heart.

4) The chick behind me asked the flight attendant for a beer.  The flight attendant first said, "You'll have to chug it." which cracked me up, then said, with full downflying arm motion, "We're going down now."  WHAT?  ACK!

5) The turbulent bumps are HORRID on a full bladder (remember, I don't pee on planes.)

6) I gathered my checked bag, and called the hotel for a shuttle.  "We don't do that on weekends."  WTH?  Fine, I called a cab.  More out of pocket money.  Work will reimburse me, but I want my cash!

7) At the hotel, I go in with a bag, a laptop, and a purse.  The clerk is dealing with someone else, then he looks at me and says, "You got a question?"  Ummm, no, I want to check in.

8) The advertised food/drinks in the evening? They don't DO that on weekends.  Good Lord, what DO you do on weekends?

Anyway, I'm here, and I'm fine.  I brought some microwaveable food and I'm all set.  Don't travel with Pringles, my friend.  Don't even try.

Here I sit

Here I sit at my gate.  The flight before mine was to depart at 2:20, and they hadn't started boarding yet at 2:20.  Heck, there was no PLANE at 2:20.  Now everyone is off, and the folks waiting will get on board.  Just get out of my way and don't delay my plane.  I'm selfish like that.  They're going to Orlando.  Probably vacation.  Lucky. LOL

I love Southwest.  I printed my boarding pass at home last night, so I get to load in the first group.  Maybe I'll get an exit row seat.  I'll definately sit by a window, since I refuse to pee on a plane.  That way I can arrive undisturbed.  I've already done some of my beta testing homework, here in the terminal, so that's almost done.  Now, I'm eating cheese crackers and cracking up. LOL!

OK, hopefully I'll have something exciting to write about from Dallas.  I doubt it, but I'll try.  I know you can only look at so many pictures of my room number in braille.  I'm weird like that.

So little time

Well, I have decided that there is "so little time."  Mom warned me.  Dad warned me.  Damn, I SO should have listened to them.

How do you divide your time?  Work wants more and more time.  The school frowns if you don't have time to get to an event.  Family wants time to chat, one-on-one.  Husband wants time to, well, you know.  Dogs want time to walk.  Friends want time to get together and chat.  I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME!

OK, enough of the rant.  I leave tomorrow, noonish, to head to the airport.  I fly out at 3:30 to head to Dallas.  I arrive, and have time to myself.  Sweet sweet time to myself, right?  NOPE!  I have to beta test new software, and write about 2 dozen credits* that I haven't gotten to at work.  I'll rise early Sunday to be picked up by the customer and work with them for about 10 hours, after an evening in a hotel, working.

I was pissed at an awful day.  I was pissed at certain co-workers.  I was pissed that I have to leave tomorrow, and lose another weekend.  I was pissed that I was so far behind in credits*.   I was pissed that I'm not appreciated enough.

Then I got home.  I love my house.  I love my kids.  I love my husband.  I love my commute.  I love my mother/babysitter.  I love my dad.  I love my brother.  I love my mother-in-law.  I love my dogs.  I am blessed.  I am blessed and I have a great life.  I have more than many people could ever hope for.

I can get over a bad day.  I can live with my life.  I need to buy some time, so if you have some to sell, let me know.  Other than that, life is groovy.

*credits are the paperwork jungle that I maneuver to make sure an overcharge is corrected.  They pile up fast, and I never have time at work to deal with them, anymore.

Mother of the Year? ummmm, NO

It's been such a long couple of weeks.  I am worn down to nothing.  I'm working Saturdays and long hours during the week.  The phones are going crazy at work because it's prom/spring sports season.  I have to visit a customer, arriving in Dallas Saturday night, returning Sunday night.  I'm just.plain.tired.

This is the time of year when every school bombards us with programs.  Band programs, choir programs, science fairs, church programs....whatever.  There is something to do every night, it seems.  I enjoy watching my children in these events, but not the rest of the kids.  I'm a horrible person.

Tonight, Kevin had to go to night court, due to witnessing an accident.  It is reading night at the school, which is 1 1/2 hours of being read to.  I'm so tired.  I was dreading it all the way home.  Then, I formed the plan.

I told the girls I'd bribe them.  They were game.  "The family feast from Pizza Hut (grandma had a coupon) which includes 2 large pizzas, a family sized order of breadsticks, and a 2 liter of Dr. Pepper, in exchange for the night at the school.  Deal, or no Deal?"  The resounding shout was "DEAL!"

Sunday, 'N Stuff

Sunday was the best day ever.  We grilled at Mom and Dad's, and had lots of help to eat the food.  Seriously, there was too much food.  I always grill too much on the first cook out of the season.  We had pork chops, chicken, hot dogs, burgers, and smoked sausages.

Add to that the corn-on-the-cob, mom's potato salad and Old Settler's Beans, and you have a feast for 20 people.  We only coaxed 10 into eating, so there were many leftovers, but it was all good.

Hawkeye wouldn't leave again.  *sigh*  I had to drag him by the collar toward the car.  He loves my mother, and follows on her heels all over that place.  I keep telling him that he loves me, but he's not buying it yet.  BAD DOG!  GET IN THE CAR!  That's my new mantra.  *sigh*

OK, more tomorrow.  I'm settled now.  Almost done traveling and staying late and doing work stuff after hours.  Almost done.