Welcome To My World {it's crazy in here!}

Gloom and Doom

Watching the news, one might wonder what God has against Iowa these days.  My heart aches for those little boys that were killed in the tornado at the boy scout camp.  I mean really people, 40 tornadoes touched down that night in that state..40!  With little or no warning, they touched down and caused so much devastation.  And now, as if I am having a flashback, there are families standing in the street crying because the whole town is flooded.  The river has crested 12 feet over it's regular level and now, they are expecting it to be at record levels of 22 feet over it's regular level.  Really?  I have this feeling of dread like you wouldn't believe.  It seems like we are only moments away here in the heart of oHIo for a very similar situation.  Today we are looking at severe thunder storms with the possibility of tornadoes.  And we all know that our fine little river is just waiting for it's debut this summer.
Hearing today that gas is going to go to $4.15, and word that we are running out of oil.  Our tomatoes are tainted and they are going to charge us to check not the second, but the FIRST bag on our airplanes.  There is even talk of charging by your weight.  Yep.  Your own weight.  Can you imagine giant scales in the airport, people stepping on and off?  We will probably have to be in our bare feet, which ehwww..I have a real hard time with.  There will be a large screaming voice that alarms when you weigh over a certain amount.
Seriously, not to be all gloom and doom today, but what is going on around here? 
Does tend to make one think...

Yawn

Today should be interesting, considering I have been up and at em' since 3:30am.  I can't explain it, just not sleeping well this past week.  Same thing, every night- dead tired, fall asleep five minutes after head hitting the pillow, eyes pop open at ungodly hour.  I can't stand to just lay there, it drives me crazy.  So, I get up and head downstairs.  At times my spiderman like reflexes are just not functioning.  This past weekend when this happened, I was trying to dodge children crashed out on the floor as to not wake them up (lest I would be then downstairs watching some moronic cartoon or playing webkinz at the crack of dawn), and I proceeded to kick the fan over, waking everyone up. 

Generally, I watch a bit of tv and fall asleep.  I find it ironic that I never could sleep with any noise and now, I can crash with the tv on all night long.  I watched Juno a few nights ago and this morning watched another movie called The Last Kiss.  I generally fall asleep at some unknown hour, but not today.  Nope.  So I should have an interesting afternoon- again, not enough coffee in the world I doubt to keep me alert and oriented today.  Christie, you can feature me pouring coffee directly into my eyeballs today, although I don't think that will even be enough, but it will be tempting.

My other Christie, the tall one..I am wishing you well thoughts today as you are in the deep south, waiting yet another surgery on your baby.  Lot's of prayers and well wishes your way.
My long time friend Amy, she is having a baby today.  Man.  Doesn't that just put you right back there when you hear that?  I can't wait to meet him!
Autumn, have a vanilla coke on me..we don't have a Sonic anywhere near here!
Jacque, I heard a rumor and I hope it's true!  I miss you much and can't wait to have you back here!

Ok, so I'm tired.  Still got to go to work.  Maybe it will rain coffee.  Oh..wouldn't that be cool?  We could step outside and catch a drink.  Maybe it would sink into our skin via osmosis and we would be awake and refreshed.
Hallucinating and silly talk.  A definite indicator of lack of sleep.
Cheers!

My girl

Oh the last day of school.  So crazy!  We are finally calling it summer around here.  You'll remember that we started late due to the flood last summer, so our kids and teachers (I appreciate this so much more these days..) had to go an extra amount of time. 
Hard to believe that Carly will be in third grade.  Harder to believe that I am old enough to have a child in third grade.  HA! (warning, going to now go on and on about my kid)...
This is her forced, goofy smile that I love to pieces.  She was so excited yesterday, but sad at the same time.  Her teacher told me that when she got to school yesterday, she said this:
"our class started like a bunch of different puzzle pieces in a box and today we have come together perfectly to make a complete puzzle".
She is so wise beyond her 8 years.  She notices things that I do not, she makes comments that should be coming out of the mouth of a 30 year old.  She is kind and compassionate, patient and oh so totally responsible.  Carly is such a good kid, one could not ask for anything better!
I appreciate her wacky sense of style and I let her have it.  Right down to the black fishnet arm sleeves and chopsticks that she chooses to put in her ponytail.  We are going to have battles, for sure, but not now, not over these things.  She has her foot in both worlds right now, she is straddling "little girl" and  "tween".  It is an interesting transformation.  Fortunately, she still weighs in on the little girl side for now.
She got two awards yesterday, the obligatory "personal achievement award", that all students get.  Yes, so proud of her.  She is a fantastic student.  She reads a chapter book a day and loves it.  I never had to once ask her about her homework.  She gets it done, and does it right.  But she was the only student to receive two awards yesterday, she got the "strong character award", which says a lot.  That is her.  Always thinking of how to help others.  Strong in her beliefs about how things should be, making the right choices.  She is going to be something, something good.  She is a positive in the world of negatives. I am so very proud of her! (as if you couldn't tell..ha ha)
Cheers!

Strange sense of humor

Every neighborhood has one.  It is the strange kid.  You know the one.  He is present, but doesn't really talk.  He is kind of creepy but you can't really explain why.  You assume he probably has some kind of issue..like he is slow or maybe even on the edge of retarded (ok, this is very non pc coming from a social worker, so just put that aside for a moment). 
Ours happens to be a four year old.
His mother allows him to run the neighborhood, and he has since he was just one.  (I swear it is true).
Now when you have a four year old yourself, of course, you compare.
No comparison.
Not even sure this kid can talk.
I have seen him throw some fits, pretty good ones.
But he does have one talent.
He can ride that razor scooter.
In fact, we have a nickname for him around here..(you will now get a taste of our very strange sense of humor)..
we call him Scooter Sevant.
Yes, even my kids, who don't understand what this means, they call him this too.
We see him, scootering along, staring at you silently, all over the neighborhood.
Even Abby will say..hey!  I see scooter sevant!
For some reason, this elicits hysterical laughter from Matt and I.
Last night we were watching the Randy Jackson Dance Show (yes, we like it and we DVR'D it) and I made the comment that scooter would bust a move by just riding around the circular stage.
Again, for some reason that was funny.
Then we decided that Matt was a lunch sevant.
Because he packs a good lunch.
We are stupid around here, but don't say I didn't warn you.
Lord.
I am teaching the next generation of college students.
Does that not scare anyone?
I'm the social worker sevant.
HA HA.
Alright, well, this sevant has to get moving..
have to get my girlie to her last day of school...(can it be true?)
Cheers!

Is it hot in here or is it me?

I'm not sure whether it was because I was so hot or whether PMS is settling in, but man, by the end of last night I was in a mood.  At these times (which are very rare), my kids are at their absolute, most annoying.  Conversations go like this..
Mom..
yes?
Mommy
yes?
Mom!
(by now I am so mad..) WHAT!?
Now mind you, I am standing about 10 feet away.
The questions start.
Can you get me something to drink? (I just served them something about 5 minutes previously)
Can you change the channel on the television? (are your fingers broken?  generally you know more about the remote than I do!)
Can you give me a backrub on my feet? (Abby is famous for that one)
Can we go for a walk? (no, it's hotter than he double hockey sticks out!)
and so on.
They must sense it, my impatience.  So why do they continue to rapid fire questions at me?
I took them to the mall after church, trying to finish up our shopping list for vacation.
Why does Carly choose this moment to give me a dissertation as to why she deserves another pair of crocs and her sister, who has none, should not get any? (ps..she did not win that argument)
argh.
I stepped on the scale last night before bed and I somehow found four pounds.
I guess I know now, it's not the weather.
Cheers!

Scary Sirens..

The one area of my house that I despise is the basement.  It is something straight out of a horror movie.  There have been bat sightings (although my husband would disagree) and mice, spiders and well..anything else you can imagine.  In fact, it is so ugly down there, I swear there could have been a horror movie filmed down there.  There are several small rooms down there, each one has it's own nastiness.  The front area of the basement has a few half walls made of crumbling stone that lead to some pit in hell, I'm sure of that.  There is even some various spray paint of the walls, not sure what that was about.  It resembles traces of the mass murder that I'm almost positive occurred down there. 
So last night, when the tornado sirens went off a second time this week, I went crazy at the thought of actually sitting down there for an extended period of time. 
My mind was swirling, I was in my bare feet and in my jammies. 
What if it actually was a tornado and I was left wearing this outfit?
Worse yet, what if a bat lands on my head while I'm sitting down there?
It was almost worth my risk of been swirled up in the funnel cloud, to avoid sitting in the basement.
I was sitting there, trying to find my happy place.
Trying not to think about the grossness of the basement.
Of my bare feet, touching the cold damp floor.
I was not worried about the tornado.
I was worried that creatures would be coming to get me and I would not be able to make it up the stairs in time before the cold clammy claw grabbed my stick like ankle and dragged me back down, behind the stone wall.
So, while my children were freaking out about the tornado, my mind was freaking out elsewhere.
But I was calm on the outside, reassuring them that there was nothing to worry about.
Yeah right.
Cheers!

The C Word

There is something surreal about hearing the words come out of a Dr.'s mouth, particularly when it involves someone you are close to.  We went yesterday for Matt's follow up in Columbus where we were told that they just weren't sure.  Apparently he has something strange, something they just can't put their finger on.  They sent his stuff for a second opinion and now, per our request, a third at Mayo.  They are leaning on the side of yes, that is definitely what it is and so that means, much to our chagrin, that we are now looking at a second surgery, very soon.
We will wait and see, because that is all we can do.
But no worries, we are ok, he is ok.  If it is a for sure, it is the best kind to have, no question.
We will take care of it AFTER we return from our vacation. 
It just sucks to think of going back down there for another surgery.
Then radiation.
Then lifelong medication.
Ugh.
We left the appointment and headed to the zoo.
Good times there, especially at the 90 degree heat. 
Bonus that there were not many people around, so we weren't milling through crowds to catch a glimpse of the sun bear.  It was nice though and the kids had a good time.
Did some shopping afterwards, crossing a few more things off the list of things we "need" for vacation.
Then, call me late for dinner, but we had our very first Sonic experience.
I think I have discovered heaven on earth.
Not even kidding here.
We do not have one near here, and discovered it on accident behind our original destination.
The hamburger..wow.  The tater tots and the free shot of vanilla in my coke.
Not good for the diet, but man, good for the soul.
The menu..it is a delicious array of badness..I want to try it all.
Good thing we can't afford to drive and hour and a half, just to eat at Sonic.
But there IS a yarn store that I need to check out there.
Oh yes, did I mention?  I am now addicted to knitting..thanks Meredith. 
And of course, there are several scrapbook stores that are always calling my name there...
And then, there is the list, I have a few more things I just HAVE to have before we leave...
That chili cheese wrap with Frito's will be mine in no time!
Cheers!

On the road again...

Hitting the highway once more today for another trip down to Columbus.  We should get all the results today, keep your finger crossed!
Then, like the delinquent mom that I am, I pulled my kids out of school so we can do something fun.  So in a few moments I need to call them in sick shopping..ha ha.

Yesterday my boss was demanding a resignation letter from me.  This was apparently crucial the day before to her and she was ranting and raving about me not being around.  Sorry for having a day off, and I don't recall asking to resign.  As if that isn't a way to show someone you care..

So the moment I came in yesterday I was attacked about "getting her a letter"

So, my letter was cleverly worded and never even hinted at the word resign..only that I would like to work a reduced number of hours on an hourly basis.

Knowing her, she won't even read the letter.  Just eagerly hand it to HR.  So predictable.

We'll see where that one goes.

Well, happy Thursday all...

Cheers!

Tit for Tat

So, you know I got a Garmin coming (yeah me!  can't wait!  of course I had to have the mat like Christie's and there are so many cute carrying cases...)  I also recently ordered a new flash card for the camera.  Get this..8GB will hold 1000 pics at high resolution.  And we all know that I will probably take that and more on my little trip coming up in a few weeks.
So anyway, Matt was online last night ordering this:





















I was thinking..hey wait a minute.  Our tv in the bedroom isn't that old..
he was quick to remind me that yes, it was actually our first television, which would make that 15+ years.  Ok.
I guess you are right.
It is pretty fuzzy anymore and there are a few channels that just don't come in at all.
I think I better stop purchasing things, because it is only going to get worse at this point.
Tired, so tired today.
All creeped out by storms now, due to the fact that I missed those tornado warning sirens that went off in the middle of the night this past weekend.  Our windows were open even and those things are normally so loud.  In fact, there is one located right down the street and still, we did not hear it.
So now, even the slightest bit of thunder and lightening, I am on full alert.  Which pretty much means I was on alert all night long...
I think I got about an hour of sleep.  I might as well be writing another self-study at this point!  Maybe I'm worried about packing, getting ready for a garage sale, flying for nine hours, being gone so long, taking the GRE, choosing and then applying to a grad school..
who knows.
You would think I would feel settled about life at this point, but now there are just thirty new things to think about.
Such is life.
Oh well, at least I can veg out in front of a new flat screen.
Cheers!

For the LOST fan in you...

When we were looking at all the activities that we could do on our Hawaiian vacation, we came across this gem...
The LOST tour.
You spend 8 glorious hours, trekking the area where LOST is filmed.
Oh yes.
I am so excited about this, I can't even tell you.
Matt and I have watched every episode of this show, each one more confusing and addicting than the next.
I had forgotten it was filmed in Oahu and was thrilled to find that they offered something like this.
We get to swim in the river, with the waterfalls, hike through the jungle, eat at the same restaurants, walk the beaches where the show takes place.  Maybe they will even be there, filming something.  I will be doing this Wednesday, July 9th and I can't wait!  I bet I could even get Meredith to watch the show after a tour like this one!

Speaking of getting LOST, I bought this little gem over the weekend...











I was having major garmin-envy after traveling with "susie says so" a few weeks back.
I have been obsessed with researching this, comparing all of the different models and I came up with this one, the Garmin 350.  Thanks Christie for the "I have to have this now because I am sure that I can't live without it one more moment of my life" feeling.
I did get a really good deal on this..found it for right around $200..that's what spending an entire day on the computer will get you.
The cool thing is you can carry this around with you.  This is my excuse..yes.  We will use it in Hawaii..so we don't get LOST..
yes, that's it.
Alright..well I guess I choose blogging over a shower today.
Go figure.
Cheers!