It feels like the year just started and it is over. Summer vacation started a few hours ago, and we've already had three complaints of boredom. Two kids are off at sleepovers, and one has a friend over. This will last? One day, and then, complaining will begin. You seriously have NO. IDEA.
Yes, you would think suggesting that they "go find something to do!" when the whining begins? But it just does not work that way. While I can find "things" for them to do - I empathize because I know how much it SUCKS to be stuck here - since I can't leave either. (Remember, we're $32.00 from ANYTHING one-way in a taxi, so that quick trip to the PO Box and grocery store? $64.00 just to get there.)
Summer sort of snuck up on me. I've been brain dead, a millionty milligrams of anti seizure meds will do that. I was supposed to have saved money to sign up the middle kids for camp, like last year, and have them go off to day camp at least for a few weeks of sessions. I blanked on that. I should be able to get that arranged for late summer. I did, however, force the boy into football. He's not happy, but he did not cry. :x We'll see about this.
So, here's to a very. long. summer. with. no. car.
Today is Mr's last day of work. I don't know if I mentioned anything (did I?) because it seems ludicrous considering he just got this job, I know. But, he resigned.
The company was extraordinarily nice to him about it, asked if there was anything they could do to make him stay, and he had to really, really think it over. This has been quite a process. Please note, he's not crazy. He is actually just going back to his former job, but in a different location seeing as they had to replace him.
Why? From where I sit, I know that a big part of it is truly the commute. He went from a job in the town WE LIVE IN to a very large town more than one hour away with traffic. He was used to getting up and going to work just a few miles away, to getting up and leaving early and getting home late. I told him he was crazy to take it in the first place, even if he money seemed better, it all washes out.
I know lots of Moms + Dads commute and work far away from home, and work long hours, so apparently he was spoiled and it's not like he's making millions to make it worth being away 24/7.
I tell you right now that if I landed a job say....pimping out dark chocolate!? in the city, for $XX,XXX a year, I would haul MY sorry arse to the train station at 5am if I had to, and I know lots DO, and that's why they have the big shiny houses not bought from a foreclosure sale, childcare and Range Rovers, too. ;)
Meet the Real Housewives of Massachusetts, right here.
He also got used to the opportunity to get HOME at the drop of a hat if I needed him, and the fact that I did not drive for a year, I really needed him to be available to get a sick kid, etc. And, it's always a reality here...
I am sure I told you about the police coming to my house because I did not answer the PHONE last month or so? Yeah, well. That happened, and he couldn't get me by phone, email or checking in, so... he thought I had a seizure and died.
Other than the obvious -- I think he was a bit underwhelmed or bored? The thing is he needs to be busy -- and like projects and troubleshooting. Sitting in a big, old-fashioned style bank, I think he was twiddling his fingers waiting for things to go wrong. (I know, it sounds nuts.) Consider the location, he should have been thankful he wasn't taken hostage, but he's got a few hours left.
So. It's over, and things are left on a good note. He starts back to his old company on Monday, everything will be the same just with a new location and staff. After things get sorted out, he will be back to writing his own schedule and perhaps being available to us more, again. It does work out a bit favorably, with a match in the pay he took to leave, and cutting the commute down, he's increasing his income. With him working where he was, there was NO way I could consider taking on anything even part time (unless the above situation happened) but with this one, there's at least a slight opportunity. Of course it's pretty unlikely with no extraneous child-care, but, I like to know that I have a LITTLE bit of time to consider it, you know... if the Willy Wonka company calls me.
A child is a curly dimpled lunatic. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson We had a birthday here today. I don't understand why we bother (any of it really, but...) to prepare the house or anything. You would not believe the destruction and trail of mess from a few hours of kids here. Mr. was washing the wood floor this morning before impending doom. Makes sense, right? The positive: I estimated exactly enough pizza. Every slice gone. Woot. Again, the talent I possess for estimating pizza and groceries in a cart, amazing. HIRE ME! (My eleven year old 'painted' faces - including what was supposed to be "Mickey" on my niece. O-o)
Not a soul touched the salad, a few poked into the huge delicious fruit salad. I'll be eating that all day long tomorrow, picking out the melon to eat ... and the berries to throw in my blender. I forget how much I like it when it's FRESH and there.
I have to share WHY we had pizza though, even though I have, in my possession dozens of burger buns. While shopping for the party, Mr. found a DEAL! on burgers, "Check these out, they're <little money> a box!" He buys like, six cases of the "beef patties."
(Practicing for pageantry or, uh, something. She said it was, "Princess of the MOUNNNNNNTAIN.")
I note, days later, while digging in the freezer, that the "patties" aren't two all beef patties (specialsaucelettucecheesepicklesonionsonasesameseedbun) the ingredients read: "beef, beef hearts, soy filler....etc." WTF?! THESE AIN'T NO BURGERS! They are like, hot dogs?! EWW. I'm not cooking those. No how. No way. Yeah, I have the burgers still here, I wasn't about to run back to the store with a million burgers and say, "you sold me roadkill," but... blech. So, we had pizza.
(Note the flying NERDS candy. I filled this with non-chocolate candy, so I wouldn't scavenge it myself. :) ...)
We only had two injuries! The inflatable water-slide fell over after the boys were being too rough on it, and knocked my niece on her knees, and scraped them. Then, the boys went out to 'wrestle' and two kids (that I don't really know at all) ganged up on another and sucker punched him HARD in the gut. He was sniffling and hyperventilating, and Mr. got down and asked him what happened, and the kid was all, "I (sniff), got (breathe) hit (sniff) really (sob) HARD...." My son came over and said that two boys were really rough with him, and he felt bad, but, he didn't want to fight back. BOYS. Which is why I didn't get any photos of them, they never sat still.
(That's not feigned surprise, I'm holding a big. knife.)
I opened my Facebook page the other day, and it wasn't mine, it was his, and it said, "Beth's Party RSVP." Doh. Foiled. In fact, I was cleaning up a bit in preparation. I was sort of freaking out, because I knew there was to be a party here, AND THERE WAS NOT A STITCH OF FOOD. He had it catered by Moe's
(She's being very. very. difficult.)
Of course, too much, and I will be eating pintos for days.
(Em, who got out of her jammies to come over to her favorite Uncow Bobby's house. She is obsessed with her pj's.)
Not a big deal. He did surprise me by the timing, I thought we were having folks over at 4:30-5pm, and I came home from my haircut to a house of people in the early afternoon.
(Jennifer and Ava.)
Also - the gift: You may have noted that I have been using my gift. The camera warehouse that he purchased the camera package from called here and told me, the recipient, that "they cannot ship to the address provided because it is not the billing address on the credit card given."
Yes, BUT, what do you do in the case of a GIFT SENT TO SOMEONE?! Do people NOT GET GIFTS? I thought maybe because of the cost of the product - but - that can't be the reason - people get things sent to them daily on someone else's dime, what bullshit.
However, I was not about to argue this point, I was just "Sure, you can send me a Nikon D300! I'm all over that! Thanks! But, you totally ruined the surprise FOR MY GIFT."
"Oh, was it for you?"
"Um, yeah."
Heh.
(Whatever. So. I have the new camera. Woot. I am a little overwhelmed by it, like I said in another post, I need a class, I will find one, I'm not able to just point/shoot as easily as I was doing before. I will get it, just need some time and understanding.)
My camera flash (?) is going, going, dying. I haven't taken many photos lately. It's time to stock up and get some done before it dies completely.
This morning I asked the girls what they wanted for XMAS from Santa.
My six year old said, "A motor scooter." Oh, well, that's not happening. She did also ask for roller skates. Good, and a TV, and...and....and....her two front teeth.
The baby says, "Bye bye Papa car, and Eh-mo." Good. She's easy.
What did you ask Santa for?
Me? I immediately thought of intangible items. I wanted full brain function back. I really, really want to be able to get the kids to functions/after school activities, and obvious things like to GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, go to the doctor, dentist, anyplace!
I have another six months again before this is even a possibility, so Santa, if you could arrange my brain neurons to QUIT FREAKING OUT I would totally appreciate it.
We had a party today in advance of my daughters ten plus one birthday. I am not old enough for a child that age, let alone one nearly as tall as me, but anyway, it's happened, and today, we partied. Photographic evidence is here.
I like them this big, they don't roll away, run away, throw sand, and bite their cousins.
These ones do.
(Michelle, I know I was supposed to call you today, but I now I have two extra girls in my house, one of which is Extra Loud Variety, and they won't be quiet.)
I know it's traditionally celebrated by waking up to either serving Dad breakfast in bed, or more like (or more honestly) going out for a big breakfast or brunch. Oops. The Dad in this house wakes up and eats a protein bar every.single.morning.upon.waking.without.fail. so - there's no feeding him breakfast in bed - unless the kids sliced a bar into bites and placed it on a doily or something - it ain't gonna fly.
Not only that, it's usually left up to The Mom to do the Hallmark Moment Shopping - and I am sort of unable to get it done right now. I can only get to a store when Dad is home, on his days off currently, because? I can't drive. And, I am shopping? With his damn money. I mean, I have "always"sort of been shopping with his money, but now it's like, so obvious that I have no paycheck at all, so buying a "Father's Day Gift" with his money in front of him, is ridiculous. (Yes, I am aware that "his" is "ours," but it's just weird, buying a gift for someone if they're standing next to you, so I didn't, and I won't, so he gets crap.)
My humor really appreciates this today. Happy Father's Day all. (Bob is off with his kids to the movies to see The Incredible Hulk.)
This is from this week's PostSecret:
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