When, What, Where...

Thursday Thirteen Edition #3

2006-09-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things Drive Me CRAZY!

1 – People who litter. Come on is it really that hard to find a trash can? And, cigarette butts out the car window … WHY?

2 – Whining, I know I did it as a child, but really can’t MY kids stop the cycle?

3 – Halloween decorations up on September 15th and Christmas decorations up on October 15th.

4 – Lea Sophia, Pampered Chef, Creative Memories and all of those other parties that I get invited to on a weekly basis. I get all exited about the stuff I buy and then it just sits around gathering dust.

5 – People who ask questions before they even think. Really, how many times do I need to explain how to turn on your “vacation rule” on your email… did I not just show you a week ago, for the 18th time! The excuse is always, I don’t know much about computers… ummm, no you’re just LAZY and you don’t want to do it yourself.

6 - Co-workers/Neighbors/Family Members that expect my husband and I to fix their computers. Yeah, we do it as a favor every once in a while. Please don’t give me deadlines and badger me about it all the time. Also, I find it strange they can never help when we need help or they charge us for putting in a car stereo. Yes I fixed your business computer twice, but you can’t comp me an installation charge?

7 – Baby Talk

8 – Drivers who get mad when you pass them. When you drive 45 mph on the freeway, expect to be passed.

9 – People who complain about their weight while eating a Big Mac, fries and chocolate shake. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but I will admit why I am no longer wearing a size 8.

10 – People who complain about money, but they never stop buying stuff.

11 – News teasers – What horrible child killer lives in your home? Find out at ten.

12 – Telemarketers – Thank goodness for the state and federal no call lists!

13 – Parents who don’t volunteer to help with extra curricular activities their children are in, but then complain that the volunteers did it wrong. If you think you can do it better – DO IT!

** Wow... I read this and thought... wow this chick is bitchy today. I think it had something to do with working 16 hours yesterday and getting 5 hours of sleep last night. I know I'm not perfect... I just needed to VENT! Feel free to comment on something that drives you CRAZY!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Becky
2. Sparky
3. Jo
4. Gail
5. Silver
6. Norma
7. Addie
8. Sarah
9. Audrey
10. Annie
11. ma
12. Colleen
13. crygibb
14. ka-rista
15. susie
16. Chelle Y
17. The Red Queen
18. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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Grocery Shopping = FUN?

2006-09-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, hubby and I played hooky. We were both tired and realized with all the stuff we had going on over the next few weeks, we had not time to do the little things around the house like grocery shop! Yeah, with 4 kids... Grocery shopping isn't a little thing.... for some reason they need to eat!

The girls went to school and day care. We spent the day grocery shopping, cleaning out the refrigerator and both freezers.

Strange I know, but I had a nice day.

What to do, what to say?

2006-09-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

I have a lot to do this weekend and not much to say... that's usually how it works.

If I didn't have to remember where every soccer cleat, shin guard, ballet shoe, Dora doll, bottle, sippy cup and hair tie are in the house... maybe, just maybe I could have one adult thought.

I do have to remember that stuff along with a million other things that only Moms and Dads have to know.

People tell me that I will miss all the toys and such laying around the house... I'm not so sure I will!

Time will tell!

Thirteen things I would do different if I were Thirteen again

2006-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

My thirteen year old step-daughter is having a lot of problems at school. So in her honor, my Thursday Thirteen ...

1. Tell Andy F e z z a to stick it up his ass! Andy, you know who you are and you know what you did!

2. Never wear that cool outfit my mom helped me pick out at Sears… teal and purple… the memory is seared in my brain forever! Cool outfit from Sears… I believe that’s an oxymoron? (At least in the late 80’s)

3. Study More – I know sounds weird, but at thirteen I did enough to get by… never more than I needed to do… who knows where I would be if I had actually applied myself.

4. Listen More – I knew everything and everyone else was wrong.

5. Not be so angry, I was good at being angry, but it sure did get in my way of being happy.

6. Go to the mall more, I know I was there once a week, but it wasn’t enough.

7. Not be so scared to fail – That was a big thing for me back then and it still is today.

8. Clean out my locker more… dude I couldn’t find anything under the pile of crap.

9. Try more things… but tying back to number 7… how can you try if you’re afraid to fail.

10. Understand that just because you had all the right clothes didn’t mean you were happy. I always thought that the girls with the perfect hair and perfect clothes were perfectly happy.

11. Be a better friend – I was worried about what other people thought so much, sometimes I was mean, just to fit in.

12. Realize I could be strong, much soon then I actually did.

13. Brushed my hair more... trust me ... it was BAD!

This list is silly because, guess what, if I had done those things, I wouldn’t be me. I like me most of the time.

I remember vividly that thirteen sucked. I wish I could take all the pain away from my step-daughter, but I can’t. What I can do is tell her everyday that I love her and that she is smart and funny. I only hope that she will figure that stuff out sooner than I did.

Where have I been?

2006-09-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

Well, it hasn't been here! Let's just say I took a late summer vacation. Yeah, getting kids ready to start school and then getting them acclimated to a new routine, that's what I call a vacation! (Sometimes, I think if I say it out loud it will be true... so not working this time.)

Actually, I'm feeling pretty down lately. I feel like I am a hamster on one of those wheels. There is a big hill in front of me and no matter how fast I run, the hill is still there. It doesn't get bigger, it doesn't get smaller... it just stays there, looming in front of me. (Sigh)

Marriage -- what was I thinking ?!

2006-08-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

Let me preface by saying I love my husband. He is a wonderful man, great father and at most time the worlds greatest husband (at least in my book.) Did you notice I said most of the time? Well, today is one of those other days… he’s being a complete ASS … YES I YELLED ASS!

He has his ideas on how the world should work and when they collide with my ideas… let’s just say fireworks ensue! Maybe fireworks may be a bit dramatic, but it sounds better than… we raise our voice and bicker like children! Anyway, I digress….

So, what was our big fight about? I didn’t pick up food for him and the 2 munchkins he had in his car… which arrived 45 minutes later than my car did to our wonderful home… which by the way would you like to buy it… it’s wonderful and it’s for sale… because it’s not wonderful enough for me and my big ASS family. Again, I digressed…

It was a stupid thing to fight about… we handle things differently… but he looked at it as I was being inconsiderate. So, what was stupid to me… was important to him. This marriage stuff is not easy… it’s hard to bit your tongue and halfway apologize for something you didn’t think was wrong and get in another fight about the sorry ass apology… then to realize that I was being the ASS because it wasn’t my actions so much as his feelings… I knew that he would feel this way when I did it and I still did it.

So, next time the situation arises I will make sure I bring home food for everyone… and well, if it’s cold and something he doesn’t like… at least he will know I care!

Moments…

2006-07-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

My life has a soundtrack. There are certain songs that bring me back to specific moments. Some joyous, some depressing and some straight out embarrassing! (I don’t even want to get into the Color Me Bad debacle on the Seal Beach Pier.)

I find it funny now that songs are eternally linked to my kids now… Breath by Faith Hill was HUGE when MissA was born and the first song she ever responded to and said she liked was, Hanging by Moment by Lifehouse. I will always remember here sitting in the back of the old gold Altima banging her head back and forth listening to that song. She would giggle and say again, again.

L-Bell is very opinionated about her music likes and dislikes. She likes things from Bob Marley to Pink Floyd to Better than Ezra (I think she just likes to say JUC-EAE!). I know very eclectic! These days her favorite song is Bad Day by Daniel Powter. I have it on my Zen and she wants me to play it all the time… over and over and over! I entertain it for a while, but come on how many times can you listen to that song in a row? I don’t know, I haven’t found out yet, because every time I say it’s the last time, I look at her sing, dance and totally enjoy herself, I play it again, so I can see her face light up! Something will end up distracting her and she will go off and do something else… I usually listen to it one more time!

St. Louis & the repercussions ….

2006-07-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

We had a great time in St. Louis. The girls were great and a 5 hour trip in the car wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

MissA & L-Bell loved the Arch and the riverboat cruise. MissA told us that she wanted to live there because it seemed more fun in St. Louis. I tried to explain how places seem fun on vacation but it wouldn’t be like that if you lived there… but I stopped because really I think Hawaii would always be fun, don’t you? And if I recall correctly, seeing I grew up in California… it is way cooler that NW Indiana! Sorry Hoosiers!

The hotel was nice, right across the street from the Arch in downtown…We could see the Arch and Courthouse from our balcony, and I think I got some cool pictures of both.

I don’t think Nat was happy about being in the car seat on Sunday, she got the car seat back for keeping her hostage… she had a diaper blow out in the car seat on the way to day care on Monday morning… let’s just say… poop on the side of your babies face, isn’t pretty!

Work . . . I guess I like to eat ?!?

2006-07-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

I really haven’t talked much about work. It’s not that I don’t like the hordes (sarcasm implied) of people who read this site. I just don’t ever talk about work. I wish was because I was working for some secret government agency, (now that I would totally talk about), it’s because I really just despise my job.

I’m an IT Support Specialist, in everyday language, I’m the person that comes to your desk and helps your desk to fix computer related problems. I also apply patches and install software on the computers and servers and stuff like that. (Please stop your yawning!!) I used to like to help people … now I think they are all sniveling idiots.

Oh well, it pays well!

My First Thursday Thirteen

2006-07-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things I need to do before leaving for St. Louis tomorrow night:

Laundry
Buy snack food and drinks for the trip
Change the DVD’s out in the van
Track down some fun car games for the kids to play
Sleep (I know it’s not going to happen)
Pack the suitcases and diaper bag.
Go to work on Friday.
Laundry (yes, I have a lot so it should count for two things!)
Remember to snag some ear plugs from work. (Come on I’m going on a road trip with kids & I’m not driving!)
Email my friend and tell her that I’m going to St. Louis instead of getting my bridesmaid dress fitted.
Make dinner (Little Creasers anyone?)
Print out the directions to the hotel and conformation information.
Finally, the most important thing…. Sucker punch the idiot who planned a weekend trip 5 hours away with 3 kids 6 and under? Oh, yeah… that would be me!

We’ll see how it goes… hopefully I will be alive come Monday morning!

***What the heck am I doing wrong -- why can't I see the numbers --- GURRRR***

Softball is OVER

2006-06-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

Softball is officially O-V-E-R for the year and I am torn between total exuberation and a twinge of sorrow. Flea and MissA will survive until next season, but I’m not to sure about L-Bell. When I told her it was her sister’s last game last night and we wouldn’t be coming to the softball fields until next spring. She looked at me in complete shock and said “What???”

Where else can she run around with other kids, play in the sand, eat countless bags of popcorn, shout “Hey, batter, batter, batter, batter”, play on the bleachers, buy 20 LaffyTaffys for $1, stay up way, way to late, and have a great time being a three year old?

MrJB and I were run around ragged and we were excited to have a real dinner once a week, but it’s totally worth it! The girls had a blast, isn’t that what it’s all about? I think so!

Okay, so it’s really total sorrow and a twinge of exuberation…. Naaa!

Web Sighting

2006-06-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

I found a blog of someone I knew, way back when the world was spinning a bit faster. We were acquaintances and we grew into friends… at least I thought it was a friendship. After a while I realized there was a lot of work on my end to be her friend. I will do anything for my friends, but I really do think it is a give and take relationship. She was quite the taker and complained when I wasn’t able to help. As time went past she stopped contacting me because I couldn’t/wouldn’t drop everything to help her with her self imposed D R A M A.

I know that bad things happen to good people, but when you don't learn from past mistakes and you continue to make bad decisions... who's fault is it?

Well, reading her blog, it doesn’t seem like much has changed.

Good Weekend

2006-06-26T06:22:00.000-07:00

I guess this is a Monday – Friday blog… I’m much to busy on the weekend.

Saturday involved 3 softball games, a trip up to my friend (Mon) about 1 1/2 hours away, drop my kids off and on to a birthday party (trust me you never want to see a 27 year old hairy man in a dress—more on that later), back to my friend’s house and relax in the spa for way, way too long. It was fun yet exhausting.

Sunday involved a little less travel…. thankfully. Bridal shower planning meeting and making guacamole with my best friend in the entire world… Mon. Then back in the car with hubby and four kids for the 1 ½ hour trip home.

I hope your weekend was as good as mine.

I wonder...

2006-06-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

Does anyone read this...

;-)

10 Years

2006-06-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

Mr. JB and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary last year. I can’t believe that we’ve been married for that long.

We have lived…
• in five different houses/apartments
• in three different cities
• in two different states

We have had…
• three children
• five cats
• one dog
• a gazillion fish
• a truck
• three cars
• two mini-vans (I know I swore I would never have one too)

Lost…
• a parent
• three grandparents
• a cat
• a dog
• a gazillion fish
• an entire fire safe box filled with important papers (later it was found... right were I told him to look)
• a truck (technically it was stolen)

There were lots of changes,
both good and bad,
we did it together,
that’s something to be said!

(I think that is the corniest thing I have ever said… but it’s also the first “poem” I’ve written since 7th grade… it’s staying.)

Softball

2006-06-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

MissA and Flea are both in softball… wow… what were we thinking when we signed them both up… since May 1st … I have almost lived at the softball fields… we average about 4 games a week, plus Flea has had 2 weekend tournaments and practice all the time. I kind of feel bad but, I’m glad it will be over on June 30th.

I know L-Bell will really miss it… she loves to get a bag of popcorn from the concession stand and play in the dirt and shovel popcorn in her mouth! I think a time or two she has played in the popcorn and shoveled dirt in her mouth… but really what 3 year old hasn’t!

Nick names and other stuff!

2006-06-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have three daughters together and he has a daughter from a previous relationship. Relationship is a pretty strong word for what it really was… but we’ll leave it at that.

I need to come up with some nick names so I can talk about them about them…. so, these are their nicknames around the house... they are all take offs of their real names.

12 year old – Flea
6 year old - MissA
3 year old – L-Bell
9 month old – Nat

Flea has lived most of her life with her Mom full time; they live about 4 hours away so we would see her at holidays and 8 weeks during the summer. Not enough… but things were always contentious between her Mom and Mr JB. About 3 years ago, Mr. JB was tired of all the animosity between the two, so he just stopped fighting. He always saw Flea during his custody times, he never gave up that but Mr. JB just stopped fighting about the little things… the most important thing was to see his daughter… everything else was trivial.

I don’t want to speak ill of Flea’s Mom… so I’m not going to… we have different parenting styles and Felicia wasn’t doing well with her Mom’s style. She was in 6th grade roaming the streets after school, failing her classes and had no respect for authority. So, 8 months ago Fleas Mom called and said, Flea needs to live with you for a while. Mr. JB said … how about I pick her up this weekend.

It’s been a tough 8 months but… I’m glad she’s here…

The news and Gramps

2006-06-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

So, I love to watch the nightly news…not the local news… okay, well I like the local news too, but I really like the network nightly news at 6:30… my favorite has always been World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.

I spent a lot of my early childhood living or at least spending most of my waking hours with my grandparents. They were about 60 years older… so my entire life they were what I thought old was… I didn’t think of it negatively … they always had time to sit and talk… they were both retired… so they had lots of time… to just be Grandparents. I think my love of news came from them… we would start making dinner … sit down in the den with our t.v. trays and watch local news, “2 on the Town” and World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. They would always answer my questions… I was 6 imagine how many questions I would have!

Since I moved to the central time zone, I’ve never gotten used to the nightly news at 5:30… I’m just getting home at that time. I always miss the nightly news and since Peter Jennings passed… it’s never been the same anyway.

I miss my Grandparents… especially Gramps, he was the only father I could depend on… Happy Father’s Day… alas it’s two days late… I’ll just blame it on being in Central time now!

Blah.... to work!

2006-06-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

I had a great weekend… but I have decided more than ever I detest my job. Yes, I think detest is the correct word to use. I want to be home spending time with my babies. Why the heck do I have to have a good job? Darn me!

TGIF

2006-06-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

So, tonight I’m going to a party at hubby’s work. I’m excited because I know a lot of people he works with and I usually have a good time at these things. Let’s hope in continues…

Saturday, I’m taking the girls out to buy a Father’s Day gift(s)… they always want to buy him tools… but I was asked to point them in a different direction… when I asked him what he wanted; he was like anything is fine … except tools.

For Mother’s Day they convinced us that Grandma really wanted a chocolate fountain… we knew she didn’t but we indulged them anyway…so Grandma has a chocolate fountain. My (actual nickname for 6 year old daughter) would close her eyes and smack her lips dreaming about the chocolate fountain… and she told me about a dream that every time she would go to Grandma’s house… the chocolate fountain would be on and she could just walk up and lick it… She would get the Homer Simpson donuts look and say “Chocolate”.

The chocolate fountain was running on Mother’s Day, but hasn’t been up since, much to the chagrin of three monsters that live at my house. I would say four, but the baby… she’s not all in to chocolate… YET!

To all the Dads... have a wonderful Father's Day.

History

2006-06-16T06:49:00.000-07:00

I feel like I should give a little history, but I don’t want to write… oh in 1974 a beautiful little girl was born two to loving parents and everything was perfect and no one every cried. That would be a fairy tail, well, not the 1974 and beautiful little girl part… that’s all true! Who wants to hear about my messed up childhood? I certainly don’t. I figured that since I lived it… I don’t need to relive it. Make since??

Who knows I may talk about it… but right now… all I need to say is I have a Dad I talk on average about .5 times a year over the last twenty years, two brothers that I used to talk to until my Mom passed away last year. Now, we don’t talk. That makes me sad; I don’t like to feel sad.

What I can say is that I’ve been married to an great guy for over 10 years and together we have 3 wonderful little girls and I have an equally wonderful step-daughter who lives with us full time.

Life isn’t what I planned when I was 16 years old, and you know what, I’m grateful for that!

Thanks...

2006-06-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank Miss Zoot for her blog template. I'm going to try to learn how to do some of this stuff. I've been interested in it for a while, but I am sort of unmotivated or I have issues with having to be perfect the first time. You choose!

Let's try this again...

2006-06-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

So, it wasn't quite a year ... oh, how things change... I guess I chickened out (with the blog) last time and I was really afraid of what people would think about me. I'll try it again.

I'm still the mother of 3 little girls and a step-daughter that lives with us full time. CRAZY! CRAZY!

I'm not sure what to do... should I use real names or make up ones for my family... do I post pictures of my kids? I don't know what to do yet...

We will see...

Ummm.... now what?

2005-08-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm entering the blogger world. I've got a lot of stuff to say; mind you it might not be all that interesting!

To introduce myself I'm married with two girls and one on the way. I'm in my early 30's (I'm sure there will be many posts on that because I'm still trying to cope with not being in my 20's anymore.) I know it sound shallow and strange... but I am shallow and strange sometimes. Sometimes, I'm a ultra-conservative jackass who pushes my believes on others.... well... no... I don't think I'm ever that ... jackass maybe, but ultra-conservative never!