Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year's Eve

Alright, so .... I'm off today. And I'm running around like a lunatic.

WTF?

You would think I wouldn't try and cram all this stuff into a single AM (pre snow) yet I did. And now it is almost lunchtime and there white stuff is stacking up.

~sigh~

I will need to pick up the baby at daycare and then we will all hunker down for more New England weather.

On the plus side, all my Christmas decorations and gifts are put away. Everything is tidy, just the way I like it.

I just need the gift of TIME.

At any rate, Happy New Year to all my faithful readers! You mean the world to me!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Restarting

Ok, so I'm going to be nice today. Well ... try. It's just that life, okay my life, is aggravating sometimes and while I wish I could just carry on and on about it, really it doesn't change a thing.

Accepting and moving on. Qualities for the new year right?

Work with me here.

I'd love to stay and chat, I have lots of catching up to do but, I must get ready for work.

Pesky, I know.

Monday, December 29, 2008

I Wish I Could Blog About This

I am so aggrevated right now, I could scream.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

The TV MeMe

Taken this week from Sunday Stealing ~

1. Name a TV show series in which you have seen every episode at least twice: That would be Seinfeld. Except I have seen every episode probably six or seven times.

2. Name a show you can't miss: I really enjoy watching Ellen but the whole work thing gets in the way of that. Lately I've been enjoying "My Name is Earl" on Monday nights.

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to watch a show: Robert Downey Jr., he's my favorite bad boy.

4. Name an actor who would make you less likely to watch a show: Johnny Depp. Sorry America, I cannot stand him.

5. Name a show you can, and do, quote from: At the risk of repeating myself, Seinfeld wins this one again. My quote is .... (and my kids hate it when I quote this) "When I was a girl, I had a pony. My sister had a pony. My brother had a pony. We all had pony's."

6. Name a show you like that no one else enjoys: The Girls Next Door. I cannot explain my fascination with Hue and his blonde's but I could watch that show all day long. Everyone in my house hates it and there is much eye rolling if I am watching it.

7. Name a TV show which you've been known to sing the theme song: Remember "The Greatest American Hero"? I can sing the whole song, my husband can too, so I now feel less freaky about it.

8. Name a show you would recommend everyone to watch: I used to tell everyone to watch the show that was on MTV, "Fear" but lately it's been the HBO series, Deadwood, Carnivale or Big Love.

9. Name a TV series you own: Six Feet Under, Tru Calling, Dead Like Me and Big Love.

10. Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium, but has surprised you with his/her acting chops in television: Will Smith. He amazes me.

11. What is your favorite episode of your favorite series? I am a big Spongebob Fan. My favorite episode is when Squidward moves away to a community of other squids and they all do the same thing he does, every day and he hates it.

12. Name a show you keep meaning to watch, but you just haven't gotten around to yet: That would be Lost. I have two seasons waiting for me but haven't gotten to it yet.

13. Ever quit watching a show because it was so bad? Yes, Desperate Housewives, I lost interest in it completely.

14. Name a show that's made you cry multiple times: Not that I can think of.

15. What do you eat when you watch TV? Anything snacky.

16. How often do you watch TV? I watch at least a couple hours of it every day.

17. What's the last TV show you watched? Family Guy.

18. What's your favorite/preferred genre of TV? I watch alot of the shows on MTV, VH-1 and Tru TV.

19. What was the first TV show you were obsessed with? That would be ... a soap opera ... when I was thirteen ... General Hospital.

20. What TV show do you wish you never watched? Thankfully there is always the "click" option, so I have no regrets.

21. What's the weirdest show you enjoyed? Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe.

22. What TV show scared you the most? Hauntings. It's just creepy.

23. What is the funniest TV show you have ever watched? America's Funniest Video's wins it for me, Hands Down. Some of those shows you laugh through the entire show.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

No Let Down Here ...

Howdy,

What a whirlwind of goodies here at Casa-Mig's. as I type this I am surrounded by dollies (sp?) that keep needing to have their diapers changed. Watching my baby, change her babies.

It's been fun.

I haven't seen much of my son. He opened his Lego chess set and he's been on a mission every since to put it together. There is only about 1,000,000,000 pieces. He's halfway there, I think. (I believe there is some digression when a battle breaks out between the good and bad guys, you know, it's a boy thing)

My daughter has been out and about constantly. Her gift was a new laptop computer. See ... she needs me ... the Administrator, to do anything on it. I love that fact. She hates that fact. As I was loading in some software for her last night, I checked on her searches. I found several, all with the same theme.

parental controls vista
how to remove parental controls
password protection vista

Love it. Love it. Love it.

Christmas Day was fun. My parents stopped by and enjoyed some turkey dinner. They brought enough presents for a small army. Or so it seemed. No sparkly sweaters this year instead I got a set of coke glasses, pictures and perfume. Excellent.

The best part was getting a King Size Electric blanket. His and her controls, separate sides with a preheat option. It makes the frosty third floor, warm and fuzzy. I thought nothing could top it until I was given a beautiful mother's ring. I cried when I opened it. It came in a beautiful box. I have such tiny fingers that it didn't even need to be sized. A perfect fit. Three stones with each one representing one of my babies (the middle stone, which is my son, is an Emerald. I've been told they aren't cheap). I can't stop looking at it.

Of course ... I'm afraid to see the receipt.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Good Tidings

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Holiday Decor ~

Skipping the outside pictures (yes my photography is THAT good), here is the mat at the bottom of our stairs.

Here is a picture of my fiber optic Santa, I love how he glows and I try to ignore the fact that there is also a humming noise and hope that nothing catches fire.



Here is the mood lighting around my sink (sadly it doesn't hide the dishes that needed to be done), I like the blur color.




Here is my snow globe. I love me some Snoopy. Who cares that it makes it difficult to walk around in the kitchen. It will last longer ... inside.




Here is the top of my entertainment center (I do realize it is 90's motif). I set it up this way, every year.



Here is my Hallmark singing Snowman collection. (please ignore the fact that, in the background, it looks like Kermit and the Reindeer had too much to drink)




I can't just have two. I must have them all.



I like the penguins and their bells (the children's book collection isn't too shabby either).




Here is this years.



Here is the tree. There is not a single candy cane left. I have no idea why. (notice the broken pane of glass in my beautiful french doors. (KIDS)



And, completely unrelated. My man, the baby and Santa. This is the best picture out of the three that I took.

~sighs~


Happy Holidays!

Ready

Well let's see ... cookies baked, check. Gifts bought and wrapped, checkity, check, check.

One more day of work to go ...

And thankfully ... SCHOOL is on. So daycare is open.

I'll be back later to post some holiday pictures of the house and a sneak peek at some gifts that are going to be a big hit in Mig's house.

Oh Yeah~

Monday, December 22, 2008

Another Snowday

School is canceled for the day.

Too bad work is not.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

The Screaming Masses MeMe

1. What is a nickname a former (or present) lover gave you? We call each other "babe".

2. How do you style your hair? If you just would say "cut" what style is it? My hair is cut in long layers but I prefer to wear it in the a ponytail so it isn't in my face.

3. What's your least favorite Christmas song? Instrumentals, Zzzzzzzzz.

4. How many colors are you wearing now? Purple, black and white. Three.

5. Are you an introvert or extrovert? Both. Depends entirely on the situation and my mood.

6. What was the last book you read? The Third Circle by Amanda Quick.

7. What's one piece of fiction that changed your life? Fiction? Ok, "It" by Stephen King. I am now terrified of clowns.

8. If you are attracted to someone who is already in a relationship (or married), what might do you do? I'm not, but I would leave it alone, no one has the right to break up a relationship (unless they are twelve)

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy recently? There are a few things that I can't write about here but mostly, the death of my friend's son. It pretty much sucks.

10. What's your favorite dessert? Cheesecake.

11. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Fifteen minutes, this includes the shower portion. My man? Takes WAY longer.

12. Name one website that you visit daily. There are six blogs that I visit daily but really no websites. Why do you read it? I read the blogs because I am interested in the people who write them (um duh!).

13. What was your last job before either you are at home or at another job?? I have been a secretary for my entire career. They all pretty much sucked until this job.

14. Do you like to clean? I LOVE IT!

15. What was the last song to get stuck in your head? Dominic the Donkey. HELP ME!

16. What's the last movie you saw? The Escape Clause on DVD, it was funny.

17. Pirates or Ninjas? Pirates (but not of the Caribbean, I am NOT a Johnny Depp fan)

18. What is your least favorite thing to do that you have to do everyday? Clean the litter box.

19. Best time of your life? Here and now. I love my kids!

20. What are you most looking forward to in the coming year? Watching them all grow up. I don't want to miss a thing.

Friday, December 19, 2008

This is my Friday

Last night, school was canceled. I don't get that one. Seeing how it is TODAY and, you know, there is not a speck of snow on the ground YET.

I packed the baby up for daycare and when I arrived, there was a note on the door that explained that daycare too was canceled.

I repeat, no snow on the ground YET.

Today I had a boatload of things I wanted to get done. I had planned this day off MONTHS ago and now, one snow storm, has messed the entire thing up.

Thank you Mother Nature. Not.

I suppose it isn't the end of the world. Just another challenge to end a long week.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Baby Steps

My boss was kind enough to give me an extra day off. I celebrated by going back to bed and sleeping until noon. Shocking. I know.

I think all the crying and sadness wore me out.

In other news, I went to the grocery store TWICE today to get evaporated milk. I thought I needed two 5 oz cans of it. Apparently I am thinking of some other recipe. Not only did I get sweetened condensed milk the first time and curse myself, the second time I got the correct two 5 oz cans and then double checked the recipe and it now calls for 14 oz. (bang head here)

Arg!

I considered briefly using the condensed milk but I am not sure how to adjust the sugar. I might wing it, since the recipe calls for three cups of sugar, I could probably use less but it might compromise the entire batch, of fudge that is.

All this seems minor in comparison to loosing a loved one. So I'm not dwelling on it.

I'm ending my evening with yet another Controversial Committee Meeting. This one I am going to. (now there is a NEWS FLASH) Our Chairman resigned. And in the last 24 hours there has been enough news to call into question the integrity of a gaming establishment even being able to come to our Town. Making this meeting, tonight, all the more interesting.

I will report back.

And.

Thanks for all your support. You guys rock.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Blue Eyes

Dear B,

I cannot imagine what your life is like now, one moment you are late for school, riding with a friend and the next, you hit a tree and you are gone. Did you stay at the scene? Are you watching over you Mom, Dad, Brother or Sister? Can you see us?

I wish I knew. I wish there was something I could say to your family that would put them instantly at ease, or for a moment, make them feel that you are okay in your new place, that you are with them and will be always.

We were at your wake last night, long after visiting hours had ended. Sitting with family we hadn't seen in too long. All of us crying, now and then. Your life had only just begun and now its over. So unfair.

We spent a while looking at all your pictures with your Mom. She told us about the different places you were in each picture and we talked about which one was our favorite. There were so many of you with your brother and sister. There were a few with your nephews. A couple of you sleeping. You look so much like your dad. My favorite is the one of you as a two year old, with curly black hair (that you hated) and your bright blue eyes. That is the boy I remember the most.

All of us gathered outside, a little past 9:30 pm, to greet your brother, coming back from Afghanistan. He had a State Police escort, which brought him from the airport in lightening speed. He will be wearing his "blues" for you today, true Marine style. Your Mom and Dad hugged him tight and we all left to give him privacy with you. To give him a chance to see you, alone. To start his own grieving process.

Today, we are getting ready to say our final good-byes. I know that through the church service I will be crying for you. I will be crying for your family and I will be crying for the life you never had a chance to live.

I will pray for the driver, whose casket had to remain closed and for his family who has to live, not only with their son's death but yours too. I will pray for your dad, who is struggling and will continue to struggle with your death for the rest of his life.

I hope that out of today's sadness comes realization in all the teenagers that attend, that their lives dangle on a string, like us all.

May God shine on you B and may you watch over us all, today.

Much love,
Mig

Sunday, December 14, 2008

A Christmas MeMe

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly wrapping paper with a gift bag thrown in.

2. Real tree or Artificial? For years, real tree. Since baby #3, totally fake. The older two don't like it, but me? I love that there are no lights to mess with.

3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Varies from a few days after Christmas to right before New Year's Eve.

5. Do you like eggnog? I think it's gross.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A lighted dollhouse from the Sear's Catalog.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad. What do you get a physicist?

8. Easiest person to buy for? Me!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I have three. I put a different one out each year WITH baby Jesus. (because who can remember to put him out on Christmas eve, not me)

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Umm ... email Christmas Cards seems wrong. Mail please.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? One year my mother got me these mirrors that had planters in them with fake flowers. She buys me a weird gift every year. (quit laughing)

12. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey. We make one every year. I love it.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Don't hate me, but I shop throughout the year.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Who hasn't?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Chocolate. It's very versatile.

16. Lights on the tree? Ahhhh yes.

17. Favorite Christmas song? The Twelve Pains of Christmas.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at home. It's nice.

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? How about a bow?

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Definitely open a gift or two on Christmas Eve.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Wanted: Ark

Dudes, it's been raining for FOUR days. FOUR DAYS. I am so tired of the rain. I know I know, it could be snow. Could be a blizzard. But it's not. It's rain.

Enough already.

My son doesn't feel that way. He loves it. He wakes up each day, excited. A good day, is a rainy day.

So, we got a bit of bad news yesterday afternoon. Sad news. If you live in this area you would be hearing about two boys and a fatal car accident. We knew one of them. We know the parents, we know the family and we are deeply saddened. Eighteen and Seventeen is too young to die. Speed, lack of driving experience and this damn rain were all contributing factors to their car hitting a tree. I cannot even express the sympathy I have for the dad, a man my husband worked with for many years, a man who loved this boy more than anything in the word. He is devastated.

We await news of the wake and the funeral.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

The Bounce Back

It's amazing how resilient kids are. My own daughter is no exception.

We had a chat yesterday, her and I, about swimming. She doesn't want to do it. Some reasons she shared with me ... like the time commitment (every day after school plus two swim meets a week) and the fact that she is intimidated by the kids.

No amount of begging or pleading could sway her. Alright, I didn't beg and plead. I pushed and pushed and then gave her the I'm "horribly disappointed" speech. I'm pretty sure I made her cry. Her parting words were "stop it" before she slammed the car door.

I came home, angry, disconnected the Internet on her computer (thinking if I don't get what i want, she doesn't get what she wants), I probably said a few swear words over it. Maybe had a tantrum of sorts.

Then I got over it. I reconnected the Internet and felt bad for being hard on her.

Parenting is like being on a see-saw. I hate it sometimes.

I just want my oldest to succeed in life. She has so many opportunities to achieve and yet she passes them by because she is afraid. Its tough to watch. I know that drawing a line in the sand isn't the tact to take and that encouragement is the best route.

But it's so sssssssllllllllloooooowwwwwww.

I came home last night and figured she would be hiding in her room. Sulking. (Sort of like me yesterday) Instead she said hello. Played with the baby, sat next to me and chatted all through dinner. It's like our morning conversation never happened.

She'll probably be discussing it with her therapist someday.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The Unmentionables Discussion

Yeah, wrong tag on that last post. I actually thought it said Happy Monday and was surprised, this morning when I went back to it and read what it really said.

Oh well.

So my daughter, after many discussions and chasing paperwork, will be joining the school's swim team. I hope. There was some feet dragging and a boy in one of her classes who is ON the swim team and he keeps giving her updates.

One was these 8 hours straight of swim sessions. That alone is enough to make me RUN for the HILLS, but my daughter? She thought that was outrageous.

I got clarification. It's a training sessions and they don't swim the entire time, its two three hour sessions of drills and they break for lunch.

Then, this same boy (who I would like to poke in both eyes at this point) tells her, just yesterday, that the opportunity to join swim team has past.

Funny thing about that, I talked to the COACH, YESTERDAY and he assures me that she can still join and he sent me the necessary paperwork.

My girl is already intimidated by this whole thing, being a freshman and all, and this kid is not freaking helping, I want to smack him.

Add into this mix, a couple of conversations I am going to have to have with her about bikini areas and tampons. Neither of which she will want to discuss with me BUT if she wants to swim, she will have to master both.

Less she want to look like a bushman or have a Carrie experience.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Next Up ...

I am just looking at my schedule for this week and it is jam packed already with appointments, errands or work.

~sigh~

I should probably be thinking of plan for dinner, right now. But I am totally not. Why all those individual portions of pasta and steak can't just cook themselves, is beyond me.

Have a wonderful Monday.

HA.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Ignoring The Obvious

Ever have a time in your life where you really should be focusing on the issue that is right in front of you but you spend lots and lots of time,

say over a weekend,

Paying no attention to it, like AT ALL?

Yeah, that's me. Referring to the previous post. Its in the back of mind and every once in a while I will take it out, work on it for a little, then put it right back.

Yeah, I'm not sure what to do. Big surprise there eh?

Moving on. High on my list of things TO DO this weekend (aside from the matter at hand) was WORK. I had hoped to sit down today and finish up I think the longest set of minutes I have had ever.

I didn't even try.

Instead I made cookies instead. I did laundry. I did some shopping. I watched is snow. The rest is a blur that I'm guessing involved cleaning and/or straightening. I'm sure there was some baby wrangling mixed in too.

None of it involved working. I'm okay with that.

I'm off now, to put the finishing touches on some boxes that need to go out this week. I have a few that will be going next week too.

And a Christmas Card picture, which at this point, might be of the dog because she is the most willing participant I've got.

Chew toy anyone?

Friday, December 5, 2008

Hard To Hear

Here's a new flash. It came straight out of left field, in the form of a phone call, at the end of my workday. (like I was almost out the door and took one last call)

A call from my Ex-Best Friend's Husband.

Husband.

Her husband called ME. At work. I was stunned. He did say hello and at the end he asked me to say hello to my man and the kids ... but it was the inbetween stuff that stunned me. Statments like this (there were so many, all so fast, I'm sure I didn't get them all):

"We saw you at the Christmas Parade."

"Listen, every time she sees you she looses it."

"You email her and it sends her into a tailspin."

"She cries for days, weeks at a time."

"She loves you, you know."

"She needs you."

"She needs a friend."

"Don't you need a friend?"

"This has gone on long enough."

"I should have called you a year ago."

"This is killing her."

"You were such good friends."

"You either need to be in her life or out completely."

"She's writing out Christmas cards and agonizing over yours."

"I told her I was going to call you, a long time ago."

"She didn't tell me I couldn't."

"She seemed okay with that, my calling you."

"She sees you and she runs away."

"She got your email, what is it, over a month ago and she is still crying over it."

"Don't tell her I called you though."

"I just thought you should know."

"I hoped you would understand."

"Can you work it out?"

"Can you just talk to her and work it out?"

"Please?"

My replies were ... Yes, Ok, I had no idea, I understand and thank you for telling me. By the end he was crying and so was I. Who am I kidding, I am still crying. Trying to process it all. Trying to make some sort of sense of the message he was trying to relay.

Trying to figure out what to do and feel that my heart is breaking at the same time.

My Name Is Not Carol

My friend and I went last night to check our her friend's photo display. It was less than a ten minute drive and we got there fifteen minutes before it closed.

Whoops.

We walked in and the displays are simply beautiful. This guy is an avid photographer and he has been to many places to get the 34 plus pictures we looked at. Each one was displayed as though you were looking out a window (this was theme). He used actual windows but instead of glass in each pane there was a section of picture. All his photos are for sale and cost anywhere between $125 to $200.

I would say they were worth it. It is art, after all.

When we first got there, (well and really the whole time) there weren't many people. But this one guy, kept staring at me. And when I would look his way, he would smile. Which was kinda creepy. But we were in a well-lit room and I had my friend with me, so I wasn't too concerned.

As it turns out, the guy staring, is a friend of the artist. So when we were doing introductions, the guy came over and introduced himself to us.

He stood in front of me ... and I said ...

"Do I know you?"

And he said.

"I think you do"

So I took a good long look at his bald head and round figure and shrugged my shoulders. The artist turned to him and said ...

"She's not who you are thinking of."

I told him my name and he shook his head like I was mistaken or something. My friend and I continued on to view the rest of the pictures. I kept catching the guy's eye after that. More staring.

WTF?

Finally it was time to leave and we were saying goodbye to the artist and his wife and the staring bald guy was there too.

As I shook his hand, he leaned in.

"I know your name is Carol."

My reply?

"I am positive it is not."

It's these weird moments of mistaken identity that take me back to the fact that I am adopted. And the adoption took place not more than an hour's ride from my house so essentially I could have half-brothers or in this case half-sisters living anywhere nearby, or there could be none at all.

But I won't ever know, instead I'll just wonder, when people stare at me and insist my name is something else, if there is more to the story.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

One Less Ride Today

My daughter came up to my room last night. "Mom can I ask you something?" I played it off really casual, said sure, and kept working on what I was doing (which was sorting gifts to wrap). In my head I was thinking, what could this be about?

"Can I stay home tomorrow? I feel like crap."

I had to smile at her. We have all been sick in the house and she is no exception. Monday I was surprised she went but I think the after school club was a huge incentive. Tuesday I had to wake her up and she wouldn't look at me the whole ride to school. Yesterday she was just mad I made her go. I knew she felt lousy but I am not offering up the option, she has to learn to ask for what she wants. (obviously if she had a fever, it would be a different story, but a cold ...)

I laid down the law. No computer, no video games. She can watch TV but the idea is REST.

I think she was giddy. Oh to be Fourteen again. I'd love for someone to give me permission to stay home.

Heh.

So on the whole "mouse warfare" front, I've made little progress. I did buy the poison and it was suggested to me that I could bribe my boy into helping me move stuff and set the bait. I thought this was an excellent idea. Until I brought him in there and he and I both took a listen.

"Sounds like hissing to me" "It does but it will turn into squeaking, after a bit" "Let's not wait for that" He walked out of the space and so did I. I did purchase these sound wave units that are suppose to drive rodents out. (oh you in the back HUSH) While I realize the probability is 99.9% that they don't work, having one in the unfinished room and one in my book nook IS VERY COMFORTING.

I think this is a job for my man. He didn't object.

In other news, I am going to an Art Show tonight at a local library. I'm thinking its going to be boring but I already said I would go.

We shall see.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The Almost 11 PM Want to Scream Post

I knew at butt crack of dawn AM this morning, that my day was going to belong. I just had no idea how positively sucky it would end.

Most of the day was business as usual. It all started after work (to clarify here, after my FIRST job but before I went to my SECOND job - that alone I could write a novel on) I came home and wanted to just cook dinner and maybe decorate the tree AFTER.

Note the caps on the AFTER.

Instead, everyone was all excited (I know, cry me a river right?). My son wanted to get right to work, so he got the train out that rides around under the tree. My daughter wanted Christmas music so she figured out how to make that happen, so she could dance around with her stuffed reindeer.

Still trying to get dinner on here. The baby was either picking at the Styrofoam (or maybe eating it, because it was sort of wet) or breaking ornaments. And not breaking them as in glass. I mean taking the tops, where the hook goes and pulling them out. I have no idea how she figured out this annoying little attention to detail, other than she might be her mother's daughter.

I might have mentioned how the houses should come down and go around the train track. Which was a REALLY bad idea because it just confirmed what I had been trying like all HECK to DENY all day.

There is a mouse in my house.

Said mouse is living under the floor boards of my attic storage area. The area I am ALWAYS in. I don't store food but there is always something I need from there, TRUST ME. As a side note, I snuck a visit in there at my lunch break and I heard nothing, so I though perhaps I was simply INSANE (you in the back QUIT LAUGHING!). So tonight, as I needed to go to the far corners of the storage space to get the houses, I heard enough squeaking so that ...

I can deny it NO MORE.

Try and squeeze that conversation in at dinner without alarming the children and then get a lackluster response about the whole thing.

But the show must go on. I will glaze over the fact that the sauce burned while I was digging and/or ignoring squeaking.

We ate it anyway.

Finally after dishes were put away and houses were brought down. The kids? Slapped some ornaments on. The baby? Opened and licked as many candy canes as she could manage before bedtime. And me? I did the actual decorating of the tree.

Ok, so it came out nice and for a brief moment I didn't want to jab forks in my eyes.

7:30 comes quick. I had to get out the door and go to yet another long and drawn out evening meeting (but with pay!) of complaining. There was alot of negativity on the Developer's part and I really feel that HELLO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY plays a big part. That an plow your damn private road when it snows already.

Sheesh.

The next topic to come up was the potential and very real possibility that a train stop could end up in walking distance from my house. Now you all can sit there and tell me how beneficial it is to property value and whatever other baloney you might be thinking. But I am living here and I can safely say, I don't freaking want it.

It's my opinion and I am entitled to have it.

Then I come home and the wonderful, glorious, beautiful, wireless Internet that I have is not working. Which is the absolute perfect timing because I need to send myself a BOAT LOAD of files so I can make some semblance of order out of them, tomorrow.

I hate YOU Murphy's Law.

It's all fixed now by a cable. A band-aid really. But it was that or my man had to listen to me HYPERVENTILATE because it wasn't working.

Yes, I am that much fun right now.

Monday, December 1, 2008

My Future Costume Designer

I think I may have mentioned this before. My oldest, is very artistic. Her drawings are amazing and she can do them so quickly. Her great grandmother was a phenomenal painter and we have been blessed with several of her paintings that need to be re framed at some point. One is a bullfighter and from what I understand it was painted for my husband's dad.

Both have left this world and as someone who appreciates all kinds of art, I am thrilled to have her paintings and one that has a story behind it.

Not the point of my story here.

My daughter came to me on a Thursday, with an idea of making her own costume for "Spirit Week" at school. She asked if I could buy take her to buy fabric, she explained that she wanted to create something she could wear. At first it was just a hat, then it was a tunic and finally she thought out loud about gloves.

So I took her to the Fabric store. We went to the back. To the cheapest fabric and with my 40% off coupon, I bought one yard of brown and two yards of green and some thread.

I was told that this was HER project and that I would not be helping with any of it.

Sheesh. It's not like I micromange or anything. ~whistles innocently~

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we say little of her. When I checked on her, she was on her floor, scraps of fabric, loose thread and scissors surrounded her.

She kept insisting everything was going fine, she was just focused.

Sunday afternoon she emerged. Wearing her creation. I was allowed only to sew one of the straps on, because she couldn't figure out the length until she put it together. There was much discussion on the need for white pants and a white turtleneck.

Otherwise the costume just wouldn't be complete. I thought about arguing with her on that. Had she spent any less than THREE DAYS on it, I might have. Instead I made jokes about no white being available past Memorial Day. She wouldn't hear of it.

We found pants and a shirt. And here you have it. Her hand sewn costume. What you cannot see (yes because my picture taking SUCKS so badly) is the intricate details of her costume and how they resemble LINK in the Game, TWILIGHT PRINCESS.


She wore this costume to school on Monday. On the way there she did express some concern with "everyone staring at her" but she went. No coat. Full costume. A Freshman in High School. She said it was awesome and that the "cheerleaders" would come up to her and ask if she was "Peter Pan" but the football players? They knew who she was. One guy came up to her and said "Dude, Nice Link Costume" and gave her a high five.