Take a trip

I am over at Venus vs. Mars today. If you are interested in what I have to say check out the link. It is a great blog about relationships and the differences between men and women.

For today- I have to say, Hubby has been gone on a business trip for the past 4 days. I am totally jealous. He tells me that he gets super bored and doesn't like to be away from home. I am thinking, though, that he is just trying to make it easier on me by not bragging that he gets to sleep for however long he wants. He can watch movies/tv without interruption. He can basically do whatever he wants and doesn't have to make sure the kids are being taken care of.

I really know what is going on here, though. He is loving going on these trips (even when they are few and far between) and he doesn't want me to suggest the family tags along one of these days. Am I right?

The kids don't like it when daddy leaves. I don't like it when daddy leaves. Luckily they had a lot to do this week to keep them busy. Tee-ball practices and games, activities with friends, helping mom, and all that stuff. Its gone by fast and we can't wait to see daddy this afternoon. I am thinking the kids are going to be jumping all over him, wrestling him and bombarding him with the goings-on of the week. You would think that he had been gone for years. This happens every time and I am just anticipating the excitement. You know what else I am anticipating? Sleep. I am going to go to bed early tonight. I am going to make hubby get up in the middle of the night if they have bad dreams. He can take care of all that so I can get a good night's sleep and maybe I can be a better mom.

Wait- if I do that what will I post for my NPSA meeting tomorrow. Scratch that. In consideration of having a topic to discuss tomorrow I will sacrifice for you and stay up late, get up with the kids all night long, get up early and be completely ornery so that you will be pleasured with some juicy topic for tomorrow's meeting. Isn't that considerate of me?

Theme song- Alone by Heart. Ya, I'm not alone anymore, but I am a child of the 80's and I heart this song.

You know, one of THOSE days

You all know what I am talking about. The kind when you wish you had just stayed in bed, except for the horrendous dreams that made you jump out of bed in the first place. Ya, one of THOSE days.

It's funny how life enjoys biting me in the rear end just when I think I am on top of things. I had a list of my TO-DO things and was very confident that I might actually get to more than just one thing.

Jumped out of bed cuz I had had just about all I could stand of the dreams that were swirling around in my head all night. Then, I realized I had stuff to do, so what do I do? Get on the computer. Yup, that's right, I decided that I am overwhelmed by my TO-DO list and so I ignore it, at least for the time being.

Finally, I decided that I probably should shower and get going on things so I take off my glasses to get in the shower. You all know where this is headed, I am sure. So, next time I see my little MMIT, what do I notice in her hands? My glasses, or at least something that looks like my glasses only contorted. I ran to the eye doctor so that I could have my glasses fixed. I couldn't see close enough/well enough to tell if they were fixable. Why would they be fixable? Why would MMIT only do a half job? She did the full-on LET'S-TWIST-THIS-SO-BAD-SO-MOMMY-HAS-TO-GET-NEW-GLASSES-BUT-FOR-THE-TIME-BEING-SHE-HAS-TO-TAPE-THEM-SO-SHE-CAN-SEE kind-of job. Oh ya. Now I look totally sexy!

HA, fooled ya. Nope, that's not me. I can't even pull this off. I don't have a week's worth of sexy stubble and the rugged look to detract from the tacky taped glasses.



Now I have to tell you the story as to why this is just life (and the family curse) biting me in the behind. Last week I took my elderly neighbor to the eye doctor to pick up her glasses. She has been going around with taped glasses for the last couple of months. When I took her to pick up her glasses I thought to myself- Gee, I'm super-glad that isn't me. Well, now it's ME! Great. I know you are all jealous. I get to look like the uber-geek of the century while you all just get to look like plain-ole-yous. (Did that even make sense?)

I keep having other ideas to write about. I was going to tell you about the super-awesome burn I got the other day from going to the park with the "Housewives of AF" and silly me wore 3/4 sleeves. Hahaha! Check out this picture...

But that isn't quite as good as the glasses story. Plus, I had to tell the glasses story so I could save it for my posterity.

Well, now here I sit, eating a whole bag of Lindt's Chocolate Truffle Balls, wallowing in my geekiness and hoping that the new frames will be sent overnight (which I know they won't). I am going to have to, er, I mean get to enjoy my geekolaness for a whole week, maybe more. If you don't want to be seen with me I totally don't blame you. I don't want to be seen with me, but that is kind of hard to do. Maybe I can hope for an out-of-body week.

Theme song- White and Nerdy by Weird Al. Good times. Thanks Melinda for the suggestion. I bow to the master of songs.

Economic Induced NPSA

With the economic crunch going on right now (ie the downward spiral into the financial abyss) I have been suffering from even greater NPSA.

Hi, my name is Julie and I am a neglectful parent.

Hi Julie.

Today I had to pay bills. I know you are all just oozing with jealousy. Today was a BIG bill-paying-even-though-we-got-paid-today-we-are-broke-until-next-week day. Aren't those the best? I sat at my oh-so-messy desk going through all of the bills, paying the necessary ones (you know, the ones that would get shut off or get us evicted if we didn't pay kind-of bills). I feel like I am just wasting the money...


I had a fabulous post to write today about the mental violence that constantly plays in my mind (not against my children, just people in general- but that I never act on) but since I have had no time for my kids today because I have been paying bills I thought I'd get my jab in on the economy and stupid crapheads like my mortgage broker that totally screwed us over and I wish he would burn in hell for it.

Good, now that I got that off of my chest I need to tell you why I suffer from severe NPS today. I have recognized (that's the first step, right?) that the more bills I pay, the lower my bank account balance goes, the HIGHER my voice volume goes. Do you see the connection?

MORE BILLS = LESS $$$ FOR ME = SCREAMING


Make sense? I am sure my kids don't really get why mommy's patience runs thin on days like this when I have papers spread all over my desk and I can't really think straight. I am sure that they just want my attention. Who wouldn't? I mean, with a mom like me, I would want my attention too.

I feel sorry for my kids who just don't get it, even though I try to explain it. All they tell me is that they have money and I can use it if I need to. If only my house payment could be paid with the contents from their piggy banks. Too sweet, don't you think?

Theme song for today- Money, Money, Money by ABBA

I could use a little extra right about now!

Thanks google images for the pics.

updating my life

I wear t-shirts that I have had for over 12 years.

I still have CD's even though I only listen to my iPod now.

I have boxes of old letters that I haven't looked at in years.

I have a box filled with unfinished crafts that I have had for YEARS (and have yet to complete any of them). In fact, I just dusted off the cobwebs a couple of days ago to pull out yarn to donate it to the humanitarian group that ties quilts every Wednesday.

I still own and use the towel I had when I was in High School (we won't go into how long ago that was- but the towel should actually be rags now).

Now, I tell you all this not because I am a pack-rat (which I totally am- but that isn't my point). I tell you this because I am in need of an updating. You know, like when a new version of software comes out and your computer gives you that little reminder that you can download the updated version? Well, that is what I need.

The thing that lead me to this conclusion is my older sis. I have talked about her before. The sis I visited in Idaho and had a fab time with? The sis that came down to visit me shortly after I got back. The sis that I talk to just about every day. Ya, that sis.


Anyhow, she just updated/upgraded/is living in the now. She got high-speed internet. No joke. She totally did. Remember when I told you about wanting to take a sledge hammer to her computer when I was visiting her because I couldn't blog, I had a heck of a time paying one stinkin' bill online. It was a mess. She totally is updated now and she even commented on my last post, gave me some love that way. YEAH!

So, this got me thinking now I need to look over my life and update at least one thing. Should I go with the towel? I think that is my choice, too.

Theme song- You're the Inspiration by Chicago. Good memories- yes, this is a CD that I have. Nice... Don't make fun! I'm serious. Good memories, good times.

Wordless Wednesday

Ya, right. You all know me too well to think that I would be wordless any day of the week. I just thought the above picture was too funny not to share but didn't really have any funny story to go with it other than to tell you that UMM did this herself. She didn't want to take her pretty headband off when she went out for a bikeride and the rule is HELMETS- all the time! Remember when Snake biffed it really bad??? Well, since then we ALWAYS wear our helmets...and by we I mean the offspring since I don't even own a bike and haven't ridden a non-stationary bike since my mission. (We won't even go into how long that is- but I have this hope that riding a bike is like, well, riding a bike and not skating cuz we all know that wasn't a good idea for me.)

Theme song- Safety Dance by Men Without Hats.

Livin' the dream

I am sort of in the virtual doghouse at the moment because I have problems. An addiction if you will. I still dream of blogging and I think Hubby is really getting tired of the time I spend reading and posting, stalking and perusing. Really, I hardly can help it when I have met so many wonderful people and just have fun getting it all out there.

So, in view of Hubby's belief in my poor time management I am going to try to keep this brief (and then maybe a few more people might actually take the time to read my blog).

I was talking with my cousin last week about mothering and I had a serious epiphany. I really hope and pray that I am not a mother that is going to live vicariously through my kids. There is a neighbor in my area that loves her kids. That is great. I applaud her. The problems start when she is their friend instead of their mom. She gets them out of any problem instead of teaching them to deal with things. She encourages poor behavior because she wants her kids to be popular since she never was. It is hard to be around her because I just want to grab her by the shoulders and shake the living crap out of her. I want to scream at her "Your kids need a MOM, not another buddy." Instead, I smile and wave and try to make nice with her because I am so non-confrontational.

Going on with that topic, I always wanted to model when I was little. This is a funny thought to me now considering I am so self-conscious. However, my little MMIT has been told and even had a chance to model and now I am thinking I want to get her into it. Would this be living through her? Should I let her do it? She is only 2. If I do let her, is there a litmus test I can take every so often keep from becoming a stage-mom?

What do you think? Isn't she gorgeous? Her hair is even longer now and it is full of natural curls (which I am sure she will be cursing as she gets older, but that I envy- openly!).

Theme song... One Moment in Time by Whitney Houston- oh the memories. Remember graduation when they played this song? Okay, so that dates me... gimme a break.

Hello for first timers, welcome back to the rest!

Today I have admit to something and get it off my chest. I think this week is the week for confessionals, don't you? I mean, Shelle had a "dirty little secrets" day yesterday which was actually very enlightening and made me dig deep. Although I didn't share my secret with ya'll in her comment box I will share it here. Remember, we are all her to support each other and NOT judge. Keep that in mind when you read the following...

I LOVE my job. Really, I do. For many different reasons.

1. I get to listen to audiobooks while I work.
2. I get out of the house 5 days a week.
3. Hubby is solely in charge of the offspring.
4. I get a break from taking care of everyone else.
5. I get to drive in a quiet car to and from work everyday.
6. For those hours I am gone I don't have to worry about who is getting into what.
7. For those hours I don't have to hear "MOOOOOMMMMM!"
8. For those hours I get to relax, type away at the computer and listen to anything of MY choosing. If I want to listen to MY music, I can. If I want to listen to MY book I can. I don't have to sensor the comedy that I listen to (although I probably should- but I love Dane Cook).

These are only a few of the reasons. And the reason I should feel bad about this is that UMM cries just about every night. As I get ready to leave I always hear, "Mommy, why you have to got to work?" At least for now I can feel okay with my answer, "I have to sweetie- so we can keep our house and have food to eat." But, if my bro wins that California lottery (I'm crossing my fingers) then he is going to give me a chunk (cuz he's nice like that) and then what excuse would I have to banish myself from the home for hours each day????

Theme song- Chain Gang by The Nylons.