Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Worrying is what I do best

On and off for the last year and a half, Z has woken up in the middle of the night, just sobbing because his legs hurt. 

For the last year and a half, I chalked it up to growing pains.  

A month ago, he woke up about 4 nights in a row, just crying in pain and it seemed to always be the same leg.  

Today we went to the pediatrician, she thinks it is growing pains as well, but just to be sure we had to have x-rays.

Now, I will worry until the results are back.  


BTW.  I received very positive feedback from my interview on Monday.  Turns out the person who I really didn't think liked me apparently really did.  

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

I gotta get me a job.

Be warned, I am going to ramble on.

On our refrigerator is a white board and on the white board are notes from my wonderful children.

They say things like....

Mom needs to get a job by 2009. 

Mom needs to get a job so we can move to...... (where ever it is we are contemplating moving this week).  I believe they even changed the location last week.  

Mom needs to get a job so we can get a new house.  

The notes change regularly, but all with the same theme.  They are really thoughtful and encouraging and I know they mean well, but the PRESSURE is getting to me.

Yesterday I had an interview in another state, so I hopped on a plane at 7:30 am, landed, took a connecting flight, picked up a rental car, tried to drive to the interview place, but my little GPS is not updated with maps that knew about the major bridge problem.  I called the lovely assistant to the person I was meeting with and told her my dilemma and that I would be there soon, which ended up being sooner than I thought because all of a sudden I was there.  Still not sure how I managed to get there, but I was there.  

The person I was supposed to meet with was not there due to her own flight problems, so I lunched with another person and then went back for a couple of hours worth of interviews.  It went pretty well and they were all lovely people with whom I believe I would work very well, but......... I think they are really looking for someone with expertise in a particular problem area.  Then the lovely people I met with tried to help me find my way back to the airport avoiding the big bridge problem.  I arrived at said airport, returned my car, took a tram, back to the terminal, and hit security 15 minutes prior to my scheduled departure time.  I searched around the area trying to find a screen to tell me what gate I was supposed to be departing from.  Nice young man finally helped me and I sprinted in my 3 inch heels in the completely opposite direction only to arrive at the gate and find my flight had been delayed.   A whole lot of other stuff happened that would take up two more pages, but finally I got home at 11:00 pm last night.

Today I had the first 2.5 hours of 5 hours of interviews for another position, locally.  Yes I did say 5 hours.  There are 3 candidates and I saw them today, we followed each other around and met with 3 Drs and 2 Administrators.  

Is that enough rambling for today.  I am really tired and need to get to bed.  

PS. Today was my 100th post and therefore I was supposed to do my 100 things about me.  I will do that soon I promise.

PSS...During my interview today, I was asked, not once, but twice, "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" I do not answer that question well, at all.  I panic, I don't know what to say.  It is not that I don't have ambition or desire to better myself, but I am also comfortable just doing a great job, learning new things and making a contribution.  

The first person who asked me that question said,  "Have you considered getting your master's degree, if you want to go beyond this position, you are going to need your master's. "   Yes I know, yes I have thought about it, but honestly I don't think I have enough brains left to do it. 

What is wrong with just being a great worker.    

Okay really I am done rambling.   

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Knock off!

More stimulating of the economy today.  It is sad when your 6 year old says, "Boy we spent a lot of money today."  And we did.  But I did have a lucky find.  Look at this. 


I know it is not as cute as the original, but the heel is only 3 inches and they were $25 less than the original.  I also think they will be better with the suit.  Just agree with me, because I really, really want to keep the ones on the left, but I must be practical.  I think I will wear the ones on the right to my interview on Monday, that way I will have to return the other ones.  

I am a big fan of HGTV, especially the Designed to Sell show.  But I think they cheat.  We are getting our house ready to sell and I swear we have already spent a $1000 and we are no where near finished.  Today we purchased carpet for our porch, landscape ties to edge our driveway and some storage containers to hide things under our bed, probably all of those shoes I have been buying.

Hopefully, tomorrow we can actually get some work done and not just purchasing.  Need to get to bed so I can be productive.
  

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Someone might be trying to tell me something.

About 2:30 this afternoon, I was jonesin' (I know that is not a word, but that is what I was) for some chocolate.  I grabbed my 65 cents and headed to the god who spits out goodness, aka the vending machine. 

Hey, we got a new vending machine.  A couple of them in fact.  One even has fruit in it, but alas I want chocolate.  So I go to insert my coinage and lo and behold there has been a rate hike, 75 cents for a candy bar.  Must be the fuel costs:p So I head back to my desk to search out another dime.  When I got there I decided maybe I would just have some sweetarts and forget the chocolate.  

That worked for about 2 minutes.  I found another dime and headed back to the vending machine. Oh what should I have?  I really want the Twix, but there in the corner is a 3 Musketeers.  I don't really like 3 Musketeers, but it is chocolate and it has 45% less fat than the leading chocolate bars.  

I put in my change and select my treasure, nothing happens.  I push 149 again, again nothing happens.  I push the coin return and get my money back. I stare at the machine and read the instructions.  I can't remember what they were, except that it didn't say you should select first and then put your money in, but I tried that anyway. No success.  I thought, maybe it just didn't want me to have a 3 Muskateers, so I tried the Twix, nothing again.  

I stare at the machine, until a group of kids come along (take your child to work day). I back off and watch the first kid stick his change in the machine, push his number and get his bag of Doritos.  I walked back to my desk with my head hanging low.  Even the vending machine knows my butt is getting huge.  

So now it is 9:25 and I still want chocolate.  Oooooh.  I just had a revelation.  We still have Easter candy on top of the refrigerator.  Two Butterfinger eggs.  Ahhhhh that hit the spot!!!! 
I can sleep peacefully now.

Only 2 more days and I will post 100 things about me.  Although, I am not sure I have 100 things I want to share.  I am sure there will more totally amazing things like..... Milk Duds are my favorite candy. 

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Total spazola!

Tonight while B had baseball practice and G was hanging out at the playground, I thought I would get in some walking. You know trying to not waste any of my precious time.  

I walked the perimeter of the two ball fields about 11 times, when I decided that I really wanted to listen to a particular song on my Zune.  So I stopped, flipped the case open and started scrolling through my music.  When it started, it wasn't the song I wanted to as I was walking I started scrolling again, and then all of a sudden I am laying face down on the asphalt.  

There were many people watching the baseball teams practice, but apparently no  one saw me, since no one bothered to help me up or even see if I was alright.  I was, of course, except for my pride and maybe my wrist.  I did manage to hold on to my Zune.  


That being said......what in the world would make me think that I can wear these, most adorable,  shoes ever. 




I think they will go fabulously with both, my new lime green suit and my new brown suit. Don't you?  

But there is this little thing. It's called a FOUR INCH heel.   That is completely ridiculous.  I am 5'10" so let's see, you do the math.  Yes, I will be a giganormous 6'2"! 

The whole time I am trying on these shoes, I am thinking, "Dr. Laurie would not approve".  

But they are so cute, aren't they.  

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

What is she on?

I am not really a reality tv fan, but EB likes to watch American Idol and Dancing with the Stars, so I listen while I read my blogs.  

Paula needs some serious help.  I just can not stand to watch her embarrass herself week after week.  She is always rolling her head all over the table and then messing her hair all up and then practically slurring her words.  Drives me insane, if the show had just the contestants, Ryan and Randy it would be fine.  I mean do people really enjoy Simon belittling everyone show after show.  

If I were going to actually sit down and watch a reality show, it would be Dancing with the Stars.  It seems to me they really put there heart and soul into practicing and performing, so it is tolerable to me.  For the last week or so they have had these child dancers competing and they are AMAZING.  I think they have had kids as young as 8 on there and they are great.  Anyway if you don't watch the show, try to catch one episode just to see the kids.  

Monday, April 21, 2008

The next Picasso, right here.

A couple of weeks ago, BooMama talked about how her artwork in her house was all done by friends and family.  I thought I could do that, and since we are putting our house up for sale I thought we could use some new decor.  Yesterday afternoon B and I created the paintings below.

This one I really like, but it is too small, so I am going to do a couple more and then hang them in a collage of 3 on the freshly painted porch.




The one below, on the left, I don't like so much.  I was really trying to copy the one on the right, which B did in Kindergarten.  I have had it hanging on my bathroom door for 3 or so years and I just love it, but it wasn't the right color or I would have just framed it.  

I didn't hit the mark, but since it is acrylic paint I am going to keep going over it until I get it right.  B said I bent it just a little too much, and he is right, the angle on the new one just doesn't work.  I also wish I had left a little white space along the edge, but I think I can make it work. 




Sunday, April 20, 2008

SHE DID IT!


G finally did it.  While I was painting my my butt off this weekend.  This little girl figured out how to ride her two wheeler with just two wheels.  

We have tried the last two years to teach her how to ride, but she just didn't get it.  So this year I took her training wheels off again and this time, all on her own, she got it.  She was so excited I could barely get her to come in for dinner.  

BTW the painting is looking fabulous.  It only took 2 coats of primer and two coats of paint to get it there.  We are still working on the second coat of paint, but I think that is going to do the trick.  I also made two abstract, acrylic on canvas, paintings to hang on the walls. I will share those with you tomorrow. 

Now it is off to sleep so I can look refreshed, not, for my 4pm interview tomorrow.  

Saturday, April 19, 2008

I am pooped!

It is 9:40 pm and this is the first chance I have had to sit down since I got up this morning.  I at least got a bunch of things done today, which is so much better than sitting down at night and thinking, what did I do all day.

I spent the first 1 1/2 hours of the day running with some friends.  I am so glad spring is here, I ran in shorts and a tank top. Yeah.  Then off to the grocery store.  Most of the rest of the day was spent painting the porch.  It is a lot of work, getting your house ready to put it up for sale, but hopefully it will pay off and we will actually sell our house, unlike everyone else around town.

We are also babysitting for our friends kids.  They came over about noon and I made all of the kids play outside all day.  I am the meanest mom ever.  They kept trying to sneak back into the house, but I caught the little suckers.  Then Z tried to complain about the mosquitos biting him. I told him to suck it up and get back outside.  

Tonight when he got out of the shower and asked me to put the itchy medicine on him, boy did I feel bad.  The kid has 26 mosquito bites on his legs.  I am not sure why but mosquito's love him.  We can go outside and I won't get one bite, but he will be eaten alive.

Some where in there I did also fee them and took them to dairy queen for desert.  I had a small Heath Blizzard, which totally blew my running from this morning.  Oh well tomorrow is another day and it is probably going to look much like today.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Underwear again!

Have you seen the commercials for the new Hanes "Wedge free" underwear.  I need to get me some of those.  I have been having serious panty issues lately.  It could have something to do with the weight I have put on over that last couple of months leading to my pants being entirely too tight.   I would like to chalk it up to old elastic, but I am pretty sure these underwear are not that old.  A girl can pretend can't she.

Here are a couple of underwear funnies.

I was in college when I first bought my own underwear.  I know that is pretty old, but my mom always bought us socks and underwear for our birthdays and Christmas, so I never had the need.  

So I went to Shopko and purchased me some size 10 fruit of the looms.  When I got home and opened the package I thought, "my, these are giganormous underwear", so I called my mom to see what the deal was.  Turns out just because you wear a size 10 jeans doesn't mean you need size 10 underwear.  Nowadays I could probably wear size 10 underwear, but back then they seemed enormous.  

2nd funny:

Friday while we were out scoping a new location to call home I got a phone call from a distressed B because he could not find his "Diamond" underwear.  He said he had his cup but could not find the underwear.  I told him were they were and then talked to my mom.  I laughed because he wasn't the least bit shy in telling his grandma that he needed his underwear for his cup.  


Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Clearer or more complicated

We are supposed to make our decision, about moving south, by Friday and we still weren't sure about what we wanted to do.  I think deep down we know our answer is no, but the people were so nice, we don't want to disappoint them. We can still retire there, right.  No worry about schools then.   

Anyway, today one of my old VP's emailed me to ask me if I was interested in director's position they have opening up.  This would be North, not South.  West, not East, only 3 hours from my mom and dad and only 1.5 hours away from one of my dearest friends. 

Hmmmm, what should I do. 

Of course I said yes, I was interested.  Doesn't guarantee me a job, but it is a start.  Just for kicks we started looking for houses, because that is what stops us every time.  We already found a house we would really like.

That just happens in my dreams.

PS.  No Nascar track here or even anywhere close.  Some little boys will be so disappointed.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

She forgot her scarf.

I know that I should be posting something about our little adventure this past weekend, but I am still so torn about what I feel, that I can't even write it down.  

Instead I will give you another, "What was that?" sighting.  

At a gas station in West Virginia (I am not making that up for effect).

While I was contemplating any snacks I might need for the rest of the drive home, I spotted a woman with two giant velcro curlers on the top of her head.  None on the side or bottom.  Just two on the top.  If she would have had a scarf on, I might have thought she was my grandma.

I thought, "oh well, to each his own, but you wouldn't catch me out like that."  I prefer to go out in my mismatched running clothes, all sweaty and with my hair in a two inch pony tail.  I am so much classier than the woman in the curlers.

While I was sitting in the car waiting for EB. I see her come out get in the car, take out the curlers and then brush the heck out of her hair.  She then gets out of the car at the gas pump and sprays, what I am sure was Aqua Net, for about thirty seconds.  She then fluffs it in the reflection of the car and sprays it again.  

I was waiting for someone to light up and the whole place to blow sky high.  

Now the ironic part is, she had a shoulder length straight bob and I could not tell that she had done anything with her hair.   

I promise to post about our adventure soon.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Paper or plastic

I am really trying to be more responsible and environmentally friendly, but sometimes they make it difficult.  

Just a few examples:

I bought the lovely new canvas type bags at my local megastore, but when I bring them in to use them, I get the nastiest looks from the cashiers.  Kind of like when you ask for paper.  Someone should really give them a lesson to two on their job, you know CUSTOMER SERVICE.  

I try really hard to recycle all my paper, plastic, glass and cans, but the manufactures of these products really could help out a little.  For instance, how about making labels that you can actually get off of the bottles and cans. 

Truly which is worse, wasting all the water washing the cans and bottles or letting the cans and bottles sit in a land fill.  

How about the excessive packaging on children's toys or anything for that matter.  I know that they are trying to prevent shoplifting, but seriously, I shouldn't have to use a hacksaw to open packages and then again throwing away far more packaging than the goods.

Only 13 more posts until my 100th post and then I will share 100 things about me that you could really care less about.  

We are headed south tomorrow to look at our possible new home.  If I have time and the wireless connection works well, I will check in.  If not, tune back in on Tuesday for a full update.  

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Package protection

And I am not talking about insuring your goods with the United States Postal Service.

B starts kid pitch baseball this week and let's just say, I am not confident that they can keep it in the safety zone.  He is nine and it is sort of strange thinking about protecting his privates (Yes I know what it is called, but I am a juvenile.) when I can barely get him to let go of them.  I promise it will still be there after you let go. 

Yesterday EB went to the local sporting goods store in search of a cup.  He calls me and asks me what size he should get.  I don't know, you are the man. I don't have whole lot of cup buying experience. He looks at the package, I mean box, and it goes by weight, except that neither of us really knows how much the kid weighs.  We went with the small. 

Last night when EB got home, he was telling B about the cup and what it is for.  B was so excited and said he couldn't wait to wear it to school tomorrow(today).  (EB had bought the kind that came with underwear and a pocket for the cup.) We explained that this was just for practice blah, blah, blah, blah...........and you won't like wearing it anyway.  He was very disappointed.  

Today was his 1st practice and was very excited to wear his cup.  I took him to practice and another mom brought him home.  As soon as he gets in the door he reaches in his pants and pulls out his cup and sets it on the dining room table.  

Eeeeewww.  

He said, "It hurts."

I said, "Pick that up and put it in the bathroom."  So now it is sitting on the back of the toilet.    

PS. It says "Talented Sports" on the cup. See they all think it does tricks.

Monday, April 7, 2008

3 minutes to blog

I really have to get to bed tonight, so here is my 3 minute blog.  

EB and I each did some searching on line for potential homes, in our potential new location.  

Tonight we sat down to look at our lists.  

His list:  25 houses.

1st house ~ beautiful, no yard.  Big problem.  I crossed it off the list. 

He says, "You might as well cross off all of the rest of them as they all have the same size yard."

My list:  7 houses with more than a postage stamp for the a lot.

New combined list: 

5 houses off my list and one off his:)


Saturday, April 5, 2008

Miracle and a misdemeanor

We were on our way home from Lowe's, (where a miracle and a misdemeanor happened) the miracle being we walked out of there without spending a penny. 

The Misdemeanor 

Z says, "Hey mom, did you know that David Reutimann is driving the #44 car now? Dale Jarrett retired after the last race and now David is going to drive the 44 car.  

I was smiling away in the front seat wondering where my little Nascar junkie picked up that tidbit of information.  "No, I hadn't heard that."  I said, "When did you hear that?"  I turned to look around at him and realized he is reading a magazine.  

I said, "Where did you get that?"

He said, "Lowes."

I said, "Let me see that."  He immediately bursts into tears and I looked at the front cover and sure enough there is a price there.  $3.99.

"Z, you can not just walk out of the store with something.  You have to pay for it."  "You could go to jail for that."  (Way to go mom!)  

More tears, lots more tears. 

Now here is where my parenting skills could have been better.  Okay they could have been better when I told him he could go to jail.  But who is paying attention to that.

I know that we should have turned around, gone back to the store and made him give it back and apologize, but we were meeting some friends and wouldn't make it if we went back.  

So I told him, dad would take it back and that he would have to pay for it out of his own money.  
There really was more explaining in there, but that is just boring and I sure you all know the perils of shoplifting.  

This reminds me of an incident I witnessed about a year ago.

I was siting in my van, way out in the Target parking lot, when 2 police cars converged on a woman who was just causally walking past my car.  They took off her coat, talked to her  then handcuffed her and put her in the car.

While they were questioning her, she just kept crying please don't tell my family, please, please.  
I am not sure I will ever forget that.  The way she looked and the way she sounded.  I wondered why she was in the situation that she was in.  She was probably my age.  I really have such a hard time seeing women as common criminals even though I know that they can be.   It upset me just thinking about what made her do that.  




 

Friday, April 4, 2008

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

As of 5:00 pm today, EB has a job offer in another state.  (Sister, don't tell mother!)

A state we said we wanted to retire in.  +

A state with snow and sun.  +

A state where we don't know anyone.  - 

A sate with a Nascar track.  (B said we could move any where as long as there was a Nascar track.)  -

A state that is supposed to have a lower cost of living, but doesn't really.  +/-

A state where I don't have a job. -
(Okay that probably doesn't really matter since I won't have a job in this state after June.) 

A state with under 5% unemployment. +

A state where we aren't related to anyone.  + 
(Okay just kidding, really a -)

A state where we would have to find a new church. - 

A state with really big schools. - 

We have a lot of decisions to make.  I have an interview in two weeks, here at home, so we will have to see  how that goes before we make any decisions.  
It is very scary.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Another ..Hmmmmm..

While driving back to work from lunch, I noticed that the van in front of us had the plastic wrapper still on the rear windshield wiper.  I know they have been at the back of their car, as they have two bumper stickers right below their windshield .  This is not the first time I have seen this.  I don't understand it.  

Are you trying to save your wiper for a really bad rainstorm?  I mean, if you need it, are you going to jump out of your car and take the plastic off so you can use it.  

I do not understand that mentality. I have to take the protective cover off of everything.  When I get a new gadget I rip off that plastic as soon as I open it.  EB even saves those things for me to do, as he knows how much I like it.  

I also don't get people (like EB) who put rugs over their floor mats in their cars.  I mean the whole purpose of a floor mat is to protect the carpet.  Do you need to protect the floor mat as well.

Okay one more.  People who buy new clothes and then just leave them in the closet.  I have to wear it immediately.  I just do.  


Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Who buys this stuff?

I was perusing the paper this weekend and while flipping through the coupon section, I came upon a flyer for checks.

I always like to check out the new styles, see if there is something we should have. Of course we write about 5 checks a month and I am not even allowed to have the checkbook, but anyhoo I like to be stylish.

A while back I found some Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, and even I whom (or is it who) is goo goo over Tim, thought that was kind of corny.

But this takes the cake.




I mean, "Are there 5 year olds out there with checking accounts?"

Who would order these?  I am sure someone does, but who.  I really need to know.  If you would order My Little Pony checks, please let me know.  


Funny, Funny, Funny

Go to Don't try this at home and check out this video.  Totally cracked me up.