Summer Already?!

Today was Punk's last baseball game. His last day here with us too. At least for the summer. He's off to his dad's house for a summer of no rules, no accountability, no responsibility. UGH! I miss him already.
The team won their last minor league game - 20 to 5. He scored this time. He'd been walked the majority of the season. Hubby pointed out that at least he wasn't striking out at every at bat. I agreed, but I would still have liked for him to have felt the thrill of knocking the ball into the field a few times.
Two weeks ago I made a small list of things for him to do (on a write on wipe off board) before he left for the summer. Yesterday he still hadn't begun it. His dad came down to the game and to pick him up for the summer. Punk had packed a small suitcase and a bookbag.. turned out that the suitcase had mostly games in it. After the game we had to come back to the house and Punk and his dad went into his room to find other things to take to his dad's house. He hugged me tight before he left, at the direction of his dad. I almost cried. I dread the type of child I'll get back after a summer of COMPLETE FREEDOM FROM RULES!!
I went into his room looking for Antibiotic stuff to put on LuLu's knee because she fell. In his desk drawers I found two boxe of broken crayons that he hadn't thrown away (something from the list) and in his closet an open bag of Ruffles potato chips.
I'm going to devote some of my time this summer to throwing away some things that should have already been thrown away. I may put up a list of the strangest things I found in my 10 year olds room.
I'm going to try to get some things done this year.

28 weeks to go!

It's that time again ladies and gentlemen!! For any of you who are watching as I try to get out of this schedule.

I normally don't look at job postings within the building. Last week there was a rumor that a number of people are leaving the same position that I have. I started wondering if there was anything out there for me. I looked first inside the bank I still haven't really looked outside the bank yet. There was one job open in a department that a friend of mine works in. So, I sent her an email to make sure. (Keeping in mind of course that I'm counting down the weeks til the end of the year) Her response?

"Yep, that's what I do, same position. I didn't realize they had posted for another position."
"I'd take advantage of the opportunity now if I was you. It was the best move I ever made. We were supprised they posted for another job down here. There is no where near the stress here, it's easy to get time off too. Let me know if you decide to post, I'll put in a good word for you. I helped get another person hired here a few mths ago. She absolutely loves it!"

Intriguing, Yes!!! I would love to work 5 days a week
Do I think that I should change now... Um,... I really don't know - I think that would be wishful thinking.

Meanwhile I'm using a bankrate.com calculator to see how soon I can pay off some debt that I shouldn't even have in the first place. - needless to say... It doesn't look good.

Mommy Goddess

Hubby went to baseball with us today. When we got there I noticed we were sitting on the "other team's side" not a biggie but a wierd thing to do. At any rate, there was a mom there. She was undoubtly there watching her son. But then she had a little girl go to her and a set of girl twins also... Four.
I'm not sure that I've mentioned it before but my husband has the power to read my mind. NO, Really He DOES. I started thinking..."FOUR kids"... "holy crap!" "She's suprisingly put together!" "How in God's name does she do that?" "What does she drive? I bet its some sort of freaking cargo van or something!" "I should go ask her what it's like" My husband noticed I was looking at her/them and said "Why don't you go ask her how she does it? Tell her you're thinking of having another but you're scared." Well, Why didn't I?? I dunno. Thought of it, YES! Ready to do it, Not quite.
After a little back and forth between Hubby and me - - - "She's got all of her hair!" "Yes, honey she does" etc. I worked the nerve up to go talk to her... not really the nerve but just what was I going to say to this "Mommy Goddess" ?? Just as I stood to walk over two boys walked over to her and one said "Mom.... (after that I didn't hear anything but the sound of my jaw pop as my chin fell)" so, I'm counting... cause I lost count...

1. son playing ball (I think) probably 10 or 11 yo
2. daughter, maybe 4 or 5
3. twin A, 3
4. twin B, 3
5. .... another Boy, maybe 11 or 12
6. .... another Boy, maybe 10 or 11

I think my mouth was still opened as I put my foot back in place on the ground and turned to look at my husband in disbelief. WHAT THE??? SIX - is that SIX kids she's got.... He laughed.

More back and forth.... "Are they hers?" .... "They could be"..."Maybe some of them are foster kids?"... "Maybe" ... "Maybe one of these boys and the boy playing ball is another set of twins?" .... "Maybe"..... "What do they drive a cargo van or something?" "Honey, Be nice." ..... "What does He do, Does she work?" "She probably can't" "Go talk to her"

Finally 10 minutes later.. I go over... ask her questions... how many are hers?... "only 5" (ONLY 5... my mouth is still hanging open in my mind) How do you do that? "I'm very laid back." (to pop out 5 kids you must be laid back) I've got two and I'd like to have another.. but I'm scared to death. "The jump from 1 to 2 is the biggest.. I think the more you have the easier it gets" (Did she just say that)... She seemed nice, calm. Like my hubby only a woman. Hubby is a very laid back, everything will be fine kind of guy. I wish I was more like that... maybe that's why we found each other.

I can't help but to wonder - should I have another? or two more?... I'm young. well, sort of. I'm not getting any younger that's for sure.

After talking with the "Mommy Goddess" today I wondered. Punk is almost 11. LuLu is almost 2. They are from different marriages. Does that mean they are two first kids. You know how they label you with your birth order.. Yet another label ... as if there aren't enough. But since they are from two different dads does that mean that I really haven't had a 2nd child yet. Punk has his own personality and isn't very interested in helping me with LuLu .. but if I have another child soon... she would have the benefit (if you can call it a benefit) of being a older sister...

Comments, Questions, Ideas, Remarks??? Mommy's ...I'm listening!

Friday Feast #147

Appetizer - What do you consider the Ultimate Snack Food? I think it almost depends on where you are... like at a hockey game I want nachos. I guess I would have to say.. Kettle Corn. It's delicious and if I had access to it I would have it anytime I wanted a quick snack.

Soup - On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), about how popular is your last name? -25

Salad - Who is your all-time favorite sitcom character, and why? Kramer from Seinfeld - because that character is so freakin' cool, Kramer was always in his own element. For that matter, on his own planet! haha!

Main Course - Do you shop online? If so, name some sites you like to browse for goodies. Yes, I shop online one of the places that I shop is chefscatalog.com I also get stocking stuffers at perpetualkid.com

Dessert - Fill in the blank: I think______should be_______. (wow, I didn't realize I would have so many for this one til I started to type it) Let's go with. I think the next few years should be interesting.

Thursday Thirteen #2

Thirteen Jobs I’ve had:

1. Dishwasher @ a small town resturant
2. Clerk @ McDonald's
3. Shoeshine person @ a Travel Plaza ( the $$ in that is crazy)
4. Assistant Manager @ a theatre
5. Security Guard
6. Clerk @ a Travel Plaza
7. Waitress @ a seafood restaurant
8. Clerk @ a concession stand at a race track
9. Ticket clerk @ a Theatre
10. Clerk & Food Prep @ a Taco Bell
11. Customer Service Rep @ a Bank
12. Loan Rep @ a Bank
13. MOM

Wordless Wednesday #2

Foto Pherrets #75 - Drink

My son is always saying 'They grow up so fast' when someone comments on how much his sister has grown. Truth is they truly do. He is graduating from 5th grade today.
so, today for my first Foto Pherret... the word is 'Drink'

My daughter, Olivia, at 5 months old. Drinking Mama's milk, even while mama is at work. Thank heaven for breast pumps!!

Mundane Monday #1

10 Changes In My Life

1. I wouldn't have gotten married at 19
2. I would have continued in college
3. I would have insisted on playing sports in school
4. I would have been closer to my mother
5. I wouldn't have gotten a job at 14
6. I would've waited til at least 26 to have my first child
(instead of 20)
7. I would've gotten a second job when my husband was out of
work two years ago.
8. If there was a way to also know then what I know now... I would've
married my 2nd husband instead of my first.
9. Carrying on with the same "known then" concept.. I wouldn't have dated
a couple of the guys that I dated.
10. I would've kept in touch with childhood friends

Manic Monday #1

Manic Monday for June 4,2007

1. How do you learn best? Watch and learn? Participation? Reading directions or technical manuals?

I learn better by participating.

2. Is one of your senses more highly developed than another? If so, which one?

Not that I'm aware of

3. Summer is almost upon us, What says summer to you?

Longer days, The end of my kids' school, Trees full of green leaves, and bonfire partys at our friends house

Punk has a GirlFriend!!

Today was the fifth grade picnic at my son's school. Two more days a school is over. One of those days is a graduation that the fifth grade is having and it will last only half of the day.
At any rate I found out today that Punk has a girlfriend!! And she is just adorable! I took the camera to try to get some pics of Punk and his friends. He wound up taking pictures of his girlfriend! Wow!!! can i just say that again

A Girlfriend!!

Yes I know summer's coming and he'll be 80 miles away spending the summer at his dad's but maybe it'll last through the summer.



You've just gotta see how cute she is... don't tell him I showed you.. LOL!

Sunday's 7 #1

Seven things I fear most:

1. My Children Growing up to Hate Me.
2. Not being "there" for my kids
3. Being Alone
4. Bankruptcy/Homelessness
5. Ants
6. another Divorce
7. Being lied to by the people I trust most.

Sunday's Unconsicous Mutterings #1

1. Savage :: native
   
2. Warrior :: fight
   
3. Daisy :: Fuentes
   
4. Schedule :: Strict
   
5. Rock, paper, scissors :: game
   
6. Medical :: Doctor
   
7. Jade :: green
   
8. Elevator :: up
   
9. Drain :: water
   
10. Goldfish :: crackers
    

29 weeks...

It's just 29 weeks to go. Til (hopefully) I can stop working six freakin' days a week. I'm tired of it. Five years is too long to do this. I rant & rave and piss & moan but I keep doing it..
Truth of the matter is I started doing this because it allowed me to help Punk with his homework. He was horrible about needing to be "retaught" everyday after school; it would take til 10pm every night to get the simplest things done. Until his teachers finally agreed to have him tested. Turns out he's ADHD and probably several other acronyms that I haven't discovered yet. We've finally gotten him on a medication that helps to calm and focus him. In fact he's so calm and focused that he's been a A/B honor roll student this year all but one grading period.
When I seperated from his dad, I was given a solemn promise that I would never receive a dime of child support. And to this day I haven't. Suffice to say that if I call and say "Punk needs *insert item here*" the money is in my account by at least the end of the week. But with Ex it's always that little bit of control that keeps happy. Being that I couldn't afford daycare I decided to just work a unique schedule that would allow me to be home when Punk needed me most. It worked.
So every Sunday I go into to work with the expectation that I'm going to have a good day. And every Sunday about 3 hours into my day it happens - my fourth "I know you can't help this guy but can you ..... " or " I have a lady on the phone whose negative $39 in her checking account but she wants to apply for a credit card for overdraft protection." or even worse they've told this client that they should put a credit line on their home and use it for overdraft protection. I am just sick of it. My sales goals keep going up and my pay keeps going down. And if that isn't enough, I'm doing applications off our internet site for everything under the sun. Now that isn't the bad part... the bad part is that people actually go to our website (the company that I work for will forever remain nameless) and apply for "you name it". The application or request downloads to me and I spend the next godknowshowlong trying to call, email, write and send smoke signals back to the client to make sure said request is complete to their preference. I don't get paid for goose chases but I sure as hell run about a dozen of them a freakin' day.
So, now I'm waiting patiently - or at least as patiently as I get - until the end of the year. Then if all the stars are aligned and a pink poodle with a blue collar barks under the moonlight on a beach in the south of Ohio I just might be able to start working only 5 days a week. I only hope that the shock of working eight hour days instead of six hour days won't piss me off to the point that I just keep working six days... I've got to admit the whole eight hour day thing is a little daunting after five years of six hour days.

It's Saturday... Time for:

Fill in the blank.


The next person to ring my doorbell had better ____________.
not be trying to convert me.

Friday Feast #146

Appetizer
Name something you think is “the best.” : My husband's French Fries. I bought him a deep fryer for Christmas - Man! His fries are ... well THE BEST!!!

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 highest), how stressed are you today? About a 4

Salad
What kind of cleanser do you use to wash your face? Cetaphil

Main Course
Tonight is a blue moon! What is something that you believe only happens “once in a blue moon.” A day that my son and I get along.. We are so much alike and yet... not.

Dessert
When was the last time it rained where you live? The last time it rained here was May 26th.