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Articles
So now what do you think of me
2009-01-12 23:39:00 I thought I would share a fact about me that you may not know about. I have no sympathy. I should probably expound on that, huh? I think perhaps it has to do with my background. More about my life in greater detail can be found around the blog. It’s my journal after all. But the short part is… abandoned as a child, abuse, rape, homelessness, drug abuse, recovery, miscarriage… So. When various horrific things have happened to me in life, I’ve had to deal with it. Everyone does. In the case of pretty much all of the really bad stuff - other than my miscarriage - I had to deal with it by myself. Alone. No help and no support. Two examples for you: When my mom started taking care of me after Jeannette left, she requested I call her “mommy”. About two weeks after Jeannette left. Obviously there wasn’t a lot of understanding there about how I might be feeling about everything. I believe my response was, “but you...
Can I learn that trick?
2009-01-10 15:00:00 Me: “Joseph, you can’t just tell the cat that she can’t play with your Bakugan. She doesn’t understand human.” Joseph: “Yes she does. I taught her three days ago.” What does one say to that? More About: Trick , Learn
Bully
2009-01-09 15:27:00 We’re on the way home from school just like every day in existence. We’re talking about how there’s a school rally the next day, and that the kids have to dress a certain way. School spirit. rah.rah. All of a sudden this comes out of Joseph’s mouth, “My archnemesis has to be on stage! With a guitar! And he has a RASH!” Perhaps the “Bwahahaha” I heard was just in my head. First I found out who this Archnemesis was (totally his word by the way.) Jimmy Bartek*. Who pairs up with Michael* to call Joseph Stupid (which he attempted to spell out, because we don’t call each other stupid) and make fun of him. I then had the correct parental lecture that sometimes people feel really awful and the only way to make themselves feel better is by making others feel bad and BLAH BLAH BLAH. But then I said, “But he has to get on stage? With a rash?” “Uh Huh!” “That, my son, is called Karma… O... More About: Bully
My First Embarrassed Child
2009-01-08 23:21:00 Carline. Waiting. And waiting. Joseph has a tendency to be late. I don’t know if his teacher really let’s him out late or he’s a dawdler. But then again she let’s them out one by one and his last name begins with “W.” Now, he’s messing with some other kid. I holler out the window, “Come on JoJo!” And the earth stopped spinning on it’s axis there at Small Town Elementary. I could see the flush creep up Joseph’s neck, and over his face. “ooooOOOOooooo JOJO! What sweeeEEEeeeet nickname, JOJO!” Joseph yells at me, “Do.Not.Call.Me.JOJO?!” He should have had a WTF? cartoon balloon over his head as well. He got in the truck. He immediately started to roll up the window to block out the taunting. I made him put his seatbelt on first. On the way home I told him, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that JoJo was off limits in front of your friends. Totally my bad.&rdqu... More About: Child , Embarrassed
Shameful Plugging
2009-01-07 18:47:00 The Bloggies are currently in the nomination phase. I have nominated my own darn self in the Lifetime Achievement category. Why? Because I’ve been blogging since “online diaries” in 1995. And my archives here go back to 2000 - I’m a DINOSAUR in the blogging world and I want my cookie. Please also nominate Blog Nosh Magazine… Our editors, and our editor-in-chief, work very very hard. I nominated it in the Best Group Blog category. You have to pick three for your nomination to count, so pick someone else (you perhaps?) And another thing! The Weblog Awards are in their voting phase. Blog Nosh is nominated in the Best New Blog category; and Blissfully Domestic is Nominated in the Best Parenting Blog category. You can vote once per day… Please vote because you love me! And just a smidge more… I published a post on Blissfully Domestic on Occupational Therapy. And over on Blog Nosh I edited a post on living your life with pur...
To pass the time
2009-01-07 18:24:00 I haven’t done one of these in a long *long* time, so I stole this from Prairie Prologue. 1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland/world 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthpla... More About: Time , Pass , The Time
Thank God 2008 is Over
2009-01-06 18:56:00 So, my holiday hiatus is over, and I sit here wondering what to write. In terms of Christmas and New Years… It’s over. The trip to the inlaws was surprisingly void of any drama. For this I am very thankful. I don’t have any New Year’s resolutions. I don’t like to make them. But I have some goals. I plan on concentrating more on my gigs, and my business. I”ve been inspired to work on my house. My children are taking splendidly to my being home, and I plan on capitalizing on that. And that pretty much summarizes the New Year, Christmas, and my plans for the coming months. I would take the time to participate in the reflections I’m seeing… But quite frankly, 2008 was really really hard for me. I simply do not wish to rehash it in my mind. I’m in such a better place now. Mentally, physically. Perhaps not spiritually, but I’m working on that. I have more clarity. While money is a huge issue right no...
Resignation
2008-12-29 18:17:00 For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe. — Anonymous I need to remember this for this week. More About: Resignation
Gone fishing… I mean…
2008-12-22 17:41:00 By Enimal - http://www.dezignia.com I currently have a four page to-do list. I’m getting ready to take a family of four on a rare family road trip for the holidays. So, provided my head doesn’t pop off first, I’ll be gone until after Christmas. My sincere wish for you is to have a safe, warm, happy season. May your new year be marked by Joy. Merry Christmas! More About: Fishing
Encouraging
2008-12-18 15:51:00 I recently left a comment on someone’s post - about feminism no less - which I’m not linking as I’ll just get comments on that person’s post, which totally isn’t the point. The point is - All of a sudden I was leaving a ranty comment about how I’m a failure at this WAHM mom stuff, and nothing’s getting done, and I’m busy all day and totally exhausted, and yet you can’t see that I’ve done a thing. Not one of my most stellar moments. However, I noticed that most the comments after were partially towards the poster’s entry, and then they would turn to me. There they were encouraging me on someone else’s blog. And you know what? It helped. It really really helped. In other news, I may have just landed my first client for Vineyard Virtual Services. Contracts haven’t been signed yet - but WAHOO!
Pressure
2008-12-16 15:22:00 I could tell you about how my 6 year old called me fat, but I’d rather not delve into it, thanks. I could tell you what doing your Christmas shopping does to your living room, but I simply don’t want to think about it. I could tell you about how I’ve just realized that my business has to take off or we’re not going to make it, but my blood pressure just rose. I could tell you about how since I’ve not decorated since we won’t be here, my holiday spirit has been zapped to zero. Zilch. But that’s so depressing. Instead, I’ll tell you about colds. I have one just trying to pop up. My youngest is fighting one off - in fact I’m waiting to wake him up and see if he’s going to school today. This normally wouldn’t be a big deal. Everyone gets colds, and we’re not a terribly sicky family. However. I’ve mentioned that we’re going to the in-laws for Christmas. What I haven’t mentioned is ...
Amalgam
2008-12-12 22:06:00 A couple of things to say today… First and most urgent, a PSA to our illustrious fire department. While I truly do appreciate all that you, and I understand the needs of control burns, it would behoove you to warn the residents in the area. Let me say that differently: If you’re going to do a burn across the street from me tell me first. I was so panicked I thought I had to evacuate and called my husband home from work. Yes, it was that close. I don’t panick easilly - I live in earthquake country, and we have a fire season, I’m an old Pro at this. How hard is it to leave a flyer in a mailbox or something? *** I went to my former employer’s Christmas party last night. I had been invited before I left, and while I didn’t feel like it, I went. First, the host was the best host I’ve ever seen. Relaxed, great food, and he seemed really appreciative that we were having a good time. I’ll be sending him a thank you note to...
Channeling a Teenager
2008-12-11 16:09:00 Yesterday morning, I was admonishing Logan to Hop To! Get those teeth brushed! Get that face washed! “Moooom. Sometimes I wait a little bit to stretch.” Which would have been cute. Except lately he’s channeling a 13 year old girl in everything he says. It’s not WHAT he says. What he says is all fine and appropriate to the conversation and not disrespectful. It’s the tone. Every thing he says is punctuated and you can see, “Like, Gah! mom. Eyeroll” in a cartoon bubble over his head. He’s six. More About: Teenager
Impressions on Being Home
2008-12-10 15:27:00 So, I’ve been home a couple weeks now. Three? I don’t know, the days go by so fast. The first thing that comes to mind is, I’m exhausted. I was exhausted before. But this time, I’m not stressed out too, so that’s good. I am going to bed earlier and earlier. My work day ends after cleaning up dinner. And I’m just wiped. I’m having trouble with timing. There are things I want to do online, with the house, and with my business, and I’m having real trouble putting it all together. Just when I get into a groove - Stop! Have to pick up a kid. Another groove - Stop! Have to pick up the other kid. Believe it or not, I’m going to be putting together a spreadsheet today in 15 minute increments, and placing blocks of time of doing certain things. It sounds anal, but I really need to get some kind of plan in place. But the height of excitement came when I went to Target. At 11am. On a weekday. It Was Awesome... More About: Home , Impressions
Conversations with my husband
2008-12-09 16:08:00 Now that I’m home, there’s been a new delegation of work around the house. He’s bringing home the bacon, and I therefore feel that the household is my “job.” He is responsible for the trash going out, the kitty litter, any bug murder, and brawn needed. The last thing on the list is he makes the kids’ lunches and snacks. But now that I’m home he keeps forgetting. This morning he called me around 7am. “I’m just calling to let you know that I forgot to make their lunches and snacks. But! I have figured out a way to fix this!” “What’s that?” “I’ll make them at night while you’re cleaning up the kitchen. That way, we’ll be in the same room together, and can get in each other’s way and bump butts and stuff.” “You want to bump butts with me, baby?” “Exactly.” So apparently, my husband has decided to get in my way. I’m ok with that. More About: Husband
Dear Lady
2008-12-09 15:28:00 Dear Lady Behind Me At The Checkstand, I know that I was in the express lane with a full cart. But you see, it was the only lane open that early in the morning and the checker told me to. I know that I used a bunch of coupons. I have to to make it. Did you not notice that I was all paid up and ready to go, and that I was waiting on the checker? So, really? Was it necessary to actually bump my behind out of the way with your CART when I was leaving? Are you really in that big of a rush? I’ll be accepting your apology anytime… Sincerely, Michele
Weird Question
2008-12-07 09:36:00 I’ve got a weird question for you all… I’ve been doing this blogging gig since as far back as 1995. Of course they were Online Journals/Diaries back then. Each handcoded html page lovingly ftp’d. And don’t forget to handcode the previous entry and archive page and upload those too! Anyway, there’s a chick I used to read… And I wanted to see if she was still writing online. I wanted to see if any of you remember her and can point me to her? And all these details were freely written on her blog - I’m not some weird stalker chick. She lived in the Bay area, near oakland. Her blog was called footprints, or footsteps… something like that. She loved maybelline mascara, lived with her husband (David I think), and had a daughter named Jamie, along with another daughter and son. She wrote freely about her recovering alcoholism. And there was a happy panda toaster and happy pants in there somewhere. That&rs... More About: Weird , Question
Dissappointment
2008-12-06 19:57:00 I hate being a grown-up. I really do. Blissdom ‘09 is coming. In February. Considering I write for Blissfully Domestic (shut up. I do. I just have writer’s block.) You’d think it would be a good idea that I go. You’d think that since I’m an editor for Blog Nosh Magazine, and Megan’s speaking, that it would be a good idea that I go. You’d think that since I have started my own business, it would be a good idea that I go. But it’s in Nashville. So, flying, hotel, some food, and the conference itself, brings the cost to a little less than $1,000. I kinda have the money. I mean, between the money I got from leaving my job, and the Christmas fund (if I get nothing), maybe. But I’m sort of saving for Poe’s teeth getting fixed. I hate this. Not to mention the kid care arranging, since my husband has to work that Friday. I don’t know what to do.
Love Languages and All That Crap
2008-12-03 18:40:00 So, I haven’t read the book - Don’t even know exactly what the title is - but I understand the basic concept… People have ways that they accept love as love, and everyone is different. Perhaps it’s works, or in other words, when people do things for you. Perhaps it’s affirmations, like being told they’re wonderful. Etc. When those things happen, whatever they are, that person feels loved. Oftentimes, people will act out in the ways they feel loved. Sort of doing how they want to be treated. The trick is, learning what the other person’s language IS, so you can make THEM feel loved instead of acting out how YOU feel loved. We have a basic rule in our house, both with parenting, and with household tasks. Butt out. In other words, if I’m doing the task, you don’t tell me how to do it, I’ll do it my way. That’s not a one-way street, both Poe and I do this. Early on in our marriage, he told me I wa... More About: Love , Languages , Crap
So the other day…
2008-12-02 16:02:00 I know I fell off the radar. I’m sorry. I utterly and totally failed NaBloPoMo. Again, my apologies. Some of you have emailed me wondering A) Where the hell I am and B) Am I okay. Thank you. As soon as I can get mired out of the muck, you will receive a reply. Preferably in this century. And now… A listing of various things heard around these parts, which may have accounted for the dissappearing act. “Could you please buy me some more NyQuil on your way home?” “This is Small Town Elementary, and this is not an emergency, but…” “So, how many stitches?” “We don’t have our new insurance yet. You are not ALLOWED to break your knee.” “Could you run and pickup this prescription?” “So, what you’re telling me is, if I use the garbage disposal, the toilets back up?” “Mooooooommmmm, Pebbles just barfed all over!” “Mom, we have to go shopping, my backpack just...
Friday Wound Check
2008-11-21 15:12:00 There’s no real reason for today’s title. Except that I need to take Logan to the ER today for a wound check. I like how it sounds - like he’s been through a war or something. Anyway, I’ll be doing that today after school. I also have a meeting to Discuss Things with Joseph’s teacher/counselor/Special Ed teacher… I raised a stink about his therapist putting anything into his IEP, you see. Because his mental health issues have never been in his IEP - that’s always been the other half of the whole therapuetic package, as opposed to part of the educational portion. So essentially, I don’t want it in the IEP under my authority, because that’s basically ME saying for the state to spend X amount of dollars on his mental health care. While yes, I think it’s still necessary, and has been incredibly beneficial to him, I don’t have that kind of authority. And frankly, I don’t want a bill for years of ther... More About: Check , Friday
Only Us
2008-11-20 16:33:00 You know… People think I’m exagerrating when I say weird crap happens to us. I’m not. Like how every time my parents go out of town, something happens. Or anytime I want a vacation, something happens. It’s true. So, let’s see. This week - all I wanted is a vacation, before I started concentrating on my home, and my business. I sound like a barking seal, so I’ve spent most of this week heavilly medicated. Joseph’s IEP blew up with the state so I have a big meeting on Friday to try to fix it. And last but not least (it is only Thursday) stitches. This is the last week at after school care (my vacation remember?) If there’s a problem with after school care, they usually call my husband first, rather than me, because Poe is the one who goes and gets them. Fine. Yesterday, Poe called me. It’s always bad when someone leads with “He’s OK, but…” Turns out that Logan was running on the p...
Hating this
2008-11-19 16:24:00 Again - not much to say except that I’m sick. My head cold has traveled, and now I have a chest cold. I sound like a freakin’ barking seal. To top things off, if things get much worse, I’m going to have to wear depends panty liners. No, I just wish I were kidding. I didn’t have a problem after one kid, but after two? Coughing fits tend to make me… tinkle. And now you know too much. Can I blame it on the cold meds?
An Obvious Blech
2008-11-18 16:36:00 This is basically just a post to keep me in the running on NaBloPoMo. Cause all the letters are kind of sliding to the right. Or that’s just me. I’m really rather sick. This cold is kicking my ass. I’m so ever ever ever grateful that my only responsibility today is to get the kids to school, and then maybe watch law and order in a nyquil induced haze. So consider this my official post. With an out sick sign in front of my desk. And sick leave on my timesheet. Oh wait… More About: Obvious , Blech
A Bit of a Rant
2008-11-17 15:26:00 Today is Monday. Which means all I have to do is get the kids up and ready and out the door on time for school. Then I get to come home and do whatever I want. You see, this week is my vacation, before I start really concentrating on home stuff. Which would be awesome. Unless you come down with a major cold. Yesterday’s allergies turned out to not be allergies, and instead, an actual full blown cold. Can you feel the joy? But - yesterday’s plumbing debacle has been fixed thanks to my father’s plumbing snake. I’m running into a lot of disbelief about my coming home. It’s funny - it changes. For example, my mother feels the need to blab my business to all of her friends. “Well, you know, she pays $1300 a month in childcare, and that’s just rediculous.” I told her that they don’t need to know that, and the answer of “She’s home with her children” is enough. But since SHE’S sketchy about th... More About: Rant
Seriously?
2008-11-16 20:12:00 All I wanted next week is a vacation. That’s all. To only have to worry about getting my kids to school in the morning - and that’s it. Who knows when I’ll next have an actual break, and Poe thought that it was a good idea as well. Instead, I’m either have a really royal sinus allergy event, or I’ve caught a cold, and my dad is currently running a snake through our pipes because both (!) toilets are stopped up. Seriously? No, really… Seriously?
Long Cleansing Breath
2008-11-15 19:55:00 It’s over. The two years of wishing. The 10 years of planning. The 3 months of waiting. It’s all over. I’m home. It’s time to get my house in order, and my business off the ground. I don’t think this will hit me until Monday morning, when I take the kids to school, and then come home instead of getting on the freeway. More About: Breath , Long , Cleansing
Last Day
2008-11-14 16:39:00 “How’re you feeling?” “A little nausous actually.” -Poe and Michele’s discussion upon rising on this, Michele’s last day of work before becoming a stay-at-home mom and freelance business owner. This is being counted as an entry because Michele is having trouble putting a cohesive thought - much less a full sentence - together.
2 days to go
2008-11-13 15:00:00 That’s it. Two days to go. Today and tomorrow. I’m getting butterflies. My goodbye lunch is today. Wrath of the Lich King came out today… Or really, midnight last night. Amongst those that know me, I’m considered a geek. I’ve always thought so too. I’m interested in video games, I’m into computers. I have a blog, and know how to both update it, as well as play with code. I’ve known html since ‘95. For goodness sake, my husband and I sit and play computer games together. After standing in line last night waiting for the midnight launch of this game, however… I don’t think I can honestly say I’m a geek anymore. Or is there a difference between a dork and a geek? I really don’t want to be mean. So I’ll just say - all stereotypes come from somewhere, people, and man were they manifested last night. And. OOOOOh. I got ticked. We’re in line for my group to buy th... More About: Days
Shorty
More articles from this author:2008-11-12 15:36:00 Short post today as I left it a little late this morning to write, and I don’t know that I’ll have a chance later. First… LONGEST WEEK EVER. I knew that this would just be a long week or the shortest week known to man. It is the former. Then to top it all off… Period shows up. You know, ’cause I don’t have enough going on this week. So I feel like total crap. If it wouldn’t be bad form - considering Friday is my last day - I would call in sick, I feel that bad. Hopefully I’ll feel better tomorrow, as tomorrow is my goodbye lunch. And WOTLK comes out tomorrow - meaning midnight tonight. My dad’s going to sit with the kids while they sleep, while Poe and I stand in line for two hours waiting to get our copies on reserve. We are freaks. Only to come home and get up for work three’ish hours later. We are idiots. This is will not help me feel better tomorrow. Three more days including today. I’l... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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