It needs something....

Shaping (the second time)


Fully decorated.


Doesn't it look sparse? I have 60 or more ornaments on it. What's your opinion? What does it need??

OH! MY! GOD!

There is VOMIT on my backporch. Those rowdy little bastards vomited all over my plants. BASTARDS. They didn't answer the door. Probably heard me using the F word pretty loosely. I was so mad I was shaking. I am sitting quietly and as soon as I hear the first footstep I am going up there. J already went to the office and complained. I swear if it's not cleaned up by tomorrow I am calling corporate and making everyone's life hell!


I had a very nice thanksgiving. We bought a fake tree thinking it would be easier, less mess. Were we ever wrong. My hands are all cut up from "shaping" it, and to think I have to do this every year!!!!! I bought new ornaments, under the condition that I get rid of some. I decided to get rid of all the plain glass ones I got from Walmart for like 50 cents a package. 6 boxes plus a paper grocery bag of ornaments, a HUGE bag of assorted garland and a bin of lights. I am freecycling it all. It feels good to get rid of it. The news ones I bought are blue, brown and gold. Fancy that! (I have been on a blue/brown trip lately)

Not much else new.

a few different topics...

I'm burning out at work. BIG TIME. I feel bad saying that because I really like my job and coworkers. I really like the "clients." I really don't like the BS that is increasing every day.......

Friend at work just had a baby boy. J's cousin is due next month with a baby girl, and J is catering the shower. I really don't want to attend. I couldn't even look for gifts. Instead I squoze (yeah I say squoze) little J's hand extra tight and said a small thank you for the little hell raiser I have been blessed with.

Today I went coat shopping for the kid. He just needs something thin for in the morning. Of course I couldn't find anything (ANYWHERE) that wasn't blizzard wear. I mean snow pants and everything for crying out loud. Whose gonna use snowpants in Florida when it's 70* in the afternoons????? So we came home coatless. I did pick up two more sweatshirts and two super cute sweaters for him though.

On a good note, the other day J handed me his fortune (chinese for dinner) The first side I looked at said "daughter" on the other side it said "hallelujah" There's the sign I had asked for. J only read hallelujah and thought it was a stupid "fortune!" But of course I saw the bigger picture!

Little J is no better at school. I am frustrated beyond words. But I can find good in all of this mess. He is right where he should be academically. He does his work and asks for more. He reads at level. So really he is doing quite well, except for the self control issue.

The idiots upstairs woke us up at 2:40 am to what sounded like bowling balls dropping on the floor. I actually got up and pounded on the ceiling. ( I have lived in apts for 7 years and never done that before) I would have gone up there but I was naked. And besides J and I have asked them to quiet down on more then one occasion. Up until now I have not made a formal complaint with the leasing office but I am tomorrow.

Ahh the life of apartment living.

Oh oh oh. We decided to go ahead and get a fake tree this year. Yeah me the queen of all things "traditional." I found a really nice one at Home Depot. I just have to get J to go take a look and actually pick it up. My trunk has too much stuff in it. J's of course is clean and empty, the luxury of not driving with little J.

I have also done most of my Christmas shopping. Little J is not getting toys from us. And no it's not because of his behavior. It's because I filled three bags for Goodwill and you'd never know it by looking at his toy bins. I didn't tell family they couldn't buy them though. And he might get something small from Santa. I am real tempted to buy a lump of coal and a switch...

We draw names now so I got Brother in law and J got mom. Both easy, gift cards! I did get the nephews gifts and am actually ready to ship them off. Just gotta get J something. TOUGH!

What's a mom to do?

J is still having trouble with the temper tantrums and now he is "talking out" I can't get mad as I remember every elementary school report card of mine said I couldn't be quiet. But what should I do? Here's a recap of what we have done. No TV. No toys. No special treats, like happy meals or new toys. On good days he is allowed tv or toys, his choice, for 1 hour. He noticed another child in his class wore a string to remind him to be good (J said "mom, he doesn't get cards anymore just CHECKS!" So I assume he's worse of then J) J said that it was working for the other boy and that it might work for him too. I got him the string. Green to remind him to get a green card at school. Hasn't helped yet. I told him we could try writing SH! on his hand, since talking out seems to be the frequent problem.

Really!!! I don't know what to do. My mom says that although it's a pain now he'll grow out of it. But as we recall I still interrupt people and "talk out" as J calls it. Mom said I turned out all right. Mature, responsible, good work ethic. She said if this is the biggest problem we have we'll be lucky. I agree totally but something has to be done when the teacher is sending notes and calling. She expects something to be done about it. I have talked with her at length about what we're doing and so far it seems she is still in our corner. I just assume she'll be angry with us.

I started a chart at home so he could see just how often he is not following classroom rules. Maybe it'll help, we'll see.


In other news today I get to have lunch with Darlene! It's been months! It's a good week for Hobby Lobby, all xmas ornaments are half off!

Ahhh vacation

Ok I thought it was mid afternoon by now (yeah I know I JUST dropped J at school, well 7;45) I came home and started cleaning my closet, which led to organization of all things craft. I also weeded out bookshelf and have quite a large goodwill bag now. So after all my hard work I thought, wow it must be pretty late and I should jump in the shower. Ummm it's 9 freaking 30. I only know this because one of my "colleagues" called me with a craft question and I told her I would run to Joann's (already planned on it) I figured I'd better get moving so I could get back to her today and that's when I looked at the clock. And as you can read, I have seen the light and am now relaxing on the couch.

Yesterday was a WONDERFUL day. J and I had lunch and went to the mall, where we window shopped (trying to find an xmas gift for mom) and ended up getting pedicures. Yes both of us. Yes my husband. The one who hates all things "girly" HIS idea. It was awesome. We were both pedicure virgins. I got a cute french (too bad it's cold) but he balked at clear. I am not sure where the idea came from but I loved it. We did a little shopping, cologne for him, $1.19 earrings for me. Sears had a huge clearance section and I couldn't resist. I was really in there for little j clothes, but again nothing good on clearance yet. It was raining when we left so picked up J and came home.

J works a double today, because he was trying to get Monday off. Originally I had thought school would be closed on Monday for veteran's day but it's actually this Friday. I told him that about three times but he still had it in his head that he needed Monday off. The Monday he really needs is the 27th. But even though he has to work a double it worked out for the other manager. His birthday (and girlfriend's) was today but GM wouldn't give him the day off. At least he gets to celebrate now....

I guess I will go back to my closets......