Last Blast of Dance

Comin' At Ya With The Blah Blah Blah

How am I? Oh well I have been inside with 3 kids for pretty much three days straight that's how. EXCEPT for awhile ago when I had to go out & RE-shovel my parking space. Why you ask? Because a plow truck had to unbury a stuck Oil tanker truck that got stuck on the corner of the alley & my street. Unburying the truck meant adding about 18 inches of snow to my already once cleared spot.

Not happy.

B who I love to pieces is driving me completely & totally batshit crazy(er?). Why? Why? I'll tell you.

Her birthday is in June & she has been promised a trip to NYC to the American Girl Doll Store. You know where everything is HELLA expensive?  They have a "deal" where for $220ish bucks you go, your kid gets a doll, a $120 shopping spree & then lunch in the cafe.

Now multiply that times three because I have 3 girls total.  Okay, that is just bad expensive but still, we will do it or else. So in the meantime B gets American Girl catalogs & this is where the torture totally comes in. She has spent this entire blizzard carrying around every single catalog & RUMINATING over which doll combo to get.

2 days ago it sounded something like this:

B: I've made up my mind. I want to get Rebecca.

Me: Are you sure, you want Rebecca?

B: Yeah it's Kit, er, I mean Rebecca.

Emmy: I thought you wanted Josephina.

Maya: You said you wanted the new Laney 5 minutes ago.

Repeat that 100 million times an hour spliced with, "Do you like this dress or that...this purse or that bag...should I get her a puppy...?"

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I put her on the phone with my sister, "B talk to Kiki, tell her about the American Girl Dolls!!!"

I FORGOT she was on the phone. 20 minutes later she handed me the phone with my warrior princess sister STILL on the other end. Sounding exhausted Kiki says, "OMG whyyyyyyyy would you do that to me???"

******************************************************

I'm supposed to have 4 days of job retraining this week. Where? Smack in the middle of NOWHERE. Seriously.  Out in the country in a foot & a half of snow & then,  the kicker- I'll be gps -ing the boonies.

Really?????

In snow like this???

Do you really think I'll be doing that???

Yeah, me neither.

Shitbuckets.

******************************************

Did I mention that I have spent 24 hours completely & totally OUT of coffee? Can ya believe that? And as I hauled my ass thru snow that was falling sideways to buy more WAIT! First let me tell you that an umberella might have helped which is precisely why one of the little fukcers that came to my door asking to shovel STOLE mine from the hook on my mailbox. So no umberella. No plowed streets. Blinding snow. Little me trudging along in the name of coffee...THERE WAS NO COFFEE! Seriously. Out of coffee & bread. Then I got to trudge home with my caffeine headache fully intact.

******************************************

You're jealous of my weekend thusfar, admit it.

Handles Are for Handbags Not Olympians

See those clowns up there??   I spent Monday night glued to the ice dance portion of the Olympics.  Honestly that is about the only part of skating that has had me NEEDING to watch in the last few weeks.  First two positions were a toss up between the Canadians & Americans. In third place SHOULD have been another American team, Belbin & Agosto. They won the silver in 2006 & while this time around they were not the best, they put together a clean, solid performance each time they skated. They earned the bronze medal.

What happened? I'll tell you. It's the first time in 80 years that a Russian team hasn't WON the gold at the Olympics. Dance is known for having the most corrupt judging for eons & they recently implemented new scoring that was intended to encourage change. That kind of worked except this week I think some Russian born judges couldn't allow the tradition to fall completely off the podium so they allowed those clowns up there (who will remain nameless because who gives a crap really. I swear it is NOT because I can't remember how to spell her last name. That is secondary.) to bring it home.

Were they good? Eh, yeah I guess. They weren't bad, it's just that the music & choreography reminded me of an over the top 80's team, Bestamianova & Bukin (See, I even remember their names!) that I never cared for. But here's the kicker. They had ROPES attatched to their costumes & used the ropes to assist them with movements. I thought this would be considered PROPS which would be illegal but no. At least not if you're Russian. 

These people had frickin HANDLES.

His handle was especially well placed, hanging from his waist.

Seriously, WTH??

Enough of them. Here are our young Americans that snagged the silver medal  with this performance (pulled from an earlier competition cause NBC is pulling Olympic videos down)

Enjoy!

7:30

He said:

So my big fear is that you want a relationship right off the bat & coming out of a bad marriage, the word relationship scares me."

I said:

"Wait. I never said I needed a relationship! I don't want to jump into anything with anyone. If that happens & it feels right, great. In the meantime I'm not looking for A RELATIONSHIP with anyone."

He said:

 I'm scared because I know if we spend time together I'll want more,"

I said:

I told you that weeks ago!

He said:

After 7:30?

I said:

What?

He said:

I'll  see you later, after 7:30, right?

I said:

Okay!"

Just Press Play

I love Sunday mornings here. I love making a big homemade everything brunch for the kids. This morning my mood is better than usual. I just finished downloading 200 new songs to my ipod. Yep, that's really all it takes. My workouts have been dragging & part of it has been the playlist. My sister had synched my iphone with her playlist for me months & months ago after my computer had crashed completely & I had to do a recovery. I've put off downloading & resynching my stuff because I didn't want to lose stuff. Last night I sat & downloaded a killer workout playlist knowing I can add more stuff but that makes it functional. Now I have all my photos back on my iphone too.

Lady Antebellum, Kesha, NeYo, Gaga, Black Eyed Peas,.

I can run forever.

Happy Girl.

Not so happy thing. I rarelt dream of people that I know. If they show up in my dreams its significant.  Crushdriver has now visited me 3 nights in a row.

He Says

He says:

He misses me when he doesn't see me for a few days.

He says:

I am probably the best thing for him in a very long time.

He says:

He could see his kids happily playing with mine.

He says:

He realized that if he spent a year straight trying to work on his marriage to get nowhere, then he no longer belonged there.

He says:

He wants to be the best man possible & being married no longer allowed him that because he was constantly trying to start over & make up for...

He says:

He knows what he feels but is still too scared to move on it.

He says:

I make him weak because he can't always think straight around me.

I say:

He needs more time & I'm glad he is taking it. I respect people that take the time to be alone & figure out their heads & hearts. He is taking a respectable approach.

Me?

I'm perfectly content on my own. Truly enjoying the peace & quiet of my nights alone.

Spin Cycle- "That Vanilla Smell"

This weeks Spin Cycle topic is something you can't live without. I cannot zero in on one particular product as others have done. But I can easily tell you that vanilla is a MUST in my life. I am a sensual person. Things MUST smell good. My friends laugh because I always have "That vanilla smell." It might be a Victoria's Secret Sexy sparkle, it might be Can-Can or it might be my homemade mix of straight vanilla with a dash of sandalwood. My home is a shrine to vanilla everything:

Yankee Vanilla Cupcake candles
Bath & Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel Candles
Vanilla Cookie bubble bath for the kids.
Blueberry & Vanilla Shampoo & Conditioner
Vanilla Sugar Cookie Febreeze
Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla Coffee
Vanilla & Lavender laundry detergent
Various carpet refreshers, air fresheners, etc

In the kitchen is no different. Homemade cupcakes with vanilla frosting. Cinnamon buns with vanilla, Vanilla ice cream with either peanut butter or apple.

I walk thru the front door, take a wiff & I'm happy. Pick up my coat to put it on, catch a wave of leftover vanilla & it soothes me. Smell cupcakes baking & vanilla coffee brewing & it comforts me.

The Little Things

I am exhausted tonite. This post won't be long, I promise you. The kids are out of school tomorrow at 11am & I'm out of work. I need a break. I feel like I could sleep thru the weekend.

Today they were also out early so we came home & had a quick lunch & then headed off to Borders. My perfect afternoon. We spent forever in the kids section picking out new books & then headed over to Seattle's Best for cocoa & coffee.I'm a bookworm. A word nerd. I've worked in a library & being surrounded by an army of characters in a thousand books is such a safe feeling for me. How can you feel alone when those shelves are lined with stories about people that are relatable. Real or imagined, we are all connected. My story is at least in part yours too. To have little kids that grasp this makes me so happy. To hear them want to go to a book store & love the experience as much as I do- it's a gift for me. Throw a mini fit because you have to narrow it down to two books rather than three. Dump cocoa on your coat. Nothing can ruin the joy in knowing that a bag from Borders makes them as happy as it makes me.

A Few Moments of Value

Last week when we baked a zillion cupcakes, that morning Emmy lost a front tooth. (The Tooth Fairy really works overtime here!) Maya was kind enough to call her a hillbilly & that was it- they couldn't stand each other all day long.

See?

Emmy momentarily forgetting that she's a hillbilly & decorating her cupcakes. Those are the ones that actually made it to school unscathed- at least those are some of them!


These were not so lucky.


B with Fluffy Bear


B acting normal.


She got Bella for Valentine's Day and only parts with her to go to school.


A new girl started in B's class, her name is Mackenzie. She gave B her phone number today which I ASSumed was not legit. They are 6 for cripes sake! For 2 hours I heard, "Can I call her?? Can I call her now??" Finally I said yes, dialed the phone & handed it over (telling B exactly what to say) as it began ringing. I figured it would be a wrong number. I hear:

"Hi this is Bridget can I talk to Mackenzie?" Then comes a big grin as she & Bella skipped off to talk on the phone. "Isn't it cool that you can pick up the phone and I'm there??"


So cool that within a one hour period B called her twice & Mackenzie called us 3 times. I suspect the novelty will wear off. I also fear this will be like making popcorn for B. Miss Independent likes to do things herself. She'll ask me for things but if I hesitate she takes over. Like making microwaved popcorn. She has put the plastic covered bag in the microwave & set the timer for 22 minutes. If I hear that little door slam I RUN. She crawled up onto my bed when I was sick a few weeks ago, looked me in the eyes while rubbing my head and said, "Can I make you soup?!"

My response was to hold onto her tighter.

Speaking of...

Em & B sleeping a few nights ago. Both snoring, hand in hand.




(Cell shots suck, no?)

Monday Mix

It's bright & sunny. It's a day off for the kiddies. It's supposed to snow again tonite. OMGosh could I have them home again tomorrow?? Day five in a row? Actually, we've been ok. Not too many smackdowns, fights or moments where I needed to completely lose my shit & yell like an idiot.

How was your Valentine's Day? Mine was interesting. DEE DEE DEE decided to grace me with his presence. If you remember back to Christmas before we officially split, my gift was 48 bucks in scratch off tickets. No seriously. Someone gave him the tickets, he scratched them & handed them to me. Merry Christmas Ruby O Woman That I Love More Than Anyone Else In My Life Ever! Only a slight exageration there. Anyhoo, He arrives on Valentine's Day with a gift bag. (I know right? A bag alone can cost 48 bucks these days!)Candy for the girls. 2 (no lie) quickly dying RED roses (you know how I feel about those) and a wrapped box. In the box, nothing romantic but something costly. The $90 running shoes that I'd never buy for myself ever. He spent real money? And why is Valentine's Day a worthy occassion? I was thankful but more than a little confused.

After that I spent most of the day shopping with my sister & the kids. Mostly window shopping but it was an hour a way which in itself was nice. There was a girl who stomped in front of me in a ladies room. Skin tight skinny jeans, bomber jacket, hipbones that could cut glass, blonde Paris Hiltonesque hair extensions & on her feet? FLIP FLOPS. In 30 degree weather with snow & ice all over the place. (Note to girl: Honey, even your Uggs' wearing besties are laughing at you. Buy some boots & eat a cracker, will ya?

Are you watching the Olympics? I used to love pairs skating, now not as much. I'm SO anxious for ice dance next week though :) Had to love this couple last night & by love I mean cringe at the site of...



Good day overall. Irish stew is in my crockpot, red velvet cake is in the oven, The Bachelor (Thoughts?? Who are you favoring??) & Olympics later...I also have a bunch of new pics to upload :)



WATCH THIS! Poreotics on ABDC. The season technically hasn't started yet but these guys are arguably the best.

Happy Heart Day

All Is As It Should Be

I'm sitting here listening to the (almost) Olympic Opening Ceremonies as the kids are all upstairs watching the Disney Channel. 8 years ago my 5 months pregnant, journalistic ass wanted nothing more than to be in Salt Lake City. Now? I'm looking forward to watching the games on my television in spite of really wanting to visit Vancouver & Vancouver Island. Funny how things just sort of change. Just a little sometimes. Like realizing something that mattered no longer does even though you're not sure why. Sometimes it's bigger & more obvious. Like a phone call I recieved this morning.

I have a love hate thing with my government job. Love the flexibility & that I can make my own hours. Hate the training which amounts to 60 hours of explaining the same 7 things 18 different ways. Love that I'm on the clock from the moment I leave in the morning until I walk back in the door. Hate that my $3500 computer that is on me at all times GPS' my every move & that I need to keep it ON. Love the money. Hate the paperwork when someone under me screws up, quits, whatever. Love the job. Hate that I am one of many that STILL doesn't have my W2!! Many workers were forloughed a few months ago while some of us were kicked to part time. Today, I was informed of my official return to fulltime hours (50ish a week)as of March 2. It was supposed to be this coming week unofficially but the official call with a retraining location makes it official. I'm back to be retrained in 4 days so that I can be a supervisor again within a few weeks. I made THE cut. The ONE class that gets the supervisor positions right away. With that comes a nice raise. Training location? I have no idea where it is & my boss was of no help. He doesn't know where it is & went as far as to suggest I use GOOGLE MAPS to find it. I am really hoping that within the next 2 weeks they come to their senses & change the location. If not, it's a few days & then I'm coasting so I will not complain.I can breathe easier now.



I rarely bang the single mother drum. I've actually been told that I should but I choose not to. The way I see it, I had my girls & even though their father & I were very much together, there was no garuntee that it would stay that way. I have to shut up & step up and take care of things. Period. And I do. It's just me. Daddy hasn't paid child support in over a year. He hasn't seen his daughters in over a year & a half. In the 8 months that he roamed around harassing me he never once requested visitation. Not a once. The way I see it I had two choices. I could be angry & bitter, bitching about everything that I was stuck with, all that I had to figure out on my own, or I could do the opposite. So I got on with life. I handle it all with precious little help. I can't remember what it's like to have even a bit of regular help, honestly. My friends' husband went away on business for 4 days and she was losing it. She has a 5 & a 1 year old. The 5 year old is in school all day & she'd be with the baby anyway, I couldn't believe her meltdown. Another friend has 3 girls & her hubby pretty much does everything. She found out he is going away for business & she is so fearful of being left that she booked flights for herself & the kids to go too! I just can't imagine at all.



I make the money. I help with homework. I am a homeroom mom. I bake cupcakes to drop them. I handle most birthday party invites & dance classes. I make family dinners most nights. I do the bookstore & coco runs. I do all the laundry. I do not get child support to help me provide for the girls. I do not get every other weekend off. My time off is spent at work. My time off is alone in my quiet house after little people are in bed. In April my time off will be spent studying because I'll be back in school then.

I guess it's all in perspective and mine has gradually shifted. I'm supposed to be right here right now. I'm supposed to be everything to these kids for right now. They need to grow up to be happy, strong, confident, independent, clear thinking, kind young women. I can help get them there, if they'll let me.

Girls Are Fickle- Even at 6

The big news coming out of first grade today was that JJ broke up with B (not my B but another B). B is my B's BFF- got that??? Has been since PreK. JJ is a boy that my B crushed on in PreK until she conceeded defeat to her BFF. My B decided marrying Jake in his backyard was acceptable & therefore BFF B got to keep JJ.

Following me?

Okay, so after two years of loving BFF B, JJ told her today AT the Valentine's Day party that he was, "Broking up" with her. To quote my B, "They broked up!". B tells me this whole story about how sad BFF B is (still following me?) and then stops as a smile starts to light up her whole face. "Wait, I really thought JJ was cute in preschool. Maybe he broked up with her cause he likes me better!"

I stopped dead. Then actually had THE talk, with my SIX year old about how you never, ever, ever, never date (or whatever it is at her age) your best friends'... whatever it is at age 6. We had a nice chat about friendship and loyalty. A talk that I never thought I'd be having with a six year old. To ease my mind my B informed me of every couple (sort of) existing in all three of the first grade classes.

Somehow it was just little comfort to know that this kind of conversation must be happening a lot.

The Great Cupcake Massacre

Yesterday we made 5 dozen cupcakes. 5 dozen. Valentine's Day Funfetti with white or pink frosting, heart candies, pink, red & purple sprinkles, matching M&M's, Hershey's Kisses. Each one was a wee little masterpiece. Em frosted & decorated each & every one for her class, herself. I helped B do hers & they were PERFECT. We also did 3 trays of chocolate covered pretzels. After everything was done I figured school would be cancelled. We got a call last night revising the entire schedule. They were supposed to be off at 11am today, now they went to school at 10 & are there all day. Two 11am dismissals will happen next week to make up for parent confrences that were cancelled in the snow. GREAT! No school tomorrow, none Monday & they are now out at 11 on Thursday & Friday. This makes the third consecutive week of pretend school.



Anyway, so the kids slept late this morning & we left early. We walk the two blocks because I'd end up needing to park at my house anyway with the morning drop off rush. So out we go. Emmy has two trays of cupcakes in a big bag with a nice handle. Perfect fit & I have her school bag over my shoulder. Em's mission, carry your cupcakes & stay upright. I have Br's cupcakes in one hand, am holding her hand in my other & off we go. One block down...two blocks...we got about 8 inches of snow but its all snow except for slushy intersections. No ice which is good. We get to the school yard & it's a slushy mess everywhere. I don't know what the deal is because last year it used to be much cleaner, plowed & salted. This year its always an early morning mess. I see 3 moms wipe out as we are heading for the gate.

"Don't fall Em, just don't fall!" She keeps saying she won't & I figure she's going down. I have a hold on everything but her.

As we're walking into the playground again (as I see someone else go) "Don't fall Emmy be careful."

Then I felt it- you know that slomo feeling you get as you know you are falling & nothing can save you?

Yeah, redhead down. Cupcakes fly out of my arms & go bouncing. Thank god I taped the containers shut.

B screams, "MOM! MY CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Me? I'm flipping over containers while laughing my head off. The cupcakes are all conjoined. Sprinkles, M&M's, kisses everywhere. Stuck to the wrappers. Stuck to the lid. Everywhere. I walk into the school to bring them to Tracey's room still laughing. Actually laughing & crying simultaneously. I show her them & she looks and goes, "OHMYGOD! Look at how much work went into them?!" I tried to reposition them. Pointless attempt if you ask me.



I came home, made more pretzels & returned with them before 11. I tell the office chick what happened & she says, "You fell?? I missed it???" Yes, she is a total bust ass. She carried the pretzels across the hall to Tracey's room, opens the door & says (no lie), "BRI! Look what mommy didn't drop!!" Loves the staff.

I leave the school still laughing, hit the corner & who is heading for me? That's right.

Crushdriver

I'll fill you in on that later on!

Acoustic Straight Up

I LOVED this version. I also loved the original 20-some years ago but you didn't hear it from me...

Jammie Day

Ok, maybe for once they aren't lying & this storm is NOT going to miss us or magically shift direction. I say that & feel it's safe to say it now that the snow has been falling for hours. Yes, I believe it now that I see it. They predict 25 hours of straight snow and from what I'm seeing, I think it could happen. School was canceled last night & I wonder if we'll have any tomorrow. We only have school til 11am & I'm supposed to be there as homeroom mom at 10 for the Valentine's Day party. So THAT is my biggest dilemma of today: Do I need to bake 50 cupcakes or not in time for tomorrow?! I'm armed with my Valentine's Day Funfetti cake, heart sprinkles & Valentine's Day M&M's to decorate- but do I NEED to??

I had two teacher confrences yesterday & they went wonderfully. First up was Em. I've mentioned her tough, drill sargeant teacher. Mrs. C is older & piles on the homework. I have talked to her at the door on various occassions & have come to really like her. I get it, she yells to get control of her class. She pushes them because they really do their best then. She loves the kids & Emmy has thrived with her. Emmy was ready to be pushed this year. She wanted it & in return she gets great marks. Straight B+'s because as her teacher claims, in the 2nd quarter, they don't deserve A's yet. They haven't mastered 2nd grade. So she gets mostly 100's & is reading at just under a 4th grade level. I asked what area to help her in & Mrs. C said, "Honestly, she works hard & she needs help with nothing. Just do whatever you are doing because she is amazing & a joy to have.".( We also discussed next year & how I'd like her to have Bri. B is a fab student now, much better than Em was last year so I think B would do great with her as well. She told me she'll check the school's policy about requesting & put a request in for B next year.) Music to my ears.

Then I went on to see Tracey, Bri's teacher. You know, the one whose class I constantly visit?? I love Tracey to pieces. She's a year younger than me & has 4 kids of her own, the oldest being 8. She is in the trenches with me & gets it. And she loves her class. OMG you walk in & just feel it. The kids loves her just as much. So I walk in & up on the projector/smartboard is a huge pic of B from the Pumpkin Patch. She had just slide down one of the slides built into the mountain, popped out the opening & Tracey got the absolute joy on her face. I looked at it & my heart melted. She told me she had to show it to me & will FB it over to me as well. We commiserated on how B is the sweetest thing ever. The first thing she said is, "She is always happy, like, EVERYDAY happy. I love her so much & I'm so glad I have time with her." I'm so glad that people see her as I do because I always say, B is a rainbow. I'm glad she is like that with everyone. Her confrence was a breeze. A string of tests, reviews, Vocab assessments, etc. that were 100's or 95's. No more than one wrong on anything. Her report card is a string of A's. We wrapped up with me coming in next week to do a solar system project. I get to introduce it to them because then it's their next science chapter. Have NO idea what I'll do but I get to spend time with them :)

It's 10am and I think Valentine pancakes are calling.

Red.

Quizzes Girls Games

Already knew this.

Real post later (As in AFTER teacher confrences but BEFORE our incoming "Snowblizzrd" as B is calling it.).

Spin Cycle: Valentine's Day

See that hat on B's head? Make the hearts pink & attatch it to her head since Saturday- that's what I've been looking at. Why? In honor of Valentine's Day! The kids don't have school today so she is currently playing with her Twilight dolls in her jammies, with the hat on.

I love Valentine's Day because I love anything heart related but I'm not a pushover. If you aren't good to me the rest of the year then you're not going to win me over with a batch of flowers your buddies are suggesting you buy because they are THE standard gift to give. Nope. You need to put some thought into it & you need to show me that you know & pay attention to ME. Not that it's all about material stuff. Not by any means.

In this house it's all about the little things. The hearts on every window, the conversation hearts in candy dishes, the homemade Valentine's for school. The 100 cupcakes I'll be making this week for three classes and home. I was putting their Valentine's away and looking at them, how much they personalized each one.

"BFF" with a heart around it

Stick figure drawings of B with her bestie.

Tons of extra hearts drawn in various colors.

I very faintly scribbled "I love you" to a little boy that at age 5 proposed marriage, then suggested a backyard wedding.

Those are the sweet things that matter here.

Read more spins at Sprites Keeper.

Don't Mess With This Redhead

Guess what? No one was sick today! I know, I'm shocked too! Anyway, I decided late this afternoon to take the kids for a quick run to the grocery store nearby. It's not a huge one, just a neighborhood, family owned place. (Think a parking lot that accomodates 50 cars) I wanted to grab stuff to make red velvet cupcakes & Emmy (who refused to eat for almost 3 days) wanted roast for dinner. We're leaving and there is a couple coming out the door right on our heels with a shopping cart. I had a hand held basket, no cart so I was carrying two small bags & had B's hand in my free one. Emmy notices the cart, apparently the couple left it right outside the stores door. It is rolling, rather quickly into traffic. It's a busy street, traffic steady in both directions as the cart stops dead blocking both lanes. Traffic came to a halt. I look back & see this, I also see a man get out of his car from a Rite Aid across the street. He climbs thru the landscaping, runs into the middle of the street, grabs the cart & starts yelling- at ME.

Whoa. Hold up. Big friggin mistake.

Mr. Well dressed that just jumped out of his 5 series car is yelling at me.

"You just gonna leave that there? Just gonna leave it in the middle of the street you little bitch?"

Wait. This arrogant fukc just called me a bitch? How does he know? How do strangers know??? We'll figure that out some other time, back to the matter at hand.

One, it was NOT my cart. Two, I never even had a cart. Three, he has traffic stopped even though he moved the cart simply because of the scene he is making. Some lady intercepted & took the cart from him the second he hit the edge of the parking lot. I guess she thought he was gunning for me & frankly it looked like it.

Me? I was momentarily stunned. I stood there in my comfy sweats (ok it IS Saturday & I'm coming off 2 days of the flu gimme a break besides I was still very presentable) staring at him with my mouth half open looking like a DEE DEE DEE until he crossed the street & was as close to me as he would get, then I YELLED back:

"Do I look like I needed a cart? (Lifting my little bags) I had a carry basket, THEY (pointing to the idiots watching from inside their no-doubt locked car) had that cart! And, quite frankly even if it was mine I would have let it roll once it hit the street because I would NOT leave my three small children unattended in a PARKING LOT!"

I stood there staring him down. Once he was BACKING UP into the middle of the street he starts apologizing and waving his arms at me:

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, sorry! I'm sorry, is it ok? I'm sorry!"

I suspect he isn't used to women standing up to him.

I explained to the girls that I had to say something because no one yells at me or treats me badly, especially if I've done nothing wrong.

Fast forward to dinner...

We are sitting at the table & Emmy starts making fun of how B was dancing god knows how long ago. B is clearly getting agitated and finally picks up her glass & SPLATS her lemonade in Em's face!

WTF? Am I know hosting The Little Bad Girls Club??? Should I call the Oxygen Network? Seriously. Emmy is ballsy & I have NO doubt she'll have many drinks thrown on her but I think 7 is a bit too young don't you?

B's brilliant defense?

"She was making fun of me & I had to stand up for myself JUST LIKE YOU DID TODAY!"

God help me because they are consistently smarter than I am.

Oh and the cupcakes? They came out great ;c)

Good Read

Jethead's Pilot Blog. Watch this clip (especially if you fly) then go read him. Especially the first entry!



Now go!

Cupcakes

I have to admit, I'm glad my kids were sick this week & not next. We're on a long weekend, no school Monday. Then it all gets crazy. Tuesday-Thursday school is out at 11am because of teacher confrences. Friday & the following Monday, no school. Next Thursday morning is their Valentine's Day parties & being a homeroom mom means I'm in B's class all morning. I'm bringing a cupcake tower so I'vebeen collecting cupcake ideas all week. I'm going to do the Valentine's Day Funfetti cake (Red Velvet for the batch that stays home) & I want to decorate them all differently.

Some ideas:

Set Fire To The Third Bar

That's the name of the song that plays in all of the Dear John previews. Here's a live performance of it by Snow Patrol.



I feel like I was beat with a baseball bat. Sick kids still? Of course. Emmy looks like hell. Still knocked down by the flu & if she doesn't rebound by morning to the doctor's we will go. She didn't vomit today but her stomach hurts & the fever remains. I worry with her because those are her gall bladder symptoms as well. As of now she doesn't see her gastro doc til May but if this is not the flu then I know I can get her in right away.

I'm sitting back & watching a friend be made a fool of. Trying to basically figure out how to open my mouth without alienating her. She is young, 24 & has two little bitty girls. Her divorce just became final & she's seeing a guy a tiny bit older who also is divorced with two bitty girls. He has full custody so everyday she is home with 4 girls.He is in the car business (I spent ten years as a car widow, I know the dealerships in this area well) & exhibiting dirtbag behavior. She is home with his kids while he is partying after work. Last weekend he stayed out an entire night & never called. She needs to get out now because its not going to get any better than this.

I feel bad for her but I doubt she'll leave him anytime soon. She has this concept of their little family and she believes he is on the same page.

Maya's Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage (All my kids resemble Kirsten Dunst)

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

Emmy's Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Old family photos - Roots

B's Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Family tree software - Family tree template

Nice.

The last two weeks have been a bit...tedious. Okay, who am I kidding they've been bloody HELL.

HELL.

It'll be 2 weeks on Saturday since my house first got sick. 2 weeks of brochial crap, sinus headaches, ear pain & then on Tuesday Maya spent the day vomiting. I wake before my alarm this morning, eyes still shut & I feel it. My stomach OMG my stomach. My turn, I'm sick. I got up and the room spun like crazy and the rest of my day was an uphill battle. I tried to find someone else to get them to school but it was a no go. Actually, I tried to get 4 people. My mother never answered, sisters phone was off & two friends already had full carloads. There was no way I was going anywhere because I simply couldn't.

I spent my day up for ten minutes here & there, then laying down out of necessity. Em & B were little nurses. I was cozied under blankets, given cold water, hugged & kissed to death, B offered to make me chicken soup (& probably would have had I not stopped her. I have to watch her. Her attempts at microwavable popcorn are legendary! At one point I woke in the middle of my bed with a kid on either side of me with Em gently telling me someone was at the door.

Tonite I felt a bit better. B said, "Mom can you maybe make macaroni & cheese? It's ok if you can't though because I know you're really sick." Of course I got up & cooked her homemade mac & cheese. I thought things were looking somewhat up as I put everyone to bed. At around 11 B started coughing & coughing. Nonstop pretty much for nearly an hour. Sat her up, propped her up, made her drink, gave her bread in case a piece of hair was stuck, cough medicine. Still coughing. I bring her downstairs because she woke Emmy & I figured let her fall asleep & I'll bring her to bed. As I'm settling her I hear feet go running to the bathroom. Emmy got sick. Not to be outdone as I help her back to bed & get her a bucket B is about to get sick too.

Day 13...headcount...I'm sick & I now have two kids with a stomach virus. I pretty much called it. Em's BFF's birthday party is Saturday morning. I anticipated having sick kids still then.

I'll just say I'm exhausted. I was going to bed at 11. I needed the sleep desperately. I guess I should just be grateful its a long weekend right? They had an early dismissal tomorrow (not that it matters now) and are off til Tuesday.

Forgotten Until Now

I saw this guy sing on a skating special about 10 years ago & forgot all about him Turns out he recently dueted with Timberlake & has become kinda popular. The name rang a bell so I googled him & sure enough...

Song of the Day: Let Me by Matt Morris

People Are Classy

After dropping kids at school I ran for yet another supply of cold medications. There is one lady in line ahead of me talking on her phone. She is wearing a short leather bomber jacket &teal colored Abercrombie sweats with boots. She keeps stepping away from the register to peer towards the door. Finally I see the reason. A little boy comes bebopping into view. He was 2- 2.5 at most. Big red, puffy winter coat, baggy jeans purposely falling off to expose the diaper. Gangsta-in-training-baby. Very cute baby. So I'm waiting as she digs thru her wallet looking for the $46 dollars & change she needs. I notice the cashier starting to look irritated. I notice her gray roots are growing in & her mustache needs a bit of attention. Again. I suspect she takes care of both on the same day of each month. Obviously that day wasn't yesterday. I notice the black guy behind me, noticing me. "Nice Uggs baby." (They aren't) "You're slammin in those jeans baby gurl." (My coat hits above my knees.) I'm not getting really irritated with the chick still on her phone. She realizes she is short and says to her son (you know, the TWO YEAR OLD), "Go tell daddy I need $10. Say mommy needs 10 bucks. Mommy needs 10 bucks. Go on!" This BABY runs over to the door of the store, out it & into the parking lot ALONE. (Who pulls in to a parking lot on a sleety/slushy day looking for a TWO year old to be ALONE and maybe in their way??) She sent him alone! Me, mustache lady & dude-I'm-trying-to-ignore all just freeze & look at each other, I think, thinking she was joking. She wasn't. Eventually the two year old struggles to open the door to the store, runs inside & hands her ten bucks! She drops the mommy, bends over to pick it up & simply moons all of us. "Oh man. Holy hell." says the dude behind me. I was like, "You're not kidding."

****************************************************************

Love this song to pieces. Always hear it while out with Emmy & she comments on loving it too.

Blame the Cookies

PITTSBURGH — A San Francisco man claims he was high on a double dose of medical marijuana cookies when he screamed, dropped his pants and attacked crew members on a cross-country flight, forcing its diversion to Pittsburgh, the FBI said Wednesday.

Kinman Chan, 30, was charged in a criminal complaint with interfering with the duties of a flight attendant on allegations that he fought with crew members of US Airways Flight 1447 from Philadelphia to Los Angeles on Sunday. His federal public defender, Jay Finkelstein, declined to comment.

Crew members said Chan made odd gestures before he entered the plane's rear restroom shortly after takeoff and began to scream, according to the complaint.

Chan told the FBI that he "came back to reality" and exited the restroom, at which point the crew noticed his "pants were down, his shirt was untucked and all the compartments in the restroom were opened."

When crew members tried to get Chan to sit, he fought them and had to be subdued in a choke hold, the complaint said.

Chan told agents who interviewed him in Pittsburgh that he ate marijuana cookies while waiting for his flight to depart in Philadelphia.

"Chan advised he has a medical marijuana card and he took double his normal dose," the complaint said.

Margaret Philbin, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Pittsburgh, said Chan has a legally issued medical marijuana card for a "legitimate" health issue, which she declined to identify.

The flight was diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport, where Chan was arrested, then jailed until a federal magistrate granted him bond Tuesday, Philbin said.

Chan remained jailed Wednesday because Allegheny County officials have also charged him with disorderly conduct, Philbin said.

Chan arrived at Philadelphia International Airport after attending a conference in the Dominican Republic. The flight to Los Angeles was part of his trip home to San Francisco, authorities said.

Chan was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon, but that was postponed until Friday because of a paperwork delay, Philbin said.

The charge of interfering with the duties of a flight attendant carries up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin- Yeah, Not So Much

I woke BEFORE the alarm this morning. Hopped into the shower, made the lunches that I SHOULD have done last night. Woke the kids, fed them, hair is brushed & done. Rollin' right along. Easy morning smooth as can be. We finished B's 100 Days project last night. A big posterboard with 100 glittler hearts glued to it. (On the 100 day of school which is Friday they have a celebration. First grade does 100 of something & its displayed.) 8:10 rolls around and we walk out the door. I'm 3 houses away from another elementary school that my kids do not attend (ours is 2 blocks away). I go to cross the street & see....NOTHING. By this time the early morning school pileup is always on but I see nothing. There were tubleweeds blowing across the slushy street that's how much activity was happening. I realize that I never watched the morning news & if the school would call with a delay thru the global connect system its between 5:30 & 6:30am. The last end of that time was spent in the shower. I shuffle them into the house & look at the caller id. Sure enough I see 6:27am TEAM CARE (code for our school districts autimated dialer system). We have a 90 minute delay.

They are all cozy on the sectional. I'm here with my coffee & a cinnamon muffin wishing every morning went so smoothly, just not for nothing! SO glad I came back inside & checked!!

Song of the Day: K$sia's Blah Blah Blah

RTT

Yesterday my friend asked me to pick up her daughter afterschool today. She is a friend of Emmy's since PreK. The friends brother was diagnosed with cancer late last week & he was having surgery in Philly today. She didn't want to leave the house and miss a call. I guess her cell doesn't let her answer all calls. So I double checked this morning about getting Rachel & she called me at lunchtime in hysterics. Surgery was over & the cancer is all thru her brother, it's in his blood. They give him a MONTH to live & are keeping him in Philly to keep him comfortable. He is 33, married with kids ages 10, 6 & 8 months. I can't even imagine. I didn't know what to say. I got Rachel, offered whatever help she might need & just wished I had a magic wand. It put everything into perspective. The someone who has it worse is always closer than you think.

After 11 days of one or more sick kids- TA-DAH! I'm sick. I woke to my stomach just churning & my sinuses were already messed up. I didn't throw up... but Maya did. Like 6 times in a span of 3 hours. I thought she'd be ok for like an hour while we grab groceries because I am about 3 days past when I should have gone to the store. Yeah, no. She was throwing up IN the parking lot. Disaster. I feel like garbage & I figure I'll be down for the count sick tomorrow.

I've never watched The Bachelor before this season & am slightly embarassed to admit I've been hooked. Tenley or Gia. Like them both. Do not for the life of me see what he likes about Vienna Yarn Doll Hair.

Gotta go. Tired. Tired. Tired.

Connect The Dots La La La La La

I have had a hellish day & my migraine has birthed a headache so I'm not staying long but...

I'm on Facebook & search crushdrivers last name. Up pops a 12 year old kid- with 2 mutual friends. She goes to the gym that my sister works at. She is his niece. Her mom is one of my sister favorites in that entire building. Hmmmm. Small world.