Hectic Mom's Blog (aka Cindy)

Yesterday after the very fun team building of laser tag, one of my co-workers invited a couple of us to see his house and his llamas.  Yes, you read that right - his llamas.  He has four.  I've seen pictures of them, but until you actually get to meet them in person - you really can't understand what a llama is about.  When we drove up, they were comfortably relaxing in the pasture.  As soon as we started getting out of the cars, the llamas stood up and came to the fence to check us out.  I've never been checked out by a llama before.  Their eyes are HUGE!  My co-worker let us feed them - which was very very weird.  They have lips.. Big ones.. which they pick up food with...   It's a very weird feeling to be lipped by a llama.  Anyway, it was very cool.  My co-worker has a gorgeous piece of land. 

On a lip related matter - Bubba (my 5 year old son) LOST HIS FIRST TOOTH LAST NIGHT!!!!  Hubby actually pulled it out - but that sucker was ready... He could push it totally perpendicular with his tongue.  Ewwww!  Anyway - my baby is moving closer and closer to kid-hood.  *sigh*  First lost tooth... Makes me a little sad...

We also got him a new bike - his old bike is TEENY TINY and he is going to a birthday party tomorrow where they are asked to bring their bikes.  So - we got him an early birthday present (his birthday is in 2 weeks.)  And we spent a long time in the park this afternoon watching the kids ride their bikes.  They had a good time.

That's all - baseball this morning was fun to watch.  Bubba got an assisted out at 3rd - which was super cool.  We went to bubba's taekwondo and the adult taekwondo.  We are finally all healthy (KNOCK ON WOOD  QUICK!!!!!!)  Huzzah!  So, today was a pretty good day in Sunny California.

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 07:12 PM | Permalink

Ok -

So, our old group was having their bi-yearly party, and we still got to go.  The party was doing laser tag, and I was really not looking forward to it.  A bunch of men running around shooting each other in the dark didn't seem like my idea of fun.  However, I was a good sport and went for it anyway.

It ended up to be a lot of fun.  There was another woman there playing laser tag (although, she has spent quite a bit of time in the military - so she was actually quite good.)  So, I didn't feel out of place at all.  There would be 18-20 people playing per round.  It was a good time.  I sweat a lot and didn't ever get many points.  But, at least I was never the lowest scorer - which made me feel better.

The party ended a little early, and so I picked the kids up early and we came home and watched Flushed Away - which is a pretty well done kids movie.  Although, I totally fell asleep through part of it.  I guess I was just pooped. 

That's all.. Only one baseball game tomorrow and Taekwondo.  Should be an excellent day.

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 06:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So - I didn't blog last night.  I worked at home yesterday while Prissy was still recovering.  She successfully went back to school today!  YAY!  Flu shots for everyone next year! 

Anyway, several members of my old manager's team came to California from Arizona to give and get their yearly performance reviews.  One of the staff members decided to throw one last BBQ.  It was so much fun, and also pretty sad.  We burned a lot of the output from our previous staff get togethers.  (We kept stuff that still seemed valid.)  We've all worked together for several years and half the team is going one way and the other half another way.

But, all in all - we had a really good time.  My old boss was so very good at his job and he was such a great manager.  I will miss him very much.  He's not going too far (just a few buildings away) but I won't be working with or for him any more.  He leaves a big hole in the organization - and it's my job to mend it.  I think I can do that.

That's all for tonight...

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 06:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My 5 (almost 6) year old son, Bubba, saved up little UPC symbols from his frozen dinners (that he has for lunch on the weekends) for months.  He finally saved up enough for a Spy Gear Invisible Ink Pen.  We've been waiting close to 6 weeks and it finally arrived today.  He was oh so excited.  You write with the pen and then shine what looks like a black light on it and the ink shows up.  He couldn't be more stoked.

Prissy is still sick... OMJ are we ever ever going to have a healthy house again?  Hubby stayed at home with her yesterday and today - so tomorrow is my turn.  That's fine - but, I'm missing a lot of stuff at work and a nice dinner with my old boss and his old staff.  And she is getting further and further behind in school - which is pretty much a bummer - I remember that feeling when I was a kid.  But, the child is still running a fever of 101.  Still too sick for school.

Anyway - Just feeling a little wonked... We really need to get everyone healthy...

Oh, super cool thing - Bubba's grade did their end of the year assessments (midway through the year to see where they are and how much farther they have to go) and Bubba tested at 97% and 98% in Kindergarten reading skills.  So, he has been put in a class starting 1st grade reading - which in his school is actually 2nd grade.  It's pretty cool really.  So far, he's doing awesome!  Yay! 

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 08:00 PM | Permalink

I went to work today while hubby stayed at home with Prissy.  She was still running a fever today and it was up to 102 tonight.  So, she will be staying at home again tomorrow... But, it's much better than 106.

I got to work - blinked and the day was over.  I don't think it was drugs.  Just extreme busy-ness... I still have so much stuff to do - and some of it has to be done by today.  My biggest issue right now is that I'm still wrapping up my old job and fully immersed in my new job.  Meaning - I'm literally doing 2 entire full time jobs.  It won't last much longer.  I just have about 3 major things I need to finish up.  Then I can fully immerse myself in my new position.    I'm looking forward to it.

Ok, back to my work computer.  The faster I can get this report out - the faster I can knock something off of my list.

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 06:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Stole this from Badger  and since I don't really feel like talking about anything, this should be just fine.

 Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?
Yes.  mostly mass market paperback, but I'll splurge on a hardback if I really want it and it's not out in paperback yet.

Amazon or brick and mortar?
Amazon - sometimes I'll visit a bricks and mortar establishment, but usually I'm a loyal Amazon woman.  The Prime thing sort of made me Amazon's bitch.  2 days - no shipping costs! 

Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Doesn't matter.  I have a Barnes and Noble close to my house (actually a borders too - but it's in a busy mall - and it's just easier to go to B&N.  However, there is a Border's closer to work, so sometimes I go there too.) 

Bookmark or dogear?
Usually bookmark with anything that is somewhat flat and nearby.  But, sometimes there is nothing flat nearby and I dogear.

Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
Huh?  I just have a shelf full of books in size order (tallest to shortest).  Why would you alphabetize if you have a hardback next to a paperback?  Silly question.  :)

Keep, throw away, or sell?
Give almost all of them to the library.  It's a tax deduction.  I keep some and give others to friends and family.  But, most of them go to the library.

Keep dust jacket or toss it?
Keep it!  If I haven't destroyed it while reading the book.

Read with dust jacket or remove it?
Leave it on, until it gets in the way and starts falling apart.  If I remember, I take it off early.

Short story or novel?
Novel... Without a doubt.  I like something meatier than a short story.

Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?
II try to stay away from short stories.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Totally Harry Potter.  Lemony Snicket seems much sadder than Harry Potter for some reason.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
When tired - chapter breaks.  When interrupted (when am I not interrupted?) just stop reading.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
Dark and Stormy Night.

Buy or Borrow?
Both.  Our library is about as pathetic as can be.  I think it's as big as our laundry room.  So, I usually borrow books on tape or CD.  Sometimes they will have the book that I want to read, but not usually.  So, I buy those.

New or used?
New.  I used to do used - but we don't have any good nearby used bookstores anymore.

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse?
All of the above.

Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Tidy endings! Cliffhangers make me feel incredibly ripped-off. Like the last chapter of the book is missing and I should get a discount.  (I stole this from badger - but, I feel EXACTLY the same way.)

Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading?
I don't get a lot of time to read.  So I have two types of reading.  Actual book reading and reading books on CD.  Actual books I read whenever I get a chance.  Sometimes that's at night (I used to read while brushing my teeth in the morning and night.)  Now, sometimes I can sneak in 20 minutes on the weekend to read.  Last week, I got to read while getting a pedicure.  Absolute heaven.  I do books on CD in the car - I only let the kids watch DVDs on the way home from school  So, that's when I listen to my books.  Keeps me entertained during my long trip. 

Stand-alone or series?
Usually stand-alone - but I can do series as well.

Favorite series?
I love Sue Grafton - Kinsey Millhone series.  Complete fluff.  Just love them.  I'm also a MASSIVE Harry Potter fan.  Cannot wait for the final book to come out.  However, she better not kill Harry off.

Favorite children's book?
Well, see the above.  I love Harry Potter - is that really a children's book?  For little kids books, I loved the book, "Is Your Mama a Llama?"  Love the rhymes and the flow of the book.  I also have really liked The Borrower's - which my sister in law turned my daughter (and I) on to.

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty.  Such a good book.  About a poor girl in KS growing up in the 80s.  Hello?  I just loved this book - much of it I related closely with.

Favorite books read last year?
Oh my gosh, I don't know.  Sleeping Beauty by Phillip Margolin.  My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.  Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster.  Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly and so many more.

Favorite books of all time?
Probably Pope Joan by Donna Cross.  But, it's hard to pick just one.

Least favorite book you finished last year?
Mr. Muo's Traveling Couch by Dai Sijie - the entire premise of this book was for Mr. Muo to find a virgin to give to a general to rape/sleep with so his one true love would be released from jail.  Just had a hard time with the entire thing.  It was well written - just disturbing.

What was the last book you finished?
I actually can't remember - but, I recently finished Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult and it was good.

What are you reading right now?
Judge and Jury by James Patterson

What are you reading next?
Either Eldest or Suburban Safari

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 06:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Prissy has the flu - same as Bubba had 3 weeks ago.  Bubba's lasted 8 days.  I hope to everything good that her's doesn't last that long.  The doc yesterday said we just had to call the oncall doc to get a perscription for Tamiflu.  But, I called and I guess they were concerned that her temperature was 106.  Can't imagine why.  Took her in and they tested her for influenza.  The oncall doc was suprised they didn't do that yesterday.  Actually, I am too.  I didn't even know they had a test for the flu.  So, he perscribed her tamiflu.  (shoot, because I'm using drugs names in this blog, I'm going to get spammed all over the place.)

Anyway, I was upset I had to take her in, because she felt like hell.  But, the good side of it all is that the oncall doc was AWESOME!  I've been looking for a new ped since ours left the practice.  I asked him where his practice was and it's in ROSEVILLE!  Super close to us.  But, still on the way to work - so that's perfect.  I think I'm going to see if he's accepting new patients.  Yay!  So, that's something.

Anyway, she just laid on the couch all day - oh yeah, and threw up in her lunch.  :(  I hope it's not a side effect of the drugs. 

No baton tournament tomorrow - Just get to sort of laze around - which sort of sounds wonderful to me.  Hopefully Prissy will be feeling a little bit better...

Until tomorrow.

Posted by Cindy at 09:47 PM | Permalink

Guess what? 

My daughter woke up with a fever of 102.5.  Yup.  She did.  My brand new boss is going to think I'm the BIGGEST FREAKING FLAKE EVER!  At least I got some work done today.  Prissy was feeling so bad that all she could do was lay on the couch and watch TV.  She didn't even really talk.  And this child doesn't usually stop talking - at all.  So, I know she feels just awful.  She was supposed to go to a baton competition this Sunday, but I called her coach and said she wouldn't be going.  And I cancelled our hotel reservations.  If she wakes up totally healthy tomorrow morning - we're totally going.  But, I'm betting big money that she'll wake up feeling like absolute crap tomorrow. (the doctor said she wouldn't be better until Sunday at the earliest.) Sooo... It just means a less hectic weekend.  Is that horrible that I feel a little relieved?  I was going to have to order our groceries online so they'd be delivered on Sunday (my shopping day) - just is one more thing i don't have to do tomorrow.  As well, we don't have her softball game tomorrow - well, hubby still has to go and keep score.  Or I do... But, that's pretty easy.  Maybe I can get another review or two or three written tomorrow and Sunday. 

So, as you can tell - I'm doing GREAT in my new job. :D  I'm making the Best First Impressions EVER!

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 07:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I've been under the weather.

I'm starting to get over it.

Now I have to get around to doing all the work I've put off for 2 days.

I cannot tell you how completely crazy everything is right now.  Crazy I tell you!  The offical org change announcement came out today.  Yay!  I'm official.  I got many nice congratulations emails, which surprised me. 

that's all...  I'm feeling better, but not great yet...

Prissy is starting to get a cough (of course - she has a baton competition this Sunday.)  I'm half way expecting her to come down with this crud tomorrow night.

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 06:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ok, so I woke up with a fever of 102 this morning.  I always though you were supposed to be freezing cold with a fever, but I was SO HOT!  Every part of my body hurt - even my hair.

Had to call in sick - great.  At least I was able to take most of my meetings on the phone.  I went to the doc and got LOTS of medicine.  I'm hoping I'll feel considerably better tomorrow - I'm hoping that the antibiotics will do the trick.  *sigh*

What a terrible time to be sick.  Hi!  I'm your new employee!  Sorry, I can't come in to work today. 

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 06:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, I'm sick... Either I'm going to get really really sick and wake up dead... Or I'll feel better in the morning.

I'm going to bed now.

Until tomorrow... Maybe...

Posted by Cindy at 07:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Uh Oh.... I've had a sore throat since yesterday... got the achey shoulders and neck this evening... got the general feeling of ick...

Went to taekwondo and feel much better.  Or, it could be the advil...

This is a TERRIBLE time to be sick.  A cyber-friend of mine only gets sick on her breaks... (although she gets REALLY sick.)  This is a TERRIBLE time to be sick... New job... Getting everything and everybody ready... Trying to make a good impression on my new bosses... Although, already messing that up a bit - we had a meeting from 3-5 today and at 4:55 they said it was going to 5:30... I carpooled and had to pick up the kids - I couldn't leave at 5:30.  If it's going to be 5:30 - I need at least 24 hours notice so I can make appropriate arrangements (like not carpooling and making sure the kids are picked up).  And sometimes, I just can't make it 5:30 - softball games, hubby out of town... You get the drift...  I guess this is why it's super hard for a woman (especially one with young kids) to move up in this company.

Until tomorrow (please cross your fingers twice that I do not get sick.. I'm going to bed early.)..

Posted by Cindy at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Hello Internets -

Today was a wonderful day.  I got to sleep in (actually, I got 11.5 hours of sleep last night.  Oh man, does that make a tremendous difference.)  I woke up this morning and a steaming cup of coffee was waiting for me on my night table.  Ahhhh... PERFECT way to wake up.

Got up, helped my daughter with her science experment.  Made the grocery store list and my son and I went grocery store shopping.  While there, I got a Mocha Valencia (the ONLY place in the state where they still have Starbucks Valencia.)  To top it off - it was free.  How awesome.

Got home, unpacked the groceries, and then went and got my pedicure.  It was fantastic!  I now have beautiful redish toes with flowers.  :D  I got to read some of my fluff book.  And I got to fully relax. 

Came home and we all went on a GEOCACHE!!!  And we found it!!!  It was a gorgeous day and we had a nice walk in the sun.  Nice... Came home and then the girl child and I went to JoAnns to get her science project display board (and I also picked up some fabric for a bag I've wanted to make for awhile.  I made dinner (one of my frozen ones) and it was totally delicious.  I'm just cutting out the pattern pieces to my bag and decided to write up my blog really quick.  After I cut these out, I'll check on work and go to bed. 

It literally was a relaxing day.  I was not running from place to place.  Not once.  Can I tell you how much I needed today?

Next weekend, different story.. Saturday is full of baseball, and then we have to go to the bay area for a baton competition on Sunday... It will be a very full weekend.  So, I'm glad to have today to unwind...

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 07:05 PM | Permalink

Ok -

It's done.

Today is all done.  Pictures worked out AWESOME!  There was another mom scorekeeper on the other team - and she stepped in for me while I ran over.  The coach was totally cool and let me go right back to the game and then brought my son over.  It just worked out awesome.

I'm exhausted... I'm sunburned on one part of my arm... (must have missed it with sunscreen?)  And my hubby is home... Kids are eating dinner... And I even got the hotel reservered for my daughter's baton competitions (which I've needed to do FOREVER...)  So, I'm feeling done... And I'm getting my toes done tomorrow.  Period.  *Ahhhhhh*

Now, I just have to get a ton of work-work done... *laugh*

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 05:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Alrighty...

Tonight we had opening ceremonies for softball... They had fireworks... My daughter actually said that they were "lame."  I didn't even know she knew the word lame.  but, she was right - they were lame.  *LAUGH*  I'm just glad we're not coaching this year.  I missed Taekwondo though - which was sort of a bummer.  However, my son and I got to relax in our lawn chairs while the ceremonies happened - that was sort of cool.  Last year when we coached we had to be all involved...

OMG tomorrow...

• Early early morning (not sure what time that will be) - I need to get the coach and his son their uniforms.  I have to pack up the uniforms for those I didn't give out - and get them to everyone before opening ceremonies...
• 8:40am - Get to Park for Little League opening ceremonies.
• 9:00am - opening ceremonies.  Hopefully it will only last an hour.  If it is anything like softball - it's all about the board members congratulating themselves on how much they rock.  *yawn*  While, I'm glad they volunteer - do they really need that pat on the back?  Hopefully they are doing it to make Little League great and not to get their name announced at opening ceremonies. 
• 11:10am - My son has Taekwondo.  I'm thinking we might skip this.  I'm just not sure if we can get everything done because he doesn't get done until 11:45 or so.
• 11:50am - my Taekwondo.  I absolutely cannot go to this.  I'm really bummed about it.
• Sometime between opening ceremonies and taekwondo - I've got to get lunch for the kids and myself.  Get to the dry cleaner.  Go pick up snacks (or go buy snack tickets) for my son's game because I didn't get the schedule until this morning and we couldn't assign a snack mom yet.  And go buy some freaking sunscreen 'cause we're gonna be out in the sun all FREAKING DAY!  And, at least it's sunny and not raining. 
• 12:30pm - go BACK to the park to my  daughters 1pm softball game where I am scorekeeper.  Find someone to cover for me (I hope I can) for about 20 minutes because....
• 1:20pm - go get my sons little league team and individual pictures taken.  ARGH!  Thank goodness it's at the school right next to the park... I have to be there, because I have all the forms and have to get the coupons to everyone...
• hopefully pictures only last a short time and race back to my daughters game.
• 2:30pm - hopefully my daughter's game will just be getting over and I can go to the other part of the park where we will be warming up for my Son's game.
• His game starts at 3pm.  At this time, I can really start to relax and just sit and enjoy the strategy and excitement of Tball.  This is when I wish I had a flask so I could spike my diet coke. 
• We go home, collapse in a sunburned heap - because I'm almost positive I'll forget to get the sunscreen.
• Then, hubby returns from his jaunt to Europe - complaining of being tired from jet lag. 

On Sunday - I'm going to get a pedicure.  I'm going to sit in that massage chair, get my feet rubbed and read a fluffy book.  Because - I deserve it.  Oh, and several of the women I work with want to take me out the week after next week to celebrate my new job.  That would be very cool... From talking to these women (we meet once a month to  simply encourage each other - not many women where we work) I realized that I'll be the first woman on my new boss's staff in a long long time (we're talking 5 or more years.)  I refuse to be the token woman - but I'm dang glad they HAVE a woman now. :)   I will make it one of my priorities to start the leadership pipeline for the women in the organization.

Ok... I better get my stuff packed up and ready for tomorrow... I've sort of been dreading tomorrow all week because of needing to be scorekeeping and getting my son's team's picture taken... I'll let you internets know how it turns out.  I'm planning on having several glasses of wine tomorrow night. :)

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 07:58 PM | Permalink

I've got nothing tonight....

All I feel is this:  AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, it's more on the personal side.  Being the baseball team mom was WAY more than I bargained for.  Our coach is a great coach and so good with the kids - but quite laid back... I found out today I had to pick up the uniforms and get them to all the kids on the team because opening ceremonies is on Saturday morning... I think I have half of them handed out....

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday will be full of baseball and softball... I'm SO glad it is going to be a gorgeous weather day...

Work - going well... AAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 08:09 PM | Permalink

I feel like I'm on a rollercoaster.  The car has been going up and up and up and up these past few days... And I've just gone over the top and I have to hold on with everything that I have.  I can't yet see if it's a ginormous drop or just a little dip.  But, I'm starting to feel the air whishing through my hair.

I got a job bump.  Not a little one.  I'm so excited.  And I'm also scared.  And I'm also sad, because my boss (who I have worked with for 8 years) isn't going to be my boss anymore.  He was a really awesome manager.  I'm excited because I'm stepping into his very big shoes - while he goes and steps into bigger shoes.  Our management chain is also changing - which will be interesting.  So, I'll have a new manager.  I'll be managing managers.  I'll be managing an organization.  It's what I've been working.so.hard.for.  I'm confident that I can lead our team to be absolutely outstanding.  However, I'm not as confident that I will have the flexibility that I have now (I can take off early to take my kids to their things).  I'm a star with my current manager, I'm hoping that I will be a star with my new manager - but it's going to take work to build that credibility that I've worked for the past 8 years to build with my current manager.  So, it's a little scary.  And - I feel like I'm just holding on getting ready to take the drop on the rollercoaster. 

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

And on the flip side - I'M SO EXCITED TO DO SOMETHING NEW, but not too new.  I feel like it's a whole new fresh start.  HOLY SHIT!!!!!  (sorry Pam.... It's the only thing that really fits. :))

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 07:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

OMG...

It has been such a turbulent day... Ups and downs... Excitement... Terror... And that was just in the office... :)  More on this tomorrow...

Hubby is on his way to Europe as I type... So, I'm flying solo for a few days... It's a crazy hectic week (as always)... Took my son to Taekwondo - and he did fine... He was sort of a butt at dinner however - put my entire day into perspective... I am a mom... Of a five year old and an eight year old... My five year old wouldn't eat anything but uncooked baby carrots tonight.  At least carrots are healthy....

I called my friend - who has a five year old daughter that takes baton (which my daughter helps with) at the school my kids go to.  I guess her daughter had an accident and my daughter took her to the bathroom - got her new clothes and helped her change.  My daughter made sure the door was closed and locked and was just a really really good friend... That... That is what makes me proud.  There are embarrassments (see peeing in a dress), there are moments of pride (see winning 7 first places at a competition.)  But the thing that makes me the most proud is that my daughter is willing to go out of her way to help someone who needs it... Who will make someone feel better when they are horribly embarrassed.  Makes me feel like maybe I'm not such a bad mom after all... I can raise productive human beings - even if they don't know how to pee in a dress... It's meaningless if they are wonderful people... :D

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 06:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My five year old son has become obsessed with the time.  I'm a pretty punctual person - I really hate being late.  While sometimes it is unavoidable - I try my very hardest to be on time (or early.)

Anyway, my dear hubby got an alarm clock that syncs up with an atomic clock somewhere.  Anyway, we use that as our offical time (although, it didn't change this past weekend - odd.)  My son knows exactly how fast or slow every clock is in the house.  Microwave?  2 minutes slow.  My alarm clock?  2 minutes fast.  My son's clock?  1 minute fast.  My car?  5 minutes fast.  We ask him what the time is, and he runs to whatever clock is nearest and figures out the time.  Quite the feat for a 5 year old.  Adding and subtracting minutes based upon which clock it is.  It impresses the heck out of me.

Hubby calls it OCD.  I personally think it's something that runs in my side of the family.  My dad has a thing about all the clocks in his house being set at exactly the same time.  When his chiming clocks go off - they all go off at exactly the same instant.  It's a little freaky actually - I'm sure daylight saving's time is a pain.  But, it's sort of cool when the whole house starts chiming at the top of the hour.  Takes quite a bit of maintanence - but, he's retired.   Well, maybe it is a little bit of OCD - I guess that can be passed through the family as well.

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 07:34 PM | Permalink

So, I've been getting spammed from Saving Dinner for awhile now.  I signed up for their recipe list awhile ago and the food was good.  But, usually took too long to cook - being a hecticmom - I need meals I can make in 20 minutes or less (give or take 10 minutes).  So, I unsubscribed and they have been trying to get me back.  Anyway, they've been sending me this thing about frozen meals.  You can make 22 meals in 2 hours and then just pop them out and have a home cooked meal in minutes.  Ok, so maybe it wasn't quite like that - but that is what I read.  I spent my $8.95 and got the shopping lists and the recipes. 

My daughter and I went shopping for all the food today - spent a little over $300.  Which is fine - it is 22 meals.  They are all fresh, so not a lot of preservatives, transfat, or other crap like that.  So, that's all good.  It took us about an hour and a half at the store - although at least 15 minutes of it was at the starbucks counter - their computer went down.  But, we ended up with 2 free drinks - which TOTALLY rocks!

Got home unpacked and started doing the prep work (chopping the onions, garlic, basil, etc, etc, etc...)  We started shopping at 11am this morning.  I literally just sat down at 7pm.  Holy crap...

Although, I have 22 meals - that really look and smell delicious - waiting in my upright freezer in the garage.  We ate one tonight - the meatloaf - which was divine.  So, maybe this is a good thing.  Although - I'm not sure that 8 hours of work to save time for fancy meals is quite worth it.  I think that maybe our quick 20 minute basic meals are fine.  But, I'll let you know as we eat them.

That's all - I'm totally exhausted... My feet are killing me.  I could never do a job where I was on my feet all day. 

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 06:26 PM | Permalink

Hubby bought my daughter and I me DDR 1923547 for the XBox360. I was playing it today.  I like it.  I think I've had DDR for the Playstation, for the Xbox and now for the XBox 360.  It just keeps getting better and better.  This one is nice because there is a lot of beginner levels (it seemed like in previous versions it went from crazy easy to crazy hard).  And after it got crazy hard, I'd always quit.

So, this is pretty fun - there is also a quest mode - so there is a point to some of it.   Sort of.  Move around the US trying to win lots of money.

My daughter is playing right now. 

Even though, it's sort of weird for a woman in her 30s to be playing DDR - it's still good exercise - so shut up!  and DO NOT make fun of me at work about this. :D

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 07:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My daughter's teacher wanted to talk to me today after school.  She wanted to tell me a funny story about my girl child.  When the class went to the Pioneer village this week, the male teacher took several kids to the bathroom - several boys and my daughter.

My daughter goes into the bathroom, and comes out and asks the teacher to untie the ribbon in the back of her dress.  He is a little puzzled, but unties it.  She goes in and a few minutes later comes back and asks him to loosen the ribbons a little more.  He's not sure what she is doing at this point so he goes and gets her teacher, who is a woman. 

The teacher goes into the bathroom to find my daughter struggling to get her dress off.  She asks her what she is doing, and my daughter announces that she is taking off her dress so she can go to the bathroom.

The teacher asks why she doesn't just pull up her skirt.

My daugther pauses...

And then says, "I didn't think of that."

????

The teacher shows her how she can hold the skirt up with her arms while going to the bathroom to keep the material out of the toilet.

Ok, I don't wear dresses, or skirts... ever... except if I'm IN a wedding (someone else's or my own.)  So, my daughter doesn't really have a role model - who she has seen pull up her skirt when going to the bathroom.  But, I sort of feel like a big failure as a mom - because my daughter doesn't know how to hold her skirt up to go pee.  I'm not sure if it's a common sense thing - or a learned thing...

I asked her how she went pee in a skirt and she said she pulled it down like pants.... She hasn't ever really had a dress - just skirts.  So, this is a new thing for her too.

Sorta sucks when your mom isn't feminine enough to wear a dress.  Causes all sorts of embarrasing moments...

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 08:35 PM | Permalink

My daughter had her trip to Pioneer Land.  They all had to dress like Pioneers and I decided to make her dress.  I had blogged about this before, but I finished the dress and she wore it yesterday.  It was a big hit.  Here is a picture:

Dude - I made the dress, the hat AND the apron.  The apron - made it without a pattern... I'm cool like that.  'Cause it's HARD to sew a square you know. :)

Like I said in a previous post - it's a little more salem witch trial than pioneer - but my daughter was DANG proud of it.  And THAT is what really matters. :)

On a side note - my son is being ravaged by the flu... He is so sick... We even went to the doctor today (he hasn't seen a doctor because of sickness in 2 and a half years (I'm not counting trips to the ER for broken bones and stitches in the chin)).  So, if I take him to the doctor - you KNOW the child is sick.  I was really afraid he had pneumonia - he was running a super high fever for 3-4 days, then it went away, then he got a really bad cough and the fever came back.  But, they sent me on my way.  I was very disappointed.  When I take my kid to the doctor, I want to LEAVE with something.. GIVE ME A PERSCRIPTION!!!!  THIS CHILD IS ILL!!!!  I NEED A PILL SO HE CAN GET BETTER!!!  The doctor said he should be better in a couple of days, and if he started running a fever of over 102 to call them back... *sigh*  ok... Poor guy...

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 07:37 PM | Permalink

Cool thing happened today, I was at my daughter's baton practice when one of the mom's asked if we had gotten our USTA Twirling Magazine called Catch It (dude - they have a magazine for EVERYTHING!).  We hadn't and the mom told me that my daugther had an article in there.  SO COOL!  We got home and the magazine was here - she was on the cover of the magazine!  There was an article about her that spanned TWO pages!  How totally exciting is that?  This is a national magazine - super cool! 

Anyway, I took the magazine up to her and told her there was an article in there about someone she knew.  She thought it was going to be about her coach (who is well known in the USTA world)... And she took it and saw it was her and just about peed her pants.  :D  It made me smile so big! 

Yay for her!  Probably doesn't help the ego issue - but it's still a neat thing to have happen.

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 08:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My friend tagged everyone who reads his blog, so I will do the same.  Please leave a comment with the link back to blog with this meme. 

1. Can you cook?
yes - I cook 4-5 times a week depending on baton, soccer, Taekwondo, baseball and softball.

2. What was your dream growing up?
To be a psychiatrist who finds a cure for schizophrenia.  No joke. 

3. What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I had a photographic memory. 

4. Favorite place?
Home.

5. Favorite vegetable?
Spinach - really, no joke...

6. What was the last book you read?
Salem Falls by Jodi Poucoult - awesome book and Sleeping Beauty by Phillip Margolin - another awesome book - a little grusome, but really kept my attention.

7. What zodiac sign are u ?
Aquarius

8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings?
Yes.

9. Worst Habit?
I'm a terrible housekeeper.

10. Do we know each other outside of myspace?
Absolutely - I don't know anyone in myspace.

11. What is your favorite sport?
Taekwondo - Kee-Ya!

12. Pessimistic or Optimistic attitude?
optimistic - when things are going well - which is never... :D

13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
Pray that you had a bottle of wine hidden on you and start drinking.  This is one of my absolute biggest fears - that and getting stuck in a sauna (stupid Charlie's Angels.)  I will not even go in a sauna for fear I will be locked in.  No joke.

14. Worst thing to ever happen to you?
Many many years ago - when I was a different person and engaged to someone else - I walked in on him "with" another woman.  Horrible.  All I can say is THANK GOODNESS I found out before we were married.  It was all good for me because I married a REALLY wonderful man and this jerk is married, jobless, living with his grandmother.  Turned out MUCH better for me... So, the worst thing that ever happened to me really turned out to be the best thing.  So - I guess you never know.

15. Tell me one weird fact about you:
I love to geocache.

16. Do you have any pets?
One cat named Pookie - and we're on the look-out for a kitten.

17. Do u know how to do the macerana?
Hell Yes!

18. What time is it where u are now?
8:59pm

19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
just annoying

20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be???
I would have bigger breasteses (but not too big.)

21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
I would be your conscience most of the time and your crime partner if the crime was just a misdemenor...

22. What color eyes do you have?
Blue Green

23. Ever been arrested?
Not on any records you have access to.

24. Bottle or Draft?
Neither - but, I do prefer a bottle of wine over a box of wine.

25. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it?
So boring - I would likely put it in the bank, invest some and waste some on useless things.  (I should really say something cool like plan a wonderful vacation... But, really, I think I'd just really get pedicures.)

26. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew?
Extra

27. What ’s your favorite bar to hang at?
I'm seriously not a bar person - I enjoy hanging out at people's houses much more.

28. Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes.

29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
TV!!!!!

30. Do you swear a lot?
If I'm swearing a lot - I'm probably really angry.

31. Biggest pet peeve?
Stupid and/or whiny people - the worst is stupid whiny people

32. In one word, how would you describe yourself?
Hectic (Did you think it would be something else?)

33. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?
It's on my blog!!!!!

Posted by Cindy at 08:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Monday's are never fun.  My son stayed at home with his dad because he was still sick.  Today, I had 10 meetings.  TEN... That's a lot of meeting.  And a lot of talking.  Monday's bite.

I'm not sure if my son will be able to go to school tomorrow.  He was fine all day, and then had a fever when I came home, but then it went away.  So, I don't know if he's better with just a "phantom" fever or what.  I guess we'll see tomorrow.

My daughter is getting to the age where girls are getting to be bitchy.  It makes me a little sad.  She is so tuned in to how people feel that their moods affect her.  If someone is crabby - it makes an impact on her.  I guess ages 8-10 is when it starts happening.  But, it just seems like the time has gone by so quickly.  Can they already be getting hormonal?  Good grief - I'm so not ready for that... SHE WAS JUST BORN!!!!  Really... Where did the past 8 years go?  I'm feeling a little vaklempt.

Until tomorrow...  

Posted by Cindy at 08:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My son is very very sick.  He has this virus that is spreading all over everywhere that consists of a super high fever.  He started having this weird twitching this morning that would have totally freaked me out, but my best friends daughter just had this very thing this past week.  Weird that a virus causes twitching.  And, we know it's the same, because #1 my son and her daugther were holding hands going down an inflatable slide at a birthday party last week (it was very cute then, but now it sorta sucks) and her daughter came down with this fever late the night of the birthday party.  She had this crazy thing all week.  What a bummer.  Her twitching ended them up in the ER - because they thought it was some sort of seizure (that's what it looks like).  But, it wasn't.  Now that my son is twitching too - we're certain it's just part of this virus.  Bleh...

Anyway, because my son had a fever of 104 - he had crazy fever dreams last night.  He was telling me some of them and they were just terrifying.  Like, his dad was screaming at him from downstairs and he was screaming back, but his dad couldn't hear him and he lost his voice..

On a good note - I got all the stuff done I needed to get done for little league.  All the raffle ticket stubs and money have been collected and turned in.  THANK GOODNESS!!!

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, my daughter and I had a really good time last night and today.  We just spent some girl time together last night in the hotel room and watched 1 vs 100.  She did well today, no 1st places, but she still shined all day long.  And it was a long day...

I came home to a very very sick son.  He has a high fever.  I think he got the virus my friends daughter had (they were holding hands going down a slide at a birthday party last weekend, and she started running the fever last Sunday.)  This is a fever that lasts for 5 days - 103 and higher.  *sigh*  I'm not really looking forward to it - but hopefully he has something else and will feel better tomorrow (I'm not really counting on it though.)

So, we're all home... Hubby is back from his business trip... We're back from the baton competition... We can maybe just rest tomorrow... Doesn't that sound nice. :)

Until tomorrow...

Posted by Cindy at 07:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well - tomorrow after school/work we are headed to a baton competition out of town.  They are always fun, but my daughter started getting this cough this morning.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed (on both hands) that she doesn't get sick.  That would a bummer.

Other than that, tomorrow is Dr. Seuss's birthday and my kids school is having a giant party (with an enormous cake) and everyone wearing pajamas and lots of fun things to do and eat and lots and lots of reading.  They should have fun.

Hubby should be home any minute..  I will not be updating tomorrow as I will not be here... Hubby and son will have a boys night and mommy and daughter will have a girls night.  Super!

Until Saturday...  

Posted by Cindy at 09:04 PM | Permalink