Hectic Mom's Blog (aka Cindy)

VACATION HERE I COME!

2008-07-13T03:14:16Z

Well, we're all packed. I hope. Costumes ready, alternations done, clothes packed, medicine refilled and put away. We are headed to Florida. I'm really excited. Prissy has her Dance Twirl competition on Tuesday and her Solo (the big one) on Wednesday, and then team events on Friday and Saturday. We're so looking forward to Nationals and to DisneyWorld afterward. I also get to spend some time with my college roommate - she is actually a rocket scientist and works at NASA. I haven't had a chance to see her since my wedding (almost 10 years now) and even then I didn't get to spend much relaxed time with her (I was focused on my wedding a bit too much I think.)

Anyway - iPhone 2.0 ROCKS! I've spent way too much money on new apps though. There are some really neato games. And yes, I did say neato - because that is what I mean. I've already bought a solitare game, a suduku game and Monkey Balls - yes, I know they are also on the web, but now I can play them without the slowness of the web annoying me.

I truly do have the ultimate cell phone.

Smoking Sun and Moon

2008-07-12T04:39:09Z

Wow - this almost looks like night, but I took it from my car on the
way to work this morning.

This one looks surprisingly like the sun picture but was taken outside
our house this evening.

It is done

2008-07-12T04:34:07Z

Yes, the week from hell is over.

I'm very glad.

The worst is over. Now, it's to packing and getting ready for vacation. Ahhh...

On a positive note - I updated my iPhone with the new 2.0 software (and it worked just fine thank you very much.) I even get my work mail on it now (does that mean I'll check it while I'm on vacation? Hmmmm....) It's slick. I still love my iPhone as much as the day I got it. It's seriously the coolest piece of gadgety equipment I've ever had. Did anyone get the new one today? I had some coworkers go to check it out but there were lines around the corner of the store. If you did get it - did you have the old one and is the new one really that much faster?

Ok, I think that is about all for today - I might try to post some pictures of the sun and the moon (they were taken with my phone in transit however, so they aren't the best quality.) The smoke has risen up in the air so the sun and moon look really weird - all orangey and pretty.

Light at the end of the Tunnel

2008-07-11T03:50:26Z

This picture pretty much sums up how I'm feeling today. It has been an incredibly long week. I have one more day (with my boss and big boss (VP of company)) of meetings. Then, I'm going on vacation.

This week has gone so much better than I originally expected work wise - but it's been so intense that I'm pretty much completely exhausted. On a personal level - I've gotten quite a bit done. We ended up borrowing a totally different costume for Prissy. Whosh! We got someone to take care of the cats and the pool. Whosh! I just have to do all the packing and refills of drugs and such. Almost there. I'm starting to feel a little bit less stress now. I just have to get through tomorrow!

Florida (and two weeks off of work) here I come!

For the Record

2008-07-06T01:54:00Z

Ok -

I'm stating this officially on my blog - so it means I have to follow through - right?

Dang it! (That is Bubba's favorite saying.)

Prissy and I have decided that we are going to train and run a 5K. I definately need to do some sort of exercise and I totally need some sort of goal or motivation. So, I'm making this a double whammy - I'm involving Prissy for multiple reasons.

If I tell her we are working towards it together - it makes me want to stick to that committment to her.
It'd be good to have some alone time with her.
It would show her that exercise is fun (gah!) and try to be somewhat of a role model for her.

But - it's just one more thing to add to the to-do list. I pulled a training program from Cool Running Site - The Couch to 5K Running plan. Instead of 8 weeks - we may try to make this a 16 week program - just doing each week 2 times. I don't want to push Prissy too hard too fast (but kids are pretty quick to increase in stamina), so, w're just going to take it week by week.

Does anyone want to join us in this endeavor? You don't have to have a kid to run with - you can run by yourself - but we can encourage each other. It's just more motivation for us all to stick to it. Post a comment if you are interested.

Happy Fourth of July

2008-07-05T04:51:46Z

We had a rather laid back day today. I worked on Prissy's costume (almost done - should be done tomorrow) and we went to a party this evening.

Bubba was in an exceptionally foul mood - so Prissy, Bubba and I left early and did some sparklers and baby fireworks at home. He said it was boring. But, we watched Wipeout on Tivo and some Macy's fireworks. It's almost 10 and I've sent them to bed. Hubby is still over there (they are really "his" friends - but they are mine by association.)

On a positive note - Jasmine has been using the litter robot almost exclusively and Oreo used it today all on her own! I was so excited I almost cried. If we can get them litter robot trained by the time we go to Florida for Nationals - it would be a very awesome thing.

Anyway, short post this evening. I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th!

It Just Didn't Happen

2008-07-04T03:54:03Z

So -

We were supposed to go to the Folsom Rodeo this evening. I've been looking forward to it. I should mention - this is California - so Rodeo's aren't really "normal" things to do. Most people went home early from work today because of the long weekend - but I didn't because the Rodeo is in the same city I work and we didn't want to drive all the way back home (an hour each way.)

Anyway, I went and picked up the kids. Prissy had a field trip to a local pool today. She came down the hall and she was as red as a tomato. Completely and totally sunburned from head to toe. So, we went to dinner and she's sort of close to blistery sunburned. I have no doubt that she will be completely miserable tomorrow. I guess they went to the pool and she had forgotten her sunblock at school. I haven't figured out if they said that she would be ok without sunscreen or what... But, I'm really not very happy. I really really wish they would have called me and asked me to bring some for her. Erg... I expect her to be kept safe at the summer camp (also her private school) - and just making sure the kids have sunscreen helps freaking keep them safe when they are in the sun for 4 hours straight at a swimming pool.

Anyway, the last thing that she needed was to sit in the sun for another 2 hours so we decided not to go to the rodeo (also Bubba was complaining of heartburn and a stomachache. He had run out of Prilosec a few days ago. I guess his silent reflux is real and it's not really so silent.) We went to KFC for dinner and we just gave the rodeo tickets to someone - they were really really excited. (we had gotten them for free so it wasn't really money out of our pocket - but still a bummer.)

So, we came home and watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Wow - I used to think that was a really cool movie. It may have been a bit too old for the kids. With Prissy's sunburn and the "scary" movie right before bed - we may be dealing with nightmares tonight. :( I'm such an awesome mom!

So - in a strange turn of events - work was really good today and the home stuff wasn't as great. *laugh*

And this is what I heard...

2008-07-01T04:19:11Z

I was walking to my mailbox this evening around 9pm and this is what I heard...

The crickets chirping.
The neighbors sprinkler going.
A whistler firework a few blocks over
Kids laughing down the street finishing up their basketball game.
The click of a dog's claws as he and his owner walk by.
A television overheard through an open window.

Lastly, this is what I heard - my own deep breath - the day is done...

Weekend Happiness!

2008-06-28T02:22:10Z

White wine, 2. Happy weekend to all Flickr people!, 3. May 064, 4. Kitties 015

This is my weekend happiness mosaic:

A glass of nice Chardonnay! (stolen from awesome photographer on flickr)
THE WEEKEND! (stolen from an awesome cake maker on flickr)
The pool! (my picture)
Sleeping in (and the kitty all wrapped into one!) (my picture)

By the way, Mosaic Maker - coolest thing ever.

Randomness

2008-06-25T03:10:56Z

I have just a bunch of nothingness to update on:

I used my serger for the first time tonight. Got it threaded and everything. It sewed beautifully. However, I realized the stuff that I sewed last night, I sewed it incorrectly and and I have to start over (from cutting out the pattern) on one part - it irritates me to no end.

I have a horrible headache, itchy burning eyes and wheeziness - all due to the huge numbers of California Wildfires. The air is all hazy and it smells like a camp fire outside. Not so great.

Jasmine rocks my world. She is just absolutely the coolest kitten ever. Seriously. She is so sweet and fun to play with. Oreo absolutely loves her. They play all the time and Oreo likes to bathe her.

Here is a picture of Prissy in her solo costume. We were outside after she performed while we were waiting for awards.

Here she is after solo awards:

Here is a picture of Bubba because I don't want to leave him out:

We got a Litter Robot - it seems WAY cool - but not one of the three cats will use it yet. I'm hoping they will warm up to it in a few days.
I'm WAY behind on my blog reading and blog responses. It's just been too hectic. We figured it out - and Prissy had 39 hours of baton last week. THIRTY NINE hours. Now, that is highly unusual. Usually it's 2.5 hours a week spread over two days. But, she had regionals and baton camp - so it was excessive. But, that is like a full time job - add my REAL full time job and just other mommy stuff - I was a busy last week. I'd like to have a day to do nothing (actually - Saturday - we've got NOTHING! I absolutely cannot wait.)

Bee in my Bonnet

2008-06-24T03:41:46Z

I only have a second tonight - I'm working on Prissy's Dance Twirl costume for Nationals (in three weeks - I'm going to be BUSY for the next few weeks.) But, I wanted to share a classic Cindy story from this weekend.

Let me preface this with - I'm terrified of bees. I've never been stung - because I stay the out of their way.

Anyway, I was outside the gym this past weekend talking to Bubba on the phone and I hear this buzzing. A bee is flying around my head. I walk away and it follows me (I can see it in the corner of my eye), I move again and it follows me. Then, I sort of jog a bit away and then I can hear it. It's LOUD and I tell Bubba I'll call him back and I try to run away from it. I can still hear the thing buzzing - I can't dodge it anywhere. Then, I get panicy - and start yelling. And running.. There are a lot of people outside. 6 or 7 twirlers practicing. A few coaches. Several parents. And there is me - running in circles, yelling, running up and down the steps like my pants are on fire. Can you picture it? Yeah - thought that you could....

The damn bee was still buzzing and it was getting really loud. I'm totally out of breath and absolutely terrified. I stop - the bee is still buzzing very angrily right behind me, I turn around and it's STILL behind me. I realize it's stuck in my collar. I unfold my collar and run like crazy. It's free and so am I.

I take a few deep breaths - and start to call Hubby and Bubba back and I realize that I never hung up. Hubby is on the line laughing hysterically at me.

Then, I had to try to go and explain it to all the people that saw me running around like a crazy women. They totally and completely ignored me. OMG! I'm the crazy lady now.

Poor Prissy. Her mom is the crazy one.

Exhausted and Home

2008-06-23T03:55:19Z

We are home - finally.

Man, what a long weekend. Prissy did awesome. She brought home a first place trophy for Intermediate Solo. She also came in 2nd on Regional Solo (advanced solo - it's different) and advanced to the divisional juvenile solo event. She came in 5th - which is all the juveniles that had come in first or second in their age for regional solos. So - 5th was absolutely amazing. Yay Prissy.

We're really tired. I took lots of pictures. I'll post them - maybe. But, not tonight. Tonight I want to go to bed. I have so much stuff to do - being away for the weekend really puts a dent in the working mom's "errand" time. If I could - I would totally take tomorrow off just to catch up.

Sorry for the short post. But, YAY PRISSY! (oh and Jasmine is totally hiding from Prissy and I - she disappeared when we opened the garage door and we haven't seen her at all.)

One Step Closer to a Black Belt

2008-06-20T04:34:01Z

Instead of boring you with the details of my day I will summarize. Today's busyness had to do something like attending a meeting from home, getting Prissy ready and rushing Prissy around to get her to the places where other people could take her to a baton camp 2 hours away (into the Bay Area.) Then, rushing to work then just working, then rushing home to get ready for our Taekwondo testing, then testing and having to rush out a little bit early so I could drive another 45 minutes to pick Prissy up from the people who brought her back from baton camp. It's almost 10pm and we're finally home. I bored you with the details right?

Anyway - TESTING! WE PASSED!!! Hubby and I are now officially Brown Belt Decided's. And Bubba - BUBBA? He's now a black belt recommended. That means he will test for his black belt at the next testing session. I'm so excited for him. He's been working on this for a little over 3 years. I suck and have no pictures because we had to get out of there before the testing actually ended. DOH! But, that's ok. I got some video of Bubba that I may or may not post - depends if I feel like it. :)

Hubby and I have 3 more belts before we are able to test for our black belt. So, in about a year we will probably be testing (might be a little less.) But, we are one step closer.

Tomorrow, Prissy has baton camp again - and then we stay in a nearby hotel for regionals that start on Saturday and Sunday. It's quite the baton week this week!

Monday Monday...

2008-06-17T04:05:30Z

This is sort of a boring update - I can't be witty and charming everyday. Oh, or at all I guess. *LAUGH*

Today was a typical Monday... I had a thousand meetings... Running from place to place... Holding my pee until I saw yellow (because I didn't have time to go, yo.) But, it wasn't a horrible day - just really busy. Productive as well - which is always good for the psyche. (I got one of the three presentations done that I've been working on forever. Woot!)

This is the week of baton. Prissy had a lesson tonight, she has a team make up practice tomorrow, her regular team practice on Wednesday, and a baton camp on Thursday and Friday, then Regionals (for the Western United States) this weekend. She'll be competing against her biggest challenger - we'll call her BATONGIRL. Prissy and BATONGIRL are often neck in neck. Last year, BATONGIRL won 1st place and only beat her by 10 points in both states and regionals. And this year BATONGIRL beat her by 10 points at states. However, the rest of the season, Prissy has been beating her by 30-50 points (the other girls of the same age are 100+ points behind Prissy and BATONGIRL.) BATONGIRL won a 1st place in Nationals in one event and 2nd place in a different event. So, beating her is a really amazing thing. I hope that Prissy beats her - and if not - oh well. It'd just be really cool for her - I think that it might be a really big confidence booster for Prissy before going to Nationals. BATONGIRL will also be at this baton camp and the girls are friends - which is always nice to have some friendly competition.

On a kitty update. Oreo (btw - is a girl cat) and Jasmine are becoming fast friends. They are playing with each other now. No more hissing or growling. Oreo is still soft smacking her in the head occasionally - but it's clearly playing and not being pissed - no claws no pain. Oreo still follows her everywhere, but occasionally runs past her to get Jasmine to follow her back. I was a little worried on Saturday - but not anymore. Oreo will be Jasmine's protector and big sister (that will torture her just a little. Just like a real big sister.) They were laying next to each other a little while ago. As far as Pookie (our scaredy cat) - I'm not sure she even knows we have another cat in the house. She's just thrilled we have kitten food (which is her FAVORITE.)

Sorry for the long post, it's just been a decent day.

Introducing Jasmine...

2008-06-16T04:07:20Z

We have officially decided on a name for the kitten - her name will be Jasmine after Princess Jasmine and she's a bit of an explorer and quite the playful kitty - so if the mood strikes, she can also go by Jazz.

Who me? A Princess?

Fell asleep while she was playing. She must have been tired from all the playing she did on our heads while we were sleeping.

I think that Jasmine is flipping me off!

Here is a video of Jasmine chasing her tail. She did this for hours while we were trying to sleep last night. She honestly can go for 20-30 minutes of straight tail chasing.

You can see it by clicking here.

Finally, Oreo still isn't entirely sure what to do with Jasmine. She's not at all mean with her - but, she follows here EVERYWHERE. Oreo needs to know where Jasmine is every second. Here is a short clip of them sitting next to each other and Oreo gives her a little "pat" on the head.

You can see it by clicking here.

All in all, she is acclimating well to her new home. I'm bummed that we have to go back to work tomorrow. (well, one because it's work, and two, I'd really like to be home with her tomorrow.) Because it's the start of the work week - pictures will be a little sparse for a few days.