Monday, April 30, 2007

The Bad, the Ugly, and the Good

so, today ... I got woken up around 2:30 this morning by hubby hopping in the shower. He didn't have to work today, but that's when he usually gets up, and he was wide awake so decided to get up anyway. Just as I was deciding to go join him, kiddo woke up and started yelling at me. After sending her back to her room twice, she finally stayed there. Then hubby got out of the shower and I got in, feeling gross from wearing the same clothes two days straight (don't ask). Spent some time with hubby (mwahahahaah) and then I worked out -- 1-mile walk video plus some crunches and stuff. I decided to work then to get a jump start on my week, even though it's my day off, but found my headphones were dead. I was exhausted, so around 5:15 (when I'm usually getting up) I fell back asleep. And stayed that way until he took kiddo to school.

Then, I went to my massage. That was good. Until the therapist asked if I'm pregnant, saying I look "baby". Since hubby and I had decided (after playing unprotected basketball) that we were going to hold off on Zone Conference and have LASIK on my really bad vision eyes first since we have the money in our flex-spend account, that's not that great. Especially since the therapist (who is my aunt) is almost never wrong about that. lolol. Okay, okay, it'll be GREAT if I am preggers (my lurve babies), but I don't know yet as I'm not late until Wednesday or later. So now I'm trying not to freak out about it. Of course.

So, then, I went to lunch with hubby. One of the employees behind the counter at Panda Express in Pleasant Grove, Utah, messed up our order, insisted she didn't, but had given me something that could make my throat swell shut so I knew I didn't order it, and called me "perra" under her breath while I was standing there after nicely asking her to fix it. "perra" means bitch. That's the bad. (everyone should send them hate mail)

Hubby and I quickly left, since I was in a mood and ready to slug her. The ugly is that while venting to hubby on the way to our next stop, I dropped an F-bomb. Gah.

We ran a couple more errands: RadioShack for new headphones and a power cord for the camera hubby bought me for Christmas, and then OfficeMax for chair mats and a paper shredder and some other things. Retail therapy helped a bit. But I was still flamed.

I tried to take a nap when I got home but couldn't sleep, so I worked instead. Then, when kiddo got home, I took her to Wal-Mart. Struck up a conversation with the gal in front of me, and then a little older woman pulled up behind me in one of those motorized carts. After there was room on the counter there for her stuff, I turned to her and asked if I could help her, then unloaded the cart. I felt 100% better just by helping someone else out.

But if it had been the chica from Panda, I might've done something else entirely. hahahahahahahaa.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

I'm an immigrant, you're an immigrant, we're all immigrants

So ... I read an article today about illegal immigration and new laws being proposed and all that.

When I was younger, around 18 or so, a guy I knew said anyone who hadn't been legally in the country more than four generations should be deported, along with their entire family. (Incidentally, his mother stepped in and said that would include him!) We had a lot fewer illegals then. I didn't agree with him either, because that meant that my entire family should be deported. At least, the family on my dad's side. On my mother's side ... well ... My grandmother became a DAR and traced our family history back to the Mayflower. So what would happen to me if that was the law?

Now, there are estimated to be 12 million illegal immigrants on U.S. soil.

One of them is my father-in-law.

Well ... not exactly. He has a work visa, which expires every 6 months to a year, and he has to get it renewed that often, but often it takes 3 to 4 months for it to be approved, and during that time, he's not exactly legal. When they first immigrated to the U.S. 25+/- years ago, however, Dad and Mom were both illegals and worked full time for poor wages to support their family of five. After they moved here, they had two daughters, who are United States citizens. In the 8 to 10 years between their immigration and their obtaining alien resident status for their three sons and Mom, they frequently ran from immigration and moved between three states where there are a lot of other illegals from various lands.

My in-laws are not from Mexico, so the shiny new fence going along the U.S. would not have kept them out. They are from the Islands. They came here on a boat, determined to bring their children to a better life after one of their sons, who was extremely sick, died as an infant in his grandmother's arms, awaiting a boat to take them to a larger island where there was a hospital.

The immigration policies and laws have become a lot more gray than black or white since I met and fell in love with this kind, sweet, loving, sexy Islander husband of mine. Had they ever been caught by immigration, we wouldn't be married. But then, had my own great-grandmother, who immigrated here from Lebanon as a child, ever been deported, my own grandparents and parents wouldn't be married.

That being said, illegal immigration is becoming a huge problem in a land where housing prices and the cost of living are going up seemingly exponentially, while, simultaneously, the demand for cheaper labor is sending our factories and private healthcare records and financial information overseas to lands where our laws are not enforceable. The costs of illegal immigration and offshoring are more than just in lost jobs for American workers. Illegal immigrants can obtain healthcare at emergency facilities and there are laws in place to provide them with this care, but the facilities cannot force them to pay for their care. So who gets to pay for it? The average American tax payer. Illegals are frequently on WIC and food stamps and other federally mandated programs which are in place for American citizens. When I was a single mother of an infant baby, I did take her to one of the so-called "free" clinics in a city nearby. The illegals who were surrounding me did not pay a dime. I still had to pay a pro-rated amount. And trying to get on Medicaid and welfare at a time when I could not work was next to impossible at times, while the illegals walking in surrounding me were given money that very day.

Fortunately, I got myself a good paying job and am no longer in that situation, and haven't been for years. But I just recently learned of a woman with cancer from Michigan visiting a friend in California. While there, she got very sick and tried to obtain emergency healthcare and medication from a local clinic. She was turned away. One of the nurses privately told her that if she was an illegal, she would have been given the care and medication she needed. I type medical reports for a living and recently typed one on an illegal immigrant who has renal failure and requires dialysis three times a week. However, the local dialysis clinics there will not schedule him for dialysis since he can't pay, so he ends up in the ER three days a week for dialysis to keep himself alive ... but ... still doesn't pay. The doctor documented all of this in his record. So who pays for it?

What is the message being sent to American citizens? Our jobs are disappearing. The economy is not pretty. The cost of living is rising and our taxes are going to take care of people residing here who are not citizens, or even legally in the country. Insurance companies rake us over coals for premiums and then decline to pay when we have claims, or while we're paying exhorbitant premiums, still have huge out of pocket maximums and/or deductibles, while illegal immigrants get healthcare and don't pay for it.

Democrats think they have the solution for our country's problems: Pull out of Iraq and then we won't be viewed as bullies anymore. Okay, but if the rest of the world truly hates America and American citizens, why on earth are there so many people from other countries coming illegally into the U.S. or taking jobs from U.S. companies in other countries? Why are other countries still asking for our help?

See, my thinking is this. Everyone wants us to be the big brother and fix everything until we really get involved and then we didn't do it their way, so we're of the devil.

Pulling out of Iraq might help some of our problems, but only if the focus is then turned toward improving our own domestic problems. We can't ignore the rest of the world -- our economy is not just localized to our nation anymore. But perhaps instead of trying to be the "super power police" we should take care of the problems at home -- immigration, the rising rate of divorce, illiteracy, the declining importance of family, abortion, gay marriage, child abuse, the rising cost of living with wages not being increased to meet the demands a real family faces in this world, out of control gun laws, etc. etc. etc.

Our system is broken, but how can it be fixed? Band-Aids don't stop hemorrhages. Pulling out of Iraq or building a bigger fence (Berlin, anyone?) or banning guns will not fix our country.

We need people who can think for themselves to come together and create solutions outside of party lines or dogma. We need to get rid of this idiotic two-party system. We need the people to vote for good candidates, but anymore, it's the lesser of two evils. We need good candidates to run for office. We need the people to realize not everyone is going to agree on everything 100% of the time and come to terms with one another's opinions and create laws that are actually fair, right, good, and enforceable. We need American companies to bring American jobs home to our people. We need immigrants; our country always has. But we need a better system of them coming in the country. We need our men and women to come home from Iraq, and we need to provide adequate healthcare for them when they get here, including mental healthcare to those who so desperately need it.

In short, we need the good citizens of the United States of America involved in solving these problems by getting involved in politics, and we need the professional politicians to find better ways to handle things than by pitting one party against one person or the other party. Our country and our political system should be focused on the good of the country, and tearing each other apart is not going to solve a darn thing. Never has.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

nawty survey ...

this is definitely a TMI survey. If you don't wanna know TMI, don't read it. lol.

1. Sex is best in the morning, afternoon, or night? YES please.
2. What side of the bed do you sleep on? Right.
3. Pork, Beef, or Chicken? Prefer beef and chicken ... and pork ... um ... oops.
4. Have you ever had to pull over on the side of the road to puke? ... no. barely made it home and into the bathroom when I was pregnant with monkey.
5. What leg do you put in pants first when putting them on? Right.
6. Candles or Incense? Candles. Incense bothers my asthma.
7. Do you dance when no one is watching? Yes. And yet I still get embarrassed when kidlet or hubby catch me.
8. Did you play doctor when you were little? Probably.
9. Have you ever taken your clothes off for money? ... *thinks* ... no. for computer repairs, yes.
10. Stove top cooking or microwave? I like to cook.
11. Would you rather want your car or your house be dirty? The car. Hubby will clean that without me asking or suggesting. He'll help with the house, too, but only when he notices it's a disaster and driving me crazy.
12. Shower or bath? I prefer showers..but a good HOT bath in my giant tub now and then is good too. (ditto Alana)
13. Do you pee in the shower? I have. So have you, and if you say you don't you are a liar. (hahahaha, ditto)
14. Mexican or Chinese food? Yes please. I prefer Mexican but hubby gets friendlier if he has Chinese, so we usually have both every week, homemade or dinners out.
15. Do you want someone aggressive or passive in bed? Yes. they both have their merits.
16. Do you own sex toys? Yes. Although, the handcuffs the girls from work sent me don't work all that well ... Hubby is scared of them. *sigh*
17. Corn Dogs or Hot Dogs? Corn dog.
18. Your favorite restaurant? Um ... depends on the flavor of food we're going for. I lurve Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill and Applebee's and Winger's and Bajio and Los Hermanos and chili's and that place in SLC hubby and I went on our honeymoon that pretty much blew our budget ...
19. What did you have for lunch today? It's not lunchtime yet, but I will probably be having ww pasta with a light tomato sauce and leftover ground chicken taco/burrito meat (it wasn't very spicy, so should go well with the pasta sauce) on top with a side salad. Or just a grilled chicken salad. haven't decided yet.
20. Which do you prefer, iceberg or romaine lettuce? Butter or Boston. Those other two tend to make me ill.
21. When did you last fall down? Um ... A month ago, had a shooting pain in my pelvis. Didn't exactly fall, but I did hit the floor.
22. Have you ever wished someone were dead? Yes.
23. Love or Money? Hubby's love AND money.
24. Credit Cards or cash? Cash. Credit cards are of the devil (she says as she whips out a check to finish paying off the last two)
25. Has there ever been anyone in your family you wish wasn't? Yes. There's reasons I left my ex-husband.
26. Oreos or Vanilla Wafers? Nilla Wafers. Oreos also tend to make me ill.
27. How do you like your steak cooked? Medium rare.
28. How do you like your eggs cooked? Over medium or scrambled whites with low fat cheese and some salsa, wrapped up in a burrito with low fat ham and nonfat sour cream. ooo. maybe i'm having that for lunch.
29. Have you ever knocked someone off their feet in fight? ... no.
30. Would you rather go camping or to a 5 star hotel? Depends on the company. If it's alone time with hubby, hotel please. if it's family time, camping so I can run away when I need to.
31. Would you rather have a root canal or minor surgery? surgery. i have extra nerves in my mouth and they *never* get me numb.
32. Would you shave your entire body (including your head)? Not unless I lose my mind.
33. Would you rather have lice or an STD? Lice, if the STD is one of the incurables.
34. What is your favorite hard candy? lately, starlight peppermints. or jolly ranchers.
35. Ever been to a strip club? ... no.
36. Ever been to a bar? ... no.
37. Ever been kicked out of a bar or a club? ... no.
38. Ever been so drunk you had to be carried out of somewhere? ... no. I just passed out in my then-boyfriend (now ex-husband's) trailer on the floor. Man, I wish I was lying about that.
39. Have you ever kissed someone of the same sex? ... no.
40. Thrown up from drinking too much? ... no.
41. Have you ever kissed a stranger? ... not exactly.
42. Does anyone have naughty pics of you? ... no. although i did just buy hubby a camera phone and threatened to (he was being weird and I was in a weird mood) take nawty pics of us and he freaked out 'cuz what if our daughters found it? hahahahahahaha. damn. maybe that's TMI.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

So ... I checked our bank account today and found that a significant amount of money was missing from our account. We've been budgeting pretty tightly, trying to pay off debt, trying to get things taken care of, and because we haven't had church yet this month, tithing hasn't been paid and I've spent money out of the other account (since it has checks) planning on replacing the money from the account missing money into that account to pay bills. I noted that there is still money for tithing and the bills and stuff, so not to panic. Right. HA. Panic ensued. what did he spend that much money on? Why? Did he buy himself a video card after telling me that's what he wants for his birthday? (which he'll be getting for Father's Day instead since it's way much sooner). Yeah. No. And when I thought about it (after asking him if he'd bought something for himself), I realized he'd spent the money on ME for my birthday next week but couldn't figure out what on earth he bought for me at a music/computer store but computer parts for the computer his brother is building for me.

No. Not computer parts. Not an MP3 player. Not anything he wanted or could "borrow".

He bought me the Alias series on DVD -- it's my all-time favorite TV show and ever since it ended, I've wanted the collection but refused to spend the money on myself. I guess I talked about it enough he decided it was important to me and said, "I got a bonus this check, I'm not going to worry about the money, I'm just going to buy it." awwwwwww ... Completely and totally took me by surprise. :) What a sweetie. :) I sure love him. Man. I'm lucky.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Refis, Taxes, and Life

Financially, we're doing okay. We're really doing okay in most areas these days. Just sometimes I get stressed out and I have to remind myself that hubby and kiddo are amazingly patient to put up with me, and I have to remind myself how much I love them and vice versa. We could use a little spiritual help probably, and I could probably use some psychiatric help, but other than that, we're okay.

This is my to do list today:

*refi mortgage and car
*tax guy -- drop off paperwork, final word on return
*match paint on garage door
*buy paint
*wash door
*paint door
*clean the house
*put the laundry away
*new cell phone
*new glasses (call the eye doc for an appointment)
*work some to make up for missing a couple hours tomorrow. costco. gr.
*play with monkey
*play with hubby

Instead, I think I'm going to bed. After I pick up kiddo, maybe we'll go get a new phone and plan, but I was trying to hold off on that until I talk to hubby. If he really doesn't want one, then there is no point in me delaying upgrading my own. Especially if his ex is going to insist on calling IT now. hahahhahaha. *sob*

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Saturday ... happy ... THREE??

So, I decided at the beginning of the week that my five favorite web funnies sent to me or posted to me or whatever would be my five. But I only got 3 things this week at all. Good thing they were alllll postworthy!

1. Google maps. Line 21 on this version.

2. Letter from the police:

Dear Civilian,

Your 5-year-old kid getting pushed down by another 5-year-old kid is NOT a
police matter; talk to the other kid's parents, not the police.

If your kid won't do his homework or do his chores, 911 is not the answer.
Maybe you should try something called parenting!

If a cop causes a car accident we usually get a ticket, and sometimes we
get suspended. When is the last time you got 3 days off (without pay) for
rear-ending a guy at Wal-Mart?

We know you've had more than two beers. When I've had two beers, I don't
hit six parked cars, drive my car through the front doors of a Toys-R-Us,
pee my pants or pass out at a traffic light.

When you see an emergency vehicle behind you with its lights and sirens on,
pull to the RIGHT, and stop. We are usually required to pass cars on the left.

When you're driving in the fast lane and you see a cop behind you, don't go
5 MPH under the speed limit. We are not impressed by how safe of a driver
you can be, we're trying to go help someone (or catch that guy in the SUV that
just cut you off). Safely move over and let us pass please.

If we park our cruiser across the road with lights flashing, don't ask if
the road is closed or if there is an accident, just take an alternate route
and DON'T DRIVE AROUND US!

If you get a warning instead of a ticket from a motorcycle cop, go buy a
lottery ticket because you've already beaten the odds.

When you see an officer conducting a traffic stop or with a suspect in
handcuffs, it is generally not a good idea to approach him and ask for
directions. If you do, don't expect the officer to be nice when he tells you
to get lost, and don't expect the officer to take the time to explain.

Here's how to get out of a ticket: Don't break the law.

If you drive a piece of crap, that is why you're getting pulled over.

In one week I pulled over 10 cars for minor traffic violations. 5 out of 10
had no vehicle insurance. 3 out of 10 had suspended driver's licenses. 2
out of 10 had warrants. 1 out of 10 had felony warrants. 1 was a known sex
offender with his 12 year old niece in the car without her mother's
knowledge.

If you've just been pulled over doing 70 in a 35, do not greet the officer
with, "What seems to be the problem, officer?"

We get lunch and coffee breaks too.

When you're the victim of a burglary, take the time you spend waiting for
the officer to find the model number and the serial number of the stuff that
was taken.

Some cops are just jerks, but take heart in the fact that other cops don't
like them either.

If it's night time and you're driving a vehicle with tinted windows and I
pull you over, it's not because of your skin color. I usually can't tell if
the vehicle even has a driver until the window is rolled down.

Every time you hear on the news about people running away from a crazed
gunman, someone's son or daughter in a police uniform is running TOWARD that
crazed gunman.

Yes, it's true; cops usually don't give other cops tickets. Think of it as
an employee discount, perk or benefit. Other cops are family and you
wouldn't give your brother a ticket if you were a cop either.

If your local police agency has a helicopter, everyone knows it's loud and
annoying, but did you know it can cover the same area as 20 patrol officers
and safely chase criminals that are driving 90 MPH through city streets.
Many times the guy has no idea it's there and slows down.

Police work is.... Writing reports.

If you rob a gas station you're only going to get about $100, but I get to
see a K9 dog use you as a chew toy. For all I care you can keep the $100.

In one year of patrol work in a large city, only about ten minutes would be
cool enough to be on the television show "Cops".

Every traffic stop could end in gunfire, but we have to be polite and
professional until that time .

I've taken about the same amount of men and women to jail for domestic
violence, so NO, it's not always the man.

If the light was yellow, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Cops know you pay taxes and that your taxes pay cops' salaries.

Cops also pay taxes, which also pay cops' salaries so, hey; this traffic
stop is on me. Now sign here; press hard. There are several copies.

Police Officers... Our job is to protect your [butt], not kiss it!

Thank You,
The Police


3. The curtain rods.

She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.

On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things.

On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candle-light, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of spring-water.

When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar into the hollow of the curtain rods.

She then cleaned up the kitchen and left. When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days.

Then slowly, the house began to smell.

They tried everything; cleaning, mopping and airing the place out.

Vents were checked for dead rodents and carpets were steam cleaned.

Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting. Nothing worked.

People stopped coming over to visit. Repairmen refused to work in the house. The maid quit.

Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move.

A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house.

Word got out and eventually even the local realtors refused to return their calls.

Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place.

The ex-wife called the man and asked how things were going.

He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely and said that she missed her old home terribly and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house back.

Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day.

She agreed and within the hour his lawyers delivered the paperwork.

A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home.........

And to spite the ex-wife, they even took the the curtain rods!!!!!!



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

Now that I've made you all pee your pants, you can thank CC and my co-workers for the need for clean underwear.

Friday, April 13, 2007

70 things ... minus whatever numbers are missing.

70 Quirks about me:

1. What are your initials? ELF. Yes. Really.
2. What is your favorite thing to wear? Nothing. Literally.
3. Last thing you ate? A mint
5. I say Shotgun, you say? I'm driving!
6. Last person you hugged? Hubby
8. How many U.S states have you been to? TNTC
9. How many of the U.S states have you lived in? Oregon, Utah, Virginia ... I guess that's three.
10. Does anyone you know wanna date you? Hubby.
11. Name something you like physically about yourself. My eyes. My smile. My boobs.
13. Who is your best friend? Hubby. (then SA and G and H from NY)
14. Why are you still up? Because I haven't gone for my migraine-induced nap yet.
15. Who/What made you angry today? Hubby's ex made me mildly pissy; see below.
16. Favorite type of Food? Italian, Mexican, SUGAR
17. Favorite holidays? Christmas, Easter, my birthday
18. Do you download music? No, but hubby does
19. Do you care if your socks are dirty? I rarely wear them, but yes. I'll even take them off if they get mildly dirty.
21. Would you date the person who posted this? No. I'm married, and the two I've read were from sister and sister's friend, and I don't swing that way.
22. Has anyone ever sang or played for you personally? Yes. Several someones. And when the last one disappeared, it ruined the songs for me. (the rest were songs made up by the singers or songs I liked more than the guys. hahaha)
23. Do you love anyone? Hubby, kiddo, small fry, family ... friends ...
24. Do you like Bush? I'm mildly indifferent to the prez.
25. Have you ever bungee jumped? No.
26. Have you ever gone white-water rafting? No.
27. Has anyone ten years older than you ever hit on you? uh, yes. my ex was ... 17-1/2 years my senior. and i dated one or two 10 years older than me post-divorce, but mostly stuck to youngers afterward (and hubby is 18 months my junior)
28. How much money ya got in ya pocket? $3?
29. Have you met a real redneck? Probably.
30. How is the weather right now? Chilly and sunny. Welcome to spring in Utah!
31. What are you listening to right now? Construction, kiddo, hubby playing WoW.
32. What is your current fav song? Something by Rascal Flatts I've heard a lot lately about a broken road leading me straight to you ... reminds me of hubby (yup, i'm a gooey newlywed).
33. What was the last movie you watched? Steamboy. Animation on date night with hubby.
34. Do you wear contacts? Seomteims.
35. Where was the last place you went besides your house? The ... credit union.
36. What are you afraid of? Spiders. Snakes. Creepy crawlies.
37. How many piercings have you had? Eight. 6 in the ears, two in the navel.
38. How many pets do you have? NONE.
39. What's one thing you've learned this year? If it's gonna be weird, it's gonna be me. And gerbils will starve to death if you ignore them.
40. What do you usually order from Starbucks? nothing ... I don't drink coffee.
42. Have you ever fired a gun? Many times!
43. Are you missing someone? Gramps, aunts, sister, step-kiddo?
44. Fav. TV show? Food Network stuff, TLC stuff ... Alias, but it's over.
45. Do you have an iPod? No.
46. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celeb? yup.
48. Who would you like to see right now? Hubby. Hey! He's in the living room! I can go see him!
49. Favorite movie of all time? uh ...
50. Do you find yourself loved? Yes!!
51. Have you ever been caught doing something you weren't supposed to? once in a while.
52. Favorite flower? Columbine
53. Butter, plain, or salted popcorn? Butter and SALT.
54. What Magazines are you reading? Shape, the Ensign ...
56. Has anyone you were really close to passed away recently? No.
58. What's something that really bugs you? .
60. Do you like Michael Jackson? ick
61. What's your favorite smell? hubby. after a shower. with a spritz of cologne ... irresistible.
62. Favorite baseball team? What's baseball?
63. Favorite cereal? Special K w/almonds OR Frosted mini wheats.
65. What's the longest time you've gone without sleep? 36 hours or so ...
66. Last time you went bowling? About a year ago -- hahahaha ... bowling with hubby on a date (long before we were married), told him I'd kiss him every time he got a gutter ball ... trying intentionally to drive his score down and distract him so I'd win ... it worked for a while ...
67. Where is the weirdest place you have slept? in my car in front of a convenience store/motel.
68. Who was your last phone call? The tax guy, Kirsten, hubby's ex, in that order (most recent first), for the last hour.
69. Last time you were at work? Earlier today; about to get back to it right now
70. What's the closest orange object to you? Orange ... either the rolaids package or the cheez-its in a bowl next to me.

Guess what? The taxes went through with the two dependents deal ... so our refund is gonna be huge! (well, huger than I thought!). SWEET! AND, hubby's ex said we could have her for the sunner. I'm going to figure out a good time to fly out and pick her up after school is out and go do it, since we'll have the money to do so with the taxes. Yay!!!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Well, that's weird

I've lived in this condo for almost two years and am now getting ready to sell it with all the kitchen appliances included. I bought the side-by-side fridge used from a "friend" and it's worked just fine that entire time with two exceptions: It doesn't have a filter on the water and I don't like how our water tastes, so I never hooked up the water/ice dispenser, and there isn't a light in the freezer.

Except, this morning, I opened the freezer and about 10 seconds after I opened it, a light came on. Shut the freezer. Opened it again. A light. Checked again. Yep, still a light.

WTH?

That could have been useful the past two years ...



On another note, our carpet is now covered in sparkly, pink Easter basket grass. Oy.

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Easter Bunny

My daughter. I swear she knows the Ester Bunny (her spelling; oh the irony) isn't real. I know she knows about Santa and Babushka (family tradition), and I think she might suspect the Tooth Fairy and leprechauns, but seriously, the girl just insists on pretending she doesn't know. She's 7-2/3 years old.

Okay, so I don't 100% mind. Protects her innocence just a bit longer and means I get to have fun pretending longer. It's just that none of her other cousins her age really pretend anymore, except around their younger siblings.

Anyway. The deal is that she has a zillion plastic Easter eggs from the last several years which we store in her Easter basket, and last night I was putting together our traditional Easter morning breakfast when she started asking, "what should I do with my Easter eggs? I don't want the Easter bunny to keep them." I snapped, but she finally had the idea to write the bunny a letter and say, "Don't keep my eggs, just hide them for me, please." Well. The Ester bunny got tired and only hid 13 and put the rest away. So the first thing this morning, she asks what happened to her eggs. oy. What a kid.

The in-laws are a whole 'nother story, which I'm not going to rant about. That's what emailing cc is for. ;)

Friday, April 6, 2007

Friday Fave Five!!!

Four YouTubes and a FOUND! Mostly already seen and sent to me by friends, but man, I love this stuff.

1.



2.



3.



4.



5. Go here. Awesome. http://foundmagazine.com/find/767

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Not all superheroes are created equally.

Take me for instance. I'm Super Stewie, but I'm not impervious to bullets. I don't have x-ray vision. I'm not all that fast, except for my flying fingers at work. I can't stop trains, I can't stretch for miles on end, I'm not invisible, I can't make plants obey my every whim, I'm not able to create a vortex by running in circles ... Worst of all, I can't fly! There are times I float ... but that's usually diagnosed as "vertigo" ... or when hubby kisses me ... ahem. But I am somehow managing to juggle being a mom and a wife and an employee and stuff, although the housework just isn't getting done.

Maybe I need a clone. Super Stewie II.

Okay, seriously. How many superhero movies have come out in recent years? Incredibles, My Super Ex-girlfriend, Zoom, Sky High, Superman Returns, etc. etc. etc.

I LOVE THEM. I will probably buy both Zoom and Sky High eventually. We own the Incredibles. The girlfriend one was pretty lame, although Luke Wilson, as always, plays a cute character.

But here's how all these "super" movies have affected my daughter.

This morning, she's holding barbie baby dolls (they are tiny), running around the house yelling, "Wheeeeeee! They're super babies Mom!!! They're flying!" *thud* (crashes the babies into a wall) "I guess they're not so super after all." *dejected look*

That is just not normal. It's hilarious though. Man, I love that kid.

Y'know. I started wondering if I was really ready to try to have a baby, if I really wanted more kids, if we'd be able to handle more changes, if it would really be worth the pregnancy and the labor and all the pain ... and I came to the conclusion just now that yes, kids are a PITA sometimes, but I have an amazing kidlet who just cracks me up and makes me giggle and she's really a beautiful spirit whom I love very much. And my husband isn't perfect, but I bet we'd still have great kids and our joy will increase exponentially, even if our disposable income decreases again for a while.

I guess it comes down to "kids = joy" and "moms = super" and "husband = amazing" ... so I think we'll be okay.

My ultrasound went fine this morning. Gotta call the doc Monday for the results. Woo.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

yup. still love my kid.

So, Munchkin runs up to me this evening with red stuff all over her finger and says, "MOM! I cut myself really bad!" I look over and she *licks* it off and says, "Haha! April Fools!" It was bbq sauce. I laughed, then explained that it's not April Fools Day anymore, and she was like, "so, it's still APRIL." *snort* what a girl.

hahahahahahaa ... I love my kid

So, Munchkin has apparently heard the term "knuckle sandwich" and knows it comes from someone hitting someone.

Well, this morning, we were rushing to get ready as she'd slept in (which is an entirely different story in and of itself), and she was hurrying out of my office when she smacked her knuckles on the door. She said, "ow" and her face got bright red, so I could tell it hurt. She kept shaking her hand and I asked if she neeeded a kiss. As she walked over to get it, she said, "That thing just gave me a wood sandwich." hahahahahahaha ... i'm still cracking up. First, at the fact that she would think of that, and second, at the usage of the term not being exactly right. It didn't, after all, smack her in the mouth!

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

I am definitely

NOT pregnant. Yeah, I'm sad, but still. The UTI/being sick whatever and selling the house ... still need to work on them before we do get preggers I guess, so it's okay. *sigh*

I've been craving nutella for days so I bought some and am now eating it for breakfast. I guess it's my chocolate fix this month.

Adopting Alyssa was quite good. A fast read, but you still get an emotional connection to the characters. I did figure out the major plot twist before it was revealed, but that's okay. Because it's a Christian book, there is no sex and no swearing. So, a fun, clean, still emotional read, with good morals while eating nutella? What's better than that? Not much. ;)

ack... more cramps. later.

Monday, April 2, 2007

Survey! abecederian ... er something.

A is for age:
30 years and 344 days ... or something like that
B is for Beer:
Root
C is for Career:
Wife, mommy, medical transcriptionist
D is for my Dog’s Name:
Timid. He really really was.
E is for Essential Item I Use Everyday:
Lip gloss
F is for Favorite T.V. Show:
Food Network
G is for Favorite Game:
Spider if I'm alone; if hubby and kidlet are playing, anything I can get them both to play WITH ME
H is for Hometown:
Um ... Cedar Hills, Utah?
I is for Instruments I Play:
Voice, oboe, bassoon, piano, organ, French horn ...
J is for Favorite Juice:
Orange.
K is for Whose Butt I’d Like To Kick:
?? um ... probably my dad's for saying something stupid last night
L is for the Last Place I Ate:
Dining room -- ground chicken tacos
M is for Marriage:
Yep, been married 7 months
N is for my Name:
Stewie (Esther)
O is for Overnight Hospital Stays:
Tonsils. And open-heart surgery
P is for People I was With Today:
Kidlet, hubby, sister, niece, sis's friend Esther ...
Q is for Quote:
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
R is for Biggest Regret:
Not finishing college
S is for Sport:
Vegging on the couch? Okay ... walking
T is for Time I Woke Up Today:
Tried to get up at 5 ... and 6 ... got up finally at 7 (that is majorly sleeping in for me)
U is for Current Underwear:
White
V is for Vegetable You Love:
I like veggies
W is for Worst Habit:
Interrupting other people/teasing
X is for X-rays I Have Had:
Ankles, dental, chest
Y is for Yummy Food You Ate Today:
Chuck-a-Rama scones and cheesy potatoes. comfort food day apparently.
Z is for Zodiac:
Taurus. Chinese Zodiac: Dragon

Monday Monday ...

So ... conference was good yesterday. Missed saturday 'cuz I was working. But Elder Oaks' talk was awesome and felt like it was directed to hubby and me. marriage is hard ... but ultimately, I am glad we got married and wouldn't change it. And we "made up" Saturday night after a really horrible week, so hopefully things stay smooth sailing for a while.

The antibiotics I'm on for a raging UTI (the only symptom I have is nausea, so we think it's actually in my kidneys) are making me get all bloated and tired and stoopid. Today is day 4 though, so I think I'll deal for the next 3 days. I'm going in for an ultrasound Thursday, and ... well ... my aunt did some holistic thing on my feet today and said it IS in my kidneys and ureters and my fallopian tubes are also being affected. I'm betting it's one of the reasons I've gained so much weight back, too -- just feel too crappy to do much of anything. So ... I'm probably NOT in Zone Conference as of yet (took an early test Saturday and it was negative), but hope to get the infection taken care of so we can get that way someday soon.

Got *almost* all the taxes done. We're getting a good refund. Yay. Just need to plug in a few more numbers. Looking at that made me wish I was pregnant -- so our baby would be born this year and give us another deduction for next year, but whatever. If it's not time yet, it's not time.

Went to lunch with my sister and a friend of hers today. Then as we left, she got a phone call saying her MIL is in the hospital. Again. So she had to dash, but it was good to spend some time with her. and she gave me a book that said friend wrote called Adopting Alyssa. I'll post a review later. ;)

The good news about today is that the doc's office called and said all my labs came back normal. Having an ultrasound Thursday just to make sure nothing else is wrong. *sigh*

I'm going to go get kiddo and get to Costco. Life is good.