Back to Work

When I left work last Thursday, early for the ortho, I had a list of what I had left to do:

1. 10 closing memos

2. 1 ROR letter

3. 77 emails to paste in to our computer file

4. 1 file to refer to an outside counsel

So I had hopes of jumping in to those things when I returned today.  Ha!  I should know better, but there is always hope!  After I walked to work (yes, I am still walking from our horrible parking garage) I grabbed my incoming mail out of my in-box and sat down to see what I had "new" added to my above list.  After I open all of the mail from my in-box I discover that one of my piles grew, so I discover that my boss's secretary hasn't learned that an in-box does have a purpose, really.  So when I thought I was done adding to my list I had to open more mail...Ugh.

I discovered that my mail brought me 9 new files to deal with.  So all I did was deal with my new files and never even had an opportunity to touch my left-overs from last week.  Got to love work...  My LSBFF has told me to stop planning things at work because they always get screwed up.  Maybe some day I will learn.  C'est la vie!

The Ride Home

Well, I drove home today and it was truly amazing to leave at noon and be home before 6pm!!  Woo-hoo!  But needless to say I'm totally exhausted.  My ride home is almost always very emotional.  I hate the thought of coming home, but when I walk in and see my munchkin's face I'm happy to be here.  I will just be happy when I can experience both and not be sad for either one at any time during my travels....

A Tearful Goodbye

Well, today was it.  I had to say goodbye to my man and it was so hard.  I've had so many visits and trips to see him, but I have never broke down during the visit or in the visit room...now when I'm out in my car that is a whole different story, but this time was different.  I knew all day while we visited that I was having a hard time keeping it together, but I kept trying.

About 40 mins before our visit was over I just lost it.  I mean totally lost it.  Tears dripping off my face landing on my honey's arm.  I couldn't stop either.  I had my face buried in his shoulder and everytime he touched me I think it made things worse, even though he was trying to make it better...finally he knew exactly what to do to make it stop...make me laugh!  LOL  My man started to crack little jokes and made me laugh and was able to get the tears to stop.  

I told my man if I didn't turn around after I walked through the first set of doors when we said goodbye, it was because I couldn't bring myself to.  The reasoning was because I didn't want to upset him.  The thing about prison life is the fact that he cannot cry, so why am I going to push him to cry or put it in his face.  I wanted him to know and I needed to say it out loud so we were on the same page.  

I was kind of upset because every other night the CO announced a 10 or a 5 minute warning before visits were over.  Tonight, we received a 1 minute warning.  Maybe he saw how upset some of us were and didn't want us to agonize, I don't know.  Anywho, we got that last minute warning and I thought I might be sick, because it seemed to happen so quickly!  I took our Uno cards up to the desk, grabbed our paperwork and my man's ID, and walked back to him.  And then it happened.........my man grabbed me, pulled me to him, looked me in the eye, told me he loved me and then kissed me.  OMG...it was a kiss of all kisses.  It was a hard, passionate, dirty kiss...the best you can have in the situation we were in.  It curled my toes and needless to say, he wasn't the only one to moan tonight.  He couldn't have gave me a better kiss!  When we finally ended the kiss, we embraced for a deep hug, expressed our love for one another and then I had to walk away.  When I got to the first set of doors I had tears streaming down my face and my legs were shaking...after I checked in with the CO in the control room before I had to go through the next doors I knew I had to turn and look at my man.  With a smile on my face I turned and blew him a kiss and mouthed, "I Love You!"  I wanted him to know I was okay and for him not to be too upset tonight while we were both alone...

I hate leaving him there even though when he comes home he will not be coming home to me.  It is just different.  I hate having to leave alone and knowing I won't be able to see him for another 3 months...that phone calls are intermittent and limited and that letters never come and go fast enough.  I just hate saying good bye with tears, heartache, a kiss and a last "I love you."  

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday! She knew I wouldn't be in town and I did call and leave her a voice mail wishing her a Happy Birthday! We will be celebrating next weekend when we do a dual 4th of July cookout and a Birthday celebration. :)

I know my mom and I have been going through a difficult time, but every now and then we have a great moment and seems like the days of old...but regardless I wish her a Happy Birthday and I will always love her and be thankful that she had me...

Happy Birthday Mom! Love & hugs to you.

Conveniences taken for granted

It is a matter of convenience.  We all have them in our lives and some of them you get so used to you can't even imagine your life without them.  In my normal life I keep long hours and count on my local Wal-Green's.  Whether I need a coke, soap, a book or a medication that is behind the pharmacy counter, I head to my local Wal-Green's because I know that they will be there for me.  Well, I guess I began to assume there was a Wal-Green's in every town that would always be there for me.  I was wrong...

Last night I attempted to go to the local Wal-Green's and RiteAid to get my allergy pills, which are maintained behind the counter.  Well apparently they close at 10:00pm, because at 10:02pm they were both closed.  I knew I would have to wait till morning.  I showed up when they opened at 8am, but there was still no pharmacist.  I would have to wait another hour.  So I went to breakfast and then returned for my allergy pills.  Once I had those I was ready to go and see my man.  

We had 10 hours of visitation today.  It was wonderful.  We spent the first 6-8 hours talking and then decided to try our hands at Uno.  OMG...I haven't played Uno in forever!  It was so much fun.  We both did remark how we were together for years and would never have picked up a set of Uno cards to play, but we both love it.  Plus it is something that the kids could play too.  

Our 10 hours together were fantastic.  I was so happy we were together.  My only concern was/is my stomach and the complications I seem to be experiencing.  But I will admit that leaving tonight was really hard...I was on the verge of tears for the last 30 mins I was there to visit and once I was back at the room, my verge continued on the edge.  On top of this, we only have 10 hours left with one another and then we have to say goodbye again...

Honey, I'm back...

This morning I left my house knowing I had to get my oil changed and my tires rotated before I hit the road.  I left my usual time and went down to my local Ford dealer and signed up for my oil change and tire rotation.  I was told it would take an hour.  I was on the phone with my man and we were shocked at how long it was going to take, but we continued our conversation.  We were both excited to see one another later that day.

Well, at the 45 minute mark the service guy came out and asked me where the lock was for my wheel locks.  Duh!  I totally forgot that I had those on.  I gave him a couple of options of where to look in the car, but as soon as he walked away I knew it wouldn't be there, but my feminine products would be.  Opps!  Finally in the end I told him nevermind, I would locate the lock and come back later on.  After an hour and a half I was finally on the road!

I was very excited to see my man that afternoon so I put the pedal to the medal and was off...  This was an exciting trip since it was at his new facility.  It was also going to be a faster trip up and down, because instead of being 10 hours one way it was only going to take 5 & 1/2 hours one way!   Of course the whole snafu with the oil/tire situation put me on the road later than planned, so I did not get a chance to go to the room before visiting started, so the first thing I did when I hit the area was go and see my man, without my hair did or my makeup on!

It was so good to see him.  Five whole hours that night!  I was so happy...we kissed, hugged, held hands, talked, laughed, listened...  It was great.  The COs were very relaxed too.  The most shocking thing was my man was bald!!!  He shaved his head.  I couldn't believe it!  He looked great though.  I just wish I could have reached over and rubbed his head, but that was not allowed...  

I was so happy to see my man, but sorry to have to go so quickly.  But alas, the clock struck 8:30pm and we had to say our goodbyes for the night.  I hated leaving him there, but I'm glad I could go in the morning to see him again.  Off to the room I went and then off to dinner alone.  That is the hardest part.  You go and you are with your loved one and feel so complete and then you have to leave and go and eat alone or go back to the room alone and lay down alone...  That alone is some of the hardest alone, but we get past it so we can go back the next morning full of smiles.  :)

PS:  My munchkin lost tooth #3 today!  Way to go munchkin...  :)  

Tornados & Limbs

I left work early today to appear for my appointment with an orthopedic surgeon.  My appointment time was 2:30pm.  I was not told to appear early for paperwork, so I was on time and was shocked when I walked in to the office and saw 17 people sitting in the waiting room.  Are you kidding me?

Of course I had a full afternoon planned.  I figured I would be out of the doctor's office no later than 3:15pm.  This would allow me to go to the drug store and to get my oil changed and tires rotated before my appointment at the salon at 5:oopm.  Well, since I didn't get out of the surgeon's office until 4:15pm, my plan fell apart.

Of course when I walked out of his office, I hadn't ate yet for the day and the sky was a dark blue filled with horrible looking clouds.  So I ran to grab a quick bite and made my way to the salon since if I did anything else I would have been late and caught in the rain.  So I was sort of hoping I could get an early start at the salon.  Well, I was there but my girl wasn't.  She was at lunch.  Then the rain started...and then the tornado sirens went off.  

Needless to say, I did not get half of the things accomplished that I wanted to and I did not get an early start either...such as life.  But hey...my manicure and pedicure looked perfect and my waxing went great and my facial was relaxing...can't ask for much more than that!  ;)

Oh yeah...the doctor's appointment lasted all of 5 mins for a decision to be made that I need surgery on my right wrist, but I need another doctor...one that works out of a hospital not in my hometown.  We, as in the family, do not like to go there since they killed my grandmother a few years back...so I have another appointment with another orthopedic surgeon next month!

LSU wins national title

In the hopes of my munchkin watching baseball to learn more about the game and at his request when flipping it around, we landed on the College World Series Finals-Championship Game.  Well, he went to bed and I've been sucked into the game.  Well, now I can converse with the rude grandpa at the munchkin's baseball game next week about the fact that LSU won (over Texas) and add my opinion on the crack of the aluminum bat vs. the wood bat (from back in the day!).  

As for the rude grandpa...that is for a future post!

A pain in the butt?

I am starting to realize I'm old...  Last night the munchkin had a baseball game and apparently sitting on the metal bleachers 4 times a week for 2 hours each time has finally gotten to me.  After sitting there for 2 hours last night sweating our asses off, I commented to my aunt that my butt hurt.  Well, I woke up this morning with a pain in my ass...not the usual "pain in the ass" but a literal pain in the ass.  I'm not sure why, what or how, but it has hurt all day today.  I'm chalking it up to very uncomfortable bleachers for several hours several times a week, a big butt and being old.  I hope I will wake up tomorrow with not quite such a pain in my ass!

Well, tomorrow I go to the orthopedic surgeon in the afternoon.  Then I'm going to get a manicure, a pedicure, my eyebrows/lip waxed and a facial.  Then I have to pack for my weekend with my man!  Woo-hoo!!!  I'm very excited.  I'm also hoping that they have comfortable chairs and I do not have a continuing pain in my ass!

PS:  I walked day #2...the hottest day yet...and I survived again!  Woo-hoo!!

I walked and I survived

Today I decided it was time to stop forking out money to park right next to my office building and to park where my parking is paid.  That and I'm broke.  LOL  Well, I picked one of the hottest days to take on this challenge, but I walked it and survived...both directions!  It wasn't horrible, but I still do not understand why my employer has to stick us in a parking lots that skeeve me out!  Ugh...

Oh well...tomorrow it is suppose to be even hotter and my fat ass will be walking the streets twice...to and from my office to my car!  Feel free to step over me if I fall out.  ;)

Bone Scan

Well, I had to leave work early today for medical tests.  Today was the bone scan.  It took 4.5 hours.  I had to go and register at 3pm, be injected with dye at 3:30pm and the scan was suppose to take place at 7pm.  It actually did not get started until 7:15pm  I was still home by 8pm.  

The test wasn't hard or anything, but I sure wish someone would have told me ahead of time that I did not have to stay there once the dye was injected in me.  Oh well...I got a kick ass parking spot, hauled my bag in so I went to the cafeteria and went through some of my papers and wrote a letter to my man.  

Then at 6:40pm I headed back to radiology and finally went in to be scanned to see if I have any broken bones that would contribute to the pain I'm having in my side.  Of course I did get concerned when the tech kept needing to clarify which side I was having my pain...  He did say results would be ready in 48 hours.  I couldn't get them to understand that this was being done only to rule out a fracture.  So I said thanks and came home.  

This is just one of many tests in these next two weeks...

Happy Father's Day!

Just a shout out to all of the Dads out there!  Holla!

Munchkin had a reading at church this morning in honor of all fathers and this afternoon we all went to his grandpa's for a little pizza over the fire cook out!  Yummy....  It was fun, but I was kind of a bitch in the beginning.  I didn't change after church because my parents do nothing outside, so I was not happy when I got there and they wanted to sit outside...next to a fire...in 88 degree heat.  

Then after my brother finally showed up, over 30 minutes, I asked him what the 4 of them wanted on their pizzas.  Of course, my brother being himself replied that they were having friends over so they weren't staying.  HUH?  It is Father's Day...you don't come over for five minutes, refuse dinner which was always the plan, and say that you are having friends over.  Whatever...but apparently he kept telling the wife to go in the house and finally she blew up at him and told him she didn't want to go in the house and why did he want her to go in the house so bad and if he was so obsessed with the house he could go in there!  LOL...

A week ago tonight while shopping for father's day cards the munchkin asked if he could buy his Daddy a card too.  I told him absolutely and only did it after I had previously talked to the munchkin's psychologist about the situation.  So he picked out a card, but when we tried to find it Tuesday night to write it out to mail out it was gone.  I thought he handed it to me and I put it with the cards I was buying for my man, my dad and my uncle, but it never made its way to the check out or home.  Needless to say my munchkin was crushed.  So we had to rush and find an alternative option.  Thank goodness Chuck E. Cheese had sent an email earlier that day about Father's Day cards.  I printed it out, the munchkin colored it and I mailed it.

Of course thanks to the budget crisis in our state Friday was a state induced furlough day and therefore there was no mail received by my man and in turn he didn't receive any of the mail I sent Tuesday or Wednesday, including my long-ass letter or our father's day cards.  :(  Hopefully he gets them tomorrow!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Father's Day and was able to spend time with the fathers in your life...  Happy Father's Day & Love to the Daddies!!

A Soccer Picnic to a Baseball Bat and Golf Balls

Today was the annual soccer picnic for the munchkin.  And it was a blast!  I didn't get to participate and watch my munchkin as much because I offered to be the volunteer parent for my son's team for an hour.  I knew no other parent was going to step up and since I wasn't sure if Coach was going to be alone there with his son and I could not expect him to work for an hour after all he has done in the last year for us.

So I worked while the munchkin went with my aunt and played and then the last ten minutes of my hour the munchkin picked up his lunch and ate, so that way when I was done with working and ready to eat my lunch he opted to go and play.  I guess we weren't very coordinated.  As I finished eating and walked out to meet them to watch him play on the huge blow up things those two are walking back and the munchkin is ready to leave because another kid pushed him while they were playing in one of the bouncy houses.

Off we went and we wound up at a Play it Again Sports store.  We picked up a new bat for munchkin, which fits him much better.  And I picked up a mit in the hopes that we will play a little catch.  Of course my munchkin who plays baseball and soccer was more interested in picking up golf clubs and balls...go figure!  I think if munchkin could he would play every single sport out there!  

A Night Off

Finally a break...It feels like for weeks now we have had something to do every night until tonight!  Monday night was dinner with friends, Tuesday and Thursday nights were baseball games and Wednesday night was a parent vs. players soccer game.  So it was awesome that tonight all that we had to do was grab dinner and sleep!  

Of course it was another stressful week, especially since my boss was in London for the last 10 days and the person covering for her needs to begin taking Airicept.  It was very stressful and I'm so glad she will be back on Monday!  What happened to the days when your boss going on vacation meant you almost had yourself a little vacation?  Apparently they do not exist any more.

Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and welcome back Boss-Lady!  ;)

Sponsoring a Sponsor

Tonight was the second baseball game for my munchkin this week.  It was a rough one for him too.  He just doesn't do well at night.  :(  So those 2 hours are really long for us and afterwards all we want to do is eat dinner and go to bed.  This year's sponsor is a local pizza place that none of us have been to, so we decide Thursday night to go there hoping we could just order and eat there, come home and go to bed.

Of course there is no place to eat inside, so we place our order, wait for 15 mins and then bring it home.  OMG...it was the best pizza I've ever had.  I couldn't figure out why it was so delicious until I discovered that all of the ingredients were fresh.  They cut up their own toppings and don't process it.  As we inspected the pizza we discovered that all of the green peppers and onions were cut in different sizes...oh yeah, so was the ham!  

I'm glad we discovered this new pizza place and we could support the munchkin's sponsor!

Doctor, Doctor

Well, I had my bi-annual ultrasound for my peri-ovarian cyst today.  I've only had one incident of possible problems and symptoms since this cyst has came to light.  So after under going both the external and internal ultrasound I decided to see if I could get in to see my PCP.  

I checked in with my PCP's office and after an hour was finally seen.  I told my PCP that I just do not feel well.  I cannot explain it, but I just do not feel right.  I haven't for several months and I think I need to do something.  I asked him if he could refer me to a nutritionist or for a lap-band or to get my lips sewn shut!  He said first he wanted to address the other issues first before he referred me for such things, but first he needs to send me for a whole battery of tests and a referral to an orthopedic surgeon for the mass in my wrist.  

Next week I will undergo a bone scan for the pain I'm having in my side, which is unrelated to my cyst.  He suspects that I'm having gallbladder problems again, but because I also hurt when he pushes on me he wants to make sure there isn't a cracked rib or something.  I also see the orthopedic surgeon next week too.  Then the following week I'll go for an ultrasound of my gallbladder and a hydascan.  I also have to have fasting blood work and urinalysis, including a pregnancy test, which I find hilarious since the last time I could have gotten pregnant was that hook-up almost 2 years ago between me and my man before he went down.  Oh well...one test result I know how it will come back.  

I kind of hope it is my gallbladder and that upon removing it the same thing happens to me that a co-worker claimed happened to her...she lost 80lbs because of having to have her gallbladder out!  (Allegedly)

As long as I have answers as to why I feel like shit, I'll be happy and feel like I can move forward...  I'll update everyone on my situation when I can!  ;)

Just like high school

Well it has been 7 days since I heard from my man.  Then this morning my phone rang and it was him.  He wanted to update me as soon as he could...he had been in medical for 7 days.  :(  I don't know all of the details because prison phones are not the best means of communication.  All I do know is that the following things are involved:

**roommates

**hooch

**a hit

**a fake psych kite

**accusations of being a "cutter"

**a snitch

This is what I have developed in my head as the story...my man's new roommates at the new facility were making hooch in their room and they were busted and thought my man had became a snitch and turned them in, because he wouldn't partake in the hooch.  So they put a hit out on him and then sent a fake psych kite that he was a cutter hoping MDOC wouldn't act quickly and when the hit took place it would look as if the cutter got carried away...

Of course this is only my take on it.  I will find out more when I visit soon...  If I'm close to the truth I would say that little do they know, my man isn't a snitch and fears my wrath of him drinking hooch more than he fears them making it in his "cell".  

I did tell my man that prison is worse than high school and as any "prison wife/girlfriend" I'm so tired of the prison games...but we keep pushing through.  Even if we don't make it, I must commit myself to helping my son's father make it out of prison alive...

Dinner with Friends

Tonight I had dinner with former co-workers and my goodness was it fun.  The conversation was great, the food delicious and both my incorrect and correct drinks were super yummy!  The only thing that could have been better were the chips & salsa.  It wasn't our usual chips & salsa, but sometimes you have to pick a place for more than chips & salsa.  

I felt better this time meeting with them too.  Last time seemed strained, but this time there was none of that.  I definitely think it was me last time.  Of course I was in a funk last time and I think I didn't really feel good, which has been my problem since December...but more about that later!  

I was so happy to meet with my two friends and can't wait to do it again.  I'm so blessed in the friends department!  ;)  I am really lucky to have met them and am so glad we stay in touch.  I love you guys!  

One word of advise to everyone though...do not expect a frozen margarita when you order a margarita at your local Mexican restaurant.  From here on out I will be ordering, "A frozen strawberry margarita."  

Maybe next time my friends and I will spice it up with Chinese....  ;)  We will have to wait and see.  

"The Boys"

I haven't updated you all about my x-sil and my nephews in some time, so let me do that now...

My nephews are doing wonderful. Their foster parents have been great. Last Thursday was another family court hearing in their case and boy, oh boy...lies were flying right and left by their momma. On top of all of that, she reached a plea agreement on her criminal case. Her two charges of 3rd degree child abuse were dismissed and she plead guilty to one count of 4th degree child abuse and was sentenced to 1 yr probation, 180 days jail to be served at the court's discretion (a suspended sentence), 1 day immediate credit for 1 day, court costs over $600. Then that same week she failed her drug test for family court.

At Thursday's hearing her excuse for failing the urinalysis was not because she smoked dope, it was because she was in a room with other people smoking it. Isn't that what they always say?

When questioned why she only produced one paycheck for the last few months is because she was fired from her job as a result of the abuse charges. Yeah...when you are convicted of child abuse you usually cannot work in an adult foster care facility. Duh! She did also apply somewhere that a cousin of ours works. This cousin is a friend of hers as well...and a mother to friends of my x-sil that she attended high school with. When my x-sil applied she put down my cousin as a reference and when the boss called my cousin she said, "I am no reference for her and if you put her where I work I will walk!" Wow...now that is a reference for ya!

When questioned about why she has not moved in to her "new" apartment as promised would be done by the 5th of this month, she said she was working on that still...and still staying with a "friend" on their couch. When asked for the "friend's" address she said it wasn't for her to give that. HUH? Sorry honey...that isn't satisfactory for a court.

When asked if she signed a document presented by my mom when she gave my oldest nephew away right after my brother filed for divorce she stated, "That's not my signature." The referee asked, "Are you telling me that you did not sign this document?" She replied, "Yup. That ain't my signature. I don't sign my name that way." Too bad that it is the same way she signed other documents that are in the file.

Other information that came out during this hearing that I find disturbing is:

**She had to be told she is not allowed to sleep when the children are in her presence, because apparently since my family is no longer allowed to go during the one hour a week visitation my x-sil attends at CPS all she does now is come in, lay down on the floor and tell the boys how "tired mommy is." She doesn't interact with the boys unless they come to her. She of course kept her back to the two-way mirror so they cannot say for sure if she was sleeping or not.

**My oldest nephew no longer wants to be in the room with his mom alone. He wants the door open at all times and he prefers when a "guard" or worker is present in the room.

**As to her boyfriend who she was not allowed to have any contact with as of February, because of this and that, she confirmed that "as of yesterday, I am no longer in contact with him." HUH? Guess better late (4 months) than never...

At the end of the hearing the referee told her she has 2 months to get it together and that come August he would be making a recommendation of what should happen with the children. I do not know if it did any good, but I think it may, my mother wrote a kick ass letter to everyone involved in the case and stated that our entire family no longer support the idea that the children be returned to their biological mother.

RIP~Our Little Angel

Today was the funeral for the little girl who was missing and later found encased in cement in my hometown.  After the celebration of her short five years here on earth and laying her to rest today.  When the prayers are finished, the balloons no longer visible, and the flowers laid at her feet the real work begins...

The work now focuses on finding the kidnapper and murderer that appears by all accounts to be local to our town.  Hopefully next week the police will release more information and point us towards a suspect.

I didn't know this little girl, but she equally touched my heart as if I've known her everyday of her little life.  God Bless Our Little Angel...

Better Luck Next Season!

Well, I don't know what just happened, but my Red Wings just had their ass handed to them in Game 7.  :(  

After working late, which is becoming a habit more than a fluke, I raced to the munchkin's baseball practice.  Practice was cut short so we could all make it home in time to watch Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Of course after practice it was discovered that several of the parents graduated with my man!  LOL @ the small world and dinky town I live in!  I didn't get a feeling of what they knew about him and part of me was really curious and then part of me feared what they knew.  I'm really anxious to tell my man about this new turn events.  Of course, he called Monday twice and once on Tuesday, but I haven't heard from him again, so I have to wait to give him this piece of news.  :)

Then the munchkin, my aunt and I went to our local Mexican restaurant, which we love!  We watched the first 2 periods while we ate dinner and realized that the Wings were going to lose.  Before the 3rd period started my munchkin went with my aunt for the weekend and home I came...I sat here and watched the Wings lose...it wasn't fun, that's for sure.  But watching their play in Game 7, they didn't deserve to win.  They were out played.  

I'll keep hope alive for next season....  We still love our Red Wings though!

Second Grade

My munchkin officially became a 2nd grader Tuesday after 11:30am.  I am so proud of him.  I have to admit I never thought days like this would come.  I guess I never imagined myself with a seven year old 2nd grader.  I just never did...I don't know why, but I am so happy he is mine and so proud of him.  Even when he is acting like a crazy wild child, I still love him and am still very proud of him...

Thank you for being my son munchkin!  I love you!  I am proud of you!  And you have given me a great month so far and a wonderful week my love!  

Due East

As you all know I went from an Explorer to my new car, an Escape.  Well, on my way home the other night I got lost because a road I was on became another road and didn't end up where I thought it would.  Now mind you, I'm usually pretty good at direction and recovering myself when I'm lost.  However, once I had my Explorer I really started relying on the directional information provided on the instrumental panel.

So when I got lost I called my aunt to arrange dinner at a local new German & Irish place, which by the way was totally delicious, I told my aunt that I needed to read the book for my new car and might have to take it to the dealer, because no matter which direction I was going my car kept reading "E" for East.  I found my way back to where I needed to go, got home and we had a wonderful dinner out.

After dinner we had to return a birthday gift of the munchkin.  After leaving the store and driving back home my aunt tells me that when I turned that the corner that my car flipped and said we were headed NE and I looked and it still said E.  Then she pointed to what she was looking at...she was looking at the dashboard screen.  After I busted out laughing I realized why I always thought I was headed Due East....it was actually telling me x-# of miles to "E" for Empty!  LOL  

Needless to say I need to read my Escape book for other reasons, but not because I'm always headed East.  My explorer is still on my mind and in my eyes...and my aunt is more observant than me!

Little Red Bumps

Tonight my aunt called to tell me that her neighbor feared her little boy had chicken pox and requested my aunt to come over and inspect his newly forming rash, because my aunt is an RN.  Well my aunt is very paranoid over chicken pox, because she is in her mid-late 40's and never had them.  So she sent my uncle to do the inspection.  He concurred that it did appear to be chicken pox.  :(

Why would she call to tell me this?  Well, it is likely because this little boy was one of the 17 people at my munchkin's birthday party Saturday.  This wouldn't be an issue except that most people are contagious 1 to 5 days before they show symptoms.  So now I have begun chicken pox watch....

Ring, Ring, Vibrate, Vibrate

The sound of a ringing phone, well actually it was the feel of a vibrating phone, never sounded so good than it did this morning when my man called.  Finally out of the hole and on to a new location.  The best part is that in one direction his new "digs" are 4 hours 10 mins closer to me.  Woo-hoo!!

Of course the call almost didn't happen...after we came home Saturday from the outlandish birthday party I realized that my phone was not working properly.  The 9, 6, and 3 wouldn't work and when I hit the 0 the numbers 8, 5, and 2 also came up.  Off to the cell phone store I go and I came home with phone #4.  Yes, phone #4.  Since 12/5/2007 I have been through 4 phones.  I could see if I was unusually hard on phones, but I'm not.  Apparently LG products and I do not get along.  December 5th can't come soon enough...

Aren't Buffers Standard?

If you ever work where I currently work you can confirm that the best "stories" come from our restrooms. We have had stories about people talk to themselves while they are using the facilities. Some quotes have included "Shoot it for me Winchester" but the most recent development in our work restrooms is the fact that buffers are no longer standard. I'm not sure when or how this has happened, but it has.

We have 5 stalls in our restroom. Four regular stalls and the last stall as a handicap stall. There are certain people who use certain stalls. Our semi-receptionist/secretary uses the first stall. If you met her you would think she would use the handicap stall because she usually has to walk with a cane or single handed walker, but then I began to think it is further to walk, so she probably prefers to walk less and use stall #1. There are several other secretaries that use the handicap stall.

What stall do I use? #3...there are several reasons why I pick this stall as my usual stall but the primary reason is because this allows 2 other people to come in and use the restroom with the standard one stall buffer. However, there is one person in our office that refuses to use the buffer standard. I have figured out that every time this person comes in she has to go in the stall next to someone. You can be in stall #5 and she is going in to stall #4...or if you are in stall #1, she'll go in to stall #2. If you are in #3 she will go in to #2 or #4. It doesn't matter where you are or how many are free...she is going to sit next to you. I often wonder if in a movie theater, will she come and sit next to you or is she going to give you a buffer there...

This also reminds me of when I started the Spring semester this year in January. On Mondays I had a 4pm and a 6pm class in the same room. My LSBFF was also going to be in my 6pm class, plus I am a person who likes her personal space, especially when I need to spread out books, notebooks, etc. Each table sits 3 people, there were 7 rows, each row had two tables separated by the walk way. I sat in the 4th row the seat furthest to the right and put my bag on the middle seat and someone who I didn't know sat in the 3rd seat. This was fine and I carried upon my business of getting ready for my class to start...at least until that guy says to someone else, 'Hey, sit next to me.' She told him she couldn't because someone had their books there. That's right!! They were my books. If there were no other tables free I would have gladly moved my books, but there were 10 other free tables....if you want to sit next to one another I suggest you move there, because me and my buffer are staying where we were first.

Am I the only person who expects a buffer? Or at a minimum that prefers one? Is that so bad?

Happy Birthday My Baby!!

On 6/6/2002 @ 11:28pm the light of my life took his first breathe!  My munchkin came in to my life and I am so happy he did.  He has changed my life so many times and in so many ways.  Every breathe I take, every decision I make is done with him in the forefront of my mind.

Thank you for letting me be your mommy, my son and my munchkin!!  Hugs to you my baby!!

BTW, even with 17 kids @ a Chuck E. Cheese for your birthday party I am still glad you belong to me!!  And my goodness...we had so much fun, I'm so glad you held your ground and pushed for your party to be at Chuck E. Cheese!

I love you!!