The 10th Month Of The Year~~Welcome?!

Hello October!! I cannot believe it is already the 10th month of this year. It is sort of mind blowing, if you ask me! The summer went by so fast and here we are starting the last quarter of 2011...

I have conflicted feelings welcoming October... It is my birthday month and I love that fact, but I hate the idea of being just days away from that half way point to my 40's. Since I'm eager to get to November 7th when my co-worker returns from her maternity leave so she can take her files back. Of course she came to the office Thursday to wish her retiring secretary well and I announced to our team that upon her return to the office I would be getting knocked up as pay back and to get a full 12 weeks off. LOL But the idea that time is going so fast makes me sad that October is already here.

Regardless, I can't change the calendar and I guess I'll welcome October the best way I can. Which reminds me...I need to go and change our calendars! Opps!!

Sick Of Feeling So Sick & Tired...

Last night I just couldn't keep my eyes open and I found myself in the bed at 9:00pm. Pathetic really...in the bed at 9pm on a Saturday night. I woke up a little before 6am and just couldn't bring myself to get up, so I slept another 2 hours. It was wonderful, I won't lie.

This afternoon the munchkin went skating and then we did a little more grocery shopping and came home. I finished laundry, but haven't put it away yet. That likely won't happen till tomorrow. I just don't seem to have much energy or desire to get things done lately. I'm not sure what the problem is...am I dehydrated?...have an infection?...just lazy?...stressed?

All I know is that I am not feeling 100%...and that needs to change!

$3.17/Gallon

That is how much I paid for gas tonight and I was beyond giddy! I just hope it sticks around for a while!

The munchkin had another soccer game this afternoon and he played great. They won!! His coach cracks me up, because he gets so riled up! He is just a kid himself...maybe 19...but has a lot of passion for the game, which is great for the boys.

After the game we headed up to Sam's Club and did a little shopping. I'm not sure what all we really purchased, but my bill was over $200. That always blows my mind! How can a cart, not full, reach $200, let alone go over that amount?! Well, we did buy 2 movies and a book too, but seriously?! How much does cereal, fruit by the foot, tons of mac 'n cheese, pizza rolls, soap, and frozen PB&J sandwiches really cost?! Oh well...it is what it is and we just keep paying the bills and moving forward. Some day I will figure out a way to save some money...

Hello?? Anybody Out There???

It has been quite some time since I've blogged, obviously. I've been so busy I feel like I barely have time to breathe, let alone do anything like draft a blog entry, write out bills, communicate with anyone, or do anything else I should be doing.

For the last 4 weeks I've been handling my own case load, which grows every single day, along with a co-worker's case load while she is off on maternity leave. The most suckiest thing about working someone else's files is not knowing anything about the damn case. And it isn't like I have the time to review her 107 files along with my 60+ files. Seriously people, what to expect of someone who has only been practicing 3 months?!? But I keep plugging along...what else can I do?!

Needless to say I've been exhausted over the last month or so and it probably doesn't help that I got knocked down with one heck of a sinus infection, which I believe I still have. This afternoon I made a deal with my boss just so I could leave early...I agreed to handle 2 of the new files assigned to our team if only I could leave right then. It seemed like a great deal at the time. Yes, I probably could have left then regardless, but this way I didn't have to hear shit about it! I considered it a win for me!

I won't say I plan to be blogging on a regular basis again, because that doesn't seem to work out for me, but if anybody is still out there reading this...please know I'm alive and think of blogging all the time...I just need more time to get to it.

We Are Orange Today!

And no, I'm not talking about resembling the cast of Jersey Shore with the exception of Vinnie, of course!

Today was the munchkin's karate test and he passed moving from being a gold belt to being an orange belt. I am so proud of him. It is such hard work and he keeps doing it, week after week. He continues to blossom in martial arts and excel!

Keep up the great work baby! I'm so proud of you! I love you soooo...much! Muah!!!

Never My Intention

It was never my intention to blog on August 1st and not to return until 13 days later, but I've been crazy busy and pretty exhausted. My apologies to the few readers I have left. Hope you will bear with me while I continue to work through this whole new phase in my life! It will get better. I promise!

For the last five years or so I've been blessed or should I say spoiled by being able to have someone come and clean our home. Well, those good times have came to an end. I can no longer afford it nor can I justify it. So tonight I embarked on this new adventure of cleaning my own house. I'm not finished and I move really slow. Probably since I hate it so much, I'm sure. Plus I end up taking a lot of breaks. Once I put the clean sheets on my bed and vacuum I will be done with our 2 bedrooms, the munchkin's playroom and our one and only hallway, leaving the 2 bathrooms, the living room and the kitchen. Of course the last room that I will tackle is my bathroom, because it just grosses me out to clean it. Blah!!

I'm sure this whole cleaning process would be easier in my life if I would have learned how to clean when I was younger. When I was growing up my mom did not work outside of the house the majority of the time, so she did all of our cleaning while we were at school and our dad was at work. So I never even had the opportunity to watch how she cleaned or to do it with her either. We also never had chores assigned to us either, so outside of cleaning my bedroom because I was anal even as a child I did not learn how to clean and manage a home until after I was married and in my 20's and after taking a five-year break I feel like I'm having to learn it all over again.

Since this is posting close to 2am Saturday night/Sunday morning, please don't think I've been trying cleaning all day and night. I didn't even start this process until after 10:00pm tonight and I've also watched some TV in between too! LOL I multi-task during cleaning, but probably not in the best way.

I Just Can't Welcome You, I'm Sorry, It Isn't Personal

August. I just cannot welcome the month of August. I don't know why... Maybe I'm still a kid at heart, knowing the school year is just around the corner, or it is because I'm no longer a kid and I feel like I'm cheated out of summer...but I just cannot welcome August.

Where did the summer go?! The last two months have went fast and furious. Maybe it was because I'm officially done with school, hopefully for the rest of my life! Or maybe it was because I graduated, fought to get my new job, and we were crazy busy over the last two months. I don't know. All I do know is that I feel like June and July flew by in the blink of an eye.

Even though this will likely be the hottest month of the summer, and we will be seeing "Back To School" sales every where we turn I am hopeful that this month takes a little longer to get through than the last two did.

So August, I may not be able to welcome you I sure hope you stick around a while...

It Is Almost That Time Again

Twice a year it comes around...February and July. Yes, people I'm talking about taking the Bar. It is a horrible time. There is no reason behind who will pass and who will not. There is no "you should have studied more" either, because that doesn't have shit to do with it. It is a gamble...some win and some lose. Regardless...this Tuesday, Wednesday, and for some even Thursday people all over the country will be sitting down to take the Bar. I wish you all luck!!! Kick ass and make that test your bitch!

And remember...in just a few days it will be all over and God willing you won't be doing this again come February, but if you are...so be it! You will make it through one way or another.

Good luck to all my law school, twitter, & blog peeps with the bar!!!

Where Does It All Go?

Money that is...

How is it possible that I get paid on Thursday and by Sunday after writing out bills due during this pay period I am broke?! And I don't mean like I only have a hundred dollars broke...I mean as in my account balance is in the negative already and that doesn't account for gas for the next two weeks or any of the appointments the munchkin and I have in the next two weeks.

Needless to say I don't pray for strength these two weeks, I'm praying for some cash!

We Will Call Him Bubba

While I was off studying for the bar at the beginning of the year my office hired a friend of mine from law school who graduated a semester before me and passed the bar last year. I was a little shocked because he did not seem the type of guy who would want to work where I worked. He is a nice guy, but never came off as a hard worker while we were in law school. When the two of us realized that he was going to be working there he was much more excited about the prospect of us working together.

Bubba started mid-March and started off on the wrong foot from day one. Of course for the first 3.5 months he worked there I was still a paralegal there, but now we are equals as attorneys and are even assigned to the same team.

Our office is always under the watchful eyes of our General Counsel and the powers that be in our company, but in the last 2 months we have been under the gun thanks to some bad press, so to speak. I've always been cautious about how I perform in my job, because I know how the politics work there and now that I'm an attorney there with the extra attention the office has received I'm even more aware of what I need to do and have became even more neurotic about my files.

As anyone knows, especially anyone who works in the legal field, defaults are huge and pretty damn scary. So the fact that Bubba has received about 5 in the last 4 months is just mind blowing to me! And the more things he misses or blows makes me even more on edge. So needless to say when I didn't go to lunch with him, other members of our team and others from the office yesterday because I had too much work to do sounded like a smart decision to me, because I had no desire to bring work home to do this weekend.

While I was talking to Bubba before he left for lunch I mentioned that if not for the munchkin I would probably be a workaholic. So needless to say I was shocked when Bubba told me I needed to not be so uptight about work and inquired if I had any hobbies!! Um, dude...maybe you need to get more uptight about work!

Maybe I shouldn't have been offended by his comment and question, but I was! Maybe I'm going about this whole being a new attorney thing wrong, but where we practice it is a small legal community and since I don't plan on being at my office forever I want a strong reputation out there.

And by the way Bubba, I do have a hobby, along with a kid, and a home to run.

Confessions...

Today I must confess a few things...

I confess today that I am not a camper. I've never had a desire to camp or even the small thought of 'Oh, maybe that would be fun. Let's try that.' Like as in NEVER! I don't enjoy being outside at night, sleeping, nor do I enjoy being cramped into a tiny space with no protection other than some flimsy material between me and the outside elements, which in my mind include weather, animals, and other people. But I do love my son, so last night we went camping...

As a part of the munchkin's cubscout pack, we went to our local farm team (baseball folks!) to do a sleepover. First we arrived there early enough so the kids could line up and partake in a little cubscout's parade on the field before the game. Then we were to settle into a whole baseball game. This is always fun with a child diagnosed with ADHD! Especially a 9 year old boy who is there with five other 9 year old boys. At one point I thought if I hear "Hey guys, he has 3 balls!!" one more time I was going to pop off with, "We all get it...he has 3 balls instead of 2, it was only funny the first 3 innings!"

After the game some of us moms trekked out to the cars to grab the camping gear. This was super fun for me since the shoulder strap on the bag that my parents' tent was in snapped within 10 feet from my car. Always extra special! Luckily the only dad who trekked out with us put my bag on top of their bag on wheels and hauled it in. Of course me and one other mom were at the end of our group coming back into the stadium and were stopped to be told that we couldn't re-enter until the fireworks display happened. It was irrelevant to them that our children were inside waiting for our return or the fact that the rest of our group had made it in. So instead we stood, out on the street, while the fireworks happened and the non sleep-over folks left before we could reenter.

Once we were allowed to reenter, we made our way back to the group and waited until they cleared the field so we could go in the outfield and set up our tents. And by setting up our tent that meant me waiting for someone to feel sorry for me and come over and do it. It is extra special when you pull something out of a bag and ask, "Is this the tent?" Tents were set up and we were advised there were going to be 700 campers out there in the outfield for the night. Oh boy! What fun!! 698 other people plus me and the munchkin.

The lights were finally shut off at close to 1am and I was exhausted. I couldn't wait to go to sleep! But there were a few things that I hadn't considered or taken into account...

1. It was frickin' hot as hell out there! It had been hot all day and at game time, 7pm, the temp was 88 degrees and muggy. Being down in a stadium cut off a lot of the breeze and after being in the heat and humidity for over 7 hours, it is a bit unbearable because you have sweat your ass off and are just disgusting and sticky!
2. The parents' tent was the size of my kitchen table, which seats only 4 people!
3. Tons of cubscouts and their leaders, parents, and siblings equals a lot of noise...ALL NIGHT LONG!
4. Our wake up call was coming in less than 6 hours!

This leads to confession #2...I am old!!

Sleeping on the ground with only the same flimsy material between your body and the ground provides no protection down there either. And the thought that a sleeping bag will provide some cushion is a cruel joke. Needless to say after a couple hours of light sleeping I started to fear that I may not be able to stand up when our wake up call happened, let alone walk, or lift anything! This realization came at 3am and I had 4 more hours to discover if I would need to phone 911 to get my fat-ass out of the tent and out of that stadium!

At 6:30am I couldn't wait to get this "camping trip" over with. Of course the munchkin didn't sleep well either so we opted to get up, walk up to the restroom, and then come back and start packing up our "camp", which of course required me waiting for someone to help take down the tiny tent too! Then we sent the kids and the other moms upstairs to breakfast while the dads and I took all of our stuff out to our cars. Yes, I play both roles...mom & dad! I hobbled back to the stadium wishing I could just stay out at the car and the munchkin would come out when he was done eating, because I was going to have to walk up 4 flights of stairs with my sore back, sweat drenched clothes, and exhausted butt dragging to go and eat cold scrambled eggs, cold frozen pancakes, cold frozen hashbrowns, sausage links and bacon.

After coming home, laying down for about 2 hours, and taking motrin and while I sit here considering taking some of my pain pills from 2 months ago when I royally screwed up my back I am here to confess...I hate camping! I am damn old and no longer ashamed to admit it!

Freedom Day Set For July 17th, So People Get A Grip!

As so many people know, tomorrow is Casey Anthony's day to leave jail and be free. Regardless of how you feel about what you think happened or didn't happen can we make one solemn promise? Let's not get stupid!!!

All of the idiots making death threats to her, her family, and defense team need to get a grip. If you think she did it, what makes you any better by threatening to kill her, her family, and her defense team??? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! If anything, it makes you worse. How does that sit with your God.

And after reading articles about my friend Legally Fabulous' professor being attacked twice while working this case has made me lose faith in people while this case makes my faith in the justice system even stronger...

Weigh-In Wednesday

Things haven't been perfect over here in the healthy living department, but I'm doing better and that is all I can ask of myself these days. So here are the results...

Starting weight: 363lbs (7/9/09)

Current weight: 327.6lbs

This week's results: -2.8lbs

Total weight lost: -35.4lbs

So it isn't a lot, especially for that first week back back on the band wagon, but I'll take it!

A Down Side Of Growing Up

Paying $125 to the exterminator for a new summer resident in the home...ants. Little tiny black bastards!! Isn't being a grown up fun?!

Guess It Really Is Time To Become A Real Grown Up!

Three weeks ago tomorrow I started my first job as an attorney. Yes, even three weeks later, I'm still lost, confused, and scared to death. There really is a difference between playing attorney with your law school work and really being the one fully responsible for a real person's suit.

Of course my job is not in the area I long to work in, criminal defense, but it is still the defense side and it is a job. As we all know these days that is a big deal! Some day I will make that transition to the criminal area, but for now I'm getting my feet wet in the civil arena.

I guess this means that it is finally time I grow up and become a real adult. I'm not sure I'm ready for this part. You would think being 34 and a mom to a wonderful, although sometimes challenging, 9 year old munchkin that I would have already accomplished this, but I haven't. It feels totally different! Maybe it is also because now that I don't have the excuse of classes and homework I'm having to step up at home again too.

Both the munchkin and I are working through our adjustment period as I take a stronger lead at home (can you say "iron fist baby" because my son thinks that is how I rule!) and I adjust to being a real attorney. Some days are better than others. But we survive them all...together. So as long as I don't make any huge mistakes with the kid or get a default or blow that all famous statue of limitations we will make it as I work on this whole being a real grown up thing!

Of course it all scares the shit out of me every day!

There Is Always A First Time

And today was the first time I've had my car cleaned on the inside since I bought her in 2009. Yes, she is over 2 years old and no one has been attentive enough to her to take a vacuum to her carpeting or anything. So today was the day.

After the munchkin accompanied me to the spa to get my facial and my unibrow/hairy lip & chin waxed off we went over to the car wash and for $10 they cleaned the inside and out! I ended up adding a couple of extra things to my car's own little spa day, so in total it cost me $16, but it was well worth it. I suspect that if I make a couple trips through there again over the next several weeks she may look as good as the day she came home to us.

So I guess there is always a first time for everything...even if it takes me a couple of years to get to it!

Jumping On The Band Wagon

I decided this week was as good as any to start back on my healthy kick/lifestyle or attempted healthy kick/lifestyle. So taking from my fellow bloggers (hopefully they don't mind) I'm now declaring Wednesdays "Weigh-In Wednesdays" so without further adieu...

Starting weight: 363lbs (7/9/09)

Current weight: 330.4lbs

Results from the last 6 weeks: 0lbs

Total weight lost: -32.6lbs

So let's see how this works out for me in the coming weeks! Of course the fact that I just received an advertisement with coupons for a taco pizza in the mail tonight doesn't help me out here...

NOT GUILTY!!!

Need I say more?! Jose Baez & his team came through for Casey Anthony. For all the shit talkers...guess he wasn't so bad after all, huh?!

Now it will be on to the hard stuff for Casey Anthony and her family. Hopefully she will be able to go on with her life and this allows little Caylee to finally rest in peace.

Happy Independence Day!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July and a beautiful holiday, long weekend! I know we did. I got tons accomplished this weekend, which is exactly what I needed to do this weekend. We also had a wonderful family cookout over at mom & dad's yesterday, which is always nice.

I thought I would finally make my return to the blog on this Independence Day. Sorry I've been away so long, but the last several weeks have been a very trying time for me after I injured my back. Now I feel like I've finally came out on the other side and am doing so much better. Did you know Flexeril can make you border-line homicidal? Well, trust me...it can and it isn't pretty! After I finally figured out that my muscle relaxer was making me a much bigger bitch than normal I had to get off it immediately and then spend the next couple of weeks digging out of the dark hole I found myself in. But now I'm better & I'm back...Happy Independence Day for sure!

Not Going As Planned, But I'm Taking It One Day At A Time

Since I haven't posted in over a week you can probably guess by now that my week did not go as planned last week. I actually made it through last Monday a little better than I thought I would... I didn't bum a smoke off from anyone, which is a huge surprise. I didn't stop and by any smokes or anything. I felt good about it all as I went to bed last Monday and prepared for the week ahead. Then Tuesday morning happened and life went to hell very quickly...

Last Tuesday morning I got up, got ready for work and in my final preparations of doing my hair I dropped a sheet of bobby pins, bent down to pick them up and then proceeded to brush my teeth. That is when I realized that I couldn't stand up straight. I had messed up my back, big time. Regardless I went to work. With the help of my aunt I got myself in the car with ice packs behind my back. Let me tell ya, going to work was not one of my brighter ideas.

Once I was at work I knew I was in trouble. I couldn't stand up, I couldn't walk. I couldn't move my legs without physically picking them up and moving them. I was in a bad way... Finally I left at 2pm and headed to the doctor who then sent me to the hospital for x-rays of my spine. By the time I got home after being twisted like a pretzel for my x-rays I wasn't sure if I could get out of the car and into the house. Going up my steps put me in more pain and by the time I was in the house I was sick to my stomach and in tears.

I spent the next several days in the bed, taking pain pills and muscle relaxers. I think by Saturday I was able to sit up for a few hours at a time and of course I had the family cookout planned for Sunday. Plus I needed to be ready to return to work today!

Sunday went off without a hitch. Or should I say not too big of a hitch...just a tornado warning at the end, which cleared everyone out of here in a jiffy! LOL Even though Monday was the actual holiday all I managed to accomplish was feeling sick as a dog and sore as could be. I still tried to take a moment to reflect and give thanks to those men and women who gave their lives for my freedom and I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day!!

I returned to work today and requested...er...demanded that my doctor order PT for me, because I remain in pain. Hopefully the pain disappears very soon. One good thing about being in bed for almost a week...you remain smoke free, so tonight is night #8 of being smoke free. As for the rest...I'm just taking it one day at a time.