Thursday, October 30, 2008

Return of better weather

Just thought I'd do my part to spread a little more Halloween cheer. A couple pictures I got in another email from Jenny! Thanks, you were right. I loved them!

I'd hate to be that kid...


I really thought I was ready for fall and the cold weather that came with it. But then it came and I wasn't too impressed, so I'm glad it's warmed up a little. Tomorrow is the big day. I hope Matthew doesn't get too hot in his costume. It's a little on the warm side.

The last 2 days my boss's kids have been sick, so it's been up to me to run things. Which is fine, but yesterday Matthew had a rough time. He kept crying and refused to let anyone else have him. It was ok because there was only 7 kids there, but it wore me out. Luckily, he pulled it together and was cheerful for his grandpa's birthday celebration. Today we ran errands and voted. Not real exciting stuff the last couple days. Which is good considering the pack rat was too much excitement. Bailey said she thinks I sent all the pack rats to their house. Her little brother catches one a night lately. I say they can keep them!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Encouraging news

Today I as I was driving home, I got a phone call from a nurse at the hospital letting me know the results of Matthew's allergy test. He was only a trance positive for an egg white allergy. Otherwise they were all negative. The doctor wants me to take him off eggs for a week and see if that helps. I can tell you right now that it won't because unless he can't eat foods with eggs in them, he only has a bite of an egg here and there. If that doesn't work then I'm supposed to take him off milk and eggs for another week and see if that helps. If that doesn't help him, then I'm to call back so she can formulate a new plan. So I guess that I should just skip to week 2 as of tomorrow. I am only going to take him off milk. I will still give him yogurt. Maybe that will blow the test, but they didn't say milk products just milk. Perhaps now that I'm home, and not in the car, I should call and get a more detailed report. At least he doesn't have a billion food allergies.

We had a good weekend with Phil. We picked out a door and a new back plate to go on it. We are hoping to send it to a place up there that takes old doors and reseals them so that they are like a new door only better. If they are as cheap as stated then we'll have a new old door for less then a new one and it will be so much more beautiful. It has beautiful carving on it. We were at the store for 2 hours talking to one of the guys that works there. Matthew got so bored he decided to try slapping me. (He wasn't allowed to get down and play since there was many heavy and expensive things to break.) After deflecting several shots and telling him no, he got in a really good one that hurt. I wanted to spank him hard in front of the entire store of people, but I calmly stated I was going to the car and told him how bad he was the whole way. I then buckled him in and hoped Phil was about ready to go. I was proud of my self control.

Sunday both Phil and I tried to find costumes and bombed. I found a cute one, but my fanny showed. Phil's was sold out. So much for dressing up. We also bought a lamp for Phil's living room, just to find it was defective.

Today we all got up to go to work and home respectively. We thought all was well till they called to see why Phil wasn't at work yet. His self setting alarm clock decided this weekend was fall back weekend and reset in the middle of the night. Instead of being 8:20 am it was really 9:20 am and we were all late. Phil rushed off to work while I urged Matthew to eat faster. By time I got everything in the car it was about 10 am. I opened the door to go, through which Matthew and Missy shot. Normally Missy waits for us, but not today. I heard neighbors upstairs screaming profanities about this dog in their apartment. Great. I got greeted with "Girl we have a pit bull in here." Great. After saying "I'm so sorry" about a gazillon times I trudged back down to collect my son on the stairs. We left and when we hit the gas station, no purse. So I had to go back and collect that. Now it's closer to 10:15 am. I wanted to be almost home by then. We got gas, returned stuff to Walmart and left the area at 10:50. Translation: I didn't hit my parents till around 1 pm. Work in 2 hours. We stopped to eat our McD's at my parents and entertain my dad. Matthew wouldn't eat anything but fries. Same tonight, only it was like about 2 slices of cooked carrots instead of fries. Talk about picky at the moment. I made it home in time to be there about 20 mins and Matthew snatched about 30 minutes of nap at the last minute in the car. Whew. Now we are home and he decided he had to go to bed by 7. It was a long day for all of us.

Friday, October 24, 2008

The weekend is here

Well another Lights on Afterschool program is finally over. It was pretty successful I think. Matthew got sprung from daycare and got to watch the play. He yelled "MOM!" with gusto as we walked on the stage. After the play, we all eat together as a group. Matthew refused to eat his sub sandwich, preferring to eat his grandpa's 2 cookies instead (as well as grandma's brownie) and mom's chips. He even tried to steal a little girl's cookie. She graciously gave him a bite. I then sent another girl to fetch him his own. What can you do?

Tomorrow Matthew and I are going to go visit his dad and hopefully buy ourselves a front door. Finally. Ours is just about shot. Every month that goes by it's looking worse and worse. It's time for change.

Sorry it's short but I'm tired and in need of some rest. With any luck Matthew will sleep through the night tonight so I can too.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Prima dona

As happens with all prima dona's, they eventually get kicked out of the production they are in. This remains the same with whiny prima dona's, even if they are 16 months old. Yes, after only 2 days of play practice, the night before the play, Matthew got the boot. He even got booted out of being able to watch it, "unless your mom really wants to hold him..." So Matthew's promising start has gone up in smoke. I have a feeling he won't be invited to have a part in the Christmas play either. Good thing his Dad didn't take vacation time.

Yesterday Missy went to the groomer to have her hair cut and what a difference. She came home spunkier and I had to question if it was actually my dog. She just looks so different. But since Pan is comfortable with her, I think it is her.

I also got the boot today. While my boss got a plate of cookies and cake from one of our ASP kids b-day, I got nothing because, "I forgot about you." Thanks alot. I guess I'm not important...

I'll get some pictures up tomorrow hopefully. I have to get some new batteries in my camera so I can turn it on!

Political laughs

For some time I've wanted to write about the upcoming election because it's going to be historic no matter which way it goes. If it goes one way we get our first black president. If it goes the other way we have our first woman as vice president. But I hate letting people know which way I'm going (especially after working at the hospital; I got jumped the minute I walked in on election day and asked if I voted for the right candidate. Of course I did, the one I liked, duh! And this was after a month of avoiding the nurses station because of the intense political banter, which allowed no other opinions...), so this forwarded email made it just too easy to say something and pass on a snicker or two. Thanks so much Jenny! You get really good ones.

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for
change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN MCCAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he
recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the
chickens on the other side of the road.

SARAH PALIN: You betcha', that chicken crossed the road ;)

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little
chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified
to ensure right from Day One that every chicken in this country gets the
chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about
me.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road.
We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not.
The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground
here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the
satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your
definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now
against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the
chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black
chickens.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize
that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before
it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to
do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his
current problems before adding new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is
why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken
learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm
going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the
road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but
we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the
road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can
see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was
going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs
when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any
insider information.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad?
Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been
told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.

JERRY FALWELL: Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the
plain truth? That's why they call it the 'other side.' If you eat that
chicken, you will become gay, too. I say we boycott all chickens until
we sort out this abomination that the liberal media whitewashes with
seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side.' That chicken should
not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road.
Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be
listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming
story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to
accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads
together, in peace.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2008, which will not only cross
roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance
your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken2008.
This new platform is much more stable and will never reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road
move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

In memoriam

Our dear loving dog Foxy passed peacefully away this morning. She was almost 12 years old, 6 of those spent bringing joy to our lives. We'll forever hold the good memories of her playing with Phil and of her wonderful doggy smile. I adopted her, but she adopted Phil as her person. I'll never forget when I went to meet her she ignored her family and jumped up on me. She looked deep into my eyes and I swear she said, "Well, when are we going home?" And that was that. I had a dog. I just can't help but be relieved that I didn't have to make the decision to put her to sleep. She was able to live with dignity and without to much pain to the very end.

Matthew and I had a pretty normal day. Matthew added to the bruises on his face. He now has one on his forehead where he wasn't paying attention, tripped over his dad's foot and crashed into shelves at the store. Monday he didn't pay attention, tripped over my foot and crashed into the baby gate at my parents, which left a vertical bruise on the check. Then today he decided climb into his highchair, so he could yell more effectively at me that I was making supper way to slow. This time something went wrong and crashed, leaving what I can only imagine will be another bruise again on the cheek. I would like to point out it's all on the left hand side. Boys will be boys and he has no fear. It's not funny, and a little distressing to me, but I had to laugh today. My son collects bruises like other boys collect baseball cards. I think I need to buy him a football helmet. His Grandma Sharon told me the sooner I learn "Boys are an accident looking for a place to happen" the better I'll feel. She's probably right!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Another long strange weekend

Matthew crawling around in one of our barns.

Matthew and the little boy playing in an old cattle squeeze shoot.


Last time I spoke with everyone it was Thursday and I had to hold down the program by myself. Well, later that night a mom of one of our kids called and was desperate to have someone watch her son. I agreed to do it, so Matthew and I had company all day Friday. Matthew was so excited that he could only manage to make himself eat 3 bites of breakfast. We spent the next 10 hours baking pumpkin bread, playing games on the computer, stripping wallpaper, tossing balls, yoyo-ing, kicking the soccer ball, coloring, playing in the barn, taking pictures and watching Shrek and The Wizard of Oz. We had lots of fun. But it really wore me out. I have some sinus thing going on that has drainage that makes my throat irritated, which makes my voice not so good. It also makes me extra tired, I think.

Saturday I finally got to go pick up my car. Yea! I can go where I want, when I want, again. I got to meet Phil on post for lunch since he happened to be there. Then Matthew and I went home and packed the car. We took off for KC and ran a few errands before Phil got off work. When we were settling in, and waiting to go to supper with another couple, I noticed Matthew was really warm. He is a very warm little guy, but this was really warm. Sure enough, he had a 102 fever. So that shot all dinner plans and I had to have Phil pick up meds. The little guy was so miserable he got up several times that night.

The next morning I was so exhausted I felt sick, so Phil let me sleep in. When I got up, Matthew had a rash around his neck and shoulders. By evening he'd shaken off the fever, but the rash had shaken everywhere on him.

This morning I called and got him an appointment. We went and she determined that he had a interviral virus in the same family as hand, foot, and mouth disease. She also didn't think he was infectious anymore and cleared him to go to daycare tomorrow. I think he got what all the other daycare kids got last Monday. So I then talked about his horrible diaper rash situation and she thought my suspicion that he has a food allergy was probably on target. So we had to go to the hospital and have his blood drawn. He was so good. They stuck the needle in and he didn't flinch or cry or anything. I was so proud of him. We should know what to do next in about a week. Depending on what they find out we may have to go to a specialist. I learned that 1 in 3 kids who have excema have food allergies. And the most common one is milk. That would tragic because Matthew loves his yogart and icecream, as well as milk. I also learned he now is about 23 1/2lbs. I thought he'd gained weight! So that's about all the news I have. Just a long strange weekend. Not at all how I planned for it to go.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Pictures!

Working at his table that Grandma Sharon gave him.

I told you paparazzi NO MORE PICTURES!

"I wear my sunglasses at night..." I couldn't get one with them on. He's just too quick.


I realized last night I hadn't posted any pictures in a few days so here is your picture fix.

I called Toyota today and it doesn't look good for the home team. They think they found more chewed wires last night and are working on it today. The guy I talked to didn't know if they'd given it an oil change as well, so...it could be a couple more days. At least I would guess tomorrow considering at this point in the day I can't go get it. I am the only one working tonight so I have to be there on time. I've called Bailey and she is graciously going to take me again.

Other then that, we have no news. I've been house cleaning. Matthew has been playing and refusing to take a nap. He finally had to give in so he'll get a late lunch. Which is good because the meatloaf I made is about done. He'll have a hot meal when he wakes up!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Crazy days

Alas, Toyota did not call us today, so Matthew and I packed up in the Green Streak and took off for school. But, we didn't get far. It's not a good sign when your car's speedometer goes to 120 and you can't get it to go above 30 mph. So we turned around and I called my neighbor. Luckily Bailey was just leaving her house so she whipped over and picked us up. Matthew wasn't sure what to think about being pulled out the car, in his carseat, and being plopped in Bailey's truck. I was flustered enough I let her drive off with my keys and Matthew's sippy cup still on the truck of my car. Nothing screams "Rob me" like leaving your house keys on your car. I don't particularly care if someone tried to steal my car at this point. After having it died backing up about 3 times and then not picking up speed, my guess is they'd leave it behind after all.

Luckily the rest of our day went better then that. Matthew and I came home and watched some of the Wizard of Oz. He was completely fascinated by it. It was the first time he really watched something on tv for more then seconds or 2 minutes. I think it's the singing. I don't think I've written to let everyone know that if you sing Ring around the Rosey to him, he will go in a circle. He will giggle and do it until he gets so dizzy he falls down some days. He does more and more cute stuff every day and unfortunely I'm about the only one who sees it.

I would like to mention that he is about to make his first theatrical appearance next Friday. We are having a Lights on Afterschool program with a "Night Before Halloween" play. All the kids and my boss wanted him to participate and be a frog. So he'll get to perform with the rest of us. Your's truly gets to play the mom and eat a cupcake. That's the stuff Oscars are made of. If I was shy, I sure have to lose it fast in this job! PS Mom, I keep forgetting to ask if you'd attend and help me with my potentially crabby child. And you may have to pick up sandwiches if you agree to attend. Love you!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Ding dong the rat is dead

Everyone sing with me now: Ding dong the rat is dead, the which old rat? the crazy rat, ding dong the crazy rat is dead, it's gone where the goblins go, below, below yo ho, so open up and sing...

It was official yesterday. The service department finally got it. 2 weeks of terror are over. It looks like it didn't do much damage, just mostly trashed the car with poop and pee, so they have in the detail shop right now. (I hope they remember to give it an oil change too.) So tomorrow or Thursday I will be able to pick it up. And I only have to pay around $400 for this fun event. I think everyone should install a crazy rat, just to kick it up a notch.

I forgot to mention yesterday, because I was tired, how well Matthew did getting his hair cut. He studied what she did to Phil's hair and then it was like he knew what to do. He held very, very still and only turned his head a couple times and when he did, he did it slowly. No crying, no screaming. Even smiled as she did it. I was so proud of the little guy!

Monday, October 13, 2008

It's a monday

My flood of memories and paper. The biggest on the left is recycling, middle-toss, and right-save. I didn't think you guys really understood the magnitude, so I photographed it. My poor parents...


Rain, rain, go away should have been today's motto. It felt like it rained all day, but it took a couple breaks. I made my family breakfast and out the door we went to run a couple errands. One of them was getting father and son haircuts. Later I went to work and came home 1/2 hour early to let Phil leave. The daycare was closed today due to all the kids being sick, so he had Matthew and I had the good car. Thank goodness Matthew wasn't one of the sick ones. While I was gone, Phil moved the paneling to the back porch and steamed off some more wallpaper. Pan also decided to jump up on the scanner and knock it off the bookcase, which means bye-bye scanner. Yes, it didn't work with the newest version of Windows, but it still worked great on the old computer. It's always something.

After Phil left, Matthew was so upset he decided to take his bath and go to bed. Poor guy, he misses his dad more now that he's older. Oh, happy 16th month b-day to him by the way. So with all the empty evening hours on my hands I decided to steam wallpaper. I didn't get far because I realized that the strange smell was the plug melting and turning to charcoal where it plugs into the steamer. So another, much needed appliance, down the tubes. I'd go get another one tomorrow, but I still don't have a dependable car back. Ditto for the scanner. So instead I spent my hours wisely. I worked on the boxes of paper junk. I took a picture for your viewing pleasure. I couldn't believe how much was packed into that one little box. This is only 2/3's of the box. I got too overwhelmed by the rapid switch from master's memories to high school to undergrad and back again. I know that you are all wanting to know what I found so here it is. I found old high school notes, college notes, newspapers from both colleges that had nothing important in them, judgmental emails from an ex's mom (still had the power to turn my stomach so they quickly went in the toss stack), old song sheets from when I sang and took voice lessons, and the list goes on. In typical style I picked a couple things to share. One is a poem I was forced to write in grad school.
What I Need
I need to be fullfilled,
What's it mean be fullfilled?
Well, I need real love,
peace brought by a dove,
some days I could use a hug,
and never deal with a bug.
A place to call my own,
less days where I must groan.
I have need to get good grades,
so someday I can have maids,
and when I have a therapy job,
I hope I never see a "What about Bob"!
More time for taking a walk,
and not just around the block.
Pets, friends, and family around,
so that real love can abound!

Wow, I shouldn't quit my day job. But my teacher loved it. I hate writing poems. I also found a list of quotes from high school. My french teacher's "Mushroom Story": Love is like a mushroom, you never know it's there till it's gone.; was one of them. Quite a few were from movies. Why do I keep these things???

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Paneling coming down

Here I am saying "DON'T TAKE my PICTURE!" Wall without radiators and paneling.

Another view with paneling against wall.

Another view with me saying the same thing as above darn it.

All his life I've taken pictures of him sleeping off and on. I can't help myself, I think he just looks too precious asleep.


This has been a very productive day. Since Phil is home and we are on the verge of making a very big purchase of baseboards, door trim, plinth blocks, 2 types of special trims and flooring; we decided to make tracks getting the room in shape for the arrival. We managed to get rid of the radiators so we could take down the paneling and actually took the desk and it's hutch apart. I'll be so glad to get it out of the dining room because it takes up so much room. It is an awesome desk though. It's going to go in Phil's room and possibly the hutch. The hutch sits great alone on the floor and may find new life as a hall bookcase. We also got more carpet tack up and steamed off a section of wallpaper. We found a lot of places that need to be patched. At least one point we can feel the breeze it's letting in. No wonder the dining room gets so cold. The walls are letting in a breeze as well as the windows! This is why you are suppose to have the appropriate baseboards on the walls... Anyway, we are really excited with the changes so far. Phil is hoping that we don't have to put the radiators back in, but steam heat might be most efficient for us.

While we were busy tearing up the place, Matthew got to be entertained by his grandma and grandpa. Lucky boy. He has been super spoiled all weekend. Friday we planned to stay home, but Dad offered to come up in the morning and take us to get milk and diapers. So we went with him and ended up going home with him. We stayed long enough that Mom got to see him for a little bit before Phil picked us up on his way home. Saturday we went and picked up my Oz toys and shopped at Hastings and Sears. We went to Hobby Lobby and debated buying the same Christmas tree that we missed buying last year and couldn't decide again. It didn't look as good as last years, but I think the problem is that we made it better in our minds than it really was. After that we took off for Mom and Dad's again to move stuff out of my room, to make room for the crib. I threw away quite a bit, brought more boxes home (tons more notes it looks like-holy cow, did I throw nothing away???), and managed to make a big enough place for a crib and set it up. YES! I guess all weekend has been productive...

Thursday, October 9, 2008

T.G.I.T (thank goodness it's Thurs because it's this weeks Friday for me!)

I'm really tired so this will be quick, but I know several of you are wondering how my battle with the pack rat is going. Here is the update I got from Dan, the service guy.
Me: Just checking in, how is it going?
Dan: (groan) It's still alive and it's a fast little sucker.
Me: (groan) It's still ALIVE?? I've had poison in the car for a week.
Dan: I know. We tried to get it with a live trap. It triggered it, but managed to squeeze out. It is working on some Orbitz gum. It likes Orbitz gum so I left it by the trap as bait.
Me: Well I'm glad it has fresh breath.
Dan: (laughs) Tonight I'm leaving a bowl of liquid poison, maybe it's thirsty. If that doesn't work I guess we'll try to tear you car apart tomorrow. It has to go. I'm sure everyday it's tearing more stuff up.
Me: (misunderstood last comment) in panic WHAT HAS IT TORN UP NOW!?
Dan: NO, no, I haven't seen damage, I'm assuming.
Me: Oh, I thought you were going to tell me half a seat was gone. Ok, well I'll keep waiting to hear from you...

I just don't understand why me and why it's soooo stubborn? I tried to coax it out with all escape routes open and it refused. It's like a smart suicide bomber. Death is now it's only option. And I've lived with my husband long enough now I feel bad. Thanks alot Phil.

Matthew was so tired when he got home he refused to eat and went pretty much straight to bed. After 2 hours he woke up crying and I could smell he was poopy so I got him up. Poor guy, he must have done it in his sleep and slept in it awhile. I think it undid all the good work I'd done for his butt. I think we are going to have go see the doctor and get something stronger because he lives slathered in all kinds of ointments and still has horrible diaper rash at times. Either that or he's allergic to something and I just don't know it. Anyway, I gave him some water, a tiny bit of yogurt, changed him into pjs, brushed teeth and let him go back to sleep. We'll see how early he wakes up.

My only other news is that I made my first ebay purchase. I pick up my prize Sat. in person since it's too close to ship. I feel like a dork to admit it's the set of McDonalds Wizard of Oz toys, but I love the Wizard of Oz and they are really cute. If I lived next to McDonalds, Matthew and I would have gone all the time, but since we don't, I bid on it. And won it in the last sec. Literally it said 1 sec left and my bid ended up highest. It was exciting, stressful, and scary, all at the same time.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Colder days

Hair ribbons circa 1980's from another time warp box. He looks like he's gift wrapped.

Yes, in the driver's seat at last.

A penny...I think I'm rich...

Ok, enough talk, lets get this show on the road.

Practicing for Halloween. He just loves to carry this old primer bucket around.

My good friend Jenny sent this to me today in a forward called "Halloween is going to suck this year." I thought it was pretty cute and maybe true in some places. Not so much where Matthew is going to trick or treat. That's my social commentary for the day.


Yesterday I decided to take a break from the time warp boxes. I played with Matthew outside some. It kinds stinks getting in and out of the car now because Matthew always wants to drive. If you don't let him, he throws himself on the ground and pouts. Yesterday it had been raining so I kept trying to lower him onto not so muddy/wet areas.

We went to school early, because my boss wasn't coming and I had to set up everything alone, which I do alot anyway. I got done a little early so Matthew and I were going to go out and play on the playground. Right as Matthew started to step out I saw a small snake. I pulled him back in and went to get help. Best I can tell from pictures online, I'm pretty sure it was a rattlesnake or another poisonous snake that I can't say the name of or spell. In any case I'm so glad he didn't get bit. It was a scary moment for me. You just can't watch enough.

Matthew actually got to go to daycare before any of the kids came in (thank goodness). The little girl he likes so much came a little later with her mom to pick up her older sister. She had red spots all over her face. I thought they were mosquito bites. So I asked what happened to her and the mom replied, "Oh, the doctor's aren't sure what it is, but it might be chicken pox. It's not bothering her though." Great. I wonder if he's going to come down with something now.

This morning Matthew got up early and took a nap early. So I pulled out another time warp box and sorted it. Very easy. Just more notes to fling. I also went through another that the hair yarn came out of and it is going to just have to wait till my dressing table comes. Everything in it came out of my dressing table. I threw away all I can and now things like a jewelry box full of my 4-H pins are left as well as my bracelets made out of folded gum wrappers. Anyone else ever have any or see them? They pre-dated the friendship bracelet by about 4 years probably. I found some of those too. Anyway, I found one big enough to wear and it matches my shirt. Score! Matthew while awake worked on getting legos to stick together. He's getting so close. I am continually amazed by all he can do now and say. Oops, he's back up, better go!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Things I have learned today

A picture from the box. One of the people who reads this blog is pictured here. Does that person recognize their self???? I'll be waiting.

A picture from art class. It's called Fit for Active Service from the 1916-17. I think the artist was saying the Russians would put anyone in even if they had to dig them up and declare them fit for duty. Surprisingly, I think it sort of fits today's military in this country too.

My son the daredevil.

Here he is again. He loves standing on this toy.


As always, it has been an adventure packed day. It started normally. Matthew and I went out to play and I checked that there wasn't any glue trap surprises. Nope, not a thing. I put him down for a nap and called to see if I could get a new car key cut from the vin #. Yes I could, but I'd have to come down and present registration and a driver's license. I didn't have the time so I called Phil to say I'd better meet him at the interstate and collect his key on his way by. I just stepped out of the shower to him calling to say I'd need to be there in 30 minutes. So I dried off, got the boy back up (no nap yet), got us in the car and met him. Turned around 1 minute later and came home. Laid the boy back down (15 minute nap in car), but he wasn't having any of it. We ate lunch and my dad called to say he was on his way to follow me to the dealership to drop the car off. Somewhere along the way Matthew finally fell asleep. I showed them all I knew and was on my way. (The rat tried to chew up my arm rest. GRRRR...) Once home again we all looked under the hood of the Green Streak. I discovered a new pack rat nest and that in this car there was actual wires chewed. Great. I think our repair bills will be sky high this month. So the car is driving, but it protests. It doesn't think much of reverse and it clunks into gear alarmingly. Hopefully I can make it work for the next couple of days until the 4-Runner is ready to go.

This evening I tackled more in the box of time warp. I actually made it through the box. I threw away alot of art therapy literature, all the notes I took in college, a physics paper from high school on lighting, my high school french workbook, love letters from my first boyfriend (I just can't seem to get rid of them, the more I throw away the more I find, it's been an annoying phenomena for years now), and my favorite: an email from November 18, 1998 listing the 99 ways to order a pizza. The top 15 are as follows:
1. If using a touch-tone, press random numbers while ordering. Ask the person taking the order to stop doing that.
32. Have your pizza "shaken, not stirred."
70. Start the conversation by reciting today's date and saying, "This may be my last entry."
13. Do not name the toppings you want. Rather, spell them out.
88. When they say "Will that be all?", snicker and say "We'll find out, won't we?"
3. Use CB lingo where applicable.
6. Tell the order taker a rival pizza place is on the other line and you're going with the lowest bidder.
17. Ask what the order taker is wearing.
24. Order 52 pepperoni slices prepared in a factual pattern as follows from an equation you are about to dictate. Ask if they need paper.
19. Say hello, act stunned for five seconds, then behave as if they called you.
52. Ask what their number is. Hang up, call them, and ask again.
57. Report a petty theft to the order taker.
63. Start the conversation with "My Call to (Pizza Place), Take 1, and...action!"
65. Ask about pizza maintenance and repair.
5. Terminate the call with, "Remember we never had this conversation."

I sincerely hope this illustrates to you all the right way to order pizza. Boy I know I've sure been doing it wrong for a long time. (I also know that I've been holding on to way to much junk for too many years!)

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Help! I'm stuck in a time warp!

My mom called today and came to pick me up so that I wouldn't be lonely, which meant "get down here and clean out your old room." She sent home some large boxes of what I thought were books. In reality it was folders full of notes from every class I took in high school along with tests. It was pictures of old crushes and dates. A letter I didn't send a BFF Senior year about who I should ask to my after Bellhop party. In it I also advised against telling another BFF that the band sucked, even if it did, because she'd get very angry. I found stacks of reading material from a online psych class. I found tons upon tons of ripped out magazine pictures that didn't seem to have much rhyme or reason. (Yes honey, I know I still rip out magazine pages, but it's normally recipes or restoring houses articles.) I found a clipping of the returning letter holders for the girls golf team, several high school newspapers (0ne included mention of a certain "Galloworm" peddling assorted snack foods in the hall until his blow pops got out of control, causing him to be shut down), a Senior awards day program that was not from the year I graduated, a window cling, my first apartment lease, a tuition receipt, a old bank statement from high school (I had a $100, yes!), a love email from the last guy I dated before Phil, cut out from a Halloween mini M&M box, and the list goes on and on. And this is only what I found in 1/3 of one box. I'd say she had a good reason for wanting it out of her house. I'd also say there's an excellent reason why there isn't room for a baby crib in my old room. The reason is junk!!! At least it's not becoming junk here either. After all of that I feel like I'm back in high school and suddenly I am curious who "Pickles" Bellhop date was because I refused to invite her to my house. Save me!!!!

On the bright side we had a good time at my parents. On the dark side the rat didn't become stuck. I'm not sure he even did anymore damage or moved anything, so maybe he's gone or dead? To be on the safe side I'm pretty sure the car will be on it's way to repair shop to be certain and get a oil change at the same time.

I need a nap.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Pack rat battles continue...

A picture I took for the hibiscus plant I'm wintering for my Grandmom. I have always loved how beautiful they are and how tropical.


I've decided that I have an abnormally smart pack rat. He seems to know that there is bait in the car and after trying it out has given it up. In fact I think he decided to start chewing the carpet in protest. So I had to up the anti today and buy rat sized glue traps. I baited them with peanut butter. As of 8pm no luck, but hey, the night is young yet. I can tell that the rat has been having lots of fun finding obscure objects to toss around in the car, like a bottle cap and a tiny silver ball. That's how I know he's thumbing his nose at me. If he hasn't stuck himself by Monday afternoon, I will drop the car off at the service dept and let them tear apart the car and hopefully evict him. I have to say although I want him gone, I don't relish having to decide how kill him. I guess I'm a little soft-hearted after all.

Due to the rat problems, Matthew and I didn't get to go to KC. Instead Mom and Dad picked Matthew and I up and took us shopping for rat supplies. We ran a couple other errands too. And ate at MickyD's. Matthew successfully ate 6 McNuggets today. He's growing up. On his 1st birthday he could only eat 2. Moving up to the big leagues. We'll probably run up to see Daddy Thursday instead. Tomorrow I have no idea what we'll do since I didn't plan to be here, but I'm sure we'll come up with something!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Some pictures for Friday

Miss Isabelle.

Trying so hard to get the dog to play with her.

Matthew trying to get the bird, Buddy.

Buddy telling Matthew he does not appreciate his attentions.


Just a little story to boost your Friday spirits. Matthew was straining this morning so I asked him if he was having trouble pooping. He said, "Yeah"! Things like that crack me up. I never know when he's going to answer in a language I can understand!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

The Pack Rat

For the last 2 days the family car, our '06 4-Runner has been under siege...by a huge pack rat. Just lovely. I actually saw it today. Yesterday I just saw the aftermath. It chewed up a portion of my heat shield, Foxy's blanket, a dried fruit wrapper, a sucker, and the flung a pop can half full pop. So today while my son heaved himself up in the 4-Runner to "drive", I was running from door to door trying to prod the huge beast out with a ice scraper. No luck. It went up under the dashboard. I couldn't see this since I was prodding from the backseat. After a couple minutes I got smart and tried the glove box. Ding, ding, ding. There it was all curled up resting it's fat self. In slow motion I watched it pour itself out of the glove box, over the stick shift, and towards my son, who was still driving. This is the point where I screamed bloody murder, which made Matthew also scream bloody murder, while we both watched it go back under the driver's seat. That was rather comical, if there is comedy in this situation. This time I kept my eye on the rat as I prodded it and watched it hot foot it up in the dashboard. I decided it was time to call the authorities. Yes, I called Dad. He said to throw Pan in the car, leave the glove box open, and hope it left. This meant I'd have to leave the good car at home and drive the Green Streak, which isn't running too hot. Fine. I installed the unwilling cat with food, water, and commode. I parked in the shade with windows down. I extracted everything that wasn't nailed down to chew. I came in for the Green Streak's key and...yes, you guessed it, nowhere to be found. I had to call my boss to pick me and my son up and take us to work, making us all late. Which insured that work would be CRAZY. It was only volleyball and football night. And of course Matthew couldn't go to the daycare until 5:15. A whole 45 minutes there, wow. Once Matthew and I got dropped back off, I extracted my very unhappy cat, along with all necessary cat supplies, and installed more rat bait inside. I had come home last night and put rat bait in place of the lovely nest it'd built under the hood. Hopefully this will be the end of the rat and it will not die in a spot that I can't get to (but stink to high heaven for 6 months) like in the Green Streak last fall. Does anyone want to change lives with me? Anyone?

I should also mention that in the middle of the rat battles I realized the mail lady was at my mailbox and I still hadn't got my mail there yet because I started battling the rat. What did I do? I snatched my mail and went sprinting down the driveway waving my mail wildly hoping to catch her attention. It did. She probably thought it was a pretty scary sight. I think I would have. She politely said once I got to her, "Well at least you got some exercise." On my way back I realized that Matthew, still driving, was looking horrified and calling me back. I have to say it is shocking to see me run because I don't do it unless I have to.

Today Matthew said, "Me water.", while looking at his sippy cup that was on a table. Yesterday he said bracelet. All week he has been chattering in sentences I can't understand. Yesterday he dropped his sunglasses in the tub and couldn't get them. He said something like, "need those" and I said, "You need your sunglasses?" and he said, "Yessh". It was so cute and amazing realizing your child is on the edge of talking like an adult. Every day this week he says "Hi kitty" to Pan whenever he sees her. I've said it before, but he's getting really good about stopping and waving at every car that goes by. Now he does the big person wave side to side, not the half shutting the hand kind. It's kind of nice to be able to tell him to go get me something and have him go and get it. At least 75% of the time. Yes, he is making big strides.

He is also getting lots of boo boo's. Tuesday, to quote the lady at the daycare, "Your son was being a daredevil and fell causing him to bite through his lip, well almost." Words every mom wants to hear. Translation, his teeth cut the inside of his lip and he had a sore spot on the outside, same place. Wednesday he leaned down to pick up something and in typical Matthew fashion, smashed his left cheek bone into the coffee table. The poor kid never looks down so he falls over everything. Well, by this morning he has a bruise in the that spot. Then today, after I extracted him from the driver's seat, he tried to go up the front steps, fell, and scraped his chin. Let me tell you he's looking good. On top of it he is drooling so much he is drying the skin out around his mouth, which causes redness and irritates his exzema.

In other words, I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday and that Halloween is only 29 days away.