Sunday, December 10, 2006

Thank You

Thank You

Thank you for all the smiles

you've put upon my face.
Thank you for all times
you put me back in place.

Thank you for giving me
the shelter in the storm.
Thank you for your heart
of gold that kept me safe and warm.

Thank you for the nights
of silly stupid fun.
Thank you for the knowledge
from one to one.

Thank you for the rides
to and from.
Thank you for sharing when
I needed some.

I'm thanking you for little things
that happen day to day
the things I haven't mentioned
and the things I shouldn't say.

I mostly want to Thank You for the friendship that you've shared
The love and understanding smiles, tell me that you've cared.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Change....

I'm not feeling the greatest at this moment... My best friend is leaving. He's moving back to California.... I'm happy for him, he's going to be back with family and friends, but I'm sad that I won't have him here in town with me. It's a strange feeling knowing that I won't be able to just hop in the car and go over to his house anytime I want. I feel guilty for feeling bad for myself. He and Shawn will be much happier in Cali. Shawn especially. Shawn is a very talented artist. He's and awesome tattooist. Cali is the place to be for them, but I want them to stay with me!

I'm hoping that I can get one more tattoo before they leave... I want my tinkerbell on my lower back.... If not, I'll just have to go to Cali to get it! I may just wait, and take a little vacation later.

Well that's all for now....

Here's Rick and I at the pre-opening party for the shop they had here in town. We both were a little tipsy that night!!! I should know better than to let him mix my drinks!!!!! LOL


RRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHH...... I always have a problem trying to up load pictures here..... It's won't let me for some #$%@*&! reason......

Sunday, November 19, 2006


This is Sunday in the backyard raking up the leaves...then jumping in them...... They had so much fun... I have aching arms and shoulders. Took "us" about 3 hrs just to do the back..... Funny thing is, we don't have any trees in our back yard and only one small one in the front.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Well this is the best I can do for now. I'll try to make the picture more clear. This is the first time I've posted a picture here.


Back row- Xavier (5) Nathan (10)
Front row Ruby (4) Me (36) Pat (39) Molly (11)


How time flies.........

Wow.. I can hardly believe that it's almost Thanksgiving. It seems like I never have enough hours in the day anymore.
It seems like I was so busy last month, but when I look back at it I wonder what was so busy about it. I did end up having to go to court because the attorney didn't get around to getting ahold of the prosecutor. When we got there the copy of the traffic ticket they had showed a speeding violation on it, mine however did not have that info on it. I'm not denying that I was speeding, that's why I got pulled over, but the fact the signed copy that I had which matched in every way the copy the prosecutor had except for the fact that the speeding violation wasn't on mine. It obviously was written in after I signed it and had my copy. So the short version is that they dropped the speeding if I agreed to plea to driving on a suspended license. I didn't want to, because I didn't know it was suspended, but the attorney (which is my husband's uncle) said that it would just end up costing my more money to fight it. If the speeding charge wasn't on there if would have been much easier to just get the whole thing dropped. I decided that the $94 dollar fine was cheaper than paying the fine for speeding in a school zone and also having to pay the attorney for his services in fighting the suspended license. So now I'm sure my insurance will go up...but it's all done and I'm legal once again.

I spent a lot of time last month making Halloween costumes for the 2 youngest. Xavier wanted to be a lunch box. He is so creative. Anyway after a few burnt fingertips from the hot glue gun, and some creative sewing of carrots and bananas we had a spiderman lunch box that opened in the front. He loved it. Everyone did. Every house we went to had to go get someone to come look at it. He ended up with twice as much candy as the other kids. It seems the more cute the costume the more candy you get.

Ruby went as Cinderella. I will never again put 2 hoops in a princess dress. She was supposed to where her costume to school. Try getting a 4yr old in a car seat with that on. Not happening. Luckily school is only 3 blocks away. I ended up buckling her in the seat. She was beautiful though. Her teachers knew that she would be a princess of some sort...she is my girlie girl. All the kids in the school have a Halloween parade where they go outside and go around the block..(more like 4 blocks total) It was a cold day... so they walked very very fast.

Molly went as a Goth Bride. She thought it was so cool. I hope she doesn't decide that it's so cool that she wants to dress like that often. I don't think so though..she couldn't stand having the black make-up on her eyes... I'm pretty easy going with how they kids want to dress. As long as it's not trashy trampy. Molly's dyed her hair twice now...She thinks I'm cool cause I let her. I let her cause she hasn't picked neon blue with pink stripes or something outrageous. It's been pretty much natural hair colors...But middle school is around the corner....

Nathan is my cross to bare. He's really trying his luck. He just doesn't want to play the game by the rules. His behavior is just not acceptable. I know I should count myself lucky...He's not getting into trouble with the law or anything like that. He just does whatever he wants or doesn't do. He's been slacking on his homework. Nothing terrible, he got 2's on his report card..But he's a very brilliant child and there should be nothing less that 1+'s. His teacher agrees. I told him he needs to bring it up. We've tried the positive reinforcement; doesn't work. We've tried the grounding; doesn't work. He has had all his privileges taken away-no video games,internet,TV,radio.... he doesn't care. He does his chores half assed..I don't pay him allowance. He steals from his brother and sisters...He lies...He got Halloween taken away from him. We allowed him to wear a costume for the school parade ( I didn't want the other kids to make fun of him), but he wasn't allowed to go trick or treating that night. I stayed home with him and he handed out candy. The other kids shared candy with him when they got back. We had a huge bowl of candy left over cause we only got probably 10 kids to the door that night. Nathan ate all the candy that was left over. Sunday I went to get a Snickers and the only thing left in the candy bowl was a few tootsie midgies. I was furious. I asked him calmly if he ate the candy out of the bowl...he denied it. I told him that I knew he had done it cause neither his father nor I have touched the bowl since Halloween night. He finally admitted it. I had already caught him playing his brother's gameboy about an hour before this. It was only 10:30am. I told him enough was enough. I made him move all the furniture and clean the wood floors in the livingroom and dining room and hallway. I then made him polish the floors by hand. I made him scrub the kitchen floor with an old toothbrush. I feed him lunch of a hotdog and saltine crackers and water. He hates hotdogs... I told him that I was preparing him for life behind bars. I told him that was where he was headed, and there they don't get to choose what they eat, and what they want to do. They do manual labor... He worked all day until about 8 that night. I gave him a peanut-butter sandwich and a glass of milk and granola for dinner. Made him shower and go to bed. The whole day he was very nervous about something. Pat had called home from work early in the day and I told him what I was doing. Pat talked to Nathan on the phone, but I didn't get a chance to find out what he said until he got home. Apparently he told Nathan he was very disappointed and that they had talked about what happens to kids who can't be part of a family. Pat had told him all about Boy's Town. Well when he talked to Nathan on the phone he told him that he would call Boy'sTown on Monday and see about getting a placement. I started laughing. I know it sounds terrible, but Nathan has no idea that he's not going there. Nathan isn't a bad kid.... I just don't want him heading down the wrong path. I've already talked to his counselor at school and she's meeting with him this week and she said that she would let me know what she finds out. I keep telling Nathan that I love him too much to let him end up in jail. So the saga continues....

We had family pictures taken last night...UHGGGGG I told the kids on the way there that even if the people tell them to smile big.."show me your teeth" that they should just smile their normal smiles...I hate the cheesy fake smiles. I want pictures that are of how they always smile or laugh... the older ones knew what I was talking about. The younger ones made the cheesy smiles... I wasn't very impressed with the workers there. I think we had someone who was new. She didn't know how to put the info in the computer, and I heard her say she's never done a family this big. There's only 6 of us... to me that's not that big, but I'm the youngest of seven kids so.... Anyway, some of them came out ok...We only spent about $200 and got several decent poses... Well just have to try again another time. It's sad to say, but this is the first "family" picture we've every taken. Usually the kids are the only ones getting photos.

I'm not looking forward to Thanksgiving. I hate having to go to Pat's side for the holiday. His whole extended family is there...and everyone is so fake. We have to do Christmas on that day too. It's just a long drawn out day with a ton of kids who are not behaved. My kids are not spoiled and they mind (most of the time)These other kids act like it's the first time out in public and are crazy...
It's gonna be worse this year cause Pat has to work the holiday at the club and I get to go with the kids by myself. I wouldn't mind if it were just his parents and sisters, but all of the cousins, second cousins and third cousins...Aunts and uncles.. It's probably about 45 people all confined in a house.... I'm from a big family and there are about 36 of us but it always seems easier at our gatherings... I don't know why....

Enough babble.....

Sunday, October 15, 2006

What's worse than the flu.................... ONE BATHROOM

We've had the flu running through the house this past week. First was Ruby, poor thing. I had taken her along on some errands Tuesday morning. We stopped at Aunt Amy's to drop off the chaffing dish we borrowed to cater a party we did last Sunday. She wouldn't even talk to Amy. She just kept saying that she felt weird. She used the bathroom there and we left. Ruby didn't look sick, nor did she act like it. I asked her if she was okay, she said yes. We ran to Thrift World to look at a coat for Nathan and she asked to use the bathroom again. I took her back there and she went...no big deal. I was looking around at some jeans for Nathan when she said that she needed to use the bathroom again. I had the coat and several pairs of jeans in my hands so I took her back to the bathroom again. I opened the door and turned the light on for her. I told her I was gonna wait in the hallway right outside the door for her because I had those things with me and I didn't want it to seem like I was trying to steal something, so I stood right outside the door. I heard her start to make a whining sound and I opened the door- She had vomited all over herself, her pants, underwear.... I grabbed the waste basket and held it up for her to throw up in while she was sitting on the potty. Poor girl was mortified.... Of course there are no paper towels in there- only hand dryers. I took her underwear off, rinsed them out in the sink and put them in my purse. I cleaned up her pants and legs the best I could and got her back into her rain coat. I tied the liner in the waste basket and left it in there. I made sure the floor was as cleaned up as possible without paper towels. We walked to the front of the store and there wasn't anyone in line to pay, so I paid for the coat and jeans and advised the checker of what had happened and that the bathroom would need to be cleaned up a little. Ruby came home and took a quick bath and got into pj's. She felt horrible and slept most of the day. The next day she said she felt fine and went to school that afternoon. Wed in the middle of the night she woke up vomiting again, and stayed home from school Thurs and Friday. She started feeling like herself again late Friday afternoon. I on the otherhand started to feel crappy. I knew I was going to get it. I did fine all night. Saturday I felt ok- not the greatest, but not terrible. I took a shower late in the afternoon and started to feel fine. Nathan came out of his hideout (bedroom) and laid on the livingroom couch and said "I think I'm gonna throw up" I looked at him and told him to go into the bathroom then, not lay on the couch. He made it just in time- he got sick.... But after that he said that he felt fine. Xavier felt fine, Molly was fine...I was a little worn out, but fine. By 10:00pm Nathan, Xavier and I were all vomiting. Molly had decided earlier in the evening that she was spending the night at her girlfriends house next door. We only have one bathroom in this little house.... It was interesting to say the least. Nathan had a bucket in his room- Xavier had the "ILL BOWL" on the living room couch and I hadn't needed anything. I managed to hold off until about 2am. But I ended up sitting on the toilet with the trash can in my lap.... I haven't been that sick in years.... By this morning the boys were fine and ready to eat breakfast....I wasn't feeling much like eating or drinking anything. It's about 3:30pm now and I'm just getting up to move around. Thank God it was just the 24hr thing... I hate when everyone is sick including me. It's so hard to care for everyone when you are feeling bad too. Molly and Pat are the only ones that haven't gotten it. Molly hasn't been home much, and Ruby stayed in the livingroom on the couch while she was sick, so they didn't sleep in the same room. Pat's been working so much, that he hasn't really spent much time around the kids the last couple of days so he might be spared....I doubt it though. I'm usually the one who never gets what the kids have.... I surely hope he doesn't get it though, he's worse than the kids when he's sick. He whines more than they do.... Well I'm sure that was just entirely Too Much Information.....But hey...I count my blessings now a days...It could have been so much worse....

I seem to find less and less time to post. Not that I ever really post on a regular basis, but still.

I haven't heard back from the attorney yet, but he said to call him back if I hadn't heard from him in a week or so. I'll call him on Tues, or Wed to see if he's spoken to the prosecutor and gotten the stupid driving on a suspended license dropped yet. I'm sure he will, I've never been in any trouble. The worst thing I've ever had is a traffic ticket years and years ago.

I've been working on Xavier's costume for Halloween. He's so creative. He decided that he wanted to be a lunch box. He took an old printer box, and told me how to make it so the front would open like a real lunch box. He wants people to have to open it to put the candy in. It's turning out pretty cute. Only one burn from the hot glue gun, so I'm doing good so far. He's making all the stuff to glue inside of it. I'll post pictures when it's done. Ruby wants to be Cinderella...imagine that. She is such a girly girl. She loves to play princess. She wants to be called "Princess Maggie" I laughed. She didn't think it was funny, she was "serious". Her new favorite line "I'm serious, really, I'm serious". Molly said she was going to dress up as Tiffany from the Child's Play- Chuckie movies.... That should be interesting. Nathan said he was dressing up like Link from Legend of Zelda video games. Xavier just laughed cause he said that Nathan was going to look like a girl in the white tights. I love Halloween.

Sorry for the graphics.....I'm sure you could have done without them!

Friday, September 29, 2006

BUSY BUSY BUSY

Sooo to catch up.........

The morning after my husband brought home the roses, I was being selfish. I wanted more baby's breath in them, so I ran to the floral dept. at the grocery store. The young girl working behind the counter couldn't get her scanner/label maker to work. They had baby's breath by the stem for 1.99, but if it was wrapped up in a cellophane package it was 2.99. When I compared the two, there wasn't anymore in the wrapped package than there was on the single stem, so I asked if there was anymore not wrapped, she said no, but she would unwrap some packages for me and relabel them. After waiting almost 30 mins and 3 people later, no one could get the label made. I suggested that I just scan one of the labels 5 more times when I got to the check out! I know, I'm brilliant......LOL. The florist advised that would be fine. So I went to the self check out, advised the attendant of the problem and finally got out of that store... What should have been a 10 min errand took me almost 45 mins. I had left the kids at home, cause it was gonna be a "quick" errand, so I was sure they thought something had happened. Anyway, I was about 2 blocks from home, and speeding up the hill and I got tagged by the police for speeding. They had set up a radar trap at the elementary school, you can't see them until you are right up on them.... They weren't there when I left, but they were there in full force now. So I got flagged into the parking lot. I knew I was speeding, so I just pulled over and started getting my registration and insurance card out. I also knew that my license was expired, I was a little nervous about it, but I figured it was my own damn fault. I had been too lazy to go get it renewed. It was one of those things that everytime I thought about doing it, I had a million other things to get done first, and then I would forget about it. I never use it for ID, cause I never need to show ID for anything. I never go out to the bar, and where I buy cigarettes, everyone knows me.... Anyway I told the officer that it was expired, and handed her my registration and ins card. She ran my plates and everything came back fine with that. The other 3 people who got pulled over right after me where all on their way with tickets in hand. I was getting a little nervous by this point. The officer came back and asked me why I hadn't gotten my license renewed and I told her. Part of the reason it wasn't such a big deal to me was that I was no longer working in the field anymore, I used to work on an ambulance for years, and always had to have a current license, well it's been almost 3 yrs that I've been out of the field, that I really didn't have the same urgency about it.... Anyway she looked at me and told me that not only was my license expired, but that it had been suspended in 2002???? I was totally shocked. I asked her why it was suspended, and she said that I must not have paid a court fine or ticket. I haven't had any tickets in years and years. I was involved in an accident in 2000 while working. But I never got a ticket, and everything was settled by work's attorney. Anyway, the officer asked if the reason I didn't renew it was because it was suspended. I told her I had no clue it was suspended. She told me that I would have to leave the car there and walk home. I was only about 2 blocks away. She then asked me if she could search my car, I said yes. I told her that the back driver-side door wouldn't open. I asked her why she was searching my car, and she replied that she has the right to search the vehicle of anybody who was under arrest. I just about passed out when she said that. She must of noticed that I had turned completely white, she then said that driving on a suspended license was an offense that I could be taken downtown and booked for, but she believed that I didn't know it was suspended, so she was giving me a ticket to appear in court. She looked in the glove box and the middle console and that was it. I parked the car in a stall and got my baby's breath and walked home. The kids asked about the car, and I told them that it overheated and was parked at school. I didn't want them to get scared. I called my hubby at work and told him what had happened. He was just as shocked as I was and asked if I was ok. I said yeah, I guess it could have been worse. The lady could have been a real B*tch and taken me downtown.

I called my sister later that day and explained to her what happened and asked her and her husband to pick up the car and drive it to my house so it wouldn't get broken into. I ended up calling the attorney on the following Wed. I explained to him that I got pulled over for speeding and it turns out that my license was suspended. He was looking things up, and told me that he couldn't find any reason why it was suspended. He verified that it had been suspended since Dec 13, 2002, but other than that he would have to make a few calls. He called back and asked if I had paid a ticket in April of this year. I advised him I had not, and hadn't had any traffic issues other than the ambulance accident, in at least 12 years. The funny thing is, I got a speeding ticket in the same exact spot. I know it was more than 12 yrs ago, cause I didn't have any kids. I'm not even sure I was married yet, but I can't remember. I was on my way to my sister's house to watch her kids so she and her husband could go out for her birthday, and I was running late. I was speeding down the hill, and the cop was sitting in the schools parking lot.... The attorney said that there was some kind of ticket issued in 2002 and that it was paid in April of 2006. I advised that it wasn't me, but I needed to get my license un-suspended so I could drive again. He advised to send a money order to the Dept of Motor Vehicles in Lincoln and they would send me a re-instatement letter. As soon as I get that letter, give him a copy of it and he would take it to prosecutor and get this ticket dropped. So I mailed off the money order and am waiting for my letter. I will go get my license renewed and make sure that I NEVER let it lapse ever again.

I've been walking my youngest to school everyday since. I'm to scared to drive. It would be just my luck that I would get pulled over by the cops, and this time I would go downtown. My car has a cracked window on the back driver's side. Some kid thought it would be funny to shoot it with a BB Gun, so it's all taped up with clear tape. I haven't gotten it replaced yet cause it's too expensive, and It hasn't been a priority. It's a foreign car, so it's more expensive to fix. It's also tinted which raises the cost. It's not the kind of car that just blends in the crowd right now....

I've found myself being a "Becky Homecky". I've cleaned, conditioned and polished all of the wood floors.... I've needed to do that for a long time. I've kept all of the laundry cleaned, I sorted through toys and gotten rid of a bunch of things. I've been baking and cooking all the time. Ruby and I put up the Halloween decorations yesterday. I gone through a lot of stuff that was just sitting around. I made some curtains for the girls room. I got all the kids TV's, VCR's and DVD players hooked up the right way so everything works together... I've been playing games with the kids, playing outside, raking leaves and jumping in the piles. The kids are loving the fact that Mom is at home.

My oldest son has been trying our patience lately. Yesterday morning I went through his back pack and came across a note from his teacher. Apparently there was a problem between him and another boy and Nathan hit this other kid in the head with a folding chair. Nathan in his "ultimate" wisdom, thought he could forge my signature. Well, if I was smart I would have let him try to get away with it, called his teacher and let her know what was going on, and then he would have really shit his pants when he had to call home from the principals office. Instead, I woke my husband up, showed him what I found. He's better at dealing with Nathan than I am. I loose my patience with him. He's a very smart kid, but he's lazy. He always in a hurry to get things done so he can go play his video games. He's also a HUGE smart ass. I have to admit, he can be extremely funny, but it get old when it's all the time, or when it's really not appropriate at the time. Anyway, he never seems to learn from his mistakes. He's tried to forge my name on a note before, and got caught. You'd think that he would have learned from his mistake, but no... Not Nathan. Anyway, his dad sat him down and asked what happened and of course Nathan says it was an accident..BALE BLAH BLAH... Nathan's teacher is really a neat and laid back lady. She's not the type to over react. I was sure this wasn't an accident. Pat asked Nathan several times to tell the truth... Pat drove the boys to school that morning as usual when Nathan has band on that day, except this time, Dad parked in the parking lot and told the boys that they would have to walk to the side of the building where they go in for breakfast. He said the look on Nathan's face was priceless... Nathan knew that Pat was going in to talk to his teacher...... BUSTED! It turns out that Nathan and this boy were having issues. Apparently this boy had been teasing Nathan about liking some girl and Nathan got angry and hit this kid with the chair, after he tripped him. It also turns out that Nathan has 2 missing math assignments, and told the teacher that I took them and wouldn't give them back. Pat was furious. Nathan was lying again. Pat and the teacher talked, she told Pat that Nathan was getting a 3 in math because of the missing work, and that there is absolutely no reason that Nathan should have anything less than a 1 in any of his classes. Nathan is very smart, just doesn't want to put forth any effort. He is always looking for the easiest and fastest way to get things done.

That afternoon, when the kids got home from school, I asked Nathan if he had homework. He did, but nothing in Math. I advised him that his father spoke with his teacher this morning, and that we knew about the missing homework. I asked if he had brought his math book home. NO. I made him call his teacher at school to make sure she would still be there and tell her he was coming back to get his math book. HE WAS FURIOUS!!! but he did it. When Pat got home last night he and Nathan had a LONG talk ( about 1.5 hrs) When they were done, Nathan came to me and asked to talk to me in MY room. He apologized about his behavior and his lying. I told him that I know he thinks we are too hard on him, but that we are hard on him because we love him. We don't want him growing up thinking that he can do whatever he wants when he wants. We want him to grow up being responsible and dependable and honest. I told him I accepted his apology and that I loved him.

This morning I went to the DMV in town and got the renewal stickers for my car. I drove my husbands vehicle so I felt a little easier about driving. I wanted to get the stickers before the current ones expired. I'm so paranoid now it's not even funny. I guess it's cause I know my license is suspended and now I feel like I'm doing something wrong...

Oh yeah... I filed for unemployment the week of my birthday. I was told that someone would be calling me on the 21st at 8:15. I had all the kids out of the house except for Maggie and was ready to explain what happened and why I quit. NO CALL. I though maybe I heard wrong and that the call was supposed to come at 9:15 so I waited. I called them at 9:25 and explained to the lady who answered the phone what was going on. She put me through to the "Diane". I told her that I had been waiting and wanted to make sure the call was supposed to happen today. She said I called and got your voice mail, so I went ahead and processed your claim with out you. I told her that my phone didn't ring, and that there was nothing on my caller ID. I also told her that I don't have voice mail. She got really snotty then. She insisted that she called and that they "don't leave messages, so I processed it without you." She told me she already spoke to my former employer and got the resignation email I sent. She read it to me and I confirmed that I had written it. I tried to explain further, but she was very hostile towards me, and kept saying I should have talked to someone the day I had gotten the emails blah blah blah... I couldn't get her to understand that I didn't work a Mon- Fri type of job that it was 3 days one week and 4 days the next and so forth, basically she said I had no grounds to quit and it was not due to anything the employer had done. I just kept being pleasant to her and when she was done being snotty I wished he a good day and a fabulous weekend, and I wasn't being sarcastic about it. I'm sure that really pissed her off, and that was my intention. I got a letter from them on the following Monday that said I was assessed a 12 wk waiting period for quitting. That was fine by me, I had planned on waiting 12 weeks anyway. I figure that it would kick in just in time for X-mas shopping... LOL..... I have to make 2 contacts weekly, which I do via computer. I've been applying for jobs that I'm not really qualified for, that way I have no chance of getting a call back. I figured my employer screwed me over, I'm just returning the favor!!! I did get a call from someone I don't remember applying with, so just to be safe I'm going on an interview Monday, but trust me- it's easy to blow and interview. Besides it's for a financial institution, I've worked nothing but medical for that last 10 yrs. I told the gentleman calling that I'm not a salesman. I'm not good with selling anything. He said that he would still like to meet with me and go further into depth with things. I figured that if he was that insistent, then he probably got my name from either someone at the unemployment office or my former employer, and I had better at least show up. As long as I don't turn down an offer for employment I'm ok. I figured that by the time I'm done with the interview he won't want to offer me a job.

Well that's about it....I think anyway. I'm truly enjoying myself at home. I love being here when my kids get home from school, I love making home cooked meals, I love to iron clothes, I love being able to just sit back with my feet on the coffee table and watching a soap every now & then. What can I say. I love being a stay at home Mom. I am going to check into taking some online classes for medical billing and transcription. I can do that work from home.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Happy Birthday to me........

Well another year older. I keep saying I don't feel 36... Is there a certain way I should feel? I guess I feel older than that sometimes; especially when I think about all the crap that has happened in my life, but then there are times that I am totally amazed that I'm this old. Where did all that time go??? I guess it slipped by without taking notice. I had to grow up rather quickly, so I never really had those "fun twenties" I am the youngest of 7 kids, and the oldest is 22 yrs older than me. I was aunt at the age of 3...but really don't know that niece. My next oldest niece is just 8 yrs younger than me. I started "watching" kids at the age of 9 and started growing up faster than I really should have. I lost both my parents at a young age and moved out on my own at 17... Married at 19 and first kid at 25... WOW..... What an amazing time it has been.

Today has been probably the best birthday ever though... My husband has been clean & sober for 57 days. That is the best present EVER. I know he's doing it for himself, but in turn I (we) receive the benefit. My family is the happiest it has EVER been. We took the kids to the downtown park in the old market area. There are these 2 huge slides. The kids were having a ball sliding down, Dad up top and Mom at the bottom to make sure no one flew off. Well one of the kids found a piece of wax paper.... If you've never experienced waxed paper on stainless steel... You FLY.... So after about 45 mins of them sliding, I decided it would be fun if Mom tried the waxed paper....BIG MISTAKE. I came off the first hump just fine, but literally flew off the second...I was probably 4 ft off the slide and slammed back down, right on my tail bone.... I have a bad back to begin with, but haven't had any problems with it for months...Until now... I was in tears... But I bit my lip and walked it off...We took the kids out for pizza and came home. I soaked for an hour in a hot tub. I wasn't as sore the next morning as I thought I would be...

Well I gotta go, my husband just came home with the most absolutely BEAUTIFUL, long stemmed red roses and mint chip ice cream... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Brave New World........

WOW....A lot has changed in just a very short amount of time..... Where to begin?.....
On Aug 30th I quit my job.. I just couldn't handle the anxiety attacks I was getting every day before I had to go in. Things were just getting worse there. I had recently stepped down as Supervisor and decided that I would just go back to my original position of a coordinator.... that just pissed the head cheese off cause I put a wrinkle in his "master" plan... I stepped down because of the new schedule that he came up with. I have been working 12 hr shifts, 4 days one week, 3 days the next. That would include a 3 day weekend every other week. Well the new schedule that he came up with is 4 11hr days a week, never having a 3 day weekend, but yet still having to work 3 days in a row.... Not happening for me. I worked the overnight shift 6pm-6am. My first day off is half wasted by trying to catch up on sleep. I have 4 grade school children at home, I would never have time to spend with them.... Well ever since stepping down I have been "expected" to still perform certain duties of supervisor while the new guy was training, I understood that he was new to this position and was happy to help him out.... but I didn't think I should be expected to do his job and my job too. I actually was happy with the new Supervisor chosen, he was on my shift and is an awesome guy. Very level headed and very laid back... Reminded me of myself in a way... except a lot less hair! hahaha.

Anyway, shortly after stepping down I had an abscessed tooth, I woke up on a Wed morning and the right side of my face was swollen and sore... I started on antibiotics and called into work to let them know that I wouldn't be in. The next day the swelling had gone down but I was still running a fever and felt like shit so I called in again. I knew that when I came back in on Monday (my next scheduled day) that I would get a write up. I fully expected to get a verbal warning. I had just had surgery in June to have my gallbladder removed and had used all my sick time up then, so I knew I would get a write up. I went to work on Monday and nothing...Tuesday morning 5 mins before I get off work, the Operations Mgr stops by my desk and say "hey, stop by my office before you leave" I brought my pen to sign the "verbal warning" when to my surprise I get a written warning for abuse of sick time. I was pissed! That ruins my chance of becoming the sup for a different department. I had been told that I would get the sups job for the transfer center, but now that's out the window.... My written warning stated that I had been counseled and give a verbal warning previously..... YEAH like 2 yrs ago..... I signed it and just left pissed.... I called the Mgr when I got home and asked her to make a copy of the write up and leave it with the sup for when I came in that night. The Sup on duty is a very good friend of mine, when I came in he said MB left this for you... I told him what it was, he was instantly pissed too. Anyway a week later the transfer center is supposed to have a mandatory training meeting, I sent an email to the TC Mgr to advise her that I had family counseling that night and would not be able to attend. She sent me an email to my work address on Mon stating that I would need a note from the counselor and also that I would have to come into work on Wed early to make up for not being there on Mon. The people at work know I do not read my work email at home because I'm on dial up and it take entirely too long to load at home.... So Wed afternoon a sup calls and leaves a message wanting to know if I can come in early... I didn't get the message until about 15-20 mins before he wanted me to be there. I called him and stated the I wouldn't be able to be in early. He said no problem.... Thinking things sounded a little weird I decided that I should probably check my email before work... I started loading it and got ready for work. I come back to the computer and see a bunch of emails... I read the ones from the TC Mgr and knew that I was f*cked.. I was on a written warning for abuse of sick time, now I don't have a note from the counselor, and I didn't come in early to make up for Monday... my heart started racing, I was having a panic/anxiety attack.... I called hubby at work and asked him to come home now so that we could talk.... Since I never call him at work he knew something was wrong. He came home and I showed him the emails.... He said screw it, just quit.... They have already screwed you over, he told me not to even give my two weeks cause it would be miserable 2 weeks for me and in turn would make everyone at home on edge too... So I didn't I just sent an email to the head cheese in charge and to the sups so that they would have a clue. Not even 10 mins after I sent the email, the phone started ringing. However, the kids were on the computer and the ring in service doesn't pop up on there screen names because they have very limited access to websites. Only to kid approved things, pretty much only the sites allowable by aol kids...

Well that went over somewhat smoothly... The Sup on duty had no clue until the head cheese called him. Rick just laughed his ass off... I know he secretly wishes that he was in a position that he could tell them to lick his and walk away just like me, but unfortunately for him, he doesn't have someone else to fall back on.... He actually told me that he was happy for me. He's been calling me to see how things are going and to keep me up-to-date on the latest bullshit going on. He apparently has had a run in with the head cheese too and has a meeting in the morning to discuss why he sent out an email that he did.... long story, but I can't wait to hear the result of the meeting... The head cheese is going to get called out on the rug...... IT ABOUT TIME!!!! I wish I had your balls!!!

I have been SO MUCH HAPPIER at home.... I get to be a MOM again!!! It's all I've ever wanted to be. I get to see my kids off to school, I have alone time with my youngest. I've missed so much with the last 2. Maggie and I have a great time every morning before she has to be at school at 1pm. I have a couple of hours to myself. I'm never just sitting on the couch. I've been keeping busy with laundry, cleaning, running errands, sewing.... I LOVE IT!!! I get to put my babies to bed, I get to give them baths.... I get to IRON... LOL sounds funny, but I love to iron. It's so peaceful and you get to see your accomplishment right away.... I'm extremely weird I know... Today. I went to the fabric store and bought some fabric and made curtains for Molly's "quiet place" She has a loft bed and her desk is underneath it. She had a blanket tucked under her mattress to block that little area off from her little sister. I got tired of looking at the blanket, so I took her pillow case to the store and bought some material to match the colors and made her privacy curtains this afternoon. She came home from school and went to put her violin away and came running back out with a huge smile on her face. "That's so tight, MOM!" I think that means she likes it!!

We adopted a stray cat. Very interesting..... The girls love the cat, and the cat tries to hide from them ( actually just from Maggie, she doesn't ever leave the cat alone...Always wanting to pet the kitty, and hug (strangle) the kitty.)

I got a beautiful arrangement of flowers yesterday. They are roses, tulips, greenery and a couple of other kinds of flowers I do not know the names of, and fall leaves. All the flowers are a variation of orange (which is my favorite color). I was very shocked when the doorbell rang. My husband was getting ready to go to work and the doorbell rang. It was around 9am. I couldn't figure out who would be at the door at that time of the morning since everyone else was in school. I opened the door and what a wonderful surprise. The first thing that struck me as odd was that they were addressed to Mrs. Patrick G.......... Nobody I know would send me flowers addressed like that. I looked at my husband and he was just as perplexed as I. I opened the card attached and about started crying. They were from my husband's boss. He sent me flowers to say thank you, and to apologize for all the hours that my husband has had to work lately. Pat got a new job, he's the Banquet Chef for a very prestigious County Club here in town. He doesn't have much help in the kitchen right now and has had to do most of the work (parties) by himself... He's been working very hard and very long hours. I am very proud of him. He's really doing such great job. I'm also very impressed. None of my husband's other bosses ever did anything like that. I've never even met this gentleman. Pat's last boss I'd known for years.... Never once did any thing even remotely close to this.... Not even when the kids were born..... I was smiling for the rest of the day... still am.

Well this post should have caught up just about everything new.... I think. Today is day number 53 in our new life.... I'm so thankful that things are turning around finally.... I'm feeling it easier to breathe.... and my children have noticed that I'm always smiling now.... THANK YOU!!!!!

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Miss independant

Yesterday was Maggie's first day of pre-school. She was SOOOO excited. All morning she kept asking if it was time to go to school yet. When we get to the school, even before I get her out of the car seat she say's "ok, see ya!" and is ready to get in the building. I tell her I'm going to walk her in. We get to the front doors of the school and she's running to push the button that opens the doors, she doesn't even look over her shoulder, she just yells OK, SEE YA! I'm laughing cause she is so eager to get into class. We get to her room, and the teacher asks Maggie to find her locker to put her backpack in. She does, and again she says OK Mom, see ya! I walk into her classroom and there are at least 6 kids crying and clinging to thier parents...NOT Maggie! I tell Maggie that maybe if she goes up to the little girl in the purple dress and asks her to be her friend that maybe she won't be so sad.. Maggie says "sure" and she starts to ask her if she want's to be friends, the little girl latches on to her mother's leg- I swear the kid is part cat, she was damn near crawling up the mother's leg-and lets out this ear piercing scream; Maggie looks at her and looks at me like "forget get this chick- she's crazy" and turns around and runs to the bookshelf. Finds a book and brings it back to the rug some of the other kids were sitting on and starts flipping pages... Didn't want a kiss or a hug..She looks up and says in a voice that sounds a little ticked off...OK MOM, you can go now! I just laugh and turn around. As I'm walking to the car my eyes are tearing up...My baby is not such a baby anymore! She's a little girl..

Today she got to walk home with her brothers! That was fun for her...Not so much for her 10yr old brother. He had to hold her hand the whole way. He's glad that his friends weren't walking the same way. Maggie tells me that she has papers for me, but none that I have to sign. I giggle, she already know how much I love filling out all the paperwork they send home the first week of school. But she hands me a certificate she got from the teacher. It's a apple with a worm coming out of it. It says Maggie has been a great friend. I ask her what happened today, why the teacher gave her this. She looks at me very puzzled. She looks like she's about to get tears in her eyes... I told her it was a good paper. I told her what it said. Her response then was Oh, this girl slapped me and called me stupid in the kitchen center. I asked what she did, she got defensive and NOTHING! Then I had to clarify that I wasn't asking what she did to make the girl mad, I wanted know what she did after the girl said that...She said "nothing, I just told the girl it wasn't nice to hit, and that we don't say that bad word" That's my girl!!!

Maggie is the youngest of 4- the next 2 oldest are both boys...She can throw punches with the best of them. I remember thinking when she was about 2 that I was going to be getting a call from the school on her first day of kindergarten.... "Mrs. G.... this is Dr Peterson. Could you please come to the principal's office, your kindergartener just beat up a fifth grader." So I was very relieved when Maggie said she didn't hit the little girl back. We've really been working on that the last year. There are times she will hit her brothers when she gets angry, but usually she's been egged on and pushed to her absolute limit. It's no excuse, but understandable. When you're so much younger and smaller than the others sometimes the only way you think you can get your point across is to beat it into them....LOL.

Well I'm off to heat up some smoked tenderloin...YUMMY! It's left over from a party that Pat put out on Sunday, but hey.... I'm not gonna complain. Beats the alfredo noodles that I made last night....

Thursday, August 24, 2006

YEAH for PRESCHOOL!!!!!!!!

So I have 3 out of the 4 in school fulltime now....One more to go. Ruby (Maggie as she like to be called) is 4 and wants to go to school. We are in a district that tests for preschool. Only the kids who need it usually get in. We were told that there is a wait list, and chances were that she wouldn't get in. We went through this last year with Xavier. He was too smart for preschool. His little heart was broke when I had to tell him that he couldn't go to school. Then half way through the first quarter the school called and said that they were creating another class and there was an opening for him. Well I decided not to get Maggie's hopes up about school and kept telling her that she wasn't old enough to go to school yet, that when she was 5 she would get to go to kindergarten. Wouldn't you know it, I just got the call from Xavier's pre-K teacher and she said that she indeed would love to have Maggie in her class and I could choose morning or afternoon. She knows I work nights and just wanted to help out with whatever would work out best.!!!! YEAH!!!!!! She will start on Monday. Which works out well for her, she woke up last night with a Croup Cough and was miserable all night. She seems to be much better, but still has the sniffles and lack of energy. I was up with the bathroomed steamed for hours last night. But today she seems much better. We have to pick up Molly to take her to counseling in a couple of hours and then it's back to laundry! I HATE LAUNDRY!!! With 4 kids, it's a never ending chore.
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Last night Pat and I started a discussion on what our beliefs in "God" are. I'm still very angry with the Catholic Church and I think at first I gave Pat the impression that I do not believe in "God" at all. I do believe in something higher, more knowing than ourselves. I don't know that I believe in a being. I'm more of the belief that there is something out there that controls the things beyond our control such as nature, weather etc.... I told him that I do pray, but it's not to a God, but rather to the people who have passed before me. I told him when I was in the hospital waiting to deliver Molly(who's almost 11), I prayed every day.... But I prayed (talked) to my Father, Grandparents and sister-in-law that they help Molly. Molly was born almost 4 months premature. She weighed just over 1 lb. My water broke at 22 wks and the Dr's told me that there was only a 30% chance that she would survive if she was born then. I was in the hospital 4 wks on complete bed rest. Ultrasound every morning to check the amniotic fluid level.... The day I went into labor and the Dr's told me that her survival rate was 50 / 50. I knew deep in my heart that she would make it. She was born at 5:40 am, and she actually had apgars of 8 & 9. She was breathing on her own. She came out crying. I knew she would be fine.... She's a miracle. The Dr's couldn't believe this little baby was breathing on her own....unheard of! The neo-nate doc still knows who she is. We ran into him one day at the hospital while my neice's baby was in the NICU, he recognized me and then looked at her and said "Well you must be Molly McButter (her nickname in the NICU) I remember the day you gave us such a scare." Molly had come down with pneumonia about 3 wks after she was born, and Dr Needleman had to tell me to call my family up to the hospital because he didn't think that Molly would survive the day. He had tears in his eyes and his voice was cracking as he told me. I was devistated. How could this be happening? But Molly's a fighter, and she fought a good fight and came out on the winning side. She had to go on a special type of breathing machine called an oscilator and they had to paralyze her with drugs so that she could just rest, and a few days later she was on the rebound. Dr Needleman told Molly that she was his most favorite baby he has cared for and that he expected great things from her. He knows that she was born for something spectacular. I was in tears...
Anyway, the discussion we were having lead to me saying that I don't know how to just turn everything over...How does one do that. Who am I supposed to turn it over to? I guess I have to figure out what truly my beliefs are. I just don't know that I can believe there is one person "God" who is in control of everything and everybody. So if I don't believe that who do I turn it over to? I believe that there are spitits who watch over us, that my loved ones who have passed on are keeping us safe... But other than that I don't know.... Any suggestions out there??? How do I just give everything over to a Higher Power?? Oh well...enough rambling. I need to get ready to pick up Molly.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

30 DAYS

I'm so confused these days. Things seemed to be much easier when I knew exactly what I was doing. I knew what I wanted 30 days ago. I was done. I had had enough and talked to the attorney and wanted a divorce. I couldn't handle his addiction anymore. I couldn't handle the sadness in my kids' face. I needed it to be over. How do things change so drastically in just 30 days??
He's gone into treatment on his own- no one forcing him. He goes to 4 meetings a week outside of his treatment schedule. He's gotten a job, a DAMN good job making more than I. He's changed his behaviors. He's built a stronger better relationship with the children. He's thinking clearly and making outstanding choices. He's made such great strides that I'm so scared to let go. I've spent 23 yrs with this man. I've been by his side and he by mine since I was 13. I'm scared. I can't imagine my life without him, yet I don't know if I could ever trust him and love him like THAT again. I want to, but I've been hurt so deeply.

We were talking last night about how things have changed. He keeps telling me to just let go...let go to a higher power and things will fall into place. I don't know how, and I'm so scared that things will revert back to the same old thing. He talked about once he really decided that he needed to make this change and he really applied himself to it, how things just happened.

He was told that it would be 30-60 days before he could even get an assessment for treatment. He kept searching for a place that would help, and in less than a week he got a call to come in. He took the assessment and was told that there was a waiting list to get into treatment. It would be at least another 30 days possibly45 before he would be able to get into a program. A week later Immanuel called and told him he could come in and get evaluated by their program.

He made a call to some one he has known for years both professionally and personally. He explained what was going on in his life. Luis came by the house a few days later. Pat told him exactly what was going on with his life, with us. He asked Luis for his help. Later that day, Luis calls back and said that there was a job interview at Rick's Boatyard Cafe the next morning.

Pat went and spoke with the Manager, the guy wanted Pat to start the next day. Pat told him that he would have to get back to him on Monday. We talked about what the guy wanted to offer him, I was very disappointed. Pat is such a talented chef that it was almost a slap in the face, but Pat wasn't offended. He just said that after all these years of not working he'd have to start in the middle and prove himself again. Monday came, Pat called and the Manager wasn't there, so he left a message. The next day Pat called again, still no Manager. Pat didn't get discouraged. I sure did. I was so sure that it was just another bullshit lie that had been the usualy routine with Pat.

Pat took the kids to the park to play and to give me some alone time. Shortly after he left the phone rang, it was Luis. He said that he had gotten Pat a job at Happy Hollow Country Club and he needed to be there at 10am the next morning. I was so shocked. This is one of the biggest and best country clubs here. All I could say to Luis was thank you as my voice cracked and tears rolled down my cheeks. He said that he's known Pat a long time and he truly believes that he's made a change and will continue to do so. When they came back from the park I gave Pat the news. He was so shocked. Luis had told him that a job at the club wasn't in the works for at least 6months more like a year.

Pat went to the club the next morning, ready to work. He's was so happy to just get his foot in the door. He knew that he'd have to prove himself and he assured me that was what he intended to do. I got a phone call later that afternoon. Not only did he get his foot in the door, he was now the Banquet Chef. WOW!!! And not only did he land an awesome job, but the salary was $15,000 more than what was quoted by Luis.

Today is his 5th day there and I haven't seen him so happy and excited in years. The GM knows about his addiction/recovery and fully supports him. They know that he has to leave for meetings when possible and that he has a treatment schedule. The GM was impressed that Pat was doing this on his own, that his recovery wasn't law induced. GM said that he has a son who also has an addiction problem and knows how hard it is to get help. He told Pat that only 1% of people in recovery are there because it was their choice. He told Pat that he will help him however he could. He also told Pat that he appreciated Pat being completely honest with him. That is why the salary was so high. Well not to mention that Pat does fantastic work.

So he finds treatment, a job and goes to meetings. He's working very hard and keeps moving forward. He wants a sponsor. He's been going to meetings and made a comment in a NA meeting about how things have been going and that he's ready to move forward and wants a sponsor. The "chair" of the meetings asks to talk to him after the meeting. Pat stays behind after the meeting and they talk.

The "chair" offers to sponsor Pat. Pat told him he'd give him a call after he got off work that night. Pat came home and tried calling..voice mail. Pat left a message saying that he would like "Roger" to be his sponsor. Yesterday morning he left for work and had to stop at the store to pick up cigarettes on the way. We had a conversation before he left. I wasn't having such a good morning. I'm trying to make things work with us but I'm tired, scared and don't know if I can get back to us. He's telling me how much he loves me, how lucky he is to have such a wonder wife; and I'm in tears cause I'm SOOOOO scared to let myself feel again. I love him, but I can't say the words to him. I can't let him touch me, I hurt when he's near. Anyway.... while he's at the store he remembered something he wanted to tell me, so he stopped at the payphone outside the store to call home. We talked for just few minutes. He hung up the phone and turned to go and there was "Roger". Another Higher Power moment. If Pat wouldn't have stopped to call me, he would have already been out of the parking lot before "Roger" showed up.
He told Pat that he had gotten his message the night before, but had been at a neice's B-day party and didn't want to call so late when he got home, but as it turns out "Roger" lives up the block from us.... Coincidence?? or Higher Power??

I don't know what I believe anymore... I was raised Catholic and I can't even tell you how disguisted I am with the Catholic Church. I haven't been to church in years. I can't even tell you what I believe anymore. I know that there is something more than "us" but what or who that is...I'm not sure. All I know is that something is holding us in their hand and guiding us along, but when and where and how that is revealed I haven't the first clue....

I guess I just have to keep at things one day at time. I'm still angry that I've had to go through all of this. Angry that he did this to us, angry that I let him do this us. I'm just so confused and torn. WHEN WILL I KNOW? HOW WILL I KNOW?? HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!!

New Beginings???

I just received an email from someone whose blog I read religiously. At first it was just something I stumbled across, but the more I continued to read, the more envolved I became. I really "felt" for her. I could feel the pain, heartache and joys she conveyed. It was like I considered her a friend. I truly cared what was going on with her. The strange thing is that we never really exchanged words or email..... I worried about her when things were bad and I was happy for her when things started looking up. Then one day without warning she was gone. I was surprised by my reaction of feeling abandoned. I sent her an email asking if she was ok, but got no response. Then a few weeks later I sent her a new one, again no response. Things in my life had taken a huge turn and I just needed her. I needed to read her courage and strength. I needed to know that she was okay and that she was still doing well.... Well last night I checked my email and there it was. A response from her. You would have thought that I had just won the lottery. It's strange that one can become "attached" to someone whom they have never met in person, never had a personal conversation with. But I spent the next hour or so "catching up" and it's amazing how much better I feel. THANKS REGINA!!! You will never know how much you've brightened my life. I consider you a friend...even if that is not recipocated. I just needed to know that you were ok and that things are still on the right track for you!!!! GOD BLESS and KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! I AM PROUD OF YOU! CONGRATULATIONS ON 6 MONTHS....

Thursday, August 10, 2006

There is more than one of me...

Looking into eyes full of pain
I see how broken you are
Gaping wounds you hide so well
Smiling and laughing no one understands
I see the tears you blink away
I noticed what nobody else did
Holding yourself together
Just barely hanging by a string
Deep breath now
Smile back in place
Nobody notices the pain
Turning from the mirror
I face the world


This was written by a friend of mine Lisa L. and when I read it I was blown away. For just a few days before she wrote this, I had written something very similar. I told Lisa that I felt like she was looking right through my wall, and could see what was really going on inside, and that is very scary to me. To think that someone really knows what goes on in my head and can relate to it, makes me want to cry. I feel sad that there is this much hurt in the world. I wish that I could make it all end for everyone. Alas, I can not! I can't even make my own go away.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

RAMBLING

Why is this so hard? I'm so fucking angry at him. I don't hate him, I don't trust him, I can't stand to look at him because of all the pain he has caused for all of us, I want him to leave, but I can't imagine everyday without him. I still love him, but I don't think I will ever be in love with him again.

He's so pitiful looking I want to just smack him. THIS IS YOUR FAULT!!! It kills me to watch him with the kids. He's trying to be the father he has never been. Like 6 days can replace their lifetime. He's going for an assesment, he says, later this morning. Why couldn't you have done that 10 years ago?

Last night I'm in my bedroom trying to get ready for a meeting at work, and he comes down the hallway crying. "What's wrong now?" I ask, I'm sure he can hear the detest in my voice. I want him to hurt, I want him to feel the pain like I have. He says "I asked Nathan why he's been so good lately." He's standing there with these flipping tears that make me want to go punch him right in the face. "Well, what did he say?" I force myself to ask. "He said " because you are." I didn't think it was that noticable. I didn't think that my f*cked upness had that much effect on them." I looked at him like he was a moron. I thought right at that very moment I was gonna loose it. I couldn't say anything, cause my head was spinning. I wanted to jump of the edge of the bed and just bang his head against the wall. I wanted to start screaming " I've been telling you all this time that everything you do and say has a direct impact on them. You have f*cked everything up" but I didn't I just looked at him. I couldn't say anything, I couldn't move. I just sat there looking at him with a blank expression.
He stops his tears and says that he is going to get smokes. I go about getting ready to leave.

There are times for a split second that I think maybe I should wait and see if he does go through treatment. What if he's telling the truth this time? Then I get pissed off at myself for having doubts about what I'm doing. I know in my heart that this is what I should do.

I guess I'm just scared at what the future holds for me and the kids. I had to step down from my supervisor position. I received our new schedule on Monday. We are now working four 11hr days a week. Looking at the schedule I work 3 days in a row every other week, but I never have 3 days in a row off. The schedule that I've been working the last 6 years has been 12 hr shifts... 3 days one week, 4 days the next. 2 on 2 off 3 on 2 off 2 on 3 off 2 on. I work nights, so the first day off is half wasted sleeping. With this new schedule the I would have to work 3 on 2 off 2 on 1 off 2 on 2 off 3 on 2 off etc... This would never leave time for my kids. I asked on of the other sups if he would consider trading shifts so that I could work the 9 am to 8 pm shift. He considered it but he's having some health issues due to not sleeping well and can't go back to nights. He apologized for not trading, and I told him no apologies needed. I understand. I just wanted to exhaust all my options before stepping down. I don't really want to do that, but I have to for my kids.... So at least I'll be on the same rotation and schedule that I've been on forever. I hope that the sup postition in the TC side opens soon. I know that will be a day or mostly day shift. The manager in that dept. is so cool, I just love her. She assured me that it should be approved in about the next 6-8 months and that I'm her first choice. I hope everything works out. I can't help but be angry at jerk for this too. I would never have had to step down if he would have just opened his eyes and taken care of his problem years ago. I mean for christ sake, I'm the only one who's been working for the last 7 years. He worked here and there, but nothing reliable. I was never suprised when he came home and said that he lost his job. When the 2 oldest where just 2 or 3 he had a great job making good money. I had just started my career in the field making piss money and he was fired. We went from about 45k at his job to the lowly 6.50 hr I was making. From there it went down hill. He'd get a job and hold it for a couple of months and then he would get "let go". I have been the primary bread winner since. He hasn't had any employment for the last 3 yrs and never seemed to want to go back to work. He didn't do anything around the house either. I was standing in the backyard ( if that's what you could call in) tonight waiting for the dog to do her business and I burst into tears... It looks like I live in the Sanford & Son house. He's always got all these great ideas.... but they never go anywhere. I have more crap piled up in the back, and the yard has been torn up because he and Joe were going to put in a tie wall to level the top half of the yard. Yep you guessed it. the ties are laying around in the yard and a big trench is dug, the dried out rolls of lawn sitting all over.... I'm so ashamed of it all. This is just the back yard. Oh yeah forgot to mention the fucking horseshoe pitts....The busted out screen door on the basement. The kitchen light that is hanging out of the ceiling because he was going to put in florescent lighting. He took the fixture out about.......8 years ago, and just hasn't gotten around to completing the job. I have all sorts of little projects that he's started but never finishes.....

okay enough bitching.... I just have to remember that it can always be worse. At least I still have a roof over my and the children's head. THANK YOU!!!!

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

I have a my space account that I use to chat with co-workers and friends... I've used it for awhile. I also have a blog spot on there that I have used once in awhile for posting stupid things...funny things, things of no real importance. I couldn't remember my log on for here, so I jotted down my feelings and thought that I posted it under "diary" for only me to have the access to read it. Apparently that was not the case. I must of posted it under the friends setting. Amazingly enough more people read that entry alone than have ever read my blog there ever... Yet not one person mentioned a word to me. Now the only people that I have on my "friends" list are family members and co-workers... Not one person asked if I was doing ok...how things were going...etc. So being the bitch that I am I decided to post another entry (as follows)

I find it incredible how curious people are. My blog has been viewed more times this week alone than it has in the past 6-7 months. One post that was supposed to be published as a diary entry and must have been posted as friends only caused that much buzzzzzz. Well the least you all could have done was say "hey whats up.... Hey are ya doing alright, I read your blog etc......... What a bunch of voyeurs people really are. There haven't been 10 people who have said boo, yet at least 27 were interested enough in my misery to check it out!!!!
I wonder if there will be that many people who read this since it doesn't talk about anything that's personal, miserable, depressing etc.........

Let the count begin.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Not even 2 mins after posting it.....2 more hits....
My bet is that there won't be that many hits... The first couple of people won't find it interesting enough to email the others to check it out!!!!!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Whine & Bitch

So many thought just racing around. I'm so flipping angry I'm seeing red.

When does it get to be my turn? When does someone get to take care of me, to comfort me and hold my hand. I've had to be the strong one forever. I'm always there for everyone. Have a problem...Nancy will help. Need to talk call Nancy...Feel like crying...lean on me.

Guess what....Nancy isn't so strong. I've been everyone's rock. And now I feel like I'm standing alone.

Poor Jerk....His world is crumbling and he's feeling the pressure???? What the hell have I been dealing with for the last 10 yrs? I and the kids have had to suffer for ALL of his stupid decisions. I've been the one who's paid for his mistakes. I'm so lonely...but it's really nothing new. I've been lonely for a long time. But poor jerk gets to go "HELP" himself and I'm stuck here to deal with 4 kids who haven't a clue as to what's going on... Really. They have no idea what their dad has been doing for years. WHY? Cause mom makes everything better. When he finally moves out...I'm sure they will think deep inside that it's my fault... Just one more thing I'm gonna pay for because of his stupid ass choices.

I'm not perfect by any means, but DAMN. Somebody please...I need the re-assurance and the "atta girl" just like everyone else.... Nobody calling me to see how I'm holding up... Nobody taking me out to get away for a little bit.... NOPE!!! not one person....

Instead...I'm supposed to put on the happy face and make sure that the kids are taken care of both physically and emotionally...while jerk off goes to his "meetings" so that he can get support and guidance. Then he has the f*cking audacity to come home and tell me that he's tired cause he didn't sleep well last night..... SLEEP???? What is that? After laying around in bed for an hour or two he gets to play super dad. He plays board games with the kids while I get dinner. Once I've gotten everything prepared, start to cook and he's done with the game he tells the kids that he should go help with dinner. FRY them potatoes...... Thanks for the help.

I swear sometimes I think it would have been easier if he would have just walked out the door and never came back.

When I told him that I've talked to an attorney and that I'm serious this time..At first he was acting like he had no clue why. "I'm clean....I haven't touched it in a year...." BULLSH!T" I know better than that. The sores, the staying awake for days on end, the MOOD SWINGS. Then the first thing he did was call mommy and daddy. HA HA HA dumbass...I talked to them first. They know whats going on. But it just killed me cause I don't have anyone to turn to. My parents aren't around to support me. I have no one to run to to rub my head. Sure the in-laws love me...but it's just not the same. I'm not their kid. I wish so badly that I could have my parents back... 17 yrs wasn't long enough.. Even 25yrs wasn't long enough... My family has mostly forgotten me. That is my fault. I've kept away for so many years because of jerk. I couldn't face the looks anymore. I didn't want the questions... I'm not a good liar.

Quit complaining...... At least there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I think I can see it...barely. I'm jealous of those who have wonderful partners. I'm jealous of those who have it so good and still bitch about their lives. Tell ya what sweetie...let's trade shoes for awhile... I want someone to take care of me.

Thanks for letting me shed a few... Not that I couldn't have or haven't for years.... I just needed to vent so that I can let it go and not drop it on the kids.....

"This too shall pass"................. but not fast enough.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

The End..........


23


Broken promises and empty dreams.
Twenty-Three years ripped apart at the seams.

A young bright girl full of life
An intelligent boy asked for a wife.
Five years of trying and months of crying
A beautiful baby girl in the grips of dying.

At last we have a happy home
The two of us no longer alone.
Another blessing, a bundle of joy
This time we're given a baby boy.

Family of four so proudly we smile
Never imagined what was down the mile.
The babies grow and start to school
now everyone remember the golden rule.

The nights grow quite, everyone is asleep
finally a night without a peep.
Once again the stork drops a bundle of joy
A happy healthy baby boy.

Money grows tight, every word in fight
Never knowing where he is late in the night.
Trying and trying to figure it out
whispers slowly turning to an evil shout.

Another year of marriage, now it's eleven
another sweet girl sent down from heaven.
The screaming the yelling, the crying the pain
thinking to myself, what will we gain?

The effects of the demon are showing each day
Please dear GOD...Take him away.
I plead, I beg...I threaten and cry
You promised..you promised. Why oh why??

A few more years and a thousand tears
our marriage is crumbling after all these years.
I question a God who turns away
Never again....Never a day.

Twenty-Three years you've been in my life
Most of them I've spent being your wife.
The demons became you and you they
The happiness is slowly chipped away.

The dreams of forever no longer I hold
The future for us no longer gold.

Four smiling faces I look down and see
Four smiling faces looking up to me.
I must protect you, that I know in my heart
Even if Mom and Dad are torn apart.

I'm angry and hurt and beg you please
I plead and beg...I fall to my knees.
All that has fallen upon deaf ears.
You turn a blind eye to all the tears.

Enough is enough I tell you again.
My pleas carried off, gone with the wind.

The children grow smarter and older and wise
They no longer believe all the little white lies.
The questions they ask, I try to evade
they linger in my heart like a razor blade.

The one who is to love them, the one they call Dad
is the one who scares them and makes them sad.
I can no longer take it I have to make my stand
Get out of my life.... I've let go of your hand.

Twenty-Three years ripped apart at the seams
by broken promises and empty dreams