Still Kickin’ It

I’m sure this place barely has a pulse. And this is probably a lame attempt at CPR. But, nonetheless, here I am. My friend Ben decided to check up on me and pushed me just enough to get me to post. I like it when people care. 🙂

Since we moved, Pop passed away, the kids started new schools, Nick went back to school, and work started kicking my ass, I haven’t been inspired to post much. Many of my thoughts made me sound like a whiney-ass bitch, and though I am, I still don’t want to sound like it.

Elle’s birthday came and went and we had a slumber party with 10+ 9-10 year olds. I realized several things that night. First, Elle has some serious bossiness issues, and I (privately) told her she was acting like a brat at her own party. Second, I wanted to tell about 5 other girls at the parties that I thought they were being bratty, but they were not my kids, so I just reminded them to play nice. Thirdly, I wished I could tell 5 other parents that their preshus babees are brats, but they are soccer parents and we have to play nice. Fourth, I hoped that Elle never acts the way these girls did when I’m not around. Fifth, it will be a long time before I have another slumber party for little girls.

Zed nearly failed algebra (8th grade honors math) last six weeks. This was the first time I’ve ever really had to ride him about his grades. He has taken on a lot more school work this year, with 3 honors classes, and he has been involved in athletics, which takes extra time. But he also lazes around a lot. Mostly he’s been a great teenager though. So far. Knock on wood. He picked it up, and we haven’t had any issues since. I know it will make you all jealous, but the worst problem I have with him is that he leaves his bike in the driveway. I know, I know. He’s too good!

Nick has been having some health issues, and near the end of the summer was diagnosed with Hemochromatosis. Basically my baby is Iron Man. Literally. He retains high levels of iron in his blood, which is extremely toxic, and can cause life-threatening side effects and diseases if not treated. Fortuately his diagnosis was made very early (I can be very persuasive) and tests revealed no damage to organs commonly affected. He has visisted a stream of doctors as a result, and we are still trying to get everything into balance through regular treatment. But he is still plagued by some of the side effects of the disorder, but is actually getting better, though some days it doesn’t seem that way. He has also gone back to school, and is working on finishing his associates before transferring to a four-year program.

And I have been working my tail off. And staying at very nice hotels when traveling. And meeting really cool people while I’m on the road. I’ve been sticking my neck out into some uncomfortable territory, creating a role, and lining myself up to be promoted into it. Which, as brave as I appear to be on the outside, I am really a scared little chicken-shit on the inside. The first time I gave my pitch I finished with a very wet shirt back and waistband. I hate it when I get all nervous and my voice wavers and my hands shake. I can do this dammit!

My birthday has come and gone as well. I’m now in my “mid-thirties” and I think I’m starting to show my age. Seems like the skin on the cheeks isn’t as smooth and shiney as it used to be. And my hands are starting to look old too. I’m moisturizing like a mad woman, trying to get back that baby smooth feel.

So all in all, yes Ben, I’m OK. Just busy living, turning my new house into a home, trying to bring home more bacon, and loving my family more and more every day. I’ll try to do a better job of being around. Things are staring to get interesting again, and I’m feeling pretty good after this post. Mwah!

Cutting him off

Nick is no longer allowed control of the DVR remote. I nicely requested that he record the AI audition show tonight. He must have just pretended to set the recording, because when I went to watch it…yeah. NO SHOW!

I deserve to watch a good train wreck just as much as the next gal. I don’t watch the competition, just the auditions. It’s always good for a laugh.

This isn’t the first time something I wanted recorded didn’t get recorded. I think there may be a conspiracy against me. So that’s it. No more DVR control.

A New Spin on Date Night

I’ve got two men at home that love to take me out. Yesterday Nick called me at work yesterday and slightly painfully asked if we had any plans for the evening. Suspicious, I said “No, Why?” “Dad wants to go to Penney’s to buy new underwear.” Oh. Well, we can do that. Last Wednesday we gave up our ‘free’ night to take him to Target and Walgreens to look for some reading glasses that have a little more magnification. I could tell that Nick didn’t want to give up our night this week either, but Pop needed skivvies.

So, we went to dinner, then to Penney’s. Nick procured a wheelchair for Pop, courtesy of the lovely service desk lady, and at the cost of his driver’s license. And we proceeded to shop. Nick was pushing Pop, and we were mostly staying on the main aisle, with me wandering in between the clothing racks and stands. Because there just wasn’t a lot of room to maneuver the wheelchair. It’s been at least 5 or 6 years since I shopped with a stroller, and longer since I shopped with a full-size stroller. (Ah, the day when we could move to the umbrella stroller! What bliss that was!)

Keeping them Entertained

Nick got a job working from home. It’s perfect, because the kids don’t have to go to daycamp. And once school starts (August 27th can’t come too soon), he’ll be here when they get home. Plus he’ll be around for his dad, and able to be more flexible with doctor’s appointments and such.

But until the school year starts, the kids have to entertain themselves somewhat during the day. And not all electronic entertainment. Elle has been reading the Junie B. Jones books. Zed finished Harry Potter VII last week. Today he started on Tom Sawyer. They also have ‘summer workbooks’ which I procured from Barnes & Noble. Grade-level tasks to refresh their young minds. Zed is working on reading comprehension and Elle is working on writing, math & reading. And, their time is interspersed with Game Boy, lunch, naps, walks and movies. Today was Where the Red Fern Grows. The 1974 version based on the Wilson Rawls novel. If you haven’t read this book, read it. If you haven’t seen this movie, see it. One of the great boy-dog stories of all time. I read this book in 6th grade English, and openly cried in class. It’s stuck with me ever since.

T0night I traded in the BBOnline DVD for a free in-store rental. Tomorrow they will watch Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog. Trying to find a movie that is suitable and palatable for both nearly-9 and just-12 year old kids is tough. Another movie that I’ll be looking for is The Journey of Natty Gann. I was 10 when this movie came out, and I loved it. And it’s loosely related to the canine theme with the wolf. And of course Old Yeller. What other framily-friendly dog-themed movies are there? I mean, besides Lassie & Benji.

Tonight at dinner, we somehow came to talk about the subject of dating. Zed is in 7th grade this year, and has had a crushes on a couple of girls over the last couple of years. Of course, these are the from-afar-she-doesn’t-know-I-exist-crushes. He typically gets very embarassed when talking about girls, but tonight he was asking questions. Like about how you actually ask a girl out and what kinds of things you say to get her phone number. GULP.

Nick, of course, being Mr. Suave (um, you have read about how he asked me out again at the end of our first date, right?) gave him a few tips. I told Zed his mom is a sucker for big, goofy, hairy guys and not to take his advice so readily. After cautionary tales of cheesy pick-up lines such as “Wow, did it hurt? When you fell from heaven?”, Zed thought up his own. On the way home he asked “What about this? ‘Call the doctor – I’ll need surgery on my eyes after being blinded by your beauty.'” Bwah ha ha. I couldn’t contain my chuckles. We advised him against obvious flattery. This is going to be fun.

What’s the best/worst pick-up line you’ve ever used/heard?

Product Development

Animals are attracted by scents. Different species have their smells. The male animals can smell when a female is in heat. Other males can smell the alpha male’s territory by the scent they leave behind. Family members identify each other through smell. Natural phermones and all that stuff.

While I don’t think I can ever go so far au naturale as Matthew Mcconaughey (he claims to have not worn deodorant in way too many years), I have to admit, as a woman, I kind of like it when my man smells a little sweaty. There’s a certain raw sexiness to the natural smell of a man.

Last night, laying in bed, I caught a whiff of Nick, and the phermones did their job. I’ve heard of perfumers using phermones in their scents to make them more attractive to the opposite sex. And so I joked to him that we should bottle his sexy smell. But then I decided it wouldn’t work, because part of the attraction to me is his hairy chest. Nick’s reply:

“Well, we’ll throw a couple of chest hairs in the bottle too. It’ll be like the worm at the bottom of the tequila bottle.”

I laughed my ass off. Moment gone.

Pretty Soon We’ll be Pooping Outside

No, not really. I’m well assured that Nick will get the hall bath back in order. So, still down one shower, now down one sink. Hopefully we don’t have to pull a toilet. (Really, Nick is doing an awesome job with all my ‘honeydo’ projects. AND he made breakfast for me this morning. I love my husband. He’s just the best.)

We spent the day today between Lowe’s and Home Depot, looking at countertops, back splashes, bathroom vanities and cabinets, french doors, and various other things. We usually are Home Depot shoppers. But, we weren’t happy with the way they did the estimate for our counter tops, and so we went to Lowe’s to comparison shop. We found a counter top color in a different brand that they don’t carry at HD, so I’m glad we did it. And, based on my early estimates, it’ll be at least $150 less. I hope. But, the checkout girl at Lowe’s was so snarly, surly, and otherwise just plain grumpy and mean, I won’t look forward to shopping there again anytime soon. My basic evaluation is that Lowe’s has cleaner stores, but their customer service is far worse. HD is typically better on the customer service end, but sometimes it’s hard to find people. You know, the syndrome where there are 10 people around asking if you need help, when you don’t have any questions, and then when you do you look around and there is no one within five aisles.

So, I’ve painted the kid’s bathroom, and Nick is changing out the vanities, wall cabinet, and eventually, the medicine cabinet. Once HD gets one in stock that isn’t water damaged. If you’re looking for me on August 7, that’s likely where I’ll be…the date they’re supposed to get a shipment. After the vanity is installed, I’ll bust the tile out of the garage, and actually make some visible progress.

One Wednesday we have a contractor (FINALLY!) coming to the house to install the french doors. Hopefully mentioning that fact here won’t jinx the plan, and the guys will show up on time, complete the job on time, and not leave a gaping hole in my house.

Elle & Zed come back on Wednesday too. I’ve been missing them a lot. Thankfully the time seems to have gone by quickly. Nick and I have had some peace and quiet though, and we’ve been able to go to a couple of movies too. This weekend we saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I liked it of course. They’re really showing Harry take charge and showing the fact that he’s truly growing up.

Pop’s doing really well too. He had cataract surgery two weeks ago. His next follow up appointment is next week, and he’s happy that his vision is finally improving. It’s clear for the first time in a long time. Not a lot they can do about the fact that it’s an 86 year old eye behind there, but he’s pleased with the results. He’s had an offer on his house, which really puts the pressure on us to get things finished up around here.

Oh, and if you guys haven’t seen the video for the new Brad Paisley song “Online” you need to go check it out. It’s so funny! And I think I’m going to have to adopt Blake Shelton’s “The More I Drink” as my personal theme song. Kidding. Sort of. Mmmm. Martinis. And doesn’t Mr. Shelton just have the cutest dimples and blue eyes? I wonder if he’s single…my sister needs a good Country Boy.

Another Favor

I’m being awfully needy this week. I’m usually not like this.

Today we got another call. At first I feared it was worse than it really was. Nick got a call from his dad’s neighbor. Fortunately it wasn’t that call. See, Pop is deaf, and so he had the neighbor call Nick to talk to him. Then Pop got on the phone. He told Nick that he’s tired, that he aches, and that he’s lonely. He wanted the neighbor to bring his car to us. And then he asked Nick if he could come live with us. His exact words: ‘Son, do you think you could take me in?’.

So, Nick is flying to El Paso tonight. He’ll help his dad gather some things up, and then he’s bringing him home to stay with us. I’m pretty sure this is going to be permanent. I don’t think it’ll just be for a while until he feels better.

This weekend, my mom is coming to help me clear out my office. Elle will be temporarily displaced, as the office is too far from the bathroom for Pop to stay.

My heart is breaking for Nick. It’s only in the past couple of years since his mom died that he really got to know his dad. So he’s very upset that his dad has made this request. For a man like Pop to ask for this means that he’s likely ready to start dying.

Please keep my dear husband and his sweet father in your thoughts and prayers…for Nick to have a safe flight and that they both have a safe drive back…that I have strength this weekend as I have to clear space and make room for a most welcome visitor, for however long he may choose to stay…for my children to have the patience to deal with this sudden change to their life.

Scare

Wednesday Nick decided to test my nerves. I was on a conference call at work. During the day, he and I IM each other. So when his cell number started calling my desk phone, I got a little concerned. But I couldn’t answer. Then my cell phone rang. This must be serious. I muted my desk phone and answered “I’m on a conference call…what’s up.”

Except Nick wasn’t on the other line. It was his boss. Nick had fainted at work. Tuesday he had gone home early, feeling faint and, as he put it, logy. Doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with him. But Wednesday he was back at it again.

I got a co-worker to finish up the conference call, and as soon as my laptop would shut down, I was out the door. I may have left a path of destruction in my wake as I drove down the tollway. Soccer moms everywhere were afraid.

When I got to his work, Nick was sitting up in his chair, looking dazed and confused. His boss came in with a miniature sized wheelchair. I looked at it and laughed. “Elle wouldn’t fit in that thing.” I said. So, his boss helped me walk Nick down to the car.

In the car, I called the doctor’s office. They directed us to the emergency room. So we went, and we got in quick. EKG, CAT scan, blood work…the whole nine yards. And everything by dehydration was ruled out. Nick is also hypoglycemic, so he may have had a low blood sugar episode. Plus he’d taken some herbals the day before, which may have been one of the things that made him feel bad the day before. Maybe it was residuals of that. Whatever it was, after the administration of a saline IV to rehydrate him, we were on our way.

Yesterday he was off work on doctor’s orders and felt well enough to stink up the house with a cigar. He tried to cover it up with smelly candles and some cinnamon spray, but I could tell. Since he felt well enough to partake, I didn’t feel bad for chastizing him. Yep, seems he’ll be fine.

For news about me, check over here.

Was it Saturday? Or no? Sunday? What day is it?

We survived Friday night. Elle and I made it to the train station on time, met up with our traveling partners and made it to the AAC just in time. It was actually very scary. Once we turned from downtown, we could see the storm approaching fast. Deboarding the train, there was lightning all around. The security personnel at the AAC instructed is to not stop to scan tickets or go through security…JUST GET INSIDE. We later found out they evacuated over 3,000 people out of the Dallas Convention Center and down to the underground parking garage (just a mile away) when the tornado sirens went off. That must have been when they told us to get in our seats and not move. And when you’re in the 3rd tier nosebleeds, the thought of a tornado shearing the roof off just a few hundred feet from your head is not a pleasant scenario. I told Elle that if I pulled her down under me, not to freak out. And was trying my hardest not to panic myself.

Saturday, after cancelling soccer pictures because of extremely cold morning temps, and only 5 of 12 team members, we proceeded to a 2-1 victory over one of our more closely matched soccer rivals. The fields were muddy and slippery and are now completely torn up.

Then, with the kids off with their dad, Nick and I drove to Irving (~45 minutes) to Nick’s cousins house. For a late-Easter lunch. We arrived at the house, and didn’t notice any cars parked outside. I suddenly became very suspicious that something was amiss. After all, we were fashionably 20 minutes late already. Everyone else should be there. We circled the cul-de-sac and then came back. Ah, there was Auntie’s truck. And there was her husband, supervising Nick’s cousin cleaning the table and chairs. When I touched him on the shoulder, he turned around, looked at me, and asked “Why are you here? We’re not eating until tomorrow?” I turned around, and looked at Nick, giving him long look with eyebrow raised. “Um. Sorry?” was his response with shoulders shrugged. Last time he gets to contribute to the schedule without me confirming details. 😉 At least he was a day early and not a day late.

Saturday night we went over to a couple-friend’s house. A few other people were there and we had some rockin’ sangria and fajitas. I plan on getting the sangria recipe and sharing it at some point. It was delicious.

Sunday we trekked out to Irving again. This time people and food were there! Joy! We played Easter Bingo, and I won a kitchy lamb statuette and a pair of cat and dog bobble animals. They were cute. Nick had his low-rider toy car stolen (complete with the Low Rider tune and multi-cultural gangstas) at the last moment. He ended up with some Art Deco bunny that he later donated to one of his nieces as a self-defense object. Super exciting trips to Target and Kroger followed, and we closed out the weekend watching The Sopranos. So far this season, EVERYONE is pissing Tony off.

Oh, and my Kroger Fuel Center? It’ll be open next week. *Does happy dance* 10 cents off per gallon bay-bee!

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Walking Fine Here, But Sitting on my Tush…Just in Case

I’ve managed to stay upright since Friday. You’ll all be happy to know that I haven’t taken a spill since the last incident. I appreciate all the concern. I’ll keep an eye on myself. And if I have any more issues, believe me Nick will drag my butt to the doctor quicker than you can blink. I’ve tried to stay off of my feet most of the weekend, except for the part of the day today where I mowed the lawn and trimmed the hedges. And when I cleaned the kitchen. And then my ankle hurt. But my butt was firmly planted on the couch Saturday.

Nick and I watched several movies, including Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House and That Touch of Mink. In both movies I briefly got to see Cary Grant shirtless. The stars of today don’t have anything on Mr. Grant. He was 58 in That Touch of Mink. And in excellent shape. I plan to watch more of his movies. 😉 Then we watched the movie Wonderland. Gruesome, gruesome murders. Of course I’m not all that familar with Mr. Holmes’ work, so, I didn’t really have a vested interest in the film. We watched parts of a couple of other things too, none of which are memorable. Tonight we watched The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. I really like Julianne Moore. She’s a very good actress I think. And Woody Harrelson was in this too – a completely unsympathetic character I thought. But an inspiring, sad, true story. And, to top it all off, I watched Part I of Empire Falls. I do like Ed Harris and Paul Newman.

What about you? See any good movies this weekend?