A Pinch of This, a Dash of That

Don't you wish this was a recipe blog? I do, too, actually. That would mean I've been cooking. Let's not get excited, ok?

• Hubby and I just had a mini staycation. It was lovely. He dropped the kids off Monday morning, he was off Tuesday, and hubby will pick the kids up on his way home tonight. School is getting ready to start and then co-op, then dance. We all needed a little down time. Hubby and I had planned to go to Disney, but the weather told us we should stay home. We went to dinner, worked a jigsaw puzzle and hung out in the garden. It was amazing. It doesn't sound like much, but it was nice to just be, take a breath, and hold hands. We snuggled on the couch, listened to music, played games, and just spent some time. Lovely, lovely time.
• I should be spending my time catching up on some things while the kids are gone, but I find myself blogging instead. I need to get some laundry done, organize the book shelf, vacuum the living room. Yeah, I'm blogging, watching Downton Abbey on DVD, and I'm going to read when this disc is done. And eventually I'll get a shower and brush my teeth. Maybe...
• I have a huge stack of books I need to get to. School is right around the corner, like 5 days from now. Maybe between the rest of the stuff I have to do. Or maybe instead of the stuff I have to do.
• A bit of excitement during our time off. I got a text from a friend a little after 11, asking if we were ok. That should be clue number 1 that something was wrong. We looked out the front window and above the tree line, the sky was glowing, blazing orange. The propane plant had exploded. It's about 5 miles from us. Then my phone just went crazy with texts from friends asking if we were ok. I couldn't answer them because we were on the run. I grabbed the important papers, threw on a bra and some shoes while hubby corralled the dog. We eventually stopped on a hill and watched the flames and the explosions of the small tanks. After about 45 minutes, it was all clear and we got to go home.
• Downton Abbey  is one of my favorite shows. I borrowed this from the library and I only get it for 3 days. It is such a good show. I love the clothes, but I have to say that the formlessness (is that a word?) drives me a little nuts. I'm not saying they should wear skin tight clothes since that's not what they wore. I love the hats!! I have so much hair, it's hard to find a hat that fits. My head is actually kind of small (my ego, however, is HUGE), but the amount of hair makes it almost impossible. It's a good thing I like big, floppy hats because that's about all that fits me. And if I may be frank? I would love someone to dress me!! I know it sounds horrible, but oh, to be pampered that way...

That's all I have for now. I'm going to watch the rest the season and eat some lunch. Right now I'd settle for someone to do the laundry, much less dress me. Ah, the life...

Finally, A Summer That Doesn't Suck That Much!!

Boy, do I ever need one of those!! 2 summers ago it was my mom with breast cancer and last summer we buried her. I'm still pissed off about that. I think I always will be. But I digress. Duh. Things have been moving along at a nice little clip this summer. It isn't much, but I will take a silver lining every chance I get.

I have read my brains out this summer. I haven't read the classic fiction I keep swearing I'll get to, but I've been reading none the less. My request list at the library is constantly full. I've requested books and movies and CD's and whatever else I can get my greedy hands on. I have a list from all my book sites that I've been using to request books. Summer is my only real reading time. I may take a book with me to dance, but I usually end up talking with my dance mamas instead of cracking open the book. During school, I'm so busy schooling my kids, my reading list falls to the wayside. I picked up 10 books yesterday and what was my first reaction? Yea, I get to request 10 more things!! But I gotta do it soon, since we start school at the beginning of August. I've even been making the kids trade TV and video game time for reading. The downside? I don't want to do anything else. Not make dinner, not work out, not anything. I have to drag myself off the couch to get anything done. Know what helps with that?

Bowling. The last few summers, I've signed the kids up for Kids Bowl Free. We would use it sporadically, and have fun. This summer, we've been going bowling with a group of friends. I have added and deleted kids from my account to take friends with us that aren't signed up. It has been amazing! My sweet friend, K, signed hubby and me up under her family pass, so we even get to bowl for free. The kids have had a great time. I even have my friend N and her daughter bowling with us. I'm not a great bowler, but I enjoy it and so do my kids. Hubby's only been able to go a couple of times, but at least he got to go. The kids have really made an effort to improve their skills and it shows. The big girl even broke 100 yesterday. Go on with it!

As much as I love my kids, I am with them all the time! What helps with that? Drop off days!! My friend M has been having drop off days at her house. I think she's nuts, but she would have to be to invite a ton of kids to her house and let the parents go. For 4 hours! Do you know how much napping I can get done in 4 hours? A ton! Last time I went to the big box book store, grabbed a couple of books off the shelf, copped a squat and read my brains out. It was awesome. I did need a coffee, because that much reading makes mama sleepy. If I could have curled myself in to a ball in that chair and napped, it would have been 10 times better. I think management would have frowned on that. One week I went to a movie. All by myself. I didn't have to share popcorn or my drink. I got to spend the afternoon with Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel. Um, hell, yeah! And the best part? Hubby is off for the next drop off day. We're going to go eat sushi. With out the kids! Oh, yeah...

This has been the year of stress for us. Between the loan modification, foreclosure, and the bankruptcy and a million other things, I have found that my attention span has shortened. My stress level just will not allow me to focus on more than 1 major life event at a time. As soon as we get through one thing, I can focus on the next. Sometimes. It has been a blessing to have friends that help, whether they know they're helping or not. It has been a blessing to have a mini vacation, if only for a couple of hours. And know what we're doing today? We're going swimming with friends. Working on my tan and swimming? Sign me up for that!!   

Refi, WiFi, Me, Oh, My!

I needed a break. I felt a lot of pressure to deliver a great blog, but found that for a while, all I could do was gripe and bitch. That's no fun. I put tons of pressure on myself, can you tell? Let's see how I do this time.

All these wonderful programs the POTUS has implemented to help the middle class, like Cash for Clunkers, have done nothing to help us. Not one thing. We either made too much money (I have no idea what that means), or didn't have enough equity, or our provider for whatever didn't participate in the program, or a million other excuses I could use. Then it happened. We got behind on our house payment. Hubby worked his butt off with overtime and on call to catch us up, but it got to be too much. I looked into several refi and modification programs and none of them fit us or would work for us. Then I saw a story on the local news one day. I don't watch a ton of news, but I was glad I was watching that day. We found out our loan was a Fannie Mae loan and that started the ball rolling. This is where I openly and blatantly state : I DESPISE WELLS FARGO BANK AND THE CROOKS THAT RUN IT!!! Glad to get that off my chest.

Wells Fargo makes the modification process torture. It's almost like they want you to get fed up and either pay them or walk away from your house. We were so close to just walking the hell away. I had even gone so far as looking to sell the chickens so we didn't have to take them with us. They stalled and dragged their feet at every opportunity. They even recalculated hubby's payroll stubs. Apparently, his company that employs 1,000's of people is full of idiots that have no idea how to figure payroll. WF even recalculated one wrong! They wanted a signed letter from a company representative as to why it was wrong. Until hubby explained it to our counselor and she explained it to them. They wanted a signed letter about every little thing. I had to write 2 letters explaining that I homeschool our 3 kids and don't work outside the home. They dragged their feet so long, we're in foreclosure. The good thing? They modified our loan! Our mortgage is almost half of what it was and our interest rate went down 2 1/2 percentage points. We make our first payment today. Next up, bankruptcy. That is a process you know I'll be blogging about.

Everywhere you go is free WiFi. I rarely use my phone where there is no internet service. I've even had hubby just pull up to the redheaded little girl's hamburger joint so I can just use the WiFi. My local grocery store has it, the big box book store at the mall has it. Even the mall has it! My big girl has figured out the password to the WiFi at 2 libraries that we frequent. She's going to be such a good little computer hacker when she grows up. What I'm finding though, is that technology isn't always our friend. I really want to go back to the days where you can get a cell phone that just makes a call. That's it. I don't need a smart phone. It's nice having one, but I don't need one. I don't want to be tracked. I don't want to be marketed to. I refuse to use the self check lanes at stores. I'll stand in line for an hour before I use one. People need jobs, and that takes jobs away. I don't want to give my phone number and email everywhere I go anymore, so I don't. I just give then my first name and make them add any last name. Smith is nice. Bitch is better.

Lately, 2 separate airlines, South West and American, have had to delay or cancel flights because of a glitch in their computer systems. Hotels around the airport filled up quick. Some airports brought out cots for those stuck at their airports. Have you seen the movie Battleship? It was a little cheesy, but we still liked it. If you haven't seen it, here's a spoiler alert!!! What saves the day and planet earth? A 70 year old battleship that was built to last. What did the sailors complain about? Out of date technology they had no idea how to use. Thank goodness for the old timers that were volunteers on the ship that had actually WORKED on the ship. Ever try to call a company that has a computer answered system? We've all been lost in that hell. "I'm sorry. I don't understand what you're trying to tell me." Because you're a computer!! All of our cars are run by computers. Have one of those mother boards fry and see what happens. Been there, done that, had Big Sis push my car out of traffic with hers because of it!

Lots of stress in our home because of the modification and the bankruptcy. Combine that with my mom's birthday, my birthday, mother's day, and grief and anxiety and stress and that makes me a lean, mean, eating machine. Ok, maybe just mean and machine, but not so much the lean. Since February, I've gained 12 pounds. What the French, toast? I cannot keep food out of my mouth. I have done so well the past year keeping the stress and emotional eating at bay. Not so much lately. I know what to eat. I know how to eat for my body. I know what will break my body down. My body doesn't care. Not one damn bit. If it's sweet and delicious (it doesn't even have to be delicious), I'm going to eat it. If it's salty or savory or, my favorite, crunchy, I am all over it. Do not let me loose at a buffet. Good grief, there isn't anything left for the rest of the restaurant. The craving for a cigarette has taken hold, too. I am not going there again. Hubby asked me if I wanted him to stop and get a pack. Well, yes, but I will smack you if you do. I do not need to weigh 180 pounds and be smoking. Again. You should have seen that poor sweet potato chocolate cake. It never had a chance of making it through the night. Good thing I had help with that one.

My contract for my phone expires in a couple of months, and hubby's by the end of the year. We may be switching to phones that text only. If we can find them. I am going to try a cleanse and up my coconut oil intake to try to get rid of the sugar and food cravings. I'm working out because I want to be in the Gold Company at our dance studio and I want to be in top shape for that. Come September, our loan mod will be final and the bankruptcy well under way. By the end of the year, I should be a lean, mean, dancing machine. Hopefully not glued to my smart phone with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. And a drink. I could really use a drink...

  

Old Enough to Know Better

I really hate it when I tell somebody something and they disregard me. I think I got this. Really. If I say it, I mean it. I may say it in a hateful, mean way if you piss me off, but I am aware of my opinion. I'm not always aware of what's coming out of my mouth until it's out, but still. Case in point.

This past weekend was our dance recital. It was amazing!! My kids rocked it and I have to say, I did, too. During practice one day, we were talking about that social media site almost everyone belongs to. One of my dance mates was talking about unfriending people. I said I wasn't going to unfriend her. She went on to say that she disagrees with 90% of what I put on there. She was speaking politically. She said that we all have our delusions. She even said "Poor, Cristy." Um, ouch. I'm sure my opinion is the right one. You can't get me to agree with her politically, but that's ok. I even told her that. I just agreed that some of us are delusional and that we all live in our version of a perfect world. That kind of shut her up. She asked me one night at recital if I watch "The View." My response: not if I can help it. I'm pretty sure I know what I mean when I say that. That kind of shut her up for a minute, too. I just don't talk politics with her and we get along just fine.

I had to get a haircut before recital. I was wearing a side braid with some cool colored braids weaved in. It was heavy and I needed to lighten the load. Thursday morning, hubby and I go run errands and a haircut was one of them. We walked in to a chain place and the woman at the counter asks for my name. I give it to her. She asks for my phone number. I ask why. It was their way of tracking us. I don't like to be tracked. I know. Every time I log onto a website or print a coupon, I'm being tracked. That doesn't mean I can't limit what I want to limit. She asked for my email and address so they could send me coupons. No, thank you. She was a little taken aback when I declined. She took it in stride, though. The guy cutting my hair, though, is a different story.

The big girl did my hair for recital. We had put it together beforehand to see how it was going to work out. We figured out how much needed to be cut off and still be long enough for all the extras. I told the guy to cut off 3 inches. He insisted on 4. I was insistant that it would be 3. I explained to him, twice, what was going on and that 3 was all that could be cut off and still be long enough. He insisted on 4. I asked, calmly, for another stylist or 3 inches, one or the other. He cut 3 inches off. He said I need to come in more often to get a haircut. I said I know. Then he started in on how I think I may be saving a dollar, but it was important for hair health, blah, blah, blah. See, I know all that. I just interrupted him and said, politely, "Dude, I homeschool 3 kids. It's not the money. It's the time. Let's talk about something else." I won't be going back to him again. I'm pretty sure that I know what I mean. I even informed him that I had worn my hair long probably longer than he had been alive and it was time for him to hush. Politely, of course. I didn't want to come out bald. I could go on and on about how much of an arrogant ass he was, but that would be the whole blog.

Our next stop was the grocery store that was next to the hair place. They've started using digital coupons. You can sigh up on their website and have coupons sent straight to your phone and attach it to your debit or credit card. The cashier asked me if I had any. I said no, I don't like to be tracked, but thank you for asking. She continued with her spiel. Again, no, thank you, but thank you for asking. She looked like she was going to start again. I held up my hand, looked her straight in the eye, and said "No, thank you!" I handed over my printed coupons, paid for groceries, and out the door we went.

Hubby asked if eveyrone had lost their minds. I said hell, yea! I think I handled myself pretty well for being so damned aggravated. I didn't yell, I didn't scream. I did fuss a little, but that was because I was prodded. And prodded. And prodded!! It was definitelt an interesting day. I am thankful I got a nap or that evening could have ended badly!



   

Intolerant Is in the Eye of the Beholder

I am so sick of the news. I rarely watch anymore. I do have my TV on GMA in the mornings, but that is more of a timer. I'm usually on the internet or my phone. I should be doing so many other things, but what fun is that? I know the hot button issue right now is the Supreme Court getting ready to rule on gay marriage. I have an opinion, I just choose not to share that. Instead, let's talk about rights versus privileges.

It is my right to be able to live a happy life. Our founding fathers said so. It is also my right to bear arms and voice my opinion. It is my right to vote. It is my right to bitch about the election and people that aren't informed before they cast their vote. Our founding fathers said so. What we tend to forget is that if it isn't in the Constitution, it's a privilege.

Driving is a privilege. Nowhere in the Constiution does it state that I have a right to drive a car. That could be because there were no cars back then. I bet if you would have given Ben Franklin another few years, he would have come up with something. Technology has advanced while that priceless piece of paper has remained the same. Having a cell phone is a privilege. Again, technology advances while the founding fathers are not even dust anymore. And that will happen. Technology advances every day, but it provides us with privileges, not rights.

I am intolerant, bigoted, opinionated, loud mouthed and brash. I can be grating and belligerent. I don't look for conflict, but if you get in my face, I will jump back at you. Lord mercy, don't talk about my kids or hubby or I will bury you so deep they will never find you. I am also one of the sweetest, nicest people that you will ever know. I will go to the ends of the earth for my family and friends. I love to laugh and make other people laugh. My opinion is mine. Don't try to change my mind unless you come with facts, not opinions. I don't do mamby-pamby or wishy washy. I have little to no patience for whiners. I would rather spank my children than take stuff away or put them in time out. And guess what? Some of that is my right. Some is my privilege. Some is my honor, but that's a different topic.

Political correctness is destroying this country. The big, bad world is big and bad, hence the label. To tell the truth, I think it started when we started using the phrase "African American". Ok, if you aren't from Africa, you aren't African American. You're...wait for it...American. Now everybody classifies themselves as something other than good ol' American. I don't call myself Polynesian American. If hubby were to call himself Caucasian American, people would freak. Being politically correct is a privilege, not a right. And it's stupid. Can we call a spade a spade? Trash is trash whether it's white trash or niggers. See, again with the classifications. Why? Someone might get offended. Fuck that.

I think my biggest gripe is that if I don't agree with main stream media, or those that are pushing an agenda, I am intolerant. If I say anything against gay marriage, I am intolerant of gay people. If I say I am for it, I get vilified by the other side. I am intolerant of idiots and stupid people. There are both of those on each side of the argument. If I disagree with the president, I'm racist. Honey, I didn't agree with George W. either. Know what that makes me? Intolerant of red necks. Wait, what? I married a red neck, so take that back. I don't agree with the POTUS because he's an idiot. It has nothing to do with the color of his skin. We have black people that have openly said in interviews that they voted for him because he's black. Isn't that racist? Yes, yes it is. But not if we're being politically correct. I would rather offend.

My friend ALT at High Strung Musings wrote a great blog about being cream. It was about rising to the top like cream instead of sinking to the bottom like coffee grounds. I'm coffee grounds. I have no filter. Don't ask the question if you don't want the answer. But don't expect me to sugar coat it. Don't ask me to be politically correct. Well, you can ask, but it won't happen. I am not cream. I don't like being cream. I think people need to be offended. I think people need to be rattled to make them think. That is one thing that is sorely lacking in our society. Free thinking has become a crime where before it was celebrated. Having money and being creative have become reasons to be spurned. Who's intolerant now, bitches? Stop and think. Use that brain that God gave you. It's amazing! ANd wait 'til you see the world in technicolor!

Bringing It Up

I've been taking notes again. Every time I say "I'll remember that when I get home", I don't. Here's what I've got.

• I have noticed an influx of side ponytails. Why? I'm wondering why we thought they were cute. At our weekend confirmation retreat, there were many, many teen and tween girls wearing the infamous hairstyle. To tell the truth, though, I would rather see the side ponytail than the ugly, sloppy bun that a lot of girls are wearing. The sloppy bun says you don't give a crap what you look like. The side ponytail says at least you made an effort.
• 80's fashion is back. I can remember my mom saying something about 60's fashion coming back in style during the 80's. I guess it runs in cycles. My big girl will look at something and ooh and aah. I tell her the 80's called and they want their fashion back. Some of it should have died then. Some of it really isn't that bad. Just, please no ginormo shoulder pads. Yeah, I rocked 'em. But that was then and this is my era of better fashion sense. I even had the jumpsuit in bright, conflicting patterns that was form fitting, but had the huge collar and shoulder pads. Some styles need to stay dead.
• I am losing my boobs. At first, it was kinda cool. I actually went up a cup size. It has to do with the distance of your boobs from your chest, or something like that. I get it. I bought new bras. Now I'm falling out of them. I don't mean spilling over the top like I've been known to do. I mean slipping out underneath. That means the band is too big. That sucks. Now, it's more new bras. Bras are expensive. I hate trying on bras. But maybe now I won't be limited to minimizers and full coverage. I could actually get an add a cup size bra. Please, don't make me have to get a padded bra. That would really send me into a huge depressive mood. Like, for years.
• While we're talking about bras, can we talk about underwear? For a while, I had an issue keeping my undies up. I lost weight, they were too big. And we're back to that. I cannot keep them up. Again. I have even tried making sure the top is under my belt when I put it on. That helps not at all. I've been telling my friends I may just stop wearing undies at all. I don't dare wear a skirt. The only thing keeping my undies on my body most of the time is the fact that my pants have a crotch in them. Without that piece of material, they would hit the floor. And I would step out of them and keep walking like I don't know who in the world just lost their panties at the mall. Or Disney. Or wherever. Can you imagine? Losing you undies, not me without them. Well, if that floats your boat, that's ok, too. Just please imagine me without stretch marks, please and thank you.
• Hubby had the day off yesterday so we went to Disney. Duh. He was wearing his Longhorns t-shirt. A very nice employee asked if we were from Texas. Hubby said no, but I said I was. The very nice man said I was a good woman and hubby should hang on to me. I said I've been telling him that for 18 years. He was a very nice man.
• That conversation started the whole seceeding conversation and moving when it did. Hubby said he wasn't sure he wanted to live in Texas because the limestone under the state made it prone to sink holes. I said a huge sink hole could open under the whole state and it wouldn't matter. He asked why. I said because...Oklahoma sucks hard. Hahahahaha!! I know, old joke, but it had me giggling for the rest of the day. I'm even smiling now! I love a good state rivalry.

All right. That's all you get for now. I have to get ready for school. Oh, yeah, and a puppy. That's on hubby. And that's a story for another time.     

Overwhelmed and Underpaid

So much going on and I'm taking time to blog. How did it get to be Thursday already? I know. Tick tock, baby, as hubby would say. That tick tock needs to slow the hell down. Here's what I got.

• I am teaching the confirmation class at our church again this year. We haven't had one in 4 years. I taught the last one, too. I think hubby and I may be done with "church" as it pertains to going to a building every Sunday. It is not my faith in God that isn't strong, but my faith in people. People are stupid and they piss me off. Not a way to sit in church and praise God. There is always talk about the youth being more present in the church and the church loves seeing the young people. Guess when the celebration of confirmands is happening. Palm Sunday, which is phenomenal, but at our 6 pm service. Which is attended by the band that plays. Not church members, not the general public. There won't be anyone from the church there to see the kids take their oaths. So what's the point? To generate more publicity for the service. Don't use these kids for that. Try advertising. I wrote an email. I had hubby proof read it so it didn't come off too bitchy. If it were up to me, it would be bitchy all the way. Hubby said something about tact, whatever that is. We'll see how that goes.  
• My desk is a mess. It gets that way, which isn't the problem. It's the stuff in the piles that NEEDS to get done. The boy has had his iPod on my desk since Christmas waiting for me to call Apple. He forgot his passcode. I finally called. The fix would have worked if his power button worked. Our new debit cards came in. I haven't activated them in the two weeks since they've been here. I finally got that done. There's a couple more things I need to do as well. I told hubby he needs to help me. I see that huge stack of paper and I freak. It's just easier to not do it than start at the top. Some of it just needs to be filed. Some of it needs to be shredded. It just needs to take care of itself, dammit. The teacher's guide to the big girl's Geometry needs to get on the phone and call for a return authorization. Some pages are falling out of it and it's brand new. I might con hubby into calling.
• I have been clipping coupons for Easter goodies. I do this every year. The Easter Bunny that comes to our house has taken to putting together baskets that are unique to each child. He told me this year he wants to put one together for the big girl that has makeup stuff and nail polish in it. For the boy, he wants to do a Pokemon/Nintendo DS theme. The baby will be fairies or Barbie. He is so cool that way. I'm clipping the coupons to help him get good stuff relatively cheaply. He's a good bunny. I wish he would leave me a basket...
• I am digging Rand Paul. Filibuster all the way, a la Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. If you haven't seen that movie, you are missing a classic. Pop some corn, grab a drink, and snuggle on the couch or in bed and start watching. I admire people that stand up for what they believe in, depite adversity. 13 hours! And thank you to those who helped him get it done. I hope people are more aware of why he did it (opposing a man who would use drones on American citizens, guilty or not). I am a Ron Paul gal. I was a little leary of Rand when he was first elected, but I am liking him more and more. Apples not falling far from the tree and all that.  
• Dinner almost wasn't last night. I am having the hardest time. I just do not want to cook some nights. Hubby cooked 3 times last week. Poor guy, he thinks that's alot. Our schedule went a little wonky last week so lucky hubby. I would go out every night if it didn't cost us an arm and a leg and wasn't so horrible for you. I say that, but I would get tired of other's people cooking after about a week. They just can't make it like mama can make it. The night before we had a lovely dinner of baked chicken breasts, roasted sweet potatoes and golden beets, and black eyed peas. Those peas were super yummy. Last night we ended up with BBQ meatballs, steamed broccoli, and brown rice with amaranth. It was so good there wasn't anything left.
• There's another thing that's on my list: amaranth. I was given about a pound as well as puffed amaranth. I have no idea what to do with either. I added a little amaranth to the brown rice just for giggles. It's small like quinoa, so I'm not sure I'll be able to eat it alone. The puffed amaranth is bigger (and puffier!) so that may not be so bad. It's just one more thing.
• I also get to plot the next 3 years of school for the big girl so I can make sure she's on track. I attended a Finish Well conference and I feel like I'm already behind. I hate that feeling. Already we may be looking at a second computer or lap top for 2 classes she'll be taking next year. Yea! Looking at all the components of her language arts, the rest of her curriculum, and her online classes, we're looking at 8 different things for her for next year. Good thing she has her own planner. Poor girl.

That's about as good as it gets right now. I am trying to focus on those things that did get done as opposed to the rest I still have to do. And naps. Naps help.