I did it. Finally. My house is clean. BUT, I didn't clean it myself (heavens, no!). I hired someone. And I have never been so happy to hand over my money to someone else.
I love a clean house, and while I KNOW how to clean, and I'm pretty good at it, I hate to clean. I LOVE the results, but I hate the work to get there. Therefore, my house has not been properly COMPLETELY cleaned in 2008 (until now). Don't gross out - it's all been clean many times, just not the entire thing...all at once...at the same time.
So, use your college philosophy and deductive reasoning skills to draw the correct conclusion/solution to the above statements...
Of course, the only reasonable thing to do was to hire someone (thanks Heather for planting the seed!). So I did. And Tuesday after work, I walked into a clean house for the first time in a LONG time.
I've had help cleaning in years past, but not since we moved to Kansas. I was trying to save money, and especially since I'm only working part time, I didn't think I could justify it. But I just can't keep up. And I don't want to wish for Lil Major to sleep longer just so I can clean the bathroom - I want to enjoy all of his awake time. And I was tired of being stressed because I had a dirty house.
So, I rationally and practically put together my argument to present to The Colonel.
I told him that it would cost LESS for us to pay someone to come clean our house twice a month than for me to quit my job and stay home and clean.
It makes perfect sense, right? I think so...and now I have a clean house, too!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Swing low...sweet Chariot!
We spent some time in our backyard this weekend, hanging up a swing for Lil Major. A friend of ours gave us their baby swing when their son outgrew it, and we've been meaning to get it hung for weeks.
Daddy, aka The Colonel, used his mad knot tying skills to hang the swing and make sure that the boy wouldn't hit the ground. After inspection by Mommy, we hung the swing and loaded up the kiddo.
I knew the boy would love it. He swung in a friend's swing when we were in CA, and he LOVES to be outside. And the weather was perfect. Cool, with a light breeze. Blue skies, green grass, big tree. It was gorgeous! We'll have to spend some time out there every day before it's too cold
On our way back into the house, I turned around, and all of a sudden I saw Gomer Pyle in my backyard. So weird!
Can you tell these two are related, or what??
The outfit Lil Major is wearing in the above picture is the outfit The Colonel bought for him last Christmas. He wore it for the first time to church today. And get this - it's a 3-6 month outfit, but it's the same size as the 12 month shirt the kid wore yesterday. I'm getting so frustrated with baby clothes and the wacky sizes!
Daddy, aka The Colonel, used his mad knot tying skills to hang the swing and make sure that the boy wouldn't hit the ground. After inspection by Mommy, we hung the swing and loaded up the kiddo.
I knew the boy would love it. He swung in a friend's swing when we were in CA, and he LOVES to be outside. And the weather was perfect. Cool, with a light breeze. Blue skies, green grass, big tree. It was gorgeous! We'll have to spend some time out there every day before it's too cold
On our way back into the house, I turned around, and all of a sudden I saw Gomer Pyle in my backyard. So weird!
Can you tell these two are related, or what??
The outfit Lil Major is wearing in the above picture is the outfit The Colonel bought for him last Christmas. He wore it for the first time to church today. And get this - it's a 3-6 month outfit, but it's the same size as the 12 month shirt the kid wore yesterday. I'm getting so frustrated with baby clothes and the wacky sizes!
Punkin Patch
After much whining and crying - from the BIG boy in my life - I was finally able to drag my family to the pumpkin patch to start a fall tradition for us. There are lots of pumpkin patches around our area - a lot of them with petting zoos and slides and hay rides and corn mazes - most of which we didn't need this year.
We chose a family dairy in The Colonel's hometown. They have the petting zoo and hay ride, and they invite school-age kids out during the year to learn about the dairy world. They also grow pumpkins. We just went for the pumpkins...and a good photo opportunity.
It was close to closing time by the time we got there, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Before we picked out our pumpkins, we plopped the boy down in various places to shoot some pictures. How I wish I had a big fancy camera so I could get some REALLY good pictures.
I'll pay $5 for that one!! hee hee
And just to prove that we DO live in Kansas, and we were out near Small Town, USA...my boys standing in a milo field...
Friday, October 17, 2008
Another milestone!
It seems as though Hudson taught Lil Major a bad habit while we were staying with him a couple months ago. And the boy practiced it this morning when he crawled for the first time!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Something to think about
As the election draws near, and my mailbox is FULL of junk, er...I mean, propaganda, and TV is full of debates...I have managed to ignore most of it. I've made up my mind, so I see no reason to aggravate myself by listening to lies on TV. BUT, I'm also afraid for our nation's (and our world's) future, so when a friend passed on the below article, I read every word of it.
It's written from an interesting perspective and has a lot of information in it. I think most people have made up their minds (even though they probably feel they're choosing the lesser of 2 evils), but I really hope that the info below is not ignored when they go to vote in a few weeks.
And by the way, the article below was in fact written by Huntley Brown. I checked it out on snopes. There's an additional note at the bottom of the snopes article that offers even more insight.
One more thing - I can't leave this alone - how can ANYONE support partial birth abortion??? Read about it below, and then tell me how anyone can vote to elect an official who supports it! It absolutely outrages me!
This article is from Huntley Brown - he is a fabulous concert pianist, man of God and is a black man. I appreciate so much his reasoning for not voting for Obama. I would like to see this article published or spread out via Email to as many as possible.
Why I Can't Vote For Obama
By Huntley Brown
Dear Friends,
A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an email with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list have seen some of this before but it's worth repeating...
First I must say whoever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need to explain why I will not be voting for him.
Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness. I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means He leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms He does because He is the leader.
I can't vote black because I am black; I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second. Neither should anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.
In an election there are many issues to consider but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning to name a few, wrong economic concerns will soon not matter.
We need to follow Martin Luther King's words, don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I don't know Obama so all I can go on is his voting record. His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007.
< http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/> NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (01/31/2008)
To beat Ted Kennedy and Hilary Clinton as the most liberal senator, takes some doing. Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work with.
There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % rating.
There is a reason the homosexual community supports him.
There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc. love him.
There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court.
There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill.
There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
There is a reason he voted No on banning partial birth abortion.
There is a reason he voted No on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito.
These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.
Let's take a look at the practice he wanted to continue. The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedures:
A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps. (Remember this is a live baby)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.
There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law.
Think about this: You can't give a kid an aspirin without parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without parental notification. This is insane.
There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years.
Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I wonder why now?
Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19 - 20 "Go and make disciples of all nations." This means reproduce yourself. Teach people to think like you, walk like you; talk like you, believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?
Would you support a White President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a
1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available
to the White Community.
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for
Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the
White Value System
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System.
Would you support a President who went to a church like that?
Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside.
This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discover he went to a racist church. The church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world.
A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if it's a white church or a black church it's still wrong. Anyone from either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote.
Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book A Black Theology of Liberation. Cone once wrote: "Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. "
Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe this?
So what does all this mean for the nation?
In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing - judgment.
Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king. First God says in 1 Samuel 1:9 "Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."
Then God says
1 Samuel 1:18 " When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day." 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."
Here is what we know for sure.
God is not schizophrenic
He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote for McCain. As the scripture says, a city divided against itself cannot stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God. Maybe I am the one not hearing but I know God does not change and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.
For all my friends who are voting for Obama can you really look God in the face and say; Father based on your word, I am voting for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of partial birth abortion. He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making laws that are against you. I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy.
I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions. Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.
Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the nation,
1. Whose value system should be placed on the nation.
2. Who should determine that this is the right value system for the nation?
Blessings,
Huntley Brown
It's written from an interesting perspective and has a lot of information in it. I think most people have made up their minds (even though they probably feel they're choosing the lesser of 2 evils), but I really hope that the info below is not ignored when they go to vote in a few weeks.
And by the way, the article below was in fact written by Huntley Brown. I checked it out on snopes. There's an additional note at the bottom of the snopes article that offers even more insight.
One more thing - I can't leave this alone - how can ANYONE support partial birth abortion??? Read about it below, and then tell me how anyone can vote to elect an official who supports it! It absolutely outrages me!
This article is from Huntley Brown - he is a fabulous concert pianist, man of God and is a black man. I appreciate so much his reasoning for not voting for Obama. I would like to see this article published or spread out via Email to as many as possible.
Why I Can't Vote For Obama
By Huntley Brown
Dear Friends,
A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an email with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list have seen some of this before but it's worth repeating...
First I must say whoever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need to explain why I will not be voting for him.
Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness. I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means He leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms He does because He is the leader.
I can't vote black because I am black; I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second. Neither should anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.
In an election there are many issues to consider but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning to name a few, wrong economic concerns will soon not matter.
We need to follow Martin Luther King's words, don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I don't know Obama so all I can go on is his voting record. His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007.
< http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/> NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (01/31/2008)
To beat Ted Kennedy and Hilary Clinton as the most liberal senator, takes some doing. Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work with.
There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % rating.
There is a reason the homosexual community supports him.
There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc. love him.
There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court.
There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill.
There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
There is a reason he voted No on banning partial birth abortion.
There is a reason he voted No on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito.
These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.
Let's take a look at the practice he wanted to continue. The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedures:
A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps. (Remember this is a live baby)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.
There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law.
Think about this: You can't give a kid an aspirin without parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without parental notification. This is insane.
There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years.
Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I wonder why now?
Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19 - 20 "Go and make disciples of all nations." This means reproduce yourself. Teach people to think like you, walk like you; talk like you, believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?
Would you support a White President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a
1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available
to the White Community.
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for
Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the
White Value System
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System.
Would you support a President who went to a church like that?
Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside.
This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discover he went to a racist church. The church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world.
A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if it's a white church or a black church it's still wrong. Anyone from either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote.
Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book A Black Theology of Liberation. Cone once wrote: "Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. "
Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe this?
So what does all this mean for the nation?
In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing - judgment.
Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king. First God says in 1 Samuel 1:9 "Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."
Then God says
1 Samuel 1:18 " When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day." 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."
Here is what we know for sure.
God is not schizophrenic
He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote for McCain. As the scripture says, a city divided against itself cannot stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God. Maybe I am the one not hearing but I know God does not change and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.
For all my friends who are voting for Obama can you really look God in the face and say; Father based on your word, I am voting for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of partial birth abortion. He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making laws that are against you. I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy.
I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions. Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.
Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the nation,
1. Whose value system should be placed on the nation.
2. Who should determine that this is the right value system for the nation?
Blessings,
Huntley Brown
Sunday, October 12, 2008
$2.57
That's how much I paid for a gallon of gas today. It seems so cheap! And it's so crazy that just 5 days ago I paid $2.93, and I was thrilled...it's dropped that much in 5 days!!! I can't believe that it's going to last, so I keep filling up once I get to half a tank. I've missed out on these "cheap" prices before...they won't get me again.
Of course, if I would have waited until I NEEDED gas, I wouldn't have bought it 5 days ago for $2.93, and I would have gotten a WHOLE tank for $2.57/gallon. I'll never learn!
Of course, if I would have waited until I NEEDED gas, I wouldn't have bought it 5 days ago for $2.93, and I would have gotten a WHOLE tank for $2.57/gallon. I'll never learn!
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Eliot
One of the most amazing videos/stories I've seen in a long time. Makes me want to go wake up Lil Major from his nap and hold him and never let go.
Watch the whole thing...to the end...
Watch the whole thing...to the end...
My Gram
Last year I wrote a post about my Gram. Today is her birthday, so I want to link back to that post again.
I'm so glad I have these memories of her! Happy Birthday, Gram!
I'm so glad I have these memories of her! Happy Birthday, Gram!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
It Figures!
Not that I'm surprised that the donkeys would do this...but I am outraged by it. This can't be legal, can it???
Ohio Homeless Driven to Polls to Vote Obama
CLEVELAND — Volunteers supporting Barack Obama picked up hundreds of people at homeless shelters, soup kitchens and drug-rehab centers and drove them to a polling place yesterday on the last day that Ohioans could register and vote on the same day, almost no questions asked.
The huge effort by a pro-Obama group, Vote Today Ohio, takes advantage of a quirk in the state's elections laws that allows people to register and cast ballots at the same time without having to prove residency.
Republicans have argued that the window could lead to widespread voter fraud because officials wouldn't have an opportunity to verify registration information before ballots were cast.
Among the volunteers were Yori Stadlin and Vivian Lehrer of the Upper West Side, who got married last week and decided to spend their honeymoon shepherding voters to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
Early today, Stadlin's van picked up William Woods, 59, at the soup kitchen of the Bishop Cosgrove Center.
"I never voted before," Woods said, because of a felony conviction that previously barred him from the polls. "Without this service, I would have had no way to get here."
Ohio Homeless Driven to Polls to Vote Obama
CLEVELAND — Volunteers supporting Barack Obama picked up hundreds of people at homeless shelters, soup kitchens and drug-rehab centers and drove them to a polling place yesterday on the last day that Ohioans could register and vote on the same day, almost no questions asked.
The huge effort by a pro-Obama group, Vote Today Ohio, takes advantage of a quirk in the state's elections laws that allows people to register and cast ballots at the same time without having to prove residency.
Republicans have argued that the window could lead to widespread voter fraud because officials wouldn't have an opportunity to verify registration information before ballots were cast.
Among the volunteers were Yori Stadlin and Vivian Lehrer of the Upper West Side, who got married last week and decided to spend their honeymoon shepherding voters to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
Early today, Stadlin's van picked up William Woods, 59, at the soup kitchen of the Bishop Cosgrove Center.
"I never voted before," Woods said, because of a felony conviction that previously barred him from the polls. "Without this service, I would have had no way to get here."
New Friends and Baby Bath Time
In my last post, I forgot to mention that at one of my girly get-togethers, I got to meet another blogger!! Heather dropped by for one of the parties...where we were choosing super cute personalized purses. I met Heather through another blog AND THEN realized that she was the real life friend of my friend Lins. Crazy, huh? Anyway, Heather was super fun and beautiful and Lil Major and her daughter played while we chatted and spent money and ate junk food. Does it get any better than that??
Here are the bloggers...Heather, Lins, and me.
And much to the dismay of The Colonel, I broke out the camera for bath time last night. I couldn't resist...he's so stinkin' cute (well, The Colonel is cute, but it is Lil Major's bath time that I'm talking about!)
Here are the bloggers...Heather, Lins, and me.
And much to the dismay of The Colonel, I broke out the camera for bath time last night. I couldn't resist...he's so stinkin' cute (well, The Colonel is cute, but it is Lil Major's bath time that I'm talking about!)
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Too Much
My blog has been boring and lonely lately. I haven’t had time to post about all the normal, but fun or silly, things that we’ve done lately. I’ve been reading all of your blogs and posting comments when I can (i.e. when there’s no baby on my lap or a breast pump attached to me, meaning both hands are free for typing), but I haven’t been posting much of my own. I’m also trying to get some other stuff done online – creating photo books, uploading photos, buying football tickets, booking hotel rooms…and not much of that is getting done either. Not to mention I have a HUGE stack of books I want to get on half.com or some other similar site. Ugh! And my sleep is too important to me to stay up late working on all this. Add that to a relatively new job where I don’t have time (or feel comfortable enough) to tackle some of this from there. How do you guys all do it???
Anyway, a quick update on our family. Lil Major is as cute as ever. He’s a pro at sitting up by himself now, rolling all over the place, and rocking on all fours. I’m just waiting for the day he takes off across the floor in a crawling frenzy...I know it’s coming soon! He loves real food, and so far we’ve tried bananas, mango, carrots, sweet potato, and broccoli. The Colonel is mad that I am making the boy eat broccoli, but he can just deal with it...the kid seems to like it. So far, I’ve made all his food myself, and I’m really enjoying that. I hope I can keep it up. The freezer is full of enough to last us for a while.
I’m in the middle of planning our 8-year anniversary trip to KC. We’ll take in a game, stay in a new hotel, and argue about which of our favorite restaurants to eat at. Hopefully the weather will be great, and all 3 of us will enjoy it. Yes, we’re taking the boy. I want him to experience his first game at Arrowhead – even if we’ll probably lose, and he won’t remember it anyway.
I’ve also had a couple get togethers lately – y’know, those parties where girls eat junk food and shop. Both have been fun, and I even started a little holiday shopping. I love to host things at my house, and I haven’t done much of that lately.
My babysitter, aka Mom, is getting ready to head to The Seester’s house for a while, so starting next week I’ll have to shuffle the kid around to my “back-ups”. Should all work out fine, though.
Oh, update on the insurance ordeal – I finally got someone competent on the phone yesterday, and she told me that I can request a rate review after I start nursing and everything (hopefully) gets back to normal. The idiot I first talked to said I’d have to wait 2 years. So, I accepted the policy, and we’ll see how things go in the coming months. Thanks for all your comments on that!
Anyway, a quick update on our family. Lil Major is as cute as ever. He’s a pro at sitting up by himself now, rolling all over the place, and rocking on all fours. I’m just waiting for the day he takes off across the floor in a crawling frenzy...I know it’s coming soon! He loves real food, and so far we’ve tried bananas, mango, carrots, sweet potato, and broccoli. The Colonel is mad that I am making the boy eat broccoli, but he can just deal with it...the kid seems to like it. So far, I’ve made all his food myself, and I’m really enjoying that. I hope I can keep it up. The freezer is full of enough to last us for a while.
I’m in the middle of planning our 8-year anniversary trip to KC. We’ll take in a game, stay in a new hotel, and argue about which of our favorite restaurants to eat at. Hopefully the weather will be great, and all 3 of us will enjoy it. Yes, we’re taking the boy. I want him to experience his first game at Arrowhead – even if we’ll probably lose, and he won’t remember it anyway.
I’ve also had a couple get togethers lately – y’know, those parties where girls eat junk food and shop. Both have been fun, and I even started a little holiday shopping. I love to host things at my house, and I haven’t done much of that lately.
My babysitter, aka Mom, is getting ready to head to The Seester’s house for a while, so starting next week I’ll have to shuffle the kid around to my “back-ups”. Should all work out fine, though.
Oh, update on the insurance ordeal – I finally got someone competent on the phone yesterday, and she told me that I can request a rate review after I start nursing and everything (hopefully) gets back to normal. The idiot I first talked to said I’d have to wait 2 years. So, I accepted the policy, and we’ll see how things go in the coming months. Thanks for all your comments on that!
Sunday, October 05, 2008
The Colonel
Mama Bear did this meme this week, and I thought it looked like fun...it's all about my hubby, The Colonel.
1. He's sitting in front of the TV; what is on the screen?
Well, first of all, there are 3 screens, and football is on one, golf on another, and some old Clint Eastwood movie on the third.
2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Ranch...always and only Ranch
3. What's one food he doesn't like? only one?? mushrooms, hummus, broccoli, peppers
4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? A beer - or nothing, he's not a big drinker
5. Where did he go to high school? Small-town Kansas
6. What size shoe does he wear? 10 or 11? i don't know
7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? He does collect things...golf balls, matches, cigars, train stuff.
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Does a burger count?? He loves burgers!
9. What would this person eat every day if he could? tacos
10. What is his favorite cereal? rice chex
11. What would he never wear? a suit...unless he was forced
12. What is his favorite sports team? KC Chiefs
13. Who will he vote for? The RIGHT guy
14. Who is his best friend? Well, me, of course.
15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? complain, ever.
16. How many states has he lived in? 6, I think.
17. What is his heritage? not sure - he's adopted
18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? chocolate (but more because it's my favorite, he's not a big cake person)
19. Did he play sports in high school? Football, golf, basketball
20. What could he spend hours doing? building up his train set
1. He's sitting in front of the TV; what is on the screen?
Well, first of all, there are 3 screens, and football is on one, golf on another, and some old Clint Eastwood movie on the third.
2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Ranch...always and only Ranch
3. What's one food he doesn't like? only one?? mushrooms, hummus, broccoli, peppers
4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? A beer - or nothing, he's not a big drinker
5. Where did he go to high school? Small-town Kansas
6. What size shoe does he wear? 10 or 11? i don't know
7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? He does collect things...golf balls, matches, cigars, train stuff.
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Does a burger count?? He loves burgers!
9. What would this person eat every day if he could? tacos
10. What is his favorite cereal? rice chex
11. What would he never wear? a suit...unless he was forced
12. What is his favorite sports team? KC Chiefs
13. Who will he vote for? The RIGHT guy
14. Who is his best friend? Well, me, of course.
15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? complain, ever.
16. How many states has he lived in? 6, I think.
17. What is his heritage? not sure - he's adopted
18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? chocolate (but more because it's my favorite, he's not a big cake person)
19. Did he play sports in high school? Football, golf, basketball
20. What could he spend hours doing? building up his train set
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
It can't be!
My boy is almost 6 months old. Where did the time go?? On Sunday, he will turn 6 months old, half a year, 26 weeks. I can't believe it. I'm more in love with him every single day. I run out of work at 3:26 pm (it's only 4 minutes early) each day so that I can beat the traffic and get home to him as soon as possible. He's so fun, and he's changing so fast. He started sitting up a couple days ago, and he's still practicing on all fours for crawling. He has 2 teeth now, and he LOVES his new bathtub that we just got (it's an inflatable rubber ducky, it even quacks!!). He's started this silly thing where he growls at people, just this cute little growl. We've tried to catch it on video, but haven't been able to yet. He's more and more fun every day. I'm SO glad he's mine!
Scooter
I have some new super cute pictures of my boy, but I have to tell what I just finished doing first.
My mom was sitting on our front steps with Lil Major enjoying the gorgeous fall weather (imagine bright blue cloudless skies and 75 degrees) when I got home from work. I went out to join her just as my next door neighbor, Verna, came over asking if we'd seen Scooter, their 10 month old lab. It appeared that Scooter had gotten out somehow and run off. I had just driven through our neighborhood and hadn't seen him. As mom and I sat there talking, we saw our neighbor get in his truck and go driving to look for him, and his wife started walking through the neighborhood yelling out Scooter's name. Mom decided to go home, so I walked out into the yard to see if I could see Scooter.
Then I saw my neighbor, the one who's moving away, out in her yard and her husband was pulling out of the driveway...on his way to look for the dog. I stood there and chatted with her for about 20 minutes...long enough to see both her husband and Scooter's Dad drive by about 3 times looking for the dog. A few minutes later, The Colonel got home, so the boy and I went over to say hi and tell him what was going on.
Next thing you know, The Colonel and our dogs are out looking for Scooter. Still nothing -- no one saw any hint of him! We'd looked everywhere and been outside for over an hour, so we all headed inside for a while.
About 5 minutes later, our doorbell rang, and there was Verna. She said that they'd found Scooter, and he was fine. When we asked where he was, she sheepishly told us...in her closet!! He'd gotten in there somehow and closed the door behind him! Ha! Stinker dog! All is well, and even though Verna's husband complained about wasting $80 in gas driving around looking for the dog, who was in their house the whole time, we're all glad that he's safe and sound! =)
Look for some new pics in another post...very soon!
My mom was sitting on our front steps with Lil Major enjoying the gorgeous fall weather (imagine bright blue cloudless skies and 75 degrees) when I got home from work. I went out to join her just as my next door neighbor, Verna, came over asking if we'd seen Scooter, their 10 month old lab. It appeared that Scooter had gotten out somehow and run off. I had just driven through our neighborhood and hadn't seen him. As mom and I sat there talking, we saw our neighbor get in his truck and go driving to look for him, and his wife started walking through the neighborhood yelling out Scooter's name. Mom decided to go home, so I walked out into the yard to see if I could see Scooter.
Then I saw my neighbor, the one who's moving away, out in her yard and her husband was pulling out of the driveway...on his way to look for the dog. I stood there and chatted with her for about 20 minutes...long enough to see both her husband and Scooter's Dad drive by about 3 times looking for the dog. A few minutes later, The Colonel got home, so the boy and I went over to say hi and tell him what was going on.
Next thing you know, The Colonel and our dogs are out looking for Scooter. Still nothing -- no one saw any hint of him! We'd looked everywhere and been outside for over an hour, so we all headed inside for a while.
About 5 minutes later, our doorbell rang, and there was Verna. She said that they'd found Scooter, and he was fine. When we asked where he was, she sheepishly told us...in her closet!! He'd gotten in there somehow and closed the door behind him! Ha! Stinker dog! All is well, and even though Verna's husband complained about wasting $80 in gas driving around looking for the dog, who was in their house the whole time, we're all glad that he's safe and sound! =)
Look for some new pics in another post...very soon!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
insurance, ice cream, and computers
I read an interesting article in the paper today. Basically, it said that PETA (strike 1) wanted Ben & Jerry's (strike 2 - I'm a Dreyer's/Edy's gal) to stop using cow's milk and use breast milk instead in its ice cream. What?? Yes, you read that right.
Now, I don't think I would purposely eat ice cream that was made with breast milk, and to be honest, I would probably avoid it simply because it was suggested by the wacky psychos at PETA anyway...but I have to say that I'm intrigued. How much would B&J be willing to pay for breast milk? Because, you know, I kinda have an abundance right now, and a little side job would probably more than pay for the housekeeper and new bedding that I want to buy. I'm just saying...
***********************************************************
Ok, on to other topics. I am hereby writing this post on my new (to me) laptop. I'm so excited! The screen is way bigger and much clearer than my old machine. It's heavier and bulkier, too, but I guess that comes with the territory. And I need to mess with my router, because I'm not getting a very good signal when I'm upstairs (the router is downstairs)...but it's mine!! We slipped some cash to our friend, and it only took a little coaxing to get him to take it. And now I can surf and blog with the best of them!
So, that's what made me happy this week.
************************************************************
Here's what pissed me off.
We recently decided to make some changes to our insurance coverage. In the hopes of reducing costs, we switched to another company. No biggie for auto and home insurance, but we had to go through all kinds of crap for the life policy. And after all the medical stuff (interviews, exams), I got a call yesterday saying that they will write a policy for me, but I won't be getting the best discounted rate. Why? I asked.
The response? I'm too heavy and my blood pressure is too high (and what better way to elevate it even more, right??). I tried to stay calm and ask for some details. Basically, my BP is 2 points too high (the bottom number), and they expected me to have lost all the baby weight within 3 months of delivery. Yes, 3 months! Who the *O#$(&^ are they kidding?? Any doctor will tell you that it took 10 months to gain all that weight, it's not out of the question for it to take that long or longer to get it all back off. Oh, and don't forget that I'm still breastfeeding and each boob weighs a good 5 pounds.
Now, they are basing all of this on an exam by a travelling nurse who came to my house, took my BP at the end of a stressful day, and made me get on a scale while my son napped and my melons filled up. A single point in time on a random day on a scale that I don't know when was last calibrated. yada yada yada
Know what the nice lady on the phone said when I mentioned all this??? I can request to be re-evaluated in 2 years. 2 YEARS!! But, I'm stuck paying the higher premium until then...all based on a 10 minute exam. Oh, and who knows what my health will be like in 2 years...they may find other things to screw me on. I'm still fighting this. It's not over yet. They don't know who they're dealing with!
Now, I don't think I would purposely eat ice cream that was made with breast milk, and to be honest, I would probably avoid it simply because it was suggested by the wacky psychos at PETA anyway...but I have to say that I'm intrigued. How much would B&J be willing to pay for breast milk? Because, you know, I kinda have an abundance right now, and a little side job would probably more than pay for the housekeeper and new bedding that I want to buy. I'm just saying...
***********************************************************
Ok, on to other topics. I am hereby writing this post on my new (to me) laptop. I'm so excited! The screen is way bigger and much clearer than my old machine. It's heavier and bulkier, too, but I guess that comes with the territory. And I need to mess with my router, because I'm not getting a very good signal when I'm upstairs (the router is downstairs)...but it's mine!! We slipped some cash to our friend, and it only took a little coaxing to get him to take it. And now I can surf and blog with the best of them!
So, that's what made me happy this week.
************************************************************
Here's what pissed me off.
We recently decided to make some changes to our insurance coverage. In the hopes of reducing costs, we switched to another company. No biggie for auto and home insurance, but we had to go through all kinds of crap for the life policy. And after all the medical stuff (interviews, exams), I got a call yesterday saying that they will write a policy for me, but I won't be getting the best discounted rate. Why? I asked.
The response? I'm too heavy and my blood pressure is too high (and what better way to elevate it even more, right??). I tried to stay calm and ask for some details. Basically, my BP is 2 points too high (the bottom number), and they expected me to have lost all the baby weight within 3 months of delivery. Yes, 3 months! Who the *O#$(&^ are they kidding?? Any doctor will tell you that it took 10 months to gain all that weight, it's not out of the question for it to take that long or longer to get it all back off. Oh, and don't forget that I'm still breastfeeding and each boob weighs a good 5 pounds.
Now, they are basing all of this on an exam by a travelling nurse who came to my house, took my BP at the end of a stressful day, and made me get on a scale while my son napped and my melons filled up. A single point in time on a random day on a scale that I don't know when was last calibrated. yada yada yada
Know what the nice lady on the phone said when I mentioned all this??? I can request to be re-evaluated in 2 years. 2 YEARS!! But, I'm stuck paying the higher premium until then...all based on a 10 minute exam. Oh, and who knows what my health will be like in 2 years...they may find other things to screw me on. I'm still fighting this. It's not over yet. They don't know who they're dealing with!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Cubicle Living
I live in a cube farm at my job. There’s a very narrow aisle that runs through the middle of a bunch of very small cubes. The size doesn’t bother me since I’m not here all the time, and I don’t plan on bringing in a bunch of personal things. But, the narrow aisle is kind of a pain. If someone is coming from the other way, you have to duck into someone’s cube to let them pass…thing airplane aisle. Hey, maybe that’s why it’s so small…all these aircraft people designed it.
Anyway, I don’t have a ton of experience living in cubicles – I’ve spent more time in my own office or in an open office where we all sit and look at each other. So, I don’t know how common what I’m experiencing actually is.
There are 2 guys who sit right next to me and they spend a lot of time at their desks (and so do I right now). Well, I can hear both of them on the phone, even though they try to whisper. And I’m not straining to hear them, either. But, apparently, both of them are divorced with kids and remarried now. So, I hear things about “kid free” weekends and pick-up/drop-off plans and all kinds of scary things.
I know divorce is common, and maybe I’m just more sensitive to kids and divorce now that I’m a parent myself, but hearing this stuff just kills me. Those poor kids! Their parents are scheming to get “kid free” weekends and upset when it doesn’t work out. They’re constantly looking at calendars to keep days with their kids straight. And they’re CONSTANTLY on the phone, talking about personal matters. If it’s not kids and their exes, it’s golf and fishing and that beer festival or that political speech on TV last night. Now, you know that I spend my fair share of time at work NOT working, but I think these guys have me beat, by a lot!
All I have to say is that sitting by these guys sure does encourage me to keep things great in my marriage. I can’t imagine going without seeing my kid for days at a time or living without my husband or pushing and pulling kids between us. It makes me sad.
Anyway, I don’t have a ton of experience living in cubicles – I’ve spent more time in my own office or in an open office where we all sit and look at each other. So, I don’t know how common what I’m experiencing actually is.
There are 2 guys who sit right next to me and they spend a lot of time at their desks (and so do I right now). Well, I can hear both of them on the phone, even though they try to whisper. And I’m not straining to hear them, either. But, apparently, both of them are divorced with kids and remarried now. So, I hear things about “kid free” weekends and pick-up/drop-off plans and all kinds of scary things.
I know divorce is common, and maybe I’m just more sensitive to kids and divorce now that I’m a parent myself, but hearing this stuff just kills me. Those poor kids! Their parents are scheming to get “kid free” weekends and upset when it doesn’t work out. They’re constantly looking at calendars to keep days with their kids straight. And they’re CONSTANTLY on the phone, talking about personal matters. If it’s not kids and their exes, it’s golf and fishing and that beer festival or that political speech on TV last night. Now, you know that I spend my fair share of time at work NOT working, but I think these guys have me beat, by a lot!
All I have to say is that sitting by these guys sure does encourage me to keep things great in my marriage. I can’t imagine going without seeing my kid for days at a time or living without my husband or pushing and pulling kids between us. It makes me sad.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Changes
I got some sad news via email a couple weeks ago. And it was a surprise to me because news travels so fast these days. One of my favorite families and sweetest neighbors is moving away. They are heading back to their home state, to within 45 minutes of their hometown where they became high school sweethearts.
I’m so excited for them, because I totally know that feeling and want to move close to home, but I’m going to miss them so much.
They have been great neighbors and wonderful friends for the past 2 years. They are always the first ones to offer their help -- to move heavy furniture, to loan some random item (a potato, book, suitcase), to run home and make sure I didn’t leave the flat iron plugged in, to pick me up from the airport, to bring us food after I had a baby (even though she was 9 months pregnant!), and a million other things.
We ran to tell each other when we found out we were pregnant...and would have baby boys within 2 months of each other. We’ve called each other from the store to let each other know about some great deal. We’ve scrapbooked together. We’ve vented about all kinds of things to each other. Our dogs have run and played in the backyard (and the house when Max finds his way into our doggie door) together.
And now they’re leaving. And I’m so sad. Our neighborhood will not be the same without them. And I know I’m not the only one feeling that way. Their family will be so missed. Their 2 older kids are so sweet and kind and fun to chat and play with. I’ll miss seeing their costumes on Halloween and watching them love on their little brother and seeing their smiling faces holding out whatever fundraiser they’re currently working on.
But, we've known for a while that this was a possibility...I just chose to ignore it, hoping that our sons would grow up to be best buddies, running back and forth between our houses. Now, we’ll have to make that long drive to another state...but we will do it, and we will keep in touch. And I’ll be forever thankful for all that I’ve learned from our friends, and I will miss them!
And I've already informed them that they can not move unless they sell the house to another nice family. =)
I’m so excited for them, because I totally know that feeling and want to move close to home, but I’m going to miss them so much.
They have been great neighbors and wonderful friends for the past 2 years. They are always the first ones to offer their help -- to move heavy furniture, to loan some random item (a potato, book, suitcase), to run home and make sure I didn’t leave the flat iron plugged in, to pick me up from the airport, to bring us food after I had a baby (even though she was 9 months pregnant!), and a million other things.
We ran to tell each other when we found out we were pregnant...and would have baby boys within 2 months of each other. We’ve called each other from the store to let each other know about some great deal. We’ve scrapbooked together. We’ve vented about all kinds of things to each other. Our dogs have run and played in the backyard (and the house when Max finds his way into our doggie door) together.
And now they’re leaving. And I’m so sad. Our neighborhood will not be the same without them. And I know I’m not the only one feeling that way. Their family will be so missed. Their 2 older kids are so sweet and kind and fun to chat and play with. I’ll miss seeing their costumes on Halloween and watching them love on their little brother and seeing their smiling faces holding out whatever fundraiser they’re currently working on.
But, we've known for a while that this was a possibility...I just chose to ignore it, hoping that our sons would grow up to be best buddies, running back and forth between our houses. Now, we’ll have to make that long drive to another state...but we will do it, and we will keep in touch. And I’ll be forever thankful for all that I’ve learned from our friends, and I will miss them!
And I've already informed them that they can not move unless they sell the house to another nice family. =)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Where I've Been
First off, thanks for all the comments on the bus thing. I was really just ranting a bit, but you all made valid points. I've called the district before about crazy bus drivers and they don't do anything about it (another reason to not put my kid on the bus). And I understand about the risks of kids standing at a bus stop, but most parents wait with them anyway (if they're young). The other thing with them stopping at each house is that the kids spend 1 1/2 - 2 hours on the bus EACH WAY to and from school...imagine all the time they'd save if they stopped only 3-4 times in my neighborhood instead of 20!
On to other things...
I've been a little absent from cyber space lately. See, I've had a laptop...until recently. And I had to give it back. It belonged to my old employer. I guess I should have volunteered it when I quit, but they didn't ask for it, and it was old, and I didn't want to give it up. But, they realized I still had it, and they called asking for it last week. So, it's gone.
BUT, I have good news. See, I told The Colonel that we needed another laptop. Our desktop is ancient (7 years old), and it's down in the basement and it locks up all the time. I started doing research on consumer reports and watching the ads. And then The Colonel did something brilliant. He called his good friend from HS, who's a computer guru, and asked him if he had an extra laptop in his closet that we could buy from him. And you know what?? He did!! Literally! He had a one year old, but never used, laptop just sitting there. And the best part? Our "price" is a beer when he comes into town this weekend...with my new laptop! How cool is that??
I'm so excited. And once it gets here, I'll be back to posting super cute pictures and video of my adorable son. In the meantime...miss me while I'm absent.
On to other things...
I've been a little absent from cyber space lately. See, I've had a laptop...until recently. And I had to give it back. It belonged to my old employer. I guess I should have volunteered it when I quit, but they didn't ask for it, and it was old, and I didn't want to give it up. But, they realized I still had it, and they called asking for it last week. So, it's gone.
BUT, I have good news. See, I told The Colonel that we needed another laptop. Our desktop is ancient (7 years old), and it's down in the basement and it locks up all the time. I started doing research on consumer reports and watching the ads. And then The Colonel did something brilliant. He called his good friend from HS, who's a computer guru, and asked him if he had an extra laptop in his closet that we could buy from him. And you know what?? He did!! Literally! He had a one year old, but never used, laptop just sitting there. And the best part? Our "price" is a beer when he comes into town this weekend...with my new laptop! How cool is that??
I'm so excited. And once it gets here, I'll be back to posting super cute pictures and video of my adorable son. In the meantime...miss me while I'm absent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
