Staph, sick time, and the need to scream...

It's been a while since my last post and for good reason.  Wednesday of last week I took Monkey to the pediatricians office to have him check out what I thought were insect bites of some nature.  He had three spots on him that looked beyond painful and even slowed him down from mach 3 to mach 2.  The early morning of Wednesday, Monkey also woke up (not uncommon) for a cup of formula (I have him on the older infants/toddler formula... he's 15 months and no longer on a bottle...don't judge...) and a diaper change, but when I picked him up for the diaper change, he felt very warm.  Turns out, he had a 101.5 fever and though I don't recall him ever having one that high, I've heard that if a child is running anything 102 or greater, they need to be taken in immediately.  We were only one half degree off and he wasn't screaming in pain or agony so I dosed him with Motrin and proceeded to let him consume his sippy cup.  I made the decision while I was holding him (and in turn, sweating my butt off b/c he was so warm) that I was going to call in sick and take him to the doc that day.

I was able to get him in that day and was told that the "bites" on his little legs were not bites at all but staph infections.  Excuse me, what? Yeah, my little Monkey had staph.  Well, f*** me running sideways upside down...  Ugh. I am SO glad I didn't waste anymore time on finding THAT out.  The doc put him on some disgustingly terrible smelling antibiotic 3x daily for 10 days.  He fights having to take it.  I can't say that I blame him. I wouldn't want something that smelled like a cross between used motor oil and a dirty diaper in my mouth either.  *gagging*

The second trip to the clinic was the next day. Doc wanted to see if Monkey had improved after having been on the antibiotic for 24 hours. No such luck.  He decided that it was best to go ahead and "lance" the sites to rid them of the gunk that was in them.  *SIGH*   This entailed holding my son down, with the help of a nurse, while the doc punctured his little skin with a large gauge needle and proceeding to insert an instrument in that hole and moving it around beneath the surface of the skin to break up the clusters and pockets of shit in there.  Monkey screamed blue bloody murder and just thinking about it makes me want to cry myself.  Poor baby.  I don't hate the doc, and I have no ill feelings towards the man because he did what needed to be done in order to get Monkey on the right track for promotional healing. But I'll be damned if I allow my son to continue to stay sick because I didn't allow the doc to do something he KNOWS will be beneficial on the count that it might be uncomfortable for Monkey.  I didn't leave him. I didn't leave the room or him.  (Someone told me that she just would not have been able to handle being in the room. Screw. That.  If that baby can stand to be held down and violated like that with that much pain inflicted on him, my ass can stay in the room and go through the emotional torture of knowing that he needed me to assure him that everything is going to be OK.)

Day three of doc visits proved to be an improvement.  The doc removed the gauze (specially treated with an antibiotic so while inside the wound it was treating it from the inside) that he used to pack Monkeys wounds with, and said that they looked much better than they had just 24 hours prior.  Finally, some good news.  We were given a prescription for an ointment that we are to use as his neosporin in the event that he gets a cut, scrape, abrasion of any sort, or seriously aggravated diaper rash.  This is due to him being more susceptible to the staph now that he has contracted it and fought it.  *sigh* What a freaking nightmare.  This is day 7 of the whole ordeal and I am happy to say that he is showing much improvement and is doing very well.  I am extremely proud of him.  My little trooper.

Sick time. I had 31.5 hours of sick time saved up.  I have used all 30 of it, and have started to burn into my annual leave.  Which brings me to the need to scream part of my post...

I feel the urge to scream.  At. The. Top. Of. My. Lungs.  There are workings here at the place of employment that are under construction but really need to manifest into something tangible like, right freaking now.  I cannot speak on this any more than I have but just know that there will be more information on this as soon as I can.  I will let you know...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news:

Mr. G is still on the grid.  He and I speak text on a semi-daily basis.  It's lighter than it used to be but, he's still there. And makes more effort to talk text me... I really think he was angling towards an invite while I was visiting Mrs. Adventure but seeing as how that was our maiden voyage into the misadventures that we are bound to have...and that she really wasn't feeling up to anymore "company", I just didn't feel up to it myself.  I had an afterthought of relief when she told him lunch was a no-go. I apparently had some pent up anxiety about meeting him face to face.  Though I would like to, I'm not sure I'm ready to.  I know. I'm so chicken shit.

Mr. Italian...I just don't know WHAT the hell to do about this one.  Seriously.  Some days I miss the hell outta him, I get seriously peeved if I don't hear from him because he is working so much,... and when he compliments me or says something nice, I immediately bristle.  WTF?!  I have no idea what is wrong with me.

I miss Mr. NRN.  Honestly I do.  Has nothing to do with the amazing short-lived sex life we had together.  I miss hearing his laugh and seeing his smile. *sigh*  I know, I KNOW!!!  More stupidity...

I have no earthly idea what the F is wrong with me.  LOL  All I know is that I have no idea what I want.  And that's the most truthful thing I have ever said.  Ever.

Ciao!

Questions? Anyone?

Sooooo.  With nothing REALLY pressing on my mind to unload, I have decided I will do my first Q&A blog soon.  That is, with your help of course.  I welcome questions of all sorts.  Ask away!


Ciao!

Too many cherries...

I must just be in a "blah" mood today because I don't feel like doing much of anything right now.  I will tell you that I'm awsome though.  Yep, because I am.  AB told me so this morning in a text.  LOL

This past weekend was really cool.  Friday afternoon, Monkey and I drove to visit Mrs. Adventure and had a blast! 

This is what I was driving into...

Just the beginning...

The main event...

About 10 minutes after the main event...and just to prove to you with pictoral evidence JUST how screwy TX weather really is!!

We got there probably closer to 6 pm and shortly after unloading the car, we went to eat Greek food at a really good place a few miles away.  It was yummy and I would definitely eat there again, but a little while after we got back home, Mrs. Adventure got a touch of food poisoning.  She just wasn't feeling good at all.  Poor thing!  She felt bad for tucking in early but it sort of worked out because I needed to turn the lights out to get my over-tired Monkey to quit fighting it and just sleep.  Saturday brought on shopping and swimming and and eventual hug goodbye.  *insert sad face*  We had lots of fun and some great conversations. 

Yesterday, I didn't get my butt out of bed and get ready for church right away so before I knew it, I looked up at the clock and it was time to walk out the door.  Well, crap.  We WILL be going next week!!!  I hate missing church.  It makes my week feel all cadywhompus.  Seriously.

Oh yeah, while I was visiting Mrs. Adventure...  I'm packing up the car and getting ready to hit the road but I wanted to get the A/C going before I put Monkey in his seat.  Put the key in the ignition and... "click click click click click click..."  Having heard this sound before and knowing what it was I thought to myself, "Seriously?  Right NOW?"  So after Mr. Arkansas finished ordering pizza, I requested his assistance in jumping the battery in my car.  *sigh*  Stupid battery!  So, this morning while I was running late, the thought that my battery might be dead after having parked it after our trip and not driving it again the rest of the weekend, never crossed my mind.  It started though it needed some persuasion.  And after I showed my pretty little face at work and announced that I was going to HEB to get something to eat, I ducked into the O'Reilly's Auto Parts parking lot where I changed the battery out after the purchase of a brand new one (to avoid those pesky core charges).  I declined the help of two different gentlemen during this endeavor.  Just because I am wearing make-up and smell really good (Versace Bright Crystal), it doesn't mean that I am afraid to get my hands dirty.  And really. How hard is it to change a battery?  This bonehead can do it.

New battery in place and X starting like a dream, off to HEB I went.  While there, I picked up some blueberries, raspberries, cherries, pretzel sticks (of course), and a few other random items.  I have now eaten about half the bag of cherries and think that I might have definately over did the cherries.  I hereby ground myself from cherries... until I make it home and Monkey wants some.  He he.

Miss T asked if I wanted to go walking today.  The answer is always no in my mind because I want to be lazy and it's as hot as hell fire in Texas right now, but of course I said yes because I REALLY need the excersize.  We always have a good walk/talk while we're sweating it out and Monkey is pretty well behaved in the Kelty also.  It all works out.  I might stoller him today though.  We'll see how my feet feel.   

Ciao!

(Fore word:  I posted this without a title, like a bonehead, and tried to edit it afterwards and for some reason it won't post the title with it now.  So, this post is titled:  BONEHEAD!!!)

First, I'd just like to say that I am SO very thankful for my girlfriends.  AB keeps my sense of humor roaring and Mrs. Adventure...well, she just keeps me sane and smiling.  I have a disgusting habit of being too hard on myself like, 99% of the time and in turn having emotional ups and downs because of it.  There's a constant battle going on in my head.  Some days it's not so bad.  I seem to not be so hard on myself if I am productive and achieve goals.  One of those goals currently is earning a bachelor degree in something (haven't decided on this one yet) and yesterday, had I not been a bonehead and screwed it up, I would have been one step closer to that goal.

In order to complete my processing at school, I need to take the ASSET test.  It will place me as far as proficiency and give me a baseline for where I need to start in my classes.  Well, the college administers this test every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. and again at 4:30 p.m.  The cost is $20 and you are allowed a calculator though I don't believe that it can be of the graphing type.  I showed up yesterday, got all the way upstairs, and down the hall before I saw the flip chart with a hand written sign on it that said to please make sure I had exact change.  Hmm.  *enter head shaking*  Bonehead moment:  I forgot about the test fee and I practically never carry cash on me.  So, I turned my not-so-happy butt right back around and headed home.  I was so disappointed in myself.  Not only that, guess who didn't have a calculator with her.  Yep, the bonehead.  Now, instead of having my results the same day so that I could ponder over my class selection, I must wait another WEEK to do the test.  ARG!!!! 

Also yesterday, I went to the doctor about this stupid cough and draining congestion (I know, TMI) that I've had for a month and a half now and finally got sick of.  Diagnosis?  Bronchitis.  For a month and a half.  And WHY didn't I go in earlier when my throat felt like I was eating sand and I continued to feel like I was coughing up my toes and unable to breathe?  Because I am stubborn.  Plain and simple.  Bonehead...

*shift*

Mr. G sent me a text out of no where yesterday...strange since he was been MIA for several days.  We are on better speaking terms though I will still not allow myself to fawn over him in any way... He's a very nice guy and I will give him the benefit of the doubt, but in no way am I going to push for anything serious...

Which brings me to my next issue.  Lately the conversations with Mr. Italian revolved around one sentence.  "IF we ever do get back together..."  Yes, it's hypothetical, and who's to say it will EVER happen...but I am so tired of it.  I mean, we're not even dating and we have had discussions over where we would live if we ever got married!!  WTF?!  It's been 10 years since anything even remotely romantic went on between us and although we can usually get along on the phone, I am just so sick of it.  It's feels like unnecessary pressure and I don't like it.  Not sure what to do about it...yet.

I got to thinking when I was talking to my dad the other day, and I like not having to "check in" (and I use that term loosely) with someone. Even if it is just a courtesy.  I have free reign over my own life right now.  If I want to pack a bag (and diaper bag LOL) and go see Mrs. Adventure, or Miss T, or AB...or even BFF, I CAN!  And I can do so without hearing any guff about it.  I don't know that I WANT a relationship right this moment anymore.  My girlfriend is forever telling me to enjoy dating.  I mean, what a concept, right?  Why do I always mess up dating by pressuring my situation and wondering when I'm going to find Mr. Right?  AB wrote about this in her most recent blog, "Petty Little Napoleon Riddled Man...".  She wrote about how she usually feels self conscious and scared shitless that the guy she's on a date with will find all her flaws and be repulsed by her.  Well, that's kind of how I feel!!  But she has a date tomorrow night and she's decided that even if the romantic sparks don't fly, that she will not be at home bitching about not being out on a Friday night... BRILLIANT!!!!  I urge you to visit her blog.  She's too funny!

Ciao!

The men...

As promised.

The posts for Mr. G and Mr. Italian will be consolidated due to Mr.G's brief interlude in my life.

Mr. G, who I was "introduced" to by Mrs. Adventure was a brief blip on the radar in the scheme of things.  It all started with Mrs. Adventure and myself talking about how most men in my life have just been disappointments, jerks, or full blown assholes.  The Mistake (refer to "who the heck...") was not the beginning of the domino effect but was a key player in the game of "Hurt Gracie".  The very next one was BD.  Then Mr. NRN... So why not Mr. G? Right?  But Mr. G never really "hurt" me...and Mr. NRN didn't either except for the whole "good enough to sleep with" but not ready for a relationship crap.  Please...no one will ever get this cow's milk for free again...buy the beef retard or you can kiss the rump goodbye.  OK, that was dumb... he he.  Funny, but dumb.  Off topic...

Mr. G and I corresponded through emails in the beginning.  Apparently, he is painfully shy and has been burned in the past (who hasn't?!) and wants to be chased. I realized that all of our conversations were initiated by me.  Maybe not all,...but a great majority.  Most all of the questions were being asked my me.  And the only reason he even remotely knows anything about me is because I have volunteered the information!!  Well, not only was that NOT OK with me (b/c I was on that same path with Mr. NRN after a while). My girlfriends have finally convinced me that I am worthy of being chased and that I should hang up my running shoes and just let them chase me.  I must admit, I love the thrill of a chase.  But I am making attempts at feeling more comfortable being the chasee.  So, I did an experiment. 

Day one of the experiment I did not send my typical "Good morning" text.  It took several hours, but finally Mr. G sent a text, which I answered.  A short conversation ensued and then the conversation came to one of those points...you know.  The point where you feel like you should say something that is usually meaningless and pointless just to keep the conversation going.  Mindless chatter that if face-to-face would feel like one of those awkward silences where both of you are fidgeting and desperate to say anything to break it.  Well, I decided not to fill the void with mindless chatter and see what happened.  I wanted to see if his interest in me would take over and drive for him.  I didn't hear another word out of him until much later that same night.  So, we had gone the entire rest of the workday, all afternoon, and it wasn't until around 7 p.m. that he sent me a text message that said, "You must have been busy. I was too."  (No, actually I'm trying to figure out if your interest goes beyond the surface. Are you willing to go beyond conversations in which I have started to dig a little deeper and find out what makes me tick?  Do you even want to know what makes me tick because you don't ask much about me.  Granted, you haven't had to because I have been more than willing to just let my trap yap without the slightest idea of whether or not you're truly interested. So, let me just see about this...)  A few texts are exchanged and then...nothing.  The next morning (Day two), it took a little while again but the text did come through.  Again, short and brief and then...nothing.  That was the last time I heard from him. It's been several days.  In fact, he mentioned to Mrs. Adventure just today that he hadn't spoken to me in a few days.  Wisely, as she does not want to get in the middle of it, she shrugged it off.  As far as I'm concerned, I will not continue to chase a man.  I doubt I ever will again.  How else will I truly know for sure whether or not they are interested in ME?

I don't even know where to start with Mr. Italian.  You already know that he is my ex-fiance from 10 years ago.  But what you don't know is that there was a time in my life where he was my very best friend, lover, confidant, and head over heels in love with me.  Mr. Italian and I met while I was still in high school through a mutual friend of ours.  We didn't start dating until a little while later when neither of us was attached to someone else.  He was young, and stupid, as was I and we got engaged when I was 19.  He didn't have a pot to pee in, I had nothing myself.  My dad actually told him no when he asked to marry me for that reason.  Long story short, I broke off everything after I moved back to Texas with my family.  I was not prepared to get married and live with his mom.  Not that it's a bad thing,...shoot, I live with mine right now!!  (I don't think there is anything wrong with moving in with your parents for a brief stint if you have fallen on hard times.  BD walking out on me while I was 9 months pregnant?  Yeah, that qualifies.  Having a wife and children and getting laid off?  That does too...  But to start your life together in your mother's house?  Uh. No.)

We briefly saw each other while he was with his ex-girlfriend a few years ago.  I had come to visit his mother (who has ALWAYS loved me to pieces) and his brother (who I graduated high school with) while I was stationed in San Diego.  Mr. Italian and his ex walked into the house.  I was not informed until last night that she used to call me something along the lines of a "butch dyke bitch"...or something or other.  The "reasoning" behind this was that I was a female Marine, and had a short hair cut.  Now...just because I was a female Marine meant nothing more than I was a female Marine. I am, and have always unfailingly been, strictly dickly.  And as for my short hair cut, it was a cute (and I do mean CUTE) short angled bob.  Kinda shorter in the back and angled down my jawline. And that was when I was wearing it red.  I started out with it long but due to the protective head gear that we wore (I was an avionics technician on the F/A-18 Hornet) and the migraines I was getting from them and having long hair constantly bound and up, I cut it.  But it was cute short, not "dyke" short as she put it.  Funny thing about her saying that is she never said it to my face.  She had the opportunity. I was sitting right there.  She musta been scared I was going to show her what it felt like to have the driveway (I would have drug her outside so as not to get blood on mom's carpet...) wiped with her face a few times by a "butch dyke bitch" female Marine.  Scaredy cat.  Besides, she was just jealous that I was much prettier than she was.  I'd have been jealous of me too if I were her...

That was the last time I actually physically saw him.  He texted me several weeks ago and we have been in touch ever since.  He partially blames himself for my 10 years of dating disasters, failed marriage, and knowing what abandonment feels like by my child's father.  I don't know how he justifies my poor judgement in men as partially his fault but he said it's because he didn't grow up fast enough.  Hmm...  And he doesn't talk about flying out to see me or flying me out to see him.  He talks about flying me AND Monkey out, or coming to see us as in Monkey and my family as well.  It never slips his mind that I have a small child and when I asked what he was even doing talking to me (after he had just told me that he doesn't consider single mothers as potential dates anymore...he says they almost always use their children as leverage) he said that he knows me and loves me. And he understands that I am a package deal now. And if wanting me includes me coming as a package deal with Monkey, then he is more than willing to do so.  (What do you say to that?  Lol That's a really good answer.)

There's more to it than this of course but seeing as how BD just pissed me off to no end,...it's probably better if I save some of it for another time.  Wondering what happened? Sure. I'll tell ya. 

BD has a habit of saying he wants to come up and see Monkey and then not doing so.  (BD lives two hours south of us.)  Last week, he said he was going to come up this week and see Monkey.  Well, I was in the midst of making plans with Mrs. Adventure and thought to ask him if he was still planning on coming up.  I was not surprised.  He said no because he didn't know it was Father's Day...  WTF?

Ciao.

Chili, anyone?

I have so much to get off my chest right now that I am going to have to wait to title this thing until AFTER I've written it to see what all gets some spotlight this morning.  *sigh*

Let's travel back in time a few weeks.  Right after being informed I was going to day crew from night crew, I was also informed that I was being volun-told to sit on the Company Picnic Planning Committee (CPPC).  *insert eye rolling here*  I'm doing WHAT??  And I was promptly told that I was hand selected by my supervisor and blah, blah, blah.  Yeah, OK.  Hand selected?  Had nothing to do with Miss Overbearing having done it last year and wanting nothing to do with it this year, right?  Well, since I'm done listening to you blow smoke up my ass and have figured out that there is no way out of this crippling migraine of a chore, have a nice day you smug bastards.  SCOFF!!!   So, in the middle of dealing with the planning queen (the one who volunteered [is she crazy?!] to head up the circus) and all of her rants about the dunking booth and the picnic site and the dealings with...Zzzzzzzz.  Oh, sorry....  So, in the middle of having to deal with this CPPC crap, one day, The Smeller walks into my office, plops himself down in the chair in front of my desk {note to self:  remove that stupid chair!!!} and starts running his head about a "Chili Cook Off". 

A Chili Cook Off?  Really?  I'm in the middle of trying to do the minimal possible while dealing with Little Miss Planner who is really getting on my nerves with her crap...and you want me to plan a CHILI FREAKING COOK OFF?!!  Are you MAD?  I promptly proceeded to lean over my desk and slap the shit out of him  tell him that I was busy with the CPPC junk and that I would not even entertain the thought of a Chili Cook Off until the next month (which is this month).  Wouldn't you know that bright and effin early on the first of the month (which was Tuesday of last week) he was sitting in that chair (that desperately needs to be removed from my office) again?  Chili Cook Off this and we (translating into me) can make a flyer that...  When I hear "Cook Off" I think competition.  Why can't we have a Chili Pot Luck where everyone brings a crock pot of their version of chili and we all get to taste something new?  Why does there have to be a competition?!!  I KNOW MY CHILI IS BETTER BECAUSE YOU PUT ROTEL TOMATOES IN YOURS!!!!!!!!  I don't have to have a "judge" tell me that!  So, the flyer came out (no, I had no part in it) and whose name is on there as another chili provider?  Mine.  Great...

I was not at work yesterday.  Instead, I spent time with Monkey in the morning before taking him to daycare, then I went and got my wax done (Brazilian), and after that was done I went to the college campus.  I needed to speak with a counselor about my next steps in the application/enrollment/registration process.  Turns out, I need to do the ASSET test (placement testing for math and writing) in order to figure out where I need to start.  The point is (and GO ME) I have begun the process of getting my butt back to school and I will NOT stop until I have no less than a bachelor degree in SOMETHING!!  I'm currently in "student" status at a community college, but as soon as appropriate, I will be transferring to Texas A&M.  I'm gonna be an Aggie, and I want that ring. 

Monkey was very fussy yesterday and I'm thinking it was because he was just overtired.  It happens.  Whatever.  So I dealt with his fussiness and forgot all about that stupid chili cook off...and the fact that it is TODAY!!!  So when Monkey woke up at about 2:50 this morning, I fixed him a bottle, changed his diaper and pj's (cause he soaked those too), set him on my bed with his bottle and changed his bedding.  Took all of about 5 minutes.  I sat on my bed and pulled him into my lap while he finished and was reading some Facebook status' on my phone when I read one of my co-workers had written about the chili cook off.  OH SHIT!!  I completely forgot!!  Then I got mad.

I got mad because it is now 3:20, the morning of this stupid "Chili Cook Off" (that I didn't want to do in the first place) and I haven't lifted a ladle in the direction of cooking chili.  CRAP!!!  So instead of going back to bed (like I should have done) I went into the kitchen to hunt down the recipe box that has dad's chili recipe in it.  Can't find it.  Look for several minutes, still can't find it.  Go wake Gran up and ask if she knows where it is.  She gets up and puts her hands on it immediately.  Where was it?  Right in front of my face the whole time!!  Oy.  I read the ingredients list and realize at 3:45 that I am going to have to go to Walmart and get the stuff I don't have...GRRRRRRRRR.  I didn't want to do this stupid thing in the first place!!!! 

You're probably asking yourself, "Why didn't she just go back to bed and say screw it?"  I'll tell you why.  Because Mr. Smeller is also Mr. I-Can't-Keep-My-Mouth-Shut.  He always has to be saying SOMETHING.  His office is next to mine.  I've been sick. When you're sick, you cough.  I've been coughing a lot.  EVERY time I cough, he says, "Gracie, you'll get that lung up someday."  It makes me want to Juggernaut the wall and slam him linebacker style.  Dude, when I am trying to catch my breath after I just tried to cough my shoes up, I don't need your commentary.  Leave me alone.  I leave you alone.  LEAVE ME ALONE!!  So, the reason I didn't just go back to bed is that I didn't want to hear it from The Mouth. 

While I was at Walmart, Gran stayed up and was defrosting the ground beef (Yeah, The Mouth asked me what kind of meat I used in my chili.  I told him beef. He asked me what KIND of beef.  Seriously?  I told him ground beef.  He asked me what kind of GROUND beef....  Is this guy for real?  So that's when I started to lose my temper.  I asked him what he meant by what KIND of GROUND beef.  He wanted to know how lean it was.  OMGosh!!!!!!  Why didn't you just SAY that?!?!?) and chopping up the onion I was going to need.  By the time I got home, built my chili and set it to simmer, I had just enough time to jump in the shower, throw some clothes on, put the chili in a crock pot and leave for work.  After telling Gran she was the bomb and thank you, of course.  Catastrophe Averted.

**Several hours later**

Well, thank goodness THAT is over with.  I have to say that I am deeply disappointed with the way people just throw stuff together and don't build a meal.  One of the "contestants" was telling me that she did her meat last night (No pun intended I swear. We're talking about chili here for Pete's sake...) and that this morning she was opening cans and throwing it together here at work.  Whatever.  Mine did not receive the majority vote.  Bitter?  Yeah, a little bit.  The winner was the one co-worker I can stand, Miss T, so I can live with my loss.  Better her than the Rotel tomato dude. LOL

In other news:  After a long wait, AB finally got her offer from CPS (Child Protective Services) to be an investigator.  We are ecstatic about that!!  She's one tough mama and won't take any crap from those trying to dish it.  Well done, honey!

Mrs. Adventure is making it through a rough day.  My thoughts are with her because I can't be. *insert sad face*

Mr. G...hmm.  There's a post about him coming in the very near future.

Mr. Italian.  There's one coming about him too.  Stay tuned.
 
Ciao!

Tuesday, you feel like Monday...

It's Tuesday morning.  But it feels like a Monday morning.  As usual lately, I got up shortly before I needed to walk out the door... OK. Let me just say this...  When Mr. NRN was still in town (refer to "Here in body...") it was very rare that I did not get up early and take my shower, blow dry my hair, straighten it, and put on my make up (even though I work in jeans and t-shirts--seriously, the ones with pockets on them).  Very rare.  Until he left.  I don't have anyone I'm trying to impress, not that I was trying to impress him but I just felt better when I got up and took care of myself and made me pretty again.  And I can't remember the last time I blew my hair dry, or straightened it. This is ridiculous. 

Anyway, so I was running late, as usual when my son woke up.  Sometimes he wakes up before I leave, sometimes he doesn't.  Today he did.  So I picked him up (I always have a few minutes to spare for my Monkey!!) and was talking real sweet to him 'cause he wasn't all the way awake and laid him down on his changing table to change his diaper.  I'm in the midst of changing him, and he's still not all the way awake so he's kind of fighting me, when I realize, yep...he really did just do that.  Monkey, (and he hasn't done this in a while) pee'd on himself and the changing table.  I was like, "Did you have to do that right now when mommy is running late, kiddo?"  And this was no quick fix.  It was in his hair and on his pj's...he was going to need a bath.  So, I took him into the bathroom, ran him some water and plopped him into the tub.  Monkey was having no part in an early morning bath and began to cry.  I felt bad but wasn't about to allow him to walk around with whiz in his hair all day!!!  After the bath, diaper and clean set of clothes, I took him into the kitchen where my mom was and told her that now that I was hot and sweaty again after already having taken my own shower earlier, that I was going to work.

Once in my car, A/C blasting in my face, I decided that if I was gonna be a few minutes late, I was gonna have Starbucks while doing it!  So, I drove through SB and got myself a Venti Mocha, Perfect Oatmeal aaaaannnnnnnnddddddd: 

The latest addition to my Starbucks mug collection!!  I think I actually have this same one in blue, but I'm not positive.  All my other ones are in a box in the garage, with the rest of my life...  I started collecting SB mugs a while ago.  Not like fanatically, but when I find one I like, I definitely pick it up.  Some day, I'm gonna have all my girlfriends over and we will all sit on the porch with SB mugs and shoot the breeze together as women should. 

It's been one of those mornings and I'm anxiously waiting on my MAC shipment to arrive at the house.  I ordered two new shadows and some mascara.  I usually use Clinique High Impact mascara

but I recently ordered MAC Opulash just to see if I like that one better.

I also ordered a mineral eyeshadow duo... in Pink Split and Pink Freeze shadow...

I'm really thinking that I already have Pink Freeze.  I did not check my collection prior to ordering and should have.  Grr.  But I'm really excited about the Pink Split and may even get the purple one if I like this one.

They have quite a few I want.  $20 bucks a pop though...worth it?  Donno yet.  We'll see.

Mr. Italian has been weighing heavier on my mind.  He's very busy with work and getting ready for the next race (he does demolition derbies and builds his own cars...not too bad considering he wins more than he loses) so we haven't talked too much over the last few weeks.  He does make an effort though.  I'm just usually in bed or headed in that direction when he does.  (2 hour time difference)

Mr. G is slipping.  Not sure he'll make the cut.  And that is entirely up to him.

I've decided that I like seeing my girlfriends and that I need to see another one this weekend.  Not sure if it will be Mrs. Adventure or AB.  Either way, it's a 2 hour drive south one way, or a 3.5-4 hour drive in another. Decisions, decisions.

I hope your Tuesday started out better than mine! 

Ciao!

Just a buncha random

First of all, I couldn't get into a "New Post" form to post this for like, all day.  Can I just TELL you how frustrating that was...

This is where I am today:

(Except mine is no where NEAR that nice.)

This is where I wanna be:

With one of these:

The fact that this is not actually happening as we speak is VERY frustrating to me...  So instead, we'll just have to go about pretending that it is.  Yeah, good luck with that.

Anyhow... these were some of the thoughts that scampered across my mind today (in no particular order).

I'm addicted to Rold Gold Pretzel Stix.  Seriously. I must have them to make it through my day.  This addiction just started today...

And I heart Fierce Grape Gatorade.  Enough said on that.

Today, I spent approximately $250 dollars on one of those backpack type carriers for the little guys.  It's a Kelty so I'm hoping it will last for a while.  I didn't buy this for the trip to NOLA and as soon as I got in the airport, I deeply regretted not doing so.  So I broke down and decided that I should probably just get one and not worry about the cost anymore.  I'll get plenty of use out of it, with the hikes and walking I'd like to do this summer, I'm sure.

So, I was wondering, the other day, what I spent on travel to NOLA and decided to look at my credit card statement online...yeah. Regret looking.  Plane tickets and rental car alone were $825.  When I got there, I had reserved a compact car online.  When they told me it was gonna be a Chevrolet Cobalt and asked me if I wanted a Dodge Charger instead, ...I decided to change my mind.  Me?  In a rat trap matchbox sardine can Cobalt?  "Yes, I'll take the Charger please."  In addition to the car, I also rented a car seat.  Won't do THAT again.  Monkey, has a plush and comfy relatively CLEAN and unstained car seat here.  Poor baby had to ride in an older, not so cushy, stained car seat while we were there.  And the straps didn't adjust very easily...I'll be taking, checking and just dealing with the headache of his car seat next time!! 

So, even though I am already starting to pay my credit card back for allowing so graciously a much deserved/needed trip to NOLA, it still hates me.  It scowled at me this morning when I opened my wallet at the gas station.  It gave me that, "Don't you EVEN think about using me like that right now!!" look.  I took out the red card instead.  (Credit card is blue.)  I need to get on better terms with her soon.  Otherwise, she'll leave me high and dry when I need her...

My favorite tea is:

TA DA!!  Coconut Chai made by Zhena's Gypsy Tea.  It makes me happy and my taste buds sing.  Not really but it's super good when sweetened with your favorite local honey!  :) 

Oh and one last thing,... I think I'm going to buy a programmable coffee maker.  At home, we have a percolator, and a french press...but both of those require ENTIRELY way too much work in the morning when I am fumbling around the kitchen.  It needs to be set the night before so that it is ready for me to partake in immediately upon my arrival to the kitchen.  Agreed?  So I was looking online today and discovered Gevalia Coffee.  As it turns out, I could get myself a decent looking programmable coffee maker, and a couple of boxes of free coffee for about $20 (free shipping).  Then after that, I could set my own schedule of delivery of MORE coffee directly to my house!!  Y'all ever had Gevalia coffee?  It's pretty decent.  Actually, it's pretty good.... I'll be taking a further look into this matter.  My ears are open to the opinions on this however.

I am ready to go home.  This has been THE most boring day.  Did I mention that I am also taking an online defensive driving class?  Oh, I don't believe I did... Yeah.  Sucks.

Heard from BD (refer to "who in the heck") today.  Apparently, he wants to come up not this weekend but next...yeah. We'll see about that.  He likes to cancel last minute.  If he does this to my son when he's older and hurts his little heart, I'm going to rip his out, beat it with a meat mallet, stomp a mud hole in it, let the dog whiz on it, put it in the blender, hit puree, and feed it back to him.  Sorry bas&%!*.

Mr. G has kind of fallen on the way side.  Not sure that he's going to be Mr. Right...  I deserve to be pursued and chased dammit.  Not the other way around.

Mr. NRN is still not.  He's just, not.

And Mr. Italian...I'm going to have to keep an eye on him...he's sneaky.  He's got me thinking that maybe, just maybe...

Who knows!!!!??????

Ciao!

Talkin' trash 'cause I can

Every now and then I feel the urge to spew forth a little bit of venom and today is the lucky day.

Co-workers:

Miss Overbearing.  When I first got here, she was my trainer. I must admit, in all fairness, she knows her stuff. Inside and out.  And she is an excellent worker and full of knowledge pertaining to her job.  She's been at this about 2 years in this particular place and many years in other areas.  However, she is very...peculiar.  She and I worked together but on opposite shifts.  She was on day crew and I was on nights.  The office and work space that we shared was hers for approximately 2 years prior to my arrival and she is a clean freak.  I can be at times too but she sprays Lysol at people if they turn their head and cough, in the opposite direction.  Uh, that seems like a little much to me. And it's the stinky "Original" scent that smells like essence of old man.  Gross.  And she is very secretive.  I can't trust someone who is so secretive.  They freak me out.  Like heebie jeebies.  Her husband works here too and sometimes it seems like they have one brain.  He stares at her like he's going to eat her and it's creepy.  They are too much...and always thinking someone is out to get them...they make me tired.   Blech.  I don't want to work with her again in the event that they put night crew back together. (Night crew served it's purpose and practically ran through all the "work" we were hired on to do.  My supervisor could not justify having two PCC's on day crew when other shops had none, so I was moved to another section but remain under that particular work center when night crew all went to days.)  She's just way too hyper and get wrapped way too tight around the proverbial axle. 

The Smeller.  OK, I have long been attracted to a good smelling man...let me clarify that.  I can appreciate a man who takes the time to smell good.  Men's cologne is one of my weaknesses, within good reason.  If he's an old geezer, eh, he might have on today's scent, but he's still a geezer...  But The Smeller in question has his days where he smells better than others.  Ralph Lauren makes a cologne named "Polo" and it's got many others like Polo Sport, Polo Blue, Polo Black, etc.  But the one I'm talking about is just "Polo". It's in a green bottle and it smells like old guy.  It's very spicy, very strong and a little goes a LOOOOONG way.  The Smeller does not understand that when he bathes in it, I can smell him in the parking lot from my office, and my sinus' go into overdrive.  It is, needless to say, not one of my very most favorites.  As a matter of fact, it has been downgraded from the "Slightly Tolerable" list to the "Oh My Gosh, Not Again, I'm Gonna Puke" list.  Yesterday was an "I'm Gonna Puke" day...

The "I'm So Hot" (and it's all in his own head) Guy.  Aka The Troll.  The Troll happens to be short, pudgy, and obnoxiously loud.  Typical day to day attire consists of an over sized flannel type jacket (frayed), a way over sized t-shirt, and old guy style tennis shoes and if I'm not mistaken, the kind with VELCRO!!  I kid you not... I'll have to get back to you with confirmation on that one but I'm almost certain.  So, as if that is not enough to have you rolling your eyes with "are you serious right now" running through your head...he also thinks he's funny and God's gift to women!!  I wish y'all could see this guy.  He's a TRAIN WRECK.  I can't help but bite holes in my tongue on a daily basis to keep from telling him JUST how ridiculous he is.  Oh, and the worst part is when he opens his mouth.  Know that movie Monsters, Inc?  The Pixar film about the monsters that scare children for their screams to make energy?  Well, when The Troll gets riled up, which is on a daily basis over something, he sounds like the little short, fat, one eyed monster.  Like, no joke.  Nails. Chalkboard.

The Sounding Board.  She is my favorite.  She is that one co-worker you have that is more than willing to share a laugh/gripe about a co-worker, child (we both have at least one), situation, and anything else you can come up with.  She's that one person who shares an open door policy (like, a real one) with you and the door swings both ways.  Gotta have one or else you go crazy.

I'm sure I'll have more to complain about on another day but I just had to get this out there.  LOL

NOLA

Wow. What a weekend...

Friday morning started out VERY early.  We're talking about like, 3:30-ish for a quick shower, get Monkey ready, and a mad dash scramble to remember anything I might have forgotten.  I left the house without my camera because it is where I left it last...and I don't remember where I left it.  (sad face)

The ride to the airport was fast and furious as calm and collected as it could be.  We live about an hour and 15 (or so) minutes from the Austin airport.  My mom rode with me so she could take my car back and I wouldn't have to pay for parking. So we get there and I have a stroller, a diaper bag doubling as a purse, and one Adidas duffel bag with the rest of our stuff in it.  To make things just slightly easier on myself, I checked the duffel at the curb and so then it was just a matter of me pushing the stroller.

We get to security and of course I empty my pockets, take off my shoes, get Monkey out of the stroller, fold it up, put it on the conveyor belt...try to walk through and they tell me to take Monkey's shoes off and send them through.  Really?  Ugh!  Fine,...whatever.  So I untie his shoes (the ones that took me 10 minutes to get on him this morning because he likes to wiggle!!!), put them in one of the smaller send-it-through containers.  The stroller gets freaking stuck in the x-ray thing and when we get that back, then his shoes got lost in there!!!!!  COME ON ALREADY!  We finally get past security (after they had to check my diaper bag b/c I had water in there for his bottles...) and to our gate.  Boarding the plane was OK.  We sat next to a really nice girl who looked about college age (which is kind of a silly thing to say because people go to college at all ages these days...to clarify, she looked about 21-22) who was very sweet. She didn't mind Monkey at all and we were both pleasantly surprised when he didn't squall the whole time.  There was a layover in Houston with no plane change so after everyone who was leaving de-planed, I realized that OF COURSE, Monkey had loaded his drawers.  Seriously, son?  Right now?  So I make my way to the back of the plane where I though I might squeeze the two of us into the lavatory for an interesting diaper change, and when we get back there and claim our row, there was another woman back there that Monkey thought he needed to flirt with.  LOL  We said a few things back and forth as a flight attendant was there too and they said they didn't mind if I changed him right there on the row.  SWEET!!!  A quick diaper change later, we were all set and actually kept the entire row to ourselves for that flight.

We land in New Orleans and gather all of our stuff, so far Monkey has been great considering all the hustle and bustle I'm doing.  LOL  While booking my flight, I also made a rental car reservation.  I had the confirmation sheet with me, but got on the wrong shuttle.  (I confirmed through Budget, but got on the Hertz shuttle)  Thank goodness the driver was checking to see if we were supposed to be on there.  We finally get to Budget and Monkey is passed out.  I upgraded from a Chevrolet Cobalt (aka sardine can) to a Dodge Charger.  I must say that I was happy with my decision because it was a much better alternative to sitting in my sons lap while he was strapped in his car seat...  LOL  Aaaand, it was a really smooth ride. Bonus.

We finally got into Slidell and got settled down a little bit at my BFF's mom's house while we waited for everyone to get off work. It was SO great to see them again!!  Friday night we really didn't do much but sit around and catch up and play with the boys.  (BFF has a son also but he is a little older than Monkey)  Saturday, we went to BFF's apartment and sat around catching up some more while the boys took a long, much needed nap.  We were trying to decide what to go and do and decided we were going to take her car and needed to drop mine off at Miss L's.  We get there and it started POURING rain.  There was a thunderstorm warning and it was right on top of us.  So being perfectly content with continuing to visit and in the comfort of the house where anything we needed for the boys was right there, we just let it rain.

Sunday, BFF and I took Monkey (her husband kept hers for the day) to Gulfport, MS to the outlet mall.  We did some walking around and shopping and really had a good time being out.  It was slightly easier with just one kiddo to mind and therefore made for a good outing.  Monday was more enjoying company and packing to leave.  I had to get the rental back and make sure we were there in time to not be rushed.

Yeah.  Well, remember how I told you that I got on the Hertz shuttle instead of the Budget shuttle?  In the POURING rain, take a wild guess at where I tried to turn in my rental.  Yeah. Hertz.  I get there, pull all the stuff out of the trunk, get Monkey (who is sleeping) out, and hand the girl the keys.  She asked me if this was their car... "No, it's not. So could you please hold that umbrella over me again while I put him back in the car?"  Holy COW, Gracie!  Really?!! Bonehead.  I finally get the dang car turned in, but am soaked through.  That is such a nasty feeling.  And we still had to get to the airport and through security (grr) and find our gate.  Mind you, we have plenty of time, but I'm still stressing.

We get to terminal side of the airport and I'm standing behind this one girl who is talking with the curbside baggage check guy.  He tells her that her flight to Houston (where we are going) is delayed for 4 hours.  (My blood pressure immediately spikes upon hearing that). He tells both of us to go inside and speak with the people at the desk inside.  While waiting in line, I called my dad who was supposed to be picking us up and told him about the potential problem.  Turns out, the flight before ours to Houston was delayed.  *whew...*

I found the sunscreen in the car before I turned it in and shoved it in the diaper bag to transfer over to my other bag to be checked.  As soon as I shoved it in the diaper bag, you know I forgot ALL about it.  We get through the metal detector walk through thingy and the lady tells me she's gonna have to check my bag.  I'm like, OK cool.  I knew I had water in there for Monkey's bottles so I was cool with it.  I'm struggling to get the stroller unfolded while holding Monkey (so he doesn't run off because he's quick like that!) and to make sure all our stuff stays together and the lady comes back to me with the sunscreen in one hand, diaper bag in the other.  "Um, ma'am, we cannot allow you to take this on the plane (and proceeds to rattle off a bunch of crap about security and TSA regulations and rules). Do you want to go back and check your bag?"   Um, excuse me, what?  Did you seriously just ask me if I wanted to check my diaper bag?  The one you just had your hands all over and know that there are diapers, feeding supplies, and ALL the necessities I might need to travel with this 14 month old?  Did you really just ask me that?  Dumb cow.  So i told her no and asked her if we could just throw the shit away.  Problem solved. No big deal.  *talking under my breath* Check my bag.  I guess you don't have to be intelligent to work for TSA...

We get through the first flight and Monkey is doing OK.  Then we land in Houston and have to change planes.  We only had to go six gates up but holy halibut that airport was freaking hot.  It was easily 85 degrees or better in there.  Monkey is a hot baby anyway and started to get warm quickly.  I was holding him, the diaper bag and had a backpack on and was REALLY warm.  We finally get boarded, seated, and in the air and Monkey was just over it.  He was ready for the day to be over and was more fussy on that flight.  But we finally made it to Austin, and when we did, my dad was waiting.  Good thing to b/c I was glad to have the extra help with him. LOL    He cried for the last 10 minutes or so of the car ride home but he was hot, and didn't want to be strapped in any longer.  As soon as he was changed and had his p.j.'s on, i put him in his crib and he stretched out and went immediately to sleep. 

All in all, Monkey was really good on this trip, and I had a lot of fun.  A true success.  Traveling with a small child is no easy feat and I probably won't do that again for a while.  And I'm sure it would have been easier if he were potty trained.  But it could have been so much worse and the little extra bonding that he and I did as co-adventurer's was well worth the hassle of it.  I must say that I am very disappointed with how little help people are willing to give other people who are traveling with small children.  I mean, just an extra hand to help unfold a stroller (luckily for me, I can do mine one handed) or to maybe make a funny face and distract a fussy child.  If it works, great.  If not, at least they tried.  But I can't tell you how many people would just stare while he was being fussy.  And by fussy I don't mean screaming mad, just a little frustrated and whiny.  Makes you want to say not nice things to them.  LOL  My opinions of people traveling with children are changed forever.  I don't feel sorry for them.  But I do know how it is now and will always ask if they need help with something.  Provided that I have the extra hand!

Hope y'all had a wonderful holiday weekend!