I guess I deserve it

So I am really hoping that my boss doesn't read my blog because I will totally get fired if she does. Anyway...here goes.

Remember that child care conference I was complaining about here? Well, it was today and... well, I didn't go. I kinda, sorta called in sick...except I sent an email...oh and I lied. I think that was a bad idea because I have felt like shit all day...like really, really shitty sick.

Is that my comeuppance?

Probably.

I guess I should have held a grudge

So Gage is grounded. Yep ... the same kid I was just gushing about ... grounded. It's like a roller coaster around here. One minute I am busting at the seams with pride and the next I am mortified with embarrassment at his behavior. So he got good grades ... does that mean he gets to act like an idiot in class after being repeatedly asked to knock it the eff off? Umm ... NO.

He got sent to the principle's office... for the love of God the kid is 13 years old and got sent to the principle's office for disruptive behavior. So he's grounded. Ask me if he cares. Umm ... NO. Ask me if he thinks it was someone else's fault. Umm ... YES, it's always someone else's fault.

Anyway, I sent an email to his teacher to apologize for my kid because I feel like a huge douche. She sends me an email back saying that she would have called us sooner but she really likes Gage and they have a good relationship and that's why she thinks he's not taking her seriously. The trip to the principle's office was to let him know she wasn't kidding. 

Still ... I feel stupid and douche-like and I didn't do anything wrong.

A photo is in order

So here's an oldie of Gage and Gavin. Enjoy!

I thought they were supposed to stop it

So Nick felt like maybe, possibly, he might be getting sick yesterday. Of course that meant a trip to the pharmacy. He whipped out the HSA card and went on his way (in between all of the other crap he did yesterday). He came home with Theraflu, Advil Cold and Sinus, Cold-Eeze, Ibuprofen, and Breathe Right Nasal Strips. He likes to cover all his bases ... clearly.

Not sure what he took or why, except for the Breathe Right strips. He plans on using those for running and sleeping ... for obvious reasons. He said they helped when he ran yesterday and he was breathing a lot better. I'm not sure what he thought about them for sleeping last night but I can give you my thoughts.

Umm ... they don't work. Well, unless they were supposed to make his snoring more pronounced. If that's the case  then they worked wonders. I'm pretty sure that's ass backwards though, but what do I know?

Have you ever put one of those things on your nose? I tried it out last night ... because they were there. Those are some weird feeling things. They pull your whole nose open like you're flaring your nostrils really, really big. I don't need to breathe that well if that's what it feels like. 

Not a fan ... for myself or Nick.

Just a little footnote ... Nick underestimated the size of his nose and bought the wrong size. I found that very amusing for some reason.

Nick's WFH Day

So Thursday's are Nick's work from home days. It is also one of the two days that I go into work so he's here all day by himself. Now, he's supposed to be in the office on his computer for the better part of the day ... ya know ... working. 

He was busy today and it had nothing to do with his job. When I walked in the door after work it smelled like Christmas in here. He made a pan of brownies, a huge batch of cookies, and pizza dough for tomorrow night. 

He also ran a couple of miles in there somewhere (I guess so that he could eat all of this crap) and he took the rugs out of the living room and dining room in preparation for my parents visit just in case their little dogs with little their bladders decide to pee on the floor, that way my mom won't feel all guilty if they do. Umm ... let's just hope they don't.

I'm not sure when he actually got around to working but he sure did get a lot done.

Genetics

So I just started going to the gym again. Can't remember exactly why I stopped but I'm sure it was lame excuse after lame excuse so ... I'm slowly getting back to it.  

Anyway ... the point of this post is more about the instructor of the step class. She has been teaching for years ... and years. She is probably in her 50's (I don't really want to guess cuz I suck at that but I think that's probably right) and she's short and round. She said to someone once that she's been working out forever and her body shape just doesn't change ... it's genetics she says.

Let me tell you something else about this little lady. She is freakishly flexible! She can fold and bend her short little round body into positions that ... well ... just aren't normal. She's not so active on the actual step but once we get to the last twenty minutes of the class she's in her element. She's all about getting down on the floor and damn near putting her feet behind her head ... I bet she could do it. 

My legs are are shaky right now because she made us squeeze a damn fitness ball for-freaking-ever.

My genetics have determined that my body wasn't made to squeeze the ball ... ever again!

Proud Parent Update

So ... got Gage's grades.

Busting. At. The. Seams. Proud.

 

Opposites

So Nick posted a blog yesterday about his favorite websites, the ones he has in preset tabs. Umm ... I really don't think we could be any different in our opinions of what is interesting. 

Nick likes CNN, Woot, Heavens Above ... the serious journalism and geek extravaganza goes on and on.

My preset tabs are PerezHilton, People, Facebook ... your basic gossip, gossip, gossip. 

CNN ... really? The only news I want to read about is whoever Perez is making fun of and drawing penises out of their heads or what my friends (and strangers in some cases) are talking about.  

Maybe I should expand my horizon but if I did how would Nick make fun of me for not caring.

I'd like to think it's all because of me

So my daughter is a genius and I'd like to think that I have everything to do with it. She came home today with an invitation to attend classes at a school for gifted children.  

She works hard, she follows directions, and she likes to learn. It makes me a proud parent ... kinda busting at the seams proud.

In other proud parent news ... after the struggle to get Gage to actually lift a finger and do something around here, Nick decided that Tuesdays will be the one day that Gage has to come straight home from school and do chores ... no hanging with his friends ... and no complaining about it.

He walked in the door today, took the list of jobs I had for him and got to it. Not once did he complain or make a peep. He just turned on his iPod and did what he had to do. Could it be? Is this the start of something new?

Fingers crossed. 

Another one bites the dust

So Layla finally lost her fifth tooth today. Here's a before and after. Before was yesterday. After, she's calling Nick with the news.
 

Umm ... I'm kind of an idiot

So after I bitch and gripe about Gage I don't really feel any better. I'm still frustrated and almost shocked by the way he talks to us. Whatever ... part of the job, right?

So if it sucks so bad and I get so frustrated then why do I go ahead and do the thing that he was supposed to do in the first place?!? Hell if I know ... but I do.

His room is spotless, bed made, clothes put away, sporting equipment (and there is a lot of it) put in the appropriate place. Do you think Gage did it? Not so much. Like I said ... I'm kind of an idiot.

Oh and now I feel worse because Nick is gonna be frustrated with me. Maybe I'll go back down and mess it all up.

Now I know why my mom used to say "I'm not your mother ... I quit!"

Great Grandpa Frank

So I only met Nick's Grandpa a handful of times and sadly he passed away when I was four months pregnant with Layla. She gets to see just a little of what he was like from stories and photos but these are her favorite things from her Great Grandpa that she never got to meet. He had quite the collection of awesome belt buckles. She is fascinated by their beauty and honestly, what eight year old girl wouldn't be? These are just a few that Nick picked out to keep ... I hear there were many, many more.

Too bad Nick can't pull it off like Grandpa undoubtedly could.

Just a rant ... you might want to skip it

So this is my blog and I'm going to use it to bitch and gripe for a minute. If you're not interested in reading about parenting a thirteen year old ... stop reading ... now.

This freaking kid got to do exactly what he wanted this weekend. He slept over at friend's on Thursday and again last night, he went snowboarding with a friend, and when he was home he sat on his ass and did nothing or ate. 

I called him this morning and told him he had to come home and help with stuff around the house. Instantly ... negativity. Always negativity from this kid. Nick took everything out of his closet and put it on his bed so he could go through it and get rid of all the crap that doesn't fit (there was TONS of stuff that doesn't fit) and organize the stuff that does. You would think we told him to clean the entire house from top to bottom ... all by himself ... with no cleaning supplies. The tone his voice takes is the most annoying thing I have EVER heard and it makes me twitch ... seriously ... like a mental patient. 

I've got nothing here. What am I going to do? Take away the weekend he already had? Umm ... too late. He got what he wanted and now he can be a jerk. I can make threats but he's not scared, concerned, the least bit motivated. 

I seem to have misplaced the "Perfect Parenting" handbook but I'm pretty sure slapping your kid across the back of the head is out so what am I to do?

Twitch ... Twitch

Why does he even bother

So I don't know why my family hasn't figured out that I am always right. Life would be so much easier and flow along so much better if they would just get it through their heads that there is no point in arguing ... I'm the winner.

Spelling Tests and Stress

So I've talked about Layla's CVS on here before. You're all aware of it by now.

Well, I did some research and discovered that more is known about this condition than when she was first diagnosed. Like ... her doctors told me that she would outgrow it. Just found out that most kids don't start showing symptoms until they are between the ages of three and seven and it is an ongoing condition. 

We were told that there is no rhyme or reason to when the episodes happen and there was really no way to prevent them. According to the info I found, stress is a HUGE trigger for a stomach migraine the same way it would be for a migraine in your noggin.

What's my point you ask?

This ...

Here is the regular spelling list for 2nd grade this week. car, smart, arm, park, yard, part, barn, hard, farm.  No Biggie.

Here is Layla's advanced spelling list this week. accident, attention, audience, commands, officer, safety, board, listen, told, department, amazing, animal. Umm ... seriously?

For her gifted reading class she has to write a short story that includes all of the examples of figurative language she has studied this quarter. They include ... simile, metaphor, alliterative sentence, idiom and onomatopoeia.

She actually has homework in Brownies this year. 

She is about to start her fourth year of piano, which is getting much more challenging. 

She takes dance class every week.

She still has to do all of the regular class homework on top of the other stuff.

She loves all of these things and I don't think that individually any of them stress her out but when you add it all up ... she has a lot on her plate. Hell ... it gives me a migraine and I only drive her back and forth.

Being eight is a hell of a lot more stressful than it used to be!

Warp Speed

So it seems that time is traveling at warp speed. It's that time again ... I feel like I just typed those words. Baseball season is coming up fast. We just registered Gage and he has his first batting practice tonight. 

Now ... everyone knows I love watching Gage play baseball. That being said ... I'll tell you what I don't love. 

Last year we paid $225. Nick volunteered time and got a $50 reimbursement. Not bad. This year the registration fee is $225 and everyone has to pay a volunteer fee of $50. They said there weren't enough volunteers in the past so this would be a way to make sure more parents get involved. 

Whatever ... $50 here ... $50 there. They can nickel and dime you to death. By the time we pay the registration, team fees, tournament fees, new equipment for Gage because God knows nothing from last year will fit him this year, this league goes from being cheap and easy to costing an arm and a leg.

Next year hopefully I'll be writing about him playing for high school.

Filler Post

So I got nothing. I have absolutely nothing to say but I just can't skip a day or I'll feel like a failure. I think this might be considered a failure of a post, a waste of my five minutes but I just can't help myself. I asked Nick for a topic and he decided to be vulgar (umm ... hello, my mom reads this blog) so that was out. So here it is. A big, fat nothing. Maybe I'll be inspired tomorrow.

Prude ... ish

So I am about the farthest thing from a prude possible. I swear like a trucker (much to the disappointment of some) and I am pretty open to most things. That being said ... I watched the movie "Zack And Miri Make A Porno" the other night and I didn't like it ... at all.

I'm not sure if it was the number of times they said "fuck" just to say "fuck", the oh so disgusting bit about constipation and anal sex, or seeing Tisha Campbell's boobs hanging under her shirt like half empty water balloons but all in all I found it to be a seriously stupid movie.

There was one saving grace. Justin Long was hi-freaking-larious! His five minute cameo made the movie worth seeing.

Look at me ... I fancy myself a film critic now ... huh.

Sounds like WHAT?

So as Layla and I are getting ready for our day I was telling her about what an important day today is. I said ...

"Layla, today is inauguration day."

"What's that mean?"

"It means today is the day that George W. Bush leaves office and Barack Obama is sworn in as our new President."

"That's pretty cool."

"Yeah, it's kind of a big deal."

"Yeah ... but that word, inauguration, sounds like a surgery that makes your poop come out or something."  

Unnecessary panic

So yesterday I wanted to watch a show that I had DVR'd the night before so I grabbed the remote and was just about to turn on the TV when Crash started his pee pee dance. I got up to let him out and then Layla wanted something and then I got sidetracked by facebook for a minute and then I got thirsty and so on ....

By the time I got back to my room to watch the show I couldn't find the remote. I looked around the bed, on the side tables, the floor ... I couldn't find it and I actually started to panic. I mean ... seriously ... how am I supposed to watch TV without my remote?!? Is that even possible anymore? It was one of my favorite shows ... what if I never get to see it because I can't find my remote? What if I never find it? Then what am I supposed to do? Um ... I really, really need that remote! "Layla ... help me find the remote!"

Of course I found it on the table by the door where I let Crash out but by that time I realized how ridiculous I am and I didn't even watch it.

I think I need a hobby.

Reminiscing

So how freaking cute are my babies ... kinda miss it.

We have two ... count them ... TWO cars that start!

So the car situation is taken care of and we're out time and money but ... well ... it's a new day right?

Layla and I are leaving soon to have a "date". Nick is going to Big Papa's to watch the game so we're going to take advantage. A movie ... some shopping ... maybe lunch. I've got to take her now while she'll still be seen with me because I have a feeling that in a couple of years she'll only let me drive her somewhere and drop her off. 

That's life.

Tired Old People

So we just got home from Teepants Palace (otherwise known as Ryan and Sue's) where we hung out, had dinner, and watched a movie. It's a little after 10:30 and I could fall asleep right here at my desk. I'm not sure when 10:30 magically turned into the time that I need my head to hit the pillow but ... it is so.

Before we went to Ryan and Sue's we went to the Humane Society with Frank and Sue to check out the cats and dogs and see if any of them would "speak" to Sue but the selection was surprisingly sparse. It is a depressing place ... I hate to know all of those animals don't have homes but at least they are being well taken care of and shown affection by the volunteers and employees. Anyway, none of these cats did any "speaking" to Sue. Well, some were speaking ... just not the right language ... i.e. when cages are marked "marking his territory" I think the chances are slim that he will find a home any time soon.  

Gage called tonight with pet news of his own. He and his dad also took a trip to the Humane Society and adopted a dog. His name is Rocky and Gage seemed pretty happy.

Now I'm gonna go lay my head on that pillow.

I like me just the way I am

So they say that the #1 cause for divorce in the US is couples fighting over money. Nick and I have never had issues with money. Whether we have it or not ... we just deal. We have other issues that weigh heavily on us.

Most of you know that Nick and I have not been speaking to some people that used to be a big part of our lives. Whether anyone agrees with the reason or not is a moot point because at this time I don't see that fact changing ... ever! I'll tell you why.

They seem to think that in this situation the only people at fault are Nick and myself. That's okay because Nick and I feel exactly the same way about them.

That means we're at an impasse .. right? Absolutely.

I'm fine with that ... things blow over, right? Wrong. Things can only blow over if they are left alone. That is not the case here.

You see, they are the reason I moved my blog. I got a little sick of snide comments on posts that had nothing to do with them. I figured the best way to deal with that would be to move my blog and not give them the address. I also stopped reading their blogs because, frankly, I didn't want to read about the whole situation and what a shitty person I am.

Too bad all of my friends who knew about the situation didn't stop reading their blogs. They know how to put two and two together (and really no one was trying to be discreet) and see when people are talking about me again. This time instead of being a so called "adult" and inappropriate in front of children, I am insecure and an idiot. Lovely. Oh and I am a big talker behind my keyboard. It's almost funny because I was also called a hypocrite ... hmm. I see how this works now. I'm all caught up. I shouldn't try to communicate at all, I shouldn't be myself because they don't approve, and I shouldn't say anything lest they take it out of context and apply it to a situation that it has nothing to do with but they can keep on keepin' on with the hurtful and childish comments. Gotcha.

It's too bad really ... too bad.

Huh?

So today is another not so great day. It has nothing to do with the cars, although the Subaru is still sitting in the driveway refusing to start. It has to do with high school behavior ... maybe even middle school. Yeah I'm gonna go with middle school on this one.

Do you remember how in middle school people could turn on you in a second? Do you remember how no matter what you did or said someone could turn it around and make you out to be a huge asshole? Do you remember your mom telling you to just ignore it and hopefully it would be over soon? 

I do. I remember being completely and totally miserable some days and miraculously better on other days and none of it really having anything to do with my mood. It all hinged upon how everyone else was feeling that day. That feeling of no control just plain sucks!

That's how I feel today. I feel like no matter what I do or say it's just not good enough and someone is going to make me out to be the bad guy. 

I guess I could stop being myself and try to cater to the people who think I need some serious self improvement but a different thought occurred to me ... I am not in middle school anymore.  

Wanna hear something NOT FUNNY?

So the van was towed away this morning and is already back home. Just a battery ... that's it. $250 later. Whatever.

Nick's mom let him borrow her car and thank god for that because this morning when I went to go start Nick's car to go to work ... you guessed it ... dead. 

I screamed at the top of my lungs (sorry Kathy ... hope your kids didn't hear me). 

"YOU"VE GOT TO BE FU@*&$% KIDDING ME!!!"

To top it all off one of my preschoolers "escaped" trying to find her dad in the parking lot and while chasing her down we both fell. I hurt my ass.

It's been a real winner of a day.

You can tell we're twins ... we have the same hair

So this is 1990 in all it's glory.

Dodge can SUCK IT ... Part II

So it's not the cold, it's not the battery, and my husband's not a mechanic. Where does that leave us you ask?

Screwed.

Nick's car is next ... I know it. He started it this morning and the exhaust was coming out from under the car ... not out the back but right in the middle. Um ... I don't know two shits about cars but I'm fairly certain that's a bad sign.

Thank God I didn't cancel the credit card like Nick wanted to.  

I will say something positive in this post and give props to State Farm Insurance. They let us add towing coverage to our policy today to have the car towed tomorrow. Look at that ... someone not trying to screw us over.

Dodge can SUCK IT

So it's bad enough that I drive a minivan in the first place (yes ... I know I wanted it) but what's worse is that the thing turned out to be a huge piece of shit. Wait ... a huge expensive piece of shit!

It's -20 this morning and I go out to warm up the van and the stupid piece of shit won't start. It just makes this annoying clicking sound and I don't know what that means but I'm guessing it's not good. I tried again five minutes later ... nothing but clicking and again ten minutes later ... that clicking is really starting to piss me off.

Of course I call Nick ... yes I realize that he's in freakin' Minnetonka and there's not a damn thing he can do but who else am I gonna call, right? He was very helpful ... all the way from Minnetonka.

Now ... to get to the point of this post (besides the fact that Dodge can SUCK IT) ... Big Papa Brey saved my ass! He already drives Gage to school every morning, which RULES, but this morning he also drove Layla to school, took me to work, and picked me up from work. Above and beyond? Yep. I think I see a case of Coors Light in his future (future being Sunday).

Thanks Jeff ... you're the best.

But it's a SATURDAY

So ... for my teeny, tiny, part time job I have to take a lot of classes/certifications.

I am CPR certified, First Aid certified, have taken countless child abuse prevention and awareness classes ... the list goes on. I don't have a problem with this, in fact I don't mind it at all. I get paid to take classes that others have to pay for. We just got the sign up sheet for our next child care conference. I didn't really pay any attention to the time or location as I was signing up, I just wanted to make sure I got the class I wanted.

I was talking to Nick about it and he asked where it was. The freakin' U of M. Oh wait it gets better. It's on a Saturday and we have to be there at 7:45 ... A.M. Um ... you've got to be freaking kidding me! Who's genius idea was that because that I have a problem with.

For two reasons this makes me cringe. 

1. I hate driving ... I know most of you know that but I will reiterate ... I HATE DRIVING! Driving to the U should be ... whatever I don't even want to think about it ... it's winter and there is snow ... and ice ... for the love of god.

2. 7:45 ... enough said.

I'm reconsidering my choice of job. 

Vomit-O-Rama ... Part II

So Layla had herself another pukefest early this morning.  I really can't explain how painful it is to watch her be sick like that. All I can say is ... it sucks.  

Tired.

I miss this

Nick's Pizza

So my husband has never aspired to be a chef ... the man knows his limitations ... but he makes a mean pizza. He makes his own dough for crust and his own sauce ... ya know ... like real homemade pizza. He actually gets a little giddy about it. 

That makes him a computer geek/mead maker/rare book collector/kick ass fantasy football player/pizza genius.

I ... am a lucky, lucky lady

Totally 80's

So on the way to the grocery store this morning I was flipping through the stations and someone was doing an interview with Debbie Gibson. They played a little bit of "Lost In Your Eyes" and instantly I was back in middle school. I actually called and left a message at home to get it from iTunes. 

That led to Tiffany which led to Belinda Carlisle which led to New Kids on the Block and on and on. My God ... I think I'm old. 

Just a little tidbit about New Kids on the Block. When I was in 7th grade my dad took us to a New Kids concert (poor Jeff). It was 12 year old heaven. Joey McIntyre was to be my future husband ... the end. I actually broke up with my boyfriend before the concert because I was absolutely sure that Joey would see me, call me up on stage and ask me to be his girlfriend. To this day I'm still convinced he would have if he had just seen me. His loss.

!*@%&^$ WINTER

So it's only the beginning of January and I'm sick of winter. 

I can't wait to ... 

- wear flip flops

- grill steak and have drinks on the patio

- watch Gage play ball

- have bonfires with the neighbors

- have Crash go outside so the house doesn't smell like him

- see Kathy again ... I kinda can't remember what she looks like

- go for walks after dinner

- see green grass and blue skies

- not have the bottoms of may pants be soaked

- not have to push a grocery cart through slush and ice

- not have to put lotion on my hands 5000 times a day

- have bonfires with the neighbors

- not step outside and cough as soon as I take a breath because my lungs have been attacked by insanely frigid air

- not have to help 15 preschoolers get their winter gear on

- not have to scrape ice off the car

- have bonfires with the neighbors

Maybe I should get a fireplace and pretend.

Red Cheeks

So I got some new songs for my iPod. It always makes me happy to get fresh stuff to listen to and I like to play it on the Mac while I'm on the computer.

I am listening to a little Chicago and I don't know about you but when Chicago comes on ... I'm singing ... loudly.

Layla just yelled ... 

"MOMMY, I'M ON THE PHONE!!"

I guess that's my cue to shut the hell up. My cheeks actually turned red ... I embarrassed my eight year old. She used to like it when I sing at the top of my lungs ... clearly ... not anymore.

But I don't even know the guy

So Nick's boss and his wife had a baby yesterday. That's nice ... for them. Ya know what's not nice? Trying to figure out what to get for a couple that I have never met ... ever. What do they already have? What do they need? What kind of stuff do they like? Hell if I know!

I'm only partly serious. I really like shopping for babies. It's fun ... especially if it's for a couple's first baby. They pretty much think everything is super cute and amazing. Ya kinda can't go wrong.

I walked around the mall trying to brainstorm. Should I buy something really nice that I normally wouldn't buy or should I just be practical? I decided practical. I went through Baby Gap ... I'm sorry but $26 for a onesie is not what I consider practical. I know what's gonna happen to that thing. It's gonna get covered in puke, poop, or formula ... none of which are easy to get out.

I went with my favorite thing. Books. Barnes and Noble saved me. They saved me time and money. A very practical $20 went a long way thanks to 75% off sales.

So, even though I don't know the guy, hopefully he'll enjoy reading to his new baby, Nicholas.

Now when did THAT happen?!?

So tonight is Parent Information night at North Campus for next year. For those of you that don't know what the hell North Campus is ... it's the HIGH SCHOOL.

I know what most of you are thinking.

"Why you hardly look old enough to have an eight year old much less to be the mother of a high schooler"*

Believe it! I'm not sure when it happened but my kid is going to high school ... like the drama of middle school hasn't sucked enough.

Pray for me people ... Pray!

*Sarcasm ... I am fully aware none of you were thinking that ... at all.

Short Version of Post Below

12-31-07                                                                            10-15-08

A year of Gage

So this is just a post of Gage and how much he's changed in a year. It's kind of ... just a little ... freakin' crazy!!!

12-31-07

2-3-08

5-17-08

5-27-08

6-11-08

6-27-08

8-18-08

9-6-08

9-8-08

10-15-08

12-4-08

12-18-08

End of Break = SAD Jill

So it's back to normal tomorrow and that sucks. I don't want to go back to work and surprisingly I don't want my kids to go back to school. I barely got to see Gage since he was at his dad's for the whole break and I had a really good day with him yesterday. I'm not ready for him to go back.

He, on the other hand, is ready to go back. I don't mean he wants to go back ... I mean he's prepared to go back. He wasn't when he got home on Friday. Yep ... two whole weeks and his dad didn't make sure he did his homework! I guess they were too busy sitting around, hunting, going to hockey games, hanging out ... ya know, all of the fun, be at your dad's and pretend you don't have a care in the world and none of the regular, you live in the real world and have things that have to be done stuff that is his every day life here. Sometimes it really sucks having to be the responsible parent. No one ever wants to run away and live with the responsible parent. 

One day ... when he's a professional baseball player and he wins the World Series and they put the camera on him ... he damn well better say ...

"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my MOM!!" 

You spent WHAT??? On a WHAT???

So I had my day with Gage and it was very nice. He got to spend every last cent he had and apparently that makes him very agreeable and fun to be around.

Now on to the real reason for the extra post today. 

Most of you know Nick personally and think that he is not the huge dork that I try to make him out to be. Well, this might just change your minds. 

As you all know, he won Fantasy Football this year. He used his winnings to pay for the iMac and went shopping for supplies to make mead. These are the things that make him incredibly happy ... making mead and paying off debt. 

Another thing that makes him incredibly happy is obtaining knowledge about dead Presidents. To obtain this knowledge he finds biographies on said dead Presidents and reads them in order starting with ... yep ... George Washington. Cool ... whatever ... right? Wrong. 

George Washington died a LONG time ago. Most of the books written about him were written a LONG time ago. Do you know what that makes those books? Um ... RARE. Wanna know something special about RARE books? They are insanely expensive!! He decided to use the rest of his winnings to get a few more books.  The last book he got on James Madison (one of about 10 he has on Madison) was $100 and apparently that was a really good deal. $100 for ONE book ... not a series ... one book.

He better kick ass in Fantasy Football again next year since he fancies himself a rare book collector.

 

I'm not sure

So I'm about to spend the day shopping with a 13 year old ... boy.

I'm not sure what my role will be besides chauffeur and maybe ATM. 

I'm not sure if he's going to walk away from me the second we are inside stores or if he'll actually be seen with me.

I'm not sure if he'll ask my opinion (ha, ha) or bite my head off if I voice one.

I'm not sure if he'll be in a good mood or bad.

I'm not sure if I'll make it. I guess we'll see.

I'm over it

So Nick is looking pretty much back to normal. In a couple of days he will be back to his formerly burly self. 

Yesterday we did nothing! A whole lot of nothing. Well, we took naps but otherwise ... nothing. I did decide to make one New Year's resolution though. I don't usually because of the whole not sticking to it business but I think I can stick to this if Nick will be strong.

Ready ... it's riveting ... are you on the edge of your seat?

My New Year's resolution is NO MORE McDonalds for me or the family. We spent an ungodly amount of money there this year. Disgusting! We actually went two whole years without eating there awhile back but caved in because it's just so damn convenient. Not this time ... if we eat out we're going to Subway ... Jared style. 

So that's it ... not at all interesting or riveting but now it's out there so I really can't eat McDonalds or I'll look like an ass. 

Done and Done!

Facial Hair ... again

So I'm not sure I was able to convey the level of my annoyance at the fact that Nick made himself look like an idiot.

Just so we're clear folks ... I'm annoyed!

Now, right this second, I hear him in the bathroom with the razor. God only knows what he'll look like when he gets out. Rest assured ... you will find out shortly!

*** Much better ... getting less annoyed by the second***

Now I want to tell you a little about meeting Wyatt. He's Adrienne's new man and it was a little freaky when he walked in the door. He looked just like every guy that was here ... for real! He couldn't have fit in better. He seemed really comfortable walking into a place where he didn't know a soul and then being kicked out of the room Adrienne (the only person he knew) and I were in so we could talk about him. I think he might be a keeper. He gets my seal of approval ... because I know that was what he was waiting for :)

Just give me 6 months before you get hitched so I can lose some weight and get a pretty dress!