Wow, time flies. I keep saying I'm going to write again, then suddenly, it's 6 months later and still haven't written.
So here I am, in the middle of the night unable to sleep and pull up Kenny Salvini's blog. If you don't know who he is, google him and check him out. I used to be a devout follower, one of tens of thousands, then he stopped writing for awhile. I truly think he is largely responsible for a lot of bloggers setting up shop. He got me to write. Anyway, apparently he has been writing again for awhile now and I thought, what the heck, why am I not writing? But what to write about?
Most recently I saw a production of Noises Off at a local high school. They have an amazing drama department at this school and it was in fact, so well done I went back the next day. It was so fast paced and the scenes so intricately choreographed that there was no way to catch it all. And to watch these kids perform it twice perfectly was truly wonderful. I laughed out loud through the entire show.
Also, recently my kids found out that I used to write a blog (they don't know I still do occasionally) and have been asking to read it. Unfortunately, it was on MSN originally and I don't have access to the first year since they shut them down. I really wish I had thought to keep copies. Might be good though, since a lot of the updates were about them. Not sure how they would feel about that........
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Times They Are A'Changin'
I haven't written much and I really think I need to. It seems to be a really healthy outlet for me and I gets lots of much needed support and really good advice. But finding the time, finding the time.
The all girl household has become quite challenging. We are all entering new phases of our lives, and tolerating each other has been difficult to say the least. The new job is great and scary at the same time. I finally don't feel like I'm going to be fired every single day.
E was diagnosed with ADHD last year. We decided to hold off on meds, to try some therapy and behavior modifications first. My mother, who does not believe that ADHD is a real diagnosis, only said, Do Not Put Her On Drugs! (thanks for the support Mom. Of course, she believes that just about any behavior problem can be beaten out of a child). So we tried no meds. And then I had a child who was frustrated and crying constantly because her grades were spiraling downward. She would pull up one grade, then others would fall, and on and on. So, enough. It took 4 months to get into the doctor for the initial visit, by which point E was a complete mess. So first we have to get her anxiety under control. And toss all of this on top of the middle school hormonal hell she's already in. And to top it off? During the exam the doctor looks at me and says,"what took you so long to get her help?" Which is nice, cause I don't feel bad enough already.
But, if that isn't enough, E got into a fight with her best friend. I really don't know much about the fight other than that she told her friend she was sad and needed to talk and her friend said something about not wanting to talk to her about anything sad. Which E took to mean that her friend didn't care. And stupid fight ensued.
So, I come home from work to this mess, with E saying she didn't want to be friends with her anymore, that she had said some unforgivable things (which she won't tell me) and that she has written her friend a letter saying so. I ask her if she will let me see the letter and she reads it to me. And it's over the top, full of emotional comments like how her friend ruined her life, she's just like everyone else, cutting her down, and btw, she doesn't like what's his name anymore because she realized she isn't good enough for him.
I tell her that I don't think it's a good idea for her to give her friend the letter, that she will regret it. But I don't expressly forbid her to, because I want her to make the decision. Well, apparently she then writes an additional letter, and GIVES THEM BOTH TO HER!
My first knowledge of this is when I come out of a meeting and my cubicle neighbors say, boy, your phones were blowing up while you were gone. I look at my cell. 5 missed calls and one message. I have a message on my work phone. And it starts ringing. It's E, crying hysterically. I calm her down, tell her I'm about to leave anyway. Then I listen to my voicemail on my cell. It's the friend's mom. Now, this woman doesn't like me, and I don't like her, for reasons that would fill another post. But she leaves this message saying that they apparently were having a fight, that E had written two letters that were deeply disturbing and she thinks for right now E shouldn't call or text her daughter. Which I completely and totally agree with.
So I call E and tell her this and tell her we will talk when I get home. Meanwhile she is chatting with another friend on Skype when the girl jumps into the chat. So E says, I have to go. And the girl says, please don't be mad at me, etc. and E says, your mom called and asked me not to call or text you and my mom wants me to not talk to you for awhile, so I have to go.
That's when I got home. And we had to leave right away for the doctor. After the doctor, I drop E off at Youth Group, come home and I have a message. This time it's from the friend's dad, who is a pediatrician. So we'll call him Dr Dad. Well, Dr Dad leaves this message asking me to call him regarding these deeply disturbing letters. So I do. And he says, well, I'm just really concerned about her and want to make sure she is in some sort of treatment. Now, I know my daughter. Those letters were mostly manipulative. She was trying to elicit a sympathetic response. And yes, she was devastated. But this is not the response he is looking for. So I tell him she has just started some ADHD meds and they are messing with her emotions (which I WAS told could be a side effect). I also tell him I think time apart might be a good thing for them. And he agrees.
I talk to Emma about it, she dissolves into hysterics because now her friend's parents hate her (dramatic much?). Finally get her calmed down and into bed about 11.
Then I picked up Jenny McCarthy's new book and laughed for about an hour. God I needed it.
The all girl household has become quite challenging. We are all entering new phases of our lives, and tolerating each other has been difficult to say the least. The new job is great and scary at the same time. I finally don't feel like I'm going to be fired every single day.
E was diagnosed with ADHD last year. We decided to hold off on meds, to try some therapy and behavior modifications first. My mother, who does not believe that ADHD is a real diagnosis, only said, Do Not Put Her On Drugs! (thanks for the support Mom. Of course, she believes that just about any behavior problem can be beaten out of a child). So we tried no meds. And then I had a child who was frustrated and crying constantly because her grades were spiraling downward. She would pull up one grade, then others would fall, and on and on. So, enough. It took 4 months to get into the doctor for the initial visit, by which point E was a complete mess. So first we have to get her anxiety under control. And toss all of this on top of the middle school hormonal hell she's already in. And to top it off? During the exam the doctor looks at me and says,"what took you so long to get her help?" Which is nice, cause I don't feel bad enough already.
But, if that isn't enough, E got into a fight with her best friend. I really don't know much about the fight other than that she told her friend she was sad and needed to talk and her friend said something about not wanting to talk to her about anything sad. Which E took to mean that her friend didn't care. And stupid fight ensued.
So, I come home from work to this mess, with E saying she didn't want to be friends with her anymore, that she had said some unforgivable things (which she won't tell me) and that she has written her friend a letter saying so. I ask her if she will let me see the letter and she reads it to me. And it's over the top, full of emotional comments like how her friend ruined her life, she's just like everyone else, cutting her down, and btw, she doesn't like what's his name anymore because she realized she isn't good enough for him.
I tell her that I don't think it's a good idea for her to give her friend the letter, that she will regret it. But I don't expressly forbid her to, because I want her to make the decision. Well, apparently she then writes an additional letter, and GIVES THEM BOTH TO HER!
My first knowledge of this is when I come out of a meeting and my cubicle neighbors say, boy, your phones were blowing up while you were gone. I look at my cell. 5 missed calls and one message. I have a message on my work phone. And it starts ringing. It's E, crying hysterically. I calm her down, tell her I'm about to leave anyway. Then I listen to my voicemail on my cell. It's the friend's mom. Now, this woman doesn't like me, and I don't like her, for reasons that would fill another post. But she leaves this message saying that they apparently were having a fight, that E had written two letters that were deeply disturbing and she thinks for right now E shouldn't call or text her daughter. Which I completely and totally agree with.
So I call E and tell her this and tell her we will talk when I get home. Meanwhile she is chatting with another friend on Skype when the girl jumps into the chat. So E says, I have to go. And the girl says, please don't be mad at me, etc. and E says, your mom called and asked me not to call or text you and my mom wants me to not talk to you for awhile, so I have to go.
That's when I got home. And we had to leave right away for the doctor. After the doctor, I drop E off at Youth Group, come home and I have a message. This time it's from the friend's dad, who is a pediatrician. So we'll call him Dr Dad. Well, Dr Dad leaves this message asking me to call him regarding these deeply disturbing letters. So I do. And he says, well, I'm just really concerned about her and want to make sure she is in some sort of treatment. Now, I know my daughter. Those letters were mostly manipulative. She was trying to elicit a sympathetic response. And yes, she was devastated. But this is not the response he is looking for. So I tell him she has just started some ADHD meds and they are messing with her emotions (which I WAS told could be a side effect). I also tell him I think time apart might be a good thing for them. And he agrees.
I talk to Emma about it, she dissolves into hysterics because now her friend's parents hate her (dramatic much?). Finally get her calmed down and into bed about 11.
Then I picked up Jenny McCarthy's new book and laughed for about an hour. God I needed it.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
How to use unemployment time
Unemployment - the chance to totally overschedule yourself to prove your self worth and make you wonder how you ever had the time for a job anyway. I have thrown out/donated 8 (yes 8) large bags of stuff. And I'm only half way through the house. Emma would help if she could, but she has tendonitis in her foot and can't walk. Yet she still does what she can. Shannon has perfected the scowling/sullen/I'm 13 and totally uncooperative look. But it's probably for the best, because now I don't even need to ask her opinion on anything I toss.
So soon, everyone is invited over to my clean house, cause it won't last!!!
So soon, everyone is invited over to my clean house, cause it won't last!!!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Here we go again
Looks like I will have plenty of time to write. My office is closing July 31. Already got my first rejection. The job would have been so perfect. Right down the street, the hours were so perfect, starting late enough so I could take my kids to early morning events at school and getting off early enough to pick them up from after school activities.
Oh well.
Oh well.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
No way
There is no way this surly, insolent, rude, demeaning, demanding, selfish 13 year old is the child I gave birth to.
No way.
Nope.
Uh uh.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Really??
Conversation at work.
Me: Where do you suppose pimentos come from?
Co-worker: The red things in olives?
Me: Yeah
Co-worker: Don't they just grow in the olive?
Me: No.
Co-worker: Are you sure?
Me: Yeah.
Co-worker: Well, I don't know then.
Wow. Thank God for Google. Turns out it's a sweet pepper in case you're wondering.
Me: Where do you suppose pimentos come from?
Co-worker: The red things in olives?
Me: Yeah
Co-worker: Don't they just grow in the olive?
Me: No.
Co-worker: Are you sure?
Me: Yeah.
Co-worker: Well, I don't know then.
Wow. Thank God for Google. Turns out it's a sweet pepper in case you're wondering.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Another lesson learned
So the kids are fighting while we're getting ready for church. I just can't take it anymore, yell at them and go into my room to get ready. I shut the a little harder than I need to, but I just can't stand the bickering. I realize the shirt I want to wear is in the dryer downstairs. Now I'm really aggravated. Walk over to the door, turn the handle and pull. And pull again. And again. Begin to shake door violently when I realize I am now trapped in my room. I yell for the girls, but no one can hear me because Shannon is blow drying her hair.
I begin to pound on the door until they hear me. They come to the door, I explain the situation, and apparently they think I am incompetent and cannot open a door because then they try it. And shocker, it still doesn't open. I have them go get a butter knife and slide it under the door. I try to get the knife in I can push back the latch while pulling and the door will pop open. In theory. Doesn't work.
I tell the girls to get the man that lives next door. Then I grab some clothes cause it suddenly occurs to me that I'm standing there half naked. The girls come back and tell me he can't help, he's in the shower. Great. I'm going have to call 911 to come get me out of my bedroom cause I'm an idiot. Well, there's no way I'm going to do that. I do have some pride.
So I stop and think for a minute and figure if it won't work pulling, maybe if I PUSH while trying to wedge the knife in, I'll be able to get it in far enough to pop whatever is stuck loose. And it actually works! Turns out it is part of the latch assembly. The tube that slides into the door, holding the latch, somehow broke free and slide out just a little bit. None of my doors have striker plates, so it's kind of surprising it's never happened before.
I can tell you one thing. I'm not closing that door again.
I begin to pound on the door until they hear me. They come to the door, I explain the situation, and apparently they think I am incompetent and cannot open a door because then they try it. And shocker, it still doesn't open. I have them go get a butter knife and slide it under the door. I try to get the knife in I can push back the latch while pulling and the door will pop open. In theory. Doesn't work.
I tell the girls to get the man that lives next door. Then I grab some clothes cause it suddenly occurs to me that I'm standing there half naked. The girls come back and tell me he can't help, he's in the shower. Great. I'm going have to call 911 to come get me out of my bedroom cause I'm an idiot. Well, there's no way I'm going to do that. I do have some pride.
So I stop and think for a minute and figure if it won't work pulling, maybe if I PUSH while trying to wedge the knife in, I'll be able to get it in far enough to pop whatever is stuck loose. And it actually works! Turns out it is part of the latch assembly. The tube that slides into the door, holding the latch, somehow broke free and slide out just a little bit. None of my doors have striker plates, so it's kind of surprising it's never happened before.
I can tell you one thing. I'm not closing that door again.
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