Crazy Mama of 3 in Louisiana

I Know, I know it's been a while! But you have to read these two books!

2010-04-22T22:22:00.007-05:00

So I am on the committee that creates the list for the Louisiana Teen Readers Choice Awards and these are two books under consideration right now. LOVED both! First up, Iron Heart: The True Story of How I Came Back From the Dead. As you maay have gleaned from the title, this book is non-fiction. Six weeks after his high school graduation, Brian Boyle was in a near fatal car crash that he survived most likely because of his great physical shape due to swimming and body building. He woke up two months later, having no recollection of the wreck (where his car was t-boned by a dump truck on the driver's side) and unable to move but can see and hear. Put in a medically induced coma, because the pain would have been too much to bear, he lost 60% of his blood, shattered his pelvis and ribs, his heart waas moved to the other side of his body and all of his internal organs were damaged in some way, in addition to nerve damage on the left side of his body on the side of the impact. The gut wrenching account is his story from the time he woke up in the hospital to the point where he completed the Iron Man Triatholon 3 1/2 years later (2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking, 26 miles walking) after being told it was highly unlikely that he would ever walk or swim again! Very inspiring story!

Next is WinterGirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. Anderson's book, Speak, was a Printz Honor Book (the Printz Award is the equivalent of the Newberry but for Young Adult Lit). She tends to deal with tough subjects and this one is no different. When the story opens, 18 year old Lia is coping with the death of Cassie, her best friend since she was 11. When they were 12 they made a pact, to be the thinnest, really it was more of a bet. Throughout the following years, each dealt with their own demons. Cassie was bulimic, Lia, anorexic. This is a very scary novel for parents with young daughters, but very timely. To get inside the head of an anorexic is heartbreaking. A must read!

Linger Arc Giveaway

2010-02-15T11:26:00.004-06:00

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

Linger Arc Giveaway

2010-02-15T11:26:00.001-06:00

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Because I need to read this book NOW and not in July, I am entering, this is my entry!

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

The Lovely Bones

2009-12-13T21:25:00.009-06:00

"My name is Salmon, like the fish. First name Susie." So begins The Lovely Bones. Released in 2002, I had been hesitant to read it, especially after my children were born. All the reviews I had read were positive, but when I saw " fourteen year old girl" and "murdered" I decided against it. I just cannot stomach books about children dying, especially murdered. But people kept telling me I needed to read it and after seeing the preview for the movie, I decided I definitely needed to read it before the movie came out and I am glad I did. First of all, the murder is not the central theme of the story. There is an element of thriller in it, but ultimately this story is about relationships and how one incident can alter them forever. Susie's murder is the catalyst; the real story is how her murder affects the lives of those around her. Her mother, who gave up her own dreams when she became pregnant with Susie. Her father, who struggled with the unbearable grief of losing his first born and giving enough of himself to his surviving children. Her sister, who not only had to fight against the stigma of being the sister of "the murdered girl" but also deal with the loss of her best friend. Her brother, who at four did not fully understand what was happening, but whose life was forever altered by the affect Susie's death had on those around him.
I think the scenes that affected me most were those involving Lindsey, Susie's sister. That bond they had, that was irrevocably broken, heartwrenching. The trailer for the movie intrigued me, but it also did not touch on what the theme of the story is--healing. The old adage that time heals all wounds is cliched but true. Her death pulls them apart, but makes the characters realize what they truly lost. In this, Susie is simply the medium.

A Change...

2009-11-11T10:15:00.007-06:00

Well, it has obviously been awhile since I have updated this blog. I really haven't felt the need to post anything since, for the most part, I vent my frustrations, happy thoughts, challenges on facebook. It is so much easier (and addictive!) So I am going to change up what I write here just a bit. Instead of writing about me, I am going to write about books that I am reading/have read recently and my thoughts on these books. I have been reading a lot of YA lit recently (starting with Twilight) and then some not so YA Lit (Sookie). My reading has picked up tremendously recently because I am on the committee for the Teen Louisiana Young Readers Choice Award (or LYRC) and we now have a faculty book club at school.

So what to write about first? Well, I think it goes without saying I LOVE Twilight (that is probably an understatment!) but I recently read a book that I think surpasses that. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (pronounced Steve-Otter). Here is a snippet of what it is about from her site.

"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. "

It's different than Twilight (wolves not vampires) but the same (forbidden love). Her writing is simply beautiful. I think it is better than Twilight in many ways but at the same time, it invokes many of the same feelings, longings, desires.

I liked it so much, I purchased her first two books (Shiver was her third novel) without reading anything about them. Lament and its stand alone sequel Ballad (stand alone because it takes one of the secondary characters from Lament and makes him the protagonist. You don't necessarily need to read Lament to understand Ballad, but it helps.) If you are interested in learning more about these books and the author, her site is www.maggiestiefvater.com. She has a blog that she updates almost daily if not every other day, FAQs and information on each of the books. Oh, and if you do read Shiver and on the last page you are like "PLEASE GOD TELL ME SHE DID NOT ENED THE STORY THIS WAY???" Fear not! The sequel, Linger, comes out in July.

That's my two cents for now...

Thursday...

2009-03-12T10:09:00.001-05:00

Well, I guess I should update the blog since it has been 2 months since I did it last! The big thing that has happened is that we sold the house! Yay!! But Had to take a loss! Boo!! I'm just ready to be done with the whole thing. The packing is slow going. It is hard to try and decide what to pack when you are not moving directly into your new home! Plus I ran out of packing materials, so I couldn't finish the kitchen. But tonight, I am bringing a whole bunch of old newspapers home from work so I should be able to finish the kitchen, save for the food, and move into the dining room. The goal is to have everything packed and stacked in the garage by March 21st so that we can have a bunch of friends come and help us and get everything moved in like 3-4 big trips. We close on the 27th. The bad thing that happened was when they did the inspection, they found "multiple issues" with one of our AC units. We have 2, one was replaced last Easter and the other one went kaput last week. Of course, this is our luck so the damn thing couldn't wait until AFTER we signed the papers to break. So we basically HAD to sell it and take some off the price, otherwise we would have to dish out $3000 to buy a new AC!! Why are the gods INTENT on making my life miserable!!
Anyway, so basically just packing and dealing with sick babies!!Em has had one thing after another since January! First an ear infection, then the puking bug, then she was just REAL lethargic for a few days. Then she gets fever last week, the coughing started Saturday, Tuesday she complained about her ear hurting again, so I went ahead and took her in. She now has an infection in the OTHER ear, the first one is fine. Plus the dr said she had a wheezy cough so she is taking Zertac, some antibiotic that I can't pronounce so the name escapes me (I think it is ceszophil?) and an inhaler. The inhaler is the funniest thing, she loves it. How I go from Claire who absolutley DETESTS medication, to Em who requests it regularly, I have no idea!

That's it for now!

Randomness...

2009-01-19T10:03:00.003-06:00

I just saw this on PostSecret. It makes you think, and a little sad.

"I didn't become a heroin addict because you failed as a mother...

I became one because I failed as a daughter."

I know that is depressing but it just, I don't know, put things in perspective a bit...

Not much...

2009-01-14T08:01:00.004-06:00

Well, It has been over a month since I had anything to say. I usually just go to facebook; it doesn't take as long to put a status up! Christmas was nice, but as always, not relaxing! Too many places to go. I just one year everyone would come to us! The girls got their bikes which they were happy about until Bear realized Pixie's bike had a box with 3 buttons that played different songs. Of course, she then started crying! Jerry attempted to teach Claire how to ride a two wheeler. It was comical let me tell you! She is just not interested in doing it and the way he was trying to show her made ME confused so I can only imagine what it did to her!

Today, I am way tired. I am so tired when I get home, but by the time I go to lay down, I am wired can't fall asleep til after midnight and then one of the kids wake me up! Damn! I thought about getting a massage or my hair colored this weekend but I just want to sleep in! You know till six!

I got an ipod nano for my birthday so I have been playing with that and i love it! So does Bear so I guess that will be her birthday present next year. Maybe something more like a shuffle. She is starting to notice her friends that have their ears pierced but I told her not until she is 6 and that is if she remembers! She doesn't mention it that often so I may be able to wait a bit longer.

5 weeks until Mardi Gras!!! 17 weeks until schools out!! That is too far! Of course Easter is sandwiched in there so it will make it bearable!

Is It Christmas? Really?

2008-12-06T09:17:00.003-06:00

I don't know why, but I don't feel like Christmas is just a few weeks away! Probably because I am a SEVERE slacker and haven't gotten any of my Christmas stuff down and have no Christmas shopping done! We don't even have a tree! I know, I suck! And of course we have THREE birthday parties this weekend! Ok, really two. Jerry is taking Pixie to one today and I am taking Bear to one and the J's party for both of them tomorrow. Sometimes it seems like our life is an endless string of parties and gatherings! I just want to go to bed! And right now, I am "monitoring" the library for the placement test at school. I say "monitoring" because it's not like I am actually doing much of anything! Watching parents who are waiting for their kids to take the test! So I sit here...and wait! Fun Times! I also have a headache being that I drank too much last night and was still a bit tipsy when I woke up at 6:30!!!

So other than party central not much going on. I am still obsessed with Twilight! Going to see it again tomorrow with Jen for "my birthday"! Yes, I know! My birthday is not for another week, but damn it! I want to see it again so I will come up with any excuse! And then I promise I won't see it again until the DVD comes out and then my obsession will begin anew! I am very ready for Christmas. Just a full week of school, then a week of half days for exams and then Christmas. Not looking forward to my birthday. Celebrating...yes. Actually turning 34...not so much! Altough I have to say, I am grateful that I am vain as I am (really not much, but just enough!) after looking at some of these moms waiting for their 13 year olds to take this placement test. They look really OLD and I think it has more to do with that they obviously DO NOT take care of themselves. I really hope I don't look like this in 10 years!

Sorry, that was bitchy and I am sure I will be punished in some way for that comment! Karma is a bitch! Anyway, another hour! I guess I need to go and re-read Eclipse!

You know you're from Louisiana when...

2008-11-27T20:55:00.001-06:00

You know you're from Louisiana when...
-Your sunglasses fog up when you step outside, even in December.

-You reinforce your attic to store Mardi Gras beads

-You don't look twice when you see pink flamingos in yards of nice subdivisions during Mardi Gras.

-You save newspapers, not for recycling but for tablecloths at crawfish boils.

-Your ancestors are buried above the ground .

-You drink Community Coffee, have tried Starbucks, but don't see what all the fuss is about. (YEAH!!!)

-You take a bite of five-alarm chili and reach for the Tabasco.

-Every once in a while, you have waterfront property .

-You sit down to eat boiled crawfish and your host says, 'Don't eat the dead ones,' and you know what he means.
-You don't learn until high school that Mardi Gras is not a national holiday.

-You push little old ladies out of the way to catch Mardi Gras beads.

-Little old ladies push YOU out of the way to catch Mardi Gras beads .

-You believe that purple, green , and gold look good together.

-Your last name isn't pronounced the way it's spelled.

-You know what a nutria is but you still pick it to represent your baseball team.

-Your town is low on the education chart, high on the obesity chart and you don't care because you're No. 1 on the party chart.

-Your house payment is less than your utility bill.

-You know that Tchoupitoulas is a street and not a disease.

-Your grandparents are called 'Mam-Maw' and 'Paw-Paw.'

-Your Santa Claus rides an alligator and your favorite Saint is a football player.

-You cringe every time you hear an actor with a Southern or Cajun accent in a 'New Orleans-based' movie or TV show.

-You have to reset your clocks after every thunderstorm.

-You're walking in the French Quarter with a plastic cup of beer.

-When it starts to rain, you cover your beer instead of your head.

-You've eaten at one or more of these restaurants, AND know how to pronounce them: Prejeans, Tu Jac 's, Gallatoire's, Ralph & Kacoo's, Brunet's, or Mulatte's.

-You eat dinner out and spend the entire meal talking about all the other good places you've eaten.

-You call home just to find out what your momma'nem are having for supper tonight.

-You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Louisiana

Update...

2008-11-13T10:03:00.002-06:00

So not much going on. Bear is now 5!!! I can't believe how big she is getting and of course I am the mean and nasty mama! Her words! God, I can't wait til they get in high school!!! It is going to be awesome!!! So, I have read Twilight 2 times now, and the parts that I like in the other books several times. I read all 4 in a week; I have become quite obsessed! I even got my friend at work addicted and SHE convinced me to go the midnight showing next week! Yea! We are nuts!!! Oh well, I have to be a little crazy every now and then! Of course, the fact that there will most likely be a bunch a crazy teen girls there is not making me happy. I am hoping that their parents tell them they can't come since it is a school night! :) So, not doing much this weekend, probably going to see the new James Bond movie, LSU game, and maybe a carnival. And then it will be Thanksgiving time!!! Where has the time gone!

Anyway, gotta go. We have Open House tonight so I am going to be here till like 10!

Love this pic of the mermaids!

2008-11-06T23:22:00.003-06:00

I'm sorry in advance, but I love me some Amy Poehler...

2008-10-19T08:39:00.001-05:00

Funny!

2008-10-16T09:59:00.002-05:00

Someone at work forwarded this link to me. You have to read all the posts. If you were born after 1989, chances are you won't get most of these! And it's not political!

http://texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=1263589&page=2&forum_id=6

We're Done!

2008-10-13T23:11:00.001-05:00

Smile!

2008-10-13T23:10:00.000-05:00

Is It Just Me...

2008-10-10T20:46:00.002-05:00

Or is that Sprint commercial where the girl, "thinks she is in love with a phone" is a tad bit disturbing? I want to pull my hair out everytime I see it!

New favorite show, The Ex-List; Fav I don't want to admit I watch...Ghost Whisperer! I'm addicted! Anywho! Got to get ready to go to Pennington...AGAIN! In the chamber...for the Florida game. Luckily, no more clinic visits for 6 months!! Whoo Hoo!!

Y'all are Going to Begin to get Sick of this...

2008-10-05T06:32:00.004-05:00

Ok, I know! I need to stop puting these up, but I was laughing so hard while I was watching it I started crying! It is hilarious!!! And so spot on with how each of the canidates actually did. The fact that neither of them would actually answer the questions; the responses at times were so off the wall! You HAVE to watch the whole thing, even if you didn't watch the debate (I only watched parts) or even if you don't know a lot about the race! Hilarious!!Queen Latifah was so hilarious as the moderator! The looks she gives them sometimes! Classic!

Thought Provoking...

2008-10-04T22:14:00.000-05:00

I was reading an article about the victims of Ike in Galveston, those that died. This is a clip from an article about one woman who stayed. She realized too late she had made the wrong decision; a thought she relayed in a phone call to a friend when the water was lapping around her feet. Too me that has just got to be the most horrible way to die: alone by the ocean where the likeihood that you will be washed out to sea is so great and that your reamins would never be found. So sad...

"Gail Ettenger stumbled upon her house in Gilchrist by accident. But once she saw the site on the bay side of Bolivar Peninsula, she knew she would never leave.

Ettenger, a native of New Jersey, instilled the house with her own energy and style. The 58-year-old's garden bloomed with vibrant birds-of-paradise.

And Reba, an 11-year-old Great Dane hobbled by arthritis, was her baby. Ettenger loved to treat the dog to dinners of chicken and roast beef, recalled JoAnne Burks, Ettenger's neighbor and close friend.

Ettenger, a chemist at ExxonMobil, didn't evacuate, reasoning that her house had weathered Hurricane Rita in 2005 without a problem. She also did not want to leave Reba, who could no longer climb into Ettenger's Jeep.

Burks and her husband pleaded with Ettenger to change her mind. But she insisted.

Hours before Ike made landfall, Ettenger knew she had made the wrong choice. She called Burks and described the water pushing up under her feet, the propane tanks and other household items drifting by her windows, and wondered which would float better: her Jeep or her house.

Her voice was shaky with fear, Burks said.

Burks spent the next 10 days searching for her friend, calling local, county and state officials without success. She tried the American Red Cross, FEMA, even private investigators.

"I didn't want her to wind up like the victims of Katrina, who were never found or identified," Burks said.

Ettenger's body was found Sept. 23, tossed on a debris field in a Chambers County marsh about 10 miles from her house.

Amid the muck and remnants of homes, Burks found a pink leather collar. The name Reba was spelled out in rhinestones."

Where is the Pumpkin?

2008-09-30T05:40:00.003-05:00

Multiple Choice:
You buy a pie pumpkin, where is the most logical place to find it in your house when you have a 3 year old and a 4 year old?

a) The kitchen, of course silly!
b) The refrigerator. Your daughter thought it needed to be with the apples and bananas or it would get scared!
c)The hidden compartment in your child's stepping stool in the bathroom...along with the handle for a toy golf club, two wet wash rags, the cup for water in the bathroom and the hair brush you have been looking for the past 2 days!

You decide!

From the Superficial...Right on!

2008-09-29T11:02:00.001-05:00

"Rare Soapbox Moment: I almost feel wrong writing about Paul Newman on this blog. The guy wasn't a celebrity; he was a fucking ICON. Working his way up from a small Ohio town, Paul was renown for his acting chops as well as his disdain for Hollywood "rubbish." After he grew weary of the movie business, Paul spent the latter part of his life giving literally millions of dollars to sick kids which puts him light years beyond the spoiled assclowns I cover on a daily basis. You know, the ones who pop out of their mothers' hedge-fund vaginas and expect the world to be served to them on a silver platter - along with a reality show. Paul Newman forged his own path with PERSEVERANCE and TALENT then selflessly gave back ten-fold. They simply don't make badasses like that anymore, and hats off to the handful of celebrities who've been inspired by his generosity. The rest of you, I hope a zebra shits on your foot.

Paul Newman, my coffee mug is raised to you, sir. Rest in Peace."

CONGRATULATIONS JENN!! OR SHOULD I SAY MRS. KNIGHT!!!

2008-09-29T10:07:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to say congrats to my good friend, Jennifer who got married yesterday!! Hope Tahoe is beautiful and y'all are having a glorious time! Love you and can't wait for you to return to the madness at school! Of course, by the time you see this you will probably be back but just wanted to say I was thinking about you!:)

THe Word of the Day Is...

2008-09-27T07:30:00.000-05:00

Fundamental...

Political Funny...

2008-09-19T05:18:00.000-05:00

Monkeys!

2008-09-14T17:32:00.003-05:00

Here is a cute pic of the cousins from our "evacuation" to Lafayette!

Hurricane funny...

2008-09-13T23:14:00.002-05:00

Ok, no! We all know by now that they are not funny, but this is HILARIOUS! Last night a guy on the weather channel was talking about this guy in Surfside Beach (population 805) that decidied to stay and called it stupid b/c all the houses were on stilts and he was facing certain death. The guy survived. Here is a snippet from the AP about him.

"In Surfside Beach, retired carpenter and former Marine Ray Wilkinson became something of a celebrity for a day: He was the lone resident in the town of 805 to defy the order to leave. Authorities found him Saturday morning, drunk.

"I consider myself to be stupid," Wilkinson, 67, said through a thick, tobacco-stained beard. "I'm just tired of running from these things. If it's going to get you, it's going to get you."

He added: "I didn't say I had all my marbles, OK?"

A man after my own heart! Ah, Ray! Where is my drink please?

Dancing Girls!

2008-09-11T20:11:00.003-05:00

So both the girls are into dancing now. Bear wants to pose every chance she gets with anyone in the vicinity. Pixie, not so much! Here are the few pics I could get.

Do I Really Need to Know What Matt Damon Thinks?

2008-09-11T13:19:00.004-05:00

Matt Damon is a moron, and every other damn celebrity who thinks I give a shit about their thoughts on politics! This is an excerpt from an interview in which he talks about vice-presidential nominee, Sarah Palin: "You do the actuary tables, there's a one out of three chance, if not more, that McCain doesn't survive his first term, and it'll be President Palin. It's like a really bad Disney movie, "The Hockey Mom.' Oh, I'm just a hockey mom from Alaska, and she's president. "She's facing down Vladimir Putin and using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. It's absurd." WTF!!! She using the hockey mom lingo...what?! He is basically saying that if you are not some big politico then you shouldn't be elected and he comes off sounding so ABSOLUTELY moronic, it is almost amusing! It is here www.superficial.com
site, (the video of it) and believe me, he sounds 100 times worse when it is heard than just read. He says something about wanting to know if she thinks dinosaurs were around 4,000 years ago or something. I believe he was attempting to say that he wanted to know if she believed in evolution but it comes across as...basically stupid. I don't care what political affiliation you are, if you are a celebrity--SHUT UP!!! No one cares!!! And apparently the guy who played Robert on Everybody Loves Raymond has said if they are elected he is moving to Canada. Well get on the bus asshole!! How many of these idiots have said that and are still here? All them! They don't want to live in Canada or anywhere else because they have it good here and they know it. Just my two cents:0

Ok, Everything Back to normal...Almost!

2008-09-08T07:09:00.003-05:00

So we got power back on Friday evening, thank God b/c it was miserable yesterday! High was in the mid 90s! As you could tell by the previous post, I was a bit aggravated! I had gone to Lafayette with the kids, mainly b/c there wasn't much I could do here! We had no damage, just debris in the yard, I was sick and the kids were going stir crazy! We had no indication when the power was going to come back on, they kept giving us a REALLY long estimate and I couldn't get cell service to save my life!!! Forget calls coming or going! It would go straight to voicemail and I couldn't access my voicemail because I couldn't call my own number much less anyone else's! I could only text and even that took about 4 times before it would go through! So needless to say, I was a bit frustrated and the kids were driving me crazy if y'all can believe that!

So this weekend was fairly normal except 50% of the city STILL doesn't have power! We had an abbreviated mass yesterday b/c the church had no power, which apparently, many of the churches still didn't have it! We don't know when the kids are going back to school b/c there is still no power! The Catholic schools are meeting today to decide what to do. The public schools are out until next Monday. What sucks is that we have to make it all up!!! It sucks:( Claire is actually at an age where she enjoys school (although she hasn't asked about it!) and this would happen right now! And here comes Ike!!! I am seriously praying that he goes to Texas! Sorry Comeaux family! I can't handle another storm!!

New Orleans is Safe...Whoop Dee Doo!!!

2008-09-04T15:52:00.002-05:00

I hope my level of sarcasm is evident because that is all the national media seems to have gotten from the f'ing storm. How about this-the majority of Southern Louisiana doesn't have power. This is the worst storm East Baton Rouge Parish has had at least since Betsy and all the national media has to talk about- how great Sarah Palin's speech was. Well, sorry, I missed that SINCE I HAVEN'T HAD POWER SINCE 10:19AM MONDAY MORNING!!!!!! I don't give a shit about Sarah Palin, John McCain or Barack Obama. I don't care about how sexist the media is being towards Mrs.Palin, how great it was for Beyonce to gain 20 lbs for a movie role...I DON"T HAVE POWER and the it sucks!!! It slammed us hard but it is just wonderful how the levees held isn't it? Whatever. The media is so sensationalistic now, I am not surprised they have moved on. Who wouldn't? It is really not that interesting now, is it?

It is the end of the world...

2008-09-03T16:33:00.002-05:00

Ha! Sort of! Well, unlike what you may have learned from the national media, BR got HAMMERED by this storm!!! We are like way inland, not on the coast, and got completely pummeled by this storm. 100 mph winds, INSANITY! My in-laws house, which weathered Katrina just fine, had 6 trees down in their yard!! Several bounced off the house, one landed on it. Needless to say they will have some major reconstuction to deal with. We were very luckly, however, NO power!!! And they say 1/2 the city will be out of power for 3-4 WEEKS!!! We are out of school till Monday and I went to Lafayette, which if you know South LA, you know that is amusing b/c they are closer that we are to the gulf but have power! Anyway, just wanted to update y'all and let y'all know it is real bad down here but we are all ok!

Peace.
A

It is now raining:)

2008-08-31T21:11:00.001-05:00

Craziness...

2008-08-31T19:39:00.005-05:00

Well, here we go again! I say that but unlike my sister and brother-in-law, I didn't have to go anywhere! THe hurricane is heading our way, and we are on the eastern side of it which is BAD!! We are off at least thru Wednesday, maybe longer if we don't have power. It is funny because I have lived here my whole life, and the threat of hurricanes is constant! Andrew hit when I was a senior and other than Katrina and Rita, there were no other storms in my lifetime that were this bad. They always looked like they were coming this way but shifted and went to Florida or Texas. Katrina was the first one to do any real damage since Andrew and it was BAD! I have grown up going to New Orleans several times a year, if not once a month. My husband and his siblings basically grew up there. To go to this city, 6 months later and see homes that were once in well off neighborhoods, literally moved into the middle of the street by the flooding and still there, in the middle of the street! House had spray paint on them where emergency workers had gone in, checked for bodies and spray painted zero if no bodies were found. so many traffic lights were still not in operation, just really surreal. And the rest of the country seems to forget about Rita just 6 weeks later. It decimated the southwestern part of the state, really. Even the local news turned a blind eye to it. I did not realize the extent of the damage until I passed through it a year later and it was just coming back. Now another bad one! In my first 31 years, 1 major hurricane in the 3 years since 3 major ones!! What is going on!!

Anyway we are patiently waiting to see what to expect, hopefully more good news than bad. It is weird because we have been experiencing the media onslaught for so many days that it feels like nothing is happening, that we are getting worked up for nothing! Will give updates in the morning!

Bear's a Big Girl Now!!!

2008-08-12T06:25:00.002-05:00

So Bear started big girl school yesterday and had a great time. Her teacher sent a note home saying she had a great day and you ask Bear and she says it was fun, she has a new friend Kourtni she had lunch but she can't remember any specifics! I need to bring a video camera in her book sack, I swear. I will upload more pics later, but here is one at home. She was SUPER excited...and now has to go to little girl school for a day before she goes back! And I did not cry!!! I was so proud od myself!

A

2008-08-05T16:53:00.002-05:00

Go right now and rent P.S. I love You!!!! Just do it!!! AND YOU WILL CRY!!!!!!!! So go get the klenexx NOW!!!

Ruminations...

2008-08-05T14:45:00.002-05:00

So I am bad about keeping up with this, partly b/c I usually can't get on the computer without someone yelling about playing pbskids.org or noggin.com (that is exactly what she says, not noggin or pbs kids!) and partly b/c I just am not sure anyone is all that interested in the hum drum existence of our lives!

So I guess I will just ramble. Bear and Pixie finished swim lessons and did awesome. I just wish we could afford to put Bear in craw biters in August. That is a year round swim class for the little ones. I think she would do awesome in it, but unless we sell the house, it won't be possible to do it right now so maybe next year.

On to the job drama. So one of the first year teachers went to administration last year when she found out my co-worker was leaving. SHE CAME TO THEM!!! She wanted to work in the library. She had one class left for her certification (but not her masters), blah blah blah. She quit Thursday! Thursday of last week when we are suppose to start THIS Thursday. Luckily, we found 2 highly qualified people who we interviewed yesterday and were able to choose one of them. She is my age with a 9 year old son and seems very nice.

So today I went to the store (unfortunately I have neither the money nor the calories to purchase beer, but man do I want some! Just finished baking 2 batches of brownies for a function at Bear's school tomorrow. She starts Monday, OMG a school age child!

Anyway, I am trying to watch a movie before the kiddos wake up from their nap.

A

Wrap Up

2008-07-18T07:49:00.003-05:00

I can't believe the summer is in the last third of being over! I go back to work in 3 weeks and bear starts Pre-K the Monday after that. We also had a good time at the wedding, the kids especially enjoyed the reception. Well, I say the kids, Pixie was having one meltdown after the other! But on the whole the dancing, cake and doughnuts proved to be their favorite parts. That and my "beautiful green dress", Tia's (Bear speaking) "big beautiful hair, ("Mama, I never have seen Tia's hair so big and beautiful") and the Mouse dress!

On a different note, Jerry is not allowed to pick the hotel we stay in anymore. I am a bit of a ding dong, and you know, trust that the hotel staff won't rifle through my stuff but in fact, when we went to eat breakfast (since that was the only time I left my purse in the room unattended) they stole my 2 debit cards and my Exxon card. When I got home, there was a charge from McDonald's for $30! Never in my life have I spent that much at Mcdonald's unless it was like for more than 5 people. Not to mention that fact that the only time I went to Mickey D's that week was with Ma Mere and Paw Paw on the way up and Paw Paw was generous enough to pay for it! THen yesterday, I was looking to see if a check had cleared in my separate account and there was a $75 charge at a Sunco station. So I had to dispute all this junk and hopefully will get my money back. Why does all this weird ass stuff happen to me!

So tomorrow it is off to Milwaukee at 6am for Jerry's conference. I am worried about the eating thing but am going to try and relax since I don't have much longer left for that. I am actually going to be in charge and have someone to supervise! I have never had to do this before so it should be interesting!

And I would upload pics of the kids, alas I have no camera! I really hate being broke!

Time For Some Campaignin'

2008-07-16T19:31:00.001-05:00

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Ah, The Things Kids Say....

2008-06-30T12:47:00.002-05:00

Your life is complete after your 4 year old (who just was told she did a good job cleaning up, not a great job like her sister) tells you "You don't love me anymore! You don't love me like you used to!" Ah, kids!

Little Late with the Pics...

2008-06-20T22:56:00.005-05:00

So we have no digital camera due to the fact that some little hands got hold of ours one too many times and dropsys occurred so I had to wait until I sent pics to snapfish to get developed from my film camera( notice I said I had to wait until I sent the film! I am lazy, sue me!) Anyway, here is a pic of my 3year old and the Tinkerbell cake I made. It isn't perfect, but she loved it and being that I only do this like twice a year, I thought it turned out pretty nice!

So I suck!

2008-06-05T22:23:00.002-05:00

Ok, it has been like a month with no updates. I have been super busy and am kind of tired so I will make it quick. School was over on May 22. I am the head librarian next year. I got my test for my certification results back...finally! They said it would take 4 weeks and I got it the day before it would have been 5! I know it was only a week but when I signed up for the test I did not know the head librarian wasn't coming back and it was just another stressor. But it is over now and I am good for 5 years!

I took a week long class last week that basically was like taking a semester class in a week, VERY taxing and intense. It was for Media services for young adolescents, middle school, which is a bit out of my relam but it was interesting and has shifted what I think my focus needs to be for next year. I have so many ideas and I'm not sure if any of them will work. I think I'm just going to concentrate on surviving next year!

Anyway, Bear is done with dancing for the year and Pixie is basically potty trained, wearing panties most of the time thank God! I know have to come up with some fun stuff that doesn't cost anything to do with the kids!

Tired gotta go!

BLAH!!!

2008-05-18T15:08:00.002-05:00

Lord, I AM TIRED! 4 more days of school, and luckily they are exam days which means goin home at noon baby...and studying for my class/workshop next week! I will be officialy jobless for the summer May 31st so I will be looking forward to sleeping till 7 am, that is mostly what I will be looking forward to! I also need to find some cool, FREE things to do with the kids this summer so I guess I will be all over brec and some mom sites to see what is going on! We are so broke and we have two trips to go on this summer, God help me, I am not sure how we will pay for it.

SO quick update, Pixie's party was a success. I went overboard as usual, spent way too much but the kids had fun! Have not gotten my scores back yet for the certification test. Have another week to wait on that. Dam! Kiddos just woke up from their nap and are fighting, gotta go! Oh, and I have no pics of the birthday girl due to the fact that our digital is caput! Will put some up when I send my film to snapfish!

Peace out!

Quick Update...

2008-04-21T22:22:00.002-05:00

Ok, I haven't blogged at all this month!!! Sorry, not much time but a quick update. Girls and I were sick last week, the girls at the beginning, me at the end of the week. Felt like shit Friday and Saturday, but luckily recovered enough to somewhat clean up my house yesterday!! Feeling pretty good today.

STRESSING big time about this certification test I have to take this weekend. It f*&^ing sucks b/c they like expect that your are taking it right out of library school. I'm not and some of the questions are a pain in the ass. I just need a 560 to pass so PRAY FOR ME SWEET GOD PLEASE. I don't know why I am so worried about it b/c I only wanted it so I could maybe run the library but that someday has turned into next year as my co-worker has given her notice!! Did I mention I was stressing a bit.

Only 5 weeks left of school!!!!!!!!!! Woo Hoo! I have to go to bed now so I might function in the morning!!

Oh, and we have a cusser!! Dad watched the girls while I went with Mom to the New Students meeting for Sacred Heart. He said something about their freaking shoes and Pixie corrected him, " No Bampa (she won't say the g for somereason) it is f*&*ing! Great. I swear that is Jerry, not me although I really like that word:)

Tootles!

Doodle and Bear...Too Cute!!!

2008-03-28T08:58:00.004-05:00

Doodle spent the night last night and the girls (mainly Doodle and Bear!) had a blast. THey now have someone who likes to dress up as much as they do! Pixie is not quite up to their level yet! ANyway, they started sleeping in the tent we had in Bear and Pixie's room, but when Jerry went to check on them 30 minutes later (it took 30 minutes for them to stop giggling!) They had migrated to the bed! I had to take a pic, it was so cute!

Another Week...

2008-03-16T21:39:00.006-05:00

Well, I am trying to update at least once a week so here goes. We had a good weekend, St. Patty's Day parade yesterday, party for my friend, Caroline's little girl and then dinner with friends. Didn't get home til close to 11 and still had stuff to do for today, the Graves' Easter since both Jerry and I and Bobbles and Tia are going to our other family's house. I was exhausted when we got home so I rested with the kids and then did what I have been meaning to do for 3 weeks, chunk some stuff from their rooms. Bear is OBSESSED with Barbies, whether they be the Princess barbies or actual Barbies. Our neighbors daughter had outgrown hers so gave the girls a bunch of hers but that combined with the ones she keeps getting were just too much! Got rid of about half of those plus a plethora of stuffed animals before the onslaught from my parents with Easter and Pixie's birthday. I am sure by June I will have to do this again. SO I did that and while picking up looked under the couches. OMG, YUCK!!! Dust all over the place, so I proceeded to spend the next several hours vacuuming and mopping the hard floors. Gonna have to do it anyway for Pixie's party!

So this leads to some goals I am setting for myself. I get so overwhelmed with everything that I don't have time for anything! So here goes:

1. I am going to start Flylady again. I still get the emails, I just delete them b/c I don't have time to look at them but I only half assed did it before. I need to do something b/c typically I try and do it all at once and nothing gets done well so we will see.

2. Go through clutter in the house every 3 months and get rid of it (i.e. garage sale, charity). We have so much stuff we don't need. I have already started this and the garage is getting packed so I think I will have to have one soon! Maybe next week when I am off!

3. Scrapbook at least 2 pages per week per child. I felt like such a shit mom. I have TONS of pics of the girls but nothing to show them. The girl I work with said for each of her kids, when growing up, they would look through their albums on their birthday. Have to get going!

4. Start gardening. I thought this would be a fun thing to do with the kids. I have a black thumb so we will see!

5. Geaux green:) I am really trying, I keep a bag in the kitchen for recyclables and if it has the symbol, it goes in.

6. Learn more about my video/digital/film camera. I want to take better pics of the kids. I see everyone with these awesome pics but I can't seem to mimic them. I will try harder:)

Anyway, that is just the small list! I will add on as needed! Love to all! A

Weekend

2008-03-09T20:38:00.002-05:00

So it is official. Bear will go to school at Sacred Heart. I was so psyched when I got the letter and then she didn't get into to Aloysius but it was all about the fact that we weren't parishoners. I was already wondering what I would say to her if she went to Aloysius anyway. She had gone to visitation at Sacred Heart. It was hard to explain to a 4 year old that she MIGHT go to school here. So we have a new parent supper in April where we get to meet the pre-K staff and get all the info. I am really excited. It is such a good school!

Anyway, I am super psyched about my raise, Jerry is doing well at work so hopefully 2008 will be good for us! The pennington thing is killing me sometimes. One day I will do excellent and then the next I want to eat everything under the sun! I do particularly bad at parties. It is like I just can't help myself! Anyway, have lost around 16 pounds so I feel good except when I eat like crap. I can usually start eating better the next day. Try not to let it frustrate me. I do get tired of not just eating what I want sometimes! For some reason, I really want fried fish right now and God help me with the drinking. I don't necesarily want it, but if I have one glass it just snowballs. Is it wrong to want to drink so much!:)

Anyway, have a great week everyone and I will expect double posts from Mouse this week. How is it that you don't have kids, yet you post less than everyone and get on me for my lack of posts:)!!! Life is not good if one cannot mess with the mouse every once in awhile!

Woo Hoo!!!

2008-03-06T18:16:00.003-06:00

Week is almost over and Bear got into Pre-K!!!! Woo Hoo! Oh, and I am getting a raise next year AND I might be head librarian b/c my co-worker may be moving to Chicago! Abbreviated version...will write more later!!!

I've Been Meme'd!!!

2008-03-02T21:04:00.013-06:00

I have been accused of slacking by mouse (I am sticking out my tongue at you!) and have been instructed to do this. It will probably be boring b/c I mainly post about my kids! Plus I am boring and don't know that many bloggers! If this doesn't make sense I have been up since 7 am church going, park hopping, cleaning, cooking and Easter egg making! It is 9pm Central time and I am pooped! And I don't think I understand this fully b/c I am old...and tired. There is a good reason moi has been slacking of late...NO TIME!!! Here goes!

It’s the "My Post" Meme!

**The Rules**

1. Post about the meme and link back to the person who tagged you.

2. Go back through your archives and link to your five favorite posts.

*Link One: must be about family.
*Link Two: must be about friends
*Link Three: must be about yourself
*Link Four: must be about something you love
*Link Five: can be anything you choose.

Tag 5 other people (2 being people you would like to get to know better)

One: My Family

Ok, I basically just write about my kids so I'll give you this one and this one.

Two: My Friends:

I apparently talk about my kids and just bitch about things b/c I can't find one of these! Working on it. This is the best I can do!

Three: Myself

Ok, this shows how aggravated I can get with stupidity. Sorry, I got nothing! It's not really about me but one aspect of my personality. It makes me laugh when I read it. YES, I am a big dork!

Four: Something I love

How is this and this!

Five: Anything

This says it all, no!

This took me an hour! I have a headache and can't think so I will tag 5 people tomorrow! Love y'all!

Surprising...

2008-02-08T14:22:00.000-06:00

Ok, I'm going to say it. I'm a closet Obama supporter. My husband will most likely flip out, but I like him, I like his message and I LOVE that he has not made this about race but about change. I am attempting to read his first book right now and want to get his second one. Kind of bummed right now b/c I am a registered independant so I can't vote in the primary tomorrow which is a load of shit if you ask me, but whatever. He reminds me a lot of our mayor, Kip Holden who also leads a citizen and not a black citizen. I think to heal the divisions we have in our country, we need someone inexperienced in the ways of Washington, we DON'T need another Clinton in the White House. Does anyone realize that if Hillary is elected, we will have the first co-presidency! Can you seriously see Bill sitting around doing nothing? Don't think so. Bill's ego is too big, he will finagle his way in there! Even my Dad likes Obama, which says A LOT to me! We will see, maybe I will change my mind. Hillary aggravates me with this whole "I have more experience" shit. Last time I checked, she has been a senator since what, 2000 or 2001. He has been there since 2004, not really that big of a difference unless she is touting her run as first lady her experience! There is no way in hell she will be elected. She is way to polarizing. The Democrats should realize that, otherwise McCain will be our next president.

What is My Path?

2008-01-31T11:40:00.000-06:00

I know my four-year-old is listening. But I don't always allow it into my consciousness. I don't want to think about her growing up, but I do. Life is full of these contridictions, and it only worsens when you are a parent. Last night, I was lying in the bed with the girls, I was reading a cookbook and they were watching Pochahontas. I was only half listening; it was at the beginning when she is telling her father about her dream, he is talking about the man that has asked for her hand in marriage and then there is a some dialogue about her path. Which one should she take. Her father tells her she must choose her own path. It goes on from there. Now I am only half listening and then Bear looks up at me and asks, "Mama, what will my path be?" I told her that would be for her to decide and she asked if I would help her and I told her of course, both Daddy and I would help her but she would have to choose the path herself. And the whole time I am like, WHOA! Am I really having this discussion with my four year-old!!?? They are so smart and so intutitive, we really don't give them enough credit. She of course then says she thinks she will be able to find it on her own, without our help. We will see, huh?

Aggravation....

2008-01-28T13:18:00.000-06:00

OK, so I already don't like registering Bear for school! First dumb ass me forgets to get her immunization record. That's OK, I'll just call the doctor's office to have them fax it to the school! WRONG! Doc's office doesn't fax anything (even though the school would take said fax). So I go down there because GOD HELP ME IF I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO A LIVE PERSON AT MY CHILD'S PEDIATRICIAN'S OFFICE. I have to leave a f*&%ing message, which apparently all the operator's think is the nurses line since that is the line that they transferred me to, and guess what?!! I GET TO LEAVE A GD MESSAGE, OF WHICH IT TYPICALLY TAKES AN HOUR FOR THEM TO RESPOND!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I leave a message and then call and realize there is a line specifically for immunizations record. How would I know that? Being that the operator had sent me to the nurses line. This is the recording that tells me they do not fax anything, but hey I can certainly leave a message and they will have it done in 24-48 hours!!!! Shit!!! Registration is only until 2 this afternoon. They did not call me back after an hour so I call Jerry and tell him I am going over there. It is now 9:30. Registration had started at 7:30. Jerry, running late, had forgotten the paperwork at home AND forgot to leave the car seats so my Dad could pick the kids up b/c I have an appt after school. He goes home, gets the paperwork, gets to the school at 8am...and waits 45 minutes to get the forms to fill out. After an hour of filling out paperwork, he turns it and is told she is on a waiting list! There was only one class (THAT IS WHAT I SAID, 1!) of 18 kids and it is a first come first serve basis so the 18 parents WHO SLEPT OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! last night got their kids in, that they were probably (but not definitely) adding a second class and that she would be in that one but we won't know until March or April. Who in the FUCK sleeps outside to get their kid into pre-k! I mean really people!!! This is a school (granted a good one) in EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH!!! Not exactly known for its academic excellence, and it is PRE-K, not freaking Harvard!!! SO in the meantime, I go to the doc's office b/c I have gone and gotten a shot card from them before without calling or filling anything out. She says I'll probably get it today but they tell us...blah blah blah! OK, now I am hearing Charlie's Brown's teacher in my head b/c I am pissed at myself and how stupid the doctor's office is! She sees my frustration (I am about to cry at this point, and this is before knowing that Bear is on the waiting list!) and says it will probably be ready within the hour, they'll call me when it is ready...blah blah blah. I have heard nothing by 11:30. The operator basically tells me all she can do is transfer me she can't page anyone, WHATEVER!!! The place is not that big get somebody on the phone, bitch! (FYI, I did not call her a bitch but I let her know of my happiness and the fact that it takes FOREVER for anyone to call me back, yeah she just transfers me! I hate her!) She, too, directs me to the nurse's line so I leave them a message letting out my frustrations, leave one on the immunization line and then another one b/c in venting my hatred of them on the line (total embellishment of course!) I forgot to leave my number. So Jerry is in the area, goes in, and voila, they have it ready. They knew evil messages 3 and 4 were on their way! HeHeHe!

So I have finally gone through all this shit just to have her on a waiting list! I will be going to the first private school next week! Fun Times:)

Blah...

2008-01-28T08:28:00.000-06:00

It's Monday, which by itself sucks. Jerry is registering Bear for Pre-K today which makes me happy and sad because she is growing up so fast. It has almost been 5 years since I found out I was pregnant with the little bugger and now she is going to big girl school, as she calls it. I can tell it is time b/c everyday she asks, "Mama, am I going to big girl school today?" I don't want her to go to big girl school cause then she will never want to come home cause I such a horrible parent!!:) Ok, I'm not horrible but I feel like when I am at home all I do is cook and clean and yell at them to stop hitting each other and yell at them to clean there room (which, is it just my kids? but it takes about an hour for them to clean up and I have to yell at them the whole time!) I just feel like I don't do anything with them b/c a) I don't have time, b) we have no money to go anywhere and c) I am exhausted most of the time!

And then the whole school thing! So we are registering her at the public school in our neighborhood which is almost free. If we aren't eligible for the free lunch program we have to pay a monthly fee (which has to be cheaper than what we pay in tutition now!) but J seems to think that we may need to keep her there and put her in middle school at a private school. I said no b/c most of the kids at the private school she will go to will have been there since kindergarden and I think it would be difficult for her to make new friends when the groups are already established. If the middle schools are that bad, what makes the elementary ones any better? Should I keep her in pulic until middle school? Other people have told me they were not happy when their parents did that but I am at not sure what to do. I don't know anything about public school! I went to a private one. And then she would have to go to CCD which she wouldn't if she went to a private school. Now the school we are registering her for is a blue ribbon school so it is not the terrible schools that are in the rest of the parish but what if we move? This district is only for this neighborhood! And then she'll get stuck in another school that is crappy! And what if she doesn't test into the gifted program! I don't know what to do!

Stuff...

2008-01-17T12:39:00.000-06:00

2007 Year in Review
1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

Nothing that I can remember...but that is really asking a lot of me right now! I can barely remember what happened yesterday much less last year!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, & will you make more for next year?

Didn't make any, so if I made some for 2009 I think it will be to be a better parent. I pretty much think I suck at it!

3. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Money! No debt.

4. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None come to mind.

5. Did you suffer illness or injury?Other than having the WORST case EVER of strep throat! I had to force myself to eat and anyone who knows me knows I must have been really sick!

6. What do you wish you’d done more of / less of?

More learning in general/ Less worrying

7. What was your favorite TV program?

What the hell is tv again? When I get a chance CSI and Special Victims Unit; I also like Biggest Loser and... crap can't remember the name but it is something like Women's Murder Club(?) that doesn't sound right-Angie Harmon and some other chicks i don't know but who look vaguely familiar and all work in some form of law enforcement (ok one is a crime reporter but the rest have some sort of legal/police/medical job dealing with the criminal justice system!) Of course, I should only watch these myself which as we all know, is virtually impossible! BONES IS AWESOME!!!

9. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Don't really hate as much as next time I see a news story on these people I may take my own life : Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, et al.

10. What was the best book you read?

I think I read 2 books and the names escape me but they were good and it was Evanovich's lastest Plum Mystery and Reich's latest Brennan book---ohhh, just remembered a tv show!

11. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I don't really buy cds anymore...I am such an adult!!!

12. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Don't have one.

13. What kept you sane?

Sleep!

14. Who did you miss?

My grandmothers

15. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

As is indicitive of my life, I got nothing!(That's not a lyric, I really can't think of anything!)

Sorry ok...

2008-01-16T15:42:00.000-06:00

Sorry no posts of late. Been pretty tired, going back to work after having two weeks off and sleeping until 7(yes. I said 7 and that is 7am!) and now having to get up before 6am is caustic to my system.

So the Pennington thing is going well. I have lost a bit more than 14 pounds and if one more person tells me I am too skinny or I need to gain weight I am going to head butt them! I am sorry it is a 2 year program! If I go to far under they make me eat more and it is not like eating too little is my problem! Christmas break was torture and I did horrible! I have just come to the conclusion that I need to be able to eat/drink whatever the hell I want during Christmas b/c I am going to do it anyway! I did bad and felt like I was going to get in trouble with my dietitian but I still ate whatever the hell I wanted!

About to start applying for different schools for Bear. I can't believe she is going to be in Pre-K in just a few months! We are applying to 3 schools, two Catholic schools and 1 public one. The public one is in our neighborhood and is a blue ribbon school so I have no qualms about sending her to it. The only problem is we are mostly likely going to try and sell the house again, this time FSBO and if we move out of the neighborhood, we aren't in that district anymore. The Pre-K program as a whole in our parish is actually quite good. The program was actually if not in the #1 spot, at least in the top 5 of the best Pre-K programs, in the country!! I know, everyone gasp now! An education curriculum in Louisiana is actually not just good, but excellent!!! We would put her in one of the Catholic schools for K-8 though. It is really going to depend on our money situation, quite frankly.

I think that is all for now!

We Are Not All Inbred Morons, I Swear!

2007-12-20T08:04:00.000-06:00

You know I was going to have an opinion about it!!! You know it!!! Anyone that knows me knows how I feel about Britney Spears. She can't sing and her music typically is trite and kind of stupid, which is why mostly young teens liked her the first go round. Everyone blamed K-Fed when she self imploded, but after her sister's news to OK magazine, I think we all know it is not him (even though he is obviously a loser) but the wacked out family genes that played a role in her insane behavior. I mean really, how many times in a day do you really need to go to Starbucks??!!

And here I thought the little sister was a bit more level headed. On one hand, I feel sorry for her b/c there are plenty of 16 year olds that get pregnant every year. I mean if you think they aren't haveing sex, you are stupid. But I would hope that she, being that she does have a job would have been more careful, I mean Hello, birth control!

And then, Mama Lynn's parenting book is now indefinately on hold. Hmmm, wonder why! THis is my favorite quote from the superficial regarding this topic:

"Delayed indefinitely (adj.): Describes a project that will never see the light of day (i.e. cancelled) due to unforeseen, yet kind of predictable, circumstances such as 1. teenage pregnancy. 2. grandchild left overnight at a petting zoo. 3. perpetual vaginal flashing by one’s offspring."

And by the way, not everyone from Louisiana acts this way. Kentwood is practically in Mississippi anyway! Most of the state is pretty embarrased these idiots are from here. I love Lynn's comment that Brittany's behavior is her fault b/c she couldn't be on the road with her while Brit was touring and watch out for her. She had other kids to raise. HELLO!!! Don't let her tour!!!!! This isn't rocket science lady. You either keep her home and only let her tour during the summers when everyone can go and you don't let her do it until she has become a responsible adult (which may have not been possible seeing as who her parents are!!). I mean look at her, panty flashing, not giving a rat's ass about her kids! That is your fault Lynn. You placed yourself above your children and this is what you got. This wasn't about you couldn't be on tour b/c of your other kids. It was b/c you knew she was your cash cow. Has either of these girls ever felt like they had someone who loved them for themselves?? Why did you have children at all??? I saw some show on VH1 a few years ago called DRIVEN, where all the people around the famous person talks about how they got where they are. Lynn actually said, when Brittany was little, like 7 or 8 they would drive fromKentwood to Lafayette 2 times a week so she could take dancing at the best school. Ok, for those of you not from here, Kentwood is like 2 hours away from Baton Rouge and Lafayette is another 1-1 1/2 hours away depending on where in Lafayette you are going. Why are you driving that far for a 7 year old to take dancing, twice a week???!!! B/c you a HORRIBLE stage mom who wants all their money!!!

Ok, enough about that. I have to work!!! My last day before Christmas break. Woo Hoo!!!

Same Old Lang Syne

2007-12-17T08:43:00.000-06:00

Apparently, reading other blog posts, I am a dork! Ok, comment away, at least I can admit this, but something about the following song was sad a sweet and I just loved it! I just discovered who the singer/songwriter was a few months ago and sadly he passed away from prostate cancer yesterday. His name was Dan Fogelberg and he was only 56...too young! But he was popular in the 70s and 80s and I recognize a number of his songs. Look up Leader of the Band. You will recognize it. He wrote it for his dad who was a bandleader. Great songs! They remind me of my childhood just because I can remember hearing them on the radio when I was little.

Anyway, find the song on youtube. They play it at Christmas every year on the radio.

Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling christmas eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve

She didnt recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried.

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged.

We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldnt find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

She said she married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie.

I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasnt sure if I saw
Doubt or gratitude.

She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence
Another auld lang syne...

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
And I watched her drive away.

Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned into rain --

Hilarious...

2007-12-12T15:12:00.000-06:00

Ah, to work in a private school in southern Louisiana. We were told today that we are not having school January 7th (that was suppose to be the day we got back from Christmas Break) and we will be starting school Tuesday Jan. 8th at 8:45am (we normally start at 7:25am) because...ok you have to guess. Maybe I am the only retarded female who actually knows the dates of Bowl games even if LSU is not in them. Yes you guessed it, they have cancelled school because the administration has already gotten calls from parents that their children will be missing school that day because they are going to the BCS National Championship Game! Whatever, I get an extra day off and get to sleep a bit later on Tuesday!

2007-12-12T12:31:00.000-06:00

This is from the Blog, "Because I Said SO". So true and I think, even us working moms can relate!

http://mom2my6pack.blogspot.com/2007/08/i-resign.html

Ramblings...

2007-12-12T11:39:00.000-06:00

So 2 more days, then exams and then off for 2 weeks and 1 day! Ah, sleeping until 7 will be AWESOME! Never in my LIFE did I think sleeping until 7am would be sleeping in!

So, the bebes both have a nasty cough and I am kind of worried because their teacher's kids have all been sick and one of them has walking pnemonia which is all I need! They would get sick for Christmas. I am giving it a few days and if it doesn't get in better, off to the doctor we go, which we so can afford!

My birthday is this weekend, which I don't really want to think about, but will celebrate anyway b/c I need a day for me, damn it! Jerry is giving me a haircut and a pedicure for me bday which will be AWESOME! The kids will be with my dad Friday night and we won't get them back until that afternoon at my Dad's family Christmas party, so a somewhat relaxing morning.

The Pennington thing is going well but people are starting to stay stuff like "your wasting away." Look, I swear I am eating! I mainly eat fruit, both canned and fresh, and veggies (Green Giant have these microwavable veggies that are so awesome and depending on which one between 90-18o calories for the whole box!) I usually have low cal cereal with 1 cup of skim milk and a serving or 2 of fruit for breakfast, a Lean Cuisine/Weight Watcher meal and one of the Green Giant veggies ( I prefer Healthy Weight or Healthy Vision) for lunch and then I basically buy about 5-6 different types of 100 calorie snack bags to much on throughout the day. Dinner is a recipe out of either Cooking Light or Holly Clegg. The key is planning, for me mainly planning my dinners.

Some of the 100 calorie packs I LOVE, doritos, cheez-its, goldfish x-tra cheddar blast, cheetos asteroids. I have also found these wheat stix by pringles that come in different flavors (I have only tried pizza which I love!), Hershey's makes dark chocolate stix for 60 calories, Nestle Crunch and Butterfinger Stix for 90 calories. I have seen the ads for 100 calorie MMs, three musketeers and some other candy I can't remember but haven't been able to find them as of yet. The Warm Delights are really good for 150 calories, but it is not alot. It is enough for a quick chocolate fix for me.

I have lost 15 pounds since Oct.2 so if I lose anymore, they might up my calories, which is fine with me! I got to where I wanted and I know what I need to do to stay there. The next few weeks are going to be so hard! We have a party everyday for the next 4 days and then the loads of junk in the workroom at work! Of course, there is apparently a mouse problem in there so it kind of makes me not want to eat the food left in there!

That's all for now!

Rest in Peace Riley...

2007-11-29T08:41:00.000-06:00

Have y'all seen the case of Baby Grace out of Galveston? The body of a 2-3 year old child washed ashore inside a storage bin at the end of October. The police dubbed her Baby Grace b/c they did not know here identity and being that it came ashore in Galveston, God only knows where the body came from. Well the police publicized a sketch of the precious one, and a woman in Ohio contacted them and said it looked like her 2 year old granddaughter she had not seen since June when her mother had moved to Texas to marry some guy down there. The couple told the police that a social worker from Ohio had come in July and taken the child. After seeing a picture of the girl, the police are positive it is the girl, the mother and stepfather have been arrested and admitted to killing the child in July.

This girl is, sorry, was sooooo beautiful! It breaks my heart to read about this because I do NOT understand how someone could be that cruel to a child! The woman should be thrown in jail for what she has put this child through. The girl's name is Riley Sawyers. They basically beat her over a 6 hour period and when the mother wanted to call an ambulance the husband wouldn't let her b/c they would get in trouble. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO A CHILD!!!!????? She was around Pixie's age and I just look at my Pixie and can't imagine ever having so much rage in me to hurt her or let anyone else hurt her in such a manor!

Rest in Peace little Riley. At least you are no longer in pain!

How Do You Know?

2007-11-27T19:05:00.001-06:00

I'm retarded but I took Bear and Doodle to see Enchanted and I loved it! Here is one of the songs!

Semi-Rant...

2007-11-16T08:55:00.000-06:00

Ok, I am going to complain about ebay just a bit. Well not really ebay, but the MORONS who use it specifically, the IDIOTS who are bidding. Let me explain something to the before mentioned ignoramouses. Don't bid high on something until the LAST SECOND!!! The rest of us are tired of seeing a resonably priced item go out of the roof because some IDIOT is willing to pay $100 dollars (not including shipping) for a GD princess dress that costs you probably $50 in the store!!!!!!!! This is only ok if you live in BFE or someplace else WHERE THERE IS NO DISNEY STORE!!!! NOT CLEVELAND!!!! I just want this damn Jasmine dress for Bear and people keep bidding ridiculous amounts of money for it!!

MORONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Joys of Bear and Pixie...

2007-11-13T09:53:00.000-06:00

Well, I am such a dork! A song come on the radio this weekend called "Stealin' Cinderella" and I turn into a blubbering fool. It is about a guy who is meeting his girlfriend's dad to ask for her hand in marriage and he is waiting in the living room for the dad and sees all of these pictures of her when she was little, "playing Cinderella/riding her first bike/ jumping on the bed looking for a pillow fight/running through the sprinkler with a big Popsicle grin/ dancing with her daddy, looking up at him/". Cried when I heard it, cried when I emailed yesterday and was bawling when I put the girls to bed last night. Jerry thought it was amusing. "Are you pregnant?", he asked laughing! No I am not but I have decided I need 2 more kids, not just one. And he did not argue!

Pixie is talking so much right now and understanding so much! The other day, I called her my little peanuckle, just a random term of endearment I made up when Bear was a baby. From her car seat I hear an indignant little voice, "No mama, I not peanuckle, I pixie!" I also told her later she was wild, and I got the same response, " No mama, I a pixie!!!" She is so full of energy and so precious! I love my Bear and Pixie so much!!

Bear's First Game, Continued...

2007-11-11T09:28:00.000-06:00

So as you can see, Bear had a good time at her first game! I think she enjoyed the fact that she could scream and not get fussed at. Her amusement was tempered, however, by the fact that she WOULD NOT take a nap earlier, so she was ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTED! She took a brief nap in the middle and actually woke up clapping. It was a little long for her liking but she had a lot of fun ad the Tigers whipped it up on the Bulldogs...GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!

Bear's First LSU Game!

2007-11-11T08:23:00.000-06:00

Here is Bear posing as a cheerleader in front of the football field, sort of!

Halloween 2007

2007-11-01T09:21:00.001-05:00

The girls had a good time tirck-or-treating, although Bear (AKA Princess Aurora) was done by the time we made it down our street! She had also fallen down twice, so that may have had something to do with it! Pixie (AKA Minnie Mouse), on the other hand, could have gone til she dropped if we would have let her. They had a blast and I am glad it is over, cause I am pooped...and now have to prepare myself for the birthday party extravaganza this weekend! 2 on Saturday and Bear's on Sunday. No rest for the weary, huh??!!

Random Thoughts...

2007-10-24T09:13:00.000-05:00

I am really tired. Not like mariposa and loud tired, just very...tired. I can't even think of words right now, which kind of sucks since I am trying to write a post! So what has been going on? I have been doing a study at Pennington that lasts 2 years for which I have lost 7 pounds and will earn $6000 over the course of the 2 year period. The study is $5000 and then I am doing a smaller study where I just have to do more medical tests and get another $1000. I have to eat a restricted calorie diet, which hasn't been too bad so far. I have not been starving, my main problem is boredom eating. I have been doing it for a month so I will let you know in about 6 months how I am doing. It takes much planning and fortitude. I have been eating their food for a month and then I start on my own on Monday. I usually get hungry at night, so I have to go to bed so I won't eat anything!

Tonight we are going trick-or-treating at Rae-Rae's work so that should be fun. C is Princess Aurora and E is Minnie Mouse. I just told them about it last night (which means I told C b/c E did not know what I was talking about or did not care!) If I would have told them any earlier, C would asked me for days and gotten mad when we did not go immediately! I am glad the 3-year old year is winding down. Hopefully 4 is a bit more calming!

C is very excited about her upcoming birthday and party, although she told me the other day "Mom, it's taking a long time for my party to get here!" I can't believe she is almost 4! It is so hard to believe that it was just 4 years ago that she was still in my belly. When I told her that she had a typical 4 year old response, "Did you swallow me?!!!" She has already got the eye rolling and the "Uh, MOOOOOOMMMMM!" down REAL good! I thought I had at least 4 more years before that started!

So, I never thought I would say this but I really like Britney's new song but won't buy the record b/c she is SUCH a train wreck! She is totally someone who needs to lose all of her money b/c she is just wasting it and irrevocably damaging her children in the process!

Anyway, told you they were random thoughts. I am still not awake and it is 9:35am! I will try and post some pics of the girls in their costumes tonight!

Oh, E-ooo, You Suck

2007-09-25T19:20:00.001-05:00

For all of you not able to hear the student section at the LSU-South Carolina game! This is a new cheer...sort of! The students also went with F--- Spurrier! I am sorry,too funny!

Sad...

2007-09-20T17:01:00.000-05:00

Getting older just sucks because then you have to deal with reality and unfortunately that includes our own mortality. We had acquaintances of ours lose their son to suicide this summer, a number of colleagues have lost parents but today was even more sad. Jerry's co-worker's
10-year old daughter had a brain aneurysm at school today. She died this afternoon. And it is so scary because that is something that could happen to anyone, its not preventable. Put a fence around the pool, lock all your cabinets, keep small pieces away from the babies, but it doesn't seem to matter. This morning these parents had a sweet, loving ,10-year old daughter; tonight they go to bed with the heartrending knowledge that their only daughter is dead. Go home and hug your kids tonight. I know I am going to...

You know your parenting skills need to be refined when...

2007-06-28T07:19:00.000-05:00

Your child looks at someone's picture online and asks, "Mommy is that T.C.?" Yes as in from Magnum! Ok, so I have been obsessed with Magnum for about a year now and am on season 5. I have NO IDEA why I watch it so much because they are kind of cheesy but I so want to buy them! I know, I am a dork. and the fact that my 3 year old knows who T.C. is is a bit frightening! I swear, that is really the only tv I watch...it just happens to be on DVD where I can watch 4-5 episodes in a row. It got to a point once that every time C saw the little icon for Universal pictures with the music (you know the little short they play before every movie advertising the movie studio?) she would look at me and say, "Mom, are we watching Magum?" (No misspelling, she calls it Magum). Ah kids! Hopefully, her watching of Magnum will not turn her into some crazy psychopathic criminal when she grows up!

I've Been Tagged!

2007-05-16T15:08:00.000-05:00

I've been tagged!
What is tagging you might ask. Well, it is a sort of 'get to know you' game that bloggers play. Now on to theRules:
• Start with 7 random facts/habits about yourself
• People who are tagged have to write their 7 things on their blog
• Then choose another 7 people to get tagged and list their names
• Don’t forget to leave them a comment to tell them they have been tagged and to read your blogHere are 7 Random things about myself:

I REALLY want to learn to play the piano before I die! I hate that I only took it for a year when I was younger and allowed to quit! I should have been forced to take it like my children will be!
I have a tatoo of tweety bird on my lower back and lately have been wanting another one. I also want to get my tongue pierced for some strange reason but I can't because of a) my current employer would have a SERIOUS problem with it, b) my husband don't think it too pretty and c) my mother would have a heart attack mumbling something about self mutilation all the way to the hospital! I need to get a small tatoo somewhere where only I know of its existance! I think I want a fleur-de-lis.
Sometimes, my mind works in rambling thought patterns and my mouth spews them out. They have no connections but I have to say them or I will forget.
I hate it when my house is dirty but being I work full time and have 2 kids, it is ALWAYS dirty! Granted most of it is the kids' toys but still.
If my sink is full of dirty dishes, I go ape shit! It is gross and it attracts bugs, therefore, I have gone on a all out assault on the buggers. My kitchen has to be spotless EVERY night and EVRY morning.
I cuss...A LOT. Like I am worse than a sailor. I think my favorite word is fuck. I really have tried since I have had my kids to stop this language but man, is it hard. I try and not laugh when my child has said certain words, in the correct context. I mean she is 3 and I know it is really bad and I do tell her to stop and put her in time out. I know I need to quit. But I mean sometimes it is just a fuck moment, ya know!
I don't know what I am going to do with myself this summer, 9 1/2 weeks off with no money, SUCKS!

Pink is my Signature Color

High Speed Days

Little Gray Cells

Too Twisted for Color TV

Ok, not seven but I don't know seven people with blogs!

Things to Ponder...

2007-05-10T17:10:00.000-05:00

-that saying that says we spend the two years of our children's lives teaching them towalk and talk and the next 16 to sit down and shut up---SO F'ING TRUE!

-my child can understand more than I realize...so I probably should shut up!

-I HATE ALL OF MY COMPUTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

-I suck at this motherhood thing!

-I would KICK ASS as a history teacher!

-I hate my computer!

-Why people are still so damned ignorant!

-I need to make more money!

I will post more as they come into my discombobulated mind!

WTF...

2007-03-07T09:32:00.000-06:00

Ok, I was reading one of my professional journals and there is a column where people may write in their questions regarding censorship. One of the questions was from a middle school librarian at an affluent private school-doesn't say where. A teacher wants to teach a certain book at school about the bombing of the 16th street Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1965 and an African American parent who is also a lawyer doesn't want it taught b/c SHE DOESN'T WANT HER DAUGHTER TO KNOW THAT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT TOOK PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wha..... I can't even fathom what this person's reasoning is! Like she won't know from stuff like, you know ...school? Black History Month? The World!!!! Seriously, does someone know of a reason not to allow your child to know that this VERY influential and groundbreaking movement took place. I had to read the question like 5 times!

Idiots!

2007-03-07T08:23:00.000-06:00

No not about my job for once, just about stupid people in general. I was looking at a blog that is suppose to be good for reviewing kid lit and the first thing they are talking about is the book Jenna Bush is writing. Why is it ok to bash someone who is only famous because of her parents? The only thing that I have ever heard about the Bush twins is the underage drinking stories. I am sorry. Even underprivilege kids do that! Big woop! But to basically make fun of someone because who their father is, in my mind, is cruel and just plain rude. She was born into money (not her choice), she was born to a doofus (not her choice), and she was thrust into the public eye (not her choice). So what exactly has she done to warrant people making fun of her or her intellect. Seriously, could someone tell me if there is a story about her where she appears to be really stupid. The media always portrays her as the dumb one and Barbara as the smart one but I don't know why.

And why is it that the liberals are always the first to yell at the rich for not doing enough but when they do stuff, unless they are in Hollywood, it is made fun of? She is working as an unpaid ambassador to UNICEF in Panama. What more does she need to do? Shave her head and move to a third world country that needs aid? I am just saying to give the girl a break.

Just 11 Weeks Left...

2007-03-02T15:16:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it but the school year is almost over! Man does time fly! And we actually only have 10 weeks because 1 of those weeks is Easter Break...Woo Hoo!

So I haven't written lately b/c I am super tired when I get home and at work I don't think about it. As irritating as the guys can be sometimes (hello, teenage boys!) they are sooooooooo much better than Connie Francis or the Serial Sleeper. Sure, some of them act like my 3 year old but what male doesn't act like that at least once a day? Really. I'm serious.

So the kiddos are getting too big. E is talking so much, it is hard to believe she will be 2 in May! And we finally have the potty training down with C. As frustrating as it was, everything I heard about it being like a light switch was true. I tried a new tatic with her over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and she had 1-2 accidents a day for about a week and then it was like she had been going on the potty forever. I don't even care about the nightime yet. Give me 6 months of not changing her diapers first before I tackle that obstacle!

Will try and post pics of them soon.

We Love John Mayer!

2007-02-01T08:47:00.000-06:00

So I finally got to see John Mayer in concert and he was AWESOME! Too bad his intelligence has diminished somewhat in my mind by his poor choice of people he spends his spare time with (hint, hint big boobs idiot!). Anyway, had a blast with Hal, hope to do it again...sooner rather than later. And I would be talking to the mouse in this picture!

Ok, Sorry! Her are the Pics...

2006-12-22T20:34:00.000-06:00

I know I suck...

2006-12-19T11:08:00.000-06:00

So, very sorry for the delay but blogger doesn't always work with the filter at school and forget posting anything at home! My children are all consuming. E is such a ball of energy. I am told it is becasue I am a spaz, but I don't think I ever had this kind of energy she has! I don't even remember C having this much energy. Then again when C was E's age, I was preoccupied with a 1 month old so that could skew my memory a bit. We went to a pottery store the other day OMG! The child would go from one thing to the next; play with a toy, take off after a piece of pottery, that gets taken away, go into the room where the items are kept for pick-up, try to climb onto the bottom shelf of a wire cart... and on and on! I am exhasuted just talking about it.

But the kids are good. C is understanding so much now. She remembers what she hears us talking about so we have to watch what we say around here b/c the likliehood of her repeating it is great! E is talking in bits and pieces. She can say puppy, mama, daddy, thank you, please, ball and other things. Just getting so big. Potty training has been ceased for the time being. C regressed when we went on our cruise so I am trying to wait until after Christmas. One of Jerry's cousins who has a 3 year old told his mom he would be 5 until he is potty trained! Love it! Kids are such a hoot.

So here are a few pics. Claire has talked about going to see Santa but when we went to a breakfast with Santa she refused to talk to him. Santa came over Sunday to the Comeaux party at her house and she was so excited! She couldn't wait to sit in his lap! E on the other hand, not liking it so much.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Ramblings...

2006-11-16T13:50:00.000-06:00

Not much going on. We leave on Saturday for our cruise so hopefully some pics to post when we get back! The girls seem to be ok as far as sickness goes (I am crossing my fingers right now!) I, however, caught a cold sitting in the freezing ass cold watching LSU beat Bama! Poo poo on that, have been congested all week! Hopefully the warm weather will cure me!

Is There Something in the Water?

2006-11-09T17:02:00.000-06:00

Dear Lord, has this been a week! First C gets the stomach bug THE DAY BEFORE HER PARTY! Then she wakes up Sunday with congestion but no barfing...this is good. On to Tuesday when she makes the smart choice to stand on a bucket which slips from underneath her and her face lands squarely on the kitchen chair where she begins to bleed profusely! Clean her up, now on to Thursday. Daddy thinks her mouth needs to be looked at by the doctor, mom agrees...she has been acting fussier than normal. Doc says lip is fine, however, (drumroll please!) we have an ear infection. Thank God I am off of work tomorrow. I think I need a drink!

Can you believe...

2006-11-06T13:09:00.000-06:00

I have a 3 year old...and an 18 month old! C turned 3 on Saturday! I can't believe I was pregnant with her just 3 years ago and now she is running around walking and talking! And hopefully I will be able to add Pottying to that soon!

Of course, me in my schizo self had to start planning her party forever ago and had it with Doodle. So what happens, after all the planning and cleaning and cooking, she throws up...the night before...and has fever! God help me I know there are such worse things but I was upset because she had been talking about her birthday party for so long and I was so sad that she couldn't enjoy it. Hopefully next year will be better! Everyone else had a good time though, and LSU won so life was good. And I managed to clean up the house before I went to bed...exhausted! Only 11 days until our cruise, Woo Hoo!

2006-11-04T22:42:00.000-06:00

You Are Miss Piggy

A total princess and diva, you're totally in charge - even if people don't know it.You want to be loved, adored, and worshiped. And you won't settle for anything less.You're going to be a total star, and you won't let any of the "little people" get in your way.Just remember, piggy, never eat more than you can lift!

The Muppet Personality Test

Quote of the Day...

2006-10-20T14:10:00.000-05:00

I still try to buy cute underwear, but not too cute, because what do you think got me into this mess?

--Tina Neidlein

E does NOT like Time Out!

2006-10-19T05:37:00.000-05:00

We started putting E in time out this week. As soon as you set her down in the chair she starts wailing. It is a little funny!

C as Cinderella

2006-10-19T05:31:00.000-05:00

Too Cute!

2006-10-17T22:01:00.000-05:00

E & C playing ring around the rosie. E as Tink! Will get a good pic of C in her costume soon!

Look at my room!

2006-10-17T21:38:00.000-05:00

Pictures of C's room!

2006-10-14T19:08:00.001-05:00

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions.You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

2006-10-11T12:18:00.000-05:00

Well, it seems when I don't have to deal with the loony patrons and nutter co-workers I have nothing to write about! I love this job. We do some work, if not a lot of kids are in at the end of the day, one of us goes home early. Would have never done at the old job b/c we would be going home at like noon everyday!

We did have a bit of sadness this past weekend. One of the seniors was killed in a car wreck, alcohol suspected is what the paper says. He was the passenger not the driver. It was sort of weird because I had just helped this kid last week. From what I have read and heard about him he was a great guy, it is just so sad. This class had another classmate die in a wreck last year, not a good year for the seniors of '07. It makes me really scared of my girls becoming teenagers. C fights with me now about sitting on the potty and when she doesn't want to hear something I am talking about, she just ignores me or starts yelling "STOP TALKING TO ME!" It is funny in a way but at the same time I don't want to be the parent who lost a child at a young age to death or addiction. I just hope I can help her to become a strong indiviual who makes the right choices. Help!

Random Thoughts...

2006-09-22T12:15:00.000-05:00

C loves to tell me something is "bootiful". I was decorating a practice cake for her birthday and she tells me, "That's bootiful, Mom...Looks great Mom.." She is too cute. And then, of course, she wacks E on the head or pees everywhere and it is timeout time!

E is getting such a little personality. She is too sweet but man does she have a temper when she doesn't get her way! She gives sweet kisses and hugs but only when she feels like it, about once a week!

We are currently obsessed with the Little Mermaid.."I need to watch Ariel now, Mom!" I have a feeling I will have this one memorized by the end of the week.

Have no life lately. Been preparing for Claire and Maddie's birthday party! I stress out way to much about these things!

Lazy Day...

2006-09-15T14:27:00.000-05:00

Not much going on today. We've had classes in the library so not much to do. I am just exhausted! Doing so much, I welcome the break of an away game...GEAUX TIGERS!!!! Auburn is going down!

We are attempting to enter the world of potty training and so far C is resisting it at every turn! She is refusing to sit on the potty while at school. I am hoping after a week or two without diapers she will realize she is not getting a diaper. She has been requesting them all week! Help!

OK, will try to do some work...

This is TOO FUNNY!!!

2006-09-08T18:03:00.000-05:00

I just found this on www.thesuperficial.com. It is under the title Ben Affleck gets drunk; picks up TV host. It is HYSTERICAL!!!! I had to share it! It is about halfway down the page. Check it out!

Claire is a Dancer!

2006-08-22T20:50:00.000-05:00

Claire Started dancing today! I was actually tearing her up when I dropped her off! God help me when she starts kindergarden!

Fingerpainting!

2006-08-22T20:41:00.000-05:00

New Adventures!

2006-08-16T20:27:00.000-05:00

Well We have been in school for a week now and I have to say, I love it! I am learning so much new stuff and I am actually working right up until I leave! It is all real interesting stuff and I don't even mind doing the grunt work. I work with J who is super cool. She is very laid back and I think that helps me b/c it makes it easier for me to ask questions. Overall I am having a great experience. Everyone is really nice and I just love it. Ok, my child wants some attention!

Balloons!

2006-08-07T21:18:00.000-05:00

Well, the Balloon Championships were this past week. We went twice in the mornings, once on Wed. and once on Saturday. Unfortunately the nights were rained out but the kids enjoyed themselves.

Work went well today. Faculty orientation was last Thurs. and Fri. and today and tomorrow orientation for the kids, so I haven't had a full real day yet but it went pretty good so far.

Will keep everyone updated.

Busy, Busy...

2006-07-27T20:30:00.000-05:00

So, if you haven't noticed, when not at the library I have no time to blog being that my children are yelling for me. Which I love, except when Claire is screaming for chocolate milk. Unfortunately my two glorious weeks off have not gone exactly as planned being that Sweet Em has gotten diarrhea. Why doe the gods feel the need to do this to the kiddos? Poor baby, she was absolutely miserable Monday with fever and everything and not you would never know anything was the matter except for the 8 poops a day I am changing her!

In other exciting news, crazy, nutter co-worker has been forced to retire! Why oh why could they not have done this two weeks ago when I was still there! That would have been awesome! I just got the word yesterday, her last day is Aug.1! Whoopee! Crazy bio-tch! Of course it was not me that got her fired, but a culmination of things. When you piss off patrons enough that they complain to the asst. head of the library, you are just stupid. She had just been doing it for so long and getting away with it that I think she was actually surprised when someone called her on it. Crazy bitch; see ya, wouldn't want to be ya!

Have to go to bed. Start job on Thurday! Tres excited! Ok, I just realized how old I am. It is Friday night, 10:30 and I am going to bed!! Oh well, I love me some sleep!

Just Some Rambling Thoughts...

2006-07-19T13:52:00.000-05:00

I am just sitting her, reading one of my favorite blogs and I look over so see if she has one of my other favorite blogs listed under her "Bloggers I Adore" header and see mine! I feel so giddy to know that the Happy Villian, my blogging idol has a link to my blog on hers, how cool is that! Ok, probably only cool to the dorky other librarian types who read her blog religiously, but it is an excellent blog so everyone go read hers http://libraryosis.blogspot.com/.

So something that has me a bit perterbed in the news right now is the arrests of the doctor and two nurses from Memorial Hospital in New Orleans. I know, I don't have all the facts; the patients had both a sedative and morphine in their blood that supposedly means that they were killed on purpose, the doc wasn't their doc and theses were critical patients. But something just doesn't sit right with me. I can't place it but I really think these are trumped up charges; that people are pissed because so many patients died and they needed to blame someone. Foti is coming off like an ignorant redneck asshole. I'll tell you who to blame: our glorious governor (Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Jindal!), the idiots who run the Department of Transportation and Development and the Department of Health and Hospitals and the Mr. Chocolate City himself. I liked Nagin before all this crap. He was nobody's lackey as he proved during the governor's election when he backed Jindal. The democrats threatened to freeze him out if he did not support Blanco. That pissed him off, he backed Jindal. Then he lost it after Katrina. I really did not lose faith in him until his stupid chocolate city remarks. My husband's family is from New Orleans, my father's family is from New Orleans; we have roots there and for him to say something as ignorant as that is offensive. Dumbass! But, as usual in Louisiana politics, when you have the choice between two evils, the lesser is the one whose family is not a political dynasty!

Anyway, as everyone can tell, the fault was everyone's. This outcome was continually spoken about since i was a child. People became complacent because every year we were told it could happen, and every year the hurricane went somewhere else. It is really sad. New Orleans is ingrained in me. I never lived there; Baton ROuge is my home but it's history is so vibrant and rich. It hits you as soon as you walk down Canal, or throught the Quater; go to the French Market or walk along the levee. I miss it, and hope the despair might soon be lifted.

Ok, just a rant. TWEVLE MINUTES UNTIL FREEDOM!!! WHOOPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Free at Last...Almost!

2006-07-19T08:27:00.000-05:00

So it is 8:30am, I am here until 2:45 pm and I am bored out of my freakin skull. Nothing to do except look up a subject request for a prisoner that doesn't know how to write sentences. "Book about wilderness area of information on the blank mts. located somewhere in the Rockies cabin is the home to wild horses----WTF*#$!!! Of course, it can't be easy. My last one! Why God Why! That is the actual requests with the punctuation that this individual put in! I guess I shouldn't be so mean. He is in prison and not just any prison, The Farm, but ignorance just drives insane. When you are obviously intelligent enough to speak why can't you learn, not just learn but want to learn. Do you not care that you sound like a moron? Or look like one. I am sorry I don't get the whole pants around the knees thing. Some cop told me it was originally a sign that you had been in prison, I forget what the logic was but it made since. Now, just a lovely fashion statement for all of us to partake!

Oh well, I guess I should work on this request before I jet!

Sweet Em!

2006-07-17T20:45:00.000-05:00