HEY PEOPLE! Thanks so much for the congratuations and stuff! I'm so excited that I'm about to bust...and I'm so SCARED I'm about to bust! What an odd feeling to think about leaving the ONLY place I've ever taught.... I did find out that in order for me to be released from my contract my current principal needs to FIND and HIRE a new teacher BEFORE I can take the new job. Sooooooo meanwhile back at the ranch with the new blue bathroom.... I expose my stress by growing huge herpes on my mouth and nose! WHAT a beautiful face I will have when I go before the judge and BEGGGGGGGG / PLEADDDDDDDD / RANTTTTT my way out of jury duty on Monday morning at 9 a.m.! ARGHHH! I'm scared TO death about jury duty! BUT the Clerk of Courts said to just talk to the judge and explain the MILLION schedule issues that I have during the month of August! ENOUGH from me!

Sooooo, Summer, my blistered footed friend, I am soooooo glad to hear that "TourGuideMike" helped you out! I'm sooooo sorry that your blisters have blisters that have blisters! It sounds as if you had QUITE the trip! I have to agree with you... Our trip to Disney in December was far from stressfree and relaxing! We had two days on the other side of Disney to spend with my in laws prior to returning home...for which I was and continue to be thankful for! ALSO, while it was warm in December, it wasn't INSANELY HOT! (We actually wore jackets two days!) I hope that your chiropractor "heals" your leg soon! My dh had a horrible time from all the walking as well as not being at home in HIS bed! His back was a mess the whole time we were in Florida! How did your dh do?! Did you love the Rockin Roller Coaster or WHAT?! That was definately a family favorite! Did you ride that darn Winnie the Pooh ride at Magic Kingdom? THAT was the one ride that we didn't do when TourGuideMike suggested and then NEVER made it to it! (pout pout pout! The line was insane after the park got busy and we never wanted to waste time waiting there!) The boys also loved the "Mountains"! OOOOH and about the animal safari..... remember the weather... and we followed the directions given by Mike.... who said to get on that ride as early in the morning as possible... We were on the FIRST car thru for the day. It was amazing! We saw ALL kinds of live animals! Quite amazing! The lions were up on a bluff with a big gigantic tree and the sun behind them... They looked VERY much like all the Lion King "stuff"! With all this gushing....I must admit... Animal Kingdom was NOT our favorite park! We will not ever puchase tickets to ever visit there again....while it was nice and it was enjoyable.... it just wasn't all that.... the kids loved the "dino carnival rides".... BUT... The SanDiego Zoo and the Zoo in Washington D.C. are THAT good for animals....minus the rides! When we go back, chortle chortle, SOME day...... Ha! ...We would START the trip with Epcot (we were exhausted by the time we got there and didn't do it justice! We just wanted to go home!). MGM would be our 2nd choice... and then Magic Kingdom.... BUT of course that would ALL come after we do Universal AND SeaWorld...which we totally pretended didn't exist in December! Anywhooooooooo....... OHHH did you go see the Bug Movie at AK? We loved it!

Mouse, I actually LOL at your post regarding the occupations of your class members! Porn star. Assasin. Exotic dancer. GOTTA LOVE IT! All 3 of those positions have a MUCH better pay scale than a teacher!!!!! I *DO* love the guy who is going into construction due to his love of the boots! You've gotta love a guy who knows and understands a love for SHOES!!! I *FEEL* his pain! Good boots are a GOOOOOOD thing! Porn star?! Simply put...EW! Watch that kid! Keep the porn star away from your assasin and the construction worker! JEEPERS! Oh...glad to hear that there is "hope" for the insurance to kick in with your surgery! Do you have a date yet? Yahoo for summer school ending! and GAWD bless laminated card stock!

Ginny, Ginny, Ginny! The Jersey shore?? Instead of the Outer Banks??? Shame, shame, shame! LOL Actually I've only been to Atlantic City and well.... we won't be heading back that way! I would have loved for you to have been traveling to the Outer Banks... we could have figured out a way that we could have met for a brief REAL LIVE meeting as you traveled thru my part of Virginia!

Kerry, hang in there your hormones will have you swining in the other direction soon! Glad that you got the stuff ready for the yard sale AND that you got caught up on your sleep! You are such a gem for continuing to play ball with those little buggars who have been so mean to you about your ball playing! (((hugs))) You're a great SM!

OHhhh... I saw a post from a speech teacher out on the other 3fc threads. I invited her to join our little intimate group! Kim, if you're reading this, WELCOME! My posts aren't ALWAYS this long! hehehehe....

I've gotta get going...it is nearly 2 am again! My bathroom is nearly done. My dh has me convinced to sponge on some of the trim color in an attempt to hide some of the flaws in the one wall. BUT...I'm only doing this sponge thing to 1 wall..... other walls will have to be done by the man! HA! This won't be an issue! I'm seriously looking at my kitchen now...going...hmmmmm a little paint.... TALK me out of THIS!

I STILL haven't told you how I get presents from my dh! Remind me to reveal THAT secret later!

Do I win the longest post award again???
Take care, my friends!
Meeeeeeeeee

WElcome back, Summer!

Yea, my students tend to choose some interesting jobs. It goes hand in hand with many of them being inner city kids, and having some significant level of emotional disturbance. I mean, there is a REASON they're at my school instead of at their public schools in self-contained classes.
I am pretty bummed about the calendar, but I had anticipated this so when I made the original pieces 6 years ago, I printed off EXTRA pieces on the card stock and laminated those, too... and have them in a folder, so I can easily replace the pieces. I'm kind of surprised that it took so long!
I also have to remake my 'chill sign'. I saved that on the computer at school, but need to hit the computer lab for a color printer because when I changed classrooms, I lost the printer. I keep getting these printers, and they stay with whatever classroom budget they're purchased out of, so I keep having to buy a new one!

I *AM* going to go to Disney one of these years. I've never been, depsite all the special ed conferences that are down there. They're having a HUGE assistive tech conference in January, and I could probably have gotten on as a presenter, but I'm really pushing for my paper to be accepted at the Council for Exceptional Children's annual convention. Its in April, here in Baltimore. If I present, my school MIGHT pick up some of the fee for my attendance. And the conferences are so bloody expensive!

I'm telling you Mouse.... one of these days you and I've gotta talk about Assistive Technology! I could REALLY use an expert in the field on DS's educational team! hehehe
Want to be a figurehead on a list of his specialists?! LOL

And...yes, "special kids" come up with "special jobs"! I'm guessing the assassin might be the next one to destroy your new 6 year old calendar pieces?! I've actually had some ...ahem...NORMAL (what or WHO is NORMAL???) ... lets use "typical" ... first graders come up with nearly as interesting career choices! The school is fairly near a military base...and with all the assorted bars that crop up around the base.... I generally have at least 1 mom who is a "exotic" dancer (read 1/3 dressed sliding around on a pole!).......and I generally have at least 1 kid who aspires to work at "Buck's"! I've also had a kid who was sure that he was going to be a bank robber! Stuck with it through out the year! His "gangsta" mom and her bf thought it was the most hysterical thing that they'd ever seen! (Work hanging in the hall.) Actually brought friends and family down the hall to make sure that they saw R's writing. I bet he will fulfill his dream someday! Sad.... Hmmmmm..... I've said too much!

Hi!
I love this discussion of kids and their ambitions.....guess you get to see/ hear it all. If only their parents knew how much their offspring was giving away from indicating their choices!!!!

Mouse- if it were up to me.....I would save a trip to Disney for the fall. By then the crowds are down a wee bit- the weather a bit tamer (unless you hit a hurricane, which we have!)and you are just generally out of prime tourist season anyway. You will appreciate it all the more when you get there, right? Good for you that you had extra pieces for the calendar. Even better yet that you found them (me, I would have made the extra pieces and then forgot where they were, duh!).

Robyn- a little bit of foaming a the keyboard, eh??? Aw, I love a good long post.....especially a lively one......especially during the summer, when I have a wee bit more time to read them!!! I found with my jury duty experience, that they were pretty lenient, especially when given a lot of logical reasons (such as yours and starting a new job) as opposed to lame excuses. So what shade of blue is the bathroom??????? And just what are you dreaming about for the kitchen???? (I have painted cabinets, hung wallpaper.....been there, done some of that!) My apologies for not going to NC this summer. Between Dd and college.......tuition bills, schedules, softball.......the list goes on and on.....and usually we rent a nice house one or two lots off the beach during the last week or so of August when the rates go down. Well, this year- not knowing what school Dd was going to attend- therefore no idea when orientation would be etc..... well it just did not work out. Now, Atlantic City.......well, you could use a large chain saw and send it floating out in the ocean for all I care!!! We will be at Island Beach State park, which, ok it is not as pristine as South Nags Head, or Hatteras.....but is very, very civilized for the most part. So, I do hope I have redeemed myself a wee bit in your eyes......and the kids are already asking if we are going to the Outer Banks next year.

I have survived today so far......drove that special ed run this am- sort of a pain because my monitor (the regular drivers son, who is horribly bummed out because his gf jilted him) was, well , not useless.....but sort of out of it. Oh, well, glad it is over......got a call from work that the new route sheets are done, and route selection (which is done by seniority, which I have little) is in 2 weeks. I get jittery about this....I do want my route back....it does not have many hours and allows me to drive our youngest to school (don't have to deal with what to do with her while I work). I'm praying that noone wants this route... or that something better will be there for me when it is my turn to bid. So, I sit on pins and needles for the next week and a half.

Got my walk in this am.....and have some other computer stuff to take care of while the house is quiet........so I'd better go. Enjoy your day!
Ginny

In the case of most of my students, I can't blame the parents. Some of them, yes...but so many of our students are in group homes or foster care that its very hard to say the adults that are raising them are the issue.

And yes, Robyn... we can talk assistive tech anytime you want! Feel free to PM me, or I think you can email me from here too.

I have to go catch my little monster. He has a vet appointment for his annual check-up today. But I have to take the computer with me to my mom's house too... and if I go out with the 'puter and come back, he'll know something is up.... so I gotta grab it all at once... plus squirmy the cat!
He won't go in a carry case: he has a harness that goes on the seatbelt. Wish me luck!

Mouse- good luck with the squirmy cat!!!!!! (felines are a favorite subject of mine).
What kind of critter do you have....and how old is he?? Mine has yet to figure out that we are going away for a few days...but she adores the woman (neighbor, who is a sucker for a furry face) who also adores RC. They are retired, and her husband will come over to feed the beast....she will visit at lunch time and of course to spoil my already spoiled rotten "fato cato" (as I call her!) with some treats. (as though she needs them!) And then one of them will come over at dinner. RC's predecessor, EC actually went nuts when this neighbor came over....figured it was party time...bring out the cake........pretty funny. (actually all 3 of our previous cats loved her- we were nuts enough to have 3 cats for a few years). Just for conversation, RC is a 3 year old all black (maybe 25 white hairs on her chest) domesticated shorthair. She weighs in at 12#- probably about 3# overweight......and I have had her on "lite" cat food now for a few weeks. I am hoping that by the time October rolls around she will have taken a wee bit off, so that I do not have to hear the annual lecture from the vet that "cats are supposed to have ribs"! But then, she is such a piggy.....steals from the trash (indoors, she does not go out)......looks pathetic and begs the kids for treats.....oh, she has the whole world figured out!! And it revolves around food.
Ok, Mouse.......sorry to have bored you.......hope you caught your beast and that the visit with the vet went well.
I have blabbered enough for one day.........well, for now!
See ya!
Ginny

Welcome back Summer! Sounds like you had a great vacation minus the blisters, hot weather and all the walking you had to do. Relax and take care of yourself.
Mouse sounds like you have a couple live wires in your room this summer. Smart idea to make an extra copy of your calendar pieces. I would have done that and then put them some place safe and lost them. Hope you are able to catch your cat and not have too much of a fight on your hands going to the vet.
Robyn I hope everything goes well on Monday morning with the judge and you don't have to do jury duty in Aug. and Sept. That would be a bit much starting a new school and school year. I will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you.
Ginny, I hope you have a nice vacation this weekend at the NJ shore. I have decided that I am going to save my loose change and one of these summers go on vacation to the beach. My dh is a homebody and I will just leave him at home if he doesn't want to go. I will even go by myself or ask my best friend to go with me or my two sisters.
I will also keep my fingers and toes crossed for you, too Ginny so that you get the route you want for the coming year.
Last night was an interesting night for me. I had the house to my self and happened to go in the laundry room for something. Well our door to the upstairs is off the laundry room. The kids had played up there with the neighbor's grandson early in the evening before their mom come to get them. They had left the windows open up there and all the lights on. I went up to close the windows and to turn off the lights. As I was going to the back room to shut the windows in there, I saw a bat flying around. So I ran downstairs and slammed the door. I called my brother-in-law's house, since that is where my dh was. I had to leave a message on their answering machine about having a bat in the house. My dh told my niece to call me and tell me that he was busy and to go get his other brother to come help me get it out. I went over to my MIL's and begged my BIL to come help me. So we came home and went back upstairs armed with brooms. We were able to open a few windows in the room closet to the stairs and then came back downstairs to get more help since I was a big chicken. I called my SIL's boyfriend to come help. By the time we went back upstairs it had flown out the window. But I was so ticked at my dh. He came home around midnight and asked about the bat. He was like you should have just left it in the house and shut the door and he would have taken care of it today. I told him that I was not staying in the house knowing that there was a bat upstairs. It was either going to be gotten rid of or I was leaving the house and not coming back for a while. Needless to say I had a hard time sleeping last night.
My dh keeps telling me several times today that it is his birthday. He woke me up twice to tell him that it was his birthday. He is in such a happy mood. He makes me sick. He finally asked why I was not in a happy mood myself. I told him how my birthday was. I told him that since it was his birthday, I guess that meant he could take me shopping and I could buy something for his birthday. Since we went shopping for batting gloves for the twins on my birthday and a new ball cap for dh. His excuse about my present was he didn't know what kind of bike I wanted. So that it was just easier for me to go pick it out, put it in layway and make the payments on it. Another thing that is tearing me up inside, is that his kids got him a birthday card and made him a cheesecake. When it was my birthday, I didn't get a card from them or anything. I know that I am suppose to be an adult and not look at the materialistic side of things. But it is like a slap in the face that I didn't even get a homemade birthday card from them. That would have been enough for me. It makes me feel that I am not special enough for them on my special day. That I am only good enough to run them to all their extra summer programs and play ball with them. Sorry that I am in such a depressing mood today. I guess I have that TOM to thank for my feelings today.
Well I guess I am going to go and take a bike ride to clear my head. Talk to you all later. Have a great weekend!
Take care,
Kerry

Big hugs to you Kerry........you are special!!!!! You are not just a chauffeur service.......and you are a wonderful, unique person. In the short time that I have gotten to know you (and everyone else here!) I have found you to be a warm and caring person. First of all......yup go ahead and save your change......you deserve some time at the beach!! Second of all, I can identify with your feelings about Dh and the bat. (I hate the darned things too!). And I really get upset when someone does not at least respect my fears. Guess you are really gonna have to take the high road with these kids and try super hard to (without any bitterness, and that is the tough part!) explain to them and show them how a you would like and what you consider the nice way celebrate a birthday. Guess I might even go as far as to tell them how much their dad liked the cake and even plant the seed that you might like a homemade card or a card or even a picture drawn by them. (depending upon their ages). I know I had pretty big differences with Dh's family about celebrating birthdays... And we will probably never resolve all the differences. I hope you got your bike ride in!!!!!!!

Wish I could say that my eating was under control today......it was not even close! I did get my walk in and then rode my bike later to the office to pick up all the stuff I will need in 2 weeks for route bidding. Looks like they left my route alone pretty much.....the toxic mother stop is still there.....but I was able to peacefully end the year with them. And of course, the the flasher stop is still there (remember the sweetie who decided to show the kindergartener he was sitting with his genitals??).
Aw, but I would love to have that run back- and from what I can see they made the afternoon shorter (so we would get home earlier!!!!!) So we'll see. You will see me jumping thru the screen on Aug 11 if I can still get my route. There does seem to be a route (special ed) that would also work......but my Dd would have to go on her own bus and I do love having her with me.

OK, this is it!!!!!!! I am out of here for today. Enjoy your weekend!
Ginny

Ginny, thanks for the well wishes! Yes there are real animals on the safari, but they just lie around in the hot sun. I've been told that if you go on a rainy day, they are more active. Have fun in Jersey! I have many friends who like to go to Wildwood and Cape May.

Rob, thanks again for your help. No, we didn't ride any thrill rides at all. The most thrilling ride was the tea cups, and I almost threw up! I am not big on rides...I've been known to wet my pants or vomit! So, we stuck with the "kiddie rides." And, we made sure to fast pass Winnie the Pooh. I would like to further explore Epcot next time as well. When we did the itinerary, to save time, Mike did one specifically for little kids. So, a lot of activities were left off our itinerary. But between DD's age and it being our first time, it was the best scenario for us. CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THE JOB!!! Worse comes to worse during jury duty, if you get interviewed you just act biased on the subject, i.e., I was interviewed for a rape case, and I told them (truthfully) that I was a victim of an attempted rape so I wouldn't be fair to the man charged with the crime. They let me go without another word. Good luck!

Mousie, thanks for the welcome back. Don't worry, Disneyworld isn't going anywhere. It will only get better and more exciting over time. So go when it is best for you to go. I waited all my life until I had a child at the optimum age. I had no real interest in going there before that. Save your money and go in style!

Kerry, I'm so sorry about how you are feeling, but I really understand it. Some men (my DH included) and some children think the world revolves around them. I had a pretty lousy Mother's Day. I got a present and card from my DD, but a kind of IOU present from DH. He was supposed to send me on a spa day sometime this summer. But after his surgery and money being tight, that spa day isn't going to happen. Do you think he will do something to make up for it? Don't hold your breath! And, with my 40th birthday coming up in October, I figured I'd better tell him that I expect him to do something special for me. Because if I don't ask for it, I won't get it. And, I swear, if something nice isn't done for me, I will be devastated. I had a big surprise party for his 30th and he acted all weird and self conscious rather than grateful. I know he has a lot of baggage...lots of bad childhood experiences that make it difficult for him to express love. But I am really losing my patience with him. He'd better get his act together if he wants me to stick around. So, I can empathize with you. I wish many blissfully happy times for you in the future. I wish for those that love you to demonstrate it to you.

I saw the chiropractor today and apparently I have a pinched nerve. He took xrays, used the muscle stimulating machine, and adjusted my back. Tomorrow I go back for acupuncture. Cool! I sure hope it works. This pain is rapidly getting worse.

Robyn, one more thing. Mike wants me to post reviews of my trip, but I don't know where to post them. I emailed him, but I got no response. Do you know where I am supposed to post?

Have a good weekend one and all!

Evening Ladies,
I made it through the day without killing anyone! What really hurt me though was when the kids' mom came to pick them and there was an ice cream cake from the DQ in their car for her boyfriend. I guess his birthday was last weekend and he was coming to their house tonight to celebrate with the kids. They told their dad and I how they got him a card too and a present. So that just didn't set to well with me and I just walked awy from them and went in the house. I did take my dh out for dinner though. He asked me this afternoon where I was taking him for dinner. I laughed and said why should I take you out for your birthday. You didn't take me out for my birthday this year. Oh yes I did he told me. He supposely took me out to dinner something the week before my birthday. He just never told me that it was my birthday dinner. I told him that taking me to his mother's for dinner didn't count since I had to go to the grocery store that morning to get all the stuff for what his kids wanted to eat that night. He tried telling me that I was the one who wanted it and not his kids. I told him that I wanted steak and potatoes done on the grill for my dinner that night. Oh well let's see if they can all top my next birthday and Mother's Day. Since this year was a welcome mat year for me where my dh and kids were considered.
I did enjoy my dinner though tonight. I think I overeat a little bit but I don't care. I had a salad, 2 grilled chicken breasts, a baked potato and a piece of carrot cake for dessert. I haven't had dessert in a long time. So I slurged tonight. I am sure I will work it off tomorrow at the yard sale.
Glad to hear that everyone is doing okay. Summer I have had a pinched nerve and they are not fun. I had on in my left leg during college. The doctor said it was from carrying my bookbag on my left side and I was carrying too much in it. So I feel your pain.
Ginny I hope you get the route you want. You deserve to have an easy year with your little lovelies that you transport back and forth from school. I did get my bike ride in but I had all three kids tag along with me. They just don't get it that I wanted some me time. But I did tell their dad tonight, that if I want to do something by myself again, I am going to go without them and he can deal with them. I am tired of wanting a few minutes to regroup and having to have people tag along. It just doesn't work that well.
Well I need to go and get some rest for my big yard sale tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes. Talk to you all later.
Have a great weekend. Thanks for being so caring and understanding. It is nice to know that I have some great friends who know how to pick me up when I am feeling really low.
Take care,
Kerry

Well, let me just say that the vet visit was NOT a success. I not only drew the vet that all of our pets have hated back to when I was 5 years old, my cat BIT me. He bit right through my left hand. I had to go to the doctor's (my old doctor that I saw when I was at home who was fortunately on my current insurance plan!), and now have antibiotics. I can't swim for more than a week: until its good and healed up. They won't let you swim with a bandage on, but I bought waterproof ones anyway so that I can shower almost normally. They didn't stitch it, but only because there is some kind of bacteria in cat mouth's that can cause an abcess if it can't get out. Fun, fun!!!
My cat has been trying to kiss up to me all night, but I'm still a little unhappy with him. But he's unhappy too, becuase my mom has a new kitten, and is paying little or no attention to Imp. For those that asked: Imp is half Egyptian Mau (the only domesticated spotted cats) and half domestic short hair. He is in my avatar picture...he really is a gorgeous and usally very gentle cat. I have taken him with me to my classroom more than once especially when I taught students with moderate to severe disabilities. They loved him. He's never bitten anyone before!

Kerry: I don't have a husband or anything, but I think that what he did is just rotten. Really rotten.

I am really seriously bummed that I can't swim for at least a week. I can't walk because of my ankle, and the only other thing I could do in the gym was a hand-bike that you run with your hands. Oh well, at least I'll have LOTS of time after work to do all those damn reports. 13 down, 34 to go!

Kerry: Keep on standing up for yourself girl!!! Practice makes perfect!

Mousie: OUCH!!! That had to hurt!!! Best of luck with rapid healing.

Well, I had acupuncture for the first time ever today. It was pretty cool. I had 30 needles put in. While he was at it, he also treated my IBS, GERD, asthma, allergies, endometriosis, perimenopause, and hypoglycemia (I just found out today that I have it!!!) My mother got it when she turned 40...in case you forgot, I'm turning 40 in October. My mother didn't live long enough for it to develop into diabetes. But my grandmother did live long enough to develop diabetes. So, apparently I am going off WW and need to get on the hypoglycemia diet to try to avoid getting diabetes. DH is trying to tell me it is all diet...hello! mom and grandma had it...just like grandma had her gallbladder out...there are certain diseases our bodies are more genetically prone to. Whatever! Anyway, diet can help me, so GOODBYE TO CARBS AND SUGAR!!! And, unfortunately, I can't eat Splenda...it gives me violent diarrhea. So, Sweet n Low and Nutrasweet (don't you know it turns into formaldehyde in your stomach? ) are my only alternatives for sweeteners now that I can't have sugar anymore. It is a matter of health now. People have to have insulin shots, go blind, lose limbs...NOT ME!!! So, I go back on Monday for another treatment. The pain is still with me, but it isn't as severe. So, acupuncture really does work!!! Cool!

Have a great day!!!

I forgot to tell you something funny. While I had 30 needles sticking out of my body, there was a cop in the cubicle next to me who screamed every time he got a needle put in. The doctor (who knows him well) actually told him to stop being such a chicken!!! As I was leaving, the nurses told me that the men are the worst patients...biggest babies, and the women can take everything that the doctor does to them since it doesn't nearly compare to the pain we are used to living with. Men are such wimps!!!

Hello all....

I've gotten up this morning with a cold, complete with sneezing, runny nose, eyes watering .... yet ANOTHER reason that I CAN NOT be selected to stay for jury duty when I go on Monday morning! I'm feeling just about how I look.... runny, sneezy and otherwise NOT well!

I sponged the bathroom last night! Well....the 2 major walls. AND I *LOVE* it! BUT, I discovered that the color that I painted the trim and the door (that I have been gagging over and wondering WHY in the world I picked THAT ugly nearly yellow color...) was not mixed right. I pulled out the paint chip sort of on accident and LO AND BEHOLD...I did NOT pick THAT ugly nearly yellow color that I've slathered all over the trim and door.... not one coat but 2.... the color that I had asked for was a TAUPE! I feel so STUPID to have not noticed...well, I did notice...I even asked in the store but the guy mixing paint told me that it would dry the right color! WHAT do I know?! NOTHING... and when I got to the trim, I had really forgotten what I had picked...duhhhh! SOOOOOOO, I was heading back to the store to get the stuff to sponge....but I threw the quart of UGLY NEARLY YELLOW paint, my stir stick, my paint chip, I even grabbed some of the masking tape out of the trash to show what the color is looking like on the wall...UGLY! WELL... people at the return desk didn't even flinch (they couldn't find a manager and then decided amongst themselves that they were NOT going to look any further because this was OBVIOUSLY not right! ) I went back to the paint counter with the lady from returns who talked to the paint folks.... Lets just say an HOUR later...4 quarts of OTHER messed up colors later... I had my quart and Lowe's has found a problem within the paint mixing computer! I YI YI! What a mess! Anyway.... the walls are sponged and I'm going back in there to fix the trim and door...can ya'll say Yahoo?! BUT I'm so glad to get rid of the YELLOWish color!

Mousie....This week must be the week for kitty cats to FREAK at the vets office! We have a 17.5 year old Pud named Clementyne. Clementyne has been with me for a LONG LONG TIME! Well, 17.5 years! She is a blue cream tabby. She weighs just over 8 pounds. She had her thyroid removed 3 years ago. She is now having kidney problems and refuses to eat the food that would help her kidneys. We've given up trying the special food. Why take away icecream from Grandma at 90?! She has gotten SO old this winter and spring and summer....BUT she is still fiesty and loves to play with my husband (not the kids too much anymore!) We went to the vet to get her thyroid prescription...1 time a year she has to be seen and blood work and weighed.... AND this time (we also drew the vet that has NO something..Personality?) our elderly kitty went totally NUTS! She hissed, she fussed, she struck out with her clawless paws! It was wild. NEVER in all these years! Then when they took her to draw the blood, she would not let them get near her!!?? The vet came back with her making those horrid cat fight yowls and growls in the back room announcing that they couldn't get blood from her with her in such a mood. Could I bring her back tomorrow? NO! They could put her to sleep to get the blood.... um.. H E double hockey sticks NO! Soooo, I asked if they would return my cat to the room. She was UNconsolable for about 15 minutes more. The vet gave me the prescription without the blood test. She gave me a years worth. I'm sorta thinking that NEXT time I will make SURE that we get the vet that did her surgery...a sweet, older, gentle, feline loving man who talked to her in a wonderfully soft voice. GEESHHH! Who knew that this would be more important that the kids pedicatrician! Anyway.... GrandmaKitty has recovered ....as much as she is going to... She didn't bite anyone.....but I'm sorta sure that if she could have eaten that vets face....SHE would have! By the time I was done in there, I was ready to eat the face off that woman myself!

Kerry.... ((((hugs)))) I'm sorta gonna go out on a limb right here and make my proclamation...... THAT MAN IS AN A$$! FOR so many reasons! The bat... The gifts... The ATTITUDE! ARGHH! I'm so sorry! You know that the exwife is the one who made sure that there was an icecream cake and stuff for her boyfriend. I guess what I mean is...it isn't the kids! It is HIS responsibility to MAKE SURE that those step kids of yours give you respect, as well as gifts and make you cards... BUT DARNNNN, he can't even take care of keeping up his own responsibilities! LET alone follow thru with his responsibilities as a father! Geesh, I'm so mouthy and it is none of my business. I just HATE to hear how you are treated! (AND THE DAGGGON BAT in the house..... WHO would have had to clean up the mess that the bat pooped out and got all over the room? ARGHHH! ) ((((Hugs)))) I'm sorry, honey! How long have you been with this guy?! You are a SAINT to put up with all of this!

Ginny... You've gotta love that you are DYING to keep the route with "GenitalBOY"! You know you are a true professional when you realize that dealing with "GenitalBOY" is just part of the package! Hope you get your route! Keep us posted!

Summer... thanks for the postcard! You've made it to THE fridge! Only the most important stuff goes there! My boys wanted to know who "Mike" was! I LOL until I had tears... So I very quickly explained who "Mike" is! THEN they remembered my computer pages! Sooo my moment as a MommaLolita ended rather quickly!

Well....I'm heading off to the bathroom....MY room lately! I'm gonna taupe up this yellow trim and door! I SWEAR I'm just about OVER this bathroom. The walls look wonderful with the sponging.... Good thing...cause I'm so done with BLUE!

Once again.... I've babbled and babbled and babbled!
I hear that trim calling me!
take care!

Kerry, I have soooo enjoyed getting to know you online, and I consider you my friend. With that said, I realize that if I am true to you as a friend, then I must treat you the same way I would want to be treated...with loving honesty. It hurts me to see how you are being mistreated by those around you. I wish you were surrounded by supportive, compassionate, and loving family and friends. I'm sure you have some wonderful people in your life, but all I know about are the ones who are crushing your spirit. So, all I can address are those people who are toxic relationships in your life. You can no longer allow them to mistreat you. If you choose to allow them into your life, you must put your foot down and not take any more sh*t from them. YOU DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS. I have eliminated many toxic relationships from my life and continue to live with some that are difficult to cut off. Those that remain in my life are no longer allowed to mistreat me. I STAND UP FOR MYSELF. I don't play games. I'm not passive aggressive. I directly speak up for myself. This has improved my self-esteem greatly. In the past, I sought out counselling. I got help from a professional psychologist who basically told me that I can't change anyone but myself, and as I begin to grow and improve, those around me will react by either changing for the better, fighting me, or leaving. Eleven years later, I have a much better marriage as a result and a better relationship with my sister. I also got counselling with my DH from our minister. That was extremely helpful. I also attended al anon. I'm sure there are professionals out there who could help your marriage, and if your DH is unwilling to go, you could go by yourself. That is my advice, my friend...take it or leave it.