Another "New" Car

Okay new to us. Today we picked up our replacement for the Mitsubishi. Our gas bill will be equivalent to our rent but otherwise nice...

In the last 2 weeks I have...Lit a peice of paper on fire so I could jam it in a bottle like a pirate's treasure map. Hired 3 ponies. Bought 120 gallons worth of slime mix. Argued with 2 nonprofit organizations over 1000+ canned food items, once with a man who did not speak english well at all. Met a woman with 106 documented personalities. Had 3 separate bosses all at the same job. And wore a turtleneck sweater in Florida in October.

I think the crazy people are rubbing off on me.

Pumpkin Patch

Okay this is Toris 9th trip and Tristan's 7th trip to the pumpkin patch so the pictures are getting fewer by the year but a tradition is a tradition and wouldn't be much of one if we did not keep doing it. And it is Max's first trip, see he even has the cute pumpkin shirts they both had their first trips!

So here they are!

Not Again!!!!

I hate car hunting. I mean HATE with a passion.

Of course since we managed to sell the truck days before totaling the Mitsubishi and that car is now smashed to smithereens we are on the hunt again. And it has to be a speedy hunt as we are paying for a rental car in the meantime.

But we want something cheap, cheap, cheap! But of course Todd does not want to drive something hideously ugly or old peoplish which tends to be what is cheap, cheap, cheap. So frustrating. So another day of hunting begins, pray I survive it. And more than that, pray that Todd does, I dont want to have to kill him but I might nonetheless :-)

Field Trips

Last Monday I took my brownie troop to the Dunedin Fine Arts Center which was remarkably nice for such a small town. They have exhibits that last approximately 6 weeks at a time and a children's hands on museum that changes once a year. The theme currently is Surrealism.

Make your own claymation (except with plastic models instead of clay!)

Tori's friend Madison in the "mellow mushroom." A giant mushroom with a black light inside and a desk with neon markers. The girls loved this!

Then this Monday (aka yesterday) I got to accompany Tristan's class on a field trip to the local fire station.

Tristan and his closest friends Riley and Calvin aboard the old fashioned fire truck.

Tristan's teacher told them to throw their hands up and scream when they went around a corner, shes the one in the middle, I think she had as much fun if not more than the kids.

Tristan in the firetruck.

And his whole class just before we headed back to the school!

Go Rays!

I grew up in a baseball family and used to know every major player, which teams looked good which ones not so much. Since Todd and I have been married and hes not such a big fan I have gotten lax. But I have so enjoyed watching baseball again and am so excited the Rays are Series bound.

So go rays!

Takers

I know there are givers and takers in this world, blah, blah, blah. But it pisses me off so much when people pretend to be your friend to use you.

I have this friend who I used to be very close to. We had a blast together. She is truly one of the funniest people I know. And then she and her husband started a new project/business together and disappeared of the face of the planet. Didn't return calls, RSVP to invitations, no response to emails, etc. Then of course one day out of the blue she shows up, apologizes for it all, and we go out to dinner where she promptly ask me to sew for her. Then nothing for another month or so, then suddenly they have a new baby and she wants to get together again - and she needs something for the baby's room. Now its been a good 3-4 months and the only contact has been an invitation to her kids bday party which we politely declined as the kids had soccer/swim. Found out she was pregnant, called her a couple of times, nope still nothing.

So this morning I wake up to an email from her saying we should really catch up and by the way my kids have something she wants to borrow would that be ok?!?

I don't think she means to be hurtful per se but it really bothers me. I am more than my skills and material items and it bothers me that she treats me like I am not. I hear that not everyone is a pursuer but come on. Its one thing to be bad about returning calls or whatever but its a whole nother thing to make contact every couple months asking for something.

So in these situations what do you do? I dont want to ignore her like she ignores me. I also don't want to be rude and just say no you can't borrow it without a legit reason which I dont actually have, but I also dont want her to think she can keep doing it.

Quick update!

Tori is still swimming, struggling with diving but otherwise doing well. She doesn't have to be great at it but she needs to come off the blocks with some kind of form and the only form she has currently is belly flopping - ouch! Still loving school, brownies, etc. She's temporarily mad that we won't let her start a band instrument but she can only do so many things. Between brownies, gifted, swimming and now weekly Christmas musical rehearsals enough is enough. She got her assessment scores back last week and is doing awesome. She's reading at a 6th grade reading level - yay for her!

Tristan is loving kindergarten. Is enjoying soccer though he's a tad older than the other kids and has to be a little gentler that he would like to be I think. He does like seeing his preschool friend Ben regularly though. He is doing awesome at reading and "wrote" his first story yesterday. Three lines regarding Rumpelstiltskin as they saw the play last week. Monday he goes on his first field trip to the fire station, back with pictures then.

Todd is driving a rental still, waiting on the insurance before we come up with plan B. He is still sore but ok. Had an MRI early this week and so far we are of the "no news is good news" speculation. He has a nasty sore on his tongue where he bit it in the accident and it got infected. Only Todd could get in a car accident and injure his tongue.

I am still working regularly. Next week is Red Ribbon Week at the kids school so I have been at the school regularly all week. Nothing yet from the other hospital but he did say the end of the week so I am trying not to worry. Just started training in yet another position here at this hospital, doing chart/criteria reviews with insurance companies. I will learn a lot and build great contacts doing it but its not the most exciting job in the world and has no actual direct patient contact. I will still do some case management, activities, and ER work though so its not a total loss even if I stay here.

This weekend Todd and I are going on our F date, FINALLY! Celebrating my sis-in-law Taylors birthday, and hoping to get some park time while the whether is slightly cooler. Hope everyone has a fabulous end of the week/weekend.

Andrew Peterson

A great line from a song by Andrew Peterson, hes a christian artist that writes songs to go along with acoustic guitar usually. His wife sings back up which I think is so sweet.

"Give us faith to be strong, give us strength to be faithful, this life is not long but its hard."

I needed that reminder right now - between job trouble, car accidents and sick kids!

Todd goes Boom

My kids used to crash into each other or me or random toys and they would always say "me go boom". It was one of those cute phrases they said and grew out of. Last night Todd called me from where he had been in an accident and I left the kids with my parents and went to meet him. As I tried to tell the kids that daddy was in an accident but everything would be ok that phrase came back to me.
He is thankfully ok, saw an ER physician's assistant and while sore with some minor abrasions seems to be fine. He'll see a doctor specializing in muscle pain next week for follow up. Our car on the other hand, not so ok. Thankfully the kids were not in the car with him as the backseat was pushed in from the trunk and the front seat, where Todd was sitting, broke and snapped back to laying position with Todd still in it. See our front bumper off to the side? It was across the street when I got there, they moved it out of traffic!

Morning of Follies

For the record the interview itself went great.

This morning I got dressed, pencil skirt and button down shirt, standard interview attire. Trying to crate my dog, have a treat in my hand and he jumps - nice new tear in my hose. No extra pairs of course because I HATE them. So I guess I'll wear pants. But I need to pick a bunch up from the dry cleaners and the others need ironing so the choices suck but I made it out the door looking remotely professional. Of course in that time Max has now managed to get into a nerf football and tear into no less than a 1000 pcs all over the living room floor. So I catch him, spank him, crate him. Leave the mess and fly out the door now feeling like I just ran a marathon.

Get to hospital, ask for behavioral health unit, the front desk gives directions to elevators, which floor, etc...SHES WRONG! Its a lock down unit, you have to use the locked down elevator unlike our hospital where you can get there from the other floors as well. So I have to back track and ask someone else, barely make it on time.

Did I mention the interview itself went well?! It did, in the hospital cafeteria, which I thought odd but was certainly not going to ask about. So finally he says let me walk you to the front door and we start walking. He apologizes for the room but said one of my direct supervisors at my current job was going to be on the unit and he was not sure if that would make me uncomfortable or if they knew I was there today. Ok.

So we walk down the hallway and who is walking right at us? The two people I report to currently. Awkward is not really a strong enough word. But what are you gonna do? I smiled, was polite, stood by while my boss was introduced to the director there, you know my possible new boss, as they had never met. Neat.

Honestly I like what I do for a living and really just need more consistency so its not like I am going out of my way to hide that I am looking for something else but it was definitely a bizarre situation to be in.

Doh!

Interview

Tuesday I have an interview for a social services job at another hospital, one in the Largo area. The guy hiring sounds extremely nice and is willing to be flexible so please pray for this.

The job I have now is ok. I like what I do but the politics have gotten nasty lately. There was a management company change (behavioral health is often contracted out by the hospital to a care company) and it has NOT been smooth at all. My schedule is more erratic than ever and my ability to fill multiple holes makes me a big asset to them but creates a nightmare for myself.

So keep your fingers crossed for me. I am hoping this job pays the same or more, is flexible but also has consistent hours.

Whats important to you?!

After an interesting discussion with Todd and as I sit here watching the VP debate my question would be what do you vote based on. Please recognize that I am not asking who as I do not want to support a debate between anyone or varying parties, etc. However I am interested to hear what are important issues to you?

Taxation policies? Foreign policies? Environment? Candidiates histories? Womens Rights? Homosexual Marriage? Immigration Laws? The current Iraqi war? Universal healthcare? Medicaid? Social Security?

While I could be wrong about this it would be my guess that no matter what candidate you stand behind you don't agree with EVERYTHING they say but its interesting to hear what takes priority for other people.

Rants and Raves

Ranting...
-My new van's alignment was off but of course you don't notice things like that in a test drive. Then the remote and wireless headphones to the DVD player don't seem to be working. So its in the shop, already. And I have a loaner. But the loaner van does not have rear air and its still hot, this is FL.
-The electric company decided today was a good day to change the electrical box in our neighborhood. So they turned off our electricity for 8 hours today. And again its still hot, this is FL. So I had to stay out most of the day and keep my dog out most of the day on my only day off this week. I had a nice lunch with my dad, my dog got groomed and I got very little else done.
-I stink at saying no. I recognize this and yet I don't seem to do anything about it. And usually I rationalize this is in my head...well its just a little thing, it only take a few minutes, etc. But when you do ten things that take a few minutes it adds up to lots of minutes. So on my new to do list is 25 chair packs for Tristans teacher, the snack/game list for the soccer team, decorate the PTA/Red Ribbon Week bulletin board, cook a meal for a sick mom's family of six, and attend a powder puff football game to cheer for some teenage girls who I love but still don't want to attend tonight.

Raves..
-I do love the new van.
-We sold the truck and the lady did not even try to offer less. She just bought it. Sweet.
-My dog is so super soft and sweet smelling after the groomer I could just cuddle him all night. Love it!
-Tristan's new bed is built and in his room with sheets and a bedspread and everything. The new room stuff will go up during the weekend when I have time but for now its usable and thats a big deal. He likes it, I like it, all is well.
-I am down a size. A whole size. Its my special, "I am too busy to eat real meals during the day diet and my daughter is on a swim team that forces me to hang out at the gym 3 hours a week" diet. Whatever works. To celebrate, and because I was in desperate need of more work clothes I went to Kohls, and some really cute stuff including a skirt I love that Todd says makes me look like a librarian, I dont think its supposed to be a compliment but too bad - I love libraries.
Private Practice premieres tonight. I love that show. And Life was on Monday, which I also love...and the DVR allowed me to watch it last night when I had time which is just simply amazing. I have no idea why it took us so long to get one.

No. No. No. No. No. No.

Just practicing, I seem to have problems with saying it aloud. Anyone else have this problem? Better yet anyone overcome this yet?