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June 30, 2007

Rebounding

We still have no internet, but after almost a week, I found the sweet spot where I can hit an open network.

I have a ton of stuff to say, but no words to say it yet. Bullets to come.

Posted by me at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)

June 26, 2007

The Littlest Ninja

Posted by me at 8:38 AM | Comments (1)

June 25, 2007

I can already feel the DT's starting

We've been slowly taking loads of stuff over to the new house. Considering we haven't moved much of anything from the kitchen and none of the furniture, it sure looks like there's a lot of crap over there already. It doesn't help that it's all piled in one room.

The power just got turned on today, and the gas is scheduled to be turned on tomorrow. We've had water for a while. Dish is coming Thursday.

The internet isn't due to be installed until July 10. I think I'm going to die.

With any luck this will break my internet addiction, and I'll be a better wife, mother and person. More likely, I'll develop a twitch, be bitchy and lonely, and start traceling around town with my (giant) laptop looking for free internet near play areas for the kids.

Movers tomorrow. I'll be back, well, when I can.

Posted by me at 8:49 PM | Comments (1)

Mischievous

Posted by me at 6:17 AM | Comments (10)

June 24, 2007

For once, her sister wasn't even butting her nose into anything

"Don't worry 'bout me, worry 'bout you."

Posted by me at 8:34 PM | Comments (0)

June 22, 2007

Crying all the way to the bank

I've been procrastinating calling my mom all week. Not because I don't want to talk to her, but because I have an etiquette question that I don't want to ask or have answered.

As I've said, my grandfather's health is in decline. The question of when is narrowing more and more each time I talk to them. I recently received a letter from my mom with a check, and instructions to deposit it as soon as possible, because if my grandfather dies it becomes void. My grandfather is having a last minute screw-Uncle-Sam moment, and decided to disburse some cash to his grandkids early to avoid some estate taxes.

Receiving the money makes me feel sad and guilty. I'm getting this cash because my grandfather is dying. I probably woldn't be getting it now for any other reason. And while I know I can't do anything to make him healthier or live longer, it still seems wrong to be getting this big gift of death. The guilt comes along because it's hard not to appreciate cash for what it is. At least I know my grandparents would understand. I didn't get my love of money from just anyone.

My question for my mother: Do you write a thank you note for what is basically an advance on an inheritance? (Her answer: To treat this as a normal cash gift, and write the thank you. Of course, when I called, I found out he's back in the hospital. The cancer isn't that advanced yet, but the sum of his ailments and procedures is taking it's toll. I'm hoping now that he'll make it until we visit in July.)

Posted by me at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)

The fur bandit strikes again!

Posted by me at 8:20 AM | Comments (0)

June 21, 2007

Even though I really wanted to

It never fails that every time I think I have this parenting thing down, my kids throw something new at me.

I've had a few issues with both kids. Katie and her nasty night sleep habits. Jamie and her incessant crying. Jamie and her teenager attitude. Katie's eating habits. The one that has frustrated me the most and that seems to be lasting the longest is Jamie's crying. I think I've been on edge for the last two years, always wondering what innocuous thing was going to set off a crying jag of epic proportions. Discipline is really difficult, since any kind of punishment usually starts the crying, and once the crying starts, everything else flies out the window. I've also developed a very thin skin about the crying. What I used to be able to handle calmly now angers me deeply and so, so quickly.

For the last yearish, I've wondered what it would be like if Jamie were as easy to be around as Katie. Katie is generally happy. She cries, but quick little thundershowers that pass leaving nothing more than a couple of tears running down smiling-again cheeks. she's mischievous, and funny, snuggly and sweet.

But lately, lately she's been a little hellion. She refuses to do most anything I ask. Even when threatened. Even when punished. She smiles while she refuses. She smiles while I punish. She does not give in. No matter how serious I get, how overbearing, how at the end of my rope, she smiles.

I lost it tonight. She got sent to her room several times during dinner. She refused to eat, but cried when I started putting her food away. Finally she gave in and fed herself. Not long after, it was time to get into her pj's. She wouldn't come to me. When she finally did, she went limp. Then she started actively trying to thwart me. The last straw came when I was putting the pants on her, and she kept trying to kick off the leg I had gotten off while simultaneously kicking the other foot so I couldn't get them the rest of the way on. Oh, and kicking me. I gently slapped her leg. She smiled and kept kicking. I slapped harder, she smiled more. That's when I ripped her pants off, stormed into her room with her, and tossed her (gently but firmly) into her crib. And shut the door authoritatively. So much for the easy kid.

And as bad as it sounds, I'm proud of that. Because I was very close to doing something horribly, horribly bad, and I managed to remove myself from the situation before I did. I didn't even punch a wall or anything when I left.

Posted by me at 10:00 PM | Comments (1)

Glee

For Thursday's Theme over at Picture This.

Posted by me at 7:10 AM | Comments (9)

June 20, 2007

That's my girl!

Posted by me at 9:13 PM | Comments (0)

June 19, 2007

I get most of the crappy attitude, too

Rex is working nights this week, which means he was available to come along on the screamfest swim lessons have become.

Naturally, there wasn't a tear to be seen.

I love that the kids like showing off for Daddy. I certainly don't want them to misbehave for him just for the sake of being bad. But would it freaking kill them to show off for me once in a while? Or at the very least, behave in a wonderous screamless fashion they did for their father today?

Posted by me at 9:46 PM | Comments (0)

This is the life!

Posted by me at 9:45 PM | Comments (0)

A serious commitment to naplessness

Apparently, we can no longer leave ponytails in Katie's hair when she goes to take a nap. She put the elastic around her big toe, like she was attempting a slow amputation. Or maybe just trying to get out of a nap.

Posted by me at 2:21 PM | Comments (0)

June 18, 2007

I'd give up, but I don't even know what that means anymore

Rex should be signing a lease for us sometime today. It's a house, about twice the size of our current apartment, and the rent is about the same. It has a huge back yard, is in a cul-de-sac, and is just as close to Jamie's preschool as the foreclosure. In fact, it's in the neighborhood right next to the one we want to live in.

I'm still pissed about not getting that foreclosure. I'm also still hoping that we get it in the end. After all, it's not like they sold it to someone else. If it's still on the market in six months or so, maybe we'll make another go at it. Or hell, maybe by next spring we'll be moving to yet another city.

At this point, not much would surprise me.

Posted by me at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)

Awesome progress

Posted by me at 8:54 AM | Comments (7)

June 17, 2007

Happy Father's Day!

Posted by me at 8:09 AM | Comments (0)

June 14, 2007

Full exposure

I finally got around to getting bloodwork done for Jamie and I. She was supposed to have her cholesterol rechecked, according to her Maryland ped. Our current ped doesn't seem to think it's necessary, but I can totally see where the former ped was coming from. After all, Rex has decently high cholesterol, and I tend to skate the line. At the very least, it's nice to have a baseline for her, and we can always make an effort to feed her an appropriate diet. Meh.

My bloodwork was a recheck for my thyroid. Since both of us had recently had full appointments, I thought we were just going to run through the lab. I certainly wouldn't have called the day of, asking for a quick appointment since we had to fast, had I realized we were both going to see the doctor.

Anyway, nothing exciting at the appointment, so we walked over to the lab. I offered to go first, so Jamie could see what was going to happen. She watched me get stuck with sort of a horrified fascination, but she was nervous without being terrified when it was her turn. She sat on my lap while the (very nice) tech explained what was going to happen. She started to cry just before she got stuck, but stopped about the same time the tech was finished. It wasn't even her most freaked out of cries. She didn't flinch or try to move. I am extremely proud of her, even though she now says she doesn't like needles :)

Then for some reason I had to give a urine sample. I've never had to before for thyroid work, so I'm not sure what they were looking for, but whatever, I don't mind gifting my pee. Of course, I got to demonstrate giving a urine sample for the girls as well. Katie was particularly full of questions, from, "What are you doing?" to "What's in the cup, Mama?" My only consolation is that at least it was a relatively private bathroom, and I wasn't trying to euphemistically explain menstruation while a stranger listened in the next stall.

Posted by me at 9:03 PM | Comments (0)

Brave

Posted by me at 8:53 AM | Comments (0)

June 13, 2007

Fuckers. The bank countered with their original counter. They didn't come down a penny. And they waited a goddamn week to do nothing. That's what really pisses me off, that they waited a freaking week.

I'm mad, but more, I'm disappointed. I really wanted this house. I had hopes that this house would actually make me want to stay here, and that we wouldn't be moving YET AGAIN.

Posted by me at 2:33 PM | Comments (0)

Not an uncommon position

Posted by me at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)

June 12, 2007

Blogher

The last thing we heard about the house was that they had received another offer. The bank's realtor stupidly told us that our offer was way better. The hope was that we would hear something today. We did not.

***

I was still waffling over the Blogher decision when Rex was asked to go to California for a work thing. It's a good opportunity for him, but he would be returning on the Friday of the conference. I wasn't too upset, since I was still frankly quite terrified of going without knowing anyone.

I've sort of changed my mind, though. There are a few people going that I think I would like to meet, and that I think I can get the guts together to meet. Of course, our plans have changed, also. Instead of hanging around here while Rex is in Cali, I'll be spending a couple weeks in Maryland with my family. Perfect babysitting opportunity, but it'll cost me $200 to fly to Chicago from there, and I would still have to pay for hotel and the conference. Actually, that's about what it would have been from Dallas. I'm still waffling, I guess.

Posted by me at 8:32 PM | Comments (0)

She's a maniac, maniac!

Posted by me at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)

June 11, 2007

The beauty is hiding on the inside

Posted by me at 8:22 AM | Comments (8)

Updates

Regarding our kind check finders: Our realtor requested their contact information so that he could send them a little reward, so instead of sending a $50 gift card and thank you note, we sent a $25 card and a thank you.

Regarding the foreclosure house: We haven't heard a peep. Our realtor will contact the bank's realtor lunchish time and ask for an update/to let them know that they have until COB Wednesday to respond. We'll take our offer off the table at that time. I find the prospect of losing that house very distressing. I'm still hoping against hope.

Regarding where we plan to live in 3 weeks: We looked at two lease homes on Saturday. Either would do. One was nicer and more elegant, the other was adequate and $400 less per month. If the foreclosure falls through, we'll take the cheaper of the two, assuming it's still available. I have such completely different criteria when it comes to leasing versus buying, it's almost laughable.

Posted by me at 8:00 AM | Comments (0)

June 8, 2007

Hibernation is sounding better and better

Still no word back on the house. We're going to check out some leases tomorrow.

I really want that house, though. And I've gotten what I wanted often enough to be spoiled into believing that this will work out. I'm also rational enough to know that it's unlikely we'll get it for what we want to pay.

And I'm sick enough of myself and this whole business to want to just curl up in a ball and sleep for a few years.

Posted by me at 8:43 PM | Comments (0)

June 7, 2007

I adore my DVR. Even when there's shit on tv, it keeps a little gem waiting for me :)

Posted by me at 2:37 PM | Comments (0)

REWARD!

What's the proper reward when someone finds a $5,000 check and a $100 check (made out to, uh, no one) and mails them back to you, along with a note and phone number in case you have questions?

I'm thinking $50 gift card, not sure to where.

And I didn't lose them, our realtor forgot to staple them to our paperwork.

Posted by me at 8:45 AM | Comments (1)

June 6, 2007

They countered our offer with something that really sucks. We countered with the most we're willing to pay for the heap. Fuck with me, will they? I'm stubborn enough to walk away from this thing on principal, baby.

You know, unless they come through on the money. Money generally trumps my principles :)

Posted by me at 9:41 PM | Comments (0)

Maybe...

Posted by me at 2:42 PM | Comments (2)

The waiting is KILLING me

I somehow forgot to mention that we put an offer on the foreclosure house on Monday. We asked for a quick closing, and put a ton down in earnest money to show how serious we are. Our offer was 90% of asking, which, considering the condition of the house, doesn't seem unreasonable. Everything else was pretty standard.

But we haven't heard anything yet.

Posted by me at 2:23 PM | Comments (0)

June 4, 2007

Maybe that's why I ended up entertaining the kids

Jamie took great interest in my preparations for the wedding we attended this weekend. It may have been the first time I've applied make-up in her presence. She was full of questions, so I thought she would jump at my offer to wear a dab of my perfume, a vanilla oil I've used so sparingly that after 10 years, the bottle is still nearly full. That's how much I love it, so much that I never wear it.

I rubbed a little on my wrists, and then put a dot on Jamie's and had her rub them together. I held out my arm for her to sniff.

She told me I smelled like Play Doh.

Posted by me at 10:00 PM | Comments (0)

Don't look down that pipe!

Posted by me at 7:36 AM | Comments (9)