Miscellany April 29, 2006

Thank you, ladies, for your kind comments on my last post. I don't really feel better about it, because things are still a mess – haven't had time yet to clean again – BUT I have been doing a lot of thinking, and things are going to change in this household. It's going to be tough, and I'm going to have to stick with it, but in the end, everyone will be better off. I'm making chore charts for everyone, and the kids are going to earn privileges such as computer time. Also, once I get their room completely cleaned, they are going to put away whatever they have out at the end of the night. If it isn't put away, before I go to bed, I'm taking it away. Unless it is something special, it will be going to the garbage, or the Salvation Army, whichever is more appropriate. They may end up losing a lot of things before all is said and done, but I would hope that, at some point, they would learn.

I have enough on my plate. The clutter and mess around here all the time just makes me feel worse. Time to do something about it!!!

Let's see, what else? I finished The Omega Stone tonight. Haven't gone to peruse my games to see which one I'd like to start next. I also finished the book I was reading. I pulled another book off the shelf to read – another David Morrell, the last of his that I have, and the sixth in a row I'll have read. This one is called "Assumed Identity."

Today was hubby's birthday. We had some errands to run this morning, so the girls and I gave him his presents, then we went out. After shopping, we stopped in at our "Usual Place" for lunch (breakfast), then dropped him back home before heading to my brother's house to celebrate my nephew's 7th birthday. Hubby had opera, so couldn't attend the party. The girls and I stayed there for a couple of hours. It was nice to visit while they played. Mostly, my baby bro, his fiancee and I talked wedding plans. They've set a date – May 26 of next year. We also spent time talking parties, as there are a couple that we are planning for sometime this summer. Step d called while we were there. I talked to her and her fiancee for a few minutes, but I couldn't hear them very well, so I asked them to call back another day. They were trying to tell me when they were planning on moving up. I couldn't help myself, all I did was roll my eyes the whole time. It's over a year away – and after everything that has happened with her over the last few years, for me, I won't believe it until I see it. Less likely to get hurt that way.

Anyway, that's all. Not much new and exciting going on around here. And that's okay.

who’s to blame? April 27, 2006

all those hours I spent working, cleaning this past weekend?  For nothing.  You can't tell I did a single thing.  Both girls home today – Princess had an allergic reaction to something and had a bad case of hives, enough to keep her home from school, but not enough to keep her down – and the place is a disaster.  Their room.  I spent hours in there alone.  You can't tell I touched it.  They aren't supposed to have food in there, but while I was working, apparantly, they sneaked oreos and popcorn in there.  It's all over the floor.  The rocking horse – and therefore everything underneath it – was baptised with Capri Sun.  The cookies were on a tray, okay.  Wouldn't have been so bad, had they not decided to fill a watering can and take it in there to bathe their Barbies with.  Of course, the cookies got soaked, and disintigrated into piles of dark brown goo.  I took one of the Barbies away, one that I suspected had been coated with juice as well as water, told them I was throwing it away.  I overheard Princess tell Peanut it didn't matter, because they had more of them.

My fault, I know.  All my fault.  Obviously listening closely and checking on them throughout the day wasn't good enough.  And it is our fault that they have so many things they don't care if I throw some away.  It just doesn't matter to them.  There is always something else to play with.  And why bother putting that book back on the shelf, the video back where it belongs, or the toy back in its designated bin?  Mommy will eventually get sick of the mess and clean it up for them, tossing stuff as she goes…

I have not taught my children well, however unintentionally that has happened, howevermuch I tried to make it be different.  So, it is my own damned fault that I feel so utterly…. defeated.

A work-filled weekend April 23, 2006

hours and hours of housework. I’m tired. I’ll live. I’ve got a long way to go, but I’ve made good headway. I’m mentally making lists of how I’ll pack, and what can go. We’re planning to have a yard sale at my folks over the weekend of July 4th. Chances are, we’ll have moved by then, so along with everything I’ve already got in mind, there will be lots of things we find we can live without as we move.

I did watch a few movies, too, while I worked. I made myself look away from the DVD library, into the video tapes for a change. I’m so used to watching just the DVD’s that I’d forgotten how many good movies we have on video. I ended up watching If Looks Could Kill, The Shadow, and The 13th Warrior. All three are movies I haven’t seen in a long time, and that I enjoy, each for different reasons.

tired April 20, 2006

it has been a very long day.  I started work as soon as I got up this morning, and didn't stop for anything – including food – until about 3:30 this afternoon.  I shouldn't do that, I know, but that's just how it goes sometimes.  At least this time, I took water with me, so I didn't get dehydrated like last time. 

After I finally had something to eat, read a little, both online and off, I chatted for a bit with a friend.  That helped me feel a bit less stressed about things that are beyond my control at the moment.  Then I decided, about 6:30 that I needed to get off the computer, and off my butt, to get some work done.  I cleaned for three hours – got half of the living room completely done, including under the couch and all that.  Hubby will notice a difference when he gets home, and should be happy.  As for me, I'm pretty well done in.  I'm going to get Princess in bed, put something on for Peanut to watch, and just veg until hubby gets home and we all go crash.  Tomorrow, will be more work, more housework, then I'm going to a jewelry party at my cousin's with my mom in the evening.  That should be fun.

“It’s a Small World” April 19, 2006

as the incredibly annoying strains of that song run through my head…

There is a place I left behind. I've been happier, more settled since I did. A friend posted something about it not long ago, mentioning how sometimes, you need to give things up for your own good, how it gives you freedom. I completely agree with her. As time goes by, as is the way of it, I think about that place, those people, less and less.

Today, a couple of things brought it to my mind. I started reading a book this afternoon – a good one, The Fifth Profession, by David Morrell. I'm quite enjoying it – it's the fourth of his in a row I've read these last few weeks. Anyway, the main character has to rescue a woman who's being held captive on the Greek island of Mykonos.

This evening, I decided to watch a movie. The Long Kiss Goodnight, starring Gina Davis and Samuel L. Jackson. I don't think it did well in the theater, but it's one of my favorite movies. Anyway, something I'd never caught before… she was talking to someone, who asked where she was. They were driving through Stroudsburg, PA.

"It's a world of laughter, a world of tears
It's a world of hopes and a world of fears
There's so much that we share that its time we're aware
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world
There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship for everyone
Though the mountains divide and the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world"

All by myself April 19, 2006

I can't remember a time I was all alone for so long. I mean, I've been up and downstairs today, so I haven't been completely alone… but I dropped the girls off at my sil's at 10:30 this morning. They're staying the night. Hubby won't be home until nearly 1 this morning. Since about 3pm, I've been very aware of being alone. It's TOO quiet here. I've never been one who likes to be completely alone. Time alone, sure – as long as I know hubby or one of the kids are somewhere nearby.

If I wasn't so worn out, it would be a good time to get a lot of extra housework done. Instead, I'll probably watch a movie and/or do some reading. I might play some of the new computer game I'm working on, but I'm a little irritated with it right now, as I had gotten through a big section, had to change discs, and it froze up. Of course, I hadn't saved since right before the big puzzle I'd solved. *sigh* I'm not sure I feel like playing that part over again right now.

just one of those days April 12, 2006

'Round here, we blame it on the moon.  Seriously.  The full moon brings out the crazy in people, and the moon is very nearly there now.  It's never "self fulfilling prophecy" either, as none of us follows the lunar calendar.  On those days when people seem more nutty than normal, when nothing seems to be going quite right, someone is bound to say at some point, "It must be a full moon."  Nine times out of ten… it is.  Today was very definitely one of those days, from the get-go. 

Minor complaining April 7, 2006

Princess's school is only 7 1/2 miles away. Normally, it only takes us 20 minutes or so to get there. The beginning of the week, they started a construction project – not on the road that we take, but both relatively direct routes to the school are now the detours for the road they are working on (and have completely closed in both directions in the section that runs beneath our route to school). Traffic is bad enough under normal circumstances, but now… it's horrendous. She's been late to school every day this week (except today, but I'll get to that). Wednesday, it took over a half hour to get there. We left early yesterday, hoping we'd get there on time. Nope. It actually took longer. Took me 55 minutes to go those measly 7 and 1/2 miles. Which is just utterly ridiculous. Yesterday, I was so tense from the drive, that my muscles still ache today, compounding the residual aches and pains from my misstep on the stairs the other day. So, last night, I pulled up maps online, and tried to plot a different route to the school, because I can't take that drive like that. I chose a route, and ran it by hubby when he got home. He made one alternate suggestion, which I took, and today I gave the new way a try. It means that we still have to leave early, and doubles the lenght of the trip, mile-wise, but… no construction traffic to deal with, so I guess it's a trade off. Monday I will make one adjustment, to avoid one congested area I had forgotten about, but otherwise, will take the same path I took today, going south of the school, and coming at it from that direction. It's a shame I need to go through all of that, but… as I told Princess a couple of days ago, it's orange barrel season around here! Chances are, the particular project that is causing me fits isn't going to be done before school lets out for the summer. Urgh.

Speaking of Princess, she seems to be having a rough afternoon. I think she's tired – I had to get her up early today, so we could get going 30 minutes earlier than we usually have to leave (field trip this morning – she couldn't be late!). Peanut didn't want to leave to get her this afternoon – she told me she needed to stay home and go to bed, lol. I told her she could sleep in the car. I covered her up with a blanket in the car, which made her happier, and she was out before we got to the end of the block. Poor tiredy girls! Princess is going to go home with granny tonight. Peanut will be unhappy, but mommy is having an inspiration. I think I'm going to see what's playing at the cheap theater. Maybe daddy and I will drop her off at granny's, too, for a while tomorrow after he gets home from rehearsal. *waggles eyebrows* That way, we can have a last date before he gets so busy (he'll only be home 4 evenings through the week the rest of the month). Not a huge surprise, but I LIKE that idea! *seems to remember that Ultraviolet was listed the last time she checked the theater listings. Narnia, too. Hmmm.*

She’s a super klutz, super klutz! April 5, 2006

(sung to the tune of "Super Freak")

So…. this morning I did something really stupid.  Heading out to take Princess to school, I was carrying Peanut down the stairs.  It's 15 steps down.  Usually I count, especially when I'm carrying her, because I can't see the steps when I have her in my arms.  For some reason, I didn't count today.  *eek*

Yep, I missed some steps.  I don't know if I missed just one, or if I missed two.  It all happened so fast, I didn't know I was falling until I was on the ground.  It was at the bottom of the stairs, so at least I didn't fall down too far.  I landed with both of my legs twisted up under me.  Peanut landed on her feet – since I was holding her, when I fell into a sitting position, she ended up standing on the floor – and was okay.  I had her go stand by Princess, who was holding the door open for me, and then started gingerly moving my legs and feet, taking stock.  I didn't want to upset the girls anymore than they already were, so I didn't cry, and kept a light attitude.  Fortunately, I was able to get myself up, and walk, and drive Princess to school.

Getting out of the car when we got home was interesting, lol.  I'm stiff, and sore, but I'm pretty sure nothing's broken, so I'm lucky.  Walking isn't so fun, either, but… it could have been worse, so I'm not going to complain!   

Little things April 4, 2006

At lunchtime today, I moved some papers off my desk so I could eat.  I have this habit of writing on whatever little scrap I can find.  While moving things, I came across a check stub I'd written game notes on.  In the corner, in small print, Princess had written, "I love you mommy!" 

THOSE are the things I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world.