Christmas in Indiana

Christmas came as it always does - whether you are ready for it or not.  This year I was a bit thrown off by all of the November activity with mom and so with a couple of exceptions, all of my shopping was done online.  I guess I should consider myself lucky my identity hasn't been stolen, etc. (at least not that I know of).  Everything I ordered came on time as promised and I couldn't be happier with the experience.  It really helped me to keep the Christmas spirit not having to be cursed at by some little old lady in her Lincoln who wanted the parking space I just parked in.

Thursday (12/23), was CC's day off.  I took the day off as well so we could have some together time.  We got up and got ourselves together and went to run errands.  One of the errands we ran was out to the Infiniti dealer to look at cars.  The Infiniti dealer also owns several other dealerships and they are all on the same acreage.  Approx. 10.  We ended up at the BMW dealer.  I found a car I loved but I can't see me making that kind of payment AND paying insurance on a 16 year old boy.

Friday was my holiday as Christmas was on Saturday.  CC had to work but was able to get off early.  We all opened presents on Friday when he came home.  All I can say is WOW!  I have never received so many gifts for Christmas.  He really went overboard.  I hope he knows how much I liked all of my gifts and how much I love him and his thoughtfulness.  I received a blue topaz ring with matching earrings, a Kindle, a cover for the Kindle, a new blender (mine died), a large glass measuring cup/mixing bowl (don't laugh, I asked for that), a new robe from VS, and a hockey jersey. Somehow I feel like I am missing something but I have been forgetting things all week so I guess that is par for the course. The best gift of all is that he is here with me.  He really did sacrifice a lot to be here and I love him so much for that. He is what I need and always has been even when I didn't know.  Bonus!  He made our Christmas dinner, lasagna!!

Saturday (Christmas) started off a quiet one.  Son went with his father to a Christmas gathering and CC and I stayed home, watching the Stooges (one of his gifts) and reading our books.  We got up after a time and finished up the dining room.  All the paint touched up, everything put away.  It turned out really  well.  CC had found a BMW on Carmax for me and I sent them an e-mail about it. Later on that evening, the Son came home and wanted to be taken to a friend's house.  I agreed, but as usual, he wanted to do the driving.  Of course, in my usual fashion, I told him to slow down.  Then some jerk in a truck came barrelling down the two lane road, blowing past us. His temper flaired and again, I told him there was no use trying to keep up, let him be the one to get a ticket.  Apparently I frustrate the hell out of him and he started to drive crazy.  I told him to slow down, he wouldn't listen, then I told him to pull over and he wouldn't.  I hit his arm closest to me trying to get him to comply.  I finally used the "you will have to go live with your father" card.  He slammed on the brakes and jumped out of the car and started to walk.  I asked him if he wanted his phone, he took it and he would not get in the car so I left to come home. (He had about two miles to his destination).  He called when I was almost home, in tears, stating to come get him.  I turned around, and came up on him.  THEN he tells me he doesn't need me, someone who CARES about him is picking him up.  AND that he would rather live in a box on the side of the road than live with me.   I'm ridiculous, I always yell at him and make life hell, etc.  He was going to come to the house and get his stuff and move out.  ooooookkkk.  So, I came home and let his friend come and get him.

Sunday morning bright and early I get a text.  Basically, he is sorry but apparently I MAKE him do things. (See somehow everything is always my fault).  Blah blah blah.  This goes on for several texts.  He stays away from the house because all I ever do is bitch.  Clean the basement, do this do that.  (Hmmmmm.   If he would do the things I ask, there would be no "bitching").  AND the basement would not get dirty if he could have his garage back. I took it away because I found him, two friends, a bong and a half fifth of Evan Williams in the garage one evening. At any rate, what it boils down to is this.  He takes absolutely no responsibility for his own behavior.  It is always someone's fault.  They made him do this, do that, etc.  Whatever.  Life is going to be very unfair to him with that kind of attitude.  He is definitely growing up to be his father.  I guess he will need to live with him when CC and I move so he can learn how to survive AND be a bum.   How sad is that?
CarMax called me back and is having the BMW brought to Louisville from Knoxville and are suppose to call me when it's here.  I can't wait.

Monday was back to work although it was really relaxed as so many people are out for the holidays this week.  I called my insurance agent to get a ball park on the insurance for the new car and also to find out what to expect in March once Son gets his license.  Son is going to cost me $2125 give or take on the Mazda.  I have to have full coverage as the car is so new, it only makes sense.  The BMW, is really no change once I changed deductible rates because of Son's premium.    Children - the gift that keeps on giving......

Mental States

"I'm not crazy I'm just a little unwell, I know right now you can't tell"....

This sentence pretty well describes where I am at as of late.  I have let my anxiety run amok and it is causing havoc.  I have issues.  I know, we all do right?  Where would we be if everything ran smoothly?  We would be a bunch of bored individuals, not able to realize when things are good.  But I actually do.  In an effort to provide full disclosure, my issues are 1 - Major Depressive disorder, recurrent and 2 - Generalized Anxiety Disorder.  I know this because I have had a psychiatrist tell me so in the past.  Please don't pass judgement.  I believe we all suffer from bouts of depression now and again and the anxiety, well who hasn't felt anxious? ( I believe the world would run a bit smoother if everyone was placed prophylactically on antidepressants).  There is a stigma to this but I don't care.  Most people suffer without treatment, unable to maintain a relationship or to determine they are in a dysfunctional one due to their depression or other issues.  I happen to be a person who recognized it and got treated.  I have been relatively well adjusted until recently.  I think maybe I should explain..

Psych 101

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GAD is a chronic anxiety disorder characterized by persistent, excessive and difficult-to control worry, which may be accompanied by several psychic and somatic symptoms  (Difficult to control the worry, the anxiety and worry are associated with restlessness or feeling on edge, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbances).  It can cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.  Inability to relax.
        Common is excessive worry about everyday things such as family, health, work or finances.  Fear of failure, intolerance of uncertainty. perfectionism.

Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent
Depression is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem and by a loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities.   (There is a bit more to it than that, but no need to go into all that here.  Suffice it to say, I have been diagnosed with this in the past).

It's back. The anxiety.  I think it has been for quite some time.  I 'm just really losing control of it.  I love my CC and my CC loves me. My brain knows these things. My heart feels like it will explode with all of the love I feel for him.  I have never felt this way about anyone.  Ever.  It is a hard thing to grasp. But I think that as we continue to grow together my anxiety is becoming out of control. My mind runs wild with thoughts.  I try to control them but have difficulty. I tend to focus on them to the point I cannot concentrate on anything else.  I get really needy and nothing seems to satisfy the need.  I worry about looks, weight, flaws, have I disappointed, etc.  This continues to the point to where it becomes reality and can drive him crazy.  All of this makes me extremely irritable.  I can be perfectly fine and then snap and fly off of the handle at the smallest thing.  I see it all and recognize it for what it is but my mind cannot keep my emotions in check.  I cry a lot.  Everything, happy or sad can bring me to tears.
There is more to all of this. My last blog is only an example.  I have an appointment on Friday to try to get all of this straightened out and get my mind right.  I will not lose my CC because of my anxiety over losing him. THAT is crazy...

Green-eyed Monster

I am not myself.  I don't think I have been myself in quite some time. I have flashes of me.  Times when I am me but I don't think I have actually been right for several years.

The reasons why are not clear. I have done a lot of self-reflection over the past few months, trying to figure out why I'm not me and why I've been so sad.  I see a lot of things I don't like. Things that make me sad.  It's nothing anyone has done, it's all in my head.  CC loves me, this I know.  He has given up everything to be with me and no one could expect any more from him.  I  feel jealous though.  Of everything and everyone.  From people who aren't in his life any more to people who have always been in the periphery.  Hell, even the dogs.  It's absolutely crazy.  They say that jealousy is just the outward sign of low self-esteem.  I have been trying to determine when my self-esteem reached its all new low.  I mean, jealous of a dog?  The dogs are very important to CC and I know this. This morning it has just rubbed me wrong.  We were sleeping and the dogs began to stir. I got up to let them out.  Only two came. I fed them etc. and went to go get back in bed and the big dog was lying in my spot next to CC. CC remained asleep.  My options are: 1-make the dog move which in turn will wake CC who hasn't been feeling great and needs his sleep or 2-just let it be and go in the other room.  I opted for 2 so I am typing a blog.  Now this all seems silly I know but although we live together, we see very little of each other.  I like to lie in bed for a bit on a weekend, be a bit lazy and for us to hold each other.   Once CC is awake, he is awake and doesn't like lying around, he will get up.  So, in essence, the dog is winning either way.  Even if I played the "I'm a human, you are a dog" card, the dog would still win because she makes a lot of commotion getting up and down, AND she would whine as she would NOW want to be let outside and so he gets up.  I can't win.

That was this morning.  I can think of several other instances where my jealousy flares.  It's one of the hardest emotions to hide.  It doesn't help that I have gained weight.  A LOT of weight, at least for me.  Of course,  people at work tell me they don't see it but I think that is just being nice and the fact they are bigger than I am. I have probably gained 20+ this year and it really needs to go.  I cannot go on like this. It has been almost impossible to get to the gym as of late. We need to focus our efforts but with the holidays, CC's long hours, my mother's hospitalization etc., it has just all gone by the wayside.

The Downhill Slide to Christmas

When I was young, it seemed like forever until Christmas.  The time between Thanksgiving and Santa was more like 4 months than 4 weeks...  Times have changed.  It seems to sneak up on me every year, this year more than ever.  I guess with all of the activity surrounding my mother and my grandfather and having guests over Thanksgiving, it has really seemed to fly by.  I have up decorations but that is it.  I still have a ton of shopping left and I have not started any baking etc.  Ten years ago it seemed as if I had more time.  I could spend cold weekends at home, baking cookies and cakes and preparing hearty meals for the family.  (Now they're lucky to get anything at all ).  I don't think I am any more busy now than then.  I can't seem to figure it out.  All I know is that the shopping isn't done, there are no cookies for Santa and I must be on the naughty list again....  ;)

Update on Mom

Well, somehow she has done it.  She has gotten herself well enough to go home.  Mom is to be discharged from the hospital today.  She is too stubborn to die.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't want my mother to die.  It's just that when she was admitted, she was so sick it appeared death was inevitable.  Now she is going home.  She had nothing going for her at all so all I can chalk it up to is her stubbornness.

Her stubbornness is one of the many reasons I do NOT want her to die.  My mother is a hoarder albeit an extremely neat one.  She is too stubborn to get rid of anything and therefore has a houseful of items she doesn't need.  She will not listen to reason. She feels she is rational when she says there is no reason to throw out any of the 20 lapel pins with the name of her old employer on it.  (Every company has them but does anyone actually wear them)?   She can keep one but damn, 20?  They are all in their individual plastic bags in a drawer.  She has 6 animal crates of various sizes.  The only pet she has left is one cat.  One cat = one crate.  For the occasional trip to the vet.  She won't get rid of any of them because they were "expensive".  I told her we could sell them on Craig's list but she won't hear of it. She might get another pet she says.   Riiiight.......  She can't take care of herself.  All of her "pets" in the last 10 years or so have not been treated well at all.  They are physically sound but they receive no interaction.  Two dogs spent a lot of their time crated when they weren't outside, others in kennel runs.  She feeds them but doesn't play or interact with them.  They were lonely and depressed.  I did the best that I could when I was there but that was only every couple of weeks. It was sad.  She needs no other pets.  She hoards food.  She has two full refrigerators and a chest freezer that is packed as well.  There is just her.  She has started buying things and placing in my grandmother's freezer.  She has so many canned goods etc that are out of date that she will not throw out because "they're still good, they haven't been opened".  I'm not eating anything again that has come from that house.  She has boxes and boxes of sewing items. Materials, patterns, etc.  they are in file boxes stacked along entire walls and up to the ceiling.  There are baubles in cabinets, projects stacked on furniture.  The only place you can sit in the house is the couch (which she sleeps on) or two of the dining room chairs.  The table is covered in her latest project so there isn't a place to eat.  The kitchen counter tops and the bar is covered in food stuffs and miscellaneous junk so there is little room for food prep in a kitchen that has little counter space to begin with.  Her bed is covered in miscellaneous, stuff is stacked on the floor.  There are paths throughout the main level of the house.  The upstairs is fairly clean as she can't climb the stairs to get there.  So...  She has taken to stacking the binders of her crafting magazines up the steps.

The ambulance could not get a stretcher into the house.  She had to walk to the door.  She has learned nothing from this last trip to the hospital other than she needed to get her house phone fixed. (it has been out for almost a year, she didn't want to spend the $75).

When she does finally meet her demise, I am left to deal with the aftermath.  I don't think they make dumpsters big enough for what she has going on in that house.  I am going to try to talk to her today and will probably make her very angry with me when I suggest what needs to be done to keep her safe.  I'll keep you posted...

Thanksgiving Blessings

Update on my Mom. They were able to wean her off of the ventilator on Wednesday.  She is still sick and weak but is doing much better.  They were able to move her to PCU on Friday.  They anticipate she will be able to be released early next week.  I don't know where to as she can barely get around. I can't imagine she will be able to be at home alone.  I guess we will have to see what happens.  This Thanksgiving, I am definitely blessed with family and thankful God has seen fit to spare her at this time.

My Grandfather (my Dad's Dad) fell again this week and has been in the hospital since Tuesday.  He is to have a kyphoplasty (spelling?) on Monday.  My dad and stepmother came up on Wednesday late to be here with him so we have had house guests since.  It has been a very busy month.  CC and I don't know whether we are coming or going.  He has been extremely understanding of everything that has been going on.  Lord knows the action never stops here.

Yesterday and today was filled with decorating.  The inside of the house last night and the outside today.  We are decorated and festive despite the "bah humbug" CC gives me when I talk about it.  It's actually quite cute.  I'm hoping we can get back to some semblance of normal despite the holiday season that is upon us.

Living on the Edge

My mom is sick.  Very sick. She has a history of COPD, CHF, depression. She has been O2 dependent for 5 or so years.  She called me on Wednesday saying she needed to go to the hospital..

I arrived at her home. She was at the table, struggling for breath. She said she had given herself a breathing treatment but it wasn't working.  She was having chest pain. Tingling in her arms.  Coughing so much all of her abdominal muscles were sore. I told her I would not take her to the hospital, she needed an ambulance for that.

The ambulance came and she was off.  The ED staff worked long and hard with her.  She fought the BiPap machine and she allowed them to intubate her.  I don't think she ever thought she would but when you are struggling for air, you will try anything.  She was extremely dehydrated and her B/P continued to drop.  She was placed on the ventilator and had 3 pressors going trying to keep her pressure up.  The physicians did not think she would make it through the night.  She had pneumonia and was septic.  She had suffered a inferior MI.  She was starting to go into renal failure.   They found a bed and took her to CCU.

So, here we are in CCU.  Yesterday she was worse but today is doing better.  I think the antibiotics are beginning to work . She has decent urine output so kidneys are functioning.  She is getting rid of all of the fluid she was third spacing yesterday.  She can look at me and respond.  Her BUN and Creatinine are WNL today. Her ABGs are better, not great but better.  She seems to be coming around a bit. I hope that by early next week they can get her off of the ventilator.  They are talking about starting tube feedings today.  I guess I am okay with that considering she is improving. I know she would not want to live like this long term.  By no means is she out of the woods.  Anything can happen and things can turn so quickly.  She was just at the doctor's office on Tuesday and now all of this.  It kind of gives a new meaning to living on the edge...

Date Night

Waiting for our dinner!

CC and I had a date night Saturday (this is the reason for hiring the Son to watch the dogs)..  We had the most wonderful time!  We left Saturday afternoon around 1pm.  As it is Indian summer, the temperature was around 76 and was sunny.  The trip down to Nashville was a beautiful one.  We made good time and got to the hotel around 4.  CC was able to get us reservations at The Melting Pot.  I had never been and it we were within walking distance so we were off.  Downtown Nashville was busy.  Lots of foot traffic.  Apparently there was some sort of cheer competition as there were many little girls, all with ponytails and huge bows walking the streets with their parents. We arrived and were able to be seated almost immediately.  We had the "Big Night Out" which allowed you to choose an appetizer fondue, salad, entree and dessert.  The service was excellent!  It was a wonderful experience.  We did decide, however, that we would be able to make it on the appetizer and the dessert.  We were so full that we couldn't finish the dessert.  :(  Dining here is a rather lengthy ordeal so be prepared to spend quite a bit of time.  We were seated at 3:50pm and didn't leave until 6:00pm.  (Actually the fact it took so long was a selling point.  We were able to dine and then walk straight to Bridgestone Arena for the game.)

You can see from the picture, the weather was still mild.  No coats required!!  I don't know how CC managed to take this picture without getting Blackhawks in it.  They were everywhere!  We got inside, grabbed a couple of beers and found our seats.

The seats CC got for us were great (as usual).  We were directly across from where his season tickets were last year.  We had some friendly people sitting in our area (even though a few of them wore Blackhawk jerseys).

This game moved fast!!!!  It stayed fast paced through all three periods.  There was a lot of fighting and tension as well.  We could see quite a bit of it as most of it happened on our end of the rink.  The game tied so we went into overtime.  Still no score.


Soooo... It went to a shoot out.  AND WE WON!!!!  This game was so exciting!  He really picked a great one for us to see!

After the game we went to a place called Mulligans.  It was an Irish Pub on 2nd.  It wasn't an over crowded club like most places we passed by.  We were able to find a couple of chairs and listen to the band play Irish music (i.e. drinking songs).  CC was drinking Black and Tans and I was drinking Bass.  They were going down famously after that hard fought win by the Predators.  I think we had 4 pints apiece.  We met a couple who were in town from the same part of Missouri where CC's dad lives.  Mary and Kirk.  Mary was nice and shared a love of smoking with drinking and therefore gave me some of her cigarettes she bought for the occasion.  LOL!  I know! I quit!  But I am telling you, they go so well with beer when you are really tying one on which is what CC and I managed to do.  I think we had the equivalent of a case of beer between the two of us!

It began to sprinkle on our walk back to the hotel but it wasn't too bad.  I had remembered to take an umbrella so we didn't get too wet.  The walk seemed short and we were back in no time.  I was feeling a bit amorous and kept us up for a bit longer before shower and bed.    It was a great end to a perfect evening.  :D

We woke up this morning around 7:30 Nashville time and lounged.  I think we were feeling a bit rough. CC, taking care of me as always, got up and made me a cup of coffee.  We started feeling a bit perkier after showers and left for Noshville to meet up with Stephanie for brunch.  We had an excellent breakfast!  Coffee, French toast and bacon for me, a spinach, cheese and bacon omelet for CC and Stephanie had eggs and hash.  It was great seeing her and catching up on how everything has been going since the wedding.

The drive home was uneventful, we were just really tired and couldn't wait to be home.  CC really knows how to show a girl a great time!  We enjoy ourselves so much whenever we are together regardless of where we are and what we are doing.  We are just made for each other I think.  I cannot imagine ever being more in love or happier with anyone else.

Success!

The Son did a great job.  I am so pleased!  The house is intact, the dogs are great and there is no evidence of a kegger.  We were happy to pay him for the job he has done.  He is currently washing the cars for some additional money.  Backing up to last week~~ When CC gave his talk last week regarding the opportunity to make money he gave an example showing he could make 150-160 bucks when we go on trips.  Now he said we would start with an overnight but that we do like to go places and the amount of time would increase and then he gave the example.  Back to the story~~ Well apparently all he heard was blah blah blah $160.  So, he thought that is what he was going to make for staying the night in his own home and feeding and letting the dogs out.  Teenagers... So now he is washing cars for more money.  CC says he probably had something he wanted to buy with the money.  We decided that since he is in a money making mood, we would take advantage of it as we know it is short-lived.  :)

This is a Test... This is only a test....

Okay, well it is time for CC and I to take off again.  We just got back from Memphis and this weekend it is time for us to go back to Smashville.  The Predators are playing the Blackhawks.  We have had tickets for months.  After the poor treatment of the dogs with the local kennel, we were not going to return there.  I checked out several others and found some that have potential but two of the three I was considering does not have pick up on Sundays.  So, we are going to attempt to allow the Son to take care of them and the house.

I know!!!!  it sounds crazy...  BUT...
The Son has been wanting to prove to us he is responsible and can be trusted.  CC gave a great talk expressing our feelings regarding the dogs, I did the talk regarding the house.  CC explained how this is an easy money making venture and as we go a lot of places, he may be able to take care of things in the future as long as everything goes okay moving forward.  I am hoping this move helps him to be more responsible.  If not, well I hope the house is as intact as it was after the impromptu party he had his freshman year....

I have a couple of people who will be watching from afar.  I really want him to do well but have a safety net of a sort.  I guess he pays for my wonderful memory of what we did in high school plus my memory of what he has already done.  I want to be better.  Baby steps...  That is what I keep telling myself...  Cross your fingers.

It Was a Long Week...

... even longer for CC.  On Wednesday we left for Memphis to help his sister deal with his mother's belongings and to attend the memorial service.  We arrived at his father's without difficulty.  Traffic was fine.  We went to dinner at a restaurant called Tsunami.  It is Pacific Rim cuisine.  Quite tasty.  it was the highlight of the whole trip.  They have the most amazing potstickers.  If you are in the neighborhood, make sure to get them along with whatever tasty options you choose.  It was an excellent evening!

Thursday we went to the house to begin going through the belongings.  CC's sis had been down previously and had done a great job with going through most of the items.  We didn't have to work that hard to finish everything up.  It was hard for the two of them.  Not only are they trying to sort out what is there, but there are relatives stopping in to see what is going on and more importantly to them, what is going out of the house.  Times like this show people for what they really are.

Thursday night we met up with lil' bro and sis and her family for dinner at Memphis Pizza Cafe.  It was pretty good.  It was a chance for all of the kids to get together and talk and catch up without other family members milling about.  Everyone lives so far apart, visits are few and far between. 

Friday morning we got ready and packed up.  We were going to meet Sis at the MD office.  We were late (this was a constant the whole time we were there).  The siblings went inside, I stayed out in the car.  Of course, I couldn't have a boring time.  Some little old lady in her very big car hit CC's vehicle.  Not hard enough to do any damage but it rocked the car all the same.  She couldn't understand why she did not need to be pulled up as far as her nearest neighbor.  (They were NOT in their space).  At any rate, I had her back up and she tottered into the building.  The scariest part of the whole thing was the car seat she had in the back....  THAT is scary.  I can't believe someone would let her drive around their children.

We had lunch and went back to change.  We arrived at the church on time.  (Only because it was in walking distance of Sis's house).  It went off without a hitch.  I don't think anyone behaved badly.  At least not that I could see.  Afterward we went back to Sis's, changed and left for home.  We arrived around 1:30 am and were damn glad to be home.

Saturday we picked up the girls.  They were soooo stressed!  We will not be taking them back to that kennel again.  They are beside themselves by the time we pick them up.  I will be finding a new place to take them this week.  The Son hung out with friends.  CC worked on setting up the LCD TV in the basement.  During the process, he found a leak.  Apparently the shower in the master bath was leaking down into the weight room.  UGH!  Now I need to have a plumber come out.  We also need to determine if there is any structural damage to the floor joist.  He was able to get all of the cable issues figured out. 

We settled down that evening to watch a movie.  The Son called wanting to be picked up.  After the movie, I went to pick up the Son and two of his friends. The father of one of the boys ordered them a pizza and we drove to pick it up. Then we went across the parking lot to stop at the grocery.  We get home without incident.  Well, at least for a minute.  The Son can't find his phone.  We called it, looked for it etc.  The last place he had it was while waiting for me at the grocery.  We go back up, can't find it.  Go inside and ask, no deal.  What sucks is that it is an iPhone.  UGH AGAIN!

Sunday we spent running errands and going to the phone store.  It was time for an upgrade for me so I bought an iPhone 4.0 and had them set up my old iPhone 3GS for the Son.  Needless to say it was an expensive day. I have told the Son he will use that phone until he gets his own contract and buys his own phones as I'm done.  He loses that one and I will stick him with an old clam phone without even a camera.  it is stored in my office for just such an occasion....

Halloween Eve

With Halloween being on a Sunday, I thought I was going to get off easy.  I mean, not have to worry what kind of mischief the Son would cause in celebration of the occasion.  Boy was I wrong.

It started off innocently enough.  The Son left to go out with some friends.  One of his best friends was in town from D.C. and they spent most of the day visiting.  The events were reported to me second hand but here is the short version.  They all went to a party around 8pm.  The Son was drunk and belligerent by 10pm.  By 12:30, he was home.  Of course, I didn't know at the time.  I was asleep in my bed.

I woke to distant voices.  I could hear multiple voices coming from below me. (The Son's bathroom is under my bedroom).  I sent a text to CC asking how many kids came home with him.  ( I was still oblivious as there is always a houseful of kids).  Anyway, CC tells me six.  I walk down to the basement as it was a bit loud.  THAT is when I got the surprise...

Son was passed out on the floor.  He had thrown up on himself and apparently had urinated on himself before coming home.  He was lying on his side close to the commode.  Three of his buddies were in the bathroom with him trying to make sure he was okay.  THEN I saw SG.  (Slutty girlfriend).  She was wearing Son's sleeping pants like she was at a slumber party.  Tangent time.  This girl never speaks to me.  Not since I caught the two of them in bed.  She is still not on birth control and I am trying to find her home phone number to speak with her mother.  Somewhere along the line, Son told her she could stay the night at our house!  I don't effing think so! I looked at her, asked what they F#$% was she doing there.  The kids told me Son told her it would be okay.  I told the kids someone best get her out of the house.  She went into the family room texting madly and disappeared pretty quick.

Most of the kids split after I got up.  I told them he was fine.  He will wake up when he got cold and the tile probably felt good at the time. 

I started hearing a lot of noise around 2am.  I walk back downstairs and he is sitting up, weaving badly.  He had urinated on himself again and I suppose he was uncomfortable.  He had goosebumps.  I took off his t-shirt and changed his shorts.  Laid him on the dry tile and covered him as he was in no condition to walk.  I checked on him again at 6am and he had gotten into his bed so I knew he would live.

The kid didn't eat for almost three days.  Served him right.  Of course he has all of his friends making fun of him.  I hope he learned his lesson but I seriously doubt it.  His lesson will be learned as long as he can still remember how bad he felt.  That will fade with time.  Lord, will I live to see him grown?  He is wearing me out.

WTF Wednesday

Actually the title of this entry is a bit misleading. It's been a WTF week but as today is Wednesday, I went with that.

I have been feeling really odd this past week. By the end of the day, I feel a bit sick, sometimes dizzy. Just kind of yucky I suppose. Nothing tragic but just not good. The weather has been changing to finally some fall like weather. Some rain, cool mornings, brisk windy days and lots of sunshine. I have had arthritis since I was a little girl. I can tell the weather with my joints and this week has been no exception. With the precipitation finally coming into the area, they have been achy all week. I know, I know, WAAAAHHHH!!! Trust me, I tell myself that a lot and I try not to mention it to anyone. CC sees it some. Especially when I am trying to work out. At times it feels as if my knees are going to give out. It can sometimes bring me to tears. It makes me feel weak. I have to slow down, lower the incline when walking. Running is totally out of the question. I thought I was going to fall the other day. All of a sudden my knee went crazy. It scares me when it feels that way.

I guess what is the worst is my body is beginning to feel old. I am starting the "I can't do (fill in the blank) like I used to". Not only that but I'm starting to get "fluffy". Well... Fluffier than I used to be. It is getting harder and harder to get weight off. It's really starting to depress me. I have a hard time with getting old. In my mind, I am still a young thirty-something. The rest of me is definitely not paying attention to my mind. It takes all of the fun out of shopping that's for sure.

I have been taking Aleve daily along with my normal dose of Glucosamine Chondroitin. The Glucosamine worked well all last winter on its own. Not so much this year and the weather really hasn't begun to get bad. I guess it's a good thing CC wants us to move south. Maybe all of the warm weather will help me keep from feeling the aging process.

Happy Birthday To Me!!!!

Friday was my birthday and it seems as if I have gotten a birthday week!

Last Friday I came home early as I did not feel well.  While I was there, the UPS truck came bearing gifts!  CC allowed me to go ahead and have it.  It was a  Toy Watch!  I had mentioned one time I thought they were really cool and we had looked at them on line as he had NO idea as to what I was talking about and HE ORDERED ME ONE!  :D  Here is what it looks like: 

You can go to the toy watch website
and check them out!  This one is a white plasteramic.

So, I got my gift early and I am very happy.  It is soooo refreshing to have someone pay attention to the things you say so you can actually be surprised on a gift giving occasion.  But little did I know, he wasn't finished...  ;)




CC is so thoughtful!  I decided to take the day off on Friday so Thursday he had cookies delivered to work for me and all of my staff!  I was very surprised  :)  I am sure my staff now loves him too! (Albeit not as much as me)!!

COOKIES!

On Friday, I decided to take the day for myself and go shopping.  As much as shopping is one of my favorite pastimes, it is the least favorite of CC.  Since his arrival I have saved oodles of money as I have spent time with him instead of at the malls.  LOL!  At any rate, I was in dire need of some new clothes so I headed across the river to Louisville to shop.  Oddly enough, we have two malls on the same street (even same side of street) that would practically be next door neighbors if it weren't for I264 running between them.  It makes it handy as what one mall doesn't have, the other one does!  I was able to do both malls in the same afternoon. Bonus!  My friend Sandy, who is retired but busier that she was when she was working, was able to meet me for lunch.  We met at the California Pizza Kitchen for lunch and a glass of wine.  It was a nice break in the day.  

Cookies are a happy thing!

I had put a roast on before I left and so no worries about supper.  I was able to get home around my normal time.  Unfortunately, CC wasn't.  He ended up having to work over at the hospital and
didn't get out of there until 7: 30.  That is really a bum deal.  Apparently it's going to be pretty common too.  :(  He said they waited around quite a bit in the morning for the patients to arrive and then were slammed after the lunch hour.  They were really busy after that.  There is no priority placed on lunch in that department either.  No one seems to care whether you get one or not, just concerned with if the patient has been done and when will they get the report.

It makes me feel bad.  No one should be unhappy in their work and this whole deal borders on miserable to me.  This is NOT what he wanted.  I just hope something opens up internally before he goes crazy in this current role.  At any rate, at least he was able to come home, get some supper right away and try to relax.

The son left the house and wasn't due back for a few hours.  He decided and I wholeheartedly agreed this was a most opportune time to get frisky!  So.... Here I am getting a birthday present when all of a sudden, "MOM!"  I shrieked!  We did not hear him come back into the house.  Tangent time..  That is really saying something as he goes no where without slamming doors and making all kinds of noise.  Not to mention all three of the dogs generally go nuts when they hear a door.  Anyway, the son was in the hall calling me wanting the keys to the garage out back as he needed to get some tools.  I told him to wait and I would be out.  Close call!!  He was gone again as fast as he had arrived and I did manage to get my birthday present!  YAY ME!

On Saturday, we spent the time doing normal Saturday activities.  We went to the gym, out to lunch, CC got a hair cut (well he got them all cut), and we stopped to pick up our menu from Commander's Palace that we had framed.  It turned out really nice.  This type of souvenir is one unique to us and I like collecting these types of things.  I took a picture of it with my phone so it isn't fabulous but you can see approximately how it turned out.
  We were really excited to finally have it on the wall.  We spent the afternoon sitting around, watching football and just kicking back in general.  He then said we were going out for dinner! He made reservations at The Oak Room.  I know there is one in Boston and one in NYC and probably a few in other places.  All of which are unique, not chain restaurants.  We have one too.  :)  Ours in located in the Seelbach Hotel.  Tangent time.. The Seelbach was built in 1905 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.  F. Scott Fitzgerald used The Seelbach Hotel as a back drop for Tom and Daisy's wedding in The Great Gatsby.  The food was absolutely wonderful!  We decided to have a three course tasting along with the wine pairing.  The Seelbach has a full time Sommelier so it has to be good, right?  For an appetizer, we had the Pecan Pie Salad which was lolla rossa, Woodford Reserve pecans maytag blue cheese ice cream, pear praline.  This was paired with a very lovely Reisling.  Our entree was the Montana Ranch Beef Tenderloin with roasted fingerling potatoes, baby carrots brussels sprouts, saffron aioli, port jus.  They served a Cabernet that had a lot of oak flavor to it.  I'm not big on Cab so I find it a difficult wine to describe.  For dessert we were served an apple  something with the equivalent of a hot Toddy to go with it.  The staff was right, there really wasn't a wine that could be served with it and the warmed bourbon was just the ticket.  They finished us off with Kentucky truffles.  Think of a bourbon flavored truffle.  VERY bourbon flavored...  The meal was excellent!  We had such a great time and the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable.  What an enjoyable evening!

Sunday we enjoyed coffee and the paper.  I left around 10am for another afternoon of shopping while CC stayed home enjoying football and playing with the girls.  The weather was beautiful and you just couldn't have asked for a better weekend.  Steaks and potatoes at home for supper and some cuddle time on the couch in the evening!  It was the best birthday ever!!!

Monday morning....

Well, today is Monday and CC has started his new job. So far he has arrived on time, made it to lunch and hates orientation. I hope it gets better as the week progresses.

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

As sappy as it can sound and feel to type I just can't express just how happy I am.

It is like being in exactly the place you belong, where everything fits, and all is right with the world.

If I'm dreaming, don't wake me up.

The Pursuit of Happiness

It's what we all want.  To be happy.  Happiness can be elusive. Sometimes we lie, telling ourselves and others we have achieved it when in reality we have not.  Then there are also the times where we had it and threw it all away.  Lastly there are times where we had it all along but were too blind to see it.

I'm not really sure where I fit into that mix but I can say with certainty that I am happy.  CC makes me the happiest I have ever been.  It's almost like living someone else's life.  I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Nothing good has ever happened to me that has lasted any length of time.  I'm really hoping this does.

CC has had a job offer possibly two from one hospital in town.  He wants the one that is currently up in the air but will take the other if he isn't offered the one he wants.  I know he isn't exactly happy about either.  He wants to be in the cath lab but there aren't any jobs in town in that department.  I feel bad about the fact he isn't going to be able to have work he finds enjoyable.  He deserves his happiness, at work as well as home.

I hope he is happy too.  He says he is.  I worry.  He has so many things on his mind I can't differentiate if any of his stresses and worries are due to me or not.   His mom is sick and doesn't seem to be improving, lack of work, etc.  I can't help with any of these things and I definitely don't want to add to them.

It's hard living here.  I know it is.  It's one thing to have different child rearing mindsets but when you are not used to children at all and are saddled with a spoiled teen, it has to be almost unbearable.  My son is not  horrible but he surely isn't ideal.  He is a teen, he is lazy, he is moody and he is self-centered.  I attribute all of those things to being a teen because I can remember being the exact same way.  There is a lot of me in my son and I guess that is why I tolerate a lot of it because I know it was how I was and I outgrew it.  One can only hope he does too.  But, I know all of this is hard for CC to watch.  He stands by, bless him, doesn't say anything and I know there are times when he really wants to.  He has managed to make it about 5 weeks so far living here.  It's a long way to two years if you are miserable...

Instructions Not Included

It's crazy how so many people want children without actually knowing what they are getting into.  Most often times when making large purchases, we will pick up items, read the box, compare to other items prior to investing money in the item.  We will surf the net, do the research, compare and contrast what is available and make an informed decision.  Interestingly enough, people just jump right out there and have children without any research at all. (P.S. They are WAAAAYYY more expensive than any huge flat screen television or high performance car you may consider).

It's "time".  "My clock is ticking". "But all my friends are having kids..." These are phrases heard when the decision is made to start a family.  No logic involved.  You don't have to have a license  or a permit or even show proof of income.

It sounds good at the time.  You spend 9 months preparing for the birth of the unknown.  Boy or girl?  Red head or blond?  Tall? Short? Healthy?  You just never know what you are going to wind up with but we dive in and embrace it.

When they are born, you are caught up in the newness of parenthood.  You don't seem to mind the puking pooping mess that seems to constantly spew from the little one.  Some people even respond to it by saying, "Awwww... Isn't he/she cute?"  All of the firsts begin to happen.  Rolling over, crawling, walking, first words, etc.  We are hooked.  Then.... the challenges begin...

Toddlers can be extremely willful.  I believe some of this stems from genetics but the rest is just a child's innate desire to test their parents (or any adult) every chance they get.  "NO!" Becomes their word of choice.  It is the start of the never ending battle for independence.  If you didn't have patience by this time, you best start getting some).

School starts, another first.  We are all happy and teary-eyed watching them get out of the car and go into the school for the first time.  They stop wanting hugs and kisses goodbye. Mine went so far as to tell me I had to do it before we reached the school because he didn't want anyone to see if I absolutely had to do it.  They really begin to fine tune their personality at this point. Even at this young age, the kids begin falling into their cliques. You have the social, social and smart, jocks, kids that just get by, the attractive, unattractive, and so on.  Some things never change from generation to generation.

Middle school fuels the division between the groups.  They still need you but only when they are in trouble or need money.  The migrate from one group of friends to another.  It sometimes happens so fast that you miss entire groups altogether.  They begin having girl/boyfriends.  A social life.  And, without the ability to drive, your role changes to that of chauffeur.  Parents become nothing but the personal taxi of their offspring.  The kids will join clubs, sports teams, etc.  You spend a lot of time in your car, waiting outside of the school, outside of a friend's house, picking up other children going the same way.  You find yourself leaving work early, going in late, to accommodate their schedules.  Before you know it,  you are doing your weekend chores during the week because you have just been informed your weekend will be spent sitting on bleachers, or in a field for some marathon sporting event. AND, you have been designated to bring water, snacks, etc. for the entire team.

Tangent.  Some facts about sports in middle school....
-Practices are generally held after school. (This is good).  However, they seldom last long enough for you to transition from work to the school for a timely pick up. (This is bad).  You need to leave work early on practice days.... (This is also bad).
-Many middle school sporting events are held during the week (This is good). Some of them begin early, almost right after school causing you to leave work early yet again if you are going to watch (this is bad).
-Coaches will often call you about transportation for other team members whose parents are unable or unwilling to attend. (this is neutral).  But, if the parents never show up at the event, you can be stuck taking them home (this is BAD.  At least where I live.  Only three middle schools in the county so trekking across a county can take a considerable amount of fuel and time).  My advice is to by a car that will only hold you and your offspring.  "Sorry coach, no room".

Okay, back to middle school..  This is where you really wish there was an instruction manual.  The things you witness or hear about that go on at this age, you cannot seem to remember ever happening when you were in school.  They begin having sex, (at least a few of them), they talk about it, etc.  You can only remember maybe some intense kissing at this stage..  They go on group dates.  They meet at the movies (no mom you can't stay and watch one, even if it is in another theater).  So, you have to keep yourself occupied until the appropriate pick up time.  They make weekend plans by Wednesday so you make your own plans, just to find out Friday night they have changed several times since then and therefore have ruined the ones you have made.  The constant request for money begins.  It began with the obligatory funding for participation in sports, clubs, field trips, etc.  It begins to blossom out into spending money.  For a kid who can't drive, they ask for quite a bit of it.  (This intensifies by the way.  See high school).  You begin to doubt whether or not you are cut out for parenting, long for periods of time where your kiddo is staying with a friend so you can slow down and breathe, and dread whatever is coming next.

We eventually survive and make it to high school.  This is where you really want the manual.  Decisions you make, can set precedent.  It's worse than the supreme court.  Kids have a fantastic memory for what you say when it is what they want to hear or if it was something you okay'd in the past but now think you should have handled differently.  When the situation arises again, going against a former decision is noted, called out and argued until you break.  You begin to believe your child would make a great lawyer.  Funny thing is, they DON'T remember to do what you asked five minutes ago.  "Would you please bring up your laundry?"  Child says, "Can it wait until a commercial?"  You agree.  5 hours later, no laundry and a "I forgot" when you ask again. (This is coupled with a look telling you that you are a pain in the ass).  Money flies out of your bank account.  Money for sports, class ring year books, school fees, dances, entertainment, orthodontics, cars, insurance, gas, clothes. Shoes for basketball, wrestling, running, etc. It never seems to end.  I also spend a large amount of income on food.  There is 5-6 teenage boys in this house at any given time and they eat nonstop.  CC calls them a plague of locusts.  Apparently no one else's parents bother to feed them.  They all eat here.  I need to begin charging a cover at the door...

They know EVERYTHING!   Nothing you have to say is right.  You are stupid.  ANYONE can tell them something but not you.  They will insult you, hurt your feelings, treat you like a servant and then turn around and ask you for a favor.  The entire world revolves around them and you are just lucky to be in it.  Now they have girlfriends, have sex, drink etc.  Stuff they don't tell you about but you know is happening.  Kids nowadays ask parents to buy alcohol and let them have a party where everyone stays the night.  NO!  Not here. Not this mother.  I'm sure all the other parents are buying their kids Hummers and Porsches for their first cars too but not here.  Really?  How stupid do I look?

At times it looks as if I will never survive.  I also look at the son and wonder if he will ever mature enough to take care of himself.  The whole thing is wearing me out...

Crescent City Coolers are Fabulous!

Well, we finally got to take our New Orleans trip!  Our planning took place in June.  About time huh?  CC was able to cover our trip well in his blog.  Feel free to read up and get the details there.  :)

This was my first trip to New Orleans.  I had such a wonderful time!  The traveling by train was fantastic!  I wish we had a better rail system. I would like to travel by train more often...

Train Depot

CC in our sleeper

The weekend weather was great!  The humidity was relatively low until Monday so it wasn't too bad walking around seeing the sights.  We stayed at a bed and breakfast called Avenue Inn.  It was on St. Charles and the streetcar ran right in front so it was easy getting to and from the Quarter.

Avenue Inn

Labor Day weekend is a great weekend for travel as you don't have to take as many vacation days from work.  However, you should always check the city where you are going for any festivals and activities that may be occurring during your visit.  We found out after our planning that Labor Day weekend was also the weekend for Southern Decadence (Gay Mardi Gras).  We got some sights we did not expect!

That is no kilt!

Christmas ornaments for sale

St. Louis Cathedral from across
Jackson Square

We visited St. Louis Cemetery Number One.  We saw St. Louis Cathedral and many of the old buildings in the Quarter were something to behold.

St. Louis Cemetery

One of the beautiful buildings in the Quarter

We ate wonderful food as well!  Cafe Pontalba had a wonderful breakfast.  It is right in Jackson Square with a great view of the cathedral.  Red Fish Grill was an excellent choice CC made for lunch.  It was a good place to enjoy great food and get out of the rain shower!  We had a Ferdi at Mother's Restaurant for supper the day we arrived.  It was excellent!   Cafe du Monde was another excellent breakfast choice.  Who can deny themselves those wonderful donuts?  Muffalettas could not be had at Central Grocery as they were closed for the holiday.  We settled for the Muffalettas at Frank's next door.  It was very good although CC says not near as good as the ones at Central Grocery.  We went to a place called Snug Harbor for dinner and some jazz music.  The food was good and the music was great!  CC describes the happenings during the show in his blog.  Needless to say, it had the potential to be a highly entertaining show!

Waiting for the music at Snug Harbor

Our big night out was Monday night, our last night in the Big Easy.  We went to dinner at Commander's Palace.  It was one of the most memorable dining experiences I will probably ever have.  The service was impeccable.  The food was out of this world!  We opted for the Chef's Playground with the wine/cocktail pairing.  Basically, we sat down and they just brought us food and drink of their choice and we ate and drank!  Again, CC covers this well in his blog.  I finally was served an oyster that I liked!  I have to say that I have been trying to like oysters for many years.  I have tried them every way I can find.  Crispy Oyster Meuniere is the ticket!  I must say that they had a cocktail that was out of this world!  A Crescent City Cooler.  I liked it so much, I had to ask for the recipe.  It has Cruzan Guava Rum in it.  Who knew rum came in guava?

Before we knew it, it was time to go home.  Like our other vacations, we have such a good time that it seems like it flies by.  CC was getting sick a bit come Monday so I suppose it was a good thing it was time to go home.  We didn't have to like it though...

At the NOLA airport.  Going home,
BOO!!!!!

It was a wonderful vacation spent with my favorite person on the planet!  Trouble is, we have not planned our next one.  We need to get on that!

CC is almost better from his cold.  It really wiped him out!  He has been down all of the week following our trip.  He is almost better now so for that I am happy.  :)

I Can Barely Contain Myself!

It's that time again. VACATION TIME!  I love to go places and I especially love traveling with CC.  He is such a good travel partner.  Well, actually he is a good everything partner but I digress.

It is finally time for us to take our New Orleans vacation via Chicago by train.  It is going to be a bit of an adventure!  They say that the train ride is approximately 19.5 hours.  We leave Chicago at 8:00 pm and will arrive at 3:30 pm the following day.  It's a good thing we enjoy each other's company so much because that is a long time to be in a small area with just one person.  Of course, I can't think of anyone else I would want to be confined with so it all works out!!  :)

The weather here in the Ville is awesome.  Sunny and high 70's.  A nice break from the 90-100 degree stuff we have had to endure all summer.  According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA), beginning in June, Louisville spent the most days of any city in the country with above normal temperatures: a total of 73 for June, July and up thru August 17th. The city normally sees summer highs ranging from 83 degrees in June to 87 degrees in July. This year we logged nearly all of June and July above normal, and spent every day in August, up thru August 17th, above normal - way above normal. Our actual temp hovered between 98-101 with heat indexes around 110 or better.

I'm hoping our weather in NOLA is nicer than the summer was here.  Because of the slight chance of rain everyday, I have packed an umbrella.  Usually packing an umbrella means you won't need it.  I hope that is the case this weekend.  It should be a great time!

And So It Goes...

I know this is a topic that continues on and on but I am so worried.  I worry about CC's happiness.  My house is grand central station.  He is used to peace and quiet.  I have a smart mouth teenager who has been spoiled.  I know it is difficult to watch.  He is further north.  No job yet and when he does have one, it more than likely will not be one he wants.  His life is all upside down and it is all my fault.  I don't know what to do to make it better.

Buzzzzzzzz...

Today after work CC and I went to visit one of those Beehive Communities.  Otherwise known as assisted living.  My grandmother has talked about one for a while and CC's mother needs a little help, but otherwise is capable of independent living.

They are actually pretty nice.  They are not nursing homes.  They do not smell.  They have supervisory staff 24/7.  I get the name now.  They essentially have some central areas, tv room, kitchen, dining, activity room but they also have some space of their own.  All of the rooms are off of the main areas and halls.  Just like a beehive. You can have your own cable tv in your room, phone, etc.  They all come with their own private baths.  The rooms do have different sizes to accommodate married couples, sisters, etc.

No one is forced to socialize.  You can keep to yourself in your room as much as you want without anyone bothering you.  You can also participate in all of the available activities as well.  It's pretty much an all inclusive thing.  Food, personal care, utilities etc. is all covered.  No up charges.  That is nice and makes it easy to budget for.  Now, you are still looking at 3200-3400 a month.  The equivalent of a big mortgage and some college tuition but can be a viable option.  I think it is something my grandmother could embrace and she has the money to swing payments.

Concern is, are the people happy?  While we were there, many of the residents were in the main TV area watching Andy Griffith.  Not a lot of chatter.  It was a bit hard to tell if they were actually happy.  It's all good in theory but then I think, "what if it was me?"  I love my grandmother dearly and would rather she just come and live with me.  She is a hoot and an absolute joy to have around.  I would never want to do anything that made her unhappy even if it was something she asked for.

CC's mother is another story.  I don't know if it will work for his mother.  We may be better off finding her a handicap accessible apartment close by.  We can do the laundry, grocery, etc. but she will have her own space and it will be more cost effective for her budget.  I think regardless, that whole road is a rough one traveled.

It Was Bound To Happen...

I knew it.  I just knew it.  Somehow I had the feeling today was the day and I was right.  Today went well. I left work early to run an errand as the store was to close at 4.  I picked up a new garage opener and headed toward the house.  I went to call my son and hung up the phone.  I occasionally like to come home at odd times to surprise him, make sure he isn't up to no good while I am out.  My instincts paid off today.

The garage door was open when I came home.  I pulled in and sat in the car for a few minutes, finishing my conversation with CC. We have two doors from the garage that enter the house.  One enters the laundry/mud room and the other enters the top of the basement stairs and turning, into the foyer.  I walked into the latter and called out for the Son.  He said he was in the basement taking a nap.  He was WAY too alert to be napping.  The basement was totally dark so I turned on a light and decided to walk down.  I looked into his room and he was in bed.  I flipped on the light and the covers didn't look right.  I glanced around and saw clothing that was DEFINITELY not his.  I tapped what looked to be his leg and asked if it was his and he said yes.  I pulled back the covers and low and behold....  I found FOUR feet.  *Sigh*.

I asked who was under the covers with him, guessed and told him to dress and come upstairs.  I questioned him on the usual.  What were you thinking? Did you wear a condom? How stupid do you think I am?  And so forth.  I had him go downstairs and fetch his girl and bring her up as we were ALL going to sit for a talk.

I was blunt.  Discussed birth control (which she was not on), discussed condoms (failure will happen before they win the lottery) and both should be used.  We discussed ramifications of babies at young ages, what they could expect their lives to be like if it happened etc.  I laid it all out on the line.  I advised her to go home and have a discussion with her mother about birth control.  She has 30 days to take care of this and prove to me she had or I will discuss with her mother.  I think they got the picture.

The fact is, I did it as a teen and everyone else was too.  I am not so naive to think that the kids aren't doing it now and probably at a younger age.  I figure the best you can do is to make sure they understand ramifications of not thinking beyond their urges and to make sure they are protecting themselves from unwanted pregnancies and disease.  We have kept condoms in this house since the Son was 12-13.  I guess it was a good thing.  They were slowly disappearing.  You never know if it was his friends taking them or the Son but at least they are being used.  For that I suppose I can be thankful.

The Long Week Ahead

Next Saturday CC is moving to be with me.  It's gonna be a long week.  I'm so excited!  FINALLY we get to be together.  :)  I love him so much!

Getting What I Want....

I'm getting what I want. CC is moving to be with me in 9 days. I'm scared to death. Not of how I will feel and react but how CC feels. He is leaving his world for me. His job, home, friends, sports. What if he is unhappy here? I don't want him to be miserable. It makes me a bit sick to my stomach to think of him unhappy. I want this more than anything but not at the cost of his happiness. And so I worry...

Late Nights and Neon Lights

View from a Vegas skywalk

Wow!  CC and I had a great time in Vegas! It was better than I imagined it would be.  CC covered the highlights in his blog but I will fill in the blanks.  :)

I left work around 11a.m. on Wednesday to take the Son to the airport.  He went to stay with my Dad in Orlando while CC and I were away.  I drove straight to Nashville from the airport and got there pretty early.  We  met up with a friend of his from work at Eastland Cafe.  I had a wonderful time.  Food was good and Nicole was very nice.

Thursday finally arrived and we were off to Vegas!

After a lengthy plane ride we finally arrived.  Although we had lunch at Gerst Haus before we left, I was starving!  (CC reminded me we ate at 11 CST and it was around 7 CST when we landed so it was okay to be hungry).  Whew!  LOL!
A short cab ride later we arrived at the Luxor.  Pyramid shaped hotel.  Not bad but it was at the end of the strip.  Needless to say, we were able to walk off our Mexican with the distance between the Luxor and the Venetian.  Blue Man Group was great!  I was able to get my picture taken with one of the "Blue Men" afterwards.

Unfortunately, I had not used my camera since we went to the Chihuly exhibit and the camera was still set for taking pictures at night.  Sooooo - we're a bit fuzzy...

We hiked back to the hotel afterwards and about died.  I was up about 5 hours past my bedtime!  The one thing I should have mentioned is that the people with the cards on the street drive me crazy!!!  It was so very annoying to have all of these people wave these cards at you.  UGH!

The next morning after a breakfast of coffee and a scone, we went and bought tickets for two more shows and then back to the hotel.  We decided to kick back at the pool.  Special of the day was Red Stripe buckets of beer.  Dinner was at a restaurant called SeaBlue.  It is a Mediterranean restaurant in MGM and very good!  We walked from there to New York New York where a bit of gambling was done prior to the start of Zumanity.  We had excellent seats, second row!  The row in front of us was made up of love seats which was pretty interesting to say the least.  The show was great! I don't know where they find so many people who seem to have rubber joints.  Talk about flexible!
Our walk back to the hotel seemed quite a bit longer than our walk to the show.  Needless to say, lack of sleep, alcohol on board and very tall heels made me quite cranky.  My shoes were giving me fits and blisters on the balls of both of my feet and I had a melt down.  :(  I'm quite embarrassed about it but feel the need to apologize in a somewhat public manner.  So, I'm sorry baby.  I behaved badly and will not do that again.

Saturday came and we decided a laid back afternoon was in order, so back to the pool!  Today's special... Heineken!  CC looks very relaxed doesn't he?  ;D
Lunch was poolside as well.  I ran inside and grabbed some yummy sandwiches and it was a picture perfect afternoon.  We returned to the room for a bit of a lie down and to secure reservations for dinner.  Sgt. Pepper Live featuring Cheap Trick was an early show at Paris so we needed to get  reservations quick!  The winner was  Mon Ami Gabi.  French!  It was yummy!  Not long after dinner it was time for the show.  Great music and great company.  You just can't ask for any more than that!

We were up early to catch our plane.  The flight was uneventful and before too long, we were back in Nashville.  We picked up the girls. They were very excited to see CC!  We spent a low key night at the house just watching some television and cuddling on the couch.  Monday came too soon and I left to go back home, making a pit stop at the airport to pick up the Son.  In less than two weeks, CC will be making So. Indiana his home too.  I can't wait!

Viva Las Vegas!

We will be leaving for Vegas in just a little bit.  I can't wait!!!!!!!

The Best 10K Ever Spent

View from the carport

My family has a 23 acre farm. Grandma lives there and I take care of it.  We keep 6-8 acres as her "yard". This means mowing and trimming around EVERYTHING.  We had a small riding lawnmower for several years which was very difficult to use as the grass could get so tall.  The mower was too small for the job.  About 5 years ago I talked my grandmother into buying a tractor that can handle our mowing needs.  She spent 10k on our Massey Ferguson GC2300 compact lawn tractor.  it is diesel and can really mow.  It can take down trees 1/2 inch in diameter without blinking.  I somehow neglected to take a picture of it today so here is one from the Internet.

Now it still takes about 8 hours or so for one person to do the whole thing right, trimming, etc. so I go every other weekend to take care of it.  You get a sense of accomplishment when you look at the end product but I can think of way better things to do other than yard work.  I took some pictures of the end product: (More text at the end).

Immediate front yard

Obligatory vehicles that don't run you have to mow around...

Section of front yard by the road

Coming down the drive

The house

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back yard, both sections

Back yard

There are several other sections of yard I did not take pictures of but you get the idea.  A small riding lawn mower just wasn't made to do this type of mowing.  I love my tractor!!