I'm working hard on 'winding down'. Not sleeping well....probably the heat.
Day 2 of my vacation has me lunching in Livermore with a dear friend...whom I have not seen or heard from in AGES. I finally called her last week and left a 'hey, I'm worried about you' message on her voicemail. She called right back - she's fine...just busy living her life. She reminded me that she always feels 'in touch' with me 'cuz she reads my blog....sadly, she does not blog; therefore, I can't say that I 'fee' in touch when we haven't spoken. We are remedying that by lunching today.
I am working on a to-do list - I highlight things as they are done - so far, I've highlighted 5 things on a list of 14....not bad for those things being done on Day 1 (yesterday).
I'm also working on getting a decent 'base tan'....which is harder with age. The days of slapping on some Bain de Soleil (remember that thick orange, coconut-y smell goop that we all lived in during the 70's and 80's?) and sitting outside by the pool all day. Now, it's 20-30 minutes at a time MAX and I still come in with my skin looking like low-quality tanning leather. Argh! Still, while I'm not 'dark', I know I'm getting some 'tan' 'cuz I have minutely faint 'tan lines'. So that's progress. And it's true what they say - tan fat looks better than white fat. It's a fact.
I love being off in the summer 'cuz it's so much 'slower' at work - no schools in session which lowers the emails and voice mails considerably. I don't feel compelled to check emails constantly. And the Blackberry eliminates the need to log-in to work at all if I choose. A quick glance will show me emails pending and I can choose to open them or not. It's mostly 'not' so far. Someone tried to rope me into a call yesterday and I wrote back and said 'sounds like this is something that can wait until I return on the 6th'. And so we're waiting. Easy as pie.
Our Governor is now proposing changing the PERS (Public Employee Retirement System) formula for those hiring on from this point in time forward. This pisses me off for a lot of reasons...it won't affect me. But it's really not who it's affecting that bugs me - it's just the entire concept. That system is paid for by the employees (who contribute 7% of their pay - mandatory, by the way - you can't opt out. If you are employed by a school district or a municipality or as a safety officer, you MUST participate in PERS and pay the 7%) and by their employers (who contribute close to 10%). That means for every single employee drawing a pension on that system, 17% of their salary has been contributed annually to the fund to pay the pension benefits upon retiring. The Governor's proposal is to delay the point at which a member can draw benefits by moving the 'age' from 55 to 60. I don't really know what his motivation is, but I know it is driven by cash flow. Moving that age 5 years slows retirees down a bit which is less of a draw on the PERS system....which is coming from the State's coffers. Only problem with that is: we've all paid into that system. So why does the state need to use our money? Because they don't have enough cash to have that outflow. Which means (implies, to me at least) that they've been using our cash to float their boat. And now they can't do that anymore.
It pisses me off when I hear people bad-mouthing the state's teacher and non-teacher retirement plans. The plans are paid for by the people who participate. The state doesn't contribute a dime to those plans. Just the employees and employers. So why are they messing with changing that system? PERS is well funded. Good investments have resulted in good returns. Sure, it's taking a hit now - what pension fund isn't? But it's solvent. The state isn't going to have to do a thing.....and yet, he's proposing changes.
I don't get it.
That's my crazy for the day. Off to lunch.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Seriously (Warped)
The boys had a great time at the concert. Arrived home in the evening yesterday....B. with three friends who all headed for the pool upon arriving here. H. returned around midnight after enjoying dinner out with friends.
H. has possibly the worst sunburn I've ever seen - it's already a zillion blisters. It's BAD. He said he used sunscreen. J. tried to remind him to take a hat - but like most things we suggest, we know nothing and he ignored the advice. Big mistake. He will be peeling for weeks, probably well into our Cancun trip. Not a good thing.
B. didn't get too fried....he's a little burned but not as badly as H.
H. also bought a t-shirt. He showed me the front - the name of one of the bands and a design that features things you see in Florida (since that's where the band is from). I said 'cool'. What he neglected to show me was the back of the shirt - which has a hugely inappropriate phrase that will NEVER be worn anywhere except in this house when he's scrubbing the toilets or something. I don't know what he was thinking - why he would waste money on a shirt that I'm positive he knew we would never, ever let him wear. He's been completely 'indignant' most of the day....and I've been reciprocating. Told him that as far as I'm concerned, he should give me the t-shirt for my rag bag because he is absolutely, positively NOT stepping foot out of this house in that shirt. Ever. He might as well have thrown $20 in the trash can....we do not allow the 'f' word....end of discussion. It may slip out of our mouths on rare occasions...we're not perfect....but we will absolutely NOT be walking around sporting shirts that say that word in bold print. Not happening. Not on my kid.
I spent yesterday with a full-fledged migraine...including being sick to my stomach. Far worse than last Wednesday's which kept me home from work. I stayed in bed most of the day - and we missed a Lion's dinner which we'd been looking forward to. I feel a lot better today....thank goodness. The only side effect has been a stiff back from being horizontal for so long yesterday.
J. and I spent a little time in the pool today floating on our rafts. Trying to get a little sun in preparation for Cancun. I feel 'tan' though I still have miles to go. But figure I'll try to do 10-15 minutes everyday this week since I'm off.
I have lists of errands to run, things to do, etc...and hope to accomplish a lot. Will plan to take B. to LPC on Wednesday to pick up financial aid packets and buy his books. He's POSITIVE he's going to LPC to get a two year degree - then onto the Police Academy.
We're enjoying a Law and Order SVU marathon today....nice way to spend the day inside where it's cool...it is hugely HOT here today....well, probably not as hot as in Phoenix...or as hot with humidity as in OKC...but it's pretty darn hot for here. It was 106 degrees a couple of hours ago and now it's down to 104....the pool is beckoning again.....
H. has possibly the worst sunburn I've ever seen - it's already a zillion blisters. It's BAD. He said he used sunscreen. J. tried to remind him to take a hat - but like most things we suggest, we know nothing and he ignored the advice. Big mistake. He will be peeling for weeks, probably well into our Cancun trip. Not a good thing.
B. didn't get too fried....he's a little burned but not as badly as H.
H. also bought a t-shirt. He showed me the front - the name of one of the bands and a design that features things you see in Florida (since that's where the band is from). I said 'cool'. What he neglected to show me was the back of the shirt - which has a hugely inappropriate phrase that will NEVER be worn anywhere except in this house when he's scrubbing the toilets or something. I don't know what he was thinking - why he would waste money on a shirt that I'm positive he knew we would never, ever let him wear. He's been completely 'indignant' most of the day....and I've been reciprocating. Told him that as far as I'm concerned, he should give me the t-shirt for my rag bag because he is absolutely, positively NOT stepping foot out of this house in that shirt. Ever. He might as well have thrown $20 in the trash can....we do not allow the 'f' word....end of discussion. It may slip out of our mouths on rare occasions...we're not perfect....but we will absolutely NOT be walking around sporting shirts that say that word in bold print. Not happening. Not on my kid.
I spent yesterday with a full-fledged migraine...including being sick to my stomach. Far worse than last Wednesday's which kept me home from work. I stayed in bed most of the day - and we missed a Lion's dinner which we'd been looking forward to. I feel a lot better today....thank goodness. The only side effect has been a stiff back from being horizontal for so long yesterday.
J. and I spent a little time in the pool today floating on our rafts. Trying to get a little sun in preparation for Cancun. I feel 'tan' though I still have miles to go. But figure I'll try to do 10-15 minutes everyday this week since I'm off.
I have lists of errands to run, things to do, etc...and hope to accomplish a lot. Will plan to take B. to LPC on Wednesday to pick up financial aid packets and buy his books. He's POSITIVE he's going to LPC to get a two year degree - then onto the Police Academy.
We're enjoying a Law and Order SVU marathon today....nice way to spend the day inside where it's cool...it is hugely HOT here today....well, probably not as hot as in Phoenix...or as hot with humidity as in OKC...but it's pretty darn hot for here. It was 106 degrees a couple of hours ago and now it's down to 104....the pool is beckoning again.....
Friday, June 26, 2009
Warped
B. & H. are going to the 'Warped' tour in San Francisco tomorrow. H. has been pulling weeds for days earning money to supplement the cost of the ticket (which he paid for out of his savings). He needed food money and bus money, etc. They aren't going together - but with separate groups of friends. B. and his friends are taking BART from Pleasanton into the city and then walking FOUR MILES to the concert site. J. is trying to find bus routes or MUNI trains for them to take - 'cuz a four mile walk is a long way. I'm not too worried about that on the way there - but the concert won't end until late evening and they have to make it back to BART by midnight before the trains stop running.
Planning is not either of their fortes. But we're trying to just let it be. They'll have to figure it out.
H. is riding there with a friend and his family.
It will be a long, exciting day - music on Pier 30.
OH, I forgot to mention: B. did a ride along with the Tracy Police Department yesterday and came home absolutely certain that he wants to be a police officer. He's planning to go to LPC and get his AA degree in Administration of Justice and then go to the police academy. He made several traffic stops, including an arrest for drugs in the car. He spent nine hours with the officer and was able to ride in the front seat. He loved it! So he seems set on that career choice and thinks two years of college is a good idea - because a 2 year degree offers a 5% pay increase right off the bat.
I am off next week! Feel in many ways like I shouldn't be ....but the work will keep. It will all still be there on the 6th - along with our new superintendent. The 6th is his first official day!
Two weeks back at work and then off to Cancun!!
Planning is not either of their fortes. But we're trying to just let it be. They'll have to figure it out.
H. is riding there with a friend and his family.
It will be a long, exciting day - music on Pier 30.
OH, I forgot to mention: B. did a ride along with the Tracy Police Department yesterday and came home absolutely certain that he wants to be a police officer. He's planning to go to LPC and get his AA degree in Administration of Justice and then go to the police academy. He made several traffic stops, including an arrest for drugs in the car. He spent nine hours with the officer and was able to ride in the front seat. He loved it! So he seems set on that career choice and thinks two years of college is a good idea - because a 2 year degree offers a 5% pay increase right off the bat.
I am off next week! Feel in many ways like I shouldn't be ....but the work will keep. It will all still be there on the 6th - along with our new superintendent. The 6th is his first official day!
Two weeks back at work and then off to Cancun!!
Michael & Farrah (and Ed)
It's no surprise that the autopsy performed today on Michael Jackson is 'inconclusive'. It's always about the toxicology reports, isn't it? I'm confident that a drug interaction is to blame. Sad. Very sad.
And Farrah - the interviews I've seen of her in her 'early' years of acting really do show such a smart, fun, beautiful woman. What a lady.
And when a friend and I were talking at work about those two deaths, and she said 'that's the three'.....['cuz you know how people say deaths of famous people usually happen in threes], I had to be reminded that Ed McMahon had died earlier this week....
So that's the three.
You can't watch TV today without a Michael Jackson event being on.....and I guess that's understandable. He's like Elvis - an icon. And he died tragically and unexpectedly, like Elvis.
I hope the toxicology report makes it clear what happened.
I hope they all three rest in peace.
And Farrah - the interviews I've seen of her in her 'early' years of acting really do show such a smart, fun, beautiful woman. What a lady.
And when a friend and I were talking at work about those two deaths, and she said 'that's the three'.....['cuz you know how people say deaths of famous people usually happen in threes], I had to be reminded that Ed McMahon had died earlier this week....
So that's the three.
You can't watch TV today without a Michael Jackson event being on.....and I guess that's understandable. He's like Elvis - an icon. And he died tragically and unexpectedly, like Elvis.
I hope the toxicology report makes it clear what happened.
I hope they all three rest in peace.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Bugs
I have new respect for farmers. I have a deeply 'in awe' respect for the farmers across the world who grow and produce fruit and veggies for consumption. I will never again look at produce perfectly presented in a store the same way ever again. I also now have a complete and total respect for the increased price for 'organic' foods. 'Cuz let me tell you, it is frickin' hard to get veggies to 'picking stage' that are not ruined by bugs.
Something is attacking the peppers. At first glance, the bugs look a lot like lady bugs. In fact, two days this week, when I saw one on the pepper leaves, I thought 'oh, that's so great - they know there are aphids around so they are helping me out'. It wasn't until one of the bell peppers started looking seriously 'bruised' that I looked a little closer and realized that 'ladybug-like' creature actually had 'pinchers' on it's mouth and was apparently slowly messing with my peppers! Little 'dents' in the flesh quickly became caverns that turn an ugly black/brown. If these peppers were for sale, I'd be doomed - but thankfully, they are just for 'personal consumption'. They look terrible but they will still be edible - at least after cutting away the black/brown spots.
The tomatoes are unaffected by this 'bug' so I'm now referring to the confusing, sneaky creature as 'the pepper bug'. I have no idea what it actually is....
It takes a lot of work to get all that beautifully 'perfect' produce into the store. And even more work to grow that produce 'organically' without pesticides. So far, I'm using 'plant soap' but sadly, it is not working. Stronger things may be required. I fear we will return from Mexico and have nothing left!
I will never visit a produce section in the grocery again without feeling a sense of 'wow'. It is really hard to 'farm' and have things turn out well enough to sell the products of your labor....
Something is attacking the peppers. At first glance, the bugs look a lot like lady bugs. In fact, two days this week, when I saw one on the pepper leaves, I thought 'oh, that's so great - they know there are aphids around so they are helping me out'. It wasn't until one of the bell peppers started looking seriously 'bruised' that I looked a little closer and realized that 'ladybug-like' creature actually had 'pinchers' on it's mouth and was apparently slowly messing with my peppers! Little 'dents' in the flesh quickly became caverns that turn an ugly black/brown. If these peppers were for sale, I'd be doomed - but thankfully, they are just for 'personal consumption'. They look terrible but they will still be edible - at least after cutting away the black/brown spots.
The tomatoes are unaffected by this 'bug' so I'm now referring to the confusing, sneaky creature as 'the pepper bug'. I have no idea what it actually is....
It takes a lot of work to get all that beautifully 'perfect' produce into the store. And even more work to grow that produce 'organically' without pesticides. So far, I'm using 'plant soap' but sadly, it is not working. Stronger things may be required. I fear we will return from Mexico and have nothing left!
I will never visit a produce section in the grocery again without feeling a sense of 'wow'. It is really hard to 'farm' and have things turn out well enough to sell the products of your labor....
Showers
You haven't lived until you've seen your 18 year old 'man child' in a pink shower cap. The staples have to stay dry for 4 days. They come out in 7. He's planning to take them out himself...I'm looking for the stapler remover. I won't be in the room if/when he does that.
Off to another day in the trenches.....have a great day!
Off to another day in the trenches.....have a great day!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Prez
I did something just now that I've never done. Never imagined doing. Never thought I'd do - primarily because I've never really felt there was anyone in the office really 'listening' to the 'common' people. But I have hope - and I think action is in order. So I wrote a letter to our President. And I printed the envelope and put stamps on it and will mail it tomorrow.
What prompted me to action? The unfair practices of a major financial institution.
The first time they affected us, I felt disappointed but understood. The second time they affected us, I felt pissed but figured 'oh well. No loss'. But this last - and THIRD - adverse action against us is too much...just over the top too much. And I made efforts today to deal with the issue on the phone and quickly realized they don't care.
Before I tell you the details, I want to really stress this: there are no issues for us that we can't endure. Financial things are not usually things we have to worry about - and I know (and I think I've been really clear about confirming in this blog) how blessed we are. We don't have 'financial' worries - certainly nothing in compared to our neighbors who moved out this weekend for good. Or our friend who is about to lose her home. Or other acquaintances, friends, neighbors who have lost jobs, will lose homes, etc. This is a very stress-full time in our country's history - and I regularly remind myself how blessed we are. So I'll tell you the details and I don't want you to over-react. Or to judge. I'm not complaining. But it's too much....this last thing is my 'final straw' and 'I'm mad as hell and won't take it anymore'.
First, Chase froze our equity line. They didn't lower our credit limit to zero - because had they done that, our credit score would have been hugely impacted. They just made the 'available' amount of credit zero. Oh well. Our home value has declined (who's hasn't?) and we realized that the 'open' amount we had on that line was not 'real' anymore. So we weren't surprised when they froze it. We were disappointed since that was one of our 'available source of funds' for college expenses. Big monkey wrench in the plan. But oh well.
Next, we received notice that they closed one of our credit cards. We had no balance on the card - and in fact had probably only used it once since we've had it - it just wasn't a card we used often. But coincidentally, I had put the card in my wallet and planned to use it - call it a 6th sense that I thought I should use it. And wouldn't you know - just when we were planning to use it - most likely for B.'s college expenses as a way to have one account for those expenses since that would help us track them - Chase sent notice that they were closing the account for inactivity. I called. Nothing they could do. I could reapply - but since the website (which I check frequently because the cards we use are primarily all Chase) still shows that account as 'open', I'm sure my reapplying would result in an immediate decline for 'already have an account'. So whatever. Again, I let it go....
But this LAST thing has put me over the edge. I've shared on this blog that we don't roll debt. We use credit cards and pay in full - and that is true. We have done that faithfully for a really long time - because there was a time in our early married years - when we did not do that. So we had some 'revolving' debt. And when I left my banking job, we consolidated all our 'debt' onto one card - and it was a Chase card. They offered us 'our best customers' a fixed 3.99% rate on a loan that was 'fixed' for the life of the loan. Such a deal! So we consolidated all our debt. And we have stuck with the plan since then: no new debt. Period. We have faithfully paid that card down month after month after month. It's been awhile. It was a lot of debt. Now it's just a 'little' debt (relatively speaking) and we are closer than I ever imagined to paying it off.
But, we have increased expenses these days. College expenses, an extra car to insure. Soon, an extra licensed teen driver to insure. Commute expenses for B. to pay to get him to and from school. And I have never, EVER missed a payment or ever been late - but I have been paying the 'minimum' payment now and then...and the minimum isn't just $10 or $20 - it's hundreds of dollars - but I haven't been doubling or tripling the payment like I used to. Some months, I still can. But some months - when we've had car repairs, or unexpected household repairs - or birthdays, graduations, etc. - I pay minimum.
I received notice this week that Chase is increasing the minimum payment on that account from 2% to 5%. For us, that's hundreds MORE dollars outgoing each month. It's not a bad thing, really. It will 'force' me to continue doing what I've been doing - which is pay it down as quickly as possible. But I will HAVE TO make that huge payment - 150% more per month outgoing than the hundreds we've been paying. And that's hard to take. NOT because we can't do it - we can. I've already 'run the numbers' and there is absolutely no issue with this 'increased' outflow. We will weather it. We will be fine. But it just royally pisses me off that this bank - this MONSTER of a bank - has now taken THREE adverse actions against us - US with a credit score in the high 800's for crying out loud - in the past six months. I'm done. I'm fed up...
I called Chase and they have no option for me. In fact, they offered no alternative - though I've found a website where I see postings that indicate some customers are being offered to keep the 2% minimum payment but have the interest rate increase to 12%....sort of defeats the purpose. When I called, the person said 'we're helping you to pay this down as quickly as possible'. To which I replied 'why do you want me to do that since you make money for every month we have this loan with your bank'. And then, she became downright HOSTILE and said 'we loaned you OUR money and now we want OUR money back as quickly as possible - and the minimum payment increase makes that happen. It's our money and we want it back'.
Wow....that pretty much sums it up.
Only thing is, I'm pretty sure they received TARP assistance...which means THEY HAVE SOME OF MY/OUR MONEY and when will I get that back?
So I wrote letters today - to the FTC. Next to the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. To www.consumeraffairs.com. And finally, a letter to President Obama. I don't think he will ever read it - but someone in the White House will...and this is just so wrong.
We are making arrangements to pay this off as soon as possible. We have assets and we can pay it off tomorrow if we decide to sell other assets to raise cash (and boy, do I know how lucky that makes us). And while our United Mileage card - the main card we use each month that we absolutely pay off monthly without fail - the same card that so far has gotten us to Hawaii once and now Cancun - is a Chase card, I think we're going to quietly dissolve our relationship with Chase. Charge once in a while to keep the credit line open (because closing all the accounts would lower our score by easily 100+ points - since they keep our utilization rate low since we don't carry balances on most). But for the most part, use AmEx or Discover. I'm done with Chase.
And when the economy turns around (which it will) and Chase starts marketing the heck out of us again (which they will), I will laugh and laugh and say 'no thanks'. No Chase product will be in my wallet anymore. Nope, not a one. And considering how many affinity cards they have - Amazon, Disney, United Mileage, etc. - they have a lot more to lose than I do. We have plenty of other offers all the time to open accounts. We never do - but that might not be true anymore.
All of these Chase accounts were accounts we had with another bank that Chase bought. And I felt from day one of 'Chase' being our credit card company that they weren't who I wanted to do business with...and they just proved what I've long believed: they don't care one bit about their customers. Not one bit.
And now it's time to take my (still) headachy self to bed....work tomorrow. Yes, I must.....
What prompted me to action? The unfair practices of a major financial institution.
The first time they affected us, I felt disappointed but understood. The second time they affected us, I felt pissed but figured 'oh well. No loss'. But this last - and THIRD - adverse action against us is too much...just over the top too much. And I made efforts today to deal with the issue on the phone and quickly realized they don't care.
Before I tell you the details, I want to really stress this: there are no issues for us that we can't endure. Financial things are not usually things we have to worry about - and I know (and I think I've been really clear about confirming in this blog) how blessed we are. We don't have 'financial' worries - certainly nothing in compared to our neighbors who moved out this weekend for good. Or our friend who is about to lose her home. Or other acquaintances, friends, neighbors who have lost jobs, will lose homes, etc. This is a very stress-full time in our country's history - and I regularly remind myself how blessed we are. So I'll tell you the details and I don't want you to over-react. Or to judge. I'm not complaining. But it's too much....this last thing is my 'final straw' and 'I'm mad as hell and won't take it anymore'.
First, Chase froze our equity line. They didn't lower our credit limit to zero - because had they done that, our credit score would have been hugely impacted. They just made the 'available' amount of credit zero. Oh well. Our home value has declined (who's hasn't?) and we realized that the 'open' amount we had on that line was not 'real' anymore. So we weren't surprised when they froze it. We were disappointed since that was one of our 'available source of funds' for college expenses. Big monkey wrench in the plan. But oh well.
Next, we received notice that they closed one of our credit cards. We had no balance on the card - and in fact had probably only used it once since we've had it - it just wasn't a card we used often. But coincidentally, I had put the card in my wallet and planned to use it - call it a 6th sense that I thought I should use it. And wouldn't you know - just when we were planning to use it - most likely for B.'s college expenses as a way to have one account for those expenses since that would help us track them - Chase sent notice that they were closing the account for inactivity. I called. Nothing they could do. I could reapply - but since the website (which I check frequently because the cards we use are primarily all Chase) still shows that account as 'open', I'm sure my reapplying would result in an immediate decline for 'already have an account'. So whatever. Again, I let it go....
But this LAST thing has put me over the edge. I've shared on this blog that we don't roll debt. We use credit cards and pay in full - and that is true. We have done that faithfully for a really long time - because there was a time in our early married years - when we did not do that. So we had some 'revolving' debt. And when I left my banking job, we consolidated all our 'debt' onto one card - and it was a Chase card. They offered us 'our best customers' a fixed 3.99% rate on a loan that was 'fixed' for the life of the loan. Such a deal! So we consolidated all our debt. And we have stuck with the plan since then: no new debt. Period. We have faithfully paid that card down month after month after month. It's been awhile. It was a lot of debt. Now it's just a 'little' debt (relatively speaking) and we are closer than I ever imagined to paying it off.
But, we have increased expenses these days. College expenses, an extra car to insure. Soon, an extra licensed teen driver to insure. Commute expenses for B. to pay to get him to and from school. And I have never, EVER missed a payment or ever been late - but I have been paying the 'minimum' payment now and then...and the minimum isn't just $10 or $20 - it's hundreds of dollars - but I haven't been doubling or tripling the payment like I used to. Some months, I still can. But some months - when we've had car repairs, or unexpected household repairs - or birthdays, graduations, etc. - I pay minimum.
I received notice this week that Chase is increasing the minimum payment on that account from 2% to 5%. For us, that's hundreds MORE dollars outgoing each month. It's not a bad thing, really. It will 'force' me to continue doing what I've been doing - which is pay it down as quickly as possible. But I will HAVE TO make that huge payment - 150% more per month outgoing than the hundreds we've been paying. And that's hard to take. NOT because we can't do it - we can. I've already 'run the numbers' and there is absolutely no issue with this 'increased' outflow. We will weather it. We will be fine. But it just royally pisses me off that this bank - this MONSTER of a bank - has now taken THREE adverse actions against us - US with a credit score in the high 800's for crying out loud - in the past six months. I'm done. I'm fed up...
I called Chase and they have no option for me. In fact, they offered no alternative - though I've found a website where I see postings that indicate some customers are being offered to keep the 2% minimum payment but have the interest rate increase to 12%....sort of defeats the purpose. When I called, the person said 'we're helping you to pay this down as quickly as possible'. To which I replied 'why do you want me to do that since you make money for every month we have this loan with your bank'. And then, she became downright HOSTILE and said 'we loaned you OUR money and now we want OUR money back as quickly as possible - and the minimum payment increase makes that happen. It's our money and we want it back'.
Wow....that pretty much sums it up.
Only thing is, I'm pretty sure they received TARP assistance...which means THEY HAVE SOME OF MY/OUR MONEY and when will I get that back?
So I wrote letters today - to the FTC. Next to the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. To www.consumeraffairs.com. And finally, a letter to President Obama. I don't think he will ever read it - but someone in the White House will...and this is just so wrong.
We are making arrangements to pay this off as soon as possible. We have assets and we can pay it off tomorrow if we decide to sell other assets to raise cash (and boy, do I know how lucky that makes us). And while our United Mileage card - the main card we use each month that we absolutely pay off monthly without fail - the same card that so far has gotten us to Hawaii once and now Cancun - is a Chase card, I think we're going to quietly dissolve our relationship with Chase. Charge once in a while to keep the credit line open (because closing all the accounts would lower our score by easily 100+ points - since they keep our utilization rate low since we don't carry balances on most). But for the most part, use AmEx or Discover. I'm done with Chase.
And when the economy turns around (which it will) and Chase starts marketing the heck out of us again (which they will), I will laugh and laugh and say 'no thanks'. No Chase product will be in my wallet anymore. Nope, not a one. And considering how many affinity cards they have - Amazon, Disney, United Mileage, etc. - they have a lot more to lose than I do. We have plenty of other offers all the time to open accounts. We never do - but that might not be true anymore.
All of these Chase accounts were accounts we had with another bank that Chase bought. And I felt from day one of 'Chase' being our credit card company that they weren't who I wanted to do business with...and they just proved what I've long believed: they don't care one bit about their customers. Not one bit.
And now it's time to take my (still) headachy self to bed....work tomorrow. Yes, I must.....
Headache
I gave in to the headache that has plagued me for three days. Woke up at 2AM this morning with my head pounding. Got a drink of water. Went back to sleep bed and tossed and turned until around 5. At that point, I shut off my alarm and decided to sleep in. Woke up at 6:30 and decided to just stay home. A sick day is a 'luxury' in my job but I'm taking one...work can keep one day. It will keep.
Came downstairs and found a note from J. : 'Call me. Love H.' (H. being for hubby in this case). He was already on the road into SF because they are doing a team 'work day' at the marine rescue center.
He informed me that B. had to go to the emergency room last night. He helped a customer to their car with groceries. The hydraulic 'lift' on the 'hatch' of their Jeep wasn't working so the customer was holding the hatch up - and somehow, it slipped and the latch hook hit B. on the head. A trip to the emergency room and two staples in his head...he's home and fine. J. had to go to the emergency room to take him back to work to pick up his car. I haven't seen him yet today but J. assured me he's fine.
Never a dull moment around here. Thankfully, I called J. before I saw the ER paperwork on the kitchen counter.
I'm going to go get dressed - no need to but don't feel 'right' staying in my PJs all day (as lovely as that sounds). Plan to head back to a horizontal position soon and sleep some more. Two Excedrin are helping the headache. I have absolutely no compunction to be productive today but will try - can at least try to clean out a desk drawer or two.
Came downstairs and found a note from J. : 'Call me. Love H.' (H. being for hubby in this case). He was already on the road into SF because they are doing a team 'work day' at the marine rescue center.
He informed me that B. had to go to the emergency room last night. He helped a customer to their car with groceries. The hydraulic 'lift' on the 'hatch' of their Jeep wasn't working so the customer was holding the hatch up - and somehow, it slipped and the latch hook hit B. on the head. A trip to the emergency room and two staples in his head...he's home and fine. J. had to go to the emergency room to take him back to work to pick up his car. I haven't seen him yet today but J. assured me he's fine.
Never a dull moment around here. Thankfully, I called J. before I saw the ER paperwork on the kitchen counter.
I'm going to go get dressed - no need to but don't feel 'right' staying in my PJs all day (as lovely as that sounds). Plan to head back to a horizontal position soon and sleep some more. Two Excedrin are helping the headache. I have absolutely no compunction to be productive today but will try - can at least try to clean out a desk drawer or two.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Fast Food
It's just me and H. tonight - B. is at work and J. is still at 'work'.
H. and I are both moving in 'slow motion' this evening. He is so tired, he can barely stay awake. I arrived home after letting him know I was on my way to pick him up to take him for a haircut. He fell asleep between my call and when I pulled into the driveway - and after 4 minutes of honking the horn and waiting for him to appear, I finally called him - and sure enough, he'd fallen asleep. He isn't feeling well....he says his stomach is 'queasy' and he just feels really, really tired. So I'm urging him to get upstairs and get to bed.
I will follow shortly. I've been 'out of sorts' all day - just not feeling 'good'. Could be just 'stuff' on my mind...could be just tired. My stomach is also a bit 'off' today - so perhaps we've got a mild something. In any event, I will head up to bed shortly - haven't heard from J. at all today (except a couple emails where we laughed about the S.C. governor hiking naked on the Appalachian trail). I don't know when J. will be home but he probably hasn't left the city left (it's just after 8) which means it will be 10ish. No way will I make it until then.
After the haircut, we planned to go to Baja Fresh - but instead, stayed in the shopping center we were in (instead of crossing the street to the center across the street) and went for drive thru, which was Mickey D's (McDonald's). It was good. Bad for us but good.
I don't know about you, but I'm relieved to see that TLC has put Jon & Kate Plus 8 on hiatus until August. Smart thing to do. People are pretty tired of the subject and ready to move on - so it's a good thing to take the cameras off the situation for awhile. It may really be ending the show - and I think that's actually the best thing to do at this point - just let the series stop. It ended badly, as anyone who's watched the show for any length of time (or at all, really) could figure out fairly quickly into the first viewed episode. It's just never been a good, healthy, happy family. So I think 'fading to black' would be the best option. It's only going to get uglier...and that's not something to have on film for your kids to see for the rest of their lives...not like they won't be able to still 'view' all this stuff someday - YouTube is forever and EVERYTHING is on YouTube these days. So those kids will always be able to 'watch' the disintegration of their family....why force cameras on them in the next months as it all (hopefully) gets sorted.
Had a meeting with my new boss today - went well. Really like him and think he's going to be fantastic and just what the district needs. Can't wait for him to be there everyday....starting on the 6th.
I'm wiped out and heading to bed. Hopefully, J. will call shortly to confirm he's on his way home and so I can let him know I'll be in bed before he gets home.
More tomorrow....
H. and I are both moving in 'slow motion' this evening. He is so tired, he can barely stay awake. I arrived home after letting him know I was on my way to pick him up to take him for a haircut. He fell asleep between my call and when I pulled into the driveway - and after 4 minutes of honking the horn and waiting for him to appear, I finally called him - and sure enough, he'd fallen asleep. He isn't feeling well....he says his stomach is 'queasy' and he just feels really, really tired. So I'm urging him to get upstairs and get to bed.
I will follow shortly. I've been 'out of sorts' all day - just not feeling 'good'. Could be just 'stuff' on my mind...could be just tired. My stomach is also a bit 'off' today - so perhaps we've got a mild something. In any event, I will head up to bed shortly - haven't heard from J. at all today (except a couple emails where we laughed about the S.C. governor hiking naked on the Appalachian trail). I don't know when J. will be home but he probably hasn't left the city left (it's just after 8) which means it will be 10ish. No way will I make it until then.
After the haircut, we planned to go to Baja Fresh - but instead, stayed in the shopping center we were in (instead of crossing the street to the center across the street) and went for drive thru, which was Mickey D's (McDonald's). It was good. Bad for us but good.
I don't know about you, but I'm relieved to see that TLC has put Jon & Kate Plus 8 on hiatus until August. Smart thing to do. People are pretty tired of the subject and ready to move on - so it's a good thing to take the cameras off the situation for awhile. It may really be ending the show - and I think that's actually the best thing to do at this point - just let the series stop. It ended badly, as anyone who's watched the show for any length of time (or at all, really) could figure out fairly quickly into the first viewed episode. It's just never been a good, healthy, happy family. So I think 'fading to black' would be the best option. It's only going to get uglier...and that's not something to have on film for your kids to see for the rest of their lives...not like they won't be able to still 'view' all this stuff someday - YouTube is forever and EVERYTHING is on YouTube these days. So those kids will always be able to 'watch' the disintegration of their family....why force cameras on them in the next months as it all (hopefully) gets sorted.
Had a meeting with my new boss today - went well. Really like him and think he's going to be fantastic and just what the district needs. Can't wait for him to be there everyday....starting on the 6th.
I'm wiped out and heading to bed. Hopefully, J. will call shortly to confirm he's on his way home and so I can let him know I'll be in bed before he gets home.
More tomorrow....
Ortho
J. usually works at home on Tuesdays but he worked at home yesterday since he has a 'business dinner' this evening in San Fran that he couldn't miss. That's no big change - and yet, it is. The cleaning crew comes today - and J. is the supreme 'tidying up for the cleaning crew' master...he did most of it yesterday, thank goodness.
We set most 'appointments' for the kids that still require schlepping (guess that should be 'kid' since only one requires schlepping and not for long!) on Tuesdays or Fridays since those are J.'s typical 'working at home' days. Lest you think he's taking advantage of his employer by schlepping kids on those days I say this: not hardly. The guy logs in at 6:30 am every morning and works until close to 7 most nights so it's hard to say they're not getting their money's worth.
So, H. has an orthodontist appointment this morning and that means I have to schlep him. Oh, you wonder why we don't ask B. to do it? You don't know B., do you? The path of least resistance is the current mantra around here and we LIVE by that mantra....so no, we did not and will not ask B. to schlep. B. actually had plans this morning and though they've fallen through, it's still not worth the wrath which would ensue. I know. We're being to 'easy' on him. But really, we're just being easiest on ourselves. It's not the wisest course of action in parental authority but it retains some semblance of harmony...and with the current levels of angst in this house (on all sides), it's for the best.
I was going to go in to work and then swing by here and pick H. up just after 8...but decided against that for some reason around 5:30 this morning. I've been piddling around the house, further tidying. Worked a bit outside but it's warming quickly and arriving at work all sweaty is not a good thing so I'm back to 'desk' stuff.
Will take H. and then cruise through the drive-thru SB for my morning teas. Drop him off in the driveway and head to my office. Big meeting this afternoon with our new superintendent. It will go fine...I hope.
J. will be home late so I will likely resort to frozen pizzas or 'fast food' for dinner this evening. I shouldn't....but I probably will.n
I hear H. readying himself for a departure in 5-10 minutes so I'd best sign off for now. No fun if I read him the riot act about 'get ready so we're not late' and then hold him up myself! Bad Majah. Bad.
We set most 'appointments' for the kids that still require schlepping (guess that should be 'kid' since only one requires schlepping and not for long!) on Tuesdays or Fridays since those are J.'s typical 'working at home' days. Lest you think he's taking advantage of his employer by schlepping kids on those days I say this: not hardly. The guy logs in at 6:30 am every morning and works until close to 7 most nights so it's hard to say they're not getting their money's worth.
So, H. has an orthodontist appointment this morning and that means I have to schlep him. Oh, you wonder why we don't ask B. to do it? You don't know B., do you? The path of least resistance is the current mantra around here and we LIVE by that mantra....so no, we did not and will not ask B. to schlep. B. actually had plans this morning and though they've fallen through, it's still not worth the wrath which would ensue. I know. We're being to 'easy' on him. But really, we're just being easiest on ourselves. It's not the wisest course of action in parental authority but it retains some semblance of harmony...and with the current levels of angst in this house (on all sides), it's for the best.
I was going to go in to work and then swing by here and pick H. up just after 8...but decided against that for some reason around 5:30 this morning. I've been piddling around the house, further tidying. Worked a bit outside but it's warming quickly and arriving at work all sweaty is not a good thing so I'm back to 'desk' stuff.
Will take H. and then cruise through the drive-thru SB for my morning teas. Drop him off in the driveway and head to my office. Big meeting this afternoon with our new superintendent. It will go fine...I hope.
J. will be home late so I will likely resort to frozen pizzas or 'fast food' for dinner this evening. I shouldn't....but I probably will.n
I hear H. readying himself for a departure in 5-10 minutes so I'd best sign off for now. No fun if I read him the riot act about 'get ready so we're not late' and then hold him up myself! Bad Majah. Bad.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Quitting
I didn't post this weekend - which did not go unnoticed by my cousin (and long time reader!) D. . So yes, I'm 'behind' on posting. I really thought taking days off would lead to lots of time to write and read and sleep....and there was a little of all those things but as usual the four day 'extended' weekend I gave myself flew by with lightening-like bolts.
Many blogs that I read are taking a 'hiatus' this summer. So many 'regular' reads are quickly becoming a worthless bookmark on my bookmark tab. And I wonder 'why do they stop?'.
I've given thought to 'stopping' and then I remember why I started - for me. This is my online journal and I write because I like to write...and because I like to be able to go back and read what I've written months/years later. Helps on the fuzzy memory a bit. Amuses me slightly to re-recall things I've written months later. Sometimes, it's emotions that seemed so strong at the time - and after time has passed, upon re-reading, I think 'well, that's a post I should delete'. But I don't - because this blog is capturing moments in time - moments in my life - and my life continues, so the blog continues. At least that's what I tell myself.
But I do 'feel' sometimes that it's hard to write for an 'audience' - I know people do read. Some family. Some friends. And when I start to feel like I'm 'editing' for their benefit (or not), I think 'so why are your writing these days, really? 'Cuz it's not supposed to be about who's reading - it's supposed to be about who's writing'. I have to remind myself of that....and please, PLEASE don't mis-interpret this paragraph to be any indication that you shouldn't read - 'cuz I love that you do and I wish I knew all of you personally, since everyone feels like 'friends' in the blogosphere. At least in my blogosphere.
So I guess what I'm saying is this: I keep writing and I hope you will keep reading. Though sometimes, I wonder 'why'....and then I look at the list of bookmarks of blogs I 'follow' - and how I miss those 'voices' when they stop posting. I'm interested - and I want to know what's next...and hopefully, that's why people read here as well. 'Cuz as mundane and 'normal' as my life is, it's something to 'hold onto'. A friend out there waiting to hear from you...and you are waiting to hear from...so I oblige.
So here's an update on our weekend:
J. and I managed to go out on a 'date' on Friday night. We planned to do dinner and a movie...made it to the dinner part but then decided to go shopping instead. J. was in need of shorts and short-sleeved shirts and we were in Manteca so we went to the 'new' JC Penny and shopped. Imagine! A husband 'in the mood' to go shopping. We both were hugely successful and the prices were FANTASTIC - and then, there were COUPONS that made the deals even MORE fantastic. We were very successful....especially me 'cuz I didn't really need anything and yet I managed to find some really nice work outfits. I wore one today - black pants (petite and they fit PERFECTLY) and a cute top - the entire outfit for $30. YES, both pieces. It's really 'cute'. I feel like I look nice in it and that's half the battle. J. found shirts for work/play and shorts for our Mexico trip. We never did get to the movie but we had a nice time.
Saturday was full of.......not much apparently, since I can't remember...oh, wait....B. had a 'pool party' and we ended up with 8+ teens here for most of the afternoon. I went way overboard and ordered way too many chicken wings from Wingstop (if you haven't tried them, do - they are pretty darn good!). We tidied up the house quickly, including mopping the kitchen floor...which kind of made all of us 'nuts' since the cleaning crew comes tomorrow and we were cleaning three days before we PAY someone to clean. But I don't like a messy floor - and I most certainly do not allow 'guests' here when the floor could use a quick swipe with the 'steam mop'.
Two strange coincidences/oddities to report:
The boys worked on their rooms a bit - and 'lo and behold, J. came downstairs and said 'hey, I found two textbooks in H.'s room - did we have to pay for those at the end of the year?'. I couldn't remember. Found out the answer when I walked to the mailbox later that same day and we received a letter from the high school district advising us that H. owes TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in fees for missing books and/or late fees. So now he's on the 'hunt' to locate the TWO OTHER books they show he never turned in - or he's going to have to pay that fine. And considering he has absolutely NO money (having drained his savings account already with summer stuff), he will be working that 'loan' off from us for a really long time this summer.
On another odd note: B. received a letter advising him that he qualifies for COBRA (the mandatory extension of health benefits at your own expense if you've been let go from an employer - with a lot more disclosures since the President's American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) ). The letter indicates the 'date' of the triggering event was on April 30th for 'insufficient hours'. Leading me to surmise that he was possibly going to be let go - and then wasn't? Who knows? He's been working around 22 hours a week - up from his 'in school' 16. But they have him working the 'closing' shift - 8-12:30. Sometimes 4-12:30. So it doesn't make any sense....he did get transferred but that was in early March??? Is it possible to be fired from your job and never be told you've been fired and in the mean time, they keep scheduling you? His 'boss' is on a medical leave and has been for some time (he donated a kidney to his mom - which in my book, makes him pretty amazing. B. still thinks he's a complete and total jerk - but that's B. Everyone who gives B. any kind of 'feedback' is a jerk. Wouldn't you just love to have HIM for an employee, cousin D.??). I continue with a 'wait and see' attitude and frankly, won't be at all surprised if upon 'the boss' returning from medical leave, B. is let go. Sad...but possible. He will have a horrendously hard time finding a job now - summer jobs are already filled....and he will sorely miss the $$ (as will we - nice to not have to be constantly shelling out $$ for his social and other needs).
H. was camping all weekend with friends (so we weren't able to tell him about the book stuff until he arrived home last night). He came home tan, exhausted and hungry. Had a great time.
B. and J. enjoyed Poppy Ridge and a very nice buffet brunch. They had a great morning and so did I - it was quiet and relaxing.
We are trying something new to conserve electricity. It is not working too well this evening - as it's still close to 90 degrees outside and it's 7:30. But on Friday and Saturday evening, it was cooler outside than inside so we've been opening windows and letting the outside air do the cooling for us. It's been working though it's a lot to remember re: closing things up again in the AM and trying to ensure the kids don't 'forget' and leave the AC on AND all the windows open.
Can't wait to see if it's helped our electric bill any.
Coming soon: pictures of the 'garden' - bell peppers are going CRAZY and they double or triple in size each day. ...pics soon.
That's it for today - it was a nice weekend and though I did have to transact some 'business' on Friday morning (which made my boss mad - not that I had to talk to him about a couple things but that I had to deal with this stuff on my day off. Oh well. Can't be helped). But it was a nice long weekend. I'm hopefully off most of next week as well which will also be great! And then Mexico soon!
Thanks for reading and if you've never posted a comment, please do. I really do enjoy knowing who's reading...heck, I enjoy knowing that anyone is reading!!
Many blogs that I read are taking a 'hiatus' this summer. So many 'regular' reads are quickly becoming a worthless bookmark on my bookmark tab. And I wonder 'why do they stop?'.
I've given thought to 'stopping' and then I remember why I started - for me. This is my online journal and I write because I like to write...and because I like to be able to go back and read what I've written months/years later. Helps on the fuzzy memory a bit. Amuses me slightly to re-recall things I've written months later. Sometimes, it's emotions that seemed so strong at the time - and after time has passed, upon re-reading, I think 'well, that's a post I should delete'. But I don't - because this blog is capturing moments in time - moments in my life - and my life continues, so the blog continues. At least that's what I tell myself.
But I do 'feel' sometimes that it's hard to write for an 'audience' - I know people do read. Some family. Some friends. And when I start to feel like I'm 'editing' for their benefit (or not), I think 'so why are your writing these days, really? 'Cuz it's not supposed to be about who's reading - it's supposed to be about who's writing'. I have to remind myself of that....and please, PLEASE don't mis-interpret this paragraph to be any indication that you shouldn't read - 'cuz I love that you do and I wish I knew all of you personally, since everyone feels like 'friends' in the blogosphere. At least in my blogosphere.
So I guess what I'm saying is this: I keep writing and I hope you will keep reading. Though sometimes, I wonder 'why'....and then I look at the list of bookmarks of blogs I 'follow' - and how I miss those 'voices' when they stop posting. I'm interested - and I want to know what's next...and hopefully, that's why people read here as well. 'Cuz as mundane and 'normal' as my life is, it's something to 'hold onto'. A friend out there waiting to hear from you...and you are waiting to hear from...so I oblige.
So here's an update on our weekend:
J. and I managed to go out on a 'date' on Friday night. We planned to do dinner and a movie...made it to the dinner part but then decided to go shopping instead. J. was in need of shorts and short-sleeved shirts and we were in Manteca so we went to the 'new' JC Penny and shopped. Imagine! A husband 'in the mood' to go shopping. We both were hugely successful and the prices were FANTASTIC - and then, there were COUPONS that made the deals even MORE fantastic. We were very successful....especially me 'cuz I didn't really need anything and yet I managed to find some really nice work outfits. I wore one today - black pants (petite and they fit PERFECTLY) and a cute top - the entire outfit for $30. YES, both pieces. It's really 'cute'. I feel like I look nice in it and that's half the battle. J. found shirts for work/play and shorts for our Mexico trip. We never did get to the movie but we had a nice time.
Saturday was full of.......not much apparently, since I can't remember...oh, wait....B. had a 'pool party' and we ended up with 8+ teens here for most of the afternoon. I went way overboard and ordered way too many chicken wings from Wingstop (if you haven't tried them, do - they are pretty darn good!). We tidied up the house quickly, including mopping the kitchen floor...which kind of made all of us 'nuts' since the cleaning crew comes tomorrow and we were cleaning three days before we PAY someone to clean. But I don't like a messy floor - and I most certainly do not allow 'guests' here when the floor could use a quick swipe with the 'steam mop'.
Two strange coincidences/oddities to report:
The boys worked on their rooms a bit - and 'lo and behold, J. came downstairs and said 'hey, I found two textbooks in H.'s room - did we have to pay for those at the end of the year?'. I couldn't remember. Found out the answer when I walked to the mailbox later that same day and we received a letter from the high school district advising us that H. owes TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in fees for missing books and/or late fees. So now he's on the 'hunt' to locate the TWO OTHER books they show he never turned in - or he's going to have to pay that fine. And considering he has absolutely NO money (having drained his savings account already with summer stuff), he will be working that 'loan' off from us for a really long time this summer.
On another odd note: B. received a letter advising him that he qualifies for COBRA (the mandatory extension of health benefits at your own expense if you've been let go from an employer - with a lot more disclosures since the President's American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) ). The letter indicates the 'date' of the triggering event was on April 30th for 'insufficient hours'. Leading me to surmise that he was possibly going to be let go - and then wasn't? Who knows? He's been working around 22 hours a week - up from his 'in school' 16. But they have him working the 'closing' shift - 8-12:30. Sometimes 4-12:30. So it doesn't make any sense....he did get transferred but that was in early March??? Is it possible to be fired from your job and never be told you've been fired and in the mean time, they keep scheduling you? His 'boss' is on a medical leave and has been for some time (he donated a kidney to his mom - which in my book, makes him pretty amazing. B. still thinks he's a complete and total jerk - but that's B. Everyone who gives B. any kind of 'feedback' is a jerk. Wouldn't you just love to have HIM for an employee, cousin D.??). I continue with a 'wait and see' attitude and frankly, won't be at all surprised if upon 'the boss' returning from medical leave, B. is let go. Sad...but possible. He will have a horrendously hard time finding a job now - summer jobs are already filled....and he will sorely miss the $$ (as will we - nice to not have to be constantly shelling out $$ for his social and other needs).
H. was camping all weekend with friends (so we weren't able to tell him about the book stuff until he arrived home last night). He came home tan, exhausted and hungry. Had a great time.
B. and J. enjoyed Poppy Ridge and a very nice buffet brunch. They had a great morning and so did I - it was quiet and relaxing.
We are trying something new to conserve electricity. It is not working too well this evening - as it's still close to 90 degrees outside and it's 7:30. But on Friday and Saturday evening, it was cooler outside than inside so we've been opening windows and letting the outside air do the cooling for us. It's been working though it's a lot to remember re: closing things up again in the AM and trying to ensure the kids don't 'forget' and leave the AC on AND all the windows open.
Can't wait to see if it's helped our electric bill any.
Coming soon: pictures of the 'garden' - bell peppers are going CRAZY and they double or triple in size each day. ...pics soon.
That's it for today - it was a nice weekend and though I did have to transact some 'business' on Friday morning (which made my boss mad - not that I had to talk to him about a couple things but that I had to deal with this stuff on my day off. Oh well. Can't be helped). But it was a nice long weekend. I'm hopefully off most of next week as well which will also be great! And then Mexico soon!
Thanks for reading and if you've never posted a comment, please do. I really do enjoy knowing who's reading...heck, I enjoy knowing that anyone is reading!!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Splurges
I am off today - a splurge in itself. And off tomorrow as well. Two days off to recover from working 50-60+ hour weeks for the past month. Fried is a good description. I am tired. And it was/is showing. So rest is what I need and I took a couple days off to turn this weekend into a 4 day weekend.
There are tasks to accomplish, however...as there always are.
I took the boys to Pleasanton today - the trip necessitated by B. needing to go to Schwab and take care of converting his custodial account into his name (and his name only). The staff person there was so nice - and when he came out of his office to get B. to finish everything up, B. said 'Mom, are you coming with me?' And I smiled and said 'no, you're on your own with this. It's your money and your account'. The Schwab guy just smiled - having said to me upon our entrance in the building when I told him the purpose of our visit 'this is hard for parents sometimes'. I just smiled and nodded. It's his money now and he knows the intent is to use it for college. And so far, we made it through today without him cashing all the stock in and taking the cash and heading for Europe or something.
We transacted our business there very quickly and then headed to the mall just across the street. First, lunch at Cheesecake Factory - $90 but we had two gift cards (reward bonuses saved up from my Amex account) worth $80 so we got out of there for under $25 including a generous tip. Food terrific as usual...service great. We ate outside and shared good conversation. Interesting, my two sons. They are a pleasure much of the time - except when they're not.
Then to the mall. My 'popping in to' Sephora resulted in serious damage to our 'spend on what we need vs. what we want' budget method. I was (apparently) in the mood to treat myself and try some 'new' things. I just did a makeover on myself with all the "loot" and I look pretty darn good. Think I just might have found the powder foundation that I've been desperately trying to find - this is the 4th brand I've tried and I think this one is a keeper. We'll see how it lasts throughout the evening.
The boys did a little shopping of their own - shirts. Always shirts.
We were also going to head to LPC to buy B.'s books - but considering he announced as we were pulling into the restaurant parking lot for lunch 'you know, Mom, I might want to do what H. is planning to do'. I said 'you mean enlist in the Marines now instead of going to college first?' - 'cuz that's what H. is planning to do - no ifs, ands or buts about it - it is what he is doing. And now B. is considering the same thing. And strangely, when he said that, my reaction was 'well, if that's what you think is best, then that's fine - but you really need to think this through and decide B., 'cuz there's no point in buying books if you're not going in the fall.
During lunch (food has that effect on him - makes him thought-full) he said 'well, I think I'll go for one semester and see how it goes. And then if I want to, I can do another semester and finish a full year and THEN enlist'. I said 'ok, but I am a bit worried that if you have that in your mind as your 'fall back' plan, then you will not put in the effort needed in college to excel. You haven't had the best high school experience and we really don't want a repeat of that, especially when this is real money we're paying for you to attend, and commute, etc.' . So we're waiting a couple weeks to make the trip to the college for books. Which is altogether fine since we can't pick up his financial aid packet until July 1st anyway.
We have about 10 kids here at the moment listening to the band rehearse for their next big 'gig'. I'm honestly not sure why B. is involved since we are in Cancun the week of the gig and he's not playing. Yet, it's his drums being used and therefore, it's our house they are rehearsing in. So I'm feeding them hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad and iced tea for dinner.
H. is going to Lake Don Pedro with friends for the weekend. B. and J. are going to Poppy Ridge golf course for brunch and hitting some balls on Sunday AM - which suits me just fine. I will have some quiet time....and I'm fine with that.
OK - time to get cooking. On a good note, I seem to have been 'firm' enough with Chloe that she has stopped barking. Of course, she's looking at me like I've broken her heart...but the startling, constant 'I'm going to rip your head off' bark has got to stop. I don't mind the music - I just can't handle her going nutso every time someone comes in and out of the house. With 10 kids here, there's a lot of in and out going on....it's going to be a long couple hours.
I am going to bake brownies again and THIS TIME, I'm hiding some~~~~
There are tasks to accomplish, however...as there always are.
I took the boys to Pleasanton today - the trip necessitated by B. needing to go to Schwab and take care of converting his custodial account into his name (and his name only). The staff person there was so nice - and when he came out of his office to get B. to finish everything up, B. said 'Mom, are you coming with me?' And I smiled and said 'no, you're on your own with this. It's your money and your account'. The Schwab guy just smiled - having said to me upon our entrance in the building when I told him the purpose of our visit 'this is hard for parents sometimes'. I just smiled and nodded. It's his money now and he knows the intent is to use it for college. And so far, we made it through today without him cashing all the stock in and taking the cash and heading for Europe or something.
We transacted our business there very quickly and then headed to the mall just across the street. First, lunch at Cheesecake Factory - $90 but we had two gift cards (reward bonuses saved up from my Amex account) worth $80 so we got out of there for under $25 including a generous tip. Food terrific as usual...service great. We ate outside and shared good conversation. Interesting, my two sons. They are a pleasure much of the time - except when they're not.
Then to the mall. My 'popping in to' Sephora resulted in serious damage to our 'spend on what we need vs. what we want' budget method. I was (apparently) in the mood to treat myself and try some 'new' things. I just did a makeover on myself with all the "loot" and I look pretty darn good. Think I just might have found the powder foundation that I've been desperately trying to find - this is the 4th brand I've tried and I think this one is a keeper. We'll see how it lasts throughout the evening.
The boys did a little shopping of their own - shirts. Always shirts.
We were also going to head to LPC to buy B.'s books - but considering he announced as we were pulling into the restaurant parking lot for lunch 'you know, Mom, I might want to do what H. is planning to do'. I said 'you mean enlist in the Marines now instead of going to college first?' - 'cuz that's what H. is planning to do - no ifs, ands or buts about it - it is what he is doing. And now B. is considering the same thing. And strangely, when he said that, my reaction was 'well, if that's what you think is best, then that's fine - but you really need to think this through and decide B., 'cuz there's no point in buying books if you're not going in the fall.
During lunch (food has that effect on him - makes him thought-full) he said 'well, I think I'll go for one semester and see how it goes. And then if I want to, I can do another semester and finish a full year and THEN enlist'. I said 'ok, but I am a bit worried that if you have that in your mind as your 'fall back' plan, then you will not put in the effort needed in college to excel. You haven't had the best high school experience and we really don't want a repeat of that, especially when this is real money we're paying for you to attend, and commute, etc.' . So we're waiting a couple weeks to make the trip to the college for books. Which is altogether fine since we can't pick up his financial aid packet until July 1st anyway.
We have about 10 kids here at the moment listening to the band rehearse for their next big 'gig'. I'm honestly not sure why B. is involved since we are in Cancun the week of the gig and he's not playing. Yet, it's his drums being used and therefore, it's our house they are rehearsing in. So I'm feeding them hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad and iced tea for dinner.
H. is going to Lake Don Pedro with friends for the weekend. B. and J. are going to Poppy Ridge golf course for brunch and hitting some balls on Sunday AM - which suits me just fine. I will have some quiet time....and I'm fine with that.
OK - time to get cooking. On a good note, I seem to have been 'firm' enough with Chloe that she has stopped barking. Of course, she's looking at me like I've broken her heart...but the startling, constant 'I'm going to rip your head off' bark has got to stop. I don't mind the music - I just can't handle her going nutso every time someone comes in and out of the house. With 10 kids here, there's a lot of in and out going on....it's going to be a long couple hours.
I am going to bake brownies again and THIS TIME, I'm hiding some~~~~
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Of Brownies and Ice Cream
Board meeting is done and it went great. No more comments on that other than a huge sigh of relief. Now on to year-end which will be as torturous as the state can possibly make it. Seriously.
But I'll have a week or so off in June and then also enjoy a week off in mid-July and that second week will involve beaches and ocean and many, many umbrella drinks of different varieties. So I know I'll make it and survive.
I ate a very 'light' dinner - always do because it's never really clear how many people will be showing up for dinner so those of us who eat 'first' always eat lightly to ensure there's plenty for everyone else.
I arrived home absolutely craving a brownie and a glass of milk. Totally feasible since I baked a TRIPLE batch of brownies yesterday for the boys. I really only intended to make a double batch but I mis-read the directions, added too much water and oil which necessitated adding a third bag of the mix (yes, they were boxed brownies. From Costco. At $8.99 for six bags of mix - a batch each - I couldn't justify the 'from scratch' version which cost far more than that just for the chocolate alone). So I baked a giant pan of brownies PLUS a smaller round pan of them as well.
The brownies are GONE. All of them. Every single morsel. Gone. I'd be so upset if I weren't so shocked - and remember, one of the boys is now into heavy-duty body building. He watches every morsel he puts in his mouth - but he inhaled huge quantities of brownies in the last 24 hours along with his brother.
Which led me to my next 'treat' that J. (thank goodness) hid behind the frozen pizzas in the freezer. A pint of Ben and Jerry's Fro Yo Half Baked. It's not the same as a brownie - a chewy, chocolaty decadent cake-like confection - but it will have to do.
The boys consumed most of the last two pints of Ben and Jerry's we had on hand - which were procured during the budget madness when I needed something to 'hold onto' and get me through long days. Something that didn't involve a hangover the next morning since I had to get up at 4AM and do it all again. And again....over and over for the three week period leading up to this evening's presentation.
This time, J. sneakily hid it behind stuff so the boys don't see it when they are looking for food. Smart! Hoping I can eke out a couple small servings before it's discovered and summarily consumed.
Things don't last long in this house....
But I'll have a week or so off in June and then also enjoy a week off in mid-July and that second week will involve beaches and ocean and many, many umbrella drinks of different varieties. So I know I'll make it and survive.
I ate a very 'light' dinner - always do because it's never really clear how many people will be showing up for dinner so those of us who eat 'first' always eat lightly to ensure there's plenty for everyone else.
I arrived home absolutely craving a brownie and a glass of milk. Totally feasible since I baked a TRIPLE batch of brownies yesterday for the boys. I really only intended to make a double batch but I mis-read the directions, added too much water and oil which necessitated adding a third bag of the mix (yes, they were boxed brownies. From Costco. At $8.99 for six bags of mix - a batch each - I couldn't justify the 'from scratch' version which cost far more than that just for the chocolate alone). So I baked a giant pan of brownies PLUS a smaller round pan of them as well.
The brownies are GONE. All of them. Every single morsel. Gone. I'd be so upset if I weren't so shocked - and remember, one of the boys is now into heavy-duty body building. He watches every morsel he puts in his mouth - but he inhaled huge quantities of brownies in the last 24 hours along with his brother.
Which led me to my next 'treat' that J. (thank goodness) hid behind the frozen pizzas in the freezer. A pint of Ben and Jerry's Fro Yo Half Baked. It's not the same as a brownie - a chewy, chocolaty decadent cake-like confection - but it will have to do.
The boys consumed most of the last two pints of Ben and Jerry's we had on hand - which were procured during the budget madness when I needed something to 'hold onto' and get me through long days. Something that didn't involve a hangover the next morning since I had to get up at 4AM and do it all again. And again....over and over for the three week period leading up to this evening's presentation.
This time, J. sneakily hid it behind stuff so the boys don't see it when they are looking for food. Smart! Hoping I can eke out a couple small servings before it's discovered and summarily consumed.
Things don't last long in this house....
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sugar
I left work at 2PM today - not that there wasn't stuff to do 'cuz there's ALWAYS stuff to do. But it was a slow, quiet day and tomorrow is a 12+ hour day (Board meeting days always are). I needed a haircut so I left at 2 and headed to Great Clips. $13 + $2 tip. It's not fancy but short hair doesn't require much. It's pretty hard to mess it up, really. Went to Chevron to cash in my various Lotto tickets - cleaned out my purse and found some that needed to be checked. Won $9 and a $2 scratch off ticket. I turned the $9 into Mega Millions quick picks 'cuz I'm feeling lucky! And a scratcher that was not a winner. Oh well. I dreamed over the weekend that we won a lottery prize and we bought the soon-to-be vacant house next door and tore down the fence between the two. The boys lived in that house and J. and I lived here. We had access to all the luscious fruit trees in the back (lemons, peaches, grapes, cherries, plums, etc.) and they had access to the pool when they wanted. It was heaven. It's my new 'dream' - a 'compound' set up where they have their space and we have ours. And a cleaning crew for them to protect our investment. And/or frequent parental inspections with standards to be maintained or they can't live there. Doesn't it sound great??
Came home and dealt with the kids. I use the term 'dealt with' because that's what it is these days - reminding them over and over of to-do lists they have yet to touch. Oh, they helped themselves to the allowance money clipped to the note - but the 'list of things to do' was not touched by eldest son. Youngest son made a minor effort. Kids.
I baked a double batch of brownies. Also cooked spaghetti. And a pork tenderloin for tomorrow night, since I wont' be home. The spaghetti wasn't my best...used thawed sausage from the freezer and frozen meat just doesn't have the same flavor as fresh-cooked meat. But we're cleaning out the freezer little by little and using up frozen meat is imperative to the plan. Intent to return from Mexico in a month to a virtually empty freezer which we will then carefully and purposely fill up with things that we will keep better track of.
I need to go upstairs and color my hair but am in a sugar-induced coma. Brownies. Brownie batter. And some toasted marshmallow Jelly Bellies. Bad....bad.....BAD. I feel drunk. This horrible feeling is a sure sign that giving up (or significantly limiting my consumption of) sugar would be advisable. I feel absolute awful and so tired, I can barely stay awake. Time to go do my hair and head to bed.
The weather here is nuts - and I hate to write about the weather 'cuz that's what you talk about when you have nothing else to say and there's plenty to say....but the weather does deserve comments. It's mid-June and we barely topped 80 degrees today. It was overcast and windy most of the day which matches last week when it got down right cold at times. Great for the utility bills. Bad for the pool - this is the latest we've 'opened' the pool since we've had it. It's just not hot enough to want to swim. They say higher temps are heading our way later this week so we'll see. We all need to get some sun because otherwise, we will arrive in Playa del Carmen as white as sheets and quickly fry ourselves. B. got a 30 day pass to the tanning salon...he says he's gone though I notice no difference. But I don't see the kid very much...so I might not notice.
Loreal Preference 9G awaits. Gotta run. Have to allow an extra 10 minutes to 'cover stubborn grays'. Damn stubborn grays. I also need to give myself a facial and a manicure (of sorts) - since my nails have been bitten to shreds because of significant amounts of stress the past couple months. They are already on their way back....and stress is greatly reduced at least for a month or so.
To my brother-in-law B. who called earlier this evening: love you, Dude....but you are completely and solely responsible for this predicament. YOU fell in love. And YOU asked her to marry you. SHE said yes. The rest is history. As you approach your third anniversary of your first meeting, remember this: love always wins. You can't run, you can't hide. Destiny intervenes and love wins. I don't deserve any credit other than seeing the 'writing on the wall' far sooner than either of you did. Chemistry is obvious. OBVIOUS...and it will not be denied. I love you both and I'm so happy for you ...you are both deserving of happiness. Quit pinching yourselves....this is the real deal and it's so wonderful. Watching my 'big sister' fall in love is not something many sisters get to witness and it's been pure joy on my end also! Hugs to you both!
OK - upstairs to get my blondness in gear. Literally.
Came home and dealt with the kids. I use the term 'dealt with' because that's what it is these days - reminding them over and over of to-do lists they have yet to touch. Oh, they helped themselves to the allowance money clipped to the note - but the 'list of things to do' was not touched by eldest son. Youngest son made a minor effort. Kids.
I baked a double batch of brownies. Also cooked spaghetti. And a pork tenderloin for tomorrow night, since I wont' be home. The spaghetti wasn't my best...used thawed sausage from the freezer and frozen meat just doesn't have the same flavor as fresh-cooked meat. But we're cleaning out the freezer little by little and using up frozen meat is imperative to the plan. Intent to return from Mexico in a month to a virtually empty freezer which we will then carefully and purposely fill up with things that we will keep better track of.
I need to go upstairs and color my hair but am in a sugar-induced coma. Brownies. Brownie batter. And some toasted marshmallow Jelly Bellies. Bad....bad.....BAD. I feel drunk. This horrible feeling is a sure sign that giving up (or significantly limiting my consumption of) sugar would be advisable. I feel absolute awful and so tired, I can barely stay awake. Time to go do my hair and head to bed.
The weather here is nuts - and I hate to write about the weather 'cuz that's what you talk about when you have nothing else to say and there's plenty to say....but the weather does deserve comments. It's mid-June and we barely topped 80 degrees today. It was overcast and windy most of the day which matches last week when it got down right cold at times. Great for the utility bills. Bad for the pool - this is the latest we've 'opened' the pool since we've had it. It's just not hot enough to want to swim. They say higher temps are heading our way later this week so we'll see. We all need to get some sun because otherwise, we will arrive in Playa del Carmen as white as sheets and quickly fry ourselves. B. got a 30 day pass to the tanning salon...he says he's gone though I notice no difference. But I don't see the kid very much...so I might not notice.
Loreal Preference 9G awaits. Gotta run. Have to allow an extra 10 minutes to 'cover stubborn grays'. Damn stubborn grays. I also need to give myself a facial and a manicure (of sorts) - since my nails have been bitten to shreds because of significant amounts of stress the past couple months. They are already on their way back....and stress is greatly reduced at least for a month or so.
To my brother-in-law B. who called earlier this evening: love you, Dude....but you are completely and solely responsible for this predicament. YOU fell in love. And YOU asked her to marry you. SHE said yes. The rest is history. As you approach your third anniversary of your first meeting, remember this: love always wins. You can't run, you can't hide. Destiny intervenes and love wins. I don't deserve any credit other than seeing the 'writing on the wall' far sooner than either of you did. Chemistry is obvious. OBVIOUS...and it will not be denied. I love you both and I'm so happy for you ...you are both deserving of happiness. Quit pinching yourselves....this is the real deal and it's so wonderful. Watching my 'big sister' fall in love is not something many sisters get to witness and it's been pure joy on my end also! Hugs to you both!
OK - upstairs to get my blondness in gear. Literally.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Neighbors
J. and I left the house around noon today to run errands. I was heading out on my own but he decided to join me - can't even remember why he decided to tag along but I'm always happy to have his company and since one of my errands was the monthly 'Target Shop', I welcomed someone to help schlep the stuff into and out of the car.
Our neighbors were outside with a rented truck - and they are moving. Their home is in foreclosure - something we suspected a couple months ago when someone came to our door asking about them. J. was home that day and the person at the door was asking about when were they home. J. asked what they wanted and he said that after a lengthy explanation of 'stuff', the word 'foreclosure' was mentioned. At that point, J. said he just clammed up and said 'I don't know their schedules or their comings and goings'. Turns out they have both been unemployed for some time - he works as a consultant in the tech field and she was working for a major corporate travel company. The economic downturn has affected both those industries - and there's no work.
They are moving in with family in Livermore, we think - and putting a lot of their furniture and stuff in storage. I am so sad for them....they are such nice people.
We got their ok to trim the branches of their fruit trees that are now on top of our storage shed - as he said when J. asked 'sure, do whatever you want'. Of course, since the bank owns the home now.
And selfishly, we asked if they would see if their gardener would swap their home for ours - he does such an amazing job and we've inquired of him (the gardener) before but he's actually retired and does just enough lawns to earn what he can earn that doesn't affect his social security. So he wouldn't add us as a client - but maybe he will 'sub' our house for theirs. I hope so....
Just when it started to feel a little like there was some 'better' times ahead....people are still suffering from the economy's free-fall.
Just reinforces how blessed we are....and even though we've been a teeny, tiny bit nervous the past week or so regarding J.'s job - not because we have any reason to be but because there are some changes happening within his organization and it is possible though very unlikely that J. could be affected - we are still thanking God for two good jobs, savings in the bank that would help us through...and the many things that make our life so full and rich that have nothing to do with money.
And yet, just to be 'safe', I 'did the math' and reassured myself that in the entirely unlikely event anything happens to J.'s job, we could 'manage'...it wouldn't be the same 'lifestyle' we have now, but we could survive on one income. So that's a nice reassurance. And even more impetus to continue to cut expenses where we can and look for ways to live more frugally. Not because we have to - but because we can.
On that note, I'm going to head into the kitchen to make some yogurt (with the birthday gift I bought myself) and tend to the garden - we now have sweet banana peppers and cucumbers officially added to our profuse tomatoes. I'm going to have to learn to make sauce or ketchup with all the tomatoes.
Our neighbors were outside with a rented truck - and they are moving. Their home is in foreclosure - something we suspected a couple months ago when someone came to our door asking about them. J. was home that day and the person at the door was asking about when were they home. J. asked what they wanted and he said that after a lengthy explanation of 'stuff', the word 'foreclosure' was mentioned. At that point, J. said he just clammed up and said 'I don't know their schedules or their comings and goings'. Turns out they have both been unemployed for some time - he works as a consultant in the tech field and she was working for a major corporate travel company. The economic downturn has affected both those industries - and there's no work.
They are moving in with family in Livermore, we think - and putting a lot of their furniture and stuff in storage. I am so sad for them....they are such nice people.
We got their ok to trim the branches of their fruit trees that are now on top of our storage shed - as he said when J. asked 'sure, do whatever you want'. Of course, since the bank owns the home now.
And selfishly, we asked if they would see if their gardener would swap their home for ours - he does such an amazing job and we've inquired of him (the gardener) before but he's actually retired and does just enough lawns to earn what he can earn that doesn't affect his social security. So he wouldn't add us as a client - but maybe he will 'sub' our house for theirs. I hope so....
Just when it started to feel a little like there was some 'better' times ahead....people are still suffering from the economy's free-fall.
Just reinforces how blessed we are....and even though we've been a teeny, tiny bit nervous the past week or so regarding J.'s job - not because we have any reason to be but because there are some changes happening within his organization and it is possible though very unlikely that J. could be affected - we are still thanking God for two good jobs, savings in the bank that would help us through...and the many things that make our life so full and rich that have nothing to do with money.
And yet, just to be 'safe', I 'did the math' and reassured myself that in the entirely unlikely event anything happens to J.'s job, we could 'manage'...it wouldn't be the same 'lifestyle' we have now, but we could survive on one income. So that's a nice reassurance. And even more impetus to continue to cut expenses where we can and look for ways to live more frugally. Not because we have to - but because we can.
On that note, I'm going to head into the kitchen to make some yogurt (with the birthday gift I bought myself) and tend to the garden - we now have sweet banana peppers and cucumbers officially added to our profuse tomatoes. I'm going to have to learn to make sauce or ketchup with all the tomatoes.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Work From Home
Ever see those ads that say 'earn $3000 per week working from home'. Or recently 'Google pays me $3000 per week to work from home'. Or others? Ever wonder what those people are doing for the money?
I think I found out recently.
Yesterday, there was a comment on my blog that required 'moderation'. Unless you are a 'follower' of my blog, I get to 'review' and approve comments before they appear. I've never had anyone leave a comment before that I didn't 'know' or that wasn't already a blogspot blogger. It was odd. Out of the blue, there's a comment on my Laundry Mountain post done several months ago. And within that comment was a 'link' on the words 'drying stand'. Or 'laundry drying stand'. And if you went to that link, you were taken to a website selling wooden stands to dry clothes on. I also found her 'blog' which was a couple posts about laundry, with 'drying stand' or 'laundry drying' or 'wooden laundry drying stand' all linked to the same website. In two days of posts (that were a couple months old), she referenced 'laundry drying' dozens of times. She rhapsodized about saving money and how much space in the average home is unused and if you buy laundry drying stands, you can dry all your laundry in your house while your husband is at work - saves money, better for the environment, etc. She hasn't posted since April - just two posts....a contest to see how many times she could reference 'drying laundry' in the shortest time frame possible. No posts since those April posts.
She probably got PAID for me to go to that website. I didn't buy any of the stands - but I'm sure she made money for my 'click'. And if someone falls for it - thinks 'wow, this is the greatest thing ever invented' and actually buys one, she probably gets paid for that, too.
What a way to make a living. Spend all day searching the web for blog posts on laundry and then write a comment that links to a website offering your laundry-related product for sale.
I started to link to her blog, but I don't want to give her a lot of traffic. It's kind of brilliant in a way -
I'm as committed to our environment as the next person - more so, in many ways as my kids will tell you related to my fanatical recycling efforts; growing my own organic food; etc. However, I don't see us able to dry all our laundry in the house using laundry stands. Not going to happen. We already have laundry EVERYWHERE fairly often - and that's laundry that's been washed and folded and is ready to put away. I can't imagine weaving through dozens of 'laundry drying stands'...or the panic that would ensue when a teenager is looking for a particular item. 'Is it on the stand in the dining room? Or on one of the three stands in the family room? Why are my boxers in the kitchen while my pants are in the living room'? We don't need to add that level of complexity to laundry drying, thank you very much Ms. Mary Q. Contrarie. (yes, that's how she signed her comment).
Her profile says 'I am trying to discover the way to leave the earth a little better for my children'. Noble cause, that. Very noble.
I just think it takes more than air drying laundry all over your home - and spending days combing through blog posts finding references to laundry.
Keep an eye on the comments for this post 'cuz she might be back...
I think I found out recently.
Yesterday, there was a comment on my blog that required 'moderation'. Unless you are a 'follower' of my blog, I get to 'review' and approve comments before they appear. I've never had anyone leave a comment before that I didn't 'know' or that wasn't already a blogspot blogger. It was odd. Out of the blue, there's a comment on my Laundry Mountain post done several months ago. And within that comment was a 'link' on the words 'drying stand'. Or 'laundry drying stand'. And if you went to that link, you were taken to a website selling wooden stands to dry clothes on. I also found her 'blog' which was a couple posts about laundry, with 'drying stand' or 'laundry drying' or 'wooden laundry drying stand' all linked to the same website. In two days of posts (that were a couple months old), she referenced 'laundry drying' dozens of times. She rhapsodized about saving money and how much space in the average home is unused and if you buy laundry drying stands, you can dry all your laundry in your house while your husband is at work - saves money, better for the environment, etc. She hasn't posted since April - just two posts....a contest to see how many times she could reference 'drying laundry' in the shortest time frame possible. No posts since those April posts.
She probably got PAID for me to go to that website. I didn't buy any of the stands - but I'm sure she made money for my 'click'. And if someone falls for it - thinks 'wow, this is the greatest thing ever invented' and actually buys one, she probably gets paid for that, too.
What a way to make a living. Spend all day searching the web for blog posts on laundry and then write a comment that links to a website offering your laundry-related product for sale.
I started to link to her blog, but I don't want to give her a lot of traffic. It's kind of brilliant in a way -
I'm as committed to our environment as the next person - more so, in many ways as my kids will tell you related to my fanatical recycling efforts; growing my own organic food; etc. However, I don't see us able to dry all our laundry in the house using laundry stands. Not going to happen. We already have laundry EVERYWHERE fairly often - and that's laundry that's been washed and folded and is ready to put away. I can't imagine weaving through dozens of 'laundry drying stands'...or the panic that would ensue when a teenager is looking for a particular item. 'Is it on the stand in the dining room? Or on one of the three stands in the family room? Why are my boxers in the kitchen while my pants are in the living room'? We don't need to add that level of complexity to laundry drying, thank you very much Ms. Mary Q. Contrarie. (yes, that's how she signed her comment).
Her profile says 'I am trying to discover the way to leave the earth a little better for my children'. Noble cause, that. Very noble.
I just think it takes more than air drying laundry all over your home - and spending days combing through blog posts finding references to laundry.
Keep an eye on the comments for this post 'cuz she might be back...
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Stuff
I have a bunch of random things mulling around my brain...so here goes nothing...forgive me for so much miscellany at one time...it's just the way my days are going lately.
Budget: done. Still working on some details and triple/quadruple/quintuple checking everything. But it's done a few days ahead of when I thought it would be done...so that's a good thing. Still have memos to write, etc. for board meeting but it's looking like I won't be working all weekend again which will be a refreshing change.
Economy: Wow. Things around town are looking bleak. Went to the car dealership today to get my 10K service on the Mariner and the car lots on auto row look empty. The car dealership has cut back it's service hours considerably - just to reduce staffing costs, I assume. Their service bays were full and plenty of cars/trucks being serviced. But they are feeling the pinch like every other business in town and are cutting back costs wherever they can.
Then went to the pet store for cat food and the merchandise shelves are looking sparse. Scary. They are one of the few remaining open stores in this shopping complex and it's looking like they are not doing all that well either. It's one of two major-chain pet stores in town and if it closes, I'll be forced to shop at Petco which is further across town.
I did my part and bought a month's worth of cat food; however, I did switch to a brand that was 'on sale'. Hoping the cats will be OK. I don't like to 'brand hop' but I'm really watching our pennies these days and 1/2 what we usually pay was a good deal. So we'll hope it goes OK and they can eat the food. They are both felines of the 'sensitive stomach' variety.
I wanted sushi for dinner. Instead, we did the economical thing and ate leftover roasted chicken and macaroni and cheese. Plenty of food in the house - just requires cooking and some effort to decide what to eat.
B. officially matriculated last night [at least on paper] ...registered for 17 units. He was thrilled to discover that in college, you don't necessarily attend every day. As it stands now, he will be in school all day Tuesdays and Thursdays and have one 2.5 hour evening class on Wednesday nights. So he will have 4-day weekends every weekend, at least for the first semester. He realizes that he will be working those days and/or studying. But to a kid who's spent the last 13 years in school five days per week, 10 months of the year it's like the best thing ever! College...you can go to college and go to school only a few days a week. He's in heaven. He's also excited about his classes. We paid for the 17 units, plus his semester fees and it was $363 - what a BARGAIN. Books will be around $400....then gas, and food and supplies. But still, far less expensive than a 4 year college. And it will be a fantastic experience for him - it's fun to see him so excited. He seems motivated and interested and has even talked about taking some summer school classes next year to help finish his A.A. degree in Administrative Justice sooner. He couldn't get into his English class because it was totally full - but that's OK. He's got plenty of time to get that class done and there's always summer school.
I am taking a day off in a week or two so he and I can go to the bookstore together. I LOVE THE BOOKSTORE...love the smell of new books and buying supplies. And it's an excuse to go say 'hi' to friends...and share in a little of the college excitement even if he's not leaving home right now.
We have tomatoes aplenty and some bell peppers starting. I think I see a cucumber starting but I'm not convinced yet...we'll see. The zucchini's are not doing well. They are not in good soil and they're in the ground (vs. in pots or raised beds) and the slugs keep eating the blossoms before they can become veggies. H. is working on clearing out the flower beds so we can build some raised beds this summer. That's a big project and I don't know for sure we'll get there, but we're going to try.
Final payment on Cancun house is due next week and it appears we are going. I'm still 'nervous' about it - but it will be whatever it will be and it is a trip we are looking forward to and need. So off we go - passports arrived in the mail this week and last so we're all set. Just the packing and the cleaning and arranging for someone to take care of the cats and plants, etc.
This is the first evening in weeks I have not arrived home with laptop in tow. The first evening in weeks I was home shortly after 5. It's just after 7 and it's not dark yet....and I'm ready for sleep. But it's nice to feel like I can take it 'easy' for one night - still back at it early in the morning but nice to give myself permission to sleep...and write....and enjoy a quiet evening. Even better since the cleaning crew came today so I don't feel compelled to 'do' a bunch of stuff.
Heading upstairs shortly. Have time to read!!! Still working on Book 3 of the Twilight series....enjoying it as much as the first two but haven't had a lot of time to read the past month or so. I can get through several chapters hopefully - though sleep will overcome me shortly.
Budget: done. Still working on some details and triple/quadruple/quintuple checking everything. But it's done a few days ahead of when I thought it would be done...so that's a good thing. Still have memos to write, etc. for board meeting but it's looking like I won't be working all weekend again which will be a refreshing change.
Economy: Wow. Things around town are looking bleak. Went to the car dealership today to get my 10K service on the Mariner and the car lots on auto row look empty. The car dealership has cut back it's service hours considerably - just to reduce staffing costs, I assume. Their service bays were full and plenty of cars/trucks being serviced. But they are feeling the pinch like every other business in town and are cutting back costs wherever they can.
Then went to the pet store for cat food and the merchandise shelves are looking sparse. Scary. They are one of the few remaining open stores in this shopping complex and it's looking like they are not doing all that well either. It's one of two major-chain pet stores in town and if it closes, I'll be forced to shop at Petco which is further across town.
I did my part and bought a month's worth of cat food; however, I did switch to a brand that was 'on sale'. Hoping the cats will be OK. I don't like to 'brand hop' but I'm really watching our pennies these days and 1/2 what we usually pay was a good deal. So we'll hope it goes OK and they can eat the food. They are both felines of the 'sensitive stomach' variety.
I wanted sushi for dinner. Instead, we did the economical thing and ate leftover roasted chicken and macaroni and cheese. Plenty of food in the house - just requires cooking and some effort to decide what to eat.
B. officially matriculated last night [at least on paper] ...registered for 17 units. He was thrilled to discover that in college, you don't necessarily attend every day. As it stands now, he will be in school all day Tuesdays and Thursdays and have one 2.5 hour evening class on Wednesday nights. So he will have 4-day weekends every weekend, at least for the first semester. He realizes that he will be working those days and/or studying. But to a kid who's spent the last 13 years in school five days per week, 10 months of the year it's like the best thing ever! College...you can go to college and go to school only a few days a week. He's in heaven. He's also excited about his classes. We paid for the 17 units, plus his semester fees and it was $363 - what a BARGAIN. Books will be around $400....then gas, and food and supplies. But still, far less expensive than a 4 year college. And it will be a fantastic experience for him - it's fun to see him so excited. He seems motivated and interested and has even talked about taking some summer school classes next year to help finish his A.A. degree in Administrative Justice sooner. He couldn't get into his English class because it was totally full - but that's OK. He's got plenty of time to get that class done and there's always summer school.
I am taking a day off in a week or two so he and I can go to the bookstore together. I LOVE THE BOOKSTORE...love the smell of new books and buying supplies. And it's an excuse to go say 'hi' to friends...and share in a little of the college excitement even if he's not leaving home right now.
We have tomatoes aplenty and some bell peppers starting. I think I see a cucumber starting but I'm not convinced yet...we'll see. The zucchini's are not doing well. They are not in good soil and they're in the ground (vs. in pots or raised beds) and the slugs keep eating the blossoms before they can become veggies. H. is working on clearing out the flower beds so we can build some raised beds this summer. That's a big project and I don't know for sure we'll get there, but we're going to try.
Final payment on Cancun house is due next week and it appears we are going. I'm still 'nervous' about it - but it will be whatever it will be and it is a trip we are looking forward to and need. So off we go - passports arrived in the mail this week and last so we're all set. Just the packing and the cleaning and arranging for someone to take care of the cats and plants, etc.
This is the first evening in weeks I have not arrived home with laptop in tow. The first evening in weeks I was home shortly after 5. It's just after 7 and it's not dark yet....and I'm ready for sleep. But it's nice to feel like I can take it 'easy' for one night - still back at it early in the morning but nice to give myself permission to sleep...and write....and enjoy a quiet evening. Even better since the cleaning crew came today so I don't feel compelled to 'do' a bunch of stuff.
Heading upstairs shortly. Have time to read!!! Still working on Book 3 of the Twilight series....enjoying it as much as the first two but haven't had a lot of time to read the past month or so. I can get through several chapters hopefully - though sleep will overcome me shortly.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Bouquets
Survived my 49th birthday yesterday - a day full of surprises.
J. and the boys sent me a beautiful bouquet - people get flowers for work at my office and so J. obliged my desire for something totally unnecessary but fun and a nice addition to my busy days. They are absolutely gorgeous - oranges and yellows and pinks, bright and cheery and 'artsy'. I love them.
We had our annual administrator lunch yesterday and I hadn't planned to go since I was buried in budget stuff and attempting to balance something for the umpteenth time. But I went - my friend came to get me and said 'come on, I'll drive - we're going'. The lunch was nice - it's the only time all administrators in the district sit down together for a meal and it's always a lot of fun. The lunch was Mexican food and my 'super burrito' was a foot long and 4 inches round. It was HUGE. I ate about 1/3 of it and brought the rest home for dinner. Made it through lunch and all the sudden, the jukebox starts playing a Mexican- sounding Happy Birthday. I look at my boss who is grinning from ear to ear and say 'Oh crap!' - which only cracked him up even more. They put a crazy hat on me and presented me with cake and whip cream complete with a '4' and a '9' candle. It was too funny. I hadn't said a word to anyone that it was my birthday but his assistant delivered my flowers to my building so perhaps she let the cat out of the bag. Anyway, it was funny. I would have eaten the entire piece of cake but no one else ordered any dessert. So I just ate a couple bites.
Today, I went to a workshop on budget in Sacramento. I carpooled with a friend from another district. About 1/2 way through the morning workshop, I said 'I just emailed my assistant to tell her that I think I'm heading home from here'. (My day started at 4AM with emails from home and I was at my desk by 6AM before heading out to meet my carpool friend). My friend says 'um, cool'. Something like that. After a break, she comes back and says 'ok, I don't want to spoil anything - but you have to go back to your office today because there's something waiting for you'. She refused to give any further hints.
So I did return - and in my office, right next to the flowers - was a cookie bouquet!! So cute - 4 flower shaped cookies in red, blue, yellow & green along with a white cookie that said 'Happy Birthday'. They are in a 'vase' and arranged in a bouquet. So fun. I immediately shared a cookie with my office (the cookies are as big as my hand) and we laughed because the blue frosting turned our tongues and teeth blue! Short lived, thank goodness.
It was great of my friends to surprise me and wonderful of J. and the boys ('my guys') to send me flowers. The boys also each gave me cash-moola towards my iPod Touch which I'm dutifully saving up for. It's not that I couldn't buy one whenever I want - I could. But it's satisfying to set a goal and see how long it takes me to 'find'/save up the money for it. The boys gave me $20 each - which I'm putting in my savings account. My sister and her hubby refused to take a check I sent for t-shirts they gave the boys at the races a couple weeks ago - so I put that 'found' money into the iPod account, too! Little by little, it will add up - and then I'll feel completely, totally great about buying it for myself. And J. said 'move some other money from our checking account into your iPod account and call it your birthday gift from me' - so already, I'm doing pretty well towards my goal. I don't need an iPod Touch, but I do want one - so I'm trying to show the kids that you work and save for the things you want....hard to teach. Hard to do in this age of 'have it now' lifestyle.
My sister also sent me a beautiful lavender potpourri which smells great and is so pretty!
It was a great day - and I'm now in the last year of my 40's. This time next year, I'll have to change the 'about me' profile to read '50+'. My current possible plans to celebrate that milestone include a trip to Disneyland....or Vegas...or a party bus up to Napa for wine tasting with friends and family....a year to plan. A year to enjoy the last of my 40's. They have been the happiest decade of my entire life and I'm positive my 50's will surely surpass them.
Weekend full of work looms. Budget due. Too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it. I will work 24/7 this weekend to get as far as possible on it before Monday morning arrives. There is much to finish up...
Thanks to all who made my 49th such a special occasion. It was lots of fun being surprised multiple times!
J. and the boys sent me a beautiful bouquet - people get flowers for work at my office and so J. obliged my desire for something totally unnecessary but fun and a nice addition to my busy days. They are absolutely gorgeous - oranges and yellows and pinks, bright and cheery and 'artsy'. I love them.
We had our annual administrator lunch yesterday and I hadn't planned to go since I was buried in budget stuff and attempting to balance something for the umpteenth time. But I went - my friend came to get me and said 'come on, I'll drive - we're going'. The lunch was nice - it's the only time all administrators in the district sit down together for a meal and it's always a lot of fun. The lunch was Mexican food and my 'super burrito' was a foot long and 4 inches round. It was HUGE. I ate about 1/3 of it and brought the rest home for dinner. Made it through lunch and all the sudden, the jukebox starts playing a Mexican- sounding Happy Birthday. I look at my boss who is grinning from ear to ear and say 'Oh crap!' - which only cracked him up even more. They put a crazy hat on me and presented me with cake and whip cream complete with a '4' and a '9' candle. It was too funny. I hadn't said a word to anyone that it was my birthday but his assistant delivered my flowers to my building so perhaps she let the cat out of the bag. Anyway, it was funny. I would have eaten the entire piece of cake but no one else ordered any dessert. So I just ate a couple bites.
Today, I went to a workshop on budget in Sacramento. I carpooled with a friend from another district. About 1/2 way through the morning workshop, I said 'I just emailed my assistant to tell her that I think I'm heading home from here'. (My day started at 4AM with emails from home and I was at my desk by 6AM before heading out to meet my carpool friend). My friend says 'um, cool'. Something like that. After a break, she comes back and says 'ok, I don't want to spoil anything - but you have to go back to your office today because there's something waiting for you'. She refused to give any further hints.
So I did return - and in my office, right next to the flowers - was a cookie bouquet!! So cute - 4 flower shaped cookies in red, blue, yellow & green along with a white cookie that said 'Happy Birthday'. They are in a 'vase' and arranged in a bouquet. So fun. I immediately shared a cookie with my office (the cookies are as big as my hand) and we laughed because the blue frosting turned our tongues and teeth blue! Short lived, thank goodness.
It was great of my friends to surprise me and wonderful of J. and the boys ('my guys') to send me flowers. The boys also each gave me cash-moola towards my iPod Touch which I'm dutifully saving up for. It's not that I couldn't buy one whenever I want - I could. But it's satisfying to set a goal and see how long it takes me to 'find'/save up the money for it. The boys gave me $20 each - which I'm putting in my savings account. My sister and her hubby refused to take a check I sent for t-shirts they gave the boys at the races a couple weeks ago - so I put that 'found' money into the iPod account, too! Little by little, it will add up - and then I'll feel completely, totally great about buying it for myself. And J. said 'move some other money from our checking account into your iPod account and call it your birthday gift from me' - so already, I'm doing pretty well towards my goal. I don't need an iPod Touch, but I do want one - so I'm trying to show the kids that you work and save for the things you want....hard to teach. Hard to do in this age of 'have it now' lifestyle.
My sister also sent me a beautiful lavender potpourri which smells great and is so pretty!
It was a great day - and I'm now in the last year of my 40's. This time next year, I'll have to change the 'about me' profile to read '50+'. My current possible plans to celebrate that milestone include a trip to Disneyland....or Vegas...or a party bus up to Napa for wine tasting with friends and family....a year to plan. A year to enjoy the last of my 40's. They have been the happiest decade of my entire life and I'm positive my 50's will surely surpass them.
Weekend full of work looms. Budget due. Too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it. I will work 24/7 this weekend to get as far as possible on it before Monday morning arrives. There is much to finish up...
Thanks to all who made my 49th such a special occasion. It was lots of fun being surprised multiple times!
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Chocolate
I went to lunch today - I really went to get more iced tea (being up since 3:30 this morning working on budget had me feeling sleepy at noon so I went out for reinforcements) and walked right past the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory that opened in the Cold Stone Creamery store. I wandered in and left with $5 of chocolate covered potato chips - it was 1/4 pound - so that's $20 a pound. I just had to try them and thankfully, they are something I can live without 'cuz at $20 a pound, I absolutely cannot afford to grow particularly fond of them. Plus, I could make my own pretty easily).
We had H.'s girl friend over for the day yesterday - a rare thing since I wasn't home. I talked to her mom to be sure she knew there was no parent at home. Confirmed B. was home....and confirmed that I only work 1.7 miles away and planned to do drive by's (of my own house) periodically, including stopping in unannounced. Which I did and found nothing amiss. She stayed for dinner.
I'm not seeking a huge friendship with this young lady, but let's just say there's a lot to be desired on the 'social' and 'communication' front. She did not say a single word to me the entire time she was here. H. insists she said 'hi' when I came in the room both times I entered - but I heard nothing. It's possible she said it - I possibly didn't hear her. But I did spend 1.5 hours in the kitchen working my ass off (after a 12 hour day) cooking dinner....and still, no talk. Nothing. H. sets the table for dinner (which he had to be prompted to do) and then the two of them disappear to the living room - and when I said 'hello, are you eating?' there was angst on all sides. I finally just said 'ok, I'm done - dinner is in the kitchen and you two are on your own'. I guess they ate - I don't really know.
I was raised that you offer to help. Your hostess may decline your offer but the polite thing to do is to offer. I was raised that you are cordial and friendly - not completely silent and non-responsive. It just doesn't add up for me. I don't know what her home situation is, really - and I alternate between feeling sort of sorry for her (and thankful she has H. in her life) and being hugely irritated. H. says 'she thinks you and Dad are the greatest - she loves you guys'. And I think 'where does that come from because she has never (in over a year of dating H.) had a conversation with me.
I was pissed off last night - I told H. after she left 'if she is going to continue to be a frequent guest in our home - and I am more than happy to have her here as often as she'd like - then she is going to have to work on her communication skills. She is going to HAVE TO communicate. Even just spend a teeny bit of time in the kitchen with me, conversing a teeny, tiny bit - or I'm not comfortable having her here. She needs to start having some sort of 'friendship' with your parents H. - not just hanging out with you, whispering every thing. He said 'she is just really, really shy, Mom'. 'H., I understand shy. I was shy. But this goes beyond shy. She's 'known' us for over a year now....I know she's only been here a few times, but she HAS been here and she has spent time here...so it's time to start stepping up and starting to have a 'friendship' with all the members of this house - not just you. '
It's an odd situation. I feel uneasy about it....and I'm upset at myself for being upset. I don't want that for my son - a needy, quiet, non-participative girl that hangs out with him and is so obviously socially uncomfortably awkward. She seems like a really nice girl - but there's no interaction that gives me any sense of what she's really like. Except for that she is all over my son like a fly on fly paper. They watched movies intertwined on the couch. Two kids snuggled on a couch with arms, legs, hands intertwined.
I told H. on the way home from B.'s graduation on Saturday (because there was a moment that seemed to allow for the conversation) that I was cautious about her because there are girls out there who are forward enough to create a situation that leads a young man to get into trouble - and while I really didn't think she was like that, I honestly didn't have any way of knowing what she's like since I've never talked to her, really. I cautioned him hugely - warned him that he's 16 and like all 16 year old boys, it will take about 10 seconds for him to get to a point where it will be too late...should she set her sights on something more physical, he will probably not be able to resist. He sort of gave me that 'look' of 'are you insane' ....but then he stopped and said 'ok, I know what you mean and I promise you - we have talked about it - and we are absolutely NOT having a physical relationship. Period'. I hope he's right...because I'm not too sure that she's not hoping for a relationship so she'll have her future all mapped out. I was a young teenage girl, too, once - and I was going to marry absolutely every guy who showed the slightest interest in me....so I know.
These years are sure challenging. I'm hoping the next time she's here, I can cajole her into coming into the kitchen and helping me bake some cookies or something. She loves my cookies - any and all of them.
OK - time for bed. More later.
We had H.'s girl friend over for the day yesterday - a rare thing since I wasn't home. I talked to her mom to be sure she knew there was no parent at home. Confirmed B. was home....and confirmed that I only work 1.7 miles away and planned to do drive by's (of my own house) periodically, including stopping in unannounced. Which I did and found nothing amiss. She stayed for dinner.
I'm not seeking a huge friendship with this young lady, but let's just say there's a lot to be desired on the 'social' and 'communication' front. She did not say a single word to me the entire time she was here. H. insists she said 'hi' when I came in the room both times I entered - but I heard nothing. It's possible she said it - I possibly didn't hear her. But I did spend 1.5 hours in the kitchen working my ass off (after a 12 hour day) cooking dinner....and still, no talk. Nothing. H. sets the table for dinner (which he had to be prompted to do) and then the two of them disappear to the living room - and when I said 'hello, are you eating?' there was angst on all sides. I finally just said 'ok, I'm done - dinner is in the kitchen and you two are on your own'. I guess they ate - I don't really know.
I was raised that you offer to help. Your hostess may decline your offer but the polite thing to do is to offer. I was raised that you are cordial and friendly - not completely silent and non-responsive. It just doesn't add up for me. I don't know what her home situation is, really - and I alternate between feeling sort of sorry for her (and thankful she has H. in her life) and being hugely irritated. H. says 'she thinks you and Dad are the greatest - she loves you guys'. And I think 'where does that come from because she has never (in over a year of dating H.) had a conversation with me.
I was pissed off last night - I told H. after she left 'if she is going to continue to be a frequent guest in our home - and I am more than happy to have her here as often as she'd like - then she is going to have to work on her communication skills. She is going to HAVE TO communicate. Even just spend a teeny bit of time in the kitchen with me, conversing a teeny, tiny bit - or I'm not comfortable having her here. She needs to start having some sort of 'friendship' with your parents H. - not just hanging out with you, whispering every thing. He said 'she is just really, really shy, Mom'. 'H., I understand shy. I was shy. But this goes beyond shy. She's 'known' us for over a year now....I know she's only been here a few times, but she HAS been here and she has spent time here...so it's time to start stepping up and starting to have a 'friendship' with all the members of this house - not just you. '
It's an odd situation. I feel uneasy about it....and I'm upset at myself for being upset. I don't want that for my son - a needy, quiet, non-participative girl that hangs out with him and is so obviously socially uncomfortably awkward. She seems like a really nice girl - but there's no interaction that gives me any sense of what she's really like. Except for that she is all over my son like a fly on fly paper. They watched movies intertwined on the couch. Two kids snuggled on a couch with arms, legs, hands intertwined.
I told H. on the way home from B.'s graduation on Saturday (because there was a moment that seemed to allow for the conversation) that I was cautious about her because there are girls out there who are forward enough to create a situation that leads a young man to get into trouble - and while I really didn't think she was like that, I honestly didn't have any way of knowing what she's like since I've never talked to her, really. I cautioned him hugely - warned him that he's 16 and like all 16 year old boys, it will take about 10 seconds for him to get to a point where it will be too late...should she set her sights on something more physical, he will probably not be able to resist. He sort of gave me that 'look' of 'are you insane' ....but then he stopped and said 'ok, I know what you mean and I promise you - we have talked about it - and we are absolutely NOT having a physical relationship. Period'. I hope he's right...because I'm not too sure that she's not hoping for a relationship so she'll have her future all mapped out. I was a young teenage girl, too, once - and I was going to marry absolutely every guy who showed the slightest interest in me....so I know.
These years are sure challenging. I'm hoping the next time she's here, I can cajole her into coming into the kitchen and helping me bake some cookies or something. She loves my cookies - any and all of them.
OK - time for bed. More later.
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Tales of Helpers
Our cleaning lady D. is here today - she wears earbuds and chats on the phone while she works. She is the third cleaning 'person(s)'...
