The Gray Stable

So, apparently my kitchen has become a barn. I came in to start dinner and this what I found saddled up and ready to go, but with no owner in sight.

Little Things That Aggravate Me

So I get out the grape jam so I can fix my english muffin before I go work out. I turn it over so it will be easy to get out and I'm not banging the jam on the side of the counter trying to release it from it's death grip on the sides of the container. I step away for a few minutes, and come back to this bloody, grape jam mess.

Arg!!!!!

Okay, so I finally get all the various forms of pictures together and am ready to start blogging only to find my sd card to my digital all messed up. I can't get the pictures to scroll on the camera and the only ones I can see are a couple of Zack the morning of his birthday. When I put the card into the computer, none of the pictures from the trip are there! I specifically remember Gary messing with the camera then I remember hearing a couple of "uh oh's" and a "nothing dear." So I'm blaming him for the picture failure. Then I get the disk from the disposable camera into the computer and the blog won't load any photos right now so guess what? I GIVE UP!

I'll try again tomorrow and if I can't get the pictures to load then I'll give some commentary about our trip. It was great!

Crummy, Rainy Afternoon

It's nasty outside and in. We finally get rain and what do I get? A new roof. I was just looking at the ceiling in the den when I think "man, that looks like a big water spot." I drag a chair over to see and when I barely touch it the ceiling busts open and water starts spilling all over me and the floor. I called Gary, who is totally out of town, to express my great concern and all I get is "well, I guess we finally need a new roof. Put a bucket under it." Joan has moved all the pictures off the entertainment center and fashioned a tarp over it. I hate spending money on house maintenance.

More crummy - I noticed night before last that Zack's big toe, around the nail, was all red - really red. I checked on it again yesterday and it was just as red. I called the doctor and got an appointment for this morning. So, for a very long time I had to listen to him moan over having to go to the doctor. (I was trying to have a phone conversation with Deborah and he was crying so loud she asked if he was in pain or just fretting. Just fretting - talk louder.) Actually, for Zack, he did really well this morning. What he's not doing well at is drinking the gloppy, pink medicine the doctor gave to clear up the angry toe. I've even put it into chocolate milk, but he's been sitting at the table for over 20 minutes complaining about it. Wait! He just finished the first dose. Three times a day - ought to be fun.

Jury Duty again

Remember last November/December I had jury duty and actually was chosen - even though I had Christine's memorial - and noone at the Court really gave a rat's a$$? Well, guess what? Today I received ANOTHER jury summons for the end of October. Isn't there some law that excludes one from jury service every frickin' year?????

Cupcake Decorating and Homework Drama

Today Aunt Joan baked Halloween cupcakes for the kids to decorate. Also, Zack's language arts homework is to write a story using 12 spelling words. The hysterics have begun. He worked a total of two minutes on the story and has been complaining and crying that it's too hard and he can't do it. Zack was all happy while decorating but when he realized what the homework was and that I was not going to do it for him, everything changed. The following pictures illustrate my point.

Ansley all happy with her cupcakes.
Zack's cupcakes. He refused a picture because he's all crabby. Zack being all stabby and crabby because of the homework.
And......What I got after I took the last picture.

Good afternoon.

Once again, I ask...

Why? Much like Zachary and the strangled toothpaste, why must Ansley open a box of crackers in this manner - rendering the box unable to ever be closed again and the Triscuit's stale tomorrow?

Huh?

Today, while in Zack's class to stuff VIP's, I heard the screamer teacher yell again at the kids and then I heard something so unbelievable I still can't believe it.

A little girl was asking her when 9/11 happened and she looked at me and asked "it was 2004, right?"

WHAT?????

This is the woman teaching my child?

New Computer

Okay, I have a new computer but the newness of it as well as the newness of the new AOL is causing me much stress. I tend to get set in my ways and change really freaks me. Not to mention that after my snafu yesterday trying to delete AOL and reinstall it caused me to lose all of my bookmarks and let's just say, I had about ten years worth. Also, when reinstalled on the new computer, all of my old mail (like ten years worth) was lost as well. ARG!!!!!!

On the good side, the new computer is super fast and the screen is gigantic. Now, if I can just figure out how to use Vista and all the junk on this computer, I should be alright.

Other than this, we went and saw the Falcon's whip up on the Lion's and that was fun. What wasn't fun was when the Bats whipped up on the Rockhounds. Tough game.

Also, Shrek decided to become Hermit, II again and I am recovered from last Thursday's boot camp-- just in time to start over tomorrow. Anything else? Nope, that's about it.

Computer Nightmare

So don't be looking for any updates or email from me. Long story short I don't have my computer. Gary just took it to have all my stuff transferred to my new computer and they are not sure when they'll get back here and reinstall AOL. Big pain in my a$$ so I'm very stressed right now. Plus, I'm trying to type on Gary's laptop and it is a nightmare. I HATE THIS!!

Otherwise, Zack's at a spend the night party, Ansley's witching about being hungry, and we're going to the Falcon's game tomorrow. They're playing the Lion's. Hopefully we'll see a win. Also, Zack's game is Sunday at 5:30. Come out and see some ball.

On two sad friend notes, Maryellen's father passed away Thursday night. Christine Cooper's mom had to be moved to rehab after falling and breaking her hip, her long time dog, Roxie, had to be put to sleep last Sunday and one of their frogs died yesterday. Our prayers are with all of them.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
If you need me, please just call. I'm not sure when I'll be back online ---BUT IT BETTER BE SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is It A Control Thing?

Every year I sign up to be a room mom for the kids classes. Every year I've been put as a room mom for both kids. When Ansley was in second grade I was the key mom which sort of meant I was the leader. That same year I was one of four for Zack's kindergarten class, but not the key which was fine since Mr. Kuefler was new and required a lot of help from me (plus he's a man and just requires a lot of help anyway.) Last year I was one of four for Ansley's third grade and chosen by Mrs. Knorr as her key in Zack's first grade.

Yesterday I received notice that I would be one of FIVE in Zack's class with another mom being the key. I waited and waited for notice for Ansley's class and that notice never came. Today I decided to contact the room mom coordinator to ask if I was or not. Answer "Nope, Ms. Weiss only wants two. Have a good weekend." Short, direct and to the point.

OUCH.

This bothers me a little. I'm one of five and not the key and then not at all. Some might say I have control issues. I think perhaps I just like to be "involved."

The Hard Head and the Collared Shirt

It only seems right that on the first day of school your son wears a collared shirt in order to make a good first impression. After that, who knows.

Walking home from dropping the kids off yesterday, Mary Ellen mentioned how she had tried to get Jack and Patrick to continue on the good first impression and wear a collared shirt on the second day to only be met with moans. I hadn't even bothered with Zack, but thought I might try on the third day.

Setting - 6:35, Zack still trying to wake up. I casually throw a pair of shorts and collard shirt on the bed hoping he'd be too asleep to notice. I hear from under the covers "why do I have this collared shirt?" "Because, you're going to Ben's today and you want to look nice." "Why do I need to look nice to go to Ben's?" "Because you want to look nice when you go to a friend's house."

I went on downstairs and a few minutes later Zack comes down wearing his best-----Murphey Candler t-shirt. Just ain't happening.

Still Waiting

Day six waiting on cable folks. 10:00 and still not here. What happened to "I'm going to try and 'roll by' first thing?