What have I gotten myself into?

I thought that "retiring" from the airline would create such an abundance of time on my hands that I would go a bit crazy. People have taken it upon themselves to assign me "tasks" to accomplish with all my time off. Everything from packing, moving, selling, dog sitting, kid sitting, book clubs, mothers groups, craft fairs... you name it and someone is trying to get me to do it.

I draw the line at the kid and dog sitting. I don't mind helping someone in a bind, every blue moon or so.. but I am not... I repeat NOT...a child/animal dumping ground. In fact I think I am going to get a bill board for the front yard that says that.

Little A wakes up every morning and asks if I am finished working yet. Almost love, almost.

Birthday blowout bash

I hear Little A had a ball at Austins party. I hear jumping and swimming and lots of giggles were had. I am sure that Little A is going to give me an earful when she wakes up in the morning about how much fun she had. Wish I could have been there, I can't believe how fast our little rascals are growing. Can't wait to see the pictures!!

I am truly looking forward to being home all the time and watching the day by day growth instead of catching glimpses in the mornings 4 days a week.

5 more weeks at work...well, at the "paycheck" kind of work. 5 LONG weeks.

Mamma Mia

Went and saw this on Sunday for hubby's birthday. Little A thought it was great, she has been listening to the sound track with her Grandma for a while now. I ended up buying the soundtrack too since she liked it so much. Now as we are riding around she is in the backseat just singing along.

Truly one of the funniest things I have heard, she knows ALL of the songs!

Now I am on the lookout for more musicals that we would both enjoy. Suggestions welcomed!!

Twighlight Series

Have you read the Stephanie Meyer series?

No? Really, hmm maybe because your an adult and don't shop in the Teen section of the bookstore. I bought the first one a few weeks ago at a used bookstore. In my defense I didn't know it was a "Teen" series. I was a bit shocked when I went to buy the second one and couldn't find it in the fiction section. I had to wander around a bit and found it on the teen aisle. I don't know why I was shocked given the content, the "g" rating of it... but the bestseller status of it threw me off. Never see Christopher Pike on that list.

Anyway, these books have become a guilty pleasure. I keep finishing them in 1 or 2 sittings, a difficult feat with a toddler, husband, and more than full time job. The size of the book is an illusion though, the type is large and the words fall in the 10 cent category so it really is a fast read.

I am torn between love and hate with these books. I love the characters, the plot, and the flow of the story. I hate the writing! Seriously I do not need to be reminded every 5 pages that it is about a vampire, a werewolf, or a rehash of what happened in the last chapter. Is the generation that it is geared to so brain damaged that it is assumed they will not retain information they have read? I know part of it is so that someone not reading the series in order isn't completely in the dark, but every 5 pages is overkill! Another thing, why are the vampires in high school? I personally would go insane if I kept repeating high school, really not sure why the vampires would do that. But really other than a couple of quirks I have really enjoyed the series. I am on the last book now, and I hear they are making a movie of the first. I doubt that they will do it justice.

Don't let my rant put you off, I really do recommend the series.. go sneak into the teens section and do a grab and run.

28 Days

I quit.. ok maybe not so much as quit as opted for early retirement. I couldn't resist the severance package.

I am scheduled to work for exactly 28 more days.. throw in weekends and it's really a lot longer. They have given me a tentative end day of September 30th.

I can't believe it.

I have been peeking into the world of the stay at home mom as that is what I intend to do till Little A starts kindergarten. It's exciting and scary at the same time. It will be an interesting transition to say the least.

Girls night

Austin was faboo. We did a whole lot of nothing and it couldn't have been more perfect. We ate, laughed, talked, and had full blow relaxation. R and I have been friends for going on 19 years now, yet we can still fill a solid 24 hours with great conversation. I am truly blessed!

Now, how soon is too soon to plot next years escape?

If you ask the magic eight ball...

Will hubby buy groceries today? "Better not tell you now"
Will Austin be a blast? "Concentrate and ask again"
Will Austin be a blast? "It is certain"
Will I enjoy unemployment? "Outlook good"
Will the Texans go to the Superbowl? "Reply hazy try again"
Will the Texans go to the Superbowl? "Cannot predict now"
Will I go crazy at home? "Yes Definately"
Will I ever go to Vegas again? "Outlook good"
Will I ever make it to New York City? "As I see it yes"
Will we be moving soon? "Without a doubt"

Anyone else have a question for the magic 8 ball?

FINALLY

My blog has been a mess for a long time due to my inability at work to ever update it properly. The stars are aligned today and I actually managed to fix it. Happiness for everyone!

Work is a mess, the ship is sinking and there are not enough life boats. I threw in my bid for one of the life boats, we shall see if I get one.

Little A has learned a new word. Not one we wanted her to learn. A couple of days ago I fell down on the front entry tiles, landed full weight on both knees, and in the moment of extreme pain I yelled a naughty word. She has not incorporated it into her own use of the word, but if you ask her about the accident she will tell you Mommy said "Oh Sh**".

Lovely, now I am going to have to brain wash that out of her head. Any good soap recommendations for a 3 year olds brain?

the toothless wonder

An employee called because she has a trip tomorrow, her front tooth fell out, and she doesn't know if she will be allowed to work.

Consulted the manual and the magic 8 ball, nope, no guidance there for the toothless wonder.

She called out sick.

The email to her bosses was the greatest one I have written all week.

Book store and nonsense

So far working in a book store has topped my list of desirable jobs. I haven't figured out an angle where working at one would cause undue stress, outside maybe the salary. What do book store clerks make these days?

Probably not enough, I would end up having to work at 5 of them and balancing the schedules would drive me mad and cause enough stress that I would wish I had my old job back. HA!

Girls weekend is rapidly approaching and while the bag isn't packed it is peaking out of my closet ready to go!

Google game

Totally swiped from someone else.. type your name followed by the word on the list and find out what it says. Boredom at its finest.

Heather needs.. men now
Heather looks like.. dired toothpaste in an old dead hillbillies mouth after 3 years
Heather does.. her best thinking for her project outside in the safe confienes of nature
Heather hates.. You
Heather goes.. to hollywood
Heather loves.. her penis
Heather eats.. a goldfish
Heather has.. two mommies
Heather did.. not agree
Heather will.. let you know it

No need for words

Teeth and Splashtown

The dentist finally managed to install the new bridge. I must say the new chompers are nice, and I am beyond ecstatic to not have that temporary bridge in my mouth anymore! Now I am going to go through the process of going back to see my old TMJD doctor. After 119 days of hell I can finally start back on the road of fixing my jaw. I will be going back to see the same Dr. that fixed it 9 years ago, hopefully he can work his magic again. The best part? I never have to go to that horrible dentist again! I am on the lookout for a new one, so if anyone has a recommendation, anything is better than the pig owner from Snatch.

Did you know that when you have a bridge you have to floss on top of it? The dental assistant filled me in while giving me a general lecture on flossing and showing me how to do it. Apparently if you don't food gets caught betweent the appliance and the gum and rots and stinks. GROSSED ME OUT!

Little A called me a while ago to tell me about riding the "adult" slide at Splashtown. Her daddy took her today and talked the attendant into letting her ride with him. She was beside herself with excitement. Yesterday I took her there and we spent then entire time in the lazy river, daddy has raised the bar on ride expectations today ...uggh I see a lot of ladder climbing in my future!

Extended vacations...

Are a wonderful thing! My plans to return to work on Wednesday were foiled by the rents impromptu excursion to the Indy 500. No babysitter= 3 extra days of vacation. BONUS!

It was a truly grand vacation, friends from Canada, Philly, new friend from St Louis all came down for a romp. And it was a grand romp, kid in tow and all. Little A had a little too much fun and is insisting on an immediate trip to Canada. She can even locate it on a map!

Little A had her 3rd birthday, I got to say Terrible Two's have NOTHING on the Three's. Good times, I say, good times!

Girls night out is in the planning stage, and honestly I cannot WAIT for the great escape! The yearly girl trip has become a true highlight of my mothering existence.

Went to the dentist again last week, the permanent bridge did not fit right..AGAIN. The temp bridge managed a whole week before it fell out, new all time high. Currently I am having to take pain killers every 4 hours or the Charley Horse that has been squatting on my face starts to hurt more than I can bear. Yes..charley horse. You know that high pitched stinging pain you get when you calf muscle tweaks out and bunches up in a knot. I have that pain on my face, specifically the right side on my jaw. Fucking hurts... yes I cursed it's THAT bad!

Happy Mothers Day

I am starting my vacation this moment.. yes this MOMENT! So Happy Mother's day to all and I will be back later.

Off to play with the Canadian kids (as they have been so lovingly dubbed), the philly kid, R I will call you so we can play too!!!

*happy dance*

OUT

Business casual shorts?

Our office has a business casual policy, it's pretty casual as jeans are acceptable attire. The question of Bermuda pants came up today. For those unfamiliar think shorts that cover the knee, or capri's that come up high.

So the policy says no shorts. Do Bermuda shorts count? Or are they really Bermuda pants? They are kind of the mini skirt of the capri world. To me they are just long shorts, they push the envelope a bit in an office environment and I wouldn't wear them.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't send someone home for wearing them, I just personally don't think they are appropriate for work. To others they are acceptable wardrobe options for the office.. but I must point out that the V.P.'s don't wear them to work.. and you are supposed to dress for the job you want right?

BTW I am not talking about the ladies suits you can buy with that style pants, these are bright pink with a swirly black pattern on them.

Too much consumerism

The rents took their empty big screen box and made a house for Little A. It's a very cool cardboard house so this weekend Little A and I painted it to look a bit more homely (beige walls, blue roof with painted on shingles), she added some throw rugs for her "floor", a small table and chair, we rolled her kitchen up to the side, pasted some "wallpaper" on and she has herself a full fledged house!

Only problem is it's in MY house, which has become quite crowded with too many toys! She has her own play room, bedroom, art room, and yet her toys are still overflowing into the dining room! I have been boxing up old toys for the garage sale that I can't have in my neighborhood; yet I can't seem to downsize fast enough.

And now her 3rd birthday is looming with the prospect of even MORE toys... we are going to have to rent the house next door to store all of our stuff! Soon Hubby and I will be sleeping in the backyard.

Of course if you ask her Little A will tell you she needs more toys, in fact Mommy's sole purpose of working is to make more money to buy her shoes.

Call a taxi

Driving home last night I looked in my rearview and noticed someone tailgating me. There was not much traffic on the road so it was really unnecesary and annoying. He moved over into the right lane, drove a ways and then changed back into my lane to tailgate some more. At this point I figured the guy was drunk but there was a car beside me so I couldn't ease out of his way. He finally ended up going back into the right lane, I slowed up a bit so he would pass.

After passing me he swerved onto the shoulder of the freeway, got almost to the grass and then over corrected going past his lane and halfway into mine. I kept slowing and putting distance between us. He managed to stay in his own lane for about 30 seconds before he started drifting onto the shoulder again. But this time as he went onto the shoulder we were going under an overpass and instead of going into the grass he slammed into the wall. His SUV went up on two wheels after hitting the wall, he landed on all 4 and sped away. At the point of impact he was going at least 70, a few seconds later and I couldn't see his tail lates so I can't even imagine how fast he was going.

No, I didn't call the police, I didn't get his license plate and he sped away so fast there was no point. Hopefully he made it home safe and sound without harming anyone. If so I am sure he got up today, saw his car, and is having to put out some cash to fix it. Worst case scenario, someone else didn't make it home because of him. It infuriates me that there is even a possibility of a worst case scenario. If you drink don't drive, it is not rocket science. The money he would have spent on a cab is far less than what he is going to spend fixing his car... and that is if it was a best case scenario. The money he spent on a cab would be far less than the money he would spend in legal fees and so on if he hit someone.

We had a car totaled once because someone chose to drive drunk. Hubby was sitting at a stop light when he got rear ended by someone going 60. She could have called a cab or her husband but instead decided to drive and put my hubby in the hospital. So not worth it, and you can't blame the young, she was in her 30's... the guy last night looked around the same.

Don't do it!

I really do hate my dentist

Got tortured again by the evil, evil dentist. After jerking around on my poor mouth they assertained that the permanent bridge was not going to work and smacked yet a 4th temp on my poor teeth.

Later that day Little A and I went and met Mud and her 2 kiddoodles for a play date. The kids played together very well and loved the place we met at. At one point Little A was chasing down "Austin" to teach him how to play ring around the rosie. He was having none of it, just wait Little A, soon enough it will be the boys chasing you!

We went camping in Galveston this weekend. Can't say we really roughed it as we did not cook anything, there were bathrooms and showers, and a pool, hot tub, and splash pad. We slept on an air mattress, but we were outside and there were billions of love bugs. I think that is about as rough as I can go!

Houston, we have a problem

Little A and I were getting ready to go out to lunch yesterday, standing in the driveway she informed me that Little A had blown away and wasn't there anymore. I asked her what her name was, she said "Houston Hallow". I asked her where her parents where, she said they were at work. They work for the same company that I do and that she was spending the day with me since they weren't home. I asked if she went to the same school as Little A, she said no, she was in high school. I got HH into Little A's carseat and as we were driving out of the neighborhood she pointed at a house and told me that was where she lived.

Her personality didn't change through the day, she was still same old Little A, just calling herself a new name with a whole new backstory. At one point during the day she told me her name was Charlie Chaplan. Finally last night she wanted her blankie, I told her that was Aubrey's blankie. She looked at me and told me she was Aubrey again and asked me if I missed her.

Little A is very imaginative 2 year old, I told hubby that I was going to google Houston Hallow and if an obit showed up I was calling the Dr!