Puppies

This is Molly. The first time mom of 10 puppies. She is living my nightmare. Can you imagine feeding 10!!! (I think that we will be getting one of the pups. Molly belongs to Jacob's best friend and Jacob actually got to help deliver the babies last night!!)

I bought a pair of shoes. But only because my feet needed relief. The blisters were BAD. The new shoes helped.

I'm so excited...

As I am headed up to Portland this weekend, I can't help but get excited at the prospect of

SHOPPING!

Good shopping.

Douglas County, Oregon is not known for being a shopping mecca in any way.

I get overwhelmed imagining the places to spend my money!

And then usually buy nothing.

Why is it that when I do have the time and opportunity to let loose, I just can't bring myself to buy?

You know, you always find a ton of things you want when you are broke, but when I am trying, I usually end up frustrated. (wow, i am writing in both first and third person in the same sentence--yikes!)

Anyway, my point is (yes, i do have one) I am going shopping. I am going to try to buy something, but am almost positive I will end up with next to nothing.

Weekend Plans

I am headed off to Portland later on this afternoon. On Saturday I will be attending a Survivor's Luncheon with one of my dearest friends and 8 more of her friends and we will celebrate the fact that she has been a breast cancer survivor for 11 years! Typically we also participate in the actual race, but this year on Sunday our daughters will be playing soccer in Milwaukee, so the race is out. The energy at Waterfront park during the race is just incredible AND the event itself is so happy and uplifting. Anyone who has ever participated in a Race for the Cure event will tell you that it's such a celebration of life.I think everyone knows family or friends who have had this very common cancer and we all want a cure to be found, so it is great to be able to support an organization that has been so effective in funding research and moving treatment options forward.

Tangle

What if I just left? Seriously the things I have to do just to arrange a weekend away. One kid I will pick up at her soccer game in Portland. One kid will stay here with friends and play soccer and one kid is headed to the Duck's game. If any of the convoluted arrangements fall apart, the whole house of cards comes down. I almost had to put a spreadsheet together just to keep track of who goes where! The big kicker of the deal is... It's not even my weekend, the kids are with their Dad this weekend and I still have to make all of the arrangements in order to have confidence that everything and everybody is being covered!

Me from A to Z

A. Attached or single? Single, sadly.

B. Best friend? A few really good ones and one very best.

C. Cake or pie? Cake

D. Day of choice? Thursdays are golden. Something about the end of the week, with the anticipation of the weekend.

E. Essential item? My cellphone

F. Favorite color? red

G. Gummy bears or worms? gummy bears I guess. i really prefer Jelly bellies.

H. Hometown? Hillsboro, Oregon

I. Indulgence? books, lip gloss, nestle quik

J. January or July? definitely October

K. Kids? Three of them. I wanted four, he wanted two. Three is perfect!

L. Life isn’t complete without? Moments of silence

M. Marriage date? December, 1993 (Divorce was March 2005)

N. Number of brothers & sisters? 1 brother, but I am about to disown him because he is a schmuck.

O. Oranges or apples? I'm picky. Green apples only - fresh from the tree or a Granny Smith version. Never mushy sweet ones like Red or Yellow Delicious.

P. Phobias? having the phone or electricity disconnected. running out of toilet paper.

Q. Quotes? "fake it 'til you make it"

R. Reasons to smile? kids belly laughs, kindergarten soccer, cool mornings

S. Season of choice? Autumn!

T. Tag seven peeps! no way!

U. Unknown fact about me? I am still friends with every guy I ever dated (I think I must be the schmuck!)

V. Vegetable? Asparagus and cauliflower

W. Worst habits? nagging my kids

X. X-ray or ultrasound? I've had both.

Y. Your favorite food? popcorn

Z. Zodiac sign? I am a textbook Gemini.

Things that SUCK

It's been a crappy week. Maybe if I dump my head, I will feel better.

• The new Facebook sucks. I will continue to use the old one until I no longer have that option. And then i will probably HAVE to use the new one, but I won't ever like it.

• Laundry really sucks. Just when you feel like you are on top of it, a teen or pre-teen brings a fresh pile that just has to be washed right now!

• Being divorced sucks.

• Being trapped in Douglas county, Oregon sucks. Not that i would ever really move my children. but according to the terms of my divorce, I am bound by a 90-mile radius of my ex. That doesn't leave me many options if I even wanted to have them.

• My ex in-laws suck. Their baby boy is a lying, cheating, lazy jerk, yet I must carry on as if he is the greatest thing since grape gum because of their "status" here.

• The price of home heating oil sucks. There is no way that I will be able to afford to fill up my oil tank for this winter.

• My kids football coach sucks. If you say practice is from 4 to 6 pm, then practice should be over at 6 or close to it. Last night it was 7:40. Yeah, most families lives revolve around their Middle School son's football schedule. Thanks, we were happy to drive 15 miles just to stand around and wait, hungry for almost 2 more hours.

• People who can't follow directions suck. She is prescribed pain pills every 8 hours for a reason. To withhold because you don't think it is good to take that many is cruelty.

• Doing dishes sucks. I have never had a dishwasher in my life and i am sick of doing dishes.

• Standardized testing sucks. I am researching the opt-out option for my kids. I hate the amount of energy the school district spends on all aspects of testing.

• Parents who give up on their kids suck. I teach in alternative education and most of the time i think that the kids I have would be successful in the regular classroom if their parents would just grab a clue and get involved.

• Dating sucks. Or should I say the lack of dates sucks. The fact that I am nowhere to really meet anyone sucks. Or the fact that anyone i do meet knows my ex and likes him sucks.

• Having to worry about every dime I spend sucks.

• Seeing the signs of aging sucks. I am not old, I do not feel old. Grey hair means old. Sucks.

• Stupid over-excited, over-bearing room mothers in kindergarten suck. Lady, some of us do have jobs.

• Being played sucks. I am aware of it, I even point it out to him when he is doing it. I am still not immune to it. I hate feeling 18 and out of control.

• My bank sucks. Why do they post the highest transactions first, then putting the rest of the balance into overdraft mode. Yes, i have savings and overdraft protection both attached, but I really think this is the banking industry's way of tacking on any and all fees they can. Also, why did my deposit not get posted first? I think a phone call is in order on this one.

• The insurance industry sucks.

• Paying more for less sucks. Smaller packaging, same price--wonder if the consumer will notice? I notice!

• Guilt sucks. I feel guilty about the big things and the small things. Like when a store that i have never gone into goes out of business, even if it is a store that has nothing that I would buy in it. i still feel guilty.

I am sure that I have more, but this is enough negativity for now! I do feel a bit better just getting it all out! Anyone have anything they care to add?

How fast are YOU?

32 words

Speed test

I got a "D" in typing in high school.

Enough said.

My brother and I would like to announce...

That it's on like Donkey Kong.

Have you seen this commercial?

Seriously one of the best on TV these days.

It is a follow-up to this commercial.

Every time it comes on we just crack up. We love that commercial.

It's about the only one I don't fast forward through.

And my brother and I would like to anounce "oooh, we're scared".

Here is another commercial the Mannings did to promote reading to kids that is very cute

also.

Back to School!

The first day of school!

We are beginning the 2nd week of school here and beginning to establish some helpful routines. This past weekend was spent cleaning a little and reorganizing a little to hopefully make our busy lives run a little smoother. I woke up this morning energized and ready to face another week!

Stop the World......

Things are hectic and busy. I forgot how this time of year totally kicks me in the pants.

I think that by the end of the weekend I will not have myself organized and by this time next week I will be in my groove.

Until then, chaos reigns.