Thursday, December 30, 2004

Well, an update...

After the hysterics died down (mind you, he's seven years old) we ate dinner and jammied up to watch Scooby Doo 2. There was much cooperation, manners and all around good naturedness.

Today, after breakfast we allowed the return of three toys, his choice, with the exception of any video games. He chose three lego sets, finished one, played memory with his sister and got to work on another set. Still-with the politeness and manners.

And get this, his cousin is coming over and he is so VERY excited because he gets to choose two more toys this afternoon (barring the return of any negative/rude/uncooperative behavior) to play with his cousin, who is also seven. If only you could see how stinkin' happy these additional two toys are making him. Later today, the son and I are going to go through the stuff from his room to weed out the stuff he doesn't really like. Which, by the way, I did the week before Christmas and at the time I thought I did a really thorough job.

Now, the cousin is a video game junkie and plays with virtually nothing else. I'm sure he will be less than impressed when he's denied use of the new Gamecube and I know he'll come with his gameboy so I'm curious to see how my son handles the fact that his is put away. I have prepared him but he's knows his cousin as well as I do. Alas, my girlie has a doctor's appointment and while I suffer the joy of pinning her down for her shots - my husband will be here with the boys.

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Cry Me A River

Okay, so will I be on record as one of the meanest mothers who've ever walked the face of the earth.

The boy has a friend over for four hours, they play magnetix, game cube and snow wrestling. Good times. The friend leaves.

*whine*can I play with *S* now? (the neighbor kid, who at 16 is really one of the best teenagers I've ever met)

No hun, he had some chores to do and you've had a friend here all afternoon, find something else to do.

*whine*there is nothing to do and I'm going to sit here (on my lap) and complain until you tell me I can play with S.

Ah, legos, magnetix, yugioh. How 'bout those? Marbles? You could read.

*whine* THERE IS NOTHING TO DO. I HATE THIS HOUSE AND I WON'T STOP UNTIL I CAN SEE IF S CAN PLAY.

Up to your room, I've had enough.

Commence with the crying and screaming from the bedroom about how totally terrible we are and how there is NOTHING TO DO and his toys are boring.

15 minutes elaspes. More of the same. Repeated requests for quiet. Ignored.

Into the bedroom we go and we empty it of virtually every toy. The toy box, the bins, the lego sets. All moved out. Now, lest you think he has nothing, there are about 10 matchbox cars, marbles, books and a few games left.

It's called a breaking point kid. And you've reached mine. Now, don't worry I won't be listing these things on ebay but right now (I'd find the link of the dad that did just that, It's on American Blogger somewhere, but I'm not into doing it now) I'm making him write a list of ten toys he got for Christmas. He's halfway done.

And sure, the toys will find they're way back in ... slowly. And I know, this was drastic. But apparently I've raised a spoiled brat. I'm disappointed in myself. Maybe I'm taking my failings out on him, but this has been brewing for awhile. And quite frankly, maybe I was being obtuse, but it took me by surprise - the depth of his selfishness. Really, you should hear him. And still he's being fresh (although he just handed me the list).

April asked what things we really wanted for the new year I said organization and patience. Hah. Little did I know.

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Shhhh....it's so quiet in here....

Well it's happened again...

I just got home from work - and the house is empty. They are sledding. I did a quick victory dance but the house is only kind of clean today- much, much clean laundry is piling up. So with the laundry that should only give Lisa the dry heaves instead of making her sick. :)

The husband has gotten snowed out of work so he's home for today. I'm praying he doesn't get laid off. Not only would it be a big bite out of our income he would drive me certifiably insane. He works outdoors and it is always an issue, this yearly layoff thing, but it hasn't happened yet to him. He's one of the bunch that they like to keep around all year. He's well liked where he works, for the most part and according to everyone I meet who has ever worked with him - he's really good at his job. Sometimes it means taking four day work weeks and missing 1/5 of your paycheck every week for two months but that's the price you pay for actually collecting a paycheck instead of unemployment and keeping your wife relatively happy by leaving the house every day for eight hours instead of standing over her shoulder while she cooks and making 'suggestions' on how to improve her kale soup.

Monday, December 27, 2004

Sweet mother of god.....I'm alone....in my house - and it's clean. What more could I ask for????

The boy. See the smile? Me too, and thank god, because he went to bed Christmas Eve crying
"I'm on the naughty list and it's too late for Santa to change his mind" and then he proceeded to tell me that all he wanted was a PlayStation 2. Super, because the Game Cube was already wrapped. He has since forgotten the PS2 demand. And how couldn't he? Have you ever played Mario Cart Double Dash? If so, you know what I mean. :)Posted by Hello

The girl. Posted by Hello

The new room. Note how good the cabinet looks.

Especially the second coat of poly :) because the next day after the refusal of assistance he politely mentioned that if I had time I could throw on a second coat of the stuff because he could use the help. So generous of him. What girl doesn't have time to help her man one day before the big Xmas Eve festivities? And two days before Christmas? This girl that's who.

But did I do it anyway? *sheepishly* uh-huh. Just to prove a point, a 'see how busy I am, but I'm still willing to do it' point though.

All of the crap has been rearranged in that tiny little space with the exception of the bee-you-ti-full cabinet now that the Christmas Tree is gone - that's right -GONE. I took down all of my Christmas decorations today. Why? Ida know, usually I leave them up until New Year's Day or so but this year I was dying to get everything back to normal.

The Christmas Tree, as decorated by the four year old girl.  Posted by Hello

So, now it's snowing. And I mean SNOWING. Between 8 and 16 inches expected. Woo-hoo. One negative though, well, make that two...we keep losing power. No power = no furnace and no water. There are candles all around, a couple of oil lamps, two flashlights and pans of water in the sink just in case. Second negative...husband is plowing. And he'll be gone for a long time. Hold on there, don't get me wrong I'm not desperately missing him - but now I'm on solo shovel/play in the snow duty. Those are duties best shared. :) Posted by Hello

Taken about 15 minutes before this post. Brrrr. Posted by Hello

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Channeling Donald

So you want me to poly that tonight so you can start on the ceiling?
*Silence*
You DON"T want me to do you, you don't trust me not to mess it up - is that what that *silence* was? Huh?
she said incredulously

Look, Jenny - you're second rate.

Just because you paint two rooms doesn't mean that I'll trust you with the poly on this fine piece of workmanship.

You think I want brush marks or worse - a drip? No way, I can't have someone polying for me that can't be trusted not to leave a drip. If you want a job done right I guess you've got to do it yourself.

Excuse me, Mr. Tr.. uh, I mean, husband - you think I might let some sawdust or a doghair dry into the fine,sanded surface of your cabinet? Well, I wouldn't sir, (I mean you - guy that is so anal I cannot believe it) I'm a fine assest to this project, sir. But...But...

No more buts. It was a hard decision the two times you were project manager the rooms were painted but brushmarks were evident and you got paint on the ceiling - in both rooms. It's unacceptable. And even though you were the one who volunteered to help me and I previously accepted - I've rethought it. Now you get to go upstairs and watch a movie on the couch with a fleece blanket and pillow and some warm popcorn or Butterfinger hot cocoa (recommended by The Impulsive Buy, thankyouverymuch) maybe uh...where was I? Yeah, well, tough decision, but I can't trust you. I'm sure you'll do well elsewhere, but here it is....

You're fired
.

Update: He said that like it was a bad thing. :) I popped some corn, put Whalerider in the DVD (which is a movie I highly recommend by the way) and did zilch. Hurray for unemployment.

Duhn, Duhn, Dunh....Here it comes...

Okay, my head is officially spinning. The cleaning, wrapping, food shopping, cooking, baking, laundry. The countdown has begun. The husband is finishing off a room (I use the term room lightly, more like a large closet at 6'8" by 10' 9" but I digress....) and making this really spiffy corner cabinet to hold the Game Cube and TV. It's all coming out wonderfully but could we be any more last minute? Yours truly will be doing the polyurethaning tonight while he paints the ceiling things.

I am the Christmas Eve hostess with the mostest. We will be dining on salad, some sort of bread and a most delicious lasagna, my specialty. And while I can really cook a great lasagna the reason I'm doing it Friday is because I can make it in advance and then just pop it in the oven. The less kitchen time the better. There will be fourteen of us and that is my indoor limit. There is literally not enough room. Oh well, I can't sweat a detail like chairs. More eggnog please *hic*.

Christmas dinner will be prepared by the mother in law. Lord knows what we're having but she's a good cook and huge spreads are her thing so no worries there. And she only lives a mile away so there isn't any long travel in my holiday plans. Thank goodness.

Well, off to breathe the lovely fumes of polyurethane and wish my husband started this project two weeks earlier than he did.


Sunday, December 19, 2004

He shoots - HE SCORES

One game, two goals. He is positively beaming.

Friday, December 17, 2004

Yay, Free Photohosting!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What is something that never fails to grab your attention.
A man talking rudely or demeaning his wife in public.

Soup
Who was the last person who gave you money, and what was it for?
My husband's aunt, for another freakin' hockey fundraiser.

Salad
If you were a Smurf, what would your name be? Immature smurf.

Main Course
Do you believe in astrology? Why or why not?
Y'know, I'd like to say I don't but that wouldn't be entirely true. I believe that your personality traits could be generalized by astrology but predicitng the future and stuff, no way.

Dessert
Have you seen any snow this year yet? What's the weather like today in your area?
Yep, we had four inches of it last month and only flurries since. Today it's sunny, windy and about 40 degrees.


Fred the overly hungry beagle. Gives a whole new meaning to 'finger' sandwiches.  Posted by Hello

Up close and personal with the trim and window blinds. Posted by Hello

Another side of the room. Sorry, no pictures up on the walls yet. Can't find them.  Posted by Hello

The bathroom in lightbulb light Posted by Hello

The bathroom in natural light. Posted by Hello

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Fred is getting an evaluation at a training school tomorrow night. I spoke to our vet and a trainer yesterday and they were cautiously optimistic. Actually the trainer was pretty sure he could help. I've also found a rescue league that I can contact that'll hopefully take him. The thought of sending him back to the shelter sort really makes me miserable and because he's not really aggressive, only around food and then only because what he's actually biting is the food, the fingers are just in the way. But seeing as I love my kids and their fingers we can't be having that.

The hockey party was a huge success. My son told his friends is was the best party of his life. It probably was. Thirteen boys from his team, a HUGE playroom, two boy bedrooms, a garage with a ton of sporting equipment and parents who were willing to let them all play outside until 11:00 p.m. What's not to love?

Sunday, December 12, 2004

Well, Fred struck again. The girlie was sitting in the living room, having a little picnic with her tea set and a cupcake. He jumps up, grabs the cupcake and her pointer finger. Broke the skin. Left two welts. The husband wants him gone - tomorrow. I've had a little talk with the kids, how he might go to a home with grownups where he won't have to worry about the whole food agression issue. I was going to take a day and talk to a trainer and the vet, see if this can be addressed. If not, I'm not under any false assumptions, he'll have to go. But tomorrow? Damn.

Friday's, er, Sunday's Feast

Appetizer
Make up a word and give it's definition. Blah, blah, blah. Not up for thinking tonight.

Soup
What is currently your favorite song?
Green Day, Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Can I stop singing it? Not a chance.

Salad
What's at the top of your Christmas wish list this year? A Willie McGinest jersey.

Main Course
Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.Johnson's baby shampoo. When I lay down with my kids at night after they have a bath or a sho
wer, I could just eat them up.

Dessert
Who is someone on television that you feel probably shouldn't be, and why? Kelly Ripa. Sure she's cute but I can't stand the whole, self effacing act she puts on.


Saturday, December 11, 2004

Well, Fred hasn't taken anyone's fingers off yet, so that's a good thing.

My best friend and I had a huge misunderstanding. No argument or anything, just hurt feelings compounded onto other hurt feelings. And mature adults that we are, we never spoke of it, we just kind of started avoiding each other. Well, she sends me our usual 'how are things going with you guys' general email yesterday and I just sort of spilled my guts about the hurt feelings in response.

Turns out she felt the exact same way (we had made a new 'couple friend' and she felt all left out and then her and her boyfriend had made a new 'couple friend' and I felt all left out) but never wanted to tell me because she felt silly and selfish. I cannont believe the relief that I'm feeling, it must have been weighing on me so much more than I thought. And now I feel like I got THE best Christmas present I could've hoped for.

I'm off to make brownies and some chocolate covered strawberries for the hockey team Christmas party, see ya!


Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Taking a Bite out of, well, out of everything

Fred. The beagle. So sweet and cute, sitting on the cold cement floor of the animal shelter. He was so well behaved for the first 4 months or so. To anyone who doesn't know we think he's between ten and twelve years old, we just got him in June though.

He has occasional peep accidents in the house. I can deal with that. When you try to feed him a little treat, he snaps at your hand and scarfs it down like he's never seen food before. I can deal with that. But he is learning not to snap when I offer him the treats, it's taking some time, my dogs don't get treats alot, but it's working a little bit. I don't think he's ever really been a pet. Probably a hunting dog, part of a group, with no kids around. He's done pretty well adjusting. Until recently.

The girlie, she treats him like a personal plaything. With the hugs and the dragging by the collar and the hugs. He gets tired of it and after MUCH antagonizing has snapped or growled a few times. Does she learn? No. That would be problem number one.

Number two would be that you cannot have any food anywhere near this dog. He'll snatch anything right out of your hands and quite possibly bite you in the process. Which is what he did to the girlie tonight and the son last week (both were nipped). And he's a beagle/basset hound mix so he smells Kate cooking dinner over in LA. We punish him, with a little swat on the nose or butt and mean looks. I might add here that Fred is deaf or very nearly deaf so yelling must be loud and obnoxious - A stern voice won't do. He's getting enough to eat, what is the deal and how do I fix it? Or can I? I do not want to send this dog back to the shelter but on the other hand I cannot have him nipping at everyone for a piece of cheese either. Plus he's ripping into the trash because it contains food and he's ripping apart anything he finds that at one time contained food. Remember the fundraiser gifts? No, well, that's okay, it's not a test. But it is getting obnoxious. And the dog is TEN. And I love him. And he loves me. He sleeps at my feet and follows me endlessly. Wah.

Well, blog happiness aside, nothing much is going on here.

We have instituted a one hour time limit on all electronic games on school days (with the option to earn bonuses for certain extra special things, like, say getting your flouride treatment at the dentist for the first time in three years - the last few times this son of my fought like a wildcat - Dude, it's grape flavored goo, Chill out.) because he gets a little bleary eyed and grouchy. So no more of that.

And we're using the old soap in the mouth trick to the girlie who talks more like a 47 year old sailor man. Seems to be working but time will tell. Knowing her she'll probably decide that calling her mom a "dummy fat head" is worth the taste of Dawn dishwashing soap.

We took the pictures for the Christmas Card today, down by the pond. I don't use my digital b/c the regular camera is WAY better for these type of shots so I can't share. Oh, and you all may never see my bathroom. It's bad, it's worse than bad. Well, maybe not worse than bad but I'm not thrilled by it so we'll see. Have a good night, I'm off to work.

Just for the Record

Well, the blog has been Christmasized and I have to tell you, I LOVE IT! I also had nothing to do with it. This was all Lisa and she did an awesome job. Thank you Lisa, this is perfect.

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Fisher Price Dollhouse Crap and other things..

Okay, so who knew that they've discontinued, like, 95% of the Fisher Price dollhouse crap? And if you did know why didn't you tell me? And Amazon, I know it's Christmas and you must be busy but please, keep your site up and running. Thank you.

Ugh. Still sick. Only coughed for 6 or so hours last night.

Can you see the juggling snowmen at the top of the page or was that a colassal waste of time?

Wow, who's a bitch from lack of sleep? Hmmmm....let me think? Oh, I know. ME!

Must go to cough, uh, I mean sleep. I'm shooting for three hours tonight. Wish me luck.

Sunday, December 05, 2004

The bathroom, she is a-painted

Holy freakin' purple. Somehow I lost the curtain rods so my new curtains remain all wrinkled up in the shopping bag and because I can't put up the curtains I refuse to put up the shower curtain and all the rest of the bathroomy stuff.

I'm sick, coughing with a 'tuffy nose. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with standing outside in the rain at the Patriot's game last Sunday for 3 and 1/2 hours. It's the girlie, she climbs into our bed every night and shares my pillow. Plus I am always freakin' kissing that girl. And seeing as she's been sick you'd think I'd lay off the smooching, but no way. It's the dimples man. A mommy can't resist the dimples.

Well, on that note, with 1 hour and forty five minutes of sleep under my belt from last night I'm off to bed. Well, maybe a movie or part of one first but then bed. G'nite.

Saturday, December 04, 2004

Trees


Some interesting trees from a hike (well, a walk in the woods really) we went on earlier this fall. Posted by Hello

Friday, December 03, 2004

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
Tell about a toy you remember from your childhood. Fisher Price Happy Houseboat (which I still have by the way). Ah, the times I spent with Mad Boy and Cowboy Dad diving off the diving board while Cute Blonde Girl and Old Fashioned Mommy lounged on the deck and the Captain, all dressed in white plastic finery, who steered the ship safely through mountains of Mr. Bubble.

Soup
If you could make one thing in the world absolutely free for everyone, what would it be? Airfare. Wouldn't it be great to just be able to jump on a plane, like a free ferry, and just go wherever the heck you want?

Salad
Approximately how many times per day do you think about your significant other? 3.14. What the hell, I can't count the licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop and you want me to count thoughts???

Main Course
Name something you believe in 100%. How much my mom loves me. I could never have imagined how much you could love your children and to know that she feels the same about me, well, it kind of knocks me over.

Dessert
List 3 things you did this year that you would consider a "good deed." Good deeds, eh? I hate to sound crass but I don't know what exactly constitutes a good deed and even then I don't keep a tally. Or maybe I'm just a bitch and have only done two good deeds all year. Could be.

Thursday, December 02, 2004

Deep Breath & Bed Time - The Perfect Elixir

Ah, things are looking up. The kiddies are sound asleep, yucky Ami was voted off the island and my mother in law is taking the girlie for a special day with Nana tomorrow. And not because I called her begging and crying, although the thought did cross my mind.

The playdate chitchat with the mom was okay. Just not my type of girl, can't love everyone - y'know? And her kids, YIKES. Terrors. The boy threw, not one but three FITS, not just throwing a little attitude around, but all out fits. And then after the boys were asked to clean up the fort they made and he flat out refused (excuse me while I brag, but the son jumped right in on the clean up) I went out to help b/c some of the stuff was heavy and he gave me a bunch of attitude with dirty looks. Now, you can disrespect your parents to some degree, everyone needs to blow off steam, but I do not tolerate my kids disrespecting ANY other adults. So that might be the last we see of this kid.

But it was the two hours of the day where my girl was a total angel and seeing as it's all about appearances it was perfect.

Things that are pissing me off today...

1. Lowe's refund policy. Tuesday I went and picked out some new crap for the still to be completed bathroom (sheesh, I know I'm slow, but hey the house is all Christmasy and I only have 3 presents left to buy so I've been doing something.) Well, got the stuff home and didn't like it. At All. Drove the 1/2 hour back to Lowe's where the kind gentleman tells me that he can give me a store credit. Store Credit???? Well, see, I wrote a check and according to this damn store I can come back in 15 days for my refund. This is not written anywhere on the receipt, I checked. Why with all of the computer gizmo-y crap we have can we not program a cash register to print out the applicable refund policy on the receipt. Now I get to go back in thirteen days.


2. Inviting my son over to play and then expecting me to stay with my girlie who will only want to continuously interrupt my son and his friend. Lady, it's two hours. And I don't even really like you. And the only reason my son is going over there is because, well, because I have no backbone. Could've said no but didn't. We are in the 'her son likes my son way more than my son likes her son' (got that?) area of friendship. So now I get to spend my afternoon running interference. Yay. Hurray for spines.

3. CBS. Why in the hell is Rudolph on from 8-9 p.m?!?!? My kids go to bed at 8. But god knows we all love that reindeer. So I broke the bedtime, let them snuggle in and watch. My girlie is hell-on-wheels today.

Carried her out of Lowe's

MOMMA, I want a map
But girlie, the store entrance is separate from the refund entrance
I WANT A MAP
no, I'm not going to carry all my 'nonrefunable at this time' items over there
IWANNAMAP
No, *heave kicking girl over shoulder and leave*

Carried her out of Filene's

*Moves Fiestaware around*
Me : Patiently waiting for employee so I can pay my balance off - because that's all I needed to do dammit.
*Moves more Fiestaware*
Please don't girlie, it's glass
THIS IS MY DESK
Okay, I'll ask you again, please don't it's glass.
IWANNA
Me: Directs girlie over to stand next to me without first noticing the stack of boxes next to the register on top of which, placed delicately, is a glass tray with six glass shot glasses balanced imperfectly.
*Touches glasses*
Please don't girlie, last time I'm telling you
IWANNA
I pay and again with the carrying out of the store.

Thank you CBS.

Think happy thoughts for me.