Victoria, BC

I'm still not sure how long or short to make this, so I'll try for somewhere in the middle. ::update:: Screw it, it's long. Sorry.

Day one: we left at around 4:30 for the airport. I took 1mg of Ativan for the flying anxiety. My dad took 2mgs. He was completely embarrassing after that. Thank goodness I didn't over medicate. I know I took just the right amount because I didn't feel overly anxious and also because I remember not feeling overly anxious. Last year I took too much and have no memory of getting home. That was not something I liked. So we got to Seattle and it was cold and rainy. We went to our hotel and ate at the Denny's that was in the parking lot. We decided to never eat at Denny's again. *yuck*

Day two: We had to be awake by 5am in order to be ready to leave at 6am. The ferry to Victoria left at 8am, so we had plenty of time to kill. That was a good thing because US Customs decided I needed proof I wasn't stealing DD from DH, so I needed to call him, wake him up and ask him to write a letter and fax it over. Sheesh!

We finally got on the ferry and enjoyed the ride. We played cards and ate breakfast on the boat. Oh! And I tried Gouda cheese and liked it! *waves to Kim*

When we got to Victoria, dad decided we would walk to our hotel. Gah! I was wearing my very cute but *not walking* boots. My feet were already hurting. We eventually got there and it was right across from the Royal BC Museum, which was good. We then walked down to the pier and looked around.

Finally, our family from Vancouver had arrived so we met them back at the hotel. Mom and I went to our rooms to unpack while they all went to eat. I mostly laid on the bed and did not unpack. *grin*

They wanted to walk back into the city after eating, so we went again, on another long walk. I think I walked ten miles that day. We went to bed pretty early.

Day three: This was the day we got to see the Titanic exhibit. I was so excited! It was extremely crowded inside the museum, but I am so glad we got to go. There were not as many artifacts as I would have expected, but I did learn a lot. It was very interesting and sad. I also learned from my grandfather that we had two relatives on the Titanic that did not survive. It was weird to see their names on the giant board. We were all given boarding passes when we arrived with names of actual Titanic passengers. At the end, we had to see if we survived. I had a feeling that when my room number was listed as "unknown" it was not good. I didn't survive. :(

We just milled around after that, doing the normal sightseeing. My aunt Stephanie also drove my brother, DD and I to 'Mile 0'. She explained what that was but I don't remember.

Day four: On this day we had nothing to do but check out of the hotel and hang around until it was time for the ferry trip back to Seattle. We walked to the mall and did some shopping. It was really laid back and nice. There was also a parade in honor of all the Fallen Officers. It was very touching. I guess Al Gore was there, but I never saw him.

We eventually said our goodbyes to our family and went our separate ways. The ferry ride back was very bumpy. I stood outside and took some gorgeous sunset pictures.

When we got to Seattle, we were all hungry. It was raining though and we did not have a car so we had to find something close by. Across the street was a Bar and Grill place so we went there. We were promptly told by the waitress that they could not serve DD, as she was underage. So in order to avoid the Denny's, we opted for Jack in the Box and Taco Bell. We all set off in different directions to get our food and then meet back at the hotel. Did I mention it was raining? Anyways, because it was so late, by the time we all got to the fast food places, we were told the lobby's were closed and only the Drive Thru's were open. Gah! We were wet, cold and hungry and had to call a cab to get some freakin food? We decided the only option left was Denny's. We all ran back towards it, laughing like idiots because by now we were soaking wet. Ironically, the food this time around didn't seem nearly as bad as the first night we went there.

Day five: We had until mid afternoon before we had to be at the airport. It was very relaxing. Not much to even report on here, other than the fact that I about peed myself laughing because I got to shock both my DD and my dad. I had bought a fake Ipod that sends out an electrical shock when you try to turn it on. After getting DD to do it, we went for my dad at the airport. My mom laughed so hard she woke up two guys who were trying to sleep nearby.

The flight was fine and I was happy to finally be home. Tired, but very happy. :)

Oh! And somewhere up there^ I forgot to mention that I got to go into a Lush store finally! I bought a couple of bath bombs. Haven't tried them yet, though.

As for pictures, I am trying to add some to the slideshow I already have up. I have no idea if it will work. I'll add some more later, either way. :)

I'm back

And I'm tired. So tired in fact, that my update will have to wait until tomorrow. I'm trying to figure out which pics to share and how long (or short) to make the update. And I'm tired. *yawn*

Looks like everyone had fun without me, though. *pout* Pfft! A Boo blog party. Whatever.

Busy times

For starters, we finally gave the kids their 6th grade graduation presents. Well, we *did* throw them a pool party back in June, but they both knew they'd be getting something else. We just couldn't figure out what. Recently, because of our trip to Canada, I decided to make DD's dream of having a pink digital camera come true. DS was harder so he got a gift card from Best Buy. DD was thrilled with her present! DS later admitted that while he couldn't complain, he was halfway expecting cell phones because that was another thing they'd been asking for. Apparently, it is absolute child abuse to send your kids to Jr. High without one. *rolls eyes* What they didn't know, was that we had already ordered them phones. Not because they wanted one, but because I started to realize that with the proper rules in place, them having phones would be really helpful to me. So, last night, we hid the new phones in their backpacks and while we were all in the living room together, DH and I called them. It was hilarious watching them dig through the backpacks, not sure of what was going on, lol!

Besides that, I've been busy packing and doing a little shopping. I obviously needed new clothes and jewelry, right? *grin* I went to Old Navy for jeans and later, mom and I went shopping for warmer tops. I got some cute stuff, including a new blazer. *sheepish grin* But! The blazer is NOT lined down the sleeves and it has tiny blue pinstripes, so it is very different from my other ones and therefore, a necessary buy. I got a $10 purse at Old Navy too. Very cute. I also got a bunch of new necklaces and earrings, but won't describe them (seriously, how mundane can I be?).

So I think I'm ready. I'm not dwelling on the fact that I'll be flying tonight. I think I'll be fine. *deep breaths* Wish me luck!

You all have a great Friday and weekend! I'll come back with lots of pics to share. *smooches*

Ten Things (...or, easy blog update)

Ten Things

10 Favorites...

Favorite Color: Black
Favorite Food: Circus animal cookies or pizza
Favorite Band: AC/DC *waves at Carey*
Favorite Movie: Crash
Favorite Sport: Football
Favorite Season: Fall
Favorite Day Of the Week: Tuesday
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Pralines and Cream
Favorite Time of Day: Late morning

Currents...
Current Mood: Tired and cranky
Taste: Nothing
Clothes: Black t-shirt and black nightie pants
Current Computer Background: My blog
Current Finger/Toenail Color: Fingers; liquid lightning by Victoria's Secret and Toes; some shade of pink
Current Time: 9:41pm
Current Surroundings: my desk
Current Annoyance(s): Ugh. too much to list (PMSing)
Current Thought: I wish it were Friday

8 Firsts...
First Best Friend: Becky
First Love: Little Timmy
First Screen Name: Motormouth
First Pet: Rosco (a dog)
First Piercing: ears
First Crush: Doug (I was 5, he was about 30)
First Music: Eurythmics or Beatles, can't remember
First Car: 1985 Toyota Corolla

7 Last...
Last Cigarette: N/A
Last Drink: Water
Last Car Ride: Yesterday, driving home with DD after going to Old Navy
Last Text Message: A text from ex-SIL telling me to do another facial
Last Movie Seen: What Women Want (on TBS tonight)
Last Phone call: Mom
Last CD Played: Misc one I made myself

6 Have You Ever...
Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Friends: No
Have you Ever Broken the Law: Yes.
Have You Ever Been Arrested: Nope
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: Yes
Have You Ever Been on TV: Briefly in third grade. A news story about schools.
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: No

5 Things...
You're Wearing: Same as above
You Did Last Night: Went to bed early, read.
You Can Hear Right Now: My son procrastinating before going to bed
You Can't Live Without: Lip gloss
You Do When You're Bored: Think


Places You've Been To:
1. Jamaica
2. Alaska
3. Cozumel Mexico
4. San Francisco

3 People You Can Tell Anything To...

RLBFF

My older brother

More than one blog friend

Choices...
1. Black or White: Black
2. Hot or Cold: Hot

1 Person You'd Do Anything For:
My children (they're twins so they count as one *grin*)

___________________________________________________

This might be my only update before I leave on Thursday. I have so much to do to get ready. I got a new camera today so hopefully I'll be able to use it and have lots of pics to share when I get back.

Guessing Game

Ok, here's a great idea. Why don't we try to guess 'Why Tab is feeling crappy today'?

Here are some clues, you see if you can guess correctly what might have caused this.

• My ass hurts
• My right wrist hurts
• My right shoulder hurts

So, any guesses out there? And nothing kinky! *looks at the perverts*

your weakness?

For me, every time I go shopping there are 6 temptations that I can't resist.

Mine are shoes, (no surprise) purses, blazers, lip glosses, jewelry and candles. When I shop, I almost always come home with one of those things. Doesn't matter a whole lot if I need any of those things, either. I mean honestly, I have at least ten blazers, twice as many purses and good lord, I'm not going to count my shoes. Even now, on my desk I have at least 9 candles (in jars) and about the same amount in lip glosses. It's a curse.




What are yours? What thing always draws you in?

Need Advice!

Ok, I have no idea why, but I am seriously considering changing my hair again. I need advice on two things: one, should I go back to my lighter roots? Here are a couple pictures of me with my natural hair color. I'm using my BF (hope she doesn't mind, lol! she reads my blog so she'll let me know) as a good comparison of how "not blond" I was. I guess it is a medium shade? These are very old pics, obviously, lol! So should I wait until spring to lighten it? Isn't that how most people do it?

I also need to decide whether to cut my hair. It doesn't seem to be growing out like it used to and frankly, it just feels flat and boring. I was considering something closer to my shoulders, but not quite as short as shoulder length. I think it would give me more body and fullness than the long straight style I have now does. Opinions? And do you know if my hair can recover from being cut at my age? I always notice that the older women get, the shorter their hair gets too. I'm not quite ready to never have long hair again.

I can also darken it again (I'm due right now) and go for the cut before leaving for Canada. I'm trying to decide before I leave.

This last picture just made me laugh. It's another reason my younger brother probably doesn't like me. I do maintain I was trying to baptize him, not drown him. *grin* Plus, it shows my natural childhood color.

So does everyone here stick to a certain color and style, or do you routinely change it?

Monday Randoms

1. My kids spent the night with my ex-SIL and her two kids. I have been slowly reconnecting with her after a two year break. It feels good to forgive, and better yet, to realize it was never my place to judge her. I'm glad to have her back in my life.

2. I am going to Victoria, BC in two weeks! Yay! There is a Titanic exhibit at the museum and we will visit family while we are there. It's actually just DD and me, my parents and my older brother. Other than flying, I'm very excited about it.

3. I have been reading a book lately that I recommend to everyone. It is called Making Life Work, by Tom Zinkle. It consists of things we are mostly taught growing up (ideally) but written so effectively that it is like learning it all over again. While reading this book, I've actually felt a tangible change in my attitude towards life, and others. I'm not the biggest 'self-help book' advocate (other than How to Win Friends and Influence People), but here I am, annoyingly preaching about one. Sorry! ;-)

4. What started as a tense scolding towards DS tonight, ended with my climbing up on his loft-bed with him for an hour tonight. I didn't want him going to sleep on a bad note so I went in to see where he was at, emotionally. We had a great talk (way more effective than the scolding, really) and I *hope* nights like tonight actually sink in and make a difference. This kid is motivated mostly by money, and I'm tired of feeling like that is all he cares about. Seriously, if someone gives him cash as a gift, the first thing he asks is, "do I have to spend it?". I'm all for being smart with your money, but seriously, it worries me to a small degree because I'm not seeing a balance here. I'm not sure how to change how someone feels about something though, so I'm feeling frustrated by this. *sigh*

5. My older brother has not heard from his soon-to-be ex-wife for a week now. He's already gaining some weight back and looking better. We even watched two movies together this weekend! It's nice having him back.

6. We got a new Tivo box! When our old one died, I was horrified to realize that DirecTv was no longer affiliated with Tivo. The one they gave us was so much harder to navigate. So I bought a new one on Ebay and am thrilled to see my little Tivo guy on my set again. :) *waves to MTW*

7. I'm trying to soak up the last of the summer rays before it's too late. Can anyone tell me what to expect in terms of my tan fading? It's been so long since I worked hard at getting one, and I don't know what to expect. Will I turn totally white again over the winter? Will it be like starting all over again when summer starts next year?

8. Hall and Oats: Who loves them? I must say, if they are ever in my neck of the woods, I am SO there. I love those guys.

9. My Valentine: I hope you had a great birthday! I thought of you often and wished I could have been there to make you a cake. :) *besa*

10. I end on a #10 because 9 just feels so unfinished. *grin*

Thank You

Just wanted to say thank you to each and every person who I've interacted with through the blogs, in email, or even mostly just on OT. We often refer to each other as our "online friends" but the truth is, I find that I can turn to some of you more than even my "real life" friends. You all bring something unique into my world. You have all made me smile, encouraged me, made me laugh and even made me share in pain that you have felt. I hope that you all know and understand that even when I am not commenting, updating, or even when I "disappear" at times, you are never far from my thoughts.

Guess I'm feeling mushy today. *sniff* I love you guys!

Woo freakin' Hoo!

I have been an emotional mess lately and tonight was no exception. Watching Spencer make the interception with only 8 seconds left, not only made me scream with joy, but it brought tears to my eyes as well. During the whole game, I kept thinking, "this is why I stopped watching football...can't take the anticipation". And I'm not sure whether I'll be watching every game or not, but tonight, I am glad I did. *does happy dance with Carey*
I hope Carey had a blast tonight! She was in my thoughts as I watched. :)

Other than this, not much to update about. My DD is adjusting to being a preteen and it's taking a toll. She is very emotional and sensitive lately. She's also very affectionate with me. I hope that part lasts. I've got a pretty busy week planned, but will be hitting your blogs the best I can.

*smooches*

A good name?

I'm not going to go into detail, but something I read in another blog yesterday made me realize I should have two things named that currently are not. I feel inadequate. Can you all give me two names? You don't even have to know what we're naming here. Might be funner that way. :)

And while we're here, everyone wish MTW a happy birthday!

feeling crummy

And really, I feel stupid for letting it bother me. *sigh*

Remember my friend Jenn? The one I was going to cut back on because she is so high maintenance? Well, she had a party on Saturday night and I'm feeling crummy because I know she didn't want me to go. The silly thing is that I wouldn't have gone anyways, but still.

She originally sent out evites, which I received. Then the evite was cancelled and when I spoke to her she said the party was still on, but something was wrong with the invitation so she pulled it. Later, she made a point of telling me not to feel *any* pressure to come to the party because, as she put it, "it's not your kind of party, ...you know, drinking, dancing, making out". Well, the making out part was a joke, because I knew there wouldn't be any, but the other parts were true. If she were normal, I would take this at face value but part of my previous problem with her was the fact that she put unrealistic expectations on me, as a friend. When she had other parties, not only was I hounded to death about them but she also let me know she'd take it personally if I couldn't go. *rolls eyes*

This last week we were on the phone Monday - Thursday due to a problem she was involved with (regarding my soon-to-be ex-SIL), and I noticed later that she never mentioned the party to me once. I found out later she emailed my brother, reminding him about the party (he didn't go either). Then, when I was looking at her pics of the party (she posts them online) I noticed she called not only my brother during the party, begging him to come, but also his best friend (and my friend too) Clint. Hmm. But no call to me. No reminders, no calls, nothing. And of course the fact that she pretty much told me not to come herself, in the beginning.

So, what am I to make of this? At first, I was fine with it, if not a bit confused, but after seeing the pictures and all the people who were there, I started to feel hurt. Am I THAT boring? Would I have killed the party? Am I a funsuck? Why did she beg my brother and Clint, but not me at all? Now I'm wondering whether to tell her how I feel, or to just not care. Maybe this is my perfect timing for a way out of her life (the way I've been wanting anyways). *sigh*

I feel crummy. What are your guesses? Why am I no fun to have at a huge dance party?

State Fair, among other important things

First off; Woo freakin' Hoo! I? Came in last place in the Blog contest!!! I thought Breezy would be too hard to beat, so I am thrilled we tied. Thank you Carey! It's the first time I've ever taken so much pleasure in losing. Other than pounds, of course. ;-) Now, on to the fair...

So after our plans to attend the State Fair on Thursday night were foiled (by SILFH) we decided to go on Friday night. We knew the crowd would be larger, but we wanted to all be together and on Thursday, my brother had to tend to yet another mess created by his wife.
Anyways, we started by putting the kids on rides right away. After many rides, we went to eat. You'd think with all the fair food I'd have had something unusual (or fried, lol) but instead I opted for a small bowl of chocolate covered strawberries. *yum* We ate and listened to the Commodores playing live.

After that, mom and I went into the exhibit building. I hate the exhibits. Actually, I hate the ones *we* went into. They are not really exhibits, but rather, the booths selling stuff you usually only see on TV. Same 'ol same 'ol. Have YOU ever bought anything at the fair and if so, are you happy about it or were you suckered in and later regretted it? My mom bought a container for the back of her van that she is positive will make her life easier and completely organized. *waves "bye" to $20*
Anyhow, my parents and younger DB (with his baby and DCommonLawW) left at that time leaving my older DB and myself, with all the kids. We'd spent good money on unlimited ride bracelets and I was going to get our moneys worth! Last year, DD amazed us all by doing a ride called The Mega Drop. I promised her this year I would go with her. So there I was, on this:


All I can say is...*thinks*. Man, I'm still speechless. This ride was not exciting to me. It scared the carp out of me. By the time "crap", of "holy crap" came out of my mouth, we were at the bottom. The worst part I guess was the 10 second (or so) lull at the top, while you are sitting there waiting to drop. Not fun.

After we got off, my legs and arms were weak. All I could think was, Payback! She's going to have to ride something else with me! So we headed to the Zipper. Who knows that ride? It's pretty standard I think, at most carnivals and fairs. Here's a pic:

This was my favorite ride as a teenager. That also happens to be the last time I rode it. Still, I had no reservations, as going upside down does not scare me. The only thing I did *not* anticipate, was the tight cage I would be locked in. Duh. As soon as the bar locked across our legs, I got an uneasy feeling in my gut. It was like a heat, searing through my stomach and chest. We were already off the ground, but the ride had not started because they were loading people still. I had to decide whether to scream and hope they would hear me, or force myself to remain calm for the duration. I turned to the side and tried to inhale fresh air through the cage. It didn't work. I was not getting enough oxygen. I turned to my DD, who was already extremely nervous about the ride, and I confided in her. I calmly told her I wasn't sure I was ok. She focused on trying to talk me through it, which in effect took her mind off of her being scared. Within a minute or 457, the ride finally started. Once we were moving, I was fine. No time to think about being trapped when you are screaming and being flipped every which way! When the ride was done, we were let off pretty quickly, and I was glad I stayed on. DD said it was her favorite ride ever. Yay!

Still, it surprises me how one can become claustrophobic so late in life. And weird too how it hits so randomly. The other ride, I suppose because there was no cage around me, didn't have the same effect at all. *shrug*

So that was our night. I also did a three story fun house with the kids, which I think burned some serious calories, lol!

Tell me, who here does these rides? Do you get sick? Do you think they are safe (relatively speaking)?

Back

Sorry about all the blog removal/confusion. There's been even more drama with my soon to be ex-SIL than normal and after she hacked into my brother's email and started calling his ex-wife and friends, I got paranoid when I saw that someone got into my blog while looking up "bipolar divorce". I'm a dork.

Anyways, there is just too much to write about so I'll just say that Bravie's blog (basically all of YOU) is cracking me up! I don't have half the imagination you guys do. *snort* I do think Bravie is going on a major power trip with this! Pfft. I'm not scared of her. :P *wonders if I just lost some points*

Everyone have a happy Friday and weekend! I'm going to the State Fair tonight. :)

p.s. one more thing: I got to call SILFH myself and give her some pretty harsh warnings. It felt great. We got into it pretty heavy and I also talked to her about the letter "I" wrote to her. I've never in my life dealt with someone SO clueless before. She did offer to pay for a polygraph for me if I feel the need to prove I didn't write it. Sweet huh?

Happy Tuesday!

My weekend with the kids at Lake Donner went really well. There are not many things to highlight really, as it was just a really laid back vacation. Here's a pic of the lake, and another with our small group. We stayed in a two bedroom cabin that had an upstairs loft with tons of beds in it. I hope to go back next year. Oh! I did get seriously sunburned on my chest and neck, as I had my hair up all day.








Big Brother: I now pretty much only have pity for Amber. She is truly messed up. *sigh* I also really, really can't stand Eric (sorry Bravie). I have to close my eyes when he is in the diary room because watching him makes me sick. I'm not sure what my hang up is, but it's strong. It sucks because I really like Jessica and I hate seeing her get closer to him. Ugh.

Teen Choice Awards: I was disgusted that one category included a scene from Knocked Up. Why on earth would kids have seen that movie? These are young kids, not 17 year olds! WTH?

Kids first day of school: They survived, and seemed to be the same when they got home, as when they left in the morning. We'll see how the second day goes. *suspicious*

Bravie's contest: I'm pretty sure I will not only not win, but very well may lose. I have no imagination, and worse yet, am short on time today. :( DH is home and that will put a damper on my computer time.

*whew*

Busiest couple of days ever! I got almost all the kids school shopping done in one day! WooHoo! Of course, there are a few small things they need from Target (or somewhere) but I'm mostly done. Oh! And *I* got something too. *grin* Behold:

Please excuse the filthy mirror in which I took the picture. These are very much like my last ebay shoes, but they are patent leather, so it's not like I got duplicates, right? And, they are not as high as my other shoes, so they will be comfortable! *yay*



My DD went to bed with a big smile tonight because we have started redecorating her room (after two days of cleaning it). She is thrilled with her new colors and we even found the perfect comforter at Ross tonight for $16.99! We hung paper lanterns from her ceiling too. *grin* She's in love with her room and it makes me happy. :) Next up; DS's jungle room. Getting him to part with his toys is hard, even as he grows older because he is so sentimental. Basically, if he remembers who it came from, he can't let it go. Silly boy.



How about you? Have many (or any) childhood / sentimental items saved that you will never part with? What do you save of your children's (if applicable)? I save a lot of school work and some baby clothes. The rest they keep in their rooms, like stuffed animals and stuff.

Well, after Thursday, I won't be around at all until probably Monday. I'm taking the kids to the lake and then we'll be scrambling to be ready for school on Monday morning. Everyone have a great weekend!

Randoms I'd like to know

::possible BB spoilers, but only if you haven't watched last night's show::

1. Are you working today? <--unrelated to BB

2. What are you wearing? <--unrelated to BB, unless you are wearing a unitard

3. Do you want Jen or Jameka to go on Thursday?

4. Did you LYAO at Amber while making her deal with Danielle?

5. Did you hear me scream when I found a pincher bug on my neck a minute ago? Does every one know what a pincher bug is? According to the dictionary, there is no such thing. I'm not sure what else to call it. It is disgusting though. *shudder* <--thrown in at last minute just to share the excitement of the night

Updated Updates

Update #1 As of right now, my brother has stuck to his current position with his wife for the longest time thus far. If I'm not careful, I might start to get my hopes up that this is really "it". He truly seems to be aware of her trying to manipulate him, though his heart goes out to her because he understands that this is part of her disorder. It's truly a sad situation for all involved. However, since I can still be a bitch, I also feel as though not all of her bad behavior can be held under the umbrella of her sickness. She has slighted me personally in ways I am not quite big enough to forgive just yet. Sorry.

Update #2 The friend I was going to cut off has been acting a little better. I am going to try to get through another week with her since I have already committed to go to Lake Donner with her next weekend.

Update #3 New shoes. Of all the shoes I posted a couple weeks ago, I only won the one pair I needed the least. The high heels.

Then I went to Famous Footwear and ordered some more casual and practical wedges.

Update #4 My trip to the mountains was pretty good. Other than the drama my brother's wife created, it was all fun. I didn't have to worry about stopping in the canyon at the river too much because we got such a late start we couldn't stay long. We did stop a total of three times though, once to climb down some rocks by the river. The only concern I had was snakes, but I didn't think they'd be out in the early evening anyways. We also stopped to look at some deer who were dangerously close to the highway, but seemed oblivious. It was a nice, relaxing trip up there.

Update #5 The kids are really going to Jr. High. /denial]. They did a Jumpstart program where they went for three half days and got acquainted with the school grounds. I've been working on getting them ready. So far, this is what I've taught DD. *evil grin*

This week I have to buy all their school clothes and get their rooms cleaned up so things run smoother when next week starts. It's always a hard adjustment for us from school to summer vacation, and then from summer vacation to school again. It seems as though just when you get used to one, the other starts up.

Quick question: How often do you change purses? I have an ongoing joke with my BF because she says every time she sees me, I have a new one. I've recently noticed that once I switch to a new one, I suddenly dislike the "old" one. I have no idea why. I think I'm going to do a purse exchange with my friends. I have SO many purses I will not use again. Is it the styles changing that quickly, or am I having commitment issues?

Junior High

Who here remembers their first day of Jr. High? Or anything about their 7th or 8th grade years? Share something here that sticks out in your memory about that age, please (preferably something that won't make me immediately turn to home schooling my children!).

I keep remembering all the bad stuff. The swearing and sex talk. I learned so much in that one year. After 7th grade, I was home schooled myself. I don't really recommend it unless it is a last resort. For me, it kept me extremely sheltered from that point on. I had very little interaction with boys and missed out on so many things that I think are almost necessary for kids to experience (including *some* bad stuff). I dodged experimenting with drugs, alcohol and the opposite sex completely. In that regard, I'm sure my parents were thrilled, but at the same time, you might end up a 30 year old who feels they "missed out" on something. Not sure what exactly, since I'm not inclined to use drugs anyways and I can drink now if I want to, but still, having the comradeship, school dances and occasional interaction with boys might have been nice. I also would have liked to form friendships in high school and be interested in high school reunions.

At any rate, it's hard to let my babies start in just over a week.

What advice have you given, or would you give to a child starting middle school? I've lectured mine already on so many things, but am afraid I'm forgetting something.

Oh, and extra points to anyone here who remembers why I stopped going to public school after 7th grade. I've mentioned it here and on OT before. *grin*

Things that bug me. A lot.

Guess I'm in an irritable mood, because this is all I could think of to blog about.

1. DH, calling around noon to announce he is coming home because he "does not feel well". He then naps.

2. DH, calling me a couple hours later, (while I'm at parents house with kids swimming) to tell me he is going to his golf lesson.

3. DH, after coming home, saying he is going out to get food.

4. DH, handing the remote over to me because he "doesn't feel up to holding it". WTF?

So is he sick or not? *boggle*

In other news, my brother has finally figured out that his wife has Borderline Personality Disorder and cannot cope with it. I have no idea if it will stick this time or not. *crosses fingers*

Also, I'm seriously considering cutting a friend off. She is draining me and I'm constantly on eggshells with her, never knowing whether I'm in trouble for not calling her enough, not flattering her enough, and never being there enough for her. I've been asked over and over what I get out of that friendship and the only answer I have is "other friends". She is kinda the ring-leader for a large group that I've enjoyed getting to know. She is the one I've blogged about before (Jenn) who crank called me a few months back. She almost ruined my girls weekend a couple weeks ago. I have tried to stay friends with her partly because I sincerely believe she has a medical condition that makes her unstable and irrational. She has not confirmed that exactly but many of her friends have come to the same conclusion after knowing her for so long. For some reason, I'm someone she feels okay lashing out at, despite not doing it to all her friends. Maybe it IS me. I hate always asking myself if I'm doing something wrong with her.

Sorry for the pessimistic post, guys. Is anyone else out there being bugged by anything? Is this mood going around or something?

Bear hunting

Well I am finally back, but looks like another crazy week is looming. I have not been able to come on and write about my girls weekend, or my kids birthday, or even my recent DB wife drama. *heavy sigh*

So for now, I'll update with some pics from our weekend in the mountains. I think since my update is pretty blah, I'll just say that *I* killed the vicious bear myself, while he was attempting to break into the house while myself and the small helpless children slept. I'm a hero I tell you! :P

More later. I need to build up some energy.



Here is me, after slaying the beast: (p.s. I know it looks like I *just* woke up, but that is only because I was exhausted from the battle, not because I was posing with someone else's bear)





Here is DD, pretending to be the hero. *rolls eyes*



The rest of the kids, with their Bad Ass faces. Yeah, they're real tough. Not like they all needed to be coaxed near the bear after waiting almost a day after it was killed to ensure it was really dead. *snort*

FTR, the bear was killed legally. That's a big deal here,... no idea what the laws are in other states. This particular bear was pretty gutsy and fearless. Tried to break into three different homes including the one I was staying at.

Wow

Chris, who commented in one of my last posts, wrote me back and basically wanted to advertise on my blog. The funny part was all the links she (he?) gave me were very sexual. Vibrator reviews and the like. I told hir that my blog was for my friends and not something I wanted to change. So, am I offended or flattered? *giggle*

Quick! Need Ebay help!

Ok, these are all shoes I am currently watching on ebay. I need some sandals to replace my espadrilles that look most like picture #3. (because they look dirty and I don't know how to clean them)

I really like all of these, though obviously the high heels are not replacements for anything else, I just want them. Badly. Give me opinions, please! Oh, and in pic #2, I like the black ones. And what on earth would one wear with the patent leather shoes in 1st picture?

So....*drums fingers*

Where is every one? Who is around?

It's hump day, you know. *grin*

So was last Friday night. *bigger grin*

*waves to Carey*

*spots Jen and stops waving*

Ok, the truth is, I don't have much to say. I updated a long update on the latest bits of my brother's marriage saga. It now includes me. *sigh* It's down there. *points down*

Boo and Kim, I mailed a card today. I really hope you get it. I also hope the m&ms inside don't melt while in transit. :P

So, this weekend is my slumber party! I desperately need the break. I was going to bring food but I'm leaning towards just the rum. I'll eat the ice if I get hungry.

Big Brother: Dick is now on my least favorite player list. He had already sunk last week but his latest antics just repulsed me. In related news, Jen is now moving up into a higher spot. Hell, who am I kidding? She might even be the #1 spot, after considering the rest of the house. Just not a good year I guess. Oh, actually Dustin is still high on my list, so there's two I can root for. And Jess is growing on me too. Funny how my original faves slipped so far down and some of the ones I couldn't stand at the beginning are moving up.

Last thing: Statistically speaking, what are the chances that someone let an alligator, crocodile, large (man eating) snake, or a freshwater shark into the Feather River? Next week I'll be driving my kids into the mountains and they want to stop at the river again. Last year I panicked because I couldn't shake the image of something dragging them into the river (hey! it's deep!).

I'm skeered! I know it's silly, but... *shrug*

Here are some pics from last year at our spot. I may have posted these before, last year....

If you can't read it, it says, "Bigfoot was here". Ha! Guess he's smarter than some people give him credit for!

This pic gives an idea of just how wide the river is. Though it's much wider in places than right at this spot. We always love seeing the trains go by and we always get them to blare their horn at us. :)


This is where the kids were when I had the horrible image of an alligator sneaking up on them. Have you seen Lake Placid? *shudder*

As if I needed more stress

Have I mentioned I have a SIL from hell? Yes? Oh. Well, for the most part, the problems that transpire between my brother and his wife are their own business. I get irritated and sad and angry at times, but have been pretty good at staying out of the mess they created. Until now.



It appears as though someone wrote an anonymous letter to SIL's parents. She lives with them now, btw. The letter was pretty harsh and whoever wrote it obviously prefers my family over hers. The letter called her out on her vanity, emotional and mental problems, her past marriages, the kind of friends she keeps and the parents inability to see this, and help her get help. I didn't read it myself and I know I'm forgetting some things in it.



My brother informed me that his DW suspected me among a few other people (the writer identified herself as a woman) as the sender. I'm not sure why I care so much, but this information infuriated me. For one, I would not have kicked her parents while they were down (so to speak) and the timing of the letter was dreadful. Cheryl had just *finally* been getting some real help while in the hospital and was diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder and possibly Borderline Personality disorder as well. She was also told she has some anxiety problems (lol, who doesn't?) and also Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.



I'm not so upset that I am a suspect, as I can see based on the things written how she can think it was someone close enough to know certain details, and who obviously was protecting my brother. I guess I'm more upset that there is nothing I can do to prove it wasn't me. I confronted her on Sunday and told her point blank that it was not me. I looked her right in the eye and basically told her that I would say anything I needed to, to her face and that also, I would have deflected from myself much better, had I actually written it.



I found out later that she still suspects me. *sigh* Now what? I'm guessing some will say to 'just let it go', but that is really hard for me. I don't want her parents thinking that lowly of me. It seems really unfair to me. I've worked hard to get to know her parents, even inviting them to my own parents anniversary party, and then being the only one besides my mom who stayed to clean up after the reception for my brother and Cheryl. And now I'm in the doghouse?



Cheryl called me three times today because she was obsessing over things between her and DB. She asked me if I think he loves her, she asked me about things I've discussed with her aunt (who is a good friend of mine). She is also trying to trip me up and catch me in a lie about the letter. My brother confirmed that last part because he's witnessed how she operates and he could tell by the things she was asking me. It was obvious. I won't be answering her calls anymore.



As for my brother, he wants out. Why he doesn't just go and file for divorce, I don't know. He's afraid of looking bad, maybe? Gah, there is SO much more I could write about this, it's just too long and complicated. He really can't stand her right now and does not think he has what it takes to endure this with her. He has his own physical problems to deal with. I think he's afraid of breaking her heart, too. It's also becoming clear that Cheryl probably won't be focusing on her own problems. Even though she was finally diagnosed, she's still trying to figure out what's wrong with DB. She just can't see that her disorders were enough to undo things. She needs another person to point the finger at. Oh! And last night she accused DB of loving his children more than her! *snort* Ya think?



Ok, for those following this saga, thanks for reading. There are probably lots of gaps because I did not see where I last left off. I think the only part I hadn't updated you on was that she moved in with parents because my brother (and my parents) told them she could not come back to their house.

My Date with Carey

My evening with Carey began here:



After the services, we decided to join the Church goers for a "picnic bible study" where we all drank some milk. We were doing fine until Carey started spinning the milk carton around, demanding that everyone kiss her. Then for some reason they all said they had to go...

Which left me alone with Carey, in my car. We discussed politics, religion and various charity organizations we like. We never discussed sex at all. Nope, not one bit. She also never dropped the F-bomb, nor did she poot while we were trying to eat.

The only part of her story that is accurate is the shopping. I'll admit to that. *grin* In this pic, she was singing "You shook me all night long" by AC/DC .

The truth lies somewhere in between her story and mine, I guess. You may never know. ;-) Regardless of what we actually *did* during those hours together, I do know one thing. I'd do it again, anywhere, anytime.

Carey was a wonderful date. She opened doors for me, bought my dinner and refrained from screaming obscenities at me while I drove. And all I had to do was put out. *grin*

::side note to Jen:: uh, nothing happened. Not even the hand jobs. We were very ladylike. *besa*

Be jealous people. Be very jealous.

*Hop*
*grin*

Yikes!

Today, my brother decided he was done (again) with his wife "Cheryl". He called her and told her that she needed help and that he was not equipped to take it on. He asked her to please move out. She started in with the usual routine of begging, pleading and promising change, but this time, he stood his ground. In the afternoon, he came to my house to hang out because he did not want to see her. Have I mentioned that DB has lost 40lbs in just the two months he's known her? He's been physically just shutting down. His kidneys have been acting up too, from the stress. Anyways, he was here when she started blowing up his cell phone. He finally took the call and spent the next hour on the phone with her. She was telling him he was all she had in the world to live for. Then she told him to "take care of my dog, and you can have my stuff". She then tells him she just took about 20 Tylenol. OK, for one, she has countless bottles of prescription drugs. Some that would likely be lethal if abused. But, Tylenol? Hmm. So DB hangs up from her (after she chastised him for not freaking out and calling for help immediately after being informed).

He calls her parents and heads to the house which is about 2 minutes from my home. Maybe 4 with traffic. He did not really think she took anything, and waited until he got home to check things out, before calling paramedics. He gets there and she is laying on the couch with the empty bottle of Tylenol sitting next to her. He immediately picks up the phone and calls 911.

She starts freaking out asking why he's calling. (umm hello? aren't you attempting suicide?) Then she tries to leave. He blocks her from her keys, while still telling the dispatcher what's going on. They tell him to try to stop her from leaving. She then takes off on foot, down the street.

While all this is taking place, I am at home, on the phone with my dad. He asks me to please go to the house and just at least wait outside until her parents can get there (we had no idea what was happening). I drove over there and because of a traffic light, decided to take the street just before the one I usually turn on. As I rounded the corner, I see an ambulance, fire truck, a smaller fire truck and a police car. Then I spotted DB standing on the sidewalk. I pulled over, having no idea why they were all way down here, as opposed to being at the house. I still didn't see "SIL". *winks at kim* Finally, I see the paramedics surrounding someone who is near the fence (way up on the yard) of a random neighbor. DB asks me to go on down to the house because he is expecting her parents and they would not know where to go.

He eventually joins me after his wife was taken to the hospital. I left when her parents arrived. My parents went to the hospital tonight to check on her and offer support to her parents and DB. I thought for sure DB's wife would have her stomach pumped but apparently, whatever she took was not enough to even register while they were monitoring her vitals. Instead they gave her those charcoal tablets (or something).

DB had some pressure from "Cheryl's" mother, telling him all she needed was "for him to love her". He doesn't seem to be budging in his position though. This time, I am hoping he really does stick to his decision.

All in all, truth be told, I feel really badly for Cheryl. She is obviously not well. It's hard to believe that two adults got themselves into such a mess.

So that? Is how I spent my evening.

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In case anyone missed it, or has any other suggestions, please comment on my last post. I was going to leave it up for another day, but decided to blog about this instead.

Oh! And did you all see my new sig that RollDdice made for me? I think I would have preferred having it sent to me via PM (lol) but I just love it. It's in the thread with my name in the title on OT. Sofa king cute! :)

Slumber Party

I am planning a slumber party in a couple weeks. It will be myself and 4 other women. I need some ideas as to what we should plan on doing. We are reserving a room at the Larkspur Landing (great hotel) which has DVD players, a full kitchen and two beds (one in a separate room).

We are obviously planning on doing each other's hair and having pillow fights (haha), but I need some other ideas. Like what movies to watch, or some fun drinking games we can play. Anything. I'm kinda desperate. What would *you* want to do? Would you even go to something like this? Do you think it's weird? I've done it before, but usually only with my BF. When I was a teenager I loved hosting slumber parties in local hotels, too.

I was thinking we could even rent a season of something, like Sex and the City. Or something else kinda girly.

So please give me any ideas you can come up with.

P.S. please don't suggest we smoke pot. Some of the women are way too uptight for that.

P.S.S. DB's wife is at it again. She is telling him her IQ is so incredibly high that she can't even tell him, as it would make him feel insecure. She also insisted (once again) that all his friends would tell him how stupid he is for not "appreciating" her more. And also that she is used to being "more worshipped". She said all this as she popped at least 3 Vicodin. She is officially insane. *sigh*

Edited to add a small rant:

Why the eff would God be helping Kail? Is he watching Big Brother? Is he rooting for her? This confuses me. Does he not care about the other players? Or could it be that he doesn't give a flying fuck about a fucking reality TV show?? Get over yourself dumbass! /rant. (sorry, for those not watching it, Kail said she thought "god was going to help her" or some other non-sense like that. As if he has nothing better to do)

::Mom Rant::

Let me begin by saying that because some of our fellow bloggers are mothers, it's kinda hard for me to do this. I have no idea if my rant includes anyone I know here, so if it does, I'll apologize now and just say that this is *my* opinion, and should not be taken personally. Here I go;



I went to see Knocked Up on Saturday night. The movie was at 10pm and surprisingly had quite a few people in it, despite the movie not being a new release. I had heard from some friends that it was somewhat crude, so I was expecting it to be similar to American Pie and those sorts of movies. It definitely was. The humor was mostly sexual and they dropped the "F" bomb regularly. There was a lot of drug use as well (marijuana). None of this bothered me in the slightest until I noticed a family with their 4 year old daughter with them (guessing on the age)! Ok, here's the part where if you would have taken *your* child to this movie, you may want to stop reading.



WTF are people thinking? How selfish is it to drag a child along to a 10pm movie that has nothing good in it for them, because what? you couldn't get a sitter? God forbid you stay home! This little girl saw sex, bongs, and heard every bad word imaginable. Unless she was both blind and deaf, in which case I would still say it was selfish to make her sit there. *sigh*



When DH and I went to see Wedding Crashers, the same thing happened. A mother and small child sat in front of us. I spent most the movie cringing, instead of laughing. I could see how one person (the mother who brought the child to Wedding Crashers) could be stupid enough to do it, but to see a whole group, endorsing the fact that this little girl was watching Knocked Up? I can't believe it.



Tell me, is it that people think they're too small to understand? I know my brother and my cousin have taken their infants to movies like that, assuming they couldn't understand anything, but 4 years old? Gimme a break! And I know I might be too uptight and on the other end of the spectrum but frankly, when I was pregnant, I no longer allowed DH to use certain words around me. They might not understand it, but isn't it being "banked" somewhere? I don't know.



People who know me know that I am pretty tolerant of most things and I try so hard not to be judgmental, but the one thing I get all worked up about is lazy parenting. This includes not disciplining as well. It includes all the asshats who buckle their own GD seat belts, but let the kids bounce around unbuckled. It includes parents who smoke within feet of a child with no ventilation around.



Am I out of line? Eh, maybe you shouldn't answer that. I hope nobody has been offended by my rant, but I needed to get it out. And FTR, as a parent, I know we all do selfish things at times, so I'm not trying to say we're supposed to be perfect. I guess I just try to refrain from conscious choices that have negative effects on our kids. I can even see walking into a movie, hoping it will be ok, but for Cod's sake, walk back out when it crosses a line.



So, anyone else have any rants they'd like to share?

Umm...*yawn* - Updated!

added link for Weltek. :) Johnny Carino's


Ok, so the sleep over went pretty well. I got to the house in time to go to dinner. We went to Johnny Carino's (which was good - do you have one?). After that, we went back to the house and just hung out. My friend asked me whether I wanted to sleep with her, or with my DD, in another bed. I chose DD. My (very demanding, but I'll save more on her for later) friend told me in the morning that I chose wrong, and therefore, still owe her a sleepover. She's an odd one. She has begged me forever to spend the night when I go over to her house, but I never have. I'm just not comfortable in other people's beds and would prefer my own house. How about you?

My friend (Jenn) has a family bedroom. They all sleep in there, every night. The 11 year old daughter sleeps with the mom, the toddler sleeps on a bed right next to the King bed, and the dad apparently sleeps in the "bonus room" part of the bedroom where they have yet another bed. What's your take on all this? I find it odd that the husband and wife don't sleep together, but I guess they haven't since the 11 year old was born.

The next day my friend wanted to go a thrift store that was having a big sale. She of course bought only sale items and spent $30, while *I* spent almost $60 including three pairs of shoes, a purse, a candle stick and some clothes for DD.

She insisted we go out without showering or primping. I was completely out of my comfort zone, but I did it anyways. I have a reputation amongst my friends as being uptight and "girly" so I was really making an effort. She didn't even have an iron for me to use! :o

When we got back to her house, the girls went swimming and we just hung out for a while, talking. We didn't end up leaving her house until after 9pm. Late last night I realized I had a 7:30 doctors appointment this morning! I think I got about 3 hours sleep last night. *yawn*

~~~~~~~~~~

Nothing new to report about my brother. I have no idea how they are still together, but apparently she is really making an effort. This is the first time in her life that she felt someone was not completely smitten with her, and she is taking it on as a challenge, I guess. *shrug*
We'll see how long this works.

Ok, I think I'm going to go lie down for a while. I'm freakin exhausted!




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have an update, but it's not written yet and I only have 5 hours until I need to get up. And I didn't sleep last night, so I should try to get a couple hours sleep before anything else.

I'll come back later during the day and try to get the update up.




And FTR, (in case anyone is keeping track) DB is still married. ;-)

6 randoms

1. Eating a whole bag of microwave popcorn by yourself is normal, right? (not saying *I* did this of course...)

2. My DD almost started crying today when I told her it was up to her to clean the mess her cat left on her bed (hairball nastiness). I was trying to clean the kitchen and got so frustrated by her saying she "couldn't" do it, I told her to go write a poem about it. *snort* I have never done that before and she looked at me like I was insane. At any rate, she left it open in Word and this is what she has so far:

Smokey threw up on my bed, and I can't get it out of my head.
Mom wants me to clean it up, but I'd rather keep a pet spider in a cup.
I'll do the dishes year after year, I'll rub Mom from her feet to her ears.
Cleaning this would be crossing a line, I am so mad at that dumb feline.

3. Anyone else watch Making the Band 4? I got hooked on it while they were running a marathon of it this weekend. Good stuff. Actually, I'm quite surprised I like it, as it is not my kind of music and I'm not a big P. Diddy fan.

4. DD and I are going to our first joint sleep over this week. It's funny really because she was invited by my friend's DD, but Jess doesn't like her very much and begged me to go, too. I feel silly doing it, but it will make both my friend and her DD happy, so...*shrug*

5. As of 11pm tonight, my brother and his wife are still together. I'll continue to keep you posted.

6. I would really like it if MTW added a "?" on the end of his blog post. :)

good freakin' grief

Well, in my last post I said it looked as though my brother's marriage was over. Then, much to my shock, he was talked into giving her another chance. This was after admitting to me (and my parents) just how this girl acted behind closed doors. I want to give you all lots of examples, but I don't even know where to start. All I can say is she is the epitome of narcissistic. She would tell him he could "never do better than her" and that she could "beat him up if she wanted to" (WTF?? Who says that??) and that she could "walk all over him if she wanted to". She talked about how she could never have "normal" women as friends because if they were not as beautiful as her, they were too jealous to be good friends with her. On it goes...including her constantly talking about her first ex, who was the one who physically and emotionally abused her. Except she never mentioned all that. Instead she would talk about how good looking he was and how much money he made. She would then very graciously say that she sees potential in my brother, making it seem as though she is doing him a favor by "helping" him see it. Anyways, by the time I heard all of this, I was completely ready to never have to see her again.

I was quite upset (understatement) to find out he was giving her another chance. She begged him, saying she loved him and would change. She took full responsibility for everything, admitting everything he pointed out to her. By the next day, she was angry at him for "only noticing the bad things about her". She also said he was a bad person and he was narcissistic if he thought he could do better than her. (ha!)

I knew it was only a matter of time until she would have another blow up and he would then feel justified in leaving her. So today, she not only went off on him verbally, she also physically tried to prevent him from walking out of the fight by grabbing and ripping his shirt. She left a very defined (four finger) scratch down the back of his neck. He was done. Finally!

But no. She begged and pleaded and again took all responsibility. She promised to change. I talked to him tonight, and he seems to believe she *won't* change, but feels if he gives her this "last chance", he'll then feel guiltless when he walks away. *sigh*

I don't know what to think, or who to be angry with. My brother told me he no longer loves her, he believes she is bi-polar (though she's been tested at least 4 times and says she's not) and he feels sorry for her. Part of his reason for taking her back tonight was because her cousin (pictured on the far left in the "Plastics" pic several posts below) tried to kill herself yesterday, and she has been understandably upset over that. He thinks he's showing compassion.

Part of the problem is that she can tell his feelings have changed towards her and she wants him to confirm (or deny) it, but he won't. Which leads me to this question:


If you fell out of love with your spouse, would it be better to tell him/her how you feel and end things quickly so that you could both move on, or would you keep quiet and let the relationship die slowly? In the first case it would be more hurtful to your spouse's ego, but it would get things over with quickly and you could both move on. In the second case, there would be more turmoil, but the spouse would be making the decision that they were sick of you and wouldn't suffer that hit to their ego... I just can't decide. I think it depends on each case. In my brother's, I think he should end it quickly so they could both move on. What do you think?

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On another note, looks like the Seattle peep meet was a blast! I'm super jealous, but also so happy for all who got to attend. Can't wait for more details and pictures! :)

Ding Dong, the Wicked Witch is Dead!

Can anyone guess what happened last night?

Anyone?

*waits*

Here's another clue:

*sigh of relief*


(ftr, no one actually died)

C'mon, I'll wait for three guesses, then I'll spill.

PMS, anyone?

I think The Devil Wears Prada was a good movie, but sobbing at the end was kinda a sign I might be PMSing, lol!

So for those that suffer from PMS, tell me about it. Do you get emotional? Headaches? Bitchiness? For how long in advance?

I get a little weepy and headaches, but usually not the bitchiness. My mother always turned into a major beyotch for at least a week beforehand. We all dreaded it. The funny thing for me is, I usually don't consider it could be PMS until after the period starts, and then it hits me that THAT was why I was acting weird.

Weekend Update

Sheesh, what a weekend. Not sure where to begin. Friday night I went to the party my friend threw. It was for another friend visiting from Alaska. I was there until after 4am, just hanging out and talking. Insanely late, considering I had a lunch date on Saturday! My lunch with my friend was nice. I could not give her as much time as I wanted to, because I still had to be ready for my brother's reception that evening.

I went to the reception that night and I'm not sure whether I would say it went well or not. I did not see my brother or his wife at all, but I did hear he got angry when she aggressively smashed cake in his face. Personally, I've never liked that tradition. If both people agree beforehand, I guess it's their own business, but in this case, he let her know how he felt, and she did it anyways. My grandmother got all upset at DB's wife and my dad was all upset at DB for making a scene. He said he should have sucked it up and laughed it off.

What about you? Are you for it or against it?

I was stressed because I had family from both sides, and friends, who didn't know anyone else. I was trying to visit with everyone and make them feel comfortable. I ended up staying there until 1am with my mother and two people who were hired, and we cleaned the whole thing. I worked my ass off. I felt like I should, since it was my brother's thing and I didn't do anything to set up.

On Sunday, I was invited to go to a lake with some friends. I didn't leave until quite late and I took DS with me, since DD was at my parent's house. By the time I got to the "lake", my friends were ready to leave. And not only that, but it wasn't even a lake, it was a river(ish) kinda thing. So I basically drove for over an hour, to turn around and drive back. I went to their house for dinner. Didn't get home tonight until after 11:30pm.

Oh, I had a question I wanted to ask everyone. Do you have a song that every time you hear, makes you pause? Something that stirs you inside, for whatever reason? I was in the middle of having a group photo taken when mine came on. Gah! What an awkward smile I had!


Here are some of the pics I got this weekend:

Friday night



The Plastics, at the reception

Me, at the reception

Busy times

I have a lot going on right now, it seems. This Friday night is a party, Saturday is shopping and lunch with a friend of mine, and Saturday night is my brother's wedding reception. I also have family in town visiting, who I really need to make time to see. Then I have dinner plans on Tuesday night with my cousin. Oh, and an appointment this morning. *whew*

The fourth was nice. I went to my parents house and let the kids swim. My grandmother (one of the visiting relatives) came over with my uncle Lee, who I don't know too well, but got to know better after dinner. It was nice. My older brother and his (high maintenance) wife also stayed for the whole thing, so that was a pleasant surprise. Overall, a nice time.

I didn't read the thread on OT, but what did YOU all do? Do you do fireworks? I know you wouldn't have celebrated July 4th in Canada, but are fireworks legal there?

As for my last post, let's just say that I am dreading the fact that my children are reaching puberty. I am dreading the first realization that one or both *might* be aware of masturbation. I actually had a talk with DS recently and asked him point blank if he knew what it was. I could tell by the look on his face that he had not heard the term before, and we moved onto another subject before he asked. It was a talk about puberty, and body changes, and what to expect. I asked him first if he would prefer DH to talk to him, but he said he was fine with me. He is still very emotionally and physically immature (though every girl he sees now is "hot"). He has not had exposure to many other boys, so I would not be at all surprised if he hadn't learned anything yet.

At any rate, I'm just wondering, when do kids start doing it? Will I know? I'd rather not, of course, but if my son doesn't hide it well enough? Am I supposed to say something? Ack. This whole subject is uncomfortable.

Masturbation

*steps back into smut shoes*




*waits for everyone's response*








(ok, I DO actually have something in mind regarding this, but I kinda wanted to see what kind of comments I'd get, first)

P.S. This post was brought to you in honor of Nutz's newfound ho-ness