Check this out

You won’t be dissappointed!  Unless you’re boring. LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY

So you had a bad day…

Why yes, yes I did.

1. 2 dental cleaning appointments turned into 6 more. One kid got a tooth pulled, has to get a spacer. The other has two follow ups to rid her of “sugar bugs”. And I have to go tomorrow to start my list of work to be done. Definitely meeting the deductible for 09.
2. Job hunting sucks. Enough said.
3. I am thinking about taking the kids off their bus route and carting them to and fro for the time being because they have the WORST kids on their bus. The main culprit is this little girl who has oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD and a plethora of other troubles including lazy parents. She has forced their route to go through 4 bus drivers, a threat to have a police officer on the bus to monitor things, and today they had to sit in the bus in a parking lot and were threatened to be turned back around and dropped back off at school because they were being so naughty. And the sick thing? They’re all under 11. Pathetic. Four of these little shits all belong to the same lazy parents I mentioned above. And they live in my trailer park. You know it’s sad when you look out your window to see a 14 year old flipping you off because you are the only adult in the neighborhood that doesn’t let the kids rule the roost. I’ve had many run ins with these kids over the summer and I am so ready for us to be gone.
4. Took the boy to wrestling practice tonight. He’s really treading on thin ice with my patience lately. The last two practices have been agonizing and he’s not put forth any effort. Tonight he got in a fight with a kid he was wrestling. The kid was ticked that Shaw was beating him so he slapped Shaw on the face and then proceeded to scratch his cheek on purpose. So Shaw retaliates by grabbing his head and slamming his face into the mat. Tears flowing all over the place and 2 angry mommas and coaches intercede. Needless to say, I dragged him by his shirttail to the hallway and we left. And he had to think  all the way home about the upcoming spanking he was going to get. I don’t spank my kids as a primary source of discipline. Not even a secondary or tertiary. But I had enough and he knew it. So, he’s taking a break from the mat until I see a better attitude from him, both on the mat and at home.  And I don’t want to “ruin” him and make him hate the sport. So, we’ll see how this goes.
5. Chad calls me from work to see how the night went along and instead of listening he went off on his tangents of “I told you so…” The man can never just be supportive. He thinks he needs to offer advice, suggestions, constructive critism, a learning opportunity, blah blah blah. How about just a plain simple, “I get you” or “Wow, that sucks…” Ugh.

Okay…that’s all. Phew, I feel better now.

Random facts about right now-in no particular order

1. Tonight I pulled my erector spinae muscle demonstrating a double wrist tie-up on Shaw. Believe me, he had it coming too! Now I am a little achy and understand why Dan Gable had a double hip replacement in the 90s. Wrestling wrecks body parts. But as far as Shaw’s wrestling career is going: good. He leave a little to be desired though. He believes that his shear strength is enough to win matches. Right now it’s working, but I really wish he’d tighten up on technique a little. However, he did pull a successful granby roll yesterday and pinned a kid. And, on the flipside of that same coin, he also blew a very tight match by ignoring his coach-chose the down position instead of the suggested neutral, tried the granby again and got stuck. Lost by points, but not a pin. He wrestles next weekend in Lisbon. I am nervous for the both of us because that’s our old home-town and it makes me a nervouse wreck knowing I have to sit there among many people I would like to hide from. Partly because I am embarrassed, and partly because I am relieved that I am away from it all and it sucks going back and re-thinking things that happenned in the past and people who used to be friends but aren’t anymore.
2. Although it is 8:00pm, I felt like something warm and soothing so I am drinking a freshly brewed pot of Casi Cielo coffee from Starbucks. It mean’s “Almost Heaven”, and I would have to somewhat agree. Usually I drink bold espresso but I wanted to try something new and it’s not too bad.  It has a bit of a lemony taste to it.
3. I have been thinking a lot about our upcoming trip to Florida. It will be a trip of many “firsts” for me. First plane ride, first time seeing the ocean (we hope to drive to the coast and see it anyway), my first time going to the east coast in general, our first family vacation. My first time in an airport-well, sorta. I went once to pick up a friend. My first time wearing spring clothes in January without freezing my ass off (hopefully).
4. I am still looking for a job. For some reason, this is taking forever. Granted, I am not going at a break neck pace either. I am taking my time, and nobody’s hiring.
5. We are still looking for houses. We aren’t officially going to sell our trailer or see Realtors until late summer, but we keep looking for an exceptional deal that might make us jump a little sooner. I am being a little picky though. I want a lot of room. I want an attached garage. I want a finished (or unfinished but ready to finish) basement with a walk out and daylight windows. I want at least 3 bedrooms. I want a nice open floor plan. I want a fireplace. Chad wants a huge garage. And I want a nice sized lot so I don’t feel cramped. I want it to be in a nice area, preferably in the College Community school district. Is that so much to ask? Come on people! Oh, and I want new windows and a new roof. I won’t make that mistake twice….new windows are a must.
6. Chad is gone playing poker tonight. He does this all winter long with his work buddies. He actually doesn’t fair to badly. Usually comes home on the positive side and that’s always nice.
7. Chad’s birthday is on Saturday. We have that wrestling tournament I spoke about earlier. Hopefully that doesn’t ruin his birthday because he isn’t fond of going back to our old town much either.
8. Chad is also over the moon because his favorite football team has yet again made it to the Super Bowl. I can honestly say I’ve watched almost all of their games this season, so I am excited too. It took a lot of patience, but I know he likes me to watch them with him, and that makes me happy when he’s happy. We just can’t agree on where we will watch the game. We have a high definition tv, and we get HD programming through our satellite company but the local channels through them are not yet available in HD. An easy fix would be to  watch it over-the-air in HD, but we get a shoddy signal and don’t own an antenna-because we have a satellite! Times like this make me wish we weren’t such entertainment geeks. So, we are debating between watching it at his brothers on a 65 inch HDTV, or at my brother’s house on a 50 inch HDTV. I vote for my brother’s because the atmosphere is so much more comfy for me. Chad’s family is admirable, but they are just not as close knit as my family is.
9. Shaw is searching for a band-aid and hoping I don’t hear him. That’s what you get for trying to run a marathon BEHIND your sister, on a TREADMILL, BAREFOOT. Sheesh. Did I mention that he needs to work on technique?

Au Revoir, mes amies!

Books

Aside from shopping and photography, I like to read. And I read very fast. So fast, indeed, that I purchased a Barnes and Noble membership today, so I could save a few bucks on my coffee and books since I’ve been blowing through them lately. Part of being unemployed and Bore-fricken-ored. It’s nice though. I am finally at that point in motherhood where I can sit still and read a book from cover to cover. It usually takes me no more than 2 afternoons to get one done. It’s a sickness.

 Since Christmas I’ve read:

1. Twilight- Stephenie Meyer
2. New Moon-Stephenie Meyer
3. Eclipse-Stephenie Meyer
4. Breaking Dawn-Stephenie Meyer
5. Midnight Sun-Stephenie Meyer (well, 150+ pages of it, which is published on Stephenie Meyer’s site)
6. Host-Stephenie Meyer
7. 16 minutes-Jodi Picoult
8. The Reader-Bernhard Schlink (I read this one today-it was a quick read)

And I just started The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski-so far so good!

On my list to start soon:

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates.

 

Go pick up a book! You know you wanna!

Doggy Pals

 

Foster has a little friend.  He loves him…

My kids are big into collecting Webkinz. It’s a little out of control actually. And they’re ALL over my house.  I am constantly picking one of them up or hollering at the kids to get them off my couch. Foster is just as bad. Every time I turn around he’s playing catch (alone…he’s talented) with one of them. This little collie is Foster’s favorite. He treats him like a little baby dog, always licking him and giving him lovin’

I thought you’d think it was cute, and hey-I got out my camera today! Woot Woot!

Photography

I’m artistically inclined. I have an eye for what makes a good photo. I know my camera inside and out. I know how to compose a photo. And I definately rock at post processing. So why the heck is my camera gathering dust?

1. My computer crashed a while ago and I have been too lazy to reinstall Photoshop. And even the best photographers on Planet Earth use Photoshop. It makes a difference. If you have a clue about what you’re doing.
2. I hate my camera. I have outgrown it and it doesn’t do what I want it to do as well as I wish it would.
3. It’s cold and the last thing I want to do is leave the house to stand outside and take photos.
4. I really want a different lens. I could do some serious damage if a 24-70 landed on my doorstep.

None of these are great reasons, but they’re the reasons I haven’t been using my God given talent lately. But, I’ve been thinking a little bit lately and I know I could make some serious cash-o-la with my prints. Not of my kids, but of the other sorts of things I take photos for. If I’d print some of them off, stick them in a really cool matted frame-I could definately buy the groceries around here. Especially because I know I’d pay for them in a store. Somebody else would too, right?

Right.

I am going to get my camera out after tomorrow’s crazy Wrestling tournament and prepare it for a few experimental shoots this week. Maybe I’ll come back and post them here too. If anyone is reading anymore, since this blog gathers just as much dust!

Don’t blame it on the sunshine

Blame it on the boogy!

Why can’t Michael Jackson get plastic surgery to make himself look like he did when he made good music? That would be nice. I miss his old music…music that has become a staple on my kids’ new ipods that Grandma bought them for christmas. Shaw’s favorite song is “The Way You Make Me Feel”….hey pretty baby with the high heels on…; and Molly’s favorite song is “Man in the Mirror”…not sure why, because there are many better tunes of his if you ask me. It’s funny to hear them singing (quite loudly because they have them cranked up-well until I locked the volume settings the last time I synced them) old music and dancing around the house…grabbing their crotches. Okay, kidding about the crotch grabbing LOL. They got all sorts of goodies from Santa this year, but the best gift by far hasn’t been “opened” yet.

We’re going to DisneyWorld, baby!

Santa sent me a text message a few days before Christmas to make sure that I was up for a vacation, and of coarse I was excited! Even though I’ve never been on an airplane before…it will be a nice scary experience but we’re going to be sitting in the sun and hanging out with tons of people with mouse ears on in about a month from now. My poor friend Tracy just moved back to Minnesota after living right outside Orlando for 4 years, she’s pissed at me because I never took the time to fly down to Florida until she moved back -just  a 3 hour drive away. Sorry, Tracy, you know I’ll find plenty of reasons to go to the Mall of America and see you once a month! 

Speaking of malls, I totally raped Express last week. I had a $60 gift card to spend because those who know Miranda know that I like to indulge in good jeans. I went in, got a $80 pair of jeans, a $60 sweater, a $20 cami,  a pair of $20 earrings. Everything was marked down and after my frequent shpper coupons and the gift cardsI paid only $5.08, baby! SCORE! I am going back to the mall today to get some bedroom stuff so I’ll have to fight the urge to visit the lovely store again. You can’t beat Express jeans. Even their low-rise fit FITS. No ass crack-age, no muffin top. Which reminds me, I need to start my treadmill walking again to conquer the holiday chub I’ve aquired. My jeans fit, but not much longer with the baking I’ve done lately.

Oh yeah, I quit my job, too! I’ll have to write about that later

Reelin’ in the Years

I was tagged on myspace, now it’s your turn:

Rules:
1. Put your iPod on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag *at least* 10 friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you stole it from.
5. Keep in mind this was given to young adults.

1) IF SOMEONE ASKS, “IS THIS OKAY?”, YOU SAY? War Pigs-Faith No More (Yeah, that gets a lot of blank stares…works everytime)

2) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? The Horizon has been Defeated-Jack Johnson
3) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer-Jack Johson (Hmmm, who would have thought red noses were sexy?)
4) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE? 16 going on 17- Sound of Music Soundtrack. (Yeah, so I’m a little immature sometime…)

5) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? Backwards-Rascal Flatts (Yeah, I did sorta do things backwards…kids first, then marraige…)

6) WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Hope you love me like you say you do-Heuy Lewis and the News. (Well, hello? Of COURSE I do!)

7) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? Against All Odds-Scott Savol (Like, what are the odds of me winning the lottery…or doing laundry?)

WHAT IS 2+2? Out of Love-Five for Fighting (okay…I suppose so LOL )

9) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? Selfish Girl-Rihanna (LOL! That’s hilarious. But, no…she’s not selfish. She just likes to shop a lot and buy herself lots of things.)

10) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE ? Take Me Away-Lifehouse (Oh yeah baby, like to someplace warm and sandy!)

11) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Iron Man-Black Sabbath (oh yeah, don’t you know I am really a genious and build iron body suits and fly?)

12) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Have Fun in Life-Mercy Me (yeah, that sounds like what I have been doing)

13) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE A PERSON YOU LIKE ? Groovin’- Sugar Beats (Ahem, I think he’s the one thinking about that, not me!)

14) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Don’t Go Near the Water-Sammy Kershaw (Thanks a lot! I know I’m weird, but seriously, it’s not contagious)

15) WHAT DID YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Baby-Pharrell and Nelly (well, I WAS pregnant)

16)WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? I’m Gonna Find Another You-John Mayer (Wow, that was a fast grieving process!)

17) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Number 1-Kanye West and Pharrell (what kinda hobby doesn’t require you to focus on yourself, right?)

18) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Cadilac Style-Sammy Kershaw (never out of gas, and we’re always on time….LMAO)

19) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Summer Breeze-Type O Negative (That sounds like a douche brand. Not exactly what I think of, but I like the summer part)

20) WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? Whatever You Like-T.I (ok…I’m not going to let you think too much about that)

21) HOW WILL YOU DIE? Your a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (a 99 and a 1/2 foot pole? Ouch)

22) WHAT IS ONE THING YOU REGRET? Mambo Italiano, Dean Martin (Yeah, that pretty much sums it up…)

23) WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? Policemans X-mas Party-Five for Fighting (at Donut Land)

24) WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? A Mosquito On My Nose-Jack Johnson (maybe I’d shed a tear if it went UP my nose…)

25) WHAT IS YOUR MARRIAGE LIKE? Take a Bow-Rihanna (Yeah, it’s been quite the drama, and love story)

26) WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? Dying-Five for Fighting (Right on)

27) DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU? Rockafellar Skank-Fatboy Slim (yeah, she does. But she likes everyone)

28) IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? Don’t Dream It’s Over-Crowded House (Or wake up)

29) WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? Moody’s Mood for Love-Elliot Yamin (Well, that’s some crazy lovin’)
30) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? Reelin’ in the Years- Steely Dan (Hey, 32 is the new 20 )

Tag, you’re it!

Hey, why not a blog post?

I feel like blogging today…it’s been long enough that I have enough to say at least.

It’s been busy around here as it always is this time of year. Shaw’s birthday is on the 12th, tomorrow. I can’t believe he’s 7. Whoa…where did that go? He’s turning out to be a good kid after all. Believe me, I had some serious doubts around age 3. He loves going to school (no  calls from teachers so far, no office visits yet-woot!) and is doing well with his reading. The most exciting thing going on with him, though, is wrestling. I love wrestling! I love the intensity and shouting, the nervous energy,  and the long days in stuffy high school gyms. I’m pretty proud of my little guy and have a feeling I had better buy some trophy polish. His first tournament is Sunday, but we’ve been practicing since the middle of November. And, if I may brag a little, Shaw is quite the natural grappler( He gets his athleticism from his daddy, not me-because I can’t hardly walk a straight line) and we’re constantly getting asked, “How long has he been wrestling?” He hasn’t been pinned yet and has great strength. The kid can run up the wall and grab a 9 foot chin up bar and chin a few. Not normal for a 1st grader. At the last practice, he got a round of applause and lots of attention because the coaches picked him out of the crowd for having the best sprawl-which sorta looks like the first part of the “worm” move that break dancers use. He had to do a face off with another contender and the best out of 3 one- Shaw. Yay….I was excited. Then he went with a partner to drill the double leg take down and a half nelson to finish for the pin. About 40 times. He had a guy (his partner’s dad) doing some advising, who really new what he was doing and had that natural coaching aire about him. Chad kept saying, “Gosh, he looks so familiar…” Well, that’s a funny story about why he looked so familiar:

The night before, Chad and my brother Jeremy were talking about their high school wrestling careers. Chad had been wrestling varsity heavy weight since his freshmen year and did pretty well. He was ranked his whole senior year and was about to go to districts for state. Then he got sick. Really sick, and couldn’t finish. The guy he would have wrestled at Districts went on to win State and wrestled for Iowa in college. Chad couldn’t think of his name and it was bugging the shit out of him all night. Well, the next night-after wrestling practice, Chad went over to introduce himself and shake hands with the Dad/Coach who was helping Shaw with his drills. The guy says, “Hey, my name’s John ’so and so’ ” Immediately Chad shook his had and them smacked himself in the forehead and says…”Oh my God, NOW I remember who you are!”…

It was THE guy who went on to wrestle and win State. Hahahaha! It was so funny and such a coincidence since he was just talking about the guy the night before. Anyway, he coaches for Coe College now…has a little boy wrestling with Shaw who actually gives Shaw a run for his money. Could history repeat itself? If so, I’m making a dr.s appointment in advance!

Girl got new frames!

And because she needed new lenses and frames, I got a free piece of junk Canon Power shot. Well, that was a little harsh. I am just used to using a peice of junk SLR. Point and shoot-ing is so much different. You don’t know how many times I’ve put the camera up to my eye to become blinded by the bright LCD panel. LOL! Not only does it take photos differently, you use it differently! Note taken. So, here’s my girl and her new glasses!

News on the job front: I am finding myself increasingly more dissatisfied working in an office. It’s not bad, just not good enough for me. I need to be more social and be around people who are a LOT less serious. So, I’ve applied to a very high end little day school in Cedar Rapids area and will be having an interview soon hopefully. I applied online (which was awkward) and she emailed me today to set up an interview. And, since the world is so small, come to find out, I actually know her. Sorta. She used to do after school care in her home for my nephew and she lives down the block from my brother! The position I am interviwing for is full time and the rest I don’t know. But, I did daycare in my home forever, I am spectacular with the toddler crew, and I worked at a daycare for a short stint right before I moved. I’d still be working there if my old boss was not such a rag and didn’t throw chairs at people, or embezzle money! LOL but that’s a post for another day. So, cross your fingers that it’s a breeze and I can kiss the office goodbye. I won’t miss ironing, but I’ll miss my newly-made friends there. My boss is pretty cool.