Computer's Taking The Place Of Humans...

For example, this morning I received a call from our gas company.  The computerized drone said, "Please wait while I connect you to a customer representative."  The message was repeated 3 times, then I was disconnected.  So I pulled out my bill and attempted to pay it by phone.  I kept getting booted out of the computerized system for various reasons. The 1st time was because apparently it's very sensitive and if there's noise around, then it boots you out.  When booted out of the computerized system, I spoke to a REAL voice who told me of this glitch.  She said, "Can you go hide in the bathroom and make the payment where it's quiet?"  She then put me back into the computerized system.  So I tried making the payment while sitting on the toilet,  but was booted out of the system for an invalid SS#.  The REAL voice changed the SS# on the account to mine and then rebooted me back to the computerized system.  I spent approximately another 10 minutes trying to make the payment by phone, and yup, booted yet again!  In frustration, I just hung up.... 

Yesterday we tried to buy the play set for the toddlers.  We decided to drive to Wal-Marts to pick it up because delivery charge is $89.00.  That's crazy!  We had no problems finding the ticket to buy the play set. Unfortunately no one could tell us if they had any in stock.  Customer service said the computer showed there was one in the warehouse & three on order.  We told the clerk we would like to buy the one in the warehouse, but she wasn't sure what warehouse it was in.  Apparently she didn't know who to call to ask, only had her data on the computer.  In frustration, we asked to speak to a supervisor.  She said, "everyone was sent home because of cut-backs, so they can rehire."  Huh?  After realizing she was making no sense, we took the ticket and went home.  I need to call, but think I might E X P L O D E if I have to talk to another computer.

Bad News, Good News....

Bad News: Sammi is sick today.  She woke up at 4am with a fever of 103 & nausea....

Good News:  She stayed on the couch all day, so Mikey was a happy camper trashing her princess doll bed uninterrupted, lol (picture above).  On a side note:  Although still feverish, Sammi's feeling MUCH better tonight. 

Bad News:  Today was a gray rainy day....

Good News:  The temperature hit in the mid-50's.  And tomorrow it's supposed to be in the 60's.  I can hear those daffodils blooming now....

Bad News:  The mailman brought us some bills today....

Good News: The mailman also brought us our tax return check!  Woohoo.... Sedona playset here we come!  Walmart.com - Sedona Wooden Play Center <!~~ click to see...

Bad News:  What bad news?

Good News:  Did I tell ya that the mailman brought us our tax refund check today?

Quiet Dinner For Two?

These days we try to avoid eating out with the toddler's, with the exception of Burger King.  Last night in a moment of insanity we decided to eat at a real restuarant.  We went to Long Horns, a family oriented steak house. We waited a half hour to be seated, so by 6pm the kids were starving and cranky.  Not a good combo.   Going out to eat with toddler's is always interesting.   Their attention span only allows for appetizers or dessert, never both.  I don't enjoy my meal when they are in tow, because I know that at any moment peacefulness can turn into chaos.  Ummmm, check please?  On the upside, I find that our meals ALWAYS come out faster when we have them with us. 

Last night wasn't too bad.  Sammi enjoyed the garnishes on her plate more than her meal.  Yes, we paid $3.99 so she could eat orange wedges.  While we ate she played with her drink, but hey, at least she was quiet.  Mikey was a bit more rambunctious.  He decided he didn't want help drinking from his souvenier cup, so not wanting to risk a scene, I decided to let him try.  He didn't do too bad, I figure he only dumped about 25% of it down the front of him.  After eating his grilled cheese & french fries with gusto, he decided that the plate would make a great hat.  Quite a fashion statement with the chocolate milk soaked shirt.  Sammi tried to be a big help to the waitress.  When she was done with her plate, she held it up and yelled out "Hey lady....."  We quietly told her that wasn't nice and she was being too loud.  So a few minutes later we hear in a very low voice,  "Hey lady...." 

Ah yes, so all in all it wasn't so horrible.  No terrible scenes, no sympathetic looks from surrounding diners.  We managed to keep the chaos at our table to a minimum.  I don't think the waitress has children, because before she gave us the check she said.... "Dessert anyone?" 

Piano Lessons or Brownies?

 Music has been a part of my life since I was very young.  At the age of six I joined the Brownies.  When I told my Mom it was time to buy me a uniform, she asked me one question.  "Michelle, do you want to be a Brownie or take piano lessons?" I distinctly remember chirping, "Brownies" but I began taking piano lessons shortly after. 

Maybe it was piano lessons instead of Brownies because my Mom believed in the importance of having a music education; or perhaps she wanted to live her life vicariously through mine.  My Mom was an accomplished pianist who possessed a beautiful singing voice.  Once upon a time her dream was to become a professional opera singer, but sometimes dreams change.  I have wonderful memories of listening to my Mom play the piano, Clemente Sonatina was my favorite.  She also played the guitar and we had many sing-a-longs.  "Blowing In The Wind" and "If I Had A Hammer" were sung with enthusiasm.  I always aspired to sing like my Mom.  When I sang in talent shows, it was her face that I searched for in the crowd.  I believe one of the greatest gifts my Mom ever gave me, was her love and passion for music.  Sing from the heart, she used to say.  I once had dreams of singing professionally, didn't we all? but my sights were set on Broadway.  However, like my Mom my dreams changed too.  Or maybe I was too afraid to follow them....

So someday when my daughter asks to join the Brownies, I will ask her one question. "Sammi, do you want to be a Brownie or take piano lessons?"  I already know her answer to that question.:::smile:::   Oh, and my reason for having her take piano lessons instead of joining the Brownies?  It is the same reason that my Mom surely had years ago.  To save her from having to wear those goofy uniforms....

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Blarney Castle in Ireland

"May you live as long as you want,
 And never want as long as you live..."

"This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever."
 ~Sigmund Freud (about the Irish)

And lastly...(I love this one!)

"May those who love us, love us...
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping."

Happy St. Patricks Day!!

Now going off to start my corned beef, cabbage & carrots. 
And then we'll be baking some shamrock cookies, thanks Pillsbury! lol...

**PS, still snowing, only got about 8"  

Sunsets And Bra Straps...

I went to the grocery store last night, alone.  Ok, so not a thrill to most, but alone time here is precious.  Usually my alone time consists of the few minutes I get in the bathroom; and that only happens because I lock the door.  Even then there are little one's at the door knocking & asking to come in.  Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin.  

As I drove to the grocery store, I saw a beautiful sunset.  I just love watching the peaceful way the world says good night.  Last night watching it made me a bit wistful.  The day was filled with the promise of Spring as the temps hit a balmy 50 degrees.  Yes, hope springs eternal until the weatherman on TV said, "Nor'easter tomorrow, 8" - 12" of snow accumulation expected.  This will be the most significant snowfall since December."  Now the interesting thing about this weather forcast was that the sunset gave a different one.  "Red sky in the morning, sailor's take warning.  Red sky at night, sailor's delight."   The sky last night was definitely red.  Could the weatherman be wrong??  The sky said he was....

While at the grocery store last night I noticed that my bra straps kept falling down.  Actually they have been for the past few weeks.  What's up with that?  Not only have I noticed that my bra straps won't stay up but the diaper bag, aka my pocketbook, won't stay on my shoulder.  It's so aggravating, can a person lose weight only in their shoulders? Think I'll get a haircut this week to show them off.  Why do foods with no carbs/no fat cost more when there are less ingredients in them?  Mike has been doing the Atkins diet since last June and has lost 75 lbs.  I was also doing Atkins, but started having heart palpitations so I stopped.  I lost 23 lbs at that point but have since gained some of it back. The good news is: no weight gain in my shoulders.  Well, my life calls me so I must go answer it.  Pulling up my bra straps and waiting for the snow to fall....

And Then There Were Three

While the toddler's are playing happily in their bedroom, I have a few minutes of me time.... So here I am at my journal.  Hey, it was either this or washing the dishes, lol.   I raised my oldest son Spencer as an "only" child.  I think it was a lonely existence for him.  When he was younger, he used to ask me for a baby brother or sister.  One day when he was only three years old, he asked me where babies came from.  Being a first time Mom and not expecting to have this talk for at least another few years, I hesitated.  Then I said.... "Well, when two people love each other, they can have a baby."  Spencer immediately hugged me tightly and said, "I love you Mommy." After laughing, I told him "Ooooooooh, well I love you too, but it has to be a Mommy and Daddy who love each other."  That memory still makes me smile today.  Where do the years go?  How did he become a young man on the cusp of adulthood?  

One of the sad feelings I have about Spencer being an only child, an only child from divorced parents, is that he has no one to reminisce with about his early childhood days.  He doesn't have a sibling to say, "Remember when....?"  Spencer did finally get his long awaited siblings.  He was 14 & 15 years old when the babies were born.  He adores them & the feeling is definitely mutual.  If he doesn't pick them up and say "hello" when he comes home from school, they cry.  My wish for my children is although they are years apart, that they will always remain close.  When I am old, I want to hear them talking about "Remember when...."

Before the babies arrived,  I was worried that Spencer might feel jealous or displaced.   But those worries were put to rest the day he told me....."Mom, even when I'm having the worst day at school, everything is ok again when I come home and see the babies smiling faces." 

My boy is going to be a great dad someday.....

My Demolition Crew

The weather is finally beginning to warm up.  Temperatures were in the low 60's today...doing the happy dance while avoiding the mud...  Of course the forecast for tomorrow says that there's a chance of snow, but still, Spring IS definitely coming.  Those birds were right. Oh, Spring....

The toddlers really need to get outside to play soon.  Can you tell from the picture up above?  They've stripped Sammi's bed, and now are trying to figure out how to put it up on the rail of the crib so they can use the mattress as a slide.  They actually succeeded, but they had to compromise, they put the mattress against her shorter headboard. It doesn't matter how much I babyproof an area, these two  always find something to get into.  Notice the wall near the crib.  That gray stripe on the wall used to be an adorable Winnie the Pooh border. For awhile, peeling that border off was a favorite past time. :::sigh::: I'm thinking of painting a mural on the wall, because putting up another border would be a losing battle.  Just trying to think of a good idea. That gray stripe might be there for awhile....

Tonight I found the perfect wooden play center for them.  Lots of climbing options, swings, a slide, it's perfect.  And the price is great too! (check it out at this link)  Walmart.com - Sedona Wooden Play Center   Oh, hurry up income tax return!!  Not-so-patiently waiting...  ::::tapping foot and checking the mailbox even on Sundays, lol::::

Good Day Gone Bad, PART 2

The toddlers were hungry, I decided to bring them down to the cafe to eat lunch.

Once downstairs, I realized I had no money in my pockets, so I went to the ATM.

The ATM was out of order and the cafe does not take credit/debit cards.

Decided to bring the toddlers for a walk to take their mind off food.

Unfortunately our route went past the kitchen and Sammi kept saying "I'm vewwwwry hungry."

Went into the gift shop and asked if they took credit cards, they did.  Yea!!!!

They had over priced gifts that I did not need, candy & gum.  I settled on 2
lollipops.

I plunked the lollipops up on the counter & gave the clerk my card.  She said, "you can't use your card for just that." Embarrassed, tired & worried about Mike, my eyes teared up as I walked away.           

She called me back and gave the lollipops to the babies.  Thank-you for your kindness...

Mike's surgery went well. He returns for results in 10 days. Fingers & toes crossed

Went home & registered the truck online, then off to free our truck from jail. 

The bail?  $95.00 for a tow of 200 yards.

Crazy!  But hey, at least we got a new calendar out of the deal.

Tonight things are better simply because the hump day from hell is over.

Come on Thursday!! Pay day & Survivor, my favorite day of the week... 

Good Day Gone Bad...

This morning was good, woke up to a sunny day in the 50's.
Then it went downhill from there.....

Last night I spoke to Mike about 10 minutes before he got home.

I tried to wait up, but I fell asleep.

This morning, I asked Mike what time he got home last night.  He informed me that
he got a ride home from the police. 

He was pulled over because we forgot to register the truck in Jan.

Ok, it wasn't we, it was me, who put aside the renewal form during the holidays.
I meant to send it in after the holidays...  Sorry honey.

Mike was given a 100.00 fine and the police officer had the truck towed.

The truck was towed approximately 200 feet from where he was stopped.  He
wouldn't let Mike drive it to the lot because it was unregistered.

Mike took the day off from work today, he had a Dr. appointment to check
out some lumps in his abdomen and chest.

The toddlers & I went along to his appointment.  It was supposed to be one
simple procedure and a consult.

Well, it wasn't a simple procedure.

He had a mammogram, not sure how they were able to do that.  No man boobs here. 

We waited for results.

Guess they couldn't get a good enough look, so he went to ultrasound.

We waited for results.

He was sent upstairs to talk to a general surgeon about a needle biopsy. 

We waited.

After speaking to the surgeon, they decided that a needle biopsy would not be
sufficent.  So it was decided that Mike should have one of the growths removed
today, as in immediately....