Fiesta Time & the Chipmunk Assassin

On the corner, a few houses down from me, live a bunch of Mexicans.  And I do mean a bunch-several families live in the same house.  In the summer, whiffs of well-seasoned barbecued meats and wafts of ranchera or salsa music float on the breeze into our open windows.  Yes, it's fiesta time.  Just about every weekend, they have a party and invite friends...they eat, laugh, and drink, and often sing loudly.  Either that, or turn up their favorite songs so that the entire neighborhood can hear as well.  They are out until all hours-kids and all.  Sometimes it's a little annoying, depending on the volume of the music, and, well, whether the music sucks or not.  Most of the time, I simply note that they're having more fun than me.  Kinda like tonight. 

I had a fabulous day.  It was Courtney's turn to go to Starbucks, so I had 15 extra minutes this morning.  I wasn't too tired, and had a great day at work.  It wasn't too busy, but just enough to keep me from getting bored.  After work, I went to my mom's, where my husband and children had been since lunch time.  The kids played hard all day, and then we cooked out.  We ate burgers, hot dogs, potato & pasta salads, and mac & cheese.  The kids loved it because there were no veggies tonight (usually we do a stir fry when we grill, but no one felt like it today).  Then there was angelfood cake with strawberries & whipped cream, or ice cream (or both) for dessert.  We sat out on the deck and relaxed in the breeze, and it was truly heavenly.  I gave the kids a bath at my mom's, so I only had to tuck them in when we got home.  They are suffering so badly, the poor things...their eyes are swollen and itchy, their noses are stuffy, they have headaches and earaches.  The allergy medicines just can't keep up with the huge volume of pollen in the air right now, and their poor little minds can't grasp that the medicine will not cure their misery completely.

Anyway, by the time I came downstairs fom tucking the last one in, G was already asleep on the couch.  Part of me cannot blame him-he's under an open window, the cool breeze on his face, and he's snuggled up under a soft blanket. 

 

The other part of me is screaming, TALK TO ME!  WAKE UP AND SEE ME!  He hasn't seen me all day, and spent most of the time at my mom's inside on the sofa, watching Pirates of the Caribbean (again) on his laptop.  I think tonight, it's going to be me and a new book, until I fall asleep, too.

Tomorrow we're having Family Bowling Day.  A bunch of us will get together for duckpins and some greasy pizza.  Sounds like we made a good plan, considering it's supposed to rain until Tuesday.  Hopefully, I can get some flowers in the ground and clean up my perennials this week.  My garden is a hot mess right now, but just seeing the stuff that is blooming is encouraging.

And then there are the chipmunks.  Or, were the chipmunks.  See, we have a colony of them living in my garden, in the yard, and out back in the retaining wall.  We recently discovered that they are under our porch stoop, as well.  G insisted that they will ruin the foundation of the porch and cause it to collapse, and that we must get rid of them.  Well, last night, while I worked, he decided to do just that.  He lit a fire in one of the holes.  He was trying to smoke them out.  Instead of going the other way, a family (read: parents and babies...cute little baby chipmunks) ran right past the fire.  At least one baby was badly burned.  The parents fled, and he put the babies into the lawn waste bag (although they were all alive).  Did I mention my children saw all of this heinousness?  They have been traumatized.  As soon as I got home from work, they converged on my car, crying about how daddy killed the baby chipmunks.  What can you even say to that?!  What kind of man does something like that, let alone in front of his kids?!

Anyway.  One more confession to make, since it's obviously been too long since I blogged, and I have a lot to say.  I drove the Tahoe a couple of times last week, and I discovered something: I don't miss it that much.  The Sienna's drive is so nice, and it seems so much more agile...not lumbering and hulking like the Tahoe.  Then there's the fact that it starts right away...the Tahoe always starts, but always sounds like it's not going to.  Here lately, it's sputtering so badly that it sounds like it's could quit running at any second.  Frankly, that's embarrassing.  So yeah, I kinda like the minivan.  On the other hand, I think I would have liked any vehicle that was 8 years newer.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Cars & Boys

I hate buying a used car.  You never know what you’re going to get, and obviously, any car of any age can have issues.  This morning, I pressed the remote start button, and there was merely a click.  SIGH.  Know what that means.  There was enough battery for me to open the side door and let Cameron in so that I could try to start it, which it refused to do.  There was not enough juice left to close the door.  Beautiful.  So, I checked the warranty information, and confirmed what I already knew to be true: batteries are not covered.  OF COURSE.  Happy Monday.  Thank God, I still have the Tahoe, so we were able to jump in her and go.  Now, if only she will play nice for the remainder of the day.

On a funny note, last night, G and I were sitting here in the living room, ignoring eachother on opposing laptops like always, when there was a funny, long, foamy sound from the bathroom.  Collin was supposed to be rinsing after brushing his teeth.  I yelled, "COLLIN!  What was that--shaving cream?!"  There was a brief pause, where he was almost audibly thinking, Crap!  Should I tell her?  He said, "Uh, I don’t know, I can’t read!"  He of course was full of it, he knew exactly what it was.  He had filled the sink with his Mr. Men Crazy Soap (bath foam).  At least it was nothing I had to clean off the walls...where better to make a mess than where we can just turn on the water and rinse it away?

I’m hoping all these nasty, cold, wet days are going to lead to some pretty fabulous May flowers, as the old saying goes.  I’m really sick of this weather, and I check Southwest & Airtran almost daily for an airfare that I can afford (times five, of course) to someplace warm.  I think everyone else is feeling much the same.  It’s a shame we couldn’t get a group rate on a flight/vacation package, eh?  We have not had a harsh winter, I don’t think (at least, the beginning of it wasn’t), but now it just seems to be dragging along.  March was supposed to have gone out like a lamb, and with the exception of one day, it didn’t.  At least the end of this week looks a little more promising.

Hope your week’s starting off better than mine!

Back to Reality

We arrived home from the beach a little while ago. As soon as I opened the door, the phone rang and it was my mom. We had planned to go down to the Inlet to mess around on the boardwalk before leaving, but the idea was scrubbed because it was so cold and windy, and because the kids already got souvenirs. My mother had called to say that right about the time we were leaving (and would have been going to the boardwalk), there was a 9 alarm fire to which 21 fire companies responded, which destroyed Dough Roller, some t-shirt place, and part of Marty’s Playland. All I could think was, oh no, the claw machines!

This weekend went pretty well. G and I got along fairly well, except the time he told me I was oppressive (he claims he was kidding). Remember how I said one unseasonably warm day wouldn’t hurt? Well, God delivered...it was a good 75 degrees on Friday, and I was acutally sweaty on the beach while walking in my jeans and sweater. It was therapy! I even saw one silly girl in her bathingsuit. Saturday and today, though, back to normal-wind and cold! We had a pretty good time...helped out with the youth group, and it’s always good to see our old friends there. MJ went down, too, so we got to hang out with her a little. We ate at Tequila Mockingbird, which I LOVE (thanks, MJ)! My only complaint was that I didn’t get to have any Thrasher’s fries or Dumser’s mint chocolate chip ice cream...but I guess there’s always later in the summer.

There were lots of funny things this weekend...Cameron calling the hotel a "ho-towel", Noah calling the elevator an "alligator", and the fact that we were so disgusted with our bent-frame terrible hotel bed that we took the mattress off and put it on the floor. It didn’t cave in any more, but it didn’t make it much more comfortable, either. I’m really looking forward to sleeping in my Beautyrest tonight! However, it, too, is worn out and we really need to look into getting a new one. I am pushing hard for a king this time (we have a queen, now). G thinks it will take up too much space in our room, but I think if we downsize our nightstands (they are huge), it will fit nicely. On the other hand, that would require buying a whole new bedroom set. Ah, yes...here I go...

So, the minivan has had her first roadtrip with our family. No on puked in it, thank God, and most of the mess has already been cleaned out of it, even. I do have to take it to the car wash to rinse all the salt off of it. It was really very comfortable, and even though I thought I wouldn’t, I fit everything in nicely. However, when we go to Myrtle Beach for an entire week, obviously there will be more stuff. I don’t know how that’s going to pan out. I am pretty sure we’re going to have to get a "turtle"...you know, the big storage container that goes on the roof of the vehicle. G is sure that it will kill the gas mileage, but who cares...I’d rather have that and be able to see out the back window.

Cameron had her first soccer game this evening. What a fiasco. She was on one team, then another coach called and said she’d been put on his team...I told him he needed to get with the first coach and figure it out...the second coach called me back to say that she should stay on the first team. Well, now they’re saying she’s supposed to be on the other team (even after she’s already practiced with her first team, and frankly, the first coach is nicer and doesn’t have a cultural identity issue like the second one does). The first coach insisted that she play with them tonight, which I thought was very nice. We’re supposed to hear from the soccer commissioner as to whether she stays with the good team or has to move to Coach Gangsta Wannabe’s team. I already know I’m going to have issues if she does have to switch teams.

Anyway, so it’s back to the same old thing tomorrow. I’ve been so busy that I don’t feel like I got a break at all...but it was nice not to do dishes or laundry and stuff for a few days. G was supposed to be off work tomorrow, but he has decided not to be, for whatever idiot reason. He was saying how he has so much time to take off this year, if he doesn’t start scheduling it soon, he’s going to lose it. I swear, I think he has a workwife that he can’t wait to get back to or something. And please God, let him take the Guitar Hero back to Ed.

I hope you all have a great week.

Breakfast on the Run and Weekend Plans

There are few things I like better than a Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuit for breakfast. Every once in a while, I have to treat myself, and since I had to have bloodwork done this morning, what better time than after my "fast" (hah, yeah right, I simply hadn’t eaten breakfast yet). It’ll do wonders for my cholesterol, I’m sure, but man, they are so good.

We are going to the beach today, so I’m excited. Shame the weather won’t cooperate. Why did it have to be warmer in December than it is now? One freak 70 degree day isn’t too much to ask. Anyway, I have a million things to do before we go, including pack for everyone in the house. My husband, God love him, has screwed me yet again. He didn’t put his laundry in the laundry room, favoring instead to create a small mountain on the floor beside the bed. I cautioned him against doing so a couple of days ago. Yesterday, I also asked him several times whether he had packed, or if he planned to bring any clothes with him. He flat out said he hoped that I would pack for him. See, here’s where he knows he has me: he knows I’ll do it, because I would like to leave as soon as he gets home from work. Therefore, if I don’t do it, I’ll have to wait for him, and he will most assuredly take his sweet time. SIGH. I could just leave withouth him, I suppose, but who wants to deal with that can of worms?

It’s amazing, the amount of stuff a parent must carry with them when traveling with small children. I do tend to overpack, but when I have packed less, I have needed more. If I only packed one outfit for each day, the child has invariably had a diaper blow-out or got ridiculously wet or messy. If I didn’t pack allergy medicines and ibuprofen, the child got a fever in the middle of the night. If I didn’t bring a pack & play, the hotel ran out of them, or forgot to put it in the room. I find it’s better to just go ahead and bring the whole house, despite the protests of my husband. See, to him, packing the car is an artform. I say, if you have that much time to spend arranging, you have time to do your own laundry and pack your own stuff. Needless to say, I plan to pack the car by the time he gets home, so we won’t have that wait, too. And then there’s the space issue in the minivan. I’m used to having a big "butt" on my vehicle in which to stow lots of stuff...the aforementioned pack & play, the stroller, the suitcases and snacks...in the minivan, I just don’t have what I’m used to, and that’s going to be a struggle. However, it will be really nice and really QUIET on the ride to the beach, what with each kid having their own dvd player and headphones. No more screaming, hitting, stealing toys, etc. Now, if only we will have such luck when we go to Myrtle Beach this summer.

I’m hoping not to fight with my beloved husband today, or even this weekend. Traveling with the children tends to make us (or maybe just me) a little edgy. I tend to want things done my way (because I know best, of course, being the mother and all). I tend to get irritated when I don’t get my way...like the leaving on time thing. If we leave late, then the children don’t go to bed until late, and they’re a wreck the next day. However, he just thinks he’s on vacation, so he doesn’t have to hurry for anything. It’s that focus on only himself without considering the effect on the rest of us that makes me want to choke him. Hopefully, things will just go smoothly.

On that note, I really should pack so that I can follow my own plans! It’s only three days, right?

It’s Official, I’m a Soccer Mom In Training

Yep, we did it. We bought a minivan. If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be driving a minivan with three kids, I’d probably have slapped you. But, it’s in front of my house, and the kids are all fired up about it. We bought a 2005 Toyota Sienna XLE, which is the nicest and newest vehicle I have owned. When I compare that to the 1983 VW Rabbit I used to have when Cameron was little, well, it seems like I’m living the good life. On the other hand, now I have to pay for the damn thing. I just hope I’m not going to be car-poor. I will have to be more strict with my spending, that’s for sure. Rather like the tv we bought last summer, we have spent more than we originally agreed upon. Seems like the American Way, no?

I hope that it’s a wise investment. It will cost less in gas than the Tahoe, which is, of course, wonderful. I hope it will serve us well. And God bless Toyota for the 14 cup holders!

Car Shopping

I test drove another Sienna today. This time, they offered to give me $2k for my truck, and the salesperson said they would probably go to $2500. They did not take anything off the price of the vehicle, though, leaving me about $2500 from where I’d like to be. The salesperson was casual, down-to-earth and reasonable. He treated me as though I were going to buy the vehicle--didn’t ask if I needed to contact my husband. I like that. I didn’t really get to talk to the manager, which is just as well. They’re usually the slimiest of them.

I might go look at another, tomorrow. I don’t even feel like having my truck appraised again...it’s not running well and the engine light is on. It’s embarrassing! Combine that with the dirty carpet, Cheerios and toys, and, well, can you blame them? I know they’re only going to wholesale it, but still...it’s worth more to me. The book value is about $2600 more than they’re offering, and that’s for only fair condition. High retail is about $5k more. So should I try to trade it, or sell it outright? Is it worth it to try to sell it? Or should I suck it up and pay more?

Anyway, the other Sienna I am interested in is $1k more, and it’s in Owings Mills. Another hike. I am one of those people who has to feel "this is it". I have to know that it’s right. I believe we didn’t get the first two we looked at because they weren’t right. Am I saying that we’ve been predestined to purchase a particular vehicle with a particular VIN number? No...just that I should have clarity and peace with the one I’m going to buy.

Last night, my 2yr old Noah tried on my mascara. He also tried it on the couch (thank God I don’t use waterproof, eh?). Some of you may remember a short while ago, when Collin did the same. It was pretty funny. He also emptied a can of Dermaplast all over the living room and himself, coating everything in a greasy fog. For the past week or two, he’s had an affinity for markers and pens. He wrote on both the dining room table and the coffee table with a pen, and the entire way up the stairwell with a green marker. More proof that when you realize it’s very quiet, it’s already too late. My friend complains that with the current state of things, he might have to be an Ikea shopper. Well, I’d rather my kids write on my Ikea stuff than my Ethan Allen. Today, Collin dumped an entire 20oz (cold) water on me. That, too, was a pleasant experience. It truly was an accident, though, so I couldn’t be too mad...and let’s face it--it could have been cherry KoolAid.

I think I will try to make some fish for dinner. I’m still on the fence about it. I am really NOT a fish person. I like shellfish, yes, but I pretty much always turn my nose up at even the finest selections of fish. I have, however, had a couple of types of salmon that I liked...I may try to replicate one of those recipes. I’m just tired of the same old thing...I like quite a bit of variety in my diet. That’s pretty hard to do, when you have not one, but four different people, with different degrees of pickiness, living in the same household. There is literally nothing that will make everyone happy. Sometimes I feel like making my own dinner, and telling the rest of them that they are on their own. I guess to be fair, I should wait until they’re at least old enough to use the stove!

Uneventful

Well, the MIL came and went without much to-do. Really, her visit went well. We ate out more than usual, which is nice for me...and she’s the type to help clean up and stuff, so that was nice, too. Her incessant commenting during movies and phony hyper-praising got on my nerves as always, but it was pretty tolerable. Her worst visits have always been when her husband came with her. We even had a fairly deep discussion about religion last night. The kids really enjoyed her visit. I’m just glad it’s over and we can go back to "normal", whatever that may be.

So, we went to talk to the sales people about a deal on the minivan we liked. As soon as we pulled up, we saw that another three-kid family had just arrived and was looking at the same van. We lurked around the lot as they got the keys, checked it out, and went for a test-drive. It was pretty pointless, but we went in to see what kind of deal they would offer us, but I knew the other people were going to buy it. First of all, the list price was decent, considering the book value. And while there was nothing "wrong" with them, the other family just seemed to not be quite as savvy as we might be regarding used vehicle purchase. It turns out that they only offered me $1k for my truck, and nothing off the price. Why should they, they had another eager family whose rugrats were already climbing all over the thing? Oh well, it just wasn’t meant to be, and that’s ok.

Right on cue, however, my truck began small signs of protest. She knows her days are numbered, her feelings are hurt, and she’s going to give me a hard time in the next couple of weeks. She didn't want to start (more than usual), and the trip odometer got stuck...so it made an annoying click which I couldn't figure out for quite a while. Then it overheated...or maybe not, the temperature guage was just going crazy because there was so little coolant in it (that's a boy's job, and that boy hasn't been doing his job). Anyway, there is another I might go look at tomorrow, in Reisterstown. That’ll be a fun drive with the boys. The price listed on that one is not too bad, either, so it depends how much they’ll move on it, as well as how much they would give me for my truck. I know I would likely be able to sell my truck outright for quite a bit more than the dealer would give me, but it’s just not something I want to do right now. Trying to answer questions and field calls and potential buyers while looking after my children and juggling my own schedule...eh. Not to mention if my truck would sell before I find a minivan. Fun, fun. I would like to find a new vehicle before I go to the beach at the end of the month. At least then I wouldn’t have to worry about problems on the way down and back (except my incredibly motion-sick child on my new leather seats).

I can’t believe Easter is this weekend. I am not at all ready for the festivities...my eggs are not filled, my treats are not ready to go in the baskets. My house isn’t even decorated, which makes me kinda sad. I am, however, glad that the daffodils and crocuses are up, and that spring is on its way. This cold weather keeps hanging on, but with Daylight Savings, I’m really encouraged. It won’t be long. Now I just have to figure out what to do with my kids while Cam is off school this week. We will have to think of stuff to do so that boredom and insanity and fighting doesn’t ensue.

Guess I’d better go see about dinner...it’s not going to cook itself!

The Mom Mobile

So, I drive a 4WD 1997 Chevy Tahoe with 155k miles on it. It has no third row seating, therefore, if we have the family with us, no one else can ride with us. The cargo space is, of course, fabulous. It's great to be able to go to Home Depot and buy an appliance, 12 bags of mulch, whatever. It's great to be able to cart around a double stroller, single stroller, and a week's worth of groceries. It's especially wonderful after a snow storm to be able to get in the car, push a button, and drive away...no shoveling required. I can tow pretty much anything, pull another car out of the mud, etc. It's big, strong, and safe.

And it gets about 11 miles per gallon.

With gas prices heading up to $3.20, and $4.00 projected by summer, that does pose a bit of a concern...even though I usually only drive a few miles per week. Additionally, it needs some work...needs a new catalytic converter (so the exhaust has that lovely rotten egg smell) and some oxygen sensors and stuff. My aftermarket remote start has stopped working, and the mp3 changer stopped working a long time ago. The transmission has shown signs of stress on some occasions, and no wonder, with that many miles on it. It probably should be rebuilt. So, the school of thought is, is it really worth it to put any more money into this vehicle? G thinks not. And, quite honestly, he doesn't want to be the one working on it, either. See, fixing cars is one of his hobbies. But not when it has to be done.

So, the other day we went to look at a Honda Odyssey in Bel Air. It was pretty nice...heated leather seats, navigation, and plenty of room for the fam. I will say that I hate the storage space in a minivan. I wish it was more like my truck. Once there is a single stroller in there, there won't be room for much else. The used car market around here is very slow lately, so prices are fairly reasonable, even before haggling. We could potentially get a good deal, and have a nice, comfy vehicle to take on our summer road trip. But man, I hate to get rid of my truck. We would likely trade it in for two reasons. First and foremost, it gives us a little bit of bargaining room, and therefore would decrease the amount we need to finance. Secondly, we wouldn't have the headache of having it inspected and selling it on our own. I just hate to get rid of it. And, to be quite honest, I hate a minivan. The features and comforts are nice, but I just don't like them.

Yesterday, I went to look at a Toyota Sienna with the two boys. That was interesting. I wasn't assertive enough with the sales person, so she yapped the whole time and came with me on the test drive. She offered to stay behind and keep my boys (NO!), and then pissed me off by asking THEM if they wanted to stay there in the kids' room. Thankfully, they're boys, so they wanted to see the car. She yapped the whole time on the test drive as well, which irritated me. I couldn't concentrate on the details of the drive and the vehicle because she was going on and on about how many people wanted to see this particular van. Give me a break. I'm immune to all their slimy tactics...G used to sell cars! I didn't let on, though. I knew I would be bringing G back to check the car out...obviously he would be able to diagnose any mechanical problems better than I would.

So, the whole lot of us drove back to the dealership last night, and G took the car for a drive himself. He liked it even better than the Odyssey, as did I. It looks like we will probably give them an offer and commence the haggling this weekend. IF it doesn't sell by then, which of course they would have us believe is inevitable. Oh, this will be fun. G thinks we should bring the children, because that gives us excuses and leverage...I'll make them all cry if you don't give us what we want and hurry up! I think, of course, that it would only add more pressure to us...and of course, it would make them pretty miserable. On the other hand, it just might work for us to say, we only have half an hour. Let's roll.

Two days until the MIL's arrival. Guess I'd better make sure I have some wine in the house.

MILs and Caffeine Withdrawal

The MIL (mother-in-law) missed our re-wedding in December because her mother was sick, so she had an open round-trip ticket. She said she would come in March. Well, she made her arrangements, only she wasn't flying in to BWI...she was flying in to Philadelphia, so that she could go visit my brother-in-law (hereafter referred to as the BIL). Well, we thought that was a little rude, but whatever. Then she decided to fly into Philadelphia, but leave from BWI...but someone would still need to go pick her up from NJ. SIGH. First she said they could drive her halfway, and therefore I offered to pick her up at the Chesapeake House on 95. Then my BIL and SIL said they could not drive her down, not even halfway. SO, G would have to go pick her up after work, a five hour round trip. Or, take the day off and go get her. Ridiculous. She said she had to go to NJ first because she had to work (she works for my SIL). Well, she could work from home, no? Furthermore, she said she could not afford to take off work for an entire week, but then proceeded to tell me how she'd just taken off four days to go to Pensacola with some friends. Anyway, G agreed to go pick her up in NJ, something that irritated me. Truthfully, I saw no diplomatic way around it, but why should he bend over backwards for a mother whose life he's never been a part of?

And then she canceled. She had her husband (G's stepfather) call and say she would not be coming, because it didn't make sense to visit us if she was going to NJ...or something like that. And then she decided to fly into BWI tomorrow, and leave Sunday. I said that would be fine, I could pick her up whenever, as long as it didn't interfere with school. And then she canceled that trip. Said she felt like there was a problem, that it wasn't a good time to visit. Then she reinstated her original trip to NJ anyway. Then she changed her mind AGAIN, and decided she will borrow a car from my BIL and drive down to our house for the weekend.

Can I scream now?

What I think she wants is for G to call her and beg her to come...to make her feel reassured and wanted. Well, he's been wanting her to be part of his life all this time...if she can't see that, it's her own fault.

So, I've been trying to give up my caffeine addiction, because it tends to fuel my anxiety. It sucks. I don't have withdrawal every day, just after I've had caffeine. The only caffeine I had was a tiny bit of a latte yesterday. Today, I'm getting a cold, and I have a headache...the coffee would do wonders. But then, especially what with the MIL situation, I just might be on the ceiling.

G just called me and asked me if I wanted to go look at a mini-van tonight. In Bel Air. With the kids. I'm sorry, but I don't think hungry children at a car dealership an hour away at dinner time is a good idea. Besides, I have a nice pork roast that is waiting for the oven. Again, the pressure of the mini-van. Why right this minute? Why tonight? I don't understand that boy.

Archives-Dr. Mom 6/8/2007

June 8, 2007

I'm feeling the strains of motherhood/wifehood lately. I feel like I'm being pulled in about 19 different directions, and I'm, well, overextended. And tired, irritated, bored, and lonely. One more week left of school, and I'll have my daughter all day long, too. On her own, she is great. On his own, the middle boy is great. Put them together, and strife is bound to ensue. Add the little man, who's lately fond of hitting, pushing, biting, and spitting, and everyone's having a great time.
Speaking of the little man, he's sick. It started with a cold, which he had for about a week, then spiked a fever. In my professional mom experience, that means something is now infected with bacteria...ears, lungs, throat. Only, none of those things is "showing anything yet", as the doctor put it. That means, no medicine. That means, miserable baby. I'm supposed to give him ibuprofen and Tylenol, around the clock (has to be both, or the fever stays up) until Saturday, when being seen by the doctor is warranted again. Now, if he really has no infection come tomorrow morning, I will insert my foot into my mouth and commence chewing, but I'll also be completely surprised. My dearest G will have to take him to the dr, since I'll be at work...and pay another $15 copay...only to be told what I'm sure is true (something is infected). And then the doctor will finally give us the Pink Stuff. Until then, we have to deal with hours of screaming, like last night (*SIGH*). This is when I wish I lived in Mexico, so I could just go to the pharmacy and buy the Pink Stuff my own self.
We went to see a favorite New Orleans band, the Iguanas, the other night. They were really good, as always, but we were sad to see that the one sax player/singer Derek Huston is gone from the band. What makes it worse, he's the one who has recognized us each time we have seen them. He is replaced by a young kid with lots of hair who plays a mean trumpet...but he's no Derek. In a couple of weeks, we will go see Cowboy Mouth. I'm hoping all those guys are still the same, because they put on a great show. I guess all the NOLA bands must all be on tour now...it IS getting hot down there, after all. Not as hot as here, today, though...97 degrees, what the heck is that? And me with my air conditioner in my car barely functioning. I'm not kidding, I can't tell whether the air it's putting out is any bit cool, or just slightly less hot than the stifling inferno of the rest of the car. A minivan is looking better and better. Guess I'd better go take my walk now, before I melt in the afternoon sun.

Archives-I'm Back! 5/3/2007

May 3, 2007

So, Florida, for the most part, was great. I really enjoyed spending time with my family. And my mother-in-law (hereafter referred to as MIL) was actually pretty tolerable. There were a couple of times where she got way past crocked, but it was ok.
The flight there was great--everything went smoothly, the children were great, etc. We even received comments from others about how good our children were. We rented a mini-van, and there has been mutiny in my family-every one of them now insists that I abandon my beloved truck and get a minivan. I must admit, it was a little nice. They're uglier than crap, and I hate the stigma associated with them, but this minivan was cool for the staggered, stow-and-go seating, the rear heat and air, and the Sirius satellite radio. I do feel the pull of the minivan. And to be quite honest, I'd like to have something newer...my truck is starting to worry me. It has nearly 150k miles and is 10 years old now...which means the transmission is probably not healthy any more, and I KNOW that it needs a tuneup ASAP...who knows what else.
Anyway, the flight home was not so great. G took the older two to the bathroom, and while they were in there, they called pre-boarding. Then boarding A, B, and C. Finally, when they called final boarding, here they come. I was nearly in a panic. Of course we didn't get to sit together, and other travelers had to be bribed with alcohol to move so that I could sit with my children. The baby was a crazy person on the way home, and I could not wait to get on the ground. You can bet that I said yes, when the flight attendant asked if I wanted a drink...a couple of times! Not to mention the two margaritas I had in the Tampa airport.
While in FL, we had a lot of fun. We went by boat to a nearby island in the gulf where there were plenty of shells and space for the kids to run in the surf...and the waves are gentle enough that they don't get knocked down. We visited the fishing/shopping/Greek village of Tarpon Springs. That was ok, but I've been there before and really don't need any more sponges, thank you. However, I did manage to still drop $50 at a shell shop.
We barbecued, ate drank, swam in the pool...found a great coffee shop called Insomniacs...and, unfortunately, took my MIL's advice as to which bar to check out. It was good for people watching, at least. Old-people watching! My littlest son emptied all the rocks out of MIL's plants...into her pool! The middle son learned to swim a little. We took the babies to Disney, which was fun, but a little disorganized. We didn't get as much done there as we would have liked. And of course, that was the hottest day. And my poor red-haired daughter, despite the hat and slathering 50 SPF sunblock on her every half an hour...she still managed to get burned.
Two weeks till Mexico. And my passport finally came while I was gone!!! My mom and sister still don't have theirs, though *sigh*. I can't believe it's only two weeks. I'm sad to leave my babies and my honey, especially after all the fun we just had together. But man, I can't wait.
Anyone up for a fire for Cinco de Mayo?

Archives-Finally! 3/13/2007

March 13, 2007

On Valentine's Day, G and I went to dinner. Because of the snow storm, couples stayed home, but we fared well in the Jeep. So well, in fact, that we were done in record time. That's pretty unheard of at Seaside, the 'Burn's premier seafood restaurant. Anyway, we proceeded to Target, bought a travel Scrabble, and headed for Starbucks for some adult game time. We have been playing frequently ever since. And he's been beating me...ever since. He's had a few stunners, but I'm generally better at the words, hands down. However, strategically, he's much better. He will play a word for location every time...and he stalks the Triple Word Scores like nobody's business. Tonight, his luck has changed. I won, finally, I won! Since I was keeping score, and who knows when it will happen again, I have to let you know that it was 252 (a lucky number for me already) to 224. I'm sighing contentedly.The kiddies went from bad to worse, and $100 or so and an evening at Nighttime Pediatrics later, they're officially on the mend. I think. I asked for a gallon of "the pink stuff", and they thought I was kidding. They all three had strep. G even had an ear infection. Somehow (knock on wood), I was fine. I am fine. And it had better stay that way.I think we've finally narrowed it down-I think us girls are going to go to the Mayan Riviera. It's kind of a longer trip than we wanted-the flight is slightly longer, and the trip from the airport is kinda long, but it seems like a great deal. The price is pretty reasonable. I read every single review that Trip Advisor had to offer, and the resort is highly complemented and gorgeous. The area is full of cultural and scenic things to see and do, and I just might get to practice my [very] rusty Spanish. The only derogatory reviews were that the beds are firm (but I hear you can beg the front desk for a foam topper), and there is no drink service on the beach. I guess that's okay, because I can work off my pina coladas and margaritas by walking to get more. And I'll be sure to take a large, insulated cup so as not to have to use the resort's little four-ounce cups.We're also going to FL next month...and staying with the inlaws. That should be interesting, but I'm excited, none the less. My MIL very generously offered to pay for our flights, if we would pay for the rental car. Obviously, we did not refuse. G is convinced that once we rent the minivan, I will want to trade in my Tahoe. There is no chance, but I guess it would be nice to have seating for more than five. I can't wait to take boat rides on the Gulf and even take the kiddies to the biggest money pit on the planet (Disney World).I wore a t-shirt today, and my jonquils are blooming. There is light at the end of this tunnel called winter. All seems right in the world