List of Things To Do Today

Here is my must get done list in the next week, month and throughout the year.

1. Corporate Taxes
2. Vacuuming the carpet
3. Clean Out the Gerbil Cage
4. Finish Editing Book 2
5. Look for a New Job
6. Get my Ex husband to pay his child support (not that I need it) but it would help.
7. Do the dishes
8. Do the laundry
9. Take the sleeping bags back to storage with the other 4 boxes I have sorted out.

So with too many things pending with time limits what did I do today? Mr. Frogman and I sat back with a large bowl of popcorn with extra butter and salt (not good for me) but worth the night off, watching a movie and relaxing.

1. Corporate Taxes for the business, I have sworn for the past 3 years I would have them done by March 15th and have failed for the last 3 years to accomplish this task on time. After filing an extension I now have until September 15th. Maybe next year.

2. Vacuum the carpet - Weekly task that will only take about 15 minutes but I continue to put it off until it drives me batty and I have to get it done.

3. Clean out the gerbil cage - It will be done soon. I don't want to have it smelling up anytime soon.

4. Finish Editing Book 2 - I do that off and on...I would like to get it done sooner than later and off to an editor. I am not in a hurry for this but will eventually have it go or flop.....:)

5. Get a new job - Pending the outcome of the visit from our Vice President of Sales this week. Nothing may happen but due to other issues the company has been restructuring and downsizing a bit. Could we be next? I hear conflicting bits of gossip that I won't believe until I hear it from the mans mouth.

6. Not even going to go here.....

7. Do the Dishes - Have to do them daily. Didn't feel like it today.

8. Do the Laundry - One load a day is all I need to keep it up.

9. Take "stuff" to storage. Eventually. Probably not until the weekend when I can ask to inconvenience my brother.

**Sigh** there are other things this is just the beginning. Just like the song my list of things to do today will remain under the weight of my cell phone in the back room so I don't have to answer it.

A Lot Happening in A Short Amount of Time

I will be back in the next day or so to post more. Have to take some time off and get my thoughts together after a long trip happening today.

Have a great day and I will be back soon!

Of All The Nerve!! Ok..I'm not that surprised...

A friend of mine placed an ad on Craigs List for me (I didn't need one placed as I am not currently dating). I started getting responses to this add. When I finally found out what was happening. I became a bit more curious as to what people were responding with. The ad read something like this:

"I have read through many ads just to see what the demands are out there. I sit back and have a good chuckle. Can anyone be themselves anymore? I understand out of the hundreds of ads out there it is hard to pick and choose. I don't believe you can derive who a person is from a picture and a few sentences. I believe it takes more than that.

Let me tell you a bit about myself and if you are still interested feel free to email me. If not, good luck in what you are searching for. I am a single parent of a wonderful 11 year old son. I have been told many times I am smart and can hold my own in almost any conversation. I have a sense of humor that goes on and on but I know how to be serious too (its hard for me to show my humor here). I have my own place, a car, a full time job, my own company, and many other things. I have goals for my future and I am not looking for someone to support me nor am I looking to support someone. I do just fine on my own.

I have many interests that are too long to list here. If you would like to know more send me an email. If not, again Good Luck to you.

this is in or around Out There Somewhere"

I laughed when I read the add, except for a few things that pretty much explained me in a nutshell. Here are some of the responses I received from people and I do say people since one of the responses was a woman.

"wow please send a pic and i do feel we might be a real match " hmmmm....

"so what are you really lookin for seems you got it all but a (insert male body part here) , I could share mine with you but what you really lookin for" (My response to this was....why would I need that when I have one that works well in my drawer? I haven't gotten another response from him, yet).

"I think we are a match. Send me your pic and I can tell you" (yeah, yeah, like I am going to do that so I can be stalked).

"You are the woman of my dreams, can I make you dream of me?" (insert nude photo of a man here) More like make me have nightmares.

"I want a LTR - can you come and sleep with me tonight?" (This was the woman).

"I just can't help it, I love single moms and their kids." (This one had me really scared. I wanted to change my phone number and this person didn't even have my email address. :)).

I asked my friend to please not post anything for me any longer. The dating world is not a place I truly want to be at this time. I am not into the one night stands or going out to get drunk scene. I have too many other things to spend my time and energy on. Although I have had a good time reading the responses and laughing about it. Most of the responses were definitely Out There Some Where...

Almost Healthy Again!!

Update on Mr. Frogman!! He is almost fully healthy again! No more fever...he came to me Sunday morning and asked for a grilled cheese sandwich and pickles. I still wanted him to avoid milk products but told him he could have a pickle or two. I didn't honestly think he would really eat a pickle but he did!

Monday morning he got up and complained that he had to go to school so I told him that anyone who could eat pickles after hardly eating anything for 3 days was feeling well enough to go to school! He scrunched his nose up at me and smiled his "you're gonna make me do it anyway smile," and begrudgingly went to get ready for school.

Articles on Autism

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1191843,00.html

This was a link sent to me by Mr. Frogman's Teacher. It is a link on schools for children with autism. I have mixed feelings over these articles, although they are positive for the children they work with, I have more mixed feelings of the parents that send their kids to these schools.

Maybe I am wrong for my "assumptions" but this is only my opinion. I know Mr. Frogman is not nearly as severe as a lot of children with autism. There are many different spectrums of autism as well and these articles discuss the more severe cases. I don't have anything against the schools or the parents as each family has their own reasons for things they do.

I am a firm believer that a child can be taught in their own home. Instead of being institutionalized. Could the parents just not handle it? And maybe that is the case. They don't want to change their lives for their child. Isn't this part of parental responsibility? I have such mixed emotions about this. I am a single parent and I would never think of institutionalizing my child. I have found ways to work with him at home to work through the tough things with practice and patience to help him develop the skills he will need to function in life. Repetition is key. Again, Mr. Frogman is not even close to the levels of autism that alot of these kids experience or have to live with. Besides what do I know??? I'm just a mom dealing with the day to day things that come up. What I do know though is that I am very intune with my child his needs and I wouldnt have our life any other way.

Trip Down Memory Lane....

I ended up taking a walk down memory lane today. It's been a while since I've done that. I spent an hour on the phone with a friend I haven't talked to in a couple of weeks. We usually talk more than that and life just keeps getting in the way.

Boomer I still miss you guys lots!! That hour caught us up somewhat but I need to make the trip north soon!! I am thinking before the wedding!! Have to see what happens. Can you believe this makes 3 or 4 years?

It has gotten me thinking of all the people I really miss and all the people I really need to call. Unfortunately tonight it's really too late to call any of them. But I thought I would put this note out to let them know how much I miss them.

Bugs - May he rest in Peace....Your voice always rings true in my ears and in my heart. I love you and miss you Man!

Nell - The young years are gone forever, your light burns strong and true...Never in my heart will I feel cold and blue, you have given more than you know and again your light will forever glow. I miss you!

Nina and Larry - Remember the days of cards? Kissing the Tag? The hospital window? Hot summer days on the summer camp busses? Those were the days....moving onto the corporate world the kids are just much older and in nicer clothing. :) Can you believe this year marks 13 years???

April - A friend across time, life has moved us onto different paths. No matter the distance we are still in touch. I do miss our talks, you are the one who always knew....

Tia - I miss you and the kids soo soo much. You're the country mouse and I am the city mouse. We are that different. Can you believe its been almost 25 years???? I am feeling so old! :)

Annie - You're time is not up yet. You have so much more to see and do. I will be there as you need me. If its to hold the bowl or to hold you. Remember you can't get rid of me by getting angry. I will be your rock, just like you were mine. Remember David in the 7th grade??? Thought that thought might make you chuckle a bit. My arms are here to hold you. My shoulder for you to cry on, my smile to help pass on a better day and my foot to give you a swift kick in the back end when you feel like you want to give up. Isn't that what you said to me when I didn't want to fight any more???

Wolfman - I know we talk daily. But wanted to let you know what a great friend I think you are. You keep asking how come you got so lucky finding a good friend....well now its my turn? How did I find you anyway??? ;)

Intimidator - I'm only going to say one thing as you know where I stand. "I miss my friend." There is a long story behind this that not everyone needs to know. But I will tell only my part of it at a later time. Now is not a good time.

Sight Seer - You are a great friend to have and life has gotten somewhat in the way of the time we are able to spend together. I value our friendship greatly and I miss our time to talk. :)

I have been truly blessed in my life. They say you only find one or two true close friends in your lifetime. I have been lucky to find 6. When I lost 2 during one of the hardest summers of my life I had unknowingly made 2 more that became very very good friends. I still have those friends to this day and have found 2 more that mean alot to me. I have many long term friends that I have known for 20 or more years as we grew up together and have grown apart but still stay in contact.

This trip down memory lane will continue at a later time. I really miss my friends. All the more reason my phone bill is going to get more expensive tomorrow night! :)

No Longer Economical

I drive an economical car or did until the gas prices rose. What used to be a $10 tank of gas has now increased to a $35 tank of gas. Now since I drive this car most of the time now it is more economical than anything else. I am not complaining as there are many others who drive larger vehicles and pay much more. I choose not to. I can take the bus for $54 a month instead of driving but then I lose 2 hours or more a day with my son. Is it worth it? or is it better to just pay the price? I may get paid by the hour at work for what I do that at a specific price so to speak but my time out side of work is priceless so I guess paying $3+ dollars for a gallon of gas is not a bad thing, is it???

I Have A Floor!!

Mr. Frogman and I were supposed to go on a Boy Scout Camp Out this weekend when he got sick. I spent the weekend instead helping Wolfman and his son Monkey Dude Junior clean their house in return for his help in cleaning one room in mine.

We agreed on this until he found out which room I needed help cleaning. Of course it was my room. No big deal huh? But my floor has been covered in boxes and baskets since I moved in. Pretty much the junk room until I could figure out what to do with it. I finally decided I couldn't live with it that way any longer.

I spent most of the day Saturday helping Wolfman (again him still sick) cleaning his house and putting things away. Sunday, however, he had to help me clean my room. It only took about an hour and a half but we got it done. The biggest challenge was finding a way to set up the DVD player so it would stay up instead of falling sideways. That's really hard to explain given the circumstances. We started by dumping all the clean laundry on the bed (maybe 3 baskets) and clearing out all the boxes from the closet.

The closet had 12 boxes and now it only has 3. I have 2 boxes for my business paperwork in one corner that needs to be filed. Now let me explain boxes, I am not talking shoe boxes I am talking case size paper boxes full to the top and needs 2 people to pick them up. Then I have one box of notebooks that has all of the stories for my book in it. Along with the business notebooks that I use to keep alot of my business paperwork organized.

For those that don't know I still co own a business with my ex-husband, we are still friends. It's awkward for some people to understand and I don't expect anyone to. That's just the way it is. I do all the books for the business on a day to day basis and he runs all the outside operations. Hence the cases of business paperwork and file cabinet.

So from a total of 15 boxes I am down to 6!! Woohooo!! I have so much space now and I even have a floor! It's carpeted too a very nice gray. Very calming and soothing! I expect now since I have everything put away where I like it to be and (hehehe I have a floor), things will go alot more smoothly for me in the mornings. I won't trip my way to the bathroom. :)

I Know It's Been a Few Days

I know its been a few days since my last post. Mr. Frogman came home from Camp Casey to be sick. He was home from school Thursday and Friday and sick through the weekend. He hardly ate anything and drank a ton of gatorade. I have been waiting on him hand and foot, watching him sleep, listening to his breathing (since he is all plugged up). I wonder......

Mr. Frogman slept through the night at two weeks old. I wonder if the many times he has gotten sick, the one time he had surgery, the broken arm, the stitches in the forehead (after all he is an active growing boy) if this isn't my make up times for loss of sleep that many other parents experience when their children are young. I won't complain though. He is completely worth it.

Today he woke up asking for a grilled cheese sandwich and pickles. He informed me two pickles later that his stomach didn't hurt. I was so thrilled that he was actually eating it almost didn't matter to me what he ate. He finally sat down and had a full meal. When I was having him shower and get ready for bed and told him he had to go to school tomorrow he whined, "Awwww mom, do I have to???" I looked at him and said, "Anyone who can eat pickles at breakfast and still feel ok. Is ready to go back to school tomorrow." It's just good to see him up and around.

Under The Weather

Mr. Frogman came back from having a great time at Camp Casey to being sick with 102 degree temperature. It absolutely amazes me that the doctors call it the crud. He has a severe cold that is affecting his ears, nose, throat and eyes. He looks like a mini zombie, but like any guy he is as whiney as the next one and very demanding. But he needs and deserves it.

He was so upset when I told him he wasn't going to school that he almost started to cry and I explained that if he cried he would be more stuffed up than he is right now. He didn't want that so he accepted the fact that his perfect attendance record for the year was shot and only 6 weeks before school let out. He commented, "Oh well, something to earn next year." He has been sleeping most of the day and is in bed asleep for the night now.

I wish I could sleep like that for one day and night while not being sick. He will be better soon and up and running again. Lots of fluids and sleep right now and waiting it out.

Chivalry is Not Dead! I admit it!

Ok. You guys got me to admit it. Not all the times you try to help is it a pain. You are trying to be chivalrous. Wolfman admitted today to me (in his delirious and delusional ill like state) that he isn't sure when to help. I get frustrated if he does and I get frustrated if he doesn't. No I am not going to put on a nurse outfit anytime soon.

We finally figured it out. When he thinks he should help, he really shouldn't....when he thinks he shouldn't....he really should. Sounds mixed up but with him this may help! Backwards thinking for the dyslexic thinker :)

Yes I will admit to my other male friends. Chivalry is not dead. I am not talking about holding a door open or putting a coat over a puddle, or helping out carrying things and so on and so forth. I am talking about like changing a light bulb, fixing some wiring, setting up a 45 gallon fish tank, rotating rollerblade wheels, putting in a new showerhead for the shower, taking apart a computer with a screwdriver. Intimidator...you were drooling when I offered you the tools :) ok maybe not drooling but chomping at the bit. Things like that, where you feel you need to step in. Yes I have told some of you that I have to make you feel useful by helping. You all know that is not true. If I ask for help I truly need it. You should all know that.

You all know what I keep you around for don't you? I always have that elusive jar of pickles that I can't get opened and will need your help on. :)

I appreciate all of you. You are great! ~~~Kasey~~~

What Do I know?

Now that is a loaded question. Many people (mainly men) think that just because I am a girl that I don't know how to do certain things. I have been separated and divorced for 4 years, and I have a father that raised me very independently to make sure I knew how to do things for myself. He made me change the oil on my car, rotate my tires so if I was ever stranded with a flat tire I could take care of it without having to sit out waiting for anyone to show up to help. I value that.

Most men, in my opinion, (this is based off of observations from my friends) think that because I am female that I am not able to do things for myself and that I need rescuing. I recently had three incidents where this was the case.

The first incident was my sisters Truck. If you go back to a previous post titled, "Read The Manual" you will understand.

The second was at work I was dealing with a flat tire. I had several of the men from my office offer to come out and help me change the tire and then offer to stand around talking about what could be wrong with my car when it didn't start. They all kept coming up with things that could prevent it from happening. So I thought I would play the "Damsel in Distress". As we stood out in the sunshine that afternoon they all looked under the hood offering suggestions as to why the car wouldn't start. With each suggestion I would try what they suggested and again attempt to start the car to no avail. This went on for a good 30 minutes, the longer it went without resolution the more frustrated I was becoming. As they all gathered abot 10 feet away, I climbed into the car and sat there for a moment. I made a few adjustments inside the car and turned the key. The car suddenly came to life. They all walked over and started questioning what I had done. I looked up and said, "It helps if when you decide to roll the car to change the tire that you put the car back in Park. " They all had a good laugh and walked back into the office. It was never mentioned again.

Incident #3: I was driving a van for a friend and I agreed to check all the fluid levels in the van. I went to open the hood on the van and could not find the latch. My friends dad came out (he is a large burly aging bald man, the kind you don't want to mess with, looks like he is one of those guys from a prison movie). He looked around and found the latch under the hood but it wouldnt open. He pounded on the hood to "shake it loose" as he told me. He jumped up and down on the bumper as he tried to pry the handle to shake the hood free. As he was doing this I looked in the driver door of the vehicle. There was a handle with a key release on it of which I didn't have the key, I asked him if that could be the hood release. He looked at me, by this time he was red faced and sweating from putting forth so much effort to get the hood up, and said no it had to be under the hood. He continued trying to get the hood open with no success. Finally he took the keys from me and took it down to a local service station. He came back about 15 minutes later even more red faced but no longer sweating. He climbed out of the van and opened the hood by pulling the key locked lever that was on the inside. The look on his face said, "Don't say a word." He handed me the keys and went back into the house. I stood there shaking my head. BUT, I didn't say a word.

Amazingly people think I don't know what I am doing. I have more knowledge than people give me credit for. Even some of my friends underestimate the amount of knowledge I have. (Intimidator and Wolfman).

Sight Seer...you are NOT one of them. :)

This can be very frustrating. Not that venting here will help but......

Wht's Missing?!?!?!?!

Now there is a completely loded question. There re mny people who think tht just becuse I m a girl tht I am helpless. I lugh. I m a fr cry from tht. UGH!! I m noticing my a key is sticking so if there re ny a's not showing up in this post I m truly sorry bout tht. It is bsolutely mzing how mny time I use the letter AAAAAa thought I would prctice a bit to get the A button to work. I guess its time to pull out my new keybord. This one is truly stinking if I cn't type the letter A without using 5 times the force to press on the key. Ok so this post hs now truly chnged. If my letter A works Great if not then I will leve tht letter out of my typing ll together. Sometime it works (click, click) sometimes it don't. Sung to the tune of Sometimes I feel like a nut....Sometimes I don't. **Sigh**

Chnging Keybords!

Observations

One of the observations I had, which in a way is not surprising at all after Mr. Frogmans Best Friend from School (The Sheriff), his dad was there during the camp fire at Camp Casey. One of Mr. Frogmans Teachers was sitting at the end of the bench and then there was "The Sheriff's" dad, myself and then Wolfman. As we were singing songs I was observing the involvement of the kids and the adults in the audience.

Since most of the adults visiting didn't know most of the words to the songs they sat looking along at their kids song books and quietly mouthing the words. The song that made the most impact on my observations was "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain".

This song has movements that go along with it. I watched the kids doing the motions and then observed alot of the adults too. It was amazing as we got to , "She'll be wearing red pajamas when she comes (scratch, scratch)" all of the girls and women would scratch their arms or top of their thighs (since we were all sitting). The majority of the boys and men would scratch the top or side of their legs up to just below the hip...ok ok almost to their back side. I thought this was funny as all the guys were doing this.

I continued to look around to see if it would happen throughout the song and sure enough it did. I started to laugh. I shared the observation with Sheriffs dad and Mr. Frogmans Teacher and we chuckled, when Sheriffs dad made the following comment, "It's not where we really want to be scratching." I laughed.

I didn't want to know where "they" really wanted to be scratching. I thought I would leave that one alone although I can only guess.

Camp Casey

Mr. Frogman was so excited the night before he was to leave for Camp Casey. I was so excited for him. He is going to go with his clas up to Camp for 3 days. We ordered the special sweatshirt. We were packed and ready to go. The morning he was to go to camp I went to get him up expecting him to jump out of bed and race to get ready. When he laid in bed wanting to go back to sleep. He looked at me and told me his ears were hurting. I explained that if his ears were hurting I couldn’t send him to camp in case he had an ear infection. We would have to go to the doctor first. He was so upset that he couldn’t go to camp with his class, but made me make all the necessary phone calls wanting to know that if he didn’t have an ear infection could he still go? Would I drive him up? After all the emails confirming he could still go to camp barring he wasn’t contagious or running a fever and seeing the doctor to confirm there was no ear infection we headed up to Camp Casey.

Now we were in for the long drive up there….we had our mapquest directions and left. Driving up to this camp we have to take the Ferry across. There was Mr. Frogman on the front deck of the ferry standing out like a scene from the Disney movie “Brother Bear” where they are standing on the edge of the hill in the wind and it is holding them up. Mr. Frogman stood in the wind for about 10 minutes when he turned around and announced that he was freezing.

We left the ferry driving the final 40 miles to our destination. The directions weren't clear and we ended up driving in from the opposite direction. Of course it couldn't be the drivers fault it HAD to be the directions. We finally made it to the camp just in time for the campfire. Mr. Frogman was the only student at the campfire since he had to wait for everyone to get back from the evening hike. We ran around, playing him and I and Wolfman who made the trip up with me so I wouldn't fall asleep driving home (since we had both been up since about 4am). Finally all the kids arrive for campfire and we stayed for another hour until all the songs had been sung and the kids were headed for their evening snack and their cabins.

I am sure going to miss the squirt....

**UPDATE**

Mr. Frogman is home from camp. He fell asleep at 7pm (2 hours earlier than normal). He told me aside from 2 used up disposable cameras and some great memories the only thing he brought home from camp was a cold. He had a great time!

He's Home Just In Time to Leave Again!

Mr. Frogman gets home from his dad's only to come home for one night to leave again. I know I have to get used to this when summer gets here as he will be with his dad all summer. We are so involved that I am not sure what to do when he isn't here. I find things to keep busy but its just not the same. I don't think he misses me nearly as much as I miss him. I want to give him all the best experiences I can to teach him to be independent and self sufficient. As well as to grow and be what he wants to be and do what he wants to do.

**Sigh**

What Mr. Frogman doesn't know is that he invited me to go to his campfire Monday night. I told him I wasn't sure I could make it and what is going to happen is that I am going to go up and surprise him by arriving at his campfire just to have an awesome evening.

***50***#50!!! This is #50....Woohooo!!

This is my 5oth post and I thought I would make a big deal about it! Woohoo!! #50. Ok that's all I have to say about that. :)

Dating!

Being single for the past 4 years has opened my eyes to many things. I have gone out on many dates and they were of course first and last ones. It is absolutely amazing. I am not one who thinks the man should ask the woman out. I have asked men out too. I am wondering if men think women are desparate because they are. I do not believe the man should have to pay for everything either. Being somewhat old fashioned I do believe a guy needs to get the door, and be a gentleman among other things.

Not to mention the location of where they ask you out. I once had a guy talk to me walking around the entire grocery store. It was a bit disconcerting when I stopped for womens feminine products that he stood there and asked if I wanted to have dinner sometime. I am in mid reach to put a package in my cart and he is asking me on a date....Did he have no clue? Did he think I was stocking up for the future? Did he have any clue as to how freaky it is to be asked out in the pad and tampon aisle? My first thought was he is really sick..then I thought some more...he was really sick, he was desparate, or he was so completely blinded by my beauty it didn't matter where we were.....(LOL). If you know me you know why I'm laughing at that last one.

In todays dating it's no longer how are you. It's can I see two forms of ID? Your health card. What do you do for a living? Can I get a copy of your last 2 years w-2’s, your last months worth of pay stubs, your social security number and current address so I can access your credit history, a certified copy of your DMV report dated no later than 5 days from the date requested, and the same information from all previous spouses and serious girl/boy friends? Not only does it seem you are required to give up this information but no one will talk to you unless you do. Egads!! Is it worth it? .

Cross Over

What happened to this week? It has gone by so fast! It started with Mr. Frogman crossing over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. What a turn out. If you are involved in scouts and have gone through this process you know what I mean. They have to accomplish many things to earn their Arrow of Light and move forward. The most challenging for Mr. Frogman had to be the conference with the Scout Master of his new Troop. He was stressed out about it studying and practicing the Scout Oath and Law, wanting to be sure he got it right, knowing the uniform and the differences, knowing the symbol and able to define each part. Then being able to know it if someone asks you. But I am so proud of him. I listened in from the other side of the wall at the coffee shop we met the Scoutmaster at and Mr. Frogman didn't miss a beat.

The Crossover Turnout was incredible. Mr. Frogman and his Best Friend from school crossed over there were at least 15 guys from their new Troop that showed up to welcome them in. Not only that but for 5 boys crossing over there were over 100 people. Last year there were only about 50. This years turnout exceeded many peoples expectations.

At the same time Cross over is happening I am also supposed to be at a parent information night for Mr. Frogman to go to Camp Casey for 3 days with his class. Leader went to the meeting for me and came back with 5 pages of handwritten notes. The time line on Camp Casey had been moved up! I had to have all his stuff at the school by Friday not on Monday like I was originally told. That was 2 days away! On top of that Mr. Frogman had an evening outing with his dad, which left me getting him packed and ready.

So Monday morning he is out and away for 3 days. Little does he know that I am going to drive up for Campfire and then go home. He is going to have a great time!

DUH!! Moment of the Day

I work for a mortgage company and we have 2 offices with 10+ people in each office. Each day there are combined tasks. This particular morning I had to deliver some items to our upstairs office. I debated taking the stairs or using the elevator. I know I could use the exercise but I was feeling lazy on this particular sunny day.

I pressed the button to call the elevator to my floor. The doors opened and I entered. Now being the only person in the elevator I stood there checking my hair and make up to make sure I didn’t look funny or have anything out of order. As I stood there I noticed something was wrong but couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

I finally figured it out when the doors popped open and there was the maintenance man for the building. As I stood there looking around I realized I was still on the first floor where I started. Bill looked at me and asked me what I was doing. I told him I was headed up to the second floor. He chuckled quietly and said, “The only way you are going to get up there is by pressing the button for the next floor.” As I stood there somewhat dumbfounded I started laughing. I had been preening in an elevator that wasn’t going to move unless I pressed the button. I have been working here so long that elevator should already know where I want to go and what it needs to do…I should not have to push any stinking buttons. This is what I thought to myself on top of ….stupid…stupid….stupid…..all the way to the next office.

Drivers/Weather in Seattle

The weather in Seattle is unpredictable. Springtime is a wonderful time of a mixed up weather pattern. Less than a week ago we had rain, snow, wind, hail, and sunshine all within less than an hour. Then it rained for the next day or two. Amazingly enough is how it affects the people who live in the area. It doesn’t matter what type of weather we have people still can’t drive in it.

After a few dry days, meaning mainly cloudy and most likely no sunshine just cloudy it will rain. People here seem to freak out. They just don’t know how to drive in the liquid sunshine. Now I understand the hazards of the rain on dry roads but its no different than when it snows a half an inch here in Seattle that the whole city shuts down and becomes a ghost town. I stay home only because I don’t want to get hit by the people who have 4 wheel drive without 4 wheel stop!

On an average day it takes me 30-45 minutes to get to work. On a rainy day it can take up to an hour. On a day it snows I stay home. I was taught and raised to drive in the snow but again I don’t want to be in front of someone without four wheel stop. Can you guess what happens when the sun shines? That would be my commute in today. Of course it is a completely clear day they are saying in the low to mid 70’s for temperature which is excellent this time of year. Not a cloud in the sky. One of those days you know you should have stayed at home. It took me over an hour and a half to go 13 miles in the bright sunshine.

I am not sure what happened I think drivers got stunned by the big bright orange ball in the sky and didn’t know what to think, staring with the “Deer in the headlight” look at this bright warm ball. Until they snapped out of the golden reverie and realized they were supposed to be driving we would be stuck sitting in this parking known as a free way during the time period called rush hour.

Which brings up another point? Why do they call it rush hour when no one is moving very fast or at all?

What a Beautiful Day! What's missing???

I am missing Mr. Frogman so much on such a beautiful day today! We do so much together it seems almost a shame he isn't here. This is one of my selfish moments. He needs time with his dad too....amazing I miss my squirt today!

Not only that but I have a friend in Mexico....the one person it would help to talk to at the moment. But maybe not....I keep thinking about the sun and the beach, the atmosphere, the relaxation, the tequila....hmmmm....I hope he and his son are having a wonderful time!

Wolfman, the one I have a lot of fun with and laughs is working...ok Princess Cruises needs him now and how am I going to go on a discount Cruise if he doesn't work there??? Ok now its time to go out and enjoy the sun before I start daydreaming about not being in the warm sunshine somewhere on the beach.

I am missing more than just these 4 people. I have been working most of the day out in the sun but it's not what I want to be doing.

Well, crappers I think I am going to go get out in the sun for a while and get into a better mood. I don't need this. If I pass the time fast enough Mr. Frogman will be home. I forget what it's like for Mr. Frogman to be gone. I suppose I have to get used to it here soon. He is going to be gone for the summer and I have to work on being alone. **Sigh**

Maybe I'm PMS'ing with these emotions.....who knows :)

BBB***************

Peacemaker!! That's it....That's your name......hope you like the title....its just for you!!! I tripled it just for you!

Love you Man~!!

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

As Sight Seer and I were leaving one of the stores today I saw a guy in a t-shirt that said Trouble....It Finds Me....

I saw this same man later as I stopped in a store on my way home in Bellevue too. He was walking slow so I stood in front of him just for fun...he stopped and looked up at me. I said,
"I found you." He looked at me funny and I quickly said, "Hi, I'm Trouble...and I found you." He stood looking at me still until I pointed to his shirt. He started to laugh and shake his head. He introduced himself and we had a good laugh about it.

It may have only been a moment in time but you know what? He is going to tell as many people as he can about the experience and he is going to look back and laugh. Just think about how that one moment is going to bring him several moments of laughter and how many times over.

It only takes one time to make a person smile, it could change their entire life and you will never know it. Just think that something that small can mean so much. Ok Ok...I would like to think it does. :)

Step out of your comfort zone and change yours or someone else's life for a moment, a day or a lifetime you will be surprised at the results. :)

The Weekend is Here!!

I had no plans for the weekend. Mr. Frogman is with his dad this weekend and I thought I was going to get a chance to relax. I am helping Wolfman get to the bus to get to work on his new schedule. UGH!! 5am comes awful early.

I made plans to have brunch with SightSeer. He made the best pancakes. They were delicious. With of course real pure maple syrup. Who can pass up something like that? Sight Seer and I spent most of the day together. Walking through stores "window shopping" I guess you would call it since I don't much like shopping at all. It's been quite sometime since I spent quality time like that with any of my friends since Mr. Frogmans extra curricular activities keep me very busy. I sure do miss it. Tomorrow is another busy day...it's a wait and see what happens game.

To all my friends I haven't seen in some time. I Miss You!! I will be in touch soon. Take care!

Sight Seer, I had a great day and really enjoyed the company! Thanks!!

Only Piece of Parental Advice

I've learned the hardway like most parents who have to work that having that valuable time with your kids is priceless especially when you are forced to have to work since ours is a single income household. One of my co-workers had a baby just a few days ago and he keeps coming back to me for suggestions on how to do things or advice.

Then one of our lenders started calling and asking me for information on potty training and we got into talking about the conversations you have to have with your kids regarding sex and drugs. He was telling me how he was already practicing his well rehearsed speech. I chuckled and told him not to bother that he would stutter through it no matter what. He was also telling me that potty training was stressing him out and his kids weren't even ready to begin. I chuckled and told him as long as he was consistent it was going to be easy....not to stress it. He asked me if there was anything he should stress about. I laughed and told him yes.....

That is how he is going to spend as much time as he possibly can with his kids without letting work or finances take over. He questioned that a bit and I explained how much time I had missed with my son because I had to work. Now if I regret anything that would be it.

Now I take as much time as I can to be with my son and I miss the time I wasnt able to do that when he was younger. Everything else will come together....You can't get time back so use it to the best of your ability while you have it and Have fun!

Boy Scouts

Mr. Frogman is getting ready to cross over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. This is a very important time for him as he is moving on to more independence and self sufficiency. Between all the activities and planning for summer camps, school being out and many other things that are going to be happening this summer I think I am the one going crazy. Not to mention he is headed off within 2 weeks to another camp with his class from school for 3 days. Amazingly he is so excited about this new found independence and freedom that I sometimes have to remind him that he is still only 11 and mom is going to be right there for him at all times still making some of his decisions for him (much to his dismay of course).

How they grow up.....and so fast.

Update!!

Way to go Boomer!! Two of my favorite people are staying together. What a way to find out. My friend has his own blog and he announced it to the world. Well, the world of people that looks at his blog and he referred to me directly! http//boomer-at-large.blogspot.com

I am so excited for you and I understand where you are coming from when it comes to what has been going on. Just remember, I am always here for you and always will be. I love both you and Red and wish only the best to the both of you no matter your decisions now or in the future. :)

Love you Man! Laters!!

Absolutely Amazing!!

I was at Costco today picking up some much needed supplies for the month. As I was leaving I noticed a magnetic sign on the side of a car for Avon. I was out of the perfume I really like, one of my girly things, and I took down her number and gave her a call.

When she returned my call we talked for about half an hour. What a small world it is. We live less than a mile from one another, she has a friend who is an author, our kids go to the same school. Its such a small world. On top of everything not only did I get the perfume I like but I made a lunch date as well to meet up with these two women who are fantastically funny and outgoing and parents much like myself trying to keep up in todays highly demanding world.

Talk about reaching out and touching someone. :)

Friends and Relationships

This must be the season of just getting into Spring where spring fancies have worn off or the want of new spring "love" is in the air. That feeling of meeting someone new and having that feeling of butterflies in your stomach, the want to see that special someone who makes your heart beat fast and makes you catch your breath when you see or talk to them. I just have to sigh....ok ok even deeper....not in longing but in frustration. Not because I do or don't have this in my life but at the number of friends that I have that are currently unhappy in their relationships or have broken off long term commitment situations. How much do people tolerate before they give things up and walk away or is everything they go through tolerable for the long term?

I have three friends in three situations. Mainly all three are my interpretations from the information they have given me (which is not alot) but they have all asked for my opinion, all but one, on their situation. Of which when I am done listening have only one question to ask them or maybe two and they can figure out from those questions, what my opinion will be without having to actually voice it.

I am going to start with Boomer. Boomer and I have known each other almost 4 years. He is a wonderful friend. In the past few months he has gotten a good job and gotten back on his feet from some trying and difficult times. Little Red his girl friend has been by his side during all this time. Little Red can be trying in herself. She is somewhat forgetful and sometimes ditzy but that is not doing her justice by any means. She is a wonderfully caring and beautiful person. She is also outspoken in her own way. Between Boomer and Little Red they have their challenges. Like any couple I'm sure. They were planning after 3 years on getting Married this May; one small thing lay in their way. She is still not divorced from her previous marriage and neither is he. Just a small problem I would say. :) Anywho....after all the things Boomer had to say I finally asked..."Do you love her? and Are you Happy?" His response to both was yes and no. As we have been down this road a few times in the last few years I understand his situation which I am not able to fully portray here. But he basically needs to decide one way or another.

Big C. Big C is a very outspoken man. He is involved with a woman, Hope. Hope has 2 kids and is very outgoing. She is also very jealous and pushy. I am not fond of Hope but I respect his choices. Big C lost a lot of weight and met this woman. Two weeks after dating her he proposed. She accepted and they moved in together. As I watched this unfold I was stunned. The ultimate Bachelor meets the ultimate state welfare single mom (nothing against moms on welfare). At first things seemed okay...now I am not so sure. They are planning their wedding for June and I don't personally think it is going to happen. How do you go from being one person in a small home to 4 in a small home?? Plus her jealousy issues. Its amazing I can't even call without her getting jealous...what are you talking about? who is she? Many other questions that are too long to list here and that was the first call. The first time I called to talk to Big C, Hope got on the phone and within the first 20 minutes I had her life story and was pretty much not able to get a word in edgewise. I am going to wait and see as things progress. I will be the one on the sidelines with my box of popcorn and drink.

Intimidator....This is one I can talk about in more detail as this is a much closer friend. He is dating Grandma, a woman 20 years older than he. I am not against the age difference, I am against the attitude difference. I have told him early on if he was looking for a mom he found it. Apparently he needed someone to take care of him and he found her....the only down side to that is that her attitude sucks. Well, according to me it sucks and I have met her seven times to be exact. Seven times I have been open minded enough to give her another chance at a first impression and seven times she has failed miserably. She says inappropriate things in front of the wrong age person as well as at the wrong times. I will be very honest here....I do NOT like her but yet I am always polite and nice to her. Recently we chatted and I asked him how she was doing and he said that she said (Ugh the he said she said game), "I am old and fat." I thought to myself what's new....I told him old no one can help. Fat she just needs to get off her butt and do something about it. I finally asked him to tell me something positive about her after all his venting. He finally said, "She keeps a good house and Intimidator Jr on a schedule." Good Ol' Mom I thought to myself again. He has found the mommy to take care of him but I have to ask. How much crap do you have to put up with before you say enough is enough? Is all the negative nagging worth it? Are you willing to spend the rest of your life this way???

Better him than me. I am home and happy and living life without someone dragging me down like that. My opinion is not given as freely to my friends any more unless they ask for it. Although I will share it here....These guys need to get their heads out of their back ends.....in the words of Intimidator....."It's dark, damp and stinky in there...." They need to see the light of day and move on. There is someone so much better out there for them that will fill their needs plus some. Just open your eyes and look. Good Luck Guys!!

VaCaTiOn

Well it is day 4 of my vacation! I have not been home enough to do much of anything. Mr. Frogman and I have been out of town for a day or so at Deception Pass Hiking the trails, walking the beach. We have relearned how to rollerblade! I still can't find the brakes but Mr. Frogman whose feet keep growing! Has grown into mine and I haven't been able to use them as much as I would like but we are getting there.

It is now the Saturday just before Easter! Just think I can eat meat on Friday's again! I am cooking for my family for our Easter Sunday meal. Of course I love doing this (not always) but today I am more than enthusiastic! I have so far made my bunny cake that everyone hates to want to eat but again somehow seems to disappear each year. Along with the Jello dessert, cookies, deviled eggs, vegetable tray and boiled eggs to include in our annual Creamed Eggs on Toast which will accompany a cooked ham, pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, fresh fruit and different salads all served after a ton of hor d'oeuvres. Nothing like a holiday of family and fun. Of which after the meal some of my family members will sit around burping, flatulating and rubbing their bellies exclaiming that was the best meal they have had in a while. Then it will jump into funny stories about each of us as kids or mom and dad having their "fun". Let's not go there....Eeeewwwwwww!!!!!!!!!

Spring Break - Vacation!!

Can you believe it? I am on vacation. For the first day of my vacation there were so many things planned. What ended up happening so far? My dream....the ultimate! I got to sleep in until 9am, which is a miracle in itself. Then to have my dream of having breakfast in bed. My son decided to surprise me with a bowl of Apple Jacks, glass of milk, a tomato, cheese slices and a piece of toast. What could be better than that??? Denny's? LOL It was great. To lay back and enjoy a movie in bed with "breakfast". No phone ringing...no one from work making demands on my time or forcing me to do any type of work whatsoever....just Mr. Frogman and myself.

It has left me a lot of time to think today about all that has occurred over the past week, that I have not had time to think about until today. Boomer I sure miss you guys but I think we still need some time to talk. I need an update. Wolfman....Neener, neener, neener...you have to work...I don't.....and yes I will stay in bed as long as I feel like and if you aren't here well, that is just too bad. See you for dinner! Anywho....

Onward and outward time to get out and about!! More to come......

Medical Terminology

I have been out sick most of this past week. Fighting being able to breathe at night without coughing up a lung by sitting sleeping upright. Making sure that I have a snot rag handy for the 2am run of the noses. Making sure there is a clear line from the bed to the bathroom so that I can make it to the toilet before I wet myself or the bed from coughing so hard.

Of course having to listen to everyone say to me, "Oh you look terrible!" You should be in bed asleep. I of course kept thinking....Yes I should but I have things to get done and places to go. This will eventually go away. After 4 days though I had had enough. I was not getting any better. I made an appointment with my doctor.

He officially declared that, "You have the Crud." I never knew crud was a medical term. I have found that crud has many symptoms and you don't have to have all the symptoms to have the crud. Aside from coughing, runny nose, fever, lack of sleep at night, headaches, chills, hot flashes, stomach cramping, diarrhea, gas, constipation, being thirsty, yet not hungry, when you are hungry you aren't really, bloating; I pretty much have been feeling fine. But yet when I think about all these symptoms I have just diagnosed myself with the flu, PMS, Menopause, Sleep Apnea, Salmonella, kidney or bladder infection. Im sure I could come up with more but that is all I can think of at the moment. It couldnt have anything to do with prostate since Idont have that body part.....Oh wait!! ***Checking***...Nope, Nope...I don't have that body part. Phew I had myself worried for a moment there....LOL

I will be back with more about the weekend and last week as well as this upcoming week soon.

It's Monday Again!

It's Monday again. It only happens once a week! Can you imagine though that this is one of the worst days. Can you believe it?!?!?!

Ever have one of those mornings where you wake up with a headache? Well, that is how my day began. Not exactly. My day began with my phone ringing at 4 am. I answered the phone and asked Wolfman when he started waking up at 4am? He laughed and said, "It's not 4 its 5am. Did you set that clock ahead an hour?" I realized I hadn't. I'm not sure I like this new job of his. He calls me at 5am and sometimes I don't feel like getting up at 5am. :) I know that come next week when I take my vacation that he better not call me at that hour. He can call me around the time of his first break. Around 10? hehehehe....I am going to sleep in...I am going to sleep in....I am going to sleep in.....I am going to sleep in.....I am going to sleep in. If I actually sleep in I will be shocked and it will be a miracle.

Anyway, back to Monday. I woke up not feeling well at all. I am still not feeling well and 9pm is it for me as far as bed time. I have been out of sorts all day. I do mail merges and I messed those up too. Nothing like recycling 200 sheets of paper cause I couldn't figure out which way to put it into the printer. I do this daily you would think I could get it right. Nope...it didnt stop there....All the loan officers in my office would email me with changes on loans to make and things to print. Do you think I could do it right??? You guessed it...No Way!

Everyone came up to me after I finished and I either didn't complete something that they emailed to me or I entered the information in completely wrong. Amazing. Not only that to start my day I was almost an hour late for work after taking Mr. Frogman to the Leaders and heading out. Why don't I have a car that can fly over the traffic??? Those are the words I could hear Mr. Frogman asking as I sat in traffic for almost an hour to get to work. It's amazing how people in Seattle do NOT know how to drive in the liquid sunshine. You would think with as slow as people drive that they were driving in 2 feet of snow! Of course no one in Seattle drives in more than a half an inch of snow. So we will drive really slow in the rain and pretend the snow just melted! Yeah..thats it thats what we will do.....

I have so many thoughts running through my head that I can't keep up. Thoughts about traffic and how fast or slow it will go. Thoughts of how this day stunk and how tomorrow is going to be much MUCH better. It doesn't have a choice. Tomorrow is a new day and I am going to make the most of it!!!!

Ice Age 2! The Meltdown!

What a cute movie! So many good voices and I couldn't identify all of them but when the credits rolled it was amazing how many names were in there and what parts they played.

The first movie had very little with the squirrel Scrap. The second movie had a mini movie within the main movie that had the life and times of Scrap and his Acorn. The part when Scrap reaches Acorn Heaven has to be my favorite especially when he wakes up to, mouth to mouth with Sid the Sloth.

Mr. Frogman's favorite part of the movie was when Diego was hanging off the edge of a cliff and Manny and Ellie were holding on to each paw with their trunks. As they are having a discussion, Diego cuts in and says, "Hey don't mind me I'm just hanging off the edge of a cliff here." And as they show Diego hanging the ground below him looks like a mile down.

Today 24 hours later when I asked Mr. Frogman about his favorite part and he repeats it for me he still giggles as though he was watching the movie in the theater. His second favorite part is where Scrap pulls his head out of the ice in a little teeny tiny hole no bigger than Mr. Frogmans thumb. He squeezes his head out and looks for his acorn. In order to get to his acorn he uses his tusk like teeth to poke into the ice and then spin in a circle cutting out a hole for him to pop his body up and through just to get to that acorn he has been dreaming of since the last movie. With the big round ice block around his neck. It sure makes for a funny story the way Scrap goes after that acorn and everything he goes through only makes him that much more desparate to get to the acorn the next time with the next attempt.

What a Deal!!

I think I have the deal of the week. I couldn't believe it but who was honestly going to argue with it. April 2004 I had bought 2 new 70,000 mile tires for my car. April of 2005 I bought 2 - 50,000 mile tires for the back of my car. All with warranties since I didnt want to have to pay for a repair and the warranty was inexpensive enough. Two weeks ago I had to have my brakes checked, they were making a funny noise.

I went into a local Les Schwab and they were telling me that there was nothing wrong with the brakes. Well, that was a relief since I was about to head out of town to Ocean Shores. But, the guy said, "Your back two tires are shot." I thought to myself that was really funny, I just bought them not to long ago...so I headed over to the tire company where I had bought the tires. I took in my receipts so he could see what I had done and he walked out to my car with me. He looked at me and said, "These back 2 tires aren't even our tires." I said, "That's funny, since I should have 4 newer tires of yours on my car." Basically what happened was they were to warranty the original 2 tires (70,000 mile ones) and put on the 2 new 50,000 mile tires on the back. What they did was replaced the 70,000 mile tires with the 50,000 mile tires and didnt replace the ones they were supposed to at all.

The Guy at Discount Tires who helped me looked at me and said, "Here is what we are going to do...we are going to put new 70,000 mile tires on your car all the way around at no charge with a warranty and get you on your way." I couldn't believe what I was hearing but I was not going to argue. Discount Tires (a different store than this one) had messed up and they were honoring the mistake and making up for it. They had me in and out in a full house of cars within an hour and we were on the road out of town. I think I got a very good deal there....

A Big THANKS to John at Discount Tires who made our day and weekend!

Humorous Story of The Day!

I had to appear in court recently for a speeding ticket. It's amazing how the Judge's try to be intimidating sitting up on high looking down on those of us who have "done wrong". Ok that's just my perception plus it makes this whole story sound better. :)

I was scheduled to be in court at 9am. I walked in with 10 minutes to spare. The court recorder came in and set up and then the judge arrived. "Please rise the Honorable blah, blah, blah, blah, blah presiding." Everyone stands up. The room is currently full. There is not an empty bench in the courtroom. Wow...there are alot of violators out there. As I am sitting there thinking this the realization hit that I was among them. Stupid me. :) But was I truly guilty? I didn't think so but we would have to see. I had quite a bit of information to back me up.

I had been pulled over by a state patrol officer traveling the opposite direction in traffic than me. I watched him stop traffic to make a quick turn around to pull me over. He wasn't too nice when he realized who he had pulled over. It was the same officer 4 years before who had pulled me over 17 times on my way to work with my son in the car for possible carpool violation. Each time he pulled me over he would look in the car, see my son and let me go. I finally had to file a harassment complaint against him.

He quickly wrote me a ticket and I headed on my way.

As I sat in the courtroom I got to thinking, could that officer had known it was me? Nahh...I don't think so. It had been 4 years, I had changed my name in the divorce, moved, and it was a completely different car.

As I was sitting in the courtroom and waiting. As the judge repeated three or four times that theis was the only chance for a derferrment. I continued ot sit on the bench with my hands folded in my lap watching him. I felt as though he was looking at me each time he made the comment about the deferrment. Almost as though it was a warning or an option I should take. The majority of people went up and took the deferrment. I chose not to. As people were standing in line waiting, I over heard a few comments about this being a "hard ass" judge. He didn't let anyone off. Everyone paid. I started thinking a bit more and felt I was in the right so I stood my ground.

There weren't many people left after the deferrment that was offered. The judge looked around and started calling out names. The first few people who went up to plead their case were reduced but not dismissed. He was only reducing by about 30% and no more. I didnt go for deferrment as that automatically admitted guilt and I wasn't ready to fully admit that.

He continued to call up people until he reached my name. It sounded ominous the way he mispronounced it in the courtroom which made me want to laugh instead of be a bit nervous in facing this "heartless" judge. I approached him and he asked me outright if I had been speeding. I immediately responded, "Yes." He looked at me and asked my why I was arguing with the ticket.

I explained that I may have been speeding but I disagree with the speed the officer put on the actual ticket. The judge asked me to explain why.

I looked at him and started opening my wallet. He had asked for my statement so here I went. I looked at the judge and stated, "For one thing when I asked the officer if he had gotten my speed on radar he said no, he estimated it as he was driving the other direction. Not only that I had my cruise control set at 60 mph. I knew my system was accurate (as I pulled receipts out) since I had just had my emissions checked that same day, as well as, I had my alignment done and my brakes checked." I looked at the judge and asked him outright, "Could the state and another company be wrong with my car? When was the last time the speedometer was checked on the patrol car? I don't know. But I have the receipts to prove it." The judge held up his hand as though he didn't want to see the papers. I proceeded to fold them up and put them back as the judge studied my MVR report and looked up at me. He stated, "Kasey, you have a very clean driving record." I immediately interjected, "And I would like to keep it that way." He chuckled slightly and very seriously looked at me and asked, "Did the officer who pulled you over know it was you?" I looked at him confused. He continued, "You had a harassment charge placed against that officer, was he following you or picking you out?" I looked at the judge and told him, "No...there were way too many variables, he couldn't have known it was me. It was just a coincidence." The judge seemed to be a bit relieved and he looked at me and back at the papers a couple of times.

He smiled and said, "Dismissed!"

I thanked him and walked away quickly putting the papers out of sight.

I was very happy with the judges decision. Just for kicks and giggles I sat back down in the courtroom and watched the rest of the group of people face the judge. He dismissed only one ohter ticket that day. I felt very lucky. I felt even luckier that the judge didnt look at my paperwork. He would have found that the dates didn't match and with my car being licensed in the small rural town of Carnation I didn't need to have emissions done on my care at all ever.

Boy did I luck out!

He Did It Again!!

Can you believe it just two days later he does it over again! Yes I am talking about Mr. Frogman! Just 2 days after him and I talked about not leaving things from school for me until the last minute He pulls the I have something for you to sign from school.

I was dropping him off at the Leaders house like I do only two days a week so he can get on the bus to go to school. I had just walked in and was saying my goodbye's when he all of a sudden turned around as I was walking out the door and said, "Mom, wait! I have something for you from school!" I turned around and sighed....Luckily it was something that I requested. Just 2 days before he pulled out an order form that was due that day that he had received a week ago for camp shirts to the camp he is going to go to here in another month with his class.

The joys of parenthood. :)

I have just recently opened a savings account with HSBC. I get a $25 bonus for opening the account and 4+% interest on the account. Not only that ING recently offered savings accounts with a $25 dollar bonus when you open an account and a $10 bonus if you refer someone that opens an account. When they bring that deal back I will be opening an account with them as well and Sightsee'er will get the $10 bonus not only that I have someone else that wants to open an account too. So not only will I get the $25 but also an extra $10. Now that is an easy $10. Anyone else want to open an account? If I refer you I get $10 but you get $25 :) Just think....I could get rich if enough people open an account. Not only that but I have to earn enough to pay a consulting fee to my friend Intimidator. (I have not forgotten that debt). :)

It will be interesting to see what happens with these accounts. I am putting the money into a savings account to offset the amount of interest I am paying elsewhere. This is one way to let my money earn money for me :)

Costco has a deal going on too with a shareholder account but they are offering $65 and there are other details I have to look into. I am not sure if that is an account I want at this time. But maybe the next time they offer the account it will be a possibility.

There are other things that have been offered as well but I have to wait for my frient sightsee'er to find more options he is my money saver person. He finds all the deals!

Thanks Sightsee'er for the 10% Discount. Only 3 more days to use it!!

Fart-O-Rama!!

It ahs been a night of farts all the way around. Here are the 2 jokes that Meek and Mr. Frogman the Best Friend Dynamic Duo came up with for fart jokes tonight. They go as follows....

3 men were on a plane coming in for a landing. The first man is holding an apple he says, "It's too mushy." and he threw it out the window. (Have you ever seen a plane with windows that open up? Ok this leads into another discussiong but I can bet you that they weren't on a 757 where you can just roll down the window and toss something out. Is the littering fine higher if you throw something out of a plane window than a car one? Again another topic back to our regularly scheduled joke).

The second guy had an orange, he looked at it and said, "Too ripe." and he threw it out the window.

The third guy had what looked like a bomb. He looked at it and said, "Must be a fake." and he threw it out the window.

They landed and left when they noticed 3 kids on the sidewalk crying. They asked the first child, "Why are you crying?" the child replied, "My dad was hit on the head with an apple that fell out of the sky and taken to the hospital." The first man didnt reply he just shook his head.

they asked the second child why he was crying. The child replied, "My mom was working in teh garden and an orange hit her on the head and she had to go to the hospital." Again none of the men said anything.

They asked the third child why he was laughing so hard he was crying. The child looked up laughingly and said, "My dad was getting the newspaper and he bent over and farted and the house blew up!"

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Joke #2

Three men were standing on a cliff wanting to hangglide but didnt have a glider. They talked and figured if they jumped together they might be able to glide down the cliff to their homes below. The first man jumped and "Splat!" Hit the ground. The second man jumped and he to went "Splat!" and hit the ground. The third man jumped and slowly glided into his back yard. Everyone marveled at how he did that. When asked he just putted using "natural gas" into his house.
************************************

Meek and Mr. Frogman told these 2 jokes to one another all the way to cub scouts. Once there they had to share their new found jokes with all the boys who would listen before the pack meeting and after. It didn't take long to have several of the boys running around making farting noises and giggling at the fart word and sounds. Of course several of the younger boys stick out there tongue and blow raspberries and are just beginning in their journey into the world of farting.

Fart, Farts and More Farts

I don't think boys ever grow into true men. Do they ever grow out of thinking bodily function noises aren't funny? I have no problem with it. It's just funny. All my guy friends talk about and make bodily function noises, as well as, laugh and snicker when someone else does it near them or in the same room within hearing distance.

With my son I have no problem with it. That's one of the ways I get him to wake up with a smile on his face. Sometimes I have to make "true" noises myself in order to get his attention. Not that I would ever admit this to anyone else. Between flatulating, burping, armpit flatulence, and tickling until the threat of having to use the bathroom or flatulating becomes what is going to happen, I see it as using all the resources I have at my disposal.

I had to laugh one morning recently I was waking him up and we were talking about facing his back end towards the wall and farting he could propel himself right out of bed on his own gas. He chuckled when all of a sudden he got up on all fours with his back side toward the wall and started a countdown from 10--9--8--7--6--5--4--3--2--1 making a big scene out of this when all of a sudden all we heard was this slight swoosh of only air. He looks at me and says, "Ummm....Houston we have a problem,"

I must have sat and laughed for a good 2 minutes before I could compose myself enough to have him finish getting up and ready for school.

Warm & Fuzzy

This link was emailed to me the other day by my sons best friend (Meep's) Mom. It is definitely something that is warm and fuzzy. Amazing what kids can do :)

http://www.youtube.com/w/Autistic-basketball-player-creates-mayhem-at-game?v=UBYPaNc57Ik&feature=Views&page=1&t=t&f=b

Bachelorette Party!

I am laying here not able to sleep. I just got done having a conversation with a friend of mine and had this thought come across my mind. I was starting to doze off which would be a good thing right now since I have to be up at 5am. I had completely forgot about this girls night out and how much fun we had! A few girlfriends and I get together once a month or we try to and we go out dancing, or just for dinner or sometimes evening a quiet evening with snacks, a good bottle of wine and a movie or two. Being that they all are married and have kids (I am the only single one) its a bit more difficult for all of them to find time.

Our last girls night out consisted of watching "The Family Guy" Cartoon shows and alot of laughter until 2am. We have gone to dinner a few times. The one girls night out that we talk about is the one we had last Summer. I know someone who owns a local bar which is a popular hang out for some in my area. They usually have live music, dancing, pool and some form of other entertainment. Our group which consisted of about 12 people went into the bar. I went up and talked to the owner who cleared out an area of the bar for us. He moved people and gave out a few free drinks to make us happy, BUT, there was a catch. In order for him to do that I had to wear a veil that said I was getting married and I had to play the part.

I put on this "Veil" which is a princess tiara with a white veil that hangs down the back and tell people that I was getting married all the while being my wild and crazy self (yes me of all people, I have a wild and crazy side that many don't get to see). I put it on and things were a bit slow...so the owner told me to spice it up a bit...so I did. He handed me the microphone and let me have at it. Me and my friends huddled up for a bit and came up with a plan.....for being the one who was "getting married" I had also become the master of ceremonies for the night too! I was having a ball. I had to make it up to my friend for the free drinks he and his wife gave out to a group of customers.

We came up with a plan to do speed dating with a few rules. We ended up with 36 couples and many people watching. Plus my bartender friend offered one lucky MAN the opportunity to have all his drinks paid for if he could convince me not to get married the following day (**snicker** like that was going to be too hard). The one person with the most convincing reason would win. I got to judge that too. I had so much fun. I heard some of the best reasons NOT to get married. Most of them are not mentionable here but let's just say size and ability ranked amongst the top 2! Anywho....I joined in the speed dating for kicks and giggles and met a few people but no one who struck my fancy.....and no one convincing enough to make me not want to get married so to speak. Although, I did have one man come up and tell me that he was my long lost soul mate from 3 lifetimes ago and that he had been looking for me everywhere.

My girlfriends got to laugh at me as I had to start the karaoke night and they know I don't sing well in front of a crowd. I sound so much better by myself in the car with the volume all the way up where I can't hear myself :) This went on most of the evening...Right before last call with the bar half empty my bartender friend took the microphone and announced the winner of the free drinks, and the truth that I wasn't really getting married and the real reason I was wearing the veil. He honestly didnt think I was going to wear it most of the night but as he put it, I made him money and that's all that mattered. We all laughed about it, when he walked over and handed me several slips of paper. I looked at him funny and he said all the numbers of the guys who left them with him as they were leaving when they found out I wasn't really getting married. I just laughed.

Leaving that night after the bar was closed and I helped to clean up, he was serious he got phone numbers for me telling me he didn't want me to come into his bar again without a date. I laughed and told him if I wanted I would have a date or two before I walked out. He laughed and told me he was sure I would.

Thanks Captain and the Mrs!

Here's Your Sign

I am sitting here watching the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy do not let me down. I have been laughing so hard Mr. Frogman asked me why I was crying. When they do the "Here's your sign" I just laugh so hard because I find myself asking the same kind of questions and don't realize that I'm doing it until it's too late. I should walk around with a sign around my neck that says don't bother I have my own sign. Although sometimes I would rather hand a sign out to a few people myself.

My son is in a very good school with a great staff. He is autistic, yet high functioning. He sometimes needs extra help in different topics and with social skills. He gets help in other areas too but for the most part you would not know anything was wrong.

I have to admit though at the school he went to before this one we had a huge challenge. His first grade teacher kept telling me I needed to get him tested he was add or adhd. My son liked to act like an animal in the back of the room as she was teaching. I asked her if she asked him to keep his voice down and if he was listening. She told me no. I went into the classroom to observe and there went my son to the library area acting quietly like barnyard animals. She walked over and asked him to be very quiet. He did and she continued teaching. She got fed up at one point as he was standing in the window pretending to be a bird she looked at him and said, "Mr. Frogman, what did I just say?" He looked at her and said, "Which part?" Then he went into the conversation of what she had said over the course of the 3 minutes prior including what the kids were saying when they gave their answers.

This teacher who thought she wasn't teaching my son at all was listening to every word verbatim that she had said in the last 3 minutes. She still insistged that I have him tested. She had to be right he was hyper. Boy was she wrong! I didnt have him tested until a year later per my doctors recommendation. Alot of teachers now a days try to pawn off anything a child does as ADD or ADHD. They are not psychologists they don't know what is wrong with a child if anything. A teacher who kept telling me my son was hyper found out a year later he was autistic. She looked at me in on meeting and stated, "I knew there was something wrong with him." I looked at her and said, "There is nothing wrong with him only an ignorant educator."

Obviously this did not score any points with her or others on the teaching staff. But at that point at that school I didn't care. Throughout second grade even with a diagnosis from an outside doctor the school psychologist didnt do much of anything. Finally by his 3rd grade year and having become a squeaky wheel and to find that the psychologist had again misplaced my sons diagnosis I had become the intense squeaky wheel. The school psychologist asked me if he could evaluate Mr. Frogman and find out what resources he could qualify for. I agreed thinking this was a step in the right direction.

After all the observations and evaluations they invited me in to meet with 9 other people. The principal, the school psychologist, the nurse, the ot/pt teacher, a special ed teacher, Mr. Frogmans current teacher and assistant teacher, his first and second grade teacher and one other person I am not able to remember what position they were in and of course myself. Now if you didn't know the school district gets government funding for children with special needs. The school psychologist started the meeting and started by calling me Mrs. M. I commented that my name was no longer Mrs. M. if he would look at his file he would see that I am no longer married my name is now Ms. Kasey. He looked at me and without blinking again said, "Mrs. M. I have had the opportunity over the last month to observe Mr. Frogman in the classroom. I have come up with a schedule that will meet his needs to do this this and this. If you would please sign here we can get him started." That's what I thought he had said. What it was is he had identified the areas that were of concern and we were going to look at instructional learning that would support it. I was to sign the report and they would get things rolling.

Instead of asking me what areas of concern I had they were telling me what they were going to do for my son. This included input from his first grade teacher, second grade teacher and his current teacher.The more I thought about this I suddenly became angry. Here I had a group of people trying to tell me, the parent, what was best for my child. I objected and did not sign the paper. The psychologist again said, "Mrs. M...I have spent 10 hours with your child and I have found that he needs....." I didn't let him finish. I interrupted and very calmly looked at him and said, "My name is not Mrs. M...it is Ms. Kasey. I am glad you had the opportunity to spend 10 great hours with a wonderful young man. How does your 10 hours compare with my 9 years?" He quickly responded, "I do have a Master's degree in education and psychology." I stared at him blankly and said, "Well, I'll be. I don't have a masters degree but I do have one thing that you don't that will supercede your Master's degree." He looked at me questioningly and I looked at him square in the eye and said, "I have a birth certificate and that holds more weight in this meeting than your masters degree." He stuttered through to say, "Mrs. M....," where I immediately cut him off and stated that my name was not Mrs. M....and I am not signing anything." I stood up to leave wanting to yell at him......HERE'S YOUR SIGN!!!

The principal stood and said, "Ms. Kasey I think you are being hasty." I looked at him and thanked him for actually getting my name right. Then I stated that the meeting was over. If I needed anything further I would contact them. That afternoon I received phone calls and voicemails from 8 people. The psychologist didn't bother calling me, in my opinion he felt he was right. I was up against a brick wall at this point. I found the program at the school he goes to now....but there was one issue. The head of the Special Education Department whom had to approve my son to get into the program he is in is the wife of the psychologist that has the Masters Degree.

I met with the Head of Special Ed to visit the program. We talked for a minute and I made it clear I did not like her Husband and he did not like me. We were both okay with that, I looked at her and said that we were here for the benefit of my son, not her or her husband or myself. After that was settled everything since has been wonderful.

Last Minute.....

Mr. Frogman thinks that showing me something at the last minute is going to get himself into less trouble. When he was in second grade he waited until right before the bus arrived to show me a playground slip that had to be signed. I gotta love it. Last week it was a t-shirt order form for a camp he is going to attend in May, the t-shirt order had to be in that day with the payment and he received it a week ago. What next?!?!?

I had to ask, eh? He just rushed in to inform me that report cards are out and he wanted me to look it over and sign it, he had to turn it in tomorrow, and he was headed into the shower. I chuckled as the shower started and opened his report card. What he didn't notice was the fact that I had already signed his report card envelope. I knew they were out. He came out of the shower...."Mom, how did I do?" I looked at him and smiled. He did very well and has improved in several areas. Iam very proud and impressed with how well he did. Now if I could only get the folder organized and the homework home each night.

The wonderful challenges of being a parent.

Sunday Sigh

It's that time and day of the week. Sunday again. Time to get ready for a new week. I just want to lay down on the floor and kick and scream yelling "I don't wanna go!" Not sure where I don't want to go, probably work but still. I just don't want Monday to be here yet. I have so much more to do this weekend it can't be over. I still have laundry that needs to be washed and laundry is done on my weekends. I have tasks that I need to accomplish and I can't necessarily do them during the week. Or at least not until Thursday this week with all that is going on.

I have spent most of the day cleaning. I spent 3 hours just cleaning my room and hanging up all the laundry. Organizing my suits and dresses in the closet. Can you believe it? I actually have a bedroom floor. I haven't seen it in about a month due to suitcases and boxes being in the way. Now all the boxes and suitcases are gone and I am able to actually use my room for what it was meant for.....well I guess I have been able to use it for what I use it for all the time which is sleeping but I can actually breathe now. Thanks again to a friend of mine who came to fight the battle of the laundry.

I helped him clean his house too. It took about 3 hours to clean his house. Amazing 3 hours for just my room and 3 hours for his house. I think he got the better end of the deal though. :) I found a few things in his refrigerator that, if they would have been in there much longer, may have taken a good bite out of my hand. Do you think that mold would force me to get a tetanus shot if it bit me or would it contain enough penicillin that I wouldn't have to worry???

All this to prepare for the upcoming week. Again my mind races back to wanting to throw myself on the floor and scream, "Noooooooo!!!" I am not ready. But I know in the back of my mind as I am thrashing around on the floor screaming, oh wait.... I was only supposed to think that, that Monday is going to get here whether I like it or not. Oh Great.....Here It Comes!

Amazing Shopping Spree!!

I needed new clothes. As I am in the process of losing weight I didn't want to buy a whole lot just enough to add to my current wardrobe. I took a friend with me since I dislike shopping so much. I happened to find 2 nice suits, 2 black skirts, 4 colored shirts. All for less than $120. What a bargain. So now I had to find shoes to match. My friend and his son found matching shoes for themselves which looked really good. I had to go to a different store to find my shoes. When I did I must have hit deal central! I work in a business professional office so I am constantly mixing and matching outfits to keep things different. I have also made a few of my skirts in the past which no one could tell the difference between them and store bought. Anywho, I walked out of the shoe store with 4 new pairs of shoes, 2 screaming kids and a friend with fried nerves cause the kids wouldn't listen. :) Thanks Wolfman for all your help!! I spent less than $160 for everything. I was so proud of myself. I am so excited. I am going to look good going to work...Now I have to work on looking good everywhere else :)

Concerts...

I recently attended a Ben Fold's concert at the Paramount in Seattle. What a neat concert. For only having heard a little bit of his music and of course liking it. His concert, although small in numbers for a band, was fantastic! Ben Folds, a bass guitarist and a percussionist were excellent. They had great audience involvement. For what I thought was only an hour turned out to be 2 and a half hours later. Chris Mills opened for Ben Folds. He was a one man show on the guitar. He was very good as well. I am going to have to track down his music and have a good listen.

Ben Folds has done songs with William Shatner as well but none of those were performed. Probably because it just wouldn't be the same if William Shatner wasn't actually performing.

I was surprised for all the music Ben Folds sings and the language content that he is going to be doing a song for an upcoming Dreamworks film "Over the Hedge". Without the language in a few of his songs they are almost appropriate in content for everyone. But then there are one or two songs that wouldnt have lyrics at all if they didn't have swear words. :)

Definitely worth looking up and listening to if you want to hear something different. It doesn't matter what age you are this is music for everyone.

I have been to concerts in the past with the flashy lights, lasers, costumes. Nothing prepared me for this concert. Ben Folds was "down to earth". There were no strobe lights or flashing this or change of costumes there. It was him and his music. If you ever get the chance to see him in concert I recommend that you do. It was worth it.

Happy Birthday JoJo!!

Yesterday was my niece's 12th birthday. As she emphatically told me Friday night that she would not be 12 until 10:59 pm. I gave her a hug and told her I would see her on Saturday for her birthday party. What a neat little lady she is growing up to be.

They had several kids at this party of all ages which made it fun for the pinata. By the time we got up to the kids that were 7 the pinata fell apart and the kids all dived onto the candy and toys that fell out. The older kids didn't get to hit the pinata at all but that's okay they were the first ones to dive in. They all had a lot of fun.

I took my friend Wolfman and his son Monkey Dude Jr. They had a lot of fun. I may have stirred up a bunch of gossip on my ex-husbands side of the family but that's ok. I am curious to see what get's back to him. :)

Weekends....Equal Sleeping In??

I was looking forward to staying up late Friday night and waking up later Saturday morning. Mr. Frogman was at a friends house for the night and I was thinking of how nice it would be to sleep in and just take an hour or so to myself and relax. Unfortunately waking up at 5am was not on the agenda. I had just managed to find a comfortable position in bed and get back to sleep when I had to get up to use the rest room again and just as I was sitting down to do my thing, my phone rang. It wasn't one of those nice rings I have programmed in for any of my friends, but the annoying ring I entered in to get my attention for when one of my family members called. I looked at the clock. 7:32am. **Sigh** now who would be calling me at this hour? I had a conversation with one of the Leaders last night about taking Shopper to the park n ride where she catches her bus and I just didnt have the strength to do it. I hadn't slept in in so long and really needed my sleep.

One of the Leaders was trying to get hold of me and I am sure it was to let me know she got my sister to the bus stop and was on her way home and wanted to say good morning. My goodness, I couldn't even pee in peace lately without someone calling and interrupting. After spending the next 10 minutes hassling the Leader and waking up to a good laugh, it was too late to go back to sleep. I was now after 10 minutes waiting for the Leader to show up to give me a key and some money to have Shoppers engine on her truck repaired. Come to find out her truck can't be repaired, the engine is blown. Wow....I don't want to be around when they tell her that.

What day do you look forward to?

Mr. Frogman came to me last night and very matter of fact and told me that he just couldn't wait until Tuesday. Here I thought and thought, and just could not understand what was going on on Tuesday that he was all excited about. I asked him why he just couldn't wait until Tuesday? He proceeded to tell me that it was his busiest day of the week and he liked everything he had to get done.

I chuckled and asked him if he really needed more to do. He laughed with me and emphatically said, "NO! But I like it only on Tuesdays." I chuckled and thought about what he had to do. Our normal routine is early morning band, school, circus arts, cub scouts. Yes that's alot but it wasn't an overwhelming amount of things to do aside from what we usually do on Tuesdays. After we went over the schedule I looked at him and asked, "Why else are Tuesdays busy?" He looked at me and went over his activities while he was at school, which included an activity over lunch, another one at lunch recess, then ot/pt in the afternoon. "Mom, I'm just booked up on Tuesdays is all, I think I need an organizer. You know one of the electronic ones." He proceeded to go into detail on the specific functions his organizer should have. He even created drawings of how it should work and what it would look like? Do you think he has thought of this before? :)

How much do you take?

Once a week Mr. Frogman and I go out to dinner. It can be chicken and jojo's from our local store deli or out on the town. Mr. Frogman really likes the Old Country Buffet all you can eat. We headed down there tonight and he loves to get the canteloupe, watermelon and jello. This isn't a matter of how much you take to eat but how much you tolerate with the lack of manners of people getting their meals?

Kids I can understand. Adults on the other hand.....How much do you put up with. People wander around with an empty plate in their hands looking at what is on the menu, or more so what is in the hot dish pans that looks good. They don't even say excuse me just barge across your path makeing you stop short and almost spill your plate on you or them. Do people wait their turn? Nooooooo.....they have to barge in right where you are standing as they can't wait an extra 10 seconds for you to finish serving and move on. It's almost as they are deciding for you how much you can take and move on. Heaven forbid there isn't enough left for them to have a serving as a server is bringing out a new pan.

Just tonight I went up to get some sauteed mushrooms (surprisingly they were very good) and I had a woman look at me and ask me if I was going to take them all. Just for the way she asked I wanted to look at her and in a Jim Carey tone (like in liar liar in the courtroom when the judge asks him if he can continue and he snears out yeeessss) and say yes....instead I looked at her smiled put the spoon down and walked away when I should have just taken the last of them.

Sometimes I really wish my parents hadn't raised me with such good manners and the ability to be polite and respectful. Thinking back on it now I should have laughed like Igor and smiled at her and snorted and in an Igor tone should have bent down and said...."No, they are mine....all mine..." then snorted and laughed.

Not only that but people would rush from their tables to get a serving or another serving (to each his own) or another plate, and they rush as though there isnt going to be enough or they might run out.

LOOK FOLKS this is an ALL YOU CAN EAT Buffet. Do you think they are going to run out? I don't think so. Slow down. It will still be hot when you get to it and there will still be plenty. Not only that I was scorned for not getting dessert from the dessert counter. I can't have alot of what they serve for desserts so I choose to go for the pudding that is located at the salad bar. I tend to grab a soup bowl and have "Fish Eye" pudding, tapioca to the lay person. Mr.Frogman doesn't like it so I get it when I can. **Sigh** It's almost a "Lord of the Flies" setting if you get in the way of someones quest to reach the buffet line first.

**Sigh** But Mr. Frogman likes it and it was his request. The things we put up with as parents to sometimes make our kids happy :)

**SIGH**

Another day almost over. Nothing exciting today but a long day at work. I am sure something will come up throughout the evening that will be funny or humorous. I do enjoy my job and the people I work with. They are definitely a diverse group. Due to the strictness of employers reading employees blog sites I can't say a whole lot since I don't want it used against me. All I can say is I am going on three years and I am still there! If I didnt like it even a little I wouldnt be able to stay.....MOVING FORWARD into the evening. I will post more as events unfold :)

New Beginnings

Congratulations Wolfman!

My friend Wolfman recently got a new job after being forced out of his last job. He was out of work for almost a month searching. He found a great job with a Cruise company booking cruises for clients. I think this will be a perfect opportunity for him to utilize his customer service and people skills! Way to go Wolfman!

I know waking up at 5am is going to take some time to get used to but you can do it! He has to wake up at 5 to catch the bus at 5:45 to make it into downtown Seattle by 7:30am. I am so glad it's him and not me! I have to be up at 5 but I dont have to leave that early :)

I wish you all the best in this one Wolfman. I can only foresee success!

Mr. Frogman Update

Mr. Frogman keeps telling me he is having a rough time with math in school. For two years we have practiced multiplication and he just didn't get it. No matter how much memorization it took. I talked to our psychologist and teachers at his school who specialize in autism thinking it may have been a learning issue. As we focused on this and tried to find ways that would help him excel, I was just flabergasted. Not only that but I was inwardly hurt as I was always really good in math and science and hoped he would be too.

Now I know its not right to compare my child with myself, but like any parent I believe we all do in one way or another. I had accepted that my sons strong points were going to be hands on instead of mathematical or scientific, until recently.

His class started studying fractions. At first he was slower than a lot of his class. His teacher got him extra help in a smaller study group. After a while as he would ask me for help he would look at a problem, ask me for help and then suddenly grab his sheet back and write down the correct answer. I would look at him and make him give it back to me so I could work the problem to make sure it was right. After a week or two of making him write things out he would look at me and tell me the answer without writing anything down. He would get his homework done inside of a quarter of the time it would take me to do it. He has finally gotten to a point where he multiplies or divides in his head and whips out the answer. I almost can't keep up with him. It is absolutely amazing. Now if I could only get him to do that with writing next :)

Dawning of a New Day

I have been dealing with heart issues this past year. Many of which no one knows about as I haven't told anyone including my closest friends. I don't think anyone understood why I didn't share this, but, for those that really need to know. For those that know me you know I had someone I had known for years die from cancer. During her time of appointments and treatments I was by her side. I watched other people look at her and the many others I met that were terminal with looks of sympathy and sadness. No matter how severe things got I didnt want people looking at me that way. No matter how many times I said it everyone did....and I do mean everyone even though you may not think you did. You did.

Anywho...I was finally, after a final procedure, given a full clean bill of health over a year and a half later. A huge weight lifted from my shoulders. I wake up wanting to get up and face the day. Most of the time I really didn't care since they couldn't figure out what was wrong. Now I get up and get moving without the help of caffeine. I have motivation and reason to get going. Not that I didnt have it before, I did. It didnt matter as much to me at that point. Call it depression, self pity, and partially the limitations that were set by my health. I was frustrated I couldn't do all the things I wanted to do. Now I do the things I want to do when I want to do them. Mr. Frogman and I get out and about and stay busy constantly. He sometimes has to ask me if we can stay home for an evening as we get out and about walking or to the park or doing something together.

The Dawning of a New Day has arrived. If you call or email and we don't respond we are out probably trying to catch frogs in a neighboring pond, fishing in a nearby creek, rollerblading on a nearby trail, or just raindancing in the gentle spring rains in our area. Who knows what's next on our agenda?! It's a wait and see time....so right now we will get out there and see what life has in store for us next!

Have a great day!

I See The Light!!

Ever have one of those lives?

You would think this would be easy to keep up. I havent been here since December thinking I would have time. Now I do. It's time to make time!

Finally, after not making any new years resolutions I have set forth and am pursuing and achieving my long term goals of finally becoming financially separated from my ex husband. Working to actually live life instead of pay the bill man that comes knocking each and every month. Starting to actually have a life that isnt filled with stress and worry about how things will get paid or taken care of. There is finally light at the end of the tunnel.

It's amazing how fast things come together when you truly want them too.

I can finally see the light of day past the financials of day to day living.