Friday, July 21, 2006

Road Trip!!!

I am headed out to pick up Mr. Frogman from Camp. Think good thoughts. No arguments amongst the boys heading back from this 7-8 hour drive and all the positive thoughts you can muster for a safe drive.

I will post more when I get back. Have a great weekend! More updates on his week at camp soon!!

On the road again......

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Friends and Their Relationships...

I can't offer advice to my friends since I come from a broken marriage myself. I know what I would do the next time if there is a next time but at this time I am not holding my breath. I am living life for what is best for myself and Mr. Frogman. I have several friends in relationships that they have expressed they aren't happy in.

I have one friend going through a divorce and is very bitter and angry. He has his days but still it is a painful process and not one you get over too quickly. His wife left him for reasons to him that are unknown. I have spoken to them both and I know who I do or do not support. I can't mention it here so as not to offend either of them. But I wish them both well in whatever they choose.

Intimidator has been involved with a woman more than 20 years his senior. He is very unhappy and has been working on an exit strategy or so he says. He claims he is absolutely miserable. My thoughts are if he is that miserable he needs to grow some severe "Kahunas", "Coconuts" or whatever you want to call them and kick her out or get her to leave on her own. As I have told him before it's his problem and no one else's. I just don't understand how he can expose his son to what he is going through. But again that is his choice as a parent.

Sightseer has been seeing someone, and then again not. She is a hermit more so than he is...it's time he found someone new and really "Good!" he also needs to stop comparing them to me :) There will be no one out there that can meet my high standards. ;)

By the way ladies...Sightseer is a great guy, and single!! Email me if you want more info!!

Boomer - Boomer has recently (in the last 6 months) gone through round 3 of not knowing what he does or doesn't want. Red is a sweetie and I love her to death she is a beautiful person with a heart of gold. Boomer just isnt always sure about everything. With them I know they have survived some tough times and will in the future. They will pull through and come out winning!

Myself on the other hand. I have dated but very little. It becomes the same old story. I will go out with some one a few times which does not include holding hands, kissing, or anything more and when I have reached the friend level that will not go any further (I thought it was pretty clear as I told them from the beginning) they break up with me. I thought that was funny. It has happened three times. We weren't even dating and they break up with me....

Maybe I don't want to know what will happen if I really do get serious about someone...hmmmm then maybe it would be the opposite, they wouldn't break up with me....hnmmmm.....that might not be a good thing either....have to think this one through some more.

Traveling, Traveling and More Traveling....

The summer has gone by so quick so far. Mr. Frogman will be headed back to start school here very soon at the end of August. For him being at his dad's most of the summer we have sure spent an awful lot of time together. He is currently at Boy Scout Camp in Moscow, Idaho. I go back next weekend to pick him up. I'm driving this time instead of flying.

This past weekend him and I flew over. What a trip it was. Although the flight was short we had several laughs all the way through.

The day before he left he had to pack up his clothing for the trip. He was leaving for a whole week. That meant a weeks worth of clothes and more! Fishing gear, orienteering gear, pocket knife, money for the trading post, woodworking tools, flashlights, batteries and much more! He had to have all of his boy scout equipment, sleeping bag, cot and so on. He is definitely a boy scout! He was ready to go. He finally fell asleep about 11pm. He was so excited! The unfortunate side of things is that we had to be up at 4am to make our flight at 6:30am.

As we got through security, checked in, and headed to our flight we were able to board as we walked up. We were running a bit on the late side. We were booked on a dual prop plane that seated about 70 people. Mr Frogman had not been on a plane that small before (aside from a friends small Cessna) and was a bit apprehensive. I do mean only a bit of course as he clutched my arm during take off and made his I'm ok but scared face with an attempted smile. He held onto my arm in a death grip until we finally leveled off about 15 minutes into the flight. We sat and talked through the flight until the complimentary package of trail mix and water came through. Then we came in for the landing.

We got off the plane and headed to baggage to collect his things. As we stood and waited for his pack and bag to come off the plane he started walking around the belt that would carry our luggage out. He started pacing and waiting and asking when his stuff would come out. It eventually came out and we headed over to get our rental car.

We stood in line. It was the only line in the whole rental car shop line ups. There were a whole 2 of us! What a deal...Only it took us almost 30 minutes to get our car. I was approached by 2 of the other rental offices to see if I wanted to get a car from them at the same price I was getting from the original rental company.

I chose to wait as I had a reservation. I was so sorry I did. The car I got was a mid size vehicle. I had the choice of a PT Cruiser, which I can't stand or a Chevy HHR. I didn't know what an HHR was so I opted for that. For those of you that don't know the HHR is a knock off of the PT Cruiser. It looks so ugly, in my opinion. Although driving it was smooth and comfy it really stunk as far as looks. It was a cross between the Element back body and the PT Cruiser front. My next rental car will be a car...not that.

As we drove on to Camp Lutherhaven to meet our group, he napped and rested. He laughed at me several times on the road as I wasn't familiar with the roads and trying to find the Mapquest directions. I was going off memory. I was certainly lucky that day. We made it just in time for one of the Boy Scout Leaders to offer me a cup of strong coffee before breakfast. That was what I had needed.

We got to look around the camp at the fun that Mr. Frogman had missed the night before by not traveling there on Saturday. He was still excited that he was headed to Camp Grizzly for a week and having alot of fun there.

I was told Camp Grizzly was only 30 minutes from Camp Lutherhaven. Was I informed wrong, it was still another 90 miles or almost 2 hours away. Luckily I had sucked up enough coffee to keep me running for quite some time. I was told by Mr. Frogman I was starting to act like Twitchy in the movie "Hoodwinked."

It was time to lay off the caffeine and head out. "On the road again..."

Not only last weekend, this upcoming weekend I am having to travel to pick up Mr. Frogman, then in 2 weeks having to fly out to San Francisco, 3 weeks from then a cruise, then school starts. Maybe a weekend getaway to Vegas or Reno....working on that one...just have to make the time....

See...traveling, traveling and more traveling....What a great time!

Monday, July 17, 2006

I'm here! I'm here!

Or that should read I'm back! I'm back. I know it's been a while since I posted. So many things have happened and not enough time to do them all. I will be posting about all that has been happening over the next few days. Until then here is a list of all that has been going on:

1. Temporary guardian of a wonderful little boy (all I do is get him to and from daycare and make sure he has a great day!)

2. Mr. Frogman off to his dad's and Boy Scout Camp (many stories from this trip, get ready to laugh).

3. Power of Attorney - for a friend...Interesting twist of fate.

4. Executor of an Estate Completion -- Ugh! This has been a challenge closing out the estate and dividing it among family.

5. My book has taken on a new twist or should I say a large turn. More stories coming!! With lots of laughs included.

It all sounds busy but not as busy as most would think.

I do have to close out today with this. It seems to be how the world goes 'round.

I flew in from Spokane last night and we had landed in Seattle. I was seated above the wing on the left side of the plane in a window seat. We had to wait on the tarmac for 10-15 minutes so that the plane could actually park somewhere. Can you believe it? No parking for the planes at Sea-Tac? I had to chuckle a bit at that. Then I noticed the reason as to why. As our plane came in to a stop one of the men guiding the plane in with the orange hand cones had a large bandage on the side of his forehead. From where I was it looked as though he had been clobbered by the wing of another aircraft earlier. Now I am sure that was not the case as the wing was much higher, but from my view it looked like the wing could hit him at any moment. And here I was thinking that this was the person who was guiding our plane in. Could he see straight? Maybe that was the reason for all the back up? Who knows...As I sat there waiting to get off the plane as there were folks that had to catch a connecting flight, people were commenting about how warm it was and started talking amongs themselves. One guy marched up to my seat and bellowed forward, "I'm about to be sick can you please move!" He made it part way up the aisle and was stopped again. Many people pulled out the vomit bags from their seats and handed them to him. He just stood still with his head down. I called forward and said, "You know if you really were going to throw up it would do us all good if you did instead of faking it, you probably would have moved further forward on the plane." He stood up laughing and asked me how I knew? I laughed and replied, "Any parent here could tell you were faking, our kids have tried it on us more than once I'm sure." After a good chuckle everyone was finally let off the plane to catch a connecting flight or head home....

Even heading home was a challenge with the traffic at the airport.

Coming up....the guy directing traffic, catching my ride and people in general, along with Go Speed Racer! Stay tuned!

Friday, June 16, 2006

Overview of My Week

My week isn't any tougher or different than anyone else's. It was a busy week though and I am not sure how I got through it. But I did and so did Mr. Frogman. Our week went as follows.

Sunday night - Arrive at Wolfmans to unpack, Mr. Frogman and I are staying overnight so that I don't have to get up at 4am to take Monkey Dude Jr to Daycare. Wolfman had to get him into a new daycare after last week and he leaves for work at 4:30 am. Mr. Frogman and I agreed we would stay the night at Wolfmans and get up and start our day from there.

Monday Morning - Wake up 5am - Wolfman's alarm woke me up at 4am but finally climbed out of bed at 5am. Took my shower and woke up Mr. Frogman and Monkey Dude Jr at 6am.

7am leave for first child drop off at the Leaders home at 7:15 then drive back to Monkey Dude Jr's daycare by 7:30 am and then off to work.

8:15 arrive at work 15 minutes late. Work a full day. Wait for Wolfman to get the bus to my work to carpool out of Bellevue.

4:45 Leave work

5:15 Pick up Monkey Dude Jr from daycare

5:30 Get Wolfman and Monkey Dude Jr home

5:45 Get home to Mr. Frogman and take him over to Wolfmans

6:00 paint store to match paint from Irishswordsman Home - unable to match

6:45 Back to Wolfmans to take the kids to an ice cream social

7:00 Head out to Irishswordsmans Home to help finish painting and cleaning.

7:10 Call from Irishswordsman and telling me he isnt feeling well and not to come up.

7:30 Arrive at the school where the ice cream social is.

8:00 Back to Wolfmans for the evening.

Tuesday......

Same as Monday

6pm Boy Scouts.....

8pm Pick up Monkey Dude Jr.

8:30pm Home!!

Monkey Dude Jr and Mr. Wolfman off to bed for the night

Is it my turn to sleep yet? After the dishes and the laundry and some business bookkeeping.

Wednesday......

Morning Same as Monday and Tuesday.....

6pm Wednesday night Dropped off Wolfman and Monkey Dude Jr at an appointment.

Between 6 & 7 Run to Costco to pick up a few things, go home to get changes of clothes for the night.

7pm Pick up Wolfman & son take them all to Wolfmans house.

7:10 Leave for Irishswordsman house to clean and do some small stuff.

7:30 Get to Irishswordsman and do miscellaneous needed tasks.

11:30 Leave Irishswordsmans house and head back to Wolfmans to fall asleep on the couch. To get up and start over at 5am.

Thursday:

6pm drop off everyone at their respective houses and head home.

7pm Storage Unit to pick up a TV Then back home

8pm Petsmart for pet supplies (duh!)

8:30 Pick up Monkey Dude Jr and go home.

Everyone goes to sleep

Friday.....

I am taking the night off!!

Drop everyone off at their respective homes and head home myself.

Mr. Frogman has a friend over and I am able to sit back and relax.....

Saturday is still a very busy day....Wondering when it is going to slow down.

Finally Over!!

This week at work we took over 1200 incoming calls. My cohort at work is a very nice person and we had to put up with a ton of crap. The two things that irk me about my job is when someone assumes their position is better than the administrative assistant or that we are just the receptionist what do we know. Thats the attitude that we sometimes come up against. I have been with the company since our branch opened in 2003. My cohort has been there a year. Our job isn't hard but it is busy and very detailed oriented. Whats funnier is when one of us isn't there for a day, we are thanked profusely when we get back and they realize how much we truly do in our position. It only lasts for so long before things are taken for granted until the next day off.

The second thing is when they want you to do something that is very low priority and they demand it NOW! My office knows better. They don't rush me on anything if it is not priority it will get done in the right amount of time for the priority level of that project. My cohort on the other hand has folks that demand a UPS label at 10am that doesn't have to be ready to go until 4:30pm.

I keep reminding people not to piss off the AA (Administrative Assistant). You won't get nothing done for you until it needs to be based on time levels and priority levels. Be warned now. If you value your admin you will get whatever you need done in good time. If you piss them off.....BEWARE!!

Each day has it's ups though. I love taking calls from people with a sense of humor who laugh when you mess up the greeting on the phone. You always want to hope that when you accidentally suck in spit taking in a deep breath to answer the phone that someone you know will be on the other end as you start to choke and gasp and avoiding coughing.

My all time favorite is when people call up and start speaking in their native tongue like you speak their language. They keep going and going until they finally say a name of someone in the office. Don't get me wrong I have nothing against any of these people. I just think its humorous from my standpoint as I don't speak their language and I can only hope at some point they say a name of someone in our office so I can transfer them. Usually if we have a client call in and they are speaking spanish I know exactly who to transfer them to. We only have one person who speaks spanish in our office. But in my head it sounds something like this.......

blah blah blah blah blah--gibberish--more gibberish---Jason--blah blah blah....**pause in conversation and my chance to say "uno momento" and transfer them to the appropriate person. Once they state that name it all becomes clear. I know exactly where that call is going to be transferred to. That is my only thought since right behind that call as I am listening is another line ringing. **Sigh** The joys of ones day.....

This week though is over. School is out on Monday for Mr. Frogman. I took the day off so him and I could do something really fun to celebrate. I am not sure again who is more excited about school being out me or him. No more nagging about homework, no more hounding him to get up and head out the door, no more fighting with him when things have to be done. School is out and we are both ready! Yes he does go to his dads for the summer but we will get through that. He is only 40 minutes away so I can go and see him anytime I feel I need to.

Friday night and sitting here at home. Mr. Frogman has a friend over for the night and they are busy on their own. I haven't seen them for 2 hours so far but they are doing really well. Mr. Frogman hasn't seen his friend for almost 6 months they are thrilled to be able to spend time together. I am thrilled to have them back together. Mr.Frogman doesn't have many friends so keeping this one is a very good thing. It will be kept that way.

Over view of my week is coming up. I am going to try to detail out a few days of my week so you have an idea. Not that my day is any different than any other parents nor is it any tougher, but some people don't realize that with or without kids life can be busy and tough.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Staying Connected!

I am now connected! Almost everyone I talk to is on my wireless network. What a way to save minutes. I won't have to use hardly any of my anytime minutes! Although I have plenty with roll over too.....it won't matter.

How exciting! Between Mr. Frogman and myself we will have a lot of talk time to not have to worry about! I will be able to keep in touch as much as I want with him....oh wait! I mean him with me without worrying about our minutes! What a way to go!

It's the small things that keep me very happy!

Do All Parents Endure This???

Do all parents endure the fight of kids doing homework the last week and a half of school? We are down the the last week and a half of school, Mr. Frogman battles me daily on his homework. I keep telling him he needs to get it done, but it is a struggle and a fight.

I finally told him just because we are at the end of the year doesn't mean he is going to pass, he has some major projects due tomorrow and next week and if they aren't done he won't. That lasted about all of 10 minutes.

It's a battle getting him out of bed just to get to school and to get the homework done. **Sigh** I need to find another form of motivation. :)

Thursday...Almost Through!!

Happy Thursday!
Only one more day to Friday! Hang in there. I will post more soon!

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Me...Me...Me....It's All About Me!

I just received an email that said this....

"Your blog is worthless. You don't write anything worthwhile."

I am sitting here laughing. That's why it's my blog and no one elses. Deal with it. If you don't like it don't visit and don't read. Do you honestly think I care? Not really.

I live my life day to day with my son Mr. Frogman and it's all about us!

Happy Reading!!

Toilet Paper Caper

I couldn't figure out why the toilet paper in the bathroom was disappearing so quickly. I would just put up a roll only to have it disappear within 24 hours or less. It's just Mr. Frogman and me on a daily basis. We aren't here most of the day, we can't be using that much....I couldn't figure out what was going on.

I knew something was happening. Was it mice? The ever elusive escaping gerbils? Or was it a big mouse. I did some investigative work one night when I heard the toilet flush more than once. I thought to myself, "unless Mr. Frogman really had a job to do, he shouldn't be using that much." I went to the bathroom door to only listen. I heard, "Ready, set, go!" Then the flush of the toilet.

I knocked and opened the door. There was Mr. Frogman standing in front of the toilet with two rolls of toilet paper on pencils in his hand with each end in the toilet wanting to see them spin as the toilet flushed. Wondering which one would run out first.

That solved my problem of where the toilet paper was going. I asked him where he learned to do that. "My dad and I do this all the time at his house!" I wondered why but his dad is a septic installer and repair specialist. Did it really matter?

Music to My Feet???

I sit at work now with a whole new awareness of things around me. I sit and listen to the sounds of people walking around. Some might say I have way too much time on my hands. Which is probably true. My job is easy, mindless yet I do enjoy it.

Its funny though the sounds you hear as people walk. One of my co workers has a squeak to her shoes. Others its a flip flop. Then there is a click click as heels click across the floor. Squeak, flip flip, click. Squeak, flip flip, click. Thump thump, squeak, flip flip, click.

You set the right tempo and we have the beginning of great music. What would I call this? Music to my feet???

The End is Coming!!!!!

Can you believe they are taking bets in Vegas??? What makes anyone think that the sun won't come up tomorrow? For Crying out loud people....It's just numbers.....It happens to be June 6, 2006. Don't you think it hasn't been predicted that the end of the world would be on 6/6/1906, 2006? How about 3006? How about in the year 6.

You know, even placing a bet that the world would end on todays date is a losing battle. Even if you win.....You Lose! Go figure huh?

Monday, June 05, 2006

It's Monday Again....

It's Monday again and the same things are happening. Time to get up, get ready for work, wake up the little guy (ok so he stands almost as tall as me at age 11 and he's not so little, but he will always be my little guy), make breakfast, start a load of laundry, pack my lunch for the day, and leave. Not that I dislike the routine, it's this time of year when I am ready for my next vacation. Which for me is less than a month away.

I woke up this morning very elated and happy yet very defeated.

I am conceding. I am giving in today to what I can't control. Me being the control freak that I am, and yes I can admit it, I am giving up those things I will not allow to frustrate me since I have no further control over them. Amazing how I let things do that. Even things that I do have control over for a day I am going to give them up. I need a day with no stress and no worries. Is there a day like that? Have to wait and see. I am sure sometime today I will bounce back into being my controllling self :) But I will give it an hour or so and see how things go.

HAPPY MONDAY!!

Saturday, June 03, 2006

The Ultimate Excuse!

I had a co worker who was being hounded by a client that would call every 10 minutes through out the day. Getting updated on their loan, set the time for their closing. This co worker would stand by me when the phone would ring just to wait and see if it was for him. When I hung up after one particular call, he asked me if it was for him. I told him no and he explained to me that if one particular client called that he was out of the office.

I asked him how long it would be before he was back in the office. He told me that I was welcome to tell the client that he took a huge stack of magazines into the bathroom and would be a while. He was looking at redecorating his office and would need the extra time to customize the bathroom stall walls with pictures he likes to get an idea of what he would like to have on his wall.

Better yet he said, "You can tell her I came down with the bird flu and will be out for a very long time." I laughed and told him that I would add that by next week we should have his desk moved into the local facilities along with his extension transfer. **FLUSH**

Thursday, June 01, 2006

The End is Coming!!

The end of the school year is coming. As much as it is a trepidation of sorts as Mr. Frogman is leaving for the summer its also a time of eager anticipation. In one way I don't know who is more excited about summer, Mr. Frogman or me? No more nagging about homework, I'm sure he hates hearing it as much as I hate nagging. Although it is a parental joy to be able to nag my child now and then.

As the end comes closer him and I are both excited but yet nervous. We will make the most of our 3 weeks and then go on with what has to happen.

It will all be okay and good.

Answered Prayers....

I am not a religious person but more spiritual. I had a rough weekend. On Sunday I had enough. I was dealing with anger, frustration, jealousy and an uncontrollable urge to really do some damage. I am not a physically violent person but I could have done some damage.

I had gotten bad news all the way around, the business isn't doing well financially and I was putting budgets back together, a good friend of mine is going through a divorce and I have been there to listen and support him, my doctor did not have good information for me on Friday. My stress level was over what I was able to handle. I had to be different places for family obligations, the whole picture became overwhelming. I started having chest pains, heart palpitations. It was time for me to slow down. I don't handle stress like I used to. I needed a break. Before I could take a break I ended up on my knees in tears. I really needed a friend that would understand to talk to. I didn't feel there was anyone I could call. I felt like I had when I was suddenly separated after my marriage. Alone and very empty. I felt as though I had fallen into a hole and I could not get out. I needed something.

As I sat in the middle of the floor in tears I made a sudden reach out, I had nothing left to hold onto except my beliefs. I said a prayer. Something I hadn't done in a very long time. I didn't ask for anything I couldn't create for myself but maybe verbalizing it helped.

I asked for the strength to verbalize to my business partner the dire situation the business is in. To be able to reset all the budgets and control where he had run free. So far 4 days later my words have not fallen on deaf ears.

I asked for the strength to support my friend and find positives for him to hold onto. With all he has going on in his life he needed something positive. Today talking to him, many positive things have happened.

The third thing I asked for was to be able to have a certain friend back in my life. Under unusual circumstances that prayer was answered to. I'm not sure how nor do I care. I miss my friend and to have him back in my life would be a good thing.

I sat at my desk at work at 11:19 this morning and came to the realization that what I needed I had done. I don't know if it was my prayers being answered or if I just had the strength in me after some time of being low and it was my way of pulling myself back up. Does it matter?

I am at a point I need to pull out of the melancholy mood that has gripped me this past week. I know what it is stemming from. Mr. Frogman is down to what he and I call the three week count. School is out in 3 weeks and he goes to his dads for the summer. We are down to the time where we will see each other every other weekend for the summer and it becomes very difficult for mom. I am so used to having him with me each and every day that every other weekend is seeming like torture. His dad needs to have time with him too and I know I am being selfish wanting more time with him.

After doing homework this week and getting his projects done. Mr. Frogman and I will go on a much needed bike ride, roller blading session (or more so watch mom fall on her back end session) and spend some quality time together before he leaves. We both know what is coming and he is excited to spend time with his dad and his dad's family, but yet he says he will miss the quiet comforts of home too.

Not sure my point of this post but here it is. I just had to get this out. Whether people understand it or not doesn't matter. I had to get it out of my system.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

When You Least Expect It.....

When you least expect it someone comes into your life that amazes you. People come into your life and go. What you don't realize is that is for the time they are in your life you don't realize their purpose until after they are gone.

I have had someone come into my life suddenly. I have met this person a few times in the past here and there but didn't realize the person I was meeting. I have spent the last 2 days being allowed so to speak to get to know this person.

What amazes me is this person looks you in the eye when you are talking to them. I have the utmost respect for this person. Something that is not easily earned from me.

I enjoy the no BS attitude and the honest retorts in conversation. There is nothing dull in conversation between us.

Mark you are one unique individual that I appreciate spending time with. Thank you for your honesty, respect and friendship.

Not A Full Moon

Somehow with the exception of My Dad, My Son and Sight See'r. Every man in my life has found a way to make me angry or cross the wrong line.

My ex husband, Enough said :)

Another friend who spends a few months not talking to me and then all of a sudden out of the blue doesn't say, "Hi, how are you?" Its "My girl friend wants to email you, what email should I give her?" Wait a second. I'm the friend not the girlfriend don't proceed to tell me I am or not going to do this. I was so frustrated and angry by this. I don't like her why do I have to communicate with her? She has done nothing but force us not to be friends. The only difference is he has allowed it. He made his choice and I feel as though I have lost my friend in this whole situation.

My brother, Trucker, bitching about the smallest things. Today it was his parking space. "Grow Up Big Brother" you can park somewhere else for 20 minutes. It will not kill you to walk an extra 20 feet. He threw a tantrum over a parking place in front of one of my friends. After my friend was gone I chewed him out. It was a huge respect issue.

A second friend thought he would step in and pry where he didnt belong. I chewed him out right away and had to wonder why I was so angry about the situation. I have other reasons that I am choosing not to list here and opinions.

Maybe its just me and maybe I am PMS ing with my hormonal levels. Maybe I have to look at why I have all these men mad at me. Nawww.....its just that they like to irritate me all at the same time. I think men take a class on this. :)

Oh well, the day is over and I am going to put it in the past and let it go.