So…I’ve noticed its been a while that I’ve blogged.  I know…lazy ass, am I.  God…I’m turning into Yoda.

Let’s see…since last I left you, we’ve had:

• Jake turn 7  (NO!!!)
• parents invade my homestead  (freaky enough…it was actually COOL seeing my Mom)
• football starts  (the 1 thing that helps keep me sane in the fall)
• my house stinks (me being crazy)
• started back in school (me)
• rabbit die  (WTF?!?!?!?  I just spent $200 on that damn thing & this happens.  Damn near broke Lea’s heart)
• an upcoming 12th birthday to celebrate  (oh GOD!!  an ALMOST teen!!  thank the maker its a boy)

Where does the time go anymore?  I so hate the sands falling in that hour-glass.  They suck.

There was already a post about Jake.  So ’nuff said on that topic.

So yeah….my parents were here.  As much as I bitch about my Mom (you know she’s nucking futs, right?) it was AWESOME to see her.  I think I like her.  This is just too creepy for my taste.  Seriously.  Pop is still Pop…annoying, funny & sweet as all hell.  I may be a Daddy’s girl, but I just ADORE my step-dad.  He rocks in so many ways.  And the kids had fun with Nana & Papa.  We did cool stuff.  Pool, eat, play.  It was really weird though to have them here & its not Christmas.  LOL!!  But word has it that they will return this holiday with…..SIBLINGS!!!  EGADS!!!  That’ll be a hoot. 

Football.  Is there anything better?  Peyton, Brett, Eli.  ::SIGH::  But I’m freaking out this year.  No Tony Dungy on the Colts sideline, no John Madden babble or scribble & WTF is going on with The Commish & his “we’re cracking down on you assholes who play this game” policy?  Why is Vick playing again?  More shit I don’t get. 

My house stinks….but only to me.  Its been hot here in Raleigh.  More humid than normal so the house has been closed for weeks now (god i CRAVE fresh air!!) and for me…this place smells so bad.  You’re going to ask me what it smells like, aren’t you?  You know you are, so I’ll tell you.  It smells how you would imagine dust would smell….if it were moldy…..and stale…..and vaguely grandma-ish.  And according to everyone…its in my head.  And it is.  Cause now I smell this smell outside.  In our van.  In my SCHOOL.  So yeah…its my head gone stupid.  I get phantom smells all the time.  Usually either right before or right after a migraine.  Dunno.  Gonna call the Doc & see what’s up.

School.  I.  Am.  Back.  Even though its a PITA, I’m there.  4 classes, 14 more credits.  Math (yuck.), Anthro, History 2 & French 1.  Yes, I realize I studied French in junior high & high school.  I can read French.  I can’t speak it to save my life.  Used to.  Hence the “1″.  It’s hectic.  I’m there M-F from 8-1.  But shit.  Its better than sitting here getting more stupid by the second, letting my brain go to waste.  Besides…its cool I’m not the only old person there.  And as a bonus…I got my Anthro & History teacher back.  Remember I had to drop last semester due to me…almost dying & shit.  And they were happy to see me back.  Which is really nice since I like they’re teaching style & technique.  I’ll have to remember this for when I’m the Professor. 

Ellie died.  I’m pissed & sad.  I JUST bought this bunny a new home & all sorts of shit.  $200 worth.  Don’t know what happened.  The girls went out to feed her & she was (to quote Monty Python…John Cleese is a GOD), “‘E’s not pinin’! ‘E’s passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! ‘E’s expired and gone to meet ‘is maker! ‘E’s a stiff! Bereft of life, ‘e rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed ‘im to the perch ‘e’d be pushing up the daisies! ‘Is metabolic processes are now ‘istory! ‘E’s off the twig! ‘E’s kicked the bucket, ‘e’s shuffled off ‘is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!“….well ex-bunny.  And shit Lea is brokenhearted.  We got her Ellie cause she saved a field bunny from some evil neighborhood boys.  Shit.  I hate this crap.  Pets are so temporary and it kills you when they pass on.  Don’t even get me started on Fred or Ted.  No.

And WTF?!?!?  Another birthday.  UGH!  I’m tired of these teens.  Honestly….it tugs the old heart strings.  I miss them needing me for everything.  They’re pretty much self-sufficient.  So my Gabe will be 12 this Saturday.  He’s a pre-teen…Claudia’s Irish Twin (sibs born 18 months or closer).  He’s getting a golf/chess/UNC birthday.  Lots of cool stuff.  I just can’t believe he’s this old.  Cause that makes me this old.  And we all know how I hate my aging.

So yeah…long ass update, lots going on, many moving parts.  I’ll try to be more timely with my updates.  Keeps ‘em shorter.

And if you could spare a prayer or two….this household needs a turn-around PRONTO.

I’d anticipated the stork’s delivery 2 weeks prior…but alas…the little prince kinda liked his roost & was reluctant to abandon it…at all costs.  After several discussions with the Doc, the date of August 3rd was set.  But due to the full moon & since my delivery wasn’t exactly “medically necessary”, we got the old brush-off.

It wasn’t until late that evening I was called by an apologetic Dr. Grey, who promised I’d be able to gaze into a most heavenly set of eyes on Sunday, August 4th 2002.

Jake & I had already developed a rapport with each other the whole time he was cooking.  I would talk to him & he would resoundingly kick in response.  When I laughed, he would twitch as though he was chuckling right alongside his Mum.

It would be the last of my children.  Loved no more, loved no less.  But had his Mother’s sense of humor, sense of style and keen sense of impeccable timing (not to mention the incredible good looks).

And while his turning 7 makes me swell with pride…all the things he’s been able to accomplish in his short stint on the 3rd rock from the sun….its these same accomplishments that take him just a teensy step further away from being the baby he once was….totally dependent on Mom.  But in those same eyes that I gazed into on that sultry afternoon 7 years ago….I can see the amazing potential and brilliancy that will one day take him far beyond his Mother’s grasp.

Time and tide wait for no man or Mom for that matter.  Its bittersweet watching him grow and everyday has been a pleasure and a joy-ride.

Thank you, my Jake for all the laughs, for all the hugs, for all the kisses, for all the fun.  No matter how old you get…you’ll always be my baby boy…my Boo-Boo-Kitty.

Happy 7th Birthday Boo-Boo.

Eternally grateful and with undying love and support,
Mommy

I’ve come to a conclusion…as I approach what will be my 37th trip ’round the big old yellow ball in the sky…that every day is going to be SOMETHING.  Who knows?  Dunno.  But I will come up with an idea…let me keep writing.

There is method to my madness.  (Note to Peanut Gallery:  HUSH!  You know who you are)

Today I decided that it was Cuban Dinner Saturday.  So I did what I think I do best.  (Note to Kristin:  No…not THAT!)  I cook.  And any man who can attest to being able to hold my fancy for long, hasn’t remained thin whilst in said company.

So yes…Cuban Dinner Saturday.  Replete with picadillO (Carlos likes to make sure I am grammatically correct in my latin diction), congris, croquetas de jamon, yuca, plantanitos, cuban crackers y ensalada.  (And because for some strange reason…they, meaning most Cubans I’ve known, use correct Cuban terminology on everything…except crackers.  Why?  Dunno.)  We even had little plantain chips.  My Abuela would be very proud.

And probably happy cause she just got home from a cruise with my Abuelo, Tia Julie, Tio Juan, Pop & Mom.  So she wouldn’t have to cook.    I love my Abuela.

Dessert was Banana Creme Pie, courtesy of Marie Callendars (I miss living on the West Coast sometimes….I said some.)

Like I said…this coming November 25th will officially mark my 37th trip.  They seem to get closer & closer to one another each year.  Why is that?  Dunno.

And I ask, why is all the rum gone?  Because we indeed have lack of rum in said abode…and I just thought of the conversation I was having with Dale yesterday.  Why am I thinking of it today?  Dunno.  (Besides…I love it when Jack Sparrow says it.  ::SIGH::  Johnny Depp.  Who woulda thunk from 21 Jump Street to a Pirate.  Weird how the gears in life work out sometimes, right?)

I’m telling you…there IS method to my madness.  Yes, there is Kris…hush already.  Before I have to duct-tape you.  And I’m a Southerner so you KNOW its in my tool box.  And glove compartment.  And kitchen junk drawer.  And on my dresser.  And in the laundry room.  Yeah…I think that’s about it.

Its been an arduous year in the life of Me.  6 bouts of pneumonia, 2 surgical procedures, 4 hospital vacations, 10 hospital visits, probably about 100 meds filled and now 1 nasty case of bronchitis.  Did I mention the 2 near brushes with death?

Yeah…I’m a maverick.  And no, I’m not stealing it from the McCain ‘09 Campaign.  Just read along more & learn.

I’ve always lived each day to the satisfaction of someone else.  My mother.  My brother.  My sister.  My Dad.  My Pop.  The kids.  The ex.  Old bosses.  The mechanic.  Former In-Laws.  Friends.  Bill collectors.  You follow the wash.

Being the eldest in my household, and being the daughter of my parents…there came a certain level of responsibility & duty.  And while I shirked my share of it from time to time…I’ve always come back to toe the line.  And somewhere along the way….I lost that joie de vivre that made me unmistakably me.

And with all I’ve endured this year….I miss me.  And as Cache Seel just so eloquently put it, “Life sucks.  But the alternative is unacceptable”.  (Why yes, my dear Discovery Channel viewer friend, I AM watching Deadliest Catch right now, thanks for asking!)

So here I am….full circle.  Back to my original thought and main post (Yes…I have gone off on a tangent…no, don’t look at me like that).  I’m trying to make everyday SOMETHING.  Be it a meal.  A way to clean the house.  A music groove.  A movie marathon.  A channel watching.  Weather chasing.  Read a Blue Book.  An indoor picnic.  Whatever.

And since I’m still in a cooking mood…tomorrow is SOUTHERN FISH-FRY SUNDAY.  Yes…I realize I’ve done lots of fried shit this weekend.  I also drank Pabst reminiscing about my Dad, and stealing beers from him & my Grandpa & Uncle’s while they didn’t know I was doing it.  Did I mention I was like 4?  Yeah…I was cool even back then.  And I’m back on the yoga in the morning.  I promise. With my mother coming up here in a few weeks…I don’t need no shit about the size of my ass when she first walks through the door.  I still know who to be afraid of in this world.  And her initals are:  ETM (remember…she did marry Pop…and now she’s a Martinez)

I guess I’m sitting here cracking jokes & shit…but still trying to tell you dear reader, to make everyday memorable.

Even if it is just a bit silly to those around you, make everyday count.

…to my friend, my mentor, my father, my Boss.

Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night.

I miss you like hell.

OK, so things here in the hacienda aren’t back to the status quo.  DC is still unemployed (and I’m terrified about what will happen if he doesn’t procure employment & October gets here…that money runs out), and I’m waiting to hear back on my financial aid.  I filed about 5 days late because I was in the hospital…again.  And when I was sent my verification packet, I did all that & sent it in within the allotted time.

Having checked on my FA every day since about mid-June, I’ve got nothing.  Nada.  Zip.  Zilch.

Now…I’m panicking.  Fall ‘09 semester is rapidly approaching and I’ve got nothing to pay my classes with.  And the fact that I had to drop all my courses this past Spring, they’re being assholes.  They don’t know IF they’ll put a hold on my classes (which means I may lose cause this campus is now getting crowded) and IF they approve my FA, I’m going to have to pay out of pocket for the Spring & wait for a reimbursement once all the Fall grades post.

It doesn’t matter that I was on the Dean’s List, doesn’t matter that I was recommended for the honors program.  They’re just pissed that I dropped in Spring & they don’t care that I almost took the “long dirt nap”……twice.

Considerate of them to be so understanding, huh?

On the medical front, my MD is battling my health insurance for everything.  They don’t want to cover my reduction, they don’t want to cover a new MRI of my lower back, they didn’t cover my last visit to the PT (which I have to go see because its part of the recommendation process).

I will applaud myself because I haven’t been back in the hospital since May.  Which is wonderful.  Sad that I’m excited over that.

Otherwise, kids are back in school & loving it.  And my parents will be here sometime in August (which I am SERIOUSLY dreading).

That’s the update & I am out of here.

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UPDATE: Just received word from my FA counselor that they’re going to hold my classes & I should report to school on August 17th!!  AND the insurance thing is being looked into by the HR contact for Union Pacific.  WOOHOO!!  Maybe things ARE looking up!!

Since I don’t want to post about all the crappity-crap-crap going on in my life any longer (because it seems the more I bitch about it, the more it seems to pile up…seriously), I’m going to do one of them answer quiz things you find all over Facebook.

Yeah…I know….boring.  But the alternative is even worse.  So here we go.

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1.)  Seven states you’ve been to?
FL, CA, NV, NC, AZ, TX, LA

2.)  Six things you’ve done today.
put crap in the dryer, put in a load of laundry, got Jake dressed, brushed Lea’s hair, brushed Jake’s hair, logged into Facebook

3.)  Five favorite things in no order
my friends, my kids, history, facebook, my cell phone

4.)  Four people you last talked to
Mom, Pop, Bubba, DC

5.)  Three wishes?
for DC to find a good job, my FA to get approved TOTALLY, to feel better mentally

6.)  Two things you want to be when you grow up?
history professor, egyptian paleoanthropologist/archaeologist

7.)  Has anyone ever tried to ruin a relationship you were in?
Yes

8.)  This survey gets a little personal .. can you handle it?
Sure

9.)  When were you last picked up from the ground?
It has to be a while now.  I think it was when I fell on the floor in the garage.

10.)  When did you last go in a car with a boy/girl?
Yesterday.  Dale drove me to my PT appointment.

11.)  When were you on the phone last and with who?
The other day & it was with both my mom & pop

12.)  What are you excited for?
Well, I was excited for the upcoming school semester…but FA is being stupid.

13.)  Are you scared to fall in love?
Nope.

14.)  How fast does your mood change?
Too quickly.

15.)  I bet you miss someone today?
I do.

16.)  Can you honestly say you’re okay right now?
If by OK you mean, being broke, having only 1 car that works currently, not knowing when my FA will get approved, wondering how much longer it’ll be before DC finds a new job…then yes, I’m OK.

17.)  What were you doing at 4am?
I think I got up to get a drink.

18.)  Where do you live?
Raleigh, NC.

19.)  What do you drive?
A 2000 Nissan Quest

20.)  Are you a jealous person?
Nope.  I feel you can do what you want.  Its your life & you’ll have to live with the repercussions of your actions.

21.)  What are you listening to?
The ending credit music to Harry Potter.

22.)  Would you go in public looking like you do right now?
Yeah, but I’m pretty sure I’d get arrested, since I don’t have any pants on.

23.)  Is there someone in your life that can always make you smile?
My kids.

24.)  What’s something you really want right now?
More than I want to go back to school, I want DC to get a job.  I feel better when he feels better.  And right now we’re both caught in a vicious cycle of making the other feel worse.

25.)  Are you slowly drifting away from someone?
Yes & no.

26.)  Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?
Depends on my mood.

27.)  When is the last time you saw your sister(s)?
Like 5 years now?  We don’t see one another because she lives in Miami.  But she’s also dating an incredible butthead, so even if I WERE in Miami, I wouldn’t see her.

28.)  Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you?
Oh yeah!  Famous:  Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio.  Non-famous:  Todd, my niece Amber & my great-nephew Julian.

29.)  Where did you get the shirt you’re wearing right now?
Old Navy.  That’s where I get most of the shit I wear.

30.)  What are you doing this week?
Being depressed, playing Sims, trying to clean the house, go bitch to Sprint

31.)  Do you put ketchup on top of your french fries or on the side?
On the side.

32.)  How many 20 dollar bills do you have on you right now?
None.

33.)  How is your relationship with your mother?
Dysfunctional is a good term for our relationship.  Tense is another good way to describe our relationship.

34.)  Does anybody hate you?
Not that I know of.

35.)  Ever been out past your curfew?
I was known to ALWAYS bust my curfew. 

36.)  Anyone of the opposite sex been on your mind lately?
Yep.  But not in that sex/love way.  Cause I’ve been thinking about my Bubba

37.)  Are you nice to everyone?
I try to be.

38.)  Do you like funny people or serious people?
Both.

39.)  What is your biggest regret?
I’m going to plead the 5th on this one.

40.)  Would you ever date someone who was gorgeous but they had a conceited attitude?
Nope.

41.)  Expecting something to change in the next month?
I’m hoping something will change, but I’m not holding my breath.

42.)  Yesterday night, what did you do?
Pretty much cried myself to sleep.

43.)  What is your favorite color?
Black…it matches my mood.

44.)  If you were kicked out of your current residence whom would you call?
My mother….unfortunately.

Everything in life is cyclical.  Its a proven fact.  Climate change, religion, fashion, etc.

So here I sit.  On the eve of my children’s first “OFFICIAL”  concert, it takes me back to my old high school days.  Billy Idol, Whitesnake, Bad Company, Right Said Fred (yes…I actually went to that one, I am ashamed to say…and some of my Face Booking friends did too…LOL!), The Monkees, Weird Al Yankovic, Wham! (another of those WTF moments now that I’m older…), Chicago & Zeppelin (which I don’t actually remember, since I was an infant at the time…proof positive that my mother & father are both morons) & not to mention countless others that have come between infancy & now.

And tomorrow the kids will be introduced to something far cooler than Wham!;  That was my first REAL concert I did, that I really, really, REALLY wanted to go to & desperately tried to win tickets from Y-100 for days on end…only to find out that my mother got the tickets for us to go with Dale (not DC, but my other Dale friend) at Bobby Maduro Stadium.

While I was as happy as a june-bug to see Katrina & The Waves along with Wham!, I’ll admit…I’m a far cooler Mom than my own mother (and there are countless of you out there who can attest to this theory!)

Living in Raleigh not only gave us the opportunity to live in one of the most historic parts of the United States (13 colonies ROCK!), its greatly improved the children’s educations (and lets face it…you can get a better education reading billboards along the interstate than you can in most Southern California school systems), it will help with their future schooling (as we have some of the BEST colleges all conveniently located within like, 30 minutes of one another!), they also offer a wicked, FREE concert series in the summer down at Moore Square Park.

Now I know that there will be like TONS of people there & its supposed to be about a million degrees, but that will not deter me on my quest to educate my children in the School of Rock-n-Roll.  (See…I’m a COOL MOM)

While they will be introduced to some local bands & such, which is always a good thing because EVERYONE should have a diversified musical profile, the headliner is none other than Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.  Yes, they will be rocking out to “I Love Rock N’ Roll”,  “Crimson and Clover”, “I Hate Myself for Loving You” & “Bad Reputation”, just to name a few.  The kids have been rocking out to “Bad Reputation” since its on Rock Band & cannot WAIT to experience it all LIVE & IN PERSON.

It’s kinda cool, watching my progeny follow in my footsteps.  And tomorrow, they will come out tired, sunburned & hopefully extremely satisfied.

LONG LIVE ROCK-N-ROLL!!

July 4th is right around the corner and I’ve never been more depressed or upset.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty much the most patriotic person I know, with Presidential legacies and all.

And usually on July 4th, since moving to Raleigh, we’ve spent the 4th at a Carolina Mudcats game, celebrating America’s greatest game (that’s debatable…at least on my part), but hot dogs, sodas, ice cream, patriotic music & fireworks.

But this year, since the pool opening party here in Hedingham wasn’t on Memorial Day weekend like it was supposed to…the Board decided to move the party to the 4th.

While I’ve done an event without The Boss…this will be one of my BIG events without The Boss.  And holy hell…do I feel lost.

How many trays of baked beans?  How many of green beans?  Do I do potato salad or cole slaw?  Pudding?  Fresh fruit?  What about the chicken?  And I know I can’t forget the hot dogs.  I did bring back the sno-cones, though.  And NO GRILLING (even though I really, really want to…)

Why did you leave me and not give me any notes on this shit?  All you ever said was, “you do your part & I’ll do mine”.  Well hell, that shit doesn’t help me now.  What do I know of setting the racks?  I mean…I know Lou will be there…but he’s not you.  And as much as I love him….and as much of a help he’ll be….its not you.

I have put this off till the last minute…I know, I know, I KNOW!!  And I’m so at a loss.  I’ll start tomorrow…I promise.

And just for the record…I still miss the arguing.

Yes, I have great lookin chillins (that’s what they’re called here in the South).  But that’s not the reason for this post.

All of my children attend year-round schools (which are AWESOME) and they are currently tracked out until July 7th.  Its nice, they get 9 weeks of school then a 3 week or 4 week vacay (it alternates).

So since we’ve got 4 of the kids home 24/7, there are only so many sessions of Rock Band, Zelda, Mario Party, Sims Racing, Ghostbusters, Call of Duty 3, SimAnimals & the like we can take in this household.  There is only 1 family TV and they’ve got the Wii hooked up to it.  And NO ONE watches my TV (yes…I’m stingy with my toys…I don’t share well.  Oh & I just got Obscure: The Aftermath & if anyone knows how to get out of the frat house…I’d appreciate a tip or two.  Thanks.)

Anywho…the point of this post.  Those two you see to the left of this post kept pestering me & DC wondering what a blog is, what purpose does it serve & can they have one.

So not wanting to be the uncool parents, we relented and gave them each their own blog.

Claudia, the one who looks a hell-a-lot like me & my sister can be found at:  Claudia’s Thoughts.  She’s very handy with writing, I know she has several of those spiral notebooks filled with stories, poems & SONGS.  Yep, my 13 year old progeny writes songs.  But check her’s out.  Right now its a little “Pepto” for my taste…but there are design changes in the future.  It’ll be cute.

Gabe, the 4.5lb kid who has a question for every answer we give also had to have his own blog & you can find him at: Video Game Inc.  Which knowing my son, is very apropos.  If they could mainline Zelda, my son would be more of a junkie than he already is.  Stop by and see his stuff.  I dig the original Mario theme, cause I learned to kick ASS on that game back in the day. 

Mostly, they just wanted an outlet, to vent, chat, question, etc.  And don’t we all?  I love the idea of blogs and have since DC turned me on to them eons ago.  (Sometimes I write some pretty funny stuff…other times…not so much).  But stop by, let them know you were there.  They’ll appreciate it.

And I’ll appreciate the break from the Wii.  It’ll give me a chance to play a game or two. 

Two birds, one stone.  This is me thinking.  Scary, huh?

What, you thought I was being mysterious?  You should know better.  I was being quite literal.

The house has been completely rearranged.  Why?  Because I am an enigma wrapped in a straight-jacket.  Seriously.

We have impending visits coming up….Auntie Kristin will be here Wednesday.  And the Male Parental Unit will be here in 2 weeks.  Thus, being the southern woman that I am…the house has to be immaculate.

Yes, even though I’m sicker than shit.  Which is what I am this morning, for some ungodly reason.

Right now the house is a bee-hive of excitement, everyone working on some chore or another.  Claudia is currently cleaning the bathroom (theirs) and will be cleaning the kitchen immediately there after (or I will be forced to kill her).

Gabe is working on his laundry…which is fun in itself to watch.  The boy will never get a job in a laundromat.

Lea is in the process of cleaning out her rabbit cage while Pop is cleaning the garage and doing my bird-cage.

Jake….he’s still trying to finish his breakfast.  He’ll do anything to get out of doing chores.

The only things left are to run the vacuum cleaner, sweep & mop floors and clean the ceiling fans & AC vents.

Yes, when folks come to visit…I clean like a mad woman…which is what I am.

I had planned on going to the pool today, since the temps should be near 90, but feeling as sick as I do…I think I’ll use my “get out of jail free” card.  I feel like doo-doo.  I think I woke up about 2:30AM with a horrible stomach ache and haven’t been back to sleep since.

Since I feel like the Queen of the Damned (and being the mother of 4 willfull, disobedient morons…I think I qualify HIGHLY) and am sicker than all jeebus, I think since I worked my ass off yesterday cleaning my room & the livingroom…I deserve the day off.  I think I’ll sit in bed, getting in my daily fix (Facebook is sooooooooooo addicting) and possibly taking in some of my favorite HBO show “TrueBlood” (good God, I love all them Vampires…especially Eric the Viking).

I hope you are having a better day than I am.  Until later on…..live long & prosper.  (That was just for DC).

Oh & yeah….them’s MY photographic skills going on in that there photo.  You can say it…I’m cool.