Other updates

Well, let's see. . . I found a GREAT deal on living room furniture. It was on craigslist.com, which I don't always trust, but we took a chance and got an awesome deal. It's a three year-old couch, love seat and coffee table (coincidentally, it's exactly like what my mother bought and has in her sun room) and we paid $350. It matches our decor, it's comfortable, and it's grown-up! The futon has been relocated to the playroom for the boys. It makes such a difference in our living room to have real, adult furniture. We're not just playing house anymore, and we're not college kids anymore. We're adults. Holy cow. (We did this about three weeks ago, I just forgot to share.)

Our septic tank broke. . . literally, caved in. However, it didn't do this until they had it open to pump it (routine maintenance), so it wasn't so bad. . . as far as a mess goes. Having to have our old one dug out, buy a new one, and get it plumbed and approved by the EPA, that was pretty bad. It wiped out what we had left from our tax refund, but it adds value to the resale of the house and we don't have to worry with it (even to pump) for about 15 years. So that's good.

Today is my last day as a mother to a five year-old. Tomorrow (at 1:16 pm, to be precise), J will turn six. I'm not ready for this. He is so big! I miss my baby, but I love spending time with the person he is becoming. He truly is my best friend (and he says the same of me). Friday, C will be turning 12 - D and I are both not ready for that one! He's been testing the waters of being a teenager for a little bit, primarily channeling that angst and attitude, but it's about to get worse. Lord, give me strength to survive teenage boys! Oy vey!

I've applied for (yet more) jobs with the county school system. There are positions available at the new middle school they are opening in August (where C will be going, no less). I hope I can at least interview. I gave great references - a school board member, a teacher, and the school nurse superintendent. The nurses all plan to argue that I should get the job so they don't have to post a nurse in the school to take care of the diabetics - they all agree I can do that (since C is a diabetic and all). I'm not holding my breath, but that's where we've hoped I could be since they broke ground to build the building. Maybe this is why I haven't gotten any of the other jobs.

Since my clothes won't fold themselves, it's best I get going. Have a wonderful Easter week!

I found my happy place. . . if only I could stay there!

What a whirlwind of a week! Spring Break 2010 was AWESOME. It was a tremendous thrill and blessing to get to introduce my best friend to my other best friend. . . Mickey Mouse. The pleasure I got from sharing my happy place with J is like nothing else I've experienced. Experiencing Walt Disney World through his eyes made it that much more special to me. As much as I wish D and C could/would have gone, I am glad that J and I got to explore it on our terms first. It means more to either of us (primarily me, but he IS my child in that respect) than it does to them, and this time J and I got to call the shots.

What was really cool was Mom took us. We left out early Saturday morning (as in, 6:15 am early) and drove down. We let J figure out where we were going all on his own. I managed to video him when he figured it out. Too cool. Anyway, we get there and Dad calls. He decided he wanted to come too, so he tells Mom he's driving down that night. She convinces him to drive down Sunday instead, which he does. (Does this give you an idea of how much my family loves Disney World? I mean, really.) So Dad ended up down there to do so many things with J for the first time. . . like drive the Speedway, or buy him his first Mickey Mouse head balloon on Main Street, or build his own light saber. Mom and I thought it was terrific that Dad got to do some of the firsts with J that he had done with me 22 years ago on my first visit to Disney.

I took tons of pictures, and so did Mom. This was a wonderful birthday present for both of us (me and J).

This week is going to be insane, trying to catch up and get birthdays done (mine was yesterday, J's is Wednesday and C's is Friday), and then doing Easter and starting baseball (first game is Thursday!). I haven't posted much in a while, and may not get to for a few more days yet, but wanted to share something happy for a change.

I might kill my kids.

Seriously. They need a break from each other for a week or so. I need a break from the fighting for a month or so.

I still don't have a job. I'm applying for ten more this week. No expectations at all any more.

I want a couch. We are maybe looking tonight while the boys are at church. It doesn't have to be nice or pretty, so long as it is more comfortable than our futon.

I have to go. There seems to be yet another problem that could be easily solved by D insisting on respect and common decency by BOTH his sons and not just J.

I need a friggin' drink. . .