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| Monday, May 22, 2006 |
| I thought it ended with the kids! |
I took the day off work today to take the puppy to the vet. Can you believe it? The puppy has a cough. He also needed a regular check up. So I took him to the vet. To give you an idea of how small this puppy is, he weighed in at 3.8lbs. The vet says the puppy is healthy and that they sometimes come down with these types of things.
I also have a sick kid...she has an appointment at the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully I should be able to go to work though. |
posted by Raven @ 11:06 PM  |
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| Wednesday, May 17, 2006 |
| Tagged...I'm it... |
I asked for it and I got it. Redneck gave me the letter M...so here is my contribution to the mangling of the English language. If you feel the need to contribute, leave a request for a letter in the comments section and I will read you online aura and assign you one. The rules are you must write 10 words that begin with the letter you are assigned and then explain the significance of that letter.
M is for Mother. Something I am many times over. I have 2 daughters, 2 step-daughters, and a step-son. I became a mother at the age of 20. At the time I was relativelyy happily married to  my first husband. A little over year later I became a mother again and 6 weeks after that I became a single mother. Fast Forward several years I met my husband and became a step-mother. Hubby loses his job and suddenly I became a married single mother. The word mother also comes into play quite a bit when I am driving. Road Rage is my friend.
My kids have a very healthy vocabulary of swear words should they ever decide to use it...out of my hearing of course.
M is for meander. I pretty much just meander through life. I have no real set goals. I am not one that has a life plan. I enjoy doing things by the seat of my pants. Many people I know can not relate to this type of philosophy, but it's what makes me happy. Imagine looking back in 5 years and happily saying, oh look...I accomplished this and this and this. The type with the life plan, if something goes off track look back and say, well I didn't get this done and this is still behind and I didn't get as big a raise as I wanted. 
On the other hand, in my old age I will probably be one of those people working at Walmart asking if you would like a cart and living on cat food.
M is for Malcontent. I don't like the word no. While as a mother I say the word quite often I don't think I ever grew up enough to here the word directed at me. Now don't get me wrong, I can handle rejection, and I'm not spoiled and need things to be my way. The word no though, it gets under my skin. For example, one company I was working for was having issues with a work flow process. Now I am not in IT but I do know a little about coding. I knew that writing around 10 more lines of code, enough to add a nother process to the flow and it would resolve the problems. I was told no, we are not adding any customizations to the software. So, instead we had software that really did not work for us. I also don't like the term I don't know. My kids know they should preface that statement by saying I will find out the answer.
M is for Mask. My husband suggested this one. I have a definite mask in place for most of the world to see. I have worked very hard to get that mask of being a hard hearted bitch in place. Only a few chosen people get to see the real me, or those that knew me before the mask was complete. My husband likes to point out that underneath that mask I am as gooey as a cooked marshmallow. I keep telling him if he lets that get out I'm going to show him a few other hard things applied to different points on his anatomy!
M is for Medieval. I love history. I detested the subject in school, but since then I have really taken a liking to the subject. In school they teach history as war to war. There is so much in between. Guess where I first started to learn bits and realized I wanted to know more? Come on take a guess...romance novels. Many of the historical ones are based around actual events. Many of the classes we took in school also only concentrate on America or Europe. The world is a huge place, there is more to it than those small sections. For instance, do you know what was happening in Turkey while Christopher Columbus was discovering America? I do.
 M is for Milk and Cookies. I know, it's not one word...but it starts with it. I had to include it because it is one of my all time favorite snacks. I love Oreos and milk. At Christmas I make chocolate chip cookies and eat them with milk. Another part of me that I guess never grew up. Because of Weight Watchers, I don't indulge in this as much as I would like. While there are the 100 calorie packs of Oreos, they just aren't the same.
M is for meteor. I've always had afascinationn with space. Even with the different space shuttle disasters, if they were looking for another ordinary citizen to go into space, I would jump at the chance. Since the Challenger exploded in 1986, the chance of that happening are pretty much nil in my lifetime. One of my personalhero'ss is Christa McAuliffe, the teacher who died on that shuttle mission. Her dedication to space and to teaching are an inspiration to me.
M is for MBA. Which I have, but so far have done nothing with. In today's job market it is almost essential to have this to get a job doing anything. Even teaching jobs at the local community college takes a doctorate. Where are these jobs our government have promised us with a recovering job market? We aren't seeing it here in my little section of the world. Right now my MBA is just a nice thing to put on y resume, but it doesn't have any real value. Maybe later, when and if things improve I'll be able to put it to use.
M is for movies. Flannery did a whole entry on how she and her family are giving up movies. She is a better person than me. I have a whole list on my wall at work with the movies I want to see and the dates they come out. Here is my list, though a few of them I'vealreadyy seen. United 93, RV, Akeelah and the Bee, MI3, Da Vinci Code,Poseidonn, X3, Superman Returns. I'm sure there are more but that's it for now. The thing I hate most about summer movies is I don't have a big coat to sneak candy into the movie in. I have to try and cram it in my purse. That is, if I take candy. Many times, thanks to Weight Watchers, I forgo the candy and just get a small popcorn and a water. I really miss youth and the hummingbird metabolism that comes with it!
M is for Mini Doxie. My last entry was about the new member of the family we picked up last Saturday. His name is Fritz and he is adorable. I will post more pictures when we find the digital camera. I forgot though about how much a puppy is like a new baby. It makes me realize how glad I am that I had my children young and when I married Hubby (who is 17 years older than me) he did not want any more children. Fritz wakes up in the middle of the night wanting to play, taken outside, eat...just like a new baby with the exception of going outside, substitute a new diaper there. He gets into things he shouldn't, stumbles around a lot. Annoys his sisters (the cats). He is also so cute you can't stay mad at him. My daughters got a glimpse of what parenthood is like when you are upset with a child and they give you a look and you heart just melts. I explained that is built in because if it wasn't no child would live past the age of 3.
That's it...those are my 10 words. All done while I was work today. Well, at least it kept me busy! |
| posted by Raven @ 9:06 AM |
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| Sunday, May 07, 2006 |
| New Member of the Family |
This is Fritz...we are picking him up next Saturday. He is a mini doxie and cute as a button! |
| posted by Raven @ 9:59 PM |
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| Tuesday, May 02, 2006 |
| Small Town Cops, Temper Tantrums, and the DMV |
Here's a fun story out of my life. This starts back last June...I got a speeding ticket in North Ridgeville, a small town not to far from my home. Not a big deal, I get them because of my lead foot. So I pay the fine and go on my merry way. Fast Forward to last Sunday. I am going around to pick up my youngest's little friends, we are going out to an anime convention at the local community college. A cop in my little town clocks me doing 42 in a 25 (I have lived here most of my life and I never knew that section was 25, I thought it was 35). Ok he pulls me over and asks for all the usual documentation. I hand it over and then wait. Thankfully we had not actually picked anyone up yet. Considering the amount of speeding tickets I've had in my life this seems to be taking a long time. Suddenly I see another police car pull up. Uh-oh...
The first cop comes back up and tells me that my license has been suspended...WHAT? For what? I don't drink and drive, I always pay my tickets. Well, it seems when I got that ticket back in June the cop in North Ridgeville forgot to check the box that says I showed proof of insurance. Now why I would think that a police department that can't find a dead body would be able to check the correct boxes I don't know...but I was completely floored.
I immediately called my husband and told him to go get my mom and come get me and mom could drive the car back.
Now considering the last month that I've had, I've held it together pretty well. This was the straw that broke the Raven's back. I let the cops have it with both barrels. They were writing me a ticket for speeding and driving with a suspended license. I went nuts. I don't even remember everything I said...but I was pretty pissy.
Hubby shows up with my mom in tow. I get out of the car and start ranting at them about the North Ridgeville cops. At this point I am really really mad. I kicked the back tire on the van...twice. Not a smart move. It's now Tuesday and my big toe still hurts.
We get in the van, finish picking up the kids, drive home. I switch cars and then head out to the anime convention (yes I drove...I'd been driving for 5 months with it suspended what's another couple of days.)
Monday I call the DMV, they tell me that they sent me a letter letting me know they were suspending my license. What letter, I didn't get a letter? And how the hell do you prove you didn't get a letter if they don't send it registered or it goes back to them? Then they tell me that I can mail the information to them in Columbus (7 or 10 days) or I can go to one of the reinstatement centers in Parma, Canton, or Toledo. None of these are anywhere close to where I work or live. Goody! So I call my insurance agent. He faxes me proof that I had insurance at the time of ticket and I leave work early (and I'm trying to get a promotion right now too...this is lovely) to drive to Parma. I get there with 4 minutes to spare, show them the proof of insurance, they give me a letter stating I am in compliance with state law.
So, then I get up and go to court today. Thinking this will all be taken care of because I have this piece of paper...wrong. First I should note here that I insisted on a early court date because not only is my license suspended but they have my only form of ID and all of my credit cards and debit card say See ID on them. So I am reduced to cash transactions only.
I get to court and see the prosecutor, I show him the piece of paper and he says they will take it in front of the judge. I think good, I'll get out of quicker and back to work. I get up there and the prosecutor tries to say that the piece of paper just says I am in compliance, not that I actually had insurance. While I pick up my jaw off the floor I am thinking, "You prick! The State of Ohio says I'm in compliance...you should to." Well the DMV took my proof for their files and I didn't think to ask for a copy since I had that piece of paper. Fine, I looked at the judge and said give me a fax number and I will have my insurance agent fax it over right now. They give me the fax number for the clerk of courts and said when it is faxed back they will bring it back before the judge. I call, insurance agent says he will have it there in 5 minutes.
THEY THEN TAKE ME BACK AND TAKE A MUG SHOT AND FINGERPRINT ME!!!
(Sigh)
By the time they are done treating me like a felon the paperwork is back in front of the judge. The Prick Prosecutor states that the insurance agent didn't write a letter just faxed over documentation showing I've had insurance since June 1, 2005 to present. Considering that the ticket was on June 2nd this shows I allegedly had insurance. ALLEGED...my ass you prick. He also told the judge about my behavior with the police. (oops) Well, I told the judge about my crappy month and also told him that I had apologized to both police officers, one on voicemail and the other while he was FINGERPRINTING ME!!! The judge dropped the suspended license part and fined me for the speeding.
So that was the early part of my week. How's your's so far? |
| posted by Raven @ 10:01 PM |
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| Monday, May 01, 2006 |
| Just for you Redneck! |
PERSONAL
1. Nervous habits?
Not really. I have a tendency to try and destroy inanimate objects when I'm mad though. Hence a sprain toe at the moment from kicking the back tire of the van yesterday.
2. Are you double jointed?
My fingers. I can bend them so far back they almost touch my wrist. A real useful talent that.
3. Can you roll your tongue?
Nope, another useful talent I missed out on.
4. Can you raise one eyebrow at a time?
Oh yeah...much to the dismay of my parents, teachers, children, and several people who have annoyed me over the years.
5. Can you blow spit bubbles?
Ewww, and why would I even try?
6. Can you cross your eyes?
Yep, but I stopped when the wind started to change and they almost got stuck like that.
7. Tattoos?
OK, only a few select people (plus another 2700 at the Spencer Tunick photo shoot) have seen my tattoo. It is a pair of puckered lips that sit high up on my right butt cheek. I'm thinking about getting another one when I reach my goal weight. I have to screw up my courage again though.
8. Piercings?
Just my ears, they are double pierced. The double piercing is pretty knew. I took my youngest in to get her ears double pierced. Walking into Claire's I felt old...as anyone over the age of 15 would in that place. So I decided to get mine done spur of the moment.
9. Do you make your bed daily?
I try, but sometimes it just seems so pointless.
CLOTHES
10. Which shoe goes on first?
Which ever one I find first. They tend to be scattered about my house.
11. Speaking of shoes, have you ever thrown one at anyone?
Hmmm, maybe in joking. I know I've thrown a coffee pot at my ex once (unfortunately not full of coffee at the time.)
12. On the average, how much money do you carry?
Usually somewhere between 11 cents and $5. My hubby gets a little upset about this. I tell him that's what plastic is for...this makes him more upset. (I have so much fun getting his goat at times)
13. What jewelry do you wear 24/7?
Wedding ring, engagement ring and a series of necklaces that I cycle through depending on my mood. I have one that is a Wiccan star, another that is a fairy, a floating diamond, a heart made of amethyst...
14. Favorite piece of clothing?
Well, depends on where and when I am. Home...nothing or lounging clothes if the step kids are around. Work...I do not have a favorite...I hate them all. Weekends and evening out...my jeans.
15. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
Twirl and twirl and twirl, until I get the whole damn plate of s'ghetti on that fork then try to shove it my mouth.
16. Have you ever eaten Spam? You kiddin?
Ewww, no. I don't eat things I don't recognized and tell what food group it belongs in.
17. Do you use extra salt on your food?
Oh yeah...I love salt, much to my hubby dismay. My blood pressure averages somewhere around sleeping and death (90/60) so I eat lots of salt to make up for it. I salt things like leftover pizza and toast.
18. How many cereals in your cabinet?
OK, this question needs to be more specific. Are we talking cereal I would eat, or all of the cereals in the cereal cabinet? There are two in the cabinet that I would eat. I just bought a generic bag of puffed rice and a box of Kix. The rest are like Golden Crisp, Cocoa Crispies, and some other sugar coated crap I won't touch. I did go grocery shopping last night and bought only healthy stuff that is sitting in my pantry right now... more Kix, Cheerios, and Rice Chex.
19. What's your favorite beverage?
Reisling wine...but since I can't drink much of that...Especially before I go to work...I would have to answer tea...hot or cold...I don't care.
20. What's your favorite fast food restaurant?
Wendy's...I love their hambugers. Especially with extra mustard and pickle. And their fries are to die for.
21. Do you cook?
OK, again this needs to be more specific. Can I cook? Yes I can cook. Will I cook? Only if the children back me into a corner and get past the whip. I don't like cooking that much. Baking is a whole nother thing though. I love to bake. You should see me at Christmas time!!
22. How often do you brush your teeth?
Twice a day...morning and evening. I tried the thing of taking my toothbrush to work, but things got soggy, the toothbrush didn't dry out...it was just icky.
23. Hair drying method?
Towel dry when I get out of the shower. Then I put goop in it to help the curl along a little...then I wait. It dries eventually.
24. Have you ever colored/highlighted your hair?
Yes, I used to try and dye or highlight my hair to hide the gray. Now I realize my gray doesn't hold dye more than a couple of days so I gave up on that. Now I dye it just for fun. I occasionally like to make myself a redhead. I keep threatening to go blonde.
MANNERS
25. Do you swear?
Fuck no...I have kids in the house.
26. Do you ever spit?
Ewwww...no.
FAVORITE
27. Animal?
Cats...dogs...anoles...small children...ummm just about anything.
28. Food?
All sorts of things I can't eat on Weight Watchers...at least not enough. Oreos, M&M's, potato pancakes, porterhouse steaks. Sigh, think I'll get out my Weight Watcher's yogurt.
29. Month?
April, generally it's started getting warm but all of the yucky creepy crawlies haven't come out yet.
30. Day? Thursdays...the day hubby comes home from Albany.
31. Cartoon?
There was this one cartoon when I was a kid that I just loved. I was called G-Force. It was early anime stuff. I've seen it recycled a few times since then, never the same name, but it was about these teenagers...dressed like birds...in a a ship that was kind of shaped like the SR-71. The youngest one had a serious speech impediment including clicks and trillions. My second favorites was Grape Ape.
32. Shoe brand? Shhh...I try to be socially conscious...so don't tell anyone...plus I haven't bought any in years...but I really like Reebock...Like I said don't tell anyone.
33. Subject in school? Well, I would have said art but I had this teacher...He was my art teacher all through junior high and I could not stand him. I could not wait to get to high school to learn from someone else. I took 3 art classes my freshman year. Low and behold, the same teacher transferred to the high school that year and I had him for all three classes. So, I would have to say creative writing. I enjoyed the subject and the teacher was the best male eye candy we had in the school.
34. Color? Purple...so much so my car is purple and the license plate says REDNBLU...the the uncreative people in the world ask me what that means.
35. Sport? Football!!! Go Broncos!!!!!
36. TV shows? I didn't used to watch much TV but my hubby's bad habits are rubbing off on me. I also tend to have a book in my hands or crocheting or needlepoint or something. Mondays - Medium Wednesday - Amazing Race Thursday - Survivor, Smallville, CSI, Commander in Chief, Without a Trace Friday - Ghost Whisperer Sunday - Sopranos
37. Thing to do in the spring? Yardwork, spring cleaning, sitting in the sun and realize I made it through another Northeast Ohio winter without going insane.
38. Thing to do in the summer?
Go on vacation, try and soak up as much warmth and sun before fall and winter hit again.
39. Thing to do in the autumn?
Send the kids back to school, dread winter.
40. Thing to do in the winter?
Hibernate, go to a tanning bed, hibernate some more.
IN AND AROUND
41. In the CD player?
CD Player? What's that? I have an iPod Shuffle. It's filled with everything from Billy Joel, Guns 'n Roses, Eagles, Warren Zevon, to Kelly Clarkson.
42. Person you talk most on the phone with?
Hubby every morning, on my way to work, every break and lunch, on my way home from work, and every evening. Granted these calls are generally only 5 to 20 minutes in duration, but it's how we keep in touch being apart 4 days a week.
43. Reading?
Yes, I have been for several years now.
44. Do you regularly check yourself out in store windows/mirrors?
Not if I can help it. I do the general stuff in the bathroom, but beyond that I rather not look at myself. Get's too depressing at times.
45. What color is your bedroom?
Blue...boring old blue...I'm ready for a change. I have to finish the kitchen first though.
46. Do you use an alarm clock?
Nope, Hubby calls me every morning at 5:45 to hear me grunt at him. (I'm not a morning person)
47. Window seat or aisle?
Believe it or not, being claustrophobic, I prefer the window. There is more room because the wall curves out. Plus if I get too bad I can look out the window.
DUMB
48. What's your sleeping position?
usually on my right side...sometimes though...I'm just all over the place.
49. Even in hot weather do you use a blanket?
Yep, I'm always cold. Phoenix in August, 108 degrees...I was wearing jeans.
50. Do you snore?
According to me...no...according to hubby...yes. Who are you going to believe?
51. Do you sleepwalk?
No, thank the gods. My room is at the top of some very wicked stairs.
52. Do you talk in your sleep?
I must, I work in the mornings.
53. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?
Only when I'm really missing hubby...but they know it's a no strings deal.
54. How about with the light on? Well, a closet light because I like to read in bed and the bedside lamp will wake me up if I fall asleep with it on...the closet light is just enough to let me read but not wake me up.
55. Do you fall asleep with the TV or radio on?
Only when hubby is home...he likes to put on the history channel. I keep trying different things to wean him of it, so far no luck.
56. Last interesting person you met?
I have no clue...I met a few relatives at the funeral that were a little strange...does that count? |
| posted by Raven @ 9:49 AM |
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