Which One Would You Want?

Since it is the new year, it is time for the new years resolutions, right? Well, I've never really been one for making them or keeping them. I can't even make a list for a day and stick to it. Anyway, I was looking at bikes because I think it would be good to be more fit. Who knows-maybe I could start biking to work...
While looking on the internet at different bikes (because THAT is good exercise), I found beach cruisers. It kind of sounds like it'd be a buggy or something; since it is already noon on New Years Day, it is way too late to start new resolutions like being fit, right? So maybe I could drive around in a buggy instead! But I looked it up on Wikipedia. As far as I can tell, it is an old-fashioned bike. Wikipedia says that it is only one speed with break pedals rather than hand breaks, but beach bicycles also has multi-speed bikes.
They have a place where you can pick your own color (for future bikes-kind of like a suggestion to the manufacturer).
I like girly colors, so this is the one I picked. I love the pink in the rims! So cute. AND it is on sale. I love a bargain!

XYZ Womens Blue Bike
Originally uploaded by mari_ickes.

Can't you just see me riding around chasing Josh on his vespa?

Um, We Lost the Found Dog

My brother let her out to pee. He says that she ran off. I don't think so. He didn't like her because his dog kept humping her.
I hope she is okay! I think I will go look for her, but I didn't find out that she was gone right away, so I don't know if I'll have any luck.

As if the House wasn't Full Enough

Add another dog. My dad and I were walking my dog and my brother's two dogs when a fourth dog joined us. She was playing with some boys in the neighborhood who said she just came there. Well, we couldn't let her get hit by a car!
So, we put up some signs and now we're waiting for a phone call. Meanwhile, my brother's dog is feeling amorous towards the new dog. That's a bad sign. New puppies isn't what we were going for here....

Happy New Year!

What's the best only good part about having my parents and brother visit for the New Year? The year can only go uphill from here!!

Okay-it isn't that bad, but we are so crowded! 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 kids, and 5 adults. We live in a 2 bedroom, 1 bath house.

Ever hear of a hotel?



That sounds so mean. I feel bad that I feel this way, but I still feel this way so I can't really write anything else.

Um, happy new year!

He was Nice...Kind of...

After our little 'discussion' as to whether or not the patient was coming in, I didn't feel much like talking with the Dr. The patient DID come in, and I helped in the back, with minimal discussion, so that was okay. Then, right before 5:00, he came to the front and told me that Tuesday (January 2nd) was going to be a holiday - because of President Ford's funeral. He said that since we didn't have anyone scheduled and the banks would be closed, we should be too. YAY! 2 days off in a row. Like a normal human!

So, that was nice. But then I had to ask him for my check that pays for my family insurance (he pays me then I pay the insurance). He seemed put out, but I'm supposed to have it by the 1st of the month, which is Monday, and we aren't coming back until Wednesday. Also, last time he didn't pay me on time, he told me I should tell him.

He said that when we get back, we are going to have a meeting (again). I'm quite worried about the meeting. Should I have my letter ready? I feel I should be prepared with some rebuttals or something, but then again, what do I rebut? He doesn't make sense so much of the time!

Suggestions??

When I left, I told him that I'd see him next week. "Yeah. Okay."

Sigh. (again.)

Here's the Latest

Today, I brought Polly to work. I don't think Dr. likes her very much. He came up front, and she was dancing. (She is so cute!) I said, "Do you like my Christmas present?" We talk a little about it and he calls it a kids' toy. I make reference to being a kid. He says, "Well, it is time to grow up."

Um. Okay.

I have listened to my ipod here at work, and he has given me a little radio to listen to, so I'm not sure what the problem would be. Polly is not intrusive.

Then, I told him that the next patient that is coming in is his nephew's girlfriend. He tells me that she is premed. Neat. I then tell him that I don't know if she will be able to get her wisdom teeth extracted today or not because the insurance wants a predetermination on anything over $200. "Well, does she know that?"
"No. I couldn't get ahold of her."
"Is she coming in?"
"As far as I know."
"Now, Mari, don't give me answers like that." (I guess that is another form of I don't know)
"Well, last time I talked to her, she was coming in."
"That answer is even worse." and he walked away.

Sigh.

Being Productive

This is what being productive looks like at my house:

PILATES:
While I am holding the sculpting circle out in front of me and laying on my side, Keira crawls in and out of the hole of the circle. Then time for the bicycle-laying on my side stretching legs forward-she ducks every time my leg goes toward her and I just raise my leg a little higher (so much for isolating the leg in the hip socket...)-Josh likens it to a three stooges skit. Doing the pilates 100 involves lying on my back, stretching my arms out and waving them up and down. Orson (cat) uses this time to get in a few extra pats-he makes sure he is under my hand everytime it comes down. When doing the stomach series with my legs straight up, Scully (dog)decides it is a good time to lay down-under where my legs will be when they come down. As for Wanda(cat), she uses the roll up to jump on my tummy and go for a ride. Nothing like a 20 pound cat on your stomach when trying to sit up. Josh uses this time to ask questions about what he should wear. And Night was sleeping. Of course, when he is awake and I do pilates, he always wants it to be his turn to have the sculpting circle. Anyone wonder why I switched to biphasic sleeping? TO BE ALONE. Isn't pilates supposed to be a relaxing exercise?

LOADING THE DISHWASHER:
I rinse some silverware, put it in the basket. I go to rinse one of the gross cereal bowls that has been sitting out for 3 days; I look down to see Keira has taken out all of the silverware I just loaded. I reload the silverware and distract her with a car. I return to the bowl and decide that we have electrasol. I don't need to scrub. I lean toward the dishwasher to find it closed, locked, and started. Well, it wasn't started. It was set up on the delay to start in an hour. Good thing too, because when I opened it up so more than just 3 pieces of silverware would be washed, I found Orson in the back underneath the bottom basket...

Take a Look at Polly!

I got an idog for Christmas. Her name is Polly. Night and I picked out the name. Like her scarf and hat???

I'm Not Done Yet (this is part 3)

The next day he was just as random and just as surly. One of the patients was complaining to him that his medicare insurance doesn't pay very much. While this patient is in the back, his girlfriend (they are both in their late 70's. very cute) was in the front, and we were talking. Really, she was talking to me, but she talks a lot. Dr. was not working on a procedure that needed my help, so I wasn't hurting anything by talking with the girlfriend.

After the patient left, he mumbled something about the guy's insurance not paying up. He then asked me if the man had paid us. I told him yet-his portion had been paid and that we were still waiting on the insurance (which I had only filed a week before--it usually takes a month for payment). He then went on a rant about how I need to take care of the money situation. THEN he said that I wasn't working the business aspect properly. What was I doing socializing with the patient? I haven't even gotten the money! I shouldn't talk to them-they haven't paid. He then proceeded to tell me that they wouldn't ever pay-he didn't know if he was wasting his time with me or not. He also referred to a file that he said I put on his desk and "wrote off" to be sent to collections...

First of all, not two months ago, he was singing my praises because people enjoy coming to the office because I have a comforting personality and people feel relaxed around me. At that time, being social was good. I wasn't being social for me-she is an old lady that I have nothing in common with that talks and talks and talks and talks. I would've much rather been on-line or even helping in the back...
Secondly, why wouldn't the insurance company pay? What is he on? In fact, the insurance check came in yesterday, for the full amount...
And the file I put on his desk? It was put back there because they want a doctor's narrative-I've sent one in twice and have been rejected twice, which is why I put it on his desk, with a note asking for a narrative. THAT IS NOT WRITING IT OFF AT ALL.

The next day was the last day before Christmas. He was fine, until I went in his office 5 minutes to close to give him his paperwork. He went off on me then too-telling me AGAIN that I wasn't doing a good job with collecting money and that I was just giving him more work to do.
********


Yesterday was my first day back, and I didn't really talk to him nor vice versa for the morning. In the afternoon, he was a little bit nicer-kind of acting like nothing has happened.

I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm keeping myself from writing my letter of resignation. I feel like having it written out then just signing it in front of him one of these days when he is acting so psychotic. Other than this weird time, though, he has been a wonderful boss. It is a good, stable job, and I really shouldn't quit. I really want to, though...

I'm holding out, though, so wish me luck!

Part Two

He then says, "That is something we need to talk about. If you are the office manager, you really need to know more about what is going on."

WHAT? Okay. He wants to hire someone new, so I will be the office manager then; however, I didn't call the meeting-he did; therefore, he should be the one telling me something, right?

He then proceeded to tell me that I am doing a horrible job with collecting money, and it is my fault that the people haven't paid. It is my fault that he can't hire someone new because I haven't been getting enough money into the office. It is my fault that the insurance companies haven't paid what they initially told me that they would. It is my fault that the people that I have been contacting for over 3 months haven't paid.

He also told me that I am supposed to be at the office every morning at 7:45, not 8:00, which is when I get there. Now, let me just tell ya'll that we've had this conversation. He told me-about a month after hiring me-that he was very happy with the work I was doing and that the time I've been showing up to work is fine, as long as I'm ready for the first patient. We RARELY have anyone in the office before 9:00 anyway. I usually show up around 5 till 8. Considering that when I leave in the evening, I leave everything already set up for the next day, I don't think I need OVER AN HOUR to unlock the door and turn on the "open" sign. When I started to remind him that he told me "it was all good," he protested, acted like I was being an insubordinate teenager, and told me, "The work day begins at 7:45." Period. He also made reference to the fact that I should leave everything ready for the morning when I leave in the evening. Excuse me? I do.

I don't usually argue or try to defend myself when something like this happens. I know from being a teacher that when someone is upset, they don't want to hear excuses. They just want the problem fixed. But, he was saying random things and coming out of nowhere. Up to this day, he praised my hard work and quick learning ability. There was no transition, kind of like Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde.

Coupons!

Okay-you know that I am a sucker for a good deal, right? (Well, I am.) I love "cheating" the system and saving money. It isn't really cheating. It is legal and everything. Anyway, there is a website that has a list of coupon codes so you can get a discount on stuff. I love discounts!
Josh and I use restaurant.com all the time! When they are having a good discount (like 70% off --right now!!), you can save sooo much money. We spent $3 at restaurant.com and got $25 worth of food at the local Mexican restaurant. You have to pay attention to the "rules" for each restaurant. Ours was easy-just make sure you tip the server 20% of original total and get two drinks (hello-margaritas!). I don't think that they had to be alcoholic, but anything for the rules, right?! Even without the coupon, you can get $25 for $10, not bad, but not as great as with the coupon!!
The coupon codes website also has discounts for lots and lots of different stores: Best Buy, Target, The Container Store, Best Deal Magazines, etc...

Happy Shopping!

Okay. Here I Go...Part One

It all started last Monday. You will recall, I usually love my boss, the dentist (my manager at the restaurant is another story, but this isn't about him... He (the dentist) has been very strange lately: Mean.

When I first started working for him in March, he was mean to me then. Then he went on vacation for a week, and when he returned, he was soo nice. He's been sooo nice ever since... Until maybe a month ago. He started getting stressed out. Being a dentist is expensive. December and January are very slow months for dentists-at least the two that I've worked for. Even though the patient flow is slow, the bills still roll in. This, in turn, stresses out the dentist.

He took away my coffee. No, this isn't rant about his taking away my coffee, but it is just an example-you can't just take away coffee privileges suddenly -without reason-and act as if you've done nothing wrong...

Okay. So, last Monday, he tells me that we are going to have a meeting. Alrighty. We are a slow office-only employee is me. We don't really NEED to SCHEDULE a meeting, but ok! I'll be there. Then, when I sit down, he says something about what I was going to present at the meeting. Huh? I said it. I have tried to stop my "habit," but god forgive me-I said it. "I don't know."

It isn't like I have a bad habit of saying FUCK around the patients. When asked a question that I do not know the answer to, I foolishly (and apparently uncaringly) say, "I don't know."

...

Back to Normal?

Not really. For a day, I'll be at the dental office; then it is my normal day off; then it is back to work. Then it is the weekend! Then, another day off!!

It won't be normal for awhile, though. My parents are on their way here from Ohio. The main concern is we don't have much room, and they always bring a bunch of shit. We still haven't put away the shit from when Josh's parents were here!!

Happy Holidays!

I'm really struggling at work, but I've not written about it because it frustrates me--and I try not to anger myself by writing about it; I am the QUEEN OF AVOIDANCE.

So, stay tuned. I'm about to go on a rant...

Tickled

Last night, Night spent the night with his grandparents in the hotel (they are visiting for Christmas). Josh's dad told Night, "Your Grandma gets tickled when I brush my teeth."
"Why?"
"Because when I brush them, they are in my hands!" (he wears dentures)
"Can you do that for me?"
Thinking he meant brush his teeth, he says sure and starts to brush his teeth.
"No!" Night protests.
"Oh. I thought you wanted me to brush your teeth."
"I wanted you to TICKLE me with your teeth."

I Took the Magic Pill

and it didn't work. He was still mean to me. I'm thinking about going back to teaching, which is always my alternative when I don't like my current job...
More news about it later. Now I'm off to my other job, where there are more people who have the opportunity to be mean to me, but when they are it isn't as bad!!

New Blogger and Comments

I have heard from some people that the new version of blogger has a problem with the comments. If you find that you are not able to comment, select anonymous and just jot down your name with your comment. Sorry about the inconvenience! Other than the comment thing, I've been pretty happy with the new blogger. I'm having fun changing the template, so look for fun updates!

Dreams

I've been having some weird dreams lately! Last week, I dreamt that my sister got pregnant-with number 4. The thing is, she had her tubes tied. Sharla (my sister) wasn't too upset about it, but I was FURIOUS. You see, my mom got pregnant with me when she had an IUD and had to have it taken out to avoid aborting me. My sister got pregnant with #3 (in real life-not a dream!) when she was on the patch. Both of these methods of contraceptives are 99% effective; I guess the women in my family are prone to that 1%.
So anyway, in my dream, I was FURIOUS because I don't want to get pregnant and by Sharla getting pregnant, I felt that it increased my chances of having another baby. The dream came right before I was due for my depo shot, so maybe that is why I had that one.

Then, the night before last, I dreamt that my mom and I had food poisoning. It was really gross. From the dream, my most vivid memory is of the puke in the toilet looking like huge masses of popcorn...
Anyway, yesterday at work, one of the patients told me a story about how her son and granddaughter got food poisoning from an apple and the doctors didn't figure out what it was for 3 months-the virus survived that long! Isn't it kind of random that I had a dream about that the night before she told me the story??

Look What I Found!

Since today was such a boring day at work (who wouldn't want to be at the dentist's office during the Christmas season? It makes no since!), I had lots of time to explore-

I found an avatar that you can send to your cell phone or myspace (or both). It is totally customizable and really easy. I sent it to my myspace account, but I never use it, so that isn't as exciting as it could be...
But, then I sent it to my phone. Very cool. It looks kind of like me, which is you know, cute, and I picked from the list of pre-recorded voices. The one I picked has an Australian accent, which is cool. It is a bad accent, which isn't as cool, but kind of fun to make fun of! You can make up your own phrases and record stuff from your phone too, but I wasn't feeling all that creative, so I didn't!!
Go check it out at U-DOO.com!

So, when trying to spend time avoiding work, U-DOO.com works for me!!
For more WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY ideas, check out Shannon's blog.

Udo sponsors this post and my crazy ringtone fun!!

Forgot my Medicine!

Well, this is the second time this week that I forgot to take my depression medicine before leaving for work, and it is only Wednesday...
(There is a reason I get the depo shot instead of taking the pill!)
On my way to work this morning, when I remembered that I forgot, I thought to myself, "Hey, that is a good sign. Before, you couldn't open your eyes in the morning without remembering to take the medication!"
Then, I thought to myself, "Uh oh. When you forgot the medicine on Monday, you had a really SHITTY day. I mean shitty, but that wasn't your fault. Dr. was being an asshole. Josh even agreed."
Ha. Ha.
Guess what-Dr. was being an asshole today too! Now, is he just being moody (I swear he's having PMS) and it is just coinciding with the days I forget my pill, or do I have some MAGIC pills that make me not even notice when he says really mean things to me?

A New Word

Night made up a new word yesterday. "Boyly." It means boyish, but he is referring to it as boyly because Keira's things are too "girly" for him. I guess that makes sense. Now, he wants to know if things are boyly or girly. If it is boyly, he wants it; if it is girly, he is way too good for that.

Weird, he doesn't seem to have a problem playing my PINK Gameboy DS. He did inform me last night that he wants a black one for Josh and a white one for himself-that way he can stop playing with the girly one. Until then, pink will have to do.

How Did He Prove His Loyalty?

Here's the story. A guy falls off a gantry (whatever the hell that is) while at work and sues the company because the head injury it caused made him have a high sex drive, causing him to have two affairs. HE and his wife WIN OVER $5 1/2 MILLION!
At least the judge said he had to share the money...

Easy Explanation

Night is, of course, excited about Christmas. We've made the distinction between Christmas time (now till Dec 25th) and Christmas Day (Dec 25th). He asked me why it can't be Christmas Day now. I told him it couldn't be Christmas Day because there are still rings on his paper chain. His response? "Oh. Okay."

Easy! He tears off one ring right before bed each night.

I wish he gave up that easily with everything. He sure does ask a lot of questions!!

Am I Wrong?

Straight from my employee manual:
Time off:
PAID HOLIDAYS:
New Years , Labor Day
MLK, Thanksgiving
Memorial, Christmas
July 4th

If the holiday falls on a non-work day, the employee will receive the holiday pay according to the following:
Employees must work their regular work day before the holiday and their first work day after the holiday to receive the paid holiday benefit. Holiday pay will be the employee's regular day pay amount. When a holiday falls within an employee's vacation week, the holiday benefits are voided.




Thursdays we are always closed. The office has never been open on Thursdays.

I worked Wednesday and Friday. Should I have gotten paid on Thursday? That would have made my check bigger than normal, but it is a non-work day that is listed as a holiday.

Dr. says that I'm reading into it, and I am not supposed to get paid for it. Fine. You are the boss, but I really don't think I'm "reading into it." It says I should get paid, right?

No Ricky this Year

For the past two years, we have headed over to the Bellevue Mall to get our Christmas picture taken with Ricky the monkey (thus the profile picture), but this year he is not there! I'm not surprised since there is really nothing at the Bellevue Mall anymore, but there hasn't been for years, so that shouldn't matter!
I miss you, Ricky!
Now, what can we do about that Christmas picture?

Yellow Rose and Blue Lights

For my birthday, one of my friends that works at the restaurant with me left a yellow rose on the windshield of my car. It was so nice!
Yesterday, which was the first time that I saw her, she told me this story. (She is a drama queen-always has a story-you know the type. Very entertaining) She said that she wasn't positive it was our house. She's never actually been here, but she knew which street it was on and which side of the street, which narrows it down to about 8 houses. She said she THOUGHT it was our Xterra in the driveway, but she wasn't sure, so she peeked in windows trying to see something that made her know it was my house. It was 10:30ish at night, I know Josh was here and awake, and I'm surprised he didn't witness any of this:
A cop car happened to be driving by at the time and saw her car pulled over (not in front of our house). He saw that she was peeking in our windows and pulled over. She then ran out to tell him what she was doing and he laughed at her.
Laughed. Then he went on his way.
Good thing she wasn't a thief! So, if you are a thief, apparently, just tell the cops you are trying to leave a present but don't know if it is the right house. They will probably laugh at you, but that is better than jail!

Before

Before
Originally uploaded by mari_ickes.

After

After
Originally uploaded by mari_ickes.

Keira Eats Cheerios!

Sigh.

Second place. I had to pee soooo bad. Too much peppermint tea. I didn't have to leave the game to pee when I was drinking wine. I think there is a lesson to be learned here...
Anyway, I handed the game over to Josh for what-2 minutes, and he lost! Before I left, I said, "Don't lose because I'm live blogging this!"
I don't know what the exact cards were, but I know that they both had a J and the other guy caught a flush on the river.
Oh well-I made money. Only $.41 until I can play a $.25 game.\
Of course, maybe I'll just play one anyway. This is Josh's dumb rule anyway, not mine. If it was my rule, then it'd be a real rule, but since it is his, it is really just a guideline...

K 9s

to his K Js. I lose. Now I'm down by a lot! I have 5 thousand to his 10. The blinds are only 200/400. Quick game! He keeps going all in! I guess he's ready to end it. I'll be patient, though.

I'm in the Lead

by a mere 1,000. I gained the lead with pocket Queens. As soon as we went heads up, Keira started screaming. She wanted juice. No time for juice when we're heads up!! Does that make me a bad mom? I'll get it just as soon as I win!

All In

I went all in with an A high straight. I had the Queen. He called. He had the Q too!!

I'm In The Money!

1st place just took out 4th. The problem is that it made 1st's gap wider again. Third place just went all in...and lost!
Now for the duel: his 9 thousand to my 6...

I Called #5's All In

My pocket 9's to his Big Slick, suited. I won: trip 9's on the river. He didn't even pair, so I was fine. 1 to go until payout!!

Hair Cut

Josh just informed me that he is going to cut his hair. Or shave it with the pet clippers. Oh boy... He is scary when his hair is shaved. He has a big head. A handsome head, but it is big... Now I'm a bit more distracted by the prospect of all our Christmas photos with him and his bald head. Oh! Pocket Aces!!
Everyone folded even though all I did was double the blind. Doh.

4 Down, 4 To Go

There are 5 of us left. Top 3 pay out. I'm in 2nd place at the moment, but it isn't a huge gap between me and 3rd, 4th, and 5th. There is, however, a big gap between me and 1st!
It is pretty difficult to live blog. Have you ever tried it? When I am trying to record what is going on, I get distracted and then need to move on to write about something else. Maybe I'm just not cut out for live blogging. I do think this one is a little bit better than the last time.

Or Do I?

I said that I don't usually bluff, but was that a bluff? Hmm. Maybe there is a reason I only play on-line...

Bluff!

I just won a hand-4 diamonds on the board, and I played that I had the flush. I didn't. I had a pair of sevens, which were second bottom pair. I won $500, which isn't bad since the blinds are just 30/60. I don't usually bluff, so that was fun.

It's Poker Time!

Okay, I'm going to have another go at live blogging poker. I haven't had anything to drink bar peppermint tea, so maybe this one will be a bit more successful. My goal for the evening is to be allowed to play a $.25 game. In order to play a "big" $.25 game, I have to have at least $2.50 in the "bank." There is $1.57 in there now. First place on my $.10 game pays $.45.
Wish me luck!!

Lunch with the Vultures

As I am sitting on the couch, trying to eat my microwave dinner without the VULTURES (read: kids) getting it, I say to Josh:
"Can you imagine if we had FIVE kids? These two won't let me take a bite."
His response:
"We'd be soooo skinny!"
My response:
"Either that or really fat because we would gorge out on everything left in the house after they go to sleep!"

How can two little kids eat so much food?!

Finally!

We are FINALLY finished decorating for Christmas. Since I work---all the time---we have been slowly getting all our decorations put up around the house. We put the tree up the week after Thanksgiving, hung lights around the house the next week, put up a few miscellaneous decor throughout the week, and we finally put up the window stickers, the final step, today. The video is Night explaining that the decals need to be licked in order for them to stick to the window. He is so adorable.

If you like to see how others are decorating for Christmas, check out BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes!

Works For Me Wednesday

Okay, I am cheating this week. I'm actually a really big cheater. I didn't find my WFMW tip, I haven't used my WFMW tip, and I didn't even write the WFMW tip. It does, however, look very cool, and I do plan on using the WFMW tip, so I think that should count for something!

We have tons of pictures-we both love taking pictures and experimenting with our cameras to come up new "looks." I have a really cool lomography camera that I don't use as much as I want to. Josh has some old cameras that we bought at garage sales and flea markets. When it comes to displaying the pictures, we aren't so good about this. So, we have piles of really cool pictures that we don't display, partly because it is so expensive to buy nice frames, and partly because our walls are MADE OF STEEL and I can't hang them using my favorite (yet Josh's least favorite) way of hanging things: thumb tacks. :)
Josh found this really cool DIY project that is cheap and will allow us to hang lots of pictures. Check it out. The flickr pictures are great! I envision lots of really cool pictures hanging all over our house, just as soon as I get my butt over to the store to buy the stuff.

Check out Shannon's blog for more WFMW hints!

ET and Star Wars

Last night, Night and I watched ET. It was his first time (that he paid attention anyway). As ET was making the balls move in the air demonstrating where is planet was located, Night made a very astute observation.
"Oh, aliens are jedis." It all made sense to him then!!

Birthday Pizza

Birthday Pizza
Originally uploaded by mari_ickes.

Yesterday was the big 3-0. Since it was $5 pizza night (Dominoes), we had our usual-thin crust pineapple. Josh put the candle in the pizza-until it fell over and burnt the pizza. So, I held the candle while they all "sang" for me. It was a good birthday :)

Broken Arm

"Mom, I broke my arm."
"Oh no, honey. Can I have it then, since you aren't going to use it? I could take it to work with me. Then, when I am lonely and I miss you, I could take your arm and hug it."
"NO! I didn't break it off. I broke it on."

A Dickens Christmas

This weekend, Franklin had a festival for Christmas. This festival was called A Dickens Christmas and had people dressed up like characters from the book. It was very fun-horse carriage rides (of which we did not partake), sugar plums (of which we DID partake), and characters walking around, interacting with the "townsfolk."
We also ate dinner there: some fish and chips, roasted sweet corn, and deep fried Oreos. I don't think the Oreos were authentic to the era, but oh my god they were delicious.
We missed the town sing, but I like it that way. Now I can continue to believe Franklin's town sing was like the Whoville town sing, and that is just awesome. I also feel like we live in Stars Hollow, which is just too amazing for words!

First Snow

Last Thursday, there were flurries. Here is a view of our backyard. Click on it and watch closely. Night, who was only wearing his pajama pants, excitedly asked, "Can I put a shirt on so we can go build a snowman?"
Poor kid-he's not gonna see much more snow than that here in Nashville.

New House?

Does anyone know anything about lease purchasing? We are looking to buy a house here in Franklin, but we have horrible credit and no down payment. We are paying so much in rent right now that it seems ridiculous to keep renting, but we know NOTHING about getting a house. I see about 5 lease/purchase ads in the newspaper that just seem too good to be true, so I was wondering if anyone knows anything about it-will we end up paying $300,000 for a $150,000 house? I'm kind of afraid to call the numbers in the ad since I don't want to be reeled in...Advice?

I've Been Tagged!

I don't think I've ever been tagged before. This is very exciting! Thank you, Kat Coble.

Three Things

Scare me: bats, that something will happen to my family, um...bats
People who make me laugh:
my husband, Amy Sherman Palladino and her husband Daniel (of Gilmore Girls and Family Guy), and my son
I love: my family, having my back rubbed, playing games (of the card, computer, and board variety)
I hate: when other people waste my time, crowded stores (crowds in general,really), peeling oranges
I don't understand: religions, why so many people have commented on this. of course it won't fly, why I can't make myself biphasically sleep even though it is better for me and I like it.
Things on my desk:pile of resumes (we are hiring at the dentist's office), NO COFFEE, and a bunch of insurance papers that need filed
I'm doing right now: watching Night play Lego Star Wars on the Game Cube, listening to Keira try not to sleep, and being squashed by my 50 pound "lap dog" (while balancing a laptop on my legs-figure that one out)
Update: What I'm Doing Right NOW: (Keira wouldn't sleep), looking for the remote so we can watch INCREDIBLES, trying to keep Keira from biting Night-horrible phase she is going through, finding a bunch of shit under the couch that I'm going to pretend I didn't see:still no remote, though
I want to do before I die: Travel, Travel, Travel; more specifically, go to at least every continent (maybe not Africa-not that I wouldn't want to go to Africa, it just isn't on the top of my list for some reason), live in another country-either Australia or a country in Europe, and expose my children to as many cultures as possible.
I can do: read-therefore I can do anything!, cut sutures, beat Josh at most games
I can't do: carry a tune, beat Josh at any video games (except Ms. Pacman), seem to pay my bills on time-even when I have the money in the bank!
I think you should listen to: Dixie Chicks, Ani Difranco, and Maroon 5
You should NEVER listen to: I couldn't care less who you do/don't listen to-unless it is something good that you want me to listen to as well. I guess I'm a little self-centered...
I'd like to learn: how to keep my house clean-completely effortlessly, any language fluently (other than English, ha ha), to be a fitness instructor-but I'm not motivated enough to be my own fitness instructor...
Favorite foods: Ice cream, Indian, Artichokes
Beverages I drink regularly: Coffee, Wine, Flavored Diet Coke/Pepsi (ie lime, cherry, vanilla etc)
Shows I watched as a kid: Dukes of Hazzard, Greatest American Hero, Just the Ten of Us



Okay, let's see who I should tag:
Anna, Tess, and Del

Plays Well with Scissors

Ever been complimented on how well you cut stitches? I have!
Today, we did some extractions and I snipped the end of the suture, just like usual. Afterwards, he came out and told me how well I did.
Weird. I think he's been putting something in his coffee lately...
Yum. Coffee. I'm going to go have a sip. :)

We are NEVER Buying a Real Tree

What am I scared of? This! I can't imagine. I think I will have nightmares for a week now.

Coffee Ban

Yesterday that Dr told me that he didn't want any food or drinks in the front office. Previously, coffee was allowed, just not at the desk. In a round about/weird way, he told me no more coffee in the front room. Now, when I'm perusing the internet, I have to get up, go to the back, take a sip of coffee, and then come back to the computer. By the time I sit back down, I'm ready for more coffee! He said I could stay in the back as long as I want (you know, when there aren't patients and whatnot), but there is no computer in the back.
I'm looking for new employment. Requirement: coffee allowed when using work time to read other people's blogs. Is that too much to ask??? Maybe I should retire.

Just kidding. I love my job. I just miss my coffee this morning.

Twas 4o'clock in the Morning and All Through....

the House, ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING, starting with Connor:

"Ouch! My knee hurts. I hurt my knee!" I let this go on for a few minutes because last time it was his ankle, and he ended up in my bed for the rest of the night.
I went in to check on him. I kissed his knee, rubbed his back; he hardly opened his eyes, so I was thinking about making my escape, until I heard, "I want to watch tv."
I gently remind him, "No, honey, it is the middle of the night. Everyone is sleeping." This isn't going to work. At our house, someone is always awake-there is no middle of the night at our house...
Then Connor began sobbing about wanting to watch tv. Josh took over for a few minutes, but there was no success. We (Josh and I) went to bed, Connor continued yelling and crying about wanting to watch cartoons.
We decided to turn the tv on so he could hear it because he usually goes to sleep this way-some people have radios, our son listens to the tv. Then Connor screamed even more. "No! I don't want to listen to the tv! I want to watch it. Listening isn't watching!"
I told him to quiet down before Keira wakes up. I then stomped into the living room and turned off the tv, popping my head in the kids' room long enough to see Keira's little head popping over the railing of her crib. Nice.
I got back into bed and let Connor yell for awhile. Josh told him to be quiet a few times, but that didn't work. What worked? Keira started talking to Connor.
Connor's response was to yell back at her, "I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP, KEIRA!"
"Goo?"
"SHUT UP KEIRA! I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!"
(A good mom would try to teach her son manners and that 'shut up' isn't nice. I, on the other hand, was laughing hysterically with Josh in the bedroom)
Keira likes to laugh at Connor, which is exactly what she started doing. So, Connor yelled, "Crying isn't funny, Keira! Crying is sad!"
This just made her giggle more! But, then it made Connor quiet down for a minute or two. Meanwhile, Scully the dog started whining to fill in the quiet. I still don't know what her problem was.
After about 10 minutes of yelling followed by 2 of quiet, repeat... Connor must have fallen asleep. At this point, it sounded like the cats were in the kitchen pouring themselves a bowl of cereal, which is entirely possible, our kitchen is a mess.
Then Keira changed from babble to crying. Josh to the rescue! He got up, gave the baby a bottle, and settled back into bed, everyone sleeping, a mere 45 minutes later.

The Water Mountain

Making Shadows at the Park

Feeding Bread to the Ducks

Is He Picking On Me?

Within the last week, Dr. has said the following to me.
"Don't say, 'I don't know.' It makes you sound like you don't care."
and
"You sound whiney when you answer me like that."
What? All I said was, "No." How can you sound whiney when you say no?? He asked me if there were any patients in the waiting area. What is there to whine about with that question??

Maybe we just need a break apart or something. Maybe he thinks we are closer than we are-how could either of those phrases not seem insulting? Am I being sensitive? Very strange.