curious about the name?

Visit

The Geometric Society

It's not the reason why, just something I ran across recently. Too cute.

3 going on 13

Sunfish: Can I watch a movie?

Me: No sweety, you've got to eat dinner first.

Sunfish (a little whiney): But I wanna watch a movie.

Me: I understand that. But you've got to eat your dinner first.

(several minutes later)

Sunfish: Can I watch a movie?

Me: You need to eat dinner first.

Sunfish (getting a bit worked up): But I wanna watch a movie!

Me: You're not watching a movie until you eat your dinner.

Sunfish (in full woe-is-me mode): But this isn't the way it's supposed to work!

yes...it's really me

The picture on the right is really me. Honestly. It was taken in 1975 by the camp fire at the Ponderosa Campground in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I don't think the campground is there anymore. All through my childhood and into my teen years, my family would camp there every Easter break. Since the water was always too cold to swim, my brother and I would spend hours upon hours flying kites on the deserted, windy beach. My mom & I would walk the beach daily, barefooted, with jeans rolled up to the calves and hooded sweatshirts keeping us warm.

My family was lucky enough to do a lot of camping through my youth. The Easter trip, weekends in the 1000 islands (beechnuts galore! YUM), Moc-a-tec and Breezewood Acres were fixtures through various stages of my upbringing. I love camping to this day.

My parents and my brother's family have moved onto vacationing by way of condo. We continue to have countless weeks and weekends having a blast in Ocean City, Maryland. There's something to be said about sitting on the balcony, drink on the table, reading a great book. Or sitting in the sand chair, watching Sunfish scurry through the waves doing her best to keep up with the sand pipers who are doing their best to get away from her as quickly as possible.



Hubby and his family spent all of their vacation time camping. A vacation isn't a vacation unless he has firestick in hand, poking at the coals. He & I have tried to get our kids camping as often as possible. Thanks to his family, we've had many years camping in Canada. Last year, we rented a cabin in southwestern PA. All 5 of us and Mountain Man spent 4 great days full of wonderful conversation and great camping food.

Yea, I'll admit, I've got the best of both worlds. If only it would snow...

Reader poll:
What do you prefer? Camping or condo-ing?

UUURRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

Today I really hate my employer....hate, hate, hate....HATE, HATE HATE!!!

*jumping up and down, teeth gritted, hands in fists, eyes squeezed shut*

I won't get into the details as they will surely bore you, but suffice it to say that I'M GETTING SCREWED!!

One nice thing that they did for me today is give me a cool new cell phone. It even says, "Hello" and "Goodbye." But it certainly doesn't make up for GETTING SCREWED!!!

I am sooooo glad that I am off until Tuesday. Of course, that's when the fun is really going to begin. I'm going to unveil my politically correct, I-don't-give-a-shit-anymore attitude. I've been practicing for a long time. Tuesday will be Opening Day!

Gotta go program the phone....I'll only have it as long as I'm thier employee...which might not be much longer!

my blogging history

jozjozjoz.com was the first - her site came up on a google search for Genevieve Gallen. Her's was the only blog I read for a long time. I lurked for quite a while, then started posting comments here and there.

On one post she told of seeing Wil Wheaton speaking at a conference. I used to say I was a Wil Wheaton fan from his TNG days. But now I proudly call myself a fan from WWdN. The tone of his writing matches the way I think. I especially love the stories about his family and hearing the joy when he talks about the new path he has found through life.

From WWdN I jumped into Tony Pierce's busblog. Around this time I was also starting to consider starting my own blog. Several of his posts offered great advice about being a blogger. He's also inspired me to stick to who I am.

Along the way I found Rook's Rant. His commentary is always funny and he links to some of the greatest articles, rants and blogs. His posts about The Fuskers are always fun. Plus he's a cat person...a man after my own heart.

The best think Guy linked to just recently was The Sneeze. I've been reading this just since Christmas, but I quickly added him to my daily blog circuit. Some laugh-til-you-cry funny shit on this site.

Blogging has brought an interesting change to my daily routine. In writing these posts I've found that I spend more time reflecting on what's going on around me. I look through my pictures more often, searching for something whimsical to post. I've seen pics that I haven't seen in years and am thoroughly enjoying the trips down memory lane. I find myself spending less time on "work stuff" at home and more time for my personal enjoyment. Cool.

Thanks guys.

Bummer

Back to work tomorrow. Big bummer! I have 1/2 a mind to bring in one of my new DVDs and watch them on my laptop. But I won't...(maybe).

I will definitely bring in some of my new music. Got the latest from all my favorites and some great oldies too.

To love is to give...

Hope every one had an enjoyable day. The highlight of my Christmas day was watching Sunfish as she opened the gift from Mountain Man. As she looked at the big, blue box in the shape of a lego, she was told that inside was a huge collection of legos. She looked up at me with her big blue eyes and exclaimed, "YEA! LET'S BUILD!!"

Leave a comment about your favorite Christmas moment, this year or past.

A tale of Christmas Eve...

Scene location

“It’s a red, spiral-bound notebook,” Hubby said. He’d been looking around for a few minutes and had started to get frustrated. I stood up, scanned the room and walked over to the pile of clothes at his side of the bed.

“Stop honey, you’ll never find it,” Hubby stated from the opposite corner of the room, just as I was reaching down to remove the red, spiral-bound notebook from under the pile of clothes at his side of the bed.

“Oh, really?” I sarcastically drawled, immediately followed by the THUNK of the notebook landing on the desk.

Aahhhh, to be the wife with the well-deserved, smug look on her face….

Pop Quiz!

Why is this car on the flatbed?

or

Name the vehicles purpose.

From me to you...

Enjoy the holiday season.

I'll be back when I can.

Mine's bigger than yours

I was an unfortunate witness to a totally ridiculous conversation today. Picture the setting...
-two men
-one 25 and inexperienced, the other 32 and stupid
-both thinking they know everything
-both with an over-inflated sense of importance
-neither wanting to concede a single point to the other

It was beyond a pissing contest. I fully expected them to whip out a ruler and measure their dicks. Idiots! The worst part is both of them had several good points, but neither would acknowledge what the other had to say.

Great way to spend a holiday luncheon, huh? I just sat there and ate my cold ziti and luke warm meatballs (guess the boss couldn't spring for a sterno).

Bah humbug!

Well, we finally got some snow, but only a dusting...certainly not enough. We also got sub-freezing temperatures, but it's supposed to warm back up tomorrow.

Rain and 50 degrees on Thursday, so it'll be green grass on Christmas again.

I WANT SNOW!!

What I wish my backyard looked like! The WeatherGuesser on the local news says we could get 1-2 inches over the next day or so. Promises, promises.



Spike....the turd culprit. She's an affection slut. She'll nudge your hand around until you pet her head. If you don't, she'll move her head back and forth under your hand to simulate the same action. Slut.



Get out of her way.... Sunfish at the races. Yes, we're race fans. Gotta problem with that???

Paradise

One of my favorite spots. I won't tell you where it is...but a few lucky individuals will know.

Now you're all in trouble....I know how to post pics.

Things I Hate Today:
the McArthur Rd exit of Rte 22
running out of dishwasher detergent
cat turds under the christmas tree

Thing I Love Today:
taking Sunfish to Cabela's
christmas songs
teenagers watching the Steelers game at my house

Great article...

10 Things Your Teen Won't Tell You ... but She Did Tell Me

If you have a teen girl, or one close to it, you should read this article. In my attempt to navigate raising a strong girl, the more help and insight I get, the better.

The shopping trip was successful. I am done!! Hubby still has a bit to do, but not me. Finished! Now to start wrapping......

Things to do before the Inauguration

(courtesy of Mountain Man)

1. Drink a nice clean glass of water.
2. Get that abortion.
3. Cash your social security check.
4. See a doctor of your own choosing.
5. Spend quality time with your draft age child/grandchild.
6. Visit Syria, or any foreign country for that matter.
7. Get that gas mask you've been putting off buying.
8. Hoard gasoline.
9. Borrow books from library before they're banned - Constitutional law books,Catcher in the Rye, Harry Potter, Tropic of Cancer, etc.
10. If you have an idea for an art piece involving a crucifix - do it now.
11. Come out - then go back in - HURRY!
12. Jam in all the Alzheimer's stem cell research you can.
13. Stay out late before the curfews start.
14. Go see Bruce Springsteen before he has his "accident."
15. Go see Mount Rushmore before the Reagan addition.
16. Use the phrase - "You can't do that - this is America."
17. If you're white - marry a black person, if you're black - marry a white person.
18. Take a walk in Yosemite, without being hit by a snowmobile or a base-jumper.
19. Enroll your kid in an accelerated art or music class.
20. Start your school day without a prayer.
21. Pass on the secrets of evolution to future generations.
22. Learn French.
23. Attend a commitment ceremony with your gay friends.
24. Take a factory tour anywhere in the U.S.
25. Try to take photographs of animals on the endangered species list.
26. Visit Florida before the polar ice caps melt.
27. Visit Nevada before it becomes radioactive.
28. Visit Alaska before "The Big Spill."
29. Visit Massachusetts while it is still a state.

HELL YEA, SISTER!!

(courtesy of uberfriend, dmd)

Why Women are Crabby

We started to "bud" in our blouses at 9 or 10 years old only to find that anything that came in contact with those tender, blooming buds hurt so bad it brought us to tears. So came the ridiculously uncomfortable training bra contraption that the boys in school would snap until we had callouses on our backs.

Next, we get our periods in our early to mid-teens (or sooner). Along with those budding boob's, we bloated, we cramped, we got the hormone crankies, had to wear little mattresses between our legs or insert tubular, packed cotton rods in places we didn't even know we had.

Our next little rite of passage (premarital or not) was having sex for the first time which was about as much fun as having a ramrod push your uterus through your nostrils (IF he did it right and didn't end up with his little cart before his horse), leaving us to wonder what all the fuss was about.

Then it' was off to Motherhood where we learned to live on dry crackers and water for a few months so we didn't spend the entire day leaning over Brother John. Of course, amazing creatures that we are (and we are), we learned to live with the growing little angels inside us steadily kicking our innards night and day making us wonder if we were preparing to have Rosemary's Baby. Our once flat bellies looked like we swallowed a watermelon whole and we pee'd our pants every time we sneezed. When the big moment arrived, the dam in our blessed Nether Regions invariably burst right in the middle of the mall and we had to waddle, with our big cartoon feet, moaning in pain all the way to the ER. Then it was huff and puff and beg to die while the OB says, "Please stop screaming, Mrs. Hearmeroar. Calm down and push. Just one more good push (more like 10)," warranting a strong, well-deserved impulse to punch the ***** (and hubby) square in the nose for making us cram a wiggling, mushroom-headed 10lb bowling ball through a keyhole.

After that, it was time to raise those angels only to find that when all that "cute" wears off, the beautiful little darlings morphed into walking, jabbering, wet, gooey, snot-blowing, life-sucking, little poop machines.

Then come their teen years. Need I say more?

When the kids are almost grown, we women hit our voracious sexual prime in our early 40's - while hubby had his somewhere around his 18th birthday.

So we progress into the grand finale: "The Menopause," the Grandmother of all womanhood. It's either take HRT and chance cancer in those now seasoned "buds" or the aforementioned Nether Regions, or, sweat like a hog in July, wash your sheets and pillowcases daily and bite the head off anything that moves.

Now, you ask WHY women seem to be more spiteful than men when men get off so easy INCLUDING the icing on life's cake: Being able to pee in the woods without soaking their socks...

So, while I love being a woman, "Womanhood" would make the Great Gandhi a tad crabby. Women are the "weaker sex"? Yeah right. Bite me.

I am such a sap.

Girl-With-Phone-In-Ear played in her Christmas concert last night. She plays the flute in the concert band. The first song they played was the same medley that my high school's band played at every Christmas concert. Tears were rolling down my face. You will probably be able to hear me sniffling on the video tape. To make it worse, another song was the same piece that I had to play to audition for district band 22 years ago. I still remembered the fingerings. I cried again.

I must say I cry at every band concert and every time a big high school marching band takes that field at the half-time of a football game. I can't seem to stop myself. Band was such a wonderful part of my high school experience. Some of my most favorite memories are from the band room...playing the same pieces over and over in the practice rooms, doing last minute homework with Tammy, making out in the equipment room with Glenn, and the hours and hours of rehearsals and goofing around with Dawn. I can only hope my daughter will carry the same kind of memories with her.

I was talking to the Mom of Mr. Independent's girlfriend (also in band). She cries too. We then speculated that graduation day is going to be a sob-fest.

Going to do what will hopefully be the last of the Christmas shopping today. Had to wait a few more days for the checking account to recover. But today should be it. I'm picking up a very cool gift for the in-laws at Cabela's and will hopefully find something there for Hubby's sister. The only others that I've yet to buy for are my own parents. I know what I'm getting them...I just have to get to the store and buy it.

So wish me luck as I go out into the retail jungle. If I survive unscathed, I will post more later today.

Report card day

I hate report card day. Not that I can complain too much...both Mr. Independent and Girl-With-Phone-In-Ear are smart kids. Sunfish is brilliant of course, but she's still only in pre-school.

The reason I hate report card day is that, inevitably, there's one grade that is sub-par. Usually it's on Mr. Independent's report and usually it's a complete surprise.

We are active parents. We are the type of parents that most kids shudder when they hear about...
we expect to be informed about school work
we ask for grade reports throughout the marking period
we talk to teachers
we ask for parent/teacher conferences without getting an invite
we ask where they're going
we ask who they'll be with
we don't allow tvs in bedrooms
we didn't allow video games until about 4 years ago (in fact they are still burdened with the original play station and only about 4 games)
we monitor tv viewing
we expect them to go to bed at a decent hour
we (yikes!) make them do chores without getting an allowance

With that said, it's more easily understood why the surprise grade is such a problem. Just yesterday, in response to a request to go to the girlfriend's house on a school night, we asked for the latest grade report. Mr Independent said, "My grades are perfect." When asked if he really wants to stick to that, he replied, "They're nearly perfect." What came next was a request for more specific info, to which we received the standard teenage reply, "I forget." [Image the sound of fingernails on a chalk board...that is what 'I forget' sounds like to us.] After some metaphorical teeth-pulling, we got some additional info, all of which put his grades all in the A range. So imagine our surprise when we saw the 73 in the English class.

Now again, I feel odd complaining too loudly since he has a 3.33 gpa, and there are hundreds of parents out there that would be thrilled to see such grades for their child. The reason I get bitchy is that there's a willful act of evasion and dishonesty on the part of the child who doesn't tell us, when asked, about the problems they've encountered before we get the report. One of the constants in the conversations between us and our kids is the statement, "Tell us of a problem before we get the note." But alas, we get the report card, progress report, detention notice, etc., and are almost without fail, caught off guard.

Here's the kicker...Hubby teaches English. There's a part of me that believes Mr Independent bombs in English on purpose. But I typically tell myself that the thought of it is just me looking for evil where they're is none.

Oh well. Girl-With-Phone-In-Ear did well. So far, she's staying serious with her studies. The sophomore slump hasn't seemed to affect her (yet). We'll have to wait for the next report to more effectively guage if the Football Player has had an impact.

REALITY TV ALERT!!
The Amazing Race made my blood boil tonight. Specifically that asshole Jonathan. His behavior at the end of tonight's episode was disgusting. I don't care how angry he was at Victoria for picking up his backpack, the way he treated her was completely over the line. And then he smacked the backpack that she was carrying. Having survived an abusive first marriage I can tell you that hitting the bag the way he did is a huge clue. I wouldn't be surprised if he's taken a swat at her before. Jerk.

Okay...NYPD Blue is on.

Things I hate today
people who try to impress
unfolded laundry laying around in baskets

Things I love today
tuna melt sandwiches (have you noticed that there's always a food item?)
getting the perfect gift for Hubby

Thus ends my posting for the evening.

READ THIS!!

Yea for Thomas Paine!! According to Whois, he is the gentleman responsible for www.fuckthesouth.com.

Go read it.

NOW!!

Lunchtime!

Okay, I'm taking Tony's advice and jot in a quick post during my lunch break.

So, death to Scott Peterson. Interesting. Frankly, upon hearing the verdict, I did mouth "YES". But my conscience has been bugged by this. I've been on the fence about the death penalty for years. I certainly support that the cost of the mandatory appeals process is not outweighed by the removal of the individual from the living. But at the same time do I believe that they are certain crimes that are so atrocious that the person responsible should pay with their life?...yes. Do I believe the murder of Laci and the unborn child are one of those cases?...no. So why the reaction when hearing the verdict? Here lies my mental struggle. Maybe cuz I'm a mom, maybe cuz I feel so horribly for the family members who lost their daughter and grandchild.

Newsflash:
Medicare payment errors near $20B
I love the quote from Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, "With an improper payment amount of nearly $20 billion and an error rate approaching double digits, there is clearly an unacceptable problem here."

Gee, ya think?

STEELERS RULE!

Great game...scary game. However the worst is that Hubby usually talks on the phone with his brother, Mountain Man, who has satellite tv. Therefore, his tv coverage is about 4 seconds behind. This puts me in a sucky position. If I cheer for a good play, then I ruin the spontaneity of Mountain Man's viewing...if I keep quiet, them I don't get to be the bawdy, loud-mouthed Steelers fan.

So what would you do?

Hello??

Is anyone out there???

Who turned the clock forward?

Is it really Tuesday night already? Where did the last two days go? Check out the things I hate today and you'll get a clue of how my last two days went.

It's December 7th and I have only about 1/3 of my christmas shopping done. I have to wait until the next pay before I can place another order. I am so spoiled by online shopping. I couldn't even imagine having to got to the overcrowded malls and department stores this time of year. I've made it my personal mission to buy everything online this year.

Still no snow. There was a little black ice on the way home from work today, but that's never really any fun. I'm getting very concerned that we'll have green grass on Christmas again. There's nothing more depressing. I always root for the blizzard on Christmas Eve. There's nothing better than a heavy snowfall at night. We bundle up, get the dog, and go out and play, all while pretending to clean off the cars so it's not such a big job in the morning. Our dog, who looks like a small deer, ends up prancing around in the snow acting a lot younger than she really is. The road we live on just got paved this summer, so sliding around on the fresh white stuff will be even more fun. It's December for goodness-sake! Bring on the snow!!

Okay, I'll admit it....I'm a reality show junkie. That being said, there's one reality show I will not watch...America's Top Model. Tyra Banks, while gorgeous, is completely self absorbed and a bitch. This opinion was confirmed when I watched several minutes of VH1's Inside America's Top Model. I nearly choked on my dinner when one contestant said having Tyra teach her how to apply makeup was like having Michael Jordon teach you how to shoot free throws. GAK!

The Amazing Race...now there's a show. Survivor was my favorite until I broke down and watched Amazing Race last season. What a trip! If there was any way that we could afford taking the time away from our work (i.e. income), Hubby and I would be signing up. Of course we would win. As a wife and mom, I am a master planner, trouble shooter, problem solver, director and ego stroker. And as Hubby says himself...he knows everything. We'd have all the bases covered! But alas....life interferes. So I'll just live vicariously through my tv.

Mr. Independent is in boiling water today. We got a note in the mail that he received a detention for reacting badly to a teacher's instruction and using inappropriate language. Written in quotes on the notice was "damned" and "hell". Pointing out the use of those particular words seemed a bit silly to me. Of all the things a kid can do wrong in school, using the words "damned" and "hell" isn't high on my list of offenses. Exhibiting such a lack of respect for the teacher, however, that is very high on the list. Frankly the language doesn't matter. I'd be just as angry with him for using "fuck" and "bitch". The respect is the issue, not the language. The truly sucky part (and the reason Mr. Independent is boiling water, instead of just hot water) is that he let us find out by getting the notice in the mail instead of standing up and telling us himself. I despise cowardice. Cowardice happens when you let your fears control you. Cowardice inhibits personal growth. Cowardice leads to dishonesty (especially in teenagers).

Guy Andrew Hall is topping my list of favorite blogs at the moment. He and Tony Pierce. They are two that have inspired me to start my own. Others who contributed: joz and Wil Wheaton. I'm sure eventually I'll have an easier time typing in all the rants and funny stories that are wrapped up in what is my life. I recognize that so far it's pretty much been drivel. But we've all got to start somewhere.

NYPD is on and I have to watch...there's only a few left and I don't want to miss them. G'nite all.

Things I hate today:
Pink eye in a 3 yr old
10 hour long info system demos
The thought of implementing a new enterprise system
Sick teenagers (they're worse than sick husbands)

Things I love today:
The sounds of Sunfish playing in the bathtub
fresh welsh cookies
macintosh apple scented candles
salt and vinegar chips

Hello cruel world...

I am Weenus.
female extraordinaire
doting mother
loving wife
Steelers fan
hard worker
irate citizen
raging liberal

But enough about me.

We got our Christmas tree today. Went smaller than usual to fit the different arrangement of the furniture since last Christmas. The oldest child, Mr. Independent, helped and then bolted to go to the girlfriend's house. The middle child, Girl-with-phone-in-ear, didn't do a thing....just yakked on the phone with the boyfriend (go figure). The littlest one, Sunfish, ended up napping through the decorating part after an exhausting day chasing the dog and jumping from couch to chair to couch (Words of advice...if you buy a giant trampoline and encourage the little ones to spend time on it to release pent up energy...when the weather changes and they cannot go outside as often...they look for an indoor substitute.). When she woke up, she was enthralled with the end result.

Why is it that I get the hairy eyeball whenever I ask Girl-with-phone-in-ear to do the same chores that she's been doing for the last 7 years? The chores haven't changed. They haven't gotten harder. Well, on second thought, to her they did get harder. Up until about 2 months ago, she was Girl-who-never-spoke-on-phone. Then the Football Player asked her out and a change in name was necessary. Now it is much more difficult...it's harder to clear the table, put the left-overs away, and load the dishwasher with the phone in one hand. I bet if I bought her a headset for the downstairs phone I'd be the bestest mom ever. But don't fret...I'm not that nice a mom. I secretly gain pleasure from watching the teenagers in an annoyed state.

Big Ben is the man!! I am so enjoying the Steelers games this year. It's been too long that I've lived without the excitement that I got watching the Steelers as a kid. O'Donnell was a joke. Slash gave me hope, but then he fizzled. Maddox never captured my attention. Ben has been a joy to watch. Too bad he's a God freak.

God freaks freak me out. Especially the celebrities and athletes. I am so tired watching a great sporting event, where individuals work hard and bust their gut to win and earn their incredibly insane and unjust salaries only to have to listen to someone thank god for giving them the strength and the talent. Why are people so quick to give away the credit for their own hard work? I just don't get it.

Things I hate today:
having to set the alarm clock for 5:30am
dog shit in the back yard
pine pitch under my fingernails
a freezer void of ice cream

Things I love today:
a zillion little multi-colored lights on a christmas tree
balancing the checking account
Sunfish's eyes of wonder
starting my blog