On Sunday my SIL told Nataly about the baby. On Monday Nataly had visitation with her father. His response?
-he posted on facebook something along the lines of "Mandy's pregnant. Again. Ever heard of birth control?" which led to some nasty comments from his friends- which fine, he's annoyed and taking it out on Mandy. Maybe man up buddy, but whatever.
-he told Nataly (who is FOUR and already has one younger sibling) that grownups can only love one kid. She went from excited and loving the new baby, to not being sure about it and wondering if the adults around her loved her or Nick. I literally cannot express how angry I was to hear that.
Showing posts with label nick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nick. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
30 Days of Song- Playing Catch-Up
Oh my word, I missed a lot of days lately!!
Day 25. A song that makes me laugh- I wish that there was a youtube video of this song, or that playlist had a version of this song. It’s called “Use Your Words” by Stuart Stotts. Sadly, I can’t find it. Instead, here are the lyrics.
Johnny knocked down Haylee’s blocks
Pachia bit Renee
Carlos took off both his socks
Vang won’t let Sam play
Holly ripped the dress up clothes
That Kayla tried to wear
And Nick scratched Emma on the nose
I think there’s no blood there
I roll up my sleeves and wade back in
Time to say my favorite phrase again.
Use your words I say it every day
Use your words in a thousand different ways
Use your words that’s my constant theme
If I have to say it one more time I’ll scream
Ryan’s lying on the floor Jose starts to spit
Galen’s kicking at the door Tasha tries to hit
Most days it’s not like this but sometimes it’s quite bad
I’d be so happy if they could just say to me “I’m mad.”
I’ll keep trying until it all comes real
And they can say exactly how they feel.
Don’t hit
Be gentle
Stop That
I’m done
I come home from work at night and I read the daily news
Stories of international fights just give me the blues.
If only we teachers were the ones who ran the earth.
We’d all know exactly what world peace is worth.
I’d tell the world leaders one and all
What they should have learned when they were small
Day 26. A song I can play on an instrument- sadly none. I used to play the clarinet in elementary/middle school, but I stopped at the end of seventh grade and haven’t played more than a few notes ever since. Unless you count singing as playing an instrument, then I can sing almost anything I can hear once or twice as long as it’s somewhere between second soprano and second tenor range.
Day 27. A song I wish I could play on an instrument- many things, as I often wish I could play an instrument properly. Forced to pick, I would say…either “The Imperial March” or “The Star Wars Theme”.
Day 25. A song that makes me laugh- I wish that there was a youtube video of this song, or that playlist had a version of this song. It’s called “Use Your Words” by Stuart Stotts. Sadly, I can’t find it. Instead, here are the lyrics.
Johnny knocked down Haylee’s blocks
Pachia bit Renee
Carlos took off both his socks
Vang won’t let Sam play
Holly ripped the dress up clothes
That Kayla tried to wear
And Nick scratched Emma on the nose
I think there’s no blood there
I roll up my sleeves and wade back in
Time to say my favorite phrase again.
Use your words I say it every day
Use your words in a thousand different ways
Use your words that’s my constant theme
If I have to say it one more time I’ll scream
Ryan’s lying on the floor Jose starts to spit
Galen’s kicking at the door Tasha tries to hit
Most days it’s not like this but sometimes it’s quite bad
I’d be so happy if they could just say to me “I’m mad.”
I’ll keep trying until it all comes real
And they can say exactly how they feel.
Don’t hit
Be gentle
Stop That
I’m done
I come home from work at night and I read the daily news
Stories of international fights just give me the blues.
If only we teachers were the ones who ran the earth.
We’d all know exactly what world peace is worth.
I’d tell the world leaders one and all
What they should have learned when they were small
Day 26. A song I can play on an instrument- sadly none. I used to play the clarinet in elementary/middle school, but I stopped at the end of seventh grade and haven’t played more than a few notes ever since. Unless you count singing as playing an instrument, then I can sing almost anything I can hear once or twice as long as it’s somewhere between second soprano and second tenor range.
Day 27. A song I wish I could play on an instrument- many things, as I often wish I could play an instrument properly. Forced to pick, I would say…either “The Imperial March” or “The Star Wars Theme”.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Can We Slow This Ride Down A Little?
Because my weekends are goingby in a whirlwind of crazy and have been for weeks, and will continue to do so for months to come. Yesterday for instance I had brunch with the Olsons (my favorite family), drove to Aurora for a stampin' party with Sarah (hosted by another high school friend), and worked on stuff for Jamie's wedding shower.
Today, my mom and I took Nick, Nataly, and Mandy to the zoo for Nick's second birthday. Wait, just in case you didn't catch that, let me say it again- NICK'S SECOND BIRTHDAY. Like, seriously? Because I'm pretty sure it's been about six months since I graduated from AU and he was two weeks old when that happened, so...somebody screwed up their math, and for once I don't think it was me! But we had a lot of fun at the zoo. We got to see the rhinos (Nick was scared of them), the okapi (Nick loved her), the bison, the lions (they were awake, which is rare), and a bunch of other things. Then I spend $37 on hot dogs for lunch for five people! Also, when we were looking at the camels, the tram went by and the guide said "Over here on the right we have Christina, a breeding female [camel]." I was standing on the right between the tram and the camels. Awesome. We also went to the farm zoo (which we'd never done before) and the kids and I petted some goats. Then Nataly said "I want to go back to the grown up zoo" so we left. I would show you pictures, but when I'm done with the song thing, I'm going to do a picture challenge, so you'll have to wait.
30 Days of Song (Days 17 & 18)
Umm...did I mention how busy I was this weekend? So I didn't post the yesterday. Sorry.
Day 17. A song I hear on the radio alot- I actually don't listen to the radio very much, because my commute is litteraly four blocks, and if I'm going anywhere else, I listen to my mp3 player, but I do feel I've heard Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" quite a bit lately, so I guess that's my answer.
Day 18. A song I wish I heard on the radio- Again, I don't listen to the radio much, but one song that I really enjoy that I wish I did hear on teh radio is Katy Perry's "One of the Boys".
Today, my mom and I took Nick, Nataly, and Mandy to the zoo for Nick's second birthday. Wait, just in case you didn't catch that, let me say it again- NICK'S SECOND BIRTHDAY. Like, seriously? Because I'm pretty sure it's been about six months since I graduated from AU and he was two weeks old when that happened, so...somebody screwed up their math, and for once I don't think it was me! But we had a lot of fun at the zoo. We got to see the rhinos (Nick was scared of them), the okapi (Nick loved her), the bison, the lions (they were awake, which is rare), and a bunch of other things. Then I spend $37 on hot dogs for lunch for five people! Also, when we were looking at the camels, the tram went by and the guide said "Over here on the right we have Christina, a breeding female [camel]." I was standing on the right between the tram and the camels. Awesome. We also went to the farm zoo (which we'd never done before) and the kids and I petted some goats. Then Nataly said "I want to go back to the grown up zoo" so we left. I would show you pictures, but when I'm done with the song thing, I'm going to do a picture challenge, so you'll have to wait.
30 Days of Song (Days 17 & 18)
Umm...did I mention how busy I was this weekend? So I didn't post the yesterday. Sorry.
Day 17. A song I hear on the radio alot- I actually don't listen to the radio very much, because my commute is litteraly four blocks, and if I'm going anywhere else, I listen to my mp3 player, but I do feel I've heard Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" quite a bit lately, so I guess that's my answer.
Day 18. A song I wish I heard on the radio- Again, I don't listen to the radio much, but one song that I really enjoy that I wish I did hear on teh radio is Katy Perry's "One of the Boys".
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Updates
Mandy's grandmother passed away today.
I have spent most of this evening feeling useless. A good friend is wounded in her very soul and there is nothing I can do for her. I can offer no comfort, there is nothing I can say or do to help.
I can't bring GiGi back. I can't convince the birth family to give Sarah back her daughter. I can only offer the smallest comfort; a hug, a reassuring word, a collection of pictures...
Neither loss is my own of course. I had no real connection to Naomi. Yet before she was a week old, she made me really think about my own life, the places I want to go, the things I want to accomplish. She made me reassess my emotional maturity, and emotional decisions I've been making for twenty years. I came home from my one evening out with her and wrote her a letter just like I write for Nick and Naty, she affected me as much as either one of them did.
I feel so bad for Sarah right now. I don't know what to do, or how to help. I just hope there's something someone can do, someway to help Sarah and Jeff heal from this.
I have spent most of this evening feeling useless. A good friend is wounded in her very soul and there is nothing I can do for her. I can offer no comfort, there is nothing I can say or do to help.
I can't bring GiGi back. I can't convince the birth family to give Sarah back her daughter. I can only offer the smallest comfort; a hug, a reassuring word, a collection of pictures...
Neither loss is my own of course. I had no real connection to Naomi. Yet before she was a week old, she made me really think about my own life, the places I want to go, the things I want to accomplish. She made me reassess my emotional maturity, and emotional decisions I've been making for twenty years. I came home from my one evening out with her and wrote her a letter just like I write for Nick and Naty, she affected me as much as either one of them did.
I feel so bad for Sarah right now. I don't know what to do, or how to help. I just hope there's something someone can do, someway to help Sarah and Jeff heal from this.
Naomi and GiGi
I have decided against posting my pics of Naomi as a way to respect her privacy. Her birth family has decided they want to raise her themselves and thus are picking her up from Sarah and her husband tomorrow morning.
On top of this situation, I have spent the last several days watching my niece and nephew while my SIL spends her time at the hospital. GiGi is what Nick and Naty call Mandy's grandmother, and she is very sick. Several times this weekend, Mandy has been told that GiGi probably won't make it another few hours.
In short, this has been a terrible weekend.
On top of this situation, I have spent the last several days watching my niece and nephew while my SIL spends her time at the hospital. GiGi is what Nick and Naty call Mandy's grandmother, and she is very sick. Several times this weekend, Mandy has been told that GiGi probably won't make it another few hours.
In short, this has been a terrible weekend.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
I Love You?
Honestly? This is going to be a long post, and it’s not going to end with adorable pics of Naomi. However, it is a little bit about Naomi, so here goes.
Yesterday evening, I met Naomi. She is the sweetest, tiniest little thing, and I love her. Which I told her at some length. But that’s actually the issue. She wasn’t even a week old when I met her for the very first time, and I had no trouble telling her I love her. I say it easily to my niece, my nephew, even my cat. But I rarely, if ever say it to adults. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of adults whom I love (or who I loved at one point), but with the exception of my mom, I never say it. I loved my friend Sondi and since she died I’ve wondered frequently if she knew it. After her funeral I promised myself I would make sure that I wouldn’t have to wonder if others know it, that I would learn to say “I love you”. But, I didn’t. I love my best friend. I love her parents. I love some of my other friends. There’s obviously no real reason for me to love Naomi. Honestly, there’s not really any reason for me to love Nataly or Nick, I just do. And I did from before I even laid eyes on them. So, why am I so willing to tell them, but not my friends?
Although I’ve never experienced “eros” love, that romantic love that is so often described as being in love, that’s more because I’ve actively avoided such a thing. But philia love (friendship) and storge love (familial) are both emotions I’m extremely familiar with. I wish the English language had those more precise words (like the Greek ones I’ve used). Actually, it reminds of something I thought about when I read The Giver. At one point Jonas asks his parents if they love him, and they reprimand him for imprecise use of language, that they are proud of him and they take pleasure in him, but that the word love has no meaning. I think, in English, in our culture, that’s actually true. Although people are shocked or outraged when Jonas’ parents say it, what does the word love really mean? People “love” things- new technology, furniture, houses, etc; ideas, the internet, TV shows, etc; activities like going for walks, swimming, etc. But don’t all of those uses cheapen the word? Is the enjoyment that you take in a long swim on a hot day really the same as the feelings you have for your lover, your sister, or your best friend? And why is it that in our culture we assume that if one adult tells another un-related adult “I love you” that they mean it in the eros form? It’s why I wrote the version of “Beauty and the Beast” I’m working on. It’s not done yet, but if you don’t mind the spoiler, Prince William is going to love (philia or storge) Johnny, there’s nothing romantic or eros about it, and the curse (in the original) never says it has to be. Why does our culture so devalue these other forms of love, while elevating eros? Especially considering that until fairly recently (two-three hundred years ago) eros love was the devalued and philia was the most valuable. It was only with the rise of the “love-match” marriage in the 1800s that philia love fell to the wayside. Why can’t we have both?
Tomorrow I promise to post my pics of Naomi. Feel free to come back for that!
Yesterday evening, I met Naomi. She is the sweetest, tiniest little thing, and I love her. Which I told her at some length. But that’s actually the issue. She wasn’t even a week old when I met her for the very first time, and I had no trouble telling her I love her. I say it easily to my niece, my nephew, even my cat. But I rarely, if ever say it to adults. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of adults whom I love (or who I loved at one point), but with the exception of my mom, I never say it. I loved my friend Sondi and since she died I’ve wondered frequently if she knew it. After her funeral I promised myself I would make sure that I wouldn’t have to wonder if others know it, that I would learn to say “I love you”. But, I didn’t. I love my best friend. I love her parents. I love some of my other friends. There’s obviously no real reason for me to love Naomi. Honestly, there’s not really any reason for me to love Nataly or Nick, I just do. And I did from before I even laid eyes on them. So, why am I so willing to tell them, but not my friends?
Although I’ve never experienced “eros” love, that romantic love that is so often described as being in love, that’s more because I’ve actively avoided such a thing. But philia love (friendship) and storge love (familial) are both emotions I’m extremely familiar with. I wish the English language had those more precise words (like the Greek ones I’ve used). Actually, it reminds of something I thought about when I read The Giver. At one point Jonas asks his parents if they love him, and they reprimand him for imprecise use of language, that they are proud of him and they take pleasure in him, but that the word love has no meaning. I think, in English, in our culture, that’s actually true. Although people are shocked or outraged when Jonas’ parents say it, what does the word love really mean? People “love” things- new technology, furniture, houses, etc; ideas, the internet, TV shows, etc; activities like going for walks, swimming, etc. But don’t all of those uses cheapen the word? Is the enjoyment that you take in a long swim on a hot day really the same as the feelings you have for your lover, your sister, or your best friend? And why is it that in our culture we assume that if one adult tells another un-related adult “I love you” that they mean it in the eros form? It’s why I wrote the version of “Beauty and the Beast” I’m working on. It’s not done yet, but if you don’t mind the spoiler, Prince William is going to love (philia or storge) Johnny, there’s nothing romantic or eros about it, and the curse (in the original) never says it has to be. Why does our culture so devalue these other forms of love, while elevating eros? Especially considering that until fairly recently (two-three hundred years ago) eros love was the devalued and philia was the most valuable. It was only with the rise of the “love-match” marriage in the 1800s that philia love fell to the wayside. Why can’t we have both?
Tomorrow I promise to post my pics of Naomi. Feel free to come back for that!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
No Christmas Spirit
I had an entry all written to post tonight when I got home. I wrote it during nap at work, but I had to wake the ids up before I could post it. It’s all about how perception and how I look at myself. I’m sure I’ll post in a few days when I’m nice and calm and rational again. But for now, I’m going to write this one…
I hate Christmas. I never used to. I’m one of those people who just barely gets through Thanksgiving anticipating Christmas. I usually shop on Black Friday. I put my tree up before the weekend is over. This year, like many others, I had presents wrapped and under the tree before Monday. I’m not sure what went wrong this year.
I could say it started Friday. I was a little down because I couldn’t go Black Friday shopping since I was completely broke (should have waited to buy a car until after the holidays!). But, instead I had Nataly over. Mandy and I made plans weeks ago for me to have special Aunt Tina and Naty only time while she was at work and Steve was supposed to have the kids. That day was the first day that I snapped this holiday season. First Steve called me to tell me Naty didn’t want to come with me, but when I talked to her she said she was excited to have our special time. I went to get her and Steve said, “It’s freezing here. Nick and I are coming with you.” I told him no because then Naty and I don’t have our alone time. He yelled a bit more and I told him he could come if he was going to entertain Nick and keep him away from Naty and I. Then he got mad at me and said if I was going to have an attitude about it. When I got her to my house, we started pulling out my special ornaments, the ones that mean something to me. Nataly asked about them and we talked. I pulled out the one that says “Baby’s First Christmas, 1982” and asked her who she thought had their first Christmas in 1982. She thought for a second before very proudly claiming “Jesus!”. Once the tree was up, we watched Christmas movies for awhile (Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Frosty the Snowman). Then we wrapped the presents that I had already bought before her mom picked her up. Overall, it was a good day. Hopefully that’s how Nataly will remember it, if she remembers it at all.
After work I went grocery shopping. While I was shopping I picked up (and put back) Christmas presents for the kids. I also had to buy new Advent candles because three of mine wouldn’t light today. I spent literally hours looking for purple and pink candles and never found them. Instead I bought a five candle candelabra with the intention of tying ribbon in the appropriate places. When I got home I started working on it, but then I found it.
Neelix (the dog) has been plucking ornaments off the tree since I put it up. What I found was the first one he had destroyed. It had been made for me by a now deceased friend out of terra cotta balls and a mini planter- it was a snowman that meant a lot to me. Now it’s in the garbage. I FLIPPED out and started screaming at the dog. I wound up angrily putting all of my Christmas decorations away so nothing else could get destroyed. Mom had previously pulled all the hangers off a bunch of cheap ball ornaments I had for very basic decorations because Nick tried to eat them and she had promised to fix them for me. Instead they had sat there for three days, in the place she puts stuff she wants me to put away. I asked her if she was going to fix them or if I should throw them away and she got mad at me and told me to throw them away if I was going to have an attitude. So I did. Then I put away all my ornaments and brewed a pot of tea to relax myself.
I feel better now that I’ve written all of this, but I have literally no Christmas spirit left. It’s all drained away from me in a blur of rage and sorrow.
I hate Christmas. I never used to. I’m one of those people who just barely gets through Thanksgiving anticipating Christmas. I usually shop on Black Friday. I put my tree up before the weekend is over. This year, like many others, I had presents wrapped and under the tree before Monday. I’m not sure what went wrong this year.
I could say it started Friday. I was a little down because I couldn’t go Black Friday shopping since I was completely broke (should have waited to buy a car until after the holidays!). But, instead I had Nataly over. Mandy and I made plans weeks ago for me to have special Aunt Tina and Naty only time while she was at work and Steve was supposed to have the kids. That day was the first day that I snapped this holiday season. First Steve called me to tell me Naty didn’t want to come with me, but when I talked to her she said she was excited to have our special time. I went to get her and Steve said, “It’s freezing here. Nick and I are coming with you.” I told him no because then Naty and I don’t have our alone time. He yelled a bit more and I told him he could come if he was going to entertain Nick and keep him away from Naty and I. Then he got mad at me and said if I was going to have an attitude about it. When I got her to my house, we started pulling out my special ornaments, the ones that mean something to me. Nataly asked about them and we talked. I pulled out the one that says “Baby’s First Christmas, 1982” and asked her who she thought had their first Christmas in 1982. She thought for a second before very proudly claiming “Jesus!”. Once the tree was up, we watched Christmas movies for awhile (Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Frosty the Snowman). Then we wrapped the presents that I had already bought before her mom picked her up. Overall, it was a good day. Hopefully that’s how Nataly will remember it, if she remembers it at all.
After work I went grocery shopping. While I was shopping I picked up (and put back) Christmas presents for the kids. I also had to buy new Advent candles because three of mine wouldn’t light today. I spent literally hours looking for purple and pink candles and never found them. Instead I bought a five candle candelabra with the intention of tying ribbon in the appropriate places. When I got home I started working on it, but then I found it.
Neelix (the dog) has been plucking ornaments off the tree since I put it up. What I found was the first one he had destroyed. It had been made for me by a now deceased friend out of terra cotta balls and a mini planter- it was a snowman that meant a lot to me. Now it’s in the garbage. I FLIPPED out and started screaming at the dog. I wound up angrily putting all of my Christmas decorations away so nothing else could get destroyed. Mom had previously pulled all the hangers off a bunch of cheap ball ornaments I had for very basic decorations because Nick tried to eat them and she had promised to fix them for me. Instead they had sat there for three days, in the place she puts stuff she wants me to put away. I asked her if she was going to fix them or if I should throw them away and she got mad at me and told me to throw them away if I was going to have an attitude. So I did. Then I put away all my ornaments and brewed a pot of tea to relax myself.
I feel better now that I’ve written all of this, but I have literally no Christmas spirit left. It’s all drained away from me in a blur of rage and sorrow.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
New Car Drama
Okay internet, I told you I’d tell you more about the car thing when I knew more. So let me tell you what’s going on…
To recap, I had dealt with a few rude dealers and not found anything I liked until I stopped to look at the Ford Fiesta. I couldn’t get the Fiesta, but I was kind of done car shopping and I could get financed in theory for the 2011 Ford Focus, which is ubiquitous but not horrible. In practice, I needed to give them a partial down payment ($200) before they would get the financing done because I don’t have a co-signer and they “had to call in some favors” to get it done. So I gave them $200 (fully refundable) and asked when we would know for sure. Two days later they had finally called me back and let me know that they had it worked out. In the meantime, I had found a new car that I LOVED, the 2011 Mazda2. When I saw it online, it seemed perfect. When I saw it in person, my heart literally skipped a beat. It felt so right when I test drove it. But it was late, and they couldn’t even deal with a bank that night. The next day they called me and told me that they couldn’t do it for me. So I was upset, but prepared to get the Focus, but it still had to wait until my next payday for the other $300. In the meantime, I found another Mazda dealer that advertised that they dealt especially with people with bad credit. I don’t have bad credit exactly, so much as very little credit history. Anyway, they told me they could probably finance me, so I went out there and got some things in motion. I just heard back on Friday that they can finance me for the Mazda2 but “we need to discuss some things”, I don’t really know what that means, but now I’m flustered. Tomorrow, one way or the other, I’m buying a new car and I don’t know where to go, so here’s my pro/con list for each car…
Mazda2
Pros
To recap, I had dealt with a few rude dealers and not found anything I liked until I stopped to look at the Ford Fiesta. I couldn’t get the Fiesta, but I was kind of done car shopping and I could get financed in theory for the 2011 Ford Focus, which is ubiquitous but not horrible. In practice, I needed to give them a partial down payment ($200) before they would get the financing done because I don’t have a co-signer and they “had to call in some favors” to get it done. So I gave them $200 (fully refundable) and asked when we would know for sure. Two days later they had finally called me back and let me know that they had it worked out. In the meantime, I had found a new car that I LOVED, the 2011 Mazda2. When I saw it online, it seemed perfect. When I saw it in person, my heart literally skipped a beat. It felt so right when I test drove it. But it was late, and they couldn’t even deal with a bank that night. The next day they called me and told me that they couldn’t do it for me. So I was upset, but prepared to get the Focus, but it still had to wait until my next payday for the other $300. In the meantime, I found another Mazda dealer that advertised that they dealt especially with people with bad credit. I don’t have bad credit exactly, so much as very little credit history. Anyway, they told me they could probably finance me, so I went out there and got some things in motion. I just heard back on Friday that they can finance me for the Mazda2 but “we need to discuss some things”, I don’t really know what that means, but now I’m flustered. Tomorrow, one way or the other, I’m buying a new car and I don’t know where to go, so here’s my pro/con list for each car…
Mazda2
- Bright green=super pretty
- Mazda has a great reputation
- It felt so right when I drove it
- Unique/European styling- it's not the same as every other car on the road
Pros
Cons
- Almost no features/options- it will route MP3 player through the radio but that's it
- Back seat is not comfy/spacious (I feel I shouldn't have to concern myself with kid comfort since I don't have kids, but because of how often I watch Nick and Naty, I do)
- No former US model to refer to- it might have bugs we don't know about since there's no history
- Not very powerful
- low MPG for it's size (subcompact) (29/35)
- slightly more expensive
Focus
Pros
- Blue which is my favorite color
- Ford's Sync System (Bluetooth, will run calls through the radio for a hands free system, plays music from MP3 player radio adjustments on the steering wheel, ambient lighting [this is cool, colored lights at the feet that you can change depending on your mood])
- Back seat is more spacious/comfy (see above)
- It's a Focus, it's been around long enough that I know what problems I'm likely to run into with it
- Slightly cheaper than the Mazda
Cons
- Ford doesn't have a great reputation, and the Focus especially has had terrible years in the past, although the reviews have been universally fair to good since 06
- STILL haven't test driven it due to dealer issues
- Ubiquitous
- MPG is lower than the Mazda (25/35) but average for the size of the car
Hmmm… I thought that writing it out like that would help me make a decision, but it didn’t. I love the Mazda, but I’d be giving up some pretty neat stuff with it. I do really like the Sync system but I certainly don’t need it.
If I could wait a year to get a new car, the 2012 Mazda2 is supposed to have a much higher MPG rating and a potential for a “speed” version with more power. Buying a car is hard people!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Car shopping
First some backstory…
When my dad died, he and I were planning on buying me a car when I got back from a school trip to Turkey. I was going to be going off to school and I needed a car. Dad and I agreed that he would take me car shopping, we would buy something not terribly expensive and the loan would go under my name, but my dad would make the payments (to help build my credit, it was going to be one more way my dad helped me be more independent). Instead he died and I missed the trip and inherited his car. Which means I reached 28 without EVER buying a car.
My check engine light is on, and my plates expire on Sunday night. Perhaps this doesn’t seem connected, until I tell you I live in a county (not a state, just a county) that requires that I pass an emissions test to renew my plates. However, with the check engine light on, I won’t pass emissions. I COULD fix the $1,000 part (it’s the sensor that tells the light everything is fine) and continue dealing with the broken window, and the body damage that makes me want to hit someone, etc. BTW, my dad had the part fixed. Four times. In two years.
I’m not fixing the part.
Instead, I wound up (partially through my own stupidity true) with two weeks in which to buy a new car. With a crap credit rating and no money to put down. Car shopping is…fun? Terrible? I’m not even sure.
I did internet research, decided what I could afford, etc. My first day out (first dealer, first car I looked at) I fell in love. It was everything I wanted in a car. A 2006 blue Ford Focus hatchback with low miles, good mileage and a price tag that didn’t kill me. The dealer was nice to me and explained things for me since I don’t know much about cars. BUT I had been told not to just buy the first car. Try a few things out, they said. So I walked away after telling the dealer I would probably be back later.
The next day my mom and I went to a few other dealers, where I found out what people mean when they say car shopping sucks. First up…Hyundai. The salesman only talked to mom, even after we made sure he knew I was buying a car, mom had just bought a new one, nad she wasn’t even co-signing my loan. Like to the point that she was standing behind him, I asked a question and he turned around and answered her. We left. Next…Nissan. They ignored us for twenty minutes, which I wouldn’t have minded except none of their cars had prices. Finally a man came out who at least talked to me. But he had a very clear idea of what he was going to sell me, before he even talked to me. He ignored me when I told him the price point I was looking at, didn’t listen to anything I wanted in a car and tried to force something I hated on me. Then, when I told him why I was there (I wanted to see a used Versa) he didn’t tell me what he was showing me and tried to con me into a brand new car. Also, after I saw it, I thought the Versa was bigger than I wanted, and he was rude about that. Finally I told him I wasn’t buying a new car and he goes “Then I don’t think I can help.” To which I replied “Okay, thanks for your time.” I got ready to leave but mom was off changing Nick’s diaper, so I had to wait for them, and he goes “Well…let me talk to my manager.” As soon as Mom came back we left, while he was still talking to his manager, because he was rude and I didn’t want to give him my money.
So, I called the original Ford dealership and told them I wanted the Focus and my SIL was going to take it to the mechanic for my on Monday (this was Thursday). Which they said was fine, but then called me twice more to ask my intentions. I finally told them on Saturday “My SIL will take it to the mechanic on Monday at one, if the mechanic gives me the go ahead, I will come buy it after work, I’ll be there around 5:45.” Monday afternoon my SIL texts me, they sold my car. Then they tried to get her to take something else to the mechanic without me there to say if I liked it. Then they told me that I should come look and that if I found something I liked, they could set it aside until Monday when it could go to the mechanic. Why didn’t they do that with the car I told them I wanted!!!
Today I went to a different Ford dealer to look at the Fiesta (so pretty) even though it only comes in 2011. I can’t have that, but if all goes the way we discussed Monday night I’m picking up a 2011 Ford Focus sedan in electric blue!
When my dad died, he and I were planning on buying me a car when I got back from a school trip to Turkey. I was going to be going off to school and I needed a car. Dad and I agreed that he would take me car shopping, we would buy something not terribly expensive and the loan would go under my name, but my dad would make the payments (to help build my credit, it was going to be one more way my dad helped me be more independent). Instead he died and I missed the trip and inherited his car. Which means I reached 28 without EVER buying a car.
My check engine light is on, and my plates expire on Sunday night. Perhaps this doesn’t seem connected, until I tell you I live in a county (not a state, just a county) that requires that I pass an emissions test to renew my plates. However, with the check engine light on, I won’t pass emissions. I COULD fix the $1,000 part (it’s the sensor that tells the light everything is fine) and continue dealing with the broken window, and the body damage that makes me want to hit someone, etc. BTW, my dad had the part fixed. Four times. In two years.
I’m not fixing the part.
Instead, I wound up (partially through my own stupidity true) with two weeks in which to buy a new car. With a crap credit rating and no money to put down. Car shopping is…fun? Terrible? I’m not even sure.
I did internet research, decided what I could afford, etc. My first day out (first dealer, first car I looked at) I fell in love. It was everything I wanted in a car. A 2006 blue Ford Focus hatchback with low miles, good mileage and a price tag that didn’t kill me. The dealer was nice to me and explained things for me since I don’t know much about cars. BUT I had been told not to just buy the first car. Try a few things out, they said. So I walked away after telling the dealer I would probably be back later.
The next day my mom and I went to a few other dealers, where I found out what people mean when they say car shopping sucks. First up…Hyundai. The salesman only talked to mom, even after we made sure he knew I was buying a car, mom had just bought a new one, nad she wasn’t even co-signing my loan. Like to the point that she was standing behind him, I asked a question and he turned around and answered her. We left. Next…Nissan. They ignored us for twenty minutes, which I wouldn’t have minded except none of their cars had prices. Finally a man came out who at least talked to me. But he had a very clear idea of what he was going to sell me, before he even talked to me. He ignored me when I told him the price point I was looking at, didn’t listen to anything I wanted in a car and tried to force something I hated on me. Then, when I told him why I was there (I wanted to see a used Versa) he didn’t tell me what he was showing me and tried to con me into a brand new car. Also, after I saw it, I thought the Versa was bigger than I wanted, and he was rude about that. Finally I told him I wasn’t buying a new car and he goes “Then I don’t think I can help.” To which I replied “Okay, thanks for your time.” I got ready to leave but mom was off changing Nick’s diaper, so I had to wait for them, and he goes “Well…let me talk to my manager.” As soon as Mom came back we left, while he was still talking to his manager, because he was rude and I didn’t want to give him my money.
So, I called the original Ford dealership and told them I wanted the Focus and my SIL was going to take it to the mechanic for my on Monday (this was Thursday). Which they said was fine, but then called me twice more to ask my intentions. I finally told them on Saturday “My SIL will take it to the mechanic on Monday at one, if the mechanic gives me the go ahead, I will come buy it after work, I’ll be there around 5:45.” Monday afternoon my SIL texts me, they sold my car. Then they tried to get her to take something else to the mechanic without me there to say if I liked it. Then they told me that I should come look and that if I found something I liked, they could set it aside until Monday when it could go to the mechanic. Why didn’t they do that with the car I told them I wanted!!!
Today I went to a different Ford dealer to look at the Fiesta (so pretty) even though it only comes in 2011. I can’t have that, but if all goes the way we discussed Monday night I’m picking up a 2011 Ford Focus sedan in electric blue!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Cuteness!
I talk to my SIL almost every day. The other day she called to talk while she was outside of her apartment. After we had talked for awhile we said goodnight and she went upstairs. A little later, my phone rang again, and it was my SILs number again. I was a little confused because she doesn’t usually call back after we’ve said goodnight. I answered my phone to hear my niece’s voice
“Aunt Tina! I got it right!” she said to me. Still puzzled, because if she wants to talk to me her mom usually calls me and lets me know and then gives her the phone, I spoke to my niece for a few minutes asking her how her day was, etc. Finally, I asked her why she called, and she goes “I love you Aunt Tina.” So of course I liked hearing that. After she hung up her mom called me back again later. Apparently Niece had stolen her mom’s phone, gone into contacts, and picked my number (there’s a picture next to my name) and called me, all without her mother’s knowledge. When her mom asked her why she said that she wanted to talk to Aunt Tina and Mommy was busy.
Today when I watched Niece and Nephew, we were going to pick up a movie and pizza (it was a special night) and I heard Niece tell Nephew this story…
“Jesus was crazy. He dieded on the cross. Did you know that people dieded on crosses? Auntie M wears a cross on her neck, but she won’t die on it. Aunt Tina wears a cross on her thumb and it scratches, but it’s not big enough to die on, so it’s okay. Alternatively she could take it off like when she works.”
I’m not sure where she got that Jesus was crazy, but her Aunt M does wear a cross necklace. I have a thumb ring with a cross on it, but I haven’t worn mine in a long time, I’m not even sure how she knew I had it. I taught her the word alternatively, and she says it much better than conservative (it came out convervative), and I think she must even know what it means, because she used it correctly. I tell this story to remind myself, even though she’s only three-she is paying attention. She might not always get the details right, but she is paying attention!
My boss told one of my coworkers that she thinks I’m doing a great job in my new position. Which is good because several of my coworkers had told me that they thought I would hate it, and not know what to do. One gave me a month before I begged for my old job back!
My class is learning colors, numbers, and shapes in English and in Spanish. You should hear their little accents when they say some of the words. “Naranja” (orange) is especially funny with their little lisps imitating my accent!
“Aunt Tina! I got it right!” she said to me. Still puzzled, because if she wants to talk to me her mom usually calls me and lets me know and then gives her the phone, I spoke to my niece for a few minutes asking her how her day was, etc. Finally, I asked her why she called, and she goes “I love you Aunt Tina.” So of course I liked hearing that. After she hung up her mom called me back again later. Apparently Niece had stolen her mom’s phone, gone into contacts, and picked my number (there’s a picture next to my name) and called me, all without her mother’s knowledge. When her mom asked her why she said that she wanted to talk to Aunt Tina and Mommy was busy.
Today when I watched Niece and Nephew, we were going to pick up a movie and pizza (it was a special night) and I heard Niece tell Nephew this story…
“Jesus was crazy. He dieded on the cross. Did you know that people dieded on crosses? Auntie M wears a cross on her neck, but she won’t die on it. Aunt Tina wears a cross on her thumb and it scratches, but it’s not big enough to die on, so it’s okay. Alternatively she could take it off like when she works.”
I’m not sure where she got that Jesus was crazy, but her Aunt M does wear a cross necklace. I have a thumb ring with a cross on it, but I haven’t worn mine in a long time, I’m not even sure how she knew I had it. I taught her the word alternatively, and she says it much better than conservative (it came out convervative), and I think she must even know what it means, because she used it correctly. I tell this story to remind myself, even though she’s only three-she is paying attention. She might not always get the details right, but she is paying attention!
My boss told one of my coworkers that she thinks I’m doing a great job in my new position. Which is good because several of my coworkers had told me that they thought I would hate it, and not know what to do. One gave me a month before I begged for my old job back!
My class is learning colors, numbers, and shapes in English and in Spanish. You should hear their little accents when they say some of the words. “Naranja” (orange) is especially funny with their little lisps imitating my accent!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
My Brother is an IDIOT
This week my SIL started her new full-time position at work, which she needed in order to move into her pretty new apartment. She also had to take the kids out of daycare, because she couldn’t afford both day care and apartment. Her new arrangement for the kids looks like this
I also found out that my brother, who whines at SIL that she’s ALWAYS tired and she never wants to “play”, told her that this new plan won’t work, because if he watches them, he’s too tired to work. So ha can’t watch them during the day if he has to work, and he can’t watch them on his days off because he needs to sleep. EXCUSE ME?!?!? They aren’t my kids (much as I love them) and I worked a ten hour day on Friday, then picked them up and essentially worked another four and a half. My only break the whole day was the twenty minutes it took me to drive to pick them up. But their father can’t watch them on days he works. Even though he’s been complaining about SIL only wanting to work, eat, and sleep since Nephew was born. My brother is an idiot! Plus, if he doesn’t do his part, he’s thinking I can just do more, and I don’t want to do more. I don’t have kids. I should not have to give up all my time off to watch them.
- If Brother is off work (whether it’s a day off, or SIL is working a day shift), he watches them
- If it’s Wednesday, my mom watches them
- If Brother works AND it’s not Wednesday AND SIL works a closing shift, he watches them until 5:30 (he works nights) and takes them to her work where she takes her dinner break until I get off work, drive across town and can pick them up
I also found out that my brother, who whines at SIL that she’s ALWAYS tired and she never wants to “play”, told her that this new plan won’t work, because if he watches them, he’s too tired to work. So ha can’t watch them during the day if he has to work, and he can’t watch them on his days off because he needs to sleep. EXCUSE ME?!?!? They aren’t my kids (much as I love them) and I worked a ten hour day on Friday, then picked them up and essentially worked another four and a half. My only break the whole day was the twenty minutes it took me to drive to pick them up. But their father can’t watch them on days he works. Even though he’s been complaining about SIL only wanting to work, eat, and sleep since Nephew was born. My brother is an idiot! Plus, if he doesn’t do his part, he’s thinking I can just do more, and I don’t want to do more. I don’t have kids. I should not have to give up all my time off to watch them.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
24 Hours
This morning I was scheduled to watch Niece and Nephew at 7:30. Since my SIL just moved into her new apartment, and she had room for me, I slept over to that I could sleep until the kids woke, or 7:30 which ever came last. That turned out to not really mean any extra sleep since I helped unpack stuff until after 3. In the morning. I didn’t get home today from watching them until 10pm. I spent more than 24 hours with them, and while I love them, I am SOOO glad I don’t have any kids of my own. I am exhausted and I was pretty glad to come home and watch trashy TV and surf the internet uninterrupted.
On the other hand…Internet, the kids let me read to them from The Iliad. And they seemed to enjoy it. The reading is hard, my pronunciation is not great, and their comprehension was probably at zero, but they cuddled up to me and listened. Niece even asked me to read more. The Iliad you guys. My comprehension is only about 60 percent, but they seemed to love it.
On the other hand…Internet, the kids let me read to them from The Iliad. And they seemed to enjoy it. The reading is hard, my pronunciation is not great, and their comprehension was probably at zero, but they cuddled up to me and listened. Niece even asked me to read more. The Iliad you guys. My comprehension is only about 60 percent, but they seemed to love it.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Tina has a big day
Today I bought a NOOK. I’ve been wanting it since it came out last Christmas, and I’ve been saving for it for months ($149 for the NOOK, plus almost $100 in extended warranty, fancy cover, and tax). When I got home I sat Niece and Nephew in front of the TV (which I NEVER do when I babysit) so I could play with my new toy. Niece told me it wasn’t much of a toy because she didn’t want to play with it. Also because it made me less fun (since I wasn’t playing with her). ANYWAY, I go digging through my bag, only to find out that I spent $244 and didn’t get a receipt! I called the store and they told me that they can look it up with my debit card, but now I’m a little worried that if something is wrong and I need to use that expensive warranty, they’ll tell me I don’t have it. If you want an e-reader, I’ve done the research, I’ve played with the big three on the field right now, and I promise you the NOOK is by far the best.
I also went to game night tonight. The woman who is in charge of my book club does this occasionally. Last time my friends and I disappeared upstairs to play a game at like eight and didn’t come down until close to eleven when we went home. It was very anti-social of us, because most of us hang out outside of game night and book club. Tonight we stayed on the main floor of the house. But nearly everyone else went downstairs to play Uno. We talked (religion, politics, you know the things you aren’t supposed to discuss), I told stories about McDonald’s Man and telling my kids about torture. Eventually we played two games of Scattegories and a game of Buzz Word, but we didn’t play nearly as many games as everyone else. If we spent more than half the night talking and not playing, can we still call it game night? Next week I’m going to another game night with four of the five other people I played with tonight, plus one other person. I’m pretty excited about it because game night is my favorite night.
I also went to game night tonight. The woman who is in charge of my book club does this occasionally. Last time my friends and I disappeared upstairs to play a game at like eight and didn’t come down until close to eleven when we went home. It was very anti-social of us, because most of us hang out outside of game night and book club. Tonight we stayed on the main floor of the house. But nearly everyone else went downstairs to play Uno. We talked (religion, politics, you know the things you aren’t supposed to discuss), I told stories about McDonald’s Man and telling my kids about torture. Eventually we played two games of Scattegories and a game of Buzz Word, but we didn’t play nearly as many games as everyone else. If we spent more than half the night talking and not playing, can we still call it game night? Next week I’m going to another game night with four of the five other people I played with tonight, plus one other person. I’m pretty excited about it because game night is my favorite night.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Work! Family! Personal! We've Got It All!!
Sometimes I don’t write anything because nothing has happened, but in this case I haven’t written because too much has happened. I did want to write before I leave on vacation (Taste of Chicago Saturday, Rockford fireworks Sunday, leave for St. Joseph’s Monday!!!). First, work…
I have told you about the situation at work. First a few weeks ago, a parent complained because her daughter got wet and (GASP!!) dirty. Last week the same parent complained (to me, not my boss for once) that her daughter was never in our class newspaper. I explained calmly to the parent that her daughter goes to summer school in the morning, and the morning is when the kids write their articles, and when we do the things that show up in the paper. Friday the daughter threw a FIT about having to play kickball. The class rule is that you play the first half hour at any one place (ball field, park, etc) and then you can sit out. She threw a fit in the middle of the ball field and told me her mom said she didn’t have to play if she didn’t want. After warning her that her behavior would lead to “serious consequences” I made her apologize to her classmates “I’m sorry I ruined your fun.” She had to say. Then I let her off. I told her sister who picked her up, because she was still upset. Monday her mom complained about the way I talked to the sister. Tuesday she slapped another girl in the leg while I was sitting about six inches away. I made her apologize. I should clarify that I make them apologize by looking whoever they’re apologizing to in the face and saying “I’m sorry for…” which you hear in my class about every 2.3 minutes. The girl refused to sit up, refused to apologize for several minutes, finally did it mere seconds before mom showed up. I’m no longer allowed to speak to the family, so I said nothing. Thirty minutes later my boss came downstairs with the mom and her daughter who had been telling them that I made her apologize to another child because the other child kicked her. Twenty minutes after that the kid admitted that she had slapped the person she apologized to, and her mom didn’t care. She was too caught up in what I had done (made her kid apologize). She eventually threatened my boss with a phone call to DCFS (our supervising agency), my boss told her to go ahead. She also said that we favor staff kids (I personally am probably harder on staff kids). Her daughter came outside where I was watching ten other kids to yell “What is wrong with you?!?” at us. She is now hanging out in another teacher’s class until I get back from vacation. Her mom was told she had until then to either adjust to my class (getting dirty, participating, respecting everyone…) or to find a different school for her kid. Works rocks (no, I’m serious, I’m so glad how supportive my boss has been throughout this situation).
Now Family…
We took Niece and Nephew to the zoo again. Nephew can now say rilla (gorilla), pant (elephant), ger (tiger), sheal (seal), fin (dolphin), pig (guinea pig), cat (self-explanatory), and I don’t even know what else. Kid knows his animals is what I’m saying. He’s just over a year old now, so I’m pretty proud of him. We took in a dolphin show, touched the stingrays (actually Niece only tapped the top of the water because she was afraid and Nephew’s arms weren’t long enough, but I touched the rays), played at the play zoo, pet a guinea pig at the play zoo, saw the gorillas and the alligators and rode the carousel. It was an excellent day, but at this point I think they just expect to go to the zoo when they see Aunt Tina and Grandma. I hope they don’t get upset when I’m gone the next three weekends!
Personally…
I got to hang out with a friend from high school. This is the last of my Christian friends, the rest of them having fallen to the wayside as they became more conservative and I became more liberal. Also as I objected to being used as a scapegoat for everything wrong in people’s lives (more on that another day maybe). She is one of the sweetest people I know. She is also the friend whom I told you was adopting. I hadn’t really hung out with her the last month or so due to the drama in her life and my new work schedule. Later, I ran into a friend I usually only see a few times a month at the library tonight. Next thing I knew almost an hour had passed and I had seen his famous movie list (he’s listed every movie he’s ever seen apparently), and records every movie in some crazy system I think only he understands. It was pretty cool. He also showed me this. Mel Gibson is clearly a troubled man.
As of six pm tomorrow I’m on vacation, so this will have to hold you over until I get home. Then I’ll tell you all about vacation, and also what happened to my Christian friends.
I have told you about the situation at work. First a few weeks ago, a parent complained because her daughter got wet and (GASP!!) dirty. Last week the same parent complained (to me, not my boss for once) that her daughter was never in our class newspaper. I explained calmly to the parent that her daughter goes to summer school in the morning, and the morning is when the kids write their articles, and when we do the things that show up in the paper. Friday the daughter threw a FIT about having to play kickball. The class rule is that you play the first half hour at any one place (ball field, park, etc) and then you can sit out. She threw a fit in the middle of the ball field and told me her mom said she didn’t have to play if she didn’t want. After warning her that her behavior would lead to “serious consequences” I made her apologize to her classmates “I’m sorry I ruined your fun.” She had to say. Then I let her off. I told her sister who picked her up, because she was still upset. Monday her mom complained about the way I talked to the sister. Tuesday she slapped another girl in the leg while I was sitting about six inches away. I made her apologize. I should clarify that I make them apologize by looking whoever they’re apologizing to in the face and saying “I’m sorry for…” which you hear in my class about every 2.3 minutes. The girl refused to sit up, refused to apologize for several minutes, finally did it mere seconds before mom showed up. I’m no longer allowed to speak to the family, so I said nothing. Thirty minutes later my boss came downstairs with the mom and her daughter who had been telling them that I made her apologize to another child because the other child kicked her. Twenty minutes after that the kid admitted that she had slapped the person she apologized to, and her mom didn’t care. She was too caught up in what I had done (made her kid apologize). She eventually threatened my boss with a phone call to DCFS (our supervising agency), my boss told her to go ahead. She also said that we favor staff kids (I personally am probably harder on staff kids). Her daughter came outside where I was watching ten other kids to yell “What is wrong with you?!?” at us. She is now hanging out in another teacher’s class until I get back from vacation. Her mom was told she had until then to either adjust to my class (getting dirty, participating, respecting everyone…) or to find a different school for her kid. Works rocks (no, I’m serious, I’m so glad how supportive my boss has been throughout this situation).
Now Family…
We took Niece and Nephew to the zoo again. Nephew can now say rilla (gorilla), pant (elephant), ger (tiger), sheal (seal), fin (dolphin), pig (guinea pig), cat (self-explanatory), and I don’t even know what else. Kid knows his animals is what I’m saying. He’s just over a year old now, so I’m pretty proud of him. We took in a dolphin show, touched the stingrays (actually Niece only tapped the top of the water because she was afraid and Nephew’s arms weren’t long enough, but I touched the rays), played at the play zoo, pet a guinea pig at the play zoo, saw the gorillas and the alligators and rode the carousel. It was an excellent day, but at this point I think they just expect to go to the zoo when they see Aunt Tina and Grandma. I hope they don’t get upset when I’m gone the next three weekends!
Personally…
I got to hang out with a friend from high school. This is the last of my Christian friends, the rest of them having fallen to the wayside as they became more conservative and I became more liberal. Also as I objected to being used as a scapegoat for everything wrong in people’s lives (more on that another day maybe). She is one of the sweetest people I know. She is also the friend whom I told you was adopting. I hadn’t really hung out with her the last month or so due to the drama in her life and my new work schedule. Later, I ran into a friend I usually only see a few times a month at the library tonight. Next thing I knew almost an hour had passed and I had seen his famous movie list (he’s listed every movie he’s ever seen apparently), and records every movie in some crazy system I think only he understands. It was pretty cool. He also showed me this. Mel Gibson is clearly a troubled man.
As of six pm tomorrow I’m on vacation, so this will have to hold you over until I get home. Then I’ll tell you all about vacation, and also what happened to my Christian friends.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Busy weekend
Yesterday Best Friend and I took Niece and Nephew to the zoo. It was tons of fun, partly because Niece doesn’t know “Ms. Best Friend” very well so she wanted to hold my hand and made Best Friend carry Nephew in all the exhibits. This meant that Best Friend was completely exhausted when we got home and I was still feeling excited and energetic. You will, I’m sure, be pleased to learn that Nephew still knows the gorillas, and came even closer than “gerba” when he said “rilla”. He also learned “sheeee” while playing with the seals/sea lions in the underwater viewing space. I learned that if you save the tiger (my favorite animal, but kind of a boring zoo exhibit) for last, she has woken up and is playing. Nephew really seemed to like her so we watched for awhile and I told him stuff about the tiger and he learned to say “ger”. Also, he flat out refused to walk. He will stand, and he would walk if he could put his hand, however lightly, on something. He was clearly completely capable of walking, but he crawls faster than any kid I’ve ever seen. He literally crawls about as fast as Niece runs, so I think he didn’t want to slow himself down.
Today my SIL called me up to let me know he took his first steps. I told you he was capable. Yesterday crawling was more efficient and let me remain stable in the chaos of the park at the zoo. Today he was in his Sunday school class/nursery and he has older friends who walk, so he clearly needed to show them who’s the boss. I made SIL promise we would hang out this week so I could see because I won’t be able to babysit him on Saturday.
Also, I was supposed to get to see “The Mad King of Scotland” (AKA Macbeth) tonight. Sadly, it was not showing, perhaps because of poor attendance. So, if there’s community theatre near you, please go to see it, but I was PISSED to miss the Scottish play. And, also because I put on eyeliner to go out and wound up eating Thai food in my pjs, on my couch, watching The Secret Life of Elephants, Hancock, and Star Wars VI: The Return of the Jedi.
Today my SIL called me up to let me know he took his first steps. I told you he was capable. Yesterday crawling was more efficient and let me remain stable in the chaos of the park at the zoo. Today he was in his Sunday school class/nursery and he has older friends who walk, so he clearly needed to show them who’s the boss. I made SIL promise we would hang out this week so I could see because I won’t be able to babysit him on Saturday.
Also, I was supposed to get to see “The Mad King of Scotland” (AKA Macbeth) tonight. Sadly, it was not showing, perhaps because of poor attendance. So, if there’s community theatre near you, please go to see it, but I was PISSED to miss the Scottish play. And, also because I put on eyeliner to go out and wound up eating Thai food in my pjs, on my couch, watching The Secret Life of Elephants, Hancock, and Star Wars VI: The Return of the Jedi.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Further Cell Phone Drama Now With Car Drama!!
For some reason the cell phone alarm that I set to go off at 9:30 went off at 9:00 but it wasn’t that big a deal because I had woken up ever forty minutes or so since 4:15 for no apparent reason. Stevo was upstairs (an hour early) so I dealt with getting him everything he needed to do my brakes and got ready to go to the cell phone stores with the SIL.
Sadly, Niece came with because she has her third ear infection of the year. So we went to Sprint, where they were very nice about us returning my phone and getting the contract all fixed. Then we lied and said we were going to get the new one at Radio Shack because they’re cheaper. All the way across town we went to Verizon where we got our phones buy one, get one free. And they were super nice because Brother didn’t want the BOGO phone and they gave us three BOGO phone and the stupid cheap phone he wanted for the BOGO price (a hundred bucks for one $120 phone and three $350 phones). So my cell phone bill tripled but now I can go online and I have a VERY nice phone for waaay less than my stupid cheap crap phone.
Also, Brother did not get the brakes done so I still can’t drive. I have to pick up Niece and Nephew in Mom’s car tomorrow (which they are not really allowed in because she smokes) because Brother couldn’t get the tire off. Mom's BF got it off though so Brother is coming tomorrow on his way home from work to finish the brake job. Thank God!!!
Sadly, Niece came with because she has her third ear infection of the year. So we went to Sprint, where they were very nice about us returning my phone and getting the contract all fixed. Then we lied and said we were going to get the new one at Radio Shack because they’re cheaper. All the way across town we went to Verizon where we got our phones buy one, get one free. And they were super nice because Brother didn’t want the BOGO phone and they gave us three BOGO phone and the stupid cheap phone he wanted for the BOGO price (a hundred bucks for one $120 phone and three $350 phones). So my cell phone bill tripled but now I can go online and I have a VERY nice phone for waaay less than my stupid cheap crap phone.
Also, Brother did not get the brakes done so I still can’t drive. I have to pick up Niece and Nephew in Mom’s car tomorrow (which they are not really allowed in because she smokes) because Brother couldn’t get the tire off. Mom's BF got it off though so Brother is coming tomorrow on his way home from work to finish the brake job. Thank God!!!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tina's Daily Sheet
…so tired…must sleep…must blog…must choose…
I choose to blog in list form because it takes less time. At my work we have to write daily sheets for the tiny tots so moms and dads know what we did, and since I watched Nick today and wrote him a daily sheet, I’m writing me one too.
-4:40 A.M. look at clock and groan. Have not slept yet
-6:20 A.M. wake because mom uses the portable closets that are my bedroom walls as her closets for work clothes and she is up getting clothes for work, look at clock, realize I can sleep for another forty minutes, roll over
-6:27 A.M. wake because phone is ringing I have a very strict rule, if you call me before nine a.m., someone better be dying (anything less is not important enough and if they’re already dead I can’t do anything until businesses open anyway). It’s gram. “Goooogm—“ (translation- good morning gram.) “You have Nick today right?!” “Yes.” “Then you were awake right?” “No, don’t have him til almost eight.” “Oh, well…” she was calling to check that a) I got her house keys she left for me (she’s going out of town and needed someone to check on cats) and b) that I know the difference between house and care keys. As I am clearly over the age of five I do. I hang up.
-6:32 A.M. realize I will not be getting any more sleep before alarm goes off at seven, get out of bed. Do morning things (i.e. brush hair and teeth), do not get dressed to pick up one year old nephew
-7:15 A.M. drive aaaallll the way across town to get nephew, arrive twenty minutes early (a miracle since my usual departure time of 7:18 puts me five minutes late), read book club book but do not comprehend anything
-8:15 A.M. arrive home with nephew, prepare ridiculously healthful breakfast as am supposed to be good role model, he enjoys it so hooray for health
-9:00 A.M. practice walking (Nick not me), he will be able to do it alone soon. Teach Nick a new word (cool)
-9:15 A.M. Nick reaches in bag pulls out water cup, drinks and replaces cup where it was. Am so exhausted I think this is a milestone
-10:00 A.M. force nephew to take a nap, so that I can take one, he is tired so does not fight me
-12:00 P.M. wake, make healthful lunch (Nick literally picks the spinach off every single piece of whole grain mac and cheese he puts in his mouth-joy)
-1:30 P.M. brother arrives to care for his son (brings friend, despite knowing I am still in pjs), is mad at me because Nick wants me and not him, I go take shower and finally dress for the day
-2:00 P.M. reread book club book that I read in car, understand it this time. Continue reading until I finish
-3:30 P.M. get ready for big night out
-4:30 P.M. meet Kristin’s out of town friends to drive them to dinner and show (she’s in the show so she can’t drive them herself) but it's the Follies (AKA local fudnraise/variety show which is AWESOME)
-5:15 P.M. glory hallelujah arrive at restaurant for real grownup food (it’s Thai)
-5:40 P.M. finally order real grownup food
-6:15 P.M. am last of friends (there’s eight of us) to receive food, Kristin asks me to run to her house to get her ticket to her cast party because she forgot it
-7:00 P.M. go to Kristin’s house, her dad hassles me and I must run to get ticket and arrive at show in time to get nine tickets all together (added two more friends at the theater)
-7:45 P.M. sit down to be entertained, distracted by annoyance over debit card situation (see previous post) am sitting between two couples, which feels very awkward as other friends are all just friends and it’s less awkward to accidentally touch the thigh of friend than of friend’s boyfriend. Twice. In ten minutes.
10:30 P.M. meet Kristin to give her ticket to cast party even though she is coming with us to local bar for a while first. Accidentally grabbed raffle ticket and now must alter all plans so she can go home to get the real ticket. Am clearly a moron.
11:30 P.M. enter very loud local bar, starving but must order food within ten minutes or kitchen will close and I will not be able to drink (empty stomach + alcohol + driving out of towners back to house = danger). Agree to split spinach dip with friend and her boyfriend. Am clearly a moron as I get three pita chips and am still starving. Thankfully others ordered to much, so I graze. Out of towner tries to eat my hand when I eat a nacho
12:00 A.M. am dancing in chair and telling risqué stories in mixed company (usually wait for just girls first) only had one jack and coke, so am clearly not drunk
1:45 A.M. decide to leave bar for home. It is pouring outside and I get soaked on the way to car. Let out of towners into Kristin’s grandma’s house and get them settled. Think I will sleep, but instead check debit balance hoping for a miracle. Hopes cruelly dashed I decide to blog thinking it will take oh say five minutes. It is now a half hour later and I’m still writing.
End blog abruptly to post and go to bed. Night people!
I choose to blog in list form because it takes less time. At my work we have to write daily sheets for the tiny tots so moms and dads know what we did, and since I watched Nick today and wrote him a daily sheet, I’m writing me one too.
-4:40 A.M. look at clock and groan. Have not slept yet
-6:20 A.M. wake because mom uses the portable closets that are my bedroom walls as her closets for work clothes and she is up getting clothes for work, look at clock, realize I can sleep for another forty minutes, roll over
-6:27 A.M. wake because phone is ringing I have a very strict rule, if you call me before nine a.m., someone better be dying (anything less is not important enough and if they’re already dead I can’t do anything until businesses open anyway). It’s gram. “Goooogm—“ (translation- good morning gram.) “You have Nick today right?!” “Yes.” “Then you were awake right?” “No, don’t have him til almost eight.” “Oh, well…” she was calling to check that a) I got her house keys she left for me (she’s going out of town and needed someone to check on cats) and b) that I know the difference between house and care keys. As I am clearly over the age of five I do. I hang up.
-6:32 A.M. realize I will not be getting any more sleep before alarm goes off at seven, get out of bed. Do morning things (i.e. brush hair and teeth), do not get dressed to pick up one year old nephew
-7:15 A.M. drive aaaallll the way across town to get nephew, arrive twenty minutes early (a miracle since my usual departure time of 7:18 puts me five minutes late), read book club book but do not comprehend anything
-8:15 A.M. arrive home with nephew, prepare ridiculously healthful breakfast as am supposed to be good role model, he enjoys it so hooray for health
-9:00 A.M. practice walking (Nick not me), he will be able to do it alone soon. Teach Nick a new word (cool)
-9:15 A.M. Nick reaches in bag pulls out water cup, drinks and replaces cup where it was. Am so exhausted I think this is a milestone
-10:00 A.M. force nephew to take a nap, so that I can take one, he is tired so does not fight me
-12:00 P.M. wake, make healthful lunch (Nick literally picks the spinach off every single piece of whole grain mac and cheese he puts in his mouth-joy)
-1:30 P.M. brother arrives to care for his son (brings friend, despite knowing I am still in pjs), is mad at me because Nick wants me and not him, I go take shower and finally dress for the day
-2:00 P.M. reread book club book that I read in car, understand it this time. Continue reading until I finish
-3:30 P.M. get ready for big night out
-4:30 P.M. meet Kristin’s out of town friends to drive them to dinner and show (she’s in the show so she can’t drive them herself) but it's the Follies (AKA local fudnraise/variety show which is AWESOME)
-5:15 P.M. glory hallelujah arrive at restaurant for real grownup food (it’s Thai)
-5:40 P.M. finally order real grownup food
-6:15 P.M. am last of friends (there’s eight of us) to receive food, Kristin asks me to run to her house to get her ticket to her cast party because she forgot it
-7:00 P.M. go to Kristin’s house, her dad hassles me and I must run to get ticket and arrive at show in time to get nine tickets all together (added two more friends at the theater)
-7:45 P.M. sit down to be entertained, distracted by annoyance over debit card situation (see previous post) am sitting between two couples, which feels very awkward as other friends are all just friends and it’s less awkward to accidentally touch the thigh of friend than of friend’s boyfriend. Twice. In ten minutes.
10:30 P.M. meet Kristin to give her ticket to cast party even though she is coming with us to local bar for a while first. Accidentally grabbed raffle ticket and now must alter all plans so she can go home to get the real ticket. Am clearly a moron.
11:30 P.M. enter very loud local bar, starving but must order food within ten minutes or kitchen will close and I will not be able to drink (empty stomach + alcohol + driving out of towners back to house = danger). Agree to split spinach dip with friend and her boyfriend. Am clearly a moron as I get three pita chips and am still starving. Thankfully others ordered to much, so I graze. Out of towner tries to eat my hand when I eat a nacho
12:00 A.M. am dancing in chair and telling risqué stories in mixed company (usually wait for just girls first) only had one jack and coke, so am clearly not drunk
1:45 A.M. decide to leave bar for home. It is pouring outside and I get soaked on the way to car. Let out of towners into Kristin’s grandma’s house and get them settled. Think I will sleep, but instead check debit balance hoping for a miracle. Hopes cruelly dashed I decide to blog thinking it will take oh say five minutes. It is now a half hour later and I’m still writing.
End blog abruptly to post and go to bed. Night people!
Monday, April 12, 2010
What's up with me today
Whew I’m exhausted today! Saturday night I was up until about four because I couldn’t sleep. Then my sister-in-law called me at like nine fifteen because she needed someone to watch Nick while she took Naty to urgent care. Turns out my poor three year old niece has strep throat. Poor kid has been basically sick since Christmas. I just hope that she’s feeling better for Saturday when we are going to the zoo for Nick’s first birthday. Anyway, I didn't get anymore sleep last night, tonight will clearly be an early night.
Meanwhile, my students lost all of their privileges last week because they couldn’t behave properly for five minutes in a row. I told them as soon as they could behave for a single day, they could have them back and it took until Friday before they had any privileges. So Friday we got to watch Back to the Future II (because they wanted to, and they had the privilege of watching PG movies again). Today, clearly is Monday, and they nearly lost their privileges again. Those kids are punks. However, as soon as the oldest kids left, the rest of them shaped up pretty quick. Also, they picked me dandelions to put in my hair while we walked. Those kids are sweethearts. :)
BTW, tomorrow the Friends of the Lords Park Zoo is doing a mini-photo shoot in support of the zoo. If you’re interested, meet tomorrow at 4:30 in front of the Lords Park Zoo. I’m taking my class so they can learn about how individual people can get things done and civic responsibility and stuff. Or just so we don’t have to hang around our classroom. Whichever explanation you believe most.
Meanwhile, my students lost all of their privileges last week because they couldn’t behave properly for five minutes in a row. I told them as soon as they could behave for a single day, they could have them back and it took until Friday before they had any privileges. So Friday we got to watch Back to the Future II (because they wanted to, and they had the privilege of watching PG movies again). Today, clearly is Monday, and they nearly lost their privileges again. Those kids are punks. However, as soon as the oldest kids left, the rest of them shaped up pretty quick. Also, they picked me dandelions to put in my hair while we walked. Those kids are sweethearts. :)
BTW, tomorrow the Friends of the Lords Park Zoo is doing a mini-photo shoot in support of the zoo. If you’re interested, meet tomorrow at 4:30 in front of the Lords Park Zoo. I’m taking my class so they can learn about how individual people can get things done and civic responsibility and stuff. Or just so we don’t have to hang around our classroom. Whichever explanation you believe most.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Fresh beginnings
I’ve blogged my bibliophile bet for several months now, and the whole time I’ve wanted to start a blog where I could write about my life not just what I’m reading. Somehow, every time I sat down to do so, thinking of the title is what stumped me and I’d give up. Therefore, I decided to forego the title and just start.
I’ve been so focused on summer the last few months, I managed to completely forget that my nephew’s first birthday is in less than two weeks. My mom and I are taking Nick, Naty, Mandy and Stevo all to Brookfield Zoo and suddenly lesson plans and field trips in Elgin with my class is way less entertaining. In case you don’t know, my summer focus is because my favorite part of my job is coming up as soon as school is over.
I teach the after school program at my work during the school year and when school is over my whole class finally shows up, many of whom don’t come during the year. My boss pretty much lets me do whatever I want with them, so I’ve planned a dozen field trips and had to figure out all our art projects and stuff which is totally fun. But Nick is waaay better!
I’ve been working extra hours at work for the last two weeks. I usually work 2-6 during the school year, so the 9-6 thing had been crazy. On top of that is the issue of class. As I mentioned I teach school agers, but I’ve been subbing for another teacher and had three year olds all week. Do you know what three year olds are like? I’m exhausted! Tomorrow, I return to my regularly scheduled hours, thank goodness!
I just celebrated Easter with my best friend (Hi best friend!) and her family. I spend most major holidays with them, and it’s been brought to my attention that it’s a little weird that I spend so much time with them. Whatever, I have fun with them. Their family is so loud and awesome I can’t help but find myself in a great mood.
When I first posted, I included a poll which is now closed. I asked “Is celebrating my holidays with a friend weird?”
The results are as follows…
Most definitely 0%
A little, but whatever works 66%
Not at all 33%
I’ve been so focused on summer the last few months, I managed to completely forget that my nephew’s first birthday is in less than two weeks. My mom and I are taking Nick, Naty, Mandy and Stevo all to Brookfield Zoo and suddenly lesson plans and field trips in Elgin with my class is way less entertaining. In case you don’t know, my summer focus is because my favorite part of my job is coming up as soon as school is over.
I teach the after school program at my work during the school year and when school is over my whole class finally shows up, many of whom don’t come during the year. My boss pretty much lets me do whatever I want with them, so I’ve planned a dozen field trips and had to figure out all our art projects and stuff which is totally fun. But Nick is waaay better!
I’ve been working extra hours at work for the last two weeks. I usually work 2-6 during the school year, so the 9-6 thing had been crazy. On top of that is the issue of class. As I mentioned I teach school agers, but I’ve been subbing for another teacher and had three year olds all week. Do you know what three year olds are like? I’m exhausted! Tomorrow, I return to my regularly scheduled hours, thank goodness!
I just celebrated Easter with my best friend (Hi best friend!) and her family. I spend most major holidays with them, and it’s been brought to my attention that it’s a little weird that I spend so much time with them. Whatever, I have fun with them. Their family is so loud and awesome I can’t help but find myself in a great mood.
When I first posted, I included a poll which is now closed. I asked “Is celebrating my holidays with a friend weird?”
The results are as follows…
Most definitely 0%
A little, but whatever works 66%
Not at all 33%
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