Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Wordless Wednesday

Voting Help

A Request from my friend Jess....

As the election approaches I am getting more and more desperate to find a website that states the facts. Does anyone know of one? I am still torn about which candidate to vote for and like many others I feel like this election is even more important for people to vote and make an educated vote. So my two questions are….

1. Is there a website I can go to that lists each candidates views factually?

2. Is there somewhere I can go to get a ballet just as I will see it that day?

In years prior I have stepped into the voting booth to find I had only heard of two or three categories of names. I would like to go in that voting booth educated and voting for what I believe in rather than: eny, meeny, minny, moe.

HELP….PLEASE!!

**Jess

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Misc Stuff

Today while driving to work I saw a woman driving an HHR. She had custom license plates that said "THE HHR" How much creativity did it take to think that one up? More importantly she seriously paid extra for that...

Ok, your turn... what's the strangest/dumbest custom license plate you've seen recently?

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This morning when I got up it was 24 degrees outside. On Thursday for beggars night it is supposed to be 62 degrees. Can it make up it's mind already? Really... no wonder everyone in my family is sick. My nose is running like a faucet.

Cold, hot... cold hot... pick a temperature already. I feel like I'm in one of those old sitcoms where the little kid is running in and out, in and out and the mom finally screams at him, "Jimmy, for the love of God... in or out!!"

So what's it like in your neck of the woods??

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Gas prices... can we say OMG I'm in love?? The economy might be failing but this morning when I came to work gas was at $1.99. I think I formally need to take back this entry....

As of right now we are only at a about a 30% jump since 2003. 30% is a much more manageable number. It even cost me less than $30 to fill up my car this week and that was at $2.06.

I am loving, loving, loving these prices.

How about you?

Friday, October 24, 2008

Wow!!

As much as I usually shy away from controversy I should write about that stuff more often!! You people really came out of the woodwork!! And not a single comment that I felt was inappropriate. Yeah for good manners!!

Now, moving on. I'm home today with Zack. He had bad diaper rash all day Wednesday, and I had to pick him up at 11:00. Yesterday I took him back and just prayed. The call came at 4:30 (they couldn't have just waited until I came to get him at 5:30??). He had a messy diaper. I had to come pick him up and he had to stay away until he was symptom free for 24 hours.

I'm thinking about taking him back at 4:30.......

Thursday, October 23, 2008

My first (and probably my last) post on politics

I don't want this to turn into a comment war, and I will delete any that I need to if I feel it becomes as inappropriate here, as it did over at Dooce but I must just write a couple of things.

There are a couple of very wonderful bloggers out in the bloggosphere who have said, with far more elegance than I could ever muster, what has been running through my head for awhile.

For purposes of what I'm referencing, it doesn't matter how you feel about either candidate. (Although I'm guessing you will be able to tell which way I feel.) However, forget your own feelings for a moment and focus, instead on the bigger picture.

The absolute disregard, and even disrespect that John McCain seems to have for women. And since most of you who read here are women I point you two a couple of good reads:

Julie from A Little Pregnant wrote this...

Alexa from Flotsam wrote this....

While they didn't change my vote they certainly helped to solidify it.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Cousins

Is it Wednesday already? Where has my week gone? This weekend I finished up my 70 hour work week and then piled in the car on Sunday to go visit Landen & my sister and Tim too... :-)

It was nice to see them but it made me think about how sad it is that Zack will not get to play with his cousins all the time. I wish they lived closer so we could see them more. Jake's sister also lives far away. Far, FAR away... like Alaska far so we do not get to see her or her boys very often either and we miss them.

It's funny because growing up I only saw my cousins on holiday's and other special occasions like mother's day, father's day, etc. and I didn't know any different. But for some reason, I had just hoped it would be different for Zack.

So that settles it, Lindsay, Tim, Molly, Marshall, you must promptly quit your jobs and move right back here so we can see you more. You get right on that... k?

Friday, October 17, 2008

On the Mend

Thank you all for your thoughts and well wishes. My sister is doing MUCH better. I got to talk to her last night and she sounded exactly how a person should sound after having a baby. Running on adrenaline and head over heals in love with her little guy.

They said the combination of the D & C and the pitocin has gotten her bleeding down to what they consider "normal" but because of her ordeal she has earned herself a free pass to at least one, if not two, extra days in the hospital.

It's funny, people have babies all the time and you just think of it as, oh she had a baby. You forget that people used to DIE while giving birth, and some still do. Life is truly a miracle.

Now bring on the road trip. My project at work is winding to a close, and I need me some baby squishing!!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Update

My sister continues to bleed.

The did a D&C to try to figure out if perhaps she had some remaining parts of the placenta still inside her.

They gave her two units of blood during surgery and she is now back in her room trying to rest.

They still have no idea why she is bleeding.

They put her back on pitocin to try to get her uterus to contract down and stop the bleeding. They think perhaps her contractions were not strong enough to do that on their own.

They said they are going to monitor her for the next 12 hours and make a decision then as to whether she is getting better or a hysterectomy is necessary.

My heart hurts for her. I am sick with worry and want to jump in my car and go to her but I know that will not help her. She just needs to rest now.

I'll keep you updated.

Struggling

Please send prayers, good thoughts, good wishes to my sister.

She is struggling right now.

They are having trouble controlling her bleeding and they are talking about taking her for a D&C.

I'm sad for her that she is missing out on the wonderful first moments of her son's life because she is in so much pain right now.

Please send your thoughts and prayers that she will feel better quickly and get to hold and love on her son like she should be able to!!

The Baby Has Arrived!!

The Baby is here!!

Born on October 16, 2008

At 12:46 AM

Weighing in at 7 lbs 6oz

And 20 inches long.

The
.
.
.
Baby
.
.
.
Is
.
.
.
A
.
.
.
BOY!!!

Landen Kenneth!!

Congratualations Lindsay and Tim!! We love you and can't wait to squish the little one!!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Baby Watch 2008

My sister's baby is due on Friday. Last Wednesday her blood pressure was kind of high so they stripped her membranes to try to get labor going.

The baby laughed....

So she went back to work and she walked and walked and walked....

The baby laughed....

So Sunday night she bounced on the exercise ball hoping to get things moving along.....

The baby got pissed off and punched her in the back starting about 3:00 AM. She contracted every 25 minutes or so and the back pain was pretty constant. Just enough to keep her awake but not enough to actually be considered labor.

So she got up and went to run errands and do more walking...

The contractions stopped and the baby laughed....

So this morning she had a doctor's appointment. 3 cm dialated and they stripped her membranes again. If nothing happens she will be induced on Thursday....

EEEeee!! Baby by this weekend!!

Public Service Announcement

We interrupt this week of blogging about nothing because I have a tax deadline tomorrow and a software conversion deadline of Monday to bring you this special announcement...

Wal-mart now carries Lofthouse Cookies...

Oh yes, there was much rejoicing in my house as well as MUCH cookie eating. Last night after Zack was in bed, this morning before he got up...

What? I should SHARE my cookies with him?? Well I suppose, maybe just one....

We now return you to your normally scheduled programing of a whole lot about nothing, at least until Monday.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Translation Guide

"NaKaLikeit" = I don't like it.
(Or perhaps I do like it but I feel like saying something as I'm eating this and then I'm going to spit it out. But if you like it and YOU are eating it I might be persuaded to put it back into my mouth....)

Yeah = Yes

(Unless of course it means no, in which case when you do whatever it is he said yes to there will be much screaming and throwing of ones body in convulsions to the floor.)

No = No

(See above explanation for in case no meant yes and you got it wrong....)

Tactor = Tractor

(Unless of course it is prefaced by BIG in which case that little old gator will NOT suffice. NO, there must be a tractor of a MUCH larger size to mitigate any damages caused to his psyche....)

Neighs = Horses

(Unless of course you say horses and he is repeating you ... in which case horses means horses. DUH mommy!!)

Puppy = Beloved treasure that must be carted EVERYWHERE and NEVER touched by anyone other than Zackary.
See Also.... Bunny, blanket and perhaps MINE!!
Scuse me... = Excuse me

(Said to everyone from the couch, when the footrest is in his way, to the people in the grocery store. Has magical powers to melt your heart even when you are having the worst of days....)
See Also - Scuse me pillow, scuse me puppies... beep beep

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Not working...

The last few times we have put Zack into the bathtub he has started to pee once we turned the water on.

Last night I was stripping him down to get into the tub.

I just took his diaper off and he was standing there looking at me.

He looked at me and then he looked down.

Then he looked at me and then he looked down.

Suddenly it dawned on me. Oh no... he's going to pee on me.

Before I could say a thing he looked down again and grabbed himself.

"No workin....."

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

He got a JOB!!

I'm SWAMPED right now but I just wanted to pop in and say that he GOT A JOB!! Woo Hoo!! YEAH!!

More details to follow.....

Friday, October 03, 2008

Job Interview

Well, things are starting slowly. VERY. SLOWLY....

We (Jake has limited computer skills so I have been doing the e-mailing) have submitted his resume to about 5 - 6 places but only one place has contacted him back. That place did a phone interview with him today and have now scheduled a second interview for Tuesday.

WOO HOO!! Can I get a YEAH!!

Cross your fingers people. Since this is the ONLY lead we have I'm hoping that maybe it will be the only one we need.

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On a totally unrelated note: Ramon Noodles... where have you been all my life??

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

And we all fall down...

You know how some times you are just going along thinking you are on top of the world and then BAM!! Something happens and the whole world falls down around your feet?
That is my today.
Jake called me today and told me he has been downsized. (i.e. the market sucks, we can pay your helper a lot less than we pay you so nice knowing you, have a good life)
He called the manager and the owner of the park, none of them would give him an answer other than they wanted to make some changes and so they are eliminating his position.
Not wanting to fall for the same old lies once again I called the girl he worked with and the manager in California myself. Same story. Jake didn't do anything wrong they are just making some changes and his position is being eliminated.
On the 12th of September he had been there a year, which was the longest he had ever been anywhere in the last 5 years. Back in June they gave him a promotion to co-manager of the park. Apparently all of that makes no difference when the economy is tanking.
So for now, we have filed for unemployment and he is frantically searching the papers for any kind of opportunity. Keep your fingers crossed that this turns out to be for the best for all parties involved because I REALLY, REALLY didn't think would ever have to do this again!!