Teenage Nightmare

I am not certain I am going to survive the teenage years of one teenage boy.  He has almost overnight gone from difficult to impossible.  Let's see, he has been acting out in the class my friend the teacher pulled strings to get him into, he has thrown The Lawyers DS across the room, he has texted his friends, lying that he was sitting in the office because he got into a fight but he didn't get into trouble because his dad called and yelled at them (all lies..there was no fight).  Then he confesses that he had been a jerk lately because two kids in Biology are picking on him (this is known as The Genius deflecting...it is a common stunt.).  And this has been in the last 26 hours hours alone.

He supposedly has a new girlfriend, which he texted The Brit about, telling him that the girl's mother had invited him to stay the weekend.  Yeah.  Obviously, we said no, and I told him that either one of two things were going on there:  1) her parents really didn't know about it or 2) what kind of parents were they to invite trouble in the form of a hormonal teenage boy to stay the night at their house? 

Lord, give me strength.

So he has lost his phone for a week. (Emily, tell Dave a point for him).  This has been insanity and The Brit is away next week, so it sure to get better (insert sarcastic tone).

So Nothing Much Apparently Happened

Apparently, though it was discussed at the meeting how poorly the situation was handled, The Pupper Master never uttered a word.  What a crock of crap.  Of course, no one was going to apologize and two couples are still not speaking to me unless they absolutely have to, but whatever.  The two who quit council are now back on, which in a way is good.  The past few years we have only had enough people running for council as we had positions to fill.  Now, we only need three positions and we have five people running, so there is a chance the evil VP could be voted off as her term is up and she has to re-run to get back on council.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Now The Brit has ideas about going in long enough to vote on Sunday, but I have ZERO desire to do so.  I am never planning to attend there again, so though I would like to see the VP voted out, I am not going to stack the vote as someone who never plans to worship there again.  Plus, I have no desire to add any stress to the fact that I already have to be there five days a week with people who would rather I was not there.  I can handle it, but it does not make for optimal working conditions.  I would prefer to believe that God has it all in His hands and it will work out to His glory.  He certainly doesn't need my help.

Kickboxing tonight was big fun...all my normal friends were there so that made it even better than it normally is. Ray and Michael were particularly amusing and the three of us kept making each other laugh.  I needed it after spending an hour and a half in The Lawyer's room cleaning.  I swear in twenty years, the kid is going to be on Hoarders.  He keeps everything and buys the dumbest stuff!  He goes to a yard sale in the neighborhood with two dollars and comes home with a freakin' coffee maker for his room!  Not that we allow him to drink coffee because we don't and I generally only buy the Folgers Singles anyway and you don't need a coffee maker for that.  Plus he has no idea what a hamper or a trash can is, though he possesses both.  In an hour and half we filled three trash bags of garbage and a huge box with crap for Goodwill....and there is still more to do.

I have to say that I really, really like this new Lutheran church we have been attending.  So far, very good, but it has only been two weeks.  I just like what I see and hear so far and they do real sermons and the pastor is engaged with the people, which for me is another novelty.  I'm hoping it continues along these lines!

Why Do I Do These Things?

So I have again, stretched myself really thin for today with too much to do and not enough hours to get it all done without rushing around like a chicken with my head cut off.� I have a workout with Sonia after work and then I have to run to the store to get a few things for dinner tonight as it is my mother's birthday and she is coming for dinner.� The Brit can't be there due to council meeting and my house is a small disaster at the moment and I have till 5:00 to get it all done.� I am thinking a shower after my workout is not in the stars...Whoo Hooo!



The weekend was a little busy for my tastes lately.� Saturday was fun as we went to a Make a Wish event, but then it was all crazy with The Genius going to homecoming; there was dressing, corsage, pictures at the park, and then picking them up after the dance.� Sunday we had to go do some stuff with the boat, so between that and church it was an all day affair.� The fall colors were beautiful up at the lake however and worth the trip.



My weekend eating continues to be a little nuts and I really need to work that out.� Ya know, I would be fine not going to dinner�every Saturday night if someone else would cook at home.� I just like the night off from having to decide what to fix, fixing it, serving it and cleaning it up.� It would save money and still make me happy.�



Jimnotmike, thank you for your article for this Friday.� Jim�has taken my Christmas rant to heart and has some suggestions for all of us, so tune in on Friday for that.



Okay, i know this is short and I promise to one day get back to real blogging...though actually lately, this is about as real as it gets; insanity reigns supreme apparently!� I leave you with a Homecoming photo.� When did he get this old?

Puberty, Take II

Anyone who knows me, knows I adore Facebook.� It was the reason I had the blessing of being able to have dinner with my two childhood friends when I was in California and the reason I still have connections with many of my old theater friends as well as my current friends.� The Brit has a Facebook as well as does The Genius.� So, you can imagine that The Lawyer has been begging for one for a long time if for no other reason but to play Farmville.� He is his mother's son, after all.



We finally struck a deal with him;�we would discuss�a Facebook summer of 2011 if he did well in school and got his reading up to grade level.� He seemed pleased with the challenge, though we are constantly butting heads with him over the reading.� He HATES it...and nothing I have tried has worked.� I have offered to buy him anything he would possibly be interested in reading but he insists he is interested in none of it.� Of course, I keep trying and just this weekend, bought him three books at Goodwill that seemed like they might hold interest for him.



So today, I was accepting a page suggestion on Facebook and for those of you not in the know, Facebook will make suggestions of people you may know and may want to become friends with.� This is a great feature as those people are not actually asking to be your friends, but it has helped me locate people I may not have otherwise thought to look for.



Well, today, one of the people Facebook thinks I may know is The Lawyer.



Yup, he elected to set himself up a Facebook page on or about the 19th of this month.� He thinks he is so clever and I am looking forward to informing him after school today that he is not. Thankfully, he joined the group on Facebook "Grenade Free America"...as it is all the rage right now.



So, he will lose his ipod and laptop until The Brit gets home at least and is grounded until then as well.� I� called The Brit in Denver to discuss and this is what we decided upon for now.� It must inevitable; our sweet, adorable boys eventually hit puberty and become sneaky and manipulative and test boundaries.�



But boundaries were so much easier when he was five.

When Does It End?

So just how much trouble can one 15 year old kid get into less than a month into the new school year?� Holy hell, it never ends!� In the last two weeks, we have had the following:

 

• Assignments not turned into the teacher.


• Sleeping in class


• Playing his ipod games in class (the ipod has been grounded to the house)


• a stolen calculator.� He says a friend of his found it at the school and gave it to him.� It is now in the hands of the school.


• A 52% on a test.

Am I missing anything?� So we have implemented several things for him:

• The teachers are sending home progress reports each Friday.� If he gives them to me, and he has no missing work for the week, he gets his ipod for the weekend.


• He now has an implemented study time, five nights a week from 7:15-8:00.

Why does this ADHD teenager thing have to be so damn difficult?� He is a likeable kid and capable of really good grades.� But he does not do homework and the work he does in class he forgets to turn in.� He makes stupid decisions like taking this calculator the kid offered, which The Genius admitted was school property.� I explained to him that maybe his "friend" stole it and didn't want to get caught, so he pawned it off to the first doofus he could find.� Enter The Genius.



He is currently sitting across the living room watching a football game with The Brit and I find myself wondering if he is even worried about the situation tomorrow as I emailed the math teacher and his guidance counselor, so we can make this calculator thing right.� Does ADHD even give him the capacity to be nervous over something that has not happened yet?



Anyway, I have been in serious fall cleaning�mode the last two days because I have a new love.





I have a terrible ladder phobia.� They scare me...I am scared to death of falling off the stupid things.� But this little gem that I asked The Brit to buy months ago, is the dog's whatsits.� It is safe and sturdy and has a place to put paint or glass cleaner or a bucket, the possibilities are endless!� It has opened up a whole new world of cleaning for me and it is cleaning without fear.� I just got this one out of the basement for the first time since we bought it and have marvelled at it for two days now as I have used it.� I have cleaned windows and washed curtains and painted the door frame.� I have cleaned blinds and removed cobwebs from the ceiling.� I am in love.� I may grow to love it more than my Dyson.



I really am a simple girl....so I can I please just have a semi-easy son?

My Hero

Isn't it odd how there are suddenly moments when we feel overcome with emotion?� I had one of those moments this morning as I had to take The Lawyer to school as his bus was late and I could not leave for work until I knew he was safely on his way to school.� So, it was easier and faster for me to just take him, plus for someone who struggles with patience, taking him was being active as opposed to sitting and waiting for the already late bus.



As I dropped him off, I suddenly felt teary as I came to a sudden realization that this child, for all his arguments, is my hero.� When I was his age, I carried extra weight on me, but the fact remains that given the right tools and motivation, I could have lost the weigh.� The Genius, who is ADHD, is able to hide his disorder.� He looks normal on the outside as no one can see the way his brain functions.� Yes, he has his own challenges, but they are better hidden from the world.



The Lawyer, however, was born without digits on his left hand.� His "handicap", which has never really been a handicap for him, is out there for everyone to see, to stare at, to question, and children especially will always question someone or something that is different from themselves.� The Lawyer is not always comfortable answering these questions but yet he does, with a simple "I was born that way."� I can see at times he is self conscious about it as when going into a new situation with new people, he will pull his jacket down to hide it.� I won't go out of the house without makeup on...but he goes out every single day with his difference, prepared to face any questions, and on occasion, teasing that comes his way.



The children he has been in school with the last six years now know him as they have been in the same school together for that time.� He wins them over quickly as he is outgoing and heaven knows, talkative.� But in the sixth grade, several elementary schools merge into middle school and The Lawyer will be confronted with kids who don't know him and it begins for him all over again.� Middle school is also the age where children can be the cruelest and I suddenly wanted to weep this morning thinking about it, about the challenges he faces.� I found myself wishing with my entire heart, that I could give him that hand back; not a substitute hand, but the real thing.� I wish I could make that I had given birth to him and he was perfect, with no external flaws for anyone to gawk at or to question.



But that is but a wish that cannot come true.� Yes, there are prothesis, which he has not yet had a need for, but that is still a difference.� I can't change for him this part of what life has dealt him, no matter how much I want to.� But then I think to myself that in God's eyes, and mine, he is wonderfully and perfectly made.� I know that his ability to cope with this is going to make him stronger in the long run, that he will develop skills that some of us can only wish we had.� That knowledge does not make me want any less for things to be different for him, but it does change my wish to a prayer that The Lawyer always handles his difference with grace, that he never takes cruel words thrown his way to heart nor does he retaliate them and that he comes to know just how perfect he is in the eyes of his heavenly Father and his parents.



I may be PMSing as these kinds of emotions usually don't overcome me.� I look at The Lawyer and rarely see his "little hand", but today I was just overcome with all he must deal with on a daily basis.



On a South Beach note, I finally had a bowel movement and dropped two more pounds for a total of 8 so far.� Told ya.

The Road is Still Closed

Yeah, I was going to finish the vacay series today but there are other things going on that need to be said.



The Genius played soccer for his high school last year and went out for it again this year.� They started on Monday and on Tuesday he was expressing concern about whether or not he made the team.� Tuesday evening after practice, he told me he made the team and that the coach was going to call me, but he did not know what about.�� Soooo...



No call from coach on Tuesday.� Wednesday practice was rained out and by 7:00 that night there was still no call.� I asked The Genius again if he made the team and he said yes so we went out to purchase new soccer shoes as he had outgrown last year's shoes.



Fast forward to Thursday night at 9:37 PM when my phone rings and I recognize the name as the coach's on the caller ID.� Here is the conversation I had last night:



C: I noticed The Genius had on shoes today at practice.� Maybe you can take those back since he only wore them once. (Yes, this was the START of the conversation).� I want to ask The Genius and another boy to be team managers.



M: I don't think Dick's will take them back as he wore them today...what does being a team manager involve?



C: Well, he would be responsible for equipment.� I can't guarantee he would get much playing time.



M: He wants to play.� He wants to be part of the team.



C: He would be part of the team.



M: He would be a gopher.



C: I wouldn't call it that...



M: If he is running around after balls that is what he is.� Have you discussed this with him?



C: No I wanted to run it by you first.



M: He wants to play.



C: I'll talk to him tomorrow and get a feel for where he stands.



I could tell when we hung up he was annoyed with me, but WTF??� I have more issues with this conversation than I know where to begin.� First off, the way it started. Shoes?� Really?� Add to this that we had a $55 bill for a sport's fee to pay and had just found out the coach wants another $45 for jerseys....so my son can carry around a bag 'o balls.� Then the guy had led The Genius to believe that he had made the team...but saying he could try to take back his shoes is saying "Hey, he isn't even going to get practice time!" right?�



I was still seething�when I called the Athletics Director and told him the situation.� He was going to talk to the coach and then call me back but instead he dropped it in another coaches lap with no real explanation.� So Coach M. called me back and I re-explained it all.



Essentially what happened was that twenty-something kids came out for JV and The Genius and one other boy did not have the skill set as the rest of the players (I will give my opinion on that in a moment) so instead of cutting these two kids, the coach wanted to offer them these "Team manager" things.� Coach M was not happy at all with the way The Genius' coach handled the situation.� He should have spoken to The Genius first and not me.� He should have not led the kid to think he had made the team and if he hadn't made the team he should have spoken to the kid at the absolute latest, yesterday, before he wore the stupid shoes.� Asshat coach.�



I told Coach M. that The Genius had enough problems in school without the rest of the soccer team knowing he was sitting on the bench taking stats because he wasn't good enough to make the team.� I told him the kid had enough problems in the cafeteria.�



Then I took Coach M off subject and inquired on Cross Country.� I have been trying to talk The Genius into running.� Our youth group (one of whom is a former high school runner) has been trying to talk him into running.� The kid has the body of runner.� Coach M jumped on that explaining that the cross country team had a new coach this year and she was in desperate need of male runners.� He also said he had seen The Genius run on the field and the kid could run.� So, today, Coach M is going to speak to The Genius, have Coach Asshat speak to The Genius and then Coach M will introduce The Genius to the cross country coach and we will all hope for the best.



The Genius has always been a lot afraid of a lot of things.� Balls would be one of them.� In watching a few games last season, he just has a lot fear of really getting in there, risking injury to get control of the ball. He has fear of playing football with friends.� He is convinced he sucks in basketball.� But he likes being part of a team.� As a runner, a cross country runner,�it is just him out there; no other kids trying to wrestle with him for anything.� Even racing, you pass each other, you don't try to tackle each other to get what you want.



I am hoping this plays out well, despite how lousy it has played out thus far.� I told Coach M that I had been trying to get The Genius to run, but well, I am his mother.� He understood.� I told him with some encouragement from them, maybe he would do it.



I'll keep you posted.

Tuesday? Really?

This week has felt like nothing short of five weeks and I am not even halfway through it yet.� It probably has something to do with vacation and the heat, and moodiness and PMSing.�



Basically, I am PMSing and men are moody, they just don't have an official name for it, such as PMS, nor do they have a monthly period to blame it on. They also seem to lack the social skills to discuss why they are being so moody, which makes things difficult from my end.� One is a teenager and he is supposed to be moody (more on him in a moment), one is a husband with a stressful job and at times it doesn't seem like he has anything left when he gets home.� I dunno, maybe it is just my PMS and my desperate need for a vacation as it has now been over a year since I had one.



It is no secret to anyone that I struggle a lot with The Genius.� I also beat myself up a lot about my struggles with him.� Part of the problems are mine and though it may not be fair, here are the facts:



On a whole, there are very few males I trust and the trust must be earned.� I trust completely�my moody husband, my Tod, Jimnotmike (Even though he disagrees with me most of the time), two of my brothers, The Lawyer most of the time, my father and brother in law�and Kirk.� There you have it.� There have been men in my past who have hurt me and what it has taught me is not to give trust freely.� Much too risky.� This is a behavior I have learned and I am sure there is no changing that now and I am not sure my rules are trust are bad things.



The Genius, from day one almost, has elected to lie and often times manipulate to get what he wants.� Okay, he was/is a kid and I let a lot of it roll off, but from early on, he bucked against my role in his life.� He has always pulled crap with me he would not pull with The Brit.� If I tell him "no" about something, he will wait until he can�ask permission from his dad when I am not around in order to get what he wants (The Brit of course, will have no idea I said no originally.).� As he has grown older, his lies have become more frequent.� A lot of this stems from his ADHD and the fact that this disorder causes him to live in the moment.� But regardless of the reasons for his behavior, I have learned not to trust him.� I have tried in the past to give him trust up front but it often backfires.�



There are times, a lot of times, I think I expect too much.� I think I need to chalk things up to being "normal" for a teenage boy, but he and I have fallen into a pattern.� The pattern of "He lies and I get mad and tell him off."� These words almost define us now.�



I will tell myself over and over with a new day that I am going to change this (Jim seems to think change is so easy but how do you change when you don't feel the things for someone you are "supposed to feel"?) and within hours the battle has begun again.� I love him.� I don't like him.� How can I "change" the fact that I feel this way?� With his ADHD, I have to assume he is not going to change his behavior, which means I have to try to find a way to change how I react to his behavior.� Yeah, no idea what that might be.



This kid and my reactions (and often times The Brit's reactions) to him�often set the tone for the household.� This child tends to bring out the worst part of myself and I think it is because I often resent the stress he brings to the house.� When The Brit gets frustrated with something The Genius has done, I resent it.� When The Genius has upset me, I resent it.� When I have to take my phone and ipod to bed with me and make sure all the computers are on lock down when I go to bed, lest he get up in the middle of the night and decide he has the right to use them to do things he should not be doing, I resent it, just as I will resent having to take car keys to bed with me at night soon, because I do not put driving in the middle of the night past him in a few years.



�He�can be totally agreeable at times but due to his past behaviors, and my lack of trust, I�often think when he is being agreeable that he simply wants something.� But sometimes he is just�genuinely being nice. He's not really belligerant and I don't think his crap decisions are often intentional but more a product of his living in the moment, but the results are still the same.� So how do I find balance and harmony?� How do I react to his lies in a way that is different and maybe more positive?�



I would really like to enjoy this vacation 100% with my family, without concerns about behavior or stress.� What is the best way to make it happen?



I know at least one of you will have some suggestion?

Survived Monday

Today was tough, ya'll!



Last night ended�stressfully and though I tried to go to bed early in order to run this morning, I was woken up three times in the first hour and a half.� Finally fell asleep just before midnight, only to be wide freakin' awake at four am.� Tried to go back to sleep but minutes later, a thunderstorm started up outside which kept me awake.� Though my alarm was set for 5:40, I hauled ass out of bed at 5:00 to eat breakfast and run.� Actually ran (well, we were both walking at the time) into Tod who had the same idea about beating the humidity.��



By the time I got to work at 7:45, I had a pounding headache probably from the lack of sleep.� While at work, The Lawyer called me to demand a 4 gig something or other, which I told him he needed to talk to The Brit as I was by no means going to Target today (plus I had no freakin' idea what he needed or what for).� He then said he wanted to take his laptop to California and I told him no.� Though disgruntled, he asked if he could bring his ipod and I told him yes.� Then he asked if I was bringing my laptop and I said "probably." to which he replied in a whine only a ten year old can pull off, "That's not fair!"�



I hung up on him.� Point number one for the day towards my Mother of the Year award.�



Then I had to go to Sprint as my phone was being stupid.� Silly woman there told it appeared to have water damage (tho it has been nowhere near water), but she changed the battery and the problem was resolved.



Got home and informed The Lawyer that when he payed for his flight to and from California, he could bring his laptop as then it would be "fair".� Second point for me!� Also had a few words for The Genius as well because I am over asking him questions and getting a blank stare.� So, I told him from now on, when asked a question, he had ten seconds to start talking or I had his ipod for the day.� Three points and I win!� I needed a nap.



Did some cleaning and laundry and managed to doze for maybe an hour after taking some Tylenol for the killer headache and I felt better.� Still tired, but not nearly as bitchy.



One day down, four to go.� I packed my carryon today with the exception of my netbook...you know,the unfair thing I am taking.

And So It Begins

Summer is a time of challenge with The Genius and it always has been. I don't know exactly what it is; part of me thinks it is because he does far better with structure and when school is out, his normal schedule is disrupted.� That theory blows my mind a little because the new structure for four hours a morning is he gets to watch television and play the Wii while I am at work, so why act out?� But he does and it began yesterday.



The kids were leaving to go camping Thursday evening, so I told The Lawyer I needed the grass mowed (one of his normal chores) and The Genius he needed to do the weed whacking out front and along the fence in the back.� I told them it could wait until I got home because of Wednesday's rain and the grass would need to dry out a bit.� I also told them that their rooms needed to be tidy before they could leave.



The Lawyer called me at work around 11:30 and said the grass was dry and could he mow and I told him yes.� I asked him if The Genius was going to weed whack and he said no, not right now.� That was fine as they had until 4:00 to get it done.�



So I got home and grass was mowed but I could tell that out front, the weed whacking had not been done at least on the side with the tree.� The tree in front of the house, between the sidewalk and the road has large roots that cannot be mowed over, so that area has to be whacked.� Not done.� Again, it was fine as he had till 4:00, but when I went inside, he informed me he had done it.� I looked out back along the fence and the grass was still as tall as ever and when questioned about it, The Lawyer said, "Mom, he used the mower."� Well, you can't get close enough with the mower which is why his job is WEED WHACKING.� I asked him if he had gotten to his room and he told me yes, it was done.� So I sent him back outside to do the job correctly and I tidied up and vacuumed downstairs.� When I went upstairs to vacuum, what I discovered was that his room was a disaster with crap all over the floor making it impossible to vacuum.� So there was job numero�dos he had to "do over."



The rest of the afternoon went fairly well, until The Lawyer came to ask me if he could take my fishing rod camping and I told him yes.� He went to the basement to get it, and he returned with my rod but no reel.� I asked where the reel was and he told me The Genius had taken it off to put it on HIS rod.� I called The Genius inside and asked him why he did this and he replied, "Well, you barely ever use it."� He had wanted to take his PSP with him camping (he currently doesn't have it in his possession due to lies) and I told him no at this point as I didn't see where he had done anything today to earn that privilege.



So the grandparents finally got there and The Brit got there as we were going to go out to dinner once the kids left. I had hoped to go for a run before as the kids were supposed to leave between 4-5 but the grandparents didn't arrive until 5:30.� So, The Brit went out to help put our bike rack on the grandparent's van so the kids could take their bikes, and I locked up the house.� Upon going to set our alarm with my remote, I discovered all the buttons of the remote missing.� I set the alarm manually using the wall system and went outside where they were still loading the bike rack.� I asked The Genius, who had taken the shed key off my key ring the day before (and due to them being off school, I had not had to set the alarm using my remote since Tuesday morning).� He said he had no idea what had happened to it.� Of course.



The Brit was rather annoyed as to replace a remote costs $50 and they don't just fall apart.� The kids left and I did a search of the house looking for pieces but didn't find any.� We went to dinner and I stewed about what might of happened.� The Brit took my remote apart and his, and mine was missing not only four buttons, but two batteries, a clip�and the inner frame!� This stuff could not come out without the remote being opened and to say the remote was opened meant it had to be closed back up again which meant someone knew something and it wasn't me.



We called The Genius then and he admitted to "dropping it" the previous night.� I questioned where and he said by the desk nearest the kitchen.� We went home and I got down on the floor with a flashlight and wouldn't you know it;�8 missing pieces to this thing and NOT ONE OF THEM ANYWHERE! At that point, The Brit got on the phone and started demanding answers as opposed to lies.� Next confession was that the pieces were IN THE BASEMENT in a white bowl (please keep in mind, I am due to be at a friend's house by 7:30, want to get�a run in and it is now about 6:45).� Went down to basement, found bowl and three buttons and one of two batteries.� None of the other missing pieces.� The Brit got more stern with The Lying Genius, who then said the other pieces were on the floor near the covered litter box.� Went back downstairs, found the clip and one more button.� On a whim, I took the top of the litter box and found the other battery inside THE LITTER BOX.� Keep in mind, it was covered so the battery could not have FALLEN INTO THE BOX.� It had to be thrown inside the box.� One button is still missing today.� The real frustration is that had he just told the truth the first time, not nearly as much time would have been wrapped up in this.� I also doubt he ever "dropped" the remote because I drop my keys numerous times and the thing has never come apart.



The Brit told The Genius to enjoy his camping because he would be grounded when he comes home.� The only reason we didn't go to get him is that we had plans for the weekend and it would have upset the grandmother who is rather nervous anyway.� Probably the wrong thing to do, but we didn't want to punish ourselves either by having to cancel our plans and ruin the grandparent's weekend as well because of his behavior.



Then today we discovered that The Genius, instead of putting the lawn mower away, had chained it to the deck using his bike lock.� Brand new lawn mower, it is supposed to rain this weekend and the key is with The Genius.� I informed The Genius on the phone today that we would be cutting off his lock tonight and he could pay to replace his lock.



So what to do? Am I now stuck bringing him to work with me because of his behavior at home?� How long do we ground him for?� Why does every summer start out this way with him?�



I did get a mile and a half run in before going to my friend's house and it felt wonderful, probably because I was stressed.� Plan to do it again this afternoon too before showering and getting ready for fire pit.� I so need wine!



Happy weekend, kids.� I have three volunteers for guest blogging and would love two more!�

The Scoop

So my kids are going to be away for a week!� Found out last night the grandparents want to take them camping from tomorrow until next Wednesday. Easiest first week of summer vaca ever!�� They were actually really good yesterday, though the test is today as they are home alone.� I woke The Genius up to take his meds before I left while The Lawyer kept sleeping, though I am almost certain that the second I closed the front door and left for work, they were racing downstairs to watch television.� I asked them last night if they would allow me quiet mornings during the summer, meaning, that it is an adjustment for me too, so if they would just sleep until 8:30 when I left, it would be helpful.� I could get myself ready without bickering and questions and they actually did it for me today!� Now they are happily numbing their little minds in front of the television until 12:45.



So the scoop on Godspell.� This was my second weird audition in three months time at this theater.� That improv/diction thing really happened.� I was first to audition and my song went well.� Then Mr. Director asked me to walk upstage as he wanted to hear my diction and he said "Complete the sentence, 'you won't believe this but on the way here...'" I talked briefly about being nervous and that performing was easy, but auditioning was hard.� He laughed and agreed and I was finished.� The next person to get up was about high school age (did I mention Mr. Director is a high school drama teacher and I think several of the kids auditioning were his students?) and when asked to do the same exercise she launched into complete improvisation about monsters trying to eat her car on the way to auditions or something.� The next person to get up, I don't think Mr. Director knew, because he told her "Complete the sentence 'you won't believe this but on the way here...' and make me believe it."� Hello? All i got was diction!� Obviously, he realized his mistake with me and corrected it but it didn't really help me.�



We also had a choreography audition which is not my strong suit.� I can learn choreography, but not in minutes.� I didn't do too badly but had some mess ups.� It is what it is.� When we left, he told us all we would hear something in a day or so.� That was Sunday.� Today is Wednesday and I have heard nothing one way or another.� Totally unprofessional in my opinion.� Has he not cast it yet?� Did he cast it but did not cast me and isn't telling me anything?�Did he key my email incorrectly?� (Yes he was going to email us as opposed to calling us.� Again, not really the right thing, imho).�Sure, I could call, but how awkward is that?



I had called Tod on the way home from auditions to vent about the diction thing and he said he hadn't wanted to tell me before because I was excited about auditions, but he knew I wanted back into theater and he knew I wanted my first experience back to be good but he wasn't sure that was going to happen at this theater.� His last two experiences there in the last year had not been good.� I was told by another friend that this theater is having problems hanging onto directors because they keep pissing them off.� It is also not professional to not have an accompanist at auditions, which we did not have.� After considering all this, I briefly wondered if I wanted to be in the show if I was cast (this now seems to be a total non-issue).� After all, I had been in a show once where I went home and cried because it was over...because it had been a horrible experience.� I did not want that situation again.� Most of my shows I have been in have been wonderful experiences thankfully, but being stuck in something in a volunteer capacity for 8 weeks sucks big time.� Unprofessional to quit so you suck it up and deal and count the days until it is over. Not exactly the theater experience of my dreams.



So anyway, there is the scoop.� Some of the kids auditioning were very good.� Some could carry a tune but that was about it.� One forgot the words to his song and sang so softly he could barely be heard.� Mr. Director also didn't read anyone.� Granted, it is an ensemble show, but the role of Jesus is pretty important. Whoever plays that role can make or break the show.� It has to be right.� When I last saw this show at the dinner theater here in town less than a year ago, the guy who played Jesus, who I had known for years as he played the Artful Dodger in "Oliver" as�a kid and I was the milkmaid, was amazing.� He had it all right; his expressions were especially important and he looked like a loving father watching his children as they sang.� It was beautiful to behold and touched me deeply.� So, yeah, I think the role of Jesus deserves a reading.� Though I have no idea who came out to audition on Saturday, on Sunday, I saw no one who could even potentially play that role.� But again, just going off a singing audition, a dance audition and a talk about monsters, tornadoes etc.� Just sayin'.



The kids being away means no getting up at 6:00 this week too!� The reality of that one just hit me!

How is it Possible...

...that today is the last day of school?�



Tomorrow begins the Great Kim Juggling Act of balancing kids, exercise and sanity.� It is always a challenge.� Ugh.� In some ways, the kids being off school is easier (I am looking at this purely as a logistic thing.� I know the kids love their summer vacations and I am not denying them that.� I loved them when I was a kid too.� But being a parent, summer vacations from school take on an entirely new dimension.� Just sayin'.) in that I have no more lunches to pack, or kids to wake up and get moving in the morning.� I am not as anal about bedtimes during the summer providing they are amusing themselves and not being all in my face after 9:30pm, which for me is adult time, ie. not time to be mom.� I love them, but most parents will tell you that kids can be all consuming every waking moment and the parents who deny this, are liars are not being honest with themselves are better people than I.



So anyway, my goal is hit the pavement three mornings a week in one way or another.� One way would be by getting my butt out of bed at 6:00am. The "another" way would be anything but that in the event I cannot haul my lazy ass out of bed.� I'm thinking I can pull it off a few days a week.� The kids would still be asleep, the temperatures outside would not be up yet and I can then come home, shower and get ready for work.� Doable right?� Totally, right?



We are now less than three weeks away from our mission trip and I would love to have a few guest bloggers in my absence.� Wanted to put it out there to see if I get any volunteers before I ask people directly.� Ya'll know the kind of stuff I talk about here; health, fitness, exercise, surviving summer school vacations.� So, let me know if you are willing to write one and what your topic will be.� Then you can email me at kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (really need to change that.� What's a knitting needle?) with your article and I can get it set to post on one of my days away.� I will be gone June 27-July 3rd.� If I don't get volunteers I will have to go hit up a few of the blogs I have stalking, and those girls are much more famous than I, so I'm not sure if they will give me the time of day or not.� Just sayin'.� I just hate leaving the blog empty for that long.� I know the world will not cease to exist with no boring little blog entries from me, but it just makes me feel better to know my little corner of the internets is being looked after.



My eating has been much better this week�with the exception of some Milky Way minis...damn whoever brought those into my world this week!��I am feeling much better about the whole thing despite how...ahem...no one...*cough* gave me any ideas for healthy snacks.� I know ya'll have 'em, so cough 'em up.�



I also know ya'll are out there, so while I am asking you for stuff today, leave me a little comment and let me know you still exist.� See, in�case you are not a blogger, we love comments.� We love to hear what readers have to say as long as it is polite (I get really annoyed when bloggy friends are attacked rudely by people who don't agree with them.� You can disagree, but really, dudes, can we be nice?) and it actually inspires us to blog.� If we didn't like comments, our journals would not be out there for all the world to see, but still in pretty little spiral bound notebooks with flowers all over the covers.� I like pretty little books actually but still prefer to type my thoughts and occasionally add photos to them without the use of tape.



Lastly, theater people.� I have a question, and Tod, you have already answered this one, so you are excused...from this...not from commenting.� Anyway, if a director says to you "Stand upstage.� I want to hear your diction.� Finish the sentence 'You won't believe this but on the way here...'" does that mean to improvise an entire story about monsters or tornados attacking your car on the way to auditions?� Please keep in mind, this is what I was told and I was first to have to do this.� What comes to your mind when someone wants to hear your diction?

Thank God....seriously!

If this cat was drinking wine like I will be in a few hours, it would be perfect...but we can always view as "this is what I will look like by midnight."



Yeah. Ready for the weekend.� I think.� Definitely ready for tonight.� Starting tomorrow, I single parent for the week.� Not looking forward to that.� Dear Lord, let it be an uneventful week.



I have been sitting with my friend's daughter, Emma, while her mom, Shiloh (my friend) has been undergoing radiation for breast cancer.� I love this little girl.� I think because I have two boys, I find little girls just magical.� I love her little girly attitude and her blonde flyaway curls and how precocious she is and though I am thrilled to death for my friend almost being finished with her radiation, I will miss Emma Wednesdays (though I do plan on spending some time with Shiloh, Emma and Deacon this summer with my boys).�



Apparently, Wednesday night, Emma had a seizure.� They took her to our local hospital, ran tests and found nothing out of the ordinary, so they released her.� On her way out to the car, Emma had another seizure, so they took her to DC to Children's Hospital.� Now, she is doing well and they think the seizures are idiopathic, which after talking to Shiloh, sounds like they are not the bad kind (is there a good kind of seizure?).� Hopefully she will be released today but please keep Emma and this family in your prayers.� They have had a trying year and I am praying that they all have a safe passage to the other side of this tunnel life has thrown at them.



I have my eye on one of these .� For $29, I don't think I can beat it.� A lot of runner swear by the Garmin 320, but I am not yet serious enough to spend $150.00 on a device.� And i don't have to have Nike shoes to use it.� Amazon or eBay both sell a thing adapts with your laces to position the sensor.�When I stay on the path that marks a mile for me, I know how far I have run, but let's face it, one of the joys of running outside is being able to go different places.� But when I go different places, I have no idea how far I have run.� Plus I think this little baby gives you your calorie burn too which would be awesome.�



Okay, I can think of nothing else for today.� I think my fog blocks some of my creativity, so bear with me.� I'm getting there one day at a time.



Happy weekend, peeps!� Join me in a drink tonight on the deck!

The Crazy? I Gots It

Sometimes things happen that I am not sure I really want to share in my blog.� I argue with myself about it and either decide not to post about it, or decide that maybe if I can manage to tell the story, it might help someone else and maybe even me in the process.� Those of you who were around me Friday night know the story as after a lot of wine, I felt brave enough to tell it.� You have the details which I will not rehash here, but will give the condensed version.



I have a lot of issues with my oldest adopted son, which I have mentioned in the past.� He is now a teenager and has gone, at times, from worse to horrendous.� I'm not sure he was ever as minor as "bad" when it came to certain things, like lying.� Lying for me is a huge ordeal.� I hate it worse than anything.� Lying means I can't trust you, don't want to leave you alone in my house, and I don't believe anything you say.� This kid has been lying to my face for six years now; stupid lies, things he does not need to lie about.� For me, lying is the ultimate betrayal.�



You all know, I was having a rough week last week emotionally.� I was on edge, much of it brought on by this kid, who was playing up for me a lot.� Friday, before he walked into his therapy, he lied to me.� So while he was in therapy and I went to the grocery store (because his therapist, in my opinion, missed an opportunity as he could see there was an issue.� Had he acted on that, the things that happened after therapy might not have happened).� The whole time at the store, I fumed, so that by the time the kid was out of therapy, I was really angry.�



We got into the car and I questioned him again on the issue at hand, and he lied again...a new lie, which zeroed out any chance the first lie ever had as they conflicted with each other.� Then he added lie upon lie in order to make the second lie work.� When I cornered him, he finally confessed the truth...a truth which would NOT HAVE GOTTEN HIM INTO TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE.�



I lost it.� I yelled like a banshee in my car the whole way home.� I swear to you, I saw RED.� I said some things I should not have said.� I cursed...a lot.� My frustration was at an all time high.� At one point as I was driving down the street, I imagined what would happen if I took the corner at full speed and wrecked the car.� Yeah.� This is where I was and I have never really been there before.� It was not pretty and I am not proud of it.



We got home and he pretty much got the hell out of dodge.� I walked around to the passenger's side of the car to get the groceries from the back and I completely melted down into sobs.� I felt at a complete loss, didn't know what to do or who to call or where to go from here.� I felt on the brink of losing my freakin' mind in those minutes.� I stood there crying for maybe ten minutes before my younger son came around the corner (he gets home from school right before we get home from therapy), asking me if I was okay.� I held it together as best I could so as not to scare him and gathered up the groceries.



That was when I realized that my oldest son was locked out of the house and had witnessed my whole meltdown at the car.� Through all of it, my rant, my tears, he never said one word...not one emotion crossed his face.� But then, it rarely does.



Once I had calmed and talked to Tod, I went up to the oldest son's room and apologized for some of the things I said, but told him�I was not sorry for getting angry.� I told him how his lies affected all those around him.� I don't think anything registered with him at all and he never did apologize for lying.



Some people don't understand why his lies affect me the way they do...but they need to remember that I deal with this kid about 80% of the time on my own.� I am the parent who gets them up in the morning and who is here when they get home from school.� I get the majority of the drama...and when he is really acting out, it gets to me.� Lying is such a major deal breaker for me.



So I am seeing my doctor on Friday.� Instead of going off the zoloft, I am looking for something stronger.� I have a feeling either the zoloft is no longer working as affectively after six years or I am entering into pre-menopause and a helluva hormone imbalance.� Friday afternoon was not me and I have not been totally me since.� Still a bit short tempered and a bit of a lack of interest in most things at the moment.



A few moms I have spoken to since Friday have told me they have had similar moments, so I don't feel quite so bad....still not good, but not as bad as Friday.�

Am I PMSing or Are They?

Good grief, they have been making me insane the last twenty-four hours!��Seriously!� The Brit came home cranky last night, so when that happens I try to just not say much.� Then my youngest son went to bed with his ipod and closed his door, both of which are no-no's because he lays awake watching movies or whatever on the thing and then has school in the morning for which he becomes next to impossible to get out of bed.� So last night a little after ten, I went upstairs to find his bedroom door closed and upon opening it, not only was a cat trapped in there (I had been hearing a cat cry for 30 minutes but when you have six, someone is always talking) but he was lying in bed watching a movie and immediately pretended to be asleep.� I unplugged the ipod from his headphones, said "Nice fake, son." and left the room.� He has lost ipod privileges for two days.



The teenager drinks all his milk (we have resorted to buying each boy a 1/2 gallon of milk a week, because the teen was sucking down half a gallon in one morning because there was Quik in the house, leaving after two days, no milk for younger son or husband, though he rarely drinks it). So teen ran out of milk and then started on younger son's�milk, which led to whining and complaining.� I no longer buy chocolate for the milk, so maybe going back to the gallon in the answer.� Whoever said boys were easier did not have my boys.



So yesterday, the weather cooperated enough that I was able to go run at the fairgrounds and did WAY better than I did Friday.� Ran more of it than walked and was not hurting from it last night.� Plan to repeat this exercise tomorrow.� My eating was also right on target yesterday.� Now if the male population would just give me some love all would be good.



Today I have a haircut followed immediately by a gynecologist appointment.� How fun is that?� Hate going to those things but I know they are necessary.� Only upside is knowing that after today it will be done for a year...though apparently I missed last year's appointment.� Oops.� Which means they will probably want a mammogram too.� The fun never ends.



Still no takers on the 5K, other than a few who offered to be there in spirit.� That's okay.� If no one comes with me, I will go alone.� I am the one challenging myself after all, so I don't need a fellow runner or a�cheering section or any of that.� Those things are nice perks, but not essentials.� I love being challenged and I love the idea of training.� I know for many of you, a 5K is probably a walk in the park and maybe one day it will be that for me, but for right now, it is a very big deal and I'm very excited.

Epic Fail

In the last two years, I honestly cannot say that I have ever had a "bad" workout.



Until today.



The whole day was off for me.� Some people were outside in a truck at like 2:30 this morning talking..sounded like a garbage truck but it was not trash night for our neighborhood.� Then at like 5:00 am, Alex the cat seemed to want out of the bedroom, as she was meowing and walking all over us, but when The Brit got up to let her out, she refused to go, but again, I was awake.� Then as The Brit was flying to Atlanta this afternoon, he was home this morning and trying to get the sewing machine to work and not having any luck and Tod, you were at work this time!� But he kept exploding at the machine which had me on edge.� Yes, I explode at inanimate objects from time to time, but him doing, just puts me on the brink of something, which is odd as I don't consider myself a nervous person.�



anyway, got to work and the time flew by because Paula was there and we got to catch up a bit.�

Leisl and I were supposed to go to lunch but she had to cancel so that was off for me as well, so right after work I headed to the gym.� At the Y there are two different kinds of treadmills and I have a preference for the larger ones.� I really have to step up to get on it, but I can see everything that is going on, plus they have little fans in them.� When I got there, my first two choices were taken and even my backup treadmill was tied up.� I stretched and did a little kettlebell work in the hopes one of my faves would become available but it didn't happen.� So I took the last large treadmill which was over in the corner next to the wall....and it was hot in the corner.



Now, a little background on my morning food.� I had my usual oatmeal and banana and then when I was at work I was chowing on Twizzlers.� What is it about me and the chewy shit?� Before my surgery, it was chocolate, but not now!� I have got to get away from this stuff!� For lunch I had leftover pasta and clams...not much of it but some.� This is all foreshadowing, peeps.



So, hot in the corner but I started my run and found my pace fairly quickly and all was well.� Briefly.� I got to really, really sweating, but assumed it was due to lack of air circulation where this treadmill sat.� Until I started to feel discombobulated and shaky.� Yeah.� An episode of hypoglycemia probably due to Twizzlers and pasta.� I forced myself to finish out the mile at a walk and then headed outside to my car for a piece of hard candy.� I went back inside and sat at the bench for about ten minutes, allowing my sugar to regulate and then decided to try for the remaining 2.1 miles.� I started at a fast walk, as I calculated how I was feeling.� I broke into a run again but just couldn't do it.� It all felt off and I couldn't find my pace.� So I walked another mile and called it a day.



This really bothered me.� I tend to walk into the gym with a goal for the day and I ALWAYS� achieve it, but today, I didn't.� I felt like a giant, fat failure.� I know that is not really the case but it is how I feel about today's workout.



So, when I got home and watched last night's "Biggest Loser", I decided to go upstairs and switch out JJ's clothes as he has been wanting his summer stuff.� Somehow that task turned into a four and a half hour room cleaning!� The kid is a borderline hoarder; he throws nothing away.� Holy crap, it was insane.� He has two long, cedar closets in his room and they were PILED with stuff.� When he got home from school at six, he helped me finish it, though even with the two of us, we didn't finish till about 8:30.� He messes it up tomorrow and he may not live long.



Tomorrow, Annapolis with the 4th grade class.� Yee Haw.

Frustrated Friday

So, not even a week out of Lent and Easter and I am beginning to get harrassed about VBS, which I have no clue about at all.� I don't know what the plan is, I don't know what the dates are and personally, it is my least favorite thing.� I think VBS is very beneficial, it is just not something I enjoy and I would love to just step down and let someone else take over.� I've been making some comments that we need to nail down a date but it hasn't gone any farther and at this point, we are going on vacation whenever we can get inexpensive flights, because I can't hold off forever in knowing what is going on.



It is also Friday and I am grouchy because I was hit up with this first thing this morning.� Some days I would like to just go back to simply being the secretary who sits in the pew on Sundays and doesn't run or coordinate anything.� Yes, I know I would miss co-leading the youth group and I would lose my mind without praise band, but I'm just feeling stressed and maybe not yet recovered from last week.



Okay, /rant and onto other things if I can think of any.� Not a clue what the weekend is holding and today my oldest, who is once again failing algebra for not turning in assignments, has therapy, thank GOD!� (He is probably also a major source of my stress.� VBS falls pretty low onto the list when I am trying to�help turn�this child into a productive member of society.� I have to have priorities after all).� So my plan is to get a run in, then tidy up the house before it gets all trashed again during the weekend when everyone is home,� and then pick him up from school.�



Holy crap, do I really want to try to go off my Zoloft?� I am in a serious funk today!� I need a bottle of wine or a massage or a valium or something.� Maybe a really long nap.� Nope, no time for that.� Maybe escape to an alternate universe?� One without kids or VBS or dirt?



My oldest son informed someone the other day that the only way he would stay out of trouble is if we chained him up in his room till he was 18.� Other than to say "That can be arranged" how do you react to that?� "Good idea, son!� It's great you are developing some problem solving skills!"??�



My youngest came home yesterday and just began complaining.



"What did you do with my frozen water balloon?� What are we having for dinner?� Pork?� Do I have to eat the meat?� I hate meat!� Is there protein in salad?� Can I just eat that?"



Those Calgon people lie.

The One Where He Charged the $91

So as many of you know, my oldest adopted son has ADHD, which is challenging.� Being on Adderall, his appetite tends to be suppressed in the middle of the day, so he rarely eats lunch at home.� Now, the kids are permitted by us to buy their lunch at school two days a week and they can check out the menu and decide which two days they want to buy.� The other three days, I would pack them and I make the effort to buy things they like for in their lunch.�



So about three months ago, I got an email from Aarons's teacher, stating he was finding Aaron's packed lunches stuffed behind the filing cabinet in his classroom.� So, Aaron, myself and his therapist discussed it and came to the decision that we would continue to put money on his lunch account for him to buy twice a week but if he wanted a bagged lunch the other three days, he had to pack it himself and he agreed.



Fast forward to last Thursday.� The kids are at grandma's and I get a bill from the high school cafeteria for NINETY-ONE DOLLARS.� The school had given a 14 year old kid almost $100 worth of credit for lunch!� Can you believe it??� So after a long discussion with Aaron about finding a way to pay off his bill, I called the school today.� When finally transferred to the right person, I questioned how the school enabled my son to have almost $100 worth of credit and he responded with...wait for it...."We feed our children here..."



Okay, my next words were not sweet, but he got a bit of an ass chewing about how I also feed my children but when they are stuffing their lunches behind a filing cabinet in a classroom and then purchasing lunch when the rules have been established by his parents and he is aware of them, that the last thing I need is the school helping him to do as he pleases.� The dude backed off pretty quickly and then his attitude turned around to "What can I do to help?"� So now Aaron has no credit.� The rule is simple: no money on his account, no purchase.� Period.� What I really cannot believe is that they allowed it to get to that amount before letting me know!� Sheesh.� C'mon schools...work with the parents here!� There is often a method or reason for what we do, so if you have a question, freakin' ask!



So there you have the latest saga.� Kickboxed tonight...running tomorrow!

I Have to Ask....

 Because I am so READY!

This morning, my ten year old comes out of his bedroom with a green, puffy jacket on that has just been handed down from the teenager. 

JJ: I have one question.

I watch as he puts his hands on his hips and gives me a pointed look, then says without so much as cracking a grin, "Does this make me look fat?"

He slays me, I swear.  He is so damn funny.

I met Tod for a walk tonight and as he approached me at the top of the park, he says, "You look so skinny!"

To which I replied, "Yeah, well, I have not lost a damn pound!"

And I haven't.  But still an awesome compliment.  Still, I hunger for that 199 on the scale.  Longest plateau of my life as we are going on a year now.

The Church Lady is on my last nerve this week, reeking havoc wherever she goes and stirring the shit pot to the point where I am trying to come up with a way to not be present tomorrow when she comes in to run the bulletins.  I swear, were it not for her, the VOLUNTEER, my job would contain like no stress at all.  She causes all of it.  Ugh.  Annoying.

So what do you all think of this? 

I certainly don't think it is a bad idea at all, but like one commenter stated, movie popcorn twice a month is not responsible for the obesity epidemic.  But even with that being said, I hate going anywhere that I don't have a healthy alternative to choose for food.  When the options are Crap and Crap, it annoys me.  Sure, I could say "nah" and just not get anything at the movies, but I have trouble saying "nah" to popcorn as it is just part of going to the movies (but reading that eating it is the equivalent of 6 McDonald's cheeseburgers will probably help me resist temptation going forward).  I always sneak in my own Crystal Light water because I am not paying $5 for a bottle of water.  They can bite me.  So if it happens, kudos to Sony!  It is minimally a step in the right direction and maybe more institutions will follow in their footsteps.

So what do you all want to know about for Thursday Thirteen tomorrow?  I like this meme once a week but some weeks I have no freaking clue what kind of list to do.  Suggestions?

Running outside tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

Different Goals for a New Week

So though I have not yet run above two miles, today I kept my speed minimally at 4.0 for the full run.  I only changed it the last .20th of a mile and that was to up it to 4.2 to finish strong (and fast because I was tired!).  I think on Thursday, I am going to take my run outside to see how it goes.

I took Zumba last night as Jack is not teaching this week and "Wooo!" Substitute teacher grates on my nerves.  It was fun.  Not as good a cardio workout as kickboxing; I did break a sweat, but not my usual Tuesday night, dripping wringing wet sweat.  And I think I hurt my foot in class as it has been killing me today across the top.  Surprisingly, it did not bother me during my run, but I have been icing it since then...as well as my knee and shin.  Yeah, have totally not run in four days!

Tomorrow, I am walking with Tod as the weather is warming up again after several days of rain.  So glad we are sitting on the precipice of Spring at long last!

My teenage son firmly believes I bought an $800 handbag from Kelly.  Kelly sells Beijo bags and she had one I loved, so I ordered one in brown and she dropped it off for me today.  When Aaron arrived home, Kelly and I were still talking and he asked what was in the bag.  I told him a purse I had ordered from Kelly.  Mr. Gullible then says, "Wait (because for some reason, he must precede most sentences with that word...I guess we are waiting for him to finish the thought??) is this one of these $800 purses?"  Without even looking at each other, Kelly and I say in perfect harmony, "yes."  He was all shocked and freaked out and I told him to please not tell dad I spent that much (bag was $59), so now he is running around as if he knows world's biggest secret.  Too funny.

Okay, all for today, but does anyone else feel like their butt has been kicked by losing that hour's sleep over the weekend?  Why do we have to have Daylight Savings Time anyway?