Friday, April 21, 2017

Why we call, text and snap you so much

To all three of my children...

The other day, I sent C1 a text message reminding him to use sunscreen.  He's in Florida right now with a couple of buddies for a convention. He's 19. 

I quickly received a phone call from him asking me, in a very polite manner, to back off and stop texting him so much.

He was a bit short with me on the phone but I wasn't upset about it.  I totally understood.  First, it was in the mid 50's here and there it was 86 and humid.  They were all a bit cranky as they weather was sucking the life out of them.  Second...he's not a little boy anymore.  He knows to use sunscreen, he won't actually use it and get fried, but he knows.  He knows to behave himself, to be polite to others, to share his toys, to clean up after himself(HA).  All of the things we have all taught our children since they were little ones.  I know that he knows these things.  I know all of my children know these things and they all roll their eyes at me when I remind them.

I know he knows, and he knows that I know.

However, there is something he doesn't know, that C2 and C3 doesn't know.  That none of our children know or can possibly understand.  And of course, it's more prevalent with the first child who 'leaves the nest'.    

For most of your 18 years of life, I have been there.  When you were little, I held you up, held your hand.  As you got older, I held it a little less tightly,  even let you wander, just a little.  You entered school, I was forced to let go....for a few hours.   As you got older, not only did I have to let go, but now I had to step back, into the shadows.  I could no longer hold your hand or heck even walk next to you out in public.  Don't get me wrong...I was still there, but now lurking in the shadows.  The problem is, and my mom can attest to this, I can never actually let go of your hand.  I actually never have.  You are just a lot older and forget that I'm still there, holding your hand.  You are wrapped up in your world of growing up, and no, 19 is not grown up yet!.  You are exploring your world, making your own mistakes, living your own life.  And for the most part, I am no longer a part of that.

I am not complaining about it.  Our job is to raise you all to be viable members of society and to never move back home. 

For your entire life, for a few more years of C2's life and even more for C3's life, I have been there, in the shadows, holding your hand.  Trust me, if you fall, I will be the first one at your side picking you up, dusting you off and sending you back out into the world to try again.

I guess I am just saying, I will ask questions, be interested, remind you to be good, be jealous of your carefree adventures.   Its what I do and will always do.  I am you mom.  Be understanding, be kind.  If you must roll you eyes at me, do it when I'm not looking.  Be gentle in your tone.

  I have held your hand for 18 years.  Been involved in almost everything you have done for 18 years.  Stood on the sidelines, sat in concert halls, driven you to work, helped you things you didn't yet know how to handle.  I have held you through stitches, broken bones, broken hearts.  I have learned to step back, to loosen my grip, to hide in the shadows, but understand this....

When I text you a million times, ask for a picture with you in the frame, send you goofy snap chats, its not because I am pestering you, or stalking you....

Its because I am your mom.  







Thursday, September 1, 2016

New School year, let the stupidity begin

This morning I signed a permission slip for my 12 yo to participate in a science lab.  I of course skim the paper and sign it...then go back and read it clearly.  (i learned after signing a permission slip with out reading it....wound up adopting a stupid hermit crab)

I figure they must be working with fire? acid? Plutonium?

Nope...Oranges, white frosting, graham crackers, Oreo cookies and marshmallows. 

Yup..I had to sign a permission slip for my son to work with these items in science class...the same items he probably packed in his lunch yesterday.

Sigh....seriously District 26??  Its only the, what, second week of school?  Its bad enough you make me sign papers saying that my kid read the handbook and knows to behave.  Or is it that I am supposed to read the handbook and understand that he is to behave?  

I have to sign a permission slip to allow him to use the internet.  Yes, I know, some families may not have the internet.  I doubt it, but ok...But seriously!!  In today's society, the internet is yesterdays ball point pen.  Do you think that years and years ago, schools sent home permission slips asking parents if its ok if their kids use a pen?  Yes, I know,  a pen cannot lead them to porn, unless its that one where you turn it upside down and the persons clothes came off (shock)  I swear MOM!  I never saw that one,  let alone owned one!!

Now I am signing a permission slip saying its ok for him to use the same foods he eats for lunch, as science.  Its food people! 

and before someone says, but a child may be allergic...yes, a kid may be allergic, but at the age of 12/13 they know they are allergic and will address it with the teacher.  The teacher already knows who has fatal white frosting or marshmallow allergies(yes I jest).

Now, I felt bad after the boy left.  I'm sure it wasn't the teachers idea to waste time, effort and money on sending out such a stupid permission slip.  I'm sure district lawyers had something to do with it. 

So, I drafted my first and probably not last apology to his teacher. 

In my email, I did apologize for scrawling the words, "this is ridiculous"   at the bottom of the page.
I also offered my email as a blanket, cover everything permission slip. 

I only placed restriction on items that could cause him to glow in the dark, or cause him to grow another head.  I actually typed, 'third head' at first, then realized that might not be appropriate!
If he does use any of these type of items, please have him wear his new safety goggles first.

Other than that....


Sigh...two more years till we are out of this stupid district.  





Friday, June 3, 2016

Is there someing wrong with my kid?

I dont get it..I just dont get it at all.   There must be something missing that no one is telling me.

 I'm his mother....I am blind to his faults.  Except when he leaves stuff out or doesn't pick up after himself.  I think he's perfect, funny, quirky, generous, kind, helpful, etc etc....

Am I wrong?  Is he actually a shit?  Is he a bully and no one has told me?  Is he robbing blind nuns at knife point?

Why am I asking these questions?  He was so super excited to get a new bike yesterday...He was going to ride his bike after school with is friends to go get lunch and go to timber town. 

He came home early.  Granted, I have no idea what time early is as I had no idea what time they actually got out of school.  But he was home sooner than I expected. 

After a bit of goofing around and bugging his sister and her friend...he came over and said, the reason I came home early is because my friends ditched me.   Apparently, they broke off and were to meet at timbertown.  He waited there, alone for 30 min.  Finally, he called them and they said they were doing something else.  He asked if he could join them and they said no.  So he came home.

Guess how much this breaks my heart.  I simply said, gee bud, that does suck.  Deep down...never mind....

So what is it?  Is he an asshole? 

Wow...I was almost feeling better as his phone just rang...gave the phone to the child and the boy on the other end asked him if wants to be his girlfriend...Well..that has just bade a crappy afternoon worse.  Yes I know...Kids make prank calls...whatever...I busted mine for doing it...he was asking bowling allies if they had blue balls. 

back to my question...is my kid an asshole and no one is telling me? 



Thursday, February 18, 2016

I just cant take it anymore!!

Belonging to a FB group that is just a chat group of things around town seemed like a good idea at the time...now...not so much.

I think I'm going to have to get off of this train wreck.

Rubberneckers.  For those who don't know, that is the term used for cars that drive by an accident really slowly to get a look at the carnage.  I don't do that.  Never have, never will.  Yes, I do slow down for heavens sake, but I don't gawk at what has become someones terrible day.

Friends have told me that they can't help but read the chat page...to drive slowly by the car wreck hoping to see a body.  I actually dread seeing it in my news feed now.

Why you ask?


--  who keeps shooting off fireworks after/before the 4th.  Oh...my poor dogs...they are waking up my precious children....WONT SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN.  Give me a break.  You live in a small town...that is, not on a farm miles away from a neighbor.  People shoot fireworks...all the time...get over it and quit bitching about it.

--  Laziness.  What times does this open, what time does this close, where is this at, do they allow this?  PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE AND CALL THE PLACE.    Oh, don't get me wrong.  I have posted many times on my own FB wall asking what time half day gets out, etc etc.  But that's my own wall and I am fully willing to admit I'm lazy as hell!  (hell is not a swear mom, I'm not apologizing)

--  Is the cable out?  ummmm.....call the cable company?  Call your friend?  Why are you asking on chat?  We've had the power out on our side of the street, but not across the street.  You are asking an entire town if their cable is out???

--  The post office did or did not do something..  I have seen this one several times.   CALL THE POST OFFICE AND BITCH TO THEM!  (ok, sorry mom)  If you have lived in this town for more than a week, you know our post office is horrible. Get over it!  Don't like it, CALL THEM!

--   Who should I call because I was wronged...No...see here you are not asking who to call because you know the (oh man, almost really cussed there) answer!!!!!   YOU JUST WANT TO BITCH AND HAVE PEOPLE FEEL SORRY FOR YOU!

--  Mcdonalds ....worms in drinks, food dropped on floor, slow service, long drive through lines...OMFG.  ITS FAST FOOD!!  What do you expect!!!!  Do you really think that every single restaurant you have ever gone to hasn't ever dropped something on the floor and still served it.  You've never had slow service before?  Never seen someone argue before?  You are so offended by this behavior that you have to post it to all of chat!  GET A LIFE

--  Problem at the high school.  If you have  a student at the HS, you already know about it, its already been dealt with.  If you don't then its none of your business is it?  Why is it being posted on Chat...Oh wait...I know...some some *^#^* can post a horrible comment about faggots....ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!.  I'm leaving this one alone.

NO!  I'm not.  This is the one that has pushed me over the edge.  NO CRIMINAL CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED.  It is being investigated.  Photos were not shared, no photos were pornographic.
Some stupid kids, dump as posts because all teenagers are dumb as posts, took pictures.  PERIOD.  Nothing more than that.  Yet, people are going insane.  Making assumptions, accusations, lynching these poor stupid kids.  Wait, I am making assumptions here.  Shame on me.  I am assuming that these kids did not do it with malicious intent.  Maybe they didn't...I have no idea....but here is the kicker....ITS NOT MY PLACE TO JUDGE.  I am also assuming that most of the comments on that post are for adults who have children.  Of course, your child would never be stupid and do something like that.  YEAH RIGHT.   Please note my earlier statement....KIDS ARE STUPID.   They do things without thoughts of consequences.  Have you ever asked you child, 'why did you do that' and they shrug and say 'i don't know'

I feel so bad for these kids and their families and friends.  They did something stupid.  oh...and by the way...if you have teenagers, especially girls...do they even go 5 seconds without taking a picture??? Hell, some of my adult friends can't go five seconds without taking a selfie....you know who you are!! They do it so often so many hundreds, yes hundreds of times a day, that I'm hoping they didn't even think about taking pictures in the locker room.

Wait.....wait just a minute....didn't someone just recently post pictures of a local pool center...I will not stoop so low as to say way...and posted these pictures on a PUBLIC WEBSITE with thousands of members.  Oh...never mind...you couldn't identify their faces.......ummmm...wait..pictures of minors...in their swim suits!!!  Isn't this the same concept...Yes, locker room vrs actual public place, but same concept. (yes illegal in locker room, not in public places)  Pictures were taken, without the subjects knowledge...subjects could not be identified, subjects were dressed.  Wait...I know the difference.  Someone posted those pictures on a public website.  No, not the locker room pictures, those were never shared, BUT THE POOL PICTURES.  You can block out a face but I can tell you that I would still be able to tell that it was my child and boy would I be mad!





 I think the biggest irony here, and those that know me, is how much I like to bitch and complain.  After all, my profile pic does say "BiteMe".   But there's a difference.  If I want to bitch about something, someone who has wronged me, some unfortunate circumstance, etc etc...I call a GF...I don't go on a public forum and whine!  And yes, I am bitching about bitching...I get it!

For the record...feel free to agree or disagree with me..I don't care...Tell me I'm wrong, Tell me I'm right.  Say nothing.  You wont hurt my feelings.  I am an adult, a big girl.  I can handle a discussion, I can handle someone not agreeing with my opinions.  But, I only request that you keep it adult.  Don't call me names.  Don't make it personal.  I haven't.

One more thing...Yes, I am an adult...and yes, I did apologize to my mother for swearing.  Um...she's my MOM!   You may get away with swearing in front of your mom, but I still don't!








Friday, June 5, 2015

Can we just grow up please

Self entitlement just plain ole pisses me off.

C3 is playing baseball again.  He is not the best player on the team, not the worst.  He is just a player.  He has fun, is supportive of his team and a general goof ball on the bench.

Now our team has players that are awesome, and ones that I am not sure that they have ever seen a baseball before.  Such is life.

One player in general....Call him Bob, can't hit, cant catch, cant throw.  My son has him one one level, he can throw. 

Now there are three positions that must be good players...First, Catcher and Pitcher.  They must be good players.  That leaves 6 positions open...for 10 kids. Its kinda hard to get everyone equal playing time.  Kids coming late, not able to attend, leaving early, etc etc.

Now Bob's parents had an ever loving fit tonight, during the game, that Bob had sat three innings.  OH THE HUMANITY.  The proceeded to storm to the dugout and yell at the coach, in front of the kids, bitching about how unfair it was that Bob was sitting again. 

Seriously!!  WTF people.  With that, them bitching, C3 comes over to me, near tears because he is sitting for his third inning.  He had a good day in the infield but lousy at bat.  I proceeded to read him the riot act.  Started with the whole, 'who do you think you are' line. I explained to him that the Coach is the boss and he makes the rules.  If you disagree, you address it at a later time, not during the game! and in front of other people!

These parents are doing their child a great disservice.  Life is not always fair...sometimes if just plain sucks.  I told the boy on the way home that he is not a good player.  He tries hard, he works hard, but he is not consistent.  I was not criticizing and I told him that.  It was a fact.  If you are a good/great player, you get played.  If you are inconsistent or suck, you get played the minimum.  Yes everyone deserves the right to play, but for gods sake, us parents dont want to sit there forever!  Its painful to watch balls missed, overthrow, kicked etc.

I informed the boy that sometimes life is not fair.  Sometimes, life will kick you in the teeth and when you down, kick you again.

You have two choices when this happens.  You can stand up, stand tall and carry on, work through the personal pain, put a smile on your face and keep being the cheerleader or you can curl up in a corner and sob about how life is so unfair.   How far do you think you will get in life if you curl up in a corner and pout. 

Oh, I guess there is a third choice....you can whine about how unfair life is and have mommy and daddy start yelling at people for you.  Hey Mom and Dad...how bout playing catch with your boy?

Sometimes you strike out and are benched, sometimes you hit the ball.  How you deal with both situations shows the kind of spirit you have, the kind of person you are.

As a kid who is benched three innings and doesn't say anything to the coach but the parents do...loudly...what are you telling your kid.  Being benched for 3 innings shows the kid that they suck...the kid knows it, the parents know it...but if you suck and yell loudly about it you will get results...

So don't practice with the boy, dont play catch, chase grounders, throw hundreds of pop ups...just bitch and have a temper tantrum cause your son sucks and its easier to blame someone else than yourself.  













Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Accused, Tried and Convicted....

NAMES HAVE BEEN REMOVED TO PROTECT.....UMMMM....THE PEOPLE BULLYING ME AND CALLING ME NAMES?   HOW ODD IS THAT!

For some of you who live under a rock and dont know what is going on....here is the backstory


Attended the Village board meeting last night to show support for DB for Autism Awareness month.  Sat through the rest of the meeting...chatted it up with a couple of people...met someone new..talked about DQ(big surprise), left.

This morning KLP ruined my day by informing me of comments made by trustee, KML on Facebook.
...

"Several of the Mayors female friends decided to attend along with his wife sitting next to a candidate running against the people I support. During the meeting there were giggles and side bar discussions by these women. When I would look up they would stare at me and smile. It became apparent to me they were taunting me....As I walked toward the door to begin my ascent upstairs I hear the Mayors group of women to include his wife and EM say, "Nice ponytail. Hey ponytail". Well my hair was pulled back in a ponytail. I have never been so humiliated and hurt... I am sorry for all that he and his "women" have intimidated. I felt alone but realized that he soon will not be in control. To be honest I have never encountered such mean women."

 For the record, KLP and I sat on the opposite side of the room from the "Mayors Female Friends".  I have no idea what they were discussing or giggling about.  I will not speculate.  KLP and I giggled a little bit because she kept showing me pictures from her phone, you know, the ones from the meme wars etc.  I would have rather knit, but being in the first row, I thought it would have been rude.   Actually, no offense Mayor, I would have left after the proclamation, but that would have been rude also.  Listening to budget stuff is kinda boring :)

Now, what got my goat was the following post by her husband and Police Chief , RL. 
...
"The group was the Mayors wife, KLP, Sharon Miller, EM and a couple others. Some classy ladies there but I've met the Mayor and know the type of women he hangs out with."

Please note, in the original post, L did not know my first name and referred to me as "C3's Mom"  ( I never refer to my children by name on my blog.  He used my youngest sons name)

I was incensed!  He used my sons name in his post....my son is 11!  Seriously, if you are going to complain about someone, use their name and not their child's!  In his defense...I did request that he remove my sons name and use mine, which he did. 

For the record, I did join KLP with three other women after the meeting...They were discussing election results, lighting a candle for one womans mother in law that just passed away and I said I wanted to go to DQ.  (no surprise there)  No one ever mentioned this woman or made any comments towards her, negative or any other type.

To be honest, I wouldn't recognize her if she was standing in front of me.  I asked KLP who she was and where did she sit in relation to us.  We were sitting right behind the Police Chief and a Finance person.  We couldn't see her from our seat and she couldn't see us.  I still don't know what she looks like. 

Now since I have been called out by name as one of the hecklers/bullies....here are some of the things being said about me.


DA #1
...They are immature and threatened by you that's why they wanted to try to bully you.

 DA #2
...these women don't have any self value. They've always been mean girls and they flock to each other because they feel safe and powerful with one another. It's sad, but deep down, their own insecurities and issues with self worth go way deeper than anything that they tried to make you feel this evening. It's not a secret... Everyone knows that mean girls suck.

DA #3
... they are LOSERS

 DA #4
...Mean girls never win and just remember Karen that God is watching all of this.... They are just jealous and immature, keep your head up, 

DA #6
...Apples don't fall far from the tree...I hope these ladies are not mothers that have children who watch how they act and do the same.

DA #7
...I'm truly disgusted to hear something like this and these women should be ashamed of themselves. I mean really, grow up.

So...I have been accused by the Police Chief , who wasn't at the meeting, of heckling and bullying and calling his wife names.  People who do not even know me have convicted me.  

To those that say I am a Loser..."Judge not...."

To those who say I am Immature....Damn right and proud of it...but only in the sense that I love to waste my days playing video games with my boys, going kayaking with my daughter and going fishing.  I eat junk food, stay up to late and love to laugh and have fun.   Do I call people names?  Never...Well I have been known to call hubby a Dumb Ass, but always to his face.  

To those who call me a Bully....Your welcome...see during C1's time in grade school he was picked on so horribly...at one point his teacher found a note in his desk written to the bullies parents begging them to make their son stop picking on him.  Because of this, I met with the Superintendent and we re-wrote the bullying policy, making it stricter etc.  Again, I say, Your welcome.

To those that say I have no Self Value...I really dont know what that means?  Do I value my self?  Ummm..yes I do...I think I rock!

To those that say I am a Mean Girl....BWAHAHAHAHAH!  I haven't a mean bone in my body!  Unless you put the ice cream back in the freezer with only a teaspoon left in it...then I will get mean.  

To those that say I'm Jealous...I envy no man/woman or child.  I love my life, with all of its ups and downs.  I love my children, will all of their faults, I love my husband with his many many faults.  No one has anything that I could ever want.  I have friends and family that love me.  That would come running in the middle of the night if my house was on fire (hahahahahahhaha)   

To those that say I should be Ashamed...Only when I eat an entire pint of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream...

To those that ay I'm Insecure...probably in some way...aren't we all...would be nice if my butt was a little smaller...but I would and have never put someone else down in order to make myself feel better.  I feel pretty darn good overall.

To those that say I have a Sad Life...Yes, there have been a lot of sad times in my life.  Who hasn't had sad times.  2012 we lost everything we own in a house fire.  It was the middle of the night...we almost lost C2.  Every day someone in the house says, "Mom, where is whatever", and I have to remind them its gone.  Actually happened today from my oldest!  It reminds all of us how sad things can be.  But is my life sad?  No!  Circumstances are sad...fires are sad...unemployment is sad...death of loved ones is sad...we can get through those times with the love and help of family and friends.  Life is what you make it...I don't make mine sad

To the woman who hoped I didn't have children...I have three children.  My oldest is 17.  He is working on his Eagle Project.  He has been a Boy Scout since he was 6.  He is gifted and incredibly talented.  He wanted to learn to play the guitar, so he saved up his money, bought one and is incredible!  My daughter, 15,  is beautiful! Inside and out!  She is an incredibly gifted artist!  She has been a Girl Scout and Now Venturing crew since she was 6.   My youngest, my mini me, is a comedian!  He has a comedic timing that is brilliant.  He excels at sports and loves people.  

All three of my children have been bullied.  My youngest seems to be a bully magnet.  When the older ones came to me crying and upset...I would tell them the same thing I now tell my 11 yr old.  Its not fair, it sucks and it hurts...but remember, always remember the feeling in your heart...how painful it is to have someone pick on you and call you names...and NEVER make someone else feel that way.  

Mrs. L.  I am sorry that you felt that the women at the meeting were talking about you.  I was not one of them...I was on the other side of the room.   I couldn't not make eye contact with you as I could not see you.  When I left the room I walked with another woman whom I had just met.  There was another Village Board trustee behind us...the one that left with a coughing fit.  If you were behind her, I have no idea...I don't know what you look like.  You did not hear me make any disparaging comments because I don't do that.  However, your husband has made me a target and now I am being bullied and called names.  

I went to the meeting to support DB and his family.  Now because I stood with a group of women and talked about lighting candles at the church and getting DQ, I am a target...I am insecure, a bully, sad, etc etc.

I don't know you.  You don't know me.  I don't know your husband and visa versa.  The people on Fb who have commented on your post don't know me....I don't know them, yet they have passed judgement on me.  I have been accused, tried and convicted....and punished.

Would be nice if someone asked me about it.  Hell, if I were arrested and accused of murder, someone wold ask for my side of the story...but go to a board meeting and stand with friends and get accused, tried and convicted..

For the record...I DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT ANYONE AND I MOST CERTAINLY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING!  (my daughter wears her hair in a ponytail all the time, what do I care how you wear your hair...half the time I have a hat on cause I am to lazy to brush it)

Rant over....


 One side note.

Trustee L
You obviously  have no idea what I look like either as you have stated that I was sitting next to the Mayors wife, giggling and staring at you.   I was not!  I was on the opposite side of the room and couldn't even see you as my view was blocked, as stated above.  I do not know why you are continuing to spread lies about me, but I do not appreciate it one bit.  I respectfully request that you stop spreading these lies.  

If anyone doubts me, simply ask the police chief and the gentlemen who stood up and spoke about some budget stuff.  I had a conversation with both of them.  ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROOM FROM YOU, TRUSTEE L!   I have not said one negative thing about you, Trustee L, however, you continue to speak lies about me.  

Can anyone sense my extreme frustration here. I attended the meeting to show support for a friend and now have spent all day defending myself against actions that I did not see or hear happen nor participate in if they did.  I did not bully anyone, yet am being bullied.  Why must I stand down and hide, hoping the bullies go away...why do the bullies always win??








Thursday, July 3, 2014

THE RUES APPLY TO YOU TOO!

WTF People!

Since when to the rules of society only apply if you feel like it?  Or let me rephrase that.  The rules of society apply to everyone, unless you are really passionate about it...then SCREW THE RULES DO WHAT YOU WANT!

If you read my last blog post about the village meeting, you know what I'm talking about.  Basic rules are set for village meetings.  Sign in or raise your hand, wait your turn and you will be called on to be heard.  UNLESS YOUR REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, THEN FEEL FREE TO YELL AND SCREAM AND STOP YOUR FEET!

People around you having a private conversation...wait you dont like that....then START SCREAMING AT COMPLETE STRANGERS, CALLING THEM NAMES, MAKING ACCUSATIONS!

Ask someone a question and they dont know the answer....PUBLICLY RIDICULE THEM, LAUGH OUT LOUD, LAUGH IN THEIR FACE!

I belong to a yard sale FB page.  Basic rules apply and the admin stays on top of things that shouldn't be posted there.  Hows it work?  You have to much stuff, You simply post a picture, where you located and price.  UNLESS YOUR REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING, THEN FEEL FREE TO SAY SCREW THE RULES AND POST YOUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS!

And you can probably get away with it if you simply say,but this is important information that needs to get out.  Oh....I'm sorry, I didn't realize that this was important information that had to get out...please by all means tell us all.   UMMMMMM....

There are a lot of topics out there that are important.  A lot of issues that people are passionate about.  Global Warming, Teen pregnancy, Sales at Target, child prostitution.  Just because you feel your issue is important doesn't mean that the rules no longer apply to you and you can do whatever the hell you want!

Grow the fuck (sorry mom, I'm really passionate about this) up!  We all learned the basic rules of communication, if not in the home, in grade school.  We all sat in a circle on the alphabet carpet and were taught how to wait our turns to speak.  How its not polite to shout over someone.  If Susie is talking and you found out its pudding day at snack, and your really really passionate about it, it doesn't give you the right to start shouting over her.  Course back in those day, you would be sent to sit in the corner!

We were all taught the same basic rules of communication...what to do and what not to do.  And for the most part, we probably applied them and still do apply them.  I mean, if you're out to eat in a restaurant and  a waiter trips and drops a tray of food, do you heckle and start laughing at them?

The rules apply all day and every day...They apply to you, and to me, and to the stranger sitting behind you, two seats over. 

There is a time and a place to speak passionately.  Find it, choose it and use it. 
Its not nice to shout over people, or at people, and its never polite to laugh at people. 

Look at it this way,  your at the bank, apply for a loan, bank dude asks you a question, you respond, I'm not sure, I have to check.  ( you dont want to give the bank dude the wrong information!) and he laughs in your face!  Would you be appalled????  Embarrassed?  Outraged????  I would...but guess what....people did this at a public forum!!!

In hindsight....I would have loved to jump up to my feet, careful not to drop a stitch, turn to those people and chastise them!  Be the teacher back in grade school,  remind them the rules, have them write 100 times, I will not laugh at people! 

Stand up to the bully who laughs at people, who yells at others from the back of the room, hiding...who threatens people.  Remind people of the basic rules, the rules we were all taught while sitting on the alphabet carpet many many many years ago.....

JUST BECAUSE YOU FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO BE AN ASSHOLE!(sorry mom)













Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Tonights Village Meeting was....

an eye opener...and slightly scary. 

The meeting was of course packed to the gills...and kudos to the people who behaved themselves. 

It opened with the Mayor and his opening comments and went quickly downhill as people, two men in the back, one who runs the carymatters FB page and website, started shouting at the Mayor.

This continued throughout the meeting.  The Mayor would answer a question someone at the podium would ask and people from the audience would then shout at him.  If he didn't know the answer to a question, people would actually laugh at him!  Really?????   I bet these are the same people that in grade school, when someone got a mistake would shout out 'HA HA'  I was quite embarrassed!

These meetings are a public forum.  A chance to for the public to speak in an appropriate manner.  Not to stand on the playground and shout at others.  I understand that this is an emotional topic for some more than others...but please...lets maintain a  bit dignity here!  You are upset, I get it...then wait your turn and stand at the podium and say your peace.  Don't hide in the back of a crowd and shout out.   What do you think you will accomplish by doing this?  If you want your word to be heard and to be taken seriously, then put on your big boy/girl pants and act like a grownup!

People who hide in the back of a crowd don't really want their opinions heard and taken seriously, they just want to make trouble.  To coin a phrase, 'Shame on You'

Now some good points and questions were brought up during the meeting and officially I am still on the fence, although leaning towards the no side...Not because of some of the comments I heard tonight.  Such as, I find beer bottles in my front yard, it must be from the apts.  Or the police are always at the apts.  Apts are the end of the world.  But, because I do not think Cary would be getting enough yearly tax money from them and what happens when they flip ownership.

Really people!!!   To the people who complain about beer bottles in their front yard and people who park on the sidewalks.  People dont usually walk around with beer and drop it in your yard...its thrown from passing cars full of teenagers...and we try really hard not to park on the sidewalk, sorry.

So, the Mayor calls a 5 minute break.  The very nice older woman next to me turns and starts asking me about what I was knitting.  I begin to respond...only to be yelled at to be quiet as the man who runs CaryMatters decides to call everyone together to speak.  Wait what???  I am explaining my knitting to a nice older woman and I'm yelled at to be quiet because some dude who was shouting at the Mayor at the start of the meeting and didn't have the cojones (I don't think mom knows the meaning to that word so I"m safe.   LB, don't you dare tell her) to speak during the meeting decides he's important enough to make everyone in the room shut up and listen to him during a recess. 

I politely inform the woman who yelled at me, that it is a recess and that I am talking knitting with the woman next to me.  It goes down hill from there.  She informs me that This Important Man was speaking and I needed to shut up.  I informed her again that this was a recess and I could chit chat if I wanted to.  It then started to travel a little faster downhill.  As KLP came my defense or me to hers, I dont remember, It got a little confusing at this point, this woman yelled at KLP saying that we dont live in Cary, but she quickly amends the statement, pointing at me saying she knows I live in Cary but KLP doesn't.  How stereo typical is that.  I bet she thought KLP lived in harvest glen cause she's always put together, makeup on, matching....I'm wearing a ball cap, wish it was my bite me one, a shirt, no makeup and knitting.  Then, this other woman starts to yell at me.  To be honest, I am not quite sure what she was saying.  She was large and had crooked teeth and scared the hell out of me!  I just kept asking her why she was yelling at me, that I didn't even know her, why is she yelling at me.  Big surprise, she never answered me. 

I finished explaining the knitting pattern to the older woman, said goodnight to the Mayor and KLP and I escorted each other to our cars out of plain fear!

In a nutshell,

I think it was agreed upon by the trustees that even though its a 'done deal' its not a done deal.  They can recall the vote and re vote.  It has to pass or fail by a majority.  If its a tie, then it reverts back to the previous vote...which is a pass. 

My overall opinion of the meeting..I feel bad for the Mayor.  He attempted to make an educated decision.  Did his research, yes i believe him, why would I not...just because he's a politician?  Hey folks, guess what...this is a part time job making peanuts.  He's not in it to become President of the United States.  What has he to gain by lying???  And I only call someone a liar if they have lied to me.....not just because of the field they are in...If I catch you lying to me, I will never trust you again, if you haven't lied to me, I believe you.  Life is much more fun that way...less depressing. 

He has done his best, he was laughed at, scorned, called names.  Shame on all of you.  I really wanted to stand up and ask the question....ummmmm...how many people in this room voted in the last Mayoral election.  Whether or not I agree or disagree with someones position on a topic, that does not  give me the right to question their character, their morals and their beliefs.  We disagree...he does not have ultimate say in this matter.  He is the figure head.  There were 3 other members of the board who voted yes...none of them were laughed at or called a liar.  

To certain members of the Village of Cary

SHAME ON YOU















Thursday, February 27, 2014

Your Period and You....

Sorry Dad...and Mom..and all of my male friends and relatives...Please feel free to ignore reading this one.

And to any I may offend by this first sentence....fell free to condemn me...its ok.

God is a MAN!   No woman in the world would make us bleed once a month for 7, yes SEVEN, days and make it painful!

To the Men who say PMS is fake...GO TO HELL!   Hmmm....I seem to be a little sensitive today.

I figure there are several stages to getting and having your period.  At least there are for me.

Stage one:  SALLY STRUTHERS STAGE
This stage actually comes before the period.  Remember the commercials she starred in, surrounded by starving children asking for our pledges to help feed them.  She was like 300 lbs! I know...shame on me for judging...but didn't we all sit there and think to ourselves, 'Good Lord woman...share the food you are eating'  Sally Struthers Stage, in two parts....Part 1; we consume everything in sight...we are not hungry...we just want food.  Its usually food we don't normally eat too.  Last month I ate 4, yes FOUR,   cinnamon rolls!  I dont even like cinnamon rolls!  This was in one sitting!  Not even over the course of an entire day....it was maybe in like 15 minutes!  Part 2; Sobbing over the children.  Of course, it might not actually be starving children we sob over.  It could be that snuggle fabric softener commercial with the cute little bear snuggling a blankey.  WHAT???  There is no rhyme or reason...God forbid a video comes up of soldiers being reunited with their children after being deployed, or with their DOG!!!!  That's sobbing while eating 4 cinnamon rolls!

Stage two:  Incredible Hulk
This is one of my favorite and my kids/hubbies least favorite!  Very mild mannered, very calm.  Like eerie calm!  Helping children with homework, settling squabbles....and then, with no warning whatsoever....THE INCREDIBLE HULK ERUPTS IN THE KITCHEN(thankfully not ripping off clothes, but by this time, you feel like he looks, everything bulging out of them).  Eyes raise up towards the ceiling, arms flail and a howl that makes animals seek shelter, bursts from your lungs!  Children freeze, hubbies cower, animals(cause they are the smartest) run and hide.  The Incredible Hulk tends to slam things down, throw shoes up the stairs, throw books/backpacks anywhere.  Although this stage only lasts a second or two, you are left standing alone in the kitchen...all living creatures have fled...you are panting, trying to slow down your breathing, trying to calm the anger within...Trying to find mild mannered mom again...But its to late, and you stumble away, alone...defeated

Stage three:  Alice(Brady Bunch)
This is definitely my favorite stage.  Its the clean every single nook and cranny of the house stage.  Not the normal places of the house, not the areas we do every day anyway.  Its the, time to clean the baseboards stage.  or scrub the grout with a toothbrush stage.  As kids, this was a scary stage for us..(SORRY MOM).  We came home from school, and every item from under our bed was not on top of our bed.  Our beds now stood 6 feet high.  I can still remember walking to my bedroom and emitting a huge sigh....but recognizing the Alice stage and knowing how quickly it could turn into the Incredible Hulk stage, I shut up and cleaned!  (ok, mom never actually turned into the Incredible Hulk.  Honest!) 

Stage four:  The Odd Couple with me playing the role of Oscar
Remember this show?  Felix was the one that demanded everything be neat and Oscar was the slob.
Stage 4 does not happen very often.  Alice seems to show up more often than Oscar.  But everyone once in a while, Oscar shows up and says screw it!  Nothing gets done, nothing gets cleaned, picked up, washed, put away....dinner doesn't get made....Nothing happens...NOTHING!  I do feel slightly guilty when Stage four does hit.  Usually that means that when children get home from school, they are met by Stage Two the second they walk in the door.  Hell, its not my mess.  I am Felix!  Oscar just shows up and says, I am no not cleaning up the dried cereal in the sink, or bringing kids laundry downstairs, or wiping toothpaste off the counters...Oscar waits for the unsuspecting children to come home and unleashes the Hulk. 

Stage five:  The super insecure, wife
He doesn't call during the day, does he still love me?  He's 5 minutes late getting home, did he find someone else?  He's one the phone laughing it up,  He doesn't find me funny anymore?  He gobbles dinner down and doesn't comment, He doesn't like my cooking?  He doesn't ask about my day, He doesn't care anymore?  I showered that day,  He doesn't comment that I look pretty?  Or whats even worse...Hi Honey, how was your day *muttering response*  Like you care...  Dinner was great  *muttering response*  It was fricking take out, you moron!  Did you get a chance to pick up the dry cleaning?  *muttering response*  what am I, your fricking servant!   Have you seen my (insert item name here)  *muttering response*  what am I, your fricking Mother!  Worse yet!!! I Love you  *muttering response*  BITE...ME!  This is the stage men fear the most.  Nothing they say or do is right.  They are in trouble just for existing.  If they help, we think, what, you think I can't do it myself...and if they dont help, we think, you lazy fricking moron...you can do your own laundry from now on.  If they dont tell us we are pretty, we think we are ugly...if they dont tell us they love us, they are tired of us, am I getting flabby?  This is the most dangerous stage for any man.  

After stage five, things start to calm down...All creatures come out from hiding, animals, children and husbands.  A little meekly at first, timid, still slightly afraid...but they slowly emerge.  And we, having shed our Sybil persona, act like nothing at all has happened.  Life slowly returns back to normal...the birds begin to sing again, the sun shines, the air is fresh...life is good....for about 21 days....then....SALLY STRUTHERS SHOWS UP AGAIN!!!  WHO ATE ALL THE FRICKING CINNAMON ROLLLS!???!!!








Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Today....Really Bitchy!!

Look people....Its raining out.  OH MY DEAR LORD...  This simply means that everyone will be driving their walkers to school today. Ok..no biggie.  It rains in the fall.  Its the same process to drop off any other day, just in the rain. 

Its very simple.  Get in line, pull around, when its your turn, throw it in park, unlock the doors and shout...'GO,GO,GO,GO! GET OUT...GO!'  I do actually do this.  Just ask the kids who are carpooling with me and who have in the past.  My kids are out of the car in seconds!  Yes, I rock!

Now, to the idiot this morning who decided that they needed to park at the curb right in front of the school during drop off and go inside.  Are you fucking kidding me.  What makes you so damn special!  You screwed up the entire drop off because you are a fucking idiot!   And if you think putting your hazards on makes it ok....its a parking lot you moron.

I have had to go inside the school during drop off before.  It does happen.  Guess what I do.  I PARK MY FUCKING CAR IN A PARKING SPACE!  This is the second time in two weeks some moron has decided they are special.  What I find especially annoying is the teachers who are out there to help with?  no clue, let these idiots do that. 

Hell last week, when someone parked at the curb cause they are so damn special, a teacher with a ton of stuff loaded on a cart couldn't get into the school cause they were blocking the sidewalk ramp!!

(Remember when my daughter was in a cast from thigh to toes and in a wheelchair forever...and every day, morning and afternoon, someone would block the damn sidewalk ramp.  Still pisses me off!)

Remember the good old days at Oak Knoll.  If you got out of you car, BC would actually yell at you!  Hey NW...quit smiling and waving and yell at these morons who park at the curb and enter the school!

These are not the only offenders of the school drop off code.   I love those who pull up to the curb, get out and help their special snowflake out of the car...on the parking lot side, so they now have to cross between the cars.  Two problems where...crossing between cars driven by parents who just want to get the kids out get get the hell out and quite often dont pay attention...and getting out of your damn car!

It screws everything up and slows everything down.  Unless your child is special needs, they should be able to get out of the damn car all by themselves! 

Granted, there will be times that a child needs help.  Especially on project day.  I dont mind that at all.  Poster boards, diorama's, etc...they need help with that.  You need to get out to hand it to them, no problem.  HUG KISS AND WAVE AT HOME.   

School drop off should be treated like a pit stop at the Indy 500.  You pull up, doors open, kids fly out, doors close and you take off.  Its my goal to beat the 5 second unload this year, and with only two kids, it should be a cinch!  If you have to get out, think of yourself as the lug nut guy..dont wander back to the driver side door, RUN RUN RUN!. 

And next time I find a car parked at the curb directly in front of the school during drop off, I am going to block them in and wait for them to come out.  Or maybe I'll write a nice little nasty note and put it on their windshield.  Hell last week, when someone parked at the curb cause they are so damn special, a teacher with a ton of stuff loaded on a cart couldn't get into the school cause they were blocking the sidewalk ramp!!

Well, probably not...I am to big of a wuss, that is why I hide behind the typewritten word.  Of course, it was probably someone I know that parked there this morning or someone who knows who it was and will tell them and will get pissed at me.  I DONT CARE!  I'M EATING BEN AND JERRYS FOR BREAKFAST...DOES THAT TELL YOU MY MOOD TODAY!  

And I'm to bitch to apologize for swearing mom.  So sorry for not apologizing

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Only a little bitchy here...

Honest, I'm only a little bitchy about this...maybe bitchy is not even the right word....Let me try it this way.....


Dear Old Navy

Let me start out by saying how much I love your store.  Wonderful clothing at reasonable prices, and very fashionable.  Fashionable in the sense that my kids like shopping there.  If I try to take them anywhere else, I get the eye roll and am informed that I have no fashion sense whatsoever.  Dramatic emphasis on the 'whatsoever' by the teenage daughter.  So, congrats on keeping up or starting the latest and greatest fashion trends.

Now, in the past, I have never been able to look good in your clothes.  My fault not yours.  I admit that since kids, oh heck, even before having kids, I enjoyed food way to much.  Whats not to enjoy when it comes to BACON.

Well, since the fire diet(not recommend for everyone)I have lost 4 sizes!  Yes, I look good...not the best yet, but good.  And, the best part, I can now wear your clothes!  Please note, I am not trying to relive my youth.  I had no fashion sense then either.  I do not want to be one of those 40 something moms who are trying to look like teenagers.  Lets face it, they look ridiculous!   And trust me, if I did try to dress like that, I would get major eye rolling from my teenage daughter, more than normal!

I do enjoy the ability to shop in your store and no longer have to shop at Walmart for the cheap crappy jeans.  I am not dissing them.  I just dont enjoy their jeans.  Or at least the jeans that fit me and make me look good.  Your jeans make me feel good.  I think I look good.  My daughter has not looked at me and rolled her eyes at my jeans, so I take that as a good sign.  And I don't think I look like a stuffed sausage.  God, I HOPE NOT!  I think my daughter would tell me. 

I love your jeans.  I don't buy the skinny ones because I like the ability to breathe and I'm pretty sure my inner organs like staying where they are.  If I tried to cram myself into those, I'm pretty sure my spleen would end up north of where it is supposed to be.  And I would totally look like a stuffed sausage! 

Your stores offer a chart that tries to help me decide my fit.  I dont think I'm a 'Rockstar' and I'm not sure what style 'Boyfriend' is, but since I'm married, I skipped that one too. 'Diva', maybe in my own mind but as far as jeans...I have no clue.  'Flirt'  is said to fit semi-curvy.  I'm not sure what that means, but since I've had three kids and I love Ben and Jerry's, I dont think that one is for me. 'Dreamer'  Trims all.   I think they call this a dreamer because dream on ladies!  If you can actually fit into this, you probably shouldn't.   I think people forget, that if you put something on to trim a certain area...well, picture this...take a Brat, and squeeze the bottom part where you would put on jeans.  Where does the rest go?  UP!  MUFFIN TOP!  Mine would probably be more like Banana loaf.

'Sweetheart' Curvy.  That's the one!   Call me curvy...I don't care! I've had three kids and I  like food, junk food.  I am a woman with sun spots, wrinkles, curves, aches and pains.  I am living my life and proud to show it off...well, maybe not all of it :)  So I buy three pair! 

They are very comfy!  and very flattering!  (no teenage eye roll)  They move well, I can breath, my internal organs are happy, I dont have to lay on the floor and suck in every molecule of oxygen in the room to button or zip!  I am happy!   wait for it.....except....

Now your store does advertise Woman's Jeans, as does your website.  I am a Woman.  Yup...I run a house...I have children, pets etc.  I am forever bending down, bending over, reaching under etc etc.  Like most woman with kids, pets, a house...I am not asking for jeans that go up to my bra line, but I would like to at least get the wash out of the machine without my pants going down....well...we've all seen it.  Mom bends over and we get to see it all!  Much more entertaining if she's wearing a thong!  EWWWW!   I know I am not the only woman with this problem.  Just look around in any store.  Any mom, especially with kids.  She bends over to retrieve something or put something back and as soon as she stands back up she's adjusting, looking around hoping that no one saw her underwear.  And then, she's hiking her jeans back up where they belong. 

If you are selling jeans to woman, please take this into account.  We do not sit around all day not moving.  We move alot!  Not like the commercials, skiing, or sitting in front of a fire, but chasing the cat to keep him from eating string, or wrestling a childs favorite toy from a dog, or on our hands and knees scraping some strange gooey foreign material from the kitchen floor.   In the privacy of our own house, its not so horrible.  But in public...I have to put items on the bottom of my grocery cart and then retrieve them.  I will actually maneuver the cart so that my back is to the items so that I dont have to worry about my butt! 

I am sure that I am not the only woman who would like jeans that stay up when we go down.  I have enough to do and to worry about especially when out in public.  My butt and my jeans are not one of them.  Or at least didn't use to be. 

Any assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.  My butt and any unfortunate soul that has to witness me bending down in public, thank you

Sincerely

A Woman







Sunday, September 8, 2013

Dear C2's Teacher

Its the beginning of what, the third week of school and you have already driving my house insane.

Perhaps you have never raised  a 13 yr old daughter in you house.   Let me explain to you what happens when you impose STUPID FUCKING RULES ON YOUR STUDENTS!

First, last week, the world came to an end because we did not have any loose leaf paper.  Apparently, you do not  accept spiral note book paper for homework.  I can understand not wanting all of those little bits of paper that fall of from spiral pages.  But for whatever reason, you also don't accept the spiral pages that have the perforation so you can tear them out neatly!  AND YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE!  Perhaps you have way to much time on your hands?  I will be sending you the receipt for $3.48 from CVS for a stupid package of loose leaf paper.  Personal checks will not be accepted, cash only.

Now, this evening, we had a crying fit because the printer was confused and didn't want to print the page double sided.  Once again, the world will come to and end and C2 will be sent to the school firing squad if she prints up two pages instead of double sided.  I suggested that if we can figure it out..lets print one right side up and the other upside down because its STUPID!  Guess how well that went over!!!

This is my dime there.  Its my paper, my ink and my staple.  GET OVER IT!

I have heard from LJ that her daughter went through the same hell with the same teacher....Hey Teacher....I used to tell my kids that sometimes you have to deal with assholes and you have to learn to live with it and get over it and move on.  I'm not a very confrontational person you know...but lately....I will kick your ass and smile while I'm doing it!

So, Teacher...back off, cut it out!  I am not enjoying the chaos you have brought to my house because you are an anal retentive moron!  Life is short...  Teach my child about your subject, but please stop imposing stupid rules that ruin my evenings!  This, once, mild mannered red head used to be quiet one that sits backs and keeps her mouth shut...but with recent events, I have learned you only have one life to live and I am much quicker at brushing my bitch off and throwing it in your face!

If you have any questions, please ask C2 for my cell number.  I would be more than thrilled to meet with you to discuss these issues

Thursday, July 18, 2013

My last ever fire related posting...

Laying in bed this morning, wondering why I cant sleep.  Its July 18, 1:04am.   One year ago, at this time, 1:16am, we were watching firetrucks fly down our street as we stood in front of our house watching it burn.

We have been through a lot, more than I ever thought I could handle.  Either personally, or as a family. 

In the past, pre fire, I had heard about people losing their belongings, and their house on the news like everyone else.  It never dawned on me the type of hell they go through from that second on.  From the second they are displaced, either by flood or fire, or whatever, their lives are changed...they can never go back, they, we, will never forget, never truly get over it, never finally move on, never let it go.

Its been 365 days...I still think about it.  I go to bed at night and those thoughts pop into my head...the sounds, the lights, the oppressive heat of the night, the horror at being in the street in my jammies, sans bra!  I go to bed more nights than I care to admit, picturing myself screaming at my children to run.  What's worse, is when I go to bed at night and try to fill in the missing chunks.  This is not something I do on purpose.  Who would.  I lay down, all snuggly, try to sleep, and these thoughts and images race through my head. 

Not a day goes by that someone in the house doesn't bring up the fire, or items lost, or missing.  And no, not by me.  I try not to mention it to the kids/hubby.  Its mostly the kids that bring it up and mostly regarding items lost, destroyed, or just plain missing.  I cringe when I hear, 'hey mom, what happened to my ****'   It happens at least once a day, the question, followed by my silence and look, and then either anger, or sadness. 

Today, well, technically, yesterday, 364 days after the fire, I dragged a box from my closet to the garage because something in it smelled like smoke. I also went through a box of pictures/frames and books, half went into the garage because they stink. 

We are still missing everyday items....and every time I go to the store, which I swear to god is every freaking day!, I forget to buy the missing items.  A pipe wrench, a funnel, a stupid wine opener.  Realized this past weekend, I dont have any of those corn thingys you stick in corn on the cob so you can eat it without burning yourself.  Have been to the store 4 times since them and have forgotten to buy them every time.

And dont get me wrong, I have no personal attachment to stupid corn on the cob thingys.  Its just the fact that I dont remember that I dont own them anymore so when I go to get them, I dont have them and its just plain ANNOYING! 

Last week, I was looking for Hubbies staple gun.  I had used it last and needed it again.  I searched high and low in the garage....getting annoyed, mostly at myself, figuring that I had misplaced the damn thing and was going to catch hell for it.  You know men and their tools.  Finally, I started cleaning the stupid garage searching for it.  30 minutes later I found it.  Right where it belonged, hanging on the wall behind the work bench.  Its yellow now.  All of this time I had been searching for my silver staple gun.  I had forgotten that it was now yellow.  How stupid is that!

I look at what we have now...not at what we have lost.  Hell, we had to much crap anyway.  We all do.  Don't believe me...go look in your basement....make a mental list of the stuff you haven't used in the past 5 years! 

I look at what we have now...every single thing I have ever wanted to do to my house, I was able to do.  I mean EVERYTHING.  We all have a wish list in our house....an outlet here, a switch there, new floor, new cabinets.   I got it all.  ALL!   Hell, I got a master suite!  As incredibly gorgeous as it is, as amazing, as shiny, as new....its a daily reminder of what we went through.  Hell, its a minute by minute reminder of what we went through.  My old fridge was literally held together by duct tape.  I was desperate to replace it, but the damn thing wouldn't die.  I just couldn't go out and spend money on a new one, when the old one still worked.  Every time I open my incredibly beautiful, dual ice maker, fridge, I am reminded at how it came to be.    Its not a conscious thought, I dont have many of those, its just a fleeting thought. 

I always wanted a living room set for a patio set...I got it.  I always wanted to get rid of the dying tree in my yard and put a bigger pool, I got it.  Its like winning a reverse lottery.  Here's all the money you need to rebuild your house the way you have always dreamed, but there's a catch....you loose everything you own.

I summed it up to a friend once by saying, its like I woke up in someone elses life.  I went to bed that night and woke up with the same family same world, but a different life.  Lets face it, our material things are our life.  If they weren't we wouldn't strive for new cars, better furniture, new shoes etc. 

I remember joking, pre fire, about having a house fire, re building, replacing...we've all said it...That we want new carpet so lets set fire to the living room floor... Never in a million years would I have imagined the pain that this sort of tragedy brings. 

Are we closer as a family, yes.  We realize how close we came to not being here...to not having each other to laugh with or at...to annoy, to shoot nerf bullets at, to turn off the bathroom light when someone is in the shower :)  to hug, to love, to care, and to watch grow, or in my case, i think i'm shrinking. 

Are we still feeling out of place, yes.  I dont know how to describe this one.  Its an odd feeling.  Maybe like moving to a new town where you know some of the people, but things have changed so much?  or moving back to the town you grew up in?  you've changed but no one else has?  I'm not sure.  We were at a gathering recently, and suddenly, I looked around and discovered my entire family, that is the 5 of us, were alone in the basement, eating.  No one else down there, just us. (I gathered up everyone and we left) It was odd.  Like we're feeling out of place...this huge monumental event has occurred, an event that threw us out of the normal realm of daily life.  We are not back to normal, not feeling normal, feeling out of place, when the rest of the world just continues on around us. Some days, we feel like invisible people?  That's not right...I was at another gathering where I was introduced to everyone as the friend who lost her house in a fire.  Maybe that's it.  if its not mentioned, you wait....waiting for, hoping no one does, but knowing someone will mention it.  Half wanting to talk about it because it sometimes feels better to do so...when it is mentioned, you cringe...not wanting to talk about it.  Or maybe its the feeling out of place because for the past year, we have had nothing else happen to us but house crap.  We have nothing to contribute to the conversation.  Hell, I dont even know what is going on in the real word...I still dont have time to read the paper...i keep forgetting to by corn on the cob thingys!

Hubby recently said he had nothing to say at a gathering...I understand the feeling(I'll wait for the shock of that statement to wear off)  I used to love hanging out and chatting it up.  Now, I've got nothing.(another shocker, I know)

We lost our house, but it was rebuilt as our dream house.  We lost our possessions, most we didn't need anyway. But,  have we lost ourselves as well? and if so, where do we go from here?  You can replace an ice bucket(finally just did that one), but how can you replace your own feeling of what? belonging?  No...not belonging?  How can you go back to feeling like you are not the giant white elephant in the room...hiding in the corner, half dreading, half wishing that someone will notice the giant white elephant...That makes no sense what so ever...How do we get back to our pre fire lives?

That's it....I'm done...its 2:11 am....the fire has been put out, mostly, hoses are still spraying hot spots...we don't yet know the damage...we have since discovered, the physical damage was null in comparison.