Paint part 2...

So after noting it was not me and the paint...

Dad is having a stroke, I stayed calm, and said....

"let me do this...it is the closest hardware store, we have dropped a ton of money in there..."

So I called Menard's told them the problem, they were "whatever, no one has ever complained before"

So I load the heart patient who is likely to have a stroke, in my car (My Father NEVER swears, and actually used the F word!)

We go in, and request the manager.

We beg him to hop in the car and look at it.

We explain the situation. Now understand here, I can show my ass with the best of them, I just figure I would try and handle this in a calm manner."

The Menards manager suggested that we get different paint from them.

I was like..."Are you freaking serious, I would not trust you to mix paint ANY longer, your paint quality is poor, I am going to Sherwin Williams like I normally do."

"Dude, the problem is not the paint, or the cost of the paint, it is OUR TIME. We painted for like 8 hours...2 people 8 hours."

Menard's manager: "Well what can I do to make this right?"

AWTM: "Well I do not trust you to mix my paint, would you?"

Menard's manager: "Probably not."

AWTM: "Can we get a gift certificate to make up for our time?"

Menard's manager: "I can't do that?"

AWTM: "Oh really?"

Menard's manager: "What I can do is give you my card, if you need something, let me know, you will have a standing discount. Call me, and I will take care of you."

AWTM: "I do not think this will work for me, I do not want to walk in here and explain this ever again, and I frankly do not trust you to follow through."

Menard's manager: "No we are good, get what you need to replace your painting supplies."

AWTM & Dad: (Go shlep and get supplies, not many I did not want to be greedy. I got 3 rollers, 4 paint tray liners and 1 new brush for cutting in.)

We then schlep off to Sherwin Williams, take the shade we want there and try to match it with one of theirs.

I get one 4 gallons of Cashmere paint, in kilm beige.

I take them home. I put 2 rollers on each wall to test the color.

It is too light.

So I load up and drive clear across town, back to Sherwin Williams with paint in tow.

I pick a new shade. Pavillion Beige.

I take 1 gallon home, and leave 3 behind.

I put the paint up and decide it is correct.

I take SR to First grade open house(another post altogether)

I call Sherwin William's to mix the other 3 gallons.

I pick it up, arrive at the house, and Dad and I paint until 10:30pm.

oye.

Paint is lovely, and the finish is so soft, it loks like you could put your hand through the wall.

Anywho, fast forward to yesterday morning. I need different try liners,(the previous ones did not fit the trays I had purchased there when I bought the paint, and they do not sell liners for the trays I bought...go figure) and more rollers. (ain't washing rollers...no thanks)

I stop in at Menard's, I call the manager to customer service and he says "I can give those to you at cost."

AWTM: "I knew you would do this, I should know better."

Now folks, we are not wealthy, but I have dropped some cash in that store. I should have known, to buy Sherwin Williams paint from the get go...

I needed an 8 foot ladder, I bought it there, I needed paint, I TRIED to buy it there, I need a wrench, I would hop down there. I have spent hundreds of dollars there since being in our home in just 2 weeks.

No longer. I will not be spending our money there any longer. My time is not valuable to them.

The paint thing...

OK, so last Sunday, my Father was here.

I tried to keep him occupied with some shelves I had bought PN, but he finished them bright and early.

DAD: "why don't we get some primer up"

AWTM: (very tired of painting, because of painting the entire house in Arkansas) Rolls eyes.

Folks, I do not mean to sound like a wuss, but I am pooped. Between the move and loading, and living in strange places, hotels, and packing every 2 minutes. I am done.

I had also figure painting the house, would take a while and it would be easier to hire it out at this point. We have tall ceilings, and large rooms. Bedrooms, I can do. But this large livingroom/dining room/kitchen. No thanks. I had called the family friends that were painters, and they were supposed to come give me a bid/ color/ etc.

Anywho.

So Dad and I go off to buy some Kilz primer.

That goes on fairly easy, and we are done.

So Dad suggests, "hey lets go ahead and paint!"

Oye...I did explain my trepidation about starting this. Dad is a great painter, he is fast. I am above average in the painting department, but still know that between 2 coats and cutting in it will take me a while.

I break down and go get the paint swatch DH and I agree on. We take it to the store down the road, because that is where I picked up the swatch. I was not sure of what paint it was. Well it turned out to be Menard's brand. Menard's is a regional hardware center. (I always will go to a regionally centered store as opposed to a big box store.) I also figured since it is their color, they should do it better than anyone.

I bought one gallon to make sure it is the right color. My Father and I put the paint on in the dining room. It looks fine....the color is what I want, the paint wasn't great paint, you had to work it, but that was ok...

I went back and got 2 more gallons.

My Father and I paint on top of kitchen cupboards, part of the great room. I stayed up late, (2am) and finished. Why in the heck did I stay up until 2am? Well, my Father insisted on coming back to help...I really wanted to knock it out. So he did not have to do as much.

Fast forward to Monday morning, I wake and see a horrid finish, streaks, the paint looks wet, but is dry....I seriously wanted to cry.

I call my Dad, who is coming back to help...

and I say, "hey I stayed up and painted, and it looks like shit." "I am not sure what I did, but I must paint worse than I had thought."


Dad: "Do not touch it, I will be there"

Fast forward to my Father coming in the room.

Dad: "Hey, this paint is seriously three different colors..."

He was right,

painting saga continued...

Very unhappy with my service at Menard's this monring...

will fill you in when I have time.

first day of first grade...

found my camera

must remember to take it with.

Today is the first day of school for SR.

740 students will be a change!

They have a Beta fish on his table, he wants to name it twinkie.

I hope he LOVES his new classmates, teacher, and classroom.

Still painting, what can i say, it is a big room.

Managed to get one coat in the hallway done, the amount of cutting in was ridiculous.

Maybe tonight I will have something interesting for all yawl.

Off to carve out a face, I have to walk little man in. That means no jammies, and makeup.

No, still not unpacked...

Mostly done, and whatever.

last day of summer vacation...

The tale of painting will have to wait. ALWAYS spend $ on paint. Nuff said.

Sherwin Williams "cashmere" paint is the bomb...no joke.

Today, is the last day of summer vacation.

To the park to play and for a picnic, and then it is off to the pool.

I refuse to paint today...at least until they are in bed...

Streak

Not that kind...

I am unsure if it is the paint , or the finish...

I see some streaking.

Never good.

Maybe a flat finish streaks less that a satin one...

ughhh

It is not like I am a novice painter either.

It is irritating.

I spent about 9 hours painting...

crud.

In other news, YES Tammi, PN has shelves!!

Woot.

Which means her room, should look like less of a pigsty soon...

Off to decide what I am going to do about this stupid paint.

Kilz primer is excellent. BTW, but you all knew that.

And for the life of me, I cannot find my freaking camera.

New dining room set arrives today!

It will be the first new Dining Room table we have ever owned.

We have always had used, or hand me downs.

It should be mega pretty.

Off to take more face plates off, and move more crap...

Moving crap, is starting to suck.

Groundhog Day...

sometimes you wake, and it seems you are living the same life ALL OVER AGAIN....

My Father and I are painting!

AGAIN.

Yes, the weight loss plan is in full swing.

We are painting the kitchen and dining, and living all the same. It is an open room. The paint color changes as all do, depending on the light or wall.

SR rode his bike a mile and a half today. the kid loathes the stupid seat on the bike. Don't blame him, it is an odd seat. PN, is off like a flash riding everywhere.

I heard the woman right across has a daycare! That might be something to think about.

Dad and I are painting. AGAIN.

Got the blue, and orage primed today, and first coat on 75%, second coat on part of that...

Tomorrow should be quicker!

I ain't unpacking shit that does not have a home...

Tomorrow morning is the big PARTY yeah, it will be nice to have everyone in the same house. Well i thought it would be. DH told me he has to work tomorrow. Crap. He said he thought he told me, I say I do not recall hearing it...so there.

I talked to Dad on the phone tonight, he really wanted to go to storage with DH and move the rest of the stuff, since we will have extra man power here.

No can do.

Which is fine by me.

All 5 beds have fresh linens, and have since we have moved in. That night. All beds were set up and made.

The kitchen is unpacked, although I am missing at least 2 boxes, and my darn crock pot.

My Dad will have a bee in his bonnet tomorrow, he will want to dig into my boxes, and unpack them.

And then I will have piles of more stuff laying around.

In good news, I got a handy dandy shoe organizer tonight, some other storage containers that will fit in my laundry room closet, and I got PN's bookshelves, for less than half of the original price! Yeehaw. I should be able to unpack her books tomorrow night, as well as have a place for her baskets. (Praise Jesus, this kid is a mess.)

I am going to try and paint SR's room this week, the green is driving me batty. I am going to try and paint it a dark tan, and then drop a 7 inch stripe that is navy about 6 inches from the ceiling. Unsure if I want to mess with the stripe or not. He insisted on big boy bedding upon moving in. I also bought him a new lamp shade and finial tonight. A new lamp shade, did wonders. His room needs no cleaning up, as he is very tidy (with his room).

We will see if I paint or not, school starts this week. We have an open house Monday night, and then school Wednesday.

I need to find a class for a week to take a refresher course, in order to reinstate my nursing license.

I need to figure out what I want to do when I grow up...

Now I have seen EVERYTHING

I was preparing dinner tonight, and saw THIS commercial on Cartoon Network...



Holy crap. I recall

this



and there is this



But telling kids to go out and play? WOW.

Remember when I got my macbook?

(images not suitable for kiddos...)

And I was smitten?

Looks like another blogger is falling in love.

Must listen of the day...

Sweet Ella...

Olympics

Watching the womens gymnastics, and feeling less than physical.

WOW! I cannot even stick a cartwheel in the lawn in an elegant way. They seriously make it look TOO EASY.

ahhhh...

Finally, I feel as though I have accomplished something.

Mounds of paperwork done.

OK, so I am exaggerating a bit.

But it was a lot of paperwork.

New physicians paperwork-done.

Immunization records obtained, and copied for new Drs. and schools.

Rebate for the new Internet connection filled out.

School information sheet about my child filled out(this should help his teacher tons).

All school paperwork complete. No small exercise. I promise.

Instead of mailing it, I am going to run it to school tomorrow, it is less than a mile away, and I want to ensure it is there.

In good news, the school day does not start until 9am! How nice is that. That will help our family mounds.

I did call family friends the other day. They have a home painting business here in town and have been painting for at least 40 years. They are coming Tuesday to give the house a peek, offer suggestions and put in a bid. I have trepidation about color. I figure, they will know what looks good when up on a wall. Plus I have one of those open floor plans, and rounded corners. I have no idea where to "stop" with one color and begin another, or if one color is fine. Unsure if I can do more than one color. For those folks that say.."ah, it is paint, you can just repaint." No thanks. I hate thrown enough paint up this year. The exterior of my last house, seriously about killed me. I would like to do this once, and leave it for 5 years. I can do the bedrooms, etc. But the great room is overwhelming.

DH came home and mowed, the lawn is lush. It is very pretty. We had not mowed since DH had been gone. I took some time to weed, and cut some dead blooms off of some flowers.

We are hosting my niece's birthday party Saturday, Cousin Curl turned 4 the other day!!

It will be nice to have everyone here. The first big event.

Relief. Seriously. We are making headway.

Now if these damn boxes would unpack themselves, I would be thrilled.

More boring crap...

Today was school haircut, and school shoe shopping day.

First I will tell you, upon waking this am it was 65 degrees. I note some trees yellowing, the locusts are telling me we got 5-6 weeks left before COLD.

OYE vey, I am used to a little longer summer.

Loving how it cools off at night. Lurve it.

This morning Dish Network came to install the DISH thingy, next week they put a permanent foundation thingy in for it. So it will not be an eyesore on the roof, or on the deck.


In good news, they did it in the rock bed, in bad news I feel like a chicken trying to turn the darn thing on and off.

Then it was off for "look nice for school haircuts. SR has inherited my cowlicks. Poor guy. He has 3. I have like 6. They look smashing.

then it was off to get school shoes.

SR is the problem here. If a shoe is made with any sort of bump in the fabric, if it is too tight, or too ANYTHING, it turns into an all day event. Not joking. So I decided to take the kids to a "children's shoe store". I made them aware of the problem, and bingo bango first and second pair both fit. AMAZING! I made him pick ONE pair. And then it was PN's turn. The child is 4, in the 90 percentile on her height and wears a 13 shoe. She looks like she is wearing boats on her feet. I tried hard to get her to buy a brown pair of Mary Janes, or even suede. No. She wanted PINK, some sort of pink athletic, mary jane. they are ugly. ACK. I went ahead and let her get them. My thinking, everything she owns is pink anywho, and quite frankly I will not be wearing them...

FRankly it was well worth the extra money to be in and out in 20 minutes. Seriously.

Tonight, and tomorrow I will finishing up paperwork and immunization paperwork.

Unpacked yet?

No quit calling and asking....

If I were a morning person, I could save the WORLD. Or at least myself.

I have never been a morning person.

Never.

Even when I worked from 6am-6pm as a nurse, and had to wake at 4:30am, I HATED it. HATED it.

I woke up every morning loathing the 4:30 hour. I tried to like it, I did, for 8 years I tried liking it.

Me "the talker", does not like conversation in the morning. (Do not expect a smile until 9:30am) Hard to believe, I KNOW.

I do not like romance in the morning either. That romantic notion of rolling over and madly attacking on another in the morning, is not typically appealing. I need to have coffee and brush my teeth.

I am a night owl. I function fantastically from 10am-2am.

I always have. I have insomnia, always have.

In junior high, I would sit and listen to old radio shows until I fell asleep.

I read at night to go to sleep.

I wish I could hop in bed at 10pm, and sleep.

I have tried about everything at this point. Long walks, yoga, and regular exercise does help....no caffeine after 11am, helps.

For 17 years I have been married to a morning person. My children are morning people. Everyone here wakes up going 100 miles per hour.

Me? I look like an ostrich in the morning, all disheveled, and wild, feathers all fluffed up, eyes half closed. Irritated. That is me in the morning.


These children need someone perky in the morning. They need someone who will be ready to go "Sis boom bah! Get ready for school, it is a gorgeous day, the new day awaits, conquer it, I LOVE you guys, etc...."

I am going to have to work on this.

My poor Husband, sings and jokes, and is playful in the morning. Me? Not so much, I should not be allowed to talk to another human until 10am.

And people who wake with cheerful dispositions in the morning, irritate the shit out of those of us who wake slowly.

When my Mother was still living, she and my DH would wake at 5am, make coffee, go on the deck, chat, cook and have a party. My Father who is also an ostrich...and myself, we would wake and roll our eyes at them as we sipped our coffee. We would secretly plot how to make their mornings as miserable ours.

And the other day I read this brilliant little ditty by Tuna Girl...

I so fervently wish that I could be a morning person. This morning I got to hang out and chat with my husband while he got ready for work. I got to spend some quality time with my son who is sickeningly happy in the morning. He was even dancing! And I got to sip coffee while the men in my life had bacon and eggs. It was nice.

I feel like if I could just wake up at 6 a.m. every morning my life we be so much better. All of my problems would be fixed. I'd be the kind of person who exercises and folds laundry right out of the drier. I'd be the kind of person who saves money and has a hobby. I'd be the kind of person who has a clean house and...does stuff.

My teeth would be white. My hair would blow in a constant wind. And I'd wear...outfits!

I am with her, being a morning person could solve all of my problems...

It might make me near perfect...

Or maybe I need another cup of coffee.

things I need and cannot find...

My iron

My hairdryer

drill bits

In what I think is good news today! I have internet, i am not having to steal from the neighbors!!

Hoooray.

The Collective have a Drs. appointment for pre school physicals.

Houston, we have a Dr.

Ahhhhh....

relief.

And now I hope we like them.

For the record, I have not had Tri-Care Prime-evah.

I have not had military insurance for 16 years.

A new adventure awaits.

The good news, the new office is friendly, and helpful.

The Collective get in for physicals this Thursday!

How handy Dandy is that?

In other news. My DH had to talk me out of my anxiety tree. I spend a lot of time in the anxiety tree.

I am easily talked out...

Classic worrier. Note my wrinkled forehead, and furrowed brow.

After 38 years you would think I would learn anticipation of the worst is a terrible way to live everyday...

A great read this morning

My cousin was featured in an article...

My favorite quote...

" And for me, being around the outside of a horse will fix anything on the inside of a man.”


That is nice.

Novel idea...

I woke this morning at 8am.....

Knowing there are few of these late mornings for me.

The first thought as my feel touched the ground...

"Why on Earth do they not make daylight savings time the DAY school starts.

I mean it would make sense.

The kids would be rested, etc. etc. etc. (Still watching the King and I.)

In another note I am watching mens gymanastics. My favorite men's gymnastics year. The Mitch Gaylord year. Seriously. It would have been the 1984 Olympics, I am sure someone else remembers.

I was attending a country school, and the girls and I all had mad crushes on Mitch Gaylord. One of my friends parents scored tickets to go see some sort of Olympian roadshow thingy...

We went and waited and waited downstairs on the floor for Mitch Gaylord. I just knew if he met me, he would be smitten and want to marry me. Sort of stalkerish, but I was 14, and harmless, all 80 pounds of me.

While I am at it...

Here is PN, and her loverly very FIRST dance recital...

She is the blond, 3rd child from the left. The one that stops and waves half through!

Finally!

The video is up!

could have fooled me...

I read that John Edwards and Clay Aiken both have new babies.

Frankly this news surprises me.

I seriously thought they were both Teh gay.

So I am watching the Olympics instead of unpacking.

I watched as the North Koreans somberly marched in the opening ceremony. I kept thinking, I bet this is amazing for these folks. After all they are uber isolated.

Someone happened to put the Italians like one or two groups behind, and the Italians were loving LIFE. It was a walking party.

It would suck to be North Korea.

I have balls

Too many balls in the air.

I found a job listing!

It is with the school system, in healthcare.

The position closes Monday.

I have no printer.

So I must run and get an application today.

Which means I must clean up and head down there to get one, and then I must fill it out and have it back down there today.

I also noted I have to take a "nursing refresher course" to practice here. Darn it. I did not need to do this in Arkansas.

I still cannot find a Dr. I have scoured the Tri-Care West sight. Most will not take Tri Care Prime Remote.

I have to find The Collective's immunization records. They are in a box, somewhere in the garage.

I am still unpacking.

Feels ridiculous.

I am not used to so much administrative "schtuff".

*Update: Got application today. Filled it out, and handed it in. Found my most non-wrinkled professional looking outfit. Not easy when you are a SAHM. The Collective showed their "a$$e$" in the office, after I gave them a long lecture about it. I rarely "get mad"...but I was not happy. Sliced my finger on the dolly in the garage. Blood EVERYWHERE. Butterflied it, sitting here with it iced. And am now grouchier than ever.

between meltdowns and homesickness...

I have spent the last hour lying in bed with Sir Rowland, who would not stop crying.

He has what appears to be good old fashioned "homesickness"



"Is there a cure?" He asked.

I tried to tell him, that it would feel more like home, as I got his things unpacked, and that the longer we are here, the more memories we would build...

I tried to explain to him that I moved when I was little and I understood.

But I let him just have a good cry.

It was bound to happen to him.

My child that does not transition from the house to the car well.



I have had him help me unpack his room.

Time, I figure....

3 hours wasted

I spent almost 3 hours on the phone yesterday trying to find a Dr. that will take TRICARE prime remote.

Good luck with that......

We have paid for Federal BC/BS for the past 8 years. Even when my DH was activated and deployed we always kept our other insurance.

And now I know why.

I NEED a Pediatrician. 3 hours of folks telling me they do not accept our insurance. The Collective both need physicals for school ASAP.

I am unhappy about this....

I have not even started looking for Dentisits/Gyno/Internists. Looking for Physicians may be worse than I had anticipated.

* I did call 3 of the groups on The List... they are no longer accepting TriCare Prime remote patients.

I will start making calls tomorrow

Sir Rowland driving the combine

Unsure when this video will be available, sometimes Youtube, takes a little time.

I present Sir Rowland driving an hugantic combine.

Here is how the conversations started...

Farmer: "So you want to drive the combine?"

SR: "I am afraid I do not have a drivers license." (serious as a heart attack)

Farmer: " Let me look around, I do not see any patrolman around here."

SR: (stuck a piece of straw in his mouth, and took his responsibilities very seriously.)






*NOTE: you can hear my female cousin calling in, asking pretty much "where in the hell are you".....I felt a little bad for imposing during harvest time, but how often do "city kids" get to drive a combine?

I still cannot get over $800 a day to run the combine!

MKH kills me....

Endless sea of boxes.....

I think I am trying to set the record for the most time consuming move on record.

Today I managed to unpack 20 more boxes. Mostly kitchen things, vases, tea sets. (note to self, have people over for tea I have enough tea sets here for 40 people at least. That is just silly but they are all "family" semi-mental thingys. I wonder if folks would show up to a tea blog meet? I will blame it on my Father's English anscestry.)

20 boxes, and I felt accomplished. Until DH brought another load home tonight. He did the same thing last night.



It is seriously like the never ending sea of boxes. I have no idea how to stay motivated at this point. The Collective are no longer entertained by the notion of me unpacking. I have been trying to get them out and give them a break here and there, but geesh "how many more boxes are there?"

At this point I do not want to know.

I stopped asking 2 loads ago.

How I had all of this in our teeny house is beyond me.

Children of the wheat...

A few more photos of my cousin's farm, and the wheat fields.

I happen to have video of SR actually driving that combine in the other video and will try and load it soon.

I do want you to imagine for a moment harvesting grain by hand. Think of how long it would take to do that. Not long ago and people did this task by hand with a scythe or sickle. ( people still do, but it is not all harvested by hand.

My father used to work wheat in the summers as he was a kid, as did my Mother. My Father described the arduous process in detail. I can recall my Mother telling me she hated "hay and wheat harvest, more than ANYTHING". "People were hot and grouchy, and all I can recall about it, is just being plain old hot."

Here is a snippet...

I do wish Jerry would record his father telling us how they used to do this...

things I lurve so far....

I love being all together as a family again. DH had been here since I believe February. It had been a while.

I love our new home, despite some of the wacki colors and other fixable things. I love my deck, it is HUGE, and partially covered. The yard is great too, we have soo many butterfly bushes, that we almost always have 20 butterflies about.

I love the public library, and yawl know how much I loved our old library. They have a bigger selection of books for the children and SEVERAL play areas. We can even check out MORE books and movies!

The service here has been great,so far!! For example, I sent a note to the Nebraska state licensure for nursing this morning and heard back within 15 minutes. Seriously.

We escaped the 100 degree MONTHS in Arkansas, and even though we picked the hottest weekend to move, it was still tolerable. Yesterday it was 79 degrees, and cooled off at night!! (Ask me again in November when I am freezing).

The public parks, and childrens museum are fantastic. Seriously! The Children's Museum is incredible 3 levels of amazing activities. This will come in handy when it is 30 below zero.

The stores ARE clean!! Spotless. When DH arrived, and was here for the first week, he was almost run over by an employee with a mop.

Ahhhhhh....

Wheat blogging

Well if Jerry can do it, I can too!!

How about "The Great 2008 bloggers wheat off"?


My second cousins planted wheat this year on several sections of land.

It was just gorgeous.

Wheat is pretty at almost every stage.

Even when you are left with just straw.

So here is a video from my Cousin's place, who actually lives in a "village".

This is a video of the grain harvest.

This was a HUGE combine, not kidding. The head on the darn thing was 36 feet long. 36 feet. The cost of running this particular combine with diesel fuel?

Guess, come on I know you want to.

$800

PLAYERS: The irritating voice is mine, the squeaky voice is PN, the blond boy is SR. The guy in the shorts, my Dad.

For those folks that are not "country". The combine separates the grain from the wheat. This leaves straw. I think have another video of SR driving the combine, and the balers working on the straw.

crud...

My sbcglobal.net e-mail is no longer in service.

Please note

I will not get your e-mail.

my current one is gmail

Some proof of craziness...told you so.

Pray to God that these are before pictures, and I find the enrgy some place deep in my soul to correct it SOON.

Instead of being a spouse-blogger/mommy blogger...

Looks like I will be a painting blogger. Which means not nearly as much blogging as I would like.

It is the year of disappearing time....

The first piece of mail

Was a box that contained piano solo arrangements for Cole Porter, from this blogger!!

Now I must practice in the shower, so I can WOW her.




Go wish her congrats on finishing the bar exam.

where did that bruise come from?

That was the game I played tonight as I lay in the tub looking at my legs...

My guess is a desk, or a box. Something.

Another of those quick update thingys which I do poorly.

I LURVE the house. Lurve it. However, there is that midwestern pessimisstic part of me, that just stays "even". Just in case. One would not want to get oo excited. #1, it might look like pride. #2, you are asking for something bad to happen if you are "too happy."

Seriously, I am nutz.

My Brother and his wife were here yesterday, and my Brother kept saying over and over. "you do not seem that excited, aren't you excited?"


For the record, I am thrilled. I am.

We are blessed. I am married to the man I love, I have 2 children I asked for. the house, well that part is gravy. It is beyond my wildest expectations.

We are home...

hole

enjoy!

IN

We closed this morning, and took posession immediately...

Ahhhhh.

My family is finally under one roof AGAIN.

It feels like home.

Pictures soon.

Did I mention the previous owners LOVED color?

yeah.


I got my bath.

one leg up

I woke t 5:45am.

I got out of bed because I was lying there in a panic with all of this move stuff coming.

I thought

"wake up and get your crap done".

I can get internet service but it is patchy this morning.

I have to keep a leg up wear a foil hat, and raise a hand...

looks like the VA came through, maybe I will have that gin and tonic in the bath.

Thank God DH is more patient and diplomatic than I. (90 minutes on the phone with the VA, and problem solved)

REALLY. He is.

I still contend that the VA is operating like it is 1950 instead of 2008.

We take possession of our home THIS FRIDAY!!

YES!!

First order of business.

A LONG bath in my new tub, a loooong bath. Like 4 hours (not kidding)

Door closed, some sort of drink in hand. (Maybe 3, it has been a long time coming)

Seriously.

And I know I cannot just walk into my new house, and get in the tub. I will not have any towels or anything until I unpack a few things.

The bathrooms will not take long. They are one box each. I am not one of those lotion/shampoo tryer outers. One lotion, one shampoo, one conditioner. I am freaky that way. Although I note a lot of folks seem to have cupboards full of the stuff, and hate most of it....I do not like bottles of things rotting in my cupboard.

Anywho, I intend on taking a long bath, and will have a funny book in tow.



I am currently TRYING to read When You Are Engulfed by Flames, by David Sedaris.

I have spoke a lot about David Sedaris here at AWTM. Nothing perks me up like reading about his misfortune.

I got hooked on Sedaris when he used to be a fairly regular segment at This American Life.

I tried to sit and think about why I LOVE him so much the other day. It really goes beyond the self deprecating humor. It goes beyond throwing his friends and family under the bus. Although I think he seems to get away with it, with the reader because he throws himself under the bus as well.

I suppose it is the details. When he writes, I swear I am in his living room, his apartment. Somewhere in the deep recesses of my brain, I am his friend and I am in the room. Amazing.

I wonder if he struggles writing that way. Writing such detail MUST take some sort of patience. I lack that lovely trait. I do. But probably ought to work on it. I think I used to write with much more detail. I sort of just throw things out now, just to empty my head.

Details will be nice. Especially if i want to read these accounts later.

just in case...

does anyone here know anyone of influence with the VA home loan folks.

I hate to ask....

but seriously in a panic.

HELP!!

PANIC!!

coffee, tea or me

thinking Starbucks is gross.

Seriously, I think there are a handful of folks like me who love coffee, but do not understand the entire over roasted coffee beans at Starbucks...I also loathe ordering a "grande" anything.

(let me add I love the seasonal sugar laden stuff they do, like a pumpkin spice latte, or a pepermint mocha)

OK. So I found delicious coffee that does not taste like burnt mud, and am thrilled.

Scooters.

It is delicious, and so far not a sign of a hippie.

Our new home is in a "college town". Full of decent coffee houses. However I find Scooters to be just delish, the service is also faster than most coffee houses.

Love Removal Machine

like having my own piano bar, without the drinking.

I am in Omaha again. It has been fun, and relaxing. We managed to go to the zoo 2 more times. I took all 3 childen. FRankly the 3 children alone with one parent behave better than they do with all four. I know because we have done both. I seriously contend they behave better with less supervisors. Amazing. We have been taking our time because we are so close again. We spend 2 hours at one exhibit, and leave when we want.

One of the benifits of being here?

My SIL plays piano beautifully. A skill I do not have, and have always wished for. ( I will try and work on rectifying this matter in the future). This morning I am listening to her practice hymns for Mass. It is lovely.

I normally have her play requests for me. Mostly songs from musicals. Cole Porter, etc. So I can sing. My Brother is weirded out that I know all of the words. He thinks it just plain weird. I also know a lot of songs from the 30's-50's. From working with geriatric patients since I was 15, is my guess. You have to do something when giving someone a bath, right?

I need to find an entire Cole Porter song book to buy her....it would be a win win deal.

6 more days and I will be in my new home!!

Unless of course the antiquated way the VA processes paperwork holds things up. Geesh. VA, if you are reading this, process it already before I throw my family "under the bus", in some blog post I will regret later.

After living "alone" and away from all family. Well living with my Dad, as helpful as it has been. Well holy smokes. I mean I feel sorry for myself. I do. But I should probably feel worse for my Father. I mean a widow, with a fiance' and boom. Kids in his food, yelling, wrestling, playing etc.

As someone who more than appreciates quiet. I understand what constant motion and noise can do to a person.

It has made me insane over the years.

So please VA hurry up already

And more photos of July

These are "the girls" Cousin Curl and Pink Ninja after consuming a pound of cherries. Pink Ninja is a handful by herself. With Cousin Curl. They produce enough energy to power a vehicle. Ford Motors should call me.


This is Sir Rowland and Cousin Curl. Photo taken by Pink Ninja, who has been nabbing my camera as a creative outlet. She broke my zoom, and now I need a new one. (Note to self, by her a camera for her birthday)




This is a photo of all 3 cousins lying in the grass on 4th of July. Adorable.




The final photo is one of "the girls"...do not let their collected preciousness fool you. They are sneaky like cats.

I had no idea...

Omaha is hosting...

A multi-event sports and rehabilitation program for military service veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord injuries, amputations, or certain neurological problems. Attracting more than 500 athletes each year, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games is the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world.

The events are going on RIGHT NOW.


Go here for more information.

I would love to volunteer next year for the event.

More photos. (I told you I had bunches)

The Collective were amazed at the size of these "dandelions". They are from the suburbs and did not know the difference.




Here is a photo of a Shriner tear-assing around in his little car. I want one.




the annual photo at the 4th parade. I have been looking throuhg all of the 4th photos, from babies in strollers to now. They do grow up so fast.





DH bought 3 of these "blow up Osama Bin Laden's head thingys" for the Fourth. Not as satisfying as one would think.

The first part of July in Photos......lots of them...

OK, first photo is The Collective and I with Grammie. We love Grammie. I wish she lived closer, because we do get along so well. I think God sent me such a blessed woman, because he knew I would loose my Mother. She is thoughtful and generous with her heart. I note The Collective have tongues out in this picture. Figures.


This is a photo of a couch I would REALLY LOVE, while shopping at Nebraska Furniture Mart. It was very smart looking. But really who needs an enormous leather couch in the great room?

Me...

btw, after taking this photo, and several others we were followed around the store for 2 hours....




This a a photo of the neighbor burning the trees we removed from my Fathers place. It was legal schmegal. The guy even went to the fire department and obtained a permit. The fire pit was HUGE. HUGE, and it burned FAST. The kids could have cared less.




This is the neighbors famouse tire swing that has been hanging forever. Everytime we take the girls on it one of them falls off of the damn thing. Be careful were you land, it is in a cow pasture.

More later

Show of HANDS PLEASE

Who will be attending Blog World EXPO in Vegas this September?

Milblog Conference...

I need to see my imaginary friends.

I do lurve Omaha...

I love Omaha. I do.

I am at my Brother's home for a visit.

Last night we went to Wheatfields for dinner. (One of my favorite casual dining places in Omaha) The food ALWAYS tasty, the menu HUGE. My only complaint is too many choices. Prices are amazing! For $17, I had a 13 oz NY strip, a Swiss Hotel salad (assorted greens,tomato slices, blue cheese crumbles, and a delicate sweet dressing with a trace of chives) creme brulee potaoes, and asparagus spears. Yummmmmmmm....it was soooooo yummmm. I made sounds while I chewed. Oh, one other complaint. The bakery menu.... I have been working on my peanut butter cup cheesecake for almost 24 hours now.....very RICH, and HUGE.





Today was spent at the Henry Doorly Zoo. Fantastic, on MANY levels. But I was surprised at the added bonus of a yearly membership at a special military rate of $40. The normal cost $78. The zoo is expansive, so we only picked a few things to see today. I picked monkeys/apes. The kids picked penguins. DH picked the new creatures of the night in the basement of the desert dome (albino alligator!)...

A fun day, and very nice to see DH.

Ear worm...... your welcome

Anxiety AGAIN?

OK, I am on vacation, but not really.

I keep trying to convince myself I am, to no avail.

I have things looming, and although I have TRIED and TRIED. I am not one of those people that can have looming stuff and relax. Just can't. Damn.

We cannot move into the new abode until the 1st of August.

Seems sort of silly to shop for furniture for the new place until I am in it, and can measure etc.

And then we have school, pre K for PN, BOOM, job hunting, painting, etc.

I am still on the search for Drs., pediatricians, a phone company, and the like.

No big deal if I had computer access at all times, I could do things at night...

So I am doing everything the old fashioned way which means phone call after phone call.

This morning I spent my time with my cup of coffee on the phone, with the gas company, electric company, garbage, a pre-K program, the title company.....

I am currently signing contracts via snail mail. Which is fine, frankly it only takes 1-2 days for things to get form one town to the next....

I will say I am spoiled with technology.

My Father thinks it is hilarious that I am frustrated out of my wits with the phone and snail mail.

He does not understand the ease of the computer.

Wish me luck.

I am going to try some yoga this weekend to mellow my ass.

I could use a nice brisk walk as well.

Oh and I am 38....

Thank you for the cards, and well wishes..

I am 38.

I am going to tell people I am 42 though so people say, wow she looks great "for her age".

I feel 32.

I am healthy.

I am blessed.

like Peyton Place

Not much time..





However I will say small town living is exciting. I feel as though I must be leading a thrilling and exciting life.

My Father's cardiologist said this the other day during my Dad's checkup...

Doc: "you must like movies?"

AWTM: "I suppose, why?"

Doc: "I keep seeing you renting them..."

First off folks, I have been to the movie gallery 2 times. 2. In like a month. Both times, no one was in the place, except for me and The Collective.

I am unsure if the Doc, happens to be driving by and sees my car, or what....I promise we are walking chaos right now, but we are certainly not that "noticable". Heck my car is gray...



I might just rent something really dirty, and see what the folks in town think about that!

reminder for myslef to blog about "The Shopper"

and being in a small town...

If it were sooo much fun, people would never leave home...

at least that is what my DH keeps telling me...

I hate to say I have tried the family togetherness thing now for about one month

My poor Dad.

We have brought chaos to the widow Grampa's home...

He lives in a white house,

White furniture and white carpet, white table, and chairs, white flooring in the kitchen....

All are intact.

But still.

We continue to live out of 2 bedrooms, out of suitcases. ICK.......

but I thank God, I have not had to pay for a hotel for a month or 2.

The kids are a bit twitchy at this point.

I did get them a Wii.

Sir Rowland has been obsessed with bowling and has reached PRO status.

I have tried to limit his time, but with much problem.

Pink Ninja is mad, we are not home, I took her away from her friends, and church, her Dad is not here..."what in the heck"?

She is more defiant than I have seen her she has regressed in behavior.

I hope all changes upon the move, as my nerves are FRIED! I am not sure what to say, or do to make her see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Her terrible 2's have been late in coming, and now I get them 2 years later with a vengence.

I am going to try and make the best of things, as this is probably the last REAL summer vacation we 3 will spend together, as I will be going to work full time, doing "something"....soon. Tomorrow we are going to go to a "county fair", we still need to go to the zoo in Omaha. I have friends I need to visit...

I am still unsure what i want to be when I grow up, and well I am a mediocre writer, and as much as I enjoy it, blogging will not pay the bills...



I am currently trying to find a 9-5 nursing job. Not easy to find, and 9-5 nursing jobs are not where the $$ is.

Still toying with the idea of getting certified to teach yoga in my spare time.

Ummmmmm...I am on language double secret probabtion, as my son has taken to calling people douchebags.

DH was unimpressed, shame on me.

We are ok.

Will try and catch you all up to speed SOON....

only a few days and we can move in to our new home.

I am excited.

I am also not thrilled with the idea of painting, and buying furniture, but both need to be done.

I have pictures to post...

things to talk about, and no time to do it.

I am sitting in a Burger King of all places, stealing free internet, eating a fried chicken sandwich and a coke, both of which I do not need, as I have gained 5 of the 10 pounds I lost...


CRAP...

maybe the painting will help?

We are bonified

Looks like my husbands silence was golden...

We got the house.

windy

My Mother In Law has a great magnet that says

"One day the wind stopped blowing in Nebraka, and everyone fell over."

It is true, I have hardly combed, or brushed my hair since I arrived.

My hair is fine, and naturally curly.

No point in it.

I may get a cool wig or something.

However, the other day when we driving I noted this...



any guesses?

It is the blade of a wind turbine.

I am thinking about trying to figure out how to generate energy with The Collective next.

The house in question...

Realtor jedi mind tricks plus hotel hell = stiff drink

OK.

I just got a call from the seller of the house.

A counter offer.

For the love of Pete, how I loathe this bungled process.

I really do.

When I sold my home, the buyer and I were up front and honest about what we both needed.

A one page contract and waaala. Done. Both parties were pretty much satisfied.

Well the party I happen to be buying from, is also a realtor in his spare time. (Cripes)

He felt the need to involve a third party realtor in the process.

Yesterday I had to make a 45 minute visit to a "sellers agent".

18 pages later I had an offer in...

How freaking ridiculous.

Folks, this is an irritating process to me....not kidding.....

I am an honest person, to a fault.

And this back and forth crap....well it is ridiculous in my book.

If I get to irritated I will be done.

We have 2 other homes on the back burner, and I am glad. One never knows.

pussy footing is not a sport in my book, it is a waste of time, and sheer ridiculous.

Adventures in house purchasing, and hotel living Chapter I forget...

In good news. Sir Rowland, can now dive under water, and retreive things from the floor of the pool.

Pink Ninja, is not far behind, and can swim 5 feet under water.

May sound like no big deal, but these skills have been acquired quickly, and simply from spending an excessive amount of time in the water.

I am proud of them and amazed.

I caught Sir Rowland awake at 3:00 this morning, flailing about on top of the bed, as if he was in water. He was sleep swimming. Something I have never seen.

We finally dropped an offer in last night on the house this morning.

We were waiting for all of the #'s to come.

In insane house searching news, I spent 2 hours trying to call my Dad yesterday (he was not answering the phone), and frankly with his current heart condition, I was worried. Worried enough I called the hospital to locate him. He was not there. At about 4:00pm he called me to let me know he and his lady friend were here in town. Not to see us, but to look at the house. So I gave him the address. I thought, well heck, he will drive by and give it a looksee.

WAS I WRONG.

He and lady friend stopped in. YES, they went inside the house. They also did not have the sense to tell the owner, they were just looking. My Father told them, "I am her DAD.".

Seriously.

I am not sure what that did to my negotiating power, but I am guessing it did not help much.

After all in my Father's eyes I am like 15 some place in his brain....



Instead of ringing his neck....or throwing a fit, I had to gently remind him we have not started negotiating.

#2, I had to prevent my poor DH from having a stroke, or killing my Father.

Oye...

Probably not a big deal, but seriously....

Living 12 hours away from familiy made me forget that some folks like crossing the line, because they do not see it....

OK I have to call the 3rd party involved in this to negotiate....

And then it is off to the pool.

lessons...

The other morning we went to The Farmers Market again. I found myself at the Burkholder Project once more. A favorite of mine...and when she is there in her studio I like to watch her paint...


I went downstairs with The Collective, which I normally do not do, and found a local artist by the name of Dick Budig. He is an oil painter, and I enjoyed his paintings so much. He actually sat down with The collective and gave them a quick art lesson....

While browsing through his studio, I noted several clippings, and photos of military men, of course I inquired, and found out the artist does paint potraits of fallen Nebraska soldiers.

You can watch the video here.


You can read more here.

hotel hell.....

It is nothing like that movie where Jack Nicholson and his family stay in the hotel where blood is seeping out of the walls. The Shining?

No one is chasing anyone here with knives or the like....

Frankly it is me.

I have done the calculations....

In the last 2 years I have spent 12 of those as a single head of household, because of military schools, and now the change in DH's job...

I wasn't keeping track, but the other day I really had to step back and wonder why every little thing was killing my nerves...

I suppose, it is sort of an accumulation of responsibilities etc...

but living out of suitcases, well it is not for me.

I keep thinking I might not mind all of the "down time", if there was a plan....

I am really trying to BE . Before I know it I will be working 40 hours a week with The Collective in school, I should consider this my vacation.

It might be the fact that we are homeless, living in a hotel (which is NOTHIING like the Eloise books) Maybe if I had the $$ to stay at the Waldorf, but we do not.

There is the daily trips to the rehabilitation hospital to see our strong Uncle try and communicate with head nods, as you watch his big Sister massage his contracted hands.

The daily calls to my Dad to check on his BP, his progress at cardiac rehab. Only to hear he is out mowing, and bagging grass like a shit.

Almost all of our comforts being in a storage unit.

But one never has to look far do they?

The other day at the park, I saw a Mom witha 2-3 year old little blonde boy with a tiny wheel chair. the little boy had a trach.

There was the mom at the rehab center with her 6-7 year old boy, who she had lifted out of his wheel chair, set on a blanket out on the front lawn so they could enjoy the sunset.

The young amputee woman who was running down the road the other day. Frankly much faster than I have ever been able to run with 2 healthy legs....

I need to remember these things at 12:31am, when I am unabel to sleep, DH is snoring, and The Collective are telling me they are not tired yet in the whiniest voices.

We are all healthy....

We are together...

I never need to look far.

oh and P.S.

the Collective have taught themselves how to swim underwater....

Amazing, how they can go from scared to asking to be thrown in, in 5 short days.

bidding...

Curious thing this media induced mortgage crisis.

Last night we went on a second go through of the house.

Someone also came for a second go through 2 minutes after we left.

ughhhh....

Today is filled with the ugliness of paperwork.

I have to fill out an offer, go to the bank and get my earnest money, and call my mortgage company. All ugly and no fun I assure you. I am sick of realtors, banks, and legal jargon that is "contracts"...

pooey.


In non complaining news....

It really is a great house, in a great neighborhood. For those of you who may be curious, I will try and take photos at some time...oh and guess what? The garden is almost as big as the one I left. We will get the schools we WANT There is a huge deck made from tekwood or something...which means, no freaking washing and sealing it...the deck is also covered! Ceilings in basement are 9 feet tall, which frankly means it does not look like a basement. 3 car garage. Corner lot in a suburb with 1/2 acre. Ahhhhh....no one can hear me flush.

And the master has a tub....which I will live in.

Bad news, they cannot exit for 30 days.



We also have to switch hotel rooms this morning!

House Hunt day (what feels like) 2,178......

Ahhhhh house hunting.

Decisions.

What are you looking for?

We are looking for a home....

There are about 300 homes that fit the requirement for the basics, but then as with all things, it gets weird.

Bedrooms are too small, garage is too small, kitchen to small, lot too small...or too big. It seems to go both ways.

I have insisted on having a bath tub in the master bedroom. I bathe. It is my vice. I do little in my free time, but I try and take 30 minutes and soak every day.

I also wanted a newer home, on a lot that had a large easement. I grew up on an acreage, and do not appreciate the 5-20 foot easements. ICK.

I think we might have found something today. We have to go back and take another look. All of us liked it upon entering, and that says something.....

Cross fingers....

The benifits of driving your children across the country 2 times?

a 2 1/2 hour car ride is nothing to them....

nada, like a walk in the park.

No movie, no games, nothing required.

Today we saw one american Bald Eagle on the Loup river.

WE also saw a UP train, scare 2 Huge doe out of the woods, and we watched them run across the highway about 30 yards in front of my car...

"Yes Virginia, there is "the internets in Nebraska."

First off, the economy cannot be too bad.

Lincoln, Nebraska is home to "Licorice International".


I have nothing against licorice, or the sale of such. But I promise you, if I was given ANY business to open, and international licorice importing store would seem sort of risky. Then again I am a SAHM, so WTF do I know....

The surprise? The darn place is FULL of people buying licorice. I enjoy licorice as much as the next guy, which means, not enough to spend more than $1.00 every 6 months on the stuff.



In other news. We are still trying to "stabilize my Father's BP. Now it is so low that he is scaring the crap out of everyone. Yesterday it was 63/36...I called the Dr. And now his cardura, and toprol is on hold, his lisinopril dose cut in half. He is suffering terrible with orthostatic hypotension, so my Father who is used to physical activity cannot do much without getting lightheaded, or feeling "fuzzy". I did manage to get a referral to The Heart Institute, and will get him there for an eval as soon as I can. Today was his cardiology appointment in which we learned that in perhaps 2 years or less time, he might be a candidate for a pacemaker. He is also not supposed to pull weeds or anything else that might exacerbate his orthostatic hypotension.

In good news, he has lost 15 pounds since his hospitalization. I have weaned him off of salt, and he has only had red meat 1 time, since the heart cath. He has been riding his bike, walking, and actively cutting his portions. Which has to be hard for him. In case you have not noticed, I am a foodie, from a family of foodies. WE are almost all good low country cooks. I have gained a pound go figure.

OK, we are in Lincoln, looking at houses AGAIN. It is a tedious process to me. We are actually looking at energy star homes now, because they promise to be efficient, and a good investment. WE have looked at some "newer, not new" homes, but frankly the pricing does not make sense. We are back to looking at new homes. Oye...

The Collective are being pretty good considering that they have been living out of a suitcase for a month or so...

DH's Mom is here so she could check in on her young brother who just sufferred several TIA's. He has been to 3 hospitals in the last 2 weeks. He is now at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. They are a fantastic facility, and actually are active in treating TBI, and PTSD. They have weaned him off of his ventilator, and have started the arduous process of physical rehabilitation. We are prayign and hoping for the best, as he is a young and active man....he is at one of the best places he can be right now.

I will try and check in more frequently this week, and will have limited access as seems to be "the usual..."..

Today in Lincoln

Today was knit in public day....

And I thought of Sarah....

so many thoughts of Sarah...

house hunting....

OK...

We left Northeast Nebraska yesterday and headed to our new home....

Lincoln.

I missed it here.

I forgot.

We have been having a great time despite looking for houses, which is not so much fun to me.

Here are some photos from the drive....

CEU's complete

On a side note, I took 15 hours of CEU's today!

Done.....

Breathe...

Forward march.

Figuring out the Serenity Prayer, leading horses to water and something about drinking.

You know the part about changing what you can? Making horses drink? I guess I can drink right?


I am figuring this one out.

OK Dad update. He remains stubborn, and 6 years after my mother's passing he is used to being alone. A lovely mix! (insert sarcastic voice). My Father's ateries are sclerotic. A genetic predisposiiton. His cholesterol is fine. Probably better than mine.

I am trying to get him to convert to turkey bacon, egg beaters, when he is hungry for bacon and eggs. (ain't gonna happen) I introduced him to the wonderful world of grilled pineapple, and Mrs. Dash. He remains less than impressed.

I figure, I can do what I can here. I know I cannot stay forever and take care of things.

He is from the "old skool MidWest" which means, bread on the table every meal, red meat almost every meal, every day.

He did take 3 short bicycle rides yesterday. Which was nice, if he would keep it up. I cannot make him do it.

He seems to have VERY short term memory. The other night as he lay on the gurney in the ER with unrelieved chest pain, well I could see him bargaining with God, I watched it. I saw him more fearful than i have ever seen him.

So, essentially at this time, he just needs to build periphreal circulatory systems, which is not easy at 67, and you are not getting much oxygen to his heart in the first place.

His BP, seems to have leveled out. Usually about 126/68...or there abouts. His cardura remains on hold.

The Collective annd I are headed to Lincoln over the weekend. We need to find a place to live, soon. the market seems to have slowed down.

I have broadened my search to include 2 story homes....

Hell it won't hurt me to climb stairs right? Particularly with this cardiac monkey on my back...

Ummmmmm......trying to find something brilliant to say, and do not have it in me at this time...

See you soon, miss you all...

Tornadoes here last night, I am sure you have heard about the boy scouts....

pray for them...

Spin

Long story, but brief update....for what that is worth.

Dad, well he had 2 stents, was sent home, and then ended up back in the ER that night at 11:oopm.

His chest pain was worse. a 6-8 on a 1-10 scale. Little or no relief with nitro paste, morphine, etc....

EKG, normal, lab normal, BP high, pulse normal, enzymes slightly elevated, nothing crazy and that could have been from the heart cath...

He is now on on a new SLEW of meds, and we are monitoring him for hypotension now. A couple of days ago his BP was 70/40...holy crap.

Called the Doc, held the cardura for 2 nights.

I did manage to talk to his GP and get him a referral to the heart institute in Lincoln. Good news, medicare will pay. I just think we would all be better with a second opinion at this time. He needs a cardiologist here for acute situations..

His spirits are good, but he is freaking stubborn as hell, and is irritating at times.

DH and brother mowed his acre the other night, while I sucked up maple pods (yes he was in a snit about his lawn, and the damn maple pods....)

Yesturday he insisted on mowing the rental property.....even though I threatened to kick his ass.

Nothing like near death to bring proper perspective huh?


at 8'ish pm, I was in the back of his truck, with a pitchfork in tow, throwing grass out into the neighbors field...

Tornadoes, and rain here.....weather has followed me.

I am freezing, it is 73 HIGH today....BRRRRR


DH's Uncle was med evaced to a neurology institute in Phoenix, and had surgery, they are unsure on his status, or if, or when he will recover from his TIA's...

Have been trying to take care of a few debts, which is not easy when there is no internet....

Also trying to find a home, which is hard, since I feel as though I probably should be here right now....

The Collective are wild as hell. SR has began making a fortune off his Mom from starting a swear tax. 25 cents a word....I have been caught for Hell 3 times in the lat 24 hours...

I am pooped, tired as hell. Things would be smoother if I had computer access, as I am needing 15 hours of CEU's this month to "renew nursing license in Arkansas, and then I have to transfer it to Nebraska....

All of the banking I am doing seems to be complicated by going to town...

They only have freaking ethanol gas here, so I am having to pay 4.14 for gas....

puke...

OK...

there was the roundup...

If it sounds like I am scatterred and busy, well it is because I am...

My Fathers BP is better than mine right now...

In my head all I see is sand, and no people, and ocean....

waking late...

The Collective slept this morning, and I let them....

they were up late, as they are weirded out by hotels.

We spent the night in Springdale...

headed north today

9 hours left.

Sissy called this morning, sounds like a heart cath this am...

Dad still has chest pain, even after wearing a nitro patch all night...

not good.

unsure what in the hell the Dr. is thinking.

Prayers...

I closed the house at 4:47pm today....a little later I received a quick call from my Sissy.

It seems my Dad is in the hospital with chest pain, which started Sunday night at9pm....he went to Dr. at 12:30pm today. I am unsure why he waited so long.....

He did not want my Sis or Brother to tell me, seems he was concerned I would drive 100 mph. to get my @$$ there, frankly I know better....

They went ahead and notified me...thank you.

Unsure what is going on, but as a frequent cardiac patient, I am concerned. I have not called the hospitals yet and checked his labs, or any other results yet. I do know his blood pressure was quite high, for my Father 185/85 Frankly, I have dealt with this hospital more times than I can count bones in my body. I will wait until I get there to start asking questions.

He is currently in the ICU. Prayers please.

Also DH's Uncle whom I love dearly and is only 52 years of age is also in ICU, and has been for 2 weeks with a series of TIA's which have left him on a ventilator, with paralysis, apraxia, dysphagia, and now just plain unresponsiveness...

Please offer prayers for him as well....

Did I say dark?

uh....

currently at a hotel...

why?

title company cannot gets its $#!* together.....

I might be able to sign papers tomorrow at 3:30pm.

Ya know I was melancholy about leaving this place off and on over the last week or so....

And then that good old Arkansas efficiency hit me like a ton of bricks over the last 3 days, and it was a good reminder.

I actually feel like when we cross the state line, I should moon the state at this point.

Things that have not happened efficiently this last 2 weeks...

#1 title company, after calling them over and over again, making sure they knew we wanted to be out ASAP, and making sure they knew DH would not be present for close, we wanted him to pre-sign....

nope.

The gal, did not return my phonecalls, not once. NOT once. when i did catch her in the office, she said SURE not a problem.

Ha!

Hilarious.

I might be ble to sign papaerwork at 3:30pm tomorrow. although there was no way to communicate with them this weekend, so who knows.

#2 A storm blew through today, leaving us powerless from 2pm....until possibly 11:00pm tonight. After they promised it would be back on at 5pm...

Mind you the wind was about 20 mph, that is it. But when you fix things like you are a cat with scotch tape, well yeah 20 mph winds screws things up.

I tried to clean the house, for the buyers in the dark, not fun or effective.

I have to go back tomorrow now, and do what could have been done today.

Hooray Entergy! You suck rocks.

#3 I still do not have the title to my car...nope, I was supposed to have it 2 weeks ago, and mind you I also called them, stopped in, ad naseum.

I also had an extra key made, and it has yet to appear.

In this case once again I did not recieve a call back...


If the old addage "you get what you pay for is true, hell I have no idea what to expect, all of these folks have been paid tremendous amounts of money. Huh?

So when I finally leave, I will be thrilled.

Tonight we are in a hotel. that boasted high speed internet, only to find I keep dropping off...

Schedule for tomorrow...

clean the house

take the kids to the pool

and close on the house

go to the bank

get the freak out of here..

drop trou on the border