Today was DEFINITELY a Monday

Definitely. See. I spelled it correctly again! See how cool I am?

OK so today was definitely a Monday. And full of enough Monday carp that it should qualify as TWO Mondays. Does that mean I get a free pass next week?

The whole thing started with the Babe refusing to get ready to go. Flat out refused. I got her dressed after much "discussion". Then went into the bathroom to do something or other that I can't remember now. I think it was to brush my hair. But any way. I came out of the bathroom to find the same little 3 year old that I had just gotten dressed now naked as a jaybird. So the whole "discussion" about getting dressed started. all. over. again. All of this because she thought that we needed another home day. Which overall makes me feel good that the Babe wants to spend the day with me. Which I know won't be true for forever. But at 8:30 on a Monday morning when I should have already been at work, it was NOT quite so good.

So then I got to work. There is a two car spaces wide area of concrete jack hammered up in the driveway to the parking area. Jacked up and taped off with safety tape and cones but jacked up all the same. Went inside and asked about it. No one had any clue. Apparently somebody in an unmarked white truck just drove up and jacked it up. Taped it off and drove off.

Sounds ominous doesn't it? Ok, so not really. It's just concrete after all.

Called the sewer company. They said they have no idea. No work scheduled on our street. Called Digger's Hotline. They say that it is marked as "sewer work". So wouldn't you think that the sewer COMPANY would know that sewer work was being done? yeah, me too. I decided I was tired of dealing with it. Somebody would eventually come back to work on it. Then I got a phone call about 3 hours later. Apparently they were doing work. They just didn't know it.

Yes. I know. You just read this far and it's now apparent that it is non-climactic. lol

Ok, so anyway.... the phone rang off the hook all freakin' day. And then I get a call at about 2:00 wanting to know if somebody could meet with me in "about an hour". Wanted about 1/2 hour of my time. They got there at 3:15. When I walked him out I locked the door behind him. It was 4:30. So much for a 1/2 hour.

I got ZERO done today. Happy Monday.

So how was your Monday?

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. Chocolate only grows within 20 degrees of the equator. I learned that on the History Channel. Which is on in my house about 50% of the time the TV is on. Archaeologists found licorice in King Tut's tomb. See what you are missing by not watching the History channel? yeah I know. I'm just too lazy to get up and shut it off most of the time.
   
2. My friend Chris works for Prudential. Investments and Insurance he is. :) He did a new quote for us for Home, Auto, Life insurance. I do believe we are making the switch. Considering we have all 3 at the moment with 3 different companies it sure will make things easier. Need insurance? Let me know. I'll hook you up.
   
3. Pampered Chef really sells itself. It's kind of cool. Now if only I could get some more parties booked. Can you say part time income?
4. The greenhouse is up in the Baker's parking lot. This makes me VERY happy. Which reminds me, I still haven't ordered the chicks. I should probably get on that.
5. BAM stayed at our house last night. I LOVE being a grandma. It is so cool. Spoil them rotten and send them home. You should try it. It's pretty rockin.
6. The hubby fell asleep on the couch at 9:00 last night. He had just finished telling me the things he was going to do before he went to bed. lol. ZERO done.
7. I could actually park my car in the garage if I wanted to. I don't think that's been true since we moved in. I think I might try it tomorrow. But probably not. Because I'm sure Hubby had plans for something else to move into it. That's probably why he cleaned it out.
   
8. I've always wanted to travel to Europe and sleep in a hostel and sleep on a train. To fall sleep in one country and wake up in another. I think that should be on my list of things to do before I die. Do you have a bucket list? #1 on mine is to go get a passport. :)
   
9. Anne Rice has a video on I Am Second. Inspiring. I wish there was a group in Omaha. The whole movement is kind of cool. Movement that I really don't understand? The Tea Party stuff. Seriously? Aren't they just the republicans of the 80's revisited?
   
10. I wrote this on Thursday night. So I really kind of cheated. But "10 Random Things for a Friday that I wrote on Thursday Night" just doesn't seem right.

Kids. It's the downhill slide to the weekend. Are you doing anything fun? You should definitely fit fun into the next few days. You've earned it.

Hey spell check says I spelled "definitely" correctly. That's a first! Oh. Wait. That just made 11. Maybe I should expand this whole 10 thing. Nah. Too much pressure.

Toodles!

The Reason I Started This Blog in the First Place

Blogging was supposed to be a way for me to rant and rave and whine about all of the things that drive me to the edge of crazy. Thus the "lost sanity" part. I am pretty whacked most of the time. Good medication is the only thing between me and cracking this time of year.

The reason for the insanity? Bottom Line. Erin. And the fact that some mean person took her away from us. And now we don't know where she is. And it's been nearly 9 years. And not a day goes by that I don't feel like I could fall apart at any moment. And then I gather myself and look at all the blessings we do have. And then how I'd trade almost all of them to know where she is. It's an endless cycle I tell you. And there is truly no way that anyone can understand without living through it. So I seriously hope that you never understand.

Well a couple of weeks ago, we thought we were going to have a media opportunity that ended up falling through. But I asked the NCMEC if they could update Erin's age progression. And they did. And they sent it to me. And I tried to process it But I couldn't. Until tonight.

I remember feeling sorry for the families who had had age progressions done of their missing children. How when we first started hanging flyers all over the free world that I was at Wal-Mart and they posted Erin's poster on their board for me. I stood there in disbelief. How is it that it is MY kid that is up there? This isn't real. Can't be. Then I saw the kids with age progressions. I felt sorry for their parents. My daughter will be found way before we'll even think about an age progression. How sad for them. But it won't be us.

And now it is. We're on our third age progression actually. Kick in the head. This isn't supposed to be us. But it is. My friend Colleen Nick said it best I think. "No parent should have to watch their child grow up on a computer." It sucks I tell you. In ways I can't even explain.

But here it is. Erin, Age progressed to 24 years old. Is that even possible? She's almost 24. Doesn't seem possible. In my head she is still 15. And until I see her again I think that's the only face I'll see. Her at 15.

So what do you think? They used pics of Amber and Jimmy to age it. Those of you that know her. Do you think she'd look anything like this? Like I said. She is still 15 in my head. So I have a hard time seeing her as anything else.

Updated posters to follow. I think I just need to sit with the picture for a few more days. I'll put it together after that.

God, I miss her.

One More Thing for a Friday

11. I chopped my hair off. I am no longer a hippie. I am pretty sure I qualify for the Short Hair Mafia. I'll get somebody to take a picture tomorrow. Have I ever posted my pic on here? I'm not sure I have. hmmmm. Maybe we'll skip it. Only time will tell.

10 Random Things for a Friday

So here we go marching rattley bang.

1. Driving to CR can be accomplished through one viewing each of Princess and the Frog, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and most of Wall-E.
2. Trying to connect your Windows 7 laptop to your dad's wireless router and subsequently somehow setting up a new wireless network and then having to reprogram the router and reconnect all of the wireless devices in the house is NOT the best way to start a visit with your parents.
3. There is a virus going around that walks and talks like strep throat but is not strep throat. I was down for the count from Friday night to Tuesday. Went back to work on Wednesday. Still hurts to swallow and my left ear doesn't feel to happy either. But I haven't had a fever since Tuesday so I'm hoping the rest will go away soon. I'd be happy just to be able to swallow something that doesn't qualify as soft food.
   
4. I have a TON of new followers. New followers -- how did you find me? I don't mind one bit. Just wonder how you got here. lol
5. Somebody pointed out to me that lol looks like a man drowning. See the arms in the air? Now every time I type or read lol I can't help but think about a dying man.
6. I hate that my laptop has no 10 key pad. I need to find a wireless one.
7. We are ordering chicks this week. One of the breeds (amerucanas) we are ordering lays green and blue eggs. The Easter Egg chicken. How cool is that?
8. The Babe is 10 shades of excited about seeing her brothers this weekend. All 5 of them. I'm glad she gets to see the younger 3 as much as she does. I hope that never changes.
9. Clarabelle Cow is one of my favorite Disney characters. She needs more shows of her own.
10. I have my first real live Pampered Chef show on Saturday. Wish me lots of luck. I'll probably need it.

That's about it for today lovely ones. I have a full weekend plan but will do what I can to get on here and update soon. Pictures are in order I've been told. We'll see what we can come up with.

Smooches!

Scholar Ladies (Get An A On It)

This is an incredible video. Let's hear it for the kids at Hope School in Milwaukee!

March Music

if you go down there to the right you'll find the music player. I filled it full of Irish bands in honor of March. :) We'll get you those annoying green beer drinking songs later.

10 Random Things for a Friday

Don't have a heart attack. I'm posting. I know. It's been a while. And I'm sure you've missed me. But I'm sure you really haven't because I'm sure you're probably my friend on Facebook too. If not... go here. My Facebook page Because you should be. Because then you'd know I wasn't dead or holing up somewhere hiding from the world. So here are 10 things I haven't told you on Facebook. :)

1. I am at my wit's end with the Babe and bedtimes. Seriously. Unless YOU are in bed, she refuses to go to bed and/or go to sleep. And yes, I know I am the parent and what I say goes, but it's a battle EVERY night. On the rare occasion that she does fall asleep it is in the middle of the room in a pile of stuffed animals or books or toys. I'm open to any and all ideas that won't bring on visits from CPS.
2. I want this brush. I know it is $90 and I'll never spend that much money on ANY beauty product. But I've read several reviews on it. Just google. "Best hairbrush" and see what you get. It's like 5 of the first 10.
3. Neither Jack the Cat or Sally the Skunk Dog are too happy about the puppy. Oh that's right. I haven't posted in 11 weeks and you who aren't friends with me on Facebook have no CLUE we even had puppies. Roxanne had 3 puppies New Year's Eve. We have one left. I think she has a new home tomorrow. Which is good. Because Sally's little temper tantrums over the puppy are about as annoying as I can handle.
4. I haven't been to Cedar Rapids since Christmas. I think this may be a new record.
   
5. I took on ZERO new clients this tax season. It's been pretty quiet. Which is fine with me.
   
6. My love affair with direct sales has taken a new turn. I signed up last week to be a consultant with The Pampered Chef. Now this brings me full circle in the direct sales world. This was the first DS company I ever looked at signing with. Decided against it for some reason I can't remember. And now here I am with it once again. Let's see where it goes. :) Anybody want to book a show? lol
7. The vet visit last week cost me $160. And I didn't even buy any pet meds to bring home. Which reminds me... I need to go place an order with PetMeds.
8. I need a new spring purse. I need to get a hold of Candice and see if she can hook me up.
9. We REALLY want to buy a Wii. May just do so if this puppy sells tomorrow.
10. My laptop keyboard has 3 keys missing now. Thank you to the baby BAM.

Ok. Now I will make as many efforts as possible to not wait until the 17th of nowhere near this month to post again.

Hugs and big sloppy kisses!

"Little Drummer Boy", David Bowie and Bing Crosby

This is still my favorite Christmas song. I just wanted to remind you of that. Hope you enjoy it too.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The Best Brownies EVER!

Just made THESE BROWNIES Thank you Smitten Kitchen. You know not what you do.

Snow Day Observations aka Blizzard 12/9/09

• It took Hubby more than 2 hours to dig us out. And that was only 1/2 the driveway and a path to the chickens. I tried to help but was pretty much useless considering the need to keep running in to see if the kids were awake yet. That and it was really cold.
• I need to get better cold weather gear. Starting with new mittens.
• Successfully avoided doing much other than laundry and dishes and picking up the living room 23 times.
• It is 7:00 pm and they still haven't plowed the new streets. wonder if that is city or county?
• I blew a hole in yet another on of Candice's Magic Slippers. Just goes to prove how often I wear them. I am now down to 2 matching pairs. And another 2 pairs of mismatched. But they rock matched or not.
• Playhouse Disney can only be watched for so many hours before you lose your mind. It's good that it only runs for so many hours in the day.
  
• the Babe and BAM are finally starting to play together. It's pretty cool.
• a 3rd cup of hot cocoa can make you "the best mom ever".
• the ears and tail from a lion costume can make for nearly an hour of entertainment for a 3 year old.
• Hubby's boot is longer than BAM's torso yet he tries to carry it around anyway
• Having a good friend that owns a snow removal company. I bet if I paid him he might even come earlier in the day. LOL
• a collapsible play tunnel from IKEA is a life saver.
• Make sure you have more butter in the freezer before you attempt to make cookies.
• Savor every minute of it. You only get so many snow days.
  

Christmas Tunes

So I suck at updating. Big surprise. Things should calm down at work soon so we'll see how I do then. :p

So as a kiss and make up gift, I'm posting the Christmas playlist today. :D Don't you love me now? 70 songs for your listening enjoyment. Maybe we can all be dragged into the Christmas spirit. Ok, so it's just me that goes along kicking and pouting. I'll work on that too. yeah right.

That said..... Happy Holiday Music to you.

Thanksgiving

The kids are coming here for Thanksgiving. I'm REALLY starting to look forward to it. I hope it goes better than the one in this song. And yes, I'm into stupid songs today. What of it?

Now if only I had a dining room table.

Dead Skunk

It's one of those days.

Catwoman, supergirl, pink bunny and... Chandler?

I'm not much on Halloween but this is still one of my favorite Friends episodes.

1:44 am

I stayed up until 1:44 am catching up on Glee on hulu.com

I'm going to regret this tomorrow.

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. It's still 2 minutes before midnight so this is still Friday. I had forgotten to do this again this week until I was looking at harmony's 10 random things and saw on her blog feed thing that I hadn't updated in 2 weeks. oops.
2. I really strongly dislike the show Sanctuary on SyFy. Yet it is saved on my Tivo EVERY week. Why the heck did SciFi change their name to SyFy anyway? Does anybody else find it incredibly annoying?
3. My dad gave us a new to us TiVo. We are supposed to be replacing ours so that now we can watch one show and record another. But we can't seem to find a "good time" to watch the things already on the current TiVo. And heaven forbid we might actually just pass on watching them.
4. I think I am going to take the Babe to Disney Live tomorrow. Not sure though.
5. There are large open spaces on my living room walls that are sorely lacking frames with the portraits we have had taken lately. I've paid for the portraits. Why the heck can't I seem to get the things on the walls?
   
6. There is a golf bag sitting right by the front door in my living room. Wishful thinking? No. My living room is a putting green don't you know?
7. Earlier tonight I had BAM and the Shih Tzu in the tub at the same time. You don't EVEN want to know what prefaced that.
8. The Cialis commercials freak me out. Not sure why. I think it is the warnings.
9. The drive from Ft Worth last Friday took me 12 1/2 hours. We obviously stopped several times. The Babe did amazingly well.
10. We are out of bread.

Loves loves!

10 Random Things for a Friday that didn't get written until Tuesday

Once again I have a poor neglected blog. Thank you friends for pointing that out. LOL

1. The Babe and I are going on a road trip next weekend.
2. I hate changing plans. It's frustrating.
3. We need to buy a carpet cleaner or rent a Rug Doctor some time in the near future. The brown living room carpet is looking a little too brown.
4. We are fighting bedtimes at our house. The Babe refuses to go to bed and stay in bed. Anybody have any ideas?
5. I learned yesterday how to "dial into" my work computer from my home laptop. Haven't decided yet if this is a good or a bad thing.
6. Our brush pile is in need of a good burn party. Anybody up for a fire and some spiked cider and/or hot cocoa?
7. Have you watched Glee? LOVING IT!! The rest of the new shows this season, not so much.
   
8. The truck needs some engine work. Good thing I know a great mechanic.
9. Baby BAM is still the size of a baby but is starting to act like a toddler. It is fun to watch.
   
10. Fall is my favorite season but I was far from ready for it to start. Did we ever even get a summer?
    

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. Got to spend the weekend last weekend with the babies in CR. I love CR weekends. I wish they were longer.
   
2. I have a birthday next week. If you ship the presents by Monday they should get here in plenty of time.
3. If you can be in Omaha on Saturday the 19th, let me know and I'll get you the 4-11 on the whens and wheres of the big party.
4. Thanks to Facebook I now know how many of the people I know that I really don't agree with their political views. Not sure how I feel about that.
5. Tonight we are having a chocolate and wine night at the Pusher's house.
6. I had an acne breakout for the first time in a bazillion years last week. In perspective it was nothing but it did throw me for a loop.
7. I think I am going to chop off more hair. Not Short Hair Mafia style but significantly shorter than it is now.
8. I cried when I saw Thanksgiving stuff in the store last week.
9. My office was on the news on Wednesday. We are apparently this week's token sign of the times.
10. I have had Starbucks two days in a row. I shall have it a 3rd time this afternoon when I use my treat receipt. :)

Hope that your day is a good one. And your weekend even more so. Be well my friends!