I'm nuts

I have no idea what I was thinking. I had the bright idea that the kids would be responsible & could handle having mice for pets. We have cats! Now the cats think we've brought home fuzzy kitty treats.

To top it off, one of the little buggers went crazy & started banging it's head on the top of the cage by jumping up over & over. Two days later it died. The pet store said it had some kind of neurological disorder and replaced it with a new mouse. I'll have to post pics tomorrow, they really are kinda cute.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Alien Update

I've been battling with my aliens' doctor for over six months now over their meds for the ADHD. Alien #2 is three years younger than Alien #1 and 6o lbs lighter, yet they are on the same dosage of meds for ADHD. This dosage works for Alien #1. Alien #2 is having major trouble and I can't get the doctor to change his meds & try something else.

So..... I've been searching for a new doctor for the boys & I because the one we have sucks. Today we had our appointments with the new doctor and he was fantastic! He's slowing changing over meds on the younger alien and trying something different. I love him!

Feeling very blessed today. Happy Wednesday everyone!

A Winter Wonderland - In March???

Beautiful, isn't it? I love the way the snow clings to the branches of the trees in these pictures. However, what I don't like is this was my backyard on Sunday morning about 8:30!

I live in Northern Illinois so a March or April snowstorm isn't unheard of, but our area got a whopping 6" of the white stuff and at the time of this posting, it still hasn't melted off.



Our cats are loving the birds that are coming to the bird feeder in the backyard in search of a bit of nourishment. They'd rather go for the easy stuff in the feeder than try to dig through snow deeper than they are tall. Oh, well, by this time tomorrow it will all be gone thankfully. We already have flood warnings out and are supposed to have thunder storms tonight sometime after midnight. Don't like the weather around here? Wait a couple of hours - it will change drastically this time of year!

Happy Monday Everyone!

An ADHD moment....

O.K. So, I'm sitting in my blow-off class for this semester, geology 120. Nice guy for an instructor & he does his best to keep things interesting for the hour we're in lecture three days a week. For whatever reason, I've been having some really serious ADHD moments the last couple of weeks and today it hit really hard in class.

He's lecturing along about the Earth's atmosphere & this is what happens:

Carbon dioxide comprises only about 0.03% of the Earth's atmosphere, it is however, one of the most abundant.........(Ewww, sweat marks in his armpits. Gross. Did he forget deodorant today) greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Venus has a 96%............(I wonder if he has some kind of medical condition........hummm.... maybe he's just nervous today........... nice haircut.........) content of carbon dioxide in it's atmosphere with a surface temp of 460 degrees C. ........(bet everyone noticed his haircut, but I get 3" taken off and one person notices........... well, my hair is a lot longer than his.......) Other greenhouse gases include nitrogen oxide, methane... (don't cows give off methane gas??? We have a lot of cows around the Midwest.....) and even water vapor is considered a greenhouse gas.

After class, I compare my notes with the girl next to me & I actually have more information written down than she does!

A good way to explain an ADHD mind is this (not my analogy but a good one): you have an 80 GIG mind working on 5 MB of RAM. You wouldn't do this to a computer & expect much to happen, but people with ADHD function like this everyday. It can be interesting sometimes.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Looking for a new "look"

I'm starting to feel the need to create a blog that is a little more personalized. Also looking at a new name that is a bit more "me". I'll probably try a few out & get opinions on it before deciding on the one I like anyway regardless of what anyone else says. lol

Having a good Thursday today. Feeling a little hyper (definite ADHD day) but it's all good.

And still not feelin' guilty...... :)

Not feeling guilty..should I feel guilty about that?

Ok, so without going into detail that enters the "TMI" zone, I have done something that I really should feel guilty about. Everything I've ever been taught by my parents, my church, others I respect & love, tells me I should feel guilty. I didn't do anything horrible or hurt anyone, but a small measure of guilt would be appropriate. I don't feel guilty. And I don't care that I don't feel guilty. Should I feel guilty about not feeling guilty? 'Cause I don't.

I'd love to talk with a couple of my good friends about this, but I think they'd be horrified at my small misstep. To them it would probably look like a major fall from God's grace and theirs as well. I'd like to just say, "Listen, I'm human & I make mistakes sometimes. Sometimes I don't do exactly the right thing. Sometimes I completely screw up. And guess what? Sometimes I do things that are downright stupid! So what? Deal with it."

I won't because that's too rude for me to say to those I care about. Because I don't really feel like I can discuss this with those closest to me, I'm feeling very odd. It's hard to describe, I seem to be thinking more & more about what I really believe.

I'm starting to question if what I have been taught is "wrong" or "right" or "justified" really is what I've always thought it was. Did I ever really think/believe something was a particular way or did I just blindly accept it was because that's what I was told. Guess this sounds like I'm feeling down, actually I'm learning more about myself than ever before & I like it. It's kind of a peaceful feeling to just quietly analyze things sometimes. How weird is that?

Crazy weather, Men, & Kids

The weather around here has been nuts! Northern Illinois has some bizarre stuff going on this time of year. One minute it's beautiful, sunny, & near 60 - the next day it's 10 below with a wind chill of -20! Come on Spring - get here fast!!!

Men, well, what can I say? Mr. Not-so-wonderful has given a very good explanation for his behavior and has thus been up-graded to Mr. O.K. A bit more groveling, and a couple more dinners out should fix the bulk of the problem. I can't let him get off too easily so early in the relationship.

Kids - What the heck? Acting like wild monkeys on a massive sugar buzz. This has been a daily thing for about 3 weeks now. I don't know what they've been in but I want some of that sh*t.

Time to quit goofing off & go create a plan to teach a student with severe autism how to work a padlock. Should be fun, she doesn't like the cold metal of the darn thing & we have to use this lock because it's a remote controlled padlock & she can't/won't work a lock with a key. Fun times for me.

Bye all.

Men & Maturity....

... or lack thereof. What the heck is up with guys? Males grow older, this does not necessarily mean they mature. So, when do men actually finish with puberty & start thinking with their brain, not things "South of the border" so to speak?

Why am I so ticked off at men in general??? I've recently been reminded the reasons I don't date. Adult males lacking maturity is at the top of my list right now.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Gloomy Wednesday

It's just above freezing and drizzling rain off and on like it has been for about a day and like it will for another couple of days. Yuck. I dislike this weather.... it's gloomy and does nothing for my mood.

The NIU memorial services for the students killed by a lone gunman on 02.14.08 filled the this past weekend. Memorial scholarships were announced, memorial monuments, luncheons, unveilings, a candlelight memorial service, and more kept most of the campus buzzing for the weekend.

I still find it hard to believe that a town previously known for the invention of barbed wire, Cindy Crawford, corn, and a state university could suddenly become known around the world in a matter of hours thanks to a lone, mentally disturbed, gunman who took the lives of five students and injuring countless others before turning the gun on himself.

God sees us through the most difficult times, thankfully.
Have a great Wednesday everyone.

We will always remember.........

Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna Gehant,
Ryanne Mace, Daniel Parmenter
There isn't much I can say about 02.14.08 in my post today, maybe when I'm feeling less anxiety about the one year anniversary of this tragic event I will comment more.

WE ARE HUSKIES! FORWARD, TOGETHER, FORWARD

Hair, Hair, Hair

I had been letting my hair grow out to donate to Locks of Love. I recently discovered they don't want my hair because I am starting to get little white hairs growing in & they can't be picking out the gray hairs from the ponytail. Well, there aren't any gray or white hairs in the ponytail. But, anyway now that it's really long, it's mine to keep.

I thought about cutting it a bit shorter, but the younger alien (age 11) became very distressed about the change. He has an anxiety disorder in addition to the ADHD and does not deal well with drastic change. Change must come slowly or there is a major meltdown due to the anxiety. So, here I am with lots of hair that I'm trying to figure out how to style it.

Typically I tie it up in a bun or a long braid on the side. Any suggestions would be helpful. I generally keep it confined in some way or another. If I leave it down, people tend to stare & it makes me a bit uncomfortable. I'm really self-conscious about my weight so I don't like people staring at me. (Except for "T" in the library, but that's a post for another day.)

I didn't realize how long it really looks to other people (I avoid looking at my backside in the mirror at all costs). One day early last summer, a co-worker at the library took a picture of me and that's when I really realized how long it really was! Sounds goofy doesn't it? It's on my head I should know. Anywho... here's the picture.

Massage by Bruno the Bouncer

A friend treated me to my first ever massage last Saturday. I was thrilled as things have been a bit stressful of late and a "girls day" with some pampering would be fantastic!

We arrived, signed in, and a polite, large, bouncer-type young man escorted me back to the massage room that was to be mine and left me to get ready. I thought he was going back out to escort my friend to another of the rooms. Ten minutes later as I'm laying naked on the table save for a sheet and my panties, in walks Bruno the Bouncer again! I'm already dying & we haven't even started yet!!!

Let me tell you ladies, nothing (and I mean NOTHING) will make you more aware of how much body fat you have than a massage will! Every inch of me wanted to run screaming from the room but I did my best to relax & let Bruno do his massage-thing. It was nice, but next time I think I'll request a woman for my massage.

Sugar, Quinn,Cold, & other stuff....

Rod Blagojevich has been impeached and Illinois now has a new leader, Gov. Patrick Quinn. Most politicians in Illinois seem to be crooked, that should scare you considering where our new president hails from. Let's hope he's above the garbage most Illinois Democrats seem to pull.

Sugar is home & feeling great. She also has a new tattoo! The new universal symbol that a female cat has been spayed is a green line tattooed on their belly right next to the incision. It looks really funny. Poor kitty has her little pink tummy shaved bald & then they ink a green line on her. Does this make her a "marked woman"????

It's still cold outside & I'm sick of it. This is day 7 or 8 (I've lost count) of below freezing weather. The longest on record for this area of Northern Illinois. There is something to be said for NOT holding the record for some things.

My student loans came in this morning! YEA! The gas company called about 30 minutes ago to let me know my bill was past-due. Thanks Ni-Cor Gas for bursting my bubble and ruining my moment of joy.

Hopefully that computer & laptop I wanted will still be on sale at Wal-Mart. They're last years' models & not the greatest, but they are new and will work for what I need. If my student loans had come in on time, I'd already be blogging on my new computer from home. They were an excellent sale price of $348/unit for a Compaq system. Not necessarily my first choice of brands, but it will do for what I need for a couple of years until I can get a really nice computer.

Since I'm feeling rich for the day, I'm going out to eat with the aliens tonight. That should thrill them. When I ask where they want to go, I already know the answer "McDonald's!!!". Yuck. We will not be eating at McGreasy's tonight or their neighbor's Blubber King. Maybe the nice little Tex-Mex place in town..... hmmmmmmmmm. We'll have to see, so many choices.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Sugar kitty

Our sweet new kitten, now almost 8 months old is getting spayed tomorrow. Thank GOD! I am truly thankful to Him for making this happen.

A local animal shelter is giving out vouchers to cover most of the cost. So, having kitty spayed is only going to put a $60 dent in my pocket (as opposed to $250 or more).

Sugar went into heat a few days ago & I haven't slept in three days. She's got that awful caterwauling that will shatter glass. For those of you who have never heard a cat in heat, imagine putting kitty's head in a vice. Now, slowly peel it's skin off while it's alive. THAT is what a cat in heat sounds like.

I know it sounds gross and i would NEVER harm any animal, just trying to give you an idea of the horrid sound I listen to all night long. One more night of this noise, just one more night. I can't wait for Thursday night, I can sleep.

Love

Your Word is "Love"

You see life as possibility to form deep connections with a few people. Relationships are the center of your world, and you always take time to bond with those you love. You are caring and giving. You enjoy helping those you love. And when it comes to romantic love, you feel passionately ... even in a very long term relationship.

What's Your Word?

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

My Monday started Sunday night.

Living in a house with two other people who all have ADHD, it's no wonder that over the course of a year, we have lost all three keys to our front door. No biggie, there is a door that goes into the kitchen from the garage. I've never had a key to it & only lock it at night anyway. So, we've been just using that door to come & go. No problem. Until Sunday evening......

Had a wonderful day at my parents' house with the kids, Great-granny, Mom, & Dad. Arrived home about 5pm. Pull into the garage, go to open the door and the knob comes off in my hand. What the heck?! I try for about 20 minutes to fix the dang thing so we can go inside, I'm tired, cold and have a headache. No luck.

I call my best friend & she thinks she has a spare key at her house. We drive 45 minutes to her house, pick up a random bunch of keys, one looks like it may be mine. We drive back home, try all the keys, nothing. Not one key works.

I call the landlord & proceed to lie & tell him the key got locked in the house. No luck there, he's in Chicago, 2 hours away. Crap.

I back the car up, turn on the headlights, and go back to messing with the broken doorknob. God had mercy on me & I managed to get it open in about 10 minutes. I told the kids to bring in the good from the car, turn off the headlights, and come inside. We ate dinner, rest of the evening was great.

I get out to the car on Monday morning & find the battery dead. Crap again. Dad to the rescue, he comes to charge my battery. We finally figured out that the kids turned on the dome light to see where the button was to turn off the headlights. The dome light however, was left on all night.

I was really ticked off at the time, but now it's just funny. However, I still have to fix the doorknob. I'll need to buy a new screwdriver first, kids lost all of mine. Oh, well, gotta love 'em.

Don't poke your classmate in the butt......

I really have no idea what this guy in my class was thinking, I think he's nuts but, I'll let you be the judge. Here's the situation.....

Last Wednesday, our only night class this semester, I'm sitting in class taking notes as best I can in the dark without my glasses. It's just over an hour into our 2 1/2 hour class and I'm starting to fidget.

I lean forward to about half-way lay on the table to take notes when the guy sitting next to me whispers, "What's this?" I turn to face him just in time for him to poke me just above my butt crack! I almost died!

I turned so red the professor probably saw the red glow in the back of the room. I can't believe I didn't scream I was so startled.

Apparently, when I leaned forward a bit, my shirt rode up & my jeans slid down just enough that about 2 inches of skin were showing (not usual for me at all!) and this dork takes advantage of the situation. Apparently, he didn't realize that poking a very jumpy, self-conscious woman 15 years his senior might get more of a reaction than he bargained for!

I wanted to slap him but by the time the shock wore off, it was a little late to do so. So, tell me.... what possesses a man to even THINK poking a classmate in the butt during a lecture is a good idea???

I will never understand men.

Bet you thought I died...

I bet just about everyone who ever used to read this has probably dropped off the planet or died by now it's been so long since I've posted anything.

I'm in my final academic semester at the university, I will be student teaching in the fall of 2009 - I can't wait.

My aliens are growing like weeds, still... nothing like having children that tower over you.

Our home was enlarged by four little paws last Thanksgiving, our new baby is named Sugar. Our other two cats, Charlotte & Holly tolerate her most of the time.


Is this not the cutest little face you've ever seen? She's so cute but such a little pain in the butt sometimes.

Her favorite spot to get into is the fridge. We didn't figure this out until after she got stuck in there the first time. The aliens & I hadn't seen her in a couple of hours so we started looking for her. I finally gave up & went to get a drink iced tea from the fridge. I open it up and guess what? A kitty! I think she must have been there for at least two hours & was moving kinda slow. Once she warmed up, she was back to her normal self.

Where has summer gone???

What a summer........... I've spent most of it working my butt off with not much to show for it except a cranky disposition.

My sister & family went to Costa Rica to visit her in-laws & check up on their home there. Just after school got out her step-daughter was given a puppy. I volunteered to watch it for the few weeks they were away from home (along with the ferrett). Sis got REALLY sick with a throat infection & couldn't come home last weekend so now we're babysitting the pooping-machine puppy (now 7 mos old) until mid-August. She really is an adorable pup but we're hiding her from the landlord because we're not supposed to have a dog here. It's been dicey a couple of times but, we've managed so far.

We were also supposed to go visit her in Missouri for a couple of weeks after they returned home. Since they arent' coming home on time (darn sick cooties! how dare they infect my sissy!) we won't be able to visit them before school starts.

Oh, well, at least we have central air so it hasn't been so bad this summer - we get a nice cool sleeping temp every night. And, of course, the puppy takes turns sleeping with everyone for a few hours each night before she wakes up & poops on my carpet.

We have taken some short video of the puppy so I'll have to try to upload it - she's too funny when she gets all excited & charges around the house bouncing all over the place. For all I complain about her, she fits in well with my aliens, she belches, farts, and snores more that both aliens combined! (Wow those farts will peel paint too! NASTY stuff for sure!)

On that note, have a lovely rest of the week............ :)