Spent a good hunk of my weekend doing doc review. I was supposed to finish up a very long memo for a meeting with Big Boss this afternoon, but it just didn't happen. So I got up early this morning so I could get in extra early and try to finish the memo. But traffic was a disaster and at least four different cars tried to run me off the road. Finally made it in just a little early.
So I closed my office door so I could finish up my memo before Big Boss arrived. And every five seconds someone knocked on my door with some inane question. I snapped at Big Boss' secretary who takes all of his crap and sticks it in my inbox so that my secretary has to distribute the filing instead of her. Probably should have handled it more diplomatically.
Never did finish up the memo, but it was mostly just polish left. Big Boss seemed satisfied with his cursory review, and he gave me a new assignment for another long, complex memo. And then I went back to work on my doc review. Because despite the fact that it has been handed off to another associate, he refuses to work on it if I am not in there. And it's my ass on the line if it doesn't get turned around ASAP. Grumble.
Brought home two boxes, but I'm so tired I can't bring myself to open them.
New nanny started today, and everything went mostly ok. But she forgot to mention during the interview process that she was going to be out of town the week of Thanksgiving. It wouldn't have affected our decision to hire her, but it would have been nice if she had been more up front about it.
And I notified my other nanny candidate that we had offered the position to someone else. She sent back a smart-ass response, griping about how bad the economy is. Looks like we made the right decision. I really liked her after our initial interview, but she seemed to get a little flaky after that. Glad we were thorough with the interview process.
And then SIL just called to update us on FIL. It's not good. He's been seeing a counselor and is being treated for depression. Despite his assurances a few months ago that he had done his grieving, he is finally acknowledging that everything is not ok. He's been missing work and sleeping all day. It's bad enough that DH just called his sister back and told her to go get FIL's guns. Oh, and MIL's birthday is Thursday. Looks like we may be visiting Hometown this weekend.
8/30/10
8/26/10
TGI almost F
This week has been insane. Three of my bigger cases have all decided to explode at once. I was just surprised with 90 boxes of documents that need to be reviewed within the next week. And to make doc review even more fun, they are nasty, rotten, moldy boxes. Literally, huge globs of black mold growing on some of the documents. Ah, the glamorous life of a lawyer. And while I was enduring all of this fun, Big Boss was frantically calling me to arrange an emergency meeting involving several parties in another case while he was stuck in meetings all morning. My phone range off the wall all freakin' day.
In other news, I've hired a new nanny, contingent upon a successful test-drive on Saturday morning. I always leave the girls with a new nanny for a couple of hours while DH and I hang out somewhere nearby before I make a final offer. She is a senior in high school, but she seems very mature, and will hopefully be just what we need for this 3-hour per day school-year position. Whew--one big to-do off my list.
But there is no way in heck I could leave my girls with a teenager for a week while we cruise the Caribbean--so it looks like we will be making some changes to our cruising plan. The only way we can go is if we take the kids with us. I am not happy about this. We have not traveled anywhere without the kids in 8 years, and we deserve some grown-up time for our anniversary. But alas, it was not meant to be. To add salt to the wounds, I am going to have to change ships and itineraries. I loved our itinerary--we were going to see Mayan ruins, ziplining, snorkeling and have a beach day. But that cruise just totally blows our budget when there are five of us instead of two. I've found an alternative, but it sails to the Bahamas and Grand Turk--so no ruins and no ziplines. Only beach days (oh the torture!)
We are also going to pull the kids out of school. I have never allowed the kids to miss for vacation or non-illness/dying grandma reasons. I'm generally opposed to taking the kids out of school for vacations--particularly non-educational ones. But I can't reschedule. I have trials set every.single.month from February through next November. Of course, probably none of them will actually go, but I still have to plan around them. So it looks like I will be breaking my own rule. I'm sure their teachers will be thrilled.
But I guess I can't complain too much. A vacation with my kids is better than no vacation, and any cruise is better than no cruise.
In other news, I've hired a new nanny, contingent upon a successful test-drive on Saturday morning. I always leave the girls with a new nanny for a couple of hours while DH and I hang out somewhere nearby before I make a final offer. She is a senior in high school, but she seems very mature, and will hopefully be just what we need for this 3-hour per day school-year position. Whew--one big to-do off my list.
But there is no way in heck I could leave my girls with a teenager for a week while we cruise the Caribbean--so it looks like we will be making some changes to our cruising plan. The only way we can go is if we take the kids with us. I am not happy about this. We have not traveled anywhere without the kids in 8 years, and we deserve some grown-up time for our anniversary. But alas, it was not meant to be. To add salt to the wounds, I am going to have to change ships and itineraries. I loved our itinerary--we were going to see Mayan ruins, ziplining, snorkeling and have a beach day. But that cruise just totally blows our budget when there are five of us instead of two. I've found an alternative, but it sails to the Bahamas and Grand Turk--so no ruins and no ziplines. Only beach days (oh the torture!)
We are also going to pull the kids out of school. I have never allowed the kids to miss for vacation or non-illness/dying grandma reasons. I'm generally opposed to taking the kids out of school for vacations--particularly non-educational ones. But I can't reschedule. I have trials set every.single.month from February through next November. Of course, probably none of them will actually go, but I still have to plan around them. So it looks like I will be breaking my own rule. I'm sure their teachers will be thrilled.
But I guess I can't complain too much. A vacation with my kids is better than no vacation, and any cruise is better than no cruise.
8/21/10
Today was better
It turns out that my mom took a fall and, miraculously, did not break anything, but suffered a severe cut. It took something like 36 stitches plus some surgical glue and steri-strips to patch her up. And apparently her face took the brunt of the fall and she looks like she's been in a bar fight.
Her husband left town to visit his elderly mother the day before the fall , so my brother and his girls are stuck babysitting her all weekend. It's their last weekend before school starts, and he is a teacher and has last minute prep work. I'm pretty sure he would strangle me if he could for living 400 miles away and leaving him to deal with the chaos. I told him to tell her to pay my 25-year-old out-of work cousin to be her caretaker for a few days. My mother can afford it and my cousin could use the cash. (Maybe this sounds harsh, but she has never really stepped up to help me or my brother when times were tough. He was a teenage parent who has struggled a lot, with virtually no help from either of our parents.)
Also got the garage door fixed. I went with the guy with a slightly higher quote just because he was friendly and really good about explaining the issues when I spoke with him. The guy with the lower quote was kind of an ass on the phone. Just goes to show, customer service counts.
Wound up our evening watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind for family movie night. DH was disappointed to learn that the girls and I just didn't appreciate it the way he does.
Her husband left town to visit his elderly mother the day before the fall , so my brother and his girls are stuck babysitting her all weekend. It's their last weekend before school starts, and he is a teacher and has last minute prep work. I'm pretty sure he would strangle me if he could for living 400 miles away and leaving him to deal with the chaos. I told him to tell her to pay my 25-year-old out-of work cousin to be her caretaker for a few days. My mother can afford it and my cousin could use the cash. (Maybe this sounds harsh, but she has never really stepped up to help me or my brother when times were tough. He was a teenage parent who has struggled a lot, with virtually no help from either of our parents.)
Also got the garage door fixed. I went with the guy with a slightly higher quote just because he was friendly and really good about explaining the issues when I spoke with him. The guy with the lower quote was kind of an ass on the phone. Just goes to show, customer service counts.
Wound up our evening watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind for family movie night. DH was disappointed to learn that the girls and I just didn't appreciate it the way he does.
8/20/10
Chaos
Can it stop please.
First my nanny put in notice, leaving me once again scrambling for child care. Then I realized that this totally screws up our cruise plans for November. My final payment is due in two weeks, and then it becomes nonrefundable. We are screwed if we don't have reliable child care in place. Or we can cancel now. Or we can just take the kids. But this is our anniversary trip, and we really wanted grown-up time. And the trip we are booked on would require pulling the kids out of school, which I am really opposed to--especially since this is a totally non-educational trip.
Then nanny's car got vandalized--eggs were broken all over the interior of her car--so she had to deal with getting it cleaned while she was watching the girls yesterday. And when she pulled her car into the driveway, our garage door became demon-possessed and wouldn't stop opening and closing. She called me frantically at work, and I told her to throw the breaker, because nothing would make it stop. Turns out the spring broke.
Then we had PS's schedule pick up night, where we attempted to find all of her classes in her new middle school. The place was a zoo, and I pray she doesn't get lost on the first day.
Then as soon as I walked into work this morning, the receptionist informed me that our firm had been burgled overnight, and I needed to check my office to see if anything was missing. the thieves had started loading up our computers and had them stacked up by the back door. Security caught them in the act, and the bad guys got away, but it doesn't look like they took anything. Our office is on the 9th floor! Who the hell breaks into a 9th floor office? Or a law firm? It's not like we keep any cash on the premises.
Once I finally got settled in, I started making calls to have the garage door fixed. Apparently replacing the spring is not a do-it-yourself project.
Left the office early for the twins' meet the teacher night. Another zoo. And SS' teacher had a baby today, so SS will have a sub for the first 6 weeks of school. Also, all of TT's and SS's friends are in TT's class--poor SS has no one (fortunately, she can make friends anywhere, so I think she'll be fine.)
I was supposed to meet with new prospective nanny immediately after meet the teacher night, but she flaked. Arghhh.
Got a call from my brother at 10:30 tonight saying that my mom fell and there was blood everywhere and she was in shock and an ambulance was taking her to the hospital. Brother was on the way to meet her at the hospital and didn't have a lot of information, so I am staying up until he calls back. My mom is in terrible health and has had many joint replacements, so it wouldn't surprise me to hear she broke something, but the blood everywhere is concerning. And I her bones are so brittle and she's already had so many replacements that my understanding is that they can't do any more replacements.
I'm afraid to see what tomorrow holds.
First my nanny put in notice, leaving me once again scrambling for child care. Then I realized that this totally screws up our cruise plans for November. My final payment is due in two weeks, and then it becomes nonrefundable. We are screwed if we don't have reliable child care in place. Or we can cancel now. Or we can just take the kids. But this is our anniversary trip, and we really wanted grown-up time. And the trip we are booked on would require pulling the kids out of school, which I am really opposed to--especially since this is a totally non-educational trip.
Then nanny's car got vandalized--eggs were broken all over the interior of her car--so she had to deal with getting it cleaned while she was watching the girls yesterday. And when she pulled her car into the driveway, our garage door became demon-possessed and wouldn't stop opening and closing. She called me frantically at work, and I told her to throw the breaker, because nothing would make it stop. Turns out the spring broke.
Then we had PS's schedule pick up night, where we attempted to find all of her classes in her new middle school. The place was a zoo, and I pray she doesn't get lost on the first day.
Then as soon as I walked into work this morning, the receptionist informed me that our firm had been burgled overnight, and I needed to check my office to see if anything was missing. the thieves had started loading up our computers and had them stacked up by the back door. Security caught them in the act, and the bad guys got away, but it doesn't look like they took anything. Our office is on the 9th floor! Who the hell breaks into a 9th floor office? Or a law firm? It's not like we keep any cash on the premises.
Once I finally got settled in, I started making calls to have the garage door fixed. Apparently replacing the spring is not a do-it-yourself project.
Left the office early for the twins' meet the teacher night. Another zoo. And SS' teacher had a baby today, so SS will have a sub for the first 6 weeks of school. Also, all of TT's and SS's friends are in TT's class--poor SS has no one (fortunately, she can make friends anywhere, so I think she'll be fine.)
I was supposed to meet with new prospective nanny immediately after meet the teacher night, but she flaked. Arghhh.
Got a call from my brother at 10:30 tonight saying that my mom fell and there was blood everywhere and she was in shock and an ambulance was taking her to the hospital. Brother was on the way to meet her at the hospital and didn't have a lot of information, so I am staying up until he calls back. My mom is in terrible health and has had many joint replacements, so it wouldn't surprise me to hear she broke something, but the blood everywhere is concerning. And I her bones are so brittle and she's already had so many replacements that my understanding is that they can't do any more replacements.
I'm afraid to see what tomorrow holds.
8/16/10
Sigh...
The new nanny put in notice today. She has decided to go back to school. In Virginia.
We've only had her for 5 weeks. I knew she was over-qualified when I hired her, but I hoped that she would last longer than this. We talked about her having one year of college left, but I guess I wrongly assumed that she would attend school here. You could definitely work a college schedule around my girls' after-school schedule.
Ugh. I lost an entire weekend to interviewing nannies the last time around, and am not looking forward to a repeat. Plus my girls have already become attached to new nanny, and a little stability would be nice.
One of the biggest challenges of being a working mom is finding quality child care. My mom left us with whatever in-home care provider she could find at a bargain--and we had some of the worst babysitters on the planet over the years. There was the one who made a boy drink his own pee because he wet the bed; the one who burned her grass and stomped it out with her house slippers; the one who allowed her 5th grader to smoke; the 16 year old runaway who lived on our couch until she disappeared one day, taking all of the cash in my piggy bank; the crazy holy roller who told us graphic crucifixion stories and took us to church were people were speaking in tongues and turning cartwheels in the aisles, and who yelled at us for wearing shorts because God didn't approve (then God shouldn't have given us triple-digit summers) and who took us to the free summer lunch program in the parks and then took all of the leftovers to feed us the rest of the week, and who crammed about 5 kids into the back of a Volkswagen Rabbit, and who had a pet guinea pig who was allowed to run all over the house, leaving a trial of guinea pig pellets. Makes the one who just plopped us in front of the soaps all summer not seem so bad.
So, my very bad childhood experience makes child care a very high priority for me. And so far we've been lucky in that every nanny seems to have genuinely cared about my children. But I don't like the turnover of the last couple of months, and it's hard on the kids.
The tiny ray of hope is that the #2 choice from my interviews is still interested in the position. Hopefully it will work out, but when I interviewed her she had another job that I was concerned would conflict, so we'll see.
We've only had her for 5 weeks. I knew she was over-qualified when I hired her, but I hoped that she would last longer than this. We talked about her having one year of college left, but I guess I wrongly assumed that she would attend school here. You could definitely work a college schedule around my girls' after-school schedule.
Ugh. I lost an entire weekend to interviewing nannies the last time around, and am not looking forward to a repeat. Plus my girls have already become attached to new nanny, and a little stability would be nice.
One of the biggest challenges of being a working mom is finding quality child care. My mom left us with whatever in-home care provider she could find at a bargain--and we had some of the worst babysitters on the planet over the years. There was the one who made a boy drink his own pee because he wet the bed; the one who burned her grass and stomped it out with her house slippers; the one who allowed her 5th grader to smoke; the 16 year old runaway who lived on our couch until she disappeared one day, taking all of the cash in my piggy bank; the crazy holy roller who told us graphic crucifixion stories and took us to church were people were speaking in tongues and turning cartwheels in the aisles, and who yelled at us for wearing shorts because God didn't approve (then God shouldn't have given us triple-digit summers) and who took us to the free summer lunch program in the parks and then took all of the leftovers to feed us the rest of the week, and who crammed about 5 kids into the back of a Volkswagen Rabbit, and who had a pet guinea pig who was allowed to run all over the house, leaving a trial of guinea pig pellets. Makes the one who just plopped us in front of the soaps all summer not seem so bad.
So, my very bad childhood experience makes child care a very high priority for me. And so far we've been lucky in that every nanny seems to have genuinely cared about my children. But I don't like the turnover of the last couple of months, and it's hard on the kids.
The tiny ray of hope is that the #2 choice from my interviews is still interested in the position. Hopefully it will work out, but when I interviewed her she had another job that I was concerned would conflict, so we'll see.
8/15/10
Must See Adorableness
I found Mila's Daydreams today and was amazed by the creativity and sheer cuteness. One of those things I wish I had thought of when my girls were little. But then, when my little ones were sleeping, I wouldn't have dared move them for fear that they would wake up!See, I'm not totally old and cranky. I still enjoy pictures of adorable babies--I just don't want to hear them cry!
I'm old and cranky
I have reached the point in my life where screaming children grate on my last nerve. I was in the grocery store today and a little boy (probably about 18 months) kept screeching. His parents have apparently learned to block out this ear-piercing scream, as they seemed completely unaffected and never broke from their conversation
And it now seems that I encounter a similar situation every single time I leave the house--which leaves me eternally grateful that my children are now big kids. I'm sure they had their moments when they were toddlers, but I don't recall allowing them to scream without recourse. And I can count on one hand the number of temper-tantrums they collectively threw.
I miss the cute snuggliness of their toddler years, but I really enjoy the freedom that we have now to get-up-and go, and to go all day if we want (and not have to pack up half the house!). I really enjoyed my shopping trips with the girls these past two days--something that would have been torture just a couple of years ago.
Of course, it's not all rainbows and butterflies. On Friday my nanny called me at work, distraught because the kids had let a stray dog into the house who was taking it upon itself to run around marking his territory--and they told her that I had said it was ok. Of course, I had told them no such thing (they texted me that they had found a stray, and I told them to put it in the backyard with water and that I would deal with it when I got home.) They ended up in a world of trouble--but at least they are old enough to reason with and appreciate why their actions were such a bad idea, once they were explained.
It seems like everyone I know if pregnant right now. A year ago, I might have had some major baby cravings. But in the last 6 months, they have completely disappeared. I got lots of sunggle time with my newborn nephew when MIL was in hospice. I enjoyed the sweet smell of a new baby--but I was awfully darn happy to give him back to his mama when he was inconsolable. And I'm awfully darn happy with my big girls.
And it now seems that I encounter a similar situation every single time I leave the house--which leaves me eternally grateful that my children are now big kids. I'm sure they had their moments when they were toddlers, but I don't recall allowing them to scream without recourse. And I can count on one hand the number of temper-tantrums they collectively threw.
I miss the cute snuggliness of their toddler years, but I really enjoy the freedom that we have now to get-up-and go, and to go all day if we want (and not have to pack up half the house!). I really enjoyed my shopping trips with the girls these past two days--something that would have been torture just a couple of years ago.
Of course, it's not all rainbows and butterflies. On Friday my nanny called me at work, distraught because the kids had let a stray dog into the house who was taking it upon itself to run around marking his territory--and they told her that I had said it was ok. Of course, I had told them no such thing (they texted me that they had found a stray, and I told them to put it in the backyard with water and that I would deal with it when I got home.) They ended up in a world of trouble--but at least they are old enough to reason with and appreciate why their actions were such a bad idea, once they were explained.
It seems like everyone I know if pregnant right now. A year ago, I might have had some major baby cravings. But in the last 6 months, they have completely disappeared. I got lots of sunggle time with my newborn nephew when MIL was in hospice. I enjoyed the sweet smell of a new baby--but I was awfully darn happy to give him back to his mama when he was inconsolable. And I'm awfully darn happy with my big girls.
8/14/10
And so it begins
School, that is. I'm not really ready for school to start again. I enjoy to more relaxed pace of summer, where I get to sleep in an extra half hour because I'm not nagging three kids to move along in the morning, and where we don't lose most of our evening to math homework or PTA programs or back-to-back soccer practices.
Next week is our last week of summer vacation, but the hecticness has already started to creep back in. PS, who is starting her first year of middle school, had cheer camp all last week, and last night we had to rush home for her show-offs. And next week we have back to school nights on Thursday and Friday. We now have the added challenge of kids in two different schools. Meet the teacher nights will also be on consecutive nights the first week of September.
I'm worried about how my quiet, bookish PS will fare in middle school. PS is petite and also the youngest in her class--which makes her the smallest in her class. She looked like a little kid imposing among the much taller cheerleaders last night. Her BFF is about a foot taller than she, but they've always had a huge spread.
Nevertheless, she is apparently growing, because a survey of her closet this morning revealed that all of the shorts I bought at the beginning of summer are now too small. So today we went shopping. She is unfortunately caught between the kids' and juniors' clothing departments. I remember that place well when I was going into junior high--too small for the junior's department and not wanting to wear kid clothes. Fortunately, we now live in a much larger city than I did growing up, and she has more options. She can wear XS t-shirts from Delias, Abercrombie and Aeropostale. And she can wear a size 00 skinny jean at Delias. But the 00 at American Eagle and Aeropostale swallowed her. So we ended up in the kids' department at Old Navy for some basic denim capris and mini-skirts--nothing too obviously from the kids' department. We got some super-cute outfits and a pair of sparkly purple Converse.
Tomorrow I'll take the twins shoe shopping. Their closet is well stocked, thanks to PS's hand-me-downs, but their feet have now overtaken hers (should 4th graders be wearing a Women's size 6???) and the flip-flops they have been living in all summer aren't allowed at school.
Next week is our last week of summer vacation, but the hecticness has already started to creep back in. PS, who is starting her first year of middle school, had cheer camp all last week, and last night we had to rush home for her show-offs. And next week we have back to school nights on Thursday and Friday. We now have the added challenge of kids in two different schools. Meet the teacher nights will also be on consecutive nights the first week of September.
I'm worried about how my quiet, bookish PS will fare in middle school. PS is petite and also the youngest in her class--which makes her the smallest in her class. She looked like a little kid imposing among the much taller cheerleaders last night. Her BFF is about a foot taller than she, but they've always had a huge spread.
Nevertheless, she is apparently growing, because a survey of her closet this morning revealed that all of the shorts I bought at the beginning of summer are now too small. So today we went shopping. She is unfortunately caught between the kids' and juniors' clothing departments. I remember that place well when I was going into junior high--too small for the junior's department and not wanting to wear kid clothes. Fortunately, we now live in a much larger city than I did growing up, and she has more options. She can wear XS t-shirts from Delias, Abercrombie and Aeropostale. And she can wear a size 00 skinny jean at Delias. But the 00 at American Eagle and Aeropostale swallowed her. So we ended up in the kids' department at Old Navy for some basic denim capris and mini-skirts--nothing too obviously from the kids' department. We got some super-cute outfits and a pair of sparkly purple Converse.
Tomorrow I'll take the twins shoe shopping. Their closet is well stocked, thanks to PS's hand-me-downs, but their feet have now overtaken hers (should 4th graders be wearing a Women's size 6???) and the flip-flops they have been living in all summer aren't allowed at school.
8/10/10
Law Dork
I wish that I could blog more about the specifics of my job. My big case just got bigger and may turn out to be one of the most fun (in the lawyer sense) cases I have worked on thus far in my career.
There is a lot of money at stake. There are many wealthy and influential parties. We are treading completely new ground because there is absolutely no related case law in my state (I'm now looking at other states, but this is a pretty state-specific issue.) And to top it all off, opposing counsel is the biggest prick I have ever encountered. He has threatened to personally sue all of the other attorneys involved and had already brought about 10 preposterous claims against my client and the other parties involved. He reminds me of the two-year old who throws a temper-tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants. Which just makes me want to grind him into dust with a stiletto heel.
I'm psyched. It's going to be a hell of a battle, but if the darn thing actually makes it to trial we will be creating a new area of law.
And in almost as exciting news, I officially got rid of the boots today. I actually ditched them last Thursday, but today was my follow-up appointment. My ankles are still broken and I still can't do any serious walking or running or anything else that causes an impact, but at least I can wear real shoes again. Doc also said that I can't do The Great Urban Race--which is a major bummer--but he thought I'd be ok climbing Mayan ruins and ziplining on our cruise in November.
There is a lot of money at stake. There are many wealthy and influential parties. We are treading completely new ground because there is absolutely no related case law in my state (I'm now looking at other states, but this is a pretty state-specific issue.) And to top it all off, opposing counsel is the biggest prick I have ever encountered. He has threatened to personally sue all of the other attorneys involved and had already brought about 10 preposterous claims against my client and the other parties involved. He reminds me of the two-year old who throws a temper-tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants. Which just makes me want to grind him into dust with a stiletto heel.
I'm psyched. It's going to be a hell of a battle, but if the darn thing actually makes it to trial we will be creating a new area of law.
And in almost as exciting news, I officially got rid of the boots today. I actually ditched them last Thursday, but today was my follow-up appointment. My ankles are still broken and I still can't do any serious walking or running or anything else that causes an impact, but at least I can wear real shoes again. Doc also said that I can't do The Great Urban Race--which is a major bummer--but he thought I'd be ok climbing Mayan ruins and ziplining on our cruise in November.
8/4/10
So tired
After a couple of slow months I am hopping again. Big Boss put me on a new case with multiple complex issues, and I have spent the last week doing nothing but intense research. I am exhausted by the end of every day from being "on" all day.
I thought we were in good shape when I left yesterday, and took my time coming in to work this morning, after a week full of very early mornings. I was also planning to cut out of the office early today (I had originally planned to take the day off). Ha! As soon as I hit the office I had an email from Big Boss that was sent late yesterday (guess I hadn't bothered to check my iphone) expecting me to have reviewed a document by the time he got into the office. Oops. Fortunately it was short and I did have time to look over it before he arrived, but it set the tone for the rest of the day.
I finally left at 5:45, but have plenty to do this weekend. But DH and the twins left town for his sister's graduation, and I didn't want to leave PS alone for too long (and I had promised her some mommy time) so I rushed home so we could get some dinner. Then we went to the craft store to get supplies for a birthday present, went to Target for more supplies and the required workout clothes that PS needs for cheer camp next week (that I got an email about 2 days ago, thanks for all the notice), finally made it home by 9, spent an hour putting together our project (which turned out awesome, thankyouverymuch--maybe I'll post pics tomorrow) and collapsed in a heap of exhaustion.
Tomorrow PS and I are going to see Ramona and Beezus and do a little shopping as we meander our way to my uncle's house on the opposite end of the metroplex where my family is convening for my mother's 60th birthday.
Sunday I will finish up my work project because I have a Monday deadline. Hopefully (or maybe not) things will settle down next week. We're waiting the client to make a big decision. It will be a fun case to move forward with because of all of the complex issues--but it will mean a whole lot more craziness. And all of my other cases are acting like neglected children and are whining for attention. But being busy is so much better than the alternative.
I thought we were in good shape when I left yesterday, and took my time coming in to work this morning, after a week full of very early mornings. I was also planning to cut out of the office early today (I had originally planned to take the day off). Ha! As soon as I hit the office I had an email from Big Boss that was sent late yesterday (guess I hadn't bothered to check my iphone) expecting me to have reviewed a document by the time he got into the office. Oops. Fortunately it was short and I did have time to look over it before he arrived, but it set the tone for the rest of the day.
I finally left at 5:45, but have plenty to do this weekend. But DH and the twins left town for his sister's graduation, and I didn't want to leave PS alone for too long (and I had promised her some mommy time) so I rushed home so we could get some dinner. Then we went to the craft store to get supplies for a birthday present, went to Target for more supplies and the required workout clothes that PS needs for cheer camp next week (that I got an email about 2 days ago, thanks for all the notice), finally made it home by 9, spent an hour putting together our project (which turned out awesome, thankyouverymuch--maybe I'll post pics tomorrow) and collapsed in a heap of exhaustion.
Tomorrow PS and I are going to see Ramona and Beezus and do a little shopping as we meander our way to my uncle's house on the opposite end of the metroplex where my family is convening for my mother's 60th birthday.
Sunday I will finish up my work project because I have a Monday deadline. Hopefully (or maybe not) things will settle down next week. We're waiting the client to make a big decision. It will be a fun case to move forward with because of all of the complex issues--but it will mean a whole lot more craziness. And all of my other cases are acting like neglected children and are whining for attention. But being busy is so much better than the alternative.
8/3/10
Go ahead...analyze this one...
Last night I dreamed that people kept giving me dioramas and it was making me really mad. I did not want any more stinkin' dioramas! I swear I woke up every hour last night and every time I went back to sleep I dreamed about another stupid diorama.
I didn't know I had a hidden hatred for dioramas, but I woke up angry because of the diorama dreams.
I didn't know I had a hidden hatred for dioramas, but I woke up angry because of the diorama dreams.
8/1/10
The Great Divide
DH and the girls are at church. I am not. Because I don't believe in God, and I feel like a fraud when I go to church.
This is something of an issue in our marriage, and I'll admit that it's a little unfair to DH. After all, I was a purported Christian when we married. I had been raised in a fundamentalist church before my parents' divorce, and in the Baptist church after. And I grew up in a very conservative, smallish town where not being Christian was not an option. Everybody went to church.
So it wasn't until I went off to college (ironically, a Baptist school) that I began to question, and be turned off by, religion. I couldn't understand why any religion demanded intolerance of others--or why one group could be so certain that it was right and everyone else was wrong.
And this was my state of mind when DH and I married. Not an atheist, slightly agnostic, mostly fed-up with organized religion. And so I attended Catholic church with his devout family, and agreed to be married in the Catholic church because it was important to them and it was not to me.
My fundamentalist relatives thought I was going to Hell for marrying a Catholic, and DH's family assumed that I would eventually convert--especially since my mother had recently converted when she married hubby #3.
We attended the Catholic church together in the early part of our marriage, and had all of our kids baptized in the Catholic church. Even before my atheistic conversion, I thought it completely unnecessary to baptize children, but I did it because it was important to my husband's family and it wasn't a point worth arguing about.
By the time the twins came along, I was pretty much agnostic and going to church with three young children was a lot of trouble (no nursery), so we rarely attended. And sometime thereafter I admitted to myself, and to DH, that I simply didn't believe--and I couldn't make myself believe.
DH does not share my disbelief--and he worries about it. I am a closet atheist. Very few friends and relatives know that I am an atheist. This is partly because my MIL would have been genuinely worried about me--and she didn't need another burden, especially in the last years of her lift. My fundamentalist grandparents would also worry--although that concerns me less, since they already think I am going to Hell.
It is also not socially appropriate to be an atheist in this part of the world. Everyone just assumes you are Christian (unless you are obviously Jewish), and atheists are presumed to be outspoken God-haters who want to destroy Christianity.
For the record, I don't hate God, and I think Christianity is a great moral guidance system. I respect everyone's right to believe--or not--they way that they want. I would just like the same respect extended to my disbelief.
Anyway, one of MIL's deathbed requests was that our children have a religious education. She was clearly bothered that we had not been taking them to church. So DH has been taking them since her death. I feel a bit of guilt for not going--church does seem to be a family kind of thing--but every time I go, I feel like a poser. I don't believe in the songs they are singing or the message the pastor is delivering. And so they go, and I do not.
They kids know my position and their dad's position. They can make the decision about their own beliefs when the time is right for them. But, as DH pointed out, from a cultural standpoint, it is good for them to go to church and learn the bible stories and common biblical references that we all know. (Although, TT has read a 2" think illustrated children's Bible from cover to cover of her own volition, so she's self-educating.)
It's not ideal, but DH and I have mostly come to terms with our different beliefs.
This is something of an issue in our marriage, and I'll admit that it's a little unfair to DH. After all, I was a purported Christian when we married. I had been raised in a fundamentalist church before my parents' divorce, and in the Baptist church after. And I grew up in a very conservative, smallish town where not being Christian was not an option. Everybody went to church.
So it wasn't until I went off to college (ironically, a Baptist school) that I began to question, and be turned off by, religion. I couldn't understand why any religion demanded intolerance of others--or why one group could be so certain that it was right and everyone else was wrong.
And this was my state of mind when DH and I married. Not an atheist, slightly agnostic, mostly fed-up with organized religion. And so I attended Catholic church with his devout family, and agreed to be married in the Catholic church because it was important to them and it was not to me.
My fundamentalist relatives thought I was going to Hell for marrying a Catholic, and DH's family assumed that I would eventually convert--especially since my mother had recently converted when she married hubby #3.
We attended the Catholic church together in the early part of our marriage, and had all of our kids baptized in the Catholic church. Even before my atheistic conversion, I thought it completely unnecessary to baptize children, but I did it because it was important to my husband's family and it wasn't a point worth arguing about.
By the time the twins came along, I was pretty much agnostic and going to church with three young children was a lot of trouble (no nursery), so we rarely attended. And sometime thereafter I admitted to myself, and to DH, that I simply didn't believe--and I couldn't make myself believe.
DH does not share my disbelief--and he worries about it. I am a closet atheist. Very few friends and relatives know that I am an atheist. This is partly because my MIL would have been genuinely worried about me--and she didn't need another burden, especially in the last years of her lift. My fundamentalist grandparents would also worry--although that concerns me less, since they already think I am going to Hell.
It is also not socially appropriate to be an atheist in this part of the world. Everyone just assumes you are Christian (unless you are obviously Jewish), and atheists are presumed to be outspoken God-haters who want to destroy Christianity.
For the record, I don't hate God, and I think Christianity is a great moral guidance system. I respect everyone's right to believe--or not--they way that they want. I would just like the same respect extended to my disbelief.
Anyway, one of MIL's deathbed requests was that our children have a religious education. She was clearly bothered that we had not been taking them to church. So DH has been taking them since her death. I feel a bit of guilt for not going--church does seem to be a family kind of thing--but every time I go, I feel like a poser. I don't believe in the songs they are singing or the message the pastor is delivering. And so they go, and I do not.
They kids know my position and their dad's position. They can make the decision about their own beliefs when the time is right for them. But, as DH pointed out, from a cultural standpoint, it is good for them to go to church and learn the bible stories and common biblical references that we all know. (Although, TT has read a 2" think illustrated children's Bible from cover to cover of her own volition, so she's self-educating.)
It's not ideal, but DH and I have mostly come to terms with our different beliefs.
7/29/10
Dinnertime Silliness
A couple of weeks ago everyone was a little grumpy at dinner, so I declared it British Accent Night. Everyone had to speak in a British accent for the rest of the meal. Anyone who broke character was passed the "naughty card," and the person left holding the naughty card at the end of the meal got clean-up duty.
British Accent Night was a huge hit, and we have since had Pirate Night (Arrr!), Yoda Night (hard it is to converse like Yoda) and Hillbilly night (the kids love the gratuitous use of" ain't" and double negatives). We're planning Robot Night, Pig Latin Night and various other accents for the future.
We've learned that SS can not only nail a British accent, but she also perfectly mimics the mannerisms that one would expect from a proper Brit. I swear, that child was born to be a princess. PS does the best Hillbilly imitation--not sure what that says about her!
Our crazy accents have us all cracking up and have turned out to be a great way to end a stressful day.
British Accent Night was a huge hit, and we have since had Pirate Night (Arrr!), Yoda Night (hard it is to converse like Yoda) and Hillbilly night (the kids love the gratuitous use of" ain't" and double negatives). We're planning Robot Night, Pig Latin Night and various other accents for the future.
We've learned that SS can not only nail a British accent, but she also perfectly mimics the mannerisms that one would expect from a proper Brit. I swear, that child was born to be a princess. PS does the best Hillbilly imitation--not sure what that says about her!
Our crazy accents have us all cracking up and have turned out to be a great way to end a stressful day.
7/27/10
Good News
Saw my GP yesterday. She took more blood than Edward on a full moon. Got the lab results back today and everything is normal. Thyroid normal, calcium normal, vitamin D normal, everything completely normal. Well, except for two broken feet. That's not so normal.
Doc suspects that I nailed the cause as being my extreme pregnancies and the steroids I took while pg with the twins, combined with bad genetics. But she wants me to see an endocrinologist (who knew endocrinologists were the docs who treat osteo?) because the bilateral fractures are so bizarre. Apparently there is a more sophisticated test that can be done to measure whether my bone loss is active, but it will be up to the endo whether to take that step now or try supplementation and exercise and recheck my bone density in a year.
But at least it sounds like there is nothing else crazy going on with my body.
In other good news, Big Boss put me on two big projects Friday. He said that they would require some "heavy lifting" and specifically wanted my analytical abilities on these cases. Then I earned extra brownie points by drafting a letter on Friday that I knew our clients would want by the end of a conference call on Monday. I was concerned that we would be on a tight schedule on Monday, and didn't want to be scrambling. As it turned out, I was absolutely right. And Big Boss was thrilled that I had taken the initiative to have the letter ready before the conference call. (I guarantee that none of the guys in my office, who thrive on procrastination, would have had the foresight to do something before it had to be done.) Woot!
In sleazy opposing counsel news, today OC tried to sneak the name of a mediator into an agreed scheduling order. No notice to me, no "what do you think about this guy?," just added the name of a mediator, apparently thinking that either 1) I won't notice; or 2) I'm just a dumb girl who won't do anything about it. This guy is in his 70's and was a bit condescending in our one phone conversation. And the mediator he unilaterally selected was also in his 70's. I do not need a couple of old golfing buddies who may have had a single female in their law school classes deciding my case. Yeah, not happening.
Oh, and his email addressed me as Mr. LC. I have a total bimbo cheerleader first name. There is no way in heck I could be confused with a man.
Doc suspects that I nailed the cause as being my extreme pregnancies and the steroids I took while pg with the twins, combined with bad genetics. But she wants me to see an endocrinologist (who knew endocrinologists were the docs who treat osteo?) because the bilateral fractures are so bizarre. Apparently there is a more sophisticated test that can be done to measure whether my bone loss is active, but it will be up to the endo whether to take that step now or try supplementation and exercise and recheck my bone density in a year.
But at least it sounds like there is nothing else crazy going on with my body.
In other good news, Big Boss put me on two big projects Friday. He said that they would require some "heavy lifting" and specifically wanted my analytical abilities on these cases. Then I earned extra brownie points by drafting a letter on Friday that I knew our clients would want by the end of a conference call on Monday. I was concerned that we would be on a tight schedule on Monday, and didn't want to be scrambling. As it turned out, I was absolutely right. And Big Boss was thrilled that I had taken the initiative to have the letter ready before the conference call. (I guarantee that none of the guys in my office, who thrive on procrastination, would have had the foresight to do something before it had to be done.) Woot!
In sleazy opposing counsel news, today OC tried to sneak the name of a mediator into an agreed scheduling order. No notice to me, no "what do you think about this guy?," just added the name of a mediator, apparently thinking that either 1) I won't notice; or 2) I'm just a dumb girl who won't do anything about it. This guy is in his 70's and was a bit condescending in our one phone conversation. And the mediator he unilaterally selected was also in his 70's. I do not need a couple of old golfing buddies who may have had a single female in their law school classes deciding my case. Yeah, not happening.
Oh, and his email addressed me as Mr. LC. I have a total bimbo cheerleader first name. There is no way in heck I could be confused with a man.
7/23/10
May I whine?
I'm cranky. The twins birthday is tomorrow. Weeks ago we promised to take them to the amusement park for their birthday. And then sometime last week it dawned on me that it would be quite a challenge to go to the amusement park with my giant robot boots. And I'm not really fit for being on my feet all day right now. So DH and the kids are going without me. And it sucks.
I'm so tired of the f'ing robot boots. They're hot. They're bulky. Every metal filing cabinet in my office now has a big dent at the bottom where I've accidentally kicked it. I feel dumpy and frumpy. I only have like four pairs of pants that fit over the stupid things--which may be a good thing because the velcro on the boots is pulling the hems out of my pants. And I don't like not being able to do stuff with my kids.
And to add to my little pity party, the results of my bone density scan show that I have osteoporosis. I don't have much more info--my ortho referred me back to my GP and I see her on Monday. But my internet research says that it is uncommon for premenopausal women to get osteoporosis and most of the drugs available have only been tested and for postmenopausal women.
Also there is usually a secondary cause of osteo in premenopausal women--so who the hell knows what else might be wrong with me. I'm hoping it is just a result of three very difficult pregnancies where I had severe hypermesis. With my twins I had hyperemesis-induced malnutrition so severe that my doctor told me I was starving to death. And then they put me on massive doses of steroids. And then I breastfed three children. And all of these things are bad on the bones.
I know that there are worse diagnoses--at least I'm not dying of anything. But it is a quality of life issue, and I've seen the effects first hand. I'm just glad I had my kids while I was young, so maybe they'll be grown before I completely fall apart.
I'm so tired of the f'ing robot boots. They're hot. They're bulky. Every metal filing cabinet in my office now has a big dent at the bottom where I've accidentally kicked it. I feel dumpy and frumpy. I only have like four pairs of pants that fit over the stupid things--which may be a good thing because the velcro on the boots is pulling the hems out of my pants. And I don't like not being able to do stuff with my kids.
And to add to my little pity party, the results of my bone density scan show that I have osteoporosis. I don't have much more info--my ortho referred me back to my GP and I see her on Monday. But my internet research says that it is uncommon for premenopausal women to get osteoporosis and most of the drugs available have only been tested and for postmenopausal women.
Also there is usually a secondary cause of osteo in premenopausal women--so who the hell knows what else might be wrong with me. I'm hoping it is just a result of three very difficult pregnancies where I had severe hypermesis. With my twins I had hyperemesis-induced malnutrition so severe that my doctor told me I was starving to death. And then they put me on massive doses of steroids. And then I breastfed three children. And all of these things are bad on the bones.
I know that there are worse diagnoses--at least I'm not dying of anything. But it is a quality of life issue, and I've seen the effects first hand. I'm just glad I had my kids while I was young, so maybe they'll be grown before I completely fall apart.
7/22/10
Law Firm Drama
Our receptionist called in this morning because her pet donkey died rather tragically last night.
Then Queen Bitch Secretary showed up and said, "well, my dog died last night and I'll still here."
Apparently yesterday was not kind to the animal world. Do pets die in threes like celebrities? Maybe I better keep an eye on Bob.
Then Queen Bitch Secretary showed up and said, "well, my dog died last night and I'll still here."
Apparently yesterday was not kind to the animal world. Do pets die in threes like celebrities? Maybe I better keep an eye on Bob.
7/15/10
Conversation with my daughter
Yesterday PS texted me while I was at work:
PS: "Whatcha doin?"
Me: "Modifying an indemnity agreement."
PS: "In terms I understand."
Me: " I don't think I can put it in terms you understand via text."
PS: "How about annotating an important but boring paper?"
Me: "LOL! That's pretty accurate."
I'm not a big texting, but I do think it is good for my relationship with PS. We check in on each other during the day, and have conversations we wouldn't otherwise have. Sometimes she talks about stuff that I don't think she'd bring up face to face. I'm glad that one of the side benefits of my kids' technologically advanced generation is helping to keep them connected to mom.
PS: "Whatcha doin?"
Me: "Modifying an indemnity agreement."
PS: "In terms I understand."
Me: " I don't think I can put it in terms you understand via text."
PS: "How about annotating an important but boring paper?"
Me: "LOL! That's pretty accurate."
I'm not a big texting, but I do think it is good for my relationship with PS. We check in on each other during the day, and have conversations we wouldn't otherwise have. Sometimes she talks about stuff that I don't think she'd bring up face to face. I'm glad that one of the side benefits of my kids' technologically advanced generation is helping to keep them connected to mom.
7/14/10
Oh Internet, how I've missed you
I have been offline for the past five days. Why? Because AT&T sucks. A couple of weeks ago we ditched our landline and had our home phone number transferred to a cell. That meant that something had to happen with our DSL to switch it from regular DSL to naked DSL. But AT&T screwed up somewhere along the way and turned our DSL off last Friday with no notice whatsoever. Despite many hours on the phone with an irate DH, AT&T swore they couldn't get it on before Wednesday. Whatever--there's always a way. AT&T exhibited just about the most abominable customer service I have ever encountered, but I guess they can get away with it because they have no competition for DSL in this area. I would have ditched them, but DH is attached to his email addy.
In other news:
In other news:
- FIL is now married and sent us a text when the deed was done.
- I spent all weekend interviewing and have a new nanny in place. She is way over-qualified--recently laid off. I really like her--I just hope she doesn't ditch us when the economy picks up (couldn't blame her, though.) But at 26, she is already a cancer survivor, and that alone made me want to give her a chance.
- My ankles are still broken and I am stuck in my stupid robot boots for another month. They actually feel about a million times better, so I was really hoping to lose the boots when I went back to the doctor this week.
- I'm having a bone density scan tomorrow to check things out since it is rather uncommon for a 35-year old who is not training for a marathon to fracture both ankles just by running.
7/8/10
It's Coming Like a Freight Train
FIL informed us all this evening via email that he will be getting married out-of-state this weekend, like it or not. He said that he didn't want to meet with us all in person because he didn't want to be ganged up on.
Earlier this week (before the wedding date was announced), SIL sent him a very nicely-worded, non-confrontational email (the complete opposite of what I would be capable of) explaining that we all felt he was moving very quickly and that we did not understand the rush.
FIL's response was basically "we're going to do what we want to do and you all are just going to have to deal with it."
Earlier this week (before the wedding date was announced), SIL sent him a very nicely-worded, non-confrontational email (the complete opposite of what I would be capable of) explaining that we all felt he was moving very quickly and that we did not understand the rush.
FIL's response was basically "we're going to do what we want to do and you all are just going to have to deal with it."
Firing People Sucks
Today I had to fire my nanny. Yesterday she left my 8 year old twins home alone, and chaos ensued.
It had to be done but I didn't like doing it, and I have been in a funk all day. And now I am scrambling to set up interviews this weekend so that I can hopefully have a new caregiver in place next week. I hate interviewing--and then calling the ones who didn't get the job. Blech.
I totally needed more drama in my life right now.
It had to be done but I didn't like doing it, and I have been in a funk all day. And now I am scrambling to set up interviews this weekend so that I can hopefully have a new caregiver in place next week. I hate interviewing--and then calling the ones who didn't get the job. Blech.
I totally needed more drama in my life right now.
7/5/10
The Good, The Bad, & The Awkward
We survived the weekend with FIL and the fiancee. It was awkward, as expected. SIL and family ended up staying with her in-laws, who also live in this area, instead of with us, so we were on our own with entertaining on Saturday. I was civil, but definitely not reeking with southern hospitality.
FIL kept saying, "well, [SIL] is always so busy that I hardly ever see her, and I never hear a word out of [BIL]." Yeah, because they both tried to tell you how they felt about the whole situation and you completely blew them off. Now they don't even feel comfortable stopping by your house anymore. Get your head out of your ass--you're alienating your children and grandchildren.
I don't know what to say. No alarm bells went off, and I detected no ulterior motives, but I simply don't understand the attraction. She is the polar opposite of my ultra-conservative, traditional MIL. Replacement Judy* is a crunchy-granola hippie chick who dresses in purple and rainbows and dangley peace-sign earrings. She has been single for the last 25 years, after a short marriage ended in divorce. She is much more traveled than FIL who has always been happiest in his own backyard.
So while I get that FIL may be grasping at whatever (or whoever) comes along to avoid the grim realities of single-life, I absolutely cannot figure out why Replacement Judy is interested in FIL. Nor can I understand why she thinks its a good idea to go flying into a relationship with someone whose wife has been dead all of 3 months.
On Sunday, SIL's inlaws invited us all for a cookout and swimming before we all attended a baseball game together. FIL and Replacement Judy spent the entire day indoors ("it's too hot"), completely disengaged from their grandchildren who were swimming outdoors. The ball game went about as well. (OMG, I was going to lose my mind if I heard how hot it was one more time. Yes, it's July in [state where it is notoriously hotter than hell in July]--get over it.)
The good is that we had a great time visiting with SIL and her family and the kids loved playing with their cousins and at the baseball game.
They left early this morning, before the girls and I were even out of bed. DH heard them packing up and got up to say goodbye. Which is when FIL informed him that they would be getting married soon and they would not be dealing with the the church-required hoops right now. DH told his dad that he seemed to be rushing things, and FIL's response was "life is short." Then FIL asked if we wanted to participate in the wedding or just get a phone call when it was done.
Um no, we do not want to participate in a wedding, SIL and I had discussed the day before how we weren't sure we could survive a full-on wedding without getting emotional.
SIL also told me that FIL dropped off all of MIL's clothing with SIL#2 a couple of weeks ago and told her to deal with it. The following weekend, SIL was at FIL's house to get the mail while he was out of town. MIL's side of the closet is now filled with purple hippie-chick clothes and there is a purple alarm clock sitting on the nightstand opposite FIL's nightstand. Obviously they have moved in together, but FIL never bothered to mention that little detail.
The whole situation it nauseating. We will be returning to Hometown in a month for SIL's college graduation. We always stay with my inlaws, but there is no way in heck we can stay there now. Guess we'll be getting a hotel. That may bother FIL, but I really don't give a damn, since he obviously doesn't consider anybody else's feelings before he acts. (I just can't believe he put all of MIL's clothing in trashbags and dropped it off with SIL, instead of letting them go and sort through it all.)
Ugh, Ugh, Ugh!
*Have I mentioned that she has the same name as my MIL, "Judy"? Yes, because we needed more awkwardness. So fiancee is referred to as Replacement Judy.
FIL kept saying, "well, [SIL] is always so busy that I hardly ever see her, and I never hear a word out of [BIL]." Yeah, because they both tried to tell you how they felt about the whole situation and you completely blew them off. Now they don't even feel comfortable stopping by your house anymore. Get your head out of your ass--you're alienating your children and grandchildren.
I don't know what to say. No alarm bells went off, and I detected no ulterior motives, but I simply don't understand the attraction. She is the polar opposite of my ultra-conservative, traditional MIL. Replacement Judy* is a crunchy-granola hippie chick who dresses in purple and rainbows and dangley peace-sign earrings. She has been single for the last 25 years, after a short marriage ended in divorce. She is much more traveled than FIL who has always been happiest in his own backyard.
So while I get that FIL may be grasping at whatever (or whoever) comes along to avoid the grim realities of single-life, I absolutely cannot figure out why Replacement Judy is interested in FIL. Nor can I understand why she thinks its a good idea to go flying into a relationship with someone whose wife has been dead all of 3 months.
On Sunday, SIL's inlaws invited us all for a cookout and swimming before we all attended a baseball game together. FIL and Replacement Judy spent the entire day indoors ("it's too hot"), completely disengaged from their grandchildren who were swimming outdoors. The ball game went about as well. (OMG, I was going to lose my mind if I heard how hot it was one more time. Yes, it's July in [state where it is notoriously hotter than hell in July]--get over it.)
The good is that we had a great time visiting with SIL and her family and the kids loved playing with their cousins and at the baseball game.
They left early this morning, before the girls and I were even out of bed. DH heard them packing up and got up to say goodbye. Which is when FIL informed him that they would be getting married soon and they would not be dealing with the the church-required hoops right now. DH told his dad that he seemed to be rushing things, and FIL's response was "life is short." Then FIL asked if we wanted to participate in the wedding or just get a phone call when it was done.
Um no, we do not want to participate in a wedding, SIL and I had discussed the day before how we weren't sure we could survive a full-on wedding without getting emotional.
SIL also told me that FIL dropped off all of MIL's clothing with SIL#2 a couple of weeks ago and told her to deal with it. The following weekend, SIL was at FIL's house to get the mail while he was out of town. MIL's side of the closet is now filled with purple hippie-chick clothes and there is a purple alarm clock sitting on the nightstand opposite FIL's nightstand. Obviously they have moved in together, but FIL never bothered to mention that little detail.
The whole situation it nauseating. We will be returning to Hometown in a month for SIL's college graduation. We always stay with my inlaws, but there is no way in heck we can stay there now. Guess we'll be getting a hotel. That may bother FIL, but I really don't give a damn, since he obviously doesn't consider anybody else's feelings before he acts. (I just can't believe he put all of MIL's clothing in trashbags and dropped it off with SIL, instead of letting them go and sort through it all.)
Ugh, Ugh, Ugh!
*Have I mentioned that she has the same name as my MIL, "Judy"? Yes, because we needed more awkwardness. So fiancee is referred to as Replacement Judy.
7/1/10
Booked our first cruise today--yay!
We will be traveling kid-free to celebrate our 15th anniversary this year. Our anniversary is in December, but we are cruising in November because we don't want to abandon the kids over the holidays and it is just too darn expensive then. We're doing a 7-day cruise to Belize, Roatan and Cozumel. I'm so excited! I can spend hours just looking at pictures on Flikr. All of those places look so beautiful and peaceful. (Then again, so does Jamaica, and there have been deadly uprisings there in recent weeks.)
We did go for the balcony (for those who responded to my inquiry several weeks ago). It wasn't too much more, and seemed worth the splurge since it is a rare trip with just the two of us. I am envisioning lots of time on it catching up on my reading, and maybe ordering room service for breakfast on the balcony. Crowds by the pool do not appeal to me.
Now I just have to figure out what to do on the shore excursions. Mayan ruins, shopping, sitting on the beach, ziplining, snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, parasailing? My problem is that I want to do it all. And on most vacations I try to cram it all in, which just leaves me needing a vacation from my vacation. I am really going to try to actually relax this time around. Really.
We did go for the balcony (for those who responded to my inquiry several weeks ago). It wasn't too much more, and seemed worth the splurge since it is a rare trip with just the two of us. I am envisioning lots of time on it catching up on my reading, and maybe ordering room service for breakfast on the balcony. Crowds by the pool do not appeal to me.
Now I just have to figure out what to do on the shore excursions. Mayan ruins, shopping, sitting on the beach, ziplining, snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, parasailing? My problem is that I want to do it all. And on most vacations I try to cram it all in, which just leaves me needing a vacation from my vacation. I am really going to try to actually relax this time around. Really.
6/28/10
Why 35 year-old slightly overweight lawyers should not suddenly decide to start exercising
Finally saw the doc today about my aching ankles. My self-diagnosis via the powers of the internet was that I had tendonitis in both ankles. As usual, I was wrong.
I have stress fractures in both ankles. And I have to wear boots on both feet for at least the next three weeks. They are ginormous and look completely ridiculous. The doc said he's never seen someone jack up both feet at the same time from running before, and the guy that had to build them for me said, "are you sure you need two? We don't ever put anyone in two boots!"
Yes, I am a total dork, and it is embarrassing to have to walk around in these things--especially when I don't even have a cool story to tell.
One of the snarky secretaries said, "so that wasn't caused by your stripper shoes?" Yeah, just because I wear heels instead of clunky clogs circa 1995 does not render them "stripper shoes."
I have stress fractures in both ankles. And I have to wear boots on both feet for at least the next three weeks. They are ginormous and look completely ridiculous. The doc said he's never seen someone jack up both feet at the same time from running before, and the guy that had to build them for me said, "are you sure you need two? We don't ever put anyone in two boots!"
Yes, I am a total dork, and it is embarrassing to have to walk around in these things--especially when I don't even have a cool story to tell.
One of the snarky secretaries said, "so that wasn't caused by your stripper shoes?" Yeah, just because I wear heels instead of clunky clogs circa 1995 does not render them "stripper shoes."
6/24/10
The Insanity That Is My Life
We went to an outdoor summer concert tonight, and as we were driving home about about 9:30, DH said to the girls, "what are you planning to wear tomorrow?" Tomorrow is Take Your Kids to Work Day at DH's office, and as he put it, the chance to be judged by your offspring.
As it turned out, I had just ordered the twins some adorable summer dresses (these are so cute on, the picture doesn't do them justice!) that I was holding for their birthday, but they are perfect for this event, so I pulled them out.
The only problem is that they have no decent summer shoes. They pretty much live in flip-flops and I never got around to buying summer sandals. And their fabulous sparkly flip flops floated downriver when we had our little canoeing incident. And I just threw out their ballet flats because they were worn to the point of embarrassment.
So where does one go when there is a shoe emergency at 10:00 p.m.? Our only alternative was Wal-Mart (which I hate with a white hot passion). Ick. I usually go for higher quality on the kids' feet, but out options were limited.
Actually, I didn't go--because I am sitting on the couch icing my achy ankles. (I can't actually see my ankle bone right now. I have my share of fat, but it has never resided on my ankles.) I sent DH shoe shopping at Wal-Mart at 10:00 at night with three girls. (And despite all my bragging about DH on Father's Day, shoe shopping generally falls squarely within my jurisdiction.)
So he has been texting me pictures of the girls trying on shoes, and I respond whether it will go with her outfit or not and whether it looks to big or too small. It's actually a pretty effective way to shop, considering the circumstances. And the girls will be properly attired and shod when the go to work with dad tomorrow.
As it turned out, I had just ordered the twins some adorable summer dresses (these are so cute on, the picture doesn't do them justice!) that I was holding for their birthday, but they are perfect for this event, so I pulled them out.
The only problem is that they have no decent summer shoes. They pretty much live in flip-flops and I never got around to buying summer sandals. And their fabulous sparkly flip flops floated downriver when we had our little canoeing incident. And I just threw out their ballet flats because they were worn to the point of embarrassment.
So where does one go when there is a shoe emergency at 10:00 p.m.? Our only alternative was Wal-Mart (which I hate with a white hot passion). Ick. I usually go for higher quality on the kids' feet, but out options were limited.
Actually, I didn't go--because I am sitting on the couch icing my achy ankles. (I can't actually see my ankle bone right now. I have my share of fat, but it has never resided on my ankles.) I sent DH shoe shopping at Wal-Mart at 10:00 at night with three girls. (And despite all my bragging about DH on Father's Day, shoe shopping generally falls squarely within my jurisdiction.)
So he has been texting me pictures of the girls trying on shoes, and I respond whether it will go with her outfit or not and whether it looks to big or too small. It's actually a pretty effective way to shop, considering the circumstances. And the girls will be properly attired and shod when the go to work with dad tomorrow.
Is there anything more awkward...
than standing in an elevator vestibule with a federal judge when you're a woman? Because you want to be respectful and allow him first entry onto the elevator. But he is a gentleman with a "ladies first" mentality. So you do an awkward little dance for a minute, before you hop on just to avoid any more awkwardness.
And speaking of federal judges and elevators, last week I was in an elevator in the federal courthouse, and the woman riding with me commented, "it is just cruel and unusual punishment to have to wear a suit and pantyhouse in this heat."
To which I responded, "yes, that's why I went with the pantsuit."
To which she responded, "well, the last federal court I practiced in was in Oklahoma and women were required to wear skirts."
Wow. I've heard tales of federal judges requiring women to wear skirts, but I had no idea where these mythical judges resided. Note to self: never take a case in Oklahoma.
In other news, thanks to all your recommendations for healing my aching ankles. I haven't run since Saturday morning, and they are still throbbing and swollen. I'm afraid if I run again, I'll screw them up worse--even with new shoes. So today I made an appointment with an orthopedist, but I can't get in until next week. I feel like a whiner, but I can't keep hobbling around like an old lady.
And speaking of federal judges and elevators, last week I was in an elevator in the federal courthouse, and the woman riding with me commented, "it is just cruel and unusual punishment to have to wear a suit and pantyhouse in this heat."
To which I responded, "yes, that's why I went with the pantsuit."
To which she responded, "well, the last federal court I practiced in was in Oklahoma and women were required to wear skirts."
Wow. I've heard tales of federal judges requiring women to wear skirts, but I had no idea where these mythical judges resided. Note to self: never take a case in Oklahoma.
In other news, thanks to all your recommendations for healing my aching ankles. I haven't run since Saturday morning, and they are still throbbing and swollen. I'm afraid if I run again, I'll screw them up worse--even with new shoes. So today I made an appointment with an orthopedist, but I can't get in until next week. I feel like a whiner, but I can't keep hobbling around like an old lady.
6/20/10
Happy Father's Day!
The girls presented DH with a menu this morning and are now in the kitchen making breakfast in bed. (Fortunately, I bought some canned cinnamon rolls at the grocery store last week, so they aren't doing anything that will totally destroy my kitchen.) And DH was one of the elite 600,000 who managed to score the new iphone, so his father's day is all taken care of.
I must say that DH is an awesome dad. Neither his dad nor mine were the super-involved fatherly types, but he is the exact opposite. When the kids were babies he did everything that I did (well, except feed them, but only because he doesn't have boobs.) When I was a SAHM he bathed them every night, giving me a few precious minutes of kid-free time. And he certainly stepped up through law school and my new career. More often than not, he is the first one home and stuck throwing dinner together. He has slaved over homework and school projects. He has stayed home from work when a kid was barfing her guts up. And when I had hyperemesis with all of my pregnancies, he dumped my throw-up bowl when I was too weak to walk to the bathroom.
Maybe all of this shouldn't be seen as anything special--after all, we moms do it all without blinking. But the fact is that there are still many, many men who do not participate equally in child rearing. I'm lucky to have one who does his full share and even takes over mine when necessary. And honestly, I don't know how I could make work it as an attorney and a mom without DH.
I <3 DH.
I must say that DH is an awesome dad. Neither his dad nor mine were the super-involved fatherly types, but he is the exact opposite. When the kids were babies he did everything that I did (well, except feed them, but only because he doesn't have boobs.) When I was a SAHM he bathed them every night, giving me a few precious minutes of kid-free time. And he certainly stepped up through law school and my new career. More often than not, he is the first one home and stuck throwing dinner together. He has slaved over homework and school projects. He has stayed home from work when a kid was barfing her guts up. And when I had hyperemesis with all of my pregnancies, he dumped my throw-up bowl when I was too weak to walk to the bathroom.
Maybe all of this shouldn't be seen as anything special--after all, we moms do it all without blinking. But the fact is that there are still many, many men who do not participate equally in child rearing. I'm lucky to have one who does his full share and even takes over mine when necessary. And honestly, I don't know how I could make work it as an attorney and a mom without DH.
I <3 DH.
6/19/10
Hobbled
So we are starting our third week of running with the C25K plan and I can barely walk. I was fine after the first couple of runs. And then my right ankle started hurting the day after I ran and got progressively worse with the next couple of runs.
My internet research and the bottoms of my shoes indicate that I am an overpronator.* I've been intending to go to a running store to confirm my self-diagnosis and be fitted for supportive running shoes, but I haven't had the time.
So this morning I tried switching shoes to a pair of trail walking shoes, hoping they would be more supportive. I made it through my run, but was in major pain by the time I hit my driveway. And now I can barely walk. The left ankle (which I haven't had any problems with before today) feels like it is going to buckle if I put any weight on it, and both feet are throbbing. I feel like I have two sprained ankles.
This sucks. I don't want to give up running. DH and I are doing it together and I'm pretty impressed we've stuck it out so far since exercise isn't really our thing. And I can set goals where I get to compete against others. I want to do a 5k in the fall and have set the time I want to hit. Can't really do that if I am relegated to an eliptical because my joints can't take running.
And I'm a little concerned that this throbbing is an indicator of arthritis. Because my mother has rheumatoid arthritis (which is genetic) and had both hips, shoulders and knees replaced before she was 50 (and has since had some of them re-done). It started setting in when she was about my age and she broke her hip when she was in her early-40s and I was a senior in high school (at one of my band concerts). I so do not need to inherit that crap.
* Everything I've read says that overpronators are usually heavy and have flat feet. I have a few pounds to lose, but I don't think I'm that heavy or that I have flat feet. I suspect that the stiletto heels that I wear every day are to blame for screwing up my feet. Or maybe they were already screwed up--I did have ankle braces when I was a baby.
My internet research and the bottoms of my shoes indicate that I am an overpronator.* I've been intending to go to a running store to confirm my self-diagnosis and be fitted for supportive running shoes, but I haven't had the time.
So this morning I tried switching shoes to a pair of trail walking shoes, hoping they would be more supportive. I made it through my run, but was in major pain by the time I hit my driveway. And now I can barely walk. The left ankle (which I haven't had any problems with before today) feels like it is going to buckle if I put any weight on it, and both feet are throbbing. I feel like I have two sprained ankles.
This sucks. I don't want to give up running. DH and I are doing it together and I'm pretty impressed we've stuck it out so far since exercise isn't really our thing. And I can set goals where I get to compete against others. I want to do a 5k in the fall and have set the time I want to hit. Can't really do that if I am relegated to an eliptical because my joints can't take running.
And I'm a little concerned that this throbbing is an indicator of arthritis. Because my mother has rheumatoid arthritis (which is genetic) and had both hips, shoulders and knees replaced before she was 50 (and has since had some of them re-done). It started setting in when she was about my age and she broke her hip when she was in her early-40s and I was a senior in high school (at one of my band concerts). I so do not need to inherit that crap.
* Everything I've read says that overpronators are usually heavy and have flat feet. I have a few pounds to lose, but I don't think I'm that heavy or that I have flat feet. I suspect that the stiletto heels that I wear every day are to blame for screwing up my feet. Or maybe they were already screwed up--I did have ankle braces when I was a baby.
6/13/10
OMG--He's Getting Married!
FIL, that is. He just called and dropped this little bomb on us. 3 1/2 months after MIL died. We haven't even met this woman yet.
DH is dumbfounded and I am horrified. I think it is disgraceful. Seriously, he can't be alone for ten fucking minutes? And he apparently doesn't give a shit what impact this has on his kids, who are still grieving the loss of their mom. The thought of another woman moving into her house, moving out her things, just makes me sick. (FIL literally built the house, and, of course, MIL decorated it. He's sworn he won't sell his house, but I guess that could change depending upon how the new little wifey feels.)
MIL waited on him hand and foot during the 35 years they were married--just like June and Ward. I was actually a little horrified by how old-school their relationship was. And then I became so proud of the way FIL stepped up and took care of MIL's every need when she got sick. He learned to do things that he had never had to do in his life (like cooking and laundry). He seemed to be a completely different man, and we thought that he would be ok on his own after MIL was gone.
But I guess he still needs a woman to take care of him, because his little bout of independence sure didn't last very long.
And, of course, mixed in with my anger, is very real concern. How can this not be a rebound relationship? How can they even know each other after such a short time? I'm afraid that his rush to cure loneliness will end with regret.
Ugh! I am just to horrified by this whole situation. It is going to be hard to be pleasant when they come down. I'm sure my tongue will be bloody from biting it.
DH is dumbfounded and I am horrified. I think it is disgraceful. Seriously, he can't be alone for ten fucking minutes? And he apparently doesn't give a shit what impact this has on his kids, who are still grieving the loss of their mom. The thought of another woman moving into her house, moving out her things, just makes me sick. (FIL literally built the house, and, of course, MIL decorated it. He's sworn he won't sell his house, but I guess that could change depending upon how the new little wifey feels.)
MIL waited on him hand and foot during the 35 years they were married--just like June and Ward. I was actually a little horrified by how old-school their relationship was. And then I became so proud of the way FIL stepped up and took care of MIL's every need when she got sick. He learned to do things that he had never had to do in his life (like cooking and laundry). He seemed to be a completely different man, and we thought that he would be ok on his own after MIL was gone.
But I guess he still needs a woman to take care of him, because his little bout of independence sure didn't last very long.
And, of course, mixed in with my anger, is very real concern. How can this not be a rebound relationship? How can they even know each other after such a short time? I'm afraid that his rush to cure loneliness will end with regret.
Ugh! I am just to horrified by this whole situation. It is going to be hard to be pleasant when they come down. I'm sure my tongue will be bloody from biting it.
Off my butt
DH and I have grown tired of our pasty, flabby bodies and have started doing the couch to 5K program. (BTW, for anyone doing this, the iphone app is a must.) Since I'm goal-oriented (and cheap), I was searching for a 5K to run in the fall. I figured if I had a race to work toward and had already spent the cash to register, I would be more likely to stick with it. Even if it's only $30, its just not in me to pay for something and then not do it. So that's my new exercise plan. We'll see how it works out. Right now, I'm feeling muscles I forgot I had and my calves burn like they're on fire when I run. (I wonder if this has something to do with spending most of my day in heels, so my muscles just aren't used to walking in a flat shoe for an extended period. Or maybe it's just because I don't run. Ever.)
Anyway, when I was looking for a race, I found The Great Urban Race. This looks like so much fun and it benefits St. Jude's! It's not so much a footrace as an Amazing Race-type challenge, with clues and trivia and obstacles. What we lack in brawn, we make up for in brains and geekiness (we rock Trivial Pursuit, and our geocaching experience should help out) so this is perfect for us. And it's something we can do with PS--she loves this kind of stuff. I'm so excited about doing this!
Anyway, when I was looking for a race, I found The Great Urban Race. This looks like so much fun and it benefits St. Jude's! It's not so much a footrace as an Amazing Race-type challenge, with clues and trivia and obstacles. What we lack in brawn, we make up for in brains and geekiness (we rock Trivial Pursuit, and our geocaching experience should help out) so this is perfect for us. And it's something we can do with PS--she loves this kind of stuff. I'm so excited about doing this!
6/11/10
Not ready for this
FIL called and asked if he could come for a visit over the July 4th weekend. And bring his girlfriend. I am not at all excited. I don't want to meet FIL's girlfriend and I sure as heck don't want to spend an entire weekend entertaining her in my house. And, of course, we are wondering just how quickly things are moving with FIL and this woman since FIL is suddenly so determined that we meet her.
But I guess we are just going to have to suck it up and deal, right? I mean, nothing can be worse than watching MIL die, so if we can get through that I suppose that we can get through anything. It just feels like such a betrayal to MIL.
To alleviate some of the awkwardness, we've invited SIL and her family to come down as well. Thankfully, they've agreed. Having 12 people in the house should definitely cut down on the awkward silence moments. I think we'll invite DH's other sibs as well--then we'd really have a full house.
But I guess we are just going to have to suck it up and deal, right? I mean, nothing can be worse than watching MIL die, so if we can get through that I suppose that we can get through anything. It just feels like such a betrayal to MIL.
To alleviate some of the awkwardness, we've invited SIL and her family to come down as well. Thankfully, they've agreed. Having 12 people in the house should definitely cut down on the awkward silence moments. I think we'll invite DH's other sibs as well--then we'd really have a full house.
6/7/10
And now for something new and different
I spent a good hunk of my week drafting proposed legislation. And, yes, I'm geeky enough to think that's cool. This is not something that I have previously done, or even anticipated doing, in my legal career, but I actually like it and am getting great insight into the political system.
My firm serves a niche industry and we are general counsel for a couple of trade groups in that industry. Therefore, we get first stab at modifying legislation to benefit our clients. Then we submit it to competing trade groups to try to come to an agreement before sending it to our sponsoring legislator to be hashed out again by the politicians.
Big Boss told me that I would be the second chair on this project as we negotiate and redraft in preparation for the next legislative session. I'm psyched!
My firm serves a niche industry and we are general counsel for a couple of trade groups in that industry. Therefore, we get first stab at modifying legislation to benefit our clients. Then we submit it to competing trade groups to try to come to an agreement before sending it to our sponsoring legislator to be hashed out again by the politicians.
Big Boss told me that I would be the second chair on this project as we negotiate and redraft in preparation for the next legislative session. I'm psyched!
5/31/10
Fantastic Weekend
Several weeks ago I booked a cabin for Memorial Day weekend. There was a little blind faith involved, as the internet description was vague and there were only a few photographs. The pictures of the deck sold me, and I was not disappointed Our cabin had a multi-level deck that led from the top floor of the cabin all the way down (about 100 feet) to a dock right on the river. The pic here is DH on the last landing before the dock, taken from one of the mid-level decks.We had such a perfect, peaceful weekend. We took three canoe-trips, which were the highlights for me. Well, except for the second one when DH and the twins tipped their canoe in chest-deep water (on DH) and he had to rescue both kids (SS was trapped under the canoe!) and flip it back over. PS and I were a little bit behind them, and did not witness DH's superdad performance. We came around a bend to find DH standing in the middle of the river and the twins shivering in a water filled canoe and crying because they had lost their sparkly flip-flops. But we got everybody sorted out, finished our trip, and convinced the girls to go canoeing again this morning (in calmer waters).
We had hoped to spend yesterday hiking, but DH twisted his knee during the rescue effort, and we didn't want to push it. Instead they fished all day while I sat on the deck reading trashy magazines with a glass of wine. They caught about a bazillion (17) fish. Which went something like this, "Daddy, Daddy, I think I've got one! Look, look, I really got one! Eww, eww, eww, don't let it touch me!" As she holds the pole as far away as possible so the flopping fish doesn't touch her. And then PS would scream "it's dying, it's dying, put it back! You're going to kill it! You have to put it back in the water!"
See, the problem is that nobody, except DH, will eat fish. And I haven't a clue how to cook a fish. So it was a catch and release effort.
It was a great trip, and we're thinking of going back for July 4th. It's was short enough drive for a quick weekend trip, and secluded enough to avoid overwhelming crowds on a holiday weekend.
5/20/10
We rocked the science fair!
PS took first place in the 6th grade. All 6th graders were required to participate, so she beat out over 100 other kids! And I was very impressed by the quality of their projects. Apparently what set PS apart was her presentation--she was actually able to explain all of the science behind her rocket experiment. DH spent a lot of time teaching her how rockets work and they did a lot of research. And PS just happened to study outliers in her math class this week, which helped explain some of her data.
TT's and SS's classes broke into groups and did their projects in class. Their groups took 2nd and 3rd in the 3rd grade (but there were significantly fewer competitors).
PS's principal and science teacher both raved about her. And then her science teacher started convincing me that PS REALLY needs to take the aerospace class in middle school. Apparently our school district just got a 7-figure grant and will be participating in the National Space Grant Student Satellite Program. Over the next five years, the aerospace classes will conduct increasingly sophisticated experiments culminating in the launch of an real space satellite in 2015! How cool is that?? Previously unbeknownst to me one of the private companies working on space tourism is based right in our little suburb, and will be helping out with this little project.
Science Teacher went on and on about what a great student PS is and how she will be perfect for this program and all of the opportunities that it would provide to her. Apparently aerospace companies and big-name universities heavily recruit students who participate in these programs. (And I'm sure being a girl is an added advantage for PS, since the engineering field in general is desperate for more women.)
I'm so excited--I want to go back to school so that I can do this program! Yea for science nerds!
TT's and SS's classes broke into groups and did their projects in class. Their groups took 2nd and 3rd in the 3rd grade (but there were significantly fewer competitors).
PS's principal and science teacher both raved about her. And then her science teacher started convincing me that PS REALLY needs to take the aerospace class in middle school. Apparently our school district just got a 7-figure grant and will be participating in the National Space Grant Student Satellite Program. Over the next five years, the aerospace classes will conduct increasingly sophisticated experiments culminating in the launch of an real space satellite in 2015! How cool is that?? Previously unbeknownst to me one of the private companies working on space tourism is based right in our little suburb, and will be helping out with this little project.
Science Teacher went on and on about what a great student PS is and how she will be perfect for this program and all of the opportunities that it would provide to her. Apparently aerospace companies and big-name universities heavily recruit students who participate in these programs. (And I'm sure being a girl is an added advantage for PS, since the engineering field in general is desperate for more women.)
I'm so excited--I want to go back to school so that I can do this program! Yea for science nerds!
5/19/10
My zoo
In addition to the kids, we also have a dog, Bob, two cats, Voldemort and Harley, a guinea pig, Stephanie, and whatever other creatures my children have trapped in a jar in any given week (lizards, spiders, crickets, grasshoppers, snakes).
Bob is a black lab and a big dumb lug. Whenever we are home he follows us around, and lays next to us. He refuses to spend more than 5 minutes outdoors when his family is inside. And he thinks he is the Incredible Hulk when caged. He has literally ripped apart a chain link kennel outdoors and a metal crate that we use indoors. Apparently he has separation anxiety.
Bob's favorite pastime is chasing the cats. Harley has made friends with Bob. In fact, Harley will follow Bob around, stand under his front paws underneath Bob, and nuzzle his chin and groom his ears.
Voldy, however, has already been a little spazzy. He doesn't like people (except for PS). And he doesn't like Bob. Bob still likes to chase Voldy, and Voldy just freezes and makes no attempt to escape Bob.
Now Voldy is going bald. Because whenever Bob slobbers on him, he starts grooming himself --and never stops. I took Voldy to the vet today. Vet says Voldy is stressed. The probable trigger is Bob (duh). So we can either start giving Voldy Xanax, or we can try to reduce his stressors.
Great. All of my animals have psychological problems. My dog has separation anxiety and my cat has anxiety caused by the dog. Better the animals than the kids, I guess. Now I just have to figure out how to train my hunting dog not to hunt the cats, which has got to be easier than trying to shove a pill down a cat every day.
5/15/10
I'm a Rocket (Wo)Man
For PS's science fair project she decided to launch model rockets with various nose cone shapes to learn which would reach the highest altitude. She and DH assembled her rocket a couple of weeks ago, and we had to wait for the special nose cones that we ordered online. We finally had everything ready to go last weekend, but it was insanely windy. And it has been windy or rainy every single day for the last week.
Finally today, the rain stopped and the wind died down, so we headed to the school park to launch our rockets. Unfortunately, thanks to all of the rain we were sinking i
n the mud and getting filthy. But we got 10 good launches and had great fun.It was truly a family experiment. PS was timing the rocket has it ascended. DH and I used homemade altimeters to measure the height, and the twins took turns launching the rockets and playing photographer.
5/13/10
Making Mommy Proud
This morning PS was peeved because TT was wearing her shorts. TT came into my room to inform me that PS had told her that she had to take off the shorts or pay her $1. I told TT that she didn't have time to change, and since I bought all of PS's clothes, she did not have the right to charge rent for them.
A few minutes later both girls came running downstairs with a piece of paper--a contract. It read "I [TT] promise not to wear [PS's] clothes without permission or unless mom or dad says I have to." With signature lines and everything.
TT wanted me to review it before she signed. I informed them that it was not an enforceable contract unless supported by consideration. TT was the only one giving up anything--the right to steal her sister's clothes.
The girls disappeared again, and when they came back downstairs the next time TT was carrying a stuffed dog and PS had her signed contract.
PS says she has no interest in becoming a lawyer, but I still think there's hope.
A few minutes later both girls came running downstairs with a piece of paper--a contract. It read "I [TT] promise not to wear [PS's] clothes without permission or unless mom or dad says I have to." With signature lines and everything.
TT wanted me to review it before she signed. I informed them that it was not an enforceable contract unless supported by consideration. TT was the only one giving up anything--the right to steal her sister's clothes.
The girls disappeared again, and when they came back downstairs the next time TT was carrying a stuffed dog and PS had her signed contract.
PS says she has no interest in becoming a lawyer, but I still think there's hope.
5/10/10
Dauphin Island
I was saddened to see on the news this morning that tar balls from the oil spill were appearing on the shores of Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island is a tiny island that separates Mobile Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. There is one bridge leading to the island from Mobile, and a ferry on the other end of the island that took you to the other side of Mobile Bay (toward Gulf Shores).
We rented a beach house there a few years ago, after hearing about the beautiful beaches in Alabama. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are the better known beach towns, and allegedly have prettier beaches than Dauphin Island. But we visited Gulf Shores during our visit and I didn't notice that Gulf Shores was especially prettier than Dauphin Island. Gulf Shores was, however, far more crowded and commercialized. Huge condos lines the beaches and tacky souvenir shops abounded.
Dauphin Island was primarily beach houses (I think there were one or two condos, but they weren't super high-rises). Ours was about 100 yards from the beach. And there was nobody around (it was the off-season, but Gulf Shores was much busier). There weren't many tacky souvenir shops, and really, not even many restaurants. It was just a place to fish and play in the sand and grill out from the deck of your beach house.
There was also a really cool fort and a wild bird sanctuary with walking trails.
My kids rank our Dauphin Island vacation right up there with our trip to Disney, and have been begging to go back. I hope the oil spill doesn't cause too much harm. The island was still recovering from Katrina when we were there, and I think it has since been damaged by a subsequent hurricane. It's a lovely little island that is a refreshing change from the typical commercialized beach town.
5/9/10
Happy Mother's Day!
I hope all of the MILP's are having a happy and relaxing weekend.Since I was supposed to be in trial for the last week, my workload was especially light last week. I took Friday off to attend PS' field day. By mid-afternoon, PS was no longer competing and I could feel my skin starting to burn (indeed, I got my first sunburn of the season despite slathering myself in SPF 85. The great irony of my life will be dying of skin cancer, having never had a tan.), so I took off and got a pedicure before picking up the girls from school. It was a nice jump-start to the weekend.
We had soccer yesterday morning, and then went to Lowe's where I picked out two trellises with hanging plants to frame the walkway up to my house. Spent the rest of the afternoon doing nothing!* That doesn't happen very often.
Unfortunately, last night we decided to watch Time Traveler's Wife. I had read the bock many years ago, but I really don't remember books or movies, and I didn't recall what a downer this movie was. Of course, this Mother's Day is an especially tough one for DH, and I think that movie just increased his funk.
I wish that we were close enough to put flowers on MIL's grave. It seems like we should do something to remember her today--but I'm not sure what. I sent flowers to DH's sisters earlier in the week, and asked the florist to use the same lilies that we had picked out for MIL's casket spray (is that weird?), just to let them know that we were thinking about them and their mom.
Nothing much going on today. We'll probably do a little grocery shopping, work on PS' science fair project and then throw something out on the grill for dinner tonight. Perfect Sunday afternoon.
*By doing nothing, I mean that I spent most of my afternoon researching cruise options for our 15th anniversary this year. I really, really want to go to Bora Bora, but I don't feel comfortable being that far from the kids (the only person I would have left them with for a trip like that is MIL). So now we're thinking a Caribbean cruise--where we could be back home in a matter of hours in an emergency. And I am astonished at how inexpensive cruising can be! Why have we never cruised before? I think I've narrowed down which cruise I want to take--not it's just figuring out which cabin. Apparently location is important. But is it worth it to spring for a balcony? And yes, I am a total nerd and research everything to death.
5/1/10
Setting Limits
I figured out pretty quickly as a law student trying to find a job that being a mom was not working to my benefit. So I removed anything that hinted at my child-having status from my resume (basically my volunteer work) and avoided the topic during interviews.
My first boss had absolutely no idea that I had kids when he hired me. And I am 100% certain that he would not have hired me if he had know I was a mom. (This is not just my speculation--others 'in the know' have said the same.) Of course, he eventually figured it out--after I had been working there for several months.
And in my first job I was careful not to mention my kids whenever I had to leave because something was going on with them. I always non-specifically said that I had an appointment. This actually worked for me. It gave me the opportunity to prove that I was competent and professional and could get the job done without being marred by the "mom prejudice."
But this isn't something that I want for future lawyer moms, and the only way things are going to change is if those of us who are more established in our field stand up and prove what we're perfectly capable of managing both our careers and our families.
My new bosses knew that I had kids from my first interview--but by then I had a good track record to back myself up. Still, I was conscious not to have too many kid appointments and to prove myself as a go-to girl in my early days with my current firm. And now, I think I've done that.
So when I have to take a kid to the doctor, I said so. And last week, when my boss (a childless junior partner) said that he wanted us in the office at 9 on Saturday morning to prep for our trial on Tuesday, I said no. My kids have soccer games on Saturday mornings. I've been home before bedtime maybe twice in the last two weeks and we would be out of town for one to two weeks for trial. I needed that time with my girls. I was prefectly fine with devoting the vast majority of my weekend to trial prep, but I was not missing my kids' games on Saturday morning.
I think he was a little surprised that I was drawing this line in the sand just 3 days before trial, but he didn't object. I love my job, but it does take a lot of time away from my family, and I have to set limits to ensure that it doesn't take over my entire life. I have yet to miss a concert or school play or soccer game, and I don't intend to without a very good reason.
In the end, it was moot. My case settled today (while I was at the soccer games), and the 90 bazillion hours that I have billed in the last two weeks were for naught. I'm disappointed not to be going to trial, but it is nice to have my weekend free. And of course, I know the stats as well as any litigator and knew the chances of settling increased with every day we got closer to trial. I don't know what I'll do with all my free time at work next week.
My first boss had absolutely no idea that I had kids when he hired me. And I am 100% certain that he would not have hired me if he had know I was a mom. (This is not just my speculation--others 'in the know' have said the same.) Of course, he eventually figured it out--after I had been working there for several months.
And in my first job I was careful not to mention my kids whenever I had to leave because something was going on with them. I always non-specifically said that I had an appointment. This actually worked for me. It gave me the opportunity to prove that I was competent and professional and could get the job done without being marred by the "mom prejudice."
But this isn't something that I want for future lawyer moms, and the only way things are going to change is if those of us who are more established in our field stand up and prove what we're perfectly capable of managing both our careers and our families.
My new bosses knew that I had kids from my first interview--but by then I had a good track record to back myself up. Still, I was conscious not to have too many kid appointments and to prove myself as a go-to girl in my early days with my current firm. And now, I think I've done that.
So when I have to take a kid to the doctor, I said so. And last week, when my boss (a childless junior partner) said that he wanted us in the office at 9 on Saturday morning to prep for our trial on Tuesday, I said no. My kids have soccer games on Saturday mornings. I've been home before bedtime maybe twice in the last two weeks and we would be out of town for one to two weeks for trial. I needed that time with my girls. I was prefectly fine with devoting the vast majority of my weekend to trial prep, but I was not missing my kids' games on Saturday morning.
I think he was a little surprised that I was drawing this line in the sand just 3 days before trial, but he didn't object. I love my job, but it does take a lot of time away from my family, and I have to set limits to ensure that it doesn't take over my entire life. I have yet to miss a concert or school play or soccer game, and I don't intend to without a very good reason.
In the end, it was moot. My case settled today (while I was at the soccer games), and the 90 bazillion hours that I have billed in the last two weeks were for naught. I'm disappointed not to be going to trial, but it is nice to have my weekend free. And of course, I know the stats as well as any litigator and knew the chances of settling increased with every day we got closer to trial. I don't know what I'll do with all my free time at work next week.
4/27/10
Wide Awake
Tried to go to bed an hour ago. Read until my eyes couldn't take it anymore. Then I laid there tossing and turning and completely unable to relax enough to even think about sleep. I think I had too much coffee today.
I'm thinking about all the things that still need to be done before our trial starts on Tuesday. And what I should pack for a two-week trial. And how much weight I'm going to gain living on Dairy Queen for two weeks. And the conference call that I have scheduled tomorrow--then I remember that my client never confirmed that he would actually be present for our conference call (with a third party). And the settlement agreement that I am haggling over and what I will say to convince opposing counsel that I will not accept the terms that he insists are fair and reasonable. And the fact that my secretary seems to have gone insane because she came into my office crying this morning because she is convinced that she has bone cancer even though she has absolutely no reason whatsoever to believe this other than using google to self-diagnose. And the fact that the circles in the Venn diagram that represents my relationship with DH seem to be more tangential than overlapping lately. And the fact that I still haven't shipped my two-year old nephew his birthday present. And where I am now versus where I was a year ago.
And now my eyes are burning again and I really need to go to bed so that I can be awake for the conference call that my client may or may not be attending.
I'm thinking about all the things that still need to be done before our trial starts on Tuesday. And what I should pack for a two-week trial. And how much weight I'm going to gain living on Dairy Queen for two weeks. And the conference call that I have scheduled tomorrow--then I remember that my client never confirmed that he would actually be present for our conference call (with a third party). And the settlement agreement that I am haggling over and what I will say to convince opposing counsel that I will not accept the terms that he insists are fair and reasonable. And the fact that my secretary seems to have gone insane because she came into my office crying this morning because she is convinced that she has bone cancer even though she has absolutely no reason whatsoever to believe this other than using google to self-diagnose. And the fact that the circles in the Venn diagram that represents my relationship with DH seem to be more tangential than overlapping lately. And the fact that I still haven't shipped my two-year old nephew his birthday present. And where I am now versus where I was a year ago.
And now my eyes are burning again and I really need to go to bed so that I can be awake for the conference call that my client may or may not be attending.
4/23/10
The Aftermath
So it's been nearly two months since MIL passed away--after trying to set a record for the longest Hospice stay ever. Some of the after-effects are expected and some, not so much.
I keep coming across things that I think would be perfect for MIL for Mother's Day--and then remember that I won't be buying her anything this year.
And we weren't sure how the kids would be affected. A few days ago SS overheard DH and I talking, and then burst in to tears because she missed Grandma.
And TT is just not herself. She's been a punk to her sisters lately, but also spacey and unfocused (this would be the kids who let the sink overflow). We've been waking her up a half hour before her sisters after she made them late for school three days in a row, and she is still the last one ready every day. And we had a teacher conference last week, where we learned that her math grades are inexplicably dropping and she has been very clingy with her teacher. We've since been trying to ensure that she get more individual attention (no easy task when your kids outnumber you).
And then there is FIL. He started dating less than a month after MIL was buried. He is now officially "seeing someone." It is certainly an understatement to say that we were all stunned by this development. FIL was absolutely devoted to MIL throughout her entire illness, and in her last days he refused to leave her side. I don't like it, but I'm just the in-law. DH doesn't like it, but doesn't feel like its his place to say anything, that his dad has been through enough, and that he is an adult who can make his own decisions. SIL is devastated and this is having a huge affect on her and her relationship with her dad. She told him that she was irritated, but FIL just kind of brushed her off. Meanwhile, news of FILs new relationship is spreading throughout my smallish hometown, and SIL has been asked about it. Ugh! I don't even want to think about the gossip.
We had booked a cabin for Memorial Day shortly after MIL passed away, and intended to invite FIL, but didn't want to be too pushy. When DH finally invited him last week, he already had plans to visit someone else's cabin. And of course we're all wondering whether his new friend will be accompanying him.
I get that he was in the role of a caregiver for the last year and was acting more like a parent than a spouse. But two months--really? Is he incapable of spending any time alone? Of processing the loss of his wife of 35 years? And what woman in her right mind would want to get in the middle of that situation.
I keep coming across things that I think would be perfect for MIL for Mother's Day--and then remember that I won't be buying her anything this year.
And we weren't sure how the kids would be affected. A few days ago SS overheard DH and I talking, and then burst in to tears because she missed Grandma.
And TT is just not herself. She's been a punk to her sisters lately, but also spacey and unfocused (this would be the kids who let the sink overflow). We've been waking her up a half hour before her sisters after she made them late for school three days in a row, and she is still the last one ready every day. And we had a teacher conference last week, where we learned that her math grades are inexplicably dropping and she has been very clingy with her teacher. We've since been trying to ensure that she get more individual attention (no easy task when your kids outnumber you).
And then there is FIL. He started dating less than a month after MIL was buried. He is now officially "seeing someone." It is certainly an understatement to say that we were all stunned by this development. FIL was absolutely devoted to MIL throughout her entire illness, and in her last days he refused to leave her side. I don't like it, but I'm just the in-law. DH doesn't like it, but doesn't feel like its his place to say anything, that his dad has been through enough, and that he is an adult who can make his own decisions. SIL is devastated and this is having a huge affect on her and her relationship with her dad. She told him that she was irritated, but FIL just kind of brushed her off. Meanwhile, news of FILs new relationship is spreading throughout my smallish hometown, and SIL has been asked about it. Ugh! I don't even want to think about the gossip.
We had booked a cabin for Memorial Day shortly after MIL passed away, and intended to invite FIL, but didn't want to be too pushy. When DH finally invited him last week, he already had plans to visit someone else's cabin. And of course we're all wondering whether his new friend will be accompanying him.
I get that he was in the role of a caregiver for the last year and was acting more like a parent than a spouse. But two months--really? Is he incapable of spending any time alone? Of processing the loss of his wife of 35 years? And what woman in her right mind would want to get in the middle of that situation.
4/21/10
It is Wednesday and I am home
I woke up this morning feeling like I had been run over by a truck, and in awe at the amount of snot that my body is able to produce. A long hot shower did not improve the situation, so I crawled back into bed feeling quite sorry for myself, emailed in sick to work, and started inundating my poor secretary with emails. Then I took a handful of pills and decided I would try to sleep until 8:30, when my secretary would arrive at the office and probably start calling with questions.
Well, my secretary started calling, but I did not hear the phone and slept until after 10. Apparently the decongestant was not of the non-drowsy variety. I reluctantly hauled my aching body out of bed so that I could attempt to do some work.
I think my body is telling me that I need downtime. I've had more late nights than not lately, and once I get home there is home-stuff to be done. Thank God I have a housekeeper. I do not know how I could manage to ever spend time with my children if I actually had to keep up the house. But still there are bills to be paid and taxes to be done and homework to review and forms, forms, forms from the school for pictures and field day and t-shirts and field trips.
And then last night, as I was driving home from work at 8:30 and chatting with DH he said, "I gotta go--I hear water dripping." Alas, when I stumbled in the door at 9, DH and PS were staring up at the water dripping through my kitchen ceiling. Apparently TT left the bathroom sink running, it's not draining properly, and it overflowed all over the bathroom. And PS did not bother to notice or rectify the situation when she went to take a shower. (And yes, I did have a post just a few months ago about the bathtub dripping into my kitchen, although it turned out not to be the kids' fault.)
So today I will do enough work to keep me afloat and try to rest, hoping that a day off will keep things from getting worse. The fortunate part is that I got three big tasks knocked out last night and today is the only day in the next three weeks that I don't have anything on my calendar. Our trial is just a week and a half away, and it still does not look like we will settle.
Well, my secretary started calling, but I did not hear the phone and slept until after 10. Apparently the decongestant was not of the non-drowsy variety. I reluctantly hauled my aching body out of bed so that I could attempt to do some work.
I think my body is telling me that I need downtime. I've had more late nights than not lately, and once I get home there is home-stuff to be done. Thank God I have a housekeeper. I do not know how I could manage to ever spend time with my children if I actually had to keep up the house. But still there are bills to be paid and taxes to be done and homework to review and forms, forms, forms from the school for pictures and field day and t-shirts and field trips.
And then last night, as I was driving home from work at 8:30 and chatting with DH he said, "I gotta go--I hear water dripping." Alas, when I stumbled in the door at 9, DH and PS were staring up at the water dripping through my kitchen ceiling. Apparently TT left the bathroom sink running, it's not draining properly, and it overflowed all over the bathroom. And PS did not bother to notice or rectify the situation when she went to take a shower. (And yes, I did have a post just a few months ago about the bathtub dripping into my kitchen, although it turned out not to be the kids' fault.)
So today I will do enough work to keep me afloat and try to rest, hoping that a day off will keep things from getting worse. The fortunate part is that I got three big tasks knocked out last night and today is the only day in the next three weeks that I don't have anything on my calendar. Our trial is just a week and a half away, and it still does not look like we will settle.
4/14/10
Better today
DH and I argued out our issues on the way to work this morning. (I love my new bluetooth-enabled car). Apparently I was not sufficiently in awe of a new app he just developed. He thinks I tune him out when he talks about work because I think it's boring. (It is--half the time I can't even follow what he's saying when he starts talking in programmer language. BUT, he totally tunes me out when I start up with the lawyer-speak. We find one another's careers equally boring.)
Work is still crazy busy, but at least my day was mostly uninterrupted. I am preparing for trial for the first time since I graduated from law school. That's right, even though I'm a litigation attorney, I have not taken one single case to trial. I haven't even gotten close enough to prepare for trial. They all settle. I'm great at facilitating settlement.
But this one does not look like it's going to settle. There are lots of parties and hints of small-town scandal. It's not a huge case, but worth enough to matter (mid-six figures). The subject matter is unbelievably boring, and the trial will be in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. My secretary booked our hotel today. There were three choices, the nicest being a Holiday Inn Express. I think the fanciest restaurant in town is Nana's Hometown Diner. We are anticipating 1-2 weeks for trial. Yeah, this is going to be fun.
So my life is all about preparing for trial. But at the same time, I have at least 15 other active litigation files (and more not-so-active files). A couple of them are pretty hot right now. Whenever I am working on one, I feel like I need to be working on another.
And of course, on the home front, it is the middle of soccer season, and all of the kids' end of the year concerts and field trips and teacher conferences and awards ceremonies are coming up.
I've also got an appointment for PS with the pediatric urologist next week, because the doc confirmed that she did have another kidney stone. I'm a little worried that she has had 2 stones in 6 months at only 11 years old. Ugh.
Work is still crazy busy, but at least my day was mostly uninterrupted. I am preparing for trial for the first time since I graduated from law school. That's right, even though I'm a litigation attorney, I have not taken one single case to trial. I haven't even gotten close enough to prepare for trial. They all settle. I'm great at facilitating settlement.
But this one does not look like it's going to settle. There are lots of parties and hints of small-town scandal. It's not a huge case, but worth enough to matter (mid-six figures). The subject matter is unbelievably boring, and the trial will be in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. My secretary booked our hotel today. There were three choices, the nicest being a Holiday Inn Express. I think the fanciest restaurant in town is Nana's Hometown Diner. We are anticipating 1-2 weeks for trial. Yeah, this is going to be fun.
So my life is all about preparing for trial. But at the same time, I have at least 15 other active litigation files (and more not-so-active files). A couple of them are pretty hot right now. Whenever I am working on one, I feel like I need to be working on another.
And of course, on the home front, it is the middle of soccer season, and all of the kids' end of the year concerts and field trips and teacher conferences and awards ceremonies are coming up.
I've also got an appointment for PS with the pediatric urologist next week, because the doc confirmed that she did have another kidney stone. I'm a little worried that she has had 2 stones in 6 months at only 11 years old. Ugh.
4/13/10
In a funk
I am stressed to the max at work. I had hoped when I changed firms that I would have better control over my hours. It started out that way, but now I am just as busy as I was at my old firm.
DH is not helping. He is super busy at work, too, and I know its stress, but he keeps snarking at me. And then he gets all huffy when I call him out on it. And he lays on the guilt whenever I work late. Instead of working together, we working against each other, which just adds to the stress.
And one of my kids has been extra bratty lately. I told her this morning that she was lucky that I was one of those parents who don't believe in beating children.
I need a vacation, and that's not happening anytime soon. I'm looking at booking a cruise for just DH and me in late November, but right at this moment I don't feel like spending a week alone with him in a tiny cabin.
DH is not helping. He is super busy at work, too, and I know its stress, but he keeps snarking at me. And then he gets all huffy when I call him out on it. And he lays on the guilt whenever I work late. Instead of working together, we working against each other, which just adds to the stress.
And one of my kids has been extra bratty lately. I told her this morning that she was lucky that I was one of those parents who don't believe in beating children.
I need a vacation, and that's not happening anytime soon. I'm looking at booking a cruise for just DH and me in late November, but right at this moment I don't feel like spending a week alone with him in a tiny cabin.
4/10/10
Wobbling on the tightrope
The whole work/life balance has been wobbly the last couple of days.
Friday morning PS told us she was having pain that was reminiscent of her kidney stone. But because she wasn't in terrible pain and the kids missed so much school during MIL's illness that we have been threatened with truancy court, I sent her to school with instructions to call me immediately if her pain increased at all.
I didn't hear anything during the day, but as soon as she was out of school at 3 she told me that the pain was unbearable when she peed. I immediately made a doctor's appointment and flew out of my office to make her 4:00 appointment.
A few minutes later my boss called me on my cell and asked if I could handle an emergency research project this weekend. I told him that I could, and he agreed to call me at 9:30 Saturday morning to give me the details.
Great except that TT had a soccer game and PS had the fitting for her cheerleading uniform at 9:00 on Saturday morning.
I arrived at the doctor's office just as PS was being called back. I went with PS and sent the nanny back home with the twins. The doc agreed that her symptoms indicated a kidney stone was likely, and sent us off for x-rays. Of course, getting x-rays at 5:00 on a Friday means that we won't get results until Monday. But the doc didn't seem particularly concerned and told us that if her symptoms worsened we needed to go to the ER. As PS said sarcastically (to me, not the doc) "helpful."
Anyway, PS's symptoms improved greatly as the evening wore on, and we think that she probably passed the stone late in the afternoon when she was having the most pain.
So DH took TT to her game and I took PS to her fitting Saturday morning. It was very much a hands-on mom kinda thing--figuring out what sizes to order for practice wear, shoes, and the official uniform. There was a huge list of required items, and a short list of "optional" items ("but all the 8th grade girls ordered them," the coach said in a way that indicated that the optional items weren't too optional.)
I kept my phone in my pocket on vibrate, hoping I could just step out when Boss called. But I somehow missed the call , and didn't realize it until 15 minutes later. At least by then we were pretty much through the fitting, so I left PS and stepped outside to take the call. Which lasted 45 minutes! Poor PS, along with her BFF and mom who rode with us, were trapped waiting for me to get off the phone.
It wasn't ideal, but it all worked out. I was there for PS's fitting and managed to bill .8 at the same time.
Spent the rest of the day getting a much-needed haircut, doing our taxes, and perusing the new bookstore with the fam. We are getting a $206 refund!!!!! I am beyond thrilled. I have been putting off the taxes because I was afraid that we would owe another huge bill like last year. Last year's problem was that I had screwed up our withholdings and we got hit with the AMT. Fortunately, we resolved that, but I'm still peeved that student loan interest is capped and phased out of upper income brackets.
Finally, last night we sent the kids to a party while DH and I had date night and went to see Date Night It was hilarious--although I had just had 3 margaritas, so anything might have been hilarious.
Today I buckle down and do my emergency research project. I should have started on it yesterday, but my brain was shot after wrestling with the taxes. Hopefully, I won't be up half the night--but this is one of those issues that may not have an answer--or at least not the answer my boss wants. It's so much easier when you know there's an answer out there!
Friday morning PS told us she was having pain that was reminiscent of her kidney stone. But because she wasn't in terrible pain and the kids missed so much school during MIL's illness that we have been threatened with truancy court, I sent her to school with instructions to call me immediately if her pain increased at all.
I didn't hear anything during the day, but as soon as she was out of school at 3 she told me that the pain was unbearable when she peed. I immediately made a doctor's appointment and flew out of my office to make her 4:00 appointment.
A few minutes later my boss called me on my cell and asked if I could handle an emergency research project this weekend. I told him that I could, and he agreed to call me at 9:30 Saturday morning to give me the details.
Great except that TT had a soccer game and PS had the fitting for her cheerleading uniform at 9:00 on Saturday morning.
I arrived at the doctor's office just as PS was being called back. I went with PS and sent the nanny back home with the twins. The doc agreed that her symptoms indicated a kidney stone was likely, and sent us off for x-rays. Of course, getting x-rays at 5:00 on a Friday means that we won't get results until Monday. But the doc didn't seem particularly concerned and told us that if her symptoms worsened we needed to go to the ER. As PS said sarcastically (to me, not the doc) "helpful."
Anyway, PS's symptoms improved greatly as the evening wore on, and we think that she probably passed the stone late in the afternoon when she was having the most pain.
So DH took TT to her game and I took PS to her fitting Saturday morning. It was very much a hands-on mom kinda thing--figuring out what sizes to order for practice wear, shoes, and the official uniform. There was a huge list of required items, and a short list of "optional" items ("but all the 8th grade girls ordered them," the coach said in a way that indicated that the optional items weren't too optional.)
I kept my phone in my pocket on vibrate, hoping I could just step out when Boss called. But I somehow missed the call , and didn't realize it until 15 minutes later. At least by then we were pretty much through the fitting, so I left PS and stepped outside to take the call. Which lasted 45 minutes! Poor PS, along with her BFF and mom who rode with us, were trapped waiting for me to get off the phone.
It wasn't ideal, but it all worked out. I was there for PS's fitting and managed to bill .8 at the same time.
Spent the rest of the day getting a much-needed haircut, doing our taxes, and perusing the new bookstore with the fam. We are getting a $206 refund!!!!! I am beyond thrilled. I have been putting off the taxes because I was afraid that we would owe another huge bill like last year. Last year's problem was that I had screwed up our withholdings and we got hit with the AMT. Fortunately, we resolved that, but I'm still peeved that student loan interest is capped and phased out of upper income brackets.
Finally, last night we sent the kids to a party while DH and I had date night and went to see Date Night It was hilarious--although I had just had 3 margaritas, so anything might have been hilarious.
Today I buckle down and do my emergency research project. I should have started on it yesterday, but my brain was shot after wrestling with the taxes. Hopefully, I won't be up half the night--but this is one of those issues that may not have an answer--or at least not the answer my boss wants. It's so much easier when you know there's an answer out there!
4/4/10
Good Weekend
This is the first weekend in a while where we had nothing that had to get done. No work, no soccer games, no school events, no major home projects.
Yesterday we saw "How to Train Your Dragon" (excellent!), dyed eggs, baked and decorated Easter cookies, and went to church.
Today we worked in the yard. DH mowed and the girls and I cleaned up the flower beds. Then I hit the kitchen, where I have been basting a honey glazed ham all day and making other Easter dinner fixin's. This may be the best ham ever--I've been brushing the honey/butter/brown sugar concoction between every slice, hoping it will soak all the way through, instead of just sticking to the outside (all the while using my Julia Childs voice, after watching Julie & Julia last night).
I'm contemplating going to Lowe's to pick up some mulch and flowers for my newly cleaned out flower beds, but I'm pretty pooped. I think a nap might beat out flowers.
Yesterday we saw "How to Train Your Dragon" (excellent!), dyed eggs, baked and decorated Easter cookies, and went to church.
Today we worked in the yard. DH mowed and the girls and I cleaned up the flower beds. Then I hit the kitchen, where I have been basting a honey glazed ham all day and making other Easter dinner fixin's. This may be the best ham ever--I've been brushing the honey/butter/brown sugar concoction between every slice, hoping it will soak all the way through, instead of just sticking to the outside (all the while using my Julia Childs voice, after watching Julie & Julia last night).
I'm contemplating going to Lowe's to pick up some mulch and flowers for my newly cleaned out flower beds, but I'm pretty pooped. I think a nap might beat out flowers.
4/2/10
A Conversation With My Daughter
Sometime last year:
"Hey, do you have any interest in those Percy Jackson books, 'cause I found a set of the first 3 online for $10."
"Nope."
"Are you sure? You know there's a movie coming out and the rule is that you have to read the book before you see the movie."
"No, it looks boring."
"I heard they're really good books, are you sure you don't want me to order them? This is a great price."
"No, Mom. Geez."
Fast forward to two weeks ago:
"Mom, can I watch the Percy Jackson movie with BFF?"
"I thought you had no interest in that movie?"
"I know, but I've heard it's good."
"But you haven't read the book--you know the rule."
"Pleeeaaassseee Mom???"
"OK, I'll let you break the rule, just this once, since you always read the books." (PS is a great reader and devours books.)
The next day:
"So, how was the movie?"
"It was great. I have to get the books!"
A couple of days later I ordered the first 3 Percy Jackson books and the Hunger Games. They came in last Saturday. I plowed through the Hunger Games by Sunday night. This afternoon, I left work early and PS and I snuggled in my bed, she reading the third of the Percy Jackson books, and me reading the first.
"Mom, can you order the last two books?"
"You mean the books you had no interest in?
"Yeah, I really like them! Please, please, please get the last two!"
I picked up the 4th at Target tonight to put in her Easter basket. I'm sure she'll finish the third by the end of the day tomorrow.
BTW, The Hunger Games was excellent, but very disturbing. My brother (a middle school English teacher) has been bugging me for months to read it, but I was turned off by the description. But it is also on the recommend summer reading list for PS, because they will be studying Utopian societies, so I went ahead and picked it up. I couldn't put it down--my eyes were burning from reading for so long. However, it is not for young elementary students. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone younger than PS, who is a mature 11.
I'm only about a quarter of the way through the The Lightening Thief (the Percy Jackson book). It is not nearly well written as The Hunger Games. I've heard this series compared to Harry Potter. There seem to be some rather blatant take-offs from from HP, and I don't think the writing style is nearly as good. But I'll reserve further judgment until I've actually finished one of the books. So far, this series seems ok for my 8 year olds. When I left for work this morning they were taking turns reading it to each other, so they could both read it at the same time.
"Hey, do you have any interest in those Percy Jackson books, 'cause I found a set of the first 3 online for $10."
"Nope."
"Are you sure? You know there's a movie coming out and the rule is that you have to read the book before you see the movie."
"No, it looks boring."
"I heard they're really good books, are you sure you don't want me to order them? This is a great price."
"No, Mom. Geez."
Fast forward to two weeks ago:
"Mom, can I watch the Percy Jackson movie with BFF?"
"I thought you had no interest in that movie?"
"I know, but I've heard it's good."
"But you haven't read the book--you know the rule."
"Pleeeaaassseee Mom???"
"OK, I'll let you break the rule, just this once, since you always read the books." (PS is a great reader and devours books.)
The next day:
"So, how was the movie?"
"It was great. I have to get the books!"
A couple of days later I ordered the first 3 Percy Jackson books and the Hunger Games. They came in last Saturday. I plowed through the Hunger Games by Sunday night. This afternoon, I left work early and PS and I snuggled in my bed, she reading the third of the Percy Jackson books, and me reading the first.
"Mom, can you order the last two books?"
"You mean the books you had no interest in?
"Yeah, I really like them! Please, please, please get the last two!"
I picked up the 4th at Target tonight to put in her Easter basket. I'm sure she'll finish the third by the end of the day tomorrow.
BTW, The Hunger Games was excellent, but very disturbing. My brother (a middle school English teacher) has been bugging me for months to read it, but I was turned off by the description. But it is also on the recommend summer reading list for PS, because they will be studying Utopian societies, so I went ahead and picked it up. I couldn't put it down--my eyes were burning from reading for so long. However, it is not for young elementary students. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone younger than PS, who is a mature 11.
I'm only about a quarter of the way through the The Lightening Thief (the Percy Jackson book). It is not nearly well written as The Hunger Games. I've heard this series compared to Harry Potter. There seem to be some rather blatant take-offs from from HP, and I don't think the writing style is nearly as good. But I'll reserve further judgment until I've actually finished one of the books. So far, this series seems ok for my 8 year olds. When I left for work this morning they were taking turns reading it to each other, so they could both read it at the same time.
4/1/10
Apparently I'm the April Fool
A few weeks ago I tried on a dress that I really liked. I never wear dresses--partly because it's hard to find dresses that fit my body shape--so I was thrilled to find a work-appropriate dress that fit well. However, it was a little pricey and not on sale. So I didn't buy it then, but found it on sale online a couple of days later and jumped on it.
Sooooo, this morning I decided to wear my new dress. I put it on, but it wouldn't zip. It wasn't too tight (really!), but the zipper stuck at the horizontal seam between the bodice and the skirt. I tugged and tugged, but the zipper wouldn't budge. PS tried to help, but still no luck. By this point, I really needed to leave to get the girls to school on time, so I gave it one last tug, and the zipper went up. But only the zipper popped open below the seam and was only sipped above the seam. And now it wouldn't go back down.
So I had to take the girls to school, with my dress gaping open.
Once I got back home, I was stuck twisting and turning to get the zipper back down so I could get out of the dress. Nope, not budging. I tugged and tugged and twisted and turned, but the zipper would not go back over the seam. I got pliers from the garage, but still couldn't get the zipper back down. Finally , after a full 20 minutes, and just when I was seriously contemplating taking scissors to the dress, the zipper came back down and I was free.
Unfortunately, the zipper is pulled off its tracks and I can't get it back together. It looks like I'm going to have to return my perfectly-fitting new dress. And I just know that the saleslady is going to assume I was just too big and popped the zipper. Ugh!
Sooooo, this morning I decided to wear my new dress. I put it on, but it wouldn't zip. It wasn't too tight (really!), but the zipper stuck at the horizontal seam between the bodice and the skirt. I tugged and tugged, but the zipper wouldn't budge. PS tried to help, but still no luck. By this point, I really needed to leave to get the girls to school on time, so I gave it one last tug, and the zipper went up. But only the zipper popped open below the seam and was only sipped above the seam. And now it wouldn't go back down.
So I had to take the girls to school, with my dress gaping open.
Once I got back home, I was stuck twisting and turning to get the zipper back down so I could get out of the dress. Nope, not budging. I tugged and tugged and twisted and turned, but the zipper would not go back over the seam. I got pliers from the garage, but still couldn't get the zipper back down. Finally , after a full 20 minutes, and just when I was seriously contemplating taking scissors to the dress, the zipper came back down and I was free.
Unfortunately, the zipper is pulled off its tracks and I can't get it back together. It looks like I'm going to have to return my perfectly-fitting new dress. And I just know that the saleslady is going to assume I was just too big and popped the zipper. Ugh!
3/30/10
Still busy
I've come home very late every night this week. Not cool, but unavoidable. Fortunately, I made it through mediation and finished up an MSJ response, so (fingers crossed) the rest of my week will be low key.
I'm feeling very emotionally fragile lately. Work has been super-stressful, and then dealing with the car issue has me stretched way too thin. And DH's best friend from high school's dad passed away last night. He had a stroke a few weeks ago and went into hospice a couple of days ago. Of course that just brought back our experience of the last few weeks. And a 1st grader at the kids' school has leukemia. Tonight they went to a fund-raising dinner, and the line was stretched half-way down the block. Even the local news channel showed up. I got teary when DH was telling me about it on the phone. Every little thing makes me teary--so not like me (DH calls me an emotional robot). And the women are already throwing themselves at FIL. It's only been a month. I just can't get over how tacky and disrespectful it is.
On the lighter side of things, we did decide to ditch the Suburban and I picked up my Nissan Armada this afternoon. It is sweet. Bluetooth so I can send and receive calls from the car, a rear camera and sonar for backing up, no keys--just an RFID chip embedded in the remote (I feel like George Jetson with no keys). I love it, but haggling over it was such a PITA. I've settled 3 or 4 lawsuits this year and none have been as much of a pain as negotiating this car.
But in case anyone's jealous of my awesome (gas guzzling) new car, here's a story for ya. We were walking down the stair, leaving the car place when I caught the heel of my shoe in the cuff of my pants. I lost all control and pretty much threw all of my weight into DH trying to maintain my balance. Thank goodness he was there, or I definitely would have fallen all the way down the concrete steps. It was not pretty, and I swear I pulled every single muscle in my body and banged my knee into something. I have a bruise popping up on my knee cap and my back, rib cage and neck are all throbbing. May have to go take a hot bath before bed.
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, my work event went well. My outfit was perfect, although there were so few women there I could have gotten away with almost anything. There was literally a 10/1 male to female ratio. I think I've discovered the perfect place for single girls to meet eligible guys. Anyway, generally loathe schmoozy events, but this went well. I met several clients with whom I had only corresponded by phone or email, and several others with whom I have no direct involvement--yet.
I'm feeling very emotionally fragile lately. Work has been super-stressful, and then dealing with the car issue has me stretched way too thin. And DH's best friend from high school's dad passed away last night. He had a stroke a few weeks ago and went into hospice a couple of days ago. Of course that just brought back our experience of the last few weeks. And a 1st grader at the kids' school has leukemia. Tonight they went to a fund-raising dinner, and the line was stretched half-way down the block. Even the local news channel showed up. I got teary when DH was telling me about it on the phone. Every little thing makes me teary--so not like me (DH calls me an emotional robot). And the women are already throwing themselves at FIL. It's only been a month. I just can't get over how tacky and disrespectful it is.
On the lighter side of things, we did decide to ditch the Suburban and I picked up my Nissan Armada this afternoon. It is sweet. Bluetooth so I can send and receive calls from the car, a rear camera and sonar for backing up, no keys--just an RFID chip embedded in the remote (I feel like George Jetson with no keys). I love it, but haggling over it was such a PITA. I've settled 3 or 4 lawsuits this year and none have been as much of a pain as negotiating this car.
But in case anyone's jealous of my awesome (gas guzzling) new car, here's a story for ya. We were walking down the stair, leaving the car place when I caught the heel of my shoe in the cuff of my pants. I lost all control and pretty much threw all of my weight into DH trying to maintain my balance. Thank goodness he was there, or I definitely would have fallen all the way down the concrete steps. It was not pretty, and I swear I pulled every single muscle in my body and banged my knee into something. I have a bruise popping up on my knee cap and my back, rib cage and neck are all throbbing. May have to go take a hot bath before bed.
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, my work event went well. My outfit was perfect, although there were so few women there I could have gotten away with almost anything. There was literally a 10/1 male to female ratio. I think I've discovered the perfect place for single girls to meet eligible guys. Anyway, generally loathe schmoozy events, but this went well. I met several clients with whom I had only corresponded by phone or email, and several others with whom I have no direct involvement--yet.
3/22/10
Cursed, I tell ya!
So the problem with the Suburban is indeed the tranny. The cost for a "major overhaul" is $2200. So now we're trying to figure out whether we want to put that kind of cash into an 8 year old vehicle with 150,000 miles and a bluebook value of $5K or just buy a new one.
We weren't really planning to keep the Suburban more than a few more months anyway, but I really don't have time to car shop right now, and we were trying to knock out a couple of bills before car shopping again.
I guess we'll get a couple more quotes for tranny repair tomorrow, and I've already gotten a coupe of quotes on a new (used) vehicle. I just can't bring myself to buy a new (new) vehicle, but there's an '07 Tahoe with 32K miles at the dealership down the road that might fit the bill.
We weren't really planning to keep the Suburban more than a few more months anyway, but I really don't have time to car shop right now, and we were trying to knock out a couple of bills before car shopping again.
I guess we'll get a couple more quotes for tranny repair tomorrow, and I've already gotten a coupe of quotes on a new (used) vehicle. I just can't bring myself to buy a new (new) vehicle, but there's an '07 Tahoe with 32K miles at the dealership down the road that might fit the bill.
3/21/10
I think I'm cursed
So I headed out to frou-frou mall this afternoon in search of a dress. Fifteen minutes into my journey I realized that my engine was revving hard and not switching into a higher gear. And I couldn't go any faster than I already was. So I took the next exit, and found that my Suburban seems to not be switching from 2nd to 3rd gear. Once I got off the highway, I couldn't go more than 30 mph, and within a few minutes I was topping out at 20 mph.
DH gave me directions to the nearest transmission shop, and I slowly made my way there at 20 mph. Fortunately I was in the 'burbs and didn't have to take any super-busy streets.
Once DH retrieved me, we went to the nearby not-so-frou-frou mall, where the highest end store is Dillards. My options were very limited, but I managed to score a basic black shift dress with matching bolero jacket for $27 (no, that is not a typo--it was 70% off!). It is cut like this one, but the jacket is solid black with 3" black-sequined cuffs. Just enough sparkle for an after-five business affair, and I can top the dress with a cardigan or suit jacket for day wear.
I also found a 60" strand of silver pearls for $15 (also 70% off) that look fab with the dress when triple-looped. I wasn't sure these would go well with the dress, but I figured they were versatile enough to work with lots of things, so i bought them anyway. As it turned out, they look great with the dress!
For the final touch, I picket up a pair of rhinestone barrettes at Target for $6.
No new shoes required. I have a fabulous pair of strappy black heels, but I think I will wear my basic black work shoes (3.5" stilettos) and probably add a pair of black hose. I HATE pantyhose, but the dress is a petite and just a tad short for business. And my legs are pasty white.
So, the whole outfit was less than $50. A good thing, since I am afraid to hear how much it will cost to repair the transmission in the Suburban.
DH gave me directions to the nearest transmission shop, and I slowly made my way there at 20 mph. Fortunately I was in the 'burbs and didn't have to take any super-busy streets.
Once DH retrieved me, we went to the nearby not-so-frou-frou mall, where the highest end store is Dillards. My options were very limited, but I managed to score a basic black shift dress with matching bolero jacket for $27 (no, that is not a typo--it was 70% off!). It is cut like this one, but the jacket is solid black with 3" black-sequined cuffs. Just enough sparkle for an after-five business affair, and I can top the dress with a cardigan or suit jacket for day wear.
I also found a 60" strand of silver pearls for $15 (also 70% off) that look fab with the dress when triple-looped. I wasn't sure these would go well with the dress, but I figured they were versatile enough to work with lots of things, so i bought them anyway. As it turned out, they look great with the dress!
For the final touch, I picket up a pair of rhinestone barrettes at Target for $6.
No new shoes required. I have a fabulous pair of strappy black heels, but I think I will wear my basic black work shoes (3.5" stilettos) and probably add a pair of black hose. I HATE pantyhose, but the dress is a petite and just a tad short for business. And my legs are pasty white.
So, the whole outfit was less than $50. A good thing, since I am afraid to hear how much it will cost to repair the transmission in the Suburban.
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