Dear Blogger:

Blogger, bless me for I have sinned, its been 9 days since my last post and all hell has broken loose. My youngest has had a fever for 6 days. We are scheduled for the doctor (again) tomorrow because this is just too long. I have gone insane being home this many days with a sick kid and chosen to clean their room and re-arrange furniture.

Only you mothers would understand the total disgust I discovered when I moved the beds. I will save you the horror, because let me tell you - IT WAS BAD!

I was actually contemplating multi-dosing of tylenol and motrin Friday morning so that he could go to school and I could go to work, but at 4:30 when his fever shot up over 101 - well, that flew out of the window. I will now have to go talk with the principal because of his absences this semester. Oh, lovely day.

On a lighter note, I get to take Cagey - the baby kitty - back to the vet for another antibiotic shot as some stupid cat in the neighborhood beat the you-know-what out of him last night. I found him on the porch and he came in right away, which should have sent lightbulbs flashing in my brain but I was in a I've had a sick kid all week fog and it didn't register. I would have taken him last night, but I had a few glasses of wine and decided it would be best not to drive. 7 pm was the earliest I could get in today.

Well, thanks for visiting with my blogger. I'll look forward to next time.

Trail Blazing - Its not for sissies.

I hate snakes, I H-A-T-E them.  That might not be a very politically correct statement, but in my case, its a true statement.  True pretty much trumps anything "politically correct".  That being said, I'm going to tell you about my day beginning with the night before.  And no it does not involve THAT.  Get you head out of the gutter.

Yesterday, I picked up my kids from school and to make a long story short - my youngest's teacher seems to be picking on him.  Apparently she called him "slow".  Now this would piss off any normal parent, but me - I pretty much am so overprotective of H2 that my husband usually has to tell me to back off.  He's remarkable. He's wonderful, but starting from day one (and I mean conception) he's had a rough ride.  He was lacking amniotic fluid in the womb, he was born 5 weeks premature, he is legally blind without corrective lenses, he has fused teeth (don't ask) and a tendency to be a klutz.  He gets that last part from me.  

Anyway I am seething, mad, whatever you want to call it these days and just couldn't let it go, so I took myself to the gym - I mean I should make this work for me right?  So after cooking a really healthy dinner, I took myself to the gym to work off my anger.  Apparently it worked.  I came home, took a shower and after putting my little angels to bed, I crawled in bed to watch a previously recorded episode of House and didn't even make it through the first 30 minutes.  I didn't finish my wine either.  A major sin I know - I am still working on penance.  So after sleeping with the television on for about 4 hours I cut it off, rolled over and WOKE UP.  All I could do was argue with various members of the staff and little H2's school.  

Apparently in this giant mess, I failed to bring my phone in to the bedroom.  It doubles as my alarm clock so when it went off this morning I basically didn't hear it for a bit and then OH CRAP! that's the alarm, where is my phone, etc. etc. etc.  I hauled everyone out of bed and somehow we made it out and to the evil elementary school.  I parked and walked the kids up which confused them because I normally drop them at the curb.  I told them I had to drop off something and parked myself outside of the counselor's door.  We had a nice talk, I made the comment that the teacher was not following the guidelines that we had set for my visually impaired child and that she was calling him derogatory names that were prejudicial to his handicap.  Do you like that prejudicial to his handicap?  I was kind of proud of myself for that.  Anyway she promised to do something - I gave her a week.  The principal was gone today and I am promised a phone call by tomorrow.  We'll see how that goes. 

I then of course had to "de-stress" so I took my fancy camera and off I went to the arboretum.  Can't be made surrounded by gorgeous gardens and flowers.  It just doesn't work.  Then I ran over to the lake and went exploring in the fish hatchery again.  Did some trail blazing, Yippee!  The problem with that was that I walked into a nest of snakes.  Yes, I said that a nest of baby snakes.  I think I actually broke the record for the standing long jump, but as there was no one there to actually measure the jump I will never get the credit I deserve.  I mean I jumped about 1/2 a football field, or just a little less, but it was far.  REAL FAR. 

 You must check my photo blog, there will be some good stuff popping up for a while.  I enjoyed myself there too.  I came home only to eat and do a quick clean up and got a fabulous idea to take the kids back to the arboretum for an afternoon of frolicking, it was after all a balmy 70 degrees today.  I packed up a few snacks all three cameras and some shorts and T-shirts for them to change into.

We walked everywhere and they spent a good 30 minutes rolling down the soft green grass hill and laughing.  It was a wonderful afternoon.  One I'll have to repeat soon.  And my day was wonderful if you don't count anything before 9 AM.  

Make a statement

Want to know what I'm talking about click here and be outraged.

Politicians chap my you-know-what.

I want to get up on my roof right now and scream and yell, unfortunately I would probably be taken to the psych ward instead of taken seriously.  Our country is headed for complete and total ruin.  Yes, ruin.  I understand the nation being excited for change and believing it is going to happen, but I have something to tell you.  Its not.  

BTW - this is not a complaint on the current administration.  The American People elected this Congress & the President and that's that people get over it if you don't like it - or vote accordingly in the next election.  I just don't like some of the current ideas being thrown around.  I also am sick of the Democrats and Republicans blaming the other one for all the problems.  SHUT UP AND WORK TOGETHER I SAY.

This is not a big surprise to most people at least most people over a certain age.  We have seen a trend, but newer voters they just see change.  They see a Democrat instead of a Republican, they see the first African American President, a man who's going to fight for the little person.  I have a secret to tell you.  Politicians, regardless of whether they are Republican or Democrat, are going to fight for their own agenda (and livelihood) every time.  Over the past decade I have been pretty diligent about voicing my opinions to the representatives I have in the House and in the Senate.  I also communicate with my State Representatives.  Where has it gotten me - not very far.  What was satisfying was to tell a current political representative, while I was in line to vote, that I wasn't supporting him this year because not once did he respect the opinion I voiced to him and as my elected official - which I thought that was his job.  I completely agree that something has to change to help our country, but the current stimulus package is not going to do it.  Building a new building for Homeland Security and then furnishing it at a total of 1.1 billion dollars is not going to stimulate the economy.  Socializing medicine is going to screw up medicare and dramatically lower salaries for healthcare professionals.  Mind you health care is a growing field - it won't be if what is written in the current package passes.  Unless you are going to start paying for the educations of doctors they are not going to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get an education and then make less than their yard man.  My husband's salary would probably be cut in half.  I have health insurance and I'm going broke paying what they don't pay.  I am also paying almost as much for medical insurance as I am for my house each month.  But to socialize medicine - which is what President Obama is talking about no matter what he says is not going to help the economy.

I love that they want to replace all the government cars with hybrids.  Yea going green, but couldn't we replace them as they wear out instead of just buying a fleet of cars.  Seriously, how can buying a bunch of hybrids (mind you the car companies that are failing are not making hybrids) going to solve the economy?  

I love the idea of a tax credit to buy houses, but people, if you you don't have a job or you are now under-employed like most of us who still have jobs how the heck are you going to afford to buy a house.  Shoot how are you going to afford to sell the one you got.  And don't get me started about bailing out people who's homes have lost value.  Its call free market economy.  HELLO!?!  Is everyone awake out there?  Sometimes I wonder.  Are we going to start bailing out people who's stock has gone down in price.  Oh Congress, my car has gone down in value too, can I get a check or a tax credit or something.  I'll tell you what I need - a way to get out of my car lease.  Yes, I am so screwed with the car lease.  When I was flush - it so made sense, but now that the economy has tanked can you fix that for me?  

I don't have all the answers, but I do know that we don't manufacture anything anymore.  Maybe we should start doing that.  Maybe we should bring call centers back to the US instead of handing them out to other countries.  Maybe we should accept the fact that you can't be so greedy about needing a raise or additional benefits, there are people out there that can't feed themselves and unions are not giving in to concessions.  Heck, the current stimulus package is going to give money to Hollywood.  Tell me why do we need to do that?  

I'm sick to my stomach with all this stuff - Bush pushed thru a stimulus package, now in less than 6 months we are going to push another one thru.  That will make something like 1.5 trillion bucks.  Where is the money coming from and how come there is NOTHING in there that is going to help my situation.

Somewhere I know it says that the government is suppose to work for the people of that country, but I think the government didn't get the memo.  Thank you for your time and allowing me to vent.  I feel much better.

For me the beauty in nature brings peace of mind

Today was interesting.  I promised myself I would clean the house and work on a project I have going.  Fortunately, I don't always follow my own rules.  I got the kids up a little behind schedule this morning and in the mess of getting out the door, Hunter left his backpack at home.  So after I dropped them off I ran back to the house to get it and dropped it off to his classroom - in my pajamas.  Then ran back to the house for breakfast and probably way to much coffee. 

I decided to throw caution to the wind and off I went to the White Rock lake and took a few shots then spent easily 2 to 3 hours at the Arboretum and despite the dreary day totally enjoyed myself and ended up with a much needed boost to my mental health.  Being a Virgo, I tend to be very Earth Mother.  Not hippy necessarily, but in tune with nature.  To me nature is the most beautiful thing in the world (next to my children of course).  Nature's rebirth ever spring is my happy time and although it is February, I saw that rebirth everywhere I went this morning.  

Now my day isn't exactly over, but I've been a little stressed over the whole political thing going on right now.  Ok, stressed is not the right word - Really Ticked Off - is much better.  But that is another post and this morning took all that stuff right out of my head.  I took some tons (about 250 pictures today.  Find some more on my photo blog.  

P.S.  The butterflies are my favorite.

Its all about me, well mostly

I can’t come up with the right word to explain my mindset today.  I don’t have a beef with anyone today – I’m not frustrated or mad.  I don't have an agenda.  I feel contemplative and very creative today but that doesn’t mean I will actually create anything.

I did however perform a feat today that any mom out there would be proud of.  I got an appointment with an ENT this afternoon that I made this morning – you are thinking what’s so great about that.  I’ll tell you.  HE’S A NEW PATIENT.  Yes, I got a new patient exam in less than 24 hours.  No, he’s not a crappy doctor or new to the area looking for patients.  He’s well established in his 50’s with an excellent reputation.  My youngest son has seen him since he was 9 months old, the oldest one never has.  I am amazed that I got that done.

The wee one has a sinus infection and was running a 102 degree fever on Sunday.  He stayed home Monday & Tuesday from school.  Big Shot stayed home Tuesday with a swollen tonsil, but now the other one has gotten HUGE so we are off to the ENT as  he tested negative for strep & the flu.  Yes, I might be a little overprotective, but heck on a scale of 1 to 4 one tonsil is a 4 (touching the uvula) and the other is a 2 and now they are covered in sores.  YUCK! 

The Husband has been surprisingly attentive, frisky even.  I think he might be under some Alien Mind Control, but that is a whole different post.

I am just Dijea today and enjoying it.  It’s not everyday that we truly get to be ourselves.  I won’t get to be Dijea long as I get to get the kids out of school early for the doctor, but I have a few hours to be me so I guess I should go enjoy.

Pantipalooza----Dijea's idea.....

I have been thinking about Pantipalooza.  Mindy has the best explanation but here's the short version...chose some woman, women or a women's group that can benefit from something you can donate or do and then...you DO it.

The Dream:

If I didn't have to worry about money I would go buy a duplex or a four-plex and lease out (for free) the units to battered women and their children so they could get back on their feet and get established before they go back out into "the real world".  They would be required to get a job, but rent and all utilities would be covered so they would have the time to save money, buy what they need or didn't take with them and have some cushion for later.  Sounds good huh?  I will do this one day, but until I am rolling in the dough I will have to come up with another idea.

Real Life:

Well real life is just a tad bid harder.  I try to do things all the time when I can.  I will buy a meal for a hungry man/woman on the street.  No, I don't give them money, but I will walk to the nearest food place and buy them a meal.  I have handed over toys & food over Christmas, I have donated clothes and slightly worn school uniforms to those in need.  I've donated coats to coat drives.  I think that I will not mark a schedule, I will not set a date or a recipient.  Instead I will look every day for that someone that is in need right there and come to the rescue.  I like the surprise.  Why can't it be Pantipalooza everyday?

Hi I'm Dijea, the Klutz of 2009.

I have become a klutz of gigantic proportion.  We all know about my sacroiliac joint issue.  Yea!  Well, Wednesday we had an ice day so everyone was home.  I decided to tackle the kids closet.  Talk about disaster area.  Well, as I was taking things down from the top shelf a power cord that I didn't know was up there with one of the biggest boxes known to man on the end fell - wait for it - on my foot.  I swear it weighed 50 lbs, it was probably closer to 5 but still heavy for a six foot fall onto your foot.  Its still sore.  I have a blueish purple bruise about the size of a Hershey's Miniature right above my three middle toes.  The yellow bruise goes almost all the way to the ankle.  My husband is making fun of me for become the klutz of 2009 and while its a title, its not one I want to hold.  It is also putting the weight loss thing back.  UGH! 

On a positive note, I did get out with the camera and went trekking through the Old Fish Hatchery by White Rock Lake.  I didn't have enough time to really spend in there, but I did get a few good pictures and you'll be seeing them pop up on the old photo blog.  Take a peek.