Question of the day

Why is it so incredibly hard to get kids to help around the house?  I have pondered this question over and over and over, all while plotting the demise of the children who ignore my existence while it is clean up time.  They won't go outside to save their lives - but if they can get out of picking up a wet towel they will brave 105 degree Texas heat to avoid the task.

I'd like to blame it on that guy I married my wonderful husband.  Actually he is quite wonderful - unless he is disciplining the children - which is NEVER - or if he's playing video games - because no one must interrupt video games.  NO ONE.  Although, I have less respect for the guys he plays Battlefield with, as last night I discovered they were drinking wine.  I love wine, but any self respecting soldier in the middle of war should not be drinking white-wine spritzers.  Beer, Bourbon or Scotch - that's pretty much the only options for soldiers.

Sorry, I got distracted, back to the lazy children.  How do you make lazy children clean up?

Important: A must read

I bet that made you jump to the next or back button on your Internet browser. DON'T. This really really is important. I need to let you know that if you haven't backed up your computer lately, run, do not walk to the closest store and get a back up drive and back up your computer.

Remember how I've been saying my computer is in the shop. HARD DRIVE FAILURE. Its only a year old. A year. You don't really think "my hard drive might fail I should back it up" because its only a year old. So people, do yourself a favor and get your stuff backed up.

NOW, before its too late.

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.  

Hey politicians, Want my vote? Then fix this...

I am yet again disappointed in our public school system.  Maybe I'm jumping the gun (I doubt it) but they don't seem to be eager to help my poor little Hunter.  We went back to the eye doctor today and Hunter's left eye has lost more vision and he is now a -8.0 in his left eye.  His right stayed steady at -6.75.  UGH.  The doctor says he might be dyslexic as well, but when I called the school counselor to talk to her as she suggested after this follow up, to only be pushed off yet again.  "We don't test until after 1st grade."  

OK, so my doctor says he needs to be tested as soon as possible, yet they say the won't test him for another 18 months.  Are you sure you are educators?  I mean have you heard of early intervention?  I have put my best people on the job.  A more passionate advocate I couldn't find.  She's not in my town, but has been an honorary member of our family for a long time.  She'll find out the questions I am lost on and point me in the right direction.  

I am also working on some other avenues and Unstable, I might have to borrow LMSKP, but I will hold off until I get my bearings on this.  We have a referral to Scottish Rite, I will get on that even if the school district decides to lower itself and test my kid.   

How frustrating is that?

All this and I'm surprisingly upbeat

Today is not so much a bad day as its just off. I have a pain, a pain that I've had for about two weeks, it actually hurt so much this morning that I made an appointment to go see the doctor. I wouldn't normally 1) because its the female doctor and I already have my yearly coming up in less that a month & 2) I tend to procrastinate. But its my boob and I've already had one cyst removed and lack feeling in it most of the time; and I really don't want to find that I have a second one and didn't do anything about it. I'm sure I'll get a lecture for not calling earlier, but its probably just hormones. Better safe than sorry though.

I'm also incredibly disappointed with people today. My husband and I have a friend that's having a tough time and you know what - I'm pissed off that anyone would act with such callousness and hate for another human being. What really pisses me off is that its a woman doing this to her ex. I mean, its over, move on with your life. Beating someone else in the ground will not better you. And just in case you haven't been made aware of this there is thing called Karma. It will get you, I promise and I've already put my name in for a front row seat and a bag of popcorn to watch your demise.

The little cat Cagey who is just getting over a giant wound from his last war with one of the neighbors cats, has come home with a new giant wound. Luckily it is in the shaved area already, so maybe I can avoid another trip to the vet. The antibiotic shot he got is still in effect, so maybe I'm saved another vet bill.

I did manage to watch Private Practice & Dirty Sexy Money last night. YEA! I kind of liked what they did with Private Practice making it a little more edgy with moral dilemmas. I'm kind of wondering what happened to the blond chick - the twin on DSM. I mean where did she go? Did we just lose a character or what? Not as excited with DSM as I was last year. It may get marked off my list if it doesn't improve soon.

The Yard Retard & More Exciting Tales

I can feel that today is going to be one of those days. The Yard-Retard's sprinkler system was going off as I tried to get into the car today to take the kids to school and me off to work. Yes, I said it, The Yard Retard. Its true. Our next door neighbor is a total Yard-Retard. I mean we have this guy who lives across the street - nice as pie lives by himself, never opens his eyes and mows his yard with an electric lawn mower. He pulls it instead of pushing it across his lawn and even he is brighter than the Yard-Retard.

The ever famous Yard-Retard won't plant normal grass in his yard, he has to plant grass that grows on a golf course so he can mess around with his clubs. Its doesn't matter that his yard is so small that he really can't do that, but you know golfers. Anyway he waters this yard 3 sometimes 4 times a day and all it looks like is an old man with plugs. Yes, its like one blade of grass per square inch. Why, because golf course grass (or at least the kind he plants) doesn't do that well in Texas. Its is HOT in Texas and it doesn't like the heat. It looks completely ridiculous. He's had landscaper after landscaper out to find out why his grass won't fill in only to be told he needs to plant Bermuda or St. Augustine which he steadfastly refuses.

Well anyway back to the story, I couldn't get in the car because Mr. Yard Retard can't fix his sprinkler system to not water my driveway and my car. So as I walk out in white pants to get in the car I had to wait for his sprinkler system to turn off before I could run off. My big purse was attacking everyone I got into close proximity to, I was too loud in my office and was told to keep it down. I am loud, I can't help it so whoops - I promise to do better. Charlotte informed me "I needed to put the coffee down". Oh, and then I get a really nice panic attack. Its not even noon. Hopefully, my day will not continue on this path. I feel like I'm living in a commercial for Murphy's Law or bad Karma.

Hello, Hate My Insurance Company

OK, so I've been fighting with the insurance company over eye exams.  They cover eye exams, but apparently if you have a certain diagnosis you aren't covered.  Now would somebody please explain how you can cover eye examinations, but if you get diagnosed with a particular problem they won't cover it?  

Insurance Company: "Yes Ms. Customer, eye examinations are covered on your policy.  Please feel free to get checked out."

Customer: "Thank you insurance Company."

Customer: "Excuse me Mr. Insurance Company, you told me eye exams were covered and I just got an Explanation of Benefits that you denied my claim.  Can you explain that?"

Insurance Company: "Yes Ms. Customer, you were diagnosed with X, and we don't cover that, so your exam was not covered."

Customer: "But how can I find out I have X without an exam?"

Insurance Company:  "You can't"

Customer: "Then why won't you cover the exam like it says in the packet/contract we have with your company?"

Insurance Company: "Because you were diagnosed with X."

Makes a lot of sense doesn't it.  If anyone is wondering the insurance just so you can know in case you ever have a choice on insurance companies.  It is Humana.

I've had it.

Sometimes there are people who just really piss me off.  I finally had enough today and opened my mouth and I probably shouldn't have, but my mother protective instincts just kicked in (it wasn't even my kid, but anyway).  I understand where you are coming from, but you need to think about the big picture not just yours.  Period.  End of Sentence.  Got it.  I don't apologize for telling you that, you don't need to forward the letter from the other kids mother to me.  I DON'T CARE. You can't make everyone adhere to your issues and no one else's.  No child should feel left out at all because of you didn't think it was important.

Names and specifics have been left out because you-know-why.