tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60911450372591771742024-03-04T23:57:43.399-08:00the entirely true stories of tbooty, vrock & jdoggwhen 2 become 3, life becomes excessively CRAZY! stories from my life as a wife & mother.tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-81649195051644033672011-09-08T08:19:00.000-07:002011-09-08T08:25:32.061-07:00now that THAT is over....<strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;">well that was quite the stretch of 2 weeks.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;">man, i'm tired. still. ugh.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;">first i started a new full time job. ok, that's a good thing, right?</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;">it is. BUT. i had already committed to working at the local fair for 4 days. and those days? of course coincided with my first weeks of working. which meant that i worked 12 days straight before i got a day off. then? 1 day off, 1 shift at the fair and then boom. off on labor day and then right back into a work week.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;">plus? i have an event sat until 2ish. not that i'm complaining. i'm just really eyeing sunday when i can sleep in. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;">in the good news department, i got about 8 leads from one of the booths at the fair and when i started calling them yesterday, i booked a party. woot! so maybe, just maybe, that whole "paying for the time i spent in the booth & working the booth for free" thing might be starting to pay off. we'll see what the order totals look like. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#9999ff;">back to work now. if i can stay awake long enough, that is.</span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-86612798203645800512011-09-02T09:02:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:53:28.665-07:00and that's when things went splat & i fell off the face of the earth<strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">so.</span></em></strong>
<br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong>
<br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">it's been awhile. a great while. i'm aware.</span></em></strong>
<br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong>
<br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">i'm also aware that i am most likely writing this purely for myself. which is totally fine with me. it's an outlet.</span></em></strong>
<br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong>
<br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">things have been hectic since i last wrote. back in OCTOBER of 2010. </span></em></strong>
<br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong>
<br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">this is what's been going down over here:</span></em></strong>
<br />
<br /><ul>
<br /><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">we went to texas for christmas and saw my brother & his wife & vrock's family.</span></em></strong></li>
<br /><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">we came home and i had surgery on my foot, a little more than a year after i first injured it. (long story)</span></em></strong></li>
<br /><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">after surgery, i couldn't walk for EIGHT WEEKS. ugh. i do not reccommend that with a 16 month old in the house. </span></em></strong></li>
<br /><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">i had been getting a flow of business going, then couldn't do anything do to surgery.</span></em></strong></li>
<br /><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">vrock, unable to find work here, opted to move to texas to look for work in april.</span></em></strong></li>
<br /><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">vrock, unable to to find work in texas, moved home at the end of june.</span></em></strong></li>
<br /><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">i got a job at the end of may and worked there until mid-july when i quit because i HATED IT.</span></em></strong></li>
<br /><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">the same week i quit, got a call from an agency that found me online. i didn't get the first placement they put me up for, but i DID get the second contract they put me up for.</span></em></strong></li>
<br /><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">which means, I GOT A JOB!</span></em></strong></li>
<br /><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">and of course, both businesses are starting to BLOW UP!</span></em></strong></li></ul>
<br /><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">bottom line. add in a now TWO year old, getting up at 5am to get to the new job, working the fair a few nights to promote the businesses, booking parties, and trying to find time to sleep and you've got ONE MEGA TIRED MOMMY!</span></em></strong></p>
<br /><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">but, i'm back. while i have time during the day to actually breathe. </span></em></strong></p>
<br /><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">hope you check in occassionally and say hi!</span></em></strong></p>
<br /><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong></p>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-18223884881513301712010-10-12T23:38:00.000-07:002010-10-12T23:57:51.829-07:00taking the plunge<strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">no, not that plunge. we're already married, remember?</span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">and no, not that other one either. we. are. NOT. PREGNANT.</span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">ok. so can i tell you WHICH plunge i'm referring to?</span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">SELF-EMPLOYMENT. yikes!!</span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">it's becoming glaringly clear that for whatever reason, i'm just not destined to get a real job. anytime soon. at least that's how it feels.</span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">case in point: last weeks' job interview. for an advertising company. sounded pretty good on the careerbuilder.com website. so i applied figuring i wouldn't even rate a phone call since i have zero sales experience. not only did i get a call, i got an interview. okay. so i went. and about 1/3 of the way through the "pre-interview" (yes, she basically called it that), i realized that this was one of those 100% commission gigs. um, no thanks. i fully understand that my unemployment will not last forever. and that we both need to find a job, any job so that we will be able to pay our bills. but a job where they DON'T PAY YOU? um, no. because as far as i'm concerned? a 100% commission job is a job that doesn't pay you. with a 14 month old? that's not really an option. so i deliberately gave a bad answer to ensure that i wouldn't get called in for a 2nd interview. mission accomplished!</span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">that leads me back to the SELF-EMPLOYMENT thing. back in august we went to the fair. at the fair was a book booth with a "ask me how to earn income from home" banner. so i asked. and was intrigued. and looked into it some more. and by the end of the weekend, had decided to sign up as an independent consultant. i've done a home show (with a few in the works) and worked a fair & some other "booth" events. i'm set to work a book fair with my sponsor & finally earn my first bit of commission. yes. commission. see, this is also a commission only type job. but? these books sell themselves, so i have no fear about it. and? i don't have to leave this everyday.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527419451299249762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmz6ie0tZDzepUsv6gSUtXrLp80URBZksKlwTGkRnV_dWIeJQodoJ4C9RioUFSNJv6eBhNCVRLLRbW9NHRlqpXrL_HpZAml3M7yc6hlozZ-LNtbTw09TchWDF9xO_aoQzOIqabtRt1lnw/s320/P9251020.JPG" /><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">because really. who would WANT to leave THAT FACE everyday for 10+ hours? sure as HELL not me! </span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">so i've been doing the book thing since the end of august. and have made sales of roughly $1000. cool. but i'm not quite as busy as i'd hoped. and since i figured that i should probably take the bull by the horns, i'm also signing up tomorrow to be an independent consultant for pampered chef. i figure that between the two i should be able to bring a decent amount of money in. maybe not enough to replace a full time income for me, but then i'd only need to get a part time job to supplement my SELF-EMPLOYMENT! those words still scare the crap outta me!</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">anyhow, that's where i am at this point. trying to take control of my own destiny and make some good things happen for my family. i figure if i'm going to "sell" something, then it might as well be something i love & something that my family can use. because let's face it. who doesn't LOVE books & pampered chef??</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></strong> </p><p><br /></p>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-56860499587727843432010-09-05T12:29:00.000-07:002010-09-05T13:00:15.687-07:00has it really been 3.5 months since i last wrote? it seems so much longer than that!<strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back. at least for a bit. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">what have i been doing you ask?</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">surprisingly, not much.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">here's whats been happening since we went on vacation in may:</span></em></strong><br /><ul><li><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">after getting back from hawaii, we made plans to go to texas to see vrock's family. then we actually went. to texas. in july. yes, i am an idiot.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">vrock was forced to "retire" from his job due to lack of work.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">i continue to look for a job, any kind of job, and it continues to be an excercise in futility.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">my <a href="http://uthostage.com/">bff</a> came to visit the weekend before my birthday and took me to see her <a href="http://www.rickspringfield.com/">husband</a> in concert! (ok, ok. so he's only her husband in her head. DON'T tell her that! LOL)</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">i sort of started my own business last week. not much has come of it yet, but i'm hopeful that it will at least bring a little money in the door.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">jdogg turned ONE! (how in the hell did that happen? i told that boy he wasn't allowed to grow up!)</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">vrock & i have seriously considered moving to texas, provided that he can obtain a job with the company he had to "retire" from.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">we continue to prepare to go to san francisco at the end of the month for my brother's wedding. those preparations included buying a tux for jdogg. OMG! so! freaking! cute!</span></em></strong></li></ul><p><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">and while all of that has been exciting/caused anxiety/thrilling/sad, i find that time is zooming by and i never seem to have time to do ANYTHING without major planning sessions. and even then, if it's not something ESSENTIAL? it doesn't make the cut. </span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">for someone who doesn't work outside the home, is living with family (and therefore not really responsible for "household chores"), and is still drawing unemployment, i have NO IDEA where all of my time goes!</span></em></strong></p>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-46800349629607236832010-05-04T14:30:00.000-07:002010-05-04T14:34:50.903-07:00my dearest blog, i really haven't abandoned you....<div><strong><em><span style="color:#3366ff;">i've just been extremely busy with this................</span></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span></em></strong></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467530993191408818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9C2D0y1FquQI7VbtTjxUIZsloTcqqTA8rAyxoLJVq1hiSnuY5RcoKka0C1Yw0fapSbk5E03mv1if9y4eeLPZQ8FbkuQhaIbXvbh3RmyiglbFULfwVgia9-YoXe7r3Bk8EvTXgsuDQfA/s320/P4270182.JPG" /><strong><em><span style="color:#3366ff;">hopefully you can forgive me. we're on vacation at the moment, but i promise to attempt more updating once we return to our crazy life!</span></em></strong><br /><div></div>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-82858339907930643492010-02-18T14:40:00.001-08:002010-02-18T15:07:18.918-08:00dear blog, i really didn't forget about you.....<strong><em><span style="color:#333399;">i'm wondering if i've hit a wall with the blogging.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;">yes, i have a 6.5 month old that keeps me very, very busy. but lately i've gone WEEKS without even thinking about blogging. i could chalk that up to being so wrapped up in the baby that i barely have time to think. Or to the fact that he doesn't sleep in his crib for more than 2 hours without me having to get up and get him. (by which time I'M EXHAUSTED so he just ends up in our bed for the remainder of the night.) </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;">i could blame it on the energy i'm spending praying/hoping/willing vrock to get the most recent job he applied for. or that after a winter of no colds whatsoever (yay vaccinations!) i've got the sore throat from hell and since i'm still nursing at night i can't really take anything for it. (although, if this keeps up, i'm going to take something!)</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;">but i think the answer that feels the most right is this: i don't know what to say anymore. i don't necessarily want this blog to become a commentary on the day to day life of the baby. yes, i love him and think he's adorable, but i know that not everyone wants to hear about his daily activities. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;">my life has become an endless string of taking care of the baby. i'm fine with that, most of the time. but i'm pretty sure it would bore the hell out of the few readers i have to report on his adventures. besides, who else would find it amusing EVERY TIME he grabs himself during a diaper change? LOL</span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-71134137524345965082009-12-07T18:52:00.000-08:002009-12-07T19:13:40.151-08:00benefit 4,928,761,350 of being unemployed & living with your folks<strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">it's really handy when you do something tremendously stupid to not have to worry about mundane stuff. like work. or carrying your child around. or how to feed yourself when your room is on the first floor but the kitchen is on the the second. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">thursday night i was cold. i've been cold at bedtime for the last week or so, primarily because our bed is located directly below the only window in our room. that means that even though the window is completely closed, when it's say 20 degrees outside (which it has been at night for the last week or so) that even if you have the heat on in the room, there's still a cold spot right where you put your head down when it's time for bed. i don't know about you, but if ANY part of me is too hot or too cold when it's time for bed? i can't sleep. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">so i decided i was going to get the nice, fluffy, warm uw huskies blanket that i got for christmas two years back down from out of the closet to put over the comforter on the bed. vrock is a furnace so i'm not allowed to have an electric blanket on the bed. that means that if i'm cold, i have to pile blankets onto my side of the bed. fine. i can do that. i pulled the office chair over to the closet, braced it against the dresser, and climbed up. there was a little wobble, but no big deal. i've done this a million times. up, grab the item in question, and down with no problems. not so much this time.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">when my parents built the garage (where the 5 of us are currently living) they put an apartment over the garage and a bedroom with a bathroom downstairs. they also made 9 foot ceilings, so you HAVE to climb onto something to get anything out of the closet downstairs. ideally that something would be, i don't know, a STEP LADDER, but i digress. the basket that the blanket was in is VERY light. 2 blankets, a pair of slippers, a pair of gloves, and i think a scarf is all that is in the basket. so i knew that it would be no biggie to grab the blanket. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">EXCEPT.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">i didn't know that vrock had also put an armband for his ipod in the basket. this wouldn't be a big deal except that he just kind of tossed it into the basket, meaning that it landed on top of the blanket. again, not really a big deal. except. when i pulled the basket down towards me to grab the blanket out, the ipod thing fell out. and startled the shit out of me. which caused me to lose my balance and fall. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">luckily i didn't bang my head on the crib or the bookshelf that is right next to it. unluckily, i heard a distinct SNAP as i landed on my foot. i was sure that once we went to the er and got x-rays that there would be a break somewhere. luckily i was wrong and it's just very badly sprained. but man. it HURTS! i spent all of friday, saturday, and most of sunday in bed with my foot propped up and icing it off and on. and today it's STILL all kinds of lovely shades of purple and yellow. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">the er doc didn't give me enough pain meds to last me to my follow up tomorrow with my regular doc, so i'm raiding dad's pain meds from his surgery last month. (only after checking with the pharmacist that they're safe to take while breastfeeding.) they make me sleepy though, which is great for at night but not so much for during the day. today i finally ventured upstairs, but had to have my mom bring the baby up since i don't trust my balance enough to carry him yet. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">what a great way to spend a weekend, huh? on the plus side......it's not broken. and? vrock has been pretty awesome through the whole ordeal. after 4 days of being an invalid though, i'm ready for it to heal and to be able to walk on it without pain. we'll see what the doc says tomorrow about the timeline for that.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">i know this though........i'll never use a chair to get something out of the closet again!</span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-87986405029515974462009-10-23T18:53:00.000-07:002009-10-23T19:35:12.904-07:00time flies when you have an infant<div><div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">not much has changed around here.</span></em></strong></div></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">except that this:</span></em></strong><br /><br /></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395979585330589938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYXihSwcOM3s47HeBi00F9_gAjz2Q87H92pHm2Iceh0q6MvHPQJfF7tfs0ZO2IBzr7x01rex6Bsg1coqCCMKXaSXxt9YUfxVKnW4pb0QMO45uU-S34uByL0rSAwXogAbcwJ1ovT6ksXc/s320/Julian+August+2009+033.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">has become this:</span></em></strong></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 257px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 405px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395980888062005394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiuhQhYMlvaLFn7DJeQ6xwvthQQUGzN0NxrPQgNS_Ftl6lA8f_vaZNJnrtSSQmoouFuBCOmAYs4pm7hP83JRZrY5dnYbuLUNv5M1jC215kWg2t2yooMz94QdTyI-IP1pLaZ7hQQa9N7Y/s320/Julian+October+2009+013.JPG" /><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395980883805522786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktVACWmGk-GlM2gya_EHV0vl5I-Al4N6OTeHBnO9rSTGCEA5_S8g1DBDpb1uEXhamu3GiyutOEa4kneJ_EjX1ramehhnjOQQZ4yU5sOrAEDwb8OBe8896yPBNx8XTKQBFe6pdzXquWh0/s320/Julian+October+2009+025.JPG" /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">he's perfect. and gorgeous. and we've never been happier. especially since we're actually getting some sleep these days! i'll try to write more often, but with that gorgeous little being around, it's amazing that i get anything done. LOL</span></em></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p></div>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-7136328208293715302009-09-21T13:14:00.000-07:002009-09-21T13:26:18.163-07:00reasons 461,925,873 thru 461,925,877 of why i haven't posted<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxla2CQ2N4YlAAKpX1SkHj3M162RIW0PiJmwO1XoO3PkSHQ3K37fWQGv3MNUXGIFgbW9ZXnmIX50zeZ-mbIj7bgKKyF8UXFR0u3Dff2g6RpyasmpjbACjmuPF1xqcZS3NeTPMHvgTncI/s1600-h/083.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384017638084344914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxla2CQ2N4YlAAKpX1SkHj3M162RIW0PiJmwO1XoO3PkSHQ3K37fWQGv3MNUXGIFgbW9ZXnmIX50zeZ-mbIj7bgKKyF8UXFR0u3Dff2g6RpyasmpjbACjmuPF1xqcZS3NeTPMHvgTncI/s320/083.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGGsv8EshlW7WnRpvSj1QJBjbVeDKr1qKDZu0tgfroEtw2lTB76a3Nzp9Z6OeEssKdLhxlf2aG0K0tS0AA_pbqf1_hyKrunrfc6MbiV1R-0hazupcHyY6iRySbv8U2aoFxRqGikXJ55k/s1600-h/068.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384017624947237074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGGsv8EshlW7WnRpvSj1QJBjbVeDKr1qKDZu0tgfroEtw2lTB76a3Nzp9Z6OeEssKdLhxlf2aG0K0tS0AA_pbqf1_hyKrunrfc6MbiV1R-0hazupcHyY6iRySbv8U2aoFxRqGikXJ55k/s320/068.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvT70467XUd22m5Bc4sULeT1kvYDpszCf816hhANVFtVOb253ONdVfu-Tw-kcnqyZG9TdCf49NNoQAmLO6xzn0AUTWsxl_GAkrdNLPqvMa5bFUoXXu6vC6llzCe3XdNVS2W4h94wLVcGs/s1600-h/039.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384017618259572930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvT70467XUd22m5Bc4sULeT1kvYDpszCf816hhANVFtVOb253ONdVfu-Tw-kcnqyZG9TdCf49NNoQAmLO6xzn0AUTWsxl_GAkrdNLPqvMa5bFUoXXu6vC6llzCe3XdNVS2W4h94wLVcGs/s320/039.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmrwWATo_qxrVKj-3pz3JRxUiMz_g8-C1xVdSFFu6jrLI_jbIN1WyNsftsP_YB_7hqrnqOjoimRsx3raRI6RiUmrOC6Xf7Np1kgPQbsdUUY8qZG0tHlOTGyOVJqKQtOj43i26IlbExJI/s1600-h/094.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384017609592870482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmrwWATo_qxrVKj-3pz3JRxUiMz_g8-C1xVdSFFu6jrLI_jbIN1WyNsftsP_YB_7hqrnqOjoimRsx3raRI6RiUmrOC6Xf7Np1kgPQbsdUUY8qZG0tHlOTGyOVJqKQtOj43i26IlbExJI/s320/094.JPG" /></a> <strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">need i say more??</span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-1737714498824784782009-09-08T23:20:00.001-07:002009-09-08T23:28:02.552-07:00not dead.......yet<div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"><strong><em>just zombified. you know, because of this......</em></strong></span></div><br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379349760121997474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECAqgXZisZ_23FbIS_OYaASbkjdQo-Dk7fAVtic7gYCgGUTIre4vQkBflLW8FaHQRIsH0-H9_WHePaaFzHtFyLA1N-ha5RngsAElSEZUEfOAEaqxLkfVL7YEurZyiR3ilEekohr4nkCg/s320/Julian+August+2009+011.JPG" /><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em>and of course, munching on these...........</em></strong></span><br /></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379349772485205394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWxF-yerpkr7Yky83NJuwQxyvoIhy7J-P7mLAPOy4_KFKH7kBL1TYPephm2CicL8Ms2dwAgSPZ46Ovi5w7SaFUce1u_mXOCbLWzIrnaPQZF6lQHaOgHKj8Dufxfe0oDjAnPsIzAVo_6Q/s320/Julian+August+2009+014.JPG" /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><div></div><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">and while i miss my sleep, desperately, i've never been happier.</span></em></strong><br /><br /><div></div></div>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-69314996501390554292009-07-29T22:33:00.000-07:002009-07-29T23:14:36.333-07:00and this? is what they call a holding pattern<strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">so last week i went in for my 37 week appointment and was VERY excited to learn that i was already dilated to 3cm and 75% effaced. it has been MISERABLY hot here the last few weeks (today? FREAKING 100 degrees! wtf??) so i was excited by this development because as anyone who has been pregnant knows, the last month is THE WORST as far as being uncomfortable, etc. when i went in today, i was hoping for some more dilation, but figuring i wouldn't get quite that lucky since it's apparently VERY unusual to be 3 weeks prior to due date and be 3cm already. i, unfortunately was right. no further dilation OR effacement. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">DAMN!</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">i wasn't super surprised, but i was a little bummed out. i have been EXTREMELY uncomfortable with all this heat. i'm good at 75 degrees when i'm not knocked up. i can deal with 80 as long as there is a breeze. it's been WAY hotter than that the last 2-3 weeks and it's forecast for mid 80's into the end of next week. THIS SUCKS! all that being said, i am VERY ready for little dude to make his appearance, although i'm TERRIFIED about what to do AFTER he's here. LOL i know, i know. i'll be fine once i get the hang of things. i know this. but i'm still starting to freak out a little.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">so my next appointment is on monday. something had BETTER have changed (in the correct direction!) by then! LOL</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">in other news, we had a bit of a scare yesterday in that when we tried to go to babies 'r us in order to get the rest of the things we really NEEDED for the baby, the car wouldn't start. at all. nothing. no lights, no "door ajar" binging. nothing. thank God we have AAA. turns out it was nothing more than a bad cell in our battery, so we just needed a new one. but still. i think vrock had a minor stroke thinking that we'd have to pay exorbitant amounts of money to get the car fixed. (we bought it used, and it's still under the original warranty, but it's only 3 years old.) the battery price was more than i wanted to pay, but it's done and we're back in business.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">all of that rigamarole with the battery totally shot yesterday though. so today after the doc appointment, we went to babies 'r us. we didn't get EVERYTHING that was left on the registry, but we did get the things that i think we needed the most. we still have a good chunk of the money my brother & his fiancee' (the godparents) sent for the bambino, so we just moved that money into the baby's bank account until we need to buy something else for him. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">since it's been so damn hot, we decided to go to one of the local casinos so vrock could people watch and i could gamble, a little. money is very tight for us these days and while i probably should have just left it in the bank, i wanted to play just a bit. so i went with $80 and hoped for the best. i'd been to that casino in june when my <a href="http://www.uthostage.com/">bestest friend in the world</a> was here for my baby shower. i can't remember if i won, but i think i either broke even or won a little bit. (on a side note, vrock & i went to our other local casino last week to see the gallagher comedy show. we played for about 2.5 hours and came home with $50 more than we left with, which promptly went in the baby's bank account. LOL)</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">anyways, so today i was doing ok, and then all of a sudden i was down to my last 10 cents. (i used to play nickel slots. now? pennies all the way!) i would have had to cash out had this last spin not been a winner of some kind because that machine's minimum bet was more than a total of 10 cents. so i spun. and hit the bonus. right on! this particular game is called "great wall" and i found it last month when i was there. the bonus consists of free spins where you can accrue points & "picks". after the free spins are up, it takes you to the "picks" page where you choose from various ying-yang's and get either points or free spins. so this first bonus i won $121. WOO HOO! not bad for literally being down to your last 10 cents! i decided that i'd play until i was at 100 and that way i'd still be coming out 20 bucks ahead of where i'd started. i spun a few times and nothing. so i cashed out. i was going to leave, but decided "what the hell"? so i put my money back in and spun and hit another bonus. this time? i won 50 something in the bonus. i played for a bit and tried to get my total up to $160 which would have doubled my initial funds for the day. i didn't get there, and decided to cash out at $150. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">all in all? not bad for less than 2 hours work. i won $70, so even after i subtract the $40 that i gave vrock, i still walked out $30 up. not bad, not bad at all.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">tomorrow will be a stay at home day to do laundry and to see what all we have for the little dude that we'll need right away. and hopefully the walking around today helped jiggle things so that he's thinking more about coming OUT OUT OUT already! LOL</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#993399;">oh, and i'll be spending a fair amount of my day with my feet elevated. i'm tired of vrock teasing me about my "elephant feet". they are SO swollen it's not even funny.</span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-30736960901105316782009-07-14T23:47:00.000-07:002009-07-14T23:57:55.055-07:00we have reached week 36<strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">and i am SO FLIPPING READY for this little boy to be born.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">the hip pain is gone, but now it's settled into the the center of my hips (as opposed to being just in one hip or the other like it was before.) so that means everytime i roll over in bed, i hurt. lovely. i'd still rather that than the pain with every other step that i was dealing with. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">i've started on the weekly doc visits. last week i was VERY excited that i'd only gained 1 pound from the previous visit, 3 weeks earlier. woot! that was good. i go back tomorrow so we'll see how well i did this week. the doc told me last time that everything looked great and on track. i see my regular doc this week & next and if nothing has happened by next week, we'll schedule the induction for the due date. (i see his partners the last few visits, so i want to make sure it gets scheduled, just in case.)</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">tomorrow is also my mom's birthday. she's going with me to the appointment and the plan is to go to lunch after and then to see harry potter. (vrock has no desire to see it, and mom reads the books, so it works out.) depending on how crowded the theater is will make the decision if we actually see the movie or not. if not? i'll be back up there next week for another appointment and will go see it then.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">i'm almost done with the twilight series, with only about 250-300 pages left in breaking dawn. still can't really understand what all the fanatacism is about with that series. it's no harry potter, that's for sure. it's been an enjoyable read, but i'll be selling the books to the used book store when i'm done. no need to re-read them.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">got some bad news today, but i'm not really ready to share, as it's not my news to share. i would really appreciate some extra prayers though. any good thoughts would be great. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">i'm going to try to keep updated on this the next month or so, but i can't promise anything. i'm in countdown mode. 28 days to go, should he be stubborn like his parents and not come until his due date. that will be my luck. LOL although, with only 3 chapter submissions and the final left to take for class, that could be a good thing. at least then i'd HOPEFULLY be done with class and wouldn't have to worry about having to still take the final! </span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-17874912081261812382009-06-28T18:06:00.000-07:002009-06-28T18:28:48.824-07:00sloth, thy name is tbooty, or why i haven't posted lately<strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">all kinds of interesting things have been happening out in seattle. (ok, not really, but there have been a select few.)</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">mostly the reasons i haven't posted can be boiled down to this:</span></em></strong><br /><ol><li><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">i'm just generally feeling lazy the last few weeks. i've been told this is normal.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">i often THINK about doing something (posting/laundry/errands) and that's as far as i get. this does not bode well for my post partum period. LOL</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">i've found that while the extreme exhaustion of the first 16 weeks of pregnancy has not returned, i AM more tired than i was from weeks 17-30. case in point, i wake vrock up in the morning for work and go back to sleep when he leaves around 8am. then? even though i went to bed at 1am? i end up sleeping until around 11am. unless i'm going somewhere where i have to leave/arrive at a certain time. weird.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">i'm already feeling overwhelmed about the baby's arrival. we don't have all of our "gear" yet. no stroller/car seat (although that's just a matter of mom & i going to target together.) we have a bassinet. we have a pack 'n play (that we may just have him sleep in for the first few months due to space issues). we have a crib mattress, but the crib is still at my brother-in-law's. but there are still quite a few things we registered for that haven't been purchased yet. it's kind of stressful.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">i am SO UNCOMFORTABLE at this stage. between the HUGE belly, the hip pain (so. very. hard. to. walk!!!) and the intermittent ankle/foot swelling, i am PAST being ready to reclaim my body.</span></em></strong></li></ol><p><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">the baby shower was good. none of my bridesmaids showed up, including the one who threw the shower, but 2 of the 3 had valid reasons. still, it REALLY upset me. UNTIL. my <a href="http://www.uthostage.com/">best friend in the world </a>surprised me by flying up from utah for the weekend. BEST FRIEND EVER! after that i didn't really care about who hadn't shown. her being there made up for it more than 100 times over. of course, she made me cry though. bitch. LOL (don't worry, i TOTALLY got her back when i wrote out THAT particular thank you card. LOL) we got a fair amount of stuff, but of course not everything that we actually NEED. LOL go figure. it's ok. i've still got about $250 in gift cards/cash (not including whatever amount my brother is sending) to get the necessities that we don't yet have.</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">i'm up to chapter 13 of 18 in the transcription class, which means after i get back the chapter 13 submission, i have 4 graded transcripts left before the final. i'm not sure if i'll be able to start work before the baby is born, but we'll see. it'll be cutting it close, what with me only being 44 days away from my due date. it'd be nice to be able to start before he gets here.</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">i also had a job interview on monday (long story), and while it seemed to go well, the sacrifices it would entail (2 months unpaid leave, paying for childcare, no guarantee of job being held) make it so that i've never wanted to NOT get a job offer before. they were interviewing all of last week, so in theory i should hear something by wed of this week. like i said, it'll be one of the few times in recent memory that it won't hurt my feelings if they go in another direction. LOL</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">and i THINK that catches us up. the next 6 weeks are going to be an interesting ride. i'm ready to reclaim my body for myself. LOL let's see when this little boy decides to make his debut. i'd like him to wait at least until 36 weeks (7/14) but ANYTIME after that is totally fine with me! (plus, that would negate the 10 family birthdays in august that we're looking at currently. LOL)</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong></p>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-38253369218171740002009-06-13T23:14:00.001-07:002009-06-13T23:27:36.456-07:00i swear i haven't fallen off the face of the earth....at least not yet<strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3333ff;">i believe i owe you a post about the trip.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">the trip was fantastic. it was the first time in TWENTY (count them!) years that my entire immediate family (all 4 of us. LOL) were in hawaii at the same time. both my brother & i have managed to go see our grandparents while our parents have been there over the last 20 years, but this was the first time we'd all managed to be there together. and it was awesome.</span></em></strong><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">between vrock totally loving my grandparents (they love him too!), asking my grandpa for his blessing to name the baby after him (of course, he's THRILLED!), and talking about my brother & his fiancee's wedding next year, PLUS celebrating my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary AND mother's day, it was just an AWESOME trip.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">it was a little too warm for me, what with the humidity and the whole "i'm growing a person so my internal thermometer is all out of whack", but vrock loved the weather, even the humidity! we didn't "do" a lot while we were there, until my brother got there. most of our days were fairly lazy, with the most strenous things we did being walking downtown throughout the shops and eventually going to the beach. (my bro & his fiancee' ended up coming in later than planned because her grandmother died a week or so before the trip. that was a major bummer, but i'm really glad that they decided to come anyways. i think it was therapeutic for her.)</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">the highlights of the trip were these gems:</span></em></strong><br /><ul><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">vrock, my bro, dad, & grandpa having daily "cocktail hours" starting around 3:30pm complete with each one smoking a cigar. (vrock & my brother do not normally smoke AT ALL and dad only smokes pipes/cigars every once in awhile.) grandpa was definitely in his element as he held court with the boys.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">everyone hanging out in the pool room at my grandparents playing pool and just enjoying the family time.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">my brother & his iFlip getting some of the best sound bites EVER from grandpa! </span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">and of course, seeing grandpa's reaction when we asked for his blessing to name the baby after him. it was priceless and something i'll never forget.</span></em></strong></li></ul><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">vrock is ALREADY talking about next years trip. he wants to make sure that they get to see the baby in person. i love my husband!</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span></em></strong> </p><p> </p><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-27136940705427793142009-05-28T11:36:00.000-07:002009-05-28T12:00:10.345-07:00seriously????<strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">i know, i know. i haven't written about the trip yet. i will, promise.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">i just need to vent about this first.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">when we first got pregnant, i was worried about the normal things: my age (37) being an issue, genetic abnormalities, miscarriage, etc. things that just about every woman is concerned about until she knows that there's nothing to be concerned about.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">so we opted to do some genetic testing (first trimester testing & completely non-invasive) to "guide" us in the right direction. fortunately for us, the tests came back with no worries of any abnormalities and we were able to end that particular journey there. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">that was in early february. while we were on vacation, i received a call from the billing department of that particular hospital. (not the one i'm delivering at, as that one is too small to have a maternal-fetal medicine clinic that does the genetic testing.) the guy proceeded to say that i had an outstanding bill ($30) after insurance had paid and wanted to know when i would be paying it. i'm in hawaii, and have no recollection of seeing a bill for that amount, so i told him that i was on vacation, if the bill had come prior to leaving i'd have paid it and since i'll be gone for 10 days, i'll have to look into it when i get home. fine he says and i figure that will be the end of it.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">so we get home. i get the mail and sort it out. bills in one pile, etc. at this point, (about 2 weeks ago) i'm still not receiving my unemployment yet. vrock is working (huzzah!) but it's only part time. so while we do have some money floating around, there's not a lot that's leftover for extra bills. i put the bills on the desk in their spot and turn to other things. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">i get a phone call a few days later from this guy again. telling me again that i still owe $30. now, i'm 27+ weeks at this point and my memory has become more faulty than i'd like to admit (HELLO list writing!), so i inform him that i have NOT received this bill and that i don't care that his system tells me they mailed it, i don't have it and therefore it will be hard for me to pay it. he says they'll send it again. fine. (of course, a day or so later as i'm preparing to pay bills i find it. but it's for $45.08 and NOT $30, so it's not completely my fault.) </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">meanwhile, vrock's job has become FULL TIME & BENEFITTED (woo hoo!!) and now i can pay the bills knowing that there will be more money coming in. great! so last week i write a check for this particular account and a few other non-monthly bills (we're STILL paying medical bills from his sinus surgery in oct) so that i can mail them in. i check our bank account online about every other day, so i'm glad to see that the check for this particular account has cleared. YAY! no more phone calls from this guy. right? WRONG!!!</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">this morning i'm sleeping in. (with vrock working full time now, the alarm goes off at about 6:45 and he gets up about 7:20. this wouldn't be an issue, except that 1) the alarm is on MY side of the bed, which means i'm the one hitting snooze and then rolling over to make sure he's awake, 2) i've done this every morning this week because i'm afraid if i don't sort of wake up with him that he'll fall back asleep and be late for work, and 3) last night/this morning i stayed up until 4:30am finishing a book because i'd had a 2 hour nap yesterday.) my phone is almost always on vibrate overnight, but because i'd grabbed it and put it by the bed this morning when vrock left for work, i hear it buzzing. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">normally, i don't answer if there's no number listed. this one pops up as "private call". now, i know it's not my mom, because she left earlier and her cell number shows up on my phone. the only other "private call" that i know of for sure is my almost 38-weeks pregnant friend who lives about 8 minutes away. i'm her emergency ride to the hospital and since yesterday she was dilated to 1cm, it could be her. so i answer. it's the guy about the bill. he starts his spiel and i'm already PISSED because i KNOW that the check has cleared. i'm civil, barely, as he spits out the info about the visit date and the amount owed. and then i inform him that not only did i ONLY get the one statement (when they were supposed to send me a 2nd since i didn't recall getting a first) but that i've PAID it and IT'S CLEARED THE BANK! (there are few things that irritate me more than someone who doesn't have all the facts getting ready to "tell me off".) he then asks me to FAX him proof of payment. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">um FUCKING HELLO??? just how am i supposed to do that? 1) i paid by check you asshole. i'll be DAMNED if i'm going to go to the bank and ask for a copy of the cancelled check because you can't be bothered to CHECK YOUR FUCKING SYSTEM to see if the payment has applied. (the check CLEARED on 5/22. i know monday was a holiday and all but seriously? it should be in your system by now!) 2) i don't have ready access to a fax machine and all i'd have to fax you is a copy of the statement. so i'm PISSED now. i explain to him that it's paid, cleared the bank, etc. he can tell i'm pissed because he then says "i'll just note your account paid then." </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">good idea asshole. of course, now i'm awake, so that annoys me even more. oh well.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">i suppose i wouldn't be so mad about it if i wasn't already irritated from yesterday when the cop pulled me over.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#33ccff;">more on that later.</span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-32195905019700805042009-05-14T12:24:00.001-07:002009-05-14T12:30:01.709-07:00all you get is a few photos from the trip because blogger is pissing me off!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5BdB1yQ6L1xRsbAgdK3RBdK_6xfduYq15xLnyxA2pZV6yq12JgZeM3MdvfRO_ZPO7l54yuGpS_AB4YU5C-JUNSpshZeCQthOXODV_dWAflkAb4KmO5J66Ei49CJOWZUE62o7fJeq9fA/s1600-h/hawaii+2009+027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335763788321505394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5BdB1yQ6L1xRsbAgdK3RBdK_6xfduYq15xLnyxA2pZV6yq12JgZeM3MdvfRO_ZPO7l54yuGpS_AB4YU5C-JUNSpshZeCQthOXODV_dWAflkAb4KmO5J66Ei49CJOWZUE62o7fJeq9fA/s320/hawaii+2009+027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAJpgNhYDSONuMLjKH5Ki8wiAju7ktxpPY8wEBeM8xAEw8QaIQ99oP5995kUybR7cga9QKap0JOVKsYSkA7aIkH342kBlU3QeZ3isKLlPaAK76a1B442uDdosE4tOBwOb0QeNEBI7DUc/s1600-h/hawaii+2009+057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335763785241185442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAJpgNhYDSONuMLjKH5Ki8wiAju7ktxpPY8wEBeM8xAEw8QaIQ99oP5995kUybR7cga9QKap0JOVKsYSkA7aIkH342kBlU3QeZ3isKLlPaAK76a1B442uDdosE4tOBwOb0QeNEBI7DUc/s320/hawaii+2009+057.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RYo05mntdMNbzhVZUR5KR6XPpUSdFlRNr5oMYCz42-A_wwMC2C2tbzrOBSAFjzTtxZJzgstkTiV8SlUG-8gDfXAjkKNObIyS-JIUm7LyRpJiADY96qeKnZuHMYo8qhmjUVcjpEN6l-w/s1600-h/hawaii+2009+040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335763784456420290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RYo05mntdMNbzhVZUR5KR6XPpUSdFlRNr5oMYCz42-A_wwMC2C2tbzrOBSAFjzTtxZJzgstkTiV8SlUG-8gDfXAjkKNObIyS-JIUm7LyRpJiADY96qeKnZuHMYo8qhmjUVcjpEN6l-w/s320/hawaii+2009+040.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxDiDTpc5TK2hwBeHN4FQiH9m1pd9iIIqU-kf-mObEAXf0H7Qa1FZcs7Uu_L0PTB_Dty7PlvwWgcf1b9vqnCWOVpQVFMP6NvNZVpL3apVBgr_dMsR-T5F6YO9Ingjf0qxEV5fTdqLZGA/s1600-h/hawaii+2009+019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335763781757660642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxDiDTpc5TK2hwBeHN4FQiH9m1pd9iIIqU-kf-mObEAXf0H7Qa1FZcs7Uu_L0PTB_Dty7PlvwWgcf1b9vqnCWOVpQVFMP6NvNZVpL3apVBgr_dMsR-T5F6YO9Ingjf0qxEV5fTdqLZGA/s320/hawaii+2009+019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335763795698580882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz_049Lm5bN4CCAfZci9reS8XbMCrj4DTEO2HK19bIWqA5Zu8h1kYsrS5mpmLvrDe1baoXBwQOrmonfPEeYphyphenhyphen5LoFWzkTD4SJ1D_-EXptr3GTXWk0bIA1-C9jx6jxZimRdxDdLV44LQ/s320/hawaii+2009+150.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-10068484708706081702009-04-29T11:14:00.000-07:002009-04-29T11:25:23.154-07:0025 weeks & vacation errands<strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3333ff;">so it was pointed out to me that i haven't posted in almost 3 weeks. (thanks stace! LOL) and with the trip looming up, i figured i'd best post BEFORE we left for hawaii on friday, otherwise it'd likely be ANOTHER week & a half before i was able to post. so, here i am.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">i've been unemployed for not quite 2 weeks, and i don't think i've EVER been this busy! it's crazy. here's a sampling of what's been going on the last 2 weeks, broken down by day:</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><ul><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">mon (1st day unemployed) - trip to costco & target, which took almost all day</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">tues - trip to the outlets with my mom, and to pick up some baby clothes & a bassinet from freecycle.org people</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">wed - errands for the trip & a chiropractor appointment for vrock</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">thurs - trip to the nearest joann's with mom to find some cute maternity patterns for later in the pregnancy, along with other trip related errands.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">fri - blissfully NOTHING was planned out and i did some spring cleaning stuff</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">sat - one of the local communities has a yearly garage sale weekend, & i went with my folks. scored some good baby stuff (clothes, brand new pacifiers, size 1 diapers) and a few other things and only spent $16!</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">sun - pre natal massage & out to dinner with vrock for our 1 year anniversary</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">mon - doctor appointment (everything looks great! no issues other than the norm of heartburn & aching hips), lunch with mom, more shopping for the trip & a mani-pedi.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">tues - trip to storage to pick up & drop off stuff, over to a friends' house to drop off some baby girl clothes i'd picked up for her from one of the freecycle people</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">today - took my folks to the airport this morning. the rest of the day? probably studying, laundry, clearing out the tivo. stuff that needs to be done, but that i can do from home.</span></em></strong></li></ul><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">so you see, it's not that i haven't WANTED to write. it's that by the end of each day i've been EXHAUSTED!</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">now i'm off to warm up vrock's lunch before he leaves for work (more on that later!) and then i can maybe take a nap later this afternoon!</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong> </p>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-49285269325875499252009-04-09T09:57:00.000-07:002009-04-09T10:07:32.638-07:00and then there were 6<strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">it's a very freeing feeling to know when your job is going to end. you can plan for things. you have the chance to make sure that all of your "loose ends" are cleared up. as much as being laid off sucks (cobra, unemployment, etc.) it's a good thing to KNOW it's coming. (unlike my friend who walked into her office one day in dec & was escorted out of the building a mere 90 minutes later.)</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">that being said, in a sick way i'm LOOKING FORWARD to not working. granted, i'll still have my school work to do and all that, and as long as i continue to pass all of my lessons on the first try, i'll be done mid june. that will hopefully translate into a gig working from home transcribing, which means that when this little boy makes his debut sometime in august, i'll have a paying gig. (not sure how the whole "i'm having a baby" thing will translate to the job, but the benefits to the employer are not that many "sick" days since i'm already home.) from what i've been told, around the middle of this part of the class (18 chapters & lessons) i'll be getting a call from the school to set up phone interviews, etc. if all goes the way it should, that should be happening around the end of the month. with the way the grading is timed out (once i turn in something, they have 4 business days to get the graded lesson back to me) i'll only have to worry about 1 chapter while we're on vacation, which is a good thing. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">vrock's mom & sister are moving into a different house next month & they want him to come out and help them move. if he's still not working, that's not a huge deal, as they'll pay for his plane ticket. since i won't be working either, we've been debating the idea of me going with him, since after the baby is born i won't want to go ANYWHERE, much less to texas. so we'll see what happens. i can take all my school stuff with me, it'll just depend on how much i'm getting from unemployment & how much/if he's still getting unemployment. not to mention, our childbirth class starts on 5/5 (we'll be in hawaii) and runs every tues night. i don't want to miss any more than the one we have to miss since we'll be gone. so there's that to consider too. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">a lot going on in the next couple of weeks but it's all good. and i feel calm. which is always a good thing.</span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-4091741157886178222009-04-02T10:27:00.000-07:002009-04-02T10:39:45.682-07:00t-minus 11<strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#009900;">work days, that is. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">eleven days. that just seems so weird! </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">it also means that i'm 4 weeks & 1 day away from leaving for hawaii for a family reunion of sorts. which means i'll get to see my brother & his fiancee' for the first time since she became his fiancee' in feb and that they'll get to see me for the first time since we told them at christmas that we're pregnant & asked them to be the godparents. all in all, i expect it to be a great vacation. i just hope i can find some decent maternity shorts between now and then.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">and speaking of maternity clothes, why is it that if whatever article of clothing you're looking at ISN'T a solid color it's HIDEOUS??? i can't quite figure this out. i've found ONE, count it, ONE cute maternity top. (ie: something that ISN'T just a tshirt/tank top) ALL of the others that i've actually seen? FUGLY! i don't get it. you'd think SOMEONE would figure out how to make ALL maternity clothes cute. what's even worse? you find a cute shirt (in other words, you like the cut, etc.) but they've made it in the WORST possible print possible. i'm sorry. i don't feel the need to look like a circus tent when i go out in public.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">that being said, this is what my maternity wardrobe consists of:</span></em></strong><br /><ol><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">1-black tank top</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">1-grey tshirt</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">2-royal blue tshirts (1 v-neck, 1 rounded neck)</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">1-black tshirt</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">1-red tshirt</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">1-red polo type shirt</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">1-cornflower blue tshirt style, with tie-backs</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">various xl or xxl victoria's secret/old navy tank tops</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">3-pairs maternity jeans that i only have to pull up every other 5 minutes</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">3-pairs black maternity yoga pants (SO COMFORTABLE!)</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">1-pair jean shorts</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">1-pair cotton type shorts (that i'm not sure will fit by hawaii)</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">2-pair grey maternity pants, suitable for work</span></em></strong></li></ol><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">that is IT. i may have 2 other tank tops that are specifically maternity, but it's a bare bones wardrobe. i'll be 25 1/2 weeks by the time we leave for hawaii. i'd toyed with the idea of getting a maternity swim suit, but i may just try to wear one of my tankini's instead of buying something. i can't find ANY cute little sun dresses or anything like that to wear in hawaii, so this will be challenging. </span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">any ideas where i can find ANYTHING that's cute? i've planned an outing to the local motherhood maternity at our outlets, probably the week after i'm done with work. (mom & i will no doubt also hit the carter's outlet there too, for the little guy.) i've gotten the few things i have at target & penneys. help!</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span></em></strong> </p>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-39314537208973004222009-03-26T15:50:00.001-07:002009-03-26T15:54:45.263-07:00all the news that's fit to print<strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#00cccc;">i guess i have to make this a quickie since blogger says it's got a scheduled outage in 10 minutes!</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#00cccc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#00cccc;">1. we found out at our ultrasound on monday that it's a boy! vrock is thrilled and while at first i wanted a girl, i'm thinking that maybe having a boy first is a VERY good thing. so there's that big news.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#00cccc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#00cccc;">2. i found out today that 4/17 will in fact be my last day at my current job. this is not a huge surprise to me, as i was supposed to be out of here on 1/16. my boss did try to see if he could keep me, but it was a no go. while i'm bummed about the fact i'll be losing that income, i'm not really bummed that i won't be working here anymore. the people are great, don't get me wrong. i just think i'm ready to be doing something else than financial stuff for a long while. i've been doing this since 8/01 and i think it's time for a change. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#00cccc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#00cccc;">and if i can collect unemployment while i finish my transcription course AND only have to pay 35% of my cobra costs (thank you Mr. President!) all the better.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#00cccc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#00cccc;">plus, this means i don't have to buy anymore maternity work clothes!</span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-1198289631527356592009-03-19T10:51:00.000-07:002009-03-19T10:59:57.835-07:00just about the halfway mark<strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3333ff;">in 4 days we have our ultrasound.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">in 5 days i officially am 20 weeks, the halfway mark.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">it's been an interesting time. i'm excited for the ultrasound. we'll get to see the baby and how it's developing and all that. then of course, we *may* get to find out the sex, which is always exciting. (although just about EVERYONE i know thinks that it's a girl. won't they be surprised if it's not? LOL) i've been reading my books (pregnancy & other) and reading the <a href="http://www.alphamom.com/pregnancy-calendar/">zero to forty </a>blog written by the lovely <a href="http://www.amalah.com/">amalah</a> during her last pregnancy and was a little flabbergasted yesterday to realize that my stomach is no longer *squishy*. instead? it's rock hard. (at least in the front to center area where my uterus apparently has taken up residence.)</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">and the last few days i've finally caught the "heartburn train" that i had so far avoided. joy. i'm not really excited about that part, however since i've gotten off fairly lightly as far as some of the other less than pleasant pregnancy syptoms go, i guess i can't complain too terribly much. my hips ache all the time and it's hard to get comfortable to sleep. but. i slept through the night last night WITHOUT having to get up to pee. it's a small victory, but i'll take it.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">now, i'd like to start feeling some movements from the little one. think it's too early to start bossing the kid around?</span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-66606752569761309052009-03-12T10:28:00.000-07:002009-03-12T10:49:42.295-07:00news & other assorted tidbits<strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#009900;">all kinds of things happened over the weekend & the early part of this week. and most of them were squarely in the "good" column. woot!</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span></em></strong><br /><ol><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">we found a crib. well, technically we were only really "browsing" for a crib, knowing full well that we can't afford to buy one unless we got a totally screaming deal. and then we found one. we didn't buy it though because we found out from my brother in law that we could use theirs. (and most likely we'll get to keep it since their youngest is almost 8 and they have no plans to have any more.) they apparently got a screaming deal on this crib (i've yet to see it, although vrock is going over there this weekend and he's going to take pictures for me.) and paid around $200 for a $600 crib in cherry wood. and it's a convertible, which is what i wanted. so, score!</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">my dad officially got the position that he applied for within his company, so he will NOT be laid of mid-april as we had originally anticipated. woot! granted, dad is 61 and had thoughts of taking early retirement if this job didn't pan out. for my mom's sake, i'm glad it did. with vrock still not working (more on that shortly) and me likely being out of a job next month (more on THAT shortly) i don't think mom could have handled it if ALL of us were home all of the time. </span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">we got the ruling on vrock's unemployment mess. not sure if i detailed that fight here, but here's the short version: due to his surgery in oct, he had to "quit" his job. (he didn't really quit, they just told him to call back after he was released to duty and they'd put him back on the schedule. he'd only worked there like a week & a half.) he called after surgery & nobody ever called him back. then? they challenged his unemployment and he hasn't gotten paid since christmas week. he appealed and his hearing was last week. the old job didn't bother to call in. judge heard the complaint anyway and ruled in OUR FAVOR! woot! so we're looking at 10 weeks of pay that they owe us. </span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">we DID get a deposit yesterday, but it wasn't for the full amount, so vrock is calling today to find out wtf is going on. since the judge ruled in our favor, they are supposed to pay the whole amount due. keep your fingers crossed on that.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">vrock's been applying for EVERYTHING, but sadly there's no "new job" news there. there hasn't been a lot in the paper/online lately, but he's trying to stay positive.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">i had gotten a call last week from one of the temp agencies that i'm hooked up with. there was a permanent full time position available & they wanted to send my resume. the place wants someone to start on 3/13. i haven't heard back from anyone about an interview, so i guess they passed on me. which frankly? i'm ok with. initially i was torn. yes, it's a job with more money & benefits and all that. but? i'm kinda looking forward to working from home as a transcriptionist and being able to be around for the baby. not to mention that the job was a little bit further away than where i'm working now and it would take FOREVER to get there on the bus. so there's that.</span></em></strong></li><li><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">there's also the slim chance that i'll just be able to stay at my job. things with the industry have gotten interesting. my boss is still trying to see if he can keep me, but i'm not planning on that. it would be nice. but we'll just have to see what happens with that.</span></em></strong></li></ol><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">so there's the big news from around here. add to that finishing up the first half of the transcription course (i'll be taking my final either tomorrow or saturday) and trying to think of what i do and DO NOT want for my baby shower. things have been keeping me busy, to say the least. and all in all, that's a good thing. although, i have to admit that i'm kinda looking forward to the end of april when i don't have to get up at 7am to get ready to go to work and can instead work from home in my jammies. :)</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span></em></strong> </p>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-8126594533949049692009-03-05T15:52:00.000-08:002009-03-05T16:00:17.539-08:00countdown<strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">so today's the 5th. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;">that means the following:</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;">in 18 days i have my ultrasound and hopefully find out if we're being blessed with a little boy or a little girl.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;">in 43 days i'll be working my last day at my current job. (unless something happens between now & then. there IS a small possibility that i'll leave BEFORE 43 days, but i'll keep that to myself for the time being.)</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;">in 57 days we leave for hawaii for the family reunion/my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;">somewhere between all these milestones, i need to finish my online transcription course (almost done with the first half and averaging 92% for the class so far!), interview for transcription jobs (that will start 14 chapters from now, once i'm halfway through the 2nd part of the class), go shopping for hawaii appropriate clothes (i think i have maybe 3 pairs of shorts that MIGHT fit by then since i'll be 25 weeks by then, if not, consignment stores here i come!) and various other things.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#993399;">oh yeah, i also have to come up with a guest list for the baby shower my friend is planning for me. granted, i'm almost done with that, but still. it's one more thing to do. on top of all the reading i'm trying to cram in before the baby's born (plus that allows me to get rid of a lot of books too!) i almost wish i had the money for a kindle, so i could take like 5 books with me to hawaii and be able to read easily! hint hint stace! LOL</span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-74246168734458302042009-02-27T10:23:00.000-08:002009-02-27T10:42:42.884-08:00free is good<strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">i knew that having a baby is an expensive process. from all the doctors bills to all the new gear the kid will need once it's here.</span></em></strong> <div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">but good lord. i didn't realize i'd be SO overwhelmed with STUFF. do i need to register for THAT or should i just try to buy THIS 2nd hand? i'm kinda at a loss as far as what are ABSOLUTE must haves and what are "it'd be nice but not 100% necessary" wants. my head spins every time i look at babies 'r us or target online to try to figure out WHAT i need to/should register for. honestly, it's making me a little bit crazy.</span></em></strong><br /><br /></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">THEN, there's all the unasked for advice. the "you HAVE to buy a new crib! you can't borrow one or buy a used one!" the "are you going to do THIS or THAT?" i know these people mean well. honestly i do. however, they're just making me crazy! </span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">the bottom line is threefold:</span></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">1. we don't have any money. i mean we barely have enough money at this point to pay our bills. i'm hoping that vrock gets a job soon, but with the economy the way it is and the fact that i'll be out of a job come mid april, well, you know how that story ends. that's a HUGE factor as to why we moved in with my folks at the end of last month. which has helped. </span></em></strong><br /></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">2. i REFUSE to pay massive amounts of money (that we don't have!) for certain items (crib included) that the baby will only use for a specific period of time and then not need anymore. i'm willing to buy (or register for) the car seat/stroller combo because i know that we need to have something that will pass all the safety inspections, etc. i have a few friends that i can possibly borrow a crib from, FREE, and when i don't need it anymore or when they need it back i can return it to them. i'm TOTALLY ok with that.</span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">3. we don't have a lot of room, since we're not in our own place. this also makes it difficult as far as procuring baby items, etc. IF we had our own place & the funds? this would be a totally different post. we'd get a new crib that converted to a toddler bed & then to a headboard/footboard for a full size bed. at least THAT way? we wouldn't be buying a piece of furniture for 2-3 years, as would be the case if we bought JUST a crib.</span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">so i was talking to a gal at work and she said the magic words: freecycle.org</span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">i'd never heard of it. so i checked it out. and boy, did i score!</span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">first i got a basically brand new baby bathtub. yeah, it would only have cost $20 to buy a new one and it's something i probably could have registered for. but? i didn't have to. it was free. all i had to do was go pick it up.</span></em></strong></div><br /><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">then? i really scored. i got these:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307547929560831010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJvhyphenhyphen-DY7LXKpMIDZO-b-G_BNIKwusWXqutS5YAY2oPKd3-cskekEEUTailgY9CoBC4cozt6HPxld14xaifGcd6vAf6YBCIWygu3yjEZoyI9MkMwgZedA5p6_8FNUtpUNhtPGjDF71E0/s320/pump.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307547933251414978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nJlscogslrTBj-lykFXgln96CmFbLX8RFX272dOWkoYJTUm0ts7LUsG37aXQfL64IWf8dUTGYILwp0HStnmq1ru_ppmLZXqAdpkkIFXB25mBSMtx4NaVoq6A9TgqLWdFlgu8NhPED9g/s320/swing.jpg" border="0" /></span></em></strong></div></div><br /><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6633ff;">for free. yes. i got them both from the same gal plus 2 big bags of cloth diapers (some of the nicest i've ever seen) & a few other assorted things that she threw in. all for FREE! the pump alone is around $200 and the swing runs between $75 - $125. now, once we're done with them, i'll put them back up on freecycle for someone else to use. they're in excellent condition and i'm just so excited about being able to start collecting things for the baby & not damaging my wallet in the meantime. </span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;">i'll still look on there and at consignment shops & the big garage sale one of the communities around here has at the end of april. but it's looking like we can at the very least cut some of the baby gear costs in half if i continue to be lucky with freecycle!</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;">it almost makes some of the crazy go away. </span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;">almost.</span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong> </p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong> </p><p><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;"></span></em></strong> </p>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091145037259177174.post-11054689701084722862009-02-19T09:26:00.000-08:002009-02-19T09:38:21.062-08:00and when i say atlanta, i mean the braves<strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">so the other day i posted about how ANNOYED i was with atlanta for prohibiting the seattle fans from getting their nostalgia fix by stealing ken griffey jr from us, the fans who were there for the first 11 years of his baseball life.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">well. it seems that i may have to take a step back from dressing them down.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">see, on tuesday, an atlanta paper published a story that jr had decided to sign with atlanta. which of course started a flurry of "atlanta sucks" comments & feelings from the seattle fans. and i was on that band wagon. (technically i still AM on that band wagon.) i'm not a national league girl. never have been. and i'm a true blue mariner fan & hometown fan kind of girl. (or homer, whichever you prefer.) about an hour or so after THAT story surfaced, was a denial by jr that he had chosen, yet.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">so, there was still hope alive in the hearts of all jr fans that our beloved "kid" might, just MIGHT come home to be celebrated as he deserves. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">this is a new position for most mariner fans. i can't recall another mariner who has gone to play with another team that would be welcomed home with such open arms & excitement. maybe jamie moyer, who now plays with philly. but that's about it. our greats have retired. edgar martinez, jay buhner. yes, we had randy johnson & alex rodriguez but i honestly don't think that mariner fans would want EITHER of them back, EVER. jr is the exception to that rule.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">why? because he helped not only save baseball in seattle (1995 refuse to lose season anyone?) but he also helped to get our beautiful safeco field built. and he was a perennial all star for 10 of his 11 years here. and he's ALWAYS been a fan favorite. when he left the town was crushed. when he came back in 2007 he got a heroes welcome, even though he wore the opponents uniform. standing ovations. declarations of love from the fans. from the management. </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">and a declaration from jr himself that he wanted to return to seattle to finish his career. to retire a mariner. to go into the hall of fame as a mariner.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">and atlanta swooped in at the last minute to try to turn that dream into a nightmare. and for that i'll never forgive them. luckily they didn't succeed and jr WILL return to the town that loves him. who is excited about baseball for the first time in a few years. yes, he's not the player he was in his prime. but he's a mariner. a family member that we've missed for the last 9 years. and i couldn't be happier.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">but the braves? they can still suck it. </span></em></strong>tbootyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02022685326679366890noreply@blogger.com0