5 Years

So I was home later this morning than usual as I had an endodontist appt. (to re-do a root canal - so not fun) when I had the tv on.

5 years.

It's been five years since the war in Iraq started.

Now, I haven't gotten on my soapbox here on the blog about politics - other than my handy-dandy countdown ticker to when "you know who" is OUT of office.

But I remember it clearly. It was after work, I was home - I was watching tv and went to the bathroom. When I came back a few minutes later - the war had started. Just like that. "Shock and Awe". Unbelievable. How horrible. How UNhuman.

So, this morning, I had the tv on - and heard "We interrupt this programming to bring you this "Breaking News"". Bush was giving his speech. The one I'm sure he didn't write - and I could only watch a few minutes before I was so disgusted with this man, I had to change channels. More than 4,000 men and women, moms and dads are dead (not to mention the countless Iraqis) -

and we as a nation are more interested in what governor is having sex with who?

Personally - I could NOT care less about the sex-lives of our so-called leaders. Sure, Clinton got laid and Spitzer paid - but really,

4,000 dead.

That's what I care about.


Canada is looking better all the time.

A sign I saw today...

Unsupervised children will be given sugar and a free puppy!

Zoo and Crack

First off – the Zoo was very fun. The kids had a really good time and the highlight of the trip was the “Skyride”. We took the double-decker bus ride around the Zoo – that was fun, mostly for Foster who was tall enough to see things. I sat with Logan and Laura had Seth and Foster. Logan was most interested in the little girl across the aisle and the tractors…yeah; nothing says San Diego Zoo like a tractor. Anyway, it was a fun day; we were all quite tired by the end of the day. I particularly enjoyed the apes, monkeys, etc.; maybe they remind me of my own kids? Hmmmmmmm.

CRACK.

No, not the drug.

Our slab/foundation.

Yup.

Fun times.

Turns out that the ridge in the carpet in the hallway wasn’t really “bunched up carpet padding” like we had hoped (I think we were in denial). Turned out to be a sizable crack that ran the length of the hallway and thru Logan and Seth’s room – it seemed to follow a path that led to a tree outside. Bye-bye tree. :-(

So, yesterday, our condo. association came in and fixed the crack. They completed the project in one day. The carpet had to be pulled back and stay that way for at least a day. That meant that Logan and Seth got to have a sleep-over in Foster’s room. That was fun for the first 25 minutes – then the noise-level increased and my tolerance decreased. With the recent time-change (don’t get me started), I’ve felt “off” and the kids seemed to be a bit off as well. We certainly haven’t adjusted quite yet.

Anyway, the pictures below look worse than it is. The first one (of the hallway) looks terrible, as if there was ugly mold or something – it’s really just some glue and leftover padding and hallway lighting. The picture below that is the twins’ room. Then the last one is the infamous “sleep-over”.

So, we had taken the house off the market when this all began. Now we’ve decided to get new carpet in the living room and the hallway (the bedrooms really aren’t that bad) because, well you do the math – 10 year-old carpet + 3 kids + 2 adults = ick. We really needed new carpet. I’d prefer wood/laminate but since we’re still proceeding to put the house on the market again, I’d prefer NOT to invest a huge chunk of cash into something that we’d probably not realize in the end. Therefore, I’ll now be able to enjoy fresh, new, CLEAN carpet for a while. Guess that’s the good news on that. New carpet should go in in a few weeks. Then the house goes back on the market. I hope that with the new carpet (and better vibes from the floor) – we’ll sell quickly. It’s funny, it seems that every time we turn around, houses are being foreclosed – people are being forced to down-size. We want/need the opposite. We need to up-size (is that a word?) and luckily have no issues with not affording our home. I just wish we could snap up a few of those great homes we keep seeing for sale. Yes, this is truly a buyer’s market, but when you have to sell first in order to buy, it just kind of cancels each other out.

Wish us luck!

You know your 6 year old is growing up when...

...I can tell him to go get the trash can at the end of the driveway...
...and he does.

Cool.

It's the little things.

I know it's time for an update but yet again, it's after 11:00pm and seeing that I have "staff meeting" tomorrow - I had better get some sleep. Yawn.

I also have an afternoon meeting (2 hours) about retirement benefits - well, it's fun to dream about it.

What else - we're probably going to head out to the Zoo on Saturday. It's funny, we're members yet we hardly ever go. And it's really in our own backyard - one of the world's most famous Zoo's right here, and we never seem to take advantage of it. In fact, I hardly ever think to go there. Usually we go when we have out of town guests - you know, to show it off - but hardly for our own benefit - just for "fun". We have no agenda but to have fun. No rushing around. Just the family at the Zoo. If we want to sit and stare at the chimps for an hour, so be it. I think I'll let the kids decide what they want to see. Maybe have each select an area they are interested in. Being that Foster has suddenly taking a liking to all things map-related, we have a copy of the Zoo map - I think we'll look at it Friday night and talk about what there is to see.

Foster is actually excited to go. I wasn't sure he would be but he is. Cool.

Next post will be all about "crack".

Stay tuned...

Breaking News

Sunset and - TADPOLES (in our backyard)

Top 3 "Cops" moments...

"Cops" as in the tv show, not the real-life people (who have nothing better than to hang out on Maya Linda Road giving out speeding tickets to people going 28 in a 25 m.p.h. - just saying...).

Anyway, when nothing else on tv satisfies, or Laura and I really need to de-compress, we put on Cops. Most of the time we can find an episode or two (or three or four if we're bored). Now, some of the people they show on it are well, stupid. I mean really...if you're driving while drunk, your ass should NOT be behind a wheel.

Then there are the real winners - and we now have our top 3:

#1 (my favorite) - the cops pull over some guy for some infraction (don't remember what). As they are searching him they find drugs in his pants pocket. He "claims" that "they ain't my drugs". Well, cop #1 says "Well, they're in your pants", so dumb guy "claims" "they ain't my pants!". Oy. Idiot.

#2 (second favorite) - middle class-looking white guy gets pulled over for driving late at night in a well, not very nice part of town. Turns out he had his license suspended for DUI (I think) and he was only able to drive to and from work - ONLY. This was like 11:00 pm, 6 hours after he left work. He claimed he was delivering paperwork to his office. Yeah, right. Cops ask him to step out of the car - and upon searching said car they find some packets of drugs shoved into the side of his seat. Guy claims - "Hey, how did that get there?" Cops also find drugs in his ashtray which he claims "aren't his". His answer though to the drugs shoved into the seat corner...he said (and no, I'm not making this up), he was driving around (you know, after delivering paperwork to his office...) and his windows were down - and then wouldn't you know it, he stated "Some black guy on a bike rode up next to my car and just threw those drugs into my car!" That is idiot #2 - altho I keep driving past the bank with my windows down, you know, in case someone wants to throw some $20's in my car...

#3 (third favorite) - cops pull up to obviously drunk guy walking along the street. He stumbles a bit and cops ask him if he's okay, because you know, he's STUMBLING around. He stated he "didn't trip, he stepped in a gopher hole" - yeah, on the asphalt roadway. Idiot # 3.

Well, it's a fun show to watch nonetheless.

Yet another item to cross off my sidebar

We went to see and play in the snow today. First time for the kids - they had such a blast! Just about an hour away we arrived at Mt. Laguna.


Click HERE to view all the fun!


Also, 3 very, VERY short clips of the fun. Sorry, tilt your head to the left, I forgot to turn the camera around - duh!

One item to cross off my sidebar...

Well, not exactly "cross off" since I just deleted it. A few weeks ago, Laura and I took Foster to see "The Daddy Machine" at Diversionary Theater here in San Diego. We made it a special "date" night with the boy. Logan and Seth stayed home with a sitter.

We took Foster out to dinner first at one of our favorite spots Crest Cafe - very fun!

We arrived at the theater, while Laura was parking the car, Foster and I picked up our tickets and he handed in his coloring page that they hung up.

The play was cute. But the very, very best part was just peeking over at Foster's face as he watched the "real live" play. It made me so happy to see him so enthralled.

All in all a very successful outing for the boy and his moms.

"I am a ROBOT"

It's been raining quite heavily here in southern CA and for the very first time in my kids' lives, it was actually wet enough to take a "Rain Walk" and go splash in the puddles. I'll post some individaul pictures later on but this is too funny, that's Logan in the front saying "I am a ROBOT" and Seth following him. And yes, big brother decided to lay down IN the puddle. That's okay, nothing a few loads of laundry and a hot shower couldn't take care of.

What did you have for dinner?

Laura (the COOK) made fresh grilled thresher shark - seasoned with sesame oil, lemon and lime juice, brown sugar, ginger and soy sauce - topped with fresh scallions and toasted sesame seeds. Also, grilled fresh zucchini, grilled fresh-sliced pineapple and citrus rice.

YUMMY!

Wanna come over for dinner?

Without even trying, I’ve actually answered some of my “placeholder” comments/topics from 1/4/08. Hmmmmm, covered Laura’s birthday and dinner, Foster’s school break – and the bed. The BED.

Love it. It’s a bit higher than our old waterbed but OMG, the storage! It has one of those openings at the foot of the bed that goes clear thru to the head of the bed. You know, for your skis, your surfboard, a small child (did I just say that? Just kidding). Since we have no skis or surfboards (but we do have 3 small children) we’ve elected to store extra blankets, pillows, etc. there. Then each side of the bed has 3 very deep drawers. Our old bed had two drawers on each side that were about half as deep as these. Needless to say, I’m slowly filling them up, and with Seth’s help last night we filled one and a half. And good thing he didn’t question what he was “helping” me put in there ‘cause they were, ummmm, of the “feminine nature”. There is also storage in the headboard. Gotta love storage – I mean where else would be put all our crap? Yeah, this still doesn’t change the fact that I have to purge some crap but at least it’s not in my closet anymore.

So, just some after pictures – we sold the waterbed and comforters on CraigsList. Excellent. And thanks to my wonderful partner’s excellent financial expertise and savings, the bed is paid for – and I tell ya, it wasn’t cheap (read more than $1300) – crazy how much we spent for our “sleeping system” including the Tempur-Pedic mattress – which was almost as expensive as the bed. But, I would never, ever go back to an inner-spring mattress and boxspirng. I highly recommend the Tempur-Pedic mattress, and no, I’m not working for them.

So there you have it. Bed – triple love it!

Has anybody seen my routine?

'Cause I think I've misplaced it for the past, oh, FOUR weeks...

Foster has been on 'winter break' for FOUR weeks. School starts up again tomorrow. The poor boy won't know what hit him.

He goes to a "Year-Round School". Which, in theory, I love, but man, these breaks are killers! It's not like he has no place to go - let's see...over the past 4 weeks at his day program (the same "before and after" school program has been open full days during break) - he's gone to the Zoo, ice-skating and the movies. The walking trip to the bookstore was cancelled due to rain and he elected not to go to the pizza restaurant for lunch (strange child). This is not to mention the "PNO" (Parents Night Out) where he got to stay 'til 11pm and watch movies and eat crap. Oh wait, that was fun for us as well...

Anyway, what I was getting at was that during the school year when he's in school regular days, my days are a bit easier. I know what to expect (almost) at school. My new work hours will have me off work at 4:00pm and picking him up by 4:15. That will give us an hour to work on homework before Logan and Seth come home. During breaks, we try to do "homework" but nothing really beats the stuff that the teacher sends home. I look forward to him having his regular days back - and papers home, projects to do, fund-raisings to partake him, and oh yeah, PTA meetings.

So, tomorrow it is, first day back.

Yay!

Oh - about the year-round school deal - for those of you who don't understand it - well, sometimes neither do I honestly. The school across the street can be on a "Traditional" schedule and ours is on a "Year-round" schedule. This also means that when the Traditional schools are out for summer, my kid continues on, until almost the end of July. Then he gets 6 weeks off for summer break, vs. the 11 weeks the Traditional kids get. I honestly believe that it's a good system. I think they retain more knowledge, esp. over the summer. I mean 11 weeks seems like a very looooooong time. I can do okay with 6 weeks.

But, still looking forward to tomorrow - new backpack and all.

Cruise Fund AND Bed Fund

My, aren't we a "fun" family around here, setting up all our "funds".

Well, on the "yay" front, we did receive the $200.00 for Logan's clinical trial in the excema study. That money got plunked right into our bed fund. Buy hey, who am I to disregard $200? AND, we did get some answers to Logan's excema and an Rx too.

Tuesday is B-Day - no not a birthday, Bed Day - boy, I really need to get out more...

I can't wait.

Not that sleeping on our Tempur-Pedic on the floor is uncomfortable, it's not. I just hate getting up in the morning, uggggg, that first morning rise. 10" off the floor. Well, Tuesday it is. Just one more night on the floor.

I'm also totally looking forward to all the storage the bed has. In the meantime, all the junk that was in the storage under the waterbed is taking up much valued real estate in my closet. I want it out and under the bed where it belongs!

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - which means that even though Foster still isn't back at school (year-round school, they are STILL freakin' out on Winter Break - well 'til Tuesday), his before and after school program is open all day, so he's going there. Our wonderful neighbor/daycare provider is open so Logan and Seth are going there. Both Laura and I have off of work, sooooo, guess where we're going?

Yup.

Costco.

We know how to live it up I tell ya.

Well, okay, we are going out for breakfast...

Where did my "babies" go?

This one has Seth on the left and Logan on the right




This one has Logan on the left and Seth on the right

Where can I find some snow?

My 6 y.o. is desperately seeking snow. The real stuff, not the fake, icy stuff they spray on the ground at the Wild Animal Park but real, falling from the sky snow.

Don't mean to brag (hahahahahaha) but I'm not evening wearing a jacket during the day - kinda nice on a daily basis not having to worry about having a jacket but kinda worrisome on a global level.

Anyway, short of going to a ski resort, any ideas where to find snow that's not more than a few hours drive from Southern CA?? We just want to play around for a bit and then come home to our warm neighborhood.

Laura’s Birthday and Beds

We (me, Laura and my mom) celebrated Laura’s birthday by going out to dinner the weekend before her actual birthday (1/8) since my mom was leaving the next day to fly back to NY. Anyway, it was so great – wonderful food and company – and the kids stayed home with a sitter so it was even more enjoyable. We went to a place on Coronado and after dinner we all walked over to the Hotel Del Coronado to see the Christmas tree (they always put a huge one up in the lobby) but alas, we were a few days late and the tree was gone. No matter, we walked around a bit, perused the gift shop and studied all the old photos lining the hallways. After, we went home to houseful of sleeping kiddies (yay!).

Then on Laura’s actual birthday, I became the world’s worst partner when I actually forgot to wish her a Happy Birthday...:-(

What was I thinking?? I’m an idiot. That night, all night long, I had, ummm, intestinal issues and every time I woke up during the night (about 8 times) I thought to myself, “Hey, tomorrow (or today (depending on the time I woke up, i.e. 2am, 3am, 4am)) is Laura’s birthday!” Then wouldn’t you know it, I just forgot to wish her a Happy Birthday that morning. Well, I’m still pissed at myself so I tried to make it (partially) up to her by baking a cake when I got home. Only thing, I couldn’t find the cake mix in the kitchen and had to wait ‘til she got home to bake it – which I did, Foster helping. Just as an aside, the same way I’m horrible with directions, I’m horrible about finding my way around the kitchen. I think I blogged about that before, but I highly dislike cooking or making much in the kitchen. Anyway, so although the cake was great, getting there wasn’t. So somebody, please just give me my award (ha!) and we’ll be done with that.

Beds. Yay! We will soon have a new bed. Our waterbed bit the proverbial dust, it was time though, it was about 15 years old. I sold in on Craigslist in about 4 hours. We have a super-comfy Tempur-Pedic mattress and soon (hopefully by this weekend) our new bed frame will arrive. It’s got great storage underneath and in the headboard. We needed a platform frame since we don’t have (or need) a box spring. We also wanted (needed!) storage under the bed, especially since we got so used to it with the waterbed. Do you know how hard it is to find a Cal-King Platform bed frame? Yeah, me neither. We started off at Ikea and went to dozens of places near and far. But on a rainy Saturday we tried one last place just a few miles from us and wouldn’t you know it? There it was. It was love at first sight. Perfect. I’ll take pictures when we get it. So, of course since we were getting a new bed, that meant we “needed” a new bedspread (well actually we really did, since although our mattress is a Cal-King, with the waterbed frame, we only needed a Queen-sized spread but now with the new bed, we really need the correct size), so we got that. Oh and new sheets (didn’t need those but they were cheap and I just love the “t-shirt” sheets). So, now, we are pretending to be college students and our mattress is on the floor. But with the Tempur-Pedic mattress, you can’t tell the difference – it feels the same whether on the floor or in a bed frame. But – I certainly feel the difference getting out of said mattress first thing in the morning since we’re now only 10” off the floor…

Guess that’s enough of an update for now.

More soon…

Just a "few" pics to entertain you...

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZs2bNu0ZNGa7&notag=1

Our Big Lots Big Find...

AKA: I'm taking Foster shopping with me wherever I go!

Just a quickie 'cause it's waaaay too freakin' late for me to be up, but among lots of other places we went to today, we made a stop at Big Lots (for a coffee pot).

On the way out with a Crock Pot (well, it's a pot but not a coffee pot), Foster exclaimed "Look I found a...........................$20 bill!".

And yup, he did.

It was a bit crumpled up so it probably fell out of someone's pocket on the way out of the store. We quickly looked around and nobody was walking around near where we were and nobody was seen checking pockets, etc.

So, he kept it.

Ya know, finders keepers and all that.

Placeholder for a "talky"

*Final grade of A- in class (yay!) - next step, job-search 2008...
*Shopping for a new bed ($$$ ding, ding, ding $$$)...
*Shopping all day WITHOUT kids...much more peaceful...
***Cruise Fund being set up...
*Job-shopping (goes along with the first one)
*School break for Foster - and man, is it a long one (about a month - hey, good reason for me to get a job in the schools eh?)...
*Movies - "I Am Legend" and "The Golden Compass" - I really liked them both...
*Plan to go "see the snow"...
*Doctor visits, check-ups, iron levels and more...
*My new "old" job update...
*Swim lessons and Hebrew School
*New Year's Eve...
*Laura's birthday coming up (and dinner out tomorrow nite - SANS kids, hey, it's a nice place)...
***Did I mention Cruise Fund???...???

I think that's enough for now.
I needed a placeholder to remind myself of what I wanted to blog about, otherwise it just goes right out the 'ole noggin.

Post-Dinner Coma (Foster still holding the remote)

Playing "school"

Foster reading his new solar system book to Logan and Seth

And, in case I'm not on here 'til "next year" - Happy New Year to you all, and no, my resolutions will so NOT be shared!

In Da House

High School Musical is here. All well and good but they are just 6 and 3 (and 3). Hey, it's better than SpongeBob!

Happy Holidays!!!

We had fun (minus the ugly colds we all seem to have) - the kids really got into the holidays this year. We celebrated Hanukkah first - and Foster proudly used his menorah he made at Hebrew School.

We celebrated Christmas today and that was also very fun. And as seen below, our tree runneth over. Every year we say we need to scale back, and we do, but family and friends don't help "the situation". Yeah, the kids woke up at 6:30 this morning and were totally excited to see that among all the gifts and stockings, the big Red Guy also left the twins new "big boy" bikes and Foster got a telescope.

Both Laura and I (and Bubbe too) scored in the gift department (you mean that isn't what it's all about - just kidding) and we had lots of fun opening our gifts from our family - seems like we need some babysitters on stand-by so we can go out and enjoy all our restaurant gift cards.

And now, BEHOLD, our newest Christmas tradition - introducing, the Turducken - for those of you who don't know what it is, it's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken. And may I say - I can now claim the best cook as my very own partner. Laura out-did herself, it was excellent!!!














And now, after being off work for 5 days - tomorrow I go back - at my new (earlier) hours of 7:30 - 4:00 - yeah, great planning on my part.


Happy Everything to you all!

Our holiday card - Happy Holidays!

Blast from the past...

Okay, not sure if you'll admit to it, but who remembers this fine product??

I do.

And the sucker in me bought it tonite at our local Filipino store - just because

What else do you all remember?

Joke from a 3-year old - you gotta laugh...

Logan: Knock-knock

Me: Who's there?

Logan: Banana

Me: Banana who?

Logan: Banana shirt!!!!!

And then he falls down laughing hysterically...honestly, I didn't get the joke but I just had to laugh 'cause he was just so damn funny - oh - and very proud of himself.

Busy, busy - but always time for some pictures...

Foster wins an award at school for "Excellent Citizenship"

Foster is learning how to knit with Bubbe - he already made a scarf!
Seth at swim lessons
Logan at swim lessons
Logan jumping in

Seth going for a dive!

Is anyone else tired of recalls?

I don’t know about you but I’m so “done” with toys being recalled. I belong to a list sent out by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and not a day goes by that I don’t receive an e-mail about a toy or some other children’s item being recalled – and mostly because of lead paint. Perhaps if my kids were younger and mouthing all their toys would I worry more. The lead paint ones don’t bother me as much as some of the other ones. Like the Bumbo seat – oh come on people! Puh-leeze. Parents, wake up! If you’re gonna stick your kid in a seat up on a table you had better be right there to catch them. And if you’re not, is it the fault of the seat? But noooooooooooooooooooo, instead, order a massive recall on an item that millions of parents love (okay so maybe not a true recall but a sticker to put on your Bumbo seat) and use CORRECTLY. And if you place that sticker on your seat will it suddenly be okay to use it on a table, or a chair or some other equally inappropriate place?

Uggggg.

But yeah, the lead paint issue – I don’t believe for one second that all the major toy manufacturers didn’t know that lead paint was being used. I think they knew but didn’t do anything about it until it became a “health issue”. Then it’s like “Oops, sorry, let’s blame China”, yeah right.

I’m sorry but I have other things to worry about, like mad cow disease and bird flu.

How did December get here already?

Good grief, I blink and the month goes by.

I'm done with my one class, just have to wait for my grade and then proceed to get my certification. I'm gonna do it this time. Then of course, I have to look around for a job. Good news is that I'm solid in my current position, so I don't "have to" find another position RIGHT NOW. I can take my time and look.

I've already looked and the market seems a bit saturated - either that or school social work positions are scarce. Regardless, eventually, I'm sure, a position will open up for me - and from what I can tell, salaries are GREAT...really!

So, it's December and the official "stressing out" is in full swing. It seems lately I've been stressing about, well, just about everything. Like, I'm behind on my programs I've TiVo'd; I haven't finished my holiday shopping (well, except for Hanukkah, I'm done with that); I haven't been keeping up in my reading of the various magazines I get (don't look beside my bed); my "To Do" list is so not "T'done" - it's huge; and so on. You get the idea. I was just talking with my office-mate about how really stressed we are this year - what is it? I dunno. I just know I am.

Gotta remember to breathe!

Speaking of said office-mate, I just remembered a funny thing she told me. She has two kids, the oldest being the same age as my twins (age 3). She told me she can no longer go to Hillcrest - Hillcrest is our predominately gay part of town. And rightly so, there are tons of rainbow flags all over. She was there with her kids (she's not gay) and her 3 year old stated "Look mommy, FAGS" (meaning he couldn't quite say FLAG). Well, yeah, it's true, she was totally embarrassed, I thought it was totally funny - and NO, I was so not offended.

Out of the mouth of babes and all that...

Drumroll please...

The answer to where these 3 objects were found:

one matchbox car
one mickey mouse magnet
one tube of chapstick

was in the VCR tape slot.

Not quite as interesting as a floor vent (!) - we don't have any of those, but nonetheless still odd. Yes, we got all the items out and of course Foster blamed it one his little brothers (but honestly, I do believe him...).

Quiz - still open for answers...

Thanks so far for everyone's guess.

So far, nobody got it correct - there's still time though.

I will post the correct answer in the next day or so.

Good Luck - Oh, and BTW, we did the toilet-thing a few years ago when Foster dropped a plastic ice-cream cone down the toilet causing us to call the plumber which cost us over $50.00.

Yup, boys!!!!

Quiz for parents of kids aged 7 and under...

Q: The following 3 items were found together where (someplace they shouldn't be)?
(hint: no, NOT in a bodily cavity - ick):

one matchbox car
one mickey mouse magnet
one tube of chapstick

Please answer with your best guess.

Good Luck!

Research Time!

Somehow, and I’m not sure exactly how – we received a postcard announcing a new clinical research study currently being conducted by our local Children’s Hospital for kids with eczema. One of the twins, Logan has had a touch of eczema for quite a long time. We’ve used mostly OTC creams and such, never anything that was an Rx. Sometimes the creams worked, sometimes not. And, Logan’s case of eczema isn’t at all as bad as some other cases I’ve seen.

Regardless, he was selected to take part in a 4-week double-blind (meaning we don’t know and the doctor doesn’t know) study for a new eczema cream.

There are 4 visits he has to go to and we have to apply this cream two times per day. And then he (we!) will receive $200.00 in compensation. But, best would be if the cream really works and his eczema improves. Too bad we probably won’t find out which cream he is using.

And no, there will be no blood-draws, injections or any other painful procedures done (otherwise I probably wouldn’t have done it).

Let the testing begin!

P.S. KEEP READING - MORE NEW POSTINGS BELOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Tag-Time

I was tagged by Casey.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself
4. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog.

Okay then, here we go:

Thank you Casey for tagging me – here goes!

Hmmmm, 7 things about me – lets’ see.

1. I freely admit to being totally directionally challenged. I mean honestly, I get lost everywhere – in my own neighborhood, at work – anywhere. I’ve given up beating myself up about it. That’s the way my brain works – it doesn’t get North, South, East and West – mostly when I’m driving. Thank goodness for Mapquest – before this wonderful invention, I studied my Thomas Guide and had to hand-write out my exact directions, including going and returning with turns and I had to list the street before my turn – oh it was not fun. Laura and I joke that I couldn’t find my way out of a paper bag…with the light on…and a GPS…and the end of the bag open… It’s sad really.

2. I also freely admit to being a collector of pens, pencils, note pads, clips – well, in general…all office supplies. Long Live Staples!!! I must always buy a pen whenever we travel someplace – hey, it’s functional and cheap. Are you going on vacation to some exotic locale and wondering what to bring me back? A pen (even the free hotel ones) would make me very happy.

3. I’m a gadget hoarder. I love ‘em. My newest “toy” is a hand-held label-making machine. I’m dangerous with that. Laura may come home one day to a house full of labeled power cords, kitchen items, folders, etc.

4. Speaking of kitchen items, I hate cooking. Honestly, I don’t like it. I don’t find much enjoyment in making meals. I’ve done it and can follow a recipe but it takes me too long to figure out everything and that just makes me frustrated. See #1, I can’t find my way around a kitchen for “no money”. In fact, when I moved into my own apartment many moons ago by myself, I was forced to buy myself a basic cookbook – the title was “Help, my apartment has a kitchen!”

5. I’m in love with my TiVo. We've had one now for about 2 years. I resisted it for a while but man, once we got that thing hooked up – I realized how easy it was to really make “watching TV easier” – as if it needed to be easy. More like less frustrating to figure out programming my VCR. Now when I watch something “TiVo’d” I watch it faster and easier. I’m sold.

6. Going along with #2, I love trying out new “bath and body” type things. I’ve been a member of the “Bath and Body Works Research Team” and have tested so many new scents I couldn’t count them all. Every few months they send me a batch of “new” scents I need to use and comment on. It’s kinda fun to be in on the new stuff and to experience it before it reaches the stores. I’ve also tested coffee, laundry detergent, fabric softener, toilet paper, etc.

7. Guilt. I feel it every time I look at my digital pictures on my computer. I had every intention to create digital scrapbooks of the kids. I have the computer program and the books but with the amount of pictures I have stored on the computer and discs it’s overwhelming to think about how to start. Well, maybe one day – hey, maybe I can use that as my New Year’s Resolution? I just need the extra time in the day to do it. Perhaps I should stop my TiVo watching and start scrap booking!

Okay, this was hard to decide but I’m tagging:
Veronica
Laura
Sonya
Anita
Gabrielle
Wendy
Holly

Have fun!

Spa-ahhhhhhh

I forgot to mention our wonderful day on Monday - holiday for Laura and I. Foster went to his before and after-school program (all day) and the twins' daycare was open. So, Laura and I took advantage of a "free" day together without kidlets and went to this local Spa and we each had an 80 minute Swedish massage.

We used the Jacuzzi and steam room and sauna. What a great day! We also went out to lunch and to Costco (again, without kids).

What I want to know is this:
How can an 80 minute massage go by in the blink of an eye...BUT, just an hour-long meeting at work seems to drag on, and on, and on, and on, and on.........

Going Global?

Every once in a while I check my stats to see "who" is visiting me and from where. In the beginning of my blogging experience I used to check regularly but now I don't. I decided to check today and in just the past 3 days, I've gotten my usual hits...but these as well:



Oceania/Australasia (Guam)

Pakistan

Moscow City, Moscow

Vitria, Brazil

Jawa Barat, Jakarta (Indonesia)

Campania, Naples and Verona - Italy

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Helsinki, Finland



I only went back a few days - it's like the "Amazing Race" - (Heck, YES, I'm rooting for Kate and Pat you go girls! and I'm also oddly attracted to Kynt and Vyxsin (the Goth couple)) on my blog. Interesting.

You know you're a true San Diegan if....

1. Your high school had a surf team

2. You know who Biff and Skippy were

3. You can correctly pronounce Tierrasanta, La Jolla , Rancho Penasquitos, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Jamacha, Jamul, Cuyamaca, and El Cajon

4. There are four distinct seasons: Summer, Not Quite Summer, Almost Summer, and Oh Hey Look Its Summer Again

5. Your house is worth more than some small countries

6. You know what MB, OB, and PB stand for

7. Every street name is either in Spanish or Spanish related, and you're surprised when other areas don't have this

8. You see weather forecasts for four different climate zones in the same county, and aren't remotely surprised. The Micro Climate Weather

9. You've gone to Mt. Helix in July and known you still need a jacket

10. You've tailgated at Qualcomm Stadium, and for bonus points, also tailgated when it was Jack Murphy Stadium

11. You have a favorite- the WAP or the Zoo

12. You been on a MB/PB pub crawl on St. Patrick's Day (you think)

13. You've been on a field trip to see an Imax movie at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

14. You still call it the Del Mar Fair

15. You say "I'm going to the track" and people know what you mean

16. You understand what May-Gray and June-Gloom are

17. A famous skateboarder/surfer lives in your town

18. There's a North County, a South County, and an East County but no Central County

19. You know what it means when a girl in a short skirt is walking on El Cajon Blvd

20. You've gotten stuck in the Horton Plaza parking structure traffic after a Padres game

21. You know what "The Merge" is, and will plan your entire day around not being on it during rush hour

22. You've been to Belmont Park

23. You remember when the roller coaster was a dilapidated piece of junk that didn't run for years

24. You've taken the Coaster and laughed at people sitting in traffic on the I-5

25. You know the difference between Clairemont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and Mira Mesa and maybe you remember Serra Mesa, too!

26. You've gone to Sea World on a warm day and sat in the first few rows at the Shamu Show to get cooled off

27. You've been delayed at the Border Checkpoints on the 5 & 15

28. Your house doesn't have air conditioning, and doesn't need it

29. You know it's San Diegan, not San Diegoan, or San Diegoite

30. Everyone has their favorite beach

31. No matter what the weather is, there is always someone walking around in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops

32. You have family and or friends that have moved to Arizona

33. You used to, and sometimes still do ride the carousel at Seaport Village

34. You know someone who doesn't own pants, and have a neighbor who doesn't seem to own a shirt

35. You know what Santa Ana's are, and that they have literally nothing to do with the city of Santa Ana

36. If the menu doesn't have California burritos on it, forget it, its not real Mexican food

37. You remember when the admission to the fair included the headlining band!


**Since I'm not a "native" San Diegan, I will grade myself on this and say that since I can relate to just about every single one of these, then I'm a true San Diegan!

Happy Halloween!!!

Logan as Skeleton, Seth the "race car driver" (with an attitude) and Foster, the "dark" Spiderman.

First stop, Gina's house!!!

We enjoyed the suger rush!

NOT...

the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Well, almost. You know the days.......let's see.

Since the fires here in Southern CA, the school's have been closed. They were also closed today. That meant that Foster's before and after-school pgm. was closed today, BUT, another pgm. at a nearby school was open and taking kids from all the other schools that had closed programs. So, we decided that since I'm still on jury duty and Laura needed to go to work, we'd enroll him for the day at the nearby day program. Well, Foster was onboard with the change in his schedule until we (meaning ME) got there. As I was signing him in he was getting more and more hysterical. He didn't want to stay, he didn't know anybody he said (not true), he didn't like it, why couldn't he come with me, he didn't want to stay, etc. I helped him hang-up his backpack, all the while he was saying he didn't want to stay - note, this is his M.O., he gets really upset with big changes like this and I guess when you're six, this is a big change.

So, as I'm peeling him off me as I try to leave (already running a bit late to drive downtown to park for jury duty) he grabs onto the back of my shirt and wouldn't you know it? He rips the bottom of it - about 6 inches or so. Damn. I'm not a happy camper. I calmly tell him to "have a good day and I'll see you later" and I left. I get to my car and try to decide if I have enough time to go home to change before court. I decided I couldn't go the whole day with a torn shirt so I drive home and change.

Get on the freeway, eat my bagel and cream cheese (pay attention, this is an important point). Get to my usual parking lot only to be greeted by a big blue sign politely informing me that the lot is full. Double Damn. There is no parking here for jurors, you either take public transportation or pay $10/day (or more) to park. Many people take the trolley or bus but I don't. I roll down my window and ask the lot attendant if it's "really, really full or just 'maybe' possibly full". I need a damn spot. He lets me in "at my own risk". I realize that the two HUGE Carnival Cruise ships sitting at the docks are the main reason the lot is full. All those lucky people are relaxing on the ships (having already been parked and loaded onto the ship) and now I have to find a spot among their parked cars. Eventually I do find a spot but not without a million scenes running thru my brain (namely a bench warrant for my arrest since I didn't make jury duty).

Then - were you paying attention? I go to take my backpack out of the passenger side door only to find the straps are covered with cream cheese. So, then I have to dig around to find a baby wipe and proceed to clean those. Quickly, because I don't have much time.

Walking to the courthouse, I thought that yeah, my day isn't turning out so great - better watch where I cross the street, wouldn't want to get hit by the trolley - 'cause ya know, that would REALLY ruin my day.

Get to the courthouse entrance and stand in line to go thru the metal detectors. I put my backpack up on the conveyor belt only for the Sheriff demand I put it back thru again. She asks me "do I have a pocket knife in there"? Ummmm - no I don't lady. She puts it back thru again. They open it, search it and sure enough, in a little tiny pouch I threw in at the last moment (had some Tums in there) there WAS a pocket knife. Okay, running late now. I decided to just give them the knife but miraculously it was "okay for me to bring in since it was so small". Ahhhh. Good thing to know that mad jurors runing late are allowed to bring pocket knives in, but of course, only if they are really, really tiny.

Get up to the fourth floor with a few moments to spare.

We started deliberations today to my surprise. But in a room that at noon was freezing. Now, anyone that knows me, knows that if I'm actually uncomfortably cold, it's really cold in there. I'm wearing short-sleeves - the "new" shirt I put on when I returned home this morning after dropping Foster off.

We break for lunch so I decide to go to Horton Plaza which is a mall about 4 blocks away to buy a jacket or sweater. So I run there and buy a jacket. Scarf down some lunch I picked up at the Starbucks and run back up to the deliberation room. Yeah, guess what I found out? They upped the heat, it's hot in there. Good thing I didn't rip off the price tags! I will return it tomorrow (one good thing - I bought myself a nice watch while I was at Macy*s - gotta feed my watch addiction you know).

We ended at 4:00. I picked up Foster from the day program, only to find out he had a great day afterall and calmed down within 5 minutes of me leaving this morning. Okay - well, at least that's good.

Then of course, the usual dinner chaos which I won't get into now but trust me, same old, same old.

Things were going a bit better - Laura was getting ready to go return my video to the store at 9:00 pm that was due today, only to find out that yeah, it WAS due... at NOON (I highly dislike Blockbuster).

I'd call for a do-over for today, but frankly, I don't want to.

It can only get better from here, right??

Just a "few" pics to entertain you...

My three boys!

Logan and his favorite baby "Cameron"

Seth and his favorite t-shirt

All's well here...

What a stressful few days here in San Diego.

Instead of sending out multiple e-mails to family and friends I decided to just post here.

First off, we are fine. We were "thisclose" to being evacuated though, just a few miles south (as the crow flies). We did pack the cars - just in case. We went thru this exactly (and I mean EXACTLY) four years ago.

We experienced lots and lots of falling ash and debris. The fires here were huge. About one million people were displaced but San Diego is an awesome city and they all pulled together to get thru this. I can't think of another city as well prepared as we are. We've (and I mean the collective "we" the county "we") have been preparing for situations just like this since the Cedar Fires 4 years ago. We get regular "Disaster Training" at work.

Foster is off school this entire week due to the fires. This means I get to play "stay at home mom" tomorrow. If we get all our home chores done, I have an outing planned. The outside air quality is really unhealthy though.

So, for now, things look good for us. But, in reality, the county suffered greatly. The fire that affected us mostly where Laura and I live (the Witch fire) is still only 20% contained. For those of you who slept thru math, that means a considerable amount, 80% of it, is still NOT contained and remains burning. They don't expect full containment of all the fires (there are multiple ones still burning in the county) for another few weeks. Then, all the rebuilding takes place.

I work for the county and therefore I am a "public servant" (that really is what we are called) and can therefore be called out to help out at any shelter or at any office in the future. But, since the courts are closed this week, my jury duty was postponed 'til next week. I plan to return to jury duty on Monday if all is still well.

Thanks to all who took the time to send a quick e-mail to check on us (and those who kept us in their thoughts - you know who you are) - we really appreciated it.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Yup, again, but this time the whole thing.

I posted this video before but I realize some of the beginning was missing - almost a minute. I'm sure you've all heard this mom "tell it like it is" and here's the whole thing - again. If you're like me, you can easily listen to this again.

The lyrics are under the video.




Get up now,
get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepy head
Here’s your clothes
And your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now
Get up and make your bed
Are you hot?
Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where’s your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hat
Don’t forget you gotta to feed the cat
Eat your breakfast
The experts tell us it’s the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today?
Don’t forget your piano lesson is this afternoon
So you must play
Don’t shovel
Chew slowly
But hurry
The bus is here
Be careful
Come back here
Did you wash behind your ears?
Play outside
Don’t play rough
Would you just play fair?
Be polite
Make a friend
Don’t forget to share
Work it out
Wait your turn
Never take a dare
Get along
Don’t make me come down there
Clean your room
Fold your clothes
Put your stuff away
Make your bed
Do it now
Do we have all day?
Were you born in a barn?
Would you like some hay
Can you even hear a word I say?
Answer the phone
Get Off the phone
Don’t sit so close
Turn it down
No texting at the table
No more computer time tonight
Your iPod’s my iPod if you don’t listen up
Where you going and with whom and what time do you think you’re coming home?
Saying thank you, please, excuse me
Makes you welcome everywhere you roam
You’ll appreciate my wisdom
Someday when you’re older and you’re grown
Can’t wait ‘til you have a couple little children of your own
You’ll thank me for the counsel I gave you so willingly
But right now
I thank you NOT to roll your eyes at me
Close your mouth when you chew
Would appreciate
Take a bite
Maybe two
Of the stuff you hate
Use your fork
Do not you burp
Or I’ll set you straight
Eat the food I put upon your plate
Get an A,
Get the door
Don’t get smart with me
Get a Grip
Get up here or I’ll count to 3
Get a job
Get a life
Get a PhD
Get a dose of…
I don’t care who started it
You’re grounded until you're 36
Get your story straight
And tell the truth for once for heaven’s sake
And if all your friends jumped off a cliff
Would you jump too?
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said at least a thousand times before that
You’re too old to act this way
It must be your father’s DNA
Look at me when I am talking
Stand up straighter when you walk
A place for everything
And everything must be in place
Stop crying or I’ll give you something real to cry about
Oh!
Brush your teeth
Wash your face
Get your PJs on
Get in bed
Get a hug
Say a prayer with Mom
Don’t forget
I love you
**KISS**
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a mom’s work never ends
You don’t need the reason why
Because
Because
Because
Because
I said so
I said so
I said so
I said so
I’m the Mom
The mom
The mom
The mom
The mom
Ta-da


Written and performed by Anita Renfroe (copyright 2007 BluebonnetHills Music/BMI)http://www.anitarenfroe.com/

New addition to my sidebar

I keep thinking of things I want to do with the kids so I went thru my online list and added them over there, off to the right, on the sidebar.

As we complete them, I'll remove them.

I hope one day to have a whole new list (meaning we did everything on the old list).

I'm in, Laura's not...

I got selected for jury duty, Laura didn't. After I had gotten there and got into the court-room, I actually 'wanted' to get picked. Once I heard what the case is about (no, I'm not telling...yet) I wanted to get picked so I could find out how it ended up. Well, I got my wish, I'm in, and the case is expected to last thru Wednesday.

Laura didn't get selected. She never even left the Jury Lounge (her name never came up). Here in San Diego, the law is "One Day, One Trial". So you show up one day, if you get selected for a trial, you finish up that trial. If you don't get selected and you sit in the jury lounge for the day, you're done. The difference is that if I finish this trial, I can be excused from jury duty for 3 years. Laura can be summoned again in as little as one year.

The best part of the day was lunch. We met and walked over to a wonderful nearby hotel where we had a wonderful (read, quite pricy) lunch together. Kinda like we actually had a date! It was very fun indeed.

So, I report in tomorrow at 9am and I hope to end the days by 4:30 or so.

How romantic is this?

Tomorrow...


Laura and I....


are going to go....




TO JURY DUTY TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!

Heeheehee - yeah, ain't it the truth?

“I mean, think about it. Other than the war in Iraq, the Katrina disaster, the deficit, the CIA leak, torture, stopping stem cell research, homeland security, global warming, and undercutting science, we’ve yet to really feel the negative effects of the Bush administration.”
~ Bill Moyers

The Run-Down on Palm Springs and Picture link

Palm Springs was FUN! We left San Diego just after 1:00pm on Friday, picking up Foster from school early. All 3 kids conked out early on in the drive so it was nice and quiet. We arrived at our hotel just after 3:30 and checked in. We met up with some cyber-friends and settled into our room which was in a perfect location just next to the pool. Unfortunately that afternoon and evening, Palm Springs was hit by some pretty strong wind. We did go into the pool but with the wind, it was quite chilly. Dinner (family-style with all the families there) was fun as well. We ended the day with me sleeping in one bed with Seth and Laura sleeping in the other bed with Logan because they couldn’t seem to NOT bug each other in the same bed. Foster slept on a cot. I didn’t sleep well that night as I would wake up every time Seth rolled over panicked that he’d fall out of the bed – which I might add was very NOT low to the ground and the floor was tile. I think I caught him no less than a dozen times during the night “thisclose” to the edge of the bed.

Saturday morning brought us to breakfast in the hotel lobby. We then decided to forgo some of the activities and we went to the Palm Springs Ariel Tramway. We took the kids to the top where it was a chilly 38 degrees. Seth (AKA: Mr. No Body Fat) got chilled within a few minutes of being outside. We did have fun letting the kids crawl over the rocks and explore the area. We knew we wouldn’t make it back to the hotel in time for lunch so we ate “at the top of the mountain”. Damn, they are expensive up there but the view is breath-taking ---- literally. I felt it a bit harder to catch my breath being so far up but felt much better when we took the tram back down. We got back to the hotel just in time for “Family Tie-Dying” – that was super-fun. We “tie-dyed” shirts and socks. It was fun to know that we can do that and NOT be responsible for cleaning up the mess afterwards. We then spent some time in the pool and got to relax for about 10 minutes.

On Saturday evening two large “cruise” buses arrived at the hotel to take everyone to a private house a few miles away. Well, “house” doesn’t do justice. It was an estate. The couple (Tom Bombadier and John Fowler) who own the house hosted an amazing event for the families that evening. They actually rolled out the “red carpet” (you can see it in the pictures) for us when we arrived. They set up tables upon tables on the tennis courts. Around the perimeter were the food stations and they thought of everything – including an OPEN BAR. They had all kid-friendly food – mini pizzas, chicken fingers, hot dogs and burgers. They had a “Make your own Sundae bar” and a “Candy Bar” where they had all these huge glass jars filled to the top with various candies and you got to fill as many bags as you wanted with whatever candy you wanted to take with you. The President of Family Pride gave a speech and they had a fund-raiser and the hosts were going to donate $25,000.00 if all the rest of us donated that much. Within 15 minutes of fund-raising (filling out promise cards) they raised close to $70,000.00!!!! Excellent. Then they handed out glow sticks to all the kids and showed a private screening of “Shrek II”. Foster, Logan and Seth did really well and we all enjoyed the movie. Then the buses came back and shuttled us all back to the hotel where we crashed – but best part yet, Logan and Seth slept in the same bed! Yay!

Sunday morning we went to the hotel lobby again to have breakfast and then a dip in the pool and then Laura packed the room while I tried to entice the kids to go for a walk – they did. We were supposed to meet back up with some of our cyber-buds but time ran out as we had to check-out by noon. We made even better time back to San Diego, less than 2 hours, and again, all 3 kids slept most of the way. We arrived home just in time to put in 3 loads of laundry.

Fun trip – we can’t wait to do it again next year!!!!!

Enjoy the pictures here:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZs2bNu0ZNGaq&emid=sharshar&linkid=link3

Yes, the pictures are coming...

We had an awesome time in Palm Springs. Wait 'til you see the pictures of the private house that hosted a party for us. It was probably one of the biggest high-lights of the weekend. Well, that and meeting up with my cyber-friends...sorry we didn't have more time...didn't the weekend just fly by?

Anyway, I promise pic's are coming and a run-down of the weekend.

But first, I'm oddly attracted to "Kid Nation" - both on a personal level and a professional one. Hmmm, it starts now, so I'm gonna watch it and then concentrate on getting the pic's up on Shutterfly.

Mini-Vacation --- HERE we come!

This weekend we're joining lots and lots of other GLBT families for the 5th Annual Family Pride in the Desert. Both Laura and I are taking off work on Friday and we'll be sneaking in to pick up Foster early from school (probably right after lunch) and Logan and Seth from Gina's to "get the show on the road" early. Dinner is served at 6.

The weekend looks like so much fun! Lots of activities - swimming, family games, movies, tye-dyeing, a little sight-seeing and best of all --- all the food is included! Yay!

They sold out the hotel we're staying at - this is the main hotel for all the activities so I was very happy to get us a suite. We'll be here - the Shilo Inn has two swimming pools and from what I understand, all the rooms kind of face the middle courtyard and the pools.

We'll be meeting up with some friends we've met before and some we only know via the internet.

Foster is beyond excited about his "vacation" and sleeping for two nights in a HOTEL.

I really am looking forward to it - we need a mini-break!

P.S. keep reading, more below

So why CAN’T the kids come with a parenting manual?

Sheesh, I ask myself that several times per week. Now, being the good little readers that Laura and I are, I know that the parenting books, videos, magazines, etc. out there are plentiful – and believe me, we’ve read many. But, I usually think to myself “Well, who made Dr. Sears or the “Love and Logic” people the experts – better yet, the experts on MY kids”. Sure, maybe their parenting tips worked for THEM but are they working for me? It would just be easier if I intuitively knew what to do in any given situation.

Let me paint you a picture of a typical dinnertime meal:
There’s child #1, Foster, stating he’s “starving, when’s dinner?” Children #2 and #3 Logan and Seth are typically getting in each other’s things and someone is usually screeching at this point. Laura is busy preparing the meal (after basically just walking in 20 minutes prior) and I’m trying to make sure nobody gets a limb caught in something, breaking up a squabble, or cleaning up kids preparing them for dinner.

Foster is still whining that he’s starving and the twins are still fighting over a piece of lint they found under the sofa.

Finally we all sit down to dinner and automatically Foster doesn’t want whatever is in front of him – well, sometimes he does.

Logan is climbing onto his chair all the while making sure his favorite baby doll is right next to him (or some other item).

Seth is dragging his heels coming into the dining room, and typically dragging some toy or truck or book or free McDonald’s toy to the table and then immediately starts removing anything green from his plate.

About 45 seconds later, and the precise moment Laura and I sit down, someone needs something – water, ketchup, a spoon or fork (‘cause they just tossed theirs on the floor). So we get that. Then about 2 minutes later Foster is done eating and asking for dessert (he usually gets to pick out 2 pieces of candy from the candy bowl). Of course then Logan demands to be done, followed by Seth who has eaten nothing. Logan’s chair and the surrounding floor are covered in crumbs, Foster is trying to pick out a Spongebob episode off of TiVo and Seth is wandering into the living room.

Then we eat – quickly because soon it’s time for bath, shower and bed for three kids. All the while Laura and I look at each other and wonder – what have we done wrong, why aren’t our kids all sitting quietly, elbows off the table, napkin tucked neatly on their lap eating their food WITH utensils (what a concept), proudly exclaiming “Mum, this food is absolutely delicious, you both are the best mums in the world and we love you – thank you for providing us with the most nutritious meal and taking such good care of us!” Then, I am quickly snapped back to reality when I hear the water running in the bathroom (WHO is in there?), see Logan running around stark nekkid wanting his bath NOW and hearing the kids yell at each other to “Move, you’re standing right in front of the TV – MOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!”

Well, okay, sometimes it isn’t that bad but really, a manual designed for our kids, for our family would be greatly appreciated.

Sometimes when we’re out and about I watch other parents and their kids – and sometimes I think “Hey, they’re dealing with the same crap we are” and sometimes I see parents deftly handle any issue that crops up. I sure hope sometimes WE are the parents that other parents wonder “How do they handle those 3 adorable boys?” because yes, sometimes they are very well-behaved in public, even in restaurants (!!) and I feel very lucky indeed. Well, I always feel very lucky and blessed, but sometimes I just want the parenting answers inserted into my brain. Either that or Super Nanny – please come for a visit – we’ll feed you!

Why can’t I just get a job selling mattresses?

So here I am, totally exhausted on Tuesday nights after working a full day at my job and then taking my evening class (for my School Social Work Credential). This past Tuesday, I was driving home after the class at about 9:50pm with a monster headache that started at 1pm that day after a 2.5 hour Union Meeting.

Off the side of the freeway there is a mattress store. As I’m driving home, one hand on the wheel, one hand on my head, I think to myself, “Self, what are you doing?” Is it all worth it? The FT job, the class at night, missing my kids, etc.

I pass by the mattress store and think, how hard could that job be? I mean really, nobody’s life is at stake, angry parents aren’t clogging up your voice-mail with their messages that they need you to call them back AT THAT INSTANT, co-workers who haven’t got a clue wouldn’t be bugging you for information, supervisors wouldn’t have much to complain about, you’d do your job and then go home – ON-TIME --- so then it hit me. Why can’t I just have a job like that??? Huh?? Is that asking too much?

Okay, seriously, then about 2 miles down the freeway I come to my senses. NO, I didn’t go to graduate school and get my Master’s Degree in Social Work to sell mattresses. I haven’t worked my butt off for the past 12+ years in the public sector to sell you a mattress making a fifth of what I make now (plus excellent benefits). I know I’m a capable social worker, and hopefully after this class is done (this December) I’ll have a credential that will open more doors for me – and hopefully will lead to even bigger and better things. That will give me more options to teach my children that yeah, if you work hard, you can make it too.

So, if you DO sell mattresses and you’re reading this – I salute you. Your job sounds like a fine way to spend the day, and maybe you do deal with lots of crap and “tired” (no pun intended) customers, but after considering it, I think I’ll stick with my current job – at least for now…

Because I needed to know...

It's fun working for the county. We get answers to all kinds of things that people ask.

Check this out:


6) Is it true that California is going to fall into the Pacific Ocean?


No. The portion of California west of the San Andreas Fault is firmly attached to the Pacific Plate and the portion east is firmly attached to the North American Plate. San Diego is moving north towards Los Angeles at the rate of about 2 inches per year and is in no danger of falling into the ocean. The Los Angeles City Hall is 10 feet closer to San Francisco than when it was built in 1924. In about 500,000 years San Diego could be an island off the coast of San Francisco.


***You know you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.
****It's a good thing we're looking to buy property here in San Diego, I've always wanted a beach-front home.
*****Keep reading, more fun posts below!

Coming up next...

...why can't I work selling mattresses?

...why CAN'T the kids come with a parenting manual?

...I've had a headache now for 3 days, why?

...Also, my allergies (or whatever you want to call it) has kicked into high-gear, why?

Stay tuned! Fun times ahead!!!

My 3 boys (and Seth the toothless wonder)

I couldn't resist posting this picture. I never realized how hard it would be to get 3 boys to all smile on cue. I think Logan was looking at my wildly waving hand vs. the camera, but it's still cute. At least I think so... ;-)

Lost a tooth, and not who you would think!

No, not Foster. He doesn't even have ONE loose tooth - perhaps because he was a toothless yearling (we felt his first tooth starting to pop in just a day after his first birthday). He started getting teeth late so I assume he'll start to loose them late.

Anyway, Sunday night as we were getting the kids ready for a shower, Seth lets out a piercing scream. He said Logan hit him with his head like this (he shows me). It was completely an accident - the kids were jumping all over the couch and each other. I cautiously peer into his mouth and there is lots of blood. We put ice on it. I keep thinking - I sure hope he didn't knock a tooth loose. I look again. The bleeding is slowing down and I gently touch the top front tooth that looks, well, a little different now. Sure enough, it moved when I touched it. My stomach dropped into the floor. This is the kid that doesn't eat enough as it is! I thought at that moment that this will make his eating worse! AND, this isn't the first tooth gone. At about a 18 mos. or so, he had an "extra" tooth removed, one that was growing in between those top two teeth.

Damn. We called the doctor and dentist Sunday night and made an appt. for first thing Monday morning. We went to the dentist and sure enough, the root was snapped in half and the tooth had to be removed. My poor baby! Laura stayed with him this time (I did the first tooth removal at 18 mos.), I couldn't do it.

They gave him Valium, nitrous oxide and Novocaine. They said he'd probably conk out the minute he got in the car to go home. Obviously they don't know my Seth. He feel asleep about half a mile from the house, for about 2 minutes. He pretty much cried all the way home. We gave him some Motrin and about 20 minutes later you wouldn't have known anything was wrong. The boy who doesn't eat, suddenly inhaled two scrambled eggs with cheese, two pieces of very soft toast and then another hard-boiled egg. Then after 3 episodes of "Caillou", I couldn't take it anymore and asked him if he wanted to go to the store (99 cent store) to pick out a toy (not counting the three goodie bags the dentist gave him) just to get out of the house. He eagerly agreed.

My mother and I drove for a while to the 99-cent store where he proceeded to demand to walk thru the store and NOT sit in his stroller. Okaaaaaaaaay. He was cleaning up the aisles as we walked around. He picked out a toy calculator and two dinosaurs that were "just the bones". He did sit in his stroller when we went into another store and then was wide awake all the way home.

He did tell Logan that he wasn't mad at him. Whew! I'm sure there will be more bumps, bruises, and broken body parts but man, I wasn't planning on this yesterday.

Now, we will probably get him a partial because it will be another good 3 years before his permanent tooth comes in and I bet he'd want that front tooth there for school. But honestly, he sure is cute with that missing tooth and it just makes him look so much older than his 3 years.

Our two minutes of "fame"...

Recently, we (mostly me) were interviewed by a student journalist taking part in the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Convention which was here in San Diego. "Our" journalist focused on being Lesbian and Jewish. Here is our family's showcase presentation!!!

While all the stories are quite interesting (there's only about 8 minutes of footage total), if you want to jump to "our" family we are the last story (HEY, save the best for last right?) at about the 6:01 minute mark.

Enjoy!

Oh sure, nothing going on here...

Why oh why can't I find any time to post?

Let's see...

Changed jobs.

Started "new" old job - again.

Started new graduate school class on Tuesday nights for two hours and 40 long minutes (to get my credential to apply to be a school social worker - just need that one class).

All 3 kids started swim lessons - if you were at the "Y" last weekend, nope, that wasn't me with the 3 screaming kids (a cute blonde 6 year old and adorable 3 year old twins) that I seriously thought should be sold to the highest bidder - nope, that wasn't me, really, nope.

Oldest started first grade - let's just say it didn't go as well as I had hoped but things are looking better and now they are afraid of us 'cause we are "THOSE" parents (more another time).

House is on the market and every day we have to make sure it's "Ready to Sell".

Looking, looking, looking for a new place to call home.

Oldest also re-started Hebrew School on Sundays.

Big 'ole garage sale happing at our place this Saturday and holy sh*t we have lots to get rid of (and that means getting it all out of storage and priced and out the door by 7am Saturday morning).

I get to take those adorably, cute 3 kids to swim class again ALONE (okay so my mother is coming with me, but it ain't the same w/o Laura) this Saturday because said garage sale is happening at about the same time - help!

Did I mention our house is on the market and we're looking for another?

So, nope, nothing at all going on here - nada.

If you're looking for an e-mail from me, it's coming, don't worry...I still have yours in my "Mail to Answer" inbox.

I feel ill...

The pictures don't lie...

Top picture is of Foster's first day of first grade. Happy guy eh?
Bottom picture is of Foster's first day of Kindergarten last year.

Methinks he doesn't appreciate photos on the first day.

More later!

Yeah, well, so, it WAS my last day

Whew! But working for the county - they (read: CPS) can still find me - that's what they do best eh?

I started my new, old job today. Same old, same old. Same office, same desk, heck, even some of my same files were still there!

Got me a brand, spankin' new 'puter though - so that helps.

Oh well, gotta remember that I do have a method to my madness. Class every Tuesday nite 'til December. Then I'll be on the look-out. Good thing is that I don't "HAVE TO" find another job right away, I'll be looking while working.

But yeah, you know, administration is the same B.S. no matter where you go. There will always be "those people" who seem to exist to make your life difficult. Altho, I do have to admit, I did receive a very nice welcome from all my old co-workers and my supervisor. That was nice.

Other news placeholder:

***a journalist from ABC news interviewed us last night in our home (in regards to being an LGBT family and me being Jewish) - link will be posted soon if it's not 'too' embarrasing.

***Laura will start her new job/promotion as a program manager (supervisor) - it's a good thing.

***Foster turns 6 on Sunday. That means 6 years ago tomorrow, I went into labor - how did my baby boy become a first grader.

***Speaking of which, Foster starts first grade on Tuesday but we have NO idea who his teacher will be, what classroom he'll be in, etc. because the school will have it ready - on Tuesday, the first day of school. Ummmm, yeah, that makes perfect sense. Okay - we did receive a recorded msg. at home "welcoming us back to school" - oh how personal is that? (smirk).