A Case of the Mondays...

Anyone ever see Office Space? As I was drowsily falling asleep to it last night, I remember thinking "That's why I HATED working in an office!" Those opening few scenes where the main character dude did his cover sheet to the report wrong and EVERYONE had to not only correct him, but make sure that he read the memo, and even when he said he did read the memo, they asked him again, and told him to be sure he did it right the next time. WHY on earth do people make sure to tell you when you've screwed up and not just once, multiple times? Does it make them feel better about themselves...that they've read the memo and followed its easily forgettable instructions?
So, this morning it happens to be Monday. I don't dislike Mondays, but when my phone rang and it was my work asking me to explain something I'd done (even though they knew exactly what it was), I frowned at my spouse as he cheerily says, "Somebody's got a Case of the Mondays...!" I may have flipped him off in my head, don't tell anyone.

AND that is why having HBO in HD may not be best for marital bliss, although Big Love is quite entertaining, doesn't do anything for the marriage except make my him grateful he has only 1 wife AND that is why we haven't cancelled the prior stated channel.

A case of the Mondays...hopefully a case of the Tuesdays is sarcasm and mean-spirited free!

E's first Haircut

*Before Haircut...note the big, soft, fluffy curls of envy...

*AFTER HAIRCUT* Even she knows her hair will never be the same:( Poor E...it will come back we promise:)

How I scared the crap out of my mom today...love, E

Ummm, yeah. Nervous breakdown be darned as I found myself frantically mis-dialing the pediatrician this morning...twice. Seemed like a good idea at family breakfast to share some gluten free pancakes and a quarter size piece of egg white...it really did seem like a good idea. Yeah-no. As I sat watching her scratch at herself, buck in haste on a whim, cry, writhe in pain, and are her cheeks red?? I panicked. I panicked like a kid at Six Flags who just got to the front of the line for the rollercoaster....not good!
BUT, just like that kid, I got on that rollercoaster. I called the dr. On a Sunday. I paced the room while my husband rocked her. I felt the butterflies of the upside down part as she screamed at me and I noticed she scratched her chest in trying to get whatever was bothering her, out. I waited for all of the phones to start ringing...FINALLY! What happened? He sounded like I woke him...do they all sound like that at 11am on a Sunday...is that for effect or did I really wake him? I explained what happened. He says it sounds like an egg allergy....ummm yeah, is this ride almost over? Do you have Benadryl? Yeeeaaahhh, for MEEE. We are a little new at this infant thing again....Do we need to go to the ER I asked shakily?? Nope, he said and I hear the voice announcing to stay in your seat until the ride has come to a full and complete stop...will do. Oh, you want me to do what Dr. Raspy Voice?? Try the egg whites again in a few days, but with Benadryl on hand? Ummm, ok, as the friend grabs your hand and says, again, again, lets ride it AGAIN!! I never did like that friend...but looks like we're riding again. And that my friends is how I scared the crap out of my mom today....

Love,
E

30-60-90

Breathe in...breathe out. I have been driving for 20 years. WOW-I really am that old. I got my learners permit at 14 in Valley Center, KS where they allowed you to drive to and from work and to and from school. It was a farming community so that seemed logical...my family didn't farm. So, my tender 14 year old brain ended up driving everywhere and anywhere my parents needed me to and that included a treacherous cross country trip through the then under construction Rocky Mountains in the middle of the night in the pouring rain. That, as you can imagine, lead to heavy breathing, panicked crying, and a map slapped against my head with a loud man's voice saying, "Susie-pull it together!" I did. The sting of the map across my forehead helped.
In my 20 years of behind-the-wheel map trauma experience, I have a definite weakness for the maintenance of vehicles. I don't know how to change a tire, I hate getting gas, the thought of any repair over $50 makes me cry and/or vomit....all cars should come with a personal maintenance expert that tells you automatically what needs to be done when and oh yeah, its paid for. I know it seems so far fetched...enter our purchase of a used Infiniti. They nailed it, all inclusive...bear claws and fresh brewed coffee while you wait....warnings that show up on the GPS screen informing you with a big green wrench that your oil needs to be changed....all inclusive warranty packages. It's fantastic!!! Until you get to the dealer....
Welcome ma'am, what can we help you with this morning? the man with the tag bearing his name sweetly asked. I am here for my 10am oil change appointment, I said in my informally irritated that I was the one taking it in for the said oil change voice while my head was screaming, you know why I'm here, my husband scheduled the oil change and you are looking at my file...why are you asking me this?
Ma'am (btw...small digression...when does someone become a ma'am?) would you mind following me to my office and having a seat? (baboom, baboom...that is the sound of my heart pounding out of my chest in eager anticipation of why he wants me to be seated....) Am I visiting the hospital, did my sweet appointment setting husband not pay the car payments and the dealer is repoing it???
Ummm, ma'am in researching your cars history we noticed that you did not service your vehicle at the maintenance required 30,000 miles. We would hate for you to negate your warranty and would like to offer you a loaner car for the day so that we can get you all set.
How much is getting "all set" going to cost me? We were just here for our 45,000 mile service and no one mentioned the skipping of the 30,000 mile. I exhaled out slowly....$800???? I am here for an oil change, I am doing what the warning box told me...I am a woman in a man's world...here for an oil change. I am here for an oil change, I am here for an oil change. I suddenly became Rain Man, repeating the reason I was there...many times.
Realizing he was dealing with Rain Man, he began to explain...You see ma'am, your vehicle needs to be serviced every 30,000 miles. You skipped the 30,000 mile service. Your vehicle needs this at 30,000...60,000 and 90,000 miles he smirked at me as I was nodding my head and frantically calling my husband. Will you please talk to him? I pleaded.
They chatted. They hung up. Ma'am you are late and we need to schedule your 30,000 mile service...you are at 52,000 miles so this will count for your 60,000 mile service. What, how does that make any sense? What happened to the required 30,000 mile service? Ma'am you need it at 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000 miles-THATS WHEN I INTERRUPTED...oh help me and forgive me....I looked at him and said loudly in THE most southernly accented, eyelash batting tone...I AM FAMILAR WITH INCREMENTS OF 30!!
Insert man with name tag jaw dropping here.

I re-dialed my husband. They chatted. They hung up. Car done in an hour.
I wonder if an I'm sorry card should be sent and interestingly enough the brakes are making a noise...note to self, husband required to take car down to dealer....

I'm a very good driver...I'm a very good driver...

14 years, 364 days

This is not how old our poor decrepid dog is. This is the length of time that has passed since the rainy morning I said "I do" to my high school sweetheart. Where the hell has the time gone?? We met when we were 16 in Math Anal and our friendship continued thru AP Calculus. It truly does seem like yesterday that I was sitting at his parents big table doing algorithms (I can NOT say that backwards:)). Math lead to other things...mostly multiplication...and here I am all nostalgic and teary eyed over the fact that we've made it this far without the D word. How do marriages survive in todays world? So, in dwelling on that question this is what I have come up with (not in any particular).

*Wine...and plenty of it (ok maybe it is in order).
*One has to be willing to give (mostly him if he likes his bed).
*Humor, humor, and more humor.
*A TON of foo-foo spray! Shisasters happen and they require assistance from the fine folks at Bath & Body.
*I wish I could say never go to bed mad, but if you've been married any length of time at all, I do believe most of us women would never sleep. So, instead mine is go to bed...clear headed thinking leads to less regrets.
*Own hobbies.
*Own friends.
*Together hobbies.
*Together friends.
*NEVER talk about weight or how I look in my jeans.
*In-laws are not to be discussed in public.
*Date nights...even if we sit in the car in the garage with the doors locked.
*Always keep in mind the top 3 of why you fell in love to begin with.
These are mine...dimpled smile...sense of humor (and great math skills which are coming in handy again with the 3rd grader)....the way his arm feels around my shoulders.

I love you Big Game-Happy night before Anniversary!

Utah Cultural Diversity-take 2

Oct 13 2008 - VID00008

This is our personal version of diversity in the form of E. You know I just can't seem to put her in enough ruffles....

Sing with me now....Which one of these is not like the others?
One more time...you take the harmony now.....

Seriously though, is she cute or what?

Utah Cultural Diversity-take 1

Oct 13 2008 - VID00006



The girls school had a World's Fair which allowed them to learn a dance from a different country. This is Chloe's.

Can anyone else remember 3rd grade? Mrs. Marucci...Erie, PA....the little boy that snapped my bra (yes I was advanced in more ways than grades-AA cup I believe) and called me Susie Sponge. It was my last year of scratch-n-sniff stickers from speech class for my lisp. Which, btw, that last sentence was the final test....say it 5 times fast.

Cultural diversity with hand clapping and walking in circles....aaaah....3rd grade....good times.