I got nuthin'

How many times a year am I allowed to use that title?

I seriously have nothing to write about. But, I would rather read "nuthin'" that other people have posted than see the same entry day and after day when I check into their world. So, here I am.

I visited some other sites for inspiration. Here's what I came up with:

+I need to wish some friends a Happy Anniversary!
+I need to pray for some answers to medical issues.
+I need to get a "Happy Adoption!" present to welcome a new arrival.
+I need to care a little more about the political race our country is running.
+I need to go to the state fair.
+I need to get a birthday gift for a precious little girl.

Not quite the inspiration I was looking for - but I got a snazzy to-do list!

Things I Know

Way back when, I wrote about trying to complain less and focus on others more. I'm here to tell you this is NOT EASY. But in a gallant effort to "not complain", I'll just state the facts.

~I am tired. So tired that I laid down on the floor beside my 2 year old's bed to get him to go to sleep at naptime, which I never do. So tired that I let my 5 year old have free reign on the computer for 2 hours so I could sleep.

~Boys are loud. REALLY loud. If I had girls, would they play quietly on the floor with dolls?

~Freshman boys are a breed all their own. Today I had one ask me if he could jump out of our classroom's 2nd story window so he wouldn't have to do Algebra.

~My house is a mess. My kitchen floor has reached the "flip-flops required" category.

~My husband is a saint. I had something last night at 7:00 and at 9:00, something tonight at 8:00, and something else Thursday at 7:00. And he's taking it all relatively in stride.

~We should have made our entire backyard a sandbox. When the boys are in their sandbox they don't fight, yell, or complain. They actually play together. However, my house would be covered in even more sand than it already is...on second thought, maybe a little fighting is okay. I can always send them to their rooms.

~Our hot water has an odor that falls somewhere between rotten eggs and sewer. We have been dealing with the water system people (i.e. the company that put in our multi-thousand dollar water unit three years ago to fix this problem) for nearly two weeks. I should have gold running out of my faucet; instead it makes me want to vomit.

~We bought M&M's as potty training incentives for the 2 year old. I can't stop eating them. They are now rewards for me enduring the potty training process.

~I also know that these things pale in comparison to real issues in life. So, for now, I'll be thankful that this is my list!

The Wait is Over

Nearly three months ago my husband completed his firefighter training and took the daunting National Certification Test. They told him he should receive his results in the mail in about 21 days. A large envelope in the mailbox meant he had passed all components of the test. A small envelope meant - well, not such good news. That was June 7.

Beginning on June 28, the stop at the mailbox was filled with anticipation. Would the results be there? Would he pass? What if he didn't? Every day we would hope for a large envelope. And when the mailbox was opened and we didn't see one, we would pray that there would be NO results mixed in the small envelope mail pile.

The days went by. A couple of guys my husband works with said their results didn't come for 2 months. So, we waited some more.

Finally, last week he gave up being patient. He emailed his instructor to see if he had any idea when the test results would come. After a quick phone call to check, the instructor called him back. "Your results have been sitting in their office for weeks. They don't have your home address."

Oh, the agony that could have been avoided...The gray hairs we could have prevented...The TUMS that could have remained unchewed...The endless trips to the mailbox that could have been saved...

But it's all good now, because the big envelope finally arrived. Full of certificates and patches that prove that he is officially a firefighter and a hazardous materials specialist.

And what does that get him?

A pay raise? No.
Different responsibilities? Nope.
A promotion? Notta.
Tenure? No such thing.
Saved from the embarrassment of having to tell the crew he didn't pass? ABSOLUTELY.


Congratulations to the man who I'm sure will be mortified that I wrote this! I'm so proud of you!

Tag, You're It

I've been tagged. So, here goes...

Four places I go over and over:
~to school - everyday at 8:00
~to school again - everyday at 11:30
~to grandma's house - to drop off a kid, pick up a kid, borrow something, return something, or cash in on a great free meal
~to my computer - I'm addicted

Four people who email me (regularly):
~FlyLady (Don't worry, Casey, it doesn't help me either)
~Quiet Walk.com - can't figure out how to get them to stop
~Amazon.com - them either
~Mamasource.com - or them

Four places I would rather be right now:
~At a resort, laying on a beach (where, according to reliable sources, even I could wear a bikini. Excuse me while I go vomit now.)
~In Chicago, shopping on Michigan Ave.
~On the east coast, taking in the beautiful scenery
~At the lake, lounging in my lawn chair, pretending I have nothing to do

Four TV shows/programs that I watch and over:
~I don't watch T.V. Not because I don't want to, but simply because the only one we own is in the basement and I never go down there just to turn it on and sit. But, here are some I've watched over and over before...
~Extreme Makeover Home Edition
~Biggest Loser
~The Amazing Race
~Survivor
Now I'll be stuck analyzing why my entire list is reality T.V.....

Four things I have for breakfast:
~Toast
~Cereal
~Granola Bar
~Fruit
Not all in the same day.

Four animals I like best:
~Webkinz - no mess, little expense! - I know this is copy #3, but I totally agree as you will see below...
~Little dogs - when they belong to someone else.
~Kittens - when the belong to someone else.
~Monkeys - at the zoo, behind glass - again, belonging to someone else.

Four beaches I've been to:
~Malibu Beach
~Neptune, NJ
~Lake Michigan
~Does the local reservoir count?

Tag Four People - Here are the lucky winners! I don't know if these girls are okay with being linked or not, so I'll just leave it at this.
~Missy
~Emily
~Carol
~Joanna

Potty Training - Round 2

It's hour three of potty training.

I just put on his 6th pair of underwear.

Sixth.

SIXTH.

SSSIIIIIXXXXXTTTTHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Taking a poll...

Here are a few things I've always wondered about...or need advice on...or just need ideas for.

1) Do you make your kids have a "rest" time even after they are past the point of taking naps? And if so, when does that end?

2) Do you tip your stylist? And if so, how do you know what an "appropriate" tip is?

3) Who tucks in the kids at your house?

4) What is one fun thing you are doing over Labor Day weekend?

5) Tonight when I was driving home, I had five things to ask...hmmm...I'll think of one...why does coffee taste so nasty?

What I've Done Today...

In no particular order...

**Watched a giant black bug crawl across my living.room.floor. It's one thing to see those occasionally in the basement, but that was about enough to make me move out until at least the first hard freeze.

**Caught up with two friends on the phone for the first time in several days. It was almost as nice as chatting with a mug (of hot cocoa) in my hands. Almost.

**Made 11 3D cylinders for algebra class tomorrow. Wondered the entire time what kind of insane teacher I have become. Verdict: I decided that 10 teenagers better think I am the best.teacher.ever by about 8:30 tomorrow morning.

**Fingerpainted with my 2 YO. 'Nough said.

**Cleaned the toilets and vacuumed the floors. Found a piece of glass from stemware I broke exactly two weeks ago. How does glass do that?

**Made dinner for my friends (and their adorable baby!) who are in the area for a couple of weeks.

**Got puked on by said adorable baby. It is true that it's easier to stomach when it's your own baby.

**Oh, and I must mention that when I kissed said adorable baby on the head (hours before he puked on me), he instantly screamed his head off. My husband and friends had all kinds of fun with that one.

**Chatted with two people on facebook. Look at me - I'm in the big-time techno world now.

**Got a phone call from the school about my nephew who wasn't feeling so well. His home phone was busy (off the hook). Cell phone went unanswered. Grandma was hours from home. Woke up my kids from their naps. Put puke bucket in vehicle. Traveled to school to pick up my nephew and delivered him to sister-in-law. Puke-free. Whew. Came home. Washed hands. Lysoled vehicle and children.

**Decided to post way-too-late-for-the-alarm-to-go-off-at-six. Betting I will regret this tomorrow.