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| Holy crap!!!!!!!! I just had the bejeezus scared out of me and I didn't even know I had bejeezus IN me!
I was downstairs doing the cat pans - it's pretty dark down there because the circuit for one of the lights isn't working right. So I'm in the semi-dark and just scooping up the cat piss and shit, having the time of my life ... when I notice one of the poop lumps is moving on its own. Up the side of the litter box. Being a fairly intelligent girl, I figured out it wasn't poop after all. But, what the hell was it?
I knew four things: it wasn't poop, it was dark, it was big and it was moving. Quickly.
So I quickly pushed the litter box with my foot out into the garage where there is a functioning, but dim light and set my sights on this large, hairy spider. O.M.G.
I'm thinking - what the hell is a spider doing in the litter box?? I didn't know spiders were into the scat scene? But more importantly, I'm thinking - KILL THE BASTARD, QUICK! I get the litter scooper and smush him ... still pretty panicked, but feeling more secure with a weapon in my hand until I noticed I didn't see him any more. Where did he go? Into the litter? I start digging... no spider... I turn the scooper over - he scurries out and heads toward my hand! AGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Meanwhile, I'm scaring myself even further - imagining that a strange man is going to whisper into my ear as I'm trying to murder the spider, "What's wrong?" and when I turned around, he'd be the ugliest man I ever saw armed with a 6-inch dagger. Um, did I mention I'm home alone? Guess my imagination goes into overdrive at times. Didn't we just talk about this?
Anyway, I come to my senses after knocking the spider back into the litter and impaling him at least 5 times until he was no longer in one piece. Yet he still moved. What is up with that? Ugh!
Okay, so the spider is dead. But, I'm still home alone. Hold me. | | |
| I feel like I'm returning from the dead. I have been one sick puppy for the last 5 days. I'm on an antibiotic now and I'm starting to feel better. Thank God! You know what's funny, when I took the antibiotic, I instantly thought of the movie Osmosis Jones and I pictured this whole cartoon happening inside my body.
I often wonder if my thought life is seriously whacked. Like, I will watch my fish swimming in the tank and imagine conversations they're having with each other. There are a lot of times I'll be in deep thought about inanimate objects and then catch myself and go, "Whoa! Good thing that wasn't out loud." Ahem. Moving right along...
So we've had an epidemic of disease break out in the fish tank. Of course, my first thought was - I fed them and they got sick from my sickness on my hands! I wonder if that's even possible? Anyway, I'm sad because one of my favorite fish, the silver molly, was in really bad shape last night and this morning: couldn't really swim, just holding onto the tank with her mouth and staying in a vertical position, mouth all red and swollen, tail eaten up. It was awful. I wanted to put her out of her misery, but I didn't want to flush her because I read somewhere that they can still survive down there, but it's an awful existance and an inhumane way to kill a fish. So, I thought she was in bad enough shape, I'd just net her out and hold her in the net for a few minutes while she suffocated to death. My other option (from the site I read) was chopping her head off. I just couldn't bring myself to put this 3 inch fish on my butcher block and bring down the knife. Ya know? So I'm standing there, holding her in the net - feeling awful about her plight when I feel like she takes her last breath. I don't see her moving or breathing... so I take her to the toilet and put the net in. Don't you know, she swam out of that net! I really had no choice at this point - so I flushed her. God! I felt awful.
Do ordinary people go through this much agony over aquarium fish? (Laura, don't answer that.)
I'm going to enjoy another day off... once the kids are off to school, I'm going to just take it easy and rest. But I'll probably be able to get a few things done since I am feeling a bit better. Getting your nails done isn't strenuous after all. | | |
| My other nieces are getting big. Check them out:
That's Kate on the left and Sara on the right. Sara's birthmarks are mostly faded, but you can still see the one on her forehead.
Having all these babies around almost makes me want another one. I miss the infant stage at times. Then I remember how much freedom I have now with an 8 and 10 year old and I smack myself upside the head for having such foolish thoughts.
I keep seeing this meme around bloggerville where people ask for picture requests then they post the pictures... I'd love to do that, but I think I'm too lazy. It seems like a lot of work, especially if I got a lot of requests.
I think I am going to start blogging on a "real domain" again. I've been doing some design work at my regular job, my side job and just for pleasure - I've been bitten by the bug. We'll see how long it lasts...
Last night when I got home, I went in to say goodnight to the boys. I noticed Aric was chewing gum, so I asked him to give it to me. He said he swallowed it and I went on about my business. A few minutes later, Connor called me in to ask a question and I noticed Aric was chewing gum again. I said, "I thought you swallowed it?" He informed me that he swallowed the OTHER piece, but this was a new piece. I remembered then that he got a package of Big League Chew for his birthday. (Thank you, Christopher!) So, he swallows the second piece and I go on my merry way. Again.
I'm sitting in my room and Aric walks down the hallway; says, "Hey, Mom? ... nevermind.", and walks back to his room.
Two minutes later, Connor is howling, crying, hyperventilating and whining all at the same time. It didn't take a great deal of mother's intuition to realize that Aric had hurt Connor in some way. I waited a minute to see if Connor could settle himself down while calling out an exasperated and lame, "What happened?", but he didn't seem to be improving so I got up to go check on him.
The boys sleep in loft-style bunk beds, so Connor's bed is directly under Aric's bed - which we really need to re-think considering how many "accidents" occur with this set-up. This time Aric's basketball just happened to "fall" off of Aric's bed and landed directly on Connor's stomach. I am sure a ball dropping from 3 feet could not build up enough force to warrant the amount of hooping and hollering that was occuring in Connor's bed. And somehow the ball was already back in Aric's bed - I still haven't figured that one out.
Anyway, I take the ball away and while Aric is protesting, I see his little lips smacking - he's STILL chewing gum! The little shit. So now I ask for the package of gum as well. Here's how that conversation went:
Me: Give me the package of gum. NOW!
Aric: It's all gone.
Me: Where is the empty package then?
Aric: I threw it away.
Me: When?
Aric: (thinking fast) When I came to ask you a question.
Me: (starting to actually believe him - but not quite THAT dumb) Where did you throw it away?
Aric: In the trash.
Me: Which trash, Aric (smart-ass!) ?
Aric: (looks around frantically) Um. The kitchen.
Me: Okay, let's go see.
By this point, Rob is up and in the room, too, and joins the conversation. He had fallen asleep early - I think it was the KC- Baltimore game that did it to him.
Rob: Go show your mother (you know you're in trouble when dad says your mother) the package in the trash.
Aric: (climbs down from his bed and goes into the kitchen, ruffles through the trash) I can't find it in here.
Me: Wow, that's a surprise. Maybe because you never put it there?!
Aric: ...
Meanwhile, Rob starts taking Aric's bed apart. I walk in and see his pillow case is half off his pillow and go to fix it ... when I feel something. Sure enough, there is the (not empty) package of gum.
I'm sure you can figure out what happens from here.
The funny thing is we just watched Bill Cosby - Himself the night before - you'd think this child would have retained some of it; but nope - he just proved Cosby's theory right: all kids have brain damage!  | | |
| Today is my youngest son's 8th birthday. Hard to believe in a lot of ways!
Rob's sister gave birth on Friday to a little girl. I think she looks very similar to what Aric looked like when he was born. It's hard to tell from these pictures, but you can sort of see the similiarities. It's funny because Rob's sister looks a lot like her dad and when Aric was born, he looked EXACTLY like their dad. I guess it's only natural that the new baby looks similar, too.
Here's Cheyenne Marie:
And here's Aric's passport photo:
Cheynne weighed 8lb, 5oz and was 20 inches long. Mom and baby are doing fine and are going home today already. | | |
| I'm still alive - thanks for the inquiries! 
I've just been busy - we went on vacation to Virginia Beach a few weeks ago, kids are having birthdays, and going back to school, work is crazier than ever, etc., etc.
Our company split into two companies yesterday and things are beyond interesting there. It's like the NFL draft with all the execs picking which employees will be going to which company. The last I heard, I'm such a valuable commodity that I'll be working for both companies. That could all change in an instant, though. The second I forget the new cover sheets on the TPS reports, I'm screwed.
Hey, want to see our vacation photos? Of course you do. They're here.
I've been seeing this meme all over the place (because even though I haven't posted here, I'm still reading other blogs. Let that be a warning to you all. Muhahaha.) ... anyway, I'm going to do the 200 things meme, just because I can. Also, I know you're dying to know which of these things I've done and not done. Rest easy and sleep well; the answers are below (things done are in bold) - and woo! just realized a benefit to Xanga after all - I don't have to go into someone's source code and c/p to get all the line breaks, I can do it right from the blog:
01. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula.
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby's diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath (hello pneumonia!)
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government's official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Sky diving
63. Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers (do webcams count?)
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don't regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who's not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn't have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch
99. Won first prize in a costume contest (hehe - Quiz Whiz in 5th grade!)
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don't remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage (Well, Hello, Dolly.... woo boy!)
110. Been to Las Vegas (but I don't remember it, since I wasn't quite 2)
111. Recorded music
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone
118. Buried one/both of your parents
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children (well, it's a work in progress)
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congress person
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over (even though it was the military, we chose to move each time)
134. ...more than once? - More than thrice?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived.
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone's heart
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school (non-accredited course work, though)
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name (which name? I changed my last name when I got married.)
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read,
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them
183. ...and gotten 86'ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions (not on purpose)
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language
191. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196: Dyed your hair
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199: Written your own role playing game
200: Been arrested | | |
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