My husband is starting to worry so much he's snapping at everyone. As if the economy isn't bad enough alone, he did have a job for this week. The entire week he blocked off for a customer. The job pushed and will have to wait for two weeks but nobody let anyone know so my husband didn't have time to fill the whole week up with work. We paid the boys to do things like... go home, take down Christmas decorations... you know, we pay them but have no income coming in to cover those paychecks.

iChat is going to be cool if I can get it to work. I have a friend of forty years and we tried it today but eh.. we could see each other's face. I could hear him but he couldn't hear me. I made some adjustments after he signed off so maybe next time it'll work!!

My step son, generally simply referred to as my son... gave us a gift card to a favorite restaurant for Christmas. So we took him and his fiance out to dinner with it tonight. She's nice enough but there is something wrong.. not sure. Finally my husband said it's that... 'nobody's good enough for your son' thing. I think he's right too. Ya know, I would have stopped at one child if I'd known about all this fiances, wives, grand children thing and that you still worry.

I guess we have to do the groom dinner thing for his wedding. I told my husband I was rather ambivalent about this because actually we don't have the money. Because four other kids have been told we don't pay for this. We didn't do this for our own wedding. And because I'm not a very sociable type among a group of people I don't even know. And because when you live together.. as far as I'm concerned it's kindof too late for the big wedding thing. Just do the justice of the peace thing and you are just as married with the benefit of money saved that could go toward the purchase of a house!!

I forgot to add this as we were in the middle of trying to get ready for Christmas. My husband, the Kiddo and I were driving somewhere... she said, Dustin broke her mothers make up. She was scared but her mother didn't die this time. Does a child just make this up??

I was looking forward to her spending the night tomorrow. My son's landlord invited him to a party. He asked if I would mind babysitting but really feels as if we do alot already for him. It is his weekend with the Kiddo. The mother had plans and couldn't take her. But those plans fell through so now she is taking her. As my son said, her friends are more important than her daughter. I think the difference is.. she's with him all week and two or more weekends a month. We all would have expected her to do as he would have done and jump on the chance to spend time with her daughter, the little girl that doesn't live with her.

Guess, since he had to get new tires and brakes and is trying to get his car to pass safety and emissions inspection to renew his registration, he's broke. He asked the mother to bring food for the kiddo. The mother doesn't have money for food BUT.. had money to go out with her friends if it hadn't fallen through???

My husband overheard this conversation so he gave him some ham, beans and rice and some quick cooking food.. chicken pot pies, Chef Boyardie..

I know I should feel bad for him but my son was sitting here after work and looked so terribly .... bummed out!

I asked him what was wrong and I got the standard.. "nothing." He got the standard.. "are you sure?" To which there was a long sigh and he turned to me and said, "Mom, I'm BORED! I don't have anything to go home to."

I was trying not to giggle. He's missing his XBOX. We got him a new game for Christmas and he really has wanted to play it!! So, I would try not to laugh because I know I'd be the same way if I didn't have a computer.

Then he said to me his room mate and best friend told him he's taking this worse than his last break up. Okay, loving mother I may or may not be but I did giggle and said, "It's no wonder! You had the game to keep your mind occupied when she left you!"

I sure hope they fix it for him even with the faceplate having been removed.

Talked to my son today. The kiddo went to visit with her mother ... not sure if she went on Thursday or Friday... I talked to my son today, Saturday, and apparently the mother has called and told him the Kiddo is driving her crazy.. she can't control her.

She will have her till tomorrow and then she goes back to regular school schedule.


Okay, hard to write and giggle reading Friday's post!! She has a battery saving problem????

Christmas 2007 we got an XBOX 360 for the Kiddo's father. That is his one stress relief... his video games. He even quit smoking until he let the ex move in... no amount of video games could counteract the stress he was under once she moved in.

Christmas 2008 we got him a new game to play in the XBox. The 28th he tried to play it and got a red light with an E74 message. He called and did all the trouble shooting he was told to do. They said he would have to send it in and for a mere ninety dollars they would repair it.

He doesn't have that kind of money. He's GOT to get tires and brakes on his car and get it inspected and registered this month. The one thing he likes doing was ... gone. He took the face off..only the face to see if perhaps dust was a problem and that was a mistake but I didn't know this until much later.

I called and got a very nice lady who had me on hold forever so she could talk to his supervisor regarding a warranty that expired on Christmas day... perhaps they'd fix it free. Bingo!!! My ears still ring from the music I got to listen to for an hour but they'd fix it free.

She then explained to me the packing instructions and the box cannot have been opened or they will send it back and not fix it.... EVEN if we pay to have it fixed. Excuse me??? If you pay for a service why can't they fix it? But I did not yet think it was a problem until my son walked in. I told him about this free part and he was excited. His face fell right off and landed on the floor when I said he cannot have opened the box.

He had, and a sticker came off. She said to send it in anyway. The worst that would happen is that they'd send it back and not repair it. At all.

So, he runs home and gets his original box thinking it would be better to ship it in that box inside another box. I wanted him to go to the post office but since we had plans he wanted to try UPS first. Here is where the surprise in all this came in.

At the UPS store before I could finish explaining that the numbers had to be on four sides of the box she and doesn't she want to know those numbers she knew where to find it on the shipping paper. It would be... FREE!! Talk about luck!! It was still twelve bucks to buy the shipping material because they have a box SPECIFICALLY made for shipping the XBOX's back in for repairs.

My son and I just looked at each other for a moment before he asked her, "You really have a box made for this?" It was here she explained that they ship out about five a day for repairs. You would think Microsoft would put out a product better than that and if is later found to have flaws that they would recall it or something. Had I not called he'd have paid ninety bucks to have it fixed or not have a game. My son plays it but he also works and takes care of his daughter. He doesn't play it hours and hours on end like.. oh.. maybe I would if I had it.

There are kids out there that have saved for a supposedly good quality machine and they can't afford to have it break. My son MIGHT be leant a game from a friend of his that finally gave up and replaced his with another machine.. Playstation maybe? He's sent his XBox in three or four times for repairs. He has it back but doesn't use it so he might let my son use it till his comes back.

I just hate to see something youngsters... anyone for that matter... pay for something you expect to be of good quality only to find out it's not. Then again, there was a reason I quit using Microsoft prodocts for my primary machines.

On another note.. he thinks his landlord might have a lawyer lined up for him. His landlord has, of course, seen what has gone on. It's FINALLY starting to look far more promising for my son. In April his daughter will have lived with him for a year even if the mother lived there for five or six months, she still collected child support and paid no rent or food. My son did. So far, she's been moved out two or two and a half months with him having his daughter. She still hasn't gotten busted. If my son did half the stuff she did he'd have been busted twenty times over.. I don't get it. The mother is currently homeless. Yep.. it's looking up for him and mostly for the Kiddo!!

Should I have posted this last night? Maybe.... it's never too late to wish someone the best of luck and joy in the new year!

We went to see Alonzo Boden. The first time we saw him was during bike week in Virginia Beach. We were walking down the sidewalk and were given free tickets to a comedy show. My husband loves comedy shows but it was about to start. There was no time for running back to the hotel and changing so we went, I in my T-shirt and he in his tank top, went to the first comedy show I'd ever been to and what luck!! We were seated up front!

Luck, it turns out, is rather subjective?? The first comedian was funny but spent considerable time pointing out that my husband's dress was less than satisfactory. The second one came out and she was sure he he spent his days stoned and he could identify with what she spoke of.

The last one, a very tall man... walked out, picked up the microphone and said, "I'm leaving you alone! You look like an axe murderer and I want you on my side!" This was a joke on occasion through the show and has never been forgotten. So, when I saw he was appearing for New Years Eve I got my husband tickets as a Christmas present.

We have never been out on New Years Eve. My husband doesn't like being out when other people are out drinking and driving. For someone that wasn't fond of being out there driving over two hours.. did I mention that? It is a two hour drive? He certainly had a good time and I am not sure he stopped laughing. As we got in the car he said he was glad I'd gotten the tickets! YES!

Then, I sent my daughter a text message telling her Happy New Year. She actually texted back, several times. Seems the event she had been invited to was formal and she hadn't been let in on that tidbit of information so she was under dressed. A few months ago there would not have been an actual exchange of text messages with her. At best I could have hoped for was... "Ok." I missed her last message and didn't see it until this morning.

The year, despite all of it's downs, a few ups, and lots of stress ended on a really good note. I think this bodes well for the year 2009 my family and for yours as well.. I do wish you all the best!

This was supposed to be saved as a draft and not published as I got called away and didn't get to finish it!! Yes.. I admit.. I'm a dork!

I shopped for him for Christmas. He got three pair of jeans. One pair, which have not yet arrived, are fleece lined for when he's on the bike in the winter months. I also got him tickets to a comedy show on New Years Eve. Nothing exciting but he is very hard to shop for. He wants only tools; which equates to buying me a vacuum cleaner. Or.. he already has purchased anything you can think of that he may want. So, I was stumped this year and we don't have much money so we tried to make Christmas for the children.

He too shopped. I had two neatly wrapped gifts that he set next to him on Christmas Eve... Dang, I can't shake them without him knowing!! The first one was this watch to replace the one I broke when I forgot to take it off before getting into the pool with the Kiddo. Uhm.. I better NOT forget this one!

The second one is one I had for many months read about, watched commercials, and basically drooled over but I would never buy. But, hey.. a person can dream can't they? It was too costly especially when I can go in and get a phone for fifty bucks or less. A white iPhone. I was going to call Friday to make sure I had her number right but I can't talk! Well, I squeak and people can't understand me so before I call anyone on my new phone, I better wait till the bronchitis is gone.. darn. But, eh.. I can play on it alot!

The best Christmas present? The total cost for both items??? Apparently around $250.00. He said he's known what he's going to get for months and for months he's tucked away money, he's collected coupons and he's learned how to sign onto an account I once made then never used so I had no idea what the login information was. Less than fifty dollars was put onto a credit card.

I think that's just... awesome. Even more awesome... is that while I have these two items he swears to me he loves his Levi's. It's okay.. really, I know they are only jeans!!

I can make entries from my iPhone!!
merry Christmas everyone

Sometimes it helps to go out into public with the Kiddo. In line waiting for her to sit on Santa's lap was a vivid reminder that really she's a pretty good kid. Well, temper tantrums aside she CAN be a really good kid!

I watched a couple kids tearing the leaves off poinsettia plants and tossing them into the "snow" that surrounds Santa's gingerbread house. She touched them, I told her to stop and she did. She didn't get back in line but not one leaf was destroyed by her.

The line was long and hard for her to remain still in. As she wanders my son watches and lets her go as long as he can see her and as long as she returns. I, on the other hand, can't run if she gets the desire to take off so I have to keep her with me. Because of him she got to wander and look at all the decorations which was actually good.

My son and I debated which picture package to get and since I am not inclined to feel a need to buy the next up package to make sure the Kiddo's mother has a picture, then he made a deal. He'll get the pictures and I'll get Starbucks. DEAL!!

Of course Starbucks meant a Happy Meal too. But, eh.. all in all it was fun. She got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him she wanted a Game Boy. This is of course, the first anyone has heard of this so there is no Game Boy coming! While her dad and I made the purchase of pictures Santa waited and he actually took the time to talk to her, and throw in the appropriate and always jovial "Ho, Ho, Ho's." He explained the virtue of continuing to be good in school. My cough was a real one, I swear!!

She was dressed up and wearing the "tap" shoes her other grandmother gave her. Then, her other grandmother wanted her back to take her to see her dad.. Kiddo's great grandfather. I let her go in the clothes and HOPE I get them back. Then I heard that she is keeping the kiddo over night!

BINGO!! Just what I needed! ... I have a doctor's appointment in an hour and a half. In this free time I've managed to get alot of the gifts wrapped. There are a few in my trunk that I still have to get but I figured I'd best stop so I could have a cup of coffee before I shower and go.

Be well all and I hope you are close to ... Ready!

Yesterday was rather interesting. My son worked so I had the Kiddo on Saturday. He knew the other Grandmother wanted to take her to get pictures with Santa. He tried to call her on Friday so he could let me know. She didn't return the call until the next day while he was at work and I had 45 minutes to get her fed, bathed, hair washed and combed and dressed.

When she got here we talked. It seems that the Kiddo's mother had problems with her adenoids which bears out what my son has said. Apparently the mother while living at home was very much the same as she was at my son's house... gone and not home for her daughter.

It was this lady that had finally opened the envelope from the school and called her daughter to tell her of the meeting at school. Remember the wrong address thing that I straightened out? The paperwork HAD been sent to the mother but since she gave an address she doesn't live at, and probably doesn't go to other than to pick up her child support check.

She apparently brought up with her daughter the matter of child support. That it doesn't belong to her. I told her my son is having a hard time but he's held off because he doesn't want to... ["have his daughter uprooted one more time. He wants her to have stability."] I just paused and didn't say it and she finished, "upset the apple cart."

I want to believe all of this but there is always that nagging feeling that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Unfair of me? Yes. Cautious on my part? Yes. The woman and I have not gotten along in the past. Perhaps another thing that was unfair on my part... what I did know of this woman I had been told of by the Kiddo's mother. So, everything I spoke was the truth, but there will always remain an unsettled feeling being unsure if the truth goes both ways. Again I admit to being unfair.

When she left she was going to bake with the Kiddo, take Kiddo to see her great grandfather and then keep her for the night. When my son got off work he called to check this and the Kiddo sounded happy to talk to him. This judging by his end of the conversation. His face seemed peaceful and happy for the first time in a long time. I heard him say, "I am your only friend? Kiddo, you have many friends!" Several "having fun's" several I love you's.. smiles on his part and then he talked to the grandmother.

Seems the grandmother was tired and had decided to cancel her plans. I had already anticipated this because this little girl is VERY much like her father and if you are not used to her constant moving, constant going in opposing directions, if you are not used to being around her it does wear you out. How do I know? I'm used to it.. I had TWO ADHD children and I used no ritalin. I have her every day.. I'm used to it and it wears me out!!

I had already had plans to keep her for the night. I had already figured to take her to dinner. The men were all going to a party with other men they work with. So, this had been planned. I took her to a place relatively kid friend and still adult friendly too... iHop.

She was actually good till the food came. Then she unwrapped her silver ware and she seemed to be handling it well so I started to unwrap mine. When I looked up she was holding down her sausage with her fingers and trying to use the knife to cut it, the way I showed her (with a fork). When I asked about her fork she looked for it and finally saw it on the floor.

Before I had a chance to blink she was on the floor and all I could see was her skirt covered bottom (thank heavens for skorts) and the new white "tap" shoes her grandmother gave her.

"Kiddo!" Get off the floor!"
"But I found my fork!"
Before I could reach down and pull her up she was popping up again with a fork and spoon in hand. She was so very proud of herself and plopped back in her seat, "I'll use my fork now!" Pleased as punch she was until she heard me bellow, "NOOOoo!" and snatch the utensils out of her hand.
I'm sure she thought Grandma had gone bonkers but I tried to quickly tell her that you don't pick silverware up off the floor and use it, I'll get her clean ones.

She was suprisingly very good! She ate everything and then, apparently remembering her manners she didn't quite know how to start asking for my food so she sat there and just pointed at my pancakes. "Hey! You aren't serious?" But she was, she ate all of her dinner and half of mine. And was, other than the holding her sausage with her fingers to cut it.. until she found her fork, and being under the table she was very good and actually fun to be with.

It's almost time for her to get up. I want to have a cup of coffee first. Hope your weekends are good.

I started going through old blogs. I didn't find a lot so far but what I did find I hadn't yet saved. My daughter got on the computer and now it's gone... just... gone. So I have to start over.

Insert Appropriate Cuss Word Here!