Where's George

I haven't tried this site yet but thought it looked intersting. If you have kids of an appropriate age I think it would be neat for them. The site lets you track bills (money that is). You put in the serial number and denomination and you can watch the bill wherever it goes.

There is also a site for Canadian money. Have fun!

If You Can't Stand The Heat

Today was sweltering. We reached 103 today. I don't know what the humidity was but it was high. We were under extreme heat warnings. Even so, I spent the afternoon sitting out in the heat selling 50/50 tickets at the ballgame. They ended up calling the game early due to the heat.

I remember in Texas when it got over 100, it really didn't seem much different from 99. Hot was hot. But we still went out and did things. It was hot but the heat was different somehow. I guess it's the humidity, that's what they say anyway. Well, I ended up getting a headache from the heat. It is finally gone but it took a couple of hours of rest to get rid of it.

Thankfully, it's supposed to start cooling down this week. What's it been like in your neck of the woods?

All Is Well

My husband came through his surgery with flying colors. Everything went really well. The surgery itself went really quick, like 15 minutes. I wasn't expecting it to go so fast. But he's done, he's home, and minimal pain controlled by his pain meds.

I had kinda expected him to milk it a little but no, he's being Mr. Independant, seeing how much he can do for himself by himself. But, I was careful to give him at least a little bit of pampering since he has been so good to go through so much with me.

Just wait 3 weeks and then it's on to hand #2.

Too Much Just Ain't Enough

I lament frequently that my kids don't appreciate what they have. They are happy in the moment of receiving something but they don't really appreciate having stuff. My son really wanted a pair of sunglasses (he's 6). They were really cute and on sale so I bought them. He was reasonably pleased and wore them throughout the day. Today? He has no idea where they are. It's the story of my kids' lives. My daughter loves barbies (she's 4). But take care of them? Ha. One of her favorite things is the barbie shoes. And of course these are the most difficult items to keep track of as they always fall off. The result is scattered and mismatched barbie shoes. I've tried buying special containers for the shoes but no success. In fact, usually the container itself gets lost. And if it were found, most likely, it would be empty. *sigh*

My kids just have too much stuff. Even after doing a major overhaul and decreasing their stuff drastically they have too much. Admittedly, I started the problem. There was always so much cool, fun stuff to get them for their birthdays. I imagined how much they would learn from all the innovative educational toys. I imagined expanding their creativity, honing their fine motor skills, opening the doors of their imaginations. In short, I went overboard. Don't get me wrong, we created, we honed, we opened. And now, we disregard. Everything is great - at first. Then it is just stuff.

Birthday's are just around the corner. I've bought my son one toy item and suggested one game to my sister as a possible gift. Even so, the problem remains and I've no idea how to rectify it. I've tried taking toys away both permenantly and temporarily. They know that some kids don't have things. We've bought things to give to others who don't have. But I don't think they really understand what it is to not have. Maybe it's too large a concept for their age without having to live it. How do you teach kids to appreciate what they have?

Under The Knife

Well, my husband will soon go under the knife. He has surgery scheduled for Friday for Carpal Tunnel surgery. They are going to do one hand then wait 3 weeks and do the other. This will be his first surgery. When it first came about that he was going to need surgery, he was pretty nervous. I think he's more calm now. It's hard to imagine he's not had any kind of surgery or anything. It seems to be such a regular thing for me that it took me a minute to realize that he hasn't any idea what surgery is like. Granted, it's a minor surgery, and I'm thankful for that, but it'll still be the first time he's been put under. Guess he'll be off for several weeks afterwards. He works hard labor with his hands so he can't exactly go right back to work.

Gosh, his first surgery. I've had like, hmmm, let's see, five I think. The most routine of which was gallbladder. The worst was of course my 2nd back surgery when I had 3 vertabrae fused. Although I must admit, my C-section was a close 2nd on misery. Probably cause I had pushed for hours first, they used too much anesthetic and I had trouble waking up, I couldn't have an epideral for local pain, and on top of it all, I was a first time mom supposed to take care of an infant on my own within a couple of days. I'd hardly gotten truly awake from too much anesthetic before I was even sent home! But the back surgery definitely tops the list.

Gallbladder was the easiest. My husbands surgery should be a little easier than a gallbladder surgery so he should come home Ok. Oh but I can hear him now. He's gonna think he knows all there is about experiencing surgery. Hehe, when my brother in law had his appendix out, he thought he'd experienced pain worse than childbirth. LOL, my sister in law had just had their baby about 2 months prior. Boy did she fill him in.

Sometimes though I wish we really could walk in other people's shoes just for an experience. I think people would be so much more understanding of each other.

Anyway, I don't know whether to ask for prayers for my husbands surgery, or for me for the weeks he's going to be home afterwards. :<)

Solo

My sister doesn't understand me. I enjoy doing things alone. That is something beyond her comprehension. I love to take a book and go out to eat all by myself. I get to enjoy my meal, read a book, and all in peace. No food to cut up, no whining kids, no trading meals cause the kids want what I have once they see it. To me, it's a little piece of heaven. My sister thinks eating out by myself makes me look like I have no family, no man in my life, and no friends. My best friend tends to agree with her. That's what my sister thinks when she see's someone eating by themselves. I never think that. In fact, I guess I don't think much about it at all.

I also go to movies alone. My husband just doesn't care that much for them. He likes watching movies at home but the theatre doesn't hold much interest for him. He used to fall asleep during movies at the theater (when his sleep apnea was bad). So for the most part, I go by myself. I don't really mind. In fact, it doesn't bother me in the least. Something else my sister wouldn't understand.

Sometimes I'll go out in the evening just to be alone for a while. Usually I'll go get groceries or something but sometimes I just go for a drive or sit out at the park and read or watch people. There is a part of me that just needs occasional alone time. It's odd because sometimes I feel like I never get a chance to be around other grown ups since I stay home with the kids. Sometimes I'm sick of being alone. But that is infrequent.

I treasure my alone time. Often, I need it. I enjoy other people, I like being social. I just also like to go out, have a nice quiet meal all by myself, just me and my book. I wonder though, how typical it is for people to form an opinion about me based on my eating out alone or going to the movie alone.

Fantastic

Went and saw the Fantastic Four. It wasn't too bad. Better than I had anticipated for a kidish type show. Took my kids and my sister in laws two kids. I can't believe how much movies cost. It's highway robbery. I can't imagine living in Chicago or LA and having to pay those prices for movies. Add popcorn and soda and you've spent a small fortune. I really don't see the need for such high prices. Especially for kids. Fortunately though, my kids are really good for 4 and 6 at the theatre. In fact, they love going to the movie theatre. Anyway, the movie was entertaining and we enjoyed it. I missed Kingdom of Heaven (I think that was what it was called) and The Longest Yard. I wanted to see those.

Itchy

Good Gravy how I itch! I finally went to the doctor today about my poison ivy. Got a shot, drugs to take for 2 weeks, and a cream. It's driving me nuts! The doctor found it hilarious that I've been cultivating this poison ivy for 2 years. I'm sure some day I will laugh too. Right now though I'm too busy trying not to scratch.

Pick Your Poison

I've learned that the saying is definitely "Pick Your Poison" and not "Pick Some Poison". Trust me, picking poison is not a good idea. Poison Ivy that is. I've been nurturing a patch for two years. I thought it was volunteer Morning Glory as I'd planted some nearby the year prior. Well, my flower bed had gotten out of control and my volunteer Morning Glory wasn't blooming so I decided to clear it out. I am now sporting a nice healthy rash that itches like you wouldn't believe thanks to that so called volunteer Morning Glory. It's the pits.

I am no gardner, which you may have picked up by now. If it's green and it's growing, I give it a chance in case it might actually be a flower. No more. If I didn't directly plant you and even if I planted you but didn't expect you to come back, then "you're outta here"!

That must have been the biggest patch of poison ivy in history. If it had been marijuana, I'd be rich. Or in jail. But at least I wouldn't have this rash! I'm gonna have to wear gloves at all times to keep from scratching. I can't believe I grew poison ivy. Thank goodness I didn't feed it with Miracle Grow. It could have been covering my house.

Maybe I should offer a stalk to my kitty hating neighbor. :<)

Again With The Girl

Her most recent picture.

Little Girl

My little girl dressed up for Halloween. She loved this oufit. She loves to play dress up and wore this outfit out.

Pancreatic Cancer Walk

Ok, here goes. It's time for the annual Pancreatic Cancer walk. My family and I did it last year in memory of my brother. It's a great thing organized by PanCAN volunteers. PanCAN is a non-profit org that raises money for research funding, raises awareness about the cancer, and provides a wonderful support service for people dealing with pancreatic cancer. Participating walkers ask people and companies to sponsor them with a tax deductible donations. So....

I know no one has money to just throw around and I don't know most of you personally outside the blogging world, but I wouldn't be very effective in trying to fight cancer by being timid so hear it is, the big asking for a donation. $1 to $100's.

Feel free to snort at this point and say "I don't think so". Feel free to sympathise with the cause but decline at this time. Feel free to give a little. I simply had to ask, even though I feel I should apologize for it. I'll give the website just in case someone wants to give a buck or two. Know though that this is not a PayPal account or anything like that. Money goes directly to PanCAN, not to me and it is tax deductible. Feel free to check out PanCAN's website. Thanks everyone.

Here's the link.
http://www.justgiving.com/pfp/fortroy

Here Kitty Kitty

When it rains it pours. My husband told me tonight after the ball game that there was a message on our answering machine from the county animal warden. There are a couple of old bitties up the street who are frankly unfriendly. Apparently one of them called and complained about my kids' cats.

Now mind you, many people don't like cats and I understand that. I like dogs but I don't particularly like little yapping dogs who get the whole front of their face sopping wet before coming to wipe it on you. HOWEVER, I would never say anything cruel about your dog or complain about the gross wet smear it left over my skin or clothing. Basically, I get along.

Anyway, one of these ladies (loose term) called animal control about my kids' kitties. Our city had some trouble a while back with stray cats so they made an ordinance that cats had to be "contained" in their owners yard. This allowed them to take care of the stray cat problem. Cat owners however, have a problem. Tell me, exactly, how do you think it could in any way be possible to make a cat stay in your yard. Fences obviously don't work, putting them on a leash is asking them to be killed by other stray animals since their main defense is to flee, and few cats can be trained never to pass certain perimeters.

Now our kitties are very pretty calico's. They keep amazingly clean for having so much white on them, they are very friendly and we take very good care of them. Unfortunately I found to be very allergic to them so they were relegated to the out of doors. They are nearly always at our house, in the field next to it, or at the house across the street playing with a friend. We shut them in the garage at night for their protection and to keep them close to home. I have never seen them up the street though I realize that doesn't mean they never go there.

So this lady called and complained that OUR cats were traipsing through her yard, pooping in her flower beds, and killing the birds in her yard. Now, in the two block radius surrounding this house, there are 5 other cats, not to mention 2 regular strays that we are always chasing off. The cats have NEVER killed a bird in our yard that we have seen nor have we EVER had a dead bird in the yard. In fact, we have several turtle doves, the occasional cardinal, and more black birds than I care to have. Last I checked, the bird populace was still going strong despite the existance of cats. Pooping in flower beds. We have a litter box in our garage for the kitties. Based on the number of times we have to change it, they use it fairly often. And if they poop outside, they cover it up. You don't step in it and traipse it all around your house. How many times a day is she in that flower bed that digging up cat poop could POSSIBLY be a problem?

Let me remind you here, there are 5 other cats just in the immediate neighborhood. But see, she doesn't know these other people to complain about them. I've tried to be neighborly and speak when she's outside (and gotten the cold shoulder) so she knows who we are and that we have cats. (two by the way, one for each of the kids).

So she calls animal control who after enough complaints and fines (no great evidence required) will take the animals and put them down. What is her goal here? Does she want my 4 and 6 year old to have their pets taken away and put to sleep because SOME cat or cats poop in her flowers and cover it up? What kind of person does that to little kids? For heavens sake, we already shut them up at night and have a fenced in yard. They can't come inside so that really doesn't leave us with a lot of options now does it? And 9 times out of 10, they are right there in our yard anyway or in the field right next to us.

I'm sure her issues arise from a combination of area cats. But still, what great harm are these animals really doing her? I understand complaining about a troublesome animal but come on. Walking thru her yard? And how many birds has she really seen any cat bring down?

My Players

These are the boys. They're good kids. It's been a lot of fun hosting over the years. We've always been lucky to get good kids. After the game tonight they had a big fireworks show. The players are allowed to stay out on the field and the fans stay in the stadium seats. Well, Jake, the first boy pictured called up to us from the dugout and asked my two kids to come join them on the field. My kids were thrilled to go out there and sit with them. I thought that was really nice of him to call the kids out there. A security personnel keeps the general public from going thru the gate to the field so it was kinda a special thing for them. My whole family drove up for the game and the fireworks so it was a nice family evening.