Missing Day & Black Hole

Missed yesterday because I left my bag in a co-workers car. Bummer.

Had major social anxiety today.  Almost didn't post because opening my computer was causing me anxiety too.  I don't know.  Some days are off.

So I decided I would hop on really quick.  Post a picture of something I like about myself.  And hop off without checking email or facebook or any other websites. And tomorrow will be another day.

Here is my eye.  God made them a pretty color.

Yes, I used wacky photo booth so that I could just show my eye. But it's a post.  So it counts.

Panties in a twist...

Apparently, I care a WHOLE LOT about whether a video crew has walkie talkies or not... and I'm not even going to be there.

For those of you who have used walkies on a production... or at a pta carnival... you know you will never go without them again.  Anyway, this contract company wasn't going to use them and one of my (there are several) alter egos came out and proceeded to have a 5 minute conversation (tantrum) about the necessities of walkies on a SHOOT in a CAMP.  I do believe they spoke of me after I left.

Anywho, after getting my panties in a twist about the walkies I stopped at the ladies room on the way back to my office and discovered that my panties were NOT in a twist... they were in-side-out.

Gave me a giggle.

On a completely unrelated topic... here's my cutie Caitlin trying on her 4th of July headband...

Reset and Reboot

Still.... still... still... recovering from sleep study.  Woke up at 9:45 pm last night.  Tick tock... tick tock... at 1:00 am decided I was wasting my time and should just get up and go to work.

So I am rebooting my system tonight.  Not quit 24 hours... but close enough.  I will take 2 sleeping pills at precisely 8:30 pm to fall asleep by 9:00 pm to wake up at 4:30 am. That will be 6 and a half hours sleep and I better hear the "reboot" sound when my eyes open.

On the plus side, I am VERY productive between the hours of 2:30 and 7:30 at work!

On the negative side.... I had to count license plates on the way home in order to stay awake... and I'm not sure if I'm using real words in this post.

My heart is pumping... tick tock... tick tock... tick tock...

Decapitation

Sooo... Has Barbie's neck gotten weaker?

Or should Caitlin TOTALLY rule out hairdressing as a career?

Concentration

concentration hush

escape daytime summer heat

enjoy the dusk breeze

Haikus calm me.  I don't know why but I hope to get better with them.  

Pictures of all my babies playing today. Puzzles and Art and Running.

Big Sister

I called the girls in to have a serious conversation.  They both bounced in so perky and a little tan and freshly showered and on summer time and happy and .... I had to take a picture.

Caitlin - Did you call us in just to take a picture
Me - No, but you're so cute
Caitlin - Ok... you can see my freckles

I love these two girls

with all my heart

with all my thoughts

and with all my prayers

This morning, at about 12:15 AM, I received a call from honey's phone.  Caitlin was homesick and wanted to come home. This is the second time she's gotten homesick this summer.  She was very tearful but I knew it was just because she was tired and up way too late.

I asked Siobain if she would lay down and cuddle Caitlin for 10 minutes and they could call me back if she still wanted to come home.

At about 12:25 AM the phone rang again.  Siobain said that Caitlin wasn't crying anymore but still wanted to come home.

Okay, I'm on my way.

At about 12:40 AM the phone rang again.  Siobain said that Caitlin was sound asleep.  At that point I was in the car and only 5 minutes away...

But I asked Siobain to please go to sleep with her sister and cuddle her all night long and call me if she wakes up again.

And I turned my car around and went back home to bed.

At about 8:45 AM this morning I called Siobain.  My sleepy girl answered the phone.  No, Caitlin was not awake; Yes, she would keep cuddling her; Yes, they would call me when Caitlin woke up.

At about 9:45 AM this morning Siobain called. Caitlin was still sleeping but could she get up anyway?

Yes. And thank you. For being the very best big sister ever.

Slumber Party

"You're like the girl who won't go to sleep at the slumber party" - Kelli

After my sleep study I was seriously messed up.  So tired and slap happy.  All day today I could see and hear myself being a complete goofball and yet not able to stop myself.  And that says I lot, because I think my normal goofball level is pretty high.

By the end of the day I think I was just maniacally giggling.  Thank God for Kelli or I wouldn't have made it through the day... even if she did compare me to the girl that doesn't get invited to the next party. :)

Study Session

Well, my sleep study started last night.  I arrived at the hospital, nerves a wreck, at 9:15. Spooooky.  4 cars in the parking lot.  Turns out it's me, my tech, 1 other patient, 1 nurse, 1 doctor, and 1 sleeping receptionist for the whole night.... in this big ol' hospital. How am I expected to sleep?

Fortunately my nurse was super uber charming and just chatted away.  I was set up with all my wires by 11:00.

A Franken-mess

Then we had to do a wire-reading check.

- look straight ahead with your eyes open
- close your eyes
- moving only your eyes look left then right 3 times
- moving only your eyes look up and down 3 times
- cough or clear your throat
- move your left foot 3 times
- move your right foot 3 times
- grind your teeth

Doing the hokey-pokey... and that's what it's all about!

She said I didn't have to go right to sleep.  So I watched a couple minutes of Star Trek to settle down.  Felt pretty comfortable and fell asleep. But this was definitely not by bed.  I must say I have a fantastic bed at home.

So, the tech also said that if I tested positive for sleep apnea then I wouldn't have to stay for the daytime test. She seemed pretty sure that would be the case. Plus she just loves this sleeping apparatus you get if you do have it. But this morning she told me I'd be staying for the daytime test.  She wouldn't say I didn't have sleep apnea, because she isn't supposed to discuss the tests, but since I'm staying... I assume I don't.

Half the wires are removed for the daytime test... but I still have 13 wires connected to various parts of my head.

I make these wires look gooooood!

Franken-mess control

This is my remote control with all my colorful wires attached.  They plug this in whenever I take one of my naps so that the computer can read the mysteries of my mind.

It's 1:00pm, 'bout to take another nap. I think it's the fourth one of the day?  I'm loosing track... I know I have three more to go.

So far this has been very painless...

Lightning King

All hail the Lightning King!

King Richard L

("L" roman for 50, Richard the 50th)

("L" for lightning)

(get it? the "L" has 2 meanings)

In case you need to know, King Richard L should be hailed thus:

The day went downhill after rubbing bolts with royalty (get it? bolts instead of elbows.)

1st... I was "hopping" onto the elevator after a meeting when the doors CLOSED ON ME.  Like a Kathleen sandwich.  There were four people on the elevator. We were all stunned into silence... until I uttered (still stuck in the doors) "aawkwaard."  That must have been the magic word because the doors opened and freed me to ride in humiliation up ONE floor. Note to self... take the stairs.

2nd... I was rear-ended on the way to my therapy appointment.  No damage done... until I started telling people about it and the first thing they ALL asked was "was it your fault?"  Normally when someone is rear-ended the blame is assumed to be the 2nd driver... I REALLY have a bad driving reputation.

Yes, it was my fault.

Mexican Chicken

Scared Mexicans

I pun. I kid.

This was a mexican chicken kinda day.  Comfort food was definitely called for.

- Slept late.

- Almost hit the damn boat down the street (again.)

- Got to work and my cube was set up all wrong.

- Had a little temper tantrum (not really, but definitely a melt-down.)

- Sweat was involved. (not a good look for me)

- Spent several minutes under my desk trying to figure out why my monitor wasn't working. (seriously considered staying under there.)

- Gave up and put a call into the help desk.

- Computer expert arrived.

- ...and pushed the "power" button on my monitor.

... the humiliation...

Topped the day off by sending a company wide email with a major miss-spelling.

But! I am about to eat mexican chicken and the world will be good again.

Mexican Chicken
1 chopped white onion (bigger the better)
4 chicken breasts cooked and diced (or a rotisserie chicken if you are a cheater like me)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 can rotel diced tomatoes (extra hot if your husband isn't a wimp)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
corn chips (I like the mini rounds)
1 stick butter (optional if you REALLY need comfort food)

1. saute chopped onion (can be done in Pam or something if you don't want to use butter)
2. add chicken, soups, and tomatoes (I use liquid in one can and drain the other)
3. stir until heated
4. line bottom of casserole dish with chips (I like a nice thick layer)
5. pour soup mix over chips and sprinkle with cheese
6. bake in oven at 450 (? I change it every time) for (? until the cheese bubbles)

Serve with fresh chips and any green vegi (except asparagus because they are gross.)
Servings... depends on how much comfort you need :)

King Daddy

Today is Father's Day and we celebrated with the King Daddy himself.

Caitlin made hubby a Sponge Bob crown... and hubby proudly wore it all day.

This was my favorite picture.  My girlies truly adore their daddy.  And he adores them.

The man in the crown

is always willing to play the clown

he may be really wacky

(and sometimes just plain tacky)

but he is never "playing" dad

it's the truest role he has ever had

I could forever write of

how they are filled with love

but i'll just say

for this man we celebrate this day

Okay, after all the goofy shots we had a nice afternoon (fine, it's true, I was a bit of a handful but it was HOT out today.) We went around the mall, grabbed some food, and watched Super 8.  A really great movie for this day.  The children in the movie were making a film... and they so reminded us all of what hubby must have been like at that age. 

Super fun to have Bobby join us at the movies too.

PMS-B

TMI Warning

So, in the midst of the girlies slumber party I turned into a raging bitch.  Thankfully hubby, after noting that "'Disneyland' is closed," took over most of the host duties... as I was tending towards a host resembling Freddie Krueger.

Freddie Krueger*

He did a great job entertaining the girls... expect for the screaming and laughing and having fun that was seriously making me want to kill someone.

The worst of it was this morning when Michael had to leave for a few minutes and I felt that I had to step up as the supervisor.  The count down began for the "mean" girl and the "whining" girl to going home (I'm sure that if I were not in 'Freddie Krueger' mode I would have found them charming and normal little girls)... The other three girlie guests I know and love... and would have supervised from my bedroom by saying "don't set anything on fire" and "come and get me if you need me."

Finally Michael got home (after what felt like a day and a half) and immediately sent Freddie back to bed.  With my heating pad, anti-Freddie meds, and a relatively quiet house I settled down.  Hubby took the remaining 5 girlies (my two and their besties) to see a movie.

Ahhhh.  I cuddled up with my handsome boy and turned on the tv to take a nap.  Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace was the best thing on. It was perfect because I needed something familiar and comfortable that wouldn't drag me into the story line... so I could fall asleep and let the meds to the work.

I slept on and off all afternoon and two dream-like items were constant throughout the afternoon. First, apparently there was a Star Wars marathon on... making time very confusing as the same characters were onscreen all afternoon.  Second, PMS-B always seemed to be looking at me... eyes following in a creepy way.

PMS-B: the Pink Menacing Stuffed Bunny

aka... Caitlin's favorite bunny

8:00 pm and Freddie is gone... but mildler PMS remains.  The Star Wars marathon is still running, but now we are on the "good" ones and I will watch Star Wars IV: A New Hope for a bit.  I should be back to normal tomorrow, although some would say there is a bit too much "bitch" in my "regular" personality...

*Freddie Krueger photo was taken from imbd.com who credit © 1984 - New Line Cinema - All Rights Reserved – Image courtesy mptvimages.com.

TGIF... Maybe?

So,  today was gonna be awesome! Moving day at work so we HAD to leave at noon. I was going to sneak off and do some lunchtime shopping with some girl friends and then see a movie.

But Caitlin had an emotional breakdown this morning. She desperately misses her  2nd grade teacher and school in general.  So I promised I would pick her up early (and not go have my afternoon of bliss.)

When I got to work the air conditioning wasn't working... so packing the last of my bits of my office was a sweaty job.

Migraine developed around 5:30... it's a pounder.

And now... there are 5 extra girlies screaming and running around my house.  One of them I'm a bit frightened of... I think she could take me.

All of this is worth it for my girlies summertime fun... plus hubby said he'd do all the work :)

Does Ebber's fit in the box?

She sure does!  On the way to take a pic of "Ebber In A Box" in her bosses office... we ran into  Jim, our boss's boss while I was wheeling her down the hall... awkward. But funny!

We also had a visitor in the office today.  Stephen saved this little guy from sure death on the street... although I'm not sure that the turtle realized this. I think he thought we were torturing him.

Bonus - Homesick Haiku

a tearful call home

for my child a late night drive

the innocent sleep

Honey & Cookie

My two girlies... all the love in the world.

This morning went so smoothly.  Caitlin got out of bed when I asked her to! (SHOCKER) She was dressed and ready to go before I got out of the shower.

Siobain randomly told Caitlin "I love you" in the car! We all know this is true... but she said it unsolicited!

And, of course, Caitlin worships Siobain. So much so that she is wearing one of Siobain's old shirts that doesn't fit her yet.  "Look Mommy, I put a bobby pin in so that it won't show my boobies."  (Yes, she did use a hair bobby pin.)

I took a picture of my girlies hugging before I left them this morning.  I'll miss them tonight... But I don't expect to be missed as they will be having too much fun with their girlie friends.

My girlies. First thing in the morning. Still half asleep.

This is a pic of Tammy's front flower bed.  I really like it.  Wish I had a green thumb.

So the old man and I are foot loose and child free tonight... movie and cuddling on the agenda.  NO interruptions. 

Seeing Red

Well, I was chatting with my buddy Karen today
when I spotted something STARTLING on her desk.

A bright RED folder with MY name on it!

Ummmm... right there for the whole world to see...

awkward

Tomorrow I will be gifting Karen with a cute pink/green/brown paisley folder.

With my name on it. 

I can't fight it... so I'm gonna embrace it.

Freebee 5 - Circa 2007

What a day.

Soooo... Here is a pic that 8 year old Siobain took on my brand new computer in 2007.

It's a littlest pet shop... monkey? held by my oldest angel.

I'm about to go to sleep... 8:06... 

so that tomorrow can come and I'll have a fresh new day.

Still

He's still the funniest guy I know.

(well, the funniest straight guy I know... David Sedaris beats him)

Shuffle Toe Step

Today was my girlie Eleanor's big dance recital.

1st, she was excellent.

2nd, whoever was in charge should be given a medal.

When my children were in dance we had to sit through enjoy 4 hours of recital. But E's school is brills!  The recital is 6 hrs long... but it is come and go.  So you show up and perform/watch only the performances that  you, yah know, care about.  So it was a fun 60 minutes instead of (with my girlies) a fun 4 minutes and torture for 3 hrs 53 minutes.

Am I being harsh?  I don't mean to be.  If your kiddo was in one of these dances then I am sure they were great...

Anywho, all the girlies in E's dances were adorable... but there is only ONE Eleanor.

The ballet performance went very well.  I love how expressive her face is.  

She has definite stage presence.

Quick Change.

I love how Sarah's and Eleanor's heads are together.

Tap dance was much more exciting. 

Plus who doesn't love green bows and a feather in the hair.

Little Kate behaved really well during the performance but had traveled all day and couldn't join us for dinner.  She has the cutest snail bow in her hair.  Kill me now!

I love this picture of Gorgeous and the girlies.  It is SO our family. 

Everyone is looking in different directions... but they all look adorable.

Going Bonkers

Birthday Party!

Caitlin was invited to her bestie's birthday party at... you guessed it, Going Bonkers... aptly named.

The drive that should have taken us 40 minutes was... an hour and a half.  Yes, I did go bonkers.  Fortunately the staff at Bonkers is fantastic and they spent 7 minutes on the phone with me trying to figure out A) where I was and B) how to get me to the party.

So, Going Bonkers is like 100 McDonalds play-places all connected together and 2 stories high. Plus they have arcade games and party rooms and even a mini bull ride. Basically, it is kid heaven.

Here Caitlin is waiving from the 2nd story bridge.

This is the "you promised you weren't going to take millions of pictures" look.

I lied.

My girlie and the birthday girlie played this game... 

but finished before I took a picture... so I made them fake it.

I have no shame.

I wouldn't normally buy a "store branded" shirt... but I think this logo is so cute!

The girlies used their tickets to buy dracula teeth (in their favorite color.)

I am so lucky that Caitlin is drawn to nice girls with nice family's.

Hummus with a side...

... of Benadryl.

It's not that I live on "the edge."  I'm not an adrenaline junky.  Gambling is more stressful than it's worth.  But hummus... not something I'm ready to cut out of my life yet.

And since it appears that I am allergic to it I take a dose of antihistamine with my hummus.  A hummus chaser if you will.

Also, I'm about to become very stinky.  This is a side affect I haven't found a solution for.  The garlic seeps out of my pores... and my BREATH.  Be warned.

Why today?  I don't know.  I don't control the craving... it controls me.  I have a date with hubby tonight, but it wouldn't matter if it was tomorrow night or Sunday night... this stink has staying power.

The good thing... I can't smell the stink.  I just know it's there.  Tehehehe.

hummus is what I crave

not matter it might put me in the grave

others will think I stink

and my cheeks may turn a little pink

but since this odor I can not smell

I'll eat my hummus and on this stink not dwell

Some days...

...you just go back to bed.

Woke up this morning on time!

Girlies were cooperative and we are ready to leave the house at 6:05!

Grab my phone.

Grab my bag.

Grab my...

Where are my keys? Not in all the "usual" places. Not in all the "unusual" places. I'm actually breaking into a sweat look for these damn keys.

Asked the girlies to help me find my keys... but, let's face it, unless the keys jumped up and bit them on the nose my girlies would not find them.

Have removed every item from my bag.  They really are not in there. Called the hubby to see if he saw them before he left... he started lecturing me on putting them in the right place blah blah blah blah... so I had to let him go.

I went and looked in the window of the car. Shiiiiiiiiiiiit. There they are. Safely locked in my car.

Called hubby back and asked him if he knew where the spare key was.  Two keys in the drawer. YAY!... both to the other car. So beaten down.  Working up a new sweat looking for the spare key.

Called hubby back... told him I couldn't find the spare, was going to have to take a vacation day, AND was going to have to go have keys made when he gets home. He says "no, you can't just make keys whenever... blah blah blah blah blah" more lecturing... so I had to let him go.

Texted the sitter that the girlies weren't coming.

E-mailed the office that I couldn't make it in.

E-mailed my counselor that I wasn't going to make my appointment.

All by 6:45 AM.

I was overwhelmed, feeling stupid, mad at Michael for lecturing me when I was down, mad at myself that I had to "waste" a vacation day... and I crashed.

Woke up at noon with a killer migraine.

Hubby got home.  Apologized. He had the spare keys in his glove box. He could see from the keys in the car that this was a total accident and not me being absent minded. He'll rub my head to help my migraine.

Still have my migraine... but now I also have my keys.  So I'll be able to make it to work tomorrow. In retrospect... I wish I had said "well, since I gotta take a vacation day, what can we do that is super fun!?"

Lesson Learned:

9) If you are taking a vacation day (for whatever reason) enjoy it as much as possible... or you'll regret it at 8:30 pm.

***

The Other Woman

Kitty l-o-v-e-s hubby!

And doesn't think she should have to share.

Look at her giving me the evil eye.

X-Girlies

We caught a late matinee of X-Men this afternoon.  It was so good!  And not just because I have a crush on James McAvoy...

I was a little worried about taking my girlies to a PG-13 movie without seeing it first... but summer fever had a hold on me and I gambled.

There was one f-bomb dropped... Hubby covered Caitlin's eyes... HELLO!?! We all thought it was funny he went for the eyes instead of the ears... plus, the bomb was already out of the bag...

Mainly there was fighting and shooting and more fighting.  My girlies handled that fine... but when Beast was about to stick a needle in his arm Honey had to look away.  I guess that just hit too close to home.

I was really surprised by all the actors in it that I had no idea about... Oliver Platt (LOVE HIM) and Kevin Bacon (love his wife!)  It was a great cast and a really fun story... maybe a tad (just a tad) too long.

Here is my oldest X-Girlie...

If my girlies were mutants...

Siobain's mutation would be... laser glare and her name would be TeenyBopper.

Caitlin's mutation would be... hmmm... lethal gas and her name would be SilentBomber.