Update on my Father in law

October 12, 2003

My father-in-law is doing much better. It was really scary for a while there. He just was not handling the whole situation well at all. His body was fighting the procedures and his mind was fighting everything and everyone else. He is much better and stable. In fact, they are talking about sending him home in a few days. That would be wonderful!

So, that means that my Geek Man is feeling more comfortable about coming home. Yippee! I have missed him so much. Obviously, I wouldn’t want him to be anywhere but where he was, but I am going to be happy to have him home again.

Thanks for all of the warm wishes and thoughts for my father-in-law. I really do appreciate the comments and the emails that you sent. Thank you for caring.
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Side Show Mom

October 10, 2003

I had an “interesting” dream last night.

I am sitting in this display window like thing (you know the kind that department stores have?) but I can hear everything going on outside.

So there I am. Sitting there on a stool. I have a cell phone in one hand and a baby bottle in the other. I am kicking a soccer ball back and forth against the glass. With my other foot, I am rocking a cradle. I have a big cardboard sign around my neck that says “species…PTA”. My hair is in a pony tail. I have on track suit. Every now and then I turn for no known reason and shout, “Leave your brother alone!”

I can hear what the people are saying. They are pointing at me as if I am a freak in the traveling carnival’s freak show. Some are whispering. Some are giggling. Some are just staring in awe.

I somewhat harshly tell one woman who keeps trying to poke me, to just “Move along now. There is nothing to see here.” Which, startles her.

“She can speak. I understood that!”

I look around trying to figure out what is going on. Then I see a little sign on a podium just to the left of where I sit. I squint to read the fine print.

“Species…Stay at home mom. Sub species: Soccer mom/PTA mom hybrid.
These suburban dwellers are commonly found living in neighborhoods among others of their species. They are quite mobile and are frequently seen transporting their young with such common modes of transportation as the mini-van or SUV. Their diet consists mainly of coffee, diet coke and pilfered food from their offsprings’ plates. They survive on less sleep than the average human being needs to sustain life, yet they are completely functional. Many times going years without a night of continuous sleep. This species is generally docile as a rule; however, if someone appears to be threatening their young, they can become quite vicious. This is an endangered species. Mainly due to the harshness of the climate in which they live. We are trying to preserve the species as a whole. This is just one of the subspecies on display. They can be found worldwide and are becoming quite rare.”

hmmmm.

Gee, I wonder if I can try to find any dream analysis book that will tell me what that means. I mean, it is so vague and ambiguous!
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Home for the weekend

Well, I’ll be around this weekend. Girls weekend was cancelled for me. I am going to be home with the kidlets. All weekend. While they drive me crazy telling me how bored they are. How they have nothing to do. How they want me to entertain them. (I’ve already had 2 days of it since they are on Fall Break.) We’ll be stopping by the video store later.

The reason I am not going is because my father in law is not doing well. I need to be here so that my husband can focus on his father. It wouldn’t be right to be anywhere else right now. I wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else right now when family needs me.

So, I guess my biggest job now is trying to find something that will entertain 3 kidlets that range in age from 2-10. Any ideas? Because if I hear “I’m bored!” one more time, I am likely to lock myself in my bathroom with a bottle of tequila and not come out until they go back to school!
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Sold!

October 6, 2003

What’s the difference between selling your soul to the devil and heading up a major PTA committee?

Yeah, I don’t know either.
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The Jumper

October 3, 2003

A former Police officer sent this to me. It is not for the faint
of heart. If you have a weak stomach, then don’t look at the
this…

… It is a picture of the demise of a suicide jumper. Taken
shortly after he landed, it shows him with his insides now on the
outside. You will see the look of horror on the faces of the bystanders.
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He’s a good kidlet

October 2, 2003

Well, the parent/teacher conference went well! In fact, it was one of the best I have ever had for Kidlet Jr. I even got to sit in a real chair. Something has really clicked for him this year and he is doing great. (Sidenote from a bragging mom: His reading and math levels are a grade and a half above where they “should” be.) There was nothing that I heard that bothered me.

Oh sure, he delights in telling amusing anecdotes to the teachers such as….

Mom says diets are an evil ruse to make women go crazy so the kids can take over the world. (Yes, I did say that, but I was joking!)

Or the time he told her that she could come over for dinner anytime because we love having company but to check and see if Dad is the one cooking or not because he is better at it that Mom. And that if she does come over that she can’t go in Mom’s bedroom because no one is allowed in there. Especially kids’. (Hey, I don’t want the Kidlet’s friends running through my room. So sue me! But he is right about the dinner part, though. Always see who is cooking before you agree to come.)

All in all it was good. Although, I do need to talk to Kidlet Jr about the fine art of not sharing quite so much. Gotta love him though. He is entertaining!
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Sports Moms

September 27, 2003

Can I just address Sports Moms for a minute? There is a difference between a “Soccer Mom” and a “Sports Mom”. A “Soccer Mom” is a mom who goes to the games, cheers for her kidlet(s), probably has something soccer related on her vehicle (which is probably a mini-van or SUV) and knows all (or most) of the players names. This can vary a little, but for the most part, you can spot a Soccer Mom. And yes, it is okay to chuckle now and then at Soccer Mom. She is a pretty amusing stereotype at times.

A “Sports Mom” is one who is fanatical about the game. She has her kidlet signed up for every clinic or workshop that is related to the sport. Her kid has to have the best equipment and the best of everything the sport has to offer. She allows very little room for her child to make mistakes. And she certainly can’t stand mistakes from anyone else’s child. She is the one who pushes her kid so hard that even the other adults cringe. She, or rather her behavior, is no laughing matter.

We have a new Sports Mom on our team. I have been elected to let her know that our team is more laid back than most and that we really find it better to NOT yell at the players on our team that they suck. (For that matter, not to yell that at any of the players!) Yes, you read that read. She yelled during a game today that one of our players sucked. Did I mention this is the under 8 yr old team? Lovely isn’t it. It didn’t take me long to get off the bench and go to her to tell her that we really are not going to stand for that. But, it was too late. A Soccer Mom from the other team handled it for me. She was up in Sports Mom’s face before I could get out of my seat. And let me tell you something…she didn’t pull any punches. She let her know how disgusting her behavior was. When Sports Mom looked our way for back-up, we just turned back towards the game.

So, please, if your kidlets are on a team, remember it is for fun and recreation. If you want to yell and degrade, go to a professional hockey game, okay? They can take it and make the big bucks to deal with it. As for us Soccer Moms, we’ll be on the sidelines cheering on the kids, wearing our “Soccer Mom” shirts, and drinking our coffee (and probably gossiping between plays.) We’ll support your kid, even if you won’t.
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But it’s Friday!

September 26, 2003

It’s Friday. My weekly “Me-Day”, if I can actually fit it in. I try to do something to get me into a more “I can handle these people” frame of mind before the weekend comes when I am overwhelmed with soccer, errands, and general chaos. But can I do that today? Not so much. The Kidlets are home.

No one is sick. The teachers have a work day and so I get the Kidlets home with me. I am trying to find something to keep them occupied, happy (read: not whining in my face or fighting), and cheap.

So, forgive me if I am scattered and not able to write anything even somewhat inspirational today. It is not even noon and I am ready to go hide out in my room. Do not tell them where I am. Or I will send them your way!
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“While You Were Burned Out”

September 25, 2003

I have an idea for a new reality show. Okay, not really “reality” like Survivor or The Amazing Race. More like “Trading Spaces” or “Extreme Makeover” or “Clean Sweep“. I’ll call it…

“While You Were Burned Out”

In just 4 words….

September 24, 2003

Actual conversation in my car on the way to the soccer game.

Kidlet Jr: I know how to get someone to be quiet if they are bothering you.
Me: Oh yeah? How?
KJ: Just 1-2-3-4 words?
Me: (trying to think what he could be thinking, figuring it wasn’t anything I knew) And what are those 4 words?
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