Online friends

September 24, 2003

Last night I started thinking about friends. Online friends in particular. I got my first taste of online friends back in 1990 when Geek Man and I had a BBS. Seems like forever ago. We got a quick intro into how it all works. In that short span of about 6 months, we found not only a friend who led Geek Man to a great job, but I was priviledged enough to get my own scary stalker freak. Oh yes, we had big fun back then.

Later on with IRC, I met people that I really got to be very close to. We all talked at least once a day and after well over a year, we all got together face to face. There really weren’t any big surprises. We pretty much just put a real life face to the people we had come to know and love. And of course, with that you also get more of the freaks and people who are only out to lie or deceive. But for the most part, I met some awesome people. Where are they now? I have no idea. I guess real life got so busy for all of us that our computer time dwindled down. Things changed and we grew apart.

Then of course we have the medium of message boards. If you find a good group of people, they can come to know you and be closer to you than many people in your day to day life., Of course, again there is a level of trust. Are you really getting who you think you are getting? For the most part, yes. There have been many times in my life over the past few years that I have been supported and loved by friends that I have never even met face to face. When Little Diva was in the hospital, not a day went by that I didn’t receive phone calls, cards or emails checking up on her and on me. It is real. It doesn’t matter if we met in person or not. We “know” each other. Sometimes we don’t talk for a long time, sometimes everyday. It doesn’t matter. We are real friends.

So I stared to ponder and wonder…
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Chair issues

September 22, 2003

I don’t know what it is, but even now, I just don’t like going to the principal’s office. Today was Kidlet Sr’s parent/teacher conference. So, I go to the office first to sign in. (Sidenote: You’d think that as often as I am up at that school and in the office, I would not blink at being sent to the office, but apparently I have primary school issues yet to resolve. Who knew?) So anyway, we get to the classroom and greet the teacher. (I adore this woman! She really is great.) But can we maybe think ahead when doing these conferences. Oh, I don’t know, offer coffee, call me by my first name, let me sit in a freakin’ chair that is larger than a doll house desk. Okay, maybe the coffee is asking too much. But come on! I have issues enough with knowing I should work out more. Dieting has rewards that come slower than I would like. But do you have to sit me in a chair that would make Lara Flynn Boyle feel like the Michelin Man? I’m just asking.
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Happy Monday!

I just wanted to say good morning and wish everyone a wonderful Monday. I got all of my homework done this weekend….I mean, I helped the boys get their homework done…I mean, now that the boys got their homework for the weekend finished, I know that their backpacks are loaded and they are ready to be booted out the door!

Little Diva kept me up until 1:00am last night. Ugh! Not sure what her late night issues are, but this is the third time in 5 nights that she has done this. I am not a happy camper when 5:45am rolls around. Maybe she will sleep in and I can crawl back into bed for a little longer once the boys leave.
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Soccer Saturday continues

September 20, 2003

Well, Kidlet Sr’s game didn’t have the outcome he was hoping for. They played an awesome game, though! The game was tied 1-1 until the last minute of the game. Then, the other team scored. On my son…the goalie. It broke my heart. Mainly because it broke his heart and he blamed himself. This shot that got through, truly was not his fault. (Trust me, when they are, I admit it.) A tangle at the goal, a play knocking him down and a ball “bumped” into the goal by someone on the other team all added up to a last minute goal. Kidlet Sr was crushed. Being the goalie made him feel like it was all his fault. He is such a perfectionist. I think the other parents got him to see that it just happened. No one’s fault. (You know how it is. I could tell him until I am blue in the face and it would just be “mom’s saying it because I am the mom”.) He stopped at least 6 that were “sure-shot” goals. If anything, he kept the game at a tie and not a huge loss.

It is tough being the mom on the sidelines. I have a hard time sitting still. Don’t get me wrong. I am not a screaming, pacing, crazy sports mom. I just really get into the game. (Although sometimes I do run out on the field during the game, but that is only when I am chasing the Little Diva out there and trying to get her back to the sidelines.) This was a great game overall. I just felt bad for the goalie of the losing team. But, I bought him ice cream and he felt a little better.

So, now to part III of my day. More laundry, cleaning and the never ending PTA work that needs to be done. I think cassie-b was right when she said I would get my nap…at 10:00pm tonight! ~yawn~
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Saturday soccer fun!

One soccer game down. One to go. Kidlet Jr had his first game today. (*The original first game was rained out.) The team played really well! They ended up in a tie (1-1). But the team really seemed to come together a lot better than they did last year. They looked like they really knew what they were doing. Go team. Of course, being the soccer mom/manager, I got the honor of bringing snacks for the team. (Sidenote: Parents, don’t gripe about what snacks should be brought. If you don’t like it, don’t get it. Bring what you want when it is your turn. Just a helpful tip.) I also got to be the one who tells everyone that our team pictures are at 7:30am next Saturday. Thankfully, no one shot the messenger. So, at only 11:00am, I have already watched one full soccer game, cleaned the kitchen and family room, did laundry and been to the store.

And we have just begun.

Game 2 for Kidlet Sr is at 2:00pm. I’ll let you know how that goes later.

Of course, with this busy schedule one has to ask….when is my nap going to be scheduled in?
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Why blog? Why read blogs?

September 19, 2003

I just haven’t felt like writing today. Well, maybe I should be more specific. I haven’t felt like being light hearted today. I guess I am in a funk. So, basically, I went blog surfing. Just checking out other people’s blogs. Listening to what they have to say. (There are some really awesome blogs out there!)

It just got me thinking about the things I write here. I originally decided I would just put random thoughts here. Make people laugh. I love making people laugh! But there are times I want to dig deeper and talk about real issues. It just made me wonder why people read other people’s blogs. Because they make them laugh? They make them cry? They make them think? Can all of those things be mixed into one blog or do you prefer to know what you are going to get when you go to read a blog? Does it even matter? Do bloggers blog for themselves or for the people reading it? Or is it both?

See? I told you I was in one of those moods. What do you think? Do you just want the random silly thoughts or can you handle deeper thoughts about this soccer/PTA mom? Don’t be shy. Tell me. I mean, let’s be honest here. I am going to write what I want to write, but I was just really curious about why anyone bothers to read anyone else’s blog anyway.

After the awesome reads I found today (not to mention not so awesome ones), I realized I like to laugh, be touched, think and be challenged. And I also realized, it is okay for me to find those things all by the same writer. What about you?
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Case closed

September 18, 2003

The bike is home! The bike is home! Safe. Clean. Locked up! And I didn’t even get to yell at, scare or make the punk kid cry. (Where is the justice in that?!) Here’s what happened.
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Bike update

September 17, 2003

Well, we found out who stole Kidlet Jr’s bike. Not only did we find out, but we have a name and an address. And a kid who knows him and has heard his lame excuse that he is making up. (He says he bought the bike for $400 over the weekend because he got a new job. Hello? He is 12! Whatever! Besides, if he paid $400 then he got screwed!)

Here’s the deal that makes me wonder what we can legally do. He has taken off every identifying thing about the bike. All the stickers, lock and serial number. Everything. But it is our bike. And we know it. And he knows it. Tomorrow we are getting the police involved. *I* wanted to go chase this punk’s ass down and wring his little neck. (Of course, I would never hurt the kid, but I am angry!) My husband thinks that perhaps a more civilized way would be better. We’ll see. I say we go bang on their door tonight with the cops. I am betting the brat’s parents won’t be too thrilled with that. Again, I was out voted. Which sucks, because really, I want this kid to be not only humiliated, but have the crap scared out of him. He deserves no less.

I’ll let you know what happens tomorrow.

Punk brat kid!
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Grocery store rules 101

Can we talk grocery shopping for just a minute. Perhaps some people out there never got their basic “Grocery Ettiquette 101″ lesson. I am here to help, so pay attention. Here are just a few things that will help you not get smacked (by me) while in the grocery store.

If you see me juggling a 2 yr old, my purse, my keys and the 2 yr old’s doll while trying to maneuver all of it towards a cart, do not huff, roll your eyes and push your way around me. I am going as fast as I can and doing the best I can under the circumstances. Huffing at me will not only get you a dirty look, but could result in an “accidental” running over of your foot with my cart incident. Enough said.

If after I get everything situated and am cruising down the aisle taking care of my business, do not move my cart if I stop to get something off of the shelf. Just wait. I am not a label reading, price comparing, take my own sweet time shopper. I know what I want, I get it and move on. Keep your hands off my cart. Especially when my kid is sitting in it.

If you are at the deli and buying your 47 lbs of meat and you see me come up behind you, really, it is okay to let me know that you will be a while. Actually, I would appreciate knowing that I can finish up other things and come back rather than stand there trying to entertain my 2 yr old for 25 minutes while you taste test every meat the deli has to offer. Really, just tell me you are camping out. I am fine with coming back.

When we finally do make it to the checkout stand, keep your distance. Maybe it is just me, but if I am checking out and standing at that check writing platform, do not come stand directly beside me. Back off. I mean really, you are invading my personal space and I can get a bit nasty about it. Just back off, get back with your groceries and cart. Do not roll your eyes if I am writing a check. Do not huff at me if the checker takes longer than you think she should. Just go read your National Enquirer and stay back, okay?

Finally, when you see me heading towards my car that is parked in a great parking place that you want and you notice that I am juggling a 2 yr old, keys, dolls and a purse as well as about 20 bags of groceries you better know that you will be waiting a while. Do not sit there with your turning signal on giving me dirty looks because I am not quicker. You saw how much I was juggling. If you were in such a hurry, you should’ve parked in that space 5 cars down that was empty and you would be in the store by now. You will wait. And not be nasty. If you give me attitude, you will be amazed at how slow I really can move.

These are just a few things that might make your shopping trip more enjoyable. If not, so what. It will make MY shopping trip more enjoyable. Please try to heed my warnings. I have no problem running over your foot or getting in your face about things. Let’s face it. You saw what I was dealing with when I got my cart. I have issues at the grocery store. Let’s not make it worse. Okay?

Thanks.
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Day by day

As I was standing in my kitchen this morning making sandwiches for lunch, I started to think about my choices in life. Namely, the ones that led me to being a stay at home mom.

I do love being at home with my kids. I have not stepped into the work force in over 10 years because we decided that I would stay at home to raise the kidlets no matter how tight the finances became. I have loved it. But let me tell you the cold truth about being a stay at home mom. It is can be a really thankless job with few rewards. There are days I wonder if anyone notices the work behind it.

It isn’t that I want rewards and praise. I guess it is more that I just don’t want to be invisible anymore. What is a day in my life like?
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