HOW RUDE (Posted in 2008)

A friend asked me to ride along to Wal-Mart today (which means I drive because he has a car and I have the big old hoopie van and way too many kids). I am enjoying my trip to Wally World...I BOUGHT A MOUSE...$12. Only took 14 trips to a store and $12 to finally be able to operate the computer in an efficient manner.

ANYWAY, I gathered my items...enjoying a truly beautiful trip to the supercenter: remembering everything, walking casually without rushing, children are behaving (I think I may have heard birds singing) and we decided it was time to check out. As I am making this decision my youngest has declared herself tired of being in the cart. She doesn't speak so her declarations tend to come out as screeches, but I knew what she meant...mommy telepathy and all that.

So, as we approach the register her screeching escalates because she has spied the lollipops. Just by chance her new word for this week in speech therapy that we have been practicing is POP so there was no mistaking what the child wanted. She can't say Mommy, but she has got pop down just fine. When I tell her "no" she begins to sign for candy like a maniac. I acknowledge her sign and again tell her no to which she begins screaming...It's crunch time...Let's check out and get to the car. My friend went to one register, I believe it was register #21, and I was off to register #27. The child is still yelling, but nothing I can't ignore...I will NOT play into her manipulation. Apparently, check-out lady #27 has never witnessed good parenting before because she looked right at #3 and said "You SHUT UP"...I was floored. I was flabbergasted...I was SPEECHLESS (which has never occurred to date)...I had no reply. Have you ever seen a movie where someone says something and EVERYONE freezes and looks at one person...I was that person. Everyone around me looked at me as if they were thinking "What's she going to do?"..."Will this girl with the cool glasses lay the smack-down upon Clerk #27?"...(I think I heard someone utter "Oh no she di-in't")...I wasn't even next in line! I was THIRD in line...She had to yell AROUND other Wal-mart shoppers to insult my child (who had no idea that she was insulted, thankfully as she was still bummed about the pop).

I did not lay the smackdown upon #27...I did nothing. I simply gathered my items and switched to check-out #25. My good friend came back, saw I was shocked/irritated/speechless and when I told him that what had happened, calmly took my children and his to the arcade with the Bob-The-Builder ride. I truly think he thought I was going to hurt the woman and didn't want to be a witness. I did not do anything to in-bred clerk #27...I simply asked check-out girl #25 #27's name and went on my not-so-merry way. When I got home I called #27's manager...he was equally shocked when I told him about the incident. He asked me if he could give me anything...I gave the righteous "I didn't call to get free things...I called to make sure this woman doesn't ever insult and embarrass another family like she did mine"...Looking back I should have tried for a flatscreen tv...Oh, well, hind-sight is 20/20. Lesson learned.

Confession #1 (Posted 2008)

Ok, here is the first confession of the mother of 3...I have a mild addiction. It is an embarrassing one too!!



I, 32 year old mother of 3, am addicted to http://www.buildabearville.com/. Ok, so you are probably judging me harshly...I mean, the game is clearly meant for children...young ones at that!! I don't care!! I love that site! There are so many fun games! I love Hide-N-Seek and Bear-to-Bear Baseball...and the photograph game...It is so much fun. Ok, I realize I am sounding pathetic here, but it's true. I started out just sitting beside #1 to keep her company while she played...before long I was the mouse-operator and she was the instructor. Then I was playing after she went to bed "just to earn her a few extra points"...NOW I have my OWN log-on. That's right, my OWN log-on!! I am not the only one...When I was at the actual Build-A-Bear store I met a fellow adult Buildabearville user. (She was 19 and worked there, but whatever). I am proud to say that I don't allow my addiction to control my life (unlike SaraSurfer11 from the store who stays up until 2 am playing!). Just as I have decided to do with blogging, I keep it to an after-9 pm activity. So, now you know...I love Buildabearville and that is ok.

Arrogant (Posted in 2008)

Ok, I just drove 1 1/2 hours from my house to my mother and father's house. The trip can be really delightful if all the stars are aligned perfectly...this was one of those trips. The baby slept, #2 was plugged into Mulan on the DVD and #1 and I bonded over some Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus on the iPod (I love that duet with Billy Ray "Ready, Set, Please don't go"...makes me teary). Anyway, it was a mostly delightful trip. While I was singing about being a popstar I was thinking about being a newby blogger. I wondered "Is blogging arrogant"? I mean, really, what makes me so sure that the world wants to read about my often uneventful life or my opinion on ANYTHING (because I have an opinion on just about EVERYTHING)? Sure, I like to be heard...and, truthfully, I like to write freely...but is it a wee bit self-centered of me to think anyone really will take the time to read this?? I can understand why people would want to read my friend, Julie's blog...she is a surrogate mom for the second time and THAT is worth reading about, let me tell you. But, my stuff...I don't know, but I am going to keep on doing it and see what happens.

2008 Introduction....

I am using a broken mouse. Truthfully, it is in three pieces...the bottom with all the important stuff in it, the top that looks like a turtle shell and the screw. Actually I am only using the bottom part with all the important stuff. Why am I using a broken mouse, you might ask. Well, I have recently made several attempts to purchase a new mouse only to discover when I get home from the store that I have purchased everything BUT a mouse. The other day I came home with a scarf, some Tootsie Rolls, two sticks of deoderant for my husband (had to go back out because he only like anti-perspirant...still forgot the mouse even on that trip!), some socks for #2 and several more items that weren't on my list.

This happened once before. I needed pens. We just had no pens. Have three kids and your pen supply just deteriorates until you have to take phone messages with crayons. We have lots of crayons. Anyway, my husband got SO tired of having the pens stolen from his briefcase (yes, I was that desperate) that he walked in the door one night with a box of 500 pens. That was a few months ago and I think we have about 239 left. We will have no pens by fall.

Well, that was quite a tangent. I really need to buy a mouse. But, for now, I am going to try to do this blogging thing with a broken mouse. I don't know who this is going to go, but so far I learned that I am in the year of the dragon. That is something I didn't know before. I don't know how that applies to my life, but it sure is good to know.

I am going to try to tell you a few things about myself, but I warn you that is really isn't all that interesting. I am the mother of 3...a girl age 7, a boy age 4 and "the baby" is not a baby, but is 2. My husband and I met in 7th grade...then went our seperate ways and reconnected at about age 22...that is the short story. If you want the long story you will need to buy me a drink. I prefer Blue Moon. I am a never-stay-at-home mom. My kids and I are frequently on the go...we are very social people...well, except the boy. He doesn't really like people unless they are small and plastic and he can make them beat each other up.

I sell Mary Kay. That's about all I have to say about that. I teach Sunday school to 3 year olds which is kind of a frightening thought. I also teach 1st through 3rd graders at church on Thursday nights. Also terrifying...influencing the youth and all that.

I read a lot...Dr. Suess, Audrey Wood...oh, and I read some grown-up books too. I love James Patterson, John Sandford, Jonathon Kellerman, Perri O'Shaughnessy...Also, Rachel Gibson and Sophie Kinsella...And my FAV is Janet Evanovich. Reading is my passion.

Well, I am sure there is MUCH more to learn about me, but you are probably either gone by now or bored to tears. Either way, I will check out at this point and check back in if something interesting happens to me...no likely, but we'll see!

Old news...

Ok...before I start the "new" blogging I wanted to copy over my old blog posts from my other account so that everything is in one place. So, please feel free to read the following until I finish up my first "new" post....