Ok, ok... here....

Ok, requests have been made to share my 2 temp 7 layer dip/salad, and share I shall.   Only because I hardly invented this, just 'improved' it, I think.... that being said, grab a pen and paper, or hit the print button ;)  

Ingredients are as follows for mine, feel free to add-delete at will~its hard to mess this up!   I use a 9 x 13 pan, so adjust ingredients to your amount.  

2 cans refried beans~whatever you like, I use sausage or traditional

2 tubs guacamole (store bought or homemade) 1 hot, 1 mild          

2 jars salsa, also 1 hot 1 mild~*use slotted spoon to drain as much liquid as possible

2 pkgs taco seasoning (1 for each can of beans)                                  

1-16oz container sour cream                                                                    

1 pkg shredded taco cheese                                                                         

1 sm can of sliced black olives                                                                    

2 bunches of green onions, sliced                                             

jalapenos to garnish (or mix them in)  

Mix the taco seasoning in the refried beans and warm them in the microwave or stovetop.  Layer the beans in the bottom of the pan.  Next, add the guacamole (hot on one side, mild on the other).  After that, add the sour cream, followed by the salsa on their respective sides. 

Add the pkg of cheese next, then the olives and onions on top.  I do put peppers on the top of the hot side, just so people know...   There you have it. 

Made in 5 minutes with all store bought ingredients and always a crowd pleaser.  I take Fritos and Tostitos cause I liketo make everyone happy :)  

Variations:  I have added ground beef with taco seasoning cooked in with it.  I have also used spanish rice in it.  Really, you can do no wrong, so play away... and let me know if you make it, what you think :)  

Its always a hit with my crowd ;)  

Cat

I'm off, yet again...

Happy Memorial Day!!   

Thank you to all the men and women currently fighting overseas... and to those who fought before them.  I may not agree with the reasons of war, but I hope this day keeps you all safe and well....  

Engagement party yesterday was sublime :)  The kiddies got to play in the hot tub.... and that kept them out of our hair!  It was Gracie's first experience in water over 3 feet in depth... and she learned quickly to hold her breath as she went under :)  This should make the transition to the hotel pool in PA a little easier....  

On my way to my uncles, down the street for his annual race day party.  Made my two-temperature 7 layer taco salad to tag along.  I say two temps meaning mild and hot, with jalapenos marking the hot side :)  

So, on my way out the door J~Land friends... hope to talk later...  

Be safe, have fun, and enjoy your families or whatever you may be doing today  :)  

Cat

Ugh and Grrrrr.....

Lord knows.... there is not enough Calgon in the World to take me away today....  

Tomorrow has to be better because it just can't get any worse, right?

Yeah, I'm a dreamer....  

Cat~

Burned out....

Hello? <tap, tap, tap> Is this thing on?  

Not much going on, same old stuff....  

Wednesday at work, my co-workers and I ticked off Mrs. Lead because we didn't join her in taking the tots on a buggy ride.  She took 4 kids and set another buggy out for one of us to take 4 more (we had 15 kids).  Well, none of us felt like it~so we didn't. 

She came in and asked why we didn't get them out of the room~we just stood there and looked at each other, saying 'I don't know'.   Truth be told, she had taken the 4 who whine and cry the most, the rest were playing peacefully after she left. 

It was in the afternoon and parents begin to arrive to pick them up, too.  I think she got over it, but I won't know until next Wednesday (I'm off Monday for Memorial Day~yea!).  

Today was quiet.  Gracie and I played outside in the yard for a long time.  Then we went to Baskin Robbins~yum!  This weekend promises to be a busy one.  My brother's birthday is tomorrow~ Happy Birthday, Big Brother  :)   

Our friend, JC, has his engagement party on Saturday, which is also Mel's birthday.  And my uncle has a party on race day (Indy 500) every year.  It's a good thing I have Monday off, I'll need to recover....  

This time last year, Johnny and I were heading Southward.  First we stopped at his Mom's in Byrdstown, TN.  We stayed there for 2 days before continuing on our way to my brother's old house in White, GA (a little north of Atlanta, in Cartersville).  It was my first and only trip there-- glad I got to see his house.  

I so hoped to make it to Savannah.  It is one of my favorite cities in our country.  It is really beautiful and the epitome of southern life, I believe.  But, no such luck that trip.  I will make it back one day!  

We are heading to PA on June 9th.  Going to Raystown to visit my Mom's family.  Yes, they are my family, too, I just don't know them very well.  I haven't been there since I was 13 years old.  It will be nice to see my cousins and meet all the new ones I have... mostly grown now.  

So, my PA friends~I'll will see what is on the schedule for our 4 days there, and maybe I can meet some of you...  It all depends on time, but it would be great.  

We will be carless tomorrow as Dad is taking it to ready it for the journey east.  Imagine the girl and I will be taking walking trips around home then.  She likes it, I get bored.  The most exciting thing is when some bug flies by her... then she freaks out!  Don't know when she developed this fear of all things insect, but man, does she have it bad!  

Was totally enthralled with the season finale of 'Lost' last night.  If you watched it, wasn't that the shortest 2 hours you've ever spent in your life?  When it ended, I looked at the clock and was screaming 'NOOOO'!  Crap, September is a long way from now....  

So, any Indy car fans out there?  I'm not at all.  I hope Danica Patrick can pull off a win though!  She has a great team with Rahal-Letterman.  She has had pretty decent finishes in other races, so there is yet another hope for future female drivers, and maybe an actual win  :)  

Crap, what a boring entry...  but it suits my life at the moment.... and I have come to enjoy these times immensely.   

Hope you all had a great day, and rest of the week....  

Cat

Blah, blah, blah....

For an update on my recent entry concerning the death row inmate and organ donation, Patrick (of Patrick's Place) has done a recap of the final decision.  It seems that this is not an isolated incident... go read here.  Thanks, Pat, for doing my work for me :)  

Work today was... well.... loud.  The morning went rather fast, really.  I got there, the kids had snack, we changed diapers and loaded them all on buggies for a walk outside.  This has become the highlight of my day, being in fresh air with a breeze and sun.  Maybe I'll actually get a tan other than the driver's arm this year....  

It was Mr Allergy's last day.  A lot of our moms are teachers, so yea! to low numbers for the summer :)  And K~K leaves at the end of the week.... gonna hate to see her go :(      We get a new boy tomorrow, I won't get a chance to be with him until Wednesday.  He's a cute little red head :) 

We get another new one next week, and Ms. Princess moves to the 2's.  I'm bittersweet on her.  She's a really cute girl and sweet, but man, does she cry!  We have several annoying criers right now... funny, most of them are the older ones....  

The afternoon was twice as long as the morning...  Its hard to take them outside after their afternoon snack, because we never know when parents are going to come.  Some, I know are going to be late.  But I'd say 1/2 -3/4, we have no idea.  They show up at will.  Drives me crazy and the kids get all cooped up inside for final hours they are with us.  I'll figure out something....  

So, anyway, there is nothing on TV.  I tried to watch the Nick/Jessica thing.... and I actually made it through to her first painful rendition of God Bless America.  But when she started singi... make that straining it a second time, I had to flee.  God knows I need my hearing.... and my dinner kept down.  

How, in the name of all that is music, can anyone think that chick can sing?  I mean, really.... no one can possibly believe she is good.  And it hurts so much to watch her~she looks like has ticks while she sings the way she jerks her neck around.  And please do not even get me started on how sexy she is trying to be.  Oops.... hold on, dinner is rumbling....  

Best change the subject.   

I need to clarify some things from my entry on Wayne finally telling his parents about Grace.  At first, I didn't want them to know.  My reasons being I didn't want them to feel obligated to her or I in anyway.  His parents were used in the middle of his oldest daughter and her mother.  She put them through hell and the wringer....   

Also, Wayne is embarrassed about his out of wedlock kids.  It is the only thing that makes him a 'typical black man' (those are his words, not mine).  He has accepted Grace's presence, as he has the others, and he is involved as much as the mothers will let him be.  That is usually only when it is convenient for them.... I've been around long enough to know.  

So, I don't get pissed about him not telling them.  They are his parents, so he has to deal with the ramifications, most of which are self-inflicted.  I do get pissed about him leaving me because of my weight.  I still get pissed about it now, 4 years later.  He did not meet me thin, nor have I ever fronted the fact that I may or may not lose it.  We have both been honest about what we want and we respect each other for it, despite the consequences of that.  

Okay, enough from me.... I'll leave you with a study a friend sent me :)  

The Penis Study

In 1997, Harvard funded a study to see why the head of a Penis was bigger than the rest of it.

After one year and $180,000.00, they concluded that the reason the head was larger than the shaft was to give the man more pleasure during sex.

 

After Harvard published the study, Yale decided to do their own. After $250,000.00, and 3 years of research, they concluded that the reason was to give the woman more pleasure during sex.

 

MississippiState, unsatisfied with these findings, conducted their own study. After 2 weeks and a cost of around $75.46, they concluded that it was to keep a man's hand from flying off and hitting him in the forehead.

 

  ;)  

 

Cat

Full moon Saturday night....

As I sit here watching and trying to figure out this All-Star Challenge Nascar race....  So far, Mr. Newman is leading... but there is yet another 20 lap whirlwind around Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC.  I hope he can pull off a win, even if it doesn't count in points.  

Here's a good one for you guys~ Wayne finally told his mother about Grace.  She called me and told me if I wanted to bring Grace by, it was okay.  I know she likes me... she has told me.  And again, he told her the only reason we're not together is because I'm fat.  (of note~he said my weight~I'm being real about it)  

I told her I know how he feels, and he knows how I feel.  I do not want a relationship (or commitment) with weight restrictions...  Of the 16 years we have known each other I have been fat for at least 9 of those.  Most of the time I was thinner, I was with someone else anyway....  So, I told her we broke up right after I decided to have Grace.  

I like her, always have.  I think she and his father did the best they knew how.  I made it clear of my reasons why I was hesitant on her knowing as well.  Part of it was I didn't want them to feel obligated in anyway towards her.  The mother of his oldest child really used their daughter against the family.  If she didn't get money or what she needed, they didn't get to see the child....etc...  

So, I'm happy about it, but I'm also not sure what to do next...  I don't know his parents very well.  Not really well enough to go hang.. you know?  Then there is the question of whether or not they will like Grace's bad side.... hell, I don't even like it  :)  I'm not comfortable being around Wayne so much anymore, (let alone his parents...) because I know what he's thinking and I get pissed all over again.  And..... yes.....I need to learn to let things go...  

Moving on.... Newman just wrecked... blows that theory.  Mark Martin still has a shot.  I'd go for him over Jimmy Johnson~rather tired of him.  Did anyone watch The Muppets in 'The wizard of Oz last night?   

It was the Muppets, so I let Grace stay up to watch it, but she was tired at 9, and I put her to bed.  She still woke up at 5:30.  I asked her why she woke up so early and she told me she had to hurry.  Hurry for what?  For the yard sale!  Mom got up and they went downstairs... I went back to bed.  

Stacy made me get beer tonight.  Peer pressure, I tell ya....  So, cheers, Lovey~this MGD is for you :)  <tink, tink>  Hope you have a fun evening....  

Mark Martin won :)  Gordon (the crybaby) came in 2nd, beating out his teammate, Jimmy Johnson.... oh darn ;)  

Don't know what tomorrow has in store.... but that is the beauty of it.  

Cat

The Saturday Six....

Patrick's Saturday Six, go play.....  

1. What is the last product or service you tried just because you saw a commercial that impressed or amused you about the product?  Did you like the product or service after you tried it?  Nads~hair removal.  It is okay as far as those products go, but I haven't bought more....

2. How old is the oldest photograph in your home?  The oldest is 1852 of one set of paternal great grandparents.  Are you in it?  Obviously not...

3. What is the most supernatural event you have experienced?  Some people know this already... but I get flashes of events occurring.  Not from anything or anyone specific, it just happens know and then.  And it could be past, present, or future happenings.  I also feel my great grandma and my grams spirits here sometimes.  (they both passed away in our house)  Did you feel there was a specific reason that it happened to you?  I feel it happens because I'm receptive to the idea....

4. Do you usually consider the glass half-empty or half-full? I try to see it as half-full, but it really depends.....

5. What part or parts of your body do you shave regularly? Well, legs and armpits.... and sometimes another place (lmao~what made him ask this, I wonder~hmmm)

6. What day is typically your busiest of the week?   Monday~yuck!What day are you usually the happiest?   Friday, especially pay day Fridays :)  What day are you usually the saddest?  Never a particular day....

So far, so good....

Ok... I have tried to put entries in for 2 days and each time, I lose them.  So, hopefully this one will make it :)  

About the previous entry~the death row inmate has not yet had the tests to see if he is a match for his sister (the news report was wrong).  This is why the man is asking for the delay, so the tests can be run.  I still don't see why that is taking this long, but I'll keep you posted on this.  

Wednesday at work was busy and loud.  Who knew 14 toddlers could make more noise than if standing on the runway at Indianapolis International Airport?!  I've had the joy of listening to jets take off and land, and they are louder than a nascar race :)  But I'd put my money on tots any time after that day!  I had a headache by 10:30 am.  Thinking I need to bring my earplugs from now on.  

Yesterday was the girl's carnival at school.  It was a dark stormy day and the event was held indoors.  She had a great time.  I, on the other hand, damn near had an anxiety attack right there in the middle of the place.  It was so noisy (seems to a recurrent theme here) and so many parents and kids, and extended families~I had to take Grace to the bathroom a couple of times so I could regroup.  

I don't know what it is with me anymore.  I used to adore crowds and try to be in the spotlight.  But the older I get, crowds get me all paranoid, and all the voices just mangle themselves into the sound of a freight train running straight through my mind.  Yesterday, I broke out in a sweat- but I was shaking and freezing.  Then the nausea hit, and back to the bathroom we went.   Once inside, and its silent~it all goes away... POOF~GONE~ just like that. 

So, I know its all in my head, but what the hell started all this in the first place?!  I should say it only happens when I'm inside.  Had this thing been held outside, I'd have been fine.   Oh well, I'll deal with it.  We did make it the whole time, so she didn't miss out.  I just feel bad that it happens.  Next time I'll be sure and take a valium before we go.  Oh.. and don't worry, they're low dose(2 mg) and I only take one if I'm going out.  Just wish my mind would let things go sometimes....  

Today is payday :)  So we went to get my check and Gracie wanted Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  Fine with me... I've had it with fast food joints anymore.  I'm kid-mealed out, hopefully she is too ;)  Even though we only go out once a week... it gets old fast.  Thankfully, its time to start cranking up the grill :)  

Once she wakes up from her nap, we have to return her videos and I'm sure she'll want more.  The video store I go to has all their kids movies for free, so I don't mind taking her on Fridays for her movie picks of the week.   

I must say I am so disappointed about the way 'Revelations' ended!  Funny thing is, I had a feeling they would rush the ending.  And they did.  Then they left us hanging, with both the Messiah and the anti-Christ here on Earth~how low was that?!  Dirty, rotten.....  The rest of it was so good, and then they half ass wrap up all the stories.  Reminds me of the Stephen King movies.....  

I can't wait for 'Lost' to start again though!  I am truly impressed by this show.  I never thought it would make it, let alone be any good.... 

Speaking of fall programming, 'Joan of Arcadia' fans will be sad to know it has been canceled.  And one of my favorites, "The West Wing' will move to Sunday Nights.  I don't know the time slot, but wanna bet it goes up against 'Desperate Housewives'?  Again... dirty, rotten....  

My theory is when a show starts getting moved around, it doesn't make it much longer.  The same theory applies to characters marrying, or having children.  Once that happens, the show is gone by the following season.   Yeah, I watch way too much TV....   

I'm halfway through the Cat House story... so don't give up hope just yet ;)  

Cat

Calling common sense... here, common sense...

I just heard a story on the news of a death row inmate scheduled to die next week, who wants to prolong that time so that he can donate his liver to his sister, in desperate need of a new one.  A parole board needs to decide whether to postpone his death or not.  

Now, I'm not sure which I find more disgusting here~the fact that there is a question as to if this may not  happen or the fact that they need a parole board to make the decision.  Don't you think it should be a given?  The man is going to die, he won't be needing it anymore.   

And what's the difference between letting him die after the surgery or in jail?  All they have to do is not stop the bleeding... he'll already be under anesthesia, not like he'll suffer.  

This man killed an elderly woman here several years ago, so his fate is sealed.  But why should his sister miss out on the rest of her life?  Her brother is a perfect match, too.  

This is one case, I'm hoping the parole board consists of some common sense....  

Kitty~

Titillating Tuesday...

Grace's last day of school went well.  Her 'report card' was pretty good!  Ok, I'll be honest~it was a lot better than I expected.  Not that I expect her to do poorly at all.... its just I know how she is at home :)  Luckily, she knows how to act 'like she's been somewhere', to quote Jamie Foxx.  

Preschoolers get progress reports, really, where M = meets requirements all the time, P = partial time, N = not at all.  There were different criteria from Motor Skills to Comprehension, etc...  Five pages worth of criteria to be exact.  You ready for this? 

Gracie received 34 M's, 6 P's, and 0 N's!!  And she got 4 M+'s~for imagination (I told ya'll~ the girl can make up some stories now!), for consideration of others' feelings (Go, Baby!), for reading comprehension (she's great at memorizing stories she hears), and for dealing with problems with others (Mommy's doing a happy dance).  

Now, on the other hand... the P's are for controlling her feelings (she just breaks into outbursts if something doesn't go just right~from her Daddy ;)   She also had P's for following vocal directions (but she got an M for understanding them).  We'll work on these over the summer.   

But I am so proud of her (and I told her over and over, as did Nana and Poppy).  I know she is very sensitive to the feelings of others.  She takes care of all the crying kids at the parks we go to.  If they get hurt, she sits there with them, patting them on the shoulder and saying 'It'll be alright, your Mommy will make you feel better.'   She's a real sweetie.  

Yeah, she's part not-sweetie, but it's good to know she only acts that way at home :)  I took her class Easter Party pictures in today to give to the parents.  She got so mad at me for taking other kids' pictures!  She cried and yelled 'You're not their Momma, you don't take pictures of them.' 

I tried to explain that I took pictures of everyone and I wanted to share so their moms can see them, too.... she wasn't having that.  Still mad about it when she to bed, silly girl.  

Work tomorrow.  The h-f-s-c-g will be in the room again, which is good, I like her.  At least she does work and not just sit there like some subs we've had.  But she has worked there before and will be here the rest of the year.  Apparently, Asst #2 is now taking Wednesdays off.  The rules are pretty lax for some employees it seems.  Oh well, I'm biding my time :)  

Since nobody at all commented on my last song.... I've changed it.  Same artist, though.  Was rummaging through my music library, and I had too many choices.  Listened to too many of them.  So, I stuck with the same path.... this time around :)  

Have a good night and a pleasant tomorrow....  

Cat

Told you I'm a sinner...

Patrick did this, so I gave it a shot.....

How Sinful Are You?
Your Deadly Sins

Sloth: 60%

Gluttony: 40%

Pride: 40%

Wrath: 40%

Envy: 20%

Greed: 20%

Lust: 20%

Chance You'll Go to Hell: 34%

You will die while sleeping - and no one will notice.

 

Well, sure hope this doesn't come true!  It sounds a lot less fun than Patrick has when he goes~check him out....  

Cat

 

Mun-day-n

Have I mentioned how much you guys are some writing fools?!  It is 11:00 pm and I have now emptied my alerts for the day~shewww.  

Nah, I've actually had a nice time reading at your places tonight...    

So, I go into work today, and find 5 of us in our room with only 11 kids.... Mrs. Lead took off to run some errands :)  Seems both Assts 1 and 2, were leaving early....  that left yours truly and one of the home-for-summer-college-girls to close shop.   

#1 left at 11:00.  #2 left at 2:00.  #4 came in at 2:30, which meant 4 of us, still, with 11 kids.  Staff overage never happens in our room.  Period.  So, I kept asking h-f-s-c-g if she was being moved to another room and she kept saying no.   By 4:30, we were down to 8 tots.  That only requires 2 caregivers, so Mrs. Lead and #4 took off. 

Not 15 minutes after they left, here comes Mrs. Office Manager looking to move h-f-s-c-g to another room... Ooops....  Funny thing, I kept saying (to myself) I know she's going to move as I never have another person with me until closing time.  

Anyway... Grace's last official day of school is tomorrow.  She has a carnival there on Thursday from 10-11 am.  So, that should be a good time.  I kind of feel like I should try to get some numbers of friends of hers for summer play dates... but, honestly, I like the kids better than their parents.  Would it be rude to call and ask if only their child can come out to play?  

Oh, speaking of her class, here is her class photo:     

Is it me, or does she look bigger than her female (and some male)classmates?  Her feet are the only ones on the floor!  I was always taller, and later heavier, than all mine.  I don't care on the taller part, but I'm making sure she doesn't deal with the heavier part ;)   

Not that she's deprived of sweets... but she knows the 'protein before sugar' routine very well by now.  And her favorite foods are still blueberries, broccoli, and asparagus :)  How many 3-year-olds do you know who ask for those to eat while shopping in the grocery?   

Well, not too much more to report here...  think I'm heading bedward :)  

Cat

Saturday Night Live....

For your Saturday Night Humor, the differences in men and women's brains.....    

 

The Male Brain  

Please feel free to take notes.  

Cat

Some dog humor from Ms. Kitty :)

"How Many Dogs Does It Take to Change A Light Bulb?"

Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

 

Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp!

 

 

Rottweiler: Make me.

 

Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

 

Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!

 

 

German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I've led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven't missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

 

Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.

 

Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb!

 

Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in  the dark.

 

 

Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb.

 

Pointer: I see it, there it is, there it is, right there.....

 

Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?

 

Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle...

 

Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

 

"Dogs do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, the real question is: How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?"  

:)  

Cat

PS~sorry, the pictures weren't working the first time :)

My birth day....

You guys know I love pointless trivia/quizzy type things.  Saw this one somewhere (my apologies to who had it, I forgot)......  

Birthday Calculator tells things that happened on the day you were born......  

You entered: 10/6/1968

You were born on a Sunday
under the astrological sign Libra.
Your Life path number is 4.

The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2440135.5.
The golden number for 1968 is 12.
The epact number for 1968 is 0.
The year 1968 was a leap year.

As of 5/12/2005 12:21:42 AM CDT
You are 36 years old.
You are 439 months old.
You are 1,909 weeks old.
You are 13,367 days old.
You are 320,808 hours old.
You are 19,248,501 minutes old.
You are 1,154,910,102 seconds old.

There are 147 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 37 candles on it.

Those 37 candles produce 37 BTU's,
or 9,324 calories of heat (that's only 9.3240 food calories!) .
You can boil 4.23 US ounces of water with that many candles.  

There are 227 days till Christmas 2005!

The moon's phase on the day you were
born was full.

Sunday, October 6, 1968

Moon's age (days): 14
Distance (Earth radii): 61.78
Percent Illumination 99.69%
Ecliptic latitude (degrees): -0.08
Ecliptic longitude (degrees): 12.65

Check yours out here.

Cat

Some light humor.....

A guy walks into the local welfare office for his monthly check. He marches straight up to the counter and says, "Hi. You  know, I just HATE coming in here drawing welfare month after month. I'd really much rather have a job".  

The social worker behind the counter says, "Your timing is excellent. We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur-bodyguard for his nymphomaniac daughter.  

You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, but he'll supply all of your clothes. Because of the long hours, meals will be  provided. You'll be expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips. You'll have a two-bedroom apartment above the garage. The starting    salary is $200,000 a year."  

The guy says, "You're bullshitting me!"  The social worker says, "Yeah, well, you started it."  

 

During a good manners and etiquette class, the teacher says to her students:

"If you were courting a well educated young girl from a prominent
family and during a dinner for two you needed to go to the toilet, what would you say to her? "

Mike replies:   Wait a minute, I'm going for a piss.

The teacher says:   That would be very rude and improper on your part.

Charlie replied:   I'm sorry I need to go to the toilet, I'll be back in a
minute.

The teacher says:   That's much better but to mention the word "toilet" during a meal, is unpleasant.

And Johnny says:  "My dear, please excuse me for a moment. I have to go shake hands with a personal friend, whom, I hope, to be able to introduce to you after dinner. "

The teacher passed out.  

 

:)

Cat 

Pearly Shells and Crocodiles.....

Grace was much better for Dad today.  Wheww...  He even took her to the zoo because she had a good dance class :)    It was in the high 80's and humid today... have I mentioned I hate humidity? 

Of course in the Midwest, that only sets things up for terrific storms, which is what we have now.   Tomorrow's temps are supposed to be about 10 degrees less, so that's good.  I do expect hot weather but not in early May in Indiana!  It doesn't happen like that unless there is snow at the end of the month.  

 AOL keeps getting disconnected from the storms~damn dial-up....  So I hope I get this in before I lose it altogether :)  

Work was a little calmer today.  All our kids have some type of illness now.  If they aren't hacking up lungs, like me, they have pink eye, or asthma flaring up.  We have 6 asthmatics out of 14 kids!  Isn't that high?  Is asthma really that bad now?   

No one in my family has it, so I hope Grace is clear on the genetic end of it (her Dad's family doesn't either).  If it is environmental, shouldn't we be wondering why so many and where its from?  It's rather a freaky thing to have so many in one room under 2 years old.  

Watched 'Lost' and now 'Revelations'.... makes my night complete :)  I am so fascinated by both of these shows, as you guys know by now  ;) 

Thanks to Nae, I know Anthony got the AI Boot tonight.... can't say I'm too upset.  Personally, I think he's more for Broadway, not for touring as a singer :)  

Guess what we got today?!  The title of this entry is a clue.....  

Yep, we got dance pictures!!  Now tell me, isn't this the cutest crocodile you have ever seen in your life?  Yeah, I am biased, but it is the truth :)     

And how about the Hawaiian girls for Pearly Shells.... one of the Madison's was missing, but you get the gist of it.  This costume is the ballet portion and the crocs are their tap routine for main recital of Peter Pan :)  

Ok, you've all awwwww'd enough and I'm about to get booted for the umpteenth time, so I'm outtie........  

Have a great day tomorrow  :)  

Cat

I am here... here am I...

Hello people  :)  

Yes, I am still alive and kicking... just can't seem to shake this thing in my lungs and thinking I'll end it at the doc's office.  But since I hate going, and can't stand medicine... taking it, rather, I'm trying everything I can to avoid that trip.  This includes trying not to smoke.   

Now, fellow smokers know that sitting in front of a computer is as bad as drinking and smoking.  It can get out of hand if you're not careful.  So, I have been here to read the current events of your lives... but when my email is empty (and ya'll know I love that ;) I go to my room and clean out drawers full of various size clothes that I never wear.  Gotta do it when the mood strikes :)  

See, when Mo and I split, I took all my belongings that filled a six room house and moved it all into one room.  Well, the kitchen stuff isn't up here... but you get the idea.  It's not that I have a hard time parting with things, other than shoes that is.  What I have is important or sentimental for me.  Mostly I have clothes, though.   

Drawers, closets, baskets, and more drawers and baskets full of clothes.  Clothes that my mother keeps finding stored in another closet or in the magical well of lost clothing only she knows the location of.   And yeah, I just ended a sentence with a preposition~whatcha want to do about that?   

Sorry, I'll smack that heifer down for you  :)  

As I was saying~I have a crap load of clothes and never... really never... wear them.  They just take up space, so Mom suggested a consignment shop.  I don't care where they go.  These are not new or in fashion clothes, other than my jeans collection~which, I might add, may make me a fortune in Japan ;)   But if she wants to go that route, I amuse her.  I want them simply gone. 

That's the long version of where I've been.  Now on to daily stuff...  

The girl has a rash.  Dad and I think its poison ivy.  Mom says (insists) there is none that she has played in or near.  Mom is highly likely to get in contact with the plant by osmosis roughly all summer long. 

Dad, Charlie and I don't get it easily.  Dad only having it once in his life as a child, despite camping in rough woods, and burning the plants in the backyard.  

I've covered her in calamine, and kept her home from school today.  She was a real pain the butt today, too.  Oh yeah she was!  She spit at my Dad, bit me (not hard but still...), and ran outside alone (which is forbidden to her due to the street and the cats getting outside).   

Then while I was at the store, she busted out the screen in her playroom window to let the cat out.  Luckily, she knocked it out by its frame and it is now replaced.  I don't know what got into her today.  I know she was watching Dad put the storm windows up and letting the screens down.  Pretty sure that was why she was interested in them.  Just hope she doesn't try that again.  

All of our upstairs windows we open from the top, so she has no access to those, happily!  And I've made sure there is nothing by the window she can climb on to get to them.  She's into building bridges right now, so I'll be sure and check for building materials.   :)  You should see some of her masterpieces.....  

Work on Monday sucked.  Mr Allergy cried the entire day and his mom told us he wasn't feeling good when she brought him.  Won't say more there.  It was 80F and humid.  Tomorrow is saying 87.  So it begins....  

I really rant when its hot.  I keep thinking only 7 1/2 months until Christmas and snow  ; )  

Hope you all had a good day and glad you missed me  :)  

Cat

Ummm.....

Feel obligated to write... not much to say.  

I feel better.  The thing still hanging in my sinuses, but I did manage to sleep 12 hours.. until 11:30 this morning  :)   Not uninterrupted mind you, I awoke three times.   

Mom had the girl, so I went back to sleep   :)  I consider it my early Mother's Day present.  Yeah, I'm that easy to please.. just let me sleep and I'm a happy person....  

(skip this Nae ;)  Newman almost won the Nascar race tonight.  He should've pitted, got tires, and risked his track position for the single file restart.  Congrats to any Biffle fans reading this.  Ryan will win some this season, I know!  

It was a balmy 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, until 5:00 when it rained cats and dogs, only ceasing recently.  Supposed to be sunny again tomorrow... we'll see.  

My brother is taking Mom, Gracie, and I out for brunch tomorrow for our Mom's Day present.  He is really a sweetheart.  Have I mentioned how happy I am that he is back in Indy?!  Well, I am ecstatic  :) 

Don't get me wrong, it was nice when he lived in Georgia~gave me a free vacation place ;)  But I love having him close~he's my buddy....  

So, that's about it. 

Hope all the moms, step-moms, moms-to-be, step-moms-to-be, and Mr. moms have a super day tomorrow.   

Cat

It's Friday for me now :)

So the goopy chest thing is now a stuffy nose thing, complete with ear pops each and every swallow~yea!  At least it's tolerable while standing.  Going horizontal, however, is a whole other ball game.  

Last night, I think I woke up every hour.  If not to change sides to give each nostril fair share of breathing time, then it was to yell at Kitty to stop clawing at the bottom of my Mom's closed door.  What is with cats and closed doors anyway?  Or is it just my neurotic ones?   

I took NyQuil and a sinus med an hour before I went to bed, too....  Half hour after I laid down, I was up swigging cough suppressant  :)  All this will be repeated tonight....  soon.  

Went to work and spent the first hour and a half outside because it was so nice.  First we took all 12 kids out in the buggies (I'll get pics of these) for a walk around the neighborhood.  There is hardly any traffic unless the elementary or high schools are letting out, so we have a nice time.  

Then we go inside, unload them, and turn them loose on the playground.  They love that :)  and we do, too!  The only fighting is when it is time to go back in.  Then its chaos with 2 of them doing the whole going limp and refusing to stand routine.  This calls for a one under each arm approach, for their safety of course :)   

Because it was teacher appreciation week, we received a lot of gifts!  Cool  :)  First, we all got a different smelly candle (I chose sugar cookie~yum). 

When I went in today, there was a half sheet cake just for our room! (I don't need cake, but hey... don't expect me to turn it down, either).  

Tonight, when my 'Ziggy~girl' got picked up, her mom brought us all these very nice date books  :)  It was so thoughtful and unexpected (to me)~ it is a great feeling to be recognized for what we do! 

Even though it won't make a difference in how I treat their children, we learn who appreciates us the most by the small gestures like these.  

I must get to work on some thank you cards including pictures of their children at play.  One mom gave me a great idea for others who take their kids to daycare~send disposable cameras now and then to capture their child's day  :)   

The parents at G's preschool love it when I bring in pictures of their kids (complete with frame {Adobe'd}, name, year, and event it was taken ;)  I haven't given any to my daycare kid's parents, but I will do that tonight or tomorrow... or start on them as I have a lot :)  

Tomorrow is payday~'nuff said there  :)   I also have laundry, a trip to the grocery, some household stuff, and some errands.  It promises to be a full day.  Hope I make it out of the house earlier than 1pm  :)    

This weekend is supposed to be summer-like, just in time for Mother's Day.  I imagine we'll break out the grill that night or maybe Saturday night, since the Nascar race is on then. 

What are you guys going to do?  

Have a good night and a pleasant tomorrow....  

Cat

I want a new drug....

The leading pharmaceutical companies are turning their focus to women's health and issues we face which cause us to need certain medications.  These new wonder drugs are in testing and clinical trials now. 

Below is a list of said drugs, which if trials go well, should be available to consumers sometime next spring.   

Maybe one can help you :   New Drugs For Women

D A M M I T O L
Take 2 and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to 8 full
hours.

ST. M O M M A'S  W O R T
Plant extract that treats mom's depression by rendering preschoolers
unconscious for up to two days.

E M P T Y N E S T R O G E N
Suppository that eliminates melancholy and loneliness by reminding you of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait till they moved out.

P E P T O B I M B O
Liquid silicone drink for single women. Two full cups swallowed !
before an evening out increases breast size, decreases intelligence, and prevents conception.  (I want this one!  I want this one, now!!)

D U M B E R O L
When taken with Peptobimbo, can cause dangerously low IQ, resulting in enjoyment of country music and pickup trucks.  (I like country music and trucks :)

F L I P I T O R
Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling road rage and the urge to flip off other drivers.

B U Y A G R A
Injectable stimulant taken prior to shopping increases potency,
duration, and credit limit of spending spree.

J A C K A S S P I R I N
Relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your birthday, anniversary, phone number, or to lift the toilet seat. (LMAO!)

A N T I-T A L K S I D E N T
A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used on anyone too eager to share their life stories with total strangers in elevators. (I would buy stock in this ;)

N A G A M E N T
When administered to a boyfriend or husband, provides the same
irritation level as nagging him.     

Just having some fun  :)  

Cat~

Quiz and today....

Saw this quiz ~What does your birth date mean?~at Patrick's Place.....       Your Birth date: October 6   A birthday on the 6th of the month adds a tone of responsibility, helpfulness, and understanding to your natural inclinations.
  Those born on the sixth are more apt to be open and honest with everyone, and more caring about family and friends, too.
This is a number associated with responsibility and caring - this birthday lends a degree of concern for others.   What does your birth date mean?  Go see.     Down to business.....   Today at work was okay.  Lord, we have a lot of criers, now, though.  Not just crying, I can handle that.... but that annoying type of cry~you guys know which type I mean.... the type that comes with a child that gets his own way (at home) all the time and does not stop until that happens.   Sure it would be easier to give in to the whiny crying noise just to shut it off, but what fun would that be?  Okay, okay, I'll try to refrain from laughing myself off my chair, hope you guys do too  :)  You know I am not the giving in type.  Especially when it means doing so to a child who learns this pattern will indulge him his wants.  So not going to happen on my watch.   I have an unusual talent for blocking out the type of noise associated with this behavior.  In this job, it is a gift no doubt.  We have one girl (though not an only child, spoiled rotten) who incessantly wails when she isn't being catered to appropriately.  She can cry inconsolably for hours and I am not kidding.  As soon as her desires are met (I do mean instantaneously here), she stops and smiles.   Needless to say, she and I have it out every time we meet.  I am happy with this, it is what I get paid to do.  She, however, has learned she will not win with me, so she avoids me at all costs.  Even running away from me to another teacher, of course crying all the way.  The other teachers cannot stand to hear this girl's cry for long, and give in.  It is a vicious cycle.  It is a long time before she turns 2 ;)   I was asked to work tomorrow from 3-6pm, it will help make up some of the hours I lost from Monday~providing Mom's follow-follow-up doc visit finds her clot free  :)  Let's hope so, I don't want to have to stand work up after saying I could be there.   The girl has preschool tomorrow, too.  That's why I can't go in until 3, have to pick her up and bring her home first.  Mom and Dad took her to dance class today and said there were 3 or 4 girls absent, assuming for illnesses.  She has 2 more classes and 2 more practices until the recital.     I've decided whatever happens on stage~happens.  Why should I waste my time feeling embarrassed about anything she does?  If she clowns on stage-so be it.  As long as she not endangering anyone, I'll let her have her moment.  I'm going to sit back and enjoy watching my baby in the spotlight  :)   'Lost' was awesome tonight, as usual~keep wondering how they're going to end the series, someday.... or better yet, how long can they keep the show surviving on an unknown island without running out of ideas.  Guess that's why I am not a creative writer for a TV series  :)  They do a terrific job....   'Revelations' is absolutely one series that should go to DVD immediately.  For those who watched~did you not sit there glued to the tele for each second it aired?  On commercials, you sat there in deep thought of what you just witnessed.  And isn't it extremely realistic?!  Next week promises the best yet.... you know I'll keep talking about it so you don't forget.   Think that's all from me, but one never knows....   Cat 

Quiz and today....

Saw this quiz ~What does your birth date mean?~at Patrick's Place.....      

Your Birth date: October 6  

A birthday on the 6th of the month adds a tone of responsibility, helpfulness, and understanding to your natural inclinations.  

Those born on the sixth are more apt to be open and honest with everyone, and more caring about family and friends, too.

This is a number associated with responsibility and caring - this birthday lends a degree of concern for others.  

What does your birth date mean?  Go see.    

 

Down to business.....  

Today at work was okay.  Lord, we have a lot of criers, now, though.  Not just crying, I can handle that.... but that annoying type of cry~you guys know which type I mean.... the type that comes with a child that gets his own way (at home) all the time and does not stop until that happens.  

Sure it would be easier to give in to the whiny crying noise just to shut it off, but what fun would that be?  Okay, okay, I'll try to refrain from laughing myself off my chair, hope you guys do too  :)  You know I am not the giving in type. 

Especially when it means doing so to a child who learns this pattern will indulge him his wants.  So not going to happen on my watch.   I have an unusual talent for blocking out the type of noise associated with this behavior.  In this job, it is a gift no doubt. 

We have one girl (though not an only child, spoiled rotten) who incessantly wails when she isn't being catered to appropriately.  She can cry inconsolably for hours and I am not kidding. 

As soon as her desires are met (I do mean instantaneously here), she stops and smiles.   Needless to say, she and I have it out every time we meet.  I am happy with this, it is what I get paid to do.  She, however, has learned she will not win with me, so she avoids me at all costs. 

Even running away from me to another teacher, of course crying all the way.  The other teachers cannot stand to hear this girl's cry for long, and give in.  It is a vicious cycle.  It is a long time before she turns 2 ;)  

I was asked to work tomorrow from 3-6pm, it will help make up some of the hours I lost from Monday~providing Mom's follow-follow-up doc visit finds her clot free  :)  Let's hope so, I don't want to have to stand work up after saying I could be there.  

The girl has preschool tomorrow, too.  That's why I can't go in until 3, have to pick her up and bring her home first.  Mom and Dad took her to dance class today and said there were 3 or 4 girls absent, assuming for illnesses.  She has 2 more classes and 2 more practices until the recital.    

I've decided whatever happens on stage~happens.  Why should I waste my time feeling embarrassed about anything she does right now?  If she clowns on stage-so be it.  As long as she not endangering anyone, I'll let her have her moment.  I'm going to sit back and enjoy watching my baby in the spotlight  :)  

'Lost' was awesome tonight, as usual~keep wondering how they're going to end the series, someday.... or better yet, how long can they keep the show surviving on an unknown island without running out of ideas.  Guess that's why I am not a creative writer for a TV series  :)  They do a terrific job....  

'Revelations' is absolutely one series that should go to DVD immediately.  For those who watched~did you not sit there glued to the tele for each second it aired?  On commercials, you sat there in deep thought of what you just witnessed.  And isn't it extremely realistic?!  Next week promises the best yet.... you know I'll keep talking about it so you don't forget.  ;)

Think that's all from me, but one never knows....  

Cat 

Is it Friday, yet?

Grace had school today.  It went okay.  It is 'blue' week, so she made something blue to hang on the wall.... but she brought it back home, stating she wanted it.  I told her we'll make another one, so she can take that one back to school on Thursday.  We'll see if it works  :)  

I've been running on 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night since last Friday, and it has caught up with me.  My resistance must be down because I've caught that coughing thing the daycare kids have been passing to each other. 

It would deter me from smoking, except my stress level is in the red and doesn't show any sign of heading into the black....   My nerves are shot, having dealt with the girl 24/7. 

I know I chose to be a single parent, but I also chose to stay here for some help.  And this past week without it, has truly made me see how good my decision was!  I've come to the conclusion that I'd have never kept my sanity had I been doing this all alone for the last 3 years.  Kudos to those who do it everyday!!  

If you don't know, I have a temper~though I can control myself.. I've found this week to be a very good test and one I'd fail if I was raising her by myself.  I know I'd have lost it at some point if I had no one to take over for a few....  

Needless to say, my mother will be receiving a fab gift for her day this Sunday  :)  She is one very special lady!  Thanks, Mom, for being such a great help and inspiration...  

I feel like crap.  I can feel the goop building up when I breathe.  I'm drinking cough suppressant/expectorant straight from the bottle.  NyQuil is before bedtime... maybe I'll get some sleep.  Doubt it.  

I'll be drinking from the bottle tomorrow at work, too.  It's starting to hurt when I cough, so I'd rather not until I get home and can hack my lungs up in private...  

Okay, now that I've disgusted you all, Revelations is on Bravo tonight at 11:00 (that is Indiana time, so check your listings if you're awake and want to catch it).  If not tonight, then tomorrow, NBC, 9pm (again, check your times).  

Thanks for the comments on my baby in the previous entry.  She's a special girl, just like her Nana  ;)   I would include myself, but I'm not feeling so special this week.  But it is only Tuesday, so I'm being optimistic on the rest of the week.  

Have a quart of OJ here next to me and a bag of 'Cold-Eeze'  to suck on in between times.  Zinc is a wonderful element :)  And these things work on shortening durations of colds and such, hope it works on nasty lung germs.....  

So, that wraps up my uneventful day.  This song playing here was my life theme song when I was a teenager, being all wild and out there....  I love the music and the words fit me to a 'T', then.  My, how time does change us....  

Hope you all had a good one  :)  

Cat