Whiny Wednesday....

I'm tired... need sleep!  Here's the short version of my day:  

Still hot.  Bad storms.  Hail, but no tornados~that's a good thing.   

Worked sucked.  We have such whiners on Wednesdays.  We got rid of a terrible biter, only to gain a new one :(     

12 kids, and much to my surprise~4 teachers!  Mrs Lead was in a mood.  #2 kept being moved to different places, #3 was being herself {me being nice there}. 

Last 4 hours took longer than the whole day... hate when that happens.  

On the bright side~a cold front is due in tomorrow!  Halle-f-in-lujah!  80 degree highs, low humidity~here I come!  

And.. payday Friday!   

Off to watch the Bill Cosby deal on Nightline~the man is so right!  Why can't we just put it all out there?  And outlaw political correctness!  

Cat

We interrupt this program for this important service announcement..

I'm sure by now, you have all heard something about this.  For those who do not know, here is the short version :)

What is The ONE Campaign?
ONE is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans – ONE by ONE – to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. The ONE Campaign is engaging Americans through a diverse coalition of faith-based and anti-poverty organizers to show the steps people can take, ONE by ONE, to fight global AIDS and poverty.

Why is The ONE Campaign needed?
Right now, the US government is making decisions about how much money to spend on humanitarian assistance next year and the UK is poised to lead the world’s wealthiest nations at the G8 summit next July. By joining the ONE campaign, we will show our leaders that we want to do more to respond to the emergency of AIDS and extreme poverty.

What is the goal of The ONE Campaign?
The ONE Campaign seeks to give Americans a voice, to ring church bells and cell phones, on campuses and in coffee shops, for an historic pact to fight the global AIDS emergency and end extreme poverty. We believe that allocating an additional ONE percent of the U.S. budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food, would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation of the poorest countries.

Who founded The ONE Campaign?
The ONE Campaign was founded by Bread for the World, CARE, DATA, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Plan USA, Save the Children US, World Concern, and World Vision, and works closely with the National Basketball Association, Rock the Vote, and the Millennium Campaign.

The ONE Campaign is supported by Bill and Melinda Gates and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

How does ONE link to international agreements to fight poverty?
ONE links directly to the international effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. 1% more of the US federal budget would help save millions of lives and be a major commitment towards achieving the internationally agreed upon United Nations Millennium Development Goals. If it is delivered, we would achieve 0.35% of national wealth going to Official Development Assistance - half way to the international commitment to achieve 0.7%. Longer term, so long as we can prove the money is working, the goal is for the US to continue to increase effective assistance until it meets the international commitment to give 0.7% of the national wealth. This is an appropriate goal for ten years time, or 2015, the deadline for achieving the Millennium Goals.

Who has signed The ONE Campaign declaration?
ONE participants include celebrities such as Bono, lead singer of U2 and DATA co-founder; Dikembe Mutombo, NBA All-Star and advocate for Africa; Michael W. Smith Grammy Award winning Musician; Agnes Nyamayarwo, Ugandan Nurse and Global AIDS activist, and representatives of national advocacy organisations such as Bread for the World, World Vision, GLobal Health Council, The Better Safer World Coalition, DATA and many others.

You can do your part by sending President Bush a message to help.  The United States spends less than 1% on aid to foreign countries and Africa is in dire straits. 

Please sign the petition and pass the link on.  Without 'The Mother Country' ~where would we be? 

Click the link!  The One Campaign~add your voice.

Cat

Monday, meetings and still melting ....

Ahhh.... for the first time in 5 days, the night time low is below 80.  It is 79 currently  :)  Maybe, just maybe, I can sleep tonight without having to adjust fans all night long.   

Well, Grace met her other grandparents Sunday, and it really went great!  She was very well behaved, even singing and doing her 'Never smile at a crocodile' routine!  Is that cute or what?  Needless to say, they were charmed by my little 'angel'.  And I doubted her ;)  

His Dad got down on the floor and looked at the photo album she brought of herself.  He played with her toys... he really likes kids and is good with them.  Makes me wonder why Wayne didn't have a good relationship with him....

Wayne and I both told her how proud we were of her and that she was a very good girl. She took to them without hesitation and his Mom was surprised that she was not bashful.... lol.... not my kid ;)   Though the first sentence out of her mouth to me was "why did you keep her away for so long?" 

I told her it was his obligation to tell them, not mine.  And that I did not want them to think I was after anything, like money and gifts (his oldest daughter's mother left them very bitter).  

We arrived there at 9:30 am and did not leave until 1:30.  I chatted with his Mom, who is recovering from a 2nd knee replacement on the same knee, the whole time.  Grace, Wayne and his Dad went down to the basement where all the toys are.  They still have toys his oldest played with and she is 22 :)  

They have them because her mother would take the kids' gifts they received back to the store for the money.  She is no mother, in reality.  Her oldest son left home at 16 because she stole his money and blamed it on his sisters.   

To catch her, he marked the bills with a pen and when he confronted her, she of course denied it.  He then takes the money from her purse and tells her that he made those marks and it was his.  So she says one of his sisters took it and put it in her purse!  I'm telling you, she's a real winner....  

So, my fear is that the oldest, Kimberly, may be jealous of Grace in some way... or a lot of ways.  First, she is the only grandchild they had met.  Second, she was the only bi-racial child he had.  Third, because Kim's mom is such a ......, Wayne was not allowed to be at his parent's house when Kim was over, so she never got to know him.  I hope she's not caught too off guard....  

I told his Mom this, and she said she didn't think it would be a problem for her, but that she may want to meet her.  Ok, I am ready for his parents... but not his other kids, her sisters..... I'm not really ready to discuss things with his kids.  Kim has made some bad choices, but I get she is young.... I figure if she wants to, I can take Grace back to his parents.  

Kim used to spend the weekends with them and I am hoping they do not want Gracie to do the same thing.  I can't do that yet.  I'm not saying anything about them, I just don't trust anyone around Grace.  Am I terrible?  She can go and play, but not without me being there.  They will not be babysitters, just grandparents.  God, that sounds harsh....  

My parents are also a bit jealous.  My father making sure I am aware that we do not need anything from them.  Though he realizes that they are her family as well, he does not acknowledge it.  I'm sure that is due to the way Wayne acted about it all.    And part is that Wayne's parents did little for him as far as education goes. 

They were not hands on parents.  So, in essence, my father sees little benefit- other than birthdays and holidays- of Grace being with them.  I don't know.  They are her family and she should at least know them.  They are in their mid to late 70's, so she has little time to do that... realisticly speaking.  

Anyway...  

Work today was ok.  It was 91, so our kids got to have water play outside!  I got more wet than all but 1 kid and she was having herself a little ball :)  The rest could have really cared less and some cried their heads off.

We had 8 kids... 8 pleasant kids, a nice and easy day :)  I even got out of work at 5:45 today!  Woo-hoo!  That never happens...  <note to self: play lottery this week>   

Mrs Lead is off on Mondays, and Asst #2 took the offer to leave early like a hooker takes a $100.  But she has to stay on Wednesday because she took last monday off.  Or so she says....  We only have 11 kids scheduled for Wed., and 3 other teachers... so we'll see if she sticks around.....  Trust me somebody, other than me, will leave that day.   

The forecast here tomorrow is slight chance of storms~let's hope.  We really shouldn't have had the water on as our city water company has asked that we not use unnecessary water for a few more days.    It hasn't rained in I can't remember how long. 

The east side of the city got some showers today, so that should help the city, but not us so much.  Our lawn is cracked and grass turning brown.  We have some vegetable plants that cannot make it without water, so they get a drink.   

Went to Johnny's nice, cool, central air on full blast house to watch the Sonoma race yesterday.  Damn Stewart... he's always killed on road courses.  Newman came in 9th,  Wallace (Rusty) had a good run.  Poor Kahne lost it in a turn, not sure if he was 'assisted' into that... 

Made my day that Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, or Greg Biffle didn't win though ;)  

Johnny cooked corn on the cob on the grill and my big bro made his killer burgers with all the fixins.... add to the mix a tub of mustard potato salad and ~Kitty got full and did circles on the couch cushion before making herself purrfectly comfy on the loveseat :) 

Then I had to fight J's 75 pound, 1 year old german shepherd 'pup' ~Shadow~ she's all black and a total alpha bitch.  That is, of course, until she has to contend with me for the spot ;)   

So, all in all, a nice weekend.  Once again I got myself expecting the worst of it all.  Am pleased to be wrong. 

Though, I will say, I told Grace she was very good and she told me next time, she was going to be bad..... very bad. 

See why I said not alone?  They have no idea  ;)  

Have a goodone, ya'll....  

Cat

I'm melting...

It's hot!  No, it is beyond hot and moved into sweltering.  Know what Kitty dislikes more than hot, humid days?  Any guesses?  You got it!--hot, humid nights....  

Last night the thermostat never dipped below 85.  I had two fans by my bed, facing in opposite directions turned on high, with me in the middle of them.  Damn near tried Sam's wet sheet suggestion.... but Kitty does not like to be wet (unless she is in a pool or ocean ;)  It took me a couple hours to get to sleep, but eventually I did.  

Had a fan in Gracie's window, turned on high and another one on her floor to keep a steady (warm) breeze on her.  Her bedroom is the hottest in the house because she only has two windows facing west.  The rest of the rooms have at least three windows for cross ventilation.   

I love this house, but installing any type of air conditioning or central air would be pointless unless we replaced all of the windows.  That's not going to happen anytime soon.  Besides, I can't imagine the costs of cooling this place down!  We have oil heat, so keeping it warm in the winter is costly enough.  

We're supposed to hit 95 again today, Sunday and Monday~who asked for this isht, anyway?  I hope my summer loving friends get this stuff heading their way very, very soon :)  You asked for it, not me~so why is it hanging around my house?  

That's okay, five more months until cold weather hits~think I can hang in there until then.  What I am stressing over is it is only June.  July and August, the hottest months, still to come.  Do you think because we never hit 90 last summer, that we won't get any temps under that for thisone?  If so, you'll find Kitty hitchhiking to Alaska ;)  

Going to find some shadows to lay in.... hope no one melts.  

Cat

Lecture Hall 4, Pep 101

Wow!  On my 'One Word' entry, you guys are the best.  I loved all your words... Kitty kisses for everyone :)  

About the quiz thing from Angel's, some of you are reluctant to post your scores because mine was high.  Well, you should do it anyway.  It was a stupid little quiz that means nothing in reality.   

Keep in mind that I loved classes in Logic and Statistics in college, and my adoration of history and world events as well.  Factor in that my degree from my 12 year college tour is in Accounting, and what do you expect?  Oh... and you can blame my father for my knowledge of language.  He used the dictionaries and encyclopedias as punishment :)  

He made us write lines repeatedly when we were being troublemakers as soon as we learned to write.  "I will not be a rabble-rouser" or "I promise not to be a menace."  He would write it at the top of a piece of paper (the 3-lined kind from grade school days) and we would have to copy it until we filled up the page.  I learned to write really big, too ;)  

But I digress.....  

Many of you have qualities that I would rather have~like social lives, life partners, I could go on and on.  Being smarter doesn't make life any easier, trust me.  Theresa said I should've been a doctor or lawyer and truth is- I couldn't stay focused enough to accomplish either.  I got bored with all the extra classes I had to take to get a degree, so I kept changing my major.   

My mind never stops thinking, feeding on anything that comes into contact.  I refuse prescriptions, and have found only one thingthat shuts it off for awhile.  I have more useless knowledge stored in my head than a politican has butt-kissers....   

Most of the people with genius level IQ's were a little crazy~like Einstein, DaVinci, Hitler (ok~he was a lot crazy).. but you get my point.   

So, next time a silly quiz rolls around, don't feel like you can't post it because you think someone else's makes you look bad~it's just for fun :)  

Lecture over~  

Cat  

PS~ I'm still miffed that there was no sexual content in it ~ It is called "The quick and dirty IQ test! 

Yet another...

Found this over at Angel's place:  A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

 

Your IQ Is 140

 

Your Logical Intelligence is Genius  

Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius

Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius

Your General Knowledge is Genius

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test    

You know you want to get yours, too  ;)  

Cat  

Una palabra....

Alright, this thingy is flying through J~Land fast. 

Personally, I think the only word to describe Kitty is 'Me-ow', but hey, there may be dissenting opinions out there  ;).  

So, have at it~describe me in one word.  Would prefer the first one that comes to mind~even if it may have been previously given :)  But, obviously, do as you will.....  

If you have played along already, please let me know so I can visit and reciprocate.  If you haven't participated and are going to, I'll be around shortly :)  

Thanks~  

Cat  

PS ~ Una palabra = one word  :)

Too hot for chores....

Come on ya'll, put on your boogie butt and get out of that chair.  Like Bowie said "Let's Dance!"  

More like it for the weather that's here ~Nelly's "It's getting hot in here" and getting hotter.... and.... yeah, in case you're wondering, I did take all my clothes off.....  not a pretty sight, either, but at least I'm a cool Kitty :)  

I added another sloganizer, had to take off everyting else, but you guys know me by now :)  Right now, the first one says 'It's not a dream, Kitty is real'  lmao!  The second says 'Poppycock, what more could you want'  Think I'm acquiring another addiction....  

Today was hot.  Tomorrow, hotter and so on hitting the 90's this weekend.  I bought one of those inflatable 10' pools so Grace could have some room to swim.  It's not set evenly so once the water is splashed out or evaporated, it has to move elsewhere.  

I did laundry, finally finishing the ones I cleaned out from our closets and drawers and some from vacation, still.  I still have a load in the dryer to fold and all of them to put away.  Went to the store because we hadn't been since we've been back and had run out of everything.  

My goal is to get all my work done so by the time the friggin heatwave hits, I won't have anything to do.  Except for find some air conditioning.  Air conditioning not in a place I have the ability to spend money.  That, my friends, is a chore.  I'll park my fat ass in front of a fan or two.  

A load of kids due in at work tomorrow, with the heat and Mrs. Lead being back~I'm betting she'll want to go for walks.  Kitty does not like humidity, especially when the sun is out.  But after the temper tantrum she threw the last time we didn't take them out~I may just go along, grumbling.  

I cannot believe I have the tv tuned to Paris' Mama.  I see who Paris got her (bad) looks from now.  This chick just sung to her!  She wasn't bad, but it was totally out of place.  No one said anything, including Kathy Hilton, when she finished.  First time I've seen an Asian person blush.  

I slipped on the stairs this morning and hurt my shoulder.  This getting older crap stinks.  It hurts to lift my arm in certain positions.  Back to the anti inflammatories and muscle relaxers.  It just started feeling better from the last time I hurt it.  Life can take back some of these lemons anyday now ;)  

Ok, I'm off to finish folding clothes.  Have a great tomorrow :)  

Cat

Pint sized pissiness...

I've lost my Belwe font, and I don't know where to find it :(   It was my favorite, too. 

I like this one, but the other was my font... know what I mean?

I've put my sloganizer in my about me section, so we don't have to keep going back to an entry ;)  But, I wish it wasn't so long!  Takes up too much space.

You know how I complained about Mondays at work?  Today is no exception ;)   We only had 8 kids, that is half of normal count, and I swear to you~it was worse than if they were all there.  Really, I am not kidding.  

I still say parents who work full time through the week run around all weekend long.  These kids are so tired on Mondays~and it makes them all whiny and snotty until naptime.  Today, we had 3 kids fall asleep in the buggies at 10:30 am.  Naps aren't until at least 11:30-11:45.  We make them get out and help 'push'.  Don't laugh, we really do....  

We took them all out for buggy rides around the neighborhood before lunch.  With low numbers, we can accomplish things ahead of schedule, so lunch was set out for them by 11:00.  They finished around 11:30, then it was naptime :)   

We have a new one, AJ, who does not sleep long at all.  She doesn't come in until 10:00 am, so we're betting she's not out of bed before 9.  It took until 12:30 to get her to sleep, and she was up an hour later.   

I came back from lunch at 2:00, and 4 kids were awake, 4 sleeping still.  We only need 2 of us in the room for this number of kids, so Asst #1 left early, leaving me and #4.   

It's after nap when they get a little stir crazy.  We could've taken them outside had one boy not slept until 3:30!  The others had already eaten their afternoon snack and were playing when he rose and shone.  I was ready to pull my hair out by 5:00, and I had three 6 o'clockers left.  

We read books, played with the big tonka trucks, played on the riding toys, and sang silly songs....  all by 5:00pm.  Still an hour left, and we had gone through everything in the room for them to do.  Hell, I was bored, too.  There were 6 kids left at this point, and I was out of tricks.  

Too late to have them color or paint as we never know when parents are going to show.  And some do not like to be kept waiting.  Yeah, sad I know.. but true.  That's another reason we don't go to the playground in the afternoon.  Some parents don't like to make two trips, one to gather the kid's stuff, and another to get the kid.  Sheesh...

I had them run races, across the floor, to the other side of the room.  I put on some music and had them dance.  I still had 3 until 5:45, then 1 until 6.  It does suck to be a closer.  There is always, at least, one.   

I'll let you in on something here~my brother and I were the last ones picked up from daycare.  In separate rooms, too.  So I make sure my last ones are treated special and that they look forward to 'our' time alone.  Today, I had mini M&Ms.  Gotta love those!  Tot sized :)  

They may be toddlers.  They only be with me a year.  But they will love mini M&Ms forever ;)  

Night all~  

Cat

For Daddy, from his girl...

Dad,  

Thanks for being there for us.  Thanks for always being there for our friends as well.  When their parents would kick them out, you would always let them stay with us.  So many of our friends wished you were their Dad, too.  It was very nice having the 'cool' parents.  

Not that you ever let us get away with anything~you only let us think we did.  To teach us some valuable lesson we would not discover until older, with our own children.  Boy, and how, do we know now :)  

Thanks for teaching me to drive a car, more so for driving in the snow.  And for my knowledge of guns, how and when to use one, and the ability to pull the trigger under pressure and still hit my target.  You're the best!  

Thanks for always telling me "Not too bad... for a girl"  Some may have looked at this as demeaning, but I knew you did it so I would try harder, just to prove you wrong ;)  I did, too, didn't I?!   

Thanks for being the best parent I've ever had, even though you never wanted kids.  Sure hope we made up for that in our adulthood's :)  I never worried about Gracie not having a father in her life, because I knew she'd have the best father figure I knew~YOU!  

Thank you for your patience in letting us find our own paths in life, even when our choices disappointed you~you were there.  That is what a great father does.  Shows his presence without interference.  

Thanks for recognizing when we needed help, even if we didn't ask for it.  Same goes for advice, you never pushed your opinion onto us, just made it known.   Don't know where I'd be today if you weren't in my life. 

You are the one who straightened me out when I was wandering, lost.  It was you who inspired me to go to college and pursue my love of learning.  It was you who told me to continue my studies in the fields I loved most.  

You are the person who taught me to love reading, writing, and music, all different types of music, too.  Even through the rough times as a teenager, you're stature never changed.  You knew I was capable of so much more than I gave, even then.   

You, Dad, got me to where I am today and I thank you.  

I love you, infinitely.......  

~Kicker~

Gotta love a quickie ;)

K, people.  I've decided that the next time I go on vacation, I'm going to have to take you all with me.  Why, you ask?  Because I just now got my email alerts down below 50. 

Yes, I am still catching up at your places, so if I haven't made it yet, I'm coming soon :)   I guess I could invest in a laptop, but what fun would that be?  I'd much rather have you all hanging out with me!  

Thought I'd sneak in an entry, between blog jogs, to ask "What's up?!"   

Work yesterday was fine.  We have a low child count in the summer.  Since a lot of our parents are teachers, they keep their kids home with them until school resumes.  I am not one bit upset by that fact, either.   

We have 2 more new ones, both just a year old.  Wonder what happened to us being the older toddler room?  Overflow of babies pushes the age limit down it seems.  That makes 4 talkers, and 8 non-talkers~we have our summer work cut out for us ;)  

We had 12 kids yesterday, that's our summer count maximum :)  Mondays, we only have 7 kids scheduled to show~ yea!  Wednesday and Thursday are the highest count days with 12!  I don't know how to act.  But I imagine this is going to make that fall transition back to 16 kids a bit rough.  Ehhh, I'll survive and probably be thankful for more activity by then....  

Wayne came by to visit with Grace for awhile today (he's off his day job for a week), but little girl wasn't here until an hourafter he came.  We talked for awhile, just to catch up.  It seems no matter how much time goes by, my heart still loves him.  I wanted to feel his arms aroundme, and so much more than that.  

Yeah, I smacked myself and told me to get a grip.  Regardless of what my 'heart' says, my mind will not let me go there.  Thank you, Mind, for kicking my ass when I need it.  We are taking Grace next Sunday to meet his parents.  Oh, good Lord...... my nerves!   

My Dad is rather pissed.  He says he doesn't want to share her.  My Mom said something similar, though she would not object strongly.  Dad will.  I do not expect his parents to want to have her all the time, but they should know her.  She is their family, too.   

At the same time, she should know them.  The more people in her life she has looking out for her, the better~so why not?  Granted, they are not the most educated, articulate people I've come across~but that doesn't mean she cannot learn something from them.  It takes a village, you know :)  

So, I'm off here, for now.  I will get my inbox to zero before bed tonight~I must!  You all know how irritated Kitty can get when her inbox is full ;)  

Take care and c~ya later.....  

Cat

Week in review....

Well, I do not have my saved previous entry anymore!  So, I will try to recall some info.... It has been over a week :)  

Grace's recital (Sunday before last) went great!  She did try to run right off the front of the stage again, but luckily Mrs. Dance Teacher caught her first :)  She did things semi on cue, but hey~much better than I expected ;)  I was (am) a very proud Momma!  

We did have to leave before the grand finale, so she won't be on that part of the DVD.  She was so tired and wanting to expend some stored energy, which could not be done inside the school auditorium....  

Oh well, it'll be enough to see her on stage and the other performers also.  She seemed to enjoy it, as did the audience who Ooooo'd and Ahhhhh'd when the young ones were out doing their things.  

My neck was on the mend... until Wednesday morning while in the shower.  It started spasming when I went to wash my hair.  I had to call work and cancel myself for the day, which sucked because we were leaving the next day on vacation and I took today (Monday) off already~ so I've missed two days, again.  

Yeah, the 12 hour drive in freakin hot, humid weather with a sprung neck is fun, let me tell you!  Thankfully, I had muscle relaxers ;)  I can't sleep in a moving car (even with the assist), so I was exhausted by the time we arrived at 9:30 pm, e.t.  

Grace had also spiked a fever of 102 right before we left.  It hung around until Saturday evening.  I took her swimming, anyway, though. The pool room was sauna-like, but the water itself was not heated, so I took her in to help with the fever.  We were alone, so I didn't freak on spreading her germs around (any more than they already had been).  

She didn't eat until Saturday night, then she was starving!  She was drinking though and going to the bathroom, so I know she didn't get dehydrated.    She is fine now, just a lingering congestive cough.. but its loose, so she's on the mend :)  

Mom and Dad had an adjoining room to Grace and I, that was nice.  She and I took a tour of the hotel after we settled in and went to look at the indoor pool.  Grace has been in one public swimming pool when she was 1, so it was a whole new experience.   She loves water, just like her mommy :) 

With water wings and an inflatable ring, she was good to go!  I think she'll get the hang of swimming quickly.  I'll look into lessons from the local Y.  Although, even with lessons, I could not learn to swim above or on the water~ I swim under water, like a dolphin ;)  It took me two times to pass a life-saving class because of this....  

My brother appeared on Saturday around 2:30 am, I love having him around!  :)  I didn't even think to leave a key card for him at the desk, so he called up and left the door unlocked.  He drove right from work, so he was beat.  

We met up with relatives on Saturday.  It was 90 and 100% humidity!  I was boiling and to top that off, it was 'that' time....  Do I need to say how much of a bitch I was?!  I really tried to contain it, but let's just say other people weren't so careful around me...  

All 3 of my mom's sisters were there and my grandma~good for them to get together as you never know when it will be the last time.    My cousin, Debby, was there.  I hadn't seen her since I was in her wedding in 1982!  She had 3 of her 4 children there, as well as her 2 grandkids!   

It was funny (to us), being only 6 years apart, that she is a grandmother of an almost 2, and 1 year old and I am the mother of a 3 year old  :)  Her oldest boy was only 16 or 17 when his first was born.  Can't say anyone was happy about that.  Nor when #2 came along 18 months later...  but, over now  and they're here, so they'll deal :)  

Now, that being said, let me tell you about Saturday.  The above mentioned children were pretty much dropped off at the porch, the youngest being secured in a carrier.  The eldest running amuck, totally unattended by his parents~who were off playing a game of frisbee golf.  

This may be okay in a well contained area... may be, I said.  But my aunt's place is totally not child proof!  Especially the outside...  They live in the sticks, with animals and a big pond~a big OPEN pond!  No fence, nada, zip, zilch...  

Where do you think little Mr. loose and fancy free ended up?  Of course~by the pond!  My mother was attempting to keep her mother company.  I was chasing all over after Grace making sure she had no mishaps.  The 2 of us were watching and chasing this child, alternately, until I had enough!  

No one else was paying attention to this kid.  I got pissed and finally told them, after retrieving him 3 times from the bank of the damn pond, to keep him away from it.   

I was dripping with sweat just sitting outside.  Climbing up and down the hills of her property after the kids~ damn skippy~ I was not a happy camper!  Cramps to boot, no, I was beyond foul!!   

Young kids should not be parents~ there should be automatic adoption laws for such cases.  A relative can still adopt it, but it makes a person of legal age responsible! 

This boy would have been in the pond, and most likely drowned by the time they noticed.  It sucked.  

We left there, because dad and I were bitchy, which pissed mom off.  Understandable, it is her family and all.  And I apologized repeatedly and felt guilty... but then they all met up at the OIP (Original Italian Pizza), and all was well, again :)  

We left the hotel for home around 8:30 am, Sunday. It was hot the entire trip there, the whole time there, and the whole way home.  But as soon as we the Indiana/Ohio state line~it dropped 20 degrees in the snap of a finger :) 

Then the rain began, and I finally cooled off.    I didn't resist leaving my air-conditioned hotel room while Grace was sick, either :)  I soaked it all in, wish I could have stored it ;)  

Glad to be here, again, with all my J~land pals....  

Cat

Sloganizer....

Got this from Bernie  :)  

Me likes lots! 

'The Sloganizer'   Go try it ;)    

I'm baa aaack....

Hello Journal, my old friend.. how I have missed you!!  

And a big shout out to my J~Land friends~ hey ya'll~ what's happening?! 

Yes, I am officially back online and from vacation.  Yea, me!   You guys have no idea what I felt like being cut off from writing and commenting!  Well, maybe some of you actually do...  but I'm back :)  I've lost all my favorite fonts and don't remember where I found them, though :(  

Wow, I have so much to catch up on... and an entry saved that I was trying to put in last week!! So, I'll post that next, if it's not too outdated now... lmao!  

Then I'll tell you about my 'vacation'.... a few of you already know, so bear with my repetitiveness  :)  

I'll be around soon to your place!   Cat  

PS~ Ms. Mystic Pizza~ send me your J~ link!  I have 0 alerts from you  :(  

Correction and pictures....

Okay, all you caffeinated fiends.... I'll add Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino or Doubleshot Espresso~YUM! instead of Diet Pepsi in my drink machine... gees.....  ;)  

Grace's recital tomorrow!  I'm getting excited for her  :)  She's pumped up too.... though I think she's just a ham for the spotlight  ;)

Pulled a muscle in my neck Friday sometime, lovely muscle spasms all day.  Been popping muscle relaxers like they were tic tacs, and Advil as well.  As long as I'm medicated, I can deal with it. 

Hope it eases up by the morning, or I may be one sore momma for the show :)  

Here's some rehearsal pictures....  she actually danced, too!  I'm so proud of her, I may re-up her for next year  :)  I'll just have to remember to budget for it... A LOT!!  Better start saving now, hadn't I?  ;)    

Grace is the last one out, and standing by her teacher, so she is barely visible....   

Grace practicing, tongue and all... she wanted to keep her lei like that, too ;)

     

Grace posing, don'tcha love the 'fro?!  Tomorrow I'm loading it down with 'Surf Head' to keep it from curling to a frizz  ;)  

Now, what am I supposed to be doing.......    

Oh heck with it.... so, what did you do last night?  (Notice Gracie soaking up her audience!)    

Have a great Saturday, I'll let you all know how it went tomorrow....  

Cat

The Saturday Six...

The Saturday Six is brought to you by Patrick.   

Answer the questions, drop him a link... its that easy...  

1. Who is the last performer you saw live in concert? Cher.   What is the last film you saw at a theater?  The Polar Express    Which was more worth the money you paid?  It evened out, I guess....

2. What do you do more of in a typical day:  work, sleep, eat, exercise. watch TV, surf the web?  Spend time with my daughter, or work, and watch TV.

3. Your office brings in a new drink machine and it's your job to fill the eight selection slots.  What drinks (non-alcoholic, of course) do you select?  Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Coke, Diet Coke, Mountain Dew, Bottled Water, Bottled Iced Tea, and 7-Up. 

4. Take the quiz:  What is your expression number?   

Your Expression Number is 8.  Driven and ambitious, you have the potential to reach great things. You're both good with money and good at getting things done quickly. You are an excellent leader and a great judge of character.   Full of energy and confidence, you undertake projects that seem impossible. Dependable and determined, you are able to understand the bigger picture. Even if you are not in a position of power right now, it will fall to you.   At times, you can be very materialistic - and obsessed with status and power. While this isn't always a bad thing, you sometimes take it to the extreme. In order to be truly happy, you must balance the material and spiritual in your life. What's Your Expression Number?        Do you agree with the description it gives you?  Yes, I do.  What do you disagree with most?  the full of energy statement... I have none...  

5. Counting all light fixtures and lamps in your home, how many bulbs do you have in place, and how many of them are on right now?  Holy cow~you have got to be kidding me?!  I wouldn't be able to count them all in the house, but in this room there are 4 present, and 1 on  :)

6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #55 from Laura: What is your favorite movie line ever and why?  (Say it with me Brian  :)  'I'm your Huckleberry!', Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone.  It makes me laugh every time I hear it  :)   And, he did an excellent job!

Cat

It's been how long?

Wow~ it's been awhile for me... but it's been a busy week.  Still.  

We went to Grace's dress rehearsal Wednesday night at 6:00.  Now, she usually is in bed by 7:30, so she was really tired.  The music started at 6:30, we didn't leave until 8:45.  That was without rehearsing in the Grand Finale, but she was worn out... and we left. 

It was so cute!  And now I want to sit and watch the whole thing!  I loved the sets and the lighting.  I used to be in the Stage-crafters Club in high school and have always admired great set designs.  I used to want to do it for a living, until I realized a lot of people volunteer, so I did that for awhile.   

Anyway, I took some pictures I will post here soon.  I even videoed about 40 seconds of her crocodile routine, not very well, but I did :)  If I knew how to get it on here, I'd embarrass my filming technique just so you could see them ;)  

They're selling tapes of the recital for $25 each routine (don't even get me started there), and since I know it will be much better quality than mine~I'll shell out the $50 and be done with it.  Highway robbery, it is...  

Did I tell you Grace got burned by the grill at my friend's engagement party?  If not, she did...  It's a 1st degree tear-drop shaped burn mark on her right shoulder.  The only thing that saved it from being 2nd degree was the fact that she was wet from the hot tub.  She actually sizzled the millisecond she touched it...  

We iced it, she got back in the hot tub and never mentioned it again, until we got home... then the drama princess took over for sympathy from Nana and Poppy~tears and all!  Aye dios mio...   It is healing well. 

Being dark skinned, the new skin is so pink in places~she told me she's a dalmatian now because she has spots  :)   

No shop talk from me in awhile, so next week I'll start up again.  We've got a lot of new kids now~so I'll update my pictures, too...  

Payday tomorrow~huge smiles  :)  Then grocery shopping~yuck...    

Readying for our trip east next week.  I will find a way to see you Nae, if only to share a few hours girl... can't be that close and not try!  :)   So, sorry I haven't been around. 

I miss you guys and have been trying to keep up with your lives, even if I don't let you know I'm there.   

Happy day, ya'll....  

Cat