This N That.

Update: My dad is doing much better now. He conquered C-diff and is on the mend from the aortal aneurysm surgery. What a surgery, what a recovery! Thanks for the prayers.

My inlaws have gotten out from under their big fat hairy mortgage by selling the house they built. They have purchased and are slightly renovating a more reasonable home. If only they had stayed in their original home. That mortgage had almost been paid off.... the upside is that they were able to get enough from the one home to buy this other house (a foreclosure, amazing how much property you can get these days). They have a huge yard that I would plant a monster garden in... that's just me though. I'm all about planting vs. buying! Call me cheap....

The kids are FINALLY out of school. I'm loving having nightly bonfires in the fire pit. What a great thing.

School is kicking my butt.... apparently I'm taking the stopper class of the program. Ugh. Must make it through.... must stop being an academic perfectionist.

Work is hectic, my pain is pretty bad (hence the lag in posts). But, I'm happy. I'm grateful my dad is better and that I've got great kids. But why is it that Super Girl likes to wear her sweat shirt hoods so that she looks like the Unibomber? I have made a no unibomber in the house rule.

I just wish Hubby could pick his career goal.... he is working a job, not a career. He knows he needs to go back to school but is paralyzed by the daunting task at hand. I get it, but time to move on!!

There is nothing better than a swing in the summer time.....

Progress

Our pups had a restful holiday - I hope you did too!

Today was AMAZING! I have not had a single day off without an obligation since July. Today I had the day off and not a single social obligation. NOTHING. Oh it was bliss!!!!! I started clearing out the clutter and it felt so good! The paths were wider and the piles were shorter. I cleared off the kitchen table and saw the entire clean and clear surface. I even reorganized some kitchen cupboards! We washed dishes and did laundry. We put away most of the Christmas decorations. When the new semester starts there will not be time so we did it. I'm okay with it -- I'll keep things up longer when I'm a teacher. For now, it is good to get things put away!

Church didn't happen for us on Christmas. We would have been late for midnight mass and getting up early in the a.m. just was not going to happen. I'm looking forward to church tomorrow. We have much to work on and much to be thankful for -- hoping it is wonderful and inspires me to keep at it. I like myself better when I attend regularly. I like being a good example to my kids. If you don't have the Lord to lean on, where are you? Especially when crisis hits (as it often does....).

Hopefully Hubby calls his sister tomorrow to work on his resume! My mother inlaw was hospitalized over night last night. She has a huge hematoma and cellulitis. She fell. You are not supposed to do that when you are on blood thinners and when you break easily. It looks like she is bouncing back. I'm glad. We actually had a good conversation tonight. She tried to pull some passive aggressive stuff, but I was very direct (and friendly)... so I disarmed her! YIPPEE!!! She was trying to be critical but I brought her around.... so what if I had to pull her by the ear?

Yes, today was a good day. I hope you had a good day too!

Passive Aggressive Bull

It's no bull, I feel like a lamb going to slaughter.

Today is my sister inlaw's shower and my evil mother inlaw will be there. She has put me in an awkward position. The mother inlaw told her best friend that I'm a dead beat on this shower -- which I'm on the invitation as hosting and which I've had nothing to do with the planning on. Can you say awkward? Did I ask to be part of this? Was I included in any discussions or decisions? I'm fine with ponying up the cash, but the evil mother inlaw told me not to worry about it since Hubby isn't making much money and he went so many months without being paid by the family business.

"Don't worry about it, I've got you covered."

What kind of manipulative person tells you that and then COMPLAINS to others that she has to cover you? What the hell kind of passive aggressive crap is that? And now I must go and spend the day with people who think that I am a bum. She complained that she has to cover the deadbeat sister and I. I am not a deadbeat. She offered and I accepted. I accepted because my family has gone into big debt trying to keep a business going for her family. I am betrayed and annoyed. I want to kick my mother inlaw's ass. I will not. I will suck it up. I will not ruin my other (INNOCENT) sister inlaw's day.

My mother inlaw sucks. I hate wasting a Sunday on this.......

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On a brighter note -- I LOVE student teaching! I love, love, love it! Yes, I'm mega tired, but I'm so happy to be in the classroom. I have an awesome mentor teacher who is allowing me a lot of freedom. Too bad I'm not confident enough to use it! Soon the training wheels will come off... I am more confident and humbled every day.

She makes my head explode!

UGH! My mother inlaw (also known as Satan) is making me NUTS! She hijacked my daughter to go shopping the day of our block party. I told her that was a bad day, but she insisted that Super Girl would be home in time. She wasn't. Satan purchased 3 outfits for her and wanted to have a fashion show. I sat with my back to her and hung out at my block party. No, now was not the time. I was not giving in.

Satan then demanded that this part Friday night was the time. Nope. I'm busy then too. It was my night to spend with my kids or napping -- I wasn't sure which, but that was my plan after a heck of a week.

I had Super Girl try on the clothes this morning. I told Hubby to get the amount from Satan and we'd pay her back. No need for a fashion show, tell me the amount and I will pay you. Now she calls to say she's coming over. Like I have time for this!!! I'm working on my freaking lesson plans dammit. Hello! It is Sunday night! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

Couldn't she just once think of MY schedule? My happy ass isn't retired like her happy ass. A simple "When would it work for you?" would be much better than "This is the time I have available, I'm coming over." Um, Hello? What about MY TIME? I tell her no.

She is making me crazy. My head feels like it is going to explode. So, I have Hubby call her and say we like all the choices and can use all 3 for various upcoming occasions. Just tell us how much and we'll pay you back. She tells him that it is too expensive and that we can't afford all three, she'll come over in a little while. Okay, that isn't at all insulting, is it?

It is Sunday Freaking Night and my mother inlaw is coming over. Remind me again that I should not threaten her with bodily harm. Remind me not to be mean. Remind me that getting angry (oh hell, ANGRIER), will only sap my energy....

So, Satan is on her way. Despite protests. Somebody save us. Please? I will not let her control me. I will focus on my plan and let her spend her time with her son. I do not need to invest my time with her.... I will not let her waste my minutes. Ugh. If only she would ask when it would be good for US. Why must everything be about HER????

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Guess what? We were on high alert for 2 hours. I made Hubby call to see what the deal was -- no answer on her cell or at home. Finally a half hour ago she calls... not coming after all. I'm not sure what her game could be, but I want to clobber her. All that stress for nothing! (Not that I spent any energy cleaning house, but still...........)

Ugh!

Work is insane right now.

My car is broken and hubby's car had a engine light go on.

We are only living on my paycheck right now.

I can't afford tuition for this fall for student teaching.

I'm in debt up to my eyeballs.

The plumbing for the only bath with a shower died and must be replaced. Hubby is handy, but this was beyond him so we had to have a plumber out today.

My sister (the new mom) is driving me nuts. Hello, cradle cap is not a trauma!

My house is a mess. I mean it, it is a MESS.

I'm not losing weight on my diet because I'm not being compliant enough.

None of the above is a very big deal.

Yesterday my mother inlaw had an embolism which caused a huge hematoma. Like the size of a football. She is hospitalized, please pray for her. She may drive me nuts, but I still love her and she does not deserve to suffer like this. This poor woman has been through way too much medical stuff. She has been in the hospital so much that her husband just takes her there and goes off to work. He assumes she'll survive each crisis because she always has survived. I can't be that blase`......(put that accent mark over the "e" please).

Her life these last 5 years makes me realize that my frustrations are so very miner. Who cares about that stuff -- to have your health is everything.

Wishing you good health.

Independance Day!

Happy Independence Day! How appropriate that I am studying both American History and American Government right now. I don't know, it just makes it more fun to cram for tests when you get to enjoy a holiday relating to those tests! I am studying to try and test out of two general education classes that I've somehow missed in my VAST college educational experience. My political science class doesn't count and apparently I've avoided history, so I'm off to cram this in before student teaching.

The blessing is that I find both of these topics SO interesting (yes, I'm serious!). The downer is that I have just a week to study. There is nothing like the pressure of a deadline to make me study. I'd planned to study for this throughout the spring semester, but my two literature classes took way too much time. What was I thinking? I didn't have time to blow my nose, let alone read and learn information on top of what I was already reading and learning!

So, now I cram. I will be studying day and night through the weekend into next week. I'm taking Thursday and Friday off and we are headed Up North. Maybe the change of scenery and wonderful sunsets will help me learn this material :-) I can't wait to get away! Maybe this year I can capture photos of fireworks? I plan to ride my bike and walk barefoot on the beach. May you enjoy the holiday as well!

Updates: Here are the tidbits that are not enough to make a full post!
- My trifecta of new nieces are all doing great. Their parents (all first timers!) are starting to get broken in. They all seem calm about things. Maybe being an older parent does that for you? I was not yet 30 when I had mine so perhaps that explains the difference? Maybe I'm just really high strung...
- I got an "A" in both of my spring classes -- YES, grades validate me as a person. I'm not proud of this, but it is true.
- Hubby is doing well with the kids this summer. Hopefully finding a job will be easier than we fear for this fall. With me student teaching we will desperately need him to have a decent income.
- The inlaws: They are still manipulative. They got Hubby to work for free yesterday vs. getting his studying done. Hubby swears it will not happen again. I must support and hold him to this.... I wish his parents were not like this...
- My Brother: Divorce final, made a serious mistake, lost drivers licence for a year, is on probation and riding his bike to work. Maybe he is learning from this? I hope so.
- Controlling brother inlaw: My sister admitted that he needs to lighten up. I gently teased on a few things when she gave me the opening, she complained about his controlling attitude, I agreed with her. This was good. I'm still monitoring the situation. Watching, waiting, supporting. I will hold my tongue and let her come to her own conclusions. Strange how my Hubby and best friend share my feelings of uneasiness about the brother inlaw. It is something you can't put your finger on...
- Weight loss: Yikes. Time to focus on this. Hopefully my weekend will be a great start to moving more and making better food choices. I've been so tired from work and school -- time to get trim & fit! I think I can, I think I can!