Not as Cool as I Like February 28, 2007

Last week I got to pretend I was really cool by driving a brand new Dodge Charger. My BIL leased one a few months back and has a limit on mileage he can put on it. Since he works out of town, he’s already put quite a few miles on, so we’ve been switching vehicles everytime he goes on an out-of-town job. Before he left, he warned me that people will constantly ask about the car and stare at it. Boy was he right.

One morning I was at the gas station when a man started up a conversation with me about the Charger. He loved it and kept raving about it. So when it came time to leave, I decided to act all bad-ass and really show him what the car had. One problem: I’m used to driving a standard transmission and this car is an automatic. As I was rolling back in reverse, I threw the stick up and left (my normal 1st geat). Instead of hauling ass out of there, I came to a screeching halt — I had put the car in park!

While I put my head in my hands and laughed, everyone else at the gas station laughed with me! I felt like such an idiot! No more showing off in that car for me.

The worst part? Squeaks was with me and she laughed at me, too.

I’m Still Here! February 28, 2007

Thank you all so much for you kind words and encouragment after my last post. I’m still weighing my options, but I feel like I’m on better ground now. Plus, my sweet husband whisked my away for a quick weekend away, so that really made my mood much better!

As for this week, I’m a busy, busy girl. I’ve got midterms, my bow-making, a possible last-minute vacation to plan, and a fictitional campaign to run (more on that later). I promise I’ll be around to visit you all soon.

Feeling Sorry for Myself February 24, 2007

I had a really funny story to tell today about a really cool car and the way I totally made an ass out of myself while driving it, but I think it’s going to have to wait a few days. Today I just need to vent.

Lately I’ve been feeling like I need a change, but I’m not sure what it needs to be. The happy and rewarding feelings of being a SAHM are really wearing off and I am totally guilt-ridden over it. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy being able to see so much of my dear Squeaks, but I’ve recently started feeling suffocated. Do I want to go back to work? Not really. Not full-time at least. I enjoy not having to be anywhere 5 out of 7 days (2 days are school). I enjoy being free to vacation when I want, don’t have to worry about sick days, don’t have to deal with bitchy bosses. But if I hear one more toddler meltdown and/or tantrum, I’m going to go insane.

I think my biggest problem is lack of socialization. I’m a very social person and I’m not meeting my quota of friend-time. It’s rare that I get a chance to go out, but when I do I’m usually too tired to do anything and I end up in bed. When my poor husband comes home, I bombard him with questions and stories. He’s very nice to take it all in stride, but I know he doesn’t really care what happened when I went to the mailbox today. But on the flip side, when I finally get to go out with friends, I have nothing to talk about other than Squeaks. They talk about their jobs and places they’ve been and all I can think to say is something about The Backyardigans.

Yeah, I guess I’m feeling sorry for myself, but I just don’t know what to do. I realize how fortunate I am that I am able to stay home and be with my little girl during these years. I realize that it is the most important job I will ever do and that it is more rewarding that anything else. And that’s why I feel guilty for wanting a change. But as one more plate goes flying off the high chair, I lean closer to the other side.

So what I’m finally getting to is this: how have you SAHMs handled the isolation of the job? And for you working moms, I salute you because I know I could never handle the pressures of work, toddler, housework, student, and wife. Okay, maybe I could, but I don’t really want to!

Too Tired to Be Funny February 22, 2007

I’m not feeling creative today, but I wanted to share with you all the coolest kid around. Before you all give up on my blog, I’ve been thinking of some creative stories to pass on to you, so hopefully I’ll return to my sarcastic blogging self very soon.

All over the place February 20, 2007

The weather is amazing. My camera came in today. The puppy is officially house-broken. The world is back in balance.

I will be annoying you all with pictures very soon. I’m taking random shots with the camera now to get comfortable with it. Any photo requests?

Introducing… February 18, 2007

Well, another beloved family member has passed. Matilda the Dell notebook is no longer with us. After spending weeks on life support, we pulled the plug on Matilda and her faulty motherboard. However, her memory will literally be with us as we were able to retrieve items from the hard drive before taking her off of life support.

So now I am introducing to you our newest family member. He has yet to be named, but he is a sleek Gateway notebook with all the bells and whistles. I had him specially designed to fit my programming and other nerdy internet needs. He’s complete with Vista, so it’s taking me a little longer to get to know him, but we’re on the right track.

Matilda will be missed, but the Gateway is so much more kick-ass that I probably won’t be thinking much of her.

6 Weird Things About Me February 15, 2007

So I got tagged a loooong time ago by Jen, so I’m finally getting around to doing it. I’ve done similar memes before, so I’ll try to throw in some new things….

1. I’m obsessed with pop culture. I will watch VH1 for hours, just to see what’s going on in Hollywood. I have no desire to be a part of that group of celebrities, but I love to see how people like that handle the pressure.

2. I like McDonald’s food.

3. I love going to Wal-Mart. I always find excuses to go, just to wander around and look at things. And with a daughter who drinks milk faster than it can be produced, we’re always there anyway to buy more! I know so many of you who hate Wal-Mart, but maybe the lack of other stores is why I still like it.

4. I love, love, love getting the mail. There’s something exciting about opening the mailbox to see what’s inside. True, it’s usually bills, but there are other fun things that come, too! (Still waiting on the damn camera to be delivered, though). The Hubby knows not to check the mail anymore since I love it so much. However, it’s turned into a damper since I now have to walk or drive across 3 acres to get to our mailbox

5. I’m sure I’ve talked about it, but it’s worth saying again: I’m terrified of mustard.

6. I love fire. Now that we live out in the country, I am constantly finding excuses to burn. Too much trash to fit in the can? I’ll burn it! Our friends want to come over? Let’s have a bonfire! It’s Tuesday? Let’s sit on the back patio and light the chiminea! It might be a little redneck, but I just can’t help it.

I’m not tagging anyone. If you haven’t done it and you want to, feel free!

At Least She Didn’t Go Grab a Beer February 11, 2007

We bought Squeaks her own chair today so that the carseat can return to its rightful spot in the car. I went to Target to look at the selection there, as I haven’t been impressed with the style or the price anywhere else. I was really wanting to get her a Backyardigans chair, as she’s completely obsessed with them, but the only one they had looked like it could easily fall apart. Plus it had built-in drums in the arm rests and God knows I don’t need anymore noise in my life!

I found an adorable little pink recliner that was sooo soft and just the right size. It was $40, which is more than I wanted to spend on a chair for her, but I figured it was worth it. Oh how true that was. When we got home, I took the tags off the chair and positioned it in the living room, between my recliner and The Hubby’s, facing the tv. I figured she would feel more grown-up that way. In 2 seconds flat, the kid took all of her clothes off (minus the diaper), found the tv remote, then plopped down in her chair with a big smile on her face! She stayed there for the rest of the evening.

I never knew that her own chair would excite her so much. The sad part is that she now reminds me of her father, sitting there in his underwear watching tv! Now the only conflict is that the puppy seems to think that the chair is a pretty good spot to hang out, too. I’m sure the two of them will come to blows over this before it’s all over.

Wishing I Had My Camera February 8, 2007

Last night, I brought Squeaks’ carseat in the house so that I could do a few adjustments to it (moving some straps, cleaning up the cover, etc.). I just left it inside today, thinking that I would put it in later. After all, I would be going to class and wouldn’t need the seat back in before I went. When I got Squeaks out of bed this morning, she got so excited to see her seat that she went crazy! I finally corralled her long enough to feed her breakfast, then she was off to investigate the seat. My freakishly strong little girl muscled the seat over until it was in front of the tv, then flopped down in it to watch her favorite shows! She spent the remainder of the morning there! Even better, there is a little snack tray attached to the side of the seat that she normally keeps food in on long trips. This morning she looked up at me, pointed to the tray, and said “more”. I cracked up.

When the babysitter arrived, I explained the story to her and told her to let Squeaks hang out there as long as she wanted. I know the sitter probably thinks we’re nuts, but I’m just glad she’s found something to occupy her for awhile! I just wish I had my camera so I could post pictures of it — it’s hilarious!

Squeaks February 6, 2007

It was the weekend from hell, but things are finally looking up around here. We’re all exhausted from lack of sleep, fighting with breathing treatments every 6 hours, keeping track of which medicine we’re pumping in poor Squeaks, and trying to keep a brain-boiling fever down. Parenting sick kids sucks.

But we took her for a recheck today. The doc said her lungs sound much better, so I was very relieved. Although we have to continue breathing treatments, we no longer have to wake up in the middle of the night (twice) to do them. The fever is maintaining at a constant 100 degrees. Man, little kids are resilient!

Thanks for all the well-wishes. We’re finally on the road to recovery and I couldn’t be more happy.