In Other News...

So besides the emotional junk here is the latest stuff going on in my life...

I now, well, as of Feb 13th, will have two jobs.

My current wonderful job as a Site Coordinator in an ER dept with the doctors and then soon to be Unit clerk in the same department on the weekends. It is a rotating schedule. I will work 2 twelve hour shifts between Friday's and Sundays. Either 7am or 11 am. No night shifts. Yay! I love sleep.

I also had an interview with Childrens Hospital here in Cincinnati. The sat me in a room and had me complete a test in Word and Excel. Great! I love word and Excel... um, the old versions, I guess.

Wow, I got a quick crash course in the newest version of Microsoft Word by guessing my answers. I think I recovered nicely enough with the new version of Microsoft Excel to actually pass!

Then I had an interview. This paticular day had been extra NASTY to my hair. HUGE gusting winds and a DOWN POUR in the morning always helps ones hair look nice. ha.ha. Overall, it went well. IF, they would decide to proceed with me I would have to interview with the dept manager. That position was 2 eight hour days on Wednesday and Thursdays. That means I would have to cram my 32 hours at my current job into 3+ days a week, AND if they do move me up to 40 hrs a week, I REALLY will be craming it all in. Basically, I am not to keen about working 56 hours in 5 days time... At least with the Unit Clerk position I can share my job with 7 other unit clerks for time off if I need it.

Also, on the kids front... as I was stopped at a light this week, I quickly took a peek at FB. I see a status from my 14 year old saying "School caught on Fire! No School!!"... I quickly called his cell phone to find him at home hanging out. Apparently, someone started a fire in the boys bathroom at school. No Mom, I asked him, he had nothing to do with it. Not even close to the bathroom...
Any how, some kids have all the luck. I never got sent home due to a fire. AND he had no homework, since they all had to leave their supplies in the rooms.

Okay, back to work!

I am worthy.

For some strange reason, those words make me cry.

*sigh*
I had my final 'free' session with my counselor today. I signed up for me. I feel like I am learning so much about myself by leaps and bounds. I don't want to give up yet.

How sad is it for someone to believe they are not worthy. I know all the words to say, but how to believe them in my heart are a completely different animal. What does 'Rachel' want? That's a whole 'nother problem.

It is like a mental block. I don't know what I want.
BUT I know what I DON'T WANT.

I don't want to be judged.
or talked down to.
or used.
or ignored.
or bought.
or discounted.
or forgotten.
or closed minded.

I need to learn NOT to take peoples insecurities and make them my own. I need to learn to find confidence. I need to take a step back and look at me from a distance and see the situation for what it really is. Learn the difference between love and pity. Stop looking to others for direction in my life. Clearly that has run me directly into the ground.

Time to cry.
Time to grieve.
Time to learn. It is OKAY. I will be okay.
Friends and Family need not to worry about me. I am okay. I am so desperately looking forward to this process. Well, not the pain and tears but the results. I need to look to myself and figure me out. Be selfish. I am no good to anyone right now.

It's a journey to my 'worthy'.

Miley Cyrus - The Climb - Official Music Video (HQ)

One down, TWO to go!!

So today was the big test and first interview.

The test went great, interview too. Facinating job. I would be trained on reading EKG's for it and would have to watch a 35 bed cardiac unit!!! Scary but fun! Bad part is it would be night shift, but only 2 twelve hour shifts. 7p to 7a. and every 3 rd weekend.

Tomorrow I meet with Nate and Stephanie from my department for our chat, ur, I mean interview. This position is primarily every weekend in some way, but NO NIGHTS. either 7a-7p or 11a-11p on a rotating basis.

And....

Now I have an interview for next Tuesday with Childrens Hospital for a part time Admin Assistant job! So excited. I think the Childrens job is a 'no weekend' position. I think it was 15 -20 hrs a week which would be perfect!

Exciting stuff!

How to love yourself.

How to love yourself by Me.

Apparently there is 18 steps to loving yourself (according to wiki) ... much more complicated than the AA 12 step program... go figure.

Apparently my 3 free pre- approved EAP counseling visits won't cut it. Dang.

Oh well, I will be figuring in this thing out one way or another!!

Admiting there is a problem is a good start. Pretending you are happy eventually comes back to bite you in the fanny. And filling it with credit also does the same thing. Eventually you have to pay up, um, or file chapter 7.

Brace yourself for the backlash. When you let people walk over you and talk down to you they don't like it when you buck them. When you find a spine or your opinion, you will rock the boat or heck tip the dang thing over like someone told me I was doing. Opps. Sorry about that... wait... no I am not... I REALLY need to stop apologizing for every little thing! I realize I do that a lot for other peoples things too!

Positive self talk. (insert Stuart Smalley here) "I am good enough, smart enough and doggone it, people like me!" Good friends are like gold. I am blessed to have some pretty awesome ones. I can't tell you how much I treasure there friendship and comforting words. How did they get so dang smart??

Turn off the TV. Be comfortable with the silence and your very own thoughts. Ok. maybe I need a little Pandora Adele radio on in the background. I love it. I am working on the silence part yet.

I have begun reading Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. I hate reading. This is gonna be tough. My mind wanders off while I read. I usually end up having to re-read entire pages because I have wandered off not sure what I just read. Maybe it has something to do with having kids... lol. (see my positive self notes in the top of the pic for my bathroom mirror.ha.ha.)
Its a learning curve. I am working on it...



So I currently work 32 hours per week. I LOVE LOVE LOVE MY JOB! I am crazy lucky to have my co-wrkers and hours and pay!! Love it. But I need closer to 40 hours, so I am picking up addtional hours at the hospital as a HUC. It stands for Health Unit Coordinator. Also known as the 'know it all of the floor' or 'catch all'. Basically you are asked to call this person, or answer that phone, or open the door for that person (locked enterance). No start date yet, I still have to pass a test first. Urgh.
I hate tests for the same reason I hate reading. My mind wanders.

I love the fact that ther has been a full moon lately. Not only does it bring out the crazies to the medical facilities and ED's, but it also shines brightly into my apartment and I can watch it perfectly move across the sky from my couch. Love that! (See that big white thing in the picture?)

I spent the weekend chillin' with the Zebster at the apartment. The older boys wer invited but prefer the Soda and comforts of home. Brock downed 9 sodas on Friday alone. I believe the novelty will wear off soon... or his enamel on his teeth and he will remember the pain of the repair. He hates needles. We will see what gives first.

Zeb and I watched Harry Potter, Transformers, made popcorn, root beer floats, brownies, chocolate chip cookies and went to the library. (Oh, and we had real food.) He had to pick up a book for a report on Abe Lincoln. While we were there 'Chloe' came up to Zeb and excitedly said "Hi Zeb!" oh, I just loved watching him turn into a turnip!! It was adorable!!

So this week, I see the counselor for session number 2 on Tuesday, Testing for said new job on Wednesday and 'interview' for new job on Thursday. This should be the most fun interview I have ever had since the manager already told me I have the job. She rocks.

Can't wait for the weekend!!! Woo Hoo! Busy. Busy week ahead!

New Year, New Direction!

So, this blog is taking a bit of a different direction here.

December was a busy month. Sorry for the neglect in the blogspot, but some major life changes have been happening...

Let me just say I love my kids. I am not going to go into details here but needless to say THIS IS MY LIFE, your input is not needed. Please refrain from feeling the need to tell me how you think I am lacking mental capacity or feelings. I have listened for too long to other people telling me what I 'should' do or act. I am done. Thank you... ahem.

Sometimes you lose yourself in your life. Suddenly you wake up and realize you ARE LOST. Can't hardly take a breath. Are burdened with years of regrets, and just can seem to get it right. You wander down a path that you are disgusted you even stepped foot on. You cry out for help, but they say "oh, it will get better hang in there" (pat.pat.pat- good girl) Sit and stay just doesn't cut it. Listen first. Really HEAR the person.... they just want love, not judgement. This is not something you just 'decide one day'... like gee, I am gonna where that shirt.... um,no.

I am lucky enough to have a really great sister and some pretty great friends that do just that...
So... I NOW find myself living la Vida Loco. I am finding all kinds of ways to survive...

1. Fast food condiments are the BOMB!!! WOO HOO! No need to buy ketchup, mustard, mayo or various sauces.
2. Having a birthday helps load up on free foods! Starbucks, Baskin Robbins, Cold Stone creamery and Panera Bread are very nice to people who have birthdays! Score!!
3. Apparently when you notice the dishwasher detergent that was on the shelf for $4.72 rings up for $6.99 and you wait in line for like 10 minutes and then another 10 minutes while she does a price check, you get the product for FREE!!! Suh-weet!!! Oh, yeah!!
4. Coupons. Are. Awesome. Especially the buy one, get one.
5. Two words. Dollar. Tree. You can buy laundry detergent, coffee cups, fabric softener and all kinds of stuff for only a dollar each! Total score.
6. Two cushions, two sleeping bags, a set of sheets, and pillows make an awesome bed!
7. In a situation such as this, it is nice that we live so far away from family or friends that mean well, but act so depressed toward the kids and make them feel bad or might say things the kids can overhear about the 'other' parent. We are very civil and the kiddos are a priority. Agreed.

Needless to say this is now a mission to find my way. Get my head right. Know where I need to go, what to do. Making sure the kids are ok thru the process is extremely important.

Right now, I am surprisingly happy. Honestly. Especially considering how many very well meaning 'friends or family' tell me how AWFUL it is supposed to be. Only when people tell me how I am SUPPOSED to feel is when I hate this situation. YES. It is NOT ideal, but this is my life, you are not living it... just reading a blog or chatting with me from time to time... I NEED TO STOP LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLES opinions and find my own.

ahem.. ok... feeling better... let the finding now begin! Hope you don't mind coming along for the journey! Hang on, it might get a little messy... I feel the need to be brutally honest lately!!

Thanksmas or Chrisgiving 2011

Yep. I have mysteriously disappeared for a while... since we are staying in Kentucky for Christmas we combined the holidays for Thanksgiving and came up for a full week.

The kids and I have wandered up to the vast domain of Wisconsin. My homeland. Managed to take in some night life, some family life, a run, a funeral, and a holiday all in the same week. It has kinda been a busy week, but with EXTREMELY limited cell phone reception, it puts a damper on making plans.


I hate to miss calls. What is the point of telling someone to call you if you don't get their call? Sheesh. Somehow I did manage to get calls from the oldest kids school telling me to call them about my 'missing' student... now, either he didn't give them the memo I sent along, or they just miscommunicated... Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they told me to call them about him but I got put on hold so I didn't hang on...I am sure it will be fine.

A friend of mine since WAY back in the day (like early elementary school days) graciously opened her home and gave us free rein of the basement. The kids are set. A fire place, bathroom, fridge, TV and air mattresses.

The kiddos spent much of the week in typical form. On the electronics. *sigh* I managed to dress them up for the funeral, bring two of 'em to breakfast with the grandparents one morning and dragged them to the Thanksgiving meals at both grandparents homes but other than one friend they pretty much just wanted to play on the PS3 or computer.

On Wednesday we headed out for 80's night at a local establishment. It was fun. We met up with some friends and the hubbies. Also, stopped at another place to take in a local band that has a former classmate as a guitarist. He had a cordless bass and was walking the bar and still playing and talking... not sure how he did that. Or, maybe he figured by that hour most people were just to drunk to care... but it was fun too.

Today, being black Friday, I actually avoided the stores. I did stop at 2 of them after 1pm but other than that I just hunkered down at my friends home that we are staying at and chilled out. I didn't even look at the ad's this year!! (much) I tried to avoid them all together. I knew I wouldn't be able to spend much so I figured why bother.

I just finished making sure we have everything packed and will be heading to one last meal with my friends tonight before heading out of town for good. Probably stop by my Mom's one last time before the big ride home... Oh, joy... I just LOVE the long ride. Although, I must admit, it is better to drive it than to be a passenger!

Weekend Wrap up!

What a great feeling it is to get a bunch of stuff accomplished.

Yesterday I did nothing. Well. I got up at the crack of dawn to head to Morehead, Kentucky with Reece and 20 other kids for a 'Honor Orchestra' concert. It is about 130 miles away. I had to follow the bus on the way there since Reece wanted me to drive, but I didn't exactly know where we were going. I didn't mind, but I like to move faster than the bus did, and at 6:30 am it was tough hangin' back behind a slow bus.
We arrived around 9am, and the group got to business with a director for 2 hours of practice with Violins, Violas, Cellos and Bass's. I got to do what I wanted so I drove to Carter Caves and checked out the Natural Bridge there... who knew they have more than one in Kentucky! It was much smaller and easier to walk to but still cool! Then we met back for lunch at Taco Bell, and at 1pm it was again time to 'practice' until 5pm. Poor Reece. He HARDLY practices at home... I really don't know why we even pay rent for the Cello when he ALWAYS uses the one at school instead... Anyway, We had supper at a local Mc D's. It was supposed to be a Pizza joint but a group of teens wandered off and it took so long to find them that we didn't have time. Major bummer, but then on to the concert!!

(Reece is on the right side by the blue curtain)

The Concert began at 7:30pm that evening and Reece's group played two songs then special guests, the Quartet Cavani was quite captivating to watch. (click on this link to check out a preformance) They preformed two of the longest songs ever (and NEVER turned any music pages) and then they did two shorter songs with the high schoolers. By the time we got out of there and were heading home it was 9pm and we had over 2 hours to drive!! I ALMOST pulled over to nap on the way home I was so tired! Both Reece and I looked like Zombies when we got home and headed directly to bed!

Today, I woke up early thanks to the 'falling back', so I had extra time to get a run in this am! Felt great! I checked the temp... it said 40 degrees. I loaded up 2 shirts, a sweatshirt, mittens, warm 'Tri-Fox' cap, and long pants and headed out. I haven't ran in about 3 weeks, but it felt great. I didn't even bring ANY electronics. No ipod. No watch. No heart rate monitor. Just me. and the cool air. It was wonderful.

Today I unexpectedly had nothing going on, so I attacked a closet (Zeb's) or two (and Reece's), some unsightly walls fixed (spots the builder fixed) , hung a picture (I had since July to hang), brought in my Halloween decor, tossed the pumpkins, cut my entire families hair, straightened up the basement, and finally made it to the store for some much needed supplies!!

Ahhh... now, I can sit here with my feet up and relax... just chillin' and it is only 7pm...

but, the kids are begging me for the 'puter.... so we will see how long this lasts... lol...

Chi Town Recap: Walks, Rides and Wines

Where did the week go? Wow!
So, after a crazy busy day at work I hit the road and in about 5 hours I was there! I actually got there early. Dez's place is directly across from a park that is on a river front. Her kitchen and living room windows actually face overlooking the river. Beautiful~ We enjoyed a slow cooked roast and some wine and got caught up on our lives the past two years.

I was asleep by 10:30 pm. (Thanks to the wine, it just puts me to sleep) We were watching a movie and I didn't make it to the end. She actually had to fill me in on the ending. lol.

Saturday Morning we decided we were going to Navy Pier. Bob Harper from the Biggest Loser was celebrating 'National Oatmeal Day' with Quaker and was going to be there that morning. We hopped on a train and road an hour into downtown. Grabbed a cab and arrived too late to see Bob, but it was neat to see the Pier.

We then decided to hit Ed Dubevic's Resturant. When I was in High School we used to head down to Chicago for a musical each year. Our options for lunch were Ed's or a 50's style Mc Donalds. We always chose McD's 'cause we wanted to make sure we had time to shop and get as much in as possible.

Our choir director used to tell us the wait staff were actors making ends meet between jobs. They are sassy and almost rude at times, but all in fun. In fact, I got yelled at for asking for a bag for my leftovers. I was expecting it. He LOUDLY said "SURE LADY, I WILL DROP EVERYTHING AND GET YOUR YOUR BAG, EVEN THOUGH THIS GUY WILL NOT GET HIS BEER RIGHT AWAY". Opps.

After Ed's we hit famous Michigan Ave and some clothing stores. Dez LOVES to shop. She has a good eye for fashion and especially purses. We found a purse store that she absolutely loved. She tried to hit a famous popcorn store called Garretts. We found two different stores, but both had lines that were OUT THE DOOR. Apparently it is good stuff. We didn't stay and wait in line, but that will have to be a priority next visit.

We had more good conversion and wine for the train ride back to her place and hung out. By 9:30 I was heading for bed.

Sunday morning was went for a nice 3 mile walk along the river and through some beautiful parks. I headed out by noon, but not before she showed me her new ride... oh yeah.... sah- weet!

Last year when she had her neck problems she was told she could not ride her triathlon bike, which she absolutely loved, so she bought one that made her doctors happy. She calls her 'Princess'. lol... (the dog is Harley, not the pink one in the basket, but the black and brown one at the bottom of the picture)
All told, it was a fun weekend and will have to do that again in the future!

Road Trip! Girls Weekend Chi Town Preview

Tomorrow is another fun trip for me... life has been kinda stressful lately... kids are great but I am looking forward to a trip away to my good friend Dez. Back in 2006 Dez and I trained for our first Triathlon. She dropped 50 lbs training for it and did awesome! Since then, we did a half marathon together and one Olympic distance tri together and a few sprints.
Now the last time we raced together was 2009. She injured her back and has been struggling to move without pain. She has been trying different options to work her way around back surgery... poor thing.
I was venting some to her recently and she suggested we do a girls weekend. I. Am. So. Ready.
So after work tomorrow morning, I will drive to her place near Chi Town for a girls weekend!!
Just got the oil changed, tires rotated, and air filter changed! Now, just got some laundry, and a little packing and woooooo hooooo!!
Can't wait!

Weekend Recap: DC

Late Sunday night I flew into DCA.
After finding out that my 'shuttle' that I had booked online was not available, I managed to find a ride to the hotel... probably not the smartest way I have ever done, but hey, live and learn!

So.

By managed to get to sleep by 1:30am but forgot to change my cell phone alarm to off.  So promptly at 5:30 am I had to get out of bed to turn it off.

I couldn't sleep much after that so I read a while, and eventually got ready to meet Kate.  I was still an hour early.  I decided to take a walk.  My hotel was nice.  The Melrose Hotel. Just blocks down the street was the White House.  That was my goal.

Kinda broke my heart to see the homeless around, but unable to help them out.  But DC is MUCH cleaner than Cincy.  Smells better and more spacious too.  I did feel comfortable walking Pennsylvania Ave by myself.

I managed to find 3 starbucks in that short walk.  Imagine that.

The Reflection Pool was under construction.

At 10 am I nervously waited for Kate in the lobby of my hotel.  I was worried I wouldn't recognize her.  Thanks to Facebook, I had an idea of what she looked like now.  Shortly after 10am she arrived.  We quickly set out in search of a coffee shop to sit down and 'catch up'.  Since it has only been 17 years since we saw each other we managed to talk for about 2 hours there, then we set out to continue try some tourist type things, we checked out the Lincoln Memorial.  Here is Kate on the left, looking out from the Lincoln Memorial toward the Washington Monument. It was free to see the memorials and monuments, and even the Smithsonian.

By the time we left the Smithsonian, we both were tired.  We had managed to walk about 7 miles.  Yes, I know that from Kates pedometer.  We were going to meet up with her husband Nick about 8pm.  We took the metro (subway) back closer to the hotel and found a place to eat called Thunder Burger. I got the Ventura Burger with Sweet potato fries.  Kate talked Nick into trying Corn Dogs.

Kate and Nick were telling me about some of the differences in the countries..

• Food in America is very extreme.  More sugar.  Fake colors. Probably more salt.  Kate picked up some Kraft Mac-n-cheese to take home with her.  
• They have 28 mandatory vacation days a year.
• They have a public health system and said it isn't that bad.
• They have 20% tax.  To pay for the health system.

It was a shame we didn't have more time to talk, but I had to head to the airport at 4 am, so by 11:30 we had said our good-byes but managed to sneak in a quick picture before leaving each other.

She was talking about making a trip in the next year to visit where she grew up and show her husband a bit of culture shock in good ol' Appleton Wisconsin.  He grew up in Africa and likes to eat meat.  Weird meat.  Like not normal meat.  Anyway, it was fun trying to help Kate warn her husband about all things Wisconsin. He has apparently heard of her Grandparents great love of Shopko. lol.

It was so much fun, I wish I had a bit more sleep though!

Count down.

Seventeen years ago I had a friend from England. Katie.

We met in Elementary school. First grade I believe. We became very good friends and stayed friends even when she and her family had to return to the United Kingdom.

Many memories of sleeping over at her big house, dancing to Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney's song 'Say, Say, Say', Phil Collins and Weird Al songs... She had a 'snuggle' bear that she just loved. I loved listening to her family talk. I developed a love a of 'REAL hot tea' and Twix candy bars, which they always had on hand.

She returned to England with her family after the first year of Junior High. Thanks to her Dad's many frequent flyer miles was able to return every summer on her school break. Usually for about 3 weeks at a time. All of her friends took turns hosting her during her stay. We usually had one week with her.

The last time she was her was the Summer of 1993. We had her for 2 weeks. As luck would have it my high school sweetheart, P. also was living with me at my parents house. As I write this as a parent of a 16 year old, I am in awe that they let me do that... Anyway, she spent some time with him and he confessed to 'something' happening... I can't really remember the details, but it was the last time I saw her or really talked to her...

Now, fast forward to 15 years later and thanks to the magic of Facebook, I asked her brother about her and what-do-you-know, we became friends again. Now, she is in DC and I managed to get a ticket to see her for a VERY short visit, but I am very excited to put the past behind us and meet up with her again!

24 hours from now, I will be in route to reconciliation and I can't wait!!

Stress Reliever?

So.

My heels are ugly. I admit my feet are not the most pretty thing in the world... in fact, I really feel sorry for the poor people the two whole times I have gotten a pedicure in my life. They had a lot to scrub off! My hubby likes to joke that my heels make great scratching posts.

Also, apparently I run marathons in my sleep. My hubby has told me for a while that my legs 'go crazy' at night. I sleep well. So I just never gave it much thought.... until today.

During the night my foot caught the sheet. A few times. I thought it was strange but went back to sleep. So today I pulled the sheets to toss 'em and low and behold, THIS is what I found...


So, personally, I find this funny, since I really don't have trouble sleeping. I actually feel like I sleep GREAT! I rarely have trouble going to sleep. Yes, some of my life has been a bit stressful lately, but not to the extreme that I have trouble sleeping.

I tried NOT to laugh while reading about 'support groups' for restless leg syndrome (RLS)... one had the tag line 'support for friends or families of RLS patients'. Really? Is it that bad?? Maybe I am just not that bad yet.... but some interesting facts about it I did learn...

• it occurs in middle aged and older adults
• stress makes it worse
• it occurs more often in patients with Peripheral neuropathy, parkinson's, pregnancy, chronic kidney disease, and iron defiency
• form of RLS may be passed down in families. This may be a factor when symptoms start at a younger age.
• can result in a decreased quality of sleep (insomnia). This lack of sleep can lead to daytime sleepiness, anxiety or depression, and confusion or slowed thought processes.

• Usually occur at night when you lie down, or sometimes during the day when you sit for long periods of time

• May be described as creeping, crawling, aching, pulling, searing, tingling, bubbling, or crawling

• May last for 1 hour or longer

• You will feel an irresistible urge to walk or move your legs, which almost always relieves the discomfort. (which I do when I work, from time to time I have to get up and wander though the hospital.)
• There is 'no treatment' BUT they said warm baths, gentle stretching and MASSAGE can help with symptoms!! I wonder if I could get a WEEKLY massage thanks to my health insurance!! I may just have to check this out! Oh,yeah!!
• I REALLY THOUGHT this paticular tidbit was interesting....

  If your sleep is severely disrupted, your health care provider may prescribe medications such as Sinemet (an anti-Parkinson's medication), gabapentin and pregabalin, or tranquilizers such as clonazepam. However, these medications may cause daytime sleepiness.

  My Dad has been on Sinemet for a few years now for the anti- Parkinson's benefits. So, makes me wonder if I am heading down the same route as my Dad.
  

Hey, at least I will be a happy forgetful person! Although, I may not know who I am married to.... but maybe I could still get my weekly massages!!

Endurance: Homeless Edition

Lessons I have learned enduring the streets of Cincy.

Downtown Cincinnati is your typical city. The 'bad area' has the "Drop". It is where newly homeless people are told to go for temporary shelter.

1. Single Cigarettes are sold for a quarter each.
2. If you do not 'show up' or check into the 'Drop' for 3 days your a kicked out.
3. If you get into a fight at the drop you are kicked out.
4. Earthquakes and Loco's are 12% alcohol. If you drink 4 of those and one fifth of whiskey each day... that makes 49 drinks in one week.
5. Heroin makes peoples pupils small.
6. Bicycles can sell for 15 bucks.
7. Homeless have access to laundry and food and shelter.
8. There is drug building directly across from the 'drop'.
9. Homeless are a tight knit group that look out for each other. I can understand why it is so hard for them to 'clean up' sometimes.
10. Some of the 'homeless' have been to college, had 4 bedroom homes and kids with custody!
11. Cheesy snacks are popular among the crowd.
12. Food stamps are sold. Lots.
13. Only 'disabled' homeless get insurance. (in OH)
14. If you have been kicked out of the drop, left AMA (against medical advice) twice from detox and have NO insurance, that REALLY limits the ways to recovery... kinda like... 'Sorry bud, Your a loser and gonna stay that way" Nice way to treat another human.
15. Some of the 'homeless' look the part. But some dress up for it (meaning they are drug dealers).
16. Many still have cell phones.
17. Some were 'honorably discharged' from the military for PTSD (post tramatic stress disorder). Nice way to honor our vets.

Yes, some of them are out to take advantage of you. But some really DON'T want to be there. Those are the ones we are looking to help when we go down there. It has been an amazing experience. We have been getting to know them. Some of them meet to play basketball, both homeless and non-homeless, and next week we are going to a movie with a group of us.

It is an amazing way to change they way you see people. WE should not label people 'losers' or 'hopeless'. They have feelings and want to be heard, just like all of us.

Just sayin'.

Thursday Thirteen: Best Evah Edition

1. Best at useless paperwork? Hands down Boone county schools. I just don't get why the permission slips that come home. They need a copy for the principle and the teacher on the trip. Apparently they can just make copies and have the parents fill out two sides of the exact. same. information.... I wish there was an electronic copy I could use and paste. *sigh*

2. Best Football team? I am currently watching the best football team Ever. Go Packers!

3. Best Field Trip? Washington DC. I am so jealous. I wish I could have had the chance to go on this trip when I was young. Reece's year end trip goes there in March. I think I may have to chaperon this one!

4. Best Fireworks? Hands down, Cincinnati has this fireworks show every year Labor day weekend, that is choreographed to music. Oh. yeah, and it is over the river. Not to mention the very cool showers for sparks falling from the bridge at one point...
Awe. some. Must see.
And we watched them from the comfort of our couch!! No parking problems here.

5. Piece of clothing? Sweats. Thanks to the 'chill in the air' from hurricane Lee, I can were my wonderful sweatpants... ahhhh.

6. Best Animal? Our cat. She chases, she attacks, she wakes you up in the morning... in case you forgot to set your alarm, and she is just so darn cute the entire time!!

7. Best way to observe #2? Face. book. Nothing like high fiving friends on FB as we all watch our home team from across America.

8. Best Freebie? Currently I am enjoying Laugh USA from XM radio... they apparently, they are only letting us have the kids favorite station for free... um, not sure why. But YAY!!

9. Best time o year? Pumpkin Spice Latte and carmel apples with walnuts time!!!

10. Best night cream? So back in May I developed this rash on my eyes? Well, I went to see my new doc here and she thought it looked like Eczema and since it was on my eye, I wasn't able to get any 'prescribed' medication. She just send keep it moisturized. She even suggested shortening... like Crisco! So, I had some crazy expensive 'Night Cream' from my days of Arbonne and have been putting that on every morning and what-do-ya-know? It has gone almost completely away! Sah-weet!

11. Best new show for me? I love Psych! I laugh out loud funny at that show... This dude is pretending to be psychic, in such a bad way that its hillarious.

12. Best workout? For me... it was this recently... short and sweet.
run .5 mile,
10 push ups,
run .5 mile,
10 push ups, 10 air squats, 10 lungs
run .5 mile
10 push, 10 squats, 10 lungs

Oh, yeah... that hurt....later.

13. Reece has a teacher for math that has the best name for 'tests': Celebrations!
Epic.

Brock: In a Million Words or Less

So. Child number one.
Brock.
He was at his baby shower. Like he was born two days before it. He was 4 weeks early. And the longest pregnancy I had.

Brock didn't talk until he was about 3 and a half. Now he tells us that was because he was too busy listening. ha.ha.

He was never "Mr. Social". He was more 'Mr. Awkward'. He preferred to hang out with the adults in Elementary school, instead of the kids. Maybe that paid off since his is one of the brain-i-est kids I know.

He loves science, biology, and all kinds of stuff that my brain doesn't understand. Go ahead and ask him about atoms! HE. loves. Atoms. Biology. Stuff.

Technology is not exactly his thing. Brock has now realized it helps if maybe he CHECKS his email from time to time. Instead of avoiding it 'cause it has too much spam' in it.

He does love his ipod and PS3, mainly Netflix reruns of anything science. Currently he LOVES a show called firefly and is making his way through the Stargate series.

Brock has also informed me that if he would decide to sell his kidney, he would get all the money for it. (??) When I said some people even sell their kids (of course with a smile) he said, "oh, they would send me back. I would annoy them til they bring me back." He must love us. Awe...

He too could care less about his phone. Must be in the genes.

He goes to a local gaming store every Friday night to play Dungeons and Dragons. He will search the house high and low to find change to buy a soda at game night. We have been trying to tell him that MINIMUM wage is WAY over $1 per hour, so maybe he would like to get. a. job. (hint. hint)

Brock wants to be a pharmacist. Reece wants to be a doctor (currently) he said to Brock "Hey, it would be just like it is now! I tell you what to do."

It's a good thing Brock doesn't anger easily.

THREE. Count 'em, THREE workouts this week!! Woo Hoo!

Ok, Grandma Z, I will write about the other two kiddos soon, but for now...
Tonight I hit the gym. The last time I went for a 'long' er run, I actually made pretty good time. I was pleasantly surprised when I logged 3.51 miles in 36 minutes, which made it a 10.12 minute mile pace! Woo Hoo! Including the hills, I will take it!

I have been breaking it up by running 1 mile or 11 laps on the air conditioned track, then 10 pushups, 10 squats, and lunges across the cardio theater. I. LOVE. THE. CARDIO. THEATER. What a great concept. Put insecure people in a dark room to workout! No worry about who is looking at you! (especially with some pretty sad push ups!)

I actually managed TWO workouts so far this week and are planning a Saturday morning run with a friend and the hubby, so I am happily thinking I MIGHT actually get all three workouts in this week!! No 'real' mileage. Just four miles and a bunch of reps. But if it can help with the speed, SWEET!! Not that I am competitive, but the hubby is a natural runner and I might have to try and keep up with HIM soon!

In a Million Words or Less

So, This year Reece's homeroom teacher asked us to tell them, in a million words or less about our kids. So, I thought I would share with you, Enjoy!

Reece. What can I say about Reece.
He is the second of three boys. Brock is the older brother and is in 11Th grade . Zeb is the youngest and in 3rd grade.

We moved here from Wisconsin last year. The move was especially difficult on Reece. We had moved in 2005 and he had just gotten good friends at the old school. Even though he can be quiet funny he doesn’t show it right away. It takes him a while to show his true personality and hides it in a tough quiet exterior.

Once you get to know him he can talk. A lot. Not always as much as his brother Brock, but he still can talk. Once he talked over 60 minutes straight telling us how his day at school was! Hardly, letting anyone get a word in edgewise! But he was a joy to listen to, since he is a great story teller!

He likes to read. Especially fat books with lots of words. He did not get that from his father or me for sure! He likes to play on the computer, PS3 and watch Netflix, mainly old TV shows. Sometimes he will play the Wii. He loves his ipod. He lost it for about 4 months this year. From Good Friday until mid July. It was in a couch. He likes to create movies with photos of legos with his ipod. Pretty cool stuff. Ask him to show you!

He plays the cello, and has a really cool EXTRA one from falling on it last year. It is a very expensive accessory in his room now. He likes rock/pop music. Reece can not stand country, which is brother loves. We did have XM radio for a while this year and all the kids enjoyed the Comedy station.

Reece’s favorite color is army green and is the color of his room. He loves ice cream and has recently begun to bake a few things at home. Mainly chocolate chip cookies, which are a huge hit and go quickly with the boys!

Reece is left handed. Grandpa Z. is also left handed and tell us all the time he is the ONLY one in his right mind. Reece writes left handed, but does most other things right handed. He can be a bit competitive. He is good a many things he does, of course I have to say that right? He is my most responsible kid. He also likes to threaten his brothers ‘by telling Mom’ if they don’t do something he wants them to. He is also my rule enforcer. : )

He has a cell phone but never uses it. No need to worry about him texting! In fact, we are lucky if he knows where it is when we try to call him. We never know if it is even charged. So why do we have it? Um, good question.

We found a cat abandoned in our garden prior to the move we call her Willow. She LOVES Reece. Besides me, Reece is the only one she will cuddle up to. Reece used to help feed her with a bottle when we were raising her and I think she knows how he took care of her. She is extremely protective of us. We call her our Guard Cat.
All-in-all, he is joy to have in our family and I look forward to many years of learning from him.
We are blessed beyond belief... good luck with the new year!

Monday Mash UP: Life, the quick edition.

• Last week an 8 year old crashed on his bike and broke both of his wrists. Then an ICE CREAM truck, came up and STOLE the bike and drove off!

• Also, last week Reece made chocolate chip cookies but mis-read the TBSP and TSP on the directions and put WAY too much baking soda and salt in the cookies. This week he did much better, but he almost forgot to add the best part, the chips!
  

• Brock is 'thinking' about asking a girl out to 'home coming'. He said she is really nice, so if she turns him down at least she will do it really nice!! : ) If she would happen to say yes, Dad would need to drive them 'cause he told me 'I am not cool enough'. Dude, really? Come on!!! (ha.ha)

• Zeb asked me to help him with hismath homework. It said to have a family member tell you a FOUR DIGIT NUMBER and he was supposed to write down the number. I said "one thousand, two hundred and fifteen". He wrote down 1000. (???)
  

• Tonight an officer tried to shoot a dog that was attacking another officer and ended up shooting the dog once but also the officer in the leg too! Ouch!!

• I managed a 3.5 mile run on Friday and actually kept a 10:12 pace. Which never happens. Not with these hills. I was pretty happy. (I would like to thank the girl in the black tank top and green shorts that helped pace me for mile 2)

• After helping the homeless we took a drive to a state park in Indiana called Hardy Lake. It is our favorite so far!! (second fave is still Clifty Falls) While we walked the trails we stumbled upon a talk on Owls! He had 4 owls. A screech owl, Barn Owl (which are endagered), a Barred Owl and a Great Horned Owl. Fancinating talk!! Also LOVED the beach at the park!!! VERY clean!! I don't think I have ever seen such a clean lake! We are looking forward to camping there at some point. They told us they have two families of eagles over the lake. Pretty good fishing too! We saw lots of poles in the water.
  

Success!

Looks like the first day of school was a success.

Brock managed to get some key classes that he wanted that fall in line on the road to becoming a pharmacist. He will be taking Latin, Anatomy, Psychology, geometry, English and History this year. He left it up in the air all summer since we apparently missed the 'enrollment' during the spring for this current year. I am a bit concerned about his anatomy class. I hope he heard wrong but he said they will be dissecting rats, pigs and CATS?? Really? Cats? I hope he heard that wrong. : (

Reece was happy that he got one of his favorite teachers again this year. (Apparently the teacher also passed the 7th grade... ha.ha) I can see why he likes him so much, take a look at some of his 'Tremendous 21' rules...

#4: If you are asked a question in conversation, you should ask a question in return..
#7: Always say THANK YOU when I give you something. (yes, that includes test's and detention)
#8: When grading other students papers, the only marks you are allowed to make on others' papers are an 'X' and the number they got incorrect.
#10: Never ask me for a reward
#13: When I assign homework there is to be no moaning or complaining. This will result in a doubled assignment.
#16: If you have a question you can email me. Use the following message for your email.
"Hi Mr.S...., this is ------------. I need help with the -------------homework. You can email me back until ---:00. Thank you."
There is no need to leave this message fourteen times.

Zeb sadly is not in love with his teacher. It will be a rough year I am afraid. Not sure if the teacher was reading his report from last year, but at Open house I did not get a 'warm and fuzzy' feeling from his teacher. I thought she was just having an off night, but maybe not. That is ok, this may be what he needs. He likes to 'pretend' he is weak and too little to do things.