Life's early lesson?

I ordered some curtain from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and they came in a box with a long piece of brown paper. Our 2 year old, M***, tore up the paper into a LOT of little pieces and threw them all over our bedroom. Today I asked her to come up and pick it up, she came up and our conversation went like this....

Me: M***, you made this mess so you need to pick it up.
M***: (holding her arm) I can't my arm hurts.
Me: Well, if you don't do it, your butt is going to hurt because I am going to spank a bum.
M***: (holding arm, still) I can't do it, my arm hurts. You do it.
Me: I didn't make this mess, so you can clean it up.
M***: Make C*** do it, my arm hurts.

Who taught her to do this? One of the older kids, I am sure. Great.....

New Year Wish List....

Well, now that the mass confusion of Christmas is over with... I would like to put out my wish list for next year in hopes that everyone can get a good deal sometime during the year, thus relieving the people that line their pockets every year with our hard earned money from any excess they might get from our family.

I want, sometime in the next year:

some Pampered Chef stoneware
a Kitchenaide with the plastic hood and chute so you can add ingredients without making a mess
another ring from QVC diamonique collection (I got a really nice one this year, love it)
stuff from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
a white maltese male dog.... we all loved the one we had for a day.... especially me :)

So, there you go.... my family can keep their eyes open for some discount stoneware. Ryan can keep his eyes open for the other stuff. :)

I hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas.... we had a great Christmas this year, and the MP3 players were a hit. Now I have a few birthdays coming up.... it never ends.....

maybe i ruined christmas?

I had to take an animal detail at work because the animal control officers get the holidays off. Just that night, during dinner, my children were asking me for a small dog like one we used to have. As fate would have it, the animal I had to pick up was just like it. It was adorable.

I had limited options as to what to do with the dog. I could not put it in the outside kennel we have for use when animal control is off. It was 9 degrees outside, and there are holes in it that a small dog can fit through. This dog weighs about 5 pounds.

I could not take it to the shelter, they are closed until Tuesday. And, I fell in love it, so I took it home. The kids are in love with it. I thought that our other dog would use it as a chew toy, but it has not.

The dog was well groomed and maintained, so I am sure that it belongs to someone who might have been out of town and may very well be looking for it. I have searched the lost and found ads, put up some pictures of it locally, and will contact the shelters tomorrow. If nobody claims it, we will keep it. If someone does claim it, my kids are going to be so sad, and so will I.

alzheimers.....

I might have alzheimers, but I have to say this again because it kills me that people are so stupid. I have tricked people into admitting they have drugs on them by turning my pager off and then telling them that the pager is a drug detection device. I run it over their body, and then turn it on and it makes a beep. I then inform them that my detection device has indicated that there are drugs on the person.

The two times I have tried it, the person started crying and just told me where the drugs were. Of course, I only do it if I have enough probable cause to search them and their surroundings, anyway, but it makes me laugh that they fall for it. And, yes, it is legal for me to lie to them. And why not, they lie to me all the time, and unless it is about their identity, I can't do a thing about it. Turnabout is fair play?

feel like a woman.....

Well, I have to have a hysterectomy. First of all, I am not happy about the cost of the surgery, or the amount of work I will miss in the healing process. Second, it really makes me feel good when I inform a coworker why I am going to need 2-6 weeks off of work, and he replies, "I have always thought that you were a man. Now, what I say will be closer to the truth." I work with such sensitive guys. At least after he said that, he apologized and then he offered any assistance I may need during my healing. I think that I will call him any time I get a craving for something, just to teach him a lesson.

Oh well, there are some positive aspects of the surgery, but what a bummer.

let it snow....

What I want to know is why is it that when I work, it pours the snows. As soon as I pull into my driveway, it stops snowing. It's ridiculous. Then, in the middle of a blizzard, I arrest a VERY intoxicated person for DUI, while in the hospital with him a woman asks me to look at her baby because "something isn't right." The baby was 9 months old and tested positive for methamphetamine, along with her and her husband also testing positive.

Then, they bring in an 8 month old my coworkers were dealing with. I informed the doctor that there was something suspicious about the story that father had told us. When the mother was wheeled by with her baby, she glared at me. I looked back at her once she was in the room, and she asked the nurses to close her curtain so I could not look at her. An hour later, the baby was taken by emergency transport to Primary Children's hospital. Apparentlyl, there were older injuries contributing to his problems.

Today, her husband confessed that while he had the baby in the bathtub, he shook it numerous times. Then, he took it out of the tub and slammed it face-first on the bed a few times. I feel bad for the other kids living in that home, and the baby. Both of these babies will spend their first Christmas in a foster home, as will the siblings of the latter baby. I tried to get them to let me bring the one baby home with me. :) But, instead, I had to take the drunk guy to jail. Makes me sad..... May God be with them now, and always.

out of the mouths of babes.....

M*** is jumping on my bed saying, "look at me, Mom. I'm an octopus."
Me: "That's great honey."
M*** walks over to me and says, "come on whale, let's go."

Whale? Why do I have to be the whale? Why not a shark, or a dolphin? What a self-esteem booster.

i need a hero.....

I finally got to be a hero at work, rather than the bad guy. I usually get blamed for all the bad stuff people do, but the other day I actually had a good ending to a story.

I got a call of a missing 5 year old boy. The parents said they had just moved here two weeks ago, and their 5 year old has been missing for 45 minutes. They feared that he had walked out the front door. The mother was running around the neighborhood, looking for him. I had other officers come with me to look around. I met with her, and she is frantically yelling his name and crying. (as I would have been, too) I asked her if anyone was at home and if they had checked the house well. She said that her husband was home, and they checked the house 6 times. I assured her that he was in the house, and I went to the house while everyone else looked around.

The dad was at the house, and assured me that they had stripped linens off of beds and thoroughly checked the house. I informed him that we were going to check again, and asked where he had last seen the boy. He said he was upstairs, so we began looking upstairs. He was not in the bedroom. There was a playroom full of rubbermaid containers. I asked him if he had checked each one, and the father said he had. I asked about the one in the corner that was hard to get to, and he was sure he had checked it. I told him to check again, and I began to move lids and check the ones closer to me. He moved the one in the corner around, then moved on.

I pointed back in the corner and told him to check again. The container in the corner was not only harder to get to, it had a cardboard box on it and three lids on top of that. I kept feeling something drawing me to that corner. I heard the father yelling "Ja**, OMG Ja**" but the boy was not moving. The dad was holding his daughter, so he grabbed the boy by the shirt and lifted him out. He was limp and unresponsive. His eyelids started to flutter, and he was pasty and wet. We ran him outside for some fresh air as I called for medical to respond.

Medical put a pediatric lifeflight on standby. The boy was hard to wake up and keep awake. As more time passed, he became more alert. The paramedics checked him over, and said that his oxygen stats were a little low, but improving, so they cancelled the lifeflight. They said it was good thing that we found him when we did. A little longer without oxygen and he would have had some life-altering consequences, including death.

I honestly believe that it was divine intervention that night. I am thankful that, for once, I can reminisce about a happy ending.

What I like about you...... you make me warm inside....

Well, I was reading Native Minnow's post regarding things about him, so I thought that everyone could laugh at some stupid things about me:

-I nearly cry when I hear the national anthem.
-I don't like chocolate, though I will eat it if I am desperate for something sweet.
-My favorite place on the earth is the beach. I hate cold weather and snow, yet I live where it does both of those often!!
-I used to be a ballet dancer.
-I hate liars more than anything.
-I see a lot of things at work that would make normal people cry or puke, and I usually do neither, and that bothers me......
-Sometimes, I am an awful listener.
-I am so forgetful, I am afraid that I am getting alzheimers already.

Well, I have bored you enough...... my life really isn't very interesting...

never a day off....

Well, I have some days off coming.... but it seems like they are never days off. Today I get off at 0630, but I have to be ready to take my girls shopping at noon for Christmas stuff, be at a Ward Christmas Party that lasts from 2-7PM, then make time to get some haircuts and have someone pick up my old headboard out of my house. I also promised someone that I would call them so that we "adults" could finish Christmas shopping. I guess that is out of the question.

I have to get something for my niece's birthday so I can get that mailed. Otherwise, I will miss her birthday. Sunday is church and an appointment for tithing settlement.... so maybe I will get the adult shopping on Monday? I wanted to go to the temple on Tuesday, but we will see how that works out...... I will probably get called into work. :(

life is mundane....

You know that your life is boring and mundane when it has been nearly a week since your last post, and you have NOTHING even remotely interesting to say.......

How pathetic is that? All I have done, lately, is work. I am hoping that in January, I can take some days off.....

i like big butts, and i cannot lie......

OK, I don't really like them, but the song comes to mind after the health assessment that my work made my husband and I do the other day. The incentive was that they would take $250 per person off of our deductible.

We found out that our body fat composition put us up in the national obesity level. I am fatter than I have ever been, without being pregnant. My waist is 5 inches larger than normal. My cholesterol is high, and my husband has similar issues. That just made my day......

Well, now I am depressed. I am going to have to stop drinking soda and start working out again. I DO get paid to work out..... so I should probably do it. I will try to lay off the donuts.

life is too short....

Yesterday, a cousin of mine was taken off life support and passed away. He was only 22 years old. He had been driving on wet roads and skid out of control, then hit a telephone pole and a tree. When the ambulance arrived, his heart was still beating but he was not breathing. He had broken his back and neck in 6 different places. He was put on life support, but the injury to his brain was too severe.

Please......WEAR YOUR SEATBELTS!!! He wasn't wearing his, or he might just still be alive!! My heart goes out to my family in this time of loss. What a tragedy.

maniacs at the mall.....

I have to say that the day after Thanksgiving sales are about a madhouse. Is it really worth the pulling of hair, the scratching out of eyes, the gnashing of teeth to save $10 on a Christmas toy?

A Mervyn's employee of mine said that there were 1,000 people there at opening to get some MP3 players that were really crappy, but CHEAP, and they were running UP the DOWN escalator. Some lady almost fell, so he hit the emergency stop button to prevent injuries, but it gave everyone running up it a nice jolt.

Target had some cheap Lego sets, and people were nearly killing each other to get them. How ridiculous!!

I did get a "free" tree at Home Depot that I am very happy about. It was $29.99 and I get a $30 gift certificate from them in the mail. That is cool.

The kids and I finished decorating, and I am done shopping except for a few minor things. I have six days off coming next week, I have to wrap presents before the kids see them. I have to finish some scrapbooking gifts, then I can sit back and enjoy the holiday season. I do enjoy the giving atmosphere of the season, but I don't like how commercialism has kinda taken over.

productive day....

I have to say that today was productive, I got most of the Christmas decorations up. Hubby was gone with his brother the entire time, so he got out of it. The kids were excited as we didn't have a tree last year and spent the day at a hotel. (It wasn't fun at all.) Everyone in CA living around us came to the conclusion that Mormons don't believe in Christmas.

My mother started a few Christmas traditions.... every year she bought us dated Hallmark ornaments. I have some from the 70's, and continued the tradition with our kids. I am missing one from the oldest from 1992, I hope it turns up. It's fun, but the kids are always fighting about who has what, so I took the time to label them this year.

Everything is mostly done except for the ceremonial hanging of the beloved Hallmark ornaments on the main tree, which we will do on Friday. I need another tree for the living room with the fireplace. I may wait until the day after..... We all also just noticed that the tree we have used for the last 17 years is smaller than we remember..... but it still looks OK. Maybe the day after Christmas I will get two more trees....HUMMMM?? Even though there won't be much under the trees, the house looks cute after years of accumulating Christmas decor. Fun.

pre-mad?

So.... we are going to Ryan's mother's house tomorrow. She has allowed a cat into her home, an animal that I am deathly allergic to. I will be sick less than 5 minutes after walking in the house. She says that it doesn't roam the house, but what people don't understand is that the dander DOES roam the house.

What is funny is that my husband knows that I will suffer through it at her house much like I do at my cousin's house. I am in my cousin's house only long enough to sleep in the room that the cats are forbidden in, and I still get sick. I get up and leave the house immediately, and return only to sleep. I drug myself up with allergy medication, but my allergy to these worthless animals is so severe that it doesn't help much.

With that said, my husband was mad at me today.....I asked him why and he said, "I know that we are only going to be at my mom's house for a couple of hours and then we are going to have to leave." Then, he starts mocking me by immitating my voice when I am sick and not able to breathe due to severe asthma, "uh, thanks for dinner...we have to go now....I can't breathe."

I said to him, "wait a second, you are mad at me for something that I haven't even done yet?" Why aren't you mad at your sister for bringing it into the house, which would also be about as ridiculous. Yep, that is what I have to live with.......

fat lady vs airline seat

OK, I know this is rude, but it is a serious problem.

There was a lady that was easily 400 lbs on the airplane with us. I watched her board before everyone else.....which spared anyone who might have been sitting on an aisle seat as her passing would have deprived them of whatever was near the edge.

I watch her get in her seat. She doesn't fit, so she moves the arm rest up to fit and cannot put it back down. I watch as people board the plane. She has to use the restroom, and she has to back into the bathroom as there will be no room for turning once inside. She doesn't lock the door, and some unexpected gentleman walks in on her. He is, most likely, at least partially blind, now.

She returns to her seat to find that two other young girls have now occupied their seats next to her. She attempts to squeeze back into her seat, but cannot get in without much effort, then there is not room for her as she occupies almost the entire seat next to her.

Luckily for the two girls next to her, the plane was not full and they were moved. Why didn't this huge person have to buy two tickets? What would the airline have done if the plane were full and she wouldn't fit in her seat?

Another thing, the airlines are now nazis about how much your luggage weighs. If it is even one pound over, you must remove it or pay extra. Me and all my luggage, plus my flight companion AND his luggage, didn't weigh at much as her alone. If you have to pay extra for luggage, she should have to pay extra for weighing down the plane, using two seats, and causing the plane to use extra fuel. Oh the injustices.....

life is about to improve?

Well, congrats to Ryan on finishing his dissertation!! I believe that life is about to improve for all of us. :) I get to work less overtime, once we catch up, and Ryan gets to have a real, normal life. I am sooo excited, but surely not as excited as Ryan.

On another note.....today on the airplane, there was a lady that was sooo huge.....she could barely fit in the aisle. She went to the restroom, but didn't lock the door. Some poor, unsuspecting man opened the door on her. (Though I am not sure how he got the door open.) I heard him gasp, and apologize. I am sure he is going to need some therapy. I was going to give him Ryan's number..... :)

dissertation jitters

Well, Ryan is defending his dissertation this morning. I hate that there is so much riding on this one meeting!! He was a little anxious last night, and I am feeling it this morning. I keep looking at my watch, and time is going by so slowly. Good Luck, Ryan!! We LOVE you!!!

she's a maniac, maniac

Well, I just did my timesheet and the last two weeks I only worked 125 hours, as compared to the 147 the previous two weeks. Whew!! The only bummer is that I didn't get to spend any of the last check on fun stuff, so maybe this next one...... well, who am I kidding? Oh well, I am very grateful that I have the overtime should the need arise.......

she works hard for the money......

I was working really early in the morning and decided I needed a drink about an hour into my shift. I pull into the convenience store and go straight to the cooler and then straight to the checkout. As I am walking out, I hear someone yell, "Yeah, that's right, get back to work." I turn, thinking it is someone I know giving me a hard time. It wasn't, and he sucked air through his teeth and tilted his head back, glaring at me. As I walk out, he is yelling at me to go "busting crime" blah blah........ so.................

I pull across the street, and notice the gentleman leaving. His car has no front plate, which is against the law, so I pull him over. He isn't wearing a seatbelt, and has no proof of having insurance. I warn him for the plate, and give him a citation for the seat belt and insurance problem. After he signs it, I ask him, "am I working hard enough for you now, sir?" Of course, he says, "F*** you, you f*** c****!!" and peels out and drives off.

I swear, there are some people you just can't please!!

crazy lady

At work, there is this lady that calls us about three times a night and for the most stupid things. Here are some examples of why she is calling 911:

"There are juveniles outside filling up my window wells with water."
"My neighbor just gave my dog a Klondike bar, trying to kill it."
"The neighbor's kids just filled my furnace up with dirt and now it won't work."
"My neighbor was just in my house, he went out this window right here (pointing) but I have no idea how he locked it back up."
At 4:00 AM, "would you please send someone over here to make them turn off all the lights? Someone is shining lights in my face and I can't get to sleep. They shouldn't be allowed to do that."

This lady works in the mental health profession. I asked her if I was one of her clients, what she would say to me if I came in and reported these things to her daily. I finally snapped and told her she was halucinating. Of course, tonight when she called she asked for them to send someone out, except for the lady that told her she was psycho. I NEVER used the word psycho, but I was thinking it a lot!! That is FINE with me, I don't have to deal with her again!!

psycho at walmart

So, I go to the Walmart Pharmacy to pick up my son's prescription. I get there, and there is a long line. There is a lady standing in front of the line. Her roots are grey for about 4 inches, then the rest is dyed red. She is wearing strange clothing, and she smells funny. Nonetheless, we are standing there waiting in line when she suddenly turns around and starts screaming at those of us in line behind her, "Can you all just back up? I am trying to talk to her about my prescriptions."

Of course, I turn to the lady behind me and say, "SO, all out of prozac, are they?" We had to laugh, but it was a very uncomfortable moment.

grandma got run over by a deer?

Well, today was the opening season of deer hunting. Half of our department was off of work to go hunting. A lady hit a deer, and it was still alive and trying to get up and run away. I had to shoot it. It was a four point (8 point by Eastern standards.) I had to take a picture. My coworkers are going to be mad. I got a huge buck on opening day!! If my camera were better, you could see the photo....but it sucks and the photo turned out too dark. :(

ignorant drivers

To all of the ignorant drivers out there, beware.

I am sick of being behind you in the fast lane while you meander around sightseeing....

I am sick of you pulling out in front of me....

I am tired of you not letting people in when they have their blinkers on......

And, lastly, I cannot believe the way you talk to me when I pull you over for a traffic violation. I obviously have a good reason for pulling you over, or else I wouldn't do it. If you fail the attitude test, YOU WILL GET A TICKET.

There, you have been forewarned.

mean people suck!!

There is a sweet lady that work at my favorite makeup counter. If you are feeling down, just go and see her and you will feel wonderful when you leave. She is always smiling, always makes you feel like the most important person in the world, and always compliments you in a way that makes you feel so wonderful.

Her husband passed away a few years ago. I know that she just finished paying for his funeral, as she mentioned it one day. Just prior to her husband's passing, he had bought a truck in her name...then suddenly passed away. The truck was repossessed, and taken to auction.

According to some scum-sucking attorney, they got $10,000 at an auction for an alleged $50,000 truck. He bought the loan from the Ford Motor Company, and then went after her for the money. Without warning, he garnished her wages, and drained her bank accounts.

She had checks out that hadn't cleared, that are now bouncing. She puts away $25 a check to pay her property taxes, and they took that, too. Her property taxes are due next month, and she has no money to pay them with. I am so angry at this greedy attorney, I could scream.

If I had the money, I would give it to her in a heartbeat. I happen to be at an all-time poor, and am in no position to help. However, I am going to try to find a way to help her!!

home sweet home

What a great trip to see my family, but it is taking me several days to recover. :)

While I was there, Chase broke his arm during football practice and nobody could find my husband. AHHHHH. I think that I paced a hole in the floor. He is OK, so it was fine.

I really miss my family, I wish that we lived closer. ...... maybe some day?

on the road again...

Well, I am sitting in Atlanta airport, my least favorite in the world!! I am on my way home. While I was gone, Chase broke his arm and Ryan wasn't able to be reached for a while, so that was exciting. I have to say that though I am exhausted from getting the tables and chairs set up, cooking, picking up things, washing laundry and dishes (sounds like I never left home) I am so grateful to have gone and spent some time with my family.

My poor aunt is not in good health. She and my uncle have been like second parents to me. I consider their house home more than any other besides my own. I miss them terribly. I think that I will drive out there for a while next summer. It was so great to see everyone and as my father commented, "well, we all got together, and someone didn't have to die to do it this time." It's sad, we usually all get together only when someone passes away and we have to attend a funeral.

Thanks to all those who made it possible for me to go and see my family.

another vacation alone

I get to go and see my family in Florida this week. Though I am excited, I really wish that I could take Ryan and my kids with me. It's a bummer to go fun places that I want to share with my family, and I cannot afford to get them there. On the other hand, it is worse for Ryan, who has to stay home with the kids by himself.

I finally finished cutting out the silicone caulking. I will put my room back together tomorrow and get it cleaned up for Ryan while I am gone. I have to get to the grocery store and fix the fireplace switch before I leave so they don't freeze while I am gone. I wish they could come....

major painting blunder

So, on my last few days off, I painted 3 rooms in the house. I had three days off, and decided to paint my bedroom. I listen to this coworker of mine, and he tells me that he just finished painting his entire house. He rants and raves about how putting caulking around the edges makes this perfect line and seals the tape, so I decide to try it. He tells me to use silicone caulking. I get some and put it on.

I spend two days prepping and painting the bedroom. It looks great. I go to pull the caulking off, and it is stuck. He had warned me to goop it up in the corners really well so I have something to grab on to when I remove it, so I do. It is so stuck, you can't paint it, I can't sand it off, pull it off, nothing. I call another coworker and ask him about how to get it off, and he tells me the only way is either a solvent that will eat the paint and drywall, or I have to cut it off.

So here I am, cutting it off with a utility knife. It's killing my arms! At least I just put it on the crown moulding and chair rail, and not the baseboard, too. What a pain in the butt!! I am not a happy camper for the extra work. I called the one who told me to use it. He offered to come and help me, and buy me more paint. I told him to forget it, maybe my arm muscles will grow from cutting over my head? I just want to finish it before I head back East to visit my family.

life ends with momentary lapse of responsibility

Well, I went with Ryan and Kaila to Wal-Mart Saturday night, and it's the last time I saw my planner. Not that I blame myself, because I DO!! However, when one is experiencing sensory overload.... it is difficult to stay on task. I had it at the checkout counter. Then, Ryan was griping that it wasn't fun, wished he hadn't come, etc. Kaila is bugging me to drive home, ...etc. I thought to grab my planner out of the cart when either Ryan or Kaila said, "we already got it," and shoved the cart out of my way. They didn't mean my planner, they meant that they got everything else.
I have spent the day calling the social security administration (because everyone's social security numbers were in there) and they told me that I had to call the credit reporting agency. I did, and they won't take one for a minor unless I mail in all this stuff. What a hassle!!
Not only that, but I had written down what bills were due this week, my work schedule that I have no clue about, dentist appointments that I cannot recall, all my addresses, all my accounts and passwords (which I stayed up until 1:00 AM changing,) and countless other bits of information that cannot be replaced.
Worst of all, my grandmother had written me a letter. She has arthiritis, and doesn't hand write many things. It was just after her visit with us last July, and I wanted to put it in my scrapbook. I am devastated about that one. She said how much she enjoyed her visit, how great the kids are, and how much she loves us all. I pray it will turn up somewhere, but I am sure it is long gone.
Well, I have to go to work soon,....I think....so I had better get ready. Although I am not sure where it is out there, I hope my planner knows that I miss it very much!!

investing?

Does anyone have any opinions or good information to read on investing? I anticipate paying off our debts soon, and we are interested in investing for retirement purposes, and a savings account for emergencies. I don't know much about it, just what I have read online. Does anyone have any advice, or know of any good literature on the subject?

evil emerges with sleep deprivation

Well, my evil side reared its ugly head today. I worked for 19.5 hours last night, then came home extremely sleep deprived. I was super-grouchy! I wanted to go to bed, but I had to patch our wall as I am painting tomorrow. Ryan is upset that I am even painting tomorrow, but I wanted to patch the wall, and I hate the bottom color, so I want to get it painted so there wasn't a hole in the wall.

Anyway, I hoped to have my room taped and ready to start in the morning. It isn't, and I asked Ryan to help me as I want to try caulking it with silicone to prevent my tape from tearing off the paint as happened in the bathroom I just painted. I just needed help on the area next to the ceiling as I have to hold a big cauling gun up over my head, and our room is rather large. He wasn't thrilled about it, and told me I would be mad if he didn't.

I just painted three rooms my last days off, and not once did I ever act mad except when I was trying to paint by the internet connectiond and Ryan was too close to the wall so I couldn't get close enough to paint it. I love the way it looks. It's amazing how much a little paint will change the atmosphere of a room. I can't wait to have my room painted. But, I will try to get some sleep in the process, I was crabby today. :) I called and ordered the paint, and Ryan picked it up for me. Thanks Ryan!! :)

geyser

Well, something new today...we had a geyser in our front yard. There is a pvc pipe that sticks up out of the ground and runs from our irrigation water. Somebody broke it, but Chase and his friend that were out playing by it SWEAR that it was just like that when they went outside.

To make matters worse, we didn't have a key to shut off the water valve, and we couldn't find it anyway. Our neighbors came over and loaned us a key and showed us where it was. Luckily, because it was starting to leak down into the window well. Now I get to pay to fix that. Does it ever end? I know it doesn't, but I am grateful because it could have been worse!!

it's always something

Well, I actually got a few days off, and decided to paint my front room as I didn't like the paint in it and it is the first room you see when you walk into the house. I was moving the desk when the bottom collapsed and broke. Instead of being able to order the bed I really want, I now have to buy a new desk. It is always something coming up that requires my last dime. What a bummer. At least it is a tax deduction as Ryan works from home and that makes it a business expense.
It will take four weeks to get it in, so in the meantime our computer is sitting on two card tables. We have an ancient monitor, and we will replace that on Friday when the one we want goes on sale at Costco. It's a flat screen and will allow the computer to fit onto the new desk. Ryan also went out and got a fax machine after he had to spend $20 sending one fax to a Doctor he works with. And, he had to get a digital voice recorder. Now if he just gets his first check, it will pay for all of that.

I had extra money saved up, and the some kid will get sick and the doctor bill will eat it all up, or the car breaks, or the toilet leaks and ruins my newly refinished hardwood floors, school fees were ridiculous, etc. It's always something. On a positive note, I am grateful that I can work overtime to accommodate the shortfallings in our budget!! I will paint our bedroom on my next few days off, wish me luck!!

day off and furniture woes

I would just like to say, for the record, that I need a day off!! I am trying to earn extra money to pay for school expenses and we need a new dresser for our room.....so I ordered two with the intention of getting the matching bed and nightstands later.

I searched for almost 3 months for furniture. I found a new chain called IM Home, and they have been great. But, I ordered what I wanted, and the armoire wouldn't fit up the stairs. I am sick of having random pieces of furniture, and they are all cheap and falling apart....so I wanted something durable. I am going to pay a guy to remove part of the bannister so we can get the armoire upstairs. I was going to just return the furniture and get different stuff, but I don't like the other stuff as well. I am depressed about the furniture, and not having a day off. :(

school fees are ridiculous!!!

School is quickly approaching, and I am feeling the downfall of so many school age children. School clothes and shoes were around $2,000, and two kids don't have school shoes, yet. Then, I got letters from the schools with the kids' student fees on them. I about had a heart attack!! The teenagers in high school had fees around $300 each, and the junior high kid was just under $200. What in the heck am I paying taxes for? We are one of the higher tax paying states, with next to the lowest national scores, and I have to pay even more.

Worse yet, it was itemized. I have to pay three different computer fees. Add that together with three kids with three different computer fees, and I have pretty much paid for my own computer!! Makes me sick!! I also have to pay to have my kids use textbooks, to use a locker, to park in the parking lot that my taxes have already paid for, etc. I am starting Christmas shopping as soon as I can, so I don't have to sell a kidney to get my kids each one gift!! :)

Husband is home!!!

After a year of being part-time spouses, it is finally over!! My husband is on his way home right now. I am so excited. Of course, school for him isn't over, but mostly. When it is entirely over, I am going to have a BIG party, even if I am the only one that attends. :)

the antichrist is in Utah

I believe that I met the antichrist today. He had the most horrid image tattooed on his back, worse that I could have ever imagined. It was an anti-LDS image, and I actually gasped out loud when I saw it. The man had stolen a vehicle from Salt Lake. After some investigation, I found out that he was a registered sex offender out of Kentucky. What a gem. I told him he would surely go to hell for his tattoo, and he shrugged and said, "I thought that I was already there." Nice, I have to love the part of society I encounter every day!!!

The Used?

I almost forgot, my girls love The Used. Bert McCracken, the lead singer, was a given a citation by yours truly a couple of weeks ago. He was in possession of marijuana. Shocker, huh?

moving

Moving sucks!!! I hate packing the boxes, living for a while without the things in the boxes, putting them in a truck, taking them back out, and then unpacking the boxes. It's such a pain. And, of course, it doesn't help that I have boxes and boxes of things that have no real place to be put away....so they just get stored wherever I can find the room to put them. I will be glad when the moving thing is over, because what is worse than moving is living two states away from your husband and kids. I am almost there......

house to live in

I am almost ready to bring the kids back to Utah, and I am so excited. (Not as excited as my husband, but excited nonetheless.) I can't wait to be able to beat them for fighting, take away privileges for bad grades.....lol......seriously, every time I go there the little one has a new vocabulary, the next one up is in need of serious mommy-attention, and the older ones have so much new stuff going on in their lives that I don't know about. (some of it, I am probably glad I don't know about it.) :) Anyway, I am excited. I am grateful for those who let me stay with them, but I will be glad to have my own space to live in ....and I won't have to carry my soap and things to and from the bathroom...just to get in the shower and realize I forgot something!!

ridiculous airline rationale

The airlines rationalization for things just floors me. For example, I put two suitcases into one on recent trip, knowing I would need the space on the way back. I went to check it in, and it was overweight by 5 lbs. I thought that I was making is easier on the airline, they only had to deal with one bag. I was so wrong. I had to either pay an extra $75, or separate the two suitcases. So, now I had to check two bags which took more manpower to load and unload, and the two bags took up more room in the luggage compartment. How stupid is that?

Also, they have lowered the weight on allowable luggage so much (it used to be 75 lbs, now it is 50) that I can't even fill it up with just clothing without it weighing too much. Also, how is it that my luggage is weighed and scrutinized to the pound, but I weigh about 130, but the man or woman next to me is over 300lbs and "leaks" over into my seat. Why don't they have to pay extra? It kills me. I hate flying these days, good thing it beats driving. However, with the new price hikes from Delta, the only non-stop airline between my two cities, I may just start driving!! It will be cheaper, that is for sure.

working out

I have been working out faithfully for over three months. I try to heed my husband's counsel and not worship the scales, but rather go by how I look in the mirror and how my clothes are fitting. In addition, I have been trying to eat healthy foods rather than fast foods, even though my coworkers are mocking me and ordering just a water when we meet for meals. "I'll just take a water, hold the salad." I am a woman in a man's profession. Anyway, I am not losing weight, my pants are getting tighter around the waist, and I am totally ready to give up. I do cardio 6 times a week for at least half an hour, and lift weights at least twice a week. On most days, I do over 45 minutes of cardio. What gives? I may as well just sit at home and eat what I want, I didn't gain weight that way. I was just trying to get rid of the stomache pouch and big legs/butt for bathing suit season, but it isn't working and I am very discouraged.

another overdose

I had another heroin overdose this week. It seems like the heroin addicts don't understand that if you stop using for a while, you cannot just pick back up and start using at the level you stopped at. It's sad. The dad of the 22 year old male came down while we were doing the death investigation and said, "I have been waiting for this day to come for the past 5 years. At least the waiting is over." How sad. I wish drug addicts would realize how much their addictions hurt others, or maybe I wish that they would CARE that their addictions hurt others. It's sad to see people destroy their lives, and hurt people that care about them so much. I felt bad for the dad, I didn't really know what to say to him. I had just arrested the kid a few weeks prior, and he had been arrested often. I couldn't even say I was sorry. I was sorry the family was hurting, but it didn't seem appropriate. We have been having at least one overdose per week. It's so sad.

This death investigation was less stressful than the last one. The gentleman was looking at homosexual pornography and engaged in auto-erotic play. The family redressed him before we got there, but left the rest for us to try to hide from the rest of the family that hadn't already seen it. Some people need to pick better hobbies with less risk to their health!!

bring me the warm weather!!

It has been raining/snowing, and I am SICK of cold weather. I am going to Mexico at the end of the month, I can't wait!! On days like today, I really wonder why I live where it snows!!

working

I have been working a ton of overtime, and I am TIRED. We don't get overtime until we work 86 hours in a two week period, and as of today I have 45 hours of overtime on this next check. It should be a good one, I am crossing my fingers that I have enough to pay off the Mastercard. Oh, the things we NEED!! :)

stupid drivers

I had a call the other day, while working on patrol, where a guy was dying. They dispatched myself and medical, which they commonly do because one of us is bound to get there first to begin first aid, and it is usually me. Running with lights and sirens, I am bounding down the freeway at 110+MPH, and some retarded moron cuts in front of me. This is common, I am used to it. Often I follow people for quite a while before they realize, "Oh crap, it's the cops" and move over. On occasion, I will follow someone for over a mile before they realize it. I am slowed down, and switching between 3 siren tones while blowing an air horn to try to get their attention. So, with a guy dying.....I follow a guy for 5 (FIVE) miles. His girlfriend is reclined in the passenger seat, he is leaning way over and can barely see over the dashboard. They are all into each other, he is swerving all over the road. What an idiot!! I am so frustrated, if I was only armed with front loading/deploying torpedo launchers, he would no longer be contaminating the gene pool.

family

I have been displaced from my family for this year, and I have to say that though I am sure that it has been harder on my husband because he is stuck with all the kids.....I am having a rough time!! I hate being away from the kids, but will readily admit the break from dealing with their daily squabbling has been nice. I am feeling guilty because my husband is doing it by himself, guilty for enjoying the time away a little bit, and missing them....all at the same time!! I will be glad when we are all together again, and this year is a distant memory!

murder response

I had a guy in jail that had blown his wife's head off with a shotgun coming over to my desk and trying to intimidate me. He would always stare me down and try to scare my by making comments about his deceased wife. For example, others would complain about writing letters to their wives, and he would comment that he didn't have to worry about it, and then laugh hysterically. He was creepy. He came over to my desk while I was sitting there and said to me, "you know, you remind me of my wife." I replied, "Really, with, or without, her head." I was training some new people, and needless to say some of the females did not return. :)

guy screws mother

So, obviously, I am a deputy sheriff. I know a guy that is always in jail that was found having sex with his step-mother. I have to take a report from him, and find that his biological mother has stolen his car while he was in jail and stripped it for parts. He wants to press charges against her, so I go and arrest her for a felony car theft. When he asks what I thought about it, I asked him how it felt to screw both of his mothers. Is that bad? :)