I have a request...

Could it please stop raining!!!!

Now, about half of my state has been declared a disaster area. We're on a mountain where we are so aside from seriously soggy ground, we're fine. That's not the case for so many people around though.

My parents' river house is within two feet of having water coming in! Check out this article. The picture is actually of the community where their house is, Maddox Bay. It's so sad, because they've been working so hard on getting it all fixed up, and it's absolutely adorable! I'm so grateful that they're not living there full time now, because my mom said there is no way in and out since all the roads are flooded. If you've got a big truck then you can still get in and out, but otherwise you're stuck! Well, unless you have a boat. Since it's a fishing area most of them do, so I guess there is that. Still there are lots of older folks, who have retired to the area. I'm sure it's going to be really rough on them.

Lemmie just take this moment to say DO NOT DRIVE ACROSS RUNNING WATER!!! A man from our area had his truck washed away when we were having such serious flooding last week, and they only just recently found his body. It happens so often! Not with such tragic circumstances always, but why take the risk?

Any way here is my final plea to the powers that be... PLEASE STOP THE RAINING!!! We've had more than enough now. How about we save any for the next, oh, two weeks or so for this summer when we're in drought again? Sound like a plan? Thanks!

Thursday Thirteen #42

13 Things I Want for Baby Finn

Now I've got most of the things I need for the little guy, because he's gotten all his big brother's clothes and stuff, but there are a few more things I'd like to have for him. And I'm not feeling very creative in my list today. LOL

1. Winnie the Pooh Travel System – It's an infant car seat and a stroller that it fits into or you can just use the stroller on it's own. While I'm at it, Nicky could also use a new car seat. Nothing wrong with his other than the fact that it's hideously faded from being in the car for two and a half years. I'll probably just hold off until he is big enough for one of the nicer booster seats.
   
2. Breath Monitor – Sounds weird right? It actually measures micro-movements and if it doesn't sense any in a certain period of time (like five seconds I think) it sets off an alarm and wakes mommy and daddy. I know it must make me sound like a crazy woman, but I spent the entire first year of Nicky's life waking up every ten minutes to make sure he was breathing! Maybe I could actually get some sleep with this thing!
   
3. 12 Pack of Bum Genius Cloth Diapers – I've already got some fuzi bunz in small sizes, but the Bum Geniuses are a one size fits all diaper so he could wear them for a lot longer. Plus they are super cute.
   
4. Newborn Drop Ins Bottle Set – These are great bottles. You just drop in a plastic lining which you toss after you're done. Less cleanup and they are fabulous for nursing mom's. Nicky didn't have any trouble switching back and forth with them.
   
5. A couple of Swaddler Blankets – These are wonderful. It's the wonderful effects of swaddling without having to retuck the blanket a thousand times!
   
6. Diaper Kit – This is just a handy changing pad that you can fit one or two diapers and a few wipes in for those quick changes when you don't wanna grab the WHOLE diaper bag.
   
7. Shopping Cart Cover – For when he can actually sit up in the cart.
   
8. Infantino Sling Rider Baby Carrier – We've got a wonderful carrier for older babies, but I need one that is more for a newbie. This one seems good.
   
9. Video Monitor – I never trust my baby monitor that is just sound. I have all these horrible visions of things that could have happened that made no noise. So I keep going in to check and waking the little one up!
   
10. Dresser – This is actually for Nicky and Finn both. Nicky's clothes are now crammed into a little one that was great when he was a little baby, but now that he's bigger his clothes are too.
    
11. Milk Storage Organizer – Last time I had it just tossed in the freezer next to all the other frozen stuff. I'm sure this is a much better idea!
    
12. Loft Bed – Okay, obviously this is for when they are much older, but isn't it cuuuute!
    
13. The Dangerous Book for Boys – This is an adorable book that tells you all kinds of things, like how to build soap box derby cars and the rules of different sports. What little boys wouldn't need that?
    

Virtual Nesting

I forgot it was Thursday yesterday! I didn't do my Thursday 13! I didn't watch Lost. I think it's cause we have today off work and so it totally blows my understanding of the days of the week.

All I did all day yesterday was clean!

But Nicky's New room is now clean and straightened with lovely matching storage boxes. The only thing left in there is to clean out the closet... Not that that will be a small accomplishment. It actually requires that I clean out our bedroom closet, the now guest room closet, the linen closet, and the coat closet before I can properly redistribute the stuff in there so Nicky and Finn can have some space of their own.

It also requires that Bryon clean out his side of our closet and his side of what was Nicky's closet.

Which brings me to the topic of Virtual Nesting. Now obviously since I'm pregnant there are some things I can't actually do myself. Move large objects, work with nasty chemicals, clean the liter box, that kind of thing. And as all husband's are prone to be, my darling hubby requires a little prodding to get him to do things. It is not unusual for me to have to ask him more than five times to get him to do something.

Now, I don't possess any illusions. I know all men, or in the least most men, are like this. I don't expect him to change. I have however come to harness his weaknesses to my advantage. Muhahaha! He is a techno geek, and he works with SharePoint a lot at work. He was also in the military so he is big on planning and checklists. My answer? I've made us a family SharePoint site! I don't know if you've ever used SharePoint, but you can create these team websites with Tasks, Discussions, a shared Calendar, and a Shared Documents area. There are probably other things that you can have but that's the usual. So I created a task list and assigned Bryon his tasks and Voila! He's been accomplishing them! Twas an excellent plan.

Limericks...Cause I Feel Guilty for Forgetting to Wear Green on St. Patrick's Day

So I'm not a poet. I'm just not... But here are some limericks I wrote to go in my portfolio for one of my Creative Writing classes.

The teacher didn't like them. She was Irish and said she felt cursed by the entire form of the Limerick... Of course, she didn't like ANYTHING I wrote. Didn't learn much from her... Well anyway... Oh, well, I think Limericks are adorable! And no these aren't naughty so get your mind out of the gutter.

Emily May

Once in a land far away,
Was a girl they called Emily May,
She didn’t know why,
But she rose very high
That one day she floated away.

Montserrat Bay

In a place they call Montserrat Bay,
It is there that I wish I could stay.
The water’s so blue
You’d think it was new,
But in fact it’s been there everyday.

The Fairy Queen

She’s as light as a bird on the wing.
Ainé can do anything.
She’s been queen of the fae
As long as they say
The winter’s been turning to spring.

This Woman is So Cool!

This is Amy Walker. She's 25, and she can do 21 accents!!!

Is it just me…

Or does anyone else ever get sick and tired of being the responsible one? The one who says that the elaborate plans are a terrible idea, because such and such a bill has to be paid or such and such a thing be done.

And since you're always the party pooper, why would anyone bother to thank you for seeing to it that things are done and children are fed and clothed and bills are paid?

And when you give up the things that are important to you to make sure that everyone else has what they need and want, does anyone notice? No! They don't! Because why would they?

And why should anyone be proud of you, when no matter how hard you work at everything you do at home, at work, and in your writing you never get a bit of recognition for any of it.

And why do you bother anyway?

Cause you have to. What choice do you have? The bills have to be paid and the family has to be taken care of and if you don't write occasionally then the rest of it will drive you completely insane. Even if no one appreciates a darn thing you do.

Okay, I'm through wallowing. Me thinks I'm a tad hormonal!

Thursday Thirteen #41

13 Things I Would Buy if I Was Ridiculously, Obscenely, Obnoxiously Wealthy and Had Already Bought all My Friends and Families New Cars and Houses and Donated to Lots of Charities

As inspired by Daisy Dexter Dobbs' most recent post!

1. A Truly Over the Top Diamond Necklace
It would be exquisite. This isn't even quite as ostentatious as I had in mind, but you get the idea. I'll take one in blue and one in pink sapphires to go with it. ;)
2. A Castle
I'm thinking perhaps Neuschwanstein. You will all naturally be invited to my housewarming party.
3. A Tiara
Come on! I have a castle and a gorgeous diamond necklace. What's the next logical step?
4. A Rami Kashou Original
I totally got sucked into Project Runway, because Amanda, the mostly lovely of all the models, grew up right down the road from me. Normally I'm not much of a reality tv fan, but I simply had to watch every episode of this one, and I realllly wanted Rami to win! I mean Christian was very talented and all (I don't think anyone could argue that he's not), but how many people are going to wear the things he makes? And I didn't like his attitude particularly either. I'm a whole hearted believer in having confidence in ones self, but I don't think confidence equals trashing other people's work behind their back. Actually I think that shows a complete lack of confidence. Rami, on the other hand, was a lovely person and an incredible designer. The dresses he turned out were absolute masterpieces, and they were something that women would wear not just on a runway but to things in real life! Okay I'm done now. Go Rami! hehe
5. A Beach House
I'm going to need a vacation house right? This one will do jussssssssst fine.
6. An Andalusian Mare
I've mentioned a couple of times my love of horses? :-D
7. The most up to the date ridiculous computer evah!
It would be so fast it would know the answer to your query before you've thought of the question.
8. A Yacht
For my world travels.
9. A Private Jet
Bryon wants to learn to fly...I'd be okay with that if we're allowed to hire a copilot for him. Way too many obscenely wealthy people crash their private planes...
10. My Own Rock Wall
What? You think it would clash with the decor of my castle?
11. Every Single scent of Black Phenoix Alchemy Labs Oils there are!
They smell soooo gooood. I'm sure that is not the case with ALL of them, but if I had them all I could find out!
12. A Kitchen full of Pink Awesome Appliances
I love pink, and I want to love to cook... If I had a good cooking space I might love it! Oh and my kitchen would have TONS of cabinets! I have like three and a half right now... That just don't cut it!
13. A Personal Trainer and Chef!
I'd hire a chef with SKILLS to make fabulous meals in my pink kitchen that are low in fat and calories, and my Personal trainer would be there to help me work off my chocolate indulgences.

Why the Pyramid Collection can no longer expect my patronage.

Now I have always enjoyed the Pyramid Collection catalog (note that I'm not linking to it cause I'm so not going to encourage anyone to go there) and have purchased from them many times in the past. That relationship is OVER, which is sad because they have a lot of beautiful products that are just my style.

This is how it went down…

Toward the end of last month, I was reviewing my most recent charges on my credit card to ensure that all was well. I do this about once a week, because…well because I'm obsessive compulsive mostly. So I notice this strange charge…

AP9*SHOPPINGESSENTIAL+(Other)

I, of course, immediately called my credit card company and asked them what was up. I was informed that it was a subscription, and they gave me the telephone number of the company which was making the withdrawal. I was also told that this was the second month it had happened. Hmm… Why would I not have noticed a payment I didn't authorize?

I looked up the previous month's and realized that I had seen it and since I had been expecting a charge of approximately the same amount for something hubby had legitimately signed up for that I hadn't thought a thing of it.

Upon calling the number, I was asked for my membership number… Now how would I have a membership number when I didn't sign up for it? So they finally found it by my last name and zip code. Apparently it was in Bryon's name. I asked how it was that they got our credit card number, and they refused to give me any further information, since my husband had "signed up" for it and was therefore the owner of the account. They did, however, cancel the account at my request and issue a refund for that month's payment but refused to issue a refund for the previous month's as my husband had "agreed to their terms" when he "signed up."

They went so far as to refuse to tell me what their business was… Now I understand that there are strict privacy laws, but how can the privacy laws require that she not tell me what the business is if, in fact, it is a real and legitimate business and not a scam? Does that make sense to anyone else?

So I had Bryon call…

They informed him that he signed up for it when he filled out a survey for the Pyramid Collection when he purchased a Christmas present for me. They then refused to refund the previous month's "membership fee" as he had "agreed to the terms" when he "signed up for their service."

What is my biggest beef here? That the Pyramid Collection gave these people my credit card information.

So here is my email to them…

To Whom It May Concern:

I recently purchased a ring from your website. When I had completed the check out process, it gave me the option to complete a survey on the shopping experience. Coming from a business involved with customer service myself, I understand the value of such surveys and always do my best to help when I have time. However, this survey apparently was a scam. Somehow my credit card information was transferred to a company called Shopping Essentials, and I was signed up for a membership to their "discount service." I saw the original charge of $9.95 on my account and mistook it for another charge I had legitimately signed up for. It wasn't until it appeared again this month that I realized it was something that I had never authorized. Because I did not know to immediately call and cancel this account that I never signed up for, the first month's membership fee was for all intents and purposes stolen from me with no way to recover it.

I have always enjoyed your catalog and have purchased from you in the past, but I have my doubts as to whether or not I will do so again in the future. It is disturbing to me that you would expose your loyal customers to such a blatant scam as this. I urge you to rethink having any part in the Shopping Essentials company.

Sincerely,

Lesley Speller

Okay so I fudged a little. It was Bryon and not me, but you get the point…

Their response…

That it would be forwarded to the appropriate channels for consideration, and they apologized for the inconvenience.

How do I read this? Tough luck!

So, Pyramid Collection, I'm sorry to tell you that our long standing relationship is drawn to a close.

Thursday Thirteen #40

Thirteen Random Things about My Youth

1. I was not at all popular in high school.
   Imagine that! With all my wit and charm. LMAO
   
2. I played the flute.
   And yes…I did go to band camp, but no, ewwww, I didn't do that at band camp or anywhere else!
   
3. I still remember how to play the flute, but I've forgotten all the French I learned.
   I actually mixed French with Spanish today when trying to say I was tired… Je suis muy fatigue is not correct. Mademoiselle Blimling would be so ashamed of me! Well, at least they're both romance languages. ;-)
   
4. There were about 3500 people in the town I grew up in.
   I think last I heard the population of that town is actually dropping, but I may have heard wrong.
   
5. The main crops of the area were rice and soybeans.
   There was actually a festival for a few years called the Soybeananza…
   
6. The closest Walmart was 20 minutes away, as was the closest McDonalds.
   The town where they were located is host to the FABULOUS World Championship Duck Calling Contest! Yes, I'm 100% serious. Actually it's lots of fun: crafts, vendors, and naturally lots of duck callers. The wee little ones are the cutest! Maybe I'll enter Finn and Nicky one year. ;-)
   
7. We had a reservoir behind our house.
   I did A LOT of fishing! I still love fishing, but no one ever takes me. *sniffs*
   
8. You know that Army test they "make" you take when you're a Junior? The one that tests your math and science skills. I did really well on it and then they wouldn't stop calling me!
   No sir, I'm not interested in joining the armed forces. Thanks for asking though.
   
9. I hated math, but I loved science.
   Which is why (aside from my love of writing) that I never majored in anything Scientific. They make you do that dang math stuff. I mean I can do math, but it's just not fun. Except maybe algebra cause it's kinda like a puzzle.
   
10. I took lots of private drawing and painting classes.
    I discovered in those classes that I have no talent for those things, even though I REALLY wanted to!
    
11. I went to a summer program called Governor's School in Creative Writing.
    My first choice was Drama…I'm really bad at drama too… Mostly because I'm incapable of memorizing lines. No really! I can't memorize anything. I can learn concepts and never forget them, but details, dates, and those God forsaken multiplication tables allude me. No, I still don't know my multiplication tables… Hmmm we could have a clue as to why I hate math so much. It had something to do with timed Multiplication tests that made me want to hide in a hole!
    
12. I love riding horses.
    I had one when I was a teenager.
    
13. My first car was a 95 Camaro.
    How I adored that car! I still miss it!
    

    
    

Seeking the Aid of a Higher Power

Don't worry. This isn't going to be a religious post. I can almost 100% guarantee that I will never be going there on this blog.

So I've talked in the past about Nicky's obsession with the Wii. He loves that thing. Passionately. To the point of obsession. His favorite games are Cars, Wii Play, and his new Diego game, which we only got a scant two days before the incident.

Nicky had been trying to convince me all day to play Diego, but I didn't want him playing all the time, and he was being rather ornery about it so that clinched my decision to not let him play. I'm so not giving in to the orneriness! However, after lunch he had ceased his ranting about it and been good while eating his lunch, so when he came to me hugged me really tight and gave me a kiss and asked to play Diego I decided to let him. Well, I got up and turned on the Wii and it said it didn't have a disc...Odd since I'd left Diego in it. I hit the eject button and sure enough Diego popped out. hmmm... Tried another couple discs and got the exact same result.

The horror of horrors had happened. The Wii was broken!!! *insert corny horror music here*

Well I remembered that we'd gotten the two year warranty when we got the Wii so I got out the receipt and looked up the website for said warranty and filed a claim. All the time, an angry, betrayed baby bear was staring at me ranting (again) about wanting to play Diego. The email I received back from the claim said that I was to take the Wii the next business day to So and So's Satellite repair in Pennsylvania... Take it to Pennsylvania??? I could buy a new Wii for the price of gas! So I emailed and asked if I could mail it, and they said they were sorry but the instructions were for local people... Okay... I should wait for a mailing label, which should come within the week (if it's not there when I get home today then that isn't true), then after they receive it, the repair should be completed within 10-15 business days. All and all this ads up to over a month. How can I be Wii-less a month!?!?! Don't they know that WiiFit is coming out in March!!!!!!!

Anyway so Nicky was very displeased with me! He kept asking for Diego, Cars, Cows (WiiPlay). To which I always replied. Nicky, I'm really sorry baby but Said Game is broken.

Well this weekend I was taking Bryon to a friend's in a town not far from here, and I missed the road and had to turn around in a little subdivision. Nicky, in the back seat, suddenly shouted GRANDMA!!! I looked up and sure enough the subdivision bore a striking resemblance to the one my mother lives in, only she lives about four hours away... I tried to explain that it wasn't Grandma's, it only looked like Grandma's, but when we turned around without visiting Grandma there was much screaming.

Apparently this triggered a chain of thoughts in my two-year olds head, because later that evening when we were picking up Bryon again, he shouted that he wanted to call Grandma. Now he's never actually asked to call anyone, so I naturally picked up the cell phone, called her, and let him talk. The first words out of his mouth?

"Grandma, Cars broken."
*inaudible Grandma voice*
"Grandma, Diego broken."

So when I got the phone back I had to explain to her that my child, apparently believing me powerless to fix his Wii had sought out someone of much higher power. The Grandma!

Most Definitely Finn and Not Avalon

We are beyond a shadow of a doubt having a little boy. There is no mistaking the ultrasound picture I've got. Bryon asked if maybe it could still a girl? Umm...if it is, she has a penis. LOL

Anyway we're both in good health, but I spent Friday evening in the hospital. Blah!

You see...my darling sneaky child tried to make a break for it. It was about 70 on Friday (today we woke up to several inches of snow...you've gotta love Arkansas) so I took Nicky out to play in the backyard. Well our gate isn't the best in the world, and Nicky has figured out how to open it. So I always block it with a big cinder block, which is way too big for him to move. So he found another way around it.

The puppies were out playing with us, and Nicky announced that he wanted to go in the house. So I went and let the puppies in the back door closing the gate behind me. Only I can't cinder block it from the outside. I should have known that telling me he wanted to go in was a scam. He never wants to go in. I usually have to drag him in kicking and screaming. What he really wanted was to go sit on the "Big Red Tractor," my husband's lawnmower. So I turn around from shutting the dogs back in the house, and he's opening the gate. So he starts toward the lawnmower, and I start walking really quickly toward him. (You know toddlers are like run away wild animals if you run to catch them, they sprint away.) Well he turns around to see me and takes off running toward...the road! Now it's not exactly a freeway or even a highway. It's a dirt road, but Mommy panic kicks in and I take off running after him. I make it a few steps and my foot gets caught on a branch that blew out of a tree during the last wind storm and fall flat on my face...and more importantly my rotund, pregnant belly.

So Nicky turns around and comes back to me, pats my arm, and says. "Okay, Mama?"

Well, points for caring!

So I gather myself up, and get him back in the house and call my doctor's office, but they close at 2 on Fridays. Lame! And then I'm really nervous about it so I have them page the doctor on call. He calls and tells me I need to come in for an ultrasound so I tell Bryon to get his butt home and take me.

So when I do get to the hospital, the doctor is like...yeah, since your twenty weeks there isn't really anything we can do if there is something wrong, but let's just have an ultrasound anyway and find out. How encouraging, right? Now I'm not in the least bit of pain and Finn was doing his usual water aerobics (this kid is moving all the time) so I didn't figure there was anything wrong, but of course I do what I'm told. The ultrasound came back as just fine. Happy, healthy, little boy. He was either sucking or drinking amniotic fluid when she took his profile picture. It was pretty darn cute.

So that is how I spent my Friday night? I'm a regular swinging cat, no? hehe