Totally ANNOYING!

Our neighborhood is located a ways outside of the city limits. While our neighborhood is nice, but not particularly rich, the neighborhoods surrounding us are. Because of this, several different companies who go door to door have been dropping off van loads of their door to door salesman in and around our neighborhood. In the last week alone we have been approached by 5 different people.

What drives me nuts is that these so called "salesmen", who are usually peddling magazines, candles, candy, or cleaners, usually look like gang members recently released from the state pen. They usually arrive when Jeff isn't home from work yet, and I am alone with the kids. Charlie and Sammy are trying to hang out the door to talk to them, the cat is trying to run away, and meanwhile the gang member is letting loose with a really aggressive sales pitch. Being alone, I have the vague feeling that I may get shot if I refuse to buy something. The other day my neighbor Tom helped me get rid of one guy who was extremely pushy. I was SO grateful, but I am ridiculously annoyed by these people. Today I was ready to pull into our driveway when I noticed another salesman at our neighbor's house. In order to avoid him, we drove around our neighborhood for 10 minutes, because I didn't want him to accost me while I was getting the kids out of the car.

Is there someone I can call about this? I have no idea, especially as we are outside of the city limits. I noticed one of our neighbors had affixed a no soliciting sign to their door today, so I did the same. I don't know if it will help, as I have the feeling some of these people can't read, but I am hopeful. You shouldn't have to be afraid when your doorbell rings.

Nervous nervous nervous!

Do you ever feel overwhelmingly anxious?

That's exactly how I feel today. The worst part? I can't put my finger on why. Maybe end of the school year deadlines? A really busy weekend ahead? The piles of laundry overtaking my house?

Probably all of the above.

I had to work really hard today at not biting people's heads off, and not bursting into tears at strange times.

So instead of freaking out, I am trying to focus on the things I am thankful for, and the blessings I have in my life. I am so hoping for a more relaxed tomorrow.

Fun and Excitement!

Have you ever tried to help a 4th grader with double digit long division at the same time you are cooking dinner at the same time you have two whining toddlers hanging on your legs?

It is the most fun ever, let me tell you.

It is so much fun, I sure hope I don't get to do it again tonight!

Adventures with Vehicles

It's been a LOVELY 24 hours here at Casa de la Sole Woman, y'all. Monday on the way to school the check engine light came on in the van. We called our mechanic right away, but because of a car show here in the Big O, he couldn't fit us in until Friday. So, since the car was just a bit "chuggy" but otherwise fine, we decided to drive it until our appointment. I will just admit to all of you here and now that that decision was COMPLETELY stupid. And I paid for it.

Yesterday on the way home from swimming lessons, with all three of the kids along for the ride, the van completely stalled out. I was thankful I was at least able to coast through the intersection to get to the side of the road. Unable to get it running again, I had to call AAA. Big kudos to them for their customer service. The lady I was talking to heard Sammy shouting in the background, "MOMMY! GO CAR! GO HOME! MAKE THE CAR MOVE!!!" and she sweetly asked if I had any children with me. I told her I was toting three grumpy boys, and she said she would put a rush on the tow order since she didn't want them to have to wait in the cold, and she moved us to the top of the list. So everybody-the next time you have to call for a tow truck do not instruct your children to be quiet while you use the phone. Have them create a big ruckus and they will feel sorry for you.

After towing it home, and a big rescue from the side of the road by my awesome parents, we are pretty sure the fuel pump is out, to the tune of about $630. Swell! Hopefully things are fixed by Friday.

The rotten thing was that my dad had surgery today and he really wanted to make it to the family rosary last night for some prayers and encouragement, and because of our dumb decision, he missed out on that. I felt like a total heel. I would have loved to handle the whole thing ourselves, but we can't fit the kids in Jeff's car since it won't hold carseats in the back, and we definitely can't fit all of us in at the same time. I can't wait to get rid of the "bachelor car" as I not so affectionately call it, but a new vehicle is just not in the cards right now.

Here's to making smarter car decisions in the future. I definitely learned a hard one this time. Being stuck with three kids on the side of a dark road is not something I want to repeat!

More Stupidity

Sorry to post something like this two days in a row-but sometimes the stupidity around me just amazes me.

While I was running on the treadmill on the gym tonight, I was reading the fine print paragraph on the control panel in an effort to ignore how much time I had left in the torture chamber. I noticed it read, "Stop using immediately if shortness of breath occurs." Seriously? Show me the person who doesn't get short of breath while using a treadmill!

I guess I don't even have to bother getting on anymore. I wouldn't want to get short of breath WHILE EXERCISING!

What?!

Yesterday while reading O! magazine, I came across an advertisement reminding readers to recycle the magazine when finished reading. In the lower left hand corner there was paragraph of small print reminding readers that before recycling your magazine, you should remove all CDs and batteries.

What?!

I am obviously subscribing to the wrong magazines. None of mine require batteries, or give away CDs.

Dressing Room Hell

Please tell me this happens to you too, and that I am not crazy, or just a lot fatter than I thought.

I went shopping today to pick up some new duds for both Evan and I. We stopped at two different stores. I don't know where dressing room mirrors come from, but they all make me look at LEAST 20 pounds heavier than the mirrors we have at home. You would think that stores would want to buy mirrors that make you look thinner so that you want to buy more of their clothes. Instead, it's like being in a funhouse.

This is why I hate getting new clothes. Because I feel like a cow after shopping.

Tell me this is not just me! If you don't it means I need to loose WAY more weight than I thought!

Frick and Frack

Jeff and I were just notified by our shitty mortgage company (note to the Internet COUNTRYWIDE sucks!) that a former employee stole our financial info, including mortgage number and social security numbers, and then sold it. They regretted to inform us that we will now go through hell trying to protect our credit report/score.

Did I mention Countrywide sucks?

We have had mega problems with this company before...payments we made credited to others accounts, repeatedly losing our home insurance info, etc.

Now we have to go through monitoring our credit reports, putting a fraud alert on our credit reports, and disputing credit accounts opened fraudulently.

Take this warning to heart, internet! DO NOT USE COUNTRYWIDE AS YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY!!!

Elections...

I am not usually one to be really absorbed with politics, or to have a particular like for one candidate over another. I guess this year is mostly the same, that I don't like one terribly much over the other (although I think Baraq Obama is drop dead gorgeous-Jeff had the chance to meet him in person and have his picture taken with him in October, so I blew up the picture to an 8x10 to put in our bedroom. More because of Baraq than my husband!!) I do however get sick to my stomach when I hear about Hilary. It's not that I dislike her policies or positions, she just makes my skin crawl. I don't know if I can make it through with her as president. I can't even listen to stories about her on TV or the radio, because I just find her so disturbing. I think it is her personality-she is so grating, and she seems to have bipolar mood swings. I am all for having a woman prez, but not that one.

The Flu

The FLU hit me like a TRUCK this week. I had a high fever (104.5) and chills, aches, coughs, vomiting, you name it. I was even sick for Charlie's birthday yesterday. I didn't get to go in for my bloodwork, or for Charlie's allergy testing, so now I have to reschedule that whole mess. UGH! I am back at work today, but I am so regretting it. I feel totally wiped out.

Successful?

Today after school I managed to take Evan to swim lessons, entertain two very grumpy toddlers while at swim lessons (with only one major temper tantrum), stop at the store for birthday treats for Charlie at school tomorrow, fix dinner, give baths (during which one toddler had diarhea in the tub and I had to start all over), help Evan with homework, get everyone to bed by 8:00, and exercise for half an hour. Most of this also occurred during a snow storm. Does this mean I can now qualify as asuccesful mother? Or maybe just crazy...

Doing Our Best to Support the Drug Companies

Charlie, bless him, is sick with his third round of a sinus infection, one he has been nursing faithfully since the first week in December. He finished his second round of antibiotics on Monday, and by Wednesday was a walking ball of green snot. So back to the doctor we went on Friday. Not only did he have the sinus infection, but all the green ooze had infected a patch of eczyma on his face. Dr. B wants us to see an allergist next week, have him allergy tested, and then he will probably start allergy shots. He prescribed three new meds for Charlie, and gave us a refill for one of Evan's meds. Jeff and I stopped at Walgreens on our way home from a lovely date dinner at Applebees to pick them up. I thought Jeff was going to pass out when the clerk told us the total we owed was FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY FREAKING DOLLARS!!!!!!! Even the clerk looked distressed. We probably won't be able to afford to eat this year, but at least we will be well medicated. I have started a campaign to convince Jeff we need to move to Canada. Michael Moore is my new best friend.

It was a lovely way to end a date.

The Christmas from Hell

This Christmas is turning out to be AWFUL. I am recovering from bronchitis. Charlie has a double ear infection, sinus infection, eye infection, and bronchitis. This means he screams and cries all the time. Sam has taken to not sleeping at night. Jeff and I are going stir crazy and are sick of looking at the same walls and hearing the same cries. Jeff is being his usual rock star self and is shooing me out of the house tonight with just Evan to spend Christmas Eve with my family while he is staying home with both babies. How did I get sd lucky to have such an awesome husband? I can't wait to get past this holiday and on to next year. I can't wait for my kids to be older. I can't wait for them to be HEALTHY!!! I can't wait to sleep again. UGH.

Unbelievable

I was feeding Sam in the living room at about 5:15 this morning, when someone began ringing the doorbell repeatedly. When I went to the window by the door, I saw a Douglas County Sheriff's Officer outside. Apparently a group of silly teenagers were going through our neighborhood breaking out the windows of cars parked outside by throwing rocks at them. Jeff's car had been parked outside, and they had broken out the rear and driver's side windows. There was body damage as well from the rock. We filed a police report with the officer working on our street and luckily, the windows are replaced already. The company came out and fixed things right at ConAgra which was great. However, it's just one more disaster before Christmas. Some gremlin has it out for the Kleffman family!