Brrrr..

March 26th and it is a nice warm 27° outside.  Gotta love a Midwest winter that just doesn't want to end.  For that reason, no 10k for me today.  I donated my money to the Wounded Warriors. I am sure they don't care if I got out there and froze my ass off.  Plus, I can't justify taking B and M out in this being that their sitter is sick.  So, it was definitely a win for everyone, well except Dave.  He thought it started at 8:30 and was there by 7:30 -- because I mean everyone gets there an hour before start time right?!?  Around 7:45 I received the phone call that starts "I am such a damn idiot, the race isn't until 9:30 and I am the only one here. Oh, and its cold to boot."  No comment on my end as I was loving the warmth of inside the house:)

Tonight I am hosting a party for Dave's female Marine Options.  Personally, I don't think he grants them the attention they deserve so being we are exiting this duty station I am doing something for them.  An Italian dinner and a massage therapist that is coming in to do a foot pressure point massage on all of them.  I suppose it's my way of saying "Sorry you were treated as if you had a penis the past three years."  Joking, I know Dave provided amazing training to them (as they idolize him), but I am yet to meet a female Marine who is a grunt and I know he did not touch on any other MOS's (job specialities for those civilian readers).  Hopefully they enjoy it.  I mean I am starting the meal with Lasagna soup, whats not to enjoy?!?

I am off to DC tomorrow for a week of training.  This is the first time that Dave has ever been left alone with the kids without my mom around to assist.  I have already sent Matti's teacher a note apologizing if she shows up in the wrong uniform on the wrong day, forgets homework, lunch, and hasn't had her hair brushed.  I have left Dave a 3 page list of items that needs to be done.  I am certain come Friday he will have Welcome Home signs hanging along the Toll Road for me:)  Keep your fingers crossed for him.

Facebook Fridays

I have decided that I am going to start a new weekly post.  Facebook Fridays will be the most out of control FB Status update I have seen all week.  I obviously will not use the person's name just because I don't feel like dealing with the fact they might not appreciate it.  However; if you happen to see your post on here you can own up to it, or simply move on.  But I will be watching!

Drum Roll.......

"Damn, I love my life!  You know it is good sex when two days later ur stomach muscles are still crippled from long intense sex.  I love my man."

We shall refer to her as the "ab crippler".  I can't wait to bring this up in random conversation with people..."Hey, Have you ever had your abs crippled".  Or at a high school reunion..."Wow, its really been a long time since you crippled my abs."  There are so many possibilities for these two little words.

I can't believe what some people will toss out on FB.  It really does amaze me.  Maybe I should post on Dave's wall and ask if he wants to play a game of ab crippling.  I must say I am intrigued if she has a six pack....

Happy Facebook Friday!

Pamper Days

I threw a baby shower for my dear friend Karen a few months back.  As a token of her appreciation she purchased an "Infusion by Deidre" at a local spa called Selah.  Can I just say, I begged Deidre to come home with me?!?  This was a massage followed up with one of the most amazing facials I have ever received.  I have been contemplating botox for a few months now for some of the fine lines I am starting to see.  Especially the one between my eyebrows.  This is more of a stress line I am told, and I must wear the weight of the world on this one little crevice because to me it appears to be as deep as the St. Joe river that runs behind my house.  I explain all of this to her, and she states that in the facial today she is going to provide a Hungarian Botox and massage into the fine lines.  It was amazing.  And I am sure it is probably my mind messing with me because I loved the experience so darn much, but I really think it is not as prominent as it was!  And my face just feels refreshed and renewed.

After I left I made a pact with myself after I already scheduled a follow up massage, once a month this facial is going to happen.    Granted I only have a few months left with Deidre, but surely in the desert there is someone that can do this.  I mean stepping outside when it is windy should provide the best exfoliation treatment ever.

Thanks Karen!  This was an amazing gift!!

10K

I am always a sucker for a good cause.  This Saturday is the annual Wounded Warrior run on ND.  Last year I did it while pushing B and Dave pushed M.  I ended up walking the majority of it because lets face it pushing around what feels like a few bags cement on a rocky trail is not the most fun I have ever had.  But regardless, I finished and walked away with my tshirt.  This year we have decided to get a sitter for the kids.  Now I have no excuse not to run it.  Well, unless you count the fact I haven't ran at all for a little over a month and I am sure to feel like my lungs are collapsing before I even hit the first 1/2 mile of the race.  I have been to they gym on a weekly basis busting out some elliptical, the bike, and some yoga, but nothing that is preparing me really for this race.  And I really shouldn't call it a race as I am sure I will not come close to winning.  In my mind it is just a run, a long painful run that I shall endure with no training.

So, wish me luck on Saturday.  The goal is to finish.  I do plan to run at least 3 miles between now and then to "loosen" me up a bit.  I am sure it won't help.  I suppose it shouldn't matter if I finish with the 60 and over age bracket, I can just tell everyone I fell back to run with them to make them feel good about themselves.  Watch these oldies will more than likely circle back and pick me up...

Welcome to the High Desert!!

Unlike most, I look forward to checking my mail on a daily basis.  Only because a few friends and I have a "sussey" exchange every month and you know how I love to receive susseys.  Today was no different, I go to the box open it and waiting for me was nothing other than a sussey from Marine Corps Base Twentynine Palms.  It is an envelope that must have a roll of tape attached to it jammed into my mailbox.  I bust it open and the front page reads "Welcome to the High Desert" with a smiling cactus.  Whoever works in marketing should be fired.  I already know there is a cactus show me a good looking man, show me the ocean with the comments: "You can enjoy this in only a few short years"..anything but a cactus.

As I am flipping through my documents (there are at least 100 items in this folder) I am looking for items that are going to benefit my kids.  I don't need to know the benefits of a commissary (military grocery store), I live in the civilian world right now with no baggers, trust me I know what I am missing out on from the commissary.  Then I come across the "Marine Corps guide to quit smoking"...when did the MC become the surgeon general?  And really, if the MC wanted people to quit smoking, why not just make it an order and hand out nicotine patches.  Instead lets print fliers and have a class.  It also appears that Sandra Flanning wants to offer me financial advice as she included a letter of how she can help me apply for a home loan, car loan, credit card, checking account, and savings account.  Hell, if she is getting paid for that, I should start my own business of telling people how to manage their money.  Sadly, I know there are people out there who do need "guidance" but if you can't fill out an application, you need an education to go with it.

My most favorite documentation in my packet "Desert Survival".  Keep in mind this guide does NOT specify if you are in the desert and cannot see anything but sand for miles, its just states for the desert environment.  So, I am applying this to the entire area to include my house on base.  I should keep the following:

Water -- Drink prior to becoming thirsty and test urine often...clear = good; dark = bad.  I realize if I mention this to M or B they will be staring at the toilet for an hour trying to decide if they need more water, especially B,.

Purification Tablets for Water -- I hope they sell these at the commissary as I have no idea what they are, but I think my bottled water would already be purified?  And lets face it after hearing about the base water, the Harts will not be drinking that.

Metal Signal Mirror -- so I can shine to all of my friends on the East Coast to give a daily "What's Up"?!?

Flint and Steel -- Hopefully this is next to the purification tablets.  No idea what it is or what I would do with it.

Knife -- ha..trust me where Dave Hart lives there will be knives

Writing Pad and Pencil -- when its cloudy and I can't flicker my mirror signal I shall write my East Coast friends on this day.

Hat -- I am guessing because I am going to be sweating like a whore in church and I need something to keep the water out of my eyes.

Compass -- in case I get lost on base?!?  This needs to be updated, I now have a GPS

A light colored whistle -- so I can blow at the kids when they are too loud and I am lost?!?

Poncho -- to protect myself from the daily rain storms?!?

Looks like I need to go shopping to prepare myself, the last paragraph states I should have these items on me at ALL times (ALL is bolded in the flyer).  I am shocked mace isn't on the list...you all know I have plenty of that around:)

Granted there is some good information about the schools, etc.  But the majority of it I really have to laugh about.  Now off to watch the video they included.  Yes, I said video!

Bathroom Break Ins/Happy Birthday Charlie

I clearly have no time to update this blog on the weekend.  Between the kids (to include Dave)  my time is stretched so thin.  It's almost as if they don't see me for 30 seconds they all have to come hunt me down.  They all remind me of little koala bears that have to be attached at all times. This includes if I am in the bathroom.  It is nothing for B  to bust in on me and want to know if I know what he did with his police car.  Granted after he asks he will always turn around and say what are you doing?  My response is always...looking for some sanity buddy.  Then he skips out.  For whatever reason the lock on the bathroom door downstairs doesn't work properly.  Not sure if this is a fluke or my contractor just played a cruel joke on me when he built the house after he saw the kids.  And I know that I could get a new door knob, but who has the time?!  Or I should say who has the skills to change it?!? 

I told Dave I am in need of an Eat.Pray.Love month.  I don't think I would go hang with elephants, gain 40lbs, or live in a meditation compound.  Instead I would find a home on the beach, maybe become BFFs with Jimmy Choo, and yoga.  I could do yoga everyday if I had an instructor forcing me up from my beach chair.  Quite confident none of this is going to happen anytime soon, so I will just live the dream of not being allowed to go to the bathroom in private:)

Sunday we went to my mom's to celebrate Charlie's birthday.  Charlie's birthdays to me are milestones.  Four years ago his doctor told him he thought he would only make it 4 months after his cancer diagnosis.  Four years later he is still going strong and cancer free.  I believe in a higher power and I believe in mind over matter.  I think he not only physically beat the disease with  poisonous cocktails that came in the form of chemo and radiation, but he beat it mentally as well.  He truly is the best stepfather I could have ever asked for.  And I am thankful he is still with us celebrating his birthdays. 

Now off to a surprise baby shower for M's teacher.  I wonder if I should put on the card..."Enjoy your moments of silence in the bathroom while they last"?!?

Gobble Gobble

I have not mentioned yet that we live in our own animal kingdom in Osceola.  It is nothing out of the ordinary to go out and see 3 or 4 deer hunkered down in the yard.  Odd thing about it, when they see us its as if we are their owners and they don't even move. For the longest time M & B thought that Santa's Reindeer lived here.  With the weather warming up (thank God), more animals have began to show their face in the subdivision.  Two days ago I am in the office working and I hear this annoying noise.  I look out my window and there are two of the largest wild turkeys staring at me.  Thank God nobody was here and heard me scream like they were trying to attack me.  But it was a bit odd opening the blinds and seeing them staring through the window.  They are really ugly.

Last night being that it was almost 70 out, I let the kids play on the back patio while I cleaned up the dishes from dinner.  Suddenly I hear M tell B that he needs to just put the ball down and get to the house now.  He obviously isn't listening and I hear her say "B, I am your sister, I am not kidding get yourself to the house or this is going to be bad".  At this point, I look out the window and holy shit there are those turkeys walking towards them!  I was so proud of M for not leaving B out there alone, but the only child in me came out and I was thinking at this point its survival of the fittest.  I run out and tell them to get inside.  At this point B is pretty close to the bird and I think realizes that the bird is taller than him; he runs towards the house like he is on fire.  Dave and I cannot help but laugh. 

B runs into the house and goes directly to the playroom downstairs comes back up with a toy gun and says "Don't you worry M I am going to shoot these turkeys in the ass".  How is that for parenting?!?  Dave and I both had to walk the other way because we didn't want him to see us laugh.  By now the turkeys are moving over to the tree line and B is yelling at them from the patio door to get out of his house and never come back as he is making shooting sounds with his gun.

This is the first for the turkeys.  Typically we have raccoon, deer, opossum, cats, and an animal control person came to my door once and said they were tracking a coyote in our area and showed me the prints in the yard and if we had small children or any pets to keep a close eye on them.

Almost as if Noah decided to offload the Arc in our neck of the woods....

This is after they started to walk in the tree line.  Of course I couldn't get the picture sooner as I was fearful for them attacking B.  However; at this point he is still yelling that he is going to shoot them and to get out of our house.

Facebook

Let me start off with saying, I admit I am an addict.  I love using this as a way to stay in touch with friends through the years and keep updated with pictures, etc. to see how they grow.  I never take FB seriously like some people do, I would never air my dirty laundry as my status update.  I have seriously seen someone update with "I found out my husband was cheating on me today because his mistress changed her profile picture to them kissing."  WOW!  First of all, lets give it up for the cheaters of the world, without them you may lose the opportunity to find that one person you belong with because they are stuck in a relationship with someone that is clearly not the right person for them.  Secondly, lets give it up for the idiot mistresses.  My guess is she wanted to be caught, or she really is just that stupid.  I never understood that, if you are going to do something that you know you should not be doing why in the name of God would you leave behind evidence?!?  You can rest assure that before Dave and after my ex days...a few people did not know my real name.  I am sure in Kansas City today some people are gathered around a bar talking about the legendary "Nikki Roudebush"...that's right, that's my alias.  I was an eye doctor, and never gave out my real name.  Maybe I should create a FB page just for Nikki and see how many requests I receive???

Back to facebook...I also love those people that block people.  I mean really?!?  Do you feel like you are that important that you want to block someone from knowing you are on FB?!?  It makes me laugh.  I have one person that I know of that has blocked me.  It is my ex- sister in law and she always hated the fact I had members of our exes family on my FB page (I also come from the school, I didn't divorce the family), at any rate this bothered her so bad because they were going through such a nasty divorce that she blocked me.  Which truly made me laugh.  But what is even more amusing, she will unblock me at times?!?  Seriously, are you that bored?  And more importantly do you think I am that big of an idiot and cannot tell from other people's pages when you wake up and decide to hit the "unblock" button?!  And its not like you could accidentally do it.  It is a process to block or unblock someone.  But it makes me laugh.  And should I block you?  Is that FB etiquette to block someone that has blocked you?  There really should be a manual for this.

I am all about keeping my profile to myself and only allow those that I choose to see it for safety reasons.  But I feel like I should give a shout out to those that truly do bring crazy to the FB space.  I mean without you how would I obtain my daily dose of craziness and have something to laugh about.  That is unless you have me blocked and I can't see what kind of crazy you have going on:) 

Feast with Friends

I have quite a few acquaintances, but few friends.  I treat my friends as if they were family and I can count them on one hand.  These are people that I would trust with my kids and be there for them at any time of day.  I am an extremely loyal friend.  And shocking to some, very compassionate.  However; they all know I should not be their "cry to" friend.  If something has physically happened to them or their family by all means I would more than likely cry with you.  But if they are just having a PMS moment or their feelings are hurt about something, I am not the person to call.  Because to be honest it makes me uncomfortable and my sarcasm escalates.  All of my good close friends know this about me, so they turn to someone else on their friend list for these bumps in the road.  I hope I am thought of as their "happy" friend.  I am like a walking dose of Acid for someone to trip on.  Odd analogy, but someone told me that once.  Granted, she was drunk...but it made me laugh.

I love friends that will just call you up in the morning and say "We are hungry and don't feel like making dinner tonight, what are you making because we are coming over".  That's what happened yesterday with M's Godparents.  They live 45 minutes away and came over for dinner.  We know that our time is limited as we will be moving soon, so this was a great surprise for the middle of the week.  I ended up making Vodka Pasta w/Shrimp, salad, garlic bread, and a homemade Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake (I know you are shocked).  But it was a good time and good conversation with two people that I have really come to appreciate through the years.  Not to mention M was excited to see them as they spoil her too much.

This is one thing I am looking forward to in the desert.  Allowing new people into the circle of friends I already have.  In this military world, friends truly are sometimes just as close to you as family.  I am banking on that to help me survive the desert.

Now if only B's Godparents would just pop in for dinner.....hint....hint:)

As always Willie watches as Dave works;)

Train Wreck

I am a big fan of reality TV...at night when the kids are settled in I really do become a pretty big TV junkie.  Thank God for DVR.  However; last night was the finale of the Bachelor.  I have been watching this show for 6 weeks, and am completely addicted to it.  I even convinced Dave to watch the last show and the "After the Rose" show with me.  Granted, I find the show to be a bit degrading, and often wonder how on earth could this really work, but none the less it provides solid entertainment to me every Monday night.  I was Team Emily from the beginning.  I suppose it has something to do with her story, but she appeared to be genuine unlike the rest of the chics.  I think the guy is a tool, but hey, I am not the one on the show so what do I care?!?  At the proposal last night, I just love the song by Train.  I had heard this song when I first bought the CD for "Hey Soul Sister"...you know the song B will break out during Mass most Sundays.  And I always told Dave if I got married again (as if he wouldn't kill me first), this song would be in my next wedding.  I mean really, whats a life without multiple weddings?!?  So, as great as I suppose the proposal was...the song was better. 

Then the follow on show comes on.  And I watched a train wreck unfold before me.  I had such high hopes for these people, really I don't know why I had high hopes as their life has no impact on mine, but I did.  I believe in happy endings.  Although they say they are still engaged they truly need therapy.  They are both freaking CRAZY.  As I was watching all of this unfold, it felt as though I was watching a train wreck.  I was disgusted and didn't want to watch it any longer, but then I just couldn't stop.  Of course during all of this, I have Dave laughing and saying "This dumb ass deserves this."  Clearly, Dave Hart is not a fan of the Bachelor, but I think in his mind if he watches it then that gives him points, and we all know what he "thinks" will happen when he feels like cashing the points in.   Needless to say, after the show was over I realized there were 6 weeks of my life I would never get back.  I suppose for lent I should have given up reality shows instead of chocolate.  In this case, the chocolate would have been much more satisfying in the end.

Speaking of lent, we did a "lent" check yesterday to make sure that we were all still on track.  So far, I have stayed away from the chocolate.  It hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would be.  However; I have realized we have entirely too much in the house.  Dave hasn't had a Red Bull.  Which is impressive considering he was in the field this past weekend with minimal sleep.  M is good with the Cheetos, and B informed us last week that he isn't going to say bad words, ie...shut up or shut your mouth.  I pointed out I heard him say shut up last night to M, but he informed me he told JC (yes, we refer to Jesus as JC) that he was sorry and they were "good".  That kid cracks me up. 

Rockstars

I really do have the best family!  Regardless of where we are at or what we are doing we always manage to have a great time.  This past weekend Dave was off doing a MC thing, and I took the kids to my mom's and went to a surprise party for a friend with my cousins.  Granted I now know what its like to be the oldest person at the party as she was turning 30, and others were discussing how they were dreading the big 30.  At that moment I realized what Dave must feel like always being the oldest guy around.  Granted he does not look or act his age, but I am sure he walks away with the same feeling of holy shit I am getting old like I did.  Regardless of the age difference, there were many laughs to be shared and multiple pictures taken.  I ended up getting home around 2 am..and due to  age I think I am still paying for it and it is Monday morning:)  I suppose that time change of going ahead did not help much either.

It is amazing to me how M & B can be spoiled so fast by my mom and stepdad.  It will take me at least 2 days to get them back on track and make them understand the rules at their house do not apply to the rules at ours.  Starting with the insane amount of sugar.

On a separate note, I am sending lots of prayers to my ex mother inlaw today.  Over the weekend she suffered an aneurysm and has had two surgeries to take pressure off of her brain, and to stop the bleeding.  I am hopeful that she comes out of this with minimal to no damage. 

High Five to the Face Thursdays

I know if you saw my FB status update yesterday you probably figured out it was a bad day.  Maybe I am PMSing and in need of the chocolate that I gave up for lent, that is a strong possibility.  But I would say the bigger possibility is dumb ass people.  Working from home I really am removed from the majority of office drama.  Yesterday it felt as though I was sitting in the middle of it.  I take an issue with people that tend to talk about you in a negative sense behind your back.  If you have a problem with something someone did, be professional about it and confront the situation.  Do not be that person that will roll your eyes when their name is mentioned and then when you talk to them act that all is well.  This is such a cowardly approach to a situation that could easily be resolved if you just said what was on your mind.  I don't think you should start the conversation with "Hey Dumbass, I don't like you." But there is definitely something to be said about lines of communication...direct communication, not the type that channels through others that eventually makes it way back to you. 

I am the type of person that when it comes to work I take nothing personal.  If I did something wrong, I will be the first to raise my hand and say I screwed up.  That's how you learn, trial and error.  I am not at work to make friends.  I am there for a paycheck.  Don't get me wrong, I work with some amazing people, and I have a lot of great laughs with them.  But in reality at the end of the day if I needed to call on a friend, I would not call them.  Outside of their work numbers I do not even know how to get in touch with them. 

I just think that people (especially if you are in a management role) should have the professional fortitude to confront a person about something.  Not go to others with negative comments or expressions about them.  I would say as management you should be better than that, but in reality as humans you should be better than that.  If I have something to say to someone about anything I am going to approach them.  I don't find myself to be a confrontational person at all, but I do consider myself to be respectful enough of others that I am not going to discuss my issues with someone else.  Because just like yesterday's work drama all lines of communication will end back up to that person.  And to be honest, I don't want to hear people bitch all day that someone was talking about them.

So, after my somewhat drama filled afternoon over work cattiness I decided to go get a brow wax.  It was almost as if God was punishing for thinking in my mind I wanted to high five people to the face yesterday.  I sit down in the chair to a nice girl named Crystal.  After the wax is put on my first eyebrow, Crystal informs me that she is an apprentice in the shop and this is her first eye brow wax since leaving beauty college in 2008.  She said that after graduation she had other things going on and did not get her license right away, plus the first time she took the test she failed.  I am thinking really, can this story get any crazier.  And why yes it does...come to find out when she went to a Beauty College where my cousin instructed.  I can't wait to talk to her today and ask her why my brows are still puffy and I have dried on wax, not to mention bleeding as I left the shop.  This wax almost took 20 minutes.  I knew I was in need of one, but I didn't have shag carpet hanging above my eyes.  I just wanted it to end.  And today I can still see the marks of my 20 minute torture.

Afterwards I decided the only way to end this day was going to be retail therapy. Lucky for me, Target was across the street.  I never get out of Target without spending at least $100 -- so $187 later and a few new items for myself, at 8:30 pm, my day was finally starting to look up a bit.

I do believe that High Five to the Face Thursdays should become a national holiday.

Flu

I know vaccinations is a big debate amongst people.  I of course had both M & B vaccinated with all of their shots.  Even though M still had the chicken pox after the vaccination was given for it and at her school physical this past year she still received the booster for it.  A few years ago I got both her and B flu shots, low and behold they both ended up with H1N1.  This year I opted not to get them a shot.  Not for any other reason than it didn't help the year prior.  So, yesterday the doctor informs us that M has String B influenza, and starts her on Tamiflu.  I immediately feel guilty. 

I had no idea how potent the Tamiflu is.  The pharmacist told us that it would take 2 hours to mix?!?  And when we picked up there was nothing listed on the consultation sheet that comes with the medication.  I asked if they forgot to do this and they stated that it has not really been out long enough to list all of the side effects, but to date the only issue that people seem to have is diarrhea with it.  Oh and its so strong that she is only allowed 3ml of it a day.  Great.

First dose (and it tastes horrible as she chokes it down) comes back up within 30 minutes.  This puking episode took place every couple of hours through out the night.  However; today after she slept in (very rare as she is up around 6:30 most mornings) the fever has broken.  We have choked down another dose of the poison and so far so good.  Fingers crossed it doesn't come back up.  Fingers crossed nothing comes back up.  I can handle a lot of things, puke not on the top of my list.  It was a bonding moment between us as I was gagging with her the entire time.

This is day two of lent, I am handling the no chocolate pretty well.  Dave on the other hand, I think he was jonesin' for a Red Bull this morning big time.  I am certain it doesn't help that he has a 6 pk staring at him every time he opens the fridge.  I give him until the end of the weekend before he caves:)

Mardi Gras Hart Style

Due to the fact that the flu seems to keep a revolving door in our house this year, we were unable to make M's Mardi Gras party at school yesterday.  She could not quite grasp the fact that others would not appreciate a 6 yr & 3yr old with fevers, coughs, and runny noses regardless how cute they are.  So, I think why not bring the party to them.  I went out grabbed a few decorations, ingredients for some dirty rice,  and just like that we have a party.

First of all, I am not a big Cajun eater.  Those who know me well know that I have self diagnosed myself with IBS, or as I like to refer to it severe angry ass (Katie can attest to this), at any rate, I disregard the fact that there are crazy spices in this dirty rice recipe.  I mean, I want to stick with the New Orleans tradition so I just go with it.  I could not find a King Cake, so I made cornbread muffins and hid the baby in one of those (I am all about improvising).  All is great.  I go to get M & B for the festivities and she is fast asleep still running a fever, and B is excited for the beads I have spread out on the table.

After a few bites, Dave and I both are like holy hell this is spicy.  B on the other hand must have an iron stomach as he is downing it like he is being executed later in the night.  Thank God I made mac n cheese with this meal in the event the kids were not down with the Cajun flare.  I admit, I could not hang and ended up eating like a 5 yr old for dinner.  Mac n cheese and a cornbread muffin.  Which I should point out, I did not get the baby. 

Regardless of the fact that the kids were sick, and angry ass was the inevitable Mardi Gras in our house was a success.  B looked like a 21 yr old in New Orleans with all of the beads around his neck.

Now off to the doctor with M.....I am giving up illness and chocolate for lent.

Lent

As many of you know, I am not the Catholic one in the family.  Dave brought this religion to the marriage.  I have started the conversion classes, and one day I will finish them, but to date my schedule is just too busy to fit that one hour a week at night in.  I know, not very Christian like, but I am sure God understands.  I mean he isn't judgemental, right?!?

With that said, M attends a Catholic School.  She loves it as do I.  But she is really into lent this year because of it.  Last year she gave up Burger King because she didn't like it anyways and it didn't bother her.  This year I am asking what she is going to give up and her response is Cheetos.  This is huge as she could live off of them if I would allow her to.  She appears to be serious about it, so we will see how long this lasts.  B doesn't quite grasp the concept yet.  When we asked him what he was going to give up his response "My underwear".  Sadly, I think there may be some truth to this as he hates to wear them.  On a daily basis before we walk out the door I have to do an underwear check on him and twice I have had to tell him to put some on.  I suppose he digs the "free" feeling of not wearing any.

Myself personally, I thought about giving up Facebook for lent, but who am I kidding, I am addicted and wouldn't be able to last a day.  So, I am giving up chocolate.  I don't eat it on a daily basis, but enough during a good PMS that I am going to be like WTF was I thinking.  Dave on the other hand has not decided what he is giving up.  I suggested Red Bull since he drinks it like water, but he looked at me like I just told him I was leaving him.  Clearly, that's out of the question.  He stated he was going to need some time to think about it.  If he were smart, he would give up laundry to prevent another early morning explosion.

Here is to wishing everyone a Happy Fat Tuesday, go start collecting those beads:)  Here is to a self disciplined lent season.

Windy City

As always, Chicago never fails me.  I love this city.  I love the feel of a small town, but I could see myself living in a condo in the midst of it all.  I love the lights, noise, the fact I really would not need a car, and I could do something at any given time.  Granted, I realize this is only a wish at this point as I would never put M & B in the midst of city chaos.  I like the suburbia lifestyle for them.  So, maybe in my next life I will be some sassy gal walking the streets of the city with the crowds enjoying the high rises.

We started our weekend at our favorite Italian Joint, Bucca De Beppe -- we love the family style dining and old world charm of this place.  Not to mention the food is wonderful.  1 White Russian for Dave during dinner and he was ready to see the sites.  We wonder around a bit until we hit the Red Head Piano bar.  Maybe in my next life in the city, I will come back as the chic that sang with the bluesy voice here.  She was amazing and sassy.  I instantly wanted to be friends with her.  A few more drinks for Dave and I think he would have made that happen.  Or tried to steal her gig.  Around 12:30 we call it a night, and I walk-- Dave staggers to the hotel.

We get to the hotel and low and behold I have another sussey waiting for me in the room.  Not from Dave, but from a friend of ours in Michigan who works for a travel agency.  She called the hotel and had 2 waters, red bull & Orange Juice (Dave's drink of choice), and a selection of snacks put in our room with a nice little card that read enjoy your weekend Harts.  Thoughtfulness from others overwhelms me.  I am a big fan of paying it forward.

Saturday due to the fact it was freezing with snowfall after doing a little shopping, we decided to take in a movie.  Hall Pass...disturbing yet one of the funniest movies I have watched in a while.  Not for the weak at heart, as there are some pretty disgusting scenes, but we laughed.  Afterwards we visited our friend "Big John"..once you have been in the Hancock bldg you have the privilege to refer to it as that...the lady in the elevator told me so.  It was cloudy, but if you pressed your face close enough to the glass you could see that you were pretty high up and if something were to crash into this there would be no chance for survival.  I can thank Dave for taking my thought process there as he was quick to point that out.  We ended the night with dinner at Hugo Frogs.  Food was delicious and the company was even better, especially after the chattiness started after the second White Russian. 

Dave definitely gets the sussey of 2011 award for this trip.  We had a blast and he only almost got us killed once on the way home when he pulled out in front of a mini van.   I should also point out, he has yet to go into the laundry room since our early morning confrontation.

"Susseys"

Susseys (SUSS-EE) is a term I use for surprises. I give sussees to everyone, and in return I have convinced Dave into doing the same for me. Granted, the sussey process has not been the easiest for him to comprehend. In the beginning of our relationship anytime he would go somewhere I would be like "Don't forget my sussey", thinking he would grab a key chain or tshirt from where he was at. He clearly had a different thought. The first year of him leaving and picking up these surprise little items always brought great comic relief. To date I have 8 containers of mace (3 that look like ink pens), a flashlight- the industrial sized one, not something little to hang on my key chain, a first aide kit for my car, Swiss army knife, and a shot glass that reads "I do it Grunt Style", and a men's robe and boxer set that he thought was a female set until I opened it in front of him and explained three reasons as to why this was not a female set. One of the three reasons did not even include that the front of the box stated "Men's Robe Set". But at any rate, I loved the fact he tried every single time.

Yesterday afternoon he sends me an email asking if I have calmed down about the laundry explosion that took place earlier (very early) in the morning. He then proceeds to say I have a sussey for you. I was half expecting a padlock for the laundry room door or a gallon of bleach just trying to prove how crazy I was being about the laundry. Instead, he completely shocks me and says he has made reservations for a weekend in Chicago. And that I need to pack something nice to wear Saturday night to dinner because he has made reservations somewhere "fancy". To date, this could be the best Sussey Award for Dave Hart.

So, we leave this afternoon for a weekend get away. I don't know what I am going to do when I am not close enough to mom for her to take the kids. But I do know, I will be traveling with at least 2 containers of mace, a first aide kit, and maybe I should pack his robe and boxer set for him:)

Happy Friday!

Laundry

Dave and I rarely ever argue. If we do, shockingly it tends to be me throwing out as much sarcasm as possible and ending with him laughing because he cannot believe how crazy I can be. As such I end with the laughter as well. One of the items at the top of the argument chain is laundry. I despise the way he does it. I know he means well, but that was cute for the first 3 sweaters he ruined, after that and countless number of colors he faded it has become an annoyance. I have voiced my opinion about this but that seems to get tossed to the "selective hearing" side of his ear. It has gotten to the point where I really do try to race him to do a load first. However; by the time I finish with work, dinner, and the kids that time tends to be in the evening when he is already home and sneaks upstairs to toss whatever in.

Amongst the ruining of perfectly good clothes, he also has a horrible tendency of washing a load and then taking them from the dryer and tossing them on the guest bed to be folded at a later time. This above all else drives me NUTS! Rewind to 3:30 this morning. Of course sleep is not an option in this house, and I hear Dave go check on B and then M. Then I hear the laundry room door open, the dryer open, and then the walk to the guest room. I know what he is doing, and after spending an hour folding clothes the day before I am to the explosion point when he walks back into the bedroom and attempts to get back in bed. Immediately I ask what he just did, and I can see from the look on his face he wishes he would have stayed in bed. At this point, I know that silence is going to kill him from my end as he is use to the sarcasm flowing. So, at 3:45 this morning I am folding clothes. He is folding with me, but there are no words exchanged just the stink eye that I am glaring at him with every t-shirt I fold. By the time we are done, it is truly pointless to go back to bed since I know I am getting up at 5:30 and he needs to be at work. So, on top of the laundry now I am dealing with lack of sleep.

Before anyone says it, I am thankful he helps. Really, I am. But sometimes helping is a pain in my ass. So, yet another thing I am going to add to my resume when I forbid him to wash clothes later today for the 100th time...Laundry Bitch.