Cig Smoke and Cell Phones

I don't know which I hate more, cig smoke or cell phones...ok the cig smoke first.


I am an X-smoker, so I am probably the worst critic. I smoked from the time I was about 12 or 13(sorry Mom and Dad) until I was 19 and got pregnant with my first child. Then I quit and had my second child. I didn't smoke again until I was 24 and my first marriage was obviously falling apart...then we divorced and I was a full-fledged smoker...hiding it from my kids and all...or so I thought.

I had met my second husband while I was still married...I know, I know, oh well. I didn't cheat on one for the other, so I really don't care what people thought. My second husband, Ponch, he is allergic to many things, cig smoke being one of them. I didn't know this until later, but we would go out on dates and I would smoke before getting in his car, poor dude! I never smoked in front of him, but always after we had gone out...so he knew.

We got more serious and he told me, quit smoking or I go....so just like that I quit cold turkey. I have not smoked since and it has been over 10 years...I have not even thought of how long it has been since right now writing this post, in fact I had to ask Ponch how long it has been, LOL

I try not to complain when I smell cig smoke....like when I am out walking with my children and we pass someone smoking, usually Serena will say something about the smell and I just tell her yes they are smoking and she knows cigs are bad for you and blah blah blah.....I go to the liquor store by my house all the time, for our beers or soda or candy or the occasional milk or even eggs and I walk on the opposite side of the alley from the smokers at the bar right there...sometimes if the wind is blowing just right, it gets in my hair and my husband will start sneezing....

So, my neighbor smokes, LIKE A TRAIN!!!! He always has since I have moved here in 1998...and I am sure he always will...but my problem is: he goes right outside and smokes in his front area and the smoke just drifts over here and into my windows...it sucks! I wish there were a nice way I could complain to him about it, but I am sure I would just be a bitch and then cause problems....AGAIN with them, so I say nothing. I usually just close the windows but today, the weather is super duper hot, like 87 so there is no way I am shutting them, I guess we just have to deal, I just hate it for my children and the Gingers, doesn't he know 2ND HAND SMOKE KILLS!!!!! OK I feel better I got that off my chest.

Now for the Cell phones...yes I have one. Yes, my older kids, 17 and 15 have one (but their dad pays for them...) and my husband has one, my dad has one and my mom has one (although it is never on, sorry Mom, but it is the truth, LOL) so yes I am all for them...EXCEPT for when you are driving, esp texting while driving, and when you are working...yes at your job! Unless you are a babysitter, daycare, like me, or if you use headphones and are driving...or your not dealing with customers, people, ya know?

Not when you are working retail, like at Target...totally unacceptable. I have found employees at our local Target (sorry Target, but I have to tell it like it is) on their cell phone or texting when they should be helping customers....

Also, at our liquor store, aka, LS. Like I said earlier in this post, we go there alot, it is more then just booze they sell, it is more of a convenience store, so when I go, I expect the workers to TALK TO ME, NOT ON THEIR CELL PHONES! and the past 2 times going both workers (one chick and one dude) have been on their cell phones. I was so mad, I could hardly buy my stuff, the chick was talking in her native language, almost ignoring me completely. And then the dude, he at least was a little better but it still pissed me off. I am the customer, make me feel like you are at least listening to me when I talk and take my money, don't disrespect me by being on the phone and talking to that person, DO THAT ON YOUR BREAK, that is what they are for...

Am I being unreasonable??? Please, fellow blogging buddies, tell me, if I am then I will back off, but as of now I am ready to go to the LS and complain to the Head Honcho, and tell him that his employees suck!

ok, really, now I feel better, thanks for listening!

Friday Fragments ~ Birthdays, Sugar and Health

I have not done a FF post in like 4 weeks or more...and frankly I miss them!


~~~


ok, so let me see what I actually have to frag about...ummm coupons! I have decided to save as much money as possible, because this economy sucks. I have gone online to some places and you can download coupons to print...which would be nice if I actually owned a printer, right?!?!?! So, I have sent the link to my hubby and he is going to print them from work, or I will have to go to my wonderful parents house and print them from there...


~~~


Birthdays...I did a post here on Sierra's 3rd birthday and here on Serena's 5th birthday. I never did a post on my birthday..it was July 24th. No biggie, it was just 2 days after Carlos' funeral and I knew my husband had forgotten and I am totally ok with that. We did celebrate low-pro, we went to eat brunch at I-Hop (one of my favorite fat places to eat and it usually makes my poor husband sick...) and I got new tennis shoes (which I soooo needed!) and my hubby downloaded some music for me in my Ipod thing...so it was a fun day.


~~~


Have you ever realized how much sugar you consume? I was doing research, via Google, LOL, and I found out that there is 196 grams of sugar in 1 cup of sugar....for like making Kool-Aid...and the average person, NOT DIABETIC, should consume no more then 40 grams of sugar a day! So, I can see the huge disservice I am doing my children by giving them Koo-Aid!!! So, no more! I found a 7 gram sugar, per cup, apple juice type light drink for them...that I don't even have to cut with water! So far, so good.


~~~

Health. I am happy and thankful to God I have my health, I am healthy. I have several friends who are my age or one year older and they are on all kinds of meds...for different things...I woke up this morning and while doing my morning prayers realized I need to thank God I have my health. I don't wake up and have to take any kind of pill or any pills through out the day. I pray for my friends and hope they get better soon...

~~~

I already did a complete bitch post about Serena' s school, so I won't bore you any further...except I know she is excited to go and I am excited for her! :)

~~~

Let's just say I am looking forward to the new year. I know it is only August and the New Year is still 4 + months away, but I am looking forward to it just the same. Not to party it up, so to speak, but for a NEW year because, really this year has sucked for me, personally, in more ways then one...so I am looking forward to a new leaf to turn over...

~~~

I am proud to say my son, Hayden has a job! He has been working now for about 2 months, so I don't know why I didn't mention it sooner! He is a dishwasher, I know low man on the totem pole, but he has to start somewhere! He makes 8 bucks an hour, not bad for a first job! He works most weekends, so he has been here during the week to visit. I can't tell you how incredibly proud of him I am! YAY HAYDEN!

~~~

My neighbors suck. Period. What else can I say? OH I have a lot to say about them and their barking dogs at all hours of the night, which is why I am probably so tired lately. When they first moved in, almost a year ago, they had 3 little French Bulldogs, I think that is what the sign on the fence says, you know Beware of the French Bulldogs...they barked all the time and when the people were gone until like 1 in the morning, they would bark all night until then....I noticed one day that the dogs were gone. I was happy! I think the guy who owned them moved out....then the other day, well like probably 4 weeks ago now, he is back but with only 2 of the 3 dogs...UURGH! total frustration! Now, I have a dog, a Pug, and she barks, but only if she hears people or cars she doesn't recognize, she does not bark at all at night, she is in the house in her kennel cutting ZZZ's! Plus, it takes me a good 30 minutes to fall back asleep once I have been woke up, so if I go to bed at 10 and those dogs bark at 10:30 or 11 it takes me another 30 minutes to get back to sleep...not to mention the other day they were up partying until after 2 in the morning and the dogs were barking, too!

School Starts Sept. 1st...Are You Ready???

Ok, I did a post here, about the paperwork I had to fill out for Serena to be registered for Kindergarten...very lengthy, but OK, no biggie? right?

I get this paperwork in the mail the other day, in regards to her starting school:

Early Start is: 8:10-12:57 (ok weird times, huh?? Why can't they go from 8-1??? I don' t get it...)

Late Start is: 9:10-1:57 (again, these weird as ass times, I don't get it!!!)

They all take lunch from 11:30-12:13 (again weird ass times, why can't they go from 11:30-12:15?)

They get out at 11:55 on a Minimum Day schedule, (again weird ass times, am I missing something here?)

Grades 1, 2 and 3 is: 8:10-1:57 ( so I see she will have weird ass times ahead, too...)
Grade 4 and 5 is: 8:10-2:55 (need I say more? about weird ass times??)

Every Thursday 1:57 Early Dismissal for 1st thru 5th grade

Totally. Weird. Ass. Times. This should have been the name of this post, huh?

So, it gets a little more weird, if the times are not weird enough...

I get another paper, a Dear Parents of Incoming Kindergartners...Welcome to our school and blah, blah, blah. This year we will have extended, staggered day programs (just to mess with you parents of new students, I think!)

School starts Sept. 1st. The schedule for Sept. 1-Sept. 3: all kindergarten students will attend school from 8:10 until 11:55.

Sept. 7th -Sept 24th: All kindergarten students will attend school from 8:10 until 12:57. During this period of time, there will be one afternoon that your child will stay from 1:00 to 1:57 for assessment. Your child's teacher will schedule this with you at the beginning of school.

Sept. 23rd - Parents will be notified which staggered schedule their child will be attending.

Sept. 27th - Staggered Day Schedule Begins.

Weird Ass Times!~

Then they want to invite me to the Kindergarten Orientation with your child on the first day of school...(are you kidding me???) They want me to get there at 8:10 and stay until 8:45 in my kid's classroom...(ummm what for??) to give me the opportunity to meet the teacher, experience part of the program, ask questions, and meet other parents (I don't have time for this kind of crap, is that bad?? don't judge, but I just don't have the time...I work too, even if it is from home, I babysit...I have to go to work just like other parents). Then, get this, following the orientation they are having a friggin' small reception (really???) in the courtyard for parents from 8:45 to 9:15....and it says, and I quote, "If you can't attend, please send someone else in your place such as your child's caretaker or grandparents." WTF is that????? Someone really needs to either slap me so I can get with the program or I guess I need to switch schools already!!!!!

Do you guys have this much "stuff" when starting Kindergarten??? Please share your story with me, so I don't feel so alone!

As for Kylie, she is 15 and will be a Sophomore, easy peasy with her. I fill out the Emergency Card and send her with a check for a PE Lock and PE clothes and call it good...I don't even have to take her to her "Sophomore Pick-Up" where they go and get their schedule and locks and order PE clothes, her friend, Randi (whom I totally adore!) will be taking her, so there!

You'll Like This if Your A Lutheran

I saw this awesome video here, at Who Put Me In Charge of These People? Go on, check it out, you will love it and if not at least it will make you smile, like I did!

Thanks Texan Mama!

Brandon turns 3!!!

Brandon got an ice-cream cake for his birthday

The big present, all wrapped in the Thomas paper is...

a Jeep Rubicon, remote controlled!

He got a Thomas and Friends, take-n-play, Cranky at the Docks!

Here is Ginger Boy and Brandon playing, so nice!

He also got Spencer Train, an echo microphone, a 5 pack of Matchbox cars and Bristol Blocks. He got some other stuff, too. We had a low-pro party for him. It is hard to celebrate on the actual day when it is during the week, but his birthday is August 4th, along with my Aunt Ellie!

Happy Birthday Baby! Now we just need to work on the potty-training and he will be all grown up!

Random Pics ~ Serena, Brandon and Ginger Girl

This cute critter is Serena's Pillow-Pet, she got it for her birthday. It is a lady-bug and it is a pillow and a pet!

Here is Serena and her lady-bug and Ginger Girl with her unicorn.

Serena finally able to ride her bike!

Brandon sporting his cool Wall-E sunglasses.

I also attached a cute video of Brandon splashing in a mud puddle at my nieces birthday party. He had nothing to do with the huge jolly jump they had complete with a water slide and a dry slide, LOL he opted for the mud puddles. I kept getting an error and could not view it, I am hoping it is a temporary error with Blogger and you will be able to view it soon!

A Letter Worth Reading

I hope you realized by now that the mood your were in when you wrote this was
caused by the terrible loss your family just experienced. You are still in shock
because Carlos did not have a lingering illness, he was taken so totally unexpected
and it will take time for everyone who loved him to learn to live without him. And yes,
it is a wake-up call for everyone to realize just how quickly everything that we take
for granted today can change.

You don't have to write in your blog right now, but I for one wish that you would
not cancel it because it is such a wonderful way to stay in touch and to share
and I would miss it a lot!!!! Your sharing like this makes the distance that
is between us disappear and it makes me feel close to you and your family.

Love you,
Ellie

This wonderful letter was written to me just this past Sunday from my Aunt Ellie. I asked her if I could post this and she said to please share! I found this e-mail touched me like no other. She wrote just what I was feeling and I put the words, "to learn to live with out him" in italics, it really is the truth, and I boldfaced that last part, which made me feel so good! So, thanks Auntie for the words of wisdom, I truly needed to hear that.

I also got another wonderful e-mail from my sister during this hard time. She said some really comforting things, late one night while she was cooling her yams for the boys! Her words just made me cry...but in a good way.

Thanks again to all my blogging buddies, to be here and support me during this hard time, I appreciate you all!