Em and the Possibilities There are no guarantees in life…only the possibilities

The livingroom looks like a toy bomb exploded in there. I’m gonna have to go through the boys toys and unload stuff *again* after we figure out what’s going to get played with and what isn’t.

The marble run I got Dan is THE gift of the year. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to glue it together. It’s 88 pieces that don’t snap together (they snugfit) and won’t stand up to Joe “helping” Dan play with it. I didn’t want to glue it together, but Dan doesn’t play with the blocks we’ve got – I can’t see him disassembling and re-building the run. He just likes to watch the marble go around and around.

Alannah absolutely freaked when she opened her stocking and saw the Hilary Duff CD in it. I gave it to her with the solemn oath that if I hear it, I’ll destroy it. She’s got headphones and she KNOWS I dislike Lil Miss Duff. Although I *do* have to say that I like her singing more than her acting.

Joe had more fun playing with the wrapping paper and boxes than the actual gifts . He’s fallen in love with the marble run as well. I’m not really sure what other than that is his “favorite” thus far. He’s into a little bit of EVERYTHING.

I’ve got to edit the photos before I put them up. And I’m putting a new digital camera on my wishlist. You wouldn’t believe the number of shots I missed because the camera wasn’t ready for me.

Fifth’s disease anyone?

My cousin/babysitting job just came over!!! She’s got a rash from head to toe!!! AND she was here!!! around my kids!!! during the incubation period!!!!!! Isn’t that WONDERFUL??!!??

There’s a whole lotta other passive-aggressive bullshit goin on right now. I’ll spare you the details – suffice it to say that moving in with the X would be the more attractive place to be right now.

*sigh*

Animal control was just here. The dog broke the connector on the leash and was roaming the neighborhood. $50 for not having her rabies tag, $50 for not having her registration tag, and $50 for violating the leash law.

The registration and rabies fines can be waived, I just have to show proof. I didn’t want to make the officer stand out in the cold while I looked through my boxes of files to find it.

The repair guy was here, and got the @#&%*()@ thing up and running, and it’s been running continuously since he left. I’m very glad it is, because I simply don’t have the money to head south for the winter.

I was searching through the paper, and found three jobs that I’d love to have. Unfortunately, they’re all volunteer positions.

Alannah got introduced to Labyrinth last night. I bought the DVD as a Christmas gift “from the kids”. My favorite quote of the evening – “Mom, the CGI effects in this movie SUCK!” -referring to the firey scene. I laughed at her. She and the cousin/babysitting job watched it again today, and cousin said “Y’know, this is a weird movie. They should make a video game of it.”

It’s supposed to get down to 16 tonight, so you need to keep the office door closed.
OK, Dad. Thanks.
OH! Some guy called while you were out.
“Some guy”? No message?
I think he said his name was Calvin? Alvin? Something like that. I couldn’t hear him.
You didn’t write it down?
Naw, he didn’t leave a message. He didn’t wanna tell me who he was til I asked. Who’s Calvin?
Beat’s the hell outta me, dude. Why didn’t you write it down 6 hours ago when he called? You’re always jumpin on my case about taking messages, but you can’t do the same thing?
Well, I think it’s one of them thar fictitious names. Maybe it was that feller from Florida. What was his name?
blank look
You know, Daniel’s daddy.
You mean Tig? The guy I was with for 3 years and you can’t remember his name?
Well, it’s not important for me to remember him now, izzit? If it was all that important, they’ll call back.

So, uhm… if you called, call again. If you don’t get me, ask for Alannah and give HER the message. She can actually hear.

So Dad beats the furnace into shape last night supposedly. Guess what happened promptly at 4PM?

We put the space heater that I picked up last night in the living room, cranked it up and had it a nice balmy 73 degrees inside of 20 minutes. I knew it kicked ass, but I didn’t realize how much ass it actually kicked LOL.

I spent a few minutes looking up the furnace we have online. Didn’t find a whole lot as far as spec sheets go, but I did find a lot of posts on fixit yourself boards saying “How do I fix this piece of crap furnace?”

I made muffins today with stevia. Mom was skeptical, but they completely RAWK! Which brings me to the conversation we had during the making thereof:

Here, let me get this rubber spatula and scrape down the sides for you.
Mom, I’m fine.
(reaching for the spatula) Here, let me show you what I’m talking about.
Will you stop? Do you not see the spatula in my hand? I’m fine. Y’know, you have this annoying habit of saying you’re helping, then taking it over and it GETS ON MY NERVES.
Well, that’s just your perception, and it’s wrong. I’m being helpful.
No, my perception is that you just took the bowl out of my hands and I didn’t ASK for your help.

GRR! /rant

Anyways, outside of that brief temper tantrum it’s been a pretty good day. I’m working on a cover letter for my resume – hopefully I can spin a 4-year sabbatical to raise babies into something an employer will find attractive.

Temperature inside the house when I woke: 55 degrees.
Hours it took me to get it to 60: 2 1/2
Hours spent waiting for repair guy AGAIN: 4
Dollars spent buying newer (energy efficient) space heaters: 40

Hours spent deveining and shelling shrimp: 3
Times Mom was told to get out of the way: 4
Blistered burns because Mom didn’t move in time: 1
Hours spent at the dinner table: 1/2

Diapers changed: 12
Loads of laundry washed/dried: 4
Loads of dishes: 3
Times the girls were told “You ain’t goin nowhere, nowhere. You ain’t goin nowhere, HEY!” (cheer from last year): 5
Times they tried to sneak out anyway: 3

I’m whupped. But it was a good day

I just have to make it a few more hours and this day will officially be OVER and I can start a new one.

I dreamt that I was passing another kidney stone. I woke up gagging at 130. (Symptom of passing the stone.) I noticed an odd smell – like exhaust from a car that’s burning oil, and that the furnace just kept going and going. At 2AM, I realized the furnace is CAUSING the exhaust smell, and went in to wake Dad and let him evaluate the situation. The service tech didn’t want to come out at 2AM – after all it was 21 degrees outside – so we all piled like puppies in my room with a room heater.

I woke up with a headache, and was dizzy and nauseous all day. I ended up spending the largest part of the day napping. I’m SO glad Alannah can handle the boys so well. Otherwise, I’d've never made it.

We spent all day with no heat. He finally showed up at 2PM – right as I was leaving to get my cousin/babysitting job from skewl. When he finally wrapped up the primary part of the call, he said the exhaust for the furnace was totally clogged with soot. He got it clear enough to operate, but he’s going to have to come back to get it totally clean.

Since I was feeling better, I cooked dinner and we did the family thing. Just a few minutes ago, Mom came in and fussed. The thermostat is set on 70, but it’s somewhere around 60 degrees in the house right now. The furnace was blowing out cold air.

Anyone wanna tell me why I didn’t move further south? Where it’s warm? Or better – Do you live where it’s warm and have room enough for the 4 of us??!!??

(smirk)

I wake up to “MMME! I GOTTA GO PEEEEEEE!” complete with whining. Get him undressed and his nighttime diaper off, and he says “MMMMMME! CARRY MEEEEEEE!”

No, I don’t think so dude – you can walk.

So what does he do? He stands there and dribbles on the floor waiting for me to get out of bed and carry him to the bathroom. I’ll be glad when he gets out of this stage…..

Get to the kitchen, and Dad is standing by the kitchen boombox with this crud-eating grin on his face. He booms “G’MORNIN Sis!”, and then hits play.

Celine Dion bellowing Christmas carols.

Before I’ve had coffee.

I’d rather have my fingernails ripped off one by one during unmedicated childbirth. I’d rather have a root canal done during a kidney stone attack.

And it’s not over yet. Whee.

Just as I get my coffee poured, Dad booms at Daniel “Boy, put you some SHORTS on or I’mma get my BELT!”

All this before before 10 AM.

When fantasy and reality collide, it’s profoundly upsetting. I don’t recommend it.

We completed the christmas shopping and wrapping last night. All I have to do is make it through the rest of the holidaze with my sanity intact.

Who knew that a bag of golfballs was the key to keeping Dan happy?