Just in Time for Christmas

Why oh why did we buy a car in November oh so many years ago? We weren't thinking of the horror of having to register it every year this close to Christmas obviously. I went to register my car today feeling pretty pleased that I could do so but didn't realize I was going to have to have the safety and emissions testing done, so that was blow number one. Then blow number 2 came almost immediately when they told me my front outer tire rods need to be replaced (a $200 repair)...I almost cried, but then I reminded myself that it will all work out and that at least this was discovered before I was flying down the freeway right? Blow number 3 came when they handed me this unmistakable message on the paperwork. Sheesh. In fact, Randy just brought the paper into the office as I'm writing this and said, "How is this supposed to help me feel good about myself?" Good Hell.

Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men. Fa la la la la.

Comment Window Tidbit: I'm working 12 hours tomorrow because it's Parent/Teacher Conference night. I will be accepting food, beverages, chocolate and messages of good will as offered.

Remember When?

Remember when I used to post every single day no matter what? Apparently those days are gone, and I'm pretty sad about it. Our computer is still in a coma (it's been 2 1/2 months) which means we are still making due with this old laptop (which is definitely better than nothing, but is not ideal). It is slower, smaller and all-around less fun for me to use (excuses, excuses). Our server times out (I think it's a router problem) after visiting 3 sites so that makes for some annoyingly stilted internet time. Basically I'm fed up with this situation and how it is affecting my blogging (both posting and reading/commenting). Aargh!

**What's your computer situation?
How often do you blog?**

Comment Window Tidbit: Today is the first day of the year that it has actually felt hot outside--it's 79 degrees.

Keep it Together Man!

You must watch this video to grasp the thinking behind my title.

I am officially fighting the urge to freak out and give in to the crying mess inside of me (yes, me the noncryer has been on the verge and even produced some tears over the past 3 days) that's trying to break free. I feel like I'm falling apart physically (oh wait, because I am!) and mentally (this is where the "Keep It Together Man" comes in), but thus far I am in tact spiritually (good timing with Conference this weekend.) I don't want to whine, but I'm gonna.

My back is still a mess, though I haven't had any more near-pass out episodes, and Paris looms. Paris shouldn't loom! Paris should entice and intoxicate and fill one with anticipation, but for me right now Paris is a taunting, frenemy.

Not having insurance, means that any doctor or chiropractor visit I manage this week will be a serious stretch financially while already in the middle of an uncomfortable preParis stretch as it is (my back hurts, I'm in no position to stretch). I've already been stressing about shoes, taxi fare, food, museum passes and incidentals, and have not been planning on a doctor visit!

Here is Landon imitating my current state of woe.

Another lovely ailment that has been plaguing me is the psoriasis on my scalp. I've had it forever (it doesn't go away) and can usually keep it under control with a prescription. Of course, I ran out of it months ago and have been suffering ever since. It is so bad now that Randy sucked it up and went to get my prescription, only to find that it was twice the already horrendous cost we were expecting!!

I cried.

I'm sick of eating humble pie, I've been served more than I care to eat.

I am consciously trying not to give in (all the way) to the strong desire I have to feel sorry for myself and give up, but it is hard.

**How do you keep it together?
Can you believe the price for this prescription?
Would you slump down and cry?
Do you have any rich relatives who'd like to sponsor me?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I can do hard things!

Quite the Combo

Riding a bus with 60 first graders is nowhere near one of my favorite things to do. It was so LOUD! The ride to the zoo wasn't so bad because I got to sit by myself and look out the window. The weather became increasingly worse the further North we went...oh joy. We left the school with wet streets and sunny skies and drove into wet streets and cloud-filled skies and snow! It was April 24th, where was spring?!


I was in charge of 5 kids, including Whitney. I know them pretty well from working in the class room each week, but still found it kind of maddening trying to keep track of them. We explored the zoo on our own, so at least we didn't have to try to stay with a huge group of kids, but it was still crazy because there were a ton of field trips going on. I suppose it made it easier that there weren't many nonfield-trip visitors there thanks to the crazy weather.


Lunch time was a joke because we had been told to gather at the Peacock Pavilion, but apparently everyone else (meaning all the other schools) had been told the same thing...nice! The snow was coming down in hail-sized balls (though they didn't hurt), the sidewalks had become slushy so we were all getting really wet, and there was nowhere to sit! Good grief. I was laughing because it was just so insane, but a lot of the kids were shivering like crazy.


I love how this picture of the white alligator also shows Whitney's reflection (not too shabby eh?). This was the coolest animal we saw yesterday, so the kids looked at it for a whole minute. They were just flying from animal to animal. That was fine with me because I really don't enjoy lingering in smelly, crowded places (the reptile house was foul) but it was like they had somewhere to be and just had to breeze past everything.


We actually only ended up having about 2 hours at the zoo, so the time went quickly but did make me wonder if all the effort was worth it for such a short time. Not that I really wanted to stay longer, but still. The bus ride home was an exercise in mind-over-matter for me. The bus was more crowded (how?) on the way home so I ended up sitting with one of Whitney's friends and "got" to play I Spy the whole way home. Plus, the heat on the bus was cranked up high, the kids were extra loud and there was more traffic so it took longer. I thought I was going to hurl! I had to talk myself through it like "I'm fine, I'm fine, only 20 more minutes," and then "I'm okay, not sick at all, we're almost there, fresh air is coming."


Of course I had a headache by the time we got home (that burst of fresh air upon getting off the bus was heavenly), so I came home to eat some lunch (once again I had chocolate milk and Scooby snacks on the field trip) and then retired to the cozy to try to regroup. I slept for 2 hours and woke up totally disoriented and in a panic that I had forgotten to set my alarm and was supposed to be somewhere Friday morning. Alas, it was only 5:45 on Thursday evening so I was okay except that my headache had morphed into a full-on migraine #$@!. I had to take one of my precious Relpax pills and keep a pillow over my eyes until it went away an hour later.



This meant I was late for the Pinewood Derby, but fortunately Randy had gotten the kids there on time. Randy has been working on their cars and had talked with a friend who knows on the ins and outs of making a speedy car, so Landon and Whitney's cars were both the fastest. I was actually a little embarrassed because it felt like Randy's cars were winning the races, not the kids' cars (though the kids were fine with this).


This is the only Pack Meeting of the whole year that I don't mind going to so it was fun. I think they should have a Pinewood Derby for the men of the ward so they can make their own cars and get it out of their systems.

After such a crazy day it was a total treat to get the kids in bed and then get some take-out for Randy and I and then sit back and watch our Thursday shows, plus they were finally new! The contrast between being plagued with a migraine to feeling 100% better after a Relpax is staggering, I was so thankful!

**How do you feel about the zoo?
Ever seen a white alligator before?
Do you go on field trips?
Do buses make you nauseous?
Have you been to the Pinewood Derby?
Were you happy about last night's tv?**

Torn

I'm torn with what to do today (a luxury I realize) because the garage is a wreck, the yard is a wreck, my scrapbook room always needs work, and I have a book to finish (the pull of the cozy is very strong). The cousins are staying here this weekend so that makes me want to prepare the garage & kids' room.

I'm actually obligation-free until I pick up the kids at 3:30, then have football tonight at 5:30, yet still feel like the clock is tick, tick, ticking all day so that always makes me feel a bit panicked, and this bugs me that I'm still not over that after 2 months of the kids being at school.

{It's Crazy Hat Day today}

I should probably fight the resistance I'm feeling and just tackle the garage (for the millionth time) but I really hate that job. The possibility of running into spiders is great so that's a big deterrent, plus there's so much stuff that needs to be in there that it feels like an impossible task.

I'm being such a boob today, I've got to get myself together and just do it. Alright, alright I'm going. Wahhhh.

**Do you have to psych yourself up for jobs like this?
Does feeling overwhelmed make you want to shut down?
Do you want to smack me for whining?**