I bought myself a gift

It's not my birthday or any special occasion. I've always wanted a record player. So I went online and did a little research...a little bargain hunting..and ta-da!

I'm now the owner of a nice player. Now all I have to do is get me some records!

I have a few...most I bought at a second hand store. Several from my dad. One very intersting one from my sisters' old collection....None other than Corey Hart. Hooya! Can't say as I'm digging that particular record but it's fun to listen to it. I did find an old Bon Jovi dust jacket, but Alas! no record to be found.


It was a pricey but well worth it. Now...I have to get up and flip the record.

A Surprise Visit from my sister

that was the big secret!



It was soooo nice to see her and Meme. She really threw us a curve ball. (She always liked all the attention.) Just joking!

After dropping them off at Logan, my little T was very emotional because "Meme is gone" he misses her very much.

I wish I was able to spend more time w/ them. I feel like I was working the whole time...and when I wasn't, I was scaring the little darling girl.
I'll have to post some pictures.

Now that she is home....and all has been revealed...I hope she'll forgive the last couple of messages on her machine. I was getting a bit annoyed by Saturday afternoon! Little did I know she was getting off a plane in the states.

Alright Already!!!

...So my dear sister has a secret. Not by phone, nor letter, nor email will she divulge the dirt. So I have to resort to other methods...

I want to know what the big deal is???


Baby??



Wedding bells??



Big move???


Did she win the big UK lottery that I keep hearing about in my inbox. Should I NOT have deleted those??


I'm outa ideas? I'm starting to lose sleep.



Damn It! Howbout a hint!???



;)

FROZEN DIGITS

is what K and I suffered with after standing outside a Hollywood Video store for 2 long hours w/ a bunch of girl scouts....on a frigid night! Again, I think I've gained 6 pounds since we started selling cookies a month ago.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

I can't believe it's already February!

Today, T arrived home from school looking awful, his face flush, very sober....when I asked him what was wrong, he began to cry uncontrollably.

It appears his bestest friend in the whole world is leaving for military school tomorrow or later this week. He is crushed. He no longer wants to wear his "cool" clothes because he has no one else to be cool with.

Now, I don't know if this is for real or just a clever psycological game this kids' parents are pulling....but I guess we'll see.

And like any tender loving parent, I seized the opportunity to put a little fear in my own little boy.b


As for the other boy in the house, things are looking bleak! I'm at my wits end w/ little J...I have a teacher conference to attend next week. He is failing everything, can't seem to get it together. I am running out of ideas.


K is doing well. It's girl scout cookie time! So it's booth sales galore and more cookies in my house than I need. I'll admit I've eaten my fair share of caramel delights!


Boy have I missed Squide...I haven't been online in weeks....

How to get away with farting..

...I know, I know, not very classy...but I laughed so hard that I wet myself!

Ah, another year gone

Well, it came and went.
My how time flies!

I'm still waiting to hear from Lindyloo....did that package ever arrive??

Stupid post!

Anyway, I have only a few pictures from Christmas. I will eventually post some.
(yeah right)

PANIC MODE!!!

Okay....Christmas is just around the corner, and I have only purchased a handful of gifts!!!
AAARRGH!!!! I can't believe that!

Now, I'm the first one to stand up and say...."I'm a procrastinator"
but not at Christmastime. I love Christmas, and I'm usually pretty good about gift buying. Card-sending, well that's another story.

I'm frazzeled today. I am working today, then I have a Christmas dinner tonight. Working Sunday night.....I feel the walls closing in on me right about now.

I think....gift cards for everyone.

My first day off since November 2nd

....and it's another snow/sleet storm.
Can you believe this?!!?!

The storm on Thursday was horrible. 13+" And the commute from hell.
It took me 2 hours to drive home (normally a 25-30 minute drive)

Now todays storm is supposed to eventually turn to rain, but freeze overnight.
That means my drive to work in the AM is going to be white-knuckled.

.....nooooowwwww, none of this matters today because I have No work
(just visualize me doing a little ditty while singing, I don't have to go to work!)

I FINALLY decorated my tree! Woohoo! Now all I have to do is my Christmas shopping!
I was hoping to do it today....but the roads are terrible.

Sunday school was cancelled...I skipped church this morning too...and I have to go out to dinner tonight...our little Christmas party, downtown NB, but it may be called off on account of the weather...I hope so.

Well, I have to go referee a fight between the kids.....

Woohoo!

Mariel is back and I FINALLY dropped a package at the post office...a rather large package...what a load off my back. I've been meaning to send it out for a month or so. It cost me a good penny and I'm not really sure what I packed in there, because it's been so long....but hopefully Lindyloo will photograph the contents for me.

Rebel Yell!!

Okay, I'm sitting on the couch this morning instead of speeding to work because T got a "bus slip" for acting up on the bus again and poking a hole in the bus seat with a toy jet. Yes I'm talking about the sweet little 7 year old.....so it's banishment from bus privileges. Yes, you heard right.

So my question is.....who is being punished here??

I have to lose pay because I'm not at work....and he still gets to go to school...in style, I might ad. Personally chauffeured.

Now, we are waiting for a bill from the bus company for a new seat cover.

I told him he was infor a nice punishment but I had to sit and think of one bad enough....any suggestions on what I can do to get it through to him.

His excuse is always the same. My brain was telling me to do it. I didn't want to, but it made me do it.

This was very cute in the beginning but now I'm wondering if he really does have a little guy in his head....

Last week, while at the grocery store, a clerk gave T a cookie. When I noticed that he had it wrapped in a napkin, behind his back...I had to ask...

...his reponse, "I'm hiding it from my brain, so I don't eat it all at once"

I think I'm in trouble! HELP!

Yeehaw!

Wow! It's almost Christmas!

I can't believe how time is flying. I finally read Squide's blog tonight....it's been about 2 weeks since I've had the time to read it,let alone respond or post anything of my own.

I still have 2 more weeks of training before I start my regular schedule.
My first day on the job will be Christmas Eve.....I know, that sucks, but I have to do it.

I am going to save money for a trip to Sao Miguel this summer. I also want to visit lindyloo, if she'll have me this spring or summer. Just me for a few days. While I'm there I'd like to meet up with Heidi in Denmark.

I'll be trying to save money...

I do have to get to bed because I have to have the kids at CCD tomorrow by 8AM, then mass where K sings in the choir....then drop them off and speeding to New Bedford for work.

I did FINALLY get a christmas tree a few days ago. It's still not decorated....but at least it's standing in the living room.

And yes, Lindyloo.....I still have your package! I'm sooooo BAD!
I am determined to get it to the post office this week. Promise.

The good news is that there is time for any last requests from Wal or Lindyloo....

:)

While I'm putting some photos up....

I thought I'd post a few that I failed to post...but said I would when I found my cable...


Here was Mariel after wishing her a safe and unforgetable journey through Europe.
(I told you I'd eventually post this photo!!)


Next is a photo of a photo...mom and dad in front of the muriel in Ribeira Quente this summer that they helped to build...financially...can you imagine mom slapping on tiles and grout??? ;-)


Next is the day they arrived back in the US. Check out T's silver chain! and Little J's Team Portugal shirt!



That is all for now!

Halloween pics

Here are a few pictures from last night...


Don't let the innocent look fool you....


...now this is more like it


Here I am with the not-so-little-ones anymore


Here is vavo with the kids


I even snapped one with Uncle Matt


This photo I added just because I thought it was funny to see Vavo tying a bandana around T's head....not exactly how he would wear it...but funny!

BOO!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Yahoo! I have today and tomorrow off.


Today will be hectic....visiting everyone.

Tomorrow will be more relaxed...as I eat all the kids candy.....kidding.


Well, I'm still at the RX and I start the other full time job next Monday. The next 7 weeks will be crazy because the traing schedule sucks! But it has to be done. I don't think the boss is happy that I will be unavailable for the next month and a half....but I have to do what I have to do.
I will still be working on Sat and Sun, unless he decides to fire me!

I'm still waiting to get an ear-full from him. I haven't worked with him in about a week and a half. Oh well. We will see what happens.

Today, I'm supposed to be catching up on things that I haven't been able to do since I started working....but have done none. Unless catching up on morning talk shows, blogging and wearing pj's until 10 AM counts!

Ah well, I need to pick up a few more things to add to the package that I'm finally sending the Squidge household. I already wrapped a Christmas gift and threw it in there. (don't worry, I'm aiming for a fedex drop off tomorrow)
I'm sure I'll torture Lindyloo a little. She never could resist a wrapped package!

daylight savings??!!!?!?

WHAT THE....

Okay, I'm working all morning and get a call from the kids dentist office wondering where I am. I reply, "the appt isn't for another 45 minutes...is there a problem?"

Apparently....yes. I was already 15 minutes late because my stupid PC decided to auto-adjust to daylight savings time....before it's supposed to.

Anyone else have this issue?? NO?
Well, I didn't think so.

I guess I'm the only dim wit here.

I suppose it would be funny (and I'm sure I'll laugh about it later) except that I ran around all afternoon picking up the kids and bringing them here and there...all late of course - because the boys' dentist and K's doctor decided to let me bring them in anyway!!


Now I would "like" to jump in bed because I'm exhausted! It is now 5:30PM.
I can't.

Busy Busy Busy

Here's a recap of the past week...

Work. Work. Work.
Kids. Kids. Kids.

Girlscouts. Choir. Birthday party. Spanish lessons. Cub scouts.
Halloween party (kids). Dentist. Training class in Prov, RI. (DULL)


Sound chock full of F-U-N???




Well, on a different note. I'm beginning to get a hang of the system at work. I sometimes chuckle at the thought (and anyone who knows me, may join me) of being entrusted to fill prescriptions. Holy Crap!
But honestly, I still double check everything....until I gain more confidence in myself. I have been working a lot, but did tell my boss last night that I will be working days soon. It was too busy to elaborate on that....I'll have to bring it up again....

You heard it right. I will be taking that second job offer. I will be working both jobs. I know it's crazy...but it pays better. I'd like to stay at the RX (my future) but right now it just doesn't pay enough. The other one does, and has great benefits. I just dont know how I'm going to manage both for the 5 weeks of training. I'll only be able to work on Sat and Sun and I don't know if that is going to fly with the BossMan. Especially since I'm such a rug. I probably will agree to something humanly impossible...I guess that will be another post.


I do have to get a package togather for Lindyloo Maybe I'll work on that today. (honestly, probably not)

******************************************************************************
...just a quick HELLO to Mariel, Heidi and Sonia.

I've been a terrible friend. Haven't kept up as well as I'd like. Sorry.
******************************************************************************


Also, to Diane. I completely spaced out. I never called back. I have been at work so much. I did try to remember to call for a couple of days....but then I forgot completely until my mom mentioned you dropped off a package. K opened it last night and of course LOVES it all. She loves clothes. Just in time for the Red Sox to kick ass!


*******************************************************************************

Everyone....Love me or Hate me, I'm trying.

I wish people would post a comment instead of noseing around...

ARRGHH!!!

....Okay, I feel a little better....

Is anyone else out there married to someone that is totally uncompatible with you??
Anyone??

Nice guy...good person....just pisses me off!

I piss him off, likewise.

We tried to have another go at this for both our benefit and for the kids, but I don't know....

No one will say we didn't try to make things work.

Well, I'm off for now. Maybe I will post a picture soon....
Little J has open house for vocational school next week!!!
I can't believe that he will be in high school next year!

CRAZY!

Everything at work has been going well, except toward the end of my shift when I became utterly bewildered with the computer system....I'll try to master it tomorrow. (my fingers are crossed) There is an awful lot to learn.

Rainy Days and Parents

It rained last night and its a bit gloomy today....but none of that matters because I have today off. Yeay!

However, I have an appt at the eye doctor for T and have to visit the school to see how many credits can be salvaged....hopefully most of them.

I have been working a lot and haven't had much time for anything...
I'm hoping to catch up on everything (chores, dr.s, dentists, etc...) this month, because I start my full-time job, the first week of November. Whoa am I nervous about it. I'm still unsure how I am going to juggle everything, but if anyone can jam her agenda chock-full-of-stuff, I can. Hopefully, I can keep my sanity throughout.

Along those lines, I did sign up K for girl scouts. She loves it.
I tried to get T in cub scouts, but they won't return my call! They really suck! I have emailed, left voice-mail and even spoke to somone in the office...still no call back from the decision-maker. T is VERY UPSET. He now says "Why don't they call you back?" and "those people are stupid"..... oh, how I agree.

What are you going to do?

They also want to play basketball, but I have to call first to find out when, where and how often they practice before I can commit to anything else....
...Can you sense my guilt...they weren't able to play soccer this fall because I wasn't able to handle it. I'm having a harder time with it then the kids. It is the first fall that I haven't spent my weekends at the soccer fields in SEVEN years!!!

Good news! Mom and dad are back from their rendevous to Ribeira_Quente. Here are two links with nice photos of S. Miguel that I found. Official and ">unofficial.
I will be stopping by tonight to see them!
I wish I would put some photos online...but, I have no patience.

I will be checking Mariels' voyage now, and hope she is having a blast! I have placed a link to her blog over in my favorite places to visit on the right....in case anyone hasn't peeked yet.