Dissapated Ransom

Allison...

Sat, 05 May 2007 03:01:13 GMT

I'm currently watching "The Tube" and Elvis Costello and Billie Joe Armstrong are singing each other's songs. They just sang several Green Day songs and now they are singing an Elvis song ("Allison... my aim is true"). Death Cab for Cutie are also there... so awesome. SOOOOOO Great... Gotdamn it's goooood. Wish I were there in person!

Catching up

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:36:39 GMT

Yea, so I said to myself I would update often and, well... that didn't work out.

I've been a boring girl. No drinking for over two months ... no smoking either (go me). I'm going to cheat ... but I will NOT beat myself up for doing so.

Easter was good. Spent Good Friday with Mom and Amy. Brought Amy to the dentist, went grocery shopping with Mom, picked up Amy and the three of us went to lunch at Mystic Village. Then went job hunting for Amy at the Village. She got a job at Angel Haven. Watched "Borat" in the evening with "ZomBee" and Mom and Amy. Saturday we all colored eggs and made cookies. Mom, Beth and I spent the better part of the afternoon just yapping and I balanced Mom's checkbook and in the evening we had Dale over for Chinese food and watched The Guardian on pay per view.

Easter was nice. All family and no major dysfunction! Yay!!! Did the annual Basket Hunt for the kids. Too funny that no matter how old they get I STILL have to do the the dang basket hunt. LOL! You know, I first started doing this tradition when Amy was but a wee one. I had this freakin' brilliant idea that I would start a tradition all on my own. It was to be a tradition that, when my kids were older and had their own kids, they would remember with fondness. Well, little did I know that I would end up doing it for years upon years on end *cracking up*. Let this be a lesson to all you potential parents out there... be careful what you set up as traditions cuz you'll be doing it for YEARS! LOLOLOL!(But you know what? They WILL remember it for the rest of their days and hopefully pass it down to their kids... so I guess my work here is done *smile*)

Talked to my shrink today about what a bitch I've been. My sister said maybe I've always been a bitch, but have medicated myself for all these years and have hidden the fact. My shrink didn't agree. He said that I've swallowed myself (so to speak) for so many years that I'm finally learning to assert myself. He said it's like learning to walk... it's new to feel empowered so I tend to over-exert myself. I just have to learn how to take "baby steps" and not try to do it all at once. Personally, I like what my shrink said better than thinking that I've always been a bitch... but whatever. LOL. He has a point. I need to learn to temper my aggression. And, with that in mind, I will try to do so. It will be a challenge, but I'm up for it.

I'm rambling... that's what happens when I don't post for a long time. I'll shut up now :)

...

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 02:20:02 GMT

Alden started shaving today... time is flying.

SIGH

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:14:11 GMT

Been bored at work ... feel like my brain is rotting away *sigh*

Amy was home for over a week ... sick as I've ever seen her with Mono and the flu. Had to finally send her back to school and she's no where NEAR well enough to be there *double sigh*

Watched a few movies while she was home ... Jackass II was DISGUSTING and somewhat disturbing in how idiotic those guys are - but I laughed so hard *shhhh* Bill threw one of his infantile temper outbursts this weekend ... haven't seen him do that in years and yup, it's still as UGLY as it ever was *triple sigh*. I'm still not over how pissed I am about that, actually.

Went over to Grambly and Gaga's for dinner tonight. Had a nice meal and yapped a lot. She bought a case of gatorade for Amy and I already had to slap Bill's hand as he tried to rob one out of the case ... LOL.

... have I mentioned how bored I am at work these days??

Month Recap

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:41:50 GMT

Quitting(redux): Jan 7- Put down the butts. I’ve been taking Chantix to quit smoking and I finally put down the butts in what I hope will be my last attempt to quit. I still crave them, but the cravings are different … not as intense. I’ve cheated twice, and both times were because I had a cocktail and (if you smoke, you’ll know what I mean) cocktails and smoking just go together in my mind. Something about the decadence of it all is appealing to my naughty side, I guess. Both times I just stopped again the next day without a problem, though. Whatever… I’ve been avoiding alcohol so I can avoid the smokes. Unfortunately, I’ve put on even more weight … a good five pounds for sure. Yet, as time goes by, I’m substituting food less and less so hopefully I’ve got that in check. My problem now? I NEED A “GOOD” VICE!

Feb 4: Graduated from college AGAIN. Finally earned my MBA and graduated summa (go me, go me, go me). Now I have to do something with the stupid degree … and I’m working on it. Applying to this and that … only stuff that really interests me. The one thing about getting a higher degree is that it finally allows me the luxury to apply to jobs that interest me instead of just looking for a JOB. Oh, to be able to go to work and not dread it every single day …

Feb 4: Goddess Party in the evening (eighth annual, I think). Brought Mom as my date. She was SOOOO excited just to be out and socializing. The food was phenomenal. The crowd was good (and LOUD). The chick that always puts the moves on me wasn’t there … LOL! I stuck completely to soda so I wouldn’t start the cravings for cigs. Also, I was the designated driver. Laura was kind of weird to me … but it could have just been me. She made Nana cry … although in fairness Nana is a bit on the hairy edge lately emotionally. I worry about her to no end – I just wish she could get her life to a happy place instead of agonizing her way through every day.

Feb 10: Went for a long walk and then wandered down to my Mom’s. I asked if she wanted to watch a movie together and she was game. We ended up watching a silly movie (Nanny McPhee) and eating popcorn and snuggling on the couch. It was nice. Bill and Alden spent that time working on building Alden’s computer and shopping for parts … they’re really bonding over this computer project, which is nice to watch.

Feb 11: Went with Grambly to a new place in Waterford called Super Suppers. It’s this place where you go in and make your own meals in order to freeze them for future evenings when you don’t feel like cooking. Mom and I had a blast together and made up a bunch of meals. If you go in the evening they have hors’doerves and wine and whatnot. After we left there we went over to the Olive Garden (I’d never been to one before) and had lunch of soup and salad. It was pretty good … but just nice to hang with Grambly and brighten up her day. She gets so lonely for conversation and companionship.

Okay, I think that's all the news I wanted to be sure to capture before I forget ... *phew!*

Catching up...

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 03:46:35 GMT

Good lord, I haven't written in ages. I had so much fun reading through last years worth of drek that I promised myself I would be better about posting this year ... so much for resolutions.

Let's see... vacation flew by. Josh came down to visit New Years Eve. The five of us went to the movies (Night at the Museum). Cute, mindless fun. On the way home we spotted fireworks going off from Westerly, so we pulled over into this parking lot and watched the whole show. It was so neat to see fireworks and have it be so nippy that I could see my breath. Got Chinese take out and just had a lazy New Years Eve. I stayed up long enough to see the ball drop and then went to bed around 1:00. Didn't even pop the bubbly I had chilling in the fridge ... and let me just say, it's a good thing because the last thing I would have wanted on New Years day is a hang-over, because........

7:00 in the morning the phone rings and Bill picks up to hear my mother saying, "Tell Katherine I need her". I jumped out of bed, and truly my eyes hadn't even focused when I got in the car to go over to my parents. I think between the time of the phone call and the time I got at their house it was about four minutes. I walk in and I hear Mom yelling from upstairs ... as I get to the top of the stairs I see her on the far side of the bedroom standing up and holding a towel on my dad's head... he's on the floor next to the bed and she's saying, "I didn't know what to do..." And then I see it... blood... not just a little blood, but BLOOD everywhere on the side of the bed. It's pooled up in the bookcase and sopped into the rug. My dad's undershirt is covered and the towel my mom is holding is turning red as she's looking at me. My dad is saying, I think it's stopped bleeding and I run over and tell my mom, "let me see the wound". She takes the towel off his head and blood comes SPURTING out of a huge, gaping head wound. I turned around, grabbed the phone, and dialed 911 before you could bat an eye.

Ambulance and all the emergency people got there pretty fast and off mom and dad went to the hospital. I knew it would be a while before he would be taken care of at the hospital, so I stayed behind and tried to clean up some of the blood. Here is was, not even 8 a.m. and I'm on my knees with towels and papertowels and rug stuff and whatever else trying to get blood out of an ancient SHAG carpet. Now here is where we are happy I didn't drink the night before... I was trying to get the blood out of the bookcase - pools of it - and I slip and get covered down my arm and it's all gooey and sticky and ... well, I was gagging and thinking, "I wonder if puke gets blood out of the carpet"... anyhow, I held it together and did a pretty good job of getting it cleaned up. I do not know how murderers think they can get away with it... that stuff is tenacious and doesn't clean up easy! Anyhow, finally got home from the hospital around 1 p.m. Poor dad was sewn and stapled and whatnot, but he's no worse for wear. Thank God... When I got home I said to my husband, "If that's how this year is starting, what does that say about the rest of the year?" ... his reply? "It can only go up from here" *Smile*

Stopped smoking right before Christmas. Well, not true... started taking the new Pfizer smoking cessation drug before Christmas and finally stopped (I hope) on Jan. 7. Do I crave them... oh...god...yes... But I haven't had one yet, so here's hoping.

Amy was home for the long weekend. We didn't do much of anything as the weather was rainy ... but it was nice to have her around even if she is a pain in the ass. Josh came down yesterday and we all went out to dinner at Family Pizza and then came home and Bill and I watched the Patriots pull a win out of their ass. OH, and I FINALLY learned how to use iTunes and updated Penelope! She and I will be MUCH happier now.

Okay, that's enough for now... one gorey story is good enough for tonight ...

Laziest week ever...

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 05:29:20 GMT

I've spent the last four days being WAY lazy! Tuesday I actually spent the entire day in my jammies and gaming. Wednesday I at least got my ass dressed and Amy, Grambly and I went out to lunch. After lunch we weren't sure what to do as it was mighty nippy outside, so we decided to just drive over to Mystic and see what was playing at the movie house. We walked up JUST as a movie was starting, so we decided to go to a ... wait for it... CHICK FLICK. We saw The Holiday, which was totally a formula-type movie, with lots of kissing and romance and relationships and laughter and crying and... well, you get the picture. It was very cute and I thoroughly enjoyed just giggling and sighing at the romantic scenes and whatnot. Yesterday the only thing of merit I accomplished was cleaning out Alden's closet and then taking the kids over to DDR at the local bowling alley. Amy, by the way, almost killed us all driving home from Groton. In my 22 years with my husband I have never heard him speak in a scared voice and hearing him yelling, "Amy, AMy, AMY!!!!!" right before we were about to barrel into the back of a minivan was quite a shock. Amy simply applied the brakes and we were fine and she was like, "What's the problem, Dad? I've got it under control". Meanwhile, Alden, Bill and I were ready for a change of pants ... LOL!

Today I had to go to the bank to secure the money for tuition so I dragged my mom with me just so I had some company. We ended up poking around Goodwill - it really is amazing some of the nice clothes they have that people have barely even worn and get rid of. Of course, I have no problems wearing used clothes - although I totally get why other people would be appalled ... but I figure, hey, one man's trash is another man's treasure, ya know?

This evening Bill and I went to his boss' house for a tour of the new home and a glass of wine. I HATE having to go to business things and especially since I had never met any of the people there ... but it turned out being a very nice time. Their daughter took a shine to me and wanted me to play with her exclusively, so that made mingling with the adults a bit of a challenge ... but it was so cute the way she put up her arms to hug and kiss me goodbye! Got home afterwards and the four of us watched Over the Hedge (well, three of us watched and Bill snored for most of it). It was a cute animated movie and was just the kind of fluff that I was in the mood for. I'm getting ready to turn in but first I'll watch Amy play Zelda for a bit - she is absolutely chewing through that game! Oh, and just for the record, the Wii sports pack is actually fun to play!

Xmas!!

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 19:42:01 GMT

Quick update to say I am now writing from a BITCHIN' new computer. Alienware M9700 gaming computer!! 17" monitor and sexy as a wild beast!!! Santa was WAY good to me this year.

Bill got some new camera lenses, Amy and Alden each got a Wii and some fun games (Zelda, of course, and others) and now we're all playing with our new toys.

Merry Christmas!

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 03:44:07 GMT

Merry Christmas all…

I had to write down a few memories before they fade into the abyss that is my brain.

First was Friday evening … Josh came down to spend a few days. He and Amy exchanged gifts and were so cute sitting on the floor by the light of the Christmas tree. Josh gave Amy the most amazing necklace; absolutely thoughtful and so perfect for the Noank girl. It’s a silver chain with a silver anchor wrapped in a silver rope. I don’t know if he went looking for one or he just saw the anchor and was inspired, but I couldn’t imagine a more perfect gift.

Saturday was kind of a nothing day…rainy and inspiring for only naps and laziness. I had to go to the grocery store and Josh and Amy actually volunteered to come with me (!?!). So nice to not have to do it on my own, but I was not mentally prepared (hey, grocery shopping takes preparation for me, okay?) so I ended up running back and forth across the store getting stuff I kept forgetting… LOL. Oh, and I have to say that it's very cool for me to see Alden interacting with Josh so seamlessly ... he and Josh totally tool on one another and it's good to see Alden being social - Makes me happy. Watched a good movie in the evening (Fearless) and turned in rather early for a Saturday night.

Today Josh went home and Amy, Bill and I went and did some shopping at Benny’s and tooled around the pet store for a bit. Then home and down to Gramps and Grambly’s to get ready for this evening. No one was expected until about 5 but damn if everyone wasn’t gathering by about 3! I had to run back to the house to cook my chicken wings – which turned out as one of my best batches in ages (yay! … and probably due to the fact that I actually got all the right ingredients when I went shopping yesterday). Down to the parent’s house by 4:30 or so where we all just ate munchies and yapped until Grambly decided we were going to open presents before dinner (which is bass-ackwards from how we usually do things). We had lots of laughs opening gifts. Franklin seemed to like (or at least get a kick out of) the humongous TV remote control I got him; Mom LOVED the present from Bill (her gardening pad/stool); Amy got lots of SEXY undies which we all laughed and oohed and ahhed over (Jeremy rubbing them on his cheek was too funny!). Had a yummy dinner and again lots of laughing … so much so that Suzanne actually had to leave the table because she was going to wet herself (more laughs…).

However, we regressed to our usual tacky, vulgar, hysterically un-PC worst when Amy started sculpting. She had gotten this really cool fiber optic light thing that has a stand and clay to go with it that one is suppose to sculpt to look like a peacock (funny aside… Beth had NO idea that Amy’s spirit animal was the peacock when she got it for her. She said she was shopping and the peacock just begged to be bought for her niece!). Anyhow, Amy couldn’t just start sculpting a peacock… oh NO… that would be too appropriate. No, Amy started out by sculpting a flaccid penis. THEN her father said, no, you need to sculpt a rigid one with the fiber optics coming out the top… Needless to say, the sculpture turned out VERY realistic and the pictures that Beth took had me, my mom, and Franklin actually crying we were laughing so hard. I, of course, kept calling for “decorum, people!” but couldn’t help but just laugh hysterically at the total lunacy of it all. GOD, can we EVER be just normal and wholesome??

Afterwards, Amy, Beth, Grambly and I went on a long drive around Noank, GLP, Mumford Cove and Mystic to look at the Xmas lights and luminaries. It was great… the four of us sang Christmas carols as we drove and Grambly talked ALL the way… LOL!

Finally home around 9:30… and Amy and Alden decided they had to be immediately in bed just like when they were kids. The faster you fall asleep, the faster the morning and presents will come *smile* However, they were upstairs in bed for about ½ hour when all of sudden they came running down the stairs… seems they forgot to put out the stuff for Santa (cookies and milk) and the reindeers (carrots). Yea, I know… they are older now, but both of them are absolute STICKLERS for tradition and tradition says these things MUST be done. I swear, they will be 40 years old with their own families and still be doing this kind of thing… LOL! God, I Love that about them.

So, Santa comes in about another hour or so, kiddies … and I hope you all get just what you wanted :)

Happy Anniversary

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 02:01:52 GMT

It's my 16th wedding anniversary! Whoot! Of course, Bill and I have been together for... ummmm... almost 22 years, but whaddeva... Husband didn't remember our anniversary, but after all these years, again, whaddeva. Marriage isn't about anniversaries and dates ... it's about the long haul. The long, anguished, tortured, agony ridden haul ... LOL! But besides the agony and anguish there is a sense of comfort, sharing, caring, loving, acceptance, and, yea, friendship that just cannot be surpassed. I love being married ... I don't always love marriage, but I don't always love ANYTHING in life, ya know? After 16 years of marriage, I'm still in love with my husband ... how corny is that?

Saturday night

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 05:27:52 GMT

Went out to dinner tonight. Something I rarely do with people besides my family. My friend, Mel, was in from CA and she wanted me to come see the new house she bought in Mystic and then walk over to a local restaurant. Her house is really cool… very old (it was an old sea captain’s home in, like, 16 or 1700’s) and she’s keeping a lot of the old stuff in the house. Keeping the old wooden floors and moldings and chandeliers and windows, etc. Sitting on her front lawn you look out over the waterfront in Mystic and can see the Seaport and the bridge that goes up and down all summer long (locals know what I’m talking about).

We went to the “new” restaurant in Mystic – Azu – and yes, it was kind of loud, but the food was absolutely phenomenal and we just yapped and yapped for hours. The weirdest thing was this…

Mel has done well for herself. She is, well, a multi-millionaire and works in an industry that is very cut-throat and perhaps even somewhat dangerous in the way they deal with one another in business aspects. But tonight she had a hard time even talking to me about the most innocent things … because she is so used to NOT sharing with people. The reason she doesn’t share is because people in her business use information against one another (?!?). I swear I live in an innocent bubble, insulated from such things. She actually looks around to see who is in the room and who might be an “enemy” (business-wise). How bizarre is that? If she was anyone else I would say she was paranoid… but she “plays” in the big leagues and believe it or not, that is standard operating procedures. Unbelievable. I just could never live like that. She worries for the safety of her child and her husband (because of nefarious people) … while I worry about the health of mine.

You know what… for all her money and the wonderful things that can purchase, I would never change my life for hers. Yea, I shop for clothes at Wal-Mart and she shops in Paris and London … but I don’t have to go to sleep at night wondering who is going to try to stab me in the back the next day. This world is sick in some corners of the world and I’m just thankful I don’t have to deal with that.

At any rate, it was a GREAT evening and I loved spending it with an old friend.

On other fronts, Amy was my Mom’s date for the Noank Christmas party tonight. Santa drove through the streets on a fire truck, carolers roamed the streets (woke me up from my nap before dinner … dammit… LOL), and it culminated in a town party at the Historical Society. It was my Mom’s 75th birthday today and it was just great that Amy could go with her to the party. My Mom was thrilled and I’m sure she was in her glory being accompanied by her grand-daughter (who was dressed SO fabulously, by the way *smile*).

Christmas Tree

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 02:27:38 GMT

Took the last few days off… the last of my saved vacation days. We went yesterday on our annual trek to get a Christmas tree. Amy, Josh, Alden and I set forth and I drove some of the regular route around the countryside … with a few detours here and there. Went by the Dragon's Egg and Amy was going to get out of the car and ask the people who lived there what the hell the place was all about. However, as we were driving by Amy saw written on the side of their van in the driveway, in big letters, "NO CAPITALISM". That was enough for her to say, "Fuck it... they're Commies" *cracking up!*.

It was gorgeous out and perfect for trekking across the field to look for the perfect tree. We ended up at the same place we went last year. Josh scored the tree. It’s bigger than the normal Xmas “bush” that we usually get, but I gotta say it is absolutely perfect in size and shape. It spread out even more over night! Two points for Josh.

We didn’t have near enough lights or extra bling to jazz it up so we had to go out today to get more lights and tacky garlands. Amy picked out this gaudy garland, but it ended up being just what the tree needed to look all sparkly. By day it’s okay, but by night it’s really cool with tacky blinking lights.

Dragged Grambly out with us today and went and had lunch together. It was good to see her out and laughing and yappin’ away with Amy.

Tonight Amy has succeeded in getting Willy wasted on cat nip and now is tormenting him. She used to say she hated him, but even though he can be kinda ugly with his weepy eyes, you just can’t help but love him. He’s just too cute and fluffy and lovable. She’s been playing with him and making him jump … she said it’s like putting a fat kid on a tread mill. I’m afraid he’s going to keel over. LOL!

Hate to say it, but my throat is sore and my head is stuffing up – I think I may be coming down with the crap my husband has had for the last few days. Oh well, I’d rather feel crappy this weekend than next!

This week...

Sat, 09 Dec 2006 00:36:30 GMT

Nothing new to post. Quite frankly I'm just tired of looking at my last post every time I log in.

I sit here... avoiding doing my homework ... listening to my son talk on the phone and my husband cranking up Reel Big Fish on UTube. And yet, my homework calls to me - DAMN IT! I HATE it when that happens.

This week was pretty mellow. Had to pick up my boss three times this week on the way to work ... no big deal, but I could have worked from home two of those mornings. Bah! Did some Xmas shopping and got my husband's gifts bought (YaY!).

Also, heard from my millionaire friend. We're supposed to have dinner next Saturday, so that should be good. I really love her and can't wait to spend the evening talking about "remember when...". At this point in my life the "remember when" game is fun ... enough time has gone by *sigh*

Okay, I'm not really inspired to write right now. Probably because I know I have homework to do (only a four page paper... but still...).

Surreptitiously yours...

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 02:15:53 GMT

I need to say something ... but as this is a public forum, I feel the need to be somewhat discreet. I would say this directly, but I haven't the courage:

I had to go to see Dr. Wingy tonight. Once again, I was lost on what to talk about. However, as usual, when I got there I found that there WAS something that was eating at me. Personally, I think it had a lot to do with my laryngitis this week. My guilt ate up my voice.

I have been feeling guilty about something since Thanksgiving. Something eating at me - I have thought about it EVERY day and cannot forgive myself - that's the horrible thing about words sometimes... they can never be taken back once they are put out there. Anyhow, I talked to my shrink about what I said, about my reaction that was so out of line, and about how I possibly hurt someone that I love beyond belief. I learned more about myself ... I believe I've learned why I feel the way I do (beyond the obvious), and why I have such vehement reactions when concerning this issue. It has to do with the fact that, ultimately, I am mad at myself for allowing another person to make me feel less than worthy - worthy of respect, love, etc. It is not that person whom I dislike - so much as it is the ME that I become when I am confronted with that person.

I've learned that I am not the person I was any longer ... the days when that person could make me feel less about myself are long gone ... and with that I need to let my anger and resentment go.

If you read this ... if you know about what I am speaking ... I cannot fully express my regret for saying such hurtful words in your presence. I hope that you can forgive me and know that it is MY failure to confront issues that caused me to say such an awful thing. All I can tell you is that I'm working on it... I am working on ME ... and I hope to one day be a better person for it.

I love you ... but I think you know that.

Surreptitiously yours,

AK

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEREMY!!

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 03:10:13 GMT

It's today, isn't it? Or maybe it's tomorrow ... I can't recall, but I know it's this week and I didn't want it to go by without saying Happy Birthday and LOVE YOU!!!

AuntK

Anyone seen my voice?

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:15:45 GMT

I've had laryngitis for two days now... what up with that?? I'm not sick ... least as much as I can tell. But, for some reason I have no voice. Well, that's not entirely true. I have this kind of squeaky sound that comes out of my throat ... it's not even the sexy, sultry kind of "too much whiskey and cigarettes" voice.

My husband is thrilled... I'm FINALLY silent... LOL!

Thanksgiving Redux

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 02:43:12 GMT

Friday was fun for the most part. We all (sans Franklin and Sue) gathered down at the folks and Aunt B showed up for Thanksgiving Part II to eat all the left-overs. It was good to see her, as usual. After dinner we took a bit of a break and then met back at the folks to play Cranium. It was Jer/Grambly; Amy/Nate; Me/Aunt B. My team was getting crushed, and then B said she had to get ready to go to her class reunion. We made Alden take her place ... and we ended up surging back up to make a play for the win. As it was Amy and Nate took the glory, but it was a good game all in all. Me trying to pantomime a "Rodeo", Jeremy yelling at Grambly, and Nate showing us all up in the end were some of the highlights. Oh yes, and another "Rosalism": Matzopam instead of Marzipan :D

We came back home and I spent close to six hours working on my stupid projects for class - and still didn't finish when I threw up my hands at Midnight. That's what I get for blowing off homework all week *sigh*

Today we went to the movies (Happy Feet). It was a bit of a weird movie, but entertaining nonetheless. Then we had to go pick up Alden's friend and drop them off at the arcade so they could DDR for a couple hours. Amy, Bill and I chewed up time by going to the local pet shop and some other stores just kind of looking around. I was hoping we would run into a Wii at Walmart, but they were (naturally) sold out.

Got back home and back to work on my homework... and VOILA... I am finally now finished and have submitted. Phew!! Amy still has a crap-load of laundry to do and I'm bitching at her to get on it. I suppose I could work on it for her, but I'm not feeling so inclined at this exact moment :)

Thanksgiving

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 01:04:06 GMT

And another Thanksgiving has gone by ... It was a nice day - but Amy and I both felt the absence of Aunt B. She adds another dimension and she makes it more fun. The food was fabulous, in my opinion... the new stuffing Mom made was out of this world yummy!

I think the fact that it was a rainy day kind of made us all more lazy than usual. There were games of Uno, much raunchy talk, and the movie (Cars) was great. We ended up putting off Pictionary and/or Cranium until tomorrow (if the mood strikes us) as we didn't have enough players to make it fun today (Bill and Alden were being poops and wouldn't play).

Amy ate many deviled eggs and Bill and I are now suffering because of it :) Jeremy was especially quiet today - it could be because he was dressed like the Catholic Jeremy Action Figure and it inhibited his normal abhorrent behavior. Several new Rosalism were born: Crotiquing (instead of critiquing ... as in, "We'll crotique Sue's dessert"); Glunks (instead of drops ... as in, "Alden, don't forget to put in your eye glunks for your pink eye); and finally Punkin instead of pumpkin (at one point Nate kept saying to her, "Pumpkin" and she would repeat "Punkin" and that went back and forth until we all just laughed and said "whatever, Mom").

So now we're back home and it's rainy and windy outside. Garbage pails flying about and wind whipping and rattling the windows. I love being tucked inside when it's stormy out there *smile* OH, and I actually completed a homework assignment just now, so I feel much less stressed. I still have an entire individual project (paper and slide presentation) to do before Saturday, but at least I got part of my crap done.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Another day of vacation

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 05:12:32 GMT

Everything is quiet now as the family has turned in for the night. I'm about to as well, but wanted to jot down some thoughts from today. I've found that I really like being able to look back as I seem to forget as many things as I remember the older I get *sigh*

Amy and I went down to Grambly's to help her prepare for tomorrow's gathering for Thanksgiving. It was nice just yapping - Amy peeling potatoes and me concocting my celery stuffing, etc. Basic boring stuff, except for the conversations. Amy holds nothing back, even in front of her grandparents. She had my father cracking up talking about sex and men and god knows what else. She breathes air into their lives and it was good to see them enjoying her company. She is COMPLETELY inappropriate in what she talks about, but my whole family is inappropriate so apple didn't fall too far from the tree. Before we left I said, "Let's make a bet... we can't go through Thanksgiving meal without making a completely perverted comment or mentioning sex in some manner or another." No one would bet against me ... LOL! What is WRONG with us - we are SO politically incorrect and completely incorrigible. I guess that's what I love about my family, though *smile*

Tradition for family gatherings means several things... "kids" play UNO while food is cooking; at least once we tool on Grambly for being a crazy old bat *smile*; on Thanksgiving we watch a movie after the meal; we play Pictionary or Cranium ... something that makes us laugh. Amy and I went to McQuades to pick out a movie ... we got "Cars" as Amy said it's a fun movie that everyone will like.

We took Dale out to dinner for her birthday tonight. We went to Koto's, the new Japanese restaurant in town. Some of us ordered Hibatchi, which requires the chef to come out and chop, slice and dice on a big old fry plate in front of us. The chef flicks food at each person and you try to catch it in your mouth. I was the only one in our party who caught it! Yea me!! We all tried, though... so that was neat. It takes guts to make yourself look like a possibly idiot to open your mouth up wide and try to catch flying food :) The end dishes were SOOOOO good. I definitely want to go back again!

We ended the evening by coming home and watching "Wedding Crashers". Cute movies and some laugh out loud moments. All in all, I would say it was a good day *sigh...smile*

Quick notes

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 07:16:52 GMT

Just some quick notes about tonight. I wouldn't normally post, but I have just spent the better part of 45 minutes going through my entries from this past year and realize how much I had already forgotten and how much I really like being able to look back and remember.

Tonight:

1) Made a nice family dinner and Amy ended up sitting on the kitchen floor so she could share her pork roast with her cat (Cassie)

2) Amy made a cake all by herself. She spent close to an hour screaming at us to stay out of the kitchen. Alden kept telling us to go in the kitchen to see how the initial cakes turned out (I'm thinking part of one of the layers collapsed). And, for whatever reason she chopped off the edge of the cake all the way around (it may have burnt, but who knows as she was practically mental in keeping us out of the kitchen). She kept chasing us out of the kitchen with a spatula full of frosting. I'd like the record to show that the cake ended up tasting awesome!

3) Amy, Alden and I waited for Bill to fall asleep and then we took over the TV to play video games. I restarted Katamari, and then Alden took over to play Need for Speed. Amy and I were laughing SO hard at him. He kept making random comments that were too funny. He's such an odd duck sometimes, but when Amy is home he really blossoms in his interactions and funny comments. He had us in stitches.

4) Amy was gargling with water. I don't know what happened, but she laughed out loud when her head was tilted back gargling and this big geyser of water came out of her mouth. Alden and I started laughing and the next thing you know she was bent over with water and spit coming out of her mouth and nose, and that just sent the rest of us over the edge. Tears were streaming down my face and Alden was bitching at her cuz it was so disgusting.

5) I promised Amy I would teach her to cook some things when she was home this vacation. I told her I was going to teach her to make lasagna (SO easy) and damn if Alden said he didn't want to learn also. SO... I'm thinking we'll end up having lasagna tomorrow or Monday. I'm kind of psyched Amy wants to learn to cook (Alden is already a good cook in his own right). No one really taught me and poor Bill had to endure my learning curve. I'll never live down my first attempt at meatloaf that turned out to be a "glorified meatball" LOL! I'm not what you would term a "gourmet" cook ... what I make is "family food" ... but if Amy can learn to do that, I know she'll never starve :)

Okay... that's it for now. Time to crawl into bed ... pushing aside the extra bodies in the bed and on the floor. That's one thing that hasn't changed. When the whole family is together we all end up sleeping in the same room ... truth be told, I LOVE that *smile*

Probably not what would be termed a memorable night... but one I wanted to capture so I can look back later and laugh again *smile*

God help us all...

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 02:55:58 GMT

Lord give me strength. Amy is home and already the place is like a zoo... LOL! She's now got this damn rash all over her ... her legs look like she was wading in poison ivy or something. I said we would take her to the doctors on Monday, but if her rash doesn't look better by tomorrow then we'll be taking a trip to the walk-in clinic in Mysic. God she's a mess.

HOWEVER, that doesn't mean she isn't as loud and obnoxious as ever. She wasn't home two minutes before she was barking at her brother to go wash his face ... and then actually made him come over to her so she could sniff at his face to make certain he used the right wash. Poor Alden. Then she's torturing the cat ... yelling at him, "COME HERE, big fat CAT" and then started chasing him with a metal pole. Poor Wilson ... he just looked at her like, "Fuck you, you fuckin' wack job".

Got to hug and thank Josh for being such a "precious" for taking care of Amy. Poor guy ... NOT what he thought he was signing on for, I'm sure. Invited him to come visit over the break ... I figure, what the hell ... he lives with three other guys, so he's probably used to cramped living space and messy rooms. Of course, the fact that half our walls are falling down and we lack a proper ceiling in the hallway ... oh, and we have no less than three junk rooms (most people have junk drawers? We have junk ROOMS). Whatever - so we're a messy bunch - but at least we live in a great location (it's all about the location, folks) :)

Bill took a wrong turn (?!!??) on the way back to Newport - I think we were all just yapping and he forgot to take the turn. He refused to go back saying, "We'll find our way". We were tooling on him SO bad until he finally had to stop and ask for directions. We were so far off course! Stopped in at the Blue Plate for dinner ... SOOOOO good. They make a bitchin' chocolate milkshake, by the way.

Then, on the way home Amy played DJ and we got to listen to all her Disney stuff on her iPod. Stuff from Lilo and Stitch, Jungle Book, Hercules, etc. Cracking up!! We went from listening to "Why don't you have some dirty hot sex with me" to the surfing song from Lilo. Now THAT's an eclectic mix. OH, and when the song came on that she was named after (Amie, by Pure Prarie League) she told us that she often pleasures herself while listening to a song that says her name over and over... I was practically crying I was laughing so hard.

And so we're home ... and god help us all to put up with her *smile*

This, that, and whatever

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 03:31:58 GMT

I've spent the better part of three hours working on my first project for my new class. It's a class in Organizational Design and Change Management. Sounds boring, right? Well, believe it or not, I really like it! In fact, it's one of the first subjects that I've taken in pursuit of my MBA that I'm jazzed about. Granted, this may change tomorrow... but for now, I find it intriguing. It kind of melds my studies in psychology with my business background - perfect match. Of course, my professor may have other opinions about my work ... but whatever - I like what I've written so far. I still have a PowerPoint presentation to create but it's not due until Saturday so I'm cool for now.

It's official, by the way... the daught is falling apart. She's finally getting better and calls me up speaking of what seems to be symptoms of hives. Geez... Personally, I think it has more to do with stress than anything else. Sickness, despondence over lack of comrades for Chinese (pun intended), new feelings revolving around new relationships - even the most stalwart would crumble. My advice to you, my love? Look for solutions - look in places you haven't yet investigated. And, regarding your feelings with your new relationship ... allow yourself to open up completely for once. You may find a new calm in your storm. Maybe not, but it's so worth a leap of faith.

It's up in the air right now... I MAY decide to work from home tomorrow. No one is at work (well, none of my bosses, at any rate) and I can easily log on and conduct business from the comfort of my living room (and PJs). It's raining right now, so that prospect is looking mighty inviting. Guess I'll decide tomorrow (*please let it be rainy and dismal*) LOL!!

iPod blues

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 03:35:37 GMT

So my husband took my iPod and put a bunch of Amy's music on it ... which is great. The bad part is he "wrote" over all my own music. So that leaves me with no choice...

I must beg for my own computer for Xmas. I can't download iTunes on my work computer - can't download anything for that matter. I need my own laptop and that's all there is to it. Besides that, I am a gamer at heart ... I know, I know ... I should be more focused on important things, but damn if I don't miss being able to play my stupid games. I have no less than three games collecting dust on my shelf cuz I can't run them on my work computer - and that's just wrong...

... must... game... must... game...

I am such a loser :p

Willy, JQ, and a Turkey

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 20:37:03 GMT

My husband is in love with his cat. He’s like this macho, hairy Italian with long hair and whatnot … and he is a total mush about his silly cat. What can I say … Bill loves his pussy. He’s bumming cuz he’s gotta call to make an appt to get the cat’s ‘nartz nipped. I told him Wilson (the cat) will be a lot more content – heaven knows Bill has been more content since I sent him in to get fixed. He stays in the yard now instead of roaming the neighborhood. Smile

The daught is sick as a dog … sounds like she has a touch of the same thing she had in September – some sort of flu. I hate it when she gets sick and I can’t be there (I wonder if that will ever change or if it’s just a constant mother thing?). I gotta give it up for the Q-man, though. It’s almost like having Jeremy there … Like, if Jer was with her then I would absolutely know he would take care of her and do the right things (such as making sure she’s drinking fluids and yelling at her to sit the fuck down and stop tripping over furniture when she’s drunk with fever). She gets such high fevers and can be a real idiot about her health if you don’t sit on her and make her take care of herself. From what she says, Josh sounds like a concerned mother’s wet dream. He’s watching out over her with such good care I just wanna – I don’t know - pinch his cheeks! Bill says it shows he was raised well (could that be approval I hear??). I told Amy she damned well better be as good to him when he gets this creepy crud… or be extra good to him if he doesn’t get the creepy crud.

Thanksgiving next week… and I’m off work starting Tuesday (SIX days off … ahhhhhh). Will traipse up to Bristol to get Amy on Tuesday night. Can’t WAIT to have the whole family here … we are one loud, hysterical, crass, perverted, disrespectful, and politically incorrect family – completely dysfunctional in many ways – but I love it when we’re all together tooling on one another – picking on one another – and in our own way loving one another. It’s the best.

Maudlin

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 02:45:39 GMT

I was a bit maudlin last night... feeling sorry for myself over things that probably aren't huge in the grand scheme of things. They mean something to me, though. I spoke with my shrink tonight. I had to laugh cuz I was thinking I had nothing to talk about - even asked Amy, "What the hell am I going to talk about with him?" She said I should talk about what it is that made me sad last night ... I laughed her off and damn if I didn't end up talking about just that. She knows me too well *shiver*

Ultimately, what it comes down to is this. Never forget, never underestimate, never disbelieve that the small things in life do not count. They do ... more than we realize. When someone reaches out to take your hand, squeeze it back - just to let them know you are there and you feel their presence. When someone looks at you - really looks at you - and you see acknowledgement in their eyes ... acknowledge them back. It takes ONE second ... and that one second can last an eternity when given to those who really need it. It costs you nothing ... and is worth more than gold to others. And that, my friends, is the truth.

*sigh*