Lazy Day

In comparison to that "sunny day" that is often sung about, I am having a lazy day.

I have still not gotten dressed yet today. I did put on flip-flops and a snuggly robe though. It gets cold at my computer.

Not sure of the reason for this lazy day. It could be a couple of things:

1. Depression: After the post I made last about the break-up, I suppose I may be having a delayed reaction depression now that some of the anger has subsided. Added to the fact that I don't usually take prozac on weekends, this could get serious.

2. Boredom: Despite the fact that I work a full-time job, attend law school part-time, have two kids still at home, sit on the Board of Directors for two state professional organizations and for two non-profits, I am easily bored. Guess I am a little ADHD in that I need to have my mind constantly engaged.

3. Avoidance of housework: I hate housework. I would love to live in an immaculate home that would happily grace the pages of Southern Living, but I just can't stand to clean it. And I can't afford to hire it done at the moment. And the two princes that live here with me don't see a need for any clean up process. So, it overwhelms me and never gets done.

I did have a couple of minor bursts of energy today. I gathered garbage from around my room to be taken out - and washed three loads of clothes. No much, but on days like this, you take what you can get.

Just when you think

that everything is going well - working in your favor - then all hell breaks loose and you find out that you are being screwed 90 ways to Sunday.

That is the way I feel today.

The man I am in a relationship with sent me mail today - I thought. It seemed to be a love letter. "I miss your kiss - your hugs - being held in your arms."

I read a bit closer and discovered the letter was written TO him and was not FROM him.

I was crushed. I am hurt. I wanted to scream and cry and beat the hell out of him.

Why did this letter come to me? I may never know. I followed it with an "it's all over" letter. This time I mean it. I have to be through. I can't take anymore heart ache and pain caused by screwed up, cheating men.

Thanksgiving Eve

Off work.

Shopped - Bought shoes, cute suit at real bargain price, Christmas gifts for the office and some really cheap gas for here.

Doctor visit - I am healthy and well. Lose weight. Drink more water. Decrease stress in your life.

Filled prescription.

Ate lunch.

Went to help friend prepare the room for s dinner for the homeless.

Class. Last one in this subject thankfully. Review for exam next week.

Back to the dinner to clean up.

Home by 11.

Read the emails, forums and blogs. Write this.

Bedtime.

Happy Turkey Day!

Revival

Tonight I went to a revival with one of my co-workers. At first I was thinking - "Why do I bother to keep my word when no one else does?" Then I realized that I was where I was meant to be.

Earlier as I left work:
Phone rings. Prince 1 is calling: Mom?
Me: Yes dear?
Prince 1: Brother is not feeling good and wants you to stop and get him some medicine.
Me: What is wrong with him?
Prince1: He has a sore throat, cough, body ache. He says get Robitussin and Chicken Noodle soup.
Me: OK. I'll be home soon.

I get in the grocery store. Phone rings. Prince 3 is calling: Mom?
Me: Yes, Son.
Prince 3: You aren't gonna like this.
Me (dreading what comes next): OK. What is it.
Prince 3: I got a speeding ticket.
Me: But you don't even have a driver's license (he lost it by not paying three speeding tickets earlier this year).
Prince 3: I know. I gave them Brother's (other state) license.
Me: I'm hanging up now. I am too mad to talk to you.

The next call was from Prince 1: Mom?
Me: Yes.
Prince 1: Don't come home.
Me: I don't think I will. (I am hearing Princes 2 and 3 scream at each other using violent threats and curses)

I drove up to the house, put the meds and soup out of the car and left. I went to church for revival. Now I feel MUCH better.

Maybe Next Time

When I think about a topic - like the time I am wasting - I will stick to the topic and not be dragged to other thoughts.
I actually meant to come back and write about all the time I waste playing games on this computer. Instead, I just let the maudlin love song hang around for days. Guess I was too busy moving from 77 to 78 million in my game of Bejeweled.

It is very hard for me to believe that so much of this year has passed. I have only the one semester left in law school after this one - and registration for that come in today. I just realized that there are only ten more days in 2008 when I will be actually "at work" and that excites me - especially when I think about the week I will be spending at the beach! That is my treat for me after finishing this semester - and will allow me to spend some focused time on that dreaded MicroMash program.

I want to give a shout out here to my friend - Twisted Lisa. Reading her blog made me want to write my own - and knowing the real Lisa makes it even better. The other blog that I read often is My Tiny Kingdom. We have the twins thing in common. When I have my vacation, I'll try to read a few more blogs - and maybe improve mine a bit.

Hope all is well. Don't waste too much time reading all this verbiage from the computer though. Life is actually happening while we do it!

Time's a-wastin'

Time.

What a subject! So much has been written about the value of time. It has come to my attention lately since I heard a wonderful combined middle school choir sing "Seasons of Love" from the musical RENT.
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure the life of a man?

Put the word time in the search bar for song lyrics and you can spend days looking at all the entries.
My all time favorite is a piece by Barry Manilow - rarely heard - sad but timeless:

WE LIVE ON BORROWED TIME
I never thought there could be a love like yours and mine
I never dreamed that I would see the day that I would find
A love that feels so right, but here we are tonight
And now the only thing we really need is time

We live on borrowed time
No one can be sure when the loan will finally come due
But I'm loving all of mine, I know what time is for,
I've borrowed it so I can spend it all right here with you

There was a time when I believed that life held guarantees
There was a time when I was sure my future was secure,
But life had other plans, the future's in God's hands
And knowing that just makes me love you even more

We live on borrowed time
Yesterday is past, tomorrow seems a million miles away
But I promise you that I'm gonna make love last
By living every moment, every hour, every day

Now we may have a year, or we may have a lifetime,
No one can be certain what the future will allow,
But you and I are here, and this time is the right time
'Cause one thing that I know is that we have each other now, and now,And we live on borrowed timeLet's celebrate and sing as we walk bravely into the unknown'Cause we're gonna be just fine, whatever life may bring,We'll face it all together and we'll never be aloneWe'll face it all together and we'll never be alone

Accomplished

Not much.

It was Sunday. I slept late - till after 10. I waked up Princes 2 and 3 so they could be at work by 11. They did not appreciate my efforts. But they got up and went to work.

I crawled back in bed and started on MicroMash. After a few quizzes, I decided to get breakfast. After that, I hung up all my summer clothes that were piled on the bed. And I hung the fall/winter clothes that were on the bed in a different pile as well. Not that the bed got cleared, but it is better organized and the tv is now visible from my pillow. I found the rest of my cosmetics too! Maybe I will start using them more. No promises though.

I did venture outside - and found it much colder than expected. I may need my heavy coat in the morning. I will look at the weather before I dress.

Until tomorrow.....

Reflections

One week ago I decided to blog.


I know, it hasn't been that long so it may be very early for reflections, but I am in that kind of mood, so here goes.


I am sad that I only have one follower to date - and no comments regarding any of my posts. If anyone can tell me how to get better read, please do.

I am pleased that Prince 3 got a job this week. Maybe soon he will again pay his own car note and phone bill.

I am proud that Prince 2 got his GED this week. I knew he could do it, he knew he could do it, but he wouldn't try for the longest. Now it is over and he can move ahead. I now hope he takes advantage of his opportunities.


I am happy that Prince 1 chose to spend a part of his birthday with me. He even got a tear in his eye when he read my card. Was it from the lovely sentiment written inside or the size of the check included? I'll never know.

At work, I had a short week. The school system was shut down on Tuesday for Veterans' Day. On Thursday, I took a half day off to attend a City Leaders Breakfast. On Friday, I took the entire day off. I went to the doctor to get my prescriptions filled. He was pleased. My blood pressure (top number) was down 65 points and my weight was down 33 pounds. All since June. I got six months worth of my meds and we all left happy. My hearings were few since I was not at work much, but the reports are still on my desk waiting to be written.

At school, I had a better than expected score on my pop test from last week, so my ego was soothed a bit there. The MPRE is over, so I can concentrate on preparing for the MBE again with my studies. I am keeping up fairly well for an old lady.

At home, I need to make major improvements. I feel like my house is falling down around me and I am drowning in clutter. But it doesn't matter enough to me to do anything about it - and it doesn't matter at all to anyone else who lives here. I know it would help if everyone would do even ten minutes a day of cleaning - but it just doesn't happen. I feel so overwhelmed by mess that I won't even start the process. It has to happen though - even if it a few months down the road. I must get the house together and then try to sell it.

All in all, life is good.

Exhaustion

Why is it that every once in a while we get so tired we drag around like we have lost our best friend?

I am having a spell of that malady.

I put on a new suit this morning with a cheerful sweater in teal and rose, slathered all the cosmetics on my face that my Mary Kay lady could talk me into buying - and all day everyone told me how tired I looked.

By the end of the day the idiom had become fulfilled. I was so tired I could barely drag myself into the house.

And to think that I had planned to have a wonderful day - filled with energetic activity.

It just didn't happen.

Oh well.

Accentuate the positive

I really wanted to write some scathing negative comments tonight, but I had to tell myself that it would accomplish no real purpose. So I will try to be upbeat and positive.

It was a lovely fall day. Winds blew the leaves through the parking lot at work and caused their multitude of colors to form a beautiful fall array. I had lunch with my friend at her school - actual lunchroom food - that was pretty good. Best of all, it was shared not only with my friend, but also with several of her coworkers. We had several good laughs and lots of camaraderie. I did enjoy that.

Had a mandatory meeting at the office later. We saw two videos on homelessness and the McKinnie-Vento act that governs education of the homeless. I will withhold comments on that other than to say that I feel the act may go a bit too far in giving some of these kids something they have not earned. On the other hand, there but for the grace of God go I.

Had another lively conversation with the parent from Monday that still just doesn't seem to understand. She claims she gave the school a piece of paper from the doctor when her child was in elementary school and someone at the Board told her it should be in his file. The paper is not in his file at the school. She has moved and changed his school four times since she claims she gave the school the paper. For whatever reason, the paper is gone. No school official can call the doctor and get another piece of paper giving the child's diagnosis. Mom has to get that and then give it to us. She claims she did. We are in a vicious circle. I can't produce the piece of paper - nor can the school - and mama won't get another because some nameless person at the Board told her it should be in the file. She just can't understand that "should" and "is" are two different things.

I do feel good about a bargain I picked up tonight. Prince 3 finally got a job. He will be working for the same company as Prince 2, but in a different location. They are required to wear a shirt of a specific color - and it must be 60% cotton and 40% polyester (or something) so that it is very soft knit. They heard the shirt could be found at a local discount store, so they met me there after class and I bought two of the shirts - one for each prince. Only $20 each. Ugh. But I did find a pair of shorts on the clearance rack by my favorite designer for only $3. They came with a really cute black belt - and I would have paid more than $3 for the belt, so I really feel like it was a great purchase, even if I have to wait 6 months to wear the shorts. The belt will get worn before that!

The two princes have gone to a movie with a friend - and I am home alone again. It is late though and tomorrow is another day. I will climb under my covers and read until I sleep. Nite!

Happy Birthday, Prince 1!

Happy Birthday to my eldest son! He turned 23 today. We met for lunch at Olive Garden - his favorite spot for birthday dinners and other important stuff for the past few years. Joined by his brothers, we had a pleasant meal. They all had the Tour of Italy, but I can't eat that much at all, so I had lasagne. Prince 1 asked that I bring the cake along, so we had that for dessert. We all left full and happy.

Prince 1 has been growing his hair for several months - and it now is longer than mine. I kid him frequently about what a pretty girl he makes with all that hair. I was pleased when he informed me that his girlfriend had given him a haircut at an expensive salon with a stylist that specializes in curly hair. We all asked for a picture via phone after the cut. Hours later, still no picture, so I sent a text requesting it. He sent the picture. I was so disappointed. The hair was merely trimmed a bit - not cut into a manly style as I had hoped. Oh well. Maybe someday he will see the need for a professional look.

Monday

Monday means mail. I love to check my mail box and find interesting stuff in there addressed to me. I miss that minor thrill on Sundays and holidays.

Today in my mail was a catalog called Bare Necessities. Yes, it is what you think - an underwear catalog. Mostly it is well-developed women modeling matching sets of rather modest undies. My favorite part was the few hot shots of male models. What really shocked me though was the prices. A plain white cotton tee shirt - shown on a Chippendale quality male - sold for only $88. That is not a typo folks, I said $88. For one white cotton tee shirt to wear under the dress shirt. Guess you can tell I won't be shopping from that catalog - especially for the men in my life. WallyWorld has plain white tee shirts for a whole lot less. In fact, I could dress one of my guys from the skin out for that amount.

Monday also meant back to work for me. My morning was not too bad - two girls with attitudes who want to be as grown as their teachers and push them around. Easy dealings. The afternoon was more challenging, although not in the way I expected. My first afternoon appointment was with a woman whose other son I saw last week - and she was not happy with me at all. I do believe that she used the words "stupid-ass honky bitch who graduated from that second-rate Birmingham school system" when she called me Friday to tell me she would have her attorney with her today. Somehow I never started shaking in my boots. She just didn't show up at all. Fine by me. But the next mama was almost worse. Her son had - without provocation - beat another student in the head until he fell to the floor and he had directed at least two other students to slap the boy as well. Mama seems to think that is perfectly alright and had at least ten different excuses for his behavior that she spouted over and over. She actually stated that the school system should hire someone to sit with her son all day to help him control his temper. How about she just uses some good old-fashioned ass-whipping?

Also today was my attempt to fulfill my civic duty. I attended the local school system's Board of Education meeting. Sometimes I am really not at all sure why I do that. Tonight was one of those nights. I do, however, get some minor amusement from the members of the Board attempting to ask "intelligent" questions on educational issues when they really don't know squat and the ignorance shines through.

It was Monday.

Sunday, Sunday

It started as a wonderful day. I woke up about 7, dressed and left the house, stopping by MickeyD's for my daily dose of Diet Dr. Pepper. I got to WallyWorld before they unlocked the doors. My sole purpose was to buy a USB port hub. I have way too many things that need to be plugged in and only two spots for USP connections on this computer. Of course, the wonders of Wally World attracted my attention and I found several things I just had to have in addition to that hub. I did get out of there for less than $100 though - and that in itself is an accomplishment.

Next stop - my office. I know. It is Sunday. But I have allowed the work to pile up this week by leaving the office early several times instead of getting it done before I go home. So, I had a stack of folders on my desk that needed to be handled.

You may be wondering at this point just what I do to earn money. Sometimes I wonder about that myself. My official title is Hearing Officer. In layman's terms, I expel students from school or send them to the alternative program - after I give them an opportunity for due process. Sometimes I actually reinstate them to school and direct the staff to do more interventions. I only get to see kids who have problems - whether it is the first time or the tenth. Very sad. Too many pressures on kids today - and not enough firm guidance from home for many of them. I don't need to start on parents today - I will save that for another.

Today I wrote reports that sent six students to alternative school and expelled two. That was only since Wednesday - and doesn't include the two I expelled on Thursday since I had already typed those reports and mailed them. Those two get a calendar year as they were gun related. The other two today - one can come back in January and the other needs to move on to a GED program. That makes me a racist meanie, according to the parent. Oh well.

When the reports got done, I did a bit of preparation for my final exam in Wills. The teacher gave us a list of statutes to know and certain parts of the Uniform Probate Code to be familiar with. I compiled all the information into one 57 page document. Now I have a month to memorize it. Wonder how many of my classmates would be willing to pay for the compilation? Maybe I could pick up a few bucks.....

Another Saturday Night

It is another Saturday night. On these evenings, I am reminded of that song: Another Saturday night and I ain't got no money -
Seems like that is always the way it is for me. I get paid, I pay the bills. I'm broke.
The story of a mom with three sons - two still living at home and costing me big time. They keep promising to move out, but it just doesn't happen. So they stay home and I stay broke.

Now to give you a bit more about me, since we are just beginning our friendship here. I am past middle age, actually just entered the "senior savings" stage. I have been married twice and have three sons, as previously mentioned. I work full time and go to school part time, at least for a few more months since I will graduate in May. Internet bridge is my favorite passtime. I actually love my job, but I generally don't like my boss. My co-workers are mostly wonderful and I have an awesome secretary. I am also owned by an 80-pound lap dog who sheds heavily and eats constantly.

I decided to start blogging as I enjoy writing and don't often get the chance to write strictly for pleasure. I feel that is important. I think I may have some things to share with the world. We'll see how it goes.

Back to Saturday nights. The football game just ended and my team won today, unlike the past few Saturdays. I am not a fair-weather fan - I am AUBURN all the way. But I am not an obnoxious fan - not loud and ostentatious. I just quietly wear my Auburn shirts and post those silly jokes that come through my inbox on my office door. My oldest son tried Alabama, but was never a football fan. The other two were Auburn fans with me as long as Auburn was winning. This year, they are Alabama fans - almost to the point that I expect them to move into a trailer, buy a pick-up truck and hang a shotgun in the back window. Stereotypical Alabama fan syndrome. I hope not.

Since the game is ended, I need to find something else to watch. I am a huge Lifetime fan, so I will find a movie rerun there to entertain myself. If I am awake, I may play bridge a bit later with some internet friends from all over the world. We play this tournament at 11:00 p.m. EST to accommodate our friends from Down Under. Keeps me up late - and I have become a big fan of sleep. While I decide, I will curl up in my bed with a good romance novel and probably fall asleep.

Another Saturday night with the redqueen.