Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but when you plan on visiting someone you rarely see, you call them ahead of time to set up a time, right?
Apparently my SIL and her family do not understand this courtesy. They have family church camp up here this weekend (which we didn't know about, since we don't do the church thing and the camp is two towns over and away from the roads we drive on a regular basis), and they wanted to see us, but of course the days we have off they have to visit other people. Had we known when they were going to come up, we could have re-arranged our appointments so we could visit (a VA TB test for Sean and some fillings for me), but no, we didn't find out until Friday night that they were coming up Saturday.
Urgh!!!!! She already drives me up the wall with her behavior and manners; this is the same SIL who left work and drove nine hours to the funeral of Corey Haim, the actor. A person she didn't even know, just admired. Yeah, but she couldn't come up and visit her nephew when he was in the NICU or when he had surgery, AND just HAD to have her mother come down at his surgery time when I could have really used her support (especially after Supergrammy PROMISED to be there), because her nanny was having some issues. This girl....*sigh*
As you can tell, we don't get along. We are very different in personality and beliefs, and while I respect that she has a different viewpoint, she cannot do the same. I get along with her husband okay, because he at least doesn't push his own agenda; but ugh.....I was excited when I married Bald Man that I would finally have a sister, but sadly it isn't fun or neat.
Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Feeling human again
I am not cut out to be a stay at home mama.
I have the utmost respect for those who can do it; even more for those who can juggle keeping the house clean and the kiddos content. Me, I have a hard time just getting the energy to get dressed some days. To be fair, I have been ill and mostly housebound, but still. I miss being able to walk out my door and down the street on the sidewalk to a park or a running track to jog, or to a store, or even to be able to rely on city transit to save money.
The Bald man FINALLY got a good job, pending a background check and TB test (medical support technician), with the VA, so our money issues are hopefully going to be seriously less severe, but when you don't drive and you live in the middle of nowhere, money doesn't do a whole hell of a lot. Luckily, I am working on getting my license and we do plan on getting a second vehicle, so I can travel around with little man as needed. I miss being able to get around alone!
I guess what I miss most is a city environment in general. I miss being able to go to a 24 hour store if needed, or being able to catch a bus every half an hour or so, etc. If only I could convince Bald Man that a city may be an option. We talked about our options after getting to Albany for his background check and TB test, and while a city is out of the question, we are talking about moving further south, closer to his work place, and close to the freeway. He won't consider Plattsburgh (although I don't consider THAT a city anyway...), but anything south of this evil hellhole is better than nothing!! I wish he'd consider Albany, but that would only be an option after I finish my master's and hopefully get a job at the VA...and even then, he's bound and determined to buy his grandmother's old property about 20 minutes away from Albany. Not my favorite place in the world even though the view is great. Still, it would be better than here. What am I saying....ANY place is better than here. Maybe it'd be different if we lived in the village proper, where there are at least sidewalks to walk on safely, maybe not....but after a trip to Albany I know what I do miss.
I have the utmost respect for those who can do it; even more for those who can juggle keeping the house clean and the kiddos content. Me, I have a hard time just getting the energy to get dressed some days. To be fair, I have been ill and mostly housebound, but still. I miss being able to walk out my door and down the street on the sidewalk to a park or a running track to jog, or to a store, or even to be able to rely on city transit to save money.
The Bald man FINALLY got a good job, pending a background check and TB test (medical support technician), with the VA, so our money issues are hopefully going to be seriously less severe, but when you don't drive and you live in the middle of nowhere, money doesn't do a whole hell of a lot. Luckily, I am working on getting my license and we do plan on getting a second vehicle, so I can travel around with little man as needed. I miss being able to get around alone!
I guess what I miss most is a city environment in general. I miss being able to go to a 24 hour store if needed, or being able to catch a bus every half an hour or so, etc. If only I could convince Bald Man that a city may be an option. We talked about our options after getting to Albany for his background check and TB test, and while a city is out of the question, we are talking about moving further south, closer to his work place, and close to the freeway. He won't consider Plattsburgh (although I don't consider THAT a city anyway...), but anything south of this evil hellhole is better than nothing!! I wish he'd consider Albany, but that would only be an option after I finish my master's and hopefully get a job at the VA...and even then, he's bound and determined to buy his grandmother's old property about 20 minutes away from Albany. Not my favorite place in the world even though the view is great. Still, it would be better than here. What am I saying....ANY place is better than here. Maybe it'd be different if we lived in the village proper, where there are at least sidewalks to walk on safely, maybe not....but after a trip to Albany I know what I do miss.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Indian sovereignty
Yes, this deviates from the usual mommy stuff, but it's big in the news up here and I've been thinking a lot about this.
If you don't know about the Iroquois Lacrosse team issues, here's a link to tell you more about the issue Iroquois Lacrosse issue, but to cut to the chase: the team from the Iroquois Nation was invited to compete in an international competition. The US Initially refused to honor their Iroquois nation passports and would deny them re-entry into the US on the way home, which led the UK to deny them visitor visas. As such, they could not compete in a competition in a sport that they invented thousands of years ago!
This all boiled down to recognizing the Iroquois Nation as a sovereign nation with recognition for their documents that equal passports. While I understand that the US and Canada have both offered to issue passports to the Iroquois people, the Iroquois are recognized as being separate from both countries, especially since both countries have reservations along the border.
Do I understand the need for more security for both nations, and more technologically advanced passports? Yes. However, I also feel that there could have been an alternative presented to help the Iroquois nation preserve their rights and freedoms as a sovereignty and keep up with security advances.
Why not have the security administration work with a liaison for the Iroquois nation in creating new passports that recognize the sovereignty status and still have the security encryptions needed for travel in the world. While it may be seen as some as an invasion of the Government to try and take over the Iroquois, perhaps there is a way to show how it can preserve the sovereignty status.
Maybe I'm naive, but it just seems like a lot of Sturm und Drang over something that can easily be rectified.
If you don't know about the Iroquois Lacrosse team issues, here's a link to tell you more about the issue Iroquois Lacrosse issue, but to cut to the chase: the team from the Iroquois Nation was invited to compete in an international competition. The US Initially refused to honor their Iroquois nation passports and would deny them re-entry into the US on the way home, which led the UK to deny them visitor visas. As such, they could not compete in a competition in a sport that they invented thousands of years ago!
This all boiled down to recognizing the Iroquois Nation as a sovereign nation with recognition for their documents that equal passports. While I understand that the US and Canada have both offered to issue passports to the Iroquois people, the Iroquois are recognized as being separate from both countries, especially since both countries have reservations along the border.
Do I understand the need for more security for both nations, and more technologically advanced passports? Yes. However, I also feel that there could have been an alternative presented to help the Iroquois nation preserve their rights and freedoms as a sovereignty and keep up with security advances.
Why not have the security administration work with a liaison for the Iroquois nation in creating new passports that recognize the sovereignty status and still have the security encryptions needed for travel in the world. While it may be seen as some as an invasion of the Government to try and take over the Iroquois, perhaps there is a way to show how it can preserve the sovereignty status.
Maybe I'm naive, but it just seems like a lot of Sturm und Drang over something that can easily be rectified.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A Flat face = "retarded"?!?!?!
This has been nagging at me for awhile, so I need to vent. SuperGrammy's sister recently told her that because Monkey Child has a flat face that he is likely to be "retarded".
First of all, this thinking and assumption is based on ignorance and stupidity. The shape of one's face does not dictate mental retardation (eye shape and other particular features can be indicators, but not just having a flat face). and calling someone "retarded" is very outdated. It's "developmentally disabled".
Second, he underwent genetic testing when he was born because of the spina bifida, and that was one of the first things he was screened for! and he came back with a normal chromosomal mapping with no trisomies or anything.
Third, she did not have the balls to say this to our faces, but told my mother in law, who quickly defended our son and told us when it happened.
Lastly, why would it matter if he was developmentally disabled? He's still a sweet, lovable child, and is deserving of love.
This is the same aunt that, when we announced we were pregnant after seven years of trying, shouted "Finally! It's about time!" While I try not to take anything this woman says with a grain of salt, this just pissed me off. She's not the brightest bulb in the sign, and even her daughters admit she has some serious mental issues that require commitment to a psych ward but she will never get the help she needs, but this....this was the last straw. We told SuperGrammy that from now on we would prefer that she not take Monkey Child to her sister's house, and that if that becomes an issue to please let us know and we would make other arrangements for child care, and she agrees to that completely. I am hoping that we do not have to see or deal with this woman ever, but since she lives in the area it might not be possible to avoid her. We do plan on boycotting any family events involving her, and Bald Man's dad would not go if we don't go, which means a lot.
GRRR!!!! How can ignorance like that be combated if the person who is ignorant is unwilling to listen to reason, logic, and scientific proof????
First of all, this thinking and assumption is based on ignorance and stupidity. The shape of one's face does not dictate mental retardation (eye shape and other particular features can be indicators, but not just having a flat face). and calling someone "retarded" is very outdated. It's "developmentally disabled".
Second, he underwent genetic testing when he was born because of the spina bifida, and that was one of the first things he was screened for! and he came back with a normal chromosomal mapping with no trisomies or anything.
Third, she did not have the balls to say this to our faces, but told my mother in law, who quickly defended our son and told us when it happened.
Lastly, why would it matter if he was developmentally disabled? He's still a sweet, lovable child, and is deserving of love.
This is the same aunt that, when we announced we were pregnant after seven years of trying, shouted "Finally! It's about time!" While I try not to take anything this woman says with a grain of salt, this just pissed me off. She's not the brightest bulb in the sign, and even her daughters admit she has some serious mental issues that require commitment to a psych ward but she will never get the help she needs, but this....this was the last straw. We told SuperGrammy that from now on we would prefer that she not take Monkey Child to her sister's house, and that if that becomes an issue to please let us know and we would make other arrangements for child care, and she agrees to that completely. I am hoping that we do not have to see or deal with this woman ever, but since she lives in the area it might not be possible to avoid her. We do plan on boycotting any family events involving her, and Bald Man's dad would not go if we don't go, which means a lot.
GRRR!!!! How can ignorance like that be combated if the person who is ignorant is unwilling to listen to reason, logic, and scientific proof????
Sunday, June 13, 2010
ACK!!! Where did nine years go????
some of my high school classmates are beginning to plan our 10 year reunion...ACK!!!!!
Where the hell did nine years go? OMG OMG OMG
I want to go; there are people I would like to see again, and I would like to visit Vegas again, since I haven't been there since moving away, but seriously???? I didn't have the best high school experience. I did have a few friends, but overall, I didn't fit in anywhere. This is saying a lot considering I went to a magnet school where to outsiders we were ALL considered freaks and geeks. For those who have seen Glee, think an entire school of music like that. Sort of like the Fame school set in the desert. I was in the academic side of it, and I wasn't a popular person (more like the annoying one people tolerated). I wasn't top of the class, but I wasn't middle of the road...and I definitely pissed people off. I had friends, then I didn't. Yes, I had a lot of family drama that made me have some serious issues that attributed to that, but still.
Have I changed since high school? Didn't have much of a choice in that area. Have the people I went to school with? That's what I wonder. I know some are still awesome and nice, and I chat with them via Facebook (ah, the magic of that social network....), but I am scared to go there and see some old, I guess I'd call them differences of opinion come up. I'm worried that once all the cliques see each other again, they'll split off and then I'll be on the outside again.
I have a year, I guess. A year to lose some weight (there is a LOT to lose), plan the trip out there (going to try and fit in some time visiting my family out there at the same time), etc. Here's hoping that things go okay.
Where the hell did nine years go? OMG OMG OMG
I want to go; there are people I would like to see again, and I would like to visit Vegas again, since I haven't been there since moving away, but seriously???? I didn't have the best high school experience. I did have a few friends, but overall, I didn't fit in anywhere. This is saying a lot considering I went to a magnet school where to outsiders we were ALL considered freaks and geeks. For those who have seen Glee, think an entire school of music like that. Sort of like the Fame school set in the desert. I was in the academic side of it, and I wasn't a popular person (more like the annoying one people tolerated). I wasn't top of the class, but I wasn't middle of the road...and I definitely pissed people off. I had friends, then I didn't. Yes, I had a lot of family drama that made me have some serious issues that attributed to that, but still.
Have I changed since high school? Didn't have much of a choice in that area. Have the people I went to school with? That's what I wonder. I know some are still awesome and nice, and I chat with them via Facebook (ah, the magic of that social network....), but I am scared to go there and see some old, I guess I'd call them differences of opinion come up. I'm worried that once all the cliques see each other again, they'll split off and then I'll be on the outside again.
I have a year, I guess. A year to lose some weight (there is a LOT to lose), plan the trip out there (going to try and fit in some time visiting my family out there at the same time), etc. Here's hoping that things go okay.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
So tired...
So after the past few nights, I think I am pretty sure the Monkey Child will definitely be the only kiddo, at least that I carry and give birth to. He's been on a growth spurt as well as cutting those really sharp teeth, so his sleep patterns are off and leaves his Mama so very tired. Sleeping when he sleeps is not an option when he will only sleep in our bed or with me rocking in the recliner (I swear, my calves have never had such a workout as they had last night. Rocked him for 5 hours....). The transition to straight solid foods is slow going, but improving. We're breaking him of the bottle habit as of July first, and he's only down to one in the morning and maybe one at night.
I just wish the Bald Man would realize that I REALLY do not want to go through all the risks and dangers of another pregnancy, EVER. The problem lies in the fact that I believe in adoption as an option, but he's not sold on it. I would love to wait until I finish grad school and get settled into a job, then look into adopting a child somewhat close in age to Monkey Child so that he can have a playmate.
To go through another pregnancy would mean constant monitoring, bedrest from 14 weeks on, risk of abruption or placental problems, and a guarantee of a child likely to need some NICU time. Why subject my family to all of that, and the stress of bedrest, when there are so many children out there who need homes?
-----
The Daycare hunt still goes on. Most places in our area have a very long waiting list, and some cannot take him at all because of the asthma. We have one more place to call and leave a voicemail, and if that isn't an option I am going to put him on the waiting list at Bright Beginnings, which is run by the YMCA in Plattsburgh. I've had friends who have worked there, and some people I know had their kids there, and it's awesome. A little more expensive than home care, but definitely better for socialization, etc, which is why I am looking into it. As much as I appreciate SuperGrammy's help of once a week, she's not very reliable, especially when it comes to sticking to a schedule. We will still have to rely on her until he can get in, but until we get him into a place, I am only planning on taking one class at a time (the program I am in allows you to take either one or two at a time). If we can potty train him early we may be able to get him in sooner rather than later. :-) We'll see how that goes over time. He's definitely not ready yet...
I just wish the Bald Man would realize that I REALLY do not want to go through all the risks and dangers of another pregnancy, EVER. The problem lies in the fact that I believe in adoption as an option, but he's not sold on it. I would love to wait until I finish grad school and get settled into a job, then look into adopting a child somewhat close in age to Monkey Child so that he can have a playmate.
To go through another pregnancy would mean constant monitoring, bedrest from 14 weeks on, risk of abruption or placental problems, and a guarantee of a child likely to need some NICU time. Why subject my family to all of that, and the stress of bedrest, when there are so many children out there who need homes?
-----
The Daycare hunt still goes on. Most places in our area have a very long waiting list, and some cannot take him at all because of the asthma. We have one more place to call and leave a voicemail, and if that isn't an option I am going to put him on the waiting list at Bright Beginnings, which is run by the YMCA in Plattsburgh. I've had friends who have worked there, and some people I know had their kids there, and it's awesome. A little more expensive than home care, but definitely better for socialization, etc, which is why I am looking into it. As much as I appreciate SuperGrammy's help of once a week, she's not very reliable, especially when it comes to sticking to a schedule. We will still have to rely on her until he can get in, but until we get him into a place, I am only planning on taking one class at a time (the program I am in allows you to take either one or two at a time). If we can potty train him early we may be able to get him in sooner rather than later. :-) We'll see how that goes over time. He's definitely not ready yet...
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Mother's Day....dreading it....
I love my husband, I really do. However, he does not seem to understand the concept of gifts. For Valentine's Day he gave me a little jewelry box...that he got free after picking out his pocket watch that I said I would buy him for V-Day. He knows I am not into gifts of flowers, since they only last so long unless they are a plant. For my birthday last year he bought me a game I told him NOT to get because I didn't want it and because I knew I would never have time to play it.
Mother's Day is coming, and while he's getting wise and asking me what I want, it's not that simple. I know what I want, but I know it's not feasible right now with our budget and his schedule. What I want is 48 hours all to myself, away from the Monkey Child and the Booger Head, and maybe a chance to feel girly. I live in a house full of boys, and always have, so there are times I want to feel feminine and pretty. Of course, as a man he does not understand that, but still. How am I supposed to translate that into something he can actually do?
Mother's Day is coming, and while he's getting wise and asking me what I want, it's not that simple. I know what I want, but I know it's not feasible right now with our budget and his schedule. What I want is 48 hours all to myself, away from the Monkey Child and the Booger Head, and maybe a chance to feel girly. I live in a house full of boys, and always have, so there are times I want to feel feminine and pretty. Of course, as a man he does not understand that, but still. How am I supposed to translate that into something he can actually do?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)