January 30, 2009
January 29, 2009
25 things
I posted this on facebook earlier, and I figure I should post it here too:
25 things about me….’bout time!
Rules- Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you and I thought you might actually play:)
(To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)
1. I can’t believe my littlest baby boy turns 2 tomorrow!
2. I am both scared and hopeful about the possible changes that lie ahead.
3. I should be cleaning and picking up right now, getting ready for Matty’s mini-birthday bash this Saturday. Instead I’m Facebooking…damn addiction!
4. Sometimes I really miss a former friend of mine. Happens left often now, but it still happens.
5. When I was little, my dream was to go to UM. Who would have known that I’d get a job there and go for free?!
6. I’m pleasantly surprised that a few of my crushes from my school years are now friends of mine on Facebook, and there’s no weirdness. Is that what happens when you grow up??? ;-)
7. I have what I consider a photographic memory. I can go somewhere once and remember exactly how to get there the next time, and I know a lot of my friends’ and family’s phone numbers and addresses by heart.
8. My all time favorite movie, ever, is When Harry Met Sally. Princess Bride, Someone Like You, Definitely Maybe and You Got Mail are tied for second.
9. I need to get rid of my debt. Like, yesterday.
10. I’m named after my great-aunt, my maternal grandmother’s little sister. She was an actress in Cuba. She died at 9 of leukemia. I am honored to bear her name, and sometimes I wonder….no, I know she would have spoiled me and smothered me with love like my other five great-aunts do/did.
11. When I was a baby, my grandmother’s cousin (I think that’s who it was…Val?) told my mom that she should have named me “Fortuna” because I was destined for success. He never called me by my given name when he saw me.
12. A lot of people call me Mandy, but when my cousin Alex says it, my heart swells.
13. I’ve only been hospitalized three times, and all three involve the birth of my two children.
14. I’ve never broken a bone.
15. I know I just jinxed myself with numbers 13 and 14.
16. I go back and forth on getting a tattoo. Same goes for plastic surgery.
17. I’ve never smoked. Not a cigarette, not a blunt, not a cigar…ever. Yuck!
18. I’ve learned to accept my unruly curly hair. Sometimes I even love it. Last week it was great. Yesterday it was terrible. Today was just okay. Who knows what tomorrow will be!
19. I plan to get lasik eye surgery in the next year or two. Probably two.
20. True story: I was a bridesmaid in my husband’s ex-girlfriend’s wedding.
21. My husband was my first real, serious boyfriend. We dated for about five and a half years before breaking up for 10 months between 2000 and 2001. We got married 10 months after getting back together. Our 7-year anniversary is in August.
22. He’s a pain in my ass sometimes, but I adore him. I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life without him. I also can’t imagine anyone else being the father of my children.
23. We’ve been talking about going to Europe for our 10-year anniversary. Hopefully our finances will allow it.
24. I’m sure we’ll manage it, as both kids will be in school by then. No more day care costs…yay!
25. Oh, good, I’m done. That was not as easy as I thought it would be.
January 27, 2009
An early night? Maybe? Hopefully?
Brandon's homework is done. Both boys had dinner (I cheated...microwave mac n' cheese for them tonight) and hubby is currently bathing them. I'm baking a couple of pork chops for us, with pasta on the side. Both kitchen sinks (yes, I count them as two since we have a split sink and both sides require the same effort to keep clean) are empty as the dishwasher has been loaded, and later I'll add the baking tray I'm using for the pork chops. We will be eating in about 20 minutes, during which time we will watch American Idol. Then, I expect to take a shower and go to bed. I'm very much looking forward to an early night, even if it means catching up on Fringe and Nip/Tuck tomorrow.
Yummy goodness
It's that time of year again...Girl Scout Cookie time! Hubby showed up on Saturday after work with a box each of Do-Si-Dos and Caramel deLites, His boss bought a big box (carton?) and gave everybody two boxes. I bought two boxes of Thin Mints (my favorite!) from a co-worker on Monday. I usually buy three, sometimes four, but since we're counting our pennies I could only justify two boxes. I've already eaten one box of Thin Mints, and I don't think it has as much to do with there being less cookies per box this year as I'm claiming.
So I'm curious, how many boxes do you usually buy? Did that change this year? And what's your favorite flavor?
January 25, 2009
But I lifted with my knees!
My back, it is aching right now. In order for the bookcases we bought to fit properly in the living room, we had to move our 36-inch mammoth antiquated television and it's stand about seven inches. It's just me and hubby, and we're both weaklings, so it was a very big effort. First we had to put the mammoth on the floor, move the stand, and lift the mammoth up onto the stand. I wish we had a pop up tv instead of this dinosaur, we'd just have to move the piece of furniture (which would include a much lighter flat-screen television) and voila, done! Yeah...that wasn't the case. We'll be having a side of ibuprofen with dinner tonight.
Finally!
Those of you who frequently visit our home may not recognize my living room next time you're here. That's because our DVDs now have a place to live! There will no longer be four boxes in the corner, looking all clutter-y (yes, it's a word). We bought two bookcases at Target (where else?!) this afternoon. We are so poorer than po' right now that we had to pay for one with a credit card and one with the debit, but we had to get them because we had never seen these before. They match perfectly with our couches, and they are the size we've been looking for. Oh, yeah, and the price was nice: $31.99 each. Hubby is building them right now, and I can't wait to put everything in them. We plan on buying the TV stand in the next couple of weeks, and then my living room will be all purty. Yes, I'll be taking pictures, but you'll have to wait because it's a disaster area in there right now.
Looks might be deceiving, but I'm hoping not
In the last two weeks, I’ve been told a bunch of times that I look as if I’ve lost weight. Some have asked me if I’m taking those supplements that are popular now. You know the ones, the commercial boasts that they are the best diet pills on the market. I said, “Nope, I’m not taking anything”. Others have asked me if I’m working out. To that I’ve just laughed hysterically and said, “That’s a good one!” I have no idea if I’ve lost any weight recently, I haven’t weight myself in over a month. Really, what was the point during the holidays? I’m really appreciative of the compliments and I do hope it's true since my annual physical is coming up in February. Let's just all pretend it's true, so that my doctor will be happy, 'kay?
Bad news
We took my car to Tire Plus this morning because we purchased a lifetime alignment plan some years ago and were hoping that getting the alignment corrected would fix the steering problem with my car. Unfortunately, they couldn't do the alignment because my chassis was bent in the accident. They said there's nothing they can do, that the car requires body work. We can file a claim through my insurance and get the work done, but then my premium will go up, and we're barely covering our expenses as it is. Another option is fixing the car on our own (not filing a claim), but the cost of the work is more than what my car is worth so that's not a smart move (esp. since we really dont' have the money).
At this moment, we are at an impasse. Until we decide what to do, hubby will be driving my car to work and I will be driving his. I'll miss my girl, but it's safer for me and my longer commute if we do it this way. I'm just not sure right now what's going to happen next.
January 24, 2009
Shhh, don't tell hubby
but I think I know what I'm getting him for his birthday. C's hubby is a manager for a jewelry store, and his visit tonight reminded me that while I can't afford any of the authentic watches he sells, replica watches are in my budget. I have enough time between now and hubby's birthday in late March to find a good knock-off of the model he wants, the Rolex Daytona with a white face. It is a lovely watch, and I know hubby will be ecstatic. Now, to get it without him finding out...
Second wind?
I’m not ashamed to say that I was in my pajamas all day. I took a two-hour nap with Matty while Brandon played during the early afternoon. The lounging continued when hubby got home from work at 3:30pm as we caught up with stuff recorded on the DVR. Throughout the day I did manage to wash, dry and fold three loads of laundry, and made dinner in the crockpot. That, however, was the extent of my activity as the Christmas stuff is still in the dining room waiting to be put away, and the floors still need vacuuming. What finally got me off the couch about an hour ago was C’s hubby’s arrival, who came over to watch boxing with hubby. I went to put away some laundry and take a shower in our room, and now I feel like a new person. It’s 11pm, and I’m making a chocolate shake.
What were you up to today?
January 23, 2009
TGIF!
Oh my, what a week… in spite of it being a short one. Tuesday Brandon came home with a note from his teacher, requesting a conference because he’s misbehaving….again. Wednesday I dealt with that, so there go two days. Then yesterday not only did I have some issues at work, but on my way home I had a minor car accident. It was just Brandon and I in the car. I was making a left turn into the shopping plaza near my house. There are three lanes I had to cross, and drivers on the first two stopped and left me room as there was a red light up ahead. It seemed the the farthest lane out was empty and I had sufficient time to cross over into the plaza, but clearly that was not the case.
My car is still drivable (or will be after we get the alignment fixed), and we are fine, which I know is what’s most important. Fortunately, the police officer took pity on me (after I was trying to explain to her what happened and then just started crying) and did not issue me a citation.
Really, after this past week all I want to do is grab some Swiss Army luggage, throw some things in there, and take a much needed, long awaited vacation. That's not going to happen though, so I'll have to settle for an evening out tonight, and what I hope will be a relaxing weekend at home tomorrow and Sunday.
January 20, 2009
Matty Caroling
It's about a month overdue, but I finally got Matty singing "Jingle Bells". It's hard to get him on video because he waits for me to press the button and says "me see!"
Please ignore the mommy egging him on for another chorus.
(Audio only)
January 18, 2009
Where did the week go?
Has it really been six days since I last blogged? YIKES!!
The week in review:
On Tuesday my car was fixed, but hubby is concerned that the power steering pump is weak and will give us problems any day now, so we're metally preparing ourselves for that.
Matty was sick, again. My MIL picked him up for me mid-day on Thursday. He had breakfast pretty soon after his nebulizer treatment that morning, which gave him diarrhea. By the end of the day he was fine. Thankfully.
Friday was a teacher work day, so Brandon slept over at my mom's Thursday night and spent the day with her, my brother and my sister, who also had the day off. He told them that he wanted to have a "lazy day", and spent the day in his pj's. He was taking a nap when I got there around 6:30pm. Nice, huh?
Also on Friday, WB started her not-yet-paying job. YAY!
Yesterday we went to Ikea. Man, I love that store! I only spent $22 and I got a bunch of little things we needed. Oh, and before we left I got inspired and cleaned out the boys' closet and converted Matty's crib to a toddler bed. He slept fine 'til about 4am, then he woke up crying so I took him to our bed. I hope it goes better tonight.
Today we went to the Home Depot and bought the caulking and paint to finish up the front of the house, and did much-needed groceries. I did three loads of laundry and took the ornaments off the tree. The tree, however, will not be put away until tomorrow. I'm just not in the mood to sweep fake needles today.
Besides the tree thing, tomorrow will be spent running more errands, including exchanging one of Brandon's presents and using his birthday gift cards to get him new shoes. Poor boy has one pair of shoes that fit, excluding his house slippers, and I fear he'll get blisters from wearing the same shoes every day.
Are you up to anything exciting this holiday weekend?
January 12, 2009
January 11, 2009
Six
My baby boy turned six today. How did that happen? Who told him he could grow so fast? I surely didn't give him permission to do so, but he went ahead and did it anyway. I didn't have the heart to punish him for doing something against my wishes, so instead we threw him a "little" party at home. Many family members and friends came by to celebrate with us, and he was completely spoiled with lots of new clothes, a Spiderman action figure, a cool Spidey dress-up set, two new Vsmile games, and some cash too.
Happy birthday, my little man. The playroom was turned upside down, and the rest of the house is a mess, but your smiles and giggles today made it all worth it. I love you!
January 8, 2009
TGTIF!!*
(*Thank God Tomorrow Is Friday!)
I'm ready for bed, but a few updates before I retire for the night:
-I finished Breaking Dawn last night. Now what? I want more, more, more!
-I took Matty to the doctor after work today. Late in the afternoon his school called me that he had a fever of 100.3. I had my MIL pick him up since I couldn't leave work immediately. His doctor says he has the same dormant asthma symptoms Brandon was diagnosed with a while back. The fever is a defense mechanism. My flexible spending account is now $165 poorer, thanks to the 4 packages of nebulizer treatment she prescribed. The good thing is, Brandon used the same meds, so I've got enough now for the both of them.
-My car should be fixed tomorrow. YAY! I miss the old gal!
-Brandon turns 6 on Sunday. Six... it hasn't completely sunk in yet.
Alright, that's it. I can't think anymore, I'm going to bed.
January 7, 2009
Blogging will resume momentarily
I started reading Breaking Dawn Monday night, and I should be done this evening. I'll have to finish reading before 10pm so I can catch the premier of Damages.
In the meantime, who caught Nip/Tuck last night? What did you think?
January 4, 2009
Vacay To-Do list revisited
Let's see, I did:
*Renew my license and registration.
*Took the boys to the zoo with my sis and her boys.
I didn't:
*Have either of the two playdates, or meet up with C. C's hubby was in the ER on Thursday, so she's playing nurse these days. Her birthday is on Friday, so I'm sure we'll get together sometime this week.
*Get a mani or a pedi. My aunt closed her salon for a few days between Christmas and New Year's, and I didn't want to spend money somewhere else.
*Scrapping....HA! I knew that was a long shot. I do, however, have to finish up this post soon because Brandon has a crafty project due tomorrow.
*Ghost ants- still a problem. Nobody suggested anything, and I didn't go to Home Depot to buy the granule thingies that I think might work.
*Replacing the freon in my car...yup, gotta worry about the car actually running first! The good news about that is we ordered the part, and it was less than $10. Hubby talked to a mechanic at work and he'll do it after work when the part comes in for $20. The bad news is, it's a dealer part, and it had to be ordered. It won't arrive until Thursday.
And just because it will make me feel better, here's what I did do that wasn't on the list:
*Take the boys to the Seaquarium
*Go to Knaussberry Farm with my mom, Godmother and the boys on Friday for yummy cinammon rolls and milkshakes. Well, everyone else had their milkshakes. Matthew stole
mine.
*Have family fun night with hubby and the kiddos, playing Monopoly Jr. and Connect Four last night.
*Hubby and Matty got haircuts.
*Hubby set up our new printer-copier-scanner, which we've had since October (!), and he's currently changing the water in the fish tank.
Not bad, right?
No choice but to be good
I’m happy to report that I go back to work tomorrow and there’s still money in my bank account (not much, but something's something). I didn’t want to spend a lot of money while on vacation, and I definitely achieved that goal (not the case with my to-do list but that’s a whole other blog entry). I thought I almost didn’t make it through the week when I saw the bamboo blinds I think would be perfect for the boys’ room on clearance yesterday, but I reminded myself about our impending auto work expense, and that was that. I miss frivolous spending.
January 2, 2009
Technical difficulties
Can anyone tell me why it looks like all the links on my sidebar look like they've been "striked"? They are all functioning properly, but those black lines everywhere have me worried...it wasn't like that this morning! Never mind...apparently, I can't spell "strike", so when I closed the code, it didn't take. DUH! Thanks, CTG for pointing it out!
January 1, 2009
Twilight Talk
Reader Ibiza and I were just having a little chat on Facebook, and our conversation mostly revolved around the Twilight saga. I'm posting the chat below for those of you interested in our little exchange. And for those not interested, and to not take over the entire main page of this blog, I posted it below the fold. I'd love to hear what other twilighters think in the comments! If you haven't finished the books or seen the movie, there are no real major spoilers, so no worries.
Also, the chat history was cut off, so there's a little bit missing. I've included a quick summary of the beginning of the conversation. Enjoy!
Ibiza popped in and said hi, and told me that she knew I'd love the movie. I told her that I didn't agree with certain parts being omitted, particularly more of Bella's clumsiness, how Tyler tries to date her throughout, how he shows up to her house to pick her up for prom, and that in the movie she gets ready at her house, but in the book she gets ready at the Cullens', since Alice helps her get dressed. The movie also got the dress wrong. I told her to hold on because Deco Drive gave a segment on the biggest movies of 2008, and I ran to the couch to catch the excerpt about Twilight. And that is where the chat takes off below:
I:lol too funny (in regards to my running to the couch)
Amy loves it too!
A: yeah, I know. I texted her when I fnished it. Marta read it too!
I:But she's a Jacob fan
A: that's cuz she's a realist...and she likes tan men. LOL
I: LOL
A: I'm serious!
ok, that reminds me...i do hope to you meet you before then, but you HAVE TO go to cuba nostalgia, esp. if the Darby's come again this year!
I: yeah my family goes every year
i will go...
its so fun
we can have a twilight grupito
A: lmao!
sounds good!
I: i cant wait for the DVD comes out so i can buy it
A: i know...but i was thinking about that the other day....if the new movie is coming out in November, i'm sure once Eclipse is made (and hopefully breaking dawn too) i'm sure they'll come out with a DVD box set.
i'm not sure i can wait that longthough.
I: i hope they follow thru and make all 4, i would be so pissed if they only make 2 movies
A: yeah, me too.
I: i think they should combine NM and eclipse into 1 movie
A: it seems to me like they will. you can't wrap up the story with the events in Eclipse. it just won't work.
I: true
A: and even if they tried too, the movie would be really awkward, or really long!
I: true
good point
A: yeah, combining NM and Eclipse will work, i think. but it can't be 2 hours...it would definitely have to be 2-1/2, maybe even 3.
if they really want to get into Jacob, which it seems like they do, since there's so much talk about the actor who plays him.
I: ay dios mio we should be film directors
A: did you hear that, they think Taylor Lautner is too young for the next two movies?
I: did you not love the part of the movie where she meets his family and they are cooking for her
A: I agree! i'd love to make that kind of $$!
I: rosalie is such a u know what, but i thought they nailed her part in the movie
A: that was sooo cute! one of my favorites not from the book!
they did. her personality..but not her looks.
that girl is pretty, but not breathtakingly beautiful!
I: true
i loved carlisle
and her dad - he was so funny in the movie
he was like comic relief
A:yeah, he was... and he's HOT!!
(Carlisle, not the dad)
I: I know what u meant lol
her mom was cast perfectly too, total loca, kind of ditzy
total Renee
A: I've done a lot (AND I MEAN, A LOT) of googling since i saw the movie...
and i'm convinced that it's not that Rob Pattinson is so handsome, it's his portrayal of Edward that has everybody swooning.
yeah, Renee was great!
I: lol its unbelievable that i am so wrapped up in this... i used to laugh at the harry potter people...
i am worse than a harry potter person now
you are right - people are in love with edward, that's what it is.
A: me too! i've not even read one book of HP, and i only saw the first movie becuase it was on HBO like a million years ago, and there was nothing else to watch.
me too!
I: I bought the soundtrack at target, its good.
A: I mean, he is handsome, but it's the Edward look...you know what i mean? there are some pictures at some of the premieres where he doesn't look all that great, with stubble and crazy hair and all that.
I: My husband thinks I am NUTS.
A: you did? cool...i heard the music, but i didn't completely pay attention. I guess i'll notice those things when i see it again.
I: Its the idea of this guy - who loves her, who tells her he's been waiting for her all his life, its so romantic. please, who wouldnt want an edward lol
A:yeah, who cares if he's a vampire! LOL
I: Please him being a vampire is a bonus, she never has to cook!!!
I wish Brian were a vampire lmao - i wouldnt have to cook ever!
A: omg, i hadn't thought of that...that's awesome! LOL
oh, anotherthing...i hopethey do the sparkling thing better in the next movie.
it looked kind of weird.
I: yeah it was weird
That's it, she had to go, so we said our goodbyes.
Crappy start to 2009
As we were driving to the first of two New Year's Eve parties yesterday evening, hubby noticed my car was giving him a bit of resistance when he turned the steering wheel. By the time we left party #2 and drove home (thankfully just across our community), the power steering was gone. He noticed a puddle of fluid on the driveway before parking, and concluded the power steering has a very big leak. We had two hoses replaced related to the power steering in April 2007, so if it's not one of those, it's the pump, which will cost us a pretty penny. Yup, you guessed it, money we don't have. I'm hoping my friend Angie's boyfriend can come by and take care of it tomorrow, and I can give him a post-dated check or something...
I hope this is not a sign of how the rest of the year is going to be.
How's your New Year been so far?