Sleeping on a marble

I haven’t been sleeping well.

I figure since I’m in my late 40’s, my HOT / COLD, HOT / COLD – throw the covers off, huddle back in… phase is due to me getting close to the woman’s “change.”

However, I don’t think that’s all the case, because I’m still on the young side for that.  I think our new home’s heating vents are poorly placed.  And with colder weather, we try to keep our temp around 67, while sleeping…so when the kids get up to shower for school, it isn’t too freezing in the bathrooms / bedrooms.

However, this means…with the recent colder nights, the heater constantly pops on during the evening, and being upstairs, and wrapped in blankets…it can feel warmer than 67.  Now…add in the way the builder designed our master bedroom, where the bed was really meant to only go against this one wall, that has strategically placed electrical outlets for lamps on nightstands.  So our bed went there…except the vent is directly above my face.  Even trying to manipulate the vent, I still get too hot!  And we are in the high desert…it’s BONE DRY…so the cold air / and then heat…I wake often with dry throat/nose, and drink tons of water…which results in frequent bathroom visits and saline nose sprays.

So…I end up flopping around the entire night…not to mention, I injured my left shoulder.  (that’s a story for another post) and it hurts to move it a certain way, so that makes turning over in bed, well, quite bouncy and with much effort that it wakes my hubby.

Recently, in the loft area, we bought this pretty cool “futon like” mini couch.  It’s faux “hard” leather, and easy to pop down the back.  It’s fits my height perfectly.  So, around 1 AM last night, I attempted to sleep on that.  Wait here’s some pics – this thing is pretty awesome.  Only $120 something at Walmart!

…Yes, no air vent was directly in my face, but the loft vent is a HUGE square, and has a filter…but the filter is too small for the cavity.  So you hear the heat turning on, and then a loud, WHOOOSH of air flow, that lifts the air filter and when it turns off, there’s a huge FLAP noise of the air filter settling back down.  I figured I was tired enough, 2 weeks of no true sleep, that I could ignore it.

Except, I just couldn’t get comfortable on this futon.  It’s firm, and nice…and I didn’t recall it having a hard middle, where it folds.  In fact, it’s soft…this furniture is quite perfect for our needs. Yet…something was not working.

Well…mystery solved…Just a moment ago, I discovered, the hard item was a marble in the middle, that my hip was laying on.  I was going through some kids’ items on that couch earlier in the day and didn’t realize one lone marble was with all the stationery items that I was organizing.  When I tossed all things on the floor, in the middle of the night, I had missed that.

Hmmm.  I’m so tired.  Where’s my coffee.

Toss some Salt around…

Early morning, 5:30ish, I quietly went downstairs to start Thanksgiving morning. Since we had two tables, we needed 2 sets of Salt-n-Pepper shakers.  Went to fill up the decorative salt and pepper shakers for the first time ever…tilted one over, took the plug out and began to pour salt.

Immediately, I felt salt pouring in my hand that was holding the shaker…and assumed I was missing the hole (It was early) I stopped … only to realize, I was not missing, it was simply falling out the other end, because I was holding the shaker upside down. (Ugh!)

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Although we don’t care for Turkey, my husband cooked a great bird.  It was moist and tasty due to cooking inside plastic bag, poking holes in bag and basting with a pad of butter.   Unfortunately, since we had no stuffing inside, the bird cooked a little faster and was done an hour sooner than planned.

The in-laws arrived right on time with the stuffing and variety of items (that we already had), to which my husband’s step-mother informed us that her daughter was always late.  (and a tip, to tell her to come 1/2 hour sooner to any event) – Eventually, She and her new boyfriend showed up about 45 minutes late…and her guy was carrying a 9X12 dish of pre-cooked TURKEY.  (WTF?)

When I inquired about the mashed potatoes and green beans she was supposed to bring, she said she brought them, but still had to make them.  She acted surprised, like she didn’t know that her boyfriend brought turkey.  Seriously?

Between the step mom and her daughter…they took over the kitchen to do their part of the dinner…except, the sister would “start” something and then leave.  She’d go visit or plop herself on the couch and text.  I kept asking who had placed something in the microwave, because it kept beeping that something was done.

She then yelled from the living room to the kitchen, “Oh, that’s the bacon for the green beans.  MOM.  check to see if it’s done.”

Of course, grandma, with wine in hand, was busy telling my husband what to do.  “I don’t know if your bacon is done.  You check it.  By the way, your instant mashed potatoes are burning.”

To which she yelled back, “Oh, stir those for me, MOM.”

Then she’d come back in the kitchen…I ended up leaving and finding a quiet corner of the living room, as my hubby was trying to carve the turkey, the other two began bickering.  Then they kept telling my husband, put everything in the oven to stay warm, while he carved.  The step-sister would walk out…and then come back in…finally to address the damn beeping microwave that had been going off for 30 minutes that contained bacon bits for the green beans.

“Where’s the green beans?  Where are the green beans?”

My husband calmly stated they were In the oven.  When inquired why he did that, “because your mom told me to, to keep them warm.”

She opened the oven door, and peered inside and said, “I can’t find the green beans.”

OMG they are right there.  Meanwhile, because she and her boyfriend are alcoholics, they drink a ton of coffee.  AND I MEAN, our poor coffee pot, I’m surprised still works, because she made like 10 pots that evening.  And one time, she didn’t get the pot on the actual burner and while the coffee was brewing, it was partially getting in the pot, and partially dripping onto the new counter top and down my new cabinets and flooring that is not meant to handle puddles of liquid.  (FUCK)  I had to run in, and try not to over-react, but quickly correct and clean.

After dinner, I eventually disappeared for a bit, while they all played nickel knock with the kids.  I came back to clean-up, and my son, sitting between grandma and auntie said,

“Why are you guys talking so loudly?  You’re right next to my face and saying LALAALALALA”  (I bust up laughing in the kitchen, because seriously, I’m loud…but holy shit…those two are so damn loud and they were basically yelling in my kids’ face, animated or disagreeing over the game.

There is so much more…like disagreements on flakey buscuits vs. rolls  and where the rolls will be placed.  It took me 2 days to recover.  No lie, it felt like I had a hang-over the following day, but only had 1 glass of wine the entire time.

#saynotohosting

 

I PIE

Discussing with hubby when we should pick up our Pumpkin Pie for Thanksgiving…my 14 year old’s theory of why we should pick it up now…

“So I’m thinking about pie…and I really think you should get it before Thanksgiving…so we have it for 3 days…you know like that formula of PI 
3.something-something… Means 3 days of PIE! “

So, who’s up for that logic?

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This just happened last night, and reminded me so much of when my son was just toddling, and talking, not forming complete sentences yet…and after his first taste of pie (thanks to grandma)  Whenever he’d hear the word… He’d come wobble walking, as quick as his chubby little legs would carry him, calling out in earnest…

“I pie.  I pie…ma, I PIE.”

And would pat my leg for a delicious bite, and he’d wiggle his body a bit, back and forth as he chewed… and sometimes would lose his balance and fall on his diapered bottom.  But he’d pop back up for more!

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A series of post leading up to Thanksgiving day…

Winterize – what’s that?

Do I still have any blogger pals out there?  Where my grrrs at?

We’re in our new home.- – Bend, Oregon!

Yea, us!

Now, we’re dealing with writing down items that don’t work/fall under warranty.  Our laundry room light, won’t turn on anymore.  What the hell?

And now I’m trying to unload boxes.  We’ve unloaded a lot…but I’m trying to kick butt because we want to park (my van, at least) in the garage since winter is coming.

My father-in-law came by with some Champagne (fun!) and a snow shovel (never seen one of those before) that apparently there’s instructions – a proper way to shovel so you don’t hurt yourself?  And they gave us a windshield de-icer.  I want to get my van into the garage asap, so I don’t have to use that sucker all that often.  See…one just has to be properly motivated.  Get the boxes done!  The shovel can be passed to the kids/hubby.

Our dear neighbor, thank God, he is in the construction business and builds houses for a living (he just didn’t work for Hayden Homes) but he was out here often pointing out things the builders of our home(s) that weren’t done properly.  “That needs to be redone and done better.”

Yea for Beau – he’s our beau!  He’s going to install his own fencing and my hubby will help him do the work, and pay him for the materials for our portion.  (fencing via the builder was outrageously priced and no one got fencing)  AND, since we are new to winter season (Southern California is summer all year – shorts and flip/flops all year) – but now we’re going to have snow…so we have to “winterize.”

Wha?

So, I’ve been in worry-mode as frost is here.  We’ve had some 30 degree weather in Fall and I’m worried about all the roof icing dam issues (they had a terrible, nasty winter last year – where several homes had roof /wall damage from ice dams forming)  And I guess, you have to consider “blowing out” your sprinklers.  Not everyone does it, but it’s recommended.

Wha?

Not to mention, my Odyssey is front-wheel drive.  Not all Wheel and not 4X.  First I was told to get studded tires, but that can’t be done until Nov. and have to be off by April.  (city law)  But then, my father-in-law said their “all weather” tires work fine.  They have chains if going over the pass toward Portland, but have never had to use them.  Their all-weather tires functioned will enough.  Guess we’re going that route?  Initially, I guess they are a cost, but in the end more economical vs. buying studded tires and  having to switch out (and store others) twice a year.  That costs builds up.

So I’ve been worried, and ultra busy, not to mention this is busy work season with all the school fundraisers in the Fall season.  Yikes.

It was a pleasant surprise, when we drove home after our expensive Home Depot trip to get some blinds (wow – what the hell- why so much for window coverings?) – so Beau…Beautiful Beau…Beau knows… he has been super busy too as his wife just had their 3rd child.  Yet, he had a buddy, licensed/bonded landscaper blow out his sprinkler system, and had him do ours too… we just owe him $35.00 and we didn’t have to DO anything.  He did it for us in our absence.  RAD, because apparently, we’re late in the game to “schedule” as most landscapers are booked.  And if you don’t get this done, once the ground begins to freeze (most say to do by end of Oct), water can freeze in the pipes and expand and crack the piping.  So spring, you’ll be leaky?

Wha?

So, Beau did us a SOLID – One less thing for me to have to “worry” about…now just my car and roof..and boxes…and sports stuff for the kids.  (tell you about that later)

Mother and Nature

I don’t have time to be on here.  I’m procrastinating.

We start our journey next Wednesday.

Yet, here I am – to tell you the latest frustration.  It’s not enough that I’m trying to work, which is now very busy (and was dead the entire summer), and pack, and figure out our new school, temporary home, mail, sports, and basically new lives…and my daughter has decided among all this…it is her duty to start teenager angst ahead of schedule.

She’s 11, soon to be 12 near the end of the year.  And everything is very snippy answer.  Did you finish your dinner?  YESSSsssss.  Mommmm.  (sighing heavily)

This morning, I told her that a Gogurt was not a breakfast item and that I picked up her favorite…raspberries to which she told me “I DON’T WANT ANY RASPBERRIES!”  (as if I was trying to poison her with her favorite, healthy snack)

I indicated she should eat something healthy before heading to the 99cent store to buy candy for the movie…to which she gritted her teeth and said “Quit correcting me, mom!”  And walks out of her room in a huff.

I calmly explained, That’s what we moms do.  I can’t stop.  It’s our job.  To correct our children.  To Teach them.

As she prepared to leave the house to meet her friends at the movies, she stepped outside for a moment to gaze at the mysterious dark clouds.  I hear the door slam as she marches back in and yells,

“What the heck!  It’s SPRINKLING out there! (actually, she drew out the word Spu RIN Kling)  Is it going to rain heavily when I’m walking, MOM?”

As if she was accusing me of controlling the weather.  I should have responded,

“I do control the weather.  And if you don’t start talking more nicely, I’m going to RAIN DOWN cats and dogs on you.  One Cloud is going to follow you all over the place.  Outdoor AND Indoor, just like that Pink Panther episode!”

Now, I understand and suspect the true origin of “Mother Nature” – started out as a battle between mother and daughter…and the mom bringing down the rain.  We’re going to wash (or drown) that nastiness right out of ya.

 

 

We’re crazy, but you’d love having us as parents

I’m taking a moment to say…we’re crazy.

Not because we are moving or that we are packing to move (out of state)

but because…in the middle of all this…

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The Kids have been bored all summer.  We didn’t really “do” anything for lack of funds, time, and energy.

We’ve had Six Flags Magic Mountain passes (or membership) for years.  We are not those silly Disneyland People.  Give us thrills and chills!  And even in our 40’s we’re still hopping on rides with kids…albeit our bodies can’t handle what (or as much) as it used to…but it’s very HOT in the high desert and don’t tend to frequent that area during the summer months.

SO, we’ve had these passes, that included the water park, Hurricane Harbor.  We’ve never gone to that.  We’ve always promised, but typically the kids always wanted the big park.  Finally, we got “get Friend in Free day” for both parks, on the same day!  (that rarely happens)  Of course, it had to be a WEEK DAY and only limited days…so my hubby had to take off work Monday.

Of course, that was the day that every single freeway, we’d take, had something interesting going on…like two lanes closed for flipped car.  A big truck spill on another.  (ugh)  Instead of 1.5 hours, the Waze App was indicating 2.5 hours!  However, using the “shortest route” and getting on off/freeways, the app got us there in less than 2.  So we felt fortunate!  Kids played on their electronic devices, and drained them…which was fine!

What makes my husband even more of hero in my eyes, this dude got up early (which is hard for him), drove us while figuring out Waze, because I can’t seem to find whatever it is he’s looking for – so he navigates, as well.  Then drops us off, while I have all the kids toss their back packs on the old double stroller we kept (wisest decision I ever made) – and coordinate lathering kids up with sunscreen…while he parks.  Then we hit two amusement parks.  They closed at 8PM and we drove two kids home, still getting home by 11:15PM at night…which he still had to pack, and hop on a plane to Northern California this morning for business trip and won’t return until late Thursday!

This is all so very hard, because after days like that, we both feel like we “party Hartied” and feel hung-over without alcohol ever touching our lips.  Primarily, you couldn’t drink enough water so, dehydration sets in (I hid 15 bottles of water inside towels – because no outside food allowed- and it still wasn’t enough)… and those crazy rides and long day for our 40 something bodies…all combined.  We feel like we’ve been hit by a truck.

We’re crazy.  Our kids have no idea how fortunate they are –  my mom would have NEVER done this.  Unless, someone else was taking me.