Monday notes

Good Monday morning! We're settling in nicely here. The boys still aren't thrilled with being here, but they're not actively complaining as much either. They're finding alternative means of entertainment. And we're going back to old town to stay with Cal and Vix for several days next week so they're happy about that. Actually, Little Man will probably stay for a week or so. They're talking about doing a labor induction with Ruth on the 13th of next month. We should hear something else when she goes to the Dr. this week. If so, I'll be going to Austin for that. B will most likely come with me and Little Man wants to stay and hang with his friends for his birthday. He'll be 17 next month. I might leave him there for a week or so. I'm not really sure. He wants to stay with Tom and I'm just not into that idea. Tom uses Little Man. The day before we left, Tom and his gf stopped by. They didn't come to say good bye. They didn't come to visit with Little Man. They wanted Little Man to go do something for him. Well, at that point and time, we were knee deep in loading the truck to leave. Little Man told them that he was busy at that point. They didn't offer to help. They didn't stay and chat. They didn't bother to say good bye. They just left. And Little Man commented on it at the time.

Now, myself, I'm the type of parent that knows that I taught my kids right from wrong and I'm there when they want me or need me. But with some of this stuff - I don't even want to be involved. B is friends with a little boy that he's played ball with since they were 5. Great kid. Nice parents. The dad coached B's team for years. But the mom is right up in every bit of the kids business. He gets in a fight with another kid- mom is on the phone calling the other kids mom. And none of it is ever her child's fault. None. Of. It. Just ask her. That poor child is the most over-scheduled child I've ever seen. The poor kid never has time to just ... be a kid.

Yesterday they showed up and started putting my ramp together. The owner, Wayne, was very apologetic. I think it's a great case of him covering his tail. He did take a walk thru the house. He did agree that a lot of the damage could have been avoided. He's supposedly sending a drywall man out here next week to fix it all. My ramp is usable. The steps still aren't attached to it yet but that's ok. He's going to have to put some lag bolts in it instead of screws though because it's not holding together right. His guy that took the ramp apart tore it up. He's done an admirable job putting it back together but screws aren't going to cut it. Not with the weight of the chairs.

So, moving 190 miles from one town to another hasn't stopped the influx of extra kids. We ran back to old town yesterday and picked up a couple of young ladies. These girls are friends of Little Man. The one young lady has been friends with him since they were 6. She keeps telling me that she's moving in with us as soon as she convinces her parents. I'm thinking that she's never going to get away with that but in the meantime, I'm sure we'll see a bit of her. We took a short walk thru the woods last night. The girls loved it. Stopped at Vix's house while I was in town and got all my freezer stuff from her freezer. We also dropped off a box of Ice Cube's clothes so that I didn't have that extra stuff to deal with when we go down for the 4th. I am going to try to get all of my boys together for pictures while we are in town. Either with a photographer we know or in for professional portraits. With or without the girls. We're leaving Weds to go back thru the weekend. Ice Cube and Ruth are coming in from Austin too. I can't wait!

I'm sure this will be the last time I see Ice Cube and Ruth before the baby comes. They have talked about doing a labor induction on her around the 13th. We'll know more on Weds when she goes back to the Dr. Well, I'm going to close off here before another storm rolls thru. The satellite internet goes out faster than satellite tv when storms come.

more house updates

I can't believe that we lost Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson in the same day. Is that weird or what? I really feel old right now. I grew up on Charlie's Angels and Thriller. RIP.

Remember my predictions for SD and mentally ill daughter? How long ago were those made? I got the call today. Daughter's thief convict of a bf supposedly stole $100 from SD's girlfriend's purse. Fighting ensued and the thief convict left town leaving daughter behind. Tia was in town to see her dad for Father's day last weekend. (Her dad would be SD's dad too and my kids' grandpa that they don't know.) Tia and her hubby got roped in to giving daughter a ride back to her thief boyfriend. They were lied to to get them to agree. They were told that dropping daughter off was "right off the interstate on their way home". This was not true and Tia was not a very happy camper. Then, daughter tried to carry a bag of marijuana into Tia's car to take home with her. This did not happen. I have already gotten a call from another friend of mine from the small city they were all in who had heard about the theft although she hadn't heard yet that the 2 thieves had bailed and left town. Now thief boyfriend may have taken the fall for this. He may have been the one with his hands in the cookie jar (or purse as the case may be) - however- do not think for one second that daughter was not involved in this up to her neck. Because I'll lay odds right now that she was right there watching the whole time she's going to be there helping him spend it too. The story I heard was that she 1. swore up and down that he took the money. Then she 2. swore up and down that he did not take the money. Then she 3. swore up and down that she couldn't live without him and she had to get back to him. (Please excuse me for a second while I go throw up) Anyhow, when I got the initial text from Tia this morning it just said that they had a late start and were in IL. I immediately sent a one word question ... "daughter?" And she responded.... "how did you guess?" Then when she wasn't forthcoming with further information I guessed that thief bf had gotten into it with SD and that he had left daughter in the town and they had had to drop daughter off with the thief. Tia was amazed that I had been so able to accurately call what had happened. It really wasn't that hard to figure out. So, SD has banned the thief from coming back to his house. I could have warned him that he was going to get robbed but .... hey, where would the fun have been in that? Besides, he wouldn't have believed me. And on top of that.... Karma's a bitch. He had it coming. So, give it a few weeks and daughter will be trying to suck up to me again. Someone do me a favor and smack me hard if I even consider it. Promise? Thanks!

House updates:

1. The water pressure has been fixed. I can run the washer now and no longer feel like I'm living in the 1800's lugging water to wash clothes.

2. The propane man was finally here yesterday. Again, no more of that 1800's feeling taking cold showers. (mind you though, it's been 102 degrees here so cold showers weren't too awful bad)

3. All State specialty moving has STILL not been here nor have I, personally, heard from them. Wayne Gilliland did deem it smart to respond to the email I sent him threatening legal action by calling Vix and talking to her. I guess he went with who signed the checks. He is forgetting who signed the contract. *grins evilly*

4. All State Specialty Moving (Wayne Gilliland) claims that they will be here on Sunday. They say that they will be picking up my shed and the rest of my ramp from old town on Saturday and arriving in new town on Sunday. Please excuse me if I do not hold my breath. I wouldn't look very good as a smurf.

5. I sent both Wayne and Sandy, his wife, at the All State Specialty email and their personal email, pictures of the damage done to the house. This is a separate email from the one where I threatened legal action. No response from that one either although it did prompt another phone call to Vix. Funny how that works huh? I send an email to them and they call Vix. Whatever works.

6. I am seeing the end of the boxes and totes. We have gotten all the boxes that I emptied out to the dumpster and the pile of garbage that was in front of the house is mostly gone. I found out what day garbage runs which is a plus.

7. and I'll make this the last one even though I'm fairly sure I'm forgetting something... The orchard is doing well. We're watering it nightly and we've already gotten some fresh blueberries off the bushes planted over spring break.

I still intend to post picture of the damage but it may have to wait until I get some place that the internet works decently. Which would not be here at this point. The satellite internet is iffy at best and the only other option at this point is dial up. So.... It may have to wait till next week when I go back to old town for a few days. I am going to go to the Rangers game and try to meet up with the older 2 boys.

Have a good night!

If it can go wrong.....

It has. First we were supposed to be in the hotel 2 days - in the house by Monday. But the rain slowed the movers down. And we didn't leave Vix's house till Monday. Then, we were going to be in the house by Weds. But they electrician was an idiot and put the power pole to the house on the wrong side of the property. Enter wonderful neighbors who moved the pole and hooked up the electricity to the house. Enter wonderful electric company who came back the same day to hook the pole up so that we had electricity. So, then it was Friday. But wait- no AC and no water. My plumber came to hook up the plumbing and the company that moved the house had run over the water lines and the septic line- both were destroyed. So, plumber says- no can do. Also, moving company had cut the lines to the house At. The. Tee. So, there was no possible way to hook into the lines to the house. We'll be in the motel now till Sunday. It's Monday. We're at the house. We're not happily at the house but I'll get to that. The plumber followed thru on his word. By noon Sunday, he had hooked up all our plumbing. Another wonderful neighbor who's an AC man came on Saturday and repaired more damage done by the moving company and got the AC up and running. Cause let me tell you folks, 97 degrees in Texas and no heat = no fun!

Why are we not happily in the house? The pump to the well is not working right. I don't know why. It was nothing that my plumber could fix. He fixed the lines. He could fix the pump but that involves him coming back. And honestly, it should be the fool that put it in to fix it. If it's fixable and not that the well is going dry. The water is yellow. I'm not drinking it. I'm not cooking with it. It tastes fine. But it looks funny. Plumber was telling me that we could put a booster and filter on the pump. That would help if the well is still good. I have no idea how to tell if it's the pump that sucks or if it's the well going dry. What I know is that I have no water pressure at all. I can't do a load of laundry without taking buckets of water from the sink to the washer to help the washer fill. Plumber tells me that I need to clean the filters in those water lines. That would be good if moving company hadn't broken the shut off valves to those lines on top of everything else they destroyed. They destroyed my house. Broken drywall, broken trim, broken water lines, they cut the AC line with a hacksaw. 1/2 of my wheelchair ramp, my shed, my steps are still in the old town. The house never got tied down. And Wayne Gilliland, the owner, will not answer his phone. I've given him a week to answer his phone or come out here and make it right and he's done neither. The company is All State Specialty Contracting. And if you ever need work done- do not use them. I know most of my readers are not in TX but just in case anyone surfing the internet happens to search their name - they need to be warned. I will be posting pictures of some of the damage probably tomorrow. I am still taking pictures. Every time I think I've found it all, I find something else ruined. They cut the carpet between my bedroom and bathroom which was expected. What I didn't expect was that they'd put the house back together with the carpet in between the 2 halves. It won't come out. They didn't tie down any of the appliances. The water line to my ice maker is broken. When the water got turned out, we didn't realize the line was broken, it's not like it spewed out or anything. I got up this morning and the freezer door was iced shut. There's about 2 inches of frozen water in the ice tray.

We paid, and have a contract for, the movers bringing the shed and the ramp. He's in breech of contract over those items. As for damages, he has insurance. He can make them right - which apparently he's choosing not to do - or I'll file on his insurance. And it's illegal to leave a house not tied down. So, he's in a real bind over that. Or rather he will be if he doesn't get back here this week and make it all better.

On other notes, the Dr is talking about inducing Ruth on the 13th of next month. If they do an induction than I'll be able to be there when the baby is born and not have to worry about missing it while trying to drive down there.

Both of the younger boys are unhappy. The Hughesnet Satellite internet I got is not working right. On top of that, the 360 live doesn't work with internet satellite. The only other option out here is dial up. I'm not a popular person with B right now as 360 doesn't work with dial up either. So, his 360 live subscription is basically a waste of money. And Little Man just didn't want to leave his friends and all the trouble he was getting into. I really think that they'll like it a lot if they'd just give it a chance. But, they haven't been willing to do that at this point. So, time is what it will take. Time for them to come around. Everyone we've met around here has been really nice! God has blessed us with wonderful neighbors! I think the boys will like the school. And if the kids are as nice as the adults have been then it will be a great experience for them. So, I just need to be patient. Just a little bit of patience is all I need.

Help me find it please folks! I'm running out quickly

Quick Update #3

I have met all types of people during this move. And I will say that the majority of them have been so very nice. But, don't you know, that I'm the lucky one that always has to run across the fools who are brain dead in my travels. The people down here at new town have been so very nice for the most part. There was the mail lady who pulled in the drive to introduce herself before we even had our mailbox up. Our neighbors that stopped by to introduce themselves and ended up helping us out with the electrical problem. Oh have they helped with our electrical issues! It seems that the original electrician that was hired to come out here and do some work was brain dead. He set the new electrical pole by the well house. That would be all very good and dandy but the house hookups are 110 feet away on the total opposite side of the house. Additionally, he set the pole by an out of date electrical line that only had 110 running to it. That didn't bode well for me ever having air conditioning. And in my warped view of the world, there are 2 things I have to have. AC and Internet. And not the type of AC that results from white cold flakes falling from the sky folks. I want the cold stuff blowing out my vents. Additionally, the brain dead electrician apparently ran my 220 water pump off a 110 line which would cause me a massive headache and lack of water before too long when the pump would have fried from improper wiring. That would have been a real joy to live thru right? One of my new neighbors is a retired electrician. And he is a southern gentleman from head to toe. He and his son both live by new house and they have been a god send! Our realtor called them to see if they had a generator that we could use for the water guy to get the water going since we had no electrical to the house yet. (We still have no water either but that's another story) These two gentlemen showed up and have taken over my electrical issues in a most appreciated way. They know the county inspector and were able to get things inspected and going faster. They knew what needed to be done and showed up with a back hoe to get it done. And the dad even ran to the store and picked up the parts needed instead of sending me. He did it to make sure he got what he needed and that I didn't get the wrong thing but as I have no idea where anything is around here, I'm sure not going to complain. As of right now, we're still in the hotel but 2 wonderful neighbors moved the pole to where it needed to be yesterday and local co-op came out just before 5 last night and got power to the pole so this morning wonderful neighbors are going to get it to the house. Tomorrow morning, water guy arrives and I'll have water.

Speaking of the hotel.... I will say that the ladies that work for this hotel are wonderful. They have been so nice! And I have killed off my hotel key by leaving it in the heat or by my cell phone or something so many times as to be embarrassing. Yes, my friends, I am a ditz that way. Every person that I've dealt with that works for the hotel has been wonderful. However, the guy that owns the hotel.... is a total jerk. He is not from here. He treats his employees like trash. He is one of those people that emigrates to the US, starts a business and doesn't have to pay taxes for 10 years. Now, I'm not a political type person as you all know. This is not a political blog and never will be. But every so often, something crops up and as this is my space to voice my opinions on life- this is one time when you'll actually hear something that might be considered political. This is America - land of the free, home of the brave, etc, etc... But, it's pretty sad when our national debt is rising to the point that our grandchildren will be paying off the current pork bill stimulus and yet emigrants can afford to start businesses over here before Americans can. Why don't they have to pay taxes? What kind of garbage is that? Can you imagine that amount of money going into the US treasury if these folks had to pay taxes like the rest of us do? Holy cow! And this is a rude rude man. He's rude to employees and rude to patrons of the hotel alike. I'll be more specific in later posts but for now, I'm still stuck here until tomorrow. Propane men that came out- more super nice folks. Of course, one of the first things I've heard from everyone we've met is "do they (referring to the boys) play football?" So, this must be a football oriented community. Well, B has no inclination to play football at all. Little Man does and probably will tryout. But, B.... Well, there's just too much running for him in that game. ;)

Well, I need to go meet wonderful neighbors at the house and get out there when it's cool enough to make unpacking with no air not quite so miserable. I have plenty more to share about the moving company but that will have to wait for another post and the pictures to show anyone why they should never use this particular moving company. Have a great day!

Quick update 2

I'm at the hotel. I had to move the scheduling for all the utilities till Weds. I will say that the phone company, directv satellite, and the propane people we're working with are GREAT! Cannot tell you how nice these folks were with rescheduling for us! Unbelievable. Hughesnet internet satellite company.... not so good. Actually, absolutely horrible! I spent 2 hours yesterday on a cell phone trying to get to someone to reschedule my installation for today. 2 hours folks. I got shuffled back and forth between 5 different numbers only to have absolutely no one that could/would help me. It was horrible. So far today, I have spoken with 3 people at the hughesnet company. I finally got a super nice woman at the installation company that could help me and she gave me the installation guys number. Internet is life as we know folks and I have no intention of being down for any length of time. So much as ONE day is one day too many.

The boys are working today with the moving company. They needed a couple of grunt workers to move concrete blocks to get the house set. Little Man and B jumped at the chance to do manual labor for $8/hour. I took them down to the home site this morning at 9 from the hotel with a cooler full of water and I'll go down there later today. After they set the back half of the house, I can get in there and start unloading the Uhaul. The Uhaul must be returned by like 9:30 in the morning so it has to be unloaded today. The moving company hasn't picked up my shed yet and moved it nor the other half of the deck so I guess I'm going to look like white trash until they get the shed here to put the stuff back in it. I'll have the boys hide the stuff that goes in the shed behind the house or something. UGH! They also left the boys basketball goal. That would be really bad. My kids play basketball 2 on 2 every time they're all together. I'd hate to have to go buy another one. I'll talk to Sean (our mover guy) today and ask him to please bring back that basketball goal when they bring the shed and porch.

Well, I have a few things that I have to take care of around here like a load of laundry. We brought the toaster oven in with us last night so we had dinner here at the room. Picked up a few groceries to keep in the hotel fridge. My bushes and trees that I planted over spring break are looking pretty good. I have blueberries on the bushes. There won't be very many this year but there will definitely be some. And next year, they will keep increasing.

Take care all!

Real quick

First- on our moving updates. They got in there, got the tires and axels on the house, and got the house broke in 2 and wrapped yesterday. My neighbor girl called me in tears. She was outside with her mom when they split the house and it made both of them sad. I spent about 15 minutes calming her down and making sure she knew that I would be back and would still see her and the kids. I couldn't leave my little ones forever. That youngest one of hers is my baby! Like I told her, the highway runs both ways and she could take $20 and make a trip down to see me and bring the kids! I also got a hold of the county inspector at 8:15 this morning and he is faxing over permission for my electric. YEAH! So, they will be able to get going on doing the upgrade to the service. Hopefully, they will have a chance to get that done by Weds when I am due to actually move into the house. Well, hopefully, I can move in on Weds. I imagine it will depend on how much the guys coming to hook up the propane, water, etc get done. But, at this point- we're shooting for Weds. Which is only one day later than we originally planned on. Cross your fingers for us please!

The hardest thing was Hurricane being upset this morning. He says he feels all alone. He could have followed us down there but he won't leave Donna. And Donna won't leave her parents house. I told him he would never be alone. I live 1000 miles from my mom. And no, it's not always easy. But I don't feel alone. Maybe some day, if he still feels the need to move closer, it will become a reality. But, I imagine that what will happen is that he'll get used to me not being close enough to come running to every time he "needs" $20. It's only a couple hour drive down to the new place and I usually only see him a few times a month now because he's so busy with his friends and job, so I guess he'll have to make time to see me when I come to town, and take one of his days off to come see me. Right?

Well, off to put all the things we've pulled out of the UHaul so that we could stay at Cal and Vix's house back into the thing. Just spoke to the movers and they're not leaving the old place with the house till 9 Am (they have to follow special permits to move it) I'm planning on leaving here at 10 which should give me plenty of time to make it down there before them. Sir Mover told me that it should take them around 6 hours. It should take me about 3. It's going to be a busy couple of days but I'll try to check in at night from the hotel. Take care!

it's Sunday

Good morning! We've been staying at Vix and Cal's the last few days while waiting on the house to be moved to the new property. Vix and Cal both actually got up at 11 am yesterday and stayed up all day. That's very unusual for them! Vix usually doesn't roll out until around 2 PM. She was in a great mood last night too. Maybe she's been sleeping too much? Cal played PS3 with B for hours yesterday. They are working on beating some game. Today, I have to go get my mailbox for the new place so when I get down there tomorrow, I can get it set up. I put in a change of address with the post office already but there's no mailbox at the new place yet. I'm not sure what happened to the mailbox from the people that lived there before we bought the place. Probably some kids vandalizing took it out because the post is there- but the box is gone.



My house is still in it's original spot. We had some horrible storms come thru here Weds of last week. Tornado warnings, hail, tons of rain, flying trampolines, 80 mph winds. It's so wet under the house that they were unable to get it out yesterday. They pulled the skirting down and did what they could. Here's hoping that the 98 degree temps yesterday with the wind blowing were enough to dry it out under there. At least enough for them to be able to pull it out. We've been here since Friday when they shut the electric off at the old place. Another problem we've encountered that I get to deal with tomorrow morning is the fact that the electrical transformer at the new place is only set up for 100 whatever service instead of the 220 that you need to run things. So, I have to call some county inspector Monday morning, get him to fax over approval to the co-op electric company for them to upgrade the service so that we can have AC. Because don't you know how fun it will be to be in a house in TX in 100 degree heat with no AC? I think that it will run the AC so long as nothing else is running. Nothing else. But, I'm not sure. They said that they'd get right on doing the upgrade as soon as I could get the permission faxed over. I will be hitting that at 8 AM tomorrow. If I do that then, hopefully they can have it upgraded before I move in on Weds. Moving day has been pushed back one day at this point. I'm hoping that I don't have to push it back again because I have to return the uhaul truck by Weds morning at 10. That doesn't give me much leeway.



We have tickets to go watch the Rangers play the Dodgers today. I don't think we're going to go. I know, that's not like me. But it's a day game. And it starts at 2 PM. And it's going to be 98 degrees out today. And that means that in the sun, it is going to be miserably hot. Horribly, rottenly miserable. And TV is sounding like a really good way to watch the game today. Night games aren't too bad because by about the 2nd inning, the sun sinks down behind the stadium and there's usually a decent breeze and it's not too bad. But day games in the sun- with no shade- ugh! I'm not sure what I was thinking to get tickets to the game today anyhow. Seriously, I told my rep that if I ever tried to get tickets to a day game again - to stop me. I'm going to leave it up to B. If he wants to go, then I'll drag my tail to the game and sit at one of the tables in the shade. If he doesn't really want to go though.... you won't hear me complaining. And I would be really surprised if he wants to go. He wasn't feeling well last night at all. I may try to get him into the Dr. tomorrow morning before I leave town.



So, I'm still alive. Still dealing with trying to get this move done and accomplished. Still in limbo waiting for them to move the house. But, I have my trusty laptop and I'm still here. Y'all take care and try to stay cool!

Today

Today I go pick up the truck.  Today we load it up.  It's going to be a busy day for sure.  

Yesterday, my Little Man got a rude awakening from his friends.  Yesterday would have been his last time to go to the karaoke place with his friends.  They only let teens in on Tuesday nights.  And a lot of his friends hang out there.  Tom, who has had his truck parked here since Friday, snuck in and drove off in the truck to karaoke without saying a word to Little Man.  Little Man is at that stage where he thinks that his friends are the be all to end all.  That they are the "only" people who understand him and care about him.  Of course those nasty old parental things are too old to remember anything about being a teen and what it feels like.  It's a stage.  Little Man thinks that his friendships with his 379 friends from high school will last thru life.  And some of them will.  Some of those friendships will be for life.  But, in reality, most of them will fall along the wayside of life.  Time, circumstances, and differences in life choices will take the kids down different paths in life and they will probably not have much in common in a few years.  And I believe that Tom will be one of those friends who Little Man will be better off knowing in the long run.  I think Tom has some issues from his family situation that makes him fairly selfish and unable to be a very good friend.  Unfortunately, this is going to be a lesson that Little Man isn't going to like very much.  It's going to be a painful one for him to learn.  Hopefully, time and distance will make the transition a bit smoother.  

One other little tidbit.  Daughter posted pictures of her and SD on her myspace account.  SD looks rough.  And I don't mean that he looks like he needed a shower - although that would be true too.  I mean he looks like he's 60 years old.  His hair is gray.  He looks gaunt.  He's lost a lot of weight and not in a healthy looking way.  The man is 43 and looks 60.  He looks sick.  In the pictures, he looks yellow.  He told me last year that he was having liver problems.  I would believe it after seeing these pictures.  Of course, he had a beer in his hand so that just might explain the liver problems.  He's an idiot.  I've lost some weight too.  40 pounds as of yesterday at the weigh in.  But, in my case, I had it to lose.  He had some excess weight to take off too but in his case it's obvious that it's coming off due to drugs or ill health - not because he wanted to lose it.  The 2 of them were at a anniversary celebration together Saturday night.  They were both drunk.  Ugly drunk and acting stupid drunk.  Daughter managed to totally hurt April's feelings by first not recognizing her and then telling April that if she cared enough to know April she could have looked at her pictures on Aprils myspace.  As they are on each other friend's list.  Did I mention that daughter is lacking in any and all social graces?  If not, I should have.  The 2 of them will probably end up drinking and drugging themselves to death.  What a waste.

Well, off to the races.  I need to get the shed packed up into the trailer before it gets too hot.  Y'all take care!

Moving right along in search of.....

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moving update #9737 (just kidding....I think)

looking thru the doorway with the new doors open from what was Little Man's room into what was B's room.  Don't you just love the romex wire running thru the openings?  Most of that has been closed up now.  The top from B's side and both the side panels were hung last night.  They are now awaiting trim.  (the head is Little Man's)

This is the piece of drywall that has to come down completely.  I'm good but not that good.  The hole to the left actually went all the way thru to the hallway.  I'm still not happy about this.  

This was the doorway going from the hall into Little Man's room.  It is now going to be a built in shelving unit.  Yes, those are real guns leaning up in the corner.  Remember, this is the child that wears cowboy boots with shorts.  The 2 blocks of wood randomly sitting on a shelf were not attached to anything.  And yes, that is an Indianapolis Colts pillow.  My boys are all Colts fans.  Don't ask....

Another wall in what was Hurricane's old room.  This one has the first coat of patching done and sanded and is awaiting my lazy tail to get the next coat done.  This is the wall that I got to pull many many little metal bb's out of.  How fun!

From the hallway looking at the shelves in what was Little Man's room.  What you see in the rest of the picture....  The love seat in B's room where he was playing Call of Duty 4 on Xbox 360.  Random remodeling stuff on the floor.  And to your left, a sheet of drywall.  Yes, my house is a mess.  I really need to get this all done so I feel better....

Have I mentioned how much I adore my son, Ice Cube?  If not, it's time to bore you silly.  I really do love that young man.  He stepped up to the plate yesterday and really helped me out in a big way!  He came home from work yesterday and started packing his room.  That's to be expected as he's got to get his stuff packed to move too.  But then, he started hauling things out to the garbage from his room.  Things that he didn't want to take with him.  That was appreciated too.  Then I asked him to check the shed to see if there was any dry wall out there that I could use for a few small pieces that I had to cut.  He went out to the shed and found the dry wall I asked for, then asked me if I wanted him to haul some of the stuff out of the shed out to the street.  When I said yes, he and B went out to the shed, back his truck up to the shed and hauled a load out to the garbage.  Now, was everything that went out necessarily "garbage".  No.  I threw out a perfectly good stove.  One of the cousins gave it to me for Hurricane when he was moving into an apartment.  It's an electric stove and I have a gas hook-up.  Hurricane never took the darn thing and it's been out in my shed ever since.  The appliance man that drives around will pick it up before the garbage guys come thru.  The appliance/junk man always comes thru the night before the garbage runs.  He'll get quite a find in my garbage tonight.  I also had him take out the old dishwasher that I had.  I have a brand new one installed that sits in my counters.  The one he took out was one of the ones that hooks up to the sink.  I brought it with me when I left SD.  Do not ask me why I haven't thrown it out long ago.  I kept it for "emergencies".  Cause don't you know I'm just too lazy to hand wash a dish?  So, those are the type of things that went out to the street.  He also took all the regular trash out.  It was all much appreciated!   Especially, since Ruth was here at the time and usually we can't pry the 2 of them apart long enough for him to do anything.  

I got most of the 2nd doorway closed off last night too with Little Man and B's help.  So, all in all- a productive day.  I'm getting ready to go in there in a few and tear out the one sheet of drywall that's not patchable and has to be totally replaced.  But first, I'm watching the end of the Ranger/Yankees game.  The game is tied up and I'm still a baseball fanatic.  And Vix just asked me to find someone to do the garbage for the new place.  So, I add that to my to-do list.  

I ended up with all the kids out here last night.  They were supposed to all be here together but as it ended up, Ruth was leaving as Hurricane and Donna arrived.  Tuesday was Donna's birthday so I got a french silk cream pie.  And congratulate me folks - I didn't eat a single bite.  Not one taste!  I'm so proud of myself!   Also, Ice Cube and Ruth are going to stay in this area for one more week.  Ruth's boss asked if she could work a full-time next week while another girl went on vacation.  This will basically give her about 3 weeks pay in one week and really help them out financially.  And I'm glad that they'll be here for another week.  Her dad does not know how to not make matters worse.  He told her that if she left to move with Ice Cube that she should not consider his house her home any more.  Also, if she ever wants to come back - it would be under the condition that she was not allowed to so much as talk to Ice Cube anymore or she wasn't welcome there.  This man is an idiot.  Seriously.  I realize that no one is happy when 2 young kids make a mistake of this magnatude.  Really.  This is not where my dreams for my son were headed.  But, as Ruth's mom told him- why does he want Ruth to fail?  His terms and conditions set her up to fail.  The baby is not just Ruth's responsibility.  It's not her mom's responsibility to take care of.  It's Ruths and Ice Cubes.  And I don't mind helping with whatever.  If it's buying diapers or giving them a night off- I'm game.  And so is her mom.  We want them to succeed.  We want Ruth to be able to go to college and get her degree.  Her dad, well, he's a nice guy- he really is.  But he's holding on too tight.  There comes a time when you have to throw on your big boy/girl panties and let go.  I've mentioned this before.  I would love to hang on to Ice Cube and keep him with me.  It's time for him to fly.  It's the right thing to do.  So, we smile and kiss them goodbye.  Although,  I told the kids again last night that if they ever need me.  I'm here and my door will be open to them.  

Well, off to get some more work done.  Y'all take care now!

I'm still here....

I'm still here.  I don't know if I'll be ready to move or not.  I'm moving along and if all I had to do was get the stuff packed to move- I'd be feeling pretty darn good.  And I may make it with a good part of the remodel job.  But I'm not going to get it done in time.  I'm feeling very overwhelmed today.  It's like a never-ending path.  I pick up the truck in a week.  We still haven't gotten out to the shed to throw out some of the junk out there.  And it's not so much that it's "junk" but it has to be packed up and put in the truck in a week.  For every one thing I accomplish- I find 3 more that need done.  I should have planned this for one more week back.  That way the boys would have been out of school for more than a few days before this all happened.  

I did get a ton of stuff done yesterday.  Unfortunately, most of it is stuff that I can't see.  I got all the utility companies notified to get every thing here turned off.  I also got ahold of everyone down at the new place and set up installations.  Well, those that I was supposed to get ahold of.  Our biggest hold up right now is waiting on the check from crappy insurance company for the roof that we have been waiting on since march.  I'm a thinking that 3 months with a tarp on my roof is about 2 1/2 months too long.  So, on my list of things to do today is a phone call to the company to find out where the devil the check is so that my guys can get on the roof before it's too late.  I'd hate to have to pay them to travel the 180 miles to the new place to do it or have to find another company.  It's rediculous!  

Vix came over last night and we got the sliding doors installed between the 2 rooms.  I think they call them bi-fold doors.  They're an off white on one side and a really ugly brown on the other.  So, more painting.  One of my friends went with me yesterday and we went to pick up some paint.  B's part of the  room is white right now.  He's got his navy blue yankees bedsheets and stuff.  Little Man wanted his side in a really dark color and I had to draw the line at that.  As in NO.  We finally compromised on a lighter blue/gray for the walls and I'm letting him do his built in shelves and ceiling fan blades in the darker color.  It will look pretty cool when it's finally done.  If I ever get it done.  And that's where the problem lies.  I don't know tohat I'm ever going to get it done.  I mean, I'm sure I can- but it seems like an overwhelming task right now.  

Well, off to the races!  The company should be open soon to find out where my check is for the roof.  I still need to call the propane company to get that delivery set up for the new property.  And I need to get the new door trimmed out.  And yes, I will go in and get pictures of it at the stage it's at now.  And my car is getting dropped off at one of the cousin's houses to get the valve cover gaskets on it changed since they're leaking.  I was lucky enough to get  one of the boys to take care of it before I move next week.  Take care and have a good day! 

busy times ahead

Not that I've ever been the most regular at posting but it may get really spotty here for a bit now folks.  We have 10 days till I pick up the moving truck.  I think I'm moving along pretty well with getting things done.  I got a lot of the hole patching done this weekend - first coats at least - from the holes that Hurricane left in my walls.  We got the built in shelves done in Little Man's doorway.  We still need to hang the sheet of drywall up in the hall to block it off and then paint it all but so far we're looking pretty good.  

Ice Cube and Ruth have been in Austin all weekend.  They are moving next weekend when Ruth graduates.  I will desperately miss my son but I know that this is best for them.  Ice Cube had 3 job interviews on Friday.  They all pay fairly well.  Here's hoping that he gets one of the 3 so that they can pay their bills.  This week, we have to get all his stuff packed up so that he can head out this weekend.  I'm sure it will take both his and Ruth's cars to get all their stuff down there.  They have all of the baby's stuff that Ruth got at the baby shower to move too.  And, I'm fairly sure that Ruth's younger brother will not stay with dad with Ruth moving.  I know younger brother went with the kids this weekend so I imagine he'll be going permanently when they do.  Ruth's mom lives there and the kids all lived with her until about 2 years ago.  Then they moved here to live with their dad.  Ice Cube met Ruth at school the first week she started school here.  They've been together ever since.  

I found a new moving company.  I got several bids and researched a few companies and then picked one.  He's coming out tonight to bring me the contract.  Tomorrow, they are coming to take the porch and wheel chair ramp down and moving them to the new land.  They are also going to pour the concrete foundation for the house to sit on while they're there.  I still have to clean the deck off tonight and get all my stuff off it so that they can move it.  

Tuesday is Donna's birthday so I will have all the kids out here Tuesday night for cake.  Hurricane texted me today asking me if I wanted to go to the beach with them on Tuesday but I have way too much to do.  Tuesday, I have to run Little Man down to the big city to turn in the paperwork for his last ticket.  He completed his tobacco awareness classes and 8 hours community service for ticket 1.  He's done all 35 hours of community service and 3 of 4 teen courts for ticket 2.  He will do his last teen court tomorrow night and turn in his community service hours and be done with ticket 2.  We have received the paper we were waiting on from the state for his driving record on ticket 3.  Also for ticket 3, he had to do a defensive driving course.  He has completed the course- only missed 1 on the whole test.  We have a paper that has to be signed in front of a notary and faxed into the company by 3 tomorrow and they will send us his certificate of completion by noon on Tuesday.  Then we have to take the paper from the state and the certificate of completion into the big city and ticket 3 will be done.  Just in time to move with a clean slate.  Also, Tuesday is Vix's day to come out and work on the house.  We have to install the door set between Little Man and B's rooms and then I can paint that and have it all done.  I will be picking up the paint that Little Man picked for his room and start painting his room this week too.  

With everything I have going on.  Posting may be very sporadic.  I will do my best to keep up with everyone and to keep things updated.  Y'all take care!

3 weeks

3 weeks from yesterday they will be coming to take my house down and move  it.  That's the idea at least.  3 more weeks until we leave the place that has been our refuge for the last 10 years.  We came here and bought this place fresh from leaving SD.  The divorce wasn't even final yet.  We hid here in what was the country then - hiding from his drug induced, drunken rages when he threatened to kill me.   The kids have gone to school, had their first girlfriends, and learned to drive here.  3 more weeks and I abandon my Ice Cube.  I'm pushing him out of the nest and he must learn to fly on his own.  He's 18 and about to be a father so I shouldn't feel like I'm abandoning him.  He could come with if he wanted.  But he has a fiance and a baby here.  He can't leave.  And I hate the thought of leaving him.  

It wasn't like that with my older 2.  With her, Tara - I was glad to see her go.  All the drama, the dealing with the mental illness, the effect it had on the boys, the constant merry-go-round, the drugs, the drinking, the chaos.  The fact that the boys didn't feel comfortable bringing friends home because you never knew whether she was going to be ok or really really scary.  The constant back and forth of her coming and going.  When she finally left for good- it was like a fresh breeze blowing thru the house.  You could see the difference in the boys.  Especially the younger 2.  The difference in the amount of kids coming and going out of here.  The number of extra's that we had at meals and over-nights.  There were no more phone calls to mom to find days that she would be gone before having friends over.  There were just extra little boys here on a daily basis.  And in Little Man's case- extra girls too.  A different kind of chaos but one that wasn't scary anymore.  

With Hurricane, again I was glad to see him grow wings and fly.  I love that boy to death- but he inherited his mom's temper without the patience and control that I have.  He wanted to run the house.  Tell me and his brothers what to do and how to do it.  He still tries.  But it's easier to ignore him and deal with it when he's not here all the time.  The younger boys can tune him out when they want.  They're all still so very close and they choose to spend time together but without the daily fighting that occurs when he lives here.  Did I say daily- I should have said hourly. Hurricane stepped up and was a great older brother with the issues with SD.  He taught the 2 younger ones to swim and ride their bikes.  He went to all their baseball games and awards ceremonies.  He was the perfect older brother when they were little.  And then they grew up and wanted to start doing/thinking  for themselves.  And he didn't quite know how to handle it when they didn't jump at his request anymore.  And we have the temper issue which takes me back to all the holes I found in his walls.  Yes- I am still more unhappy with that situation.  But, like I said.  I was happy to watch him fly.  It was time and it was best.  

Now, it's Ice Cubes turn.  And for the first time, I'm not ready to let go.  I know it's time.  I know he's ready.  I know that even if he isn't ready- it's time for him to be ready.  He has a baby coming.  He's going to be a daddy.  And in 3 weeks, I'll push him out the door to test his wings and fly.  The nest will always be open if he needs a safe place to come to.  We'll anxiously await his visits and look forward to not only seeing him but his baby.  But, I don't know how I'll do without seeing my sweet boys face every day.  He's my tender hearted one.  The laid back one that will give you the clothes off his back.  He's the helpful one that will take the garbage out without me asking 900 times.  He's the one that still likes to hug and just sit and talk.  He's the one that could live at home till he's 60 if I didn't push him out of the nest and he shouldn't but that doesn't make it any easier to do.  I know it's time, but that doesn't make it feel any better.  But it's his  time to fly.  And he knows that he can come back at any point if he needs to.  He'll be the one to drive down every weekend to spend time with us and hang out.  He'll be ok.  And so will I.  

Now, off to make food for the baby shower.  I have to get all this done and be at the church by 1 to set up and hang decorations.  Hope you all have a good weekend!

Another Day in the trenches

Little Man decided that he didn't feel like going to school today so he got sent home for the day.  How did he do this you ask?  He had a day of ISS scheduled (in school suspension) for using a bad word in chemistry.  When they called him out of class to send him down to ISS, he tried to talk his really cool principal (RCP) out of sending him.  When Mr. RCP failed to oblige, he went to ISS where it took him less than 5 minutes to get 3 infractions and kicked out.  Mr. RCP called me to let me know what had happened and to ask me to come pick my little monster up.  I should have been mad.  I should have been more than mad.  But all I could think about was....  free slave labor.  And he was so good about helping out today.  He went to the car wash and cleaned my car out.  Went to the grocery to pick up the things I still needed for the shower.  Went and picked up the prizes for the games.  Then he came home where he measured, cut, and hammered to my little hearts content - helping me out.  Because of his help, when Vix came out today, we were able to completely finish the one opening and get it trimmed out.  And he did it all without a murmur of a whine, groan, or complaint.  And he even took the garbage out without being asked.  So, I'm not mad.  I'm not even upset.  Because of his help today, I was able to get the games printed out for the shower.  I got my big present wrapped, I got all the shower stuff organized, I was able to get the living room and kitchen cleaned while he did other things.  And he agreed to clean his room so his aunt Tia and her hubby could stay here Saturday night.  And if he gets that all done- then all I have to do for that tomorrow is strip his bed and put fresh sheets on it.  

I feel much better about my to-do list at this point.  I got a whole lot accomplished today.  I haven't been down to check on the aunt and uncle down the street in over a week so I'm going to go do that tonight after I finish making dinner.  Then  -- home to paint!  But that's not too big a deal.  I should be able to get all of what we accomplished today done in an hour.  

I'm most upset about all the work I have to do in Ice Cube's room.  That room was originally Hurricane's.  He is on our "rotten kid" list right now.  Until Ice Cube started pulling down all the posters that were on the wall- I didn't know about all the holes that sir Hurricane had put in his walls.  I will be in there for a week with the dry wall mud.  He cut holes in his walls with his sword.  He shot at his walls with his pellet gun.  And we found holes from being punched.  I. AM. NOT. HAPPY.  Apparently, every time he'd put a new hole in the wall - he'd cover it up with a sports poster.  When he moved out and Ice Cube moved into that room, he left the posters up.  So no one knew about the holes until this week.  Have I mentioned that I am peeved?  The holes and issues we just found, will probably create another 3-4 days work for me.  But, I'm in a decent mood about it all now.  The boys are out of school on Monday and they've said that they'll help me do some more.  

2 more weeks of school.  3 more weeks till we move.  The count down is on.

Continued....

So, we found out yesterday that our movers that we had paid a $3000 deposit to move the house had disappeared.  Their phones are all turned off.  Vix went by the address on the contact yesterday and the house was empty.  One of the neighbors was nice enough to come out and offer Vix some information.  Apparently, sir mover is in jail.  Yes, just my luck.  He's in jail.  DUI.  Great.  That's all I needed.  So, the chances of us getting our deposit back from this guy in time to move the house is none.  His hearing date isn't even until after he was supposed to do the job.  So, I have been on the phone trying to find estimates to get the job done in the same time frame and for a price we can afford.  Some of them want the whole house empty.  Some of them will move the place with the beds and stuff in it.  I'm looking for one of those.  

I've been back in the kids rooms today working on a wiring issue and getting things ready.  I'd like to have that archway totally done and cleaned up by tomorrow afternoon.  That might be a far reaching dream but that's what I'm hoping for.  I got the wood of the archway up today with B's help.  I need to go down there with some big staples and tack the wiring up so I can cover it.  I'm basically dry walling over the top of it.  I really will try to remember to take my camera down there tonight.  I hate to take pictures the way it looks now because it looks so bad.  *giggle*. 

I decided that rather than beating myself up I was going to take one thing at a time.  Right now, I have to get through the baby shower this weekend.  I think I'm pretty set on that with the exception of printing out the games.  Vix and I went shopping this past weekend.  We got red and blue big plates, I got a table center piece and and banner.  We got clear cake plates, cups, and forks.  I got a big blue piggy bank.  I got a red table cloth and napkins (they were out of blue) and balloons.  We got mini egg rolls, little sandwiches, a couple of different dips, the makings of queso, different chips, and stuff for me to make my hot wings.  Plus the cake.  I think we've got more than enough.  I still have to go pick up a big balloon that says "it's a boy" or something like that and I need gifts for the games.  And I have to survive the shower.  Then I can worry about getting the remodel done.  And if it gets to the last week and I'm not done with it - then tough.  Cause at that time I will have to finish the packing.  Right?  Right.

Well, back to the grind.  I have dinner baking in the oven and have time to clean up the mess I made today before it's done.  

Have a great night!

Monday updates

I spoke to the administration building today at the schools.  It is an excused absence to keep the boys home.  They are still waiting on the test results for the other schools.  I sure wish that they would hurry up with the results.  I appreciate the input from everyone about keeping them home.  They are home today.  Little Man isn't thrilled with the idea.  He likes school.  Not because he likes to learn but because he's a social butterfly.  God forbid he not have a chance to socialize and irritate the teachers.  

We spent last night rearranging things and piling boxes and totes for the move in one room.  Before that point, I had boxes in every room.  I basically cleaned out the dining room and made it moving central.  I am so ready to be done and moved and start putting my house back together.  We just keep packing and disconnecting and trying to get things together.  And it seems that for every one thing that I pack, I find two more things that I forgot about.  

So, last night Little Man ran up to Walmart with Tom.  Yes, Tom returned all of Little Man's stuff.  He also called me and apologized for his behavior.  They are still best friends and Tom came down for the weekend to visit.  He was supposed to go back to his mom's house last night.  They went to the store last night with Tom's old girlfriend and another friend.  Apparently, Tom needed gas to get back to his mom's and his girlfriend wanted window paint.  While they were there, some other kid that they know from school, pulled up next to the 2 cars and started shooting at the kids with an airsoft rifle.  Tom was hit several times in the chest with no real injury.  He had some red marks but he had on a t-shirt and a sweat shirt so they didn't break skin.  Little Man was hit in the neck.  It broke skin and is all nasty.  He hit the 2 girls too.  The kids called the police and there was a report filed.  I am not happy about it all.  The police apparently told the kids that the child responsible for this would be charged with multiple counts of assault.  He should be.  I cannot even begin to tell you how mad I am with all this.  Just another reason that I'm glad we're moving.

Well, off to pack some more and get the rest of the totes out of the boys bedrooms.  I'll have to take a pix when I get them all stacked up so y'all can see this mess.  And they're moving the furniture.  It's hard to believe that we have this much junk.  B has been throwing all kinds of things away.  I think I'm with him.  Let's get rid of some of this clutter.  I can't believe we have accumulated so much stuff in the last 11 years.  When I moved here, I came with 5 kids aged 4-14 and a 24 foot uhaul.  Now, it seems like I'm moving more to move 2 kids with me than I had with the 5.  

update city...

First and foremost, thank you to everyone who was concerned about Tom.  He left Sunday to drive to his moms.  He did NOT leave empty handed.  It seems that he took Little Man's back pack, all Little Man's school supplies, most of B's socks, Little Man's camera, one of our flashlights and a cell phone.  I. Am. Not. Happy.  I have given him 1 week to return the missing items or have a theft report filed.  Little Man is not happy with me over it but I can honestly say that he can get glad again in the same pants he got mad in on this issue.  I don't care.  Now, Tom's excuse for most of this was: he "forgot" that he had these things in his truck.  Which would all be well and dandy if Little Man and I hadn't called and texted him trying to get ahold of him repeatedly to retrieve our property for more than 24 hours before he left.   I am also not happy with Little Man over this because he knew Tom was leaving so why oh why did he leave his school stuff in the truck?   He will have fun working to replace what he lost.  And have fun re-doing his homework that was already done.  Dang kid.  

Plans for moving are coming right along.  I went today and picked up a few more boxes.  I mostly packed B's room over the weekend.  I have a few more things to pack but it's mostly stuff that he uses every day.  I need to start putting all my snow globes and pictures in boxes.  Won't that be a fun thing to do.  

My daughter had said she was pregnant remember?  When asked how the last Dr's appointment went, she said she "lost" the baby.  I wish I really believed that she had been pregnant in the first place.  She was emotionless about it when I spoke with her and this was supposedly hours after it happened.  I was a wreck when I lost my baby.  Now, we're much different she and I.  So, maybe it wouldn't effect her like it did me.  I don't know.  I do know that when I told Vix; her response was: "I was waiting on her to say that".  When I told my mom; her response was:  "I doubt she was ever pregnant".  Now, don't believe I was so crass to say anything to her.  I would never.  I told her that I was very sorry for her loss.  And if she was pregnant - I really am.  But I have heard the "I'm pregnant" story about 16 times so far.  And she's never had a baby yet.  I know, call me a witch.  But facts are facts.  

B is still home sick.  And whatever it is he's had- he's giving to me.  I'm starting to feel miserable.  Serves me right for taking a drink of his Sonic slush the other day.  

The promised gift card from Sears did arrive.  Surprise!  It was not a hoax.  I am surprised!  I will say that I do appreciate the effort that Brian took to try and make things right with me.  I was really happy with him.  However, so long as Sears wants to charge a $60 trip charge as well as charge me $12/minute to work on my appliances - I'm still done with their repair service.  They charge you the $60 trip charge as well as an hours worth of time even if they're only here for 5 min.  I'm sorry- there are too many other companies that charge by the 1/2 hour or 1/4 hour to waste money paying someone for an hours worth of their time plus the trip charge.  It's double billing.  I will still buy other things from sears- but as far as appliances or anything that might have to be serviced....  Nope!  They lost my business.  What Brian did was to keep my business buying clothes or other items.  He stopped me from never walking into another Sears again.  And he made it right for the money that it cost me to have the rip-off man come out here.  Too bad the repair guy they sent out here wasn't as good a guy as Brian.  They might still be getting all my money instead of losing the better part of it.  

Opening day of baseball season is today.  This takes precedence over anything else that I watch on TV.  I know, Kou- how could I say anything so sacrilegious?  Luckily, both games I want to see today are on during the day.  Within the hour.  So....  Off here to finish doing things like getting dinner pre-made and pretending to be a mom and clean house before the games come on.  Have a good week all!

back home

Well, we got home yesterday.  We really accomplished a lot at the property.  There is more that we would have liked to do but the fact that they didn't have the water hooked up yet really did some nasty things to my plans.  I hope we were able to get the new trees and bushes watered enough for them to take root.  The fact that the ground was already saturated from the rain the week before should help us out a lot.  

Little Man broke his boots while we were gone.  He's not very happy about it.  Him and his stylish self wearing boots with shorts.  And one of his heels broke.  He just bought those boots.   I need to call them and find out if they have any type of warrantee on the boots.  Those boots are less than a month old.  

So, I've been going nuts since I got back.  Every piece of clothing the boys took with us was muddy.  Nasty, horrid, awful muddy.  And smelly.  How fun!

So much packing left to do.  It seems like as fast as I knock one thing off my to-do list, 4 more take its place.  Why is it that I always feel like I need a vacation to recover from my vacation?

Now, back to the grind.  I'm not sure how the kitchen floor got dirty while everyone was gone but it needs mopped now and I'm still finishing up laundry.  And how do toilets get dirty when no one is home to use them?  Seriously, I cleaned the kitchen and both bathrooms before we left.  Did the dirt fairy come thru and destroy my house while I was gone?  Plus my DVR is over-loaded from shows I while I was gone.  I need to make some room before it doesn't record this weeks shows.  

Have a great weekend all!

adventures in vacation

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It's a boy!

Ice Cube and Ruth went to see Ruth's mom this weekend.  The basis for the trip was to go get an ultrasound done.  Ruth's mom is an OBGYN nurse and was able to take Ruth to where she works and one of the girls at work did it for them.  They brought home 7 new baby pix.  For the most part- I can't make heads nor tails out of any of them.  But they found his little "turtle" (as Ruth called it) and so - a boy it is.  No names picked out yet.  They think they're going to use B's middle name for the baby's middle name.  They're also talking about moving to where Ruth's mom lives to have the baby.  That doesn't make me so happy.  They'll still be in the same state- but 5 hours away.  but, I know it's what's best for the kids.  Ruth's mom will help her get her EMT license and then get her a job at the hospital while she works on her nursing license.  Financial stability for the kids and the grandson.  Ice Cube can switch jobs for a year or so.  And we'll just be doing a lot of traveling to see each other or meeting here where we've lived which is close to a 1/2 way point.  

Moving plans are coming right along.  We signed the paperwork to move the house on Monday.  I'm packing away.  Too early to be packing a lot of it.  What I've been working on is books, VHS tapes, things like that.  Toys that the kids have outgrown that I didn't want to get rid of.  I'm doing a lot of cleaning out and throwing away.  I've got some things that I'm going to send back to my ex sister-in-law.  Pictures of her kids and her daughters 1st Christmas ornaments.  I had the ornaments because I had the daughter for the first 17 months of her life.  From the time she was 3 days old.  Today I have to order the blueberry bushes that we're planting at the new property.  I'll be going down there over spring break and getting some work done.  For those of you that remember the PINK well house- I've gotten the paint to change that color scheme.  Pink is not my color.  

June 12 is the moving date.  I'll pick up the uhaul on the 11th, spend the morning packing and then B and I have tickets to the Ranger game that night.  I need to call today to reserve the uhaul and get hotel reservations for a few days of that time.  Another of my ex sister-in-laws, we'll call her Tia (spanish for aunt) lives down by the new property and she's been kind enough to let me have the bushes shipped there.  

I have a huge problem.  I have to put together a baby shower for May 23.  I don't know where to hold it.  I've never had a baby shower  - let alone thrown one.  And I'm pretty lost.  So, for any of you who have done these things before....  All ideas are welcome.  An idea of where to have one would be nice too.  As this is occurring about 3 weeks before I'm due to move, I don't know that my house is big enough or will be in any shape to have one.  I would have done it closer to her due date but as the kids are moving about the same time I am, we need to do it before everyone moves.  And if we go to the last weekend in May, then we get into graduations.  All idea, suggestions welcome at this point.  Finances will be a consideration at that point too so I need to put together something nice- that's fairly inexpensive.  

Thanks!