Picture day!

Here are some random shots from today.  I was in a picture taking mood, OK?

When going through Napoleon, there are these pigeons (doves?) that are always poking around in the road.  I have to almost stop to get around them.  OK, I don't *have* to, but I don't wanna kill them!

Not long after getting on the interstate, it started pouring rain.  Heaven forbid we keep moving, people!  There is WATER falling from the SKY!  Let's all hit the brakes.  Sheesh.

On my way home, I always pass this happy little tree.  Remember Bob Ross?  *sigh*  RIP Bob Ross.  This *is* a happy little tree.

On the way home, I caught 124421.  Not as exciting as the 123456 that I missed, but still fun, no?

Oh, big surprise.  The road is closed, due to flooding.  It's OK, I turn left right before this flood spot.

On the way home, I notice that the river is WAY higher than usual.

This is where the angry clouds play with the happy cloud.

Cool cloud shot.

See all of this coal?  It's heading to the power plant.  Turn off a light already!

This is Natalie's tree.  It's slower to leaf out, but it's alive and well.

And this is Monica's tree.  Very egotistical, and bragging about it's leaves.

There's my lawn mowing man!  Finally, more green than brown.

Yup, he's Hank Hill, on a budget.  Gotta air up the tires before each mow.

So, that's my day, in a nutshell.  This HOUSE is a nutshell.  Full of nuts and flakes.  Maybe that would make this house a cereal box.  Who knows?

A green yard

After receiving the award for brownest yard in town, we've received enough rain to make the green overpower the brown.  Don't get me wrong, though, there are still brown patches.  Still, we can mow this weekend, and it'll be mostly green, and look almost like a lawn.  My lawn says:

Mom and I both posted videos yesterday, and I gotta be one-up on her.  Whatta ya got, Mom?  Got a video for a sunny Tuesday?  LOL

Rainy days and Mondays

Today, we have both in one.

 

It was crazy busy at work, which makes the day go fast.  That's always a good thing.  Still, the lack of sunshine can be depressing.  I love storms, and I like rain a lot, but I crave sunshine.  I know, I'm nuts.

I came home to dinner ready on the stove.  Kevin got off early due to the rain, so he made spaghetti and garlic bread.

Natalie has done 3 loads of laundry, washed the dinner dishes, taken her shower, and packed her lunch for tomorrow.  Monica has been in a great mood tonight, being sweet and helpful all evening.  I don't know what's gotten in to them, but I'm lovin' it.

Thanks, family.  I love you!

Sunday

I have customers coming to visit from Illinois, and they arrive in KC tonight.  Kevin and I are taking them out to dinner this evening.  We're meeting them at 7.  The severe weather is to start between 7 and 9.  Could make for an interesting drive home.

Today has seen me watching various NASCAR crap since 10:30.  The race had only been going for 7 laps when they had a huge wreck that took out a ton of cars.  Everyone walked away fine, thank goodness.

Kameron is heading home soon.  She's been fun as usual.  We took her to garage sales yesterday, and found a stroller, and 3 adorable Carters outfits.  It is sunny right now, but very windy.  It's trying to work up to this evening's storms.  I love a good spring thunderstorm.

A better day for me

I was determined to have a better day.  For the most part, it was.  One work thing has me bothered, but it will be for the best, I'm sure.  I think.  LOL

Kameron came over.  She is so awesome.  Very serious tonight.  Not sad or grumpy, just taking it all in and being serious.  It's cute.  She just had a bottle and is talking to her Dad about bed time.  They disagree a bit, but it's OK.  She'll win.  We all know that, right?

The weather is perfect.  That contributes more than you know to my better mood.  Kevin still hurts, but his Doc gave him some pain meds for the interim.  He can still barely walk, but the family is all here to help.  The laundry is still calling, but we have a family plan to keep it in check.  

I'm an optimist, and have been for a long time.  I get down from time to time, but I get over it.  What else can you do?  Wallow?  No thanks.  I'd rather be happy, thankyouverymuch.

Tonight, I am happy.  Thanks for the prayers and well-wishes.  We still need them, but knowing they're working means a lot.  Tomorrow, I will set a goal to smile 4 times.  I smiled 3 times today, without meaning to.  Life is good.  Just ask the lazy pets who lay around all day and get waited on.  Life is good.

Pity Parties

I'm not a fan of them.  Especially the ones that I throw in my own house.  

Sick of this crap

For two days, Kevin has driven the "hot shot" truck.  This is a flat bed pickup that they keep around for small loads, so they don't have to pay the hauler company to do it.  Kevin usually stays at the store, loading and dispatching trucks.  Most of the heavy stuff is done with a fork lift.

While driving the hot shot truck, Kevin gets to listen to the radio.  Something that he usually misses.  That's a good thing.  However, driving the hot shot truck involves a lot of loading and unloading by hand.  Carrying lumber around a house and up a hill to the place that it's needed.  His body doesn't like that part.

Tonight, he cannot move.  He is having a tough time getting out of the chair.  He can barely move into the next room without help.  He's got muscle rub and  a rice sock, but it's not helping.  Good Lord, I hate his job.

I don't know what we'll do.  He cannot do some basic stuff needed around here, because all of his energy and strength is used to work each day, to pay the bills.  I am fighting the urge to get depressed by all of this.  Let the justice system move quickly, so he can get out of this crappy job.

*sigh*

I'm so tired.

A few notes from today

Monica had a fundraising pancake breakfast to work, so Kevin attended and she worked.

I had a parenting fair (rescheduled from a snowed out date) to attend, so Natalie and I went there.  Great info (bullying, internet safety, drug awareness, etc) and I won a door prize of a Mary Kay kit.  Vanilla, my favorite scent!  Natalie had fun, too, and the kids did a hip-hop routine at the end.

Got home, collected Kevin and Monica, dropped Natalie off at Mom's, and went to the store.  She wasn't interested in going this week.  We hit WalMart, where I bought 2 more reusable shopping bags.  When paying, the dork lady put them into a plastic bag.  *sigh* 

After WalMart and Aldi, we stopped at QT for a soda.  I bought a scratcher ticket and won $10!

Got home and Monica had an invitation to go to the drive in with a friend.  We had no cash.  I had to turn in my $10 winning ticket for her.  *sigh*  Her social life is SO much larger than mine.  LOL

Natalie hasn't wanted to come home yet, but I'm getting ready to go get her soon anyway.  I don't want to leave in the middle of the race, which starts at 7 from Phoenix International Speedway.  It looks so HOT there.  

The rain stopped around noon, and it turned into a pretty afternoon.  I finally found a way to upload mobile images to facebook, which has been a struggle, since facebook isn't T-Mobile friendly.  Our unlimited messaging plan allows email though, so I can email the photos and they show up.  Sweet!

Nothing exciting, so I'll sign off.  Just a bunch of weekend stuff.  I love the weekend.  Beer and NASCAR coming up shortly.  It *is* Saturday, after all.  

"GO COUSIN CARL!  SHOW PHOENIX WHO'S BOSS!"  OK, I know that Remo is the boss of the desert, but Carl can be the boss of PIR, right?  Just for one night?  That OK Remo?  Sir?

*sigh*

I left work at 5:00 on the nose.  Yeah, it's Friday and I wasn't going to get caught late.  I got to the car and starting putting my stuff in.  The computer case goes behind the driver's seat, in the rear floor board.  The lunch box sits in the back seat.  The purse and jacket get tossed into the passenger seat up front.  

I got in, and put my cup over there.  At work, we have to use a mug that is wide at the bottom, narrow at the top, to prevent spills.  I leave it at work all week, but take it home on Friday to wash it up for the next week.  It had some diet Coke in it, so I sat it over there on the jacket, beside the purse, and left.

I stopped to get gas at QT, and got on the interstate to some heavy traffic.  I had to stop at the bank to make a deposit for work.  While waiting in line at the bank, I looked over at the passenger seat.  Ooops.  The cup was on its side.  Diet Coke, filling my seat.  ACK!

Now, with the old car, I would have laughed and let it go.  This is my beautiful red BABY, though.  I was sick about it.  I threw the jacket into the floor (since it was half soaked) and dumped the rest of the cup's contents onto the ground in the bank drive-thru.  I went straight to Dad's to shop-vac the car.

It needed detailed this weekend anyway, but I didn't want to do it tonight!  I pulled into dad's shop and vacuumed the floors out real good and then worked on the passenger seat.  Gosh, I hope it's dry by tomorrow.  I'm glad it was diet, but I still may need upholstery cleaner tomorrow.  We'll see.

I'm such a clutz.

The big "C" word

I know it's a shock, but I am NOT Kameron's only grandma.  Her other grandma is an awesome chick who works hard and loves her family.

Her other grandma is sick. Real sick.

Her other grandma will be recovering for a long time.

Prayers to her, please.  

Let me show her that there are prayers going up for her.

The surgeon is positive.  I hope she is positive, too.  

I'll be going to see her tomorrow after work.  I'll be taking your prayers to her.  Kameron needs two grandmas.  God will see to it that she has that.  God will care for Kameron's grandparents.  It says so in the bible.  "I will let thee be well, if thou hast a beautiful granddaughter."  And so it is written.  And so it shall be done.  

Thursday fixes everything

I had a rough week.  Rough week?  Let's talk about rough weeks.

Grammy's rough week involved rear-ending someone and jacking up her car.

Niece Beth's rough week involved getting rear-ended (not by grammy) and having neck issues.

GG's rough week involved grammy getting in a wreck and not taking her to bingo.

Natalie's rough week involved falling off a skateboard and hurting her wrist.

Kevin's rough week involved being told not to come to work today, due to low work.

Monica's rough week involved knocking a bowl of hot grease onto the floor.

Brett's rough week involved getting yelled at by his mom, and almost losing his place to live.

My week?  Well...my week suddenly doesn't seem so bad.  I got 9 hours of sleep last night, and I'm gainfully employed, and I have awesome transportation, and I didn't get physically hurt, and I'm married to a great guy, and I have good friends, and life is just fine.  Life is good, thankyouverymuch.

So tired.

Sorry about the dramatic post.  Things are going to be changing to eliminate the drama.  I need a vacation.  LOL

Yesterday at work was a bit rough (understatement) so I was in a bad mood to begin with.  Then, the drama kept me up late.  So I was exhausted all day today.  Today was a bit better, though.  Now, I'm ready for sleep.  Yes, I *do* realize that it's barely past 7, but I'm going to bed soon.

I can if I want to.

Gonna make tomorrow even better. 

Don't lie to me

One lie to me will make me mad at you.  Two lies will make me furious.  Three lies will make me want to punch you.  More than that?  You're on your own.  Do NOT lie to me!  Do NOT expect me to believe a story after 4 lies.  OK?  Don't.  Just don't.  Don't bother.  

Goodbye.

Liars are liars.  Is there no hope?

Liar.

Saturday happenings in Casa de Fierro

We got up this morning and cleaned the house, after Natalie and I took Kami for a brief visit to Mom and Dad's.  After the house was semi-presentable, Nattie and I took off for the store, while Kevin stayed with Kami, waiting for his Mom, Grandma, and nephew Steven to arrive from Carthage.

Last week, while Nattie and I were shopping, we saw the Wiener-mobile and I tossed my phone to N, saying, "get a picture!"  She missed the chance, and there was no proof.  Today, during our adventure, we saw a giant chicken.  Well, a person in a chicken suit in front of KFC.  Anyway, I again handed her the phone and said, "get a picture!"  She hit the wrong button and missed it.

Weird things keep happening during our Blue Springs shopping trips, but nobody will ever see the proof.  Next week, we'll probably witness a UFO landing.  LOL

Brett had to work all day today.  I guess we should be thankful that he found another job.  Oh yeah, his great job cut almost everyone to part time.  Within a couple of days, he had found a new job...full time.  Phew!

Kameron has to go home in the morning for Easter festivities with her Mom's family.  I'm glad we had her for most of the weekend, anyway.  She is so fun.  She laughs and mimics and coos and she thinks her fists are God's greatest creation.  I got some video, so I may try to show you, but there is a baseball game going on in the background.  Kevin's grandma is here, so baseball is on the TV.  LOL

OK, I'm out.  Gotta fix up some Easter baskets.

Kameron is here!

Now that I have worked through some stuff with some people, Kameron is here.  She's awesome and fun and cute as a bug.  Why do people say "cute as a bug?"  That's gross.  Bugs are not cute.

Kameron, however, is adorable.  She's "talking" and eating her fists and laughing with that huge smile and one deep dimple and I am so happy to have her here.  Tomorrow promises to be nice out, so we'll get her out for some sunshine and fun.

She thinks that her aunt Natalie is VERY funny.

Thursday stuff

I was supposed to go to Nashville next weekend.  Now I'm not.  It would have been fun, but I'll be home with the family.  It's golden.

I work tomorrow, but it may be a slow day.  A lot of photogs may be closed due to Good Friday.  I can catch up.

I have a vacation day on Monday.  Sweet!

The TX trip is shaping up.  We are making it happen with some frugal planning, and generosity from family members and friends (Thanks Mom and Dad, and David and Susie!)  It'll be tight, but we can make it happen if we're careful.

It is thundering outside, but nothing wicked yet.  Just rain and thunder.  So far, the internet and dish are both working.  What else matters?  Plus, it's time for bed soon. 

Friday is upon us.  Let's all enjoy the heck out of it, OK?

Kevin

OK, most of you know the drama, if you've read this for very long.  To catch you up, or for new readers to put it in a nutshell, here's where we are:

Kevin got hurt at work over a year ago.  Surgery was required.  He had surgery on his shoulder.  He went back to work, still hurting.

He has other issues with pain in his body, unrelated to said surgery.

Surgeon releases him.  Let the wheels of justice (quite slow and squeaky) start moving.  He is to wait for a settlement hearing.

He keeps working, every day.  Hurting.  Rolling out of bed onto his knees on the floor until he feels he can stand, and then showering and going to work.  After work, his feet and knees hurt so badly that he can barely limp from room to room.

He goes to a pain management clinic who offers cortisone shots.  Lots of pain, no relief.  He says that it doesn't work, pain management doc says it's all they have.  Done.  Nice.

General practice doc gives him pain meds to get through until the hearing.  

3:00 pm, the day before the hearing, work comp jerks say they're missing one form.  ONE. FORM.  No hearing.  It's rescheduled for "sometime" in the future.  Nice.

General practice doc is seen again, who offers pain management referral.  Kevin tells him "anywhere but the last place."  They decide on a new place, and Kevin makes an appointment.  He goes to said appointment, where pain management doc says, "but you have an unsettled work comp. case?"  Yes, yes we do.  "Oh, then, I can't treat you."

But, the shoulder isn't the only problem, can we deal with anything else?  Nope.  No dice.  Nada.  Ain't happenin'.  Nice.

Kevin calls attorney again, who says, "I'll call for mediation."  AGAIN?  I thought we already DID that!!!  Sheesh.  Now, we start over.

General practice doc cannot prescribe anything else (or refill) because he's not a pain management doc.  Pain management doc won't see him because of pending hearing.  Pending hearing may not happen soon, because nobody wants to settle.  His work punishes him daily, both physically and mentally.

How much more can he take?  How much more can WE take?

OK, I'm done sniveling and I have crops to harvest on Farm Town.

Peace out.

Too much drama

I wake up, and there is drama in the news.  Always with the drama.

I get the girls up and started on their day, and there's drama with them.  Always with the drama.

I get to work, and there's drama with my coworkers.  Always with the drama.

I take calls all day, many of which involve drama.  Always with the drama.

I come home to drama with the son's life.  Always with the drama.

Can I just have one day?  One little day without drama?  One 24 hour period with absolutely no drama?

Why do I watch reality TV again?  Oh yeah.  For the drama.

*sigh*

I'm not sick!

It started yesterday, during my nap...errr, I mean...when I was watching the race.  That tiny bit of yuck in my throat.  That sniffle.  That occasional sneeze.  No biggie, right?  I mean, I didn't feel sick in the least.  Just tired.

Later, Monica (who has seasonal allergies each spring and fall) sneezed 47 times in a row.  Just kidding, but it really WAS six times.  Cracked me up, but still I wondered.  Brett got home, announced he was sick, took some Alka Seltzer Plus, and went to bed.

At bed time, the girls went downstairs, and then Monica came back upstairs crying within 2 minutes.  She said that she yawned, and when she did, her ear popped and hurt REAL bad.  I loved on her, gave her a Tylenol, and sent her back down.  As soon as she got to the bottom of the stairs, it happened again.

I heated up a rice sock for her to lie her ear on, and went to bed.  This morning, she was better, but her ear still hurt.  Then, six more sneezes (how does someone do that?  SIX?)  Before I could react, Natalie said that she didn't feel good, and had a headache.

I gave them each a Tylenol, and headed to work.  I wasn't 1/3 of the way there when I realized that I felt quite crappy.  Not *sick* still, but not quite right.  sniff sniff.  Thank goodness for Alka Seltzer Plus and Puffs Plus.  (I like things with "plus" in the name, OK?) 

4 out of 5 people in this house feel icky.  Not sick, exactly, just icky.  I brought home knock-off Nyquil and Dayquil.  Heck with this nonsense.  We'll all get drugged and go to sleep.  It was weird to give my birthdate to the Dollar General clerk, just to buy the stuff, but whatever.

I'm not sick.  It's April.  Other than the overnight temps in the teens, it's Spring, right?  I'm not sick.

Kevin, you may want to crash on the couch.  Or in your truck.

I'm just sayin'.

Accomplishments

When I feel like I've had a lazy weekend, I think through what got done.  It makes me feel better.

Fun Stuff:

Watched most of 2 NASCAR races.

Had a fish fry at Mom's.

Watched the ACM's.

Took 1 1/2 naps.

Played online.

Constructive Stuff:

Got tons of laundry done.

Cleaned the aquarium.

Made stew.

Did dishes 400 times.

Grocery shopped.

Yeah, that's not too bad, I suppose, for a windy and cold weekend.  

Saturday errands and relaxing

Got up this morning and decided that Natalie and I would do the grocery shopping while Kevin and Monica had their eye appointments.  We did the WalMart thing (there was a sign on their bulletin board thanking the "Blue Springs Babtist Church."  Seriously, doesn't anyone run spell check before posting these signs?)

From there we went to Aldi and spent too much money.  There is a young guy that works at Aldi, and my girls think he is H.O.T.  I think he looks like a punk, but whatever.  Anyway, that guy wasn't working this morning, so Natalie was bummed.  Spent a lot of money, but got TONS of stuff.  We're having stew tomorrow, since it's going to be cold again.  *sigh*

Now, because it's what I do, I'm going to turn on the NASCAR race and fall asleep watching.  I always wake up in time to see the end.  LOL  Kevin's already asleep in the other room.  Naps are a must around here on Saturdays.

Things 'N Stuff

I am SO close.  Wow, it's getting exciting.  It's like CSI, only lower tech.  LOL

I planned to change my oil tonight, for the first time since I bought my beautiful red Neon.  Kevin offered, but I wanted to do it by myself.  Yeah right.

I got out to the shop at Dad's, and put the jack under the car, where I thought was the best place for it.  I pushed it up two pumps and chickened out.  I asked Dad if it was placed right.  It was.  OK, I jacked it up the rest of the way.  I asked Dad for an oil filter wrench.  He offered to do it for me, and I said, "no!"  I wanted to do it.

He left, and I crawled under the car to find that the wrench was too big for this tiny filter.  Crap.  I couldn't find the smaller one (neither could he, later) so I tried something that I saw work once.  I used a hammer to drive a screwdriver into the filter, to turn it.  Didn't work.  Crapola, part deaux.

When Dad came back, he did a hot little trick to get the filter off, and then told me that there was no way I'd get the drain plug off.  It was completely rounded off by the loser place that changed the oil last.  He got it for me.  (so far, I've done NOTHING by myself.)

The oil is all changed, even though the only thing I did completely *alone* was to pour the new oil in.  I'll get a new drain plug for a couple of bucks.  The filter isn't over-tightened this time.  I can do it.  I'm just ticked that Dad had to do most of it this time.  "I'm a BIG girl!  I wanna do it by myself!"  (no "big girl" comments, OK?)

The car stereo saga is coming close to an end.  I can't say much, but stay tuned.  LOL  This could get fun.

In case you didn't know

If you need something from someone, ask for it.  If you want something, let someone know.  If you are overwhelmed, it's up to you to let it be known.

Martyring yourself hurts nobody but yourself.  Shutting your mouth and doing more than you should is self-destructive.  Looking puppy-eyed at me gets you nowhere.  No sympathy.

When I need something, I ask for it.  When I need a break, I take one.  When there is too much to handle, I ask for help.  You should do the same.  We are all in the same boat.  Maybe there is a different person rowing, but we're all right there.  STROKE!  STROKE!  STROKE!

The way I grew up was totally honest.  No games.  It may seem abrupt to some, but we get our point across.  You can pout and talk about me and try to buck the system, but I guarantee that I'll get farther with honest truths.

I'm just sayin'.

Whatever happened to that one guy?

When I was journaling over at J-land, there was this journal that I used to read.  It was some dude who lived in the KC area and wrote stories.  Or drew portraits.  Or maybe it was cartoons.  I don't remember anymore.

Anywho, he seemed like a nice enough guy, but then he disappeared.  Sure, he would surface from time to time, make an entry in his blogger journal to tease me, and then disappear again.  Who cares?

I know that I don't.  Heck, he's nothing to me.  Dang pears.  Dang olives.  Dang doodle pads from work meetings.

Who needs it?

APRIL FOOLS!

I got sick of not hearing from him and from having many folks ask me if I'd heard (I hadn't) so I emailed him.  I know, don't panic, this logic doesn't come upon me often, and I promise it's all gone now.  No more logic around here.  Phew.

He answered me today, and he's alive and kicking.

Well, I don't know about kicking, but I'm sure he's tossing back 12 oz of a wonderful amber liquid consisting of hops and barley.  He hates the format here at blogger, and his trusty rusty computer bit the big one.

He has a new computer, and he's just peachy...or pear-y.  Whatever.

Love ya, Russ!