This is where you might find me on some days, rambling my little life away. I like to talk, and I like to express my opinions. Generally I do that on one of the message boards I frequent, but sometimes I'll have something that means so much to me that I just have to put it here.

January 28, 2007

Well, I did an update post to my blog on myspace, but I forgot to post it here... so let me do that first and then move on...

**************************************************************************************************************************************

Posted January 18, 2007

my mood: cranky

So on Thursday the 18th, the fridge people called.  The part is in! The part is in! I felt like screaming it through the streets like Paul Revere warning of the British invasion. If I hadn't been busy dealing with Kendra's mystery illness, I just may have done it.  I can see it now... running down Hawthorne, up Center, past the mall... The fridge people are coming! The fridge people are coming!

Of course, they won't get to it until the following Monday. Between 11 and 3.  Like I have nothing else to do. Work isn't important or anything. And it's not like I've been gone nearly all week taking care of Kendra or anything.

Fuck it - I need a fridge.  Food would be cool!

All weekend we're so excited.  We can go shopping on Monday, we can get more than a day's worth of food at the time.  Oh Winco, how beautiful thou art... or some shit like that.

Monday morning rolls around. Oh what a lovely day! There's actually sunshine even.  Joy to the mother fuckin' world!

I get a call at about 9:15.  It's the fridge people.  Seems they have NOW decided that apparently the parts I need are NOT covered by the warranty and if I need my fridge, I have to pay $330.    

Are you fucking kidding me?!?!

She apologizes profusely.

She should be fucking lucky I take so much fucking meds to keep me from losing my fucking mind.

What to do, what to do?  Well I have to pay it.  I need a fucking fridge.  It's been a fucking month so far! I want to actually feed my kids and supply options to them. Fine - whatever - just show up.

She then says I'm the first stop on the list, he can come over right now. 

Hello?!?!?  I'm at work.  WORK.  Do you know what work is?  Work is that place I go to have people threaten my life so I can get a pay check so I can pay for bullshit fridge places to fuck me over 2 hours before I'm supposed to be taken care of.

I very politely tell her that I am at work and I have a meeting and I will not be leaving the office until 10:30.

OK. They'll leave it as it was scheduled.

Ya think?!?!

He arrives shortly before noon. Replaces two things on the fridge.  Ken's pretty sure we only needed one. I write the check and send him on his merry fucking way.

Then I go shopping! We have food.  I have juice! I was able to shop for the WHOLE WEEK at one time!  The kids were so excited, three of the four volunteered to make dinner one night this week. 

Mark chose to make tacos (tonight's dinner), Aaron chose chili dogs (tomorow's dinner while we're out with Rhian and friend) and Shandi opted to make spaghetti (Friday's dinner... Thursday is a stouffers meal for Survivor night)

We have food. We have juice. I have soda. I have yogurt. It's all clean and shiny and there's FOOD in it!

The water works, the ice works. I can get fresh, clean, cold water any time I want! I can put ice in my drinks! I even got a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia frozen yogurt and stuck it in there for a bit.  But then I got all mopey and bitchy and ate it.    All of it.    To myself.    Didn't share.

Then Punzie got me all riled up and I filed a report with the BBB (like they'll do shit) complaining about the whole process.

The lesson for the day is: Don't trust fridge people. They're liars and fat mouths!

***************************************************

And while I'm in the bitching mood - I pulled a muscle in my back sticking the groceries in the car! Son of a bitch! Filty flying flying filth. And fuck!

****************************************************

Let's talk about Kendra...

So Kendra's had this fever for a few days. On the 17th she tells me that her throat hurts really bad so I look at it. There's this nasty necrotic-looking sore in the back with puss-looking stuff and black "flesh" around the edges. She has a HUGE lump on the outside of her neck.

I took her to the doctor on the 18th because this thing is nasty scary looking!

The doctor took one look, jumped back a little and made a gross face. I'm thinking "that's not good."

He runs a strep test. Negative. He runs a mono test. It's negative. So now he says "I dunno, I guess it's a virus. Let it run its course".

**blink**
**blink**

You THINK it's a virus?!? Let it run its course?!?! My poor daughter is number one OUT OF SCHOOL because we don't know what the hell it is or if it's contagius and number two SHE'S MISERABLE!!! 

This thing is so frigging nasty looking! I've never seen anything like it.

She has finals next week and nobody knows what the hell is wrong with her. aarrgghhhh! So frustrated!

So... anyone ever had some dead-looking, puss-oozing thing in the back of their throat before? (oh - and she has teeny tiny tonsils, so it's not tonsilitis)

 

On the 19th I take her to a new doctor. Her throat is much worse and that thing looks friggin GROSS! The doctor brought in another doctor to look at it who also said it looked necrotic. They're consulting with an ear, nose, throat doctor and they took a new culture to check on. They also put her on a broad spectrum antibiotic.

I asked about draining it, but it's not squishy... it's hard so it would have to be cut out. We want to see if the antibiotics help first. Cutting into her throat is kind of drastic. But I didn't realize that it's going down her throat.

Ken found out the same day that one of his friends from work has something similar. It was so bad for her today that she cried all the way home from work. Her hubby, who Ken also works with, called tonight to update us on her. She's now on antibiotics also. It seems that two of their kids got it too but it was short-lived and the kids went back to normal after a week or so w/o any meds.

It's kind of freaky that something like this is going around and nobody knows what the fuck it is.

 

By Monday, it's at least looking better.  It's still gross. It's still THERE. I'm still keeping her out of school.  Don't know if it'll infect the whole school.

 

The doctor called today to tell me the second culture didn't grow any bacteria but since she's responding to the antibiotic, leave it be.  If it's not gone when the pills are done, then go back to the doctor.

 

I still want to start the whole freakin year all over!

 

But at least I have a fridge, my kid seems to be getting better and I think I can actually fucking WORK this week!

****************************************************************************************************************************************

I did go back to work last week.  I was actually able to DO stuff!  It was cool!  I did leave early one day to take Xander to the vet.  Poor baby has ear mites and worms.  eewww gross! She tells me I'm not a bad mommy and that these things happen with puppies.  Funny thing is, NOTHING is wrong with the cat! Strange...

I LOVE having a fridge again.  It's so nice.  We can fill it with food and enjoy it.  It's absolutely fantastic!  People should really not take their fridges for granted. 

I borrowed a carpet shampooer from Kat at work.  So far I've done the living room carpet.  It looks nice, but holy hell my back is killing me!  I still need to take it into the pool room and clean that carpet.  Since that's where Xander spends his days, he tends to poo in there.  And for some reason he doesn't wanna poo on the puppy pad. He'll potty on it just fine, but not poo.  Silly puppy.

He's doing well.  Other than the mites and worms that is.  And it seems that he and the cat, while looking like mortal enemies, are working together quite well.  This morning Aaron caught the cat on top of the fridge trying to push the puppy treats onto the floor.  Into the waiting arms of the puppy.  Of course they both tried to look innocent, but come on! So I guess we have to lock things up now.

Kids are doing well.  Kendra is almost all better.  She's going back to school tomorrow.  Thank goodness!  We've taken everyone off of restriction.  They've been very helpful around the house to earn privileges.  The boys get their computer back and are playing Vanguard now.  I hear it's buggy as hell and driving them bananas, but they continue to play.  Of course they're playing with Ken.

Kendra has her phone back.  I'll bet there's 3,000 text messages on there since yesterday! And she went to spend the night with Ashley last night.  Other than the puppy and kitty, it's been quiet today.

Shandi is doing fine.  She dropped out of Honor Society.  She was having a hard time getting all of the community service hours she needs per semester.  I'm afraid that's partially my fault.  Between work and pain, I've not been as supportive as I should have been.  I asked her if she wanted to stay if I promised to get past the pain and take her to do things.  She said she's already quit.  I think I'll e-mail the teacher and let her know what's up. I feel so bad. I really should have sucked it up and done more.  If I can get her back in, if she wants to of course, I'll look into volunteering at the humane society.  She wants to do that.  Shel did a stint there with her daughter and she told me it's a 3 month commitment, one day a week and I don't have to clean or walk dogs.  Seems you can just sit and play with kitties and bunnies or help in the office.  I figure, I'm not setting a very good example if I can't get over myself and help someone else. 

Work is going well.  I'm moving some of my exam stuff over to Kat so I can focus more on investigations. It's hard for me to let go. It makes me feel like I'm a failure for not being able to take care of everything that I had on my plate.  But it needs to be done. There are simply not enough hours in a day to do all that I have on my desk right now. I feel like I've let everyone down.  But I can't sit and mope about it.  I can only work harder and give 110% to what I'm doing now.  Maybe I can figure out how to make it all work in an efficient manner when I start really busting ass.  I need to not be so distracted with conversations and I need to try to get more rest at home so that I'm fresh and thinking when I'm at work.

So that's pretty much where we're at now.  Not too shabby.  Kind of boring, with a moment or two of anxiety.  Soon I get to do the taxes.  That should be fun.  I have to figure out how the hell things work with Kendra's survivor benefits.  bleh.  I hate taxes! heheh

Hope all is well with my beloved friends and family.  Keep in touch and let me know how you're all doing!

Blessings and Love,
Diana

 

 

 

January 13, 2007

 

The New Year thus far...

I hope you're all having a safe and happy New Year.  Mine's been like a little roller coaster and poor Ken wants to start it all over. 

Our new year started out kind of poorly and it seems it was being set up towards the end of 2006. 

Let's see... I think the downward spiral starts the Thursday before Christmas, December 21st.  Our refrigerator decides to die.  But we think it's ok because it's under warranty. 

On December 22nd I call to set up a repair.  They can't get to me until the 26th.  Ok.  See ya then!

On this same day, I'm supposed to pick up my sister and niece from the airport.  However, there was a nasty storm that shut down Denver, so her trip is postponed.  Drat!  I wanted to see them! Especially Little Miss Brooke! I guess I'll live though.

December 23rd is a nice day.  We drive up to Olympia to see Kenny and Sabrina.  We come with gifts, of course.  For their birthdays and for Christmas.  We have dinner with Cleda and family.  It's nice.  I play with this itty bitty cute little puppy while I'm there.  We did try to contact their great-grandparents while we were there.  We heard that Robert isn't doing so well and we wanted to let the kids see him, but we weren't able to get through to them.  We didn't plan it in advance because we were concerned abut them setting something up with the boys' mother to let her contact them.  Oh well, we did try.  Multiple times.  Kept getting a busy signal.

December 24th brings our 11th wedding anniversary!  We leave for the evening for some special naughty lovings in a dark but public place... oohh la la! teeheehee!!!  We had a very sweet day with the kids and an even sweeter evening alone.  Eleven years and I still love my hunny buny with every fiber of my being!

December 25th we have Christmas.  My brother is missing and my other sister is very, very sick.  Ken's sister had plans, but they got cancelled and then she wasn't able to come down to us either.  So we have a quiet day with the kids.  Presents are opened, TV is watched, pork chops are made for dinner.  It's a very lovely day.  The kids each got an MP3 player with video and as a family they got that snazzy Xbox 360 bundle from Mike and Melinda.  Spoiled little shits that they are! hhehe I don't know what they've done to endear themselves so much to Mike and Melinda, but they sure are blessed little monsters.  :)

December 26th brings the fridge repair man! He doesn't have the part that's needed.  DRAT! He says it will be a couple of days and they'll call me when it gets in.  But he says it's under warranty still so there's no charge.  Bright spot, right?

December 27th is uneventful.  Everyone is on vacation so we're lazy and lounging and loving it. 

December 28th I go to work for a meeting that I knew I'd be attending when I arranged all of my vacation time.  It was nice to be back to work.  While I'm out I sneak off and buy Ken a guitar for a present.  Not a Christmas present mind you, because we weren't doing Christmas for each other since getting Xander. 

December 29th we still haven't heard from the fridge people.  I call them.  Nope, not in. Won't be until after the new year.  CRAP!  What can ya do?  At this point, it's just great that my grandma sent money because she's feeding us now. 

December 30th.  Mostly uneventful.  But we do manage to go have dinner with Matt, Amy, Mark, Rhonda, Bud, Mikey, Tranette and Tranette's mom. I'm feeling a bit under the weather but I think I'm ok.  And I'm happy because I'm supposed to go get Heidi and Brooke the next day.  Yay!  Melina has spent the night because she's supposed to go get her mom with us.

December 31st.  Butt-crack of dawn.  Mom calls.  Now Nebraska is iced over and the flight is cancelled.  FUCK!  But maybe it's not so bad.  I'm feeling like shit at this point.  I have a fever and things just aren't pretty.  No New Years party, no wedding for Lori (I'm so sorry Lori!  I love you!!!) Ken decides it's a good time to start the wood floor.  It's the one "family gift" we use the money from my Grandma for.  It's less than $400 to do the whole thing.  And it needs to be done.  Xander has taken to pealing up the stick-on tiles that were used before.  Note: not by us.  Someone else did that.  Xander isn't totally potty trained yet, but it has to be done.  He's supposed to live in the dining room while we're at work after the first of the year.  Right?  Melina stays the night again.  Just for fun.  She's such a sweetie.

January 1st. HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Also pretty uneventful.  However, Heidi's new flight is supposed to be the next day. At this point I'm crossing my fingers and praying that she gets to come.  Melina has to go back home because the kids all start school the following day.

January 2nd.  I have to work, kids back to school but Ken gets the day off so he goes to the airport to get Heidi and Brooke.  Nothing fucked it up. YAY!  After work I'll get to see them and I'll be so darned happy!  I have to bring her back on the 5th so we need to make the most of this visit!

January 3rd and 4th make work quite interesting... this is pulled from my myspace blog...

 

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

Adventures in Investigations
Current mood: amused

 

Who would have thought that my job could bring about so much "excitement".  My boss filed a police report, I talked to the cops, they made a case out of it.  I don't know what's happened with it since.  **shrug**

Anyway, this is the excitement I get at work these days teeheee

This is the message I get forwarded from Craig's List:
**********************************************
Massage therapy in my home
Reply to: sale-*********@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-01-02, 8:34PM

I do massage on the weekends, I'd like to trade body work for cash to buy my sister tires for her van. Do you have a Les Schwabb gift card or can you put two tires on a credit card? I can schedule you at your convinence, I use a massage table and I have hot packs!!! I'm not licensed but I did all the proper schooling. Look forward to hearing from you! 

********************************************************

I respond as usual, with the letter explaining Oregon law yadda yadda yadda. No threats, just informational and letting them know waht could happen for violating law.  This is the response I get to that:

**************************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: GI Joe [mailto:*********@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 1:31 PM
To: Diana
Subject: re: massage therapy in my home

Diana, I'm going to use your name and search for your info. I'll see you tonight sweatheart. If I were you I'd lock my door. I'm very disturbed, prior service and my heads not right. I'm gonna do some bad things to you.
********************************************************
And then this (Keep in mind I've not replied to this person at all)

********************************************************
I'm going to use craigs list and oth er applications to spread horrible rumors about you. Your family, your friends, what will they do when they find out. It's not going to be pretty. First I will use my right to free speech to slander the fuck out of you. If that doesn't make me feel better I will come down to Salem myself. YOu think you can harrass people, I bet you felt good when you sent me that message ha bitch. You filthy slut, i bet your parents were worthless fucks. I hope your daddy beat you when you were young. You made an aweful mistake, I'm also going to sign you up for as many porn sights as I possibly can. This is only the begining of my Jihad against you mother fucking bitch.
*******************************************************

At which point things like this start popping up:

*******************************************************
Posting #1

Diana ******* works for *****. Last week she was in Portland on "business" and just so happen to find herself in my house with my husband! She said they are old friends, I flipped out. It became even more heated to see that the two of them were using drugs together! I never thought I'd hate someone so much, what did I do for this bitch to try and ruin my life? My husband doesn't sleep with me and I guess now I know why. How could he cheat on me with such an ugly bitch. If anyone knows this lady in the Salem area, please email me with info on where I can find her house to egg it! Cheating bitch!!!!!!!!! Just like a massage therapist to be a pot smoker! I can't believe they were doing drugs, my husband doesn't even drink. I don't know where to go from here..
*********************************************************

then:

******************************************************

From: GI Joe [mailto:*********@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 2:25 PM
To: Diana
Subject: re: massage therapy in my home

You think you can trick me slut.  Email me and try to get answers.  I'll give you answers bitch.  Allah is great, you shall meet your American friends in hell. I haven't beheaded a bitch like you in months.  Do you live with any children?
********************************************************

and then a 2nd posting:

 

********************************************************---Original Message-----
From: GI Joe [mailto:**********@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 6:42 AM
To: Diana
Subject:


Hi, my name is Diana *****:) "Looking for NSA as I am married.  I'm not into anything to hardcore but I do like a good asswhipping occassionally.  I'm also a massage therapist and baby I can work it!  Guys or gals, email me."
********************************************************

and then this 3rd posting:

*******************************************************

Reply to: sale-257431763@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-01-04, 6:37AM

I have been receiving threats from the ********* lately for trying to barter massage to my fellow brothers and sisters and they just can't handle it. So I want them to know I could careless and if they continue to mess with me a holy Jihad will be sprung on their ass by myself and a few unlicensed friends of mine. I wish more people would offer massage therapy "illegally" What kind of world do we live in that you can put me in jail for rubbing someone's back to make them feel better? God bless America, land that I love!!! ************* **** better watch out, if they think they can raise hell by day and go home to a peaceful night, and then do it again the next day, I have a surprise waiting for you. I already copied all the names of the massage board members and I will start today to research the past of each individual and lordy lordy, I'm gonna have some fun!

********************************************************

And finally:

*******************************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: GI Joe [mailto:***********@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 8:44 AM
To: Diana
Subject: re: massage therapy in my home

I've got six messages from men who want to hook up with you!  How many porn sights emailed you today, ha bitch?

********************************************************

 

Now things seem to have calmed down.  Hopefully 

 

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

At one point in this whole mess, I'm being yelled at by Ken!  He says he never wanted me to take the job and this is why!  I'm stunned.  I didn't do anything wrong.  Why am I getting yelled at??  Husbands are goofy fucks when they're concerned!

January 4th has me calling the fridge people again.  Nope, no part yet.  They'll call me when it gets in.  Crystal thinks I should submit my food bill to them for reimbursement.  I think it's funny.  If only they would pay it.  At this point I am easily a few hundred dollars over what I would have normally spent on food.  I could have had some fun with the kids with that money!  Fucking fridge people!!!

January 5th.  I have to take Heidi and Brooke back.  I'm sad.  I'm wanting more cuddle time with the baby.  But what can you do?  This same morning Ken takes my car to work.  It also happens that Miss Shandi has to be to school before 7:15 for an Honor Society meeting.  I dropped the girls at the airport by 5:40... can I make it back home to get Shandi to school?  I'll see.  Ken's stressed about it and leaves the house late.  On his rushed way to work, he gets pulled over and is given a speeding ticket.  As you can imagine, he's pissed.  Thanks to the fridge, how the hell are we supposed to pay the ticket???  He's feeling pretty battered and broken by now and hates the new year. Between the fridge, the psycho, the ticket and the quickly dwindling money, I'm afraid he's about to have a stroke on me.

January 8th I call the fridge place AGAIN.  I'm pissed and explaining what my issue is.  This time they research to discover the part is on back order!  It will be at LEAST TWO MORE WEEKS!  What the fuck?!?!?!?! So now we're getting creative with the food situation.  My money is gone.  I didn't even get to have my hour and a half massage that was all I wanted to get out of that money for me.  =( In one respect I want to just bury my head and cry my eyes out.  In another, I know I should be happy because things have been covered and just because I didn't get what I wanted is no real reason to be upset.  I still have everything I need and the kids are taken care of.  But I have PMS and I'm mopey none the less.  But deep down I know it's all good. 

I did call my grandma and thank her profusely.  If it wasn't for her, I don't know what we would have done! I'm very lucky to have her.  Again, it makes me want to cry.  This time because I'm so very lucky.  I know there are others less fortunate than me who would have been beyond screwed if all of this fell on their heads. 

So that's it.  Our New Year thus far.  Meh.  I guess it could be worse, rght?

Oh, I almost forgot - Xander learned how to jump the baby gates!  Even the big one!  Little shit!  So now we're being forced to be creative with his "storage" while we're at work. He's so smart and so friggin cute!  A couple days ago he ate my glasses.  Good thing I'm due to get new ones anyway. :)

I love my puppy, I love my kids, I love my hubby, I love my job... I am actually filled with love, even in the face of crappiness falling on us here and there.

 

I hope your new year has been a bit more fun than mine but that it's filled with as  much love.  That part is absolutely FANTASTIC!

 

Blessings and all my love, 

Diana

 

 

 

View the archives. 

 

Special thanks to Mjolnir's Free Web Graphics