It's all about the thank you note today

Alrighty, time to tell you more about myself. I wasn't going to do this...but considering my family doesn't seem to be checking my away messages, I'm going to do it...

I'm using a blog as a means of airing out my issues with my family...

Backstory...The BB (me if you haven't guessed who the BB is by now) hasn't been talking to her natural mother now for about 8 months. Reason why? Well we got into a HUGE fight before my baby shower and haven't talked since. That's a story for another time...but in a nutshell, natural mother was being a selfish jerk, and the BB finally had it and told her to go bleep herself and called her a bleeping bleep...(of course after I did this I had to pull over and get myself together cause I couldn't believe I disrespected my mom like that...but then again, she's been disrespecting me for years...and continues to do so).

So, no talkie to the natural mommy...She obviously also doesn't attend my baby shower. MONTHS go by, the boob is born. (there's so much to tell about this I could go on...but I'm keeping it short). So boob is born in October...three weeks go by, no call nothing from my mom (whom we called---another story for another day--such a tease). In November, the boob gets three boxes sent to the house. The three boxes are addressed to her with card and everything made out to her. Boxes contain, clothes, toys, shoes, ect.

I HAVE NO CLUE what to do when these boxes come. Do I send a thank you card? Do I not? Nothing was mentioned to me or the hubby (who supposedly natural mom LOVES). I'm upset too cause I see what this is...a way of getting me to communicate...a way of tricking me into just sweeping everything under the rug and forgetting. Not this time. After therapy and contemplation...I choose to not send a thank you card.

MONTHS go by. A few weeks ago, my aunt calls. We are talking about random stuff when she asks if I have talked to my mom recently. I said no. She swears she hasn't talked to her in months (more on that lie some other day--tease again). Then she randomly asks me. Did you ever get that stuff that your mother sent you? I just say "Yes I did, and I'm sure my mother is telling everyone how ungrateful I am...yada yada.." Aunt says she has no idea what my mother is saying.

Why bring up something so random? Obviously natural mom is going around telling everyone "I sent the baby gifts and she couldn't even send me a thank you card." Well I had a C-section and she couldn't even call to see if I was ok...so you know what...you don't get a thank you card...especially for gifts that were two months after the shower you refused to go to. Furthermore...everything was sent to my daughter...when she's old enough to send a thank you card...if she cares to...she'll do it then...until then...bite me...


-BB

**Note: after I first started this posting, I got ANOTHER box in the mail...wonder if my aunt was talking about that...

CMA

Ok,

I'm gonna post this in hopes of covering my ass in case any of my neighbors see find this blog. I have to say, not everyone in Bealeton is like I described in my posting (I hope many of you know when I post it's tongue in cheek stuff). Honestly, I'm lucky to be surrounded by some of the best neighbors ever. Ned, to our right, he is like the quintessential neighbor. Always has the tool you need and is always there if you need him. He helped us with Signal when I went into labor with the boob. Then behind us are D & T. They are very friendly and always have advice when I need it. And next to us are an older couple that just moved in. They are alot like Ned, however, I haven't seen them much (haven't seen anyone much) due to the cold cold cold.

I've also been meeting some new people in my neighborhood who are really nice and easy to get along with. And still, I will see someone on my walks around the neiborhood who are exactly what I'm talking about in the previous post. It's a new world here for my husband and I. Well for me, it's not very new...mostly for the hubby it is.

Energy Hikes 101

Ok...so in my area energy caps have been removed and by summertime, we could be faced with up to 75% hikes in energy bills. One word...OUCH...and another two...freakin unfair! According to maryland Governor, Bob Ehrlich, hikes may not get as that drastic. Honestly, I don't believe anything Bob Ehrlich says cause he thinks slot machines are the answer to Maryland's budget defict...um...whatever.

So here, the BB will share ideas that she has been working on to save energe (warning this isn't funny, it's serious...cause this is a serious problem if this does happen and we should all share ideas on how to keep money in our pockets...don't worry I'll get funny again...someday)

1. Replace all your lightbulbs with florecent (BB can't spell) bulbs. It can reduce your energy bill up to $150...right away.
2. Turn things off when you aren't using them (computer, radio, TV, DVD player, yada, it adds up).
3. As Roger on American Dad would say "DIMMER SWITCH". Add dimmer switches in rooms to help control how much light you use.
4. Have fish? Consider only turning their light on at night...that's what we do now. We use natural light for them.
5. Get used to the dark...haha...I had to add that one in.
6. Put lights on a timer so you know when you'll need them...does this makes sense? (helps kill the temptation to turn lights on early when you really don't need it).
7. Use candles (unless you have cats, then don't...90% chance they'll knock them down).
8. Get a thermostat you can program for times of day so the air isn't always on and you don't have to always manually turn it on and off...but if the bill is still bad...just turn it off and live like Madonna...no air conditioning...
9. Think battery operated...ooo...that gives me dirty thoughts.
10. Get an electric stove? Start grillilng...all year long...haha...I'm such a smart ass...

Wow, that's all I can come up with...any other ideas I'm up to...until then, anyone in my area...good luck this summer...

Filler-Rant

Ok...just a little filler until my next big post...in the form of venting rant. I hate, hate, hate...when people take credit for something they didn't do...like for example when someone says they have this great idea...and like they don't say "Well I saw this at..." Instead they act like they came up with the idea all on their own...when in truth they got the inspiration from someone else...I also hate when people can't put two and two together....they're annoying and obviously not masters of the obvious...

I started a trend...what can I say...

UMD HealthScare (written 2/5/04...finished 8/17/05)

I posted this on my original website last year to vent about a situation I experience two years ago already (wow time flies). I had tore a ligament in my ankle and the health center at the university was less than helpful (as you will read). I added this post to follow another one I'm posting about medical offices...I did *cough* have to edit this one*

Some people at the University of Maryland Health Center need to be slapped. You're 18-28 years old (sometimes older), miles away from home, or maybe you are a person with health insurance only accepted at your local University clinic, or you have no health insurance at all...whatever. Something leads you to the university health center. Your sick, in pain, in need of comforting advice. What do you really get? A barrel full of monkeys...

*Note: Not everyone at my health center stay sucked. The check in girl was totally understanding and helpful. Dr. Margaret did the best she could and the other doctor and nurse (nurse Haynes) that saw me were very very nice.

What were you doing at the Health Center BB? Well, I'll tell you. I was walking to class, just walking, trying to avoid slipping on ice. Well I failed, miserably at the task. I was just stepping over a mound of snow and then BAM! My leg slipped under me, my ankle twisted and went CRACK-POP (but not snap). I screamed out. Student came to my rescue (there are nice people in this world) and took me to the Health Center.

We get there and a concerned receptionist points us to the urgent care desk. We go there and a girl who is obviously new, but concerned tries to help us. Her supervisor, the mean, nasty, medical assistant (see where this is going?) says "Does she have an appointment?" I'm sorry...is this not URGENT CARE? Did you not hear my *&#$! story about falling on the ice just 20 minutes ago?? I didn't know I was supposed to call after I wiped out and almost went into shock (I did almost go into shock, I'm not making that up for drama purposes)? Is this how it was supposed to go:

Brr...Brr..."Hello, University Urgent Care."
"Yes, I have an urgent emergency...can I make an appointment for URGENT CARE?" I'm currently on my ass from falling on the ice and I'm about to pass out from pain. Think you can squeeze me in URGENT CARE?"

Back to reality...where priorities are number 1, it's 9:30 am. Apparently, front desk is a no show at 9:30, so I'm put in a chair...to wait. No ice, no offer to prop my leg up. I thank the girl that dropped me off at the center and she runs off to class (angel...so was the guy that sat with me when I nearly passed out). I get an appointment for TEN O'CLOCK. Meanwhile, keep in mind...the medical assistant is supposed to have a degree in medical assistance...so I think cause he calls himself a medical assistant. However, he just keeps me thrown in this chair, as I mentioned before, no ice, no elevation. My ankle suffered in my slip. I couldn't move it and it was swollen badly. My time working with my podiatrist uncle taught me, the first thing you should do is RICE. Raise, ice, elevate...something like that...correct me if I'm wrong...but I know ice and elevation were needed and I wasn't getting it! So, I flag down a nurse and ask her for a chair to prop up my leg and a bag of ice. She immediately goes off to tell someone I need this. TWENTY minutes later, she walks by and sees me without either. Upset, she finally went and got the items for me herself.

So obviously, since I'm at a clinic, I don't get in until like 20-30 minutes AFTER my scheduled time (never mind that time's a factor...). I go into the room and the doctor comes in with a nurse (maybe two). This is the best part...my friend D.Bena is giggling her ass off now... obviously, because we have no idea what is wrong with my ankle, an X-ray is in order. However, the Health Center was going through a renovation at this time. The doctor proceeds to tell me that they LOST their X-ray machine. They LOST THEIR X-RAY MACHINE!!??? Now again, I worked with my uncle and he has an X-ray machine in his office. They aren't small things...so tell me...HOW DO YOU LOSE A *$#!!@ X-RAY MACHINE??? So the doctor tells me all she is going to do is wrap an icepack around my ankle and I'll have to go to my uncle's or the ER for an X-ray.

"Wow...thanks...I couldn't have possibly been able to you know wrap the ankle myself...wow, I just wasted TWO HOuRS of my LIFE that I CAN'T EVER get back."

Needless to say I went home, ended up on a couch were I couldn't move from for two days...because the next day, it iced stormed and I couldn't go to my uncle's. Top it off with the fact that the hubby was away on business. Thank god for Kiki who took me out to myUncle's office that Saturday (two days later) and took me out to breakfast...plus waited hand and foot on me. She's awesome. Turned out I didn't break it (thank God), but I did tear a ligament really bad...which was probably worse. I was off the ankle for two months...did PT...el sucko...
But I still can't get over the fact that the University Health Center LOST their X-ray machine...hope they found it by now...

-The BB

A Little Town Called Bealeton

Considering the title of this blog, I figure I should probably talk more about the town I live in. Bealeton is located in Faquier County, Virginia (huh, huh, if I say Fauquier really fast, do you know what it sounds like? huh-huh). You seriously can drive by it and not even realize you did. Not that it's tiny small, but the town is kinda parallel and below the major highway, so you can't see it.

Actually when friends ask where we live, I tell them we live just past the middle of nowhere. They laugh and then ask for directions to come visit. When they finally do arrive, they say "Yeah you really are out here." That's a translation for "I'm not coming here much cause it's too damn far...do you know I passed tractors, shooting ranges, cow pastures, horse farms, corn fields, even an al paca farm just to get here??!!" To most people from DC or even in my part of New Jersey, it's another world.

Unfortunately, due to the explosion of urbanization in the state of VA (a post for another time), Bealeton is growing. However, it's still, for now, a small town.

Highlights for the area include the Food Lion grocery store, the high school, the middle school, the elementary school, and of course, the Bealeton Flying Circus (an old time air show that runs every weekend from spring to fall). Also included in the town are such fine dining places as McDonald's, Diary Queen, a really low level Chinese restaurant, subway, and Quiznos. Recently, we've been excited to welcome a fine dining Chinese restaurant (liquor included), a Five Guys Burgers, and a new Italian restaurant (God send us a REAL sub place and a REAL pizza place).

If you can't tell, I'm being sarcastic. No, no Bealeton really has these things and the citizens are really excited about them (by citizens I mean people that have been in Bealeton five years or more before I moved in). I guess I'm trying to insinuate or describe how Bealeton is very much the redneck part of VA. Not that I'm surrounded by rednecks. No, we definitely aren't but the town has that feel. When hubby and I first moved in, we were standing on our porch just looking around. Suddenly, music started blaring from a house caddy corner to us. It was of course "Redneck Girl" by Gretchen Wilson. I looked at my husband and smiled. "Welcome to the Neighborhood."

See the small town doesn't bother me. I'm from a small town in NJ. I'm used to driving more than 10 miles to the store and I'm used to silly parades and people that get excited over a new diner. I'm also used to seeing big hair and big butts. I'm just not used to not being able to get real pizza, good chinese, or even having to drive more than five mintues to get to a video store (thank god for Netflix). I'm also sick of them putting in another freaking burger joint or fake sub joint and the citizens getting excited over that. God they would go apeshit over a Jersey Mikes...or a Maria's pizza (from my hometown of Beachwood, NJ). My hubby, however, is a suburban maryland native. He's refine, cultured, and used to being surrounded by beautiful people. At our first shopping experience in Bealeton (at the Food Lion of course) my hubby walked closely next to me and kept saying "Rednecks, Rednecks, Rednecks!!" As if they had a communicable disease. Also he noted how 'large' some of the women were.

Obviously my hubby is getting used to the new demography. However, I will say it's not all his fault. The citizens (again, not all, just the well established ones) of Bealeton do bring it on themeselves. Case in point, during the first months that we moved into Bealeton, i stopped into the 7-11 to get a slurpee (cause slurpees rock). While I was waiting to pay, I watched a cashier stock these little rubber pigs. The cashier started fumbling with one. It turned out the pigs were lighters and the flame came out of the snout. The cashier thought this was the coolest thing EVER. She said to her coworker "Darlene would you look at this? The flame is coming out of his nose! I gotta get me some of these. Give some as gifts."

And right then and there I thought "I have arrived.."