25 Random Things

On Facebook there has been this "25 Random Things" posting. While I could totally post it on my Facebook, I see this as an opportunity to blog, so here it goes. ..

1. I am severely arachnaphobic. No lie, it's bad. It was something that brought much joy to the boys in high school. However, it brought no joy to me. I fear the black widow and the tarntualla the most, but the tiniest of spiders make me freak out. And before you ask me...no, I have not seen the movie Arachnaphobia and I never will...

2. Living in Bealeton has not helped my arachnaphobia because a) black widows have been spotted (not by me thankfully) in my area and b) fuzzy barn spiders inhabit my basement. I thank God for my cat, Sable who keeps them away.

3. Years ago, my friend J unknowingly taught me a way to deal with my arachnaphobia. I name spiders that insist on inhabiting my domain (they are told they are NOT allowed in my sleeping area...but a later post will show they don't always abide by this ruld). Names I have given spiders have been: Nid, Arach, Joe, Mo (for big ass mo fo'), Monette (female version of Mo) and Fred.

4. At the age of 4 I was diagnosed with juvenile rhuematoid arthritis in my right knee. It has since spread to both knees and hands. I have been in remission from JRA since July 2000. I only experienced flare ups at the ages of 4, 11, & 22.

5. I have ganglian cysts on both of my hands. No clue how I got them. My left is the worst. I have to wear a hand brace at night to keep my hand from falling asleep.

6. When I was 14, my natural mom and I lived with my aunt, her boyfriend, and her four sons (my cousins). My natural mom and I shared a room in their house for nearly a year. What a trip that was...

7. Between the ages of 13/14 I moved three times. But third time was a charm. My parents still live at that house.

8. I have one brother who is nearly 15 years younger than me, but I love him like crazy. I like to think we are close. He's one of few people I can just sit and not have to say a word to...and just be...

9. I think I'm too strict of a mother and need to chill out...but not always easy when your daughter is a drama queen...

10. On the otherside...I'm a sucker for my kids...Sometimes...sometimes...especially when shopping, I find it hard to say 'no'...but it's not for toys...I happen to have kids that ask for sensible things...like pajamas...and certain foods...I mean how can I say no to princess pajamas...???and English muffin??? If the hubby's reading this he'd say "Easy, say 'no'".

11. I cannot stand the sound of someone who smacks their lips while they eat.

12. Wet socks are my main pet peeve.

13. I'm a workaholic and am trying to work on this issue....wait...that didn't sound right...no really, I want more time with my kids...I want to be able to take them places and not worry about the phone calls/emails coming in...

14. I have two batchelor's degrees. One in History of women & gender, and one in social studies education. At graduation, I was the only one out of 35 social studies teachers that got my history degree in women & gender. I'd like to think of myself as a trailblazer because of that fact.

15. I have bruxism and have to wear a mouth guard to bed (isn't my husband so lucky...he's got a sexy wife who has to wear braces and mouthguards to bed) woo hoo...

16. I have a degree in Reiki I & Reflexology I...some PLEASE ask me to practice on them...I need to practice...but warning, I suck at the reflexology...hence the need to practice...

17. I've taken animal communication classes, but please don't ask me to read your pet's mind when you see me...it doesn't work like that...

18. While my dad came up with the little man's real name, the hubby thought it was awesome when we found a way to tie it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

19. I have a bad habit of reading books I've read over again. I say this is a bad habit because I have a whole bookshelf (maybe two) of books I need to read (that my mother in law gave me). One book in particular, The Other Boleyn Girl, I had to give away because the hubby was sick of seeing me read it last year...

20. We have a family bed in our house. This means our kids (including our furry one--just the dog & cat) sleep in our bed. The boob actually now sleeps in her own bed mostly. The little man joins us around 4/5am, However, I have to say, I love having my kids close to me.

21. I handwrite almost every entry of this blog before I type it and post it. If I write it cold, I'll make it known. This could be part of the reason why I don't blog enough. I prefer to handwrite everything. Gives me a hard copy.

22. I clean when I'm upset.

23. I tend to fret over social situations...if you think haven't fretted over you, you're wrong.

24. When I first met my hubby, I gave him my business card and he won't let me forget that...

25. One person I miss most in this world I my pop-pop...I found out he died on a Monday and every monday for the rest of that year it rained...not kidding...I don't think of him as often as I did, but on certain days, it still hits me...he was just the ultimate grandfather. The ultimate person.

Never A Dull Moment in Bealeton - Part I

A while ago, when I was still pregnant, I was on the phone talking with Schmack. Just as I was hanging up the phone, I heard this sound:

Clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop.

Quickly, I looked out the front window to see two horses clopping their way down the street (riders with them, of course).

NO LIE! Seriously. Two people were riding horses down my street. Yes, my street is paved, Yes, I live in a developed part of Bealeton. Granted, my area used to be Meadfield Farm, but still...

Two horses went down my street like it's something they do every day.

I had to take a picture. However, I couldn't find a camera. When I did, the horses wer out of sight. No biggie, I thought to myself. They couldn't have gone far. I called for the boob to come see the horsies with me and she said "I'm watching a movie now".

Kids.

Unfortunately, the horses were gone by the time I got outside. I stood there in disbelief. A woman was walking down the street with her baby.

"Did you see the horses?" I asked her.

"No, where were they?"

I told her and she turned right around to go find them. Shortly after, the hubby came home. I asked him if he saw the horses on his drive home. He said no.

I was NOT hallucinating these horses...

Well, Hello There

Ok, it's been a while...and I'm doing this cold (not writing it out beforehand). I've been away for a while...I have a list of reasons and here they are:

I had a baby in June...which means I now have two kids...so that means raising children is twice the fun for me...

I went back to work when my son was only three weeks old. So that means raising children is twice the fun, plus add in the extra smiles I get from dealing with work.

Work started out as something that wasn't too bad...something I could do here and there at night when 'the boob' and 'the little man' (name for my new son) are asleep or preoccupied. However over the months it started snowballing. I never expected to be making many calls during the day. In my job, I usually deal with people over email, or an occasional, rare call. But suddenly, in October, I found myself on the phone for what turned out to be a full day...during the day...with my kids at home with me...so...figure this:

Kids at home (well the boob is in preschool now, but that only takes up a few hours and the little man needs about an hours worth of my attention), house needs cleaning, food needs cooking (because I do not believe in fast food all the time), and other stuff needs tending....hmm....what other stuff...oh I need to feed my animals...if I don't they would revolt...so yeah...my life is chaotic, and I have no time...

And trust me...I have so much material...so much...unfortunately, the hubby says be careful about putting stuff to writing about work...boo hiss...killjoy...but he does have a point.

But no worries, I have been writing blogs that I am going to post....NOW....