Mother's Day 2012

Gosh I have a lot to catch up on!   Here it goes:

It's great living in the modern age of Facebook and texting.  The day before Mother's Day I posted on FB that I was planning on taking David to the beach.  It just so happened that another friend of mine, Misty, had the same idea with her 2 kids (her husband had to work), so we made plans to head out.  Her In-Laws have a house in Cannon Beach just 2 blocks from the beach, and we could park there and walk.  EXCELLENT!!  SURPRISE SURPRISE, the weather at the beach that day was in the 80's, and for anyone who lives in the PNW, the 80's at the beach is a rare treat. 
We started at Seaside for lunch and fun.  Then headed down to Cannon Beach for sandy beach fun!  

Off we go!!

He ordered Lobster Mac N Cheese, but ended up eating MY Steamer Clams! 

It was a long day at the beach, but one that made a perfect Mother's Day.  

I Can Live Without You

That was me.  Completely addicted to Diet Coke - NOT Diet Pepsi - DIET COKE.  I don't like coffee, so I drank 2 cans of Diet Coke to perk me up during the day, some days it was more, but I at least had 2 cans per day.  A coworker stopped drinking pop completely a few weeks ago, and she was a complete addict (4-6 Dr. Pepper's/day - not diet), so I was inspired to end my habit.  I put it in my head that when my case that I had at home was finished, I would not buy more.  Saturday I had my last 2 Diet Cokes.  I savored them.

I didn't grow up in a house that had pop readily available.  It was only purchased for special occasions and then it was bought in 2 Liter bottles.  I don't want David to grow up in a house where pop is available either, so that was a motivating factor.

I'm on day 3 and doing OK.  Yesterday I woke to feeling as if my legs were 100lbs each and my knees hurt...BAD.  Someone texted me and said that Aspartame withdraw symptoms can include everything I was feeling - joint aches, limbs feeling heavy, mind fuzzy.  These symptoms can last up to a month!!!  I'm experiencing Aspartame detox - WHO KNEW!!!??   Today isn't so bad (yet), I'm definitely missing the fizzy cold of a Diet Coke, but I'm stronger than my habit.  I have found some carbonated beverages that seem to help with that desire.

No, I have not given up caffeine - I'm not crazy!!  I found some black tea that has the same amount of caffeine as a can of DC, so my 2 cans have been replaced with 2 cups.  It's weird drinking a hot beverage though....not a huge fan, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.

I'm not giving up DC completely, I only want it to be a treat - a mixer with my rum, a special occasion...etc.   I don't think that I'm crabby, but if I am, I'll just blame it on the DC withdraw - even years from now!

Ghost returned?

I don't know if I'm a total believer in ghosts or not, but it's kind of fun to think that MAYBE I have one.  A few months ago, I blogged about my ghost and how a touch light would go on by itself.  Since warmer weather moved in, I unplugged that device to make room for a fan, so "my ghost" hasn't had the ability to turn on the burner.  

Maybe my ghost is amping up on its wanting to be known because I was sitting on the couch (alone - D is at his dad's this week) and my kitchen light turned on.  This is a large flourescent light on the ceiling and only 1 switch turns it on an off.  When I got up to look at the panel, the light switch was flipped to the ON position.  MAYBE the switch was only 1/2 way down and it finally flipped up, but when I recreated it, it was really difficult to get the switch into that position AND when it did and finally *popped* up to ON, it made a very audible CLICK sound.  I heard no sound, but I was 10+ feet away with the TV on.  None of my lights have ever just turned on before.  

Regardless of how it happened, it happened and it gave me goosebumps from head to toe.  I don't know what to believe because it's so strange.  

It could be:

a ghost

switch left 1/2 way

faulty ground wiring

I guess I don't really care why  it's happening.  It's kind of cool thinking that I may have a ghost.  As long as Casper remains friendly, we can be roommates.  

1000 tickets for the 7yo, please

This year David wanted to celebrate his birthday at Chuck E Cheese and after looking around at alternatives, it turns out the CEC is about the cheapest.  David made a list of kids he wanted to invite, and the invitations were sent.  Now, I remembered the 'golden rule' of invitations - about 20% of your invited guests will RSVP no.....unless you're talking about David's birthday party.  Only 1 kid didn't RSVP....OMG!  When we sat everyone down, there were 12 kids!!  Again, I'm unsure how the count got so far off.  I thought we invited only 10.

About a week before D's party, we talked about what cake he wanted me to make, Bugs Bunny it is....until I couldn't find a Bugs Bunny pan, so it was changed to Spiderman.  I made David's cake, only after a few manic moments that I wouldn't be able to finish it.  I was texted off the ledge a few times - thank you!!

This was the first year that I had David's party outside the house.  Living in a small apartment and kiddo's getting bigger, it just didn't seem like I'd be able to pull it off comfortably.  Let me just say:  I LOVED IT!!  No set up, no mess, no clean up, no worries!!  Plus, it's Chuck E Cheese, each kiddo got tokens and off they went to play!

David got to go into the ticket booth to catch tickets.  We had an awesome host because David didn't technically catch the ticket worth 1000, but when the booth was opened, that ticket landed on David's shoe and our host let David have it!  He was 1 very excited kiddo!  2.5 hours later and 1300+ tickets to spend, David walked away a very very happy boy!

Too much and very late

BAH!!  I've been such a slacker with blogging!  With my computer crashing and photo's gone (2011 at least - yep, I did request them but no reply was ever given) it's been hard to get back into the swing of things.  I have everything from David's Birthday to present time to post!  ACK!  Ok, I will get on that asap.

In the mean time, my life is trucking along.  Some exciting things and same ol' same things happening.

Stay tuned my devoted followers (yea, right), I will be a blogging fool soon.

Trip 2012 including the Road

Only 1 will really know the meaning behind this blog, and it makes me smile. Sorry to those in the dark, that's where you shall remain for now. 

For when you clean
Really? It's the Foo Fighters....all good
Sing it LOUD!! and make me laugh
Run
Tangled

Sunshine, wine and a lot of fun!  Let's do it again.

Dreaded 3's

Years ago I know I blogged, cried, moaned and whined about how year 3 is the new 2 -  for kids.  Today I'm here to discuss why bad things seem to happen in sets of 3.  WHY??!! 

Here are the 3 things that have happened to me in the last 2 weeks, in order: 

1.  Amos - I recently noticed how skinny he was.  He hasn't ever been a plump kitty, but lately he's boney.  EW!  I called the vet and had him brought in for a check up.  He's down to 8lbs!!  From 11!!  That's pretty significant.  They drew some blood and the results came back unfavorably.  Amos has kidney disease or failure (a urinalysis will determine), heart disease and pancreatitis.  It's not looking good.  I had him in for his urinalysis and was found to have a UTI.  A weeks worth of meds and I'll bring him back in later this week for another urinalysis. 

Amos is NOT supposed to be this sick!  I've had it in my mind that Oreo will go first, then in a few years Amos.  UGH! 

2.  Just before spring break, David had a school recital and it was then I was informed that M was laid off from his job.  GREAT!!  Luckily he kind of saw it coming, so he had some leads for other jobs and found one fairly quickly.  However, it doesn't come without it's problems as well.  Without going into great detail, he and I will be discussing finances soon, perhaps through an authority figure. 

3.  David and I were at a Birthday party on Saturday when my phone rang.  It was my sister calling to tell me that Mom had fallen and broken her hip.  She was just out of surgery.   Ummmm, what?  Just out of surgery?  Why am I hearing about this "just out of surgery" and not before?  I don't think Karen found out until around that time either and, really, I'm out here in WA....not like I can "be there in a minute".  Anyways, I didn't get any further details until almost Monday evening when I finally spoke to my mom!!!  Sunday she was too drugged up to talk.  2 days after surgery and she's been moved to a rehab facility.

Needless to say, all of that stress finally got to me.  I was going batshit crazy in my house, so on Sunday I decided I needed to get out.  I didn't have David - and it was his official Birthday, that sucked....  I got my ass into gear and headed off to hike.  I decided to conquer Beacon Rock and I did.  Made it to the top in about 35 min...  850 vertical feet in 3/4 of a mile.  I guess all my working out has really WORKED!  I even stopped and admired the view many times.  It wasn't crowded at all, and I even got adventurous at the end and went a little ways down the West trail....a harder trail.  But I was alone and didn't want to find myself in a situation I couldn't get out of, so I turned back. 

Mid level

Summit.  It was HELLA windy up there!!  I didn't think that I was going to make the hike because of the wind.                           (random people at the top took the pic...nice hair)

On the way down.