I'm cheating

But I can't think of anything good to talk about. From an email message exchange with my sister, J, this morning...

J:
N's been so cute lately - we've been REALLY working on the potty training trying to get him to think about his answer when we ask him if he needs to go, etc. and all weekend long he was asking for scissors... I want scissors, I want scissors (no idea where it came from) anyway we told him if he would do good the rest of Saturday we'd go to the store Sunday and get him some safety scissors... (he'd already wet his underwear 4 times and dirtied 2 times that day!!!!) He did good the rest of the day though (and he went all day Sunday with no accidents either) so he got his scissors.

He sat for hours just cutting construction paper in to little pieces... he had a blast. He was constantly asking me and K to come cut paper with him... so we all cut paper...


Yesterday he was good at school and then wet himself not long after we got home but he did good from then until bed time... so we counted it as a good day...

And my answer:
That’s awesome – The first one is ALWAYS the hardest. And bribery is a good method – Forget what “they” say – lol! Scissors – that is too funny – must have picked that up at school. The boys are forever cutting paper scraps (and sometimes other things – I once had to replace TWO sets of bed sheets for that reason)

If I had a week vacation, I would come to your house, and spend all week with him – just in underwear (him, not me – I would be fully clothed). We’d have him potty trained in no time. It’s a pain in the butt, but it worked well for 'Mater. Unfortunately, we are working people here, so he’ll just have to learn the hard way.

Give him my love and hugs – What a big boy he’s becoming.

And part of HER further response:
Glad to know that your method doesn't include you being in nothing but your underwear... that might 'scare the pee' out of the child...

She's off my Christmas list.

Life's little disappointments

Friday. Today was supposed to be a "snow day", which in Texas, means that the temp gets down to 32 degrees, the ground gets a little wet and the wet turns to ice. At which point, all the schools close, and no one goes to work for fear of their lives. It's great fun. I am a Texan by birth, so this makes perfect sense to me. Budman, who came to me by way of Colorado, thinks we're all a bunch of wimps, and wears shorts and sandals on Christmas.

Anyway, supposed to be a snow day. Instead, the temperature got down to 36, and it rained. A lot. No ice. Unfortunately, this does not qualify as a "Snow day". I had to go to work anyway. No three day weekend for me.

I can't believe the nerve of some people!

This morning, I read a post over at A Cowboy's Wife. She wrote about Karen who is a deaf woman, and whose blog I've never read before today. Karen had a "little" problem at the Drive-thru window at Steak & Shake. Apparently, they refused to take her order at the window, instisting instead that she use the speaker, even though she explained that, being deaf, she was unable to use the speaker. You can read the full story here, but prepare to be outraged.

I am continually dismayed at the lack of customer service I see these days. Whatever happened to "The customer is always right?" I have had many jobs, and I have always put the customer first. Why is that no longer a common concept?

I'm all in a tizzy now.

I hardly ever visit Steak & Shake, the main reasons being:
1.) The restaurants here in TX don't have drive-thru's
2.) Budman had one less than stellar dining experience, and can that man hold a grudge! :-) He won't give them ANY more business.

However, had I been so inclined as to darken their door, rest assured, that urge has now passed. They owe Karen a HUGE apology.

Mel

This is too weird

Budman has a thing for Fire Engines (not in a little boy sort of way - he actually wants to buy a fire engine), so he sent me a link to this, which combines his love of Fire Engines, and his other favorite thing (besides me, of course): Beer. (Budman - get it??) Anyway...

I just had to post the link, because I'm practically speechless (you have NO idea how infrequently THAT happens) at the sight of these cars. I can't imagine how a someone could come up with this stuff!

I especially like the Nut Shaker (Get your mind out of the gutter!)

Have a great day
Melody

Worthless Wednesday

Well, last night I finally felt a little better after the fender-bender - especially after a few martinis ;-)

I'm still really bummed about it, and I can't focus on much of anything else. So, today is kinda worthless - can't get anything done.

I will have to just snap out of it.

Is It Monday?

To borrow a term from one of commenters a few days ago, I am having a CRAPTACULAR morning!

Already running late for work, since Budman and I carpool, and it's my morning to drop him off and take the car to work with me, I planned on being that much later.

THEN, I had a little fender bender. Nobody is hurt, the damage to our truck and to the other car appears minimal, but it still really torks me off.

Here's hoping my day starts getting better (seems like it's gotta go up, right?)

Awesome Contest Notice!!

A Cowboy’s Wife is having a contest on her food blog! You can win a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer and she’ll ship anywhere so everyone is eligible!

I do so love Thursdays

It's not because I got paid today (which helps), but because Thursday is the day where I can wake up in the morning, and say "YAY, I get to wear jeans tomorrow!"

I think that may be the most pathetic reason ever to love Thursday.


Of course...
I also love it because it's the night that Possum has his DeMolay meeting, which means that instead of driving all the way home and then coming all the way back to get him, the Grandparents watch Monkey and Mater for us and Budman and I go out to dinner before heading to pick up Possum from his meeting.


But mostly it's the jeans...

YAY! The weekend is over!

Now I can get some rest...

This weekend was difficult, to say the least. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all spent getting the remainder of our crap out of the old house, and getting it cleaned up for the uncle and co. to arrive. Gosh, I hurt in places I didn't know I HAD places...

Sunday afternoon, at 1:30 on the nose, Uncle K, Aunt K and Cousin K arrived. At that point I started chanting "crap crap crap crap crap" They stayed out front and visited with my dad (and later step-mom who came running over as soon as she got the call from dad that they had arrived) while Budman, Possum and I finished getting the rest of the boxes out of their way and over to the storage unit.

UGH

We still have a few things in the garage, but I feel pretty confident that we will be able to take care of that in the evenings before we head home.

Doesn't matter - I'm just so glad they're finally back home where they belong.

Have a great week.
Mel

Reunion

My uncle, aunt and cousin are moving back to Texas this weekend after an 18 year absence. I'm so very excited. We've seen them over the years for visits, but it's not the same as having them home where they belong. My uncle, who was only 16 when I was born is one of my favorite people on Earth. He and Budman get along famously, which is important to me. Of course, Budman gets along well with most of my family, better than anyone else I ever brought home to meet them.

Anyway, back to my uncle and co. We spent last weekend getting their house ready (Did I mention that the house they are moving into has been in my family since I was a baby?) and will be at it again this weekend. I'm not looking forward to cleaning a house that's been empty for almost 9 months (YUCK!) but I'm too happy to have my family here to care too much. ;-)

Not that I've been a super regular poster up to this point, but this weekend will just be out of the question. And if I don't find some time this weekend to do a little schoolwork, then I might just have to remove that part about being a student from my profile...

Lord, help me find the time.

Have a great weekend.

Happy Birthday Budman

Yesterday was Budman's birthday. The boys all gathered at the bottom of the stairs first thing in the morning, waiting for Dad to come down so that they could tell him Happy Birthday.

In the car on the way to work, I couldn't wait and gave him his new Budweiser ball cap. (Not his real present, but since I ordered it online, and it wasn't here yet, I figured I better not come empty-handed.) For lunch, my king requested Chipotle and, since I had the car, I ran and picked it up and brought it to him at work. Is there nothing I won't do for that man? :-)

We stopped off after work, so he could have a birthday beer (and a martini for me!) and then home. For dinner, he had requested his Favorite Hot wings. When we walked into the house, all the rooms were dark. Suddenly, the boys and Grandparents were jumping out from everywhere to surprise him! Monkey and Possum had everything worked out. Possum was upstairs looking out the window with one walkie-talkie, and Monkey was downstairs ready to have everyone hide at Possum's signal. They were even using Morse code! (I have the weirdest kids...)

Anyway, dinner, angel food cake and more presents, and then Budman uttered the words that I SO love to hear him say: "This was the best birthday I've ever had". It is my lifelong goal to hear him say those words every single year on his birthday.

It was a great day.



Here are a few Interesting posts/sites that I wanted to make note of:

Blood Drive Contest
Manic Mom has a terrific post about giving blood, and a contest to go along with it. I encourage you to give her a read, and donate blood often.

And I just found this site this morning, but it's officially become my new favorite. I've just spent about 45 minutes looking through the photos (and laughing as quietly as possible) instead of working. OOPS!

Melody at Pennies in My Pocket is having a couple of giveaway contests right now - You don't want to miss them!

HNY

Well, here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year. I KNOW that 2008 is going to be our best year so far, or as I like to remind Budman, Every minute with him is better than the last.

I have many post ideas, and limited time, but I will be pushing forward in days to come.

Best wishes to all.


I'll start off sharing Monkey's Christmas prayer with you. He insisted on saying grace before lunch at my mother's house. Papa B, of course, agreed - saying that he would say a prayer after Monkey finished his.

We all bowed our heads and closed our eyes, and Monkey began to say Grace:

"God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy, God bless Tony Stewart and God bless the Cowboys."

AMEN.