My stomach is in knots. This weekend Kerry, the Ex, told me that his hours were going to change yet again and he was pretty bummed out because he wouldn’t get to see the kids like he is used to seeing. He has started worrying about how the kids are growing up and they kids weren’t going to be as interested in spending time with him or being with like when they were younger. Basically how their relationship is going to change. He came up with the idea of registering them for school.
Chirp
Chirp
Chirp

I said yes but the more I thought about it, it worried me so I kept telling him that there is a lot of info that gets processed at registration…could he handle it? He’s like ‘no problem…we’re good’. Today and tomorrow is registration. Last year, near the end of the school year, Okoye and I had to sit down and plan an ‘idea’ of what he would be taking in the next four years. He’s already decided he’s college bound so most of the classes we planned were connected to college courses. During the summer, we got a list of the classes we had planned saying that as long as there was availability, he would get those course so I called Kerry first thing this morning and reminded him of the list on the ‘fridge. He kept repeating ‘I got this!! Don’t worry.’…I cant help but worry. This is my son. I am a control freak. And Kerry’s never done this before.

I’ve always done the registration for school with the kids. I’ve also registered Angela, a niece I had custody of, for 2 years of high school and college….I’ve registered my other niece, Shanell, for business school, I’m currently registering my other niece, NeeNee for the National Guard and I’ve registered one of my nephews for his sophomore year in high school. Pretty impressive resume in the whole registration process, wuddnt you say? I’m certified. And here comes this novice thinking it’s a piece of cake.

Kerry’s already called and asked who Okoye’s doctor is. ‘Dr. So and So’ after repeating it several times he asked me to spell it. Which I did. Then he asked what her last name was. When I told him he didn’t need it I also offered her telephone number. Like I was the idiot he responded ‘its not asking for the number.’.. I asked if he was sure ‘its not ASKING for the number’ . Okay okay. 2 minutes later, I get a call back…

‘What is the number??’

Okoye texted me, ‘Dad dont know wha he doin’…to which I replied…’yes he does’…he replied ‘no he dont’ to which I replied ‘he’s fine’. 2 minutes later I get a text ‘he is now’.

The way I see it…if my son has been signed up to go to school in Brazil, I can take care of it tomorrow.

Prayers Prayers Prayers and lots of hugs go out to her...

My supervisor has made me feel like an asshole. Okay maybe not asshole but a heel. He came up to me and asked if I stole towels from hotels. WHY I got on the defensive, I dunno but defensive I got…

The past two years, we have spent an abundant amount of time travelling and an absurd amount of money in hotels. I’ve never been tempted to steal like a TV, a pillow, or a blanket. Just the towels from the freakin’ swimming pool. Oh! And the pens and paper they just leave hanging out on the tables. I have quite the collection of pens and pads. Annnnnnnnnnnd the towels.

Now I’ve decided to never steal a damn towel AGAIN in my life. He just looked totally unhinged because I did such a heinous crime. Can I get fired for stealing a towel from a hotel?
*****

I so hate being broke but really, who LOVES it?

*****

My mom called me at work and left a message. In this totally cute sing songy voice she says 'call me back, lovin' ya. Mommie'....there is so much laughter in her voice I immediately call her back...

'mom, whats up.'

'nothing, you dad is in the back yard clearing some branches and stuff...'

'MOM...its 91 degrees in the shade.....'

My mom laughs and says 'I know sweetie but you know your daddy'

ummm yeah I know my dad...the man had a quadruple bypass two years ago...yeah...him.

'okay ummm Mom, I dont think its cool that he is outside in this heat..working..when he passes out...dont call me.'

Meanwhile my mom is still chuckling

'what is SO funny'

'well, you wouldnt lemme finish! Your dad's out back clearing brush and for a minute I lost him so I yelled out the back window for him ...he didnt say anything so I went looking for him. I got to the edge and he says 'honey! honey! i'm up here'...".

When I didnt say anything she laughed 'your daddy had climbed up into the tree and was cutting branches so I went and got the camera and took a picture in case anything happened!!!'

'Alright Mom, I'll talk to you later.'..... My parents are sick.

This is my niece, Dominique. Or NeeNee as most of us in the family call her. NeeNee was all but 6 or 7 in her sassiness in this picture here...and she hasnt stopped being that way since. She's a go-getta if I've ever seen one....Pregnant at an early age, she knew that being a mother would not take away from her life but only add to it. And that has been the way it has been. She's worked really hard for everything she has and has planned to do and 90 % of the time...she's done it on her own. She's enrolled in college but because there were times that she didnt have anyone to watch her daughter, she's taken off school for complete semesters or only taken a class here or there until she could do it 'full time'. So, the entire time, she's worked possibly two jobs at a time, raised a daughter on her own AND went to school.

NeeNee came to me about a year ago and said she wanted to join the National Guard. I told her to think about it because yes, its the National Guard but if they need you...they will call you up. She never mentioned it again until a couple months ago. She was ready and who better for her to talk to but L. I called him and told him the deal. I told him that yes, she is grown but hey...she's still MY niece. I knew he wouldnt lie to her, feed her full of bullisht, and be completely honest with her. And he did just that.

Not only was she mad because he treated her like JosieBlow off the street, she was a little pertrubed that he didnt put her to the front of his line. Hmmm gotta admit, that threw me for a loop myself....but I digress

Things are going at a quicker pace and now a lot of our family memembers are questioning ME about what the hell is she doing. Its not that she's joing the military...my family is full of it so that isn't a problem. Its just that not a lot of us have joined AFTER we've had children. Which brings up a whole can of worms for everyone to deal with.

I'm scared. I worry about any and all of my family that is serving oversea's or even here. I worry that I've romantizied the whole military thing to her too much. This aint An Officer and a Gentleman. Anyone who knows me, knows I love the military and nooooooooooo its not just because of the men in uniform...(hell, I love a man in fatigues) its also because the honor that goes with the military. The belief IN that honor. Its something to behold when it's truly there....If this is the path she really wishes to take....I wish her only the best and that God be with her in EVERY step she takes.

I can not get enough sleep this week! I came home last night and my ex was over visiting with the boys, spoke to everyone, layed on the couch and the next thing I know, the ex was saying he was leaving. It was 2 hours later! When I’m tired, I know when I get home from work not to even sit down … I usually have this or that to do and sitting down means there is a definite possibility, it won’t get done. Hmmm maybe this was in my evil plan…

Needless to say, we had hamburger helper for dinner last night. My boys are pretty good eaters. So hamburger helper…is just an appetizer for them. Within a couple hours I heard the microwave going and the oven door slamming as they prepared pizza’s, frozen dinners and popcorn to tide them over to the next feeding….which reminds me…

Gas money is cutting into my damn grocery bill!!!! This pisses me off greatly. ( you’re probably wondering WHAT doesn’t piss you off????) I am a coupon cutting, penny pinching, list making diva and food is one thing that, you know, we have to have. I don’t buy exotic things. I don’t get steaks, lean cuts, or expensive drinks and such. I am your basic food group eater. When I have to take out a loan to buy a gallon of milk, something is wrong.

I have nothing planned this weekend and that suits me just fine. The ex is off this weekend so more than likely the kids will be him. we’ve been divorced for 4, 5, ummm maybe 6 years and we have never did our schedule mandated by the court. He works as a supervisor over security in a mental hospital and his shift changes with the wind most times so whenever he wants to see the kids (which is usually every day), he does. No arguments from me. I really have a problem with a piece of paper telling when the father of my children can see his kids. When we came up with the parenting schedule, I voiced my thoughts on it and had to put something down but told my ex in front of the attorneys to come get his kids whenever the hell he wanted to see them. Needless to say neither of our attorney’s were too happy with their clients by the time our divorce was final.

How I got into that topic…I have no clue.

I have two completely different son’s and one of them is driving me crazy with the wants and wishes of his hearts content. Its like I want to scream at him DUDE!!!! If it weren’t for child labor laws, I’d of have your booty working for all the stuff you’ve wanted when you was 8. Both of them are the most under-privileged privilieged kids I know. Both of them want the moon but get mad when they only get the stars…or is it get mad when they want the stars but only get the moon? In any case, its never enough. My oldest child has this affliction worse than my youngest does and I'm in search of some really good medicine to cure him....

Have a wonderful weekend!

'I get so emotional baby'

How could something so sweet, fun, full of laughter, childhood fun, easy going-ness and beauty....cause me so much heartache and totally nervous.....

On the way back from California (Missouri) Sunday night my sister asked if I would grill for her son’s bday on the 22nd. At the time, I was all for it but yesterday when she called to remind me…I was all ‘uhnnnnnnn…yeah…SUREEEEEE. I’ll be happy to do it’....

Last night we had his bday over at my house which normally….I love to have everyone over. I love the warmth that family and friends bring to my house. I love to walk through the house, when everyone’s there, and seeing an argument between my nieces happening over here, laughter from the kids playing some game on their TV in their room and then a great political debate over why Hillary should STILL be in the running, at my dinning room table….a full home is like a warm blanket at times…sometimes…every once in awhile…ummm well not last night…

I’m sorry ya’ll but I’m still tired. I don’t know how people travel all the time and keep up with the day to day events of your life! More Six Flags pix...

Hurricane Harbor...packed in like sardines...

The Crew...Yeah...we look a hot mess.....

At the hotel, the boys got a kick out of the inside/outside pool that you went under the wall to go back and fourth.

Outside

Inside....

'He aint heavy...he's my brother'