Recovering

Life is getting better. That nightmare of a day is fading into history. I will feel a whole lot better about it when that $200 in listing fees disappears from my eBay account. The help people assured me that I will not be billed for it. But you know... The hardest part of that day was having to deal with all of that while I had a fever. I sat here at the computer, wrapped up in a blanket, with chills, completely achy and crying. (Feel sorry for me yet?) It was terrible! But - - I survived. Really, it could have been *so* much worse. At least it was just my eBay identity that was stolen. So far, it hasn't affected me financially and I haven't seen any other negative repercussions of that day. It forced me to re-examine my whole password thing - - which in retrospect was nothing close to Fort Knox. But now, I have to keep track of all of those. I have to come up with a system for that. Oye. As far as that whole eBay day - - there's four hours of my life I'll *never* get back.

By the way, I am feeling much better. It's awfully early in the season to have bronchitis. I hope this doesn't mean I'll get it again. It has kicked Cameron and I around pretty good. His coughing has been quite a bit worse than mine. Justin has coughed a little, but I'm beginning to think that he is tough like his Daddy.

Now, let's transition to the dorks who are camped out waiting in line (at this moment) for a Play Station 3. (They don't go on sale until midnight tonight. I guess these people want to be at the front of the line.) If you are one of these people, I apologize for the name calling. But - - PLEASE!! I was zipping through the Target parking lot about 10:30 this morning when I saw the line outside of the store. I'm only sorry that they didn't know I was laughing at them. First of all, these were either high schoolers or young adults. So, they should have either been in school or been at work. Secondly, the game with the smaller hard disk is $499 at Wal-Mart. Where are these people getting this kind of money? At this age? At that age, I was struggling to pay my rent and put gas in my car. I sure didn't have money to blow on *upgrading* my video game system. I didn't even have a video game system. I really shouldn't judge because gaming isn't my vice. These same geeks would probably shout "geek" at me if they saw me carting my rolling bag in the scrapbook store in my jammies. Ouch.

Okay, the Colbert Report is on, so I better go. You should catch it sometime. He is hilarious. (He pokes fun at Liberals and Nancy Pelosi. I love that!)

Adios!!

Crappy, Crappy Day

My day went from bad to worse today. And I really mean that. Today, I was the victim of identity theft. It's a good thing I'm an e-mail junkie. I received an e-mail from an eBay member asking me about a listing I had on eBay. The thing is - - I don't have anything listed on eBay. I went to my account and sure enough, there were a crap load of purses listed for sale under my user name. Some poor sucker had already bought one and paid for it. My head started swirling. And not just from the cough syrup I had just taken. I had to try to get my thoughts together and think as straight as I could. I panicked. I called David. I didn't know what else to do. He said to get a hold of their help line and go from there. I spent the next four hours fixing the problem. Some a-hole listed 52 items under my name. While I was on hold with the help line, I manually deleted each listing. As I deleted them, they were adding new ones. I was so freakin' angry. Not only was I exhausted from being sick, but I was exhausted emotionally from panic. I could picture us having to cancel our credit cards and all kinds of stuff. It must have been a good deal on the purses, because three of them sold. I tried to send e-mails out as soon as they sold telling the poor victims not to pay that it was fraudulent. Little did I know that my opponent was sending e-mails, on my behalf, from my account, saying heaven knows what. It could have been so much worse. But I'm still so incredibly pissed off. I feel so freakin' violated. Why can't people just be honest? Where did all of the honest people go? I was beaming about my American pride the other day and someone shoved that "American Pie" back into my face. The thing is, this looks like the work of foreigners. It was in Australian dollars. I'm still proud to be an American. And I'm an honest American.

Now - - I'm going to tape CSI Miami, take my cough medicine, and I'm going to bed. Tomorrow is a brand new day. Hopefully when I wake up in the morning, my abs won't be very sore from coughing so much and my money will still be in my checking account.

When Will He Learn?

If he doesn't want his laundry folded inside out, when will he quit leaving it for me that way? Nine shirts inside out. Seven shirts folded that way. I started correcting them then quickly realized he hadn't changed his ways yet. I've asked him about this before. I thought I'd be nice since he's taken care of the boys all weekend while I've been sick. (And still am.) He said he doesn't care. Since he doesn't and it takes too much time to fix them, then I don't either. My time is more valuable than that. So, I folded the remaining seven inside out. When *will* he learn?

Where's the Love?

Today...

1. I slept on the couch (again) because my husband is still sick.
2. Justin decided that my day should start about 3:30 this morning.
3. I was over an hour late dropping the kids off for Mom's Day Out. (Even with the early start.)
4. I had to go to the gynecologist for my annual exam.
5. Justin got a "red light" at school today. (Again. By the way, that's not good. He had to go to the office. He's only three.)
6. I stepped in gum.
7. I'm achy and my throat hurts. Why did I get that flu shot?
8. My youngest son, Cameron, pee'd on my foot.

So, I ask you, where's the love today?

My Hidden Bliss

Okay, so it was not a good day for the Republicans. But it was not the end of the world. At the end of the day, the democratic process triumphed and that's what it's supposed to be about.

I'm not going to complain today. (I'll save that for another day.) Today I want to talk about how blessed I feel. As I stood in line waiting to vote, I had lots of time to think. I had put the whole thing off until the last minute. Apparently most of the people in my precinct did the same because I waited in line nearly an hour to vote. Again, another story for another day. My own fault. Anyway - - the line was outdoors part of the time and I was able to catch the West Texas sunset. My thoughts immediately went to my family overseas. Not just them, but what they are doing over there and the people that they work with. I began to feel guilty because I was "inconvenienced" for having to wait in line. Inconvenienced. Please. I was late to meet friends for coffee. Coffee. There are people on the other side of the world making a couple of dollars a day, hoping they can feed their families that day and living under dictatorships and I was inconvenienced by having to stand in line for an hour to exercise my right as an American. A free American. An American blessed by God.

I won't continue on because I think you get my drift. The election did not completely turn out the way I desired. But I thank God that I had the opportunity to cast my vote. Voting really made me feel like an American this time. And I'm proud to be an American.

Politics

Okay, I turn into a political crazy person this time of the year. I'm just ready for the nasty ads and the automated voice messages (regardless of the candidate) to stop. They drive me insane!

Thank goodness it's not a Presidential Election. I'm *not* ready for Hillary and the First Gentleman (I guess that's what they'll call him) to take over Washington. It should be abundantly clear to you that I bleed Republican blood. It's not up for debate. It's me. It's how I feel. You are entitled to your own opinion and you are more than welcome to share that opinion on your own blog. But this is mine, so if I may, I will continue. Thank you. Actually, I'm not going to *go off* on anything right now. Well, maybe a little on anyone who votes for Kinky. Are you *kidding* me? Hey, I majored in Psychology. I'm pretty sure what Dr. Freud might say about that cigar Mr. Friedman is always fondling. And putting Willie Nelson in charge of something? You've *got* to be kidding me. Kinky is completely wrong for the job. I do agree that "politicians" can get too "political" at times. But come on? I seriously don't think he'll win. But that doesn't stop me from wanting to crash my car into the hillbillies that have his bumperstickers on their bumpers. I wouldn't do that, you know. But I do think about it. Tee hee hee. I have considered a good thump on their foreheads complete with a "Are you serious?" No, both just scream lawsuit. *Sigh.*

Anyway, back to what's to come on Tuesday. Since I am what I'd label a "conservative" then it should serve as no surprise to you that I choose to watch election returns on Fox News. Ever since Dan Rather nearly broke down in tears on CBS when Al Gore was defeated by George W. Bush - - I have had to boycott the networks biased coverage of the returns. Well, basically their coverage of just about anything newsworthy. But we won't cover that whole issue today. And CNN - - please, the Clinton News Network? No thanks. So, FOX News it is. Here is a link to their site. I really like the way their site is presenting information so far. So, without further ado:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/youdecide2006/races.html?TX

The important thing is to vote. Do your homework and know about the offices for which you need to vote for and get out there and do your thing. It's your responsibility. Be a responsible American and do your part. If you don't, then don't expect me or anyone else listen to you gripe about the results. You earn the ability the day you make your voice heard by voting. VOTE!!!!!

**A note to my liberal friends out there: (I actually have a few!) We're still friends, right?

Product Review

Two thumbs up!! If I had more thumbs, I'd give them more. Wow! This product is nice. I made chili in the crockpot on Friday. I purchased these little gems a while back and kept forgetting that I had them. My mother in law suggested that I store them in the crockpot so that I'd remember I had them. (This was after I found them - - after I had scrubbed the pot - - after I had cooked queso in it.) They work beautifully. I didn't use them for cooking chicken in it last night. I didn't think I'd need to scrub the pot a lot for that. And I was right. But for the chili, it was a great call. I haven't tried the queso with them yet, but I'm betting it will also be a huge success. So, Reynolds company - - Kudos on an excellent product. My time is definitely worth the price I paid for your product. You guys rock!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Okay, my Mom has no idea I even have a blog. But I have to say Happy Birthday to her anyway. Today she turned 59. Wow. Next year will be the big one.

We celebrated by eating dinner at Fuente's. Yummy. Mexican food. Muy bueno! J was kind of a turd but I think he was just real hungry. C was actually on pretty decent behavior. It wasn't a horrific experience. (For those that don't know me real well, I *don't* eat out with my children. I don't like drawing attention to myself. J rolling around on the disgusting restaurant floor is one of those things that draws looks. I don't like that. I used to give those looks. Is karma spelled with a "k?")

Back to Mom. What a great Mom. She is the best. She loves me and she loves my kids. She's an awesome cook. She raised us to love God first, family second and others third. She can be goofy and silly. And she's the only one who is allowed to call me by my full legal name.

Did I mention she's the best?

I love you, Mom.

Does Everything Have to Match?

This is something I need to get over. Especially living in a house full of boys. Do sippy cup lid colors need to match the color of the cups? In the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter. So why does it bother me so much? Do pajama bottoms need to match the tops? If they fit, does it really matter? I should be grateful that I am getting the help around the house and I'm not raising these boys on my own. Why do these little things annoy me so much? I'm sorry, but Nemo pajama tops don't go with Buzz Lightyear pajama bottoms. It irks me. It's me. However, kudos to my sweet husband for the help. I can't complain for that. I just can't help but wonder if my stay in the loony bin will be long and if my therapist will understand that the lid didn't match the cup.

Where Have I Been?

I don't know. Experiencing life I guess. Trying to raise my kids. Trying to keep those Dum-Dum sticks out of my oldest son's ear. Yes, you read right. He stuck it in his ear. Then he fell on it. That poked a hole in his eardrum. A "significant" hole. What's next? Wait - - don't answer that. Time should heal his ear. We hope. He's certainly not a candidate for the post op part of surgery. He couldn't handle five minutes worth of an ear test. What makes anyone think they can put drops and shove cotton in his ear for weeks at a time? Not me. Right now I'm doing my best to keep water out of his ear to avoid infection. Ugh... Little boys. I'd like to avoid the ENT doctor in the future anyway. She doesn't exactly read "kid friendly" if you know what I mean. Did she really think that a nearly three year old that had ruptured his eardrum with a sucker stick was going to come into her office and sit quietly in her lobby and then even more quietly in the exam chair and wait patiently for an hour where there is absolutely nothing for a child to do and wait for a doctor to show up late for an appointment? That, my friend is a fantasy world. This isn't my pretty, princess all dressed up in lace daughter whose little ear might be infected from her new earring. (I don't have one of these precious little daughters but I'm assuming this is the type of patient she was looking for.) This is my rough and tumble, all go, no quit, smelly, loud, dressed in camo, almost three year old. Hear him roar. So -- get us in and out on time. Enough said??????

Busy, busy, busy

I'm busy getting ready for my retreat this weekend.

I'm sleepy. Goodnight.