Today will be a combo post as there are several things to discuss. First off… the car wash was a success albeit a TON of work. 4 solid hours of washing cars with nary a break in between. 9 student ambassadors and their assorted families and friends showed up ready to work, and work we did. Each Student Ambassador took home $90.00 towards their trip. Since we were charging $5.00/car — and there were 9 kids.. = a whole lot of washing going on. I spent the day drying (one of the worst jobs and surprisingly, it almost all parents working that aspect). It was hot, tiring and I’m glad its over! We ordered pizza on the way home, picked it up and came home where we collapsed for the next 4 hours or so. Whew!! Next fund raiser… less work, more money… I’m thinking bake sale. Ok next topic…

One of my “friends” here that I scrapbook with will be moving in June. We have been fairly close (so I thought) but I just found out that our other friend is having a barbecue for her as a going away and guess what??? My invitation seems to have gotten lost in the mail. Ouch… that kind of stings. Not that I really thought these ladies were friends, like real friends that you keep even after moving, but I thought that we were playing that way. Oh well…. such is the life of a military wife, especially when different ranks get involved…. Ci La Vie.

Mother’s Day was just perfect! My kids and husband out did themselves and I am so grateful to have such a wonderful family. The day started with hubby getting up early and cleaning the kitchen (hooray… already I’m happy, remember the day before was the car wash, we were exhausted and therefore left the kitchen a mess). My youngest dd gave me some beautiful pink roses and mixed flowers, along with a book she made (we don’t actually have that in hand yet, her teacher still has it). My oldest dd bought me a book I’ve been wanting, which she was thoughtful enough to wrap ohhh about 14 times. LOL. Hubby went above and beyond and got me an ipod Nano. Then we went for a REALLY nice buffet at the Hailie Mailie General Store (don’t let the name fool you, it’s a really nice place!) We followed that up with church. Oh yeah, hubby also gave me a gorgeous orchid lei. Was that nice or what? A great Mother’s Day, with a great family.

Ok, last but not least SURVIVOR!! We had to download Thursday’s episode and watch it because we weren’t home and due to a power outage, or DVR recording was canceled. So we watched that first, then the finale. I can’t believe that Aras won it. He SO didn’t deserve it, but then again neither did Danielle. It should have been Terry or Ciree, but oh well…. at least Aras deserved it more than Cire. I can’t believe how many people Terry won over by the end. Only Bruce and Cire would have voted for Danielle. Way to go Terry. At least Terry and Cire both won a car. Well this season is over it’s back to reading out loud at night on Thursdays, especially since CSI ends this week too. And NCIS our favorite show, which we also have to download because the afore mentioned power outage happened during it.

Alright, so it wasn’t the last bit, this is!

Went to the library and paid my late fines and checked out some more books to pay late fines on later! I honestly could save myself money by just buying the books…. the late fines kill me! In Tucson the library system had an online renewal system… that was handy, I could stop those late fines at 2:00 am. Here I can see my stuff, but have to call in. Uhhh.. if I would remember to call in during library hours, I would just take the books back!!! DUH!!!  They are always so helpful when I go to pay… You know you can call in and renew?? (If I remember during library hours). You can drop them in the box (I am not returning library books at midnight, by then I’m in my pj’s and lucky to remember to make the coffee),  Have you thought about getting a child’s card? The fees are less? — I always answer this is my way of supporting the Library system, and let’s just think of this as a donation! I know, I’m an idiot, what can I say. So I’m off to help Squirt rearrange her room… why?? Because I don’t have enough to do, I wanted to add some heavy lifting into my daily routine. This should be fun!

Question of the days:

Do you utilize your library? And if so… HOW on EARTH do you remember to return your books before racking up late fees that rival the national deficit??????

WOW! What a hectic week. It’s been filled with making worksheets and vocabulary sheets, planning lessons, reading my own text books, cleaning the house, grocery shopping and preparing for the car wash fund raiser. I’m pooped and we still have the car wash to do!! YIKES!

Today was one of those days when I wondered why I ever thought for a second I should home school. I also repeatedly questioned why I ever agreed to home school the landlord’s son. All of you who home school I’m sure can relate. It was one of those days. “W” asked repeatedly for a break. He’d take a break, work 5 minutes and want another break. All day I spent trying to keep him on track. And Squirt has a writing assignment that is due Monday that she has been procrastinating for about 2 weeks, she worked on it today and completed……………. NOTHING!!

 AAARRRGHHHHH………..

Although she did make a new home schooled friend (hopefully a better influence than her arsonist pal) at the “Can Do Days” yesterday. That’s good for her. There is not a very active home school group or community here, and we have really felt the lack of companionship and support. However, this negative aspect has not forced her to public school, she would still prefer to be at home.

Tomorrow is the car wash for Silver_Fangz People to People trip. We have been organizing, sending e-mails, painting signs and gathering supplies. It’s been a busy week. Tomorrow will be even busier and Sunday — MOTHER’S DAY!. We ordered the flowers for our respective moms and I personally am looking forward to day of relaxation! (I hope!). Ok, just a wiki wiki update today, have to go work on dinner. Have a great week end and to all the moms out there:

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

       Beloved canine companion:

Well… the bad news I received last week has now been shared with the girls, so I can now share it with all of you. Last Wednesday (see…. BAD things happen on Wednesday) my mom called. My mom has been fostering our other dog Velvet. She called to tell me that they had to put Velvet down. Velvet had developed a cancer on her front leg back in 2004, which was surgically removed, this was the month before moving here. The vet told us it would probably come back and that she probably wouldn’t survive another surgery. He also recommended that she not make the trip to HI with the quarantine and kennels and all. My folks graciously agreed to keep her, and have provided a wonderful home for her. They moved from AZ to NM later that summer, and Velvet go a huge yard to explore, rabbits and deer to chase and snow to play in during the winter.

She began falling a lot, and the tumor came back. The past six months she has steadily declined. Eventually she bit through the tumor and into her leg, but she had gotten to the point where she wouldn’t let anyone touch her, so they couldn’t even clean it. Mom realized it was time. The vet agreed and stated that it was past time. She was in pain, blind, couldn’t hardly walk, and losing her sense of smell. So on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 she moved on from this world. We will miss her terribly, but we are so glad that she is no longer in pain.

 Velvet and Dakota

Picture 1: Ages 20 months and almost a year Picture 2: Ages 12 and 11+

Velvet was a half Australian Shepherd / half Lab mix. She was a Medium sized dog weighing about 40 lbs. She had long black hair and chocolate brown eyes. We first met Velvet when Silver_Fangz was just about 9 months old. We went to Texas to attend the Family Christmas and decided to hook up with my brother (half) and his wife. We didn’t want to visit them empty handed, so we stopped at the local Walmart to pick up a poinsettia to take as gift. There in front of the Wally world was a box full of the cutest puppies ever. We oohhed and ahhed over them and claimed we didn’t need a puppy as we just had a baby!! On the way out, we couldn’t resist stopping to visit them one last time. We love black animals (we had an all black cat named Harley, now we have an all black dog named Rasha) and there was a puppy that was all black, the rest were brown/black mixtures. We also love female animals as we find them to be more nurturing and friendly. What do you know, they had one female and guess which one it was?? The little black ball of fur. We left Walmart with a beautiful poinsettia and the cutest little puppy to add to our family. We headed home after lunch and it was so cute at rest stops when we stopped to walk the dog to watch this little toddler walk jerkily around followed closely by a puppy who was just as clumsy and awkward. It was hard to tell who was having a more difficult time! It was the beginning of a great love affair, not only between SF and Velvet, but 2 years later when Squirt joined the crew she was just as in love. Velvet was a great dog, well-behaved and sweet as can be. She had many trials in her life. She was terrified of thunder and when you live in AZ that fairly frequent in the summer. One summer we were out and an unexpected storm came up suddenly. We rushed home to let Velvet in, but we were too late, she had jumped our fence and wandered down a major road in her panic. She was hit by a car, we found her wandering that same road minutes later. She had to have major reconstructive surgery on her hind leg and was in the Animal hospital for almost a month. Another time while we were on vacation, she escaped (during a storm) from my parents house, got lost and ended up eventually in the pound scheduled for destruction when my folks tracked her down. (Don’t ask me what happened to her tags and collar, we still haven’t figured that out).

Mostly I remember her loving eyes, gentle presence and soft fur. She was a great dog and we will miss her terribly.

Goodbye Velvet. Good girl.  

Yeck. That doesn’t even begin to cover my disgust. Our Cesspool backed up. Double and triple yeck. What I wouldn’t give for the overpriced service of the city sewer. Course the back up they had of that in Oahu is still causing problems. One guy died from falling in the bay where they diverted the sewage break. He developed several flesh eating diseases. Luckily, we didn’t have deal with that. Just arrange for the pumpers to come, and hubby got to dig gross dirt and mud up in the pouring rain. How much fun can one guy have??

We haven’t done laundry in a week (I usually do a load every day) so today hubby and squirt took all the laundry to a laundry mat since we couldn’t use the washer. FUN, FUN, FUN.

Why didn’t I do it you might ask? I was up to my dendrites in school work. AGAIN… forever. It’s never ending. That’s what makes it so fun… that I get to keep doing it over and over again until I DIE!! I did get the pleasure of folding 14 hundred loads of clothes however. Lucky me. I’m so glad they saved some work for me. [insert faked enthusiasm here].

Thanks for the good ideas on community service for the pyro. I’m thinking that a fire safety course, working with people who are homeless due to fire, or talking to a fire station about helping out there are the best options. I’m kind of worried that taking her to burn unit might traumatize her a little too much. She’s kind of sensitive and I don’t want to give her nightmares, just a healthy respect for the dangers of fire. I let you know what I end up doing though.

I have more school work to do… surprise, surprise. Have to admit though, the subject matter of these courses are very interesting.. just the amount of work is killing me!! Slowly, saving little bits for the following two semesters. By the time I’m done… I’ll either be much smarter or eligible for disability due to a severe mental handicap. I’m not sure which yet, but it feel like I’m sliding towards the last option…. do I sound dumber???? Please let me know if I start speaking in single syllable words and repeating myself. I want to quit school at that point and save what few brain cells I have left……. Course my teenage years didn’t help, they seriously shrank the starting pool!!

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Smiles in amazement and pleasure! Shane is gone! Huzzah!! Finally! Have to give Terry props for judging how to dole out the “love”. Even though my mean spirited side would have probably kicked in and I would have sent Shane away with nada… Terry was the better person and did the right thing. And, have to give Ciree props once again. Girlfriend is running the Survivor show. Only problem that Ciree, Danielle and Aras now face is with every vote, every time they band together and stab someone in the back, they give another vote to Terry. Especially with Shane, since he asked them flat out and Terry gave him a whole day with his son. Course, Shane is crazy, flat out lunatic, so logic doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with it.

I so forgot to tell you guys….

My daughter is a bonafide, fire department called, busted forever arsonist and pyro. Her and her little friend were playing on a hill behind our house where they found a book of matches. Anyone smell smoke?? They neighbors did and called the FD and the little rent-a-cop, who came and busted them. They took their names and addresses, however didn’t follow up with a home visit — . They came home wild-eyed and looking guilty. They gave me this cock a mamie story, which I immediately assumed was fabricated. I had them turn out their pockets and grilled them like a bad detective in a cop show. No avail. They were sticking to their story that they “came across” a fire and tried to put it out on their own.

Fast forward 7 hours. Squirt gets up from bed and comes out to the living room where I am working on school work. She looks distressed and ill. I ask what’s up, she say “I have to tell you something”. Out came the whole story. We decided to tell friends mom after a few days of letting friend have an opportunity to come clean as well. Guess what? She opted to not do that. However she got busted as well. Mom asked friend if she was coming over to play with Squirt to which she replied truthfully “no, she’s on restriction”. To which normally obtuse mom put two and two together with the speed of lightening and asked “Why is she on restriction?” Friend replied “A called you already didn’t she!!” and then refused to talk and went and sulked in the bedroom. Mom promptly called me and got the full story. She was extremely disappointed in both girls for lying to her, and felt that her trust was ruined with both of them. Personally, I haven’t trusted friend in a long time. Way too many lies she’s been caught in time and time again. Oh well, Friends mom can live in her little delusions, I’ll live in mine.

Anyway’s Squirt is grounded, has some extra chores she has to do and I’m tracking down some fire-safety related community service for her. Any ideas?

She’s also getting teased and harassed by sister and dad about being an arsonist, I think that she’ll probably not do something along these lines again. I continue to give her props for coming forward and doing the right thing by telling me the truth. I knew they had started that fire, but I couldn’t prove it. I would have though, and then… she would have been in REAL trouble!

Ok, I’m off to try to get some more reading done. I’m feeling nauseous again today, and headachy — so we’ll see what I actually get done. Have a great day and great weekend. Hasta!

Oh yeah!! Happy Cinco de Mayo!

What is up with the weather?? Can we please have some consistency?? Of course we can’t complain… it’s not like we’re flooding. And we’re not suffering with earthquakes.And the daily showers are keeping the odor of the nearby chicken farm from being overwhelming… so I guess… I’m happy to have such a beautiful day. Yeah that’s it!

School work, school work, school work. Need I say more? How ’bout — blegh………………….

Also had some bad news. Will fill you all in more later.

For now, I’m just trying to get through the days and weeks without committing hari kari. I need a break in my hum drum routine. Any suggestions?? I need a trip off island. That’s what I need. <Heavy Sigh>, that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

I guess I’ll just go read some more of my school work [insert enthusiasm here].

One thing to look forward to today…. SURVIVOR — final four tonight. I wish they would have gotten rid of Shane by now, he drives me crazy!!! I think Ciree has this thing locked up, only problem for her, no way she’s ever going to win an immunity challenge. Terry is going to make final four for sure and that rocks…. he so deserves it!!! I don’t think there is anyway he could possibly win, the jury is stacked against him.. Too bad, he’s played an amazing games, but then again so has Ciree. Gotta hand it to miss thing, she knows how to manipulate and mess with people. She’s got some skills. I see Aras and Danielle as innocent bystanders who don’t have a chance cause they aren’t really in the game. But… I could be wrong. It’s happened once before.

Have a great Thursday all…. happy …. whatever you’re doing!

 I tried to update earlier, but to no avail. Xanga was being difficult. Must be in it’s teens. Luckily, I had the foresight to save my thoughts… as they are few and far between these days…. so here they are!

Also, I had an infusion of chocolate fudge brownie ice cream and some serious shopping, I feel totally rejuvenated!

I have no energy. I have no ambition. I have no desire.

I’d make an effort, but it’s too much work.

Last night I had the best ice cream cake –EVER!! It was from Cold Stone Creamery. God bless Cold Stone. It was 4 layers, Red Velvet, chocolate chip ice cream and the icing was a thick layer of solid chocolate! OMG… What a treat!

On the way home Silver_Fangz and her dad got into a discussion… it went something like this:

Dad: So what’s the drama? Tell me?

SF: Ewwwww….. no, why would I do that? That’s yucky.

Dad: Well next time you ask for a ride I’m going to say “Ewwwwww…. no!! Why would I do that??” [read in sing-song valley girl voice]

SF: [cracking up] That was too cute daddy…. say it again. Say it again… Please???

Dad [now trying to be cool] no, I don’t think so….

Whole family [with exception of dad] is busting up laughing at hubby’s lovely imitation of a valley girl. Isn’t that just the sweetest?

Other conversations included one where dad suggested that SF earn her computer time through grades. Straight A’s = unlimited access. Each B reduces the time by 1/2 hour…. or something along those lines. I think he would need to think that through more closely and set specific times, but all in all I think it’s a good idea… I’m all for it! I think this could also apply to TV or Nintendo for both daughters. Hmmmmm the plot thickens!!!

As parents… I feel it is my duty and responsibility to come up with cruel and unusual tortures for my children in order to prepare them for the real world. Any suggestions???

An old Indian lined up all of his ten sons and stood in front of them. He then asked, “Who push port-a-potty over cliff?” Nobody answered him.

He then asked again, “Who push port-a-potty over cliff?” And again nobody answered.

The old Indian said, “I tell story of Georgie and Georgie father. Georgie chop down cherry tree. Georgie tell truth, Big Georgie no punish. Little Indian tell truth, I no punish.” So the Indian asked again, “Who push port-a-potty over cliff?”

The littlest Indian replied, “I push port-a-potty over cliff. ”

The old Indian then shakes him, spanks him, does everything he can to punish him. When he is done, the little Indian asks, “Georgie tell truth, Georgie no get punish. I tell truth, I get punished. Why you punish?”

The old Indian replied, “Big Georgie not in cherry tree when it got chopped down.”