Busy, Busy, Busy

This has been a busy week for us. Started cleaning out Emily's room. How does a 12 year old girl accumulate SO MUCH STUFF??? Luckily, she is like her mother and when faced with cleaning and says "Get rid of it". Needless to say we have tons to donate to Goodwill. We are going to pick out her paint color and flooring this week. Jim has very little to do in her room to finish, so this should be one of our faster moving projects.
We signed up Jennifer for her SAT's. Got my hair cut and "conditioned" (my term for hiding the gray) Tuesday. Lots of gossip with "Todd the hair god". For those who don't know, Todd and I go back to middle school. How we both wound up in Gainesville is a mystery.
Had appointment with Cardiologist yesterday. Best news I have heard in years. He totally dismissed me!!!!! Can't find any residual damage to my heart from cardiomyopathy only some enlargement, but said that was normal. His big condition on dismissal was that I promise not to get pregnant again. NO PROBLEM!!!! Rachel is doing softball practice twice a week and Jake is working hard on a computer game. He has to run a business (hospital) and make a profit. He comes downstairs very frustrated sometimes. Well, enough for now, have to get ready to go buy groceries (not my favorite thing to do), and laundry.

Mall Trip

Friday the girls and I went to the mall. Jim even gave us extra money for shopping!!!! I think this was my last trip with my 2 older girls. Trying to help teens pick out clothes is a nightmare. If I touch it or look at it twice, the definitely DON"T want it. Went in one store that should have been renamed "Hookers R Us". Don't remember actual name of store, but not clothing that I was spending my money on. Rachel tried to embarrass me by insisting we go to Spencer's. I'm too hard to embarrass and can easily turn the tables on her, so that didn't work. Spent 3 hours in the mall and only came away with one outfit for Jennifer. Think next time, I'll just give them money and send them on their way. Emily is another story. Too much like her mom with wicked sense of humor and being laid back, but I'm sure as she gets older, she won't want mom around either. Needless to say that Jake stayed home and wanted nothing to do with a shopping trip. He enojoyed having the house to himself!!!

Home Again!!!

Yesterday, our time was up at the Hyatt Regency...boo hoo. My LOVELY in-laws brought the kids and dog up to Orlando to save us a trip to Ft. Pierce. We all met at Katie's for lunch and laughs. Everytime I am around my niece and nephews, I remember my 4 being that small, and remember the noise, messes, and such. Thank God I have let them live long enough to outgrow it..haha. Of course now we are in the teenage years which comes with its own problems.

Spent the majority of my morning on the phone with Bank of America. Seems someone has stolen my credit card number and their fraud protection caught it. After 2 hours of phone time going over each charge, my card has been cancelled, charges reimbursed and new account opened. Thank goodness they caught the charges in time and most were denied.

Now it's laundry time and have to grocery shop...YUK. I think this was my last trip for awhile. Time to settle in and start working on the house again. Like I said in an earlier post, I think I will start on Emily's room first and will begin Monday. Look out Goodwill. Boxes are heading your way!!!!

Still At SIA

We are still in Orlando at SIA meeting. Yesterday Jim only had 1 meeting, so we had time to play. Went to Downtown Disney since we are only a block away. Looked in all the shops and Jim couldn't believe that I didn't buy anything except in the bath store and then only spent $20. Said he was impressed!!! We were looking for lunch and thought since we are at Disney, let's think like kids. SOOOO.... I had a warm brownie fudge sundae and Jim had a banana split from the Ghiradelli ice cream shop. Not nutritious, but delicious. Had SIA President's reception last night..dress up occassion, and had a lot of fun talking to a variety of people from a variety of places!!!, but my feet were killing me when it was all over. Went back to room and decided we were hungry, so here we are at 11:00pm ordering room service and kicked back watching TV. I'm not sure if I will be ready to go home tomorrow or not. I could get used to this!!!!

Orlanda

Well, we are in Orlando for Jim's SIA Committee Week. The fun started Sunday. Jim had meetings from 7:30am until 6Pm last night. I stayed in the room all day with a trashy novel, my computer and room service. It doesn't get any better than that!!!!! Last night we went to dinner with some friends from Cleveland and a"nightcap" afterwards. Was good to get caught up with them. I haven't seen them in 2 years, so we had a lot to chat about.

I don't know what today holds...Jim has meeting from 7:30am to 9am then we are free for the day until the President's Reception tonight. Debating going to Downtown Disney since we are only 1 block away.

Have been talking to kids. Jenny is having fun with cousins and Rachel, Jake & Emily are in Ft. Pierce with grandparents. I'm enjoying my little "vacation", but miss my kids, although it is nice and quiet here..haha. I'll enjoy the solitude for now, for this too shall pass. Work and school and softball await at home, which means the quiet will definitely end!!!!

This week

We are in the process of packing for SIA committee week. Leave today to take kids to camp Grandma's and Jenny to her Aunt Katie's Saturday (hope she told you when she was coming, Kate). Luckily the site of meeting this year is in Orlando, so things are much easier to deal with, but not as exciting. Orlando is not my favorite city (sorry Kate). I have my bag packed with computer and several trashy romance novels to pass the time while Jim is in meetings. Of course, each night is taken with business dinners (yipee), so this is not really a vacation, except that I can relax during the day without fighting teenagers.

When we get back, the fun really begins. Jake, Emily & Rachel will be knee deep in school work and Rachel will begin softball season, with means most nights and weekends will be full. We also have to get Jenny scheduled for SATs and college applications. Seems like she should be worried about starting school, not finishing!!! They are growing up too fast.

Will write more, I'm sure, while in Orlando and will try to get some pictures posted (if I can figure out how....technically challenged here).

We Don't Agree on Everything

Some of our family believe that Jim and I totally agree on everything. This is not far from the truth, however, there are times when our differences really stand out. Last night I asked him if he would mind taking me to a concert this spring. Several of my favorites will be in the area and I would love the opportunity to see one or two. Jim's response was "Of Course!!". I know he was thinking it was something he would also enjoy, but when I told them who they were, he gave me a puzzled look. Naturally he knew who Jimmy Buffet was (not someone he really likes), but was absolutely clueless when I mentioned Nickelback and Il Divo. So, I went to YouTube and showed him some videos. He turned the prettiest shade of green thinking he would have to sit through a concert like that. He immediately went to YouTube and began to watch Hank Jr and Statler Bros. clips, totally tuning me out. We most certainly do not share our taste in music. I love all kinds, including some country, but bless his heart, Jim is stuck in a country rut. Oh well, good thing we are so in sync on most everything else.

Also, as I was writing this, Jim wanted to know who had access to this blog. I told him everyone did. He said, "Everyone, who?". I told him it was open on the net and that several family members had the link. He just groaned and shook his head. I promised I wouldn't tell EVERYTHING that went on around here, but I think I have made him nervous now. He will be on the edge of his seat from now on wondering what secrets I will tell. Can't blame a woman for wanting to have a little fun!!!!

Reality Check

OK - I know I live in fantasy land most of the time totally oblivious to most things happening around me, living as if the world is mine to do with as I please. Not only the world but my household as well. Well, I was rudely shaken out of my peaceful existence Monday when Jim stayed home and did our taxes. This time of year he is always grumpy, spouting off how the kids are not worth what they used to be, how I don't keep good records, NEVER get receipts for donations and we just generally go around trying not to "poke the bear". I never really took into account Jim's salary (never really knew what he earned), just getting $$ I need when I need it and wondering why I couldn't afford the big purchases when I wanted to make them. Shock set in when I saw the tax return for myself. As I said before, I live oblivious to most things happening and Jim always takes care of that kind of thing, but he made a point of showing it to me this year while fussing about how much "Uncle Sam" takes. I began to wonder how on earth Jim makes more $$ than he has ever in his life (not millionaire status by any means but we should be living comfortably), and it seems I'm always down to my last dime. I looked around our house (not anything spectacular and certainly not finished) and realized the amount of money that we have put into this place, 4 kids all walking around in Hollister or Aeropostale shod in Converse shoes, talking on their cell phones,the Wii, PS2, PS3, computers, iPods,digital cameras, and my closet brimming over with Coach & Dooney handbags. Not to mention the Gucci and Louis Vuitton acquired on our Vegas trips. NO WONDER!!!! This does not include the groceries and gas that teenagers (along with their many friends) consume. So now MOM IS ON A CRUSADE!!!! - The first thing I did was shut off HBO (taking baby steps) and guess what??? Nobody noticed. Makes me wonder how many other things around here could change without notice. I think I will experiment and see just how the natives will react to more cutbacks. This should be interesting and challenging to see just how much spending I can cut. Somehow, I don't think anyone will become TOO ill from my new venture, but I will keep the smelling salts handy for the big girls when they find themselves on a gas and play money budget. I'll keep you updated on our progress and any fainting spells the kids have adjusting to their new "lifestyle".

Home at Last!!!!

Came home Saturday as a surprise to Jim. He wasn't sure if we were coming home at all this weekend. Felt terrible telling him we were at Mom's when we were really on the road home. He called just as we were turning in our driveway and asking questions about grocery shopping. Luckily he was at Publix when we arrived, so we had time to settle down a few minutes and set the table for his favorite (Sonny's babyback ribs) before he arrived. We stopped on the way home and got ribs and all the fixin's for dinner Sat night and had everything ready when he walked in the door. The look on his face was priceless. He even took today(Monday) off to stay at home with us. I have come to the conclussion that I should take a week off 3 or 4 times a year and leave him home. Such appreciation comes from being left to fend for himself. I don't deny that I have spoiled him rotten over the last 20 years, but it is nice to know that I am missed when I'm gone. It's usually the opposite. He travels so much for work, that I'm usually the one left behind. It's nice to see the shoe on the other foot once in a while.

JR's surgery has been postponed. His ears are too infected for the tubes to be put in. Yet another round of antibiotics to see if they can get them cleared up enough for the procedure. Poor kid will have no resistance left after all these antibiotics. Hopefully, this round will work and they can finally get his little ears fixed and he will feel better soon.

Otherwise, things are going good around here. Trying to clean out some clutter and not spend any money. Easier said than done.