I have no excuse

I have no excuse not to blog more often anymore. I am unemployed and have been since the end of September. Well, I take that back, I'm too busy wallowing in my own self pity to blog. Nah, not really. I've surprised myself with how well I am handling being unemployed. Of course, it would help if certain baby daddys would pay child support, but since one of them hasn't paid in 2 and 1/2 years and I am still TRYING to actually get a divorce from the other, I've gotten used to it.

Yeah, still not divorced. It will be one year ago that I filed on December 11th. Most people would be divorced after this amount of time. Especially considering that we didn't have any real estate or retirment accounts, etc. to argue over. The only thing holding us up? He won't sign the parenting plan. For those of you not in Tennessee, that is the document that stipulates custody, visitation, child support and such. The reason he won't sign? Because he got fired (yes FIRED) from his very good job back in April. Fired because HE screwed up. Several times. The amount that they came up with for child support was based on his income at that job, my income at my job, the fact that we both have other children and he was paying 1/2 of daycare expenses. The amount is $121 per month. That's all. He doesn't want to sign, because he can't pay that much each month (actually, I know he doesn't feel like he should have to pay anything). I don't want to modify the parenting plan to show that neither of us have an income. Yeah, he's still not working. Hard to find a job when you've been fired by the city. If I were to change it now, then later on IF he finds a job, I will have to pay more money to have it changed again. I don't feel I should. So, that's where we are. I am stuck still being married to that jackass. At this point he's not paying for childcare either, so, right now, Alyssa is at home with me on the weeks that she's at my house. Totally screwing up her routine and she loves going to "school". Hopefully this crap will get fixed soon. If not, I have an email all nice and ready for my attorney!

Ok, wow, a whole post bitching about the soon-to-be-ex! Enough of that! Next post will be much more entertaining. Or something...

Well, I haven't done this in awhile

Blogged, that is. I just haven't had time for it. Besides, I'm all addicted to Crackbook, uh, I mean Facebook. It has been 4 months or so since I last posted. I'm thinking about changing that. Blogging more often. I used to really love it and I just got so busy in life and so many things were going on, that blogging was put on the back burner. Waaaaaay in the back.

So, how about we catch up? I thought you would be excited by that!

So, last time I posted, I was dating someone. Yeah, not so much anymore. But, it's ok. It was my decision. I just realized that I am not sure if I am ready for a serious relationship and he had gotten very serious. He dropped the L-bomb on me. We broke up about a month ago. I've met a few guys but, again, I'm not looking for much right now. I have too many other things going on in my life.

I've also turned the big 3-0 since I last posted. Yikes! But, it's ok. I'm pretty happy with my life at 30. Sure, there are a few things I would change, but, for the most part, I'm happy.

Also, just a couple of weeks ago, I found out that I was being laid off from my job. I work until the end of the month. I'm upset about that. More so because I know what a tough job market it is out there. I'm worried about not finding anything, but also excited with the prospect of finding a job I love even more. When one door closes, another opens right?

So, no other big news to report. Same ole, same ole. Hanging out with friends and my babies. Tiger football started back up, so I've been tailgating and going to the games and I am excited about Tiger basketball starting soon!!!!

Like I said, I am thinking about posting more often. I guess we will see if that actually happens!

So what if I only post once every 6-8 weeks

A
certain someone asked me today when I was gonna blog again. Truthfully? I haven't thought too much about it lately. I still read for the most part, but rarely comment. I don't know, I guess I've just gotten so much out of the habit that it's hard to start again. But, just to pacify Steve, I'll do a "quickie". Again, that's for Steve.



So, last time I blogged, I had met someone knew and we were dating. And...we still are. Except, now he's actually considered the boyfriend. And...he's still awesome. The more I learn about him, the more I like him.

He's met most of my close friends and they all really like him. That? Is a good thing. A very good thing. He also got the pleasure of meeting my parents a couple of weeks ago and, although we were at a crawfish boil and there were lots of people there, they were able to get to know him a little bit. And? Like him.

This past weekend he took me to meet his parents. I was stupid nervous. I don't get nervous too often, but I really was. I had no need to be. They loved me!!! I mean, how could you not, right? I also get along great with his brother and sister and both of his roommates. So, all in all, things with us? They are good. Real good.

Summer is almost here, so I'm looking forward to spending more time with him since Kaylie will be spending more time with her dad and Alyssa already spends every other week with hers.

Speaking of Alyssa's dad, I am this close to finally being divorced!!! I am hoping that by the end of June it will be final. Hoping!! And then I am gonna have myself a divorce party!!!!!!!

I don't have too much else going on in my life right now. Kaylie is finishing up 2nd grade and, this Friday, Haley graduates from Kindergarten. Which makes me so sad. Those babies are growing up. Thankfully, Alyssa has a couple more years before she starts school.

Well, maybe I will post more often. Maybe not. I don't know. I can't promise anything. But, I am reading...

Ok, so it's been awhile

I just don't have time to blog anymore, maybe here and there I will, but nothing anywhere near regular. I guess I should have followed up a little sooner on my previous blog.

So, here goes...

The guy I met is just a friend. He was a little too flaky for me and it didn't take me too long to figure out that I wasn't interested.

Really no big deal to me, I have been enjoying being single! I've been very happy with it.

So, then March Madness rolls around. I? Am a HUGE University of Memphis Tiger fan (some of you may already know that, you know, all 3 of you that still read), so March is a great month for me. So, anyway. Tigers go to the NCAA tournament (basketball for those of you that have no clue what I am talking about). This also happened to be during spring break for Kaylie. She had decided to spend the week with her dad. No problem, that was the same week that Alyssa spends with Chris (we split weeks). So, a whole weekend and week with no kids.

On Wednesday, the 18th of March, my aunt and I decided to go to
Rafferty's for a drink on the patio. It was a nice night. So, in the parking lot of Rafferty's is a golf cart. One of those golf carts that seats 6 people. It was painted blue. Tiger Blue. With a couple of big U of M Tiger flags and what not. Did I mention was set on tires bigger than me? Yeah.

I told my aunt that I had to get a pic of it before we left. So, when we were leaving, I pulled up by it and took a couple of pics. A couple of guys came over and my aunt asked if they knew who owned it. Well, turns out, one of them does. He (his name is John) and I started talking and eventually the phone numbers got exchanged, etc etc.

Well, almost a month later and we've hung out quite a bit. We have a lot in common and, so far, he seems to be a really great guy (the fact that he is a HUGE Tiger fan is awesome too)! I'm sure you will be saying, give me more details woman! If you want to know anything, just ask.

I hate coming up with titles!!

Clearly I have been too busy to blog. Busy doing what, I have no damn idea. Ok, I've become addicted to that timesuck known as F@cebook. A-ddic-ted! So, how about some bullets? Everyone loves bullets, right? No? Oh well, suck it up!

• I've been hanging out with friends.
• I went to a kickass Superbowl par-tay and played Rock Band until 2am. BTW I really really suck at it and I was only playing the drums.
• Maybe the beer had something to do with that.
• I bought tickets to go see Rascal Flatts...again.
• This will be the 4th time I've seen them.
• Why are they bringing Jessica Simpson this time?
• There has been more karaoke. Really bad karaoke.
• My 3-year old started daycare for the first time.
• She had a babysitter until then.
• She loves it and gets pissed when I pick her up. Sweet kid, huh?
• Also, she has a really bad temper.
• I don't know where she gets that from.
• I have been desperately waiting on Summer.
• What else?
• Oh yeah, I met someone.
  

Assvice

I know that most of the people that read this blog are moms. That one guy that reads? Yeah, he's not so much a mom. Or a dad for that matter. I hear he likes boobs though.

I know that I, as a mom, hate getting assvice about how to raise my kids or what they are doing or what they should be doing and all that shit. HATE it. And, I know that most moms feel the same way. But, still, we get it. When it comes from friends or family, I still get pissed, but I get why they do it. But, when complete strangers have something to say about my kids? Hell no! These are MY kids, jackass, back off!

Well, now, I am getting it from my soon-to-be-ex-husband. Now, we have always had a few issues with parenting. Sometimes he thinks I am too strict and others he thinks I am giving in too much. And, of course, it's vice versa for me towards him. January 7th was Alyssa's 3rd birthday and it was a day that she was with her dad (every other week). So, I called and went over there to see her for a little bit since it was her birthday. While I was there, she did something (can't really remember what) and I told her to stop or go to timeout. He told me that "that timeout bullshit" doesn't work with her, that I need to spank her when she does that. I have learned to pick my battles, so I just said nothing about it. But, it did piss me off. Just because you do something one way where you live does NOT mean that I have to do it the same way at my house.

Around Christmas he told me that she needs speech therapy and that he thinks she is a little autistic. Tha fuck??? Number one, Alyssa is the furthest thing from autistic. She loves people, will converse with anyone, plays with everyone. She is nothing if not a typical 3 year old little girl. Second, I can understand 95% of what she says. I realize that I am her mom and I am around her more than anyone, but everyone else that she's around when she's with me can understand about 90% of what she says. Again, I didn't argue, just kind of smile and nod.

I don't know, I guess it pisses me off that he, as her father, would say something like that without knowing the facts. I know that autism wasn't something he came up with on his own. Someone put that shit in his head, but that's neither here nor there.

Oh well, I suppose it's something that as parent's we just learn to deal with. I will hear the assvice. Doesn't mean I am actually gonna listen to it.

What kind of assvice have you gotten?

OMG, 2 posts in one week!!!

I got this as an email from a co-worker. It is hilarious and sad all at the same time. Enjoy!

It's time again for the annual "Stella Awards." For those unfamiliar with
these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled
hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's in New Mexico
where she purchased the coffee.
You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees
while she was driving. Who would ever think one could get burned doing
that, right?

That's right; these are awards for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts
in the U.S. You know, the kinds of cases that make you scratch your head.
So keep your head scratcher handy. These are also the people that vote in
this country!

Here are the Stella's for the past year:


7TH PLACE:

Kathleen Robertson of Austin , Texas was awarded $80,000 by a jury of her
peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running
inside a furniture store. The store owners were understandably surprised
by the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son.

6TH PLACE:

Carl Truman, 19, of Los Angeles , California won $74,000 plus medical
expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord.
Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car
when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps.

Go ahead, grab your head scratcher.


5TH PLACE:

Terrence Dickson, of Bristol, Pennsylvania, was leaving a house he had just
burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Dickson, the automatic
garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to
open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the
garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled it shut. Forced to sit for
eight, count 'em, EIGHT, days on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog
food, he sued the homeowner's insurance company claiming undue mental
anguish. Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Dickson
$500,000 for his anguish. We should all have this kind of anguish.

Keep scratching. There are more...

4TH PLACE:

Jerry Williams, of Little Rock , Arkansas , garnered 4th Place in the Stella's
when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the
butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though the beagle was on a
chain in its owner's fenced yard. Williams did not get as much as he asked
for because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the
time of the butt bite because Williams had climbed over the fence into the
yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.

Grrrrr .... Scratch, scratch.

3RD PLACE:

Third place goes to Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania because a jury
ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a
spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone. The reason the soft drink was on
the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 second s earlier
during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for
their own actions?

Scratch, scratch, scratch. Hang in there; there are only two more Stellas
to go...

2ND PLACE:

Kara Walton, of Claymont, Delaware sued the owner of a night club in a
nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking
out her two front teeth. Even though Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through
the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said
the night club had to pay her $12,000....oh, yeah, plus dental expenses.
Go figure.


1ST PLACE : (May I have a fanfare played on 50 kazoos please)

This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was Mrs. Merv Grazinski,
of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who purchased a new 32-foot Winnebago motor
home. On her first trip home from an OU football game, having driven onto
the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the
driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a
sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and
overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not
putting in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's
seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, are
you sitting down, $1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home. Winnebago actually
changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski
has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.


Are we, as a society, getting more stupid...or what? Someone forgot to mention that the jury in all those cases were stupid.