Tuesday, November 10, 2009

*sniff* *sniff* So Very, Very Proud

At the ripe old age of 4 and a half, L. has learned to cross one eye whole holding the other one still.

She gets that from me.

I'm so proud.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Lockdown Update

And now, the rest of the story...

Burglary attempt was halted when an elderly woman pulled out her gun and fired off a couple shots at the attempted crook. Said crook made an escape into nearby neighborhood, which just happened to be right by the school. School went under lockdown as a precautionary measure until 3 when all the kids went home.

It sounds like the school handled everything very well. The kids were told the doors were being locked to keep out a man who had tried to get into someone else's house. Then the kids were all given ice cream as a consolation prize for not getting afternoon recess.

S. can be a bit of a worry-wart, so I am very glad that she skipped into school this morning with no reservations. Actually, I think her biggest take-away from the incident was the ice cream.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Isn't this just ducky

First the Fort Hood shootings yesterday. For whatever reason, this has hit me really, really hard. Just the thought of the chaos and utter betrayal is bringing me close to tears.

Second, S.'s school is under lockdown at this moment thanks to a search for a suspect who broke into a house in a neighborhood near the school. News details are sketchy, but they've got helicopter support as well as K-9 dogs hunting for this individual. Fortunately, all the kids are secure, but I'm a little concerned about how everyone will get home if the search is still on-going at 3.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

What do you get...

when you mix a 4 year old with a skating party and a Christmas tree costume?

A gift certificate for 2nd place in the costume contest, and tears each and every time she fell down, shattering one of the ornaments on her costume.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Aren't They Just Adorable?

What would a DaVinci exhibit be without Carnival masks?


You heard it here, first

Teams
Engage
All
Members

Slogan I'm kind of proud of that MY team and I developed this morning.

;)

Monday, July 06, 2009

Blank Blog

For the umpteenth time, I'm staring at a blank blog screen. Why can't I write anything?

This is driving me crazy.

A. is weaning. L. is taking to swimming lessons like a fish. S. is growing so fast I can't keep up. Mr. W. loves his new job.

I'm feeling bitter sweet about the weaning. I'm proud of the swimming. The growing up thing scares me. I am happier than I can say about Mr. W.'s job.

Lice notice came from summer camp. I've ordered some preventative lice shampoo.

I want to cut my hair, but I am torn. A. often uses my hair as a sort of security blanket.

There. My life in a nutshell...

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Ok... OUCH!

Found an unexpected, very, very HOT jalapeno in my lunch today. Unfortunately, I did not have any cheese left to try to cut the burning sensation. Actually, I'm not entirely convinced that WAS a jalapeno. It was awfully hot.

I've had a hard time contributing to the blog, lately. I really want to do better. I can't believe A. is already 16 months old, and I've documented precious little of her life here. She has all the sass her middle sister has. I have a feeling those two are going to wind up making S. look easy to raise.

L. has been exploring her defiant streak lately. I begin to suspect this is a stage, since S. went through a very similar phase. I just hope we don't have too many more months of 'you can't make me' and 'I don't have to do what you say' left. She got her very first haircut on Mother's Day this year. I cut off 4 inches of her beautiful, curly hair. She still has quite a bit of curl left, but those long ringlets are gone. I'm sad about that, but she does look adorable with shorter hair.

S. survived first grade. Her final report card was the best one yet. Above grade level for reading, S+ for spelling, S- for PE and everything else was S. Things really came together for her this school year. As many issues as I've had with her teacher, Mrs. N. did instill a certain amount of acceptance of the requirements for school. S. starts the elementary school next year. Where has the time gone?

Friday, May 22, 2009

Memorial Day

"It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray-haired. But most of them were boys when they died, they gave up two lives -- the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for their county, for us. All we can do is remember."

-- Ronald Wilson Reagan
Remarks at Veteran's Day ceremony, Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia, November 11, 1985

Thursday, May 14, 2009

I've Been Presidentially Spammed!

Apparently, sending an e-mail to the President complaining about how he's handling bailouts was enough to get me on his e-mail list. This strikes me as incredibly funny since I'm not exactly his biggest fan.

Text of the e-mail rah-rahs the ongoing plan/discussion/blustering concerning providing better health care options for Americans. Plus it applies a subtle guilt trip encouraging the recipient to get all his/her friends and neighbors to sign up for the updates.

After the way the Federal government manages to muddy up every little thing it touches, I just gotta say (with respect to affordable federal health care): Good luck with that, buddy. You need it.

Of Strawberries and Bar-B-Q

Miss A. shows a very decided preference for strawberries and anything that could have bbq sauce on it. It's to the point that if we are having one or the other, I have to hide them until after she has eaten the other foods with her meal. Otherwise, she refuses everything until she has gorged herself on the favored foods.

Neither of the first two ever showed that strong a preference for a particular food.

We drove down to Llano, Texas in order to enjoy some of Cooper's BBQ last month. It is Mr. W's favorite place to eat, and this was the first time he ever took me. Kind of a fun place where you pick out your food from the pits outside and take it inside to be weighed, cut and eaten.

Miss A. ate more of the bbq than I have ever seen her eat in a single meal. The kid sucked this stuff down FAST. We had leftovers we took home and reheated a couple days later. When she caught the aroma and saw the plate piled with the brisket and sausage, she squealed. Again, she sucked the food down.

Earlier, she pitched a fit because I did not have enough strawberries to suit her at supper. This was after she'd eaten plenty of other food. But darnit, she WANTED more strawberries!

Is it bad that I still giggle when I watch a baby pitch a wall-eyed hissy fit?

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Wheezer on a wire

Strange thing I did a couple weeks ago...

I climbed straight up a 20 foot pole (telephone pole type thingy), walked 40 feet across an awfully thin cable while holding onto two ropes, and trusted someone not to let me plummet to the ground in my little harness.

Note: I will NOT EVER EVER EVER EVER NEVER AGAIN do that.

Thanks!

The Libertarian in me likes...

This came out some time in the 80s (as evidenced by the Reagan and Tip O'Neal references), but it pretty well summarizes my attitude about our current legislators.

THE 545 PEOPLERESPONSIBLE FOR ALL
OF AMERICA'S WOES

BY CHARLEY REESE

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code. Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy. Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 235 million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.

I excluded all but the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it.

No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislation's responsibility to determine how he votes.

A CONFIDENCE CONSPIRACY

Don't you see how the con game that is played on the people by the politicians? Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of Tip O'Neill, who stood up and criticized Ronald Reagan for creating deficits.

The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating appropriations and taxes.O'neill is the speaker of the House. He is the leader of the majority party. He and his fellow Democrats, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetos it, they can pass it over his veto.

REPLACE SCOUNDRELS

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 235 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.

I can't think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.

When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in Lebanon, it's because they want them in Lebanon.

There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take it.

Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation" or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people and they alone are responsible. They and they alone have the power. They and they alone should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided they have the gumption to manage their own employees.

This article was taken from the Orlando Sentinel Star newspaper

Friday, April 24, 2009

Not a hoax, for once

Received one of those fwd: fwd: fwd: e-mails this week. In a rare occurrence, I actually looked at the e-mail, and verified the story! Navy/Marine Corps are trying to locate individuals stationed on and/or living on Camp LeJeune, NC from 1957 through 1987. The drinking water was contaminated, and they are trying to locate those affected by the contaminated water.

Article from the Stars and Stripes here: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=62156

I wish this one had been a hoax...

Monday, April 20, 2009

Funny for the day

Letter to a bank:

Dear Sirs,

In view of current developments in the banking market, if one of my checks is returned marked "insufficient funds," does that refer to me or to you?

Sincerely

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Race for the Cure

We made our annual 1K pilgrimage today. The Susan G. Komen Race for the cure. And, in a feat never-before-accomplished by the Wheezer family... we came in DEAD LAST!!!!! Yaaaaayyyyy us!

It was kind of funny listening to the announcer strongly urging the remaining people (us!) by the finish line to get out of the way. The timed runners for the 5k were coming through any minute.

Go us!

I have got to stop reading political stuff

Reading some commentary on the economy, I ran across this lovely gem of a comment:

I wonder if they found the clue as to why conservatives are a brainless , selfish , untrustworthy bunch of CIA name revealing traitors ?

Charming, huh?

As a conservative type person, I can honestly state that:
1. I am not brainless. Although, I do have boneheaded moments.
2. My charitable contributions are now and have been a significantly higher percentage of my income than Barack Obama's. Significantly! (You can Google his returns and see for yourself his typical charitable contribution rates.)
3. My family, friends and employer have all found me trustworthy.
4. I have had zero contact with the CIA. and
5. I have never categorically assigned a derisive description to all liberals. I save that for specific individuals, like the hate-filled bit of nonsense above.

The hyperbole of the comment just drives me bananas. And I see it everywhere! I completely understand resentment from the more liberal part of our population. I'm feeling a considerable amount of resentment myself. Name calling is incredibly immature, and this blind hatred is destructive. Can't we JUST GROW UP!!!!!!

Oh, and I see it plenty from hate-filled conservative bits of nonsense. It's beyond disgusting.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Inquiring Minds...

Who REALLY thinks a kid's meal only needs one napkin?
Nobody who has met my kids.

How far will my car REALLY go after the fuel light comes on?
Hoping I don't find out, since Mr. W. would never let me live it down.

Is it REALLY worth the expense of having a birthday party outside the house?
In a word? YES!!!!! Birthday party for S. to be held at local museum. We may just do all birthday parties there.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Because I've Lost My Everloving Mind, That's Why

Question: Why am I busily handcrafting birthday party invitations at 10:30 at night? See above.
I am the new owner of a Cricut Expression. This little gizmo cuts out just about any diecut my little heart can imagine. I'm having a ball with it, and so are the older girls. We've printed Tinkerbell fairies, big flowers, little flowers and even little banners with the girls' names. S. and L. have had a ball 'helping' me load the paper and push the buttons to cut things out.

I'm printing the ladybug layout I designed all by my little lonesome to act as S.' birthday party invitations. I used the trial version of the Design Studio software to make the ladybugs (using the Accent Essentials and Plantin Schoolbook cartridges that came with the machine). I'm not ready to fork over the additional money for the full version of the software. It's got some annoying limitations, but it does work with the existing cartridges. There is another application that does not work with the cartridges but will allow the user to design anything with it. I'm torn, but think I will wait until Christmas to ask for one of them from Santa.

Ugh, this turned into a product review. I do enjoy my new toy, and a girl has to have something to reward herself for doing her icky, icky taxes, right?

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Public Service Announcement - Miss Otis Regrets

To all the people who keep finding my blog using the Google search: Mrs Otis Regrets

The song you are looking for is 'Miss Otis Regrets' not Mrs.

Thank you!

Earth Hour?

So Earth Hour is scheduled for tonight. Interesting concept where you turn off all unnecessary lights for an hour in an attempt to draw attention to the global-warning cause. Conserving electricity is an admirable thing, but the pictures I've seen from around the world of individuals celebrating Earth Hour have me scratching my head.

The one thing they all have in common is lit candles. Ummmm... burning petroleum-based candles releases quite a bit more CO2 than when the electricity for incandescent lightbults is generated.

It is exactly this sort of publicity stunt and the hype accompanying it that leaves people scratching their heads trying to figure out exactly WHO is right when it comes to global climate issues. I am one of those people.

Burning candles instead of burning lightbulbs for the sake of reducing greenhouse emissions? That is completely nonsensical and destroys quite a bit of credibility for the 'man-made-global-warming-is-bad' group. Whatever happened to non-politicized science?

Friday, March 27, 2009

Sleep...

My department head and his wife have 10 children together. He claims that child-induced stress levels top out with kid number 4. I have no idea if this is true, and I will never find out.

With both of us working outside the home fulltime, three kids is plenty. With A. waking up every two hours for weeks on end, one is more than enough.

I think I am officially moving past the 'I want another child' stage, and into the 'it's gonna be great when everyone is potty-trained' stage of my parenting life.

Actually, lately, it's been, 'I can't wait until I feel comfortable sending all three to Grandma's house.' I suspect that will change once I actually get a few nights with more than 4 hours' sleep.

The combination of A. waking nightly and the stress of my job waking me nightly has really burned me out. I just hope I can hold out through April. May does not look as bad on the work front...

I am looking forward to actually spending time with my little family.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Complete Idiocy... and Heartlessness

There are times the insurance industry lives up to its less than stellar reputation. Great American Insurance put on an exceptionally brilliant performance.

There was a fire in an office building (set by an incredibly, mind-bogglingly stupid person, but that's a whole 'nother story). Three people died from smoke inhalation. Great American denied the liability claim stating that there was a pollution exclusion in the liability policy.

I am well aware of this exclusion. Denying a claim because victims of a malicious fire had the audacity to suffocate to death rather than be burnt is NOT THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THIS EXCLUSION!!!!!!!

I cannot believe 2 facts in this case.

1. Great American following this ridiculous path
2. The IDIOT judge who endorsed it

The case has been dropped, which is good. However, the families of the victims absolutely should NOT have had to go through this.

Here's an article summarizing the case: http://www.businessinsurance.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=14845

There may very well be excellent grounds for denying the claim. I am not informed of all the particulars. However, the pollution exclusion is NOT IT.

Update: I've been asking around, and I am not alone in my assessment. Basically, the entire insurance industry is in an uproar over this idiocy. It threatens time-tested contractual language and has royally ticked off the Texas Department of Insurance. And, it has messed up one of my major projects at work. I am still so angry about this. Something about watching people in my professional area behave like unethical raging morons really gets to me.

Monday, March 02, 2009

I am sad today...

After a battle with cancer lasting over 3 years, Miss C. has passed away.

Too Funny

My blog is the first return for a Google search on: forfeit of rental deposit in qatar

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

New Quote for the Day

Watching politicians solve problems and keep us "safe" is like watching chipmunks discuss quantum physics.

This lovely quote appeared in the comments section of an article I read concerning a Houston City Council proposal to give people who can't quite get the credit score they need to buy a house $3,000 dollars. The idiocy is mindnumbing.

Also, why-oh-why would people even think that a homebuyer's assistance program is a good idea? Why is renting considered sinful? I just don't get it at all.


Article: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6277344.html

Monday, February 23, 2009

Conversation at Dinner

S: Do boys get more baths than girls?

Mrs. W: What?

S: Do boys get more baths than girls?

Mrs. W: Say that again?

S: Do boys get more baths than girls?

Mrs. W: Boys usually get as many baths as girls... Why do you ask?

S: Boys are more stinky than girls.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

So very, very many firsts

February 6th. 1st Birthday

Amelia turned 1 year old. How, oh how, did the time fly by so quickly. She is a joy and a raging terror at the same time. Her curiosity is infinite, along with her ability to get into trouble. I had her home with her oldest sister one day, when I thought they were both sick. During the course of the day, I wore out my voice and my back redirecting her and pulling her out of trouble.

She ripped the covers off some books, shredded the pages and began eating them. She got into the bathroom and shredded a good portion of a roll of toilet paper. She snatched a chunk of fur off the cat and ate it. She pitched multiple royal fits when she found she could not get into certain drawers and cupboards. And on and on and on.

February 7th. - Our first shared birthday party and house fire.

In a fit of 'efficiency' mindedness, I decided we could combine A.'s 1st birthday with L.'s 4th birthday. L. is still young enough not to mind, and A. is still clueless. I figure that will change very, very soon.

We invited a bunch of people to our house, including a couple of L.'s buddies from daycare. The kids all had a great time running around like hooligans. The adults seemed to enjoy themselves, too, thanks to Mr. W.'s provisions. Honestly, he tends to put enough food out to feed an entire professional football team.

Now, I know you're DYING to hear about the housefire. Weelllll... I baked a cake early-ish in the morning and did not like how it turned out. So, I baked a second late-ish in the morning (party was scheduled to start at 2). In a rather stupid attempt to speed things along, I popped the baked cake under the broiler in order to toast the marshmallow topping just a wee bit faster. It should have been in there for a minute. Just as I shut the oven door, S. slammed L.'s fingers in a door. I completely forgot about the cake while kissing boo-boos and yelling at the door slammer until smoke and flames started pouring out of my oven. Seriously, I had scorch marks on my white oven door handle.

I managed to get the fire out without hosing down the inside of my oven with fire extinguisher stuff, but my house was FULL of smoke. You know how when you're a kid, the firefighters come and tell you that smoke rises? They're not kidding... at all. I put the charcoal cake out on the back porch so it would quit smoking up the house. It made for quite the conversation piece during the party.

My husband and his dad are two peas in a pod. During the conflagration, Mr. W. was out of the house picking up balloons. His first response when he got home? Maybe we can scrape off the top. When I showed him exhibit A., he said, 'Never mind.' When my father in law heard the story, his first response was, 'Maybe we can scrape off the top.' When I showed HIM the wreckage, he just started laughing to the point tears were forming. I've got a good picture of the cake, but I'm not sure where Mr. W. stashed his camera. I'll post it when I can.

February 8. - First broken molar

The tooth my dentist said needed a crown decided to start falling to pieces. Fortunately, this was not especially painful. Getting the crown later in the week was less than pleasant. Getting the bill was even less pleasant.

My dentist would give Doogie Houser a run for his money. This makes me feel old. Only old people need crowns (yes, I know how that sounds) and only old people fuss about how young their doctor is. Seriously, I thought the guy was a high schooler doing some sort of work study until I realized he wasn't there for giggles.

February 12. - First cancer diagnosis

Technically, my dad got his cancer diagnosis earlier than the 11th, but that is the day I got the news. It's supposed to be taken care of with surgery, but still, the 'C' word is scary stuff.

On the one hand, it feels unreal. I'm staunchly in the middle of the denial stage. Because, you know, it's just not possible for your parent to have a life-threatening illness. It's just impossible.

On the other hand, I'm kind of mad. How could something so nasty be growing on my oh-so-wonderful dad?

February 17th. - First word

Miss A. has decided to offend both her dad and me by her choice of first word. S. and L. both said 'dada' first. I have been working with A. trying to get a 'mama' for first word. Nothing doing with her, though. Instead, it's 'ka! ka! ka!' for one of our cats. Her second word is 'kee ka' which she uses for our other cat.

I could handle falling behind dad, but coming after not one but two cats? I get no respect.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The future of Florida?

Working in the insurance industry, I've heard for years how there has been a frightening amount of over building along the Florida coast. Now that the housing bubble is bursting, home values are plummeting... Tax rolls for Florida are not going to be pretty in 2009, and I wonder how many governments will go bankrupt..

There are tons of listings in Detroit for homes where the price tag is less than $10,000 (that is not a typo). Here's one: http://www.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?pg=103&srcnt=1108&sid=cd7f0921a98c4f75ab5ca2d3144355e3&fhcnt=18&loc=detroit%2c+michigan&usrloc=detroit%2c+michigan&bd=4&bth=4&typ=1&ml=8&fhpg=3&lid=1105962986&lsn=1026

Will Florida be left to decay until hurricanes come along and take care of the over building?

The economy is scaring me, and I am anticipating a depression...

Monday, January 12, 2009

Neato thingy I learned...

I've been annoyed that I can't listen to my MP3 player while it is charging on my computer. However, there's a pretty easy fix for that.

1. Take a little piece of paper and cover the middle two wires inside the USB plug. Carefully plug the cable into your computer without dislodging the paper. I think you want to be extra careful to JUST cover the middle two since I am fairly certain the outer two are made up of one live and one ground. You don't want to fry your lovely MP3 player.

2. Plug your player in the other end and voila! The computer is not trying to 'talk' to the player, but electricity will still travel into the player.

I don't know how many players this works for, but it did well on my little Sansa Clip.

Irreverence...

Dave Barry blog post has me laughing pretty hard this afternoon. Actually, the Tempo of the Comets Probed my funny bone...

http://blogs.herald.com/dave_barrys_blog/2009/01/god-is-a-ford-m.html#comments

Friday, January 09, 2009

Hanging up the Horns

10 months for S.
12 months for L.
11 months for A.

That is 2 years, 9 months of my life devoted to pumping milk at work for my babies. I'm through!

No, A. is not weaned. No, I am not giving up pumping altogether. I am just done hauling the pump and paraphernalia back and forth to work every day. Of all the drudgery that accompanies pumping, the back-and-forth aspect isthe most onerous (to me, anyway).

When L. was a baby, I bought a second pump so I could leave one at work. However, in a moment of 'we're never having any more babies, so why do I need two pumps'-itis, I sold one to a co-worker. Since we are now 100% committed to 'we're never having any more babies'-itis, I decided not to fork over the large chunk of change for a new pump.

This is only day 2 of no pumping during the work day, and I'm pretty uncomfortable. I'll pump when I get home, though and am guaranteed to get at least 10 ounces. Actually, yesterday, I managed to extract 12.

I felt oddly naked walking into work yesterday. All I carried was my purse. It's been a very long time since I didn't have a laptop or pump to haul in with me in the morning. This morning was easier since I had the laptop.

Based on previous experience, A. will wean around 14 months old following a steady decline in breastmilk production. Since she was 11 months on Tuesday, this very special time is drawing to a close. I don't miss the pregnancy part of having a baby, but boy do I love nursing my little girls. Is it bad that I hope A. breaks the trend and nurses to 18 months?