Ten Thoughts Tuesday.

Yipes, once again haven't blogged lately. It's not for a lack of material, either. Time? Nope. Had the time, too. Motivation. Yup, that's pretty much it. No motivation.

Besides, I liked doing the ten thoughts blogs, so I waited a whole week almost to blog. LOL.

So ... here we go ...

1) Gremlin sighting!! Big time. Starts with Single Son's coffee pot having flooding issues. To use it after a flood he'd have to use the hair dryer to dry the electronics. Yes, there's a blow dryer in my kitchen. Oy. Then the other day he's washing the pot, and breaks it. No problem, we have a few old coffee pots in storage. Three were eliminated (read thrown out) for various reasons. The only coffee maker to survive is one of those miniature four-cup things. He can't use it yet because he needs small filters, the ones we have are way too big (and leave grounds in the pot). He's reduced to what we're calling ghetto coffee ... he saved the filter basket from one of the trashed makers, puts coffee in it, places it on his over-sized coffee mug and pours boiling water over it. Strongest damned coffee I've ever tried. I don't recommend it for the casual coffee drinker. However, it works for off-duty cops who are seriously addicted to their cuppa.

2) Gremlin sighting number two ... Single Son again ... he was sitting at the dining room table talking to me when he leaned back ever so slightly on the vintage 1970s-era breuer chair and THUD! landed on his backside. It took me a few minutes to ask him if he was alright, and that was through my fit of hysterics. The chair is history.

3) Yesterday I went to my folks house to wash the floors, or that was the premise to get me to come over. I get there to find my chore chart has grown to include the front windows, weeding, placing a quilt over a door, putting sheets on the bed, wiping down cupboard doors, weeding and clipping Dad's finger nails. Dad managed to move at just the wrong moment, and I drew blood. I felt bad.

4) While making the bed my Mother was relaying a little story to me ... the night before I was there she had crawled into bed. She snuggles close to Dad and tells him "snookems, you can do anything you wish with my body tonight". Snookems replied "Got a match?"

Considering their 54th wedding anniversary is this coming Wednesday it makes me wonder will I ever find a love that special. Or that demented of a man to spend my old age with.

5) The electrical has finally been fixed from the tree falling. Brother Deere came over on Saturday to work on it. In less than five hours he was done. He'll be back this weekend to remove the tree debris that should have been gone by now. All I need to do now is call the electric company for an inspection, and of course, the phone company will still need to come out and fix the current squirrel issue.

6) And all the issues the squirrels cause here with the phone lines, I still *love* the furry little rodents. Go figure.

7) Question ... if early to bed makes for early to rise ... WHY would you insist a 5 year old get used to early (school) bedtimes if you as the parent are NOT going to rise early with said child. And I'm so not going to be the one to get the kid ready for school in the morning.

8) oh yeah ... LOL ... I don't own a scale. I threw it out years ago. Being able to weigh myself whenever I wanted was too depressing, and if it tipped up (as they tend to do) certain times of the month I really got more depressed. Now I only weigh myself either at the docs office or occasionally at my folks house. And that's just what I did yesterday. I'm down six pounds since last month. Yay! I'm not dieting technically, I just cut out unhealthy snacking. You won't find chips or other snacks around here (well, DIL has some, but I refuse to go into their cupboards). It's grab some fresh fruit when I wanna snack. And it's paying off.

9) The first week of no more unhealthy snacks was the worst. Craving salt all that time. But it was worth it. No more cravings. In fact, I "stole" a chip from Married Son the other night and it was way too salty for me! Now if I could give up my caffeine fix. I know ... eventually I will. But I've found that if I tackle one thing at a time I'm more likely to succeed. First was sweets ... then prepackaged easy make meals ... now salty foods .... maybe one day it will include ciggies. No comments needed about the ciggies, LOL, I know I need to quit .. I just have to be at that place where I want to quit first.

::looks around room:: to see if there's something that may trigger a tenth thought ... nope. Darnit ... always have problems with that last thought or two. I wonder why that is? LOL.

10) Oh ... I know ... I have a cousin (gee that's news?) ... she got me on this swagbucks thing. Search the internet and earn "swagbucks" for doing what I normally do anyway. It's only been two days and I've already earned over a hundred swagbucks. I'm looking at "buying" a tv for the living room or trading my swagbucks in for amazon.com gift cards. It'll take a lot of swagbucks, but hell, it's a FREE tv or stuff from amazon. They even pay postage. Pretty neat stuff. At first I was sort of skeptical (as I'm sure you are), but CK assures me that it's all on the up and up, she's cashed in her bucks for some great gifts. If you like this sort of thing, let me know, I'll send you a referral link through facebook. I get bonus swagbucks for referrals.

Ten Thoughts Tuesday!!

Yes, call CNN! I'm making a blog entry!!

Ten thoughts ... or my best attempt at it. I'm way out of practice here!!

1) It's way too hot for me!! The humidity is killing me here! Ya'll can have your dreams of retiring and wintering in Florida ... me ... I'm gonna summer in the Arctic!

2) Talked to my mom today. She's aware of the whole situation with the Alien, and she's going out of her way to keep in contact with O' Pregnant One. I guess Mom talked to Alien yesterday and found out she's having a boy. Dear Lord ... don't let her name the baby after that moron!!

3) Got my college classes. I'm going easy this term with only four classes. I'll take five next semester, This term I'm taking: Accounting Procedures, Principles of Supervision, Foundamentals of Natural and Life Science and my favorite ... Jewelry Class. Gotta love those general ed requirements!! Hehe. Best of all I'm only on two campuses this term (gee, that's so typical isn't it?). Problem is one of the campuses is the furthest away from my home campus (and home). It'll take me an hour or more to drive the fifteen miles - down one of the busiest traffic corridors in the area.

4) Bought my books for my home campus classes today. I saw the cutest little stuffed squirrel just calling out to "buy me, buy me - you know you want to". I ignored him!! I didn't buy him. Geesh ... you have no idea how hard that was to pass up the "little" guy (who stands about eight inches tall). And now I'm wishing I had!! He was only $25 ... and would be a good driving companion while I'm driving to classes!! He even matches the interior color of my car ... gray! Oh well ... if he's there the next time I'm at the bookstore, maybe ... just maybe I'll adopt him!

Gotta love that smile!!

5) While in line to pay for my books, I got to talking to the gal behind me. Turns out she's in the same science class I'm in - and for the same reason. I'm wondering if she'll be my PITA. You know how I seem to attract one per semester. And since I didn't collect a major PITA the last two semesters, I'm figuring out I'm way overdue!

6) I really need to get a new digital converter box. Ya, already. I've had the one in my bedroom about a year, if that! It's overheating ... and takes forever to "catch" a signal when I first turn it on. I'm really disappointed in the quality of this one. It sucks! LOL ... they sure don't make things like they used to!

7) Have I mentioned I hate summer? The humidity around here is way too high. And I'm not the only one feeling this way, I'm sure.

8) And as is typical of past Ten Thoughts Tuesdays ... I'm running out of thoughts!

So I guess I stop here.

Hope ya'll are well.

 

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

Or as many thoughts as I can get it today. And I'm pretty sure these will all be random thoughts ... it's just been that kind of a week.

1) So ... I didn't make it in time to shoot photos of the annual Flower Fest. Not entirely my fault. I was told that the show wasn't ending until 6 PM ... when I got there at 5 PM they were already packing up the displays! Damn!! Had I been there earlier (which was my sole intention but my car had other plans) then I'd have been fine. Yup, stupid Grand Am decided it wasn't going to cooperate with me on Sunday.

2) Yes, I still have the Grand Am. I haven't been able to pick up the new car yet. I'm hoping that everyone's schedules cooperate this week and I can get the Mercury. Please, please!! I want ... need ... that car!

3) As soon as I get the new car I'm planning a much needed mini-trip to Port Huron. The Grand Am won't let me make the 65 or so mile trip. Just a little beyond our comfort zone, literally. And by our, I mean me and the car!! Heck, the short trip to the Village for the Flower Fest (that I missed) was a nerve-wracking experience.

4) So, the next event to photograph is coming up next Monday. The Memorial Day parade. I'll be there bright and early. I won't be missing this event. Really!! Although, I have to admit they weren't upset I missed the Flower Fest ... there was a lady there who had taken pictures on Saturday that had offered to send her prints over to the station. Whew!!

5) So, now that all the hype of the new Star Trek movie has died down, our lives have returned to their normal pace. In other words, pretty boring. But I'm liking it.

6) Still working on getting all my information plugged back into my family tree program. Geesh, what a lot of work!! And to think I could have saved myself so much aggravation if I'd have backed my files up. I know ... dummy me!! I know better!

7) My enhanced driver's license came today. Just a hair over two weeks since I applied for it. Not bad!! A passport would have taken so much longer, that's for sure. I can honestly say I like the picture on this license. That hasn't happened in decades!! But the best thing is I can now get into Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas by "land or water" without having to possess a passport. Well, Canada anyway. I don't see any trips to Mexico or the Bahama's in my future. LOL.

8) These kittens are nuts!! OMG!! Shimera, the momma cat, won't eat out of her dish, but will rip a hole in the 18 pound cat food bag and eat it out of the bag. Can we say picky kitty? Finicky. Then yesterday I found one of the kittens actually sleeping in the bag of cat food! One of the other kittens loves to sleep in Married Son's old smelly work boots. The third prefers to sleep in a box I left out for them to play in. I still haven't come up with a good name for the kitten I'm keeping. But I have the feeling it'll either be Star Trek related or a name that has to do with one of her personality quirks. And yes, it's a girl. I finally remembered to check! LOL!

9) I really need to get off my behind and clean out the Grand Am. Get it ready for DIL to take possession of it this week. Of course, she's got some things she left in it ... so I'll just leave that crap in there for her to worry about. A winter jacket ... some of Grandson's clothes ... a pair of shoes. It'll be so nice once she has her own car and doesn't need to borrow (or trash) mine!!

10) Absolutely nothing else to *report*. Like I said, things have returned to normal. Dull. Boring. Just the way I like it!! No drama!! Yay!!

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) Quick! Somebody call CNN!! I remembered the ten thoughts this week!

2) The accounting exam was a total bust. I won't say my grade, but it was definitely "Titanic" ... that is, below C level. Get it? Sea level. The good news is that going through the exam during class we discovered that the answer key was wrong!! Yeah, almost a full 25% of the answers weren't correct on the damned thing. Not Teachers fault ... the tests are provided by the textbook writers. So, Teacher is tossing out this exam. Yeah!!

3) Before I could take a Law test today I had to run to the bookstore for more scantrons. Just so happens today was Student Fun Day. Coming out of the bookstore, one of the volunteers for the Fun Day grabbed me by the arm (luckily for that person I knew him from a previous class) and told me to "Spin the Wheel ... all Spins WIN". What the hell. I had a few minutes before I had to be in the classroom. Wheel spins ... spins ... spins ... and lands on "Money Shower". SHIT!! That means I have to jump into the clear shower curtain enclosure whilst they turn on the blower and see how much fake money I can catch mid-air. And with LOTS of witnesses, too!! Don't know what my exact dollar amount was, but I won a college t-shirt and a book bag with my earnings. And that was only using one hand to catch, the other to hold what I caught. Had I used my noggin I'd have zipped up my hoodie and stuffed "Raider Bucks" down my ample front. Ah well. Live and learn.

4) Law test went okay. Only a few brain farts during the hour long 50 question test. Luckily, I could find most of those answers in subsequent questions.

5) Tomorrow is my "Invention Presentation". Teacher asks for volunteers, so I'll see if I can go first. Can't wait. Got my power-point presentation all done. Should be fun. I used a lot of humor in this presentation. I mean, how serious can the "Project-a-Bowl" be? I did find the neatest flash drive while looking online  for pictures to put in my slide show. It's a bowling pin flash drive. Too cool! LOL!

6) I think I need to take up bowling again. The "Project-a-Bowl" reminded me of how therapeutic is was to pretend the headpin was the person of my stress and to knock 'em down! Yes, when I was going through divorce #1 I used to pretend that Exie-pooh was the headpin. Damned if I didn't improve my average doing that ... and lowered my blood pressure, too.

7) Care to guess who I'd put an image of on a bowling pin? If you guessed Alien ... good for you. I still haven't heard from her either. It's to the point I quit trying. She'll get a hold of me when she's good and ready. I'm not going to stress over it.

8) Only four more weeks of school and then summer vacation! Yeah!! I'd never have thought at my age I'd be saying "yay summer break". But then ... who'da thunk that I'd be pushing 50 and finally getting that degree after all these years? LOL!

9) So ... knowing I'm so looking forward to no school for three months what do I do? I go and sign up for Ham Radio Classes! Yes. Can you believe it? Ham Radio!! What I'll do with the license I'll hopefully get at the end of the session I don't know. I'd hoped (still do) that I can work at least part of the year with Married Son and his Pilot Trucking business, where we'll use Ham Radios to communicate whilst on the road. But, that's up in the air until next summer (pilot ... up in the air ... really that pun wasn't intended). I'll be able to do Elsie's Attic from the road, too ... or else I'd never consider trying to do both.

10) Can someone please tell Mother Nature that spring is here? We got almost 6 inches of snow yesterday, and flurries all day today.

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

Wow, been a while since I've done a ten thoughts entry.

1) Getting test grades back. Did okay on my government test. Got a 76%. Well, not that great, but when you consider the class average was 72% (only one student graded above my 76), then it's good. Just handed in my accounting test yesterday (the take home test). Won't know until next week how I did on that one. The remaining two tests I will get my grades on later this week.

2) Getting very frustrated with the Elsie's Attic web page I'm trying to set up. Getting to the point I may hit "DELETE" and start all over again. I don't know what's going wrong, neither does Single Son who has been my consultant through all of this. He's now offering to design and host my site for me. I'm really tempted, too. But that'd put my website offline for about another month. Oh wait ... it's not online now thanks to technical issues.

3) WTH is it with Married Son and trees? Last week his truck seized up, so he had to buy a new one. Three days with the *new* truck and he ran into a tree delivering papers in the middle of the night. Oh, I should probably mention that the last three vehicles he's owned have had minor run-ins with trees. I've since labeled him *The Splinter Kid*.

4) Speaking of my sons ... we're now back to everyone has their own vehicles back!! Single Son's van is finally back on the road and Married Son didn't damage the truck too bad that he can't drive it. Even DIL has the use of a van that Exie Poo has loaned to her. New rule, though, is that I park in the driveway. They all get the gravel parking in the front yard. I'm the only one with a car ... their big assed vehicles are better able to park on the uneven gravel. So far, so good. They've all been adhering to the "Mom's Driveway" rule.

5) Now a thought on ex husbands. Ran into Bubba up at the Chinese restaurant last week at the Star Trek meeting. He tells me he needs to talk to me alone. So outside to the parking lot we go to talk. What a waste of my time. Although, it was a reminder (if I ever need one) on one of the reasons I divorced him. He's an idiot. Actually tried to get me to apologize for divorcing him and fighting for custody of Alien. He's still ignorant as hell, too.

6) As much as I love this house ... and have decided to stay in Michigan and fight out the economic depression here, I'm seriously thinking of moving to another part of the state when I can afford it. With both ex husbands living in town, I can't go anywhere without running into one of them (or their families). I need to go somewhere that is ex free! Maybe living down the road from my folks will be the solution (or in their basement apartment). That way I'll be closer to them to help them out.

7) Folks ... now there's a subject that has me rolling my eyes lately. I blogged about the "community project" where I had to teach them certain relaxation techniques. What I didn't blog about was Mom asking me to trim her toe nails. Just nasty!! Damn things were freaking talons!! Next time I take the chain saw. Hope no one was eating while reading this.

8) Oh oh oh! Yesterday was one of those "Feel Good" days. I was sitting outside at school having a smoke. Young girl walks up, asks if she can buy a ciggie for a buck. I gave it to her. We got to talking. She was complaining that her white purse was showing signs of wear and asked me if it was obvious. It was. I told her, it looks a little dingy, but nothing that I don't think you can't clean. She commented on "I need a black purse like yours". I told her that with my busy schedule and a three year old grandson it's the only color I own. The double take she did was precious. "Grandson. No way. You're too young". I asked her how old she thought I was ... 39 she said. Told her ten years older and that she's my favorite person on campus!! I sorta thought that since she got the ciggies for free she was being nice. LOL! But I tell ya, I had a smile on my face for a long time after that.

9) Telling Mom about the above, Mom comments with ... You gave her Leader Dog a treat, I hope.

10) Guess I wrap it up here. Got a power point presentation to polish up for tomorrow's marketing class. We get to do a presentation on "my favorite thing" (product, business, service). I've chosen Elsie's Attic.

Ten Thoughts ... Wednesday?

1) Test today in Marketing. Went pretty well. Won't know how I did on it for a week, but I'm feeling pretty comfy I didn't do too bad.

2) Married Son needed to borrow my car for a few minutes today. He only had to run to the store, and because it was raining didn't want to take Grandson with him. Grandson didn't want to stay with me, until he found out I had an unopened can of Pringle's. Needless to say I couldn't get rid of him after that. Kid happy, until the Pringle's were gone!! Meijer's has them 5 for $5, looks like I'll be running up to the store tomorrow after school to stock up on bribes!

3) Woo Hoo ... Saturday is almost here!! Saturday is the day the Star Trek Exhibit opens at the Detroit Science Center. They're having a *uniformed* members only preview on Friday. Drats!! Still no official uniform so I can't go.

4) Probably a good thing I can't go on Friday, this way I can devote the day to the take-home Accounting exam that needs attention.

5) Tomorrow is Stress Management. Gym day. Ya, gym day. Haven't had one of those since elementary school. I almost feel like a kid again, too. I can finally wear the shoes I bought last week! No, they still don't allow *street shoes* on the gymnasium floor so I have to carry my shoes in a shoe bag and put them on right before gym. Remember shoe bags?

6) FInally got around to ordering my checks for my new checking account. Check 'em out! Are those not me to a tee? I showed them to Alien, she thinks that the green one was designed with me in mind!

7) Speaking of Alien. I see on her myspace that she's *engaged*. When I asked her about it the other day she said she only puts *engaged* so that guys leave her alone. Riiiiiiiiiiight, and I believe that? NOT! Not the way she and her new beau act towards each other. Although I have to admit, he seems to be a nice guy. That he's 13 years older than she, I have a problem with.

8) Did I mention I'm geeked about the upcoming Star Trek Exhibit? I'll be driving Downtown with Alien and her whatever-he-is. Figure I'll try to get to know this guy better in a public environment ... and if the transporter happen to work ... I can beam his ass outta here until she's 18!

9) I am so taking a bath later. I need to relax! Cherry blossom scented body wash here I come. Thanks again Amy!! Would it sound really weird to say  that I now think of you whenever I bathe? Ya ... that sounds wrong on so many levels!!

10) Damn. I was just about to put a load of laundry in. Now I have to wait ... someone (DIL?) just jumped in the shower. We have one of those safety valve things on the plumbing (per building code regulations) but it works for crap. We lose water pressure if more than one thing is using water at a time (washer, dishwasher, sink, toilet, etc). Had we left the original plumbing alone (not bringing it up to code) we could shower, flush and do laundry at the same time without effecting the water pressure or temperature. Sometimes it's best to just leave stuff alone. Don't tell the Code Cops that, though.

Wednesday Thoughts ...

1) Well geesh, I forgot another Tuesday's thoughts. Probably a good thing, didn't have ten thoughts yesterday. I'm sure I could have dug 'em up, but it would have been a stretch.

2) I'm freakin' froze! Some oversight (not on my part, really) caused the gas bill to go unpaid and 30 days past due. Thus ... the gas was shut off two days ago. The only thing keeping me warm is my anger over the whole situation ... I pay my share of the bills on time. I can't understand why the bills I'm not responsible for go to collection (or shut off).. Of course, now that I've been handed the money to pay the bill it's too late to go pay it today. So ... another night of shivering. Tomorrow morning I'll pay the bill myself - which may make me late for class and I have a test tomorrow. At least the bill payment center is on the way to school - I pass it daily. Oh yeah, and the new policy around here is - you give me the money for your share of the bills a week before they're due and I WILL PAY THEM. This is twice in two years this has happened!! Ain't gonna happen again. No sirree!

3) Ah yes ... if I had ever forgotten, this is reminder on why I want the empty nest. No one would live with me, then I'd know if the bill went unpaid ... or ... really ... they'd be paid on time. And I'd be sitting in a warm house when the outside temps are around 20.

4) So ... thought I'd head up to Sears today to charge a space heater on my card. Ha! That wasn't meant to be. Seems that Sears closed my account. It had been over a year since I charged anything on it ... thirteen months to be exact. At the 12 month mark they closed the damned account. And they won't reopen it for me. I have to re-apply for a charge card. With a recent bankruptcy on my record, I highly doubt they'll give me a new account - especially considering I'm still waiting on the final *release of debt* papers that will be required for any charge account I open for the next few years.

5) Still no sign of the missing Shiloh. And it looks like Shamira isn't preggers. Bummer for  Shiloh's going AWOL. A big YAY for Shamira.

6) On the bright side ... the PITA problem is under control, at least this week. LOL. Because of the snow storm I drove myself (instead of having Single Son drop me off) and the parking lots were still un-plowed so I decided to park where I normally do (nice and close to the building). PITA showed up about twenty minutes late for class (damn, I was hoping she'd be missing and I wouldn't have to deal with it). And I only had to tell one itsy-bitsy white lie. I told her I couldn't take her home as I wasn't going that way. She had the nerve to ask if 1) I would be able to detour (Sorry, the roads are bad, I can't) and 2) she could borrow $2 (which I didn't give her). I guess she figured I'd drive her home so she didn't worry about the bus fare back. Just to justify my little white lie I did take a different route home. Right to the Sears store.

7) Did I mention I'm freezing? Two pairs of socks ... two sweaters ... heavy blue jeans ... and when I'm not typing my knitted gloves are on my frozed fingers. There's a felt scarf hanging around my neck. A candle on my keyboard tray (there's room, really!!) offers a quick warm up when I need one. All I want right now is some warmth ... ah ... a HOT bath sounds sooooooo good!

8) I'm ready for spring! I'm even ready for baseball season ... and I don't like baseball. We had a guest speaker in class today. One of the owners and managers of a Frontier League MiLB (minor league baseball) team called the Waterford Cruisers. Or ... they will be the Cruisers once they've moved to Waterford. Their baseball park is being built just down the road from here, in the all but abandoned Summit Place Mall that I've blogged about in the past on my old 360 blog. Summit Place is practically a ghost town now. It'll be nice to have a long term revenue (and job) generating operation in the area. I was really impressed with this guy - and the year round plans they've made for the park! It's going to bring a lot of hope to a dying area. Yeah, it could very well make a baseball fan out of me yet!

Here's an article in today's local paper ... Cruisers Baseball Academy To Open Soon.

And they're talking about public stock available sometime this year ... hell yeah! Count me in! These guys are investing in my community, you bet your sweet arse I'll invest in them.

9) Number nine and the thoughts are dwindling. Or ... are they frozen deep within me? Not sure ... all I know is they aren't coming to me. Hmmmmm, a little family gossip, I guess ... I've blogged in the past about my Aunt Silly. Her husband is in the hospital. Has been for quite some time. He's a pace-maker patient, has spinal stenosis (painful spine condition) and heavens knows what else. He's had some weird reaction to his meds ... he's been hallucinating something awful. Pretty scary stuff. So, please, I'm asking for him and Aunt Silly that you include him in your prayers.

10) Off to study. Have a test tomorrow in Stress Management class. Better open the book and read it, eh? No stress, though, it's an open book test. A quick read of the three chapters should be about all I'll need. I hear her tests are pretty darned easy, too. Still, I best go read the material, eh?

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) Still fighting this cold or flu or whatever it is. Think I'm finally winning. I haven't sneezed in a whole half hour now, LOL!

2) I really need to run up to the campus bookstore and get my textbooks. The semester starts next week and I'm not prepared. I know it's probably too late to snag up any good used textbooks. The price one pays for procrastination!

3) I think I'm ready to head back to the classroom. I know I moan when I have so much homework, but in all honesty, I miss school. Remind me of that in a few weeks when I'm up to my arse in homework!

4) I'm just wondering how I'll be able to devote all that time to homework if and when Married Son and crew move in. Probably have to invest in some soundproof headphones, or head up to either the public library or the campus library. Or both. LOL.

5) Wow, I just realized that my spare time is gonna become extinct again. So much for catching up on past episodes of Star Trek. And ya, that's what I've been doing with my time. I don't know enough trivia to be an active part of the big Star Trek Exhibit at the Detroit Science Center, but hey ... at least when I'm a paying patron and official USS Sinclair Historian (photographer, LOL) of the Exhibit I'll be able to show off a little with some trivia facts. Hehe.

6)  Well, since I'm talking Star Trek ... Ya'll know I'm a card carrying, certified Trekkie. Recently our *ship* voted to decommission from the Starfleet organization, at least temporarily (long story, all related to politics really). The ship will stay intact, in fact we've gained a few new members since we decommissioned. Personally, I will retain my Starfleet membership - I'll just be without a *ship*. I've also joined a new group in the meantime. The "Space Station Bounty". A place for other ships that have also left Starfleet but want to maintain the camaraderie and friendships made while in Starfleet. Should be fun!

7) Speaking of Starfleet ... Single Son not only decided to stay with Starfleet, he's an active member. He has just been promoted to Starfleet Marine Corps Brigadier (next step is Brigadier General and then General). He's also the Regional Director of our Starfleet Region.

8)  Another cool thing I just found out ... as a college student and Starfleet member, I am entitled to a $500 Scholarship per semester. Not too shabby for a Fan Club, eh?

9) I've also decided that somewhere I'm going to find the time to a) attend college, b) open the store this spring and c) attend Starfleet Academy and work toward my degree in Starfleet's Business School. Show  the naysayers that a Ferengi female can make it in the world ... I mean Universe.

10) Ya ... I'm a geek. And proud of it.

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) It's going to be difficult to adjust to life without Ringo. Silly little things, like not being assaulted when I am in the kitchen (he thought the sole reason I had for being in the kitchen was to feed him), going to the bathroom (his favorite perch was atop my shoulders or nestled in my drawers), walking down the hall at night (being a black cat he was hard to see in the dark, and he took advantage of that by weaving between my feet as I walked in the dark) and reading (he loved to pretend he was a bookmark and would flop on half of whatever I was reading). Even Shiloh (now the King of the Castle) misses him. He's still wandering around the house looking for his buddy, meowing loudly as he searches.

2) Ringo wasn't allowed to eat canned food. It did miserable things to his digestive system. So, yesterday when I went shopping I bought Shiloh a new water/food bowl and a dozen or so cans of canned cat food. I figured maybe the new bowl would not smell of Ringo ... and the food, well, to Shiloh it was a new experience, that's for sure. I seem to have created a monster now! He turns his nose up at his one-time favorite "Meow Mix". But I think it's going to work. He actually ate for the first time since Ringo's been gone. And then promptly proceeded to meow for a refill!

3) We're one step closer to Married Son moving in. One of the conditions of having a dog in the house is that he has a crate that he can be put in over night. Part of that was because of Ringo's stress levels, part because Hondo (the dog) is a chewer. I just can't leave him unsupervised at night. I may not have a sofa - or recliner - when we wake up in the morning. Well, yesterday Exie-pooh brought over a dog crate for Hondo. I still am not sure where it'll be set up.

4) Speaking of Married Son. I guess all is not quiet on the marital front. He was here yesterday telling me that he may be the only one moving in. He and DIL are at each others throats constantly. He's thinking that maybe a separation period is needed for them to both cool their heels. Her (and Grandson) at her folks, him here. Dog with her, cat with him.

5) Ya know, I love my kids dearly. But I'm really dreading the drama that comes with one (or all) moving back in. Not just the drama, but the noise, the chaos and the loss of privacy.

6) Geesh ... five thoughts and I'm so not coming up with more ...

7) Oh, yeah. LOL. I finally got to pick up my new eyeglasses today. Actually, they were ready to be picked up on December 22, only the eye doctor forgot to call me to say they were in. But I got 'em. My prescription changed a lot in the twelve months since I got my last pair. I didn't realize it until I put them on. Amazing to be able to see clearly again, I tell ya! I like these new frames. I'll have to see if I can get someone to snap a pic of me wearing them.

8) Good thing I don't have much of a social life right now, LOL! Single Son just asked me if he can borrow my car on New Year's Eve. He has to work at the police department, they're having their annual "Resolution Run". Sure ... take the car. I won't be needing it, LOL. And no, his van still isn't on the road. Hopefully soon.

9) Resolutions. Nope, I don't make them. Haven't since I was a kid. Promising one day a year to make those changes you want (need) to make in your life only sets you up for failure. Instead ... I *resolved* to make changes as I see the need for them - and not save them up for the end of the year.

10) 2008 is one year I doubt I'll miss. Been a rough one for most of us. May 2009 be a year of improvement for each and every one of us.

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) I keep telling myself to take a deep breath, classes will be over next week and all these group activities will be over. Then again, my luck, next semester will bring new opportunities to work in group projects in class. Have I mentioned how much I hate group projects?

2) Had to go to Downtown Detroit today. Took Mom with me. A year and a half in the works and now my bankruptcy is all but done. One final step and I'll be free of those medical bills and credit cards my ex dumped on me.

3) While we were driving through the downtown area, I had to be glad that Helen and I met in Chicago. The part of Detroit we were in I didn't feel comfortable in at all. There's no way I'd have felt comfortable walking around after dark like we did in Chi. Mom was pretty sad about the condition of the city. She grew up very close to Downtown and worked there for years ... it's sadly decayed from those days. Even with the current efforts to improve the city it's got a long way to go before I'd consider going back down there if I don't need to.

4) All's not quiet on the DIL front. Married Son and Grandson were over yesterday while DIL was at work. I got another ear-full from him. He's not happy in the marriage, and admits that the marriage may end if she doesn't stop thinking of only herself. How she thinks she's going to dictate the rules in my home. How she pisses away money on needless crap - all the while bitching about how he needs to work more hours so she can have spending money. I guess the fact Married Son works his ass off means nothing to her?

5) All the while Grandson was enjoying sliding down the stairs - something DIL forbids him from doing ... being a little boy and belly sliding down the stairs. Or getting dirty ... or running around chasing Ringo.

6) I've mentioned DIL hates my cat, Ringo. The feeling is mutual. He goes into hiding when she's over - but will come out of hiding when Grandson is around. He loves that kid with a passion and let's Grandson do anything and everything to him. So, why does she hate Ringo? Who knows?! He's got a problem with nibbling, as in if you stop petting him before he's had enough, he will nibble your hand until you start petting him again. I hear it's something that Maine Coon's are famous for. Anyway ... he doesn't bite hard, but by the way DIL reacts you'd think he's out for blood. To the point she swore to Married Son that the first thing that cat does wrong she'll drop him off at the shelter (the one that's known for distroying their *surplus* animals). Oh, and as far as she's concerned all Ringo needs to do wrong is walk into the room she's in. Of course, Married Son's reaction was "if that cat disappears, you will, too. Got that?"

7) WTF am I getting myself into? Besides a battle of wits for the next six months to year ... I'm not sure. In a sick way I think I'm going to enjoy this. Putting my foot down and showing her who is boss really is (and it ain't her) ... lol. And I'm sure Pengy will enjoy the blog value of this whole experience. LOL!

8) And just to top it off, it looks like the Gremlin is back!! Missing from my kitchen - two pounds of coffee, a container of creamer, a bottle of lemon juice ... and two boxes of trash bags. I found the coffee in Single Son's room right next to his two cup coffee maker. Hmmmm, but where is the creamer? I don't have a problem with sharing the groceries I buy with him ... but damn, leave it in the kitchen for all of us to use! He says he has no idea how it ended in his room. Could be, He does things half asleep that I've witnessed that he has no recollection of later. No biggie. At least, too, if the coffee disappears again I know where to look. LOL. Now to figure out where the rest of the stuff went.

9) OH!! Remember the call I blogged about? The one that said that "J" got some girl pregnant? Yup ... prank! And ... you're gonna LOVE this ... I found out who did it. ALIEN!! She and a friend of her's were bored. Knowing I don't have caller ID on the house phone she put him up to the call. BRAT!! Paybacks are a bitch!

10) Well, damn. I had a tenth thought. It seems to have vanished.

Tuesday's Thoughts ...

Won't do ten thoughts today. I only have a few thoughts and I don't wanna cheat again by stretching it all out into ten.

So ... I finally got rid of the three extra cats around here today. Married Son did most of the work, from chasing them down and getting them into the car, to digging then out from under the car seats, to carrying them into the shelter. He ran into a cat lady in the shelter, she's already put her bid in on adopting them. That makes me feel better knowing that they'll be taken care of and not in the shelter for long.

We kept Ringo and Shiloh. Shiloh is Alien's cat. The two get along real good. Ringo is an easily stressed animal, and I'm sure that this will help him in the long run.

Notice I say "long run" ... I will have another cat and a puppy moving in here within the next week. Of course, with that other cat and puppy will come THREE human bodies. Married Son, DIL and Grandson need to move within the next week and have no where else to go on such short notice. So, of course, being the nice mommy I am, I told them "sure, you can stay here until you find a new place to live".

Goddess help me!!

And I do mean short term!! I want an empty nest. I NEED an empty nest. I love my kids ... I really do. And believe me, saying "sure" wasn't easy for me. BUT I can't see them out on the street, ya know? Especially with that little one. Three year old boys need a roof over their little heads ...

And add that Single Son is still interviewing for jobs at different Law Enforcement Agencies across the country. It could be another three to six months before he finds one!!

Think I'll ever get my empty nest?

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) Another week has passed too quickly! Seems like only yesterday I was sitting here trying to come up with ten thoughts. Oh wait, I *was* here (at the computer) yesterday trying to come up with ten thoughts - for this damned Pro Communication research paper. Grrrrrrr.

2) So ... let's see ... ten thoughts ... hmmmmmm ... no make that nine ... no eight, cause I have a feeling I'm gonna need all the help I can get this week coming up with a full ten thoughts.

3) Single Son came home the other day to find a "Dear John" letter on his desk. Yup, they broke up. Weird thing is that only the week before *she* had brought up the topic of marriage. Now she's saying she's too co-dependent on him (her words) and moved out while he was at work. Weird thing is, I was home, locked in my room studying, when she moved out . I never heard her leave!

4) So it's just me and Single Son living here. And that's about to change. NO!! No one else is moving in. It looks like Single Son may be leaving the nest, too. He was laid off last month from his job as security at one of the *Big Three* (he's only working his COP job now) ... he's been applying for Law Enforcement jobs literally all over the country. The one he really wants has requested he fly in for further interviewing. I won't say too much about it now ... don't wanna jinx it for him, you know? This would be a great opportunity for him.

5) Looks like the empty nest could be only weeks away for me. As much as I want it, I've been rather depressed all day. Maybe it's because should he take this job, he'll be moving hundreds of miles away. No more late night spontaneous talks. Well, that's not exactly true, we both have Skype on our computers.

6) I asked Married Son if he'd come over to help me sort the stuff all the kids still have here. Get it into storage. Help me organize the house, since I can't do any real heavy lifting anymore. He said he would, but I'm sure once the house is back to normal he'll want to move back in (or store more crap here!) ...

7) OMG! I just realized ... I'll be able to start FlyLady again!! Yeah!! It's been hard with kids moving in and out these past few years. Boxes appear out of nowhere ... people try to undo what I've organized and I just can't seem to get caught up with it all. So I gave up. It'll be nice to have a clean, organized house again.

8) Great, like I really have time to dive into a total reorganization of the house. I'm lucky to get the dishes done with all this freaking homework. Thankfully there's a nice month-long break between terms so I'll be able to get something accomplished.

9) I may be jumping the gun here ... Single Son hasn't had his face-to-face interview yet. He leaves this coming Sunday. We won't know until later in the week what the outcome is.

10) Wow. I made it to ten ... barely. Since most of it was pretty much related - just broken down into nifty segments. I'm good like that. Now if I could only put my thoughts into words and get them down on paper for this freaking Pro Communications class.

Post Script ...
6 PM and Married Son and Grandson came to hang out. They brought their dog Hondo with them. Nights like this only reinforce my NEED for the empty nest (which I am soon to experience methinks). I was on my bed playing with my cat Ringo, their dog Hondo and Grandson ... Hondo was a little too hyper for Ringo's likes but Ringo didn't hiss (much) or attempt to strike out at Hondo. On a side note, Ringo being a rescue cat, I strongly suspect he was around dogs from how he reacted to his first exposure to Hondo the Hyper Pup. Soooooo ... got 'em all calmed down to where they were laying on the bed. UNTIL Hondo peed on my bed! Yes ... the dog wet the bed! Much as I love Married Son and Grandson, they sure bring a lot of noise and chaos with them. Oh, and a goofy hyper-pup named Hondo.

Glad it happened tonight (minus the doggy-peed bed) ... suddenly I'm far from sad about the possibility of the empty nest.

       

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) This week has been a real testimony as to why some species eat their young. But it's also been a reminder to me that good or bad we'll survive it as a family. Reminded me, too, of when Married Son was her age and all the trouble I had with him. We not only survived that stage, but grew so much closer because of it.

2) Because Alien refused to come back home I told her that I would be adopting out the cats that she "owns". Thursday morning Married Son and I will be taking them to the shelter. Yes, I need help! Four cats in a car just isn't my idea of a safe drive. It's a no-destroy shelter. I just refuse to keep them (or put up with the havoc and expense they create) for someone who isn't living here. I am *not* a rescue shelter, dammit. She knows and is actually fine with it.

3) I've got to break this procrastination cycle I've developed lately. I have to force myself to sit down and do homework. It's mostly in that Pro Comm class that I'm really putting things off. Grrrrrr ... I so can't wait for that class to end.

4) I got my hair cut before I went to Chicago. I don't know if I mentioned this (probably not), but when I got home I dyed my hair. Dark Auburn. I was too chicken to dye it that color before Chicago ... for fear I'd hate it. But that never happened. I love it!! A lot of my classmates have commented on it ... between the new cut and the hair color there's been a lot of great compliments. The one I love the most is from a gal who is absolutely beautiful - the sort of gal you want to choke because she's so beautiful and has such a great figure (but not the ego that usually goes with that) ... she called it "sassy". Told me it took ten years off me! Thanks, KP! I needed to hear that!

5) We had our first real snow two nights ago. With all that was going on that day I just wasn't excited about the season's first snow. Not the way I usually am.

6) Watching the news yesterday they said that traffic was a real mess because of "black ice" on the roadways. Figures. Morons don't adjust their driving to fit the conditions - like snow, ice, rain and even bright sunshine. I mean, dammit, we live in the freaking snow belt. You *should* know how to drive in this stuff by now! Yes, it's a pet peeve of mine, a BIG one!!

7) Then again a lot aggravated me yesterday. I was at the gas station and the cashier was having a personal conversation with the guy at the register. She was the only cashier at the time. It was holding up the line. Usually I'd be patient, but I just about lost it. "You have a line waiting. Let's get moving here".

8) So not like me to be bitchy like that. I've been a cashier pretty much all of my life and know how important it is to build a relationship with your customers. That extra attention is what keeps the majority of your customers coming back. Oh, and that was after I sounded off to some jerk in the parking lot who almost hit me as he was backing out of the spot next to me.

9) I just showered before starting this entry and am just waiting for my hair to dry so I can go out and do some needed shopping today (I hate when my support checks are late and I have to put off the grocery shopping) ... I just hope I'm not as bitchy today. I'll have to remind myself to take a deep breath if it happens.

10) Yes, he has to still pay child support. Since he's already in contempt of court by keeping her against my wishes, he can't petition the court to stop payments. Besides, he underpaid all these years. To bring it to their attention now will only get his payments increased by 50% and retro-actively at that. See ... I told you he made such a negative impact on the court that they'll never rule anything in his favor. Then again, by going to FOC yesterday he may have automatically started a re-examination of our case. We'll see.

On that I'm outta here. Wish me luck out in public today. LOL!

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) I have ten thoughts today - probably more than ten, LOL. But sadly most of them are school related. More specifically to do with business and entrepreneurship. Pretty boring stuff if you haven't been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. I'll spare ya'll the details ... but it's mostly what's been on my mind lately.

2) Had to laugh on Sunday when Alien came home from Bubba's house. She was in the bathroom getting ready for bed. All of a sudden I hear a loud gasp and then hysterical laughter. She comes into my bedroom hunched over with Ringo on her back. He must have really missed her over the weekend - she was standing in front of the sink, he was on the near-by laundry hamper and jumped up to her shoulders. Not a typical Ringo move, that's for sure. But left us laughing the rest of the night.

3) Married Son has once again delayed the start of the piloting company. I can't say as I blame him with the current economic conditions. He'll be starting a dedicated run with a local trucking company for now. Dedicated just means that his route and schedule won't vary. He'll be running from the Metro Detroit area to Missouri three times a week.

4) Alright, so I do believe I have another weirdo in my life this semester. She's definitely showing potential. She's narcissism at it's finest. She's shallow as hell. Oy!! Just what I need.

5) And one of the biggest pet peeves about my *new friend* is that she keeps suggesting we get together after class, hit the bar so she can introduce me to a few of her male friends she thinks would like me. Hello??? I'm single for a reason!! I can and do meet men on my own, I just don't have any desire for a commitment of any sorts at this point in my life. Why can't people understand that I LIKE being single?? I don't want the complications of a relationship. She has already gone so far as to say I need a sugar daddy. Screw that!! I'm not going to belittle myself by dating some guy only for the purpose of his freaking wallet. Geesh.

6) I'm feeling much better after my fall last Saturday in front of the above mentioned *friend*. Just a dull ache to remind me that I'm not as young as I used to be and don't bounce well at all anymore.

7) Well, damn. I'm running out of ideas already. Looks like I'll end this here instead of straining the brain to come up with more thoughts. 

Not quite ten thoughts Tuesday

This is another of those I don't know if I have ten thoughts this week entries, but I'll give it my best. And no, I'm *not* going to cheat by counting this one as a thought. Maybe I should? LOL

1) Beware if you live in the Suburban Detroit area. There's a scam going around ... caller poses as a DTE employee (the local electric company) and wants to verify your name and billing address. They then run a pre-recorded shut off message - stating that if you don't pay some unrealistically high past due bill your power will be shut off the next day. THIS IS A SCAM!! They tried to hit me with it today. I didn't give them any information - telling them "look you called me. You know my information, it's on the computer monitor in front of you" ... I hung up and immediately called DTE at the number they have on their monthly bills because I KNOW my bill is current and wanted to see if they knew about this newest scam. The *real* DTE operator told me that DTE will never call to verify your personal information (it's up to you to update your information) - nor will they combine calls with a human asking for verification (which they don't do anyway) AND a shut off recording. So, beware if you live in the DTE service area!!

2) Toilet paper. Who uses the last of the toilet paper and notifies NO ONE that we're out? Luckily I keep a stash of 1/4 rolls hidden in a drawer in the bathroom cabinet for just such emergencies. Damn Gremlin!!

3) For the last few days I've been hearing a weird sound coming from my car from time to time. Had Married Son come out and look at it. His diagnosis isn't good. Seems the car is in the early throes of it's death dance. I'm no mechanic and really can't convey what it is that's wrong with the car (even though Son told me, I don't recall mechanical stuff very well). He said there's a 50/50 chance that when this part goes bad (air conditioner clutch) that the car will either survive or not depending on if the a/c valve (I think he called it) is either opened or closed at the time. Great ... I just love those gambles. NOT. See, I told you I can't convey mechanical stuff for beans.

4) School is going well. I think I'm finally caught up with my homework for the week. Just in time, too. Wednesday starts my school week. A viscous cycle it is ... get caught up - get slammed, caught up, slammed (sort of like the laundry, eh? LOL).

5) Got my new cell phone yesterday. I'm lovin' it. Now to figure out all of the new buzzers and bells this thing has on it. It's a Samsung r450. Nice phone. QWERTY keyboard. Internet access. Bunches of things I have to figure out, when I have time!!

6) Yeah, fall is finally here!! The temps at night are perfect. Now to lose that heat during the day. They're predicting 80 degrees tomorrow. I'm soooo ready for cooler temps!!

7) Been keeping up with ya'll in email updates. Still not leaving many comments, but know I'm keeping up when I can.

8) Ummmmmm ... stumbling for thoughts already. This isn't good ... nope ... nothing ... so here I end this with something I snagged from Terry's blog.

9)  I got this from Terry's blog ...

Your Autumn Test Results

You are a energetic, warm, optimistic person. You approach everything with a lot of enthusiasm. When you are happiest, you are calm. You appreciate tradition and family. You enjoy feeling cozy. You embrace change. You love change. You see change as a rebirth. You find solitude to be the most comforting thing in the world. Being alone with your thoughts feels very peaceful. Your ideal day is spent in contemplation. You enjoy a quiet day where you can take time to think and day dream. You tend to live in the moment. You enjoy whatever is going on, and you don't obsess over the past or future.

The Autumn Test

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) Blogging break going well. Obviously I had gotten to that point that I needed to clear my head by taking a break. Still have writers block of sorts, but no where near as bad as before.

2) Alien wanted Burger King last night for dinner. The only Burger King around is across town (not like McDonald's with one on every corner, LOL). So off we go. Decided I best stop at the gas station for some gas before we ended up running out (my gas guage is broken, I have to guest-imate how much is in the tank). Bumped into Married Son while there. Funny how we keep bumping into each other in the oddest places.

3) Married Son was filling up his new truck. Yes, another new truck. New to him that is. His first Ford. He found a great deal on the used Explorer. So, last night he's doing something to the truck and hears a meow ... he looks around, discovers the meow is coming from the undercarriage of his new truck!! A kitten!! About six months old. He coaxed it out. It bolted for under his porch. He's been trying to coax it out ever since with no success. Now he's worried that the kitten may have been under his truck since he picked it up yesterday.

4) It's not the first time we've found kittens in odd places!! Back in the late 80s my mom came to pick up the boys from our apartment for a week with her. She had borrowed my grandmother, Gigi's car for whatever reason. She threw me the keys to open the trunk and put the boys stuff inside. I saw a quick orange streak and then a soft meowing. It took forever to coax the scared kitty out of Gigi's trunk. We never did figure out how it got in there. Mom gave the kitten to my Brother Deere. He named her Precious. Had her for about a dozen years.

5) Speaking of cats ... what is it that attracks cats to whatever open book is in front of you? That's half the reason I'm taking a break now, Ringo has taken over my *Essentials of Entreprenuership and Small Business Management* textbook! It's his favorite book to nap in as it's a huge textbook. Every time I try to move him he just jumps right back up! Personally I wish he'd fall asleep on my *Introduction to Business* textbook. That one puts me to sleep, too.

6) It almost looks like a Laurel and Hardy comedy skit, I put him down on the floor, he jumps up. His aim is getting better, he'll jump from floor right to middle of the damned book. Repeat the process until the human gives up. I really should just pick him up and deposit his happy ass outside the room. But no ....

7) I love a company with good customer service, but too much can be annoying as hell, too. My cell phone is dying a slow and painful death. It's not pretty. I've selected the phone I want to buy (I think) but I need something that can be switched over to another service in the near future. So, I am on the Sprint website checking out their *Simply Everything* plan. All of a sudden a chat window pops up with a live sales rep. All I wanted to do was check out a service plan I'm sure I'll switch to when I got bombarded by questions. Even telling her that I already had my mind set on what I want didn't get her to back off. Grrrrrr, annoying as hell!

8) Alien and I are getting our issues resolved just fine. It's nice to be able to talk to her adult to (almost) adult about what's been bugging her. And now that her feelings have been aired she's back to being the giggly goofy kid we all know and love.

9)  LOL, number 9 and I'm doing the "ummm" thing. You'd think not blogging much lately that I'd have things to say. Guess not. LOL!

10) So this is where I end this ... without a tenth thought. Other than to say it's back to the books now - cat or no cat I gotta study!! I'll catch up with ya'll when I can!

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) Coming up for air ... I'm still doing homework! Not entirely my fault - well, I guess it is. I've had a bunch of distractions this week. I could have said NO and been a real b*tch about it. Just something about the Grandson's little face when he's asking if we can play *train* that melts my heart. I just can't say NO to that boy! So today is going to be spent finishing up what I didn't get to yesterday.

2) Along those lines, I think I'm going to have to get him his own set of *school books* and supplies. He went to play on my computer and so I thought I'd be able to take advantage of the quiet time and do a little more reading in one of my textbooks. As soon as he saw me reading he got off the computer and jumped in my lap. "Gamma, read to me". He didn't seem to care that it was a really boring business text book. I enjoyed the cuddle time, too.

3) Married Son's old reliable truck finally died for good last week. He bought a really old van from his father. Now he's having problems with the van, the power steering went out, and it broke a belt. It's sitting disabled in my driveway. Pretty convenient that it broke down here, eh? But while he's trying to run around for parts for the almost 20 year old van he's had to borrow MY car. I really need to run to the store, but obviously I can't. At least I get gas out of the deal - and a few packs of smokes and bottles of pop for my effort.

4) I guess I should be glad I'm stuck at home. Gives me an excuse to read those last three chapters worth of homework. But no ... here I sit and blog. And I need to run to the store yet. I can't get a hold of Married Son to find out when he'll be by the house so I can steal my own car back for a bit.

5) I love it!! It's a nice chilly day. Sunny and breezy. Temperature is about 60 degrees!! My kind of weather.

6) From the sound of the squirrels scampering up the tree outside my open window, I'm thinking they're enjoying the cooler temperatures, too. Busy, busy gathering their food for the winter.

7)  OMG!! I got up for a second. Sat back down on my computer chair and almost fell over! It's got a bad wobble problem right now. Guess it's time to buy a new computer chair? Or see if I can fix this chair and hopefully get some extra use out of it.

8) Wow, I sounded like my dad with that last thought! Remember back in the day when people would actually repair things? When throwing it out and replacing it was an absolute last resort? Dad was the King of Repairs back before his stroke. I picked up a thing or two along the way. I doubt I'll ever built anything like he used to, but dammit, I can at least find my way around a tool box.

9) I keep looking over to the textbook I need to be reading. I swear the damned thing is calling me by name right now! It's a huge book on starting/operating a small business. I was skimming the pages the other day, it actually looks like it won't be too dull.

10) Damned chair!! I let my guard down for a second and almost fell backwards. Yup, time to get up and do this homework - or buy body padding for my own computing safety. Geesh.


I'll be catching up with ya'll as I can ... HUGS!! 

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) Two hours of sleep does not make for a happy mom. Nor does it make for a very coherent one, either. And I have no idea why I didn't sleep last night ... oh wait ... could it have had something to do with Alien and her attitude of late? (insert sarcasm here).

2) Moan, bitch, moan, bitch all summer long about that damned car and needing to drive it to school. This morning we compromised, I would drove her the five or six miles to school IF she'd stop bitching about it. I had agreed to pick her up after school, too. I figure during the drive time I can really make her life miserable with a little bit of good ol' fashioned *mom attitude*. I should probably insert here, too, that we pass both of the other high schools in this town to get to the alternative high school. Convenient it's not. But it makes for a captive audience. Hehe ...

3) Well, we had a good morning so I stopped by Tim Horton's and bought her an iced coffee and a cream cheese bagel. Had a few early morning laughs in the process. So much for that early morning *mom attitude*. Sleep deprived or not, the morning was off to a good start. Damn, now I'll have to resort to *Plan B* (whatever that is, I hadn't thought that far ahead yet!)

4) While she was in school I napped. Or tried to. This is where I actually got the two hours of sleep - last night I didn't sleep at all. So ... between pre-recorded annoying sales calls and Married Son returning my car that he had borrowed overnight and waking me up to return it, I gave up on sleep after that.

Of course, he didn't return it in the condition in which he received it. Why is it that they can trash our cars, but Goddess help if WE decide a little parental payback is in order and trash theirs they go ballistic?

5) So ... back to the Alien ... I went to pick her up after school. I'm about two blocks from her new school when my cell phone rings. "Mom, I'm on the bus." "Oh hell no. I'm down the street now" "Remember A.B.? She's goes to this school, too. We're going to take the shuttle bus back to the other high school and then walk to her house. I'm going to meet her at the gas station tomorrow so we can finish the walk to the shuttle bus stop together. Oh yeah, can we hang out at her house for a while"? "Sure, why not. I'll just have to kill you later." "Funny Mom".

6) A.B. is my new hero, I think. She managed to accomplish what I thought would never happen - got the Alien on the freaking shuttle bus. They've known each other since kindergarten. Were good friends for a lot of years. Lost sight of A.B. when she had some problems at home. Don't know what the problems were, but you know I'm on my knees praying it wasn't behavioral problems that sent her to the alternative school. That's all I need is *another* negative influence on the Alien.

7) I know, I know, she's 16 ... going to be 17 in just a few weeks. I can't shelter her forever. Or can I? She's a strong willed child ... that's for sure. I can't tell her anything without a huge fight it seems. Goddess forbid I try to guide her to making GOOD decisions ... I'm accused of interfering. Lately she's even made me resort to yelling to be heard. I gave up yelling after I'd lost my voice one too many times - the last time was for months!! So I actually lower my voice when I'm upset. Makes her STFU to hear me. Usually.

But then I'm not telling you parents of teenagers anything new am I? And I'm probably scaring the crap out of those who have yet to experience the teen-aged years.

8) I'm not expecting the fun of riding the shuttle with A.B. to last long. It'll end up Alien has the bright idea that she'll drive A.B. to school, too. After all, she lives only a few blocks from here. I can see the argument now. Ya'll have my permission to start a bet pool as to when it'll happen and if I end up yelling to the point I lose my voice again.

9) Oh yeah ... I called Bubba's insurance company. The agent remembered me. However, that didn't buy me a ticket to discuss Bubba's insurance policy with him. He told me to discuss it with Bubba. I had to laugh. "You know who we're talking about here, do you really think he even understands the policy, come on". He won't even discuss the policy IF I bring Bubba in with me.

10) I see a nap in my immediate future. The homework will wait until this evening. Might work better this way anyway. If I get a little Alien attitude when she returns home, I can always tell her to STFU I'm studying.

Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...

1) It's another one of those I don't think I have ten thoughts days!! Let's see just how many I do have ...

2) So ... Alien was home about twenty minutes before we got into our first battle of wits. Okay, so it's back to normal around here. It's gonna be a looooong school year!

3) Whom amongst you placed bets into the pool on how long it would take for me to say something along the lines of things being back to normal? I haven't yet thought about how I miss the quiet of my empty nest summer, but the week isn't over yet.

4) I am sooooo ready for classes to begin. NOW! Get me out of the house, see new faces, have meaningful conversations ...

5) I have my first real schedule conflict. When I signed up for classes I totally forgot about a HAM Radio class I'd signed up for, too. And of course, HAM and one of my college courses are at the same time. Grrrrrr. Haven't figured out how I'm going to handle this one but Single Son is the HAM Radio instructor so hopefully he'll be able to work with me on this.

6) Yesterday was my folks 52nd wedding anniversary. 52 years!! I can't imagine being married to anyone *that* long. Then again, I barely lasted a decade with either marriage. LOL. As Mom quipped on the phone  ... They only way I'd get fifty plus years married would probably involve 5 husbands. And that ain't gonna happen!

7) Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard ... and all she found was canned pasta, ramen noodles and stale bread. Three days until I can go grocery shopping. On the upside of an almost bare cupboard, there's no wondering what's for dinner. LOL.

8) Went to Married Son's house yesterday. Spent some time with Grandson. That boy has one hell of an imagination. He was playing "Thomas the Train". He was Thomas. He could tell me in great detail about the cars he was "pulling", how many of each type, and what their names were (freighter, passenger car, tanker, etc). He'll definitely have to come with us when Married Son drops me off at the train platform in October. He'll love seeing a real train close up!

9) Why didn't Six like Seven? Because Seven ATE (eight) Nine.

10) Okay, so now I'm scraping the bottom of the thought barrel obviously.

No Ten Thoughts Tuesday Today

I'm bushed. I've been on the go all day long. Literally.

It started early this morning with going to school and meeting with my counselor. After an hour and a half wait that is. Got what I needed straightened out with him, and finally got registered for classes. Good thing, too. Nothing like waiting until almost the last minute to get things done. Because of that most of my class choices were closed. I did manage to get four classes I need for my degree. BUT, three of them are on another campus. Oh well. It's only for 15 weeks. I'll manage. You better believe I'm not going to proscratinate next semester's registration!!

I got my books for the one class at my home campus. Then headed over to get books for the other campus. You'd think I'd be used to the high cost of books by now, but I'm not. Sticker shock every time I have to buy a course book. Thank Heavens my grant pays for them or I'd never have books! $500 for four books today!! Then I headed to the dollar store for school supplies. There was NO way I was spending $4.50 for a notebook at school knowing the dollar store has notebooks for $0.50!!

At the grocery store I ran into an old friend. We stood in the parking lot forever it seems and talked! We haven't seen each other since our kids were in elementary school together. Boy did we have a lot of catching up to do.

Got home in time for dinner. But noooo ... Mom called needing me to come right over. She wasn't feeling well at all and needed me to get dinner for Dad. She was just too weak to do it. Sooooooo ... Dad and I went out to dinner. Brought home a carry out for Mom. Sat with her while she ate. Thankfully she was feeling better after eating. I wouldn't need to spend the night at the condo.

And now I'm bushed. Gonna head off to bed shortly. I have another one of those days ahead of me tomorrow.