Monday Morning Again

Agian, it' Monday; how does that happen????

The weekend was a busy one. Saturday we ended up taking Ed shopping for a BBQ Grill...his Father's Day present. The poor man gets a grill every year for Father's Day...it's a good thing he likes BBQing so much! I try not to feel too badly about the fact that his gift is so predictable...remember the tires and rims I got for my anniversary one year? Or how about the fire pit I got for my birthday? You see where I'm going here, don't you????

Anywhos...we ended up grilling on Saturday and just getting stuff done in the yard. Sunday we took Ed to the Tiger's game at Comerica Park. It was the first time in a LONG time that the whole family was able to be together, and we enjoyed it. Ed got to go onto the field for a "Father's Day walk", and he was excited about that.

I started painting my upstairs bathroom yesterday, and am hoping to get it finished up within the next few days. We picked out a teal-y color, so it kind of looks like a 'spa'...I'm liking it.

Have some running to do today in between letting my neighbors use my car again...and I'm going to continue to work on the bathroom.

Happy Monday to you!!!

There's A Man In My House!

Don't get all excited...it's just Ed.

For the last month I've seen him a total of like 7 days, so him being here is kind of freaking me out. I used to complain about his traveling, but when the economy went to poop I decided that I'd rather have him gone and bringing home a paycheck than home and not.

It's wierd how you adjust to a new situation...and I've adjusted to the fact that he's gone most of the time, so when he's here, it throws my game WAY off. Since he's gone most of the time, I am the boss of the house (or at least I'd like to think I am). When he's here, it's almost as if I resent that fact that he's getting all into my business and the way I do things. It probably doesn't help matters much that when it comes to our children, we have NEVER been on the same page...I guess that has to do with the fact that we had totally different upbringings. And add to that the fact that my OCD's are getting worse as I age...it's almost as if I'm having one long anxiety attack when he's here. I guess this is just one more "issue" to add to my long list...

I have been sick since Tuesday with some kind of flu-like thing. I swear it was the tetnus shot that made me sick...can you get sick from that like you can from immunizations???? Anywho, Ashleigh is also sick with an ear and upper respiratory infection. We're just going to chill out today and try to feel better.

We're going to the Tiger game tomorrow for Father's Day. We haven't been anywhere together as a family for LONG time, so it should be fun... as long as I can keep my new "issues" with my husband under control... ;)

Have a great weekend!

Stupid Doctor...

I am now down to ONE stitch left in my thumb. The first one fell out yesterday morning, the second one last night. When I called the Urgent Care to ask them what I should do, they told me to come back in so they could take a look at it. I did that, but they actually wanted me to pay my co-pay - AGAIN - to restitch it....NOT!!!! How stupid is that?!?! So...I've got one stitch left, it keeps breaking open, and I have been using scrapbooking tape to try and keep it together; at least now I can say that I'm using my supplies again! :)

All that aside...I think the tetnus shot made me sick. I don't even know if that's possible, but the night that I got it I developed a sore throat, yesterday I fely somewhat yucky, and today I am just full-blown out-right SICK! #@!* tetnus shot...

Well, I'm stuck at home today because my neighbor is using my car so I'm going to make the kids help me clean the house. I managed to get the bathrooms done and the kitchen floor washed last night, but the bedrooms are screaming for some attention...so that's what we'll be doing.

Enjoy your Thursday!!!

Me And The Putty Knife...

So....last night I was bored. I decided that I was going to wash my bathroom walls, because I decided a few weeks ago that I wanted to paint it. So I start washing the walls...

I pulled up the blinds and noticed that the windows looked pretty bad; so I decided to wash them, along with the screens. I was doing fine...actually enjoying myself.

I couldn't seem to get past the crappy caulk job around the windows...which just made me irritated with Ed because everything he does - IF he does it - is done half-@#*. So.... I texted a friend and asked how I removed old caulk. I was told to use a putty knife.

I wasn't sure we had one, but after searching the basement I found one, albeit covered in rust; I figured it would do the job.

So, I started the job. Let me just say that while I was doing it I kept saying "dear god, there HAS to be an easier way to do this!", because it is WORK! While scraping along I kept saying to myself "andrea...watch your fingers...you're going to end up cutting yourself"...so I was being extra careful.

Obviously not careful enough.

I ended up at the Urgent Care (this was a time I actually needed Ashleigh to have her permit so that she could drive!), and came home with three stitches and a tetnus shot.

Of course, this is all Ed's fault. If he would have done the caulk job properly the FIRST time, I wouldn't have had to try and remove it. What sucks is I still have half the window to do, and I'm not sure I want to take the chance again...

If anyone has a better/easier way of completing this job, I'm all ears...

I Do Believe That I May Be Having A Mid-Life Crisis

...seriously. I don't know what else it could possibly be.

It seems as if (or at least my "alter-ego" is telling me) I have not been being my "true" self. Let me try to explain...I have always been the type of person that didn't say what I really felt because I was afraid that it would hurt/disappoint/make angry someone else. Well, as of late, my mouth seems to have become it's own entity...and it doesn't know when to hold back. It just spews things off!

Now, in a way I find this disappointing, but in a bigger way I feel as if I have this new sense of confidence and independance. The first couple of times were scary, and I actually was shocked that I did it, but now...I find that it's okay to take the risk. I do not want to be a doormat to anyone anymore. It's okay if I feel differently about something, and I don't have to agree with people just to make them happy.

I wish I would have done this years ago...

I can tell you for certain that the one person having the hardest time with this "new" me is Ed. He's the one who insists I am having some type of breakdown.

You know what I think? I think that somewhere along the way I lost Andrea. I became a wife and a mother, and lost any identity other than that.

Well...my kids are getting older and don't need me as much. Ed is gone most of the time for work. If the two things I identified myself with most - husband and kids - aren't around or in need of me...then who am I?

That's why I want me back.

I guess all I can hope for now is that my family will like this "me" that's been in here all along, but wasn't able to shine...

Thursday...Day 4 Of Summer Vacation

...is someone ready to take my kids yet?!?!

It's only day 4 of summer vacation and they are making me insane, just as I predicted. Every day they want one of two things: a ride somewhere or money. Or both. I AM NOT SPENDING MY SUMMER VACATION IN THE CAR!!!!!!

What happened to the good old days when parents were allowed to say "go outside and play and be back in when the streetlights come on"????? I know that when I was their age, I had to amuse myself...for FREE. My parents gave me NO money, nor did they tote me around whenever I felt they should. I got up, did my chores (of which my children have ZERO), and went outside. I walked the neighborhood, hung out at the park, rode my bike...whatever - just so I didn't have to be in the house with Mom and Dad. My kids...they follow me around until I finally give in and take them where they want to go just because I don't want them following me anymore. It's day 4, and they're already conspiring against me...

So, to solve that, I'm thinking of looking for a job. Not too many hours, just enough to possibly keep my sanity. Maybe Starbucks - I hear the pay is good and they give you free coffee. Or maybe waiting tables at a bar...I LOVED waitressing when I did it years ago...and if I were at a bar then maybe I could drink - kind of like killing two birds with one stone :) And I certainly could use the extra cash...God knows these kids are sucking every penny they can out of me...

So, those are my plans. I will look for a job next week. I will assert my newfound independance.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to try the bar prospect first...

Ahhh...Summer Vacation...

Note the time I am starting this post: 9:03 am. That means I've officially slept in for the first time this beautiful Tuesday morning!!! You gotta love summer vacation...

Ashleigh is the only one not home today - she has final exams this week, then she will be done with school also. Noah is still sleeping (he's like his mother and loves to be left alone in the morning), and Madison is upstairs playing paddleball in the living room (???). I am enjoying a cup of coffee, happy that I'm able to still be in my pajamas!

Ed has been gone for the last few weeks. He usually comes home late Friday night and leaves again on Sunday. Travel is normal for him, but the last few weeks have been rough because he had to cover for one of his plant managers who got married. Madison hates it when he's gone; she is a total "daddy's girl", and prefers him over anybody. I overheard her talking to him before he left this last time. She was upset, and asked him why I couldn't get a job and travel so that he could stay home...I guess she has forgotten who birthed her...

He's trying to cut back on his travel because he says that we go "hog wild" when he's not here. While he was gone over the last two weeks I got myself a new tattoo and also took Ashleigh to get her nose pierced. Let's just say he was none too pleased... He's starting to question the example that I'm setting for our children, and I told him he needs to pick his battles. I would have gotten my nose pierced too, but I chickened out. The tattoo is awesome, and as soon as it's completely healed (about another week) I'll post a picture.

Today is another "catch-up" day, so we'll be hanging out at the house putzing around. My aunt and cousin are coming over tonight to discuss plans for an upcoming baby shower, so I will need to get my creative juices flowing.

Enjoy your day!!