Oh Geez

It's been almost a month since I last wrote something in here. How much do I suck?

Our laptop at home has a virus. Neither one of us have the time or energy to take it to Geek Squad or ask someone techy. Bleh. To post at work (like I'm doing right now) is pretty much impossible. I can't stop long enough to think about personal stuff anymore here. Too many tasks too many responsibilities. Which is okay. I love being busy here, I like feeling wanted, needed by these guys.

We leave for DCA Championship week in Rochester, NY with the Renegades next week. Wednesday night to be exact. I can't believe it's here already. This season just FLEW by. I guess that's what happens when you have a good time with friends and not stress out. 2005 was not a good year for me personally... I was way stressed and couldn't wait for it to all be over.

Bailey is getting smarter by the day. She sits and reads a book with us at night. We sing to her and she makes hand motions. She points to the fridge and says 'melk? melk?' when she watns milk. She takes her dirty diaper to the garbage herself. The kitchen sink is now too small for her to bathe in. I'm kinda sad about that really. She's grown so much right before our eyes.

She found her belly button recently.

The only thing that annoys me is that she doesn't have a sleep pattern. We spoil her in that department because we dont' have a set bedtime ourselves. She winds down when she feels tired enough. We don't put her in her crib and let her cry like they advise you to do in those parenting magazines. Chris and I rock her to sleep and it works most nights. Last night though, she fell asleep too early, around 8pm. She woke up at midnight when WE were trying to go to bed. I picked her up out of the crib, she wanted to play. I swear she walked around in the dark living room for an hour while I nodded in and out of sleep. She finally came to me and laid on my chest and fell asleep. Girl! I can't do this all the time!

Ok 2 things that annoys me. Bailey doesn't let me eat. Drives me crazy. She wants what I'm having, but wont' sit in her highchair to eat it. I give it to her and she wants to walk around and eat on the go. What are you so busy doing that you cant' sit in the chair and eat??

She runs everywhere. No more walking, that's old. She's in a hurry... all the time!

Reese's first day of second grade was yesterday. He's been so excited to start school again. So far so good. We bought some new school clothes since he's grown out of everything we have from last year. I do have to go get boxes for his old clothes to make room for new ones. We had a little shopping spree at Target for school supplies last night. I forgot what that was like!

Chris has decided he now wants to start teaching visual at Indy with Dave. Ok baby, what ever you want to do, I will support you. Just know that I will have to go see Lo in Ceres after NY. lol.

This is all for now, gotta get back to work.

Life's little disappointments

Today I got to work... late as usual. But I am there and happy to be there.

Today I also came to a realization that there are people out there who take others for granted. I used to look forward to coming in to work. Working with a good boss, nice people, and one of my bestest friends. It's only been in the recent months that I have been feeling like I have to drag my feet in the mud to walk into the office. I really don't want to be talked at, starred at, and pick up someone else's slack all the time.

I am disappointed and I am taking it personally. It was my job after all that isn't getting done.

It's not that I *have* to pick up the slack. In fact, I probably shouldn't.. that way others will see I am too busy with my own stuff to take on someone else's job.

However... all of the above is only about 20% of what pisses me off day to day. It's the attitude... the non-stop chatter... the refusal to take on new tasks ... the dress as you please days (my favorite is the black too-small camisole top) ... the 7 times a day 15 minute smoke breaks PLUS one hour lunch everyday ... the cell phone conversation inside the office after the boss leaves ... the phone ettiquette, or lack there of ... oh and there's so much more.

And for the cherry on top... today there was a message on the voicemail letting us know of the absence providing no reason whatsoever... that was left last night at 10pm. <-- sidebar: this is not the first time, it's probably the 4th or 5th time.

Tomorrow ... hopefully will be a better day. Hopefully with one less.

I am a raging bitch about this. Maybe I'm just a little more dedicated than some. I feel my job is not to be taken for granted and it's been a priveledge to be employed there.

Maybe it's just me.

2007 Renegades

This weekend 7/21 & 7/22 we have off. I cleaned our house top to bottom, caught up on laundry, cooked some good meals, and went for some retail therapy by myself.

I love our schedule this year. Practically no stress on members. We have deserving weekends off every once in a while. Our shows ALWAYS kick ass. The show is an awesome production so far.

Next week when we go back to TI, we get the remaining 6 coffins to complete our visual effect.

Chris and I just got back from our LA tour. My mom was here to take care of our kids while we're gone so I spent no time worrying about them to death. I knew they were in good hands. Chris' mom came by to take the kids out of my mom's hands Saturday evening and then again Sunday. They all had a great time together.

When we went to LA, we spent Thursday preparing and traveling. Once we got down there, we called James and Lisa for a rondezvous in Santa Monica. Great food at Yankee Doodle bar. Everything else was closed by then so we came back to the hotel for a nightcap. Friday we lounged around all day, switched hotels, went to rehearsal and then had LMS in the dark. Something about the school's transformer blown out and we lost power and had to perform outdoors. Whatever, the guard didn't do anything but be there to support.

That night we partied with friends and witnessed some random drunk people waltz in and out of our hotel room. No really, that really happened. Chris is somehow James' bestman! I wonder if he remembers saying that to him. Or if he rememebered being in our room in the first place. I managed to piss a dude off because I ruined his whole tour due to the fact that I wouldn't let his stanky ass hang out in our room like he was doing last year with Chris (I wasn't on tour with Chris, so last year's rookies think they can come and go with him when they wanted) Think again suckers! Thank God Carlie was there... she would have kicked this dude's ass with her pinky.

We had some shows in between all the fun times. It's hot down there for sure. After Sunday's show, I flew home on the earliest Southwest flight I could get on. Got home around 8:30pm. Chris and Co. got home around 2:30am driving.

Monday morning we were back to normal lives.

Fun times nonetheless. I love this season of Renegades. I am not stressed out, the show is not so complicated that I kill myself trying to perfect it. Real life isn't getting in the way and vice versa.

www.renegades.org

I don't really know how to end this except to watch this neat video put together by Lee Rudnicki and wife Rumiko.

http://drumlaw80.blogspot.com/2007/07/renegades-la-tour-2007-rated-pg-due-to.html

Something to say

I have none now that I'm sitting here trying to compose something. While I'm driving and can't write, however... I can think of a million things.

Let's see... what's been going on.

Bailey is 13 months old going on about 2 years old. She's got all kinds of spunk and personality. What a little sponge she really is too. You tell her someting once and she has it engraved in her brain forever. Although she still doesn't sleep through the night. That's about the only thing she's got going on that I just wish would change already.

Also, she's been on her feet walking and running since she was 10 months old.

Reese is having a good summer so far. We sent him to summer school, which took place at Anderson Elementary. It's already over, just 4 weeks long. This weekend he left with our next door neighbor and their kids to go camping. He called last night and the first thing he said was "Mom, we are in the woods! There's a lake here but I can't see it." I'm sure he's having all kinds of fun.

My mom is moving in with us July 31st. Which is also Reese's 7th birthday.

She is driving me insane and she's not even living here yet. Her listening skills just aren't there and it just frustrates me very much. I can't understand how someone can be so inconsiderate and not realize it.

Chris' mom is moving also. She is finally going to be in her own home with an empty nest. I know she is really looking forward to it. I am looking forward to seeing her happy, but a little far from us. It's ok, we will still see her often.

My life at work has been a lot of the same. I am unhappy with the environment, but I am happy with the job itself.

......

Next post will be Renegades related and some pictures.

June 19, 2007

Today is Bailey Taylor's first birthday.

You count the days, the weeks, the months... and now a year. It has gone by with lightening speed. She's becoming a little lady as supposed to a baby. I hope she becomes whoever she is destined to be.

Happy birthday baby.

I love you.

June 19, 2006

June 19, 2007

I am dreaming again

I can't explain how refreshing the last couple of days have been. Bailey is finally sleeping through the night. The little bugger.

No more getting up between the hours of midnight and 5am every night/morning. She just started sleeping through the night 3 nights ago. And it's been so nice. No more waking up on either the recliner or the couch with a tweaked back or thinking "I JUST laid down!".

My body was so used to waking up at odd hours that I would wake up, look over at her crib. She's still snoring with her butt up in the air and hands tucked in. Ok, she's still sleeping, good. The alarm goes off... wow, was that all night that she slept.... again?

We are in the midst of switching from formula to cow milk. So that might have something to do with it. She's doing half and half right now and it's been ok. Adjusting in the beginning was rough, her stomach made a lot of noise and she rejected it. But we are doing it gradually now (mommy's sorry) so she's taking it much better.

Bailey eats everything you hand to her. Yesterday she was walking around with the same piece of chicken nugget for a half hour just nibbling on it. I know, already feeding my kid fast food. But that was a snack though, she already had her dinner.

This kid already knows how to throw a tantrum. If she doesn't get what she wants, oh watch out. She throws herself on the floor complete with arched back, flailing arms and legs, the whole nine. BUT it takes one little distraction for her to stop. Like if someone walks into the room or if you hand her a toy.

Who ever made up the term "Terrible Twos" ... they are wrong.

Anyway...

My mother has agreed to take both the kids this weekend while we're at rehearsal on Saturday only. And she emphisizes.. NOT OVERNIGHT. She just doesn't care for Bailey all that much. Only Reese. Sad, really. But you know what, I really expected it from her.

That's all for today.

The best toys aren't toys at all...

A list of some of Bailey's "toys"

The blind string.
Because when she pulls on it and lets it go, the blinds hit the window sill and makes this crashing sound that's so entertaining to an 11 month old.

Mommy's shoes.
Because she leaves them laying by the front door and if she puts them on, it means she's leaving. So I will take them and hide them in random places around the house.

The cooking utincils.
When you bang them against anything, they make NOISE!

Mommy's wallet.
There's treasures and things I'm not supposed to play with in there.

Doors.
Open, close, open, close, open, close... what could be more fun!

Plastic bags from anywhere.
I take them away... that's what motivates her to get them back.

Straws.
At the risk of poking the roof of my mouth, I still like to run around with it.

My boxes of craft tools.
Because mommy keep saying no and they look like so much fun!

She also bangs on our computer keyboards, tv screen, and remote controls are apparently her new bestfriends.

This is the girl . . .

This is the girl who learned how to throw a tantrum one week ago.

This is the girl who tricked her brother into looking the other way while she snags his school snack right out of his backpack.

This is the girl who learned how to walk at 10 months old.

This is the girl who stays up til all hours of the night because she doesn't want to miss anything.

This is the girl who captured her parents' hearts from day 1 . . .

Change is good

The other day I was in Starbucks and I saw the cashier changes her hair style about once a week. If you have the patience and the means to do that... more power to you. I thought to myself... maybe it's time for me for a hairstyle change for me too.

So I asked Chris if he'd mind me changing my look a little. Add some hair to my forehead region. I want bangs again. The girl looked good and she has the same face shape as I do. I had bangs most of my life until a couple of years ago.

Ok 5 years ago.

So I looked up some cute styles.

Printed out some pictures.

Walked into SuperCuts and got me a cute set of bangs.

Here's to change!

American Idol

Now that it's over... I can freely write about it. Not that I couldn't before, just didn't want to write prematurely.

So last night Jordin won. I think America picked the right Idol. As they always do, in my opinion. However, this year I predicted the wrong winner. I had an inkling that Melinda would win. I had a theory, you see. There are two criterias all of the past American Idol winners had in common. All of them are from the south and all of them have never been on the bottom two.

Kelly - Texas

Ruben - Alabama

Fantasia - North Carolina

Carrie - Oklahoma

Taylor - Alabama

Jordin - Arizona.... ??

Melinda hails from Nashville. In my book she was already a default winner. When she came out last night with the Winans. My first thought was that's where she belonged.

Oh well.

I do have to say that Jordin has an amazing voice and she will be successful regardless. Blake will have a career also, just in a different genre. Just like Taylor and Katharine McPhee. Love her music, but Taylor was a shoe-in.

Last night I did miss almost the first hour of the program because I thought it came on at 9pm like it usually does. Oops. We turned it on right where Blake was beatboxing with Doug-e-fresh. That's pretty cool. The African Children's choir made me cry. I don't know why. They were adorable! Sanjaya had to sing... again. I muted the tv.

Ryan Seacrest annoys the crap out of me.

Kelly Clarkson IS American Idol.

Gladys Knight made my night with the girls singing Midnight Train to Georgia. If I remember correctly, LaKeisha sang it in the beginning of the season back when top 12 were still around.

Love my girl Gina Glockson. She will also be fine. Reminds me a lot of Amy Lee... infact, she sang Call me when you're sober in the beginning and nailed it. Love that song.

Carrie Underwood - this girl is in a class of her own. What an amazing voice and performer. Humble as can be. Too bad she's country. I can handle about 2 seconds of country music and then I'd have to strangle someone.

I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking to myself while watching Bette Midler perform Wings Beneath My Wings - She's horrible! What a mess that was. Did she think it was a joke? I guess you have to see it to know what I'm referring to. I know very little about music and I knew she was out of tune. Cracking everywhere. It was actually painful to watch.

Ok ... I have to get to work. Much to do and not enough time.

Tonight So You Think You Can Dance STARTS!!

Why...

Why do I have to beg for help? I'm talking about the daily grind. Help at home is not an issue.

There is available and capable hands... yet I get nothing. I was told once before that they refuse new information for one. Not only that, but the help doesn't seem to like being there in the first place. There have been times when my knowledge of previous duties were needed eventhough I was sick as a dog and really could use a day off to rest. But no... I can't ... we're short-handed. Isn't that a bitch?

There are so many things I want to say... and I already have to the powers-that-be... yet more chances are given. For some reason, I thought we're into doing serious business. I guess I'm a fool for assuming things should be done properly.

I am going to sound like a real bitch for complaining but here goes...

I seriously thought about taking breaks to compare how much I don't get done (not to mention covering for whomever) 10-15 minute breaks 5-6 times a day. PLUS the one hour lunch outside of the office I already get. Obviously, there is too much to do in one day for me to be able to pull something like that. The man in the corner office would raise an eyebrow and question my commitments. True, I would never jeopardize my 7 years of tenure. On the other hand, this exact schedule goes on every day.

Dressing appropriately. Come on. Like I said on the above paragraph. Could have swarn we're in business to be professional and present ourselves as such. Flip-flops, camisole tank tops, and denim cropped pants every single day is sloppy. It's really too bad we don't have a written in stone dress code.

Speaking of things written in stone. 7 years ago I was told from day one that I needed to be there during the hours of 8am to 5pm Monday thru Friday, no more, no less. And there's no leaving on days we're bidding for projects. It's stressful on the estimators as it is without having to answer the phones, fetching their own faxes, and simultaneously working on other projects and troubleshooting field issues. Now that I'm in the shoes of an estimator, I understand how important my role used to be. The role was handed to someone who could careless.

The attitude. The moodiness. The self-inflicted injuries. The less than professional way of handling multiple tasks.

It was inevitable that I'd end up pouring it all in here. I am pissed off and I can't handle it anymore.

VT

I took this from my friend Lisa's blog, but I figured she wouldn't mind.

Logic

Why is it so easy for a psychotic murderer to buy a gun or guns ...

yet...

I have to sign my soul to the devil and give my first born to get my baby some Sudafed at the Longs Pharmacy?

The Unknown

When you were a little kid, were you ever curious of what's behind that one door in your house that you were never allowed to open?

Chris, Reese and I shower in our bathroom every day. Anytime someone is in there taking a shower, Bailey sits right outside the door waiting for something to happen or someone to allow her in. She's not to go in there because she pulls the toilet paper roll until it's empty, not to mention there's a toilet in there. Icky.

How frustrating must it be to not be able to talk or communicate efficiently to say what you want or need from your parents. How do you satisfy your curiosity when they just won't let you go into the bathroom?

I know she wants to go outside and play with her brother.

Now that she can walk... soon she will be able to do just that.

Update

It's been a while! Work has been busy, posting anything at home is nearly impossible. So... I have a few minutes right now to write.

Let's see what's been going on around here...

Reese is now riding a 2 wheel bicycle thanks to his friend Sarah for helping him out. She's a kid down the street that goes to the Y after school. She's older, 3rd grader. Loves playing with Reese. Little tomboy-ish. That's ok, she's got good manners and make good dicisions. She sort of watches over Reese when they play together, like a big sister would. Her mom is great too.

What else is going on with Reese... OH YEAH... little man decided to WALK to school by himself yesterday.

BIG NO NO.

He thought he missed the bus when infact he was way too early and no one was out there yet. He decided he'd just walk to school by himself. When he told us he did that, Chris and both freaked out... there's a major intersection of Williams and Boynton he had to cross. He said there was plenty of people crossing with him so he wasn't scared. I'm really surprised he wasn't picked up by SJPD... a little too young to be walking to school by himself. He did have his backpack, school uniform on so he looked official.

Now that we're done freaking out....

Chris said he's old enough to figure it out .. and the fact that we ALL used to pull that crap on our parents when we were younger. I am really proud of him for being a problem solver and not scared to just take initiative. He thought he missed the bus, so he said ok, I guess I'm walking.

Anyway...

The other big news. Bailey is WALKING!!

Yes, she's taking a few steps on her own now. Wabbly steps, but that's how they start, right? She would take her steps, fall to her knees and just crawl to where she needs to go. It's much faster! She is trying to keep up with her brother afterall. I will post pictures another day.

Oh if I was running my own business....

My Visual DNA

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The concept of time

Yesterday I realized I was becoming my mother and my mother is becoming ... something other than herself.

Our neighbor's daughter goes to Reese's school but she's in the third grade. She likes to play with Reese and Reese likes to play with her.

Yesterday I stayed home with Bailey so later in the afternoon when it was time to pick up Reese I decided to walk to the school for some exercise. Besides, it was a beautiful day, might as well take advantage of it. As I got to Reese's school, Sarah, the girl he plays with asked if Reese can come over and play at her house. I said that's fine, but he has homework to do so it would only be for a little while.

Reese, Bailey (in the stroller) and I walked home only to find our neighbor and her daughter, Sarah at our door step waiting for us. She starts talking to me about her day, Sarah's day, the plants, her landlord, her job... what am I, your bestfriend?? Reese and Sarah have now taken off to their house and I'm stuck with this lady at my door. I tried to cut off the conversation to tell her to send Reese home by 7. She made a comment about how strict I was.

Ok, now I'm irritated.

Then I started thinking about it. I'm only strict because Reese has a routine he keeps up with every day. Going out to play at someone else's home is not in the routine, not part of our day. But it is part of being a kid.

At that moment I caught myself thinking ... am I really strict? I thought of what my mom would have done and she wouldn't have let me go to someone else's house when I have homework and chores to do. I told Sarah's mom, yeah I try to keep him on a schedule so he knows what to expect and doesn't go off his daily routine too much.

Then I look at her family - complete chaos. Hmm... reminding myself that I'm doing things exactly the way my mom did and I now appreciate her strictness upon me growing up.

Reese came home at 7 - totally wound up from playing with friends outside. It took a little while to get him to come down to earth and join us for dinner then homework then shower. He had to skip playtime before bed because he used that time with Sarah.

He realized this morning that time is a precious thing. He told me that he will make time for sister tonight because he didn't get to be with her last night at all.

I'm thinking to myself... wow, let's see if you say that when you're 16 and she's 10 and you have to drive her to school and where ever else she wants to go.

Winding down

Right now I'm sitting in my office with a few piles of still to get through for this week and thinking about random things that have nothing to do with work at the moment. Let's see if I can recap everything ...


Renegades camp this weekend was great. The hornline got through our ballad and we got more work to the show as well as cleaning the parts we already know. Next camp we should be getting drill to go with all this great work and music we have. Our poor hornline hardly is a full hornline at this point. We have more members in the guard than we do in the horns right now. Bizzarre, but good from our perspective. Drums are doing well, need a couple more people, but still.


I have to say that our friends John and Carolyn have been a godsend to us. Carolyn have had Bailey (and sometimes Reese) whenever we have camps. I am grateful for their generosity and their willingness to give at times we need them. Thank you guys! Chris and I owe you some margaritas!





Bailey woke up with a rash on her back this morning. I called her doctor and she said it might just be dry skin. The bumps are not red or irritating her at all. So we will just have to keep an eye on it and make sure these bumps don't get infected and become problematic.


Other than that... nothing exciting happened this week. I love my boring life. :-)

Some new pictures

The little boy is Lisa and Roy's little Andrew.

"I wub my bwa-der"