Uncategorized

All posts in the Uncategorized category

I’m Not Sure Who Made Me More Angry

Published March 9, 2014 by Angela

……..The idiot representing the cable company on the other end of the internet conversation, or whichever child of mine thought they would pull a fast one.

I usually don’t have a problem paying my bills, but when I see my already outrageous cable bill is even higher than its usual ridiculously high price, I start scanning the bill.

Yep; someone wanted to watch something on pay-per-view that was $19.95. So, I grab the remote, and try to change the parental controls. Except this clever child of mine changed the 4-digit pin. So I was locked out from my ability to parental control the crap out of the television. So, I go online to my account, and decide to instant conversation with someone from the cable company ( or as we say here: foreign country that understands limited English). In a moment you will see why I say this.

I swear to goodness they do this!

I swear to goodness they do this!

I ask how to reset my pin that my kids changed. I get told that I cannot change my pin without knowing what the current one is. Now let me just say, I will not name this cable company; except to say that they are the second foulest word in the English language that starts with a C and ends with a T. Got it? O.K. 😀

So by now I am getting angrier by the second, and ask this person (aka Maria) if she is telling me that my kids can buy whatever they want on my cable system and I am unable to do anything about it? I will just cut to the chase here, because this was a really, REALLY long conversation. She sent a signal to my cable box; after I gave her my social security number (she said, Thanks, that matches your account! I said “Why wouldn’t it, it’s my social security number?”) No, I felt no desire to be nice to this person, even if she had the ability at her fingertips to cut my cable, phone, and internet and ruin my night.

After 20+ minutes, I am able to reset my pin and start locking things out. I ask her: “How can I see what this PPV program was?” She says (You are gonna love this!)

“What is the title of it that is on your bill?”

Yeah, I am getting angrier, and meaner. So I ask “Maria”:

“If I knew what the title of it was, why in the world would I possibly be asking you for it?”

By this point, I am not really caring about the $20.00, (not that I ever was, it was just the point of it) and am more concerned that I may have a kid here watching some nasty porno crap and I need to intervene ASAP.

I never did find out what it was, and unless if it pops up on my bill with the title (which it may not since I paid the bill) I may never know. But I do know without a doubt that it will not happen again. I have locked out every single channel, and they will be watching the religious channel as long as the television is on.

True Story!

True Story!

Has someone tried to pull a fast one on you recently?

 

There Is nothing More Depressing…

Published March 8, 2014 by Angela

…then feeling like you are the only person awake in the world 😦 Now I know why I don’t mind working so many weekends.

Being a shift worker, I am no longer able to flip my sleep schedule when I don’t work and sleep at night and remain awake during the day. I have went as far as staying up for 30 hours straight; went to bed at 11 pm, only to wake up at 2am, wide awake and unable to sleep any longer.

Now, I generally don’t mind it too much because I get ahead on my homework, reading, and television shows I missed. I also manage to get the house chores done, and I even made creamsicle cupcakes last night (this morning).

But being bored, and knowing you cannot call anyone, text anyone, see anyone; it just sucks. That is all there is to it. It sucks. It is now 7:30am, one of my girls is up, and I am waiting for my sleeping pills to kick in so I can go sleep for the majority of the morning and afternoon. Only to get to do it all again tonight.

I don’t think I would be so grumpy about it today if I didn’t have an extra night of it because I took a vacation day. The up side; I am on for at least the next two weekends, and think I will take the two after that.

I absolutely cannot wait until I get my Benjamin (hairless sphynx) and have someone to keep me company 🙂

So here’s to wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend, and I promised myself I would get up with a better attitude than I am going to bed with, and make the most of the rest of my weekend. It is pretty much all planned out, so it should go a lot faster.

What are you planning for the weekend?

Online School for Homeschool

Published March 6, 2014 by Angela

It’s about that time; I will begin the enrollment process for my homeschooler so she can do 8th grade in an online environment.

I almost feel like I am giving up, passing the buck, putting the responsibility on someone else. Yeah, I probably am. But with everything I have tried for the past 7+ months, I cannot seem to find what is needed to motivate Erin to be excited about learning. She used to love school (before the bullying issues) and she does really well with some of her homeschooling. World History is a breeze; math, not so much. Reading stories and doing book reports? Piece of cake. Science, ehh, she could take it or leave it.

I think something more structured, with a set schedule and hard and fast deadlines will help her stay on pace. Obviously I cannot do anything to reward or punish her enough to make her want to do her work consistently. I realize that homeschooling is generally a more laid back type of learning environment (I mean that in the best way possible), but unfortunately, I have the personality of schedules, time frames, and deadlines. This is still an environment I am trying to adjust to.

Having experience with online learning for numerous years, I do think she will do well with this.

Have you done online learning, and what did you think about it?

 

What happened to January and February?

Published March 2, 2014 by Angela

Image I will NOT complain about the heat, I swear! Just make this white junk melt already 🙂

March 1st. Still freezing cold in Michigan, and the country as a whole I would have to say. So, in anticipation of the coming warm weather, (I mean it can’t stay like this forever, can it? CAN IT?? 😦 ) I am going to think warm and fuzzy thoughts!

Complaining about the snow should qualify as an Olympic sport, and I am pretty sure I would medal out on this one! So, no more complaining for me, I promise!

Looking forward to Spring, and especially Easter, I am going to brighten up my kitchen and bathroom with some warm, sunny, pastel colors. I redo my bathroom every year (small bathroom; new shower curtain and rugs, soap dispenser and trash can, a couple pictures for the wall, and a few towels to hang up and I call it good!).

I feel like I am looking forward to Easter as much as I did Thanksgiving and Christmas. Easter is actually my favorite holiday of the year, yes even before St. Patrick’s Day! I am looking forward to warmer weather, flowers blooming, and birds chirping. I am making a promise to myself that I will not complain one single time this year about how hot the Summer is. And they are already predicting higher than normal temps this year. Why not, right?

How have you been dealing with your snow and having cabin fever? I have read so many books it is ridiculous, and my Statistics class is now officially stressing me out! I make no promises about not complaining about my college classes, but I am pretty sure if I can get through this class with a solid B (which is what I need in order for my employer to pay for this class) the rest will be smooth sailing. If I have to pay for a class that did nothing but stress and upset me: YES, I am going to be pissed!

Here’s to a Happy March and warmth and sunshine on the way!

When Everyone Is Sick

Published February 24, 2014 by Angela

Image

Except me, that is. And thank goodness for that! I have no time to be sick, although laying in bed for a few days reading would be a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

This is a yearly ritual I go through with my 16 year old. Constant sore throats, difficulty breathing, the whole nine yards. I have yet to convince our Doctor to take her tonsils out, but I really do think it would help. I feel terrible for her but I know the ritual. Go to Dr.s, spend a lot of money, get told to buy couch medicine. Go to med-center, pay an even more ridiculous fee, and go get cough medicine.

As a note, I am really not a horrible person or Mom, and she will be getting checked for Strep tomorrow.

I really wish the sun would come out, stay out, and melt this muddy snow that is everywhere. Not likely anytime soon though, as highs this weed in Michigan will be less than 20 degrees.

Do you have any tricks for comforting a sore throat? I think if she gargles any more salt water she will be sick!

8th Grade Options

Published February 19, 2014 by Angela

Since Erin and I have been experiencing some difficulty with her homeschooling (it is beyond difficult getting her to complete her daily assignments, on a daily basis) I am looking into a virtual school for 8th grade. I think this type of set schedule will definitely keep her on pace better than I have been able to, and the social aspect will definitely help her. She certainly isn’t entirely to blame for this; I seem to be a poor motivator (threatener, punisher, reward-giver, and whatever else I have tried).

I can enroll her in March, and as I know she is not ready to go back to public school at this point, I think this is the best option for both of us. I am working on my Master’s degree, online, and will be for a couple of years. I think her being in the same school-type environment as I am will be good for her.

Have you done a virtual school for your child/children? Did it work for them?

Why Yes, I Am Getting Another Pet

Published February 10, 2014 by Angela

For me, that is. My girls are at the point of being pretty much self-sufficient (yes, I still cook for them, help with homework, etc). So I figured it is time for a pet, for me! This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, and is something I have thought about for quite some time. Do you remember this post? https://parenthoodandotherhorrorstories.com/2013/08/29/another-pet-really/

By-the-way, I am pretty much taking care of Mufasa full-time now (your welcome, Erin!) even though he tries to bite me every time I put my hand in his cage. And I have to say, he has made contact more than once 😦

2 Hairless Sphynx Cats

2 Hairless Sphynx Cats

So after researching extensively on a cat breed that was unique, I have decided on getting a Hairless Sphynx. I am super-excited to be able to have a pet of my own again, and cannot wait to bring my little boy home! One is on the way, but they do not leave their mom until about 12-16 weeks of age.

I am aware of the extra care this breed requires, such as bathing, ear cleaning, and a raw diet. They also seem to be a bit more genetically inclined to have HCM (a heart issue that all cats can get). So with all of this in mind, I am slowly preparing my home for another forever pet, and have to say this little guy will likely be the most spoiled animal, ever!

Do you have pets that are like children to you?

On To A New Week!

Published February 10, 2014 by Angela

I feel like I have been falling behind on several things since 2014 began. I would like to blame college but that 1st class was only 3 weeks long, and it ended a couple weeks ago.

I really think the lack of sunshine is making me so tired (and yes, bitchy! Remember that last post?) I have stocked up on some Vitamin D, hoping this helps. Normally I would go tanning, or fake-and-bake as we say here in Michigan. As much as I love the look of a nice tan, I have stopped doing this a couple years ago due to concern about the safety of it, as well as skin cancer. Being red-headed, fair-skinned, and full of freckles, I should have never had a tan, ever 🙂

I feel like I have been getting off-track on the homeschooling. If Erin is getting behind, it is because I am not pushing her hard enough. And I am not talking about making her do school 8 hours a day (although I wish she would!) I am talking about making the time I need to in order to make sure she is understanding everything, and what she has questions on. Checking her work every day is just not enough, and what used to be hours a day discussing her work feels like less and less.

So as each day here in West Michigan gets a bit longer with more sunshine (even though we don’t see it), I am refocusing on staying on task, and keeping Erin on task. I would like to wrap up her 1st year of homeschooling on a positive note, having accomplished everything we planned out last August. My intention for her 8th grade year is to enroll her in online school. I think that will help keep her on task and more focused. She sure gets distracted easily! And yes, she gets it from me 🙂 Online schooling takes a special kind of discipline, and since I have been going to college like this for more years than I’ll tell you, I think this is definitely going to help both of us with homeschooling.

Â