Moving day

Well, today is officially moving day for the sweet Princess. The new carpet was installed yesterday and today the landlord has a cleaning crew coming to do a thorough cleaning prior to her moving in this after noon. She is both excited and terrified, but I am sure she will do just fine. At least her new abode is only across the street from us, as I am sure for awhile there will be a few requests for assistance and the occasional plea to kill a dreaded spider or two.

Funny, you spend your whole life raising tiny beings to be strong, independant souls and it feels like the days are endless to get there. Then when it finally arrives, your heart is full of joy, sadness, regrets, and hopes for the future. Did I teach them the right things? Did I prepare them for how cruel the real world beyond these walls can really be? Did I give them enough love and understanding to pull from on the darkest days? Did I give them the tools needed to problem solve all of lifes challenges? Did I show them the way to trust in themselves to accomplish their goals and dreams? Did I fill their hearts with even a fraction of the joy that they have brought to me? Did I give them the map to follow back home anytime they need a friend?

Good luck dear Princess, I wish you joy, love, peace, and happiness in this new adventure. I love you with all my heart and know you will be just fine.

Sad day in the neighborhood

I am afraid it is a rather sad week in our neighbor hood here. Quite a bit of reflections in the old gazing ball have tears in their eyes. Lets just sum it up quickly and spare everyone the gorey, boring details.

1. I now have a very unstylish boot to wear on my broken foot for several weeks. I was cleaning my carpets, and on the way to empty the container, slipped on the kitchen floor. Quite a site I am afraid as my foot went sliding into the counter, followed by my knee, then tweaked my back which went the other direction with the water bucket. After 4 days of not being able to walk on my left foot despite the black toes and swelling, I went to the dreaded doc who informed me my toes were fine, but have a crack in the bone of my foot and a chip in the end of the same bone. So now have to wear this monster boot for at least 2 weeks. At least the swelling is down and the color is returning to a more normal state. The boot does help a ton or else I have to walk on the side of my foot.

2. Three of my coworkers suddenly resigned and left the two of us remaining with a ton of work. This means I get to fly to LV next week with my lovely boot for the day to help sort the mess. I hate spineless people who turn in notice at the exact same moment at 11pm on a holiday weekend after a company has literally bent over backward to help them for months. Really gets me ya know. Means good old me has more work than I can stand, but will get thru it but little time for play.

3. Biggest news is the Princess wedding is officially cancelled. He "doesn't want to be with her anymore and just wants to be friends". No explanation, no nothing. Princess is simply devestated and wants to hide. I am so upset I don't know what to do. I had just ordered all the personalized items etc, invitations are out, the pool enclosure is nearly complete with $1000 worth of plywood, the dress is hanging with all its accessories, and the rental home is set to move in on Saturday. She wants to move anyway although she can just barely afford it and I can't talk her out of it. We are all just stunned and not sure what to do next.

So, forgive me while I likely disappear for awhile to tend the princess and plot my voodoo punishment for the run a way groom.

Note to self.........

Well, the last few weeks are simply a blur. I have finally completed the wedding invitations, all that remains is the dreaded trip to the post office to determine the necessary postage for them so I can get them mailed. If my camera battery weren't dead, I would post pix for you to see. Note to self, NEVER volunteer to make these blasted things again!

Next I suppose I better get busy making the bouquets. Note to self, NEVER volunteer to make these blasted things again! At least there are only 2 of these to make in silk as the Princess wants fresh calla lilies for hers. Then again, will need multiple arrangements for various tables, etc. Note to self, NEVER volunteer to make these again!

The project after that will be to make multiple wedding cakes. See, Princess wants multiple smaller cakes instead of a large one. So, one will be a small 3 tier, then various others in graduating sizes. Note to self, NEVER volunteer to make these again!

At least the Princess has her gown, veil, tiara, etc, etc. I am desperately seeking a 3 photo locket to attach to her bouquet. I would like to insert a photo of her father/stepmom, Prince Charming/my sorry ol self, and the center with Princess/Groom. I think this would be a lovely keepsake for her to have and something she would not expect. I have searched high and low on ebay etc and have only found one, but alas was a day late and a dollar short. So, if any blogger friends run across one, please let me know!

She still needs to do the alterations to the gown (can you say hurry up already), decide on shoes, hair, etc. Bridezilla doesn't begin to describe what we have sunk to these days friends. Let's just say dear old Mom is fed up with this circus!

Oh, did I fail to mention I have a living room corner full of white pumpkins to glitter? Menus to plan and cook and serve? You guessed it, Mom has been designated wedding coordinator, baker, florist, planner, caterer, and all around day labor! Note to self, if son ever marries, just give him a check to elope and tell him to send a post card. Note to self, NEVER volunteer to do this again!!!! Especially when he is now saying he likely can't attend as the boss won't give him time off (read between the lines, his girlfriend hates Princess).

Today I get a call from the stepmother who has taken over planning the bridal shower for the maid of honor (her daughter-yeah, don't ask) who tells me it will be a naughty nightie party and she is booking a local hotel suite as the casinos won't rent a space without tons of issues. Fine, whatever, just do it. I am trying folks to rise to the occasion and bite my tongue, but I am seriously thinking I will need some serious medication before this is over. I can't even go into all the gorey details, but let's just say having me in closed quarters with this woman may result in some very bad vibes that won't be good for anyone. Let's just hope its short and sweet and there is plenty of alcohol in my beverage................

One plus is, the future bride/groom are allegedly moving out on September 1! I say allegedly as it isn't Sept. 1 yet and the fat lady hasn't sung. Good news, they get the heck out of my house which may decrease some of the constant irritation. Bad news, it is literally across the street. Good news, they can get all this "crap" we are accumulating out of my way so I can work and live! Bad news, I am doomed with the wedding crap everywhere until October 21! Note to self, change locks, move and leave no forwarding address on October 22!!!

So blog friends, if you have made it this far in my ranting, I apologize slightly. But, where else can I let off steam if not my seriously lame blog. If you come across a locket, let me know. If you come across any incredible cake recipes, let me know. If you come across incredibly cheap Cinderella/candlelight wedding items, let me know. If you think I'm crazy, don't bother, I already know....

PS, Princess had her tongue pierced over the weekend just to piss me off! Note to self, thank your lucky stars every day you only had two children to irritate you and that they are still around to irritate you!

Dog tired

(What are you looking at?)

I thought I should put up a new post since yesterday was a bit harsh. Some days reality just gets a little too intense around here. The photo is my Princess's dog Gidget in her typical "after bath suffering pose". Most days I'm not really sure which one of them is more spoiled. Frankly it is a draw I'm sure.

(Again? Can't you see we are sleeping here?)

This one is of my dear Princess and her best friend both dog tired and out for the count. Princess has a new job (real live grown up 12 hour shift busting ass job-everyone say
"YEE-HAW!) now. Unfortunately it is very hard labor for a print company that spits out thousands of our favorite magazines each day. She is the only girl on the floor doing this kind of work and the boys are putting her thru the proverbial tests to say the least. If she can hang thru this, I know she will make it up the ladder in no time.

Unfortunately, she has to wear steel toed boots for this environment. This meant new shoe shopping which did not rank up there with anything Stacey and Clinton would deem "fit to wear". Face it, steel toed boots are not a fashion statement. Especially in a town our size where we were lucky enough to find a massive TWO styles that even came in her size. So, good ol' Mom shelled out some serious cash and bought her a pair that appeared to be the best as far as comfort, safety etc. Off she went for the job. First day, what appeared to be a heat rash around her ankles at the top of the boot. Second day, uglier rash around top of boot and some impressive blisters on her feet. Couple days off, back for day three, rash at top of legs had cleared up, but now back but good ol' Mom only had a brief peak as I did't get home til after bedtime thanks to work travel and a seriously messed up airline industry. Anyway, day four, and BIG problems Houston!!!!! Now the formerly appearing rash has developed into blisters extending 2 inches and circling her legs. Poor kid could barely walk let alone put on the boots and go to work.

She obviously was having some form of reaction to those damn boots! I sent her to the doctor with Prince Charming, and back they came with some topical cream and a note to remain off work for 4 days. So, we did the cream, Benadryl, Ibuprofen and the agony continued and in fact worsened. By the 4th day, the blisters were now over 1/2 inch thick and growing by the hour. I sent her back to the doctor again after me, the dim witted nurse, finally put two and two together. See, Princess is way too much like her mom. She itches with soaps, bubble bath, lotions, etc. For years we couldn't figure out why if she spent two hours in the bathroom applying makeup like wall spackle, her feet would become red, swollen, and itch herself to death. Same time frame as we got the new puppy who felt this was her domain to use as a yard... Anyway, I thru away the rugs and got all cotton that I can bleach etc to remove the smell.. Ironically we didn't notice her foot problem went away. Another time Prince Charming drug us all to a out of town rodeo where we spent two days in a Minus 6 Star hotel, cheap, flat, industrial carpet. Princess made one trip to the bathroom in bare feet and literally scratched off her skin before 10 minutes was up. So, enter work boots with leather, heavy padding, stitching at ankles, etc. Are you seeing a pattern here? Aren't you glad I'm a nurse instead of a rocket scientist as it took me flipping forever to get it.

Princess has a LATEX allergery. Boots have foam padding topped by the wonderful "breathable fabric" enclosed in a solid leather shell. Foams and padding and glue for shoes are made from rubber based products. Sweat and stand on your feet working your ass off for 12 hours with that enclosed area on your skin, bingo, allergic reaction that intensifies with time. Same for rubber backed bath mats, cheap carpet, carpet padding, bandaids, the list is literally endless! So, she heads back to the doc and lucky for her could only see the nurse practitioner. She actually looks, listens, feels, and at long last drains those damn blisters since one had already exploded on its own. Infection is already present, now we get another topical ointment, antibiotics, and off work for another week. In two days, things are finally calming down and just centered on the blisters. Each day it gradually improves, but let me tell you. Having Latex allergy is worse than anything you could ever imagine. Have a look at the limited selection in the market place if you don't believe me. So much is taken for granted, ie shoes and socks. Yes my friend, those favorite socks of yours that actually stay up where you want them are full of latex (elastic, spandex etc). Try finding a pair of all cotton socks with no elastic. Yeah, welcome to my world. Off Prince Charming and Princess go as she NEEDS this job, therefore she needs another new pair of shoes. Last ditch effort they head to our bright, shiny, new Cabela's. (Little did they know Mom scoped out the internet and sent them there knowing they had a pair that is barely ankle high and would miss the affected area, our secret, shhh). Home they came grinning from ear to ear with new boots. Again not on the fashion radar, but fairly comfortable, only model in her size, and the saleman was ZERO help insisting none would fit her. Dear Prince made it clear he wasn't leaving the store until something was found if it meant trying on every damn shoe in the store. See why I married him, my cowboy up, git-r-done hero? Yeah, tough guy with a heart of marshmallows. Sorry, sidetracked. So, they march in with big grins and new shoes and the incredible story demanding Mom to guess the price. Come on, just guess they say, with that look of you won't believe it when we tell you... I pondered several moments and say "UMM, $49.00"? Smiles vanish, heads sag, shoulders slump, heavy sighs. "How the hell come you are so smart Mom?" they say.

Mom, "Haven't I told you a thousand times? Mom's know everything!" (wink, wink, shh our secret!)

So, everyone cross your fingers, toes, legs, eyes, and any other part you can manage that her new boots now won't do the same thing. Today is her first day back after this ordeal and I am literally holding my breath that all goes well. Oh, and for good measure hope the print machine doesn't explode again and douse her in industrial permanent print ink like it did the last day there. Let me tell you, it is IMPOSSIBLE to remove said ink from your Princess's FAVORITE pair of jeans she was wearing that now have a seriously homeless man appearance. I tried every damn product on the market, but after 5 days of trying I have given up hope. Lucky for us, she now has her company paid uniforms that are another fashion statement-not, but company paid and if desired company laundered as well. Good for those ink saturated days. Here is an FYI for you, should you ever find your skin saturated in permanent ink (I told you the machine exploded), Purity Made Simple by Philosophy is a "face cleanser" product that we have been using around here for awhile now. Pricey devil but great for literally melting off your makeup and mascara etc yet leaves your skin feeling clean and not like you scrubbed with bleach and shrink wrap. Anyway, Princess headed to the tub to soak her bones, washed her face, and "accidentally discovered" that during this process her hands were suddenly resembling a caucasian appearance again. So, she scrubbed a area on her arm, poof the ink disappeared. In comes mom to hit the large areas on her back (exploding machine I tell you), and again like magic the ink disappeared. Her boss had scrubbed her with every industrial chemical they own to remove ink prior to her coming home with no success. The guys have permanent rainbow tattoo areas on them from years of this. Not Princess, she is squeeky clean! AND it doesn't make her itch like most of those darn products on the market. And no, I don't work for Philosophy, in fact many of their products don't help my oily face much, but I will buy this stuff now if it means giving up other indulgences. I already use many of the products such as shower gel, perfume, micropeel pads, lotion etc. Let's say QVC is on my speed dial, and the supersize bottles are my friend! So, if you find yourself at the mercy of an exploding print machine, or simply a drawing board for a toddler with a passion for a sharpie marker, give the Purity stuff a try.

Hope everyone has a good day, and good weekend as will be several days before I get a chance to post.

Why?

Why does the human race live long enough for previously strong, independant, intelligent souls to become unable to remember their children, unable to independantly perform their own daily care activities, and unable to perform simple tasks that were always taken for granted?

Why does the human race sustain life for those who have been given every opportunity to have the best that life can offer them, yet they chose to pursue avenues that are illegal and self destructive? Why must these same individuals be allowed to seek consolation from the very beings that gave them a chance to do good but were blamed when another path was chosen?

Why must the human race feel guilty for doing the best we can with the avenues available to us, but manage somehow to never measure up to "good enough" status?

Why do the "weakest links" in the human race manage to slide thru even the worst of times, while those who choose to go the extra mile are forced to endure the wrath of the consequences of the weak?

Why do we allow others to treat us as simple trash to be discarded on a whim or retrieve in the event the same trash may be considered to have some monetary value to redeem?

Why do we silently bite our tongues rather than speak the truth that no one wants to hear for fear it may hurt someone's feelings, while secretly inside we are dying our own, quiet, agonizing death?

Why do humans not feel the need to accept responsibility for our own actions and yet insist on forgiveness by simply saying we are sorry and a idle promise of it won't happen again?

Why do we demand respect and trust after repeatedly demonstrating that these values do not exist in our physical or chemical being time and time and time again?

Why to human's chose to avoid difficult situations and let the burden of dealing with life fall to someone else? Why do those same humans then raise blame on those who are left to do what no one else will because it has to be done?

Why?

Happy 4th of July to all!!!!

Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and wonderful holiday weekend! Please keep our Armed Forces members in your thoughts and prayers as it is because of them we are able to celebrate freely! Enjoy your family, friends and critters too!

Hello blog friends!

It seems like forever since I have had time to post, and I don't really now but am doing it anyway. What a hectic month this has been for sure. Lately, it is all a blur, literally. The above photo should show a small mountain that is normally visible directly over the large rose bush in my back yard. Well, instead all we have seen for a week now is thick, heavy smoke. Ironically, the fires were in California, but lucky us were caught in the wind currents that sucked it straight into our valley where it stayed. There were times I could not even see the house across the street it was so dense. I have had a raging headache for the last three days and mostly due to the smoke. Even the air filters in the air conditioner can't keep up. Today is finally clearing up, but unfortunately they are now forcasting thunderstorms which in this area only means dry lightening to start more fires! Not what we need. It is going to be a long hard summer at this rate.

On a better note, there is some signs of life in the garden which always makes me smile. The lilies are starting to bloom, my roses are trying to win the aphid war and blooming, the clematis is taking off. Unfortunately my peonies are finished, sob, they are my absolute favorite and so short lived. My radishes are also finished as the heat is on and they have gone to tops now. The tomatoes are still sleepy little stubs, but I am hoping they will take off soon.
Another lousy photo, but this is my favorite lantana that makes a riot of beautiful blooms and colors in my hanging planter. If you look closely you will see the Charlotte's web nestled in the chains. I hope they eat some of the darn bugs that seem to be winning my plant war!

Prince Charming is off again on an adventure to see his Mother for her 85th birthday. Plus install a new washer/dryer, finish the drywall in her bedroom, hang new ceiling fixtures, and who knows what else before he is able to come home. Poor guy is running himself ragged trying to be there and here. We are still trying to adjust his new cardiac medications, but we are in a bit of a hold pattern right now for his heart to try and adjust. Now he has bronchitis on top of it all! We also learned this week his brother has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, his uncle suffered a large stroke, and his cousin spent a week in the hospital with strange liver problems they have yet to resolve. Think good thoughts as when it rains it pours around here.

Princess is finally a high school graduate!!!!! I have never been so happy to be finished with anything in my life. Public school now just sucks. Sorry, folks, I have a family full of educators and they agree too. How she learned anything is beyond me. She is now trying hard to secure a full time job with benefits so she can move to an apartment with her finance. Slim pickins these days, but she had a promising interview with a print company this week so hopefully will have good news next week. I just hope they aren't jumping into something they can't afford with these tough times. Guess they have to try though like we all did. I will miss her terribly, but it may be a nice change to focus on my husband and my life for a change.

Wedding plans are kind of slow now as we have had too many other things to do. Have to get in gear and get invitations made, favors made, flower arrangements made, new deck where the pool hole currently is, figure out where to get chairs, hotel arrangements...........................you know. GGRRRR!!! Oh well, guess it gets done or it doesn't.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Work has been pure hell this week with end of month, so I am off for a tall Jack and Coke and a long, hot (well warmish) bath, and curl up in the air conditioning with a good movie!