My husband is being forced to burn vacation time this summer. Admittedly, he gets like five weeks of paid vacation a year, and rarely takes more than three weeks, but still. I, on the other hand, do not have any paid vacation time this year, having just started my job last November. Does this mean that I will not take any vacation? Nope, it just means I take it unpaid. Next week I’m heading off to my hometown, to attend a few weddings, host a wedding shower, and connect with my girls from high school. Thursday will be the kids and parents party at a friends home. Between the nine of us, there are four girl children and three boy children. My oldest is the oldest of the group, since I managed to pro-create at age 24. In August, I’m taking a few more days off to go back to the hometown to be in my sister’s wedding. Which means, that this year, I don’t get to go anywhere other than East Coast Massachusetts for vacation. Lovely place, but I grew up there, and would sometimes like to go somewhere else for a change.
Which brings me to the irritation. The husband is not coming with me in June to Massachusetts. But, he is taking the week off. So he’ll be home alone for the week, well, alone with the cat. Now, he’s trying to find something to do during that time, maybe a trip to California, Colorado, or New Mexico. One of the surrounding states that are easily accessible. Then, because he’s sometimes not my favorite person, he’s taking two weeks off in July. But, is considering taking a trip to Ireland, alone, during one of those weeks (the other week, he’s going to Massachusetts for a Red Sox game, and to pick our oldest up so she doesn’t miss too much school). So, I’m kind of pissed. Because this is the first summer in a long time that I am not pregnant, and we don’t have an infant. So the month of July is a child free month. If he does follow through with this ill-thought-out plan, he’ll be taking the only time we have together this year without kids, and going out of the country. And, more importantly, he can’t understand why I’m mad about it. I don’t have any vacation time, it’s not like I can go with him. Last summer, he took off for ten days and did an East Coast Baseball trip. I countered with a girls-only trip to Chicago. This year, our only vacation together will be my sister’s wedding, and that’s pretty much a working vacation for me. There’s no free time in there. I’m just hoping he doesn’t get his act together and get his passport, because that would solve all problems.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
30 Things You Wouldn't Think To Ask
Answer These 30 Things You Wouldn't Think To Ask.
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? I've gotten the nice little feel up from security guards, the more personal feel up from TSA at a few airports, but never a full body search of my person from a police person. But, coming home from college my freshman year, my car was pulled over for not having a front license plate. Mind you, I had a really old Massachusetts Green license plate, so I didn't even HAVE a 2nd license plate for the front of the car. Yet, I get pulled over for this farce. The cop sees my age, sees the UMass stickers on the car, and must have decided that there was a good chance he'd be able to get me on some sort of drug or alcohol possession charge, based on those criteria alone. So, he decides to search my car. For over an hour, I sat at a rest area on Route 2 in Massachusetts while this guy takes apart my car. He found nothing, because A, I'm not stupid, and B, all of the contraband had been consumed before finals.
2. Do you close your eyes on roller coaster? No. I love them, they're my favorite part of amusement parks.
3. When's the last time you've been sledding? I think Thanksgiving 2007 it snowed when I was back in Massachusetts, and I may have taken the kids down the driveway a few times. I hate the cold and snow.
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? Truthfully, I like to fall asleep alone in the bed. I can totally foresee Frank and I being the married couple who eventually move into two separate beds. I'm not easy to sleep with, I'm all over the bed, I kick, I flail, I roll, it's ridiculous.
5. Do you believe in ghosts? Sometimes.
6. Do you consider yourself creative? Not really, I'm a logical.
7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife? Yeah, but it no longer matters
8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? Jennifer Aniston is far more interesting.
9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics? Yes.
10. Do you know how to play poker? No.
11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight? No.
12. What's your favorite commercial? I love Vince the Sham Wow man. He rocks.
13. Who was your first crush? One of the Fulton Boys, Ron Baker.
14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light? No. Because with my luck some drunk lady is going to come out of nowhere and nail my car, killing me and leaving my kids motherless.
15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? Highly doubtful.
16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees? Red Sox. Yankees suck. New York in general sucks.
17. Have you ever been Ice Skating? Not in years, but growing up there was a pond in the woods behind my house. We would go all the time back there, and also on the Weymouth Res.
18. DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR DREAMS? Often. I tend to dream vividly.
19. What's the one thing on your mind? That I'm slacking off today, and have about a million things better to do, yet I am compelled to write this as a blog.
20. Do you always wear your seatbelt? I do, otherwise my car beeps at me.
21. What talent do you wish you had? I wish I was more musical.
22. Do you like Sushi? Some, the non-scary stuff. Tuna is yummy, eel is scary.
23. What do you wear to bed? Nuthin.
24. Do you truly hate anyone? No, I don't think so. I've never been hurt enough to hate someone.
25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be? I'm gonna go cliche with this one and pick George Clooney, except he's so good looking that he's most likely crap in bed. So maybe someone less attractive would be a better choice, because he's had to work more to get laid.
26. Do you know anyone in jail? I don't believe so, but you never know.
27. What food do you find disgusting? Yogurt, mayonnaise, Ham
28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back? Of course, but I still love them.
29. Have you ever been punched in the face? Yes.
30. Have you ever punched anyone in the face? Yes, and it hurts.
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? I've gotten the nice little feel up from security guards, the more personal feel up from TSA at a few airports, but never a full body search of my person from a police person. But, coming home from college my freshman year, my car was pulled over for not having a front license plate. Mind you, I had a really old Massachusetts Green license plate, so I didn't even HAVE a 2nd license plate for the front of the car. Yet, I get pulled over for this farce. The cop sees my age, sees the UMass stickers on the car, and must have decided that there was a good chance he'd be able to get me on some sort of drug or alcohol possession charge, based on those criteria alone. So, he decides to search my car. For over an hour, I sat at a rest area on Route 2 in Massachusetts while this guy takes apart my car. He found nothing, because A, I'm not stupid, and B, all of the contraband had been consumed before finals.
2. Do you close your eyes on roller coaster? No. I love them, they're my favorite part of amusement parks.
3. When's the last time you've been sledding? I think Thanksgiving 2007 it snowed when I was back in Massachusetts, and I may have taken the kids down the driveway a few times. I hate the cold and snow.
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? Truthfully, I like to fall asleep alone in the bed. I can totally foresee Frank and I being the married couple who eventually move into two separate beds. I'm not easy to sleep with, I'm all over the bed, I kick, I flail, I roll, it's ridiculous.
5. Do you believe in ghosts? Sometimes.
6. Do you consider yourself creative? Not really, I'm a logical.
7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife? Yeah, but it no longer matters
8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? Jennifer Aniston is far more interesting.
9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics? Yes.
10. Do you know how to play poker? No.
11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight? No.
12. What's your favorite commercial? I love Vince the Sham Wow man. He rocks.
13. Who was your first crush? One of the Fulton Boys, Ron Baker.
14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light? No. Because with my luck some drunk lady is going to come out of nowhere and nail my car, killing me and leaving my kids motherless.
15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? Highly doubtful.
16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees? Red Sox. Yankees suck. New York in general sucks.
17. Have you ever been Ice Skating? Not in years, but growing up there was a pond in the woods behind my house. We would go all the time back there, and also on the Weymouth Res.
18. DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR DREAMS? Often. I tend to dream vividly.
19. What's the one thing on your mind? That I'm slacking off today, and have about a million things better to do, yet I am compelled to write this as a blog.
20. Do you always wear your seatbelt? I do, otherwise my car beeps at me.
21. What talent do you wish you had? I wish I was more musical.
22. Do you like Sushi? Some, the non-scary stuff. Tuna is yummy, eel is scary.
23. What do you wear to bed? Nuthin.
24. Do you truly hate anyone? No, I don't think so. I've never been hurt enough to hate someone.
25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be? I'm gonna go cliche with this one and pick George Clooney, except he's so good looking that he's most likely crap in bed. So maybe someone less attractive would be a better choice, because he's had to work more to get laid.
26. Do you know anyone in jail? I don't believe so, but you never know.
27. What food do you find disgusting? Yogurt, mayonnaise, Ham
28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back? Of course, but I still love them.
29. Have you ever been punched in the face? Yes.
30. Have you ever punched anyone in the face? Yes, and it hurts.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
You Like Me! You Really, Really Like Me!
Did you ever feel like you were born cursed? That nothing ever goes your way? That fate just has it out for you? That’s how I usually feel. Nothing ever falls in my favor. If a rock falls off a truck, it will strike my windshield and break it. After high school graduation, I went white-water rafting with a group of other people who had also just graduated. Who fell off the raft? Me. And, not even in a bumpy part. I just kind of fell overboard. If I need it to be a nice day, in order to get something done, you can almost guarantee that it will rain, hail or be a windstorm. It’s like there’s a permanent black cloud over my head.
BUT NO MORE! Because, for the first time ever, I HAVE WON SOMETHING! Yes, that’s right. The fabulous Kristina of Pulsiper Predilections, has informed me that I have won a fabulous baby onesie. I am very excited, because I never win anything. So, thank you Kristina! And, dear readers, I suggest you check out her blog, because it pants-peeingly funny- http://adamandkristinapulsipher.blogspot.com/
Thank you!
BUT NO MORE! Because, for the first time ever, I HAVE WON SOMETHING! Yes, that’s right. The fabulous Kristina of Pulsiper Predilections, has informed me that I have won a fabulous baby onesie. I am very excited, because I never win anything. So, thank you Kristina! And, dear readers, I suggest you check out her blog, because it pants-peeingly funny- http://adamandkristinapulsipher.blogspot.com/
Thank you!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Competitive Preschools or They Must Be Different in the Big City
I had the chance to watch Nursery University this weekend, onDemand (thank goodness for that handy little invention, I’d never get to watch movies otherwise. Seriously, OnDemand and Tivo have changed my life). Its about the insane process of getting your child into “the right” preschool in New York City. How “the right” preschool can feed your child into “the right kindergarten” and then forward all the way to the Ivy Leagues. My husband was actually home before midnight, so we watched it together, completely astonished by the antics of these parents. Hiring advisors to tweak their submissions packages. Stalking the admissions officers. Name dropping so much that you could build a castle with all the blocks of bullshit they were dropping. One of the Dads, who I shall call “Tool in the Tie” because he wore a tie all movie, was so tightly wound about the whole issue, I thought he was going to have an aneurysm. His kid (very cute kid, btw), managed to get into all 8 schools that she applied to. Tool in the Tie almost cried, he was so happy. The Token Black Family, from Harlem, took a more laid-back approach, applied to one school and got in. These are preschool programs for kids who are 2 and 3 years old. It’s absolutely ridiculous. Competitive Parenting at it’s finest.
I work full time, so my kids go to a sitter. I had the luxury of having a nanny last year, while my youngest was between the ages of three months to one year. This year, the oldest is in kindergarten, and goes to a school summer day camp. The younger two go to an in-home private daycare. Next year, because Child #2 misses the cut-off, she’ll go to preschool instead of kindergarten. Even though she knows her letters (upper case and lower and knows the sounds they make) and numbers. She’s socially very young, so a year of preschool will do her good. And, I get to send her for the fabulous price of $175 a week. At this point, I pay more in daycare than I do in mortgage payments (we have a really low 30 year fixed mortgage). If we didn’t have kids, my mortgage would be paid off in ten years or less. The Oldest didn’t go to preschool. It didn’t really effect her in school. She’s one of those kids who got on the bus the first day and never looked back. No separation anxiety. By the second week of school, she was the mayor of that place. Everyone knew who she was. Child #3 is still a bit of a puzzle. Right now, she’s staying put in the in-home, mostly because she’s aggressive. She bites, and pushes. At home, she’s just holding her own so that her sisters don’t take her stuff. At daycare, she still doesn’t let other kids push her around. She’s the boy I don’t have.
I work full time, so my kids go to a sitter. I had the luxury of having a nanny last year, while my youngest was between the ages of three months to one year. This year, the oldest is in kindergarten, and goes to a school summer day camp. The younger two go to an in-home private daycare. Next year, because Child #2 misses the cut-off, she’ll go to preschool instead of kindergarten. Even though she knows her letters (upper case and lower and knows the sounds they make) and numbers. She’s socially very young, so a year of preschool will do her good. And, I get to send her for the fabulous price of $175 a week. At this point, I pay more in daycare than I do in mortgage payments (we have a really low 30 year fixed mortgage). If we didn’t have kids, my mortgage would be paid off in ten years or less. The Oldest didn’t go to preschool. It didn’t really effect her in school. She’s one of those kids who got on the bus the first day and never looked back. No separation anxiety. By the second week of school, she was the mayor of that place. Everyone knew who she was. Child #3 is still a bit of a puzzle. Right now, she’s staying put in the in-home, mostly because she’s aggressive. She bites, and pushes. At home, she’s just holding her own so that her sisters don’t take her stuff. At daycare, she still doesn’t let other kids push her around. She’s the boy I don’t have.
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