[kiss my crisis]

T'was the month before Christmas....

...and a nasty grinding noise was coming from the brakes on our van. Hubby took it in to Crappy Tire today to get them fixed, the only place open on a Sunday (and likely the cheapest for generic issues like brakes). That'll be $540 please and thank you very much. I hope the children enjoy having a nice safe car to drive in because thats what Santa's bringing this year.

So much for a zero balance on Visa. Merry Fucking Christmas.

3 comments! kim e posted at 10:49 AM
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I took three 11 year old boys to dinner and a movie on Friday night to celebrate my son's birthday. This was the closest thing I've had that even remotely resembles a date in a very long time. Yes, I'm married. Yes, my husband needs to take me out more often.

The boys were great, the dinner was yummy, and the movie was fabulous. I haven't read any of the Harry Potter books but I have seen all of the movies. I don't think that my imagination could ever picture some of the amazing creatures and scenes that the movies portray. The characters are amazing in both their eccentricities and their complexion and the theme of loyalty, friendship, and integrity run strong in this film. JK Rowling is definitely a genius.

My son is right at the cusp of childhood/teenage, discovering the magic of the opposite sex, mature enough to carry an intelligent conversation, yet still needs a mom's cuddle sometimes to reassure him. His friends are also vastly different in personality in these final years before the highschool conformity takes effect.

For example, his two best friends couldn't be any more different from each other. One is the son of a published author and college English professor possessing the vocabulary, articulation, and creativity of a novel writer himself. He is small and nerdy looking, wears glasses, and already loves girls. This kid has figured out a few of the tricks it takes most men many many years to clue into, if they do at all. His goal in life is to become a chef - because women like a man who can cook. He also joins every service commitee at school, always a fabulous girl:boy ratio, just to get closer to them.

The other friend is the strong silent type. A football player, strong as an ox both physically and mentally. He doesn't have to say much, just flash his bright blue eyes and adorable dimples to have all the girls calling. Even then, he's not really all that interested in them.

The fact that these boys, with such distinct and contrasting personalities, can be so inseperable makes me smile and feel hopeful that maybe he is forming the kind of life-long friendships that shape a person throughout their growing up.

2 comments! kim e posted at 9:31 AM
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So, so big now

At this time 11 years ago I was recovering from 23 hours of baby-induced hell. I went into labour at 6am November 15, 1994. At first I thought I just had a well-deserved bout of the trots due to the Taco Time we had for dinner the night before (A pregnant girl can wolf down quite a few soft tacos....) so my husband went to work. It turned to actually be contractions so I had to GO PICK HIM UP. That's right - driving. With labour pains.

In my first baby naivete, I decided that going to the hospital was just not possible without at least 10 pairs of clean underwear. Being that we were young and poor, we didn't own a washing machine so we went to my mother-in-law's to do laundry. And she laughed at my pain and bragged about her highly superior three hour labour and deliveries. I guess it's funny to see someone being ripped apart by contractions after you've done it four times yourself and it's not you this time.

Time warp to the hospital... after 6 hours of pain I almost kissed the anesthesiologist on the lips whe he finally showed up to jam a huge needle into my spine. It's amazing what we'll gladly submit to just to end the suffering. My husband said I was like a wilted flower who had come back to life. I'm not a screamer, not even a groaner. I hadn't made a sound for almost five hours. Epidural? I definitely recommend it.

After 23 hours of labour and two hours of pushing with 'assistance' from those big metal salad tongs they call forceps, it was decided that my pumpkin-headed child was not coming out that door. I was a little scared about the surgery but I was ready to agree to anything as long as they put more of that numbing stuff into my spine. Anything to stop the feeling that my guts were being ripped out from my crotch. C-section it is!

They pulled him out and held him up and DAMN he looked pissed off. He was all red and angry...and the most gorgeous thing I had ever seen in my entire life. Pain? What pain? Just let me hold that beautiful boy.

It's so hard to believe that that was eleven years ago and not yesterday. My first baby is growing up right before my eyes and I hate it and love it all at the same time. I feel time slipping through my fingers and it hurts but at the same time I am so excited for him to experience all of the wonderful things that lay in is path.

He is such a wonderful boy; sweet, senstitive, quiet, thoughtful, smart. He gets along so well with everyone and takes good care of his little brother. He helps around the house and even makes his bed every morning without me having to yell. He puts away the dishes and takes out the garbage without much grumbling. The best of all - he'll even cuddle with his Mom for a few minutes as long as there are none of his friends around to witness it. And he is so, so handsome. The perfect child.

Happy birthday baby.

4 comments! kim e posted at 12:19 PM
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Warning: This post may ruin your life

I'm not looking for a job. Neither is my husband. Why then, was he at this site ruining my life? That's right - I'm skidding towards complete failure and destitution. I can't get any work done, my house is filthy, the closest I've been to 'getting dressed' is throwing my coat over my pj's to drive the kids to school. They're lucky they're being driven at all because my car doesn't get a very good wi-fi signal.

THIS GAME will be my downfall. It can be yours too - just try it. I guarantee you'll be instantly hooked like that first hit of heroin.

Need the computer for homework kids? Screw off. My husband and I wrestle each other for the computer in the evenings, deathmatch-style. You see, we are both a tad competitve in nature. And by 'competitive' I mean completely obsessed with winning. But you see, I work from home and also stay up much later than him at night so I'm kicking his ass royally. And it's killing him. And I laugh and laugh. My best score: level 35. His best score: level 13.

He's my bitch.