It Gets Even Better

*UPDATE* 7/1/09 STILL banned. :(
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Lovely...so I wanted to add someone to the folks I follow on Twitter. I don't follow tons. Nor do I twitter a ton.

MY ACCOUNT IS SUSPENDED!!!!!!! *&(**&$#@)*%#$

"This account is currently suspended and is being investigated due to strange activity. If we have suspended your account mistakenly, please let us know. See Suspended Accounts for more information. "

What the frack?!?

How the hell could anyone say my account was suspicious?!? Unless it's related to my stupid jewelry website which keeps getting hacked. I'm so ready to get rid of it!

Days Like Today

Make me want to quit my job.

I'm bored out of my skull waiting for other people to get me necessary data that I need to do my job. So in the meantime, trying to stay busy and productive, I'm trying to prepare spreadsheets and things for processes that are coming up soon.

Except I can't because my computer is being stupid. I can't copy and paste.

Copy. and. Paste.

SOOOO freaking simple and yet I can't do it. I've had to shut down my machine twice - first time it helped for several hours but the second time I was only able to copy/paste for a few minutes.

It's amazing how much I copy and paste without thinking about it...yet when I can't do it I'm completely stuck from doing my job.

I called the Help desk (which I tend to call the unHelp desk) and so far nothing. I asked for it to be labeled as a high priority and NOTHING...oh wait look. A ticket has been opened...finally. 15 minutes AFTER I called.

So now I twiddle my thumbs.

Crap

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shitty Shit Shit.

I do have gestational diabetes. *sigh*

Which just pisses me the hell off...even though I'm sure it's totally my fault.

Thankfully my mom is an RN ... and a diabetic specialist to boot. So she's on the case and finding out what exactly I need to do and who to meet with. Plus she works at my clinic so she knows the best folks to talk to/see. Inside tracks rock.

I am still pissed though. I have to poke my finger now ... I HATE needles. I don't care how small they are.

Not to mention losing my favorite foods. Carbs are my FRIEND! =( And I'm totally addicted to sugar, though I think that won't be as difficult to weed out as the carbs. My breakfast bagel alone has 51 grams! I think that's almost a whole days worth.

Screw it though...I'm eating my breakfast sandwich this morning (bagel with laughing cow cheese and lunch meat .... *drooling*). And my chips. Lunch isn't so bad - two soft tacos with beans, cheese, rice, and black olives. Yummy!

So life sucks right now. This is going to SUCK major suckage.

RIP

I'm not so fussed about celebrity deaths, in general. Farrah Fawcett's surprised me and it's sad but not devestating.

Nor is Michael Jackson's death devastating. But it seems more sad to me. . . maybe it's because I have such fond memories of his music as a young girl. I can clearly and vividly remember bouncing and dancing around my living room when I was 5 or 6 years old with my best friend to the Thriller Album. Oh how I adored him then. I still enjoy listening to his older tunes.

Even in my favorite "Thriller" era he had changed his look, but at least he still looked black. And I thought he was dreamy (at the time).


It doesn't surprise me that he's died. He was a total freak who mutilated himself beyond recognition. I mourn for the young boy who had so much talent but never seemed to have a chance.

I feel most sad for his children. I wonder what will become of them.

Moron

Mark Sanford is an idiot. He threw away an incredible career, and potentially presidential future, for some Argentinean tail.

Loser.

A wife and four sons. A trip to see his girlfriend on FATHER'S DAY!

Pathetic.

I don't care what party you are...cheating on your spouse is just about the lamest thing ever. Especially with kids in the picture. Doing so when you are a public figure is just stupid - you will NOT get away with it.

Edwards. Clinton. JFK.

You won't get away with it. Nor should you.

I think Sanford should resign. He does more harm to his party and to the cause of conservatism and the small government movement by staying in power.

Not to mention taking away from truly horrific happenings in Iran. We need to focus on what is truly important.

So Now He's An Expert on Gestational Diabetes

My blood glucose was crazy high. *sigh* I had to drink that gross orange drink yesterday, wait an hour, and then get stabbed by a crazy lady. Seriously. I've never bled so much after having blood drawn in my LIFE. It completely soaked through the gauze and leaked onto my arm. Ug.

So now I have to go back in and do a THREE freaking HOUR test. I can't eat for 10 hours before hand, I have to drink more gross orange drink (it burns my throat), and then I have to get my blood drawn every hour for three hours.

Here's hoping it comes back more normal. I really do not want to change my eating habits so drastically. No more chips. No more soda. No mac and cheese! Oh dear God help me now!!!

Plus I gained 11 pounds in 5 weeks. I don't *feel* that fat. Maybe some of it is water weight. One can hope. I'm just praying that the Water Aerobics I started last week slow the weight gain.

This baby is going to be the death of me. But I can't get too mad at him...I'm the one stuffing my face. I bet I could have gained 11 pounds in 5 weeks even not being pregnant. Easy!

When I told hubby the results of yesterday's test he immediately jumped online and started researching Gestational Diabetes. So now he's an expert and will be planning our meals. ROFL He cracks me up.

It's a Little More Real

Hubby and I went and got a 3D ultrasound Monday evening. I was pretty skeptical and wouldn't have done it at all if my mom hadn't insisted (and paid!). It's not exactly covered by insurance and isn't super cheap.

But we actually had a lot of fun and hubby was totally into it. He said it's more real now.

I'm number 1!

Not at all shocking - my baby is "difficult." hahahahahaha He would NOT get in a good position to get a great photo. There were some great views of arms and his back, but he kept snuggling up to my placenta and hiding his face. Silly boy.

I like this one...hand on hip "I will NOT turn around!"

I'm only around 25 weeks, so it is kind of early, but we wanted to get a photo to take to the hospital for my mother in law. Something to remind her what she has to look forward to...a grandchild.

Not the clearest, but you can see his nose and lips and eyes. And she said he has lots of hair already.

Now if we could only come up with a name.

God Bless Walmart

I may have to make this a category...I'm sure I've blogged about it before.

Yesterday I took my weekly trip to Wallyworld. Later than normal, so traffic was lighter and parking was easier. That was nice.

I paid less for my newspaper than at the grocery store. I paid less for my lunch meat and my bananas.

As I stood in line, leaning over my cart because my back hurt so badly, a worker person got my attention and moved me to a line with no one waiting. The cashier's line was technically closed, but the lady told me that she'd already warned her I was coming. :) And the cashier wasn't even disgruntled about it - greeting me nicely and having a nice little chat with me.

I don't know if she saw me in my pregnancy discomfort or not, but I was very relieved and grateful.

Aside from one really witchy woman who I try to avoid, everyone there is always so nice and helpful. Saving me money and making it a pleasant experience...God Bless Walmart.

What is 4D?

So I've got another ultra sound today...it's called a 4D ultrasound. I have no idea what 4D is. I know what 3D is. I think the extra D is 'sound'...but not the baby's sound. Apparently they record the session so people can listen online to what the mom and dad say. I'm NOT sharing that link with anyone.

And I have my glucose test to see if I have gestational diabetes today. I can hardly wait. /sarc

Saw the mother in law yesterday and she seemed to be doing a bit better. She had been really really tired on Saturday and didn't want visitors. But yesterday was Father's day and I wanted her to see hubby open the gift I got him. It's SO adorable...a handmade baby onesie that has the Washington State Patrol logo and the words "Future Trooper" embroidered on it. Plus the person who made it also gave us a matching burp cloth. He was pretty tickled ... and surprised.

When the babe is born I want to get a photo of hubby in uniform with baby in his onesie. =)

Oh, and here's a survey...one about music. I'm going to have the LL Cool J song in my head all day. And I agree about the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. LOVE it!

Surveys - Moving and Athletes

Hubby and I thought we'd only be in our current house for a max of 5 years. Well, it's been almost 7. And I don't see us going anywhere anytime soon. I like where we live. It's conveniently not too far away from shopping and 'town' but it's out far enough that I don't feel like I live in the city. I guess it could be called the "burbs" but it feels more rural than that to me. I pass several farms with horses and one with a bunch of cows on my way home.

We may be forced to move in the next couple of years if my company moves their headquarters. I am SO hoping they stay put though.

I think if we do move in the next few years we'll almost have to hire movers. Which will suck.



P.S. This is a charitable survey...I picked PetSmart charities for my survey.

As for the next survey...I do not think that endurance training athletes can truly have a balanced lifestyle. How can they possible have ice cream if they're training all the time? :)

Back to Work

It was a great get away...my mom and I went to Vegas over the weekend. We stayed at the Monte Carlo and other than being smokier than I expected it was great. My mom didn't notice the smoke at all. I think I'm just extra sensitive.

We even went in the "lazy river" which was a blast. My mom hasn't been in a pool in over 35 years! Nor have her legs seen the sun. Yeah, she got a little sun burned. :)

We got back Monday afternoon and went right to the hospital. My MIL is so far in good spirits but the effects of the chemo haven't really hit her yet. They just started the first round yesterday.

She has the worst, most aggressive, kind of Leukemia. AML I think it's called. She'll be on super intensive chemo for seven days to kill off ALL of her bone marrow. Then they will start testing her to see if the cancer is in remission. If not, more chemo.

It's stressful and I'm not sure how hubby will ultimately handle the whole situation. Especially if the worst occurs.

Well Crap

My mother in law got diagnosed this afternoon with Leukemia. *sigh*

She's taking it well. Better than the rest of us.

She's been sick for awhile...very, very week. She has had two blood transfusions in as many months and they finally did a bone marrow biopsy today. They wanted her to come into the hospital tonight but she decided to wait to go in on Monday. She has to be in the hospital, full time, for four to five weeks.

It'll be a group effort ... trips to see her, taking care of her cats, getting her mail. As well as bringing her non hospital food. :)

She doesn't know what she's going to do for that time...I told her to enjoy it! Waited on, no laundry, no garbage to take out. Cable TV. She can sit and knit (I need baby blankets!), read, relax, and we'll bring over board games. I think I'll buy her a hand held video game like Solitaire or something.

One thing I'll definitely be doing is creating a bracelet to sell and donate part of the proceeds to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. I've done it in the past ... one of my coworker's sons was diagnosed when he was 3 years old and we did some fund raising.

It's scary. The doctor said if she didn't get treatment right away she might have a month to live.

She has a grandchild on the way...I think if she didn't she wouldn't agree to treatment. She's that kind of person.

Even with Chemo they say it might extend her life by a year. But at least it's a year in which she will be able to meet her grandson - Thanksgiving and Christmas will be a lot happier if she's there.

It's frustrating and scary. She's the kind of person who has been saying for years that she just wants to move on...she's ready to "meet her maker". I on the other hand want her to FIGHT damn it!

We'll be there for her...I just wish she would let us. She's very stubborn, but I'm more stubborn.

Have You Started Hording Gold Yet?

Mark Stein, always a genius, hits another one out of the park.

Love this quote.

"Under the hilarious Canadian bailout, “social justice” requires that auto workers who make $70 per hour be subsidized by taxpayers making less than a third thereof. If it’s unreasonable to expect a guy on 70 bucks an hour to make provision for lean times, why should anyone else?"

It's a great article and gives me a lot to think about. I have been telling hubby that we need to have an on hand cash reserve, not just an emergency fund in the bank. Even a "minor" emergency (compared to an EMP attack) like a volcano or major earthquake here could take out ATMs. And cash will be king.

As with most of the interesting articles I read, h/t Instapundit. :) What would I do without him?!?

Worlds Are Colliding!

I'm not sure where the flying pigs and unicorns pooping rainbows are, but I'm sure they're coming.

Huffington Post article encourages conceal carry!

via Instapundit

In Effect, More Japanese

Classic.



h/t Moe Lane (where you can see the "real" ad too...but I like this one better).

Okay, I Admit - It Took me a Second

This quote cracks me up...but I admit I had to think about it for a second.

"And, finally, I looked around our world and I thought, you know, we are in just so many deep holes that everybody had better grab a shovel and start digging out."--Hillary Clinton, explaining why she accepted appointment as secretary of state, "This Week With George Stephanopoulos," June 7

HT: WSJ Best of the Web Today

Back Off Lady

I wonder what someone would do (if I had a conceal carry permit and carried) if I pulled a gun on them when they approached me with their arms extended toward my belly.

Just a day dream I assure you. But boy did I want to do exactly that on Saturday.

What gives strangers (or friends for that matter) the idea that is socially acceptable to touch a woman's belly when she is pregnant?

Some stranger walked up to me on Saturday at the garage sale we were having, stuck her hand out toward my belly and started cooing "when are you due?"

I of course started scooting my butt backwards so fast my mom started laughing. She knows how much I hate to be touched, even by family members. In fact, she thought I'd never get pregnant with my aversion to touch. *grin*

Her hand never touched me, but it came within inches. I think my horrified expression and rapid backward movement may have tipped her off. She wasn't some little old lady either...she was maybe in her 50s. She should know better.

It really does tick me off though. I shouldn't have to be on guard all the time. I can't wear a shirt every single day with the words "Do Not Touch" across the belly. I don't let my family members (aside from hubby) touch my belly so why in the hell would I allow a stranger? I'm not even comfortable when the doctor touches me!

Yes, I have issues. That's another subject all together.

Craziness

A tree fell on my mom's house last night.

Weird, right?

I didn't even realize we'd had any wind. We only live about 20 minutes from her house and I don't remember any large gusts or crazy weather. Her neighbors saw it happen and said that a huge gust of wind came through and CRACK...half the tree fell on her house.

Freaky!

We've got a garage sale over there on Saturday so it should make for some interesting conversations. I doubt it'll get removed before then.

Survey - What's With the Hair?

My hair is way too long...I'm just too cheap to go get it cut.



I don't have much in the way of ideas for blogging right now. :) So the survey is it for the time being.

I Heart Walmart

I want a bumper sticker that says "I SHOP AT WALMART" ... just to counter the stupid assinine stickers like the one my neighbor has that says "I don't shop at Walmart." I know I've written before about how stupid I think they are...they think they're so much better than those of us who do shop there?

Just this last weekend I had an excellent trip to my local Wally World. I've discovered the joys of price matching. Instead of making four different stops to different stores to get the best deals and the biggest bang for my coupon dollars, I can take the ads with me to WM and they will match the prices right there and I can still use my coupons. Saving me time and money (and gas!).

I got bologna (yes, I know...gross...but I'm pregnant and have been craving it) for a crazy cheap price. It's normally around $5 for a 16 oz package. WM sells it for $3.80 something. The sale from Safeway was buy one get one free. And I had a coupon for $1 off of two.

So for $2.80 (something) I got two 16 ounce containers of beef bologna. Name brand. I'll be eating bologna for weeks...already I've had a sandwich for lunch every day. YUMMY!

That is a huge savings! Nearly $7 cheaper than if I bought two 16 ounce containers at another store.

I also got a 12 ounce package of string cheese for $1.99. Safeway had it on sale for $2.99 and I had a coupon for $1 off. WM's regular price is over $4, and other stores are over $5.

Not to mention the Tucks travel pack boxes that are less than $3, and I had coupons for $3 off. So I actually EARNED money off the rest of my order (I calculated that I got an additional $2 off my bill by using these coupons that were worth more than the asking price). That doesn't happen a lot but it's great when it does.

So maybe one of these high and mighty "I don't shop at Walmart" people can explain to me why I should go spend more money at another grocery store for the exact same items. I've saved hundreds of dollars just this year by shopping at Walmart, using their price match policy, and using coupons.

That is money that I can save. Or use to pay off debts. Or spend on something else like maternity clothes. (Which, I will say WM sucks in their maternity section...everything looks like nursing scrubs.)

Instapundit also linked to this great article about how Walmart actually helps people maintain their weight! Who knew?

What I do know is those people who stand outside WM with picket signs and try to make people feel bad because it's a non-union shop can kiss my ass. I often feel like flipping them the bird, but I usually just shake my head. They don't know what they're missing.

I Can't Do This Justice

This post cracked me up.

I guess I'm a chicken abortionist myself...I luvs me some unborn chicken fetuses. Preferably scrambled with cheese. Or fried on a lunchmeat and bagel sandwich.

*snorfle*

No, There's Nothing Tawdry Here

The whole thing stinks to high heaven. The government taking over a private company that would probably fail on their own. And SHOULD fail if they cannot compete in the marketplace.

Conveniently, the contract signed by UAW will come due for renegotiation JUST in time for the reelection campaign. But I'm sure that won't affect the administrations decisions at all.

"There's also the labor agreement that the UAW approved last week, which goes some way toward reducing costs but probably not enough to make the new, smaller GM competitive. The new agreement simplifies some work rules and job descriptions but makes no reductions in hourly pay, pensions or health care for active workers. The agreement must also be renegotiated in two years by an Obama Administration running for re-election and weighing the need to keep Big Labor happy against the risks to taxpayer-shareholders. Who do you think wins that White House debate?"

Nope...nothing to see here. Everything is perfectly above board. Keep your heads down and bow to your Messiah who is here to save you from yourselves.

And read the whole article...if you can stomach it.

Gathering

We traveled down to my grandfather's property this weekend. It was a dual purpose trip - to have lunch and meet with the family, but also to go see my grandmother's new gravestone.

She died in 2007 but the new gravestone was just put up last weekend. It's very cool and totally her (and grandpa).

I blurred out their last name...call me paranoid. :) And the flowers are over a week old ... but no one wanted to remove them. The fisherman and elk are totally representative of my grandparent's lives together. On their honeymoon they went hunting!

It's weird going to the cemetery...especially with so many people on a gorgeous sunny day. There were pretty horses in a field next door and we could hear gun fire from the gun range that was just a mile or two away.

People joked and laughed...it wasn't depressing at all. Our family is much better with laughter than with tears.

This is my great-grandmother's gravestone (and her husband, my great-grandpa, who I never knew)...

Isn't Audra a cool name? I wanted to name our kid that if we had a girl...maybe next time. She was a kooky lady. Grew up during the "Great" Depression and would laugh at people calling these times we live in any kind of difficult. This lady knew how to get by on nothing. And she saved everything. Plastic butter containers. Nylons with runs. Cleaning out her house after she died was an adventure.

And of course my dad is buried there too. Someone must have left flowers last week...I think it might have been my mom but she didn't say anything. Nor did I see her even look at his gravestone when we were there. I don't blame her. It's not easy.

He was only 36.


But at least he left a legacy (back view). (It's our birthdays that I blurred out...ya know...paranoid.)

Not sure why they called him "Skip" but that's how people knew him. I wish I liked the name Donald better...but it just doesn't sound right to me for my baby. And we already have a middle name picked out. And his middle name was Leroy...that just doesn't work for me either.

We didn't stay at the cemetery long...we had lunch to eat after all. Grandpa smoked a turkey and it was incredibly yummy.

Hubby and I brought Kodiak and Timber with us and had an adventure down at the river. Timber swam for the first time ever! We had a great time.