Life as a reformed Zookeeper. Now living a life as a working mother who dabbles in karate, scrapbooking, and Coors Light!

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Urgh....

...so sorry for the shoddy updates...it's been uncannily busy for the girl-formerly-known-as-Zookeeper. I've been promoted to party planner for my company, so spare moments have been spent calling caterers, dj's, driving to the location to see what it is all about, etc. I've spent more time and effort into planning this holiday bash than I did for my own wedding! It should be a good time. I even bought a sexy black dress to wear to the event. Too bad that it's not really work appropriate.....but it will work for nights out.

...I fell down half of the stairs today. Diet Coke in hand. Good job my outfit was black and gray, or I would have had to change. I didn't, though, and managed to wobble my way out of the house to get a flu shot. Now all my extremities hurt. Go me.

...What's happening out there?

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

I'm Thinking.....

....that I might join karate again.....

Friday, November 24, 2006

Happy Day-After-Thanksgiving....

...so we had a nice Thanksgiving dinner at my house. Much to the surprise of my co-workers (the ones NOT originally from the US), we had ham in lieu of the infamous bird. I do not like turkey unless it's smoked. It tastes like ham when it's smoked. So we had ham, sweet potato casserole, green beans...flavored with ham, jell-o salad, and other things. It was a fairly quiet affair, with my dad, stepmom, grandma, brother, sister-in-law, 2 nephews, and my family in attendance. It went fairly well, aside from some tension stemming from not only my stepmom and grandma, but from me and my sister-in-law as well. We're all used to this sort of thing by now.

...to fill you in on the story, my brother and sister-in-law have never really had a falling out with my biological mother. And after I wrote my letter back in May to her, she has been johnny-on-the-spot as far as my brother's family is concerned. So much, in fact, that they swear that she has changed, and are even moving in with her for a few months to save some money while they find a new house. Good for them, I say. I still am unconvinced that the so-called mom will ever change. So of course this was brought up by my sister-in-law. Who, by the way, invited herself to my house in the first place for a meal we provided, for the most part. I did not talk to her so much about my feelings as I did my brother. Apparently, my so-called mom didn't talk to the sister-in-law as much about my letter as she did my brother. She told my brother that she was hurt and that she's given up on calling me. Which, for the most part, I can't blame her. What can she say to me??

...which brings me to my current ponderance on just how many times a person can screw up before it's OK for someone to write them out. I don't blame her for not wanting to approach me. Because there is honestly nothing she can say will make things better. And when I wrote that letter, I hadn't seen what my brother and sister-in-law are apparently seeing now. But you know what? What proof had I then that things were ever going to change?? I'm not going to put my heart into thinking that she's changed, only for my heart to be broken yet again when she slips back into her own little world of mess and apathy. And I sure as hell wouldn't and won't put my child into a situation I worked my ass off to get out of.

...Of course, being the person that I am, I'm nearly ill at the thought of hurting someone, despite the fact that they've done more than their fair share of hurting me. Of course, if it were me, and someone wrote me something like that, I would have no choice but to make some sort of rebuttal, if for nothing else than to tell that person that I was sorry. And she's never once said she's sorry. Not outright....one time, she said something to the effect of "looking at him (a newborn Collin) makes me think that old ladies like me get a second chance." Of course, by the time my wedding was over, less than a year later, she was back to not bothering to call anyone and make an effort, other than the holidays.

...So I have no idea. And more than one person has told me that she's still controlling me. Which I don't really get. The only reason why she was brought up at all is because it was the first time I'd seen Danny and Carrie since I wrote her that letter, and partially because they are moving in with her. Otherwise, I do not dwell on this much anymore. It doesn't hurt as much anymore to think about it. And I just shrug my shoulders and keep trying to be the mom she wasn't. You don't get two tries to be a mom. Just one. And I just hope and pray that I'm not fucking my chance up.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Tuesday Titter....

...I was going to post yesterday about my "Monday Musings," but Monday came and went and didn't afford me time to sit down at the computer to type. I now sit down at a dinosaur-esc computer at my local library, utilizing my parental rights and decision-making skills to allow myself internet access.

So.....my musings....


....Griffin will be a rockstar....mark my words...I think that he was second only to the bride and groom at the wedding we attended this weekend in the amount of attention he managed to attract for himself. I shit you not, the child was going up to dancing couples and busting them apart to make them dance with him!!

....Once again, playing designated driver sucks.....next time, I shall fork over the $120 to get a room. *winks* It actually wasn't that bad. A little more alcohol would have definitely increased my happiness, but it wasn't entirely necessary for the enjoyment of Saturday's festivities.

...The only kind of fun when it comes to my familial relationships is dysfunction....

...My so-called mother sent Collin a birthday card and was only a day late. I still have yet to have any sort of personal contact with her since the "Letter of June 2006."

...My brother and sister-in-law are moving in with so-called mother....certifiable is the only word for it....

....Once again, I'm really glad to be living so far away from familial fun.....

Friday, November 17, 2006

Double Digits

....Collin, as of 2:20 this afternoon, is 10. That's right, folks. 10. How, on this fine, green planet, could it be 10 years already?? He's over half the age I was when I had him. That's some scary shit!

...Happy Birthday, my little-big man. I love you very much, and look forward to continuing our path to adulthood....together.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

"Mommy, Be Nice to Us!"

...so, the day after Halloween, I absentmindedly reach in the candy bowl for a piece of candy. Of course, I did this in front of things one and two, and they immediately begin asking for candy. Being the mommy I am, I told them no. Griffin then yells at me "Mommy, be nice to us! We are your friends. You need to share!" Point taken. They got their damned candy that day.

...nothing else much new to report. I have spent the last few consecutive evenings making cards for Aaron's aunt, who ordered a few sets for her friends for Christmas. I will post a pic if I get the chance. The last pic was from my phone. Pretty cool, eh? (I'm way behind the times, as Katie's hubby has been posting from his phone forever! LOL)

...tonight, Aaron and I are going on a date. Yes....Aaron and I...on a date! Aaron's student teacher last year gave him a gift certificate to a schwanky steakhouse that we otherwise wouldn't go to and threw in an evening of babysitting. Well, he called to make good on the babysitting offer and we're headed out tonight. Am excited about this.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Looky What I Made!!




No, I didn't throw the cup on a pottery wheel, but I did put rub-ons on the damn thing and am currently drinking out of it! ;) The other side has a quote on it, which says "We don't laugh because we're happy....We're happy because we laugh." (It's by William James for those of you who are quote-junkies) After I put the rub-ons on the mug, I sprayed it with sealer. I wouldn't reccommend micro-waving it or running it through the dish-washer, but otherwise, it's perfectly usable!

By the way, my crafty friends, this is one of the projects we're going to work on when you all come over to my house..... We just need to settle on a time, as the holidays are cramping my schedule!! *sobs*

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Things My Children Have Said....

...Collin: Do you know what I want for my birthday? I want the internet back. (nice try, Collin...)

...Erin: I don't feel good.

Mommy: Why not? What hurts? Do you feel sick.

Erin: I don't feel good. I do not have any powers.

Mommy: Aww, it's OK, I do not have any powers, either.

Erin: You have powers!

Mommy: Oh, I do? What are they?

Erin: Money.

(muhahaha....nice to know that I can fool her.)

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

You Know It's Going To Be a Bad Day When......

....the first thing you hear in the morning is "I frew up." And the first thing you get to do is gag as you clean refried beans out of your daughter's long, curly hair.


Feel free to add your own way of finishing this sentence. ;)

....I know that I've not done my very best at updating you all, but you've not been doing a fabby job of commenting (aside from the two or three who are religious commenters) yourselves....so comment! ;)

Monday, November 06, 2006

Random Musings....

...my cholesterol is currently down a few points....184...go me. :)

...2:00 am is way too late for this old lady to stay up.

...drunk people are funny.

...Howl at the Moon does their best to rape people of their money. (That's a bar in downtown Indy, by the way...and the place has kind of gone downhill since July....I mean...180 to reserve two tables for the night? Not the minimum order...that's how much it costs. THEN, they don't have food. AND THEN, they don't even bother to give free diet Coke to the poor soul who volunteered to be DD!!! sorry. fit over.)

...pizza at the Workman's on Saturday was relaxing and fun.

...the twins are starting to grow up, as previous pizza nights Chez Workman have not been so relaxing.

...the local electricity company does not have it all together.

...midnight is too late to stay up watching football on a school night.

...Collin didn't stay up. I did.

...GO COLTS!! once again the only undefeated team in the NFL.

...don't ask me why I care. I'm a fairweather fan.

...being a squeaky wheel with my church caused me to get the twins in a better Sunday School class. Not that the twins notice any difference, but Aaron and I sure do!

...I'm freaking tired.....

Friday, November 03, 2006

I'm The Momma.....

....so I go to the library the other day and inquire about how to use the internet at the library. I have never needed to look into this, as I've previously had the priviledge of having internet at home. So, I go to the reference desk and ask. To which the librarian says.... "Well, first of all, do you have your parents' permission?"

....in years of old, this would have pissed me off to no end. I'm beginning to find it very humorous, if not flattering, to keep hearing that I must be 16.

....by the way, dear Judy. I have to agree with you. I'm excited to go out on Saturday, but 9:30 is not too far off my bed time! I may look 16, but inside, I'm 80.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Halloween...

...too cute. Collin was the Grim Reaper, Erin an angel-princess, and Griffin Batman. Collin went trick-or-treating with his friend, and I didn't see him the entire two hours. Aaron took the twins trick-or-treating. Erin brought back more candy than Griffin. Why? Because the people who let the kids dig out their own candy let her keep going back for more. For shame! .... Griffin absolutely loved his costume, asking to put his "cake" back on after we took it off of him.

....sorry to my friends M@ and Rebecca for not swinging by that night. Collin didn't get back until after trick-or-treating was over, so I decided to just go ahead and get the Gruesome Twosome in the bath.