Me, September 2006

*coughs* I'm Blu', and I like puppy breath.

ramble>

So I don't know if it's just the season or what, but I feel damn good lately despite the cough I'm getting and my never-ending sleepiness. I always feel kind of new - so refreshed this time of year - and I love it. I feel more like myself during the fall. I feel "in my element" you know?

Well, anyway, this blog will probably not be anything more than rambling about things going on in my life lately, but read it if you must. Today I was so caught up in my daydreaming while driving that I passed the place I was supposed to be going.  It's nice to know that I can still let myself wander like that occasionally... I have to try to be so on top of things all the time that I never do just relax and drift. Speaking of - I'm having the urge to walk. Just take myself and my mp3 player and go walking around the lake or something and enjoy the weather. It would probably be nice to have Scooter along for protection because I don't like to be alone, really.  No human company for this trip... it's too hard not to talk to a person and talking would defeat the purpose.

Lately I'm feeling kind of creative, or free, or productive... something good, anyway. I'm ready for a change in my life. I never really knew what I wanted out of life... I always thought it was so dumb in high school for the teachers and everyone to pressure the students into figuring out what they wanted to go to college for. I always felt really dumb, too - because of that. I really had no idea what I wanted to do with myself and am still not quite sure. My mom had pretty much ground it in me that I was going to Auburn upon graduation of high school to become a veterinarian. While I loved animals (and still do to this day) I don't think I'm quite cut out for that. Thank goodness for Shadow's arrival or I actually might have gone along with that. But, I stray.

I've been thinking of things I enjoy doing and I think I'd like to do more of that. There are a few websites that will pay you for articles that you write and I've always liked to write. I may not be great, but it's worth a shot. Also, I'm planning to become USDA licensed to breed animals - which I know I would greatly enjoy. And - just because I'm that big a dork - IF things fall into place I'll be taking a tax preparation course very soon so then I can do taxes this coming up season. That last one is kind of iffy because I'm not going way out of my way to do it. Another thing that's crossed my mind before that I haven't acted on is online classes. I need to check way more into that (help me, Jill), but it's a definite possibility, too. So yeah, I think if any of that works out that would mix things up a little. I'm so tired of feeling stagnate. So, I quit.

Anyway, another thing I'm feeling really good about is Amanda. I'm hoping to see her soon. That would be SO awesome. Whoa, and her birthday is coming up. And then, the day after that is the day that I met Nick 5 years ago (who, btw, just had a birthday). Wow. Those freakin' Virgos. Notoriously (if you follow astrology) Sags and Virgos are pretty opposite and don't often build lasting relationships. It's possible, but not without work. Well, I've always heard that if you don't have to work for it it's not worth having and I believe that. Truthfully, those have been (in my short little lifetime) the two most rewarding relationships I've ever had. Yes, they are WAY challenging at times, but I wouldn't give either of them up without a fight. To Nick (and Amanda although you don't have a myspace page that I know of) I love you. I really love you. A lot. 😊

And that being said, I think that is all I have to say. 😀

/ramble>

WOW... life is full of surprises.

But (at least in this case) not one of the bad ones. It's more like one of those that makes you stop and all you can think is "Whoa." That's pretty awesome. So let me fill you in.

For as long as I can remember I've had a friend named Amanda. I think I was in first grade and she was in second when we met. We lived in the same town (down the street from each other, in fact) and knew each other through our parents. (She went to a different school than I did). We didn't get to see each other all that much despite living rather close to one another. But we talked on the phone a lot and saw each other when we could. We stayed friends like that until she went off to college.

The summer before she went to college I remember us sitting together on my mom's daybed and crying our eyes out because she would be leaving. That was a very sad day for me... I just didn't want her to go away. Well, the summer went on and I found out some life-changing news of my own - I'm pregnant. Of course I called my BFF (she hadn't left yet) and let her know what's going on. I was so shocked / scared that I didn't know what to do and she just let me ramble on and on until I felt better.

Seeing as how our lives were going in very different directions at this point I should've known that we'd lose touch. I hoped like hell that we wouldn't, but we did. She became busy with college and work and I was struggling with problems of my own - trying to finish high school and trying hard to figure out how I was going to raise a child.

That's not to say that I never thought of her. In fact, she was on my mind a good bit. I always thought of her on her birthday and sometimes she'd just pop in my head from time to time for no apparent reason. I always wondered what she was up to and how she'd been all this time. I missed her. I missed the days when her dad would take us to Pizza Hut and Baskin Robbins and to a movie. I missed nearly drowning in her pool and having to be saved by her. I missed talking about getting our periods and boys we liked. I missed hiding in her closet because I didn't want to go home. I missed doing nothing in Munford with her. I missed the goofy way she always smiled and watching her laugh until she peed...

One day my dad told me that she'd moved back. I was stoked, but it had been so long since we'd talked that I didn't have a clue how to get in touch with her. Really, I didn't know if she'd even want to hear from me so I never even tried. I guess it didn't matter because it wasn't too long before I bumped into her at Wal-Mart one day. I couldn't just walk away from that. She was on the phone and I didn't want to interrupt her so I just stood there - kind of behind her for a while. When she finally turned around I waved and she looked so shocked. She got off the phone and we briefly caught up. It was crazy. We exchanged numbers and talked a few times.

After that, though, I couldn't get through anymore. I kind of thought maybe she didn't really want that much to do with me after that. Then, out of the blue one Friday she called. Her phone had been giving her a lot of trouble. This happened a few times over the course of a year and it kind of worried me. I was a bit confused, too. Why would she call once and not anymore? Could her phone really be that messed up? It was just so bizarre that I didn't know what to make of it.

Anyway, finally I couldn't take it anymore. I missed her and we'd never really gotten a chance to finish catching up. I HAD to talk to her and let her know how I felt. So after going all STALKER for a moment I got her address and wrote her a letter and put it in the mail. It wasn't terribly long; it just pretty much said that I missed her and was worried and that I wish I'd tried harder to stay in touch, etc. It included ALL of my contact info, too. Also I called her grandmother, who I always freakin' adored. It was nice to talk to Granny. 😊 That was a few weeks ago.

Well last night I got quite a pleasant surprise. She called me! She said that she'd been really busy moving some stuff, but that she'd gotten my letter. We talked for a while and have pseudo made plans to hang out. Also, she told me that she just found out she was pregnant. How cool is that? Seven years later (WOW... I can't believe it's been that long) I could return the favor. She seemed really freaked out and worried about being a good mom. I reassured her and told her that I'd be there for her and help out any way I could - without a doubt. Hopefully, we will keep in touch this time. I feel really optimistic about that.

The End.

So yeah, learning things the hard way...

So lately I've been finding (the hard way, mind you - the hard way being in my bare feet) Scooter's teeth all over the place. That shit really hurts to step on sharp little dog baby teeth. I didn't know dogs lost teeth until now. Common sense would say that they do, but it's never come up before so I've never had a reason to give it any thought until now. (I've never shared quarters with a dog before).

Anyway, and tonight I exploded an egg. Not on purpose, though. It hurt and it was loud. Haha. I won't be doing that again. 😝

The End.

Newest family members (^_^)

Not too much to say... just wanted to post up some pics. Tell me how cute they are. 😁

This is Niq and our newest guinea pig right after having a bath... we haven't named him yet (the black one), though they called him "Big Perm" at the pet store. 😂

This is Testiclees (the proud papa) with two of the babies. I didn't know this until recently, but the dad gerbil will do everything for them (aside from nursing them) that the mom will do, too. So far I think he's been a good helper; I've seen him fluff up the nest to keep them warm and run down to check on them lots of times. I like that... they're a little family. 😍

This is Blondie (the mama), with two of the babies. She's chewing up a toilet paper tube to go in her nest. This morning one of them got too far away from the nest so she picked it up by the leg and carried it back. I know she didn't hurt it, but it was funny to see.

This is Cleo, (who was Blondie's roommate before they came to live with us, btw - we didn't name either of them... the girl who gave them to us did). Anyway, this is Cleo snoozing on her back with babies piled up on her. *sigh* She looks so comfy I kind of wish I was a gerbil...

And this is Cleo and the babies again... it's really neat how everyone pitches in to help out (they all check on the babies and try to keep them warm and stuff). So as far as we know there are only four... but yesterday we thought there were only three, so... we don't really know how many are in there. Put it this way - four is the most we've seen at one time. 😄 Anyway, there you go. 😊

I'm a manly man...

Shadow and school seem to be going fine - he likes his teacher and so do I... But I'm not very fond of the Saks Elementary School yet because they don't appear to be very concerned with letting parents know what they need (or giving the parents any information, either). I don't dig a lack of communication between myself and the system that is supposed to be educating my kid... and I definitely don't dig being treated as though I'm stupid for not just magically knowing everything. But that's not going to stop me from doing whatever it is that I need to do in regards to Shadow's education and well-being.

Speaking of Shadow:  He got his head pretty much shaved the other day. He's been wanting to look more like his Uncle Cade and Nick. That made him REALLY happy... he got in the shower to wash the hair off of him singing something with the words "I'm a manly man, I'm a manly man now" in it. Haha. He's so funny. I love that kid. I'd like about five more right now. (Was I kidding? You decide.)

Anyhoo, that's it for now. *LOVE*

Ups and downs; some fucked up shit.

As the title implies things are hectic right now. Scooter's doing better... he actually wanted to play a little last night. That made me happy because that means he's feeling a bit better. Unfortunately, as soon as something good happens something bad must balance it out, it seems. Well, things are not THAT bad (I'm in a terrible mood so please pardon my negativity), but I'm pretty stressed and disappointed and frustrated. So here's what's going on now:

• Yesterday, I got pulled over and ticketed for running a stop sign I didn't even know I'd ran. That makes twice in about a week's time that I've been stopped... the other time I was driving too slow. (Thankfully, no ticket for that one.) Oh, and one of the officers was kind enough to point out that my license is expired...

• When we got home from work ants(!) were devouring our crickets.  (We've been attempting to raise our own because some of our animals eat them and that way we don't have to buy so many).

• Our hours being cut at work is super NOT a good thing. I was already stressed about that before Scooter got sick (which was - as you all know - a terribly stressful event in itself).

• And finally, I'm going to have to cancel Scooter's welcome home thing today because due to the situation I'm about to explain I have no time left in my day for it. I am extremely disappointed - as I was really looking forward to the company. I'm really sorry if I've inconvenienced anyone and hopefully we can get together soon.

So here is my next big problem:

School starts tomorrow and Shadow's not even registered. I tried last week on one of my off days to go get that done and the principal gave me a bunch of paperwork to do and a list of documents he needed and told me to bring it all back on Tuesday - the day of orientation. One of those documents was supposed to be an Alabama Power bill with my name on it (for proof of residence). I told him that the bill is not in my name (it is in Nick's) and asked him if any other bill or perhaps my mortgage papers would suffice. He said no. WTF? A mortgage isn't proof of residency? He told me to get a letter from the power company. That just doesn't make any damn sense. I told him that I didn't think I could because what could the power company say about me when I'm not even one of their current customers?

Having done everything BUT get a letter from the power company I (with my hopes up) went to orientation with everything else. Let me just say that those people were complete ASSHOLES to me. They wouldn't give me any information about ANYTHING. Finally, someone came out and gave me these papers to fill out and GET NOTARIZED (in place of getting a letter from the power company) and told me I could go home. They wouldn't even assign Shadow a teacher or anything and let him attend orientation. Those papers should have been given to me the other day so that I could have them done! So Shadow missed orientation and I am angry. But it gets worse.

I got home and started reading over those papers. One is for me to fill out and the other is for Nick to fill out. Mine was called an Affidavit of Residency. The second sentence underneath the title read:

"The information will assist the school in determining if the student meets the definition of homelessness."

WHAT? We are not homeless! I read further and got to question #4, which read:

"The student is currently residing with me at the following type of location:  (check only one)

A. in a shelter

B. in a motel / hotel

C. in a car or at a campsite

D. abandoned building, or another location not intended for residence

E. together with another family because the student's family does not have a place of it's own

F. other."

Skipped down to question #6 and it read:

"Since (date)____, our family has not had a permanent home, but we are currently residing within the school district boundaries."

Ok, so I got Nick's paper and looked at it. His was called an Affidavit of Host Resident and had the same second sentence as mine. His also contained such statements as "The child named above and his parent or legal guardian are living in my home because they do not have a place of their own to live."

😠😠😠  THAT'S SUCH CRAP! We are not signing or notarizing anything stating that we are homeless. Not only is that a lie, but that could potentially cause me problems should anyone try to prove me an unfit parent. So I called the school this morning and they said they won't waive those papers - that they HAVE to be filled out or I have to bring them a POWER BILL in my name. That's the dumbest shit I've ever heard... you can have utilities turned on ANYWHERE as long as you have the money for it. I don't understand why they wouldn't take my mortgage papers. To me that would be more proof of residency than anything else.

Well damn that shit. I called the Board of Education this morning and talked to someone over the damn principals head. He said that they CAN use my mortgage papers and to bring a water bill or something else just to have with it. Also, the man I talked to said that he had to come by my house to make sure I lived there. So he's coming over. And I find that weird. But he's helping me out so I won't complain... much. Also, when he called me back to let me know that he would talk to the principal he said that when I tried to go register Shadow again things should go much more smoothly. I like the sound of that.

Unfortunately, I am pissed that these are the type of people I will have to deal with all year and that we've started out on such a bad note. I guess there's not much I can do to change that at this point. I'm not looking forward to seeing them today, but I WILL have to in order to get Shadow registered. Anyway, that is the main reason I'm canceling Scooter's thing... I've just got too much going on AT THE LAST MINUTE and I'm not sure how long it will take.

Again, I'm very sorry if I inconvenienced anyone... and I really do hope to get to see some of my friends soon. Until next time...