Seperation Anxiety

Well he did it. The baby left for college last month. Yes, I know that makes the baby 18 years old, but I'm the mom, he's the baby, need I say more?

Anyway... oh boy.... was that rough. We arrived at the school for orientation and the begining of their Frog week, and are immediately split up into separate groups. parents you go here, students you go here. Fine, no problem. When we meet back up five (5!) hours later, we are told that we have 15 minutes to say bye to each other. Seems the students are going to the dining hall for dinner and we (the parents) are going home.

Oh, and did I happen to mention you can't see your child for a week after you leave? And you can't call your child for a week? And they an't call you? Or e-mail you?

Umm.. did I happen to mention this is a military college.....

Ummm yea.

I knew when I saw his face that there was going to be trouble. Pissed would be a gross understatement. Faced with 50 pages of regulations of things they could NOT do, and another 50 pages of things they WOULD do, son decided that college ROTC was not the way he wanted to go. He was going to come home that day and transfer to commuter status. That meant living at home and driving to college daily without the ROTC status.

Umm no.

So.... one of the many stressed out moms walked to her car crying, leaving behind an equally stressed out kid behind. For a week. Without anyway to call and say "I love you. Hang in there."

ummm yea. It wasn't a pretty sight.

Frog week was hell week. For both of us.

Remember

.... I remember being in the office and setting the tv up to find out what the hell was going on. I remember hearing Beth frantically dialing her best friend that worked in the North Tower. I remember the sound of her phone echoing throught the office as she frantically pushed the re-dial button over and over and over again. I remember the sound of the call just ringing. I remember her screaming "oh God, NO" as the tower fell.... and the echo of that unanswered phone.

I remember wanting to go and get my kids and hold them.

I remember trying to locate all "my office guys" who were out of town and making sure none were in the air that morning.

I remember crying for all the people whose lives were lost, and crying for the people whose lives would be forever changed.

I remember wondering if 'he' worked in the trade center.
.

Be Careful What You Ask For

I was whining the other day that I had nothing to think about or focus on. For a long time I had the pool of doom that commanded my attention. Once it was done, I briefly thought about landscaping, but decided I didn't want to go into debt again, so I dismissed those thoughts.

Sure I could think about how dirty the house is and what I could clean, but geesh.... that's even more depressing than not having anything to think about.

I refuse to think about my baby leaving for college. Hey, Denial works for me. I figure this plan will continue working for a few more days until I have to start writing checks and shopping for college supplies. College and ROTC isn't cheap. So, thinking about money issues.... well, I'll pass on that too.

Dates... hmm... Seems I get asked out by men that I find no initial attraction for. Who wants to think about boring dates? Ugh. pass.

So, as I said, I found myself with nothing to think about. Looking into the future wasn't a very fun place to go meandering.

And then.....

IT happened.

Something to think about. To focus on. To keep my mind busy and active.

Our office is moving. And I'm in charge of everything. Uh yeah. Everything from finding suitable/affordable new offices, to getting quotes for movers, to moving, to arranging the shift of phones, network, licenses, to ... well.... EVERYDAMNTHING....

AND... I have 2 months to accomplish this.

OMG, one day I will learn to keep my mouth shut ... ya think?!

Italy

I want to go to Italy.

I don't travel per se.... but for Italy, I'd hop a plane in an Italian minute.

By chance I saw an article about a travel agency that specialized in "ChickTrips." Trips for women with other women... a girls weekend of sorts stretched into 7 days. A girls week in Italy. Now THAT sounds like fun.

You stay in a villa, and a few delightful extras are included in the trip such as art lessons with an artist there, balloon trips, bicycle trips, etc.

I can't get it out of my mind...

Italy anyone?

Where in the World Is Sie

So ummm... what's new? Not a darn thing really.

Son #1 started college today at a local technical school. He's majoring in computer science. Very happy to have him back in school !!!!!!!!

Son #2 went to South America for a 7 week college trip. He's down there working in the clinics and hospitals, getting a feel for the medical major he's chosen. We'll see if he still wants to be a doctor after this.

His trip has gone smoothly with one small terrifying side note: On Sunday night, the house he was staying at was robbed while he was the only one there. He was in the shower when he heard someone ransacking the place. He got dressed, grabbed a pair of scissors that were in the bathroom, and made his way out the house and to a neighboring house for help. He had hidden all his papers in different places, so fortunately his passport was not stolen, but his bank card, drivers license and one of my charge cards was, so I spent time cancelling all those while battling the urge to call the airlines, hop a plane to Salta, South America and go hug my kid.

Son #3 was accepted to a few colleges and chose his favorite, North GA Military College. He will leave this fall. It's close to home, but he will be living on campus. My baby is leaving. I'm happy for him, but in denial that he will be gone soon. He's going to major in international affairs. Look out Blackwater here he comes.

And me. I've been......

a slug. :)

Transfer

If anyone is receiving a ton of alerts, it's because i'm transferring over more old entries from the previous journal. I'm finally at August of 2005...


Oh yea.. I'm right on top of things.

I'm so Booooooring

I didn't do it!

Sorry...knee jerk reaction left over from who knows what.

So. Ok. What's been going on you ask? Not a damn thing. So I guess I really didn't do it afterall.

Another car bit the dust. uh yea. hmmm.

The termite man came by and wants $800 to treat the house. uh yea. hmmm.

High winds came and finally managed to do what 3 hurricanes couldn't.... destroyed my gazebo. Le sigh.

The pool boy (and yes he was everything a pool boy should be) came by and cleaned up the *formerly called Pool of Doom*. The kids were beginning to ask if we had a coy pond in the back yard instead of a swimming pool. Scarey. But it's all clean and bascially ready. We're just waiting on the weather to cooperate now.

I'm still living on the computer, just in a different fantasy world - WoW - rather than AOL.

*Adopted* son moved out and I told another *adopted* son in a loud and *ahem* stern voice (and I quote) "Do not spend another night in this house without paying rent."

He showed up with rent money a week later and moved in.

I need a cookie.

or two.

2 pics

It was pretty there in the Rio Grande Plantatation in Puerto Rico.

The 'resort' is situated next to the rain forest and is more suited to people that want to relax and just spend time doing much of nothing. And that's just the way I like my vacations.

Time Flies

It's that time of year again. Time for The Annual Company Meeting held every year in San Juan.

I'll have you know that I'm getting quite good at this flying thing.

Well I'm good if you consider that "good" means I can make through the airport, check bags, pass security and onto the plane without breaking out into hives, a cold sweat, or tears.

Remember when flight attendants used to be pretty? Or at least pleasant? Not any more. There used to be weight restrictions too for the personnel.... seems like that's been scrapped too.

The Delta flight attendants on both trips all looked rode hard and put away wet... with attitudes to match.

One FA, when asked by a fellow passenger what snacks they had, replied "honey, I'm worn out from telling, that's why I had her announce it again." I wanted to lean over and tell her, "Biotch, that's your job. You are there in part to serve your customers. It's not our fault you took a flying waitress position. And yes, I know the whole plane was told 50 times already what there was to eat.... but get over it, suck it up and do this part your job." Needless to say, they don't make flying more tolerable.

Aside from the flying thing, the trip was great. I'll post some pics soon.

Basically we ate, played pool, swam, ate some more, relaxed, ate some more, drank, ate even more, got a raise, and came home. In my case, I came home sick and now am spending two more days out of the office.

Damn I love my job.

Holy WoW. It's Valentines Day

There's a quiet drug store near my office and often, if I need something on my way home, I'll stop in there. It's never busy, the front parking spaces are always empty, it's quick , fast and easy.

Except for today. It was packed. As I sat waiting for a car to pull out I just had to laugh at the men coming and going from the drug store. Men. Men with candy. Men with cards. Men with red stuff poking out of bags. Not a woman in sight...except me.

Usually I buy the kids a little something - a stuff animal with candy - or something like that for Valentines day. This year, I decided not to. I figured they were too old and not really into that kinda thing. Obviously I wasn't thinking. BAD mommy.

You can't imagine my surprise when son #1 called and asked how late I would be at the office because he was coming by on his way to work to bring me a Valentines Day present.

My first reaction was "HUH?" "OMG how sweet."

My second reaction was "Oh shit. I better get something for them." .... which is how I came to be the one woman in a crowd of men schnarfing up last minute V-day gifts.

But we need to back up a little.

Over the Christmas holidays the kids finally talked me into trying WoW. It's an online game that's played with people from all over the world. You create characters, fight, go on quests, that's the premise in a very simplified nutshell. I've avoided looking at the game for almost a year. I am a game addict. I am also a video game addict. I love the things. LOVE them. I knew if I got hooked on this one, that's all I would want to do. And for the record, I was right. I'm hooked. I love it. I'm also having the best fun playing it and getting to know lot of new people on line through it. Anyway.....

My character is a Tauren. It's a race of people. Well a race of cows really. I know. I see you shaking your head at me. I coulda picked the undead or a druid, or .. well anyway ... Son #1 & Son #3 talked me into being a Tauren. I'm a cow. I also love my cow and all her cow friends.

And this Valentines Day, Son #1 went to Build A Bear workshop and made me a Tauren and he named her after my character. He also recorded a little saying you hear when you squeeze her 'hand.'

She says.... "I'm SO going to drop some totems on your ass."

And that people, is love.

True love.

Gift Giving

For those of you living in a cave in Un'Goro crater and may not know it, today is Valentines Day.

It's a day of love and romance. Did you hear that? Love. Romance.

R-o-m-a-n-c-e. not s-e-x.

After looking over some fellow bloggers entries, I think there's a bit of confusion out there. So Guys..... men in particular....here's the difference.

Romance is sending flowers.

Sex is buying holiday decorated condoms.

Romance is dining out.

Sex is buying her lingerie that climbs up her ass.

Romance is knowing her perfume and giving her a bottle of it because it reminds you of her.

Sex is booking a hotel room for you two under the guise of "so she can have a night away from the kids."



And for the ladies - Valentines ideas for him.

Anything.

Followed by sex.

Anything. Sneezing even. then sex.


(inside joke to follow)

And, for those special people that live in my imaginary world (don't ask)...

Romance is epic gear.....

(snicker)

Tagged.

Digger tagged me.

As close as I can tell, I'm supposed to list things that I could "put up with" about someone if the major things were in line. Things I didn't like, but weren't deal breakers in a relationship...

Frankly, if the major things were in line, I'd put up with a lot. I'm easy.

I'd put up with him balding. I'd also put up with a mustache and beard, I guess.

I'd put up with him not being a hard body.

I'd overlook that he was only 5' 11". maybe.

I'd ignore the fact he didn't clean, cook or have any mechanical skills IF he had the resources to pay to get the jobs done.

See. Told ya. I'm easy.

Another Day another Dollar

Well.

I'm $1,864.59 poorer this week.

How about you?

Empty Nest

I've either failed miserably as a parent OR; I've made "home" such a wonderful place to grow up and be that they don't want to leave. I'm not sure which it is.

My youngest child is a senior in high school this year and just received his first college acceptance yesterday.

He read it to me and then we both just looked at each other. We both knew what that letter meant. It meant that he would be leaving.

This is my baby. My baby will be leaving.

He and I have been very close 'partners in crime' for 18 years. With this child in particular, there have been many adventures shared, tough times weathered and special, wonderful times. We are more than parent child. We are friends.

Yes, he has a million friends. He also has a very active social life and plenty of interests that he pursues without me. This is not a Mama's boy. But still, neither of us are thrilled he is leaving.

So after he read the letter, I mustered up some excitement for him. He just smiled slightly and said he was thinking about doing his core classes here at the local college before transferring out to a 4 year college in about a year or so.

I'm not sure I am going to let him do that. As much as I will miss him - and critically so - I will tell him the same thing I told his brothers. You need to go away to school. It will be the best years of your life. And there will always be summers and holidays to come back home.

The moment you have kids, you are preparing them to grow up and leave you. Hopefully teaching them the skills to make it in their own life. It seems like such a far away event.

le sigh. It isn't.

The Trials of Driving

Let me tell you about Knoxville.

It SUCKS. Well, the DOT/roads do at least. The road atlas says one thing and little ole Knoxville has decided that No, No we won't mark the roads so that people where know where the hell they are going. let's cost them an extra hour of drive time just for fun.

Hehehe bite me Knoxville. I'm now immune to your wily ways.

And then there was the mobile home. The mobile home that was traveling down the highway. Which was all well and good until the roof shingles started flying off onto my Jeep.

le sigh.

I couldn't tell if the imprint left was dirt or if I was now the owner of a 12" x 12" roof shingle etched windshield. I debated a few seconds before I told my son who was driving at the time, to catch up to the pace truck. We did and I got a phone number off the truck. I called and explained they just damaged my windshield.

The man who answered my call was named Cowboy and he asked if I was in 'the black Jeep.' I guess he must have seen me having a hissy fit in the Jeep as we passed him.

So the three of us - mobile home included - all pulled over to the side of the highway to have a little pow-wow. Cowboy hopped down out of his mobile home pullin truck and took a look at my windshield and told me to call Joe. Joe would take care of me. I called Joe.

It seems Joe is going to take care of me.

I wonder if he's tall? err.. anyway..

Unless you count the nauseating aroma of pulp mills or dead skunk as problems, the rest of the trip was uneventful until we got to Palmyra. To get to Palmyra, you have to go through Hershey, PA.

As in chocolate Hershey.

OMG. A town that smells like chocolate. le sigh. Isn't life just wonderful sometimes?