Nite! It should be night there.

I either am having the worst allergies every in my life, or I am sick. This is the fourth day, and it has gotten bad enough that I hope I am sick. The allergy meds haven't helped much, so maybe I am.

We're probably going to Natural Bridges today, a cute little swim-thru cave up in the hills. The water is f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-freezing!!!

The boys finally had their summer haircuts. They were starting to look like those pencil toppers that you twirl.

Summer haircuts? You gotta be kidding me. I live in the south. I saw snowflakes today after visiting the annual rabbit display that goes up every Easter at the nearby toystore. Snowflakes!!!!!!

So, .....Princess TalksWithHerHands just got released from one set of consequences. Get a load of the e-mail I just sent her dad and stepmother:

[color:"purple"] Before you read this, remember that I am very unhappy there is no 'steam coming out of ears' emoticon! [/color]

This morning, at 5:30, I went in G's room to remind her that she was to be at work at 6 a.m. and she needed to get the show on the road. She was still bundled up and she looked at me and said she wasn't going. She told me Doc had called her and told her someone else needed extra hours and asked if they could have her shift.

I knew I hadn't heard the phone ring and she hadn't told me this the night before so I doubted her statement.

So, this afternoon, I told them that, if the did a particular thing, we might go to the Donut Den.

A few minutes later, she told me she didn't want to go to the Donut Den. I knew I was probably right. There was something going on. I told her she could wait in the car.

Then, a bit later, she told me that Doc hadn't called. I asked if she had called him and she said, "No".

I asked her if she just 'no showed' and she said, "Yes".

My plans are to take her in and, if Doc is there, she has to apologize. If he isn't there, we'll come home and she will call him to make an appointment to talk with him - in person.

Bear in mind, this is April 7. In the next few weeks, she has the following reasons to want to be off.......going to Ohio to see Marissa, going on the youth group's spring retreat for the weekend of 04/21/07, and going to cheer me on at the marathon on April 28.

She is pressing me for an answer to the question of, "What will the consequence be?"

I don't have a clue.

I think it needs to be sizable. I don't think it needs to be computer or cell phone. I think it needs to be give up some of these other weekends away from the Donut Den.

Will you, please, think this over and let me know what you think is appropriate. I don't care if she misses them all.

Life is a series of choices. You make good ones. You make bad ones. But, they all have consequences.

Her idea of a consequence is 'having to apologize is enough'. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I don't think so. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Whips are illegal, so there goes my first suggestion.

No, apologizing is not enough.

Maybe if she had a choice between missing all the events, or earning them back, one by one, working a shift for each event at some type of community service thingy.

She lied to you, and lost your trust, and needs to feel the pinch. She's not six anymore..... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

(See? Now you have me rolling my eyes, too.)

The deal with going to see Marissa is - this is her new niece - not yet born - who should be born within days. In fact, she was expected Friday. So, this is a big deal.

She hasn't been to a complete youth group retreat since last spring - or the fall of 2005. Work or modeling lessons have interfered.

As for the marathon, she knows I have trained since November. This is one of the few times I have really looked forward to my children being there for me.

I don't know what to do about the lie to me. I did make her tell her dad.

The lie is the big issue right now for me.

Today's Dervishism....

Dervish: Mommy, look at the cowboy balls!
Mommy: What???

(Repeat several variations over the course of a day.)

Finally,

Dervish: Look, Mommy, there goes another cowboy ball!
Mommy: Oh. Um, Dervish, that is called a "tumbleweed".

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />


Cinders, what ended up happening with your daughter?

Hi ya Neak

hope the trip was not too bad and not too many 'road stops"

lol <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


The cowboys ball's hehehehheh lmao <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Now THAT sounds like something 'somebody" (male) had told him, but I couldn't guess who though <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

How is everyone?

For real -

SS

I am pretty good. Cranky at times. Way busier than I like, and getting busier. By comparison, can't complain.

Neaksis is struggling. Her eldest especially, but the others too, are giving her huge problems. She has been looking into what it would take to get him into residential treatment.

If he does not get incarcerated first.

For example, this last week, in the space of about 24 hours, he had stolen $7 and a CD player from my house, kicked Neaksis and called her a jerk (she called the sheriff and filed a report, and should be hearing from the DA's office soon, and will probably be able to get OS on probation), and then turned up with a bunch of stolen credit cards from Grandpa. Nonworking ones as far as we know, fortunately.

So she is overwhelmed. That is just the main events of last week - the exhaustive list would be exhausting.

Mom is ok-ish, I think, I hope. She is still working much too hard as always, but the moving stuff marches on, that will hopefully lighten her load. (Met with the realtor today, and will be trying to race through her to-do list.)

Dad has been looking up every imaginable sort of information for Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, and beyond. It is quite cute. Also he is off this week, so will get to spend lots of time with Mom when she is home.

Maybe they will have a chance to chime in for themselves, now that I'm done tattling.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Neak, glad you are ok. Glad the dervish is the dervish.

I will pray for Neaksis and children. You know, parenting is hard enough without that stuff.

So, daughter is grounded for 10 days - scheduled to go from Friday afternoon of last week to Monday morning of nest week - ruling out 2 weekends and canceling special date w/ boyfriend to celebrate their 6 months of dating - not that they really date much at all. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Her stepmother thought I was devilishly clever in scheduling it that way.

No cell phone, no telephone, no computer.

Will go to marathon - I need to find them a driver. I know where I would like for them to be. There are places where they could hop on and off course for a bit to walk w/ me - from what I've heard. After all, I'm gonna be way back in the pack. The baby didn't come last weekend. If it comes early in the week - she won't be going....if it comes late Thursday or Friday, she might. I need to see what she has worked out with the boss.

Is THAT what we're calling telling me how to do what I'm already doing? And how? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Bookworm. Lots of Bookworm.

TL, mum thinks its a male thing, except for those who have graduated from MB Love Busting .... of course <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Now my dad for instance will sit drinking a beer watching footy and 'remind' mum not to over cook the steak, I mean without that advice I'm sure she would burn it to a crispy charcoal . lol

oh well there you are, married bliss <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Sorry to hear Neaksis is having such a hard time. Give her my best wishes and let her know I’m praying for the lot of them ........ tough times.<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Cranky is fine Neak, it means you are alive and kicking, and probably doing WAY to much.I sometimes worry about you when you are soooo quiet. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Rella, the big event is soon, don’t over do it. You want to finish the walk and feel ok at the end to enjoy your achievement. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

SS, HI!! How did you little break away from work out ok? Good ? Hope so and that you are well rested and ready for work again. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Taken 2 weeks leave myself and getting info much as I can on what’s going on with the deployments. DD is stoic and has something on her mind & she is not talking right now.
But such is the life of a Military wife (to be )
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Hm-m-m-m-m-mph! Not only would she burn it to crispy charcoal, but she'd think she'd done it right, too, and that was the way it was supposed to be. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

t&l

rotflmao tl

I do suspect that dad has received a few burnt steaks 'accidentally" of course over the years.
However I have never done that to Aussie <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> I always listen to him <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Breaking news:

Neaksis has had the sheriff over at her house for about an hour now. I am still waiting for further news, but her OS went on another rampage tonight and was throwing things around the house, tearing books out of the bookcase, etc.

They said the next time they came out, they were taking him in, so we are waiting to see.

Oh, dear. Well, if it's not one thing it's another.

I know this issue pales in comparison to others but my DD - darned dog - ate 3 brownies tonight. So, what do I do for this......

My cocker spaniel that I had years ago, once ate a 1/2 pound box of Belgian truffles and never even puked.

I wonder what 3 brownies - they weren't overly rich or gooey or dark - will do to this dog. This is the dog that eats tampons - then they bounce.

My cocker spaniel that I had years ago, once ate a 1/2 pound box of Belgian truffles and never even puked.

Me too - I'd be wishing there was another 1/2 pound to go with it.


Lets see, what do you do when the dog eats 3 brownines?
Give him a big glass of milk !!

Everyone knows brownies go better with milk. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Let us know Neak. I feel so bad for him. For Sis, and the others too, but for him, because he has had tough road, and it looks like it isn't getting any better.

I'm too tired to type more. Maybe I can post more tomorrow.

Prayers for all of you, and God be with you.

SS

Thank you for the prayers.

He is not arrested, yet. They spoke sternly to him, and said they would arrest him if they had to come out again. What they said before, was they would arrest him if he was violent against a person.

He is skating on extremely thin ice, but is still barely above water.

Mom, I will let you call Ginny in the morning, since she was kind enough to call the pastor, and basically everyone else in the church.

SS - I'll walk her and put her in her crate. If she throws up during the night, she just has to cope with it. Since it's been a couple of hours now and there is no sign of distress, on her part, I bet she'll be ok.

As for Neaksis, I need to do some neck traction tonight. I can pray while I do that.