I am, like, really bad at this.
Anyway.
I flew to Missouri for Thanksgiving. While there, Liz and Zeb found a nest of "infant" mice underneath this Korean Hutch we've had for a hundred thousand years. They saved them: pink, blind, hairless, squeaking, and squirming, in a glad bowl for me to take care of when my mom and I returned from grocery shopping.
So, what did I get stuck with doing? Dumping the bowl of infant mice, that Zeb was so proud of saving, out in the front yard. And when I close my eyes I can still picture them squirming as they tumbled out of the bowl onto the cold wet ground. I hope they didn't take too long to die. I sat in my room cringing at the thought of what I had done.
Showing posts with label MO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MO. Show all posts
Friday, November 26, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Spring Cleaning
I got an email from blogger about their new Blogger in Draft thing, and while playing with it I accidentally set my blog to look like this. Whoops! It's pretty nice though, right?
I have been struggling to hold onto my anxiety lately. I find myself unraveling with less external influence. It doesn't take much to set me off, and then I find myself in a screaming while cleaning frenzy. Today, for example, I woke up around 9:00 am because I was hungry. I got up, got dressed, and somewhere between putting my contacts in and brushing my teeth, I FLIPPED MY SHIT. When I got to the kitchen I put the dishes away, loaded the dishwasher, started directing the kids to doing this and that and the other. I cleaned the stove and the microwave. I cleaned the counters. I cleaned the vent on the microwave. I had the kids clean the fridge, clean windows, clean the front of the stove. We cleaned off the bar, moved the kitchen table downstairs. We vacuumed the living room, and then the formal dining room which we then cleaned out and ate dinner in for the FIRST TIME SINCE MY PARENTS BOUGHT THIS HOUSE IN 2004.
Yeah. It was kind of out of control. The house does not even look the same with the kitchen table downstairs. The kitchen looks massive. It is nice and easy to navigate in. Also, since we rearranged the living room and added my futon and recliner and coffee table, we've managed to keep it cleaner and more organized. At this point, three rooms in the house are pretty well taken care of. We do need to clean out and organize the bookshelves in the living room, but that is really all that is left in those three rooms.
Once we get those sorted, we plan to start on the family room/Phillip's room and my room. Since I am going to move my stuff down into Jason&Liz's old room in the basement, Phillip will get his old room back and then my mom will have the family room to, you know, use as a family room. That room is going to be the worst because it has a bunch of my shit, a bunch of gardening shit, and then a bunch of Phillip's nasty nasty nastiness. Plus, whatever grossness the kids left there when my mom wasn't watching them while I was away at camp last summer.
So, yeah. We are harnessing the power of my anxiety to do our spring cleaning.
OH, and hilariously, when we were moving the bar to clean out behind it and spray for ants/spiders I found a dead mouse. Rural Missouri, you are a mess.
I have been struggling to hold onto my anxiety lately. I find myself unraveling with less external influence. It doesn't take much to set me off, and then I find myself in a screaming while cleaning frenzy. Today, for example, I woke up around 9:00 am because I was hungry. I got up, got dressed, and somewhere between putting my contacts in and brushing my teeth, I FLIPPED MY SHIT. When I got to the kitchen I put the dishes away, loaded the dishwasher, started directing the kids to doing this and that and the other. I cleaned the stove and the microwave. I cleaned the counters. I cleaned the vent on the microwave. I had the kids clean the fridge, clean windows, clean the front of the stove. We cleaned off the bar, moved the kitchen table downstairs. We vacuumed the living room, and then the formal dining room which we then cleaned out and ate dinner in for the FIRST TIME SINCE MY PARENTS BOUGHT THIS HOUSE IN 2004.
Yeah. It was kind of out of control. The house does not even look the same with the kitchen table downstairs. The kitchen looks massive. It is nice and easy to navigate in. Also, since we rearranged the living room and added my futon and recliner and coffee table, we've managed to keep it cleaner and more organized. At this point, three rooms in the house are pretty well taken care of. We do need to clean out and organize the bookshelves in the living room, but that is really all that is left in those three rooms.
Once we get those sorted, we plan to start on the family room/Phillip's room and my room. Since I am going to move my stuff down into Jason&Liz's old room in the basement, Phillip will get his old room back and then my mom will have the family room to, you know, use as a family room. That room is going to be the worst because it has a bunch of my shit, a bunch of gardening shit, and then a bunch of Phillip's nasty nasty nastiness. Plus, whatever grossness the kids left there when my mom wasn't watching them while I was away at camp last summer.
So, yeah. We are harnessing the power of my anxiety to do our spring cleaning.
OH, and hilariously, when we were moving the bar to clean out behind it and spray for ants/spiders I found a dead mouse. Rural Missouri, you are a mess.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The one where I use "y'all" twice and un-ironically.
Oh my god. It never ends.
Sunday my brother and Liz were driving my car to where I live from SGF. About halfway, my brother became concerned that the battery wasn't holding a charge, so he pulled over in Mansfield (where Laura Ingalls Wilder settled, for all you history/pioneer buffs), Liz right behind him in the truck. They conferred and then decided to call my parents and ask them to come out with the trailer and tow the car back to the house.
Mind you, the car was ONLY being moved b/c my brother's apt complex was going to have it towed Monday because I don't have plates/registration for it yet and can't get them because I have to have it inspected which I cannot do from here when it is there. Which is in contradiction to MO's law stating that a body has 30 days to get their shit sorted. (it says that more or less. They should let me go through and re-write all of the legislation in people terms. Then people would know what the f is up.)
Anywho. So, yeah, big deal my brother and Liz calling to have my mom and dad come pick the car up. It's a big deal because my dad hasn't spoken to or acknowledged my brother's existence for a year. I was at work getting steady text updates FREAKING OUT because I was so afraid it was gonna get ugly. My dad has had the tendency to get REAL shitty with my brother when he sees him (which is incredibly rare. That he sees him. Not that he gets shitty. That's a given. Shitty upon sight.). My parents had to stop at my older sister's house to pick up the trailer. They were a little grumpy that they had called beforehand and when they got there, all the shit they had been hauling with it was still on it, so my parents had to offload that. Always considerate when they are using someone else's things, my sister and her husband are (hello, Yoda my name is.)
Now, this is where it starts to get REAL good. As they were pulling away, my dad noticed that the spare tire for the trailer was not on the trailer. My mom called my sister to ask where it was and she replied "in the garage" in an offhanded, oh silly forgetful us, manner. They chalked it up to their general carelessness and lack of regard for anyone other than themselves, and continued the approx 45 minute to drive to Mansfield.
When they arrived, they discovered that one of the trailer tires was flat. And had been flat. For a while. In fact, it had been flat for so long without my dad realizing he was driving on a flat tire that the aforementioned flat tire was shredded. Into strips. And bits. And pieces. And, oh hey, where was the spare? And hello, if it had been flat why didn't my sister tell my parents? What a kidder. My mom called my sister to ask why she hadn't told them that the tire on the trailer was flat, so my sister went ahead and confessed to our mother that she did, in fact, know it was flat, and that, HA HA HA, it was actually the spare tire that they had to put on the trailer when the other tire (the one that is in their garage) went flat. At this point my mom started screaming at her because UHM HELLO she did not even mention that the tire in the garage was flat AND she let her PARENTS DRIVE OFF ON A JOURNEY TO PICK UP A CAR WITH A TRAILER THAT SHE KNEW HAD A FLAT TIRE.
I HAVE TO BE RELATED TO HER, Y'ALL. IT HAUNTS ME.
I have my suspicions as to why she did this, and I will keep them to myself because it would be very easy for her to find this blog, and I talk enough shit as it is. But let's just say, things are heating up and getting ugly.
Anyway, so my mom and brother drove down the road to find a place that would sell them a tire while my dad and Liz chilled out at the gas station admiring the delightful new addition to the parking lot that is our driveway. Thirty minutes and a $93 trailer tire later, my mom and brother returned and my dad and brother managed to get the tire changed (SIDE BY SIDE. TOGETHER. WITH MANNERS. AND TALKING. AND NO SHITTERY, Y'ALL), the car loaded, and back on the road.
So, yeah. My car is here. In the driveway. Still on the trailer. Waiting for a few more things to be fixed and then my ass to be firmly planted in the seat. It is the cutest car in the world, and you already know I am going to drive her to hell and back.
This was just on Sunday. It doesn't even begin to touch on the drama that occurred today, but you're gonna have to wait for that. I am not sure if I wanna type it or make a video telling the story. Either way, it's not going to be told tonight because my fingers are cold and I am tried of typing.
Sunday my brother and Liz were driving my car to where I live from SGF. About halfway, my brother became concerned that the battery wasn't holding a charge, so he pulled over in Mansfield (where Laura Ingalls Wilder settled, for all you history/pioneer buffs), Liz right behind him in the truck. They conferred and then decided to call my parents and ask them to come out with the trailer and tow the car back to the house.
Mind you, the car was ONLY being moved b/c my brother's apt complex was going to have it towed Monday because I don't have plates/registration for it yet and can't get them because I have to have it inspected which I cannot do from here when it is there. Which is in contradiction to MO's law stating that a body has 30 days to get their shit sorted. (it says that more or less. They should let me go through and re-write all of the legislation in people terms. Then people would know what the f is up.)
Anywho. So, yeah, big deal my brother and Liz calling to have my mom and dad come pick the car up. It's a big deal because my dad hasn't spoken to or acknowledged my brother's existence for a year. I was at work getting steady text updates FREAKING OUT because I was so afraid it was gonna get ugly. My dad has had the tendency to get REAL shitty with my brother when he sees him (which is incredibly rare. That he sees him. Not that he gets shitty. That's a given. Shitty upon sight.). My parents had to stop at my older sister's house to pick up the trailer. They were a little grumpy that they had called beforehand and when they got there, all the shit they had been hauling with it was still on it, so my parents had to offload that. Always considerate when they are using someone else's things, my sister and her husband are (hello, Yoda my name is.)
Now, this is where it starts to get REAL good. As they were pulling away, my dad noticed that the spare tire for the trailer was not on the trailer. My mom called my sister to ask where it was and she replied "in the garage" in an offhanded, oh silly forgetful us, manner. They chalked it up to their general carelessness and lack of regard for anyone other than themselves, and continued the approx 45 minute to drive to Mansfield.
When they arrived, they discovered that one of the trailer tires was flat. And had been flat. For a while. In fact, it had been flat for so long without my dad realizing he was driving on a flat tire that the aforementioned flat tire was shredded. Into strips. And bits. And pieces. And, oh hey, where was the spare? And hello, if it had been flat why didn't my sister tell my parents? What a kidder. My mom called my sister to ask why she hadn't told them that the tire on the trailer was flat, so my sister went ahead and confessed to our mother that she did, in fact, know it was flat, and that, HA HA HA, it was actually the spare tire that they had to put on the trailer when the other tire (the one that is in their garage) went flat. At this point my mom started screaming at her because UHM HELLO she did not even mention that the tire in the garage was flat AND she let her PARENTS DRIVE OFF ON A JOURNEY TO PICK UP A CAR WITH A TRAILER THAT SHE KNEW HAD A FLAT TIRE.
I HAVE TO BE RELATED TO HER, Y'ALL. IT HAUNTS ME.
I have my suspicions as to why she did this, and I will keep them to myself because it would be very easy for her to find this blog, and I talk enough shit as it is. But let's just say, things are heating up and getting ugly.
Anyway, so my mom and brother drove down the road to find a place that would sell them a tire while my dad and Liz chilled out at the gas station admiring the delightful new addition to the parking lot that is our driveway. Thirty minutes and a $93 trailer tire later, my mom and brother returned and my dad and brother managed to get the tire changed (SIDE BY SIDE. TOGETHER. WITH MANNERS. AND TALKING. AND NO SHITTERY, Y'ALL), the car loaded, and back on the road.
So, yeah. My car is here. In the driveway. Still on the trailer. Waiting for a few more things to be fixed and then my ass to be firmly planted in the seat. It is the cutest car in the world, and you already know I am going to drive her to hell and back.
This was just on Sunday. It doesn't even begin to touch on the drama that occurred today, but you're gonna have to wait for that. I am not sure if I wanna type it or make a video telling the story. Either way, it's not going to be told tonight because my fingers are cold and I am tried of typing.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Does this really happen to people?
I bought a car. A completely adorable car. My brother has been working on fixing the few things that are wrong with it, and replacing some things that are not necessities, but are nice to have (like functioning speakers). In the great state of Missouri, a body has 30 days from the purchase of a car to get it titled and registered and plated and all that good stuff. So, I have no worried about getting everything sorted out because my brother is not done working on the this and the that and the what and the have you, and HELL, I've got thirty days, right?
Aside: I know I promised an entry on my brother and the drama that took place in our lives one year ago (exactly a year ago, for real), but this is not that entry.
My brother works for a small company. The guy has, like, three employees. My brother asked for a raise recently (he is making like $7.50/hr) and instead of giving him the raise, his boss fired him Friday last, and said it was because he left work early last week to go help my sister find a tire WHEN SHE BLEW HER TIRE OUT IN SPRINGFIELD 80 MILES FROM WHERE WE LIVE. So, my brother has had extra free time in between job hunting to work on my car for me. Tuesday, his ex-boss calls him and asks him to come in so he can talk to him about whatever, and he offered my brother his job back. Wednesday, his apartment complex called him at work to tell him they were going to have my car towed b/c it did not have plates. So, my brother had to leave work early AFTER HE GOT FIRED FOR LEAVING WORK EARLY, all because his apartment complex which IS NOT EVEN AT HALF CAPACITY OF TENANTS (my brother is the only person who lives in his ENTIRE BUILDING) did not want to let my car that has been there for FOUR DAYS sit there without plates.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THIRTY DAYS?!
Liz called the apartment and explained to them the situation, that we live an hour and a half away, that my brother was doing minor repairs, and that it should be done by the weekend. They agreed to extend it until Monday, but because I was totally terrified that those idiots were gonna have my car towed I convinced Liz to ride to Springfield with me so I could pick up the title and papers, bring it all home, and then get everything registered and sorted Thursday morning. This way, I reasoned, Liz could take the plates and registration to Springfield with her Thursday evening when my brother came to get her. THIS WAS FOOL PROOF! I AM GROWNUP, HEAR ME ROAR!
I woke up Thursday morning to a text from Liz, who was at work, that read: "I just realized that you cannot get plates for a car without getting it inspected." I FUCKING HATE MISSOURI.
So, not only did I waste the gas money to drive up there, it was fucking pointless because even if you can find a place in MO to pass a car EVEN THOUGH they shouldn't, they sure as hell won't do it w/o the car being there. How's that for business ethics?
I am freaking out. My brother is on edge b/c his job is obviously not secure and he feels like he coerced me into buying a shitty car that he keeps finding little things that need to be repaired on, and all in all, I am just really annoyed. So, it's Missouri's fault. SUCK IT, MO!
Aside: I know I promised an entry on my brother and the drama that took place in our lives one year ago (exactly a year ago, for real), but this is not that entry.
My brother works for a small company. The guy has, like, three employees. My brother asked for a raise recently (he is making like $7.50/hr) and instead of giving him the raise, his boss fired him Friday last, and said it was because he left work early last week to go help my sister find a tire WHEN SHE BLEW HER TIRE OUT IN SPRINGFIELD 80 MILES FROM WHERE WE LIVE. So, my brother has had extra free time in between job hunting to work on my car for me. Tuesday, his ex-boss calls him and asks him to come in so he can talk to him about whatever, and he offered my brother his job back. Wednesday, his apartment complex called him at work to tell him they were going to have my car towed b/c it did not have plates. So, my brother had to leave work early AFTER HE GOT FIRED FOR LEAVING WORK EARLY, all because his apartment complex which IS NOT EVEN AT HALF CAPACITY OF TENANTS (my brother is the only person who lives in his ENTIRE BUILDING) did not want to let my car that has been there for FOUR DAYS sit there without plates.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THIRTY DAYS?!
Liz called the apartment and explained to them the situation, that we live an hour and a half away, that my brother was doing minor repairs, and that it should be done by the weekend. They agreed to extend it until Monday, but because I was totally terrified that those idiots were gonna have my car towed I convinced Liz to ride to Springfield with me so I could pick up the title and papers, bring it all home, and then get everything registered and sorted Thursday morning. This way, I reasoned, Liz could take the plates and registration to Springfield with her Thursday evening when my brother came to get her. THIS WAS FOOL PROOF! I AM GROWNUP, HEAR ME ROAR!
I woke up Thursday morning to a text from Liz, who was at work, that read: "I just realized that you cannot get plates for a car without getting it inspected." I FUCKING HATE MISSOURI.
So, not only did I waste the gas money to drive up there, it was fucking pointless because even if you can find a place in MO to pass a car EVEN THOUGH they shouldn't, they sure as hell won't do it w/o the car being there. How's that for business ethics?
I am freaking out. My brother is on edge b/c his job is obviously not secure and he feels like he coerced me into buying a shitty car that he keeps finding little things that need to be repaired on, and all in all, I am just really annoyed. So, it's Missouri's fault. SUCK IT, MO!
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