Some parents

I am amazed at all of the wonderful, generous people that I meet in life. I am also amazed at the people who try to take advantage of others and seem to have no compassion or understanding for anyone besides themselves.

My son is on a t-ball team and the coach and the team mom are married. They are wonderful, generous people and very devoted to their kids. This couple happens to have 3 kids under the age of 4, they both work, and they are both volunteering their time for the team.

It all started with collecting the money to pay for coach's gifts, the team banner, names on the back of their shirts, and snacks at the games. It was $50 a team member. I know the team mom felt bad, but there were only 10 kids on the team this year and frankly, that's just how much it cost.

One of the kid's dads sent out emails questioning the $50, wanting a break down of each item, wanting to know where his registration money went, etc. Fair enough. Team mom sent out the budget and then he argued with $20 for coaches gifts, $10 for snacks and water, and so on. The team mom was infinitely patient and kindly responded to each interrogation.

Things died down until today. Now he's upset because his kid didn't get his bottle of water at the last game (not that he asked for it either). And now someone else is upset because her kid didn't like the snack. I wanted to blast them, but instead my dear friend Sara helped me draft a nice email. However, it was not nearly as satisfying as telling them all to grow up.

Picture of the kids

Taken November 2005. It is the most recent one I have in my office.

Finally!

It was six months in the making, but we finally closed on the mobile home park yesterday. Now the real fun begins!

Kid's weekend

We had non-stop kid fun this weekend. Friday started with swimming lessons, then a quick shower, and on to the carnival at the boy's school. We happened upon our friends who their daughter is the girl's best friend and the son is in the boy's class at school. The boys loved the silly string fights and the girls loved the moonwalk.

Saturday was the opening day for baseball. The teams marched in a parade, played games, and had professional pics made in their uniforms. After a brief rest at home Saturday afternoon, it was birthday party time. I took the girl to the party and it turned out that she had an older brother who was friends with the boy. So, hubby brought over the boy. Then it turns out that the father is a flight instructor, building up time to become a commercial airline pilot, which is hubby's job.

Sunday, we headed over to a friend's house (the same ones from Friday night) and packed a picnic for a family concert in their neighborhood. After the concert and playing at their house, we all went out to dinner.

I did find the secret to well behaved children- keep them busy and entertained every minute of the day and make sure they are in constant motion.

Compass Bank

AVOID!

I haven't been this angry with a bank in many, many years. Total incompetence at each turn. First off, if you go in, it takes about an hour before someone will see you. Even if there are people sitting in their cute little offices. Then, they don't follow through on some very basic instructions. Um, I am sitting here with a CHECK that I want to give YOU. How about some service?

And their website? FUGETABOUTIT! After clicking around in circles for about half an hour, I finally call. And then finally get through to a real, living, breathing person. And they explain in order to set up an online business account, I have to talk to someone either on the phone or in person (hello- WHY do you think I like the internet???), fill out some forms and then they'll get back to me. Say what? So, after getting transferred 3 times, wait on hold for an hour, I finally am transferred to the 'right' person. And the dude disconnects me!!!!!!!!

If anyone wants a bank that has their chit together- I'd recommend WAMU or VirtualBank.

PLEASE talk to me!!!

I am so bored right now and I keep checking and no one is commenting and I am starting to feel alone in this great big world so PLEASE talk to me!!

I feel better now. Rant over. Carry on.

But the NERVE of you people to be busy!

Must....keep........going..........

Spring is here! And so are the crazy times that go along with that.

Saturday was t-ball practice, birthday party, night out with friends. Sunday was errands, family bike ride, date night with hubby. Monday night we had hubby's parents over for dinner. Tuesday night was a birthday party for my mom at her house. Wednesday night is the first t-ball game of the season. Thursday is free!!! YIPPPEEEE!! Friday is swim lessons for the kids and the carnival and the boy's school. Saturday is opening day for baseball complete with a parade and another birthday party.

I am so tired, and the spring season just begun.

Prepare for Easter

For some really odd reason, it won't let me link to this....

peepresearch.org

Dance, chicken, dance!

I had way too much fun with this.

*Tip from Sara.

Feminism

What a loaded word! What does feminism mean to you?

I will tell you what it means to me. To me it means choice and respect. The choice to live your life as you see fit, not as someone else sees fit. To respect other's decisions even if they are the polar opposite of your own. The word feminism means to me mostly to respect other women for the decisions they have made. It also means being an equal partner when in a relationship. Hubby and I had a discussion a long time ago with friends of ours from college. They believed, as many do, that the husband has the final say- he sets the course and direction of their life with input from the wife. They stated how can you follow on a path if two people are both trying to lead the way? Someone has to have the final say.

That explanation did not make sense to me at the time and it still does not make sense to me today. I think of marriage as a partnership. There has to be compromise, and sacrifices on both sides to further the greater good- the family. Sometimes I give more, sometimes he does. It all balances out in the end. A decision is not final until both parties agree with the decision. And the decision is typically better in the end because of the give and take and because both people have equally contributed in the process. That is what works for us. We have similar values, similar goals, and similar dreams. And we both agree that we are equal partners in this journey.

How about them Aggies?

It is the first time in nearly 20 years that Texas A&M has made it into the NCAA tournament, which might also explain why I have never watched a college basketball game. I grew up glued to the Rockets, but that never translated into watching college ball. I finally decided to jump on board last week. Thursday we surprised the nation by taking down Syracuse. We happened to be at a friend's house Saturday night when the we were playing LSU. Did I mention that these friends are Syracuse fans? And that my son wore his A&M jersey?

There is about 5 minutes left in the game and I am completely stressed out so I volunteer to pick up the pizza. We're up by 2, then LSU hits a 3 pointer. 3.9 seconds left and that's it. No basket. Game over. At least the pizza was good.

Life in the cubes

I presume cubicles are great if you need to hear what everyone else is doing and you don't actually have to concentrate on anything. The guy on the other side of the wall is looking at installing an instant hot water heater in his house, in case anyone cares. Which I don't.

Living on the edge

Hitting 'next blog' is a dangerous activity at work.

Overheard

Coming from the back seat of the car this evening:

The Girl: I'm going to throw you in the toilet.
The Boy: UH! That's not very nice. I'm going to throw you in the trash.
The Girl: UH! That's not very nice. You make my mommy upset.

I had no idea siblings started this so young...

It hurts

I finally have real work and it actually requires thought and engineering skills. Ouch- it hurts! It hurts!

Birthday party season

Last fall, I began stocking up on kid's birthday presents because I was tired of getting the invitation the week of the party and then worrying about getting a present. That was about the time that the parties stopped. I went on faith and bought more gifts in January. And finally, birthday season has begun. One every weekend for March so far. And I know there are a few more coming this month alone. I may have to restock quickly.

Everyone wants some

It has not been fun adjusting to the new budget, the greatly reduced budget. Before hubby got the "Big Promotion", we never had to worry about the leaks here and there. We never bought anything extravagant, but we also never worried about eating out once or twice a week, buying things for the kids, buying gifts, and so on. Now is a different story.

And it seems everyone is always asking for money. We get letters home from the school several times a week- yearbooks! t-shirts for camp! donations to the school! more donations to the school! buy wrapping paper! buy candles! more more more more donations to the school! Others may be sorry that girl scout cookies are gone, but I am glad. I felt so bad walking out of the grocery stores with their cute little faces looking right me - would you like to buy some girl scout cookies? How about a donation? On average, twice a week, a neighborhood kid comes by selling something or asking to be sponsored. It is worse at work. Not only requests to sponsor walks, bike rides, runs, but then for all their kid's stuff. And the office is always asking for money to sponsor something or someone. It is all so overwhelming.

I am not saying I don't give to charity. I give a portion of my paycheck to United Way. I donate to Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Purple Heart, Salvation Army, and my alma mater. But I also get several phone calls a month asking for more, several letters a week asking for more. I have no problems saying no but I do not enjoy it. I want to help everyone. But I can't.

What???

Tonight was open house at the boy's school. We sit through the PTA meeting, buy a few books at the book fair, and chat briefly with his teacher and head back to the car. When we get in the car, hubby turns to me and says "a girl came up to me and said you don't recognize me with my clothes on, do you?".

Thinking I misunderstood, I ask him to repeat. He says the same words again. My heart starts racing and I am not sure how to react. Then he says "it took me a minute to realize she was talking to the girl."

It was her swimming instructor.

5 things you may not know about me

1. I can't dance. But I think that I can.

2. I don't believe in god. If you have been reading my blog, you already know that. However, most people do not, including my family. I tried to talk to my parents about it one time and they became angry and it ended with my father telling me that someday I would.

3. I am scared to fly. Not so much scared, as in every time I step onto a plane I think that is the day it is going to crash. And I'm married to a commercial airline pilot. Ironic.

4. I have always wanted to learn to play the drums.

5. I am an engineer who loves to scrapbook. I even plan vacations around cute stickers that I find. Sea World has a great set...

Interesting Tidbit

Apparently, 20 minutes to quitting time is the sweet spot for hitting the restroom. A line in the women's bathroom?? A line? I work at an engineering company. There isn't supposed to be a line in the women's bathroom. No line, just like at a Rush or AC/DC concert.