Totally annoying paperwork

Just got home from the TAP (Totally Annoying Paperwork) workshop. Yes, it's really called that, and it's an accurate title. It's for all new hires in the county, and it's 4 hours of presentations and paperwork for insurance, retirement plans, and credit union. Even if you're an experienced teacher and you're just transfering from another county, you have to sit through it and fill out all the necessary forms. I could have filled out all the forms at home and mailed them in, but no, they want to make sure everyone understands and makes educated decisions. Zzzzzzzzz. The only vital piece of information to me was that my benefits in the new county won't start until October 1, which means I will have a lapse in coverage if I don't pick up COBRA. That hardly seems fair. I'm a state employee, just moving to a different county, and I get paid year round, so why shouldn't my insurance continue? Maddening.

Update on the dog: putting Phoenix on a runner outside for periods of time has helped with the housebreaking somewhat. It has reduced the number of her accidents, though it hasn't eliminated them altogether. Trying to socialize her with Dixie hasn't been great so far. Dixie lunged at her and Phoenix managed to bite her above the eye and on her lip, even with us pulling the leashes to separate them. We're still trying, though. She can't be trusted in the house while we are gone, yet, so she needs to either be outside when we aren't home or in a crate. I don't like the idea of crating her for that long, so outside seems the better option.

Cats and Dogs

Following WT's example, it's time that I let you know how everything is going with the two new additions. Sadly, I guess I should say how everything is NOT going. :( Booger the kitten has fit right into the family, and hasn't been any trouble. (Well, aside from infecting us with ringworm, which is clearing up.) Phoenix, the new dog, isn't working out very well, though.

She is definitely NOT housebroken, as the vet tech said she was. We're walking her about 6 times a day, and praising her/rewarding her when she goes outside, but she is still doing her business in the house even after she does it outside.

She has some food aggression, so if the kitten or my dog walks through the kitchen when she's eating, she barks and snaps at them.

All that barking doesn't sit very well with Lady, the other indoor dog. She is an older dog, who was abused before I rescued her. I've had her for 5 years, but she's still suffers from anxiety. With the new dog here, she's been hiding a lot and shying away, and not eating much.

I'm a teacher. I go back to work next week, and the students return to school August 9. Next week, while I am at work, the kids will have to continue training the new dog and making sure the animals don't get into a big fuss.

If my backyard was fenced, perhaps I could leave Phoenix outside in the fence during the day, but I can't afford to have it fenced right now. I'm trying to give this some time to see if it all falls into place, but I keep thinking that if we're going to end up giving her back to the vet tech (we have that option), we should do it sooner rather than later. Maybe she's not right for our family, and I don't want to prolong this if ultimately, it doesn't work out.

I feel badly about this. Any thoughts? Don't beat me up please.

$$$$

Once in a while, when I get stabbed in the wallet, I remember how nothing can really prepare you for how much children cost. Got some bad news at the dentist today. After spending as couple of grand to straighten Chelsea's teeth, now she has cavities and needs some bonding. Woohoo! I'm still paying medical bills from my two surgeries this year, too. Ehh, I know it's all going to come out in the wash, but even with good insurance, medical/dental stuff can really put a dent in the finances.

Fun Monday #26

Willowtree said:

"Tell us about your best friend. Particularly things like: where you first met, how long you've been friends and why you think you are best friends."

I am blessed to have many dear friends, and yep, my husband could definitely qualify as my best friend too. After all, we've known each other for 27 years. However, only one person can truly claim the non-spousal best friend award: Karen. Karen is a talented photographer who lives in the Dallas area with her wonderful hubby and two kids. She is smart, creative, enthusiastic, and fun. We have a lot in common. She likes books, coffee, movies, cooking, and chocolate as much as I do; she knows my secrets and loves me anyway. I know hers too...we get each other.

I met Karen when we attended Goose Creek High School in the early 80's, but we really became close in our senior year when we worked on the school newspaper. I was the editor-in-chief, and she was the staff photographer. We spent hours developing b/w's in the darkroom, giggling about boys and our inside jokes. Once, our faculty sponsor and journalism teacher, Mr. Startup, took us on a field trip to the University of South Carolina, where we promptly decided it was more fun to check out the college boys than actually attend the conference. (Somewhere around here, I still have pictures!) Man, was he mad at us, but there is something about getting into trouble together that draws you even closer. Knowing her made high school tolerable, and kept me from losing my sanity over my life at home.

After graduation, we were separated when I moved away for college. Life went on, I got married, she got married, and for a while, we drifted apart just because. Thanks goodness we reconnected, and this is what brings me to why she is still my best friend after all these (24!!!! Jesus!!!) years: I could hop a plane today and be welcomed with open arms at her door. We would pick up right where we left off without missing a beat. Our friendship has survived 80s hair, time, distance, distractions, and even a couple of heated arguments. I wish we lived closer, but I know our friendship has longevity anyway.

Not for the squeamish...

I feel dirty, and not in a good way. I can't believe I'm going to tell you all this, but what the hell?

When you pick up a stray animal off the street, there is a certain amount of risk. I know that. Booger, the kitten that we rescued, brought a lot of fleas into the house, which we've handled and the house, animals, and humans are flea-free. However, Booger had another little present for us: ringworm. Now, as I'm sure most of you know, ringworm isn't really a worm; it's a fungus. But ring of fungus doesn't sound much better than ringworm. (However, if you say "ring of fungus" in French, it is l'anneau de mycète, which sounds like some expensive, delectable, gourmet amuse-gueule or hors d'oeuvre. OK, now I'm just being disgusting. But I digress...) No matter how you slice it, it's pretty gross and embarassing. My kids and I have ringworm, as does the kitten. My husband, who rolls his eyes every time the pet population in our household increases, does not have it. He won't touch me, or the kids. (Can you blame him??)

My daughter and I each have a few isolated patches, but they look nothing like the absolute horror that is growing on my son's chest. He has it the worst; he counted up and declared loudly, "I have 31 ringworms!" Please don't go out in public and tell anyone that, son. He has it on his neck, chest, stomach, cheeks, and forehead. I damn near puke cringe everytime I look at it, and the horrible mama guilt is turning me inside out. I think, "Oh if only you hadn't picked up that stray kitten," and then chastise myself for second-guessing my compassion. I imagine that people will see it and think that my house is filthy, that my son doesn't bathe, or that these sores indicate some form of abuse. In fact, my husband said, "It looks like someone put cigars out on his chest." Thanks, honey. I feel much better now.

The medical term tinea sounds so much better than ringworm, but I don't care what you call it; it's a pain in the ass to get rid of it. Ointment everywhere twice a day, ointment and iodine on the kitten. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Fix yourself a stiff drink. Well, that's not part of the treatment for everyone, but it helps me.

Oh and watch this video of Ringworm performing "Amputee," repeatedly until you get some idea of the discomfort caused by...ringworm.

Sleep, Marvelous Sleep

After a week long bout of insomnia, I slept like a rock last night. Well, OK, I took a melatonin tablet with a shot of Jack Daniels about 10pm and fell asleep around 11, but still, I slept like a rock(star). I didn't wake up until 6, and was able to go right back to sleep after a quick bathroom trip. I slept until 8. I needed that! If can sleep tonight without the cocktail, that would be cool.

Took my dog Lady to the vet for her yearly shots, and um, I'm adopting another dog. :X One of the vet techs had a poster up for a dog she is fostering, and I got suckered I inquired about the dog. She's appears to be a Leopard Dog mix, though much smaller, and she's about 10-11 months old. Someone had dropped her off at the vet, basically saying either you adopt her out or I take her to the pound. The vet tech fostered her for a few weeks until they could find a softy like me a good home.

See, here's the story. My kids and I love animals, the more the merrier, and my husband rolls his eyes and tolerates it. He is more of a dog person than a cat person, but he is OK with my cat as long as the cat behaves. I am a responsible pet owner; my animals get spayed and neutered, they stay current on shots, they eat quality food, and we love them like family. We also do our best with social training, but once in a while, you encounter an animal who is very difficult to train.

Jesse was that kind of dog. Jesse was a Jack Russell who turned up as a stray at my sister-in-law's house, and a complete goofball. My nieces loved her and wanted to keep her, but my SIL has two of those tiny, pocket-sized Chihuahuas, and THEY rule the roost. No other dogs could live there. We were visiting one weekend, and my son fell in love with that dog and vice versa. Despite my husband's protests, we took her home, and she lived with us for almost two years.

JRT's are somewhat psycho. They do not really become adults until they are about 6. Jesse was about 10 months old, per the vet's estimation, when we brought her home, so we had a psycho puppy for 2 years. She was lovable, and cuddly -- slept in the bed, under the covers, with my son every single night from the first night we brought her home. She also loved to curl up with him when he watched TV. That sounds wonderful, but keep in mind, she was crazy too. She would jump on people and lick them, she would get a wild hair and run like a maniac through the house, she gnawed the couch when we weren't home, and if she ever got loose, you would play hell trying to get her back home because no humans that I know can run as fast as a JRT. That's exactly what happened, unfortunately.

About 8 months ago, Jesse got loose, and ran like a bat out of hell across the street and through the woods behind our neighbor's house. Behind the woods is a huge cattle farm, and beyond that is a road, followed by more farms. We could hear her barking at first, and my son and his friends searched for her on their bikes. The barking got farther away, and ultimately, they never found her. Her ADHD behavior probably had her tracking something and she got so far away from home that she couldn't find her way back. He looked for her for weeks, and it just broke my heart. We drove all over farms and neighborhoods in a 5-10 mile radius, we put up signs, and we checked the pound weekly. Eventually, we just gave up, but he's never gotten over it. He talks about how he misses her sleeping in the bed with him, and asks all the time if he can get another dog.

When I saw the dog on the poster, I knew my son would love this dog. She has one of those great dog smiles and friendly eyes. I asked if I could see the dog. (Big mistake.) They bring her out and she's all silly puppy love me love me love me. My dog was getting along great with her, and they all assured me she gets along well with all their animals. She also is a cuddler and likes to sleep under the covers and snuggle on the couch with you when you're watching TV. (Sound familiar?) Finally, I just sigh and ask how much is the adoption fee. "Oh gosh, no fee," says Stacey the vet tech. Dr. Baxter also chimes in that she will spay, vaccinate, and microchip her for free, and I can just give an adoption fee to Stacey, if I like. She can do it tomorrow and I can bring her home on Monday. So, yeah, I'm getting another dog for practically nothing. I will probably give Stacey $50, if she accepts it.

Grand total: Two adults, two teenagers, 1 cat, 1 kitten, and three dogs. What the hell; life is short and my son is going to flip. Mike will roll his eyes and tolerate another dog. I'm not saying anything to Michael until I bring her home, and then I will post pictures of the boy and his dog.

And, it starts...

In the past 24 hours that my daughter has been a licensed driver, she has already asked me half a dozen times if she could go somewhere with my car. Take it easy, kid. I am going to let her drive herself to church tonight (3 miles away), but she is not going to run the roads constantly. How long does this last??

On another topic, I'm exhausted. Night after night, I am practicing the art of being still, trying not to disturb my husband. I'm averaging about 3-4 hours of sleep a night for over a week now. I've had bouts of insomnia all through my adult life, but right now, I really need to be sleeping to continue healing from the hysterectomy. And basically, because I feel like shit. I have a vicious cycle going on right now because I'm so damn tired during the day that I drink a lot of coffee and tea. I know that caffeine isn't helping matters. I'm still restricted from tub bathing right now, or I would try a good warm soak with lavender before bedtime. That helps sometimes. I envy those people like my husband, who can fall asleep anywhere, nytime, just by getting comfortable and closing his eyes.

Insomnia is a strange, mind-altering thing. When I can't sleep, my brain goes into this weird, spinning roulette of topics and concerns, everything from thinking about bills, to lesson planning, to redecorating the house. It's like my brain will not stop and let me relax. I always feel like I am supposed to be up doing something. Doctors have told me that I have bad sleep habits, like watching TV or reading a book in bed. Supposedly, if you are prone to insomnia, you should remove all distractions and stimulation from your bedroom; bed should be for sex and sleep only. If you lie in bed watching TV or reading books, they say that trains you to stay awake longer. (I also think about my doctors' advice when I am lying there not sleeping; are they right? should I move the TV out of the room? wonder if melatonin would really work? what if I bought a new mattress? etc., etc.) It is maddening!

Anyone else struggle with sleeping?

D-Day

DL might be more accurate. After a year of learning and practicing, my daughter is trying for her driver's license today. Moments like these are sobering for a parent; 16 years ago, she was a 5-pound bag of sugar (her Granny's nickname for her tiny size at birth). I blinked, and here we are. Our conversations these days are about cars, colleges, jobs, and boys. Actually, boys have been a constant source of chatter since she was about 12, but that's another story. I do hope she passes her test, because she will be pretty disappointed if she doesn't succeed on the first try. I keep telling her to just relax and be in the moment. I will have to update later on and let you know what happens.

UPDATE: She did it! She passed. How surreal. I'm going to have to ponder this for a while. Haha!

Summer Reading

Now that I've gotten the narcissism out of my system, it's time to move on to another topic. While I've been confined recuperating from surgery, I've had more time to read, which is a pleasure. In fact, I just finished re-reading one of my favorite books, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. What a satisfying read that is! I've read it several time, and of course seen the movie a couple of times, too. It's a true story, but reads like a novel. Savannah is an old Southern city with a seamy underbelly, and if you have never visited it, I highly recommend making a trip. However, I assure you that reading this book is the cheap and easy way to visit Savannah.

To me, re-reading a favorite book is like visiting an old friend; you pick up right where you were and it feels like you never left. So, I hope all of my new friends will come out of lurkdom and tell me; what books do you read over and over again?

100 Things About Me

I've seen the "100 Things About Me" meme on a lot of blogs, and started a list of my own a few days ago. Tonight...er..this morning...I'm having trouble sleeping and decided to finish it and post it. If you read it all, you're a saint. Anyway, here goes:

1. I am a Leo.
2. Dad’s middle name was Leo.
3. I was born in Key West.
4. I lived in Antigua for two years when I was very little.
5. My dad was in the Navy, which is why I lived in Antigua.
6. My dad died on my 37th birthday.
7. My mom is still alive and complaining.
8. I live in Atlanta, about 325 miles away from my mom.
9. Atlanta is a great city, but I would rather live near the ocean.
10. I thought mermaids were real until I was about 10 or so.
11. I have a degree in English that I really never used until 2005.
12. I became an English teacher in 2005.
13. I had a lot of jobs before I finally began to teach.
14. In addition to teaching, I am a professional singer/musician, currently in need of a new place to perform.
15. Everyone in my family plays music and/or sings.
16. My kids inherited their singing voices and musical talent from me.
17. I sang country music in a Greek restaurant until the owner wouldn’t stop trying to chase me around the bar at closing time.
18. My friend and I crank-called the Greek guy’s house all night one night because of all of his ass-grabbing.
19. I quit my job the next day.
20. I worked in a Jewish deli until they fired me for missing work three days in a row.
21. I had a killer UTI that landed me in the emergency room, and I even called in sick, but they still fired me.
22. I worked for Oxygen Media, a company co-owned by Oprah Winfrey.
23. I produced meaningful content for Oxygen’s internet sites that made me very proud to be a part of something important. (NOTE: Just re-read this and it sounds kinda pretentious, but, it WAS meaningful. I'm most proud of the content I put together for breast cancer awareness and for World AIDS Day.)
24. I rode the dot-com wave until it crashed on a rocky shore, forcing me to finally listen to that inner voice calling. (See #5)
25. I found my niche at the age of 39.
26. My mouth is crooked because I’ve had facial paralysis since birth.
27. Sometimes I talk out of the side of my mouth like an adorable stroke victim.
28. I love that line from Fever Pitch and would rather think of my crooked mouth that way.
29. My eyes look emerald green when I cry.
30. Both of my ears are pierced twice, but I want them pierced again.
31. I could never pierce my tongue.
32. I will pierce my belly button when I lose weight, so I will probably never pierce my belly button.
33. I have one tattoo, but want more.
34. I’m addicted to caffeine.
35. I love to cook, and I think I cook better than a lot of people.
36. I eat too much of my own cooking.
37. I’d like to go to culinary school.
38. I read cookbooks for fun.
39. Currently, Hell’s Kitchen is my favorite show.
40. I’ve tried to become a vegetarian, but can’t seem to give up meat permanently.
41. My favorite dishes all involve some type of seafood.
42. I hate both sweet potatoes and English peas equally.
43. I grow my own vegetables and herbs.
44. I inherited my grandma’s green thumb, and can make just about anything grow.
45. If I had more land, and a way to keep them safe from my cats, I’d love to raise chickens for the eggs.
46. I have two cats and two dogs.
47. If I had more land, I would probably have more animals, too.
48. I love animals, except for snakes.
49. I’m terrified of snakes.
50. I once killed a snake that I found in my garden, and cried afterward because I absolutely hated killing it.
51. I created a MySpace so I could check up on my daughter.
52. Now I have 89 MySpace friends.
53. I met my husband at the bus stop when I was in 9th grade.
54. I never dated anyone else.
55. We got engaged when I was junior at Francis Marion University.
56. My best friend from college pooh-poohed my engagement, and said that my fiance wasn’t “very cerebral."
57. Needless to say, we didn't remain the best of friends.
58. We got married when I was a senior, and we moved over 800 miles away from home 11 days after our wedding day.
59. My mom worried that I wouldn’t finish college.
60. I graduated 7 months after we got married.
61. I started grad school a few years later, but haven’t finished yet.
62. I’ve been a gynecological nightmare my entire adult life with cysts, fibroid tumors, infertility, and endometriosis.
63. I managed to get pregnant twice and now have two teenagers to show for it.
64. I had a hysterectomy June 26, 2007.
65. I’m still waiting to see if it really solves all of my female problems.
66. My sister makes me laugh more than anyone else.
67. I have two brothers, but am not particularly close to either of them.
68. My husband makes me laugh almost as much as my sister does.
69. I am not very good at maintaining friendships, especially if there is distance involved.
70. I do keep in touch with one friend from high school, an amazingly talented photographer who lives in Dallas.
71. I take pictures, but usually never do anything creative with them besides stick them in a box.
72. I hate to have my own picture taken.
73. #62 and #63 drive my photographer friend batty.
74. She loves me anyway.
75. I used to read voraciously; now I don’t seem to make the time.
76. I’d rather listen to good music than read.
77. I love singers who pour their hearts into their songs.
78. Billie Holiday.
79. Etta James.
80. Janis Joplin.
81. Melissa Etheridge.
82. Lucinda Williams.
83. Toby Lightman.
84. I like a lot of guy singers too, but there is just something about a woman’s soul.
85. I love movies, but prefer to watch them at home when they come out on DVD.
86. Movie theaters cost too much, and I can’t stand it when people talk during the movie.
87. When I really like a movie, I will watch it every time it’s on.
88. I also buy movies so I can watch them over and over.
89. I watch It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas Eve.
90. I watch Rocky Horror Picture Show every Halloween.
91. I want to play Janet in a live production. I’d probably make a better Magenta.
92. I have never been athletic, though I used to enjoy riding a bike.
93. My daughter is very athletic and sometimes I envy her.
94. My husband is a power bowler, with an average of about 205.
95. My son got the bowling gene from his father. His high game is a 180-something.
96. My highest game ever was probably a 130-something.
97. I can beat them all at SCRABBLE.
98. I’m surprised that I’ve been able to think of so many things to say about myself.
99. I’m also surprised that you made it this far. Thanks!
100. I won't ever do this again.

Booger

I've updated a previous post with pics of the new kitten, in case you missed it. She's a sweetheart, who has already wormed her way into everyone's hearts.

Haiku

There was haiku going on at Willowtree's place, so I thought I'd join in. Here's my haiku for today:

Sixteenth birthday came
Daughter dreams of driving free
Pass the Xanax, please

More vacation photos

Starboard Sunset

Mike took this photo :)

Fishing boats for rent

Mexican children playing in the surf

New Addition

You couldn't have said no to this face either!
Our family has a new addition. On July 2, my daughter's birthday, we were coming home from dinner at one of her favorite restaurants when we spotted something small sitting in the road. We slowed down in case it darted out but it just sat there, and as we drew closer, we could see that it was a very forlorn looking kitten. With a carload of teenagers crying out, "Awwwwwwww," I let my daughter pick it up out of the road. It was a dirty, black and white kitten, with matted eyes and covered with fleas. Even though it looked sick, I couldn't leave it there in the road, so we took it home. It, by the way, appears to be a female, and it now has a name: Booger. My daughter named it Booger because it had "eye boogers." I gave Booger a bath and treated it for fleas. After cleaning out its ears and wiping its eyes, it doesn't look so bad.

Booger is eating Kitten Chow, and seems to have fit right in. Our vet was on vacation last week, but we're taking her in for shots, etc., this week. I'm such a softie! Booger is joining our other cat Jamaica, and our two dogs, Lady and Dixie.

Bye, Mom

Mom is on her way back to SC, and already the house feels different. Having a guest, even your beloved mother, in your house for a couple of weeks takes a lot of energy. Isn't that weird how your interactions change because of the extra person? For instance, I'd ask one of the kids to make Grandma a cup of coffee, and she'd interupt and say that she could get it herself, no need to wait on her. My kid, who would normally do what I say, sits back down and defers to Grandma like she's the one in charge. It's little things like that. I'm sure Chelsea will be glad to have her room back, too, although she was very polite and chipper about giving up her room for Grandma. I'm glad she was here for my surgery; it helped. Miss you Mom!

5 Days Post-Op

I'm recovering from surgery as well as can be expected I guess. The catheter came out on Friday, and thankfully, I can empty my bladder on my own now. I've stopped bleeding, and the incisions on my tummy don't seem to be draining anymore. I still feel cruddy and can't find a comfortable position for very long. Mike is taking very good care of me; poor guy is working his butt off cooking and cleaning. Mom is here, but acts more like a guest than a caretaker. I suppose she feels uncomfortable taking over. She did get in the kitchen yesterday, finally. She made me some banana bread, which was sweet of her. The kids haven't been a real big help, but are they ever really? Chelsea's 16th birthday is tomorrow, and of course, that's her top priority. Bad timing. Michael has been a little leery of me; seeing me pale and in pain freaks him out a little I'm sure. I know in about a month or so, the hysterectomy will seem like the best thing I ever did, but right now, I'm not celebrating. Hopefully, I will feel more like myself soon.