I should have taken the day off

I didn't sleep well last night. On top of that, I woke up about 40 minutes late (and it's raining outside). There was no way I was going to make it to work on time. I was only about 25 minutes late.

The smoke detector in my bedroom must need a new battery. The constant chirping got on my nerves last night. It obviously bothered my dog too. Every time it chirped he would start whining. I ended up letting Diesel out of his crate and we both slept in the living room; him on the sofa, me on the loveseat. He almost gave me a heart attack in the wee hours of the morning. I'm guessing it was around 3 a.m. I woke up to him standing next to me growling (something he very rarely does). He started barking also. I called my kids names to see if maybe one of them had gotten up to go to the bathroom and I get no answer.

I'm starting to freak out a little wondering if there is someone in the hallway. I gather up enough nerve to turn on a light. I called my kids again and my daughter finally answered which let me know that she was o.k. (my son never stirred). I should have known that since the alarm DID NOT go off it was highly unlikely that there was an intruder in our home. I still had to check their bathroom and the laundry room after poking my head in both of their rooms (just to be sure).

My assumption is that the ceiling fan (which was on) caused a torn piece of the sheet that was draped over the sofa to brush up against my dog. It must have startled him and he possibly thought that someone had touched him. That's the best conclusion that I can come up with.

Another great weekend

I had a very nice weekend. I closed as planned Saturday morning at 10 a.m. My mortgage payments are actually $10 less than what was originally stated to me which is even better. My son's new Captain Bed is on order and should arrive within 3 to 5 weeks. I am going to let him pick out a color for his room (no black). I can't believe he even suggested that I paint his room black. Unless he changes his mind it will more than likely be some shade of blue.

I spoke to a cousin who is all for us going on vacation in March to Las Vegas. I'm so excited, my FIRST vacation. I am 36 years old and have never, I mean never, gone on vacation. My ex and I didn't even go anywhere for a honeymoon after we were married -- at the JOP. Was I a cheap bride or what? Anyway, all 3 of my sisters are saying they're in on this vacation as well as a friend of the family. I have a friend in Big 'D' who says that she is in as well. This may turn out to be a vacation to remember. It will only be for 3 nights & 4 days, but hey, I'm not complaining.

Changing the subject, my love interest -- yeah, I said it -- my love interest, cooked dinner for me on Sunday (after working 8 hours) and brought it to my house. We've been having (or shall I say trying to have) a serious conversation for several days now. He wanted to take me to dinner on Friday so that we could 'talk' but for some reason, I wasn't mentally prepared (plus I didn't have a baby sitter). I have told him how I feel about him and that I want to be more than friends. He has obviously been having trouble telling me what it is that he wants from me/how he feels about me. He is also letting me know that he is not trying to get out of my life. He has not stopped calling. The dinner on Sunday threw me for a loop. I made it clear to him that I am not trying to tie him down or to force him into a relationship that he is not ready to be in. On the other hand, I don't want to keep spending large amounts of time with him knowing that I have strong feelings for him and see him as more than just a friend, especially if the feeling is not mutual.

Again, knowing ALL of this, he still called on Sunday and let me know that he was cooking dinner for us. After dinner he stayed a couple of hours, we watched the Godfather, and then he left. Before leaving he gave me a kiss on the forehead and bent down so that I could do the same. He said that my first kiss was 'fake' and insisted that I kiss him again, which I did. This morning I get a call from him on my cell phone around 8:30 a.m. He said that he was calling to say hi. Now, I know that I've said more than once that I was through with him and I didn't want to waste any more of my time and blah, blah, blah. But it's easier said than done. I told him a few days ago that I thought he was selfish and then he goes and does something as thoughtful as cooking dinner for me and my kids (which I know he had to go to the grocery store to get the majority - if not all - of what he needed to cook). To top it off, I didn't work that day, he did. Why can't things be clear cut and just flow smoothly.

A financial blessing

All of the paperwork has been received and processed for my mortgage refinance. I will close tomorrow! It's called an FHA Streamline Refinance. The entire process has been extremely smooth and has only taken about 2 1/2 weeks from the date of my application (which was taken over the phone) until closing. My interest rate will drop from 6.875% to 5%. In addition to that, I only pay the interest for this month's payment and my next payment will not be due until January. I will also be receiving a refund from my escrow account, which I was told to expect the early part of December. Time to due a little remodeling. God is soooooo good!

Am I going through a test or what?

My daughter had a substitute teacher at school on Monday. When I picked her up from her father's that evening she told me that the substitute teacher had cursed at her! Say what!!! She told me that she was standing at her desk doing her work and the sub told her to "sit your a** down". I BEG YOUR PARDON! I don't talk to my kids like that and I am definitely not going to allow anyone else to either. She told her father about it when he picked her up from school and he went straight to the principal's office. The principal said that he would talk to the sub about.

The next day my daughter tells me that the sub was back at school teaching in a different class. I am too shocked. I had called that morning to make sure that my daughter's teacher was teaching that day (and she was). I never thought that they would have this same woman back teaching a different class. According to my baby's daddy, the principal said that he talked to the sub and she denied saying it. Duh!!! Did he actually think this woman would admit to it. She is subbing for a reason -- to get PAID. In other words, the principal believed this sub over my daughter. I may not communicate well verbally but I am 'off the chain' with a pencil & paper (or keyboard & monitor). I wrote a one page letter to the principal expressing my disappointment and copied the superintendent of the school district. I faxed the letters this morning. I advised the principal to contact me if this woman is EVER scheduled to sub for either one of my kid's teachers so that I can keep them home from school that day.

If you would have heard my baby telling the story you would understand. She said her mouth was wide open and she was scared and didn't know what to say. She thought about telling the sub that she said a bad word but decided not to. She just sat there - about to cry. Now I'm getting mad all over again. I could wring this woman's neck, but I am not a violent person.

This has been a trying week and it's only Wednesday. I'm too emotionally drained to discuss my other issue. No worries, I am putting it behind me and this time - I'm not looking back (for real).

Sometimes you gotta speak up

I made it to work about 45 minutes late this morning (yep, almost a whole hour late). It was raining and traffic was a mess. Anyway, I get to work and check my e-mail. One of the e-mail's in my in-box is from the controller. She was complaining about a dirty dish that someone had left in the kitchen sink overnight.

Now normally I would just blow it off and keep going about my business. For some reason, this really got under my skin. My manager had sent out an e-mail on Monday regarding 2 pots of coffee that he had to pour out that evening. Well, I took offense to the e-mail I received this morning. I felt it was so petty. So what a bowl was left in the sink. Leave it there for the person it belongs to and let them clean it. I decided to send a reply (to everyone who received the initial e-mail plus the VP). I started off by saying that I didn't mean to sound rude but the fact that someone left a bowl in the sink should not be an issue. I mentioned that I had cleaned the kitchen counter on many occasions and not once did I think to send an e-mail to everyone trying to find out who left it dirty. The VP responded to my e-mail agreeing with me that it was petty. The controller came to my office and apologized but still felt there was nothing wrong with the e-mail she sent.

I suggested that signs be made reminding everyone to clean up after themselves and also to refrain from making coffee after a certain time. The signs could be taped onto the cabinets above the sink & counter. She seemed to be o.k. with this. There were others who were frustrated at both e-mails sent this week but nobody said anything to the people who generated those e-mails. There comes a time when it is necessary to speak up. I feel that I have enough to be concerned about at home as well as at work and don't need to be confronted about something as petty as a dish left in a sink. By the way, I still haven't found out who left it there (now that it's been brought up, I am a bit curious).

The Prayer of Repentance

I received an e-mail this morning regarding a prayer given by Pastor Joe Wright to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1996. Just reading it gave me chills. The e-mail that is being circulated has a few slight inaccuracies. (Me, being the inquisitive person that I am, decided to do a search on the internet to determine if this event really happened before I forwarded it to anyone else.) It was said that a few representives were upset by the prayer and one actually walked out. Here is the actual prayer -- it's pretty powerful http://www.centralcc.org/joe.html.

How could I forget

I forgot to put on deodorant this morning!! This is sooooo not good. Thank God it is always freezing at my job so there's no threat of sweating. I was about a mile from my job when I just had this wierd feeling. I wasn't sweating but the question popped in my head, "did I put on deodorant this morning". I had to do a quick check -- and the answer was NO. I planned on staying in for lunch today since it's going to be cold (around 56 degrees). Looks like I'll be running to Eckerds to handle my business. I'm going to the fitness center after work and there is no way I can go without Lady Speedstick or Secret (which ever is the least expensive). 11 a.m. can't get here soon enough.

Ever wondered why . . .

1. Why are there unsolved criminal cases and yet so many psychics exist?
2. Why does the thought of food stay on your mind the entire time you're working out (or maybe its just me)?
3. Why are movie theaters colder than meat lockers?
4. Why do some women wear high heels to outdoor events knowing they're going to do alot of walking and/or standing?
5. Why are the healthiest fast food choices never on the the 99 cents menu?
6. Why don't auto manufacturers design SUV's to get better gas mileage?
7. Why are cars sold in the U.S. capable of going over 100 mph when the maximum highway speed limit is no more than 75 mph?
8. Why do police officers have to go through rigorous physical training to become a police officer but no exercise is required once you become one?
9. Why do Wal-Mart Super Centers have over 20 check-out lanes and only half of them are ever open (except around Christmas)?
10. Why, oh why did Vinny Testaverde throw at least 5 interceptions during Sunday's game? Hang in there Cowboys.

I have done my duty

I left work at 4 p.m. yesterday to cast my vote. There were no long lines (thank God). The voting location for my precinct was a church that was no more than 2 miles from my home. I had a minor issue that was quickly corrected. For some reason my address was incorrect in their computers. It took no more than 5 minutes for them to write down my name and correct address. I only took my driver's license since my Voter Registration Card had the same address as my license. Oh well, human error is inevitable. For those who didn't vote, you have no right to complain about any future decisions made by our President or state representatives. I'm sure a few of my family members didn't vote (I know of one for certain) but will be quick to criticize whoever is in office. Why is that?

What's up with these men?

I'm somewhat confused. Two men that I have recently met have made a comment that has left me completely puzzled. I am a person who has no problem doing whatever it takes to obtain the things that I want (if it is within reason). Something that was #1 on my list of goals in 2001 was to buy a home which I did last year. Anyway, during a phone conversation with man #1, he suggested that the only thing missing in my home was a man to share it with.? Uh, excuse me -- I don't think so. If that's the case I would have waited to get married before thinking about buying a home. Man #2 called and asked what I was doing. I mentioned that I was on-line checking out information about refinancing my mortgage. He suggested that he could share my home with me. Uh, wrong again. You can buy me home. He got off the phone real quick (said he'd call me back). I'm not holding my breath. Don't get me wrong, I'm not LOOKING for a man to buy me a home. I'm also not EXPECTING a man to think that I am in need of a man to share the home that I currently have with him. If they are truly interested in me, they should take the time to get to know me and allow me to get to know them. If it is God's will that we share our lives together, things will fall into place as they are supposed to. I'm just surprised that they felt so relaxed making a comment like that. Of course they had to play it off and say it in a half joking manner. If I would have given them the slightest hint that I was o.k. with what they were saying they would have been backing their bags that day. A more appropriate comment would have been, "If things work out between us we could sell the house you're living in and buy us another one". Now that I can get with. Realistically I haven't known either one of them long enough for us to even discuss marriage. More importantly, I have no interest beyond friendship with either of them. I would love to be married again but I have no intentions of settling. I want a man who knows what his role is and is not afraid to fulfill it. Looking for a woman to provide you with a roof over your head is not it.