Sunday, August 26, 2007

Why I haven't blogged much lately...

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!There's just no dang time with all these Disco Dancing lessons! ;-)

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

If you need a good laugh...

Oh my I was ROFL so hard at this!!! Mostly because for once it wasn't ME! But it very easily could be and has been often. Pokemon cards on sale at eBay - hysterical

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Update on the mail situation

Today I actually received mail at my new curbside mailbox! WoooooooHooooooooo I got to sit at the table and sort through junk mail and stress over bills.

All is right with the world again.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Here's why I was so confused about the good ol' Post Office

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent establishment of the executive branch of the United States government (see 39 U.S.C. § 201) responsible for providing postal service in the U.S. Within the United States, it is colloquially referred to simply as "the post office."

Read more on the Post Office and how it came about to be a monopoly here

Kind of like the Wal-Mart of mail carriers I guess? Only they apparently don't have to pay taxes.

Interesting stuff.

Monday, August 13, 2007

The saga continues...

Well, I went to the Post Office on Saturday. I stopped most of my shaking by praying ferverntly all the way there and then while I was on line. I just couldn't calm myself down. I have a very long fuse when it comes to flipping out, I don't flip out when most people do but for some reason this just got to me bad. When I told DH about my experience on the phone and all that he says, "You know something? I really like it when you're really angry and it's not at me".

OK, OK so I'm at the post office. An older kind woman asks how she can help me. She tells me to fill out a "resume mail" form and come back to her. I do this and she disappears to get my mail. 10 minutes later the woman comes back with a big stocky man. "Uh oh, I knew it coudln't be this easy". I asked him if he was the postmaster and he told me no but he was a superviser. He did have my mail in his hand *whew* and had me fill out a "I promise I won't let my dog even look at the pansy ass mailman" card and sign it in blood. Or something like that. I told him we installed a target for teenagers with bats curbside mailbox as we were told.

Next I reiterated the entire story and my disappointments with this particular office to the supervisor. He basically said in gov't speak that my regular mailman had no problem with us but this sub-mailman was terrified of dogs. Er d'oh - maybe we should pick a DIFFERENT profession?!?! I explained I wasn't trying to justify my dog scaring him and that I understand it's got to be a hazard with the job and scary but I didn't believe he conducted himself in a professional manner. Then I went on to say how both my parents were in customer service and the woman I spoke to on the phone should NEVER have gotten snotty and talked down to me. That I didn't attack her personally, I was just upset with the situation. He must not be from around here because he handled himself completely professionally and kindly. ;-) We shook hands and made peace before I left. I felt like a weight has been lifted.
Sounds all nice right? Well except for the last chapter hasn't been written quite yet. Mail was not delivered again to us today to either mailbox. We did recieve our follow up call from the government and I swear Eartha Kitt left a voicemail on my phone. She said they were calling about my complaint and that they called my local office on Friday but the Postmaster was away from his office and he still hasn't called her back as of today. Frustrating but at least they're dealing with problems as well!

DH and I have some various fantasies (as in we-wouldn't-do-this-in-real-life-so-back-off). a) putting a sensor on the mailbox so when it's opened you hear the sound of a pack of Rottweilers. b) a sensor that sings Snoop Doggy Doggs' rendition of "Who let the Dogs Out" or DH's idea: c) we just chain our dog to the mailbox so they can play chicken. ;-) WWYD?

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Just another reason I'm registering with the Libertarian Party this year.

Yes, it's official, I'm libertarian. I am tired of the false sense of self-control living here. Today I had a prime example that the gov't can do whatever it darn well pleases. *sigh*

3 days ago my dogs went out back with the kids to play. Sheba, the medium sized one is especially not allowed out unsupervised because she figures out how to get out of the fence and the kids often forget. They're no longer allowed to have her out with them but after they came in I asked where the dogs were. They said they were out back (grrr) and I heard barking out front as if on cue. I opened the front door and saw Sheba under my van barking at the mailman. I immediately called her and she ran inside with her tail between her legs (she really is friendly & submissive, if you were walking down the street and called her she'd want to be loved on) RIGHT AWAY. I then looked at the mailman, crouched down and terrified with his hand on his mace can. I apologized profusely and told him she was all bark and no bite but that I was really sorry she got out. He was visibly shaken and just started yelling at me that "that was way too close, she was 2 ft away - 2 ft away". I again apologized and said it wouldn't happen again but he was still yelling so I just turned around and went inside. So 2 days go by and I don't get any mail. None. Not even a junk flyer. I'm beginning to get suspicious and today after no more mail again I called the local post office. They transferred me to a woman who told me that there was in fact, a hold on my mail. Be prepared to get upset folks - this gets bad. I was not the "turn the other cheek Christian" I should have been but at the same time, I did not personally attack this woman - keep that in mind.

So there's a hold on my mail. "How do I get my mail?" I ask. "You have to put a curbside mailbox in line with the curb for him to deliver again" I asked how I could get it until then, if I could pick it up. "We may allow you to pick it up once, if you're not hostile" she says. OK, at this point I became hostile. Let me reiterate I did not personally attack this woman or the mailman involved however tempting that was. I did though, get snippy about the whole ordeal and how it was being handled and their stupid policies. Anyone in customer service knows that you should handle the hostile person calmly and even apologetically as long as it's not personal, correct? That's how I have seen it anyway and both my parents dealt/deal with the public on a regular basis. My mom in fact is a customer service (sales and service) manager. I asked the woman how much a curbside mailbox would cost me (I didnt' know if they provided me with one). With a snotty tone she replied back, "I don't know, you have to go to LOWES or WALMART and get it yourself" implying a) I was an idiot for asking her and b) she didn't give a crap where I got it from or how much it cost. It was after that that I lost it, "So, because my dog got out one time and didn't bite the mailman I have to pay money out of pocket for this?". I was livid. I don't even remember the rest of the banter but I thought there was NO way possible that they could keep my mail from me.

So I called the government USPS hotline and guess what folks? They can!

Having mail is a priviledge apparently, not a right. Not just getting it delivered but allowed to have access to it AT ALL. They can keep me from my mail indefinately. It's up to the local post offices discretion according to the gov't agent. So it's up to my little towns corrupt office whether or not I'm considered too hostile to be allowed entry. And of course by now I'm sure that's how they classify me. I am LIVID folks, absolutely floored.

I'd like to bring the Pony Express back so this crap doesn't happen. Besides, horses could kick a dogs butt. *sigh*

So I have to wait 24 hours for my complaint to filter through to see what happens. The gov't didn't agree with the way the local office handled it so we'll see. But my husband and father are taxpayers in this house and how dare they refuse us service? Picking it up at least!

I do understand him being scared and I'm not justifying my dog getting out. I just think it's a sad world we live in when he can't accept my apology and reassurance that it won't happen again (or maybe even take a second to establish rapport with my dog). And the worst part of all of this was when I asked her why they didn't notify me of this mail holding she told me "We knew you'd eventually figure it out and call" THE NERVE!!! But the gov't didnt' say anything about this either. I just feel so frustrated and like they blew this out of proportion. I'm not the enemy, it was a mistake and no one was hurt thank God.

I'm going to try to be calm and let justice happen. But I am voting libertarian and I'm all for bringing the pony express back. LOL Hey, I'd get my mail sooner. ;-)

Road rash

So my 3yo (Jedadiah if you remember) is dancing around the living room at this very moment with the mop. She's singing, "My beautiful, beautiful girlfriend".
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So I'm really glad I posted baby T's picture when I had the chance. Would you like to see what he looks like today? Still happy, still sweet, but he looks like a motorcycle stuntman I'm afraid:




My older 2 was helping him out of the van when Miss. Jedadiah decided to "help" by opening the second side door that the baby was leaning against. Yeah, OUCH. He landed face first onto the driveway. Thank God he is fine. The DR told us what to watch for and after his nap he was back to his old vibrant self again.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Found this guy on sale...

Oldest son stuck this barcode on baby T and as with almost everything, he thought it was hysterical. Can you believe how fast time goes by? My baby is 20 months old already. I'm usually already pregnant and puking hourly by now. I don't know what it's like to actually sit and enjoy this stage, it's been a lot of fun. I haven't felt sad about not having anymore which is my inclination that we made the right decision. I've even held 2 newborns and while I loved holding them I didn't wish they were mine to take home and love on like I usually do. They were perfect & gorgeous but something has changed inside of me. It's bittersweet but not painful like I thought it would be.

So this year I'm looking forward to doing more sit down work and field trips! I'm debating whether or not to start a co-op class. I'm still up in the air on curriculums and for now will continue to piece together what I have to make for a very eclectic learning experience for both the kids and I. So far I've used an old curriculum my aunt gave me called "Bible Footprints" (no longer in print as far as I can tell) for the kids Bible along with that book Leading Little Ones to God which I love. For math we'll continue our awesome & never disappointing journey with Math-U-See (get a free demo). My aunt has recommended a few grammar & phonics ideas and I think along with Explode the Code we'll use Easy Grammar & Daily Grams. I've also been using and really like Map Skills. For our history this year I'm going to try the infamous Story of the World. I didn't like it a few years back when I looked at it but when I looked again at Dy's house I really, really liked it.

Except a few random homemade flashcards and some of those SAMS Club workbooks that's our future year in a nutshell. Add some rich literature and some of the really silly fun stuff to read and I think we'll do just fine on our own. I really like piecing my stuff together.

Oh, I've had my oldest do some diagnostic testing for the "fun of it" (ha - he said his brain was exploding) and I was pretty pleased with the free testing online there. They tell you what you need to work on and what "level" he's at in different subjects. It's nice to have that as security for us so we feel like we're doing alright. ;-)

Well, that's it in a long winded nutshell. I feel much better writing that all out really, thanks! ;-)

So anyway isn't T just the sweetest thing?

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Killing my snarky side?

Teasing - 2 : to tear in pieces; especially : to shred (a tissue or specimen) for microscopic examination
3 a : to disturb or annoy by persistent irritating or provoking especially in a petty or mischievous way b : to annoy with petty persistent requests : PESTER; also : to obtain by repeated coaxing c : to persuade to acquiesce especially by persistent small efforts : COAX d : to manipulate or influence as if by teasing e : to make fun of : KID

Sarcasm: Etymology: French or Late Latin; French sarcasme, from Late Latin sarcasmos, from Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein to tear flesh, bite the lips in rage, sneer, from sark-, sarx flesh; probably akin to Avestan thwar&s- to cut
1 : a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain
2 a : a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual

OK so our counselor wants us to stop all teasing and sarcasm in our household. Every.Single.Bit. Even the funny kind because he said it's usually not funny to at least someone. I'll admit it, I am afriad of turning into Ned Flanders to be quite honest. Or Stuart Smalley, "but doggonit people like me". haha

We grew up in NY. Sarcasm is a primary language. Yelling is the second language of choice there. So to drop all of that isn't easy. We were raised in it. We were in fact raised to mock people who weren't like us. So to become the very people we mocked is difficult. If that makes any sense.

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OK on a lighter note. Yesterday was my 29th birthday. The highlight of my day was being hired on to help clean for an apartment complex. It sounds silly but it really felt great to know they wanted me to work for them. And I actually enjoy cleaning. And it will be a quiet reflective time for me I think. And I may choose how often I work each month, if at all. I'm excited!

So we went out to dinner for my birthday and I asked DH's NOT to tell the guys to throw that nasty old sombrero on my head and sing to me. About 3/4 of the way through the meal I was absolutely FREEZING cold! I took the baby and went to the car much to DH's dismay. I knew he had planned to have them sing to me. So I'm in the van with the baby minding my own business warming up and reading a book when I see DH and the kids come out followed by an entourage of workers from the restaurant and that DARN SOMBRERO. I contemplated locking the doors and pretending I didn't know them but thought better of it and rolled down my window. They promptly placed it on my head, screamed "WE'VE GOT A BIRTHDAY!!!" and sang their loud rendition of Happy Birtdhay to me. The kids were absolutely thrilled and I swear I caught an evil smirk on DH's face. At least I wasn't freezing. ;-)

It's good to know you're loved.

J