*whew* Today is the first day of school. NOBODY wanted to get up this morning....

Plans were for everyone to get to bed early last night, but that didn't work out. I had to take my mother to my brother's house, stop to get Tay her bag for school, & a not-so-quick stop at Wally-World. Tay & Lulu went with me. We didn't even make it home until nearly 8:30. The kids got something to eat & took a shower. It was about 10 before they got in bed. Too late for a school night - especially for Lulu.

I had to get up at 5:30 to get me started for the day. I went around waking up kids about 6. Every five minutes I was going by again "wake up. school day". Finally, the girls got up & began getting ready. B didn't get up until about 7. Of course, he, being a HE, can get ready in about 5-10 minutes.

I told them we'd be leaving the house about 7:20 as I always take them to school the first day or two. I went through the high school & dropped off B & Tay. Then it's off to the elementary school. The line of traffic to the school was backed up nearly to the high school. Cars were pulling in the parking lot one at a time as another would pull out. Most went in with their kids to help carry some of their stuff. They have to take miscellaneous items the first of the year for the class (paper towels, kleenex, etc). We found a spot to park & went in with the rest of the crowd. Boy, I was glad to leave that traffic-jam & head off to work!

It's supposed to be 104 today! B & Tay said their step-mother is going to bring the home from school so they won't have to ride the bus in this heat. Good idea, except what about Lulu.... Anyway, since today is Randy's day off, he's going to go pick up Lulu from school. Tomorrow, they'll be riding the bus. Too bad it's supposed to be 105 here tomorrow! This is CRAZY HOT!!

As we were leaving, Randy was getting ready to start on the lawn early before it gets too hot. He's trying to crank the mower & the pull cord broke. Well, there went that! He ended up loading it up in my van & dropping it off at the repair shop. Now we can't get it back until probably Monday. *sigh* The grass really needs to be cut/weedeat. Now it'll hafta wait a bit longer. If it's not one thing it's another.

Anywho, hope you all have a great day!

School for the kids starts back tomorrow. For several weeks, I've been shopping for & with the 3 kiddos for supplies, clothes & shoes. Tay is SO incredibly picky that it's hard to shop WITH her - let alone FOR her.

Sunday, we went to several different stores - some twice - to find a certain pair of tennis shoes. Come to find out, they're discontinued & have been replaced by a newer model. I tried to get to get those, but no. We HAVE to have the extinct pair! even tho they didn't have it in her size. We finally got her some tennis shoes last night. Yes, it was the newer model of the shoe.

Today, I've got to spend my lunch hour going to the mall to exchange a pair of jeans she picked out Sunday afternoon in Aeropostle. They're 'skinny legs' & she doesn't like that. I TOLD her to try them on, but she insisted that she'd tried on a pair already before & knew what size she needed. Ok...but if she HAD tried them on, she would've known they were the wrong legs! So...I've got to swap them. Then, I've got to change a pair of her shorts for a smaller size. Did she try them on? NO, even though I told her it'd be a good idea. Kids just don't listen. Doncha just wish "we" were as smart as "they" are??

On top of getting the kids fed, bathed & ready for school & bed, I've got to stop down & take my mother back to my brother's house after work. That'll take just under 2 hours from the time I leave until I get back home. I'm leaving the kids home so get their stuff done & ready for school.

Anyway, tomorrow starts a new beginning for the kids. Lulu starts 2nd grade, Tay 9th grade, & B 10th grade. Am I ready for this???

Hope you have a great week!

You all know from reading here that I've been having some problems with my mother's poodle in the potty-training department. I have told them countless times that I do NOT want the dog at my house unless mother is here to take care of him.

Friday, my mother called to tell me they were bringing the dog out. Me: "Um, I've already told you no. I've got cheer practice Friday evening & then again early Sat morning. I won't be home to watch him & let him out. I've already TOLD you this. I have things to do & Randy will be at work Saturday." Mom: "Ok, I'll call H" (my brother, her guardian). Now they start calling me at work. I had my co-worker field the calls as I knew he'd be calling.

I was leaving work at 4:00 & my cell rings about 40 (literally!) times over the next 40 minutes! It was my sis, my mother, my brother & then they had my niece call. I wasn't answering the phone. I KNEW what they wanted - Me to keep the dog - & I've already told them NO. Every week I refuse, every week someone dumps him off - against my wishes - & I'm stuck with doggy doodie...er, duty.

Anyway, back to Friday. The messages come rolling in starting at 4:00. They start "hurry up & get home cuz we're waiting in the driveway for you to get Snowball". "Where are you & why aren't you home?" It's 4:10 & I just left work. They all know it takes me 30 minutes to get home. I had also told mother that I wouldn't be going straight home. I'll be picking up Lulu & taking her to cheer practice. Period. She HAS to be there, & I help. I'm not stopping my or my kid's lives just to dog shit...er I mean sit. The calls & messages go on & on.

Since I wasn't answering, they evidently get other people to call (unknown numbers showing up) to see if I answer for them. Then they call my son's phone (who is at his dad's) to get him to call me & see where I am. Tay answered that call & told them I was a cheer practice. Then the calls stop - temporarily. My sis & mother leave & go to her house, with the dog.

She can't have animals at her place (per landlord) so he's tied up on her porch until I come get him. Ummm NOT! They even call Randy to come get him. He said he wasn't going to DARE do that when he knows I've said no. What is WRONG with these people???

Sis says she doesn't have the gas to take dog back to brother's house. Randy gives her $10 to take care of the problem. So, she's off to my brother's house to return the dog. When they were leaving earlier with mother & no dog, his wife ran down the drive & PUT the dog in the car with "take him to S's house".
I knew he'd be mad. But, he already has 3 or 4 dogs IN his house! I don't have animals in my house for a reason. I don't want to walk in pee & crap all the time...don't have time to care for an animal of any sort. It takes LOTS of time to have an animal. That's why I don't have one! I take him out & he poops. Then as soon as I let him back in he goes to the carpet & pees!

He said he keeps him shut up in his bath tub while they're at work. I think that's cruel, but I had to anyway. He jumped out of my tub & messed all over the floor (previous post story). Anyway, brother has the sliding doors on his tub that keep him in. I don't.

I kept telling Randy that I'm surprised H hasn't called again. He did call once earlier & I wouldn't pick up. I knew what he wanted.

So...it's just before 10:00 pm & I'm watching the news before going to bed when there's a knock on my front door & the bell ringing. What?? Surely not. Yep, you guessed it. It's my brother with the damned dog! I open the door & he shoved the dog in. He said he was so mad at me that if I was a man he'd hit me. What? I've TOLD you people NO. NO MEANS NO - period! I've got to help carry the load, etc. No, I seem to have the dog every weekend no matter where she is! They never listen to me.

Then Sat morning, upon returning from cheer practice, I called to let my mother know that her dear son dumped the dog off on me at 10 last night. He messed up the carpet in the hall too - big mess/stain. Oh? I didn't know he did that (or are we just playing dumb).

THEN, she informs me that she's coming to my house Sunday & will be staying with me until Wednesday night when I'm to take her back to H's house (45 minute drive). I didn't know this. I'm picking up the kids early Sunday & taking them shopping for school clothes, shoes, stuff. Mom: "I told you last week". Me: Um, no mother, you didn't. I'm sure you told sis & H, but not me. Never me. You all always make plans for me & my house & my time & never even ask if I'm going to be home, have plans, etc. None of you have any respect for me, my family, my property. Just as long as it suits each of your wants/needs...."

We got home from shopping about 7:30 pm & mother was there. I have 3 kids & Randy at my house. That's 5 people that live here. With mother there (or anyone else) there's not enuff room for everyone to sleep. This puts Tay out of her room & bed. Mother refuses to sleep on the couch even for one night. Um...where do you sleep at L's (sis) house? On the couch. Um...OK....

Tomorrow night, after I get home from work, I've got to fix dinner, get the kids bathed & ready for their first day of school Thursday. Oh, & don't think mother will be ready to leave "too early". She wants a 7 course dinner & then to wait until 8:00 pm or so (at least) to leave. I've got to load up mother & her 5 bags of stuff. This will take her 40 minutes to get ready for the 45 minute drive one way. Then another 15 to unload & get her in...then another 45 back home. It'll be 11 before I get back home to my family.

I'm sure you're probably thinking I'm an awful person. I know this is my mother. I LOVE my mother. But, she's not the innocent person in all of this. It's been overheard of her conniving with my sis & brother about "doing this at S's house...taking Snowball to S...letting S deal with it...etc." It's become a nightmare to me.

My problem is that none of them have any bit of respect for me or my house. Who cares if he pees/messes everywhere! Let S clean it up!! When she's at sis's house - dog is with me. When she's at my house - dog with with me. When my brother has plans (which is nearly every weekend) - dog is with me.

Ok...rant over for now. Thanks for letting me get this out before I go INSANE myself!! Or have I already gone insane?

Marriage changes passion.
Suddenly you're in bed with a relative.

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I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it.
So I said "Implants?" She hit me.

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How come we choose from just two people to run for president and over fifty for Miss America ?

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I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!

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When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunky dunk."

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Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

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Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over? AMEN, AMEN !!

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Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?

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Wouldn't you know it...
Brain cells come and brain cells go, but FATcells live forever.

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Why do I have to swear on the Bible in court when the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed outside?

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Bumper sticker of the year:
"If you can read this, thank a teacher -and, since it's in English, thank a soldier"

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And remember: life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've been busy at work & not able to catch up on here yet, but I did see several people mentioned me on Taylor's blog. I want to thank all of you who did - & those who even thought of me.

There is NO WAY I could mention only 3 bloggers on there that mean something to me, or who have touched me. There are SO MANY of you!! Then to mention some that hadn't already been mentioned is even harder.

I've come to love each & every one of you here as you're all such special people. This is such a great community of sharing, laughing & loving.

Sending my love, good thoughts, & prayers to you all.