My youngest R (soon to be middle) is something else. At times he reminds me of the littlest boy from "Mr. Mom"- who, upon needing to give up his beloved woobie tells his dad "I just need... a moment... to myself please." At other times he reminds me of one of the boys from "Overboard"- the one who throws grapes at Goldie Hawn's character ("She needs to eat! A buh-buh, a buh-buh...").
But he's always original. To preface this story, I have to say that R's got some food issues. It can't have a crust, a different color (ie: any brown-ness from being cooked)- it has to be "naked" as he puts it (I have no idea where this came from). So getting him to eat at times can be challenging. So yesterday, instead of giving him a bologna sandwich, he got "bologna hotdog"- a rolled up slice of said sandwich meat), crunchy carrots (neither boy will eat them cooked) and a grilled cheese, no crust. The grilled cheese went without an issue, the carrots took a while, but the bologna wasn't getting eaten. Apparently there was a crust on it. The kid is whack. So I exasperatedly tell him for the 1000th time that there is no crust on it and it needs to get eaten or he won't be able to join in the game that Dad and X are playing. To which he replies, "I hate it, I hate it and I'm not going to eat it." It's a simple statement- no yelling just a matter of fact, "I hate it".
I have to turn away before he sees me laugh- with refrains of "A Christmas Story" running through my head "Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf. I hate meatloaf." Needless to say, the husband chuckle about it over the course of the night- using it as a response to a number of things. As long as you're not rude about it, it's good for a laugh. Try it.
And yes, he did eventually eat it. Mom (amost) always wins.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
...a Consumer: Why I'll Never Go to a Car Dealership Again
Because we're expecting our third, we realized that one of our cars, a Jetta Wagon, would not fit two boosters and a car seat. We weren't entirely sure our other vehile, a 2000 Ford Explorer (Eddie Bauer edition) with low miles, would either, and with all the advertised discounts, thought it might be a good idea to check out the SUVs at "Employee Pricing". Which sounds like a great deal, right? Yeah, not so much when you look at the numbers. But, that was fine as the crossover we were most interested in, thanks to an article that touted its ability to fit three seats, will not, in fact, fit the three seats that we have. In fact, it was 2" shorter in hip room than our Jetta.
But, the young man we're working with says he's got this great Trailblazer, an 05, with 21,000 miles on it, previously leased "by a woman who takes incredible care of her vehicles", third row seat...ok, let's test drive it. So we do, it's nice, decent enough price (so we think) and ask to discuss numbers.
The first payment offered is waaaay to high for us, plus they're offering a pittance for our trade- 2,000 less than it should be. So, they "work up" some more numbers, break it down weekly for us (really?) and when it's still too high, he goes to talk to the manager, and comes back with the owner (who my husband knows because he taught his daughter a couple of years ago). The owner then knocks the price down another $15 and then says (not kidding) "If I can do this price, would you sign the papers tonight?"
I actually laugh. "Uh no, I can't make that kind of decision on the spot" not to mention at this point, we've been there an hour and a half, we still need to go grocery shopping and I need to eat. I think my poor husband is going to pass out from hunger. Despite having said as much a good 20 minutes ago, the owner then starts to go on and on about the Certified vehicles, what a great deal this is for our family (oh- so you really know us?!?) and then breaks these numbers down by week. Holy god- my husband is a math teacher and just because the bank says we can afford it doesn't mean 1) we want to pay that much for a car and 2) that we really CAN afford it- uh, hello, mortgage crisis anyone?
So, FINALLY we get out of there. We talk about the car, which we proceed to do over the next couple of weeks. But during this time, we get approximately four more phone calls. At least one every few days. At this point, I say to my husband, I bet if I called and told them what I wanted to pay per month, they'd agree to it. I'm betting we're the ONLY people who've looked at this car since it's been on the lot."
We get another phone call. Guess how much the "payment" is down now? A total of $45. Almost exactly now the amount I joking said we should offer to pay. Guess what else I've learned? The cost they originally had on the car is $3000 more than book value (however, I'll add in around $1500 for the Certified Used Vehicle value). So the original $3000 off only brought it down to book value. They came up on our trade-in value- but it's still really not a great deal. I don't think they're losing any money on it at all. They'd still end up getting near the book value.
I don't mind the wheeling and dealing to a point- and we're honestly not playing any games with them- we really just don't know what it is we want to do (and I really hate car payments). Our Explorer, as it turns out, fits all seats perfectly. I just can't believe how many times we've been contacted about this "great deal"/"perfect for our family"/"certified used vehicle"/"we know the previous owner personally- she takes great care of her cars"/"incredile deal" Trailblazer (did I mention there was an e-mail too, which, apparently my very nice response to, prompted the manager to call and repeat the same things over again?). I'm 100% positive they're hot to get this off their lot. Even though we've decided to wait before buying anything right now, and I've told them this much twice (so we'll see if that makes a difference), I'm ever-so-tempted to call and say, here's what we're will to pay each month for it, and see if they bite.
We'll see what happens when they call next week.
But, the young man we're working with says he's got this great Trailblazer, an 05, with 21,000 miles on it, previously leased "by a woman who takes incredible care of her vehicles", third row seat...ok, let's test drive it. So we do, it's nice, decent enough price (so we think) and ask to discuss numbers.
The first payment offered is waaaay to high for us, plus they're offering a pittance for our trade- 2,000 less than it should be. So, they "work up" some more numbers, break it down weekly for us (really?) and when it's still too high, he goes to talk to the manager, and comes back with the owner (who my husband knows because he taught his daughter a couple of years ago). The owner then knocks the price down another $15 and then says (not kidding) "If I can do this price, would you sign the papers tonight?"
I actually laugh. "Uh no, I can't make that kind of decision on the spot" not to mention at this point, we've been there an hour and a half, we still need to go grocery shopping and I need to eat. I think my poor husband is going to pass out from hunger. Despite having said as much a good 20 minutes ago, the owner then starts to go on and on about the Certified vehicles, what a great deal this is for our family (oh- so you really know us?!?) and then breaks these numbers down by week. Holy god- my husband is a math teacher and just because the bank says we can afford it doesn't mean 1) we want to pay that much for a car and 2) that we really CAN afford it- uh, hello, mortgage crisis anyone?
So, FINALLY we get out of there. We talk about the car, which we proceed to do over the next couple of weeks. But during this time, we get approximately four more phone calls. At least one every few days. At this point, I say to my husband, I bet if I called and told them what I wanted to pay per month, they'd agree to it. I'm betting we're the ONLY people who've looked at this car since it's been on the lot."
We get another phone call. Guess how much the "payment" is down now? A total of $45. Almost exactly now the amount I joking said we should offer to pay. Guess what else I've learned? The cost they originally had on the car is $3000 more than book value (however, I'll add in around $1500 for the Certified Used Vehicle value). So the original $3000 off only brought it down to book value. They came up on our trade-in value- but it's still really not a great deal. I don't think they're losing any money on it at all. They'd still end up getting near the book value.
I don't mind the wheeling and dealing to a point- and we're honestly not playing any games with them- we really just don't know what it is we want to do (and I really hate car payments). Our Explorer, as it turns out, fits all seats perfectly. I just can't believe how many times we've been contacted about this "great deal"/"perfect for our family"/"certified used vehicle"/"we know the previous owner personally- she takes great care of her cars"/"incredile deal" Trailblazer (did I mention there was an e-mail too, which, apparently my very nice response to, prompted the manager to call and repeat the same things over again?). I'm 100% positive they're hot to get this off their lot. Even though we've decided to wait before buying anything right now, and I've told them this much twice (so we'll see if that makes a difference), I'm ever-so-tempted to call and say, here's what we're will to pay each month for it, and see if they bite.
We'll see what happens when they call next week.
Monday, September 8, 2008
...a Preggo: Sick, Sick, Sick
So at 37+ weeks, I've been struck down by a cold. Normally I'm not a wimp-cold, schmold- but this has knocked me on my butt and then some! Fever, stuffy, not sleeping, you name it. I've almost lost my sense of smell and taste. On Friday it was so bad, I got up and thought evil things about my husband- "HOW could he not make me any coffee ?!? I saw him drinking it earlier...*insert various names here*" Turns out, he did make me coffee- I just couldn't smell it. At all. Not even standing right next to the pot. Lucky for me there's a red light on there to indicate it's on, or it might've burned up in the pot. Yesterday- I couldn't taste my favorite guilty pleasure- potato chips and french onion dip. All I could taste was salt. Very disappointing.
After an hour and a half of waiting, sick, at the Drs the other day for my 5 minute appointment (a rant for another time) I did get the OK to use real nasal spray, but don't want to use it unless I really have to (at night mostly), but I've found that the new cold formula medicines are a crock. And a half. As it turns out, even though pseudophedrine can be made into various nefarious drugs (note my super cool rhyming), it really is the best medicine for a cold. I think I'd sell my soul right now to be able to take some real Co-Advil without any adverse side effects to the baby. The new drug that's in all the cold medicines now- there's studies doubting it's effectiveness (which I find not at all surprising, because taking it I was wondering the same thing "Does this crap really even work???" and then googling it to find out that it's probably not effective at the dosage in the medicines). However, you know what it does work really well for?
Hemmorhoids.
That's right- the main ingredient in the new cold medicines is the same thing in Preparation H.
Huh. I don't know what to do with this new-found knowledge, but it sure is interesting.
After an hour and a half of waiting, sick, at the Drs the other day for my 5 minute appointment (a rant for another time) I did get the OK to use real nasal spray, but don't want to use it unless I really have to (at night mostly), but I've found that the new cold formula medicines are a crock. And a half. As it turns out, even though pseudophedrine can be made into various nefarious drugs (note my super cool rhyming), it really is the best medicine for a cold. I think I'd sell my soul right now to be able to take some real Co-Advil without any adverse side effects to the baby. The new drug that's in all the cold medicines now- there's studies doubting it's effectiveness (which I find not at all surprising, because taking it I was wondering the same thing "Does this crap really even work???" and then googling it to find out that it's probably not effective at the dosage in the medicines). However, you know what it does work really well for?
Hemmorhoids.
That's right- the main ingredient in the new cold medicines is the same thing in Preparation H.
Huh. I don't know what to do with this new-found knowledge, but it sure is interesting.
Friday, September 5, 2008
...a Mom: A Mystery
The other day I was getting the boys buckled into the car when I noticed what looked like either a credit or gift card upside down on the floor in front of R. I picked it up, flipped it and saw that it was indeed a gift card with the Exxon/Mobil logo on it, and a demonination of $50 in the corner.
Now, to my knowledge, we've never been given a gift card for gas before, and I start wracking my brain as to who has been in my car in the last few days. My step-dad was one, but he sat in the front seat...and other than that, I can't think of anyone. So, after bringing the kids to school, I come home and check the balance on the card. Sure enough, the website says there is $50 on the card. Curiouser.
I check with my step-dad, my in-laws (as they had visited and been near the car) but no one has lost one. I've yet to try the card at the gas station, but as of right now, we mysteriously own a $50 gift card and have no idea, whatsoever, as to where it came from. So to whoever left it in our car, I say thank you. I don't know how or why it ended up in there- but I'm grateful!
Now, to my knowledge, we've never been given a gift card for gas before, and I start wracking my brain as to who has been in my car in the last few days. My step-dad was one, but he sat in the front seat...and other than that, I can't think of anyone. So, after bringing the kids to school, I come home and check the balance on the card. Sure enough, the website says there is $50 on the card. Curiouser.
I check with my step-dad, my in-laws (as they had visited and been near the car) but no one has lost one. I've yet to try the card at the gas station, but as of right now, we mysteriously own a $50 gift card and have no idea, whatsoever, as to where it came from. So to whoever left it in our car, I say thank you. I don't know how or why it ended up in there- but I'm grateful!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
a Preggo: Things I Shouldn't Have to Deal With Part 2
Today, Karma decides to get me back. Unfortunately, we end up with squirrels in our house every year. It's a pain, they scratch at the ceilings and walls and we can't seem to keep them out. So today, I'm sitting, working on website stuff when I hear a commotion, look up and realize our cat (the same troublesome one from below) has caught a red squirrel (the nastier ones) from the WALL where we haven't yet put back a piece of floor boards from some construction a little while ago. "Oh shit! Good kitty, hold on to it..." he's only 6 feet from a door. If I can just make it there, I can get them both outside and he can do whatever with it.
But instead, he drops it. It makes a feeble attempt to crawl away (oh- maybe 8 inches) and then stops and drops onto it's back. Frantically I look for something to cover it with, not sure if it's dead or playing so, and race to the kitchen, grab a pot and drop it over the squirrel- which is still alive.
Ok, now what. I've got to get this out of the house before the 4 year old comes downstairs from a nap (who should be at school but is already home sick with a cold and little fever) and picks up the pot before I can stop him and suddenly Rocky is in a mad dash to get out of the house. Oh look, there's the box from the scanner I just opened, I'll tear a huge piece of that off and slide it under...uh, no. I hope the squirrel will move along with me, but it doesn't. And part of it is stick out from under the pot. EEEEEwwwww.
Take 2: Get snow shovel. Nope, not wide enough to accommodate pot.
Take 3: Call husband. Get the other snow shovel which is out by construction debris from this past weekend and try that. If it doesn't work, stick a bucket of tools on it and I'll take care of it when I get home (at 6 pm???!!!?????).
Take 4: Try second shovel, still to narrow.
Take 5: Go back to initial cardboard idea. Ok, tail is still sticking out, but use something to stick it back under. EEEEWWWWW.
Remove rodent to porch, stick tools on it and leave it for the hubbie when he gets home.
So, now I'm out of breath, sweating like mad, need to take a shower, and of course 4 year old R is refusing to sleep...
I get it, I should've saved the spider...but then again, I shouldn't have been made arachnophobic. I can only do what I can, but really, a squirrel? I think that's overkill, Karma. Don't be such a bitch ;).
But instead, he drops it. It makes a feeble attempt to crawl away (oh- maybe 8 inches) and then stops and drops onto it's back. Frantically I look for something to cover it with, not sure if it's dead or playing so, and race to the kitchen, grab a pot and drop it over the squirrel- which is still alive.
Ok, now what. I've got to get this out of the house before the 4 year old comes downstairs from a nap (who should be at school but is already home sick with a cold and little fever) and picks up the pot before I can stop him and suddenly Rocky is in a mad dash to get out of the house. Oh look, there's the box from the scanner I just opened, I'll tear a huge piece of that off and slide it under...uh, no. I hope the squirrel will move along with me, but it doesn't. And part of it is stick out from under the pot. EEEEEwwwww.
Take 2: Get snow shovel. Nope, not wide enough to accommodate pot.
Take 3: Call husband. Get the other snow shovel which is out by construction debris from this past weekend and try that. If it doesn't work, stick a bucket of tools on it and I'll take care of it when I get home (at 6 pm???!!!?????).
Take 4: Try second shovel, still to narrow.
Take 5: Go back to initial cardboard idea. Ok, tail is still sticking out, but use something to stick it back under. EEEEWWWWW.
Remove rodent to porch, stick tools on it and leave it for the hubbie when he gets home.
So, now I'm out of breath, sweating like mad, need to take a shower, and of course 4 year old R is refusing to sleep...
I get it, I should've saved the spider...but then again, I shouldn't have been made arachnophobic. I can only do what I can, but really, a squirrel? I think that's overkill, Karma. Don't be such a bitch ;).
...a Mom: I Can't Stop Eating
On Thursday, I will have hit the 37 week mark of this pregnancy, meaning baby could come any day (please oh please oh please). But, in the meantime, I'm stinkin' hungry all the time. I feel like all I do is eat. It's ridiculous- but as I might as well enjoy it now because after the baby, it's back to my normal eating habits. I've got some poundage to lose!
I've also been dealing with the repeated question of how the baby is going to come out from my four and a half year old. When he was born, I just told my eldest that I had a special trap door that opened up and the baby came out there with the help of the doctors. He was only 3.5 at the time, so this was a good enough answer. But my other one- he wants to see. "Is the baby going to come out your mouth?" No. "Where does it come out then?" Uh...well...part of my tummy opens up just to let the baby out and then closes right back up. (is this the best I can come up with???) "How?"
Help! How do I explain this? He's far too curious for his own good and if I told him the truth about how it actually worked- there'd be no stopping the barage of questions wanting to see, or the fact he'd probably go around telling everyone exactly how it was going to happen.
So, like any good mom, I'm trying to play dumb. That'll work, right?
I've also been dealing with the repeated question of how the baby is going to come out from my four and a half year old. When he was born, I just told my eldest that I had a special trap door that opened up and the baby came out there with the help of the doctors. He was only 3.5 at the time, so this was a good enough answer. But my other one- he wants to see. "Is the baby going to come out your mouth?" No. "Where does it come out then?" Uh...well...part of my tummy opens up just to let the baby out and then closes right back up. (is this the best I can come up with???) "How?"
Help! How do I explain this? He's far too curious for his own good and if I told him the truth about how it actually worked- there'd be no stopping the barage of questions wanting to see, or the fact he'd probably go around telling everyone exactly how it was going to happen.
So, like any good mom, I'm trying to play dumb. That'll work, right?
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
...a Preggo: Things I Shouldn't Have to Deal With at 37 Weeks
Part 1) Spiders
I am a serious arachnophobic. It's completely irrational- they're so small for cryin' out loud, but I can't look at pictures, see them on TV, let alone deal with one in person. So when "X" (the 7+ year old) noticed a spider in my living room yesterday and commented "WOW- that's a big spider!" which happened to be no less than three feet from where I was sitting but out of sight because I couldn't see over the couch arm. So, I tentatively get up and take a peek- yeah- it's a BIG SPIDER. Not tarantula size, but much bigger than I want to deal with. I can't leave it there, because I know it'll move, and the little wimp won't go after it with his shoe, which leaves only me to deal with it as the husband won't be home for another hour or so (by which time it'll be who knows where in the house- probably nestled in my bed). So, I think to myself, I can handle this, it's a stupid spider (commonly known around here as a "wood" spider but all I know is that it's brown, icky and FAST). So, I grab a sandal and slowly approach and stop. I'm three feet from it and there's no fraking way (that's right, I wrote "fraking") that I'm moving any closer.
I look imploring to X, and ask him "Can you please squish it for me? I seriously cannot move from this spot."
X: "No way!"
Me, muttering to self: shit, shit, shit...oh, I'll get the vaccuum. Maybe I can convince him to suck it up. He's done it once before (last year, similar situation, even bigger spider). "Okay, I'm going to get the vaccuum- can you suck it up?"
X: "What if it moves like it did last time?"
Crap he remembers. me: "Just be quick. You can do it- you'll be Mommy's hero."
He sighs but grabs the hose from me and slowly approaches. I watch with a growing, gnawing fear that the fraking thing will take off, hysterical screaming will ensue and it'll get away. But thankfully, he's quick and I watch with glee as it disappears up the vaccuum shoot. I'm ready to buy him a car.
I am a serious arachnophobic. It's completely irrational- they're so small for cryin' out loud, but I can't look at pictures, see them on TV, let alone deal with one in person. So when "X" (the 7+ year old) noticed a spider in my living room yesterday and commented "WOW- that's a big spider!" which happened to be no less than three feet from where I was sitting but out of sight because I couldn't see over the couch arm. So, I tentatively get up and take a peek- yeah- it's a BIG SPIDER. Not tarantula size, but much bigger than I want to deal with. I can't leave it there, because I know it'll move, and the little wimp won't go after it with his shoe, which leaves only me to deal with it as the husband won't be home for another hour or so (by which time it'll be who knows where in the house- probably nestled in my bed). So, I think to myself, I can handle this, it's a stupid spider (commonly known around here as a "wood" spider but all I know is that it's brown, icky and FAST). So, I grab a sandal and slowly approach and stop. I'm three feet from it and there's no fraking way (that's right, I wrote "fraking") that I'm moving any closer.
I look imploring to X, and ask him "Can you please squish it for me? I seriously cannot move from this spot."
X: "No way!"
Me, muttering to self: shit, shit, shit...oh, I'll get the vaccuum. Maybe I can convince him to suck it up. He's done it once before (last year, similar situation, even bigger spider). "Okay, I'm going to get the vaccuum- can you suck it up?"
X: "What if it moves like it did last time?"
Crap he remembers. me: "Just be quick. You can do it- you'll be Mommy's hero."
He sighs but grabs the hose from me and slowly approaches. I watch with a growing, gnawing fear that the fraking thing will take off, hysterical screaming will ensue and it'll get away. But thankfully, he's quick and I watch with glee as it disappears up the vaccuum shoot. I'm ready to buy him a car.
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