Liar, Liar Pants on Fire

I have to tell you about one major pet peeve that I have.  I cannot stand disrespectful people.  That is one thing that makes my blood boil faster than anything.  Liars are another thing that drive me up a wall.  I was always brought up to respect my elders.  In our local school system, there are at least two generations of disrespectful people that I have met.  Rarely have I met anyone where it go into a 3rd generation (those born in the 50's & 60's).

My ex was very disrespectful in his treatment of me, he would belittle me in front of people, literally turn his shoulder away from me as he walked around me so as not to touch me.  And he was a liar.  When my two older children & I escaped from that relationship and I learned to be a whole person again, one thing I taught them was to be respectful & DO NOT lie. 

All my kids can tell you that I've told them over & over, 'If you're big & bad enough to say it or do it.... you better be big & bad enough to accept the consequences!'  If they were caught lying their consequences were bigger than what they would have been had they admitted what they'd done in the first place.  I'm not saying that my kids are perfect & don't ever lie, I'd be dumb to even think that.  Everyone, including myself has lied at some point or another.  I know they have lied & I know they've probably gotten away with some stuff.  Many times my kids have come to me later & said,  'Mom?  You know when I said such & such?  Well.....', just because the guilt is eating them up inside.

Friday there was an Activity Night at school along with a Lock-In for the students involved in the club that sponsored it.  I had volunteered to show the Lock-In students a craft that night after the Activity Night.  The Lego King was going and on the way there I got this odd feeling that I really needed to stay.  So I did, and they were a little skimpy on chaperones.  I worked in the pool helping the lifeguards.  Since I work with the whole 6th grade, I know almost all of the kids (there are probably about 15-20 that are in classrooms that I don't ever see, but I know who they are).  There was one boy that I had seen before, but I didn't think he was a 6th grader... come to find out he wasn't.  He was a 5th grader - long, long story short - we had to ask him to leave. 

Fast forward about half an hour... another 6th grade student comes into the pool area with her 3rd grade sister.  I stopped her & said that her sister couldn't go swimming.  She looks at me sucks her teeth & rolls her eyes & then turns around & stomps out.  So I called to her... she refused to stop... I go out in the hall (where another teacher is standing) and continue to ask her to stop & come back, please.  She absolutely refused & kept stomping off. The other teacher called to her too.  Her little sister stood there.  I looked at her, apologized that she wouldn't be allowed into the pool, as we had just turned away a 5th grader.  She said Ok, & went after her sister.  Now here's the kicker - her mother teaches in a room 3 doors down from my room.  Ahem!!!  The other teacher told the student that she needed to apologize to me & I was told that she said that she already had.  Ah, No, she hadn't.  So, unfortunately I will be writing a disciplinary report up on her tomorrow morning. 

How can an 11 year old child be so disrespectful?  (This is the same girl who was caught breaking into another student's locker & when she was called on it & asked if she knew why she was in trouble admitted that 'Yeah, it was because she'd punched the Lego King' - so she busted herself on that crime.... I found out later that she had punched MY kid!)  I have told all of my kids, because I work in the school, they will be held to a higher standard, they will be respectful, they will take their consequences without complaint if they mess up.  How can you allow your children to talk back to you (as many of us have heard her talk back to her mother) or other adults and then look you in the eye & tell you you were wrong & didn't hear her right.

She's not the only one.  There are plenty of others AND their parents.  Those who think that they are entitled.  That you and the world owe them something/everything.  That they don't have to work for anything.  There have been teachers who have taught adjunct classes at local colleges & have found that the students there expect handouts & exceptions to rules 'just because' they asked for it or demanded it.  What is wrong with people?  Am I that far off in believing that in order to be respected you need to be respectful?  And Lying?  Oh for pete's sakes - don't even get me started.  It's so much easier to remember crap if you don't have to remember what lie you told to whom.

What do you think about people who are disrespectful?

Bye!  Love you!  Have a good day, Dear!

Whoosh!!!

Holy Cow!!  Where did last week go?  Whoosh! 

One of the things that made it wacky was that King Turd of Poop Mountain had back to back runs that he was given, so instead of being home on Thursday (He left on Tuesday night), he wasn't supposed to be home until Saturday morning.  Then his dispatcher changed his mind & brought him home on Friday.  What is it about having a man home at a different time than what was originally planned that just throws a wrench into things?  Not that I ever mind him being home... it's just that it's different & seems to make things 'off'.

I had a ton of laundry that was lining the floor of the bathroom (where our washer & dryer are) that I was trying to catch up on.  I've continued to declutter.  Making small, but forward progress.  I've been thinking about things that need to be done around here, in terms of decluttering and have made a few decisions.  One is that when I get upstairs (back to the hallway again) to the big bookshelf, all but favorite children's books will go.  Ones that haven't been read or the Lego King doesn't seem to be interested in will go.  In the Jam Room (aka backroom) I think the best way to tackle that is to do one shelf area at a time.  Similar to how I worked on the shelf/cupboard area in the kitchen.  I've also made a decision about my air-walker, I bought it years ago after getting rid of my stationary bike (fearing that the Lego King would chop his fingers off in the flywheel).  Without guilt, it's going.  I did a little research & bought another good stationary bike.  I KNOW I will use the bike, it's more compact & I can move it easily.  Besides, we ride bikes during the summer so this should help me not die on the first few bike rides.

This was the second weekend in a row that I can remember in a long, long, long time that I have watched a whole football game.  I actually enjoyed it (shhh!  Don't tell King Turd or the Princess - they're the actual football fans around here).  I was rooting for the Giants and it was fun to see them win.

I'm not sure whether the spring-like weather has caused this week to fly by or what.  It's been warmer than normal I love this weather in New York!  I could live with winters like this all the time!  Maybe I have Spring Fever?

How about you?  Are the weeks 'whooshing' by for you too?

Bye!  Love you!  Have a good day, Dear!

The Decluttering Theory

It's a miracle!!  *host of angels singing*  I can't believe it!  Something AMAZING has happened!  King Turd of Poop Mountain is actually decluttering his crap stuff!!!  Now, I do have to say that it did happen a couple of weeks ago and I just thought it was a fluke.  He had misplaced a package of guitar picks that he had bought for the Princess at Christmas.  It'd really been bugging him, so he tore apart the bedroom.  *ahem*  The room we BOTH stuff full of things when someone comes over or we don't know where else to put it.  So anyhoot, a couple of weeks ago he asks if we have a box he can put stuff into to get rid of it.  Do I?  Hot diggity dog, let me just trot my butt out to the 'ol 'Jam Room'* and get it for you!

*Jam Room - a room we jam everything into.  Also known as the 'back room'.

I'm not quite sure what has kicked him into gear.  Could it be my Decluttering Theory?  For quite awhile, I used to get angry & upset and feel that I was the only one who did anything around this stupid house to get rid of crap stuff.  And when I would specifically ask King Turd to help out, he'd put it off and it wouldn't get done.  Truthfully, I just wanted him to take care of HIS stuff.  Thinking that if HE took care of HIS stuff then the house would look oh so much better.  *ahem*  The problem is I needed to take care of MY stuff too.  So a little over a year ago I decided that I needed to make a change.  I couldn't stand the clutter anymore and the only one who could change was me.  I decided that I had to declutter MY stuff, take care of MY crap, get rid of MY excess.  I strongly believe that it's not good to get rid of King Turd's stuff for him (unless he says specifically to get rid of it), he needs to do that for himself.  So here's my Decluttering Theory:  If I work on myself and declutter only my stuff, eventually the only stuff left to declutter will be his stuff.  I won't fret about his stuff.  He'll have nothing to complain about because all that will be left will be his.  Once he sees this, he'll start to declutter his stuff too. 

Guess what?  It worked!!  Miracle of miracles!  Now, I am a looooong ways from getting everything done.  But I've really been trying to be consistent & do a little something right along.  A few weeks ago I decluttered the outside of the fridge.  It's stayed that way!  Then I decluttered the bottom of a little cupboard that holds all my candles - straightened it up so I can get to stuff easily.  Yesterday I decluttered the top of that little cupboard.  I got rid of tons of papers & little things that I didn't want or need anymore went into the trash, donate box or in a bag to give to friends.  I made a note of two things that I need to look for - one a basket for King Turd to put his 'pocket stuff' in when he comes home and one of those multi plug strip thingys for a charging station.  Today I cleaned off the top of the cupboard AND the top of the fridge.  I'm only 5'3", so what do I really care what it looks like up there?  The only problem is it was D-U-S-T-Y!  Every time you'd drag something down you'd get showered with dust.  So, it's fixed now - all clean.

This morning, BEFORE I had my coffee, King Turd says to me, he'd been thinking about cleaning off a certain junk filled shelf in our room.  He was thinking I might like to get some nice baskets to put there.  Really?  *Ahhhhhhh AHHHHHHHH!!*  (Are you hearing those angels singing again?) 

So, for all of you who don't feel that you're getting any help.  Forget it.  Just work on you.  All you can do is change you & YOUR attitude.  If you don't fret about the others in your household cleaning up their clutter & just lead by example - they WILL follow.  I believe that now.  I had complained for so long before and complaining didn't work, it just caused tensions.  So I decided NOT that I wouldn't care anymore (because I DO and DID care), I just wouldn't fret about it.

Have you checked your attitude?  Are you willing to test out the Decluttering Theory?

Bye!  Love you!  Have a good day, Dear!

PS.  Puppy update:  As much as I would love, love, love to get another baby, I think that we're going to stick with the three that we have.  Now I just have to figure out another present that I want... hmmmmm....

Catching Up

Quite a few people have asked about how my birthday went & basic 'What's up?' type of questions. Since my brain was fried this past week with proctoring Midterms. EVERY.DANG.DAY. I thought I'd try & catch you up on the happenings around here. First - Christmas was wonderful. We have our 'family' Christmas & then have a Christmas Brunch here for extended family, then another session of opening presents. We had invited 9 people and 4 showed up. Which is ok, just wish that the others had said they weren't coming as we cooked a lot. We did the ham & egg casserole in the crockpot this year. It wasn't too bad - a little dry. Had all the usual - breakfast sausage, french toast, bagels, homefries. The biggest surprise of the day was when we asked Bigfoot what he had gotten his fiance, Bigfootette, for Christmas & she turned to us & said 'A baby.'.... I felt the blood rush out of my arms & my mother gave a surprised 'Oh!'. Then they fell back on the couch & laughed hysterically saying 'Ha, just kidding!' I called her a 'shithead' & threw a box at her. Rotten children... I think she'll fit in this family nicely.

Then January came & my big 5-0 birthday on the 8th. When I was growing up my mom always fixed our favorite meal on our birthdays. We've continued that tradition in our family. And my mom has continued that tradition with us kids, even though we're older. So, my favorite birthday meal is Codfish & Gravy over mashed potatoes. I know, I know some of you are gagging right now (kinda like the rest of my family - they don't like liver either... oh & I have the BEST recipe for that). Anyhoot, I had called my mother about something & she says "So what are you doing on Sunday?" And before I could answer she went into this big long sch-peal about how she-hoped-King-Turd-hadn't-planned-anything-because-she-was-bringing-up-dinner-my-favorite-and-she-was-inviting-Bigfoot-and-Bigfootette-and-what-time-did-I-want-dinner-she-already-had-the-menu-planned...... Ok, so have you taken a breath yet? 'Cause she didn't... and I was doin' like my mama taught me & being polite & all & waiting until she finished to tell her I really didn't want Codfish & Gravy this year when..... and-we-are-having-meatloaf-mashed-potatoes-corn-squash-lima-beans-codfish-and-gravy-angel-food-cake-strawberries-and-whipped-cream-oh-and-i-have-already-bought-the-codfish.... *insert trumpet going 'Wah, wah, wah*. So, being the good daughter I said 'Gee, Mom, that sounds great! Thank you!' *Ahem* So next year I am planning ahead. I will inform her waaaay beforehand that I DON'T want Codfish & Gravy for my birthday dinner.

I'm still trying to decide what I want for my birthday present from King Turd. I'm seriously thinking of adopting another Chihuahua (pronounced 'Chi-hoo-a-hoo-a' at our house) from Willy's original foster mom. But that would make 4 dogs. FOUR! Of course do chihuahuas only count for 1/2 a dog? Then we would only have 3. But look at this baby...

Isn't she sweet? She's a long-haired chihuahua/dachshund mix. Oh, I don't know. I'm flip-flopping. But, she's so darn cute! We need another dog like we need a hole in the head.

This past week has been Midterm Week. We've had testing from 8:30 - 11:20 EVERY DAY. Then of course since the kids have basically been in 'lock-down' they are nuts in the afternoon. It wiped my brain out. The Lego King was freaking because it was the first time he had ever had to take Midterms. And almost every night he was saying 'What if I don't pass? What if I fail? I don't want to go to summer school!' My reply was: 'You won't fail, you'll be fine. Your grades are good! You're on the Honor Roll! If you screw-off for the rest of the year & do nothing you will fail. I know you won't do that. So calm down!!' Five sleepless nights later. Whew!

We're heading out to look at new cell phones today. My plan and that of the Princess will be up within the next week and King Turd wants us to pick the phones we want so he can order them online (cheaper).

I've been experiencing vertigo because my back is out of whack. It's better today. I'll be heading to the chiropractor tomorrow. Thank goodness it's not that Positional Vertigo that I had a few years back! That made me fall over & throw up! This just makes me tippy. So that's one of the reasons why you've just read a crappy post.

And that's what's been happening in 'our neck of the woods'. What's been up with you?

Bye! Love you! Have a good day, Dear!

PS:  While at the Mall I purchased a new Phiten band necklace - just this past week I had let the Lego King borrow mine and he lost it someplace.... *sigh* .... These necklaces have been the only thing (other than a chiro adjustment) that has helped with my vertigo.... King Turd thinks its psychosomatic... could be, but I know I feel better.... yeah!