What Was I Thinking?

I'm sure you've heard the expression, "I need this like I need another hole in my head."  Well, I've said that to myself about 465 times in the last 2 days. 

What was I thinking when I said yes to this?

This is Salter, an 8 month old ??labradoddle?? maybe??  Honestly, I don't know, I'm just guessing.  He belongs to some friends who are away for 2 weeks.  They had a dog sitter (another friend of ours), who was going to take care of him-or so they thought. 

Dogsitter came by late Wed. night-(the day Salters family left) for some reason, and told me he felt bad that he wasn't able to get back to the dog until after 6pm THE NEXT DAY.  I resisted the urge to strangle him, asked for the keys to the house, and said I would let the dog out in the morning and afternoon.  He said the family had said he could just stay at the house while they were gone-but he felt funny doing that.  (Then why the f did you agree to watch the dog, dumbass?) 

Anyway-ToolTime and I could not let this dog sit in a crate all day long without being let out, so we took him home.  The kids are home everyday-so they have been recruited to help out! 

What was I thinking?  In addition to that-I've got this:

With 3 dogs in the house, it feels like a doggie daycare. 

Honestly-I need this like I need another hole in my head!

Project Payback: The Finished Product

Well, it took me about 5 hours in total, but Payback's room is done....

Let's just say she was in a state of shock when she saw it, and much to my suprise....she said "Thanks, Mom!".  I really thought she'd go a little crazy on me. 

Next Project....the boys room.  Dreading it!!

One Year Later

It was one year ago today that I went back to work-not by choice, but by necessity.  I'm still there-again, not by choice, but by necessity.  It's not a great job-it's pretty crappy, in fact.  It is part-time, and I make just over minimum wage.  But at the time, it was the only thing out there.  That still holds true-I look for something new 3 or 4 times a week. 

The truth is, I really don't like this job.  I'm old enough to a mother to 3 of the other 4 employees.  It's in retail-so the hours suck.  Hats off to any parent that works full time in retail-because it is the pits.  You never see a full weekend.  How do parents do it full time??  They should given awards. 

Child Boss is 17 years younger than I am-she is recently divorced, and is enjoying "making up for lost time" if you know what I mean.  She thrives on letting us all know about, too.  Now, I realize I'm from different generation-but can't some things be left unsaid?  She has asked me why I don't open up to her and the other employees, honestly, I really don't need these people knowing my business, so I check my outside world at the door. 

Gulliver is the assistant manager-he's relatively new, but he really needs to show some signs of having cajones.  People walk all over him on a daily basis.  It's just sad. 

Vampira has magenta hair, a septum piercing, and spacers in her ears.  Thank God company policy does not allow these to show cuz they gross me out.  She also has a tramp stamp, and constantly wears too small pants and shows her crack. Nice.

Dreadlock Boy is just that- a boy with dreadlocks.  Luckily, I never work with him, so he won't be getting a bashing today. 

All in all-this job has been quite an experience.  I can't believe I have been there for a year.  I never thought I would make it this long.  As much as I dislike the job, it has been a learning experience in more ways than one.  Believe me, I will be only too happy to turn in my resignation when things get better for my family.  And that's just it- I'm doing what I have to for my family.  Would I rather have a job in the field I have a degree for? Yes, but there are no jobs there.  So for now- this just has to do.  At least I come with some funny stories about the children I work with.

That's all-rant over!  Gotta hit the sack-tomorrow is a work day!

Project Payback

There are 2 rooms in my house that I do not clean-the kids bedrooms.  It is their job to do that themselves.  Most of the time it isn't done as well as I'd like it, but as the saying goes, "You've got to pick your battles."  So when I do ask them to clean, my only 100% better do it request is that everything is off the floor, otherwise it goes in the trash. 

My beautiful daughter, aka Payback, is away for one week in Wisconsin.  She is in for a shock when she gets home, because I'm taking a bulldozer into her room.  It's time for an overhaul, and since she is not here, she can't stop me.  I plan on doing it in pieces, because although the floor is (kinda) clean, nothing else is! 

Photographic Evidence:

It appears she has a fondness for stuffing things in hidden corners and the closet floor.  While I realize she is no different than other normal teenager-it's time for an intervention.

Today's project-get the big trash can in there, and fill 'er up!

Stay tuned for updates through out the week!

The Dog Days of Summer

It has been my intention to actually blog over the summer-cuz you know, the kids are home, I'll have more free time since I'm not driving 40+ miles a day.  I've got all these great blog ideas stirring in my head-just waiting for me to sit down and let them out.  Have I had any time to accomplish this?  No.  I cannot believe it is July 1 and I have done nothing but a couple of Post It Note Tuesdays.  (I love PINT-quick, easy, and done!)

Today has been the kind of day I wish I could have more of.  The kids got up and went to the free movie while I taught a class at the gym.  We got home, I threw dinner in the crockpot, and made fresh tortillas to serve with it.  It is balls to the walls hot out so the kids are allowed a bit of time on the Wii.  I head back to the gym at 4 to teach another 2 classes, then I'm home for dinner with the family. 

Come to think it, this whole week has been pretty good.  We've gone to the beach twice, and the kids have been going out in the evenings and playing baseball with the rest of the neighborhood kids.  The best part is that I haven't been at The Horrid Part Time Job much this week at all.  I took on 2 extra classes today because I didn't have to go the HPTJ today.  So in 3 hours time, I made 2x more than my typical 4 hour shift at HPTJ.   Note to self-get more business at the gym. 

So, as for those blog ideas-could I recall a single one of them today?  No, of course not.  They'll come back though.  For now-this little family is enjoying the dog days of summer.