Wednesday, September 30, 2009

It just keeps on coming...

After a week of revival... the fridge died. It is 57 degrees inside... soo not the 40 degrees its suppose to be.

So I went in search of a new fridge. Kind of cheap because after the past summer of dying appliances and super high electric bills... having 60+ days of triple digit heat and the rest of the summer days being in the upper 90s just kills having a low energy bill... there just isn't lots of extra fundage around.

So I found a fridge but they can't deliver it before Friday. Nice, everything that is salvageable is currently in the big ice chest. We'll see how much that is in the ice chest is still salvageable on Friday. I moved as much of the frozen stuff as I could into the garage freezer. The stuff in the freezer seems to be keeping froze and hasn't started to thaw but I moved all the meat and just left basically the gallon of Blue Bell Vanilla ice cream. Better that than the almost $100 worth of meat. Sadly we lost quite a bit of fruit... a large container of strawberries and a large container of raspberries, a bunch of asparagus and lettuce, a gallon of milk, a quart of 1/2 & 1/2 and a quart of buttermilk. A large container of sour cream and a bunch of yogurt cups. Lots of dairy that I just don't trust to be okay.

Seriously, how many more electrical appliances do I need to replace? In the past 5 months I've replaced the battery in the truck, the stereo tuner in the living room, the washer & dryer, the microwave, the phone, the modem and now the fridge. Enough all ready!! We're hemorrhaging money here!!

Sadly the funds that just replaced the fridge were set aside for two special items I'd been wanting to buy for a while... bunkbeds for the #2 and #3 hooligans' room and a Wii for the family. Guess I'll have to wait a couple more months to buy those now...

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

So the electrician shows up finally after two days of no A/C. I explained to him the problem, stood there and watched him pull out the switch, look at it and then he shoved it right back in... CROOKED!!

And then starts hitting it with his pliers to try to get it to seat!!

WTF?? He is using the "use a bigger hammer to force it in" technique? Honestly, he's the licensed electrician and I do a better job of installing the switch?? Really?!? He tried to play it off like it was in and I said its still crooked. He pulled it out and what do you know, the clips were bent again.

DUH!

So he decided to try a different switch. Since it had a different connector pattern it slipped in easier and now is seated full into the slot.

Finally cold air again in the house.


Good new, #1 Child is back to her normal self. She's fought off the evil scourge that is the Flu and she's lived to tell the tale. She's still a little bit tired but NOTHING like yesterday.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Influenza Type A -- Round 1

Child #1 started to complain about a sore throat Sunday. She also had a nice fever of 100.5 and was extremely hoarse. She didn't do too much talking... she kept giving me written notes.

This morning when I went to check on her to wake before school... she was burning up. Temp of 103.3 and no voice. Total lack of energy too. So it was off to visit the Pediatrician.

This child was definitely sick. She just looked so washed out and exhausted. While we were waiting in the exam room she was so tired she laid down on the bed... she never does that.

She tested positive for Type A flu but at least she was negative for Strep.

We also tested Child #3 and #4 because they were with us at the office. Both were negative. Okay that's good. So its only hit one of us so far.

We started her on Tamiflu. She's now out of school for the rest of the week.

Time for large quantities of Vitamin C for everyone. Vitamin C until your pee changes!!

There was an almost 20 minute wait to check out at Walgreens. Apparently the Flu has struck Austin. While we were at Walgreens I picked up this awesome new thermometer from Vicks. Its amazing. I figured I might as well get a really easy to read thermometer if I'm going to be walking around checking all the kids' temps all week to see if anyone else is getting sick. They all think its really cool.

Let the school know that she tested positive. Apparently about a quarter of the school has been out sick... nice that they gave us a heads up about that. I also talked personally to each of the kids' teachers to let them know.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Are you kidding me??

We have no A/C again!!

Why? Because the electrician who changed out the breaker switch jammed it wrong! Seriously? How hard is it to line up two metal posts between two clips?? I pulled it out and straightened out the clips (which were bent because he just shoved it in and didn't seat it correctly). Nice, so you mean for the past 4 days electricity has been ARCing across the offset clips? Great you could have burned my house down!

And of course the switch doesn't want to work. And the temp has gone up again. Its a lovely balmy 85 degrees INSIDE right now.

Why does this always happen on the weekends?

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Where was I five years ago...

In a hospital ...

Five years ago today Child #3 burst forth into our lives. Literally. My bag of waters only broke when the OB popped it as he was crowning (Child #3 was nearly born in the caul). The Boy nearly shot out past him once it broke. The nurse squealed and threw her arms underneath the OB's to make sure he didn't slip though, it was that suddenly.

My labor was pretty quick... about 6 hours. Half a dozen pushes... He was born at 41 weeks plus 3 days... (give or take a few days)... because you know they only really determine EDD by throwing a handful of chicken bones into a corner. ;-)

So we were blessed with a second son as our third child. "Fiery one"... oh so appropriate. He has a fiery love of live. He's my 95% boy... he's happy 95% of the time... just have to watch out for that 5%, its wicked!! The only other name that might have been appropriate for him would have been Calvin... as in Calvin & Hobbes. He's got the thatch of blond hair too.

So since it was HIS day, he got to decide where we would go.

First stop was the Downtown Farmers' Market. We enjoyed Bacon & Blue Cheese Quiche, Caramelized Onion Quiche, Raspberry & White Chocolate Scones and the all time favorite the delicious Ginger Scones. I craved those scones my entire fourth pregnancy! Soooo tasty. We also enjoyed fresh lemonade and hibiscus iced tea. We ate under the almost 2oo year old Texas Live Oak trees. Beautiful day in the shade. Otherwise it was HOT! It got up into the 90s again.

After the Farmers' Market we did a couple of quick errands and then it was off to Terra Toys. The kids all love going to Terra Toys which is this wonderful local toy store. Its nothing like ToysRUs. They carry all these amazing toy brands that are just awesome. There are tons of things to play with so you get to try out the toys. Since it was Aidan's birthday he got to pick out a special toy. He picked out these 5 magnet balls. They are about the size of a large gumball. Everyone else got a little treat too.

Then it was back to the house to pick up the 6 qts of soup so we could then go to the Soup Swap with several of my Mama friends. The kids all played outside with some of the other kids that were there. Its so wonderful to see the kids playing with other children of all different ages. Especially younger kids. Child #1 is sooo sweet with some of the littles. Lots of fun was had by all... good snacks, good wine, good conversations and lots of good soup with my wonderful Mamas.

Then it was dinner time. Child #3 picked going to Culver's for dinner. Hamburgers, root beer and frozen custard! Happy happy boy.


He was so sweet as soon as we all started eating he was offering bites of his hamburger to all of us. Then after dinner it was custard time. We got three custards to share. One Vanilla, One Lemon Ice with raspberries and a Chocolate Heath Crunch which was the birthday boy's choice. All three children happily offered bites of their custards to each other and shared them all around with Child #4 .

Makes a Mommy's heart so proud... my littles are turning into such kind and generous little people.

Finally it was back to the house for presents.

Overall, I think it was a very good day. Next week we'll have the birthday party with lots of friends... it was suppose to rain all weekend so I pushed it back a week... not a drop of rain today and doesn't look like it for tomorrow now either. UGH!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Loves Me Some AB...

Alton Brown will be in town Oct 18th to promote his latest book. OH we are SOOOOO there. My four wee hooligans are absolutely addicted to Good Eats. There must be at least 10 episodes currently saved on our DVR... and I often hear them putting them on to watch by themselves. I'm going to eventually have to get the series on DVD soon.

Aaaaah the beauty of children entranced by culinary skill and a slightly warped sense of humor... its like watching Mommy and Daddy in the kitchen. HA!!

So Oct 18th will be seeing the entire family (Hubby too since he should be home on mid-term) will be at the Whole Foods downtown for his book signing. I think they are going to be veeeeeeery impressed to see him in person.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

And we have A/C again...

After 2 days of waiting and seeing an A/C tech who found the master breaker switch was tripped... the electrician came out and had to replace the breaker switch.

Nice cool air in the house again.

Thankfully the temperature only went up into the 80s this week... and it rained a ton. Didn't help to really cool the house off much at night but at least it was bearable. Everybody had a fan pointed on them and an overhead fan while they slept.

Oh and the fridge seems to have revived itself from the death's door. THANK YOU, that at least is one expense I don't have to worry about right now.

Monday, September 21, 2009

WHY? Stop the world I want to get off...

I swear if it isn't one thing its another...

So Saturday night I realized that the house wasn't very cool. Yep, the A/C has stopped working. NICE! This will be the FIFTH time since we moved into this house almost 5 years ago. This is really getting old. Thankfully with my landlord's service insurance its only cost us about $35-50 each time but still. WTF?? I'm so tired of having the damn A/C go out. Its probably the compressor... again. Nothing is working on the outside unit. And with the way the house is designed opening the windows doesn't really help to cool off the house. Last night the temp never went below 82 degrees and let me tell you, its nice and sticky in here.

Yes, there are small favors. It could have gone out two weeks ago when we were still hitting triple digit numbers... but we've actually already done that twice with this A/C unit in the past. I'm just sooo over this crap. And of course the service insurance will not cover weekend services so we have to wait until this morning for the service call to be filed with someone. Nice. Which can mean that we might not have someone out here until tomorrow.

And NOW... the damn fridge has stopped working.

FUCK!!!!

I've got a light on inside but otherwise no power. Everything is starting to get covered in condensation and the freezer is starting to defrost. And of course its nice and full of food! Its 6 years old. It shouldn't have gone out yet... right? Of course the warranty was only good for 5 years. I'm not sure if its worth trying to get someone out here to try to fix it.

I really didn't need this today. So now I have to wait until I hear about the A/C service and then I've got to go and find a new fridge... for cheap. Very cheap and that can be delivered today.

UGH!!

And then to just piss me off this morning, the kitchen light had decided to become finicky. Its one of those crappy fluorescent tube lights. One side has decided to not come on at all and the other one will only come on after I try a few times.

Seriously? Did I really need this??

DAMMIT!!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

My 95% Boy


Child#3 has been nicknamed the 95% boy since he was a little baby. He honestly is happy about 95% of the time... look out for that 5% but thankfully it isn't often.

This is honestly how he looks about 95% of the time... just plain happy.

I took this picture last week when he came home from school. He had a really really really really really fun and great day at school. He got to use glue again. Life is sweet when you are Five.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Less than 30 Days...

Well in less than 30 days plus or minus Hubby will finally be home. Well for 2 weeks. Then he leaves again until January-ish.

It will be so wonderful to have him home again. Even if I have to deal with the coffee grounds on the counter... oh wait, that won't happen because I sent his coffee pot to him so it will still be in Afghanistan. MWHAHAHA! Okay so I'll have to deal with his shoes at the bottom of the stairs which is also the middle of the hallway...

BUT...

I'll also have someone to snuggle with at night. Someone to cook with. Someone to laugh and giggle with. Someone to just hold and hold me.

Someone who should be home right now. But soon. Soon.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Eddie is the MAN!!

Eddie Izzard just completed 43 marathons. FORTY THREE!! That is 43 times 26.5 miles! That is over 1100 miles. In 7 weeks.

He is AMAZING!

It was done to help raise money and awareness for Sport Relief charity.

http://www.comicrelief.com/donate/eddie

http://www.eddieizzard.com/blog/

Death or Cake?

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Texas weather

Anyone who lives in Texas knows that if you don't like the weather... wait 20 minutes it will probably change.

Unfortunately for those of us living in Central Texas the weather has NOT been changing every 20 minutes. Unless getting hotter and hotter is a change. We've been under a drought for over 21 months. We are waaaaaay under our typical annual rainfall. Like almost 3 FEET under. Yeah its been dry around here. Doesn't help that every time a rain storm heads our way it has decided to skirt around Austin. Seriously, I've watched the storm on radar head right for us, disappear when it comes over Austin (or at least not drop a single raindrop) and then start pouring down again once its on the other side of our area. We have missed getting rain by mere blocks from our house.

Add in the massive quantites of triple digit temperatures... yeah this summer basically sucked. It was too hot to be outside and there wasn't enough rain to keep anything alive. Lots and lots of brown dead grass yards around here.

Well it has FINALLY decided to really rain here. Which means its been raining for almost 3 days straight.

UGH!! A little moderation would be nice here. We've got areas that have been dealing with flash flooding for two days now. Enough!! How about spreading that rain out over a week or two huh?

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Gotta Love Jon Stewart sometimes...

"That’s not tyranny, that’s democracy. See now you are in the minority… it’s suppose to taste like a shit taco…"

What its all about...

Taken at 9:37am Washington DC time 2009 in Ghazni, Afghanistan... 8 years from the exact moment of the Pentagon Strike.

Friday, September 11, 2009

The Day to always remember...



Visible from the International Space Station on Sept. 11th, 2001

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Operation Annual Sept 10th Massive Cookie Bake

So its become a family tradition for 4 years now to bake lots and lots of cookies on Sept 10th. Then we deliver cookies to as many of the local fire and police stations in our area on Sept 11th as we can to say thank you. I've always been a baker so that is how I thought we could do a little something.

We wanted to create a day that is more of a remembrance and a day of thanks for their service than the horrific tragedy of so many lives needlessly lost. It is a day that shouldn't be ignored or forgotten so this is a small way that we try to acknowledge it.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Has the world gone insane?

Seriously people have a problem with the President... you know that elected by the majority of the people President from speaking to their children???

Encouraging them to stay in school, work hard, set goals and take responsibility for their learning... oh how DARE he!!!

Honestly people are we becoming so swayed by the talking heads that are only interested in created a media frenzy because it boosts their ratings and therefore their paycheck that we've forgotten who and what we are talking about???

He is the President. Not some whackjob idiot. He is a highly educated and highly articulate man.

UGH!! The Media... the root of all evil in the world.