House Stuff

Do today I spent a lot of time at the house.

So did the kids.

The tenants left a mess, so I was trying to do some cleaning, and Joe (the guys that is putting a wall in downstairs) was going to try to start working on the basement tonight so we ripped up the carpet and pad in the basement and the crapet in the rest of the house.

I know that most people were doing Easter egg hunts today and dying eggs. My poor kiddos got hosed, but they didn't seem to mind too much as the were running around the house and yard playing an imaginary game of "Mario".

PS. does anyone know the real name of the "chompy plants" on that game? :D

The Bain of Those that Find that They are Too Nice

So as many of you know, our renter stiffed us for the last month of rent. She also stiffed most of the utilities and apparently didn't leave a forwarding address. Oh. The. Joys. At least the utilities aren't holding us responsible... which is good.

We warned her that we would be changing the locks on Thursday and therefore we did. However there was still some stuff there at the house. Including a very nice grill on the back porch. 

Today I was at the house trying to get a couple of things cleaned up (cause, yah, the water was turned off do to lack of payment so.... no cleaning done) and waiting for the carpet dude to come by because the carpet in that house is crapola and we needed an estimate. (Thank goodness for large tax returns... what can I say!?)

Last night we moved the grill inside because, joy of joys, the renter also thought my pot rack was nice and took it. I was not terribly happy about that. So figured that HEY we got a nice grill of roughly equal value! 

Well, while I was there one of her "friends" shows up to get the rest of her crap (and most of it was crap) and he thought he would take the grill at the same time....

and I let him....

I. KNOW!!!! I should have said "when the pot rack comes back you can have the grill." But I'm a softy and did no such thing, and now the grill is gone, and my pot rack is gone... and I'm fairly sure I won't see it again. 

Note to self: Stop being a push over in person. Thankyouverymuch!

So tomorrow... I get to rip up the carpet though! That should get some frustration out at least :D

The Rocking Dead

Lately Jer has been occasionally playing a beta test game for "The Walking Dead" social game. I don't know anything about it other than there are zombies and it's based on the movie/comic.

Apparently Goober and Missy took notice of it and were watching him play for a bit (it's pretty cartoony). After a few Missy and Goober go on  their way and fairly quickly I hear Missy's voice...

"...The Rocking Dead..."

???

Is that like zombies in rocking chairs or with guitars? lol 

Dangit! I'm Antsy Darnit!

So the renter said that she would turn the key into our rental manager sometime today or tomorrow... 

waiting

waiting

waiting...

Is it tomorrow yet?! 

Where Did Everyone Go?

I've been looking around a little at some of my friends blogs. I've noticed a weird trend.

Most of them have stopped blogging, which doesn't surprise me really... life happens and you do what you can to keep it running. If dropping the ball on the blog is needed, so be it.

However I noticed that a large majority of the ones who have stopped blogging all stopped at roughly the same time I did... about 2 years ago.

I wonder if it related to the economy or the age of our children. Most of us were/are stay at home mom's (I'm not anymore) so the need for adult interaction and a space to "get it all out" is high when you have really young kids.

Then again, the economy took a quick dive around that time too and so going back to work will definitely limit the time to blog as well.

I actually tend to think it has more to do with the age of the kiddos though.

PS, I got a new haircut. I love it!

Missy to me right after I got home from my hair appointment "Mom! Where is your hair!?"
Me: "I got it cut"
Gma S: "Probably on the floor at the salon"
Missy: "Stop cutting your hair!"
Me: "I don't like doing it, so.... no."
Gma S: "All of the time that she would spend doing her own hair she spends doing yours!"
Me: "True"

Guess if it's a choice between me doing her hair and me doing my hair, she is going to pick her own. Which is FINE with ME! :D

Arrogance

Tonight was soccer practice. It's always at 8:30 pm, which is a bit late for an almost 10 year old in my opinion, but it's once a week so I deal with it.

The whole reason many parents like the idea of team sports like soccer is because it encourages teamwork and also good sportsmanship. I have to say, that's a big part for me. If my kid happens to be awesome at it, great, however if that is the case I will always encourage them to "share the ball" and that without their team they wouldn't win any games, but forfeit.

Goober loves soccer for the most part, and his team is decent. There are a couple of kids who are pretty good at making goals (one in particular), which is fine and makes for a fun time cheering the team on.

Tonight however I wanted to belt a couple of these "good players" because at practice they would not let Goober have a ball to practice kicking with. I mean... come on... that is what practice is FOR, to get better. How can you get better if you can't have a ball. I understand that Goober isn't the most aggressive player, that he has things to learn, but honestly I think he has less work to do that these two arrogant children. I found myself thinking that maybe I wouldn't be cheering for those two come Saturday...

I always find to amusing (and frustrating) that people (children and adults alike) sometimes think that being mean gives them power and makes them look tough. It doesn't make anyone look tough. I can't remember a time in my life that I ever saw someone being mean, cruel, or a jerk, and though "wow, that kid is tough". My first thoughts are "what a jerk." and then, depending on how the other kid is dealing, maybe "THAT kid is tough" or "that's not fair".

Always, always it makes the aggressor look the fool.

When these teammates learn that they too can learn new things from EVERY player on the team, THEN they will be great players.... and not before.

Where did the myth that being cruel makes you strong come from... because it is absolutely and completely a LIE. It makes you weak.

Turbo

So Turbo is still ill, so I took him to the doctor today. Turns out he has an ear infection as well as the flu. Sad thing is the doctor that saw him recognized him from the last time he was in (before christmas break) with the flu and strep.

Poor kiddo, he is such a trooper.