I Guess I Am Not Very Interesting

I just wanted to say a quick thanks to Monkey_Bay Wine as it was the inspiration for this month's masthead.

Josh tagged me yesterday to share seven interesting things about myself. I told him that I had to have 24 hours to post my response since I needed to come up (make up) with the interesting things. Still...here I am 24 hours later with nothing. This is the best I could do:

1. I have two tattoos and 7 piercings. Yes, they are all in places I would show a stranger--or my mother.

2. I get to legally play with drugs for my job. Can't beat that, can you? I help provide better living through chemistry. But I HATE chemistry. Still not sure how I ended up in a science based profession. I much more enjoy and am proficient at reading/writing, etc. Go figure.

3. I always thought I wanted a big family. Like 5-7 kids. Then...I had one. And reality sunk in. Quickly. Maybe one will be enough!

4. I hate the movie ET. I hated it as a kid. I hate it as an adult. I still can't watch it without getting creeped out. I can still hear ET's raspy voice saying, "ET phone home" with his finger outstretched. Ughhhh...Don't like it at all!

5. I was in band in high school. My older brother will tell you that it made me a dork. But the opportunities I got were amazing. We marched in the Fiesta Bowl Parade, The Rose Bowl Parade, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and we performed at half-time for the Holiday Bowl. It was pretty cool. So, dork or not, it was fun.

6. I am a VERY picky eater. I do not eat beans, cheese touching meat (ie cheeseburger), any seafood, mashed potatoes, meatloaf...the list could go on. It would probably be shorter to tell you what I do like.

7. My all-time favorites:

• Book: Anne of Green Gables
• TV Show: I Love Lucy
• Alcoholic drink: Stoli Vanila/Diet Coke
• Disney Movie: The Little Mermaid

So, now that I am done, I will tag the next couple of people...Jenn and Angelia. When you post, please let me know in my comments, so we all can check it out!

Chicken

When in doubt, say, "CHICKEN!"

Nana on the phone with Cade this morning:
Nana: What did you have for breakfast?
Cade: Chicken
Nana: Oh yeah? What color was it?
Cade: Blue

Conversation with me #1:
Me: Cade, what do you want to wear today?
Cade: Chicken

Conversation with me #2:
Me: Cade, what do you want for lunch?
Cade: Chicken
Me: What do you want for dinner?
Cade: Chicken

The Saga

It started with an email.

One dated 7-19-08. That said the the Little Gym of Arrowhead was CLOSED.

How could it be closed? We had just been there that week. We had paid for the summer session which there were several more weeks in and we had pre-paid for the fall session. I decided I would call on Monday and find out what was going on. I called, and no one answered the phone. I left a message.

The next email dated 7-21-08. Entitled Closure FAQ.

Basically the email explained the the owners were locked out by the landlord of the building, and that they would be unable to open the gym and that due to having to file bankruptcy, there would probably not be any refunds given for classes already paid for. Lovely. They also explained that since The Little Gym locations are franchises, the other gyms are under no obligation to honor the monies we had already paid.

The next email dated 7-22-08. Entitled INFO

This email came from Little Gym International. It said:

The Little Gym International, Inc. was contacted on Saturday July 19 by the franchise owners of The Little Gym of Arrowhead, Stephen and Donna Rains, and advised that they had been locked out of there facility by their landlord. While this came as a surprise to us we can only imagine that it was a bigger surprise to you as a customer of The Little Gym. We recognize that their closing without notice regrettably left your children without their classes and camps to attend for the remainder of the summer semester. The owners of the other The Little Gyms in the Valley, having received no prior notice from the Rains that The Little Gym of Arrowhead was closed, have agreed to honor your memberships and to accept your paid tuition for the remainder of summer classes and camps as well as birthday party deposits.

For those of you who enrolled at The Little Gym of Arrowhead and paid for the Fall tuition, we are exploring the options available to obtain either a refund or to provide classes. One option being explored is to influence the Rains to do the right thing and refund those customers that they took money from for the Fall session.

So, I called the number listed on the bottom of the email and requested information about how to get a refund. We are talking about over $300 that I had pre-paid for the fall semester. That is a lot of money in my world. The man from The Little Gym International called back and left me a message at home with sincere apologies and hope that refunds would be offered--and to keep checking my email.

Email dated 7-28-08. Entitled INFO

Again, another email from the Little Gym International. This one finally set the record straight.

After several conversations with the Rains, as well as their attorney, it has become apparent that they will not be providing refunds to those of you who paid them for tuition. In our last call the attorney informed us that they had filed bankruptcy, both personal and corporate and would not be able to honor their obligations.

While we recognize that this is extremely disappointing to you, we have been working with the other The Little Gym franchise owners in the area and are pleased to announce that all of The Little Gyms in the Valley want to and have agreed to honor your Fall tuition at their locations.

Now this in theory is wonderful. If I can't get a refund, at least Cade can continue to attend classes at another Little Gym. However, here is the downfall. The two closest gyms are hardly close. We went to another gym this morning and it took us 30 minutes to get there. So while we do truly appreciate the other gyms allowing us to come (without getting paid, basically) it is no fun having to go that far. Not with an almost-two-year-old who gets antsy in the car very quickly.

To be honest, I am angry, but my heart also breaks for the owners of the gym who had sunk so much of themselves and their lives into the gym to have it fail. Hard to stomach, I am sure. So while I would have appreciated some advance warning, or some money refunded, I feel much worse for the Rains than I do for myself.

So, I guess we will survive until the new year driving to the new gym. Maybe someone will have bought the Arrowhead gym by then and we can go back there. One can hope, right?

Cade's New Hangout

We have been meaning to make this room Cade's playroom for a while now.

It was previously my scrapbook room, but I finally got motivated and deconstructed most of that since I am doing the majority of my scrapbooking digitally now. (Just don't look in the closet!)

So, since the Grandparents took Cade today, Jim and I had some time to do some shopping and get this room in order. I think it turned out pretty well! When Cade came home, we took him in the room and he said, "WOW!" He immediately started playing with the toys, etc. That was all the thanks we needed!

Super Successful Shopping

Let me exhibit my shopping prowess again for you.

• (1) bottle Windex
• (2) boxes Aunt Jemima Pancakes
• (2) Skintimate Shave Gel
• (2) Warm Delight Minis
• (5) Mrs. Smiths Pie Singles
• (5) Franks Red Hot Sauce
• (3) Lysol Bathroom Cleaner
• (4) boxes Advil Caplets
• (2) boxes Rice Krispies with Strawberries
• (4) Pints Dove Ice cream
• (8) boxes Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
• (5) Cattleman's BBQ sauce
• (4) Huggies Travel pack wipes
• (1) Kid cuisine
• (3) Boxes Eggo waffles
• (4) Pledge
• (1) Bagel-fuls
• (1) Pint strawberries
• (2) Dole 100 cal salad packs
• (2) Daisy Sour cream
• (1) Ore Ida tater tots
• (2) Fry's Apple juice
• (2) boxes Nutragrain bars
• (1) box Kelloggs Cereal Straws
• (2) lbs grapes

A total of 68 items.

My total cost : $60.30

I saved: $171.64

Savings Percentage: 75.5%

So...basically, I should have spent well over $231 on this stuff. But, I didn't. I got it for a mere fraction of the cost. Jealous, aren't you?

Thanks for being my shopping buddy, Angelia!

And yes, I do need 8 boxes of fruit snacks (you haven't seen Cade eat them) and as for the 5 bottles of hot sauce...No clue what I will do with them! Need any?

Drunk Dialing

I was at work tonight.

My 24th hour in two days. I was exhausted. Waiting for the time to come so I could close up shop and head home.

The phone rang. It was my Mom. I immediately could tell that this was a drunk-dial call. You know what I am talking about. When you have had a little bit to drink--you think everything is hilarious and want to share your happiness with everyone that you can.

My parents are with their good friends in California. Staying at an Embassy Suites that offers free Happy Hour beverages. Apparently they all had taken full advantage of the drinks. Many drinks. Many, many drinks.

They called me twice. Just to say, "Hi!" I guess and laugh and laugh at jokes I couldn't hear and probably wouldn't find funny in my sober state.

Again, this goes back to my post of a deep_thought.

As So It Begins

Cade has had a cough FOREVER.

When I say, "FOREVER", I really mean "FOREVER".

It isn't a cough that is constant during the day. However, it seems to be activity induced and it becomes pretty bad during naps and at night time. It is making life pretty rough. Cade doesn't sleep as well--and wakes up super early from coughing fits. He also seems to get exhausted from activity quicker--and even though he would keep doing things, I make him rest so he can catch his breath.

Cade has been treated for bronchiolitis several times in the past two years. But each time he has had an episode, they have been far enough apart that none of the doctors would say that he has asthma. Okay, I can live without the label, but I can't live without the drugs and resources to treat it. Neither can Cade.

I took Cade to the doctor on Monday. The doctor said his lungs sounded good, but after listening to his situation, agreed that something else needed to be done to help control his breathing. So, we started Cade on an inhaled steroid. Better for him that oral steroids. But this is something we have to do twice a day every day. Not too bad, except that it is a solution to be put in the nebulizer. Breathing treatments. Cade HATES them. I was dreading starting them today.

I was more concerned since the last time we had to do treatments he still had his pacifier during the day. So that helped calm him a little. I was afraid that without it, he would freak out even more. However, Cade surprised me. I offered him a lollipop (and yes, it was only 6:30 in the morning) but he pretty much did the treatment without complaint. So, luckily Dum Dums are pretty small because he will now be getting two a day. And we will be brushing his teeth even more carefully. I know. It is bribery. But, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Right?

The Family that Showers Together...

I wonder what kind of hits I will get from Internet searches from that title.

A couple years ago my parents remodeled the master bath in their house. They removed the separate shower and separate bath tub and tiled the whole area to make a huge walk-in shower with two shower heads. Normally, I don't like to think about it. Come on, two shower heads, two parents. Ughhhhh... No child should ever have to think about that. *Shudder*

There is a point to this post. Hang in there.

We have been trying to get Cade to take a shower after he gets out of the pool to rinse the chlorine off his body, but for some reason he had a fear of showers. He loves water--has absolutely no qualms about jumping in the pool or holding his breath and sticking his face in the pool water, but the sound or stream of the shower frightened him.

Since my nephews were here visiting last week--and since Cade idolizes them and would do pretty much anything if Gabe were with him, we decided to try to have Gabe take Cade in the shower. So...one day we all got out of the pool at Mom's house and went to her bathroom. My Mom, Cade, Gabe, and I all went in the shower together. Let me clarify--we were ALL in bathing suits. But just the fact that we were all in the shower together was funny. And it worked. Cade now LOVES being in the shower. Hard to keep him out now!

Wonderful Watermelon

Since Kim asked so nicely for more about our trip to WI...

Okay, maybe she didn't really ask for more, but I had to share these pictures and since I said my last post was the end of my WI stories, I have to blame someone!

Cade discovered the deliciousness of watermelon in WI. And we discovered the benefits to him eating OUTSIDE. However, since we have come home, he has determined that it is much more fun to stick your fingers in a piece of watermelon and destroy it, then it is to eat it. Much messier.



Here are pictures of Cade eating watermelon in WI. Yes, I know my posts lack some serious depth and insight, but come on. This little boy is CUTE!

Last WI Post

I know you are all probably bored with my posts about our road trip and visit to WI.

I just wanted to share a few pictures and then I will stop going on and on about it. I think. I will have to put some more adorable pictures of Cade eating watermelon and playing in the rain on here. Then I will be done. I promise!

Here is Cade on the Fourth of July with my parents. Isn't he cute?

All the guys at my brother's apartment in WI. I think this is for sure their better side!

Cade playing in the neighbor's house. He LOVED the little car.

All of us at the Jelly Belly Factory in WI. Aren't we pretty in our hats?

Late Night Wal-Mart Fun in Where Are We, Iowa

"DIS"CLAIMER: I will probably offend many people when I "dis" their home state or their favorite store, Wal-Mart. This is not to hurt any one's feelings. Just to share my adventures.

On our long drive in two short days road trip, (see previous post if you are confused as to why we were on a road trip) we encountered a few problems.

We started out in Phoenix and drove up through Flagstaff and into New Mexico. New Mexico was about as boring as it could get. Seriously. Flat land with NOTHING for miles and miles and miles. And when I say NOTHING, I mean NOTHING! Somewhere outside of Gallup, NM (What? You have never been there? You are missing NOTHING!) Jim realized that the none of the lights on the trailer were working. So, we pulled into a gas station (yes, surprising that we found one) and Jim noticed that the wires that connected the lights from the truck to the trailer were severed. Completely. Apparently U-Haul did not wrap the wires tight enough, so they were dragging on the road...and eventually came apart. So, just like McGyver, Jim borrows a box cutter and uses electrical tape to fix it. We had lights!

We drove up to Denver, CO where we spent the night at a friends house. We had a great time catching up with Jim's old classmate and his family. They were so generous to have us stay even though we were there for less than ten hours. And slept for part of that!

The next morning we left CO and drove through Wyoming and into Nebraska. There is NOTHING in Nebraska except corn fields. And lots of them. Even though it seemed prettier at first compared to NM, the corn fields got boring all too quickly. Finally we got into Iowa. Night time was settling in, but we wanted to push through until we got to WI. We were driving and driving and driving. We were in the middle of Iowa when Jim realized that we had no lights on the trailer or the back of the car. Not a good situation with a trailer on dark two-lane highways.

We stopped at a gas station. I got out and immediately got swarmed by bugs. I screamed and jumped back in the car--leaving Jim to figure out what was wrong with the trailer lights. He decided that he didn't know and we drove to the hotel close to the gas station--only to find out that they are OUT of rooms. Now what?

Jim decided that maybe it is a fuse. He pulled out the fuse. Back we went to the gas station where they carry every other fuse except one for the foreign made car we are driving. So, we asked for directions to a store that would be open that would have this. We got directions to the Wal-Mart. In Nowhere, IA. At 10:00pm. We were exhausted. This is not where we wanted to be going, but what else to do?

We found the Wal-Mart. Walked in and realized that Wal-Mart in Iowa smells the same as Wal-Mart in Arizona. And the same type of people shop there late at night. Ugghh...It makes me shudder. We quickly located the fuses and found we were in no better shape there. We decided to buy little self-adhesive lights to attach to the trailer. At least so it could be seen. It took us like 35 minutes in Wal-Mart. Mainly because even though there were like 12 people in line with basketfuls of stuff, they only had one register open with a clerk who moves slower than molasses. Lovely.

We get the lights attached and back on the road by like 11:15pm. We didn't make it to WI until almost 3:00am. But we made it. In one piece. And really glad to get out of the car!

To "Manalyze"

My little brother recently moved to WI.

So, Jim and I helped pack the trailer with his stuff at my parent's house. We had a large trailer and Jeremy's Xterra to load up. We got to my parents' house in the late afternoon--and we were invited for dinner and a swim. I figured it would take probably an hour or so to load up the trailer since my parents had packed EVERYTHING and moved it downstairs or into the garage.

However, I didn't count on the amount of "Manalyzing" that had to occur.

I understand that the trailer had to be arranged somewhat carefully. That 60% of the weight needed to be loaded towards the back of the trailer. I understand that you don't want to just throw furniture in a trailer and not make sure things are secure. I get that. BUT, what I didn't get was the amount of staring, loading, unloading, and reloading that went on. Or how my husband and father spent almost three hours loading this trailer. It wasn't that big...and there wasn't that much stuff.

To give them credit, it was really hot outside. And deep in my brain, I know that they just wanted to make sure everything was secure. But, part of me wanted to scream. I wanted to shout to stop "manalyzing" and just start moving things! But alas, I couldn't do anything more than just stand by and wait and wait for them to be done.

Jim and I then drove the car pulling the trailer to WI. It was supposed to be a fun road trip. Some time for Jim and I to talk and hang out. And for the most part, it was. My next blog post will tell you about the fun times there are to be had at Wal-Mart in Iowa at 11:00pm.

Once we were ready to leave Wisconsin, we had to fit seven people (on in a car seat), 5 suitcases, 5 carry-ons, and a stroller in a mini-van. To prevent the "manalyzing" we were sure was to follow, Mom and I decided we would pack the car. In less than ten minutes (it only took that long since no one offered to help carry the suitcases, etc, outside) we had everything in the car and secure. We rock!

And the Prize Goes To...

What I used to pick the winner:

Search RANDOM.ORG
True Random Number Service
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:36
Timestamp: 2008-07-07 14:25:55 UTC

A winner has been chosen for my Pay it Forward contest:

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Manager_Mom

Her answer to the questions was:

I vote for sard. no, maybe hoft.

Check out her blog. I have promised to have her prize in the mail before Christmas.

Thanks to everyone who played!

Now or Never!

Quick! The Pay it Forward contest ends on Friday, July 4th at noon.

Enter if you wish. See the previous post here about how to enter the contest.

Since I will be on a lovely, long road trip, I will not be around to announce the winner until at least Monday. Stay posted. Sorry I have to keep you in such suspense!

Happy 4th of July!

What the BEEP?

Why does this stuff only happen in the middle of the night?!

I had taken a 20 minute power nap yesterday. Apparently that was all I needed to take the edge of my sleep debt and keep me awake late. So, at like 12:15am I was finally starting to drift off. That's when I heard it. A loud, high pitched BEEP.

I was irritated that it woke me up. I had a sinking feeling it was one of our smoke detectors. I pulled the pillow over me head and wished it away. Willed myself to sleep. Like thirty seconds later, I heard it again. This time it was enough to wake up Jim, who had fallen asleep on the couch and he came upstairs.

Jim's first thought--half asleep himself, was to shut our bedroom door and hope the beeping was outside our room. He shut the door...and we heard the beep again. Loudly. It was definitely in our room. We figured out that it had to be the smoke detector right by our door. On our vaulted ceiling. Of course.

It is now like 12:30 and I am just laughing at our situation. BEEP. I can see that Jim is scanning our bedroom to find out what he can use to reach the smoke detector. He pulls the bench that is at the end of our bed over and stands on that. BEEP. Unfortunately, he is like six inches away from reaching it. He is NOT happy.

He storms down the stairs to get the ladder. BEEP. Jim returns with the ladder and stand up and removes the battery from the smoke detector. I jokingly say, "Remember that episode of Friends? The one where Phoebe can't get her smoke detector to stop beeping? Tell me ours isn't that possessed!"

BEEP!

How can it be beeping? The battery was removed. Oh yeah, it is hard wired as well.

BEEP.

Jim tries to reset it to make it stop beeping, but is having problems reading what it says--and since our son is asleep we don't want to accidentally set it off.

BEEP.

Jim replaces the battery--hoping that will solve the problem.

BEEP

I am laughing. Jim is visibly ticked off.

Jim removes the entire smoke detector from the ceiling.

BEEP.

He removes the battery.

BEEP!

WHAT? It has NO power. How can it be beeping?

Beep.

It sounded a little softer. Maybe it just had some residual power left in it.

Beep. Much softer. But Jim takes the smoke alarm and hides it in a spare bedroom. So if it did continue to beep, we wouldn't hear it.

Why do these things only happen in the middle of the night?!