Ringadingding

That's correct. last night as I was about to make dinner (quickly before the missionaries came in 45 min.) I went into the kitchen and found what appears to be raw sewage dripping from the kitchen light. For awhile there had been some loud unrecognizable sounds coming from above. I went out the apartment to find the super and this other guy that I vaguely recognize as a plumber that the management uses comes down the stairs. I ask him what they are doing and that there is something dripping from my light. He comes in to look and says, "Oh no. That's not good." And goes back upstairs. I put a bucket under the steady drip and try to sop up the "liquid" on the floor then start dinner. Mind you this is difficult because the drip is in the middle of a 5'x5' kitchen. A few minutes later a different guy knocks on the door and looks at the drip. Again, I asked what is going on and instead of an answer he says I'm just going to have to let it all drip out and to keep the kids away from it. No really? I thought I might serve it to the kids for dinner. No apology, no explanation and no contact after that. I really don't like our management company that much, but from what I've heard our is better than most. Still, I think there is raw sewage pouring into my apartment from a light fixture. I don't feel very safe.

Well, at 7 pm I am still cooking dinner and Carlos gets home. A few minutes later the missionaries arrive. Carlos asks them to reschedule which they were gracious enough to do. Carlos and I ate dinner while the kids had their noses glued to the computers watching two different movies in two different rooms. After the day I had been having I really didn't have the energy to care.

After we had family prayer later Ethan and Jane had a scuffle and Jane [whether accident or not] pushed ethan off the beanbag and he hit his head on the sofa. Later I have to give him 4 tylenol because he has a raging headache. I had to weight him first and was extremely alarmed that he weighed 92 lbs. (only 30 lbs less then me and I am about 6-7 inches taller). This means that in about 1 month he has gained 10 lbs. More on the whole weight issues another time. So while he is moaning in agony I am trying to help him to relax and comfort him until he can fall asleep and sleep off the pain. He finally falls asleep about 9:30 pm. So much for alone time or relaxing and watching a movie. I just went to bed thanking God that the day was finally over.

This morning I wake up to hear my son cooking eggs for breakfast. Part of me is relieved that he can cook his own breakfast but part of me is worried about the whole fire thing. As I am in bed listening my heart groans as I realize that Carlos has another rehearsal today. That means 6-8 hours of being gone. Luckily he said he'll go a bit late. Please God, let there be some good in this day.

My e-mail crashed yesterday. I lost all messages and all contacts. I am beside myself. All the photos, emails, and important password and receipts have been wiped out. If you read this e-mail me so I can have your email address again. For awhile I couldn't email but I think I got that fixed. I don't know how this all happened but I can't tell you how much I feel lost and panicky. I haven't felt like this since Carlos' identity was stolen a few months ago. I have always had a mistrust of computers. They seem so fallible, so unreliable. More and more I think it is dangerous that so much of our lives are wrapped up in computers. Computer crashes happen a lot more often than fires. Hacking is so much more prevalent than bank robberies. Identity theft is on the rise. How safe are we?

What do you think?

I can't face another day with Jane and her tantrums. Tonight was parent teacher conferences. She was screaming at the top of her lungs that she wanted cereal just before we had to leave. I said no. I had to carry her 5 1/2 blocks with Ethan carrying her shoes and me holding on to her coat because she would not cooperate. She weighs almost 50 lbs. My arms and shoulders were already hurting from carrying 50 lbs of groceries about 8 blocks one of which is a long block. I am so fed up with jane. I am so exhausted. There seems to be no end in sight. I'll stop complaining now.

My dad sent me this cool e-mail that described what the US was like 100 years ago. One of the things was that there were only 3000 cars. 95% of births were in the home. 90% of Doctors didn't go to medical school. The population of Las Vegas was 30. And a bunch of others. My great grandma was 8 years old in 1907.

I bought myself a bunch of daffodils tonight as a reward for enduring today without killing Jane. They are so cheery and yellow. I smile inside when I look at them. I also bought myself a 3 Musketeers bar. Not that I need the extra calories but I need the chocolate.

Haven't been able to face the mess in the apartment. There really isn't any place to put the things anyway. I just stare at it and get overwhelmed. Maybe next week.

I am sooo happy. Lorinda, the cub scout supervisor, is letting me skip scouts friday on account of my eyes. Yippy Skippy.

Tice, I watched the video about finding papa. Your hair is so long! You look really good. You are my hero working out all the time. I went to the doctor the other day and he asked me if I exercise and I said just walking everywhere. He then checked sedentary on my record. I mean come on, all that walking has to count for something. Not to mention carrying 50lbs of groceries and little girl! I keep telling myself I'll lift the hand weights I have. Then I think, "gee, where are they?" [sounds like Dory on Finding Nemo] Another funny thing that was on my records that I had to take to this new doctor [more insurance woes] is that I have the lungs of a 58 year old! Can't figure that one out.

Tice, are you moving to Utah this year? Maybe I read the post wrong but it sounded like you and the kids are moving to Utah this year to live with Sally. Are you really? I'm so nosy, why? Also, the next time you see sister Derby give her a big hug and a hi from me. I really miss her.

I've got to think of a good way to sign off when ending a post like "roger that. over and out." Hmmmm...

I survived my eye surgery. The actual surgery was a breeze. Coming home and the next few days afterward were pure hell. Carlos was very angry with the kids and I got the blast. The kids have been awful. Friday, the day after the surgery we had to get up early to see my eye surgeon at 7am. Carlos was not very happy about this because he had to take me and because it was so early we had to take the kids. On the way home both kids threw up in the taxi. So...the kids stayed home from school that day. So instead of recooperating I was dealing with misbehaving children. Saturday was a little better. I got to sleep in. Carlos was still grumpy. I was very stressed and tired and still couldn't see very well. Sunday was much better. We went to church and for two blessed hours I had no children. After church Carlos appologized for being grumpy with me. I've decided that kindness and sincere appologies are two of the things that make me very happy. It was so nice to feel like he was back on my side again.

Basically, my recovery is slow but steady. The swelling has gone done a great deal. Only the inner corners of my eyes are red. I still look a little like Anakin Skywalker going evil.

Monday we had a meeting with the social worker about Jane. It took 1 1/2 hours. Luckily he is very nice and explains things well. There are going to do the testing. I thought the letter I wrote and signed a few weeks ago would start the testing. Guess not. We had to sign another form. Then we stated our concerns and gave a social history of Jane. In describing jane I realized that in many ways I was describing me too. However, I don't hit kids at recess in frustration. The social worker said about 6 weeks or more before we have a meeting to discuss the results. It has been 10 years since I worked in the school system. I forgot how slow, grinding and frustrating the system is.

Kids were very difficult today. Jane had one of her freak outs on the way from school to the library. She was Screaming and blocking my path because she wanted me to hold her. She weighs nearly 50lbs and the library bag was another 30. No way. When we finally got to the library she refused to go in. So I let her stay outside the door (it was glass so I could see her) while I stood in the vestabule. I needed to watch Ethan too. New Yorkers are very outspoken about child care. Every woman that passed through the door I had to explain it was my child and that she was having a tantrum. Eventually I convinced her to come in. The rest of my day with the kids was just more tantrums, fighting, destroying, uncooperation, etc...I am so sick of kids. I just groan inside when I think that this Friday I have to do Cub Scouts.

I went to a jewelry party tonight and bought a ring. It came to about $33. I hope I wear it. I'm so rough with jewelry and if it bothers me in the least it comes off. I have a few beautiful pieces that I inherited from my grandmother who died a couple of years ago. The are really pretty but completely impractical. But, because they are pretty and I'm sentimental about them I can't let them go.

Are there things that you have trouble letting go?