I'm Baaaccccckkkkk!

After a two month hiatus I have returned. Save the applause please. Actually clap, I need the support.

I signed up for a cookie exchange at work and then totally forgot I did. At the beginning only six people signed up but I guess some flew in at the last minute because the final tally was 13. I need 13 dozen cookies. I had signed up for the perfect cookie too, chocolate crinkles. The recipe is easy and one batch makes 72 cookies. Perfect. Double the batch and move along. Except when I whipped up the dough Friday at 6p I re-read the recipe and the dough has to chill for FOUR hours. I work at 5:30a on the weekend. I would have to be up all night baking......unless.........I went to be early.....
So I was in bed at 8:30p on Friday night with my hubby home and the kids at Grandma's house. I then proceeded in getting up at 1a to bake and get ready for work. Hubby thought it was pretty funny. Me, not so much. I did however get some great cookies in return. What fun.

Tonight, after leaving work at 8p I have to whip up eight dozen more cookies for my daughter's Christmas play. Eight dozen. Who hatched that number? And more important, why the hell did I say yes to doing it? I have issues I know.

Come on Christmas. I'm too excited for a person of my age. It's so much fun to me. I love giving gifts and watching the kids' faces as they open gifts. 10 more days. Let the countdown begin!

Monday Monday

And so begins a new week. The weekend is too short. Why can't they be five days with a two day work week?

My boss is on vacation. ALways a good time there. I think someone is smoking at their desk as we speak. I never say it out loud but I can't wait for her return....before the looting starts!

Had a lazy weekend with the hubby. We rented great movies which we promptly fell asleep to, went garage sale hopping and just generally hung out. Nice and peaceful.

Finished some of my library haul, also completed my goal of 100 books in 2009. I will save the speach for later. I do accept cash prizes though. Now I am reading all those monsters sitting on my shelf!

My Library haul includes...............

1. Where the River Ends by Charles Martin

2. The Late Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow

3. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

4. Hello Goodbye by Emily Chenoweth

5. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.....which by the way I have been waiting for for 6 weeks

6. We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

7.Perfect Family by Pam Lewis

8. South of Broad by Pat Conroy

That is my haul. That is with reading and returning three books. There you are Brandie, my loot!

Monte Carlo Night

We went to a benefit/monte carlo night Saturday evening. I'm not real clear what the cause was but oh well. Horse racing was their "theme." If I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all. I swear I picked a dead horse each time. I was so thrilled when my choice made it out of the gate and maybe a lap around the track. Not my forte, gambling. I lost all my lunch money this week. Hello peanut butter, goodbye take out. Learned my lesson though. Shoes are always a good bet as is clothing, books and anything else that doesn't depend on odds.



Sunday was cold and rainy here. I made chili and stayed in pj's most of the day. It was wonderful.



Trying to battle my way through a HUGE stack of library books. I order them at random times but as always all ELEVEN arrived at the same time. Are they challenging me? Honestly I think they do this on purpose and then laugh as I lug my bag to the car. Vindictive witches.

Today my daughter serves her detention. Can't wait to hear all about it. I hope she doesn't enjoy it.

Detention

My daughter got a detention yesterday. Already. Second grade. Metzger pride right there. Ha ha. She was playing a game with another girl and boy. She hit the girl in the belly as part of the game and then ate lunch as a group. After lunch and recess the other participant of the game told on my daughter and the other little boy. The teacher automatically issued detention to my daughter and her other playmate. I get that. Zero tolerance. OK. Did they ask any other side of the story? No. Did they get the opportunity to explain? No. In fact, as Hunter tried to explain the situation her teacher told her to be quiet before she got another detention. I'm not sure what to think. Honestly, I never knew they gave detention in the lower grades. Oh sure they threaten but has anyone ever actually had one? Well she certainly started this year off with a bang.
I am going home from work tonight, putting on my pj's and curling up on the couch. I want to read my book and ignore the family. Does anyone really believe this will happen? Nice fantasy though. Happy Thursday.

Food for thought, seriously...food.

This is my day off. I live for these days anymore. I think it's time to find a new job. I want to be a baker in real life. I love to bake. Don't be fooled though, just because I love it doesn't mean the food I bake is good. I can make a mean desert one day and get involved in a book and ruin it the next day. Maybe I should pay attention.?!? Seriously, since all my children are in school I am considering a new career path. Why shouldn't I be in school too? I just don't know what I want to be when I grow up. A butcher, a baker a candlestick maker? A 33 year old over weight stripper? That sound lucrative.
I started walking with the mother in law. She entered a contest at work so now I have to suffer. I just rationalize it, I walk an hour and get more chocolate in my life . Sounds fair. Actually, the more I walk the better I feel and the smaller my thighs get. Who knew?
My husband is still sick. He went to stat care last night, got diagnosed with bronchitis and came home with his prescriptions.
"Does eating the paper make you feel well?"
"No, Rachelle, why?"
"Then what the %^&% did you bring them home for instead of taking them to the pharmacy?"
" "
"Exactly!"
I obviously picked the sharper Metzger.
Lydia. Pumpkin bread is my favorite on earth. I love reading your food posts. My ass however hates you. I need bigger jeans. Seriously, thank you for the inspiration. You have great creative talent.

Thursday

One of the greatest blessings from a school is germs. All my kids are sick. My husband is sick. I feel as though I swallowed sandpaper. Gotta love germs. And Dayquil.

Excited for the weekend. Going out with the brother and sister in law to a new place to eat. I'm excited. I don't get out much.

Is it possible for the kids to come home from school without having a paper requesting money? Fundraiser, Alzheimer's Awareness??? They are 5 and 7 and 11. Should we burden them with all that already?

Come on Friday. Mama needs a break.

Tag.....from Brandie

Brandie. Quit tagging me. It's like a peeling scab. I just can't help but answer. Witch, lol!
1. Availble or married....married old hag
2. Best friend......Rocco and Denise
3. Cake or pie.....cake, definately
4. Drink of choice...coke or coffee
5. Essential item for everyday use.....cell phone and chapstick
6. Favorite color...totally into the fall combo right now, brown orange, burnt reds, so cozy
7. Google?....huh? no thanks, not really a fan
8. Hometown...Wooster Ohio
9. Indulgences...books, clothes, shoes, books, books
10. January or February....how about June?
11. Kids and their names....Nicholas Ryan, Hunter Marie and Rocco Michael
12. Life is incomplete without....the family, love, fun
13. Marriage date....07-27-01
14. Number of siblings...a sister Kelly
15. Oranges or apples.....I love to eat apples but prefer orange scents
16. Phobias and fears.....fire is the biggest, anything that harms my family
17. Quote for the day...."I have a dream.....!" MLK....idk why that came to mind
18. Reason to smile.....because
19. Season.....summer followed closely by fall
20. Tag three people.....anyone who wants to do this, I love reading these!
21. Unknown fact about me.....I used to be a cheerleader
22. Vegetable you hate.....lima bean
23. Worst habit....talking too much, I spend too much time with kids
24. X-ray's you've had....teeth, neck, legs after car wreck, arms
25. Favorite food....anything spicy right now
26. Zodiac sign.....Libra, the lover and peace keeper.....hahahahahhahahahahahahahaha

Remembering 9/11

Today is one of the saddest days I can remember in my lifetime. Remembering 9/11. I watched a special on it last evening and couldn't help crying. All those innocent lives lost. Senseless violence. Makes you appreciate your life and all that's part of it. Take a minute to reflect on how lucky we really are.

Happy Tuesday

I'm tired. Already. The school year just began and I am ready for some extended vacation. Sign this, volunteer for that, read this...the list is endless.

"Can I take the cat to school?"
"No, where would he be during class?"
"Duh, in my desk!"
Now why didn't I figure that out all on my own?

My baby is in school. The first day he came home all smiles. The second day they had to pull Hunter (his sister) out of second grade to talk him out from under the slide. The pressure is making him crack. He went to be tonight at 7:30. The child would see midnight if allowed. I am holding my breath for the dreaded phone call from school....your child is sitting in the middle of the bathroom screaming the "F" word and won't come out. It's coming, trust me.

Work is great right now. We started a secret santa type program that spans the whole year. Three different departments all thrown in a hat and who do I pick? The one person I want to personally strangle. She has no idea who has her and I am trying to figure out ways to put drugs in the candy I have to buy her. Do fingerprints show up in chocolate? Seriously.

My husband is switching shifts from afternoons to midnights. This should be interesting. We have been married eight years and have always worked opposite each other to keep our children out of daycare. This should be interesting, I'm sure in about three days I will be ranting crazily about how I can't stand seeing his face anymore. Ahh married life, how sweet it is.

A little Friday Evening Fun

My new "special" neighbor got a little surprise Saturday morning! I woke up around 7a (yea, so much for sleeping in with no kids!) to let the dog out and there are cops flocking her house. I smile, thinking she is in trouble, then I notice the mini van parked up front in her yard in her decorative picket fence. Too fun! I sit in my front deck chair in my pj's sans bra, toothbrush and hairbrush to watch the festivities. It seems the 16 y/o down the street decided that beer and minivans make a great combo. To add to the fun, obviously being 16 you don't realize, getting out of the van and walking home does not make it disappear and or erase the damage caused by said incident AND take your name off the registration! My guess is he won't forget that anytime soon!
Minivan wonderchild made my morning.

T.G.I.F

Friday! Usually my favorite day of the week, even if I have to work the weekend. This Friday I hate it. This friday marks the last official day of vacation. Where did it go? I accomplished nothing...I'm actually quite proud of that, scratch that. What did I do? Oh my God, I have to get up early again, I have to brush my hair before noon, I actually have to plan things again. I am calling in dead. That's it! I didn't survive, indefinately dated memorial service to follow. Would they buy that?

No kids tonight. The mother in law keeps them for a sleepover usually two nights a week during summer vacation but since school is back in it's hit and skip. I LIVE for these nights alone. I get about three solid hours of silence before the husband gets home. I can watch what I want on tv, I can read for three hours straight, I can wander around the house doing absolutely nothing and no one is here to comment on my behavior. They'll understand someday when they have children. Blessed silence.

Neighbors

So I met my newest neighbor today. She rammed herself smack dab in front of me and ten other people at the grade school bus list posting. I may have made a rude noise or gesture at her but I can't really recall now (he he). So as I rant about rude people on the way home, lo and behold one specific rude woman is standing in her driveway in close proximity to MY house. I almost hurt myself staring. How is it that I live in the middle of such weird beasts? One neighbor drinks himself silly every evening....you can guage how much by the volume of his music, one only mows when cows take over his field, um I mean yard, and now this! What the hell did I ever do to deserve this?

Oh sweet day

Tomorrow begins vacation! Can I scream that a little louder? It can't come too soon this month. People are on my last nerve here and I need a break. Now, every other vacation so far this year has had a purpose. This one I have absolutely no agenda other than sleeping in, reading, sun bathing and swimming, probably in that order too.

My husband thinks I am going to use my time to clean and organize the house. Ha, silly fool, little does he know...

School scramble starts next week too. My BABY starts kindergarten. How did this happen? One day it's bottles and diapers and the next it's backpacks and notebooks. He is aprehensive, understandably as we told him his preschool chums will flow out into the whole school district and he will be with new friends this year. Academically he is ready, mentally, who knows? I have mixed feelings about it too. While I want to keep him home with me forever, the adult in me want him to go forth and gain knowledge and the adult woman in me wants the house to herself sometimes!