Delete, Delete, Delete...

So, the hubby's phone sucks. So he's using one of our old phones that we never got around to donating to the women's shelters. He went through and deleted a bunch of numbers that I had programmed in the phone, you know, since it used to be mine.

Several of the numbers were quite satisfying. People we don't or won't talk to anymore. Yes, we are mean s.o.b.'s and there ARE people that we choose not to speak to. Indeed, we are going to hell. See ya on the party bus.

Today, I have spent the majority of it trying to contact SEARS to find out the status of a part that the technician ordered two weeks ago. HOLY CRAP!! We will have to wait until June 7 to get the part in to fix our washing machine!~ June 7!!!! That's almost A MONTH without a washer!!! I told the lady, who had the unfortunate task of calling me, that this was unacceptable and that SEARS needed to change their procedures.

We've had our Kenmore Elite Calypso <----stated in full name so you won't go buy one, break down on us 4 times in the last year and it flooded our garage twice! Even the technicians say that they are crappy machines and NOT to buy one. Each time the bugger broke, it took 3-4 WEEKS to get it working again.

As soon as we are up on our service agrgeement, we are replacing the albatros for a cheapy model with no whistles and no bells. I refuse to have a machine that thinks it is smarter than me, other than my G5!

Update on the MIL

Thank you to all of those who sent out well wishes and prayer for my mil. She's at home now and was diagnosed with cellulitus on her arm and it was discovered that she kind of overdosed on her blood pressure medicine. That was so scary. They changed her meds and now she is home with her husband for the time being. He has to return to work soon, whereas then, the hubby, boy and I will take over caring and watching out for her, as it is our pleasure to do.

Thanks again for the kind and loving concern you have shown for my family. I love you all, mhn for short.

An Occurance of Thought

My mil is doing better. She is still in the hospital, but she is getting stronger. She says that her back feels much like it did the last time she had back problems; when the cancer came back and settled in her spine. I worry about this because she has stated that she doesn't want to fight the cancer again, if it should come back. I have willed her to live once and I am fully prepared to do it again, if need be. Please join me in prayer that it isn't cancer and that it's just the blasted diet she has been on that has thrown her body out of wack. She's lost 21 pounds in 4 weeks.



I had the realisation today that I have saved a life, literally. If I hadn't gone by my mil's house to check on her, even after phoning and getting no answer, she might have died. That thought frightens me to my very core. One day, we will be too late. And upon further thought, it would probably be Owen again who finds her for the last time. That thought also saddens me greatly. Makes me shudder is more accurate.

This will be the second time in my life that I have directly saved someone's life, just by doing what was required. It takes so little to do what is required and yet so many people won't do even that much. My husband called me a hero today. I don't think that I am. I just did what anyone else would do and what I hope someone would do for me, should I rate enough thought from anyone.

The first time that I saved a life was my son. He was eight days old and, unbeknownst to us, he had reflux, which is very common among newborns. So much so, that they don't consider it a defect or mallady, nine out of ten newborns have reflux (so the doctors told me.).

I was trying to breast feed the boy and he would never latch on. He finally got a good suck and he went limp and turned blue. I looked at him and almost panicked, rolled him over and rapped him on the back, turned him back over and he was still blue. I put my mouth over his nose and mouth and gave him a breath. Half way through that first breath, I remembered "SHALLOW". If you give an infant a full breath, you can make their tiny, little lungs explode, so you have to give them shallow breaths. I turned him back over and looked at him, he turned pink, then blue again. I gave him another shallow breath. He turned pink and something rolled out of his mouth. He was breathing on his own. This was the first day that I was at home alone with him. I thought that I had done something wrong. I called the nurses hotline at the hospital and they said to bring him in right away. A few days later and many tests run on him, they diagnosed him with Reflux. They prescribed a riggerous medicinal schedule and we were sent home and he eventually grew out of it. Though we did have bouts of projectile vomiting when he spat up.

That was THE MOST FRIGHTENING moment of my life, until I saw Linda lying on the floor Thursday morning. I told her today that I was so glad that we had a standing appointment on that day to go to her weigh in. I also told her how sorry I was that I didn't call her the night before, like I usually do after American Idol to chat about the contestants. She told me that it wasn't my fault, but that she was glad that I came in when I did. Me too.

Prayer Request

Today my son found his Gammie on the floor in her bedroom. She had collapsed and had been there since yesterday some time after noon. We called 911 and the ambulance took her to the hospital. I haven't heard much. My husband is with her as well as her other sons and her husband is on his way home from Dallas. Since he had been inbetween jobs and is working contract, she doesn't have any insurance and her medicare doesn't "kick-in" until July. Please pray for her recovery and that the hospital bill won't be outrageous, although I know that it will be. Thank You. m.

Interesting Developments:

I received an interesting phone call on Monday afternoon. I was taking my mil and the boys(Owen & Roo-Bear, I got him back :-)) to H.E.B. to pick up a few things for the pantry and I noticed that my phone had a message on it. I'm standing in the middle of the store trying to listen to this rather involved message from someone that was referred to me by a parent that knows a child that I used to give voice lessons to. (Did ya get all that?)

So the upshot is, there is a music position open at Horn Elementary and I have come "highly recommended" by some of the parents and the principle wanted me to submit my resume. I took my resume in on Tuesday morning. Not 5 or 6 minutes later my phone starts ringing. I'm trying to merge into freeway traffic on Loop 610 and merge to Hwy 59 so that I can get out to Sugarland for mil's appointment. It was the school's secretary, she wanted to know if I would be available for an interview Wednesday morning at 9am. Not being one to turn down a potential opportunity, I had Linda(mil) tell her yes, since I was driving...

Now, it has been literally YEARS since I have had an interview. I wasn't sure what to wear because all the other interviews I've had have been in the corporate world. So I wore a charcoal grey pants with a black cardigan and a green tank underneath with my little black pointy toed shoes. I must say that I was a bit over dressed compared to the rest of the employees, but they had jobs there already and I didn't.

So anyway, the interview went well and they will be continuing the process through next week. I really don't think that they will hire me. They are a magnent and vanguard school, so they really need to hire fully qualified teachers. As I only have a two year degree and they need someone with a four year degree, I really don't think that I will get the position. That's fine with me because if I did get it, it would mean a lot of logistical juggling for me in regards to getting the boy to school and me to work on time. His school is 25-30 minutes from the house and Horn is 20 minutes away from the house in the opposite direction. With us having only 1 car, that could pose some issues getting the boy to and from school.

Also, I drive the mil anywhere she needs to go because currently she's having trouble seeing and doesn't feel confident in her driving. Now that I have little Roo-Bear back, I DO have some income to help suppliment the household income, so I really have the perfect position to do all the things that I need to, to help my family. So, I really don't think that they will call, but if they do; I'll have many things to consider.

Other Developments:
I have gone down 2 whole sizes since I started walking!! Yeah me! It really makes me want to keep up with the 3 miles a day. Now I want to see just how small I can get, almost purely out of curiosity. I'll be cleaning out my closet on Friday and taking my clothes to a friend who wears my old size. Yea, more room for new clothes!

Missing Out

Today I went through a bag of clothes that was handed down to my son from a friend of ours. The boy saw a Batman nightshirt that had a cape with it. Of course he put it on with no time wasted and I attached the cape to the velcro that was on the shirt. He was so cute as he ran down our hall. "Mom, is the cape flying?", he asked all excited. "Yep, it sure is!".

He put on his shorts and sandals and wanted to go see his Gammie down the street. I called her to make sure she was home before I let him walk down the street and around the corner. She was home. I walked him down and crossed the street with him and Gam met him in her driveway. As soon as he crossed the street, he started running with that cape flying behind him. He ran straight into her open arms and gave her a hug and a kiss and showed her his cape. They were both waving at me and smiling. I couldn't help but laugh from joy. The pure joy that is in your heart when you see your child absolutely and perfectly happy. I am so incredibly fortunate that we have the pil's around the corner from us.

My parent's don't really "do" anything with their grandkids and it hurts all of us girls. I know in my head that they are not as young as they used to be and it is hard for them to get out and about. We visit them as often as we can. I can't help but feel that they aren't the only ones missing out on getting to really know their grandchildren, their little slices of immortality. I try not to let it "get" to me, but when I have a perfect moment like this morning, I just know that MY parents would have loved to see my son run down the sidewalk with a cape flying behind him going straight into their outstretched arms.

I wonder how long it will be before there is no more opportunity for them to know him and we will not be able to see them anymore. It's breaking my heart.

Life at Ground Zero

Here's what the hubby had to say about my conversation with the PO. Interesting insights...

Ok, So I was Gonna Tell You About the School...

Thursday I went by the school which the boy is zoned. On that day, I figured that I had better face the music and get the boy registered in the neighborhood school because he wasn't going to make it in the vanguard program. I was crushed, but still had to do what must be done.

I had the boy and the mil in the car with me. We pulled up and took the spot that was under the tree. It was like 90 degrees or so outside. They opted to wait for me in the car(with the windows down, of course; seeing as I would only be inside for a minute.). While parking, I notice a police car sitting outside the school.

I walk into the office and I'm the only anglo in the room. No biggie, I've been that before. I get the information and walk outside back to the car. I notice that the police officer is going into the school, but not rushed, you know??? He was talking on his cel, but I interupted him anyway. He was really nice about it. This is how the conversation went:

Me: Excuse me, but can I ask you a question?
PO: Just a second(talking to the person on the phone.)
Me: Oh, sorry.
PO: That's fine.(to me.)
Me: How often do you(Houston Police Department) have to provide security to this school?
PO: Not any more than the other schools.
Me: (I'm sure that I registered a look of slight alarm) Oh...
PO: We come by every once in a while to check in, drop in on the school. And sometimes there are fights and we have to break them up.
Me: Oh, ok. (Aw, Hell!)
PO: Well, with the influx of Katrina evacuees and the high immigrant population, both African and Mexican, there is alot of conflict, racial-
Me: And cultural?
PO: Yeh.
Me: Ok, well, Thank you. Good bye.
PO: Good bye.

Ok, needless to say, I was FREAKED! Totally F****** FREAKED!!! I told my mil what he said and then I told her, "One of two things is gonna happen to my kid if he goes to school here;
1. He'll either become a "hood"
or
2. He'll get beat up everyday."

The idea of the police having to be called in on a fight at an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL was insane to me. I can see breaking up a fight in middle or high school, but primary school???? Oh MY Gosh!!!!! It still boggles the mind...

She was trying to make me feel better by uttering something wise and sagey, but all I heard in my panic was mumble, mumble, mumble...

I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening AND the next morning slightly on edge until the mail came.

I looked in the mailbox, which wasn't touch by a mail carrier until 4pm!, and saw that there was a BIG envelope from ASKEW!!! I knew immediately that he had been accepted. Why else send a large envelope? Rejection letters come in "letter" sized envelopes. So, anyway, I squeal with delight as I'm opening the rather large envelope and tell Owen, "I bet you got in." He reads, so of course he already knew that the parcel was from Askew. I screamed and he said, "Mom, you're hurting my ears!" "Sorry Owie." Then I proceed to read the letter to him. Now we are both screaming, "I/You got into Askew! Yea!!" There was MUCH rejoicing in the "Short" household! I called the hubby and I was so excited that I could hardly talk. He was
alarmed that maybe one of us was hurt and then I was able to calm down enough to tell him the news. Well, now all I have to do is fill out the paperwork and get it in by May 18 or his spot will go to someone else. You all know what I will be doing tomorrow.

We are all excited and I made sure that I gave a big hug and a Thank You to the woman who had been encouraging me to have him testing for the Vanguard Program for the last 3 years. She knew he was a "shoo-in". I guess that I always knew that too, but until the paperwork is in your hands, you can never be sure.

Wooooooo Hooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Owen got in the Vanguard program and passed his test with flying colours!! Yea! No going to the school he's zoned to! Had to share the news while my interweb was working. More on the school stuff later! love ya! chelle.

Question of the Day: Answer; Telephone or in Person

I prefer to talk to people in person meself. Or in the blog response boxes. That's been pretty fun.

A Real Post

Hey! It's been a while since I've actually WRITTEN a real post. Although it does seems that you guys are enjoying my questions of the day. :-) I know that I am! :-D

Well, driving home from my friends house yesterday, I look in the back seat and what should I find as I'm peaking in the rear view mirror but this:


He looks so much like my dad when he sleeps. He was totally crashed out in his car seat. So much so, that when the hubby drove up in his scoot and honked the horn, the boy didn't budge. He was a tired baby sweetie!


Something Else:

This is a picture that I took on my phone forever ago. I just made it so I could send pictures to my e-mail from my phone. Nice little trick. I've sent 4 home. I hope that I'll still be able to afford living in my house this month...

We saw this cauliflower at Central Market last year. It was strange and beautiful, so it warranted a picture. Enjoy. :-)

Question of the Day: Telephone or in Person

Would you rather talk to someone over the phone or in person?

Question of the Day: Swimming Pool or Natural Water : Answer

I'm a pool girl all the way. I don't like murky water. It scares me. I too like to be able to see the bottom.

The swimming pool we swam at as teenagers has a swordfish painted on the bottom of the deep end. It freaked me out to swim over it. I was SO glad when they repainted the pool a light blue with NO fish on the bottom!!

Question of the Day: Swimming Pool or Natural Water

Which do you prefer swimming in, swimming pool or lakes/oceans?

Question of the Day Answer: Favourite Ice Cream

My favourite ice cream in Haagen Dazs Strawberry with Blue Bell Cookies and Cream being a close second and Ben and jerry's Phish Food finishing out the top three.

Of course my favourite of all time......


Amy's Ice Cream Belgian Chocolate Shake with real whipped cream!! on Shephard and Greenbriar off of Hwy 59 in Houston, TX; across from 59Diner!

Question of the Day:Favourite Ice Cream

What is your favourite ice cream, flavour AND brand?

Question of the Day: Answer to How Old

Wow! I really got a great response from that question. Thank you all for sharing.

I must have been a prude because I didn't lose it until 3 weeks before my 21st birthday. Although, it WAS during spring break!


And well, the fella.........I married him. :-D

Question of the Day: How Old

How old were you when you lost "it"?

Question of the Day Answer: Games

Some very good games and a couple of them were on my fav's list. My favourite games are...

Spades
Phase 10
D & D
Taboo
Trivial Pursuit

Game I would like to learn to play is:
WHIST

It's a card game played mostly in the 1800's by "ladies and gentlemen". I have it in my Masque Card Games on my pooter. I want to play a real game though. It's kind of like Hearts or Spades. All I need are three other peeps. Any volunteers??? :-)

As You Can See, I'm Back!

We had a wonderful time at our friends house on the Carauncua Bay. There were nine ladies and 2 babies. We watched Chocolat Friday night and Xanadu Saturday night. We had the occasional strawberry margarita and pina colada. We had bible studies and worked on the quilt. Took walks in the neighborhood, gathered shells on the shore, visited with each other and had a very pleasant weekend. I can't wait to go back. Our friend said that she'd be open to having this be a yearly thing. I know that I'd love it!

Owens' Test

Dave said that he stayed in the testing area for the full time that they allowed for the test(45 minutes to 1 hour). That's a pretty good sign. The kids who are not up to the task are usually brought out early. We couldn't get too much information out of him about the questions they asked, but it was apparent to me from what little he DID say, that they engaged him in conversation and was able to get other information out of him besides just what they were testing for. We should have the results by May 8 or so. I'm nervous and a little scared because it's not enough for him to do well on the test. He has to be agreed upon by a committee. I hope he does well. Please pray for us. The school he is zoned for is crap and we can't afford private school.

Question of the Day: Games

What are your favourite games, and I don't mean mind games, to play?

Mine tomorrow.