I never knew we had moose in Reno

Via text message:

Lisa: I have some halves of cookies for you

Shannon: Okay

Lisa: They have some bites out of them

Shannon: um okay

Lisa: There are some bites taken out of them, I think a moose got ahold of them

Shannon: A moose huh?

Lisa: Yeah, they were pretty big bites, he really wanted to taste them

Shannon: For safety reasons right

Lisa: Yeah, safety reasons, that's right



A MOOSE!!!!!!! NICE ONE LISA!

Yes I still cook

In case you are wondering, yes I still cook. Come here to see. There is even two recipes gone wrong, but four new recipes gone realllly right
http://tasteytemptations.blogspot.com/

The one about drinking

I haven't posted about this yet because, I guess I just did not feel ready. After two and a half years I finally drank. Yes you read right I finally did it. It was my husbands 30th birthday and I had some drinks. I can't even begin to tell you how long I thought about it in the weeks leading up to his birthday. Everyday I found myself wondering what I should do. I wasn't being forced to drink, no one brought it up, but in my mind, it was an issue. Somehow I just didn't feel like I could celebrate his birthday with this huge giant massive party and then not drink. I had a sitter lined up for my kids, we were home and safe with no driving, why could I not have a drink?

I was most worried that I would hate myself the next day, and I did, but only because I had a raging hang over. I felt nothing about the alcohol itself. I was not angry, I didn't feel like I had quit or given up or given in, I felt like I had made a well thought out decision and I did it in a mature way.

Since then (August 30th) I have drank two more times. Once, at dinner with my parents and Rob, while we had a baby sitter (the night my little cousin ran away) I had a single glass of wine, and once two weeks ago when Ginger came over I had a glass of wine and 4 oz of amaretto while we played games.

So. Three drinks in 2.5 months is not bad. However I can't help but feeling like a raging alcoholic. I notice that I find myself thinking about it more too. Like last night, I was in the kitchen cooking up this big beef tenderloin and making these awesome potatoes (I will link em tonight) and I thought, well this is a totally normal time to have a drink. It is winter, I'm cooking whats wrong with a little spiked hot apple cider? I talked to a friend about it and she said it was funny I said that because her dad always tells her, that those times, in the kitchen cooking those "meals of love" type meals, is one of the hardest times for him too. So. I decided not to drink. Instead I ate my weight in left over boiled potatoes as I finished cooking. I figured I needed to put something in my mouth to preoccupy it from liquor. My husband of course had other ideas of what I coulda put in my mouth, something about having his own beef tenderloin if I wanted it.

My birthday is coming up in 7 days and again this year I have tickets to the Fantasies in Chocolate. This year, I want to drink though. The last two years I have passed up the chocolate martinis and chocolate shots and free champagne and this year, I wonder if, on my birthday a few drinks would be okay.

What I am now wondering though is, am I simply looking for excuses to drink? Or is it perfectly normal to want to have a drink on your birthday? Is having a glass of wine one night a month with family okay, or is it just looking to drink?

I want to be strong enough to become a social drinker again. I want to stop having that over my head. The constant stigma of being "that girl who doesn't drink." I want to stop being uncomfortable in situations where everyone else drinks but me. Last night, we happened to have some half and half in the fridge so my husband made a White Russian. I found myself hating him. I was angry that he could just sit down and have a drink and have it be nothing but a drink. I'm sure that it wasn't him I should have been mad at, it is my own fault I can't drink but still, I was mad.

Of course the biggest reason I don't drink is because of Codi. What kind of mom would I be if I sat around drinking all the time when I had a baby to feed? While I'm sure one or two drinks a month is acceptable I find myself wondering, IS IT REALLY ACCEPTABLE? Or am I just telling myself it is. And what happens when one or two drinks a month turns to one or two a week?

Also. One of the hardest parts about all of this is the looks you get when you drink. Some people tend to over emphasize the IT'S OKAY TO HAVE A DRINK SHANNON, and other people look at my like OMG THE ALCOHOLIC IS AT IT AGAIN.

I don't know why I want to drink on my birthday, I just do. I keep thinking, It's my party I'll drink if I want to. I guess this year I don't want to sit around and watch everyone else having fun while I'm sitting over there obviously not in on the joke and going to be 3 hours earlier because I don't have the alcohol fueling me.

So what do YOU think? Is it possible to become a normal drinker again? Am I pushing it by wanting to have some chocolate martinis? Will I be a horrible mother if I have some drinks on my birthday? Guide me oh wise Internet.

Investigation

Last night my husband spent the better part of the evening looking for his camera. We looked everywhere. By the end of the night Rob was getting a little frustrated and I was wondering where on earth a camera could go in such a short time. This morning I found the camera. I think we should do some investigating.

Camera

The scene of the crime

I think, based on deductive reasoning I can make a pretty good judgment on where the camera was. You see minutes before the camera was spotted this was the scene in my house.

So boys and girls, next time you lose something, try checking your 11 month olds toys first. Seems someone had hidden it under the seat of their little fire truck. Wonder what else he has in there.

Lets talk preschool

Sigh. My son is in school. When he started he was in the 2-3 year old class. I loved his teacher. LOVE! I still love her and when it was time to transition him up to the next class I found myself wishing that teachers would transition with their class too. His new teacher is, um, cold, and always angry and always on the defensive. Since day one I have been afraid of her. I feel like when I say hi, even her reply of, "hi" is attacking and scary and MEAN. You know, those people who just look mean. Anyway. The point is, in Brandons last class he was good. So good in fact that the teachers were all stunned he had never been in school before. I went to time out maybe once a week but barely even then.

Fast forward to now when I found out the other day that my son is in time out at least TWO TIMES A DAY EVERY DAY. The most disturbing part is that I only found out because my mom picked him up and when she arrived he was in time out. My mom inquired about how often he goes to time out, to which the teacher casually mentioned he is always in time out. Obviously being his mother, she didn't feel like I needed to know this. Makes perfect fucking sense to me. The next day I inquired and in a very attacking way as if I was questioning her authority she let me know that Brandon likes to hold other kids or grab toys from them. Fine, yes that is bad, but shouldn't I have been told so I could talk to him?

After she said that, my mom, husband, dad and I all talked to Brandon and guess what THE PROBLEM STOPPED. However yesterday after he promised me he wouldn't go to time out, he went to time out twice. My husband picked him up and when we got home he told me to ask Brandon why.

Me: Brandon why did you go to time out
Brandon: Um I go to time out cuz I go potty
Me: Huh
Brandon: I just go potty so I go to time out.

I looked at my husband who replied, "that is true, they were outside playing and Brandon went inside to go potty with out asking someone."

SHUT THE FUCK UP!

This woman put my child in time out for fucking going pee? I can understand that kids aren't supposed to go inside alone, but I also know that in the amount of time it would have taken him to go talk to her he probably would have peed his pants. I know my kid I know that sometimes he plays until the last second and before I know it Brandon is hauling ass to the bathroom and there are times he lets a little pee out before he even sits down. I was bothered by this and went to bed thinking about it. It didn't help that my husband said he went in time out again for not listening. Not listening about what?

This morning I went in and talked to his teacher. Before I even opened my mouth she was on the defensive. I asked about the potty time out. She said all the kids know they can't come inside alone. I asked her if he had been in trouble for this before. She said no. I was kind of shocked. I was stunned she would put him in time out for a first offense. Then I said, well, you know, the way he relayed it he was put in time out for going potty. She tried to tell me that she explained to him that he was in time out for not asking to go in. Which is fine if she says that but I know that the exact words my kids said are "I go in time cuz I go potty." I told her I was slightly worried this would make him just pee his pants outside instead of asking to come in since he now related that with time out.

Next I asked about the not listening. She said him and a bunch of other kids were going down the slides backwards so they all went to time out. I was stunned. Because he played follow the leader he got punished. So I finally say, "you know I'm just confused because my kid had no problems in the other class. Is something different here, because to me this seems like excessive time outs." At this point the teacher got very agitated and went on about how her class was more structured, she start using hand gestures to punctuate her point which I find insulting and angry. Basically is sounded like no matter what these kids were all going to go to time out every day. In fact the last four times I've gone in she was putting someone in time out INCLUDING TODAY. Today a little girl screamed and she went to time out. The teacher wasn't nice either she just YELLED "_______ in time out now."

I walked out of there feeling like nothing was accomplished and feeling like by asking about my son I was probably getting him in more trouble. I read somewhere that if a preschool teacher doesn't like the parent they will take it out on the kid. While I"m always overly friendly now because of this, I get the feeling that this teacher hates my questions and in turn is overly mean to Brandon. I stopped and talked to the other teacher who is in that class part time. She assured me the main teacher likes Brandon. However she agreed that time outing him for going potty was a little odd. She also totally understood that it was bad for Brandon to think he went to time out for going potty. This teacher responded to me kindly, in a nice voice with an understanding smile.

I don't know what to do now. In his last class when I had questions or concerns I could easily talk to his teacher and she would reply nicely. She would explain things, be understanding, and never make me feel like an asshole for caring about my kid.

Before I left I stood there and watched this lady with the kids and she comes off mean to them too. She looked angry at them even. I can't decide if this lady is just angry or going through something or what? No matter what, I don't feel like she has the personality to care for kids, nor the personality to deal with children's parents.

What do I do now? I don't feel comfortable knowing my son is in time out that often. I don't feel comfortable after hearing the other teacher, the part time one say that TWO TIME OUTS WAS NOTHING the other kids go at least 5 times a day.

FIVE TIMES???

Am I the only one who sees this as excessive? Am I the only mom wondering if they shouldn't maybe be talking to these kids and educating them instead of just shoving them in time out? Am I the only parent who even knows this is happening? Because had my mom not walked in while he was in time out, that teacher never would have told us.

I don't know where to go from here. When I enrolled him I read the parent teacher handbook from front to back. One of the things in there talked about teachers communicating with parents when there was a problem, and parents working on it at home. How in the fuck am I supposed to work on my sons school problems if no one is communicating and when they do communicate I feel attacked and like I need to go sit in time out.

What do I do?

BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO FART

Me: Brandon we are going to go take a bath

Papa: Make sure not to fart in the tub Brandon

Brandon: We don't fart in the tub PAAA PAAAAA you only fart on the toilet......and in pants!

Stuff

So I promised I would show you some of my recent house finds.

This is my fake plant. I hate fake plants. I find them weird. However when we went to get my couch the guy selling it handed me this plant. Not knowing what to do I took it. Later I stuck it in my living room to balance a wall until I knew what else to do. However after about an hour I decided I LOVED THIS PLANT! I can't even begin to describe how perfect this plant looks! Plus it was free and I CAN'T KILL IT!

My mom found this little table at a garage sale (I think). It used to live next door to our work but Brandon loved it so much my mom let it move in with us. It hangs out in the living room now next to our couch giving Brandon a little area to play, color, and watch TV.

My mom got this little table for the boys at Christmas. She found it at an antique store and it is the absolute perfect size for Brandon. I put it in the dining room as a "kids table." The truth is, my kids sit at the table with me but it was so cute I didn't want to get rid of it after the red table moved in on its spot.

I got my fork and spoon from one of the other houses on the land where I live. They were all family owned and only the original owners lived in them. When the last of the original owners moved out she left us quite a mess. I scored these a few years ago knowing someday I would have a dining room for them. I have a nice place for them now and I love them. Below that is my new table runner I scored at TJ Maxx on clearance for $7.00.

They sell this sign at a little boutique here for $59.99 I found it at TJ Maxx for $12.99 last year.

This is my little bowl from World Market. I paid $9.99 for it which seems pricey but it is bamboo. I used it to replace the nasty old bowl I had my rocks in. Isn't it pretty.

This lamp I got for free! I mentioned to my mom that I wanted a lamp so she walked next door and grabbed the one off her desk that just happened to match the other one I had PERFECTLY! I also got the table for free. It was left here by the old owners. I love this stupid table.

I got this little stool thing from couch guy also. ALSO FOR FREE! (along with the coffee table in Rob's room). I stuck this in the laundry/mud room for Rob to put his shoes on when he gets ready in the morning.

I took photos of Rob's room all done too. I'll post those up in the morning. His room is pretty fucking rad if I do say so myself. Every man needs their own room!

Makes you wonder

Did I ever tell you that once upon a time my husband was a post man? Well he was. Back in the day he was a post man. Funny shorts and hat included. He told me once that when he was delivering mail he used to stop at his girlfriends house for "lunch." You know, lunch in bed. Ever since he told me that I've looked at my postmen differently. The guy at my old house always had a little spring in his step and I couldn't help but wonder, is that because he just came from his lovers house, or is it because he's about to stop and have "lunch" somewhere near by.

Now my husband works somewhere that has drivers and he tells me how some of his guys go home and take naps during their routes. I was totally stunned. That never occurred to me. So now of course I look at all my employees and wonder if they are secretly napping somewhere.

That reminds me of the time I pulled into one of my local favorite eateries to find one of my guys parked in back NAPPING in his truck.

Do you guys have any secret things you do at work? Like the girl in my office who ALWAYS uses our stamps to mail her bills. Or the person at my husbands work who uses the laminating machine for non work related things.

What kinds of sneaky things do you do at work? Nap, have "lunch," borrow office supplies?

And also, have any of you had "lunch" at the work place, like on premises? I have once but not at my own work place, at my boyfriends work place. And it was fucking cold!

Building a home office

I finally have a desk! That means I can finally ORGANIZE a desk. I have picked up a few new things that I just love. The first are these oversized clothespins. I found them for $8.99. Pottery Barn sells something similar for almost $30.00. I love them. I put bills to pay in them and things to do. I got a green and a white one.

About a month ago Dooce featured these files on her style page. The moment I saw them I fell in love. I knew I would be getting an office soon so I went online and started researching files. I found so many awesome ones, but something kept drawing me back to the pink and green. Before I knew what was happening I was clicking order and a few days later they were on my doorstep!
I purchased these boxes in blue, white and green. They retail for $21.00 on See Jane Work but while I was roaming through TJ Maxx I spotted them clearanced for $7.00 and $7.99. I snapped those bad boys right up and I now keep them on the shelf behind my desk. One holds all of Brandons school papers and art work. One holds everything of Codis and one holds all of Rob and I's romanitcal things.
I have picked up various other things, like a desk top box for documents or the cutest little napkin box that I now use as Rob's "in" box. Meaning stop throwing away your fucking receipts and put them on my desk!

I have a small wishlist. This desk top tray, which price wise is totally unreasonable and unless TJ Maxx somehow gets it in I will never own. But still ISN'T IT RAD!

This adorable little desktop calendar! It has a different page for every month and is eco friendly.

And for my birthday Rob is buying me this. I love the movie Office Space, and if you haven't seen it, the red Swingline makes no sense but, I sort of feel like the red Swingline is to the office what a Kitchenaid is to the kitchen.
I have other little things I want of course but I can't find them all online. I've done great shopping at Ross and TJ Maxx though. I'm finding amazing deals. I purchased the most awesome bamboo bowl to hold the rocks that Rob brings me and I got some perfect wooden utensils that hang on the wall. They were FREE as they came out of one of these old houses when we were cleaning them. I took pictures of some of the great items I have acquired for free or very little money and as soon as I upload the other 100 pictures on my camera I will post them. I think some of it is pretty neat!

And then there is that

Me: Alright Brandon time to shoe fly
Brandon: No mom you're a shoe fly
Me: Well then you're a horse fly
Brandon: Well then your a fucking fly
Me: I'm a funky fly
Brandon: No mom your a FUCKING FLY
Me: Ummm. Go tell your daddy that!