Simply Stacy

But I Thought He Knew Me

So, my new address....not so far removed from my old address.  Actually on the same road.  I moved about seven miles north of my old house, that I have lived in for roughly 15 years.  It is a fairly large road and long for a country road.  I mean it actually has stripes.  And having said that you can live on the same road but move communities. 

I was known in the old community.  Not the bad kind of known, as in there "she" goes again, but known as in that's where Stacy lives.  But of all people who were in and out of that community...the UPS man knew me.

I have always been an online shopper.   It comes from living in the middle of nowhere.  There is no Target or Old Navy in sight, much less Polo or anything of the sorts.  So mail order becomes your friend.  I am by no means UPS's biggest residental customer, but the UPS man knew me.

I have ordered five different packages since being in my new location and for some unGodly reason the brown truck cannot find that house.  It is on the same road.  It is marked on the road.  I have called and given detailed instructions.  Still, it takes them a few extra days each time to actually find it...even though the UPS man knew me.

So this time, the package was stuff for Charlie's birthday party and some of his gifts.  I was expecting it a week early.  (I'm thinking that's plenty of time for their extra two days of searching for the obvious)  It never came.  I called and gave directions.  It still didn't come.  Then I track the package and it says delivered.  What?  I look everywhere.  No package.  But I thought they were on the right track this time...after all, I thought the UPS man knew me.

I called back to the local UPS center and talk with the man who patiently waits for me to locate the tracking number and he looks into it. 

UPS guy:  "Your package was delivered mam."

Me: "Well, It's not here."

UPS guy:  "It says front door."

Me:  "I'm standing on the front porch and I got nothing."

UPS guy:  "Hmmm..."

Me:  "Is that a good Hmmm or a bad Hmmm?"

UPS guy:  "Oh, wait they address corrected your package."

Me:  "Address corrected?  It had the right address on it.  I am standing at the right address and I got nothing!"

UPS guy:   "Says here it was delivered to 7115."

Me:  "That's my old address.  How did this happen?"

UPS guy:  "Apparently the driver knew you."

Ah, I knew the UPS man knew me!  Just gotta train the new driver.  I expect by Christmas he will know me too.

Got the package and all is good. And a little sticky note lives in the truck that delivers to my house....please don't address correct 4023 that's her ex's house now. 

Fall Break...LSU party, pumpkins and carving!

Yes the boys were out all week for Fall Break.  It was great to get to spend some time with them.  They actually went shopping with me one day, and we all made it home alive.   They got some cool new play clothes and that was why it was tolerable. They are only good shopping for them.  We vegged out all the next day.  I don't think we even got dressed.  It was great.  I needed a day like that. 

One of the best things about the week was that they are old enough now to get up, fix their own cereal, juice, turn on the TV or play with games.  Which buys me about an hour or two to sleep in.  It was great.  Usually it was Charlie who came in to wake me and there is nothing sweeter than that little voice saying, "Mama?"  I love him.  He's so sweet. 

Then Friday we decided to take off to Canton and see what the pumpkin patch and corn maize there was like.  We had a great time. It was offically not open to the public but the owner was sweet enough to let us go through everything anyway.  We got there as some field trips were wrapping up, and when they were finished we had the run of the place.  It was great!  Britt got to shoot the corn cannon about 40 times.  Then we rode the cow train for about 15 minutes.  They played on a pile of hay and a corn pit.  Then a hayride up to the maize and pumpkin patch.  He even took us through their haunted barn with the lights turned on.  (The boys would never have gone through it otherwise)  It was so nice of him to let us do everything and it was so funny to be the only ones there.  There's a new photo album on the side of the trip and the carvings.

On the way home we stopped by and let the boys see the lab at the VA.  They were totally impressed with it.  Of course they are seven and nine and it doesn't take much.  However, the tour did include getting to see bacteria growing on a plate, touching a bag of blood and viewing blood slides under the microscope.  Britt said, "Mama you are a scientist."  I guess he thought I was joking all this time. 

That night we went to the church for the Girls Gone Country night and yes they stayed in the childcare.  They didn't care because they got to play out on the playsets with friends.  They were begging to stay and play after our activities were over.  Speaking of activities.  We had a blast. We did line dancing, roasted marshmallows, had a hayride, had a few photo ops and apple bobbing.  I got one.  Here's the proof:

Saturday morning the first thing I hear is Charlie's sweet voice.  He crawled into bed with me and said, "Morning Mama.  Is there anything you want to say?"  I came back with, "Umm, good morning?"  He said, "Nooo, Happy Birthday Eve." 

We got things together and went to Wiggles and Giggles for his LSU birthday party.  I added a photo album of it on the side bar.  They had a blast.  It was really nice to just show up and not have to clean house, bake a cake, or buy a cake, get plates, all of it was taken care of.   Pizza, cake, plates, balloons, everything.  It was wonderful.  I was acutally able to take my own pictures of the cake and presents etc.  They had a blast!  

Today, on his actual birthday, he opened presents first thing.  It was his request that I save him some presents for his real birthday not the birthday eve.  He is so funny.  A few bendaroo creations later, it was off to church.  Then lunch with Mimi.  Man it was so good to eat Mom's roast.  The boys had a birthday party to go to and I had a shower.  So it was pretty much a eat and run...sorry Mimi. 

Tonight we carved the pumpkins the boys got Friday at the patch.  This is the first year that I let the boys do all of the carving themselves.  Well, I cut the top off for them and helped them clean the insides.  After that they did all the work.  They drew their own patterns on them with dry erase marker and then started carving.  They did a great job don't ya think?

This crazy life

So the catch up posts haven't gotten done yet.  I say yet because they are coming.  I just don't have much free time anymore.   I guess I am going to have to break down and burn the pics to a disc and do it at work.  That seems to be when I have the most free time.  Ironic isn't it?

I am working out tonight...AKA tonight is my last night for a week.  It is always a good feeling to know that after a few more hours I will be off for a week.  Also, I will see my boys, and that's always fun.  This week is fall break for them so I am especially excited.  I don't know what we will get into but I can assure you we will find something fun to do. 

Charlie has a birthday coming up and we have a party planned at the new Wiggles and Giggles who according to Britt sounds too young for a 7 year old.  I would bet that I know one 9 year old that is going to be in there jumping will all of those 6 and 7 year olds that are way too old for that kind of place. 

Only nine more hours to go!!!  Yipppeee!

Random dozen Meme

Here's my take one the Random Dozen Meme...play along if you like check it out at the Lid's blog.  She hosts a weekly Meme with a mr linky and everything:

Let the questions begin:

1. Tell me the absolute best way to watch a movie.

In the theater, it would have to be with my guys complete with popcorn, candy and a huge drink for us to share.

At home on my couch in my comfy pjs under a blanket in the dark.

2. Do you ever think about your own funeral? If so, do you have specific ideas about how you would like it to be?

I have thought about it and honestly I don't care what it looks like where it is nothing along that line.  What I do care about is whether people show up.  There is probably some disorder out there for people who have a fear no one will show at their funeral.  If it is, have it, so be there!

3. Are you more of a giver or a taker?

I am the baby of the family so I would have to say taker.  But I am working on that.  Doesn't that count for anything?

4. Vacations: planned activities and schedules, or play it by ear?

Play it by ear...ALWAYS.  Schedules make me crazy.  I love to just get in the car and go.

5. What is one often overlooked item in your home that needs to be cleaned regularly?

I am not going to touch on the list of things outside of the daily/weekly cleaning.  You know the OMG what is that and why is it under your bed list.  I am going to just stick with dusting.  I hate to dust.  I am going to blame it on a little known fact shared with me that majority of household dust is made up of dead skin cells.  EWWW gross.  I know should make you clean it more often but EWWW gross!!

6. Name a cause that means a lot to you.

Blood donation.  I work in a blood bank and I have seen first hand how it can save lives.  When is the last time you gave blood?

7. Do you eat a regular old peanut butter jelly sandwich, or do you customize it? And by the way, jelly or no jelly?

I rarely eat them but when I do it is the regular old PB&J.  Even though sometimes I mix them before spreading them.  Gives it a whole different taste.  Great now I want one.

8. If we were having a conversation in person, how would I know if you were nervous?

Fidgety hands.  Thats why I love winter.  Jackets and jeans make perfect places to contain my hands.  Also I will not make eye contact if I'm really nervous.

9. Do you have an elaborate bedtime routine, or just the basics of tooth brushing and jammies?

I am a fall into bed kinda person.  No routine at all, the basics and I'm out.

10. Have you ever regretted something you wrote on your blog?

Not yet.  But I have learned never say never.

11. Has anyone ever told you that you look like a famous person or celebrity? Did you agree?

 I can't think of anyone other than my mom.  And she's not famous but I do agree.

12. If you were going to dedicate a song to a loved one or friend, what would the song be and to whom would it be dedicated?

Bad boys...the theme from Cops for my boys.  I sing it to them often.  (I started to go with you are my sunshine but that just seemed a little sappy for Britt)

 

Catch up post #1

Wow, when I started looking back on the pictures that I uploaded from my camera, it was a bit overwhelming.  I realized that I haven't blogged much at all.  So I plan to hit the high spots in a few posts to catch you up.  

First, I will point out that I uploaded a couple of albums today as well.  Enjoy.

I will start with Charlie at his school Easter egg hunt.  He was so excited to get to play in the park and hunt eggs.   I got to run around the park and slide with him and his friends.  They had a blast.  Then we hid a LOT of eggs.  Well, I say hid...it was more like put them out on the ground for them to find.  They were only kindergarteners after all. 

Charlie was so proud of himself.  He found the most eggs in his class.  He was running all over picking them up like a machine.  He definately inherited more of my competitiveness than Britt.  He still has the sweet nature behind it though.  He was more than happy to share his eggs with his classmates that didn't get as many.  He is such a sweet boy.

 

Then came Easter morning. This was the first holiday after I moved out.  We were all trying to figure things out but the boys didn't have any problem figuring out what to do with the candy and toys that the Easter Bunny brought.

They were so excited that the Easter bunny had found them even at my house.  And that they got exactly what they liked, Charlie a transformers basket and Britt a camoflauge one.  That was the first time my house really felt like home.  They were so excited playing and eating chocolate bunnies. It made my heart full.

Then it was time to get the sugar high boys ready for church. They wore classic white and khaki linen.  They were so handsome as always.  But there is something about Easter morning that makes them even more cute.  Don't you think?

 

It is getting late and I am going to end it here for now.  There is more to come.  And I promise it won't be as long in between posts next time. 

 

The fat lady has sung...

Well, It has been a long few months but my divorce is final.  Divorce itself not so great but being through with the whole process is a wonderful thing.  It is very taxing and there's nothing worse than living under the knowledge that everything you do is being watched so that it can be used against you. 

I'm sure all three of you that are still reading the blog (sorry the posts have been so few and far between, but see paragraph one), here's where we stand.  We have down the middle joint custody, he gets them 7 days and I get them 7 days.  As for the finances, we worked out a deal.  I won't bore you with the details.  I feel like it was what should have happened in the beginning but I understand that one must get to that point on his/her own time.   The boys have adjusted amazingly well.  I honestly thought it would take them longer. We could learn some good lessons on how kids deal with change! But as for the divorce itself, I'm like Forrest Gump...that's all I have to say about that.  Although, I'm sure I will make reference from time to time.

I am hoping to start posting more and get caught up on editing pictures. I may actually catch you up on the past few months.  I have some time to myself now that the boys are back in school.  The week that I have them I don't work so that gives me all day to get some things done. Some of those things include fixing up the boys' rooms.  I haven't done much to them since moving in.  Now I have the time and the will to do it. 

And the winner is...

Work.  We all do it in some shape form or fashion.  Some have traditional jobs, some work from home, and others they work just not for monetary gain.  All of us dread it at some point.  It's just human nature to want to do something fun instead every now and again. 

So, to combat that feeling, I try to have a good time while getting the job done.  I have always been known as "funny" person.  I like to laugh and I love to make others laugh.  After all, laughter is good for the soul.

In my years as a Medical Technologist, I have developed a tradition that has carried on through my entire career.  It is the daily, well almost daily issuing of the DA award.  (That would be Dumba$$)  It is awarded sometimes twice a day if it is a particularly bad day or we have a new batch of Med Students. In all fairness it is quite often awarded to a fellow lab employee and has been often claimed by yours truly because we all have off days. 

Tonight's DA award goes to the surgeon who just called and all but cussed me out because we did not test for WBC (White Blood Cells) in his patient's urine.  After throwing a huge fit about how unacceptable it was, poor quality of care, that he should not have to ask for results as common as that to be included, yada yada yada...

I politely told him that his test was included on the report and that the result was Neg. for Leukocytes.  After a long silence I added, AKA White Blood Cells. 

His response:  Thank you.

He hung up before I could bestow his award!

That Anonymous sure is a wise one!

Got an email today that made me smile.   Thought I would share:

Everything works out in the end.  If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end.

~Anonymous

Geaux Tigers!

I got this by email this week.  Thought it was really cute.  It has been a fun couple of weeks watching LSU baseball.  Nothing is more fun than watching your team as they dominate through all of the regionals, super regionals and then through their side of the bracket in the College World Series.  Texas put up a good fight but in the end the Tigers proved too much for the lone star boys! 

I don't know if it's where I am with so many changes in my life or my approaching birthday that has made me think about what I want to do in this life.  My bucket list in a sense.  One of the things that is definitely on my bucket list is go to Omaha and be present when the tigers win!  I would love to see any of the games at the College World Series but to be there when the Tigers play would be even better!  And it will happen again! 

Overheard...

this past week, a conversation between the boys:

Britt: Do it this way.

Charlie: (Ignoring him)

Britt: This is how you do it..it will work.

Charlie: (still ignoring him)

Britt: HMPH! (swims off frustrated because little bro. not listening)

Charlie: (About five minutes later after he tried it Britt's way) Hey, Britt!  It worked.

Britt:  I told you it would work.  That's why they call me Britt!

Like his name is synonymous with brilliance.  Of course there are a several Britt's in my family that will argue that same point!