The Best Invention EVER!

Last weekend while perusing the Sunday ads, I spotted the Schick Quattro Trim Style for women! This is a razor with 4 blades AND a waterproof bikini trimmer on the other end! I loved the idea of trimming in the shower, so I decided to give it a shot. I have been using a razor with 3 blades for years... I cannot believe how close of a shave this thing can get! Not to mention, trimming that bikini area is a breeze now!

Look Out for Mama Bear!

I know that life isn't fair... hell, I know that more than most! My daughter (17-yr old step-daughter) has gotten the short end of the stick! Her "mother" has emotionally abused her for years, physically abused her on occasion, manipulated her, moved her thousands of miles away from her close-knit family, treated her as her own personal slave, and told her to move out several times. This is all VERY heart-breaking to me!

Yesterday, we finally got her "mother" to agree on the flight arrangements for both the kids to fly home. She had one final demand that we will not agree to... unfortunately, this set off a domino effect. Her and her sister started a full on psychological warfare with my daughter. Long story, short... Hannah will NOW be returning home, for good, on June 9th! The living situation she has been forced to endure for the last 7 months is absolutely unacceptable.

During all of the "discussions", I was practically hyperventilating and having panic attacks. Mama Bear made an appearance last night... when she comes out, I only see red. I want to protect my kids from anything and anyone... I don't care who you THINK you are! It's probably a good thing she is so many miles away, or I may be in a jail cell this morning. (No worries... Nothing murderous!)

In the end, I'm realizing that no matter how hard this is on me... God put me in these kids lives for a reason... and I'm beginning to understand that more and more!

Imagine all of that combined with being dizzy and nauseated! Yeah, it gets more fun! I have some liquid in my inner ears, causing my balance to be completely off. The meds make me SO tired! So, no driving for me for 2 - 3 weeks... good thing we'll be in Vegas for a good part of that time!

Makes you wonder how none of us are in the Nut House!

You're Fired!

Back in January, I was fired from a job for the very first time in my life. The funny part is, I quit 2 times prior to that! It was a mutual departure, none-the-less. At the time, I was struggling with depression and anxiety, not to mention the fight to keep my family intact was a losing battle. So, working wasn't quite in my cards! Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I was fired... it was an honest, stupid mistake that could have happened to anyone in the same situation! So, I was fired with a rehirable status... YAY!

I received a phone call from my old boss... yes, the same one who fired me... to see if I wanted to come back in a different position. I've been so excited about this, because I'm studying to get my AS in Early Childhood Education... and this particular job is PERFECT! The timing is better, and so-on-and-so-forth.

Last night, I got a call from the same old boss to let me know there has been a mistake and I'm not "rehirable" after all. I am very bummed about this... I miss the kids, my co-workers, and a purpose each day. She is very angry by this realization and is trying to work around it. Meanwhile, I've basically been fired again... before I even started!

While dealing with this, I'm also frustrated with the process of flying my stepchildren home from living with their "mother" in the Cayman Islands. She is making every step of these arrangements as difficult as possible... ranging from requiring so much time between layovers, to unaccompanied minor issues (these issues are in her own head), all the way to completely refusing to pay any portion of the children's airfare. My husband has certain rights under WA state law that prohibits her from keeping his children from him... maybe, she needs to read up on family law a little more. Over the past couple of years, I've researched this so much, I should be studying to be a paralegal!

At this time, I think we're buying one-way tickets for both kids just to get them home. We'll have to figure out the return flight for Josh later. I know she's doing this because she doesn't want Josh to see his father at all... apparently, she can be mom and dad? Who needs their father, right? WRONGO BUCKO!

Good times! Thank God, we leave for vacation next Wednesday!

Wordless Wednesday

Maddi experiencing one of her first ferry rides outside... she loved the wind!

Velkommen til Poulsbo


I spent a good portion of my childhood in Poulsbo... I rarely go back for visits. Not that I'm THAT far... just a ferry ride or so away. When I was a teenager, I remember wondering why anyone in their right mind would VISIT Poulsbo... you could always tell which people were the tourists: you know the folks taking pictures of EVERYTHING! Well, I am now that person! LOL

This weekend was Viking Fest weekend in Poulsbo... crazy, madness! Now, when I was much younger... heavy on the much... I LOVED it! We used to "cruise" in our cars through downtown Poulsbo... like we were cool! And, in my early 20's, we used to show up at the Viking House some time in the afternoon and drink Mary's (the bartender) yummy Long Island Iced Teas until, um, 2am ish! The Viking House isn't even there anymore!

It is quite a different experience with the hubs, a toddler and a chihuahua! Not so much fun! So, we pretty much bailed on the Viking Fest experience!

We spent most of our weekend hanging out with my good friend, Karla and her family. I remember when we were BFF's <- Before that was even a term! She is now married and has 2 amazing kids... the really cool part is that they're living in the house Joel grew up in! I always thought that it would be the greatest thing to have roots like that... although, maybe not have the family SO close <- I'm sure Karla would agree with that! I considered showing up with a bunch of daisies and a bottle of Strawberry Hill Boonesfarm for old times sake (Our favorites back in the day), but I wasn't sure how that would be interpreted... LOL!

Anyway, it got me to thinking about how much I missed that friendship. Over the years, you lose touch with people, but there are always a few you often think and wonder about. Why don't I just pick up the phone and call? I don't know that answer! But I'm very glad that I spent so much time with the "Rogers"!

Our ferry rides over the weekend were Maddi's first!



Maddi loved the ferry rides!

Girlfriendology

I found this "girlfriend" book today:


"There’s a new book on a group of girlfriends whose friendships have endured for forty years - and about the strong bond, wonderful benefits and amazing relationships of a group of eleven girls who grew in to ten women. The book, The Girls from Ames, shares the story of how friendship has endured moves, life changes, sickness, aging parents and even the loss of one of their girlfriends. It’s a touching reminder of why we NEED girlfriends."Girlfriendology, May 2009


You should read the whole article.