I have been Tagged.....

.....so here it goes.

I am suppose to list 8 uniques things about myself. One of my favorite things to do NOT:)!

1. I really do admire the work that fire and policemen do. Having been trained to do part of the job that the fire/rescue personel do, it is not an easy task. I just to do admire one particular person in that field anymore :). This from having to sit in traffic in my downtown area for about 10 minutes at lunch today because of stupid drivers.

2. I have an uncanny ability to remember where I put things, and were things were when I left. In college my twin sister would come into my room and I would know instantly that she was there. The keyboard to the computer would not be exactly where I put it. My friend and sister would make a game of it, for when I came home from class to see if I would figure out what was out of place. They lost a lot. :)

3. I love fresh peaches and fresh strawberries. Can peaches are NOT peaches, not sure what they are but they are not peaches. I do not like peach/strawberry candies or drinks. Just not the same.

4. I cannot stand the smell of coffee. Sorry that might offend some of you. I can not stand the smell of beer or wine either.

5. Being a twin I have the uncanny ability to wear almost the same thing as my twin sister. She hates that!

6. I really do not like cats. The only cat I like is Garfield, the cartoon cat. That might offend some as well. Sorry Dominoe, you were ok.

7. I hate shopping! I only go shopping when I know I need something. I hardly go any other time. I say hardly because my sister drags me out when I visit her.

8. I am a borderline computer geek/hacker. I only use that knowledge when absolutely necessary.

I do not have anyone to tag, so please feel free to list a few unique things about herself if you would like.

Another School Program Over.....

The school year and activities are finally winding down. Last night my oldest had her school program. In preparation for it, I got her hair braided for her part in the play that they put on. She had one of the leading parts in it. I also got 4 dozen cookies for the little reception afterwards. Thanks to a local cookie company that job was easy. The program was great, all the kids did a great job. They all received three awards afterwards, and gave a decorated poem to their parents.

My former spouses parents attending the program last night. They did not make the pre-school program a few weeks ago. I thought that they were just unable to attend. I knew my former spouse knew about the pre-school program and I figured that he told his parents about it as well. I was wrong. He did not tell them until after it was all over with. He then called his mom to let her know about it. I did not know she did not know about it until after I emailed some pictures of the graduate at the program. I figured I could at least do that since she was unable to attend. She responded back to me and thanked me for the pictures and asked me if I could let them know of any special events that the sprouts are in. She would have gladly attended the pre-school one if she had known about it. I told her I could do that if she would like, although I let her son know a long time ago that that was going to be his responsibility to do not mine. Being that these are her only grandchildren, I felt kind of sorry that she had to miss the program.

She made it last night to the program and I have also given her the information to the gymnastics recital that is coming up as well. This woman amazes me most of the time. He husband is handicapped due to a stroke and has been for many years. Her son was a teenager when his dad had the stroke. He rides a motorized scooter when out and about. The program was in the gym and there were alot of wires taped to the floor, so instead of running over them she point him to go around them, and then she came and sat down. Well he did not do or understand what she said, so I had to help him out, because she was to busy with her own stuff going on. She did thank me afterwards and said that she was not paying attention to what he was doing. Par for the course, she was like that when I was married to her son. Everyone would file into the resturant and leave him by himselve to eventually get to wherever they were.

Another interesting happening at the program last night was an encounter with one of the "other women" that was involved in my former spouses life, was at the program as well. I have seen her around town in passing a few times, but never a face to face encounter. This was a person that I knew more than a name to a face. On Friday night, my parents, niece, the sprouts and I met up at a local eatery for dinner after one of the sprouts ball game. My parents had to take the other sprout to her appointment that was in a town 40 miles away from me, at the same time the oldest sprout had a ball game. Their dad has been out of town the last two weeks on vacation, that is why my parents had to help me be at two places at one time. Anyways, when we were being seated the "OW" was a few table from us with what looked like her family. I did not say anything to her and she did not say anything to me. That was fine by me as well. Last night I saw her enter the gym just before the play started, that gave me a warm a fuzzy feeling for the evening.....NOT. Afterwards, I start to take all the stuff outto the car while the sprouts enjoy a cookie or two. On the way back in the building, she was leaving the building and for that moment it was just the two of us, and quick eye glance at each other and that was it. Neither of us spoke, but it was that moment that I could tell she knew I knew about her. There was really this calm that came over me. I knew there would be a possibility of running into her some day and I truly had never prepared for that day. Who knows maybe the next time I will extend a simple greeting and move on. Would have been interesting if the ex was there I think, but at least I did not have to deal with that either. Well off for the next sprout adventure, I have two left this week before the long weekend.

I have been tagged.......

I have been tagged. Here are the rules:

1. Go to Wikipedia and put in your birthday, without the year, in the search bar. 2. List on your blog 3 events, 2 births, 1 death and 1 holiday that happens(ed) on your birthday. 3. Then tag 5 more friends to do it!

August 5

3 Events

Henry I was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey

The Mayflower departs Southhampton England

Ronald Reagan fires 11,359 striking air traffic controllers.

2 Births

Neil Armstrong

Patrick Ewing

1 death

Marilyn Monroe

1 Holiday

There were only 2 so I will listed them both.

Burkina Fasco - Independence Day

Croatia - Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day

No Friends to tag, they already have been tagged. Please feel free to participate if you so desire.

Stainglass Piece and Graduation

What Graduation? My youngest graduated from pre-school last night. They had a little program first which was a dinosaur theme. 15 "dinosaurs" WOW! They all did very well. Then out they came in their cap and gowns.

I had to take most of the day off from work, because my daycare person had her baby that morning. So, I had to scramble my day around in a hurry. It did not help that the school had a two hour fog delay which turned to a three hour delay, which really messed up my day. I dropped the oldest off at school finally, zipped a few blocks away to pick the youngest up from preschool and get her to her hair appointment. She got her hair braided for the festivities later on that night. She and I spent the rest of the day together. She had no nap, and I really should have worked on the stain glass piece that I wanted to get done. I was up in the air about getting it done for the preschool teacher to have at the program or to deliver it this morning for the last day of class. I decided today would be better. So here is a picture of the piece I did the last two all nighters. It is a duplicate of one I did a year ago, but this one has a couple of different colors in it. The sprout in the pic is my youngest and the other is her teacher who was the recipient of the piece. The piece is 12" x 13".

A great effort......

Summer ball has arrived for the sprouts this past weekend. On Friday night the oldest had the first game of the season against a team coached by Mr. "Not Here For Fun, Here To WIN". We finally scored a run in our last at bats, but the other team ended with 21 runs. My sprout did not get on base, but had some nice foul balls. Will have to work on that a bit more. Our team has a lot of kids that are in their first year at this level, mine included in that category. They played well for their first time out this year.

On Saturday morning, it was the youngest sprouts turn to play. In this league, everyone hits and gets to runs the bases. They hit off a tee most of the time. It is fun watching the ball roll past kids who are pre-occupied with other things going on. They all have fun and that is the important thing.

On a different note, I actually got to enjoy a nice weekend by myself. It has been a long time since I have gotten to do that. Once in awhile is kind of nice. The sprouts dad picked them up at 7am Saturday morning, and I confirmed that they were going to be at the ballgame later that morning, because I know they are going to Indianapolis sometime on Saturday as well. He told me that earlier in the week. He asked for directions to a party that the sprouts were invited to later that evening, and I gave him the information knowing full well they will not be attending. He called me later to have me bring ball pants to the game because the ones they have are to small for the sprout to wear, and he asked a few more questions about the sprouts invitation later that evening again.

After the game, I tended to my car. Finally got the tires rotated, and the oil changed. It was nice just waiting for those to be done without having the sprouts wonder when they can go because they are tired of waiting. After the car issues were taken care of, I went and got a new cell phone. I was tired of the one I had had for 5 years, and was tired of some issues with it. After about 15 minutes at the phone place I left with new phone in hand and it was not even noon yet. I had no idea what to do for the rest of the day. Actually I wanted to finish up my spring yard work. I had lunch and was putting off the yard work because it was overcast out and I did not feel like getting wet today, but eventually I headed out to conquer to tasks. The ex called late in the afternoon to let me know that he was not going to make the girls party tonight, that they were still in INDY. This was not a shock to me. Not sure why he even called to tell me. They were in Indy to spend time with her son and his wife. I finally finished up my yard work around 9pm or so, and glad that is done.

On Sunday, my mom and I went shopping after church. I had some gift cards I wanted to use up. We had a nice time. I found an outfit I liked, which made the day even better. I hate shopping, and am very picking on the clothes I wear as well. But, all in all, it was a good day.

The rest of this week is filled with, work ball practices, appointments for the sprouts, gymnastics, preschool graduation, about 4 programs to write to finish up an online class that I am taking and a stainglass piece that needs to be done by Thursday night and I have not cut the glass yet. Yes, that will probably be a couple of all nighters to get that one done. So, I am off to tackle some of my list of things to get done this week.

I love being a twin.....

Sunday I went to my twin sisiters church for my nephews dedication. All of our family on my side were there except for my sprouts, and some of my brother-in-laws family were there as well. I think there were 15 of us total. We arrived a bit early for the second service which is when the dedication was going to be. So I headed down the one hallway and this lady smiles at me and I knew then she thinks I am my twin sister. She says Good Morning and I play along, because that is the fun part of being a twin for me. :) I come back and my mom steps up to me and tell me that the lady did indeed think I was my sister. My sister was in the first service with her daughter. The first service is a childrens service.

Late on while we are waiting for the first service to exit the sanctuary another lady steps up to me and asks me to confirm that my nephews name is spelled correctly on this paper that she put in front of me. Of course I confirm it and then say that I am not his mother however, but I will play along for fun.

We finally take our seats in the sanctuary and another lady steps up to me smiling, but has a confussed look on her face. I finally answer her unasked question, and say I am the twin sister. She finally laughs and wondered because she thought my sister had darker hair. She does, we have the before and after pictures from hair coloring. I have the before look and my sister has the after look. I keep telling her that when she finds a color I like, then I will color my hair. Truth be told I have colored it a couple of times, but honestly have better places to use the money it take to color my hair.

Needless to say I enjoyed my Sunday Morning.

Benefit WHO?......

I wish I knew the exact rules of my ex's game..... I called him Wednesday afternoon to see if the youngest sprout has practice. I do not have the number of the coach, and ex is an assistant coach for that team. No practice due to the rainy weather, I figured as much, but it has been know to rain in my town and not the town where practice was to be taking place. I am in a good mood now because we can be to church on time tonight, another one of those in two places at the same time nights. Before I end the conversation with him, he asks me if it will be ok for him to drop off the sprouts an hour earlier on Saturday morning, because his wife is having surgery and has to be an hour away at the time he normally drops them off to me. The only reason I was having the sprouts on Saturday was because he was to be working that day, so I get them when he is working, but now he is not working because of the surgery on Saturday. Not sure about you, but I have never really heard of scheduled surgeries on a Saturday, but that is not my problem. He asked me, if I wanted him to ask his mom instead to watch the sprouts or not, but I should have already had plans for them. I told him that was his call. If he wanted to ask his mom fine, if he wanted to drop them off early fine. He knows that I would have picked them up the night before because we just got done arguing over that with the lawyers a month or so ago. He decides to drive 13 miles out of his way to drop them off by 6am which means they get up around 5 - 5:30am.

I am ready for the day when the sprouts arrive at the house. I finish up a few things, and take them out for breakfast. We do not go out for breakfast very often. They had a great time. I went into work for a few hours, and they had a nice time watching a movie in my office as well. They enjoy hanging out in my office. We head home and since it is a nice day out. We spent the entire day outside. I worked in the yard and they played with everything possible that we had to play with. I tried to get them to take a nap, but was not successful.

The ex called me around 4pm and wanted to know if it would be easier for me if he picked up the sprouts tonight instead of in the morning. That way they could get to sleep in. I told him no that would not be easier, and they could have slept in this morning if he would have let me pick them up the night before. I had to break the silence on his end by asking him yes or no. He just said that he was planning on having them sleep in. He just wanted to sleep in and not have to get up to pick them up at their normal time at 7am. That is when he picks them up the next day when he gets off work. I had to be ready early anyways to head up to my sisters for my nephews dedication at church, and I did not have the laundry done to have the sprouts clothes packed for the next few days at the dads anyways. So, they spend the night with me.

I finished the yard work and we got everything put away. We cleaned up for dinner, and headed out for a bit to eat. After dinner we layed on the couch and watched a movie for all of about 15 minutes, they were passed out then. Which I knew they would crash early as well.

I got up early in the morning Sunday morning and did a few loads of laundry and got the sprouts clothes packed and ready for when their dad arrived. They were already to go when he pulled up to the house. The wife was with him as well, that was a surprise to me, since she just had surgery the day before. They were off and I was on my way as well to my sisters.

Freeing up the schedule....

Thanks to the rain which should be sticking around all day, I should not have to worry about trying to be at two places at one time tonight. The sprouts Wednesday night activities are ending tonight for the remainder of the school year. So we should be able to make the awards night on time, since I am sure ball practice for the youngest sprout will be cancelled. I will be the last one to find that out today. I always look forward to having my spring and summer evenings free with the sprouts. They love being outside. Next week I am kind of hoping it rains on Tuesday night, so that I do not have to worry about being at two places at once. I am ending my one and only night activities to myself until fall.

New Treasures and Memories.....

I was cleaning out some boxes that I moved out of the sprouts rooms almost a year ago to paint. I finally got tired of them sitting around the house. They contained some of my "treasures" from many moons ago, and some items that were obtained through out my marriage way back when as well. Some of the things I decided to keep, most though will go out with the trash later on this week. What perfect timing, it happens to be city wide clean up this week, so everyone had their junk out for others to seek out their treasures. Some of the stuff that I pitched could have probably been placed on the curb for others to discover their treasures, but I just decided to pitch them. There was only one item, that I waivered on briefly, but only until I reached the garbage bag.

Some may be asking why I did not ask him if he would like the stuff. My theory is this. He has been gone for over two years. If he really wanted it, he would have asked by now. I have delivered some things to him within the past year, because I really was not comfortable with tossing them. I was comfortable with tossing these items.

I do not toss pictures, and I came across a few of them this weekend as well. Some of the pictures were of the two of us before we were married. After thumbing through them for a bit, I boxed them back up and they will head to storage with the rest of my stuff. Some day I will weed that stuff out.

Speaking of weeds, I finally hacked down the jungle, commonly know as my front yard this weekend as well. After two passes with the lawn mower, the sprouts could finally play in the front yard without me having to go find them. :) That also made it easier for me to puts a few items out to the curb for city clean up days as well. My items were gone this morning when I woke up, I did hear a few of the items go around 1am when everyone else were out doing their "shopping" and had no consideration for the time of night that they were out and about. At least this time, they left most everyone else's stuff on the curb if they did not want it. Usually they sort through the piles of stuff and leave half of it in the street. That makes for interesting travels to work in the morning. My neighbor, mowed his yard as well, except it was just enough area to put his treasures out. Apparently appearance of your yard is important, when placing your trash to the curb. I only mowed to keep the sprouts visible.

My great morning part 2......

Well after arriving late to work, I get and online chat message for the ex's wife. Amazingly enough that did not surprise me. I knew she would try to contact me after everything that went on this morning. This time I just chose not to respond back AT ALL. That did not stop her from sending lengthy messages though. My favorite one was this one, I edited out the names... "I am really working on getting (ex spouse) to just talk with you but as you can see not much success on my part. I am sorry for that. I will keep working on him. He is a great guy, just short on talking with you, but I think he has always been short on talking with you."

Yep, he has always been short on talking period and now she has that figured out. Of course she wrote this... "I would really like some good communication between everyone." before she sent the previous message. All I can say is that we do not always get what we want out of life now do we. I am not going to be the great communicator with her...yes, my life may have a few less bumps in the road if I go through her since he does not communicate well with me, but I am not going down that path. When she tells me what I have to do for the sprout for a school field trip that they signed everything for sprout to attend, I draw the line. They did everything without notifing me of it, but now I have to provide everything for it. Now there is great communication between everyone.

I still talk to him about the sprouts schedules and I get with him on whether he is going to be taking them to the ball practices that they signed them up for or am I going to have to do it because he is to busy on his day off to do so. Some of those questions I have answers to some he still has to get back with me, after he checks the calendar. Which usually means, when I get back to my full time job in two days to get on that computer to check that calendar because I only have dial up here at the house and do not want to wait that long to check the calendar here. If I am lucky I will not have to remind him of it. I never have been that lucky of a person. But I am just so blessed to have communication from the wife and not the ex spouse.

I was even more thrilled when my youngest sprout informed me that her sister told the wife that I do not buy anything for them, I always just spend my money on me. Not sure where that came from, but that one really hurt. Considering that I just bought them summer clothes, and roller skates, and ball equipment for the summer as well. I did by myself a new bowling ball a month ago, as for clothes I have not bought a new outfit in probably 3 years. At least not with any of my money. My family usually gives me gift cards at Christmas for me to buy some clothes with. I still have some yet to spend. I have not decided how to approch that issue yet either. I probably will just let it be between the youngest and myself right now.

I Can not do it!!!!

I can not deal with a 40yr guy that has no control of his life! I am at a complete lost on how to deal with the sprouts dad. He asked me to switch weekends a few weeks ago. The weekends he wanted to switch are coming up in May. Him thinking that far ahead if a major feat in itself, because I can never get him to tell me whether he can watch the sprouts in a couple of days without having him get back with me because he has to look at the calendar first. Anyways, I orginally I told him No on the weekend switch because the girls had a year end church picnic that weekend, and they have been looking forward to going to it for a long time. They have missed the last two because they were with their dad and he would not take them. He said that he would put it on the calendar and take them. Yeah, right! He is taking the sprouts to INDY that day and I know they will not be back in time for the picnic. They are going to be taking his wifes daughter, husband and two kids to the airport because their furlough is over and they are heading back into the mission field. Of course he says he is preparing the sprouts in that they may not get back until late, which the oldest says that it will be ok to go to the picnic late. She does not realize that late means not going. I confronted him with that this morning when he called me to tell me that the oldest was not going to school this morning. Another issue I am not going to get into. Apparently she was not feeling well. I am not there I can not make that decision. I did talk to her for a bit. She brought up that she wants to go to florida over next spring break with her dad instead of spending spring break with me. GREAT!!! NOT!

You see back in March, he and I sat down to discuss the sprouts and he asked me then if he could take the sprouts to florida next spring break. I told him NO that was my year to have them for spring break and I already have plans for them. I would have changed my plans to this year, but this was his year to have them for spring break, and I was not going to interfere with his time. Which he did not take them for the week, this year. He asked me what I had planned for them, and I told him. Well the next day the sprouts got mad at me, and wanted to know why they had to go to Pennsylvania, which is where I was going to take them. I was mad because I knew he told them, because he was the only person that knew the spring break plans. When I called him up he said that his wife must of said something and that he was sorry because he did not think she would say anything to the sprouts. Well this morning when I was talking to the oldest, I was informed that they want to go to Florida for spring break next year. Wonder who put that in her head again. Of course when I asked him about it he said that the sprouts brought it up. NOT without some coaching I am sure of that. I love being made to be the bad parent by his wife.

My youngest who is 5, is now complaining because I get her hair cut all the time, and that she wants it to grow out long. One of the reason is because his wife is growing her hair long, and she use to have long hair before, treatment of cancer. I have told my youngest, that when she can take care of her hair and brush it herself then she can have her hair long, until then if I have to do it, it will be short, because it does not tangle as bad then.

My life just seems to be a game of not knowing the rules that he keeps changing on me.

I so miss.......

.....people with common sense. :) The school systems these days are so not right. Mind you that yes I did attend a public school and there are many educators in my family and in the ex's family as well. I grew up and went to school in a different state. There were no book rental fees when I went to school. The schools had to go to the tax payers for more money. Which was interesting at times. I have a first grader and have to pay around $380 for lunch and book rentals this year for just one child. As a single parent of two children that is a big stretch for me right now. Yes, I finally have gotten some of that money from the ex, after I had to drag him to court for it, so needless to say it cost me a lot more to get a few bucks from him. I supposedly make to much to get assistance from the school as well. Funny thing about that is, a friend of mine went to sign up a child for school and since she was in between address because they were building a home. The school listed them as homeless, and since they were "homeless" then they could get assistance with the school fees, just like that. I thank god for the roof he has put over my head, and the struggles he has chosen me to endure.

I so miss my venting specialist. Only because it was nice just to chat about the fun and games that I have to play with ex, and he has the rules and I get to figure them out before he changes them on me. Of course the vent specialist would be right about things and then I would have to admit that she was right. I really hate when that happened. :) The ex and I have been in a stalemate for a bit on a field trip for school, for the oldest sprout. They turned in all the paperwork and everything long before they even notified me that there was even a field trip happening. Of course I am to pay for said field trip of sprout, and still have yet to receive any information on it. SO, I will have to go have a chat with the teacher soon, and change some ways that the school information is set home. Normally I get the papers and he gets a set mailed to him from the school per his request to the teacher. He use to give me all the papers if he had the sprouts that evening. Except I never saw that paper, and since he apparently is going to pick and choose what papers I get, guess I will have to make sure they do not go home with the sprouts on his evenings. I have not figured out a better way yet. He did admit that they got the information, and that was it. I love this game of life.

Two places at the same time.....

I never did figure out how to be at two places at one time last night, so I improvised. I took my oldest to her ball practice which got over a half hour later than the start of my bowling league. I figured if I drive fast enough I could make the last two bowling games of the night. I was 45 minutes past the league start time and they were already into the second game. I did make it by the third frame and the other team did allow me to bowl the last two games. We lost both games, of which I threw over my average, and they won the first game which I was not there for and had a score of ten below my average. Just does not add up. Oh well. I managed to get both in and didn't even get my blood pressure up that much in doing so. I did have to take the sprouts with me to bowling which usually ups my stress level, as they like to push all my buttons and forget all of the rules we discussed in the car on the way there, but over all it turned out to be a good evening. I only have to do that one more time. Hopefully my mom will be available to help me out then.

Spring is a scheduling nightmare.....

With the summer ball season coming up for the kids, comes practices now. So now I have to work around gymnastics, church activities, end of school activities, various medical appointments and ball practices, which is actually three different days because they are on different teams this year, and the oldest get to practice twice a week. Along with my last month of bowling and 6 more weeks of teaching/facilitating a class, there is not much time between any event right now.

Luckily, the sprouts dad is willing this year to help out with getting them to their ball practices, something that has not happened the last two years, unless it fell on his night to have them during the week, so that is a little relief. I only have to figure out how to be at two places at once on a couple of days that he is at work, and unable to leave.

I will leave you with a little phrase I use at work: "The difficult we do immediately the impossible just takes a little longer"

What A Weekend.......

At the beginning of last week, I had nothing big planned for the weekend. A conversation with the former spouse changed all of that though. Yes, we communicate a little more now. Last weekend was his weekend to have the sprouts. I was going to have them on Sunday because he had to work, and when he has to work I get the sprouts for the day. He wanted to know if it would be ok for the sprouts to spend Saturday night at his parents house. His mom has been wanting to have them for quite some time, but apparently they could not get there schedules worked out to make that happen, or someone (adult not sprout) has been sick. So, I was more than happy to let them spend the night and most of the day Sunday with the grandparents. It was the first full weekend to myself this year.

Now the dilema came as to what to do for the weekend. On Tuesday, I thought it would be fun to redecorate one of my bathrooms. No sprouts, No problem. I told my mom what I was going to do, and she got on my dad to come down and fixed the toilet. It had a tipping issue, which it has had long before I was divorced. Now was the perfect time to pull it and figured out what it needed. Turns out it needed a complete base for the bolts to function properly. So he pulled that on Saturday and put it back on Monday. The plumbing supply place was closed, until Monday, for the parts that we needed. I already had the room cleared out and all the stuff off the walls, when my dad says "Would you like a switch to turn these 2 lights on and off at once?" He is an Electrican so that was a piece of cake for him. The problem lied in the fact that what I want does not always happen in the time frame that I need it to. I said sure are you going to do it before I paint. Yep, he got it done and changed most of the wiring there as well, he was not happy with who ever did it, some 20+ years ago, before I even moved in. He hooked up a little light for me to see better since most of the light fixtures had to come done to be able to paint. I was all set.

Saturday morning, I started taking off the very old wallpaper and border that was on some of the walls. Got the walls ready for primer and paint. I quit at about 3:00am Saturday night/Sunday morning with not all the walls primed yet. I have a deep closet in this bathroom that took most of my time and the ceiling as well. I know some of you may not even have bothered with the closet, who is going to see it anyways. Well the last people that had the house had that attitude and it was really bad. I am a some what perfectionist when it comes to that stuff. Yes, that is an annoyance to me at times.

Sunday morning came quickly as I had only about three hours of sleep and off to my parents for a shower and to get ready for church. I was painting the only bathroom with a shower in it, and did not want the moisture in the room until I was done. I made it through church and even stayed awake as well, which was a good thing because I was running the computer that puts the worship words and verses up on the screen for all to see.

After church I stopped at the store again and picked up some more supplies for the day. I got right back into finishing the room. My parents came down after church as well. I finally found the colors I wanted to use on Sunday. My mom and I picked some out on Friday night, but did not find any matching rugs and towels that we liked. Apparently that is an issue with some people, not really with me, but I rolled with it for awhile. Saturday I primed with no color picked out yet. I went to a different store and found what I was looking for. I grabbed two different wash cloths to show my mom when she got there. The one color was what we picked out on Friday and she liked the contrasting color as well. Cool! They went and got the color paint that I needed while I finished up priming, and painting the ceiling.

With only a few hours left, before the sprouts where to be back, I started in putting the color on the walls, actually the closet first. What a pain that was. I had to take a little break when the sprouts arrived, but got right back to work, and they were content with just sitting on the couch and watching a movie. They did discover some arts a crafts stuff, so while watching the movie, they created their own master pieces. Only once did the oldest ask if she could help me paint the bathroom. She was ok with, I don't think so today.

At 1am I was done, and had everything picked up and cleaned up, ready for re-assembly Monday. My dad came down while I was at work on Monday with my younger sister that works with him as well, and they put my bathroom back together. With the exception of a few things, because I might change the look of those as well.

I am changing the closet doors for one thing. My dad is going to make them for me, and I am going to put a stainglass panel in the top part of the door. I am pretty excited about that. I think I am going to paint the trim in the room as well, just to change it up a bit. That will not be as big of a project as the whole room was. The only reason I am thinking of that is because the people before me did not care if they got paint on the wood work or not.

A funny note though, I patched up a couple of spots on the walls, one was from the people before me who had decorations on the wall with tape and pulled some of the wall out when they packed up. The other was when my youngest tip something over and it put a whole in the wall. My dad while working on the toilet, saw one of the spots and put his finger through it, because he wondered what it was. He said "Did you put something on the wall?" My response was "Why did you just put your finger through it?" So, needless to say I had to patch that up again.

The Simple Pleasures.....

What a beautiful night last night. Who would have thought that it would be in the 70's in March. The sprouts had gymnastics last night so they were unable to enjoy the evening that much, but they are on spring break this week. They have been playing outside all day. What a great time for this weather for them.

Since they are not in the same tumbling class, I dropped the oldest one off and the youngest and I went shopping for a bit. We decided to park the car at home after shopping and walk to the gymnastics center to pick up the other sprout. With water bottles in hand we were off.

It is really about three blocks in one direction and three blocks in another direction, not that far. Of course the youngest get just across the street from our house and announces that her feet hurt. I quickly get her going down a different path of thinking. We made it to the gymnastics center and had a few minutes wait. Which I was glad for. The sprout on the other hand was still wound up for some reason. We gathered our stuff and made the trek back home.

The sprouts and I have been walking together even when they were babies. I took them for walks almost every chance I got. I even took them to see their dad when he was at work. Not sure if he enjoyed that or not, but he always came out to see us.

Last night we were a block away from his work, and he was on duty last night. We did not stop by. The sprouts didn't even say anything about stopping either. I would have if they said anything, even though it was getting late. They did not have school in the morning so I would have been fine with it. I enjoyed just sitting at his work watching the traffic go by and the sprouts ran around asking their dad all kinds of questions, that they knew the answers to already because they had asked them before. They didn't care they just ran around with smiles on their faces. This summer they may want to stop and that will be fine. He will enjoy seeing them.

That was one of my simple pleasures, taking the sprouts to see their dad at work on a nice warm evening.

The Bowling Weekend......

This past weekend was the big state bowling tournament weekend for my team. This tournament started this weekend and ends in May sometime. In preparation for the big weekend, I went and bought a new bowling ball and had it drilled on Friday, so that I could take it to the tournament on Saturday. For most people that is a big NO NO, that is like buying a new stove the night before you are in a cooking contest. You have no idea if it burns hotter than the settings or not. Same with bowling, you have no idea how the ball is going to react or how to adjust. With the way my other 2 balls were working I did not care. It could not be any worse than what I have been bowling in league.

After about three hours at the bowling alley on Friday night and throwing the ball for awhile after it was all tweaked in to my liking. I headed for home. As I was getting things around for the weekend, I ripped the nail on my finger. Yes, it was on my bowling hand to top it off. Instead of clipping it off I just ripped it the rest of the way off, not thinking of course that might affect my bowling. Saturday arrived and I was up early, because the girls were being dropped off by their dad around 6:30am so he could go to work. We had breakfast, got their hair cut and off with grandma to swim lessons and on to her house for the day. I met my team and we headed to South Bend for the tournament. Upon arrival, the lanes were the older style wooden ones. This will be a challenge with a newer style ball, and six games to throw today. My finger did well, no problems at all. I did not get my average at all, but was happy with the new ball. I will admit I did throw an 85. THAT IS NOT A GOOD SCORE FOR ME. It was my fourth game and I just stopped concentrating. The team went out for dinner afterwards and I headed back to pick up the girls.

My finger started throbbing on the trip home, and I knew then that this was not good. I picked up the girls and headed to our house. Their dad picked them up at 7am on Sunday morning and I made my way back to South Bend for the team event. Saturday was the Double and Singles event. While trying to get ready in the morning my finger tip is about twice the size it should be and very sore, red and warm. All of which are not a good thing. I met my team and we headed to a different bowling alley for the team event. This alley has the newer style lanes, I am kind of excited. My hesitation in excitement had something to do with the fact that I had three bowling balls and not one of them could I get my finger in. All of which are drilled for a finger tip grip. Yes, I only use the tips of my two middle fingers and my thumb to hold the ball. This made for an interesting day.

During the 6 minute warm ups I threw as many warm up balls I could just to get use to the pain of my finger. Pushing the finger into the ball was not as bad as bending my hand down, full span to get my thumb in the hole, that smarted a bit. The first time I threw in warm up I literally dropped my ball in the gutter, and thought there is no way I can do this. But after a few more throws and being use to the pain I was able to throw the three games for the team event. I also had purchased a numbing spray and hand a glass of ice to soak my finger in between my turns that helped a lot as well.

Unfortunately I did not get a lot of strikes, which met throwing the ball more. I did get some decent scores, despite the "injury". One of the other girls on our team got a case of kidney stones on Thursday night, so she was bowling on Darvoset on Saturday. She was better on Sunday. No, I could not bowl on the pain meds. They make me sick to my stomach. Part of our team name is Warriors, we should have changed it to the Wounded for this weekend.

My finger is better today, as I think I got most of the pressure in it relieved last night. It is still sore, and hopefully will not be as painful tomorrow night for bowling.

The Great Communicator........

I am starting an interesting day today.....

The youngest gets her school shots today, of which she does not know yet. Then I have a meeting with my Ex later on this morning. That should make the day interesting enough. I emailed him last Monday and requested the meeting. I was even very nice about it. We really have not spoken for about a year, unless it was absolutely necessary. I finally, made the move to request that we talk about the kids. They have a lot going on in their lives and their heads.

On Wed. morning I get an instant message from his wife, wanted to know if I have a minute to talk. Of which I had just a very few minutes to talk, I had to go pick up from preschool shortly, which she should have known that. She said that my ex showed her the email that I sent him requesting the meeting (I knew he would do that). She just wanted to let me know that she was not going to be there. (I requested that she not be at the meeting as well in the email) She said that she has been encouraging my ex to communicate more with me (Of which I have noticed that at times) She also wanted to know if I knew when I wanted this meeting and where so that she could make sure he had that time available. (Nope, was still waiting to hear from him to see if he was going to attend or not).

That afternoon he called me to tell me he put some papers in the sprouts suitcase from the night before and that he would meet with me, but did not know when yet, he would have to look at a calendar first, and left it at that. (We had talked on the phone at least two times that morning because the school called me, and he said nothing then about the meeting) On Thursday, I email him with a day that will work well for me so that I will not be rushed to have to get back to my work. He works every third day, so I sent the email on his working day because that is the best chance I have of getting a response from him, even though he can check his email at home as well. On Friday I still have no response from him as to the time and place of the meeting. So I sent his wife an offline message to let her know that today would work out best for me. Finally, Sunday night I got an email from him that the day I picked would be fine, and he picked the time and place, I am sure she picked the place. But it is acceptable for me.

So, I have know idea how he is going to make any decisions without her there. She even told me that he says things to make people happy with him. He does not like to disappoint anyone. (I already knew that, lived with him for 13 years) Most of the stuff we will be discussing is about the girls in general. I think we are going to go over their summer schedule, which I am positive that will not get finalized today.

The Big Race.....

The sprouts had their annual pine wood car race Sunday afternoon at the church. This was for the kids church group they are in on Wednesday nights. My dad and I got the cars ready to go for them and they painted their car exactly like they wanted them to, and I put the finishing touches on them.

On the way to the race, we had the "Just having fun" speech AGAIN! That always ends with the oldest saying, but I want to win. They did have fun. The cars did not do as well as in past years. We have usually placed in the top three in past years, but everyone gets a participating trophy. My oldest won a bigger trophy for best design(most pennies in a penny vote). So that did not please the youngest, who brought home a bigger trophy than her sister last year. All in all they did have fun.

Barnyard LIVE!!

I experienced the live version of the movie Barnyard the other day. For those that have not seen the movie, it is about all the different farm animals and what they "really" do when then farmer is not around. In the movie the cows take a car and go "boy" tipping.

So, on my way home the other night on a well traveled country road. There was a car coming at me and I caught a quick glance of shadows going in front of the cars headlights. I start to slow down because the deer are pretty thick in that area anyways, and I cannot afford to hit one right now. The other car flashes it lights at me, and I flash mine back to acknowledge that I saw the shadows. I eventually come to a stop because I see more shadows in front of the other car. With about 20 yards between us I realize that the shadows are not deer. At this point, there is 2 draft horses, be boppin down the road at me in my lane, followed by two cows fighting for position in the ditch on my left and bringing up the rear is another horse. This is a small horse that pulls the amish buggies, and this one acted like the class clown of the group. Granted they probably were a bit frighten by the two cars. They just kept going on down the road, with out a care in the world to them.

That story ranks right up with me practically drag racing with 3 draft horses that came out of the field at a full gallup right next to me as I was doing about 55 down a different road. I managed to get my car stopped with out scaring them and before they ran into my path. I am sure hitting a deer would have been much better than hitting 3 draft horses.