tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36765062012-01-14T19:07:11.524-08:00Diabetes, Marriage, Motherhood, and Work all meet in a nexus of Chaos or...Oh, Look, there's a Chicken!Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.comBlogger6531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-68045008951449925612011-12-21T12:42:00.000-08:002011-12-21T12:44:47.134-08:00

Rain in December seems kind of awkward -- like Mother Nature figured we could use some water, but forgot to make it cold. So you try to be grateful, but you're really wishing she'd remembered the cold and snow. I miss snow in all of its textures and Christmas kind of seems odd without it.Tahoe is far away.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-30038398452587095112011-11-13T10:20:00.001-08:002011-11-13T10:21:28.633-08:00

I tried working a very physical job for about a month. I gave notice because every inch of me ached and my brain couldn't work correctly for all the pain and brainfuzz.I find I miss being active, but I don't miss the pain. I need a pool.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-10082084111000832022011-09-14T15:36:00.001-07:002011-09-14T16:09:05.924-07:00

So a couple friends send me this link and after having read through a lot of the Cleveland Clinic's menopause book, I think, "Holy, crap! It's the mother ship!"For the sake of all that is holy and several things that are not, I've been buying soap and facial creams. Me, the woman who doesn't wear rings with protruding rocks on them because I know when I was doing one of the very manual things

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-34130128034938545842010-11-01T17:16:00.000-07:002010-11-01T17:22:38.560-07:00

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop The art of losing isn't hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. Lose something every day. Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. The art of losing isn't hard to master. Then practice losing farther, losing faster: places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel. None of these

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-48521355039653818752010-09-15T13:30:00.000-07:002010-09-15T13:52:40.045-07:00

You realize at some point that you dislike someone enough to be apathetic to their existence. I'm at that place with my mother-in-law.Mike asked to borrow money at the beginning of the summer because we had to pay the bills and he hadn't been doing his contract work until way too late and I hadn't been working because I was taking care of Russell. I was mortified, but I had been begging Mike

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-85828651500042095302010-08-19T10:14:00.001-07:002010-08-19T10:18:21.185-07:00

My diabetes is getting worse, which upsets me three ways to Sunday.My most recent HBA1C was 6.8 and that plain horrified me.I've been working out all summer, normally, that would lower them and make them controlled better.Getting old SUCKS!

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-21907680192087775832010-08-18T07:36:00.001-07:002010-08-18T07:40:59.736-07:00

So the second mammo was kind of ugly.For one, no one can figure out why you're on xanax and wiped out, so you're just kind of trying to dance around it and every so often you get someone persistent and you have to tell them, oh, by the way, I've been abused to kingdom come and back, so this is a traumatic event.The first two pictures weren't too bad. I mostly cried before the exam.The third one

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-60691239449480102962010-08-16T20:18:00.000-07:002010-08-16T20:22:09.890-07:00

OK, considering my generalized horror over the mammogram, I was not thrilled to receive a call back to get more boob pictures done. The tissue differences between boobs is enough for them to require more information, so that they have an adequate baseline. No, that doesn't freak me out. No sirree, Bob. It just sends me over the edge!I'm just glad I still have 2 xanax. I just told them to

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-87615833303447069052010-08-15T11:24:00.001-07:002010-08-15T11:43:00.477-07:00

The Bear had a rough day this week. He was threatening to run away and screeching at me and the whole time, I kept thinking,"Is he suicidal again?" My heart broke a little more.I called the police. I called the regional center who has his ISP and after not finding either his counselor or his case manager, I called the emergency number. The police calmed him down. Having the policemen talk to

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-65418140296058072652010-08-06T13:15:00.000-07:002010-08-06T13:48:50.622-07:00

I went to a new doctor yesterday because the old doctor couldn't figure out what to write to the insurance company so that I could get back on my beloved celebrex and be able to walk without wishing for a speedy death. I called this doctor's office, told them my problem, and they said,"Oh, we do that all the time." I said, "Cool, then when can you see me?"I liked him well enough except for his

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-89810876645865267472010-08-03T14:47:00.000-07:002010-08-03T14:59:50.524-07:00

Sick children suck. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing sends me over the edge more than the honking cough of one of my children from deep in the bowels of the house.It makes me want to reach for xanax because there's not a freaking thing I can do to help them. I can make them comfortable, but they have to duke it out with the cold/flu of the minute.I had it and took antibiotics and killed the

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-74341026285235444582010-07-18T11:57:00.001-07:002010-07-18T12:05:13.168-07:00

Weird how a move will mess up everything, including your ability to keep up your blog.We have just now gotten to the infamous "garage boxes" which we've been opening on the front porch with dust masks.Honestly, I thought the Bear was gonna die this year. His asthma got so bad and so life limiting, I really wasn't sure he'd make it. But he's here and we're moving him out of the musty basement to

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-59316836617891747632009-08-26T13:10:00.000-07:002009-08-26T13:19:38.008-07:00

We're moving to Virginia. Mike got a good job there.I'm excited on several fronts. The best thing for me is that I get to have my kids meet my family. I have a huge extended family back east and being there will mean that my kids can meet them.Being in Virginia, means that we can spend summers meandering through Washington D. C. and hitting all the museums and cool stuff there.It also means

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-3098713426114018762009-08-10T04:25:00.000-07:002009-08-10T04:31:46.723-07:00

Russell continues to be pretty wrecked. He has good days and bad days, but even his best day doesn't seem to mean he can leave the house. Sometimes, I pile him into the car anyway and work around him. His next shot is Friday. I'm taking him to the pool that night. He doesn't know it yet, but I am!If I have to go to wallymart, I have him sit on the bench in the front with his phone. If I go

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-47232076713396400682009-07-15T06:38:00.001-07:002009-07-15T06:45:08.979-07:00

Just been way depressed. The job thing is really hard. Mike has been getting recruiters contacting him from all over the country, so we're just hanging in. We don't tell the kids any more because we don't want them to freak.And Mike gets no vacation days at his job. If he wants a day off, he has to "make it up" or eat the pay. He continues to apply all over, but there's just not much out

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-87043992263576309992009-07-09T05:50:00.000-07:002009-07-09T06:23:45.643-07:00

It's official, asthma freaking sucks rocks.Russell has been sick all danged month and that is pretty awful. I have been struggling with night asthma for the first time in years. We can't afford for me to take allergy shots, too, with the new healthcare, so Russell is the only one getting them at the moment.This morning he scared the stuffing out of me at 520AM when I went to change out the

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-55198516674896875142009-07-07T08:28:00.000-07:002009-07-07T08:46:35.846-07:00

We're still struggling financially. It's been, in fact, more brutal than any other time in our lives. The expense of medications for the children, even with insurance, the medical issues I am facing, all add to our expenses. I've cut back every way I know how. I buy from a local Mexican market to get a lot of my produce because the food is inexpensive and delicious. Last night, I bought

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-2818600809645471842009-06-25T20:53:00.000-07:002009-06-25T21:03:35.250-07:00

I kind of randomly found this link for a cat carrier with wheels. Of course, the whole site I'm sure is designed for lonely old cat ladies like Eric the Eternal Flame from college, but I think it'd be a whole lot easier to haul the dog around in one those, too. Heck, I used a carrier on wheels for my kids, so why not my cat or dog?----Can you believe all the crazy-famous people dying lately?

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-59620564457734168152009-06-22T10:55:00.000-07:002009-06-22T10:58:24.232-07:00

A health blog I was interested in the piece they had about tai chi in this. Not surprisingly, an hour of exercise a day helps with sugar control, but they even used it with older folks and discovered that they had better balance when they were done. It reminded me of watching an old boyfriend of mine from college, sweating his way through Tai Chi workouts.I've been swimming a lot and doing

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-21516235948313161382009-06-21T23:11:00.001-07:002009-06-22T10:55:23.999-07:00

So, in my hunt to find locations, ideas, etc., that help me with my diabetes, I've found a few recent sites.The other was this health forum which looks at natural medicine approaches to health. I used to be such a hippie and I guess I still am, so I thought I'd pass those on to you.As for my health generally...I think I've been getting over some of the spinal headache stuff I had from the

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-63038200789151365452009-06-18T15:49:00.000-07:002009-06-18T15:58:30.014-07:00

Recently, many of us are stressing about our kids taking standardized tests that seem to have everything to do with our kids getting into college. I found the following vocabulary software http://www.vocaboly.com which is supposed to help kids build vocabulary for such purposes.Additionally, Russell has been using Efofex for his math stuff. For kids on IEP's they offer free software that

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-23449276895393543612009-05-18T00:17:00.000-07:002009-05-18T00:21:57.739-07:00

I have had the weekend from hell with the child from hell. I posted that I was "very sad that her (my) 9 year old is making such lousy parent-testing choices." My mother-in-law said, "Gotta let kids be kids. She's only nine. Please be patient." So while I usually bite my tongue, this really pissed me off, so I wrote the following in response:If you have questions about G or what's going on,

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-6830951801008044582009-04-09T04:31:00.000-07:002009-04-09T04:40:11.855-07:00

Ok, the most disgusting things to me in the world are:mice, reptiles,scorpions and roaches.We are in Death Valley now and while we may have our usual assortment of mice and reptiles, scorpions and roaches are much more common. Scorpions are less likely in suburbia, but roaches? Roaches eat this shit up. The open can of borax under the sink should have been a dead giveaway, anyhow.So I'm

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-74377344415492786512009-04-02T10:13:00.000-07:002009-04-02T10:18:43.532-07:00

Ok, so we get all moved in. Russell gets here after 2 weeks of no Bear.I get the kids set up, I start my job.Then I take a ginormous digger in the shower while trying to put soap away. I tripped on the lip of the shower and fell full force on my "good" knee. The other knee got banged a little and bruised, but I actually bruised the bone on my "good" knee. I also caught the door across my

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-78647945355135621922009-03-25T07:56:00.000-07:002009-03-25T08:12:14.149-07:00

Well, Mike got the second choice job. We're losing the house. We have a rental near where his new job is and we're finishing moving there this weekend.It's hard being between two houses. I have two pans, several bowls, all of my silverware except a can opener, and all of my stoneware, my everyday plates, and paper products. I have the pestle, but not the mortar. I have no pantry except for

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-67758376295645966692009-02-28T07:15:00.000-08:002009-03-01T15:24:11.824-08:00

I have so little time I can call my own any more. I get a couple hours each weeknight before I have to hit the hay and everyone seems to urgently and frenziedly need me at that time. Russell even cuddles now, which if you know Russell, is soooo unusual. The cat is um...fucking ridiculous? She doesn't leave me alone at night. Last night, I was trying to cuddle with Mike and we finally just

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-90416777403382606002009-02-23T20:23:00.000-08:002009-02-23T20:30:06.792-08:00

I keep thinking that if tired were a color it would be gray. And then I think about what I know about auras and I think that white is pure and clean and that black is poison and wonder what that means about my sense of my life as the color gray.I think all the rain and snow and clouds makes me feel gray, too. I drove up this weird dirt road with Mike the other day because he resented me being

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-58220064802637737402009-02-16T21:58:00.000-08:002009-02-16T22:08:12.180-08:00

I keep expecting my knees to be worse, but they're not. I seem to have enough balance between walking and sitting with my job and my knees are about the least agonizing they've been in a while. I'm not even taking the glucosamine, which normally, I can't hardly stand to be without.I did buy some good shoes to alternate with my eccos, but I'm not hardly wearing the eccos because I want to dress

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-74475758815521358432009-02-13T20:17:00.000-08:002009-02-13T20:48:00.656-08:00

If bones could be tired to their bones, my bones' bones would be exhausted.Valentine's day is just kind of fun for me. I bought a few things for the kids. I got G-bug a webkins, which I'd never heard of. When I heard about it, I knew it was a Genny kind of thing. I got Russell a Valentine's mouse. I got Mike a cute little frame and I'm going to have Genny take pictures of me and then I'll

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-20350960312298584182009-02-06T21:55:00.000-08:002009-02-06T22:11:13.330-08:00

This morning was less painful and I could tell that I'd turned the infection corner, but I'm still really congested and that's sliming up my lungs. I get wheezy at night and the doc and I discussed how I might end up on steroids and insulin by the end of the weekend. I sigh in the general direction of the needle box. Dear Needle Box, I'd flip you a bird, but I'm only up to lifting this single

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-13706538776861566162009-02-05T22:40:00.000-08:002009-02-05T22:54:06.956-08:00

Despite my stupid flu shot, I've got the flu and bad. Even my finger, toes, and ankles joints are hurting. I slept for a couple hours and now, I'm up because the joint pain woke me up. I took some tylenol, though I really wanted some doggone vicodan. I finally got celebrex today, so my knee doesn't make me want to curl up in a ball and die. I've been sporadically taking vicodan over the past

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-76245872904982130822009-01-28T20:56:00.001-08:002009-01-28T21:08:37.755-08:00

We had to be kind of hard-nosed about it, but Mike went into the dealer the next morning and told them to give him back his check. They hadn't given us keys or anything and were waiting on a cashier's check, which of course, Mike didn't give them. They thrashed and tried to threaten and Mike ignored them and took back his check.So this weekend, we go auction hunting and see how it goes. We

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-74090200703755726772009-01-26T04:56:00.000-08:002009-01-26T04:58:51.316-08:00

I'm freaking out again.We went to a Subaru dealership to buy a used subaru because they last forever, are 4 wheel drive and get excellent mileage.Somehow, we ended up contracting to buy a dodge dakota, which only has one of those features -- the 4wd.I really really really don't want it.Have to talk to Mike in an hour.Ugh.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-80773463529041191452009-01-24T13:13:00.000-08:002009-01-24T13:30:13.122-08:00

I've only had 1 can of soda today, which compared to my usual amounts of caffeine during the week mean that I am suffering from withdrawal from caffeine with a king-sized headache.*whine*

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-59218226830703235102009-01-22T22:26:00.000-08:002009-01-22T22:34:50.618-08:00

Lately, my life has been a really sick and wrong cocktail of coffee and caffeinated diet sodas throughout the day at work. Then I switch to water. Then I go home. I eat my dinner.I try to handle stuff for the house -- giving Mike a list of crap to do and making calls as I can and stuff. Tonight, I tracked down more of the stealing my credit card info crap on our bank account. 20 minutes on

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-23013304440545214582009-01-21T02:19:00.000-08:002009-01-21T03:10:51.436-08:00

I'm all sad. My beautiful van got repossessed. It was creepy, too. Some guy knocked on our door and rang the bell at 10PM! Who the hell does that? I'd hoped we would have time to get the danged severance check from Mike's company, but for some reason they didn't get the huge stuffed enveloped we mailed to them covered in stamps. Mike completely freaked out when he called and was told that

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-74793927260738004572009-01-19T17:45:00.000-08:002009-01-19T18:02:55.462-08:00

I should be tired and I kind of am, but I think that 12 hours straight of sound sleeping on Sunday night and a solid 8 last night with an hour of drowsing made a big difference.I'm overwhelmed and underwhelmed with the work training. I keep feeling frustrated because I'm such a kinesthetic learner that we're not actually experimenting with it, messing up and learning from our mistakes. I learn

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-28077526833083129202009-01-16T21:40:00.000-08:002009-01-16T22:10:14.237-08:00

I don't think I've ever been so grateful for Friday and 5 o'clock. Hitting Friday made me want to get on my knees and thank God for it, in my employer's parking lot. I wished heartily that company policy would permit me to wear this t-shirt, but alas, no, t-shirts with a message violates company dress code.Co-workers commented on the 84 fluid oz of diet dr pepper I had over the course of the

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-13138973574801423522009-01-15T03:39:00.000-08:002009-01-15T03:51:50.285-08:00

Work isn't hard material to learn during my training period. I am finding that it's just grueling to be accustomed to 8 hours a day and walking on cement floors. While the walking isn't the majority of the job, it's the long walks to the cafeteria and bathrooms at the moment that end up hurting. My knee is enormous and excrutiatingly painful. Last night, I took my first vicodan for agony in a

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-44360885367141251342009-01-10T12:23:00.001-08:002009-01-11T11:12:40.424-08:00

Foodwise....So yesterday, I ate a good breakfast -- veggie quesadilla, resisted my husband's efforts to load it with meat/fat/calories. For dinner, hubby wanted to just toss a jar of spaghetti sauce on noodles. I shudder to think! I loaded the sauce with veggies (zucchini, spinach, and mushrooms) and tolerated his addition of well-drained hamburger. I got one of my arthritis exercise videos

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-7633906517294622892009-01-08T09:01:00.000-08:002009-01-08T09:14:16.574-08:00

So lifestyle changes -- those small slides that lead to 10lbs gained in a year can also lead to small personal gains.In my kids' group we are discussing what small changes we can make to improve our diet and exercise. One of my big ones is my breakfast change. Yesterday, I had the worst asthma attack I've had in ages. It occurred to me that I wasn't sure if I'd taken my singulair recently. I

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-66655594608564966622009-01-06T21:35:00.001-08:002009-01-06T21:47:25.717-08:00

So it's not a resolution, it's kind of more that the holidays are over, so I am determined to lose weight because I'm out of excuses.A work schedule will help me stay organized. I can restrict what food I bring with me. I can give myself the snacks I need and control that. I can go to the club to work out before I work, so it won't impede family time. I know when I am not going to work, I

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-39848771704212735822008-12-30T11:02:00.001-08:002008-12-30T11:32:06.033-08:00

Ok, so both state jobs fell through. The teaching one, they made it clear I was second choice and that they really liked me and told me to keep applying. It was one of the nicest rejection letters ever, really. So I start AT&T shortly. In the interim, Mike has an interview with a competitor of his old company that's local! We're rather stunned.I was really sad about the state jobs, but I'm

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-9791813874081249492008-12-28T12:28:00.000-08:002008-12-28T12:30:50.329-08:00

Well, we haven't heard spit from the company in Florida -- not even Mike's check. I'm not amused.I haven't heard from my state positions either, which blows, so still waiting on them. I don't know if they're checking references and are facing the whole holiday thing or what, but it's frustrating to just wait. I know for a fact that I start on January 12th with AT&T, so I'm taking comfort in

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-232905264723878802008-12-23T00:07:00.000-08:002008-12-23T00:14:57.623-08:00

Still a waiting game on the employment front. We're just waiting.We're baking and finishing up shopping. I feel overwhelmed a lot, but it's just where things are. I'm going to probably go nuts and bake a ton just for the heck of it. I don't feel motivated to eat it much, but I really enjoy the baking part. I've been watching Christmas shows and listening to music and decorating and just

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-58274537481707238482008-12-17T10:09:00.000-08:002008-12-17T10:56:08.779-08:00

Well, Mike has heard nothing. With the holidays, I don't know if that's good or bad -- just what is going on.I have heard from ATT and officially am employed by them as of January 12th. I applied for two state jobs last week, and I'll hear about them before the new year and then can figure out if I'm doing that or going to ATT. Considering the money, I'm thinking state job. :) I am pretty

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-14352387763315062332008-12-09T20:53:00.000-08:002008-12-09T21:02:05.206-08:00

Mike is flying to Florida for an interview.He had a phone interview today with someone else and expects to fly to Vegas next week. Another company contacted him, too, so he's got to call them tomorrow.I'm staying here to keep the kids normal and work. I've got 3 days of 5th graders.It's freaky around here. I've also got 2 more interviews this week, too, with state jobs. I had to schedule them

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-71489588647060709742008-12-06T07:42:00.000-08:002008-12-06T08:09:50.816-08:00

I don't get much time to myself lately. I spend a lot of time helping Mike follow up on all job leads, editing his emails and cover letters, and making sure he's called everyone and all that. It's not that he can't do a decent job himself, but rather that he's been out of the game a long time and he's doublechecking things. And I'm good at it, by gum.Add this to my own job application process,

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-50777323383934134502008-12-05T08:28:00.000-08:002008-12-05T10:11:57.927-08:00

Mike's had interviews. He's to be flown to Vegas for one and to Florida for another. I got offered the job from ATT, but it doesn't start until January 12th. It's somewhat tentative, but not really. I'm going in for a trainer interview with the state on Thursday.While AT&T wouldn't transfer to Florida, it would transfer to Vegas, so we have that option. It may mean that Mike has the kids with

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-27571781424239842972008-11-14T07:09:00.000-08:002008-11-14T07:36:50.972-08:00

So, much to my surprise, Mike comes home yesterday at 1230 in the afternoon as I'm heading into the shower. I'm mid-email, so I turn around and say, "Hey, what's up? How come you're home?" I hear him say something about "laid" and say, "Um, ok?" and then I say,"Wait a minute. What?" And he says quietly, "I got laid off."He's worked there 8 years. He was their boy wonder the first couple

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-3560301924847142222008-11-12T00:34:00.000-08:002008-11-12T00:36:36.869-08:00

I'm finally repairing my car. We can't afford it, but we can't afford to not have me working either.It blows because I can't hit the job fair because my car will be in the shop during those hours and Genny will be home otherwise because it's conference week -- half days.I'm calling the bank and begging them a little. It's just brutally difficult to be a human being in these economic times.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-485657355708355342008-11-09T23:43:00.000-08:002008-11-10T00:28:12.294-08:00

In my head, I have this running conversation that involves me putting myself down for not getting all my sewing projects done, which when run against a reality check is total bullshit. I've sewn two blankets -- one for a friend and a really cool pirate blanket for me. I sewed Genny one darned cute penguin costume, too. I kind of regret not making the beak on the hood orange, but it was ok and

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-47205087550873706902008-10-27T22:19:00.000-07:002008-10-27T22:22:42.118-07:00

I'm working hard at making due. I've been making, sewing, baking, and cooking things (blankets for kids, decorations for the house, penguin costume for Halloween for Genny, muffins, and dinner home every night). I put a lot of food by this fall, so we'd have it this winter and spring. We've been living tight -- every penny accounted for. I've exhausted my retirement money -- there wasn't much

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-28419695853687467372008-10-22T14:08:00.000-07:002008-10-22T14:18:37.433-07:00

I'm flu-y and achy. I wish my bed were more sufficient some days. I basically crawled into bed at 630 last night, got woken up to eat and went back about 730 and haven't really left the room other than to eat. Everything hurts -- in a most excrutiating manner.It makes me mad because I had big plans for the kitchen. Was going to clean it like mad today. I start my doctor appointments next

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-41513562886403580142008-10-15T12:51:00.001-07:002008-10-15T13:04:43.619-07:00

Everyone assumes I'm a Democrat and to be completely honest, in my heart of hearts, I'm not. Just because I will not vote for John McCain under any circumstances, I am not a Democrat. I remember distinctly as a teacher explained the ballot to me as a child how amazing I found our system of government, how as she explained it, anyone could be president. That sense of pride and thrill with the US

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-34532874601649825902008-10-08T14:57:00.000-07:002008-10-08T15:00:13.342-07:00

I'm in a pool to be hired by AT&T. I didn't get the social worker job I wanted, but I learned a lot in the interview, so that's good, too.I was kind of goofing around in youtube last night and I found this video that had me with tears streaming down my face. I swear it seemed like a cross between Duke Nukem and a monster truck rally meets drunken frat boys on crack.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-2820038707202080592008-09-30T15:05:00.000-07:002008-09-30T15:36:52.510-07:00

I think God is testing me to make sure I've learned all the lessons s/he's taught me. I found out this past week that I'm honorable, faithful, and a good friend. I also rediscovered that there are people who will take advantage of that. I considered turning the other cheek, but I stood up for myself instead. I said no, I won't tolerate that, thanks.It's kind of scary for me. I know everyone

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-7949131426907395092008-09-18T01:33:00.000-07:002008-09-18T01:45:42.274-07:00

I know I'm easily amused lately,bit my husband took a fragment of the original banana phone song and put it on my phone for me. It makes me laugh every time I hear it and God knows that lately, I could use a good laugh because today was a day from hell.I took Russell to the doctor for his cold/asthma. He's now on steroids. As the doctor walks in, I get a phone call from the school and I'm

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-80375159835999427092008-09-16T19:48:00.000-07:002008-09-16T20:05:54.342-07:00

Russell is sick as a dog. He's plain disgusting, too...just a one child snot machine. If you need boogers, the boy has 'em. Just drop me a line and I'll fed ex you your very own set.He's coughing, sneezing, snoozing. I grounded him off his computer, so he'd go in and out of sleep all day on the couch and I can feel the bug in my system trying to make me sick, too, which stinks. I'm bummed

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-1768385413977242452008-09-13T10:02:00.000-07:002008-09-13T10:10:56.235-07:00

SBL commented:My SIL had bariatric surgery because she started getting the fatty liver disease that was majorly affecting her health. She exercised religiously after the surgery (starting with swimming) and the weight has been dropping off. She attributes the exercise to helping her not get the droopy skin. Also, her type 2 diabetes went away. She was very good about sticking to the amount and

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-32874708990644680182008-09-13T02:34:00.000-07:002008-09-13T04:16:55.270-07:00

Man, I feel so yucky lately. I think I'm wildy anemic. Also, my digestive track isn't working very well. Pretty much, if I don't take cholestyramine every night, I end up with a horrible case of the runs, regardless of what I eat. It makes me nervous because the doctors told me when I had my gall bladder surgery that I'm starting to get fatty liver disease because of my weight and I am scared

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-61638037636226642682008-09-09T08:15:00.000-07:002008-09-09T08:49:43.928-07:00

I had a job interview yesterday for a computer assistant position at a school. It's part-time and it includes an hour of playground patrol. The principal said that it'll vary between me just setting up the class for another teacher to use the room for furthering their curriculum to coming up with curriculum for the kids. That I'll also help out with fixing stuff when it breaks, etc. It sounds

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-57917422563037203822008-09-06T12:18:00.000-07:002008-09-06T13:08:05.748-07:00

The well and pump are on their last legs, so I didn't have time til last night to work on canning. I also wanted to try the salsa in order to make adjustments to the recipe.Drumroll please!!!!!!!I finally had some salsa. I had added extra spices, but I think it was too much, so I'm going to use the original recipes amounts. I do like the lime juice though, so keeping that. I also hand chopped

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-72405225309242716642008-09-04T01:22:00.001-07:002008-09-04T01:41:46.666-07:00

So I went to the cheap store for produce...and they couldn't cut me the deal they usually cut me, but the guy directed me to this produce warehouse place in Sparks.I bought a 40 lb box of tomatoes, a 40 lb box of tomatillos, a box of red bell peppers, and a 10 lb box of jalapenos for $35 less than I would have paid.I made my first tomatillo salsa tonight. It's cooling in the boiler, so I haven't

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-54347098203411062852008-08-31T13:49:00.001-07:002008-08-31T13:50:30.754-07:00

I just realized that my apple tree is covered in nearly ripe golden delicious apples and that my plums are ripe, too. Mike smoked me chiles last night, too.Color me stunned and psyched. I'm a canning machine, babies.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-51909130943418208112008-08-30T00:11:00.000-07:002008-08-31T13:49:07.692-07:00

Jumping Jehosaphat on a pogostick! The teacher I subbed for is teaching 5th graders. For those of you just tuning in, fifth and sixth graders are about my least favorite age group to sub for. I swear it's just the introduction of those hormones to those little bodies that they just haven't adjusted to you and they're about the most hideous excuses for human beings on the planet at that age.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-462466798090656332008-08-28T23:14:00.000-07:002008-08-28T23:33:44.840-07:00

I have my first day of subbing tomorrow with this school year. I'll be working for a teacher for whom I've subbed before and he's crazy organized, so it'll be a breeze. The kids can be challenging at this school, but 4th graders aren't typically hideous ever and this guy often is the principal for the day, so it's possible he'll be around tomorrow to scare them into behaving. On the Friday

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-81586401961579326322008-08-26T14:13:00.001-07:002008-08-26T14:14:40.152-07:00

So on a whim, because I'm not thrilled with most of the presidential candidates, I decided I'd run.Red Neck Ruby for President!!

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-84088645038965659042008-08-24T04:00:00.000-07:002008-08-24T05:00:11.023-07:00

I've had the bladder infection that won't die. It is a very resistant strain, so I'm on my second round of antibiotics. After the first round of antibiotics, I started using old herbal remedies, so when I went in to get retested, it'd pretty much killed the bacteria sufficiently so it didn't show up on their stick test and only showed up a little on a culture 3 days later. Because it didn't

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-12432244548338430042008-08-13T18:09:00.000-07:002008-08-13T18:47:59.997-07:00

So here's your math question of the day. If each washing machine takes $1.50 and each dryer runs 10 minutes per quarter and most loads require 40 minutes to dry. And my goofy son ran two washing machines empty, and I spent $70 at the laundromat yesterday, how many loads of laundry did I do?Yes, you're correct. One butt-TON.And yes, I'll be folding laundry til I'm dead.And there's lots of

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-58951263687902052742008-08-12T03:39:00.000-07:002008-08-12T03:42:23.607-07:00

There's something about meteors slowly streaking across the sky, skimming the edges of the moon and gently slipping across the apse of the heavens that makes a person realize how small they are in the universe.I feel both humble and loved by God in the presence of such grandeur.The teenagers were sort of excited initially and then quickly lost interest and consciousness. I shooed them inside to

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-46239973219501700972008-08-11T12:27:00.000-07:002008-08-11T12:46:43.558-07:00

Genny's clonidine made a big difference in her sleep, but she's slowly creeping back to the midnight to noon schedule, so I've got to run her hard today, so she sleeps a little earlier and we can start dialing back that schedule to something normal for her.She managed to get her room clean and had a friend over, which for her was a miracle. Her friend invited her for next weekend and our only

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-76786499469382935652008-08-07T03:16:00.000-07:002008-08-07T03:32:05.017-07:00

Holy shit.It's 315 am and Genny won't sleep. I took the freaking cat out of her room and then locked her door. Her door has a lock on the outside from when she was a baby and we were scared she'd get hurt sneaking around. We could childproof her room, but not the whole house while the family lay unconscious.I tried having her in the bed with me and Mike, but I have a really bad bladder infection

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-68724836009972510812008-07-13T17:15:00.000-07:002008-07-13T20:38:36.374-07:00

Sometimes being a grownup with ADHD is harder than hell. Sometimes being a grownup with ADHD and two kids with ADHD is just hell.We paid $13 for Genny to get her hair cut and she came home last night and cut a chunk of hair out of the side of her head to her scalp.I feel so frustrated when I deal with her, on visceral level. I want to kill her and then I think it's my fault, so I want to bounce

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-71570780324972000952008-07-09T08:49:00.001-07:002008-07-09T09:04:21.649-07:00

We had a monopoly day. A monopoly day is where you think you're living one of the community cards sayings. In our case, the saying was:"Bank Error in your favor, collect $150"I disputed a small overcharge by Napster which amounted to $30 and the sweet bank gal gave us back $245 in bank charges.Rcok on!We went to Walmart and bought cheap floaties for the pool and storage boxes. And as a treat,

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-6466289497265753872008-07-07T14:43:00.001-07:002008-07-07T14:53:45.203-07:00

Well, I begrudged him a day. I couldn't help how residually angry felt and I told him it didn't make sense, but it was how I felt. He was sad I was still angry, but yesterday, we started just playing with each other again and it was sweet. Last night, we were watching tv and the kids were still up, but during commercials, he'd come over the the couch, make out with me and then go sit down. I

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-9468185388282182232008-07-04T17:00:00.000-07:002008-07-04T17:14:12.002-07:00

I lost it on Mike last night, but he's been working a lot of overtime. I don't mind overtime in and of itself, but he often chooses to stay up very late and then leaves a little late and then feels obligated to stay there late, so we don't see each other. Then he comes home and growls at everyone. The kids all hide in their rooms. He wants to get laid, but frankly, right now, I wouldn't fuck

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-4592383861908269672008-07-03T02:37:00.000-07:002008-07-03T02:38:13.169-07:00

Me and insomnia again. Hate it.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-44049687941357139462008-06-28T23:00:00.000-07:002008-06-28T23:30:31.054-07:00

I was lolling around on the bed in the wee hours with Mike drowsing in and out of sleep. I was telling him about my childhood on my grandparents farm and all the things I remembered about it between tears and grieving.As I was talking, I realized I remembered a lot of details. Details make for good writing, so I think I'm going to write the stories down for my kids. I think they don't

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-14281404489860574122008-06-27T23:59:00.000-07:002008-06-28T00:34:50.926-07:00

My mom and I had talked last weekend and she mentioned how sick my grandma had been and how she seemed to be improving. I immediately thought about how much I wish I could go there to see her and was thinking about creative financing that would get me there.From January to April, she'd lost 30 lbs, but no one had really noticed. Her doctor felt she needed to go into a hospital for a bit. She

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-36420860580575148132008-06-23T03:10:00.000-07:002008-06-23T03:37:09.121-07:00

Well, Saturday night, I took the kids outside and we worked in the yard, cleaning up, putting in a few last minute pepper plants and watering everything. Mike sat down and talked with Mark and told him we can't swing him living here unless he's paying something towards it. We told him what we thought it ought to be and he seemed a little ticked off, but he also said it seemed fair.Russell's

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-71397686987541862612008-06-21T12:42:00.001-07:002008-06-21T18:43:37.403-07:00

The job hunt has come to a standstill. There's like nothing out there...at all. The economy seems to have just taken a really bad nosedive and there's nothing out there. Mike and I are discussing the possibility of struggling through the summer and then I'll just teach again. I've suggested that I could work a couple days a week at the 7-11 and he freaked. He said he didn't want me hurting

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-21739440361858356872008-06-10T15:43:00.001-07:002008-06-10T15:55:20.548-07:00

Wow, there's no work available for a person a step away from a freaking wheelchair, I swear. I'm applying for everything. I applied for an adult education class instructor in computers. I figure that's a job I can do. As long as it's just the one class a week, I'd be fine. I'd take vicodan that night and swim the next day and be ok. I am applying with Mike for any contract web work we can

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-57721511440825179212008-05-30T14:28:00.000-07:002008-05-30T14:41:37.719-07:00

I'm applying for work, actually rather avidly.I thought I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, but my knee has other ideas. I think God has other ideas for me and I just wish I was in on the plans.I'm applying for social work kinds of things. The vocational rehab person thinks I'd do well to get a mster's in social work. I actually kind of agree. It fits my "save the world now" mentality

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-46959321101708492582008-02-26T23:40:00.000-08:002008-02-26T23:44:14.695-08:00

Well, I felt pretty disappointed with the appointment with vocational rehabilitation. Basically, yeah, it sucks that I'm not able to get up and around, but there's not a lot available to me.I'm kind of bummed about that.I think I just need to be unemployed and go on a crazy diet and exercise program until my hands and feet turn into prunes.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-89844577190755468062008-01-29T15:12:00.000-08:002008-01-29T16:05:55.883-08:00

Phlegmatic HumorWell, I've got bronchitis and the antibiotics are helping, but I'm coughing up yucky stuff from my chest. It just burns and hurts slightly less.Got the Buzz blankie and doll dropped off on the way back from the doctor's yesterday. Last night, I was falling asleep at the computer because every time I laid down, my chest got bad and I could barely breathe, so I sat up until 2am

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-1555949414077653272008-01-27T23:29:00.000-08:002008-01-27T23:43:27.979-08:00

Things I know about Poland...I know how to say a few things in Polish from dating a Pole way back when. Among these key phrases are "male milk," "oh my goodness," and "cat."Communism sucked for them.Most Poles are bi or tri-lingual.And now, apparently, Poland has snails. I guess they should. It just hadn't occurred to me. And apparently, someone has a lot of time on their hands in Poland. (

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-20064135939210168642008-01-27T14:49:00.000-08:002008-01-27T15:12:57.244-08:00

The boy is pretty sick -- some bug that thinks his chest might be good to move to. I made him homemade soup in the crock pot. I had been planning potato leek soup, but I cut a leek into the chicken and called it good. In an hour or so, I'll toss a cup of rice in it. For now, chicken, leeks, potatoes, carrots, and celery grace my soup. I'll get to potato leek soup in a few days. I'm fighting

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-91464000741869241242008-01-26T23:53:00.000-08:002008-01-26T23:58:44.913-08:00

It's hard to catch things up sometimes. I got a job, I lost it. I have determined that teaching is too physically taxing on my knee as long as I am this heavy.I'm looking into vocational rehab. I don't know what I will end up doing with my life, but I'm looking forward to whatever that is.The house is cleaner which means I feel better. That's a good thing. My sugars are better. I'm taking

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-36067885913390329642007-09-16T19:54:00.000-07:002007-09-17T12:14:56.459-07:00

I love my parents, but it's definitely a relationship wrought with things I did as a child that my mother has not forgiven me for.However, this trip, I was extremely fortunate. My folks replaced the tires on my car, gave us a check for $300 and bought dinner a lot. As soon as they left though, the water tank blew water all over the garage.ugh.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-85452888234477058392007-07-16T22:07:00.001-07:002007-07-16T22:08:12.346-07:00

yay! The kids are gone and I'm done with school. Yes, we're broke! Yes, we are doing housework, but we're also having a great time hanging out with each other.

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-88456485401980360672007-07-09T16:14:00.001-07:002007-07-09T16:47:41.873-07:00

Yup. Graduate school is still hard. I was surprised at how hard it was. Summer sessions are for linebackers, I swear it. I haven't taken summer session in 18 years and I forgot how flipping hard it is to contend with the summer heat. I also forgot about having to walk anywhere to get to a class. I had to walk to a building in the center of campus, which if I weighed what I did 18 years

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-74152293424883859042007-06-14T09:43:00.001-07:002007-06-14T09:47:46.682-07:00

All I know is that graduate school is hard. It's only the first week and I'm already clear that there are not enough hours in the day to do all this stuff. It scares me to think about what it will be like the rest of the year, trying to do this stuff around working nearly full-time. I'm wildly tired. I slept for an hour when I got home yesterday, to recover some missing hours. I slept 7.5

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-34838091934749432842007-06-11T23:08:00.001-07:002007-06-11T23:13:08.599-07:00

I have two classes so far. I have been sure to email a teacher who griped that she was feeling forced into having me in the class by the chair, so I told her she could back out if she wanted.The afternoon class is a class that could bury a gal. I had 2 chapters, a writing assignment, a form, and notes to take for a quiz tomorrow. I haven't finished, but I'm so damned tired, I'm going to bed and

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-85987875541281137482007-06-11T08:44:00.000-07:002007-06-11T08:47:09.067-07:00

I am starting grad school today. I feel like I did in Kindergarten when I stood outside our 60s-70s ranch house on Cape Street in a homemade sack dress of red plaid with my little white tights and black shiny patent leathers -- nervous, vulnerable, and very grown up.I'd rather be teaching. ;)

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-70128294085084490362007-05-15T20:48:00.000-07:002007-05-15T21:15:03.092-07:00

Working in the Coal Mines...Going DowntownI decided I was going to start work again on Thursday. So I called my favorite school and she asked me to work Thursday and Friday and then wanted to know if I'd work tomorrow. I hesitated, but I said, sure. I said, "If I go limping home tomorrow night, we'll know it was a bad idea," and she laughed.I've bought lots of dresses because I can't stand

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-26596624659210260902007-05-10T03:09:00.000-07:002007-05-15T21:09:31.762-07:00

This is a new Ruby mini-series,"When Gall Bladders Go Bad"Episode 1: The Surprising ColonI am drowsing through the colonoscopy in "twilight sleep." When all of the sudden I just I wake up screaming. They gave me one pain shot and I continued to scream. So they gave me a second one, and I continued to scream. The doctor stopped the colonoscopy. Apparently, they were passing my gall bladder

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-1176790311749790532007-04-16T23:04:00.000-07:002007-04-16T23:11:51.766-07:00

All I've been doing is working as a substitute teacher for several months. I like teaching. I've been discovering where I'd like to teach and where I'd rather gnaw my arm off than teach at. There are some schools where the teachers seem disspirited or proud of the wrong things (like cussing out a student in front of the class). There are some schools where the kids are fantastic and the

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-1170752278089100412007-02-06T00:50:00.000-08:002007-02-06T00:57:58.580-08:00

So we figured out a stop-gap measure on money. We were able to do something with the 401k, so we did.Also, we decided that for three more months, it was worth it for Mike to stay at his current job through June at a minimum because at that point he'd be fully vested in his retirement monies. The other thing he mentioned is that his company is looking to raise wages to match the way the standard

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3676506.post-1169476975543776772007-01-22T06:26:00.000-08:002007-01-22T06:43:05.820-08:00

Things have been bad.I haven't quite been able to figure out what I wanted to post here about it, so I guess I'll just say......I told Mike that after all the times that I've been there for him, covering things for him when he needed it that I deeply resented that he wasn't there for me when I really needed him over the past two years while I've been ill. There was no excuse, for example, why I

Red Neck Rubyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07656811730377136541noreply@blogger.com0