Random Outlaw

Recovering

I swear, after all I've been through in the last 3 years, I have not had two weeks as bad as these last two have been.

First on the parade of miseries: I am STILL sick.  This is highly unusual.  I even went to the doctor!  He gave me some stuff that treats the symptoms (coughing, breathing issues due to the coughing) but had no healing effect whatsoever.  I cough a lot.  I am exhausted, both mentally and physically.  I can't help but wonder if there is something really wrong with me that will require a week off from work (which I can ill afford).  Then last Friday on top off all the coughing, my sinuses got all plugged up.  Now I am coughing and my head hurts.

Now think of this: poor, pitiful, sick Lisa drags herself into work all drugged up a week ago only to be the subject of workplace bullying.  Strong, healthy Lisa may be able to brush off workplace bullying with a well-stated, "Assholes!"  However, poor, pitiful, sick Lisa was barely making it as it was, and reacted to said bullying the same way she did in 3rd grade, by hiding in the bathroom and crying.

Now imagine, poor, pitiful, sick, workplace-bullied Lisa walking into her child's expensive Reggio Emilia school on Monday afternoon only to be informed by the director that she had fired the Moosh's excellent and beloved pre-K teacher.  Imagine Lisa bursting into hysterical tears in the director's office.  Imagine Lisa breaking the news to her 4-year-old that his beloved teacher will not be coming back to school.  No, not ever.  Because she had to get another job.  I don't know why.  Yes, I am very sad, too, honey.

Now visualize Lisa dropping off the Moosh at school on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Also, visualize him sobbing hysterically because he wanted his beloved teacher, not that other teacher.  Visualize poor, pitiful, sick, workplace-bullied, heartbroken, and goddamn angry Lisa cursing the director every chance she got while planning to pull the Moosh out of school ASAP because not only is his teacher gone, his class has doubled in size overnight!  The curriculum has been almost totally abandoned!  The new teacher did not even want to be the pre-K teacher in the first place and is rumored to be looking for another job, along with every other teacher in the school.

Picture Lisa having a mini-breakdown.

That was how things went until Thursday.  On Thursday I was still sick, but my sister had come up with the brilliant idea of hiring my brother to watch the Moosh at the house for the summer.  My brother was more than happy to be offered a well-paying part-time job, so that is all worked out.  The Moosh's last day of school is Wednesday.

And yesterday I came in only to realize that the workplace bullies are now on vacation for two weeks. 

I'm still sick, though.  I'll probably end up back at the doctor's office sometime this week, unless a miracle happens.

Think Happy Thoughts

We got back last Monday after a No Internet Available 2 week jaunt in Iran.  This trip was better than the last several trips by a factor of like 200.  Traveling with potty trained verbal person is far, far better than traveling with what amounts to an incontinent chimpanzee.  However, we are never, ever flying KLM again - give me Lufthansa with direct service to Dallas any day.

Yeah we got back on Monday and got our asses collectively kicked by jet lag (the Moosh) and tonsillitis (me). I'm back at work now but feel like death warmed over.

This is the first week on the Sunday - Thursday schedule, and what does R do? He totally bails on watching the Moosh tomorrow morning, necessitating emergency plans involving my mother.  I love my mother but she sucks with emergency plans. "Well I KNOW I promised to be your backup person in case R had to work, but I have to do things tomorrow so can you stay up until 1 PM when I get home?" I told her I could, because I never expected her to never make plans on Sunday to do my bidding, but staying up until 1 PM is likely to be miserable for me.  She caught the negativity in my voice when I agreed to wait up for her, and Drama ensued.  It was a an awful fucking day and I would really like to bitch slap R for jumping ship on me the very first weekend I needed him to watch the Moosh. 

As soon as I get the pictures loaded on flickr I will post a link.

Fuzzily

So, after a whirlwind of craziness, we (and when I say "we" I mean me and the Moosh) are going back to Iran this year.  This all came about in the last 4 days.  Schedules made, time off requested, tickets bought, and OH MY GOD WHY AM I DOING THIS????

Short answer: last year we will have "no limit" on how long we visit.  Next year there will be Kindergarten and in general it is too expensive for us to visit in the summer. Timeframes for visiting in the future will likely be very short.

We leave on Saturday for two weeks (14 days in-country and two days traveling).  I am UUUUGGHHHH and MMMMMEEEHHHH about the whole thing.  The Moosh is ecstatic. He spent the last few days reiterating with R that yes, the tickets had been bought, and yes, we are going to see his family.  He has learned where Iran and Texas are on the world map, and took it to school so he could show his friends. He has recently developed and interest in fishing and his uncle has promised to take him fishing when we go.  His only ambivalence is that he is worried about the plane ride, but we have been role-playing with his planes at home and he is slowly coming to terms with it.

I am hoping (truly, cross-my-fingers hoping) that this trip will be easier.  The last few times we've gone, I was dragging a baby halfway across the world and he had no idea what was going on, so we both suffered mightily.  Now he is fully cognizant of what's happening, he understands that there is a payoff at the end, and he is excited about going.  Maybe, just maybe, this time will be different.

I must have a short memory because I had forgotten how expensive it is to travel internationally.  I have a laptop computer of my very own, so we don't have that expense this time, but I've had to buy both adult and kids' strength versions of every medicine we might need on our trip, books and movies for entertainment, a new carry-on suitcase for the Moosh who is way too big to be carried anymore, headphones, new shoes for me since we're going to be walking a lot, anti-bug balm (the mosquitos nearly ate us both alive last time), ear pressurizing earplugs, and the kitchen sink.  It's been expensive.

Then, today, just for extra fun, one of my contacts has gone completely wonky.  I am calling the eye doctor tomorrow to see if they can get me any sort of replacement before we leave, because I am seriously about to go nuts.  And this is what sucks about international travel... when you go on a trip like this, you have to take everything, and you are working against a strict deadline.  Which means urgency and extra shipping costs.

Because if it's not in my hands by Saturday morning... it's not going. Eeeek.

Dear Universe,

I am writing to you in order to rectify a situation that demands immediate attention.  I will cut right to the chase.  It is March.  March is the time of year here in North Texas when the grass begins to grow, flowers begin to bloom, and the light stays a little bit longer each day.  It is a beautiful month, full of new life.

You seem to be confused, however.  You see, it is currently March 6, and it looks like this

outside.  I must admit to being slightly scared.  There is ice.  Freezing to the ground.  In March.

Does not compute.

Please rectify this error as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

One of your loyal subjects

NOOOOOOOOO!

Firstly, the Moosh had a vision and hearing evaluation this morning because his preschool teacher is having some trouble understanding him.  I've honestly been worried about his speech for some time, so I decided to call the school district and have him evaluated.  The beginning of the eval did not go well, neither the diagnostician nor the speech-language pathologist could understand what he was saying.  However, by the end of the visit, the speech-language pathologist was on the fence about sending him on for further testing.  However, the diagnostician was worried about what she called his "connected speech" so they are making sure that the next evaluator takes a language sample.  We'll see how it goes.

In other news, the Moosh's preschool teacher informed me that 2/3 of the 3-year-old class has the flu, as well as one of the little girls in his class.  NOOOOOOO! That is that very last thing in a long list of last things that we need right now.  Fie.  Fie on the flu.

By The Way

I was not the only parent who sent her child to school on Valentine's Day in play clothes.  However, I saw the V-Day picture today and I found it interesting that out of 9 kids 6 were dressed up and 3 were not.  Split directly on gender lines!  I find it so funny that all the other boys' moms were like HELL NO we are not putting them in nice clothes!

The Moosh did look quite festive in his red shirt, though.

Bonus Time!

I work damn hard at my job. Damn. Hard. Usually I rue the day when I get out of bed. But not in February. You see, February is Bonus Time. The bonus is not massively ginormus, but it is a decent amount of cash. A large sum is going into savings, but I am setting aside $600 FOR ME. No guilt!

Now I am at a crossroads. It's easy to salivate over The Bonus and the resplendent cash, but I tell you... 2 or 3 big ticket items and The Bonus is gone!  It is so sad. So we must be careful with The Bonus.

Here's what I'm thinking I COULD get with The Bonus:

1) A facial and pedicure at a local spa. I always get a face wax because I am hairy.
Total cost (including tip): $200.

Enjoyment Level: High.
Necessity: Negligible (could get cheaper wax job elsewhere).
Longevity: Fleeting.
Satisfaction: Always leaves me wanting more!

2) A natural skin care system that will help my flaky, itchy skin and acne marks.

Total cost (including shipping): $180

Enjoyment level: Meh. I hate washing my face (sensory issues).
Necessity: High - my face needs some serious help.
Longevity: 6 months.
Satisfaction: Well if I actually use it and it works I will be very satisfied. But will I use it or will I have just dropped $180 on nice smelling products that will sit on my shelf? Conundrum.

3) 3 month long T-Tapp online course intended to develop consistency, goal setting, and accountability.

Total cost (discounted): $200

Enjoyment level: Medium.
Necessity: High - my stomach is starting to scare me.
Longevity: 3 month class, but if I actually DO develop consistency and accountablility, indefinite.
Satisfaction: If I do the class and gain from it, I will be satisfied. Let us not remark on the last time Lisa did an online class for T-Tapp and dropped out after two weeks. Also I have way less time now, so it would be more of a challenge.

4) Mad money.

Total cost: variable up to $600

Enjoyment: High. I love to spend!
Necessity: 0
Longevity: How long does mad money ever last?
Satisfaction: Medium to low. Those impulse purchases never turn out to be as good at home as they were in the store.

So what would you do? Help me out!

Cranky

Sorry for the lack of updates but I am angry with the universe RE: the weather.  Please note: when it is 70 degrees and gorgeous one day and 40 degrees and rainy 12 hours later, it tends to be detrimental to the human body.  I have been sick for 2 damn weeks, thanks to the stupid weather.  I took the Moosh to the doctor today because he had started coughing and hacking again, some more, and initially they weren't going to do anything other than add Zyrtec to his drug cocktail, but then his rapid strep test came back positive.  Poor kid.  Another round of antibiotics, anyone?  Sniff.

Also, I hate Valentine's Day.  I really, super, extra hate it.  Only adding to my hate is the fact that they are having an all day party at the Moosh's school on Thursday, and they actually expect parents of 4 and 5-year-olds to send them in fancy dress clothes.  So they can get them stained, I guess.  Anyway, we don't own any, and I am not buying fancy clothes for a school party.  The end.

I swear, if I see one more Vermont Teddy Bear commercial I will commit ritual suicide.  These commercials are so stupid and sexist that I have to stab both my ears and my eyes with forks every time they come on.  They are toys.  Toys are for CHILDREN.  These bears start at $49.  Grrr. Grrr. That's my Vermont Teddy Bear growl.

Whoops, another Vermont Teddy Bear commercial just came on.  Now where is my samurai sword?

A Hefty Dose Of Stupid...

Normally I run out of work like a bat out of hell so I can get the Moosh up, fed, dressed, and safely dropped off at school before I start exhibiting signs of narcolepsy.  It is a complicated dance.

This morning, however, I have a training class that lasts until 10:30 AM.  My boss made an extra effort to tell us that this class was NOT OPTIONAL, so I made arrangements with R so that he could drop the Moosh off at school instead of me. 

It sounds simple, but was in fact relatively complicated because R hadn't ever been to the Moosh's school before.  We had to get an extra car seat because we only had one.  R went with us on Monday so that he would know how to get the Moosh logged into his classroom properly. OK? OK.  All lights are green for go.

So today I got very little sleep (thank you, parent-teacher conference!) so by the time R got home from work I fell into bed with nary a word to him and slept straight up until it was almost time for me to leave.  I scrambled around in a rush, making sure I was dressed and ready for work, and on the way out the door, I hastily grabbed the keys to the car I normally drive to work.  Which was the car R was supposed to take in the morning to get the Moosh to school.  The one with the car seat in it.  Ooooooooops.

Luckily there is no problem, it's only a slight inconvenience for R... he'll have to install the spare booster seat in another car and take him to school in that, but still.  I was the one that made all the plans.  I was the one who was shrill about it.  I was the one who made sure R was up to date on all the plans... then I drove off in the wrong car.

Doh!!

Damned

1. I have locked my keys in the car.
2. The Moosh is stuck at school.
3. The locksmith is coming from the other side of the planet.
4. I feel stupid.
5. We were supposed to go to my parents' house tonight and now we can't.
6. The Moosh is going to be even more disappointed than I am. If I ever get him home from school, that is.
7. I was really needing family support because we are being audited by the IRS.
8. I really hate my life today.