Kids, chores and my patience

Why must kids who have chores do them half way?

They don't like being yelled at, scolded, or even punished for not completing them properly,

 but yet they continue to do them wrong.

And then argue that they were doing it right and I'm wrong.

(if you're reading in Reader don't forget to click to read the rest)

Sitting with swamp ass does not equal a proper education

If the words "I can't find it" are uttered one more time today, you WILL see me featured by Nancy Grace for a mother loosing her grip with reality and wrecking terror on her so called beloved family. Today just started on the wrong foot. Could not sleep to save my life, watched the alarm clock count it's way towards 0515, and then the kids were just icing to the cake.

Faijtas were on the menu BUT since Dirt Diver's unit is doing end of month reviews on everyone, chances are he won't be here till the sun has long since parted company with the skies and the stars have come out to party. Breakfast dinner it is then! Dirty scrambled eggs with country 'taters are in order, I do believe. 

I know it's a long shot but I am holding onto a very small glimmer of hope that during said review, Dirt Diver can get a straight answer for why he was passed for the board. Like I said, I am holding onto a SMALL hope.

One thing that's been eating away at me like crazy is 'Tater's open house for school. I have never in my life heard of a open house that will discuss dress code, rules, etc literally only a couple days before school starts. It just boggles my mind that knowing every student on this post in grades 7th through 12th are required to wear uniforms, you'd think they would do this earlier allowing for parents, especially new ones, the time to search out the appropriate clothing. 

*knocking on my fat noogin*Once again though, we all know logical thinking is just redonkulous when it involves order and prepration. 

Another topic for school that isn't just eating at me but literally makes me want to vomit is the thought that not just my kid but all kids here are expected to participate in PE, whether it's running/walking or playing a sport, in their UNIFORMS! I just find that so incredibly nasty. Especially right now with it being so hot, the poor kids already get swamp ass just walking to and from school each day.

When I was in school (and contrary to Dirt Diver's thoughts it was NOT when dinosaurs were eating cavemen) starting 6th grade is when we had PE uniforms. We changed, had a chance to shower if we choose, or at least wash our smelly pits and douse ourselves in stinky smelly crap pretending we didn't sweat the hour before. 

Now nope not even close. This is the 2nd school district in 2 states that has this horrendous policy. 

Why is it that naptime takes FOREVER to get here, now that it's here it's gone and everyone's stirring.

Guess that's my cue to exit.

In the mean time though, curiosity has struck...

What did you wear for PE while in still in grade school?

No drugs where used to get the desired affect

Did you know that 850 peanuts go into making 1 18oz. jar of peanut butter?

Normally I write my posts the night before and was in the process of writing one. I woke up sometime around 11 with a bunch of different letters and numbers on the screen. I tried my hardest to decipher what I wrote but it was a no go.

Last night I did something I have never done with my kids in almost 6 years. ‘Tater came home with yet another round of straight A’s. I didn’t feel like cooking so I got us all ready and we went to Sizzler. I think I’ve eaten there once in 10 years and really couldn’t remember if I liked it or not so off we went. Now I do not take these kidlets anywhere by myself except for Wal-Mart because it’s the one place that when they have their attitudes they blend in and aren’t the 2 o’clock showing for lookie-loo know it alls. It’s not that the kidlets are horrible heathen monsters that are straight descendants of Hades. It’s just that they seem to think at times that they can do what they want when dad’s not around. Normally Princess squirms and runs in one direction, Monkey takes off in the other. While I’m debating on whom to chase after ‘Tater and Lil t’ attack each other with no gloves. The bickering and trying to one up each other starts small, like who had more homework then the other and it grows and grows till I have blown my lid and everyone is grounded till they are 90.

It wasn’t like that though. The kids all sat down, they ate, they didn’t argue. Even Monkey remembered that we didn’t pray and he said prayer for us. Maybe it was because of the stern lecture I gave in the truck on the way there. Who knows but it worked!  I have to admit at one point I wondered if the food was drugged because they were just too nice, quiet, and helpful. I kept waiting for the hammer to fall from one of them. But it didn't happen! The kids wanted to check out the waves since the wind had been blowing like crazy so off we went. The beach is literally a 10 minute drive from my our house, well when you don’t get stuck behind the super slow old folks who Flintstone their way along the road.  Sadly though we don’t go often since even during the summer the water is WAY too cold for the kids.

The road right before it opens to the beach

Viola! We’ve hit the beach. You can take your trucks out on the sand as long as you have 4x4 but I refuse to off road alone with the kids.

There is still a lot to be done, unfortunately with it raining it makes it hard to go outside to the shed to and start pulling things out. I did however was able to get rid of 3 boxes of clothes, 1 box of books, and a box of misc household items! I figure if I can get rid of some more, the beer fridge, and the 3 window AC’s that hopefully I’ll get us under our weight limit and won’t have to get a trailer. I am on a mission. I do NOT want to take a trailer.

The Man did something completely surprising yesterday. I knew he was going to the shop but had no clue what he was going to get. Let me just say prior to him going to the shop was a huge fight. I have been DYING to get back under the needle for a while. I have all these ideas plus a coverup I want done. I do NOT spend a dime on myself and when I do it’s after searching high and low for the cheapest item possible. I will blow money on the kids and him like crazy but I just don’t for myself. I mean shoot I NEED a new camera and still haven’t convinced myself to spend the money and get one. So we had a rough couple hours of communication. 

I then got this picture…

The flag represents him being in service, the Stargazer lily represents me, and the dog tag has our last name and wedding anniversary on it. I told him he’s stuck with me forever and ever now. His response was that was fine with him. I cried when he wrote me the email that went with the picture. We have had our ups and downs, we have come so close to divorce that it literally only took a signature for it to be done. We have come back and become stronger than before. As soon as money permits, which who in the heck knows again, I’m going to get the same one on my shoulder blade. I am so incredibly in love with it. 

Move on over KFC, there's been small discoveries today

I wish there was a fabulous update on my scheme but there's not. I don’t THINK the kids know about this blog and even if they did they haven’t been allowed online in over a week so there is no way they could have found out my plan. Besides everyone reading this, I've only discussed, okay more ranted and raved, this in great detail with our dog as I was busy washing dishes by hand because they were yet dirty again. They have been washing the dishes pretty good. But I don’t think it will last. They are never consistent with anything that remotely close to chores, so it’s just a waiting game. I have to admit though, I’ve been feeling almost let down by the lack of dirty clean dishes. I was so excited to put my plan in action and now it’s just stalled. C'est la vie.

Now that I’m not having a nervous breakdown and walking around like the Grim Reaper is following me, I have officially hit the “I’m done waiting let’s get this show on the road and get to Kentucky” mode. I learned something new today about the Army vs. the Navy; you can apply for housing online before you even check into the duty station. How cool is that? I know we won’t be put on the waiting list right this minute but next week we’ll be placed on it and thus starts the constant watch of our place for a house. If I’m not watching out for one thing then I’m watching out for something else. I really need to stop obsessing over things. I am a little disappointed by the PPV (Public Private Ventures the company’s that run and maintain military housing) website. It was a little difficult to locate what housing was for what rank, I felt like I was almost trying to navigate a puzzle with all the same pieces. Along with their lack of floor plans to view and really horrible pictures that were taken at some wrong angles. I know I shouldn’t expect much, but I just feel that things should be simple and easy to help lessen the millions of questions people have when moving. Besides how can you pick a housing area’s wait list if the pictures are crappy and you can’t get a feel of the communities?

Side note: my tush hurts from this falling apart recliner but I refuse to move since it reclines for my footsies. That’s a tossup, feet or tush?

Back to the move; I would love to say we’re packing up and leaving on such and such date. Unfortunately my ex-husband is dodging me phone calls and even dodged Wednesday’s phone call visitation. It would be nice if he would just say yes, no, or I want to discuss this more. It’s frustrating that deep down I know he is going to drag his feet on this, he is going to play hard ball just to spite me. Never mind that this move will benefit him by putting us closer to him so he can have more visitation and not have to worry about plane tickets. I don’t understand why people do this once the marriage or relationship end. Why do they feel that they have to do everything possible to make things continue down the nasty road? I try VERY hard to keep having hope that he is changing and that what he says is true, but each time he goes back on his word, continues to irritate, and just gets me to the point of wondering if he’ll ever be abducted by aliens. There should be a preview before you decide to commit to someone to see what they will be like if on the off set you go separate ways. I would have ran so far in the opposite direction I would have put Jackie Joyner to shame.

I’ve been in a cooking slump this week. Haven’t really felt the urge to stand and cook thanks to the rain but today I REALLY wanted KFC.

Lack of funds + Savy cooking skills = 

Homemade Chicken Bowl

• Boneless chicken breasts (my rule is 1 breast per person, anyone under 4 splits a breast)
• Ritz Crackers (if out, use saltines)
• Garlic Powder
• Egg
• A couple large baking ‘taters (or if you’re lazy like I was tonight some instant ‘taters)
• Corn
• Shredded cheese
• Country Gravy (another laziness of me mix up a packet that is kept hidden for lazy times like this)

Chicken:

1. Heat up oil in large skillet or a fry daddy if you have one. In the meantime, crush up crackers and add as much garlic salt as you love. For this family it means to the point of almost burning our nostrils, in a shallow dish. Mix up eggs in a separate dish. Cut chicken into small strips.
2. Once oil is ready, dip egg in the egg, then coat with cracker crumbs before placing into the oil. Fry until golden brown, flip. Remove and drain.

During the chicken, I make up the mashed ‘taters, gravy and corn. We like frozen corn because if I don’t heat it fully, it’ll have a crisp bite to it. Once it’s all ready, pile it up in your bowl… ‘taters, chicken, corn, gravy, and some shredded cheese. Goes perfect with some cornbread too. It’s not a fancy recipe but it is definitely comfort food that keeps you from spending a fortune at KFC.