Back To School

Next week is registration week for our school district.  All the schools, all week, all at once.  Which is hard enough for me, but I feel bad for the families with 3, 4, or 5 kids.  You have to pay all registration fees at registration.  Who has that kind of money?? Not to mention school supplies and clothes and lunch account money and school pix and yearbooks orders....my head is spinning.

This year, Jazz is the one who is excited about going back to school.  Lyric is sooo not into it.  But she did have a bad year last year, so I think there's a little stigma from that.  She is, overall, doing better.  We have gotten her off two of the meds that she was on before.  And the doctor is hoping at some point that we can get her off of at least one, if not two more.

Jazz is going into 6th grade.  In most places that is middle school.  MIDDLE SCHOOL! The thought makes me want to cry.  She's my baby.  I can't even believe she's old enough to go to middle school.  Thank goodness our district has 1st through 6th at the elementary school.  It gives me one more year before I have to panic.  Which I totally will, because when Jazz goes to middle school, Lyric will be a junior.  And being a junior is just one year away from being a senior.  And I really, really don't feel old enough to have kids that grown up.  Wasn't I just in high school like 5 years ago??

Anyway, I bought notebooks, folders and pencils for the kids.  Now I need to break out the list and go get the rest of the stuff.  Glue, crayons, markers, paints, etc, etc, etc.  Now if I can just get my work/school stuff figured out...Then some of my stress will go away.

Planning...to have no plan

As you all know, things in my life are pretty freakin crazy right now.  The "best" (or maybe the worst) thing right now, is that school starts in 3 weeks and I don't have a new job.  Let me give you a smidge of backstory.  The job I have now (which I love) is Monday through Friday from 8 - 4:30.  Period.  I'm planning to take two classes this semester.  There is not an option to take different sections.  The classes are when the classes are.  My classes are Thursday from 10-11:50 and 3:30-6:30 (this is the lab) and Friday from 8-10:50.  Not bad for class times, however, I can't continue in the current job I have and take the classes that I want.

So about 4 months ago, I started applying for other positions within the health system where I work.  Nothing is panning out.  Nothing.  To add to the stress/drama, my position is posted and we have started interviewing for my replacement.  yup.  My replacement may be set before I even leave.

I had a nice talk with my manager the other day.  She really has been a great supporter of my goal to go back to school, and with all the crap I've had to go through with Fisher.  But she also has to look out for her department.  I can't fault her for that.

She has put in a good word for me with the manager of the area I have two applications in for, but I just don't know if that's enough.  Or if we can make anything happen in three weeks.  I just don't know. If the job thing works out, I will have to coordinate the girls after school because I will be working 3 - 12 hour shifts a week.  (And I must say, I love, Love, LOVE the idea of this schedule!) But I'll have to make sure Jazz has a ride home when I have to work. 

One of my co-workers is convinced that it will all work out last minute.  Hello, have you met me??? I'm a planner, an organizer, not a last minute person.  However, in this situation, I may have to be.  And it's driving me crazy.

But I guess this is just one of those life lessons.  You can't always plan everything.  So, my plan for the next month - no plan.  Let things fall where they may.  If the job thing doesn't work out, then I know that I'm not really supposed to be a nurse...but I won't give up my dream of a college degree.  That will happen...

American Idol....and So You Think You Can Dance

So last week I headed up to Milwaukee.  Twice.  We went on Monday to get Lyric's wristband, and then again on Wednesday for the actual audition.  The Monday trip was nice.  Easy in, easy out, thanks to my parents' GPS.  Tuesday night, I got the girls into bed at 9pm....don't know when they fell asleep but when the alarm went off on Wednesday morning at 3am, they did actually get up.  We were in the car by 3:30am and off to Milwaukee.

We pulled into a parking lot at 5am, and walked a couple of blocks to the Bradley Center.  There was a ton of people there already but the Bradley center people and the American Idol people really were organized.  We got into line and then sat for about a half an hour.  Lyric and I are huge people watchers so we were having a great time with that.  After a while, we were moved around the building and then waited again.  And for some reason then we were moved back to where we started, well, actually, we were moved back around the building and were let in.

We were in our seats around 7:30am.  At 8am, the AI producer/MC dude announced that he wanted everybody in their seats so we could "Get started".  It took just a few minutes and then Matt Giraurd was on the floor....a few second later, Danny Gokey.  The girls were stoked.  Matt was always Lyric's favorite and we had just seen Danny the week before.  They helped get the crowd pumped up and we did some group singing and what not.  Then Ryan Seacrest came out and the crowd went wild!  We didn't get done filming until 10am.

Then they set up the floor with the tables for the judges.  12 tables.  Sectioned off.  And then they started lining people up for the auditions.  Lyric didn't get in line until around 3:30/4:00.  and we were out of there by 4:30.  Lyric didn't get picked, but she texted me as soon as she was done and said "I feel great". 

I'm so proud of her for even being able to get up there and try.  She's already talking about trying out again next year.

And now Jazz is looking forward to trying out for So You Think You Can Dance...stage mom, anyone?!?!?

Court Part 2

Well, I'm starting to realized that the whole legal system is s.l.o.w.  Our first courtdate, we discussed custody and visitation.  The second one was all about child support (which I got more than I expected, so I'm pretty stoked about that).  I don't know what will be next, but could this crap be over soon please.  For one,  I can't keep paying my lawyer (but I will because he is awesome), and for two, I'm so over all this crazy BS.

In all my brilliance, I figured I would get there early and have my lawyer put me into a conference room like he suggested.  Half an hour early, an Fisher was already there!  So I went in and sat down.  I will admit, I should have sat farther away, but I thought a couple of seats between us would be a bit of a buffer.  Nope.  He started in talking to me.   I tried to shut him down, but he kept going. Then, he asked a very silly question. 

Here's the backstory: My best f riend's son's graduation party is this weekend.  It's Fisher's weekend to have the girls.  we had talked about it the night before. The party run from 12-3 and I told him to come at 2pm to pick up the girls.  He said "I was invited to the whole party".   I asked if he was really going to come and sit there for 3 hours and he said maybe.  Now, anybody who has ever been to one knows that graduation parties are like open houses- you go a for a abit and then leave.  But whatever.  He's gonna do whatever he wants. I told him that people would probably be really uncomfortable with us both there for three hours (I'm helping with the set up, clean and general party stuff)

Silly question from Fisher:  "Why do you think people would be uncomfortable?"

I got up and walked out into the hall.  I stood there, just to be away from him.  A few minutes later, he came out.  Pretty convenient that his lawyer was out there.  So, then I went back into the waiting room.  A few minutes later, he came in and sat down two seats away.  I turned my back to him when he asked "Can we talk" and said that we could not.

When my lawyer finally got a chance to "rescue" me, he put me in a conference room.  We talked for a bit and then he left to check on some things and I stayed.  After about 5 minutes, Fisher stuck his head in and asked if we could talk.  I said "no,  I'm waiting for my lawyer.  You need to go." and he said (another funny thing) "Well, I just though we could do this amicably."  yeah, right.

Fisher's lawyer is good as stalling.  They wanted to hagle over the child support amount, how I would get it, and even suggested a reconcilliation hearing.  My lawyer said "My client doesn't want that but file if you must".  Ultimately, we came out of there after about an hour and I was $75 a week richer that I expected.  NICE.

I don't know when part three will be but I will be sure to keep you posted.

Rick photos and help issue

Here's a couple of pix from the weekend.  If anybody can help me with setting on my camera so the pix aren't HUGE when I upload to the computer, that would be great.

this one I played with the settings in my computer.  not a great pix but a pretty cool tool

This one is a fun one...great smile.

Court Today

I've got great Rick pix to share and a funny story or two about the weekend, plus next week is Lyric's American Idol audition, but today is our second court date.

The first one, Fisher ended up behind me as I parked, and he walked into the courthouse with me and sat by me and talked to me and tried to convince me the whole time that we should not be doing this.

I met with my lawyer a couple of weeks ago and he said I could ask to be put into a conference room.  Sweet!  I've had enough of being badgered by my "was-band".

Last night he dropped the girls off at 9 and wanted to talk. again.  he always wants to talk.  Always wants to tell me how much he loves me and how much he's changed and how thing will be so different and so wonderful now that he's sober.  (which I only partially believe.  I don't think he's quit drinking 100%).  I gave him a few minutes of my time, unwillingly, but ultimate had to ask him to leave.  Kicked him out really.  I feel bad for him for not realizing that things were so bad and I was so unahppy, but I'm not going back now.  I don't even like to be in the same room with him, let alone try to "fix" our marriage.

Then this morning I get "I can't do this without you".  Too freakin' bad.  Because I can do this without you, and there is no way in hell that you are going to guilt me into coming back.  I feel so much better about myself since I moved out.  I feel freer, smart, happier.  I don't have to hid parts of who I am (like my Rick "issue"), or who my friends are, or what I think and feel.  I don't have to worry about how clean the house is, because I only answer to me.  And guess what, I like me.  I get along great with me.  I make me happy.  And that is a wonderful thing.

So, court update and Rick pix to come....stay tuned.

A Second Date With My "Boyfriend"...

For those of you that know me, you know I am a very organized person.  I've even stepped up the organization recently, and it's almost a little scary.  At least I can find stuff easily (except that one little piece of paper that I really need to find).  I'm a planner and a list maker. 

Saturday I'm going to see my boyfriend for the second time this year.  Out of town.  Without my girls.  And I really don't have a plan in place.  I know, I know, you can all pick your chins up off the floor now.  It's two days away.  I will figure it out.  So, I have to wonder:  am I mellowing out in my old age?  or am I just so overwhelmed by life in general that I don't care?  Either way, it's all going to work itself out.

But the week of the 19th I have about 500 things* to coordinate.  Check in with me next week and see if I'm pulling my hair out yet.

*disclaimer:  500 might be a bit of an exageration, but I have A LOT going on that week.

Someday My Prince Will Come

But until then, I'm growing one.  LOL  I will have photos soon.  My friend's bought me a "grow your own Prince" this weekend and it's the funniest damn thing ever.  It's almost fully grown, and then I will post the photos.

I had a decent weekend.  Went a little overboard with the alchol on Friday, but not too awful of a hangover on Saturday.  Then, Saturday evening was a fun time with good friends and good food and lots of laugh.  (Not that there weren't lots of laughs on Friday as well!)  Sunday, the girls came home from their dad's in decent moods and that was a very nice surprise.  We went to a cookout/pool party Sunday afternoon.  Lyric swam, Jazz did not.  We were scheduled to go to the parade, and then it started to rain.  The rain stopped and ultimately, we did end up going to the parade and the fireworks.  I don't think any of the 8 kids were into the fireworks but we stayed til the end anyway. :-)

Monday was a holiday from work for me, so after I slept in, we cleaned and then ran errands.  I got stuff done and felt pretty accomplished.  Now it's back to work...for a little bit anyway.  July is a super busy month for me.  I will try to keep you posted on the what's and how's but right now I'm just trying to make things make sense in my own head.

Happy Fourth of July

I know that technically it's only July 2nd, but I'm guessing I won't be online much since it's the holiday weekend.  The girls are going to Fisher's tonight (friday) and Saturday, instead of the previous plan of Saturday/Sunday.  I've been invited to a cook out on Sunday and they want to go with.  Fisher was generous enough to let them switch.  He also hasn't forced the Thursday overnight issue, which is great, because the girls are having a hard enough time adjusting to the weekend thing.  It sounds like they did have a nice visit yesterday though.

Saturday I will be cleaning, doing laundry and then going to a cookout/fireworks party.  Should be fun times.  Sunday is the aforementioned cookout.  Monday is a whole lot of nothing.  just hanging out with my girls...and maybe getting them to do some chores.  :-)

So, everybody have a great weekend.