catcline's Journal

stupid people abound
So here is a tip for all of you non parents out there who are unsure how to react to kids in public.

If you see a not quit two year old running towards a door with no parent in sight please do not hold the door open for him to run out. No one will thank you. It just means that his mom will have to leave one kid in the white alligator exhibit while she chases down the one that couldn't have escaped without your help, dumbass.

Other than that the zoo was fun today. But hot hot hot.

It's not that....
I'm letting my baby eat marshmallow cereal for breakfast. It's that I am encouraging his fine motor skills by letting him pick up small things to eat. Really.

OK parenthood has broken down in a big way. I admit it. The problem is that it gets to hot to do anything at about 9 am so we end up stuck inside going crazy all day which is exhausting for me. Also my parent's house is not very baby proof. So I never get a break.

And I have my first summer school test tonight. If I fail I am totally dropping the class.

On the up side of life we are going to a farmer's market on the way to the zoo today which will hopefully be much fun. I am hoping for corn and homegrown tomatoes.

We are in the NO area! Yeah! We are mostly moved into my parents house and Cline starts the new job Tuesday. He has tomorrow off which is good because the kids need to spend some time with him.

Of course no move is simple and this move was complicated by everyone getting sick. I am quite tired of cleaning up after sick babies but I think we are at the end of this ordeal.

So update.

We are in NO.
My cell is the same.
Jason's will change.
Probably no longer a plague zone.
Will do this all again in 2 months when we move to Slidell.

Also I am having a B-day party on Saturday June 27th starting at 6:30 or so. We are going to barbe-que, watch movies, play card games and if our nerd karma is really high maybe someone will run a one shot game.

You are all invited. Bring anyone you wish. Try to let me know rough numbers of people coming so I can plan for food.

moving again
So Cline got a job in the Slidell area so we are moving again. Currently the plan is to move into my parent's house for the summer as they are away and then finga place in Slidell from there. I think this new job will be much better for Cline but it will mean a tightening of our finances cause we will lose the whole nifty free house thing.

And now a moment of panic over packing. ARRRG ARRRG AHHHH!

Yes, we are still here
So it has been 10 weeks since my last post. Go me with the procrastination! Yeah!

So here's the update. The park is open and Cline is very very busy. But if anyone wants to come to the beach feel free to visit. We no longer have a second bed or futon but if you don't mind sleeping on the floor we would love the company.

Ben and I are both done with school. He got a little certificate that says he completed a year of head start. They had a little ceremony for parents and it was cool. They sang some songs, got their certificate and then there was cake. Ben decided he didn't want to sing so he hid his head in his chair during that part which was kind of funny.

I got an A in my lecture and a B in my lab which is pretty good considering half the class dropped out.

And the boys and I are going to Arkansas next week to see Cline's parents. Should be fun.

And that's our life. Yeah!!

O the Annoyance
So in an effort to be environmental I got 10 re-usable grocery bags off of e-bay. I love the bags. They fit 2 gallons of milk perfectly and are kind of stiff so you don't have to constantly re-open them to put more groceries in them. But they came with all sorts of unnecessary adverts and other paper crap. Doesn't it make sense that if someone is ordering something for a specifically environmental purpose you should NOT include junk in the package. Especially junk about spas in Atlanta and restaurants in Charlotte. If I want a massage or nice meal I'm pretty sure I can find one without traveling 500 miles.

Other than that life is the same old. Ben's speech is improving under his new speach therapy regime which is relieving. Daniel is climbing everything in sight. And I have a test next week so I need to get busy with the studying.

So it has been a couple of weeks since I posted anything so here goes.

I had my first test in the Anatomy and Physiology class that I am taking on Saturdays. I was nervous because it has been a long time since I was in a school/testing situation and having babies makes you stupid (really) but I managed to do quite well thanks to lots of studying with the help of my wonderful husband who listened to an explanation of various tissue types with every appearance of interest. Verbalizing helps me learn and we didn't have anything else pressing to discuss on the 2 hour trip up but still it was sweet.

Ben has stared speech therapy and seems to be doing better at the whole expressing his needs which is nice. It's especially nice that he is starting to mention it when he has to go potty instead of just getting cranky.

Jason is still looking for a new job but with the economy melting down that is looking like a long shot.

And Daniel is getting more teeth in which is not fun for anyone.

So I started school this month. I'm taking 2 classes on Saturday so I'm in class from 8 till 2 with 1 really short lunch break in between classes. It's sort of weird to be doing the study thing again but I think it is good for me. I have to say that I think when I become a despotic overlord the first law I will decree is that people are allowed to smoke or wear perfume but must not do both because 1) it makes you smell like a flower ash and 2) it triggers the allergies of everyone around you. Don't you notice that you are a toxic cloud?

So Christmas was nice. We had our own Christmas miracle and the kids behaved all the way through church which was nice. It was the family service which was specially designed to be entertaining for kids with lots of music and a story instead of a sermon. I got sheets, slippers, the complete works of HP Lovecraft and sweaters. The kids got a boatload of toys. We hung out with the extended family and talked mostly about the kids which is a better subject than most for the holidays. And now we are home again. Wee.

New Year's Party
So we are moving the New Year's Party from Grand Isle to New Orleans cause not that many people can come anyway so why not go to the quarter. So we will probably roll up to NO on the 31st and drop the kids with my parents, eat some dinner and go out somewhere or other. Suggestions are welcome for places to go and/or more concrete plans.

New Year's Party
So can anyone come to New Year's? So far I only have one person who can make it. And if we are going to have a very small party why not just meet up at the French Quarter or something instead of driving all the way down to Grand Isle? Just as much fun, less gas. Let me know what you all think.

Thanksgiving
So Thanksgiving was niceish. The food was good, the family was good, but I was sick as a dog so that killed my apatite and my ability to make conversation because I lost my voice for a while there. But it was fun to listen to an adult conversation even if I couldn't participate and if you have to be sick I highly recommend doing it in a setting where people fight to entertain your children while you nap. Also the staff at the clinic there recognized us which was funny because we only go there when we are on vacation. Or every six months apparently.

Anyway we are home now and gearing up for Christmas and New Years in our slow procrastinating way. I think that this year we are going to invest in a fake tree because hauling a real one from New Orleans does not appeal in the slightest. I feel like that is a betrayal of all things traditionally Christmas but so what? It's not like the kids will know the difference. I draw the line at getting a white one because this is Louisiana and we do not have snow. So why pretend that it snowed in your living room on your tree.

We are connected again!
So here we are two and a half months after Gustav and we finally have internet again. Yeah! To be fair we have only been back in the house for a month and a half of that so instead of being incredibly, stupidly, amazingly slow and incompetent I feel that our provider is merely stupidly and amazingly slow and incompetent.

On to happier things like New Years! We are having a party here at the house in Grand Isle which is quite small. So our plan is to clear out the kids and have everyone sleep upstairs in either the kids room on the floor or on our floor. So if you have an air mattress bring it so as to be more comfy. Also if you prefer to set up a tent outside in the cold there is lots of room and we are having a fire out there so you will have some warmth. As per usual bring anyone you want but try to let me know rough numbers so we can plan for food.

Also I am having a fun party with my friend Kelly here on the 31st afternoon around 4 or so. So if you are female or can pass for one and want to come look over the line of sex toys etc.. you are invited. Again let me know if you are coming for snacks etc.. Jason and the guys will be kicked outside to start the fire and get the drinking going so it will be one of those private girl moments and we can all surprise our significant other with whatever we buy.

Hey everyone,

We are still alive! And we are back in Grand Isle! No internet though so I am posting from my dad's house. So very briefly

we are fine
most of our stuff is fine
Ben starts school (again) tomorrow
New Year's is still on
TRFing with no kids Nov 8 & 9

So I'm enjoying my stay in North Carolina. Saw both my sisters and niece who is so different from Ben that you can hardly believe they are related. Also got an update from Cline in LA situation. He should be abe to go to Grand Isle today and And maybe he will get an update on the electrical situation.
And today I am going to indulge in a bit of retail therapy.

By the way I lost my cell phone for a while there so I have no one's numbers. Thought I have a nifty new phone with a camera. Nice toy.

We are all OK
Hey everyone,

So we made it to Berryville. I did leave my cell phone on the way so I am not contacteble but we are all safe. CLine is in Monroe hanging out and his cell is still fine so call him if that's where you are.

For everyone who has called
Yes we are all off the island. JAson is in Chicot state park and I am headed to Arkansas to visit the in laws. Our house is probably going to be ground zero but I was tired of having stuff anyway.

Dont they know that gas is 4 bucks a gallon
So we went to the doctor yesterday to get Ben's going to school physical and I had them take a look at the massive ringworm bald spot on his head. Apparently the creme they gave me for his legs won't work on the head stuff (who knew?) so I got another prescription. This one is oral. And he threw it up. So I looked it up on the internet and it is penicillin based. They KNOW he is allergic. It's in his chart. Every time we go there someone says "So, he's allergic to penicillin?" And I say yes, he gets a rash. Including this time! SO now I am going to have to go back and get something different after having paid darn near $20 for the first medication and traveling 30 miles there and back. With 2 kids.

But maybe they will have restocked the big crayons he needs for school.

Current Mood: frustrated

Some general updates from Casa del Cline.

Jason did not get the job in Natchitoches which is kind of a bummer. It was a long shot but it would have been nice.

But Ben got into school! He starts the 19th. And now we sing the happy happy joy joy song from Ren and Stimpy.

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Joy!

I think it will be very good for him to be with other kids and in a school environment and I think it will be great for me to have him somewhere else for 5 hours a day. Also it will be good for Daniel to have some solo mommy time. And as Ben will be in school and Daniel sleeps from 10-12 it will be good for me and Cline because lunchtime nookie is back on the menu! Yeah!

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Joy!

Also today I stole peanut butter and saw my first speedo swimsuit.

So by Friday we will know if Cline got the job in Natchitoches that he applied for and if Ben got a spot in the nursery school that we applied for. If I had to choose 1 to come through I would pick the job because it is about what he is getting paid now and Natchitoches is kind of fun and we know people there and it is not a terribly expensive place to live plus I could go back to school.

But as a booby prize you can't beat having Ben go somewhere else, free, from 8-2 every day. I it somewhat iffy because it is a Head Start program and we might make too much money (insert hysterical laughter) and they are only allowed to take so many kids that make to much money. Also it was kind of funny to watch the change of expression on the teacher's face when she realized Ben was 3 instead of 4 like she assumed. He went from really behind verbally to just being really tall.

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