annoyances

I’m Flipping Off Stuff…AGAIN! #4

Posted on July 9, 2010 Written by Tonya

This was a really crummy week so coming up with this week’s Flip Off list took no time at all. As always, my deepest appreciate to Gigi at Kludgy Mom for developing this beautiful virtual detox meme!

#1 Part of the reason this week sucked was because I woke up every morning with an flipping achy back, stiffness all over and sore neck. We have a Sleep Number Bed and four years ago when we first got it, I loved it. I had found my perfect sleep number (55) and stuck with it without any discomfort, but now the bed does nothing but irritate me and I want it gone!! It has no bounce, no spring and no flexibility. It’s time to go back to a box spring with a pillow top and some give. FLIP OFF, SLEEP NUMBER! And for the record, my husband has had these complaints since day 1. When will I ever listen?!

#2 Stores that have the extra cashiers but don’t utilize them deserve a big FLIP OFF! I walked out of a very popular children’s clothing store recently leaving behind a cute and much needed pile of clothes for Lucas. They were on sale AND I had a coupon! The line of customers was wrapped around the store and out the front door and they only had ONE person ringing everyone up. Several customers, including myself asked if there was anyone else to help us and she was paged to the front but never showed up. I mentioned this was a children’s store, didn’t I? There were just as many kids on the verge of melt downs as there were parents. So frustrating!!

#3 I am pissed off at the entire medical profession this week. I now know why they call it “practicing medicine” because that’s exactly what it is… practicing. Doctors really don’t always have the answers.

I am grateful for medicine, doctors and scientists and the fact that our bodies are such mysteries, but sometimes when there is no rhyme or reason, no medical explanation available and Mother Nature just makes it so, I want to scream at the top of my lungs FLIP OFF!!! Most of the time the logical side of my brain can accept this, but then there are other times when my heart wants answers, facts and proof. I need to know WHY!?

#4 My sister and I inherited our parents home in Arizona and each month we pay the electric, water and phone bills. No one lives in the house so these bills are minimal, but recently I took a closer look at the phone bill and thought that I could remove some of the services and lower it.

I contacted the phone company (to be remain nameless but name is similar to a direction and rhymes with west) to see if they could help me. They said that they could take $10 off the bill by removing the international long distance service. Great! No one uses the phone and the only reason we have it hooked up in the first place is for the alarm system.

I received the next bill only to find it has gone up, not down! What?! I called them back and they said that there was a fee associated with making changes to your service and that the adjusted bill wouldn’t be reflected until the next billing cycle. That’s right, the international long distance service is still on the bill and so is the service fee for removing it. Next. Month. Really? Are you kidding me? FLIP OFF!!

Whew… that was a much needed rant!

Have a super weekend, everyone.

The best is yet to be.

Desperately Seeking Mary Poppins

Posted on June 29, 2010 Written by Tonya

I am so frustrated with our nanny search that I am ready to pull my hair out!! See photo demonstration at right.

If you haven’t been following along… Up until last week, we had a wonderful young woman named Angel help care for Lucas two days a week for 5 hours each day and less than a month ago, she gave us her notice. (Saddest. Day. Ever.) She and her husband decided to move to Idaho so that he could go back to school. We were/are genuinely happy for her, supportive of her decision and had hoped that she would find us a replacement. She had previously placed nannies as part of her career and we had every confidence in her abilities.

Angel brought us ONE candidate that seemed like the perfect match, but in the end decided to devote more time to the family she is currently with, a widower and his two daughters. We can’t really blame her for that… they need her more than we do.

It was an interesting interview though. It turns out that she recently discovered that she can’t have children and broke down in tears while we were talking. My heart goes out to anyone that is unable to have children of their own and something inside me knew that she would be perfect with Lucas. This outward display of emotion and honest disclosure was refreshing.

Alas, it wasn’t meant to be…

It was shortly there after that Angel decided “it would be best if I hand over nanny search responsibilities to you. I still have a lot of packing to do and want to make sure that I get it done on time.” Um, are you kidding me? With only days until you are leaving, you drop this all on us? Great! Angel, I know you read this and I’m sorry, but that was super crummy and very disappointing.

Okay, never one to back away from a challenge, I immediately signed up for Sittercity.com on the recommendation of several friends and instantly had an In Box full of applications. Girls that clearly can’t read or comprehend the words LONG TERM AVAILABILITY IS A MUST. We don’t want to be in this situation again in three months.

I have had ten phone interviews in four days and two face-to-face interviews and still no one very promising. Here are some highlights for your amusement:

One girl is three months pregnant and wants to bring her baby to our home with her once she delivers.
One girl currently lives in Cleveland! We live in San Diego. She is moving out here, but not until next month.
Many girls are teachers and are waiting with baited breath for a teaching job offer. PLEASE READ THE AD!
Others are students and are looking for summer-only work. AGAIN, READ THE AD!
There has also been a plethora of applications that have been downright illegible, riddled with spelling errors and incoherent sentences. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET VERY FAR WITH ME WITHOUT GOOD GRAMMAR!!

Ugh! This is so much harder than I thought. It’s like trying to find a mate, but WAY worse!!

Maybe it’s a sign. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me to suck it up and be a 40 hour a week Stay At Home Mom. Who needs 10 hours of “me time” anyway?

I DO and I shutter at the thought of giving up those 600 minutes up each week. Nanny Gods, please, please, please, send someone fabulous our way!! Thank you.

The best is yet to be.

This post is for the word game, Word Up, Yo! hosted by Natalie (Mommy of a Monster), Kristin (Taming Insanity) and Liz (a belle, a bean and a chicago dog).

If you like words too, you should play along!
This week’s word is plethora.

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Flip Off!! #2

Posted on June 25, 2010 Written by Tonya

It has been a L O N G week and I have really been looking forward to Friday Flip Offs:

In no particular order:

#1 Okay, adult acne, I’ve HAD IT!! I had clearer skin when I was 15 and ate junk. Gimme a break already! What is it gonna take? How much tea tree oil can one person use? And by the way, I have seen you pop up on several other Flip Off lists lately, so you might just want to watch your back.

#2 To the birds that have all of a sudden started showing up outside our bedroom window at 2:00 in the morning, let’s just say I’m looking into shot guns. WTF?!

#3 Speaking of being rudely awaken at night, will the case of the hungries, the growing pains, teeth trying to bust their way into my son’s mouth, tempting toys and perhaps even, the monster living under the crib, just FLIP the hell OFF?! Let the child sleep, for God’s sake! More importantly let his mommy (and daddy) sleep… a full 12 hours. Thank you!

#4 No Friday Flip Off list of mine could be complete without me bitching about traffic, but this week it’s my fellow motorists, okay, cyclists to be exact and point a (middle) finger. What the hell are you thinking?! You lycra-wearing snobs aren’t above the law and you don’t always have the “right of way”. Follow the same rules as I do in my car or you’re gonna hit. It’s the law, oh and while you’re at it, FLIP OFF!!

#5 With my (gulp) 38th birthday tomorrow, I would be remiss if I didn’t give the big ole bird to AGE and growing older. I firmly do believe as Honest Abe is quoted as saying In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years, but I would swear since I had a child, I have more gray hairs and more defined crows feet than ever before. Plus, there are new aches and pains cropping up here and there and my mind is not what it used to be. This can’t all be the baby’s fault, so I have drawn my own conclusion that getting old SUCKS!

Whew, I feel so much better and it’s all in part to Gigi at Kludgy Mom for creating this awesome meme.

Happy weekend, everyone!

The best is yet to be.

Stupid @#!%^ House!!

Posted on June 9, 2010 Written by Tonya

I can see the headline now:

SAN DIEGO MOTHER STUFFS TODDLER
(AND LARGE TOY)
DOWN DRAIN PIPE.

Ever since we returned from our trip to Australia, Lucas has been waking up in the middle of the night every other night, or so needing a bottle. We thought he was just getting used to being home and the time difference, etc., so we obliged.

We are idiots!

We have been home over a month and I’m pretty sure he’s pulling one over on us now. So, three nights ago, on his birthday nevertheless, we stopped getting up with him and started to let him work it out. It was working great, until last night when I forgot to remove the latest distraction.

Meet the culprit:

The Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Learning Home

Cute enough, right? But very dangerous! It turns out if this thing, a once thought of as the perfect birthday gift from Mommy & Daddy is within eyesight, Lucas won’t sleep. Lucas wants to play.

He was up from 1:15 – 1:45 whining and carrying on and I thought trying to go back to sleep, but when I finally went in to his room, he was sitting up in his crib with his “take me to Disneyland look” pointing at the house. I comforted him, explained that it was nighttime and that he could play with his new toy in the morning, to which he promptly rolled on to his tummy, which usually indicates he’s going to cooperate. I also removed the house from his room only to set the music off, which only ignited his desire to play with it. Stupid @#!%^ house!! A complete melt down ensues and it’s now almost 2:00 in the morning.

He was still whining at 2:15 and 2:30, upon which time I got him a bottle, cursed the world and thanked God it was at this point that Dad took over. I was so pissed!

Needless to say, we have made up (sort of), but are both sleep deprived today.

The best is yet to be.

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Energizer Bunny

Posted on May 20, 2010 Written by Tonya

“Too much of a good thing is wonderful.” – Mae West

Or is it?

Usually my alone time is spent working out or running errands, but on Tuesday, while I was waiting for my friend Coreen to bring her newborn baby home from a doctor’s appointment so that I could meet her, I had three glorious hours to kill with — get this — nothing specific to do.

So, what’s a girl to do?

I spent them at the second Happiest Place on Earth: South Coast Plaza (an upscale shopping center in Orange County, California).

Three, amazing hours by myself to wander through one of the most beautiful shopping malls on the planet. Did I mention that I was by myself? 🙂

First, I strolled around the bookstore, my usual “go to” me time spot and found several new books to add to my list of books to read that I hope to someday find time for, then I meandered through Pottery Barn and ZGallerie and remembered having a home without baby gates or locked toilets and then I leisurely tried on a pair of pants at Ann Taylor and bought a pair at H&M (along with a couple of things for
Lucas because I can’t seem to leave the house without buying him something!) and then I took myself to lunch at Champagne Bakery. It was a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful morning! It made me feel, dare I say, human again.

I have always relished my “me time”, but now that I’m a mother, it feels like such a forbidden luxury. There really is something to be said for just being on your own with nothing to do. Boredom is so underrated.

Of course, there is a caveat. You see, whenever I have the opportunity to enjoy a little time away, the days that follow are HoRrEnDoUs.

Take, for example yesterday and today… let’s just say, what the H-E-L-L happened to your morning nap and where do you get all your flipping energy, because I’d like some too?!? You have been particularly feisty, irritable (which I keep telling you, as well as myself will happen when you don’t take a nap) and into everything. AGGGGHHHHHH!!! I guess what they say about pay back is true.

Incidentally, I had a delightful visit with Coreen and loved meeting five day old baby Flynn. Bless her little heart, all she did was sleep.

The best is yet to be.

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Turn That Thing Off!

Posted on May 10, 2010 Written by Tonya

I have a serious question that I doubt anyone can answer, but I’m going to throw it out there anyway:

What is the deal with the volume level on children’s toys?

Most of the ones we have mercifully have a high and low volume setting, but not all, which are set to the permanent **OBNOXIOUS** setting. I mean, c’mon!! Really? Some of them are just too annoying for words.

And why are the voices coming out of these brightly colored pieces of plastic always women? And wining women at that? Men’s voices can be cheery and delightful too.

Granted, sometimes the jingles are fun and even catchy and a great way for munchkins to learn nursery rhymes, colors, shapes, letters and numbers, but why do they have to be so LOUD?

I can’t help but wonder, if they are so disturbing for us, what damage could they possibly be causing sensitive little ears?

The best is yet to be.

Day 76/100

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An Exercise In Patience

Posted on January 9, 2010 Written by Tonya

Sadly, your dad had to work all day today, in fact, it’s after 9:00 PM and he is still working, so I decided to take you up to LA to visit your Aunt Leah.

It’s been less than a week since Leah moved to LA and she is already completely unpacked and for all intents and purposes settled in. Aside from a couple of odds and ends, she made creative use of all of the space in her new place and her room looks great!

We had a nice visit and lunch at a fun place called Giggles ‘N’ Hugs, the friendliest kid-friendly restaurant I have ever been to or heard of. It offers a healthy, mostly organic menu and a large portion of the restaurant is devoted to a play area. Unfortunately, you are a bit too young yet to use the see-saw, drive around on the tricycles, or go down the slides, but you enjoyed watching all the other children and playing with the colorful kid-size utensils and some other just-your-size toys in the play area. I appreciate Leah finding a place for us that is not only tolerant of toddler behavior, but celebrates it. This alone helps a mother relax immensely!

After lunch, we indulged in Crumbs Bake Shop cupcakes, where the “Elvis” (pictured above) is the cupcake of the month. Just listen to this decadent description: vanilla cake filled and frosted with banana cream cheese frosting, topped with a swirl of real creamy peanut butter and edged with peanut butter chips. Yum, and I don’t even like bananas, but I love love LOVE cupcakes, so this stop was a real treat.

What wasn’t such a treat and what I will HAVE to learn to deal with better, is the traffic! We spent about as much time with Leah, as we did in the car. Aggghhh! It took us two and a half hours to get to her house and back home….that’s five hours, plus all the driving around we did while up there. Traffic drives me (no pun intended) absolutely insane! As always, you were a good sport, but your poor mommy lacks the patience to deal with look-lous, red lights or grid lock. I don’t mind being in the car or even driving, it’s just all the stop and go and waiting that kills me. I am trying to focus on the nice time we had and the fact that Leah now lives so much closer, but it’s hard.

The best is yet to be.

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Help, I’m Shedding!

Posted on October 5, 2009 Written by Tonya

I have always had a love/hate relationship with my hair. In it’s natural state, it is Shirley Temple curly and has a mind of it’s own. This is when I hate it. I blow dry and flat iron the crap out of it to make it straight. I hate this process because it takes FOREVER, but once completed, this is when I love my hair…most of the time.

I have very thick, just below the shoulder length hair and I have worn it in the same style for over 13 years; only the length has changed. Oh, and there were those two bangs gone wild experiences. I will never. do. that. again. and I really mean it this time! 90% of the time I wear my hair up in a pony tail or hair clip and no, sadly that’s not just since I had a baby and needed to simplify my life, I’ve always worn it that way. I love having the length, just not weighting down my head or flying in my face. I love the color of my hair, minus the grays that I swear appeared out of nowhere almost four years ago causing me to spend almost $200 every six to eight weeks dyeing it. I have never had highlights or lowlights or attempted any other lights; I get my hair dyed it’s natural color – dark chestnut or something like it.

I’m the first to admit that I have always lost a lot of hair. It drove my parents crazy, of course they also had off white tile throughout their house. I’ve always lost a lot of hair, but not in handfuls! Apparently it’s normal to lose a lot more hair than usual in the first few months after giving birth, but this is ridiculous! I know I don’t need to panic, it’s not like I’m going bald…I hope! But, wow, it sure feels like I could! What is going on?!

According to the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board:

Normally, about 85 to 95 percent of the hair on your head is growing and the other 5 to 15 percent is in a resting stage. After the resting period, this hair falls out — often while you’re brushing or shampooing it — and is replaced by new growth. An average woman sheds about 100 hairs a day.

During pregnancy, increased levels of estrogen prolong the growing stage. There are fewer hairs in the resting stage and fewer falling out each day, so you have thicker, more luxuriant tresses.

After you give birth, your estrogen levels take a tumble and a lot more hair follicles enter the resting stage. Soon you’ll have more hair coming out in the shower or on the brush. This unusual shedding will taper off and your hair will be back to its pre-pregnancy thickness about six to 12 months after you give birth.

Not all women notice dramatic changes in their hair during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Among those who do, it tends to be more obvious among women with longer hair.

Great, lucky me! I have to put up with this for six to 12 months? Yikes! I better stock up on Drano and buy a wig.

The best is yet to be and I don’t believe blondes don’t have more fun.

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Moms Need Breaks

Posted on August 31, 2009 Written by Tonya

It infuriates me when I hear my fellow mommy friends practically begging their husbands, also known as the father of their children, to watch their kids. What is wrong with these dads? Are they afraid of a little parenting? It’s a baby…their baby, and while yes, frustrating at times, they have pretty simple needs….clean diapers, an occasional bottle, a good burp and some good old fashioned interaction. Infants need to spend one-on-one time their fathers and more importantly, moms need breaks!!

The women that enable this behavior from the men in their lives irk me just as badly. When I hear these couples arguing, I know how fortunate I am that I get the baby-free time I need. In fact, your dad encourages me to get out and spend time with my friends and do things that are just for me. He knows how much time, energy and patience is involved in spending 12 solid hours with you. It’s not like I don’t love it, but being able to jump on the treadmill for an hour, get my nails down, or just walk around a book store without a diaper bag draped over my shoulder means everything to me. A little time a part is very refreshing and very necessary. Brace yourself, I even had a sleep over when you were just six weeks old! It was a guilt-ridden 24 hours for me, but oh so good for my psyche and provided great bonding time for the two of you and the encouragement that I believe made him feel that he could do it on his own.

Being a new parent and the primary care giver to a newborn is exhausting. I always feel like I have to be “on” when I’m with you…caring for you, comforting you, stimulating you and getting ready for your next feeding, not to mention stocking and restocking supplies and all of the other daily household chores that have to be done. I miss you like crazy when I’m not with you but I know that the time a part only makes me a better Mommy when I get home.

The best is yet to be.

Desperately Seeking Mary Poppins

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