Archive for May 2007

Since starting the soy formula, Liam’s had a lot of trouble with being backed up in the potty department.  Poor kid.  Thanks to wonderful NewFriend, we’ve had some mineral oil to add to his formula and food and that’s helped things get “unstuck” but what we’ve needed is some fruits and juice to give him to help even things out.  We had no fruits or juice in the house, that is, until today when I got to go to the store.  So this afternoon, Liam got his very first taste of apple juice.  Diluted, albeit so that it’s only juice in color and vague flavor alone.  But it’s juice and the child?  HE LOVED IT.  Watch the video to see for yourself.

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Now, tell me that wasn’t love at first drink.  I gave it to him in a sippy cup on purpose.  I don’t want to get him used to getting juice in a bottle (like his big brother did *blush*).  He’s still not so good with the sippy cup, we have yet to find one he really likes.  But he made do, and I think it’s safe to say he’s a big ol’ fan of the juice.

Filed under L'il Liam |

I hate the end of the month.  Some months its worse than others and this month is one of those.  Kile, being a state employee, gets paid but once a month.  And with me not working outside the home and making any sort of salary, we see money once a month around here.  Since Lilac Pixels has petered out (my decision, mostly), there’s been less “extra” money floating around.  And no less expense.

Take Liam’s newfound milk allergy, for example.  We had a whole pile of those little formula samples laying around.  Couldn’t use them.  But since it was less than a month ago that I stopped pumping, and we fully expected my enormous freezer stash of frozen milk to last the month (if not several months), formula just didn’t make it onto the budget this month.  And by the time we knew we needed to get some, the money just wasn’t there.  Had he not been allergic to milk, we would have used up the sample cans and then maybe purchased one larger can (around the same time we purchased the can of soy formula).  If we would have run out (which we most assuredly would have) I most likely would have given him whole milk that would have been pennies on the gallon at the local grocery store.

I suppose I could have purchased soy milk, but I’m still not sure how this whole soy thing works.  We’ve been hoping to talk to his pediatrician about it more at his 12 month appointment in July, to discuss when to take him off formula and all that.  I’m just not interested in gambling with my son’s nutrition right about now, you know?  Anyhow, the end result is we have VERY LITTLE formula left in the house right now.  Thank goodness Kile’s paycheck gets direct deposited tonight and I can go to the store tomorrow.  If it were even a day more, I don’t think we’d make it.  I HATE that feeling.

We’re scraping the bottom in other respects as well.  There’s not a lot of food options around the house.  Doesn’t stop Harry from asking for dessert every night, though.   The answer never changes, but he keeps trying anyhow.   Doesn’t help that he’s going through some sort of growth spurt or something and is hungry every five minutes.  He’s been eating constantly all day today.  Coffee cake for breakfast, more coffee cake mid-morning, hamburger and fries for lunch (that Kile brought home from the university for us, bless his heart), coffee cake after lunch, popcorn for snack…  I can’t wait for this kid to go back to school in a month, if only to cut back on the amount of food he goes through in a given day.

NewFriend had her baby yesterday.  I wanted to go visit her in the hospital yesterday evening and see her and the baby.  But?  My van is out of gas.  I mean, I can make it to the gas station, but it requires a fill up (and we live out in the boonies so no way I could get to town and back on what’s in there) and that’ll have to wait until payday.  So I had to sit at home.  Probably best that way, as she was probably still trying to get settled and that’s prime family time anyhow.  I’d hate to butt in where I’m not wanted, you know?  Which is why I haven’t called so far today to see if she’s gotten home yet.  Best just to give her her space, I guess.

Next month probably won’t be any better.  I need to buy my plane tickets for BlogHer and I still don’t know what I’m doing about hotel accommodations. I don’t even know what goes into reserving those, though I suspect it requires a credit card.  Debit card, yes.  Credit card, no.   I’m trying not to worry too much about that.  But yeah, that’s going to be a huge strain on this budget of ours.

I try not to think too much about the fact that we were supposed to be trying to get our mortgage refinanced this spring and with that refinance was supposed to come a good chunk of money.  We were going to (finally) landscape the backyard, maybe do some other home improvements and pay for BlogHer with that.  I don’t entirely know why Kile has put off the refinance.  There’s not much I can do about it, as my name isn’t on the loan.  And he gets cranky whenever I bring up the subject so about all I can do is sit here and try not to think about it too much.  But dang, it sure would make things a little easier right now.

Anyhow.  Being poor sucks.

Filed under Family Circus, Peevish |

In my adult life, I seem to be plagued by a particular condition of friendship.  And I’ve finally put my finger on what it is.  Even before, when I posted about not being the “cool kid”, I really do think that this was the real issue.  (And, for what it’s worth, thanks for all those lovely comments you all left me.  I certainly wasn’t “grubbing” for comments, but I was definitely pleased to see the outpouring of support.  Let it be known that you all? Rock.)  When I was younger, I never had this problem.  You’re probably wondering what “this problem” is, aren’t you?

It’s about your “friendship status”.  Or rather, my friendship status.  When I was in school, I never had a problem with being the “a-list” friend.  You know what I’m talking about.  The BFF (best friend forever), the first one called on a bad day, the confidant, the accomplice, the one that all your time is spent with. I don’t think I was ever without an “a-list” friend, and I was always their “a-list” friend in return.  I never stopped to question what it must be like to be the “b-list” friend.  The one who, while definitely residing in the ranks of “best friend”, is generally called after the “a-list” friend.  The one you come to second or only if the “a-list” friend isn’t available.  And I had plenty of “b-list” friends in my tenure on this planet.  Now? I feel bad about not putting them on the “a-list”.  I didn’t realize just how isolating you can feel, languishing on the b-list.

Of course, I feel a little silly saying anything at all because friends (be they b-list, a-list or even d-list) are wonderful treasures to behold.  And it doesn’t simply refer to real life, but to internet life as well.  I love blogging and I love the blogging community.  But I don’t feel like I really have any “a-list” friends in the blogging world.  Or, correction, no one considers me their “a-list” friend.  No one treasures my comments above all others, no one is excited to see or meet me at BlogHer, no one weeps upon meeting me.  It sounds so incredibly stupid and selfish to say it aloud, that I would like to have that sort of connection.  But it’s the truth.  And, unfortunately, it’s nothing you can force so there’s not a lot I can do about it.  Other than accept it.

But yes, I see this in my real life too.  And, for the most part, I’m fine with being the b-list friend.  I understand why, it makes sense.  Proximity is a huge factor in situations like this and proximity is definitely not on my side.  Impromptu gatherings just aren’t going to happen when I live too far away to walk.   I’m also not a very forceful person and tend to wait to be invited or called rather than put myself forward.  And as my mom used to love to say (used to?? she still says it), “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” And my wheels are definitely NOT squeaky.  Not by a long shot.

I try not to let my feelings be hurt.  It’s nothing anyone else has done to me so why would that hurt my feelings?  Who knows.  Feelings are weird and stupid and if I had any brains at all, I’d just not have any of them.  But, whatever.  B-list is far, far, far better than NO list, wouldn’t you agree?

Filed under General Snark |

I’ve made no secret of the fact that this neighborhood has cheesed me off (much in the same that Melissa’s neighborhood has cheesed her off).  And that we thought when we moved in that it wasn’t SO bad and that we could live here quite happily for a couple years before moving on.  The school seemed okay (kindergarten last year was the picture of perfect), our immediate neighborhood was fantastic and the surrounding neighborhoods weren’t as scary as I was anticipating.  Somewhere this year, that all changed.  Our immediate neighborhood is still okay (for the most part), but the surrounding neighborhoods have gotten worse and so has the school.  This year alone, 14 teachers are leaving the elementary school to teach elsewhere or retire.  Go figure, a bunch of them had their vehicles vandalized several months ago.  Right there in the elementary school parking lot.  Of course, that parking lot is right next door to the park which is now known as Gangland around these parts.  But jeezum crow.  Harry’s teacher is one of the ones leaving for greener pastures.  Good for her, I say.  Get out while the getting is good.  I know she was frustrated with the lack of involvement from some of the parents.  There was a huge disparity in the levels the children in her classroom were learning at.  And that’s got to be difficult to work with on a daily basis.  Anyhow.  Where was I?

Oh yes.  Our neighbor is throwing a party this evening.  He does this a couple times a year and I wouldn’t mind other than the fact that these parties get pretty obnoxious.  And, you know, they’re RIGHT NEXT DOOR.  And being he’s Hispanic, these parties involve many, many people and often live music.  Like right now.  Even though it was pretty freaking warm today and I would love to have the windows all opened to let in the night breeze, I wouldn’t be able to hear myself think.  We tried that earlier and the pounding of the drums was starting to make my teeth rattle.  Right now, with the windows closed, at least it’s a dull thudding with the occasional yell or two and it doesn’t sound like it’s right in my kitchen any longer.  Now, far be it from me to begrudge the guy a party.  Everyone loves a party.  But I can recall my parents neighbors when I was growing up throwing fits whenever my parents would invite over the extended family for a pool party once a summer.  There was no live music, but there was barbecuing going on and kids playing in the pool.  I can only imagine what those people would have thought about this style of party.  They probably would have called the cops.

If I were him (and I’m not so this is only my idea and nothing more), I would either a) make sure to invite all my neighbors to one of these fiestas in order to foster good relations or b) rent one of those covered party things they have at all the parks around here.  I would probably choose option b) because then I wouldn’t have to worry about people tromping through my house right and left.  But like I said, that’s just me.  This idea, of course, would never occur to this guy.  And meanwhile there are about a bazillion cars parked out in front of his house and since I’m right here, they’re right in front of my house too.  What’s a little driveway overlap between neighbors, right?  Right.

I’m probably being sensitive and intolerant.  But it’s just another straw that’s breaking this camel’s back.  We talked about five years and as of this week, we’ve been here three years.  Is there any sort of early exit clause that I can use?  Please?

Filed under Peevish |