If It's Not One Thing...

For the past several days, as I've tried to get on my computer to write a blog post, the server seems to be having difficulties. Today was no different.

Why is it, with Genius Golfer living with us here, our computer issues run rampant?

This is the modern version of the cobbler's children who have no shoes. At least have technology, just getting it to work when I want it seems to be the problem.

As The Girl might say, #1stworldprobs

I Sound Like My Mother, Again

This morning I had an errand at the local Walgreen's to pick u a prescription (this is attempt number 2) for a remedy for The Girl's bothersome acne.  It is back, but because our lame insurance is really just for catastrophic medical issues, it covers nothing of the day-in-day-out kind of stuff.  So the great solution she used a year ago is out of the question, as it required monthly check ups (and ridiculous pregnancy tests) because of the potential side effects it has.

Anyway, that was a long version of:  I went to Walgreen's.

I gathered the other sundry things I needed to pick up there and brought the whole hot mess to the check out.  As I was laying out my pile, I asked the gentleman behind the counter "So, I understand that I can't just come in here and get the sale prices anymore unless I have card.  Is that right?"  Yep, he told me, that is the new deal.  And that kind of chaps my hide today.

I know the reasons to the WHY questions--the store will track my purchases and customize deals to save me money.  Yada Yada Yada.

You know what?  I already shop the sales and clip coupons and have figured out long ago that any store with too much information on me isn't necessarily trying to help me out.  Far from it.  It just bugs me that just about every store now has their own "loyalty program" which is just another way of saying they all have my personal info.  And I really don't like that.

When I came home from this infuriating errand, Genius Golfer was making himself some lunch in the kitchen and asked what was up. So I told him and I didn't hold back.  He just looked at me and said, "You sound just like your mom."

Well, I was raised right, I suppose.

Fail!

Do you ever have days where you know you'd leave your own head elsewhere if it weren't connected?  Today was one of those days.

It was a totally scrambled schedule at the high school.  The Boy has a pre-ACT type test he had to take this morning and then had his (shortened) classes in the afternoon.  The Girl and the other seniors had a Post-High School day where all kids listened to a schpeel on applying to and financing their choice after graduation.  Then, with every colleges in the state and their recruiters at the school the kids got to choose three colleges to hear their presentations.

All this is great!  But The Girl had a college class that she needed to be in until 9:15, so I went and sat in on the opening session and then got in on two college presentation and then met her to hear the last one together. 

Well, after the third one I could feel my brain winding up--lots of questions that The Girl hadn't probably thought of yet.  But after being a little titchy with me and essentially telling me that if I wanted to know these things, I should ask (Is she her father's daughter or what?!?).  Well, I was irritated by the time we finished and I headed to my PTA job there to work the Viking Store.  Because of the schedule change, only one of the ladies signed up to help could come early.  So I went to work with her so she wasn't alone.

I finally got out of there but was still irritated with The Girl.  By the time I got home, she was home--with the schedule shift, she didn't have to be back at school until the 3rd period bell rang at 12:45--to go to lunch with Genius Golfer.  They invited me, but they looked like they already had plans to commiserate about how "pushy mom always is".  They may not have been--to be honest--but with the attitude I was sporting by then, I didn't care.

So they went to lunch together and I went to run an errand I having been trying to get done for over a week now..  I ended up catching a friend who said she'd go with me and on the drive would give me the latest in her PTA drama at the elementary school.  PTA therapy i the car going to Orem. 

Talking to her calmed me down a bit and I was much more relaxed by the time I dropped her back to her car.  I came home and went about the chores here that I needed to do.

Suddenly at 4:43 I jumped up realizing that The Boy had had an orthodontist appointment today at 2:20.  I checked my phone--dead.  I plugged it in and two little text messages from The Boy popped up asking where was I and if  I was still coming.  He sent them at 1:45 and 2 PM.  He had been ready.  And I hadn't shown up.  Since I never got him, he went to football practice like normal and about 4 minutes after this all happened he called to say he was done with practice and would I please come pick him up.

Yikes.

I haven't completely forgot an appointment like that for a LONG time.  And sadly, I think it was an appointment for The Boy, again.  Maybe I just need some good sleep and a little do-over.  Or maybe less going on in a single day.

Yeah.  That's it.  And someday it will happen like that.  Just not this year.

Communication Takes Two

I had a breakdown of communication that reared it's ugly head this morning.  Our Young Women are beginning their volleyball games today.  The schedule was set August 25th and then revised (as it always seems to be) on August 31st.  The adjusted schedule was a full week and a day before now.  Yet one ward STILL showed up at the original time...six hours early.

After a few phone calls back and forth, it was determined that the YW president either didn't open the new (now more than a week old) email or didn't pass on the updated information to the girls and their sports lady in the last 2 weeks.

It is so frustrating to me when I know I have done my part to disseminate the information and try to give everyone the correct info in plenty of time.  But if someone chooses NOT to receive the information, and worse--then blames me for not getting the word out--causing everyone else to shuffle around their days to make it fit again that sure sucks the joy out of this job.

The lesson here is to either do other people's job (not the option I prefer) or realize that people can be pretty stubborn and that has nothing to do with me.  I just feel bad for the girls that were there to play and now have to come back this afternoon.

Frustration, "Family", is Thy Name

I never made it back to the computer to write yesterday.  One of these days my schedule will get back to normal, and I will have everything well in hand.  HAHAHAHA.  Like that will EVER happen.

I can tell it must be time for the kids to go back to school though, as I have been more frustrated with life around here than regular.  Maybe it is the lack of the kids "seeing" what needs to be done, or my seemingly constant nagging for them to do what I am seeing that they aren't.  Sometimes I think it is really the lack of appreciation for what I do DO around here.  Maybe it is a combination of all of it.

Add to that combination the pile of stuff that I have let slide all summer that I know I need to get done "one of these days" and the talk I have to give on Sunday that I haven't yet written.  Yep.  Frustration is oozing out around here.

News Flash!

 A few things to add--hot off the presses:

1) If you are a swimmer's grandma, who happened to print off the entries for the medley relays the night before a meet for your own delight and to keep track of your precious 7 year old, please don't tell me I'm doing my job wrong when my heat sheet (line up sheet) that was printed this morning is more current than yours.  Coaches make all sorts of changes.  If you don't competely undestadn what I do to run this bull pen, please don't change what I have done.  Your screaming in my face when I am coordinating a LOT of kids and trying to get them in the right relays as their coaches changed this morning as fast as I can, really wrankles my hide--and, frankly, makes me want to swear.  So, I took a lap around the pool.  And I really dislike running. 

And 2) The Girl got her AP (Advanced Placement) scores from her Biology and Calculus finals (she took back in May) in the mail today.  She scored 5 (out of a possible 5) on both.  I believer, with her 34 ACT score most recently, that she has a great "pay-for-college" plan....SCHOLARSHIP!!  The Boy will then have the option of our little "send the kids to college fund" to pay for his collegiate plans...good thing (he and) we have a few extra years.

Over The Edge

I think today was it.  I have lost it.  And I snapped at Genius Golfer for it.  That makes me feel worse.  But the nugget of truth was still there--just the delivery wasn't ideal.

I get it that I am not a cook.  I don't enjoy it and find no pleasure in it other than I CAN keep my family alive.  But I tend to implement the "quick and dirty" method to a weekly menu and dinner each night.

GG has a different level of expectation.  Which, if you think about the fact that we've been married for 20 years now, it is a little late to come into the conversation.  So he is making the spaghetti sauce tonight.  And I'll probably eat all the "cheap" tasting guacamole this week by myself.  And if he wants the garlic bread sliced a different way, I suppose he'll do that too.

I am just glad that I can do a decent load of laundry.  Otherwise, I might not earn my keep around here.


Yes, I am frustrated.  Yes, I am feeling tired.  Yes, I am over-reacting.  Yes, it is probably hormonal. And Yes, I'll probably have to apologize, again.  But sometimes it would be nice to hear how great I am all the things I do accomplish.  I heard that kind of positive feedback from our water aerobics instructor this morning and it made me feel so good about myself.   I just wish I heard a little more of that at home.