Saturday, September 29, 2007

Last Day of September


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM IF SHE'S WATCHING!
TODAY, ON THE LAST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, WE MADE ANOTHER INTERNET SALE, AND WE HAD ALL THREE ITEMS IN STOCK!!! A $48 SALE IS NOT A LOT TO BRAG ABOUT, BUT IT IS A SALE! AND IT WAS FROM A REPEAT CUSTOMER, WHICH MEANS SHE MUST HAVE LIKED OUR SERVICE ON HER LAST ORDER! WE HAVE NOW HAD ORDERS FROM TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, PENNSYLVANIA, OKLAHOMA, KANSAS, AND NORTH CAROLINA. I HAVE PUT A MAP ON THE WALL, AND WE ARE STICKING PUSH PINS IN THE STATES AS WE RECEIVE ORDERS.
Had a bad panic attack on Tuesday (I happened to be driving at the time) and ended up going to my friend K's house. (Thanks, K!) It came on so suddenly, but if I look back, I remember it building up. Wish I could remember those feelngs for a warning for next time.
K17 and K14 went to what is equivalent to a homeschool student council meeting last night and did some planning for the group's activities. Tonight K17 will be meeting some friends at ITs, a popular local arcade, while K14 is going to youth group at a different church. Richard is riding into Huntsville with a friend to hear a preacher who is on TV. I guess I'll cancel dinner for tonight. I was going to make sloppy joes, but no one but me, myself, and I will be home to eat them. Guess it will be a nice, quiet evening at home with me and my doggie, who, by the way, is smidgeons away from being housebroken (FINALLY!). She will be 2 years old on October 18th!
Tomorrow I plan to clean some of the house and go get my nails done. My nails look like they are right out of a horror film!
Well, I will sign off for now as I listen to the steady hum of customers browsing (and I do mean browsing - not buying) in the store. One customer was in for 1 1/2 hours and only bought two posters and an eraser. Oh, well, every penny counts!
~bye~

Monday, September 24, 2007

Volleyball Game

K17's team did great today! I felt so sorry for the other team. First, they didn't have many parents there, I suspect because they were from so far away. BUT the parents that were there did not clap or cheer for their team. I felt so bad for them.
K14 is having her first guitar lesson tonight with my brother. Got her a beginner book, but she will need some thin guitar picks, he says.
Got the girls a Pride and Prejudice (motion picture version) piano book. I'm glad because I'm sort of getting tired of Phantom of the Opera songs.
Below is my menu for the month:
Monday – roast, meatloaf, quiche, lasagna
Roast and meatloaf served with potatoes and veggie; quiche and lasagna served with salad

Tuesday – chef salad, taco salad, grilled chicken salad, tuna/chicken salad
Tuna/chicken salad served with canned fruit and crackers

Wednesday – Chicken teryaki, turkey roast, roasted chicken, chicken stir fry
Served with rice and corn

Friday – potato soup, taco soup, chicken noodle soup, chili
Served with crackers, muffins, or cornbread

Saturday – catfish, salmon, fish sticks, salmon patties
Served with pasta and peas

Saturday – sloppy joes, hamburgers, hot dogs, baked potatos
First three served with French fries

Sunday – spaghetti, pork chops, tacos, homemade pizza
Chop and tacos with potatoes or rice. Spaghetti and pizza served with salad.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Shopping Carts




I've noticed that there are about twenty-five or thirty people who have visited our website, put items in their shopping carts, and then never checked out. I added them up and came up with $1515.47. I sure could use that money right now. Glad people don't keep their items in baskets all over my store


Today is a sad day. I have one friend who is not speaking to me, one who is barely speaking to me, and one whom I've lost completely. I thank God for the remaining friends that I do have. Y'all are WONDERFUL!

Thoughts on OCD

Sometimes I think back in my life, remembering people I've known and wondering if maybe they had a touch of OCD, not that anyone can have "a touch" of it. I remember one friend in college who some would call strange for many things she did. One thing she did drove me nuts. She would stay up until 3 or 4 a.m. doing laundry. How can one person have that much laundry? I remember that she would wash each individual pair of panties by hand, using Spray and Wash and dishwashing liquid. Then she would wring each one out by hand, like she was going to hang them up or something; and then she would put them in the washing machine and run them in there with more detergent. The whole process lasted at least an hour.

I saw a man in our parking lot a while back that I thought for sure must have had OCD. He pulled his car up, got out in front of the grocery store, got a large sponge out of his trunk and began to scrub his entire car, wheels and all, top to bottom. When he was done, he put the sponge away and went into the grocery store.

I had to laugh, but, actually, OCD is not that very funny. Some people are confined to their homes because of it. Considering that I have what has been termed a "severe" case of it, I am very blessed that I am as high-functioning as I am. I am able to hide a lot of my rituals, and, plus, most of my OCD goes on in my head, which is why it is so difficult to treat. Rituals are easier to treat because they are concrete.

Lots of Girl Scouts coming in the store today for uniforms. I have had one return so far in thirty minutes. It was something I wasn't supposed to take back (a workbook), but, hey, she caught me on a good day. One customer is bummed because we are out of EZ Graders. One lady came in and dumped off a whole bunch of math books she didn't want anymore.

Well, I have LOTS of work to do. Please pray that we get some more internet orders and that we are able to fill them.

Today's quote is from the Cosby Show:

Cliff takes women's underwear out among Theo's laundry)
Cliff: All of this isn't Theo's.
Rudy: That's definitely not Theo's!
Cliff: Is this yours?
Rudy: That's not mine! I'm not that mature yet.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Long Time No See

Haven't talked to you guys in awhile. It has been crazy here. Got 659 more items ready to go up on the website.
So what else is going on in my life? We had a very large order come in last weekend from California. Unfortunately, we kind of messed up on our end and the guy had to send some of it back. We ended up overnighting him the correct books, which was more money out of our pockets. Oh, well, live and learn.
K14 accidentally died her hair pink; well, not the whole head, only blotches and the roots. If you ever need to get dye out, go to Walgreen's and buy Color Oops!! It worked wonders.
My friend L read my book in one night. Amazing! She said it kept her interest, so that was a good comment.
We are up at the store. It is almost five and the girls still have schoolwork to do. Going to Old Navy and Kohl's after work. Then home for dinner-salmon patties. Tomorrow night is baked potatoes and Sunday is roast. I will post next month's menu soon.
K17 is doing great in volleyball, but her toe isn't. She has to have the toenail removed in a couple of weeks.
Life is humming along as usual at the K house. I enjoy reading your blogs. I notice some of you are like me and don't get the chance to write much.
"Is it real?" No, the freckles and blond eyebrows also were apart of the hair dye kit.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

My Sunday



Today the girls and I went to the mall for some shopping and female bonding. K14 bought two shirts and a pair of bermuda shorts; K17 bought a shirt. Then we went to Academy to get K17 some shoes for volleyball, which she has tomorrow. K14 and I will travel a ways to visit with Mom and Dad while K17 is practicing.


I have two orders to do and don't know when I will have time to do them. I promised K17 that we could watch the second disc of 24 tonight.
Above is a picture of K17. Isn't she beautiful?
Jack Bauer: I'm federal agent Jack Bauer, and today is the longest day of my life.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Menu planning

Praise God! I knew it would happen! Someone came in and put the Apologia Physical Science on consignment. Woohoo! Now each girl has their own science book, making school day much easier.

Here is a rotating menu I made for September. There are four Mondays, four Tuesdays, etc. Hoping to add soups to October's menu.

Monday - meatballs & rice, spaghetti, lasagna, baked spaghetti
Served with garlic bread and green beans

Tuesday - chef salad, taco salad, grilled chicken salad, tuna/chicken salad
Tuna/chicken salad serverd with canned fruit and crackers

Wednesday - grilled chicken, chicken teriyaki, turkey roast, chicken stir fry
served with rice and corn

Friday - catfish, salmon, fish sticks, salmon patties
served with pasta and peas

Saturday - sloppy joes, hamburgers, hot dogs, baked potatoes
first three served with french fries

Sunday - roast, pork chops, tacos, breakfast casserole
first three served with potatoes or rice; casserole served with biscuits and turkey bacon

This is a new sway of planning meals which I discovered this week. Hope it will help me get organized. Now I just need to get back to my Motivated Moms organizer. Don't know if that will ever happen! There are just not going to be enough hours in a day, especially if I am working on the website!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Car CRASH!

Today I took K14 to the eye doctor for an exam and to be fitted with different contact lenses.

Last night I did a totally brilliant thing - I walked into a parked car - BLAM! Man, did that ever hurt! I am still sore today. It was pitch dark. I was trying to walk AROUND the car, but missed.

I think I've gotten most of the school work organized. I still need to plan some of K17's history and look through their science book to match lessons with the CD. (This is Apologia I'm talking about.)

I've been going to some new blogs this week - Mom21's and Momster. If you have a blog that you would like me to visit, just let me know.

Pain is no evil, unless it conquers us. - Charles Kingsley

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

This Week's Menu

This week's menu in no particular order:
Taco salad - lettuce, taco meat, tomatoes, tortilla chips, corn, black beans, cheese, sour cream, and picante sauce.
Pork Chops made with Shake and Bake like Mom used to make
Lasagne and salad
Chicken Stir Fry with Rice
Spaghetti if I still need an Italian fix
Thursday night is eating out, probably at Panera Bread for Caesar salads

Butter vs. Margarine ? I trust cows over scientists.

~goodnight~

Order from France


Man, is it ever hot here! The A/C in the store is still not fixed.


Someone from France tried to order from our website today. I thought that was neat that out of millions of websites they were directed to ours! That is GOOD news! I had to apologetically e-mail said customer and let them know that, unfortunately, we do not ship to France.


Reluctantly, I am going to have to add spelling as a subject this year. I have chosen Rod & Staff 7th grade spelling, unless I find something better at the conference on Friday. Can you believe it? I am going to a conference as a mom and not as a vendor! I'll actually get to go to workshops and hang out with a friend who is looking for a Latin program. I will buy K14's next Math U See book. But after that, I'm done. I will simply enjoy people watching and watching my friend look at Latin and math programs.


Today was the girls' last day at Bible study. Okay, so we're losing one activity and adding about seven in two weeks. The rest of this month will be full of appointments - eye doctor, dentist, haircuts. Bought K14 a nice pair of Converses today. Am hoping to take the girls to Galveston next week to do some sightseeing and shopping.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Heat


The A/C went out in the store today, of all days. In the shade at Sonic, my thermometer read 105 degrees!


You know, I really think it's neat that in this country we stop for funeral processions. How respectful that is! Shame on those who refuse to stop for two minutes in their lives.!


Saturday, August 11, 2007

Compliment


Today I received an interesting compliment. A customer said, "Oooooh, I like your fingernails! They're so unhomeschool momish!"
I don't have my camera with me, but my nails are the exact opposite of this picture here. Mine are sparkly white-tipped with a dark sparkly purple line.
"I am the screeching fingernail on the chalkboard of justice!"--Negaduck
~cya~

I Just Love These OCD Cartoons!


I Miss My Kids!


K17 and K14 have been up at my mom and dad's since Thursday evening. R just left to go pick them up. Man, it sure is quiet around here without them!


It's been quite busy in the store today. Almost a bit more than I can handle by myself, but I'm trying.


Thursday night R took me to Olive Garden. Last night I cooked him one of his favorite meals, and we watched a new episode of Monk.


Guess what? I got my first online order today on the new website! Bad news is that I have none of the three items that she ordered in stock. Good news is that two of them should be coming in the first of the week. I'll have to order the third item today.


There are a lot of people in here right now, but no one is buying anything! Maybe I should hang a sign that reads "Browsing Not Allowed."

Italian Proverbs:

"Old wine and friends improve with age.”

"Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.”

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Cartoon Time Again!


My day

As school approaches, my days will get busier and busier. Today I took K17 to get her (we thought) entire toenail removed. Turns out, they decided to just remove the part of the toenail that was giving her problems in hopes that it will grow out correctly. This resulted in two injections into the toe. Why not do four injections and get it over with? Anyway, she did great!

Then I proceeded to work, where there was a pile of book orders waiting to be filled, which I cannot pay for. I went ahead and ordered them, with the prayer that the companies will give me some slack and let me pay later.

Tonight was supposed to be baked chicken night, but found out that K17 has a job interview with MOPS at 6:30. If she gets the job, she will have to be at work every Friday from 8:00 to 12:00. Can everybody say "No sleep-in day after all!"

We watched the last disc of 24 Season Four last night. All in all, pretyy anti-climactic (sp?) compared to the other three seasons.

So now our new school schedule if K17 gets the job will be as follows:
Monday: 8:00 - 1:00 school work. Travel. 2:00 - 5:00 volleyball practice in Conroe
Tuesday: 8:00 - 10:30 school work. Travel. 11:00 to 12:00 Algebra class Eat and travel 1:00 to 3:00 Writing class Travel Late afternoon; volleyball Finish school work at the store or at night.
Wednesday: 8:00 to 10:30 school work Travel 11:00-1:00 clogging Travel and eat 1:45 to 3:00 Science class Finish school work at store. K14 to choir practice at 5:00
Thursday: 8:00-9:30 French class 35 minutes away Finish school work at store all day until music lessons around 4:00 ish Late afternoon: volleyball game (not sure what to do about music lessons at this time. Will deal with it when it comes up.)
Friday: 8:00-12:00 K17 work 35 minutes away. Finish school work the rest of the day
Saturday: moving Jenny Craig to Saturday. Still unsure about when to fit therapy in. She is booked solid right now.

The top 5 advantages to being home schooled.
5. Get to watch TV during recess. 4. Get to wear jammies all day. 3. No banging chalk dust from erasers. 2. Teacher constantly interrupted by telemarketers. And the number one advantage to being home schooled:
1. No toting heavy weaponry all the way to the public school.

LOL. This will not be us. I've decided to call ours "carschooling."

~later~

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Cartoon Time!


Customer Funny but not so funny

Today I had a customer call and ask me if I had any 8th grade math sets in stock. I asked her which publisher. She said it didn't matter. Then she asked me how much they were. I said that they are all different prices. So she said she's coming later today.

Now, I guess I'm just a bit too picky, but to me, it matters which publisher I buy from. Each curriculum is different. I would never pick a curriculum for my kids simply by picking the one that was prettier or cheaper than the others. I guess advertisers know what they're doing when they design a curriculum for shelf appeal. Don't parents realize that this is their kids' education? And what an opportunity, to be able to find a curriculum for your child that fits like a glove! I can't tell you how many times I have escorted a customer to the Alpha Omega shelf, and they say, "I'll take it," without even looking inside the box. Sooooooooo sad.

I have over 50 tubs of consignment to price. Going one at a time. And I have even more than that ready to pay at the end of their consignment.

Have done really well not stepping on cracks and lines the past two day. Ankles and hips are hardly sore at all!

Daughters are at a girls' conference all day today, and R is helping me at the store. He's learning how to check in Bob Jones books and put them away. Our sale was a success and we are able to pay rent next week. Today has been slow at the store. Only a few sales. Glad I don't have to pay R for his help! LOL

Well, the lady just came in and didn't look at anything. She bought Alpha Omega without even opening it because she had heard the name of it from a friend. She said that the child failed 7th grade math, but she bought 8th grade math. I advised her against it, and so did her husband. I guess she wears the pants in the family. She said she wanted books on horses for a second grader, which I showed her. I said that when the child reaches about the 3rd grade reading level that I suggested the Marguerite Henry books. She said, "Well, she's an excellent reader. Let me see them." When I showed them to her, she said, "Yeah, they're too hard." Why wouldn't she listen to me?

Operator: Thank you for calling Pizza Hut. May I have your national ID number?
Customer: Hi, I'd like to place an order.
Operator: I must have your NIDN first, sir.
Customer: My National ID Number, yeah, hold on, eh, it's 6102049998-45-54610.
Operator: Thank you Mr. Smith. I see you live at 1742 Meadowland Drive, and the phone number is 494-2366. Your office number over at Lincoln Insurance is 745- 2302 and your cell number is 266-2566. Email address is smith@home.net Which number are you calling from? Customer: Huh? I'm at home. Where'd you get all this information?
Operator: We're wired into the HSS, sir.
Customer: The HSS, what is that?
Operator: We're wired into the Homeland Security System, sir. This will add only 15 seconds to your ordering time.
Customer: (sighs) Oh well, I'd like to order a couple of your All Meat Special pizzas.
Operator: I don't think that's a good idea, sir.
Customer: Whaddya mean?
Operator: Sir, your medical records and commode sensors indicate that you've got very high blood pressure and extremely high cholesterol. Your National Health Care provider won't allow such an unhealthy choice .
Customer: What?!?! What do you recommend, then?
Operator: You might try our low-fat Soybean Pizza.I'm sure you'll like it.
Customer: What makes you think I'd like something like that?
Operator: Well, you checked out 'Gourmet Soybean Recipes' from your local library last week, sir. That's why I made the suggestion.
Customer: All right, all right. Give me two family-sized ones, then
Operator: That should be plenty for you, your wife and your four kids. Your 2 dogs can finish the crusts, sir. Your total is $49.99.
Customer: Lemme give you my credit card number.
Operator: I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid you'll have to pay in cash. Your credit card balance is over its limit.
Customer: I'll run over to the ATM and get some cash before your driver gets here.
Operator: That won't work either, sir. Your checking account is overdrawn also.
Customer: Never mind! Just send the pizzas. I'll have the cash ready. How long will it take? Operator: We're running a little behind, sir. It'll be about 45 minutes, sir. If you're in a hurry you might want to pick'em up while you're out getting the cash, but then, carrying pizzas on a motorcycle can be a little awkward.
Customer: Wait! How do you know I ride a scooter?
Operator: It says here you're in arrears on your car payments, so your car got repo'ed. But your Harley's paid for and you just filled the tank yesterday.
Customer: Well, I'll be a #%#^^&$%^$@#
Operator: I'd advise watching your language, sir. You've already got a July 4, 2003, conviction for cussing out a cop and another one I see here in September for contempt at your hearing for cussing at a judge. Oh yes, I see here that you just got out from a 90 day stay in the State Correctional Facility. Is this your first pizza since your return to society?
Customer: (speechless)
Operator: Will there be anything else, sir?
Customer: Yes, I have a coupon for a free 2 liter of Coke.
Operator: I'm sorry sir, but our ad's exclusionary clause prevents us from offering free soda to diabetics. The New Constitution our country started using in 2006 prohibits this. Thank you for calling Pizza Hut!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Terrific Thursday


Today was a pretty good day. My assignment was to not walk on cracks or lines. I did pretty well, but my hips and ankles hurt from doing it. I think I work muscles because I am resisting with my legs. I told y'all that I was going to continue walking on them because it's me and makes me unique. Not so, says my therapist. OCD changes you and tries to turn you into something you aren't.


Today was our Back to School Spectacular, and I just felt I would be too stressed watching all my merchandise disappear at 15 and 25% off. So I took the girls to a place called ITZ. We ate there, and the girls played arcade games. It's so nice to have fun with my girls.


Our website is finally up! Go to http://www.love2learnstore.com/ and tell me what you think. There are forums there, too, for all of you Chatty Cathys.


My friend, E, left a huge, purple ball in our backyard while we were out of town. Dusti is scared to death of it. She gets close to it and barks and then runs away and hides. What a hoot!
DOG PROPERTY LAWS
1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my mouth, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it just looks like mine, it's mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
10. If it's broken, it's yours.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

What's Going On

Yesterday I took dd17 to the doctor, only to find that our appointment time was an hour earlier, and they could not squeeze us in. UGH Reset the appointment for Wednesday because, well, the girls are just too busy. Later we went to the mall and dd14 bought her green IPOD. Then we went and had a nice visit with my grandmother. Last night dd17 and I watched the third disc of Season 4 of 24, while dd14 downloaded songs from ITunes.

Today both girls went to Bible study and then hung out at the mall with friends. It's the first time they've been "dropped off." Kind of scary for me, but you can't shelter them forever. They sure are growing up.

I am deeply saddened today that my friend, L, is putting her store up for sale. I had hoped and prayed that it would not come to that. I hope I don't follow her lead.


Two women meet at a playground, where their children are swinging and playing ball. The women are sitting on a bench watching. Eventually, they begin to talk.
W1: Hi. My name is Maggie. My kids are the three in red shirts --helps me keep track of them.
W2: (Smiles) I'm Patty. Mine are in the pink and yellow shirts. Do you come here a lot?
W1: Usually two or three times a week, after we go to the library.
W2: Wow! Where do you find the time?
W1: We homeschool, so we do it during the day most of the time.
W2: Some of my neighbors homeschool, but I send my kids to public school.
W1: How do you do it?
W2: It's not easy. I go to all the PTO meetings and work with the kids every day after school and stay real involved.
W1: But what about socialization? Aren't you worried about them being cooped up all day with kids their own ages, never getting the opportunity for natural relationships?
W2: Well, yes. But I work hard to balance that. They have some friends who're homeschooled, and we visit their grandparents almost every month.
W1: Sounds like you're a very dedicated mom. But don't you worry about all the opportunities they're missing out on? I mean they're so isolated from real life -- how will they know what the world is like -- what people do to make a living -- how to get along with all different kinds of people?
W2: Oh, we discussed that at PTO, and we started a fund to bring real people into the classrooms. Last month, we had a policeman and a doctor come in to talk to every class. And next month, we're having a woman from Japan and a man from Kenya come to speak.
W1: Oh, we met a man from Japan in the grocery store the other week, and he got to talking about his childhood in Tokyo. My kids were absolutely fascinated. We invited him to dinner and got to meet his wife and their three children.
W2: That's nice. Hmm. Maybe we should plan some Japanese food for the lunchroom on Multicultural Day.
W1: Maybe your Japanese guest could eat with the children.
W2: Oh, no. She's on a very tight schedule. She has two other schools to visit that day. It's a system wide thing we're doing.
W1: Oh, I'm sorry. Well, maybe you'll meet someone interesting in the grocery store sometime and you'll end up having them over for dinner.
W2: I don't think so. I never talk to people in the store --certainly not people who might not even speak my language. What if that Japanese man hadn't spoken English?
W1: To tell you the truth, I never had time to think about it. Before I even saw him, my six-year-old had asked him what he was going to do with all the oranges he was buying.
W2: Your child talks to strangers?
W1: I was right there with him. He knows that as long as he's with me, he can talk to anyone he wishes.
W2: But you're developing dangerous habits in him. My children never talk to strangers.
W1: Not even when they're with you?
W2: They're never with me, except at home after school. So you see why it's so important for them to understand that talking to strangers is a big no-no.
W1: Yes, I do. But if they were with you, they could get to meet interesting people and still be safe. They'd get a taste of the real world, in real settings. They'd also get a real feel for how to tell when a situation is dangerous or suspicious.
W2: They'll get that in the third and fifth grades in their health courses.
W1: Well, I can tell you're a very caring mom. Let me give you my number--if you ever want to talk, give me call. It was good to meet you.
Author Unknown