Random Crap - Again

I joined a group called Navy Mom Connection and talked with someone from there tonight.  It feels so weird - and it's heartbreaking - to be thinking about when Matt leaves and begins a life that doesn't include us.  Not that I thought he would be mine his whole life.  One day he'll just leave and he won't be home for months, as in many.  And this won't be his home anymore.  His home will be wherever the Navy sends him.

The transition will be so quick in fact, that his sister will move into his room when he leaves for RTC because he won't be back.  We will see him (hopefully) eight weeks later for (again, hopefully) a few days after graduation and then he'll leave for A School in Florida.

How do military moms - parents - handle this transition?  I think about this all the time now.  I know that parents have been doing this for decades, I just wonder how I will handle it.

All the crap that life has shoveled my way...

I haven't stuck with a meal plan in a long time.  I wrote up seven days worth of meals, put together a shopping list, checked the cupboards, and headed out to the grocery store.  Seven meals, plus breakfast and a few lunch items, added up to about $170.  Damn!

• Spicy Shredded Beef with potato salad
• Enchilada Casserole and salad
• Easy Crock Pot Chicken with long grain and wild rice
• Macaroni and Cheese Casserole (comfort food at its best)
• Hot Brown with tomato and asparagus (first time I've ever made this)
• Chicken Piccata with salad and marinated mushroom/Havarti/artichoke appetizers
• Steak and Gravy, Crock Pot style with mashed potatoes

I'm taking Matt to the recruiter's for his first briefing.  I don't know if I'm allowed to stay, but I thought I'd go so that I could get some information.  Worst case scenario, I head over to Barnes and Noble and do some homework or read to escape reality.  Better than drinking escape reality, right?  Okay, I tried that too - but it didn't work.

I went on the NavyforMoms.com site and some woman actually said to another worried mom whose son was in his second or third week of boot to 'calm down and get over yourself.'  That's what they call support?  I'm not sure I'm cut out for this.

I'm feeling a bit stupid right now.  I can't figure out how to allow URL links in comments.  Does anyone know how to make this change in Blogger?  I've looked at the comments options but I can't figure it out.  Is it even possible in Blogger?  I'm wondering if I shouldn't migrate this blog to the one I have over at Wordpress that's been dead for a year and a half.

Things are about to change...

My son enlisted in the Navy yesterday.  I never imagined this for one of my kids.

Pepsi Refresh Project - A Soft Place To Land, Inc.

Update - 1/1/11
It looks as though we've finally landed in not only the top 10, but FIRST PLACE!  We'll receive notification from Pepsi on Monday the 3rd.  I'm so excited to be a part of this group and make this a rescue a success.

I'm on the board of a very small, very new dog rescue.  This group of women save dogs from being euthanized when they are considered useless by puppy mills.  They, we, provide them with safe and comfortable homes where they are socialized and shown that people are kind, spay or neuter them, and then place them for adoption.

A Soft Place To Land, Inc. is competing in the Pepsi Refresh Project for a $25,000 grant to pay for the 501(c3) (non-profit status), PACFA (Pet Animal Care Facilities Act) application, veterinarian costs, and so much more.  This is a very worthy cause and I ask you to check them out and vote every day.  Voting ends October 31 and we need to be in the top 10 in order to receive the grant.

I've included a link to the right to vote for us.  You may also vote by texting* 102827 to Pepsi (73774).

*Standard text messaging rates apply.

Random Crap

Yeah, okay...  I may have to revert to posting weekly menus in order to post something here.  It's probably only interesting to me but that's okay. 

- Easy Chicken Enchiladas, rice, beans
- Meatloaf, baby baker potatoes, green beans
- Canadian bacon with apples and onions, sweet potato mash
- Taco's
- Mac N Cheese with Chicken
- Spaghetti and meatballs
- Some sort of soup

I've finished up my Counseling Theories class - or will on Wednesday.  This one was a killer and I'm hoping that things get easier rather than harder.  I've asked a friend to let me know if she hears anything about Time or Stress Management workshops in the area; I really need help in that aspect. My next class is Dual Disorders, focusing on - I believe - psychological disorders and alcohol or drug abuse.  So much fun.

Homecoming week is upon us.  All week long Matt's high school will be having activities for homecoming - the three biggest are a huge bonfire on Thursday night, the football game on Friday and dance on Saturday.  I think all the kids really love this week just because the district tries to make it fun.  Matt will have his senior pictures done on October 3.  I'm not doing them like I did for Jake.  Matt mowed a photographer's lawn this summer in exchange for his pictures.  I'm sure they'll be a lot better than mine.

And on my final note of randomness - completely outdoing myself for making the least sense ever and having no point whatsoever - I'm reading a great series these days... The Hallows Series (Rachel Morgan) by Kim Harrison.  This series of books can be described as paranormal murder-mystery romance - otherwise known as vampire smut.  Oh, dear Lord.  It's brain candy at its best, and I swore I'd never read anything like Twilight (still won't read that, by the way).

I'll wrap this up with a link to a blogger-friend of mine - I think the sentiment is appropriate these days.

New Friends

I used to think I had a hard time making friends but I don't really think that's the case. I'm picky. I like people who are moms, who have lives that are just as crazy as mine, and who don't really have time to spend on their friends. That's what makes it difficult. The last woman I met whom I liked, works a full time job, has two little girls, goes to school part time, and is married to a man that is a full time student. Wow. And I thought I was busy.

Rob met her husband a year ago. They became friends at school and wanted to get the two families together. I balked. I don't like meeting new people; it's awkward and a lot of the time, the other families we've met are too different or... out of our league? He tried to arrange a picnic last summer, a barbecue, a day at the lake - he was relentless. I said no. I was under a lot of pressure with my senior capstone, finishing up my degree, surviving a job that I can't stand, my oldest son was graduating and starting his own life. I made all the excuses I could think of.

At the beginning of this summer, my husband started talking about getting together with this other family again. This time he said he wasn't taking no for an answer. I finally (and literally) threw up my hands and said, "Fine, lets plan to meet them at the lake and barbecue." I picked the date and he made all the plans. My job was to show up. And I did. And I really enjoyed myself. It took a little while for the ice to break, and when it did, this amazing woman and I sat talking about everything and nothing for hours. Our kids played and fished, husbands talked and talked (and fished a little), and this woman and I talked - endlessly. I was sad when the day came to an end. I was also exhausted and burned and dragging a complaining 11 year-old home.

I had enjoyed myself so much that day, I told my husband that we had to do it again - soon! We went to the New West Fest, spending the day walking around, feeding our kids 'fair food' and listening to the free concerts. This year the Fest had margaritas at their Brewfest section, so when we were done walking around and doing everything, we sent out kids with our husbands to ride all the crazy, expensive rides, and the moms? Well, we bought margaritas, picked out a spot on the grass and talked for as much time as we could get. I really liked her. We decided to exchange phone numbers and befriended each other on Facebook.

I've talked to her on the phone twice now; always after her kids are in bed and mine are on their way. I can relate to her because she's raising a family, working and surviving school - not just surviving but excelling. It's nice to venture out of your comfort zone sometimes. You don't always meet people you can enjoy at soccer practices or the bleachers at football games. Sometimes it's good to let your husband set you up with someone - you never know what the rewards will be.

It's been forever!

My life got completely out of hand. First, I walked in commencement exercises with Regis University in December and then I actually was awarded my degree in March. I am the proud owner of a mint condition Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, Applied Psychology. MAGNA CUM LAUDE people!

Knowing my degree wasn't going to pay me enough to start repaying the staggering amount that I now owe to the Federal Loan Program, I was already on the ball. I applied to, and was accepted at, Grand Canyon University for a Master of Science, Professional Counseling degree. I started June 3. So far I have one "A" and am working on my second one. At this point though, I just want to pass. Having two children living at home with active social lives and sports schedules, balancing that with a part time job and being in graduate school... oh, yeah, I'm a wife too - now when do I get to have any time for me? I'm working on it.

Jake moved out last October. He graduated from high school, enrolled in college, found roommates and decided to jump ship. Can't blame him though; it was time for him to spread his wings and have his own life. It's quiet around here without him. Well, the quiet is a relative term. With a 'tween and a 17 year old in the house, there is plenty of noise, but Jake had this huge, loud personality. I miss him.

Jake is about to turn 20 (in less than two weeks!), Matt will be 18 two days after that, and Lindsay will be 12 in October. Holy crap, I'm feeling old! I'm pretty sure I'm not mature enough to have a 20 year old son.

What Happend To The Weekend? Or, What Was I Thinking?

It is sooo hard to be motivated to be anything but a slug when the whole weekend was filled with chaos and craziness. Anyone else ever feel like that? I do, all the time.

Just as soon as things drop 10 levels of insane at work, and my home life explodes with self-inflicted busyness. I offered to do a tax return for a friend and it took around eight hours to finish because there was some bookkeeping involved. She was in town for a while and I hadn't seen her in almost three years. It was a really nice visit and the return wasn't so bad, but that was only the beginning.

The weekend started on Friday at noon when I got off work. I had decided to make a 'quick' stop at the grocery store and figure out what to make her for lunch/dinner since people have to eat and I love to cook. My imagination never kicked in and after 45 minutes I finally checked out with the makings of a dipping party - an awesome nacho cheese dip, potato chips and french onion dip, salsa, guacamole, and the bread for some dips I'd pick up at my favorite S*uper S*ppers location. Matt gets off early on Friday's so I headed from the grocery store to the high school. I was on a schedule - my friend May was due in town any minute and she'd be over at my house soon! I was about a hundred feet from the entrance to the parking lot at the high school when one of my front tires went flat. These kinds of things just have no respect for schedules. I don't know about you, but I just don't include tire changes in my job description; I carry roadside insurance for just such occasions. The only problem is that the guy that came to change my tire didn't get that I had a schedule either. And then the spare tire was almost flat as was the tire on the other side... So basically, screw the schedule.

We got home at around three in the afternoon and May wasn't waiting for me, she called around five and said she'd be there by six but nine o'clock rolled around before she parked in front of my house. I wasn't angry. May has just started a dog rescue and she was dropping dogs that had been destined for death off with various no-kill shelters.

Previously a draft 2/9/10 - worth publishing 1/1/11

The Life and Times

See how well that regular posting thing turned out. Yeah, that's why I didn't make any promises to myself.

I'm in two classes right now, one online (Adult Spirituality), the other in the classroom (The Family). The Family is primarily a sociology class so I'm not used to just looking at the statistics and saying, "Well that's interesting." I'm more interested in why something is happening not just that it happened. That being said, it's an easy class. I do the reading and writing the night before and then attend class the next evening. The instructor lectures for almost the whole time, rarely stopping for anyone to add anything constructive. No biggie.

Adult Spirituality, on the other hand, is one that makes me dig deep. Not that I thought it was going to be easy, but WOW! I'm dedicating two days a week to that class and I'd bet it would be easier if I'd spend four days doing the reading and posting. I just don't seem to have that much time right now.

Work is getting lighter now. I'm nearly done with prepping the books for the accountant. Today my boss said it was no big deal if we waited until next week to finish everything up. Talk about a big sigh of relief. Now I can deal with other pressing matters, like renewing our Cost Containment Certification which I haven't had to do for the past three years and is due in just a few days.

While my work load at my job may be lightening up, tax season for individuals is about to ramp up. For the last several years I've helped out friends here and there with their taxes. I've always done it as a favor or out of friendship in the past but this year the cost of the program and my dwindling time are requiring me to charge a small fee. I've already got two returns lined up, besides ours and Jake's.

My hubby lost his job due to lack of work last week. We were kind of expecting it, so it wasn't a shock. Thankfully he should get unemployment and that will fill the void until he can find something suitable. This whole situation kind of leaves me stunned in another way though. Every time some sort of financial crisis has threatened to befall us, I lose my mind. I stress out; I cry; I make others around me miserable and worsen the impact on my family. This time I'm pretty calm about it. I know that we'll be okay, we've been through worse. Maybe I'm just growing up. I guess you can still do that in your 30's, right?

I got some good news when I was leaving campus tonight. I've been looking at grad programs at several different universities for nearly a year now. Ideally I'd like to attend Regis in their Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology but they only offer the program in Denver and Broomfield and I'm just not willing to drive an hour once a week to sit in class for four hours in the evening. It would be torture. I know five people, maybe six, who would like to attend the same program but the drive is just a deal breaker. Tonight I was told by the night manager that the Fort Collins campus had been contacted by the program in Denver asking if they had some specific technology that the program requires. It's possible that they're already looking at bringing the program up here and I was given contact information and guidance on convincing them that it was a good idea.

So, YEA! Things are looking up. Busy season is ending at work, grad school may be possible with the school I'm interested in, and we won't be living in our car due to the job loss.