The summer of BUGS!

I don't know about others here in Vegas, but MAN has there been a lot of bugs! We finally got the bug guy out today for the first time in a few months & it's been needed for a while now. You just can't go 2 months between services in the summer time. At least not this summer. It's been alright in past years but I'm ready to start finding some dead or dying bugs around here, instead of getting freaked out about the live ones!

I always hate letting them come in & spray, just because I don't want the stuff where I eat & sleep, but this time they did the downstairs & upstairs. I'm just tired of seeing bugs all the time.

If I find a bug outside, I'm always cautious not to kill them but when they step foot into my territory they're no longer granted immunity!

Speaking of immunity....I miss Big Brother. I can't wait for the next one!! This year we got 2 seasons. I don't think we'll be as lucky next year. I can hope for another writer's strike. ;)

I got a chance to talk to my brother Travis today. He had gastric bypass surgery last week & had a few stories to tell me that were really gross, yet fascinating & hysterical all at the same time. I told him he needs to write a book about this experience. He's such a good writer & has an incredible sense of humor. And after hearing what I heard today, apparently he has no shame either & is willing to share even the most embarrassing, intimate details of this ordeal. LOL

Back to school tomorrow!

After a 3 week break, Jordan goes back to school in the morning. He's been counting the days & is excited to see his friends tomorrow. I'm happy for him. He's really loving first grade. I think we'll probably go through another breaking in phase, where it seems like the day will never end & each day seems to be longer than the last, but overall he'll go back to loving it pretty quickly. :)

His teacher this year seems pretty nice, as I've said before. I'm looking forward to getting to know her a little better & see what her teaching style is. She has at least one child in her class that's a big challenge (he was in Jordan's class in K) & I'd like to see how she does with him in her class. She's young, which is always a concern for me, & has no kids of her own, which is yet another big concern, but so was Ms. Harper & she turned out to be great. I'm hoping for more of the same.

Anyone want a hormonal, grumpy 14 year old?

Cause mine is driving me nuts today. He thumped Jordan on the head for annoying him & is now copying a few pages from the dictionary. I figure if he's going to be a bully at least he'll be one with a large vocabulary. ;) Seriously though, I'm so done with this kind of behavior. I really hope he's able to get it under control before he really hurts someone. :( I understand how annoying little brothers can be, but come on!! Grrr!

I needed to go to the store today so I decided to go right after dropping Dave off at work, to try & miss the crowd. I swear my kids are out to get me today. That probably sounds a little paranoid, but it's really how I felt this morning. Luckily I have my head on straight (so far today, anyway) & I'm not letting them bug me too much. They thought it would be fun to play tag through the aisles this morning while Hayleah, who was very tired, would cry as loudly as she could if I wasn't holding her. Between keeping everyone at my side, a crying baby & no sling in sight, I was so ready to get out of there!

I need to rethink the whole early morning shopping trips thing. Although I don't really know anyone who enjoys taking their kids grocery shopping, this particular trip to the store was more difficult than usual.

Hayleah's hair cut

She looks so cute, I must say. Thanks, Jamie! :)

I took a picture of her this morning, being goofy as usual, to show the difference. The before pic really shows how wild it would be if I didn't have it up all the time. Cute stuff!

This next sb page is of Logan on his 3rd birthday, a few weeks ago. Everything he touched was followed by this deep breath in & the word "OH" or "Holy Moke". He enjoyed himself, to say the least. :)

What is it with doctors offices & social security numbers!?

Man this irritates me! Several years ago, we stopped giving out our SS#'s to doctors offices. They just don't need it. The insurance company swears they don't ask for anything more than the last four digits of the social. So why in the world are doctor's offices still giving me a hard time about this?? I had a woman on the phone with me today, totally frustrated with me because I wouldn't give out my social or Dave's, who thought she could get the numbers out of me through her not-so-tactful threats & rude behavior. She even had the balls to say "screw it" to me after she realized she wasn't going to bully me into seeing things her way.

If you know me at all, you'd know threats don't work well with me. It makes me dig my heals in more. This kind of stuff happens all the time in doctor's offices, unfortunately. My skin is much thicker than it once was & I now know I'm the employer & I don't have to put up with that kind of mistreatment.

Her threat was that she could not make me an appointment without first getting my social. Why do people have to make things so difficult? I bet she's asking herself the same thing. I'm really not trying to be difficult, but when you hear about doctor's offices going out of business & all their patients records....SS#'s & all.....being deposited in the dumpster out back for anyone to take, you can't be too careful.

I called back & spoke with someone in the offices administration & explained what had happened. I rarely complain about people's behavior but in this case I really felt someone should know patients are being treated this way when they're not 100% "compliant" & maybe have a few more questions than the average bear. She was nice about it & I can see where it could be frustrating, but the entire conversation after her yelling "screw it" at me was really snotty & rude.

Girlfriend needed to be checked! At the time I was ready to bust out a can but I've figured out a way to let those kinds of frustrations go fairly quickly.

Why is it easier to let frustrations with strangers go more quickly than frustrations with family? Is it because you love them & expect more from them? Want better from them, maybe?

More of life's tough questions.....