AAAAAuuuuuuGGGGG!!!!!!

Insert picture of good ol' Charlie Brown here.....you know the one with him, his head back screaming AAuuGGGG! I need to scream at the top of my lungs!! LIKE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everything & everyone is making me want to just say....beat it.

Friends & Neighbors

9 years ago this coming July, we moved into our home on Rambo St. We are #9.....my new neighbor at #3 was Winnie. Winnie just happened to be a lifelong friend of my moms. So I have known her my entire life as well. What luck to have Winnie as my neighbor. She made us feel part of the block right away.

After I had Joey she was a lifesaver. I could run to her house at any time & ask her to watch Joey. I would bring him to her or she would come sit here while he was sleeping. About a year or so later she started watching her grandson. Joey & Kyle became fast friends. We would sit outside while the boys played with chalk, bubbles or rode their bikes. I now had company as I stood on the corner with Joey to watch the never ending trains passing! When I doubted my parenting skills, she regaled me with stories of raising her boys & never made me feel like a horrible mom for feeling the way I did. She loved my boys like they were her own grandkids. and they loved her like a grandmom.

When she got sick I felt helpless. I did not know what to do or say. I was always offering my help. But ever the stubborn woman she refused. It was hard to watch her the last few years grow older & sicker.

Last week she was brought home from the hospital & put on hospice. Selfishly I was glad, because I just couldn't go to say goodbye to her at the hospital. I had so much to thank her for. She was more than my mom's friend. She was my saving grace & my friend. Calvin & I got to spend her last days with her & her family. What a truly wonderful gift that was. I got to say what I needed to, even though she was not conscience. she got to leave us on her own terms & damn if she didn't do it her way!

Yesterday I heard someone come out of her house & it hit me....I will never hear her call my name again, or yell hi to the boys.

Thank you Winnie! You will be missed by all the Rambo St Gang!

How I Met Your Father.....

13 years ago my husband lost his BFF, Joe McDevitt. I had known Joe most of my life. He was also my sister's neighbor. George & Joe became best buds in HS. I had seen George around, and to be honest I did not like him. Apparently Joe & my sister had the great idea to try & get us together. I remember my sister talking him up, but I was "seeing" someone else & just really not interested! Then a few months later at my nieces 16th bday party George & Joe were there. well let me tell you sparks flew and it wasn't love...we bickered! HAHAHAHAHA! Still had no interest.

Fast forward a few months.....The early morning of March 14th. get a call from my sister telling us that the McDevitt house was on fire & did I know where so & so was? (So & so was an old friend of mine who dated Joe's cousin.) My mom & I go up to Prospect Ave. Everyone is standing in the street. I looked up the street & saw George standing there just looking so heartbroken. I have no idea why but I just felt the need to go to him. He was sitting on the side of someones house. I went & just sat with him. He knew what the others were not positive of. Joe was in the house. (he & his brother & cousin were unaccounted for.) He had been out with Joe the night before. They had a good time, went their separate ways to their respective homes. Then they talked on the phone, Joe was making himself something to eat. An hour or so later George go the call.

It was so devastating. Joe was 23 & had a brilliant career ahead of him. There was just something about George that drew me to him. We worked in the same shopping center. Me at Peppers him at the beer distributor. After the funeral I would stop in to check on him.

Then as they say the rest is history......George & I went on our first date 3 weeks later, where I fell in love with him! we have been together since, Joe must have really wanted us together.

So I guess I really need to say THANK YOU to Joe for bringing Me & George together & for Joesph Patrick & Calvin Reid.

It is amazing since then how many deaths, births, marriages & divorces we have been trough together.

Potty Talk.....

I have been wanting to do a potty talk topic for awhile 7 have been lazy about writing.

When joey started on the potty 3 years ago, I would sit on the step stool while he sat on the potty. He would talk & talk, ask questions(does god poop is the one that stands out.) I would be so annoyed & just want to get out of the small bathroom.....cant stand small places. this went on for some time until he didn't need me anymore which was with in the last year or so. I would get so mad at myself for being impatient because I should have taken it for what it was for, a time to bond with my son.

So history is repeating itself in the form of Calvin. And this time I was on the potty & he started to ask about my......(fill in the blank!) Telling me it was like chocolate. Then he wanted to see it & told me he liked my poo. MY goodness, where does he come up with this stuff?

Anyway, I am back to sitting on the step stool as Calvin sits on the potty. Asking questions & telling me stuff. still feeling a little impatient, but trying to enjoy our "quality time" together!

Not gonna make it...

Joey is home sick...he is pukey, :o( Unfortunately he doesn't know how to be sick.......He wants to eat.....he wants to drink. I asked if he wanted to go up & lay in my bed & he said he would be lonely.

Calvin is driving me crazy. I have almost cried twice. I am starting to feel like crap now too. And to top it off I didn't get to have a Sweet Tea today.

Kindergarten Kid....

So next Tues Sept. 7th marks Joey's first day of kindergarten. And I am more then ready to send him off!

In the beginning of June Joey was tested at Bport Elem to see whether he would be in full or half day kindergarten. Me, thinking my son would have no problems testing was going around, saying, "Oh he wont get into full day, he is too smart." (the full day is an "intervention" program) Then the letter came......"We are delighted to inform you of Joey's acceptance into the Full Day Kindergarten program...." I cried. WTH? What makes my son "at risk?" I dont' think the test results reflect his true abilities. Will the stupid kids bring him down? I was crushed. I sat on the news for awhile, to embarrassed to say anything. I was frantically emailing the guidance counselor. So after emailing with the counselor, I find out he scored in the average range. To be honest I knew he didn't do as well as he could have as soon as the test was over. And that they needed to fill space in the class. I had the option of declining the full day. SO I talked to a few people...my SIL, another mom that I am acquainted with & really doesn't know Joey very well, the director from Good Shepherd & finally my sister. All of whom said, it would be a great opportunity for him, he will benefit from it. SO I emailed the counselor & said we would take it, but would like it if he could have Mrs so & so....

So we go to orientation last week & I am happy to say that I got the teacher we wanted! I know this is a great opportunity for him & that the moms in the other UMASD schools would kill for a full day Kindergarten. I think he needs something that is just his & has nothing to do with Calvin. I think he & Calvin desperately need to be away from each other! It will give me more time with Calvin, which he needs!

But now I am going to have to start packing a lunch for him EVERY day, start making sure we are up by 7.15am, get at least Joey fed, dressed & out the door by 8.30. Do you think I can do it?? LOL We have been waking up early this week so we can start getting into our new routine.

I think he is excited. But as anyone with a boy knows, they are not every forthcoming with the "deets"!

Hopefully I can make it thru the morning w/o getting emotional! I am very excited for him!

What am I doing Wrong??????

I feel like crying tight now. I wish I knew why I can't get my kids to listen & not fight me on everything. I see some kids who dont give their parents a hard time. I am on edge all the time. I am YELLING ALL the time. And I hate it. I feel like a raving lunatic. I guess I need to change me medication to something a bit stronger! LOL All day long it is mom mom mom.....I fear that Joey is becoming lazy or maybe just being a ty[ical man, he cant seem to do anything by himself. Do this, do that, i need. Just get the frick up & do it, or if your dad is here ask him!!!!!!!!! All i want is to have 2 nice little boys who dont hit, head butt, talk back, fight, listen. Is that too much to ask! I dont want them hating me b/c all i do is yell. Joey told to me that I don't like him b/c I screamed at him last night, that made me feel like SHIT! I told him I do like him, i just dont like the way he is behaving! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!