Crap

...that pain in the neck 4.5 yr old case that wont go away and is set to spoil my thanksgiving vacation, was reset from today to FRIDAY, for the defendant to "think about" the plea. My Q is what the hell is there to think about? Its the same plea for the last 4.5 years. I couldn't object, though, b/c I got the judge to rescind a ruling he had made a few weeks ago, which was extremely important to my case. Gotta pick your fights wisely. The problem is, as Close readers of this fair blog will recall, that FRIDAY is the first day of the carnival, and T's class is slated to ride the rides from 9 - 10. I'll be in court at 9:30. You have no idea how mad I am.

New plan, is to get Leonor over here early, and perhaps drop them off at the carnival, while I go up the street to court, then return after court to pick them up and take them home. Leonor doesn't drive.

What an absolute pain in my ass.

Carnival Mania

Yes, indeed, carnival mania continues to build all week. Its almost at a fever pitch now. Don't know if T will be able to stand it. Carnival rides have been rolling in to T's school for the past few days. Today, I arrived to pick her up to discover that they are setting them up. All the kids are fascinated by it.

Festivities start on Friday. No school for preK, but they can ride the rides from 9 - 10 on Friday morning. Carnival is closed to all but students on Friday during the day, then opens to the public that evening. Our family is required to donate 2 hours of volunteer time, to work the carnival. PreK is in charge of the hamburger stand. Lucky for me, Aunt Dot has kindly volunteered to man it from 8 - 10 on friday night. I'm busy praying that her plane on thursday night is not delayed in any way!

Hot on the heels of T's stellar performance with the SA, Mrs. M reports that T cut a bit if her hair today in school. Mrs. M dealt with the situation, so in keeping with my new, non-type-A method of mothering, I'm ignoring the incident.

Hope you all have a great night.

Meeting with the State Attorney

Despite what one might think upon viewing this photo, the State Attorney did not call a meeting to discuss my little 4 yr old felon's antics at school the other day, of "Throwing a deadly missile" (yes, that is a crime...second degree felony, too) Nope, instead, I had a late meeting with the State Attorney at 5:30 today, and aftercare ends at 6:00. No way could I make the meeting, and then be on time to pick up T. So, I went and picked T up from school early, and brought her to the meeting. I was VERY nervous about this, and bribed T shamelessly with an offer to go to the restaurant for dinner if she was a good girl, and didn't say a word during our meeting.

I had visions of T sitting in the waiting room while I was in the meeting, but the SA said to bring her in. T was so good, I couldn't stand it. She answered the SA's questions, didn't interrupt once during the meeting, and charmed everyone. The SA even offered to pose for a picture with T. I, of course, whipped out my phone on the spot, and snapped off a few.

I like it. T looks very at home with the official flags. Perhaps she, too, may have a career in law enforcement in her future...

Parent - Teacher Conference

Today was my first Parent/Teacher Conference at the school. When given T's report card and seeing all C's, I was quite concerned. However, "C" merely indicates "I Can" vs. still working on it, or something else.
T also received a check plus in all categories except one. Go on, take a guess where my dear daughter is lacking and is still "working on skill".

That's right, the category of "I Work Quietly". Sees she's a bit too social at school. Same thing would happen to me. I'd come home with a report card full of A-3-C's. Anyway, all other reports were very good, so I was much relieved. T's teacher seems very laid back, and not phased at all by her acting out. I guess she's seen everything over the course of her almost 30 years teaching, so she has a lot more perspective on T's behavior than perhaps me.

So, I'll attempt to take a chill pill, and be a bit less type A about it all in the future.

I'm very proud of my girl!

Ran Errands

Today was a ho-hum day, but a cool ho-hum day. We woke up bright and early, and went to the park. T played and rode her bike a bit, then we headed to my parents, so my dad could sign some papers I needed to mail off. Then off to JCP, then Target, and while in the car wash at the gas station, I turned around to see this....

T was out cold.

Went back to my parents for a late lunch, then home. T doesn't know it, but we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Aunt Dot, who has been traveling for the last 30 hours...literally. She's been on the long trek home from Manila, and arrived about an hour ago.

That's it for now...

I Love It!

Spent the WHOLE damn day at my parents house. Got there bright and early to meet the granite transformation people at 10:00. They were supposed to be there with the plumber, but he went to another job first...and proceeded to ruin my day.

Speaking of xmas trees (from the comments yesterday), I bought my parents this little number from home depot. You just pull it out of the box and plug it in. Its decorated and everything.

Anyway, back to the bathroom, to take out the old sink in the bathroom and install the counter, they had to turn off the water. They assured me that the plumber would be there at noon. WRONG. We were without water all damn day. Couldn't even flush the toilet. Oy.

Dumb plumber didn't get there until 5:15. I had to leave him working while I went to get T. Here is basically the finished product. I love it! It is amazing to me that they just lay it over the existing counter and voila.

I highly recommend this company. Just make sure that they coordinate better with the plumber, or you'll be waiting all day.

Here's a close up of the counter. You can't that well, but there is a brown speck in it that perfectly matches the brown in the tile.

Lastly, Dot has started the long trek home from Manila. T is very excited to see her tomorrow night.

MORE INFO FOR INQUIRING MINDS:

This company fabricates the "granite" at the factory based upon a template that they take of your existing counter. Granite is in quotes b/c its not real granite, its like ground up granite mixed with polymers. Instead of being real thick like stone, the countertop is about 1/4 of in inch thick and EXTREMELY strong and durable. More so than granite. Its so impermeable, that one can write on it with a sharpie and it wipes off. I got one of the more inexpensive styles. They can mix in call kinds of glasses, which can give it a sparkle for extra $$. You have to see the samples to understand what I'm talking about.

They cut the hole for the sink on site, and then laid this over the formica countertop. You can also get an undermount sink. I had to get drop-in due to the configuration of the existing plumbing.

They spread a special goop that was like mastic but not on the old countertop. Its a two part goop that when mixed together makes a space-age durable bond. They then put the new over the old, caulked the edges next to the wall, and called it a day. I put some contact numbers in the comments section and their website for anyone interested.

I Just Have to Laugh...

...or else I'd be crying. While walking to pick up T from school, I notice from afar that she's sitting in a chair and not running wild. Huh? What now?

The teachers report that she is in time out, and not for hitting anyone. What else could the child possible have done, you ask? I had teh same question. The answer???


SHE WAS THROWING ROCKS AT CARS!!

Good lord, will it never end? In her rambling recount of the event, T mentions Juan Jose. Not sure what his role in all of this was, but T was the only one in trouble. Luckily, she didn't hit any cars. Mrs. M reports that when asked what would happen if she hit a car, she said it would crash. So clearly, she knew what she was doing was wrong. Therefore, the punishment.

Mrs. M also reported, "and Boy she's got a really strong arm"

"Well of course she does", I replied. "Its the same motion as hitting."

What in the world will the child do next?

Meanwhile, a cold snap is coming to the swamp, and it might get down to the 50's tonight. T will be wearing her "winter uniform" for the first time: pants, long-sleeve shirt, and sweater. As for me, I'll be going over to my parents, as the new countertop in the upstairs bathroom will be installed.

I'm VERY excited. Hope it all goes well.

Fab Day

What an absolutely FAB day today has been! Woke up bright and early, and dumped T off at school. Then headed down toward dadeland mall, with the intent of going to JCP and T-r-us. Trouble is, I got down there so early that both were closed. What happened to JCP doorbuster sales and opening at 8:00 a.m. on holidays? So, I was bummed. Luckily, Target was around the corner and I went there to burn time, and noticed a little sign...

"We price match with any other advertised special"

Yippee! I just happened to have the T-r-us ad in the car from Sunday. I've been saving it. Did anyone else notice it? They had sales going on lots of games. So, I bought a few for family game night to give to t as xmas presents. Some were 3.99 - 9.99 for games that were priced at target from 14.99 to 23.99. I think I saved about 30 bucks or more. This worked out perfectly b/c I was worried that the other store would be out, given that today was that the sale had started days ago.

So, I scored the following:

Hi Ho Cheerio: reg 10.99 I got it for 3.99
Perfection: reg 21.99, for 9.99
Guess Who: reg 18.99 for 9.99
Memory Game: reg 5.00 for 3.99
Mouse trap: reg 17.99 for 9.99
Some Pig game that pops its trousers as it eats cookies: 17.99 for 9.99

I also picked up a folding razor scooter for T, that we'll be able to stick in the old schoolbus and play with whereever we find sidewalks. As of today, the bulk of my xmas shopping is now done, so the building stress I've been feeling is gone.

I then did an errand for my parents, made sure my mom took her medicine, then met a friend for lunch at rosa mexicali. It was so much fun having a real, adult lunch for once. The sangria helped too:).

Now we're home watching Up, which so far, is a real downer, but perhaps will bet better when the house actually goes "Up".

Great day!

My How She's Grown

Here's the annual picture we take to document this momentous day. The picture is evidence that my baby is in no way a baby any longer. As she constantly reminds me, she's a "little girl", complete with school uniform, dirt and sweat from playing all day, and a bedroom so messy even a teenager would admire it.
It seems that we're celebrating the day by watching Shrek tonight. Seems the more things change, the more they remain the same.

UPDATE: There is absolutely nothing better in the world than dancing around our livingroom with my daughter to the tune of "Then I Saw Her Face" on referral day!


I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me.
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed.
Disappointment haunted all my dreams.

Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind.
I'm in love, I'm a believer!
I couldn't leave her if I tried.

4 years Ago Today

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the empty skies, my love,
To the dark and the empty skies.