Mom to the Screaming Masses

Ye Gods, Does Flying Suck for EVERYONE?

I went away on a trip.  There's no details here, but you can find them over on Scrutiny - I'll do my darndest to get them finished up in the next day or so.  I'm not allowed to talk about it here, due to the guidelines of the Blogher Ad network.  This fiasco of travel has no boundaries, though, and I'm genuinely curious to hear what you all have to say about this beaut of a situation I was embroiled in today.

I arrived at the airport in plenty of time.  I got on the first of two (United airlines) planes in plenty of time. I sat on the plane - for plenty of time.  My 45 minute window for my (United) connector ticked away, and finally the pilot spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen, it appears that we have too many people on this plane.  This should not be, so we will be checking i.d.'s and boarding passes.  Please be prepared."  The gate attendant appeared on our plane, and zeroed right in on an elderly Indian couple, two rows ahead of me.  She asked for their i.d.'s, and it became apparent quickly that they did not speak or understand English.  Finally, an interpreter was called - in the form of the co pilot.  Apparently, they were on the wrong plane - AND the incorrect airline.  Instead of being on the UNITED flight going to Dulles, they should have been on the NORTHWEST flight going to DETROIT.  And they didn't get it, and they didn't want to get off the plane.  Finally, finally, they got off - and the correct United passengers got on - who were also Indian, with the same last name.  How in the WORLD does that happen?  What are the odds that they would have the same last names, but more importantly, how did the two incorrect passengers get by the gate attendant with the WRONG boarding pass for a totally different airline? 

That mess finally straightened, the plane pushed back from the ramp, thirty minutes late.  At which point a man stood up, grabbed his bag, and bolted to the front of the plane, demanding to be let off. He was having a panic attack and unable to fly - so the plane was stopped and he deplaned - but his wife STAYED ON the flight. I can't imagine why she didn't deplane with him, and then my imagination ran away with thoughts of what he might have left ON the plane, and yadda yadda.

We arrived in DC at 12:05, with my connecting flight departing at 12:22.  We were directed by the flight attendant - there were five of us - to make our way from gate C something (the number isn't important, only the terminal) to A2.  We ran down the escalator, jumped on the shuttle, and waited.  One minute, two minutes, three minutes. Three minutes is a long damned time when you only have a few.  Finally, finally we pushed off and went across to A terminal. I bolted off and ran - hey, what do you know - I'm not medically cleared to run yet, but it didn't hurt! - all the way to gate A2.  One of the other ladies was unable to run, for medical reasons, and the shuttle crew asked her name, presumably to call ahead and let the gate know to hold the plane.  So we all BOOKED IT as fast as possible to gate A2.

Where there was NO ONE.  Checking in with the gate agent, I was told that the plane already left - 5 minutes early - from gate Dsomething.  Did you catch that?  A TOTALLY different terminal from the one we had been directed to.  Auugghh.  So I missed my flight, and it was not weather related, or due to my own incompetence - but just the incompetence of the gate attendant, who let passengers get on board with the wrong boarding passes.  When the security level is orange, how does this type of stuff happen?  I genuinely want to know.

Thanks For Being

Check this out!   At DietsInReview.com, we’re welcoming our new Chief Mom, Carmen Staicer, and celebrating the long-awaited arrival of Spring with a giveaway.  Continue reading Brooke Siler Pilates Pack Giveaway! at DietsinReview.com

I received an interesting email this past week. My kids have all, with the exception of my oldest, had the same kindergarten aide, a wonderful, phenomenal teacher with a wickedly funny sense of humor.  Her mom recently died, and she took some time off from the school to take care of her father.  While she's away, we've all missed her terribly, and she sent a wonderful email to the parents of the current class. Mrs. B gave me permission to share it with you.

When you lose someone so important it will teach you a life lesson.. Tell the people you love every day , every chance you get.. Thank them for Being... Thank them for making you who you are. Each person that we meet somehow makes us special.. Tell your families, friends, tell your Dr. ,
your Mailman......tell your dog....No I have not snapped yet.. Tell them thank you
for BEING..... I haven't had the chance to teach your babies this yet.. Please do it
for me...

Love to you all, and thank you for BEING....my gifts..

So, in the manner of this email, I'm taking the time to thank some people.

Noise at Night

Yeah, I still feel bad.  Final diagnosis - pill induced ulcer of the esophagus.  Not a pretty thing.  Thanks to so many of you who told me what it was - you were right!  Also, the long awaited Great Wolf Lodge post is finally up!

While we were away for the weekend, we went to bed pretty late Friday night.  Fairly close to 1.  so, technically, Saturday morning.  My husband had to get up at 5 to drive home, so he elected to sleep on the fold out bed that was separated from the main area of our room by a 6 foot tall partition.  I set his phone alarm for him and then went to bed.  I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, and didn't hear him wake up, which is odd.  Typically, I am a very light sleeper and hear everything that goes on, and have a lousy time going back to sleep. 

For whatever reason, that wasn't the case this time. 

At 6:23 I was jolted from my sleep by a blaring alarm.  I sat up, completely disoriented.  I had one daughter in my bed and two others in the bed next to me, and everyone was still asleep.  (The other kids were in a different room next door with my mother.) I am blind as a bat and usually keep my glasses on the table next to me, but I wasn't at home and didn't follow my usual patterns.  The alarm continued to blare and I stumbled around the room, falling over stuff and wonder what, exactly, was going on.

Beep!  Beep! Beep!

If It Wasn't For Drama

I'd have no life at all.

Monday of last week, I went to the dermatologist.  I have a few areas of acne that just won't clear - in particular, two pimples that I've had on one cheek since DECEMBER. She told me that I had cystic acne, prescribed doxycycline, and sent me on my way.  I took the medicine Monday night, twice on Tuesday and twice on Wednesday.  Wednesday night, the pill - which was really enormous - got stuck in my throat.  I drank a few cups of water and went to bed. Three times that night I woke up, feeling like I had the pill still in my throat.

Thursday and Friday, I didn't take the medicine, and I still felt as if it was stuck there.  We drove all day Friday and it was the number one topic of conversation.  Saturday, we drove home, and again, it was all I could talk about.  My mom was, I'm certain, sick of hearing me talk about it, but I felt as if the pill was still stuck in my throat.  She told me that it probably wasn't still there, but possibly it'd scraped a section of my throat and it was bugging me.

What's Going On?

Why would my facebook status say:

6 hours in van with 6 kids. Hold me. Please.

Why would I share this picture- bonus points if you can tell me who this is:

I pinky swear promise to share ALL the deets with you tomorrow.  It'll have to be on Scrutiny By The Masses, since I'm participating in a sponsored trip.  But, oh, man, do I have some SERIOUS stories to share.

Words I Never Thought I'd Say

"Take the dollar bill stickers off your homework, Emma.  Your teacher doesn't want them on your paper."

"I don't care where you put them, they just don't belong on your homework."

"Take the stickers OFF my boobs.  They don't belong on my boobs."

Hot-Diggity Dog!

So, let's talk about this super wonderful local blogger event that I've mentioned a time or two on here.  I've been given clearance to talk about it, and I wanted to clear up some questions you might have.

BUT.  I can't do it here, due to the agreement I have with the Blogher ad network.  SO.  If you live within a days driving distance of Virginia Beach, hot step it over to Scrutiny by The Masses for the deets!  Even if you aren't within driving distance, check out the post - maybe you'll be inspired to create an event of your own!

ALSO - Very Important News - new posts up at Zwaggle and Diets in Review, both talking about important, yet easy, changes you can make to your daily routinue, just in time for Earth Day. Tell me, what are you doing for Earth Day?

The Day Of Drama

I was on television today, talking The Business of Blogging. It was a delightful experience, hampered by the fact that

a) I woke up late

b) The traffic going through the tunnel was b-r-u-t-a-l, and I would have known that had I actually LISTENED to the traffic report, given by the VERY PERSON who was to interview me - but I was too busy trying to tame my very poufy hair into submission with my flattening iron (purchased on Ebay) and

c) I made a wrong turn going to a facility that I've BEEN TO BEFORE because I was too busy obsessing about the fact that I was LATE.

A Repeat of One of My Favorites

If you are new here, thanks to Tuesday's Morning Show on Fox 43, welcome to my little corner of the Internet. Please enjoy this repeat of one of my favorite posts, and let me know that you were here!

I am: 

A tightrope walker, balanced precariously between the needs of everyone I am responsible for and to and myself.  Walking a fine line between being a good parent, teaching my children to be responsible, and going to bat for them in an uncomfortable situation. Many times all in the same day, for the same kid.

A gymnast, contorting myself into various pretzel shapes as I try to manipulate time and space in the time suck it can be to accomplish everything on the agenda.  And failing at it in many, many cases. But always, always picking myself up and trying again.

A magician, as I make dirty clothing disappear overnight and leave clean laundry in its place, and yummy, delicious meals appear virtually out of thin air. With never enough thanks and on never enough sleep.

A juggler, as I balance more than I care to count computer hours of work, three soccer schedules, three Muay Thai schedules, one cross country schedule, two different school calendars, wifely duties, household duties, exercise time, my roles as a daughter and daughter in law, and caring for six completely different kids on six completely different schedules. On never enough coffee.

I am a woman. A woman, like so many of you out there - all of us juggle and balance and stress. We are all parents, children, employees, bosses, friends, sisters, exercise buddies, the best friend you ever had and your worst enemy.  I am just like you - the person you aspire to be, the one you can't stand, the goofball that makes you question your sanity and the shopper in the grocery store with two shopping carts. The woman who spills coffee down her shirt at least twice a week and steps out of her skirt, the one who has mismatched socks on occasion and wonders if she'll ever feel glamorous again.  I'm the person who squeezes in exercise in 5 minute chunks, who worries about gaining back the lost 80 pounds, and struggles to understand things that, in reality, should be second nature. I'm an iPod lover, a laptop freak, a blogger for hire and a fierce advocate for what I think is right and what is worthy of my time will get it in as large of a chunk as I can carve out.

I am strong and powerful, fiercely determined to try to get it just right, just this once. I'm a person who prays, who laughs, who cries and gets overwhelmed on a daily, if not hourly basis.  I'm often in need of a pedicure, a shower, a nap, a friendly shoulder or a stiff drink.

I am just like you.

Housekeeping

New post up at Diets In Review - why in the world would I say I’ve also enjoyed fresh lemon and lime squeezed into my water, and freezing berries or mint leaves into ice cubes means that you get a subtle flavor that is really refreshing.?  Zip on over and find out!

I've chosen - or, rather, the random.org generator has spoken - and the winners have been posted on the giveaways at Scrutiny By The Masses.  Were you one of the winners?  There are some really good reviews over there - take a minute or two to slide over and read.

Anyone else - well, besides Katie, who totally turned me on to it - using Google Calendar?  I have a big wall calendar and a calendar on my BlackBerry, and twice this week I FORGOT a soccer practice.  No more - Google Calendar sends an email to me for every event.  Do you think it'll help?

New show that is a must see:  The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.  What a great show - no sex, no bad language, no gore or violence.  As a bonus, two of my girls also love the show and we've been watching it together. It's tough to find a show that fits all of those parameters AND keeps everyone's attentions.

And, finally, what the hell is up with every single bra in a smaller size being a push up?  Who says that a 14 year old needs to look like Dolly Parton? (And now I'm sounding O-L-D.)