Michael's Dream

On Sunday we took Michael to see the new house.  He seemed less than thrilled by the concept.  He is really enjoying his time at "Nanny and Pepe's" and doesn't seem to grasp that we are eventually leaving.  And eventually better be two weeks because our seller doesn't seem in any great rush to get out either.

He wasn't so impressed when we first got there.  When we showed him what will be his bedroom, he was more excited that the seller's children have Hungry Hungry Hippo.  I see a present in his near future.  Especially since my parents were with us.

What will be his playroom inspired him to ask if his friends were going to live there.  I still didn't think he entirely got it.

The master bath got a little more of a reaction out of him.

But it was there, that he first got a glimpse of the outside.  The backyard that inspired me to buy this house in the first place.

I think we are going to be just fine.

I no longer think this was the worst idea I ever had.  It may have been my very best idea ever.

Shoe Friday #44

Danielle's

The Rules, According to Michael

Upon learning that I was coming to school with him yesterday, Michael immediately informed me that there were RULES THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED MOMMY. 

What are the rules Michael?

Well, Mommy (said like Iike I'm the biggest moron in the world.  His teenage years flashed in front of my eyes I swear to G-d.)

1.  You must use your inside voice.  This means no yelling.  (Thank you Michael, I didn't know.)

2.  No hitting.

3.  No biting.  Biting is really bad.

4.  No running.

5.  Keep your hands to yourself.

Okay, first of all, who replaced my horribly behaved four year old with this reciter of rules?  And second of all, notice what rule was conspicuously missing?  Being quiet at quiet time.  Luckily there was no discussion of that at orientation. 

Baby steps.

No Post Today, I'm Orientating

Michael has preschool orientation today.  Can someone explain this to me?  Does he need a bus schedule?  To find his locker?  It is the same place he had camp for goodness sake.  With the same teacher, in the same classroom.  But off we go to orientation.  And I had to take off of work, because parents are required.

It's better than last year, at his old preschool, when they had transition week.  And I just found out that that preschool, which we decided to switch from, pushed their start date back two weeks.  Until after Labor Day.  I would be so pissed if Michael was still there.  I always said that that school was not friendly to working parents but that is crazy.  Two weeks.  What are parents supposed to do for care for two weeks?  When we switched in June the start date was published as next week, I wonder when they made that change?  How much time parents had to make arrangements?   

That might have pissed me off more than when they broke my kids hand.  Ok, maybe not.  But how can you say you follow the public school calendar, and then, not?  By two weeks.

But it really doesn't matter, because Michael and I are off to be orientated at his new school.  The one he just spent three months at. 

Um, Phone Company, How Hard Is It To Turn Off The Phone?

I spent a good part of our vacation screaming at Verizon.  Which I guess shouldn't be a surprise based on how well my first conversation with them went.  See, they were supposed to turn off our phone and DSL line the day we moved out of the house and transfer new service to the new house in 30 days.  Except they didn't.  Our phone continued to work and I continued to call them.  It took 8 phone calls to get our phone turned off.

Because that is hard.  For the phone company.  And then I came home to a bill.  For next month.  When we don't have service.

And when I called them to discuss the bill it was discovered that the moron who was finally able to disconnect the service canceled our entire account and canceled the order for new service.  And it took 3 MORE PHONE CALLS to get new service set up at the house.  All we want is internet service and it took 3 PHONE CALLS.  And during one of the phone calls they had the audacity to ask me if I wanted to switch my wireless provider.  Ah sure, because you have been so competent with everything else you have done.  Someone else said to me, "I'm not sure what the problem is, this is always so seamless."  CLEARLY.

Verizon, here is a memo.  During customer service training, when a customer is irate because nothing has worked right and they have had to call you ten times, do not tell them it normally works just fine.  THAT IS NOT HELPFUL.  Also, not helpful, "I'm sorry you feel that way."  NO YOU ARE NOT.

10 hours of my life I can never get back.  Spent on Verizon.

You know what is helpful, free stuff.  Maybe a free month.  Or an apology.  Because if I have to call you one more time my next phone call will be to Comcast I swear to G-d.

I'm putting 20 bucks on them not showing up the day we move in and I am blogless for at least a week.  Anyone want to take that bet? 

Lifestyles of the Dull and the Boring

Hi.

So yes, I posted pictures and a video and a go somewhere else post last week.  And I could blame it on the sucky internet connection at the the beach, because yes, it really did suck.  And yes, it did take me hours to upload that video.  But truth be told, I have nothing to blog about.  Life is boring.  And after months of excitement and woe, I'll take some boring.

I can't even complain about living with my parents.  Truth is they aren't even here.  They went on a two week vacation the day after we moved in.  Just in time to buy us dinner and leave us with a house full of wine and all of the movie channels on cable.  Yes it is annoying to not have your own home when you have been effectively out of your parent house for fifteen years.  Yes it sucks cooking in a kitchen when you don't know where anything is.  But Michael has adjusted well and really, it is 30 days so who the hell cares?

This week Michael is in between camp and school and is spending the time I work with the Nanny of a friend.  Which kind of throws our whole schedule out of whack and the days when I don't work I'm stuck with this, what the hell are we going to do all day feeling.  Today we are going to the gym and after that I HAVE NO IDEA.  But somehow I will fill the time.

There is some drama but all of it fits squarely in the that which does not get blogged about category.  So, I have nothing to say.  Yet, somehow, I managed to fill four paragraphs telling you I have nothing to say.  That wins some kind of blogging award doesn't it?

I've got about 50 more vacation pictures I can post.  Maybe later this week.

Hey Look, Content

It is just not here. 

I'm over on DC Metro Moms complaining about difficulties finding a card for a Sim chat Bat, or a Jewish baby naming ceremony.

Here is an excerpt.

Yet, they had every kind of Christening card imaginable.  Christening your special needs child.  Christening your adopted child.  If I was the parent of a special needs child or the parent of an adopted child I would be so offended by these cards.  Your child is your child.  You don't need to call them out on the day of their Christening for being different.  Can't we just celebrate them for being them?

Go read, please.

DCMM: Adventures In Card Shopping

My best friend gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and the baby's baby naming is coming up (Sim chat Bat, as it is known in Hebrew.)  My best friend is also a Rabbi, and this is her first child, and this is a very important day for her.

I live in a very Jewish area.  50 percent of my high school was Jewish.  50 percent of the world's population is not Jewish, but 50 percent of my high school was Jewish. 

So why exactly did it take me three trips to three different card stores to find a baby naming card?  When they had a million Christening, Baptism, and Dedication cards?  And what exactly is the difference between a Christening, Baptism, and Dedication that they each need a hundred different cards?

I realize I just could have gotten her any generic baby girl card, but I did not want to.  And I should not have to.  This is not an uncommon tradition.  And when I finally did find the card I needed I found one version.  One.  So I bought two, one for my parents, and one for me.

Yet, they had every kind of Christening card imaginable.  Christening your special needs child.  Christening your adopted child.  If I was the parent of a special needs child or the parent of an adopted child I would be so offended by these cards.  Your child is your child.  You don't need to call them out on the day of their Christening for being different.  Can't we just celebrate them for being them? 

I'm not Christian, but does it matter at their Christening that they have special needs or are adopted on the day of their Christening?  Really?  It is so important they need their own card?  But Jewish children can't have a card?

It is almost like being over inclusive and under inclusive at the same time.

Shoe Friday #43

Shoe's from one of my twitter friends, folklaur70.

Let's Go Surfing Now Everybody's Learning How Come On A Safari With Me

I have no actual material.  So I'm going to bore you with a video of Michael "surfing."

Real content next week, I promise.

Michael surf from Jodifur on Vimeo.

P.S. Because of the craptastic wireless at the outerbanks, this video took 5 hours to upload.  So I hope you love it.  I'm going to drink a beer now.