He starts on Monday

He took the job at the power plant. Thank God that's over. He's pretty excited that the first two weeks of training are spent at the shooting range. I guess being in California for 6 years really made him miss his guns.

For the rest of today, I'm finishing up some work then we're all heading into town for the boat show. (Not exactly my idea of a good time, but the boys are excited.)

Yesterday I got to spend most of the day in Millwaukee with a friend. We went to Trader Joe's, did some clothes shopping, and had a nice dinner. I think that should be a regularly occuring event.

Feast or Famine

So, Mr. OCD got a conditional offer from the power plant. He went down last week and did his drug test, pysch test, physical, and submitted his information for the background check. They've been calling all around to his contacts and previous employers, etc. (and I have to just say that it's really funny to go through a background check like this when the military has done one and you see how different it is... and not in a good way).

Meanwhile, he went for an interview for the bridge tender in town and has since been offered that postion. Here's the thing, they are out of work from 12/1 through 3/15. Yes, three and a half months of NO job. He could collect unemployment, like everyone else, but because he collects a retirement income, any unemployment benefits would be significantly reduced. AND if they automate things in the future (he discussed this concern during his interview and wasn't exactly comforted) he would be the low man on the totem pole. Looking for another job a year from now isn't very appealing.

But we haven't heard back from the power plant with a final offer either. He should hear back any time now and the start date would be Monday. And the city wants him to start the bridge tender job on, you guessed it... Monday! This is a whole different kind of stress!!

A Confession

I'm addicted to Jon & Kate plus 8. Seriously, I've always watched the show and loved it. And when it started to hit the fan with Jon and the teacher "friend", I was trying and wanting to believe that he would never. Of course, I could never know, even Kate says she will probably never know the whole truth.

Thing is, there's just so much happening, it's gotten to the point that animal control rights groups are investigating them for animal abuse because Jon said something about the kids being rough with the dogs. Are you freakin' kidding me??

It's seriously enough. They really should quit the show. But everyone says that Kate won't because she's a money grubbing... well, you understand. And even though I really truly think they should stop filming, and I fully understand that my watching is only contributing to the ratings that will keep TLC and the Gosselins on their current path... I... JUST... CAN'T... STOP... WATCHING.

I even DVR'd American Chopper because they were going to be on. (Oh... you should have seen Mr. OCD's face on that one!)

Somebody... slap me!!

Update

Here's what's been up ...

• Mr. OCD has a "conditional offer" of employment. He went this week to take a psych evaluation, drug test, and provide info for a background check. Assuming they don't realize he's actually insane, he starts on June 22nd. Hallelujah!!
• B finished pre-school. I'm not so weirded out by this, especially since I never thought I'd even send my kids to pre-school.
• J finished Kindergarten. This I am weirded out by. Although it wasn't the last day of school that got me emotional, it was the Thursday prior... had a picnic at school and a little to-do in his class before hand. His teacher was all sweet and sensitive and the kids were so cute. Choked me up... which is totally not like me.
• J started playing soccer. This is BIG for him. He'll knock his brother over for the hot wheels car he can't live without, but he will not take the ball from another boy during a soccer game. We're really hoping with some decent coaching, he gets it that taking the ball is the whole point of the game!
• Gardening... Mrs. P has been here twice now. The back flower bed it weeded and mulched. The side garden is a the wreck we intending. Lots of things being pulled up and replanted. The hosta along the perimeter of the house is doing well, although the ones I planted in the front are definitely dead. Tons of crap going crazy so I'm working to split what I can and replant in new locations. Thank God for the free topsoil and mulch from the city compost site!!
• Work - seriously, tax season is over, but the work isn't. Of course there's the free gardening that I have to pay back in Quickbooks time, finishing up the audit that I flew out to CA to do (once the client stops playing with the figures! Grrrr!!), two more clients on extension, and an unplanned trip to Hawaii (it's a tough job, but some one's got to do it).
• Still painting - I'm getting there, slowly but surely. The last room I finished was the kitchen. The next is the office and back hallway. Then I'll have to do the master bedroom and bathroom, but we have a leak in a window so that Mr. OCD needs to seal up first.
• Church shopping continues...
• I have tons of pictures to download. I can't promise when that'll be. Maybe if you keep after me I'll get to it sooner rather than later!

Gardening Woes

Got the vegetable garden planted. Here's what we've got going...

tomatoes
potatoes
peppers
strawberries
corn
lettuce
green beans
peas
watermelon
pumpkin (big and small)
green onions
carrots

I know. I'm crazy.

Plus there are three flower beds at my house. This is at least one too many. Possibly more. But I'm letting the side garden go. I'm bartering services with a local business. The wife is a "Master Gardener" so she's helping with my flower beds and I'm helping with the booking for their business. We're going to see what comes up in the side garden and relocate the stuff I like. Then we'll give away anything we don't use and plant grass in the fall.

The front bed looks like a dead body is buried there. I want to build a rock wall, fill it with soil and replant the bulbs. Right now there are just tulips and daffodils. Which is nice in spring, but there there's nothing the rest of the summer.... hence the grave-like appearance. So she's going to get some late blooming annuals and we'll get those in.

The back bed just needs some TLC and this is where I'll likely move most of the stuff from the side bed. Then everything will need to be mulched. So, basically this summer is going to be LOTS of yard work and hopefully it'll be pretty next year. Gardening is NOT an immediate gratification kind of activity!

AI

There's something fitting about Adam getting all the "odd" numbers tonight.

Funny things kids say

While J was drying off from a shower the other night....
Me: Are you finished yet?
J: Almost, I need to dry off my tenticles.
Me: Um... your what?
J: My tenticles. You know, the part under my penis.

Today after I got home (the day before Mother's Day):
B: Hi mom (giggle)! We went to the dump today... and no where else.
Me: Okay, great.
B: Just the dump... no where else.
Me: Alrighty then...
(several minutes later after a whole other conversation)
B: Mom, you know what we saw at Target today?
Me: I thought you didn't go anywhere but the dump?
B: Oh!!!! Um.... I was just joking. We didn't go to Target.