Fairytales and Margaritas

Gime me a moment

Just give me this last moment to be sad about leaving my job.  I promise this is the last post about it.  I never really thought it'd be THIS hard.  Seriously.  My chest is tight, I'm so freakin emotional.  Some of my best friends are here.  And I see them EVERY SINGLE DAY.  It's going to be hard only seeing them occassionally.  And I know some people I'll probably never see again.  My husband doesn't understand.  He's never been in one place as long as I have.  Plus, he's a guy and doesn't make social connections like I do.  Damn, it sucks.  Where's my xanax?  Thank goodness we're having a party at our house tonight.  I can drink away my sorrows without worrying about staying safe.  Sucks, sucks, sucks.

Fine and dandy...

Boy, I've got some impatient readers!

So, yeah, everything was cool.  Carissa was acting as though she was indifferent to being friends with this girl.  We had a long talk with her about it being up to her, but also the reasons that we thought she should try to stay away from her.  But, ultimately the decision was hers.  We did explain that the girl is not welcome at our house, because of her direct disrespect of my husband and that Carissa was not allowed in the girl's house because her parents are loons and would probably try to sue us if something got broken, etc.  We told her they could have the type of relationship they used to, see each other at the bus stop and school, occassionally play outside in the neighborhood.  We thought everything was cool.

Another aside:  Carissa just got a cell phone for her 14th birthday at the beginning of December.  She lied about not having detention at school and got it taken away for two weeks.  She just got it back the day after Christmas.

The day she got her phone back she was a texting fool.  I was checking to see who she was texting and it was "nay nay" who she informed me was her friend Stephanie (not the neighborhood girl).  Then, on Saturday she said she was going to go for a walk to take pictures of the snow (yes, we had snow at our house, in Arizona!).  I had a weird feeling about it, but let her go.  It's just not the normal thing that she'd do and now I know I should've trusted my gut.  So, about 15 minutes after she leaves, she texts me that this girl is out walking her dog and she's going to walk with her.  I tell her I don't think it's a great idea, but it's her decision.  But, then I start thinking about how she was texting right before she left and my gut, etc.  So, I text her back and tell her to be honest and was this all set up beforehand.  She denies it.  But, I can just tell she's lying.  I tell you, my gut really kicks in when I need it.  So, we go back and forth, I tell her to come home.  I tell her she's being sneaky, etc. etc. 

She comes home and she's PISSED!  She starts mouthing off about how I'm not trusting her and how she's not being sneaky, the whole tears and anguish and everything I've seen before.  Let me tell you, this girl could win an Academy Award.  So, I just ask for her phone.  And there in writing is all my proof.  Come to find out, "nay nay" IS the girl down the street, and it WAS all planned out ahead of time AND they are BEST FRIENDS and have been for over a year and the girl doesn't even have a dog.  Now, of course, her version of best friends and mine is a bit different since they a) never talk on the phone, b) never hang out outside of school or the bus stop c) she's never even mentioned her and when we had the whole discussion allowing their friendship she never even said she WANTED to be her friend.  But, now, of course, they're best friends and she's the ONLY person she can tell her secrets to.  I swear, this shit is emotionally exhausing.

So, we go round and round about how she shouldn't have lied.  That she was told she could be friends with her anyway, so there was no reason to lie.  We try to point out that she acts different around this girl.  How she would have been honest about the walk if it had been anyone else.  How she would have been honest about who she was texting if it had been anyone else.  How we told her it was ok to be this girl's friend, but that she's already getting in trouble because of it.  We have the whole talk about the not lying about the phone and how it's being used, yada, yada, yada.

So, now of course, the girl's parents are upset because Carissa got her phone taken away again, so she hasn't contacted their daughter and she's grounded so they can't "hang out".  The reason that she's punished is because of the lying, not because she was with their daughter.  Lying is a huge deal in our house, huge.  If we can't trust you, then you don't get priveleges, plain and simple.  But, now I've got to deal with these people again.  And frankly, I want to tell them to go away, move, lose my address, GO AWAY.  I want to tell Carissa she's forbidden to hang out with this girl, but I know they'll just do it anyway.  I'm stuck.  Also, this girl's mom works for CPS.  And to be honest, because of the type of person I already know she is, I'm afraid she'll eventually turn words around and possibly do something about it.  It's just a bad situation all around.  WHY does she have to gravitate towards the one family that is no good?  Why does she want to be friends with this girl?  There are other girls in the neighborhood that she gets along with (although this other girl doesn't), why can't THEY be her best friends?

At this point, she grounded until they go back to school, she got her phone taken away for a month and we're still trying to figure out what the extent of her friendship with the girl can be.  I just think the girl is bad, bad news, but I know making the friendship forbidden makes it even more tempting.  If I hadn't gotten her the stupid phone, I don't think they would have gotten this close.  She NEVER used to talk on our landline and she rarely goes out into the neighborhood to play.  If we don't have something going on she always invites one of the girls we DO like over to hang out, so it's never been an issue.  But, now that's she's got the phone she chooses THIS girl to talk to all the time and get close to.  UGH!!! 

Ugh, the teenage years!

Let me tell you, it is NOT easy parenting teens.  People think toddlers are tough?  They're nothing compared to teens.  At least toddlers are pretty transparent.  And they're more physically challenging as opposed to mentally challenging.

We had a rough couple of years with Carissa during her pre-teens.  But, lately things have been going well.  She's getting good grades, her attitude is pretty good, she doesn't sass (much), she's involved in extra curricular activities, does her chores (sometimes with multiple reminders, but they get done).  I guess it was too much to ask to keep at this even keel.

A little bit of background, there is a girl in the neighborhood that is her age.  When we first moved in almost four years ago they were pretty good friends, in the sense that they hung out at school, not so much at home.  But, they were always bickering and friends, not friends, friends, not friends.  And when they were friends they tended to gang up against others.  To the point that we got numerous calls home from school.  We handled those issues and let the school handle them too.  BUT, the other mom would knock on our door EVERY SINGLE TIME something went wrong and basically accuse Carissa of being the mastermind behind it all.  Never once did she or her daughter own up to her part in it all.  Now, I've never once denied that Carissa was a part of it, but it wasn't all her.  But, this other mom always came to our house and always wanted to know how we were going to handle the situation, blah, blah, blah.  I've got to say, that when kids are this age (11, 12, 13) I think they're a bit too old to have mommy and daddy fighting their fights for them (unless of course it's something major).  But, these things were name calling incidents or just girls being mean.  Our philosophy was to let the school handle it and then we'd reinforce the school's discipline at home.  And I really didn't see a need to find out how the other family was dealing with it.  But, I guess they felt differently.

Well, it got to the point that we forbade Carissa to hang out with this girl.  They were always causing trouble.  They were always fighting.  AND I didn't want the damnn mother at my house every other day accusing my daughter of things.  Half the time, I didn't even know yet what had happened, so she'd catch me off guard and then want me to confront Carissa right there without even hearing her side of the story.  It was to the point that I had her class changed in 6th grade because they were placed together.

So, things have been going well.  We just don't try to interact with that family.  They drive like speed demons down the street and my husband gives them dirty looks for it.  The daughter told my husband to "Fuck off" one day when he was picking up our son from the bus stop.  So, we just generally don't like them and try to stay away.  And we thought Carissa was doing the same.

But, guess who got a knock on their door a few days before Christmas.  Yup, us.  Guess who it was?  Yup, the girl's dad.  He wanted to know why our daughters couldn't be friends and why we didn't like them and blah, blah, blah, sob, sob, sob.  Seriously, I was so caught off guard that I didn't have my A game ready.  I basically told him that we told our daughter to stay away from their daughter because it was just too much trouble/work for them to be friends.  The constant bickering and getting in trouble and knocks on my door.  We're trying to teach our daughter about HEALTHY relationships and about the type of people that make GOOD friends.  I told him that I just didn't think she was getting that from their daughter.  Well, he practically begged us to give them another chance.  And stupid me agreed, on one condition:  IT IS UP TO THE GIRLS.  THE PARENTS ARE NOT TO BE INVOLVED.  In any way shape or form.  I made it VERY clear that I did not want his wife knocking on my door about their friendship.  Period.  And that if they started to cause trouble we'd be rethinking this whole thing. 

And all was fine and dandy...

Have a wonderful. safe holiday!

That is all.  Go back to drinking.  (Please tell me your drinking.  You're only doing it right if you're drinking.)  At least that's what I tell myself.

So much to say!

I have so much going on in my little brain right now.  Pretty much all of it is about this new job.  The one I applied for back in February and was offerred in July and now FINALLY I am starting on January 5th.  I know it's a good thing.  I know being with the Feds is a good thing.  I know my benefits will be great.  I know there's a lot of room for movement and promotion.  But, I'm still nervous and anxious. 

I have been at my current job for almost 9 years.  That's quite a while in this day in age.  This was my first "career" job.  Everything before this was just a job.  This was the first step in making a career for me.  And I've loved it.  I love the people I work with, I love the job itself.  Truth be told, if my boss wasn't retiring soon I wouldn't have even looked for another job.  Yet, she is and I did.  I can rationalize with myself all the good things about this move.  And I am excited about it.

Yet, at the same time I am so so sad to be leaving my comfort zone.  I know what I'm doing here.  I know it in and out.  I can handle crises and problems and assholes that call on the phone.  I've made wonderful friends and always have someone to go to lunch with.  We have crafting days (ok, so we're a bit nerdy too) and potlucks and go to happy hour.  We know each other's children and can talk smack about our husbands.  It's comfortable.  It's funny.  Rarely is it catty.

My new job won't be like this.  It won't.  I'll be working with mostly men.  I'm pretty sure they won't want to have crafting days.  And I'll be working for the same department that my husband does.  So, there's no husband smack talk because I'm pretty sure it'll get back to him.  Plus, one of my good friend's husbands will actually be working with me. 

To be honest, I don't know what to expect at all.  I don't even know what my new job is.  I know the title, but it's a kindof catch-all title for all the administrative jobs. I really have no clue what I'll be doing.  Could be budget, could be HR, could be any number of things.  And I'm sure I'll be able to learn and get a grasp on it, but just not knowing is a little strange.  And all anyone tells me when they find out which office I'll be in is, "I have no idea where they're going to put you.  The office is so small."  Not too reassuring.

In the long run, I'm sure it'll work out.  I'll make new friends.  They'll find a place for me.  I'll learn whatever I'm supposed to learn.  But, the uncertainty is making me a bit anxious right now. 

We're Outta Here

So much to say, so little time.  I have WAY too much to do tonight.  I have to finish up my last minute wrapping, load pictures on my FIL's digital picture frame, pack for an overnighter, figure out what I'm making for Christmas dinner on Saturday, pick up the house, pack toys for the 5 hour car ride, tour the possibly new preschool (SINCE I FINALLY GOT THE JOB)....

We're off to the snow and the Polar Express tomorrow.  Head back on Friday and have Christmas with the in law family on Saturday.  So, I'll see ya Monday.  I'm sure I'll have some great pictures to show! 

And pray we make it in the snow.  They actually just had a big storm up there and are expecting more today and tomorrow morning.  We're heat people, so not experienced in the snowy driving!

Let the Baking Begin

This weekend we took this

 

Plus some sugar, eggs and butter and turned it into this

 

I had a little help from my elves

 

The Winner! And my See's Candies Review!

First things first, I have to do my review.  If I announce the winner you'll probably all skip over the rest!

I decided to try out the Marshmints and the Red Hot Swamp Goo.  Now, I have to admit, part of the reason I tried these two is that they were different.  I've tried LOTS of See's Candies.  So, I wanted to go with something different.

The Marshmints are described like this: " layer of fluffy, honey marshmallow coated on all sides with See's rich dark chocolate and topped with minty green jelly".  That is definitely accurate.  I have to tell you, though, the mint green jelly part was a little surprising.  It was very much like a jello jiggler on the top of the marshmallow and the chocolate.  Not that it was bad, just different from what I was expecting.  Overall, I really liked these.  The chocolate and marshmallow are EXCELLENT, the consistency of the mint part was just a bit different.  But, I can assure you that the box won't go to waste and will be eaten!

The Red Hot Swamp Goo is described like this:  "sweet and spicy combination of cinnamon jelly layered with fluffy, honey marshmallow and dipped in rich dark chocolate".  Pretty much the same thing as the Marshmints, except that instead of mint green jelly it's more like Red Hot jelly.  These I have to say weren't my favorite.  The pairing of flavors just wasn't working for me.  And again, the consistency of the jelly with the chocolate and marshmallow was just different.  Although, I'm sure the kids will finish these off, I'm not sure I can recommend them.

But, don't let this discourage you.  Here are some of my past favorites from See's Candies: Lollypops (seriously to die for), Foil Balls (reallly yummy and small enough to put in a candy dish), and the Deluxe Winter Fancy (my husband's aunt sends us this every year and we look forward to it).

So, just because I wasn't enamored by the Red Hot Swamp Goo it doesn't mean I'll stop buying from See's!  Next up to try, TRUFFLES!

And without further ado, the winner of the $25 gift certificate (chosen by Random.org) is commenter #16 TASSES from Random Wonder!  Thanks to everyone that entered!  Hopefully, I'll have more cool giveaways soon!  (Tasses, e-mail me at storybooklori AT gmail DOT com with your street address so that See's can send you the gift cert.)

The Amazing Race

  So, at our house we're fans of reality TV.  I swear watching it makes me feel SO good about myself.  It makes me realize that there are people out there that are WAY crazier than we are.  And usually, it's pretty entertaining.  Plus, the kids like it.  And Survivor and The Amazing Race are shows we watch as a family.  A few years ago, we had a Fear Factor party for Carissa and her friends loved it!  This year we decided on The Amazing Race theme. 

I got some envelopes from the Post Office (don't tell) and decorated them in yellow and black so that they could rip them open, just like the clues on the show.  I planned out the course, full of detours and roadblocks too.  We just kept it in the neighborhood.  I would've liked to have done it through town but that would have required parent volunteers to drive and frankly, I wasn't up for that.

Here are the girls before the race.  They broke balloons that had numbers inside to determine the teams.  Each team had a different color bandana.

For the first leg of the race they had to do it three legged style.  They had to go all the way to the end of the street and retrieve a puzzle, come back and assemble the puzzle.  Each puzzle had 100 pieces.  Let me tell you, these girls were talking smack the whole time!  It was so funny!

  Next, they had to choose DIMES or LIMES.  In Dimes they had to stack 50 dimes, in limes they had to peel and eat a whole lime.  They all chose dimes.

 

Next was a Roadblock.  They had to choose one teammate to find a specific house and eat what was on the front porch, which was a whole jalepeno!  They all did it, although I don't have pictures yet because I couldn't follow them around.  But, each team had disposable cameras to take their own pictures too.

After that they had to go out back and find a newspaper.  They had to find all of the circled letters and unscramble them.  Unscrambled they spelled:  Carissa is fourteen!

 

   

Next they had to choose BRAIN or DRAIN.  Either find two specific roads and count the number of houses on them or drink 8oz of soda from a baby bottle.  They all chose the bottles, until they realized how long it took and then they wished they had chosen the other!  It took them about 8 minutes to drain the whole bottle!

 

Next, they had to pick one teammate to go to the backyard and untie the strings for their team.  They had to find the one ribbon with an X on it.

 

Their final task was to memorize a set of symbols that were taped on the back wall.  Then they had to go to the driveway and recreate the order.

 

Afterward we had pizza and ice cream.

 

Then they played Hide and Seek in the dark until it was time to go home.  Overall, I think it was great!  I would've included a few more challenges, though.  They were done in an hour.

And Carissa told us we were the best parents ever because we finally got her a cell phone.  She was the only fourteen year old on the planet without one and now her life is complete!

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Remember!  You have until 7:00 pm PST tomorrow to enter to win a See's Canie's gift certificate!

A Giveaway! Chocolate!

Oh my goodness!  I've got to tell you that aside from making all these wonderful friends on the Internet, then next best thing is getting to try cool things. 

I was contacted by See's Candies a few weeks back.  They wanted me to review their candy!  Without even reading the whole message I was replying back saying, "Hell yeah!"  I LOVE See's Candies.  I know some of you have never tried See's, because it's regional, but you don't know what you're missing.  I LOVE their candy.  They have these awesome chocolate suckers that are to die for.  So, as you can imagine, I will be reviewing a few new products soon.  BUT, in the meantime, I have you guys in mind.  I didn't want you to just read about the wonderfulness that is See's, I wanted you to be able to experience it.

SO, I finagled a giveaway!  And not just any giveaway, this one if for a $25 gift certificate to See's Candies!  Now, even if you live on the east coast, you too can experience See's Candies!  I'm so excited.  All you've go to do it check out the See's Candies website and leave a comment here telling me what sounds good to you.  I will draw a winner on December 11th at 7:00 PST. 

While you're perusing the website, check out the cool chocolate fundraiser that See's does also.  They are so wonderful to the community!  Right now, my son's Cub Scout den is selling See's Candies as a fundraiser!  And, if you need business gifts for work, See's has you covered there too!