Adventures with the Mafia

I have my first official 'sit-down' today! I wonder if Kat will make us kiss her ring?

Yeah, that's about right...

You May Be a Bit Schizotypal...

A bit odd and socially isolated. You couldn't care less of what others think. And some of your beliefs are a little weird. Like that time you thought you were Jesus.

What Personality Disorder Are You?

I never really thought I was Jesus, and know damn well I'm not Mary! But, I'm sure I've thought something equally as weird at some point. Come to think of it, I am a Smith after all...and we all think we're God...maybe that's what it's talking about! rofl!

Moving on...ever had one of those days where you get absolutely nothing done? Like, not even a shower? Well, I've had a whole week like that! I did get to take showers yesterday AND today, though.

It's been that way mostly because Ethan's been sick this week...started Sunday. By Wednesday he hadn't run a fever in 24 hours and seemed much better, so I sent him to school. It was only a half day, but when he walked in the door he looked worse than ever. Poor baby! Then yesterday evening he was telling me about how his "right nostril" hurt...and there was a bad smell. Ah-ha! Sinus infection. Of course, it was too late to call the pediatrician and make an appointment, so we had to wait until this morning. Then, he woke up and threw up-which is actually a bonus, because that way the doctor will work you right in! lol! The verdict was, of course, a sinus infection. Poor thing! Last week-well, 2 weeks ago-he had that absess in his tooth/gums, from where a filling had fallen out. He did a 10 day course of amoxicillin, then last Thursday went back and had that tooth taken care of. We've just been a whirlwind of dentists, psychologists and pediatricians!

Today was also the conference with his teacher. He is doing so great in school this year! I'm still in love with her after a month and a half of school, so she's doing something right! (Actually, I think Ethan is just a little bit in love with her, too! hee-hee!) Don't tell him I told you that! Anyway, she's very wonderful, as is his new Special Ed. teacher. They both have learned how to deal with him and keep their voices low and calm-he hates loud noises and loud voices, and it really gets to him. (I don't know HOW I got to be his mother!!! Certainly, if that had been taken into consideration, he would have been placed elsewhere!) I'm definitely going to have to make them something special, and soon!

And, I have my first 'mafia sitdown' this weekend...we've gotta bunch of business to take care of. Can't wait for that! I know I'm such a goober, but it's all very exciting to me. OH! And I got a gig on Monday talking to a group of 3rd graders at their Career Day! So that's pretty cool. I'll let y'all know how that goes. We are also taking part in the Ladyfest Arts & Crafts show the weekend of the 20th. So, between career day, Ladyfest and Stitch (Nov. 11, in Austin) this has basically turned into a full-time job! So...let's hope it starts paying like one! lol!

Proud to announce...

I am the newest member of the San Antonio Craft Mafia! I cannot believe I am actually there! It's the greatest group of women...hardworking and serious about what we are doing. It's gonna be great!

Who would have guessed? Pffftttt!

You Are 10% Left Brained, 90% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

She called my lawyer...

Since Claire missed the cutoff for Kindergarten this year, I told her that her job is to be my assistant. She does a pretty good job, but yesterday she told me that she called my lawyer, and he said I could take the day off, and that she would give me a make-over.

Well, if the lawyer said so, I guess I have to comply!

New Pink Dr. Scholl's

New Pink Dr. Scholl's, originally uploaded by artsmith_satx.

My birthday shoes! I love all shoes, but especially pink ones!

Conversations with Claire

So...Allison and Claire are in the backseat of the car talking about something...can't remember what...and Claire said some word (again, can't remember what-LOL!) that was obviously a more mature word than she would normally use...

Allison: Wow, Claire! You really are getting a big vocabulary!

Claire: Well...I didn't fart if that's what you mean!


ROFLMAOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I cannot believe we are all still alive and have never crashed the car in the middle of these "conversations"!!!

Man with Dogs at Starbucks

Man with Dogs at Starbucks, originally uploaded by artsmith_satx.

One of the best things about Starbucks is the people watching. I was in there recently when this man motored in...he had tied up the big dog outside there, but the little chihuahua was riding in his basket. He got a drink for himself, and a Venti size cup of whipped cream for his dogs to share. I just thought that was so sweet, taking his dogs out for a treat...couldn't pass that picture up.

Joel's

Joel's, originally uploaded by artsmith_satx.

On Interstate-10, between Houston and San Antonio, there is a little town called Flatonia...this is the town of Joel's Bar-B-Q. If you like barbecue, even if you're not hungry, stop here! It is the best!

You can't miss it-it's right on the highway and there is a huge flag flying over the property. If you like chocolate malts, I would recomment that you cross underneath the highway to Dairy Queen...they make a hell of a chocolate malt there and they know what you mean when you say, "Extra malt.".

Dee-liscious!

I don't know why I'm so lame, lately...

I think this kid gig is catching up to me. Or, turning 40 really does turn you into an old lady! lol!

I'm almost afraid to say it but...everybody who reads this better be knocking on wood RIGHT NOW...but...things are going fairly well. Aside from our daily episodes of "Extreme Sibling Rivalry", Allison, and especially Ethan are getting off to GREAT starts in school this year! I do believe Ethan's teacher this year is a heaven sent angel, and, if the rest of the year goes as well as it is so far, I'm nominating her for teacher of the year! Then demanding that she move up to 3rd grade with him! lol! The ONLY time he has been sent to the principal's office so far is because, he had had such a great week at school (the 2nd week in) he earned a 'Good Phone Call Home' pass, and got to go to the VP's office, and Mr. O. got to call me and give me the good news, then I got to talk to Ethan. That was so wonderful!

Allison seems to be really enjoying school...of course, nothing is very hard for her so, she can be social AND make A's at the same time, and all of the teachers love her. So what's not to like? lol!

Claire has gotten a job as my assistant this year...Assistant to the Head Keeper of the Munkees at munkeepod. She is an expert at firing people (rofl!) and tends to take off a little early in the afternoons but, she does a good job while she's here and screens all my calls...which is really what an assistant is for anyway, right? So, if you ever call and hear a little voice saying, "Hello, this is munkeepod, can I help you?", you've got the right number. (It tends to throw people off! lol!)

OK-I've got one hour of 'Law & Order' left before Ethan gets home...I'm going to go try and enjoy it!

Happy Birthday to me and, my 200th Blog!

Here's a picture of me and my dad, circa 1967...probably Easter. I'm 40 now! Can you believe it??? When I think about things that happened 30 years ago, it seems like they happened yesterday...well, maybe last week, anyway. Other things are like a dream, and then there are others, like the kids, that seem like I never had a life without them.

Moving on to the really big news...BLOG # 200!

Yikes. That's a lot of blogs! But this is one of those things I should have been doing a long time ago. And I love reading other people's blogs...I could (and have) sat here all day long...linking from blog to blog, learning something knew on every single one. I love Blogland!

2nd day of school...ring, ring..."Hello, Mrs. P.?"

Already? There is usually a honeymoon period of 2-4 weeks before the phone starts ringing...

Background: Ethan has developed a new 'tic'. Coughing. It's a very dry cough, every 2-5 seconds. I, his mother, know that that is exactly what it is, because his old one went away and this started; but I also know that it will be an issue with the school so, I took him to the pediatrician last week and had him all checked out just to make sure. Health is great. She agrees, also, that a tic is what it is.
From here on out, imagined responses are in *...*; real responses will be in quotes "...".

So yesterday, the nurse calls. "Well, Mrs. P., Ethan has been in my office. Do you know he is coughing?"

*Ethan, Ethan...which one is he now? Oh! the little red head with all of the psychological disorders! OK-now I know. You mean to tell me he's been coughing constantly with every breath for the last two weeks? Why, no...nope, haven't noticed a thing.*

"Yes, I know he is coughing. It's a new tic. Remember last year when he was rubbing his chin and the side of his face on his shirt sleeve every 2-3 seconds, and would rub it so raw it was actually bleeding and ruining every shirt he owned? Well, he's not doing that anymore. Now he is coughing. However, I knew this would be an issue with you, so I took him to the pediatrician last week and had him all checked out and he fine, lungs are clear, and she agrees that it is a tic also."

"Well, Mrs. P, does he need medication for this?"

*HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THE FORMS I HAVE FILLED OUT IN TRIPLICATE ABOUT THE MEDS HE IS ON FOR HIS DISORDERS???*

"He is on many medications for several disorders, including this one."

"Well, I'm just wondering if he is sick."

"No. He is not sick. Like I said, he was completely checked out by the pediatrician last week. He is perfectly healthy, and frankly, I'm getting tired of all the comments from all the little old ladies about his health and me being a bad mother for not taking care of him."

"Oh yes, I remember what that's like...tee-hee-hee!"

Grrr!

---just an aside---you should see the looks on people's faces and how they RUN when they make comments in Target and/or Wal-Mart when they ask if he is sick or if he is ok and I say, "Ya know...he coughs like he has TB or something. Maybe I should get him check out...I dunno." ROFLMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! PURE ENTERTAINMENT, I tell you!!!

Anyway, back to the nurse..."Well, Mrs. P., the school psychologist is standing right here...do you need to speak with her about things you can do for Ethan?"

"Well, not really. He has an appointment with the psychologist he sees every single week tomorrow, but uh, if she needs to speak with me, yeah, that's ok."

"OK-here she is..."

"Hello, Mrs. P, this is (whateverhernameis) the SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, and I understand Ethan has been coughing. Is he sick?"

*Oh Jesus Christ-here we go again!!!*

"NO, he is not sick...blahblahblah...I knew it would be an issue with the school...blahblahblah...pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist, every single week! Blah, blah, BLAH!"

"Well, is he on any medications?"

*AGAIN-HAVE YOU LOOKED AT HIS RECORDS AT ALL? YOU SUGGESTED THE IEP IN THE FIRST PLACE AND DID ALL THE TESTING YOURSELF, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS ALREADY BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE FREAKIN' HEAD OF THE CHILDREN'S PSYCHIATRY DEPARTMENT AT THE FREAKIN' UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL SCHOOL!!!*

"Yes, he is on several. Which ones are you interested in?"

"Well, for the cough."

"He is on Lexapro for the OCD, which causes the cough. But, the pediatrician is having us try an allergy med just in case it is allergies, but it has had no impact whatsoever, and he's never been allergic to anything before in his life."

"OH! Okay, then. Well.....uuuuuuuuhhhhhhh....just wanted to make sure...blah."

"Thank you. Blah."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moving on...his new teacher also called, but for a good thing! She just wanted to let me know that his first two days of school have been wonderful! And he's doing great!

I thanked her very much for the nice call, and that I would certainly let Ethan know that she called to tell me that, because, we never get good calls, we only get the bad ones.

She seems like a wonderful teacher...although I think I am old enough to be her mother! lol! They all look like babies! But that's good...still young and idealistic! lol!
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Moving on to some munkeepod business...Claire is my "assistant". So she has set up a little wooden TV tray thing in my office with a notebook to sign people in with (people who are coming to work, or just coming to "look at the gallery" (rofl!), an orange crayon-her favorite color, a hairbrush, 2 little books 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' and one about birds, and she even keeps a blanket and pillow in case she needs to take a nap (yeah, right!). It is so cute! Guess I need to take a picture! Anyway...she keeps asking me who she can fire! roflmao! And I swear she is the girl version of Donald Trump...she walks around firing her stuffed animals, "You're fired!" She's not at all interested in interviewing or hiring anyone...she just wants to fire them! Then she wants to know when she gets paid. roflmaoooooooooooooooo!!! I swear she CRACKS ME UP!!! I told her I'm not even getting paid yet. She was like, "Oh.", then just walked away, knowing she wasn't getting paid anytime soon. Hasn't deterred her one bit from firing anyone, though!

As much as she talks and talks and talks and drives me crazy, I'm gonna miss her next year when she goes to Kindergarten!

Guess what, guess what, GUESS WHAAAAATTT!!!

I am now officially, legally, self-employed, small-business owner, professional artist/crafter!!!

And I am totally beside myself! Giddy, manic, ecstatic!!!


I got my DBA and tax ID number and it's all official-I am the CEO, Designer, and Manufacturer of 'munkeepod'!


This is a monumental day in my life...and Steven is on his way to Johnny Carino's right this minute to get some celebratory tiramisu AND cannoli's! lol! (My most favorite deserts in the world-JC's makes THE BEST tiramisu there is. I just don't care for their food much. lol!)


You know how sometimes you want to do something, but all of these things keep getting in your way, and like sending you signals to not do it? None of that has happened ever since I really started thinking about doing this...little things keep coming into my life leading me more and more toward the goal of having my own business doing what I love to do. And it just feels so right. I've always wondered how you knew, or when you could actually call yourself an "artist"...is it when you make something for the first time, is it when you finally, actually sell something...what??? Well, today I actually FELT it. This feeling in my heart and soul that I can actually call myself an artist, and I'm not lying! lol! I want to make t-shirts for all the kids that say, "My mom's an artist!"

Basically, I just want to shout it from the rooftops!

I don't think I've ever been so excited...and I think part of it is because I did it ALL BY MYSELF. It's my stuff. It's my ideas. It was my money that paid for the license and the notary. (OK-sure, that originally came from Steven, since he's the one supporting the family, BUT...it was cash I had been just been accumulating and saving for a couple of weeks.) And it was SO GREAT when I was going to pay and Steven started to, and I was able to say, "I have cash. I'm paying for it myself." (Just the look on his face was worth every penny! rofl!)

I'm just so happy...and I want everyone to share it with me.

Mother $^(&#@* BLOGGER!!!

I never have enough time to blog anymore, and now, when I do get the chance, Blogger won't let me post pictures at all, and half the time the blog I do type out never makes it. GRRR!

HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY, POP!

(OK-not playing favorites here...I was going to post individual pictures of each kid, but BLOGGER will only let me post 2 pictures. grr!)




So, sorry we missed it but, hope your birthday was great! Allison is making you something and didn't get it finished in time...hopefully we can finish it today and get it in the mail tomorrow!

Happy Birthday! (steven and lauri) Allison, Ethan and Claire!



So, school starts next Monday! Whoo-hoo! But...already having issues with the elementary school and school hasn't even started. The nurse called this morning about not having Ethan's shot record and he can't start school until she gets it. Yeah...like they let him go there all last year without it! Which I know they had anyway, because the one from Houston wasn't good enough and we had to take him in for an "emergency" check-up, 3 days before school started last year, to the pediatrician here in San Antonio!

*It's not MY fault you lost your paperwork. Idiot.*

Hopefully, the pediatrician faxing over a copy of his records will suffice and I don't have to take him in. Because I don't have enough to do, and I really want to do everything TWICE. Or, 3 times really, in this matter.

Anyway...very, very busy week last week. And somehow the weekend got really busy, too. Today will be busy....

Oh God! I almost forgot to tell y'all the funniest part! I have ALWAYS ALWAYS wanted to serve on a jury! It really is a dream of mine. The only other times I've gotten a summons for jury duty was when I was in college, and it was for Harris County and I wasn't there, of course, so I couldn't do it. Well...I got one last week! I was soooo excited!!! I opened it to find out when I was gonna get to go...and guess what?! It's the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL and I have to be there at 8:00 am! Can you freakin' believe it??? ANY other day! Plus, I still have to find someone to keep Claire. Well, I called the only other person I know who could keep her and had to leave a message. Now she's not returning my calls. So...guess I'm gonna have to pass this one up, too. I wonder if I can put a note on there, "Just give me one more year, and I'll be FREE! FREE, I tell ya! FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!" rofl!

I'm totally Sirius!

WOW! My Jeep came with a year's subscription to Sirius satellite radio. I thought, "Big whoop. Steven has had XM for a couple of years and it SUCKS!"

Well...I am cheerfully eating my words! Channel 22 is THE BEST radio station EVER. I won't even run into the store for an errand anymore...I just give Allison the $$$ and tell her to go get it, because I can't miss a song. Steven found it because I don't even listen to the radio any more, because it's gotten so bad. I just buy CD's. Now...I am all about channel 22. I just might even have to make a freezer paper stencil t-shirt about it.

Now...if I can just get it in my studio!

Well...I'm not in the looney bin...

...yet.

I think school starts August 14th. As long as I can make it till then!
Here's just the typical kind of interaction we have going on here in our house...

We have a giant Rubbermaid tub where we keep all the stuffed animals. Claire took the animals out and turned it into her car...fine with me, no problem, and she and Ethan are playing nicely.

However, because that just isn't allowed for any length of time, she just had to come tell me that Ethan was putting "gas" in her car and he put too much!

LMAO on the inside, but trying to tell her it's pretend gas so how does she know???

Then, 2 minutes later...she comes to tell me that she locked her car, but Ethan made a Lego key and he said the Lego key could still "break into it"!

So now I really am LMAO and said, "Oh my God Claire...it's a freakin' Rubbermaid tub with no lid! Anybody could break into it!"

The look on her face...priceless!

I've been blindsided...

By Ethan. And I can't even talk about it. But, suffice it to say, along with the physical abuse of his sisters and all the yelling and screaming going on here 24/7, I am losing it. I am totally maxed out on anti-anxiety meds but, in the last week have had 3 really bad anxiety attacks. One where I got to the point where I actually passed out. I don't think Ethan and Claire knew about it, but, Allison saw it, and it really scared her. And the thing is, since I started taking the Clonazipam last summer, I don't think I've had one...and I was only taking one or two a day. Now I'm maxed out at 6, and I'm having them every day. It's just awful having them all together all the time, but we just don't have a choice.

So...if I'm not checking in here, I'm probably checked in somewhere else.

They are calling my name!

See, even Blogger loves them so much, they posted twice!

MUST STAY AWAY from Robin's blog ! She got me into this mess by posting her super cute Ked's, along with the one's she is pining for...ok, ok, so am I. BUT...it all started with her!

I've got this Mary Jane thing going on, and these Ked's are just IT! If you find them-The Greatest Ked's- send them to me! lol!

I think I'm all swapped out!

Got Ethan back yesterday, and now all my little birds are back in the nest. If only it were really that peaceful and idyllic! (I'm really turning old and bitter, aren't I? lol!)

Now...it's time for me to really get down to work! I need to finish up a couple of things for friends, then start making stuff to sell on etsy or where ever. My problem is staying on track...I start on one thing, then think, "Ooo! I wonder what would happen if I did this?", then I move on to that and forget all about what I was working on first! So, the mission for today is 'focus'.

And Gayla, if you are reading this...good luck tomorrow, keep your mouth shut, and let the doctors and nurses do their jobs! LOL! ;)