I will cut a bitch!

Yesterday I picked Dylan up from school and there was a note taped to his cubby. All parents out there know that only means one of two things, either your kid hurt himself or someone else. The note read:
"Mr. and Mrs. Burr,
Dylan and another student said some really mean things to the new student in our class. She is the daughter of one of the teachers at our school. At the lunch table they told her they were going to stab her mother in the chest and kill her. Please talk to him about this."

WTF???

I know Dylan is not an angel and we don't shelter him to all things violent, but I really don't know where he would get this language. We talked on the way home and he promised never to say mean things again. We discussed how killing someone is the meanest thing you can possibly do and how he would not like it if someone said that about his mommy.
When we got home he made her a homemade card with flowers and trees (and even a tire swing!!) that said I'm Sorry Nevaeh. (Yes, that is Heaven backwards!!)
He took it into school this morning and apologized face-to-face. The teacher thanked me and we are all back on track. However, I did tell him if I hear about him talking this way again, no arts and crafts for punishment, NO video games for a whole month.

Dylan Tid bits

Couple funny and interesting things that I thought I would brog about. BROG - bragging while blogging, it is what us moms do.

Dylan loves brussel sprouts, only fresh steamed. Crazy, but so awesome.

He has been blowing a lot of kisses lately. Probably his way of growing out of actual kisses, but for the time being I have gotten lots of both and I am enjoying them all.

He has been asking to buy toys after seeing commercials on TV. (I hate how advertising is directed at children, but that is a different blog.) So, I told him he could start earning money for doing chores around the house. Help unload the dishwasher, pick up toys, take things to the trash, match up socks. I add it up at $0.25 to $0.50 per chore. He has really started to notice messes more and has been picking up without having to be asked. We will be taking a trip to the toy store soon so he can spend his earnings.

They did a little play at his school of "Where the Wild Things Are". Dylan got to be Max, King of all the Wild Things!! They said they took pictures and I can't wait to see them!!

We are waiting to hear back from the school district about whether he got the transfer or not. He has been talking about it and is very excited for kindergarten. I think he is bored with his preschool. Advanced, but that is only my opinion.

We went to a friends wedding this weekend and everyone kept telling me how cute he is. Like, duh people, I know this already. Plus he offered to help the coordinator put away the chairs and did some acrobatics on the stair railing which got attention from the other dads. "Wow, he is so athletic and coordinated."

The temper is starting to surface and Jason has been getting the brunt of it. Mostly in the morning or late at night. Grumpy when tired, hmmmmmm wonder where he gets that from.

He loves to sing "Who's that lady?" when that Swiffer commercial comes on. And is also a big fan of the pothole commercial. You know, "I ain't got no phone, cause I'm a pothole. Sooooo."

He makes us laugh everyday at least once and yell at least once, but that is what 5-year-olds are supposed to do. I am immensely proud of him and I am overjoyed that I get the privilege of watching him grow up.

The Middle

I hate being stuck in the middle. Traffic jams, elevators, restaurant booths....they all cause a slight bit of claustrophobia for me. That is not the middle I am talking about today. Unfortunately.

The middle of drama is the worst. Work drama, friend drama, co-dweller drama (yes, Jason and Dylan do have tiffs that make me feel pulled in opposite directions), but mostly family drama really drags me down.

I come from a broken home. How stupid does that sound? Had my parents not divorced as early as they did, our home would have really been broken. Literally, my dad probably would have broken our belongings. That was one of his favorite ways to hurt my mom, to break cherished belongings or necessities. Plus, emotionally I would have been really broken, having to watch them fight all the time. Having to watch him go through life with no sense of responsibility. (He finally got some, I think, but it was too late and too short lived.)

So, we moved out and away and through it all. We were poor, but happier and safer. We found a new husband and father and brother and family. We tried, she tried, he tried. And we were happy for a time. A year. A decade. But there was a lot of grief and worry and heartache. There was a lot of being overlooked and forgotten. There were a lot of questions.

Now, as an adult with a family of my own, again I am here waiting to find out how the newest separation of family will affect my world. Will there be another greedy battle for money? Will I again be tossed away by people I was trained to believe loved me? Will I add to the list of reasons I only trust myself? Will I crack? Will I break again? Will anyone even know it is happening? Will I put on my mask (and my big girl panties) and forge through yet again?

I do not know the answers to these questions. What I do know....I won't be caught in the middle. I am not a therapist or a lawyer. I am not a "kick him to the curb" girlfriend or pot smoking buddy. I am a daughter. I am a child trying to live my life. MY LIFE, the best way I know how.

"I know God won't give me more than I can handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much."
- Mother Teresa

Reading and more

I finished "Island of the Sequined Love Nun" by Christopher Moore. It was so much better the second time around. I think I enjoyed it more this time because I am older and can understand the zany characters better than I did in my early twenties. This book is so good that I don't even want to "review" it on my blog because I really would like a lot of you to read it yourself. But, I will say this, there is mystery, humor, geography, sex, culture and heroism all mixed together to transport you to another place. Let me know if you want to borrow it!!

I started another book, "History Lesson for Girls" by Aurelie Sheehan. I am about half-way through. It is very good as well, but totally different. I prefer that, to mix up the types of books I read, otherwise I get annoyed. There are people at my office that read 10 or 15 books by the same author, about the same main character, back-to-back. BORING, that is my opinion anyway.

I am thinking I may read a biography or autobiography next. Not like a president or anything, although I bet Bill Clinton's would be a page turner! But, a famous musician or American icon or something. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know.

My payroll support part timer started yesterday. I think she is going to work out very well. She is sharp and dedicated and that is all I needed! I am looking forward to the coming months when the pressure is relieved and I can take a longer vacation without worrying about what I am coming back to.

Dylan got a stomach bug on Friday, but he was all better by Saturday morning. I am sure glad when those things pass quickly. We had a great rest of the weekend. I went to turn in the application for his kindergarten transfer on Friday. I will definitely post about that once I hear back!!

All for now.

Murder was the case that they gave me

I am a murderer.

I was on my way between errands for work yesterday around 5 PM and trying to avoid Mopac due to traffic. I decided to take Shoal Creek from Koenig Lane all the way down to Anderson. Big mistake.

Just as I, and three other cars, made the quick turn onto Shoal Creek, a large white cat jetted from behind a Fox service van. He was a haze. I saw him, but only in time to slow down as I heard him underneath my car. Horrible.

I pulled over into the bike lane. The cars behind me swerved to avoid him. I waited a few minutes to regain my composure. I looked around and saw some kids playing in a driveway one house down from where the accident happened. I walked across the street and asked the older of the two if his mom or dad were home. He went in and got his mom.

She walked out and I told her I was sorry to bother her, but did they have an outdoor cat. She put her hand to her heart and said they did and had he been hit. I immediately started to tear up and told her that I had hit and killed her pet. Wow, that was very hard.

I was so blessed she was very kind to me and was assuring me it was an accident and that he runs out in the street all the time. Now the blame had taken another pair of shoulders and firmly placed itself on her back too. We walked over and she picked the cat up (not exactly looking for cars coming in the process. I was thinking "Lady, do you want to get run over too?") She just picked the cat up with her bare hands and carried it over to their yard.

The kids were sad. They said "Mom, that's Jo-Jo (not actually sure if that is the name they called as I was walking away in tears)" The mom said "She knows, she knows". I ruined their night, their week probably.

I called my mom after I got in the car and pulled away. I balled for 20 minutes while telling her what happened. Then I realized I should stop crying and hang up the phone before I ran over another household animal, or worse.

To the family, I would like to say I am very sorry and extend my sympathy for your loss. We had many cats meet their death at the wheels of a car and it is very sad to walk out and see them lying there in the street. I hope you appreciated that I came to find you and won't hold it against me. I am still very sad for you and hope Jo-Jo is happy, where ever he is now.

Book Review

My New Year resolution for 2010 was to get back into reading more. I have been telling myself I just don't have the time, but that is complete bullshit because I figure out a way to watch 2-5 hours of TV every night and most of it I don't even care about. I decided to DVR all the shows I really need (okay need is a stretch) to watch and am trying to just stick with those. Of course there is always some extra time for Olympics, SpongeBob, and whatever sport Jason is forcing me to watch for the season. But, after that I am going to read.

Now it is in writing and I have some accountability. To keep me focused I decided I would do a blog review of the books I complete.

The first book I finished this year was "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. It was wonderful. I am not going to review it because I actually read 90% last fall and put it down with 30 pages to go for 3 or 4 months. Finally finished it and passed it on to my mom. It is a great read and pretty educational, too. I would especially recommend it to anyone who is in one of those "trying to find yourself" places in life.

For my birthday, my wonderfully thoughtful friend, Heather bought me an "easy read". (I put that in quotes because I just had to explain to my hubby what the difference between an easy read and a hard read is..............he is under the impression that after about age 12 everything should be easy. I told him it was like the difference between reading the Austin American Statesman and The Wall Street Journal. He got it.)

"Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea" by comedian and host of E!'s "Chelsea Lately" author Chelsea Handler was my first completed book for the year. It took me 4 days only dedicating 30 minutes to an hour before bed and a little extra on Friday night.

It was hilarious!!! Short stories in chronological order from elementary school through the present. She gives us an insight to her childhood and the relationships with her parents and siblings. Some ridiculous dating mishaps and friendships that would make anyone need a drink are the basis of the remaining tales of lust, liquor and laughter in Los Angeles.

One of my favorite things was her ability to write sarcasm in a way that was blatantly obvious and even gave me the chance to laugh out loud at least once per story. I love when I get to laugh when reading!!

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes funny, autobiographical humor. Of course you need to be open minded and having a dirty mind would be helpful too!

My next book for the year is actually a re-read from about 10 years ago. "Island of the Sequined Love Nun" by Christopher Moore. I have read many of his books and I love the way his mind works. I would describe him as Stephen King on hallucinogens, without the scare factor. One of those authors where you are left asking yourself, "How does he come up with this stuff?".

Look for my next review in a few weeks.

How do I love thee

Let me count the ways.

I love your love, I love your hugs, I love your ability to always stay calm.

I love your love for Dylan, I love your desire to provide for us, I love your need to research and compare everything before we buy something.

I love that you vacuum, I love that you do your own laundry, I love that you always eat the food I cook even when we both know it isn't very good.

I love your face when we talk about having another baby, I love your affection when you have had 5 beers (maybe not so much after 10), I love your obsession with politics (maybe not all your political views).

I love that you let me be me but still fight me when I really need it.

I love that you want to try new things with me.

I really do love all the things that you bring to my life and the fact that you allow me to bring things to yours. I am so happy to be your wife and YES, I would marry you all over again.