I'm a little rotten

On Friday evening, I went to Columbia Pizza to pick up supper, took my mom along because I just knew Stef would fall asleep in the car. When I found a parking space, I realized I was parking in front of my dad's SUV. After I got the pizza and handed it to Mom, I dug out a pix of me and Stef and put it under his wiper blade. No note or anything. Just the pix. I felt so much better after doing it. My mom said it would've been better if we'd been flipping him off in the pix. I don't know why that makes me feel better, but it does. Like I'm saying "see what you're missing, ya dickhead?"

On to better thoughts...potty training was pretty successful IMHO. Three accidents Saturday, 4 on Sunday, and only 2 Monday! She's very excited about it most of the time, although I still have to convince her to try sometimes by telling her that Mickey or Pooh Bear has to go and would like her to keep them company.

MIL actually skipped the pullup over the panties at her house and got a big pee spot on her carpet. I'll have to buy her her very own bottle of Urine Gone.

Big owwwwieeeeee

MIL told me jokingly yesterday evening that we shouldn't have any security fears at our house. Between the dobermans and Stef, we'ver covered.

I had to leave work early yesterday to take MIL to the eye doctor because Stef had cut her eyeball with a fingernail. She insists it was an accident. I still want Stef to apologize for hurting her. Poor MIL couldn't even see the phone book to look up the phone # for the eye doctor. My eyes hurt and start watering everytime I think about it. Anyway, the doctor says it's a pretty bad scratch on the cornea. They gave her numbing drops and antibiotics and said she should be able to go to work today if she's up to it. We just feel awful about this. Steve even offered to pay for the doctor visit. I know it was a freak accident, but it's still awful.

Semi-update on the insurance saga....The RE wants another $5k from me by March 6 (or 9th, I can't remember and left all my papers at home today) for the PGD because the main submission ($9975) for the last IVF/PGD is still sitting in limbo at the insurance company. I know the PGD was approved and they said it was just a formality of getting them paid now. So I have someone at the insur co pushing very hard to get it finalized. At least if we have an approved amount to be paid, Anita can go to Jamie (office manager) with that and see what we can do. ***Oh look! It's complete now, except that the $5000 is still undetermined because they are waiting for medical records from the provider to make a final decision. SHIT! That's the part the RE is bitching about. Personally, I think they billed the insurance wrong on that amount. If they billed for the full $5k, but then I submitted the $2200 (see below) separately, but the $2200 was actually part of the $5k, I think we've double billed somehow. Elisa, any thoughts?

I also found out yesterday that the $2200 for Reprogenics (the DNA lab in Jersey) that I appealed was approved. They approved $1665 of the $2200. Of the $1665, $350 went to my deductible (for 2006!! GRRR) and $394.50 was my copay. Whatever the balance of that is, will come back to me. Since the next round is a new year, I'll have a new deductible to meet, so the next one will probably look the same - I'll have to pay about half, but totally worth it to me.

Also, I got confirmation from Mother Merrill's HR dept that the $15k lifetime limit on fertility drugs has been waived since I'm still within my 3 IVF cycles. There's a $2595 bullet dodged. I'd have been stuck with that one because I already have the drugs in my fridge at home. You can't return them once they leave the warehouse.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I'm still just sitting around waiting. Waiting for the start of the next IVF cycle, waiting for the RE to submit medical records so that the insurance company can make a decision on the $5k, waiting to see if the RE really really is going to require another $5k deposit from me before they'll proceed with the next cycle, waiting for Stef to start pee'ing in the potty.

Snow pictures

Still here

I must not be in the first 50%. And yes, yesterday was an official holiday. If the market is closed, we're closed.

We had a nice weekend, except that Steve was out chopping ice at work most of the day Saturday, then had 3 service calls Sunday evening. Yesterday, at Walmart, Stef agreed to the deal and didn't retract it this time. I bought her the My Little Pony panties with the agreement that she has to try not to pee in them. We shook on it. Of course, right after we said Deal! she said No Deal! but that's just because she sees that show on TV too much LOL! I still have to wash the panties for the first time, so I'll probably give it a try starting Saturday. MIL can't stand Stef pee'ing all over her carpet/furniture, so the whole thing will be left up to me - I suppose as it should be, but some teamwork would be nice. I still have to get Steve to watch the 123 Magic DVD, then convince her to watch it. small sigh

EEEK

This is c&p'd from an email we just got, so I may not be in the clear. We'll see if I still have access on Monday.

This is to remind you of the new policy restrictions on Internet Access and to inform you that effective this coming weekend over 50% of our branch office population will receive an upgrade which will prohibit the downloading of software to their WMW. You may wish to remind your branch office personnel of this new policy and its associated restrictions.

SNOW!!!

At last!! We got about 7 or 8 inches, plus about 2 inches of sleet. The weather guy said that if it had stayed a few degrees colder aloft, we would have had something like 20 inches of snow. I couldn't get to work for 2 days, but made it in today. The roads are still slippery, but driveable now. This is Stef's first real snow that she will remember (for awhile at least).

Well, crap! I thought I'd uploaded the snow pix, but apparently not! I will share as soon as I get them in PB.

I'm still f'ing pissed at my supervisor. I called him on Tuesday to tell him I was turning around and going home. His snotty comment "So, there's no way you can make it into the office?" I said "Umm, Ron. I just cleared an accident scene on 30 with a Jeep on it's roof in the ditch. The ambulances were getting the back boards out. It's slippery and only going to get worse. And I have my TWO YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT! It's just not worth it to me." He was still snotty about it, but ended up telling me to be safe. Now that I'm back, I see 2 emails from management that says our safety is paramount, not to come in if we can't safely get here. I swear he is the 2nd worse supervisor I've ever had in my whole life! He's the father of 2 small boys too. What a jerk!

The worst supervisor I ever had was a dude in New Mexico that sat me down and verbally counselled me because people at the shop were afraid to call my house. I was afraid to call my house too! My ex was very out of control at that time. He never asked about the marks on my face (obvious finger nail scratches) or the bruises on my arms the one time I forgot and took off my outer uniform shirt. Ass. He probably beat his own wife too. He went on to become an officer later. Rumor had it that he might come to Panama during the closure of our runway to help out. I was SO glad he didn't because I'm afraid I'd have been busted for insubordination for telling him what I thought of him.

I'm trying hard not to, but I'm afraid I'm gonna tell this boss what I think of him next time I talk to him.

If only I could follow my own rule

My main casino rule: NEVER put the winnings back in the slot machine! Oh well. We had fun even if we only came home with $1.75. I made an interesting observation while we were walking on the boardwalk. At home, I have to cover my mouth/nose with my scarf or I start wheezing and coughing with an asthma attack. For some reason, the cold ocean air didn't bother me. It was quite a brisk breeze, especially as the sun was setting and my ears were much more bothered than my lungs.

You just can't beat going to Atlantic City on a bus trip. The casino gave us $25 back when we got there, so the trip was only $7 net each. I doubt we could have matched that in gas expenses. Plus, we got to semi-relax while Bus Driver Bob (yes, that was really his name) handled all the traffic in record time. Those tour bus drivers must have to have a lead foot as a job pre-requesite.

Stef did really well with her Aunt Von & Uncle (Ankle) Shawn. She asked where we were 3 or 4 times, but only cried when she got booboo's - only 2, which is a pretty good day for my toddler.

I had another really strange dream last night....something about someone trying to get Stef away from me and we kept running away and hiding. It really scared me and I had a hard time sleeping after it woke me up at 3am.

As if you's didn't think I was crazy already....

I had a dream about George Lucas last night. Nothing naughty (YUCK!) but weird all the same.

We were at some kind of kid's event, making puppets out of paper plates. GL just happens along (OMG!!!! I'm not worthy) He picks one of the kids - STEF!! - and decides to direct a play using her puppets and wanted me & Steve to help. I don't remember exactly what we ended up doing in the play, but it was fun. Stef had a blast, even if she didn't follow his direction.

Then we find out that he and his family bought the big house at the end of our development! Now that our family and his family are friendly, he asks us to take care of his dogs while he's away for a weekend. While in his house, I accidentally break some artsy fartsy very expensive looking statue. I cleaned up the mess and it turns out that GL didn't like that thing anyway.

Weird. I know. I'm just surprised I remember as much of it as I do. I know there was more, but can't focus on it enough to remember.

small vent

I help my friends and family with their taxes. I don't mind, in fact, I rather enjoy it. What bugs me is when certain people don't get that I do this as a favor. I understand needing the $ quickly, but dammit, I work fulltime and have a 2 yr old that won't let me sit at my computer without her taking over. Get off me! And if I had all the correct information BEFORE I transmitted the return for E-file, we wouldn't be having these problems of a check being sent to an old address. I KNOW the PO won't forward gov't checks. It'll be returned to sender. Meanwhile, it's up to me to figure out what to do about it! And she didn't even offer to put a stamp on the envelope for the one form that HAS to be mailed in. WTF?? I think Steve is right. I'm being taken advantage of here. Time to stand up for myself. I love my friend of *gasp* 30 years very dearly, but she needs to quit walking on me. And I need to quit allowing it.

Okay, vent over

We had a little snow overnight - less than an inch I think, but Stef was excited to see it. It's still too cold to really go out and play in it though. I don't think it would make a snowman anyway - too fluffy.

I'm still here

And I have a really funny Stef story...

Sunday morning around 8:45 (thank you very much for the extra sleep in, Stef) our little sweetypie came over and said good morning. When she realized daddy was in bed too she went to his side of the bed and kept telling him to get up, it's a sun day (I think she meant sunny day), time to get up, c'mon daddy. She even handed his robe to him. He was talking to her but he was still really tired and not getting up. She must have realized he was a tough cookie to crack so she said "okay daddy, you sleep" and went downstairs. She came right back up and started singing to him "go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep daddy" like a lullaby, followed directly by a blast from her toy trumpet! LMTO! If only I'd had the camcorder handy, we could have sent that in for the $10,000 on AFV. What a character!!

Well, so far so good

No blockage messages so far, not even for Ebay. I hope they aren't just late in running the program or planning on running it after hours tonight. Stay tuned....

WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!

I'm so bummed. Mother Merrill strikes again. I just got this email (partial c&p below)

Branch offices will be upgraded in accordance with the corporate restrictions beginning Friday, February 2.

The initial upgrade will prevent the downloading of software to protect the firm against viruses. Additional blocking will occur thereafter to include websites which contain objectionable content, chat functionality, email, gaming, message boards and clubs.

Should you have a legitimate business need to access a specific blocked site, you can request an exception by following the instructions provided on the notification page that is displayed when trying to access a blocked site.

I think Ang was right and that day when I had blockage issues a few months ago was probably a test of the software. BLAH!!! If you see an entry tomorrow, you know I still have access. If not, I'm blocked from Blogger and Chatzy.

Some new pix

Lining up her Dibs like tic-tac-toe on the napkin


Eating Dibs - one in each cheek


say CHEESE




"reading" the letters on Grandpop's treadmill


being a messy artist