Annoyances, by Jess

Hello everyone. Time for another episode of things that annoy me.

1) Everyone's kitchen is setup different, and plays by house rules. Here at the Hamilton house, I apparently have to post MY rules. Covering each and every square inch of my walls.
The last time Stephen was home, something kept happening that was driving me mad. You see, kids, in my kitchen, the sink is divided into 2 sections. One side generally contains dirty dishes, the other side is for clean dishes. Doing the dishes is not my favorite chore in the house(Well it was not a favorite chore of mine, that is until I purchased Gain scented dish soap, but that is another story for another time) so I usually will wait to load the dishwasher until I know I have a full load(I have a gift, I can eyeball this). I see no point being in the kitchen constantly washing dishes, so this is my method. Sometimes, my dishwasher is full, and then I still have a couple pots and pans leftover, which I wash by hand. These clean pots/pans/leftover dishes that do not fit in the dishwasher are hand washed by moi and placed into the designated 'clean' part of the sink, which contains my dish strainer.
I think it is pretty easy to tell clean dishes from dirty, so I am constantly baffled that people who shall remain nameless will continuously place dirty dishes in the clean side of the sink. HOW HARD IS THIS? Last week when Stephen was home, I called a family conference in my kitchen, and held a demonstration complete with hand movements, and I spoke reeeeeeeaaaalllllyyyy sllllloooooooowwww to make sure that everyone in this house understands 'the rules'. A little degrading to them? Probably so. But, look people, I've given them all plenty of chances to get this right.
Imagine my surprise when I walk into my kitchen today to find DIRTY dishes on the CLEAN side of the sink, right on top of CLEAN dishes.
"Hey Jess, why don't you dry your clean dishes, and put them away immediately?" you may ask....Well, I'll tell you why. It is my kitchen, that is why. If I want to leave clean dishes on the clean side of my sink for 2 weeks(which is ok, because they are clean and I'm following my own rules) that is my business. How hard is it to just follow the rules?
"Hey Jess, why don't you wash your dishes more than once a day to once every other day?"...I could. But I choose not to.
I will put signs up on each side of the sink on giant poster board written in extra super thick sharpie if I have to. If needs be, I will add in profanities.

On to the next order of business.

2)I am my mother's daughter. The thing I dislike most in the free world is grocery shopping. I would rather lick butter from the tub for nutrition than visit my local BiLo, Food Lion, Kroger, Piggly Wiggly, or Wal-Mart/A.K.A. Satan's Superstore ($1 royalty to Jill) Sadly, I have children that would not stoop to such levels, and they need to eat real food, so once or sometimes twice a week(Heaven help me) I must suffer through this disgustingly awful task.
I *try* to get out of the house before 9am so that I am home before I start to get annoyed. When I start to reach that level, my blood pressure rises, and I end up grabbing bare essential items, putting off shopping for another day. It is truly better for myself, my kids, my health, and the well-being of others that my grocery shopping is done early in the day.
Sometimes, I am not so lucky.
Today, it had not occurred to me that we were in need of milk, bread, and oh---I forgot to pull something out of the freezer to prepare for dinner. Since it was 4:30pm, Wal-Mart was absolutely OUT of the question. I would rather saw my own limbs off, by hand, without a numbing agent. The next closest store is Food Lion. The Food Lion of Calhoun, Georgia is usually a lovely store. It is very rare I run into problems in that fine establishment. Mega props to Food Lion on Red Bud Road in Calhoun. The Hamilton's love you.
Well, not today.
Actually my complaint is not with the store itself, so I revoke that last statement. My complaint is with the members of the human race who happened to be shopping at the Food Lion on Red Bud Road in Calhoun this afternoon at approximately 4:45 to 5:45pm.

----a)To the woman in the white Buick. I saw the lovely finger gesture that you gave me when I pulled into the parking space that was rightfully mine. I'm sorry, it goes to the high bidder(that is, the person who is kindly waiting for 2 minutes patiently....not you, woman in the white Buick who came flying into the parking lot doing 55, whipping in and out like you were racing for the checkered flag in the Food Lion 500.) Please don't be stupid. If you had hit my car, because you couldn't park in the spot right on the other side, which was actually one whole parking spot closer that you missed out on for wanting to be a (insert bad word) to me, chances are I might have, well....filed an insurance claim. And that would have annoyed me. I really didn't feel like having to sit on the phone with anyone. Then I would have had to hear my kids whine some more that they are hungry...and so on, and so on. Oh the list of inconveniences you would have caused me today, vulgar white Buick driver. Oh, and PS: You drive a Buick, not a Maserati.

----b)I know there are no "official rules", but I'm fairly positive that you are supposed to run your shopping carts parallel to the shopping aisles, NOT perpendicular. I'm speaking to YOU, early 20s girl who was hogging the end of the cereal aisle. I tried to turn around, but I was blocked in by YOU, white haired old lady, whose cart was also stretched out, leaving me completely blocked in. Ok, which one of these 2 people had to be my victim? It is against my religion to be mean to old ladies, and I did not want it to reach that point. So I chose early 20s girl. I was nice, early 20s girl. I stood there, for 2 minutes---I timed it! 2 minutes. You cannot tell me that you didn't see me standing there, that you didn't feel the heat off of my glare begging you to just ...please scoot your cart parallel to the aisle so that me and my beautiful children could get out. You see, we were done picking out our cereal. Because we came to the store knowing exactly what we wanted, so that we could get in and get out. You however, blocked the end of the aisle, along with sweet old lady....what are the odds I would get stuck in an aisle with the 2 people in Calhoun, GA who would not know what kind of cereal they wanted---BOTH of them aisle blockers!!!
I could feel my blood pressure rising. I moved my cart closer to you, early 20s gal, and I saw the look you gave me. I also watched you avert your eyes right back to the same cereal boxes you've been staring at for a good solid 6 minutes, blocking the aisle. Is it really that hard? I was very close to just throwing a box of cereal into your cart and pushing you out of the way my-SELF. I moved my cart even closer, you scoffed at ME, forcefully threw your cart around just barely giving me enough room to get through. I'm sorry, did I miss something? YOU were the one breaking the unofficial rules. I didn't see a crown on your head, so I'm pretty sure you had no reason to do so, other than just being a (insert bad word here).
The old Jess would have been screaming. The F word. I may or may not have under my breath. Early 20s girl, consider yourself lucky. Because you basically ruined the rest of my shopping trip. I was so angry I ended up forgetting that I was all out of coffee creamer, and I did not even raise my voice to you. For once, I wish though, that my children had been misbehaving---just to annoy you for those few minutes.

Seriously!!! How hard is it???? How hard is it to just be courteous to your fellow human beings? Don't block the aisles. Don't try to fight someone in the parking lot over a parking space---is it REALLY worth it? And note to self: Avoid this situation in the future by doing the grocery shopping early in the morning.

You know, my darling husband laughs at me because I say that if I do not have outside of the house errands done before 11am, I consider the day a waste. As you can see, there is a reason I am the early bird.

3) My final complaint of the day is on the subject of 4-way stops. Let it be known, I fully support teenagers/early drivers to have MORE drivers ed. I may also support that adults should have to take refresher courses. People are complete IDIOTS on the road. It is bad enough to deal with seeing people yapping on their cell phones, TEXTING while driving----do not even get me started on that one, people not watching where they are going, etc etc etc.
No that's not enough. We also have to deal with people who do not understand the (what I thought were) understood rules of 4-way stops, which is nothing but a little common sense. How....Hard....Is....It???
I just simply do not have time this evening to give a drivers ed lesson here. First one there gets to proceed through the 4-way stop first. A lot of times when I come up at a 4-way stop, there is a good system going, but there is always that one dill canoe that is going to ruin it for the rest of us. You know what I'm talking about. The person who pretends to go when they clearly know it is NOT their turn, so ya stop, and then they stop(staring at you), and then you start to go, and they start to go/stop/start slamming things around in the car. PAY ATTENTION!!!!!! IT WAS NOT YOUR TURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then you have the audacity to yell a profanity out of the window at ME? Really? When I took my own rightful turn at the 4 way....Oh, how dare I. Just...how dare I.

And people wonder why I prefer to stay at home.

I think my children think I am a mad woman, they can see me erupting when I am surrounded by examples like such above. But at least I am not some racing through the parking lot fighting over parking spots-aisle blocking-non rule following at 4-way stop doing-thrower of dirty dishes on top of clean dishes do-er..or something.

Blogging to pass the time...

I used to be able to blog daily, sometimes more than 2 or 3 times a day. I would just ramble on about important and non-important things. Now, I sit here having a hard time coming up with anything to talk about.

Today I actually feel like talking. I guess I'll start with talking about my kids...

Early this afternoon I was just sitting here, being lazy indoors while the kids played outside. I hear one of them say "Look...PUPPIES!!!" I looked up out the window, and there are 2 puppies, I have no idea where they came from. My children are in love. *sigh*

About 10 minutes ago, I'm still enjoying the a/c, watching the kids out the front window. A snow cone truck sees children and slows down. My face is like this :-l as I see my son waving his arms in the air. I opened the door to tell him to cut it out, and next thing I know the truck is stopped in my driveway. An old lady gets out of the truck looking very happy to serve my children snow cones...and I cave. So out with my purse I went. The children are happy, and I'm $4 poorer. I'm willing to bet the old lady works for her son. Cute old lady faces can sell snow cones to the grumpiest of people(me).

Our school year is coming to a close, but I find myself loading the calender with more school related things for the kids to do. We have the entire month of June packed between our regular schoolwork, library trips and other stuff. I'm going to need lots of coffee.

Stephen came home this week, he stayed 6 whole days. It's been a long time since we have had him home that long, and we had a lot of fun together.He left this morning, and I'm bored. I don't have anyone here raving about how awesome of a cook I am. /sadness

One of our very good friends, Damion Lancaster, lost his life last week. I've known D for many years, I was very proud to have him stand up with us at our wedding, he is already very much missed. I've always thought very highly of Damion, but the day I found out that he died, I realized what an impact he had made in my life. I'm beyond the point of shock and crying over him. Though I do still get teary from time to time, I can think of many, many wonderful times we all shared together, and every one of them bring a smile to my face. Please continue to keep his wife and the rest of the family in your prayers.

We don't really sit and think about a day when our loved ones won't be with us. It is sort of a wake up call to live each day like it will be your last.

Quick Rant: For those that didn't know, we moved recently. We've been in the new house about 2 months. I had the local high speed internet place setup my internet for me. I'm not impressed. I have the fastest speed available, and it is crap. I only signed a 3 month contract, and I will be looking for something else. I can't deal with this not being able to stream netflix through my xbox, I mean, what kind of way is that to live? :p

The kids and I go to the church next door, and we love it. The people are great, the services are great. Everything is great. We are there every Wednesday and Sunday, whatever services are available, we are there. Wednesday I wasn't feeling too hot so I left before the service started...then I felt bad for not staying. Like, really felt bad. We've worked our life around church schedules and things are just "off" when we don't go.

Real things going on in the world:
I'm not normally a bandwagon jumper, even though I have been called one before. Side note: Someone told me I was nothing but a bandwagon jumper during football season. What? I cheer for the Titans. Don't ya think if I were a bandwagon jumper, I would pick a team that didn't start their season 0-6? /note. I'll be a bandwagon jumper today: Screw BP. I'm not buying your gasoline anymore, even if your stores are conveniently located. Everyone else is saying it.

I've gotten back to the point of getting my news from Jon Stewart, everything else is too depressing to watch. At least Jon Stewart can make me laugh a little.

Movie reviews:
The Blind Side....Liked it, it was really good, but not enough to make me want to watch it over and over.

Land of the Lost....Your typical Will Ferrall movie. If you like him, you'll like it. If you don't, then you won't. I LIKED it. :D

Sherlock Holmes...I saw it on Christmas Day, loved it, and I've watched it a couple times since then. Most of you know my bias to that film though, I'll watch anything with my main squeeze Robert Downey Jr.

Other than those three, I have been watching a lot of the same old movies over and over. I'm almost scared to watch anything new. Too much disappointment in new movies lately.

I still have not caught up on Grey's Anatomy for the year. I think I have to watch the last 4 episodes of season 6. After I do, I'll comment.
One thing I will say, I'm ecstatic that Izzy is gone. If anyone tells me that she comes back in one of the last couple episodes, I will just cry. Her character has been too annoying since season 3.

I've been reading the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich for a few months. I love them! I'm on TEN BIG ONES right now. Later this month a new book in the series releases, Sizzlin Sixteen. Wonder if I can get the next few books done by then? x-D

I'm aching pretty badly to get back home sometime this summer. I am going to try to shoot for July. I'm not sure when and nothing set in stone just yet, but I will try to let everyone know a couple weeks ahead of time.

I shall close this blog for now, and I hope that everyone has a great weekend.

New blog from me!! 10 years--looking back!

Hello everyone! I hope this blog finds you all well.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am ready for a new year, a new decade, a new beginning even. So much has happened over the last 10 years. As we're closing in on 2010, I look back and reflect over the course of events(well some of them) in my life.

10 years ago, I was 19 years old. Stephen and I were just mere acquaintances at work. Look at us now, married 9 years with 4 beautiful and amazing children.
We've been through a lot together, lots of ups and downs. Sometimes we focus a lot more on the "downs", not nearly enough on the "ups". 9 years of marriage, this day and age, its an amazing feat. Thank you, Stephen, for prying me away from that idiot I was dating at the time lol, and for all that you've given me. I love you.

Our oldest daughter, Kaylee was a surprise. A glorious surprise. She is a very wonderful child. The day that Kaylee came into this world, my life changed forever, for the better. There is nothing as wonderful as the gift of being a mother. Kaylee is 8 1/2 now, and I'm watching her grow into a tween, and eventually a beautiful young woman. I am scared shitless, I won't lie lol. She tests my patience every day, she is a very strong willed child, but I wouldn't trade her for the world.

My son, my pride and joy, Dylan. When Dylan was born, we thought we were done having kids. We had 1 girl, and 1 boy. Dylan has always been such a neat kid. He is very unique, funny...I see a lot of his dad and my brothers in him. He most definitely has the "Grafe" personality...you know, how we have the ability to turn any moment, even inappropriate ones, into a joke. This boy makes me laugh harder than any other. He will make a fine husband someday, its just too bad no woman will ever be good enough for him. *snickers*

Reese is my little drama queen. She is very much a mommy's girl, always has been my little sidekick in action. The past year I feel she's been a little shell shocked finding out that she's actually one of the kids lol. She is a very smart, fun loving child, and also very beautiful. I love her to death, however, I would like to keep her under the age of 5 if possible. She's growing up way too fast. We were done having kids for real this time, so I tried savoring each and every moment of mommyhood after Reese was born.

Then came Brooke. :) I'll never forget the day I found out I was pregnant with her. I'll never forget feeling like I should have liquored Stephen up before telling him. lol She's really been a blast. Brooke is in her 2's now, and enterting "that" phase. She's becoming too independent, and I don't like it. I want to hold onto her and never let her go. She used to be so attached to me, and now I'm being brushed aside for big sister Kaylee, who is apparently a lot cooler than I.

My children are my life, and my whole world. I honestly don't remember the days before kids, and I thank the Lord everyday for them.

In the last 10 years I have lived in many different places. I've had a couple places in Dalton, GA, we moved back to Massillon for a couple years, then to Old Fort, TN...only to find ourselves back in Dalton again, where our lives began together. Despite missing our friends and family back home like crazy, we really enjoy life here.

I have changed a lot over the last 10 years. I am still going through personal changes. Some things I thought that were set in stone, I come to find out they are not. Some things I'm not sure I want to face, some things I am ready to grab by the horns and kick some ass or something--figuratively speaking lol. Each time over the last decade that I made "plans"...NOTHING happened how I thought it would, but looking back I have no regrets.

All in all, I am ready to start this new decade and make it a great one.
Here's to 2010, I look forward to what the future brings...I mean if its good crap :D. Only 267 days until I turn 30. Holy......crap. :-O!!!!

My dear children :)

Dylan was playing on paint and made a portrait of himself with his sisters, and I had to share. :D
That is pretty dead on accurate to their cuteness. LoL

Everything changes, nothing stays the same.

Just when I thought my world was set in stone, things change.
It may get better, it may get worse. The only thing I can do is leave it up to the Lord above to lead me in the right direction.

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." --Maria Robinson

I wanted to get back into blogging.

....so here I am. :)