A Day in the Life of Susan

Bucket List

In less than one month, I have a birthday. A pretty signifigant one at that. The big 3-0. I honestly used to dread it, but I am more than OK with it now. In fact, I am mildly looking forward to it. Last birthday, I made the decision to make some signifigant changes in my life. In the past year, I have moved out on my own and lost over 60 lbs!

So a few weeks ago, I whipped out my bucket list. You know, the list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. I actually created this list in the back of my first diary when I was about 11 yrs. old. I have added to it over the years and actually been able to cross a few things off. So for my 30th birthday, I have decided to work on crossing at least 2 things off. The one I am really excited about is I have decided to learn to play the guitar! Seriously! I have a friend that plays and he has offered to teach me if I can find a left handed one. So that is my current mission. I have found a few on Ebay but I really want to see if I can find one. By my 31st birthday, I want to at least be able to play a song or 2 on it.

Bucket Lists are so inspiring.

No Autographs Please...

He's a rockstar.

Who loves his hairstyle.

2+ Weeks, Binky Free

It has been a challenging feat to rid Mikey of the Binky Addiction. I am entirely convinced that Binkies, like Peanut Butter, are of the devil.

He only inquires about Binky randomly now. Like if he keeps asking where Binky went, I might NOT say that Binky went Bye Bye. But I have not caved. The challenging part is that when he wakes up in the middle of the night, instead of popping Binky in and rolling over, he is at a loss as to how to go back to sleep. So he comes and visits me. Last night was better. He didn't get out of bed, he just called for me to bring him some water. But then there are nights like Sat. night. When he wakes up at 1am. And can't go back to sleep til 4am. All in all, the boy is doing really well adjusting. He just needs to find a way to settle himself back down when he wakes up. A plus side, he sometimes asks me to rock him back to sleep. I haven't been able to rock him in MONTHS cause he is a "big boy" so I take him up on every invitation.

*yawn*

And so on...

I'm still alive and kicking. More kicking than alive :)

So last week, I decided to break Mikey of his Binky addiction.

I am not overusing the word addiction in his case either.

Last night was day 4 of no binky. He went to sleep OK but as he did the nights before, he wakes up 3am-ish and cannot go back to sleep. So needless to say, I have a few bags under my eyes.

Now for some good news! My friend Toni and I are going to Bayfest the first weekend in October. I am justifying the expense by stating that it is my gift to myself for my birthday in Sept. But in reality, one of my favorite bands is going so even if my birthday was in June, I'd be there. Avenged Sevenfold is the band I am SO excited to see.

Honestly, I am so excited, its gonna be a long 2 months! :D

BTW

Is it illegal to shoot a downstairs neighbors dog if it won't stop yapping?

I don't mean barking. I mean this GOD AWFUL banshee whine that continues on indefinately.

And if shooting is frowned upon, think I could just repeatedly throw my flip flop at their patio doors?

Just wondering. Not implicating myself. Just a hypothetical...

A Sign of the Times...

Work.

So at work, our store manager was asked my a few employees if we coudl try working a 40 hour work week that comprised of 4 -10 hours shifts instead of 5 - 8 hours shifts. The main reason for this request was that it would be an instant saving of 20% on gas. He came back that we could definately try it and see how it worked. So next week, I am working 4 -10 hour days (its actually 11 hours counting the 1 hour lunch in there) and I am really looking forward to it. Madison is going to take Michael 3 of the 4 days so he is not in daycare all day long. And Heather has offered to let me drop him off at her house on the 4th day in the am so he can stay with her a bit before going to daycare = not be in daycare so long.

I am hoping that it works. I am hoping that I am not a tired grump come day 4. Mostly, I am glad that I will get an extra day in which I can play with my son.

Happy 4th

I hope everyone is having a great 4th of July!

I had to work today. We had a big cookout at work. They grilled hamburgers and brats. People brought in food from home. Desserts. Deviled Eggs. Casseroles. I ate. And ate. And ate.

Way too much.

 I got sick.

So I was relieved when they said that they would accept volunteers to go home early.

And Michael has been ill this week as well. I got a call on Wed from his daycare. They said that Mikey was running a fever of 102.7. Yikes! I flew from work to go get him and took him straight to the doctor. He had a sinus infection and a virus. So he is on medicine at the moment.

We were invited to go to the park to go watch fireworks this evening. I was getting Mikey all ready to go but he would not hear of it. He wasn't feeling well so I didnt force him to go. I was a little disappointed cause I wanted him to see the fireworks. So imagine my surprise when as they started, I discovered that I could watch them from our balcony!!

Mikey and I watched and at first, he loved them. He was mesmerized.

The camera didnt do a great job of capturing the fireworks. They were so huge in the sky but they look tiny in pictures.

Towards the end of the show, Mikey decided fireworks were not for him. He got scared.

So maybe its a good thing we stayed home. : )

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

<3

Jonny Lang Concert

So night before last, I heard that a guy I like to listen to was playing in Mobile at the Saenger Theatre. Jonny Lang. I went into work yesterday and asked Toni and Dobson if they wanted to go see him. Toni said sure, Dobby had other plans. So Toni and I went to see Jonny Lang last night. I love spontaneous events.

It was a blast. He is such a good artist and even better live. He really gets into his music and put on a great show. Pics? of course. You are not allowed to take cameras into the venue, but yall know I snuck one in. And I only got fussed at by security one time.

Me and Toni

Look how close we got!!!

I didn't notice the security guard in the below pic til I actually posted it. Perhaps that is how I got caught taking pics?

And now, a link to my favorite Jonny Lang song, "Give Me Up Again."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uihnK4C5cgY

Hope yall like him as much as I do!

Summertime

Today is the first full day of summer!

I took Michael to the beach this morning. It was overcast but we still had a good time. We would probably still be there now if we hadn't heard thunder rumbling.

I took my camera along, of course.

BTW, he isn't Hitler in the above picture. He fell in a truck at daycare and cut his lip.

Boys are Such Fun!

Mikey is growing up so fast! He will be 2 this summer.

I have a few pictures to share from the last week:

There are quite a few dinners that Michael loves for me to cook. One is Chicken Fried Rice. He literally stands in the kitchen cheering while I cook it. The end result?

This next picture requires some explanation. Michael got this caterpillar that you pull on a string as a gift from his grandparents some time ago. It has 2 body sections that you place balls in and they spin and roll. Michael has altered this toy. He likes to place chicken nuggets in them and run and watch the nuggets fly into the air. Now, one would ask how he gets such a plethora of nuggets. He hides them. Usually in the pockets of his short from what I have found while doing laundry. He hides them them whips them out when he thinks I am not watching, places them on said caterpillar and proceeds to run thru the house as nuggets fly in the air.

I don't have a picture of this next story, but he gave me the same smile in the picture below when it happened. Two days ago, I am cooking dinner in the kitchen. While on the phone with my sister. I didn't notice his little hand sneak up onto the counter behind me. Not until I saw him throw something into the living room and say, WITH A HUGE SMILE "uh oh" did I realize I was in trouble. I told my sister I would call her back and went straight for the steam cleaner. FYI, no matter how carpeted your living room is, a hard throw from a toddler will definitely bust a raw egg.