Say What?

Louise Mayhew gets the "Tool" comment of the day....


As the Atascadero USD's head of transportation, Louise Mayhew calls bus routes a "luxury" and not a requirement;

This is the same woman that told me my 12-yr-old daughter (at the time) would have to do what we did when we were kids and "walk" to school. 7 miles round trip. I never had to walk 3 1/2 miles to school, and I would never expect my child to. Not barefoot and not in the snow either, you idiot. AUSD could have handled this differently. Someone is not doing their job.

Personally, I think Louise should invest in some of these - and possibly pedal around in one herself. I'd be happy to do my part. I get that we are under some very severe budget cuts.  I understand fully, as a citizen and a parent that bus lines had to be cut.  However, choose your words wisely woman.  We are all spread very thin here, and let's face it, your job sucks, but guess what?  So does mine sometimes, but I do it - and I do it pretty damn well, because I have families and kids that rely on me and need me.  So do you, however, you make a hell of a lot more money than I do.  Maybe you could start by giving ample warning before pulling the rug out from parents and kids who need to get to school but can't.  Oh say, maybe sooner than TWO DAYS before the school year begins?

A lot of us are not able to get our kids to and from school. Whether it be because we don't have a running car, or work the swing shift and other odd hours, or are disabled. I would gladly pay to have my daughter ride the bus, and most districts are resorting to this to keep their lines running. AUSD and Ms. Mayhew dropped the ball on this one, and to add insult - they are completely apathetic about it.   For a fair and balanced view on the story, as if you care....click here





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Waking Up

What I wouldn't do for just one more day.  Today is our last day before I go back to work.  Reggie's last day before childcare.  Where did the time go?  Chris and I were up talking last night, marveling at how fast this has all gone by.  It seemed like just yesterday I was looking at a pregnancy test and bawling my eyes out - wondering how in the world we were going to manage, but having an overwhelming feeling of love and wonderment for this little miracle that was growing inside of me.  I remember the first moment I felt him move, the hiccups, the sound of his heartbeat through the Doppler.  I miss those moments, all of them.  When he was born, I remember waiting for him to take his first breath, to start crying - and when he finally did, I tried so hard to remember everything I was feeling at that instant, so I could keep it for when I needed it.
  I laid in my hospital bed with him nestled to my chest for almost two hours.  Then life began to move forward, beginning from the instant that I handed him over to our nurse.  At that moment, I felt a little sad - but also relief to know that he was okay and he was healthy.  There was the day we brought him home, the sleepless nights that followed, the moments with family and friends that we will never forget.  The mornings and afternoons we slept away from pure exhaustion, the first smile peeking at the corners of his lips.  It has been so magical, like a dream, and so fleeting.  I'm sure that tomorrow I am going to feel as if I have been rudely awoken - and it's going to take me some time to adjust.  We are closing one chapter and beginning another. Am I ready?  I don't think I ever will be. 

Thanks, Doc

Well, this mama is headed back to work in less than 2 weeks.  Aside from crying and pouting like a big baby over it, and possibly having a grown up tantrum - I have made peace with it.  We found a childcare center that we absolutely love, and for what we are being charged, they will be loving us back, and as my wonderful man so rightly put it; "They had better be using 14kt gold wipes to wipe our son's butt." Or fresh dollar bills.


Reggie had his first round of vaccinations last week, and we had the pleasure of sitting in the waiting room for an hour and a half!  This is what happens when you schedule an appointment a week before school starts, and all parents are rushing in for last minute whooping cough vaccines.  Thanks, parents.  Who in the world waits until the very last moment to take care of something so important?  Ahem...looking away from a mile high stack of insurance forms to my left, and yes, I just ordered a copy of my daughter's birth certificate from the Department of Records, after 13 years.  Pot, meet kettle.


Anyhow, speaking with baby's pediatrician about heading back to work she promptly asks me what I do for a living.  After hearing what my job is, she tells me to bathe myself in hand sanitizer every day before I touch my child, and to stay away from all kids who haven't been vaccinated, and to expect my son to be sick at least once a month, and "Goodluck with that."


Hmph! Could she be any more of an ass?  As right as she is, really - no matter what it is you do for a living, if you work with the public, or even step out of your house for that matter, you are exposing yourself to all kinds of bacteria and pathogens, and words to describe these things that are hard to pronounce.  If anything, I firmly believe working with little ones for over 12 years now has bolstered my immune system to superhero proportions.  Who has two thumbs and does not need a flu shot? This lady. I am immersing myself (unintentionally) in all sorts of germies on a daily basis, and fighting off most illnesses just fine.  I know this year is going to be a doozie for us, and little man will be fighting off lots of interesting strains of this and that, and you know what.  However, this is a part of life - and he's a healthy strong baby. Being exposed to germs and bacteria are just going to happen, and his little body will adapt and begin to fight them off  like the human body is built to do.  At least, this is my hope and prayer.  Or I could just send him to childcare in one of these...


Catch me later when I am buried under a mountain of Kleenex and a fussy baby in two month's time.  My opinions may have changed, and you know what they say about opinions.

The Eyes Have It

It has been said that they are the windows to the soul.  That they "have it".  You can tell so much by looking into someone's eyes.  Or can you?  I don't know, but if you have a teenage daughter - you'd probably notice that they are silent weapons.  Somehow, an eye roll or a long drawn out look up to the ceiling exposing the whites of one's eyes is the ultimate sign of disrespect to a parent, or teacher, or any person in authority for that matter.  Also, have you noticed that when you roll your eyes with complete and utter abandon, that it actually hurts a little?  It takes a lot of effort, but it gets your point across without having to say a word.

Lately, with all that is happening in Washington - don't you just honestly want to roll your eyes?  I am not seasoned nor up to par on all the issues to actually make an educated statement or voice my ignorant opinion about it all.  However, I can roll my eyes.  It's my right. 
This Newsweek cover is getting all kinds of attention, and as blatantly bi-partisan as it is...it is a bit warranted.

  Bachmann and many of her cohorts have been getting all kinds of attention lately for sticking their political feet in their mouths. She is famous for  rewriting history.  See here for a take on the whole thing.

 She is an easy target.  We live in a free country.  Freedom of the press, and yes - it was a little ballsy for them to run this cover of her looking a little crazy in the eyes, but maybe she just had a little too much caffeine.  She's passionate about the issues, she's passionate about her country, she's passionate about having her picture taken, and it shows.  The eyes have it.  With all that is happening in our world, Look to caption on the right of Newsweek cover, I think it's just fine to poke fun at some of our leaders, and even roll our eyes at them. 

Summer of Love

Never in my life have I felt so content, and so much love.  This is my "What I Did Last Summer" essay.  Well technically, summer isn't over yet, but I just love having an excuse to say in a creepy voice..."I Know What You Did Last Summer," and reminisce about a ridiculously stupid movie from back in the day, that was never able to recreate a worthy sequel.


By the way, off topic here...but I just have to revert back to a hormonal teenage moment and ask you who YOU think is hotter.  Ryan or Freddie?  I'm a Freddie Fan myself, I've been hanging out with my daughter and her friends way too much.  Back to the subject at hand, (ADD moment over).

I kicked my summer off early in the month of May, and I had the best time puttering around my apartment, taking long leisurely naps in the afternoon, and doing quite frankly....whatever the hell I wanted to.  Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration.  When you are 9 months pregnant, you really can't do whatever you want.  There are a few physical and possibly emotional limitations, but regardless - the living was easy and it was so nice. 

When our little man arrived right on his due date, it was pretty much the most beautiful moment in our lives, aside from when our daughters were born ( I am speaking for my significant other, and I do this often, because I'm a woman).   Not only did I have the easiest pregnancy ever, but labor and delivery was a cinch, thanks to an IV and a certain man with a very large needle and a medical degree.  He was amazing, and when he finished I told him how good he was, and that I hardly felt a thing.  Yes, I just said that - because that's exactly how it happened.  Get your mind out of the gutter.   So, after 10 hours of sub par labor, I say this because I spent most of it sleeping...and 15 minutes of pushing, our son was born, and he was large.  When the epidural wore off, I really began to appreciate just how large - but that's a whole different post.  Here he is just minutes after, and he was just so perfect.  All 8 lbs 10 oz. of him. 

  I look completely haggard, and I think it's appropriate for the circumstance.  Haggard and happy. Here's my other child.  She's pretty stoked, she wouldn't be if she had actually witnessed the whole thing. Two thumbs up.  Is it just me, or do I look high?  No comment.

The following 2 1/2 months since Reggie's birth have been full of wonderful moments, many a leaky diaper, all kinds of baby goodness.  Gas, spit up, coos, goos, yawns, fussies, and wails sprinkled with lots and lots of love and memories to last a lifetime.  Here are some of my favorite moments....

Reggie and Auntie Rachel.  Not a dry eye in the room I tell ya.

Seriously, the greatest dad I could have ever wanted for my children.

Hard to believe Chris' beautiful daughter Sierra will soon be turning 15!  I love this picture, and I love that he is so happy. 

Love.

Our family.

And then of course, there are the grandparents....we love you mom and dad x 2!  :-)

This last one cracks me up.  Holding a newborn is totally natural for dad - I believe when this photo was snapped we were talking about cars. 
 
Last but not least, and best of all.  This. This is why I had the best summer ever.  Thank you for being born little Reggie.  Love you beyond words.  Xoxo