tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152951682024-03-08T17:42:36.580-05:00DevilMacDawgMusings of a Druid Hills mommy with THREE fabulous girls (my stepdaugher, 'Miss M' - born Aug. 1997, my daughter 'Little Miss S' - born Jan. 2005, and littlest Baby MC born Oct. 2007) and wife to a smartypants husband.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-75695442508710473072008-06-24T21:29:00.003-04:002008-06-24T21:36:03.199-04:00More coming to this space soonTo be honest, life has been horribly hectic. And so, I've neglected this blog. For that, dear internet, I'm so sorry. To bring you up to speed, I'm a single mommy for this summer, for another 7 weeks or so. I'm going on my 4th week in this state. I do not know how folks do it as a lifestyle, as opposed to a summer. What I'm finding is that I've become bitter, angry, tired, frustrated, and generally not very pleasant. My coworkers have taken the brunt: they have listened, sympathized, and supported. However, I need a place to vent, and I need to stop bugging my friends. So coming up soon will hopefully be more tales of mommy woe. Oh, the poop-tastic stories I have to tell. And, the cuter than ever kid stories. And some which span both categories! <br /><br />Take Little Miss S tonight. We were having our evening bath tub. Such a grand time. I even bought a jumbo bottle of Mr. Bubble for her to enjoy. I hear her talking about not pooping in the bath tub. Oh, that's good. Then she says "Mommy! Can I go to the potty?" I don't know why she's compelled to ask permission! Of course, I say "Yes!", and finally settled Baby MC down for her night's rest. By the time I get there, I see her on the potty. Poop on the floor, on the toilet. But not IN the tub, so yay! She made it. So she pulls her legs up, and she's holding on to her feet. "Mommy - it's GROSS! Pick it up NOW!"<br /><br />So that's my life. Poop and picking it up. So that's what I've been up to.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-6387327722945752812008-02-06T23:20:00.000-05:002008-02-06T23:23:30.064-05:0089-78Couldn't watch the game - too nervous. WOOOOO! GO DUKE!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-13683658156323436252008-01-21T06:53:00.000-05:002008-01-21T06:55:20.497-05:00AlignmentI think my husband and I agree on the best choice for President. Now, what we are actually going to *do* with our votes (open primary) in two weeks remains a different story. Here's how the candidates align with my views:<br /><b>92% <span style="color: #00f;">Chris Dodd</span><br>92% <span style="color: #00f;">Barack Obama</span><br>89% <span style="color: #00f;">John Edwards</span><br>89% <span style="color: #00f;">Hillary Clinton</span><br>88% <span style="color: #00f;">Joe Biden</span><br>85% <span style="color: #00f;">Mike Gravel</span><br>83% <span style="color: #00f;">Dennis Kucinich</span><br>77% <span style="color: #00f;">Bill Richardson</span><br>47% <span style="color: #f00;">Rudy Giuliani</span><br>34% <span style="color: #f00;">John McCain</span><br>23% <span style="color: #f00;">Ron Paul</span><br>21% <span style="color: #f00;">Mike Huckabee</span><br>21% <span style="color: #f00;">Mitt Romney</span><br>21% <span style="color: #f00;">Tom Tancredo</span><br>11% <span style="color: #f00;">Fred Thompson</span><br></b><br><a href="http://www.gotoquiz.com/candidates/2008-quiz.html">2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-89705264005763929922008-01-19T13:06:00.001-05:002008-01-19T13:07:33.013-05:00Smowmans!Being built on the top of the slide as we speak. Don't as me why the "Snowmans" has to be on the slide - to explain would require 3 year old logic, which sadly, I don't possess. <br /><br />Snow is COOL when you know it's going to go away in a day or so.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-74624255164998361182008-01-01T15:53:00.000-05:002008-01-01T16:16:47.284-05:002008 Will Be GreatI just know it. <br /><br />In looking back over the past year, it's been another one of ups and downs. My year began with the deaths of two close relatives, and then it quickly progressed to new life, specifically that of my latest daughter. I found employment, found myself in a significant way, and found out that I can manage multiple children, a job, a husband and a household. Now, if I could just regain my sanity things would be nice. <br /><br />2008 gives me the opportunity to begin putting together my revised professional growth plan, and what I want to be now that I'm grown up. There is training and certification, all of which will take some time, but it's a good place to be headed. I'm finding that I'm genuinely good at what I intend to do, and I believe that others will share in this assessment as time goes on. 2008 also finds me trying to help Mr. Mac focus on where he wants to be. On the one hand, he has a job offer in another city, in a general business firm, that would be steady and reliable. On the other, we don't want to leave this place and Mr. Mac doesn't want to do general business transaction work. Do we take the bird in hand, which is nice and calm and, well, there or do we hunt for the two much more exciting and appealing ones we know are lurking in the bush? I don't know. <br /><br />My kids have become my life, and I need to do something about that - I'm not saying they should be anything other than most important, but I have got to get away from them being the only thing I have - my only hobby/interest/thing I talk about (for real - it's awful). I'm losing myself, and I need to bring back my inner adventurer. Instead of following the proper path, I need to begin taking the right path for me, and trust that inherently, this path will be the right one for my family. Getting back to this place involves significant changes on my part - most importantly, I need to gain back my self confidence. From that, I believe, the rest will flow. <br /><br />My tangible personal goal is to lose 30 lbs. My tangible professional goal is to undertake the training and certification that I need as my career moves forward (I have a concrete list). With those accomplished, I will be back on track for getting back to being myself. I've been pushing myself aside, or allowing myself to be pushed down, for too long now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-23845206948994421992007-12-16T10:11:00.001-05:002007-12-16T10:14:27.110-05:00Word up....In the great Sunday Morning Ritual that is VH1 Classic, the following question will follow me the rest of the week... Red panties? Really? Over a black unitard? Man, Cameo... I don't think Little Miss S needs to be watching this......<br /><br />To refresh your memory:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_7Kp_TapA4Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-7693863447209187682007-12-08T14:23:00.000-05:002007-12-08T14:29:17.136-05:00Potty Failure....I am a complete failure at potty training my dear Little Miss S. I beseech you, internets, help me. Please.<br /><br />Here's the deal. We have the components of understanding. She knows that she's not supposed to go in her panties. She knows how to hold it, and she can hold it for impressive lengths of time - up to 4 hours, AFTER having something to drink. She knows that her pee-pee is supposed to go in the potty. Yet somehow, it doesn't connect together. <br /><br />This morning captures the frustration I'm feeling. I was here alone with the two kids for a while, and she was kinda doing a little dance. Crossing her legs and whatnot. So I said "Come on sweetie - let's go to the potty." So we went. And we sat. Baby MC started crying, and so I left LMS on the potty and went and got BMC and a bottle, and we sat. LMS talked about going potty. She put her hand in warm water. She talked about being a big girl. We sat on the potty for a freaking half hour. Nothing.<br /><br />So, she gets up, and I start making her lunch, when LMS starts crying. And yes, she had an accident. Not three minutes after she got off the potty. <br /><br />What do I do? I didn't scold - I told her that she had an accident and now we had to clean it up. I said that we have to put pee-pee in the potty, and not on the floor. She was pretty inconsolable until we got everything cleaned up, then she was fine. <br /><br />She has shown all of the "signs of readiness" by pretty much any list you see out there. But there's something that's not connecting with her. Any thoughts? Help!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-32652660829107743502007-12-01T10:57:00.000-05:002007-12-01T10:58:32.445-05:00Potty Training the Willful Little GirlAny pointers? We're just beginning, so any help is appreciated.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-70177079542634650642007-11-16T11:13:00.000-05:002007-11-17T21:15:10.401-05:00THE BIG GAME!!!!As many of you know, I'm an alumna of three different universities, each with a distinct football heritage. There is SMU, my law school, which received the death penalty and other nasty punishments due to some really heavy, erm, investing in the program by high-profile Texans in the early 80s. At least it got us Craig James on ESPN and later CBS football. And of course, my beloved Bulldogs. Herschel!!! Lastly, and most removed from football greatness, is Duke. Ahh, the Blue Devils. Seriously, the biggest joke in college football for, now, 30+ years and counting. Truly abysmal, and from a team that HOSTED the Rose Bowl in its only playing outside the, well, Rose Bowl. Yeah. 1942, and we still have Rose Bushes planted outside the stadium to prove it. <br /><br />This Saturday marks a great achievement in Duke Football - we are traveling to South Bend to play Notre Dame with - GET THIS - a LEGIT chance to WIN! And in celebration, <a href="http://www.dukesuperbowl.com/">dukesuperbowl</a> is one of the funniest things I've seen on the internets in, like, forever. <br /><br />Conflict potential is that the UGA-Kentucky game plays at 12:30 here locally, and this game kicks off at 2:30. Having absolutely zero faith in Bulldawg Nation to hold onto the incredible momentum sparked by the "Field Party Dance" against Florida, I anticipate having to keep an eye on the first game until it plays out with a loss in the end. Nonetheless, I anticipate that Saturday is going to be a BIG DAY - the potential for seriously bad football is, truly, as high as it's been in years. <br /><br />Now, can someone tell me please why Duke and SMU don't play one another annually? For real - two programs at the bottom of the heap - they should trade wins.<br /><br />UPDATED AFTER THE GAME: Ugh! That was horrific! Notre Dame is one bad football team, and Duke managed to make them look *good*. Sheesh - I don't ask for bowl games or winning seasons, but please stop with the embarrassing! I have zero faith in Joe Aleva to handle this properly, but even Mr. Suntan should be able to figure out that Ted's time is done in Durham.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-58729097916211290962007-11-14T20:55:00.001-05:002007-11-14T20:55:58.161-05:00I'm goodBaby MC's good. Little Miss S is good. Mr. Mac is busy. But it's all good. Sorry internets - I have several posts in my head and I'm just not able to put type to screen.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-7434458355683361442007-10-28T22:56:00.000-04:002007-10-28T22:58:44.759-04:00Baby MCShe arrived at 8:11 am Friday, weighing 8 lbs. 11 oz and measuring 19". She's beautiful and wonderful (and hungry again). I'm fine too. Mr. Mac is so thrilled with having three beautiful girls now. Miss M can't wait to see her. Little Miss S is trying to be happy, but would really rather have gotten another kitty cat. Thanks for your kind thoughts and wishes. We're all here now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-9803276244691259462007-10-26T05:11:00.000-04:002007-10-26T05:12:03.955-04:00And we're off!More when I'm able. Thanks for your kind wishes, words and prayers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-11587647878648232882007-10-19T08:07:00.000-04:002007-10-19T08:11:46.754-04:00One more week....There's one week until the baby is born, unless she comes sooner. According to the doctor, her head is fully engaged, and I've started dilating. Wednesday, I was having irregular contractions for half the day, but all that ceased in the afternoon. Since then, really nothing. I'm so ready, both physically and emotionally. I'm exhausted from carrying around this weight, and I'm sore from all the stretching and kicking and pushing outward on my abdomen. And I'm just tired of being pregnant - I think that's normal. So there we go - I'll put stuff up when she's here. The hospital has wi-fi and all that good stuff.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-10095906200965994432007-10-06T19:32:00.001-04:002007-10-06T19:35:43.775-04:00Yeah, I know....It's been a while. I'm sorry. I have no energy. Once Baby MC is here, I'm sure it'll get better, right? I took Little Miss S out today with my sister and my niece to buy shoes. Kids' shoes shouldn't be allowed to be so cute! Mr. Mac is so very busy, and it's just getting to be more and more. BUT, he has a job offer now, and so we're thrilled, despite the fact that if he were to take this offer, it would mean another move (though closer to my parents). So, considering that I've passed 36 weeks, it's all good. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-52279551383910893732007-09-26T16:45:00.000-04:002007-09-26T16:46:14.917-04:00FacultyThose of you out there who deal with faculty, how do you deal with the pompous asshole prof who gets off on abusing lowly staff members?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-76157720547768543262007-09-25T13:30:00.000-04:002007-09-25T13:47:52.408-04:0031 days and countingAs I sit here today, in agony from the aching, stretched abdominal muscles and skin, in pain from the recurrent sinus infection, and immobilized by my bloated feet and ankles, I look back on this pregnancy fondly. It's really not been a bad one by most measures - sure, I'm uncomfortable, but I just passed the 35 week mark. I can't believe that in just over 4 weeks, it will all be over, and I will move into a new phase of my life.<br /><br />Knowing that this pregnancy is my last is comforting to me. I don't like being pregnant at all - the restrictions, the discomfort, the way I'm treated like an invalid by some people and by others - that they don't 'get' that I can't just bend over and pick something up off the ground. It's a difficult place to be - I'm not independent at all. There is a living being inside me who is solely dependent upon me for everything right now. The air I breathe, the stress I feel, the food I eat - everything is passed along to the little girl growing within, and that's empowering on the one hand, and stressful on the other. <br /><br />At the same time, knowing that after another month, I will never feel the flutter of little feet in my belly is a little sad for me. Don't get me wrong - I'm not questioning my decision to be done. First, I'm just too old to do this again in another couple of years. Second, I don't think that I am capable of rearing any additional children effectively. These are personal decisions, based upon my understanding of my own limitations. <br /><br />So, for now, I sit and wait and wonder if everything will be okay. Sometimes I fear that I will die in the OR during the c-section, or that something horrible will be wrong with the baby when she's born. But mostly, I just get anxious - what will she look like? What kind of personality will she have? <br /><br />How on EARTH am I supposed to complete this to-do list of mine in the next 31 days?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-32738129731830305442007-09-10T20:13:00.001-04:002007-09-10T20:14:19.970-04:00Suck on this Facebook!For real - <a href="http://duke.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2517126532">This Group</a> was formed to protest Facebook yanking pictures of women feeding their babies the old fashioned way. If you're on facebook, join the group. I did.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-78785213228621509642007-09-08T19:27:00.000-04:002007-09-08T19:28:10.111-04:00Is it basketball season yet???Duke football is embarrassing. Georgia isn't much better. Ugh. Is it time for basketball yet?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-40576161815805309002007-09-06T08:11:00.001-04:002007-09-06T08:11:43.820-04:00Mr. Mac Smarty PantsesMade the Mock Trial Team. I did this activity in law school - it's tons of work, but an absolute BLAST! Yay him!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-30744826880364284902007-09-04T20:01:00.000-04:002007-09-04T20:14:19.857-04:00Hello Internets....Remember me? Yeah, I'm still around. Unfortunately, between the new job, Mr. Mac's school year starting back, Little Miss S and her two and a half-ness, and my overall exhaustion, I haven't had time to write. <br /><br />Yeah, I know.... Excuses. <br /><br />It's been an incredible 4 weeks. I can't believe that it's been that long since I started my new job, but it has. The thing is, this job scared the crap out of me when I started. It is a HUGE job - there are many facets to it, and I can see so many places where I can just fall flat on my face. And I have done so already, and it's all good really. At the end of it all, the staff are supportive and encouraging, and they allow for honest mistakes to be made. Learning from a mistake is what everyone expects, and that is VERY good for me, after five years of having my confidence torn to shreds by the boss from hell in the job from hell. I can't explain the feeling of utter joy that I feel every morning when I walk in. Of course, this will fluctuate, as things do, and I know my job isn't perfect. But for me, right now, it's ideal. <br /><br />Little Miss S has changed schools to the one on campus. She is absolutely THRIVING. Her class is 6 international kids (at least two of whom speak VERY little English) and 6 American. It's GREAT. Her best friend is a little German boy, so I'm helping her learn a little German on the side. Tonight, she said she wanted to 'spiel blocks'. I'm so proud! What's even better is that she really loves going, every day. She insists on wearing a dress. And a hairbow. She just loves the place, so that makes me happy. <br /><br />Today, we learned that the Littlest Mac, Baby MC I think I'll call her, will be here on October 26. Hard to believe, but I've scheduled out the rest of my doctor's visits, and my delivery date. Wow. Now, I'm sure that this whole thing won't begin to go according to plan, but I can dream, can't I? <br /><br />Mr. Mac, well he's busy. Very busy, but happy about it. I miss him on nights like this when he's out late with a class. But I'm glad to see him enjoying himself. <br /><br />So there ya go internets. We're all here and happy and whole. We all miss Miss M like mad, and we love when she comes to see us (she left again yesterday). I'm sorry for the self-indulgent list of how we are. But we're happy, and I've bitched so much in this space. It's nice to be able to crow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-61264944816377045842007-08-28T07:35:00.000-04:002007-08-28T07:38:02.812-04:00Funny Jim CarreyThanks <a href="http://mostlymodernmusic.blogspot.com/2007/08/im-white-and-im-capitalizin.html"> bdure</a>. That just made my morning. <br /><br />Off to deal with crabby Little Miss S, my job-I-love-but-don't-know-how-to-do, insurance companies and the University Parking Office! WEEEEE!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-65055310820426098642007-08-22T10:22:00.000-04:002007-08-23T10:24:44.545-04:00Young LadyMiss M is now 10 years old. I don't know how I feel about it. I met her when she was three, and came up to my waist. Now, she comes up to my shoulder and her legs are pretty much as long as mine. She used to want clothes for her dolls, kid music, and she was into the Powerpuff Girls. Now, she wants clothes for herself and teeny bop music and she's into High School Musical. Sniff!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-74433788322090729082007-08-19T22:11:00.000-04:002007-08-19T22:15:30.228-04:00It's HOT here!But dang! It's been busy. And hot. Atlanta has already established this month as the hottest ever on record, and there are still 11 days left to go. I'm at 30 weeks pregnant. I work for a University, and I don't have faculty parking privileges. So, either Mr. Mac takes me to work, I pay $10 to park in the visitor lot for the day, or I schlep. <br /><br />Mr. Mac isn't in classes now, so you know his job. :)<br /><br />Little Miss S is positively adorable and heads off to her NEW SCHOOL tomorrow - we were able to get her into the on-campus daycare at my college, and now she is in care approximately 1/2 mile away from me. She's turned into quite the chatterbox, and her newest favorite thing to do is to discuss the books you're reading to her. "Dat George is always inna time-out mommy. He bad monkey."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-73417404618221823422007-08-07T19:04:00.001-04:002007-08-07T19:12:49.959-04:00Coming soon to this space!Actual Blog Content! Now, in lieu of substance, I offer bullets. <br /><br />* I LOVE my new job. It's awesome. People are happy I'm there. People are nice. I get paid to go to school and I don't have to take any (more) exams! It's just amazing! Yay for me! <br /><br />* My Little Miss S is fabulously cute. Except when she poops in the tub. Especially when Mr. Mac is not here to help me clean it up. Just sayin'.<br /><br />* Tonight, LMS did a new trick - the "Flop". She stands up on the bed and flops over backward. Straight back. Like a trust fall, only onto the mattress. Amazingly funny. <br /><br />* Miss M has gone back to Florida for the school year, and I'm sad about that. <br /><br />And now, off to finish cooking dinner for Mr. Mac and me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295168.post-6401574809058222012007-07-30T22:59:00.000-04:002007-07-30T23:00:26.447-04:00HP VIIJust finished it (hey - I had to wait over a week to start it!). There were definitely things I didn't like about it, but in all good. It was sad, and not like I'd expected (nor for the obvious reasons).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1