I hate that woman...

M's ex is back to making my life miserable.

We have moved into our new home. We are getting ready for a wedding in just under two months. We will be living together for the rest of our lives. And yet next weekend I am going to have to move into a hotel because M's daughter B will be staying the weekend.

Now, I understand the divorce paperwork says we can't live together when he has her, but he offered to stay at the other end of the house in the guest room. But that isn't good enough. I have to stay in a hotel.

She was actually shocked when he said that it would cost her $300 for me to do that. She just assumed I would imposition someone in my family by asking to stay with them. Which I am sure they wouldn't mind, but it is the principal of it. I have a home! Why in the world must I feel homeless. So she found a hotel for $100 a night. Which is what I am willing to pay, so I will be looking for rooms in the $200 range. I figure if I have to stay in a hotel it's going to hurt her, right in the pocketbook.

I know it seems petty and vindictive, but she makes my life a living hell. B isn't getting over the divorce (5 years now) because mom is an enabler. Mom isn't over the divorce so the child can't get over it. I know that the reason B gets so upset over some of the stuff she gets upset about is because she senses mom wants her to be upset over this. The kid can't even make a simple decision, like what kind of ice cream to order (there were only 4 flavors), without someone helping her. I thought we were going to give her an heart attack when we asked her to pick out some possible colors for the bedroom here.

She was upset because M asked how she felt if I came to open house with him. She actually cried when she got home. Mom was on the phone with M today complaining about it. I can't even go anyway, I have an awards ceremony at the school, so it really was a mute point, but she couldn't let it go.

What makes me feel worse is I really don't think M understands how much this stuff upsets me. I tell him how mad it makes me. But I don't think he really gets just how much it hurts. I try being nice the B, I try backing off, nothing works, the kid just isn't going to like me because mom has told her lies about me and her dad, mom doesn't want her to like me. She feels like she is betraying mom if she likes me. I really am on the edge of just giving up. I mean when I got out with M and B I feel like I am the third wheel, not that we are a family of sorts and I don't think this is ever going to change.

And it makes me sad.

and the curtain rises...

for yet another musical. Bye Bye Birdie opens in a meer 2 hours 20 minutes. I am very excited to have this show behind me.

I have decided that I won't be working on the musical next year (unless, of course, the dread VD says he's not doing it first). I can't work with someone who doesn't think I know what I'm doing.

Anyway, the kids have worked hard and should be very proud of what they have accompished. I know I'm proud of them!

They are my constant reminder of why I really do love my job.

update...

I am mostly in the the new house, although I am living out of boxes, I can't find things I need like my checkbook, the iron, stuff like that. I have been wearing nothing but jeans and t-shirts for weeks because I can't iron anything.

I haven't cooked in two weeks. I want real food for a change. I have been getting home so late from school because of rehearsal I've been eating take out almost every night.

I am about ready to kill the vocal director for my show. We got into it during rehearsal last night because he says there is too much light coming from behind him and the kids can't see his mouth when he directs them (note: he's mouthing the words to them). He wanted me to come up with an instant fix for this. I didn't know what to do, I understand his problem I have 8 lights for the entire show there isn't a thing I can do. I offered to try desklamps pointed at his face, but that wasn't good enough. I guess he thinks I am magic and can pull equipment and hang positions out of my butt. He actually came back to where I was sitting and was going on and on about this. I said I understood but didn't know what he expected me to to do, I have 8 lights for the show.

This went back and forth for a couple of minutes before he said "I understand you understand, that's not the point". What is the fucking point! You didn't do your job and make sure the kids know the music so you have to over conduct for a musical. This isn't a choir concert, they shouldn't have to look at you for cues, they should know them. I shouldn't have to worry about lighting your face because you need the kids to see you mouth the words to them. And I shouldn't have to argue with you about it when I say there are only 8 lights for the show. Give me a few minutes to think of a solution and we won't have any problems.

I really think that he thinks that my job is to make him look good. That the show is about him and what he can do. He said it is a collaboration, he has been to one rehearsal a week until the last 3 weeks. He hasn't helped build a single piece of scenery, yet complains at me that there aren't certain things on the set, or that things are working a certain way.

ARGH!!!!!! I want to slap this man. But I won't, and I probably won't work on the musical next year. That would be a lot less stress on my plate.

Anyway...I hope you are all doing well. I am so disconcected from all of you right now. I don't have my blogroll completely up to date so I can't do my usual reading and my blog list got deleted from my laptop. I will have to wait until this weekend and get my desktop set up.

Take care! and wish me luck!

wiped out!

I am so tired! We moved most of my stuff out of my townhouse wednesday and the big stuff out of M's rental. There is still a lot that has to happen at the townhouse for it to be ready for my renter and it all has to happen by Sunday! Did I mention my show opens this a week?





The Master Suite, we will be painting, but other than that it is a fantastic room....


An entire wall of built-ins, that's
pretty cool, huh?












We could have a party in this shower!










This is the Great Room....We will be changing the color...quickly!















This is the window seat in my craft room...yes! I get my own craft room. I am so excited. (okay, I can't find the picture of the craft room, but I thought you might enjoy knowing I have a windoe seat!)






Guest Room - can't wait to paint this one!










This is the tree in the garden side of the backyead. I love this side of the yard. It is very English Garden.





Note: this post was started several days ago, and then the madness that is moving began. I have been moving things in a car for the entire day (M left for Nashville for work this morning). There is still stuff at the townhouse. I can't believe that! I have way too much stuff and I'm not exactly sure how that happened.

Anway, I hope you enjoyed the pictures...further updates on the move to come later. I'm very tired and want to go by the townhouse in the morning and do another car load before work. That way my tenant (who I know, that goodness) won't have to deal with as much of my stuff for the next week. When M and I finish taking it all out.

Wish me luck!

just a quickie...

WE GOT KEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pictures to follow later today.

a little of this, that and the other

Barring any more craziness M and I should get keys to the house this afternoon. We can't wait, the champagne has been in the fridge for 3 weeks. Once we get the keys the maddness really begins. We have to move me while I direct a musical that is 6 days from opening and before M leaves for Nashville for work.

My garage door broke, again! I have to miss rehearsal tomorrow for the repair company to come and and fix it. I demanded the home warranty company send someone different this time. Last time I specifically asked the repair guy if I needed a new door to prevent this from happening again and he said no. Well, this is the fourth time th exact same thing has happened in two years, what do you think?

One of my assistant principals doesn't trust my judgement, and I hate the use the girl card (I've done it a lot in the past month) but I really do think it's because we are dealing with tools, technology and all things usually considered man. Here's what happened...M and I were working with the kids to get ready for the musical on Saturday, M went up on the scaffolding to set the lights and it was discovered that the batton (big metal pipe that holds the lights) was coming out of the drywall. We took all the lights down, for safety - one good shake from the earth and the whole thing could have come crashing down. When I explained the situation to the AP he had the nerve to look at me like this was my fault! He also made me explain to him how we got up there and how we got the lights down. It took every fiber in my body not to reach out and slap him upside the head while stating the fact that I have a degree in this, I do this all the time, and that the kids in my program will go up on ladders and use power tools and they will not die! Stupid man!

On a very exciting note...I found my dress for the wedding. I don't think M has found the blog yet so I have posted a picture. I also found the perfect shoes, but haven't taken a picture of them yet...maybe later. Now I just have to lose some more weight! What do you think? (It's a terrible picture, but I love the dress!

I've been tagged...

Wow, this is a new one for me, I've never been tagged. I am supposed to list seven random facts about me...

1. I love to read. I always have, always will. I will read anything, books, magazines, the back of cereal boxes. I have more books sitting around waiting to be read than any one person should. I am actually on bookstore restriction, I'm not allowed in unless it is a book emergency.

2. I HATE gum. I can't stand it. It's disgusting, it's made from the same stuff they make tires out of. Not to mention the fact that most people can't chew it with their mouths closed. That smacking sound it enough to drive me batty. (it really ranks up there with eating sounds, which I also can't stand). But I love mints!

3. I hate living in Orange County. There is nothing unique here. Disneyland is trying to take over the world (not that I don't love the Mouse, but there is a line). You can very rarely find cool places to go (although I must tell you about Memphis in Costa Mesa). I not so lovingly refer to the OC as the world's largest strip mall, because that is pretty much all you can find. Three new ones just went in in a 3 mile radius of my house, and not a single cool restaurant or shop in the bunch.

4. I love TV. I don't have many shows I am completely addicted to, but the ones I love, I really, really love. Right now on the top of the list Criminal Minds (I went to college with girl who plays Garcia), Grey's Anatomy and the ABC Monday night comedy shows.

5. I am passionate about theatre. I love reading about it, seeing it, creating it. Most of all creating! I love directing, acting, technical work. It is the one thing in which I will completely immerse myself. My students can see it, they don't always get it, but they see it. Doing theatre full-time is the only reason I would leave teaching.

6. I love loud, hard rock and roll. The louder the better. My students can't believe this and are often shocked when they hear about the concerts I attend. I actually won bonus points with one kid because I went and saw Motley Cru and Areosmith. My favorite band is the Violent Femmes, and I will drop almost anything to see them live.

7. I don't understand "html". I can't figure it out. I try and I get frustrated. That is why you will never see actual links on my blog, but you will see "url"s. Not to mention I really really don't have the time to sit down and figure out how to do it.

Now...who's next...

Katherine at www.katherines123blog.blogspot.com
Bug at www.anindiansummer.net
h&b at www.house-n-baby.blogspot.com

Saturday...

It's finally Saturday, I should be moving into my new house...but no! We won't have keys until Monday. It has gotten so bad that Mortgage guy is paying all kinds of stuff out of his pocket for us. Which seems only fair, if it wasn't for him and his company we would have been in the house two weeks ago. Monday, maybe?

Anyway, it's Saturday, I get to spend the day painting and building scenery for the musical. I met with the VD and the principal yesterday. I don't feel that everything got resolved. But, I don't feel like it is weighing so heavily on me. I am just glad that I was able to get some of it off my chest. I still don't like him very much, and I really don't like the way he wants me to run things, or the fact he wants more of a say in things he knows nothing about, but I have to let things go. If I don't let them go I will explode (and my dear, dear Harvey Johnson (character name) is very worried about the exploding drama teacher).

So, it's Saturday, I think I may finish wedding invitations tonight (I dug them out of a packing box). They need to go out in a couple of weeks. they aren't finished, almost but not yet.

Enjoy your Saturday! I know I will mine.

coming to a head...

I think the saga of the VD is finally going to come to an end.

At open house I had a couple of his "special" singers ask me when they were supposed to come to rehearsal, I thought they ment tech, he said they would talk about it later. Didn't say anything else to me about it.

Today he announced to the cast that he was putting 8 singers in, he was the VD and it was his decision to make. Funny I thought I was the director?

Tomorrow I will have a meeting with him and the principal. Hopefully I can be strong, because we all know I am the world's biggest baby when it comes to confrontation (I know some ladies I would like to be a lot like right now).

I have my list of talking points, which will be revised for tomorrow. And I actually think I am ready for this...Maybe.

I know the kids are up to something, writing a letter or something along those lines. I told the one spearheading the whole thing that I would prefer not to know what is going on. He's afraid he may be included somethings that he isn't supposed to know. (It happens when you are close to kids, when they spend almost every school moment in your presence, they are bound to hear somethings they shouldn't, or you're bound to say something you shouldn't have). I am worried about that. But I really am trying to not get in the middle.

When all is said and done the man will still be an ass. He has insulted me to much that I never want to work with him again. Like a good friend of mine said, "I love him, but he really pisses me off." Although, I'm not so sure I love him, or even like him anymore.

It's nice knowing the kids are on my side, but they shouldn't have to pick sides. I also know there are parents on my side. Who really don't like the way he talks to the kids. He makes them feel bad about they ability.

Okay, I'm ranting again. I must stop. I getting myself all worked up.

Good thought...We signed loan docs yesterday! I have been so busy I haven't had a chance to put in that update! We are hoping to fund tomorrow and get keys tomorrow night. But we also aren't holding our breath. But...we ARE almost a month late. We had to begin the dual app process before Mortgage guy actually produced a loan. But that's okay (not really, but anyway) we have signed and now we wait.

what is it about men?

Why is it that I feel like every man I talk to is treating me like a "girl"? They act like I don't know what I'm doing, like I can't get things done, and worst of all that because they don't know what's going on it's my fault.

Example 1 - Vocal Director guy - This man is an idiot. We open in 3 weeks (okay 3 1/2 but who's counting). He has had 1 rehearsal a week with the exception of this week, where he had 2. I ask why the piano player hasn't been to rehearsals, except 1, when I/we are paying him more money. VD emails me back that last year we promised to pay 800 and I only paid 300.....then why the hell didn't someone say something to me! I had it in the budget, it just means I put the wrong amount in the envelope (which I am sure had 800 in it). I told him I can't fix what I don't know. I also told him the rehearsal schedule hasn't changed since it went out in February, because he claims he doesn't know what I'm doing. I really, really, really hate this man. And I try not to hate people.

Example 2 - Mortgage guy - He still hasn't come through with a loan. He keeps telling me that he can do this thing where the seller will stay at the table because he won't be able to sell the house to anyone else anyway. I don't want to deal with that kind of court crap, I just want to buy my house and live happily ever after. At the rate this man is going I will be living in a cardboard box. He has single handedly driven me back to the point where I am having daily anxiety attacks. He calls me at the end of the day almost every day to tell me that I need to submit some other document. Now, usually I am at work still when he does this, the issue comes from the fact that all businesses I need to deal with are closed by the time I leave the school, therefore I can't get them to do the things I need. And when I ask a simple question I don't need to know the whole history of why this thing is happening, I just need to know the answer to the question and then to get off the phone before I pull him through the phone lines by his vocal cords!

Example 3 - District Director of Maintenance - this man won't let me order my new lighting and sound system because we are attaching things to the wall and ceiling. He needs to talk to the company I am having do the work to find out exactly how they are doing this. Now, keep in mind I didn't go down to Home Depot and hire a bunch of day laborers, I went to a reputable staging company. A company that does this stuff professionally. A company that knows a hell of a lot more than Director guy does. I don't think he realizes that when I said I have a show opening in 3 weeks I mean I have a show OPENING IN 3 WEEKS AND NO LIGHTS!!!!!!!! Apparently these people think I am magic and can pull a fully staged-fully lighted-fully mic'd show out of my ass. As I tell my kids...I'M NOT MAGIC!!!!!!!

Okay, enough venting...on a happy note H&M finally opened close to me. I can finally spend my gift card, buy lots of cute stuff. Only I am in no mood to shop (blame the stupid men!).

approved!

I got the phone call yesterday. We have an approval, with some contingencies...but they seem to be minor stuff. We should be able to order docs today! I have my dual app all ready to go, incase I don't get the call that they've ordered them for us. I am not going to let this go past today without docs being ordered. It is just lame that they are dragging their feet so much.

I'm not making this up, you couldn't get a better loan risk than I am. I have killer credit scores! Debt to income ratio is really low! I know where the problem lies...and M is so glad he divorced her!

big sigh...

I still don't have a new house. In fact we are very close to losing the new house and a considerable sum of money.

Mortgage guy just isn't coming through for us. And on top of that he isn't giving any indication that he can't get the job done so we know if we need to move on.

Real Estate Agent guy has me doing a dual app with another lender independently. I don't know if that is stinky of me, but I don't want to lose the house or the deposit. The seller is getting a little worried about us at this point. I am looking like a bad risk to him and that is pissing me off. If ever there was a good person to lend money to, it's me. I pay back my loans, on time!

So, the day I took off to care for my frazzled mental faculties will be spent filling out a loan app, finding all the documentation New Loan guy needs and trying to send that off.

Real Estate guy said he would tell Mortgage guy we dual app'ed next week. That way Mortgage guy keeps working on our file. M and I are actually hoping we hear something today.

In fact I have put M in charge of talking to people for the next few days. My brain is fried and I can't keep all the house stuff straight any more.

So, my friends, send me good karma and lots of mojo to deal with what is quickly turing into a real estate fiasco.

copy cat, copy cat

Sophomores are so dumb. I just graded a paper, or should I say googled a research paper. Every single entry (they had to research 10 topics and write one paragraph on each) was copied directly from the internet.

First tip off...she didn't notate the sources, just put "book", "internet", etc.

Second tip off...links. Links print in blue!

Third tip off...words like "succession", "nomads", discontinuous"

Once again I state Sophomores are idiots!

Things I need to do today... UPDATED

1. Sign loan docs. Not going to happen. The underwriter is seriously in the middle of heavy PMS. She won't release the docs and keeps asking for stupid crap. Like, for example, how many months a year I get paid, what difference does it make, I still make the same amount. Oh, and when did my raise take effect. In September, when school started. I was asked if I ment September of last year...DUH!!! And I'll get another one next September!

2. Call my real estate agent to see if I can get into the house to take pictures. Not getting in. The seller is mad at me, okay actually probably more mad at the lender, but still mad. I was told it would be best to just stay away. In fact he signed an addendum to the escrow stuff to extend, but I have to pay $28 per day to cover interest on his mortgage. Mortgage guy is going to pay it for me, mainly because he knows I'm PISSED! Although I have calmed down.

3. Grade research papers. Yes, I am avoiding this. But it will happen.

4. Finish packing the living room. Doing this one soon.

5. Start packing the craft room. Yep, almost all the scrapbooking stuff is in boxes.

6. Clean the garage, to half can be goodwill and half can be move. Yes! I have started this.

7. Figure out when to bring in movers. (yeah, did you hear because of mortgage guy I now have to hire movers) I can't do this, I don't know when I will be signing loan docs so I don't know when I will fund so I don't know when I will be moving.

8. Decide on paint colors for the great room and the master bedroom. This way I can start to paint the moment I get in the house (you will understand when you see the colors of 3 of the rooms). Just don't even want to think about this one right now.

9. Buy a cashier's check for escrow. Nope, need to wait until I have loan docs.

10. Buy supplies to make green beans for Easter. Not that I am interested in going now. I really don't to have everyone asking about the new house after the loan doc fiasco. Don't feel like it, I'll go tomorrow.

11. Did I mention I really really want to sign my loan docs.ARGH!

shit!

Mortgage guy did not come through for me. As of today, the day we are supposed to have closed escrow I still don't have loan docs. We won't fund until Monday, won't record until Monday (and that's if we are lucky) and won't get keys until Tuesday (that's if we're lucky).

I told him that I go back to work on Monday. I got back to work hard on Monday, my show opens in 4 weeks and we are so far from ready it kills me. I begin working my 14 hour days on Monday. M leaves for Vegas for a week on Thursday. Now, I have to move by myself and get the townhouse ready for the renter by meself and this is all screwed up because mortgage guy didn't do what he was supposed to.

My real estate agent told me if I didn't have loan docs by Monday I wouldn't close. I told mortgage guy this, who told me it wasn't true. Well, apparently it is.

People keep telling me that it will close when it closes and there isn't anything I can do about it. Yet, they don't seem to understand that I will be moving between the hours of 7:00pm and 5:00am because between the hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm I will be at the school teaching classes and directing a play. I don't have time for people to screw up on timelines.

I am already so stressed I am having a meltdown and will be worthless the entire weekend. So much for a happy easter.

WHAT!

Somebody needs to get their act together before I end up killing someone!

I am trying to deal with everything with grace and tact (I'm trying to take a lesson from someone whom I greatly admire), but I am loosing it!

I got the stuff off to mortgage guy this morning. Everything except the document that shows where the downpayment for the house is coming from. I was all over the website for the mortgage company, no place on the site had a statement showing the draw on the equity line.

So, I email mortage guy and tell him this information. I email at about 7:30 in the morning.

I call mortgage guy at 2:00 pm and ask him if he has everything, he says yes. I begin to relax expecting a call anytime to sign loan docs.

I call mortgage guy back at 3:30 because when I called at 2:00 I had students hammering lids on paint cans and couldn't focus. This second phone call is to see what our time line looks like. I am then informed that he in fact doesn't have everything.

He has just looked at the email that states that I didn't have the document with the equity draw.

Now, if you are mortgage person trying to close a loan the day before escrow is supposed to close don't you think you would read EVERY email the client sent very carefully. Espcially when you are awaiting documents. He didn't read that email until after I talked to him at 2:00! Then was testy with me when I called him on the fact that he told me had everything when I talked to him at 2:00.

We are not going to close tomorrow. I am going to get angry "demand to perform" things from the seller and there isn't anything I can do about it. We probably won't close until next week. Next week when I have gone back to work and back to rehearsals. Next week when M leaves for yet another show in Vegas.

I'm telling you, all I want to do right now is curl up in a ball and cry.

I want to track down the seller and tell him I am doing everything I possibly can to get this closed on time and that it is the mortgage/lender who is holding things up.

I really, really just want to close escrow and be done with this!

oh my gosh!

WHY!!!!!!!

I spoke with mortgage guy at 11:30 am, why in the world did he wait until 3:10 to tell me exactly what he needed from me to finish for the loan docs.

Everything he needs I could have gotten had I known before 3:10!!!!!

Between 3:10 and 5:00 I ran around like a crazy person...pick up copies of M's last two paychecks from his office (to avoid driving in traffic for the real ones), race to my district office to get a copy of my most recent paystub because I didn't pick it up on Friday, not knowing I would need it. Apparently the loan people think I have quit my job in the past 30 days! IDIOTS!

Then it was home to find the tax returns I know I sent, that they can't find, and don'tcha think someone would have noticed they were missing before today!

Oh, and the tax forms that M picked up from me today so he can comlete his 2006 taxes...they need new copies of those! ARGH!!!!! I just sent those to them 3 weeks ago!

I think I am cursed, I think someone wants to keep me out of this house, I think someone reall wants to be slapped!

I'm not stressed, not one bit...I need a glass of wine.

dumb people

I am so tired of dumb people. It seems like almost everyone I encounter lately is dumb. The latest dumb people...the people who told me my new house would be tented today! Tented today with the tent coming off on Wednesday, and escrow closing and funding on Thursday.

Oh, and let us not forget the person who told me that if I didn't get my loan docs signed today my loan wouldn't close and fund in time. I still haven't seen loan docs!

While I'm at it let's add the lady at a certain HOME improvement store whom I had to tell 3 different times that I have a stand alone shower that I want new doors for, not a shower/tub combination. Not the mention the number of times I had to explain that I had already talked to a contractor and knew that a new shower surround wounldn't fit through the door of the bathroom, and that I didn't want to tile the shower, I just want to resurface it. (In this case I think it's the fact that I have blond hair and boobs and know what I'm talking about, it confuses people).

Let me tell you...stupidity should be painful. Actual physical PAIN!

I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams...

Can you name that musical?

Actually, I'm not spinning daydreams, I'm spinning realities! My life has been a whirlwind of activity since I last posted.

Here's the low-down...

1. I've been so busy I haven't been able to check in with everyone on a consistant basis. It took me over an hour to catch up tonight.

2. I can't check in on most at work anymore...Typepad blogs have been blocked because they are a "forum" and Chatty got blocked because of all of her "adult language" (I thought you might get a kick out of that).

3. The musical is coming along. I have having issues with the dread VD (vocal director). For those of you who weren't around last year (I say that like I have so many avid readers), he's very self-centered and feels the show is about him and his chamber singers, therefore he tends to favor them and make my drama kids feel bad. This year I have taken it to a higher power...not that one...the principal. I had a chat about how he was treating kids. And then after another incident 3 kids went to the principal about him. I have a feeling I might be in the market for a new VD.

4. Wedding plans have been put on hold for a little while. NO! nothing bad has happened, I have just been too busy. We did book the cupcakery. Yes, you read that right, the cupcakery. We are not doing a traditional cake, we are doing red velvet cupcakes, with cream cheese frosting topped with a cherry. It's going to be so cool. We will have one large multi tiered display and then surrounding it will be cake stands and trays filled with the remaining cupcakes. We are really excited about this, it's going to be a lot of fun. Check Frosted in Belmont Shores, they are doing the cupcakes. They are WAY tastier than that other fancy-smancy cupcake place, and $10 cheaper per dozen.

5. We are scheduled to close escrow next Thursday! Can you believe? We are VERY VERY excited about that. We have our final walk through tomorrow, the tent goes up on Monday (if we don't have another windstorm), and we should close and fund on Thursday and Friday. Which means I should be painting by next Saturday and moving stuff in by Sunday afternoon. I figure if I take a few boxes in my car everyday for a week (M will be out of town) the big move will be a lot easier (fewer boxes to move and less stuff to still unpack). So, needless to say I have been a packing fool...

6. Speaking of packing, where in the world did I get so much crap? I mean it seems to be the never ending supply of stuff that needs to go into boxes. I know I need to purge, but everything seems so essential. What do I get rid of? I know a bunch of stuff will be going after we move in. We figured we would just get stuff into the house and then go, "we really don't need that". I know that seems silly, but I think I might work better that way.

Okay, I think you are all up to speed. I am on vacation this week. I'm looking forward to packing, resting and catching up with family and friends. Enjoy the blossoming spring weather!

could it get any worse

I came home today to find my garage freezer open. This is the freezer where several hundred dollars worth of really good beef lives, or should I say lived because I have no idea how long the door has been open and almost everything is defrosted, so most of it is trash.

I say almost because there was so much stuff in there that with some digging I was able to create one shelf of stuff that was still frozen.

I cooked a bunch of stuff that was partially frozen. Salvaged the ham because it's smoked, which equals already cooked, and very very cold, and have a pork shoulder roast in the crock pot because it was super cold and very defrosted. Everything else will be trashed. I am very upset.

To make it all worse...TODAY was trash day! That crap has to stay in the freezer until next Wednesday!