Great life

The last few days, and the next few have been and will be crazy busy. Last weekend I had the pleasure of having the in-laws over. I love my in-laws, and my relationship with my father-in-law is excellent. Usually when he is here, his wife and my husband head up to bed early, and he and I stay downstairs drinking too many beers and solving the world's problems.

This weekend "Crazy Dave"(from neckbone's commentary roster), and his whole family will be down here. They are the ones I miss the most from CT. Dave's wife is one of the smartest, funniest, and most generally nice person there is. I can not wait to see here again. She has proven to be a great friend in the ugliest of times. Their older son is my son's best friend, and my son is counting down for his arrival. Their youngest hardly talked when we left. Unable to say my name he called my DiDu, in the cutest voice there is. How can you not love that? Oh yeah, Dave, you know I love you too.

Next week is Iceland. With friends from the past and my favorite people ever - my dad and my sister. I love my life.

Afmæli og stress

Til hamingju með afmælið elsku systir. Get ekki beðið eftir að sjá þig í næstu viku.

'Eg er að byrja að stressast yfir ferðinni heim. 'Eg alltaf stressuð hvort sem er, svo ég veit ekki afhverju ég er að stressa mig meira. 'I þessari viku er ég stressuð yfir hundinum mínum, sem er orðin háöldruð og verður ein heima í 18 daga. Hún á ekki eftir að taka eftir að við erum farin, en ég stressa mig samt.

'I næstu viku (bara byrjuð að plana) verð ég stressuð yfir peningum, og líklega hundinum líka. Og rétt áður en ég fer heim verð ég stressuð yfir fluginu heim. Það sem ég ætti að vera að gera þessa dagana er að plana ferðina heim, hlakka til að hitta allt fólkið mitt heima, og slappa af.

Bringin' home the bacon

Being a stay at home mom has its benefits - and its downfalls. Since I was nine years old I've worked. Not very good jobs (slaughter house, candy factory, bad restaurant etc.), but at least I had my own income. After Neckbone and I got married our understanding was always that I would continue to work, but things don't always go as planned...

Ring ring....
Me: hello
Neckbone: got a call from daycare- our son is sick, call them
Me: ok
Me: ring ring...
Daycare: Hello
Me: Yeah I am boy's mom I hear he's not feeling well.
Daycare: oh the boy that stopped breathing.....Can you hold please...(hold music)
Me: PANIC...MAJOR Panic...

45 minutes later I was with my son, and he is to this day fine, but this was the day we decided I would stay home...until today.

Neckbone: so, what are you going to do next fall?
Me: not do your laundry that is for sure!!
Necbone: Huh... Ok...
Me: if you think I am going to cater to everyone of your needs, for the rest of my life, you have another thing coming.
Neckbone: Err....okay...can I fetch you a Midol?...Please?
Me: I am going back to work whether you like it or not
Necbone: Ok, how about that pill now?
Me: Thinking (I hate arguing with him)

To make a long story short. I am going back to work this fall Yay me!!!. Anyone hiring?

My fellow shopper

Reading Necbone´s post today reminded me of an incident that happened last year at Costco in Connecticut.

My son and I were doing the shopping for the month, and our shopping list was quite long. On my way into the store I grabbed a shopping cart, and noticed as soon as we entered the store that it had a rather annoying clatter in one of the wheels. To lazy to go out to get another one, we pressed on.

About half way through our shopping list, we needed an item in a narrow isle, and since the store was busy I left the shopping cart in front of the isle out of the way, so other shoppers would be able to walk trough also. When my son and I return, someone had emptied the cart on top of a floor display and taken OUR cart. I was speechless; I had never in my life experienced such behavior.

I went out of the store and got another non-clattering cart and completed my shopping, only to end up behind a very familiar clattering cart on the way to the check out. This is where I loudly, and with passion started teaching my son about how to treat other people, and how some people are not raised properly. I am very sure my son will never steal someone’s shopping cart, and if he does he will see my disapproving look for weeks afterwards. As for the shopping cart snatchers, I know they heard me, and one even blushed while I was telling my son about proper upbringing, but I don't think it changed anything. I could have confronted and drowned them in profanities in more than one language, but that isn't me I just cry about it a year later in a post.

Summer vacation for ME

Where have I been? Good question. I have been running the social schedule of a nine year old going on thirteen.

1st on the schedule is to make sure my son is happy (who knows why I do this, I guess I love torturing myself) this is done by going to the pool, entertaining his friends, going shopping to pre-approved stores, and going to "school is out" parties.
2nd I need to make sure the house looks presentable (failing most of the time), laundry is done,(with all the pool towels this is a full time job), the homes finances are in order (who knows!!), and cook two meals per day (cooking means more cleaning, and shopping).

I can't wait to go to Iceland.

Birthday

I just realized now at 2:30 pm that it is June 17th the independence day of Iceland. In 1944, Iceland declared independence from the Danish crown. June 17 was chosen as the official holiday since it was the birthday of Jon Sigurdsson who is regarded as Iceland's champion to the nationalist cause. Therefore, I can justify folding laundry while having a glass of vine.

Usually on this day of all days we (Icelanders) gather to celebrate with parades, open air performances, dancing and music. The festivities end with a night long drunk-fest for the young while the grown gather with friends and family. I have many fond memories from down town Reykjavík on this wonderful day. Ending with an overpriced taxi ride back home to Mosfellsbær.

Thankful

This morning I was seriously thankful for not having to get out of bed and shower. Last night's blogger's night prevented me from jumping out of bed and facing my day*. I lost a few mom of the year points as I sent my son down stairs to "play whatever you can find for the playstation". Turned over and slept for another lovely hour.

Totally justifying the not-so-fresh feeling of this morning, last night was great. I had a couple too many of anything that was put in front of me, and I mean anything. I met a-lot of new people and liked all of them. I would do the cool link stuff, but I just don't have the energy. We kept the sitter out too late, since the drive home took us over an hour with traffic jams due to construction. Traffic jam at midnight- a Maryland thing I can live without.

*I NEVER jump out of bed I would be happy hanging out until the second cup of coffee has been completed. The hard part is to find someone to fetch it for you.

MVA II

I am as of 11:20 this morning a proud member of Maryland drivers with the license to go with that honor. It only took me 4 1/2 hours two days and five different MVA representatives. The trick is REFUSE to leave without a license.

1st clerk booth# 4. grade D
Unfriendly and slightly mean told me I did not have the required information since their requirements had changed since yesterday. I told her I would not leave unless I talked to a supervisor, ms booth#4 sent me to booth #6. (Ms Booth#4 was attractive, but since we are both female it did not improve her grade).

Supervisor Booth #6. Grade F
Supervisor came over after aprox 15 min wait, and agreed with booth #4 stating that indeed the policy had changed and now in addition to my immigration docks, passport, drivers license, and 3forms to prove residency I needed my social security card. This was not the case yesterday therefore I am assuming random policy change. I told her I would not leave until I receive a license. At this point the document handler was paged. (Supervisor's grade is bad because the poor creature was unbelievably irritating).

Document handler Booth #7 Grade C+
(Now who wouldn't want that on their name tag?)
Dh grade suffered a bit because I was at this point getting to be very angry, but to her defense she completely turned my mood around (almost). She seemed to think that we could work with my paperwork (after me begging for a while) even thought she would have wanted more substantial prove of my residency here in Maryland. She had me to run to my car and get my registration that had been turned down yesterday as something they couldn't take. After this I was sent on to booth #14 with a note from DH I guess it's kind of like a note from mom.

2nd Clerk Booth #14 Grade B- (I just can not give anyone at the MVA an A it would be wrong)
Nice and friendly lady took my $45.00 processed my paperwork, and handed me my license with the meanest looking picture of me I have ever seen. (Her grade is high because she gave me my license)

I know I said five people, but in the interest of keeping this profanity free I will not discuss my first day at the MVA again.

MVA I think - or in their case NOT

I just spent two hours trying to get my new Maryland drivers license. The whole incident has made me rethink my life choices (again) and consider seriously to move back to Iceland. Getting an Icelandic citizen ship for my husband and MAKING my son adjust to a whole new environment, culture, and language will be easier than it is to get a new drivers license in this otherwise lovely state.

Neckbone succeeded, but I did not. Yes we did have the same documentation, but my clerk did not think mine was valid while Neckbone's did. TOTALY random. I had my old license 2 letters/mail/bills with my address on it, and my lovely Resident Alien card. My mail wasn't good enough for them and they didn't want to take my Maryland Vehicle Registration card processed in their office with my address on it as a prove of residence. I even offered them my whole checkbook, again with my address on it, but still NO SORRY! NO CAN DO. I am now writing up two invoices for repairs done to my home I'll stamp it with some date and bring that to the MVA . If they actually take that I will be writing to homeland security.

Education

I have been thinking more and more about my choices in life. I guess this would be called midlife crisis even though I have no intention, at this point, to trade in the old for the young.

I spent good part of my life going to school, first in Iceland and then in Germany. After graduation I worked first at an office supply store (we all LOVE retail) and then at a biotech company were my education was actually used. Now I stay at home with my son, and even though I am content with my choice I feel a bit cheated out of all the time and money spent on my education when I could have used both for more important partying.

Driving with my son.

son: When I get older, and get my learner's permit chicks will dig me.
me: How is that? (note to self: tell neckbone to stop using the word chick)
son: all I need is a cool car
me: like what?
son: a Cobra or a Hummer
me: (thinking) a Hummer!! I will need to disown the boy
me: Why those cars?
son: Jeep liberty is not a chick magnet it's more like a chick truck (I drive a Liberty!!). The Rubicon is cool, but it's too slow.
me: (thinking again) Chick truck, chick magnet. I need to have a serious talk with the child and his father.

Gelgjuskeið

'Eg og níu ára gamall einkasonurinn vorum ein heima í gærkvöldi, og þegar svo á stendur nenni ég allsekki að elda, svo að við skruppum út í mat.

Áður en að við gátum borðar þurftum við að láta taka passamynd af barninu. Fyrir ári síðan hefði þetta verið mjög auðvelt, en í gær þurfti að finna réttu skirtuna og ná hárinu eins fullkomnu og hægt var og æfa brosið. Hann hefur tekið ljósu lokkana í sátt því þegar hann var þriggja ára vildi hann að ég litaði hárið á honum brúnt, svo að hann fengi ekki eins mikla athygli.

Eftir mjög vel heppnaða passamynd (two thumbs up frá fyrirsætunni) fórum við loksins út að borða á Pizza Hut (nammm). Þar sátum við og hann fer að ræða sína erfiðleika, og þá sérstaklega með gelgjuskeiðið. Allavega svo virðist sem gelgjan láti hann ljúga að foreldrum sínum, og hann gleymir hlutum frekar (sem sagt hlíðir ekki), og síðan allar þessa bólur (hann fékk eina fyrir nokkrum mánuðum).

'Eg er ansi hrædd um að gelgjan eigi eftir að verða mér erfiðust.

SuperMom

Wondering were I've been...? So have I. The weekend took it's toll, so Tuesday was spent wondering were the weekend went, and why I am now 3lbs heavier than I was on Monday. More quality time at the gym coming up.

Today I spent at a potato chip factory with 100 3rd graders, making up for all the world greatest mom points lost due to common oversights. My favorite being letting my son play GTA (not allowed to shoot) because I hadn't talked to my sister on the phone for a while, or when you find your self in a store/mall/park at 2pm and your son reminds you he hasn't eaten anything yet. Sometimes I wonder how the child can be so kind and adjusted.

The potato chip factory was cool, and so was spending the day with my son, but I've never been as happy to be home ever...EVER. The plan for tonight is as follows: eat two tylonol, and go to sleep by 9:40.