Purchase

I have been a SunTrust customer for over a decade (I know they used to be SunBanc...). If they know me and my spending habits AT ALL (insert: pediatrician copays, SuperTarget, VS lip gloss, and the occasional Starbucks), the fraud department surely thinks my card has been stolen.

Today I purchased Low Carb Metabolic Drive Chocolate Protein Powder. 2lbs for $34 from a website called Testosterone Nation. Clearly it was for Coach.

At least the shipping was free.

Carnivorous

Remember this pizza Coach and I ordered last year? The one that didn't fit through the door?

Well, we hit up Big Pie again last night and we may or may not have ordered a smaller version of this....The Carnivore. The topic of the Man vs. Food Challenge.

I assure you, most of it is in the fridge this morning.

Cinderelly

It's Wednesday and I am bitch slapping this house once again.

Coach's parents will be here a week from Friday, so my plan is a little different than usual.

I promise you, having a cleaning day scheduled for each week is the smartest thing I ever did (without a cleaning service mind you). I just don't stress the other 6 days of the week.

What's your housekeeping agenda?

4 Words

Sleeping puppy under table.

Verapamil

So I have started a regimen of Verapamil as migraine prevention. It's a calcium channel blocker for those of you who care.

In any case, it lowers blood pressure. Mine is already freakishly low for someone who doesn't "exert" herself often as the doc says.

A resulting side effect is tiredness. But really? How will I know if I am tired? I have 2 children, a husband, a house and yard, 2 jobs, 2 schools, 2 PTAs, 2 soccer teams and a brain that refuses to shut off. Ever. Ever, ever.

So to ask if I am tired from the Verapamil is really a silly question.

Since the answer would be a resounding '"HELL YES!".


Now. Who wants to buy a house?

A New Low (High?)

Feeling so much better I can't even tell you. Meds and time, migraine is gone.

Coach is still in Boston (where he may or may not have driven 40 miles out of his way to catch the Encore of the Springsteen show...whatevs) and it's been the Mommy Show. I'll admit to a little exhaustion with them. Just a little. Having one million dollars to entertain them would be helpful.

After today's Catechist training (um, I am teaching 3rd grade Religious Ed this year...) and a romp in the backyard with the boys, I am watching Tori and Dean's show. Possibly eating Double Stuf Oreos whilst sulking and stressing over the state of things. Those things mainly being money and the size of my arse.

I'm just saying.

In My Head

Went to the Neurologist today (Tangentially, my pedicure was iffy so I wore closed toe shoes. Alas, I had to remove them for my exam. *cringe*)

She briefly went down the holistic vitamin route and I put the kibosh on that in about 2.3 seconds. I can't even take a Flintstones without losing my proverbial lunch, so I certainly ain't taking magnesium or some other such craziness.

My migraines are hormonal and irregular and I've had them since High School. They are debilitating and nothing OTC helps. My friend Skinny and I have a bag of tricks to help us, like sticking our faces into a bowl of ice water. It's all fun and games.

We now have a better plan for migraine prevention (fingers crossed) and a better plan for treatment. I had the Neurologist literally write it down for me. Step one, take this. Step two, do this. Et al.

In any case, I still have a dull migraine 12 days from onset, but that is most likely because it got so out of hand. I feel more empowered too, and less anxious about the "what if" of next time. Waking up with a steamroller of a migraine and vertigo was not my idea of a happy morning. Thinking I was having a stroke and was about to be the next Lifetime Special? Not working for me.

The migraine cocktail of meds is different for everyone, but for me it now includes Verapamil, Midrin, Phenergan and Lortab. Throw in a shot of Toradol for good measure and I am good to go.

In theory.

Really Fantastic Real Estate

It's official. The countdown is on to the end of the First Time Homebuyer Credit, (also applies if you haven't owned a home in 36 months) and you must close by December 1, 2009 to get the credit. Here are some basics that you may not realize.

The credit is a big fat juicy $8000 check. You can get in in about 6 weeks.

FHA loans only require a 620 credit score and 3.5% down payment which CAN be a gift from family. You could borrow the down payment then repay them with your $8000 check.

In Atlanta there are deals like you wouldn't believe. All over the country there are foreclosures and short sales that you never thought you could afford. You can now.

Oh, and BTW? I can help you with that.

Just email me. Whether you live in Atlanta or Alaska.

Just do it. It'll make my migraine go away. Pinky swear.

Muddled

Toradol. Meclizine. Verapamil. Nuerologist. CT Scan.

Fun week.

I pink puffy heart migraines and cluster headaches.

Maybe I'll be funnier after this round of drugs.

Farewell

Tonight Coach is headed to The University to welcome back the student athletes.

We will be hearing from him again, in say...December.

Peace out hubs. It's been a great summer.

Ode to the FDA

Very early this morning I woke up to a wicked migraine and a nasty case of what turned out to be Vertigo. I was vomiting and the room was spinning at about 84,000 miles per hour. I was panicking because the minis' hadn't made their beds before leaving for school and if anyone had to come help me they would be all judg-y. Ridiculous, I realize.

Coach was convinced I had Toxic Shock Syndrome and I was sure I was pregnant and having a miscarriage (been there, done that).

Coach stayed home from work and took me promptly to the Doctor. Coach was concerned and generally sweet, but said I couldn't be that ill since I was still being a bitch. hee hee A leopard doesn't change it's spots, honey! Doc said I looked terrible and had dark, sunken eyes. We both snickered at that, that's pretty typical.

In any case, the Doc diagnosed me as really, really jacked up and promptly shot me up in the arse with some Toradol. My parting gifts were Meclizine, Maxalt and Phenergan. Score. We hit the Starbucks drive-thru next to the pharmacy and landed a Chai Latte for me and an Americano for him. We will pretend that the toffee pecan bars we ate were medicinal. You will play along.

In any case, it's almost 4pm. The Vertigo is gone (for now!), the migraine is lingering, and the emesis has ended. The minis are home from school and Rachael Ray is on TV draining capers from brine.

I can't feel my teeth from the meds, but somehow I can now do quantum physics.

Oh, and the minis beds are made. See? A leopard really doesn't change it's spots.

Casa de Chaos

Tiger Rags

Kitchen Window

New Geneva Pottery from PA.

Fridge. I pink puffy heart this magnet.

Blogging central.

Cleaning Day

It's cleaning day (a day late) at the Casa de Chaos.

Minis are in school and life is good.

Old Lady

The Athletic Trainer at The University just texted me.

"Hey Mom. What's for dinner?"

I thought he texted me by mistake.

Turns out he just thinks I am old. And a good cook.

Sigh...

Duh

You know what IS a really good idea? To give yourself a pedicure, then cover your feet with 84,000 ounces of juicy lotion and slide on a pair of socks. Let them soak in all the lotion for about 30 minutes and then feel how soft your feet are.

You know what ISN'T a really good idea?

To do that with self-tanner by accident.

Crap.

First Day Pics

Please note: No collars on the shirts. I am trying to loosen up. This is step one. Step two is to stop the matching clothes. Don't hold your breath on that one.

BTS!

Can you believe it's Back to School time already? Seems like just yesterday I was typing this post and now we're doing it all over again!


The minis are so excited for 1st and 3rd grades. Jack is thrilled that his kindergarten teacher (one of my sorority sisters!) looped up and is his teacher again. She is fabulous and we just adore her. She also reads the blog; I'm just saying.


Ryan's teacher is new for us this year, but scored major points when she didn't even giggle at me at Sneak a Peek on Friday. I walked in and started to cry a little. I had been very concerned about 3rd grade placement and was DELIGHTED to find out that she was his teacher. I was so excited that before I even left the building I had mislaid her welcome letter and had to ask for another one. Quite the fallen PTA President I am. hee hee At least I had on cute pink and navy whale flip flops and my pearls.



In any case supplies are dropped off and lunch boxes are at the ready. Coach has a bag full of new clip boards and an academic planner that is still rather barren. It will be so full in 2 weeks that we won't even know what hit us.


I have big plans for this year. Taking stock of this family and focusing on just that, this family. I will still be selling real estate (duh) and working a few hours a week for a friend. I am also going to be teaching Ryan's PSR (religious ed) class on Wednesdays. Other than that, it's going to be sticking close to home and relishing the fact that these boys (and the puppy!) are growing faster than I could have ever imagined.

Mountain MiniVaca

Coach playing mini golf. I accused him of stealing my hat until I realized perhaps the hat WAS his and I had been stealing it!

Pottery House Restaurant. Food was iffy. Company was fantastic!

Professor Hacker's Mini Golf. So stinking fun!

This little bridge was over a dry creek outside of our cabin.

Born on a Mountain Top

We've been in the Smokie Mountains for a while, and just rolled back into town.

I haven't forgotten about you...pics soon!

Smooch!

Heirloom

Tonight we took the children to a local Italian restaurant near the Casa de Chaos. Six year old Jack had been begging for Gnocchi Bolognese and we decided to treat him. (OK, we treated ourselves too; I had a roasted beet salad with farmer's goat cheese!)

He engaged in a really great conversation with the owner which started with him trying fennel on his misto salad. Then he tried scallops, proscuitto and my farfalle. By the end of the meal Jack had ordered a round of cannoli for our table.

The owner told Jack that he has a garden and grows Heirloom Tomatoes. They discussed them at length. The height of the raised bed. The kinds of tomatoes he grows (Black Cherry, Cherokee and Whopper) and the watering.

Jack left the restaurant with a greater sense of autonomy, the owner's business card and the promise of a packet of seeds from this year's crop of plants.

He's growing up faster than I realized.

Not Me

She is not me.

I am Clemsongirl. The original blog. For years.

I am Clemsonjenn on Twitter. If you're following some other name, you're not following me.

My blog does NOT have a Facebook page.

Just so you know.


She is NOT me.