Amy J. Bennett

Update on Mom

September 19, 2007 by Amy Leave a Comment

Mom is doing good so far. She came home from the hospital today. She was a little groggy when we went last night. We had a nice visit though. She had bought the girls toys the other day and had brought them to the hospital so the girls played with those. We ate dinner at the hospital with Dad. For some reason, we all looked forward to eating at the cafeteria there. Everything was salt-free but besides that, it was pretty good.

OK, seeing this post has reverted to such boring things as salt-free hospital food, I’ll move on.

Mom’s surgery

September 18, 2007 by Amy Leave a Comment

I’m sure this will affect quite a few things in the coming weeks and months so I’m reporting now my mom had a hysterectomy today. I’m not really sure what to expect. They don’t really go over this type of thing in s-e-x ed in middle school. From my understanding of it, we may see some emotional effects–as if she didn’t already have enough. Am I clueless on this process?? I know her physical recoup is less than 2 weeks so that is good news.

Dad called me this morning on the way back from taking the kids to school and said everything had gone fine. We are headed up there when I’m done working to see her.

This morning I was ironing Emma’s skirt before school and I remembered Mom’s surgery. The girls were in the kitchen with me so I grabbed their hands and said, let’s pray real quick for Grandma’s surgery. I said a quick two sentence prayer for Mom and the doctors and Emma says with a smirk/giggle, “We don’t pray now, we pray at night.” I corrected and said, “No, you can pray anytime. God likes it when you pray.” Made me think twice about what I’ve taught her about prayer. The last thing I want it to be is a task on her to-do list at night.

I do know her Sunday School class prays every week and several times she has told us she asked for prayer when one of us was sick or when Scott was going out of town so I know she understands it. I just hope I can relay the verse:

Ephesians 6:18 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.

Fall line-up

September 18, 2007 by Amy Leave a Comment

So while I’m on all this tv-talk, I thought I’d review the shows I’m looking forward to starting or have already started in some cases.

Grey’s Anatomy – #1 show on my list!

House – can’t wait!

The Office – once again, can’t wait!

Private Practice – can’t NOT watch this as I’m a Grey’s fanatic

Gossip Girls – woo hoo! can’t wait for tonight!

Survivor – Hometown participant, Leslie Nease, so I sorta have to watch this season although I haven’t watched the last few. Although I did hear through the grapevine in town she didn’t get too far.

Nip/Tuck — my guilty pleasure, don’t hate me for watching this

The Bachelor – I’ve watched every season, why stop now?

The new one with Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammar

Nashville – Seems like it’s going to be really good. Reality show of people making it in country music…I think anyway.

The Hills – After last night’s episode, I’ll be tuning in every week for sure.

Desperate Housewives – Those women are crazy, but come on, that’s good drama to watch.

American Idol – I don’t think this one starts until Jan though

OK, see how busy I’m going to be this fall?? I may as well cancel my Blockbuster Access.

Easy day

September 18, 2007 by Amy Leave a Comment

OK, so Scott was back at work today. The day actually went pretty well. The girls actually seem easier to get ready this year than last so the mornings aren’t that rough. Plus I’ve been setting clothes out the night before to make it even easier. We brought S home from school with us so they played the entire afternoon together in the playroom. And have I mentioned how much I like my office in the sunroom and the toys in Lexi’s room? They play in there ALL the time. And today I went in there and Lexi literally said, “Get out of here!” Two seems a little early to be dissing Mommy but I guess that’s the way kids are these days (please catch the sarcasm).

When SIL came to pick up S, the girls wanted to go home with her so they spent the afternoon/evening over at their house. In fact, Lexi was asleep for the night when she brought them home.

Scott and I went to the gym when I quit working and can I just say I’m kind of over the gym. It’s been almost two years that I’ve been working hard in the gym, only for the past 6 weeks or so when I actually lost weight and kept it off and now when I see those calories on the elliptical, I just don’t care about them as much and there’s no motivation…there’s no “Just 100 more calories and I’ll work off that cookie I ate after lunch”. I’ve lost the weight I’ve wanted and I really want to keep up with it because I know my cholesterol is still a little high but there’s no “You just worked off 5 HDL points! Congratulations, keep going for 10 more minutes” option. Anyway, we’re seriously considering stopping the membership at least until January when they have the free signups again. I know everything is going to get busy during the holidays anyway and it’s almost $70 a month. Very much one of our luxury bills we could do without.

So anyway, Scott and I stopped at Subway on the way home where I then spent almost this whole evening either checking email, myspace, watching crappy reality shows or blogging about them. I wish I had something more interesting to say, but I think this will do it for now. The clock just turned midnight so I think this Cinderella has to go!

Pick-up Artist

September 17, 2007 by Amy Leave a Comment

Ok, while I’m on a streak the past two days blogging about really crappy reality shows, I may as well finish it off with the last one I watched for this week.

It was down to the final 3 this week. And they had 2 things to do. One, pick up a woman on a–what’d they call it?–walking bridge…running bridge…people bridge–ok, it was this bridge where only people went across it and most people were either running or walking a dog. If anyone knows what that’s called, please enlighten me. Anyway, they had to pick up a woman. Their instructions from Mystery were to walk WITH the girl instead of making her stop and also not to FOLLOW the girl and get her creeped out. All of them failed miserably. And I don’t blame them really. Everyone probably assumed they were wanting to sell them something or had a questionnaire. I wouldn’t be into it either.

The second task was to get a number from or leave a strip club with one of the dancers. Their instructions from Mystery were to basically not act like a fool and play the “I’m cool” game. Act completely disinterested in the stripping/dancing. And guess what? I think it actually worked. But here’s my thing. I think this wasn’t the “ultimate” task as they seemed to make it out to be. I mean, come on. These girls are PAID to interact with them so obviously it’s not hard to get their attention. And really, it can’t be that hard to get a number or even a kiss from one of them. I mean, I’m guessing none of them are shy. Either way, it was more of a play the game right/show your confidence type task and they all did really good. And bravo to Brady for making the move finally in the limo. I thought for a minute there he was going to let us all down.

It seems Joe was the obvious choice to let go home tonight. He seems like a really, really great guy that does have potential but he’s going to be the guy that goes home, meets a lot of great people and then marries his best friend. He’s just like that.

So it’s Cosmo and Brady in the final 2. I’m hoping Cosmo wins but Brady has really turned up the heat lately and although he seems really nervous on his individual interviews, he does really well out in the field.

Why I’m watching this show, I have no idea. I don’t even think I like the whole concept of a pick-up artist. But I can tell you, Mystery knows what he’s talking about. The stuff would work on me, no doubt. He could probably write a Harlequin in an afternoon. I can’t deal with the hats and goggles and feathers and flashy stuff he wears but the guy does know how to pick up a woman and it’s quite interesting hearing what he has to say.

So next week Mystery seems as confused as I am who might win. It seems neck and neck right now and I have no clue who to guess as the winner. Not sure the previews look that great…why are they dealing with other men as their final challenge instead of women? And why were they coaching the guys together? I don’t know, but I’ll be there see who is the Master. Pick-up. Artist.

The Hills – Sept 17 episode

September 17, 2007 by Amy Leave a Comment

I have not watched a whole lot of this show. I’ve watched the past few episodes but tonight this episode has me all up in a roar. I even made notes to share. Yeah. I know I’m pathetic. Just to redeem myself a little here…my sister and I were talking throughout the commercials so I was technically taking notes to laugh/complain/OMG! with her.

#1 – Opening scene, Heidi and Spencer made me want to throw up with the whole congratulations for putting the seat down lip gloss kissy kissy I’m going to miss you more today crap. Not that I can’t take that stuff. It’s just Spencer. And Heidi. Yuck.

#2 – What is with Heidi giving her instructions to Lacey. Um, please send all my NON-work related calls straight through to my desk and you know, just take messages for the rest. Uh, this girl doesn’t have a clue.

#3 – Just a general complaint halfway through watching this knowing that Jason is currently engaged and it’s such a bummer all these really cute scenes between Lauren and Jason won’t add up to much.

#4 – Has anyone seen that rapping show that Jason is on? I caught it the other day and Jason was I guess you could call rapping some song he wrote Baller. It was awful. So when Jason sits down in Ketchup tonight and starts with his neck dancing thing and Lauren gives him a look and says, “You should do that when you meet people.” I couldn’t help but crack up. Lauren, I know you were joking but have you seen him on that other MTV show because you wouldn’t even give him ideas of doing anything remotely close to dancing in front of people.

#5 The whole Ketchup scene was so low-rent of Heidi and Spencer. And then for Heidi to be like, “That was so rude!” when they sent back the drinks and they were the ones being so rude to begin with. She seemed completely baffled. And then to play it off to Elodie the next day that they were being nice by sending them drinks. They are really messed up in the head.

#6 – The ultimate scene this episode is Elodie and Heidi at the end. Heidi comes in practically bragging that she had the biggest piece of gossip news of the day and then to be completely shut. down. by Elodie. “You don’t even know right from wrong anymore. It’s so sad. See ya.” Heidi’s face is confused…is she being mean to me or what? I think she’s being mean to me! Huff…she’s not on my side and she’s ruining all my gossip! Oh, it was priceless. I’m loving all these tv girls calling people out on their crap!

And finally, #7 that isn’t even in this episode– Poor Lauren raises her glass when Jason announces he’s engaged. Oh the horror. Jason got knocked down a few steps…again. Inviting her to lunch and dinner. Making eyes at Lauren. And chemistry so thick you could cut it with a knife. And the whole time he’s got a girl he hasn’t even told her about. She’s falling and it’s not fair she wasn’t warned he was taken.

Next week is going to be good.

I pathetically watched the after show while I was typing this and Elodie was on. They ask her how things are around the office and she says they’ve been busy with the Emmys but there’s definitely more drama coming. Nice!

Emma

September 17, 2007 by Amy Leave a Comment

I have found it’s difficult to keep up with your child’s learning progress after they hit the major milestones. For awhile there, it was one after the other but now Emma is almost five and not so much to report on. The questions are endless and we have conversations more like this one today:

E: Can S go to the Y with us?

Me: No, she doesn’t belong to the Y.

E (very confused): She doesn’t belong??

Me: Right. You have to pay to go to the Y. Her mommy and daddy don’t pay to go but me and Daddy do.

E (thoughtfully): Ohh…that’s what it means to belong?

Me: Yes, we are members of the Y. We pay them money to go and they give us a code so we can go exercise. Have you ever seen my type in my code?

E: No. Well, how do you pay? Does the bank pay?

Me: Yes, the bank pays them every month for me so we can be members.

E: Oh.

Things are really clicking with her. We’re not getting away with too much anymore. It used to be I could come up with lame excuses to not do things and get away with it but not so much anymore. Silly things like, “Can we go to the park?” I answer “No, it rained today.” At some point in her life she would have been like ok. But now it’s like, “Well, it rained earlier but the sun is out now and it’s probably dry.” Stuff like that. She made me and Scott laugh yesterday after church. I asked her what she learned about in Sunday School. She has excellent teachers that really work on a story every week but I wasn’t expecting this.

Me: What’d you learn about in Sunday School?

E: Paul

Me (sort of shocked–that’s no Noah’s Ark story): Really? What did you learn about Paul?

E: He wrote a letter to the church.

Me (that made me giggle, but I thought I’d press on): Do you remember what church? Was it Corinth?

E (shrugging her shoulders): I don’t know, just a church.

Whew, I thought she was going to surpass me in Bible knowledge by age 5 if she had answered that question.

And while I’m at it, I’ll give a few more “Emma updates”. She continues to improve on her writing. We haven’t worked much on her reading lately although she was asking to last night…note to self–need to do that tonight. She is STILL having potty issues. She has been out of her medicine now for a few weeks and I’ve been a bad mommy and not refilled it. I honestly don’t think she needs it. I think she knows when to go, just will not do it. If we catch her, we make her go but otherwise, she still uses pull-ups for #2. I KNOW she’s almost 5. Trust me. I plan to talk to the dr about it again at her checkup. She is the most tender-hearted child I’ve ever met. She gives up toys for her sister in a heartbeat and always makes sure everyone has what they need. She’s concerned about where people are and what they’re doing and of course why. She has a fabulous imagination, most often playing with small people/animals and making them interact. She is still loving computer games and does everything by herself. She even got Scott to spell noggin so she could go to noggin.com by herself since it wasn’t in the favorites yesterday. She’s still quite the cuddler. She always wants someone near her. Especially at bed time. Lately she has requested I sing “Agnus Dei” when she goes to sleep and likes to “just talk” before she goes to sleep. She’s definitely a people person when you get to know her but is still extremely shy around strangers. She reminds me of me and my dad a lot in that regard. Not sure what else to report on, as I said, the milestones are harder to quantify and report on. She’s my big girl and I’m still trying to prepare myself for her being 5 in a few months.

Cool new site

September 17, 2007 by Amy Leave a Comment

Thanks to Jaynee for finding this site. New way to generate traffic to your site for free.

Sort of works like the links at the bottom of BlogHer ads. I’ve found several new sites using those so I think this should work out well.