3 Months Later

Hello everyone . . .

So here I am, 3 months later, looking at the date from my last post and thinking, "Where the hell did 3 months go?" Time flies when you are sleeping. :) I would like to say thanks to everyone for keeping me in their thoughts over the last few months and continuously checking in. Please know that it made me feel so good, every time I checked my email and saw one of your little notes. Definitely brightened my days! THANK YOU.

I guess you could say that quite a bit has happened in the last 3 months, but realistically, nothing that is very earth shattering. We made it through Halloween, Eldest Cherub's 15th Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and bringing in the New Year (hopefully a much better one than previously passed) in one piece and only a little worse for wear. We have started our weekly treks north for Cherubs to get their ski fix, and on a very bright note, Mr. P has started skiing again. I know that some of you were not reading my blog at the very start, so a quick synopsis is as follows:

I actually started blogging as a place to vent in 2008, right after Mr. P had a horrific, near fatal skiing accident. To make a VERY long story short, his injuries included, but are not limited to:

1. A tibia broken in half and 1 other spot, a fibula broken in half and 1 other spot, a completely shattered ankle and foot - this particular combo of injuries resulted in complete reconstruction of his left leg from the knee down.

2. A broken right hip

3. 2 severed and 1 cracked and hanging transverse processes - these are the wings on the sides of your vertebrae and amazingly enough have healed in Mr. P

4. Last but not least, various and sundry damage to soft tissue, muscle and nerves which still bothers him to this day

I bring this up, because not only did Mr. P finally get back on skis, but he did this on the 2nd anniversary of his accident. You see, his accident happened on Martin Luther King weekend of 2008, and a very long 2 years later, exactly 2 years later, Mr. P has skiied. I have NEVER seen him so happy or excited. Yay, Mr. P - Happy Anniversary!

I am still plugging along with my sleep issues since my last post. I am happy to say that I am no longer taking any medication. No Adderall, No Herbs. Nothing, Nada, Zilch! I have some really good days, some OK days, and some really bad days, but am getting used to reading the signs of when I am going to crash in a big way. Not the ideal way to live, but it beats a lifetime of meds, and leaves me hopeful that maybe, someday, there will be a time that I actually feel good. I mean, I never thought I'd get this far. I really thought that by now, I'd be back to my Adderall induced, pill popping ways. But I'm not. And that my friends is HUGE. (sound of applause here)

So anyway, as I can't really promise that I'm actually back and blogging, I can say that I will try. And If you don't hear from me, just consider it as minor blogging sabbaticals. But at least you know that I'm OK and appreciate all the heartfelt emails over the past few months regarding my health status - it's nice to know that even though I'm gone sometimes, I'm not forgotten. Thank You.

The Reason Why . . .

As you've all probably been well aware, my posts have become VERY infrequent. I know that it is probably not on the top of questions that must be answered list as to why, for all my bloggy friends out there, but still, I feel the need to at least "briefly" explain.

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy. You know, the sleeping disorder that is stigmatized with people who drop to the floor and sleep in the middle of every day activities. . . I do not have that kind of narcolepsy. Apparently, the kind I do have is the more common type in people diagnosed with this "disorder?".

I am VERY tired. ALL. OF. THE. TIME. There are days when I have to leave work or wherever I might be and get home as quickly as possible, for I know that soon I will need to sleep. It is not a sudden onset of falling asleep, just a slow impending feeling of all types of functioning trickling away, until I just can't go on for another second. I. MUST. SLEEP.

I'm sure that many of you have, at one point or another, felt that tiredness and sluggishness in which you just hit a wall and can not continue with anything. No cleaning or cooking. No speaking or thinking. Nothing . . . You simply need to be prone and do nothing but exist, which in and of itself is also no small feat. That is how I feel frequently. Almost every, single day.

The most ironic part of all this is that not commonly known, a lot of times with Narcolepsy - nights are riddled with Insomnia. Sheer exhaustion, but no sleep. And if sleep does prevail for some small portion of the night. It is a REM riddled sleep and the restorative phase of the sleep cycle never happens. This, in turn, makes you wake in the morning feeling less rested than when you went to bed. It's horrible and truly exhausting.

Over the last few years, I have been through trial and error with multitudes of different stimulants, sleep aids, anti-depressants and who knows what else. I was told that there is no cure, but only this type of treatment for Narcolepsy. After many "this isn't working" conversations with my "team" of specialists, I came to rest upon taking Adderall XR every day. I have now been on it for almost 3 years. I have increased the dose a few times and honestly, I think I may have developed an addiction. On the days I don't take it, the tenseness and irritability are unexplainable, and even on the days I do take it, many times, I still need to nap. I don't want to be on this for the rest of my life. I hate it.

So anyway, a while back, I started seeing an acupuncturist, herbalist, holistic practitioner/life coach - whatever you would like to call him. I went for my consultation with a two page laundry list of things I wanted to fix . . . after confirming the true loon that I am, we set to work with a plan. I started acupuncture twice weekly and have since weaned my way to only once weekly and it has definitely helped in many facets of my life - although I am disheartened to say that it has not helped with the sleep disorder.

I have dramatically changed my diet and eating habits. Although I am still a junk food junkie, which is (Thank The Dear Lord) OK, I have added certain warming/cooling foods, etc. into my diet at particular times during the day. I can not even begin to express the wonders it has done for my digestive tract :) A few months ago, I weaned myself off of the Adderall in hopes that I could start an herbal/mineral based regimen that would "naturally" help with the Narcolepsy and lethargy of my life. I have had to go back and forth between the two regimens a few times, in order to make it through certain days and times in our busy life, but for the most part, I have faithfully stuck to my natural plan. It is not working.

In frustration and desperation, I went back to my "team" of specialists and discussed my new regimen with my life coach. Unfortunately, I was not met with unanimous approval of going the holistic route. I could honestly say that I was even met with a little disdain and scourn. After a lot of discussion and argument, everyone decided that it was time to regroup, but, of course, on their terms.

So, as I still continue trying to battle this naturally and in my own way, my "team" has done extensive research and I guess have had quite a few intriguing discussions regarding my case. Recently, I was greeted with the good and not so good news of their findings. The not so good news is that they are 95% sure (whatever that means) that the problem lies within my Hypothalamus. They believe that at some point it suffered some sort of trauma and is now damaged. Unfortunately, once damaged, the Hypothalamus will not recover or heal. Basically, I was left with "It is what it is, get used to it". Nice. If it is not that, it might possibly be a small benign tumor sitting and putting pressure on the Hypothalamus, but they don't really think this is the case. Then why tell me, I ask?

The good news is that it is nothing fatal or life threatening or that cannot be controlled with the right medication, modifications, etc. etc. etc. blah, blah, blah. And as I said before, I DO NOT WANT TO BE ON MEDICATION FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE! I just want to feel "normal". But, alas, this does not seem to be in the cards for me, at least not right now. I think I have a lot of regrouping to do myself. But until then, I will continue to plug along and try to nourish my body and brain (including my lovely little Hypothalamus) naturally and herbally and holistically. And when I can't, I can't . . . I will just sleep.

So there you have it my friends. My "brief" (haha) explanation of why I am so scattered with my posting. I just don't seem to have it in me most of the time lately. So if you don't hear from me, I haven't disappeared from the face of the earth. I'm still here and OK. I'm just napping.

Until next time . . .

A VERY Generous Offer and a Great Place To Shop Too

So although I have been the very bad blogger as of late, I have still browsed the internet occasionally - I mean, come on, a shopper needs to shop, even if it is just perusing her fave shopping spots for a quick minute or two.

Anyway, I have discovered a GREAT jewelry sight (handmade of course). Not only does she have some great pieces, but you absolutely MUST check out her prices!!! Lu Shae Jewelry is having a VERY generous Giveaway . . . They are giving away $200 cash. Yes, cash. You don't have to use it at their site, it is cash to do with what you please. And in today's economy, who couldn't use an extra $200? They are giving away $200 EVERY month, so you have plenty of chances to win. And to top it off, when you enter, they will email a code to you so you can get a 15% discount on their jewelry. Great to pass on to hubs or boyfriend for the holiday season, or just to treat yourself. And the best part is, you won't go broke and will definitely find some amazing pieces you will just have to add to your collection. . .

In perusing the site, I'd love to share some of my favorite pieces, which were very hard to find, because everything looked so great. They have something for everyone - yellow gold, white gold, every kind of stone imaginable and the site is so user-friendly, it is very easy to peruse all of their merchandise quickly and easily - they even have the actually measurements shown for their products, so no guessing is involved! Check out these great items and be sure to check out their site as well, as I'm sure you'll find even more pieces to love.

Crafted Circle Pendant - On Sale $67.00

This is definitely one of my favorites. So simple, yet elegant. Can be worn with EVERYTHING, from jeans and a T to your best formal dress.

Ice Twist - On Sale $63.00

I just thought this piece was so cool.

Different than what you normally see.

Leafed Tahitian Pearl - On Sale $65.00

And who could resist the ring that matches so perfectly?

Mystic Anniversary Ring - On Sale $66.00

This Tanzanite ring is yet another of my favorites - Love the crown shape and the color is amazing.

Tanazanite Crown Ring - On Sale $64.00

And for all my fellow Preppy Ladies, I couldn't resist throwing this one in.

It is the PERFECT PINK!

Princess Cut Pink Ice 7mm studs - On Sale $66.00

I guess that's enough for today, although I could probably post most of the pieces I've seen on this site. Definitely worth a looksie - check it out and let me know if you find anything you love - would love to see what everyone is getting. Gotta run - MUST SEND LINK TO MR. P!

Happy Shopping!

In A Nutshell

I know I have not been very good about keeping up with not only posting, but the giveaways link as well. I don't really know what it is that I have been so busy doing, but I feel like I just can't get out of my own way lately. I think I just need a break from all the social obligations, facebooking, blogging, coupon searching, form filling, child toting ways of my life for a bit.

Anyway, until I am feeling a bit more like myself, I decided to do the bulleted, pared down version of the goings-on in my life:

Kids started school - NO SUMMER AT ALL IN RI - we had maybe 3 decent weeks

Went to Open House for both kids this week - suffice to say, my son is screwed (more on that later when I feel like posting)

Started an accupuncture regimen once a week for various and sundry reasons (also more on that later)

Hubby's biz is still slow, so I've been semi-searching for part-time work (few jobs available, pretty much all the part time ones aren't even worth the effort - what to do?)

Been busy chasing my own tail - in case you are wondering, I haven't caught it yet . . .

Getting ready for my big 4 . . . 0 . . . in about a week - maybe that's why I'm so out of sorts? Hmmmmm . . .

Till Later

She Has To Be One Of The Coolest Bloggers EVER!

So, if you have been perusing the Great Giveaways link on my sidebar at all (and yes, I know I have to get with it on posting - I have been VERY behind the eight ball this summer) then you probably noticed the link for Peachy King's Lauren Nicole Badge Reel Giveaway.

Lauren Nicole has got to be one of my favorite places to shop in the first place and I have to admit that I have bought quite a few of the badge reels for gifts for a lot of my nursing friends. They are ALWAYS a hit.

Anyway, I was going through the Giveaway links just now, don't even know why, because usually, you get an email or something if you win, but for some reason decided to check the links anyway and get this, Peachy King's winners announcement went a little like this -

"Because I love the Monogrammed Badge Reels from Lauren Nicole sooooooo much-I have decided to extend my love to EVERYONE (I mean, everyone) that left a post. Y'all are all winners!! =) YYYAAAYYY (I am literally jumping up and down for all of you)!!"

OK, so maybe it went A LOT like that, or maybe it was VERBATIM . . . my point is, everyone who left a comment won! Who does that? What an amazing Giveaway! Peachy King's has just moved up the ranks in my Cool Giveaways Book . . .

So even if you didn't enter the Giveaway, definitely stop on by and check her out . . . just click this link or find her under my Good Reads.

What a Totally Cool Chick!

The Family Photos are In

As you all know, Mr. P has quite a large family. The funny thing is, the people within the family always seem to be changing. Who is married, divorced, had babies, new step-children, etc. etc. etc.

For this reason, Mom-In-Law requests a new family photo every so often. And this year was one of those years. As well as a large family photo, she always has 2 other requests. The first is that each immediate family wear a different color, this way, when showing her friends, she does not need to explain who belongs to who. And that each individual family have their own photo done for her to display in her Florida home.

Below are a few of the photos. I actually think that my immediate family photo actually came out pretty well this year (and you will notice that yes, Miss B is in it. Although, she wasn't allowed to be in the large group photo)

We're Back and I Need A Vacation

Have you ever noticed that when you take a vacation, you always need a vacation when you get back? It doesn't matter where you go, who you go with, or what you do . . . You are always tired, stressed and just plain strung out when you arrive upon your doorstep. So, I will be spending the next few weeks regrouping, doing laundry and reorganizing from our little trek to "The Rock". Not to mention, I STILL have yet to do the back to school shopping - clothes, supplies, food, you name it - I don't have it yet. And to think that in exactly 13 days, Dear Cherubs will be back to school. Uuuuggghhhhhh! Where did the summer go?

Anyway, thought I'd share some photos of our little jaunt. I guess in my last post I forgot to mention that this time around, we went for Mr. P's annual party. He and his 3 brothers throw a big party every summer. And when I say big, I mean big . . . Minimum of 150 people, many of whom spend the entire weekend. I have to say, this year was a raging success! The weather cooperated (for once), the kids behaved (most of the time) and everyone had a great time.

Vacation has started!

Mr. P can finally unwind with a beer.

Wednesday - Early Evening

Time to get the groceries!

Mr. P, Eldest Cherub and a few others head to the local Warehouse Store

MUST. BUY. IN. BULK.

150 mouths are a lot to feed.

This is what they got . . .

This was only the first boat load.

I think there were 3.

As people arrive, they vie for the best location to set up their homes.

Waterfront property does not come cheap!

And this was only Thursday night.

Eldest Cherub, Mr. P's BF and Little Miss B needed to take a little break to relax.

Lugging all that food up the twisty-turny dock is VERY hard work.

Thursday night and all is done.

Time to light the fire, watch the world go by,

. . . and wait for the rest of the party people to show . . .

Saturday morning.

Everyone seems to have found their favorite spot.

Many of them did not move ALL day.

The kids had a ball!

Some went sailing, others jumped off the boats and dock or went tubing and waterskiing and still others just "hung" out together - LITERALLY

All in All - yes, a RAGING success!

Good times, Good fun, Great Friends

Going To The Rock

We are heading to Prudence Island for a little while

Or as I like to refer to it, "The Rock".

You see, there is nothing there but houses.

No stores, no restaurants, no bars, nothing, nada, zilch.

Sometimes it will drive you batty - others - just what the Dr. ordered.

Arriving can get a little frazzling - you see, the only way to get there is by boat, and if the seas are not cooperating, it can be quite a rough adventure.

Then, upon actual arrival, with many, many, many bags and food and kids and liquor and coolers and dog in tow (did I mention there are no stores on the island?) we must navigate the gazillion mile, upward slanted dock . . . with twists and turns and . . .

Then it's time to unpack and unload and set up house.

Everyone has a chore and helps out, even Little Miss B.

When all the unpacking and unloading is done, we can finally have some fun.

Maybe take a ride on the jetskis . . .

Or swing on the swings . . .

Mr. P likes to go clamming and do a little fishing . . .

And at the end of it all, it's time to just plain, old RELAX and enjoy the views . . .

. . . And the Setting Sun . . .

Have a wonderful week

I'll be catching up when we return . . . If we return . . .

Let The Secret Out

Last night I was invited to a dinner for the non-profit organization I used to work for. Because I was a part of a very special program, it is very close to my heart. I was very saddened to learn that things do not look good for our program in the little old state of RI as far as funding is going. I decided to write a letter to our local papers and magazines in hopes of spreading the word and rekindling some excitement about it. The article follows and I urge all you parents of tweens and teens to find out if this program exists in your state. It is definitely something worth looking into for your kids.

I am a parent. Some would say that I am a parent of the two worst kind of species . . . a tween and a teen. Although I must admit that my life’s adventure in this endeavor has become more of a roller coaster than a carousel as of late, I most often tend to disagree with this premise.

As I have entered this phase of parenthood, with a mixture of wonderment and anxiety, I find that my home has become the local gathering hole and my car the local mode of public transportation. I don’t mind this so much, because this way, I can stealthily keep an eye on the goings on of the local juveniles.

As the designated chauffeur to and fro for most of the outings for this group of moppets, I have heard many an interesting conversation. When driving a pack of kids around, if you stay quiet enough, they tend to forget you are there. I have heard some disconcerting information, some crazy conversations and some absolutely brilliant ideas. From a discussion on the blueprints of a toilet in a briefcase to world peace, this generation has some pretty innovative and interesting views and ideas about the world around them. I find that they are just a little lost and don’t have anyplace for their voices to be heard.

Enter Rhode Island Teen Institute. Rhode Island Teen Institute, now celebrating its 20^th year anniversary, still seems to be a well-kept secret. This actually surprises me because in a state such as Rhode Island, people seem to know everything about every happening in the near vicinity. I have discovered that this is not so with RI Teen Institute. I don’t know how or why, but very few people have actually even heard of this amazing program.

As I stated earlier, I feel that the tweens and teens today are so much more than a video game/internet addicted generation. They are smart and innovative and are actually visionaries in every sense of the word. They have amazing plans for our future. RI Teen Institute is just the place that can help make these visions come true.

Touted as a leadership training program, with information and concrete encounters regarding substance abuse prevention, web, cell phone and internet safety, diversity, phobias, alternative lifestyles and so much more, RI Teen Institute is a potpourri of information, training and skill strengthening that gives our “lost generation” not only the ability, but the will to go forth and do what is so intrinsically a part of who they are. It helps these tweens and teens realize that they are not to blindly follow just because it is expected. It teaches them that they can be whoever and do whatever they choose in this world and that they actually have a much more profound impact on the world than they think. Their ideas, views and opinions need not be relegated to “mom’s backseat”.

If our wizened adults would stop to actually take the minute to listen, I am sure they would be so pleasantly surprised by how much our youngsters have to say. And that what they have to say actually makes a lot of sense. Sometimes, more sense than our actual leaders do. RI Teen Institute helps both adults and youth discover this premise and gives them the tools to allow this to happen.

It is quite hard to explicate on the many virtues of this amazing program. As I often do, I am finding that this is a time in which my words just simply do not suffice. It is an experience that one must live and love in order to understand. In simplest form, I could say that RI Teen Institute is a place that fosters the strengths, abilities and visions that are innate in so many of our youth today and it saddens me to see such an auspicious program go unrecognized.

So as a parent, a parent of two of the “worst species”, I urge others like me, you know who you are if you are living in the tween and teen world, to stop and find out more about this essential program and its dedicated staff. I know that you will be pleasantly surprised and maybe, just maybe, I will be joined in sharing this well-kept secret until it is no longer a secret at all. And maybe, just maybe, more of our youth will have the chance to show the world just how smart and proactive they can really be. And when this happens, I can assure you, adults of this world, buckle-up for safety, because you will see some surprising, shocking but totally awesome changes in our society as we know it.

Please Excuse My Absence

Please excuse my absence as of late. It has just been a whirlwind of activity in our little corner of the universe. Will update soon.

Eldest Cherub Still Alive and Other Sagas

Oh where to begin? So many updates and happenings, I really don't know where to start or what to say. I guess I'll just dive in and see where it takes me. So here goes . . .

You'll be happy to know that Eldest Cherub is still alive. I did not kill him, although I did look into a few of our homicide laws and have prepared a statement in my defense . . . just in case . . . I JEST!!

Really, we had a little chat, very calmly, very quietly and adult-like. I voiced my concerns and opinions, he voiced his opinions and we calmly came to the following agreement. If he uses those #%$%^&@* guns in my house, around my car or pool or in my sight EVER AGAIN, they just may possibly become a permanent part of his body, he will not have to worry about parental permission for any piercings because he will have homemade ones with guns hanging from the holes. Again, I JEST. No, I'm not still bitter about the whole incident, why do you ask? :)

Seriously, in his defense, he did offer to replace everything and somehow try to work off the cost of replacement and help me find new dishes - even to sell off some of the guns (but not the ones he really likes) I didn't mention to him that no one is going to pay big bucks for a broken gun that he only paid $10 for in the first place. I figured I'd give him a little dignity and the courtesy of accepting his well-meaning offer with a little bit of grace (and not even ONE obscenity).

When all is said and done, I still have most of the china still intact and a really great story to tell his children as payback. The hardest thing will be finding someone to replace the piece of glass from the cabinet, but I am figuring any glass place will probably be able to do that. Meanwhile, until I actually get around to taking it to be fixed, I point it out to all who enter our house and tell them about my horrible, non-rule following child and ask that they chastise him as much as possible, so he won't forget what a dope he was. I feel that this seems to be working quite well - even better than a punishment or making him pay for the damage. The guilt and shame are now never-ending, as we always have numerous people marauding through our home on a daily basis. He is getting quite tired of trying to defend himself and I believe he is finally coming to terms with the fact that this was one BIG mistake, as well as the fact that he is wondering if he will ever be able to move on and leave "the incident" behind him. Yes, I am awful. I truly take sheer pleasure in this. I suppose that the time is coming that I will actually have to let him move on and do the same myself, but until then, I will enjoy every second of his guilt and shame. I mean, what are parents for??

Our leachfield saga continues, and Mother Nature is still messing with us. Could this be along the same lines as what I am doing to Eldest Cherub? What Goes Around Comes Around?

We have finished all the treatments and things were looking up. We had a 4 - 5 day stretch of sunshine that seemed to be doing a great job of drying things out. I actually did 3 loads (out of about 13) of laundry the other day, in the comfort of my own home. (I had the dryer fixed shortly after my last post about our Septic Issues) I stopped after 3 because our "expert" had advised us not to go too crazy with the laundry on a daily basis because we needed to give the field a break. He said 2 - 3 loads max, preferably every other day, for a while. Who can live like this, I ask? I will be about 4 years behind in laundry at this rate. Anyway, like I said, things seemed to be looking up and then it happened. Another deluge. Inches and inches of rain. After sending Eldest Cherub out to check the soggy factor in the yard - I asked him because he owes me you know :D - his report was not good. "Yup mom, it's like surfing the waves again." GGGRRRREEEAAAATTT!

But, the sun did come back out and I hoped beyond hope that this could just be surface rainwater and our issue was solved. And it could be, but I may never know. Because my friends, as I sit and write this, I am listening to the rain, yes, the rain, pouring down. They say about 6 inches tonight. Isn't that lovely? Well, I am stressing just thinking about it and there is really nothing I can do.

Ssssooooo . . . I guess I will bid you all sweet adieu, I have a child I need to go torment. Just Kidding.

Northeast Mom Slays Eldest Cherub

Yes, my friends, you just may possibly see this headline soon.

Eldest Cherub (and I use the term Cherub very loosely right now) is a big fan of Air Soft Guns. Sometimes I worry about him, and wonder if he will be the child that turns terrorist later on in life. He loves his guns, he has a complete arsenal that includes everything from handguns to shotguns to automatic weapons and he takes care of them as if they are a precious heirloom. All in all, they are not so dangerous. I should know, as I have been shot numerous times by accident. The bullets are small plastic or rubber bb-like balls, but do not have the force or velocity of the regular metal bbs. Even so, I am the Air Soft Gestapo of the neighborhood. I am the mom that has all the rules . . .

"Don't shoot the guns near the cars, don't shoot at each others' faces, make sure you wear goggles, don't shoot near the pool area, don't shoot in the house, don't shoot anyone not actually involved in your Air Soft games, Do you want me to break the gun in half? . . . "

Because of all my "rules", the neighborhood boys decided that it was no fun to play Air Soft in my yard - and for some reason, my yard is the congregation spot for the entire town. They decided to create their very own battlefield in the woods behind our house. To their credit, they did quite a job with it.

They have bunkers, tree stands, pathways and free zones . . . and they have created hinged holes in the fort - which by the way is larger than our actual shed - a story for another time, but Mr. P and the neighborhood kids built it as a summer project one year and it has everything one would need to live comfortably, including furniture, electricity and cable TV, not to mention a 4 foot by 12 foot front porch - I've been thinking about renting it out for some extra income :) - Anyway, they have created these hinged holes in the walls and put all of the windows on hinges to shoot from and now use the fort as home base for their wars and to store all the guns in there, which is nice, because they are no longer taking up residence in every room of my house.

So as you can see, Air Soft is a very important part of the neighborhood children's lives. The reason I mention all this is because it is Air Soft that has made me want to strangle Eldest Cherub. As stated previously, I spend a lot of time REMINDING Eldest Cherub that he is not allowed to shoot the guns in our house. I do not want them in the house, and when reminded of this fact, his typical response is usually, "It's not loaded mom, Geeeeeeeezzzzzzz!"

My typical response to this is usually, (picture at very high volume), "I DO NOT CARE IF IT IS LOADED, GET. THEM. OUT. OF. MY. HOUSE. NOW!"

I digress.

Recently, Eldest Cherub and I were sitting in the kitchen. I was doing some paperwork and Eldest Cherub was working on one of his many guns. I asked him why he had it in the house and he said that a piece was busted and he was fixing it and would take it outside to the fort when done. I accepted this explanation and went on with my business, not paying much attention to him or his little project.

And then suddenly . . . CRASH!!!!!!!!!

Apparently, My Lovely Eldest Cherub (again, being used very loosely) thought he had fixed the gun and was "testing" to see if the broken piece would stay intact with his ingenious solution of fixing it. As he swung the gun up to see if the metal piece would stay in place, sure enough, it flew from the gun and straight through the antique, family heirloom, china hutch my Mother-In-Law gave us and onto the 60 place setting of good china I had inherited from my Grandmother.

Needless to say, as I stared at the broken glass and various shards of china that had been shot across the kitchen from impact, various obscenities, some of which I did not know I even knew, spewed forth from my innermost being. And Eldest Cherub ran like a rocket from the kitchen saying, "I will be in my room, I am so sorry, I know I am in so much trouble, do you want me to help clean it up? Etc, etc, etc . . ." My response, amidst all the vulgarities spewing forth, was "I really don't even want to see your face right now. JUST. GO." And go he did, I have never seen the child's body move forth so quickly, with such agility and grace. Like a Gazelle being hunted by the treacherous predator, he was gone, just like that, without a look back.

I have yet to have a discussion about this incident with Eldest Cherub, however, I did apologize for letting my temper get the best of me and about the obscenities that were spewed forth and told him that "We would TALK later."

I have not yet decided on how to best approach the situation, but I am sure I will think of something. If any of you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them, as I do not believe that I am yet thinking clearly about the whole incident and that as of right now, you may possibly be reading the headline "NORTHEAST MOM SLAYS ELDEST CHERUB" very, very soon . . . All Suggestions Welcome.

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Mr. P's Gallery

If you have read some of my past posts, then you are all very well aware of how much I hate this recession. Although Mr. P is still busy, his larger accounts have cut WAY back. Unfortunately, the first thing to go in this economy has been the big spending on advertising with many of our clients.

We have been busy little beavers, trying to drum up new work and have actually brought in some new accounts, albeit small ones. Unfortunately, neither Mr. P nor I are great salespeople. We have hired a few sales reps, only to be let down time and time again. It seems that most of the people we have discussed selling our services with start off gung-ho, only to either disappear off the face of the earth, never to be heard from again, or stop in from time to time just to let us know that they have gotten nowhere. It makes me wonder if they are actually out there trying to push Mr. P's work.

The funny thing is that Mr. P's work can certainly speak for itself, and his pricing is comparable if not well below this region's price point. He is always willing to work with his clients if they have a set budget and will diligently make sure they are getting the biggest "bang for their buck" as far as the most inexpensive, yet high quality photography they are looking for.

Mr. P not only does work locally, but has many clients not only nationwide, but worldwide as well. Fedex and email are a beautiful thing! Anyway, I wanted to put it out there that if any of you Dear Blogging Friends know anyone in need of photography, graphic design, etc. . . then please steer them our way. Mr. P always offers a FREE test shoot, to make sure the client is happy with the quality of his work. If the client is unhappy, no charge, no questions asked, thank you for giving us a chance. It is a no-brainer, can't lose arrangement.

Please check out his gallery at this link. It is a small sampling of some of his work. He offers a full range of services from photography only to concept planning and/or full brochure, catalog or website design. He even offers printing services. It is a soup to nuts deal and the client can pick and choose what services he/she wants. If the client wants the full photography to printing of a catalog, so be it. If he/she just wants a few photos done, that is fine too. So, again, if any of you know anyone needing this kind of service, please check out his gallery and spread the word. Mr. P and I thank you.

GALLERY

They Just Don't Make Them Like They Used To (Part 2)

So, as it goes in the world of Me and Mr. P, our smelly septic saga continues. As you read in my last post about our lovely leachfield, we thought that our Power-Super Shock Miracle Cure was working. This was after our three out of 5 sunny days that we have had in the month of June. I suppose that it is not the fault of the procedure we are trying, but the fact that Mother Nature seems to be either suffering from Dementia and has forgotten that we exist in this little corner of the earth, or she is VERY angry with me and Mr. P for some unknown assault we have made on nature.

I admit, we are not so green, but we are trying. I sit each day and like a little prayer, talk to her in hopes that she will hear my pleas. I have begged, cajoled and even tried to barter. I have promised to plant a tree, recycle more and even will buy a hybrid car if this will make her happy and send some warming, drying sunshine our way. I do not think she is listening. Either that, or she enjoys this little competition I have seemed to create. I guess everyone needs to get their kicks somehow.

You see, Mother Nature and I have this seemingly neverending, competitive game we play. On the allotted schedule each week, I run from toilet to sink to shower and dump the exact measured amount of product down the drains. And each week, as soon as I am done, Mother Nature dumps a deluge of rain upon us for the next 5 days. I picture her often, wherever she may be, shimmying and laughing in sheer pleasure, as she purposely and vengefully sabotages our project. It is making me crazy! (As you can see by the fact that I actually think that Mother Nature has a well thought-out, vengeful plan against us.)

Next week, we will hit our 1 month mark. The "expert" did tell us that it would probably take 2 months in our case because our system is so far gone. This news, at least, still gives us the glimmer of hope that this will work and we have not wasted all the money gone into this procedure, just to have to end up in the hell of replacing the system that we were/are trying to avoid.

So for the next month, I will continue to play this little game with Mother Nature. I will run from drain to drain each week, treating our system and then sitting in wait for the rain to flow. I will continue to pray, beg and cajole in hopes that Dear Mother Nature will FINALLY decide to take pity on this poor wretched soul.

I will still live my life like a Pilgrim, using minimal water, eating off paper with plastic, staring into the abyss of the yellow toilet bowls regularly and showering under the watchful eye of the Shower Nazi. I have actually gotten used to going out with conditioner left in my hair, half shaved legs and a mediocre body wash at best. I have no idea how ANYONE can fully clean themselves in under 5 minutes. Believe me, I've tried, but my body just takes WAY too much maintenance as far as cleaning goes.

On a lighter note, as Mr. P and I continue to make our weekly trek to the laundry mat, we are actually having fun. We have decided to make a game of it. We are trying a new laundry mat each week. We rate them. We have an intricate scoring system based on size, cleanliness, cost, amenites offered (some of them don't even have a bathroom) and timeframe of getting the laundry done. We have gone out of our way to talk to the people that are there and find out about who they are, where they are from and what brings them to the laundry mat. We have met some interesting people and have heard some extraordinary stories. It would make for an interesting documentary - I kid you not.

We have turned this weekly outing into our "Date Morning". As we wait for our washers and dryers (Yes, oftentimes we have taken more than half of the machines), and as we use our finely-tuned system of sorting and folding, we are having fun. We talk about things that we usually don't have the time for, we joke and laugh, and we meet and greet our fellow laundrymatters. We have taken to sometimes dropping our laundry into the machines and then running out to get all of those in attendance coffee and donuts. These people love us. I guess they don't get coffee and donuts that often. It makes us feel good.

So, my friends, as our smelly septic saga continues, I guess there is always that silver lining in the clouds. Mr. P and I have learned some new things about each other and have discovered ways of life that we could never imagine living. We have heard stories and sagas that make us grateful for each other, our children and what we have. We have met people that we never would have stopped to talk to before and we have discovered a way to spend a little us time in the process of being productive. So as Mother Nature and I continue our battle, at least I have my weekly dates with Mr. P to look forward to.

As usual, To Be Continued . . .

Little Miss B Is Stylin'

If you're anything like me, then your pets rank right up there with your children. My lovely Little Miss B has brought us more joy in the last year than words could ever express. She is sweet and lovable. She is quirky and fun. And just like my Dear Cherubs, I want her to have only the best.

Little Miss B is one stylish pup and a very spoiled one at that. She has more collars and matching leads (of course they must match) than there are days of the week. She has a bed in almost EVERY room in our house and two at my office, and I have purchased more dog bowls than we have dishes in our own kitchen.

As some of you know, Mr. P is a photographer. A few of his clients are in the pet product business and one in particular, UP COUNTRY, has some amazing stuff. He recently did a catalog for them, and of course as the shooting was going on, I did a little shopping. He was very concerned that at the end of day, we would owe them money instead of the other way around.

Anyway, I ordered a couple of collars and matching leads.

Don't you absolutely love the alligators?

Can you say, Sooooo Preppy?

Alligator from the Mayfield Collection

Paisley from the Town & Country Collection

And some beds . . .

Pink Awning Stripe for my office (Pink and Green, what's better than that?)

Blue Seashells for the Summer House (Yes it matches my bedroom so well!)

And I originally bought this Natural Stripe for Dear Elder Sis, but loved it so much and it matches my family room just right, and Little Miss B just settled into it like she's had it forever, and it's not like you could ever have too many beds, and . . .

Just for the record, the Pink Awning Stripe and Blue Seashell beds are both OUTDOOR futons. This way, Little Miss B can relax in luxury outside as well as in. Yes, UP COUNTRY carries both indoor AND outdoor futons.

Although they are not currently available, coming soon, UP COUNTRY will be carrying "Tag-Its". And for someone like me, who is constantly changing collars and leads, these are perfect. With a quick snap of the fingers, you can move your dog's tags from one collar to the next. No more messing around with those unbearable jump rings that are always ruining our neatly manicured nails. Just attach your dog's tags to the bottom hook and use the top piece to attach to your dog's collar. It's so simple. Have tags, will travel.

Also coming soon, is an adorable line of pet furniture. They will be carrying pet beds, feeders and toy boxes. You can get them in very beachy colors like blues, reds, greens, etc. . . . And, yes, I have already placed an order for those too.

This is Little Miss B digging through their prototype to find the perfect toy. And yes, the toys are all from the UP COUNTRY line as well.

(In the background, you can see one of the feeders.)

UP COUNTRY is also now carrying keychains - you can go out in style with your matching keychain, collar and lead.

And from what I hear, rumor has it that they may soon be carrying belts and flip flops. How cute is that? A whole Mommy & Me line for me and Little Miss B. I can't wait. Check out their sight. They really do have some great things.

And that is coming straight from Little Miss B.

She just loves ALL their futons - so comfy, comfy!

They Just Don't Make Them Like They Used To

The saying, "They don't make them like they used to" is so very true.  

We have lived in our house for 13 years.  It was supposed to be the "transitional" house.  You know, the one you live in until you can afford what you really want.  But as it goes, we fell in love with the area, the people, and yes, even the school system is quite good.  We decided to stay. 

In the years we have lived here, we have done quite a bit to upgrade the house to make it our "home", and we still love the area.  The problem is, everything around us is falling apart.  We have been through two ovens, 3 refrigerators and numerous dishwashers.  I have replaced a few toilets, seen furniture come and go and we have had our family meals at more than 2 or 3 kitchen tables.  We are on our second water heater and our poor furnace has been repaired more times than we would like to count.  We have spent many a cold winter night wrapped in dozens of blankets, spending quality time as a family huddled around the wood stove.  

But these are just minor inconveniences that have made us laugh and play remember when on more than one occasion.  But now, we have much bigger fish to fry.  Our entire septic system is on its last leg.  Not the tank itself, but the lovely drainage system that encompasses a great percentage of our backyard.  You see, our problem is twofold.  First, when they were building our neighborhood, they used our lot as a place to dump a lot of the boulders, etc. that were taken out of other people's yards that had their homes built before us.  Second, our entire neighborhood is built on ledge and the land is constantly shifting.  Quite noticeably.  One day, there will be a large rock in the middle of the front yard and the next, it will have magically disappeared and seemingly have shifted to the side of the house.  

We first discovered problems with the leach-field a number of years ago.  We noticed that there was a not so pleasant odor wafting about.  We complained about the "neighbor" who failed to pump his/her septic tank on a regular basis.  Until Mr. P went to mow the lawn.  As he drove about on the tractor, he realized that not only was this "scent" emanating from our own backyard, but it was as if he were trying to drive through a swamp while mowing the lawn.  We did not know how this could be, as we have always diligently had our tank pumped right on schedule.   Every.  Single.  Year.  After calls and quotes from numerous "professionals", it was discovered that because of how closely our "field" sits to the ledge, we have a problem with bacterial growth.  This bacteria causes the drainage system to fail and therefore instead of our sewage draining through the system, it drains "up" into our yard.  Nice, huh?

After a few thousand dollars and more than a few thousand gallons of peroxide flushed through our system, the "field" did dry up.  We had not had a problem since.  Until a few weeks ago.  At first, our eldest cherub came in from playing outside and said that the backyard was very mushy.  We chalked it up to the amount of rain and little sun we've had for the past few months.  Then came prom night.  Our next door neighbor's son decided to have the post-prom party at his house.  They were setting up tents in the yard and were going to have a campfire, etc. etc.  and yes, we were invited to join the fun.  So about midnight on prom night, we packed up and headed over to join the fun.  And it hit us.  The smell.  It was an undeniable, horrific, sewage smell.  This was when we opened the back door to head out.  Then, about halfway through our trek next door, littlest cherub piped up, "Mom, my foot is all wet.  What's that smell?  Why is our grass so soggy?  EEEEEWWWWWW - I'm stepping in poop!!!!"  And so began our slow approach into septic-sewage hell.  

After more phone calls and discussions with professionals, it was determined that because of our proximity to "wetlands", the "special" type of system that had been installed because of the proximity to ledge, and the fact that the sand around our system was now officially considered hazardous waste, our minimal cost of system replacement was somewhere around the $50,000.00 mark.  Yes my friends, you read that correctly.  $50 thousand dollars.  MINIMUM!

Because we do not have an extra $50,000 lying around, as well as the fact that dealing with permits, the DEM and various and sundry other government offices makes our heads spin, Mr. P and I decided to do a little more research to seek alternative resolutions before jumping into a project of that enormity.  And research we did.  After long and tension ridden hours of research, we found a company that sells a product GUARANTEED to rid us of our problem.  And only for a fraction of the cost of system replacement.  

Great, lets do it.  So we called and spoke to one of their "experts" who helped us order the kits needed to super shock, power shock and treat our leach-field. 

"But you should have your septic tank pumped the same day you start treatment" he says.  

"We did that last month."

"Well, it doesn't matter.  You need to do it the same day."  

OK, we called and made the appointment.  

"And you shouldn't use regular laundry detergent or bleach.  Let me recommend a special brand." 

"OK, I guess I need to order that too."

"And the same company has the automatic dish detergent, regular dish soap, toilet paper, toilet bowl cleaner, hand soap, facial soap, shampoo . . . . . . . that you will need to start using too." 

"Um, I can't use my regular face soap and shampoo?"

"We don't recommend it."

"OK, I guess I can give it a try.  Would you happen to know if I can buy these items at the local stores?"

"Well, sometimes they carry them, but you would be better off getting on an auto-refill program through one of the stores I'll recommend on the internet."

I am now thinking that this guy makes a commission on all sales recommended.  Apparently, the point of all these "special" products is that they contain bacteria that will eat the "bad biomat" that has decided to take up residence in and destroy or leach-field.  

Needless to say, we order our kits, schedule our septic pumping and order our gazillion dollars worth of new "special"products, and I am now thinking that we are probably not far off from the $50,000 mark anyway.  We are ready to rumble . . . 

All of my products come in (in a very timely manner I might add) and Eldest Cherub and I get to work.  We proceed to complete step 1 of our new project in lightening quick speed.  We wait the allotted 3 hour time slot and on to step 2.  Now we just have to remember that in 5 days we need to flush the special solution down the toilet furthest from our septic system and then in another 7 days, we need to repeat step 2.  After all this, we will magically have a brand new system.

Then I read the fine print.  "This procedure will take a minimum of 30 days to work.  If your system is more than 10 years old, it will probably take a minimum of 60.  We recommend NO water use during this timeframe if possible.  If this is not possible, use minimal, limited water."

"WHAT?!"  I think we may need to move for 2 months.  

When Mr. P gets home, I attack him on his way in the door.  

"Did you know we can't use our water for 60 days?"

"Yeah, the guy told me that on the phone . . ."

"And you didn't think to mention it to me?"

"What would be the point?  We can't use it, it would've freaked you out, you would have started to complain much sooner than now, and we really can't afford the 5 star hotel I know you are considering booking to stay in for the next 2 months.  It says we can use minimal water.  We'll just have to limit showers, eat off paper, only flush when necessary, and find a laundromat."

"OH, is THAT ALL!  I'm so sorry, I thought we'd be REALLY inconvenienced . . . "

And so it went, for the next couple of hours.  Mr. P telling me that it would be another adventure.  Me complaining that I feel like a Pilgrim.  But, so be it.  We will do what we have to do.  

So this is how we have spent our last few weeks.  We eat off paper with plastic utensils.  We take 5 minute showers (and Mr. P has become an expert at timing us).  I have become accustomed to finding full toilets and have made quite a few interesting friends from my weekly ventures to the laundromat. 

Yesterday, Mr. P and eldest cherub dug up some of the yard around the leach-field because it still looked like we were getting pooling.  Much to our surprise and JOY, the sand was Dry.  Yes, DRY!  Hooray!  The pooling was just on top, from all the rain.  

So it was a big exciting day.  In my sheer pleasure of having our little experiment work so quickly, I happily danced from room to room collecting laundry to wash in the convenience of my own home, on my own time.  In went load #1.  When it was done, in went load #2.  How happy I was.  I was going to get laundry done.  Life was good.  

And then . . . I went to switch load #2 to the dryer and guess what.  Load #1 was still wet.  WET - it had been in the dryer for an hour.  Did I start the dryer?  Did I run it on the right setting?  Shoot, I would have to run it again.  So I diligently checked all the settings and made sure to hit START.  A FULL HOUR later, in I went to put load #2 in and load #1 was STILL WET.  And the dryer was cold.  Apparently, our heating element is now gone.  I am now off to the laundromat to rewash my washed clothes.  I guess it's true, They just don't make them like they used to.  

To Be Continued . . . 

Losing It

Nothing beats the perfect beach day in New England.  The cloudless, blue sky, hot and steamy, life is good, by the water weather that summer brings.  I miss this.  

It seems to me that in the last 2 or 3 years, these perfect New England days have been few and far between.  We have had plenty of cold.  Lots of snow.  And definitely more than our fair share of rain.  Where are those beautiful beach-going days?  It is June.  I have had my heat on more often than not.  There is something intrinsically wrong with this picture.  

Yesterday was sunny - but not hot.  Today is just gross.  Tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are supposed to be even worse.     I.    AM.    WEARING.    PANTS.     AND SOCKS!

Every morning, I look longingly into my closet and pine for the days of wearing my flip-flops, madras and t-shirts.  I think I may bring my winter wardrobe out of hiding.  It doesn't look good.  I am very depressed.  Where are my beach days?  I think Mother Nature has gotten old.  I think she may have developed dementia and forgotten the upper North Eastern corner of our lovely lower 48.  Or have we done something to make her angry?  I don't know.  All I know is I may be going crazy.  I have become and adamant believer in Seasonal Affective Disorder.  I have this affliction.  I am sure of it.  

I am sad and angry and miserable.  I gripe and groan and grunt.  I am short tempered, ill-willed and mean.  So I ask you, if any of you has an in with our lovely Mother Nature, please put in a good word for us in the Northeast, because I can tell you this - if my Summer doesn't arrive shortly, you may be reading about me in the police beat rather than on my blog . . .  

UUGGGHHHHHHHH

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY!

That's all folks . . . 

How To Be Annoying In An Elevator

Came across this today while surfing online (it is from listology.com) - it made me laugh out loud - probably because I was trying to imagine myself ACTUALLY doing any of these things. Hope it makes you laugh too.

How To Be Annoying In An Elevator

When there's only one other person in the elevator, tap them on the shoulder and then pretend it wasn't you.

Push the buttons and pretend they give you a shock. Smile, and go back for more.

Ask if you can push the button for other people, but push the wrong ones.

Call the Psychic Hotline from your cell phone and ask if they know what floor you're on.

Hold the doors open and say your waiting for a friend. After a while, let the doors close, and say, "Hi Greg. How's your day been?"

Drop a pen and wait until someone goes to pick it up, then scream, "That's mine!"

Bring a camera and take pictures of everyone in the elevator.

Move your desk into the elevator and whenever anyone gets on, ask if they have an appointment.

Lay down the twister mat and ask people if they would like to play.

Leave a box in the corner, and when someone gets on, ask them if they can hear ticking.

Pretend you are a flight attendant and review emergency procedures and exits with the passengers.

Ask, "Did you feel that?"

Stand really close to someone, sniffing them occasionally.

Whenever someone enters, greet them by saying "Welcome Aboard!"

When the doors close, announce to the others, "It's okay, don't panic, they open again!"

Swat at flies that don't exist.

Tell people that you can see their aura.

Call out, "Group Hug!" and then enforce it.

Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering, "Shut up, all of you, just shut up!"

Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while peering inside, ask, "Got enough air in there?"

Stand silently and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.

Stare at another passenger for a while, then announce in horror, "You're one of THEM!" and back away slowly.

Wear a puppet on your hand and use it to talk to the other passengers.

Listen to the elevator walls with your stethoscope.

Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.

Stare, grinning at another passenger for a while, then announce, "I have new socks on".

Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passengers, "This is MY personal space!"

Put police tape in front of the door before entering.

Fart loudly when there are only two of you in the elevator. Argue vehemently that it wasn't you.

Hold an auction.

Do the "potty dance" all the way to the elevator door. Upon arrival, sigh and look greatly relieved.

Ask every passenger coming in if you can borrow a tampon. Especially effective if victim is male. Even more effective if you yourself are male.

Throw a rave.

Place potted plants and water fountains at strategic locations in the lift. When people ask what you are doing, tell them you "Won't ride an elevator that's not feng shui."

Greet everyone getting on with a warm handshake and ask them to call you "Admiral".

Hum the first six notes of the "It's a small world" over and over again.

When you brush past someone, whisper "Was it good for you too?"

Have a heated debate with yourself.

Bring a melon onto the elevator. Try to sell it to the other passengers.

Drum on every available surface.

Write a big X on the elevator floor, and hand out "pirate" maps to everyone as they enter.

Give psychotherapy to the other passengers.

Greet everyone coming on as if they were your best friend. Use the same name for all of them.

Say "ring ring," then pull a banana out of your pocket and start talking into it.

Propose to the other passengers.

Challenge people to duels.

Sell girl scout cookies.

Bring a large pile of ice. Build an igloo on the floor.

Come on looking really scared, and say to another passenger..."I'm kinda nervous...this is my first time flying..."

Any time someone enters the doors, recoil in horror.

Stick your tongue out. Act like it's a cigarette, and ask someone for a light.

Pitch a tent on the floor, and "camp out" for the weekend.

Play "I've got your nose" with the other passengers.

Shout "Food fight!"

Every time someone else talks, angrily shout: "Some people are trying to sleep here!"

When arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to pull the doors open, then act embarrassed when they open by themselves.

Elevators were practically MADE for riverdance!

Bring a snowboard onto the elevator. Put it on. Every time the lift goes up or down, shout "WOO-YEAH! This is what I call sick air!"

Press your nose against the other passengers, and say "You know, this is what the Eskimos used to do before having sex."

Shave.

Every time the elevator goes down, loudly scream "OH MY GOD!!! We're all gonna die! This is it! This is it! It's over! IT'S OVER!!!" Look relieved when it stops moving. When you begin to drop again, repeat.

Ask the other passengers if they want to see your glass clown collection.

Practice your kung fu.

Make race car noises when people get on and off.

Ask everyone on the elevator: "Are you my mother?"

Fly a model airplane.

Do yoga.

Play the accordion.

Enter the elevator with nothing on your head. Individually ask everyone if they like your hat.

Bring a rocking chair. Sit and knit.

Recite gangsta rap lyrics in monotone.

Enter with a shovel, and attempt to "dig for treasure."

Read "Green Eggs and Ham" at the top of your lungs. Sound out every word.

Ask someone "Guess what?" When they respond with "What?," say "Guess what?" again. Repeat until the person responds angrily, then say "I was only asking a question." Then start talking loudly to someone else in the elevator about "How some people really need to learn how to control their temper."

Ask someone if they have an extra pair of underwear with them. Tell them it's just because you have a disorder that causes uncontrollable bowel movements whenever you stop or start moving suddenly, and you forgot to pack your "elevator panties."

Sit in the corner, rocking back and forth, muttering to yourself in a loop "And when it finishes going down it goes up and people get on but when they get on they always get off and the ones getting off are never the ones getting on and the doors open but they always close but when the doors close no one gets on and it goes down and when it finishes going down it goes up..."