Thanks to amazon streaming video that comes with my Prime membership, I am finally getting that opportunity.  I see why people wouldn’t shut-up about this show.  :)

I’m on episode 18 now.  Love being able to watch these on either my laptop or the Kindle and completely without commercials or other ads.  Unless I have a crappy internet connection, which apparently happens sometimes at the community center, the videos play seamlessly and without interruption.

So now I’m not so lost anymore.

I know I’m behind the times on a lot of things, but I think I love doing it this way.  I did this with Harry Potter.  Only read the books last year, and watched the movies.  Like Lost, it’s hard to jump into the middle of the story with that one.  When I’d already missed the first one, then the second, I avoided all the others until I got a chance to start at the beginning.  I ended up borrowing books and buying used DVDs.  I read the book then watched the DVD with Elijah and, often, Sarah.  Nice doing it that way, I can just move from one to the next, no waiting!  Did the same thing with The Hunger Games.

So, yay, me.  Ha, that’s all that’s new right now…

It all started when some guys at work told Steve that he’s eligible for a discount through his employer.  He kept telling me to do that… ha.  I kept saying “YOU need to find out how,” and he finally did.  Just take a paycheck stub into one of the stores, he was told.  So last Sunday we went in there together but it was just as I predicted…

The account we had was the same one Steve first got in early 1999.  Somewhere along the line, I believe when we added my phone, so around 10 years ago, someone with AT&T screwed up and the account changed over to have my name on it, Steve’s nowhere to be found.  It was never a problem though, so I never said anything about it.  But, of course, because it was his paycheck stub and his discount and my account… no dice.  So the guy in there is telling us we can change the name on the account… for $18 a line.  Let’s see, $18 a line times 5 lines… oh, yeah, $90.  Not happening.

That’s just stupid.  $18 to change the name on an account, PER LINE?  Not even just a per account fee, but one per line!  I don’t usually act this way but I got kinda loud, I stated that I was NOT paying $90 to change a name on the account, it’s asinine.  Everyone was looking at me, heh.  We ended up leaving, the guy wrote his number on a card and told us to call if we got the account changed over.

The next day we called with the plan to ask them to please waive the fee – after all, look back in your records, it’s your fault the name’s not correct anyway.  Steve takes the phone after I’ve authorized him to speak (see: asinine) and then the woman tells him oh, yeah it is $18 a line but if you do it on the internet, it’s free.  Say, what??  Couldn’t have told us that in the first place?  (But again we’re back to why is it free online but not free in the store or on the phone??)

I started the process right away and was told that we were waiting on a credit check for Steve, check back later.  So I did.  Same thing.  Again on Tuesday.  Again on Wednesday.  Finally, on Thursday, when we were both present, I called in.  Something wasn’t happening like it was supposed to online, so back to the phone we go.  The guy we got on the phone said that he’d waive the $18 per line because we at least tried to do it online.  (He was really nice about it so rather than saying it, I only thought “heck yeah, you will.”)   It took for.ev.er.

Finally we were finished with all five lines and he’s telling me how we’re going to get two bills this month, both pro-rated, and that all our plans and features have transferred over.  This was also good because online it was going to raise my internet costs by another $10 a month, though I don’t know why.  I figured I’d complete it then go into the account later and put it back, or call them… again.

Also stupid: I lost the insurance on my phone by doing this.  You can only add insurance within like the first 45 days of getting a phone and apparently you can’t transfer it, so I didn’t get to take it with me and I don’t get to re-add it.

Half stupid: all lines now have an 11 month contract on them.  Steve is not going to like this one when I finally get around to telling him.  On three lines, having an 11 months on them actually shortens the contract but on the other 2, Steve’s and his dad’s, they now have a contract where they didn’t have one before.  Steve’s has been out of contract for years upon years now and his Dad’s a few years as well.  Neither of them want theirs under contract, they want to be able to cancel at any time if they want.  The real sad part about this is they’re forced back into contract without the benefit of getting a new phone.  As for mine, it takes 2 months off my contract and I think it takes a year off of Sarah’s, maybe about 9 months off my mother-in-law’s phone.  So I’ll be able to get a new piece of crap in October rather than December now.

Not finished yet, though, of course not.  Early this morning, I got an email from AT&T stating that Sarah’s line was about to go over her text message limit… um… what??  We’re supposed to have unlimited family messaging and even if we didn’t have unlimited, we only had this new account for 2 days.  Over limit!?  After a lot of trouble getting the online account going again I was able to get in and see that we were going to have all these overages of 20 cents a message and 50 cents for a multimedia message.  Of course, I flipped out, but I couldn’t call, it was about 5 am.  Instead I added family messaging and went back to sleep for a while like usual.

Getting home later I called up AT&T and asked them to back date the family messaging plan.  Unfortunately I apparently screwed that up because supposedly they can only back date it when it’s first added, however, the woman I talked to said she will put a note to refund the overages.

Just… really?  Unfortunately, this IS worth my time, Steve’s supposed to get a 19% discount.  When you’re spending $200 a month on cell phones… that’s a lot.  However, we don’t have the discount yet!  Of course.  I called the number the guy wrote on the card for me, turns out it’s his personal cell phone and he’s not working today.  What an idiot.  So he says to go in at any time and tell someone else that HE said it’s ok and started, just to send it through, or wait until he works on Monday.  It’s gonna have to be tomorrow, on Sunday, because… duh duh duhhhhnnn… now my name’s not on the account OR the check stub so is someone else going to work with ME on this?  Doubtful.  This is just ridiculous.  I don’t see why both our names can’t be on this account, but whatever.  Oh, I also failed to mention that this guy told us the discount could take months to start applying… what the heck!?  I swear, if it wasn’t such a good discount…

Sheesh, I can’t wait for this to be over.

Speaking of paperwork, the stuff I’m doing is for the office I’ve been doing computer tech for the last 7 years, off and on, and when needed, filling in for their secretary.  Their last secretary left a few months ago, though, and despite being asked to take her place, I just can’t commit to a job like that.  For one, I think it’s just too far to drive regularly, in between that and paying childcare, I’d probably be paying to work.  So after a couple of months, we agreed that when I’m in the area, they could pass me some paperwork, usually stuff to simply transcribe, and I could do it at home for an hourly wage.  It’s easy stuff for me, just, so far, completely time consuming.  Right now it’s all stuff for taxes.

Taxes… yes, it’s that time again.  Sigh.  I hate tax time.  I’m also closing down, more accurately, have already closed down my candle business.  I don’t have enough time and they are so heavy, shipping keeps going up, among other reasons, it’s just time to move on.  I made a point of closing it out before the end of the year.  I still have to file my sales tax.  The state of Missouri is going to love getting my check for $1.21.  All of my orders were out of state except one this year.

I also have a new venture… maybe two… what is wrong with me!?

Finally, weight loss.  So happy here.  I am officially down 40 lbs and I’m not the only one noticing anymore.  The downside is that I’m almost needing to buy new jeans.  Ironic, isn’t it?  You’d think I’d be dying to buy new clothes.  But I have no intentions on stopping here and I had to spend any money on clothes that I’ll probably not be wearing for very long.  I need to go through my closet and see if anything survived the closet purges of a couple of years ago.  But the jeans that were once tight are now almost falling off of me.  I guess I could get a belt, but I hate belts.  I could actually probably be down another 10 lbs already but I keep screwing up.  I had too many carbs the other day and let’s just say whoa.  Totally not used to that anymore and I got sick.  I really didn’t even have that much.  Well, I expect it to get easier all the time, to stay on track.  There are some things I really miss, like Chinese food and pasta, of course.  But some day I can have them again…

Monday I got to see my girls Kate & Carrie for our bi-annual dinner.  Much fun – nice evening, good food, no screaming kids.  :)

Tuesday I endured lots of screaming kids.  That was the night of the Santa photo but that wasn’t it – there was also a large lights display that the kids liked (though I think they tired of it quickly on) and dinner with my good friend of over 18 years (omg, I had to think about that one, am I really that old???) and her one-year-old as well.  An interesting dinner consisting of Kayleigh being the ultimate ham and climbing on the table not once, oh no, but twice.

Wednesday was extremely busy starting with a concert with Elijah’s guitar class.  That was interesting.  I let him go in first at 2 but the concert was at 230 so I came in with Kayleigh about 15 minutes later.  Immediately upon entering the room, she freaked out and even grabbed the trash can that was by the door in an attempt to stop me from pushing her (in her stroller) further into the room.  She would then scream and cry if I tried to sit down or be near people etc.  Finally was able to stand on the other side of the room near the door and she was quiet playing with my wallet and debit/credit cards.  Sigh.  It wasn’t the best view to see E or get pictures of any kind.  When it came time for us to leave early, ’cause I was on a time schedule, I felt both guilty and relieved.  Of course, my kid was the one who stood up and talked after every song and was the one who announced the songs loudly as he was finding them in his book, etc.  Oy.

After that, I had to drive the 30 miles home and get dressed and, leaving the kids in good hands with Stacey’s son and his girlfriend until Stacey could get there, headed back north and met my sister-in-law and her sister for dinner, our mother-in-law and Sarah showing up soon thereafter.  From there it was to the Fabulous Fox Theatre to see Beauty and the Beast.  We’d planned this for a while, having bought tickets not long after Sarah and I went to see The Addams Family.  These tickets were just under $83 a piece and we sat in the front row of the Mezzanine.  The show was ah-mazing.  It was really good.  Of course, this was Disney’s Beauty and the Beast so it largely followed the movie with a few more numbers in there.  Everyone in the show performed marvelously and we all just really enjoyed it.  The girls are already making plans for The Lion King in the summer.  There were a lot of kids in the show, though, my first time really encountering kids at The Fox and during the first scene with wolves attacking Belle’s father, I whispered to Sarah, “wow, this is kind of scary,” and almost immediately all kids in the place started wailing in fear.  There were three such scenes.  I think the little girl behind us wanted to leave, poor thing.  But how they did the wolves, you could see the people running them, all in black clothes, and the wolves looked like they might have been skins of the real thing (doubtful, of course)… it was really good.

Thursday was the slowest day but I still had to head out to Elijah’s swim lessons.  However, after this week, he’ll no longer be in “lessons” but officially on the swim team.  His teacher gave him his t-shirt and told me how to sign up for his insurance, etc.  I have to get him a pair of Speedo shorts things very soon, too.  He’s nervous about it – he thinks that he can’t swim without the swim fins no matter how many times his teacher and I tell him that they don’t help him swim, they just work and train his muscles more.  Earlier in the day we spent a long time discussing how no one is going to let him drown — the life guard, his coach, and if I have to jump in there fully clothed, I would — besides that, he CAN do this, he just thinks he can’t.  Both his coach and I are hoping that being around the other kids on the team will help.  As of the last several months, all the other kids in conditioning class have dropped out.

Friday started the Christmas festivities with the annual gathering of my mom’s family at my  uncle’s.  Yet another Interesting Kayleigh Night.  Steve was with me this time, he got the day off – last year he’d had to work and I was just miserable dealing with her crabby butt over there myself.  This time we traded off but, boy, was she an absolute terror all evening.  She didn’t even want to stop and open presents.  That became the theme of all Christmas to her, “no one’s gonna make me sit down and rip some paper up, so help me, God.”  But all the ladies loved their gifts of Naked Soap items and a candle that I’d made, my adolescent and teen cousins loved their scarves and stripey knee-high socks, parents and babies alike adored the owl hats I’d made for two little 6 and 7 month old baby boy cousins, and the other random gifts were much loved as well.

Saturday, Christmas Eve, was spent at my parents’ house with all my siblings in attendance.  Good times.  I love my family.  We might argue from time to time but largely we really get along well and everyone is respectful of and cares for everyone else.  It was another night, however, of opening Kayleigh’s presents for her and trying to get her to look at them.  Of course, I’d failed to bring her Spongebob DVDs that I’d made where there’s no extra crud in there it’s just episode after episode to keep her attention when really needed.  She does love the Bob Bob.  She also got a baby doll with accessories from my parents and it was so cool to see her when we finally got her to look at it.  She got the cup out and was feeding the baby right away.  Very good to see her engage in pretend play like that, that’s one of the things the therapists are always asking about and pushing.  My mom and dad loved their canvas of all the kids, something I’ll probably be posting later — too tired now!  And the other pictures as well.  Mom was very interested in how I got my niece to not only wear a tu-tu and knee-high striped socks but to co-operate and smile for photos.  Let’s just say it was a joint effort.

Sunday, Christmas Day, a day we would love to spend at home by ourselves, but it never seems to work out that way anymore.  We did spend the morning with the kids – they shared a stocking because Kayleigh’s stuff wouldn’t fit in the other two I’d found around here – then they got to open presents.  Kayleigh did the best at this present-opening, probably because she was at home and there were no distractions of “hmmmmm what can I find to throw and break?”  Once again, I spent too much money on them.  They get so much junk from our parents and siblings and some of my aunts and uncles and cousins that I should just stop buying them stuff from us!  I am thinking of putting up some of the stuff I got Kayleigh that she’s showing no interest in.  I did put up one V-tech or Leapfrog (hey I can’t remember) toy, and she’s not noticed it’s missing.  She loves her Baby Alive though, and Elijah’s Spongebob Legos.  Elijah loves his new Legos too, I just wish the stupid things would stay in sets.  I’ve realized that I’m a bit obsessive compulsive about keeping toys in their proper groups… eek.  Legos built in their sets and kept put together, all the pieces to this toy all together, etc.  And that just doesn’t happen around here no matter how I try.  I’m going to have to learn to deal with it!

The biggest news of the day was that Steve bought me a Kindle Fire!  I almost can’t believe it.  We don’t really buy for each other for Christmas or birthdays.  Earlier in the week he’d texted me from work telling me to give him a list of 6 things I wanted… heh.  That was actually harder than I would have thought it would be because both of us are guilty of pretty much buying whatever we want or need this year.  Oh yeah, you know that’s gonna stop.  Not to say I have bought a lot of high-ticket items, but for instance, I couldn’t tell him I wanted a purse, I’ve bought them when I wanted.  Couldn’t ask for a laptop, had to do that earlier this year.  Didn’t want to ask for clothes because of my weight loss I’m trying to just wait as long as I can to buy clothes.  Didn’t want to ask for jewelry, I’ve bought it when I saw it and wanted it this year – nothing expensive, maybe $5 here or $10 there but still, I have plenty of new stuff – and I don’t wear expensive jewelry (cause I never have any haha).  So I’d said a Kindle Fire was #1 but then later said bleh, too expensive.  Plus, I figured if I was gonna get one of those, he’d be coming to me and telling me to order it.  But apparently they sell them at Walmart and he went in all on his own and bought it and I did not peek while it sat in the other room for 3 days.  What a pleasant surprise.  Then, of course, while I’m first checking it out, he says to me, “so what’s that thing do, anyway?”  :)

The downside was that I’d bought him a massage thing to go in a chair and you sit on it, right?  He hates it.  Says it’s too hard.  This happened to us a few years ago and we returned it, but I didn’t think that would happen again – different  brand, different type, etc.  So Stacey’s got it right now, trying it out to see if she’d like to keep it.  She’s got stronger back muscles than the two of us combined so maybe it won’t be so rough for her!

After all of that, the kids played with their new stuff and then we went to Steve’s grandma’s and met the rest of his family, most of them anyway.  Stayed with her a while, returned here to let the dog out and pick up a few things, then to his parents’ house for dinner and more presents.  Again, the kids made out like bandits.  Nothing high end, but just a lot of stuff.  Kayleigh’s really gotten the Spongebob stuff.  In between us and my family and Steve’s family I think she’s gotten two plush Spongebobs with blankets (interesting story on my part and the other from my sister), two coloring books, a story book, sleeping bag, tote bag, pajamas, and I don’t know what else!  She loves him.  Of course, she was again being a terror and after presents and watching the DVD I’d brought of the original Grinch show, Sarah finally put on Kayleigh’s Spongebob DVD… sucked her right in and we all got a break.  That kid…  I don’t get it really.

Her other favorite item?  A pair of kid sunglasses I put in the stocking.  What a turkey.

So it’s been a good week, very busy.  Today I spent the morning cleaning up and throwing away trash – getting it to the curb literally 5 minutes before the trash man came.  Then playing with the kids – games and what not – some of my own game I got for Christmas from my sister-in-law, crocheting, reading, watching a movie.  Busy busy!  :)  The only thing I wished I’d gotten in was some scrapbooking!!

She’s also helped me out a lot this year in making gifts for my aunts and cousins.  We’ve put together a little bag for each containing a bar of soap, body cream, and a body spray.  I’ve also added a small candle that I’ve made.  I only wish I’d had time (or been able to get my act together enough) to crochet up some wash cloths to go along with these.

Marie calls her soap “Naked Soap” because she uses only the basest of ingredients.  There’s nothing unnecessary in there and she doesn’t even use a pre-made base, everything is made from scratch using all natural ingredients such as goat’s milk.  She’s also got body butters seasonally, bath salts, bath melts, and sugar scrubs.

In fact, I’ve been using Marie’s soap almost exclusively for about a year now.  I love the way it makes my skin feel – clean but not dry and not greasy.  The scents are wonderful, too.  The scent going to my family this year is Green Tea & Ginger.  Looove it.  She was so kind as to give me my own body cream (actually forgot to order something for myself this time around, ha) and I put it on my… um, winter knees… earlier and it’s already made a difference in that skin.  Feels great and the scent is nice and not over-powering (which is sometimes a downfall of an otherwise good lotion).

So, I know, it’s too late for Christmas this year, but check it out!  :)   http://nakedsoap.net

Enough said.

These pictures took all of 5 seconds yet seem to have taken 10 years off Kaleigh’s life.