What's Up, Chicken Butt?!

What's going on? I could go into my seperation, uncontested divorce vs. contested divorce, laywers, mucho bucks, nonesense thats going on in my life but I won't. Why? Say it with me...because "such it life" or because "it is what it is". That's the spirit.

So very close to thirty-one and how does it feel? Why did I just have a pic of D' Angelo's beautiful body flash before my very eyes? It feels...weird. I mean to some extent I have made peace with it or maybe it has been crowded out by the more important things? IDk but I do want Q and I to finish what we started. What did we start? The "30 Thing by 30" adventures we embarked on. I still have a grill (in the box may I remind you) that we purchase because neither one of us knows how to grill. It is Summer and we still eat (even with the Weight Watchers program) so, why not now. Well, not right now maybe next weekend (IDK gotta check Q's schedule)because this weekend we are off to a Tampa Bay...Lightening? No, that's hockey. What the heck are they?...Off to Google.

The Tampa Bay Storm!!! Go Storm!! (I am a huge fan! LOL!) We are going to see the Sabercats vs. the Storm (ask me where the Sabercats are from if you want but if I struggled with the Storm...) In my mind we are going to have a great time. We? Q, me, and the kids all of them (three) oh, and maybe my mom too. I am not overly into sport but I'm not against it either.

On another note, Q and I went to the beach. She burned and I got darker but I am loving my Summer glow. On a recent FaceBook comment my older brother noticed my "enriched color" but his comment wasn't polite. Boys drool! Anyway being outdoors in the warmth (some days here in FL down right HEAT) feels good. So I leave you with a pic of me enjoying the sun at the park this past weekend.






LuvYa!

Am I really 30?

The initial shock of crossing into that decades worn off a bit but, I still don't think of myself as being thirty. Actually, it comes up mostly in conversation with my husband and on the many episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. I have always been the youngest member of any select "crew" that I am in so, most of them are like shut up "I am knocking down forty's door" or "I am in my mid-forties".

I definitely need to start up some kind of workout or fitness program. I seem to "cushion" myself during Winter and I want to walk the beach with confidence next summer. Not the "it came in my size so I am wearing it" confidence but, real solid "I am in shape and I am healthy" confidence. I would also like to take some family pictures soon and I know the camera will not be kind if I don't shape up. It has been said that the older youare the harder it is to lose weight so, I want to change my lifestyle before "weight loss" becomes an obession for me.

Doomsday & Weekend Recap

0 days left...

I woke up this morning at about two due to the never ending Facebook message alerts I began receiving at midnight. I was completely stressed from the events of the weekend and sleep was illusive to me.

I was called in Friday to substitute and the day was going very well. I ran into my husband in the lunchroom and he said he needed to speak with me. He took me outside to talk so, I knew it was serious. He was on an employer mandated sabbatical until further notice. WHAT?! Great, I still had another two hours until I was off. I did my best and maintained my composure throughout the rest of the day. His background results were back and well, there were some technical difficulties. I know of all his past difficulties because he has explained them to me, they took place before we met and were married. Periodically he will go through this with an employer so, we just roll with the punches, it is what it is. However, this is a little different because I have been employed with this employer in one capacity or another for two and a half years and my husband for one and a half. Possibly having the sole income of my family began to weigh on me.

Saturday brought with it serious parenting challenges and I wasn't ready for them. I received a call from my mother Saturday night asking if I knew that my older son had an email address. Of course I did but he has been instructed not to use it and he is obedient child, or so I thought. Turns out that not only has he been using it on a regular basis but it is also the channel through which he communicates with his girlfriend. Yes, you read that right! G-I-R-L-F-R-I-E-N-D. What the hay?! I think my head is about to explode. I felt like one of those cartoon characters with the steam coming out of their ears. I also found out that there was another girl who was heavily pursuing my son, the ex-best friend of the current girlfriend. Yes, a love triangle at 10. I think it was by the grace of God that my son wasn't at home when I received the news. He went out in service with another family and was spending the day playing with their sons. As soon as he got home we sat his little but down and let him know that the proverbial cat was out of the bag. He was caught red handed and he couldn't deny it. After talking with him I wrote two letters, one for each girl’s parents, asking them to contact me regarding an incident with our children. Upon arrival at their school on Monday morning I sent the kids to breakfast and headed for their classrooms. I poked my head inside of girl number one's classroom and who is in there? Girl number one and both of her parents, I forgot that this week is Parent Conference Week! I waited outside the classroom for them to finish. While I was waiting I went to girl number two's classroom and talked with her teacher and asked if she would send my note home with the girl. She agreed after hearing the circumstances that inspired the notes. When the parents of girl number exited the conference I asked if I could talk to them for a moment and they agreed. I almost completely spazzed out while conversing with these parents. Can you believe that she knew that about their dating? "It is innocent, you're taking it out of context” the mother said. Lady you daughter said the she "loves" my son and "would do anything for him" and she "wanted to hug him because he didn't hug her". The conversation ended with her saying she would block my son's email address which is also her solution to the feud her daughter was involved in. Really I know my son is a liar, his action has proven this but why is your ten year old daughter so desperate? I couldn't stay and talk to the dumbest set of parents I have ever met because I needed to go to work. I received a call from girl number two's mother but I wasn't off yet so I told her I would have to call her back. As soon as I clocked out. It turns out that she also was well aware of the dating and the feud. SERIOUSLY?! I mean if you feel that at ten you daughter is mature enough to date than fine but, wouldn't you at least check out her boyfriend's family? I guess not because neither one of these women thought to do that. And neither one seemed concerned about the fact that both of their daughter suggested that cheating would solve this dilemma of theirs. Livid has been my state of mind surrounding these events. I also found out that my other son also knew of the shenanigans that were going on and my baby girl knew they had email addresses but they told her that she better not tell us. My heart is so hurt right now but since they all took a united front in deceiving us (their parents) then we are taking a united front in administering punishment.


On top of this I turned 30.

When I grow up I want to be...

...a mother, a teacher, a social worker, a lawyer, a hair dresser, a doctor, and a ballerina.

I remember the answers to that question like it was yesterday. I was so innocent and filled with dreams of being the epitome of the "Professional Woman". I must say that I have accomplished some of those goals. I am the mother of three beautiful children, I currently work as a substitute teacher, I was a certified social worker for a while, I currently hold a valid cosmetology license in the state of Florida, as well as, a license as a certified nursing assistant and I work part-time as a night janitor( I know not on the list but I do that too). I don't have plans to pursue becoming a doctor, a lawyer, or a ballerina although, I have taken salsa lessons (I actually graduated in July) and I would like to start Tango lessons. (Sidebar: I love pictures and videos so, I know I will post more than my share of them.) Here is a great spot for me to share the graduation dance video:




Okay, back to the topic at hand, I don't know why I have found my place or why I seem to be stuck in the role of professional student ( I have been in school off and one since 1999) and I start nursing in January. At least I think I am starting I am not sure if I really want to. I would like to find a career that I enjoy doing, that I can retire from while I am still young enough to enjoy being retired. I know one thing for sure: time is running out.

Have you found your dream job? Are you currently working in your choice career? Have you changed careers like I change shoes?

Countdown to Thirty!

"But I don't want to turn thirty!" (in my best Jerry Seinfield voice). I am not ready to turn 30, not physically, not financially and most definitely not emotionally!

Well, I guess I should introduce myself first instead of informing you of how insecure I am of being one year older.

Hi, my name is Valoree although on here I will most likely refer to myself as V and I can almost guarantee that Q will also. I am married (and have been for eight years well, in November it will be eight), I am the mother of three beautiful children ( Z (10), T (10), and E (6) ), and the rest of my life is well...unplanned, unorganized, and a little chaotic.

I was born on October 11, 1980 and I am dreading with all my being this October 11th. I don't know when my obession with, wait...my dread of turning thirty began but it is here and it is full-blown. I guess I never envisioned my 30 year old self, where I would be or what I would be doing but, in a few short weeks it will be here. In order to preserve my sanity I thought that blogging would be the perfect outlet and I have a friend who has her own issue with being 30 so, why not join forces?! Come along and join us onthis unscripted journey!

How about you? Are you soon to be thirty? Have you already turned thirty? Did any major changes happen when you turned thirty?