The testing is done.

Me: How was the testing? What kinds of questions did it have?

Son: Mom, it was so hard *looking really sad*

Me: *gives him a hug* Babe, this testing was supposed to be hard, but it's not something that will be graded.

Son: But Mom, there was so many things I didn't know. I'm stupid!

Me: No, you're not! I'm sure there were many things on the test that I couldn't have answered either. The point of the test wasn't to see how much you didn't know, but how much you do know.

Son: Mom, I have to be honest ... I really like getting things correct.

Me: *gives him another hug* Of course you do, so do I, and so does many other people. All I ask is that you give it your best shot.

Son: I will, Mom. I always do.

Gotta love that kid!!!!

At his cub scout meeting last night, I took a walk with my daughter around the school, and saw that his teacher was in the class. I popped my head in and said hello.

Me: Son said the testing was really hard today.

Teacher: Really? I'm glad you said something, he didn't mention that at all.

Me: Yes, he was disappointed because he couldn't answer some of the questions. I explained to him that he shouldn't worry about the questions he couldn't answer, and to just do his best.

Teacher: He's going to be fine. He even wanted asked to spend more time with the psychologist, so I let him go. He's so bright, I know he won't have any trouble catching up on what he missed in class.

I was a little surprised at her comment that he wanted to spend more time with the psychologist, so I asked him about it at home after the cub scout meeting.

Me: Mrs. K said you asked to spend more time with the psychologist. What did you guys talk about?

Son: I didn't want to spend more time with her, I wanted to get the test done so I would be finished with it.

Me: Oh.

Son: Mom, my head still hurts.

Poor little dude. He wasn't overly joyful about having to finish up the testing today when I dropped him off this morning, but today should focus on the art therapy. Which may not be a good thing, as it may trigger some unhappy memories. *sigh* But I take comfort in knowing that this will help to provide the psychologist with areas/memories/feelings to focus on in helping him overcome his PTSD.

My son is having his IQ testing done today at school (this is placement testing for the gifted-and-talented program). I'm a little nervous, but he had a good night's rest, wore his glasses to school, and will eat a healthy breakfast at daycare. It's the best I can do, I guess.

They'll also do art therapy with him, to see if there are any areas they can help him with, mostly regarding my dad's passing, and my ex-husband. I asked him to draw a picture of our family doing our favorite things. He drew a picture of himself and his sister sledding outside, and me "working" on the computer. It made me feel pretty crummy ... especially since at home, I'm on the computer a maximum of a half hour each night. On one hand, he thinks I'm "working" ... I'm usually working on a spreadsheet in excel or uploading my blog entry. On the other hand, it's a significant enough amount of time for him to immediately identify it as something I do regularly. It really made me stop in my tracks and think ... I don't want his memories of his childhood to include just his sister and him playing, and me on the computer. I want his memories to have me in them, playing with him.

God trusted in me to bless me with these two incredible children. He trusts that I will strengthen their practical and spritual intelligence. I can't let Him or them, down.

Then I think to myself, geez, it's just 30 minutes a day. I need time to rest. I'm stressed. I have things I gotta get done. I, I, I, I, I ...

The thing is, when I became a mother, my life changed. It wasn't just about me anymore. Being a parent means your wants, desires, and needs get placed behind that of your child(ren). You have to find a happy balance between providing for your child, and taking care of yourself too. But your children always come first.

Nick's picture was a humble reminder to me, and I understand, acknowledge, and accept what the Lord is trusting me to do.

I have two new toys I'm playing with today, Mozilla's FireFox and Pampered Chef's Apple Peeler/Slicer/Corer and stand.

I'm throughly enjoying both, and so are the kids. Well, my girl is at least. My boy went on an outing with his cub scout pack. We had to drop him off at 7am, and will pick him up at 1230pm. I'm happy he went, he needs to get out and have a little fun sometimes!

Okay ... gonna go surf Blog Explosion and then play with my new toys again :)

If you have kids in school, I'm sure you've done one of these before. You know, your child gets sent home with a project, and you hover around, forcing offering your suggestions until at some point, you completely take over the project and it becomes your own.

Nick came home with a list of 8 projects - he had to pick just one. He chose to create a crossword puzzle with words from the American History unit he just completed in social studies. Sounds easy enough, right? He picked out all the words by himself, and came up with the clues, and started to place the words into the crossword puzzle. Well, by this time, I couldn't resist taking over helping him.

Have you ever tried to create a crossword puzzle before? It's hard!! Trying to fit all those words on a 12 x 12 graph ain't easy. After an hour, Nick came to check on me, and I had 10 words set. The project required 12 words, and there was no way I could fit them all in. We took a break for the nite, with the thought of changing projects in the back of my mind.

In the morning (today), I get the bright idea to google crossword maker, and found this link. Another 30 minutes later, I had Nick's crossword puzzle completed, with 14 words, 2 more than required. Whew!! Crisis diverted! The project isn't due until Monday the 7th, so we can actually enjoy the weekend without worrying about his project.

It's official. 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 54 seconds later, my situation is somewhat settled to my satisfaction. Of the 7 calls I made to SBC this morning, just one SBC employee was able to satisfactorily answer my calls, and assist me with the resolution I am demanding. Ebony in the Final Accounts department cancelled the replacement refund check request, and changed it to a tranfer into current account request. It's still going to take 10 days, as they need to investigate the original refund check, but once that's resolved, the $100 payment will be transfered into my current account. I will not be charged any late fees, either. The late fees I've incurred since November are another battle. But I'll save that for tomorrow. The $8.52 Lifeline Credit I'm supposed to get each month (and have yet to receive since December) is also another battle. I'll give them their 10 days to credit my account, then take them on for hopefully the last time.

Yeah, right.

Deep breath in, deep breath out.

After 22 minutes and 11 seconds holding for the Claims Department, I spoke with Miss Gibson, who was absolutely no help whatsoever. She was full of excuses and gave me yet another toll-free number to call. EVeryone, buy stock in Wyeth, the parent company of Advil, 'cuz with the amount of pain meds I'm gonna need today, you'll make a killing.

I. cannot. believe. this.

I was disconnected. I waited 1 hour, 19 minutes, and 41 seconds, and @*#&##!! SBC disconnected me.

I called the general customer service line, waited 4 minutes and 22 seconds before a live person answered my call. Another 13 minutes and 12 seconds later, he told me the closed accounts department would re-issue my refund check. I said no, I want it transferred to my current account. He said he asked them about that but was told "It's just easier to issue a new check." Forgive me if I'm wrong, but aren't I the customer? Shouln't I be the one that things should be made easier for? And to add insult to injury, it will take up to 30 days to receive my replacement refund check.

The customer service rep gives me a new number to call, to speak with the closed accounts department. Then he asks me to rate my experience with SBC. Mwahahaha ... I told him he did okay, the resolution wasn't what I wanted, but overall, I *hate* SBC.

So. I call the 1-800 number he gave me to speak to the Closed Accounts department. It's a flippin' TALK party line, that costs $.63 a minute. WTF???? I did not write down the wrong number, I asked him to repeat it and confirmed that I have the correct number. Now I know they're purposely screwing with me.

It's now 11 minutes and 32 seconds into my second call to the claims department. Third call overall to SBC this morning. Someone's gonna get it ...

I have been on hold with SBC for 46 minutes and 41 seconds, no 42 seconds, wait 43 ...

I know exactly how long I've been holding because my telephone at work has a nifty display that has a wonderful little timer. I seriously pity the service rep that answers my call. Mwahahaha ....

I refuse to hang up. I know they do this on purpose to make us feel so helpless, as if they have all the power. Not this time, buddy. I will wait as long as it takes to get this resolved. If this was in any way my fault, I wouldn't so lustful for revenge. But. They cashed my money order on November 2nd, and never credited it to my account. Now they tell me it was credited to an old closed account and a refund check was mailed to me on November 21st. Yeah, right. Like I said yesterday, I'm a single mom with two children, living paycheck to paycheck. I would definitely remember receiving a $100 refund check in the mail, especially right before Christmas. Heck, my neighbors would certainly remember me dancing like a fool outside by the mailbox.

Wait, wait ... darn it! "Thank you for holding. Our customer service representatives are currently assisting other customers. Please continue holding for the next available customer service representative." AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!! Now they're taunting me!!

Oh my glory, I've now been holding for 54 minutes and 26 seconds ... I'm beginning to think they've got me in an endless loop. No one's really going to answer my call. Lord help me!

I've been divorced for 3 years. At what point does my status change to single? Or is it divorced forever? I don't know why this is perplexing me so much today. Pretty anal, eh?

Kim caught her husband cheating on her before Christmas, and first he was going to leave her to be with the other woman, then he decided that he loves Kim and the girls and wants to come back, and now she decided she doesn't want him anymore. She's been pretty depressed, and her daughters have both been ill with near constant tummy aches and occaisional vomiting. I honestly feel that the illness is psychosomatic -- the girls sense the anger, hurt, and stress, and where adults get headaches, kids get tummy aches. I feel so badly for her, having gone through this myself. I never ever ever want to go through that again.

I'm a little irked with my taxes right now -- I filed my taxes electronically, and when it was first accepted, the notice said I can expect my refund no later than Feb. 11th. Well, I just checked the status again, and now it says I can expect my refund no later than Feb. 15th. What's up with that? Geez ...

I got a blast from the past when Teri called me at work today. She's been very distant ever since I started my new job. She obviously wants something from me, why else would she call out of the blue. I've left so many messages, written her emails, sent her cards, and nothing. And she gave no excuse why she didn't return any of my attempts to contact her. Hmmmm ... I wonder what she's up to.

Aargh ... I'm also peeved at SBC. I sent them a $100 money order in October, which they cashed on November 2nd, and it was never applied to my account. I have been waiting since then for them to "investigate my claim". I came home to a message on my voicemail that my payment was applied to an old account from an old address, and a refund check was sent to me on November 11th, to my current address. WTF? I obviously didn't receive the refund check, trust me, as a divorced (or is it single?) mom of two kids that lives paycheck to paycheck, I would certainly have remembered getting a $100 check in the mail. Geez. It is so annoying. Now I'll have to wait even longer while they check to see if the check was cashed (which it most certainly wasn't) and then get another refund check sent to me. The easy and most logical solution is for SBC to credit my account $100 rather than sending me a replacement check, but why would they do that? I was presumed guilty and had to prove my innocence, and still they make me suffer. I pity the customer service person that answers my call tomorrow. They claim they sent me a refund check? Well, I want proof. Guilty until proven innocent, I say. Can you tell it's that TOM? ^ ^ (<- that's the horns coming outta my head)

A new template in honor of Valentine's Day. I probably won't get anything this year, in fact, I haven't gotten anything for Valentine's Day since, oh, 1995? [An incredibly shameless plug for some lovin', eh?]

Okay, not exactly true ... I have gotten Valentine's cards from my kids each year since 1997 ... but still ...

WAIT!! I did get a lemongrass scented candle last year from a guy named Matt. We met online November '03, he was in the Army Reserves stationed in Iraq. He came home on February 10th, and we had a really good Valentine's Day, if you get my drift. But then I caught him in a lie -- when we were in the emailing stages, right off the bat he told me he was getting divorced, and the papers were already filed, etc. The day after our Valentine's date, I find out that he didn't file for divorce until 4 weeks after we first met online. He originally said he filed for divorce in June, but didn't do it until December. Yes, I know, a small technicality, but if he lied about that, what else did he/will he lie about? After all I've been through, I wasn't going to be with someone that lied to me right at the beginning. What kind of foundation for a relationship is that? It was pretty heartbreaking ... no wonder I've repressed it for the past year *LOL*

Amazing Jellies. Make sure your speakers are on. Trust me!