Friday funny

I used to do this way back when I worked... B.C. That's, before children. (uh... tell jokes that is....)

So, a guy comes home from work one evening and shows his wife his new tattoo.... A tattoo of a hundred dollar bill 'round his ... um, junk..... ;)

The wife rolls her eyes and says, "why'd you go have a hundred dollars tattooed there???"

The husband replies cooly, "because sometimes I like to watch my money grow."
"...and sometimes I like to play with my money."
"... and now, I figure when you get the urge to go shopping, you don't have to. You can stay home and blow a hundred dollars!"

=)
ahhahhhahahaha I liked that one!

It was bound to happen

I'm really feeling inadequate. I'm having a hard time in this 'boss' role, especially when the big boss, master left it at... "I'm the silent partner." So, these 3 masters still really make me feel like I don't know what I"m doing. And, they're right, in a way. I'm new at this 'boss' business. As far as being a competent martial artist.... I'm completely confident that I'm as good as or better than them in the technical aspect... heck, i"m 20+ years their junior so I can kick higher, and I still remember my forms. Just a little side note from the test this past weekend.... Ya, I was pretty unimpressed with their performance. Sure, they have eons more teaching experience than I do... they've been doing the sport the entire time I've been alive.... but, wow, I was expecting more. Hmm. I guess, as the technical, do-ability, I feel I'm every bit as good... oh, but I repeat myself. So, why do they make me feel like such a pee-on? Or is that Peon?!
Sure, I'm not doing things exactly the same way the grand master did... Like, I'm cleaning up the supply cabinet. I've pulled out all 100+, random color belts that were just taking up valuable realestate. I bring the belts over for the students who passed their test and clearly state in the bright, red notebook on the desk... yes, that one with the, "INSTRUCTORS, READ DAILY!!!" noted on the front in black, bold marker... yes, that one. I clearly instructed not to hand out belts until the following Monday. Well, now, I'm not only missing belts today.... not only did they hand them out early, when I told them not to, they didn't check belt sizes so now I do not have the right ones for the right kids.... GRRRRR And then, they're too above answering emails or even bothering to read them. This one teacher, ya, the same one that's been a pain since the get-go, decided he'd disregard my new attendance sheet.... scribble on it and do it his way. Then he took off another important paper that I explained in my lowly email... he took it off the table, and decided to make up his own half-assed list for another matter. AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGG. Ya, so I probably came off as a bitch on the phone to him this afternoon... but, damn it, I was steamed.... his stupid response, "well, I didn't understand it"... then I threw back, well it is very clearly stated what is needed on that chart for the people to fill in... and if you had bothered to read your email I also explained it there. *RRRGGGH* I was just telling Kurt, "why does he piss me off? Doesn't he have a woman at home and know what not to do???" I just get a laugh in response! This is really becomming a pain. You know, I spell it out... I send out emails... yet, somehow, I'm being ignored. And it's really starting to piss me off.

Had another interesting information bit told to me this evening by one of the parents.... seems a nasty rumor is spreading 'round cowtown that the grand master is retiring... well, true.... and that his school is going out of business... and not to buy uniforms from him anymore. This from one of our former/current student that runs the program through the park district....He used to associate himself with our school back when the grand master was running it... shoot, now it's just Kurt and me.... seems he finds it below himself to continue on this association with us since we're now running the show and has been passing the word on to his students and parents. Nice. How come he didn't have the balls to tell me in person?

I swear, it was all fun and giggles when I was the only girl in the bar after the test... hanging with all the boys. Fun times. Hmmm, seems some of the boys don't play so nicely when girls are around. I'm finding it can be a pain with these same guys in the group. What? don't they take me seriously? Seems the master I was paired up with while free fighting at our test on Saturday ought to take me seriously. Kurt tells me he was shocked to see his wife fighting so good. Damn, that was nice to hear!! Ok, I felt really on my game while sparring this guy, and sparring the other woman I was paired with first. Ya, he was probably taking it a bit easy with me, being a girl and all... but I still felt evenly matched for most of the fight. Sure I took one glove in my face...my fault though, I dropped my block. But, I think that's when it sank in that it doesn't hurt to get hit... and I laid into him.... payback time. And you know, come to think of it... I was going easy on him too... I didn't land my kick to his unblocked head... twice. Nor did I hit him in the face at least 2 times that I took the opening. I put my glove in there.... or my foot up to his head and pulled it back. He knew I was in, I knew I scored. That's really how the game is played. It's not about trying to really knock the other guy out. You know when you've let your guard down.
Ok... that's enough of that rant.... I think I"m just spinning.... let's see some pictures from the fun Saturday test.... where Kurt broke 10 inches of solid concrete with his hand! And, I broke 4 inches of solid concrete with my hand... although you'll have to take my word for it.... middle K just caught me, from my wide hips down, looking over a heap of broken concrete. You can't see a face at all... sigh.... but, just ask anyone who was there... I did it!

what are the chances of this?

0926051319.jpg
Originally uploaded by frau cowtown.

So, I leave the bank this morning... and the only cars in the lot are these 3 identical ones!! Heh, I just had to snap it!

Can you tell which one is mine? Why, it's the middle one! ;) hahahahaha

Indian Summer

...As a friend so aptly noted. It's been sunny and hot... but I think that was the last hot day. Of course, I've been saying that for the 3 or 4 previous scorchers each time we get one... "this will be the last hot day..." Maybe now that it's officially fall, we can carry on with the sunny, cool, crisp days!

The obligatory pup picture...


Well, the business is settling down. At least, it feels that way to me. Kurt still feels we have so much... which we do, but maybe I'm now just allowing myself to stay in the here and now... "what can we get done today?" I'll get some official documents and contracts to the printer today, tomorrow is my meeting with the accountant and Sat. is our special black belt testing. It's a big to-do... complete with Korean masters judging the event, plenty of bricks to be broken, and nearly all of us top dog, instructors being promoted.... Not too much pressure... *snort*, ya right.
Last night was a standard promotion at the school. The big boss, master was there as a judge. We were to run the show.

Fast forward, oh, 10 hours... and I'm in a completely different state of mind. Today has run the gammit. Start with having my mom over to watch the kids..... 'nuf said. And, take over with Kurt calling me 10 mins before I leave the house to get the kids and "start" my day.... I'm like.... "Kurt, I've been telling you on many occasions throughout the day... I'm really tense, and not having a good day.... and now you want me to call this guy re: our karate school stuff.... I'm still trying to settle myself down mentally..... and I have 10mins left for myself...."

...sigh... now, I end up calling the guy. And, basically tell him, I have 5 mins and then I'm out the door.... Turns out, he's on the West coast, so we'll speak again this evening... 6pm my time is still 4pm on the coast... ok. I call up Kurt in near giggles.... like, "ohmygod, I could hardly concentrate on the phone call!!! He's totally from Canada!!!" hahahahah.. Kurt's like, well, ya, as a matter of fact, they're from Vancouver! Hahahahaha, I knew it! I could hardly contain my giggles.... THEY DO SAY "A BOOOOOT" hahahahah not, "about"... it's all "ABOOOOT" laughing my freakin' fat ass off over that. Ok, so yes, I'm in about 4th grade! hahahah.... His accent was totally great!!! Ahem.

So, fast forward to this evening... I'm into my 2nd or 3rd glass of red wine and I call him.... I'm all giggles, because now I have Kurt eggin' me on in the background.... so I compose myself, and figure... "let's just get this over with.. out of the way...."

I say..."so, um, where are you guys located?"
he's like "we're actually in Vancouver"
*snicker* muffle, muffle, *snicker...* lol
he's like, "could you tell? Did I say "eh" (pronounced AY) too much?!!
hahahahah
Well, I had to confess.... I told him it was the ABOOT that really caught my attention.

Ya, like I said, I'm a 10 year old.

He was such a good sport.... so we had a moment of good fun at George Bush's expense... hahaha... and then back to business! It was good to get that out of the way.... then I could fully concentrate!!!

Heh. I've never actually heard the Canadian accent spoken... just read abooot it.... hahahah... it's great fun to hear!!! LOLOL

Ok.... hey, give me some wine and I'm very, very easily amused!

=)

All is good again!

Now to set up internet and business stuff.... naturally, the first thing I installed was the Sims!!! Priorities, ya know! And, man, it zoooooooooooms!!! What fun to play Sims the way it was meant to be played!! I love my speeedy machine! =)

Happy Oktoberfest! Don't worry, Kurt, I didn't forget Oktoberfest! ;)

Well, it took the tooth fairy a damn long time to arrive.... 4 days. Sigh, what was the matter with her? Busy, or something??! heh.

What else?? Hmm. Oh, no laptop yet... I think I'll call the shop today and find out what's up... goodness, the store it was coming from was maybe an hour away.... I could have driven there and picked it up myself! sheesh.

Went looking at one building yesterday... nah, too big, not the right layout... sigh. The other one we were set to see had been sold the previous day. There are not too many buildings this month. Either the size is too big, or the location is off the beaten path.... nothing right yet. So, we've started looking for a building to lease. I'm thinking of a good place right next to the local grocery store. As Kurt says to me, "how long does it take you to shop?" And I tell him, "without kids, 45 mins..." Perfect! Now to see how much rent they're looking at....

Our Friday instructor is going out of town this weekend, and needs one of us to cover for him... sigh... then tomorrow, our 8am instructor will be gone. Kurt will cover for that one, I'll probably go in to start today's class... since we need someone there an hour ahead to open up... and Saturday has traditionally been a good sale day, so, guess I'll be back to organize the last 2 classes then too!

I've already picked up some Brats and sauerkraut, Warsteiner Bier, and Zwiebelnkartofeln to celebrate in our own little way on Saturday, the official kick-off of Oktoberfest!!! I tried a version of Wiess bier from our local store, some Kristalle weiss bier.... AAAck, es schmects horrid! Even Kurt didn't want to drink it... heh. I should probably just pick up some good ol' Heffeweissen bier!

wow, another crash, bang storm

This is twice now that we've been targeted by the gods of lightning! Another huge crash at 3am, woke the whole house up.... middle K was wandering around turning lights on ... I had to go downstairs to investigate.... He tells me half asleep that he's wondering where the dog was..... So I check to make sure the door didn't blow open allowing her to wander outside... nope. Then he tells me, he thinks she's eating.... which was why the pantry light was on... I'm like, "ok, so what? She's hungry. Then he's worried about leaving the cat out.... sigh.... aaaaaggghhhh. All the while, I'm walking him back to his room... assuring him the cat is fine, the dog will be back in to sleep in your room when she's finished eating... licht auf.... tuck him back in bed.... wander up the kids staircase and see that they are still all in bed, close some windows... we went from 90 to 50 .... brrrr, what a storm.

As I wander down the driveway to take the kids to the bus... I see that we did get another strike... a huge tree branch is down. The tree at the road was hit, and broke off down the middle of its trunk... looks like it must have been blocking the drive... as I think I see drag marks on our driveway. Kurt must have moved it so we could get by.... branches, twigs, leaves down everywhere.... Wow. That's 2 storms. Don't things happen in 3's, they say??! heh. Ah, Kurt just called and clarified.... he dragged the tree with his car and a tow rope... ja, duh, makes sense, it's a huge chunk of tree that came down! Ya, I'll do a camera pic and upload it to flickr!

Well, it's tea time this morning... 'cause damn it if I'm tired again... busy, busy.... and tired. I really have to quit partying at 3am.... and get to sleep earlier. Maybe I'll push the last blood sugar check up a 1/2 hour to 9:30pm.... and then call it a night......

just another day

All went well at the dentist yesterday... turns out little K-W just had some fleck of food/tiny popcorn shell... something, logded up into his gum. Dug it out with a quick "OW" from the boy, took an xray that showed all was well, shot some antibiotic goo under the gum and he was on his way. Phew. After sufficiently numbing up little cee, he pulled not just 2, but 2 baby teeth that were wiggly. It was such a nothing, that poor little cee's tears were all for show.... "what, it's over, that's it??" heh Sigh

Driving back home I call Kurt, we'll be passing by his work right about the time he goes to lunch... how convenient! So, he tells me to meet him at this restuarant... Yay, lunch with dad! By the time I arrive home I decide to just leave the kids at home... rather than put them in school for an hour and me have to continue to run around driving them here and there for the next hour.

So, that was the day. Much of nothing new.... I'm sitting here now thinking, "that was anticlimactic".... end of story... nothing to say... hahahaha.... blah, blah. I'm going back to bed.... oh wait, I have to drive the big kid to school in a half hour.... then it's on to my shopping and tending the karate school.... Maybe tomorrow will be more interesting.....

And I thought the heat was gone...

Yesterday and through Tues we'll see 34C.... ja, 94 outside.... aack!

Still busy, and I think that will be the new theme... so I just have to work on adjusting to it.... I was feeling overwhelmed yesterday that my weekend was rushing by too quickly... heh. Welcome to the working world, 'eh?!

I started working out again. On Kurt's birthday, I joined a women's 30 min. workout place... works all the muscles, including for me, the most important one, the heart. It's a great cardio workout... I keep in the 90% for 25 mins... and I shoot for 3 days a week. Haven't made it yet, but I do get in 1 or 2 days a week. I am finally sick of being fat. I thought I merely had 15 pounds extra on me... well, when I weighed in.... 22 pounds. I've let myself go to fat in the 5 months since little cee was diagnosed. So, I've decided das ist genug! I'm sick of my fat face, my thick bod... And, if I quit getting my Mon, Wed, Fri's goofed up, I can get in my workout 3 days a week.

Anyways, this Monday, tomorrow, I won't be going as I have to take little cee and little K-W up to the dentist. Ya, seems little cee was not willing to wiggle out the 2 baby teeth from in front of her big teeth that have come in.... looks pretty funny to have 4 teeth where only 2 should be. So, the dentist will have to pull the baby ones tomorrow. Little KW has developed a blister on his gum above his one tooth.... hmmmm, as I recall, I think that means trouble with the root of his tooth.... sigh. And, we were just at the dentist in July.... with a clean bill of health.... *grumble, grumble*

Then, if after the 2 hour roundtrip carride there is still some school day left, I'll be dropping them back at school. I'll have to skip the Monday grocery shopping... and then I'm off to work on my day off.... I have 2 new students coming in to sign up (pay money!)... so, for that I'll go in.... Another prospective student coming in Tues evening and yet another dad brining in his kid for a free trial lesson.... It's good, lots of business.... but wow, busy, busy!!

But, of course, the best part.... Kurt and I had a date last evening... we were going out to dinner, but decided to see what Best Buy had first. We found a new laptop for me!! It has to be shipped from another store, but it will be here in 3-5 days for me~!!!! Yay! Let's see if I can find the one..... Well, seems the store is sold-out, it's no longer on their site... but here's the pic anyways!! Can't wait!

so we're coming to the end of week 2

...of middle school that is. And, I've driven to the school twice now with middle K for books that he forgot to bring home, he's received two "H's" for missing homework, which also results in an immediate phone call home to tell the parent of the infraction, and he missed the bus yesterday because he couldn't get his locker open.

We're off to a good year, 'eh?!

Sigh.

I was so wound yesterday. 2 beers, a soak in the hottub, I sank into bed finally and woke up with a hangover/headache today.

Work yesterday. I get the phone call at work, "mom, I missed the bus..." Oh brother, what to do... I'm expecting him to arrive home to babysit the little kids that I leave at home for 20 mins until his arrival.... aaack! Kurt's at work, which is a minimum of 45 mins away.... I'm at work and expecting students and/or teacher to arrive... how can I leave....??? Ya, I'm sure many a working mom has been here before me... but, sheesh.....

Then, come class time and no instructor shows up. I'm here with our summer schedule still in place.... ( class times have been trimmed)... and I have nearly 30 students and I'm running the show.... Kurt is on his way home, he'll go pick up middle K, and "oh, please phone home to let the kids know what's what."

Class is chaotic, but we finish and noone is injured.

Next class starts and the other instructor is not showing up. I call Kurt in a panic saying... "this is it... they've quit on us all... look at this mess...." I call over to that instuctor's house.... ready to say, "ahh, so you don't have the nerve to tell me to my face that you quit... you'll just not show up and 'show me'" ... good thing I spoke more civilized than my brain was screaming.... turns out, noone bothered to tell me that every other Wednesday, he doesn't get off work until 5:30, so he'll be running about 10 mins late.... it's my class again. AAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK, because there's nearly 30 students here. The phone is ringing... on the third try I find out it's the big boss... calling from Arizona....

Could this story get any more frustrating....??

Thank goodness... Kurt walked in, the teacher walked in.... I found an upper black belt adult to start class with warm-ups... delegate... what a great word!

Ya, just jump on in to the workin' world!

So, Kurt went and rescued middle K from the school, popped in on the kids and sorted their affairs out... came to the karate school to rescue me.... trial by fire? In over my head? Hmmmmm.... but more people sign up... money keeps comin' in.... all will be ok....

Sheesh. I'll get the hang of this.... it's just a bumpy road a bit for a couple months I suspect....

Well, that was a long ramble. And I didn't even get to the part of the story where the nurse called me from school.... little cee had a blood sugar of 37... sigh... and was working fast to stablalize her, giving her juice, and "oh, the water main broke here, so school is cancelled for the day. Can you come get the kids before 11am?' OHMIGOD, it's only 10:30am... I haven't washed my floors yet... you can't be serious....

What a freakin' day. It was definately a 2 beer day. And, a soak in the hottub day. And I was still wound up at bedtime.....

Isn't life exciting??!!!

Man I ramble.............when on my second glass of Shiraz..... =))

a week or so later...

....and the first school pics are here. Well, it's a busy week again here... but we're making money, so all's good.

I really have to stop walking and taking my pictures.... I just downloaded about 50 from my camera, and most are all blurry.... very frustrating... even the Bavarian ones..... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

drunk blogging

ahhhhh, Murphy's Irish stout. And, we learned how to pour it at our last business meeting.....( this post would be really funny without all the back spacing and corrections.... maybe I'll leave them for a moment...) It's not very high in the alcohol content... but, man, still feels like it packs a punch!

Just a thought I had this eveing.... a funny thought.... One has such a catpive audience when a child is sitting on the toiliet waiting forme to bring in some more rolls of tilet paper...... "maaaaahhhm, I can't get up, get me some paper...." So, I use that time to spell out our new rules that have consequences and rewards.... heh. Captive audience! Of course she says to me.... "hurry up, I'm not going to sit here all day...." hahahahahah

ah well, it struck me funny at the time..... ok. Back to our scheduled weekend.

Oooh, do you know, last night was so superb.... the boys did a sleep over at their friends' house... and the girl did a sleepover at her friend's house! How cool was that? No kids in the house! Imagine, you pickup a room... and come back a couple hours later to find.... IT'S STILL CLEAN! What a concept! Anyways... today was spent, with our noisy 3, and we completed my new home office for work stuff! It'll be good to have everything in one place! ... and it looks so nice! Ya, I know... pics to follow.... 'cept, I still don't have a computer... so I haven't hooked up my USB cord to the computer to get the pics off my camera.... soon, soon.....

That's all....

3 days in and I'm having a ball

It's great running the business! A little overwhelming at times, definately have lots of balls in the air during the busy class times... but, it's great!

For all intents and purposes we are the new owners. Our last meeting, on Aug 31 we sat on the porch, beers open, signing papers. After dinner and drinks with the 3 head teachers and the big boss it was time to go. He walked to the car with us, opened up his trunk, and handed over the "top secret envelopes", as he laughingly called them, and said he wanted a hug from me! With that he was off on his 2 week vacation! He'll still be around, but travelling and enjoying his retirement more. The first day in the office, sitting in his chair, at his desk, while I was all alone in the school.... it felt a bit sad to me. This is his office..... Ya, I was sad. I'm going to miss him. What a great honor, to be given his business. The business he gave birth to. He came to America, and had the drive to start a school.... he's been running this since I was born, my entire lifetime. That's a long time.

He's called us a few times at home, once at school... not to check up on us... as he said, he knows his place... but really just to see how we were getting along, and to offer any help or advice if we needed. sigh. Well, we're having fun... and making money along the way... heh... that's always nice!

Now, it's on to our long, fun, gorgeous weekend!