Oh, and...

I can't freaking believe that Big Mike got voted off Idol before Casey....Casey can't sing that well! I enjoy his music, but if he wins this season, I'll never watch it again! Can't people hear his voice breaking when he tries to hold notes? Reality TV...a popularity contest!

May

Wow, that last post was pretty dark...I'm done with my pity-party now! It really didn't last that long, I promise! Family stuff is still, well, still crazy, but everything else is over. May has already been a crazy month, and it's not even half over! Unfortunately, we've said goodbye to many special people, some sudden and some expected. But I've also been able to welcome a lot of new babies! 2010 is apparently the year of the baby! I've been making baby gifts left and right!

A very special young lady I know received her First Communion at the beginning of the month. I turned her headpiece into a veil, and got to be the hairstylist, too! She's so sweet! I, of course, didnt' take any pictures, but will try to get one to post. She looked so pretty! And she was so excited! I'm glad she asked me to be a part of her special day!

My dear friend, Jenn, recently decided to follow her dream of opening a floral shop, and is doing so out of her home. We have always wanted to own our own shop, as I like to *arrange* flowers as well, though my talent is not nearly as polished as hers! My end of our dream shop was everything else...food, jewelry, crafts, etc. If only.....

Anyway, she lives in a small community, but they are extremely loyal people, and have blessed her with tons of business! Her first event was to be a Mother's Day sale, but as soon as she put an ad in the local paper, she began receiving orders. Luckily, there is a floral wholesaler fairly close by, so everything has worked out extremely well! She asked me to assist her for the Mother's Day sale, and we had a great time! She sold a ton of arrangements and planters. I'm so glad I could share this very important day with her!

I have 3 cousins who graduate this month...Billy from Western Illinois University, Nathan from Hamilton Technical College, and Nick from Galesburg High School. It's so exciting to see these three take such important steps in their lives...I remember changing their diapers! All three are destined for great things, and are hard workers, which will take them farther in life than most anything else.

I mentioned previously that I was planning a benefit for a friend's dad...it went extremely well! I was exhausted by the end of the week, but we raised almost $4,000 in one day! And, I just found out that he is now cancer-free! Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles...(yep, Fiddler on the Roof!)

On Sunday, my friends and I are going to see Barenaked Ladies! I can't wait! I'm not as big of a fan as my friends are, but it will be a good time! We don't get to spend much time together as adults (everyone but me has little kids), so when we do...well, let's just say we always have a good time! Don't get me wrong, I love their kids, and spend a lot of time with them too, but it's nice to have an uninterrupted conversation once in awhile!

Well, I guess that's it for me for now. To all the mothers who read my blog, I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day...you all deserve it! With some of the terrible things I see, you all gracefully show me that there's still some hope in the world. You are wonderful moms!

"Hi, I'm Captain Pissypants..."

Agitated is not the word. I just really wish that at my job all the employees had to do the same amount of work. I mean, there are 45 people who work the floor, and only 3 separations of job titles. That should mean that, even if jobs were broken up 3 ways, at least everyone in that category had to do the same amount of work. Apparently not if you're Amanda. I'm going to stop being reliable, I'm going to stop giving good advice, and I'm going to be lazy. I figure my coworkers get away with it, why can't I? I don't know if I can fully explain what I mean, so I guess you're just going to have to trust me on this one. Take, for example, our sick policy. We earn 8 sick hours a month, but my boss gives it to us at the beginning of the year. I've been employed there for 6 years, and have been maxed out of the sick time I can accrue for a little over 3 years...because I'm reliable. I rarely call in sick. I think this may change. See, at my work, all you have to do is call in and say, "I'm sick," and *poof* you have the day off. No questions asked. And some people call in sick, then are seen out in public (like, at bars and such) and still have a job. Amazing. Moral of this story: I should start calling in sick when I want a day off...and save my vacation time. I'll lose those extra 86 hours of sick time if I don't use them by the end of the year, anyway, so why not?



To top off my work frustrations, Kayla's back...again. Remember Kayla? Yeah, well not much has changed there. A bit of history on her...Kayla ran away from drug treatment, then was placed with us (ran away while on home visits several times, then was dropped from our program), placed in another local residential placement and ran away from there 2 times, then came back to us about 3 months ago. While with us, custody was taken from her grandmother (who completely and utterly enables Kayla to do whatever she wants) and given to DCFS. This is what Kayla and her entire family wanted, because DCFS was really going to help her. What do they decide to do??? Put her in yet another residential placement. Your tax dollars hard at work. And you know what? Bet you can't guess what happened? She booked after 3 hours! Who didn't see that one coming? So a warrant was issued for her arrest, and she finally returned to us today. She had the audacity to say she was going to bring charges against her DCFS caseworker for not helping her out?!?!?!?!?!?! Yep, I still want to drop kick her. When I called her grandma for info, grandma said the same thing, and added how she couldn't believe "those people" would put her granddaughter in an unsafe environment! Of course, when I offered that her 15 year old granddaughter should take some responsibility for her own poor choices...well, that fell on deaf ears. I told you...enable, enable, enable! Oh, and this 15 y/o girl claims to be 5 1/2 weeks pregnant. Yep, she already had one miscarriage, and now she thinks she's pregnant. Again, your tax dollars hard at work. I just love raising everyone else's kids!

My proverbial plate has been full lately, like one is eating buffet-style. That hasn't helped anything. I'm tired of dealing with everyone else's problems, I'm tired of helping others and getting no help in return, and, well, I'm just plain tired. Like I said before, I don't want to be reliable anymore, or solve anyone else's issues anymore. But who am I kidding...that's the life I've made for myself. I wonder what they payout is going to be? Not that I think I need to be compensated, but I was taught to treat others the way I want to be treated. So when is it my turn? When do I get to sit back and relax? Does my work for others cancel out the fact that I haven't been an active member of my church? How do I rank, say, against our ex-governor, who's so crooked he'll have to be screwed into the ground when he dies? Will his wrongs be forgiven, and we'll be on the same level? I struggle with this, as I have tried to live my life the "right" way, and others, well, not so much. Hmmm...I'm kind of an angry elf today. Like I said..."Hi, I'm Captain Pissypants!"

I'm still alive....

I'm here...just busy. I'm not sure exactly with what, but I seem to not have any free time!

*As of late, I've been busy with EMS calls....lots of EMS calls...lots of weird EMS calls. It's definitely kept me on my toes!

*I'm planning a benefit for my friend's dad...he has cancer and is receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic. I'm hoping we can raise a decent amount of money for them, as they have to stay there for weeks at a time.

*I played in a dodge ball tournament last week...and I survived without any injuries! (It's the injury part that is supposed to be impressive!)

*I went to WI a few weeks ago, and spent some much needed quality time with some pretty special kids! I got to cuddle with some babies, and spoil my niece and nephew a ton! And knowing me, you know that's exactly what I needed!

*I participated in an alumni track meet at Carroll U...boy, was that interesting! The form was there...but the power, not so much! I got to see some great friends, however, whom I haven't seen in a very long time. Sooo worth it!

*I finished Nicholas Sparks' "The Last Song" last night...and bawled my eyes out!

*I read a book called "The Rules of Survival" a month or so ago...and it made me really appreciate my parents.

*My dear friend Jenn and I made some spring/summer wreaths for our church's reception hall...and they are sooo pretty (mostly due to Jenn...I can't make bows!)

*I'm struggling with my extended family right now. It's been a tough year thus far. I keep praying about it, but I still feel like slapping people sometimes (and it is deserved...trust me.) I've struggled with this, especially during the Easter season. I really want to be cleansed and feel renewed, but it hasn't happened just yet. And I'm not sure it will in the near future. I just pray for God's grace...as mine is gone (well, at least for this situation.)

*The lilies and irises I planted last spring are coming back full and strong...yay! I freaking love spring!

*I fell down the stairs a little over a month ago...while carrying a patient out of his house! Talk about embarrassing! We had to take him in again a few nights ago, and he said, "You're back! And you're okay!" Poor guy had been worried I'd hurt myself...I assured him it only hurt my pride!

*I watched my cousin play Donkey Basketball last night, and almost peed my pants! That was the funniest thing I've seen in a very long time!

I'm hoping everyone is well, and has had a great start to their spring. I'll post more when I have more time. Thanks for not forgetting about me ;)!