9/23/09 - 8:46pm - I got an "A" on my statistics test. Miracles never cease.

9/23/09 - 8:50pm - Sammie and I just returned from Petsmart where he was a perfect angel and helped me shop by picking out the chews, bones, and toys for him and Curly. He let me get the turtle food, aquarium filters, dog food, and cat food on my own. He really was hilarious on the chew/bone aisle, sniffing different packages until he found one he wanted. Edited to add: Sammie actually picked up a HUGE expensive chew, but I made him compromise with two little chews.

9/25/09 - 8:41pm - I'm going to kill KJ. He took my car to work at 4:00. I just got a call from him. He decided without asking, to go to the Waco High football game to see some friends. Somehow, while there, he LOST the car key which also has my house key on it. This is the ONLY key we have for my car! He's had an announcement made over the PA, and is calling Pop-A-Lock on the off chance he left them in the car.

9/25/09 - 9:52pm - I had a friend pick me up and take me to the stadium. The keys were not in the car and so far, no one has turned them in. We brought KJ back home and I'm calling the dealership first thing in the morning to see what can be done. KJ has to repay me for Pop-A-Lock and any costs for a replacement key. The stadium said for me to call the office Monday in case the clean-up crew finds them.

9/26/09 - 6:24pm - Got my car back. $41 to Pop-A-Lock, $55 to tow to the dealer, and $204 for a new key (it's a special anti-theft key). KJ already owed me $100 for his half of a bass drum pedal so now he owes $400. All McDonald's checks will be turned over to me for quite some time.

9/26/09 - 6:25pm - He also now has a giant D-ring to clip his key chain to his belt loop.

9/9/09 - 7:45pm - FYI - to those who call me on my cell phone - The touch screen has died so while I can answer the phone, I can't get to texts or voice mail.

9/9/09 - 11:02pm - I got only one piece of mail today...a postcard saying a high risk sex offender has moved into my neighborhood. Actually, he's 1 street over and down 5 blocks. Big frickin' deal. Ask me if I care.

9/11/09 - 10:27am - In the library at Baylor chilling between classes. Vert. Physiology kicked my behind today...totally lost, but never fear, I'll figure it out over the weekend.

9/12/09 - 10:52am - 2 chicken breasts, 2 slices of cheese, 4 toasted buns, Bacon-Ranch dressing, and sprouts = a chicken sandwich for me and 1/2 each for the dogs = lunch.

9/15/09 - 11:01am - Thanks for the birthday wishes, everybody!

9/16/09 - 12:12am - Note to self: If I feel the need to eat a a large handful of chocolate covered espresso beans, do it in the MORNING.

9/16/09 - 7:15pm - We had free Dr. Pepper floats in the science building today. Yummy! (no apparent reason, but I don't question free sweets) Homemade chili for supper - life is good.

9/17/09 - 5:25pm - I feel very strange emotionally right now. The FBI agent just left after delivering all our computer stuff. It's closure...I guess.

9/18/09 - 11:54pm - I'm regretting letting Sammie finish off my chili last night. He has the WORST gas!

9/20/09 - 9:43pm - After reading lots of posts, I think I must be the only person who did not watch a football game today.

9/7/09 - 10:05pm - KJ has a "the world revolves around me" attitude lately. He had band practice at a friend's house today so I let him take the car thinking he would be back in about 3-4 hours. He was gone 7 hours! Upon arriving home, he tells me that m...y car was sputtering and he barely made it home so the car is out of gas. Turned out that it was just idling hard and NOT out, but HE thought it would be okay to run it out!

9/7/09 - 10:06pm - FYI - the gas gauge works. The car was low, but not past the red yet.

9/8/09 - 8:17pm - I am mad and sad at the same time. Someone close to me has been treated like scum on the bottom of someone's shoe.

9/9/09 - 7:04pm - Home from statistics hell, aka: a statistics group project assigned this afternoon, impossible to finish in class, and due Friday. We're done now, though.

You can keep up with me easier on Facebook.

I just don't have time to regularly blog anymore. I plan to keep the blog, because I like to put pictures here, as I prefer this format over Facebook's. For those who want to keep up with my life more consistently though, look for me on Facebook. Search for Rebel Sanders Hart.

I have homework to do so I'm copying my recent updates to here.

8/20/09 - 12:09am -I can't sleep which is odd, because I can ALWAYS sleep. Lots of anxiety, I guess.

8/20/09 - 3:28pm - FINALLY (I hope) got the rest of KJ's financial aid worked out. I'm in the process of buying books on ebay. So far, I've bought 2 books for a combined savings of $165. University bookstores are such a ripoff. If I win my auction that ends in 20 minutes, I'll save another $35.

8/21/09 - 5:49pm - About to take a last minute trip to Wichita Falls.

8/22/09 - 11:01pm - We're home after a lovely whirlwind visit.

8/23/09 - 5:13pm - KJ took the car to work and should be starting home any minute. I'm paranoid, because it's about to start storming. He's driven in rain, but not bad rain.

8/24/09 - 5:46pm - KJ and I both had good first days of school.

8/24/09 - 6:00pm - Based solely on what I experienced today: Wildlife Ecology - easy class, If I show up and pay attention, I should have an easy 'A'. Statistics - not too difficult, but lots of homework Comparative Vertebrate Physiology - fascinating, but to...ugh class. I think it will be my favorite, but I'll have to bust my rear studying. Only 2 classes tomorrow so we'll see how they go.Read More

8/27/09 - 1:00pm - I have a new job!! Woo Hoo!!! I am now a part-time merchandiser for American Greetings. Thanks Debbie.

8/28/09 - 1:50pm - *sigh* Only the first week of school and I already had to miss two classes. KJ is coughing up blood so I took him to the doctor this morning, ran to pick up his prescriptions, stopped by one of the missed classes to show my doctor's excuse, made... it to my last class for a quiz, am back home briefly to pick up KJ (if he'll ever get out of the shower), and then we're off for a chest x-ray and some bloodwork.

8/28/09 - 5:59pm - KJ's not dying or anything. It's just a bad asthma flare-up due to him deciding that taking his Symbicort was just a suggestion, not a requirement, and him hanging out with the smokers at school. He WILL be taking his meds regularly now as ...I will be watching him do it AND he will wait for his smoking friends to come back inside after a smoke break before talking with them.

8/28/09 - 6:05pm - On a funny note, when KJ returned to the waiting room after getting his x-ray, he was carrying a disk. Apparently, he talked the Rad Tech into showing him how she sent the digital images off to his doc and the radiologist, and she even burned KJ a co...py. How much do you want to bet that I hear, "Wanna see my x-ray?" every time a friend is over?

8/30/09 - 11:33pm - Finally finished my homework.

9/4/09 - 1:58pm - Started my new job yesterday and it went well. I'm going in for a few hours in the morning and taking the rest of the weekend to catch up on homework, housework, and RELAX. I've been fighting a sinus infection and migraines all week or I wouldn't be behind to begin with.

9/4/09 - 2:01pm - KJ doesn't have class on Fridays and usually has to work 11:00-7:00 so he dropped me at school and took the car. Thank goodness for free WiFi!

9/4/09 - 8:04pm - KJ ended up having a 101.5 fever and missed work...again. He was negative for swine flu, thank goodness.

Oooohh, I feel brainwashed...NOT

Obama speaks to children.

These are a few pictures from my nephew's birthday party last Sunday. It was a pool party held at my brother's apartment complex. If you were at the party, but are not in any of these photos, one of the following applies:

1. I did not happen to catch you in a picture. (Dad, Mom)
2. The picture you were in had bad lighting, was blurry, or I cut the top of your head off. (McKenzie, Casey)
3. The picture you were in was of good quality, but was very unflattering of you, and you would kill me if I posted it. (Casey, Staci)

Here is Cason, the birthday boy who turned the big 8.


Here is big brother, Cooper, making a silly face. He was making a silly face in EVERY picture I took.


Cason is licking icing off a wrestling figure.


Here is my niece, Emily, getting ready to eat some icing herself.


Here is my brother, Tracey, with a "you've got to be kidding me," expression on his face.


Emily is wondering if anyone is EVER going to give her some birthday cookie.

KJ - "Seriously, how old do I have to be before you will stop taking my picture?"

Update

Yesterday was my last day of my full-time job. The hours were just not compatible with 16 credit hours of college that starts a week from Monday. I'll most likely have a part-time job lined up in the next week or so. I've sent in my resume for several work-study jobs and for one awesome off-campus merchandising job. My friend, Debbie, works for American Greetings merchandising cards, but needed more hours. She is keeping one small store with them and taking my magazine job. I, on the other hand, need fewer hours so she put a good word in for me with her boss and I'm hoping to hear back from the boss soon. On-campus or off-campus, either way, it's all good.

I'm spending next week doing some visiting, school clothes shopping (for KJ), buying textbooks for us both, arranging transportation (we're sharing my car) and finding my classes.

School-wise, job-wise, friend-wise, KJ and I-wise...things are going well. Marriage-wise, however, things are not going well. David and I will be officially divorced in a couple of months. I can't get past my lack of trust in him so our relationship can't survive. To make matters worse, I recently found out that my lack of trust is well-founded. I won't go into details, but I spoke with both detectives with whom David had been chatting, received a call from the FBI, and had a long chat with his probation officer. I will no longer accept being lied to. David is very angry and feels betrayed that I am choosing to believe law enforcement over him. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

KJ and I are heading to my nephew's birthday party in Fort Worth tomorrow so I'll have pics for you.

Those aren't magazines I READ! I merchandise magazines at Wal-Mart and people of a certain religious persuasion flip them over, because the covers offend.

misc. pics

KJ loves his new job, just doesn't like having his picture taken.


This is my "f - you" to the people who flip my magazines over, because they don't like the covers. I used to put these in the back.


Coolest shoes ever. I'm saving my pennies.


KJ and I are CHEAP about movie refreshments. I took the straws out before I shut my purse.

I'm excited about starting school.

I'm not sure if I have enough time to keep up the blog anymore.



Another quick summary of life: Sammie got REALLY sick last week and had to have water forced down his little throat every hour for 24 hours. He got spolied since he was getting chicken broth and bits of meat while he recovered. We thought he was going to die, but he pulled through and is back to his old onery self.

I still like my job, but the hours are longer than I anticipated while I get used to being by myself. Last Friday started at 6:30am and finished at 9:30pm. (I did take 30 min. for lunch and 45 min. to run KJ and a friend to a concert.) Monday took me 10 hours, but the other days have been more reasonable.

KJ got his license and I've allowed him to take the car alone for short jaunts. He got hired by McDonald's, had orientation last night and starts in the next day or so.

My house seems to be turning into the place KJ's friend's come to hang out. It's not unusual to have 4-5 boys just showing up for a jam session. It's one of the advantages to living in the center of town. I don't mind, because at least, I know where they are and what they're doing. I just try to stay stocked up on Kool-aid, ice cream, and chips.

KJ and I went to a free concert here last night to hear Sloppy Joe and Fabulous Freak Brothers. He decided the world was not coming to an end, because he was out with his mom, that I had a GOOD IDEA in suggesting it, and that he even had fun. He drew the line however, at allowing me to get up and dance. Hey! It was 70's and 80's rock and pop. How can you not dance?

In other news, I started my job with The News Group today. I like it. It's even kind of fun. Over the course of a week, I merchandise the magazines in 5 stores.

Lastly, my dad, sister, and I have been playing FarmTown together. Apparently, none of us have enough to do.

Birthday and graduation party

KJ will be 16 on Monday and has now graduated from highschool. *sigh* Last night, we had a gathering at our house to celebrate both events, plus it was a chance to relax with friends. I gave away or sold most of my homeschool stuff which was kind of bittersweet. I'm happy, but nostalgic. We still have a little work to do in preparation for college since he wants to CLEP a course or two, but for the most part we're out for the Summer. KJ has orientation for MCC on June 9 and then he'll be allowed to register for his classes. His classes will be

Math - yet to be determined based on a test score

Commercial Music Theory I

Commercial Music Sight-Singing/Ear Training I

Piano Class

Survey of Music Buisness

Small Commercial Music Ensemble - Cont. Christian

Applied Music Lesson

for a total of 13 hours.

In other news, I've found a job for the Summer which I'm hoping I might be able to make work in the Fall also. If not, at least I have a job for now and I'm supposed to work 20 hours a week on the Baylor work study program in the Fall. I've also registered and gotten all my financial aide taken care of. My classes are

Ecology

Foundations of Evolutionary Biology

Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy w/ lab

Organic Chemistry I

Elementary Statistics

for a total of 16 hours. After that, I can enter the graduate program in the Spring.

I'll end this with some pictures from the party. By the way, KJ buzzed his hair so he is the one with REALLY short hair.

KJ and I are doing fine. I'm just really, really busy and haven't had time to blog.

No jail

David's case was plead out on April 17. He was not given jail time which is good. However, his probation and sex offender registration restrictions are such that he can have no contact whatsoever with KJ (or any other child for that matter). KJ has been staying with his dad since then, but we found our own place and moved most stuff over yesterday. The electricity won't be on until Monday so that is when we'll spend our first night there.

There is a lot more to tell regarding David's probation (10 years) and sex offender registration (lifetime), but I need to get out working.

Not for children to view

I got this from a homeschool message board I'm on. I think it's hilarious.

Dad - this is my reply to all the political emails you send me. *manical laughter bwahaaahaaa*

Thinking of having a tea party to protest?

Want to support marriage between ONLY a man and a woman?

This is beautiful

I'm sure most of you have watched this by now, but it is hands down one of the most fantastic things I've ever seen. I was so happy for her that I was bawling like an idiot.

I'm feeling much better after throwing my fit. Everything will be over next Friday when the case is plead out.

I finally got the letter detailing my needed course work that Financial Aid requested. The director of graduate studies in Biology was very nice and helpful.

Yes, the Thursday and Tuesday court dates have been cancelled. The case was assigned to a different court, different judge, and different prosecutor. Got bad news from the lawyer today though, I have the mother of all migraines, and just want to lay in bed and cry. I know it will make my head hurt worse though. Yesterday, I heard about the cancellations and got what I thought was good news from the lawyer. Today, that good news had bad news attached. He is still trying though. If you are family and reading this, don't call, because I'm not answering the phone. I'll burst into tears if I do.

Still here

I'm still here, just swamped. I had 35 hours of census training this past week which meant I had to do extra PCKidz classes the week before. I'm playing phone tag with the professor who is head of the graduate program in Biology. I can't move forward with the financial aid department until I get a letter from him stating the classes I'm taking will go towards entrance into the graduate program. I packed KJ off with assigned school work to different places all week so he wouldn't have to stay by himself everyday. My friends took him to MCC for me. Thank goodness for good friends. Work-wise, this week will be MUCH better since I get to make my own census hours. Unfortunately, David's pre-trial conference is this Thursday and I'm a nervous wreck. I feel like my stress levels are at their breaking point.

Good news - David got a raise at his new job. I'm going to be making enough at the census to finally get caught up on bills. I happened on a yard sale yesterday where I got the CUTEST clothes. I practically have a whole new summer wardrobe for $23. We found a tire place where we can get factory tires that were pulled off new cars when the buyer wanted a different kind. Yay! My car no longer pulls to the right or shimmies.

Fuller is feeling emotionally needy today

She has been missing her buddy, KJ, while he is at my parents for Spring Break. After much meowing and trying to get into KJ's rooms, she decided that David would do.