Words, Words, Words, Words

I must have a sign on me that says, 'hey former babysitters with issues, give me a call!'

Just got off the phone with a woman who watched Charlie when he was around 4 - 5. She had to stop because of medical reasons. Haven't spoken to her in years. Today she called me to see if I could give her advise about her ex-husband who is a big fat jerk, and is giving her a hard time. He'd promised to pay for their daughter's college, and now is saying she has to pay for 1/2, but she doesn't have the money. Plus, he keeps trying to pay her less child support.

Meanwhile he makes about $70 grand, and then makes that again doing side jobs that he apparently doesn't declare, and she's wondering if there is some way she can get the proper authorities to know this so he'll stop causing her all these problems.

I don't have a clue why she called me, except for the fact that my dad worked for the Department of Labor. I told her I'd check with him and get back to her. Anyone know anything about this?

She's actually a lovely woman, and was a great minder for Charlie. She fed him lunch, and was always very kind and never did all the stuff psycho-babysitter did*. I feel bad for her.

But really, why me?

*Psycho-babysitter did call once not too long ago because she wanted to check our address because she wanted to 'send Charlie something' but that something never came. But neither did a letter-bomb, so I guess I'm ok.

Firstly, a very happy birthday to october31st!

You know on the 'Dayquil' commercials they say that it helps you stay alert to get you through your day? Well, it's a big fat lie. Sure, I can breathe a bit and all, but I feel like I'm looking at the world though a veil or something. Doesn't help I took the Niquil which knocked me right out until 3am, when I was wide awake. I'm glad I took today off, at least I had a few hours of lazing on my comfy chair and watching haunted house stuff on the Discovery Channel.

In good news, I was quoted twice on ljdq, the weekly quiz thing. Go me.

Gearing up for the Trick-or-Treating thing. In my town it is scheduled from 2-6; at least that's when the stores in town are giving out candy. This upset some people I know, since they are not home. This is why I take the day off.

Charlie is so excited that his baby sitter is going to come watch his parade. He even wrote a note to give to his teacher that says "Kate is coming to see the parade". I called her to let her know, and make sure she can still come, because that would be sad, else.

Hope everyone has a nice Halloween!

Charlie had me up before 7 today. That's okay, though. I like being up early really. I feel like I have more time to get things done. Even if what I'm doing is watching silly shows on BBC America and playing on the interwebs.

I've found myself getting ever more British when I post on LJ. I'd like to think it is because I'm trying to be more universal, but I think really it is because I am pretentious. Is it horribly annoying of me to do so, do you think?

Old Babysitter actually stopped by my house last night, since I haven't been returning her phone calls. She was, you guessed it, asking for money, sice I alledgedly still owe her for the toy Charlie broke. She wanted to buy her son pizza she said, after I told her that my paying her for the toy is low on my list of things to worry about as I am having money problems of my own, and could I give her at least $10. I said I had no cash on me. Which was, technically a lie, but I need that money to get me through the weekend, and possibly the week.

When I do replace that toy it is going to be with a Toys R Us gift certificate, so she can't use it for anything other than replacing the toy.

I also wonder what she is going to do when she no longer has an excuse to ask for money from me.

Off to start my day now. Hope everyone enjoys theirs.

We got our lovely fast computer back, and it only cost $80 for a new hard drive. So yay and stuff.

Charlie had a great 2nd day with the new minder - she took him to the pool, where he got to play with his best friend. I'm so pleased Charlie is finally having a real summer holiday.

The boyfriend played with Charlie in the pool, and is a lovely young man. Gonna be a teacher.

Anyway, I had a vampire dream last night, probably because I just read a Lauren K. Hamilton book about vampires, but it also occured to me that I dream of vampires when I'm feeling particularly overwhelmed. I think vampires symbolise to me the act of letting go, of having someone else be in control, in charge, and then I don't have to make any decisions. I was wondering if that was part of why they have such a lasting appeal to writers and movie makers and people who like to wear black alot.

It's really odd. Zombies aren't sexy at all. Werewolves, well, Lupin maybe, but over all they are either savage monsters or tragic figures. Ghosts are either scary or vengeful, or both, but never particularly sexy, but Vampires get all the girls. (or boys if you're Anne Rice)I think it does all come back to control, or losing control, which frankly is what sex is about in some ways.

What do you think?

This is a silly cartoon, but it made me giggle*, so I figured I'd share.

( Sitter Rant )


*Possibly because I'm tired and slightly stressed, mind

I had this dream last night about these aliens, and they were doing something to me that was supposed to be good, but I panicked and made them stop. I can't remember details but the general unease has lasted all day.

It doesn't help that I am dead tired, since, when I wasn't being attacked by aliens I was tending to an aching Charlie.

I'm quite proud of my new icon, in case you haven't gleaned that already. This is a larger version of the picture: ( Charlie and me )

My friend's son had taken a photograph of his step brother, and we were in the background. I think it is a lovely little candid moment, and Charlie just looks adorable, so I icon'd it, now that I know how. We were playing one of his many games, where we place our faces very close together, noses and foreheads touching, and I say 'You.Are.So.Naughty!' because once he was being adorable but naughty and I did that to him, and he thought it was funny.

I'm continuing to be frustrated by my baby-sitter, just in case anyone cares. Yesterday she had to go to the hospital because she had a fever - I think she goes there because rather than a doctor's office because they get state aid or something, I've no idea, but she called to tell me and asked if I could lend her husband $5 because she has the ATM card and he needs to get something to eat, or something. Sigh. He's bloody useless, if you want my opinion.

And one final rant before I go home - ( twenty year old rant )

This morning I downloaded a really cute mood theme, and I can't figure out how to get it from my hard drive onto LJ. Can someone who's done it tell me what to do, because the editor thingy needs a URL address and it is a downloaded thing. Thanks.

Also - I need to rant a moment.

My baby sitter asked for her check this morning, because she needed the money because her daughter is coming or something. I pay her usually on Fridays, and we are both getting our paychecks tommorow, so it's not like she wouldn't be paid for the week.

She called me from the bank; it turns out I don't have the cash available. I thought I had a bit more than I did, when Kris paid for his truck on Tuesday, he told me he checked and we had $500 left. I just checked. We've got $108 left.

So, I'm on the phone with her; she tells me they can't cash the check. I apologize, telling her I thought the money was there, but with Kris's truck situation, we had to spend extra money this week. There is no 'gee, sorry you're low on funds, happens to all of us, doesn't it.' She just says, kind of angrily that she needed the money for her daughter's graduation, then hangs up on me. She sounded kind of angry, too. I appreciate the fact that she is probably panicking a bit herself, but she acted like I'd done it on purpose or something.

I've given her money when she's needed it - extra money, and she's needed quite often. I've paid her early, even when it messes up my budget. I don't like feeling badly because my financial situation makes her life more difficult. I pay her $150 a week. that's a lot of money for basically 3 hours a day. She's called me late at night for favors; which I've done (though I've taken to not always answering her calls, which is evil but it's for my own sanity).

I feel terrible that her finanicanl situation is bad, but She has a husband who supposedly works and she gets some kind of assistance for her son that I sure don't get, yet I seem to be her only source of income. I don't like that kind of pressure.

If I could get my mood theme up it would say that I am very upset.

ETA - I did the mood theme thingy thanks to forthage Pride and Predjudice. Pretty!

Just finished playing Scrabble with thesibylqueen and got 267 points (squeaking by with a win!) which totally beats the lousy scores I usually get. I think I'm channeling slammerkinbabe today.

So, we're back to having car troubles. Husband's 'new' truck up and died, so now it needs a new engine or something. Gar. Hate. Gar.

Never rains but it pours. (I originally spelled that as 'poors' and thought it was an apt slip) My baby-sitter is asking for an 'advance' again, because for some reason she always needs money, and I'm really tired of being her bank. I have enough troubles.

Sigh.

Must remind myself that suffering is inevitable, but misery is optional.

My son's babysitter called me in a panic because she needed to get to the emergency room because she's having some sort of problem with her legs, and didn't have money for a cab, and they have no car because her husband isn't working (he hurt his knee) and so she called me to a)get money and b)get a ride, and the first thing I thought was, 'dammit, I'm going to miss Rory kissing Logan!'

Which is Wrong. Because she needed my help, and as a Buddhist I'm supposed to be compassionate and work on selflessness, or something. I did drive her to the hospital and I did give her money for the cab ride home, but I grumbled about it. I'm a horrible person.

And I missed the kiss. Not to mention the confrontation between Luke and Christopher. Guess I'll have to wait for the TWOP recap.