Logan with his car

He likes his car. He picked the color red.

$2 worth of weight

We used quarters for weight. Its supposed to weigh 5 ounces and ours was 4.90!

Pinewood Derby

This is Logan's car.

Legal!

I finally got every last scrap of paperwork and was able to register and license my scoot! Now if I can get it mechanically lined out...its at about 90%.

My Little Girl is Growing Up

I have begun to notice little things about Lexie that tells me she is starting to grow up. Like sheis taking better care of her hair-brushing it more often and trying to keep it looking nice. She has asked a couple times about fingernail polish. She wants her room to be a certain way, and it seems like she wants to keep it picked up more. She wants to play with toys less, and listen to music more. She really likes talking on the phone when one of her friends calls. She tries to discipline her brother when he does something bad or tries to correct him when he is wrong. I think this is all great, but I get worried that she will get too girly to relate to me, or want to hang out with me and little brother. Naaah, that could NEVER happen!

Report Cards

Lexie's Report Card was a bit better this time. Actually, it was
quite a bit better. In reading, she went from a D+ to a B. Writing
went from a D to a C-, not much improvement so I'm going to have her
start working on that harder. Social Studies she retained the A she
got last time. In Math she went from a D+ to a B. Science has been
the thing I think she's taken most interest in, and that went from a B
to and A.

Logan's Report Card was exactly the same as last time. He got
Outstanding in Reading, Writing, and Math. He got Satisfactory in
Social Studies and Science.

Both kids marked Satisfactory in Arts & Humanities, Practical Living,
and Technology.

TamagOtchi TERROR

Lexie got a TamagOtchi for Christmas from me. Logan got one from his mom for his birthday. These are "next generation" Tamagotchis that will IR connect and interact with each other. Needless to say, if my kids are into it and it seems even remotely fun (or something that I can stand--not like the songs from the musical "Wicked") then I usually jump on the band wagon. Well the kids have had several of their Tamagotchis now and this is my first. Wouldn't you know it grows up to be some sort of gremlin! The thing has horns, wings, antennae, and wierd appendages... I'm going to blame it on the (virtual) pizza I gave it.

Shellie's Car

Shellie's car, which is actually her mother's car died. It needs a new transmission. She is all 'woe is me, I can't see my kids' and I half feel sorry and half feel angry. I think most of the pity I feel is from when I was unemployed, facing surgery, and knowing after I got out that I had nowhere to live and no way to see my kids...I know how Bad that was for me. Also, I feel sorry for the kids. The other part of that is if she had not been sponging off her mom these years, had been working a decent job instead of a kid's part time job she would have the means to support herself, a place to live, and even a car so she could get around. I clearly see the difference. These past years, I have focused my life towards making things better for Lexie and Logan. She has been only thinking of herself...working a no stress job with friends where every day is a party, living rent and utility free, seeing the kids just enough so that she doesn't feel like a bad mother, and sleeping as much and as late as possible every day.

birthday supper

Logan seems a little disappointed. He wanted to go to Gattiland and they were packed up out the door. I was going to take him to Red Lobster, and there was not even one empty parking spot. I didn't really get him much--a leash for his tomagotchi, and some drawing pens. I wanted to do something special, but i told him "no toys" because the kids both have enough crap in their room. I got him this playstation game something about roller coasters that is one to four players. He told me the best part was just being with me. He was in the back seat and I was driving--he couldn't see my tears...

Scooter Update

I have not started the scoot in a couple days due mainly to ice storms. It is supposed to be [relatively] warm today. What do you want to bet it doesn't start??? Well, I've still got a bunch of starting fluid...

Here's an update on what's going on with registration: I went in tothe county clerks office and they said that since the certificate of origin was not signed by the importer (Goldenvale, Inc.) then I had to get it signed by them first. Since John and Linda of Valley Scooters are on vacation until Sunday, I contacted Goldenvale directly and they were happy (for a $20 fee) to overnight me a new MCO signed. To their credit, they did not charge anything for doing it, just for the overnight charge--and they didn't mark up for handling or anything--the reciept was $20 even and said "Airborne" on it.

I live in an apartment and the postal carriers are not too particular how they shove things into my tiny mailbox (as witnessed by my Netflix DVD's showing up almost ripped out of the envelopes) so any time I have a package of any importance, I get them shipped to work. I left at about 11am on Thursday because of the ice storms and didn't get my package until Friday. I put the MCO into a priority mail envelope also with specific instructions and a copy of Kentucky's registration form (the TC96-182) which is mandatory. The instructions basically said to fill out the back of the MCO (I put hot pink post-it noteswith arrows saying "fill out this section" and for the TC96-182 "sign here" and "fill out this section") and also had notated to get the sections of the MCO and TC96-182 notarized. Does this sound complex or tedious? Well, I sent the form once, and Valley Scooters didn't fill it out completely OR get it notarized. Then I sent them an email with a PDF that contained instructions with pictures of the sections they needed to fill out and get notarized. What they did was (on a scrap peice of paper even) fill out the instruction sheet, and get IT notarized and then priority mailed to me. This has been going around and around and I am getting really sick of not being able to ride on good days. I hope that everything goes perfect this time (because it looks like for KY it has to be perfect).

The only problem I forsee is that Goldenvale siged it, but did not notarize, so I'm looking at possibly spending another $30 or so to send it priority mail BACK to Goldenvale, plus charges to get it notarized, and then also overnighted back to me (they only offer overnight service or regular mail).

This is sooooo tiring. Hey, at least it's not Georgia!!! From whatI hear, this could go on for months (instead of just a month).

This Morning

Got the kids to school and then I came back home. I geared up, drove the .5 miles down to the County Clerks office. Waited in line for about 10 minutes and went up when the lady called my number. I told her I was there to register the vehicle, and she said "You need it inspected first." So I went out and the county police officer was getting something out of his SUV right beside me and I asked him "where is it you're supposed to pull in to get the inspection." and he said he would do it right there. So he took my drivers license and the MCO (Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin), verified the vin, checked the lights and then told me to come inside and he would call my name. After a couple minutes he called me over and handed me the paperwork. He said "Nice bike. How much you give for it." and I told him. He seemed impressed.

Well, that was the good news and here lately it seems there is always bad to go with. I went back and got another number. They called my name. I went up and the lady looked at my paperwork. The MCO had not been signed by Goldenvale (the importer) when they sold it to Valley Scooters (the dealer). She said I have to get it signed and come back. Well, Goldenvale is in California, and Valley Scooters is in Connecticut. I called Goldenvale, and they are going to overnight me a new MCO. THEN, I have to get Valley Scooters to re-sign the damn thing and they are on vacation this whole week. Plus, they have to get it notarized, and also fill out this other stupid document (which they have done wrong three times now) that is required by Kentucky on all out-of-state vehicles. I swear, if I get all this done and go back in--and they find SOMETHING ELSE wrong, I'm killing somebody.

"Its not a DAMN MOPED"

I was irritated today. It was cold as hell, but decent weather so I decided I would go in a little late and run to the county clerks office to register my scooter. I dropped the kids off at the bus stop (actually I waited until the bus came) and went home to get my helmet and paperwork. Well, the scooter wouldn't start!! After talking with some of my buddies online, they were advocating making sure the carbureator was tuned in by the air and fuel adjustments. You have to have it running in order to make the adjustments. I tried starting again and no luck, but it was trying to start. I gave it a little starting fluid, and it began to idle. I got it running and took both kids (one at a time!) slowly and carefully around the parking lot. I brought the battery upstairs to charge fully overnight. I hope I have a little better luck tomorrow AM.

Asparagus

I don't care if he makes a game out of it or looks stupid...by goodness he's eating his asparagus!!!

Scooter

Here's the final product of my efforts and hard work...photography by
Theresia...

Good and Bad Back

I got my scooter running. My back is messed up. Ugh.

The Birthday Boy

He's putting seven frenchfries in his catsup to make a cake. Logan is so creative. Given the choice of anything for supper, he said "something with a playland!" so I took him to McDonald's...

Ravaged by Murphy's Law...still

I have had a continuous stream of bad crap going on. This morning I had a trimming accident. The resulting 'style' was the only fix. Needless to say I am thrilled that it is so cold and nasty out right now. Hopefully I will get frostbite damage to my scalp and never have to worry about trimming accidents again. That would be so cool. I had to get on the kids this morning about not picking up after themselves. I haven't even unpacked everything yet and they can't keep up. Lexie just left her towel laying on they floor in her room, and Logan left his toy Harry Potter wand in the hall floor.

Going nowhere fast

I got my scooter back from Chuck. In the six days he kept it for me he managed to drop it once (TOLD him not to use the damn side stand!) and didn't go out to start it once. Now it will not run. I don't guess that matters because there is snow slush and ice on the streets...

Moving Fiasco

Another thing broken... They are four guys bringing up stuff from their truck and just dropping everything in the dining room. How is it then that I am able to keep up with them?? Yes, I know they have to haul it all the way from the parking lot--a good 10 yards away--and carry it up the 1 straight flight of steps--a dozen total--but COME ON!! DONT THESE GUYS DO THIS FOR A LIVING????

Boyd's Moving & Storage

I am very disappointed. These guys destroyed a desk, are wasting time taking the bunks apart and they are not equipped. They need tools they dont have and are borrowing mine! The one guy asked me for advil because his knees and shoulder are killing him--he takes frequent breaks and carries 1 box to everybody else's 2 or 3. They said it would take a long time because the had to go up and down a grassy hill. Well, I TOLD them to park on the othet side of the building!! Now, to save time, they are just bringing in boxed and sitting them in the dining room. Sadly, there are now 3 or 4 guys and I am able to keep up with them. They are completely milking the clock!

Scooter

This is a picture of my scooter. We had it on a trailer to bring home, but the truck died. It was out overnight and that's why there's frost all over it.

Update

We went over to the new apartment last night. I have not gotten any mail in about a week, so I wanted to check there. No mail--the USPS made a mistake and its going to an "unsorted" department. Trying to get THAT fixed. The kids saw this tree RIGHT NEXT TO OUR BUILDING that had been blown down! Got the kids registered for next year at Smyrna elementary. Now if I can just get them switched over this year it will make it so much easier on schedules. The scooter is still in Indiana near Terre Haute at Chuck's house. My friend Steve is loaning me his truck Sunday and the kids and I are going up to get it. I still have t get the title in the MAIL(!) before I can register and drive it. Insurance is like $150 per YEAR! Between that, and getting 60-65mpg, the scooter is going to be cheap to drive back and forth to work. I plan on taking it any day its not snow/ice or pouring rain.