Thinking of a Tablet

I’m thinking of getting Aia a tablet for her birthday or Christmas. She wants something she can read books on and play games. I’ve thought about an iPad but in truth, I’d rather not go that route or have her dealing with iTunes.

I’ve played with a few Android tablets. However, so far, the differences seem nitpicky. Frankly, one 3.2 Honeycomb tablet acts like another, even in price. I kind of like the transformer.

I thought about a kindle or other ereaders….however not sure there either.

Of course I may just call it all good and go with a phone.

Cupcakes and Piggies

Racing Piggies

Racing Piggies

To make up for the crazy rant from yesterday I bring you happier times of last week. Aia participated in a fundraiser in the fall and sold 15 items. This means she won a place in the pig race at school (as well as the piggy). So on race day I headed over to the school to watch her. It was a close race and purple was the clear favorite, representing every class except the 6th grade who was pink.

Then on Saturday we did Aia’s sleep over birthday party. This is first year she asked for a theme. She wanted Tinkerbell cupcakes with my chocolate cherry cupcakes. Now went over the options. She didn’t want the rice paper covers or toys on the cup cakes. She hates icing and cream…sometimes. Finally we decided fondant and as I told her my fairy modeling skills weren’t that good. She looked at me and said, “Momma I want a fairy garden with snails!”.

Fondant Snails!

Fondant Snails!

Well that’s different. I used no sugar added stuff when I could because CJ would be there. Also we made mini cupcakes which were basically chocolate covered cherry drops. Aia helped put on the slime trails and make the snails. Then we had some fun painting the flowers and snails. That took about four hours. Left over fondant and cupcake mix when to make crazy cup cakes for the gamer group and Aia’s lunch and some plain chocolate cupcakes for J. It went pretty well.

Things that Happened this Week

So I’ve been slow to post. For the first time in a long time I have a bunch of unfinished drafts waiting for me to finish them.

This week has been hell. Aia woke up Monday morning with a fever and her entire face swollen. Naturally I panicked, called the dentist (who didn’t answer the phone) and the doctor. The doctor thought it was the mumps (back up, I gave her pink children’s Tylenol before all this. Not stupid.).

Crap I thought…mumps aren’t too bad…we totally have two weeks before Disney World, so she could still go and maybe I could work from home.

But then she couldn’t move and the doctor had me feel around her face. It’s not mumps, they told me to head to the nearest children’s hospital cause it could be meningitis. (For those that wonder there’s a children’s hospital still at St. Jospehs).

So after wandering around construction at about 80mph downtown while on the phone with work (they were having a mild panick attach because the realized (again) that they can’t do the website without me and they need training) we found St. Jo’s. It took another half hour to find parking. I finally found a $3.00 a day emergency lot.

We get her inside and through triage. I spent most of the time explaining what all the equipment was for (thank you birthing and kidney stones) so that she’d stop being scared of it all. The doctor comes in (no random nurse to do things, nice!) and declares it multiple abcess teeth that need to be taken care of today. They give her children’s Motrin and a perscription for pencillian and off we go.

Have I mentioned the dentist still hasn’t answered the phone at this point?

I started out of the lot to find out they only take cash or check, no credit (Who does that?) But the gate guard just lets us go. So we drive to Golden, which I70 midday traffic is pretty good, just so you know.

So I show up at the dentist office, explain the details and that they should answer their phone or at least check messages. They take Aia right away and take pictures. They decide to pull the teeth the next day. And we are sent home to eat, do mold, and keep the fever down.

Cue about 8:30am on Tuesday with me driving pell-mell late to the appointment because I took I-119 cause H56 was closed the day before and on Tuesday they close I-119 and opened H56 (Signs,people, SIGNS) instead so I had to go around the mesa to get to Golden. Good thing I lived in that neighborhood as a child and knew how to get around it. We get there late, but they still take her right away (love that dentist!).

So the shots begin (which go much better than the last time). However they can’t get her numb and have to stop. They send me with xrays down the street to the pediadontist. They take use right away, pull the teeth, give Aia a fudgecycle, and tell me that she has to come back for spaces (think braces that push instead of pull) and that she has to more teeth on the verge of bad but they think they can save them next week.

So after I feint from brokeness all is well. I’m not a fan of broke (especially when I finally had replenished savings a bit, all gone now.) But at least Aia’s okay. Now I just need to figure out how to pay for braces right now. Crap.

Snow Wet Weekend

Life has been way to quick lately. From Aia in faux-karate, to girls scouts ending to girl’s night to just snow I’ve been very busy. I’ve got a lot of website work, and my house is for sale again.

This means several things:

I’m behind on posting.

I’m behind on writing.

I’m feeling a little frazzled.

After an awesome girls night, Aia woke up sick. Fever, cough and throat. She’s better now but it knackered my Monday. I don’t feel so well but I’m very behind in work and one of my web design obligations. And Tacticon is coming up. Crap. I’m feeling very frazzled.

So I spent a lot of the last weekend cleaning. My gods the snow was crazy. I’ve been bad about pictures. Here’s one from the last storm.

bird

Back from the Dentist…Horror Stories

I finally save up enough money for Aia and I to go to the dentist (she’s been going regularly, I have not) and things explode.

The dentist asked us to never come back (that’s a first, usually I leave in a fit of rage before they ask me to leave). Aia had to have a root canal. One month ago she had a filling, no problem. Two weeks ago she had her teeth cleaned, no problem. Last week I had my teeth cleaned, no cavities or problem. Today we went for Aia’s root canal.

Now this dentist seemed okay. He had assistants, he had fairly low prices and was fair when I found problems. He had modern equipment. He claimed to do kids and adults.

Aia was pretty scared of the dentist, but when they brought the nitrous oxide out she freaked out. We got her calm but the bite block hurt her mouth so much she wouldn’t hold still for long periods of time. Her gum was enflamed, and the root canal took some time. He wouldn’t talk to her, comfort her or ask her questions…half way through the procedure he told me he really couldn’t handle kids at all and would send me to a specialist. BTW, it’s best if you found a new dentist too, even though I’ve paid all the bills. They gave me the name and the address of the dentist who fucked up Aia’s fillings and hates insurance last year. Just great.

FTLG. I managed to stay nice. This is the second time a dentist has embarrassed himself in front of me. The second time when dealing with a root canal I’ve had a dentist flake out. What is it with dentists? They might be good at what they do but then they’re probably retarded when it comes to insurance. Or they are half-assed. Worse they’re stupid. Even worse they pretend you have cavities so they can make you pay for expensive procedures (had that happen too). It seems to take forever to find a decent one, and then something happens to them and you have to start the process over.

Now Aia has a root canal and I can’t seem to find anyone willing to cap it and get her teeth protected. Friends have family have given me some recommendations, but they either don’t have room for months or they can’t seem to answer their phone…ever (sis the gal you sent me is in that last category).

Aia isn’t happy right now but okay. I’m not happy either.

There is TMI in this Post Amoung the Weekend Updates

So no, the weekend did not start out well with my computer dying, again. I’m actually extremely upset now as I know it’s a hardware issue. At the end of the week I should have an update on that. Any bets on what I’ll get from Dell this time?

Writing went well this weekend. Not only did I finish a chapter, but I’ve joined a new critique group. This is looks much more committed than my last group and we have a good range of folks both in ability and background. After they left I managed to pound out another 1000 words. Creativity abounds.

We did Aia’s b-day party this weekend. McDonald’s totally dropped the ball. Nothing was ready, no one seemed to know what to do. They managed to get their act together in the end but dang. We’re not going back there next year. So I need to scout out a new place.

Heroes sucks now…have I told you that? The suckage is so bad that they are now sticking random sex in for the hell of it. Noah actually waited to start shooting until after teh sexes. Stupid. Hiro is still my fav as he’s the ONLY character to learn from his mistakes. And the only guy who deals with the bad guys first. Chances of continuing to watch this show though are near nil.

Our movie night is now on LOST. Day late and a dollar short I know. We’re finding the show fairly predictable, but good anyway. We can deal with that. People say it’s gets weirder. We’ll see.

Now for the TMI. My period started this weekend. The bad thing about that? It’s only been two and a half weeks since my last period. Not good. In fact very bad. The last time this happened, I was in the middle of massive cancer screenings which boiled down to the hypothyroidism. Has it gone further in the wonky? Or is this the PCOS? With the hair loss, the bloating, the mood thing I’m worried. Doc on Friday. Hoping we can deal with this with a medication adjustment. Hoping.

Deja-vu

About 25+ years ago:

Me: Who’s Princess Grace?

My Mother: She was a princess who died. She was a princess of Monaco. She died in a car accident.

Me: Oh, Princesses shouldn’t drive.

Yesterday:

Aia: Mommy, who’s princess Diana.

Me: She was a princess who died. She was a princess of England. She died in a car accident.

Aia: Oh, princesses shouldn’t drive.

Me: I guess not.

Aia: But mommy, I don’t think Wonder Woman can die.

Disturbing coincidences aside, my daughter confused the two Diana’s while I was listen to NPR. I don’t remember clearly why I asked my mother a similar question near the same age…but it’s one of the few times I remember talking to my mother about anything non-family related. I also asked her why my name wasn’t Cindy. Know I know it’s because it’s an ugly name, but when you’re seven any name sounds better than your own.

Nice thing about today…I remember why I used to think jeans were comfortable. And they are again. :)

Pain, Knitting and Everything Else this Weekend

So yeah pain. Looks like the doc can’t see me till next Monday. Yeah me!

I finished Aia’s hat this weekend. It’s imperfect but very cute.

I love how this threat gave it a shaded pattern. I have a little bit of this stuff left over…not sure what to do with it.

I saw no point in doing a cuff. It’s cute as it is. Next I’ll be doing a little two yarn bag. Should be fun.

I started watching Pani Poni Dash this weekend. I’ve come to the conclusion it’s an satire on anime in general and not a really good one. Oh well…a cat in a soda machine that thinks he’s god has so much promise.