Moving Day

Opened the new blog tonight, please go to:
http://thek9copswife.wordpress.com/

Changes to Come

I've been assessing my blog lately and it seems quite juvenile.  I have spent the last few days researching a different blog place and am convinced I need to update and switch to Wordpress.  Clean lines, more flexibility, and the blogs just look more "grown up".  It will take a few weeks for me to get it all set up but I'm sure the new site will be better than ever and hopefully grab a few new readers.  If you are unfamiliar with Wordpress here: http://wordpress.com/ .

Today I read 32 pages of my book for class, logged in the class site, went to Walgreens and got new folders and notebooks,  printed the syllabus and now I'm going to start my first assignment.  Dwayne laughs because the class doesn't officially start for 4 more days.  I am very excited to write something that will be critiqued by a teacher and hopefully I'll learn to improve my half assed efforts as a part-time writer.

Cole Comes To Town

Cole is Dwayne's nephew.  He is from CA and what a great kid he is.  So polite, smart and patient with my kids.  We we able to take him to the lake for a few hours, feed him some of Dwayne's famous chicken enchilada's and went out to get some icecream.

First Day of School

Yet another year began today with 3 of the 4 kids still at Anthem Grade School.  No one more happier than me to get them back in school so I can work at home in peace.  I am grateful for my job at Uhaul because I will be able to get off work in time to get them from school and help them with homework everyday.

Funny Mother Humor, not written by me

Why I Owe My Mother .... 
> 
> ************************************** 
> 
> 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE . 
> 
> "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished 
> cleaning." >  
> 
> 2. My mother taught me RELIGION . 
> 
> "You better pray that will come out of the carpet." >  
> 
> 3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL . 
> 
> "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next 
> week!" >  
> 
> 4. My mother taught me LOGIC . 

> 
> "Because I said so, that's why." >  
> 
> 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC . 
> 
> "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the 
> store with> me." > >  
> 
> 6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT . > 
> "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident." >  
> 
> 7. My mother taught me IRONY .> 
> "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about." >  
> 
> 8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS . 
> 
> "Shut your mouth and eat your supper.">  
> 
> 9. My mother taught me about CONTORTION-ISM . 
> 
> "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!" >  
> 
> 10. My mother taught me about STAMINA ... 
> 
> "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.">  
> 
> 11. My mother taught me about WEATHER . 
> 
> "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it." >  
> 
> 12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY . 
> 
> "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!" >  
> 
> 13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE . 
> 
> "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.." >  
> 
> 14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION . 
> 
> "Stop acting like your father!" >  
> 
> 15. My mother taught me about ENVY .  
> "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have 
> wonderful parents like you do." >  
> 
> 16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION .
> 
> "Just wait until we get home.">  
> 
> 17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .. 
> 
> "You are going to get it when you get home!">  
> 
> 18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE . 
> 
> "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that 
> way." >  
> 
> 19. My mother taught me ESP . 
> 
> "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?">  
> 
> 20. My mother taught me HUMOR . 
> 
> "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me." >  
> 
> 21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT . 
> 
> "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up." >  
> 
> 22. My mother taught me GENETICS . 
> 
> "You're just like your father." >  
> 
> 23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS . 
> 
> "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?">  
> 
> 24. My mother taught me WISDOM . 
> 
> "When you get to be my age, you'll understand." >  
> 
> And my favorite: 
> 
> 25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE . 
> 
> "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!">  
> 
> My personal all time favorite!! >  
> 
> My mother taught me about CHOICE . 
> 
> "Do you want me to stop this car?" 
> 

Just a K-9 Officer's Wife

The first year while Dwayne was a Deputy Sheriff, our lives were tough but yet manageable.  It was by no means glamorous, exciting or anything to be envious of.  Last January Dwayne decided he would like to become a K-9 officer and two months later he became one.  With this new job  came an unimaginable amount of stress for me leading quickly to a completely dysfunctional home life. As you might know, any SWAT team position requires many hours, unexpected callouts, and mostly night shifts.  Things like expecting Dwayne to pick up the kids from school, or planning a meal at 6pm, or having him help with the chores became impossible because just as he would make a commitment to do something, his work would call and it would leave me scrambling to make other arrangements for the family.  With me working full time with an hours' commute each way it quickly became evident if we weren't going to get a divorce, I would need to quit and take sole responsibility of EVERYTHING.  (minus the yard work and home improvements)

I am so grateful I was able to find a work-at-home job that allows me to do EVERYTHING and we no longer live on the edge of chaotic disaster.  The kids are so much happier that I am home.  I am so much less stressed.  Dwayne doesn't have to feel guilty about not being available and although we don't live the normal family lifestyle, we have found something that works for everyone.

Still every now and then I sulk into sorriness for myself because it seems like my whole life has been arranged around my husbands work.  I started to lose a bit of myself as I am wrapped up in doing everything to make life easier for Dwayne or keeping up with all of the house, the kids, the homework, the errands, the appointments, and working too.  I love Dwayne dearly and want to do everything I can but yet I need to live my own life and have my own goals outside of being Super Wife/Mom.  This is why you have seen me blogging a lot more lately.  Writing and Photography are "me" things that put balance back into my life.  You will probably see even more writing from me in the forthcoming weeks as I begin my "Non-Fiction Writing" class next week I will post my writing on the blog and hope you all enjoy what I write.

Signing up for College in 15 Easy Steps, lol

Back in the old days (the 80's) when you wanted to take classes in college you simply went to the school, picked the class from a list, waited in line, added the class with a registrar, and paid for the class.  Simple and stress free.  Over the past 2 days I spent 3 hours on line and on the phone with 3 different people in order to sign up for one class through Rio Salado.  This process was so aggravating and asinine I almost dropped out before beginning. I can't imagine the class being half a hard as signing up for it.


Step 1: Browse through the online catalog and find the class you want.
Step 2.  Spend twenty minutes looking for how to add the class only to find out nothing can be added until you sign up for the special MCC (Maricopa County Colleges)  account
Step 3.  Sign up for the MCC then at the end find out "there is a problem with your account" and it cannot be set up because I already have an account in the past.
Step 4.  Unable to sign in to old account due to information not matching I must call in and have password reset
Step 5.  Call Tech to have password reset but now cannot log in because I am in "inactive status"
Step 6.  Call back to registrar and they update my account so I am active and I am assured I can sign up now. My account now appears under the name "Bundy" instead of "Broadwater"
Step 7.  Finally able to add the class then click on the "Pay Now" button in which a series of questions regarding my citizenship come up:
    a) What year did I move to Maricopa County?
    b) Am I a citizen of the U.S.?
    c) Have I lived in other states?
    d) Can I provide documentation I am a U.S. Citizen?

After completing the questions and answering that I have been here since 1974, the system tells me I will be charged for "Out of State" tuition rates.  I rechecked my answers and I cannot believe after 38 years in Maricopa County they have determined that I don't qualify for In-State tuition rates.

Step 8.  Another call back to Rio Salado in which I let the lady on the phone know there must be a mistake and she would need to fix it. She politely tells me that there is a new law recently passed called "Prop 300" that now requires I submit proof of citizenship/residency prior to being allowed the In-State tuition rate.  I must now scan and fax a copy of a signed form declaring my citizenship and a color copy of my DL or Birth Certificate.  THEN I must wait a day before going through the entire process of signing up for the class and paying for it online.

Step 9.  A mere 2 hours into this horrific process I scan and email the necessary documents and get to wait another day to finish the enrollment process

Step 10.  Day 2.  Hooray, I am finally able to sign in, sign up and pay.  Another link takes me to the Online Bookstore in order to buy a book.  A sigh of relief came much too soon as I entered into Bookstore hell.

Step 11.  Must sign up for a bookstore account before purchase a book.  After providing a pint of blood and my first born son I click the "check out now" button.  I am trying to rent the book (a new option in which it's more like a long library rental) and the system tells me I did not sign the proper documentation to "rent" a book and must go through another link (Follett Bookstore) to download the proper paperwork agreeing to actually give them Aiden and Saige if I don't return the book in 3 months.

Step 12.  Go to Follett Bookstore website, give them all my personal information so they can steal my identity.

Step 13.  Go back to bookstore website and redo everything again.  Very excited to "checkout" again because I feel the end is near only to be struck in the head again with another "you do not have the proper documentation on file to rent this book".

Step 14.  Call back to Rio Salado Bookstore who lets me know I need to talk to Follett Bookstore and they give me the number.  Follett Bookstore walks me through the process of linking the Follett account to the Rio Salado Account.

Step 15.  Add and pay for the book through the website then crumble to the ground in exhaustion.

The Story of Writing

It all started back when I was a kid and my parents bought me a diary with a lock on it for my 8th birthday.  I filled the whole book day by day with all the things I did with things I did.   As I got older and continued writing in diaries, they went through the "boyfriend" stage beginning in about 8th grade. I wrote  who was my boyfriend and how we were perfect for each other.  Two weeks later  the relationship would start to crumble and I would write about how my whole life was ruined and life could not go on. This stage lasted some 20 years and at least 20 boyfriend whom I miraculously survived.

I got my first computer in 1999 and in 2004 began writing again at the discovery of the "BLOG".  What a wonderful world it was.  I had my first kiddo and it was necessary that everyone on the Wide World Web know what funny things he did.  As the years went by I gained more and more readers and I became more controversial in my writings and people still read it even more.  I was getting over 100 readers a week and if I didn't write something for a few days people would start sending emails in fear I had stopped writing all together.  Then life happened and I went through a drought for a few years after my divorce and didn't start writing again until I remarried.

My husband who has been so supportive of me and my endless ideas of what I want to be when I grow up enjoys my writings because I don't sugar coat anything and I'm funny.  I've read other mom's blogs and I almost throw up in my own mouth while they write page after page of "my life is so wonderful" and "my kids are so perfect".  Very boring and I seriously think women make blogs like that to try and make others think they have a perfect, wonderful life and others should be envious of them.  Gag me with a spoon.  The only two blogs that have any honest worthiness at all are my aunt Kay's http://stammhouse.blogspot.com/
and my old high school friend Jenni's   http://down-to-earthgirl.blogspot.com/ .

For the past 10 years I've had the same reoccurring dream about once every other month.  I move to UofA to get a Master Degree.  It's very vivid where I'm not married nor have any children in the dream.  I'd been thinking about going back to school to get my Master's for quite some time.  All of my cousins have Master's, my dad has one, and my brother is about to finish his so I have been feeling intellectually inferior to my family for quite some time.  I began searching schools I could get a Master's degree in Creative Writing online (since I'm sorta tied down to this house for the next umpteen years) and came to the conclusion that unless I want to get into at least $24k of debt I need to rethink this whole higher degree thing. I really wanted to be one of the 7% of the population that has a Master's degree but I can't justify the expense for what I would achieveably obtain in career advancement.  Looking over some of the great author's, J.D. Salinger, Hunter S. Thompson, Earnest Hemingway, and Mark Twain, none had more than a semester of college.  Perhaps, college would have stifled their creative genius and the extraordinary would have become ordinary.

So today I sit and contemplate not which Master's Degree program to enroll in but rather which Community college class will which will enroll in to learn to improve my writing skills and teach me how to get published in something more than my little blog. A far cry from my original dream but a path less traveled may lead to great things.

Where Did My Good Hygiene Regiment GO?

Since working at home I've lacked any incentive to take care of my personal hygeine.  Rolling out of bed a mere 15 minutes before getting on the phones at 6am, my usual hygiene routine has plummeted  to an all time low.  I really do stay in my p.j's for any days I work before 7am.  I also admit at most a quick 30 second brush of the teeth is all I do before dragging myself in the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. Even worse, I don't comb my hair and I never put on makeup anymore.  It's very sad for me since prior to Uhaul, not even my husband was allowed to see me without makeup.  The Uhaul manuals will tell me to begin work fixed up and dressed as you would if you were working outside the home.   I'd rather think of my lack of hygiene  as me saving money on laundry, toothpaste, soap, and shampoo.  Lucky for the other members of the household I'm not a smelly person.

It was wild weather in Anthem last night. The storm of the century for about an hour. Saige was intrigued as she had never seen it rain so hard so fast. After the storm we went up to Uhaul where we store our boat to access the damage and our boats cover came partway off and filled the boat with a good foot of water. We got it all out in about 30 minutes and are happy the boat that sits and sits did not float away.