Just One More Thing to Add to the List of Stuff that’s Wrong with Me

– Posted in: Chronic Pain, Complaining, Cranky Tammy, Personal Insanity
This is what I took to go to sleep last night. Yes, we'll be the "fun" house when the kids are teenagers.

So I just got some annoying news and I'm trying to decide whether to be mad, sad, or "mystery emotion behind curtain number three." Here's the deal: for the last few years, I've sounded like that church lady in Sixteen Candles. You know, the organist who sounded like she was walking on dead, squeaky leaves. [...]

Happily Saying Goodbye to 2012 — and Still Being Happy

– Posted in: Bright Side of Life, Chronic Pain, Complaining, Mouths of Babes, Newt, Personal Insanity
Newt and Elfie Getting their Santa On

So here's the current status: I'm officially a Christmas casualty. After, I'm assuming, intense gift-wrapping sessions and several nights of marathon dishwashing, I've done something really bad to my back. I can't lift my arm over my head, so I haven't taken a shower in four days. I'll just let everyone use their own imaginations [...]

When You Wish Upon a Blog

– Posted in: Blogging, Chronic Pain, Complaining, Cranky Tammy, Grief, Holidays, Logan's Story, Personal Insanity, Sappy Tammy

Like an innocent little schoolgirl, romping 'round the playground, I've been smacked on the back by a bigger, stronger, faster kid and declared "It" in a brutal game of tag. Okay, that's not entirely accurate. But bullying is just so "in" right now. My friend, Kelly DeBie over at DeBie Hive has tagged me in [...]

Facing Down Buses, and Other Ill-Advised Stuff We do for Our Kids

– Posted in: Chronic Pain, Complaining, Cranky Tammy, Crazy Tammy, Elfie, No Good Deed, Parenting, Personal Insanity, The Kids are Killing Me
Mom and Elfie on the lift

So this is why I'm insane. Actually, make that part of why I'm insane. Telling the whole story would take way too long. Yesterday I went skiing with the family and some friends. It was lovely -- warmish, mostly rock-free, and not very crowded (most of the Californians were already sitting in traffic on their [...]

How I Bumped my Head and Lost my Mind

– Posted in: Chronic Pain, Elfie, Family, Grief, Logan's Story, Mom dying, Momless, Newt, Personal Insanity, Sappy Tammy, Tenzin, Thank God Your Father's Home
IMG_2726

One of my favorite lines of all time is from Young Frankenstein (coincidentally just viewed by the kids and me the other night -- they were, of course, totally impressed). Dr. Frankenstein and Igor have just pushed a coffin out of a grave, and Igor says, "Could be worse. Could be raining." Cue thunder clap [...]

Happy Birthday to Me

– Posted in: Chronic Pain, Depression, Personal Insanity, Writing

I had a really crappy day yesterday.In the morning, my coffee pot freaked out. There's nothing quite like the joy of dealing with piping hot liquid spilling onto the counter, burnt coffee smelling up the house, and wet coffee grounds sticking to every nook and cranny of a black, plastic container. I poured coffee/water/grounds mixture [...]

Mojo on the Run — Waiting for the Dark Days to Pass

– Posted in: Blogging, Chronic Pain, Cranky Tammy, Crazy Tammy, Depression, Holidays, Homework, Parenting, Personal Insanity, Shopping Hell, Things To Do with Kids, Travel

I haven't been around much in Internet land. Last weekend, I took the kids to Monterey (which was quite the haul in a three-day span). Then they had to do Nevada Day reports (Sarah Winnemucca and the Hoover Dam, if you're just crazy curious). And, of course, there was Halloween. And yes, all of that stuff [...]