Out of Control

My niece is not just a bad kid, she is out of control.

My Mom would love to put her in a reform type program but have any of you ever checked into those kinds of places?

Anywhere from $2,500+ A MONTH. In whose world do most of the families that have the bad ass kids like my niece have that kind of money?

The state is so "afraid" of putting her in the system (sending her to juvenile) that they make empty threats and she knows it.

Yesterday, by direction of child services and the local law enforcement, my brother reported her as a runaway because she has been gone since THURSDAY NIGHT. SHE IS 14. YES 14.

She doesn't go to school, when she does, she fights and gets suspended. She thinks that she is a grown up. She smokes, drinks, does drugs and I'm 99% sure is having sex.

Let me add that she is a pathological liar and according to the State Shrink is bi-polar and has ADHD.

My brother is a worthless piece of crap and their Mother is just as bad as him. My Mom tried to do what she could when the opportunity came for her to step in, but by that time, the damage was done. She has done everything she knows to do and has gotten NO WHERE.

My niece hangs out in the projects. The neighborhood is so bad, that the cops told my Mother that even if she did call for a ride home to NOT go into the neighborhood to get her, allow the police department to do so. She has already been given TWO trespassing tickets for being in another projects and is NOT allowed to be there.

When I talk to her, she is all Yes Ma'm, No Ma'm, I'm sorry, I promise I will be good, I promise I will be better etc etc. My Mom told me to not believe a word that comes out of her mouth.

I want to believe that she is fixable. That she needs stability and to see a life outside of drugs, crime and the crap that not only did I grow up in but she is now growing up in.

I'm almost 1,000 miles away. I want to drive down there and snatch her up and lock her in a room but I know that is not the answer. I'm sad and heartbroken that my only niece is becoming the kind of kid that I see on TV that makes me shudder and think "what happened to her." Or worse, one day I am going to get the phone call to identify the body.

Down In Flames

So, as the shirt says, the server is down. It seems it went down in flames last night. Corporate wide. Nice.

I can get to the internets, but I cannot send or receive e-mail, I cannot print and I cannot get to anything network related.

And the IT guys said "don't surf the net." What else am I supposed to do?

Hmmm...I tried to file, I can't do that because I need to print off my checklists to do so. I tried to send out orders, can't do that, the printer is also the fax machine. Oh the list goes on and on.

Is it lunch time yet?

You MUST Eat There

There is a restaurant in Clarendon, Virginia by the name of Restaurant 3. Let me just tell you a little something, this is rapidly becoming my all time favorite restaurant. The food is AMAZING and the atmosphere is relaxed and classy.

For some time, Restaurant 3 was my third favorite restaurant behind #1 John Dominis in Honolulu, Hawaii and #2 Top of the World in Vegas.

Since I haven't eaten at John Dominis is about 9 years and I haven't eaten at Top of the World in almost two years, Restaurant 3 is gaining the lead. It's closer than a plane ride away and the food makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

SO...if you are visiting the DC area or you live in the DC area, or if you are just rich and can fly anywhere you want for dinner, please go to Restaurant 3. Tell Ria (the manager)that a friend of Betsy's sent you.

Man I'm hungry.

Holy Ships! I WON

So last night was week 2 of 8 of THE Bar's local Rockstar Wannabe contest. It's a karaoke contest.

I had been out with my friends because TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY BITCHES. Anyway, I digress. When I got to THE Bar they needed one more person to sign up for the contest. My good friend Jacko signed me up (sneaky little wench).

Honestly, I really didn't care about the contest and even chose a song that I haven't sang in forever. I just wanted to sing because waiting for your chance to sing at THE Bar is painful.

As soon as the song started I wanted it to be over. I couldn't find my pitch and with every note I sang I just wanted the disc to break. When I think I'm doing bad on a song, I get stage fright. YEP, my knees start shaking and I giggle. I actually giggled during the song. HOLY NIGHTMARE.

I got off of the stage embarrassed because well, I KNOW EVERYONE there and they know that song SUCKED.

I was singer 8 of 8. Not exactly the best note to end with.

Voting started and it's all about crown applause. I actually hid behind someone while the voting happened, hoping that people wouldn't cheer for me as I did not think I should win.

So what happens? I WON. You have got to be kidding me.

Now, I'm a singer and I believe in giving someone their props when props are due, but last night was NOT one of those nights for me.

Now, I have to wait 6 more weeks until the final round where all 8 of us will compete against each other for $500.00 cash and a song with the band (one of my favorite local bands).

I have to win now. Must find a song that will rock the house. I want to win on my voice and my ability. Not on my friends being the loudest drunk people in the room.

BUT, you can best damn believe that everyone I know will be there the night of the finals. Bring it.

Whatever Whores

As I sit at work, buried in IPR slides, Procurement, Contracts and all things Financial, my two friends are text messaging me from the bar where they have been since 6 am drinking for the local kegs and eggs. At THE BAR that I work at part time.

I keep telling myself that I should just leave work. Pack up the laptop and blackberry and take it to the bar and log on to the VPN and work with drink in hand. Seems like good initiative but bad judgement.

Oh look, another text. "Yum, green beer."

Whatever Whores.

Whoosh, Whoosh, Whoosh

For the love of God and everything Holy, please, make the whooshing sound in my right ear go away.

It has been ONE WHOLE WEEK since it started. I went to the ENT today and he told me that there isn't any fluid build up or infection. YIPPEEE...but that he wants me to have an audiogram before he proceeds with any treatments.

My appointment isn't until next THURSDAY. I may gouge my ear out by then.

Get this. Being overtired makes it worse.

UMMMM...hello. Have you ever tried to fall asleep while hearing nothing but your heartbeat in your ear. Not the bump bump kind either. The WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH kind.

Kill me now.

This One Time

Most people follow that statement with "at Band Camp." Yeah, well, have you ever been to band camp? NO? Well I have. And it wasn't all that fun. Think about the movie drumline. Yeah, it was about like that. 8-5, Monday-Friday for two weeks during the summer IN FLORIDA.

And there definitely weren't any instruments being inserted into anyones girly bits. Not that I am aware of anyway.

I've also been to boot camp. NEVER to be confused with band camp. However, some of those senior classmen might have watched Full Metal Jacket one too many times.

Boot camp...well., what can I say. Not as scary as I expected but it still sucked. It's no wonder Marines have that attitude. Boot camp is no joke. You defintely work your ass off to be able earn that title.

Anyway. The post really is about some injuries. And since band camp and boot camp helped to start them off I thought I would lay a little grounwork for my story.

Band camp circa 1989. I was running from the stadium to the band hall in the torrential downpour rain of Florida when I slipped and fell. NICE surfer style body flop on the ground. Right knee, busted all open, muscle torn. Great job. Let's not forget the muscle I tore in my tricep. When I get hurt, I do it good.

Many, many years later, all rehabed up and no problems, I decide to join the Marine Corps. WTF? Yeah...that's about what my Mom said. Even though I was 22.

One fine Marine Corps day as I was repelling, I landed pretty hard after jumping down and there went the knee. Nice little tear this time. GO ME. Just the week before that, I reinjured my arm doing line training.

Here is am quite a few years after that and thanks to, one or two ATV accidents, my knee and my arm and I have spent lots of quality time in Physical Therapy.

It has been about 4 years since I've had any problems. Now both hurt like it is their job to do so. I have a very high tolerance for pain, so when I go see the Dr., they are NOT happy with me to say the least.

Let's go ahead and add that I have an inner ear infection, LOW blood pressure and I am borderline anemic.

What in the hell? *said in my best southern girl accent*

I am 10 days away from my *GASP* 35th birthday. I am too young to fall apart.

Pity party, table of one.

Oh the joys of life.