Futures

What parent can go a day without worrying what will my kids do? What will they become?  Of course,we all want the best for our kids.  Well, most do, but those that don't won't really be discussed.   I just like to assume that everyone is like me. 

So, the big kid is really at the point to decide what will he be?  Some days, I think if he is awake it is a good day.  But I know he is capable of more so we press the college issue.  These days, he has realized he will not be a NHL goalie, he won't be a professional video gamer, nor will he be a pilot. (this was a new development when he saw how much they make)  He is looking into REAL possibilities.  He enjoys science.  He is definately looking at going away to college. (that cafeteria is going to dread seeing his smiling face for 3 4 5 6 meals a day!) He would like to play some kind of hockey.  He would like a video gaming area that he is allowed to stay up all night and play Halo Kill them all or whatever it is.  The last thing isn't as important as the rest.  Obviously.  He actually has 4 schools of choice at this point which I think is pretty good.  Now if he could just get his career of choice down to 4!!

Middle Kid has not grown out of the NHL hockey player/video gamer phase.  I am encouraging other avenues in a minor fashion.  'That' job looks fun.  'That' is something you enjoy.  He is good with my money (as in spending it) so I am thinking investments.  He will not be my child to go to far from home.  That is ok.  I like that kid!!

Little Kid may be too small for most to worry about careers and college, but how often do you hear 'since he was a baby he loved....' and that kid is always the one that has done something HUGE.  So we are encouraging Little Kid everyday.  Whatever he picks up we look at it as a future career.  So today when he started to color (in permenant marker Thanks Auntie!!) on Middle Kid while Middle Kid was still asleep I took pause.  Most parents would yell, scream and wake up Middle Kid.  Me, well, I thought...needs more green.

So helpful...

So, as I venture through the chance of identity theft I am learning that most people are kind and forgiving.  MOST PEOPLE.  Chase Mortgage company.  Totally cool.  Apologized for calling me about the mortgage refi!  How cool is that...they told me to call them next week and until then they will just mark my account.  Credit One.  Happy to help me people.  No late fees, no reporting the credit agency.  Just pay us when you can unfreeze your checking account AND we will send you a new card today with a higher limit so you have some sort of money to buy the necessities.  Of course I know that higher limit means bigger payments and more interest for them, but hey, it was pretty cool of them to offer me more 'money'.  Oh and they will remove any fees that I incur for a late payment.  (it was due the day I reported it stolen)

Ok you know who isn't cool when you are in crisis?  HSBC credit company.  First I cancelled the card and then had to wade through 800 voice options to get a human... I know the nerve I wanted to talk to a person.  I am silly like that.  So I get the sweetest sounding lady I think in the world.  I think she spits sugar...pure cane sugar she is so sweet.  That is where it ended.  I told her my card was stolen and I one needed the number of the now closed account so they can put it in the police report.  I was refused.  For my protection and privacy.  Well, the account is now closed so it doesn't really matter first of all and second of all I don't need any protection.  My cities finest are on the case.  No can do.  I am not getting that number.  The super sweet lady proved that sugar rots your brain...she told me to look at the card.  Which card?  The one that was stolen?  Sure right on that!  I choked back a laugh.  She then asked me if I was going to make a payment *also due that day I make it easy on myself and have all the bills due the same day*.  I told her I would love to make a payment, but I have not a thing to my name right now.  Remeber super sweet lady...car robbed, cash, credit cards *one of yours actually* id everything was stolen...yeah I can't pay you $15 this month...not because I won't...I.Can't.  I have it, I would love to give it to you so you have 2 choices.  Give me some time to work this out.  It may take a week, I will provide supporting documents and depositions.  Whatever it takes, but give me time.  If you can't wait and that $15 is going to put HSBC into a downward spiral...stop over to the house...I will give you $15 and you can go kiss my knee.  It is $15 not the end of the world!  I was robbed have some compassion.

Another Robbery unfriendly company is my insurance agent.  She has harassed and hounded me to get life insurance 'just in case' as 'you never know'.  I did exactly what she asked...I got life insurance AND disability insurance on the whole family.  Just not with her.  She was not clear on that.  Well, as I called to let her know that the payment would be late she first said well try to pay by Friday.  I said I think I will have Head Honcho's pay by then, no problem.  She then said 'Why don't we set up an appointment for life insurance?'  Sure I have all sorts of time in between police reports and statements and regular life and Mommy world.  I was just robbed...give me a day or two.  Oh but wait...I tell her I have already obtained life insurance and then tried to get off the phone.  No she wasn't having that....She needed to tell me I was getting ROBBED by the insurance company that I have now got life insurance through and I need to go in to see her ASAP and get it fixed and buy insurance through her! I promptly hung up the phone and have a call in to change agents. 

So the messages I have learned most companies are really helpful when their customer is faced with an issue.  Just give them a call and they more than likely will help you.  Some people however, are just jerks.  Leave them alone. You don't need them!

Robbed...

That's right...I was robbed... broke into my car.  Here is the whole story as I would like it posted in the local newspaper...

Sunday evening at approximately 10:15 I arrived home with the Big Kid from hockey at our local facility.  I noticed a man who was weirdly dressed and quite honestly didn't fit in.  Now I am not a snob.  Totally.  But he looked a little homeless so what was he doing amongst all of these homes?   So, I have heartedly clicked the lock button on the van and walked (quickly) into the house.  I got a little glimpse of him.  I remeber his outward apperance.  It was not someone that was walking a dog or out for exercise.  There was something different about him. 

I came inside and puttered around for 20 mins or so and then realized I needed to pay my credit cards online.  I decided to do it tomorrow so I could just go to bed.  Roughly 11:30 the Head Honcho got up for a minute.  He noticed that the dome light was on in my van, but blew it off thinking Big Kid was out getting his phone (or something of the sort) out of the van.  Being late at night he went to bed. 

7:15 this morning I was awakened by the doorbell and the City's finest.  I was hoping for a BIG crime.  Maybe there was a felony nearby?  A murder?  OHH I hoped I could solve the crime and go on Law and Order.  I was looking particularly fancy mind you.  I passed out exhausted in my jeans and my hoodie so although my hair said 7:15 am my body said noon.  Good thing my breath was there to break the tie.  7:15 am it was!!!! 

I was told that there were some breakins in the 'hood last night and they checked my doors and they were unlocked so they would like me to look and see if anything was missing.  Well, what do I have for a thief?  Apparently quite a bit.  A wallet ($44 thirtyone that I took forever to finally buy), filled with credit cards, debit cards, checks, insurance cards you know the good stuff.  Not only was my wallet missing.  My mini zip pouch was gone.  Inside:  pills and CASH!!! Yes, I didn't go to the bank this weekend and NOW I am paying for it!  Son of a bad lady... So while I was still in shock (and certain the Head Honcho was going to be ANGRY) I started to babble about the 'weird man' last night.  A police report was filed, and now I get to go through the fun times of replacing everything.  Cancelling everything and getting new scripts.  No chance to go get groceries today.  I will be sitting at the DMV endlessly trying to get a simple replacement license.

I really hope that this jerk (or jerks as the case may be) gets caught.  Not just because I want my money back, but because I am friends with the judge.  I bet for an extra loaf of bread he would give him the death penalty.  (totally kidding...he will just do the life sentence)

Have I learned a lesson?  Oh hells, yes!  Amongst the obvious (lock my car) I learned the less than obvious... make sure you make your hair, body and breath all agree on the time of day.  All.The.Time.

Hockey Moms....

Last night I had a great night.  I had the pleasure of sitting with a few of my favorite hockey moms and chatting and eating and reflecting on times past.  If you have never had the chance to sit with a hockey mom you are really missing out.  These ladies in particular, they are funny, fantastic (and a few other 'f' words)  ladies.  I mean we really are a special brew of women.  Who else thinks, 'I am going to strap some SHARP knives to my 4 year old (or younger) little man (or lady as the case may be) and put them out on a sheet of ice and see how it goes! If they do well enough by next year we will give them a long stick and fling a frozen chunk of rubber around'  Doesn't that just sound fun? Oh and when they start to fall, we will pay someone to make those knives sharper....makes sense right?

So maybe we take a bit of our child's life in danger.  Maybe.  But we will also get up earlier than the morning paper man in freezing temps to take our child to the freezing rink so that they can practice.  It must be love.  Because my body certainly knows it is not right that I force this upon it every October-March.  We forgo our weekends and weeknights.  We spend our expendable cash and work overtime to make more expendable cash so they can attend camps and have new equipment.  (that stuff is NOT cheap!).  We eat frozen dinners *heated up...most of the time* and fast food.  We live on caffeine and alcohol (much more that latter as they grow) We live a 'special' lifestyle.  People look at us and shake their heads.  They feel sorry for us.  Sometimes, it feels awful.  Your superstar gets cut from the team he wants to be on.  He must face the truth.  Sometimes you aren't the best.  Sometimes you are and you just get screwed.  Sometimes there is an adult who somehow, someway has the world thinking he is gospel and you get the short end of the stick.  What are you going to do?  Crawl in a hole and cry?  Quit?  Or, persavere and let them kick themselves? 

We as hockey moms, feel all of the things our kids do, and we love it.  We let them dream, we let them try.  We sit as a group at games, we confide in each other things we can't tell others.  We are a family.  A dysfunctional family maybe, but eh, what family isn't?