day 2 of birthday weekend

Saturday:
I awoke thinking I was alone, but only the girls were gone. J & B needed their hair cut, so were gone until noon-ish. I was shocked I was up and feeling good.
K was quietly on his laptop. I started doing dishes. J had run the dishwasher to apease D last night, so I had stuff to keep busy as my pills settled. I ate lunch for breakfast. J made me put the Ryobi away, so I put it together. It's nice. Went to Sam's to get food for the extended family party we were having today.
J's parents and sister arrivedon time and we had hotdogs etc before opening presents and consuming the cake.
I got two more rsvps for tomorrow's party, so I think we have our 8 guest quota met. Was worried no one would show, but silly teacher held on to the invitations for a week before passing out to B's class!
I'm about 3/4 through TLAF, I am humored. I need to look into game theory. Economics aren't vague and mysterious to me like philosophy. I'm still not sure I get the significance of modernism or post-modernism, but mehism, I get completely.

birthdays and such

Six years go quickly. Middle child is no longer half the age of K, so they'll seem closer in age, I guess. Between cake and parties, I hope she knows how special she is.

In hindsight, I wish I never bought stuff as a kid

Not sure if I mentioned it, but I used to collect comic books at one point. I didn't go nuts or anything seriously devoted. I got sucked into the fad and bought a series that I liked. I had the first 8 issues of the comic, and was broached by a classmate who was much more serious about a swap. I got 16 comics for my  8. The ones I got had a central theme to them as being The Punisher, Wolverine, or New Warriors. I subsequently bought a random comic regarding Wolverine, Punisher, or Venom, but I soon forgot about my comics once I moved out of my parents' house and went to college.

I got married while in college, so I never had the complete removal of personal stuff from my technical permanent residence. I basically just abandoned my stuff thinking my folks would leave my room as is and I'd get around to it when I felt like it. I was wrong. My mom isn't sentimental and tossed my treasured things or let her animals pee on them for some in-explicit reason. My baseball cards and coin collection were salvaged from the demise, but my drawings and comics didn't.

Though I was angry when I learned of the above unfortunate events, I forgot about them much like they were the recollections of a stranger until reading an article about adult nerds being upset their retirement savings(comic collection) were being sold at pennies on the FACE value of the comics. I got angry about the loss then remembered that they were probably worthless anyways.

Getting mad about money spent on disposed items is not as silly as regretting paying for things that intended to be disposable. I bought a lot of toys that gave me many hours of joy, if I hadn't bought them, then I wouldn't have the memories and would have spent the money elsewhere.

Today, I had a couple errands which I figured K and B could tag along and give J some rest as D was napping between feedings. They both wanted to go to Target. K had a giftcard while B had toothfairy  money, while I had to see if they carried newborn diapers in the quantity boxes advertised.

My mission was a wash, so we ventured to the toy section. K wanted Lego Minifigs to the Lego Movie. he had enough to buy three, while B didn't have enough to buy one(but I would spot her the difference). K quickly picked three mystery packets and was content, while B wanted specific characters, a mermaid or girl with a stripe in her hair. I started feeling the packets for telltale signs of ones to discard. K assisted in the search until we came to a packet that didn't have moveable legs much like the girl with a stripe in her hair would have. B was content with the finding so we left with those four.

K would soon be crying when we got home, for he picked two minifigs he already had from our trip to the Lego Store on New Year's Day. Sad that B was patient to get a figue she wanted while the older K was haphazard with his decision. Maybe one day he'll be better with his money. Just last week he wanted to spend $4 on a digital edition of a 25 page Star Wars Comic, which I am glad I talked him out of purchasing.

Neither kid wanted to go get Pizza Pizza, but they wanted Crazy Bread. they didn't eat the Crazy Bread the last time I got it, so I didn't get it. Sure it's $1.99 if you bother to go to their website and print the $2.00 off coupon that is always there, but $1.99 is better saved than wasted in my book. Ironically, I bought two pizzas for $5 since I got my pizza card filled last time I was there.

Tonight, I watched the Playoff game in hopes of seeing Tom Brady cry, but the game was a blowout in his favor. I could have used that time spent elsewhere besides the tv screen.

Monday- a day to ponder weekend events

*When I got work on Saturday, the shift manager told me that our assistant manager had given his two weeks. I was shocked. Sure, the guy was a horrible person in that he treated people poorly and couldn't fix anything, but he was the sort of guy that seemed to have plans to move up.
Since I started in January, ALL of my four supervisors have resigned. This latest dude was the one I'd have figured to have left first until the other three left allowing him to move up the pecking order.

Weirdest thing is that it's rumored that he doesn't have another job lined up.

*Saturday was a long day. It started earlier than normal with my be up and on the go with K to the camping grounds. I'm glad we didn't spend the night. Their breakfast was burnt and they only had instant coffee. 

After being there 6 hours, I was bored and tired. K was wanting to leave before we arrived so just putting forth the effort was something to be considered positive.

*I think I napped when I got back from Cub Scouts, but I don't remember.

*B spent the night with her grandparents since J was at work and I didn't feel B would be fun to bring camping.

I really missed B. Thankfully she came back before I left for work.

*Sunday, I slept until noon and got moving around 12:30. didn't feel up to doing anything but I forced myself to mow the grass and to get some necessities from Kroger. 

J baked an apple pie. I love her. Pie is something that reminds me of how lucky I am, but I count my blessings regularly.

*I did other things, but I don't recall. I do know that I didn't watch any football or baseball.

Venturing to Walgreens via Target

So we had places to go and things to do, the first stop was to PetSmart to look at aquariums to replace or 10 gallon tank. Our tank is a couple years old and our fish need a bigger home. We've had to move our male betta out to heal up from being attacked. Saw some aquariums, but nothing said "buy me now."

We went to Target next. I had to see the Pharmacist about getting the second half of K's medication. He'd left a vm while we were at PetSmart, so he was expecting us. Got word that the Walgreen's down the street had the script waiting for us, but we did some shopping at Target before leaving.

Had a coupon for $3 off a $25 or more purchases of groceries, and we had to look a while for $25 worth of food since there's quite a few things I will not buy at Target. But we found enough food and bought some things that we needed.

We left for real groceries that were at Dot's Market in Bellbrook. We buy all our meat there. Never heard of them having a meat recall like Sam's and Kroger, plus they don't use Pink Slime.

Since we were in the neighborhood, we stopped at Dairy Shed. I prefer Dixie Dairy Dreem. The chocolate from my dipped cone was like syrup and dripped a puddle upon reception. B got the brunt of the mess as it was handed to me while she was standing by my feet. A lot of ugly kids were staring about, which hadn't been a concern when were ate at Dixie where most people use the drive thru.

We made our way to Walgreen's upon returning towards home. It was a nice and easy in and out stop.

Got home, and made dinner using the items we got from Target and Dot's. Cheaper than eating at Steak'n Shake, but most things are cheaper when you fix them yourself and don't have to leave a tip.

Rethinking Target Pharmacy

Disclaimer: I worked at Target at one point in my life.

For whatever reason, I have been to Target to pick up medications twice in the past week only to have to wait though they were called/faxed in hours before my coming to pick up.

I have a regular script I have refilled every 90 days, that I called in on Friday morning last week.
Supposedly, it would have been ready for pickup at 2pm that day, but I didn't get over there until Saturday.
They changed their hours since the remodeling for a produce section, so the pharmacy closed before I came to pick up.
Sorry, but 5 o'clock is early, even on a Saturday.
I made sure that I got there before 5 on Sunday, but my script wasn't ready. I had to wait a few moments for it to be filled.
A couple days ago, K had a visit to a specialist regarding issues he's had since December. Nothing seemed evident upon the doctor visit so blood work was ordered in addition to another test. Doctor sent a script for K that would help his current matters, but we were told to wait until the tests were ruled upon.
Got a call this morning at 9:15 about the blood work which showed nothing out of norm, but the second matter's results weren't in, yet. Those results were relayed at 2pm, and they were positive, so a different script was called in at our Target Pharmacy.
I was going to go to Target before J got home, but I changed my mind upon considering the last time I had K and B at Target. B wanted a toy and was not nice about leaving the toy aisle. I didn't want to relive the episode with it being a day fresh, so I waited until we had eaten dinner to go alone.
I head over there after 6, and they only had the original script ready. I said the other was called in around 2, and I was told they didn't have it in the system. The technician needed to check their voice mail.
It came via fax, and I had to wait a half hour for it to be filled.
Only half of the script was available so I didn't have to pay for it until I got the second half. I paid upfront, for I had a coupon for a $10 gift card since I was filling a new script there. The coupon expired before I needed to fill the second half of the script, and I could use $10 to off set the cost.

I like Target. I like our pharmacists at Target. I just don't care for the waiting and early closing hours.

One thing I do like, we were able to refill a script while we were in Florida without having the medication with us.

I'll stay with Target Rx for now, but there are a ton of pharmacies around that could do just as well if not better.

Don't forget your Pepsi when you go to Holiday World

A few weeks ago, J and K were watching PBS show a series on amusement parks. They featured a park called Holiday World that was in Santa Claus, Indiana. Not sure why, but they were intrigued, and they thought it a good idea to go there this summer.

We went today. Spent most of the time in the water park portion, so I didn't take any low quality pics or vids.

No one likes roller coasters in the family but me, while everyone likes water play, but me. The kids had a good time, so I won't say anything bad. I especially can't complain about the price of admission.

Check out their site. They don't charge for PARKING! They have a FREE PEPSI oasis almost every twenty yards. They have FREE sunscreen as well. Ample places to relieve oneself after drinking a gallon of Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Sierra Mist, Gatorade, or other Pepsi friendly product.

Admission was discounted with the presentation of a PEPSI can. Family of four admission cost less than $150. Only had to pay for food, carny games, and souvenirs.

• Food stands were mostly outdoors, which sucked with the heat index being over 100 degrees.
• Food selection indoors was limited. They didn't have chicken! Burgers, Pizza, and hotdogs were what they pigeonhole you into liking. But beverages are essentially FREE. I had rancid coffee, but only a person like myself would drink coffee when it's 100 out side.
• They had build your own stuffed animals! So we had to get a Penguin and a Poodle, since the carny games were rigged thus making those stuffed animals unattainable.

Kids had fun, but wanted to go home rather than stay another day ( adding a second day was a very reasonable option that could have been decide upon leaving for the day). We got home around 11:40 tonight. We left around 7:30 in the morning, so it made for a long day. It's almost a four hour drive, but it's in a different timezone, so we gained an hour of fun!

Holiday World, a place in the middle of nowhere that is great for kids like mine.

Wednesday the Fourth

Centerville has Americana Festival on the Fourth, and we have gone to it the past few years. They have TONS of things to do for the kids, and there are always tons of people there on a very warm day.

Today was mid-90s and sunny, so swim suits were worn for the trip to the festival seeing that Centerville has a sprinkler park in the proximity of the kids fun area of the festival.

Kids got their hair and faces painted.