Bows? This will be interesting!

I dont know what I was thinking... but today I bought some ribbon, and while I get the very best bows from my friend at All Ribboned Out, I know her main focus is no longer bows, but embroidery work.


So I thought I would try to make some zebra bows to match the girls' dresses their Auntie Pattycakes made them. We are taking them to get pictures done next week and its entirely too short of notice to bother All Ribboned Out for 3 measly bows.

Wish me lots of luck. I know Im going to need it.

My latest boycott... Western Union

The last thing I wanted to do tonight was yell at someone.

The girls and I gathered $330 after fees to send to Little C. I came home from school. and sat down, logged into Mr Digger's Western Union acct. Sent the money, paid the fee. Got a confirmation email with the MTCN number and the directions for pick up.

It clearly states the receiver needs to have photo ID and the MTCN number to pick up their money. I sent Little C a text with not only the MTCN number and the instructions for taking picture ID (duh like she wouldnt have it with her) and told her the amount in case they asked how much she was expecting.

First trip through the line to get the money, she was turned away by the cashier because the money was sent from my husband's acct. It is listed under his FIRST initial and last name, just like on the paypal debit card. Little C has said it is either coming from Apryl Wxxxxxx or Jxxxx Wxxxxxx. the cashier says nope! You have the last name right but not the first, step out of line please.

Hold the %$&*)(@ up. Western Union website CLEARLY states the receiver must have the MTCN number and ID to retrieve money. She had BOTH of these and they clearly matched the transfer information.  It does not say you must know the exact name on the Western Union acct associated with sending the money. WTF?

 Second trip into the line she was denied her money because her Military ID doesn't have her SSN on it? Say what? It was $330 dollars, NOT $3000 and not the $5000 that a SSN is needed to report to the IRS.  The military has started issuing ID without the sponsor's SSN or the dependent's SSN to prevent identity theft. It was about time too! Most state ID's don't have a SSN number on them either, so if you arent military how will a drivers license work? So Little C starts digging for her SS card and they have her step out of the line. AGAIN? Say what? I have sent money more times than I can count, been on the receiving end as well, and NEVER have I been asked to provide my SSN or card to the agent. ID yes, MTCN#? Yes. Sometimes they even ask, do you know how much you are expecting?

Third trip into the line with SS card in hand, she is DENIED her money by the same cashier because it has to be a picture ID with her SSN on it? Go ahead, say it with me, WTF?!?!?! She asks for a manager. At the very same time I am on the phone with a Western Union agent raising cain.

This poor girl is just trying to get to a funeral, she isnt money laundering a whole $330 she's getting her gas money. The manager approves the transaction, because this girl has her ID and MTCN number and is showing a SS card with what is clearly her NAME and signature on it.

Meanwhile, the agent on the phone: What is the name on the acct?

Me: J Wxxxxxxx
Agent: What is the amount?
Me: $330
Agent: What is the control number?
Me: You mean the MTCN? 188xxxxxxxxx
Agent: Where did you send this money?
Me: San Antonio TX
Agent: Where are you located?
Me: um I didnt put that information on the transfer.
Agent: Where are you located?
Me: Kentucky at the moment, but I was in Nashville, TN when I sent the money.
Agent: Why is it send it from TN
Me: Why is this relevant? Its not, I have all the information I gave when sending it. I was at SCHOOL!
Agent: What does the J stand for?
Me: Um what?
Agent: What does the J stand for?
Me: It doesnt matter, the name on the acct  is J Wxxxxxx
Agent: It DOES matter! What does the J stand for
Me: Jxxx but that ISNT located anywhere on the acct.
Agent: Well what is the name on your credit card.
Me: J Wxxxxx
Agent: as in JAY?
ME: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAMMIT J as in the INITIAL J
Agent: You cant have a credit card with an initial on it.
Me: Im looking at it RIGHT now and it clearly says J just J, but that isnt my issue. My issue is why is your agent demanding a SSN on a military ID, or a SSN period, when the transaction amount is under $5000?
Agent: well how much is the amount?
Me: *crickets* $330 you already asked me that.
Agent: I dont know.

WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!

Eventually the agent stops messing with me in his broken English and says oh it looks like it was just picked up. I need a shot of tequila after all that. 

So, boycott called. Western Union has lost my business. They arent going to be very happy with the survey they gave me to fill out either :)

Tragedy and Good Friends

I have a group of about 30 of the most awesome friends out there. 30 ladies who will do anything they can for our close knit clan.

When someone has a baby we tend to do a gift. When someone has a bad day they are there to listen and give honestly even when it may not be what you want to hear.

Today they are there for one of the group, who lost a very close friend. Little C just didn't have the funds to go home for the funeral her heart was breaking and her husband was being a supreme douche nozzle.

With one Facebook message to the girls, 9 hours later we are almost to our goal of enough money for little C to drive home.

We are a diverse group, with different opinions on parenting, dieting, Politics and religion but when it comes down to it one call one text one email and you know where each and every one of their hearts are.💗

I love my zonies.

Glutton for Punishment

Most definitely.

I was feeling better, or at least I thought so. I picked lil dude up from school, and headed to the grocery for a few items. I had complete intentions of making it home by 430, and making home-made ravioli, green beans and garlic bread for supper.

I made it to the school, was feeling a little weak, but chalk it up to being dehydrated from the massive amount of water that has come out my %$*&(^& in the past 2 days.  Picked up G, and headed to Walmart.

We made it to the back of the store, I grabbed 1 can of formula, a gallon of milk, a container of sour cream, one of cottage cheese, a half gallon of coconut milk, a bag of pork rinds, and it was then I decided there would be no home-made ravioli tonight. By the time I got to the checkout... other items had found their way into the cart, but dragging 4 kids through the store and feeling weak, you just dont care what goes in the cart.

This is kicking my butt. While I am not feverish or anything anymore (or as lil dude diagnosed me with a feeber) I am just wore plumb out! So I called Sol Azteca and ordered tamales and an Ish Special for the man.

Ill cook tomorrow. Maybe.

The Pukeopotomus Train

It hit us with a vengeance. With a 2 day gestation one person starts to feel better and it hits the next. We cant all have it at once, what fun would that be for the tiny virus that is laughing as it attaches itself to our healthy cells and procreates?

It hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday. I spent the entire day in the bed, clutching my stomach and refusing food. Mr Digger had an accident at work Sunday, he wasnt feeling great and he came home from work around 10am. Bless his little heart, he brought me gatorade... that I took sips of just to make him happy... then I flushed about half a glass, to make him happier LOL.

So far Devil Child and baby J have both had it, it lasted less than 24 hours for each of them. lil man and Freddy have been spared at least for now. Im waiting, I fully expect the school to call at any moment.

I got up today with the intent of making it to my class today. No such luck, it zapped the energy out of me for sure. While my belly isnt rolling as much, the sulfur indigestion and gas have gone away... Im still not up to a 56 mile drive each way to school and back.

Netflix to the Rescue

On my mission to cut costs I decided to give Netflix another try. Free trial through Swagbucks gained me a few swagbucks, and a month to decide if the streaming through the DVD player and wii is worth 7.99 a month.

We generally spend about $15 a weekend at Family Video renting movies and games. Obviously we cant rent games through Netflix, but overall the cost of a game is only a couple bucks so we are still saving if we stick with this route.

So far---- we have watched a couple decent movies and a few we didnt get very far into before turning off. However they didnt cost us $1-2 a piece at Family video to find out we werent impressed.

Gatlinburg TN

When I retire, I will live in east Tennessee. There is just something about it that calls my name, it just feels like home.

So this past weekend we drove down to Gatlinburg for the weekend. I called my buddy the negotiator at Priceline *giggle* and worked some magic for a hotel room at $14 a night YAHOO!

We used passes and went to the Ripley's aquarium, Mirror Maze, 3D movies, Believe it or Not, and of course the Haunted House.

 On our way there

 Watching the fish eat

 Spotted jellyfish

 This guy swam to the top of the aquarium and waved at us, and hung out where we were standing for probably 5 minutes. The keepers came and "fed" him right after that so he hung out a little while longer :)

 She found Dory right away... and Nemo not long after that :)

 Kins walking the penguins (notice the keeper cleaning up penguin poop LOL)

 Found some hot sauce to try *gigglesnort* what doesnt kill you makes you stronger right?

Mr Digger and I with our hot chocolate :)