Preppy Girl's Guide

That's right people. We have an atyipcal case of the old Chicken Pox in the PGirl household. PGirl Jr. wasn't feeling so hot last Thursday afternoon. She had a half day Friday and by the time I met her (along with my dad and brother) for lunch - it was evident - she had da pox. I think I was in denial at first. I had actually seen a couple of red dots on her body that morning but chalked it up to heat rash (we fair skinned irish folk get them a lot). Coupled with the fact that my kids have both received the Chicken Pox vaccine (yes, okay, the thought of pox did cross my mind for a fleeting second before I sent her to school that morning) - but I figured we were safe. Uh, not so fast. After lunch I called her doctor to confirm that she had, in fact, had the vaccination and they suggested I bring her in. A quick look from her doc confimed it. Atypical Varicella. It's only the second case they've seen this year and even prompted a call to the centers for disease control to report it. My kid is special.

Soooo... she's off to grandma's for another week (and if it weren't for all the itchies, she'd be the happiest 5 year old in town). She's actually handling it quite well as this atypical strain of the pox is a very mild one, causing no severe symptoms - just your basic red bumps and an unbelievable urge to scratch them. I can't even write about it without getting the itchies myself (I have scratched my leg, head, neck and back just typing this). Now the next question - will the boy get it too? Only time will tell.

Speaking of the boy, it seems as though the lady who was going to watch him after school next year is able to watch him all afternoon. This is somewhat good news. At least I have somewhere to send him, even if it's not exactly what we had planned. Everything happens for a reason, right? I haven't quite figured out what this one is yet...

Hope you had a great weekend. Our weather was GORGEOUS!

I've decided to name this post GAH as it is the only word that accurately describes how freaking pissed off I am right now. GAAAAAAHHHHH! Let me give you a little backstory.

About 2 weeks ago, all the parents at our daycare were met with a nice little suprise when we picked up our children. In each cubby was a piece of paper stating that the daycare would close on June 30, 2007. WHAT? Where the hell did that come from? I realize most of you know nothing about this daycare - in short, it is the largest day care in the city and is run by the local community college which is part of the SUNY system (State University of New York). This community college is one of the largest in New York State and will soon be the ONLY community college in the state without a day care. This announcement came out of left field, to say the least. The college has put forth many reasons ranging from "day care is not part of our mission" to "ever increasing costs" - which floors me considering I've had to take out a second mortgage on my house just to send my kids there. As upset as I am about the closing, I also consider myself lucky as my son's last day there was to be June 22 - one week shy of the shut down.

My son can attend a children's school program where I work in the summertime (thank God) and is scheduled to attend a full day universal pre-kindergarten program in the fall at my daughter's school. FINALLY, the huge burden of day care has been lifted (if you don't count the second mortgage payments that is). FINALLY we can think about paving the mud pit we call a driveway. FINALLY we can think about replacing the old drafty windows that let all the heat out in what seems like 6 months of winter. FINALLY I get a call from the Pre-K program telling me it's no longer a full day - er um WHAT??!!??!! OOOHHH, it seems the closing of the day care at the college (which also housed a Pre-K program) has displaced so many children that they have changed my sons UPK to two half day programs to accommodate more kids. GAAAHHH! I'm so pissed right now I don't even know where to start. There goes any hope of dissing day care charges for at least another year. PLUS, where the hell am I going to send him? - his current day care is closing - remember? GAAAHHH!

To top things off, the new, expensive elliptical machine friggin' broke this morning. I can't even work off all this stress. When it rains, it pours. Hope you had a better day.

I wish I had some interesting story about where I've been the past week - but the truth is, I've simply been a wee bit busy. Plus - you know how it goes. You skip for a day or two, then three then four, the next thing you know it's been over a week. I've been trying not to blog at work - and ALSO have been trying to keep the computer off at home at night. As you've probably concluded (I knew you were smart) that leaves no time for blogging or blog reading except the weekend. Soo, to sum up the last 10 days in preppyworld, here goes:

I've watched more movies. What is up with me and the movies lately? We actually got to the theater, ALONE, last Thursday (during a snow storm) and caught Blades of Glory. Oh so very funny. I know Will Ferrell can often be a love him or hate type of actor but I am heavily in the love him camp. Sometimes comedy isn't smart, or intellectual - it's just funny - and that's what Ferrell does best. If you need a laugh and you don't want to think too hard about it - GO SEE THIS MOVIE.

A little shopping trip last Friday found us in Wallyworld where I came across the DVD of Pretty in Pink - "Everything's Duckie Edition." After all the recent discussion on -R-'s blog about this movie I decided to buy it (and at $7.50, it was hard to pass up). If you're looking for a little piece of 1986, I highly recommend picking it up. It has a whole section of interviews with the original cast and talks about the original "Duckie gets the girl" ending and why they changed it. CHECK IT - it is hot, white hot.

This past week, my daughter spent her spring break at my MIL's (only about 25 minutes away). It was kinda weird having only one kid for a change (well two if you count Galoot). But the testosterone levels around here were over the top. I'm glad to have my little girlie back.

As a follow up to my movie boyfriend list, I suppose I should also list my movie girlfriends. Here goes (in no particular order):

1. Reese Witherspoon
2. Meg Ryan (only opposite Tom Hanks, or in When Harry Met Sally)
3. Jennfier Lopez (I know, I know - but she's kinda cute in a few pics)
4. Kate Hudson
5. Rachael McAdams
6. Kate Winslet
7. Gwyneth Paltrow (sometimes)
8. Sandra Bullock (While You Were Sleeping)
9. Drew Barrymore
10. Natalie Portman (pretty cute in Garden State)
11. Renee Zellweger (Jerry Maguire only)
12. Julia Roberts (I don't wanna like her, but I just can't help it)
13. Mandy Moore (brunette version)

That was kinda hard. I'm sure I was stretching it on some of them. Any others you'd like to add?

So, I did some serious movie watching over the weekend. I often get movies at the Library but never seem to fit them into my schedule within the one week allotted before they need to be returned. This past weekend, I vowed to make the time. I not only got to watch these but also took in a couple off cable as well. Here's the rundown:

• Legally Blonde 2 - Red, White & Blonde I'd finally seen the first Legally Blonde last weekend and was totally in to seeing the sequel. Here's a little tip for the makers of this one - quit while you're ahead. This movie was awful.
• Sweet Home Alabama - I can't believe I hadn't seen this movie. It will definitely go on my top chick flicks list. Good movie -PLUS I found myself a new movie boyfriend - Josh Lucas. He looks so much like Paul Newman (my most favoritest movie boyfriend ever!) It's no surprise he played a young Newman in Empire Falls. Yum.
• The Devil Wears Prada - This was pretty good, despite its "cartoony" start (as Galoot puts it). It definitely got better as the film went on. I'd recommend it.
• Rumor Has It - Pretty good, not the greatest but it had its moments. I like Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Costner (movie boyfriend) so I kinda enjoyed it. Also with a small part was Mark Ruffalo (movie boyfriend) so it was palatable for me.

While I'm mentioning all these movie boyfriends, I might as well make a list:

• Paul Newman
• Hugh Grant
• Tom Berenger
• George Clooney
• Kevin Costner (especially Bull Durham)
• Brendan Fraser
• Hugh Jackman
• Mark Ruffalo
• Josh Lucas

Honorable mention:

• Tom Cruise (in Jerry Maguire)
• Tom Hanks (opposite Meg Ryan)
• Luke Wilson (anything BUT Legally Blonde 2)
• Dermot Mulroney (Wedding Date)
• John Cusack (Serendipity and of course, Say Anything)

I'm warming up to Colin Firth and also seem to have a weakness for the current Supermen - Brandon Routh & Tom Welling.

I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. Who did I leave out?