Did I miss anything?

Hi all. What's been going on? I don't think I have much to write about - just checking in really. Let's see what all HAS been going on????

My grandma had her 101st birthday earlier this month. I can't believe it. She looks fantastic! She's having trouble with her vision and she doesn't get around very well, but she can be pretty feisty! Good for her! She celebrated the day with her kids and I was able to come for cake and ice cream at the senior center. I got a few pictures. It was a nice day for her.

Braden is knee-deep in hockey right now, and I'm loving it. It's so fun to watch these "little kids" learning the game - really learning it. We have been so lucky in the teams that he has been put on. Always the best coaches. Sensitive, yet competitive. I think he's enjoying this sport. He enjoys almost all sports, but I really think he is excited about all aspects of this one...even the referee's calls.

Should be a fun weekend for us. Friday night Braden is the Junior Roadrunner of the Game at the RoadRunner's home game. I'm charging the battery for my camera now. He gets to put on his gear and skate out with the team during introductions. He's pretty excited about that! Did I mention I'm charging the battery for my camera now? Saturday night is the game in Kansas City that is on the outdoor sheet of ice. Always a funtime - can't wait to take pictures. I think last year I took more pictures of the sunset than the game! Another game on Sunday afternoon in Topeka.

When will we have time to rake all the leaves in our yard???? What about the dust bunnies and cobwebs in my house? It's not Halloween anymore - I can't claim that it's part of the decor...can I? No, no, I can't. Maybe Saturday morning that can be my goal.

I had my 20-year class reunion last month. That was fun to see everyone. It was kind of nostalgic to bring out my "Class of '89" button and class ring. It was interesting though as I got ready for the reunion, my "adult" friends would ask me what I was like in high school. I'm still trying to figure out which "click" I belonged to in high school. I wasn't the nerd, I wasn't dedicated enough to study any more than I needed too. I wasn't the athlete .... obviously. I wasn't a metal head - even though I enjoyed the music, but I also enjoyed country music. I didn't go out partying, or skip school, etc. Mom wouldn't let me go hang out where she didn't know where I was and I would have been too worried what would have happened to me when Dad found out. I wasn't artsy...can't even draw a stick figure. I had friends in all those groups and I think they all accepted me. However, when I look back, I never really belonged in any of those groups. The reunion felt like all of this all over again. I was still self-conscious, etc. But I felt good about being there and seeing those friends of mine that I never thought I'd see again, and those that I thought I'd never go without seeing, but hadn't seen since graduation. We laughed, we danced, we caught up on the last 20 years. We are thinking about doing something in a couple of years to celebrate our 40th birthdays.

So much to be thankful for this year, yet so much to look forward to also. Maybe my next post I'll start making my New Year's Resolutions. That should be interesting, right?

It’s not the house that makes the home…

Here’s hoping June is a better month than May. What a crazy, topsy-turvy month we have had.

We started the month with me at the doctor’s office over the hot-mess that has been going on with my girl parts. After a little medical attention, it seems to have calmed down and we may be well on our way to having less pain and cramping, and more importantly, fewer mood swings. Fingers crossed.

Then Brady went to the doctor’s office about some “spider bites” that kept returning. Turns out they were ingrown hairs and they became infected. By the time he actually went to the doctor because these "bites" were not leaving, and actually kept popping up in other areas of his body (therefore, creating his very own hot-mess), he was suffering from a pretty serious staff infection (Mrsa). More on this later…

May 15, 2009. Not a date I will soon forget. Brady was on the road all day for work and wouldn’t be home by 5 p.m., so I picked up Braden at daycare. We pulled up in our driveway and I noticed the front door wide open. Braden said, hey daddy must be home. I said no, he’s in Manhattan. I looked over to a light on in my crafty room window. I knew I had not been in there for a couple of days. Something didn’t feel right and I thought I might throw up. We backed out and “went to see what grandpa was doing.” Gma and Gpa live just 9 houses away from us. I immediately called 9-1-1. Long story short, we had a break-in while we were both at work. We both usually come home at lunch and this day we didn’t. Maybe that would have saved us from this very invasive, violating event in our lives. On the other hand, we may have come home to strangers in our house. Still not sure which is worse. I never want to have to explain this kind of thing to an 8-year old again.

You know, we don’t have expensive tastes. My friends will tell you, we live very simply – we don’t have a fancy house, or drive fancy cars. We own hand-me-downs, furniture we purchased on sale, or was given to us, etc. However, the very, very few nice things we had are all gone, including a couple of sentimental jewelry pieces. Of course, most of what was stolen was my son’s video games, movies, etc. He was so traumatized by all of it. Very sad to watch. He’s better now, but still misses his “things.” I miss my 42” TV, and, strangely enough, my Metallic Pink Nintendo DS that I had just received for Mother’s Day. Of course the lazy butts couldn’t have taken the 90 pound, 15-year old TV in the living room – noooo – that would have been too much work for them! Great – I get the finicky burglar (in other words, my crap isn’t good enough for them). What a waste. (Bitter, party of one!)

With all the issues with the insurance company, I have learned that you need to take pictures of EVERYTHING you own. Some even say to take a picture of each wall in your house so you can show what was on that wall in case of fire, theft, or some other disaster that you need to replace things. As soon as we start replacing things, that is EXACTLY what we intend to do! There will be better documentation. It's too difficult to try and figure this stuff out after-the-fact. We are still working with the insurance company and hope to have some resolution to this sometime this week.

Pardon me, but you know what pisses me off the most? We worked HARD to have the few nice things we have. Some deadbeat, who probably doesn't have to "work" to get these things, busts into OUR house and takes OUR kids’ things, OUR electronics, MY jewelry, and completely DESTROYS OUR bedroom and stomps all over OUR clothes. What gives these people the right to do this? Who does this???? How do they live with this? I have gone through various stages of shock, sadness and anger. I’m starting to get more angry about the added expenses we have had to incur because of this – alarm system for the house, increased homeowner’s insurance, and replacement of these “things.”

Then there's the emotional toll it has taken on me and my family. Just today I let myself be comfortable with leaving the house (of course with the alarm on) and coming home to an empty house. I actually kept the front door open for 15 or 20 minutes (with the screen locked) and enjoyed the sunshine today. I have slept in the recliner in my family room many nights just because I was too scared to walk thru the house by myself. All along, trying to be strong for my son so he doesn’t worry too much. I honestly think this has made us a stronger family, but it doesn’t mean that I can move past what happened. Not yet.

Speaking of the emotional toll - Brady has had quite the month too. He has been a rock for us. I'm not sure how he's kept it together as long and as well as he has. He had his 25th class reunion last weekend. That was fun to finally meet some of these people that he's talked about for 13 years. They were such a great group of people. I'm glad he had such a great experience growing up in a small town. I mentioned earlier his staph infection. Well 10 days into the medication (the Monday after the break-in), he decides to have a severe, allergic reaction to the antibiotic. He has hives from head-to-toe and went to the doctor. He had to have his blood taken because he had a funky rash on his calves and thighs. Yep, his platelets were low. One of his aunts is in the hospital with a liver condition that is not going well. Looks like she will need a liver transplant. He’s absolutely swamped at work and, yeah, he’s still reeling from the break-in.

Braden made it through 2nd grade with flying colors. He’s a genius, I’m sure of it. He did really well and We are very proud of him. We have been so fortunate with fantastic teachers since pre-school. I don’t have any idea about any of the 3rd grade teachers at our school. I hope we continue to have fun, fresh, forward-thinking, teachers for him. What a gift that would be! We are officially on Summer Vacation. Camp has started and we are knee-deep in baseball. It’s a fun time. I can't believe my baby is 8 1/2 and is going to be a third-grader.

As we finish out May 2009, I look back and think of that saying that it’s not the house that makes the home; it’s the people that live there…sooooo true. I believe I have experienced one of those “ah-ha” moments that Oprah talks about. I love my family and my friends. Without that, life would be very boring and uninspiring. The generosity is, at times, overwhelming. What a feeling!

Hello, Inspiration, where did you go??

Is it the weather? The moon alignment? Lack of money? My dry skin? Lack of fabric softener in my sweater? Shiny objects? Most likely, a combination of all of these and then some.

Whatsupwithat? Maybe my meds need to be bumped up. Or, it would help if I took them on a regular basis.

I have ZERO inspiration to do much of anything, let alone keep up this blog. I'm trying - really.

Tonight is the first game of the hockey play-offs which means I have the house to myself for a little while. I am going to make an honest effort to clean my house. I think that will make me feel better. If I really get on a roll, I am cleaning my crafty room so I can try to be more crafty this weekend.

I am off to make my "to-do" list for tonight. Wish me luck!

Cindy Seckman Chaffin's Profile Create Your Badge

Happy St Patty's Day!

So I've spent this morning reflecting on how things have changed. It's a weee bit different for me on St Patty's Day today than they were a few years ago. It wasn't that long ago that I would spend this wonderful day swilling back green beers (or any other green alcoholic beverage) at my favorite pub in Aggieville (shout out to Fast Eddy's!) and trying not to sound too much like a pirate - and more like a true Irishman.

Let's see...today, I will be taking my son and two of our friends' kids to the St Patty's parade in downtown Topeka, followed by a trip to McDonald's for happy meals and shamrock shakes. I'll end the day with Braden's last hockey practice for the season and have dinner at Cici's with 20 other hockey families.

No beer, no funny irish phrases. Just good ole family fun! :)

My, how times have changed. I'm not complaining - there is absolutely no fear of a hangover tomorrow. :)

Have a green beer for me - Happy St Patty's Day everyone,

Cindy O'Chaffin

Mommy, do you think I can choose my own songs?

Okay, now I know it … I am a total control freak!





My darling son came to me the other day and asked me if we could load some songs onto his new iPod Shuffle that he got from his Aunt for Christmas.

“Sure honey,” I said with that motherly voice of mine.

“Can I choose my own songs for it?” he asked in that cute little boy voice.

“Of course you can,” I said, still in my motherly voice.

THEN...WOWIE ZOWIE! It hits me…why would he even have to ask??? It’s HIS iPod, not mine. If my 8-year old knows that I am a control freak, who else knows??

Next thing you know, he’s going to tell me he can play his own Webkinz™ games online and decorate the Webkinz world himself. How ever will he build and save his Webkinz money??


P.S. Apparently my husband knows about my disorder. He just asked me if “we” could get the Rhianna CD? “It could be both of ours,” he said. Surely a grown, 40-something, man can go out to buy a CD without asking his wife, right? (Do I really want to wrap my brain around the fact that he wants the Rhianna CD??) I can't really worry about that right now. I may have to go see Dr. Phil.