I am one pissed off chick right now.  The settlement date on my parents' house is June 10th.  Since I'm not going to be around Philly for the next 3 weeks, I need to move my shit out now!  So, FMM agreed to help me move everything tomorrow into storage.  I called and tried to reserve a U Haul (I'm not even linking those thieving bastards) last week for this Saturday at 8 AM.  I only need the truck for about 3 hours - if that.  At the end of the call, the rep told me someone would call me tomorrow.  Well tomorrow came and no call.

The day after that I called back, basically got the run around.  I was told the next day and the next day.  This is just a call to confirm my reservation.  FMM told me I should have used Ryder who is more expensive but has better service.  Thanks, FMM, couldn't you have told me sooner!?  They are booked.
  
This morning I call, yet again, and I'm told someone will be confirming my reservation by 5pm.  I called them back at 5:15 and they finally tell my my pickup location.  No, it's not the one I picked.  It's one approximately 12 miles from my house.  You know they charge BY THE MILE?????  I'm furious now.  Why couldn't they have told me this the 5-6 other times I called?  Oh, because they don't confirm location until ONE day before the rental.  What the hell kind of business are you running?

Of course I can cancel my reservation, but there is a $50 charge because I didn't cancel 24 hours before my pickup time.  Hmmmmm, maybe if you had told me this the 5-6 OTHER TIMES I CALLED, I would have cancelled.  Nope, you don't tell me about the change in location until 5:30pm. 

Next I speak with a supervisor who informs me that possibly something can be worked out tomorrow.  He won't know until early AM (when I'm moving basically) if the other 24, yes 24, closer rental places to my house will have the small truck I want.  He (oopsie) told me that the trucks are delivered to the facilities the night before.  Well, tell the one who's going to be driving my truck to bring it to MY location.  He had no answer for that one.  Looks like someone fucked up and told me something they shouldn't have. 

I can't wait to call tomorrow morning.  They have the wrong person.

Photos of Saddam in his underwear have surfaced.  Please read the story.  This is my favorite part:

President Bush was briefed by senior aides Friday morning about the photos' existence and "strongly supports the aggressive and thorough investigation that is already underway" that seeks to find who took them, White House spokesman Trent Duffy said.

I'm taking bets to see who is found first:  the dastardly culprit or Osama (remember him?)

Since I don't have enough challenges in my life, next week I am driving 11+ hours to Michigan to see my girls.  Yes, DJ will be a passenger in this vehicle.  Will I survive the journey?  Only time will tell. 

DJ is psyched because we are leaving in THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!  I am also handing over my laptop to him for his enjoyment on the very long drive.  I figure it will be great bonding time for us.  Not to mention, it will kill all the cravings for having another child. 

Today I had to leave work.  My whatchamacallit, "aunt", yea that's it, my aunt came to visit whlie I was wearing WHITE PANTS.  Damn, damn, damn.

As I've griped about previously, my dental insurance is a joke.  Along with my vision insurance as well.  And I've definitely griped about DJ's problems with dentists.  C called me the other night.  C is the mother of one of DJ's friends.  I have often mouthed off about lack of dental care for DJ.  She found an absolute wonderful dentist and wanted to share her with me. 

This sounds way too good to be true.  I called today for an appointment.  Once I had mentioned DJ being on the spectrum, they decided to switch everything around.  They want him to come in for the last appointment of the day when there are no other children there in hopes that will ease DJ a bit.  The feel it will be less hectic and much easier for DJ to handle.  Instead of jumping right into a cleaning (and the subsequent problem teeth), DJ and I will meet with the dentist so DJ can get to know her and the other office staff.  They actually want to make this as PAINLESS as possible for my son.  Who'd have thunk it?

If the visit goes well and if DJ's up for it, they will proceed to clean his teeth after he has met everyone and taken a tour of the facility.  If not, that will be rescheduled for another day.  The dentist wants to talk with DJ and try to find out some of his fears regarding the work getting done on his teeth and try to alleviate them. 

They do not use straight jackets.  They actually use a weighted blanket in hopes that will calm the child.  If that does not work, they will try sedation.  If that does not work, then the dentist will perform the work in a hospital while DJ is under anesthesia.  But first things first, they want to make sure they concur with the first dentist's opinion of even having the tooth pulled. 

You know there has to be a catch, right?  They are not a member of my private insurance.  But at this point, I DON'T CARE!!  I'll pay anything you want, honey.  Here, take my car! 

But, no need.  Their prices are just as sweet.  I don't even think I need to throw them on a credit card!  I'm just so damned excited right now!  I think I forgot to mention, we don't even have a month's wait for this.  He's being seen on June 3rd.  Two weeks!

I know I've mentioned before that I love scary/horror movies.  The only movie that has really ever scared the crap out of me was The Ring - ever.  Nothing has scared me before, nor has scared me since.  I don't usually let DJ watch horror movies.  Ok, I never let him watch horror movies.  It's not because I think he's too young or anything.  It's because he was getting loads of nightmares.  Lots of things scared the crap out of him (monsters in his closet, etc.)  I figured a horror movie wouldn't help. 

I've been watching horror movies as long as I can remember.  I remember being 5 or 6 and watching Alice Sweet Alice.  Mommie Dearest freaked out that Pops let me watch it.  Mommie Dearest was always scared of horror movies.  She doesn't watch them at all.  But I never had any nightmares from it.

I basically let DJ watch whatever he thinks he can handle.  I do limit nudity and things like that but explicit language I don't.  Kids in the school yard talk worse than that!  DJ knows his limits.  He knows if he repeats stuff, he won't be allowed to watch it again.

Today, I call him in to watch The Phantom Menace.  He comes in and tells me he's watching something else on tv.  He told me turn on channel 40 (which is I think HBO).  I turn it on and I see Greg Kinnear and I'm thinking what the hell is he watching.  He doesn't usually watch stuff like this.  If it doesn't have action packed adventure or major comedic episodes in it, he won't watch it.  It turns out he was watching Godsend.  It's not exactly a horror movie, but it has some shock scenes in it.  I was a little apprehensive but it was halfway done so I let him watch the rest of it in the living room with me. 

He really liked the movie.  He kept telling me it was about a boy like him who kept having nightmares...like him.  I'm quite possibly in for a sleepless night tonight.  But I guess we have to start somewhere.  I told him if he gets scared AT ALL in the middle of the night he's to come in my room right away.  I think I'm gonna hook him up with a flashlight or leave the light on in his room or something.   

Well, I've been trying to get my behind in gear because Mommy Dearest finally decided to sell their house.  Of course, she's probably not going to give Pops his fair share and let the courts decide.  The real estate agent came over a few days ago and Pops signed the paperwork.  THEY ALREADY HAVE AN OFFER!  Settlement is June 10.  Which means I need to get all my crap out of the house by NEXT WEEKEND!!!!  Why?  The week after I'm going on vacation in Michigan.  Then I come back and leave for Washington DC until the 12th of June. 

So FMM is going to help me move all my stuff on Saturday.  I'm looking at storage places tomorrow.  He's kind of funny.  I mentioned before how he's this big strong guy.  I call him up the other morning and told him I need to move some stuff from my mom's this Saturday and would he be able to help me.  He said sure.  Then I asked him if he would drive the truck and he said sure.  That's it, didn't even ask what he was moving.  I asked PIC if I should mention the refrigerator he needs to move.  I called him this morning and told him.  Didn't say a word.  I need to marry someone like that.

Pops really wants his car back, soon:)  I've been driving his car since he purchased it last year and he was tooling around in my old Stratus.  While he was in the hospital, I let FMM hold it and now he really wants to buy it.  And he wants to buy for MORE than I would get for trade in.  Pops told me to let him keep it and when he gets his half of the house, he'll pay off his car and give me a few grand for a down payment for a new car.

So I've been car computer shopping:)  I think I've decided on yet another Stratus.  Basically because everything else I like is unaffordable.  This morning I was on the computer "building" my Stratus.  DJ walks in and peers over my shoulder.  "Are you on vehix.com, Mom?"  He evidently watches way too much TV. 

Some of you may know that there isn't a definitive consensus on autism and why some people have it and some people don't.  I can say for fact that DJ's is genetic.  After reading dozens of books (I'm sure some of you know about THAT), I realize my father is without a doubt on the spectrum.  Overlooking his anti social skills, his obsessive interests in telling me the SAME stories over and over again - even ones I witnessed, his frustration levels, and HIS meltdowns, I still marvel at the everyday conversations we have.

Case in point.  Today I went out and bought a bunch of picture frames so I could all of DJ's "professional photos" on my wall.  I know BAD MOMMY!  Trust me, I do have alot of them up.  My father is watching me drive nails in the wall and hanging these pictures and proceeds to tell me, "Hey, Wen, do you know you have 35 pictures of DJ hanging/displayed in the living room?"  I calmly take the nail out of my mouth and say to him, "Why no Dad, I've never taken the time to count them."  Who does this kind of stuff?  An aspie, that's who!

We can't end this entry without a funny comment from DJ.  My father calls DJ in the room and tells him, "DJ, this is no longer the living room.  Your mother has decided to fill every nook and cranny with your face and this is now going to be called the DJ Room."  DJ looks at me and says, "DJ's room?  You mean this is MY world!?  Now I can play with the buttons on the remote as much as I want."

Happy belated Mother's Day to all! 

Now with that out of the way...I just realized I am a total dork.  I mean, I was always a dork.  Now I'm Super Dork!

I started to organize my Favorites because they were getting way too out of hand.  I realized I had enough Charmed links to actually make a Charmed folder.  Yes, I have a Charmed folder in my Favorites.  Yes, it is my favorite show on television.  It's probably the only show I watch.  Of course, they are talking about cancelling it this year.  I even watch the reruns every night on TNT.  I think I need some help!

On the way to the supermarket yesterday, DJ and I did a musical number in the car.  He told me everytime I spoke I had to sing.  We sang our conversation all the way to the local Acme.  His funeral, not mine.  I betcha he never asks me to do that again!

Oh, I threw a cute little Pictures link in the sidebar.  Go check them out if you want to...if you dare!

DJ had SO much fun today!  We went to a local carnival with his friend from school.  Same friend we always hang with.  DJ and Boy1 get along SO good!  I learned today, for sure, that DJ does not take after me when it comes to amusement park attractions.  I'm not a big fan of hills or heights - which basically leaves me out of any fun.  I do LOVE the Scrambler and the Tilt A Whirl, though.  I'm also baby's best friend because I will sit on the Merry Go Round, the teacups, the trucks, etc.  I'm also adept at taking pictures from the sidelines and holding water bottles. 

When asking DJ if he'd like to go on the Merry Go Round, I received as a reply, "Yea, Mom, sure."  Then he rolled his eyes and walked away from me.  Smartass! 

DJ and Boy1 went on just about ride there except for the so-called kiddie rides - numerous times.  The carnival was dead.  Hardly anyone was there.  They were able to keep going back on time after time after time.  And just ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE!  Not only that, they didn't really need us around.  We just followed them around like good puppy dogs parents, occasionally handing out wads of cash for carnie food.  MMMMMM, funnel cake!  I digress.  They went on everything by themselves except for one ride which we wouldn't allow them on.  "No you may not go on the Gravitron.  People throw up on that thing."  Then, "I know YOU won't puke.  But that doesn't mean you won't walk out of there with puke ON you."

It ended with big crocodile tears.  Not because they were leaving the carnival, but because they were leaving each other.  Umm, hello, you will see each other on Monday! 

DJ and I tried to end the night by having a "date" with each other.  He chose renting a movie from Blockbuster.  Kid after my own heart.  We rented the original Star Wars.  He fell asleep after 20 minutes.  Typical male.  Watch out, little girls, he's a keeper!