I got tickets. It involved me, a scalper, Ebay, and about $200 more than I would've spent if I'd gotten them at face value. But I have them. And now I'm completely worn out. Talk about an emotional wringer. The tickets are pretty good and I will post more about it later. Right now I'm going to go lie down or something.

I entered my first request for tickets at 10:04 (went on sale at 10) and I could not get anything. Apparently no one else could, either, judging by the thread on the McCartney forums. Which begs the question: if they didn't sell the tickets to the general public in the "general public sale" then where the hell did they go? I've tried upwards of fifty times and the two times tickets came up they were bad seats and not worth the money. Now all that's left is ticket brokers, scalpers and Ebay, for those who have available credit lines or lots of cash, or, for people like me, who could barely scrape together enough for tickets at face value, it's the end of the line. Oh, sure, I could probably find some upper-level tickets from a broker for the amount of money I have. But I'm not spending five hundred dollars to watch a stupid concert on a stupid Jumbotron.

So, thanks a lot, Paul and all who were involved in this brilliant decision-making process. Glad all the corporate bigwigs and radio stations and rich people were able to get their tickets. You must have had half the arena reserved for them because there were people who were on at 10:00, exactly, and couldn't get tickets. I didn't realize I'd have to have superhuman powers to secure tickets. Thanks for wasting my time. Hope you have a good tour.

Just having a mini-panic attack over buying the Paul tickets tomorrow. What if I can't get good seats? I am hoping for seats at least as good as the ones I got last time, if not better. I keep thinking, though, what if the first ones I pull up aren't that great? Do I buy them anyway? Or do I take a huge risk and throw them back and try again? Most of his shows are selling out in about half an hour. Now, I will be specifically requesting the best available $250 seats, which does keep me out of the upper levels (I think). And Ticketmaster.com is the way I got the seats last time so I do have a good chance, I think, of doing at least as well this time. I don't know, I'm just freaking. I am going to be devastated if we are so far away that we can't even tell it's Paul. I mean, why would I pay 500 bucks for to watch a concert on the Jumbotron? It's important to me to be close enough to actually see him because you never know if this will be my last chance. Who knows when he will retire? This could be his last tour! And I want Madalyn to be able to look at him and see that, indeed, that is Paul and not just some indiscernible blob with a guitar.

I guess if I am really unhappy with the seats we get I can keep an eye on Ebay for better ones between now and then, and maybe do some kind of swap, buying a new set and then selling the other ones. Hopefully that is a decision I won't be faced with.

Okay, breathe....breathe....certainly after this past year fate owes me a good turn....

Have I mentioned I'm going to see Paul McCartney? Really? Because I could totally say it again.

Tickets go on sale in under 59 hours, people. Come Saturday morning it's me at the computer, Mastercard in one hand, seating chart in the other. Ticketmonster had better be good to me.

(Added bonus: I probably won't mention the subject again for a good five months after the tickets have been purchased. Till then, give me a break, it's all I've got going for me right now.)

Tonight we went to a fundraising dinner for the benefit of our preschool. I walked in, took one look around, and realized, with horror, that I was pretty much the only mother who had not volunteered to help out. I was so embarrassed. I am, like, the worst stay-at-home mom ever. I don't cook, I don't clean house, I'm socially retarded and I can't even manage to remember to make it to two or three parent-teacher organization meetings a year. Criminy.

We did at least donate more than the amount they recommended for a family of four, so we aren't completely worthless. I will try to do better next time!

There is one word to describe me the past few weeks and that word is SLUG.

1. Roll out of bed long enough to see that children are not being sent to preschool in pajama tops (has happened before) and to pull Madalyn's hair up to keep it out of her face (otherwise will arrive at school bearing strong resemblance to Cousin Itt, as Robert has still not mastered the fine art of the rubber band).

2. Feed rabbit, guinea pig.

3. Fall back into bed, possibly with Toaster Strudel in hand, to watch Regis & Kelly, followed immediately by the Price is Right -- all part of daily attempt at challenging intellect and increasing intelligence. (Note to self: not seeing improvement yet. Might consider adding All My Children to schedule and see if that helps.)

4. Doze.

5. Doze some more. 2:1 odds self will be jolted out of light slumber by ringing telephone and cursory check of caller i.d. will reveal it's someone I don't want to talk to. Will curse caller but be unable to nod off again.

6. Drag sorry butt out of bed. Do exercise tape. Sprain arm patting self on the back for accomplishing something. Take shower.

7. Go online. Catch up on email; message boards.

8. More lying around, this time on couch for change of scenery. Catch up on backed-up TiVo'ed shows.

9. Wait, semi-patiently, for doctor to call with thyroid test results. Hope that thyroid really is out of whack again. Otherwise, fatigue and cold-sensitivity mean either a) dying of dread disease or b) getting old and frail.

10. Check blog for comments and re-read this entry. Kick self for posting while exhausted and numb-brained. Vow to do better next time.

Little more than three hours in and we have already made enough to cover the Paul McCartney tickets.

God bless the Oklahoma cheapskate community.

We're preparing for a garage sale tomorrow. Heavens, is it depressing. We should really be ashamed of how much stuff we have. We've had three garage sales in the two years we've lived at this house and yet....our garage is still half-filled with "inventory" and I will probably haul out another bag or two from the house sometime today.

Why, why, WHY do we have so much stuff? What possible use do we have for all of it?

I will tell you one thing, though -- this time it's priced to sell. I want it gone and that which does not get sold is going to the local women's shelter. They go through it and pick out the stuff they can use, then send the rest on to the Salvation Army. I am so over dealing with all of it. Next time we have a garage sale we will be starting from scratch. Unfortunately I suspect we will have nearly as much stuff as we do this time.

This is a story about the dumbest thing I ever did.

It's not dumb because of what happened as a result of my doing it. Actually, it all turned out just fine. But it's the potential -- of what could have happened; the fact that I could have ended up as nothing more than a picture and a story on the ten o'clock news -- it's that potential that makes this, hands-down, the stupidest decision I ever made.

The official Paul McCartney tour dates were announced today.

Naturally, the announcement comes one day after I spent most of the money in my Paypal account at the Galleria in Dallas. *sigh*

However, according to Ticketmaster, the Dallas show does not go on sale until the 30th. So we have almost two full weeks to scrabble together enough money for two tickets.

As thrilled as I am over this development, I am also exceedingly disappointed. Paul will NOT be coming back to Oklahoma City. No, he has decided, instead, that stops in Des Moines and Omaha are necessary. Let me repeat that. O. ma. ha.

Between that and "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" I have given up ever trying to figure out what goes on in that man's head.

Robert and I have been talking, though, and we have a plan. It is thus: I will only be buying tickets for the Dallas show immediately. Then, as the summer and, hopefully, our financial situation progress we will try to plan for me to see Paul in some other city. Possibilities include Vegas (very large pie in the sky -- that will only happen if things improve dramatically) or perhaps Milwaukee (never been to Wisconsin before) or who knows where else.

Now to begin the countdown to November....

Um...so Robert has decided that he needs to stay here and not go to Dallas with us? So I get to drive three hours by myself with both kids? To a hugemungous city where I always get lost on the highways?

Oh yeah...this is going to be a blast! Will update when and if I make it back....

On the morrow Robert, the kids and I will be heading to Dallas for an overnight trip.

The object of this trip, besides getting ourselves lost at least twice (what, don't you do that every time you go to Dallas?) is to meet up with some friends we haven't seen in a very long time.

We're off! I just hope a giraffe doesn't stick its tongue in my car. (Hey, I know how these things operate; I've watched "America's Funniest Home Videos" before.) (Wait, did I just admit that out loud?)

Boy, oh boy, it must be nice to not only be morally superior to 97% of the population but to also hold the position of Grand High Poobah of Reproach and Chastisement (Value Judgements Division). How does one get that position, anyway? It is appointed? Is there some kind of election I missed out on? And how are the health benefits?

And, snap, just like that, the information I got a few days ago has been rescinded. "They" (whoever "they" may be) are now claiming Paul will be somewhere totally different on those days, Houston and Dallas are still up in the air....and STILL no official announcement on the tour schedule or when we might expect tickets to be on sale.

*Sigh* If it was anyone else, Paul, I'd have thrown up my hands in disgust and sworn off seeing them, just on principle!

I just got word thirty minutes ago that my high school boyfriend died unexpectedly on Saturday.

I'm still trying to process the information. It's sort of sunk in but sort of not.

We did not spend any time together after we broke up but our paths did cross on occasion. He was still friends with a good friend of mine so I would ask after him and she'd give me updates. He was living in Vegas at the time I got married and came to the wedding.

The truth is, he was my first love, and I always would've gotten back together with him, right up till the time I met Robert and my life went in a new direction.

I'm devastated right now but what I feel doesn't even begin to measure up to what his family must be feeling. He left behind a little girl who is, I believe, around 3 years old.

If you are the praying type, please keep the family of Steve Miller in your prayers. Rest in peace, Steve. You were a wonderful person.

Zoot, who designed my blog skin for me, was right. The background she first had on it had a little more green in it. It was the exact color of the baby's outfit. But I had to butt in and ask her to change it to match the mother's outfit. Now I'm sitting here, looking at it, thinking she was right and I should've left her alone!

Well, if there's one thing this whole process has taught me, it's that I know nothing and I should just be quiet and let the professionals handle things.

The Incorrigible Night Owl in da' hood. I'm down wit dat, yo. (Warning: language content)

Last night I got word that the Dallas concert date for Paul McCartney is confirmed and that tickets go on sale on the 16th -- and then had a mini-breakdown when I realized that I really, truly am going to see Paul again. I'd have been okay with just getting the information but then "Maybe I'm Amazed" came up on the playlist I was listening to and I lost it, briefly.

What's better than a cinnamon crunch bagel from Panera Bread? That's right, nothing. It's a good thing we don't actually have a Panera here in town because my family would never see me again. My children would be standing outside the door, all forlorn and Dickensian-looking, clutching scarves over their heads as the wind whipped mercilessly around them, chorusing, "Mother, won't you please come home?" (complete with British accent). And I'd snap out of my smoked-turkey-sandwich-and-filled-coffee-cake haze long enough to tell them I loved them, but run along because mummy's life is here now.

Hmmm...now that I think of it, the title of this entry is probably going to bring in some p0rn search traffic. So, hi there! And buzz off! I'm talking about baked goods, you perverts.

Madalyn never, ever threw temper tantrums. When JZ was born and he was so completely opposite of her I figured I would have to pay it back in spades and it appears I am going to be correct. Today we were witness to what I would call an F4 tantrum. Gary England actually broke in on a nearby radio broadcast and advised us to take cover in a closet. There was flailing; there was screaming. And JZ didn't behave so well, either.

Behold, for mine eyes hath not seen such a lovely and wondrous sight in lo, these many months:

Yesiree bob, the new dishwasher arrived yesterday evening and the men were here to hook it up by 10 this morning. Ten minutes after they cleared out it was wooshing away on its first load because HELL NO I was not doing another batch of dishes by hand with a perfectly good dishwashing machine sitting right there. So far, I love it. It's purty and shiny and it's HUGE on the inside. Oh yeah, and quiet, too. Naturally it was the most expensive one there (save the stainless steel Bosch one that was like 800 bucks) but Robert pretty much knew ahead of time I'd pick the most expensive one so there was no shock there. In my defense, it's not like I did it on purpose. It's just that this one has an extra-tall tub inside and can fit more stuff. I am lazy and non-domestic so of course I'm picking the one that I can cram the most stuff into. That means less time between loadings/unloadings, dontcha' know. It was complete coincidence that it happened to be the pricier of the four we looked at. Eh, it's paid for and it's here and that's all that matters now.

And, in case you missed it the first time around, I will now reprint the story explaining why we didn't have a dishwasher in the first place. Click below to read on.....