I'm not dead.... I've just haven't felt like writing.

So, I finally have some time to myself. What's been going on since I last posted....

Schools has been out for the kids.

Hired a nanny..... Fired the nanny....

Made a playroom for the kids at the office...

Took a trip to Florida to visit the my grandparents....by myself!

The kids went on vacation to College Station....

Jocelyne had her 4th birthday....

Took up Helicopter Flying lessons......

Got kidney infection....

That's about it..... in a nutshell.... Too tired to write.

How do you deal with a sociopath?

Do you know anyone with these traits? If you do, run away......and don't look back.

Profile of the Sociopath
This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.



Glibness and Superficial Charm


Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.


Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."


Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.


Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.


Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.


Incapacity for Love


Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.


Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.


Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.


Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.


Irresponsibility/Unreliability
Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.


Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.


Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.


Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

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Other Related Qualities:

Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
Authoritarian
Secretive
Paranoid
Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
Conventional appearance
Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
Incapable of real human attachment to another
Unable to feel remorse or guilt
Extreme narcissism and grandiose
May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.)

Christmas Time

I can't even to begin to tell you how busy and crazy life has been. I think an extra bed at the office would suffice it enough. I do have to say, I actually like it at times. I starting to think that I actually enjoy being a business owner. I don't get bored at work, there is always something to do and the more I work the more efficient our business is. Plus, my ideas actually mean something. I actually get to come up with ideas and use them. Justin works along side me and so I'm getting plenty of time with him, and we get along well for being around each other pretty much 24/7. We did get an Xbox 360 to help with turning our brains off of work mode and we have set certain times to do our own things. I can't ask for anything more. I have come to the conclusion that I am officially a work a holic.

The only draw back is that I get into the "zone" a little too much and since I have two kids, I have not been able to spend as much time with them. But, I do feel better with the situation now then back this summer when school was out and I was over worked and working from home trying to take care of the kids at the same time. I was there and I couldn't even do anything with them. Now, the time we do get to spend with them is better since it's one on one time with them. I only have 2 kids and I don't know how people with more can spend quality time with alot kids if both parents work, let alone be able to afford them. I want to be able to give them the best head start in life I can give them. I hope that the decisions that Justin and I make for them are the right ones.

So, speaking of the kiddos.......

JJ has lost his two front teeth and the only thing that comes to my head is "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" He looks like a little vampire when he smiles. He has had to grow up a little faster than the kids around him since we put him in a year earlier and being in private school with a bunch of kids with parents that have more money than we do. He is a deep thinker. He loves the older cartoons that played when I was a kid and even ones that were around before I was born. He loves watching the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel and the Science Channel, and even the History Channel. He sits there and watches them with us. The only draw back is that when he tries to talk to the kids in his class about what he is interested in, they are not as interested in what he has to say. So for the past month, I have noticed him starting to watch these cartoons that I really don't like b/c they promote things such as:

Back stabbing
Disrespect for others
Lying to get what you want
Stealing
Wanting to be popular or to the extreme, "Wanting to be Famous"

I have noticed that since he started watching them, there has been a problem with him lying. I have a feeling that he is just wanting to fit in a school and since he is not sports inclined, it makes it harder for him. To help with this, we joined the YMCA so that he can get into groups with kids that have similar traits that he has. It looks like it is working. The only way that he can go is if he has done his homework, is getting good grades in school and is not lying to us about nonsense. We have seen his grades go up, and he is getting more focused family time. We try to do things that keep with his personality.

Jocelyne is doing well, she has always been vocal but she is finally to a point to where she can communicate much easier. She got her first hair cut about a month or so ago and 2 days after she got her hair cut, she decided that she needed to look "prettier". What did she do? She cut her bangs with a pair of scissors. At least she didn't cut them all so it still looks "ok". But how can you get mad at her reasoning? She has friends at school that she plays with on a regular basis and she also loves the YMCA. They even have a little gymnastics class for her age.

I am excited for Christmas this year. It has been about 10 years since I have had Christmas with my Grandparents and we are going Florida to visit them for Christmas from the 22nd through the 27th! I cannot wait. I can't think of anything better than a good road trip, being around my grandparents (which are awsome!)that spoil us with love and affection and being on a beach for Christmas.

So if I don't get on here before Christmas, I hope that everyone has a great Holiday Season and that everyone had a Great Thanksgiving.

Later

working late.....

What seems to be the norm around here....I'm working late, again. It's good but it's starting to wear on me. This is one of the reasons that I haven't written in quite a while. I feel so horrible because the kids haven't been getting much attention but if I don't do the work, it will not get done. I just hope that sooner than later, things will calm down and get a little back to normal so that that I can have somewhat of a life again. So far I:

6:00 - Alarm goes off, hit snooze a few times and finally get up.
7:45 - 8:00 get the kids out of the house and off to school.
8:30 - Work starts
Eat lunch between phone calls
5:45 Leave to pick up the kids from school, and hopefully not have to take them back to work. If so, I don't get off work until 8:00 at night.
Hopefully eat something not fast food sometime between 6:00 and 9:00
6:45 - 8:20 get home
9:00 - Put the kids to bed
10:00 and 11:00 - Go to bed

Repeat

I think my stomach is turning against me. I'm really starting to want a full week of just home cooked meals. Everyting is starting to be a blurr...I'm so glad that I have extra help from my parents on the days that I can't get to pick up the kids on time. Thanks mom and dad.

Other than that, my birthday is on Monday. I'll be 29. I'm actually excited. Maybe then someone will take me seriously.

Till then........

Heros

Did anyone watch the new season of Heros last night. I was not that impressed with it. It was ok, but I think that they left too many holes in it.


I'm too lazy to post more pictures, not only that I don't have time so, here is a picture from the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Pictures from Hurrican Ike and Astros Game

It took me about 2 hours to post this and when I went and posted it, (I should have copied it just in case) only posted half and so I will post pictures later when I feel like doing it again. So, still, no pictures.

Wow

Ike has come and gone, and all I have to say is that it was awsome! What an adrenaline rush. We did fine, we had some roof shingles taken off, fences fall, a tree fall on our roof and broken branches everywhere but other than that, we came out alright compared to some of our neighbors. Justin and Josh sat out on the porch through the hole thing, even when the eye wall came around. I sat out there with them for alot a decent amount of it and watching the trees breaking and the sound of the wind was just definatly an experience in its self.

JJ slept through most of it. Jocelyne was a little scared of it but as long as she fell asleep with me, she was fine. She like watching the trees twist and turn and the wind. Everytime a big gust of it came along she would look at us and say "cool" with her big eyes as wide as they could get.

One of our friends got a roof leek, another one had a huge tree total his truck by landing on it and the neighbor across the street has a hole in her ceiling. There are more stories but I'll try to take some pictures of it to post so you can see what I'm talking about.