Well, alas the party was a bit of a disappointment. Not that you'd be able to tell from the amount of time we spent there, but it was a bit of a drag. IWe sat around for a while, ate some good food (there was that) and then were split into two groups. The kids went in and we stayed out. That was about it.
We just came home and hung out, but I took Brian to a local fair so he could meet up with some boys and have a little fun after being subjected to the orientation. He had a good time, and today we're heading down to the beach for the second-to-last day. Unfortunately, the beach has lost some of its appeal for me as I am fighting this cursed melasma. Every time I feel the warmth of the summer sun I imagine my brown 'beard' darkening instantly. I have to slather on sunblock, wear a hat, and sit under the umbrella, and even that only helps a little. But for today and tomorrow, I'll take it. We go down late these days, and then stay later into the evening. The beach is so nice later in the day anyway.
In other news, Molly is chewing at her foot again and this time I noticed an ugly gray growth. Which may mean more vet bills. I hope it isn't like the one that cost me $600 to have removed a few years ago. That was horrible. She hated it. So did I. Not much else going on this weekend. Just getting ready for the big day on Thursday and then a week from today we are having a barbecue for the end of summer.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Saturday
In half an hour we will leave for the exchange student orientation at the home of the local rep, so this should be interesting. E is excited to meet the other students and I am curious to see what the other families are like. One is a single man, and the other is a couple without children of their own. Their student is only here for a half-year, so there will only be two students remaining after the end of January.
My ear is healing slowly, at least it isn't itching as much, and I am continuing to worry about the spot on my face. I hope to get a good report, as the dermatologist predicted, but I happened to notice a spot of brown in the middle of the excavation site. I checked my invoice, and it reads "shave exc" which I guess means shave excision, so he just scooped it out. I'm not sure if he left some because he wasn't concerned about it being anything, or if he left part of one thing and removed all of the other, because he did say they were a couple of different things in one place. But as usual, I will panic myself until I hear from him.
I suppose it's good that I didn't hear yesterday, but if he wasn't concerned, he may not have put a rush on it. And if I hear good news, ::knock wood:: I can find something else to worry about.
Yesterday Megan and E went to Six Flags with an old friend and classmate of Megan's. They had a good time, but they didn't get to go on a few of the coasters because they were either closed or had ridiculously long lines. Maybe they can go back for FrightFest at some point. I'm sure E will start to make her own friends and schedule some of her own activities once school starts anyway.
Brian is also getting anxious for school to start. He is running out of things to do this summer and hasn't really been being terribly social lately. I just hope that he can focus better on the schoolwork this year; if he doesn't, I intend to get a complete evaluation done, so I can have some professional guidance as to which areas might need special attention. He'll be doing swim team this year, and also playing baseball, and that coach schedules and changes practices as if nobody else has any other obligations. It can be really difficult. I'm a little concerned about overscheduling Brian, but we've tried the other route already, scheduling almost nothing, and that was not successful.
Brian's group at church also enters the first of the two-year progam that turned me off when Megan participated. Add to that that they are restructing the classes and have made a good friend of mine one of the leaders of Brian's group, which admittedly I find a little awkward.
What I didn't like with Megan was the focus on fundraising for the 'pilgrimage' to England, which just comes at such busy times, and I didn't send Megan, so I may also not send Brian. This tends to be an unpopular decision, and his group has been better structured and run throughout the years, so it promises to put me in an uncomfortable position for sure. I have to determine if participating in the group brings a benefit to him of some sort; otherwise I would stop sending him to the classes, and just take him to church and let him keep doing his volunteer jobs. Then next year, he'll have to take part in the grueling confirmation class, which is separate, but together with that same group.
In other news, Kevin has been back to work for one full week now. He is already talking about trips to Orlando, Norway, Finland, and who knows where else. We're trying to figure out how we are going to work the Christmas holidays with visitors from out of town and Megan's presumed training trip, which hasn't been announced yet. In fact, they still haven't even posted the schedule of winter meets, which makes it difficult to plan anything for the rest of the year.
My ear is healing slowly, at least it isn't itching as much, and I am continuing to worry about the spot on my face. I hope to get a good report, as the dermatologist predicted, but I happened to notice a spot of brown in the middle of the excavation site. I checked my invoice, and it reads "shave exc" which I guess means shave excision, so he just scooped it out. I'm not sure if he left some because he wasn't concerned about it being anything, or if he left part of one thing and removed all of the other, because he did say they were a couple of different things in one place. But as usual, I will panic myself until I hear from him.
I suppose it's good that I didn't hear yesterday, but if he wasn't concerned, he may not have put a rush on it. And if I hear good news, ::knock wood:: I can find something else to worry about.
Yesterday Megan and E went to Six Flags with an old friend and classmate of Megan's. They had a good time, but they didn't get to go on a few of the coasters because they were either closed or had ridiculously long lines. Maybe they can go back for FrightFest at some point. I'm sure E will start to make her own friends and schedule some of her own activities once school starts anyway.
Brian is also getting anxious for school to start. He is running out of things to do this summer and hasn't really been being terribly social lately. I just hope that he can focus better on the schoolwork this year; if he doesn't, I intend to get a complete evaluation done, so I can have some professional guidance as to which areas might need special attention. He'll be doing swim team this year, and also playing baseball, and that coach schedules and changes practices as if nobody else has any other obligations. It can be really difficult. I'm a little concerned about overscheduling Brian, but we've tried the other route already, scheduling almost nothing, and that was not successful.
Brian's group at church also enters the first of the two-year progam that turned me off when Megan participated. Add to that that they are restructing the classes and have made a good friend of mine one of the leaders of Brian's group, which admittedly I find a little awkward.
What I didn't like with Megan was the focus on fundraising for the 'pilgrimage' to England, which just comes at such busy times, and I didn't send Megan, so I may also not send Brian. This tends to be an unpopular decision, and his group has been better structured and run throughout the years, so it promises to put me in an uncomfortable position for sure. I have to determine if participating in the group brings a benefit to him of some sort; otherwise I would stop sending him to the classes, and just take him to church and let him keep doing his volunteer jobs. Then next year, he'll have to take part in the grueling confirmation class, which is separate, but together with that same group.
In other news, Kevin has been back to work for one full week now. He is already talking about trips to Orlando, Norway, Finland, and who knows where else. We're trying to figure out how we are going to work the Christmas holidays with visitors from out of town and Megan's presumed training trip, which hasn't been announced yet. In fact, they still haven't even posted the schedule of winter meets, which makes it difficult to plan anything for the rest of the year.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Labor Day
So the end of summer is upon us. It's been a long summer this year, even though it seems like the end shouldn't be here just yet. I guess with the early trip to Cape May, then summer Nationals, and the Fresh Air visit, plus the anticipation of E just all came together to make the weeks seem to be longer.
E's first week has gone well, despite an unfortunate brief membership she enjoyed (or didn't enjoy) on the school soccer team. It turned out not to be what she had had in mind, so she decided she will find her friends elsewhere. I emailed the JV coach and he never got back to me, so I hope that he did get my email.
Otherwise, they've been to the beach a couple of times, out to dinner for Brian's birthday, to the mall, shopping in Red Bank, and finally, yesterday, we got her a cell phone, so she is all ready for friends.
Someone at work gave Kevin tickets to the Giants/Patriots preseason game tonight, in a skybox, there are just four tickets, so I am voluntarily sitting this one out. I will make that huge sacrifice. Anyway, I have just come from the dermatologist, who has removed my troublesome brown spot, which he pronouced to be a 'collision tumor' of, he thinks, two benign entities. I'll know for sure next week.
He also drained the cyst I grew behind my ear, *^#! thing that it is, and said he thought he would have gotten more out, it is still inflamed. He injected it with cortisone and told me that hopefully that will help within a couple of days and if not, I can talk about seeing a surgeon to have the whole cyst taken out. Grr. I had hoped he would take it out today, but I guess I'll see what it does next. It's all done with a local anesthetic anyway, maybe if it doesn't get better I will just go to Kevin's dermatologist, who happens to also be a dermatologic surgeon. Now it's killing me. But at least he assured me neither of these things are likely to be troublesome.
The kids had their doctors appointments on Tuesday, and they both did well. Megan got the meningitis vaccine, despite my anxieties over possible side effects. The risk of getting meningitis is greater than the risk of having the side effects, and the risk of dying from meningitis is also greater. So I went with the statistics. I also worried all winter when I watched her in those mega-crowded swimming pools during warm-ups at the big meets. It always amazes newcomers to the sport to see the sheer numbers of kids who turn out for these events. But the warm-up pool is surely a cesspool of festering germs.
I didn't get this vaccine for Brian yet,though. I want to be extra sure it's safe for him to have that particular one, in light of his aseptic meningitis and all that fun stuff.
In other news, this weekend we will attend our exchange student orientation on Saturday, and then say goodbye to the beach club on Sunday and/or Monday. Of course, in my facial state of distress (removed defects) I will be trying my best to stay out of the sun. Oh, I almost forgot. I also have melasma and rosacea. After we had gone over the "bad" concerns that I had - the brown spot and the ear cyst - I said to him, "and my face is a mess." To which he replied, "I see that." :-O
E's first week has gone well, despite an unfortunate brief membership she enjoyed (or didn't enjoy) on the school soccer team. It turned out not to be what she had had in mind, so she decided she will find her friends elsewhere. I emailed the JV coach and he never got back to me, so I hope that he did get my email.
Otherwise, they've been to the beach a couple of times, out to dinner for Brian's birthday, to the mall, shopping in Red Bank, and finally, yesterday, we got her a cell phone, so she is all ready for friends.
Someone at work gave Kevin tickets to the Giants/Patriots preseason game tonight, in a skybox, there are just four tickets, so I am voluntarily sitting this one out. I will make that huge sacrifice. Anyway, I have just come from the dermatologist, who has removed my troublesome brown spot, which he pronouced to be a 'collision tumor' of, he thinks, two benign entities. I'll know for sure next week.
He also drained the cyst I grew behind my ear, *^#! thing that it is, and said he thought he would have gotten more out, it is still inflamed. He injected it with cortisone and told me that hopefully that will help within a couple of days and if not, I can talk about seeing a surgeon to have the whole cyst taken out. Grr. I had hoped he would take it out today, but I guess I'll see what it does next. It's all done with a local anesthetic anyway, maybe if it doesn't get better I will just go to Kevin's dermatologist, who happens to also be a dermatologic surgeon. Now it's killing me. But at least he assured me neither of these things are likely to be troublesome.
The kids had their doctors appointments on Tuesday, and they both did well. Megan got the meningitis vaccine, despite my anxieties over possible side effects. The risk of getting meningitis is greater than the risk of having the side effects, and the risk of dying from meningitis is also greater. So I went with the statistics. I also worried all winter when I watched her in those mega-crowded swimming pools during warm-ups at the big meets. It always amazes newcomers to the sport to see the sheer numbers of kids who turn out for these events. But the warm-up pool is surely a cesspool of festering germs.
I didn't get this vaccine for Brian yet,though. I want to be extra sure it's safe for him to have that particular one, in light of his aseptic meningitis and all that fun stuff.
In other news, this weekend we will attend our exchange student orientation on Saturday, and then say goodbye to the beach club on Sunday and/or Monday. Of course, in my facial state of distress (removed defects) I will be trying my best to stay out of the sun. Oh, I almost forgot. I also have melasma and rosacea. After we had gone over the "bad" concerns that I had - the brown spot and the ear cyst - I said to him, "and my face is a mess." To which he replied, "I see that." :-O
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Yawn!
Well, I am exhausted ... I don't know how E is keeping her eyes open!
Her plane ended up landing at 5:19, just 2 1/2 hours late. Megan and I went to the airport and Kevin and Brian went to stake out a spot at the concert, and good thing they did, because it ended up selling out and it was packed!
E cleared customs in record time, she was out in just about 40 minutes, and we rushed to the car and then I got lost. It worked out well though, I ended up on Route 1/9 and I bet I avoided some rush hour traffic on the Turnpike, because we hit it on the Parkway when I finally found it. Then we came to a grinding halt in concert traffic, and we would probaby still be in it, if not for the advice of a friend, who said bypass it, turn around, and get into PNC from the other direction. I wish that advice had come 30 minutes sooner!
Anyway, I parked the car in a ditch and we had a bit of a hike to the complex, but it wasn't too bad. We totally missed Cheap Trick because of the traffic, but we caught the end of the Heart, and they were pretty good. Just ask the 80,000 lesbians who came out of the woodwork to watch them! Journey was pretty good, but Heart may have been the best. I was just glad we got out of the parking lot with hardly any trouble. My ditch was located right next to the entrance to the parkway south.
In other news, tomorrow is our appointment with the guidance counselor, at 10am. I must get to bed now! Just wanted to throw out a quick update in case anyone was wondering.
Her plane ended up landing at 5:19, just 2 1/2 hours late. Megan and I went to the airport and Kevin and Brian went to stake out a spot at the concert, and good thing they did, because it ended up selling out and it was packed!
E cleared customs in record time, she was out in just about 40 minutes, and we rushed to the car and then I got lost. It worked out well though, I ended up on Route 1/9 and I bet I avoided some rush hour traffic on the Turnpike, because we hit it on the Parkway when I finally found it. Then we came to a grinding halt in concert traffic, and we would probaby still be in it, if not for the advice of a friend, who said bypass it, turn around, and get into PNC from the other direction. I wish that advice had come 30 minutes sooner!
Anyway, I parked the car in a ditch and we had a bit of a hike to the complex, but it wasn't too bad. We totally missed Cheap Trick because of the traffic, but we caught the end of the Heart, and they were pretty good. Just ask the 80,000 lesbians who came out of the woodwork to watch them! Journey was pretty good, but Heart may have been the best. I was just glad we got out of the parking lot with hardly any trouble. My ditch was located right next to the entrance to the parkway south.
In other news, tomorrow is our appointment with the guidance counselor, at 10am. I must get to bed now! Just wanted to throw out a quick update in case anyone was wondering.
Update. Blah.
The plane finally took off. Depending on who you believe, it will land anywhere between 5:28 and 5:46; but since it hasn't entered US airspace, it's not showing up on any of the flight tracking software.
Figures this flight would have the worst delay of the week on this day. Now we're trying to figure out what to do about the concert, Kevin is suggesting he'll go and the kids and I will welcome E. He probably just doesn't want to carry her two giant suitcases.
I don't mind being a little late to the concert, I'm just concerned about whether or not we'll have good seats. Hopefully Journey is so "old school" that the field will be pretty clear, as most of their fans probably can't get up from a blanket, and therefore have made sure they bought actual seats in the amphitheater.
So we'll just keep checking as the day goes on. Poor E must be agitated on the plane. But as I always say, any flight that lands was a good one.
Figures this flight would have the worst delay of the week on this day. Now we're trying to figure out what to do about the concert, Kevin is suggesting he'll go and the kids and I will welcome E. He probably just doesn't want to carry her two giant suitcases.
I don't mind being a little late to the concert, I'm just concerned about whether or not we'll have good seats. Hopefully Journey is so "old school" that the field will be pretty clear, as most of their fans probably can't get up from a blanket, and therefore have made sure they bought actual seats in the amphitheater.
So we'll just keep checking as the day goes on. Poor E must be agitated on the plane. But as I always say, any flight that lands was a good one.
And She's ... Delayed
So far, the plane has not taken off. This is the worst day so far! Even the day that the plane was late, it took off an hour and a half late. Even yesterday it did that and was still relatively on time. I can't imagine why, the plane was on time to Denmark last night, maybe a little delayed, but that seems to have been its way. But this morning, I woke up and checked, at 7:30 our time, so 1:30pm their time. According to the SAS website, the plane is not going to take off for two more hours!!!
So, such is my punishment for risking the concert tickets. Another flight tracking site says it will take off at 2:15, which is in half an hour. So I'll go out and water the shrubs and just hope that by the time I get back in, she will at least be airborne. I guess technically we really only need to get to the concert by 7, I don't think they close the gates if you're late, but ... grr!! Now I have to see if we send someone to the concert, like Kevin and Brian, to hold us a pretty good spot on the lawn, or if we just take the chance and all of us show up late. I guess we'll wait to see what the actual arrival time will be. As of now, SAS estimates 3:44.
Kevin is checking the airport information, and the other flight that leaves at the same time (for DC) left on time. So, what is the problem? I'd be a wreck being on that flight, in light of the recent airliner news out of Spain. The plane that was involved in that crash was actually owned by SAS, according to Kevin.
I hope E is not totally exhausted and unable to make it to the concert! We'd have to give the tickets away in the parking lot. :-O
Anyway, in other news, I still have not totally cleaned the house, but as I expected I would do, I convinced myself that it's best to get it presentable, but not spotless, so she knows what she's in for right from the start. I also need to make some phone calls, to try to line up some housecleaners for the school year. I can't let it go as I like to do, if I have someone else living in the house! I spent yesterday taking Megan to a store that someone had given her a gift card to, and she roamed around for 45 minutes, unable to find anything, all the while texting people who were sending her their schedules for school. We had to rush home after that so she could see hers. She was happy with it, or as happy as one can be when one has geometry, pre-calc and chemistry every day. Afterwards I went to the doctor because I messed with a small bump behind my ear and it grew to three times its size. I self-diagnosed it as a sebaceous cyst that needed antibiotics and the doctor took one look at it, and gave me some. On the drive home, I got a migraine in the car wash.
Stay tuned for updates.
So, such is my punishment for risking the concert tickets. Another flight tracking site says it will take off at 2:15, which is in half an hour. So I'll go out and water the shrubs and just hope that by the time I get back in, she will at least be airborne. I guess technically we really only need to get to the concert by 7, I don't think they close the gates if you're late, but ... grr!! Now I have to see if we send someone to the concert, like Kevin and Brian, to hold us a pretty good spot on the lawn, or if we just take the chance and all of us show up late. I guess we'll wait to see what the actual arrival time will be. As of now, SAS estimates 3:44.
Kevin is checking the airport information, and the other flight that leaves at the same time (for DC) left on time. So, what is the problem? I'd be a wreck being on that flight, in light of the recent airliner news out of Spain. The plane that was involved in that crash was actually owned by SAS, according to Kevin.
I hope E is not totally exhausted and unable to make it to the concert! We'd have to give the tickets away in the parking lot. :-O
Anyway, in other news, I still have not totally cleaned the house, but as I expected I would do, I convinced myself that it's best to get it presentable, but not spotless, so she knows what she's in for right from the start. I also need to make some phone calls, to try to line up some housecleaners for the school year. I can't let it go as I like to do, if I have someone else living in the house! I spent yesterday taking Megan to a store that someone had given her a gift card to, and she roamed around for 45 minutes, unable to find anything, all the while texting people who were sending her their schedules for school. We had to rush home after that so she could see hers. She was happy with it, or as happy as one can be when one has geometry, pre-calc and chemistry every day. Afterwards I went to the doctor because I messed with a small bump behind my ear and it grew to three times its size. I self-diagnosed it as a sebaceous cyst that needed antibiotics and the doctor took one look at it, and gave me some. On the drive home, I got a migraine in the car wash.
Stay tuned for updates.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
E Minus 1
So it is our last day with just the four of us. Megan has some summer reading to finish up, and also a chemistry packet (they have a test on the third day of school, they had to teach all of this to themselves over the summer), and Brian has baseball tonight at 6. I've been following the SAS flight that goes back and forth to Copenhagen, and it was on time on Monday, but over an hour delayed yesterday. This morning, it was an hour and a half late landing in Denmark, but was still scheduled to take off on time, in fact to land three minutes ahead of schedule this afternoon in Newark. Not sure how, as it seems to have taken off 40 minutes late. Tailwinds? But we will keep watching.
We survived Megan's gala last night, the kids had a good time. A police car even drove by at one point, and didn't take anyone into custody, as far as I know. There wasn't even much of a mess to clean up, just some cups out by the pool and a bunch of leftover junk food.
We ended up getting Megan an LCD flat panel TV for her room. Then I was able to move her old one into E's room. A problem has arisen, of course. First, the LCD TVs are best when they get their signals through cable boxes. We have this one directly linked to the cable. Second, we thought her old TV had an inferior picture, but in the other room, it does not. However, the brand new LCD does! So obviously it's a problem with the cable in her room. But we'll work that out. It's a nice TV.
So the plans for today are up in the air. We are still considering a visit to the Old Folks Home in Philadelphia, but that's looking less and less likely as time goes by. Megan wanted to go, to be trapped in the car for 3-4 hours, so she might finish up that reading. She isn't enjoying The Devil in the White City very much. Reading comprehension is not her strength, and this one is very full of detail, apparently. They were all complaining about it yesterday.
In other news, the two main floors of the house, and the main bathroom, are now respectable. That just leaves the three other bedrooms (E's is fine, the door is closed to protect it from roaming cats), the hallway and the master bath. That won't take long. We plan to leave for the airport tomorrow at 1, unless the flight ends up being severely delayed. Which it had better not!
We survived Megan's gala last night, the kids had a good time. A police car even drove by at one point, and didn't take anyone into custody, as far as I know. There wasn't even much of a mess to clean up, just some cups out by the pool and a bunch of leftover junk food.
We ended up getting Megan an LCD flat panel TV for her room. Then I was able to move her old one into E's room. A problem has arisen, of course. First, the LCD TVs are best when they get their signals through cable boxes. We have this one directly linked to the cable. Second, we thought her old TV had an inferior picture, but in the other room, it does not. However, the brand new LCD does! So obviously it's a problem with the cable in her room. But we'll work that out. It's a nice TV.
So the plans for today are up in the air. We are still considering a visit to the Old Folks Home in Philadelphia, but that's looking less and less likely as time goes by. Megan wanted to go, to be trapped in the car for 3-4 hours, so she might finish up that reading. She isn't enjoying The Devil in the White City very much. Reading comprehension is not her strength, and this one is very full of detail, apparently. They were all complaining about it yesterday.
In other news, the two main floors of the house, and the main bathroom, are now respectable. That just leaves the three other bedrooms (E's is fine, the door is closed to protect it from roaming cats), the hallway and the master bath. That won't take long. We plan to leave for the airport tomorrow at 1, unless the flight ends up being severely delayed. Which it had better not!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
15 Candles
Well, this is it. I am officially over the hill. The Doll took Megan out shopping for her birthday, not lunch since she still feels toothless, and I happen to notice the card. It said, "Happy 15th." And I thought, "No! That just can't be."
But it is. Fifteen years ago this moment, I was in the labor and delivery 'recovery' area at Winthrop University Hospital, being fed pound cake by a woman who had tortured me for hours leading up to that moment. Her name was 'Fitzy'.
And so Megan is 15. I have no card for her, and no present! We don't know what to get her, although we have tossed around a few ideas. Luckily, part of being 15 is sleeping until 2:00 in the afternoon, so I have time to sneak out and get something, at least a card. Plus she is having a few friends over later on to swim and have pizza. Which is why this was the only day with 'isolated thunderstorms' in it for the week.
Today also marks our second-to-last day as a family of four. I can't help but think how strange it must be for E, to be at home in Denmark thinking, "today is my second to last day living here, until next summer!" She is getting excited. I'll be happy when we have her schedule set on Friday, then I will feel like all of her ducks are finally in a row.
The sports physical form totally confused her, and of course, I can't begin to tell her about the ridiculous visit we had to the school. I decided to stop by to pick up the packet that I would need to register her. While there, we encountered much idiocy. First, we met the secretary, who tries to be helpful, but really doesn't check with the right people before telling us what we have to do. So I was told I have to have ANOTHER form notarized, to state that E is not our legal child, but that she is living with us, we take responsibility, and to prove our residency in the township. Note here that I also will require two proofs of residency AFTER I have this notarized, which, in order to do, I must present a notary with two proofs of residency. Also remember that I have two children in the district, and I have already submitted piles of paperwork and notarized documents in order to obtain board approval in the first place.
In this district, every endeavor is a clear case of the right hand not knowing what the left is doing. Only it is actually more like the pinky finger doesn't know what the ring finger is doing.
But then they told us that there was a notary in the main office, and she could probably do it on the spot. Excellent. I'll fill in another form, if it means I don't have to drive to the bank and wait for a notary to finish filing her nails. But the woman said no, she didn't want to do it. She said we should go to the bank, where the people actually know who we are and where we live. Huh? What? What bank does she think we go to? Mickey's Main Street Savings and Loan, where everybody knows your name? But off to the bank we did go, and coincidentally, I did know the notary, but that had nothing to do with her working at the bank, our kids are in school together.
And now we're ready. We also found out that E's guidance counselor is NOT the swim coach, but a nice older man who knows his stuff, but has a hearing problem. Like when his phone rang, he looked around and said, "is that mine? oh! it is!" But he also offered to come in just to meet with us at 10am Friday. Which was nice.
The guidance counselor also told us that the schedules are being mailed out tomorrow, which was of interest to Megan, but he answered a few questions and read us her brutal schedule, which starts with honors geometry and ends with honors chemistry, with the teacher she had hoped not to get (but expected to, he teaches all but possibly one section of the chemistry honors classes). She was also disappointed because she had hoped to have the old swim coach for History, and she got someone else. We also met her new guidance counselor (the old one retired) and he seemed very nice.
In other news, I did not accomplish much around the house yesterday. I really need an incentive, and having a house full of kids tonight will provide that. I'll focus on the downstairs today while Kevin puts the bathroom back together, and then tonight, to keep me busy, I'll straighten up the upstairs. Megan actually has a lot of summer reading and work to finish up, and I suggested she might want to do this before E gets here - although E will have summer work of her own, I don't think they exempt her because she 'just found out' . Megan wants to go to the beach, since it's her birthday, but I told her that once you're 15, it's the hard-knock life for you.
But it is. Fifteen years ago this moment, I was in the labor and delivery 'recovery' area at Winthrop University Hospital, being fed pound cake by a woman who had tortured me for hours leading up to that moment. Her name was 'Fitzy'.
And so Megan is 15. I have no card for her, and no present! We don't know what to get her, although we have tossed around a few ideas. Luckily, part of being 15 is sleeping until 2:00 in the afternoon, so I have time to sneak out and get something, at least a card. Plus she is having a few friends over later on to swim and have pizza. Which is why this was the only day with 'isolated thunderstorms' in it for the week.
Today also marks our second-to-last day as a family of four. I can't help but think how strange it must be for E, to be at home in Denmark thinking, "today is my second to last day living here, until next summer!" She is getting excited. I'll be happy when we have her schedule set on Friday, then I will feel like all of her ducks are finally in a row.
The sports physical form totally confused her, and of course, I can't begin to tell her about the ridiculous visit we had to the school. I decided to stop by to pick up the packet that I would need to register her. While there, we encountered much idiocy. First, we met the secretary, who tries to be helpful, but really doesn't check with the right people before telling us what we have to do. So I was told I have to have ANOTHER form notarized, to state that E is not our legal child, but that she is living with us, we take responsibility, and to prove our residency in the township. Note here that I also will require two proofs of residency AFTER I have this notarized, which, in order to do, I must present a notary with two proofs of residency. Also remember that I have two children in the district, and I have already submitted piles of paperwork and notarized documents in order to obtain board approval in the first place.
In this district, every endeavor is a clear case of the right hand not knowing what the left is doing. Only it is actually more like the pinky finger doesn't know what the ring finger is doing.
But then they told us that there was a notary in the main office, and she could probably do it on the spot. Excellent. I'll fill in another form, if it means I don't have to drive to the bank and wait for a notary to finish filing her nails. But the woman said no, she didn't want to do it. She said we should go to the bank, where the people actually know who we are and where we live. Huh? What? What bank does she think we go to? Mickey's Main Street Savings and Loan, where everybody knows your name? But off to the bank we did go, and coincidentally, I did know the notary, but that had nothing to do with her working at the bank, our kids are in school together.
And now we're ready. We also found out that E's guidance counselor is NOT the swim coach, but a nice older man who knows his stuff, but has a hearing problem. Like when his phone rang, he looked around and said, "is that mine? oh! it is!" But he also offered to come in just to meet with us at 10am Friday. Which was nice.
The guidance counselor also told us that the schedules are being mailed out tomorrow, which was of interest to Megan, but he answered a few questions and read us her brutal schedule, which starts with honors geometry and ends with honors chemistry, with the teacher she had hoped not to get (but expected to, he teaches all but possibly one section of the chemistry honors classes). She was also disappointed because she had hoped to have the old swim coach for History, and she got someone else. We also met her new guidance counselor (the old one retired) and he seemed very nice.
In other news, I did not accomplish much around the house yesterday. I really need an incentive, and having a house full of kids tonight will provide that. I'll focus on the downstairs today while Kevin puts the bathroom back together, and then tonight, to keep me busy, I'll straighten up the upstairs. Megan actually has a lot of summer reading and work to finish up, and I suggested she might want to do this before E gets here - although E will have summer work of her own, I don't think they exempt her because she 'just found out' . Megan wants to go to the beach, since it's her birthday, but I told her that once you're 15, it's the hard-knock life for you.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Still Standing
Congratulations to our mailbox on making it through two whole days without being knocked over or torn out of the ground.
These last couple of days haven't been very exciting, sort of the calm before the storm, I guess we will say. We're still working on getting the house in order for the arrival of our temporary new family member, and this involves lots of cleaning! Megan went to see the Jonas Brothers on Saturday night, and then yesterday we all went to the beach. Megan ended up staying really late and getting a ride home, and Brian slept over at the house of a boy he met over the summer, and I was trying to get in touch with him and wasn't able to until after 11! He is still not home, but I think Kevin is picking him up soon.
Today I plan to straighten the house, as tomorrow is Megan's birthday, and then obviously there is the big arrival on Thursday. And I did get in touch with the school, they never returned my call, so I called back and got the secretary. She thanked me for calling back and made an appointment with us for the 26th to meet with the guidance counselor, who happens to be the swim team coach. Megan is extremely jealous. She has wanted to switch to this woman since swim season of last year.
I suppose the Doll continues to improve with her teeth, she did leave a message here wondering when she might be able to get together with Megan, but the problem was that there really is NOT going to be much time, now that E will be coming. This week is not too busy, but we only have the three more days as a family of four! So it will surely go quickly.
In other news, I just realized that I wanted to send E a link to the sports physical form for the school. I am afraid that nobody has told her that she may have to have a physical here, and she may have to pay for it herself, but she did say that she was going to the doctor this week, so maybe they will accept it from a Danish doctor. I don't know why they wouldn't.
These last couple of days haven't been very exciting, sort of the calm before the storm, I guess we will say. We're still working on getting the house in order for the arrival of our temporary new family member, and this involves lots of cleaning! Megan went to see the Jonas Brothers on Saturday night, and then yesterday we all went to the beach. Megan ended up staying really late and getting a ride home, and Brian slept over at the house of a boy he met over the summer, and I was trying to get in touch with him and wasn't able to until after 11! He is still not home, but I think Kevin is picking him up soon.
Today I plan to straighten the house, as tomorrow is Megan's birthday, and then obviously there is the big arrival on Thursday. And I did get in touch with the school, they never returned my call, so I called back and got the secretary. She thanked me for calling back and made an appointment with us for the 26th to meet with the guidance counselor, who happens to be the swim team coach. Megan is extremely jealous. She has wanted to switch to this woman since swim season of last year.
I suppose the Doll continues to improve with her teeth, she did leave a message here wondering when she might be able to get together with Megan, but the problem was that there really is NOT going to be much time, now that E will be coming. This week is not too busy, but we only have the three more days as a family of four! So it will surely go quickly.
In other news, I just realized that I wanted to send E a link to the sports physical form for the school. I am afraid that nobody has told her that she may have to have a physical here, and she may have to pay for it herself, but she did say that she was going to the doctor this week, so maybe they will accept it from a Danish doctor. I don't know why they wouldn't.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Vandals!!! Or, A Bad Week to be a Mailbox
So I was up way past my bedtime last night. And this morning, when we woke up, we found that there was a vandalism spree in our neighborhood!! One sort of expects this living in a more urban setting, and prepares to protect against it. But sometimes there is nothing worse than drunken spoiled suburban kids with too much time on their hands.
Our mailbox was ripped out of the ground and tossed onto the lawn. Some of the flowers were also destroyed around it. I had a small lighted sign with our house number on it, and that was gone, possibly up the road on a neighbor's lawn. Kevin just took a quick ride around the block to see what else had gone on, and if he could retrieve it. The mailbox next door had some pretty flowers climbing all over it, they've been growing all summer, and they were torn to shreds and tossed aside as well.
Kevin is just back and says that it was a major mailbox vandalism spree. There is one kid who I and another neighbor squealed on for speeding and passing in a no-passing zone on a 40mph road, and sure enough, his mailbox is fine. But you wouldn't think he'd strike so close to his own home, and he really didn't target anyone specifically.
The most infuriating thing is not knowing who did it, and knowing that there's always a good chance that it was kids who we know. It's difficult to say, since we have only been here two years and don't know a lot of the families in the development. Oh, the joys of Burbtopia.
In other news, Megan's fair was indeed rained out, but they went back to a friend's house and watched Michael Phelps steal the gold in the 100 fly. Thank goodness that race was only 2 laps, I don't think I could have stood it for any longer. Today, Megan and I are getting out hair cut (finally) and then she is going to the Jonas Brothers concert This will be my first time back to the guy who butchered my bangs months and months ago. I had them corrected by someone else, but unfortunately, this guy seems to be the only one who can give me a really good haircut, and the same with Megan.
Our mailbox was ripped out of the ground and tossed onto the lawn. Some of the flowers were also destroyed around it. I had a small lighted sign with our house number on it, and that was gone, possibly up the road on a neighbor's lawn. Kevin just took a quick ride around the block to see what else had gone on, and if he could retrieve it. The mailbox next door had some pretty flowers climbing all over it, they've been growing all summer, and they were torn to shreds and tossed aside as well.
Kevin is just back and says that it was a major mailbox vandalism spree. There is one kid who I and another neighbor squealed on for speeding and passing in a no-passing zone on a 40mph road, and sure enough, his mailbox is fine. But you wouldn't think he'd strike so close to his own home, and he really didn't target anyone specifically.
The most infuriating thing is not knowing who did it, and knowing that there's always a good chance that it was kids who we know. It's difficult to say, since we have only been here two years and don't know a lot of the families in the development. Oh, the joys of Burbtopia.
In other news, Megan's fair was indeed rained out, but they went back to a friend's house and watched Michael Phelps steal the gold in the 100 fly. Thank goodness that race was only 2 laps, I don't think I could have stood it for any longer. Today, Megan and I are getting out hair cut (finally) and then she is going to the Jonas Brothers concert This will be my first time back to the guy who butchered my bangs months and months ago. I had them corrected by someone else, but unfortunately, this guy seems to be the only one who can give me a really good haircut, and the same with Megan.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Don't Stop Believing
How did it get to be Friday already? And I woke up with a headache. It was bound to happen. I can't continue this Olympic schedule much longer. Thank goodness the swimming is almost over. And the gymnastics. I keep falling asleep at critical moments (like midnight) and missing the outcomes of the womens gymnastics. I have to wait until I wake up to find out who had their heart broken.
As far as E goes, I discovered there is a Journey concert at the local summer stage on the night she arrives. I know she likes Journey, because she quoted one of their songs at the top of her 'dear famiily' letter and I know I like them, too. So I emailed her the pictures of her room and mentioned that they were going to be here, and she got all excited. So I checked and got five lawn tickets; the concert starts at 7 and her flight is due in at 2:45. Kevin is usually home in the house by 5 when he takes that flight, and only once was it late, but it was very late, like 9pm. Hopefully that will not happen again - SAS only has one plane that runs this route, and if something happens to it, it gets backed up and has to struggle to get back on track.
Today I am just laying low and trying to catch up on laundry. Megan wanted to go to a fair tonight, but it doesn't really look like the weather will cooperate. I have been enjoying myself with the discovery of Facebook and friends from long ago. It's very nostalgic.
In other news, Kevin will escort the Doll to the 'specialist' later on, so that will be fun. I have been trying to think of what to get Megan for her birthday, and she does need a new bike, so that might be a good thing. Tomorrow she and I are getting our hair cut.
As far as E goes, I discovered there is a Journey concert at the local summer stage on the night she arrives. I know she likes Journey, because she quoted one of their songs at the top of her 'dear famiily' letter and I know I like them, too. So I emailed her the pictures of her room and mentioned that they were going to be here, and she got all excited. So I checked and got five lawn tickets; the concert starts at 7 and her flight is due in at 2:45. Kevin is usually home in the house by 5 when he takes that flight, and only once was it late, but it was very late, like 9pm. Hopefully that will not happen again - SAS only has one plane that runs this route, and if something happens to it, it gets backed up and has to struggle to get back on track.
Today I am just laying low and trying to catch up on laundry. Megan wanted to go to a fair tonight, but it doesn't really look like the weather will cooperate. I have been enjoying myself with the discovery of Facebook and friends from long ago. It's very nostalgic.
In other news, Kevin will escort the Doll to the 'specialist' later on, so that will be fun. I have been trying to think of what to get Megan for her birthday, and she does need a new bike, so that might be a good thing. Tomorrow she and I are getting our hair cut.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Let the Rains Begin
Megan is off to her beach practice, being driven by the Favorite Boy's sister. So of course, the skies are opening up and great rolls of thunder are booming. I had volunteered Kevin to drive everyone home (she went straight from the beach club) so that he could get a video of their drill where they all look like the Ants from 'A Bug's Life' when they march around and encounter a leaf. It doesn't look like this will work out for tonight. Or maybe it will. One never knows with the weather these days.
As evidenced below, the guest room is finally ready for E. I bought that giant pillow and fleece throw today at Kohl's with my 20% off coupon, which I later handed to the man behind me, who was sorry that he had thrown his away. I was disappointed not to have been handed the one by the woman in front of me, who had gotten a 30% scratch off coupon! I only got that once, and I lost it.
Kevin is still "on vacation.".He had to build the dresser and desk for E's room, and hang the mirror and corkboard. He also has to hang the same mirror in Megan's room, but we need to rearrange a bit first. The next project is painting the bathroom, and he is still on call for the Doll. I'm not sure what she wants him to do, but it involves her computer and a phone line.
However, she is not well. He is on vacation, so she has a malady; it never fails. First of all, her dog has a UTI. Now to her. She has been talking about something with teeth for so long that I have no idea what she is talking about. I thought it was cosmetic, but now it seems that several teeth are having root canals. Let me just preface my next statement by saying that when she first moved here, I told her who my dentist was and she said her dining-out friends said that he was terrible, and cost one of them a tooth. Now, she has been through several dentists in four years.
So she is having these root canals, and her teeth are always in pain. She has been back to this dentist so many times and it keeps getting worse. They give her drugs, and she is also taking other drugs; of course all of these drugs make her sicker. She called this morning, asking for a ride to the "specialist" (hmm: endodontist? shouldn't one start there in the first place for root canal?) some time today. We made sure we were available, and didn't go far from a phone all day. At 3:30 she called and said she would like to go tomorrow, so I told her that the morning would be fine. It's Megan's last day volunteering at the school, and we'll be around. So 15 minutes later she calls back and says they're not in our town tomorrow, they're 20 minutes away, and her appointment is at 2:15. Typical.
And as for Kevin, remember the blackberry drama? How it was to be turned off for the two weeks? Then it wasn't, but he could only email people at his level or higher. Well, the email has been going on and off all week. Today, someone sent him an email complaining about one of his employees, who does have a poor work ethic. Kevin forwarded the email to his boss. Or so he thought. He actually forwarded it to the unethical employee. Which sort of makes them even from the time this employee accidentally copied Kevin on an email he sent out trying to get himself another job. That'll teach Kevin to work on his vacation.
In other news, I called the school yesterday to try to get an appointment to register E, and the secretary hasn't gotten back to me in two whole days now. Sigh, more of the same. I don't know what it is with this district. There is no huge rush, but she's going to have to get through her summer reading in almost no time at all, and I don't know if she will be able to get on a sports team, either. Also, I don't know if her medical information will be sufficient. I might have to take her to our pediatrician to get the forms approved by a local doctor. Anyway, I did send her the pictures of the room, so maybe I'll hear from her soon. She's been emailing back and forth with Megan now, as it should be. One more week!
As evidenced below, the guest room is finally ready for E. I bought that giant pillow and fleece throw today at Kohl's with my 20% off coupon, which I later handed to the man behind me, who was sorry that he had thrown his away. I was disappointed not to have been handed the one by the woman in front of me, who had gotten a 30% scratch off coupon! I only got that once, and I lost it.
Kevin is still "on vacation.".He had to build the dresser and desk for E's room, and hang the mirror and corkboard. He also has to hang the same mirror in Megan's room, but we need to rearrange a bit first. The next project is painting the bathroom, and he is still on call for the Doll. I'm not sure what she wants him to do, but it involves her computer and a phone line.
However, she is not well. He is on vacation, so she has a malady; it never fails. First of all, her dog has a UTI. Now to her. She has been talking about something with teeth for so long that I have no idea what she is talking about. I thought it was cosmetic, but now it seems that several teeth are having root canals. Let me just preface my next statement by saying that when she first moved here, I told her who my dentist was and she said her dining-out friends said that he was terrible, and cost one of them a tooth. Now, she has been through several dentists in four years.
So she is having these root canals, and her teeth are always in pain. She has been back to this dentist so many times and it keeps getting worse. They give her drugs, and she is also taking other drugs; of course all of these drugs make her sicker. She called this morning, asking for a ride to the "specialist" (hmm: endodontist? shouldn't one start there in the first place for root canal?) some time today. We made sure we were available, and didn't go far from a phone all day. At 3:30 she called and said she would like to go tomorrow, so I told her that the morning would be fine. It's Megan's last day volunteering at the school, and we'll be around. So 15 minutes later she calls back and says they're not in our town tomorrow, they're 20 minutes away, and her appointment is at 2:15. Typical.
And as for Kevin, remember the blackberry drama? How it was to be turned off for the two weeks? Then it wasn't, but he could only email people at his level or higher. Well, the email has been going on and off all week. Today, someone sent him an email complaining about one of his employees, who does have a poor work ethic. Kevin forwarded the email to his boss. Or so he thought. He actually forwarded it to the unethical employee. Which sort of makes them even from the time this employee accidentally copied Kevin on an email he sent out trying to get himself another job. That'll teach Kevin to work on his vacation.
In other news, I called the school yesterday to try to get an appointment to register E, and the secretary hasn't gotten back to me in two whole days now. Sigh, more of the same. I don't know what it is with this district. There is no huge rush, but she's going to have to get through her summer reading in almost no time at all, and I don't know if she will be able to get on a sports team, either. Also, I don't know if her medical information will be sufficient. I might have to take her to our pediatrician to get the forms approved by a local doctor. Anyway, I did send her the pictures of the room, so maybe I'll hear from her soon. She's been emailing back and forth with Megan now, as it should be. One more week!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
One More Week!
Hard to believe, in just one week from tomorrow, E will arrive. I tried calling the school today, and the secretary never got back to me. She gave me a whole list of things I am supposed to provide, hard to believe I really need to do all of this, but then she never got back to me anyway, so I don't really know what that is all about but more of the nonsense this district puts people through. I have time. Eventually I will get an appointment, and we'll go in, probably the week after next, when Kevin goes back to work.
Brian has been off all summer from his piano lessons, but he had one today. A few minutes after the teacher left, the doorbell rang .. it was him. He had taken out our mailbox, but good, on his way out of the driveway. Sigh. So there is another job for Kevin, once he paints the bathroom, hangs the mirrors for E and Megan, and hangs the corkboard in the spare bedroom. Oh, and connects the phone or something in his mother's apartment. I don't really understand what that is all about. Anyway, that was our excitement for the day.
In other news, Megan had her beach practice and they had to go in the water. she said it was all full of jellyfish, but none stung her. Maybe that will help her get over her fear and do some more ocean swims! We stopped at Applebee's for some dinner on the way home. I always like to go there because they have my favorite wine and a weight watchers menu. Then everyone else orders horrible things, and I feel bad. I should really stipulate that we all MUST order light foods.
Brian has been off all summer from his piano lessons, but he had one today. A few minutes after the teacher left, the doorbell rang .. it was him. He had taken out our mailbox, but good, on his way out of the driveway. Sigh. So there is another job for Kevin, once he paints the bathroom, hangs the mirrors for E and Megan, and hangs the corkboard in the spare bedroom. Oh, and connects the phone or something in his mother's apartment. I don't really understand what that is all about. Anyway, that was our excitement for the day.
In other news, Megan had her beach practice and they had to go in the water. she said it was all full of jellyfish, but none stung her. Maybe that will help her get over her fear and do some more ocean swims! We stopped at Applebee's for some dinner on the way home. I always like to go there because they have my favorite wine and a weight watchers menu. Then everyone else orders horrible things, and I feel bad. I should really stipulate that we all MUST order light foods.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Crush Chiari
Chiari Malformation is truly a conundrum. No two affected patients will suffer the same symptoms, nor can someone with chiari assume that they know what course their 'situation' will take. Chiari can come hand in hand with any number of associated conditions: syringomyelia (as Brian), retroflexed odontoid, pseudotumor cerebri, tethered spinal cord. None of these will make the chiari issues any easier. Often patients who have multiple surgeries will begin to suffer such issues that you don't know what is caused by the chiari and what is caused by the surgeries. Surgeons can't even agree. It's really just a difficult thing.
So Brian has spasticity in his leg again, and why? Is it because he woke up in the morning and was taken straight to the doctor? Is it the syrinx? Is it the chiari? And so an MRI is in order again. But what if it shows something? But what if it shows nothing? Really, with chiari, who even knows. I follow so many pages, between caringbridge and CarePages (who, by the way, have really pissed me off by changing their format right in the midst of my annual crisis), that I have just seen so much. Rejection of dural graft, placement and failure of shunts, cranio-cervical fusions, tethered cord release surgeries. Even MRSA. The list is really infinite. There are controversial doctors and there are people with a cult-like mentality who insist that anyone who goes anywhere other than their beloved Institute must be risking their lives. Is that the case? How would I know?
And these are the issues with which I wrestle daily, and the reason I panic when I hear, "I noticed a slight increase in the tone in his legs, but he's done that before." But I never knew that he had done that before. So what do I think now? That the neurologist thinks (knows?) that I am neurotic (of course he knows, that is his business, he can spot one a mile away) and has been withholding information. Because last year, when he had the increase in tone, the good doctor had the films to look at right away. Which explains why he said, "I will be a while. I have to make comparisons."
Anyway, I guess it is best that he protects me from myself. But still, this is an awful thing, even at its best. There are issues with scar tissue, with bone growing back, and with plain old bad luck. Let me just go on hoping that none of these will apply to us. Meanwhile, I am hoping to hear back from the mom of the girl we spoke to before Brian's surgery. The girl had had had a couple of headaches, and was going in to see the surgeon on the same day we saw the neurologist. She doesn't have a neurologist, so she is followed by the surgeon.
In other news, we are still relaxing for the week. The room is nearly ready for E, the dresser, desk, and bed are all assembled and in place. All that remains to be done is to hang the mirror and a corkboard, to make the bed, and to get all the tools out of the room. I found a bunch of artwork at Marshall's today after Brian's ortho appointment, and hung that on the walls. Then there was one big dirty wall, so I stuck up a poster of a map of the United States. Better than nothing :-). I'll try to post some pictures.
So Brian has spasticity in his leg again, and why? Is it because he woke up in the morning and was taken straight to the doctor? Is it the syrinx? Is it the chiari? And so an MRI is in order again. But what if it shows something? But what if it shows nothing? Really, with chiari, who even knows. I follow so many pages, between caringbridge and CarePages (who, by the way, have really pissed me off by changing their format right in the midst of my annual crisis), that I have just seen so much. Rejection of dural graft, placement and failure of shunts, cranio-cervical fusions, tethered cord release surgeries. Even MRSA. The list is really infinite. There are controversial doctors and there are people with a cult-like mentality who insist that anyone who goes anywhere other than their beloved Institute must be risking their lives. Is that the case? How would I know?
And these are the issues with which I wrestle daily, and the reason I panic when I hear, "I noticed a slight increase in the tone in his legs, but he's done that before." But I never knew that he had done that before. So what do I think now? That the neurologist thinks (knows?) that I am neurotic (of course he knows, that is his business, he can spot one a mile away) and has been withholding information. Because last year, when he had the increase in tone, the good doctor had the films to look at right away. Which explains why he said, "I will be a while. I have to make comparisons."
Anyway, I guess it is best that he protects me from myself. But still, this is an awful thing, even at its best. There are issues with scar tissue, with bone growing back, and with plain old bad luck. Let me just go on hoping that none of these will apply to us. Meanwhile, I am hoping to hear back from the mom of the girl we spoke to before Brian's surgery. The girl had had had a couple of headaches, and was going in to see the surgeon on the same day we saw the neurologist. She doesn't have a neurologist, so she is followed by the surgeon.
In other news, we are still relaxing for the week. The room is nearly ready for E, the dresser, desk, and bed are all assembled and in place. All that remains to be done is to hang the mirror and a corkboard, to make the bed, and to get all the tools out of the room. I found a bunch of artwork at Marshall's today after Brian's ortho appointment, and hung that on the walls. Then there was one big dirty wall, so I stuck up a poster of a map of the United States. Better than nothing :-). I'll try to post some pictures.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Social Flurry
We've been living a social whirlwind this weekend, not quite our usual style! Every night we have had dinner at someone's house or had someone here. Today it was a circumstantial event: we were at the beach and the clouds rolled in, so they rushed us through all the festivities: the egg toss, the three-legged race, the balloon toss, and the pool races. Megan and a few friends made up a 'family' for the family relay and they won it by a slim margin over the Favorite Boy's family, which was a legitimate family of four. This is the second time she has been in the winning family, but the last time she was in the Favorite Family.
Once the rains came, we all packed up and headed home, then went over to the Favorite House for dinner with some other friends from the beach, and watched the unfortunate events that befell the US gymnasts at the olympics. Somehow, I left my phone at their house.
And so tomorrow is the big visit with the neurologist. I went to church today, but almost regretted it when I saw that the regular priest wasn't there. There is just one woman who speaks when he is not there, and speak she did. We used to be thrilled when she was up, because she'd just read off of a prepared speech and be done with it. Not any more. She must have had some sort of epiphany, but unfortunately it did not involve the ability to tie her thoughts together. So I listened as best I could, until the Lord stepped in and took away her voice. Seriously, this is what I believe happened. Even her bottle of Pepsi couldn't bring it back.
In other news, Kevin is still on vacation. Tomorrow marks the first official day. Megan is having her birthday lunch and shopping trip with Kevin's mother, and her beach dryland workouts with the team start tomorrow night. That means I get to take my strolls along the boardwalk in Long Branch, and follow them with a cheeseburger and nice glass of wine, straight out of the box, at Stewart's.
Once the rains came, we all packed up and headed home, then went over to the Favorite House for dinner with some other friends from the beach, and watched the unfortunate events that befell the US gymnasts at the olympics. Somehow, I left my phone at their house.
And so tomorrow is the big visit with the neurologist. I went to church today, but almost regretted it when I saw that the regular priest wasn't there. There is just one woman who speaks when he is not there, and speak she did. We used to be thrilled when she was up, because she'd just read off of a prepared speech and be done with it. Not any more. She must have had some sort of epiphany, but unfortunately it did not involve the ability to tie her thoughts together. So I listened as best I could, until the Lord stepped in and took away her voice. Seriously, this is what I believe happened. Even her bottle of Pepsi couldn't bring it back.
In other news, Kevin is still on vacation. Tomorrow marks the first official day. Megan is having her birthday lunch and shopping trip with Kevin's mother, and her beach dryland workouts with the team start tomorrow night. That means I get to take my strolls along the boardwalk in Long Branch, and follow them with a cheeseburger and nice glass of wine, straight out of the box, at Stewart's.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Staycation
Well, here it is 3:56PM on Friday, 08/08/08, the day of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, and the first day of Kevin's two weeks off. To his great relief, the bank has decided NOT to confiscate the crackberries from the addicts on their two week hiatus(es?) from work. Their email will be shut off and they won't be allowed to communicate with the office, but they will still be able to use their phones etc. Maybe I can get some more 'gotcha' shots of Kevin on his when he should be doing something else.
We'll have to spend the first week getting ready for E, I plan to try to have her room all set up by the end of the week, and then we can play a little before she gets here. I don't know what we would play, having no money left after the Fresh Air visit, and then the trip to Maryland. Anyway, we might want to take a quick trip once she arrives, maybe show her Cape May as well.
We started our doctor's visits today with one to the dermatologist; luckily, it was pretty uneventful and we were out in record time. We ended up arriving about 20 minutes early, but thank goodness we did, because the "emergency" cases were pouring in (was their skin falling off?), and we got taken before they did. We were the third ones to be seen. I didn't ask about my brown spot ... I plan to agonize over it for 20 more days instead. How else can I keep my mind off of other medical issues? I'd rather think about that than chiari - and once the neurologist is cleared I have to face the pediatrician, which I always find sort of redundant once we endure the neuro exam from the boss.
Yesterday we went to the water park with some friends and their Fresh Air visitor, who was really cool. She talked, and even had ideas of her own! But they seem to be tiring of filling the days, so we're going over there for dinner tonight, to help keep them all company. And Megan may do her first ocean mile swim of the year tomorrow, down south of here a bit. So I hope all the jellyfish are gone!!!
In other news, the roofer guys are gone, but their sign is not. The pool is all cloudy from all the debris. Kevin put the vacuum in and ran it for hours, but forgot to zip the bag shut, so that was a waste of time. Not much else of note has taken place, this is sort of the calm before the storm. So look for more excitement in the days to come. If nothing else, we have a big day at the beach club on Sunday!
We'll have to spend the first week getting ready for E, I plan to try to have her room all set up by the end of the week, and then we can play a little before she gets here. I don't know what we would play, having no money left after the Fresh Air visit, and then the trip to Maryland. Anyway, we might want to take a quick trip once she arrives, maybe show her Cape May as well.
We started our doctor's visits today with one to the dermatologist; luckily, it was pretty uneventful and we were out in record time. We ended up arriving about 20 minutes early, but thank goodness we did, because the "emergency" cases were pouring in (was their skin falling off?), and we got taken before they did. We were the third ones to be seen. I didn't ask about my brown spot ... I plan to agonize over it for 20 more days instead. How else can I keep my mind off of other medical issues? I'd rather think about that than chiari - and once the neurologist is cleared I have to face the pediatrician, which I always find sort of redundant once we endure the neuro exam from the boss.
Yesterday we went to the water park with some friends and their Fresh Air visitor, who was really cool. She talked, and even had ideas of her own! But they seem to be tiring of filling the days, so we're going over there for dinner tonight, to help keep them all company. And Megan may do her first ocean mile swim of the year tomorrow, down south of here a bit. So I hope all the jellyfish are gone!!!
In other news, the roofer guys are gone, but their sign is not. The pool is all cloudy from all the debris. Kevin put the vacuum in and ran it for hours, but forgot to zip the bag shut, so that was a waste of time. Not much else of note has taken place, this is sort of the calm before the storm. So look for more excitement in the days to come. If nothing else, we have a big day at the beach club on Sunday!
Monday, August 4, 2008
wartime (copyright 5/31/01)
(reposted without permission)
dear thinmintsmeg: you ask was i in a war what did i do. here is the reply. it is not an easy question to answer because it was long long ago and some things i can't remember and some others i have quite forgotten. after america was attacked by other countries we were enemies. nearly everyone had to serve in the army, the navy or the marines or work in factories that produced ships, airplanes and tanks and guns. I was signed up to be in the army air corps. I had to be trained to be a member of that, how to march and salute and stuff. I was in the army almost 4 years of which almost 2 years were overseas. There I became a transportation officer. we had squadrons of airplanes. They looked something like the planes that the airlines of today have but they weren't jets because jets weren't invented at the time, we carrid freight such as gasoline or spare parts for trucks or planes or food or even jeeps. my job was to see that the right things got loaded and to sign them out. it was in places called england, france, ireland, germany. do you know where that is? you have to sail across te atlantic ocean which is the same ocean that is at the trade winds beach club, but way out in the middle it got very dark at night and do you know that lots of big sparks that look like fireworks jump up from the sea but in the day time even that far from the shore there are seagulls that follow the ships hoping that leftovers or garbage would be thrown out which they would like to eat. do you remember the big one that stole your hot dog in cape may heh heh. well so many strange things happened after that i just can't tell because i would have to write a book maybe i will do that.
the book will be called "the gods across the river" so far all i have written is the title. But at least I came to my old home in Philadelphia and it was good to be home and to be a civilian instead of the army but things didn't go right and many troubles and woes awaited me but I then had a stroke of good luck when I first met Cat (Bond). Then Father time sent me great new people such as you, Megan, and also Beans, Kevin and Bryan and that has made me happy in the end. Two more things I have to say. one. Do you know there is such a thing as voice lessons (singing) I would like to sing well and sing on the stage with a microphone and a band an an audience or sing in a cafe. would you like that? two. please get better right away. we don't want you to feel bad one more minute. love love love hug hug koke.
dear thinmintsmeg: you ask was i in a war what did i do. here is the reply. it is not an easy question to answer because it was long long ago and some things i can't remember and some others i have quite forgotten. after america was attacked by other countries we were enemies. nearly everyone had to serve in the army, the navy or the marines or work in factories that produced ships, airplanes and tanks and guns. I was signed up to be in the army air corps. I had to be trained to be a member of that, how to march and salute and stuff. I was in the army almost 4 years of which almost 2 years were overseas. There I became a transportation officer. we had squadrons of airplanes. They looked something like the planes that the airlines of today have but they weren't jets because jets weren't invented at the time, we carrid freight such as gasoline or spare parts for trucks or planes or food or even jeeps. my job was to see that the right things got loaded and to sign them out. it was in places called england, france, ireland, germany. do you know where that is? you have to sail across te atlantic ocean which is the same ocean that is at the trade winds beach club, but way out in the middle it got very dark at night and do you know that lots of big sparks that look like fireworks jump up from the sea but in the day time even that far from the shore there are seagulls that follow the ships hoping that leftovers or garbage would be thrown out which they would like to eat. do you remember the big one that stole your hot dog in cape may heh heh. well so many strange things happened after that i just can't tell because i would have to write a book maybe i will do that.
the book will be called "the gods across the river" so far all i have written is the title. But at least I came to my old home in Philadelphia and it was good to be home and to be a civilian instead of the army but things didn't go right and many troubles and woes awaited me but I then had a stroke of good luck when I first met Cat (Bond). Then Father time sent me great new people such as you, Megan, and also Beans, Kevin and Bryan and that has made me happy in the end. Two more things I have to say. one. Do you know there is such a thing as voice lessons (singing) I would like to sing well and sing on the stage with a microphone and a band an an audience or sing in a cafe. would you like that? two. please get better right away. we don't want you to feel bad one more minute. love love love hug hug koke.
Bang Bang Bang went the Roofers
Woof woof woof went the dog...ring ring ring went the telephone ... as Kevin called repeatedly asking what was going on.
Anyway, as it turns out, the local roofer who is so reliable that he personally shows up every day at every job has yet to turn up at our house. Not only that, but the guys that he does have working, although they may be doing a fine job, speak so little English that I think they barely understood me when I said, "hi."
So I guess they are not quite done. Megan had to work at the school today, and I spent the day getting things out of that spare bedroom. What a mess! I can't believe we ever even moved here with some of that stuff, let alone held onto it for two years. However, I have had some good finds, such as an Easter card from days gone by, handmade by Megan, which included several coupons. I have used two of them already! A free dog walk and a loading of the dishwasher! And there are all sorts of things left for me to cash in on! (uh oh .. Kevin says the dishwashing job was under standard...)
Another good find was a letter to Megan from her grandfather (Koke). I guess she must have been not feeling well. I'm going to repost that as a different blog entry in a minute.
We are really loving having the computer desk in the living room. It is such an improvement! And I can't wait until the guest room is set up as a guest room for E - although she prefers not to think of it as a guest room. She says that she will be living in it for a year, so she would like to make it "her room" for that year. So I am just putting the basics in it, and I'll let her add her own touch.
In other news, Brian is going to swim team tryouts at the Y tomorrow. He understands now that he needs to find a way to strengthen his upper body, and there is just no way I'm letting him lift any weights with his chiari and syrinx. Swimming is the perfect all-over conditioning, plus he needs to build up endurance. I just hope they can manage the pool this year. They will have a new aquatics director, and the last time that happened, the pool just fell apart. I remember one time they roped off the deep end of the pool and held classes only in the shallow end because the water was so murky they were afraid they'd lost some swimmers. That just didn't seem right to me.
(disclaimer: post not proofread)
Anyway, as it turns out, the local roofer who is so reliable that he personally shows up every day at every job has yet to turn up at our house. Not only that, but the guys that he does have working, although they may be doing a fine job, speak so little English that I think they barely understood me when I said, "hi."
So I guess they are not quite done. Megan had to work at the school today, and I spent the day getting things out of that spare bedroom. What a mess! I can't believe we ever even moved here with some of that stuff, let alone held onto it for two years. However, I have had some good finds, such as an Easter card from days gone by, handmade by Megan, which included several coupons. I have used two of them already! A free dog walk and a loading of the dishwasher! And there are all sorts of things left for me to cash in on! (uh oh .. Kevin says the dishwashing job was under standard...)
Another good find was a letter to Megan from her grandfather (Koke). I guess she must have been not feeling well. I'm going to repost that as a different blog entry in a minute.
We are really loving having the computer desk in the living room. It is such an improvement! And I can't wait until the guest room is set up as a guest room for E - although she prefers not to think of it as a guest room. She says that she will be living in it for a year, so she would like to make it "her room" for that year. So I am just putting the basics in it, and I'll let her add her own touch.
In other news, Brian is going to swim team tryouts at the Y tomorrow. He understands now that he needs to find a way to strengthen his upper body, and there is just no way I'm letting him lift any weights with his chiari and syrinx. Swimming is the perfect all-over conditioning, plus he needs to build up endurance. I just hope they can manage the pool this year. They will have a new aquatics director, and the last time that happened, the pool just fell apart. I remember one time they roped off the deep end of the pool and held classes only in the shallow end because the water was so murky they were afraid they'd lost some swimmers. That just didn't seem right to me.
(disclaimer: post not proofread)
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Cleaning House
So we have to get the house ready. Today we got a strong man to come over and help Kevin, and they got the giant desk from the second floor bedroom to the living room, where it probably should have been in the first place. The idea of having an office was nice, but in reality it became a clutter-filled, furry, never-vacuumed room with a giant desk and a card table, and a bunch of boxes in the closet. I think I now see what drove me to host an exchange student in the first place. It was the need to finish the unpacking we started two years ago!
Anyway, the desk really does look much better downstairs, and we moved the bookcase up because the modem and wireless router will need to stay in that room where the cable is connected. The next step is to separate the bunk into two separate beds, and then we just need to pick up a student desk and a chair for the desk in the living room. We're using the chairs from the kitchen table and they seem really comfortable, so maybe I'll just order one more of those.
Kevin was anxious to get to the beach (so was Megan) so we dropped everything around 1:30 and headed over. It was beautiful. The jellyfish seem to be gone, and the weather was perfect. A few biting flies blew in around 5:30, but that was about when we needed to be packing up anyway. On the way home we decided to have dinner at Carrabas, so we called the Doll, and she met us there. Always a pleasure; and way too much food. :X
But tomorrow I should face the added pleasure of the roofers' return. Megan has to work in the morning anyway, so if we were to go to the beach it would be late. It's going to be strange not having to take her to swim team practice at all. She won't have to go anywhere for two weeks or so, when he will start the dryland practices down by the ocean. I always enjoy those, just bring an ipod and take a walk along the boards.
In other news, still gearing up for those doctors appointments coming up over the next couple of weeks. I went to update my CarePage and I am so unhappy with what they have done to the site! They made some changes a few months ago, and I thought those were great. Now whatever they have done seems to be nothing but setbacks. It's a more unattractive welcome page, most of my favorite features don't work, and it isn't recording new visits to the page, so I can't even tell who's been following along. I posted a comment and several people have followed suit. Nobody seems to like it. I can't even imagine who in the world considered these to be improvements. I hope they change it back, or at least, fix it.
Anyway, the desk really does look much better downstairs, and we moved the bookcase up because the modem and wireless router will need to stay in that room where the cable is connected. The next step is to separate the bunk into two separate beds, and then we just need to pick up a student desk and a chair for the desk in the living room. We're using the chairs from the kitchen table and they seem really comfortable, so maybe I'll just order one more of those.
Kevin was anxious to get to the beach (so was Megan) so we dropped everything around 1:30 and headed over. It was beautiful. The jellyfish seem to be gone, and the weather was perfect. A few biting flies blew in around 5:30, but that was about when we needed to be packing up anyway. On the way home we decided to have dinner at Carrabas, so we called the Doll, and she met us there. Always a pleasure; and way too much food. :X
But tomorrow I should face the added pleasure of the roofers' return. Megan has to work in the morning anyway, so if we were to go to the beach it would be late. It's going to be strange not having to take her to swim team practice at all. She won't have to go anywhere for two weeks or so, when he will start the dryland practices down by the ocean. I always enjoy those, just bring an ipod and take a walk along the boards.
In other news, still gearing up for those doctors appointments coming up over the next couple of weeks. I went to update my CarePage and I am so unhappy with what they have done to the site! They made some changes a few months ago, and I thought those were great. Now whatever they have done seems to be nothing but setbacks. It's a more unattractive welcome page, most of my favorite features don't work, and it isn't recording new visits to the page, so I can't even tell who's been following along. I posted a comment and several people have followed suit. Nobody seems to like it. I can't even imagine who in the world considered these to be improvements. I hope they change it back, or at least, fix it.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Home Sweet Home
We're here at last, back in the Land of Cats and Dog. Everyone survived, but Molly is still panting a lot, especially at night. I'm afraid to take her to the vet because I know it could mean, at minimum, a chest xray and blood work. I was worried because our pet sitter left a message, but it turned out she was just telling me that the roofer had shown up and started ripping off the roof! We were not expecting him, didn't know when he'd be coming, because we had asked him not to come during our Fresh Air week, and he just never called again. He did stick a giant sign on our lawn, though, about three weeks ago.
I guess it's better in a way - we missed out on two days of banging and flying debris, but today will be another big one.
So the week was fine, not really where you would choose to go on a vacation, but Silver Spring was an interesting place. There was a lot to do near the hotel, but they had only valet parking, so you had to tip the guy every time you wanted to take the car out, so we used that sparingly. And Megan swam OK, about how she would have been expected to swim with the amount of practice she has had this summer, and the pools she's been swimming in - half of them not even long course pools.
Brian had the two teeth pulled right before we left, and they have healed without incident. In two weeks, he goes back for the spacers in those two gaps. Starting next week, we have all of our doctor appointments. I'm taking them both to the dermatologist for various things, then we have the neurologist on the 11th and on the 12th the orthodontist. E arrives on the 21st, and Megan and Brian both have their check-ups on the 26th (happy birthday to Brian) and I have my dermatologist appointment on the 28th - if I can make it that long. I have been panicking over a small light mole on my cheek, because it sits on a bed of age-spot looking skin.
In other news, I heard from the guidance counselor regarding Brian's 504 plan for accommodations. He didn't really want to be bothered making any changes to it, but I don't really think three C's on a report card are a good sign, especially when they are there mainly due to lack of studying and failure to turn in assignments. So I want to see what else we can work out, or what we might be able to put in there. If I can't get any input from the doctor, I might seek out someone who specifically helps with these modifications, like a child psychologist or neuropsychologist. I'll talk to the pediatrician too, if I don't really make progress with the neurologist. He seemed happy enough to wait it out when we talked to him in February. But maybe we have waited long enough.
I guess it's better in a way - we missed out on two days of banging and flying debris, but today will be another big one.
So the week was fine, not really where you would choose to go on a vacation, but Silver Spring was an interesting place. There was a lot to do near the hotel, but they had only valet parking, so you had to tip the guy every time you wanted to take the car out, so we used that sparingly. And Megan swam OK, about how she would have been expected to swim with the amount of practice she has had this summer, and the pools she's been swimming in - half of them not even long course pools.
Brian had the two teeth pulled right before we left, and they have healed without incident. In two weeks, he goes back for the spacers in those two gaps. Starting next week, we have all of our doctor appointments. I'm taking them both to the dermatologist for various things, then we have the neurologist on the 11th and on the 12th the orthodontist. E arrives on the 21st, and Megan and Brian both have their check-ups on the 26th (happy birthday to Brian) and I have my dermatologist appointment on the 28th - if I can make it that long. I have been panicking over a small light mole on my cheek, because it sits on a bed of age-spot looking skin.
In other news, I heard from the guidance counselor regarding Brian's 504 plan for accommodations. He didn't really want to be bothered making any changes to it, but I don't really think three C's on a report card are a good sign, especially when they are there mainly due to lack of studying and failure to turn in assignments. So I want to see what else we can work out, or what we might be able to put in there. If I can't get any input from the doctor, I might seek out someone who specifically helps with these modifications, like a child psychologist or neuropsychologist. I'll talk to the pediatrician too, if I don't really make progress with the neurologist. He seemed happy enough to wait it out when we talked to him in February. But maybe we have waited long enough.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)