His name is Wilbur. And he even has a theme song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmbEuRzlhIs
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
and the dog has a name!
At last it hit me. He needed a name that really fit his character. Duke was OK, but it was someone else's name once, and although he liked the name, I think this one is better.
His name is Wilbur. And he even has a theme song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmbEuRzlhIs
His name is Wilbur. And he even has a theme song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmbEuRzlhIs
Monday, June 29, 2009
first week
And so begins the first full week of summer. Brian has tennis camp this week and next, at the school where he will be going next year. He came home and told me that he needs a new racket and 'tennis shoes,' and then promptly made plans which are still keeping him out of the house at 9pm. He blames all misses on his racket being "too small." But he is enjoying it.
Megan has 'doubles' for swimming on Mondays this month, so she had to be at the pool at 5:45 am and again at 7:45 tonight. She also had a dermatologist appointment at 1:50 so that kind of blew the middle of the day. After that appointment I took her and got her a bathing suit for her beach swim team and then we went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries and I ate like a glutton until she said, "ew, let's go." (Note that she had had a frozen pizza already at home and I had eaten nothing but handfuls of honey roasted peanuts that showed up in the house last night while I was out)
The dog is starting to feel comfortable and as a result, the honeymoon phase of cuteness is ending and the demon dog moments are becoming more frequent. For example, who knew that a dog would be able to fit through a fence? So he just busts right through there whenever he gets bored of the backyard. Today I was calling him back, saying "he's a GOOD boy," while waving a pack of Pupperoni at him. That worked quite well but I'm afraid it taught him the wrong lesson! Then later on he escaped while Megan had him (they all think he only does it to me) and the boy across the street, who used to pick on Brian, got him. And Duke did us proud. He peed on the boy.
In other news, Brian is calling me now for a ride home from 'town,' so I will have to cut this short. First he begged for an extra hour and now he is asking me to come immediately. Which is fine with me, except at last the little dog has settled himself down and is asleep on the floor. More later.
Megan has 'doubles' for swimming on Mondays this month, so she had to be at the pool at 5:45 am and again at 7:45 tonight. She also had a dermatologist appointment at 1:50 so that kind of blew the middle of the day. After that appointment I took her and got her a bathing suit for her beach swim team and then we went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries and I ate like a glutton until she said, "ew, let's go." (Note that she had had a frozen pizza already at home and I had eaten nothing but handfuls of honey roasted peanuts that showed up in the house last night while I was out)
The dog is starting to feel comfortable and as a result, the honeymoon phase of cuteness is ending and the demon dog moments are becoming more frequent. For example, who knew that a dog would be able to fit through a fence? So he just busts right through there whenever he gets bored of the backyard. Today I was calling him back, saying "he's a GOOD boy," while waving a pack of Pupperoni at him. That worked quite well but I'm afraid it taught him the wrong lesson! Then later on he escaped while Megan had him (they all think he only does it to me) and the boy across the street, who used to pick on Brian, got him. And Duke did us proud. He peed on the boy.
In other news, Brian is calling me now for a ride home from 'town,' so I will have to cut this short. First he begged for an extra hour and now he is asking me to come immediately. Which is fine with me, except at last the little dog has settled himself down and is asleep on the floor. More later.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
morning news
For the second day in a row, we were allowed to sleep in. But this time, the pom awoke to a wet bed. I shouldn't be putting blankets in with him at night, but it hasn't been a problem until now. He got into some water last night later than he should have, and then he was in the crate for about eight hours. So I guess that was asking a lot. I'll stop giving him blankets at night and hope that helps. That was his first crate accident so I won't complain too much. He is very cute, which helps with these things. He also peed on the floor twice yesterday, which annoyed me but again, I have to get back to taking him out repeatedly after play and meals, etc.
And at least Baxter has gone home. The house is much calmer without his high-strung panting and clicking around. Kevin said the Doll seemed a whole lot better when he took her home, she has some sort of splint to immobilize her ankle and she can get around well with her cane. The cats have all come out of their crouching wide eyed stances.
Megan's day dominated mine yesterday, between her morning meet, her haircut and then being invited to a graduation party at the last minute. So I did all that driving, while Kevin and Brian went to the beach. I picked Megan up at 7:30 and we went down and joined them there for dinner. Which for me meant one soggy cold piece of pizza! We'll go back today for a real beach day. This will be the first time in quite a while that we've been able to get there.
When we got home, we found a message from E, letting us know that she had made it home but would be leaving this morning for her music festival trip, so we won't hear from her again for a week or more. I emailed her back and told her that she had forgotten all those clothes.
And in other news, Kevin is whining again because he's having trouble connecting to the internet from the big computer. He wants to reboot the router, even though that can't be the problem because this computer is working just fine. Oh, and yesterday he went to Sears and ordered a ride-on mower. So this should be interesting. I don't really know when he thinks he will have the time. He wants to train and pay Brian to do it. I hope the rest of my shrubs survive. The old lawn guy never even called back, after Kevin left a message telling him not to bother coming again. So now I'm stuck with a $4000 bill and a hole in the ground, and no call back.
And at least Baxter has gone home. The house is much calmer without his high-strung panting and clicking around. Kevin said the Doll seemed a whole lot better when he took her home, she has some sort of splint to immobilize her ankle and she can get around well with her cane. The cats have all come out of their crouching wide eyed stances.
Megan's day dominated mine yesterday, between her morning meet, her haircut and then being invited to a graduation party at the last minute. So I did all that driving, while Kevin and Brian went to the beach. I picked Megan up at 7:30 and we went down and joined them there for dinner. Which for me meant one soggy cold piece of pizza! We'll go back today for a real beach day. This will be the first time in quite a while that we've been able to get there.
When we got home, we found a message from E, letting us know that she had made it home but would be leaving this morning for her music festival trip, so we won't hear from her again for a week or more. I emailed her back and told her that she had forgotten all those clothes.
And in other news, Kevin is whining again because he's having trouble connecting to the internet from the big computer. He wants to reboot the router, even though that can't be the problem because this computer is working just fine. Oh, and yesterday he went to Sears and ordered a ride-on mower. So this should be interesting. I don't really know when he thinks he will have the time. He wants to train and pay Brian to do it. I hope the rest of my shrubs survive. The old lawn guy never even called back, after Kevin left a message telling him not to bother coming again. So now I'm stuck with a $4000 bill and a hole in the ground, and no call back.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
the final farewell
or at least, for now. E's room looks like it still has someone living in it. There's trash, there is a suitcase, there are boxes, beauty products, clothing and shoes. The things she plans to get in August (which I asked that she pack up and put in the basement) are still around. She forgot to empty a drawer full of clothing. I'll spend some time in there later on trying to get it organized. Brian says he wants to move in there now. They all liked the room so much when I first fixed it up for E that Brian staked his claim to it as soon as it became available.
Anyway, she was out till 1am the night before, and then met up with her friends again at 9:30 the next day. She came in at noon and packed up a few more things. I gave her a poster I had made for her with a photo collage, and she gave us a scrapbook of photos from the year with a nice note on the cover. Then we packed her things into the car and off we went. She had an overage charge on her one suitcase, of course, and Kevin gave her some miles to upgrade to a better seat. Her flight was slightly delayed due to thunderstorms, but she ended up getting off the ground within a few minutes of the scheduled time anyway. She should be back at home in a short while; they were hanging around to meet her father's flight from Chicago.
So we embark on life as we used to know it. Megan is off to the pool club for a swim meet, Brian is going to volunteer at the soup kitchen, and Kevin has gone to pick up the Doll from the hospital. Her doctor called here last night and told Kevin he really had no reason to keep her there but that she didn't seem ready to go. Then Kevin explained that she lives alone and won't stay with us because of the pets, so the doctor said he would find a way to keep her one more night. This morning when she called she said she had a torn ligament. Probably what he said to keep her there and now she will throw it around as her official diagnosis. This should be a fun weekend. He took Baxter with him. Thank God. That dog is good, but he is a pain in the neck and I am sorry to say the ugliest thing I have ever seen! :-O
And in other news, Megan and I went to see My Sister's Keeper last night. It was a tear-jerker, and I could have done without seeing it. I read the book, and the movie is different. But it was OK. On the way there we got caught in that wild and crazy storm. I was hit in the windshield by a flying tree branch that came from out of the swirling nothingness while I was driving to the movies. It smashed so hard that I thought the windshield would shatter all over us. It didn't, but our nice glass table in the backyard did. And now I must run because the pom is crying, he probably needs to go out!
Anyway, she was out till 1am the night before, and then met up with her friends again at 9:30 the next day. She came in at noon and packed up a few more things. I gave her a poster I had made for her with a photo collage, and she gave us a scrapbook of photos from the year with a nice note on the cover. Then we packed her things into the car and off we went. She had an overage charge on her one suitcase, of course, and Kevin gave her some miles to upgrade to a better seat. Her flight was slightly delayed due to thunderstorms, but she ended up getting off the ground within a few minutes of the scheduled time anyway. She should be back at home in a short while; they were hanging around to meet her father's flight from Chicago.
So we embark on life as we used to know it. Megan is off to the pool club for a swim meet, Brian is going to volunteer at the soup kitchen, and Kevin has gone to pick up the Doll from the hospital. Her doctor called here last night and told Kevin he really had no reason to keep her there but that she didn't seem ready to go. Then Kevin explained that she lives alone and won't stay with us because of the pets, so the doctor said he would find a way to keep her one more night. This morning when she called she said she had a torn ligament. Probably what he said to keep her there and now she will throw it around as her official diagnosis. This should be a fun weekend. He took Baxter with him. Thank God. That dog is good, but he is a pain in the neck and I am sorry to say the ugliest thing I have ever seen! :-O
And in other news, Megan and I went to see My Sister's Keeper last night. It was a tear-jerker, and I could have done without seeing it. I read the book, and the movie is different. But it was OK. On the way there we got caught in that wild and crazy storm. I was hit in the windshield by a flying tree branch that came from out of the swirling nothingness while I was driving to the movies. It smashed so hard that I thought the windshield would shatter all over us. It didn't, but our nice glass table in the backyard did. And now I must run because the pom is crying, he probably needs to go out!
Friday, June 26, 2009
graduation day
and never a dull moment. It started out with the dog, of course, arising at 5 with whimpers. I got up and cared for him, and the cats, then took a quick shower in case there wouldn't be time later. Good thing. The cleaning people showed up and I had to wake Megan and E and take them out for their breakfast together. Then we picked up a new suitcase for E and came home to find the cleaning people gone. Brian had wisely slept in the basement so he would be able to sleep in.
E had mentioned that she wanted to stop by school, turn in a book, and say goodbye to the guidance counselor. She also decided at around noon that she did, after all, have to do a load of laundry. I set off for the laundromat because we were unable to get hold of the Doll. But we stopped at the school first, and the fun began.
Apparently, they announce several times that all lockers must be emptied. They even have a locker cleanout time during school where they call each grade out of class to clean out their lockers. I guess E was busy getting her yearbook signed during all of these times, because that is precisely what she had left in her locker, along with various papers and other items. So we go up to her locker, and I still have no idea of any of this, I don't even know what we're there for. She opens up the locker, and of course, it's empty.
She starts to freak out, we go to the office, she is crying, some don't care and others want to help, and finally a janitor shows up with the yearbook in his hand. The thing was though, she had bought some additional pages for friends and teachers to sign, and these had been clipped in, and they were gone. We went through the bin, but it was all clothing. The papers are gone forever. She was devastated; I never made it to take her to the laundromat so I got her to the Doll's and left here there with her laundry. Oh, and I forgot to add, the vet called, and the puppy has giardia, so I had to go and pick up two different medications for him in the midst of all of this.
Anyway, I woke up with a headache yesterday morning and obviously through all of this it was not going to go away. I tried to lie down for a little while, which had the overwhelming effect of messing up my hair on an already-bad hair day. And I was dreading the discomfort of the bleachers at the arena where the graduation was to be held. Amazingly, somehow, though, the headache did subside. But the bleachers were still brutal.
Towards the end of the ceremony, the Doll asked about the bathrooms. She got up and went, it was quite a steep step up. She nearly lost her balance, but she went about her business. It was a long, long walk back to the car and she did her usual shuffle and drag the whole way. I don't know what we will do without E because she walked with her the whole way while we tried to walk at a slow pace and still beat them to the car by five minutes. But anyway - we went to Bahrs and had a nice dinner. Until it was time to leave. All of a sudden, the Doll can no longer walk. Something has happened to her foot.
The usual flurry of attention occurs, she begins to feel faint and nauseous, we put her in a chair, and then the manager shows up with a wheeled office chair and puts her in it, and wheels her out to the car. Now, Brian is supposed to go to a party (with Kevin and me), Megan was asking to go to the beach, and E is having friends over to help pack. Instead, the Doll takes over the show as usual. So what happened? Well. Read on.
Kevin took her back to her place, where she collapsed onto the bed in the small bedroom right by the front door. Baxter hopped up to check her out. She managed a shuffle into the living room, but about an hour later decided she needed to be taken to the hospital. So off they went to Riverview, which I have found lately to provide the worst ER care I have ever experienced. I don't think last night was any exception. She was xrayed about an hour and a half after arriving (so around 11:30 or 12) and finally, at 3:30, was admitted with no known diagnosis, mainly because she is so immobile. Kevin got in at 4:00 this morning.
But in other news, I have no more time to recount the tales of yesterday, although there are more. I must go and fetch Megan from the pool, where she had to be at 5:45 this morning. I am wondering when I will again get sleep. Brian slept at the boy's house who had the pool party last night, so I need to get him, too. And the little dog has just climbed into my lap, all dismayed at something he sees through the living room window. He can't see out of it unless he is sitting on the couch. Oh, and I also have to go and get the Doll's dog. He obviously can't be left alone. I guess today we'll find out if she broke her foot, or what. Apparently when she got up from that seat, and went up the big step, sh twisted it. Stay tuned. (
E had mentioned that she wanted to stop by school, turn in a book, and say goodbye to the guidance counselor. She also decided at around noon that she did, after all, have to do a load of laundry. I set off for the laundromat because we were unable to get hold of the Doll. But we stopped at the school first, and the fun began.
Apparently, they announce several times that all lockers must be emptied. They even have a locker cleanout time during school where they call each grade out of class to clean out their lockers. I guess E was busy getting her yearbook signed during all of these times, because that is precisely what she had left in her locker, along with various papers and other items. So we go up to her locker, and I still have no idea of any of this, I don't even know what we're there for. She opens up the locker, and of course, it's empty.
She starts to freak out, we go to the office, she is crying, some don't care and others want to help, and finally a janitor shows up with the yearbook in his hand. The thing was though, she had bought some additional pages for friends and teachers to sign, and these had been clipped in, and they were gone. We went through the bin, but it was all clothing. The papers are gone forever. She was devastated; I never made it to take her to the laundromat so I got her to the Doll's and left here there with her laundry. Oh, and I forgot to add, the vet called, and the puppy has giardia, so I had to go and pick up two different medications for him in the midst of all of this.
Anyway, I woke up with a headache yesterday morning and obviously through all of this it was not going to go away. I tried to lie down for a little while, which had the overwhelming effect of messing up my hair on an already-bad hair day. And I was dreading the discomfort of the bleachers at the arena where the graduation was to be held. Amazingly, somehow, though, the headache did subside. But the bleachers were still brutal.
Towards the end of the ceremony, the Doll asked about the bathrooms. She got up and went, it was quite a steep step up. She nearly lost her balance, but she went about her business. It was a long, long walk back to the car and she did her usual shuffle and drag the whole way. I don't know what we will do without E because she walked with her the whole way while we tried to walk at a slow pace and still beat them to the car by five minutes. But anyway - we went to Bahrs and had a nice dinner. Until it was time to leave. All of a sudden, the Doll can no longer walk. Something has happened to her foot.
The usual flurry of attention occurs, she begins to feel faint and nauseous, we put her in a chair, and then the manager shows up with a wheeled office chair and puts her in it, and wheels her out to the car. Now, Brian is supposed to go to a party (with Kevin and me), Megan was asking to go to the beach, and E is having friends over to help pack. Instead, the Doll takes over the show as usual. So what happened? Well. Read on.
Kevin took her back to her place, where she collapsed onto the bed in the small bedroom right by the front door. Baxter hopped up to check her out. She managed a shuffle into the living room, but about an hour later decided she needed to be taken to the hospital. So off they went to Riverview, which I have found lately to provide the worst ER care I have ever experienced. I don't think last night was any exception. She was xrayed about an hour and a half after arriving (so around 11:30 or 12) and finally, at 3:30, was admitted with no known diagnosis, mainly because she is so immobile. Kevin got in at 4:00 this morning.
But in other news, I have no more time to recount the tales of yesterday, although there are more. I must go and fetch Megan from the pool, where she had to be at 5:45 this morning. I am wondering when I will again get sleep. Brian slept at the boy's house who had the pool party last night, so I need to get him, too. And the little dog has just climbed into my lap, all dismayed at something he sees through the living room window. He can't see out of it unless he is sitting on the couch. Oh, and I also have to go and get the Doll's dog. He obviously can't be left alone. I guess today we'll find out if she broke her foot, or what. Apparently when she got up from that seat, and went up the big step, sh twisted it. Stay tuned. (
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
is this summer?
It's rainy and cold! The other night as I was drifting off to sleep, Brian came in and sprung a request that he be allowed to take a train to Point Pleasant to go to a teen night club. In my subconscious mind, I remembered E was going to go there too, which I found amusing should they both happen to be at the same place. I reluctantly agreed to consider it, but then with the laundromat debacle (more later on that) I was somewhat backed into a corner and had to let him go despite misgivings.
What he ended up doing was taking a train with a bunch of kids, walking about 3/4 of a mile to the boardwalk, where the club is located, going in a funhouse, then going into the club around 9, when it opens for the evening. I had told him I'd pick him up at 10:45, and while I was sitting outside, I could have sworn I saw E walk out with two boys and a girl. I ducked down because I was pretty much parked under a streetlight, didn't think she would be coming out, and by the time I looked back up, she had vanished. Then I had to drive two boys home, and I didn't get home till nearly midnight. And at 4:50, the alarm went off! I can't do this all summer! That dog better learn how to sleep in. (not that it was his fault today, but as soon as he hears someone stir, he starts to cry, and when he goes out, he really does go).
So I had all my laundry packed up and finally got it all out to the car and off to the laundromat. I ended up using one 80 lb washer, three 60 pound washers, and one 40 pounder. Does that mean I had 300 pounds of laundry? I would not be surprised. There was a LOT. It was horrible. At one point I thought I had it down to a manageable amount of folding and then I remembered the jumbo dryer, the one that held about a third of all my clothes! So I didn't end up being done for over three hours in that place. And the washer takes 29 minutes, and the dryer about 40. But it's all done and hopefully will tide us all through the next two weeks. I didn't take any for E, though. I did offer, but she declined so I don't know if she has a plan, but I doubt it. Her room looks like a tornado just went through it, I don't think she realizes that she will not be living here after Friday.
So speaking of E, I haven't seen her since yesterday morning (well, aside from the illicit sneak peek at the night club) and have had just one text, which was in response to a text from me. I guess she figures why ruin her last couple of nights by having to check in, right? What will really grate on my nerves, though, is when she acts like this and then will call and expect a ride home from the taxi service, back to the B&B. I know she thinks she is just being a typical teen; but I still find it rude.
Megan has that ridiculously early swim practice but I see she has just been dropped off. I took her and her friend to Perkins after practice, and the friend's father brought them home. Now she can sleep the rest of the day if she would like, she has to go to the pool club meet, the one she is volunteering to help coach. Then she wanted to get together with some friends. However, she has two laundry baskets (not that again) and a pop-up hamper FULL of clean clothes that need attention.
In other news, the pompom and I start puppy school tonight! Kevin is in Kansas still, and Megan will be at that meet, as long as it isn't rained out. So I may bring Brian with me. The class is 7:45-8:45. I am excited. I think he'll like having a 'job.' Although I'm a little nervous, too. He's so small that I never know how to handle him. I have to put drops in his ears and they're so small that I'm never sure if I even got them in. Today would be our regular lawn mowing day, so we'll see if they got the message and don't show up. I sort of hope that doesn't happen because the grass in the back is taller than the puppy and he's always all wet now. I read somewhere that pomeranians don't like to get their feet wet, but fortunately, he didn't read that. Also since we have had him it has rained practically every day, so he doesn't know much about anything else. I wonder what will happen when it snows! It would be horrible to have this little dog in the winter untrained!
What he ended up doing was taking a train with a bunch of kids, walking about 3/4 of a mile to the boardwalk, where the club is located, going in a funhouse, then going into the club around 9, when it opens for the evening. I had told him I'd pick him up at 10:45, and while I was sitting outside, I could have sworn I saw E walk out with two boys and a girl. I ducked down because I was pretty much parked under a streetlight, didn't think she would be coming out, and by the time I looked back up, she had vanished. Then I had to drive two boys home, and I didn't get home till nearly midnight. And at 4:50, the alarm went off! I can't do this all summer! That dog better learn how to sleep in. (not that it was his fault today, but as soon as he hears someone stir, he starts to cry, and when he goes out, he really does go).
So I had all my laundry packed up and finally got it all out to the car and off to the laundromat. I ended up using one 80 lb washer, three 60 pound washers, and one 40 pounder. Does that mean I had 300 pounds of laundry? I would not be surprised. There was a LOT. It was horrible. At one point I thought I had it down to a manageable amount of folding and then I remembered the jumbo dryer, the one that held about a third of all my clothes! So I didn't end up being done for over three hours in that place. And the washer takes 29 minutes, and the dryer about 40. But it's all done and hopefully will tide us all through the next two weeks. I didn't take any for E, though. I did offer, but she declined so I don't know if she has a plan, but I doubt it. Her room looks like a tornado just went through it, I don't think she realizes that she will not be living here after Friday.
So speaking of E, I haven't seen her since yesterday morning (well, aside from the illicit sneak peek at the night club) and have had just one text, which was in response to a text from me. I guess she figures why ruin her last couple of nights by having to check in, right? What will really grate on my nerves, though, is when she acts like this and then will call and expect a ride home from the taxi service, back to the B&B. I know she thinks she is just being a typical teen; but I still find it rude.
Megan has that ridiculously early swim practice but I see she has just been dropped off. I took her and her friend to Perkins after practice, and the friend's father brought them home. Now she can sleep the rest of the day if she would like, she has to go to the pool club meet, the one she is volunteering to help coach. Then she wanted to get together with some friends. However, she has two laundry baskets (not that again) and a pop-up hamper FULL of clean clothes that need attention.
In other news, the pompom and I start puppy school tonight! Kevin is in Kansas still, and Megan will be at that meet, as long as it isn't rained out. So I may bring Brian with me. The class is 7:45-8:45. I am excited. I think he'll like having a 'job.' Although I'm a little nervous, too. He's so small that I never know how to handle him. I have to put drops in his ears and they're so small that I'm never sure if I even got them in. Today would be our regular lawn mowing day, so we'll see if they got the message and don't show up. I sort of hope that doesn't happen because the grass in the back is taller than the puppy and he's always all wet now. I read somewhere that pomeranians don't like to get their feet wet, but fortunately, he didn't read that. Also since we have had him it has rained practically every day, so he doesn't know much about anything else. I wonder what will happen when it snows! It would be horrible to have this little dog in the winter untrained!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
last day of school
Hard to believe it has finally arrived. Brian's last day of middle school and hopefully his last day in the public school system, if he is back it will mean that the other school didn't work out. E's last day in our school. Megan's chemistry final (ack). And my last day of peace and quiet! (haha) But it's only a half day and I plan to load up the car with four laundry baskets, two hampers, a jumbo laundry bag, a dry cleaning bag, a trash bag, and a large grocery bag full of dirty clothes and take them to a laundromat. I'm scared.
The guy came yesterday to fix the washer. He didn't seem like he really knew what was going on with it, but after a phone consultation, he told me that he has to order a part and he has to schedule his return visit for more than ten business days from yesterday, not including yesterday. So I am stuck, it's ridiculous. $1500 for a washer/dryer and you can't even use it a year and a half later. After it's all fixed I'll try sending them the bill for the laundry, but I doubt it will matter. How do you even prove how many quarters you have put in anyway?
The dog is working out pretty well, all things considered, like sleep. He is very good about settling down when he is put into his "room," although I try not to abuse that behavior. I have taken to keeping him on his leash whenever he is loose in the house so that he won't go sniffing around on carpets or eating every little piece of plastic or power cord that he finds. At night he sleeps from 10:30 till the alarm goes off, which unfortunately with Kevin is 5am, not that Kevin gets up at 5, but Duke and I do. Yes, his name is Duke. It stuck after that first day. I call him pompom, and he likes that, but Duke is his name when he isn't behaving, or when anyone else is talking to him. And he loves his walks! when he runs, he looks like a bunny rabbit. Molly is starting to nudge for more attention, but most of the time she just lies around as usual. And all of the cats are almost totally adjusted, except for Puff, but even she is getting better.
Kevin is off to Kansas for the night, so I would say we'd get some sleep, but Megan starts her morning swim practices tomorrow, so, so much for that. She has to be there around 6 in the morning. And this weather is not conducive to outdoor practices in unheated pools! She starts her swim team volunteering tonight and tomorrow, and then she starts at the school and the hospital the week after 4th of July. She will work one day a week in the volunteer office, and one day in physical therapy. So that will be good, will give her an idea if that is really something she wants to pursue in school. I also found out that the PT programs often require experience of about 80-100 hours, paid or unpaid, working in a PT setting. And the teacher that she is assigned to work with at the school is also the district autism coordinator, so that will give her something else to learn about this summer.
As for E, she continues to push the curfew back a few minutes, and is frantically trying to make plans for fun times for her last THREE (yes,folks,3) nights here! Although she was invited to a sleepover on the last night, she wisely declined, and invited some girls here instead, to help her pack. However, she is just not packed AT ALL right now. Her room looks like a Godawful mess. I can't even believe she will have it all ready to go by Friday morning. This is basically the way she has been with everything all year though, so why should I be surprised?
And in other news, I am trying to figure out how I can get a job and earn a little extra money. I'm really concerned about how the automated sub calling system is going affect the amount of days I am able to work, if it's really competitive to select jobs, then how do you ever get them unless you can sit there on the computer all day long? Teachers can request a "favorite five" but even then I am still in competition with four other people who want to work, assuming I even make anyone's "top five" or an administrator's top-whatever (they have unlimited favorites). If you are not on a favorite list, I don't know how you ever even get jobs. Better be worried about those jobs that actually make it out for grabs, because there are so many levels they seem to go through before they become available for general acceptance.
Otherwise, things are fairly mellow. The summer will bring with it all that it usually does, swim team trips, the slew of doctor visits and school forms to be filled in, the beach, and summer reading. The added bonus this year of the trip to London gives me TMJ at night, after watching the news about swine flu, AF 447, the pilot who died midflight, and now North Korea and their nuclear war antics. And the latest on Air France didn't help - the Bolivian news that reported the photos from the last minutes of the breakup, which of course turned out to be just an episode of Lost which was most helpful in giving me a visual that I can keep in my mind for the entire 8 hours on that British Air plane. Oh right, forgot to mention. We picked the airline that has asked its employees to work for free.
The guy came yesterday to fix the washer. He didn't seem like he really knew what was going on with it, but after a phone consultation, he told me that he has to order a part and he has to schedule his return visit for more than ten business days from yesterday, not including yesterday. So I am stuck, it's ridiculous. $1500 for a washer/dryer and you can't even use it a year and a half later. After it's all fixed I'll try sending them the bill for the laundry, but I doubt it will matter. How do you even prove how many quarters you have put in anyway?
The dog is working out pretty well, all things considered, like sleep. He is very good about settling down when he is put into his "room," although I try not to abuse that behavior. I have taken to keeping him on his leash whenever he is loose in the house so that he won't go sniffing around on carpets or eating every little piece of plastic or power cord that he finds. At night he sleeps from 10:30 till the alarm goes off, which unfortunately with Kevin is 5am, not that Kevin gets up at 5, but Duke and I do. Yes, his name is Duke. It stuck after that first day. I call him pompom, and he likes that, but Duke is his name when he isn't behaving, or when anyone else is talking to him. And he loves his walks! when he runs, he looks like a bunny rabbit. Molly is starting to nudge for more attention, but most of the time she just lies around as usual. And all of the cats are almost totally adjusted, except for Puff, but even she is getting better.
Kevin is off to Kansas for the night, so I would say we'd get some sleep, but Megan starts her morning swim practices tomorrow, so, so much for that. She has to be there around 6 in the morning. And this weather is not conducive to outdoor practices in unheated pools! She starts her swim team volunteering tonight and tomorrow, and then she starts at the school and the hospital the week after 4th of July. She will work one day a week in the volunteer office, and one day in physical therapy. So that will be good, will give her an idea if that is really something she wants to pursue in school. I also found out that the PT programs often require experience of about 80-100 hours, paid or unpaid, working in a PT setting. And the teacher that she is assigned to work with at the school is also the district autism coordinator, so that will give her something else to learn about this summer.
As for E, she continues to push the curfew back a few minutes, and is frantically trying to make plans for fun times for her last THREE (yes,folks,3) nights here! Although she was invited to a sleepover on the last night, she wisely declined, and invited some girls here instead, to help her pack. However, she is just not packed AT ALL right now. Her room looks like a Godawful mess. I can't even believe she will have it all ready to go by Friday morning. This is basically the way she has been with everything all year though, so why should I be surprised?
And in other news, I am trying to figure out how I can get a job and earn a little extra money. I'm really concerned about how the automated sub calling system is going affect the amount of days I am able to work, if it's really competitive to select jobs, then how do you ever get them unless you can sit there on the computer all day long? Teachers can request a "favorite five" but even then I am still in competition with four other people who want to work, assuming I even make anyone's "top five" or an administrator's top-whatever (they have unlimited favorites). If you are not on a favorite list, I don't know how you ever even get jobs. Better be worried about those jobs that actually make it out for grabs, because there are so many levels they seem to go through before they become available for general acceptance.
Otherwise, things are fairly mellow. The summer will bring with it all that it usually does, swim team trips, the slew of doctor visits and school forms to be filled in, the beach, and summer reading. The added bonus this year of the trip to London gives me TMJ at night, after watching the news about swine flu, AF 447, the pilot who died midflight, and now North Korea and their nuclear war antics. And the latest on Air France didn't help - the Bolivian news that reported the photos from the last minutes of the breakup, which of course turned out to be just an episode of Lost which was most helpful in giving me a visual that I can keep in my mind for the entire 8 hours on that British Air plane. Oh right, forgot to mention. We picked the airline that has asked its employees to work for free.
Friday, June 19, 2009
the backyard pool is safe!
Megan passed her lifeguarding class! That was eight long weeks of torture! But in the end, he passed them all, despite his threats to possibly not do so. Of course, she has no lifeguarding job, but if she picks one up towards the end of the summer, she can at least get a little experience and a little pay (hopefully) and even if not, this way she won't have to tie up eight long weeks for five hours at a time when she's getting ready for SATs and finals for her junior year classes, which will be the ones the colleges will be looking at. So, that's done.
In PuppyLand, things are crazy! He is so cute but he IS a puppy! Both Megan and E let him out of his crate yesterday without taking him directly outside, then failed to supervise him, and he peed on the family room rug. This morning I took him out and he peed. I brought him in and went up to get his crate so he could go into it for breakfast, and he followed me up (his new skill) and went straight to Brian's room to dump! I snatched him up with just one turd deposited, and put him outside, where he just sat down and looked at me. So, some setbacks.
I think I have confused him. I tried teaching him to sit, because I finally got some pupperoni that I felt like he could have for a training treat. He learned sit really quickly, but then when I took him out and told him to "hurry up" (his bathroom command), he sat! He also very much enjoys the pupperoni and seems to feel that he should be entitled to it 'just because.' And this morning, I had him out back, and he discovered another trick: he can fit through the fence! So he has to be watched very closely. He was out running around on the other side!
But he did sleep through the night, and all the cats seem to have accepted him. They all showed up for breakfast this morning, and Puff even came to me and purred in the middle of the night, after practically no Puff sightings at all in two days. Then she ate some of her breakfast before retreating to her cave under the couch.
Speaking of the backyard, apparently Kevin called the lawn guy and told him not to come again, he is also mad because they always unplug the pump from the pool cover and disconnect the drainage hoses and never put them back. They also pull the little solar lights out and leave them lying on the ground. But the guy hasn't returned my call, inquiring as the fate of my azalea. I am just astounded that they would do that! But now we have nobody to cut the grass, and with all this rain, it's reaching for the sky. I did go by one of my favorite garden centers and they still had the $10 azaleas, last year's unpurchased shrubs that have been growing in their pots for a year. So we can put that one in the hole, and hopefully with a good season of care, it can look almost as good as its ill-fated predecessor.
In other news, Kevin is on his way back from Denmark, E is preparing to celebrate her last weekend in NJ, Duke (or TomTom the PomPom) is sleeping on the floor, and Megan is in the midst of finals. The washer is still not working, and neither is our kitchen light. It's as if we have a poltergeist in the house. But the good news is that the sun is shining, although it may not continue to do so for long!
In PuppyLand, things are crazy! He is so cute but he IS a puppy! Both Megan and E let him out of his crate yesterday without taking him directly outside, then failed to supervise him, and he peed on the family room rug. This morning I took him out and he peed. I brought him in and went up to get his crate so he could go into it for breakfast, and he followed me up (his new skill) and went straight to Brian's room to dump! I snatched him up with just one turd deposited, and put him outside, where he just sat down and looked at me. So, some setbacks.
I think I have confused him. I tried teaching him to sit, because I finally got some pupperoni that I felt like he could have for a training treat. He learned sit really quickly, but then when I took him out and told him to "hurry up" (his bathroom command), he sat! He also very much enjoys the pupperoni and seems to feel that he should be entitled to it 'just because.' And this morning, I had him out back, and he discovered another trick: he can fit through the fence! So he has to be watched very closely. He was out running around on the other side!
But he did sleep through the night, and all the cats seem to have accepted him. They all showed up for breakfast this morning, and Puff even came to me and purred in the middle of the night, after practically no Puff sightings at all in two days. Then she ate some of her breakfast before retreating to her cave under the couch.
Speaking of the backyard, apparently Kevin called the lawn guy and told him not to come again, he is also mad because they always unplug the pump from the pool cover and disconnect the drainage hoses and never put them back. They also pull the little solar lights out and leave them lying on the ground. But the guy hasn't returned my call, inquiring as the fate of my azalea. I am just astounded that they would do that! But now we have nobody to cut the grass, and with all this rain, it's reaching for the sky. I did go by one of my favorite garden centers and they still had the $10 azaleas, last year's unpurchased shrubs that have been growing in their pots for a year. So we can put that one in the hole, and hopefully with a good season of care, it can look almost as good as its ill-fated predecessor.
In other news, Kevin is on his way back from Denmark, E is preparing to celebrate her last weekend in NJ, Duke (or TomTom the PomPom) is sleeping on the floor, and Megan is in the midst of finals. The washer is still not working, and neither is our kitchen light. It's as if we have a poltergeist in the house. But the good news is that the sun is shining, although it may not continue to do so for long!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
horticultural heist!
So we have been using the same landscaper for the past three years, on the recommendation of a friend. The guy has not sent us a contract or a bill in two years, and is already into his third season of mowing. I regularly "tour" my yard and admire all the shrubs and their progress, in case nobody noticed based on the photo documentation that I send around every spring! Today, I noticed a large round patch of dirt in between the holly and the andromeda bush. What? What was there? Surely not one of my pink azaleas! But yes! That is exactly what it was! Horror!
So I finally got hold of Kevin to get the phone number of the lawn guy. I called and left a message to the effect that my shrub is now missing, and I am sure it was here yesterday, and they were here today and perhaps he could ask them what they know about my missing shrub, and then he can let me know. I took a bunch of pictures of the hole.
Now, I am well aware that thieves may sneak up in the night and pillage gardens. But why would these villains take the time to carefully fill the hole and then tamp down the dirt? That makes no sense at all. More likely, the lawn guys either whacked it so badly with the weedwhacker that they decided I'd be less likely to notice if they just removed the entire bush, or, as E said, they were actually planning blackmail, as in, "give me my money and I'll give you your azalea."
Which leads me to the next part of the story. After going through this on the phone with Kevin, I came inside and noticed someone had brought in the mail. In the mail was a bill from the landscaper. A bill for $4000! A small amount for the first year and more for the second, still more for this year, which hasn't even started. I didn't review the bills closely, because I was too dumbfounded. They stole our azalea, removed it without a trace, and now they're billing us for $4000? I looked up the statute of limitations and it's six years.
We obviously will have to pay it, but certainly we can't be expected to pay it all at once. And since everything was so vague, we have no proof of any contact being attempted. We only had a cell number for the guy, his mailbox was usually full, and he wouldn't usually return the calls when it wasn't. Also, I want credit for my missing shrub and clarification on the amounts being billed. I think he pulls them out of thin air. I can't even remember the last time I actually saw HIM around the house, just his guys.
So that is the big debacle. The washing machine has also gone back on the fritz. irreversibly this time, it seems, so I called in service using my fancy new warranty. They're coming Monday. Meanwhile, Brian broke a wire on his brace (again) and asked to be taken in to have it fixed. I got an appointment for 1pm tomorrow. So what happens? Seems my year of subbing had a little more left to it. I got a call asking me to work tomorrow and Friday 10-1:30 (can't do tomorrow, she never called me back when I asked if she wanted me to take just Friday) and Monday morning (have to wait for the washer guy; could reschedule but it takes forever to get them on the phone at Sears). So it looks like my subbing year is, in fact, over, as I had originally thought. So those two crises cost me $85.
In other news, the new puppy (oh yeah! forgot to mention him) is settling in pretty well, although he just learned a hard lesson at the hand (er, paw) of Buddy. He was bouncing around and chasing and bowing, and the next thing I knew he was yelping and running to me. Now he is back in his puppy bed, and Buddy is watching him. Actually, they're both sound asleep now. He hasn't had any accidents in the house, unless I count today when I came home and let him out, and he leaked on the floor when I leaned over to talk to him. But I don't count that. He's been going outside a lot, but we watch him very closely inside, so I don't know if he'd go as freely in here if given the opportunity.
And I am also trying to get him used to riding in the car; today he just drooled a lot. I had him at the vet and other than ear mites, he was looking pretty good. Hopefully by the time Kevin returns from Denmark on Friday, he will be a well trained dog. Oh, and last news: finals starting tomorrow!
So I finally got hold of Kevin to get the phone number of the lawn guy. I called and left a message to the effect that my shrub is now missing, and I am sure it was here yesterday, and they were here today and perhaps he could ask them what they know about my missing shrub, and then he can let me know. I took a bunch of pictures of the hole.
Now, I am well aware that thieves may sneak up in the night and pillage gardens. But why would these villains take the time to carefully fill the hole and then tamp down the dirt? That makes no sense at all. More likely, the lawn guys either whacked it so badly with the weedwhacker that they decided I'd be less likely to notice if they just removed the entire bush, or, as E said, they were actually planning blackmail, as in, "give me my money and I'll give you your azalea."
Which leads me to the next part of the story. After going through this on the phone with Kevin, I came inside and noticed someone had brought in the mail. In the mail was a bill from the landscaper. A bill for $4000! A small amount for the first year and more for the second, still more for this year, which hasn't even started. I didn't review the bills closely, because I was too dumbfounded. They stole our azalea, removed it without a trace, and now they're billing us for $4000? I looked up the statute of limitations and it's six years.
We obviously will have to pay it, but certainly we can't be expected to pay it all at once. And since everything was so vague, we have no proof of any contact being attempted. We only had a cell number for the guy, his mailbox was usually full, and he wouldn't usually return the calls when it wasn't. Also, I want credit for my missing shrub and clarification on the amounts being billed. I think he pulls them out of thin air. I can't even remember the last time I actually saw HIM around the house, just his guys.
So that is the big debacle. The washing machine has also gone back on the fritz. irreversibly this time, it seems, so I called in service using my fancy new warranty. They're coming Monday. Meanwhile, Brian broke a wire on his brace (again) and asked to be taken in to have it fixed. I got an appointment for 1pm tomorrow. So what happens? Seems my year of subbing had a little more left to it. I got a call asking me to work tomorrow and Friday 10-1:30 (can't do tomorrow, she never called me back when I asked if she wanted me to take just Friday) and Monday morning (have to wait for the washer guy; could reschedule but it takes forever to get them on the phone at Sears). So it looks like my subbing year is, in fact, over, as I had originally thought. So those two crises cost me $85.
In other news, the new puppy (oh yeah! forgot to mention him) is settling in pretty well, although he just learned a hard lesson at the hand (er, paw) of Buddy. He was bouncing around and chasing and bowing, and the next thing I knew he was yelping and running to me. Now he is back in his puppy bed, and Buddy is watching him. Actually, they're both sound asleep now. He hasn't had any accidents in the house, unless I count today when I came home and let him out, and he leaked on the floor when I leaned over to talk to him. But I don't count that. He's been going outside a lot, but we watch him very closely inside, so I don't know if he'd go as freely in here if given the opportunity.
And I am also trying to get him used to riding in the car; today he just drooled a lot. I had him at the vet and other than ear mites, he was looking pretty good. Hopefully by the time Kevin returns from Denmark on Friday, he will be a well trained dog. Oh, and last news: finals starting tomorrow!
Monday, June 15, 2009
monday monday monday
So it's already Monday again. Next Monday will be E's last Monday with us! I cannot believe the year it's been. We have had some good times, and undeniably some bad ones as well. But I think in the end we can all say the year has ended on a successful note. I did get upset with some of E's ways the other night: going out all the time, not really respecting curfews, and spending almost all of her time at home in her room on the computer. She argued this by saying the curfew violations were not her fault (truly, are they ever? :-) ) and that she thinks that she is just acting like a normal teenager. So I felt better enough to get me through the next two weeks without another blowup.
However, I can't say the same about the agency. If we ever do this again, and I would, but Kevin is difficult about it, I would use a different agency. It couldn't be worse, surely, so it could only be better. But the agency feels that it is my problem. But there are things that they don't know that I can't really get into on this blog anyway, so I have decided to just wash my hands of them. Not that they have offered us any student profiles to look at anyway. If they did, I would look - how could I not? I made Kevin go to the last gathering and he said they have no students placed for next year. Funny, I'm pretty sure that our school is going to host at least one, but through a different agency. The rep is too far away anyway. Forty minutes is too far to have to travel, which is why she couldn't be bothered to come and see us.
Anyway, enough about that. Megan's meet this weekend was fairly successful. She swam really well in the 400 free Friday night, actually beating her time and winning the whole event, so that was nice. Then she came in second the next day in the 200 free, but I don't really know if that's going to be her official position. The girl who actually beat her is 18 and in college, and therefore unofficial, and the one who is listed as being in first has a blatant error in her time, as I believe it could be in world record contention were it a true time. I wouldn't allow her to go yesterday so she could get some rest leading up to finals, which start on Thursday and run through Tuesday, the last day of school.
And I got the Explorer back! I was so excited. It no longer shrieks along the highway and I can drive it without having to watch the odomoter for overage violations. The only bad thing is the creeping-up price of gas again, but so far it's still manageable, at about $40 a tank. Of course I filled up Saturday and it's below a quarter already, but that includes a trip to Princeton. Oh, and speaking of Princeton, just as Megan was about to swim, they called a lightning delay. That was funny, because it was the same thing that happened last March when someone pulled the fire alarm at Rutgers right before she swam the 500.
In other news, sadly, the baby birds seem to have perished in their nest and we don't know why. They were in there and doing well and then two days later, E noticed maggots all over the birdhouse. Kevin took it apart and found two dead babies. So we don't know if there were more and they got away, or if the evil blue jay ate the parents, or what happened to them. Very sad. I just came from an eternally boring training session for the district's new sub calling system for the fall. I have mixed feelings, so stay tuned until fall to see how this is going to turn out!
However, I can't say the same about the agency. If we ever do this again, and I would, but Kevin is difficult about it, I would use a different agency. It couldn't be worse, surely, so it could only be better. But the agency feels that it is my problem. But there are things that they don't know that I can't really get into on this blog anyway, so I have decided to just wash my hands of them. Not that they have offered us any student profiles to look at anyway. If they did, I would look - how could I not? I made Kevin go to the last gathering and he said they have no students placed for next year. Funny, I'm pretty sure that our school is going to host at least one, but through a different agency. The rep is too far away anyway. Forty minutes is too far to have to travel, which is why she couldn't be bothered to come and see us.
Anyway, enough about that. Megan's meet this weekend was fairly successful. She swam really well in the 400 free Friday night, actually beating her time and winning the whole event, so that was nice. Then she came in second the next day in the 200 free, but I don't really know if that's going to be her official position. The girl who actually beat her is 18 and in college, and therefore unofficial, and the one who is listed as being in first has a blatant error in her time, as I believe it could be in world record contention were it a true time. I wouldn't allow her to go yesterday so she could get some rest leading up to finals, which start on Thursday and run through Tuesday, the last day of school.
And I got the Explorer back! I was so excited. It no longer shrieks along the highway and I can drive it without having to watch the odomoter for overage violations. The only bad thing is the creeping-up price of gas again, but so far it's still manageable, at about $40 a tank. Of course I filled up Saturday and it's below a quarter already, but that includes a trip to Princeton. Oh, and speaking of Princeton, just as Megan was about to swim, they called a lightning delay. That was funny, because it was the same thing that happened last March when someone pulled the fire alarm at Rutgers right before she swam the 500.
In other news, sadly, the baby birds seem to have perished in their nest and we don't know why. They were in there and doing well and then two days later, E noticed maggots all over the birdhouse. Kevin took it apart and found two dead babies. So we don't know if there were more and they got away, or if the evil blue jay ate the parents, or what happened to them. Very sad. I just came from an eternally boring training session for the district's new sub calling system for the fall. I have mixed feelings, so stay tuned until fall to see how this is going to turn out!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
is that the sun?
Really! The sun? Have not seen it in weeks, it seems - aside from a brief appearance last weekend when we were too busy to enjoy it. Now, today, again, I will spend the entire day in the Princeton U natatorium watching Megan swim - twice in six hours of waiting. This was my choice,though, because I am sending Kevin with E and Brian to the student year end meeting. I sent my evaluations in already, and hopefully gave the rep a fair but not that glowing rating.
Yesterday was the Doll's birthday so I got her a gift certificate which she can use for a fancy manicure and pedicure if she wants, or for her hair. Then we took her to dinner, just E and I, because Megan and Kevin were at Princeton (she came in first in the 400 free!) and Brian was out running wild (which has to stop). We'll all take her out again tomorrow, for the real celebration when everyone is together.
And today, I pick up my Explorer. I saw it yesterday! I drove down to pay for it so that I can just go and get it while they're closed, or whatever. The dealership is in the process of being taken over by the dealership across the street, which is why they fired everyone in the middle of the whole ordeal. In the end, hopefully that worked in our favor, because under the old regime, the price just kept going up and up and up, and this new guy came in and capped it, admittedly at a staggering figure, but at least not much more than the old car payments used to be, when I had them. So as soon as Kevin is up, he'll take me down to get it. I should probably bring a respirator. It's been sitting out in the heat for days, if not weeks, and the baby puke smell is going to be brutal.
Anyway, it's the weekend at last, and the last one before the last full week of school, if I can even call it that because only the first three days are full days. Then the high school has finals and the rest have half days. Megan finishes her lifeguarding class on Thursday, so she may end up certified, but who knows - the guy is kind of a fool, keeps them way longer than the other teacher on the other night, and told them that he won't hesitate to fail half the class, although she doesn't think that was directed towards her group. So we'll see. The class is supposed to be about 32 hours long, hers will end up being close to 40. The Wednesday class always ended earlier in the evening, and their sessions ended a full week sooner. And to think I originally had her in that one, but switched her because of her swim schedule!
In other news, the wake was really sad, and I still don't really know how the poor guy died, but I am sure it was heart/stroke related. It was obviously very sudden and nobody really asked the distraught daughter when she called with the news. The baby birds have indeed flown the nest, but I think I see some wrens feeding their babies across the yard. I had really wanted to see the babies leave, but they did it while I was at work on Thursday. By the time I got home, the house was silent.
Yesterday was the Doll's birthday so I got her a gift certificate which she can use for a fancy manicure and pedicure if she wants, or for her hair. Then we took her to dinner, just E and I, because Megan and Kevin were at Princeton (she came in first in the 400 free!) and Brian was out running wild (which has to stop). We'll all take her out again tomorrow, for the real celebration when everyone is together.
And today, I pick up my Explorer. I saw it yesterday! I drove down to pay for it so that I can just go and get it while they're closed, or whatever. The dealership is in the process of being taken over by the dealership across the street, which is why they fired everyone in the middle of the whole ordeal. In the end, hopefully that worked in our favor, because under the old regime, the price just kept going up and up and up, and this new guy came in and capped it, admittedly at a staggering figure, but at least not much more than the old car payments used to be, when I had them. So as soon as Kevin is up, he'll take me down to get it. I should probably bring a respirator. It's been sitting out in the heat for days, if not weeks, and the baby puke smell is going to be brutal.
Anyway, it's the weekend at last, and the last one before the last full week of school, if I can even call it that because only the first three days are full days. Then the high school has finals and the rest have half days. Megan finishes her lifeguarding class on Thursday, so she may end up certified, but who knows - the guy is kind of a fool, keeps them way longer than the other teacher on the other night, and told them that he won't hesitate to fail half the class, although she doesn't think that was directed towards her group. So we'll see. The class is supposed to be about 32 hours long, hers will end up being close to 40. The Wednesday class always ended earlier in the evening, and their sessions ended a full week sooner. And to think I originally had her in that one, but switched her because of her swim schedule!
In other news, the wake was really sad, and I still don't really know how the poor guy died, but I am sure it was heart/stroke related. It was obviously very sudden and nobody really asked the distraught daughter when she called with the news. The baby birds have indeed flown the nest, but I think I see some wrens feeding their babies across the yard. I had really wanted to see the babies leave, but they did it while I was at work on Thursday. By the time I got home, the house was silent.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
some things to think about
Well, the washer worked. It cost me $26 for the repairman to advise me to buy the extended warranty. He called his 'buddy' who works for Kenmore while he was here and the guy told him that the fault codes we've been getting make for some expensive repairs. So I finished all my laundry, told everyone else not to use it for a few days, and set up the warranty. So now, if it breaks, it is fixed for free. If you can call $589 for three years of coverage "free." That also covers the dryer, which has been working but does squeak a bit. So maybe I'll make use of the "free" tune-up service that comes along with the multi-million dollar warranty plan.
The Explorer is done, while we are talking big-ticket repairs, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how I'm going to get down there to pick it up. I can pay over the phone, but I still need the car back by the weekend. If I drive my Honda to Princeton for this swim meet I'll be way over the mileage. I'm already about 250 miles over for the month, still with a week to go.
And I got my Bruce tickets! But I had to pay the top seat price, $98 apiece. Of course that means we got pretty good seats, and they're for the very last concert ever at Giants Stadium. I hope it doesn't rain! Also, I am so annoyed about "No Fee Wednesdays," the latest LiveNation promotion. I just bought five tickets to a Blink-182 concert in August, for Brian's birthday. Today I checked, and the price would have been $60 less for the same tickets if I had waited till this morning!! :X
And so we are heading for the poorhouse. Also broken is the kitchen light, which just refuses to work. I guess we have to replace that, as well as the front door, which requires duct tape to keep it from getting stuck shut. There is some sort of poltergeist around here, I think.
Anyway, in other news, the fair is in town and tonight is the wake for Brian's piano teacher. Brian and I are going alone. Megan can't come, she has to swim, and Kevin will just stay at work and come home so he'll be here in case we aren't back to pick her up in time. The baby birds on the porch are growing so big that you can see body parts if you peer through the hole. I imagine sometime around this weekend they will be ready to leave the nest. Quite a challenge it is keeping Wren the cat inside these days! Yesterday she escaped and it took an hour and a half of us guarding the birdhouse before she finally let me capture her.
The Explorer is done, while we are talking big-ticket repairs, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how I'm going to get down there to pick it up. I can pay over the phone, but I still need the car back by the weekend. If I drive my Honda to Princeton for this swim meet I'll be way over the mileage. I'm already about 250 miles over for the month, still with a week to go.
And I got my Bruce tickets! But I had to pay the top seat price, $98 apiece. Of course that means we got pretty good seats, and they're for the very last concert ever at Giants Stadium. I hope it doesn't rain! Also, I am so annoyed about "No Fee Wednesdays," the latest LiveNation promotion. I just bought five tickets to a Blink-182 concert in August, for Brian's birthday. Today I checked, and the price would have been $60 less for the same tickets if I had waited till this morning!! :X
And so we are heading for the poorhouse. Also broken is the kitchen light, which just refuses to work. I guess we have to replace that, as well as the front door, which requires duct tape to keep it from getting stuck shut. There is some sort of poltergeist around here, I think.
Anyway, in other news, the fair is in town and tonight is the wake for Brian's piano teacher. Brian and I are going alone. Megan can't come, she has to swim, and Kevin will just stay at work and come home so he'll be here in case we aren't back to pick her up in time. The baby birds on the porch are growing so big that you can see body parts if you peer through the hole. I imagine sometime around this weekend they will be ready to leave the nest. Quite a challenge it is keeping Wren the cat inside these days! Yesterday she escaped and it took an hour and a half of us guarding the birdhouse before she finally let me capture her.
Monday, June 8, 2009
waiting, waiting
The washer repair man is coming today. And so, the washer is working. E threw in a load of clothes on Saturday and I managed to get it clean after the washer stalled several times during the process. Since then, it has worked without incident. The repairman called this morning and said he will be here between 11 and 2, and I told him it's working again but he said that was fine, he can still diagnose it. I just want it to work, but I'm afraid to cancel him and have it conk out again.
So he will probably arrive right at noon, because I am planning to order tickets to the Bruce concert for the October 9. I already have my ticketmaster account all signed in and up to date, but the tickets will go quickly. I had Kevin on the job when the other concerts went on sale and I had to work, and he failed, perhaps by design. Since it's a Friday night, I'm going to try for four tickets, even though they may be $98 apiece plus the robber baron fees. I'll call it my anniversary present.
No word yet on the Explorer, but it should be getting repaired this week, and should cost us $800 and no more. I'm not going to be able to drive the Honda for a month to bring the mileage back down after all this driving without the backup vehicle!
This weekend was a whirlwind as always. Saturday morning Megan had practice down at the beach, so I took her and that was my entire morning. Brian wanted to go to a party in the afternoon and we were having James and the Doll over, along with James' new girlfriend (!) so we had to run around getting ready for that, too. It was a very nice dinner after all, but I wish I had had more time (in good weather) to prepare. Everything was wet outside, and the house was a mess inside as well! I managed to somewhat pull it together, but never is it totally presentable.
Yesterday was the river swim in Rumson. Megan registered for the 1.2 mile, but then switched to the 2.4; and the results got all messed up. As it stands right now, I think she finished 19th out of all the swimmers, perhaps a few hundred. I think she was the fourth 19-and under female finisher. But they still have her in the results with an incorrect time, so she is way down there. Consult Facebook for photos.
Brian had what may have been his final baseball game yesterday, and they tied. Which is better than losing, and also the first time they have not lost, in the two years he's been on the team! The team never had practice, and they had no team spirit at all. With that being their last game, they just all went their separate ways as they did at every other game. So, onward and upward. Maybe he can play intramural sports in high school. Today he and Kevin are at the father/son golf outing. Brian had to go in to school first, because he had to prove to his music teacher that he had completed an assignment and turned it in. He didn't have the original, of course, being Brian, it was in his locker and that was too much of a mess to search, so he just reprinted those sections. Although he still needed to search the locker. So I guess I'll hear later on how that turned out.
Anyway, in other news, I got some very bad news yesterday. Brian's former piano teacher, and the music teacher from the elementary school, died yesterday! He was 50 years old. I know he had had a stent placed a year or two ago but I thought he was in good health. I know his job was a bit stressful with all the performances he coordinates at the end of each year, but he seemed unaffected by all that. In fact, other teachers even laughed at how they would be suffering from panic attacks at the kids' behaviors, and this guy would just be singing away, while playing his piano. He was a really nice guy, a bit disorganized but really cared about the kids. Strangely, Brian was playing the piano for James and the Doll on Saturday, which is something he hasn't done in months. Then I went out to get Megan and kept thinking I saw things moving in the shadows, and had a very creepy feeling while I was out at night. Then the next day, I got the message from his daughter on my cell phone. The services will be Wednesday and Thursday. We'll probably just go to the wake and leave the funeral for close friends and family. Very sad news.
So he will probably arrive right at noon, because I am planning to order tickets to the Bruce concert for the October 9. I already have my ticketmaster account all signed in and up to date, but the tickets will go quickly. I had Kevin on the job when the other concerts went on sale and I had to work, and he failed, perhaps by design. Since it's a Friday night, I'm going to try for four tickets, even though they may be $98 apiece plus the robber baron fees. I'll call it my anniversary present.
No word yet on the Explorer, but it should be getting repaired this week, and should cost us $800 and no more. I'm not going to be able to drive the Honda for a month to bring the mileage back down after all this driving without the backup vehicle!
This weekend was a whirlwind as always. Saturday morning Megan had practice down at the beach, so I took her and that was my entire morning. Brian wanted to go to a party in the afternoon and we were having James and the Doll over, along with James' new girlfriend (!) so we had to run around getting ready for that, too. It was a very nice dinner after all, but I wish I had had more time (in good weather) to prepare. Everything was wet outside, and the house was a mess inside as well! I managed to somewhat pull it together, but never is it totally presentable.
Yesterday was the river swim in Rumson. Megan registered for the 1.2 mile, but then switched to the 2.4; and the results got all messed up. As it stands right now, I think she finished 19th out of all the swimmers, perhaps a few hundred. I think she was the fourth 19-and under female finisher. But they still have her in the results with an incorrect time, so she is way down there. Consult Facebook for photos.
Brian had what may have been his final baseball game yesterday, and they tied. Which is better than losing, and also the first time they have not lost, in the two years he's been on the team! The team never had practice, and they had no team spirit at all. With that being their last game, they just all went their separate ways as they did at every other game. So, onward and upward. Maybe he can play intramural sports in high school. Today he and Kevin are at the father/son golf outing. Brian had to go in to school first, because he had to prove to his music teacher that he had completed an assignment and turned it in. He didn't have the original, of course, being Brian, it was in his locker and that was too much of a mess to search, so he just reprinted those sections. Although he still needed to search the locker. So I guess I'll hear later on how that turned out.
Anyway, in other news, I got some very bad news yesterday. Brian's former piano teacher, and the music teacher from the elementary school, died yesterday! He was 50 years old. I know he had had a stent placed a year or two ago but I thought he was in good health. I know his job was a bit stressful with all the performances he coordinates at the end of each year, but he seemed unaffected by all that. In fact, other teachers even laughed at how they would be suffering from panic attacks at the kids' behaviors, and this guy would just be singing away, while playing his piano. He was a really nice guy, a bit disorganized but really cared about the kids. Strangely, Brian was playing the piano for James and the Doll on Saturday, which is something he hasn't done in months. Then I went out to get Megan and kept thinking I saw things moving in the shadows, and had a very creepy feeling while I was out at night. Then the next day, I got the message from his daughter on my cell phone. The services will be Wednesday and Thursday. We'll probably just go to the wake and leave the funeral for close friends and family. Very sad news.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
it's raining in more ways than one
And it is. It rains every day now, at some time or other. That's really OK with me, because we need the rain anyway, and the plants get watered, and it isn't really summer yet anyway so everyone is in school. Today, since I'm not working, I don't have to worry about being trapped in a classroom for indoor recess with kids who really think school ended when they turned their calendars to June. So that's a good thing.
And today should be the day when I hear from Ford, hopefully soon will get the truck back. We dropped it off there two weeks ago tonight. I'm sure the thing reeks worse than ever, but I don't even care! I am prepared to attack it with a sponge, a vacuum, and a bottle of enzymatic cleaner. Which I will need to buy anyway.
A cat has decided to pee on the laundry. I think it's probably Buddy and he's probably mad because the litterboxes smell so bad. The reason they smell so bad is because I had to suddenly change their cat food. As I think I posted, I went to buy a new bag only to find that the bag they had been eating for the past month had been recalled for errors in formulation. No wonder it took them so long to eat it, but their cat poop didn't smell as bad when they ate that one! So they like this new one better, I guess, or else they can just tell it hasn't been poisoned. They gobble it all up and then go stink up the litterboxes, forcing those who take offense to seek alternate venues for elimination.
I had emailed Nutro when I first found out, because I can't return an empty bag for a refund, and I don't feel like it anyway, for $10. They emailed me back and they want me to call them. They pride themselves in their products, and would like to discuss the matter with me in more detail. I will make that call today. Maybe I can at least get a bag of the good stuff when they figure out how to make it without poisoning the cats of America.
So that was in the laundry room. And I put the peed on clothes in the washer and pushed the start button. And nothing happened. So I tried again. It beeped at me, but it wouldn't start. I walked away and it hollered for me to come back. "F70!!!" it screamed in red letters. F70? I had seen F71 but as best I could tell, that meant, turn me off and back on again, and I'll work. Not so this time. After a short time of grappling on the internet and then a phone call to the service number, I managed to get it started again. The woman transferred me to warranty, saying that I should get the warranty now, while it is working, because that way if it really goes bad, I won't have to pay.
This obviously makes sense, within reason. I spoke to the guy and it's something like $400 for two years and $600 for three. This is for the washer AND the dryer, the latter of which has yet to cause trouble. We've had these two pricey models since November 2007. A year and a half, and the most expensive appliances we've ever purchased, the top of the line Kenmore Elites, are conking out. I told the guy I would call back, and hunted online a little more. After reading this: http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/product-review-sears-kenmore-elite-washer/page-2/ I have pretty much decided to just shell out the $600 for three years. I don't think I can go through what she describes, and it's true: the same complaint is all over the internet. And now, I am worried about my dryer!
In other news, I had hoped to get to the gym this morning, but now I'll probably just stay home and try to get organized. Sometimes that can be a workout anyway. I have clothes to transfer from down to up, and up to down, as well as clothes to gather for the Lupus Foundation, who picks up a load tomorrow morning. Saturday is James' 40th birthday, and the Doll will be 75 next Friday. We were expecting to go out for dinner, but they suggested a BBQ would be better for all, so that means I have to dress up the house for the occasion. More running around for today, and my cupboards are bare. We were scraping the backs of the pantry and refrigerator for dinner and snacks yesterday! E will probably welcome her home and the availability of her kind of food by the time the next couple of weeks go by! The turn of the calendar page seems to have pushed me as well into summer, and my don't-want-to-cook mode.
And today should be the day when I hear from Ford, hopefully soon will get the truck back. We dropped it off there two weeks ago tonight. I'm sure the thing reeks worse than ever, but I don't even care! I am prepared to attack it with a sponge, a vacuum, and a bottle of enzymatic cleaner. Which I will need to buy anyway.
A cat has decided to pee on the laundry. I think it's probably Buddy and he's probably mad because the litterboxes smell so bad. The reason they smell so bad is because I had to suddenly change their cat food. As I think I posted, I went to buy a new bag only to find that the bag they had been eating for the past month had been recalled for errors in formulation. No wonder it took them so long to eat it, but their cat poop didn't smell as bad when they ate that one! So they like this new one better, I guess, or else they can just tell it hasn't been poisoned. They gobble it all up and then go stink up the litterboxes, forcing those who take offense to seek alternate venues for elimination.
I had emailed Nutro when I first found out, because I can't return an empty bag for a refund, and I don't feel like it anyway, for $10. They emailed me back and they want me to call them. They pride themselves in their products, and would like to discuss the matter with me in more detail. I will make that call today. Maybe I can at least get a bag of the good stuff when they figure out how to make it without poisoning the cats of America.
So that was in the laundry room. And I put the peed on clothes in the washer and pushed the start button. And nothing happened. So I tried again. It beeped at me, but it wouldn't start. I walked away and it hollered for me to come back. "F70!!!" it screamed in red letters. F70? I had seen F71 but as best I could tell, that meant, turn me off and back on again, and I'll work. Not so this time. After a short time of grappling on the internet and then a phone call to the service number, I managed to get it started again. The woman transferred me to warranty, saying that I should get the warranty now, while it is working, because that way if it really goes bad, I won't have to pay.
This obviously makes sense, within reason. I spoke to the guy and it's something like $400 for two years and $600 for three. This is for the washer AND the dryer, the latter of which has yet to cause trouble. We've had these two pricey models since November 2007. A year and a half, and the most expensive appliances we've ever purchased, the top of the line Kenmore Elites, are conking out. I told the guy I would call back, and hunted online a little more. After reading this: http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/product-review-sears-kenmore-elite-washer/page-2/ I have pretty much decided to just shell out the $600 for three years. I don't think I can go through what she describes, and it's true: the same complaint is all over the internet. And now, I am worried about my dryer!
In other news, I had hoped to get to the gym this morning, but now I'll probably just stay home and try to get organized. Sometimes that can be a workout anyway. I have clothes to transfer from down to up, and up to down, as well as clothes to gather for the Lupus Foundation, who picks up a load tomorrow morning. Saturday is James' 40th birthday, and the Doll will be 75 next Friday. We were expecting to go out for dinner, but they suggested a BBQ would be better for all, so that means I have to dress up the house for the occasion. More running around for today, and my cupboards are bare. We were scraping the backs of the pantry and refrigerator for dinner and snacks yesterday! E will probably welcome her home and the availability of her kind of food by the time the next couple of weeks go by! The turn of the calendar page seems to have pushed me as well into summer, and my don't-want-to-cook mode.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
debacle debriefing
I think the planets are misaligned again. First planes are falling out of the sky, and of course, I HATE that, and yes, after I have waited 15 years to take another transatlantic flight and look at this. I hope they can figure out what happened, not that it helps those who were onboard or their families much. I read that some of them were sending texts to family members! I remember being thrown about on that little plane to Florida in April and wondering how these bolts and screws can stand up against mother nature. Maybe sometimes, they can't.
Anyway, today I was back for more work. The first grade class from yesterday, the one I expected to be so bad, was so good. Today I had the opposite experience. I thought the class would behave and they just would not stop talking! And there are a couple of real issues with some kids, they just don't conform at all. In a room full of 23 6- and 7-year olds, conformity is really an important component.
Then I had a fourth grade class and they had to rush through a science experiment in about 20 minutes. They were actually pretty good about it, but the directions were vague (like it said, read them the highlighted parts in the book, and the book was closed, so I had to hunt to see which part that meant) But I managed to get out alive. Tomorrow I was supposed to only have a half day, but they called and asked me to stay the afternoon for a fifth grade teacher. But I do know summer is coming. My baby birds tell me so. They're chirping away, not a thought to their poor rejected deceased sibling.
And the Explorer news: Kevin finally heard from the new service manager, and he is allegedly going to fix the car for $800. The warranty, which was 5 years, 75,000 miles, expired in either January or 4,000 miles ago, not sure which. Of course it's had the problem for longer than that, but nobody bothered to diagnose it until it was going to cost me money. But $800 is not as bad as we had expected, especially considering the estimate was already up to $1800 before they axed their entire service staff. So he is supposed to call Kevin back in a couple of days. I am actually beginning to miss that stinky thing. I'm getting tired of putting around in a go-kart everywhere I drive.
But in other news, the Phillies emailed me with the makeup date for the May 3 game, and I am not happy. It's going to be Sunday, September 13 at 8:05 pm!!! Not only will the old folks not be able to stay up that late (heh heh) but the kids will have school and Kevin will have work! So I don't think that's going to work out. If I want to exchange them for another game, it has to be done in person! So I'll have to give that some thought. E has only limited weekends between now and the time she leaves, and already many of the days are spoken for. But I'll study the schedule later on. Now I must go check on my grilling. And then head out for the mother's club meeting. ::gasp:: (disclaimer: post not proofread!!)
Anyway, today I was back for more work. The first grade class from yesterday, the one I expected to be so bad, was so good. Today I had the opposite experience. I thought the class would behave and they just would not stop talking! And there are a couple of real issues with some kids, they just don't conform at all. In a room full of 23 6- and 7-year olds, conformity is really an important component.
Then I had a fourth grade class and they had to rush through a science experiment in about 20 minutes. They were actually pretty good about it, but the directions were vague (like it said, read them the highlighted parts in the book, and the book was closed, so I had to hunt to see which part that meant) But I managed to get out alive. Tomorrow I was supposed to only have a half day, but they called and asked me to stay the afternoon for a fifth grade teacher. But I do know summer is coming. My baby birds tell me so. They're chirping away, not a thought to their poor rejected deceased sibling.
And the Explorer news: Kevin finally heard from the new service manager, and he is allegedly going to fix the car for $800. The warranty, which was 5 years, 75,000 miles, expired in either January or 4,000 miles ago, not sure which. Of course it's had the problem for longer than that, but nobody bothered to diagnose it until it was going to cost me money. But $800 is not as bad as we had expected, especially considering the estimate was already up to $1800 before they axed their entire service staff. So he is supposed to call Kevin back in a couple of days. I am actually beginning to miss that stinky thing. I'm getting tired of putting around in a go-kart everywhere I drive.
But in other news, the Phillies emailed me with the makeup date for the May 3 game, and I am not happy. It's going to be Sunday, September 13 at 8:05 pm!!! Not only will the old folks not be able to stay up that late (heh heh) but the kids will have school and Kevin will have work! So I don't think that's going to work out. If I want to exchange them for another game, it has to be done in person! So I'll have to give that some thought. E has only limited weekends between now and the time she leaves, and already many of the days are spoken for. But I'll study the schedule later on. Now I must go check on my grilling. And then head out for the mother's club meeting. ::gasp:: (disclaimer: post not proofread!!)
Monday, June 1, 2009
can't make this stuff up
Bruce tickets went on sale this morning, so I asked Kevin to try to get them for us. This will be the last concert ever at Giants Stadium, but we won't be there, as it was a failed quest. But we'll probably need the money anyway, to pay for the Explorer. IF we ever get it back.
To summarize where we stand so far, the car has been at Ford since last Thursday (a week and a half ago). First the diagnosis was a $450 sensor, then it was a $1000 repair job to the rear end. Finally, it morphed into an $1800 rear differential replacement, and Kevin had a hard time getting a return call.
So, to begin follow up this morning as I am nearing the end of my monthly allotted miles on the Honda, Kevin called for the guy he's been speaking with, the one who was going to get back to him. Only to be told he is no longer there, and neither is the guy who initially worked on the car. Just great. The plot thickens. Stay tuned.
Also, apparently there was some misinformation. Brian's friend's dad now allegedly has a stomach virus, and NOT swine flu. So there it is. Either a false alarm of swine flu or a smokescreen of 'stomach virus,' as with the NY Mets.
And then as if I didn't have enough to worry about with flying to Europe amidst killer virus swarms, now passenger jets are falling out of the sky over the ocean. More warm and fuzzy feelings about our upcoming trip! Those poor people. Kevin is particularly perturbed as he sings the praises of that Airbus, it's the same one that SAS uses.
And in other news, today was Brian's eighth grade trip. He had a decent time but not as much as you'd hope. For this reason I decided to forego the dinner dance that will cost us $45 per person. It's on the night of his graduation anyway, and E's last night with us. This way, we'll all go straight from graduation to dinner, and the Doll can come, too. I have to remind myself that many of the kids who will probably go are half the reason he's not going to the public high school, so why should I pay $145 for the three of us to rub shoulders with them for an evening? But now I must prepare dinner. Megan has swimming, E is at the beach, and I am tired from a day on my feet. I had first grade (amazingly well behaved!) in the morning, and third in the afternoon. Tomorrow I will have second and fourth, I guess. The fifth grades must not have to meet, as their students move out of the elementary school and don't have to be assigned into classes for next year. (disclaimer: post not proofread)
To summarize where we stand so far, the car has been at Ford since last Thursday (a week and a half ago). First the diagnosis was a $450 sensor, then it was a $1000 repair job to the rear end. Finally, it morphed into an $1800 rear differential replacement, and Kevin had a hard time getting a return call.
So, to begin follow up this morning as I am nearing the end of my monthly allotted miles on the Honda, Kevin called for the guy he's been speaking with, the one who was going to get back to him. Only to be told he is no longer there, and neither is the guy who initially worked on the car. Just great. The plot thickens. Stay tuned.
Also, apparently there was some misinformation. Brian's friend's dad now allegedly has a stomach virus, and NOT swine flu. So there it is. Either a false alarm of swine flu or a smokescreen of 'stomach virus,' as with the NY Mets.
And then as if I didn't have enough to worry about with flying to Europe amidst killer virus swarms, now passenger jets are falling out of the sky over the ocean. More warm and fuzzy feelings about our upcoming trip! Those poor people. Kevin is particularly perturbed as he sings the praises of that Airbus, it's the same one that SAS uses.
And in other news, today was Brian's eighth grade trip. He had a decent time but not as much as you'd hope. For this reason I decided to forego the dinner dance that will cost us $45 per person. It's on the night of his graduation anyway, and E's last night with us. This way, we'll all go straight from graduation to dinner, and the Doll can come, too. I have to remind myself that many of the kids who will probably go are half the reason he's not going to the public high school, so why should I pay $145 for the three of us to rub shoulders with them for an evening? But now I must prepare dinner. Megan has swimming, E is at the beach, and I am tired from a day on my feet. I had first grade (amazingly well behaved!) in the morning, and third in the afternoon. Tomorrow I will have second and fourth, I guess. The fifth grades must not have to meet, as their students move out of the elementary school and don't have to be assigned into classes for next year. (disclaimer: post not proofread)
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