oh, oh what I want to know ... where does the time go?

Well this was one of those weekends that seem to be over before they have a chance to start. It was a hectic flurry of Brian and his running around, E and her adventures, Megan and her swimming and puttering about, and baby birds being thrown out of nests.

Yesterday, the beach in the morning was beautiful. The weather was a little warm but perfect for a beach walk; the boardwalk was a little crowded but at that hour, the beach itself was empty. By the time we got home, I was exhausted and I had a few things to take care of in the backyard. I sat down to take some pictures of the chickadee who made her nest in the little 'Jets Fans Welcome' birdhouse, only to catch the movement of the poor outcast out of the corner of my eye. After a couple of attempts at repatriation, we realized that s/he was an unwanted little nestling and we had no choice but to let nature take its course.

A call to a bird expert confirmed what I read online, that if you put them in a new nest, their moms will feed them, but only if they fell out by accident. This one, poor Humpty Bird, was pushed, and pushed again and again. Based on some pictures I had found on the internet, the bird must have been only a day or so old. Apparently, within two weeks they grow up and leave the nest!

There is still plenty of squawking going on within the house, and the mother and father are busy bringing bugs and worms. I realized with equal degrees of amusement and amazement that Kevin can't hear the birds when they chirp! We had a good laugh at dinner when they were chirping, and he said, "that's not them!" I told him to tell me when they stopped, and Megan, E, and I all waited patiently. A second later the sound quieted, and Kevin still sat there unaffected. We all had a good laugh, and now we know that if we want to tell secrets, we can just do it in very high pitched voices.

I got a call to work tomorrow and the next day, and a half day Wednesday. Tomorrow is Brian's school trip to the pool club, and on Tuesday I have a meeting for the ::gasp:: Mother's Club at his high school. I'm going to go just to see what it's all about. The way I see it is I might as well do all I can to help boost his image until I see what he is going to do about it himself!

And I guess we will see what awaits us on The Week in Swine Flu. One of Brian's friends apparently has a dad who has it, and the kid can't play xbox because the dad is holed up in his room as isolation. I know it's in our town and they just aren't telling us about it. They won't announce it unless they determine that it's clustered. And half the people who get sick don't even go to the doctor anyway. If they just feel a little achy with a sore throat, fever, and cough, they treat it as they normally would and take some advil and rest if they need it. Otherwise, I'm afraid they show up for work and school as they always would. No school closings in our immediate area, although there are a couple in the next county, I believe. Yet the state's official count stands at 75. And Kevin has three air trips coming up, two day trips and one for a few days. No worries?

Anyway, in other news, Megan had to wave the banner for Pentecost at church today, representing the entire famiily on her own. Kevin had softball, a double-header, and Brian had baseball about an hour away. I had to take him, and we left at 8 and got home at 1. He's been running around lately, and partaking in some activities that leave me a bit concerned as to where they might lead him, so I am glad that school is ending and the beach club will hopefully provide him with an outlet.

Oddly, still not a word from the Fresh Air Fund's new rep, who weeks ago was going to call me in ten days to discuss whether we would host again. After this year with E, and all the crazy swim events going on this summer, I am not going to beat down their door to send us C, or anyone else. So I'm just going to ride out the next few weeks. I really am surprised that she dropped the ball on us.

oh yeah, and ...

I forgot to say, I went to the pet store last week to buy a new bag of cat food only to find that my brand had been recalled by Nutro for a mistake in the formulation process. The food either had too much zinc or not enough potassium. The instructions were to return the bag to the place of purchase for an alternative food. I had already bought alernative food since there were no bags of the one I liked, but I didn't find out about the recall until my cats had reluctantly eaten the entire bag. It lasted way longer than any other food ever did, so I thought they were just tired of it. A couple of weeks ago, there was a lot of cat puke around, too. I also keep another brand that I feed them at night, out of old habit when somebody was a new cat. So they at least were eating that and some morning wet food when I felt like giving it to them.

Also, I misinterpreted Brian's summer assignment. After he reads up on the life and times of the patron saint, he must write a similar life story on his OWN life, including three key instances that have shaped him up till now, what he expects out of high school, and where he sees himself afterwards, and why. Uh oh. He'll have to get deep and philosophical now.

Anyway, in other news, I am off to the beach with Megan for her morning run and my walk. It looks like we'll have some good weather this weekend. Brian the procrastinator has to build a 'stage' for his language arts class, and Megan has a party to attend tonight. E, I don't know what she has planned, because she ended up coming straight home from the prom last night, alone. So maybe we'll hear more on that today. My day will probably consist of attacking the mountain of laundry, changing the litterboxes, and supervising Brian's stage building. Tomorrow I have to take Brian to a baseball game in Belle Mead(e?), whereever that may be. At 9am. (Disclaimer: post not proofread!)

all the news that's fit to print

and maybe even some that's not...it's been a fast week, which is unusual for me with four day weeks. Usually I feel they drag by. But with all that's been going on: it was a cleaning lady week, meaning those always fly by before I have a chance to straighten up for the day she comes in, I ended up with two days of work at the end of the week, all the driving for swimming, and the debacle with my Explorer - time has just flown by.

Where to start? Well, Tuesday and Wednesday were quiet days so I sat around and blew off some time. I managed to get in a workout and a good walk, thankfully, because after that I have not had a chance. I was called to work yesterday at 6:50 am and the class was full of coughing people. I was relieved when I was asked to go somewhere else today, because then I was unable to return to that sickroom today, if they needed me! But today I had a third grade class that just doesn't listen. It was tiring. They are notorious for being this way. And I also got two bits of school news, one good, one bad. The bad news? The snails from last Friday did NOT survive the weekend. I guess I should have fed them :-( ... but the good news? My cross turned up! A kid found it on the playground! Of all places, like finding a needle in a haystack! It must have become stuck in my sweater when the chain broke, and not fallen off until I got outside. Because the chain was found inside the classroom! But now I have the whole thing back, so that is a beautiful thing.

So, the Explorer. The thing has never run smoothly. It had to have a new transmission in its first year. But this time, it's much, much worse. It is, of course, out of warranty, although some of the problems have been occurring for a while. I just never knew that they were related. The ABS light that comes on, the 4x4 high that blinks on and off, and the high pitched whine that comes from the engine upon acceleration, particularly on highways. Most recently, the feeling that something is about to fall off of the bottom of the car.

So the estimate went from $450 to $1000, and is now sitting at $1800. But we don't even know if that will fix the car. A google search reveals that Ford Explorers built after a certain time, and including the 2004 model year, are pieces of crap. Apparently their entire rear ends are just desined to self destruct. They whine at high speeds, and this is apparently a sign of a failing rear differential. Who knew? I thought it was just a loud obnoxious truck. Kids in the back seat have been complaining about that noise for years. Compounded by the fact that the spilled milk makes the car reek of baby puke, this issue may be the final straw on that confounded piece of junk.

The car's been at the dealership for over a week now. They've done $1000 worth of work on it, and it isn't fixed. Now I guess it's taken apart and its rear end is shot. So for $1000 I can have my car back in pieces? Yet apparently, Ford does not acknowledge this as a defect. I even found some lawyers in NJ who seem to be putting together a class action suit against Ford. I might have to get in touch with them if this doesn't get worked out soon. They just don't call us back when they don't want to deal with us.

Thank goodness I have the Honda. Oh! But in my car search, that one turned up as the car with the single most complaints against it! Even more than the Ford Explorer, which is apparently the worst car you can buy. The 2008 Honda Accord has been dubbed the only car in history to have the rear brakes fail before the front. Mine haven't failed yet. That I know of. But they sure do squeal a lot for a one year old car.

In other news, a letter arrived for Brian from his high school. It contained his four book reading list for the summer as well as his first assignment, which is to read a booklet (provided) on the life and times of the school's patron saint, and then to summarize the entire context in 400-600 words, typed, double-spaced, and submitted to the principal by August 1!! I think I like this school. I wonder if Brian will?! And tonight is the senior prom, which E is attending. I am waiting for her to call for a ride to her date's house to take pictures (wrong as that sounds -- a ride to her date's house --?). Oh, and funny thing. Megan found out today that he school named its new principal: her honors chemistry teacher! The one who writes the most impossible tests and is the hardest teacher anyone has ever heard of. I think he will make a good principal, although I'm sorry he didn't get the job a year earlier! ;-)

(mid)weekend updatee

So here it is, Sunday night. Tomorrow is the famed Memorial Day. It is forecast to be rainy in the morning, perhaps clearing in the afternoon. We will probably go down to the beach for a few hours, even if just to sit wrapped in blankets, we'll bring down the chairs and towels and look at the ocean, that is always nice.

Anyway, yesterday, I decided it would be a good day to heat the pool, which was opened last weekend. So I pushed the button. And then I thought, hmm. Must be doing something wrong. And I pushed it again. And I thought the same thought. And I pushed it again and it went 'whoosh' and I thought, "whew," and I walked away. I heard it whoosh again but didn't think much about it until a few minutes later Kevin announced that it had shut itself off again. So the multi-million dollar pool heater lasted exactly two seasons bfore self-destructing. Kevin spent hours working on it yesterday and today, undaunted by the plague inflicted upon him either by E or by his travels aboard the swine flu express to Miami last week. Nothing. So for $100, next Saturday, the pool company will send someone out. Just to look at it.

Incidentally, the water temperature is a balmy 71 degrees. Or it was before the icy rains began to fall from the sky tonight, while Megan is at a pool party.

Anyway, that is our story. Yesterday I hung around the house and got some things done in the house and in the yard, while Kevin tinkered in vain with the heater. He also took Brian up to play a little golf, and then we had a mini BBQ last night. Megan went to the beach, and E went to some kind of concert that resulted in her not returning until 12:18 am. (!) Tonight she is out with some friends and planning a boat excursion for tomorrow. I hope the weather holds out. Could be mighty cold out there on that North Atlantic! Maybe they'll stick to a river cruise.

Oh Speaking of E, I got the most infuriating email from the rep today! It commands our presence at the final, *mandatory* meeting, NO EXCUSES ACCEPTED on June 13. This happens to be a Saturday in, I believe, three weeks from now. So she commands our presence, from 3-5, on a Saturday in June. It also happens to be the day after the Doll's significant 75th birthday. And Megan has a swim meet at Princeton that whole weekend, which also happens to be the weekend before finals at the high school. And for those fans who don't pay attention, she had the FLU when she took midterms, so she needs to be in good shape for finals. Or else!

**update! Brian just lost another tooth! He has been losing them at a rate of about one a week lately - I knew this would happen, they stuck in his mouth for longer than they should have, and now they are all coming out at once; better stock up on yogurt and soup, he's toothless!**

So back to the agency issue. They also included questionnaires for us, for E, and for the school. I take issue with THIS ... they have not been a good support system for us at all. We have worked everything out on our own (well that which we worked out, anyway) and it wasn't easy. If anything, the rep complicated matters. And I can't write that and then turn it in to her! So I think this is so unfair. Those questionnaires should be turned in over their heads. I don't like this agency and wouldn't use them again, which is one of the questions. If I do decide to do this again, and it surely won't be the next school year, or the one after that, I will probably seek out a different agency!

But in other news, the rain is really coming down tonight! Kevin and I went to a little fishery we haven't been to in years, and the food was so good! We decided to just go out on a date since we had the chance. We'll have to remember to go back to this place again. It really is good. We went earlier to a nursery to find out what's been eating my knock-out roses, which are not supposed to succumb to pests. While we were there, we picked up another $10 azalea, as well as a butterfly bush and some flowers for the mailbox planter. Now to find room for the new plants! Mostly the available spots have all been taken up already! But with the rhododendrons and the peonies beginning to bloom, more pictures will soon be forthcoming! But now, it's time to go and fetch Megan. With this rain, I wish I had my Explorer - it's still at the dealer, pending another $600 diagnostic breakdown. Gah.

summertime summertime sum-sum-summertime

Memorial Day is here! What a year it's been. This is one for the record books. After I didn't get the phone in time yesterday morning ::cough cough:: I had another free day looming (today) until the phone rang around 8:30 last night. I was surprised because I didn't think teachers could take off the day before a long weekend, but it turned out this one had a good reason.

Every year I seem to find myself in a string of the same grade. Last year it was mostly fifth. Well this year? No. First and second. ::rips out hair:: They are very cute, but they can run you ragged. This was a pretty good class, but there's never a dull moment in the life of a substitute. First I found that today was the teacher appreciation luncheon, where all lunches were extended by half an hour. Except mine. I was never technically invited, and my plans said to go outside after half an hour of lunch. So it was very awkward for me, because I knew that by not going I was avoiding them, and yet I couldn't just assume I was welcome and walk in, either.

But first I need to backtrack to half an hour *before* lunch when the office intercom announced into the classroom that the guppies had arrived. Guppies? There was already a tankful of guppies. I said, OK, and continued about what we were doing. Five minutes after that, in walked the janitor with a box that said "living things" or some such identifying feature. (!) What was I supposed to do with guppies?

So one of the kids told me they usually do science with another teacher, whose class is on the complete other side of the building. I chose the most responsible girl in the room and sent her off with a note saying, "guppies are here. what do i do with them?!" She set off and happened to encounter this teacher on her way to take her own class outside. She took a detour and brought HER entire class in with the class I had, who were at their desks working. When I balked at the responsibility, terrified I would kill the entire colony of silvery swimmers, I guess she decided she'd set them up herself. So she did, and I read two books to her class, who had gotten a bit wild with excitement. There were two guppy casualties, which I had to fish out myself (heh heh) at the end of the day. I absolutely hate deceased guppies.

So that was the beginning. Then, after spending lunch dealing with the issues of my beleagured Explorer, which is at the dealership now, I went back to the classroom and got the group ready for recess. No sooner had we emerged into the hallway than we were spotted by the principal! She had me take them back to their room, get books, and come sit with her in the gym so that I could attend the remainder of the teacher appreciation lunch! So although that was also nice, it did set us back an additional half hour!

But the rest of the day went fairly well, although I was also asked to cover for a computer teacher during prep, because she had to go home for a sick child. This was fine, and in fact her class happened to be the class that I had had for the two week period that just passed. But that meant that I didn't get to organize any of the work for the teacher I was covering, or to grade the classwork that they had done. As it was, I didn't get out until 3:30 (normally 3:15) and Brian was ringing my cell phone off the hook looking for permission to roam the neighborhood. I think has managed to elude any law enforcement encounters tonight. He is down at the local McDonald's now, and Kevin will pick him up in half an hour.

Anyway, in other news, E is still hacking a bit and Megan is still having the symptoms. I noticed that seasonal flu is still listed as widespread in NJ, but I don't worry as much about that because I do believe we have done our time with that one, back in the time of the Great Sick. But the swine flu thing bothers me. It's a constant state of limbo, and I am pretty sure they don't tell us even the tip of what they know. I found out that there are kids who attended the conference with some who fell ill, and are being checked daily for fever. So they could come down with it, but meanwhile they've been in school the whole time they were cooking the virus anyway. I guess that's why closing the schools really just doesn't pay. By the time they close it, the virus is probably everywhere, and the ones who aren't sick yet probably all get together and hang out in close quarters anyway! But the best news of all is that the summer is kicking off, and the beach club opens tomorrow!

humbug humpday

Well, I had work today. It was not wonderful, it's a rough crowd. They're all very cute, but I felt like my head was going to explode by the end of the day and there were very few of them. Also, on Monday night, I went to take off my necklace and it wasn't on my neck. It was a thin chain with a small cross, with some diamonds. I knew that I had put it on, so I guessed the clasp hadn't closed and it had fallen off during the day at school. I emailed the secretary and teacher, and they wrote back and said that they didn't find it.

But today, they brought in a note from the janitor, and on the note was just the chain! :-( so the cross, the best part of it, remains at large. It's pretty small, so it could have been swept up or caught up in something, never to be seen again. I am happy to have the chain, but given the choice of the two parts, I would have preferred to have kept only the cross ... sigh.

I also found out today that I won't be getting that 12 day job at the end of the year; I am really fine about it, aside from the way it happened. The story is that the boss wants someone specifically certified in that area - which of course, I am not. I did think it would put me in an awkward spot to finish out the year with a bunch of kids whose parents might have questions, and their half days get out way later than the half days of the middle and high schools. So I will just continue with the uncertainty and daily phone calls of the past eight years! As of now, I am not working tomorrow, and I do hope it stays that way. I need a real rest, without other people at home with me.

In other news, E is recovering slowly from her Great Malaise. She is still coughing, but not as badly. No wonder, with the plethora of medications I have her taking; but now Megan has come down with the sniffles. I tried to get her doctor to renew her nasonex prescription, but the junior partner refused, because she wants to see her in the office. I was mad, it isn't a major medication, and after so many years of nursing her (and Brian) through these same sorts of things, I think I know when to use these medications. I wish I had asked for refills when I asked for these. I remember the doctor had offered, and I said, no, I'll just call you if I need more. Hah. Luckily Megan has some left, but it's old, which means she probably used it already with a sickness. the main doctor is on vacation and won't even be back for a week. Oh! And Memorial Day weekend is at hand! What will the weather have in store for us this year?! The beach club is opening!

and it's back ...

The swine flu is back. It is rearing its ugly head again, although I suspect it never left. The media just grew tired of it and now that people have died and schools are closing, they have decided to resurrect the coverage. They announced again that underlying conditions played a role in the deaths of those who succumbed in the US. But what does that mean? Don't most people have 'underlying conditions?' I mean, what about asthma? Asthmatics have to get flu shots to protect them from getting pneumonia. Does that mean they have to worry extra about the swine flu? And how can it be H1N1, just like the seasonal flu, and yet there is no cross-immunity? Why don't they publish fact sheets and answer the questions people really have? I think by now we know what flu symptoms are and how to wash our hands.

And, of course, we are booked on a transatlantic flight. I hope it's all in remission by then.

So today is my first day without work, due to the snafu where I told one teacher I would work for her and then the job was given to someone else, but I had turned down another job and then by the time I found out I didn't have the first, it was too late for the other. I wasn't too disappointed to be off, though, which is in contrast to the emotion I felt when E appeared, at 6:45, and asked to stay home from school because she didn't sleep well. Had she been Megan, I would have made her go. I don't believe in missing school because your nose is stuffy; and I took her to the doctor yesterday and they are treating her for sinusitis.

So I think this day will do little more than throw off her schedule. She's had no fever, just congestion and the cough; and it's been since Thursday, she should be improving rather than needing to stay home. I had really looked forward to being able to blast my stereo, straighten the house, catch up on laundry, and just pretty much be in an empty house. But I wasn't going to force her to go, and she went back to bed, where she remains.

In other news, Kevin has taken a day trip to Miami, meaning he is now exposing himself to the flying virus pool yet again. I went to the Y this morning and did some exercises to try to whip my aging self back into shape, and now I am off to the showers. I have work to do in the yard and in the house, as well as things I need to pick up from various shopping venues. I am not scheduled for any work again in the future, but I was asked to do 12 days in June. But I'll have to wait to see if they call me. It may end up the same way as this afternoon did. Oh, and we bought a new table for our back deck. Kevin wanted to move the old one down to the pool deck, so that's where it is. The new one is just a resin table, so it isn't that attractive, but it's functional and big enough for lots of people. Right now we have resin chairs around it, but if we get some nicer chairs, they might dress up the look of the table. I still need to get pictures of the yard again, and also I need to find my camera (that would help). I hope I didn't lose it, or it didn't get stolen.