Well, very quickly I will post a status report.
Baxter has gone home, and the Doll continues her slow recovery. She is very worried that she won't be well enough to attend Grandparents Day at Brian's school on Sunday and I keep reassuring her that he will be fine if she can't make it. I know she wants to go herself but I think she is more concerned that she's letting him down, since she already missed his confirmation. I don't have the heart to tell her that he'd prefer to be strung up by his toenails than attend this function at all, so I just wait to see what will happen.
I am preparing to return to the grind this morning, for my last three days in this job. I am happy to have missed the day of gym class, since it tends to bring out the most obstinate character of my child. So I have no idea what frame of mind or types of behaviors I can expect from him today, knowing his time at the school is drawing to a close.
As for the job, they came back and asked me to do 1 to 4 or 4:30 or 5 three days and then one morning. I assume these would all be 3-4 hour days and would tie me up so I couldn't do anything. I'm also not crazy about the prospect of job sharing, as I told them initially that I could take on more hours as time went by. But to not start work till 1? And not be home when Brian gets home yet have the entire morning free, when I could be working in the morning somewhere instead? As I thought it through and also felt bait-and-switched with the whole thing, I emailed the agency and told her the afternoons were a no-go.
And I am trading phone calls with the woman about the other job, which sounds like a better prospect to me at this point, so hopefully I can catch up with her today and set something up, maybe for tomorrow. I hope.
Or I am just destined to be a lady of leisure, as the fates seem to be trying to show.
Well it is 8 and I must be letting dogs out and throwing my lunch together quickly. A local road closure that's been in effect for a month has caused more traffic to crop up on the other route I can take (the closed road was my favorite route) so I allow extra time in the mornings to get to the school.
But in other news, this will be a crazy afternoon of driving. Megan has SAT class, Brian has a Spanish Club dinner, then she thinks she wants to go to swimming but I have to assess her homework situation, and he has his tutor coming at 7. He got his lab back, the first one she helped him with. Everything they did was 100% right but he still got a 70, because he is Brian. He forgot to take it in on the day it was due (-10), and was somehow unaware that they were also supposed to diagram a fish's innards (-20). But he got a 94 on the test. :/ We tread on eggshells.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
slacking
Well, I do apologize. Being busy with working and the Doll and this blasted beast, I have neglected the blog. I'm home today, as luck would have it, and I have decided to update after all. So to bring things up to date, this will be my last week in my present position. I'm sad mainly because I've been upped to a great daily rate and it even pains me to have to miss today! (My boy was not going to be in school today so there's no need for me to go.) I do have the job lined up, or thought I did, but today I got an email from the agency. A few days ago they asked what my preferences were and I said three five hour days would be best but I would also consider four shorter ones. However, I am trying to keep a day or two open to still sub in case this one doesn't work out.
I didn't hear back till this morning and I didn't much care for the response. They asked about my flexibility to work afternoons so they can have me share the job with someone else who is going to work mornings. I'm getting a little bit uneasy now, because for one thing, that sounds like I'll never be able to grow to more hours. This other person works 1-5 at another job and is looking for a morning-only one so she won't have to give up her other one. :/ I don't have this kind of set-in-stone constraint but I do have people who will wonder where I am, and where is their dinner, if I have to drive home from this office at 5pm. Having the mornings free doesn't help me. I'll waste the time. I need free afternoons or I might as well have a full time job! And for the lowly rate of pay, I just don't know if it's worth it, sorry to say.
So she was going to speak to him again and see what he said. I suppose I could do it, and as I told her, I'd do two or three afternoons, but no way five. And I can also have more flexibility in the summer, when there is no school. I guess I just feel a little blind-sided by the request. Here I thought I was in for days, and they want me to do afternoons. I have to admit I'm a little unsure if I want to be involved in job-sharing. I'm kind of particular about the way I do things. :-(
Anyway, as far as the Doll goes, she came home yesterday. I picked up her stomach medicine and then drove her home. She said she felt ill and had had a terrible day. Apparently this is to be expected so they were not too sympathetic. I just don't know. She seems to have had more bad days than good for the past few years! Between the back episodes, and then the passing out, and now the stomach ... all I know is this dog better be welcomed back into his home and soon!
Megan is back from her trip to DC and they had a very nice time although she flew into an evil frenzy when she realized how much work she had to do while she was exhausted last night. And today we have the foot doctor and then she's getting back in the pool for the first time in two weeks. Tomorrow she has the SAT tutor and probably a swim obligation which I may force her to miss, to catch up on homework. I'm not sure, but he might be starting the afternoon beach training.
As for Brian, he has not failed anything in school THAT WE KNOW OF but progress reports will be issued soon. Some tests seem to be taking longer than they should to be returned, and a few of his teachers have been absent. In his school they don't use subs. Other teachers step up and proctor the class while the students just catch up on other work. So a day without a teacher is a missed day of instruction in that subject.
And in other news, Brian was confirmed on Sunday! So marks the end of the long years of preparation and requirements. I wonder if he will go to church ever again? Although we will all go as often as we can this month. Our rector's last day will be the last weekend of May! We are also gearing up for the baseball game this Saturday, after Megan retakes the SAT. Hopefully it will be better weather than last year when the game was rained out and rescheduled for a school night in September!
I didn't hear back till this morning and I didn't much care for the response. They asked about my flexibility to work afternoons so they can have me share the job with someone else who is going to work mornings. I'm getting a little bit uneasy now, because for one thing, that sounds like I'll never be able to grow to more hours. This other person works 1-5 at another job and is looking for a morning-only one so she won't have to give up her other one. :/ I don't have this kind of set-in-stone constraint but I do have people who will wonder where I am, and where is their dinner, if I have to drive home from this office at 5pm. Having the mornings free doesn't help me. I'll waste the time. I need free afternoons or I might as well have a full time job! And for the lowly rate of pay, I just don't know if it's worth it, sorry to say.
So she was going to speak to him again and see what he said. I suppose I could do it, and as I told her, I'd do two or three afternoons, but no way five. And I can also have more flexibility in the summer, when there is no school. I guess I just feel a little blind-sided by the request. Here I thought I was in for days, and they want me to do afternoons. I have to admit I'm a little unsure if I want to be involved in job-sharing. I'm kind of particular about the way I do things. :-(
Anyway, as far as the Doll goes, she came home yesterday. I picked up her stomach medicine and then drove her home. She said she felt ill and had had a terrible day. Apparently this is to be expected so they were not too sympathetic. I just don't know. She seems to have had more bad days than good for the past few years! Between the back episodes, and then the passing out, and now the stomach ... all I know is this dog better be welcomed back into his home and soon!
Megan is back from her trip to DC and they had a very nice time although she flew into an evil frenzy when she realized how much work she had to do while she was exhausted last night. And today we have the foot doctor and then she's getting back in the pool for the first time in two weeks. Tomorrow she has the SAT tutor and probably a swim obligation which I may force her to miss, to catch up on homework. I'm not sure, but he might be starting the afternoon beach training.
As for Brian, he has not failed anything in school THAT WE KNOW OF but progress reports will be issued soon. Some tests seem to be taking longer than they should to be returned, and a few of his teachers have been absent. In his school they don't use subs. Other teachers step up and proctor the class while the students just catch up on other work. So a day without a teacher is a missed day of instruction in that subject.
And in other news, Brian was confirmed on Sunday! So marks the end of the long years of preparation and requirements. I wonder if he will go to church ever again? Although we will all go as often as we can this month. Our rector's last day will be the last weekend of May! We are also gearing up for the baseball game this Saturday, after Megan retakes the SAT. Hopefully it will be better weather than last year when the game was rained out and rescheduled for a school night in September!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
status updates
Baxter: still here.
Doll: still there.
The news is that they are running tests. Tomorrow is a gallbladder test, there's been some talk of pacemaker adjustments. Who knows. The only known fact is that she has spent the night in the hospital with very little treatment, if any at all.
As for me, I have had my two interviews and have been offered one of the jobs! I tend to want to accept, but I have not heard from the other. In all fairness, I would like to hear from the other before I decide what it is I will do. But the second job (the one I have not heard from) sounds much more routine and lonesome at times. I think it would be a good job because of the hours, for right now, but in three years those hours will still be the same, and the pay cannot have gone up by much. So I will hope to have some revelation in my sleep, because I have promised the agency that I will let them know tomorrow.
And, of course, our school budget didn't pass. All incumbents of the Board of Ed were also voted out and three new guys are all in, sending a pretty strong message to the district. I have never had to wait at all to vote, perhaps behind one person during the Obama election. Last night I was behind six or seven when I arrived, and by the time I left, there were a good 25 or more people lined up behind me. So now we wait for the fallout.
On another school front, Brian has passed two tests this week: biology (after tutoring from a tutor) and algebra (after tutoring from Megan). So we hope this is the start of a trend but also know to not get too excited. The biology tutor just left: she was here for an hour helping him with his lab, and it's only about half finished, it's so long and involved.
And Megan had her SAT prep tutor session #1 today. She only has two, and then she retakes the SAT in May. The woman seemed pretty good, Megan said she left there wondering why she hadn't gotten a 2400 in the first place, the woman made it all sound so straightforward. But she didn't actually go through the math part of it, which was where Megan lost most of her points. So we'll see if she can do better at it this time around. (As long as she does at least the same I will be happy!)
So in other news, I have only the rest of this week and next in the job I am in at the school. The last two days were rough, but today was pretty good. If nothing else, the days do go fast. They can be stressful though, and especially with the budget woes having everyone on edge, especially after last night.
Doll: still there.
The news is that they are running tests. Tomorrow is a gallbladder test, there's been some talk of pacemaker adjustments. Who knows. The only known fact is that she has spent the night in the hospital with very little treatment, if any at all.
As for me, I have had my two interviews and have been offered one of the jobs! I tend to want to accept, but I have not heard from the other. In all fairness, I would like to hear from the other before I decide what it is I will do. But the second job (the one I have not heard from) sounds much more routine and lonesome at times. I think it would be a good job because of the hours, for right now, but in three years those hours will still be the same, and the pay cannot have gone up by much. So I will hope to have some revelation in my sleep, because I have promised the agency that I will let them know tomorrow.
And, of course, our school budget didn't pass. All incumbents of the Board of Ed were also voted out and three new guys are all in, sending a pretty strong message to the district. I have never had to wait at all to vote, perhaps behind one person during the Obama election. Last night I was behind six or seven when I arrived, and by the time I left, there were a good 25 or more people lined up behind me. So now we wait for the fallout.
On another school front, Brian has passed two tests this week: biology (after tutoring from a tutor) and algebra (after tutoring from Megan). So we hope this is the start of a trend but also know to not get too excited. The biology tutor just left: she was here for an hour helping him with his lab, and it's only about half finished, it's so long and involved.
And Megan had her SAT prep tutor session #1 today. She only has two, and then she retakes the SAT in May. The woman seemed pretty good, Megan said she left there wondering why she hadn't gotten a 2400 in the first place, the woman made it all sound so straightforward. But she didn't actually go through the math part of it, which was where Megan lost most of her points. So we'll see if she can do better at it this time around. (As long as she does at least the same I will be happy!)
So in other news, I have only the rest of this week and next in the job I am in at the school. The last two days were rough, but today was pretty good. If nothing else, the days do go fast. They can be stressful though, and especially with the budget woes having everyone on edge, especially after last night.
Monday, April 19, 2010
another three dog night
Yes, that's right. Baxter is back. The Doll isn't feeling well and is planning to check herself into the hotel for more testing tomorrow (oh, I mean hospital). The doctor would have admitted her today, but the beds were all taken. So she plans to go in through the ER in the morning, and we have her dog again. They're telling her it could be her gallbladder. Of course, she assumes it's cancer.
So Brian has decided he should take showers at night now. I'm thinking it's not working out for his complexion, but whatever - last night he was in there for about 40 minutes and when he came out, the alarm system tripped from the humidity, and the fire department came! SO embarrassing. Anyway, that happened last year too and I don't know why. But in our dark, sleepy neighborhood where the biggest excitement of the year is a false fire alarm with lights ablaze at 11pm, you don't want to be the one who caused it!
Oh, and today, the house across the street went on the market. So now we have house stalkers :-( I'm sad. I really like the people, but I knew they'd move soon. I just thought in two years, because that was what they said. I guess they changed their minds.
On the job front, I started the first of my last two weeks today and it was one for the record-books. My boy was out of sorts from the start and it didn't get much better. I felt like I was spinning my wheels the whole day. Plus, I was dressed up for this interview after school, which I felt went pretty well even if I WAS half an hour early. But better early than late I guess. The job would be part time and temporary to start and then I guess subject to re-evaluation. Tomorrow I have another interview, this time at a church. So for once I feel like maybe I'll have options. Either that or all the moles will be back in their holes before I get to whack them.
And in other news, Megan has been asked to attend a special swim training session in the summer with her coach. That is exciting, but it will also mean she'll have to fly across the country, she'll be there on her birthday, and I will have to reschedule her driving test! At least there is more summer after she gets back, admittedly though, not much. But it will be a fun experience. And maybe we can all go out there and visit E!!!
So Brian has decided he should take showers at night now. I'm thinking it's not working out for his complexion, but whatever - last night he was in there for about 40 minutes and when he came out, the alarm system tripped from the humidity, and the fire department came! SO embarrassing. Anyway, that happened last year too and I don't know why. But in our dark, sleepy neighborhood where the biggest excitement of the year is a false fire alarm with lights ablaze at 11pm, you don't want to be the one who caused it!
Oh, and today, the house across the street went on the market. So now we have house stalkers :-( I'm sad. I really like the people, but I knew they'd move soon. I just thought in two years, because that was what they said. I guess they changed their minds.
On the job front, I started the first of my last two weeks today and it was one for the record-books. My boy was out of sorts from the start and it didn't get much better. I felt like I was spinning my wheels the whole day. Plus, I was dressed up for this interview after school, which I felt went pretty well even if I WAS half an hour early. But better early than late I guess. The job would be part time and temporary to start and then I guess subject to re-evaluation. Tomorrow I have another interview, this time at a church. So for once I feel like maybe I'll have options. Either that or all the moles will be back in their holes before I get to whack them.
And in other news, Megan has been asked to attend a special swim training session in the summer with her coach. That is exciting, but it will also mean she'll have to fly across the country, she'll be there on her birthday, and I will have to reschedule her driving test! At least there is more summer after she gets back, admittedly though, not much. But it will be a fun experience. And maybe we can all go out there and visit E!!!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
sun-day
At last the sun is shining! I should really be up in the shower but instead I will update my blog. I seem to be unable to get to it most days now, as my brain is usually in overdrive from a day of dealing with one small child. Two more weeks in the job! I will really miss the paychecks, especially since my credit card bills are also in overdrive from the expenses of the trip to Florida.
So it's Sunday morning and we are out of milk and toilet paper. We have to go to church this morning (Brian has his confirmation next Sunday!) and then the swim banquet this afternoon. Megan made the video again so that's always fun to watch. This year, I had to surrender the ad book so someone else could get volunteer points, so I am interested to see how it turned out. I was glad not to have to do all that work, but I also did enjoy it, so I have mixed feelings about having had to give it up.
And this is the week of my two interviews: one tomorrow and one on Tuesday. I'm trying to plan how I'll spend the day in the special ed class with the little ones and then wear the same outfit to an insurance company interview, so my plan is to wear nice black pants and a sweater and keep a blazer in the car for after school. The next day, the interview is later so I'll have time to come home and fix myself up.
Megan is still off from swimming so I have to try to get her to the podiatrist for the warts that won't go away. I would just as soon leave them alone because we have already tried a million things and I'm not keen on having them sliced off (they cover a large area but are relatively flat). But we're going to try a new doctor who was recommended by the dermatologist, if we can get in soon. I don't want her to have to have any treatment that restricts her activity for more than a few days, just to get rid of some warts. In fact, they used to look better than they do now, before she ever had them treated by the other guy! And he had almost gotten rid of them when he decided to freeze the remaining invisible (to me) one and as soon as he shot the freezing stuff on them, they ballooned into a monster and never receded.
And in other news, things have been relatively quiet - just Megan trying to catch back up in school, Brian trying (sometimes unsuccessfully) to pass tests and remember to turn in papers (paid for a tutor for him and she helped him finish the lab, then he left it at home) and the rest of us just trying to catch up on life after being away. Molly seems well although she eats and drinks like a monster, and the other day when Brian came home he didn't let her out (she doesn't get up sometimes) and she suddenly exploded in a puddle of pee, the likes of which have never been seen before. But that was his fault. She hadn't been out in seven hours, and I thought she had.
And nothing from any colleges, still waiting and thinking that one out. Today is 'junior day' at one of Megan's top choices but we can't go because of the banquet. And in her mind, the forerunner is back to a different school anyway. But many things will happen that may or may not change her mind. And despite her filling in forms and visiting the school, that coach has yet to even send her an introductory letter. So we'll see.
So it's Sunday morning and we are out of milk and toilet paper. We have to go to church this morning (Brian has his confirmation next Sunday!) and then the swim banquet this afternoon. Megan made the video again so that's always fun to watch. This year, I had to surrender the ad book so someone else could get volunteer points, so I am interested to see how it turned out. I was glad not to have to do all that work, but I also did enjoy it, so I have mixed feelings about having had to give it up.
And this is the week of my two interviews: one tomorrow and one on Tuesday. I'm trying to plan how I'll spend the day in the special ed class with the little ones and then wear the same outfit to an insurance company interview, so my plan is to wear nice black pants and a sweater and keep a blazer in the car for after school. The next day, the interview is later so I'll have time to come home and fix myself up.
Megan is still off from swimming so I have to try to get her to the podiatrist for the warts that won't go away. I would just as soon leave them alone because we have already tried a million things and I'm not keen on having them sliced off (they cover a large area but are relatively flat). But we're going to try a new doctor who was recommended by the dermatologist, if we can get in soon. I don't want her to have to have any treatment that restricts her activity for more than a few days, just to get rid of some warts. In fact, they used to look better than they do now, before she ever had them treated by the other guy! And he had almost gotten rid of them when he decided to freeze the remaining invisible (to me) one and as soon as he shot the freezing stuff on them, they ballooned into a monster and never receded.
And in other news, things have been relatively quiet - just Megan trying to catch back up in school, Brian trying (sometimes unsuccessfully) to pass tests and remember to turn in papers (paid for a tutor for him and she helped him finish the lab, then he left it at home) and the rest of us just trying to catch up on life after being away. Molly seems well although she eats and drinks like a monster, and the other day when Brian came home he didn't let her out (she doesn't get up sometimes) and she suddenly exploded in a puddle of pee, the likes of which have never been seen before. But that was his fault. She hadn't been out in seven hours, and I thought she had.
And nothing from any colleges, still waiting and thinking that one out. Today is 'junior day' at one of Megan's top choices but we can't go because of the banquet. And in her mind, the forerunner is back to a different school anyway. But many things will happen that may or may not change her mind. And despite her filling in forms and visiting the school, that coach has yet to even send her an introductory letter. So we'll see.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
here we are again
Well, we made it home. All three flights landed right on time. Kevin tried to fly standby on the plane Brian and I were on, but it was so overbooked that they were begging people to give up their seats, which nobody did until they upped the ante with first class tickets on the alternate flights. So he ended up being on his original flight, but his suitcase was on with us! So we had to pick it up and take it home for him.
Brian and I had a half hour wait for the shuttle to go back to the car park place, which was annoying, even if the place did save us $100 under what we would have paid in the daily lot at the airport (the one where you walk right out of your car and you're in the terminal.) Megan ended up being well enough to travel and she thought better of her plan to take a sick day from school when I asked her if she would miss anything important in her harder classes. She's stayed after school the past two days for extra tutoring or test-taking, and gone in early as well. Good thing she didn't miss another day!
Wilbur was thrilled to be saved, and he's back to playing fetch-on-demand all day long, except for the many hours he's spent locked up in the pen while I work. And speaking of work, I now have not one, but two interviews lined up for next week. One with an insurance guy and one in a church. So I don't know how they will go or what will become of me in either situation, but at least I am getting bites. It's exciting! And my job will wind down in just two weeks after this one. I double checked today, and it's a definite.
As for Brian, he had the biology tutor come today. In class yesterday, they dissected fish, so she helped him with the lab that's due on Friday, as well as a study guide for a Friday quiz. The funny thing is that the fish they dissected were not science lab fish, but smelly food market fish. I found that quite funny, although I'm also very glad I wasn't in that room while the lab was being conducted! Even the classroom snake hid out inside the paper towel dispenser to avoid the aromatic waves of fish innards.
And in other news, the cleaning people are coming tomorrow and I'm not prepared. For one thing, I haven't been able to scoop the litterboxes since I threw my back out picking up a laundry basket on Sunday (it is improving bit by bit) and I have to put out clean sheets for all the beds, which involves leaning over and digging them out of closets, another impossible maneuver in my crippled state. I have improved tremendously, but if anything is on the floor or I have to crouch and reach for it, I might as well just forget about it. I told the cleaning woman and she said that I should go to the Chinese people who "make massages." So maybe I will.
Brian and I had a half hour wait for the shuttle to go back to the car park place, which was annoying, even if the place did save us $100 under what we would have paid in the daily lot at the airport (the one where you walk right out of your car and you're in the terminal.) Megan ended up being well enough to travel and she thought better of her plan to take a sick day from school when I asked her if she would miss anything important in her harder classes. She's stayed after school the past two days for extra tutoring or test-taking, and gone in early as well. Good thing she didn't miss another day!
Wilbur was thrilled to be saved, and he's back to playing fetch-on-demand all day long, except for the many hours he's spent locked up in the pen while I work. And speaking of work, I now have not one, but two interviews lined up for next week. One with an insurance guy and one in a church. So I don't know how they will go or what will become of me in either situation, but at least I am getting bites. It's exciting! And my job will wind down in just two weeks after this one. I double checked today, and it's a definite.
As for Brian, he had the biology tutor come today. In class yesterday, they dissected fish, so she helped him with the lab that's due on Friday, as well as a study guide for a Friday quiz. The funny thing is that the fish they dissected were not science lab fish, but smelly food market fish. I found that quite funny, although I'm also very glad I wasn't in that room while the lab was being conducted! Even the classroom snake hid out inside the paper towel dispenser to avoid the aromatic waves of fish innards.
And in other news, the cleaning people are coming tomorrow and I'm not prepared. For one thing, I haven't been able to scoop the litterboxes since I threw my back out picking up a laundry basket on Sunday (it is improving bit by bit) and I have to put out clean sheets for all the beds, which involves leaning over and digging them out of closets, another impossible maneuver in my crippled state. I have improved tremendously, but if anything is on the floor or I have to crouch and reach for it, I might as well just forget about it. I told the cleaning woman and she said that I should go to the Chinese people who "make massages." So maybe I will.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
just a blog before I go
Well, it's time to head home. I didn't update all week, sorry for that. It's been quite a week of extreme highs and lows. One of the swimmers got off of the plane on Sunday feeling fine. By 11:30 he was too sick to pick his head up off the pillow, puking for two days. We all held our breath but by Saturday, we had all but forgotten the threat.
We headed over to the meet as usual, only to find that two swimmers, a girl who had made the top 16 with Megan the night before and a boy who was the second seed in one of that day's events, were throwing up back at the hotel. One of the other girls swam her best time in breaststroke, went into the bathroom and threw up, swam in the relay again, helping them break a team record, and threw up again. The coach was seen puking in a trash can. And then when we went back for finals, Megan ran straight from her first All-American awards ceremony for the bathroom.
And we went out to dinner! One reason to be grateful that the team takes care of the kids. ;-) And this year, two coaches, a husband and wife, left early. They flew home the night before all of this happened. Of course, they were around it too, hope they are OK!
But that was the bad, humorous as it will probably be in a few days. Here is the good: Megan swam great. She could have done better in a few swims, but she swam best times in every event she swam. A great time in the 200 free that brought her back in the unofficial heat at finals, even if she failed to top the time that night. And it was a team record. She swam on three team-record-breaking relays, one of which made it back and ended up coming in 15th, which got them an award.
Just before falling to the stomach bug, she swam a personal best relay split in the 100 free. And even when she didn't slash time in her events, she still swam them in best times in the 100 free and 500 free. So it was a successful meet and I am just hoping her stomach is settled enough for travel this afternoon!
Brian had a decent time, there were some boys in the hotel for him to romp with, but they won't be back next year so he will have to come up with something to do instead. Next year is going to be tough anyway because he will have to miss school to come. This year was lucky for him, because they were on break for two weeks. Megan missed five days of school, and if she's too weak to go tomorrow, I may have to let her stay home, even though I was planning to send her.
And Kevin worked as an official all four days of the meet, and two of the nights. So he got a couple of fancy shirts and a new hat and patch.
But now I must climb in the shower so I can pack my final items and head downstairs to find a taxi. Our flight leaves at 10, and I am looking forward to being home. I have to get Molly, because of course the Doll's dog walker fell through. Last I heard things had been OK - Molly did have diarrhea, but she had managed to get outside. It was probably just upset from being taken away from her home again. I can't get Wilbur till tomorrow, and I hope the house wasn't too hot for the cats.
And in other news, it's back to the terror of my long term position tomorrow. This week of not going has made me realize how tough that job really is! Sometime this week I am supposed to have an interview for a part-time job. It's through the agency, working for an insurance agent. It's temporary to start so we'll see. It doesn't sound terribly exciting, and it's about 20-30 minutes away. But then again, so is the school where I have been - at least 15-20 minutes. I'll see when I make the drive just how long it really takes. Off to the showers!
We headed over to the meet as usual, only to find that two swimmers, a girl who had made the top 16 with Megan the night before and a boy who was the second seed in one of that day's events, were throwing up back at the hotel. One of the other girls swam her best time in breaststroke, went into the bathroom and threw up, swam in the relay again, helping them break a team record, and threw up again. The coach was seen puking in a trash can. And then when we went back for finals, Megan ran straight from her first All-American awards ceremony for the bathroom.
And we went out to dinner! One reason to be grateful that the team takes care of the kids. ;-) And this year, two coaches, a husband and wife, left early. They flew home the night before all of this happened. Of course, they were around it too, hope they are OK!
But that was the bad, humorous as it will probably be in a few days. Here is the good: Megan swam great. She could have done better in a few swims, but she swam best times in every event she swam. A great time in the 200 free that brought her back in the unofficial heat at finals, even if she failed to top the time that night. And it was a team record. She swam on three team-record-breaking relays, one of which made it back and ended up coming in 15th, which got them an award.
Just before falling to the stomach bug, she swam a personal best relay split in the 100 free. And even when she didn't slash time in her events, she still swam them in best times in the 100 free and 500 free. So it was a successful meet and I am just hoping her stomach is settled enough for travel this afternoon!
Brian had a decent time, there were some boys in the hotel for him to romp with, but they won't be back next year so he will have to come up with something to do instead. Next year is going to be tough anyway because he will have to miss school to come. This year was lucky for him, because they were on break for two weeks. Megan missed five days of school, and if she's too weak to go tomorrow, I may have to let her stay home, even though I was planning to send her.
And Kevin worked as an official all four days of the meet, and two of the nights. So he got a couple of fancy shirts and a new hat and patch.
But now I must climb in the shower so I can pack my final items and head downstairs to find a taxi. Our flight leaves at 10, and I am looking forward to being home. I have to get Molly, because of course the Doll's dog walker fell through. Last I heard things had been OK - Molly did have diarrhea, but she had managed to get outside. It was probably just upset from being taken away from her home again. I can't get Wilbur till tomorrow, and I hope the house wasn't too hot for the cats.
And in other news, it's back to the terror of my long term position tomorrow. This week of not going has made me realize how tough that job really is! Sometime this week I am supposed to have an interview for a part-time job. It's through the agency, working for an insurance agent. It's temporary to start so we'll see. It doesn't sound terribly exciting, and it's about 20-30 minutes away. But then again, so is the school where I have been - at least 15-20 minutes. I'll see when I make the drive just how long it really takes. Off to the showers!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
hippity hoppity happy easter day
And it is the morning of Easter, the day the team leaves, and the day we usually spend in church and at brunch with the Doll. This year, we won't be doing any of that. After three church services in a week for Brian, two each for Kevin and me, and one last night for Megan, we're not going this morning. Megan has schoolwork to finish, as does Brian, and Kevin and I will finish the little details of the trip: making sure Megan has cash, packing, and getting the house and pet-sitter details wrapped up. She has to be to the bus by 3.
It's very foggy out this morning despite all these reports of beautiful weather. I hope it will burn off for the departure, plus I would like to take a walk in a little while. I see that the trees are starting to get the green buds on them, which means that green coating all over cars and sidewalks will welcome us upon our return.
So I spent yesterday doing some more last minute running around, getting flip-flops for Megan because Wilbur ate her last cheap pair, and sorting through the summer clothes to get ready to pack for myself. Brian still has homework but after eight days of being on his own and still only finishing a handful of things, it's time for an intervention. And his room looks like it was hit by a mini-tornado, and he can't find anything. That will be our day.
I wonder what's open on Easter Sunday these days? In the past we haven't had much time to do anything, but today stretched out long and luxurious for all of us except for Megan, who probably feels the stress of having to finish up the work before she leaves. She's trying not to have too many books to take with her.
Well, this is sort of boring, so I'll move onto the other news. I found out last week that Megan won't be able to make Brian's confirmation! She is taking a two day trip to DC and they leave on the morning of the event, at 5:45 am from the school. So that will be another busy weekend for her. Then there are various other weekend obligations which prevent her from visiting colleges, which after the meet will become an urgent priority. Oh, and she has SATs again in May, and ACTs in June. Then her die will be cast, and she can sit back to see who is interested. Not much else going on with all the focus on the trip. So check back later. If I don't update before, I'll try to post from Florida!
It's very foggy out this morning despite all these reports of beautiful weather. I hope it will burn off for the departure, plus I would like to take a walk in a little while. I see that the trees are starting to get the green buds on them, which means that green coating all over cars and sidewalks will welcome us upon our return.
So I spent yesterday doing some more last minute running around, getting flip-flops for Megan because Wilbur ate her last cheap pair, and sorting through the summer clothes to get ready to pack for myself. Brian still has homework but after eight days of being on his own and still only finishing a handful of things, it's time for an intervention. And his room looks like it was hit by a mini-tornado, and he can't find anything. That will be our day.
I wonder what's open on Easter Sunday these days? In the past we haven't had much time to do anything, but today stretched out long and luxurious for all of us except for Megan, who probably feels the stress of having to finish up the work before she leaves. She's trying not to have too many books to take with her.
Well, this is sort of boring, so I'll move onto the other news. I found out last week that Megan won't be able to make Brian's confirmation! She is taking a two day trip to DC and they leave on the morning of the event, at 5:45 am from the school. So that will be another busy weekend for her. Then there are various other weekend obligations which prevent her from visiting colleges, which after the meet will become an urgent priority. Oh, and she has SATs again in May, and ACTs in June. Then her die will be cast, and she can sit back to see who is interested. Not much else going on with all the focus on the trip. So check back later. If I don't update before, I'll try to post from Florida!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
countdown
So here it is, the day before Easter and the day before Megan leaves, beginning our exodus from NJ heading for Florida. She is stressed, between pressure to perform at the meet (which I keep trying to decrease with motivational speeches encouraging her just to do her best and not worry about anything else) and pressure to complete the mountains of work she has hanging over her, before she leaves.
Brian continues through this Holy Week requirement for his confirmation with limited complaining, although I have to admit I didn't care for his behavior at church last night when I took him: hanging his head, yawning widely in the face of the people on the altar (from the front row), and not following along in the bulletin during the longer parts. Tonight we have a dinner with the Doll at 5, and then church at 7:30. We'll just all go and that will be our Easter visit. Megan has to be at the Y at some point tomorrow to get on the airport bus.
Otherwise, Brian's been supposedly doing his schoolwork as well, so he won't have any when we go away on Tuesday morning, and today I have to get him started packing and cleaning his room. He hasn't really been very social at all this break although I suppose he is somewhat in wait mode, waiting for the excitement of next week. There will be some kids there for him to hang out with as well. The swimmers won't be with us, so he won't have Megan. I'll miss E this year, it was nice to have her to leave in the room with him, and then to know they'd walk up together to meet us, or down to the beach. I knew he would be safe with her. This year, I'll worry if he goes down with the boys. I'm sure he will find them every morning.
As for me, I heard from the woman at the agency yesterday. She had an "opportunity" (been a while since I played this game) which she wanted to know if I'd be interested in ... so I told her sure, go ahead and send my resume. I can't start any job until after April 30, but I can interview in late afternoons and be ready to start on May 3. I also sent my resume for a menial hospital job and for a summer job working in the program through the public schools here in town, where Megan usually volunteers. Might as well keep the feelers going. I've been at it for several months now with only a nibble here and there, and the fiasco with the school job.
And in other news, the dogs seem to be doing well. No more accidents now that the weather is nice and they can go for walks and be in the yard more often. Even Molly seems more chipper. And the Doll did secure her dog walker, I may have said already, so that means Molly will have one walk per day. That ought to do it. Kevin is also preparing to leave, he goes early Monday morning. I usually drive him to the airport but this year since I'll need to leave for work by 8:10, I'll probably just drop him at the train station. I haven't decided yet where to park the car when Brian and I go - to pay the higher short term rates and have it be right there, or to pay half that and have to call for a van to come get us at the off-site parking lot. So stay tuned. The laptop is coming to Florida, so I expect to update. If not, results will be posted here: http://www.ymcaswimminganddiving.org/
Brian continues through this Holy Week requirement for his confirmation with limited complaining, although I have to admit I didn't care for his behavior at church last night when I took him: hanging his head, yawning widely in the face of the people on the altar (from the front row), and not following along in the bulletin during the longer parts. Tonight we have a dinner with the Doll at 5, and then church at 7:30. We'll just all go and that will be our Easter visit. Megan has to be at the Y at some point tomorrow to get on the airport bus.
Otherwise, Brian's been supposedly doing his schoolwork as well, so he won't have any when we go away on Tuesday morning, and today I have to get him started packing and cleaning his room. He hasn't really been very social at all this break although I suppose he is somewhat in wait mode, waiting for the excitement of next week. There will be some kids there for him to hang out with as well. The swimmers won't be with us, so he won't have Megan. I'll miss E this year, it was nice to have her to leave in the room with him, and then to know they'd walk up together to meet us, or down to the beach. I knew he would be safe with her. This year, I'll worry if he goes down with the boys. I'm sure he will find them every morning.
As for me, I heard from the woman at the agency yesterday. She had an "opportunity" (been a while since I played this game) which she wanted to know if I'd be interested in ... so I told her sure, go ahead and send my resume. I can't start any job until after April 30, but I can interview in late afternoons and be ready to start on May 3. I also sent my resume for a menial hospital job and for a summer job working in the program through the public schools here in town, where Megan usually volunteers. Might as well keep the feelers going. I've been at it for several months now with only a nibble here and there, and the fiasco with the school job.
And in other news, the dogs seem to be doing well. No more accidents now that the weather is nice and they can go for walks and be in the yard more often. Even Molly seems more chipper. And the Doll did secure her dog walker, I may have said already, so that means Molly will have one walk per day. That ought to do it. Kevin is also preparing to leave, he goes early Monday morning. I usually drive him to the airport but this year since I'll need to leave for work by 8:10, I'll probably just drop him at the train station. I haven't decided yet where to park the car when Brian and I go - to pay the higher short term rates and have it be right there, or to pay half that and have to call for a van to come get us at the off-site parking lot. So stay tuned. The laptop is coming to Florida, so I expect to update. If not, results will be posted here: http://www.ymcaswimminganddiving.org/
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