Another year gone by! Time does fly and life goes on. It's been a rough year, with the loss of my mother in law in December, right before the holidays and various other challenges to supplement. Fortunately, work and related remain status quo and we continue to plod through. M and B off on their own, and us with no school loans to pay? What to do? Time to buy a new car!
I haven't bought a car personally in nearly eight years and I soon remembered why. Here is the summary:
Drawn to the Mazda CX-3, I decided to go in for a test drive. After a morning volunteering at a soup kitchen, I wandered over in my old Jetta with my hair up and with hairnet-head. They assigned me to a salesman who took me to a table with dirty napkins and crumbs on it and began to explain why I couldn't just test drive the car, I had to sit and listen to him tell me about the car. Why did I want to wait for my car to give in before buying a new car? (I tell dealers I am just browsing so I can escape if I don't like it there, but in reality, I was ready to buy when the time was right.) Well, here is why - because of salesmen like him! I left without even finishing that conversation. He was unkempt, rude, and unprofessional.
Next up was a Ford dealership to drive the Focus and the Escape. There's also a new Escape-like vehicle that's a little smaller, with letters for a name or some such thing. I drove all three. The highest miles-to-empty of any of them was 11. One said "0", Said the salesman of that one, "well, we can just go up the block." None of those Fords had any pickup at all, but I have to admit, it could have been the lack of fuel. The salesman didn't seem to care - he heard how many miles I drive for work and tried to sell me an old Prius-like thing that was sitting used on the lot, its seats all wrinkled from years of high mileage commuting, I will assume.
After that I let the search fester for a few more weeks before visiting a Subaru dealership. While we were there, we had to run out to take care of something suddenly, and when the salespeople called me, I explained that I would come back to them when I was ready. Meanwhile, I had a VIP voucher for 2% below invoice and a week later, I tried to get the invoice prices from the salesman for two of the cars. It was the most tedious email exchange I've ever tried to conduct, and I finally gave up and got an internet price form another local dealer, which was better than the 2% off deal anyway.
I moved on to Volvo, and that didn't work out either. At BMW, I checked into the X1. The guy who I spoke to was with someone else when I arrived, so he sent me out in a silver demo with a lovely young lady who must have told him after that I didn't like silver cars. So he texted me and said he had a blue demo that would be ready in the next week. I haven't heard from him since.
Since I've loved my little Jetta wagon and was sad to give it up, I drove the VW Alltrak and liked it OK but the steering wheel felt cheap and left my thumb a little sore. Finally, I found a guy who let me drive the CX-3 and the CX-5. He was a nice guy, as was the guy as VW, and I would have bought a car from either of them, but I just didn't love the cars.
I thought of a Mini, because they're so darn cute, but the dealership near my office recently closed, and the one near home is half an hour in the wrong direction. And since they're so hard to get serviced, I decided not to bother. Plus - premium gas. Boo. (Same for Volvo and Beamer.)
So what did I do? Went back to the second Subaru dealer and said, I'm here to test drive a Forester and a Crosstrek. A few miles in each, and three hours (!) later, the Crosstrek was mine. Hopefully for at least the next eight years, because I can't do that again anytime soon! After that, we were off to NYC to see the Band's Visit!
And in other news, I've caught a cold. I don't think it's fair, because I was terribly ill over the winter holidays and think that should be enough. But - such as it is. So I must go and try to find a way to breathe again.
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Saturday, April 22, 2017
happy easter!
So here it is - it's Easter morning! And a beautiful one that that. In lieu of going to church, where the hard pews and the constant sit/stand will just aggravate my stubbornly painful hip and back, I've decided to worship the beauty of the outdoors instead. It's been a nice quiet weekend with no obligations or plans and I am recharged and ready (?) to face another full week of work.
Yesterday we made good use of the day by heading up to a mattress outlet where we ordered a very high end latex mattress to replace the poor old Casper. I'm really sad that the Casper didn't do it for me, because they're wonderful. They're sending over a truck to pick it up on Tuesday, just like that. They'll even take back the base AND the mattress cover. Does make one pause to think of the markup on the ones that they do sell. At any rate, I wish I could keep it as a spare bed but at the price tag that it came with and the cost of its upper end replacement, we will need that cash back in the account!
Well, I got distracted and just made my way back to the post after a long week at work. Casper was great, and they refunded the money already, in time to offset the down payment on the new mattress, which comes a week from today. They make them on site at the store we went to, so ours had to be made before it could be delivered, and we had to find a day when we could be home. So, next week it is. We can't wait! Meanwhile, we have been sleeping on the old pillow top and it's at least better than the hard Casper, and my hip is feeling a little better. I also wonder if physical therapy doesn't actually hurt more than it helps sometimes, and I've been away a few days from it now.
Anyway, just thrilled that it's finally the weekend. We are off to Philadelphia to fight science march traffic snarls and chaperone a visit to the Turf Club. Just a note on financial thinking before I go. I have some old 401k rollover accounts, opened at Chase when I was but a young mom relinquishing a promising would-be career. I haven't given much thought to these accounts over the years, and they've changed hands from the original rep. I occasionally get statements and they were connected to our online account, so I monitor their value, but not too closely since the amounts, while somewhat interesting to me, are insignificant in terms of long term retirement funding. I call them the down payment on our vacation home when we turn 59 1/2.
About a year ago one of the reps' assistants started to call me. Fast forward and the bottom line is that they split my accounts between two reps. The IRA Rollover went to one woman, who apparently has several staff beneath her, and the mysterious fixed annuity went to another, who seems to be in the Private Banking group. I recently read that one must have $10 million to use their private bankers. My annuity now values at $14,000. Which may explain the treatment I get from J.P. Morgan financial advisors!
First, I can't access the annuity online. I no longer get statements for it. Turns out that this is because the login ID is not mine, but my husband's. The login name! Not the name on the account, not the social security number, but the name he made up when he activated online banking at the end of the stone age, which was when I opened the accounts. I found this out by harassing the private banker until she finally got back to me and told me this. She has since returned to ignoring me. I only found out about her because she sent me an email announcing her marriage a few months ago.
The other funds are with someone else. Recently I got a letter that stated this account would be turning into a self-directed account and I should learn how to manage my own accounts. They sit in mutual funds which someone recommended for me while I still had toddler brain, and I have no idea if they are appropriate anymore. Scheduled a call to chat with new rep. She called ten minutes late, no apology or explanation, and hadn't really prepared. Then said that we should talk again and she'd send me a packet and I'd return statements. Told me that the letter about the self-directed was not really true after all. The call was set for yesterday morning.
The day before, her assistant called the husband's cell. The husband didn't notice this until I remarked that she still hadn't called me yesterday morning. Finally, last night, we played the message and heard the assistant say that they looked forward to seeing me in their New York offices and that I should bring any statements that I had.
Sigh. I've *worked* in financial services. This isn't how it's done, Chase! You get the statements BEFORE the meeting! And if you don't, you certainly don't promise to send out a packet in advance of a phone meeting, and confirm said phone meeting on the WRONG phone as being an in-person meeting! I know that my money is not worth their time, but someday there may be more when we do retire and cash out the savings we have at our current jobs. And guess who won't be managing it.
I feel better having said that, even if nobody makes it to the end. These are supposed to be New York bankers. In other news, I'm off to walk the dogs. It's what counts as exercise during my OTF sabbatical. Strangely, I'm a pound or so lighter despite the lack of hard core exercise. Perhaps because I barely eat any of the fun foods that I'd have while I felt I could justify them. On to the weekend!
Yesterday we made good use of the day by heading up to a mattress outlet where we ordered a very high end latex mattress to replace the poor old Casper. I'm really sad that the Casper didn't do it for me, because they're wonderful. They're sending over a truck to pick it up on Tuesday, just like that. They'll even take back the base AND the mattress cover. Does make one pause to think of the markup on the ones that they do sell. At any rate, I wish I could keep it as a spare bed but at the price tag that it came with and the cost of its upper end replacement, we will need that cash back in the account!
Well, I got distracted and just made my way back to the post after a long week at work. Casper was great, and they refunded the money already, in time to offset the down payment on the new mattress, which comes a week from today. They make them on site at the store we went to, so ours had to be made before it could be delivered, and we had to find a day when we could be home. So, next week it is. We can't wait! Meanwhile, we have been sleeping on the old pillow top and it's at least better than the hard Casper, and my hip is feeling a little better. I also wonder if physical therapy doesn't actually hurt more than it helps sometimes, and I've been away a few days from it now.
Anyway, just thrilled that it's finally the weekend. We are off to Philadelphia to fight science march traffic snarls and chaperone a visit to the Turf Club. Just a note on financial thinking before I go. I have some old 401k rollover accounts, opened at Chase when I was but a young mom relinquishing a promising would-be career. I haven't given much thought to these accounts over the years, and they've changed hands from the original rep. I occasionally get statements and they were connected to our online account, so I monitor their value, but not too closely since the amounts, while somewhat interesting to me, are insignificant in terms of long term retirement funding. I call them the down payment on our vacation home when we turn 59 1/2.
About a year ago one of the reps' assistants started to call me. Fast forward and the bottom line is that they split my accounts between two reps. The IRA Rollover went to one woman, who apparently has several staff beneath her, and the mysterious fixed annuity went to another, who seems to be in the Private Banking group. I recently read that one must have $10 million to use their private bankers. My annuity now values at $14,000. Which may explain the treatment I get from J.P. Morgan financial advisors!
First, I can't access the annuity online. I no longer get statements for it. Turns out that this is because the login ID is not mine, but my husband's. The login name! Not the name on the account, not the social security number, but the name he made up when he activated online banking at the end of the stone age, which was when I opened the accounts. I found this out by harassing the private banker until she finally got back to me and told me this. She has since returned to ignoring me. I only found out about her because she sent me an email announcing her marriage a few months ago.
The other funds are with someone else. Recently I got a letter that stated this account would be turning into a self-directed account and I should learn how to manage my own accounts. They sit in mutual funds which someone recommended for me while I still had toddler brain, and I have no idea if they are appropriate anymore. Scheduled a call to chat with new rep. She called ten minutes late, no apology or explanation, and hadn't really prepared. Then said that we should talk again and she'd send me a packet and I'd return statements. Told me that the letter about the self-directed was not really true after all. The call was set for yesterday morning.
The day before, her assistant called the husband's cell. The husband didn't notice this until I remarked that she still hadn't called me yesterday morning. Finally, last night, we played the message and heard the assistant say that they looked forward to seeing me in their New York offices and that I should bring any statements that I had.
Sigh. I've *worked* in financial services. This isn't how it's done, Chase! You get the statements BEFORE the meeting! And if you don't, you certainly don't promise to send out a packet in advance of a phone meeting, and confirm said phone meeting on the WRONG phone as being an in-person meeting! I know that my money is not worth their time, but someday there may be more when we do retire and cash out the savings we have at our current jobs. And guess who won't be managing it.
I feel better having said that, even if nobody makes it to the end. These are supposed to be New York bankers. In other news, I'm off to walk the dogs. It's what counts as exercise during my OTF sabbatical. Strangely, I'm a pound or so lighter despite the lack of hard core exercise. Perhaps because I barely eat any of the fun foods that I'd have while I felt I could justify them. On to the weekend!
Thursday, April 13, 2017
the resurrection
Well, in honor of the coming Easter holiday, I thought I'd give the blog a small shot of life after - what - two years? So much has happened so where to begin?
For one thing, M is a person now. She has an apartment and a person and a car (that she pays for) and a savings account! She even just got her first parking lot hit-and-run yesterday! (Scratch what I said about the savings account...) B is on his way, he expects to graduate in just a few short weeks (to me, I suspect they may be long for him.) An internship that he's had for the semester has extended into July so he won't have to worry about hunting while he wraps up his scholastic career, which he capstoned with a travel study class to India!
Otherwise the rest of us are status quo. We lost our dear Rusty (featured as a baby tuxedo cat in the profile picture for this blog) about a year ago to some kind of ruthless and incurable cat cancer. This is where you wonder how people can afford to have pets. Countless tests and medicines and visits later, and within two months the cat died. His cat wife Lilly hasn't recovered. She cries in the morning and wonders why he never comes to visit her in her isolation unit (she can't get along with the new addition, Dora from the mean streets of Philadelphia). Wilbur and Abby have fallen into their routine with their daily dog walkers and frequent weekend travels which leave them home alone for stretches on the weekends. They long for the summer and the trips to the beach (one so far this year! always so much colder just a few miles away by the ocean!) Wilbur is eight years old!
My latest trial is a pain in my hip! For years I fought hip pain on the right and it finally went away. I thought I'd better get to a gym, with my advancing age and all that, so I shopped around and joined Orangetheory Fitness. I loved it! It was a little pricey, but was otherwise everything I'd been looking for in a workout - high energy vibe, varied workouts, and someone to tell me what to do with the weights. A rower was an added plus. I'd never used one before and, unfortunately, it became obvious soon that that was a problem! That and a treadmill workout that involved running on a steep incline.
So the theory is that you're supposed to stay within the "orange" and "red" zones for a minimum of 12 minutes out of the hour and be in the "green" for a fair amount as well. But there was something in me that wanted to get the most possible points in an hour. I'd frantically keep my eye on the screen. One day, a couple of months after I joined, I got a little overzealous and there went the left hip during a treadmill block. Thinking I could walk it off, I continued to go, and modified my workouts, which continued to include rowing, squats, lunges and lots of jumping. My hip continued to worsen, and all I was doing was walking on the treadmill at that point. Still with inclines :/
Finally I went to the doctor at the end of March, to be admonished and told that I've done this to myself. It's awful! The diagnosis is bursitis and SI joint dysfunction. It could have started on the treadmill, but the rower was probably terrible for it as well. I've currently frozen the membership for one month (free with a doctor's note! Imagine having to pay $15 to not have to pay a membership fee for the place where you got hurt in the first place...?) Anyway they were very good about it and I hope they will remain so. I am hoping to be able to go back but at this rate I still have a lot of pain and I'm sure if I go back too soon I will end up having to cancel the membership and join chair yoga.
Along those lines is the bed. We had a terrible pillowtop and I couldn't stand the amount of pain I was in every morning. My entire body ached when I turned over. We tested out a Casper mattress at a local west elm, and it felt pretty OK. They offer a 100 day return, so we gave it a shot. Sadly, I didn't initially love it and now I am not even sure if I like it. I've been away from the gym and yet my hip is not improving, and it's at its worst in the morning. We stopped in and tried some Tempurpedics when we were in NYC to see Hamilton (!) and they were worlds apart from what this bed is like. I feel terrible about returning it, I really, really wanted it to work. But pain is pain and comfort is comfort. I think it's time to pay for the real bed.
And in other news, Hamilton was indeed as engaging as they say! Warning - try to not drink anything the entire day because the bathroom procedure is the worst! I left my seat in the first mezzanine immediately upon the lights going on, had to fight my way downstairs and then they had us wrapping through the orchestra seats just to get to the real line. By the time I got back to my seat, they had already turned off the lights. And I wasn't even last! You literally could not move through some of the common areas. So maybe stay in your seats and relax for 10 minutes. Or an hour. Not good for a claustrophobic! But highly recommend the show. Happy Easter to all!
For one thing, M is a person now. She has an apartment and a person and a car (that she pays for) and a savings account! She even just got her first parking lot hit-and-run yesterday! (Scratch what I said about the savings account...) B is on his way, he expects to graduate in just a few short weeks (to me, I suspect they may be long for him.) An internship that he's had for the semester has extended into July so he won't have to worry about hunting while he wraps up his scholastic career, which he capstoned with a travel study class to India!
Otherwise the rest of us are status quo. We lost our dear Rusty (featured as a baby tuxedo cat in the profile picture for this blog) about a year ago to some kind of ruthless and incurable cat cancer. This is where you wonder how people can afford to have pets. Countless tests and medicines and visits later, and within two months the cat died. His cat wife Lilly hasn't recovered. She cries in the morning and wonders why he never comes to visit her in her isolation unit (she can't get along with the new addition, Dora from the mean streets of Philadelphia). Wilbur and Abby have fallen into their routine with their daily dog walkers and frequent weekend travels which leave them home alone for stretches on the weekends. They long for the summer and the trips to the beach (one so far this year! always so much colder just a few miles away by the ocean!) Wilbur is eight years old!
My latest trial is a pain in my hip! For years I fought hip pain on the right and it finally went away. I thought I'd better get to a gym, with my advancing age and all that, so I shopped around and joined Orangetheory Fitness. I loved it! It was a little pricey, but was otherwise everything I'd been looking for in a workout - high energy vibe, varied workouts, and someone to tell me what to do with the weights. A rower was an added plus. I'd never used one before and, unfortunately, it became obvious soon that that was a problem! That and a treadmill workout that involved running on a steep incline.
So the theory is that you're supposed to stay within the "orange" and "red" zones for a minimum of 12 minutes out of the hour and be in the "green" for a fair amount as well. But there was something in me that wanted to get the most possible points in an hour. I'd frantically keep my eye on the screen. One day, a couple of months after I joined, I got a little overzealous and there went the left hip during a treadmill block. Thinking I could walk it off, I continued to go, and modified my workouts, which continued to include rowing, squats, lunges and lots of jumping. My hip continued to worsen, and all I was doing was walking on the treadmill at that point. Still with inclines :/
Finally I went to the doctor at the end of March, to be admonished and told that I've done this to myself. It's awful! The diagnosis is bursitis and SI joint dysfunction. It could have started on the treadmill, but the rower was probably terrible for it as well. I've currently frozen the membership for one month (free with a doctor's note! Imagine having to pay $15 to not have to pay a membership fee for the place where you got hurt in the first place...?) Anyway they were very good about it and I hope they will remain so. I am hoping to be able to go back but at this rate I still have a lot of pain and I'm sure if I go back too soon I will end up having to cancel the membership and join chair yoga.
Along those lines is the bed. We had a terrible pillowtop and I couldn't stand the amount of pain I was in every morning. My entire body ached when I turned over. We tested out a Casper mattress at a local west elm, and it felt pretty OK. They offer a 100 day return, so we gave it a shot. Sadly, I didn't initially love it and now I am not even sure if I like it. I've been away from the gym and yet my hip is not improving, and it's at its worst in the morning. We stopped in and tried some Tempurpedics when we were in NYC to see Hamilton (!) and they were worlds apart from what this bed is like. I feel terrible about returning it, I really, really wanted it to work. But pain is pain and comfort is comfort. I think it's time to pay for the real bed.
And in other news, Hamilton was indeed as engaging as they say! Warning - try to not drink anything the entire day because the bathroom procedure is the worst! I left my seat in the first mezzanine immediately upon the lights going on, had to fight my way downstairs and then they had us wrapping through the orchestra seats just to get to the real line. By the time I got back to my seat, they had already turned off the lights. And I wasn't even last! You literally could not move through some of the common areas. So maybe stay in your seats and relax for 10 minutes. Or an hour. Not good for a claustrophobic! But highly recommend the show. Happy Easter to all!
Monday, May 11, 2015
Another test
So the blog app is on the phone now too.
And in other news...I'll probably update from the old iMac 😬
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
And in other news...I'll probably update from the old iMac 😬
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
And just like that a year is gone
How does this happen every time I take a break? I come back and a month, two months, six months, a YEAR is over. So I got a new computer but here is the problem: I can't read the text on it! So at work I was offered a choice between a Surface Pro and a regular hp laptop. Since I use the laptop often actually, well, on my lap (!) I decided to opt for the sturdier standard sized hp and am so glad that I did. But this was a gift - I'd been musing that perhaps I'd like to have one of these fancy swivel-the-screen-touch-the-screen-but-now-it's-a-laptop things but had actually been wanting to try them out vs. small laptops for personal use. So now I have this lovely versatlie little Lenova Yoga 3 and - I can barely see anything it says, even with my glasses halfway down my nose.
Anyway, I did manage to associate my blogger account with my gmail, so maybe I can update it without having to remember how I signed on with an antiquated aol account when I first created it. This post will be my first test. So stay tuned for the results of that as well as the final verdict on my survival with the mini text on this new computer!
Anyway, I did manage to associate my blogger account with my gmail, so maybe I can update it without having to remember how I signed on with an antiquated aol account when I first created it. This post will be my first test. So stay tuned for the results of that as well as the final verdict on my survival with the mini text on this new computer!
Saturday, May 10, 2014
refilling the nest
And just like that - life continued to happen. B was returned home from school, after a year of roller coaster events and somewhat mediocre (still pending) GPAs. English eludes the boy, and the elusion eludes me. I don't understand it, but C+ seems to be the norm. So we await the other grades this semester and hope they will all balance out.
M, on the other hand, enjoys great strength in the English-types of classes, so much so that she rarely has to take them, thanks to her strong AP scores from high school. Most recently, she suffered through a course on writing in health sciences, and came out with a note from the professor remarking on her talents. This semester, it was another language that brought her "down." In what she has deemed "her last chance for a 4.0," her American Sign Language class, which she could have skipped in lieu of a basic psychology elective, ruined this single opportunity by bestowing upon her a meager A- in a field of solid A's.
And so the onslaught of laundry bags, recent purchases, dirty dishes and unwanted mail begins. And last night, just the two of us found ourselves playing trivia purchased by mistake on the new tabletop tablets at Chili's, our children having already found alternative ways to amuse themselves on what would have been our first night as a group of four.
But never fear! Many activities are planned. First, tonight, we are off to the soggy turf of Citifield, to once again watch the teams of our childhoods square off against one another, this time on foreign (to me) land. Tomorrow, the infamous Mother-in-Law's Day (commonly known in the rest of the world as 'Mother's Day', which I learned last night in a lucky Chili's-trivia guess evoked by my work affiliation, was made famous by Woodrow Wilson) will bring us all together once more for many activities which will be silently endured by the suffering few. (Perhaps church, maybe a bike ride, and of course, the obligatory overpriced mediocre prix fixe.)
A few weeks will follow where we will seem to fall into a rhythm, and then we'll have a family vacation. Then everyone will be back to work, and we will find some sort of new normal, surrounded by the pet hair, unwanted mail, dirty glasses and cast-aside clothing. And then it will be August. And maybe I'll remember to post another entry!
So, this could be M's last summer at home, with her new status as 'accelerated master's student.' Next summer she will have to be working in a clinical setting, but she can do it anywhere she finds work. So that's something for another time of worry. B was lucky to have secured a summer job with a computer firm, with the help of a friend of mine, so that is the best thing that could have happened for him. He'll work three days a week for at least the months of June and July, with the first two weeks of August on reserve.
And in other news, Kevin continues his quest to be a triathlete, which often involves rising at ridiculous hours to fight the lane closures for lessons and teams in the pool at the Y, or to go on monstrous cycling pilgrimages with unknown spandex-clad middle aged men. While this is quite a noble pursuit, it often causes his head to drop into his beer while he watches hockey at 6pm, or while he's serving as a passenger on a mundane road trip to anywhere.
My job plods on, I hope for more recognition and sometimes wonder if it's worth the hour-long hike each way. But for now, it is what it is. Once I get there, it's not so bad. But sometimes, the traffic can just send me over the edge of sanity. And the pets are there as a counterbalance. Why do I have so many? Oh, and my last complaint must be regarding this accursed iphone. (a) The latest iOS update has turned it into crap and (b) why is AT+T making life so difficult with their plan options? Every time I consider a new purchase, I end up just shaking my head and leaving everything as it has been since 2005.
So let the summer begin!
M, on the other hand, enjoys great strength in the English-types of classes, so much so that she rarely has to take them, thanks to her strong AP scores from high school. Most recently, she suffered through a course on writing in health sciences, and came out with a note from the professor remarking on her talents. This semester, it was another language that brought her "down." In what she has deemed "her last chance for a 4.0," her American Sign Language class, which she could have skipped in lieu of a basic psychology elective, ruined this single opportunity by bestowing upon her a meager A- in a field of solid A's.And so the onslaught of laundry bags, recent purchases, dirty dishes and unwanted mail begins. And last night, just the two of us found ourselves playing trivia purchased by mistake on the new tabletop tablets at Chili's, our children having already found alternative ways to amuse themselves on what would have been our first night as a group of four.
But never fear! Many activities are planned. First, tonight, we are off to the soggy turf of Citifield, to once again watch the teams of our childhoods square off against one another, this time on foreign (to me) land. Tomorrow, the infamous Mother-in-Law's Day (commonly known in the rest of the world as 'Mother's Day', which I learned last night in a lucky Chili's-trivia guess evoked by my work affiliation, was made famous by Woodrow Wilson) will bring us all together once more for many activities which will be silently endured by the suffering few. (Perhaps church, maybe a bike ride, and of course, the obligatory overpriced mediocre prix fixe.)
A few weeks will follow where we will seem to fall into a rhythm, and then we'll have a family vacation. Then everyone will be back to work, and we will find some sort of new normal, surrounded by the pet hair, unwanted mail, dirty glasses and cast-aside clothing. And then it will be August. And maybe I'll remember to post another entry!
So, this could be M's last summer at home, with her new status as 'accelerated master's student.' Next summer she will have to be working in a clinical setting, but she can do it anywhere she finds work. So that's something for another time of worry. B was lucky to have secured a summer job with a computer firm, with the help of a friend of mine, so that is the best thing that could have happened for him. He'll work three days a week for at least the months of June and July, with the first two weeks of August on reserve.
And in other news, Kevin continues his quest to be a triathlete, which often involves rising at ridiculous hours to fight the lane closures for lessons and teams in the pool at the Y, or to go on monstrous cycling pilgrimages with unknown spandex-clad middle aged men. While this is quite a noble pursuit, it often causes his head to drop into his beer while he watches hockey at 6pm, or while he's serving as a passenger on a mundane road trip to anywhere.
My job plods on, I hope for more recognition and sometimes wonder if it's worth the hour-long hike each way. But for now, it is what it is. Once I get there, it's not so bad. But sometimes, the traffic can just send me over the edge of sanity. And the pets are there as a counterbalance. Why do I have so many? Oh, and my last complaint must be regarding this accursed iphone. (a) The latest iOS update has turned it into crap and (b) why is AT+T making life so difficult with their plan options? Every time I consider a new purchase, I end up just shaking my head and leaving everything as it has been since 2005.
So let the summer begin!
Sunday, September 22, 2013
empty nest month one
And it's been almost exactly a month since we trucked B off to college! It's hard to believe that, just like that, your life is restored to its state BC (before children.) Except that BC, you didn't have massive debt. You didn't have a huge house with laundry that was never on your person. You didn't have seven pets running around, and not enough hands to pet them. You had a full time job, sure, but you took an express bus to get there, and you could go out after work, because (a) you were in your 20s and (b) you did not have dogs.
But the thing is that it's not that hard to get used to this new life, but that is perhaps because I am lacking the nurturing gene. After 21 years of someone somehow placing demands on your life, from the day you're pregnant and no longer able to take your beloved advil until the day you sit up wondering why it's taking so long for your 17 year old driver to get home from a friend's house, and keeping an eye on all the Facebook pages, who so helpfully post every wreck in the county, complete with commentary from "contributors," it's kind of nice to come home and kick back with a glass of wine, take the dogs for a walk or ride a bike through the park after work. It's nice to not have to worry about what's for dinner and whether or not it's GMO-free (although I admit, I didn't really know what that meant until AFTER the kids left and I had the time to learn about it, now I really wish I'd paid attention sooner - sorry M&B.)
The best part of the new-old state is that the house is almost always almost clean - there's pet hair around, and some mail and a dish or two might sit around longer than they should, but there is no clutter everywhere. The house is clean and it's quiet. Yes, sometimes, too quiet. And sometimes we miss the sandy towels and the flip flops and the free samples of redditor-advertisers ordered by B. We know that they'll be back, but it won't be the same. So it's time to reinvent ourselves.
Kevin is off into his world of cycling, and tries to ride and go to the gym as often as he can. I'm a little slower to hop on the freedom wagon, since I still feel responsible for the dogs, even though I've had to hire a dog walker to come in every day and walk them to keep them active. They still act as if I'm the first person they have seen in their entire lives when I walk through the door each night. But I'll get there. Just exploring alternatives.
As for the transition, I am sure it is eased by social media. You're never out of touch with your children, even when they do leave the nest. They're always in that e-nest, right next to you, when they need some money, when they get sick, or when something is wrong. If you're not hearing from them, it's probably all fine. But really - thirty years ago (ish) when I was in college, all we had were in-room phones. One of my friends' mothers used to call all of our rooms until she found the one her daughter was in. She'd be frantic by the third or fourth room. That would never happen now. Everyone can be that mother, thank to the instantaneous connection through texting and social media. B's college leaders said at one of their info sessions - do not call us and say you can't find your child because they are not answering their texts. But it's true. An unanswered text, especially when you know your child is on the Broad Street Subway, or walking through Fenway at night, is definitely cause for some deep breathing, at the very least. That is the hard part of the empty nest, and I deal with it by way of disassociation. I am on a need-to-worry basis.
But social media is a good thing, for those of us in this generation. A Facebook post, a tweet, or an instagram photo can provide us a glimpse into the lives of those who've flown the nest. And although my kids would never believe it, in my mind's eye, I can still understand the horror of my parents seeing those moments when I was their age. Especially since, thanks to my empty nest, I think I am 25 again!
And in other news, everyone is doing well in their respective schools. B is settling in and has made a few new friends although he's at a school where many seem to go home on the weekends. Midterms are around the corner, but so far he reports academic success. M is busy with the start of the swim season, and a new internship which is just beginning to take shape. She will have to apply in the early spring for the accelerated program, and the outcome of that application will determine where she will spend the years following her expected graduation year - if accepted, she will stay on and graduate a year later. Otherwise, she'll have to apply to other programs and those may take her away from Beantown. Time will tell. Lots to look forward to.
But the thing is that it's not that hard to get used to this new life, but that is perhaps because I am lacking the nurturing gene. After 21 years of someone somehow placing demands on your life, from the day you're pregnant and no longer able to take your beloved advil until the day you sit up wondering why it's taking so long for your 17 year old driver to get home from a friend's house, and keeping an eye on all the Facebook pages, who so helpfully post every wreck in the county, complete with commentary from "contributors," it's kind of nice to come home and kick back with a glass of wine, take the dogs for a walk or ride a bike through the park after work. It's nice to not have to worry about what's for dinner and whether or not it's GMO-free (although I admit, I didn't really know what that meant until AFTER the kids left and I had the time to learn about it, now I really wish I'd paid attention sooner - sorry M&B.)
The best part of the new-old state is that the house is almost always almost clean - there's pet hair around, and some mail and a dish or two might sit around longer than they should, but there is no clutter everywhere. The house is clean and it's quiet. Yes, sometimes, too quiet. And sometimes we miss the sandy towels and the flip flops and the free samples of redditor-advertisers ordered by B. We know that they'll be back, but it won't be the same. So it's time to reinvent ourselves.
Kevin is off into his world of cycling, and tries to ride and go to the gym as often as he can. I'm a little slower to hop on the freedom wagon, since I still feel responsible for the dogs, even though I've had to hire a dog walker to come in every day and walk them to keep them active. They still act as if I'm the first person they have seen in their entire lives when I walk through the door each night. But I'll get there. Just exploring alternatives.
As for the transition, I am sure it is eased by social media. You're never out of touch with your children, even when they do leave the nest. They're always in that e-nest, right next to you, when they need some money, when they get sick, or when something is wrong. If you're not hearing from them, it's probably all fine. But really - thirty years ago (ish) when I was in college, all we had were in-room phones. One of my friends' mothers used to call all of our rooms until she found the one her daughter was in. She'd be frantic by the third or fourth room. That would never happen now. Everyone can be that mother, thank to the instantaneous connection through texting and social media. B's college leaders said at one of their info sessions - do not call us and say you can't find your child because they are not answering their texts. But it's true. An unanswered text, especially when you know your child is on the Broad Street Subway, or walking through Fenway at night, is definitely cause for some deep breathing, at the very least. That is the hard part of the empty nest, and I deal with it by way of disassociation. I am on a need-to-worry basis.
But social media is a good thing, for those of us in this generation. A Facebook post, a tweet, or an instagram photo can provide us a glimpse into the lives of those who've flown the nest. And although my kids would never believe it, in my mind's eye, I can still understand the horror of my parents seeing those moments when I was their age. Especially since, thanks to my empty nest, I think I am 25 again!
And in other news, everyone is doing well in their respective schools. B is settling in and has made a few new friends although he's at a school where many seem to go home on the weekends. Midterms are around the corner, but so far he reports academic success. M is busy with the start of the swim season, and a new internship which is just beginning to take shape. She will have to apply in the early spring for the accelerated program, and the outcome of that application will determine where she will spend the years following her expected graduation year - if accepted, she will stay on and graduate a year later. Otherwise, she'll have to apply to other programs and those may take her away from Beantown. Time will tell. Lots to look forward to.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
modern medicine
I am the survivor of a week from hell. It started out with the usual annual panic at having to go for a mammogram. But I've gone every year(ish) for about ten years, and never has there been a problem - last year they took an extra film, so that didn't surprise me this year either. My tech wasn't the usual angelic comforting one though - sort of more like a tough love nursery school marm. She made me nervous, even though she didn't do anything specific. She just made me feel like something was wrong.
Two days went by without a call, and I truly forgot that I was worrying. Then, in the midst of a panicked update/create/modification for my boss, my cell phone began to vibrate on my desk. My boss, in a tizzy of her own, insisted that I ignore it; it's probably just as well that I did, as I wouldn't have been able to finish my task had I heard that it was the mammography center.
I called them back, and it took several tries before I got past the busy signal. Then I was put on hold. Then someone picked up and identified herself as 'Debbie' and said I could come in 'next week.' I said, "Woah! I don't even know why I am coming in - was there a problem?" (Dumb question, I suppose.) At that point she apologized, and said she was only per diem, and that she didn't even have my file and assumed they had spoken to me. NO. So she got the report and told me that there was an area of change that needed to be evaluated, and that 80% of the time, these changes are nothing. So I made that appointment and had to wait out the weekend.
Yesterday, nearly a week after my first visit and probably a few pounds lighter and with a few less years in my future as a result of the initial stress, I entered the building again and was immediately filled with dread. I sat in the waiting room, listening to an office manager run through the office chattering on her phone about how she cannot work with someone, because that person doesn't like her and just won't return her calls (I wonder why?) I did note with a bit of gratitude to my spirit guides that the angelic tech was at least back, as she took in the three people ahead of me and finally, me.
I sat in the waiting area in my too-big gown and tried to play candy crush to keep my mind off of the wait; my co-waiters were not chatty at all despite our close proximity and similar plight. The angelic tech came and told one of the waitmates that her films were normal, that "it was just dense tissue" and she only needs to come back next year (what happened to HIPAA?) And then - it was my turn. But - materialized out of thin air - was the OTHER TECH! My heart sank. Once again, she was brusque although not unfriendly. Nothing specific that she did put me so greatly at unease, but she just made me feel very scared. This was my first diagnostic mammogram and - wow - do they hurt. I actually sat down while she changed the paddles at which point she determined that I was about to faint and she made me sit in a sort of high chair for the test. Not fun!
Then I was returned to the holding pen. She came out shortly after and beckoned me down to the hallway with the changing rooms. My news was not as good. I was being sent for an ultrasound! I had known that this could happen and she still said that the radiologist had not seen anything, and just wanted to be sure that this was only dense tissue, but that it did not completely dissipate when pressed flatter. She took me into a room (which I now knew was totally NOT soundproof) and put me on the phone with the place where I would have to go for the ultrasound, and not that same day, even!
She left me in the room. When I was done on the phone, after hollering all sorts of personal information to a voice that kept saying, "what? Can you repeat that?" I didn't know what to do. Finally, I made my way out to the waiting area and the receptionist got me the films and documents and got me the heck out of there. At that point, I was convinced that death was imminent. How could this have happened? Did I eat too many hamburgers? Drink too much wine? Or is it simply because I live in New Jersey? I began to consider Angelina Jolie somewhat of a genius and began to prepare myself for the eventual surgery and treatment, which would surely ruin the family's upcoming trip to California, unless I put it off and allowed this beast within to grow.
Fortunately, I am very busy at work. My boss is understanding, as she has been through this before. She even cut me some peonies from her garden, which I found on my desk on Monday when I came in. The problem was, the smell reminded me of a funeral home and made me worry more!
But finally it was Tuesday, which is today. My appointment was not until 2:30. An interesting note on that. I consulted the wise oracle that is the Horoscope app on my iphone, and it said that I would be very worried about something on Monday but for Tuesday it said that I would be distracted by something personal, but that "even in these dire times," I would get my work done. So I decided that an afternoon appointment would be best - if I was going to have to worry, best it be about an upcoming test rather than one in the past that perhaps went poorly. Also, the weather was to be nicer today. For some reason I think that happens only to show me what the outcome of my appointments will be. It does seem to correlate, I have to say.
At any rate, as this tale grows long, clearly the result has allayed my fears (for now, there will always be another) as the second I entered this new facility I just felt a better vibe. I had begun to worry because I decided to wear my lucky pants and I couldn't find them anywhere! How does one go to a test wearing something other than one's lucky pants? But there they were - in my sock drawer, right where I left them when the pants drawer was full. I didn't have to wait long and a lovely tech came back to get me. She was reassuring from the start and told me that the radiologist felt from that everything would be fine. The test took a couple of minutes, and five minutes after that, she came back and told me that I could leave! The radiologist had seen nothing. And the waitmates were friendly and chatty, and there was bright light all over the place.
The only new stress is that I will have to go for a follow-up compression mammogram in six months to make sure the spot is not changing. But the radiologist had gone so far as to say that he would not have ordered the ultrasound in the first place. And guess where I will be going in six months - NOT back to the first place, that is for sure!
And in other news - as if I have thought of anything else, we are off with B to college orientation tomorrow, and then on Thursday he has his consult with the oral surgeon. M will be home next weekend for our vacation, then back to work for a week and then home for the summer. Back to beach guarding. Fingers crossed that the wild weather takes a breather for most of the season!
Two days went by without a call, and I truly forgot that I was worrying. Then, in the midst of a panicked update/create/modification for my boss, my cell phone began to vibrate on my desk. My boss, in a tizzy of her own, insisted that I ignore it; it's probably just as well that I did, as I wouldn't have been able to finish my task had I heard that it was the mammography center.
I called them back, and it took several tries before I got past the busy signal. Then I was put on hold. Then someone picked up and identified herself as 'Debbie' and said I could come in 'next week.' I said, "Woah! I don't even know why I am coming in - was there a problem?" (Dumb question, I suppose.) At that point she apologized, and said she was only per diem, and that she didn't even have my file and assumed they had spoken to me. NO. So she got the report and told me that there was an area of change that needed to be evaluated, and that 80% of the time, these changes are nothing. So I made that appointment and had to wait out the weekend.
Yesterday, nearly a week after my first visit and probably a few pounds lighter and with a few less years in my future as a result of the initial stress, I entered the building again and was immediately filled with dread. I sat in the waiting room, listening to an office manager run through the office chattering on her phone about how she cannot work with someone, because that person doesn't like her and just won't return her calls (I wonder why?) I did note with a bit of gratitude to my spirit guides that the angelic tech was at least back, as she took in the three people ahead of me and finally, me.
I sat in the waiting area in my too-big gown and tried to play candy crush to keep my mind off of the wait; my co-waiters were not chatty at all despite our close proximity and similar plight. The angelic tech came and told one of the waitmates that her films were normal, that "it was just dense tissue" and she only needs to come back next year (what happened to HIPAA?) And then - it was my turn. But - materialized out of thin air - was the OTHER TECH! My heart sank. Once again, she was brusque although not unfriendly. Nothing specific that she did put me so greatly at unease, but she just made me feel very scared. This was my first diagnostic mammogram and - wow - do they hurt. I actually sat down while she changed the paddles at which point she determined that I was about to faint and she made me sit in a sort of high chair for the test. Not fun!
Then I was returned to the holding pen. She came out shortly after and beckoned me down to the hallway with the changing rooms. My news was not as good. I was being sent for an ultrasound! I had known that this could happen and she still said that the radiologist had not seen anything, and just wanted to be sure that this was only dense tissue, but that it did not completely dissipate when pressed flatter. She took me into a room (which I now knew was totally NOT soundproof) and put me on the phone with the place where I would have to go for the ultrasound, and not that same day, even!
She left me in the room. When I was done on the phone, after hollering all sorts of personal information to a voice that kept saying, "what? Can you repeat that?" I didn't know what to do. Finally, I made my way out to the waiting area and the receptionist got me the films and documents and got me the heck out of there. At that point, I was convinced that death was imminent. How could this have happened? Did I eat too many hamburgers? Drink too much wine? Or is it simply because I live in New Jersey? I began to consider Angelina Jolie somewhat of a genius and began to prepare myself for the eventual surgery and treatment, which would surely ruin the family's upcoming trip to California, unless I put it off and allowed this beast within to grow.
Fortunately, I am very busy at work. My boss is understanding, as she has been through this before. She even cut me some peonies from her garden, which I found on my desk on Monday when I came in. The problem was, the smell reminded me of a funeral home and made me worry more!
But finally it was Tuesday, which is today. My appointment was not until 2:30. An interesting note on that. I consulted the wise oracle that is the Horoscope app on my iphone, and it said that I would be very worried about something on Monday but for Tuesday it said that I would be distracted by something personal, but that "even in these dire times," I would get my work done. So I decided that an afternoon appointment would be best - if I was going to have to worry, best it be about an upcoming test rather than one in the past that perhaps went poorly. Also, the weather was to be nicer today. For some reason I think that happens only to show me what the outcome of my appointments will be. It does seem to correlate, I have to say.
At any rate, as this tale grows long, clearly the result has allayed my fears (for now, there will always be another) as the second I entered this new facility I just felt a better vibe. I had begun to worry because I decided to wear my lucky pants and I couldn't find them anywhere! How does one go to a test wearing something other than one's lucky pants? But there they were - in my sock drawer, right where I left them when the pants drawer was full. I didn't have to wait long and a lovely tech came back to get me. She was reassuring from the start and told me that the radiologist felt from that everything would be fine. The test took a couple of minutes, and five minutes after that, she came back and told me that I could leave! The radiologist had seen nothing. And the waitmates were friendly and chatty, and there was bright light all over the place.
The only new stress is that I will have to go for a follow-up compression mammogram in six months to make sure the spot is not changing. But the radiologist had gone so far as to say that he would not have ordered the ultrasound in the first place. And guess where I will be going in six months - NOT back to the first place, that is for sure!
And in other news - as if I have thought of anything else, we are off with B to college orientation tomorrow, and then on Thursday he has his consult with the oral surgeon. M will be home next weekend for our vacation, then back to work for a week and then home for the summer. Back to beach guarding. Fingers crossed that the wild weather takes a breather for most of the season!
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Blog news!
I just found an app for blogging! Neglect may be a thing of the past? This is a test...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
summer? is here!
Yesterday was FREEZING cold! What happened to summer? I am glad they have revised the name of 'global warming' to 'climate change' because this is not warm. Of course, I am worried about the summer storms and excessive heat once the summer really does kick in, but something at least in the 60s would have been nice for yesterday. I hope today and tomorrow will be better!
So, again, I have neglected the blog. Nothing out of the ordinarily mundane has taken place: the usual, job interviews, high school graduations, weddings and trips to exotic locales. This weekend, as we settle into the summer season, we look to the future as empty-nesters! It is indeed true that B has managed to make it through high school !!!
Graduation was Thursday night, and up to the last second, I worried. His pre-calc grade, which was sitting just below an 80 all year, had not been updated with the final exam score, and he had proclaimed it to be six pages of problems the likes of which he'd never seen. A truly low grade could have been catastrophic, and to fail the last class of the last marking period of the last year as his first failure would have been a real kick in the gut. But strangely, the grade never made it to the portal. So we don't know why this happened, but there was in fact a diploma inside the case, so I guess we breathe deep and move on. My guess is that so many did so poorly that the final in that class is not being counted; when this happens it has to be a reflection of teaching and not of learning. But why not just curve? Perhaps we will never know!
Summer will consist of working nights at a local tavern/restaurant that struggles to keep customers coming in. B enjoys working there and it is somewhat low stress due to the lower level of patron activity. They managed to have a fairly steady flow all spring, but I'm concerned with summer, when most locals prefer a meal by the water. This is a slow season for inland restaurants anyway. We have learned that it's time to have wisdom teeth out, and of course there will also be the MRI and the follow-up visit, and a mole removal as recommended by the dermatologist. Two vacations, and the next thing we know it will be the end of this summer which has not yet begun. Why does time go by so quickly?
M will not be home until July, and I have made her an appointment to battle the stubborn warts again on July 1. I discovered that a horrible looking 'cut' on my foot was actually a wart, and when I went to the podiatrist, his treatment, while barbaric and painful, was effective in just one session. So I am sending her to try that out. The problem? She is supposed to start work on July 4, and may be expected to be able to walk or run at that point. So I hope her pain will be less than mine was, and also that this will finally be the answer to her battles with these warts. And she also is due to have the wisdom teeth out soon.
For now, she is wrapping up her time on co-op, and also working Sundays teaching children to swim for a higher hourly rate than she gets either working at the school OR risking her life guarding others at the beach. I wonder often if they will offer her a position working at their summer camp (which in July moves to her university's pool) and what she would do if they did. We have to pay for the apartment anyway, so she has the option to stay if she wants to. But I know she loves the summers at the beach and the apartment surely can get cramped and hot after ten months of living there. And at the end of August, we have to go back up there and help her move to another apartment.
And in other news, we are just back from a lovely wedding in New Orleans, a city whose charm and character I had not imagined to be quite as it was! It was an experience for all of us, punctuated by the travels fraught with challenge on the way home. But we all made it, and now it's back to the daily grind. Kevin's brother arrives today from California, so we'll take him to visit B at work. He's here for the week, but the rest of us will be working as usual. I've been really busy at work, organizing lots of travel to many meetings which cause me to suffer frequent heart jolts when I think that I have accidentally booked someone on the wrong flight, or sent them to the wrong university for a meeting, or even simply neglected to order a car to pick them up at the airport. These visits will conclude by the end of the last week in June, so I hope to breathe a little more steadily at that point!
Otherwise, we look forward to summer. The pool was opened on Thursday, so maybe one day it will be warm enough to dip a toe in. Kevin believes himself to have the makings of a triathlete, so he has been working on that, and I've just been trying to find the time and motivation to take the dogs on a two mile walk each day. I learned that my hip pain was actually coming from a bulging disc (although I have not had X-rays or followed up with massage or physical therapy - who has the time?) and have modified my activities with reasonable success, so I'm hoping to be able to increase my activity soon as well. But for now - it's off to the beach as soon as weather allows!
So, again, I have neglected the blog. Nothing out of the ordinarily mundane has taken place: the usual, job interviews, high school graduations, weddings and trips to exotic locales. This weekend, as we settle into the summer season, we look to the future as empty-nesters! It is indeed true that B has managed to make it through high school !!!
Graduation was Thursday night, and up to the last second, I worried. His pre-calc grade, which was sitting just below an 80 all year, had not been updated with the final exam score, and he had proclaimed it to be six pages of problems the likes of which he'd never seen. A truly low grade could have been catastrophic, and to fail the last class of the last marking period of the last year as his first failure would have been a real kick in the gut. But strangely, the grade never made it to the portal. So we don't know why this happened, but there was in fact a diploma inside the case, so I guess we breathe deep and move on. My guess is that so many did so poorly that the final in that class is not being counted; when this happens it has to be a reflection of teaching and not of learning. But why not just curve? Perhaps we will never know!
Summer will consist of working nights at a local tavern/restaurant that struggles to keep customers coming in. B enjoys working there and it is somewhat low stress due to the lower level of patron activity. They managed to have a fairly steady flow all spring, but I'm concerned with summer, when most locals prefer a meal by the water. This is a slow season for inland restaurants anyway. We have learned that it's time to have wisdom teeth out, and of course there will also be the MRI and the follow-up visit, and a mole removal as recommended by the dermatologist. Two vacations, and the next thing we know it will be the end of this summer which has not yet begun. Why does time go by so quickly?
M will not be home until July, and I have made her an appointment to battle the stubborn warts again on July 1. I discovered that a horrible looking 'cut' on my foot was actually a wart, and when I went to the podiatrist, his treatment, while barbaric and painful, was effective in just one session. So I am sending her to try that out. The problem? She is supposed to start work on July 4, and may be expected to be able to walk or run at that point. So I hope her pain will be less than mine was, and also that this will finally be the answer to her battles with these warts. And she also is due to have the wisdom teeth out soon.
For now, she is wrapping up her time on co-op, and also working Sundays teaching children to swim for a higher hourly rate than she gets either working at the school OR risking her life guarding others at the beach. I wonder often if they will offer her a position working at their summer camp (which in July moves to her university's pool) and what she would do if they did. We have to pay for the apartment anyway, so she has the option to stay if she wants to. But I know she loves the summers at the beach and the apartment surely can get cramped and hot after ten months of living there. And at the end of August, we have to go back up there and help her move to another apartment.
And in other news, we are just back from a lovely wedding in New Orleans, a city whose charm and character I had not imagined to be quite as it was! It was an experience for all of us, punctuated by the travels fraught with challenge on the way home. But we all made it, and now it's back to the daily grind. Kevin's brother arrives today from California, so we'll take him to visit B at work. He's here for the week, but the rest of us will be working as usual. I've been really busy at work, organizing lots of travel to many meetings which cause me to suffer frequent heart jolts when I think that I have accidentally booked someone on the wrong flight, or sent them to the wrong university for a meeting, or even simply neglected to order a car to pick them up at the airport. These visits will conclude by the end of the last week in June, so I hope to breathe a little more steadily at that point!
Otherwise, we look forward to summer. The pool was opened on Thursday, so maybe one day it will be warm enough to dip a toe in. Kevin believes himself to have the makings of a triathlete, so he has been working on that, and I've just been trying to find the time and motivation to take the dogs on a two mile walk each day. I learned that my hip pain was actually coming from a bulging disc (although I have not had X-rays or followed up with massage or physical therapy - who has the time?) and have modified my activities with reasonable success, so I'm hoping to be able to increase my activity soon as well. But for now - it's off to the beach as soon as weather allows!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
serenity on sunday
I hate Sunday nights. They mean it's almost Monday morning, time for the drive to work again. I'm getting a little tired of the traffic, although it could certainly be worse. I think it's time for a vacation. When I started this job, I was excited about all the vacation and Paid Time Off, but I don't seem to be taking advantage of it as I'd hoped. For one, I was terribly busy for several months. Although I feel as if I have come through to the other side, I imagine something will come up and change all of that.
So I decided to make meatballs and sauce and also, for the first time ever, New England Clam Chowder. I found a recipe in my crock pot book and gave it a try. It used bacon, which I thought was odd, but it actually tastes really good despite being very thin (it only used evaporated milk, not cream, and no flour). We are having a soup tasting sort of party at work on Wednesday for the winter birthdays, so I wanted to see if I could actually make my own contribution.
It's been a nice quiet weekend, although somehow I seem to have hurt my neck/back and am unable to stand or sit for too long without my back getting sore and tired. I'm just taking lots of advil and having a little wine here and there. The kitchen prep today didn't do much to help although taking the dogs around the block was good for it. The poor dogs have been housebound for so long with these awful temperatures.
Otherwise, I fear there is not much to report! B has just finished up his midterms and so far the results are mixed. Many of the most important subjects have yet to be posted, including physics, precalc and English. He's barely been home all weekend, but has been instructed to be home for dinner tonight by 7. If I spent the whole day hurting my back and cooking, the least he can do is come home! Also, last night he wanted to go out with some friends and since he's been put in charge of his own laundry and hasn't been doing it, he found himself with no clean shirts and had to borrow one from Kevin to wear under a flannel shirt that we bought him a few weeks ago at Costco!
As for M, she is just back from the second to last swim meet before the champs in Virginia at the end of February. Work and swimming together are more grueling than work and school, it seems, in terms of hours demanded. But she will have a week off from work before she goes off to champs (February break) and then will have miss the following week of work (or most of it). Bad timing, but she will at least be able to rest.
In other news, B did get the flu shot a week ago Thursday, so I hope it will be effective and keep him from the weeklong viral illness he's been prone to getting each February. I'm still waiting for all of this flu news to die down and it doesn't seem to want to go away. Although I still know almost noone who has truly had the flu, and his school has not experienced particularly high absenteeism, I still live in fear of it and pivot my shopping carts on their wheels at the sound of each hacking cough or sneeze while I'm out shopping. Kevin has traveled a few times and of course, takes the bus to work, incubating who knows what for an hour each way every day. But the good news is, tonight I can watch Downton Abbey.
So I decided to make meatballs and sauce and also, for the first time ever, New England Clam Chowder. I found a recipe in my crock pot book and gave it a try. It used bacon, which I thought was odd, but it actually tastes really good despite being very thin (it only used evaporated milk, not cream, and no flour). We are having a soup tasting sort of party at work on Wednesday for the winter birthdays, so I wanted to see if I could actually make my own contribution.
It's been a nice quiet weekend, although somehow I seem to have hurt my neck/back and am unable to stand or sit for too long without my back getting sore and tired. I'm just taking lots of advil and having a little wine here and there. The kitchen prep today didn't do much to help although taking the dogs around the block was good for it. The poor dogs have been housebound for so long with these awful temperatures.
Otherwise, I fear there is not much to report! B has just finished up his midterms and so far the results are mixed. Many of the most important subjects have yet to be posted, including physics, precalc and English. He's barely been home all weekend, but has been instructed to be home for dinner tonight by 7. If I spent the whole day hurting my back and cooking, the least he can do is come home! Also, last night he wanted to go out with some friends and since he's been put in charge of his own laundry and hasn't been doing it, he found himself with no clean shirts and had to borrow one from Kevin to wear under a flannel shirt that we bought him a few weeks ago at Costco!
As for M, she is just back from the second to last swim meet before the champs in Virginia at the end of February. Work and swimming together are more grueling than work and school, it seems, in terms of hours demanded. But she will have a week off from work before she goes off to champs (February break) and then will have miss the following week of work (or most of it). Bad timing, but she will at least be able to rest.
In other news, B did get the flu shot a week ago Thursday, so I hope it will be effective and keep him from the weeklong viral illness he's been prone to getting each February. I'm still waiting for all of this flu news to die down and it doesn't seem to want to go away. Although I still know almost noone who has truly had the flu, and his school has not experienced particularly high absenteeism, I still live in fear of it and pivot my shopping carts on their wheels at the sound of each hacking cough or sneeze while I'm out shopping. Kevin has traveled a few times and of course, takes the bus to work, incubating who knows what for an hour each way every day. But the good news is, tonight I can watch Downton Abbey.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
2013 before we knew it
Well, it's been months. Work has kept me ridiculously busy, I leave between 7:15 and 7:30 every morning and don't get home until 6 or 6:30, rarely take lunch and almost always feel like the things that are happening are always one step ahead of me. Yesterday I had a brief break in the insanity and was able to regroup and focus on some of the things I've been doing; then it began to pick back up again and I left feeling frazzled for the fifth day in a row.
Next week will be worse as I have a meeting Monday, for which I'll have to take and transcribe and post minutes AND watch a speaker that will keep me out until after 9. Tuesday (my BIRTHDAY for crying out loud) I am forced to remain at work for an extra hour for a phone call because nobody could make it work during regular business hours. Yesterday I calculated my hourly wage and it's becoming more paltry as I take on more harried tasks.
Then, on Wednesday, we have the dreaded semi-annual neurology appointment with B, and this is the one where we find out what the MRI showed back in August. We have called a few times and have only been told that we would have heard if there were a problem, so I'm going to assume that this is the case. Still a total stressor, especially as B is banking on this to be his bon voyage visit at this doctor's office, or at least the end of the six month follow-ups, and, hopefully MRIs unless as needed. Although he probably should have one at least every few years to check on his syrinx, curse its sausagey self.
So - the flu. Of course I can't write a blog post under the present events without addressing one of my usual paranoias - the flu. B has been very ill with flulike symptoms both of the last two years and I thought to myself that we'd get him the vaccine this year. He had it twice - once the year he was diagnosed with chiari and had the surgery (the healthiest winter of his life, virus-wise) and the following year, when he contracted bronchitis and developed subsequent serum sickness from the antibiotic. After that I became fearful of foreign substances and he never got the vaccine again. Also if he's had the flu two years in a row, surely he should be spared a third? Although he tested negative both times in the rapid test. But I don't believe it - only the flu could possibly have rendered him so useless for so long.
After weighing the pros and cons, I called the pediatrician only to be told they had run out. They called me yesterday and offered him a few options (which I can't make, because of the above events of this upcoming week) and he now has an appointment for Thursday at 9:30. I will have to go in late to work and he will have to leave school and go back. The good news is that I have time to think it over. If only I could be sure he wasn't going to get sick again! Then I could spare him the chemicals and possible adverse effects of who-knows-what is in that shot for a 60% effectiveness. And is it going to help or make it worse, if he gets it as the season begins to wind down?
Otherwise, M is settling in with her new job, although she has just been overwhelmed with work and practice. She has to be at the pool at 6 and at the car to meet the girls she drives at 6:50, to work at 7:30 and then back to the pool in the afternoons. For the first three weeks, she has mandatory restraint training at work which conflicts with the evening practices. And all of this as the flu rages through Boston (she was too sick to get the shot when they offered them, with her own mini-flu in October/November) and the team is trying to wrap up their season. We are headed to watch her swim in PA today.
Finally, in other news, the college search is on for B. He's been accepted to only one school so far, and has to hear from nine. I'm reasonably sure that they are all waiting to see his midterm grades and won't send decisions until March or so. But one had promised a decision by January 15, so maybe that will happen next week. Something else to add to the list. And Kevin continues his recovery from the shoulder surgery that ruled his thoughts for the better part of the fall. He's in PT twice a week and scares the animals by raising and lowering an umbrella as he lies in bed every night and every morning. Onward and upward!
Next week will be worse as I have a meeting Monday, for which I'll have to take and transcribe and post minutes AND watch a speaker that will keep me out until after 9. Tuesday (my BIRTHDAY for crying out loud) I am forced to remain at work for an extra hour for a phone call because nobody could make it work during regular business hours. Yesterday I calculated my hourly wage and it's becoming more paltry as I take on more harried tasks.
Then, on Wednesday, we have the dreaded semi-annual neurology appointment with B, and this is the one where we find out what the MRI showed back in August. We have called a few times and have only been told that we would have heard if there were a problem, so I'm going to assume that this is the case. Still a total stressor, especially as B is banking on this to be his bon voyage visit at this doctor's office, or at least the end of the six month follow-ups, and, hopefully MRIs unless as needed. Although he probably should have one at least every few years to check on his syrinx, curse its sausagey self.
So - the flu. Of course I can't write a blog post under the present events without addressing one of my usual paranoias - the flu. B has been very ill with flulike symptoms both of the last two years and I thought to myself that we'd get him the vaccine this year. He had it twice - once the year he was diagnosed with chiari and had the surgery (the healthiest winter of his life, virus-wise) and the following year, when he contracted bronchitis and developed subsequent serum sickness from the antibiotic. After that I became fearful of foreign substances and he never got the vaccine again. Also if he's had the flu two years in a row, surely he should be spared a third? Although he tested negative both times in the rapid test. But I don't believe it - only the flu could possibly have rendered him so useless for so long.
After weighing the pros and cons, I called the pediatrician only to be told they had run out. They called me yesterday and offered him a few options (which I can't make, because of the above events of this upcoming week) and he now has an appointment for Thursday at 9:30. I will have to go in late to work and he will have to leave school and go back. The good news is that I have time to think it over. If only I could be sure he wasn't going to get sick again! Then I could spare him the chemicals and possible adverse effects of who-knows-what is in that shot for a 60% effectiveness. And is it going to help or make it worse, if he gets it as the season begins to wind down?
Otherwise, M is settling in with her new job, although she has just been overwhelmed with work and practice. She has to be at the pool at 6 and at the car to meet the girls she drives at 6:50, to work at 7:30 and then back to the pool in the afternoons. For the first three weeks, she has mandatory restraint training at work which conflicts with the evening practices. And all of this as the flu rages through Boston (she was too sick to get the shot when they offered them, with her own mini-flu
Finally, in other news, the college search is on for B. He's been accepted to only one school so far, and has to hear from nine. I'm reasonably sure that they are all waiting to see his midterm grades and won't send decisions until March or so. But one had promised a decision by January 15, so maybe that will happen next week. Something else to add to the list. And Kevin continues his recovery from the shoulder surgery that ruled his thoughts for the better part of the fall. He's in PT twice a week and scares the animals by raising and lowering an umbrella as he lies in bed every night and every morning. Onward and upward!
Monday, October 8, 2012
swearing off macy's for life!
So that should be liberating! How it came to pass is that a coworker passed along her coupons from Macy's so I could use them. I knew the rules for these cards: you have to use your Macy's charge to get the discount. But I have had a Macy's card for years! I don't use it often, and I always pay it right off; in fact it's probably been 10 years since I used it last. But it was surely that long the time before that, too. I just don't go to the mall that often!
I need a new pair of shoes and maybe some boots, so I headed over in Sunday traffic to have a look. First, I have to say that the shoe department was a horror within itself. People just seething everywhere, and it took me 10 minutes of standing around with shoes in my hand to find someone to help. Obviously it's been a long time since I bought shoes at Macy's too, because they have a totally new system. Harried and cranky salespeople have to scan the box, only to tell you then that they have almost nothing in the sizes you have requested. Then, ten minutes later they appear with the ones you barely wanted anyway, and you put them on to discover they're an inch too long for your foot.
And that's how it went. I decided to head up to the petites department to see if I could find something nice to wear to work, and that's where it went from worse to worst, and my separation from Macy's was sealed for eternity. I finally managed to find a sweater and a shirt which would have cost, in total, about $50. At the register, I discovered that my credit card no longer worked. The saleswoman (who worked more slowly than molasses so I had had to wait a fair amount of time just to be put through this experience) offered to 'reactivate' the card, with a license and major credit card.
Knowing that my credit rating is strong, I wasn't worried at all, it was only a reactivation! I knew that I had been rejected once by Sleepy's when trying to get credit for a mattress, but at the time my own income was less than $20,000 a year. Now I felt it was at a respectable level, surely enough to charge $50 on a crappy Macy's credit card! (I had even checked 'store card only', not wanting their AMEX or anything else. I just wanted to charge this, pay it off, and move on.)
Soon I realized things were not going to work out. I had to be put on the phone with a girl, who grilled me and asked me, in front of all around, personal questions about income, mortgage and other investments. It was quite awkward and I told her so, and that if this was going to be a rejection, she should tell me right now because I'll just leave and not take the clothes. Of course, it was a rejection after all. I came home and wrote to Macy's non-existent customer service, and received in response a "thanks for taking our survey!" form letter. What is it with this store, that they just can't get it right? I guess I can now see WHY it's been so long since I purchased anything at Macy's.
Anyway, that was my Macy's debacle. It's truly hardly worth getting upset about it because I really couldn't care less that they didn't give me the card. What I do care about is that they put me through that humiliation over $50 worth of clothes and several hours of shopping out of my precious wasted weekend that I'll never get back to use more fruitfully. But I learned a hard lesson. Macy's sucks!
And in other news, the cold weather is upon us. The leaves are coming off the trees in droves, and the cars are all fogged up every morning. B has decided to shift his college search to warmer climes (which is really an irrelevant quest anyway, as he seems unable to finish an essay despite having been given weeks to complete it.) Fortunately, the community college doesn't require an essay! And if he goes there, just think of all the money we will have to spend at places that are NOT MACY'S!!!
I need a new pair of shoes and maybe some boots, so I headed over in Sunday traffic to have a look. First, I have to say that the shoe department was a horror within itself. People just seething everywhere, and it took me 10 minutes of standing around with shoes in my hand to find someone to help. Obviously it's been a long time since I bought shoes at Macy's too, because they have a totally new system. Harried and cranky salespeople have to scan the box, only to tell you then that they have almost nothing in the sizes you have requested. Then, ten minutes later they appear with the ones you barely wanted anyway, and you put them on to discover they're an inch too long for your foot.
And that's how it went. I decided to head up to the petites department to see if I could find something nice to wear to work, and that's where it went from worse to worst, and my separation from Macy's was sealed for eternity. I finally managed to find a sweater and a shirt which would have cost, in total, about $50. At the register, I discovered that my credit card no longer worked. The saleswoman (who worked more slowly than molasses so I had had to wait a fair amount of time just to be put through this experience) offered to 'reactivate' the card, with a license and major credit card.
Knowing that my credit rating is strong, I wasn't worried at all, it was only a reactivation! I knew that I had been rejected once by Sleepy's when trying to get credit for a mattress, but at the time my own income was less than $20,000 a year. Now I felt it was at a respectable level, surely enough to charge $50 on a crappy Macy's credit card! (I had even checked 'store card only', not wanting their AMEX or anything else. I just wanted to charge this, pay it off, and move on.)
Soon I realized things were not going to work out. I had to be put on the phone with a girl, who grilled me and asked me, in front of all around, personal questions about income, mortgage and other investments. It was quite awkward and I told her so, and that if this was going to be a rejection, she should tell me right now because I'll just leave and not take the clothes. Of course, it was a rejection after all. I came home and wrote to Macy's non-existent customer service, and received in response a "thanks for taking our survey!" form letter. What is it with this store, that they just can't get it right? I guess I can now see WHY it's been so long since I purchased anything at Macy's.
Anyway, that was my Macy's debacle. It's truly hardly worth getting upset about it because I really couldn't care less that they didn't give me the card. What I do care about is that they put me through that humiliation over $50 worth of clothes and several hours of shopping out of my precious wasted weekend that I'll never get back to use more fruitfully. But I learned a hard lesson. Macy's sucks!
And in other news, the cold weather is upon us. The leaves are coming off the trees in droves, and the cars are all fogged up every morning. B has decided to shift his college search to warmer climes (which is really an irrelevant quest anyway, as he seems unable to finish an essay despite having been given weeks to complete it.) Fortunately, the community college doesn't require an essay! And if he goes there, just think of all the money we will have to spend at places that are NOT MACY'S!!!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
September Saturday
and we have been married 22 years today! It's funny how a lot of significant days turn up with the same weather, year after year, even with all the global warming pomp and circumstance. September 11 is such a day, and so is the 15th. Halloween in New Jersey is often a nice clear crisp day, warm enough for no coats. Of course there are exceptions but in general this is how I remember all of these days.
So we will celebrate with a trip to the usual favorite restaurant, despite their sadly unsatisfying crab cakes the last time we went, because I always give them another chance and because they send us $15 gift certificates for every major milestone.
But our biggest news is the mortgage refinance, which will save us $1800 a month beginning in five years ($1200 a month immediately - this is because we had to take a 401k loan to pay down the principal so the ratio would allow us to qualify - that loan will be paid back in five years). Of course, Kevin will use this opportunity to buy himself the new car he's been lusting over for several months - probably a Jeep Wrangler. It's nice to finally be free of Wells Fargo, who did all they could to keep squeezing an extra 3% a month out of us, and refused to refinance because we had a home equity line as a secondary loan - although it was also with them. Now they get nothing! Although in a twist of irony, it looks like they will end up with the processing of the new mortgage anyway. But at least they're not going to be sucking the blood out of us for another 24 years like they had hoped.
Our car status has been just pathetic lately. First, the Explorer cost $300 one day and $500 the next. Then the truck cost $440. Brian's friend's car broke down at school and even my new boss needed an expensive brake job on her car. I'm afraid to touch a car at all! Mine had a light come on the other night, but thankfully it only needed air in the tires. For now.
Anyway, as it's been a long and exhausting week, I am very much looking forward to spending some time at home. I do have to get my newsletter done, but that's become more routine and I can do it in a couple of days of sitting down for a few blocks of time here and there. Kevin is traveling to Sweden for a few days, and of course B is supposed to be studying away. Tennis starts today, and its his first year of being able to drive himself. And the deer are terrible! The other night one was just standing in the shadows, right in the middle of the road, around a curve! Luckily, he was on the other side from where I was driving, but the next time he might not be. It's very creepy.
Not much to report on M, as we don't hear too much detail from her. She went to the Yankee/Red Sox game the other night with a friend of my friend's daughters. She's still awaiting delivery of a couch, and I assume still struggling to regain her physics brain so she can tackle that class. She did say she enjoyed her audiology class this year more than last, so hopefully the physics brain will come back to her soon! Audiology is a longer school commitment, as the terminal degree is a PhD; for speech (at least for now) you can get a job with a MS, which she can get in five years if she does everything right. Of course, the audiology path could be more lucrative, but only time will tell what will be. It also will cost a lot more!
B has managed to survive his first week of senior year, barely. First, he lost the parking tag before he even got home on the day he got it. Then, on the third day of school, I got a call at 9:05 that he wasn't there. Although I had spoken to him several times before I left the house at 7:20, and probably should have feared a horrible wreck, I understood him more likely to still be snoring away in bed, and indeed he was. This promises to be an ongoing challenge, and one which he'd better get under control if he expects to be sent to a residential college! We aren't paying tuition for him to sleep through classes!
And in other news, we will soon kick up the college search. Lots of schools are starting to send invitations to their open houses, which of course are all on Saturdays (same as tennis) or are far away and end late on Sundays. I have tried to step back and let B manage this to some degree but I also have a sense that it won't get done. His high school is very structured and insists on all applications being in by the Monday after Thanksgiving, even for regular decision. Early applications are due much earlier than that. So that takes the pressure off, a little. Even thought there will be pressure, it's their own and no actual deadlines are in danger of being missed. But with B and his organizational challenges, it promises to be an adventure.
So we will celebrate with a trip to the usual favorite restaurant, despite their sadly unsatisfying crab cakes the last time we went, because I always give them another chance and because they send us $15 gift certificates for every major milestone.
But our biggest news is the mortgage refinance, which will save us $1800 a month beginning in five years ($1200 a month immediately - this is because we had to take a 401k loan to pay down the principal so the ratio would allow us to qualify - that loan will be paid back in five years). Of course, Kevin will use this opportunity to buy himself the new car he's been lusting over for several months - probably a Jeep Wrangler. It's nice to finally be free of Wells Fargo, who did all they could to keep squeezing an extra 3% a month out of us, and refused to refinance because we had a home equity line as a secondary loan - although it was also with them. Now they get nothing! Although in a twist of irony, it looks like they will end up with the processing of the new mortgage anyway. But at least they're not going to be sucking the blood out of us for another 24 years like they had hoped.
Our car status has been just pathetic lately. First, the Explorer cost $300 one day and $500 the next. Then the truck cost $440. Brian's friend's car broke down at school and even my new boss needed an expensive brake job on her car. I'm afraid to touch a car at all! Mine had a light come on the other night, but thankfully it only needed air in the tires. For now.
Anyway, as it's been a long and exhausting week, I am very much looking forward to spending some time at home. I do have to get my newsletter done, but that's become more routine and I can do it in a couple of days of sitting down for a few blocks of time here and there. Kevin is traveling to Sweden for a few days, and of course B is supposed to be studying away. Tennis starts today, and its his first year of being able to drive himself. And the deer are terrible! The other night one was just standing in the shadows, right in the middle of the road, around a curve! Luckily, he was on the other side from where I was driving, but the next time he might not be. It's very creepy.
Not much to report on M, as we don't hear too much detail from her. She went to the Yankee/Red Sox game the other night with a friend of my friend's daughters. She's still awaiting delivery of a couch, and I assume still struggling to regain her physics brain so she can tackle that class. She did say she enjoyed her audiology class this year more than last, so hopefully the physics brain will come back to her soon! Audiology is a longer school commitment, as the terminal degree is a PhD; for speech (at least for now) you can get a job with a MS, which she can get in five years if she does everything right. Of course, the audiology path could be more lucrative, but only time will tell what will be. It also will cost a lot more!
B has managed to survive his first week of senior year, barely. First, he lost the parking tag before he even got home on the day he got it. Then, on the third day of school, I got a call at 9:05 that he wasn't there. Although I had spoken to him several times before I left the house at 7:20, and probably should have feared a horrible wreck, I understood him more likely to still be snoring away in bed, and indeed he was. This promises to be an ongoing challenge, and one which he'd better get under control if he expects to be sent to a residential college! We aren't paying tuition for him to sleep through classes!
And in other news, we will soon kick up the college search. Lots of schools are starting to send invitations to their open houses, which of course are all on Saturdays (same as tennis) or are far away and end late on Sundays. I have tried to step back and let B manage this to some degree but I also have a sense that it won't get done. His high school is very structured and insists on all applications being in by the Monday after Thanksgiving, even for regular decision. Early applications are due much earlier than that. So that takes the pressure off, a little. Even thought there will be pressure, it's their own and no actual deadlines are in danger of being missed. But with B and his organizational challenges, it promises to be an adventure.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
bring on the rain
It sure is hot! Of all days to have this weather, I finally got my hair cut after three months, and had some bad gray streaks mitigated (for now). As I went to leave home, the skies opened up. Fortunately, when I left the salon, they had cleared, but humidity and heat are now up and the trees are dancing, a harbinger of storms to come. I guess we will see.
Kevin and I were out way too late last night (for me) and although it was a fun night, as I nursed a glass of wine, the hosts announced a DWI checkpoint on our route home. Three hours later, with me totally sober but exhausted and paranoid, we took a detour and came the long way home. By the time I got to sleep, it was close to 1. My entire body aches when I do this these days! It didn't help that I had been up since 6.
So - M is back to school. She has to take physics, which is causing her some anxiety since it's been two years since she last had anything requiring mathematical thinking. But she enjoys her audiology class this time (last year I think it was very dry) and also loves her social psychology teacher (sort of a given, I would hope, or at least a requirement for one to attain such a position, that the personality should befit the subject matter and be entertaining). Her apartment is probably her biggest source of excitement over being back, and she has already started swim training for the season. She can walk to Whole Foods in less time than it takes me to drive to the one here. The bad news is that Abby is pining for her long-lost pal.
B started school yesterday. As always, he is determined to perform well this year. He too has physics, and he has precalc. It isn't going to be an easy year, and it's an important one for college. He should be able to manage it, but he will have to learn to control his lack of focus.
Having just passed his driver's test two weeks ago, he has taken to the roads in M's Explorer, which we knew was in need of some sort of repair (turned out to be a rusted wheel bearing, and$300 later, that is all fixed ). Meanwhile, the other day, the battery light and warning sign came on, and the garage (during the wheel repair) said it was fine. Sure enough, half an hour later it came back on, refused to go off, and the battery charge drained down to 'E'. This morning we had to take it in to a different place, and drop an additional $500 on an alternator.
Other than that and the college applications, B is status quo. Oh, he did have his MRIs last month but we have heard nothing back. I may call, but since it ties my stomach up in such knots, I'll probably end up waiting until our November appointment.
As for my job, it is much, much improved. I like my new boss and appreciate her honed administrative skills, which the organization was really lacking prior to her arrival. Of course it's too soon to tell if this will prove to be symbiotic or cause rebellion, but I have not seen her make any move other than one that was unarguably the right one. I rarely sit and stare with nothing to do anymore, and I feel almost as if my brain is awakening from a long sleep. Of course, nothing is perfect and without knowing the future, I do still keep an eye out just in case; the commute and the salary both have room for major improvement. But for now, I am happy to be where I am.
And in other news, we may have actually managed to secure a refinancing. Kevin is waiting impatiently as the underwriters do their thing, but everything up till now seems to be in order. If we ever manage to close, we will save about $1100 a month, which is nothing to sneeze about. It sure will help when we have to pay two tuitions next year! Of course, Kevin plans to use the money to buy himself a Jeep.
Kevin and I were out way too late last night (for me) and although it was a fun night, as I nursed a glass of wine, the hosts announced a DWI checkpoint on our route home. Three hours later, with me totally sober but exhausted and paranoid, we took a detour and came the long way home. By the time I got to sleep, it was close to 1. My entire body aches when I do this these days! It didn't help that I had been up since 6.
So - M is back to school. She has to take physics, which is causing her some anxiety since it's been two years since she last had anything requiring mathematical thinking. But she enjoys her audiology class this time (last year I think it was very dry) and also loves her social psychology teacher (sort of a given, I would hope, or at least a requirement for one to attain such a position, that the personality should befit the subject matter and be entertaining). Her apartment is probably her biggest source of excitement over being back, and she has already started swim training for the season. She can walk to Whole Foods in less time than it takes me to drive to the one here. The bad news is that Abby is pining for her long-lost pal.
B started school yesterday. As always, he is determined to perform well this year. He too has physics, and he has precalc. It isn't going to be an easy year, and it's an important one for college. He should be able to manage it, but he will have to learn to control his lack of focus.
Having just passed his driver's test two weeks ago, he has taken to the roads in M's Explorer, which we knew was in need of some sort of repair (turned out to be a rusted wheel bearing, and$300 later, that is all fixed ). Meanwhile, the other day, the battery light and warning sign came on, and the garage (during the wheel repair) said it was fine. Sure enough, half an hour later it came back on, refused to go off, and the battery charge drained down to 'E'. This morning we had to take it in to a different place, and drop an additional $500 on an alternator.
Other than that and the college applications, B is status quo. Oh, he did have his MRIs last month but we have heard nothing back. I may call, but since it ties my stomach up in such knots, I'll probably end up waiting until our November appointment.
As for my job, it is much, much improved. I like my new boss and appreciate her honed administrative skills, which the organization was really lacking prior to her arrival. Of course it's too soon to tell if this will prove to be symbiotic or cause rebellion, but I have not seen her make any move other than one that was unarguably the right one. I rarely sit and stare with nothing to do anymore, and I feel almost as if my brain is awakening from a long sleep. Of course, nothing is perfect and without knowing the future, I do still keep an eye out just in case; the commute and the salary both have room for major improvement. But for now, I am happy to be where I am.
And in other news, we may have actually managed to secure a refinancing. Kevin is waiting impatiently as the underwriters do their thing, but everything up till now seems to be in order. If we ever manage to close, we will save about $1100 a month, which is nothing to sneeze about. It sure will help when we have to pay two tuitions next year! Of course, Kevin plans to use the money to buy himself a Jeep.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
what, no water????
So during Irene, a bridge was washed away by our drinking water. In fact, it took out the home of a former KISS rocker, knocked it right off of its foundation, causing him to lament the loss of much of his memorabilia, as he wasn't being allowed inside to retrieve it due to risk of collapse of the home. How long ago was that? Ten months?
Things are a little slow at work, sort of the calm in the eye of the storm, just after a major snafu debacle and just before the change in administration which will affect me in unknown ways. So I checked into my news source, Facebook, to find reports of a major water main break in town. So major, in fact, that we no longer are gathering water in our reservoir. We're on a mandatory water restriction, under a state of emergency, and very much in the dark as to why this happened or how long it will last. The entire midsections of three intake pipes are simply gone into the water below. The very same pedestrian bridge damaged by Irene collapsed around them - but it was such a flimsy bunch of boards to begin with, it's difficult to imagine that it could have caused the entire fiasco.
So far, we're little affected, our water works and the pressure is good. Although the water looks clear, we've been advised not to drink it, so I gathered up a bunch of water in Princeton yesterday before I came home from work. Luckily, our power is on (some not so lucky in this extreme heat) and our pool is filled. This may end up being the first day it gets some use!
M is off to work, she is also filling in for someone on Monday which means she will work six days in a row. I don't like that, and hope at least one or two of them are complete washouts (she is already way too tan and it's not even July...) B is a bum; he'll start tennis camp on Monday, going twice a week, but other than that his days aren't too full until he heads off to his computer 'camp' in three weeks. He'll do some volunteering at the nursing home again, if he ever gets on the ball, and of course he needs all of his medical testing done as well.
Kevin is off on one of his obsessive bike rides, he finally found someone to go with him, a former co-swim parent and fellow congregant at our dysfunctional church. So they're off on their maiden voyage together, out in this building heat.
So I guess things are not that exciting. We're gearing up the college search for B, welcoming any suggestions for an average kid in a world where above average is the new average. His hope will be his essay, which has to be well done and has to draw attention to the fact that his grades, while averaging out to a lackluster GPA, have staged steady increases ever since freshman year. So the challenge will be for him to maintain that climb in time for first quarter/semester grades, and to tie in the whole chiari experience with the difficulty in settling into high school, and ultimately, a more competitive junior/senior year GPA as compared to the first two years.
The real challenge is to find a school with admissions standards relaxed enough that he will get in, without sacrifice of education quality or motivation of the other students. And to keep this within a respectable budget, as his top choice school is one of the priciest schools around; although its reputation is solid in the community and it could offer him opportunities after graduation, another important consideration in this search.
And in other news, we had our house and deck painted last week. We waited a month past the date we were given for the guys to show up, and then they blew through like a tornado, knocking over bushes and leaving unfinished bits everywhere. I guess that's what happens when you hire people and nobody is around to watch them work. They were dropped off by their boss, and the only one home was B, who managed to sleep through their hollering and banging around, which began at 7am daily.
But now I must be off - I took a vacation day on Monday, mainly to get caught up in dust bunny maintenance and laundry (which is now prohibited by the county!) so I probably should try to get a start on that.
Things are a little slow at work, sort of the calm in the eye of the storm, just after a major snafu debacle and just before the change in administration which will affect me in unknown ways. So I checked into my news source, Facebook, to find reports of a major water main break in town. So major, in fact, that we no longer are gathering water in our reservoir. We're on a mandatory water restriction, under a state of emergency, and very much in the dark as to why this happened or how long it will last. The entire midsections of three intake pipes are simply gone into the water below. The very same pedestrian bridge damaged by Irene collapsed around them - but it was such a flimsy bunch of boards to begin with, it's difficult to imagine that it could have caused the entire fiasco.
So far, we're little affected, our water works and the pressure is good. Although the water looks clear, we've been advised not to drink it, so I gathered up a bunch of water in Princeton yesterday before I came home from work. Luckily, our power is on (some not so lucky in this extreme heat) and our pool is filled. This may end up being the first day it gets some use!
M is off to work, she is also filling in for someone on Monday which means she will work six days in a row. I don't like that, and hope at least one or two of them are complete washouts (she is already way too tan and it's not even July...) B is a bum; he'll start tennis camp on Monday, going twice a week, but other than that his days aren't too full until he heads off to his computer 'camp' in three weeks. He'll do some volunteering at the nursing home again, if he ever gets on the ball, and of course he needs all of his medical testing done as well.
Kevin is off on one of his obsessive bike rides, he finally found someone to go with him, a former co-swim parent and fellow congregant at our dysfunctional church. So they're off on their maiden voyage together, out in this building heat.
So I guess things are not that exciting. We're gearing up the college search for B, welcoming any suggestions for an average kid in a world where above average is the new average. His hope will be his essay, which has to be well done and has to draw attention to the fact that his grades, while averaging out to a lackluster GPA, have staged steady increases ever since freshman year. So the challenge will be for him to maintain that climb in time for first quarter/semester grades, and to tie in the whole chiari experience with the difficulty in settling into high school, and ultimately, a more competitive junior/senior year GPA as compared to the first two years.
The real challenge is to find a school with admissions standards relaxed enough that he will get in, without sacrifice of education quality or motivation of the other students. And to keep this within a respectable budget, as his top choice school is one of the priciest schools around; although its reputation is solid in the community and it could offer him opportunities after graduation, another important consideration in this search.
And in other news, we had our house and deck painted last week. We waited a month past the date we were given for the guys to show up, and then they blew through like a tornado, knocking over bushes and leaving unfinished bits everywhere. I guess that's what happens when you hire people and nobody is around to watch them work. They were dropped off by their boss, and the only one home was B, who managed to sleep through their hollering and banging around, which began at 7am daily.
But now I must be off - I took a vacation day on Monday, mainly to get caught up in dust bunny maintenance and laundry (which is now prohibited by the county!) so I probably should try to get a start on that.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
of blogs and creativity
Well, can it be so? Occasionally I will search the hits, to see the terms that bring viewers, few and far between, to my little blog. About three years ago, I posted a link to an article featuring B and his surgical complication. Apparently, this search has landed me #54 in Google's searches on the topic. I have recently learned that the power of Google is indeed a mighty force. Initially, when this blog was indexed by the "bots" it had WAY more identifying information than it should have had, and more details than should have been prudent! So I revised the blog and took out some of the details, but in the cache, often the facts remain.
But what transpired was a revisitation of the past - I perused a few blogs and had a few chuckles - hard to believe that it's just been a few years and already I've forgotten that chipmunks drowned in our pool, only hours after being rescued from the jaws of the Wren (a few circa 2012 have not been so fated, although I've not been home to witness, nor have I been responsible for the release of the beast, despite her loud and repeated pleas for acquiescence). I seemed to have a great connection to specific beloved shrubs, many of which I fear I see withering in the yard this year. I attributed this to the weather, but in fact it may instead be neglect. Not so much lack of water and care as lack of caring!
So this is what my going back to work has done ... my blog is dry, and my yard no better! Seven pets now roam the halls in search of entertainment, and, not finding it, they either eat my kitchen table or pee on my bathmat! But all is well. The college bills will be paid; at least for this year.
Anyway, the point is not to bemoan my working. On the contrary, I often feel as if it's given me my self back. But it may have drained some of my creativity when it comes to my blog, and my yard, and it's certainly left my pets just a bit more lonesome. Thankfully they have had M all of these days, and B will now be with them as well. Abby no longer has to live in the hall - the other day we had a mysterious ant invasion and Kevin, ever the savior, doused her whole hall with ant spray, so I refused to put her back there. This put a short life on M's June lie-ins, as she reported awakening to a big wet nose the second day of Abby's freedom. But the good news is that the wood furniture has remained intact.
So it is interesting that I have to watch my writing style as well. The style at work tends to be more flowery and unlike me and it took me a while to realize I didn't have to end all my letters with things like "blah blah blah blah blah," and that I could just say, "blah" as always and perhaps "blah blah." I guess it's a good sign that I'm back to myself. Although I'll have to be careful. Don't want to be too unflowery - in the yard or in the email!
And in other news, we finally got to the beach today, just in time to see M and her partner get an earful about how to handle dead-in-the-water boats (not the way they handled one, which was to allow it to nearly wash up on shore!) But it was surprisingly warm and comfortable on the beach today. It would be nice to have more time to enjoy it! I did have a good laugh when a beachgoer came up and asked them what they do when a boat loses power and starts to wash ashore. They responded, "oh, we swim it back out," as if it's just one of those instinctive lifeguard talents. (I guess the guy had been too far away when their boss came by on the beach buggy).
But what transpired was a revisitation of the past - I perused a few blogs and had a few chuckles - hard to believe that it's just been a few years and already I've forgotten that chipmunks drowned in our pool, only hours after being rescued from the jaws of the Wren (a few circa 2012 have not been so fated, although I've not been home to witness, nor have I been responsible for the release of the beast, despite her loud and repeated pleas for acquiescence). I seemed to have a great connection to specific beloved shrubs, many of which I fear I see withering in the yard this year. I attributed this to the weather, but in fact it may instead be neglect. Not so much lack of water and care as lack of caring!
So this is what my going back to work has done ... my blog is dry, and my yard no better! Seven pets now roam the halls in search of entertainment, and, not finding it, they either eat my kitchen table or pee on my bathmat! But all is well. The college bills will be paid; at least for this year.
Anyway, the point is not to bemoan my working. On the contrary, I often feel as if it's given me my self back. But it may have drained some of my creativity when it comes to my blog, and my yard, and it's certainly left my pets just a bit more lonesome. Thankfully they have had M all of these days, and B will now be with them as well. Abby no longer has to live in the hall - the other day we had a mysterious ant invasion and Kevin, ever the savior, doused her whole hall with ant spray, so I refused to put her back there. This put a short life on M's June lie-ins, as she reported awakening to a big wet nose the second day of Abby's freedom. But the good news is that the wood furniture has remained intact.
So it is interesting that I have to watch my writing style as well. The style at work tends to be more flowery and unlike me and it took me a while to realize I didn't have to end all my letters with things like "blah blah blah blah blah," and that I could just say, "blah" as always and perhaps "blah blah." I guess it's a good sign that I'm back to myself. Although I'll have to be careful. Don't want to be too unflowery - in the yard or in the email!
And in other news, we finally got to the beach today, just in time to see M and her partner get an earful about how to handle dead-in-the-water boats (not the way they handled one, which was to allow it to nearly wash up on shore!) But it was surprisingly warm and comfortable on the beach today. It would be nice to have more time to enjoy it! I did have a good laugh when a beachgoer came up and asked them what they do when a boat loses power and starts to wash ashore. They responded, "oh, we swim it back out," as if it's just one of those instinctive lifeguard talents. (I guess the guy had been too far away when their boss came by on the beach buggy).
Saturday, June 9, 2012
summer daze
So - B has taken his last final of his junior year. Only one more year of high school (theoretically) and off to college? He is taking the ACTs as I type and then he will be on to summer. He doesn't have much planned, but I guess he is happy enough about that for now. I'd like him to find a part time job but of course there's that trivial burbtopia issue with his not having a driver's license yet. The stores up in town are a possibility and I do want him to complete the application for the grocery store there; but I don't place much faith in much coming of it, even if he does follow through.
Otherwise, he's off to San Diego for a week, spending a week at a computer science program at a local tech college, and tennis camping one or two days a week when he's not away. And of course, the family trip to the shore.
M is still flopping around the house, although she spent a week in Cape Cod last week. She finally saw a doctor for her stomach issues, which she's had for years, and had some troubling results in her blood work. But a visit to a gastroenterologist yesterday allayed some concerns, and she's been given a medication to reduce "spasms" which she has to take 1/2 hour before each meal. She took one before dinner last night and miraculously, it worked! So I told her to skip the one this morning, as she's working and side effects may include tiredness, blurred vision and increased sensitivity to light and heat! Not a great combination for a beach lifeguard on the job. But it was encouraging that it had such immediate results.
She has one more week before she starts work full time, so hopefully her symptoms will stabilize before long and she can cut down on the use of those pills and manage with diet. She has been given a clinical diagnosis of IBS. If the treatment doesn't work, she'll have to have a scope for celiac. Although the IgA marker for celiac was low (negative), so was her overall IgA; so the doctor said she might still have it, but he didn't think so. He said that having had this for so long, if she had celiac he would expect her to be anemic (she's not), and aside from elevated bilirubin, all of her other liver numbers were normal. The IgA, according to the pediatrician, is an inherited deficiency. None of this has ever been tested before now, which surprised me.
And this is a busy day - Wilbur and I have our hair appointments, it's the family BBQ at B's school, M is working and Kevin is running around trying to find a place to ride his bike. Just back from his week overseas and then this past week of work, he's trying to get himself back into the groove. He's also revisited the shoulder injury, with another dislocation the day that he left for Europe.
And in other news, my job continues to keep me busy, which I do enjoy although it's been a little harrowing. And of course, the future continues to hang in the balance as I await the direction of the company over the next few months. But in a week, I will have reached my three month anniversary, meaning I will be entitled to the full allocation of vacation days, and there are indeed many - four weeks to be taken whenever I want to take them (and the office closes for a week in December so that's not a vacation drain), plus 12 sick days so I don't have to use vacation when I take someone to a doctor, or go to one myself - meaning I can finally enjoy an actual vacation without being docked in pay or wondering if I will have any interviews when I get back. It's been many years since that happened!
Otherwise, he's off to San Diego for a week, spending a week at a computer science program at a local tech college, and tennis camping one or two days a week when he's not away. And of course, the family trip to the shore.
M is still flopping around the house, although she spent a week in Cape Cod last week. She finally saw a doctor for her stomach issues, which she's had for years, and had some troubling results in her blood work. But a visit to a gastroenterologist yesterday allayed some concerns, and she's been given a medication to reduce "spasms" which she has to take 1/2 hour before each meal. She took one before dinner last night and miraculously, it worked! So I told her to skip the one this morning, as she's working and side effects may include tiredness, blurred vision and increased sensitivity to light and heat! Not a great combination for a beach lifeguard on the job. But it was encouraging that it had such immediate results.
She has one more week before she starts work full time, so hopefully her symptoms will stabilize before long and she can cut down on the use of those pills and manage with diet. She has been given a clinical diagnosis of IBS. If the treatment doesn't work, she'll have to have a scope for celiac. Although the IgA marker for celiac was low (negative), so was her overall IgA; so the doctor said she might still have it, but he didn't think so. He said that having had this for so long, if she had celiac he would expect her to be anemic (she's not), and aside from elevated bilirubin, all of her other liver numbers were normal. The IgA, according to the pediatrician, is an inherited deficiency. None of this has ever been tested before now, which surprised me.
And this is a busy day - Wilbur and I have our hair appointments, it's the family BBQ at B's school, M is working and Kevin is running around trying to find a place to ride his bike. Just back from his week overseas and then this past week of work, he's trying to get himself back into the groove. He's also revisited the shoulder injury, with another dislocation the day that he left for Europe.
And in other news, my job continues to keep me busy, which I do enjoy although it's been a little harrowing. And of course, the future continues to hang in the balance as I await the direction of the company over the next few months. But in a week, I will have reached my three month anniversary, meaning I will be entitled to the full allocation of vacation days, and there are indeed many - four weeks to be taken whenever I want to take them (and the office closes for a week in December so that's not a vacation drain), plus 12 sick days so I don't have to use vacation when I take someone to a doctor, or go to one myself - meaning I can finally enjoy an actual vacation without being docked in pay or wondering if I will have any interviews when I get back. It's been many years since that happened!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
mayday
And it's another sunny beautiful day with me in the dirty stinky house! At least today I have hope of getting it cleaned, although I have a little headache already and a newsletter to finish for school, the first since I started my job. To complicate the task, the principal, who has been my primary proofreader and supplier of information for the opening pages, has left the school and I'm missing some key components, including upcoming events (which I can somewhat figure out) and announcements (which I can't). But I hope to post it by Monday. I just have the tedious task of editing and adding clip art.
Meanwhile, Kevin and B have gone fishing! Kevin texted that the ocean is rough but B is having fun. I'm thinking of inviting the Doll over for dinner to make up for not seeing her on Mothers' Day but I always have to be sure the house is presentable so I have a couple of hours before that determination can be made.
M went out to dinner last night and just as I was drifting off to sleep, she texted that they might go to an 11:30 movie. I texted back, "!" and fell asleep. She came home at 2am and scared us all out of sleep! Kevin hadn't even realized she was going to be out so late, and my usual radar is all cobwebbed from the months of not having to worry about where she was or when she would be home. It was a really odd feeling - because if she hadn't come home, I wouldn't have known till this morning! I don't like that thought - it's going to be a rough summer of this.
On the job front, there is still nothing to report. Although I can't write here about the secret happenings at work, change is indeed in the air and I don't know how that will affect me in the long term. Since both of my bosses will be retiring before the end of the year, everything is just a big question mark, and I still find I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing. Surely it isn't a hard job, although once in a while when I am called on to perform a task, it *is* difficult, and hours of idle waiting make it more difficult for my brain to turn on.
I am also starting to notice strange tensions in the air, and an artificial friendliness that fills the gap in an attempt to cover it up. I am not directly affected by it, but I have to really remain aloof if I don't want to get drawn in. That's not easy for me to do, and I did come close to losing my cool last week with one particularly condescending staffer. I just reminded myself to remain above it all, and hoped myself would listen. But overall, I do still like it although I don't think it's a good sign that the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is peruse the daily job emails on my phone.
And in other news, it's litter box changing day. I'm on a quest to find the best cat litter. We used to use Fresh Step, and I loved the way you could not scoop the boxes for days and the house wouldn't smell like cats. But it would smell like Fresh Step, and so would the cats - all the time! There was a fine powder all over everything in the laundry room, and all over the cats. I'd get it in my nose when I'd scoop and couldn't get the smell out for hours. So, regretting that I'd have to give up the luxury of not scooping as often, I began a search for a replacement.
Now that there are five cats and we've had problems with inappropriate urination, I really had to make a good choice. So I did a little internet research and found Dr. Elsey's CatAttract Litter. Although I can't say it smells fragrant, it does clump wonderfully and the peeing has subsided quite a bit. As a test, I had another box with another highly rated litter in it, and it sat unused for two weeks while the cats continued to pile into the CatAttract boxes, no matter how soiled they were. I also invested in a plug-in Feli-way diffuser for the bedroom, where the new cats hang out, and that seems to have helped with the peeing as well. We've still had a couple of incidents, but not upstairs (except for when M locked one of the new cats in her room for hours).
And on that note - I think I hear the dust bunnies fighting!
Meanwhile, Kevin and B have gone fishing! Kevin texted that the ocean is rough but B is having fun. I'm thinking of inviting the Doll over for dinner to make up for not seeing her on Mothers' Day but I always have to be sure the house is presentable so I have a couple of hours before that determination can be made.
M went out to dinner last night and just as I was drifting off to sleep, she texted that they might go to an 11:30 movie. I texted back, "!" and fell asleep. She came home at 2am and scared us all out of sleep! Kevin hadn't even realized she was going to be out so late, and my usual radar is all cobwebbed from the months of not having to worry about where she was or when she would be home. It was a really odd feeling - because if she hadn't come home, I wouldn't have known till this morning! I don't like that thought - it's going to be a rough summer of this.
On the job front, there is still nothing to report. Although I can't write here about the secret happenings at work, change is indeed in the air and I don't know how that will affect me in the long term. Since both of my bosses will be retiring before the end of the year, everything is just a big question mark, and I still find I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing. Surely it isn't a hard job, although once in a while when I am called on to perform a task, it *is* difficult, and hours of idle waiting make it more difficult for my brain to turn on.
I am also starting to notice strange tensions in the air, and an artificial friendliness that fills the gap in an attempt to cover it up. I am not directly affected by it, but I have to really remain aloof if I don't want to get drawn in. That's not easy for me to do, and I did come close to losing my cool last week with one particularly condescending staffer. I just reminded myself to remain above it all, and hoped myself would listen. But overall, I do still like it although I don't think it's a good sign that the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is peruse the daily job emails on my phone.
And in other news, it's litter box changing day. I'm on a quest to find the best cat litter. We used to use Fresh Step, and I loved the way you could not scoop the boxes for days and the house wouldn't smell like cats. But it would smell like Fresh Step, and so would the cats - all the time! There was a fine powder all over everything in the laundry room, and all over the cats. I'd get it in my nose when I'd scoop and couldn't get the smell out for hours. So, regretting that I'd have to give up the luxury of not scooping as often, I began a search for a replacement.
Now that there are five cats and we've had problems with inappropriate urination, I really had to make a good choice. So I did a little internet research and found Dr. Elsey's CatAttract Litter. Although I can't say it smells fragrant, it does clump wonderfully and the peeing has subsided quite a bit. As a test, I had another box with another highly rated litter in it, and it sat unused for two weeks while the cats continued to pile into the CatAttract boxes, no matter how soiled they were. I also invested in a plug-in Feli-way diffuser for the bedroom, where the new cats hang out, and that seems to have helped with the peeing as well. We've still had a couple of incidents, but not upstairs (except for when M locked one of the new cats in her room for hours).
And on that note - I think I hear the dust bunnies fighting!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
settling in
It's going to be a beautiful day! Next week will see my two month anniversary at the job come and go, meaning in one month I will have passed the official 'trial period' of 90 days. At that point I'll have all sorts of fancy benefits, including finally a retirement savings plan, my first in 17 years! Not that I can put much in, most has to go to college tuition, present and future, but in order to get the match rate of 5%, I have to put 5% in myself. So technically my pay will go down in a few weeks.
Not a whole lot of excitement has gone on in recent weeks. Kevin has been traveling a lot, M has been hanging around the house most of the time, and B continues to allegedly strive to improve his GPA. The verdict on that will be in in four weeks or so. Meanwhile, I"m trying to get him into a summer program in computers at one of the local colleges for a week in July. I have been back and forth with the guidance office because the college's website wasn't functioning properly and the deadline is Tuesday! But we should have an answer on that by the end of the week.
In the world of M, lifeguard tryouts are today so she is excited to have something to do. They have to run a mile, swim 500 yards, and then complete some re-certification coursework. They are lucky to have such a nice day for it this year. Other than that, she hasn't been doing much because none of her friends are back from college yet. She has some travel plans in early June, and she'll start work in mid- late-June. She is supposed to be trying to find herself something relevant to her major, as she'll have to interview for placements over the next semester for her co-op in January. So far these efforts have been limited to one unreturned phone call and a bounced-back email to the woman who led the volunteers when she volunteered at a hospital two years ago.
And in other news, we had to get a new floor for our family room! The day that the dogs had their baths, I don't know what happened to Abby. She must have eaten something bad, or else she was just so distraught that she had terrible gastric upset beginning in the evening. She projectile vomited a couple of times before bed, but then came to bed acting normally. Well, at some point in the night she must have been stricken and went to the back door - but of course nobody was there to open it for her. So - the rug was horrifically soiled. We decided to get the wood laminate because it should be easier to care for than hardwood (and cheaper!) in case of incidents like this one. It's such an improvement over the ugly old rug. And finally - the pool is open! And so we settle in and wait for summer ... and all the fun that it brings (and - sigh - the long-awaited MRIs...not looking forward to those.)
Not a whole lot of excitement has gone on in recent weeks. Kevin has been traveling a lot, M has been hanging around the house most of the time, and B continues to allegedly strive to improve his GPA. The verdict on that will be in in four weeks or so. Meanwhile, I"m trying to get him into a summer program in computers at one of the local colleges for a week in July. I have been back and forth with the guidance office because the college's website wasn't functioning properly and the deadline is Tuesday! But we should have an answer on that by the end of the week.
In the world of M, lifeguard tryouts are today so she is excited to have something to do. They have to run a mile, swim 500 yards, and then complete some re-certification coursework. They are lucky to have such a nice day for it this year. Other than that, she hasn't been doing much because none of her friends are back from college yet. She has some travel plans in early June, and she'll start work in mid- late-June. She is supposed to be trying to find herself something relevant to her major, as she'll have to interview for placements over the next semester for her co-op in January. So far these efforts have been limited to one unreturned phone call and a bounced-back email to the woman who led the volunteers when she volunteered at a hospital two years ago.
And in other news, we had to get a new floor for our family room! The day that the dogs had their baths, I don't know what happened to Abby. She must have eaten something bad, or else she was just so distraught that she had terrible gastric upset beginning in the evening. She projectile vomited a couple of times before bed, but then came to bed acting normally. Well, at some point in the night she must have been stricken and went to the back door - but of course nobody was there to open it for her. So - the rug was horrifically soiled. We decided to get the wood laminate because it should be easier to care for than hardwood (and cheaper!) in case of incidents like this one. It's such an improvement over the ugly old rug. And finally - the pool is open! And so we settle in and wait for summer ... and all the fun that it brings (and - sigh - the long-awaited MRIs...not looking forward to those.)
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