Here it is, Hump Day, and I am not motivated. I am unemployed yet again. I checked last year's schedule and noticed that I was really quite busy, but I was also working as a substitute para, and that seemed to bring in a lot of my hours, this time last year. However, I did have a day or two of work each week as a teacher sub as well. Last night, the new caller tried to call. I had Kevin on the other line, and he wouldn't stop talking. By the time I got to her, she had hung up. I called her immediately back, first she picked up and put the phone down, and then I called again and left a message, but the call was never returned. I'll call her again today, because I can't work in the afternoon tomorrow, so I'll request a morning, and a job for Friday, and see what happens. After 7 years, I am in my 8th, I have gone to being a nobody again. By the way, that is longer than I ever stayed at any of my other jobs.
I have to finish work on the directory for the middle school anyway, but all I have to do is delete a few names and print it out for proofing, and that won't take long. Otherwise I have laundry to finish up and I have to get the house straightened for the cleaning lady, who comes tomorrow. (yay) Maybe I'll go for a bike ride or take Molly for a walk. It's supposed to reach close to 80 degrees again!
After school today, Brian has swimming followed by baseball. Megan has nothing but a swim meeting at school and a Spanish Honor Society meeting. This is good, because she isn't feeling well. I have to go and get her some drugs; it's her usual November affliction of stuffiness. She also jammed her finger on someone's finned foot at practice the other day. Swimming CAN be dangerous!
Tomorrow is the next open house at one of the Catholic high schools. There's another on Sunday, but we have to be at the Y, so I may call the school and see about going another time. They do 'open tours' and also allow the students to experience the school for a day, which is a great idea. We have a lot of days off that they don't, including this coming Monday, so that might work out. Anyway, the school is far from being a first choice.
Meanwhile, I started letting Buddy and Wren out from time to time while the weather has been nice. It cuts down on litterbox cleaning, and they don't go far. However, Wren has become quite the chipmunk hunter. But she doesn't kill them. She brings them home to keep as pets. She meows while they're still hanging, terrified, in her jaw, and she brings them to the back slider and tries to get in! Yesterday, Brian saved one by chasing Wren around the yard until she finally dropped it and it escaped. But she's out now. She busted out when I was checking on the car.
In other news, STILL no progress reports. Maybe today. I was pretty sure they had gone out yesterday. And I definitely will get paid, thankfully, because I have no more money and there is no more food in the house. Having to budget not just money but how much food to buy is proving to be more challenging than I had expected, with another mouth to feed. And a big night tonight! First, the Phillies in a win-win situation. If they win, they go to the World Series. If they lose, they get to come home and win the pennant on their own turf (because of course, they will win). Second, the final debate, and being held at the renowned Hofstra University. How much more excitement can be packed into one night? I can hardly stand it.
Showing posts with label cats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cats. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
A Handle on the Pulse
The blood pressure monitor arrived! It is my latest toy. I am no longer afraid I am a high blood pressure candidate although I will continue to monitor, and to try to lose ten pounds. The first reading I got was a little high - 128/75 - but the pulse was 92!!! I was afraid of myself! I took a couple more readings, a few minutes apart, and as the pulse came down, so did the BP. By the final reading, it was under 120/80 and the pulse was 78.
Megan asked me to take hers. Her pulse was low, of course, somewhere in the 50s and she had the BP to match. I had had a glass of chardonnay, which I had read can raise your blood pressure, so I was not sure what to expect. Well. My pulse was 66 and the bp was 117/70-something. Hah. The secret must be that I have to schedule all my doctor's appointments after Happy Hour.
So one mystery is solved: Megan emailed the woman from the special ed program and she is, in fact, accepted. So she will be working in the special ed classes for the summer on MWF from 8:30-12:30. That's really OK. It leaves us the entire afternoon for activities and leaves her with much less idle time. Now we just have to wait to see to which class she has been assigned.
Otherwise, the package from the exchange student agency will go out in the morning, and Dr. NoCallBack will have it on her desk by Wednesday at noon. I'll let my board President neighbor know so she can be on the lookout for it, and she will go and thumb through to try to ensure that it gets on the agenda by the 25th. And so we should have no news before then as far as that goes, but once the 25th rolls around, we will know for absolute certain if we are approved.
In other news, it's the last week of school, I spent the day with my kindergarten friends and we had a lovely time. Tonight I convinced Megan not to go to swim practice, she has her algebra and Spanish finals tomorrow, her worst day, and it's a late night for swimming tonight. Also, we were expecting violent rains. I hear the pool was closed at 7, but the storm had pretty much blown through here by the time that they were supposed to have gotten in the pool. I had Wren at the vet today for her rabies shot and he said she looks good. I was a little concerned she had gotten thin, but she was half a pound heavier than last year, so she must just be thin compared to the rest of the tub-o-lards we have around here. She was not happy with the whole experience. She managed to get herself under the towel I had put for her to sit on, and when the tech came out to call her, the receptionist said, "Wren's not here."
Megan asked me to take hers. Her pulse was low, of course, somewhere in the 50s and she had the BP to match. I had had a glass of chardonnay, which I had read can raise your blood pressure, so I was not sure what to expect. Well. My pulse was 66 and the bp was 117/70-something. Hah. The secret must be that I have to schedule all my doctor's appointments after Happy Hour.
So one mystery is solved: Megan emailed the woman from the special ed program and she is, in fact, accepted. So she will be working in the special ed classes for the summer on MWF from 8:30-12:30. That's really OK. It leaves us the entire afternoon for activities and leaves her with much less idle time. Now we just have to wait to see to which class she has been assigned.
Otherwise, the package from the exchange student agency will go out in the morning, and Dr. NoCallBack will have it on her desk by Wednesday at noon. I'll let my board President neighbor know so she can be on the lookout for it, and she will go and thumb through to try to ensure that it gets on the agenda by the 25th. And so we should have no news before then as far as that goes, but once the 25th rolls around, we will know for absolute certain if we are approved.
In other news, it's the last week of school, I spent the day with my kindergarten friends and we had a lovely time. Tonight I convinced Megan not to go to swim practice, she has her algebra and Spanish finals tomorrow, her worst day, and it's a late night for swimming tonight. Also, we were expecting violent rains. I hear the pool was closed at 7, but the storm had pretty much blown through here by the time that they were supposed to have gotten in the pool. I had Wren at the vet today for her rabies shot and he said she looks good. I was a little concerned she had gotten thin, but she was half a pound heavier than last year, so she must just be thin compared to the rest of the tub-o-lards we have around here. She was not happy with the whole experience. She managed to get herself under the towel I had put for her to sit on, and when the tech came out to call her, the receptionist said, "Wren's not here."
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Davy Jones' Locker
So a few blogs back I was detailing my dramatic rescue of the little chipmunk from the jaws of the Wren. I saw the little thing scurrying across the deck a couple of days later, and have managed to keep Wren inside, except for one little slip-up the other afternoon, after which Buddy also got out and remained at large for several hours.
Well, today I had a half day to work in a resource room at a different elementary school. I came home and sorted through email and various other timewasting activities. Finally, I decided it was time to check out the yard, see what is blooming and what's sprouting up since last I checked (I'm awaiting the reemergence of the hardy hibiscus from last year; one started weeks ago, but the three smaller ones have shown no signs of life, until today. I think I saw small bumps emerging from the wood sticking out of the ground!!! I hope so, because these are my red ones, and I love them.)
Anyway, Molly was out with me, as always, and we were walking around after Megan came home. I suddenly remembered a shadowy shape I had seen earlier from the bathroom window. :-O Sure enough, there, in Davy Jones' locker, laid my beloved little rescuee. I was sad. I took a moment and studied the little thing, lying there still as if he were asleep, with his eyes closed and his little paws hanging in front of him as if he were saying, "No, Davy, No! Give me back to the jaws of the Wren!" With a heavy heart, I turned away, walking around the deep end of the pool. Shock! Horror! Strife! There again, in Davy Jones' OTHER locker ... was a relative of my small ex-friend. So, it is a sad day for the chipmunks.
Other than that, the Mets have now lost their playoff berth. They actually won the second game, so they lost the first, and then won the second, which obviously entitled them to play a third, which was Tuesday. The other team had one of the best pitchers in the division, and they had whooped us in the regular season game. I didn't expect much, and headed out to watch the game. When I got there ten minutes late, it was already the bottom of the second inning. Brian was on third, but I didn't know how he had gotten there. (I later learned he had gotten a double!) He did not score. At the end of that inning, the score remained 0-0. And it just got better - throughout the beginning of the game, it remained scoreless for several innings, until the Mets took a 2-0 lead.However, their opponents were not to be outdone, and quickly regained their status, and scored two runs of their own for a score of 2-2. Normally the little league games are six innings long. In the bottom of the TENTH inning, the Mets season drew to a close. It was very exciting, though, and a well played game by all. And now that other team has to go on to the next level, which means playing Saturday, in 90 degree heat.
In other news, nothing on the exchange student or fresh air fund STILL. The rep from the agency did call the other day to say that she had spoken to the secretary of the assistant superintendent, so we are awaiting his return call. She said she'd give him till Friday (now, tomorrow) and try him again. I will email him myself if he doesn't get her an answer by the end of the day. I am getting so tired of this, as I may have mentioned. I had Kevin speak to the guy who runs the baseball camp, I was starting to envision the fresh air people calling me the night before, that week, and sending me some little boy who really wanted to be in the camp, and then having the camp be filled. This is a very nice man, thankfully, and he is really great with the kids, too. He is actually a (haha) comedian in his spare time, so he just keeps the camp moving along. He was also very open to the idea of the camper, and said, sure! just remind me right before, if he comes. So that is one thing off my mind. I still don't know if we haven't gotten an assignment because of the confusion regarding the camp, or if we just have not come up on the list yet. And now, I am off to the orthodontist. Megan has just come home with a headache - wonderful.
Well, today I had a half day to work in a resource room at a different elementary school. I came home and sorted through email and various other timewasting activities. Finally, I decided it was time to check out the yard, see what is blooming and what's sprouting up since last I checked (I'm awaiting the reemergence of the hardy hibiscus from last year; one started weeks ago, but the three smaller ones have shown no signs of life, until today. I think I saw small bumps emerging from the wood sticking out of the ground!!! I hope so, because these are my red ones, and I love them.)
Anyway, Molly was out with me, as always, and we were walking around after Megan came home. I suddenly remembered a shadowy shape I had seen earlier from the bathroom window. :-O Sure enough, there, in Davy Jones' locker, laid my beloved little rescuee. I was sad. I took a moment and studied the little thing, lying there still as if he were asleep, with his eyes closed and his little paws hanging in front of him as if he were saying, "No, Davy, No! Give me back to the jaws of the Wren!" With a heavy heart, I turned away, walking around the deep end of the pool. Shock! Horror! Strife! There again, in Davy Jones' OTHER locker ... was a relative of my small ex-friend. So, it is a sad day for the chipmunks.
Other than that, the Mets have now lost their playoff berth. They actually won the second game, so they lost the first, and then won the second, which obviously entitled them to play a third, which was Tuesday. The other team had one of the best pitchers in the division, and they had whooped us in the regular season game. I didn't expect much, and headed out to watch the game. When I got there ten minutes late, it was already the bottom of the second inning. Brian was on third, but I didn't know how he had gotten there. (I later learned he had gotten a double!) He did not score. At the end of that inning, the score remained 0-0. And it just got better - throughout the beginning of the game, it remained scoreless for several innings, until the Mets took a 2-0 lead.However, their opponents were not to be outdone, and quickly regained their status, and scored two runs of their own for a score of 2-2. Normally the little league games are six innings long. In the bottom of the TENTH inning, the Mets season drew to a close. It was very exciting, though, and a well played game by all. And now that other team has to go on to the next level, which means playing Saturday, in 90 degree heat.
In other news, nothing on the exchange student or fresh air fund STILL. The rep from the agency did call the other day to say that she had spoken to the secretary of the assistant superintendent, so we are awaiting his return call. She said she'd give him till Friday (now, tomorrow) and try him again. I will email him myself if he doesn't get her an answer by the end of the day. I am getting so tired of this, as I may have mentioned. I had Kevin speak to the guy who runs the baseball camp, I was starting to envision the fresh air people calling me the night before, that week, and sending me some little boy who really wanted to be in the camp, and then having the camp be filled. This is a very nice man, thankfully, and he is really great with the kids, too. He is actually a (haha) comedian in his spare time, so he just keeps the camp moving along. He was also very open to the idea of the camper, and said, sure! just remind me right before, if he comes. So that is one thing off my mind. I still don't know if we haven't gotten an assignment because of the confusion regarding the camp, or if we just have not come up on the list yet. And now, I am off to the orthodontist. Megan has just come home with a headache - wonderful.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Hump Day
Why are the days going by so slowly? It isn't like I am enduring any great hardships, and surely I don't want to wish away time. But with the opening of the beach club just two weeks away, and summer right on its heels - five more weeks of school and all that - it just seems like the days are dragging by! Maybe it's the weather, which just seems to feel like a three month long March, particularly in comparison to the same time last year.
And so last night I got a call to work. I find I am not in the mood to go in, when I go there mostly the teachers all know exactly how many days are left until the end of the year, and they all roll their eyes and go "ugh" at everything that happens. But the class I was asked to be in is one of my favorites, the small special ed class with three paras and the best lesson plans I think I have ever been given. Plus, I had promised myself I would say yes to any calls, so I did it. Of course, it was a beautiful day and I was mostly inside, but we did have recess (only one fight, and one scraped up forehead and elbow) and we went out to release butterflies in the afternoon, although the poor things were much happier to stay in their boxes on their twigs and orange slices. Who can blame them?
After school, Megan had her beach practice down in Long Branch, which was very nice. I took my ipod, dropped off Megan and one boy from the carpool, and drove into the heart of the boardwalk, then went for a 40 minute walk. Then I came back and ate french fries, a chicken sandwich, and drank wine. I bough burgers for everyone, even the carpool boy. (Well, Kevin did - hehe - I used his debit card.) When I got home all my shrubs were crying out for water. I'm still tweaking that layout issue. I told Kevin if he won't show interest I will just go and buy them all myself, now that I have discovered these superhuman plant-lifting powers. Lately I have moved from shrub and perennial to tree obsessions. Particularly, I want a Dogwood and a Japanese Maple.
No more work lined up for the week, but Kevin will be in Texas and I have lots of carpooling to do tomorrow, so hopefully I can have the day off, or at least the afternoon. Kevin is working from home on Friday, because he has an appointment to get his blood test results (first time in quite a while since he takes these mega-vitamins, and then his doctor mysteriously left the practice without telling any of his patients!) and then they are coming to open the pool. Hard to believe, and it will be cool and rainy all weekend. Vacuum practice!
In other news, no news from the Fresh Air people, but I have been sent a few profiles of potential exchange students. I was poring through the help wanted ads, as I do every Sunday, when I happened upon an ad for an exchange student placement agency. I tried to google them, and ended up on some other sites, and I filled out an information form because I was trying to see the profiles of potential students. Then a woman called me, and we talked for a while, and she has been sending me profiles of students! There is one girl from Denmark who sounds intriguing, but it's a ten month program, so that's a big commitment! Plus, she would be in the same grade as Megan; and what if they didn't hit it off? Oh yeah, and Wren. She puked up her breakfast this morning. I must get her in to the vet to see why she is so skinny. Maybe it's just her nature. I hope so.
And so last night I got a call to work. I find I am not in the mood to go in, when I go there mostly the teachers all know exactly how many days are left until the end of the year, and they all roll their eyes and go "ugh" at everything that happens. But the class I was asked to be in is one of my favorites, the small special ed class with three paras and the best lesson plans I think I have ever been given. Plus, I had promised myself I would say yes to any calls, so I did it. Of course, it was a beautiful day and I was mostly inside, but we did have recess (only one fight, and one scraped up forehead and elbow) and we went out to release butterflies in the afternoon, although the poor things were much happier to stay in their boxes on their twigs and orange slices. Who can blame them?
After school, Megan had her beach practice down in Long Branch, which was very nice. I took my ipod, dropped off Megan and one boy from the carpool, and drove into the heart of the boardwalk, then went for a 40 minute walk. Then I came back and ate french fries, a chicken sandwich, and drank wine. I bough burgers for everyone, even the carpool boy. (Well, Kevin did - hehe - I used his debit card.) When I got home all my shrubs were crying out for water. I'm still tweaking that layout issue. I told Kevin if he won't show interest I will just go and buy them all myself, now that I have discovered these superhuman plant-lifting powers. Lately I have moved from shrub and perennial to tree obsessions. Particularly, I want a Dogwood and a Japanese Maple.
No more work lined up for the week, but Kevin will be in Texas and I have lots of carpooling to do tomorrow, so hopefully I can have the day off, or at least the afternoon. Kevin is working from home on Friday, because he has an appointment to get his blood test results (first time in quite a while since he takes these mega-vitamins, and then his doctor mysteriously left the practice without telling any of his patients!) and then they are coming to open the pool. Hard to believe, and it will be cool and rainy all weekend. Vacuum practice!
In other news, no news from the Fresh Air people, but I have been sent a few profiles of potential exchange students. I was poring through the help wanted ads, as I do every Sunday, when I happened upon an ad for an exchange student placement agency. I tried to google them, and ended up on some other sites, and I filled out an information form because I was trying to see the profiles of potential students. Then a woman called me, and we talked for a while, and she has been sending me profiles of students! There is one girl from Denmark who sounds intriguing, but it's a ten month program, so that's a big commitment! Plus, she would be in the same grade as Megan; and what if they didn't hit it off? Oh yeah, and Wren. She puked up her breakfast this morning. I must get her in to the vet to see why she is so skinny. Maybe it's just her nature. I hope so.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Spring Break
Again, a while! I've been working on the ads for the banquet book for the swim team banquet, which this year occurs just one week after the return of the Nationals and Zones swimmers, meaning I must turn the book around in record-time, as normally there is about a month in between. Also, I have never personally attended the event, doing so this year will set me back a bit as well.
So, Megan got the second cut for Nationals at Junior Olympics, but not without the usual drama. Of course, she will not do it in the morning, so we must wait until evening for the Big Drop in Time. We got there with all relatives and friends in tow, and sat through an hour plus of warm-ups and then a good half hour of Other People's Races (boring, long ones.) before the 500's even started. The boys went, and then the first heat of girls.
Megan was at the block, and just as they announced her name, Olympic style, the place erupted in a deafening roar. It took several moments for all of us to realize that this was not a horde of her newly acquired fans, but that the fire alarms were going off. White lights and buzzers were everywhere. After a bit of hesitation, everyone began to file out of the building, where we stood for about twenty minutes. They think someone pulled a fire alarm in the gym. We were glad we had Brian at the seats with us. He might have been a prime suspect.
Once back inside, the same eight girls went back to the blocks, and they started the race like nothing out of the ordinary had taken place. For a while, Megan was slowing down relative to her pace from the morning, but then she picked it up at the end, I guess swam the race the way her coach likes for her to do. So she took off nearly two more seconds, and has a comfortable position to swim in the morning event down in Florida, rather than the afternoon time trials.
Otherwise, school is wrapped up. I worked two of the four days last week, and spent the others working on the banquet book. Megan had to be in church Thursday night for the Washing of the Feet, which was an eternally long service, as they tend to be in our church of pomp and circumstance. She was supposed to be there last night, but the priest excused her for swim practice. She has to go tonight, and again tomorrow morning. Then we have our annual brunch with the Doll, at 3pm. I will consider that our dinner.
Yesterday, I took Megan out shopping. This Nationals trip is going to cost us a fortune! I had to buy her new clothes for summer anyway, and I had a coupon for 40% off from American Eagle, but I had to spend $250. I figured that was not a bad deal, so I amassed $270 worth of merchandise, and only had to pay $160 with the discount. Then another $125 in sundries from Harmon's. Most of that - sunblock!
So that is that. We have no major spring break plans due to swim practices every day and homework that the kids must complete so they can miss a week of school. I'd like to get to Philadelphia for a day, maybe Tuesday morning, if I can swing it. Wednesday practice will be early, to be followed by a traditional pre-meet pasta party and distribution of meet merchandise; on Thursday I must escort the Doll to her long-awaited colonoscopy. So it looks like it will have to be Tuesday.
In other news, Rusty broke an heirloom lamp last night, by knocking it off of the piano when we had all gone up for bed. He shows no remorse. Baseball has begun for Brian, and the Old Fat Men's Softball League is kicking off as I write this post. Moles are beginning to take over the yard, and the other morning after a rainstorm, Brian and I emerged from the front door to find the walkway and doorstep covered in slimy worms! Being the original city girl, I had no idea that these worms were now stranded. Therefore, the driveway is now littered with worm carcasses. Even the birds don't want them.
So, Megan got the second cut for Nationals at Junior Olympics, but not without the usual drama. Of course, she will not do it in the morning, so we must wait until evening for the Big Drop in Time. We got there with all relatives and friends in tow, and sat through an hour plus of warm-ups and then a good half hour of Other People's Races (boring, long ones.) before the 500's even started. The boys went, and then the first heat of girls.
Megan was at the block, and just as they announced her name, Olympic style, the place erupted in a deafening roar. It took several moments for all of us to realize that this was not a horde of her newly acquired fans, but that the fire alarms were going off. White lights and buzzers were everywhere. After a bit of hesitation, everyone began to file out of the building, where we stood for about twenty minutes. They think someone pulled a fire alarm in the gym. We were glad we had Brian at the seats with us. He might have been a prime suspect.
Once back inside, the same eight girls went back to the blocks, and they started the race like nothing out of the ordinary had taken place. For a while, Megan was slowing down relative to her pace from the morning, but then she picked it up at the end, I guess swam the race the way her coach likes for her to do. So she took off nearly two more seconds, and has a comfortable position to swim in the morning event down in Florida, rather than the afternoon time trials.
Otherwise, school is wrapped up. I worked two of the four days last week, and spent the others working on the banquet book. Megan had to be in church Thursday night for the Washing of the Feet, which was an eternally long service, as they tend to be in our church of pomp and circumstance. She was supposed to be there last night, but the priest excused her for swim practice. She has to go tonight, and again tomorrow morning. Then we have our annual brunch with the Doll, at 3pm. I will consider that our dinner.
Yesterday, I took Megan out shopping. This Nationals trip is going to cost us a fortune! I had to buy her new clothes for summer anyway, and I had a coupon for 40% off from American Eagle, but I had to spend $250. I figured that was not a bad deal, so I amassed $270 worth of merchandise, and only had to pay $160 with the discount. Then another $125 in sundries from Harmon's. Most of that - sunblock!
So that is that. We have no major spring break plans due to swim practices every day and homework that the kids must complete so they can miss a week of school. I'd like to get to Philadelphia for a day, maybe Tuesday morning, if I can swing it. Wednesday practice will be early, to be followed by a traditional pre-meet pasta party and distribution of meet merchandise; on Thursday I must escort the Doll to her long-awaited colonoscopy. So it looks like it will have to be Tuesday.
In other news, Rusty broke an heirloom lamp last night, by knocking it off of the piano when we had all gone up for bed. He shows no remorse. Baseball has begun for Brian, and the Old Fat Men's Softball League is kicking off as I write this post. Moles are beginning to take over the yard, and the other morning after a rainstorm, Brian and I emerged from the front door to find the walkway and doorstep covered in slimy worms! Being the original city girl, I had no idea that these worms were now stranded. Therefore, the driveway is now littered with worm carcasses. Even the birds don't want them.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Report Card Randomness
Yes, that's right. Report cards arrived on Friday. Since I was in the kindergartens all day (having quite a lovely day, who would ever think that kindergarten would be my favorite assignment, ever?), the kids got to take them out and open them before I saw them. First, once again, Megan had straight A+'s. In honors classes. She had A+'s on all midterms, except for two A's - in Spanish and Language Arts.
Allow me to dedicate an entire paragraph to Brian. Sigh. Science went up. C+ to B+. at the expense of, yes folks, everything else. Well, aside from the A+ in Computers. He had two C+'s: Social Studies and Spanish. But wait - there was an additional grade in Spanish, for the midterm, administered to all students district-wide, regardless of their grade level. Brian's grade on that exam? An A. Go figure. I just don't know how to proceed with this kid.
So I went to look through his backpack for evidence of deterioration in social studies. The teacher says he needs to work harder, but she keeps all his graded work at school. I don't see what she is talking about, and she isn't clear. Quite frankly, if that's the level of my involvement, we'll take the freaking C+ and put the year behind us. Eventually all of this has to take its toll on his conscience. Doesn't it? Anyway, I found no such evidence. What I found was his math notebook with stick figures depicting brutal shootings and suicide. Great. And he thinks this is funny, and normal. Sadly, it may be. (Normal.)
So that was the Great Tragedy of the End of the Week. Other than Buddy's voice, which is slowly coming back, and the broken seal in our kitchen window, which overlooks the pool and backyard and is now, forever, permanently, hideously filled with condensation and droplets of water running down the entire length of the glass. We replaced all of the other windows a year ago, but that one still looked good. Well. No more. The good news? The neighbors won't be able to see the cats sitting on the kitchen table and eating off of our plates anymore.
Finally, I am trying to come up with The Great President's Day Caper. I have ideas, but alas they will enter into the triple digits in terms of expense. I have considered Franklin Institute and a visit to the new cat in my parents' house. I have considered the ferry to NYC and a trip to the bodies exhibit at the Seaport. I considered, but had to reject, a trip to the Poconos to visit my college friends, who planned a trip their for the weekend. I declined because I thought Megan had to fast, but she doesn't. It's next weekend. But she did have swim practice every day, and I don't want to risk her getting hurt before states, which is now just three weeks away. And still no dog sitter.
So that's the end. This laptop is burning my lap, and I must get it off of me. A random end to a random blog. Oh, the excitement!
Allow me to dedicate an entire paragraph to Brian. Sigh. Science went up. C+ to B+. at the expense of, yes folks, everything else. Well, aside from the A+ in Computers. He had two C+'s: Social Studies and Spanish. But wait - there was an additional grade in Spanish, for the midterm, administered to all students district-wide, regardless of their grade level. Brian's grade on that exam? An A. Go figure. I just don't know how to proceed with this kid.
So I went to look through his backpack for evidence of deterioration in social studies. The teacher says he needs to work harder, but she keeps all his graded work at school. I don't see what she is talking about, and she isn't clear. Quite frankly, if that's the level of my involvement, we'll take the freaking C+ and put the year behind us. Eventually all of this has to take its toll on his conscience. Doesn't it? Anyway, I found no such evidence. What I found was his math notebook with stick figures depicting brutal shootings and suicide. Great. And he thinks this is funny, and normal. Sadly, it may be. (Normal.)
So that was the Great Tragedy of the End of the Week. Other than Buddy's voice, which is slowly coming back, and the broken seal in our kitchen window, which overlooks the pool and backyard and is now, forever, permanently, hideously filled with condensation and droplets of water running down the entire length of the glass. We replaced all of the other windows a year ago, but that one still looked good. Well. No more. The good news? The neighbors won't be able to see the cats sitting on the kitchen table and eating off of our plates anymore.
Finally, I am trying to come up with The Great President's Day Caper. I have ideas, but alas they will enter into the triple digits in terms of expense. I have considered Franklin Institute and a visit to the new cat in my parents' house. I have considered the ferry to NYC and a trip to the bodies exhibit at the Seaport. I considered, but had to reject, a trip to the Poconos to visit my college friends, who planned a trip their for the weekend. I declined because I thought Megan had to fast, but she doesn't. It's next weekend. But she did have swim practice every day, and I don't want to risk her getting hurt before states, which is now just three weeks away. And still no dog sitter.
So that's the end. This laptop is burning my lap, and I must get it off of me. A random end to a random blog. Oh, the excitement!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thursday, Already?
I can't believe how fast this week has gone by. First, I had the debacle of the cracked filling, which did have to be partially refilled after three shots of novacaine, which left my jaw sore and numb at the same time, for hours. Then, as that wore off, I felt what I thought was a sore on my tongue but soon realized was an actual cut from something he must have done accidentally, either with the tool that holds it out of the way or when the tooth isolator thing was stuck and he had to wrench it out when he was done. So, that's still healing slowly.
Then came Tuesday, when I got a call at 9:05, as I watched Regis and Kelly while lying in bed with Rusty the cat, to go in to work for the morning. I had to be there by 9:30! well, I made it. After which I had to come home and get ready to take Brian to the neurologist for his check-up. At least, thankfully, that went well. We may not even have to go back for the MRI in the summer. I'm really hoping!!
Yesterday I worked all day in the special ed kindergarten class. So few students, and they can be such a handful. And then Brian had the orthodontist, then a basketball game. So we went to Chili's for some extra calories which I DON'T need at all. My diet starts tomorrow.
Yesterday morning, at breakfast, Buddy the cat had a strange meow. I forgot about it, since I was in such a rush. But this morning, it was worse. The big tough guy has this raspy little scratchy meow, like a kitten! He seems ok otherwise, except for a little rough breathing when I go close to him and he gets nervous. I'll give it a couple more days, but I just spent $135 on Molly last weekend for her hot spots (which, at least, are gone and she has stopped chewing since getting an antibiotic). This is just crazy.
Now we face the weekend. President's weekend! We have no special plans, although Megan has promised to babysit Saturday, which means she has to miss her swim practice. Oh well. It's Y Silver States this weekend, so the coaches will mostly be down there watching those swimmers. The cats are away! Let the mice play!!
Then came Tuesday, when I got a call at 9:05, as I watched Regis and Kelly while lying in bed with Rusty the cat, to go in to work for the morning. I had to be there by 9:30! well, I made it. After which I had to come home and get ready to take Brian to the neurologist for his check-up. At least, thankfully, that went well. We may not even have to go back for the MRI in the summer. I'm really hoping!!
Yesterday I worked all day in the special ed kindergarten class. So few students, and they can be such a handful. And then Brian had the orthodontist, then a basketball game. So we went to Chili's for some extra calories which I DON'T need at all. My diet starts tomorrow.
Yesterday morning, at breakfast, Buddy the cat had a strange meow. I forgot about it, since I was in such a rush. But this morning, it was worse. The big tough guy has this raspy little scratchy meow, like a kitten! He seems ok otherwise, except for a little rough breathing when I go close to him and he gets nervous. I'll give it a couple more days, but I just spent $135 on Molly last weekend for her hot spots (which, at least, are gone and she has stopped chewing since getting an antibiotic). This is just crazy.
Now we face the weekend. President's weekend! We have no special plans, although Megan has promised to babysit Saturday, which means she has to miss her swim practice. Oh well. It's Y Silver States this weekend, so the coaches will mostly be down there watching those swimmers. The cats are away! Let the mice play!!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
New Car!!
I got it! I got the new car! I don't really know how I managed, but I convinced Kevin to let me get the Accord and keep the Explorer. Although I hate having to spend every third or fourth day at the gas station, filling up for $50 or so a pop, I am also not ready to give up the luxury/convenience/feel of having a big road-hogging V8 SUV either. So in a year that one will be paid off, and we will have it for virtually no additional cost.
The new car is a Honda Accord, and, so far, I love it! It's different in many ways, obviously, but it is so comfortable, cute, and fun to drive. I have driven about 70 miles in it already, and have used 1/4 tank of gas. The thing is that the pin may stay on the 1/4 tank for many more miles, as it seems to do. I will see the benefits when I first go to fill it up. I am so excited!
I took the Explorer yesterday and washed and vacuumed it, had it inspected, then pulled it into the garage and sealed it up there. I will still need it for times of bad weather, when I need to shuttle multiple kids, or if I am going to park it somewhere where I don't want people looking into the car. (Such as last night, when I was lost in Asbury Park! Would not want to be in that situation in a little Accord with the new car tags still all over it.)
And Puff is doing amazingly well. We went and had her stitches out yesterday, and she's happy as can be. All it took to get her over the trauma was a bit of sliced turkey. She stays out a lot more, she plays, she purrs - she is like a new kitten, and she is so beautiful. I tell her that every day. When the tech saw her dumped out onto the table, she even exclaimed, "hello, Beautiful!" Puff obviously knew that meant her, because I call her that every day :-)
So tonight we are going to Bahr's again, for my birthday. That is the best part of January, I get to go to Bahr's twice. But, alas, since we have to drive the Doll, we have to go there to get her - it's such a pain. Then we all cram into one car, which usually means SHE gets the front seat. I am hateful, I know. But it makes the trip twice as long for all of us, being packed in there and having to weave through the streets of the retirement Village to where she lives, nestled amongst the biddies.
Megan had another successful week at swimming, but she had to fight for first place in the 200 IM yesterday! The girl was ahead for the first 100 yards of the 200. When Megan ended up beating her, the girl was so mad she wouldn't even look at Megan, let alone shake her hand. Not good sportsmanship - my theory is that this girl would have been put in the 200 free, but they probably thought Megan would swim it, so they took her out, and she ended up losing the IM instead. I have been noticing no schools have been giving Megan any competition since counties. Her name is in the paper today as having the fastest 200 free time in the conference.
However, if you read a little deeper, you will see that she is no longer in possession of that title. One of the girls in the other county beat Megan's best time at their championship meet last night, by a full second. So Megan is relegated to second, which is also where she is with the 500. Two of the remaining three meets could potentially serve her up her first defeat of the season - either in the 500 at the meet this Tuesday, or in both the 200 and 500 next Friday, when she races the other county's champ. The conference meet on February 9 should be a challenge. If all things line up well, she could get her National times at that meet, with that competition, and probably a 3rd place seed in both events.
Brian continues to be difficult, with his homework retaliation and general belligerence. I have decided to remain hands-off for the rest of the marking period, which I think is only a week or two. If he can handle it, his grades will be unchanged or improved from last time. I already told him if I see anything below a B on there, he is out of luck, and will have to do it my way for the rest of the year. He agreed to that, but we'll see.
So it is not surprising that I am on the fourth day of a headache. And I don't expect my birthday dinner to make that much better. Sometimes, it's barely worth going.
The new car is a Honda Accord, and, so far, I love it! It's different in many ways, obviously, but it is so comfortable, cute, and fun to drive. I have driven about 70 miles in it already, and have used 1/4 tank of gas. The thing is that the pin may stay on the 1/4 tank for many more miles, as it seems to do. I will see the benefits when I first go to fill it up. I am so excited!
I took the Explorer yesterday and washed and vacuumed it, had it inspected, then pulled it into the garage and sealed it up there. I will still need it for times of bad weather, when I need to shuttle multiple kids, or if I am going to park it somewhere where I don't want people looking into the car. (Such as last night, when I was lost in Asbury Park! Would not want to be in that situation in a little Accord with the new car tags still all over it.)
And Puff is doing amazingly well. We went and had her stitches out yesterday, and she's happy as can be. All it took to get her over the trauma was a bit of sliced turkey. She stays out a lot more, she plays, she purrs - she is like a new kitten, and she is so beautiful. I tell her that every day. When the tech saw her dumped out onto the table, she even exclaimed, "hello, Beautiful!" Puff obviously knew that meant her, because I call her that every day :-)
So tonight we are going to Bahr's again, for my birthday. That is the best part of January, I get to go to Bahr's twice. But, alas, since we have to drive the Doll, we have to go there to get her - it's such a pain. Then we all cram into one car, which usually means SHE gets the front seat. I am hateful, I know. But it makes the trip twice as long for all of us, being packed in there and having to weave through the streets of the retirement Village to where she lives, nestled amongst the biddies.
Megan had another successful week at swimming, but she had to fight for first place in the 200 IM yesterday! The girl was ahead for the first 100 yards of the 200. When Megan ended up beating her, the girl was so mad she wouldn't even look at Megan, let alone shake her hand. Not good sportsmanship - my theory is that this girl would have been put in the 200 free, but they probably thought Megan would swim it, so they took her out, and she ended up losing the IM instead. I have been noticing no schools have been giving Megan any competition since counties. Her name is in the paper today as having the fastest 200 free time in the conference.
However, if you read a little deeper, you will see that she is no longer in possession of that title. One of the girls in the other county beat Megan's best time at their championship meet last night, by a full second. So Megan is relegated to second, which is also where she is with the 500. Two of the remaining three meets could potentially serve her up her first defeat of the season - either in the 500 at the meet this Tuesday, or in both the 200 and 500 next Friday, when she races the other county's champ. The conference meet on February 9 should be a challenge. If all things line up well, she could get her National times at that meet, with that competition, and probably a 3rd place seed in both events.
Brian continues to be difficult, with his homework retaliation and general belligerence. I have decided to remain hands-off for the rest of the marking period, which I think is only a week or two. If he can handle it, his grades will be unchanged or improved from last time. I already told him if I see anything below a B on there, he is out of luck, and will have to do it my way for the rest of the year. He agreed to that, but we'll see.
So it is not surprising that I am on the fourth day of a headache. And I don't expect my birthday dinner to make that much better. Sometimes, it's barely worth going.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
My God, What Have I Done?
Thanks to the Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime, this has become my catch phrase for everything and anything blundersome. For me, today, it is my hair.
I am now 42. It was my birthday yesterday. As is standard around my birthdays, I feel the need to change. I am campaigning for a new car, something more fuel efficient and 'green', but I also decided it was finally time for a haircut. I went to my regular guy and told him I was considering bangs. He said he would angle them so I could still pull the hair back if I wanted to. This sounded good.
Partway through my appointment, a woman came and began to talk to him, which I found to be rather rude. I listened to everything they said, and they included me to a degree, but they were discussing people and places with whom and which I am not familiar. Afterwards, my hair looked ok at first glance.
When I got home and took a better look, this was no longer the case. The angled bangs are only angled on my right side - on the left, I have just a very short piece of hair, angled into nothing. Then I have very long layers and very, very little change in the length. Which, to me, is a little long to have at age 42. Or 41. Or 40!
The next day I let it curl and the results were just not good. The small piece was ok, it curled to look more like a little curl. The 'angled' side was a wild runaway experiment.
Yesterday I tried to straighten it, but was so discouraged with the unevenness that I just gave up. So today I say to myself, "My God, What Have I Done?" I want to call and request a fix, but I am generally non-confrontational. I feel like they will resent this and I always feel I will be expected to tip again, and I don't want to. Plus, I hate going there, and now I have to go back again - and I don't even know if I can get an appointment.
But in other news - I am working on the car purchase(or waiting to see if I will get permission to get it!) Puff is recovering well and seems thrilled to be spayed! No more heats, no more peeing. I take her into the bathroom and close the door, and she hops right into her box and pees. She is so good. Swimming is still in full swing, and now Brian has started basketball, with baseball just around the corner. One of his teachers sent back her questionnaire and I think it is pretty clear that he will not end up being diagnosed with any learning issues, if we're going on those responses. So I guess that is good news.
Megan is still undefeated in the 200 and the 500 free, but for some reason no teams ever put their better swimmers up against her. There are two meets coming up where that may not be the case, but I expected her to have a good race last night, and she did not.
I've read a few chiari pages and many of the kids are having problems. Some are having unexplained pain and issues, others are developing reherniated tonsils. It is so upsetting that this is something that should be so simple, and yet it just isn't. It makes me so grateful that Brian has done so well, and yet so anxious for the future at the same time. I ""knock wood"" every time I talk about this. It is a monster.
And so, as I do the loads of laundry and suck down advil today, I work up the nerve to look in the mirror. Then, I ask myself, "Where does this highway go?"
I am now 42. It was my birthday yesterday. As is standard around my birthdays, I feel the need to change. I am campaigning for a new car, something more fuel efficient and 'green', but I also decided it was finally time for a haircut. I went to my regular guy and told him I was considering bangs. He said he would angle them so I could still pull the hair back if I wanted to. This sounded good.
Partway through my appointment, a woman came and began to talk to him, which I found to be rather rude. I listened to everything they said, and they included me to a degree, but they were discussing people and places with whom and which I am not familiar. Afterwards, my hair looked ok at first glance.
When I got home and took a better look, this was no longer the case. The angled bangs are only angled on my right side - on the left, I have just a very short piece of hair, angled into nothing. Then I have very long layers and very, very little change in the length. Which, to me, is a little long to have at age 42. Or 41. Or 40!
The next day I let it curl and the results were just not good. The small piece was ok, it curled to look more like a little curl. The 'angled' side was a wild runaway experiment.
Yesterday I tried to straighten it, but was so discouraged with the unevenness that I just gave up. So today I say to myself, "My God, What Have I Done?" I want to call and request a fix, but I am generally non-confrontational. I feel like they will resent this and I always feel I will be expected to tip again, and I don't want to. Plus, I hate going there, and now I have to go back again - and I don't even know if I can get an appointment.
But in other news - I am working on the car purchase(or waiting to see if I will get permission to get it!) Puff is recovering well and seems thrilled to be spayed! No more heats, no more peeing. I take her into the bathroom and close the door, and she hops right into her box and pees. She is so good. Swimming is still in full swing, and now Brian has started basketball, with baseball just around the corner. One of his teachers sent back her questionnaire and I think it is pretty clear that he will not end up being diagnosed with any learning issues, if we're going on those responses. So I guess that is good news.
Megan is still undefeated in the 200 and the 500 free, but for some reason no teams ever put their better swimmers up against her. There are two meets coming up where that may not be the case, but I expected her to have a good race last night, and she did not.
I've read a few chiari pages and many of the kids are having problems. Some are having unexplained pain and issues, others are developing reherniated tonsils. It is so upsetting that this is something that should be so simple, and yet it just isn't. It makes me so grateful that Brian has done so well, and yet so anxious for the future at the same time. I ""knock wood"" every time I talk about this. It is a monster.
And so, as I do the loads of laundry and suck down advil today, I work up the nerve to look in the mirror. Then, I ask myself, "Where does this highway go?"
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Moving Right Along
Well, the great swim caper is behind us. There are still those nay-sayers who want to say that Megan did not deserve the award for swimmer of the meet, but they seem to be outnumbered by those who are genuinely happy for her. What bothers me the most is that the nay-sayers act as if she has done something to offend them. They lose sight of the fact that she is just a kid, dedicated to her sport, and not at all affected by any of the glory of this whole thing, thanks in part to her club coach, who refuses to acknowledge any high school accomplishments, even if they did put her within two seconds of a Y national time, on a weekend when we were closed out of the only meet at which she might have had a chance before Y States.
So she is back to her school and her mega-practice schedule. Tonight she had spinning and lifting as well. Brian had the orthodontist, and then we had dinner at Applebee's. We had a good chat about his issues with school, and he confessed to a couple of strange sensations in his hands and throat when he is having to sit and work throughout the day. He says that sometimes his hands feel all jittery and he just wants to shake them out, and sometimes his throat starts to feel like he has to scream. He also brought up the shaky hands, and said that, in homeroom, he often knocks over chess pieces when he makes a move. It might be funny if it were not so upsetting in some ways...so we will see if we get anywhere with these questionnaires on ADD/ADHD. Our appointment is February 12 with the neurologist. I hate those.
Puff is spayed! She went in on Tuesday, poor thing, I had to chase her around and catch her by a back paw. I asked them to give her something that she could hide under while she waited, but who knows if they did. By 5pm she was ready to come home. I made her a little studio apartment out of the kids' bathroom, complete with a little "cat-house" where she could go and hide away. She is feeling fairly well, as far as I can tell, but her buddy Rusty missed her so much that he can't resist jumping on her neck every time he sees her. I decided to let her stay loose today while I worked for three hours. When I got home, she and Rusty were nowhere in sight. I flipped up the couch, and found them snuggled together underneath. Aww.
And tomorrow: TGIF! and another swim meet. The press covers Megan now. God help her when someone beats her.
So she is back to her school and her mega-practice schedule. Tonight she had spinning and lifting as well. Brian had the orthodontist, and then we had dinner at Applebee's. We had a good chat about his issues with school, and he confessed to a couple of strange sensations in his hands and throat when he is having to sit and work throughout the day. He says that sometimes his hands feel all jittery and he just wants to shake them out, and sometimes his throat starts to feel like he has to scream. He also brought up the shaky hands, and said that, in homeroom, he often knocks over chess pieces when he makes a move. It might be funny if it were not so upsetting in some ways...so we will see if we get anywhere with these questionnaires on ADD/ADHD. Our appointment is February 12 with the neurologist. I hate those.
Puff is spayed! She went in on Tuesday, poor thing, I had to chase her around and catch her by a back paw. I asked them to give her something that she could hide under while she waited, but who knows if they did. By 5pm she was ready to come home. I made her a little studio apartment out of the kids' bathroom, complete with a little "cat-house" where she could go and hide away. She is feeling fairly well, as far as I can tell, but her buddy Rusty missed her so much that he can't resist jumping on her neck every time he sees her. I decided to let her stay loose today while I worked for three hours. When I got home, she and Rusty were nowhere in sight. I flipped up the couch, and found them snuggled together underneath. Aww.
And tomorrow: TGIF! and another swim meet. The press covers Megan now. God help her when someone beats her.
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Politics of Swimming
So nothing can ever be easy. Megan's being named Swimmer of the Meet is now ensconced in controversy. I am not sure if she realizes, but she might, because on the way home, she kept saying, "the coaches would only vote for me if they wanted to, they had to want to vote for me, right?" The swimmer of the meet is chosen by a vote from each coach. I think there were something like 20 teams there. When I was standing by the scorers table, there were 13 votes handed in, and ten were for Megan.
However, some people feel that since she is a freshman, she should not have been awarded the distinction. There was one other girl there, a senior, who also won two events, and her constituents feel that she should have had the award. People are posting mean things on the nj.com swimming forums, and sticking little digs into facebook postings. Others are just going around shooting off their mouths. The girl herself, as far as we know, has been perfectly gracious towards Megan.
Mostly, it isn't against Megan. They call the coaches idiots and say why would they give it to a freshman, when neither girl broke any records. Of course, we went there as newbies. Megan went to try to swim her best. Of course she would try to win, but she wasn't counting on it. In fact, she was worried about being seeded up so high in this type of a meet.
However - she was a second seed in both of her events. She came from behind in both races and more than outtouched her competitors. She swam good, smart races, bettered both of her times, and she was a virtual unknown before she dove off of the block. The other girl won her two events, sure. But she didn't beat either of her times, and she had no real competition. It is unfortunate that so much emphasis is placed on this award. We were thrilled with the two gold medals, and the videos have even been posted on digital sports - they speak for themselves.
So, no matter what they all say, we know that Megan got into that pool and swam her heart out - did her best and pushed to the limits. That's what a championship meet should be about - not being guaranteed some award just because you're the top seed and a senior. This may never happen again for Megan, but we are not going to take away from her just because she's a freshman. Now she will be the one to beat, and that's a tough position to defend. We have all of our toughest meets coming up in the next three weeks. After that, onward and upward - to the regional meet on February 9! And through all of this, the real goal is Y States in March.
And in other news, Puff is set to be spayed tomorrow. She's been making some noises like she might be going into heat, but she hasn't been trying to tempt the boys with her wares and calling out in the night. They did say they would spay her even in heat, but I could postpone it if I were sure. If she doesn't prove it to me by tonight, I'll just take her in.
However, some people feel that since she is a freshman, she should not have been awarded the distinction. There was one other girl there, a senior, who also won two events, and her constituents feel that she should have had the award. People are posting mean things on the nj.com swimming forums, and sticking little digs into facebook postings. Others are just going around shooting off their mouths. The girl herself, as far as we know, has been perfectly gracious towards Megan.
Mostly, it isn't against Megan. They call the coaches idiots and say why would they give it to a freshman, when neither girl broke any records. Of course, we went there as newbies. Megan went to try to swim her best. Of course she would try to win, but she wasn't counting on it. In fact, she was worried about being seeded up so high in this type of a meet.
However - she was a second seed in both of her events. She came from behind in both races and more than outtouched her competitors. She swam good, smart races, bettered both of her times, and she was a virtual unknown before she dove off of the block. The other girl won her two events, sure. But she didn't beat either of her times, and she had no real competition. It is unfortunate that so much emphasis is placed on this award. We were thrilled with the two gold medals, and the videos have even been posted on digital sports - they speak for themselves.
So, no matter what they all say, we know that Megan got into that pool and swam her heart out - did her best and pushed to the limits. That's what a championship meet should be about - not being guaranteed some award just because you're the top seed and a senior. This may never happen again for Megan, but we are not going to take away from her just because she's a freshman. Now she will be the one to beat, and that's a tough position to defend. We have all of our toughest meets coming up in the next three weeks. After that, onward and upward - to the regional meet on February 9! And through all of this, the real goal is Y States in March.
And in other news, Puff is set to be spayed tomorrow. She's been making some noises like she might be going into heat, but she hasn't been trying to tempt the boys with her wares and calling out in the night. They did say they would spay her even in heat, but I could postpone it if I were sure. If she doesn't prove it to me by tonight, I'll just take her in.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Merry Mayhem
Well, the cold sore is gone, it lasted about six days but it was never visible like usual, only I could feel it. I'll just keep using the cream if I get another one, without risking the dizziness and mood swings of that other drug.
Molly still needs her lampshade, and Puff is no longer in heat, so she is being very cute and friendly (to me)and making me feel bad about having to take her in for her spay surgery. I have to make that appointment next week, when Molly goes for her bath. Hopefully she can stay out of heat long enough to get it done the first week in January.
So I just came out of a three day work stint, after three days of the swim meet up at Rutgers. The weather was questionable, so we split the weekend between home and a hotel, which was a good thing. Megan swam pretty well, she got a best time every time she swam, if even by .01. Then she had to come back for finals in a few events. So that was exciting.
For some reason, her high school coach was unaware of a meet they were supposed to have on Tuesday. So they ended up rescheduling it for Wednesday, which meant that I had to reschedule her confirmation make-up (for what she missed for the other meet) for Thursday, which means she has to miss her Y practice, which she also has to miss on Friday for another high school meet!!! It's major mayhem and I can't even stand it. So she won't swim with her real team for nearly a week by the time she gets back in for Saturday practice.
Of course, right after that, the Y takes her away for the four day training trip to another state, in the middle of our family holiday.
And on top of this, we still have not resolved the issue of the 30 hour fast. I googled some other area churches and other churches' requirements for confirmation. Most will give a selection and require that most be met. Others will include a choice of several retreats, and some do just one class. Most seem to mention community service, of which our church does none. They added on a quick day at the soup kitchen, to which I plan to send Megan before the county swim meet.
If the church is going to deny her confirmation because we don't want her to fast for 30 hours two weeks before her Y state championship, at which she is trying to make national cuts, then we have to seriously consider whether or not we belong in that church at all. I'll offer for her to do the sleepover and skip breakfast and lunch on Saturday, which is a lot for her anyway. Plus the soup kitchen, which is half of the other day, the one she can't make.
In the end, she is putting forth the greatest effort possible, and we are trying to be flexible. Since I feel that is the church staff that has set these requirements, and not actually God per se, if they do insist that she must do this fast without any compromise, I'm afraid I will have such a bad feeling that I will have to consider searching for another church. They are offering no "home schooling" type of makeup for the fast, no alternative other than these two dates, one of which conflicts with the country meet.
I've been getting emails from them begging the congregation to please return their pledge cards, and apparently finances are tight. Although I can never repay the kindness of the pastor when Brian had his brain surgery, I'm afraid that this just isn't the kind of church I would want to be a part of, and wonder if that is perhaps some of the reason behind the difficulty in getting pledges back. Strength in pastoral services doesn't always balance out the atmosphere within the church; and that's what you have to deal with day to day.
So now I am off to try to tie up loose ends of shopping today and loose ends of cleaning tomorrow before the onlsaught of our holiday guests (at which time we may not see Puff again for days). A particularly strenuous litterbox changing activity has left me feeling a little shaky, so I sat down to let that wear off before I shower and hit the mobs. I hope the mobs are still asleep.
Oh, and maybe I'll put up some Christmas lights outside. Or maybe not. It is almost time to take them down already.
Molly still needs her lampshade, and Puff is no longer in heat, so she is being very cute and friendly (to me)and making me feel bad about having to take her in for her spay surgery. I have to make that appointment next week, when Molly goes for her bath. Hopefully she can stay out of heat long enough to get it done the first week in January.
So I just came out of a three day work stint, after three days of the swim meet up at Rutgers. The weather was questionable, so we split the weekend between home and a hotel, which was a good thing. Megan swam pretty well, she got a best time every time she swam, if even by .01. Then she had to come back for finals in a few events. So that was exciting.
For some reason, her high school coach was unaware of a meet they were supposed to have on Tuesday. So they ended up rescheduling it for Wednesday, which meant that I had to reschedule her confirmation make-up (for what she missed for the other meet) for Thursday, which means she has to miss her Y practice, which she also has to miss on Friday for another high school meet!!! It's major mayhem and I can't even stand it. So she won't swim with her real team for nearly a week by the time she gets back in for Saturday practice.
Of course, right after that, the Y takes her away for the four day training trip to another state, in the middle of our family holiday.
And on top of this, we still have not resolved the issue of the 30 hour fast. I googled some other area churches and other churches' requirements for confirmation. Most will give a selection and require that most be met. Others will include a choice of several retreats, and some do just one class. Most seem to mention community service, of which our church does none. They added on a quick day at the soup kitchen, to which I plan to send Megan before the county swim meet.
If the church is going to deny her confirmation because we don't want her to fast for 30 hours two weeks before her Y state championship, at which she is trying to make national cuts, then we have to seriously consider whether or not we belong in that church at all. I'll offer for her to do the sleepover and skip breakfast and lunch on Saturday, which is a lot for her anyway. Plus the soup kitchen, which is half of the other day, the one she can't make.
In the end, she is putting forth the greatest effort possible, and we are trying to be flexible. Since I feel that is the church staff that has set these requirements, and not actually God per se, if they do insist that she must do this fast without any compromise, I'm afraid I will have such a bad feeling that I will have to consider searching for another church. They are offering no "home schooling" type of makeup for the fast, no alternative other than these two dates, one of which conflicts with the country meet.
I've been getting emails from them begging the congregation to please return their pledge cards, and apparently finances are tight. Although I can never repay the kindness of the pastor when Brian had his brain surgery, I'm afraid that this just isn't the kind of church I would want to be a part of, and wonder if that is perhaps some of the reason behind the difficulty in getting pledges back. Strength in pastoral services doesn't always balance out the atmosphere within the church; and that's what you have to deal with day to day.
So now I am off to try to tie up loose ends of shopping today and loose ends of cleaning tomorrow before the onlsaught of our holiday guests (at which time we may not see Puff again for days). A particularly strenuous litterbox changing activity has left me feeling a little shaky, so I sat down to let that wear off before I shower and hit the mobs. I hope the mobs are still asleep.
Oh, and maybe I'll put up some Christmas lights outside. Or maybe not. It is almost time to take them down already.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sipping Wine Through a Straw
I hate those mornings when I get out of bed and my lip stings. Then I feel that little lump, almost barely there, but for sure it won't be going away anytime soon. My emergency treament protocol of peroxide and campho-phenique, when implemented immediately, seems to help and has even aborted attacks. But today? No. Today, I had to go have a filling replaced.
The good thing about that would be that dentists can prescribe drugs to treat cold sores, and mine was glad to do so. However, I picked it up and the pharmacist said that the side effects are dizziness and drowsiness! I can't drive around with those side effects! Then I see there are many more "highly unlikely" side effects. And I also read that you should only take this medication for one day when taking it for a cold sore. My bottle says take it for five! And I opened it and looked at the pill. It's the size of a ... of a ... I'll think of something. It's BIG.
So I have decided not to take it. The thing is that at least he also gave me a topical cream, and that seems to be maybe helping a little. Except that my lower lip is all ripped up from the dental abuse it took during the procedure. God, I hate the dentist.
After that ordeal, I ran around for hours trying to get shopping done just in case I work for the rest of the holiday season. Who in the world can stand Hollister? Why is that store so popular? You can't see a thing, the music is deafening, and I think there surely must be a MAXIMUM requirement on the IQ's of the workers. Add to that that all the clothing implies that you either live in, or frequently visit, Southern California. My children don't know what Malibu is. They have never seen the Pacific Ocean. I ended up saving $30 at American Eagle though! Of course, I had to spend $200 to do that. But at least the clothes look like they belong on the east coast.
And I have been spared my driving shift tonight for swim team. Megan is sniffling, she seems like she will never get better; probably needs to have it treated with something, but I don't want to put her on anything before this big meet. Surely she can't be at peak performance when she can't breathe, but she's done it before. Sigh. At least she has officially backed herself out of all high school swimming for this week. Her next high school meet will be December 21.
In other news, Molly is chewing on her foot and has to wear her lampshade. But the biggest of all: Puff is being spayed on Wednesday!! I'll drop her off on my way to work, and pick her up in the evening. The girl tried to tell me she has to be out of heat for six weeks or she can' be spayed. I felt like saying, "excuse me? Have you ever MET a cat who has not been spayed?" It's like Puff is in heat more than she's out, and she's only just six months old.
But...I don't have a headache today!!!
The good thing about that would be that dentists can prescribe drugs to treat cold sores, and mine was glad to do so. However, I picked it up and the pharmacist said that the side effects are dizziness and drowsiness! I can't drive around with those side effects! Then I see there are many more "highly unlikely" side effects. And I also read that you should only take this medication for one day when taking it for a cold sore. My bottle says take it for five! And I opened it and looked at the pill. It's the size of a ... of a ... I'll think of something. It's BIG.
So I have decided not to take it. The thing is that at least he also gave me a topical cream, and that seems to be maybe helping a little. Except that my lower lip is all ripped up from the dental abuse it took during the procedure. God, I hate the dentist.
After that ordeal, I ran around for hours trying to get shopping done just in case I work for the rest of the holiday season. Who in the world can stand Hollister? Why is that store so popular? You can't see a thing, the music is deafening, and I think there surely must be a MAXIMUM requirement on the IQ's of the workers. Add to that that all the clothing implies that you either live in, or frequently visit, Southern California. My children don't know what Malibu is. They have never seen the Pacific Ocean. I ended up saving $30 at American Eagle though! Of course, I had to spend $200 to do that. But at least the clothes look like they belong on the east coast.
And I have been spared my driving shift tonight for swim team. Megan is sniffling, she seems like she will never get better; probably needs to have it treated with something, but I don't want to put her on anything before this big meet. Surely she can't be at peak performance when she can't breathe, but she's done it before. Sigh. At least she has officially backed herself out of all high school swimming for this week. Her next high school meet will be December 21.
In other news, Molly is chewing on her foot and has to wear her lampshade. But the biggest of all: Puff is being spayed on Wednesday!! I'll drop her off on my way to work, and pick her up in the evening. The girl tried to tell me she has to be out of heat for six weeks or she can' be spayed. I felt like saying, "excuse me? Have you ever MET a cat who has not been spayed?" It's like Puff is in heat more than she's out, and she's only just six months old.
But...I don't have a headache today!!!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Whine Whine...Wine?
So I guess the thing is that my head is always going to hurt. I went out and bought some sudafed yesterday and had to show my drivers license. I couldn't even remember if it's that I can make bombs or street drugs, and I had to fill out all my information on a spiral notebook of forms. Now I see it's crystal meth. If nothing else, maybe when the sudafed doesn't cure my congestion, I can make that; and then I won't really care if my head hurts or not. And then I found I actually had some sudafed from years ago, actually bought without the federal government knowing about it.
So I spent the entire night sleeping with a wet washcloth on my head or neck, and then I awoke in a daze. It was already after 8, and I had to get up to be a greeter at church. So, they have five ushers and three greeters. It's a wonder people don't just turn and run in a panic to one of the other churches down the street. And you have five people all trying to give you bulletins, whose do you take? Although I may have been mistaken in trying to hand them out. Perhaps it is not the job of the greeter to give out the bulletins. I wouldn't know, because I never received the packet with the information.
Today I have been abandoned. Everyone has left me, either for the NY Jets or for the mall. On my home I picked up the makings of meatballs and sauce, and an $80 Christmas tree. I remember when we spent $40 and dragged the thing up the stairs in Queens. That was a lot to spend. Now, $80 without a second thought. At least I had the sense not to buy the Noble Fir at $110. Not that I didn't consider it. That tree had a beautiful shape.
Since I am abandoned, I had to get the tree in the house by myself. I had to get it off the roof of the Explorer, and then haul it up the five or so steps. This might sound not so bad, but each time I tried to put weight on the bad knee, it threatened to render me immobile again. I had to do this in plain view of anyone who might be passing by. There was a young guy in army fatigues across the street. Vanity stopped me from going across the street and saying, you look like a good citizen. Wanna carry a Christmas tree?
But I got the tree in the house, and in the stand! I even had to cut about 8 inches off the tip to keep it from bending over. In our old house we had a cathedral ceiling. I forget that in this new, giant house, I am limited in my choice of tree.
So, here I sit, with bags of meats and pasta waiting to be cooked. The sudafed is helping, but I am waiting for the advil to kick in. It's already 2:23 and I need several hours to simmer the sauce. Megan should be home soon, but then she will complain that there is no food. This being the week before Holiday Classic, she will have to be well fed and rested, and I will have to be nice to her. I am still awaiting a return email from her high school coach. I finally just emailed him and explained her quandary, that she thought a time warp would occur and the conflicts between high school and club swimming would resolve themselves. This week will show how that plays out.
Finally, there is Puff. She seems to be peeing around the house. I locked her in the bathroom with a litterbox until she finally dumped her little pearls in there. The vet called and it's all clear. As soon as she stops flirting with the uninterested hermaphrodite boys in our house, she's in for her surgery. I really wanted to wait until after Christmas, but this is just ridiculous. I don't know how cats stand it. Six months old and in her third heat cycle already? People who don't spay their cats must be out of their minds.
Well, that about winds it up for me. The whines and the other whines. The problem is, I am absolutely terrified to have my wine while I'm on the sudafed! I mean, I really don't know, but what if that is the other ingredient for the methampethamine? It could be. Or maybe that would not be so bad. I'm off to the kitchen.
So I spent the entire night sleeping with a wet washcloth on my head or neck, and then I awoke in a daze. It was already after 8, and I had to get up to be a greeter at church. So, they have five ushers and three greeters. It's a wonder people don't just turn and run in a panic to one of the other churches down the street. And you have five people all trying to give you bulletins, whose do you take? Although I may have been mistaken in trying to hand them out. Perhaps it is not the job of the greeter to give out the bulletins. I wouldn't know, because I never received the packet with the information.
Today I have been abandoned. Everyone has left me, either for the NY Jets or for the mall. On my home I picked up the makings of meatballs and sauce, and an $80 Christmas tree. I remember when we spent $40 and dragged the thing up the stairs in Queens. That was a lot to spend. Now, $80 without a second thought. At least I had the sense not to buy the Noble Fir at $110. Not that I didn't consider it. That tree had a beautiful shape.
Since I am abandoned, I had to get the tree in the house by myself. I had to get it off the roof of the Explorer, and then haul it up the five or so steps. This might sound not so bad, but each time I tried to put weight on the bad knee, it threatened to render me immobile again. I had to do this in plain view of anyone who might be passing by. There was a young guy in army fatigues across the street. Vanity stopped me from going across the street and saying, you look like a good citizen. Wanna carry a Christmas tree?
But I got the tree in the house, and in the stand! I even had to cut about 8 inches off the tip to keep it from bending over. In our old house we had a cathedral ceiling. I forget that in this new, giant house, I am limited in my choice of tree.
So, here I sit, with bags of meats and pasta waiting to be cooked. The sudafed is helping, but I am waiting for the advil to kick in. It's already 2:23 and I need several hours to simmer the sauce. Megan should be home soon, but then she will complain that there is no food. This being the week before Holiday Classic, she will have to be well fed and rested, and I will have to be nice to her. I am still awaiting a return email from her high school coach. I finally just emailed him and explained her quandary, that she thought a time warp would occur and the conflicts between high school and club swimming would resolve themselves. This week will show how that plays out.
Finally, there is Puff. She seems to be peeing around the house. I locked her in the bathroom with a litterbox until she finally dumped her little pearls in there. The vet called and it's all clear. As soon as she stops flirting with the uninterested hermaphrodite boys in our house, she's in for her surgery. I really wanted to wait until after Christmas, but this is just ridiculous. I don't know how cats stand it. Six months old and in her third heat cycle already? People who don't spay their cats must be out of their minds.
Well, that about winds it up for me. The whines and the other whines. The problem is, I am absolutely terrified to have my wine while I'm on the sudafed! I mean, I really don't know, but what if that is the other ingredient for the methampethamine? It could be. Or maybe that would not be so bad. I'm off to the kitchen.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Lingering Headaches
I guess the stresses are surpassing my power to ignore them, because I was unable to contain the headache to one day. I turned down a sub call and tried to stay in bed.
I just have daily gripes that I chose to blog.
1. Molly is leaking. She leaks mainly in her dog bed (I think) but weeks ago, I remember she was leaking by her water dish. A major expense and a step down the road to demise, I don't want to rush into the vet; particularly because of Gripe #2.
2. Puff peed on the dog bed. I was able to wash it with Molly's dribble but I saw Puff showing interest in it, and folded it in half. A few minutes later, in the midst of a hot debate on Divorce Court on whether or not a woman should be paid $400 a month by her husband for doing housework, I heard scratching. Puff had peed on the back side! So, I threw it out.
I consider it unsalvageable once a cat empties a full load onto there. Minorly in her defense, she is in heat AGAIN. I am finally able to take a stool sample to be rechecked for worms. Once she is rid of them, she can be spayed. They don't do it until she is six months old, which seems a little rough, since she seems to be in heat every 2-3 weeks. This will be her third time. It's very irritating, even without the peeing around. But she is now, at last, at the magic age of six months. I was trying to hold off until after the holidays ... but after that -- don't think so.
3. Swimming conflicts. That gripe just speaks for itself.
4. Groups that you belong to who feel like they should choose adopt-a-families after you have already adopted children for the season. The church group is adopting a large family, and they are not rationing out the gifts in an organized manner. I can hardly wait to see how this turns out. It may extend my time in purgatory, at the very least.
Anyway, those are about all the gripes I have time for. Since I spent the day nursing my headache, I feel very gripey. Now I am off to try to breach security at the army base, so I can commit the heinous act of watching my very first high school swim meet.
I just have daily gripes that I chose to blog.
1. Molly is leaking. She leaks mainly in her dog bed (I think) but weeks ago, I remember she was leaking by her water dish. A major expense and a step down the road to demise, I don't want to rush into the vet; particularly because of Gripe #2.
2. Puff peed on the dog bed. I was able to wash it with Molly's dribble but I saw Puff showing interest in it, and folded it in half. A few minutes later, in the midst of a hot debate on Divorce Court on whether or not a woman should be paid $400 a month by her husband for doing housework, I heard scratching. Puff had peed on the back side! So, I threw it out.
I consider it unsalvageable once a cat empties a full load onto there. Minorly in her defense, she is in heat AGAIN. I am finally able to take a stool sample to be rechecked for worms. Once she is rid of them, she can be spayed. They don't do it until she is six months old, which seems a little rough, since she seems to be in heat every 2-3 weeks. This will be her third time. It's very irritating, even without the peeing around. But she is now, at last, at the magic age of six months. I was trying to hold off until after the holidays ... but after that -- don't think so.
3. Swimming conflicts. That gripe just speaks for itself.
4. Groups that you belong to who feel like they should choose adopt-a-families after you have already adopted children for the season. The church group is adopting a large family, and they are not rationing out the gifts in an organized manner. I can hardly wait to see how this turns out. It may extend my time in purgatory, at the very least.
Anyway, those are about all the gripes I have time for. Since I spent the day nursing my headache, I feel very gripey. Now I am off to try to breach security at the army base, so I can commit the heinous act of watching my very first high school swim meet.
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