So it's already Monday again. Next Monday will be E's last Monday with us! I cannot believe the year it's been. We have had some good times, and undeniably some bad ones as well. But I think in the end we can all say the year has ended on a successful note. I did get upset with some of E's ways the other night: going out all the time, not really respecting curfews, and spending almost all of her time at home in her room on the computer. She argued this by saying the curfew violations were not her fault (truly, are they ever? :-) ) and that she thinks that she is just acting like a normal teenager. So I felt better enough to get me through the next two weeks without another blowup.
However, I can't say the same about the agency. If we ever do this again, and I would, but Kevin is difficult about it, I would use a different agency. It couldn't be worse, surely, so it could only be better. But the agency feels that it is my problem. But there are things that they don't know that I can't really get into on this blog anyway, so I have decided to just wash my hands of them. Not that they have offered us any student profiles to look at anyway. If they did, I would look - how could I not? I made Kevin go to the last gathering and he said they have no students placed for next year. Funny, I'm pretty sure that our school is going to host at least one, but through a different agency. The rep is too far away anyway. Forty minutes is too far to have to travel, which is why she couldn't be bothered to come and see us.
Anyway, enough about that. Megan's meet this weekend was fairly successful. She swam really well in the 400 free Friday night, actually beating her time and winning the whole event, so that was nice. Then she came in second the next day in the 200 free, but I don't really know if that's going to be her official position. The girl who actually beat her is 18 and in college, and therefore unofficial, and the one who is listed as being in first has a blatant error in her time, as I believe it could be in world record contention were it a true time. I wouldn't allow her to go yesterday so she could get some rest leading up to finals, which start on Thursday and run through Tuesday, the last day of school.
And I got the Explorer back! I was so excited. It no longer shrieks along the highway and I can drive it without having to watch the odomoter for overage violations. The only bad thing is the creeping-up price of gas again, but so far it's still manageable, at about $40 a tank. Of course I filled up Saturday and it's below a quarter already, but that includes a trip to Princeton. Oh, and speaking of Princeton, just as Megan was about to swim, they called a lightning delay. That was funny, because it was the same thing that happened last March when someone pulled the fire alarm at Rutgers right before she swam the 500.
In other news, sadly, the baby birds seem to have perished in their nest and we don't know why. They were in there and doing well and then two days later, E noticed maggots all over the birdhouse. Kevin took it apart and found two dead babies. So we don't know if there were more and they got away, or if the evil blue jay ate the parents, or what happened to them. Very sad. I just came from an eternally boring training session for the district's new sub calling system for the fall. I have mixed feelings, so stay tuned until fall to see how this is going to turn out!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
is that the sun?
Really! The sun? Have not seen it in weeks, it seems - aside from a brief appearance last weekend when we were too busy to enjoy it. Now, today, again, I will spend the entire day in the Princeton U natatorium watching Megan swim - twice in six hours of waiting. This was my choice,though, because I am sending Kevin with E and Brian to the student year end meeting. I sent my evaluations in already, and hopefully gave the rep a fair but not that glowing rating.
Yesterday was the Doll's birthday so I got her a gift certificate which she can use for a fancy manicure and pedicure if she wants, or for her hair. Then we took her to dinner, just E and I, because Megan and Kevin were at Princeton (she came in first in the 400 free!) and Brian was out running wild (which has to stop). We'll all take her out again tomorrow, for the real celebration when everyone is together.
And today, I pick up my Explorer. I saw it yesterday! I drove down to pay for it so that I can just go and get it while they're closed, or whatever. The dealership is in the process of being taken over by the dealership across the street, which is why they fired everyone in the middle of the whole ordeal. In the end, hopefully that worked in our favor, because under the old regime, the price just kept going up and up and up, and this new guy came in and capped it, admittedly at a staggering figure, but at least not much more than the old car payments used to be, when I had them. So as soon as Kevin is up, he'll take me down to get it. I should probably bring a respirator. It's been sitting out in the heat for days, if not weeks, and the baby puke smell is going to be brutal.
Anyway, it's the weekend at last, and the last one before the last full week of school, if I can even call it that because only the first three days are full days. Then the high school has finals and the rest have half days. Megan finishes her lifeguarding class on Thursday, so she may end up certified, but who knows - the guy is kind of a fool, keeps them way longer than the other teacher on the other night, and told them that he won't hesitate to fail half the class, although she doesn't think that was directed towards her group. So we'll see. The class is supposed to be about 32 hours long, hers will end up being close to 40. The Wednesday class always ended earlier in the evening, and their sessions ended a full week sooner. And to think I originally had her in that one, but switched her because of her swim schedule!
In other news, the wake was really sad, and I still don't really know how the poor guy died, but I am sure it was heart/stroke related. It was obviously very sudden and nobody really asked the distraught daughter when she called with the news. The baby birds have indeed flown the nest, but I think I see some wrens feeding their babies across the yard. I had really wanted to see the babies leave, but they did it while I was at work on Thursday. By the time I got home, the house was silent.
Yesterday was the Doll's birthday so I got her a gift certificate which she can use for a fancy manicure and pedicure if she wants, or for her hair. Then we took her to dinner, just E and I, because Megan and Kevin were at Princeton (she came in first in the 400 free!) and Brian was out running wild (which has to stop). We'll all take her out again tomorrow, for the real celebration when everyone is together.
And today, I pick up my Explorer. I saw it yesterday! I drove down to pay for it so that I can just go and get it while they're closed, or whatever. The dealership is in the process of being taken over by the dealership across the street, which is why they fired everyone in the middle of the whole ordeal. In the end, hopefully that worked in our favor, because under the old regime, the price just kept going up and up and up, and this new guy came in and capped it, admittedly at a staggering figure, but at least not much more than the old car payments used to be, when I had them. So as soon as Kevin is up, he'll take me down to get it. I should probably bring a respirator. It's been sitting out in the heat for days, if not weeks, and the baby puke smell is going to be brutal.
Anyway, it's the weekend at last, and the last one before the last full week of school, if I can even call it that because only the first three days are full days. Then the high school has finals and the rest have half days. Megan finishes her lifeguarding class on Thursday, so she may end up certified, but who knows - the guy is kind of a fool, keeps them way longer than the other teacher on the other night, and told them that he won't hesitate to fail half the class, although she doesn't think that was directed towards her group. So we'll see. The class is supposed to be about 32 hours long, hers will end up being close to 40. The Wednesday class always ended earlier in the evening, and their sessions ended a full week sooner. And to think I originally had her in that one, but switched her because of her swim schedule!
In other news, the wake was really sad, and I still don't really know how the poor guy died, but I am sure it was heart/stroke related. It was obviously very sudden and nobody really asked the distraught daughter when she called with the news. The baby birds have indeed flown the nest, but I think I see some wrens feeding their babies across the yard. I had really wanted to see the babies leave, but they did it while I was at work on Thursday. By the time I got home, the house was silent.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
some things to think about
Well, the washer worked. It cost me $26 for the repairman to advise me to buy the extended warranty. He called his 'buddy' who works for Kenmore while he was here and the guy told him that the fault codes we've been getting make for some expensive repairs. So I finished all my laundry, told everyone else not to use it for a few days, and set up the warranty. So now, if it breaks, it is fixed for free. If you can call $589 for three years of coverage "free." That also covers the dryer, which has been working but does squeak a bit. So maybe I'll make use of the "free" tune-up service that comes along with the multi-million dollar warranty plan.
The Explorer is done, while we are talking big-ticket repairs, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how I'm going to get down there to pick it up. I can pay over the phone, but I still need the car back by the weekend. If I drive my Honda to Princeton for this swim meet I'll be way over the mileage. I'm already about 250 miles over for the month, still with a week to go.
And I got my Bruce tickets! But I had to pay the top seat price, $98 apiece. Of course that means we got pretty good seats, and they're for the very last concert ever at Giants Stadium. I hope it doesn't rain! Also, I am so annoyed about "No Fee Wednesdays," the latest LiveNation promotion. I just bought five tickets to a Blink-182 concert in August, for Brian's birthday. Today I checked, and the price would have been $60 less for the same tickets if I had waited till this morning!! :X
And so we are heading for the poorhouse. Also broken is the kitchen light, which just refuses to work. I guess we have to replace that, as well as the front door, which requires duct tape to keep it from getting stuck shut. There is some sort of poltergeist around here, I think.
Anyway, in other news, the fair is in town and tonight is the wake for Brian's piano teacher. Brian and I are going alone. Megan can't come, she has to swim, and Kevin will just stay at work and come home so he'll be here in case we aren't back to pick her up in time. The baby birds on the porch are growing so big that you can see body parts if you peer through the hole. I imagine sometime around this weekend they will be ready to leave the nest. Quite a challenge it is keeping Wren the cat inside these days! Yesterday she escaped and it took an hour and a half of us guarding the birdhouse before she finally let me capture her.
The Explorer is done, while we are talking big-ticket repairs, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how I'm going to get down there to pick it up. I can pay over the phone, but I still need the car back by the weekend. If I drive my Honda to Princeton for this swim meet I'll be way over the mileage. I'm already about 250 miles over for the month, still with a week to go.
And I got my Bruce tickets! But I had to pay the top seat price, $98 apiece. Of course that means we got pretty good seats, and they're for the very last concert ever at Giants Stadium. I hope it doesn't rain! Also, I am so annoyed about "No Fee Wednesdays," the latest LiveNation promotion. I just bought five tickets to a Blink-182 concert in August, for Brian's birthday. Today I checked, and the price would have been $60 less for the same tickets if I had waited till this morning!! :X
And so we are heading for the poorhouse. Also broken is the kitchen light, which just refuses to work. I guess we have to replace that, as well as the front door, which requires duct tape to keep it from getting stuck shut. There is some sort of poltergeist around here, I think.
Anyway, in other news, the fair is in town and tonight is the wake for Brian's piano teacher. Brian and I are going alone. Megan can't come, she has to swim, and Kevin will just stay at work and come home so he'll be here in case we aren't back to pick her up in time. The baby birds on the porch are growing so big that you can see body parts if you peer through the hole. I imagine sometime around this weekend they will be ready to leave the nest. Quite a challenge it is keeping Wren the cat inside these days! Yesterday she escaped and it took an hour and a half of us guarding the birdhouse before she finally let me capture her.
Monday, June 8, 2009
waiting, waiting
The washer repair man is coming today. And so, the washer is working. E threw in a load of clothes on Saturday and I managed to get it clean after the washer stalled several times during the process. Since then, it has worked without incident. The repairman called this morning and said he will be here between 11 and 2, and I told him it's working again but he said that was fine, he can still diagnose it. I just want it to work, but I'm afraid to cancel him and have it conk out again.
So he will probably arrive right at noon, because I am planning to order tickets to the Bruce concert for the October 9. I already have my ticketmaster account all signed in and up to date, but the tickets will go quickly. I had Kevin on the job when the other concerts went on sale and I had to work, and he failed, perhaps by design. Since it's a Friday night, I'm going to try for four tickets, even though they may be $98 apiece plus the robber baron fees. I'll call it my anniversary present.
No word yet on the Explorer, but it should be getting repaired this week, and should cost us $800 and no more. I'm not going to be able to drive the Honda for a month to bring the mileage back down after all this driving without the backup vehicle!
This weekend was a whirlwind as always. Saturday morning Megan had practice down at the beach, so I took her and that was my entire morning. Brian wanted to go to a party in the afternoon and we were having James and the Doll over, along with James' new girlfriend (!) so we had to run around getting ready for that, too. It was a very nice dinner after all, but I wish I had had more time (in good weather) to prepare. Everything was wet outside, and the house was a mess inside as well! I managed to somewhat pull it together, but never is it totally presentable.
Yesterday was the river swim in Rumson. Megan registered for the 1.2 mile, but then switched to the 2.4; and the results got all messed up. As it stands right now, I think she finished 19th out of all the swimmers, perhaps a few hundred. I think she was the fourth 19-and under female finisher. But they still have her in the results with an incorrect time, so she is way down there. Consult Facebook for photos.
Brian had what may have been his final baseball game yesterday, and they tied. Which is better than losing, and also the first time they have not lost, in the two years he's been on the team! The team never had practice, and they had no team spirit at all. With that being their last game, they just all went their separate ways as they did at every other game. So, onward and upward. Maybe he can play intramural sports in high school. Today he and Kevin are at the father/son golf outing. Brian had to go in to school first, because he had to prove to his music teacher that he had completed an assignment and turned it in. He didn't have the original, of course, being Brian, it was in his locker and that was too much of a mess to search, so he just reprinted those sections. Although he still needed to search the locker. So I guess I'll hear later on how that turned out.
Anyway, in other news, I got some very bad news yesterday. Brian's former piano teacher, and the music teacher from the elementary school, died yesterday! He was 50 years old. I know he had had a stent placed a year or two ago but I thought he was in good health. I know his job was a bit stressful with all the performances he coordinates at the end of each year, but he seemed unaffected by all that. In fact, other teachers even laughed at how they would be suffering from panic attacks at the kids' behaviors, and this guy would just be singing away, while playing his piano. He was a really nice guy, a bit disorganized but really cared about the kids. Strangely, Brian was playing the piano for James and the Doll on Saturday, which is something he hasn't done in months. Then I went out to get Megan and kept thinking I saw things moving in the shadows, and had a very creepy feeling while I was out at night. Then the next day, I got the message from his daughter on my cell phone. The services will be Wednesday and Thursday. We'll probably just go to the wake and leave the funeral for close friends and family. Very sad news.
So he will probably arrive right at noon, because I am planning to order tickets to the Bruce concert for the October 9. I already have my ticketmaster account all signed in and up to date, but the tickets will go quickly. I had Kevin on the job when the other concerts went on sale and I had to work, and he failed, perhaps by design. Since it's a Friday night, I'm going to try for four tickets, even though they may be $98 apiece plus the robber baron fees. I'll call it my anniversary present.
No word yet on the Explorer, but it should be getting repaired this week, and should cost us $800 and no more. I'm not going to be able to drive the Honda for a month to bring the mileage back down after all this driving without the backup vehicle!
This weekend was a whirlwind as always. Saturday morning Megan had practice down at the beach, so I took her and that was my entire morning. Brian wanted to go to a party in the afternoon and we were having James and the Doll over, along with James' new girlfriend (!) so we had to run around getting ready for that, too. It was a very nice dinner after all, but I wish I had had more time (in good weather) to prepare. Everything was wet outside, and the house was a mess inside as well! I managed to somewhat pull it together, but never is it totally presentable.
Yesterday was the river swim in Rumson. Megan registered for the 1.2 mile, but then switched to the 2.4; and the results got all messed up. As it stands right now, I think she finished 19th out of all the swimmers, perhaps a few hundred. I think she was the fourth 19-and under female finisher. But they still have her in the results with an incorrect time, so she is way down there. Consult Facebook for photos.
Brian had what may have been his final baseball game yesterday, and they tied. Which is better than losing, and also the first time they have not lost, in the two years he's been on the team! The team never had practice, and they had no team spirit at all. With that being their last game, they just all went their separate ways as they did at every other game. So, onward and upward. Maybe he can play intramural sports in high school. Today he and Kevin are at the father/son golf outing. Brian had to go in to school first, because he had to prove to his music teacher that he had completed an assignment and turned it in. He didn't have the original, of course, being Brian, it was in his locker and that was too much of a mess to search, so he just reprinted those sections. Although he still needed to search the locker. So I guess I'll hear later on how that turned out.
Anyway, in other news, I got some very bad news yesterday. Brian's former piano teacher, and the music teacher from the elementary school, died yesterday! He was 50 years old. I know he had had a stent placed a year or two ago but I thought he was in good health. I know his job was a bit stressful with all the performances he coordinates at the end of each year, but he seemed unaffected by all that. In fact, other teachers even laughed at how they would be suffering from panic attacks at the kids' behaviors, and this guy would just be singing away, while playing his piano. He was a really nice guy, a bit disorganized but really cared about the kids. Strangely, Brian was playing the piano for James and the Doll on Saturday, which is something he hasn't done in months. Then I went out to get Megan and kept thinking I saw things moving in the shadows, and had a very creepy feeling while I was out at night. Then the next day, I got the message from his daughter on my cell phone. The services will be Wednesday and Thursday. We'll probably just go to the wake and leave the funeral for close friends and family. Very sad news.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
it's raining in more ways than one
And it is. It rains every day now, at some time or other. That's really OK with me, because we need the rain anyway, and the plants get watered, and it isn't really summer yet anyway so everyone is in school. Today, since I'm not working, I don't have to worry about being trapped in a classroom for indoor recess with kids who really think school ended when they turned their calendars to June. So that's a good thing.
And today should be the day when I hear from Ford, hopefully soon will get the truck back. We dropped it off there two weeks ago tonight. I'm sure the thing reeks worse than ever, but I don't even care! I am prepared to attack it with a sponge, a vacuum, and a bottle of enzymatic cleaner. Which I will need to buy anyway.
A cat has decided to pee on the laundry. I think it's probably Buddy and he's probably mad because the litterboxes smell so bad. The reason they smell so bad is because I had to suddenly change their cat food. As I think I posted, I went to buy a new bag only to find that the bag they had been eating for the past month had been recalled for errors in formulation. No wonder it took them so long to eat it, but their cat poop didn't smell as bad when they ate that one! So they like this new one better, I guess, or else they can just tell it hasn't been poisoned. They gobble it all up and then go stink up the litterboxes, forcing those who take offense to seek alternate venues for elimination.
I had emailed Nutro when I first found out, because I can't return an empty bag for a refund, and I don't feel like it anyway, for $10. They emailed me back and they want me to call them. They pride themselves in their products, and would like to discuss the matter with me in more detail. I will make that call today. Maybe I can at least get a bag of the good stuff when they figure out how to make it without poisoning the cats of America.
So that was in the laundry room. And I put the peed on clothes in the washer and pushed the start button. And nothing happened. So I tried again. It beeped at me, but it wouldn't start. I walked away and it hollered for me to come back. "F70!!!" it screamed in red letters. F70? I had seen F71 but as best I could tell, that meant, turn me off and back on again, and I'll work. Not so this time. After a short time of grappling on the internet and then a phone call to the service number, I managed to get it started again. The woman transferred me to warranty, saying that I should get the warranty now, while it is working, because that way if it really goes bad, I won't have to pay.
This obviously makes sense, within reason. I spoke to the guy and it's something like $400 for two years and $600 for three. This is for the washer AND the dryer, the latter of which has yet to cause trouble. We've had these two pricey models since November 2007. A year and a half, and the most expensive appliances we've ever purchased, the top of the line Kenmore Elites, are conking out. I told the guy I would call back, and hunted online a little more. After reading this: http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/product-review-sears-kenmore-elite-washer/page-2/ I have pretty much decided to just shell out the $600 for three years. I don't think I can go through what she describes, and it's true: the same complaint is all over the internet. And now, I am worried about my dryer!
In other news, I had hoped to get to the gym this morning, but now I'll probably just stay home and try to get organized. Sometimes that can be a workout anyway. I have clothes to transfer from down to up, and up to down, as well as clothes to gather for the Lupus Foundation, who picks up a load tomorrow morning. Saturday is James' 40th birthday, and the Doll will be 75 next Friday. We were expecting to go out for dinner, but they suggested a BBQ would be better for all, so that means I have to dress up the house for the occasion. More running around for today, and my cupboards are bare. We were scraping the backs of the pantry and refrigerator for dinner and snacks yesterday! E will probably welcome her home and the availability of her kind of food by the time the next couple of weeks go by! The turn of the calendar page seems to have pushed me as well into summer, and my don't-want-to-cook mode.
And today should be the day when I hear from Ford, hopefully soon will get the truck back. We dropped it off there two weeks ago tonight. I'm sure the thing reeks worse than ever, but I don't even care! I am prepared to attack it with a sponge, a vacuum, and a bottle of enzymatic cleaner. Which I will need to buy anyway.
A cat has decided to pee on the laundry. I think it's probably Buddy and he's probably mad because the litterboxes smell so bad. The reason they smell so bad is because I had to suddenly change their cat food. As I think I posted, I went to buy a new bag only to find that the bag they had been eating for the past month had been recalled for errors in formulation. No wonder it took them so long to eat it, but their cat poop didn't smell as bad when they ate that one! So they like this new one better, I guess, or else they can just tell it hasn't been poisoned. They gobble it all up and then go stink up the litterboxes, forcing those who take offense to seek alternate venues for elimination.
I had emailed Nutro when I first found out, because I can't return an empty bag for a refund, and I don't feel like it anyway, for $10. They emailed me back and they want me to call them. They pride themselves in their products, and would like to discuss the matter with me in more detail. I will make that call today. Maybe I can at least get a bag of the good stuff when they figure out how to make it without poisoning the cats of America.
So that was in the laundry room. And I put the peed on clothes in the washer and pushed the start button. And nothing happened. So I tried again. It beeped at me, but it wouldn't start. I walked away and it hollered for me to come back. "F70!!!" it screamed in red letters. F70? I had seen F71 but as best I could tell, that meant, turn me off and back on again, and I'll work. Not so this time. After a short time of grappling on the internet and then a phone call to the service number, I managed to get it started again. The woman transferred me to warranty, saying that I should get the warranty now, while it is working, because that way if it really goes bad, I won't have to pay.
This obviously makes sense, within reason. I spoke to the guy and it's something like $400 for two years and $600 for three. This is for the washer AND the dryer, the latter of which has yet to cause trouble. We've had these two pricey models since November 2007. A year and a half, and the most expensive appliances we've ever purchased, the top of the line Kenmore Elites, are conking out. I told the guy I would call back, and hunted online a little more. After reading this: http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/product-review-sears-kenmore-elite-washer/page-2/ I have pretty much decided to just shell out the $600 for three years. I don't think I can go through what she describes, and it's true: the same complaint is all over the internet. And now, I am worried about my dryer!
In other news, I had hoped to get to the gym this morning, but now I'll probably just stay home and try to get organized. Sometimes that can be a workout anyway. I have clothes to transfer from down to up, and up to down, as well as clothes to gather for the Lupus Foundation, who picks up a load tomorrow morning. Saturday is James' 40th birthday, and the Doll will be 75 next Friday. We were expecting to go out for dinner, but they suggested a BBQ would be better for all, so that means I have to dress up the house for the occasion. More running around for today, and my cupboards are bare. We were scraping the backs of the pantry and refrigerator for dinner and snacks yesterday! E will probably welcome her home and the availability of her kind of food by the time the next couple of weeks go by! The turn of the calendar page seems to have pushed me as well into summer, and my don't-want-to-cook mode.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
debacle debriefing
I think the planets are misaligned again. First planes are falling out of the sky, and of course, I HATE that, and yes, after I have waited 15 years to take another transatlantic flight and look at this. I hope they can figure out what happened, not that it helps those who were onboard or their families much. I read that some of them were sending texts to family members! I remember being thrown about on that little plane to Florida in April and wondering how these bolts and screws can stand up against mother nature. Maybe sometimes, they can't.
Anyway, today I was back for more work. The first grade class from yesterday, the one I expected to be so bad, was so good. Today I had the opposite experience. I thought the class would behave and they just would not stop talking! And there are a couple of real issues with some kids, they just don't conform at all. In a room full of 23 6- and 7-year olds, conformity is really an important component.
Then I had a fourth grade class and they had to rush through a science experiment in about 20 minutes. They were actually pretty good about it, but the directions were vague (like it said, read them the highlighted parts in the book, and the book was closed, so I had to hunt to see which part that meant) But I managed to get out alive. Tomorrow I was supposed to only have a half day, but they called and asked me to stay the afternoon for a fifth grade teacher. But I do know summer is coming. My baby birds tell me so. They're chirping away, not a thought to their poor rejected deceased sibling.
And the Explorer news: Kevin finally heard from the new service manager, and he is allegedly going to fix the car for $800. The warranty, which was 5 years, 75,000 miles, expired in either January or 4,000 miles ago, not sure which. Of course it's had the problem for longer than that, but nobody bothered to diagnose it until it was going to cost me money. But $800 is not as bad as we had expected, especially considering the estimate was already up to $1800 before they axed their entire service staff. So he is supposed to call Kevin back in a couple of days. I am actually beginning to miss that stinky thing. I'm getting tired of putting around in a go-kart everywhere I drive.
But in other news, the Phillies emailed me with the makeup date for the May 3 game, and I am not happy. It's going to be Sunday, September 13 at 8:05 pm!!! Not only will the old folks not be able to stay up that late (heh heh) but the kids will have school and Kevin will have work! So I don't think that's going to work out. If I want to exchange them for another game, it has to be done in person! So I'll have to give that some thought. E has only limited weekends between now and the time she leaves, and already many of the days are spoken for. But I'll study the schedule later on. Now I must go check on my grilling. And then head out for the mother's club meeting. ::gasp:: (disclaimer: post not proofread!!)
Anyway, today I was back for more work. The first grade class from yesterday, the one I expected to be so bad, was so good. Today I had the opposite experience. I thought the class would behave and they just would not stop talking! And there are a couple of real issues with some kids, they just don't conform at all. In a room full of 23 6- and 7-year olds, conformity is really an important component.
Then I had a fourth grade class and they had to rush through a science experiment in about 20 minutes. They were actually pretty good about it, but the directions were vague (like it said, read them the highlighted parts in the book, and the book was closed, so I had to hunt to see which part that meant) But I managed to get out alive. Tomorrow I was supposed to only have a half day, but they called and asked me to stay the afternoon for a fifth grade teacher. But I do know summer is coming. My baby birds tell me so. They're chirping away, not a thought to their poor rejected deceased sibling.
And the Explorer news: Kevin finally heard from the new service manager, and he is allegedly going to fix the car for $800. The warranty, which was 5 years, 75,000 miles, expired in either January or 4,000 miles ago, not sure which. Of course it's had the problem for longer than that, but nobody bothered to diagnose it until it was going to cost me money. But $800 is not as bad as we had expected, especially considering the estimate was already up to $1800 before they axed their entire service staff. So he is supposed to call Kevin back in a couple of days. I am actually beginning to miss that stinky thing. I'm getting tired of putting around in a go-kart everywhere I drive.
But in other news, the Phillies emailed me with the makeup date for the May 3 game, and I am not happy. It's going to be Sunday, September 13 at 8:05 pm!!! Not only will the old folks not be able to stay up that late (heh heh) but the kids will have school and Kevin will have work! So I don't think that's going to work out. If I want to exchange them for another game, it has to be done in person! So I'll have to give that some thought. E has only limited weekends between now and the time she leaves, and already many of the days are spoken for. But I'll study the schedule later on. Now I must go check on my grilling. And then head out for the mother's club meeting. ::gasp:: (disclaimer: post not proofread!!)
Monday, June 1, 2009
can't make this stuff up
Bruce tickets went on sale this morning, so I asked Kevin to try to get them for us. This will be the last concert ever at Giants Stadium, but we won't be there, as it was a failed quest. But we'll probably need the money anyway, to pay for the Explorer. IF we ever get it back.
To summarize where we stand so far, the car has been at Ford since last Thursday (a week and a half ago). First the diagnosis was a $450 sensor, then it was a $1000 repair job to the rear end. Finally, it morphed into an $1800 rear differential replacement, and Kevin had a hard time getting a return call.
So, to begin follow up this morning as I am nearing the end of my monthly allotted miles on the Honda, Kevin called for the guy he's been speaking with, the one who was going to get back to him. Only to be told he is no longer there, and neither is the guy who initially worked on the car. Just great. The plot thickens. Stay tuned.
Also, apparently there was some misinformation. Brian's friend's dad now allegedly has a stomach virus, and NOT swine flu. So there it is. Either a false alarm of swine flu or a smokescreen of 'stomach virus,' as with the NY Mets.
And then as if I didn't have enough to worry about with flying to Europe amidst killer virus swarms, now passenger jets are falling out of the sky over the ocean. More warm and fuzzy feelings about our upcoming trip! Those poor people. Kevin is particularly perturbed as he sings the praises of that Airbus, it's the same one that SAS uses.
And in other news, today was Brian's eighth grade trip. He had a decent time but not as much as you'd hope. For this reason I decided to forego the dinner dance that will cost us $45 per person. It's on the night of his graduation anyway, and E's last night with us. This way, we'll all go straight from graduation to dinner, and the Doll can come, too. I have to remind myself that many of the kids who will probably go are half the reason he's not going to the public high school, so why should I pay $145 for the three of us to rub shoulders with them for an evening? But now I must prepare dinner. Megan has swimming, E is at the beach, and I am tired from a day on my feet. I had first grade (amazingly well behaved!) in the morning, and third in the afternoon. Tomorrow I will have second and fourth, I guess. The fifth grades must not have to meet, as their students move out of the elementary school and don't have to be assigned into classes for next year. (disclaimer: post not proofread)
To summarize where we stand so far, the car has been at Ford since last Thursday (a week and a half ago). First the diagnosis was a $450 sensor, then it was a $1000 repair job to the rear end. Finally, it morphed into an $1800 rear differential replacement, and Kevin had a hard time getting a return call.
So, to begin follow up this morning as I am nearing the end of my monthly allotted miles on the Honda, Kevin called for the guy he's been speaking with, the one who was going to get back to him. Only to be told he is no longer there, and neither is the guy who initially worked on the car. Just great. The plot thickens. Stay tuned.
Also, apparently there was some misinformation. Brian's friend's dad now allegedly has a stomach virus, and NOT swine flu. So there it is. Either a false alarm of swine flu or a smokescreen of 'stomach virus,' as with the NY Mets.
And then as if I didn't have enough to worry about with flying to Europe amidst killer virus swarms, now passenger jets are falling out of the sky over the ocean. More warm and fuzzy feelings about our upcoming trip! Those poor people. Kevin is particularly perturbed as he sings the praises of that Airbus, it's the same one that SAS uses.
And in other news, today was Brian's eighth grade trip. He had a decent time but not as much as you'd hope. For this reason I decided to forego the dinner dance that will cost us $45 per person. It's on the night of his graduation anyway, and E's last night with us. This way, we'll all go straight from graduation to dinner, and the Doll can come, too. I have to remind myself that many of the kids who will probably go are half the reason he's not going to the public high school, so why should I pay $145 for the three of us to rub shoulders with them for an evening? But now I must prepare dinner. Megan has swimming, E is at the beach, and I am tired from a day on my feet. I had first grade (amazingly well behaved!) in the morning, and third in the afternoon. Tomorrow I will have second and fourth, I guess. The fifth grades must not have to meet, as their students move out of the elementary school and don't have to be assigned into classes for next year. (disclaimer: post not proofread)
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