Ghoulies and ghosties and three-leggedy beasties...

It's Halloween! 

 First things first:  Happy Birthday to my brother Doug, who hasn't spoken to his sisters, or cared, for quite a few years.  Still, I think of him on occasions like this and send him loving wishes, in honor of our parents and grandparents to whom family was everything.  Doug doesn't have this blog address, nor would he read it, if he did.  Nevertheless, I care.  This is his 52nd birthday. 

In the last few minutes of the last period of the school day today, a classroom door opened and in walked my grandchildren in their costumes:  the cutest little asta-not and froggie that you ever saw!  Meg and Nate managed to get them to Monrovia in time for me to show them off to my students and colleagues.  After school, we all came back to Gwamma's House for a bite to eat and some play before time to go trick-or-treating.  They made it around the neighborhood for about an hour before coming back, then heading to "uyah" (other) gwamma's house.  Robin's costume has been a hit everywhere she has gone.  Next year, Meg will be busy making TWO costumes.  (This year, she acquiesced to buying Ryan's, since he really isn't old enough to appreciate the occasion.) 

This is my first Halloween with a dog.  Trick-or-treaters were an issue.  The scenario goes:  <knock, knock>  BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK, BARK, etc.  Ugh!  At one point, I shut the Frodog in the back bedroom, which only resulted in scratching frantically at the door AND barking.  If anyone would like a 5-year-old UNhousebroken dog who thinks she is still a puppy princess, please call!  (I'm not kidding!)

Long after civic Halloween curfew, there were teens roving the neighborhood.  The last bunch at the stop sign in front of my house was pitching firecrackers and driving the dawg nuts.  Ever the teacher, I went out on the stoop and yelled that they needed to move on.  They did.  Either I won or I can expect to find my car damaged in the morning!

Let's see....next major event is little Ryan's 2nd birthday, on November 13th.  It is hard for me to believe the Little Dude isn't even 2 yet.  With his very verbal and precocious big sister as an example, he is quite beyond his years in language skills.  What does this say about our family?  That we talk a lot???

I guess I should mention that I can't hear very well out of my left ear again.  This is the ear that has had two tubes put in over the last 8 years because, for reasons known only to God, the eustachion tube doesn't drain properly.  I didn't find the last tube, if it came out, but a ringing has developed, and I find that I'm not hearing well in that ear, at all...again.  Am looking to see if the minor surgery to replace yet another tube is part of my $500 deductible.  <sigh>

All is quiet now.  Grandma Judy tells me that the kids JUST left their house.  I can't rest until I know that they are home safely.  The trickety-treaters have given up the ghost (so to speak)...so the ghoulies and ghosties and three-leggedy beasties and things that go BUMP in the night can rest for another year. 

God Bless the children!

Whirlwind weekend!

The Frodog and I are home after a VERY busy weekend in Muncie.  When I go up there, I try to leave them in a little bit better shape than when I arrived.  This time, due to the extremely busy nature of what we were trying to do, I only left them in a VERY LITTLE bit better shape! 

Ummm....let's see.  We shopped for costume parts and food, etc.  We were planning for Halloween, "creating" for a church bazaar, planning for Robin's pre-school Halloween party that Meg is helping with, keeping children somewhat entertained and happy, and carving jack-o-lanterns.  There were meals in there, and naps for Ryan, endless laundry...and Nathan worked.

The highlights of the weekend:  *Nathan carved out some low trashy branches between two close cedar trees in their back yard to make a haven that is just child-sized.  The children love it!  *Robin's costume turned out adorable!  It was a hit at their church's Halloween parade.  The dear child has no clue!   *Daddy and Robin and Mommy created jack-o-lanterns out of "pumpins". (Ry-baby was napping.)  *Robin told me I was her "best friend" upon my departure--prompted by her mother.  Never mind!  It was pretty special to me!  My little Ry-Guy gets short shrift sometimes because his sister is so vocal and advanced...but guess what?  So is he!  He talks in large sentences...and his second birthday isn't for another two weeks.  What a sweetie!

I haven't seen Frodie but twice since we got home.  I guess she is as exhausted as I!

I have to teach tomorrow, but I don't have a clue where I am going with it.  For now, I am glad to be home and happy to know that the grandkids will be here tomorrow for trickety-treating.  Gotta love it!

Angels!

To some, God provides challenges.  To others, He provides grandchildren that can be angels.   Meg and I gave the grandchildren some challenging situations today, and they were as good as gold.  Angels!

Meg had some errands to run this morning, so I stayed home with the children.  I folded laundry while they watched their favorite shows in TV, etc.  When she got home, we had lunch and then started on a shopping quest for Halloween costume parts.  Normally, this would not be a big deal, but we were trying to honor Robin's request to be an astronaut without breaking the bank.  SEVERAL dollar stores later, we think we have all the parts.  Grandma and Grandpa Heffelman sent the children $1 each in Halloween cards, so when we went to Deals today, they were given their money to spend.  Ryan, of course, went for whatever he could get...and then some.  Robin, however, was comparison shopping to get the most for her buck.  She told me, at one point, that she needed help deciding what she wanted!  She walked around the entire store, untethered, carrying a bassek (basket).  Neither she nor Ryan ever left our sight nor created a problem.  Whew!  They both decided on books.  Great choice, according to Grandma and Mommy!

After Nate got home, Meg and I needed to do more shopping, so we left the children with him and headed out.  When we got home, we found little Ryan sound asleep across two kitchen chairs, Robin bouncing around happily, and Nathan busily cooking some Greek concoction:  Eggplant Mousaka.  Ryan was put to bed.  While Nate was cooking, Robin happily painted with her water colors for at least an hour without coming up for air.  After supper, we all played Candy Land.  There is no question that Robin enjoys whatever time she can get away from her brother.  The day before I came here, I heard her over the telephone telling Ryan that it was time for his nap!

God Bless the Children!  In one of our shopping excursions today, we were walking down aisles of fabric.  Robin was in a shopping cart with Meg.  I was loose...as was Ryan.  At one point, two ladies stepped between Ryan and his mother...and suddenly he was crying.  I went  to see what was wrong.  He apparently thought he was lost.  I picked him up; he grabbed my neck and put his head on my shoulder as if he had been lost for a century!  Look at the scenario:  Meg and Robin were no more than 5 feet from him.  His "out of contact" time could not have been more than 10 seconds.  In fact, sometimes he thinks it is a game to be away from Mommy.  Go figure! 

Tomorrow we will create the astronaut costume and attempt to clean up around here.  I ain't gonna be easy!  But....for today...my grandchildren were delightful little angels.  The horns come later!

 

 

Munchie!

Yay!  First day of the 4-day weekend called "fall break" in Indiana!  When my alarm rang this morning, I had to remind myself that I didn't really have to get up!

I have a zillion things to do at home, but decided that I would spend the four days in Muncie with my family.  I mean, it is almost Halloween, and my grandchildren need costumes so they can come to Plainfield to trick-or-treat!  You get the picture...

Sometime after noon, I was ready to head out.  Had to go to two banks and get gas.  Frodo the Wonder Dog was with me.  Frodo HATES riding in the car.  She shivers and thinks she belongs under the driver's feet.  Wrongo!  First bank, I went in and came out--had to remove Frodo from the front seat to the back.  Second bank, I went in and came out--had to remove Frodo from the front seat to the back.  Gas station, I tanked up and came out--had to remove Frodo from the front seat to the back.  She has, fortunately, figured out that she will NOT ride under my feet while I'm driving...but I have to remind her, sometimes.  She makes the trip, begrudgingly, on the floor of the back seat.  (No Gary Larson dog with ears flapping in the wind, here!)  Interesting thing, however, is that she gets totally animated, going and coming, about 5 blocks from either home.  She likes being here in Muncie.  The kids have a nice back yard, with critter smells, but she is still not housebroken.  Has piddled on the kids' new carpet twice today, already.  She is now asleep, sideways, on my sleepng bag on the living room futon!  Make room, little dog.  I'm ready to hit the sack!

For my daughter

It occurred to me tonight, while talking to the parents of other people's children, that I don't tell you often enough how much I love you.  I remember that I kissed my grandchildren good-bye last night, and I told you that I love you, but I didn't hug and kiss you!  Please understand that you are the light of my life (second only to my grandchildren right now--sorry!) and that any lapse of physical affection does NOT represent any lapse of love for you.  The greatest satisfaction of my life, when my mother passed away when I wasn't there, came in accepting that she KNEW I loved her, and I KNEW she loved me.  No regrets!  I haven't always been the best mother to you, but it wasn't because I didn't care.  I love you almost as much as I love Robin and Ryan!  (Somehow, I think you understand.)

Mom

Another Long Day!

There is a little bit of chaos in our school district this year.  We have built a new elementary school that not all of the classes have moved into yet...and the old elementary is being remodeled to become our new middle school (where I will be when it is finished).  In addition, we have a new superintendent in his very first superintendency, so things are...well...different.  I like the man, so far.

This time of year (after the first 9-weeks report card), we have typically had a 2-hour parent conference time in the evening where parents just show up to talk to whomever teachers they want to see.  This year, all of us were brought into line with the elementary school's hours on this.  Thus, the students went home at 11:00.  Parent conferences went from noon to 8:00 PM, with an hour for supper.  This would have been great had our conferences been scheduled.  As it was, I got a lot of papers graded before 5:00 because no one showed up until after supper.  The evening, however, seemed to drag on and on.  I have talked all day!  Guess who didn't even want to get on the radio on the way home???

The students go home at 1:00 again tomorrow, and we will have conference availability from noon until 3:00---then we are off Thursday and Friday for fall break.  I'm betting there won't be many parents there during those hours also!

Interestingly, one of my students this year is the new superintendent's daughter.  As it turns out, her maternal grandparents are friends of mine from Cloverdale days.  I talked to her mother tonight.  Very animated lady.  I guess I am in luck--the daughter likes my class! 

Meg and the children came down last evening so Meg could use my computer for some stuff that HER computer wouldn't let her do.  Robin is an absolute whirlwind, and Ryan just gets cuter every day.  He talks in long sentences now and gets very vociferous when there is something "bad" going on.  He gets a furrowed brow and talks quite loudly, sometimes gesturing with one hand.  I made the mistake of saying that he was in Grandma's back yard.  "It's OUR back yard!  It's OUR back yard!"  Okay, Ryan...if you want it to be YOUR back yard, be my guest!

I really have a ton of stuff to do around this house, but I'll be going to Muncie on Thursday to help out there, with dawg.  The joke's on them.  They have to feed me!

Coats for Kids

As most everyone in my circle of life knows, I volunteer for The Salvation Army as a disaster radio communicator.  Yesterday, my team of radio operators worked Coats for Kids in Indy...during which TSA gave away over 4,000 coats to children.  And if you don't think that 4,500 children plus their parents/guardians under one roof isn't as close to a disaster as you can get, read on!

Coats for Kids provides contributed new and "gently used" winter coats for anyone who shows up with children in tow.  Channel 13 provides the media attention; Tuchman Cleaners dry cleans all of the contributions; and The Salvation Army does ALL the rest.  It is an enormous task!  This takes place once a year at the State Fairgrounds.  Essentially, patrons who show up are given tickets with numbers at the door--one ticket per child.  Then the numbers are called for people to enter the coat rack area, and they are taken around by volunteer escorts.  Each child is allowed two coats...a lightweight jacket, and a heavier one, or snowsuit.  Every coat/jacket is tried on, etc.  It takes time, and the wait is usually 1-2 hours. 

What happens when one expects young children to wait in a huge enclosed area with no seating for 1-2 hours?  Chaos!  There was no food on the premises.  Children get hungry.  Children fall asleep.  Children run and punch and get lost and cry.  About 1/3rd of the folks were white, another third Hispanic, and the last third African-American.  Some are patient and smiling.  Some impatient.  Only one was abusive.  We had to escort one small group of young men out because they were, essentially, trying to steal coats.  (Older kids--late teens/early 20's--no adult chaperone, etc.)  Someone defecated in the parking lot.  Drinks were spilled. A couple of "lost" children cried for their mommies.  One family group got so rambunctious that I had to ask them to stop or "take it outside".  (The mother was in the midst of it.  She said, "We do this all the time at home!"  Later, I discovered a large hole in a wall near where they were.  <sigh>)

Salvation Army's new logo is "Doing the most good".  Sometimes, doing the most good means "doing the least harm".  At one point, we realized that there weren't many volunteer escorts into the coat rack area, and no new ones wereexpected to show up.  The ticket numbers on the portable billboard just stopped advancing for an hour or so.  The natives were getting restless--and rightly so.  We were stalled at number 3670, but had given out 4,500 tickets.  By this time, there were only two radio operators left--Dave Leimenstoll and me--and we were sidling up to the coordinators to find out what Plan B was.  There was no Plan B!  The gals in charge came up with one in short order after it became obvious that we were going to make headlines:  "Coats for Kids Runs until 10:00 PM; Hundreds of Kids Go Home Coatless!" 

Thank goodness, that didn't happen!  We opened up the coat rack area for people to shop WITHOUT volunteer escorts, asking that they check out with TSA people at the exit table.  By that time, bless them, people had been waiting for hours...and some were still smiling.

Dave and I stayed until the very end (around 6:00 PM). We met up with Dave's wife for dinner on the way home.  I arrived home about 8:00, making it a 14-hour volunteer day.  Several times, I asked myself why parents with small children would submit themselves to that experience...and then I remembered that MOST of the families we served had more than 3 children.  With gas prices and threats of high heating prices over the winter, families are trying to prepare for the worst.  Buying coats for children, times multiple children, gets really expensive. 

The highlights of my day?  My radio volunteers who are the best!  A family on the premises--mother in a motorized scooter--with her six kids quietly playing Uno on the floor, while the chaos went on around them.  (That was one prepared mommy!)  A 6-year-old African-American girl who asked if she could sit on my lap...and did.  Meeting and talking to TSA officers.  Finding out that one of the Hurricane Katrina evacuees that TSA had sheltered back in September--a young hearing impaired woman who thought there was no future for her because of her disability--is now studying at Gallaudet University because the Salvation Army officer in charge of her care while here steered her in that direction!

I'm glad I was able to help with Coats for Kids again this year.  My biggest reward, however, came from my daughter who told me she was proud of my volunteerism and asked  me how many things I volunteer for.  Meggy, I don't  know!!   It just goes along with amateur radio!

And while I was doing my thing in Indy, my grandchildren were having a fun day at a place called Farmland, seeing animals and pumpkins and taking "twakka" rides on a nice autumn day.  Apparently, little Ryan had an encounter with a chicken that made a move toward a rock that he was carrying.  "Dat CHICKEN bite mine wock!"  What a hoot!

Warning!

To all who venture to read this journal, be forewarned that I adore my grandchildren and many of the entries on here will be laced with Gwamma's bragging!  (I prefer to think that I am an objective observer in their lives, but [alas!] it is not so!)

I have never been much of a "baby" person.  I had a baby brother once, but wasn't at the stage of life to feel very maternal about him (I was, maybe, 5 when he was born.)  I adored my own baby, of course, but there is something about motherhood that creates so much work that one scarcely has time to really sit back and enjoy each moment.  Most of it consists of exhaustion and trying to get through each day with the least amount of damage..  Then came grandchildren!  Who'd a-thunk that I would be so crazy about those babies?!  For that reason, I feel so selfish that I can  dote on my grandchildren while their mother goes quietly nuts with the chaos!

Still, I can't help but think that Meg and Nate take some satisfaction in knowing that their babies are so loved by both (uh...three?) sets of grandparents..  And because of them, I also appreciate my great-grandnephews, Nicky and Tyler Watts..  What a cute lot they all are!  I would love to have a group picture of the baby cousins on MY side of the family!

I leave you with little Ryan's last words to me on Saturday:  "I wuzz you!" 

 

 

Whew! Long day!

Taught school all day today, then awaited the arrival of my "homebound" tutoring student after school.  (He is excluded from school but gets instruction--from me--bjust not at home.  His mother prefers that he come to the school at the end of the day...but now that's not even working.)  After 45 minutes of trying to work with him and watching him be totally uncooperative, I let him go...then headed for home, myself.

This evening, SATERN was to provide radio communications for the Coats for Kids campaign put on by Salvation Army and Channel 13 at the RCA Dome for the Colts game.  This was a collection night.  (The coats will be distributed next Saturday.)  It was a gorgeous night to be in downtown Indy, but it was crazy down there!  Colts fans--like Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 fans--come to the event somewhat tanked up.  And they were everywhere!  Quite a "happening"!

I rode in with my blind friend, Bill, and his wife.  I am so glad I did!  I don't know Indy very well and would not have negotiated the traffic and/or construction without getting lost.  As it was, we had to park over a mile away and walk in.  Bill's service dog, Chance, can really cut through the pedestrian traffic!  Anyway, we rubbed elbows with the television personalities, but it looked to me as though the coat donations were down this year.  We gave out over 3,500 of them last year.  Hope there will be enough for everyone who needs them THIS year.

I got home just after 10:00 PM.  Time to unwind and hit the sack.  Maybe some day I'll actually have something important to say in this journal!

A lazy Sunday

Hello to all who wish to follow my mind ramblings! 

I don't know much about blogs, but they seem to be all the rage now.  Kind of like an online diary.  When I was a kid, one wanted one's diary to be kept secret.  Now, no one seems to care who is looking!

Every story has a beginning, and mine starts now.  Today, Sunday, I was home alone and just putzing around the house.  Works for me!  Yesterday, Meg and the children came down to can her luscious apple butter and have the children's portraits taken.  (Portraits weren't very successful.  The children were good as gold all day....except then!  Apple butter canning, however, went quite well!)

Bless anyone who reads this.  I'm just blathering on...