Come On, Weekend!

I came down with a phantom fever last night.  I NEVER run a fever, so I felt punk and just went to bed at about 7:00.  Tylenol helped.  Still had the fever this morning but didn't feel bad, so I went to school.  (The students were to go home at noon so the teachers could have afternoon meetings.  Will happen again tomorrow.)  Our speaker had a death in the family so didn't show up.  We were dismissed after a brief after-lunch meeting to go work in our rooms...so I just came home, thinking I'd take a nap.  Didn't end up doing the nap thing...but it felt good to have a bit of a jump on the evening.

I don't think I have a fever tonight.  The mysterious thing is that I don't have any symptoms of anything.  Fever = infection....but where?  Maybe my sinuses?  If so, they don't feel any different than normal.  Go figure!

The grandchildren are going to be with their other grandparents tomorrow, and then to Muncie for the rest of the weekend.  As much as I love the little skunks, they exhaust me.  Actually, it isn't so much that THEY exhaust me as the clutter that follows them does.  The weekends aren't long enough, but I do so look forward to them...

Discovered a major conflict today, thanks to one of my ham friends.  The Coats for Kids collection (for The Salvation Army) at the Colt's game on October 7th is the same day as the Bedford Hamfest.  I can't be at two places at once.  If I can get enough operators, I'll bow out...but I have a feeling that isn't going to happen.  I'll start on that this weekend.  (Trying to find enough operators, that is.)

The children go into the computer room/radio shack this evening.  (That is a no-no.)  Meg found Ryan with a disposable razor in his hand, trying to scratch a mosquito bite on his forhead with it.  Of course, he has a razor cut on his noggin now...along with the chunk he bit out of his tongue this afternoon.  Maybe he will learn to leave things alone?  (Wanna bet???)

Have to take the garbage out before I can go to bed...and I hardly know where to start!  I keep collecting it, but it keeps showing up!  <sigh>

Uh...well...um...

One of my "hamster" friends (who shall remain nameless, but he retired last year and moved to Alabama, the skunk) mentioned that he likes catching up on things by reading my blog...except he is bored with my entries about my grandchildren.  So I decided that I would write about something else tonight. 

Well.......let's see.....um.....hmmm....  I'm sure there is SOMETHING I can write about.  Let me think.  This might take awhile....

We had an "informal" weather net late this afternoon.  (Informal means that the National Weather Service didn't ask us to call it up, but it was called up anyway.)  I was on my way to pick up...uh...those little persons that live in my house, and take them for Kdg. night at Chick-fil-A for dinner...so I wasn't on the net long.  When I returned home, it was Tuesday evening net time, but the repeater wasn't working.  Don't know what happened to it, but I am assuming that the weather did something to it.  We had our evening net on another repeater--and it took some doodling with the buttons on the base radio to figger out how to get to it.  We haven't had more than 2 or 3 weather nets all summer, so I'm not sure anyone remembered what to do!  Rain has been at a premium...

Another of my ham friends, KB9RDO, mentioned on the radio this morning that I should be more diligent in monitoring my blood pressure.  That caused me to look up the "clipped brain aneurysm" on Google, just to see what my risks are.  What I read shows that I am a very lucky duck to be normal.  I also noted that the clip can move...and that there are other risks (minor and rare) for another aneurysm to occur.  Still, the thought of going through the whole thing again has caused me to consider that I need to get serious about losing weight and taking better care of myself.  I don't know where to start!  I'm already behind in paperwork at school, the calendar is filling up fast with activities that require me, my house is an obstacle course, AND, I am not getting enough valuable sleep.  There are a lot of decisions that need to be made, and I can't make them.  Dr. Phil, where are you when I need you?!

I think my bedmate has finally crashed.  I hope we don't have another morning like this morning was in preparation for job/school departure.  It wasn't fun!  Tomorrow is another day...

Who's Going to Kill Me First??

The kids?  Or the dog??

Frodo the Junkyard Dog is on steroids again, due to her ears.  That makes her an absolute food whore.  And what goes in must come out.  We have had several incidents of poop in the house.  TOO MANY incidents of poop in the house.  I hate that!  The 'roids also make her thirsty, so she drinks a lot.  Today, in spite of the fact that there were the usual doggie Pampers on the kitchen floor, she left no fewer than four puddles on the carpet.  And the day isn't over yet!  I scolded: "If you don't stop using the house as your toilet, you are going to have to go live with someone else!!"  Robin heard me and teared up.  She loves the stupid dog.  <Sigh!>

I had promised the children a picnic for last Thursday for supper.  That was the day I was called to come get Ryan because he was throwing up.  So much for the picnic!  The next day (yesterday) it was too hot and we had errands to run.  So much for the picnic again.  Today, I didn't have an excuse.  I took Robin to go pick out some pumpkins for our fall "display" by the front door.  When we returned, I decided to take the kids to get McDonald's food, then go to Hummel Park for our picnic and play.  Meg was to go to grocery shopping in our absence.  Apparently the call of the playground doesn't hold as much attraction as it used to.  The kids seemed somehow bored with the whole thing--except for the TWO restroom trips.  (The restrooms at Hummel are a whole field away from the play area.  Bad planning on the town's part!)

Okay...so when Meg got home from shopping, I took a nap.  The children should have, too, because they--Ryan particularly--became totally out-of-control whacko!  By the time Meg was ready to pull out of the drive to deliver the children to Muncie, I was making the sign of the cross over her, hoping that she survives the trip!  It remains to be seen.  She should be home in an hour or so. 

Let it be said that I love my grandchildren, but there is something to be said for peace and tranquility, too!  As for the dog...I am beginning to wonder if dog meat cooked in a crock pot is good.  Au jus on the side??

I Need to Say This

My life and my daughter's have been intertwined since her birth.  Her father was no help in raising her, and after The Divorce, I threw myself into finishing the job the best way I knew how. 

Amateur radio put me in the company of males who, by the nature of their gender, feel that it is their job to fix things.  Women understand that whining and complaining is only a way to vent.  Men think that whining and complaining is a bid for resolution. 

My daughter and grandchildren arrived on my doorstep in early March for my birthday...and never left.  I didn't know that was going to happen, but I wasn't totally surprised.  A divorce ensued.  We have maintained some semblance of normalcy for the children in cramped space.  Yes, I get frustrated that not enough of us are doing the housework, and yes, I understand that Meg should be out on her own....but guess what?  A huge amount of her pay goes for child care, and there is no way that she can afford separate housing.  The other part of the story is that when they all moved to Muncie, I was--for the first time in 26 years--alone.  I floundered.  I traveled to Muncie two to three weekends a month and buried myself in trying to help out there.  With them here, no matter how wacky the situation is, it feels okay. 

We have a lot to negotiate, but we are doing okay.  Folks looking in from the outside probably think I am being taken advantage of.  True!  But I have accepted most of it.  I am co-parenting my grandchildren, even if I'm not the best parent in the world.  For the most part, I enjoy having my family with me. 

There are those who figure that having my family live here will ace me out of a personal relationship.  To that, I say that I lived alone for sixteen years prior to their arrival with no marriage proposals!   Which came first?  Did I lose relationships because of my daughter, or did my daughter fill the void? 

At this point in time, I think I am destined to spend the rest of my life with my daughter and grandchildren.  If anyone has a better idea, I am open to hear it!

 

 

Anniversary?

Today marks the two-month "anniversary" of the event that turned my life upside down.  Two months ago today...at about this time...an aneurysm ruptured in the subarachnoid area outside my brain.  It wasn't pleasant!  What IS pleasant is that I survived with no disability.  I am so very grateful...but also scared.  I figure I dodged one enormous bullet, but the next bullet might find its mark.  In some respects, I feel that I am living on borrowed time.  It isn't a comfortable feeling...

It was Homecoming for Monrovia today.  Our pep session at the end of the day consisted of a Powder Puff football game (girls) playing on the football field, which is down a hill from the school--a rock road.  I remembered to take a hat to cover my poor scarred noggin so it woudn't get sun.  (The incision isn't totally healed yet, which somewhat surprises me.  I also don't see a lot of hair activity.  Too early to tell?  Hmmmmm....)  As I was walking down the rock road to the football field, I wondered if I was doing more than I should have, but I keep on keepin' on.

Yesterday, about 45 minutes after I got home from school, a call came in from the day care provider saying that Ryan was throwing up.  I needed to go get the kids.  It was only about an hour earlier than I usually do that, so it wasn't a big deal...but there are problems with the trip home.  The children have a competition going about who gets to go in the house first.  Ryan's car seat is right behind the driver's seat, so it is normal for me to get him unstrapped first.  That doesn't always sit well with his sister.  I got out the car to unstrap him and saw that he was about to throw up.  I had taken a pan for that purpose, so was leaning over him and holding the pan while the poor little dude dealt with his upset tummy.  His sister interpreted that as my getting him out first, so decided to kick in his direction.  She hit my thumb.  I yelled...loudly.  Told her she was behaving like a spoiled brat.  When I finally got both kids out of the car, Robin ran to the bedroom and hid under the covers in our bedroom.  Ryan was fine thereafter, but it took a little prodding to get Robbie to accept my apology for yelling, while accepting her bad behavior.  When we kissed and made up, she wanted to decorate the house for fall.  That's a lovely idea, but the place is trashed.  How can we decorate????

After school tonight, we all went to McDonald's for supper (for the play area) but both children totally misbehaved.  I don't know what it is.  There seems to be a button in Ryan that something pushes and he is out of control.  His sister can be just as bad.  In any case, we finally got things somewhat under control.  Bought winter jackets for the children, a Halloween costume for Ryan, a couple of shirts for them, a new DVD/VHS player to replace the one that isn't working now...blah, blah.   They won't be going to Muncie to see their father until late tomorrow.  Can we survive?????  Inquiring minds want to know!

 

 

Oops!

Couldn't go to the Monrovia football game last night because getting the dog out of her vet appointment took too long.  (Vet = infected ears = bad doggy smell = $300.)   So we had supper and went shopping for warmer clothes for the children.  They've pretty much outgrown the stuff from last winter.  Shopping with them is always an adventure!  We went to Metropolis.  Blah!  It was pretty chilly out.  The kids were in shirtsleeves.  The fountain that we went to see sprayed them, and the ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery made us all cold.  Home sure looked good after that!

The children went to their other grandparents' this morning, to go this evening to be with their daddy.  It's quiet here right now.

I have done laundry all day--except for escorting the dog to the groomer--but you can't tell I've done anything!  K9PZ's wife, Joann, shopped for winter clothes for my grandkids at her church's rummage sale.  We drove to Brownsburg to pick up the goods.  In a word, she "done good"!  The kids are well stocked now!  The only issue at hand is finding places to put everything! 

Meg and I talked a bit this evening about the health issue I had.  I was curious how she got the word out to folks about my situation because it seemed that I came home to everyone knowing and wanting to help.  She said something like, "You don't have a clue...."....and she is right.  The seriousness of what happened to me has never really hit.  My mind has a way of shutting down and moving to another place when things get tough.  Meg and my sister suffered the most.  I was simply at the mercy of the medical system.  At that point, my brain shifted into survival mode.  I'm glad it is behind us, but I wonder what is next!

I need to keep plugging on the condition of the house.  Maybe sometime tomorrow it will seem okay enough to live in! 

Open House Night

Meg played hooky from her class tonight in order to be here for Open House at the Kindergarten Center.  As it turned out, we all went (Ryan and me included) just to see Robin's class and have Meg meet the teacher.  It was pretty much a madhouse!  Mr. Pickard told Meg that Robin is "quiet but not shy".  Huh?  Robin?  Quiet???

After the open house, we took the kids to McD's for supper--the McD's with the play place.  It echoes in there, and some female child was shrieking at the top of her lungs, just for fun.  It was enough to drive me bonkers! 

I am finishing up my first full week back to work after the extended summer due to circumstances beyond my control.  I am tired, for sure...but, as I have said before, I don't think I am any worse off than I was pre-surgery...except that I am a few months older.  Makes a difference, I'm sure!

I haven't written my thank you notes yet--to the people to whom I owe so much gratitude for all they did for me and my family during my illness.  I need to set housework aside and do that!  I was on prayer chains all over the place.  People brought food.  People watched the grandchildren (and my dog) so Meg could be with me in Illinois.  People came to see me, both in the hospital and at home--babysat with me, actually.  Sent flowers.  Sent cards.  Cleaned my house.  Shampooed my carpets.  Mowed my lawn.  Sent money!  Where do I start saying "thank you" for all of that????

Can't go to bed until the last load of laundry is dry and folded.  We couldn't find a clean shirt for the little guy this morning.  He doesn't have too many clothes to begin with, and I didn't get much laundry done last weekend.  Down to the dregs!  We meed to make a shopping excursion this weekend because the seasons are changing--starting with Goodwill!

Both Meg and Robbie have colds.  Meg has felt pretty lousy the last two days, but she keeps on going.  We all do!  Hope I don't catch this...

I'm looking forward to a cooler weekend.  Maybe I can work on my garage again????

 

Meeting

This is my third year as President of the Hendricks County Amateur Radio Society.  We only meet once a month, but the meetings roll around pretty quickly...and I have been fresh out of program ideas for a number of months now!  Over the years, we have had special guests:  our county's EMA director, the ARES Coordinator for Marion County, etc., and hams who have come to talk about PSK-31, antenna launching, high definition radio, etc.  We have had a county "treasure hunt" that was coordinated by the Skywarn Director, a show-and-tell in which members brought their favorite little tools or things that come in handy in radio.  So far, it has gone fairly well, and I have been lucky in that no one has refused me, even in my last-minute bids for presentations.  (For the most part, I think the membership doesn't care much what we do!)  My poor belabored brain, however, has hit a dry spot. 

I spent some time this weekend searching around on the Internet for ideas...something that wouldn't require a presenter.  I thought about a radio trivia quiz, but I didn't want to be the one to make it up.  Today, at school (in every free minute I could scrape up), I searched the Internet for quizzes I could plagiarize.  Some were too short.  Some were too basic.  Some were too difficult or boring.  Down to the wire when I got home from school, I started writing my own quiz of ten questions, ending with a question of embarrassing or "worst" events that happened to the members in radio.  Interestingly enough, the quiz seemed to be successful, and the stories were both instructional and amusing--my own included. 

I think the next three meetings are covered, thank God.  I have already told the membership that I will not be their president next year.  Time for new blood!!!!!

Time for bed.  It's been a looong day. 

See It Yourself

Patriotic Robin:

How to Make Mommy Cry, by Robin

Okay, so I survived the week back at work.  I was tired, for sure...but no more so than I normally am.  Of course, it was a short week (3 1/2 days for me), so that's not saying much. 

We have the children with us this weekend.  Normally, they are with their father in Muncie on the weekends.  Today was Plainfield's Quaker Day, complete with parade, so (since Megan had to work), I took the kidlets to Main Street to watch the parade.  Meg had already had a talk with them about not running into the street to pick up thrown candy.  We were prepared!  We had the children's lawn chairs, one of those folding chair deals for me, two plastic grocery bags--and all kinds of excitement.  When the parade started, I taught the children to stand for the first American flag that goes by.  (Ever the teacher!)  And then came the candy!  We were in a strategic spot--close to the beginning of the parade (so everyone still had plenty of candy to throw) and away from other children so mine stuck out.  It rained candy!  At first, Ryan was apprehensive about leaving the curb to pick up the loot, per his mother's warning, but by the third throw, he was oblivious to the parade and out in the street hauling in the goodies!  When the parade was over, we had two bags loaded with candy to carry back to the car.  Ryan thought he was a pig in slop!

One of the floats had the Pledge of Allegiance on it.  I mentioned it to Robin who told me that they say the Pledge in school.  I was glad to hear that, but she's only been in Kindergarten for three weeks.  How much can 5-year-olds know about the Pledge--much less know it?   

We decided to do Chinese for supper.  In the restaurant, Robin was telling her mother about the parade and the float with the Pledge on it.  She said she knew the Pledge.  I didn't half believe her...until she started reciting it.  Our jaws dropped.  She knew it!  We have "one nation, under God, unvisible, with liverty and justice for all"....but it was a masterpiece!  I looked over at Megan...and (of course) she was crying.  Now I think my daughter gets why I sat in the bleachers blubbered during her solo in her second grade Christmas concert!

The house is trashed.  Having the children for the weekend leaves no opportunity to catch up on housework.  Ugh! 

 

First Day Back

My first day back at work actually turned out to be just a half day.  I had a 9:30 AM doctor's appointment at Methodist Hospital in Indy...so didn't get to school until lunch time.  (11:00.)  I was greeted well by my colleagues, all wanting to know how I am feeling.  My prep period was taken up with a meeting (figures!) so I didn't get much done except teach a couple of classes.  (I hated to interrupt the sub, but I think he was grateful to have me take over.  He said something like, "Now they will finally learn some English.")  I was impressed with the job he had done in getting the kids used to routine.  I noticed that the students didn't bolt from the room when the bell rang--even at lunch--and that they began their ten minutes of silent reading without having to be told.  That's a huge job at the beginning of the year, getting the kids used to routine.  My hat is off to him!

I had hoped that today's doctor appointment would be my last one...but, as it turns out, Dr. Horner was not pleased with the appearance of the infected portion of the incision on my noggin.  He removed the scab (again) and indicated that I had to do a better job of getting it treated with the peroxide.  (Meg is my applicator, and she is grossed out by having to work on it.  I'd do it myself, but I can't see it!)  The "or else" nature of the doctor's threat is that if the bone flap in my skull gets infected, it would have to be removed and a prosthetic skull patch put in.  I don't like the sounds of that at all!  We will work harder to get the stupid thing healed!  I have to go back again next Tuesday.

Here is the hard part:  the office gals gave me a get well card that they had sent around when they found out I was ill.  It was cute...and was full of money!  It is hard for me to be gracious.  I mean, I was humbled and overwhelmed by the amount of money in the card...but how does one say thank you for something like that?  The words don't seem like enough...

Off to bed.  Tomorrow will be a FULL day of teaching.  Hope the kids appreciate the sub they have had.  They could have had a lot worse!

 

As the Last Day Fades....

Today is/was my last day of leisure.  Although I work all day at home, I can do it in my own time schedule and at my own pace.  As of tomorrow, my pace and schedule will be dictated.  Normally, I would dread it.  This time, I am ready to jump into the abyss...because it is time.  Because I have to reclaim my teacher status.  Because I have to prove to everyone that I have it in me.  Or prove it to me.

So...life as I've known it since just after Memorial Day will now come to a roaring halt.  I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me.  I have fought the good fight and am ready to return to being a productive member of society....but I sure will miss my daily naps!