Last night, I talked about the SWAPS (Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere) that we are making for Robin to trade with new friends at camp on Saturday. "We" decided to try to make little robin birds. The ONE that is actually almost finished looks pretty good, but the silly things are problematic. Getting glue and paint to dry at the appropriate time is the hard part. We're working on that!
At school, today was the last day of ISTEP testing. Actually, yesterday was the last day for the 8th grade, but since 6th and 7th were still testing with shared teachers, we had to be on a testing schedule, too. We showed a movie in the Media Center...Evan Almighty...and had another one planned...and the kids were good...but, for some reason, the Media Aide roamed the room endlessly telling the kids that they couldn't lie down...and telling our math teacher that if they couldn't behave, she wouldn't show the second movie that we had planned. The team decided to adjourn to our homeroom classrooms. What's up with that??? The kids are basically 14-year-olds who have trouble sitting on the floor for extended periods of time. (So do I!!) We got by, but now we need to reconsider our earlier thought of showing a movie to the kids on Awards Day. Ugh!
Got an email from Major Pat last night indicating that Carmella is okay. Whew!
KB9RDO wasn't on the air this morning. Hope I didn't offend him by saying he is stubborn (even though he is...and he knows it!)
Tomorrow is another day. Gearing up for Dayton. Wonder if I even fit in my SATERN uniform shirts...or what I have that is needed.... Got to get a handle on all of that!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Best Laid Plans, Part Deux
Doesn't take long for plans to turn all the way around, does it?
This morning, I got an IM from Meg at school saying that the research paper for a class that she had PLANNED to skip, carefully calculating what her grade will be without it, is now required in order to pass the class. Needless to say, that throws her weekend plans into a tailspin, which then telescopes to me. Rather than have Robin miss her Mother/Daughter Girl Scout campout because of Meg's unexpected coursework, it will be a Grandmother/Granddaughter Girl Scout campout.
Megan got Ryan handed off to Kendra tonight. He is going to Chicago to visit friends with her tomorrow or Friday. Robin and I took a trip to Walmart after supper to buy me a sleeping bag. (Threw my old one out a year or two ago. It didn't owe me anything.) We also spent a little time working on Robin's SWAPS. (SWAPS are little hand-made, pin-on, doo-dads that you trade with other Scouts as a memento of new friends, etc. We are trying to create little robins out of styrofoam balls, paint, glue, and feathers. Ask me later how successful we were!) Robin is in my bed, maybe, finally, sort of, asleep. (At 10:00!)
My back returned to bad today. Slept wrong, I think. Thankfully, I'll be sleeping on a cot at camp rather than the ground...
While Meg was delivering Ryan to the meeting spot in Fishers, Nathan called to talk to Robin. I only heard her side of the conversation, of course...but it was interesting. Her first comment was, "Hi, Dad. What's going on?" (She's six!) She then explained to him that she was reading in bed about how to make a rainbow without rain, then went on to explain why she wouldn't be with them this weekend (which he already knew). "I have a campout. There is no way that I can be there." She finished with, "I love you. See you next weekend!" Such a mature conversation for one so young...
I got kind of a perverse chuckle out of my on-the-air morning commute conversation with KB9RDO this morning. He was late getting on the road because he and his bride of six months were having what he called a "conversation," but I translated into "domestic dispute". Mike is married for the first time at my age. He is, like most of us, set in his ways...and (I affectionately add) a little on the stubborn side. His wife, in an effort to carve out a place for herself in his household...and, perhaps, put a feminine slant on things...has moved things around. At issue were some antenna parts that weren't where he had put them...and the fight was on. It was a little amusing because I could see it coming, but I can really sympathize. When my now-ex and I combined households, there was no longer a single spot in the house that I could call my own. Took me two years to adjust to that. Then, too, it seemed that he took care of his own stuff but had no respect for mine. (Once, before we were even married, he got mad at me for something and dumped a can of beer on the cushion of one of my expensive tub chairs, then turned the cushion over. I spotted it immediately because turned-over cushions never look quite the same. I couldn't believe it!) Then again, when Meg and the children moved in, we both sucked up the slack, not knowing what her plans would be. I wanted everyone to feel at home here, but we were sharing two bedrooms with four people...and all of Meg's things were in storage. When we decided to make it a permanent arrangement and remodeled the garage so that everyone could have his/her own room and get Meg out of the storage fees, we had to start the de-cluttering process--which is still going on to this day. I gave up some things and Meg gave up some things...and we are constantly trying to perfect the situation. Unfortunately, we still have too much in too small a space. I'm hoping that God lets me live long enough into retirement that I/we can finally feel comfortable that we have things under control. (Are you listening, God?) And Mike, if you are reading this, don't be too hard on Thelma. These first couple of years will be an adjustment for both of you. I seriously doubt that she has any idea that her moving stuff around bothers you that much. She knows now!
I got a disturbing phone call from my friend Major Pat (WW9E) this evening. He had taken his wife, Carmella, to the emergency room for a swollen leg and something else, in full Salvation Army uniform. I had to offer to call him back because there was too much going on for me to give his call the attention it deserved. It was three hours before I was free to do so...but I only got his voice mail. Now, I don't know what's going on and it worries me. Carm is one of those people who only seeks medical attention when she is in serious trouble. Until I hear more, I can only pray that this will pass. They are in the throes of trying to get early retirement arrangements made (like a place to live!) and don't need a health crisis right now. (Pat has had enough of those over the last two years to make up for all of us!) I worry...
The young'un a few blocks down did come and mow the dandelions today. That's a relief. I love to work in the yard, but I don't like to mow...and I am physically not up to doing it right now.
I guess I have too many expectations to get things done before school ends. With this campout and some other things, plus the Dayton Hamvention in mid-May, I must simply resign myself to just getting by. The story of my life!
This morning, I got an IM from Meg at school saying that the research paper for a class that she had PLANNED to skip, carefully calculating what her grade will be without it, is now required in order to pass the class. Needless to say, that throws her weekend plans into a tailspin, which then telescopes to me. Rather than have Robin miss her Mother/Daughter Girl Scout campout because of Meg's unexpected coursework, it will be a Grandmother/Granddaughter Girl Scout campout.
Megan got Ryan handed off to Kendra tonight. He is going to Chicago to visit friends with her tomorrow or Friday. Robin and I took a trip to Walmart after supper to buy me a sleeping bag. (Threw my old one out a year or two ago. It didn't owe me anything.) We also spent a little time working on Robin's SWAPS. (SWAPS are little hand-made, pin-on, doo-dads that you trade with other Scouts as a memento of new friends, etc. We are trying to create little robins out of styrofoam balls, paint, glue, and feathers. Ask me later how successful we were!) Robin is in my bed, maybe, finally, sort of, asleep. (At 10:00!)
My back returned to bad today. Slept wrong, I think. Thankfully, I'll be sleeping on a cot at camp rather than the ground...
While Meg was delivering Ryan to the meeting spot in Fishers, Nathan called to talk to Robin. I only heard her side of the conversation, of course...but it was interesting. Her first comment was, "Hi, Dad. What's going on?" (She's six!) She then explained to him that she was reading in bed about how to make a rainbow without rain, then went on to explain why she wouldn't be with them this weekend (which he already knew). "I have a campout. There is no way that I can be there." She finished with, "I love you. See you next weekend!" Such a mature conversation for one so young...
I got kind of a perverse chuckle out of my on-the-air morning commute conversation with KB9RDO this morning. He was late getting on the road because he and his bride of six months were having what he called a "conversation," but I translated into "domestic dispute". Mike is married for the first time at my age. He is, like most of us, set in his ways...and (I affectionately add) a little on the stubborn side. His wife, in an effort to carve out a place for herself in his household...and, perhaps, put a feminine slant on things...has moved things around. At issue were some antenna parts that weren't where he had put them...and the fight was on. It was a little amusing because I could see it coming, but I can really sympathize. When my now-ex and I combined households, there was no longer a single spot in the house that I could call my own. Took me two years to adjust to that. Then, too, it seemed that he took care of his own stuff but had no respect for mine. (Once, before we were even married, he got mad at me for something and dumped a can of beer on the cushion of one of my expensive tub chairs, then turned the cushion over. I spotted it immediately because turned-over cushions never look quite the same. I couldn't believe it!) Then again, when Meg and the children moved in, we both sucked up the slack, not knowing what her plans would be. I wanted everyone to feel at home here, but we were sharing two bedrooms with four people...and all of Meg's things were in storage. When we decided to make it a permanent arrangement and remodeled the garage so that everyone could have his/her own room and get Meg out of the storage fees, we had to start the de-cluttering process--which is still going on to this day. I gave up some things and Meg gave up some things...and we are constantly trying to perfect the situation. Unfortunately, we still have too much in too small a space. I'm hoping that God lets me live long enough into retirement that I/we can finally feel comfortable that we have things under control. (Are you listening, God?) And Mike, if you are reading this, don't be too hard on Thelma. These first couple of years will be an adjustment for both of you. I seriously doubt that she has any idea that her moving stuff around bothers you that much. She knows now!
I got a disturbing phone call from my friend Major Pat (WW9E) this evening. He had taken his wife, Carmella, to the emergency room for a swollen leg and something else, in full Salvation Army uniform. I had to offer to call him back because there was too much going on for me to give his call the attention it deserved. It was three hours before I was free to do so...but I only got his voice mail. Now, I don't know what's going on and it worries me. Carm is one of those people who only seeks medical attention when she is in serious trouble. Until I hear more, I can only pray that this will pass. They are in the throes of trying to get early retirement arrangements made (like a place to live!) and don't need a health crisis right now. (Pat has had enough of those over the last two years to make up for all of us!) I worry...
The young'un a few blocks down did come and mow the dandelions today. That's a relief. I love to work in the yard, but I don't like to mow...and I am physically not up to doing it right now.
I guess I have too many expectations to get things done before school ends. With this campout and some other things, plus the Dayton Hamvention in mid-May, I must simply resign myself to just getting by. The story of my life!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Rain Rain, Go Away
We had heavy rain overnight and into this morning. Then another round tonight. Once again, we pay for having a few really nice days. My dandelions are tall, but it's too wet to mow.
I guess IU's Little 500 bicycle race was this past weekend. There were almost 300 arrests--mostly for underage drinking and other alcohol-related behaviors. Each arrestee has to pay a $423 fine, plus other things. Wonder what Mommy and Daddy will think of that?! 'Tis one way to fill the Bloomington civil coffers, eh?
I took a mini-nap after supper tonight. Dozed for maybe 15 minutes...and it really helped! I might try that again. Meg is experiencing some "breathing" pain. Wonder if she wrenched her chest wall when she fell last night. (Now she's acting like me!)
Once again, I was greeted at Grandma Judy and Grandpa Phil's by calm children. They were outside visiting with the neighbors with Judy. Robin went into the house and got her book bag without being asked, and Ryan came along with no problem. Even Phil commented on how sweet Robin has been these last two days. If YOU can figure out what goes on in their toady little brains, tell me, will ya? I don't know what is different, but I like it! (I also know it won't last!)
My back is still a little messed up, with complications in my legs because I was pulling weeds on Sunday. Today the back is better but the legs are weak. Maybe one of these days, I'll get everything going in the same direction at the same time!
I guess IU's Little 500 bicycle race was this past weekend. There were almost 300 arrests--mostly for underage drinking and other alcohol-related behaviors. Each arrestee has to pay a $423 fine, plus other things. Wonder what Mommy and Daddy will think of that?! 'Tis one way to fill the Bloomington civil coffers, eh?
I took a mini-nap after supper tonight. Dozed for maybe 15 minutes...and it really helped! I might try that again. Meg is experiencing some "breathing" pain. Wonder if she wrenched her chest wall when she fell last night. (Now she's acting like me!)
Once again, I was greeted at Grandma Judy and Grandpa Phil's by calm children. They were outside visiting with the neighbors with Judy. Robin went into the house and got her book bag without being asked, and Ryan came along with no problem. Even Phil commented on how sweet Robin has been these last two days. If YOU can figure out what goes on in their toady little brains, tell me, will ya? I don't know what is different, but I like it! (I also know it won't last!)
My back is still a little messed up, with complications in my legs because I was pulling weeds on Sunday. Today the back is better but the legs are weak. Maybe one of these days, I'll get everything going in the same direction at the same time!
Monday, April 27, 2009
It's Official: I'm Senile!
Monday evenings, Ryan has soccer and Robin has Daisy Girl Scouts (every other week). Usually, Meg goes with Ryan and I go with Robin. Tonight, I glanced at the paper that had Daisy events on it and somehow, in my feeblemindedness, missed the part that the meeting was to be at a fellow Scout's farm. WE went to the library. Hmmm...absolutely no one showed up. Thus, we left and went to what remained of Ry's soccer game. When we got home, I looked at the activity paper again. Oops! Poor Robin missed out on a happy activity because I couldn't keep things straight!
What upsets me about it is that I didn't only mess up the activity date, I had it all confused in my mind. Weeks ago, when I was reading over the activities with Meg, I had the impression that the farm deal was on a weekend and that Meg nixed it because the kids would be in Muncie. I can remember thinking that it wasn't fair because the activity had a Brownie Try-It application...and that Robin should be there for that. But noooo...it was an entirely different event that was nixed. At issue, I think, is that we are trying to keep track of all kinds of schedules around here. There is homework, of course, with various demands and deadlines. (The Invention Convention; Reading Railroad Reading Festival, Family Fun Night, school pictures, Market Day orders, yearbook orders, what day to wear what kind of clothes to emphasize a letter of the alphabet, etc.) Times two. Then soccer and Girl Scouts. And Meg's class assignment deadlines. And mine. We try...we really do! There are just a lot of opportunities for things to fall between the cracks due to "momnesia". And, apparently, senility!
Ryan got three goals and assisted in several more. Yay, Ryan!
I got a happy surprise today when I went to pick up the children from Grandma Judy's. They met me at the door with hugs, bookbags already in hand, and went immmediately to the car. No fights. No pouting. No throwing fits. No having to chase them to get them rounded up. Huh?? I looked at Judy and said, "What did you do??" She said they had been like that all day. The Happy Fairy waved her magic wand, I guess! I could sure take a lot more of that!
We are administering yet another round of ISTEP testing at school this week. ISTEP is Indiana's competency test, usually administered in the fall. Since its inception, teachers have griped about the early testing (in September) because it dictates that the first six weeks of school are spent in preparation...so the legislature finally voted to move it to the spring this year. Thus, we had our usual fall testing (taking most of a week), then we've done another round this spring--one part in March and the other now. The tally, then, is six weeks of prep for the first round, and three weeks spent on actual testing. Yeah...now let's talk about how poorly schools are doing! I shouldn't even go there. It makes me angry when I get started on the subject. But you know what? I'm so "short" that I don't care anymore!
Meg and I got the new kitchen flooring ordered on Sunday. When it comes in, we will schedule the installation. God help us...yet another couple of days of total discomboberation to add to the mess around here!
What upsets me about it is that I didn't only mess up the activity date, I had it all confused in my mind. Weeks ago, when I was reading over the activities with Meg, I had the impression that the farm deal was on a weekend and that Meg nixed it because the kids would be in Muncie. I can remember thinking that it wasn't fair because the activity had a Brownie Try-It application...and that Robin should be there for that. But noooo...it was an entirely different event that was nixed. At issue, I think, is that we are trying to keep track of all kinds of schedules around here. There is homework, of course, with various demands and deadlines. (The Invention Convention; Reading Railroad Reading Festival, Family Fun Night, school pictures, Market Day orders, yearbook orders, what day to wear what kind of clothes to emphasize a letter of the alphabet, etc.) Times two. Then soccer and Girl Scouts. And Meg's class assignment deadlines. And mine. We try...we really do! There are just a lot of opportunities for things to fall between the cracks due to "momnesia". And, apparently, senility!
Ryan got three goals and assisted in several more. Yay, Ryan!
I got a happy surprise today when I went to pick up the children from Grandma Judy's. They met me at the door with hugs, bookbags already in hand, and went immmediately to the car. No fights. No pouting. No throwing fits. No having to chase them to get them rounded up. Huh?? I looked at Judy and said, "What did you do??" She said they had been like that all day. The Happy Fairy waved her magic wand, I guess! I could sure take a lot more of that!
We are administering yet another round of ISTEP testing at school this week. ISTEP is Indiana's competency test, usually administered in the fall. Since its inception, teachers have griped about the early testing (in September) because it dictates that the first six weeks of school are spent in preparation...so the legislature finally voted to move it to the spring this year. Thus, we had our usual fall testing (taking most of a week), then we've done another round this spring--one part in March and the other now. The tally, then, is six weeks of prep for the first round, and three weeks spent on actual testing. Yeah...now let's talk about how poorly schools are doing! I shouldn't even go there. It makes me angry when I get started on the subject. But you know what? I'm so "short" that I don't care anymore!
Meg and I got the new kitchen flooring ordered on Sunday. When it comes in, we will schedule the installation. God help us...yet another couple of days of total discomboberation to add to the mess around here!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
It's Satuuurrrdaaaay!
I slept a little late this morning...8:30. Have some residual pain in the muscles in my back which requires that I "go slow". (That was my father's blessing every time I left to go somewhere: Go slow.) Still, I have done some laundry, some kitchen cleaning--most notably, the refrigerator. The result of refrigerator clean-out is always a load of refrigerator dishes...so I am on the second load in the dishwasher as I type. (It just occurred to me that I am writing about housework. I need to get a life!)
It is an absolutely gorgeous day...sunny and in the 80s. Need to call the boy to mow and get outside, but there is too much to do INSIDE in order to do all of that.
Meg is gone today, so I am on my own here. Every once in awhile, that feels good. I did lie down for a nap but couldn't fall asleep. Sometimes just getting quiet is enough. (Ack! Now I'm writing about naps!
Guess I'll sign off and wait until I have something interesting to write about!
It is an absolutely gorgeous day...sunny and in the 80s. Need to call the boy to mow and get outside, but there is too much to do INSIDE in order to do all of that.
Meg is gone today, so I am on my own here. Every once in awhile, that feels good. I did lie down for a nap but couldn't fall asleep. Sometimes just getting quiet is enough. (Ack! Now I'm writing about naps!
Guess I'll sign off and wait until I have something interesting to write about!
Friday! (Now Saturday).
I didn't feel like teaching today. I've been going full tilt since 1969, and I'm just tired of it all. Two of my classes are almost uncontrollable. I care but am also aware that my mental health is worth something. Thus, after our spelling test, I showed a movie. It was "The Bee Movie". Hard to believe that 8th graders would be quiet for that, but it worked.
When I picked the children up from the Heffelman's, Robin was in the throes of a power struggle with Grandpa...and then Grandma. Bless her toady little bottom, she hasn't learned how to resist properly. This is all hard for me to understand because I would NEVER have had the guts to be obstreporous to my parents OR grandparents.
I took the children out for fast food (Mickey D's) where they played before it was time to leave. The instant they hit the house, they wanted to go play with Jack...our new neighbor...even though Meg was ready to leave for Muncie. Jack is older...third grade, I think...with a 3-year-old sister. The sister doesn't get included much. We'll have to work on that. Anyway, Ryan threw a fit when he was told that there wasn't time to play. In the end, there was...not much, but some.
Meg drove the children up to Muncie while I did grocery shopping. She is going to see her Russian friend tomorrow, so we were cross-shopping. I just need time to get my retirement paperwork together. Will someone please come hold my hand and tell me if I am making the right decisions??????
I fell in my bedroom last night and wrenched my back. Didn't feel it when I first got up this morning, but it increased as the day wore on. Took aspirin. Later in the day, it felt better. I think I'll be close to okay tomorrow...God willing. There is too much to do around here for me to be down!
All that is left for us to do about the kitchen flooring deal is to pick out what we want to get it ordered, then schedule it with Barry, the flooring guy. I don't look forward to the process, but I sure want it to be done!
Time for bed. I had a late nap or I couldn't have stayed up this late!
When I picked the children up from the Heffelman's, Robin was in the throes of a power struggle with Grandpa...and then Grandma. Bless her toady little bottom, she hasn't learned how to resist properly. This is all hard for me to understand because I would NEVER have had the guts to be obstreporous to my parents OR grandparents.
I took the children out for fast food (Mickey D's) where they played before it was time to leave. The instant they hit the house, they wanted to go play with Jack...our new neighbor...even though Meg was ready to leave for Muncie. Jack is older...third grade, I think...with a 3-year-old sister. The sister doesn't get included much. We'll have to work on that. Anyway, Ryan threw a fit when he was told that there wasn't time to play. In the end, there was...not much, but some.
Meg drove the children up to Muncie while I did grocery shopping. She is going to see her Russian friend tomorrow, so we were cross-shopping. I just need time to get my retirement paperwork together. Will someone please come hold my hand and tell me if I am making the right decisions??????
I fell in my bedroom last night and wrenched my back. Didn't feel it when I first got up this morning, but it increased as the day wore on. Took aspirin. Later in the day, it felt better. I think I'll be close to okay tomorrow...God willing. There is too much to do around here for me to be down!
All that is left for us to do about the kitchen flooring deal is to pick out what we want to get it ordered, then schedule it with Barry, the flooring guy. I don't look forward to the process, but I sure want it to be done!
Time for bed. I had a late nap or I couldn't have stayed up this late!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Yet Another Day in the Life...
I put in another day of chaos at school. Left as early as I could launch to get home to: pick up the kitchen a little, pick up the grandchildren, find Ryan's soccer uniform parts (shorts, t-shirt, shin guards, socks, cleats, ball...all in various parts of the house), feed the children, get Ryan ready for soccer, feed Meg, and wait for the flooring guy. The flooring guy was supposed to be here at 5:00. At 5:45, Meg and the children left for soccer. No flooring guy. By 6:15, I decided to call him. Sure enough, he got busy on something and lost track of time. He arrived shortly before 7:00 for an estimate of installing sheet vinyl in the kitchen. By 7:30 or before, Meg and the children arrived home in bad moods. (Sheesh!) The flooring dude left shortly thereafter, and the rest of the evening just went away.
Re: the kitchen floor, there is good news and bad news. Good news: the house is on a slab. No underlayment needed. Bad news: there is old, brittle vinyl under the trashed carpet that will need to be removed. Labor intensive. Good news: the guys will do all of the heavy moving of furniture, etc. Bad news: I will have to lighten loads in furniture/refrigerator to prevent breakage and make things easier to move AND will have to find places to put things for two days! Good news: I trust the guy doing this. He replaced the flooring in the half bath a year or so ago and was good on his word about price and quality. (A friend of a ham friend.) Bad news: the project is going to cost anywhere from $200-500 more than we budgeted.
I don't care! The condition of the kitchen floor has been bad for several years now, and the job needs to be done before we even feel good about having people over. Meg suggested that we could get another estimate from places like Lowe's or Menard's...but I don't have a ton of confidence in their installers. If we were putting down carpet, it wouldn't be a problem. I just want this job to be done right the first time. Barry (the carpet dude) is competent and articulate...and has been doing this for 20 years or more.
I gave up tonight. Decided fairly early on that I should invite Robin to sleep in my bed because the two-hour "spider fight" isn't worth it to me. She is conked out at present...at least an hour earlier than last night. Ugh!
It is time to be in bed, but I am cooking. This week is what was formerly "Secretary's Day". We are having a "pitch-in" tomorrow, but because of Internet/server problems, I didn't get the message. Cooking my version of Spanish Rice. If they don't want it or need it, oh well!
Re: the kitchen floor, there is good news and bad news. Good news: the house is on a slab. No underlayment needed. Bad news: there is old, brittle vinyl under the trashed carpet that will need to be removed. Labor intensive. Good news: the guys will do all of the heavy moving of furniture, etc. Bad news: I will have to lighten loads in furniture/refrigerator to prevent breakage and make things easier to move AND will have to find places to put things for two days! Good news: I trust the guy doing this. He replaced the flooring in the half bath a year or so ago and was good on his word about price and quality. (A friend of a ham friend.) Bad news: the project is going to cost anywhere from $200-500 more than we budgeted.
I don't care! The condition of the kitchen floor has been bad for several years now, and the job needs to be done before we even feel good about having people over. Meg suggested that we could get another estimate from places like Lowe's or Menard's...but I don't have a ton of confidence in their installers. If we were putting down carpet, it wouldn't be a problem. I just want this job to be done right the first time. Barry (the carpet dude) is competent and articulate...and has been doing this for 20 years or more.
I gave up tonight. Decided fairly early on that I should invite Robin to sleep in my bed because the two-hour "spider fight" isn't worth it to me. She is conked out at present...at least an hour earlier than last night. Ugh!
It is time to be in bed, but I am cooking. This week is what was formerly "Secretary's Day". We are having a "pitch-in" tomorrow, but because of Internet/server problems, I didn't get the message. Cooking my version of Spanish Rice. If they don't want it or need it, oh well!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Spider Fear
Ugh! My granddaughter is driving me crazy with her newfound fear of spiders! It didn't help that we had to kill one in her bedroom two days in a row. Now, every stinkin' night, she wants to sleep on the couch or in my bedroom. It is now close to 10 PM and she is still up claiming to be scared...near tears. I feel bad for her, but the truth is that I am DONE dealing with kids for the day. I am within an inch of waking Megan and letting her deal with it...but if I do, it won't be pretty. I hate this...
It is time for the school year to be over. I have two classes that make me insane, and some of those kids aren't doing much for my teammates, either. I witnessed the science teacher have a major blowup today. He claims he had never been so angry with students. I have basically given up trying to teach anything with my last two classes. Keeping the lid on is the basis of my efforts with them. I have had reasons to question my decision to retire. I am going to take a pretty big hit, financially, but I can't handle the stress anymore. Days like this tell me that I made the right decision. We'll just have to tighten our belts at home. What bothers me most is that I leave school tired, then come home to children that I adore but require supervision when I am trying to get dinner together, etc. I hope to God that the absence of school stress will help my quality of life, and that of my family. I am drowning in clutter and disarray!
Heh heh...the few times that the children and/or I have visited Meg at work, I have been aghast at how very QUIET it is there. The contrast between her work environment and mine is HUGE.
Okay...I finally re-escorted Robin to bed and stayed, on my knees, rocking the mattress for the second night in a row, to get her to sleep. It worked, but we can't be doing this all the time! She was conked by 10. Doesn't bode well for the morning...
I repeat: I hate this!
It is time for the school year to be over. I have two classes that make me insane, and some of those kids aren't doing much for my teammates, either. I witnessed the science teacher have a major blowup today. He claims he had never been so angry with students. I have basically given up trying to teach anything with my last two classes. Keeping the lid on is the basis of my efforts with them. I have had reasons to question my decision to retire. I am going to take a pretty big hit, financially, but I can't handle the stress anymore. Days like this tell me that I made the right decision. We'll just have to tighten our belts at home. What bothers me most is that I leave school tired, then come home to children that I adore but require supervision when I am trying to get dinner together, etc. I hope to God that the absence of school stress will help my quality of life, and that of my family. I am drowning in clutter and disarray!
Heh heh...the few times that the children and/or I have visited Meg at work, I have been aghast at how very QUIET it is there. The contrast between her work environment and mine is HUGE.
Okay...I finally re-escorted Robin to bed and stayed, on my knees, rocking the mattress for the second night in a row, to get her to sleep. It worked, but we can't be doing this all the time! She was conked by 10. Doesn't bode well for the morning...
I repeat: I hate this!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Funeral
We laid Dan Taylor (N9GT) to rest today. This was a tough one. Dan was only 54 and didn't look his age. The weather resembled the day we buried my own brother...rain, sleet, etc...with sun coming out in between.
From the funeral home to the cemetery (on Indy's south side), I had lots of time to think about things...and my mind wandered. For example, we had some kind of crack tag-team motorcycle escort that covered us on three interstates and on to the cemetery. Don't know if they were policemen or not (although they rode police-equipped motorcycles) because they were covered head-to-toe in weather suits. They were interesting to watch. One would stop on-ramp traffic while we passed. When the last car in the procession got through, that dude would race up through the line to get the next intersection while the other one maintained his position at a stoplight...or whatever the situation required. These guys had the routine down to a fine science. They were good!
Then there were cars on side roads, going the opposite way, who would stop and wait for us to pass. Why? Why should traffic...even interstate traffic...stop for a funeral procession? They didn't have to. It was out of respect. Respect for the dead, perhaps...or for the living. I mean, a life was gone. In this day and age of road rage, child pornography, and the ME mentality, it renewed my faith in mankind that some things are still sacred.
Dan's teenage niece said a few words about "Uncle Danny". One thing she said was that he loved to torment her, which caused me to remember that my brother loved to torment Megan...and my Uncle Bob loved to torment me. Is there something in the uncle job description that warrants that? I thought maybe it was just unmarried uncles, but my Uncle Bob was married to my mother's sister. So much for that theory! As I said, my mind was wandering... *No paragraph breaks again!* *I don't know how many funerals I've been to in my lifetime, but it gets more and more difficult to say good-bye to friends. Old, young...doesn't matter anymore. The last pass by the casket demands that I weep for what is lost. Dan was too young to be a Silent Key...but there you are. *Silent Key is ham radio lingo for "passed away". It is part of the old days of Morse Code. Figuratively, a "silent key" means the key operator is silent forever. Literally, the Morse Code letters SK (... -.-) means "end of conversation/transmissions". *73, Dan, my friend. See you on the other side.
From the funeral home to the cemetery (on Indy's south side), I had lots of time to think about things...and my mind wandered. For example, we had some kind of crack tag-team motorcycle escort that covered us on three interstates and on to the cemetery. Don't know if they were policemen or not (although they rode police-equipped motorcycles) because they were covered head-to-toe in weather suits. They were interesting to watch. One would stop on-ramp traffic while we passed. When the last car in the procession got through, that dude would race up through the line to get the next intersection while the other one maintained his position at a stoplight...or whatever the situation required. These guys had the routine down to a fine science. They were good!
Then there were cars on side roads, going the opposite way, who would stop and wait for us to pass. Why? Why should traffic...even interstate traffic...stop for a funeral procession? They didn't have to. It was out of respect. Respect for the dead, perhaps...or for the living. I mean, a life was gone. In this day and age of road rage, child pornography, and the ME mentality, it renewed my faith in mankind that some things are still sacred.
Dan's teenage niece said a few words about "Uncle Danny". One thing she said was that he loved to torment her, which caused me to remember that my brother loved to torment Megan...and my Uncle Bob loved to torment me. Is there something in the uncle job description that warrants that? I thought maybe it was just unmarried uncles, but my Uncle Bob was married to my mother's sister. So much for that theory! As I said, my mind was wandering... *No paragraph breaks again!* *I don't know how many funerals I've been to in my lifetime, but it gets more and more difficult to say good-bye to friends. Old, young...doesn't matter anymore. The last pass by the casket demands that I weep for what is lost. Dan was too young to be a Silent Key...but there you are. *Silent Key is ham radio lingo for "passed away". It is part of the old days of Morse Code. Figuratively, a "silent key" means the key operator is silent forever. Literally, the Morse Code letters SK (... -.-) means "end of conversation/transmissions". *73, Dan, my friend. See you on the other side.
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Me...
It was my intention to go to the funeral home this evening for the visitation of a radio friend of mine who passed away suddenly last week. It was also a soccer evening for Ryan, and Meg was hesitant to have to have both kids at the same time. (Robin tends to wander off.) So I decided I would go to assist with the soccer detail, then maybe leave a little early for Brownsburg and the funeral home. Didn't happen that way!
It was quite cool, damp, and somewhat breezy. (In fact, we had wondered if they'd call off the games, but they didn't.) Our assigned playing field was clear in the back of a huge field complex. We walked back there...got our chairs set up...then the coach said we were moving to another field because there were two teams with no opponents due to no-shows. The Tornado Racers (Ryan's team) was one of them. Okay...pick up the chairs and move to the other side of the fields. We put the chairs down again and got a good look at the sky behind us. Uh oh! I decided to go back to the car to look for umbrellas and whatever I could find for additional warmth, etc. (Sometimes it is a good thing that my car is never cleaned out!) Walked all the way back to the car. Came up with three umbrellas, a thin little blanket, the outer shell for my jacket, and Robin's raincoat. Walked back to the field. No more than got there when the wind whipped up and the rain started. There was a dash to get umbrellas up (they are trash!) and warmer things on...and get Robin's book bag out of the rain. Within minutes, they called the game off. Back to the car in the drizzle and wind.
By this time, the rain had destroyed my hair, which is naturally curly. Any kind of wet wind gives me hair like Medusa. I knew that I would have to totally wash it and start over before I could go to the funeral home. I flat-out ran out of time. I have taken tomorrow off to attend the funeral. Will try to get there a little early to pay my respects to Dan's family and girlfriend. Sheesh! The only good thing about this evening was the rainbow that appeared in our neighborhood on the way home.
When we got home, the rain had let up. Ryan, who was wet, plunked himself down in the yard to look at the rainbow. He then dashed into the house to put on his rain boots, saying, "This is a good time to splash in the puddles!" He threw a fit when we told him that it was too late to be doing that, so he ended up in bed early. Robin finished her homework, but...for the second night in a row...was too "scared of spiders" to sleep in her own bed. (She's on the couch again.) Megan always beats me to bed. Robin doesn't like having everyone in the house asleep when she's still awake, so I TRY to wait for her to conk out before I retire, but it gets tricky. She frets about when I am going to bed, etc. And so it goes...
Life in the slow lane. The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!
It was quite cool, damp, and somewhat breezy. (In fact, we had wondered if they'd call off the games, but they didn't.) Our assigned playing field was clear in the back of a huge field complex. We walked back there...got our chairs set up...then the coach said we were moving to another field because there were two teams with no opponents due to no-shows. The Tornado Racers (Ryan's team) was one of them. Okay...pick up the chairs and move to the other side of the fields. We put the chairs down again and got a good look at the sky behind us. Uh oh! I decided to go back to the car to look for umbrellas and whatever I could find for additional warmth, etc. (Sometimes it is a good thing that my car is never cleaned out!) Walked all the way back to the car. Came up with three umbrellas, a thin little blanket, the outer shell for my jacket, and Robin's raincoat. Walked back to the field. No more than got there when the wind whipped up and the rain started. There was a dash to get umbrellas up (they are trash!) and warmer things on...and get Robin's book bag out of the rain. Within minutes, they called the game off. Back to the car in the drizzle and wind.
By this time, the rain had destroyed my hair, which is naturally curly. Any kind of wet wind gives me hair like Medusa. I knew that I would have to totally wash it and start over before I could go to the funeral home. I flat-out ran out of time. I have taken tomorrow off to attend the funeral. Will try to get there a little early to pay my respects to Dan's family and girlfriend. Sheesh! The only good thing about this evening was the rainbow that appeared in our neighborhood on the way home.
When we got home, the rain had let up. Ryan, who was wet, plunked himself down in the yard to look at the rainbow. He then dashed into the house to put on his rain boots, saying, "This is a good time to splash in the puddles!" He threw a fit when we told him that it was too late to be doing that, so he ended up in bed early. Robin finished her homework, but...for the second night in a row...was too "scared of spiders" to sleep in her own bed. (She's on the couch again.) Megan always beats me to bed. Robin doesn't like having everyone in the house asleep when she's still awake, so I TRY to wait for her to conk out before I retire, but it gets tricky. She frets about when I am going to bed, etc. And so it goes...
Life in the slow lane. The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Well...Some Things Accomplished, Anyway...
In spite of the busy-ness of the weekend, some things did get accomplished.
*WB9AJB did get my radio fixed. Thank you, Adam!!
*I got all but one load of laundry (towels) done. (Sorted, pre-spotted, washed, dried, folded/hung, and taken to the appropriate bedroom. Whew!) Washed the children's lunchbags which were looking fairly stained and ugly.
*The living room was (sort of) picked up.
*Meg finished the over-toilet storage cabinet for her bathroom that has been in the construction process for months. (Long story. I got it all put together, then discovered that a crucial part of the shelving didn't have pre-drilled holes. Ordered a replacement. Got the part. Waited for ages to put it together, only to discover that they sent the wrong part. Ordered another replacement. Got that a couple of weeks ago. Finally finished today. Yay!
*Met with Steve Cooper (father of Robin's Scout leader) about a little kitchen project.
*Got the children fed and refereed after their return from Muncie. Chaos abounded. Sibling murder thwarted once again.
I will be attending the funeral visitation for Dan Taylor tomorrow afternoon and will take Tuesday off to attend his funeral. This will be a tough one.
I hate to wish my life away, but I need for the school year to be over soon.
*WB9AJB did get my radio fixed. Thank you, Adam!!
*I got all but one load of laundry (towels) done. (Sorted, pre-spotted, washed, dried, folded/hung, and taken to the appropriate bedroom. Whew!) Washed the children's lunchbags which were looking fairly stained and ugly.
*The living room was (sort of) picked up.
*Meg finished the over-toilet storage cabinet for her bathroom that has been in the construction process for months. (Long story. I got it all put together, then discovered that a crucial part of the shelving didn't have pre-drilled holes. Ordered a replacement. Got the part. Waited for ages to put it together, only to discover that they sent the wrong part. Ordered another replacement. Got that a couple of weeks ago. Finally finished today. Yay!
*Met with Steve Cooper (father of Robin's Scout leader) about a little kitchen project.
*Got the children fed and refereed after their return from Muncie. Chaos abounded. Sibling murder thwarted once again.
I will be attending the funeral visitation for Dan Taylor tomorrow afternoon and will take Tuesday off to attend his funeral. This will be a tough one.
I hate to wish my life away, but I need for the school year to be over soon.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Whatever!
The thundering herd has departed for Muncie. Robin was the last one to go to sleep at her Reading Railroad Festival at school last night (1:00 AM). Pickup was at 7:00 AM. You do the math! I thought she might actually fall asleep on the couch after she got home, but that didn't happen. Then it was time for her bowling party. She went with the Scout leader and her family. (God bless them for taking her!) Meantime, Ryan (who had spent the night in my bed) had to get his soccer portrait taken. Meg did the honors with that, then took him to Hummel Park with his bike for a ride/hike...then out for ice cream.
By the time everyone got home from their travels, they were all tired and grouching at each other. At one point, I told Meg to "just hit the road" with them.
I was up at 5:00. Started doing laundry, dishes, general clean-up. It amazes (and depresses) me that I can work and clean all day...and you can't tell it! If I miss a single day on the weekend for one activity or another, it puts me behind...and catching up is a major problem. Last weekend was Easter. Nuff sed on that.
My base radio gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago. Friend Adam is here--off on an errand, at present--to fix it. It appears that some faulty wiring caused some heat that shut the radio down. I had checked the fuses, and they seemed fine. Beyond that, I am generally clueless. I'm convinced he will have it fixed. Yay!
I hate having anyone here when the house (and I) look so bad. Once upon a time, I wouldn't have let anyone see me the way I look today...but I'm at the point now where I'm not so proud. When there is help to be had at the last minute, I take it! So much to do...so little time. Still, I need a shower, big time. Still lots of laundry to do. I'm working on it...
My sister took a tumble a la the dog. She has some deep-tissue bruising from that, causing her problems. I know what that's like. Been there; done that. Hang in, dear sister!
By the time everyone got home from their travels, they were all tired and grouching at each other. At one point, I told Meg to "just hit the road" with them.
I was up at 5:00. Started doing laundry, dishes, general clean-up. It amazes (and depresses) me that I can work and clean all day...and you can't tell it! If I miss a single day on the weekend for one activity or another, it puts me behind...and catching up is a major problem. Last weekend was Easter. Nuff sed on that.
My base radio gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago. Friend Adam is here--off on an errand, at present--to fix it. It appears that some faulty wiring caused some heat that shut the radio down. I had checked the fuses, and they seemed fine. Beyond that, I am generally clueless. I'm convinced he will have it fixed. Yay!
I hate having anyone here when the house (and I) look so bad. Once upon a time, I wouldn't have let anyone see me the way I look today...but I'm at the point now where I'm not so proud. When there is help to be had at the last minute, I take it! So much to do...so little time. Still, I need a shower, big time. Still lots of laundry to do. I'm working on it...
My sister took a tumble a la the dog. She has some deep-tissue bruising from that, causing her problems. I know what that's like. Been there; done that. Hang in, dear sister!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
My Heart Hurts
I downplayed things at school today. Passed out worksheets for kids to do, blah, blah. Just trying to keep the lid on. I put statistics on the board today. Fifty-four percent of my 7th period class is failing. Two classes have no failing grades. And so it goes. I am also fighting some "stupid stuff" in that one of my students is harassing one of my biracial kids. It isn't fun.
Ryan had a soccer game this afternoon, which meant that Meg had to leave work a tad early and I bought supper instead of fixed it. The weather was nice, albeit a little cool. We had a behavior "incident" after the game with Ryan, but things worked out. He did score the last goal of the game. Yay!
Tomorrow, Robin gets to spend the night at school for the Reading Festival. We can't find the paper that tells what she is to bring and when she is to be there. Ugh! Meg will be gone Friday evening, so Ry will most likely have a "sleepover" in Grandma's room. On Saturday afternoon, Robin has a Girl Scout bowling party and Ry has soccer pictures. Sometime thereafter, they will go to Muncie for 24 hours.
I got an email this evening from my "elmer" Cal that a radio friend of ours died suddenly at home this afternoon. He had no confirmation of the news, so I called the fellow's best friend and found out that it's true. This is a tough one for me. Dan Taylor (N9GT) was 54. The men in his family had a history of early-and-sudden death, but I thought Dan was on top of that. I am stunned. My heart hurts. It will be hard to go to school and play junior high "games" tomorrow.
Dan Taylor, N9GT, Silent Key. God Bless dear friend, and rest in peace.
Ryan had a soccer game this afternoon, which meant that Meg had to leave work a tad early and I bought supper instead of fixed it. The weather was nice, albeit a little cool. We had a behavior "incident" after the game with Ryan, but things worked out. He did score the last goal of the game. Yay!
Tomorrow, Robin gets to spend the night at school for the Reading Festival. We can't find the paper that tells what she is to bring and when she is to be there. Ugh! Meg will be gone Friday evening, so Ry will most likely have a "sleepover" in Grandma's room. On Saturday afternoon, Robin has a Girl Scout bowling party and Ry has soccer pictures. Sometime thereafter, they will go to Muncie for 24 hours.
I got an email this evening from my "elmer" Cal that a radio friend of ours died suddenly at home this afternoon. He had no confirmation of the news, so I called the fellow's best friend and found out that it's true. This is a tough one for me. Dan Taylor (N9GT) was 54. The men in his family had a history of early-and-sudden death, but I thought Dan was on top of that. I am stunned. My heart hurts. It will be hard to go to school and play junior high "games" tomorrow.
Dan Taylor, N9GT, Silent Key. God Bless dear friend, and rest in peace.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Is There a Full Moon??
My students were really loud and obnoxious today, across the board. I hate to have to get mean, but if I come down on them hard at the beginning of the period, I can usually maintain control for the rest of the class. Usually. Not always. I'm counting the days to retirement!
Speaking of that, I have had some students protest my retirement plans. My response to them is, "You will be in the high school next year. Why does it matter?" They say they will want to come visit me. Yeah...right. (A student suggested I should set up a Face Book account so they could keep track of me!) One youngster isn't even in my class this year. I had him last year or the year before (the years kind of run together)...and his mother works as an aide in our building. She tells me that I am her son's all-time favorite teacher, replacing his Kindergarten teacher who was on a high pedestal, and he is upset that his 7th grade sister won't get to have me next year. I always like the young man, but I had no clue he felt that way about me. I'm honored!
I wrote on Monday about Ryan biting Robin, leaving a big bruise on her arm. I had sent him to his room and was administering first aid (no blood) when Meg walked in. She took care of the rest. Last evening (Tuesday) they were wrestling around in Robin's room when the loud crying started again. (Robin cries as loud as she can in order to get her brother in trouble.) Ry had, by this time, exited to the couch. Meg got angry with both, and the kids were separated to their rooms for the night...but not before I pointed out yet another huge bite mark on Robin's arm. Apparently, Ryan had been warned that if he did that again, he would be spanked. He was, big time. Then he went to his room and slammed the door, which made a picture fall off the wall in the hallway. Meg roared back into his room. I heard a tearful, "I'm sorry, Mommy!" If Ryan gets another "note" from school, he is suspended, essentially, for the remainder of the year. The other part of that is that if he bites again OR gets a note from school, Meg will take him out of soccer (which he loves). Interestingly, he wasn't all that eager to go to school today because he wasn't sure he could be good! It all has to do with impulse control. He really is an intelligent and adorable little boy, but he hasn't figured out, yet, that there are consequences for bad behavior. I never raised a boy. Lord, save us!
Meg did my taxes online tonight. I love the Internet! It used to take me hours to play with figures. Now, whip-zing! Click! Done!
Everyone in the house is asleep but me. Guess it's my turn!
Speaking of that, I have had some students protest my retirement plans. My response to them is, "You will be in the high school next year. Why does it matter?" They say they will want to come visit me. Yeah...right. (A student suggested I should set up a Face Book account so they could keep track of me!) One youngster isn't even in my class this year. I had him last year or the year before (the years kind of run together)...and his mother works as an aide in our building. She tells me that I am her son's all-time favorite teacher, replacing his Kindergarten teacher who was on a high pedestal, and he is upset that his 7th grade sister won't get to have me next year. I always like the young man, but I had no clue he felt that way about me. I'm honored!
I wrote on Monday about Ryan biting Robin, leaving a big bruise on her arm. I had sent him to his room and was administering first aid (no blood) when Meg walked in. She took care of the rest. Last evening (Tuesday) they were wrestling around in Robin's room when the loud crying started again. (Robin cries as loud as she can in order to get her brother in trouble.) Ry had, by this time, exited to the couch. Meg got angry with both, and the kids were separated to their rooms for the night...but not before I pointed out yet another huge bite mark on Robin's arm. Apparently, Ryan had been warned that if he did that again, he would be spanked. He was, big time. Then he went to his room and slammed the door, which made a picture fall off the wall in the hallway. Meg roared back into his room. I heard a tearful, "I'm sorry, Mommy!" If Ryan gets another "note" from school, he is suspended, essentially, for the remainder of the year. The other part of that is that if he bites again OR gets a note from school, Meg will take him out of soccer (which he loves). Interestingly, he wasn't all that eager to go to school today because he wasn't sure he could be good! It all has to do with impulse control. He really is an intelligent and adorable little boy, but he hasn't figured out, yet, that there are consequences for bad behavior. I never raised a boy. Lord, save us!
Meg did my taxes online tonight. I love the Internet! It used to take me hours to play with figures. Now, whip-zing! Click! Done!
Everyone in the house is asleep but me. Guess it's my turn!
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Monday After...
I was NOT happy about getting out of bed today!
Although it was a preschool day, Ryan was not permitted to go because of bad behavior there. (Our choice, not theirs.)
Everyone was up and out (in the rain) in fairly good time and fairly good moods...but one never knows from one moment to the next who will have a meltdown...or when.
Tonight was one of THOSE evenings where there were three places to be, with only two of us. My radio club meeting was tonight...but Ryan had soccer practice and Robin had Girl Scouts. Plus, Meg had homework and an online quiz to take. Ry's practice was canceled due to rain and mud, so I took Robbie to GS while Ryan and Meg stayed home. Apparently that didn't go well because we were experiencing "connectivity" problems so Meg's quiz was timing out. Meg was stressed...and when Megan ain't happy, ain't NOBODY happy.
But I digress. When I picked the children up from the Heffelman's, Grandpa reported an early-in-the-day problem with Robin. Hmmm... But they were mostly good when I got them. We stopped at Subway and at McD's (because Ry doesn't like Subway), then came home to eat in order to prepare for the evening. Meg called to say that Ry's soccer practice had been canceled and that she was leaving work right then. I figured he'd throw a fit but he didn't. I thanked him for that. He said, "No problem."
So...while we awaited Meg's arrival, I suddenly heard frantic screams of "Grandma! Grandma!"
Robin and Ryan were entwined on the couch, hurting each other. Robin was crying loudly, trying to bite her brother. I had to physically detach them. Ryan had bitten Robin. Big time bite mark and bruise. He claimed that she had kicked him in the face. In the course of separating them, I whacked him across the top of his head and sent him to his room. Then Meg walked in. Welcome home!
Thereafter, I took Robin to Girl Scouts. Meg had to deal with the Internet.
Tonight, I just want the world to go away!
Although it was a preschool day, Ryan was not permitted to go because of bad behavior there. (Our choice, not theirs.)
Everyone was up and out (in the rain) in fairly good time and fairly good moods...but one never knows from one moment to the next who will have a meltdown...or when.
Tonight was one of THOSE evenings where there were three places to be, with only two of us. My radio club meeting was tonight...but Ryan had soccer practice and Robin had Girl Scouts. Plus, Meg had homework and an online quiz to take. Ry's practice was canceled due to rain and mud, so I took Robbie to GS while Ryan and Meg stayed home. Apparently that didn't go well because we were experiencing "connectivity" problems so Meg's quiz was timing out. Meg was stressed...and when Megan ain't happy, ain't NOBODY happy.
But I digress. When I picked the children up from the Heffelman's, Grandpa reported an early-in-the-day problem with Robin. Hmmm... But they were mostly good when I got them. We stopped at Subway and at McD's (because Ry doesn't like Subway), then came home to eat in order to prepare for the evening. Meg called to say that Ry's soccer practice had been canceled and that she was leaving work right then. I figured he'd throw a fit but he didn't. I thanked him for that. He said, "No problem."
So...while we awaited Meg's arrival, I suddenly heard frantic screams of "Grandma! Grandma!"
Robin and Ryan were entwined on the couch, hurting each other. Robin was crying loudly, trying to bite her brother. I had to physically detach them. Ryan had bitten Robin. Big time bite mark and bruise. He claimed that she had kicked him in the face. In the course of separating them, I whacked him across the top of his head and sent him to his room. Then Meg walked in. Welcome home!
Thereafter, I took Robin to Girl Scouts. Meg had to deal with the Internet.
Tonight, I just want the world to go away!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
An Egg-Sighting Day
I spent most of Saturday afternoon preparing my share of today's Easter dinner. The Heffelmans, God bless them, offered to host Easter dinner for the extended families. (God bless them for that!) I had designs to have it here, thinking that I could possibly get things clean enough over spring break to have company, but the kitchen flooring hasn't been replaced yet, and we're just not ready. So, I offered to provide the ham(s), a corn bread casserole (by special request!), deviled eggs, and relishes. Judy provided her famous mac-and-cheese, rolls, veggies (green beans, two kinds of asparagus), and desserts...plus the venue, of course. Judy had candles and fresh flowers on the table. Everything looked just lovely!
Can't tell the players without a scorecard, so here goes with attendees:
Judy--Grandma; Nathan's mother; the hostess.
Phil--Grandpa; Nathan's father; the host.
Megan--my daughter; mother of Robin and Ryan; former daughter-in-law of Judy and Phil.
Nathan--Judy and Phil's son; father of Robin and Ryan; my former son-in-law; engaged to Kendra.
Kendra--Nathan's fiancee'; mother of Wednesday.
Wednesday--Kendra's 7 or 8-year-old daughter.
Mary--aka Grandma Mary; Kendra's mother.
Dan--aka Uncle Dan; Nathan's older brother.
Sara--aka Aunt Sara; Dan's wife.
Sean--fellow living with Dan and Sara as a border.
Robin--my granddaughter; Nathan and Megan's child.
Ryan--my grandson; Nathan and Megan's child.
Aiden--Sara and Dan's young German Shepherd.
Pay attention. There will be a quiz later!
Let's start with yesterday. Meg went to Terre Haute to spend the day with a friend at Turkey Run. When I went to bed, close to midnight, she was still in TH. Terre Haute is about 1 1/4 hours away...and she won't confess what time she actually got back!
I started puttering with the food right after noon on Saturday. I had two spiral-cut hams. Just cutting them off the bone and trimming the fat took more than an hour! Had boiled 18 eggs on Friday evening, so had to peel them and fix the filling, which took a couple of hours. The casserole was left to today. I had forgotten just how long it takes to do things! I was done along about 4:00. Sheesh!
Dinner was set for 2:00 today. Nathan and Kendra (who had Mary and Wednesday and Robin and Ryan with them in Muncie) said that their church let out late, so dinner was set back to 2:30. We got there aroung 2:20, but they beat us there. Nathan was charged with hiding colored eggs, plastic eggs, treats, etc...in the yard...in secret. We tried to keep the children occupied so they wouldn't see...BUT...both Robin and Ryan, in turn, were standing at a bedroom window watching their father be the Easter Bunny. Interestingly, no one said a word about seeing that. When the word was given that they could go hunt, they launched like runners in a marathon!
The only casualties of the day were: black olive juice all over my shirt before dinner even began; two foil-covered chocolate bunnies that totally melted in the cool sun before they were even found; one skinned knee. Also one tired Judy, one tired Peggy, and one tired Megan (whom I don't feel sorry for because she was having too much fun, too late!).
I was proud of my grandchildren. They looked nice and behaved well. When we got home, they watched part of a movie and had popcorn. Everyone caved in, finally...and now it's my turn to do so.
I hope everyone had a Happy Easter.
My favorite Easter hymn (because I can still hear my grandfather's deep base voice singing the low parts):
"Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my savior;
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my lord.
Up from the grave he arose
With a mighty triumph o'er his foes!
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!"
Amen!
Can't tell the players without a scorecard, so here goes with attendees:
Judy--Grandma; Nathan's mother; the hostess.
Phil--Grandpa; Nathan's father; the host.
Megan--my daughter; mother of Robin and Ryan; former daughter-in-law of Judy and Phil.
Nathan--Judy and Phil's son; father of Robin and Ryan; my former son-in-law; engaged to Kendra.
Kendra--Nathan's fiancee'; mother of Wednesday.
Wednesday--Kendra's 7 or 8-year-old daughter.
Mary--aka Grandma Mary; Kendra's mother.
Dan--aka Uncle Dan; Nathan's older brother.
Sara--aka Aunt Sara; Dan's wife.
Sean--fellow living with Dan and Sara as a border.
Robin--my granddaughter; Nathan and Megan's child.
Ryan--my grandson; Nathan and Megan's child.
Aiden--Sara and Dan's young German Shepherd.
Pay attention. There will be a quiz later!
Let's start with yesterday. Meg went to Terre Haute to spend the day with a friend at Turkey Run. When I went to bed, close to midnight, she was still in TH. Terre Haute is about 1 1/4 hours away...and she won't confess what time she actually got back!
I started puttering with the food right after noon on Saturday. I had two spiral-cut hams. Just cutting them off the bone and trimming the fat took more than an hour! Had boiled 18 eggs on Friday evening, so had to peel them and fix the filling, which took a couple of hours. The casserole was left to today. I had forgotten just how long it takes to do things! I was done along about 4:00. Sheesh!
Dinner was set for 2:00 today. Nathan and Kendra (who had Mary and Wednesday and Robin and Ryan with them in Muncie) said that their church let out late, so dinner was set back to 2:30. We got there aroung 2:20, but they beat us there. Nathan was charged with hiding colored eggs, plastic eggs, treats, etc...in the yard...in secret. We tried to keep the children occupied so they wouldn't see...BUT...both Robin and Ryan, in turn, were standing at a bedroom window watching their father be the Easter Bunny. Interestingly, no one said a word about seeing that. When the word was given that they could go hunt, they launched like runners in a marathon!
The only casualties of the day were: black olive juice all over my shirt before dinner even began; two foil-covered chocolate bunnies that totally melted in the cool sun before they were even found; one skinned knee. Also one tired Judy, one tired Peggy, and one tired Megan (whom I don't feel sorry for because she was having too much fun, too late!).
I was proud of my grandchildren. They looked nice and behaved well. When we got home, they watched part of a movie and had popcorn. Everyone caved in, finally...and now it's my turn to do so.
I hope everyone had a Happy Easter.
My favorite Easter hymn (because I can still hear my grandfather's deep base voice singing the low parts):
"Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my savior;
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my lord.
Up from the grave he arose
With a mighty triumph o'er his foes!
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!"
Amen!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Good Friday
I think my spirituality has suffered over the years. Here it is, the second holiest day of the Christian year, and all I can think about is what has to be done in the next day or two.
The history of my faith has been aloneness. Always and ever, I attended church on my own, from junior high on up. I could never get my loved ones to share the Community of the Faithful with me. One really poignant moment was the night that I sang a solo in an Easter cantata...Mary's Song...at the foot of the cross. There wasn't a dry eye in the house, including mine. My then-spouse wasn't there. He was making a statement, in the midst of his affair with his then-secretary. It hurt me deeply.
The next year, I had yet another solo, but I was driving quite a distance, post-divorce, just to attend rehearsals, etc. The night after the first performance, I got a call from my sister that my father had died. (Long story.) I had to decide if I was going to perform the next night or not...but since there was really nothing for me to do in Illinois yet, I decided to sing. As we were putting on our costumes for the cantata, I announced to the others that my father had died the night before.
One woman said, "How very nice!"
Huh?
"Last night, your father couldn't hear you sing. Tonight, he can!"
It made all the difference to me! God bless the woman, whoever she is!
"Good" Friday is misnamed. Still, Christ died this day for the sins of the world. I need to remember.
God bless my readers!
The history of my faith has been aloneness. Always and ever, I attended church on my own, from junior high on up. I could never get my loved ones to share the Community of the Faithful with me. One really poignant moment was the night that I sang a solo in an Easter cantata...Mary's Song...at the foot of the cross. There wasn't a dry eye in the house, including mine. My then-spouse wasn't there. He was making a statement, in the midst of his affair with his then-secretary. It hurt me deeply.
The next year, I had yet another solo, but I was driving quite a distance, post-divorce, just to attend rehearsals, etc. The night after the first performance, I got a call from my sister that my father had died. (Long story.) I had to decide if I was going to perform the next night or not...but since there was really nothing for me to do in Illinois yet, I decided to sing. As we were putting on our costumes for the cantata, I announced to the others that my father had died the night before.
One woman said, "How very nice!"
Huh?
"Last night, your father couldn't hear you sing. Tonight, he can!"
It made all the difference to me! God bless the woman, whoever she is!
"Good" Friday is misnamed. Still, Christ died this day for the sins of the world. I need to remember.
God bless my readers!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Soccer...Part Deux
Monday was Ryan's first spring soccer practice, canceled due to snow and rain. Tonight was the second round. He was wound up from the second I picked him up from Grandma Judy's...and it went from there. He didn't really eat his (expensive) supper from Arby's because he wanted to get his soccer gear on. You get the picture. Then there was Robin's homework to attend to, which she (sort of) did before we left for soccer.
Ryan is, once again, the tallest kid on his soccer team. He runs with arms and legs flailing and tongue out...but his legs are long enough that he can outrun most of the others. You'd think it would wear him out, but he has no OFF button! Robin spent her time playing with other soccer siblings (and she has the grass stains on her pants to prove it).
As soon as soccer was over, I brought the children home while Meg left to shop for a birthday gift for one of her co-workers...a job she was "guilted" into. I let the kids play (fight) a bit, then endeavored to get everyone in the appropriate bed. Not always fun!
We colored Easter eggs last night. Ryan wasn't allowed to because he got a third nasty-gram sent home from pre-school re: behavior. Maybe some day, he'll get it...
I hate to say this because it sounds so very unprofessional, but I am merely marking time at school. I give it my all, but I am totally aware that the time has come for someone with more time and energy to give the students what my "old school" teaching style lacks. I've been doing this for 40 years, and I'm tired!! God bless the young'uns on both sides of the desk!
Ryan is, once again, the tallest kid on his soccer team. He runs with arms and legs flailing and tongue out...but his legs are long enough that he can outrun most of the others. You'd think it would wear him out, but he has no OFF button! Robin spent her time playing with other soccer siblings (and she has the grass stains on her pants to prove it).
As soon as soccer was over, I brought the children home while Meg left to shop for a birthday gift for one of her co-workers...a job she was "guilted" into. I let the kids play (fight) a bit, then endeavored to get everyone in the appropriate bed. Not always fun!
We colored Easter eggs last night. Ryan wasn't allowed to because he got a third nasty-gram sent home from pre-school re: behavior. Maybe some day, he'll get it...
I hate to say this because it sounds so very unprofessional, but I am merely marking time at school. I give it my all, but I am totally aware that the time has come for someone with more time and energy to give the students what my "old school" teaching style lacks. I've been doing this for 40 years, and I'm tired!! God bless the young'uns on both sides of the desk!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Field Trip
Today, the MMS eighth grade went to Conner Prairie for their "Follow the North Star" experience. Students were to be fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad. We have gone for the program the previous two years. This particular class didn't get a field trip last year because the teachers were apprehensive about potential behavior problems. I am happy to say that, for the most part, it went well.
The good part: the sun was shining. It wasn't raining, snowing, or sleeting. It was pretty chilly, however, with wind. I had activities for the kids who had to wait for their group to go, and all went fairly well. When we got back, we were (three times in three years) met with an unhappy substitute teacher. Those who didn't go didn't behave well. That's another story for another day.
This year, I didn't have to deal with The Hill. Heh heh. In years past, they have sent us down a hill, around a field, and back up a hill where I huffed and puffed just to get to the top. Because of construction on the site, this year there was no hill. I still had trouble keeping up with the kids!
Meg and the children made an Easter version of a gingerbread house tonight. It's cute. Easter is going to come whether I'm ready for it or not!
Ciao.
The good part: the sun was shining. It wasn't raining, snowing, or sleeting. It was pretty chilly, however, with wind. I had activities for the kids who had to wait for their group to go, and all went fairly well. When we got back, we were (three times in three years) met with an unhappy substitute teacher. Those who didn't go didn't behave well. That's another story for another day.
This year, I didn't have to deal with The Hill. Heh heh. In years past, they have sent us down a hill, around a field, and back up a hill where I huffed and puffed just to get to the top. Because of construction on the site, this year there was no hill. I still had trouble keeping up with the kids!
Meg and the children made an Easter version of a gingerbread house tonight. It's cute. Easter is going to come whether I'm ready for it or not!
Ciao.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Welcome to the Monsoon
I know that April showers bring May flowers, but I didn't think it would rain ALL DAY today. Silly me!
This was the last day of my spring break. It's kind of depressing, really...but I have an advantage over my colleagues in that I only have 39 more days to work. Er....let me rephrase that: I only have 39 more days to report to school and teach kids. Staying home is work. Frustrating work, sometimes. Never ending. I accomplished very little on break aside from regular maintenance. I did make some inroads into the mess in my bedroom but the worst of it still remains. Did get the living room cleaned, mostly. Made a few ventures into the children's bedrooms, but they are getting old enough to be able to help clean up their own rooms. We'll see!
We have an outdoor field trip on Tuesday. Hope the weather holds up! Doesn't look all that good right now...
This was the last day of my spring break. It's kind of depressing, really...but I have an advantage over my colleagues in that I only have 39 more days to work. Er....let me rephrase that: I only have 39 more days to report to school and teach kids. Staying home is work. Frustrating work, sometimes. Never ending. I accomplished very little on break aside from regular maintenance. I did make some inroads into the mess in my bedroom but the worst of it still remains. Did get the living room cleaned, mostly. Made a few ventures into the children's bedrooms, but they are getting old enough to be able to help clean up their own rooms. We'll see!
We have an outdoor field trip on Tuesday. Hope the weather holds up! Doesn't look all that good right now...
Friday, April 3, 2009
And I Thought MY Memory Was Getting Bad...
Robin spent the night at her Scout leader's house last night, and Ryan didn't arrive home until sometime around 10:30 PM (and slept in my bed). This morning, I was to meet Meg at work because we had some business to transact in Indy, and she knows the city better than I do. I just had to get Ryan up, dressed, and breakfasted, and collect Robin, and go...which I did.
When our errand was over, I took the children to Cookie Cutters for haircuts, then to lunch at Chick-fil-A...then home. They played fairly well for awhile (having been separated for a week)--although there were "moments". I was fixing supper when Robin came in and asked for something to eat. I told her no...that Mommy was on her way home and we'd be eating shortly. This is the conversation that occurred next:
ROBIN: How can it be supper time already? I never even got lunch today!
ME: Robin, you had nuggets, a fruit cup,waffle fries, chocolate milk, and a brownie for lunch!
ROBIN: Oh.
Then there is the saga of the tooth.
One of Robin's teeth got very loose today while visiting Mommy. By the time we were on Washington Street on our way to the haircut place, she had pulled it. In case you don't remember your own loose tooth days, I will remind you that pulled baby teeth are tiny...no root...not much at all left. Robin put the tooth on a piece of paper towel (not IN it...ON it) and handed it up to me. I was reaching around, sideways, (while driving) trying desperately not to drop the thing, because if I HAD dropped it, we would never have found it in my dirty car.
Got it! Now what to do with it so it would get home safely? I found a ziplock bag with one cough drop left in it in my purse. Zipped that tiny little thing in the bag and stuffed it back in my purse.
Since the children were going to Daddy's tonight, Robbie decided that the tooth would need to go with her, for the Tooth Fairy. Hmmmm...
Back at home, the tooth came out of my purse. Robin washed it, then handed it to me in my bedroom. I put it on the computer table, but was afraid it would get knocked off and lost. Robin wasn't able to locate HER Tooth Fairy pillow, so I put the tooth in Ryan's.
ROBIN: Why do I have to take a boy's??
ME: Okay, Robin...you don't have to. I'll put it in a baggie.
I did, and placed it on the kitchen table to await the trip north. Next thing I knew, Robin had put water in the baggie along with the tooth. Uh...no. We aren't taking a bag of water in Mommy's car...
I walked into Robin's room and instantly found HER Tooth Fairy pillow on her dresser, so I put the tooth in it and put it on the table...again. Then, when everyone was racing around getting ready to depart for Muncie, Robin had the pillow-with-tooth in her hand, along with a purse and some other things. I said, "Why don't you put the pillow in your purse so it won't get lost on the trip?" Good idea, she thought...so she did. With everyone-plus-tooth safely out of the house, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Along about the time that they all arrived in Muncie, I got a call from Megan.
MEG: Did Robin's tooth make it up here, or will we have to do the Tooth Fairy thing when she
gets home on Sunday?
ME: The tooth is in Robin's purse. She put it there, herself!
MEG: I'll have to go find her, then, because she's in tears thinking it got left behind.
Sheesh! I know why MY memory is going...but Robin is only six! Go figure!
When our errand was over, I took the children to Cookie Cutters for haircuts, then to lunch at Chick-fil-A...then home. They played fairly well for awhile (having been separated for a week)--although there were "moments". I was fixing supper when Robin came in and asked for something to eat. I told her no...that Mommy was on her way home and we'd be eating shortly. This is the conversation that occurred next:
ROBIN: How can it be supper time already? I never even got lunch today!
ME: Robin, you had nuggets, a fruit cup,waffle fries, chocolate milk, and a brownie for lunch!
ROBIN: Oh.
Then there is the saga of the tooth.
One of Robin's teeth got very loose today while visiting Mommy. By the time we were on Washington Street on our way to the haircut place, she had pulled it. In case you don't remember your own loose tooth days, I will remind you that pulled baby teeth are tiny...no root...not much at all left. Robin put the tooth on a piece of paper towel (not IN it...ON it) and handed it up to me. I was reaching around, sideways, (while driving) trying desperately not to drop the thing, because if I HAD dropped it, we would never have found it in my dirty car.
Got it! Now what to do with it so it would get home safely? I found a ziplock bag with one cough drop left in it in my purse. Zipped that tiny little thing in the bag and stuffed it back in my purse.
Since the children were going to Daddy's tonight, Robbie decided that the tooth would need to go with her, for the Tooth Fairy. Hmmmm...
Back at home, the tooth came out of my purse. Robin washed it, then handed it to me in my bedroom. I put it on the computer table, but was afraid it would get knocked off and lost. Robin wasn't able to locate HER Tooth Fairy pillow, so I put the tooth in Ryan's.
ROBIN: Why do I have to take a boy's??
ME: Okay, Robin...you don't have to. I'll put it in a baggie.
I did, and placed it on the kitchen table to await the trip north. Next thing I knew, Robin had put water in the baggie along with the tooth. Uh...no. We aren't taking a bag of water in Mommy's car...
I walked into Robin's room and instantly found HER Tooth Fairy pillow on her dresser, so I put the tooth in it and put it on the table...again. Then, when everyone was racing around getting ready to depart for Muncie, Robin had the pillow-with-tooth in her hand, along with a purse and some other things. I said, "Why don't you put the pillow in your purse so it won't get lost on the trip?" Good idea, she thought...so she did. With everyone-plus-tooth safely out of the house, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Along about the time that they all arrived in Muncie, I got a call from Megan.
MEG: Did Robin's tooth make it up here, or will we have to do the Tooth Fairy thing when she
gets home on Sunday?
ME: The tooth is in Robin's purse. She put it there, herself!
MEG: I'll have to go find her, then, because she's in tears thinking it got left behind.
Sheesh! I know why MY memory is going...but Robin is only six! Go figure!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Slow Lane??
The Royal Bean (Robin) begged to sleep in my bed again last night...and I acquiesced. This morning, along about 9:30 (time to be up!), I sat at my computer desk in the bedroom and started singing "Lazy Bones" softly. When she finally aroused, she was angry with me for singing and threw a library book at me, hitting the desk and knocking some things off. I didn't react well. Kicked her out of my room and demanded an apology. I finally got the apology...sort of. Don't know what it is with my daughter, her former husband, and the children. They don't wake up well! I always have.
The morning went along. Robin had a Girl Scout outing today, around which we arranged the whole week. They were to meet at the Old Spaghetti Factory downtown by 2:00, then go to a "free night" at the Indy Children's Museum. Robbie's Scout leader was going to take her, but I hadn't heard from the leader. Along about noon, I started calling the only phone number I had...a cell phone number...which said the person I was calling was "no longer accepting calls". In a panic, I took Robin to the leader's house. No one home. Came home and called another parent...also no answer. (They were all on the road by then.) Nothing more to do but find directions to the OSF and take Robin myself. Never mind that I hadn't done my hair, etc. The important part was getting there!
With directions from Meg and Mapquest, we got there. Had to drive around the block about three times, but finally found a parking meter with some time on it...walked a block...and found the group with moments to spare! They looked somewhat embarrassed that I had to deliver Robin. No more so than I was for showing up looking so bad and/or not seeking the leader sooner! I felt pretty good that we left the house at 1:25, and I had Robin delivered...and back...by 2:30. And I didn't speed! (It appears that the leader has had her cell phone turned off. How was I supposed to contact her??)
Ryan is on his way home from west Georgia, as I type. Grandma Judy called Grandpa Phil to say they would be late...like 10:00 PM late. Robin should be home around 8:00. Meg is asleep on the couch (making hay while the sun shines!!).
All I got done today was maintenance stuff. Robin and I tried to put together a bird for her SWAP, but the darned glue won't dry. (Labeled as "fast drying". We did the project in the morning and it STILL isn't dry. Go figure!)
And so it goes. I feel bad for my grandchildren that it is so boring here. I have promised them a swing set. Need to get busy on that...
The morning went along. Robin had a Girl Scout outing today, around which we arranged the whole week. They were to meet at the Old Spaghetti Factory downtown by 2:00, then go to a "free night" at the Indy Children's Museum. Robbie's Scout leader was going to take her, but I hadn't heard from the leader. Along about noon, I started calling the only phone number I had...a cell phone number...which said the person I was calling was "no longer accepting calls". In a panic, I took Robin to the leader's house. No one home. Came home and called another parent...also no answer. (They were all on the road by then.) Nothing more to do but find directions to the OSF and take Robin myself. Never mind that I hadn't done my hair, etc. The important part was getting there!
With directions from Meg and Mapquest, we got there. Had to drive around the block about three times, but finally found a parking meter with some time on it...walked a block...and found the group with moments to spare! They looked somewhat embarrassed that I had to deliver Robin. No more so than I was for showing up looking so bad and/or not seeking the leader sooner! I felt pretty good that we left the house at 1:25, and I had Robin delivered...and back...by 2:30. And I didn't speed! (It appears that the leader has had her cell phone turned off. How was I supposed to contact her??)
Ryan is on his way home from west Georgia, as I type. Grandma Judy called Grandpa Phil to say they would be late...like 10:00 PM late. Robin should be home around 8:00. Meg is asleep on the couch (making hay while the sun shines!!).
All I got done today was maintenance stuff. Robin and I tried to put together a bird for her SWAP, but the darned glue won't dry. (Labeled as "fast drying". We did the project in the morning and it STILL isn't dry. Go figure!)
And so it goes. I feel bad for my grandchildren that it is so boring here. I have promised them a swing set. Need to get busy on that...
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