Y'all, I think I'm ready to admit it...I've bitten off way more than I can chew this semester. It started off okay, but then I realized that some of these classes just aren't for me. Okay, namely one. Or two.
This International Relations class I got duped into taking is really taking a toll. It's rough, and the material is not at all what I was expecting when I read the syllabus. Still, the average grade in the class is a 72, and I'm rocking a 79.4. I'll take it. And then I'll never think of it again. EVER.
Other than that, my other major battle is with Spanish. You wouldn't think so, and I can understand it and speak my unaccented version of it just fine, but all the stupid grammar rules? Well, it just doesn't play into the logical portion of my brain. I need reasons why some things are masculine and others are feminine. "They just are" is not sufficient.
And now I know how my children feel. Sigh.
On a whim, I decided to take all of my Human/Cultural Geography quizzes and tests last night, including the final. I love the classes where you can work ahead if you want. The only thing(s) keeping me from finishing the class equate to about 1400 words. I hope to be done by the end of the weekend.
There's a fascinating update on 3/6, so I'll run through the others, just for funsies.
Texas History: Actually enjoyable. Research paper? Less so...I chose to research Barbara Jordan who was a pretty big deal here in Texas, but I'd never heard of her. Ever. Who knew?
World History: I haven't participated in a discussion board since the beginning of October, but the deadline for the next section of work is Saturday and I pressed "Submit" at 2:45 this afternoon. Last section included a 2200 word essay on Ancient Greece. This time, I did 2200 words on the Middle Ages and the Crusades, and it was rather enjoyable.
Which is code for "I'm a total nerd."
Microeconomics: Um, yeah...I haven't looked at that in a month either. I'm really dropping the ball here.
Several of these professors seem to want nothing to do with any questions you might have unless you go to campus and visit the help center. Let's talk about how I have ZERO time for that. Okay, then...
Other than that, what has happened in the last week? A lot of homework, a lot of running around, a lot of not sleeping...and the DFW Aviation and Transportation Expo!
It was a blast going with all of the 7th graders (and knowing a few people in my group...my child NOT included) and there were so many interesting things to see and learn about. Hands down, the biggest crowd-pleaser? The old war planes. We see them every year during the Kaboomtown Air Show, but N has a picture of him in a gun seat, and he's thrilled. He came up to me IN PUBLIC at the expo and was all, "Mom, this is SO cool!" Most of his fellow classmates were less impressed.
Saturday brought a slumber party for two of B's friends who recently moved to another town so I took him over there in the morning (the party lasted from 10 in the morning to 11:00 the next morning...their parents are crazy or saints!) and then came back with the idea that I'd tackle this mountain of homework that's been wearing me down. Instead, I spent the day watching Law & Order:SVU marathons until it was time for N's baseball games.
We headed to our next-to-last-weekend of Fall Ball and argued the whole way there. That basically means that the Love & Logic seminar I've been attending has not helped so far, but I'm not giving up!
The boys didn't have their heads in the first game and lost 20-3. It was awful. N lost his temper because he did the right thing behind the plate and the ump ripped him a new one for chasing a player outside of the baseline. It happens. The second game, however, they rallied and won by 1. It was a much better game, with N hitting a home run and a triple. I love the games where you can see the smile on his face the entire time!
B was super grumpy when I picked him up on Sunday morning, and claimed he only slept for 2 hours. I was also cranky, for reasons unknown. It made for a super pleasant afternoon. Do you know what isn't helpful when you have an overly tired 8 year-old who's also afraid of everything under the sun?
Having a 12 year-old who whispers "Bloody Mary" from the bottom bunk as they try to fall asleep in total darkness.
It was a long night. And he is grounded. Also, B needs to toughen up just a tad.
Mondays are always terrible, but in Spanish it was a zillion times worse. So many words that have absolutely no purpose. At all. Ever. Argh!
Today has been much more productive, but I'm not going to lie. I'm getting ready to turn on the oven and toss a couple of french bread pizzas in there for dinner and be done with it all.
A high point: N looked at the menu I update weekly and said, "Man, Mom...this is an awesome menu this week. I mean, there isn't one day that I'm unhappy with...except, what's Smashburger?" Oh, the things I will teach you, young one.
I just drooled a little bit.
Aubs
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Betting against Mom? Never a good idea.
B was adamant about walking to school for "Walk-It Wednesday" (which I'm pretty sure was several weeks ago, but whatever...) so we dropped N off early to go study for his Texas History test (I'm pretty positive he did NOT study) and then circled back around to the neighborhood next to B's school. We creeped through the neighborhood like stalkers until I found a suitable place. He was ready to jump out, but it was entirely too early so he sat there, arguing with me about how it wasn't too early and it wasn't too dark until I played the parent trump card: You can wait until it's time, or I'll drive into the parking lot and you can skip walking to school."
We discussed the crosswalk etiquette, however, I was unable to see him cross since I had already turned onto the side street so I wouldn't be watching him. Because. Hello. Embarrassing. I came home fully intending to study some stuff before my Spanish class, but I found myself curled up in my bed, nested between a jillion pillows. I'll only close my eyes for a few minutes...
And then I had my Saved by the Bell moment. I hear a pounding on the front door and I leap up like a ninja. I run to the door, squinting at the microwave as I pass. WHAT?! 10:50? It was 7:30 like five minutes ago. I open the door as nonchalantly as I can, but since the men outside just heard me crash into it, it was kind of pointless. My favorite maintenance man-child started smirking and laughing. And the fire sprinkler guy just stared. He obviously doesn't understand the incredible depths of my relationship with maintenance man-child. They were here to check my sprinklers. I resisted the urge for an off-color joke (I HAD just woken up, after all...my brain wasn't firing on all however many cylinders it's supposed to have cylinders) and begged them to come back in 20 minutes so I could shower and get ready for class.
Because...I mean...who wants to try to wash and condition when they KNOW the only thing separating them from men who are unfamiliar is a bathroom door? Actually, I didn't care about that at all, but I had a Backstreet Boys song in my head and I knew I was going to be belting it, so I didn't want an audience.
I headed to class, totally dejected because my professor had just emailed us saying when our class would meet next semester...which is coincidentally the exact ONLY time I have to be on an entirely different campus. I'm at a loss here. I definitely don't want to take another professor because that would totally mess with the whole continuity factor. And I don't want to not take a full load at the other school because I need it for my grants. SO, I either skip a semester (which is terrible to do with a foreign language) or I rearrange my schedule so I can take it. I already hit her with "What if I enroll and don't actually come to class but come to tutoring after class and then it can kind of count because I'll still be here on Tuesdays and Thursdays" and she shot it down. Sweetly. And politely. With a giggle. And an eyeroll. We were meant to be pals, I'm telling you.
After that, I had a few errands to run before I picked B up from school, so I shot off to the library (I started listening to a book on cd on my way to Houston earlier this month, and it's pretty much the only time I have to "read" anything for entertainment and it was almost over, so I went to grab another one. I think I picked a bad one...) and then to Walgreens to pick up his meds. He uses so many meds. These were just nose sprays (he does two of them, twice a day), but they're vital to his ability to breathe and function. And then it was pretty much time to wait for B, so I parked, turned up the volume, and half-listened while I stressed about class schedules, thinking I should be looking up different classes, but not having any of the information with me. Also, my signal near the boys' schools is terrible. I think that's on purpose.
I made something really terrible for dinner tonight. It wasn't terrible and the boys used to beg me to make it twice a week, but I think they burned themselves out on it. We had sausage, mac & cheese, green beans and baked beans because B isn't a fan of green beans (although he will eat them) and N isn't a fan of baked beans (and will gag if you try to make him try one or two...every.single.time.). This used to be a "go-to" because they liked it and it was super quick and easy. Not so much. They apparently have developed much more sophisticated palates. Or something.
Then, we went to the store, where B made the terrible choice to bet against me about something he was sure we didn't have in the pantry.
The terms:
Mine: If I win, you go to bed at 7:30 for the rest of the week.
His: If I win, I get unlimited Xbox time, and I can play outside until bedtime at 9:00 and I get ice cream for dessert every single day.
We shook, and right after we did, N came back to reality and asked what B bet about. It was about Chex Mix and whether we have the "normal" blue bag in the pantry or just the "disgusting" black bag (bold mix). N's eyes got really big (mine were dancing, I just know it!) and he said, "NOOOOOO! B, you NEVER bet against Mom. She'll never bet if she doesn't know she's going to win. Besides, I saw the blue bag in the pantry when I was getting a snack earlier. It was on the top shelf."
So, B got mad and embarrassed and tried to accuse me of cheating, but when I made him get in bed before 8:00, I said, "What did you learn today, B?"
"I learned my mom lies to win."
Not the lesson I was going for...so I left the room as he shrieked for me to come back, and when I finally went back in, I told him to apologize and asked the question again.
"I learned never to bet against mom because she'll always win...even.if.she.has.to.cheat."
Again, not what I was going for, but I asked him about the cheating thing, and he seems to be adamant about how I snuck a bag of Chex Mix into our groceries this evening. Since each of us was holding 1-2 things in the checkout line: Milk, 1/2 & 1/2, Watermelon and Mixed fruit cups, I'm not quite sure how that works, but I explained how important it was to NOT declare his mother a liar.
He relented, apologized, and then...
"So...can I have some Chex Mix?"
Aubs
We discussed the crosswalk etiquette, however, I was unable to see him cross since I had already turned onto the side street so I wouldn't be watching him. Because. Hello. Embarrassing. I came home fully intending to study some stuff before my Spanish class, but I found myself curled up in my bed, nested between a jillion pillows. I'll only close my eyes for a few minutes...
And then I had my Saved by the Bell moment. I hear a pounding on the front door and I leap up like a ninja. I run to the door, squinting at the microwave as I pass. WHAT?! 10:50? It was 7:30 like five minutes ago. I open the door as nonchalantly as I can, but since the men outside just heard me crash into it, it was kind of pointless. My favorite maintenance man-child started smirking and laughing. And the fire sprinkler guy just stared. He obviously doesn't understand the incredible depths of my relationship with maintenance man-child. They were here to check my sprinklers. I resisted the urge for an off-color joke (I HAD just woken up, after all...my brain wasn't firing on all however many cylinders it's supposed to have cylinders) and begged them to come back in 20 minutes so I could shower and get ready for class.
Because...I mean...who wants to try to wash and condition when they KNOW the only thing separating them from men who are unfamiliar is a bathroom door? Actually, I didn't care about that at all, but I had a Backstreet Boys song in my head and I knew I was going to be belting it, so I didn't want an audience.
I headed to class, totally dejected because my professor had just emailed us saying when our class would meet next semester...which is coincidentally the exact ONLY time I have to be on an entirely different campus. I'm at a loss here. I definitely don't want to take another professor because that would totally mess with the whole continuity factor. And I don't want to not take a full load at the other school because I need it for my grants. SO, I either skip a semester (which is terrible to do with a foreign language) or I rearrange my schedule so I can take it. I already hit her with "What if I enroll and don't actually come to class but come to tutoring after class and then it can kind of count because I'll still be here on Tuesdays and Thursdays" and she shot it down. Sweetly. And politely. With a giggle. And an eyeroll. We were meant to be pals, I'm telling you.
After that, I had a few errands to run before I picked B up from school, so I shot off to the library (I started listening to a book on cd on my way to Houston earlier this month, and it's pretty much the only time I have to "read" anything for entertainment and it was almost over, so I went to grab another one. I think I picked a bad one...) and then to Walgreens to pick up his meds. He uses so many meds. These were just nose sprays (he does two of them, twice a day), but they're vital to his ability to breathe and function. And then it was pretty much time to wait for B, so I parked, turned up the volume, and half-listened while I stressed about class schedules, thinking I should be looking up different classes, but not having any of the information with me. Also, my signal near the boys' schools is terrible. I think that's on purpose.
I made something really terrible for dinner tonight. It wasn't terrible and the boys used to beg me to make it twice a week, but I think they burned themselves out on it. We had sausage, mac & cheese, green beans and baked beans because B isn't a fan of green beans (although he will eat them) and N isn't a fan of baked beans (and will gag if you try to make him try one or two...every.single.time.). This used to be a "go-to" because they liked it and it was super quick and easy. Not so much. They apparently have developed much more sophisticated palates. Or something.
Then, we went to the store, where B made the terrible choice to bet against me about something he was sure we didn't have in the pantry.
The terms:
Mine: If I win, you go to bed at 7:30 for the rest of the week.
His: If I win, I get unlimited Xbox time, and I can play outside until bedtime at 9:00 and I get ice cream for dessert every single day.
We shook, and right after we did, N came back to reality and asked what B bet about. It was about Chex Mix and whether we have the "normal" blue bag in the pantry or just the "disgusting" black bag (bold mix). N's eyes got really big (mine were dancing, I just know it!) and he said, "NOOOOOO! B, you NEVER bet against Mom. She'll never bet if she doesn't know she's going to win. Besides, I saw the blue bag in the pantry when I was getting a snack earlier. It was on the top shelf."
So, B got mad and embarrassed and tried to accuse me of cheating, but when I made him get in bed before 8:00, I said, "What did you learn today, B?"
"I learned my mom lies to win."
Not the lesson I was going for...so I left the room as he shrieked for me to come back, and when I finally went back in, I told him to apologize and asked the question again.
"I learned never to bet against mom because she'll always win...even.if.she.has.to.cheat."
Again, not what I was going for, but I asked him about the cheating thing, and he seems to be adamant about how I snuck a bag of Chex Mix into our groceries this evening. Since each of us was holding 1-2 things in the checkout line: Milk, 1/2 & 1/2, Watermelon and Mixed fruit cups, I'm not quite sure how that works, but I explained how important it was to NOT declare his mother a liar.
He relented, apologized, and then...
"So...can I have some Chex Mix?"
Aubs
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
I'm pretty sure Tuesdays are more exhausting than Mondays
It's true. Mondays are a total suck point, I admit, but Tuesdays? They're worse. It's like, "Oh, hey...Monday's over and it wasn't too bad. Let's see how much worse we can be today?"
Each week, I write a menu for the week on a calendar thingy and stick it on the fridge. Very rarely do we stray from this menu, unless we're out and about and have to grab something really quickly. I get so tired of answering the age-old question multiple times a day so now I just pointedly stare (and point because sometimes they ignore my stare) at the refrigerator.
This has worked so far this school year. Until today, of course.
Thursday is usually our "Breakfast for Dinner" day. It's almost the end of the week, and we tend to grab Chick Fil-A on Fridays because N has baseball practice until 7:00 and we're starving. It's a good way to wrap up the school week...breakfast for dinner followed by CFA. It works for us. We're creatures of habit. We also almost always have some sort of Mexican meal on Tuesdays; B prefers tacos, N prefers something he can inhale at an alarming rate.
I digress. Tuesday's menu was tacos. Thursday's menu was breakfast. Last Thursday, I'd made pancakes and bacon for dinner, so this Thursday, I intended to make breakfast burritos. I don't go into detail or anything...just list a general description. I know. My life is so fascinating and interesting. So, when N approached B and convinced him to agree to switch Taco Tuesday and Breakfast Thursday, I agreed, although I was annoyed because it takes way longer to make breakfast than tacos and I was already exhausted from doing nothing but some homework all day long. And by all day, I mean between the hours of 12:00 and 2:00 because I was very busy in the morning...taking a nap.
I was almost finished when I asked N to go get B from playing with his friends. I said "The eggs are almost ready, so will you go get B for me, please?" He nodded his head and I went back to my business. Three seconds later, he stomped into the room yelling, "Wait! I thought you were making breakfast! Where are the pancakes?" Um...yeah, so there are multiple types of "breakfast for dinner" combinations. I had obviously made the wrong one. And that's when my 12 year-old decided to pitch a toddler tantrum and refuse to eat. Okay, fine with me.
I swear. By 7:45, I was closing my eyes which is unfortunate because B and I were reading a book and it was my turn to read. Whoops! I sent the boys to bed earlier than normal because everyone was cranky, and now I fully intend to pass out in 5 minutes or less. At 9:16.
Aubs
Each week, I write a menu for the week on a calendar thingy and stick it on the fridge. Very rarely do we stray from this menu, unless we're out and about and have to grab something really quickly. I get so tired of answering the age-old question multiple times a day so now I just pointedly stare (and point because sometimes they ignore my stare) at the refrigerator.
This has worked so far this school year. Until today, of course.
Thursday is usually our "Breakfast for Dinner" day. It's almost the end of the week, and we tend to grab Chick Fil-A on Fridays because N has baseball practice until 7:00 and we're starving. It's a good way to wrap up the school week...breakfast for dinner followed by CFA. It works for us. We're creatures of habit. We also almost always have some sort of Mexican meal on Tuesdays; B prefers tacos, N prefers something he can inhale at an alarming rate.
I digress. Tuesday's menu was tacos. Thursday's menu was breakfast. Last Thursday, I'd made pancakes and bacon for dinner, so this Thursday, I intended to make breakfast burritos. I don't go into detail or anything...just list a general description. I know. My life is so fascinating and interesting. So, when N approached B and convinced him to agree to switch Taco Tuesday and Breakfast Thursday, I agreed, although I was annoyed because it takes way longer to make breakfast than tacos and I was already exhausted from doing nothing but some homework all day long. And by all day, I mean between the hours of 12:00 and 2:00 because I was very busy in the morning...taking a nap.
I was almost finished when I asked N to go get B from playing with his friends. I said "The eggs are almost ready, so will you go get B for me, please?" He nodded his head and I went back to my business. Three seconds later, he stomped into the room yelling, "Wait! I thought you were making breakfast! Where are the pancakes?" Um...yeah, so there are multiple types of "breakfast for dinner" combinations. I had obviously made the wrong one. And that's when my 12 year-old decided to pitch a toddler tantrum and refuse to eat. Okay, fine with me.
I swear. By 7:45, I was closing my eyes which is unfortunate because B and I were reading a book and it was my turn to read. Whoops! I sent the boys to bed earlier than normal because everyone was cranky, and now I fully intend to pass out in 5 minutes or less. At 9:16.
Aubs
"Just be cool with me, Mom"
Mondays are always difficult. I want to sleep and wake up when it's Tuesday, although with my current schoolwork load, I could probably sleep until forever and still be tired.
This week, I started a 4 week series called "Love & Logic." I realize that it's entirely difficult to be a good parent anyway, and it's even harder when you're going at it alone, and even harder still when you're fighting to undo the "good parenting" your child(ren) receive when visiting their other families. I tend to jump straight into sarcasm as my defense mechanism, and I realized that it wasn't working for me. My boys are quick to pick up on the sarcasm, and although that's fine in some cases, the sarcasm was coming back to bite me. Hard.
Right about the time I realized I was fighting a battle I would never win, B's teacher sent home the "Love & Logic" information along with her testimonial about trying it last year and how great it was. It's free to DCE parents (my favorite kind of seminar), so I signed up for it. I expected to see a lot of parents there, but there weren't many. There were a few I saw who I knew needed to be there (based on what I've seen in my escapades around campus) and there were several I didn't see who probably should have been there. Still, it started off with a lot of interesting information, and I'm hoping to learn more and utilize it without laughing as life goes on. We shall see.
I also got a call for a sub job for Friday. This is uncommon because they typically only come a day or so in advance. When I heard it was for N's school, I was pumped. When I heard it was for his Science teacher, I was dejected because I knew he wouldn't be cool with that. BUT, when I heard it was to chaperone the 7th grade field trip (that I wanted to go on anyway, but N begged me not to chaperone) as a teacher, I was thrilled. See, N has this teacher in the middle of the day, and the only classes the 7th graders are attending is 1st, part of 2nd, part of 6th and all of 7th. Our paths wouldn't cross, so I accepted the job rather gleefully. I might have done the "Breakfast Club" fist pump. Now I get to go on the field trip AND I get paid to go. Yes, please! N eventually agreed, but was visibly horrified when I mentioned chaperoning his field trip. When I explained that he'd probably be with an entirely different teacher/chaperone he relented but said, "Just be cool with me, Mom." It still makes me laugh.
It also got me thinking: In elementary, you aren't allowed to sub for your child's class because you'd be in the room with them all day, and I totally get that. However, I wondered what the rules were about middle and high school sub assignments because if you can't teach your child's class at all, that's 7 teachers you can't sub for each year, right off the bat. Luckily, I checked with the coordinator and she said it was at each principal's discretion. Then she suggested to accept and apologize later, which is totally my mindset on that situation. So, there you go. One class period won't kill him.
Although...it's middle school. So it just might.
Aubs
This week, I started a 4 week series called "Love & Logic." I realize that it's entirely difficult to be a good parent anyway, and it's even harder when you're going at it alone, and even harder still when you're fighting to undo the "good parenting" your child(ren) receive when visiting their other families. I tend to jump straight into sarcasm as my defense mechanism, and I realized that it wasn't working for me. My boys are quick to pick up on the sarcasm, and although that's fine in some cases, the sarcasm was coming back to bite me. Hard.
Right about the time I realized I was fighting a battle I would never win, B's teacher sent home the "Love & Logic" information along with her testimonial about trying it last year and how great it was. It's free to DCE parents (my favorite kind of seminar), so I signed up for it. I expected to see a lot of parents there, but there weren't many. There were a few I saw who I knew needed to be there (based on what I've seen in my escapades around campus) and there were several I didn't see who probably should have been there. Still, it started off with a lot of interesting information, and I'm hoping to learn more and utilize it without laughing as life goes on. We shall see.
I also got a call for a sub job for Friday. This is uncommon because they typically only come a day or so in advance. When I heard it was for N's school, I was pumped. When I heard it was for his Science teacher, I was dejected because I knew he wouldn't be cool with that. BUT, when I heard it was to chaperone the 7th grade field trip (that I wanted to go on anyway, but N begged me not to chaperone) as a teacher, I was thrilled. See, N has this teacher in the middle of the day, and the only classes the 7th graders are attending is 1st, part of 2nd, part of 6th and all of 7th. Our paths wouldn't cross, so I accepted the job rather gleefully. I might have done the "Breakfast Club" fist pump. Now I get to go on the field trip AND I get paid to go. Yes, please! N eventually agreed, but was visibly horrified when I mentioned chaperoning his field trip. When I explained that he'd probably be with an entirely different teacher/chaperone he relented but said, "Just be cool with me, Mom." It still makes me laugh.
It also got me thinking: In elementary, you aren't allowed to sub for your child's class because you'd be in the room with them all day, and I totally get that. However, I wondered what the rules were about middle and high school sub assignments because if you can't teach your child's class at all, that's 7 teachers you can't sub for each year, right off the bat. Luckily, I checked with the coordinator and she said it was at each principal's discretion. Then she suggested to accept and apologize later, which is totally my mindset on that situation. So, there you go. One class period won't kill him.
Although...it's middle school. So it just might.
Aubs
Monday, October 20, 2014
I know, I know...
Life has been so busy these days, and yet...it seems like I have absolutely nothing to report.
Tuesday was a working day to make up for all of the homework I meant to do while in Houston, but never got around to it. It happens. I also had to go take my second Spanish test which went only slightly worse than the first Spanish test, but what can I expect when the textbook is terrible (the professor is awesome) and I put forth very little effort? I only have myself (and McGraw Hill) to blame.
Wednesday I went to class, but it was my favorite kind of class...my Spanish professor was celebrating Hispanic Heritage month with a movie: No se aceptan devoluciones. We watched it with English subtitles, and I cheated and googled it because I wanted to know what I was getting into, so I knew what would happen at the end, but y'all? I loved it. It was a great movie. I laughed (a lot), I got teary, I got mad, and I sobbed quietly at the end. We're supposed to finish the rest of the movie on Monday. Several people had to leave prior to the end, but I stuck around and it was a fantastic ending. I can't wait to watch it again! N was exhausted when he came home...as in, he fell asleep while on the way to get his hair cut, and he slept through the entire event. The sweet girl who does his hair held his head up with one hand and cut with the other. Also, we had ice cream for dinner in honor of the fact that we're not guaranteed tomorrows. Also, cancer sucks.
Thursday I realized I was exhausted again so I sent N to school, then I climbed back into bed and took a 5 hour nap. I realize this can't be the norm, but it was wonderful. I got up to work on some homework and also because I had a PTO meeting to attend. After the meeting, I had to run to the library and then hung out in the parking lot at N's school while he made up one of his last assignments from his absences a year ago. I'm being dramatic. It was 3 weeks ago. But it feels like a year. And as of this moment, he still has one test and a project to make up, but he refuses to talk to his teacher about it. I bet he'll like it a whole lot less when I intervene... We also babysat C & J on Thursday night, and after they went to bed I started a fantastic paper on female genital mutilation. Let's just say I know way too much about that topic now, and I never really had a desire to know in the first place. I also managed to get an exam in just under the wire. Because I didn't know it was due. Because the class started last week.
Friday was baseball practice and a beautiful day and a long day. I sent N to breakfast with his dad and took off for a walk-in advising session...only as I was walking out the door, I noticed N's Language Arts journal (a necessity) so I dropped it at the grocery store where they were getting smoothies. I felt very accomplished already. I made it to Denton in record time and only had to wait an hour or so before I met with the same advisor who unknowingly steered me wrong at the beginning of this semester. Luckily she said she would approach the dean with an exemption and would gladly fall on the sword for me since I had looked to her for guidance. We discussed my choices for Spring semester and I left ready to register. Then I called my mom and talked her through registering me because I couldn't access it on my phone and I didn't want to lose my upper levels. Those things can be hard to snag if you don't do it right away!
My next stop was Pepboys. They fixed my car a few weeks ago, but now every single time I turn on my car, it squeals. Loudly. It's embarrassing. So I walked in and said, totally deadpan, "I have sad face." They stared and asked what was wrong. I explained and my car magically jumped to the front of the line and was fixed in a flash. They claim it won't happen again. I'm not holding my breath. Since I was in the neighborhood, I stopped in to see my mom and we ended up going for an impromptu lunch break! She's headed to Vancouver for a marathon next weekend, so it was nice to have an hour to just hang out. I beat N home (barely) and after he ate some snacks, we headed to baseball practice. The highlight of practice was a kid jumping up and down on home plate yelling, "Touchdown!" and me not knowing if he was serious.
Saturday brought a whole lot of nothing before baseball that evening. In fact, I was putting off homework so much that I decided to spend 2.5 hours cleaning my kitchen. It was special. N's game wasn't until 7:00, so we had a long, lazy afternoon and then an action-packed game. My mom and grandmother came to the game, so N had quite the audience. I had a blast with my pals from other teams, and a good time was had by all...especially since we won with time expired! N and I had a burger after the game and as we pulled up to our building, there weren't any parking spaces. I dropped N off so he could shower while I searched for a spot, and as I backed up a neighbor came out to my car and said to wait. He had his friends move their vehicle so I could park, so I went and talked to all of them for a while before retreating upstairs to fall across my bed. I've never slept so hard in my life.
I woke up this morning (Sunday) ready to get up for church, but N begged for another hour, so I was happy to oblige. We went to church, I cried through the dozens of people who made the decision to get baptized, and N was totally embarrassed. I dragged him to Target afterwards and bought him a hot dog then commanded him to sit in the snack area while I shopped. This might work for us. I finished up in record time and we headed home. I've been in a homework frenzy ever since. I feel like it's mostly been pretty productive, but each time I finish something, it feels like 8 more things pop up as being due. It's aggravating!
B comes home tomorrow and I'm so excited to see him! I'm also excited to start a Love & Logic seminar through the school tomorrow evening...I can use all the help I can get with this whole parenting thing, especially since I'm flying solo!
And now I've turned into not just a pumpkin but an entire pumpkin patch! My eyes were closing an hour ago, but I couldn't stop mid-exam! I'll take my 96 and go to bed, thank you very much!
Aubs
Tuesday was a working day to make up for all of the homework I meant to do while in Houston, but never got around to it. It happens. I also had to go take my second Spanish test which went only slightly worse than the first Spanish test, but what can I expect when the textbook is terrible (the professor is awesome) and I put forth very little effort? I only have myself (and McGraw Hill) to blame.
Wednesday I went to class, but it was my favorite kind of class...my Spanish professor was celebrating Hispanic Heritage month with a movie: No se aceptan devoluciones. We watched it with English subtitles, and I cheated and googled it because I wanted to know what I was getting into, so I knew what would happen at the end, but y'all? I loved it. It was a great movie. I laughed (a lot), I got teary, I got mad, and I sobbed quietly at the end. We're supposed to finish the rest of the movie on Monday. Several people had to leave prior to the end, but I stuck around and it was a fantastic ending. I can't wait to watch it again! N was exhausted when he came home...as in, he fell asleep while on the way to get his hair cut, and he slept through the entire event. The sweet girl who does his hair held his head up with one hand and cut with the other. Also, we had ice cream for dinner in honor of the fact that we're not guaranteed tomorrows. Also, cancer sucks.
Thursday I realized I was exhausted again so I sent N to school, then I climbed back into bed and took a 5 hour nap. I realize this can't be the norm, but it was wonderful. I got up to work on some homework and also because I had a PTO meeting to attend. After the meeting, I had to run to the library and then hung out in the parking lot at N's school while he made up one of his last assignments from his absences a year ago. I'm being dramatic. It was 3 weeks ago. But it feels like a year. And as of this moment, he still has one test and a project to make up, but he refuses to talk to his teacher about it. I bet he'll like it a whole lot less when I intervene... We also babysat C & J on Thursday night, and after they went to bed I started a fantastic paper on female genital mutilation. Let's just say I know way too much about that topic now, and I never really had a desire to know in the first place. I also managed to get an exam in just under the wire. Because I didn't know it was due. Because the class started last week.
Friday was baseball practice and a beautiful day and a long day. I sent N to breakfast with his dad and took off for a walk-in advising session...only as I was walking out the door, I noticed N's Language Arts journal (a necessity) so I dropped it at the grocery store where they were getting smoothies. I felt very accomplished already. I made it to Denton in record time and only had to wait an hour or so before I met with the same advisor who unknowingly steered me wrong at the beginning of this semester. Luckily she said she would approach the dean with an exemption and would gladly fall on the sword for me since I had looked to her for guidance. We discussed my choices for Spring semester and I left ready to register. Then I called my mom and talked her through registering me because I couldn't access it on my phone and I didn't want to lose my upper levels. Those things can be hard to snag if you don't do it right away!
My next stop was Pepboys. They fixed my car a few weeks ago, but now every single time I turn on my car, it squeals. Loudly. It's embarrassing. So I walked in and said, totally deadpan, "I have sad face." They stared and asked what was wrong. I explained and my car magically jumped to the front of the line and was fixed in a flash. They claim it won't happen again. I'm not holding my breath. Since I was in the neighborhood, I stopped in to see my mom and we ended up going for an impromptu lunch break! She's headed to Vancouver for a marathon next weekend, so it was nice to have an hour to just hang out. I beat N home (barely) and after he ate some snacks, we headed to baseball practice. The highlight of practice was a kid jumping up and down on home plate yelling, "Touchdown!" and me not knowing if he was serious.
Saturday brought a whole lot of nothing before baseball that evening. In fact, I was putting off homework so much that I decided to spend 2.5 hours cleaning my kitchen. It was special. N's game wasn't until 7:00, so we had a long, lazy afternoon and then an action-packed game. My mom and grandmother came to the game, so N had quite the audience. I had a blast with my pals from other teams, and a good time was had by all...especially since we won with time expired! N and I had a burger after the game and as we pulled up to our building, there weren't any parking spaces. I dropped N off so he could shower while I searched for a spot, and as I backed up a neighbor came out to my car and said to wait. He had his friends move their vehicle so I could park, so I went and talked to all of them for a while before retreating upstairs to fall across my bed. I've never slept so hard in my life.
I woke up this morning (Sunday) ready to get up for church, but N begged for another hour, so I was happy to oblige. We went to church, I cried through the dozens of people who made the decision to get baptized, and N was totally embarrassed. I dragged him to Target afterwards and bought him a hot dog then commanded him to sit in the snack area while I shopped. This might work for us. I finished up in record time and we headed home. I've been in a homework frenzy ever since. I feel like it's mostly been pretty productive, but each time I finish something, it feels like 8 more things pop up as being due. It's aggravating!
B comes home tomorrow and I'm so excited to see him! I'm also excited to start a Love & Logic seminar through the school tomorrow evening...I can use all the help I can get with this whole parenting thing, especially since I'm flying solo!
And now I've turned into not just a pumpkin but an entire pumpkin patch! My eyes were closing an hour ago, but I couldn't stop mid-exam! I'll take my 96 and go to bed, thank you very much!
Aubs
Monday, October 13, 2014
Weekend Recap
Normally I would give each day of my weekend its own post, but for the sake of my sanity, they're all being lumped together. Okay, then.
Thursday: After a quick breakfast at Chick Fil-A, I dropped N at school with an extra chicken biscuit for 2nd period (after Athletics) and headed out of town. It was glorious to have the windows down and the radio up and the breeze blowing through the car...for about an hour. Then it got muggy and disgusting. I made it to my dad's in record time (before noon), and made a few stops before collapsing on my favorite chair in his living room. He was still at work, so I just basked in the quiet while I waited for him to get home. When he finally got home, I was showered and ready to go celebrate his friend's 51st birthday. We were meeting her at Benihana for dinner along with her two nieces who've never eaten at a hibachi style place before. It was fun! We all talked and laughed and had a great time!
Friday: My original plan was to go observe my friend in her classroom today, but my dad told me he was taking his "MDO" (My Day Off) to hang out with me. I was super-excited, and starting thinking about all the things we could do, and he said, "I know what we're going to do today." With him there's never any clear indicators on what will follow this declaration, so I was happy to hear that he followed up quickly with, "We're going to go look for a new house for me." Say what?! Hold the phone...this man just built his house from the dirt up 2 years ago. He had just settled in and hauled a bunch of stuff up into the attic and now he wants to move? He explained he wanted to move closer to work and my Seester, which would also make it a little closer for me to drive to his house when I come down. And the search began! We spent ALL day looking, and kept finding the same floorplan, but it was WAY too much house even though it was all extremely functional space. At the last moment, we stopped in one more neighborhood before calling it quits, and it made me do some thinking, but I had to put it on hold because we were headed to meet Seester and David for dinner. I love my sister. I love my brother-in-law. They're two of the best people I know. And as much fun as it is to hang out with them during family outings, it's even more fun when it's just grown-ups.
Saturday: We got up and hit the ground running. I'd made a list of neighborhoods with homes by a particular builder, specifically floor plan sizes I thought my dad would want to look at and we spent 2 hours at the first one, asking questions, looking around, asking more questions, making lists, and looking at lot sizes/prices. I knew he didn't want to build again; he's looking for an inventory or resale home, but he seemed really interested in this neighborhood based on location alone. Meanwhile, Seester text me to tell me they were hanging out watching football...did we want to come? We wrapped it up and headed on an adventure through parts of Houston we've never seen before and finally got to Seester, David & company. I got to meet my "niece" whom I've dubbed "Fee" and we had to watch UT and TTU lose. Bummer. After the games were over, I suggested looking at one more neighborhood because it had the floorplan my dad was interested in available as an inventory home. He was intrigued, so we grabbed some lunch (Grilled avocado stuffed with shrimp and cilantro rice? Yes, please!) and headed over. Right away, the neighborhood felt oddly familiar, and the sales guy was hilarious. We drove and looked at two homes, and my dad discounted each of them. He had found out the price on the one he was interested in was higher because of the lot (it backs up to a lake), but as we headed to look at it, he said, "Aubs, if I buy a house here, it'll be the one on the lake." We walked up to a house that looks a lot like his now, and when we walked in, we saw tile throughout, vaulted ceilings, open spaces, double vanities, a kitchen island with granite countertops, 42" cabinets and an extended patio with roof which were all on his "MUST" list. I knew, then and there, that we were in his new house. He did, too.
Sunday: We got up early and went to breakfast before church. The message was given by the senior pastor's father, and that was really awesome to witness. It was all about the gift of giving, and I felt like he was describing me and my life. Afterward, my dad said the same thing...about his own life. It was a great message! We went home and said "Now what?" so I made a list of ingredients for chicken tortilla soup and we made my customary trip to HEB. How I waited 3 days before going is beyond me...seriously. One of his friends came over to watch the Cowboys game and eat soup, so I finished making the soup, had a bowl, then went to my room to read/take a nap. I wanted to watch the game and hang out, but I just wasn't feeling it...so I skipped. My dad and I spent a couple of hours after the game talking and discussing assets in his house versus assets in the new house (that he continues to refer to as "my new house" which makes me smile) and I think he's pretty excited. I know I am!
Monday: Dad had to work, so he got up at dark o'clock and I heard him rattling around, but I didn't move. My pillow was in the exact right spot and I just couldn't! When I woke up an hour or so later, it was to this "thunking" noise coming from the back of the house. My dad had told me about this crazy black crow that would try to peck through his window, but I didn't believe him. HOLY CRAP! That thing is massive, and since I've seen "The Birds" entirely too many times (especially as a young child), I was freaked. I hauled ass out of there...and into the heaviest storm I've ever been dumb enough to drive through. It was raining so hard, and it took me 2 hours to get to just outside of Houston. Luckily, it cleared up and the wind was only trying to throw me across the highway for the remainder of the trip. I spoke to my dad later on and found out that he had discussed pricing with the sales guy AND mentioned to his neighbors that he was thinking about selling. Within 15 minutes, he had a guy from the neighborhood inquiring about his house for a family member. That, my dear friends, is a God thing.
I'm so excited for my dad and this new sub-chapter of his life. I think a (slightly) smaller house will be such a good thing for him, and the great thing about this house is that it is literally almost exactly like his current home, just missing an extra bedroom. The bedrooms are slightly smaller, but the common areas are large and full of natural light. It looks out over a huge pond, and it's super close to work and my Seester. I have no doubt that God lead us there this weekend.
My dad is one of my favorite people in the world. This weekend did not go as I expected it to, and that's okay because it was time well-spent with my dad. Sure, we drove all over creation (or Katy), and we spent a lot of time weeding out what he didn't want, but we did it together. These memories are ones I hold dear and will always treasure. The father-daughter time is so special when you're a little girl...and it doesn't get any less special as an adult. I already miss him!
I've missed my boys, too. N was disgusted when I told him I missed him because it had only been a few days. B had so many things to tell me on the phone, and my joy boy didn't disappoint. I didn't get anything accomplished this weekend that I wanted to do, but this visit wasn't about me. It was about time with my dad, and that other stuff? Well, it can just wait...
Aubs
Thursday: After a quick breakfast at Chick Fil-A, I dropped N at school with an extra chicken biscuit for 2nd period (after Athletics) and headed out of town. It was glorious to have the windows down and the radio up and the breeze blowing through the car...for about an hour. Then it got muggy and disgusting. I made it to my dad's in record time (before noon), and made a few stops before collapsing on my favorite chair in his living room. He was still at work, so I just basked in the quiet while I waited for him to get home. When he finally got home, I was showered and ready to go celebrate his friend's 51st birthday. We were meeting her at Benihana for dinner along with her two nieces who've never eaten at a hibachi style place before. It was fun! We all talked and laughed and had a great time!
Friday: My original plan was to go observe my friend in her classroom today, but my dad told me he was taking his "MDO" (My Day Off) to hang out with me. I was super-excited, and starting thinking about all the things we could do, and he said, "I know what we're going to do today." With him there's never any clear indicators on what will follow this declaration, so I was happy to hear that he followed up quickly with, "We're going to go look for a new house for me." Say what?! Hold the phone...this man just built his house from the dirt up 2 years ago. He had just settled in and hauled a bunch of stuff up into the attic and now he wants to move? He explained he wanted to move closer to work and my Seester, which would also make it a little closer for me to drive to his house when I come down. And the search began! We spent ALL day looking, and kept finding the same floorplan, but it was WAY too much house even though it was all extremely functional space. At the last moment, we stopped in one more neighborhood before calling it quits, and it made me do some thinking, but I had to put it on hold because we were headed to meet Seester and David for dinner. I love my sister. I love my brother-in-law. They're two of the best people I know. And as much fun as it is to hang out with them during family outings, it's even more fun when it's just grown-ups.
Saturday: We got up and hit the ground running. I'd made a list of neighborhoods with homes by a particular builder, specifically floor plan sizes I thought my dad would want to look at and we spent 2 hours at the first one, asking questions, looking around, asking more questions, making lists, and looking at lot sizes/prices. I knew he didn't want to build again; he's looking for an inventory or resale home, but he seemed really interested in this neighborhood based on location alone. Meanwhile, Seester text me to tell me they were hanging out watching football...did we want to come? We wrapped it up and headed on an adventure through parts of Houston we've never seen before and finally got to Seester, David & company. I got to meet my "niece" whom I've dubbed "Fee" and we had to watch UT and TTU lose. Bummer. After the games were over, I suggested looking at one more neighborhood because it had the floorplan my dad was interested in available as an inventory home. He was intrigued, so we grabbed some lunch (Grilled avocado stuffed with shrimp and cilantro rice? Yes, please!) and headed over. Right away, the neighborhood felt oddly familiar, and the sales guy was hilarious. We drove and looked at two homes, and my dad discounted each of them. He had found out the price on the one he was interested in was higher because of the lot (it backs up to a lake), but as we headed to look at it, he said, "Aubs, if I buy a house here, it'll be the one on the lake." We walked up to a house that looks a lot like his now, and when we walked in, we saw tile throughout, vaulted ceilings, open spaces, double vanities, a kitchen island with granite countertops, 42" cabinets and an extended patio with roof which were all on his "MUST" list. I knew, then and there, that we were in his new house. He did, too.
Sunday: We got up early and went to breakfast before church. The message was given by the senior pastor's father, and that was really awesome to witness. It was all about the gift of giving, and I felt like he was describing me and my life. Afterward, my dad said the same thing...about his own life. It was a great message! We went home and said "Now what?" so I made a list of ingredients for chicken tortilla soup and we made my customary trip to HEB. How I waited 3 days before going is beyond me...seriously. One of his friends came over to watch the Cowboys game and eat soup, so I finished making the soup, had a bowl, then went to my room to read/take a nap. I wanted to watch the game and hang out, but I just wasn't feeling it...so I skipped. My dad and I spent a couple of hours after the game talking and discussing assets in his house versus assets in the new house (that he continues to refer to as "my new house" which makes me smile) and I think he's pretty excited. I know I am!
Monday: Dad had to work, so he got up at dark o'clock and I heard him rattling around, but I didn't move. My pillow was in the exact right spot and I just couldn't! When I woke up an hour or so later, it was to this "thunking" noise coming from the back of the house. My dad had told me about this crazy black crow that would try to peck through his window, but I didn't believe him. HOLY CRAP! That thing is massive, and since I've seen "The Birds" entirely too many times (especially as a young child), I was freaked. I hauled ass out of there...and into the heaviest storm I've ever been dumb enough to drive through. It was raining so hard, and it took me 2 hours to get to just outside of Houston. Luckily, it cleared up and the wind was only trying to throw me across the highway for the remainder of the trip. I spoke to my dad later on and found out that he had discussed pricing with the sales guy AND mentioned to his neighbors that he was thinking about selling. Within 15 minutes, he had a guy from the neighborhood inquiring about his house for a family member. That, my dear friends, is a God thing.
I'm so excited for my dad and this new sub-chapter of his life. I think a (slightly) smaller house will be such a good thing for him, and the great thing about this house is that it is literally almost exactly like his current home, just missing an extra bedroom. The bedrooms are slightly smaller, but the common areas are large and full of natural light. It looks out over a huge pond, and it's super close to work and my Seester. I have no doubt that God lead us there this weekend.
My dad is one of my favorite people in the world. This weekend did not go as I expected it to, and that's okay because it was time well-spent with my dad. Sure, we drove all over creation (or Katy), and we spent a lot of time weeding out what he didn't want, but we did it together. These memories are ones I hold dear and will always treasure. The father-daughter time is so special when you're a little girl...and it doesn't get any less special as an adult. I already miss him!
I've missed my boys, too. N was disgusted when I told him I missed him because it had only been a few days. B had so many things to tell me on the phone, and my joy boy didn't disappoint. I didn't get anything accomplished this weekend that I wanted to do, but this visit wasn't about me. It was about time with my dad, and that other stuff? Well, it can just wait...
Aubs
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Fall Parent Teacher Conferences
On the way to school today, B was telling me how excited he was for his conference this afternoon. This year, the "thing" is to have the student lead the conference...and that was just what he did.
He sat us all down and talked to us about what he's doing really well and what he needs to work on, and it was precious. We're all so proud of all of the great progress he's making already this year. Then he turned it over to Mrs. H. and she told us all about B's test scores. He has already tested high enough to be near the end of the year in several areas. I'm not surprised, but it was so nice to see him get recognized for his hard work. He is so proud of himself, as he should be!
After the conference, I hugged him and sent him off with his dad and stepmom to spend a long weekend with them before their week begins. It was rough having a short week, but I knew he'd have fun with them this weekend, and I totally need a few days to just be. N met me at B's school after he stayed after school to get caught up on that make-up work that never seems to go away, and we headed for home.
I knew I wanted to pack all of the stuff N would need for his dad's for the weekend, but I was seriously lacking motivation...so I made sure he had everything he needed for baseball and decided that would have to do.
I threw a few things in a suitcase for myself (I don't feel nearly as prepared as I normally do this time around), and now I'm settled in bed, ready for it to be tomorrow morning already.
N and I have a breakfast date, and as soon as I drop him off at school, I'm H-Town bound!
I'm so excited...I'm not sure I can sleep!
Aubs
He sat us all down and talked to us about what he's doing really well and what he needs to work on, and it was precious. We're all so proud of all of the great progress he's making already this year. Then he turned it over to Mrs. H. and she told us all about B's test scores. He has already tested high enough to be near the end of the year in several areas. I'm not surprised, but it was so nice to see him get recognized for his hard work. He is so proud of himself, as he should be!
After the conference, I hugged him and sent him off with his dad and stepmom to spend a long weekend with them before their week begins. It was rough having a short week, but I knew he'd have fun with them this weekend, and I totally need a few days to just be. N met me at B's school after he stayed after school to get caught up on that make-up work that never seems to go away, and we headed for home.
I knew I wanted to pack all of the stuff N would need for his dad's for the weekend, but I was seriously lacking motivation...so I made sure he had everything he needed for baseball and decided that would have to do.
I threw a few things in a suitcase for myself (I don't feel nearly as prepared as I normally do this time around), and now I'm settled in bed, ready for it to be tomorrow morning already.
N and I have a breakfast date, and as soon as I drop him off at school, I'm H-Town bound!
I'm so excited...I'm not sure I can sleep!
Aubs
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Family Band
When you're a grown-up and you get sick enough to have to miss work, it can be hard to catch up on everything you missed. When you're a parent and you have sick kids or, God forbid, you get sick yourself, it seems like you'll never get back to where you were before _______ got sick.
But when you're a middle school-aged kid and you miss an entire week, it's not just overwhelming. It's straight up daunting. And what happens when a kid feels overwhelmed? They have an even shorter fuse.
N picked the best/worst week to be sick. It was the last week of the 6 weeks, so there were several tests, but not a lot of homework since it was primarily review. The hardest part about middle school, looking back, was the new found sense of responsibility and how in the WORLD do you get organized? What is organization?/
I remember missing a week or so of school in middle school and hiding my (failing) Social Studies progress report from my parents for weeks. I'm sure they knew, just like I know when N has fallen behind, but they never said a word and let me fail miserably before they stepped in and told me how things were going to go.
I feel like I can't do that with my kid. Boys are so much different that girls in the organization/responsible department...especially at that age. Like, tonight, as N was sitting at the kitchen table filling in less than half of his 12 Native American tribes for Texas History, he looked at me like "light bulb!" I expected something profound or a new sense of urgency to get it done, but what did I get?
"Hey, Mom? Will you buy me a harmonica? I want to sit on the back porch and play Oh Susanna!"
Laughter spewed out of my mouth before I even knew what was happening. Is that not the most random thought on the planet? And if you actually KNOW my kid, isn't it totally bizarre? But seriously...I might consider it if it meant he would stop whistling. All. The. Time.
I have a low patience level. This is not breaking news. And when I'm mid-semester, I have even less because I'm trying to keep all the proverbial balls in the air. For N, it's whistling, rarely tunelessly, but typically a song like Oh Susanna. It drives me crazy. If it were just a "one and done" situation, I doubt it would bother me as much, but it's like a skipping record player and it never seems to end.
For B, it's clapping. Non. Stop. Clapping. He claps when he's happy, when he's sad, when he wins a round of COD, when he loses a round of COD, when he needs to get someone's attention, when he wants to annoy someone, and...you get the general idea. If it were the soft, air pocket to the palm clap (you know you just tried to do it), that would be one thing, but his claps are the piercing, echoing, "I hear it in my sleep" kinds of claps.
And I just can't. Those noises are the equivalents of nails on a chalkboard in my life. It's so fun.
Now, if only I had someone in my house who liked to stomp or blow across the top of a moonshine jug, I feel like we'd be all set.
Aubs
But when you're a middle school-aged kid and you miss an entire week, it's not just overwhelming. It's straight up daunting. And what happens when a kid feels overwhelmed? They have an even shorter fuse.
N picked the best/worst week to be sick. It was the last week of the 6 weeks, so there were several tests, but not a lot of homework since it was primarily review. The hardest part about middle school, looking back, was the new found sense of responsibility and how in the WORLD do you get organized? What is organization?/
I remember missing a week or so of school in middle school and hiding my (failing) Social Studies progress report from my parents for weeks. I'm sure they knew, just like I know when N has fallen behind, but they never said a word and let me fail miserably before they stepped in and told me how things were going to go.
I feel like I can't do that with my kid. Boys are so much different that girls in the organization/responsible department...especially at that age. Like, tonight, as N was sitting at the kitchen table filling in less than half of his 12 Native American tribes for Texas History, he looked at me like "light bulb!" I expected something profound or a new sense of urgency to get it done, but what did I get?
"Hey, Mom? Will you buy me a harmonica? I want to sit on the back porch and play Oh Susanna!"
Laughter spewed out of my mouth before I even knew what was happening. Is that not the most random thought on the planet? And if you actually KNOW my kid, isn't it totally bizarre? But seriously...I might consider it if it meant he would stop whistling. All. The. Time.
I have a low patience level. This is not breaking news. And when I'm mid-semester, I have even less because I'm trying to keep all the proverbial balls in the air. For N, it's whistling, rarely tunelessly, but typically a song like Oh Susanna. It drives me crazy. If it were just a "one and done" situation, I doubt it would bother me as much, but it's like a skipping record player and it never seems to end.
For B, it's clapping. Non. Stop. Clapping. He claps when he's happy, when he's sad, when he wins a round of COD, when he loses a round of COD, when he needs to get someone's attention, when he wants to annoy someone, and...you get the general idea. If it were the soft, air pocket to the palm clap (you know you just tried to do it), that would be one thing, but his claps are the piercing, echoing, "I hear it in my sleep" kinds of claps.
And I just can't. Those noises are the equivalents of nails on a chalkboard in my life. It's so fun.
Now, if only I had someone in my house who liked to stomp or blow across the top of a moonshine jug, I feel like we'd be all set.
Aubs
Monday, October 6, 2014
Single & Ready to Mingle and other stupid phrases
I don't know what it is about me that says "Hey, let's try cheesy lines on her because maybe she'll be the ONE person to fall for it...ever...in the history of the universe."
I think I blogged about it when it happened, but I can't find the post to link it, so a few weeks ago, my watch battery needed to be replaced, so I went to the same place I always go to in the mall near my apartment. It turns out that the guy who works there is someone I used to hang out with sometimes with N's dad, and as we caught up, he expressed how happy he was that it had worked out for us. When I kindly corrected him, he looked at me, wiggled his eyebrows, and said, "So...are you single and ready to mingle?"
I looked horrified and I know I did because I saw my reflection. And then I laughed because I can't believe that anyone would actually USE that line and think there was a chance it would work. Since then, I've come across a few totally bizarre conversation starters.
At Market Street (grocery store) in the produce section (how much more stereotypical can you get?):
"So...do you come here often?"
Um, yes. Yes, I do. I have two growing boys and they are eating whenever their eyes are open, and sometimes when they're closed, so I do tend to come to the grocery store to get groceries on a fairly regular basis.
"I bet you can't tell I've never been out with a single mom before, right? It's cool though...I think I'd like your kids."
Um, yes. Yes, I can tell you've never been out with a single mom before...mostly because you announced it and also because you came across as super creepy. You think you'd like my kids? For what? A snack? Sheesh. Stay away, far far away. Also, you wear loafers without socks with jeans and you're 20. Bye.
"I'm from Jamaica...I can get you a good deal on rum."
So many things...first things first: If you were smart you'd GIVE me the rum. Second: You're 19. Third: I think that's what you said, but I can't tell because you speak softly and I think you have an accent. Last: I can't even think of what it was anymore because the beads in your hair are clicking together and it's really distracting. It's almost like music...I should dance...oh, wait...no rum. Nevermind.
"So, what do you think about friends with benefits?"
It's the only movie with Justin Timberlake I'd ever watch more than once. You DID mean the movie, right?
"Don't worry...you'll find someone eventually."
Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence...I don't remember saying I was looking for someone or interested in finding someone, but thanks for giving me an ego boost (not that I needed it).
"You've been single for a while...what's wrong with you?"
I'm damaged. Obviously. Super super damaged. SOOOOOO damaged. You're becoming damaged by talking to me. It's like a virus. Hand sanitizer?
"Maybe you're too picky."
Yes. Let me lower my standards right this second and watch all of the men who wouldn't typically make "the cut" flock to me in droves. I'll have my pick of them all...how lucky am I?! I will never lack happiness or fulfillment for the rest of my life if I settle...said no sane person EVER.
I don't know why people seem to think you're broken if you're not a part of a couple. I'm not broken. I'm the whole-est I've ever been. Would I maybe like to share my life with someone someday? Maybe, but it's not the be all end all for me. It's really hard for me to imagine myself married or even part of a serious relationship.
Some days, I REALLY wish I had somebody to come home to...and other days, I wish I lived on a deserted island. And I wouldn't even want a volleyball for company. I'd settle for an unlimited supply of books. Ooooh, and potato chips. Mmmm, carbs!
The hardest part, especially as a mom, is when the boys express their joint desire to have a male influence around here. It's hard being a single mom to boys, and I know it's equally hard for them to only have a mom when they're here. N has been adamantly opposed to me dating, full stop. B has been asking for a stepdad since the dawn of time, or so it seems. In the last year or so, I've found N joining in B's plea, but it's still slightly different. He wants a man who wants to be around and hang out but has no desire to be in a relationship with me. He said if the guy HAS to be in a relationship with me, then it shouldn't be serious.
You know, because when you're almost 9 and 12 you fully grasp how the world (and relationships) work. After we discussed that, he said, "Fiiiiiiine, date if you have to...whatever it takes to have a guy to throw with and to take me to the cages." I fully understand that he doesn't want me to "infiltrate" that one area. I'm so into baseball and positions and all of that that the batting cages are his "safe zone." Perhaps I should set up an online application for "PRN Male Role Model."
I bet that wouldn't yield creepy results at all...insert eye roll here.
Aubs
I think I blogged about it when it happened, but I can't find the post to link it, so a few weeks ago, my watch battery needed to be replaced, so I went to the same place I always go to in the mall near my apartment. It turns out that the guy who works there is someone I used to hang out with sometimes with N's dad, and as we caught up, he expressed how happy he was that it had worked out for us. When I kindly corrected him, he looked at me, wiggled his eyebrows, and said, "So...are you single and ready to mingle?"
I looked horrified and I know I did because I saw my reflection. And then I laughed because I can't believe that anyone would actually USE that line and think there was a chance it would work. Since then, I've come across a few totally bizarre conversation starters.
At Market Street (grocery store) in the produce section (how much more stereotypical can you get?):
"So...do you come here often?"
Um, yes. Yes, I do. I have two growing boys and they are eating whenever their eyes are open, and sometimes when they're closed, so I do tend to come to the grocery store to get groceries on a fairly regular basis.
"I bet you can't tell I've never been out with a single mom before, right? It's cool though...I think I'd like your kids."
Um, yes. Yes, I can tell you've never been out with a single mom before...mostly because you announced it and also because you came across as super creepy. You think you'd like my kids? For what? A snack? Sheesh. Stay away, far far away. Also, you wear loafers without socks with jeans and you're 20. Bye.
"I'm from Jamaica...I can get you a good deal on rum."
So many things...first things first: If you were smart you'd GIVE me the rum. Second: You're 19. Third: I think that's what you said, but I can't tell because you speak softly and I think you have an accent. Last: I can't even think of what it was anymore because the beads in your hair are clicking together and it's really distracting. It's almost like music...I should dance...oh, wait...no rum. Nevermind.
"So, what do you think about friends with benefits?"
It's the only movie with Justin Timberlake I'd ever watch more than once. You DID mean the movie, right?
"Don't worry...you'll find someone eventually."
Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence...I don't remember saying I was looking for someone or interested in finding someone, but thanks for giving me an ego boost (not that I needed it).
"You've been single for a while...what's wrong with you?"
I'm damaged. Obviously. Super super damaged. SOOOOOO damaged. You're becoming damaged by talking to me. It's like a virus. Hand sanitizer?
"Maybe you're too picky."
Yes. Let me lower my standards right this second and watch all of the men who wouldn't typically make "the cut" flock to me in droves. I'll have my pick of them all...how lucky am I?! I will never lack happiness or fulfillment for the rest of my life if I settle...said no sane person EVER.
I don't know why people seem to think you're broken if you're not a part of a couple. I'm not broken. I'm the whole-est I've ever been. Would I maybe like to share my life with someone someday? Maybe, but it's not the be all end all for me. It's really hard for me to imagine myself married or even part of a serious relationship.
Some days, I REALLY wish I had somebody to come home to...and other days, I wish I lived on a deserted island. And I wouldn't even want a volleyball for company. I'd settle for an unlimited supply of books. Ooooh, and potato chips. Mmmm, carbs!
The hardest part, especially as a mom, is when the boys express their joint desire to have a male influence around here. It's hard being a single mom to boys, and I know it's equally hard for them to only have a mom when they're here. N has been adamantly opposed to me dating, full stop. B has been asking for a stepdad since the dawn of time, or so it seems. In the last year or so, I've found N joining in B's plea, but it's still slightly different. He wants a man who wants to be around and hang out but has no desire to be in a relationship with me. He said if the guy HAS to be in a relationship with me, then it shouldn't be serious.
You know, because when you're almost 9 and 12 you fully grasp how the world (and relationships) work. After we discussed that, he said, "Fiiiiiiine, date if you have to...whatever it takes to have a guy to throw with and to take me to the cages." I fully understand that he doesn't want me to "infiltrate" that one area. I'm so into baseball and positions and all of that that the batting cages are his "safe zone." Perhaps I should set up an online application for "PRN Male Role Model."
I bet that wouldn't yield creepy results at all...insert eye roll here.
Aubs
Starting Anew
N and I watched church from home this morning because yesterday's activities wore him out. That coupled with the open windows and the light breeze that almost made it feel like fall in here caused him to sleep for 12 hours straight. Dead. Sleep. Like, I checked on him by putting a hand in front of his nose to see if he was breathing.
Anyway, I linked up with our church for the latest service (11:30), and turned the volume on my laptop all the way up. During the worship time (as I hummed along while browsing the Sunday Target ad on my phone), N stumbled into the living room and flopped across the couch. Our pastor is starting a new series this week called "Gambling with God." The premise of the message was that we should bet on the House (of God) because it will win every single time. But that wasn't the part that got me.
EY was talking about how we need to look at our friendships and relationships and assess them. We don't need to look at who our friends are, but who are friends aren't. He talked about how some friends are like scaffolding on a large building under construction. They are there to help you through the construction period, but then they are just there...and there is no purpose. And it got me thinking about how many friends I have who are like that.
We don't enrich each others' lives or build each other up. We don't challenge each other or drop everything for one another when we need a helping hand or the great gift of friendship. We co-exist. We keep up with each other via social media. We only show up when we see a news-worthy post or a tragedy hits one of our families.
And I realized I have so much more to offer than that...and I deserve so much more. I really do.
From there, he launched into this thought about how sometimes you have to kick it all to the curb and start fresh. It's not quitting, it's wanting better for yourself and for your family. Sometimes you have to start all over to be successful. That made me think a LOT about my life over the last several years.
In 2009, I found out I had an unfaithful partner, and confronted him about it. He wanted to call it quits right then, but I told him no. I told him we needed to work on this as a family, for the sake of our family, and that we should give ourselves until the end of the school year to work it out or come up with a plan. He agreed...however, he went ahead with his own way of planning.
In 2010, I realized he had begun a new life with someone else prior to the end of our arrangement and made plans to move myself and the boys in with my mother, enroll the boys in new schools (elementary and preschool) and start school myself. The idea (at that time) was nursing. It was my first time in school in over 10 years, and I was petrified. But, I did it.
In 2011, I was sued for custody of B, with the claim that I was unfit and negligent. It broke me because I knew it was untrue, but it made me doubt myself. Could I have been more? Should I have been better? What am I even doing here? Why is this happening? I don't deserve this...
In 2012, after multiple (failed) attempts at mediation and a drawn out legal process, I gave in to the demands which had gone from full custody to shared custody 50/50, which is a draining way to say that he didn't want to pay child support. Also, in 2012, the boys and I moved out of my mom's and into our own place where the boys began school (5th and 1st) in the school district where I attended high school.
In 2013, B's dad became deathly ill, and instead of sharing custody, he spent 3 solid months with me, terrified that his dad was dying and with very little contact from them because they were focused on getting him better. The remainder of the school year, he went over there as much as he could, but we spent a lot of time together. B is still scared, but his dad is on the mend and they're able to spend a lot more time together.
In 2014, I graduated with a degree in Science from a local community college and made the decision to ditch nursing (for now) and pursue a degree in Social Sciences in addition to a teaching certification for secondary education. It is a total change from where I thought I would be, but I'm trusting that God put me in this path for a reason. I'm doing my best to be involved with both boys: I co-room mom B's class, I am the team mom for N's baseball team(s), I serve on the SHAC committee for our school district to improve Student Health and Activity, and I'm starting a 4-week seminar in a few weeks called "Love & Logic" to help me become a better parent. I'm also taking a full (too full?) course load at UNT and substitute teaching whenever I can.
I'm starting anew. I'm giving it my best shot. I'm going "all in," betting on the House. I know I can't fail with God beside me, unless failing is the lesson He needs me to learn. I have learned that I shouldn't be afraid to ask for help, nor should I be afraid to say "no." My family is the most important thing...the rest is just details.
Aubs
Anyway, I linked up with our church for the latest service (11:30), and turned the volume on my laptop all the way up. During the worship time (as I hummed along while browsing the Sunday Target ad on my phone), N stumbled into the living room and flopped across the couch. Our pastor is starting a new series this week called "Gambling with God." The premise of the message was that we should bet on the House (of God) because it will win every single time. But that wasn't the part that got me.
EY was talking about how we need to look at our friendships and relationships and assess them. We don't need to look at who our friends are, but who are friends aren't. He talked about how some friends are like scaffolding on a large building under construction. They are there to help you through the construction period, but then they are just there...and there is no purpose. And it got me thinking about how many friends I have who are like that.
We don't enrich each others' lives or build each other up. We don't challenge each other or drop everything for one another when we need a helping hand or the great gift of friendship. We co-exist. We keep up with each other via social media. We only show up when we see a news-worthy post or a tragedy hits one of our families.
And I realized I have so much more to offer than that...and I deserve so much more. I really do.
From there, he launched into this thought about how sometimes you have to kick it all to the curb and start fresh. It's not quitting, it's wanting better for yourself and for your family. Sometimes you have to start all over to be successful. That made me think a LOT about my life over the last several years.
In 2009, I found out I had an unfaithful partner, and confronted him about it. He wanted to call it quits right then, but I told him no. I told him we needed to work on this as a family, for the sake of our family, and that we should give ourselves until the end of the school year to work it out or come up with a plan. He agreed...however, he went ahead with his own way of planning.
In 2010, I realized he had begun a new life with someone else prior to the end of our arrangement and made plans to move myself and the boys in with my mother, enroll the boys in new schools (elementary and preschool) and start school myself. The idea (at that time) was nursing. It was my first time in school in over 10 years, and I was petrified. But, I did it.
In 2011, I was sued for custody of B, with the claim that I was unfit and negligent. It broke me because I knew it was untrue, but it made me doubt myself. Could I have been more? Should I have been better? What am I even doing here? Why is this happening? I don't deserve this...
In 2012, after multiple (failed) attempts at mediation and a drawn out legal process, I gave in to the demands which had gone from full custody to shared custody 50/50, which is a draining way to say that he didn't want to pay child support. Also, in 2012, the boys and I moved out of my mom's and into our own place where the boys began school (5th and 1st) in the school district where I attended high school.
In 2013, B's dad became deathly ill, and instead of sharing custody, he spent 3 solid months with me, terrified that his dad was dying and with very little contact from them because they were focused on getting him better. The remainder of the school year, he went over there as much as he could, but we spent a lot of time together. B is still scared, but his dad is on the mend and they're able to spend a lot more time together.
In 2014, I graduated with a degree in Science from a local community college and made the decision to ditch nursing (for now) and pursue a degree in Social Sciences in addition to a teaching certification for secondary education. It is a total change from where I thought I would be, but I'm trusting that God put me in this path for a reason. I'm doing my best to be involved with both boys: I co-room mom B's class, I am the team mom for N's baseball team(s), I serve on the SHAC committee for our school district to improve Student Health and Activity, and I'm starting a 4-week seminar in a few weeks called "Love & Logic" to help me become a better parent. I'm also taking a full (too full?) course load at UNT and substitute teaching whenever I can.
I'm starting anew. I'm giving it my best shot. I'm going "all in," betting on the House. I know I can't fail with God beside me, unless failing is the lesson He needs me to learn. I have learned that I shouldn't be afraid to ask for help, nor should I be afraid to say "no." My family is the most important thing...the rest is just details.
Aubs
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Recovery Baseball
N had a baseball game today, and even though he's been sick/recovering all week, he wanted to give it a shot and play. I knew he wasn't at 100%, but I also know he'd have to dress out and be ready in Athletics on Monday morning, so a baseball game where he can sit out if he needs to seemed like a pretty good idea.
Y'all. They got their butts handed to them. N played first, then third, then first again. He didn't catch after hurting his knee last weekend. There was a wide variety of pitching/catching choices, and the coach literally pulled a catcher mid-inning, which I've never seen before. It was bad. I had high-ish hopes when our team scored 5 in the first inning, but it all went downhill from there, and that's all they scored.
I think we made it through 2.5 innings. It was literally that bad. Final score? 11-5, Durham Bulls. The good news is, N's friend, T, is on that team so his mom and I got to sit and talk and giggle and cheer on our own people instead of the teams we actually belong to. And on the way out, I got to see more friends who had to double-take since my hair was an entirely different color. It was pulled up in a ponytail so it was hard to tell, but I kept hearing, "You just look different."
I think my trip to the fabric store this afternoon, prior to the game, changed me. The fabric store? Well, for the un-crafty like me, it's a life changer. No-sew fleece blankets is about as crafty as I go..and that's if I'm fiercely motivated. I think the boys might get new ones for Christmas, although I'm not sure what direction to go for B's. N is all over the place: Air Force, Navy, his spirit animal (I'm pretty sure he was joking on that one, but who knows...), baseball. I'm thinking Air Force on one side, baseball on the other, but I'll have to see. It's a process. B, on the other hand, will like anything, but I really want him to LOVE it. I miss him. I haven't seen him since last Friday, and I miss him like crazy.
Anyway, the fabric store. Since Christmas is in D-town this year, both my mom and I want to have "puzzle" tables set up at our respective homes. She has a card table, but I just have my kitchen table or a coffee table, neither of which will do. She found an additional card table at a resale shop, but the top is ripped, which is actually pretty okay, because we decided to cover the tops with fabric and vinyl for a personalized "whatever" table. I talked myself out of getting a baseball print because I thought it would be too busy (but it was REALLY cute), and decided on a dark purple with a subtle silver polka dot. I know this is fascinating, but I swear we spent 2 hours at the fabric store (they were having a sale that ended...you guessed it. TODAY) and even now, when I close my eyes, I see row after row of fabric. It's my worst nightmare.
Crafts.
AHHHHHHHH.
We figured out our game plan, and what color we wanted to paint the legs, and by "we" I definitely mean my mom because I'm not allowed to use any kind of tools, including a staple gun. Scissors are iffy. I'm the girl who almost killed everyone when I decided to rewire my dryer from a 3-prong plug to a 4-prong. Or maybe that's backwards. Anyway, I did it in semi-darkness in the garage and ended up having to call my dad to come help and lost track of the ground wire and he had to call someone to talk him through it, and I'm banned from home improvement for life.
It's probably for the best. Also, I digress.
I will have a black legged purple topped card table soon. And I'm excited.
Because sometimes it really is the little things.
Also, I hate 7th grade math.
That is all.
Aubs
Y'all. They got their butts handed to them. N played first, then third, then first again. He didn't catch after hurting his knee last weekend. There was a wide variety of pitching/catching choices, and the coach literally pulled a catcher mid-inning, which I've never seen before. It was bad. I had high-ish hopes when our team scored 5 in the first inning, but it all went downhill from there, and that's all they scored.
I think we made it through 2.5 innings. It was literally that bad. Final score? 11-5, Durham Bulls. The good news is, N's friend, T, is on that team so his mom and I got to sit and talk and giggle and cheer on our own people instead of the teams we actually belong to. And on the way out, I got to see more friends who had to double-take since my hair was an entirely different color. It was pulled up in a ponytail so it was hard to tell, but I kept hearing, "You just look different."
I think my trip to the fabric store this afternoon, prior to the game, changed me. The fabric store? Well, for the un-crafty like me, it's a life changer. No-sew fleece blankets is about as crafty as I go..and that's if I'm fiercely motivated. I think the boys might get new ones for Christmas, although I'm not sure what direction to go for B's. N is all over the place: Air Force, Navy, his spirit animal (I'm pretty sure he was joking on that one, but who knows...), baseball. I'm thinking Air Force on one side, baseball on the other, but I'll have to see. It's a process. B, on the other hand, will like anything, but I really want him to LOVE it. I miss him. I haven't seen him since last Friday, and I miss him like crazy.
Anyway, the fabric store. Since Christmas is in D-town this year, both my mom and I want to have "puzzle" tables set up at our respective homes. She has a card table, but I just have my kitchen table or a coffee table, neither of which will do. She found an additional card table at a resale shop, but the top is ripped, which is actually pretty okay, because we decided to cover the tops with fabric and vinyl for a personalized "whatever" table. I talked myself out of getting a baseball print because I thought it would be too busy (but it was REALLY cute), and decided on a dark purple with a subtle silver polka dot. I know this is fascinating, but I swear we spent 2 hours at the fabric store (they were having a sale that ended...you guessed it. TODAY) and even now, when I close my eyes, I see row after row of fabric. It's my worst nightmare.
Crafts.
AHHHHHHHH.
We figured out our game plan, and what color we wanted to paint the legs, and by "we" I definitely mean my mom because I'm not allowed to use any kind of tools, including a staple gun. Scissors are iffy. I'm the girl who almost killed everyone when I decided to rewire my dryer from a 3-prong plug to a 4-prong. Or maybe that's backwards. Anyway, I did it in semi-darkness in the garage and ended up having to call my dad to come help and lost track of the ground wire and he had to call someone to talk him through it, and I'm banned from home improvement for life.
It's probably for the best. Also, I digress.
I will have a black legged purple topped card table soon. And I'm excited.
Because sometimes it really is the little things.
Also, I hate 7th grade math.
That is all.
Aubs
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Pre-Teen Drama
So, N is officially better. Halfway through the day, he tried so hard to have a fever, but it failed. Miserably. At one point, he told me he was going to be so healthy...he was going to make his temperature lower than 98...like 95 or 96 or lower.
I told him that's called hypothermia.
I had to run a couple of errands today, so I left him at home. First on the list was going dark. Every October, I dye my hair dark to commemorate my mom's first real treatment battling her cancer. In October in 2009, the chemo she was taking for her stem cell transplant made her hair fall out, and I volunteered to shave my head with her, but she declined. Secretly, I was glad (sorry, Mom!), but I would've done it. Solidarity is huge, you know. Instead, she suggested I do something different (she also doesn't really remember this, but I'm an elephant, so I do), so I went out and dyed my hair dark. It was a dark brown with red undertones and it was beautiful. I loved it! And then, several months later, my hair was STILL red. And for 2 years, I worked with my hair girl to try to remove the red. It was a long process.
But, every year, without fail, I dye my hair dark during the second week of October in honor of my mom and her ongoing battle with cancer. And then, I keep it dark until the spring when I experiment with all sorts of colors found in nature while returning to my natural dark blonde color. It's what I do. And I had to do it a little early this year because I will be in Houston hanging out with my dad and Seester and brother-in-law (Oh, and Stella!) next weekend because the boys have a long weekend from school (4 days) and they will be elsewhere. We're going to a hibachi place for Stella's birthday on Thursday, so I have to make sure I'm there by 5:00 or I'm missing out.
I. Am. Not. Missing. Out.
After I stopped by my mom's office to show off my newly darkened hairs, I headed home to assess the situation. What I saw was a kid who did the absolute minimum of work sent to him by his teachers. And I was mad. So I blew up. Loudly. And then he blew up equally loudly and might have said, "Oh, there you go...you're back to being mad mom 'cause I'm not sick anymore. Shocker."
It was not his finest afternoon/evening. It ended with ugly crying and a whole lot of spewing...venom, hate, the whole nine yards. To recap, I'm the bad parent, the worst mom in the history of forever, and he will never want to be anything like me ever in his life.
Fast forward 20 or so years...he'll be kissing the ground I walk on. I'm not worried.
Been there, done that.
Aubs
I told him that's called hypothermia.
I had to run a couple of errands today, so I left him at home. First on the list was going dark. Every October, I dye my hair dark to commemorate my mom's first real treatment battling her cancer. In October in 2009, the chemo she was taking for her stem cell transplant made her hair fall out, and I volunteered to shave my head with her, but she declined. Secretly, I was glad (sorry, Mom!), but I would've done it. Solidarity is huge, you know. Instead, she suggested I do something different (she also doesn't really remember this, but I'm an elephant, so I do), so I went out and dyed my hair dark. It was a dark brown with red undertones and it was beautiful. I loved it! And then, several months later, my hair was STILL red. And for 2 years, I worked with my hair girl to try to remove the red. It was a long process.
But, every year, without fail, I dye my hair dark during the second week of October in honor of my mom and her ongoing battle with cancer. And then, I keep it dark until the spring when I experiment with all sorts of colors found in nature while returning to my natural dark blonde color. It's what I do. And I had to do it a little early this year because I will be in Houston hanging out with my dad and Seester and brother-in-law (Oh, and Stella!) next weekend because the boys have a long weekend from school (4 days) and they will be elsewhere. We're going to a hibachi place for Stella's birthday on Thursday, so I have to make sure I'm there by 5:00 or I'm missing out.
I. Am. Not. Missing. Out.
After I stopped by my mom's office to show off my newly darkened hairs, I headed home to assess the situation. What I saw was a kid who did the absolute minimum of work sent to him by his teachers. And I was mad. So I blew up. Loudly. And then he blew up equally loudly and might have said, "Oh, there you go...you're back to being mad mom 'cause I'm not sick anymore. Shocker."
It was not his finest afternoon/evening. It ended with ugly crying and a whole lot of spewing...venom, hate, the whole nine yards. To recap, I'm the bad parent, the worst mom in the history of forever, and he will never want to be anything like me ever in his life.
Fast forward 20 or so years...he'll be kissing the ground I walk on. I'm not worried.
Been there, done that.
Aubs
Friday, October 3, 2014
Oh, hey...we're still sick over here.
N has turned the corner, but he still has a fever. The good news is it's much lower and more manageable. The bad news is he's starting to be a pain in the rear. Obviously, he's totally on the road to recovery.
I know the make-up work load is going to be enormous, so I'm trying to get all of my homework out of the way sooner rather than later. Today I wrote a 2200 word essay on Ancient Greece. Do I particularly care for Ancient Greece? Not really, but...I mean, they're the guys who invented the Olympics, so I think that's pretty awesome.
The assignment was a web report, which, in retrospect, is a lot easier than the majority of major writing assignments I have this semester. I had to find websites about a certain topic and compile the information into a report OR I could find a website that had a lot of information about the topic and write a review of the site. So, I did that. And bye the time I had written my introduction and a synopsis of one of the EIGHT tabs, I was already at 700 words. Easy peasy. I finished 2200 words in a little less than 2 hours and sent my dad a text declaring that he should be so proud of his daughter who is, in fact, a genius. I waited for him to ask me if I was referring to my sister, which would have warranted a punch when I go visit him this coming weekend, but it has been blissfully silent around here.
Speaking of silent, N has been pretty quiet...and not because he doesn't feel well, although his head really hurts fairly frequently. No, it's because he's taken it upon himself to watch the entire Psych series during this bout of viral whatever. The silence is interrupted every once in a while by giggles, and I will admit that some of them are mine coming from the other room when I hear Shaun or Gus make some ridiculous remark. That show is pretty fantastic. I'm sad that it ended.
It rained super duper hard today, and I think that contributed to feelings of restlessness and stir-crazy-isms. N will stay home tomorrow, too...but I think I might try to get him out of the house a little bit. I've been going nuts. I can't imagine how he feels!
Aubs
I know the make-up work load is going to be enormous, so I'm trying to get all of my homework out of the way sooner rather than later. Today I wrote a 2200 word essay on Ancient Greece. Do I particularly care for Ancient Greece? Not really, but...I mean, they're the guys who invented the Olympics, so I think that's pretty awesome.
The assignment was a web report, which, in retrospect, is a lot easier than the majority of major writing assignments I have this semester. I had to find websites about a certain topic and compile the information into a report OR I could find a website that had a lot of information about the topic and write a review of the site. So, I did that. And bye the time I had written my introduction and a synopsis of one of the EIGHT tabs, I was already at 700 words. Easy peasy. I finished 2200 words in a little less than 2 hours and sent my dad a text declaring that he should be so proud of his daughter who is, in fact, a genius. I waited for him to ask me if I was referring to my sister, which would have warranted a punch when I go visit him this coming weekend, but it has been blissfully silent around here.
Speaking of silent, N has been pretty quiet...and not because he doesn't feel well, although his head really hurts fairly frequently. No, it's because he's taken it upon himself to watch the entire Psych series during this bout of viral whatever. The silence is interrupted every once in a while by giggles, and I will admit that some of them are mine coming from the other room when I hear Shaun or Gus make some ridiculous remark. That show is pretty fantastic. I'm sad that it ended.
It rained super duper hard today, and I think that contributed to feelings of restlessness and stir-crazy-isms. N will stay home tomorrow, too...but I think I might try to get him out of the house a little bit. I've been going nuts. I can't imagine how he feels!
Aubs
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
I don't have a life and I don't date, so I watch tv.
I'm a procrastinator when it's convenient, which mostly means that it's usually highly inconvenient, but I thrive on chaos and looming deadlines, so it works for me. I love the spring semester because it's filled with spring baseball for my boy (I'm hoping that both boys will play this spring, which would be even more chaotic, but it's the only season they'd be in the same place at roughly the same times, so I'm crossing my fingers) and I can study poolside. I love the fall semester because it's filled with fall baseball for my boy (see above) and I can study poolside (we DO live in Texas after all), but fall semester wins, hands down. Why?
FALL PRIMETIME TELEVISION.
Okay, so not only is there NCAA football which makes my heart happy, but there is a show every single day in the fall that makes me happy...and sometimes there are multiples. Here are few of my hands down favorites, some new and some not-so-much.
Sunday:
Revenge. Y'all, I love this show so much, and I know I'm not alone. It's dark and twisty and Madeleine Stowe and Emily VanCamp are ruthless. There have been so many plot twists and turns during the past couple of seasons, but it's really getting twisty now. I keep holding out hope that Emily Thorne will eventually find her way to Jack Porter forever and for always. You know. Because Revenge is totally a real-life scenario.
Monday:
The Blacklist. This one is one of the newer ones, and I just adore James Spader. I watched Boston Legal religiously (man, I miss that show), and LOVED the relationship between James Spader and William Shatner. That, however, is not the point. I love the wit and creativity of the plot, how each blacklisted bad guy is somehow tied to Reddington and what's up with his serious overstepping into Elizabeth Keen's (Megan Boone) life. I mean, I have my suspicions, and I'm sure pretty much everyone is thinking the same thing, but I'm counting on a totally bizarre turn, perhaps as the season finale? I can't wait!
Tuesday: There are three, which should really only count as two since one is a spin-off.
NCIS/NCIS: New Orleans. I jumped on the NCIS bandwagon several years ago, and I own most of the seasons. I think forensics is fascinating, and I love the cast and their quirks. I cried huge crocodile tears when Kate left the show and again when Ziva did, but I'm warming up to the new characters. Plus, who doesn't love Mark Harmon's little smirk? Seriously. It's always something new, which is pretty impressive in and of itself. I never got into the LA spinoff, but the New Orleans spinoff is something I could get behind. I like the chemistry between the main characters, so we'll see. So far, any NOLA episodes have had characters from the original with guest roles, which is enough reason to watch.
Forever. This one is new, and have I mentioned how much I love medical-y shows? Another favorite somewhat related but no longer airing new episodes is Dr G. Medical Examiner. Anyway, the gist of this show is that, for whatever reason (I can't wait to find out why), there's this M.E. who's been alive for well over 200 years. Each time he dies (and there have been some pretty interesting deaths so far), he comes back in water and naked. The first episode had him come back to life naked and in the Hudson. He and his cop counterpart have a great dialogue and he's a genius! His assistant in the M.E. office is hilarious, too. Also, he has a best friend who is much older, but it appears that M.E. (Henry is his name) rescued him as an infant circa WWII and has raised him ever since. Now "child" is elderly and caring for parent who still looks like he's in his 30s. It's a great show and very engaging!
Wednesday: Again, there are a couple. (Also, I have a couple of episodes of Red Band Society on my dvr, but I have yet to watch them, so stay tuned for an update if I deem it a keeper.)
Law & Order: SVU. Again, I've probably seen every single SVU episode ever created. Twice. Or more. I miss Elliot Stabler like he's a legit person, and I follow Chris Meloni on Facebook. I keep hoping that he comes back in some capacity, and I might've squealed with glee when he said something about coming back as Benson's baby daddy. The cast has kind of had a revolving door, but it seems to be pretty solid, and Mariska Hargitay is a tough broad. There are a lot of similar cases, but each one is just a LITTLE bit different, and it never gets old. It DOES however get hard to watch sometimes.
The Mysteries of Laura. Debra Messing is hilarious as a mom of twins and a cop. And Josh Lucas is her ex-husband and now her boss? Oh, please...can it be me, except we can remove the "ex" from the equation. I adored him in Sweet Home Alabama, WAY more than Patrick Dempsey's character. And the ex-protester turned babysitter? LOVE! This show may not make it, but in my single mom with two boys' eyes, it's a total keeper. It's funny and creative and I can totally relate to the majority of the mom issues she has. Forever.
Thursday: Sigh... (A new series called Gracepoint is starting on Fox tomorrow, and I have my eye on it...)
Grey's Anatomy. I know, I know, so many people have jumped off the Grey's train, and I fully understand why...but when you catch the first few seasons on Lifetime during the day when you're supposed to be doing your homework, you find yourself hooked all over again. I sobbed when Cristina left at the end of last season. I adore how Alex's character has evolved. I miss Mark Sloan and Lexi Grey all the time...and Addison? Oh man. I think there are some super plot twists headed our way this season, and I wonder what will happen when it's revealed that Weber's love child with Ellis Grey is now battling head to head with Meredith, aka her sister. I mean, she already embraced one half-sibling, and look what happened. I will be with Grey's until the end.
How to Get Away with Murder. Viola Davis is a tough-looking broad. I love law-related shows like nobody's business (again, Boston Legal was a serious favorite of mine, as was Harry's Law with Kathy Bates), so when I saw this one was going to be a real "thing," I as super excited. And, y'all? The first episode did NOT disappoint! I can't say too much about it yet, but I'm already hooked, and this new group of actors looks super promising. Besides, it's Viola Davis! She's fantastic!
For the record, I am NOT on the Scandal bandwagon. I never have been, and I'm sure I'd love it if I had the time, but I'm trying to limit my procrastination to two shows a night. I'm responsible like that.
Other Shows: These are either canceled or not on right now, but coming back later this fall or this spring or this summer. Whatever. I don't have a life and I don't date, so I watch tv.
Glee: Yes, I know...it's run out of steam, but I love to see what songs they'll come up with next. the plot is not the best, but the songs are pretty fantastic.
White Collar: Oh, it comes back in November for its final season, and I'm so thrilled/heartbroken. I love the Matt Bomer/Tim DeKay banter. And Mozzie? Oh, I love him to pieces.
Covert Affairs: Piper Perabo has come a LONG way since Coyote Ugly. I love her as a spy and a total badass. She's known to go rogue...and so am I.
Royal Pains: My boys HATE that I love this show because they always walk into the room right as Hank is using some random household object as a medical tool. I, on the other hand, find it totally fascinating.
The Americans: Keri Russell as a Russian spy? Okay! I also love that this one is set during the Reagan administration, so it's like when I was a little bitty. It's interesting to see an entirely different perspective, and it's super dark and bloody...but totally awesome!
Sister Wives: Y'all, it's the train wreck I can't stop watching. I'm so ashamed...only, I'm not. How in the hell can they afford to have that many children even with a hefty stipend from TLC? Sheesh!
Graceland: I love USA television. A home where agents from multiple agencies live and coexist and get in the way and totally mess things up but still find a way to make it work? It's like they're at my house only without the agency part.
Who Do You Think You Are: I love history. I love watching these celebrities find out about their ancestors. It's moving and heartbreaking and I cry every single time. It's incredible.
Mistresses: I may have to quit this one since Alyssa Milano is rumored to not be coming back for season 3 since producers are moving the filming location, but let me just tell you...these 4 women friends are totally damaged but 100% there for each other. I wish I had girlfriends like that.
Hollywood Game Night: Jane Lynch. Drunk celebrities. Trivia. Hilarity. I laugh so hard every single time.
Believe: This one canceled after a season, which is a shame because N and I really liked it. It was about a girl with crazy mind powers and her dad (who didn't know she was his for a long time) trying to help her escape from some creeps who were trying to exploit her powers.
Burn Notice: Also canceled, but it was a fantastic show. I came in towards the end of the show and adored Michael Weston from the very start. I fully intend to watch from the beginning. Someday.
Psych: Another family favorite. We started watching in December 2013, and each time we finished a season, we'd get the next one from Amazon. We waited until the show was over to watch the last season, and I cried. Whatever. Plus, James Roday and Maggie Lawson are totally together in real life so it will never really end. And we make Psych references on a daily basis around here. It's also been N's go-to since he's been home sick all week.
I know there are others I'm forgetting, but now I've just proven to all of you that I really and truly DON'T have a life. I don't watch all of these all the time, but I cycle them with the appropriate seasons. And it's a great break/distraction from the mountains of homework that I have.
By the way, for the record, I am totally caught up at this time. Until midnight. Sigh.
Aubs
FALL PRIMETIME TELEVISION.
Okay, so not only is there NCAA football which makes my heart happy, but there is a show every single day in the fall that makes me happy...and sometimes there are multiples. Here are few of my hands down favorites, some new and some not-so-much.
Sunday:
Revenge. Y'all, I love this show so much, and I know I'm not alone. It's dark and twisty and Madeleine Stowe and Emily VanCamp are ruthless. There have been so many plot twists and turns during the past couple of seasons, but it's really getting twisty now. I keep holding out hope that Emily Thorne will eventually find her way to Jack Porter forever and for always. You know. Because Revenge is totally a real-life scenario.
Monday:
The Blacklist. This one is one of the newer ones, and I just adore James Spader. I watched Boston Legal religiously (man, I miss that show), and LOVED the relationship between James Spader and William Shatner. That, however, is not the point. I love the wit and creativity of the plot, how each blacklisted bad guy is somehow tied to Reddington and what's up with his serious overstepping into Elizabeth Keen's (Megan Boone) life. I mean, I have my suspicions, and I'm sure pretty much everyone is thinking the same thing, but I'm counting on a totally bizarre turn, perhaps as the season finale? I can't wait!
Tuesday: There are three, which should really only count as two since one is a spin-off.
NCIS/NCIS: New Orleans. I jumped on the NCIS bandwagon several years ago, and I own most of the seasons. I think forensics is fascinating, and I love the cast and their quirks. I cried huge crocodile tears when Kate left the show and again when Ziva did, but I'm warming up to the new characters. Plus, who doesn't love Mark Harmon's little smirk? Seriously. It's always something new, which is pretty impressive in and of itself. I never got into the LA spinoff, but the New Orleans spinoff is something I could get behind. I like the chemistry between the main characters, so we'll see. So far, any NOLA episodes have had characters from the original with guest roles, which is enough reason to watch.
Forever. This one is new, and have I mentioned how much I love medical-y shows? Another favorite somewhat related but no longer airing new episodes is Dr G. Medical Examiner. Anyway, the gist of this show is that, for whatever reason (I can't wait to find out why), there's this M.E. who's been alive for well over 200 years. Each time he dies (and there have been some pretty interesting deaths so far), he comes back in water and naked. The first episode had him come back to life naked and in the Hudson. He and his cop counterpart have a great dialogue and he's a genius! His assistant in the M.E. office is hilarious, too. Also, he has a best friend who is much older, but it appears that M.E. (Henry is his name) rescued him as an infant circa WWII and has raised him ever since. Now "child" is elderly and caring for parent who still looks like he's in his 30s. It's a great show and very engaging!
Wednesday: Again, there are a couple. (Also, I have a couple of episodes of Red Band Society on my dvr, but I have yet to watch them, so stay tuned for an update if I deem it a keeper.)
Law & Order: SVU. Again, I've probably seen every single SVU episode ever created. Twice. Or more. I miss Elliot Stabler like he's a legit person, and I follow Chris Meloni on Facebook. I keep hoping that he comes back in some capacity, and I might've squealed with glee when he said something about coming back as Benson's baby daddy. The cast has kind of had a revolving door, but it seems to be pretty solid, and Mariska Hargitay is a tough broad. There are a lot of similar cases, but each one is just a LITTLE bit different, and it never gets old. It DOES however get hard to watch sometimes.
The Mysteries of Laura. Debra Messing is hilarious as a mom of twins and a cop. And Josh Lucas is her ex-husband and now her boss? Oh, please...can it be me, except we can remove the "ex" from the equation. I adored him in Sweet Home Alabama, WAY more than Patrick Dempsey's character. And the ex-protester turned babysitter? LOVE! This show may not make it, but in my single mom with two boys' eyes, it's a total keeper. It's funny and creative and I can totally relate to the majority of the mom issues she has. Forever.
Thursday: Sigh... (A new series called Gracepoint is starting on Fox tomorrow, and I have my eye on it...)
Grey's Anatomy. I know, I know, so many people have jumped off the Grey's train, and I fully understand why...but when you catch the first few seasons on Lifetime during the day when you're supposed to be doing your homework, you find yourself hooked all over again. I sobbed when Cristina left at the end of last season. I adore how Alex's character has evolved. I miss Mark Sloan and Lexi Grey all the time...and Addison? Oh man. I think there are some super plot twists headed our way this season, and I wonder what will happen when it's revealed that Weber's love child with Ellis Grey is now battling head to head with Meredith, aka her sister. I mean, she already embraced one half-sibling, and look what happened. I will be with Grey's until the end.
How to Get Away with Murder. Viola Davis is a tough-looking broad. I love law-related shows like nobody's business (again, Boston Legal was a serious favorite of mine, as was Harry's Law with Kathy Bates), so when I saw this one was going to be a real "thing," I as super excited. And, y'all? The first episode did NOT disappoint! I can't say too much about it yet, but I'm already hooked, and this new group of actors looks super promising. Besides, it's Viola Davis! She's fantastic!
For the record, I am NOT on the Scandal bandwagon. I never have been, and I'm sure I'd love it if I had the time, but I'm trying to limit my procrastination to two shows a night. I'm responsible like that.
Other Shows: These are either canceled or not on right now, but coming back later this fall or this spring or this summer. Whatever. I don't have a life and I don't date, so I watch tv.
Glee: Yes, I know...it's run out of steam, but I love to see what songs they'll come up with next. the plot is not the best, but the songs are pretty fantastic.
White Collar: Oh, it comes back in November for its final season, and I'm so thrilled/heartbroken. I love the Matt Bomer/Tim DeKay banter. And Mozzie? Oh, I love him to pieces.
Covert Affairs: Piper Perabo has come a LONG way since Coyote Ugly. I love her as a spy and a total badass. She's known to go rogue...and so am I.
Royal Pains: My boys HATE that I love this show because they always walk into the room right as Hank is using some random household object as a medical tool. I, on the other hand, find it totally fascinating.
The Americans: Keri Russell as a Russian spy? Okay! I also love that this one is set during the Reagan administration, so it's like when I was a little bitty. It's interesting to see an entirely different perspective, and it's super dark and bloody...but totally awesome!
Sister Wives: Y'all, it's the train wreck I can't stop watching. I'm so ashamed...only, I'm not. How in the hell can they afford to have that many children even with a hefty stipend from TLC? Sheesh!
Graceland: I love USA television. A home where agents from multiple agencies live and coexist and get in the way and totally mess things up but still find a way to make it work? It's like they're at my house only without the agency part.
Who Do You Think You Are: I love history. I love watching these celebrities find out about their ancestors. It's moving and heartbreaking and I cry every single time. It's incredible.
Mistresses: I may have to quit this one since Alyssa Milano is rumored to not be coming back for season 3 since producers are moving the filming location, but let me just tell you...these 4 women friends are totally damaged but 100% there for each other. I wish I had girlfriends like that.
Hollywood Game Night: Jane Lynch. Drunk celebrities. Trivia. Hilarity. I laugh so hard every single time.
Believe: This one canceled after a season, which is a shame because N and I really liked it. It was about a girl with crazy mind powers and her dad (who didn't know she was his for a long time) trying to help her escape from some creeps who were trying to exploit her powers.
Burn Notice: Also canceled, but it was a fantastic show. I came in towards the end of the show and adored Michael Weston from the very start. I fully intend to watch from the beginning. Someday.
Psych: Another family favorite. We started watching in December 2013, and each time we finished a season, we'd get the next one from Amazon. We waited until the show was over to watch the last season, and I cried. Whatever. Plus, James Roday and Maggie Lawson are totally together in real life so it will never really end. And we make Psych references on a daily basis around here. It's also been N's go-to since he's been home sick all week.
I know there are others I'm forgetting, but now I've just proven to all of you that I really and truly DON'T have a life. I don't watch all of these all the time, but I cycle them with the appropriate seasons. And it's a great break/distraction from the mountains of homework that I have.
By the way, for the record, I am totally caught up at this time. Until midnight. Sigh.
Aubs
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
What?!
Y'all, how are we on October's doorstep already?! And why was it 91 degrees outside today? I mean, I'm not saying I was out in it all day, but I did have to go get the mail. It was a long walk, let me tell you!
N seemed to be on the mend this morning, so he took a shower and was promptly exhausted. Around 1:00 or so, his fever started creeping back up, so he's spending yet another day at home tomorrow. He did a little Science homework, and has been vegging out ever since. His appetite is starting to return, so that's also great news.
While he lounged, I kicked myself into gear and tackled my homework. I've been putting some of it off because I didn't find it as interesting as a couple of my other classes, but I realized that today was the last day of September, and I'm out of time! I submitted my first Econ "homework" assignment (which I really just see as a review for the test, which is tomorrow), my first Texas History essay exam (there are two prompts and you have to choose one...I chose the one my computer auto-saved from a discussion board (my professor's idea, not mine) and now I have a new way to work smarter not harder), and several discussion boards for my early World History class. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it was a whole lot of typing.
And that was the majority of my day, too. With a sicko at home, there's a real limit on activity...so we're just hanging out and I'm steering clear as much as possible because who doesn't have time to catch...anything?
Oh, that's right...it's me.
I should get my book for my 6th class of the semester tomorrow, so I'll be ready to hit the ground running on Monday. Or Sunday. Or whenever October 5 is.
I seem to have lost my sense of reality. Why is this news?
Aubs
N seemed to be on the mend this morning, so he took a shower and was promptly exhausted. Around 1:00 or so, his fever started creeping back up, so he's spending yet another day at home tomorrow. He did a little Science homework, and has been vegging out ever since. His appetite is starting to return, so that's also great news.
While he lounged, I kicked myself into gear and tackled my homework. I've been putting some of it off because I didn't find it as interesting as a couple of my other classes, but I realized that today was the last day of September, and I'm out of time! I submitted my first Econ "homework" assignment (which I really just see as a review for the test, which is tomorrow), my first Texas History essay exam (there are two prompts and you have to choose one...I chose the one my computer auto-saved from a discussion board (my professor's idea, not mine) and now I have a new way to work smarter not harder), and several discussion boards for my early World History class. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it was a whole lot of typing.
And that was the majority of my day, too. With a sicko at home, there's a real limit on activity...so we're just hanging out and I'm steering clear as much as possible because who doesn't have time to catch...anything?
Oh, that's right...it's me.
I should get my book for my 6th class of the semester tomorrow, so I'll be ready to hit the ground running on Monday. Or Sunday. Or whenever October 5 is.
I seem to have lost my sense of reality. Why is this news?
Aubs
Well, at least it's not the flu...
When N's temperature hovered around 103 for the majority of the night, I knew a trip to the doctor was inevitable. When he woke up this morning with a super-low fever, I almost didn't call to schedule an appointment.
Then he got up to pee and promptly threw up, so I went ahead and made the call. I think that hospitals and doctor's offices have some sort of fever barrier. You can be running a crazy fever (or even just a small one) in the comfort of your own home, but as soon as you cross the threshold of a healthcare related business, the fever barrier goes up and your temp is always normal.
Also, I'll go ahead and go on record about how much I despise the thermometer wand that slides over your forehead. I'm a "thermometer under the tongue" kind of gal, myself. Call me old-fashioned...I'll proudly own it! Anyway, his temperature was normal even though his head felt hot...like 100.9 hot when I took his temperature orally after we got home. He tested negative for the flu, so that's awesome, but not so awesome? Just a virus that has to run its course. He'll be out until Wednesday at the earliest since he's been running a fever for the majority of the day.
Tylenol and Advil combat it just fine, but it always comes back, so I'm attempting to let him sweat it out and move on with our lives. I can tell he's starting to feel a little better; his sense of humor is slightly more funny, although he still doesn't make sense half the time.
I emailed teachers about assignments, and they have yet to get back to me, but I figure it would help to know what we're getting into, what with the 6 weeks ending on Friday.
Oh, and during the weighing/measuring portion of our morning, I text my Seester gleefully because he's her height...and he weighs 120. Which makes him a man-child.
My grocery bill is going to be through the roof. Oh, wait. It already is...
Aubs
Then he got up to pee and promptly threw up, so I went ahead and made the call. I think that hospitals and doctor's offices have some sort of fever barrier. You can be running a crazy fever (or even just a small one) in the comfort of your own home, but as soon as you cross the threshold of a healthcare related business, the fever barrier goes up and your temp is always normal.
Also, I'll go ahead and go on record about how much I despise the thermometer wand that slides over your forehead. I'm a "thermometer under the tongue" kind of gal, myself. Call me old-fashioned...I'll proudly own it! Anyway, his temperature was normal even though his head felt hot...like 100.9 hot when I took his temperature orally after we got home. He tested negative for the flu, so that's awesome, but not so awesome? Just a virus that has to run its course. He'll be out until Wednesday at the earliest since he's been running a fever for the majority of the day.
Tylenol and Advil combat it just fine, but it always comes back, so I'm attempting to let him sweat it out and move on with our lives. I can tell he's starting to feel a little better; his sense of humor is slightly more funny, although he still doesn't make sense half the time.
I emailed teachers about assignments, and they have yet to get back to me, but I figure it would help to know what we're getting into, what with the 6 weeks ending on Friday.
Oh, and during the weighing/measuring portion of our morning, I text my Seester gleefully because he's her height...and he weighs 120. Which makes him a man-child.
My grocery bill is going to be through the roof. Oh, wait. It already is...
Aubs
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Miserable & Puny
By now you have probably realized, if you don't know me personally, that I have 2 children: N & B.
N is 12, plays baseball, loves history and is pretty much an old man trapped in a pre-teen body. He's closing in on me in height and he's stronger than I am sometimes. He knows it, too. It has the potential to be unpleasant. As the oldest by 3 years (and change), he grew up primarily around adults, hence his ease in conversing with them, hence his overall dislike for maturity levels in his age range. I'm not saying he can't join friends on the immaturity bandwagon, because he's been known to on rare occasions, but he chooses not to more often than not. N rarely gets sick, doesn't suffer from any allergies (aside from seasonal crap like the rest of us), and the only time he was seriously sick/injured was a broken arm in 1st grade.
B is 8, loves to play outside and ride bikes, play board games, help in the kitchen (or anywhere really) and is the most joyful child I have ever known. He is just gleeful about life, and his laugh? Well, it's infectious. His laugh can diffuse any situation known to man, and even when things are rough, he can find a reason to laugh. He is the youngest of 4 all together and that has been kind of tough on him. He thrives when he is the youngest in a group because most of the others typically cut him some slack and let him lead. He thrives when he is the oldest in a group because most of the others look up to him and are willing to let him make the rules. He has a hard time with people his own age because they're all on even ground. B has had a rough go of life...he's been hospitalized twice (once with Rotavirus when he was 1, and once right before 1st grade in 2012 when he had to be admitted to the ICU when he accidentally got a whiff of chlorine gas), and has a horrible time with asthma, allergies and strep throat.
N has been sick enough to miss school approximately half a dozen times or so in his lifetime. It just rarely happens...B, on the other hand, missed 2 days last week simply because his allergies were so bad he could barely open his eyes. N's knee was swollen this morning and he felt wobbly and shaky. I figured he slept so hard that he slept funny and he just needed to wake up a little. We planned to go pick apples at his great-grandparents' orchard this afternoon, so we headed that way around lunchtime. When we arrived, nobody was home and all of the apples were gone. BUMMER! We hung around for a little bit, then got thirsty so we headed back towards our house. I stopped to grab him some water, and after he drank a little, he curled up on the passenger seat and passed out.
By the time we got home, he was begging to curl up on the couch and asked for a blanket. As I covered him, I felt his head and it was on fire. 102.2. Super. I'd given him some pain reliever for his knee (it's still pretty swollen, even now) so I had to hold off on any fever reducer until later. His temperature evened out to 99.4, and he swore he'd be going to school tomorrow. I told him to wait for it.
A few hours later, we were back up to 103.4, and we've been hovering around that ever since. He's not nauseated or anything...just achy, fever/chills, and a massive headache. He finally agreed that he should stay home tomorrow, and I informed him that we'd be headed to the doctor as soon as I could get an appointment. The good news is B is with his stepmom this week, so if it IS the flu (my number 1 suspicion), he'll be able to avoid it. I hope.
Because, y'all? We had the flu in February, and it was the worst. Ever. In the history of ever.
Aubs
N is 12, plays baseball, loves history and is pretty much an old man trapped in a pre-teen body. He's closing in on me in height and he's stronger than I am sometimes. He knows it, too. It has the potential to be unpleasant. As the oldest by 3 years (and change), he grew up primarily around adults, hence his ease in conversing with them, hence his overall dislike for maturity levels in his age range. I'm not saying he can't join friends on the immaturity bandwagon, because he's been known to on rare occasions, but he chooses not to more often than not. N rarely gets sick, doesn't suffer from any allergies (aside from seasonal crap like the rest of us), and the only time he was seriously sick/injured was a broken arm in 1st grade.
B is 8, loves to play outside and ride bikes, play board games, help in the kitchen (or anywhere really) and is the most joyful child I have ever known. He is just gleeful about life, and his laugh? Well, it's infectious. His laugh can diffuse any situation known to man, and even when things are rough, he can find a reason to laugh. He is the youngest of 4 all together and that has been kind of tough on him. He thrives when he is the youngest in a group because most of the others typically cut him some slack and let him lead. He thrives when he is the oldest in a group because most of the others look up to him and are willing to let him make the rules. He has a hard time with people his own age because they're all on even ground. B has had a rough go of life...he's been hospitalized twice (once with Rotavirus when he was 1, and once right before 1st grade in 2012 when he had to be admitted to the ICU when he accidentally got a whiff of chlorine gas), and has a horrible time with asthma, allergies and strep throat.
N has been sick enough to miss school approximately half a dozen times or so in his lifetime. It just rarely happens...B, on the other hand, missed 2 days last week simply because his allergies were so bad he could barely open his eyes. N's knee was swollen this morning and he felt wobbly and shaky. I figured he slept so hard that he slept funny and he just needed to wake up a little. We planned to go pick apples at his great-grandparents' orchard this afternoon, so we headed that way around lunchtime. When we arrived, nobody was home and all of the apples were gone. BUMMER! We hung around for a little bit, then got thirsty so we headed back towards our house. I stopped to grab him some water, and after he drank a little, he curled up on the passenger seat and passed out.
By the time we got home, he was begging to curl up on the couch and asked for a blanket. As I covered him, I felt his head and it was on fire. 102.2. Super. I'd given him some pain reliever for his knee (it's still pretty swollen, even now) so I had to hold off on any fever reducer until later. His temperature evened out to 99.4, and he swore he'd be going to school tomorrow. I told him to wait for it.
A few hours later, we were back up to 103.4, and we've been hovering around that ever since. He's not nauseated or anything...just achy, fever/chills, and a massive headache. He finally agreed that he should stay home tomorrow, and I informed him that we'd be headed to the doctor as soon as I could get an appointment. The good news is B is with his stepmom this week, so if it IS the flu (my number 1 suspicion), he'll be able to avoid it. I hope.
Because, y'all? We had the flu in February, and it was the worst. Ever. In the history of ever.
Aubs
Take me out to the ballgame, or maybe just take me out...
N skipped practice yesterday since he was babysitting, so when we got an email from his coach saying we were down to 8 players for our game, he was ready to get there and be a leader. His latest and greatest quest in life is to find an adult-ish wallet since he can't find the velcro Tony Hawk wallet that he lost...oh, two years ago or so.
I have been trying to explain to him how important it is to NOT buy things impulsively. Unfortunately, I also suck at this, even though I fully understand it in theory. That said, I thought I'd convinced him to wait until Sunday to go purchase a wallet. I was mistaken.
My mom came over after the ballgame (we won 7-6, but more on that in a minute), and when she left, N had his shoes on, ready to go. And he's persuasive.
So, he's now the proud owner of a "man" wallet. It's brown leather, and it isn't a tri-fold, so he thinks it's the best thing on the planet. And now he says he needs shorts with bigger pockets so it'll fit better.
It's always something.
SO. The game. N played first for the majority of the game and hit well. On his second at bat, however, he tripped over the first baseman who was blocking him, and slammed his knee into the ground. My heart dropped to the ground as I watched his face twist in pain and hobble toward the bench, calling for a pinch runner. I ran to grab some ice (not knowing they had an ice pack in the dugout already) and took it into the dugout, where N was icing his knee. I told him to elevate it, and he told me I was being dramatic. Dramatic is hobbling off the field, calling for a pinch runner, but whatever. We go with it. He played through the pain and caught for the last inning or so.
Meanwhile, there's a kid on the other team, a "J" who has played with us before...in the fall of 2012. While he was up to bat, he argued with the umpire about how he was calling the game. When the ump called him out, J told him, "You must be high on drugs or something."
Bad idea. The coach heard him and benched him, just as the ump walked over and said he intended to eject him. J threw his helmet, packed up his bag, and left the dugout. His dad was sitting in front of me and we'd been chatting throughout the game. J throws his stuff at his dad's feet and starts griping about how N stole his bat. Wait, what?! My N? I asked J what he was talking about and he seemed to think that N stole his bat 2 years ago, when the bat length was a good 3 inches shorter. I spoke up and asked him which bat he was talking about, then informed him (rather politely through clenched teeth) that I just purchased the bat in question earlier this year. His dad told him to shut up and that he was already in trouble. I told him that there were a lot of those bats this season, so I hoped he was able to find his.
And then I stared while he continued to blame N for the bat theft, I'm guessing since N was the only one on the other team he recognized? I have no idea. Some people...
So, we're spending the evening icing a knee and playing some Red Dead on Xbox. Because we're super awesome.
Aubs
I have been trying to explain to him how important it is to NOT buy things impulsively. Unfortunately, I also suck at this, even though I fully understand it in theory. That said, I thought I'd convinced him to wait until Sunday to go purchase a wallet. I was mistaken.
My mom came over after the ballgame (we won 7-6, but more on that in a minute), and when she left, N had his shoes on, ready to go. And he's persuasive.
So, he's now the proud owner of a "man" wallet. It's brown leather, and it isn't a tri-fold, so he thinks it's the best thing on the planet. And now he says he needs shorts with bigger pockets so it'll fit better.
It's always something.
SO. The game. N played first for the majority of the game and hit well. On his second at bat, however, he tripped over the first baseman who was blocking him, and slammed his knee into the ground. My heart dropped to the ground as I watched his face twist in pain and hobble toward the bench, calling for a pinch runner. I ran to grab some ice (not knowing they had an ice pack in the dugout already) and took it into the dugout, where N was icing his knee. I told him to elevate it, and he told me I was being dramatic. Dramatic is hobbling off the field, calling for a pinch runner, but whatever. We go with it. He played through the pain and caught for the last inning or so.
Meanwhile, there's a kid on the other team, a "J" who has played with us before...in the fall of 2012. While he was up to bat, he argued with the umpire about how he was calling the game. When the ump called him out, J told him, "You must be high on drugs or something."
Bad idea. The coach heard him and benched him, just as the ump walked over and said he intended to eject him. J threw his helmet, packed up his bag, and left the dugout. His dad was sitting in front of me and we'd been chatting throughout the game. J throws his stuff at his dad's feet and starts griping about how N stole his bat. Wait, what?! My N? I asked J what he was talking about and he seemed to think that N stole his bat 2 years ago, when the bat length was a good 3 inches shorter. I spoke up and asked him which bat he was talking about, then informed him (rather politely through clenched teeth) that I just purchased the bat in question earlier this year. His dad told him to shut up and that he was already in trouble. I told him that there were a lot of those bats this season, so I hoped he was able to find his.
And then I stared while he continued to blame N for the bat theft, I'm guessing since N was the only one on the other team he recognized? I have no idea. Some people...
So, we're spending the evening icing a knee and playing some Red Dead on Xbox. Because we're super awesome.
Aubs
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Babysitting and Grandfriends Day
I'm fairly certain I've mentioned this before, but N is super-into maps and flags. Like, it's all he wanted for his birthday, and since then, he's been working with his dad to make money. For what? More maps and flags.
We're running out of wall space, here...he's going to have to start cycling them in and out, perhaps seasonal flag changes? I'm grasping at straws here.
Anyway, he really wanted this vintage map he found on Amazon, so he asked if he could pay me and I could buy it with my Prime account. Okay, no problem. And then, when I went to purchase the item he put in my shopping cart, I found 3 items totaling almost $50 instead of the ONE item we had originally discussed.
Sneaky, but not sneaky enough. I told him I'd be happy to purchase them when he was able to pay me the full amount. And then he asked if he could come with me to babysit so he could make some money.
C & J LOVE him. He plays games with J and talks to C, and reads really great bedtime stories. This time, however, he was cranky. And that doesn't make a great babysitter. He turned it around at bedtime and managed to make some money to buy his flags and maps.
So, I ordered his vintage Betsy Ross flag, his "Don't Tread On Me" flag, and his super-vintage world map.
And I still have no idea where he intends to put it all, so that will be our next adventure.
Also, today was Grandfriends Day at B's school, where a special friend/grandparent comes in for an open house type event, then cookies and lunch with their student. It's always a lot of fun, and this year was so much better than last year. Last year, our class was coping with the loss of a classmate that passed away the night before at the age of 6. Today was the one year anniversary of her death, and although everyone was having a great time with their special friends, I know I wasn't the only one who was thinking about her and her family. It's sobering and puts life in perspective. We are never guaranteed a specific number of days, so we need to cherish them all.
My mom usually comes for Grandfriends Day because she's the only local grandparent. This year, B hadn't seen his stepmom in 3 weeks (It was my week, then his stepmom was out of town and his dad wasn't feeling well, so I got a second week, and then B got sick and it was my week again), so she asked if she could be his surprise special friend. My mom agreed, so stepmom came to surprise B...and she brought her mom (B's step-grandma, I guess?), too. They asked if they could take him home after lunch instead of having him stay the whole day, so B had a SUPER short week this week, since he missed Monday and Tuesday and left early on Friday.
I miss him already. He's over there all week, then back with me for a few days before I head out of town to see my dad for a long weekend. I can't wait!
Aubs
We're running out of wall space, here...he's going to have to start cycling them in and out, perhaps seasonal flag changes? I'm grasping at straws here.
Anyway, he really wanted this vintage map he found on Amazon, so he asked if he could pay me and I could buy it with my Prime account. Okay, no problem. And then, when I went to purchase the item he put in my shopping cart, I found 3 items totaling almost $50 instead of the ONE item we had originally discussed.
Sneaky, but not sneaky enough. I told him I'd be happy to purchase them when he was able to pay me the full amount. And then he asked if he could come with me to babysit so he could make some money.
C & J LOVE him. He plays games with J and talks to C, and reads really great bedtime stories. This time, however, he was cranky. And that doesn't make a great babysitter. He turned it around at bedtime and managed to make some money to buy his flags and maps.
So, I ordered his vintage Betsy Ross flag, his "Don't Tread On Me" flag, and his super-vintage world map.
And I still have no idea where he intends to put it all, so that will be our next adventure.
Also, today was Grandfriends Day at B's school, where a special friend/grandparent comes in for an open house type event, then cookies and lunch with their student. It's always a lot of fun, and this year was so much better than last year. Last year, our class was coping with the loss of a classmate that passed away the night before at the age of 6. Today was the one year anniversary of her death, and although everyone was having a great time with their special friends, I know I wasn't the only one who was thinking about her and her family. It's sobering and puts life in perspective. We are never guaranteed a specific number of days, so we need to cherish them all.
My mom usually comes for Grandfriends Day because she's the only local grandparent. This year, B hadn't seen his stepmom in 3 weeks (It was my week, then his stepmom was out of town and his dad wasn't feeling well, so I got a second week, and then B got sick and it was my week again), so she asked if she could be his surprise special friend. My mom agreed, so stepmom came to surprise B...and she brought her mom (B's step-grandma, I guess?), too. They asked if they could take him home after lunch instead of having him stay the whole day, so B had a SUPER short week this week, since he missed Monday and Tuesday and left early on Friday.
I miss him already. He's over there all week, then back with me for a few days before I head out of town to see my dad for a long weekend. I can't wait!
Aubs
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Stupid Purple Dinosaur
Mine may drive me absolutely insane sometimes, and we may not always get along or see eye to eye on...well, anything, but family is awesome. It reminds me of a song I used to sing when I would babysit those precious children who loved that horrid purple dinosaur:
"A family is people,
A family is love.
That's a family.
They come in all different sizes
And different kinds,
But mine's just right for me, yeah!
Mine's just right for me."
My family is perfectly imperfect. My "nuclear" family is sometimes volatile (like today when we all just took a page from Alexander's book and had terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days) but, man...they sure are precious when they're sleeping. I know some people will totally relate to that. Or most of you. Even if you don't want to admit it. I won't judge.
My "nuclear" family when I was growing up was also imperfect. My dad traveled a lot and my mom got to deal with the brunt of our anger, hostility and hatred. Three females? And a female cat and dog? If I had been my dad, I would've been gone all the time, too! It wasn't his fault, but it was his job. When he'd come home from a week of traveling, he'd want to chill and relax, and we'd be raring to go. I can't imagine how difficult it was on him, but he took it all in stride.
My extended family is rather large, however, most of us don't keep in touch. There was a "core" group of grandkids on my mom's side: My sister and me and then my mom's sister's daughters...there were (eventually) 4 of them. We grew up in the same neighborhood and lived around the corner (or a few of them) from each other. Four of us are stairstep cousins: I have a cousin a year-ish older and a year-ish younger, who's a year-ish older than my sister. They have two sisters who complete our stairsteps, too. We have very few male cousins, so they get to put up with a lot from us. Or at least they used to...like I said, we don't get to keep in touch nearly as often as I'd like.
The great thing about being a grown-up (there's just one? Womp womp!) is that two of the cousins in our staircase live less than 5 minutes from me, and one of them came to my house tonight to pick up a book for her book club AND some potato soup, too! She's my "Pal," which requires an explanation: Right before I turned 7, we moved from our home in San Antonio to Norman, Oklahoma. When we'd come back to SA to visit (which was quite a bit because I had an ill grandparent), we'd inevitably spend at least one night with them. Each time we'd leave, our stairstep cousins (L & Z) would run down the sidewalk in their cul-de-sac, waving their arms and jumping while yelling, "YOU'RE STILL MY PAL!!!!!" It was tradition...a tradition that we still do in some way/shape/form on a regular basis.
My Pal and I had a blast catching up, and she helped with my Spanish class because, let me just say...the textbook we're using is awful. We busted out Guess Who and I described the characters in Spanish, while inserting my own words like "Alfred son...d-bag?" Needless to say, there were lots of laughs. I love that I have cousins I'm close to on my mom's side of the family. On my dad's side, family members don't really keep in touch at all, but I have two cousins that I absolutely adore! They don't live close, and I haven't seen them in 6 years, but thank Jesus for Facebook! It's so wonderful to be able to keep up with each other and chat whenever we have a free moment.
Let's face it...it's not that often, but it's one of those things where you take the time. And I'm glad I took the time with L tonight because...man! I haven't laughed that hard in a while!
YOU'RE STILL MY PAL!!!!
Aubs
"A family is people,
A family is love.
That's a family.
They come in all different sizes
And different kinds,
But mine's just right for me, yeah!
Mine's just right for me."
My family is perfectly imperfect. My "nuclear" family is sometimes volatile (like today when we all just took a page from Alexander's book and had terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days) but, man...they sure are precious when they're sleeping. I know some people will totally relate to that. Or most of you. Even if you don't want to admit it. I won't judge.
My "nuclear" family when I was growing up was also imperfect. My dad traveled a lot and my mom got to deal with the brunt of our anger, hostility and hatred. Three females? And a female cat and dog? If I had been my dad, I would've been gone all the time, too! It wasn't his fault, but it was his job. When he'd come home from a week of traveling, he'd want to chill and relax, and we'd be raring to go. I can't imagine how difficult it was on him, but he took it all in stride.
My extended family is rather large, however, most of us don't keep in touch. There was a "core" group of grandkids on my mom's side: My sister and me and then my mom's sister's daughters...there were (eventually) 4 of them. We grew up in the same neighborhood and lived around the corner (or a few of them) from each other. Four of us are stairstep cousins: I have a cousin a year-ish older and a year-ish younger, who's a year-ish older than my sister. They have two sisters who complete our stairsteps, too. We have very few male cousins, so they get to put up with a lot from us. Or at least they used to...like I said, we don't get to keep in touch nearly as often as I'd like.
The great thing about being a grown-up (there's just one? Womp womp!) is that two of the cousins in our staircase live less than 5 minutes from me, and one of them came to my house tonight to pick up a book for her book club AND some potato soup, too! She's my "Pal," which requires an explanation: Right before I turned 7, we moved from our home in San Antonio to Norman, Oklahoma. When we'd come back to SA to visit (which was quite a bit because I had an ill grandparent), we'd inevitably spend at least one night with them. Each time we'd leave, our stairstep cousins (L & Z) would run down the sidewalk in their cul-de-sac, waving their arms and jumping while yelling, "YOU'RE STILL MY PAL!!!!!" It was tradition...a tradition that we still do in some way/shape/form on a regular basis.
My Pal and I had a blast catching up, and she helped with my Spanish class because, let me just say...the textbook we're using is awful. We busted out Guess Who and I described the characters in Spanish, while inserting my own words like "Alfred son...d-bag?" Needless to say, there were lots of laughs. I love that I have cousins I'm close to on my mom's side of the family. On my dad's side, family members don't really keep in touch at all, but I have two cousins that I absolutely adore! They don't live close, and I haven't seen them in 6 years, but thank Jesus for Facebook! It's so wonderful to be able to keep up with each other and chat whenever we have a free moment.
Let's face it...it's not that often, but it's one of those things where you take the time. And I'm glad I took the time with L tonight because...man! I haven't laughed that hard in a while!
YOU'RE STILL MY PAL!!!!
Aubs
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Talk Talk Albert
When I was in Kindergarten, there was a boy in my class named Talk Talk Albert. For a good part of the year, I was convinced that was actually his name. That was a super fun year. We took turns chasing each other on the playground and made some really awesome glasses out of egg cartons with patterns cut out of the bottom and covered with blue cellophane. I also got in trouble when I asked to take my shoe off after stepping in a fire ant pile when my foot was practically two times it's normal size. Ahhhhhh, the joys of Kindergarten! I went to a private Christian school, and I was constantly reciting the Lord's Prayer...so much so that my sister would tattle on me for saying it: "Mooooooooom, she's saying the Lord's Prayer!" Oh, I was such a rebel...
Today, I was Talk Talk Albert. I have no idea what was so important, but I swear I feel like I've been talking all day long. I spent the morning talking to AT&T about what options N had if his phone could not be found. I spent 3 hours at school, talking about Spanish and about what I didn't like about the new curriculum they started this semester. I spent 20 minutes talking at the grocery store. I spent from 3:15 until 8:45 talking practically non-stop, whether it be to my children, to neighbors who are moving away, on the phone to each of my parents and finally, reading the boys part of our Magic Treehouse book before bed.
I am all talked out. And I think that also means I'm all typed out. 'Cause man!
Aubs
P.S. I was looking for pictures of me from my first day of Kindergarten, but I have no idea where they are. I know I have at least one because I've seen it recently...but instead I got caught up at looking at pictures from a couple of years ago, when I was way skinnier. And I realized I need that kind of motivation. So, here I go. Maybe.
Today, I was Talk Talk Albert. I have no idea what was so important, but I swear I feel like I've been talking all day long. I spent the morning talking to AT&T about what options N had if his phone could not be found. I spent 3 hours at school, talking about Spanish and about what I didn't like about the new curriculum they started this semester. I spent 20 minutes talking at the grocery store. I spent from 3:15 until 8:45 talking practically non-stop, whether it be to my children, to neighbors who are moving away, on the phone to each of my parents and finally, reading the boys part of our Magic Treehouse book before bed.
I am all talked out. And I think that also means I'm all typed out. 'Cause man!
Aubs
P.S. I was looking for pictures of me from my first day of Kindergarten, but I have no idea where they are. I know I have at least one because I've seen it recently...but instead I got caught up at looking at pictures from a couple of years ago, when I was way skinnier. And I realized I need that kind of motivation. So, here I go. Maybe.
I called it!
B was a bundle of energy today. He was argumentative and he ignored half of what I said...both clear indicators that he is feeling much better. We did get some snuggle time in this morning, so I was grateful for that. It just ended entirely too early for me! We spent most of the day lounging around; B played solitaire with a deck of cards (my mom taught him, and he LOVES it), and after I finished some homework, we played a lively game of Go Fish, where I lost 10-3. It was embarrassing.
We made a quick run to Target to grab a few things I needed to make cookies for Grandfriends' Day on Friday, and while we were out B asked, "Is this really what you do all day, or are you torturing me on purpose?" He's full of it, friends...the kid loves Target almost as much as I do. It's genetic.
Speaking of genes/jeans, we had a great conversation about that on the way home from Target. He was giggling up a storm, which quickly turned into maniacal chipmunk and had me cracking up, too! His laugh...oh, how I love it!
When N walked in the door, he was in a foul mood. And it went further downhill when he realized his phone was missing. We turned the house upside down, I called the bus barn, sent him to the apartment office, and finally had him email all of his teachers...so far, no phone. He's had it for over a year and only had one other mishap, so I'm pretty proud of him for being responsible. I keep telling him I really think it's in his locker, but he begs to differ.
And if you've never been able to reach out and physically TOUCH hate, well...you should've been in my house today. That sweet boy of mine was full of it. And it was rough. But we got through it because....well, even if we don't like each other all the time, we're a team.
So my heart spilled over tonight when B announced he was cleaning the table (without being asked) and he worked so hard. They played nicely together and begged me to read a chapter of a Magic Treehouse book, and I was glad to do it. Days like today can be hard, and they can take a serious turn if you allow yourself to give in to the madness and the hate.
But, today? Today we chose to have joy. And I have to tell you...it felt WAY better than all of those other days where we've chosen the alternative.
It'll take some getting used to, but I'm going to try my hardest to choose joy a whole lot more.
You should, too.
Aubs
We made a quick run to Target to grab a few things I needed to make cookies for Grandfriends' Day on Friday, and while we were out B asked, "Is this really what you do all day, or are you torturing me on purpose?" He's full of it, friends...the kid loves Target almost as much as I do. It's genetic.
Speaking of genes/jeans, we had a great conversation about that on the way home from Target. He was giggling up a storm, which quickly turned into maniacal chipmunk and had me cracking up, too! His laugh...oh, how I love it!
When N walked in the door, he was in a foul mood. And it went further downhill when he realized his phone was missing. We turned the house upside down, I called the bus barn, sent him to the apartment office, and finally had him email all of his teachers...so far, no phone. He's had it for over a year and only had one other mishap, so I'm pretty proud of him for being responsible. I keep telling him I really think it's in his locker, but he begs to differ.
And if you've never been able to reach out and physically TOUCH hate, well...you should've been in my house today. That sweet boy of mine was full of it. And it was rough. But we got through it because....well, even if we don't like each other all the time, we're a team.
So my heart spilled over tonight when B announced he was cleaning the table (without being asked) and he worked so hard. They played nicely together and begged me to read a chapter of a Magic Treehouse book, and I was glad to do it. Days like today can be hard, and they can take a serious turn if you allow yourself to give in to the madness and the hate.
But, today? Today we chose to have joy. And I have to tell you...it felt WAY better than all of those other days where we've chosen the alternative.
It'll take some getting used to, but I'm going to try my hardest to choose joy a whole lot more.
You should, too.
Aubs
Monday, September 22, 2014
Sick Day
I had B stay home today, and (luckily) he went right back to sleep when I moved him from his bed to mine so N could get ready for school. N's dad was supposed to come by and grab him for breakfast, but that didn't pan out at the last minute so I was stuck. Also, I never made it to the grocery store this weekend, so we were out of food. Literally.
I gave N all the cash in my wallet and got him to school on time. My ultimate goal was to climb in bed and snuggle with B until a mid-morning doctor's appointment, however, when I called and they said, "Can you be here at 8:30?" I (mentally) sighed and said, "Sure!"
Prognosis? Really bad allergies with a viral rash. He can go to school tomorrow as long as he hasn't started running a fever. Fast forward to 2 hours later, and guess who's febrile...yup! I emailed my professor about bringing B to my Spanish class, and never heard back from her. SO, since I'm the student who can do no wrong (hahahaha), I loaded him up with my laptop and some Chick Fil-A, and for an hour and 20 minutes, I did not hear a peep from him.
It's how I knew he legitimately didn't feel well...I won't lie. After class, he was feeling crappy, but I knew we had to go to the grocery store. I told him to curl up on the bottom thingy and we zipped around Market Street, grabbing everything we needed (mostly) in less than 20 minutes.
B is the type of kid who rarely acts as bad as he might actually feel. It's just not in his nature. Even when he had the flu in February and was running 104, he was still bouncing around and asking for snacks and to play video games. I wish I could be like that when I was sick.
Since he did run a fever this morning and again this afternoon, I've decided to keep him home tomorrow, too. This will ultimately be my downfall, I can feel it in my bones.
Aubs
I gave N all the cash in my wallet and got him to school on time. My ultimate goal was to climb in bed and snuggle with B until a mid-morning doctor's appointment, however, when I called and they said, "Can you be here at 8:30?" I (mentally) sighed and said, "Sure!"
Prognosis? Really bad allergies with a viral rash. He can go to school tomorrow as long as he hasn't started running a fever. Fast forward to 2 hours later, and guess who's febrile...yup! I emailed my professor about bringing B to my Spanish class, and never heard back from her. SO, since I'm the student who can do no wrong (hahahaha), I loaded him up with my laptop and some Chick Fil-A, and for an hour and 20 minutes, I did not hear a peep from him.
It's how I knew he legitimately didn't feel well...I won't lie. After class, he was feeling crappy, but I knew we had to go to the grocery store. I told him to curl up on the bottom thingy and we zipped around Market Street, grabbing everything we needed (mostly) in less than 20 minutes.
B is the type of kid who rarely acts as bad as he might actually feel. It's just not in his nature. Even when he had the flu in February and was running 104, he was still bouncing around and asking for snacks and to play video games. I wish I could be like that when I was sick.
Since he did run a fever this morning and again this afternoon, I've decided to keep him home tomorrow, too. This will ultimately be my downfall, I can feel it in my bones.
Aubs
Blech
I knew when we went to bed last night that it was going to be a crappy day for B. His allergies are killer this time of year, and when he went out to play with a volleyball on Thursday, his quality of life took a nosedive. Then, when we went to practice on Friday, he ran all over creation and played his little heart out. He looked like a punching bag, but he felt fine and he couldn't be stopped.
Saturday was even worse, but with Benadryl and a quiet day, he was mostly himself. But at N's game, he sat still and played cards and wrote cursive and tried to keep score (we had a scoreboard malfunction which was very distracting). He lost interest and began to run around towards the end, but he was extremely still...even for him.
So when he woke up today, I knew we weren't doing anything. I watched the sermon at church from my laptop while B watched "The Patriot." I worked on homework while B played solitaire. We played endless rounds of Go Fish, and I finally convinced him to play the "close your eyes on the commercials, open them when the show comes back on" game. I just muted the tv so he'd have no idea in an attempt to get him to nap.
I failed.
I also failed to go to the grocery store, so I know that breakfast and lunch-making will be incredibly interesting tomorrow. Oh, and dinner...we had grilled cheese. Or B did, with the last of the bread.
My cupboards are bare, and I've already decided he's going to stay home tomorrow so I can take him to the doctor. I'm sure it's just allergies, but with the red/crusty eyes (delightful mental image, right?), I can't be too careful. He's supposed to see his dad sometime this week, but his dad is still considered post-corneal-transplant, and that would be an epic disaster.
He doesn't know he's staying home yet, so that will be a thrilling revelation for him. N? Not so much!
Aubs
Saturday was even worse, but with Benadryl and a quiet day, he was mostly himself. But at N's game, he sat still and played cards and wrote cursive and tried to keep score (we had a scoreboard malfunction which was very distracting). He lost interest and began to run around towards the end, but he was extremely still...even for him.
So when he woke up today, I knew we weren't doing anything. I watched the sermon at church from my laptop while B watched "The Patriot." I worked on homework while B played solitaire. We played endless rounds of Go Fish, and I finally convinced him to play the "close your eyes on the commercials, open them when the show comes back on" game. I just muted the tv so he'd have no idea in an attempt to get him to nap.
I failed.
I also failed to go to the grocery store, so I know that breakfast and lunch-making will be incredibly interesting tomorrow. Oh, and dinner...we had grilled cheese. Or B did, with the last of the bread.
My cupboards are bare, and I've already decided he's going to stay home tomorrow so I can take him to the doctor. I'm sure it's just allergies, but with the red/crusty eyes (delightful mental image, right?), I can't be too careful. He's supposed to see his dad sometime this week, but his dad is still considered post-corneal-transplant, and that would be an epic disaster.
He doesn't know he's staying home yet, so that will be a thrilling revelation for him. N? Not so much!
Aubs
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Stupid Boy
NTB is no longer on my "good" list.
When I went in to get my battery replaced (I KNEW it was the battery!) the poor, unfortunate soul (PUS-haha, that makes me laugh) behind the counter tried to tell me I needed about eleventy other things. Our conversation went like this:
PUS: Okay, so you need a new engine air filter, a new battery, a new ac belt, a new serpentine belt, and wiper blades.
ME: I think you might've forgotten to include the kitchen sink in that list.
PUS: Huh? (Already he loses points for not having a sense of humor)
ME: Okay, write up an estimate, and I'll tell you what I choose to do.
PUS (Eyes rolling): Okay, I'll get on that right away, Ma'am.
ME: Thank you.
Meanwhile, I step outside to call my dad to report my findings, and we agree that replacing battery and belt(s) are the way to go.
PUS: Here's the estimate. For the air filter, the battery, the battery install, the two belts, and the labor, it's $430.
ME: What about the wiper blades? And the kitchen sink?
PUS: Huh?
ME: I'm going to call my dad and discuss. Please excuse me.
Now, when I say that, I expect him to give me some personal space because he was all up in my hula hoop, and I was NOT looking adorable, so I know it wasn't because he thought I was something. I called my dad and repeated the list. He got irritated as did I and when I said:
ME: Yeah, the labor for the belt install is $153.
PUS: No, that's for the 2 belts.
I looked at that PUS (who was still very much inside my hula hoop while I was sitting at a table) and I stared. B looked at that PUS and HE stared. I put my hand in the air in "talk to the hand" fashion and pinched my fingers closed like they were a mouth. And then I glared. And when I hung up the phone, I said:
ME: Just the battery, please.
PUS: Ooookaaaaaay. (walks into the back yelling) SHE JUST WANTS THE BATTERY!
I stared, dumbfounded, and when the manager came in, I complained. And this is where it gets REAL good, y'all. The PUS gets called into the manager's office for a meeting and when he comes out, he gets all up in my hula hoop again and this happens:
PUS: Um, I'm sorry for whatever you think I might've done.
SAY WHAT?! Is that supposed to be an apology? So, I did what any other person would do...I ripped him a new one like he'd never seen before:
ME: Was that supposed to be an apology? Whatever I think you might've done? How about invading my personal space? How about correcting me while I was on a personal phone call on MY phone? How about yelling in a way that was entirely unprofessional? How about offering a half-assed apology, because let me just say...even my children know better than to interrupt an adult on a phone call. Even my children know better than to stay out of someone's personal space (this is only half true, but how would he know?) and even my children know how to offer up a heartfelt apology or at least make it seem heartfelt. You could learn a thing or two from this 8 year-old right here.
B (bless him): Yeah, that's pathetic! (I have never loved my sarcastic streaked children so much)
PUS: Yeah. Well. Whatever.
ME: No, not whatever. Take your "apology" elsewhere. You've lost my respect and my business.
Meanwhile, the assistant manager is biting every single part of her mouth in an attempt to not laugh. But, to be fair, this dude had it coming. He was SO rude to everyone and I'd had it. So, I had my battery replaced "because it's the one thing I need to get out of this place" and I went home and made an appointment at Pepboys. For less. And an oil change. Still for less. And the guy on the phone laughed his ass off when I told him about PUS at NTB.
After that, N had a ballgame, which ended up being quite the spectacle. They won (surprisingly) 14-6. N hit a line drive to the center field wall and scored on the same hit. He thought something should be a strike and the ump disagreed. Loudly. Then N got a dressing down from the ump which was well-deserved and apologized to him. Then, when the other team's catcher was behind the plate (I think he was new to the position) the same ump said, "Look, son...you're gonna have to start trying to catch these at some point..." The kid was trying, and I snorted. Not long after that, a pitch hit him right in the knuckle and he hopped around the field yelling some pretty choice words. I couldn't help it. I laughed so hard, right then and there. Karma, friends. It's real.
We stayed to watch the second game because we have friends on both teams and made a pact to get our team back together even if it meant bribes. Okay, maybe not...but maybe so...I've already put some feelers out. I'm not above that if it gets our team back together. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing Spring Ball was to our family. Seriously. It's little league...and it's rec ball...but it's so much more than that. It's a family.
Aubs
When I went in to get my battery replaced (I KNEW it was the battery!) the poor, unfortunate soul (PUS-haha, that makes me laugh) behind the counter tried to tell me I needed about eleventy other things. Our conversation went like this:
PUS: Okay, so you need a new engine air filter, a new battery, a new ac belt, a new serpentine belt, and wiper blades.
ME: I think you might've forgotten to include the kitchen sink in that list.
PUS: Huh? (Already he loses points for not having a sense of humor)
ME: Okay, write up an estimate, and I'll tell you what I choose to do.
PUS (Eyes rolling): Okay, I'll get on that right away, Ma'am.
ME: Thank you.
Meanwhile, I step outside to call my dad to report my findings, and we agree that replacing battery and belt(s) are the way to go.
PUS: Here's the estimate. For the air filter, the battery, the battery install, the two belts, and the labor, it's $430.
ME: What about the wiper blades? And the kitchen sink?
PUS: Huh?
ME: I'm going to call my dad and discuss. Please excuse me.
Now, when I say that, I expect him to give me some personal space because he was all up in my hula hoop, and I was NOT looking adorable, so I know it wasn't because he thought I was something. I called my dad and repeated the list. He got irritated as did I and when I said:
ME: Yeah, the labor for the belt install is $153.
PUS: No, that's for the 2 belts.
I looked at that PUS (who was still very much inside my hula hoop while I was sitting at a table) and I stared. B looked at that PUS and HE stared. I put my hand in the air in "talk to the hand" fashion and pinched my fingers closed like they were a mouth. And then I glared. And when I hung up the phone, I said:
ME: Just the battery, please.
PUS: Ooookaaaaaay. (walks into the back yelling) SHE JUST WANTS THE BATTERY!
I stared, dumbfounded, and when the manager came in, I complained. And this is where it gets REAL good, y'all. The PUS gets called into the manager's office for a meeting and when he comes out, he gets all up in my hula hoop again and this happens:
PUS: Um, I'm sorry for whatever you think I might've done.
SAY WHAT?! Is that supposed to be an apology? So, I did what any other person would do...I ripped him a new one like he'd never seen before:
ME: Was that supposed to be an apology? Whatever I think you might've done? How about invading my personal space? How about correcting me while I was on a personal phone call on MY phone? How about yelling in a way that was entirely unprofessional? How about offering a half-assed apology, because let me just say...even my children know better than to interrupt an adult on a phone call. Even my children know better than to stay out of someone's personal space (this is only half true, but how would he know?) and even my children know how to offer up a heartfelt apology or at least make it seem heartfelt. You could learn a thing or two from this 8 year-old right here.
B (bless him): Yeah, that's pathetic! (I have never loved my sarcastic streaked children so much)
PUS: Yeah. Well. Whatever.
ME: No, not whatever. Take your "apology" elsewhere. You've lost my respect and my business.
Meanwhile, the assistant manager is biting every single part of her mouth in an attempt to not laugh. But, to be fair, this dude had it coming. He was SO rude to everyone and I'd had it. So, I had my battery replaced "because it's the one thing I need to get out of this place" and I went home and made an appointment at Pepboys. For less. And an oil change. Still for less. And the guy on the phone laughed his ass off when I told him about PUS at NTB.
After that, N had a ballgame, which ended up being quite the spectacle. They won (surprisingly) 14-6. N hit a line drive to the center field wall and scored on the same hit. He thought something should be a strike and the ump disagreed. Loudly. Then N got a dressing down from the ump which was well-deserved and apologized to him. Then, when the other team's catcher was behind the plate (I think he was new to the position) the same ump said, "Look, son...you're gonna have to start trying to catch these at some point..." The kid was trying, and I snorted. Not long after that, a pitch hit him right in the knuckle and he hopped around the field yelling some pretty choice words. I couldn't help it. I laughed so hard, right then and there. Karma, friends. It's real.
We stayed to watch the second game because we have friends on both teams and made a pact to get our team back together even if it meant bribes. Okay, maybe not...but maybe so...I've already put some feelers out. I'm not above that if it gets our team back together. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing Spring Ball was to our family. Seriously. It's little league...and it's rec ball...but it's so much more than that. It's a family.
Aubs
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