DH has been home on a staycation for the past week-and-half and it's been a godsend. I have been on the go from morn til night, interviewing people for articles, sitting through boring meetings for articles, meeting with people about running for public office, and fulfilling volunteer obligations. It's been insane.
He has busied himself with running electricity and water to our little building in the back yard. A fellow came by last night and used a Ditch Witch to dig a furrow from the house to the shed. He charged DH less than it would cost to rent one from the home improvement store.
DH worked past dark burying the conduit and water lines, and refilling the hole. Today he has been fitting the circuit box and faucets. He's happy when he has a little project. Not so happy when he has a major one.
Our garden is lovely this year. We don't have tomatoes yet, but we truly enjoy watching the beans' progress up the trellis. Some days they are 5" higher than the day prior. We are amazed.
I have always loved observing the little bat-ropes the beanstalks throw to pull themselves up. Nature is much more elegant than men's devices.
LO is busily reading the novels for her Honors English assignments. After completing the two novels, she must write essays and complete questions. The work is due on July 13, her second day at Band Camp, so I will turn it in for her.
I am a Mean Old Nana who restricted her from All Things Electronic when I realized she doesn't do much of anything other than watch TV, play on the computer, and text friends on her telephone. For one week she is being asked to Do Other Things. It is my fervent hope she can discover other fun things to do for a fuller and more rewarding life.
Understandably, the first day was officially No Fun. For any of us.
Today it got a little better. She called a zillion friends to set up a kickball game at a nearby elementary school. I was proud of her ingenuity. We'll see how it turns out...
Tuesday, June 30
Monday, June 29
Gotta Love IKEA!
On a recent trip to Ikea, I picked up a booklet showing these cool, sturdy shelves that have a diamond grid surface. In-between the diamonds, is open air. I had thought it might be nice to install these shelves in our office closet, for our computer and associated gear. They will be unlikely to overheat, sitting on the mesh-like shelves.
We did have a melange of little tables stuck in there to hold everything, as I did not want it sitting on the floor. The little tables served well, but it was messy and cramped. The printer faced sideways, and opening it to scan something was not easy.
DH liked the idea and we ran to Ikea Saturday to pick up the pieces we needed. We (well, HE) installed the shelves yesterday. We re-connected all the computer stuff last night and everything is in place.
While we had the computer out and disconnected from everything, DH took it outside, opened it, and blasted it with air from the air compressor. VOILA! Nice and clean inside and out.
I am so pleased. Not even a cable is on the floor; I can vacuum all the way under it all, keeping our stuff nice and clean.
DH has velcro wraps and will straighten all the cables today. :)
Saturday, June 20
The Beach
Short post here. At beach with two girlfriends.
Our hotel room is sort of amazing: two bedrooms, living room, kitchen. Dishwasher, washer/dryer. Beachfront. The hotel has a pool and hot tub outside. It's very nicely furnished and kept up quite well.
We ate last night at Crab Catchers, a restaurant on the marsh in Little River. We sat on the deck overlooking the water at sunset. We watched people drink and laugh and we talked and talked. There was a live band; the music was Jimmy Buffett and related songs.
We have talked and talked. Both the gf's are well-read, articulate women. It's a blast and I fantasize about staying forever.
Our hotel room is sort of amazing: two bedrooms, living room, kitchen. Dishwasher, washer/dryer. Beachfront. The hotel has a pool and hot tub outside. It's very nicely furnished and kept up quite well.
We ate last night at Crab Catchers, a restaurant on the marsh in Little River. We sat on the deck overlooking the water at sunset. We watched people drink and laugh and we talked and talked. There was a live band; the music was Jimmy Buffett and related songs.
We have talked and talked. Both the gf's are well-read, articulate women. It's a blast and I fantasize about staying forever.
Tuesday, June 16
Graduation
It's not something I would actually choose to do for fun, but I attended four graduations in the past week-and-a-half: one college and 3 high schools.
I have come to some conclusions about graduations.
1.) Crying baby required. The mom always has a bottle handy, but she allows the crying baby to pretty much ruin things before stepping over 20 people and scurrying out the door. A few of the babies I observed were blowing snot bubbles out their noses by the time they were seen to.
2.) America's economy must not be hurting too badly when 2,000 people in the same room all have digital cameras.
3.) Wardrobe. Not the graduates -- they all wear pretty much the same thing. The parents, however, geez louise. The gamut ran from prom dresses to profane Tshirts.
4.) IF THERE WAS EVER AN OCCASION TO MUTE YOUR CELL PHONE, THIS IS IT.
5.) Despite the provost/principal/superintendent's best request, people cannot contain themselves when a relative graduates. The nicer people silently stood, as requested. The rest hollered, whooped, whistled, and yowled. There was one comment that made me smile. One sheepish, very tall boy loped across the stage with a broad grin, and his mom yelled, "Prraise God!" I could only imagine.
6.)America is in serious need of original valedictorian speeches.
7.) Plan ahead. The graduation is at x:00. Arrive at w:00 so you can find a parking space. And there is no need to yell at the organization/superintendents/policemen that there is not enough parking. They can't do anything about it. Come early and grab a spot, or come early enough to park a few blocks and walk over before it begins.
8.) Let your young child bring the Nintendo, the CD viewer, or whatever he needs to be entertained. It's a long time to sit and he just can't pay attention that long. If you must, rouse him from his concentration for the split-second that Junior gets his diploma.
9.) Even if you are in the South, wait til you get home to have that Mountain Dew. This is a nice event.
I have come to some conclusions about graduations.
1.) Crying baby required. The mom always has a bottle handy, but she allows the crying baby to pretty much ruin things before stepping over 20 people and scurrying out the door. A few of the babies I observed were blowing snot bubbles out their noses by the time they were seen to.
2.) America's economy must not be hurting too badly when 2,000 people in the same room all have digital cameras.
3.) Wardrobe. Not the graduates -- they all wear pretty much the same thing. The parents, however, geez louise. The gamut ran from prom dresses to profane Tshirts.
4.) IF THERE WAS EVER AN OCCASION TO MUTE YOUR CELL PHONE, THIS IS IT.
5.) Despite the provost/principal/superintendent's best request, people cannot contain themselves when a relative graduates. The nicer people silently stood, as requested. The rest hollered, whooped, whistled, and yowled. There was one comment that made me smile. One sheepish, very tall boy loped across the stage with a broad grin, and his mom yelled, "Prraise God!" I could only imagine.
6.)America is in serious need of original valedictorian speeches.
7.) Plan ahead. The graduation is at x:00. Arrive at w:00 so you can find a parking space. And there is no need to yell at the organization/superintendents/policemen that there is not enough parking. They can't do anything about it. Come early and grab a spot, or come early enough to park a few blocks and walk over before it begins.
8.) Let your young child bring the Nintendo, the CD viewer, or whatever he needs to be entertained. It's a long time to sit and he just can't pay attention that long. If you must, rouse him from his concentration for the split-second that Junior gets his diploma.
9.) Even if you are in the South, wait til you get home to have that Mountain Dew. This is a nice event.
Thursday, June 11
First Day of Summer
Today was LO's first day of summer.
She slept til 11am.
She wrote thank-you's to the three teachers she had for all three years of middle school.
She watched TV, took a walk with Papaw, and cooked supper. Fettucini Alfredo, her favorite.
A friend-boy stopped by at 1pm. Another came over at 7pm, ate with us, and watched a movie with us. As we ate, he spilled a whole bag of frozen green peas all over the kitchen floor. We laughed til we cried.
She went to bed at 11.
Tomorrow we run the notes to the school and give three last hugs.
She slept til 11am.
She wrote thank-you's to the three teachers she had for all three years of middle school.
She watched TV, took a walk with Papaw, and cooked supper. Fettucini Alfredo, her favorite.
A friend-boy stopped by at 1pm. Another came over at 7pm, ate with us, and watched a movie with us. As we ate, he spilled a whole bag of frozen green peas all over the kitchen floor. We laughed til we cried.
She went to bed at 11.
Tomorrow we run the notes to the school and give three last hugs.
Monday, June 8
End of the Year
It has been a crazy, crazy day.
Because LO is "graduating" from middle school on Wednesday, she attended a banquet at the local Holiday Inn today with the other eighth graders. It was great to pull up to the school this morning and see them all decked out in dresses, heels, and neckties.
She seemed to have had a good time. I did not tell her that eating at a Holiday Inn is torture for me and certainly would not be a reward in my book. :)
DH is back at his home plant. He seems generally happy but is having a bit of an adjustment to waking up at 4am once again.
I am crazily running around for this doggone secret project plus my work. I can disclose the details in less than 30 days now. :)
That's two insipid smiley faces in a row. Time for bed.
Because LO is "graduating" from middle school on Wednesday, she attended a banquet at the local Holiday Inn today with the other eighth graders. It was great to pull up to the school this morning and see them all decked out in dresses, heels, and neckties.
She seemed to have had a good time. I did not tell her that eating at a Holiday Inn is torture for me and certainly would not be a reward in my book. :)
DH is back at his home plant. He seems generally happy but is having a bit of an adjustment to waking up at 4am once again.
I am crazily running around for this doggone secret project plus my work. I can disclose the details in less than 30 days now. :)
That's two insipid smiley faces in a row. Time for bed.
Sunday, June 7
Pops at the Post
We went as a family last night to the Pops @ the Post. This free outdoor symphony concert was begun five years ago to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our local newspaper. The public enjoyed it so much they clamored for the Post to make it an annual event. So they did.
The Post has a covered loading dock sort of tucked into the side of its building. The back and one side of the dock are walls of the building, and the roof extends above. This makes sort an excellent orchestra shell for the musicians... except that it faces west, and with the concert in June, the players sort of slow-bake in the concrete. Some years they have gotten 'way too hot. But they were fine last night as it was downright chilly.
The concert proper runs from 8 to 10. We arrived at 6:30 loaded with chairs, cooler and picnic bag. Tailgating is allowed, but alcohol is not. (although I did see lots of ppl with beer in their stadium cups. I guess as long as one keeps it discreet...)
The company was wonderful, and the music was delightful. Each year's concert has a theme, and this one was no different. Our clever conductor developed a program of "Fantasy and Finance." The music ranged from "The Scheherezade" to "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?".
Most of the music was just the orchestra, with 3 or 4 vocals. Two locals, a man and a woman, sang a duet of, "Money Makes the World Go 'Round" from Cabaret.
The planners had erected 3 or 4 huge screens so that all the people sitting through parking lots downtown could see the orchestra, the conductor, the narrator, or the vocalists.
The whole town looks forward to this event every year, and last night surely did not disappoint us.
The Post has a covered loading dock sort of tucked into the side of its building. The back and one side of the dock are walls of the building, and the roof extends above. This makes sort an excellent orchestra shell for the musicians... except that it faces west, and with the concert in June, the players sort of slow-bake in the concrete. Some years they have gotten 'way too hot. But they were fine last night as it was downright chilly.
The concert proper runs from 8 to 10. We arrived at 6:30 loaded with chairs, cooler and picnic bag. Tailgating is allowed, but alcohol is not. (although I did see lots of ppl with beer in their stadium cups. I guess as long as one keeps it discreet...)
The company was wonderful, and the music was delightful. Each year's concert has a theme, and this one was no different. Our clever conductor developed a program of "Fantasy and Finance." The music ranged from "The Scheherezade" to "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?".
Most of the music was just the orchestra, with 3 or 4 vocals. Two locals, a man and a woman, sang a duet of, "Money Makes the World Go 'Round" from Cabaret.
A local woman I never saw before sang, "God Bless the Child," and just took our breath away.
The planners had erected 3 or 4 huge screens so that all the people sitting through parking lots downtown could see the orchestra, the conductor, the narrator, or the vocalists.
The whole town looks forward to this event every year, and last night surely did not disappoint us.
Friday, June 5
Art
Went tonight to an opening at a local arts center. What fun!! FIVE artists. Clay, representational art, abstract art, sculpture, illustrations. Lots of ppl there loving art. What great energy!
Thursday, June 4
Reality Check
I have to admit it's a bit jarring.
I am in Room A.
The 13 year old is in Room B, beside Room A, where I am working. I can hear the telephone conversation clearly, but I am not eavesdropping.
I call to her. "Say your good-byes and get a shower, please!"
She says into the phone, "I gotta go.... Yeah..... I love you, too."
...................................................
.....................HUH?
I am in Room A.
The 13 year old is in Room B, beside Room A, where I am working. I can hear the telephone conversation clearly, but I am not eavesdropping.
I call to her. "Say your good-byes and get a shower, please!"
She says into the phone, "I gotta go.... Yeah..... I love you, too."
...................................................
.....................HUH?
The Director's Award
As promised, LO's band concert was Tuesday night, outside. It was great.
Once a year, the band director awards one student with "The Director's Award." He gives it to the student who has shown consistent, excellent musicianship. This year the award was given to LO. Her name was added to a large plaque that hangs at school, and a personalized plaque was given to her to keep at home.
We are quite proud.
The Master Photographer tried to capture it all on video but alas, it did not work. Sigh. Don't ask me why.
I was proud of her receiving the award, but I must confess I was proudest of her band-mates yelling, clapping, and cheering when her name was announced.
Once a year, the band director awards one student with "The Director's Award." He gives it to the student who has shown consistent, excellent musicianship. This year the award was given to LO. Her name was added to a large plaque that hangs at school, and a personalized plaque was given to her to keep at home.
We are quite proud.
The Master Photographer tried to capture it all on video but alas, it did not work. Sigh. Don't ask me why.
I was proud of her receiving the award, but I must confess I was proudest of her band-mates yelling, clapping, and cheering when her name was announced.
Tuesday, June 2
...forgive me...
It has been forever since I posted.
In 2008, one of my resolutions was to post more frequently and more consistently. I believe I accomplished it, and stuck with it all year long.
Boy, when 2008 was over, I dropped it like a hot poker. My erratic posting has been unintentional, I assure you. (Whoever you are, dear reader.)
I will share that I am working on a mammoth project, which I cannot disclose until July 8. It has eaten up all my spare time and some of my not-so-spare time, taking up time when I really should be doing fun stuff like vacuuming, cleaning up a hideously messy room, finding the floor of my closet, and other thrills.
I commit now to posting more frequently, and more consistently, although perhaps not with the volume of 2008, certainly with more than of late. That could be a poem, if I worked on it.
To give you a quick catch up:
LO is doing well. Her principal allowed 8th-graders to wear casual clothing, rather than uniforms, for the last 2 months of school, to get ready for high school. I hear our superintendent smacked his hands over that one. But the eighth graders did not. She acclimated to no uniforms immediately.
In temperament, she is definitely 13-almost-14. In intellect, she is sometimes 21 and sometimes, well, to be kind, I'll just say, significantly younger than 13. In appearance, she is definitely 17.
Some recent changes. She cannot go swimming at the neighborhood pool. It messes up her hair. She cannot go running or exercise in any way, other than to practice her dancing and/or cheerleading.
She has worked hard on tumbling for cheerleading, and achieved her roundoff/back handspring/back tuck. She already had the first two and has now added the third. She does them all in one long maneuver.
She auditioned for high school cheerleading and made the JV team. But the high school does not yet have a JV coach, so all is on hold.
She can text 100 words a minute, without looking, all with thumbs.
Her choral concert was lovely. Band concert is tonight. The spring concert is always outside, and we love it.
She now borrows all my cosmetic supplies, except perhaps my "age-defying" skin products. She has her own skin care products. And her own makeup, which she applies quite well.
DH worked at a neighboring plant for three months. The travel got old for him, but I loved the hours. He worked days only, weekdays only. I could definitely get used to that. He is off this week and seems to be resting up nicely. He isn't making as much music as he used to, but no one can be the same, every day, forever.
I am still helping at the local paper. I look forward to the end of school next week. Daily trips take about an hour overall, sometimes more. Band boosters, PTA board, and school improvement team will be over, giving me more time. I actively sought serving on the neighborhood pool board in order to save the $325 membership fee. Only to find out she doesn't really want to swim. Sigh. Maybe she will change her mind when the long summer days set in.
I am attending a class in 2 weeks on getting national magazines to buy my articles. I hope to participate in a writing residency in July.
Pets are well, and as quirky as ever.
My car is in the shop having the AC fixed. I did shudder to spend $1,400 on a car with 310,000 miles on it, but they say it will go 500,000 miles. If that is true, I would rather be cool for the next 200,000.
In 2008, one of my resolutions was to post more frequently and more consistently. I believe I accomplished it, and stuck with it all year long.
Boy, when 2008 was over, I dropped it like a hot poker. My erratic posting has been unintentional, I assure you. (Whoever you are, dear reader.)
I will share that I am working on a mammoth project, which I cannot disclose until July 8. It has eaten up all my spare time and some of my not-so-spare time, taking up time when I really should be doing fun stuff like vacuuming, cleaning up a hideously messy room, finding the floor of my closet, and other thrills.
I commit now to posting more frequently, and more consistently, although perhaps not with the volume of 2008, certainly with more than of late. That could be a poem, if I worked on it.
To give you a quick catch up:
LO is doing well. Her principal allowed 8th-graders to wear casual clothing, rather than uniforms, for the last 2 months of school, to get ready for high school. I hear our superintendent smacked his hands over that one. But the eighth graders did not. She acclimated to no uniforms immediately.
In temperament, she is definitely 13-almost-14. In intellect, she is sometimes 21 and sometimes, well, to be kind, I'll just say, significantly younger than 13. In appearance, she is definitely 17.
Some recent changes. She cannot go swimming at the neighborhood pool. It messes up her hair. She cannot go running or exercise in any way, other than to practice her dancing and/or cheerleading.
She has worked hard on tumbling for cheerleading, and achieved her roundoff/back handspring/back tuck. She already had the first two and has now added the third. She does them all in one long maneuver.
She auditioned for high school cheerleading and made the JV team. But the high school does not yet have a JV coach, so all is on hold.
She can text 100 words a minute, without looking, all with thumbs.
Her choral concert was lovely. Band concert is tonight. The spring concert is always outside, and we love it.
She now borrows all my cosmetic supplies, except perhaps my "age-defying" skin products. She has her own skin care products. And her own makeup, which she applies quite well.
DH worked at a neighboring plant for three months. The travel got old for him, but I loved the hours. He worked days only, weekdays only. I could definitely get used to that. He is off this week and seems to be resting up nicely. He isn't making as much music as he used to, but no one can be the same, every day, forever.
I am still helping at the local paper. I look forward to the end of school next week. Daily trips take about an hour overall, sometimes more. Band boosters, PTA board, and school improvement team will be over, giving me more time. I actively sought serving on the neighborhood pool board in order to save the $325 membership fee. Only to find out she doesn't really want to swim. Sigh. Maybe she will change her mind when the long summer days set in.
I am attending a class in 2 weeks on getting national magazines to buy my articles. I hope to participate in a writing residency in July.
Pets are well, and as quirky as ever.
My car is in the shop having the AC fixed. I did shudder to spend $1,400 on a car with 310,000 miles on it, but they say it will go 500,000 miles. If that is true, I would rather be cool for the next 200,000.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)