For some reason, I got the hair-brained idea of cleaning out my e-mail in-box the other day. I have a really bad habit of hanging on to messages after I've replied to them or saved their attachments...kind of a genetic disfunction I think I acquired from my mother, I guess.
Anyway, I realized that almost ALL of the people that I correspond with regularly have known me for at least thirty years. Yes, I said 'thirty', as in a whopping-long-time. Most of these people (and you know who you are!) would be lost to oblivion without 'the web' - who writes letters anymore, really? When was the last time you got a five-pager from your best friend from high school, complete with photographs? Yeah, that's what I thought...you can't remember, either. Get with the program, Mr. McCain!
I've added some goodies to the page, as you may have noticed. I urge you to check out the Cakewrecks blog when you have a chance, preferrably when you aren't at work so you don't get caught laughing out loud. Pretty funny stuff, there. You'll have to let me know about the photo slide show: annoying, or enjoyable? If I can keep up with it, I hope to change the photos periodically so you're not just looking at the same ol' faces everytime you visit. Speak up, and if you have any photos you'd like to share, pass 'em on!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Are You Smarter Than A High School Freshman?
Congratulate us...we survived the first day! 5:45 a.m. came awfully early for a late-nighter like me. Kevin was naturally too nervous to sleep, Erick mumbled something like "this sucks" when I woke him, and I'm pretty sure I made my coffee with my eyes closed.
Erick was beside himself yesterday with news of a Fire Fighter program being offered by the Community College Dist. to Seniors from area schools. Not only will he receive college credits, he'll also have a head start on his goal of becoming a Fire Fighter. When I heard the words, "Mom, it'll look awesome on my transcripts", I got all choked up. It took a long time, but my little boy is finally figuring things out, and not a moment too soon!
It wasn't long after they got home that I realized my concerns about them attending the same school (this is the first time, ever) weren't going to be a problem. Erick asked Kevin if he thought the girls in high school are different from the ones in middle school. Kevin responded without a word, just very, very large eyes and a smile. They compared notes on the food, discussed which teachers were easy/hard/weird, and Erick gave Kevin advice on how to survive Spanish I. Thank heavens he already took it, 'cuz I don't have a clue! Oh, and don't be surprised if you get an occasional e-mail from me asking for help with Erick's Business Finance class. Like I would even begin to think I could help him with that homework!
Since the boys aren't around to run errands with, I've taken on a new co-pilot. Mags has always enjoyed a ride in the car. Now, though, she seems to demand a daily outing. Seriously, this dog knows how to pout. She sulks when she's left at home with Chloe, and she has definitely shunned me in the past when I've been gone too long. You should hear her 'talk'. I swear, she said "Go out" the other day...
Erick was beside himself yesterday with news of a Fire Fighter program being offered by the Community College Dist. to Seniors from area schools. Not only will he receive college credits, he'll also have a head start on his goal of becoming a Fire Fighter. When I heard the words, "Mom, it'll look awesome on my transcripts", I got all choked up. It took a long time, but my little boy is finally figuring things out, and not a moment too soon!
It wasn't long after they got home that I realized my concerns about them attending the same school (this is the first time, ever) weren't going to be a problem. Erick asked Kevin if he thought the girls in high school are different from the ones in middle school. Kevin responded without a word, just very, very large eyes and a smile. They compared notes on the food, discussed which teachers were easy/hard/weird, and Erick gave Kevin advice on how to survive Spanish I. Thank heavens he already took it, 'cuz I don't have a clue! Oh, and don't be surprised if you get an occasional e-mail from me asking for help with Erick's Business Finance class. Like I would even begin to think I could help him with that homework!
Since the boys aren't around to run errands with, I've taken on a new co-pilot. Mags has always enjoyed a ride in the car. Now, though, she seems to demand a daily outing. Seriously, this dog knows how to pout. She sulks when she's left at home with Chloe, and she has definitely shunned me in the past when I've been gone too long. You should hear her 'talk'. I swear, she said "Go out" the other day...
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Back To School and Other Things
The day I've been waiting for is finally here...school officially starts on Monday, August 25th. Don't get me wrong, I do love having my sons lying around the house, eating whatever isn't moving, sprawling on the couches, but let's face it - it's time. Even with the $3.00 per day per kid for school lunches, I estimate that my grocery budget will immediately decrease by at least $150.00 per month!
Meanwhile, a couple of milestones. Kevin's seven year involvement with Families First, a non-profit agency serving kids with emotional, physical and mental disabilities, comes to a close at the end of this month. The kid is just too darned normal to remain in the program! With all the faults of an over-managed corporation, FF has still played a big part in helping Kevin become who he is today, and we appreciate their efforts, especially the above-and-beyond of some of their therapists (you know who you are...)!
Milestone #2 may be more of a "mile-pebble", but still has it's place in the category. Those of you who know Dennis know that he's played poker on Friday nights with the same group of guys forever. Twenty years, I think? While some wives would resent this "night out with the boys", I prefer to think of it as a nice tradition. I mean, really, does anybody do anything consistently for 20 years anymore??? Anyway, last night was his first night back since February and, though he only managed to stay a few hours, I couldn't help but feel that this otherwise insignificant event represented soooo much. This man nearly died a few months ago. No one expected him to wake up, let alone socialize with his friends at a weekly card game. I very nearly lost it when his buddy, Mike, came out to greet him at the car with a big, teary-eyed hug. I know, I'm weird, but I do believe in signs and I have learned from Dennis's illness that everything has meaning and importance, even the little things we don't always pay attention to. What happens if that small, unimportant little thing never happens again?
Think on that for a while!
Meanwhile, a couple of milestones. Kevin's seven year involvement with Families First, a non-profit agency serving kids with emotional, physical and mental disabilities, comes to a close at the end of this month. The kid is just too darned normal to remain in the program! With all the faults of an over-managed corporation, FF has still played a big part in helping Kevin become who he is today, and we appreciate their efforts, especially the above-and-beyond of some of their therapists (you know who you are...)!
Milestone #2 may be more of a "mile-pebble", but still has it's place in the category. Those of you who know Dennis know that he's played poker on Friday nights with the same group of guys forever. Twenty years, I think? While some wives would resent this "night out with the boys", I prefer to think of it as a nice tradition. I mean, really, does anybody do anything consistently for 20 years anymore??? Anyway, last night was his first night back since February and, though he only managed to stay a few hours, I couldn't help but feel that this otherwise insignificant event represented soooo much. This man nearly died a few months ago. No one expected him to wake up, let alone socialize with his friends at a weekly card game. I very nearly lost it when his buddy, Mike, came out to greet him at the car with a big, teary-eyed hug. I know, I'm weird, but I do believe in signs and I have learned from Dennis's illness that everything has meaning and importance, even the little things we don't always pay attention to. What happens if that small, unimportant little thing never happens again?
Think on that for a while!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Confessions of a Cell Phone Junkie
I admit it, I'm hooked. What was once just a tool for keeping in touch with the office or checking up on the kids has become my new favorite toy.
Somebody text me. Please.
It finally hit me when I got my new phone. This one is way cool - the Samsung Beat, an MP3 player, 1.3 megapixel camera, bluetooth compatible, etc - and you'd have thought it was Christmas when the UPS guy dropped the package on the front porch last week. I could hardly stand the anticipation, waiting for the battery to charge. It's so shiny...not necessarily a good thing, considering my obsession with finger prints and smudges. To my delight, the USB connector cable was an included accessory, so I set out to add every song I've ever downloaded to the memory card. Ooh, aah.
The camera is so much better than my old one. I've harbored a secret jealousy of Erick because I got him the best phone in the house, but no more! We spent close to an hour the other night, comparing features..."Yeah, but mine does this...". Again, ooh, aah.
My only source of frustration is that I can't seem to find enough reasons to use it. The other night, I took a picture of the cat and sent it to both the boys, just because I could. We have unlimited text messages now, thanks to Erick's inability to count, so why not, right?
Somebody text me. Please.
Catching Up
I've been asked for a new post (Gloria!), so here it is.
Have I mentioned lately how awed I am by my husband's strength & determination? Seriously, the guy is a rock. Of the many tests required before listing for a transplant, the colonoscopy has to be the most intimidating. It should be obvious what makes it that way - you're going to put THAT in THERE????? These days, though, that's the easy part. At UC Davis, at least, you're asleep for the humiliation, waking up back in the Recovery Room as if nothing happened. No, the hard part is the preparation for the test: 48 ounces of the nastiest, most disgusting water you've ever tasted, and it all has to be downed in a two hour period. Period. If you don't pull that off, chances are good that you won't be cleaned out enough and you'll have to do it all over again. As if that's not bad enough, doing it when you feel like crap (no pun intended) to begin with makes it almost impossible, as we found out. Twice. Finally, on Friday, they were able to complete the test and everything is fine in there, just as we suspected it would be. Through it all, Dennis never got too cranky, never made me drink the nasty stuff (thank heavens!), never gave up on getting through it. He's pretty amazing. We see the Transplant Surgeon again tomorrow morning. Could this be the day that he goes on the waiting list?
Meanwhile....school starts again in two weeks. Finally. I love my children, really, but 2 1/2 months at home with them is pushing the limit, y'know? This is going to be an interesting year for us, what with both boys in high school. They've actually only attended the same school at the same time for a few months years back, so I'm curious to see how this will play out. Erick can either be the cool, big brother and show the rookie around, or he can be the arrogant Senior who torments the poor, unsuspecting Freshman. I sure hope they dont' kill eachother. Either way, school will definitely be keeping us busy. Kevin's football practice starts up again on August 18th, just two days after Freshman/Parent Orientation and "Hot August Days". Wish they'd had that when I was in school. It's basically a clearing house event for all things high school: get your schedules, pay your fees, take your picture, buy your t-shirts, etc. I like the idea of getting it all over with in one shot, even if it does make for a pretty hectic afternoon in the cafeteria. Then there's Senior Parent Night on Aug. 27th. I'm anticipating this to be the painful one. The agenda includes an overview of the Senior Payment Plan. I have no idea what that is, but it's going to hurt, I'm sure. At least the portraits are already done and paid for, the ring is bought and being worn (all three pounds of it - the kid has logs for fingers), and the Senior Ball is still months away. Somebody needs a job.....
Have I mentioned lately how awed I am by my husband's strength & determination? Seriously, the guy is a rock. Of the many tests required before listing for a transplant, the colonoscopy has to be the most intimidating. It should be obvious what makes it that way - you're going to put THAT in THERE????? These days, though, that's the easy part. At UC Davis, at least, you're asleep for the humiliation, waking up back in the Recovery Room as if nothing happened. No, the hard part is the preparation for the test: 48 ounces of the nastiest, most disgusting water you've ever tasted, and it all has to be downed in a two hour period. Period. If you don't pull that off, chances are good that you won't be cleaned out enough and you'll have to do it all over again. As if that's not bad enough, doing it when you feel like crap (no pun intended) to begin with makes it almost impossible, as we found out. Twice. Finally, on Friday, they were able to complete the test and everything is fine in there, just as we suspected it would be. Through it all, Dennis never got too cranky, never made me drink the nasty stuff (thank heavens!), never gave up on getting through it. He's pretty amazing. We see the Transplant Surgeon again tomorrow morning. Could this be the day that he goes on the waiting list?
Meanwhile....school starts again in two weeks. Finally. I love my children, really, but 2 1/2 months at home with them is pushing the limit, y'know? This is going to be an interesting year for us, what with both boys in high school. They've actually only attended the same school at the same time for a few months years back, so I'm curious to see how this will play out. Erick can either be the cool, big brother and show the rookie around, or he can be the arrogant Senior who torments the poor, unsuspecting Freshman. I sure hope they dont' kill eachother. Either way, school will definitely be keeping us busy. Kevin's football practice starts up again on August 18th, just two days after Freshman/Parent Orientation and "Hot August Days". Wish they'd had that when I was in school. It's basically a clearing house event for all things high school: get your schedules, pay your fees, take your picture, buy your t-shirts, etc. I like the idea of getting it all over with in one shot, even if it does make for a pretty hectic afternoon in the cafeteria. Then there's Senior Parent Night on Aug. 27th. I'm anticipating this to be the painful one. The agenda includes an overview of the Senior Payment Plan. I have no idea what that is, but it's going to hurt, I'm sure. At least the portraits are already done and paid for, the ring is bought and being worn (all three pounds of it - the kid has logs for fingers), and the Senior Ball is still months away. Somebody needs a job.....
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