Tomorrow is my 47th birthday. That number is an interesting number - officially, most definitely in my 'late' 40's. Approaching 50. On the downhill side of that approach. I'm almost FIFTY and I have two teenagers. Who in the heck planned THAT?
There's a lot to be said for being 'older' parents. We are financially stable. We are also pretty content in our lives - our careers are good, we have our 'needs' met. We communicate better - better than we did in our 20's and 30's ; better than our parents communicated with us when we were kids. I think we are consistent and communicative and fair and while we piss them off daily, we are OK with that because we're their parents and it comes with the job.
Still, we are very 'old' relative to the parents of our kids friends. THEY started parenting in their 20s. Heck, some of our friends are not much older than us and their kids are already grown and out of the house. Oh to dream!
At H.'s graduation Friday evening, we were fast forwarding and realized that in two years, we'll celebrate B.'s high school graduation. 2 years after that H. will graduate. Then another 2-3 years, B. will (hopefully) graduate from college. Then 2-3 years after that, H. That's 8-10 years down the road and when I blog about THAT, I'll be approaching sixty. J. will be close to SEVENTY by then. That's nuts.
I know B. thinks about this - he says frequently he wants to be married young. I know it's because he wants to have kids and have them know us - and he's pragmatic enough to realize that won't happen if he waits to marry; until he's in his late 30's or his 40's. I'm in no hurry for him to marry - and I have suggested that waiting until he's approaching or in his 30's is good.
I realize that as hard as it is for me to parent at this age, I was far too wrapped up in my own 'stuff' during my 20's. And I had B. when I was almost 31 and those early years of motherhood are just a long, slow slide of daily chaos. It was an amazing and fun but incredibly challenging time for me.
The boys have been asking me all weekend what I want for my birthday and I've replied the same every time - I want a clean house. That's all. Just help in getting the house tidied up and clean. They have made efforts though not very vigorous. But they are off school now so I can leave 'suggestions' (aka To Do lists) for them tomorrow and hope they will fulfill my fondest wish - I'll arrive home tomorrow evening to swept and mopped floors, etc. I can always dream.
I've loved my 40's. I've been happiest during these past 7 years, without a doubt.
My 20's were all about wanting. My 30's about getting. My 40's about having. And I want my 50's and beyond to be about giving. To my family, my community, my church.
Happy Birthday to ME!
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Friday, June 01, 2007
Frogger
This morning, as I briefly tidied up the kitchen before heading out the door, I glanced over at the 2 gallon hexagonal shape aquarium on the breakfast bar to check on Frogger. I have done this every day for the almost 10 years we've had Frogger and usually find him 'hanging out' - legs barely touching the bottom, head pointed toward the water surface and 'arms' dangling slightly in front of him ready to spring into action at any moment. Frogger frequently fakes me out - he can remain perfectly still for extended periods of time - non-responsive to slightly jiggling the tank, roughing up the water surface, or even adding food to the water. I have thought him to be dead so many times that I've stopped worrying about it....realizing that one day, when he was really dead, I'd eventually figure it out.
Frogger is an African aquatic frog - his body is about the size of a quarter when his legs are drawn in. We bought him at Walgreen's one evening on our way home from the kids school - and this was way back when we lived in Hayward. He was sold in one of those then popular small plastic 'cubes' - like the kind to display Beanie Babies - and the small pamphlet included said he would live quite happily in his 'aquascape' container for a few years. But that wasn't good enough for him and I quickly invested in a small aquarium, filtered the water and even heated it for a time with a heater. Over the years, I realized that he was used to living in a swamp so I eliminated the filter. I also eliminated the heater - in the winter, I'd just leave the light on for him and in the summer, I'd leave it off and he'd get enough sun from the sliding doors out to the yard that he'd be fine.
Frogger lived 10 years with us. He had a healthy, plentiful diet with no predators; fresh spring water as needed. When I changed his tank water, he'd let me scoop him out of the tank with my hand, place him carefully in a glass of fresh spring water, wait patiently for me to finish cleaning his tank and then enjoy the 'slow pour' ride back into his lush home. He always got 'spring water' - never tap water because we have a water softener and I didn't think a 'mineral free salt-softened water' was good for him...so I bought gallons of spring water and in times when I didn't have a gallon around, I'd use Crystal Geyser drinking water. If the water was too cold from being in the garage, I'd heat it briefly in the microwave, wait for it to cool, triple test the temperature to make sure it wouldn't be too much of a 'shock' for him and then I'd put him back in. He was indulged in many, many ways.
As he aged, he had a harder and harder time swimming up to the surface of the tank for gulps of air - so I gradually lowered the water height until it was only about 3 inches deep. I think this approach is at least partly what kept him alive so long - he didn't have to work too hard to get to the surface for air and he always had plenty of food. But Frogger has been showing signs of age - he hasn't looked 'good' for some time and I've been pretty sure he was on his last legs. Pun intended.
I was right. This morning, he was flipped over on his back, completely and totally spread eagled and white. I knew. He was really, truly gone this time - no doubt. No need to shake the tank or try to entice him with food - he was dead. It was briefly sad. And then a relief - one less pet to care for. One less chore on my list of chores. And then I was sad again.
But he lived a great life with us - and he was so amusing, so many times. He knew I was the 'food lady' and when I'd be in the kitchen and go over to his tank, he'd sort of 'perk up' a bit - raise himself up a bit higher toward the surface to be ready to catch the pellets. He was a character and we enjoyed having him around - and we will miss him a lot.
Frogger is an African aquatic frog - his body is about the size of a quarter when his legs are drawn in. We bought him at Walgreen's one evening on our way home from the kids school - and this was way back when we lived in Hayward. He was sold in one of those then popular small plastic 'cubes' - like the kind to display Beanie Babies - and the small pamphlet included said he would live quite happily in his 'aquascape' container for a few years. But that wasn't good enough for him and I quickly invested in a small aquarium, filtered the water and even heated it for a time with a heater. Over the years, I realized that he was used to living in a swamp so I eliminated the filter. I also eliminated the heater - in the winter, I'd just leave the light on for him and in the summer, I'd leave it off and he'd get enough sun from the sliding doors out to the yard that he'd be fine.
Frogger lived 10 years with us. He had a healthy, plentiful diet with no predators; fresh spring water as needed. When I changed his tank water, he'd let me scoop him out of the tank with my hand, place him carefully in a glass of fresh spring water, wait patiently for me to finish cleaning his tank and then enjoy the 'slow pour' ride back into his lush home. He always got 'spring water' - never tap water because we have a water softener and I didn't think a 'mineral free salt-softened water' was good for him...so I bought gallons of spring water and in times when I didn't have a gallon around, I'd use Crystal Geyser drinking water. If the water was too cold from being in the garage, I'd heat it briefly in the microwave, wait for it to cool, triple test the temperature to make sure it wouldn't be too much of a 'shock' for him and then I'd put him back in. He was indulged in many, many ways.
As he aged, he had a harder and harder time swimming up to the surface of the tank for gulps of air - so I gradually lowered the water height until it was only about 3 inches deep. I think this approach is at least partly what kept him alive so long - he didn't have to work too hard to get to the surface for air and he always had plenty of food. But Frogger has been showing signs of age - he hasn't looked 'good' for some time and I've been pretty sure he was on his last legs. Pun intended.
I was right. This morning, he was flipped over on his back, completely and totally spread eagled and white. I knew. He was really, truly gone this time - no doubt. No need to shake the tank or try to entice him with food - he was dead. It was briefly sad. And then a relief - one less pet to care for. One less chore on my list of chores. And then I was sad again.
But he lived a great life with us - and he was so amusing, so many times. He knew I was the 'food lady' and when I'd be in the kitchen and go over to his tank, he'd sort of 'perk up' a bit - raise himself up a bit higher toward the surface to be ready to catch the pellets. He was a character and we enjoyed having him around - and we will miss him a lot.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
I-5
I attended a(nother) workshop - this one in Sacramento. I almost didn't go - my desk is piled high, I have a budget to present to the board in 4 weeks and the 'issues' surrounding preparing this giant 'to do' are too numerous to go into here. Suffice it to say that the last place I needed to be today was sitting in a hotel conference room. But I'm so glad I went because I did get a lot out of it - the subject was year-end closing so feasibly, it really is just another long list of things to be scared out of my mind about - but oh well. At least I now KNOW what looms ahead in the upcoming few months. It's a crazy busy time of year for a CBO and this year will certainly test me in many, many ways. But I went and got some reassurances from various folks in attendance that it does get easier in time. I sat at lunch with staff from a district with SIXTY THOUSAND ADA (average daily attendance) which makes my minute 2350 seem non-existent. I can't even calculate their budget - I tried and my phone calculator did the 'to the eighth power' thing - it's a huge number. Here I am wishing/thinking I want to add a budget analyst type position - and they have dozens of analysts. And accountants. And I have me, an assistant and one payroll clerk. And one TBD position that I haven't decided what to fill with yet. Anyway, it was a great workshop and I have a really REALLY long list of things to do on top of the year-end closing to do list they provided. Wrote notes on note paper the entire time - who to ask what, things to look into. It got my brain power going and helped me reinforce to myself that I do love this kind of 'stuff'.
There was a steady stream of school buses heading south on I-5 - undoubtedly headed to points south for various 'senior/8th grade' ditch days. H.'s class went to Great America yesterday - they had a ball. He returned home sunburned, exhausted and decked out in a hat airbrushed with a beach scene and his name. And his wallet $60 lighter from the hat and food he bought - all with his own money. He had a great day. He graduates tomorrow evening and then we'll have TWO high school students in our midst. Yikes. We will share the celebration with the parents of C. and K. previously mentioned - the same family we celebrated Confirmation with a couple weeks ago. We'll have dinner there, head to the ceremony and then go back over after to continue the festivities. It will undoubtedly be a fun filled evening and we're looking forward to it.
On the way home from Sacramento, I stopped at Starbucks - I'm reasonably sure I know every Starbucks location between here and there. Got my iced tea and continued south. I know this is going to sound silly - but there's something about finding that familiar green logo that makes me 'happy'. Content. Like a safe place to 'find' wherever you happen to be traveling. Their product is consistent and their staff is friendly and 'finding' one is kind of a 'security blanket' that I appreciate having. I know it's silly - but making that 'stop' when I've been up since the crack of dawn, driven hours to arrive where I need to be, sat through a long, information-packed class in a too-crowded room for 7 hours and am now heading back south towards home is just so reassuring. So happy that I can afford to do that - blessed that I can. It's a luxury that is a relatively reasonably priced 'perk' I give myself in exchange for working hard and long at what I do for a living. I can't wait for retirement when I'll visit any and all Starbucks I find on our travels across the US and abroad. I do love my iced teas.
Ciao for now!
There was a steady stream of school buses heading south on I-5 - undoubtedly headed to points south for various 'senior/8th grade' ditch days. H.'s class went to Great America yesterday - they had a ball. He returned home sunburned, exhausted and decked out in a hat airbrushed with a beach scene and his name. And his wallet $60 lighter from the hat and food he bought - all with his own money. He had a great day. He graduates tomorrow evening and then we'll have TWO high school students in our midst. Yikes. We will share the celebration with the parents of C. and K. previously mentioned - the same family we celebrated Confirmation with a couple weeks ago. We'll have dinner there, head to the ceremony and then go back over after to continue the festivities. It will undoubtedly be a fun filled evening and we're looking forward to it.
On the way home from Sacramento, I stopped at Starbucks - I'm reasonably sure I know every Starbucks location between here and there. Got my iced tea and continued south. I know this is going to sound silly - but there's something about finding that familiar green logo that makes me 'happy'. Content. Like a safe place to 'find' wherever you happen to be traveling. Their product is consistent and their staff is friendly and 'finding' one is kind of a 'security blanket' that I appreciate having. I know it's silly - but making that 'stop' when I've been up since the crack of dawn, driven hours to arrive where I need to be, sat through a long, information-packed class in a too-crowded room for 7 hours and am now heading back south towards home is just so reassuring. So happy that I can afford to do that - blessed that I can. It's a luxury that is a relatively reasonably priced 'perk' I give myself in exchange for working hard and long at what I do for a living. I can't wait for retirement when I'll visit any and all Starbucks I find on our travels across the US and abroad. I do love my iced teas.
Ciao for now!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Market
We enjoyed the market this morning. And are very proud of ourselves for passing up the delectable treats enticing us to eat them. Pastries, fresh breads, lumpia, candied nuts of every variety. We did get a small bag of fresh kettle corn - slightly sweet, a teeny bit salty but not too oily. And ate only a small bit of that and brought the rest home for the kids. We bought some fresh peaches, organic salad mix, some shelled fresh peas and two bunches of flowers (the best deal - $3 each or 2/$5).
Sadly, the Medifast oatmeal is just gross. It has the same texture as barium paste and tastes about as appealing. All that's missing is the 'mint' flavor. It's disgusting. J. was able to eat his. I passed. I might try mixing it with Quaker instant to see if that helps at all. I eat oatmeal a lot in the mornings anyway - but will definitely pass on the Medifast version. Too pasty. Will talk to our 'consultant' tomorrow to see if I can trade our oatmeal boxes for more shakes or soups, which are yummy.
J. is heading to Modesto with the boys for some shopping. We got H. a stereo for his room and unfortunately, it doesn't have a jack he can plug is iPod into so we need to exchange it for another one. And B. broke a lug nut on his drum set and the only store that might possibly carry replacement parts without having to special order them is in Modesto. And H. needs new football cleats to break in before practice starts in a couple weeks.
I will work on house stuff a bit. And we will hopefully spend the late afternoon in the pool when they get home. It's a lovely 80 degrees!
I am enjoying my first Saturday morning 'at home' in weeks!
Sadly, the Medifast oatmeal is just gross. It has the same texture as barium paste and tastes about as appealing. All that's missing is the 'mint' flavor. It's disgusting. J. was able to eat his. I passed. I might try mixing it with Quaker instant to see if that helps at all. I eat oatmeal a lot in the mornings anyway - but will definitely pass on the Medifast version. Too pasty. Will talk to our 'consultant' tomorrow to see if I can trade our oatmeal boxes for more shakes or soups, which are yummy.
J. is heading to Modesto with the boys for some shopping. We got H. a stereo for his room and unfortunately, it doesn't have a jack he can plug is iPod into so we need to exchange it for another one. And B. broke a lug nut on his drum set and the only store that might possibly carry replacement parts without having to special order them is in Modesto. And H. needs new football cleats to break in before practice starts in a couple weeks.
I will work on house stuff a bit. And we will hopefully spend the late afternoon in the pool when they get home. It's a lovely 80 degrees!
I am enjoying my first Saturday morning 'at home' in weeks!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Memo
To: Rosie O'Donnell
Fr: Majah
Re: Good Riddance
Farewell and you won't be missed. You pick a fight on national television with Elisabeth, dare to make your sexual orientation a lame excuse for people's perception of your incredibly asinine comments and then call Elisabeth a coward for what? For not 'speaking up' for you? She has to 'defend' you for you to feel 'OK' about the outrageous statements you regularly make? Lady, you have issues. I'm a card carrying liberal who doesn't think we have any business in Iraq but I honestly can't make heads or tails of anything you say. You call it depression. I call it lunacy. You are in need of serious psychological counseling to deal with your anger issues.
And I visited your 'blog' and was amused (though not at all surprised) to find that you post whatever you want and don't allow comments. And Elisabeth's the 'coward'? I think not.
Fr: Majah
Re: Good Riddance
Farewell and you won't be missed. You pick a fight on national television with Elisabeth, dare to make your sexual orientation a lame excuse for people's perception of your incredibly asinine comments and then call Elisabeth a coward for what? For not 'speaking up' for you? She has to 'defend' you for you to feel 'OK' about the outrageous statements you regularly make? Lady, you have issues. I'm a card carrying liberal who doesn't think we have any business in Iraq but I honestly can't make heads or tails of anything you say. You call it depression. I call it lunacy. You are in need of serious psychological counseling to deal with your anger issues.
And I visited your 'blog' and was amused (though not at all surprised) to find that you post whatever you want and don't allow comments. And Elisabeth's the 'coward'? I think not.
Wall
I marvel lately at how little sleep I 'need' - in comparison to my younger years. Lately, I'm aware that I am 'fine' with a fewer number of hours of sleep that in the not too distant past would have thrown me for a loop. I've always been an 8 hour+ person. Going to bed at 9 and getting up at 5 would seem risky to me - and consequently, I would lose sleep fretting about the sleep I wouldn't be getting.
Now, I look at 6 hours as great. 5 is OK and I've even managed on 4 pretty often. Going to bed at 10 or 11 and knowing the alarm is set for 5ish - and I will most likely be awake around 4 and just get up - isn't all that 'rare' for me. The thought of that 'few' hours of sleep no longer causes anxiety - it causes relief. At least I'll get that many hours. It's a total psyche switch that seems to have happened as a result of aging - and acknowledging that not sleeping well is part of life now. So whatever I can get, I'm grateful and have learned to take it and be glad for it instead of freaking out about not having enough.
And all things considered, I feel pretty OK for the most part. But about every 12-15 days I hit a 'wall' and the exhaustion catches up with me. And the past couple nights have been that kind of night. I ask J. the same questions over and over - sometimes within a minute of asking him the first time. My head is just not processing things - and that's the signal that it's time to get some 'extra' sleep. To sleep in weekends as much as I can. Or to head up to bed and be asleep by 8:30. I've hit that wall a couple times this week and am grateful for a 3 day weekend - and for B. helping in the sound booth at church on Sunday at the 11AM service so sleeping in until 8ish is completely fine.
J. and I started Medifast yesterday. So far, so good. Of course, we already 'blew it' this evening with Chinese food for H.'s birthday feast - but we stuck with lots of lean meat and broccoli. Still, I feel stuffed. I wasn't hungry at all during the day - but I did feel the 'urge' to eat. It didn't really seem to be hunger driving that urge - just the 'need' to chew and feel crunch or sweet. So I resisted and made it. The shakes are very filling and the soup I had for lunch was really good. And during my class, I had a caramel chocolate bar that tasted like a Milky Way - it was yummy. And while we 'cheated' at dinner [because dinner is supposed to be lean meat and green veggies and we had a bit of fried rice and some crispy coated prawns and won tons as well], we are still better off for sticking to the Medifast items for two of the 3 meals we ate today. So that's encouraging - not that we intend to cheat daily 'cuz we don't. But it felt good to stick to it as much as we could and then the 'big dinner' didn't seem that bad.
We are going to the Farmer's Market tomorrow. This is the first year the market is on Saturday mornings - it used to be every Wednesday evening and in the days of both of us commuting, we never made it home in time to go. So we will head downtown tomorrow morning and enjoy the market and a cup of coffee outside while B. plays with the jazz group. Stock up on fresh green veggies for salads and to steam. Then home for some 'housework' and yard work. The pool is up to 80 degrees and if it stays warm, we will be swimming this weekend for sure!
Enjoy the 3 day weekend and stay safe, everyone.
Now, I look at 6 hours as great. 5 is OK and I've even managed on 4 pretty often. Going to bed at 10 or 11 and knowing the alarm is set for 5ish - and I will most likely be awake around 4 and just get up - isn't all that 'rare' for me. The thought of that 'few' hours of sleep no longer causes anxiety - it causes relief. At least I'll get that many hours. It's a total psyche switch that seems to have happened as a result of aging - and acknowledging that not sleeping well is part of life now. So whatever I can get, I'm grateful and have learned to take it and be glad for it instead of freaking out about not having enough.
And all things considered, I feel pretty OK for the most part. But about every 12-15 days I hit a 'wall' and the exhaustion catches up with me. And the past couple nights have been that kind of night. I ask J. the same questions over and over - sometimes within a minute of asking him the first time. My head is just not processing things - and that's the signal that it's time to get some 'extra' sleep. To sleep in weekends as much as I can. Or to head up to bed and be asleep by 8:30. I've hit that wall a couple times this week and am grateful for a 3 day weekend - and for B. helping in the sound booth at church on Sunday at the 11AM service so sleeping in until 8ish is completely fine.
J. and I started Medifast yesterday. So far, so good. Of course, we already 'blew it' this evening with Chinese food for H.'s birthday feast - but we stuck with lots of lean meat and broccoli. Still, I feel stuffed. I wasn't hungry at all during the day - but I did feel the 'urge' to eat. It didn't really seem to be hunger driving that urge - just the 'need' to chew and feel crunch or sweet. So I resisted and made it. The shakes are very filling and the soup I had for lunch was really good. And during my class, I had a caramel chocolate bar that tasted like a Milky Way - it was yummy. And while we 'cheated' at dinner [because dinner is supposed to be lean meat and green veggies and we had a bit of fried rice and some crispy coated prawns and won tons as well], we are still better off for sticking to the Medifast items for two of the 3 meals we ate today. So that's encouraging - not that we intend to cheat daily 'cuz we don't. But it felt good to stick to it as much as we could and then the 'big dinner' didn't seem that bad.
We are going to the Farmer's Market tomorrow. This is the first year the market is on Saturday mornings - it used to be every Wednesday evening and in the days of both of us commuting, we never made it home in time to go. So we will head downtown tomorrow morning and enjoy the market and a cup of coffee outside while B. plays with the jazz group. Stock up on fresh green veggies for salads and to steam. Then home for some 'housework' and yard work. The pool is up to 80 degrees and if it stays warm, we will be swimming this weekend for sure!
Enjoy the 3 day weekend and stay safe, everyone.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Laces
H. has a thing for shoes. He wants another pair and has spent many minutes of the past few weeks trying to convince us he needs a new pair. Because apparently shoes are for very 'different' activities - and a pair of perfectly good basketball shoes that set us back $80 during basketball season (which lasted all of 8 weeks) are to be ONLY worn during the activity of basketball. Walking, needing something to protect your feet from heat, cold, moisture and save socks aren't enough reasons to wear those shoes. THEY are to be worn only for basketball. Which he does play with friends after school most days so he does wear them. But he comes in and changes into them and out of them most days. So he is wearing them. Just not as everyday shoes.
So his birthday is day after tomorrow. And I've been at work early (6:30 this morning) and staying late (after 8 the past two nights, though yesterday was dinner with a friend so it was fun but still a long, LONG day) and therefore, have done very little shopping. He has researched various components of a skateboard he wants - and a ready made skateboard is no longer OK - it has to be a specific board, specific bearings, trucks, wheels, etc. I made it home today just after 4 (a full day of back to back meetings which resulted in me not eating anything since 8 AM this morning nor having any liquids all day either left me exhausted and with a raging headache so I gave myself a 'break' and left after only a 10 hour day today) and took H. to our local board shop - aptly named The Board Authority. The clerk there confirmed that all the components H. had selected will work together so we will order the components tonight and the shop will put the board together for us when everything gets here.
While we were there, H. saw a pair of board shoes he wanted - and a new Famous shirt - so for his surprise (which now isn't), I treated him to the pair of shoes and the shirt. The board won't be here for a few days and then the shop will have to put it together - so he won't have much to 'open' on his big day. So a few treats for his special day - and I still have to get to Target tomorrow to get him a PS3 game he also asked for.
The shoes came out of the box not laced - and it took me two tries to get them 'right'. Seems there is a technique to lacing board shoes - the laces have to go 'over' the top of opening and then through - not coming 'up' through and then back and forth - they have to be 'over' the edge of the 'eye' section. AND THEN, he tucks the 'tie' underneath the tongue of the shoe - so the 'tie' part doesn't show on the top of the shoe - it's tucked inside. It looks like it would hurt the top of his foot but he insists it's fine. It was a time consuming process and I was pretty patient. I didn't want him to end up buying shoes he won't wear - and he was so excited that they also came with a pair of bright red laces. I can't believe he's going to use them - but he says he will. His tastes are so mercurial.
His graduation from 8th grade is a week from his birthday. He wants a stereo for his room and that will be his grad gift. I will hope to make it to Target over the long weekend - if not, I'll resort to giving him graduation cash and he can get the stereo next weekend.
He's growing up. He's a sweet, loving, good-hearted kid who's popular with the ladies and also with most adults. He's well mannered, helpful and a kind soul. And funny and too cute for his own good. He has me wrapped around his little finger - he always has and probably always will. He has a 'look' he gives me and it still melts me, even though it's now coming from a youth who towers over me. I love him with all my heart - a heart that bursts with pride when I see him. He is an amazing young man and I'm so, so proud of him. And I can't believe my baby is going to be 14.
Tempest fuget.
So his birthday is day after tomorrow. And I've been at work early (6:30 this morning) and staying late (after 8 the past two nights, though yesterday was dinner with a friend so it was fun but still a long, LONG day) and therefore, have done very little shopping. He has researched various components of a skateboard he wants - and a ready made skateboard is no longer OK - it has to be a specific board, specific bearings, trucks, wheels, etc. I made it home today just after 4 (a full day of back to back meetings which resulted in me not eating anything since 8 AM this morning nor having any liquids all day either left me exhausted and with a raging headache so I gave myself a 'break' and left after only a 10 hour day today) and took H. to our local board shop - aptly named The Board Authority. The clerk there confirmed that all the components H. had selected will work together so we will order the components tonight and the shop will put the board together for us when everything gets here.
While we were there, H. saw a pair of board shoes he wanted - and a new Famous shirt - so for his surprise (which now isn't), I treated him to the pair of shoes and the shirt. The board won't be here for a few days and then the shop will have to put it together - so he won't have much to 'open' on his big day. So a few treats for his special day - and I still have to get to Target tomorrow to get him a PS3 game he also asked for.
The shoes came out of the box not laced - and it took me two tries to get them 'right'. Seems there is a technique to lacing board shoes - the laces have to go 'over' the top of opening and then through - not coming 'up' through and then back and forth - they have to be 'over' the edge of the 'eye' section. AND THEN, he tucks the 'tie' underneath the tongue of the shoe - so the 'tie' part doesn't show on the top of the shoe - it's tucked inside. It looks like it would hurt the top of his foot but he insists it's fine. It was a time consuming process and I was pretty patient. I didn't want him to end up buying shoes he won't wear - and he was so excited that they also came with a pair of bright red laces. I can't believe he's going to use them - but he says he will. His tastes are so mercurial.
His graduation from 8th grade is a week from his birthday. He wants a stereo for his room and that will be his grad gift. I will hope to make it to Target over the long weekend - if not, I'll resort to giving him graduation cash and he can get the stereo next weekend.
He's growing up. He's a sweet, loving, good-hearted kid who's popular with the ladies and also with most adults. He's well mannered, helpful and a kind soul. And funny and too cute for his own good. He has me wrapped around his little finger - he always has and probably always will. He has a 'look' he gives me and it still melts me, even though it's now coming from a youth who towers over me. I love him with all my heart - a heart that bursts with pride when I see him. He is an amazing young man and I'm so, so proud of him. And I can't believe my baby is going to be 14.
Tempest fuget.
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Tales of Helpers
Our cleaning lady D. is here today - she wears earbuds and chats on the phone while she works. She is the third cleaning 'person(s)...
