This is class reunion weekend for me. I cannot seem to grasp that I have been out of highschool a quarter of a century. No wonder I look and feel the way that I do!
I'm not sure why but I have butterflies...
Maybe I haven't grown up as much as I thought I have.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
SOS
Seriously, what was I thinking when I enrolled in this accounting class. I had a momentary lapse of judgement and now I am in way over my head. I will be the first to admit that may not be as smart as I have previously thought.
Be aware that I have actually been doing this in real life for over 13 years, thankyouverymuch, and I have gotten along just fine without knowing the objectivity principle or the going-concern principle or the revenue recognition principle. I've never even heard of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act aka SOX nor has it ever came up.
I have one thing and one thing only to say. YIKES!
And one more thing (because when I have I EVER been known to say one thing) Art History is looking pretty good about now.
Be aware that I have actually been doing this in real life for over 13 years, thankyouverymuch, and I have gotten along just fine without knowing the objectivity principle or the going-concern principle or the revenue recognition principle. I've never even heard of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act aka SOX nor has it ever came up.
I have one thing and one thing only to say. YIKES!
And one more thing (because when I have I EVER been known to say one thing) Art History is looking pretty good about now.
Monday, August 25, 2008
anything but
As I walk around my big. old. empty. house I wonder why we need all this space. It really is a constant reminder that there is only 1 monkey left jumping on the bed. We all fit around the pub table in the kitchen so why have that big Mennonite table for 20? We all fit up on the snuggler for TV so why have that basement family room? We never sit in the living room. We only use two bedrooms. We don't really need that 500 square foot attic (however, I did take a 2 1/2 hour nap up there yesterday). So much space and not so many people. We each could camp out on our own floor and even then would have an entire floor to spare. It seems very frivolous to me these days. My house seems empty like my heart.....
As I am trying to grasp the changes that have so quickly been thrown into my lap, my therapist and sister-in-law says that I need to realize that my life now is my new normal. She says that her new normal is life with four kids and my new normal is life with one kid at home.
My new normal is being outnumbered in my house 2 to 1. My new normal is being out of the loop with everything that Annie kept me up to speed on. Clothes. Music. Friends.
My new normal is being the mother of 2 adult daughters and an 8 year old boy. How can that be normal?
As I am trying to grasp the changes that have so quickly been thrown into my lap, my therapist and sister-in-law says that I need to realize that my life now is my new normal. She says that her new normal is life with four kids and my new normal is life with one kid at home.
My new normal is being outnumbered in my house 2 to 1. My new normal is being out of the loop with everything that Annie kept me up to speed on. Clothes. Music. Friends.
My new normal is being the mother of 2 adult daughters and an 8 year old boy. How can that be normal?
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Old Lady Cry Baby
How can I miss her when I just left her at college a few hours ago? I am so sad. Why can't I just be tough for once in my life! Why can't I be a big girl because big girls don't cry!!
Friday, August 22, 2008
I may have found my niche
When I went to enroll for the college class, I asked to see the list of my "classmates." How could I forget about FERPA?! Everything is so private these days. So then I kindly asked if she could tell me the ages of the others enrolled. HELLO! FERPA!
Last night - in a class of 9 total - I was old enough to be each one of their mothers. How do I know this for sure, you ask? Because in the introduction icebreaker those little kids were all into announcing their ages. What is up with that? Since when do you describe yourself as "I am Stephen and I am 20?" Oh! When you are 20 (and apparently 25) you do that!
At the break the nice lady (who follows those FERPA rules) who enrolled me asked me if I was the oldest one in the class. I told her DANG RIGHT I AM!
And now I am the new room mom on Thursday nights.
Last night - in a class of 9 total - I was old enough to be each one of their mothers. How do I know this for sure, you ask? Because in the introduction icebreaker those little kids were all into announcing their ages. What is up with that? Since when do you describe yourself as "I am Stephen and I am 20?" Oh! When you are 20 (and apparently 25) you do that!
At the break the nice lady (who follows those FERPA rules) who enrolled me asked me if I was the oldest one in the class. I told her DANG RIGHT I AM!
And now I am the new room mom on Thursday nights.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
let the insanity begin!
I can't remember a week that has been so full of things to do. My memory isn't what it used to be but still, this week has been stinkin' busy. I have been grocery shopping. College shopping. Purse and shoe hopping and dinner out with a friend. I have walked 3 miles every night this week with Annie. And worked on my class reunion (and the week was only half over) Which reminds me that I haven't laughed so hard as I did yesterday with one of my bestest friends from school. We were supposed to be planning our class reunion picnic but mostly laughed and peed our pants. We got out my old yearbooks and read what she wrote. An entire page of sentences that started out the same, "I will never forget..... and I will always remember....." Of course - most of it has been forgotten!
More news -I am going to take an accounting class. Why not have three college students in the family? Granted, I am the very part-timer. It will only consume every Thursday evening from 6:30 - 9:30 from tonight until December 11th. And then I will take another three hours next semester. All done in anticipation of a big pay raise. That motivated me. However, I will be missing the meet and greet at the elementary school tonight and next Thursday I will be missing the room mom meeting. Yes! I am a room mom because heaven forbid I run out of things to do. So when the opportunity arose I seized it.
I may have missed my chance at college cheerleading and sororities and wet t-shirt contests but I won't be regretting not being a room mom. Three cheers for room moms!
More news -I am going to take an accounting class. Why not have three college students in the family? Granted, I am the very part-timer. It will only consume every Thursday evening from 6:30 - 9:30 from tonight until December 11th. And then I will take another three hours next semester. All done in anticipation of a big pay raise. That motivated me. However, I will be missing the meet and greet at the elementary school tonight and next Thursday I will be missing the room mom meeting. Yes! I am a room mom because heaven forbid I run out of things to do. So when the opportunity arose I seized it.
I may have missed my chance at college cheerleading and sororities and wet t-shirt contests but I won't be regretting not being a room mom. Three cheers for room moms!
Monday, August 18, 2008
a penny saved is a penny earned which I need to pay for therapy.
I decided to try the "grocery game." I had haphazardly convinced myself that I could actually pull this off and save money. Sarah did it and then she filled me in on the tricks of the trade.
So, at 4:00 in the afternoon, Annie and I headed out to the grocery store. List in one hand. Coupons in the other.
It started out great. Then I couldn't find the Pirate's Booty. Maybe they don't have it anymore? I moved on. Then half way through we had to back track to get floss. And then I had to go back for my free hot dogs. Then we had to go back for the free salad dressing. Then I couldn't find my hot dog coupon but it was on my grocery list as "free "so then I called my personal grocery planner. I could barely hear her above all that crying. I felt bad calling her about something so trivial as free hot dogs when she was so busy.
"Who is crying?" I ask.
"Both babies," she replied.
I honestly think her house with 4 kids, two crying twins (and a partridge in a pear tree) was calmer than me working my way through the grocery store with that grocery game list and all those coupons.
At quarter till five we pick a short check out line. In front of me was a very little old lady. She wrote a check and then asked me if she should endorse the back as well. So sad. Poor little old lady. Then they asked for her drivers license. "She doesn't drive," her friend told the the checker. To make a long story short - they finally did accept her check but it was an ordeal. Five till five I'm up to bat.
Suddenly, there was a very long line behind me. It was very hectic. They were calling for extra checkers. I was hot and sweaty. My coupons were not organized. For every free coupon (there were FIVE!) the cashier had to look it up and print a little receipt, write the savings on the coupon and then enter it into the cash register. There was loose paper- everywhere. My coupons were everywhere.
And then I paid (what I thought was way too much) and he handed me my receipt. I scanned it to make sure my bread rang up for free. Nope. I thought I was supposed to get free bread with two Hillshire Farm sandwich meats? I stopped by the customer service desk and asked her. She looked at me like I had two heads. OK. Maybe I'm wrong. Never mind.
When I got home I started double checking everything. The $3.99 Crystal Light coupon did not ring up. The close-out $2.49 Brilliant Brunette shampoo rang up for $5.99.
For crying out loud. I am way too obsessive to try and do something like this. Whose idea was this anyway? Grocery Game? Who came up with that name? Game?? Doesn't that mean a winner and a looser? Here's the deal. I'm not so good a looser. And I did not get my free Crystal Light.
So, at 4:00 in the afternoon, Annie and I headed out to the grocery store. List in one hand. Coupons in the other.
It started out great. Then I couldn't find the Pirate's Booty. Maybe they don't have it anymore? I moved on. Then half way through we had to back track to get floss. And then I had to go back for my free hot dogs. Then we had to go back for the free salad dressing. Then I couldn't find my hot dog coupon but it was on my grocery list as "free "so then I called my personal grocery planner. I could barely hear her above all that crying. I felt bad calling her about something so trivial as free hot dogs when she was so busy.
"Who is crying?" I ask.
"Both babies," she replied.
I honestly think her house with 4 kids, two crying twins (and a partridge in a pear tree) was calmer than me working my way through the grocery store with that grocery game list and all those coupons.
At quarter till five we pick a short check out line. In front of me was a very little old lady. She wrote a check and then asked me if she should endorse the back as well. So sad. Poor little old lady. Then they asked for her drivers license. "She doesn't drive," her friend told the the checker. To make a long story short - they finally did accept her check but it was an ordeal. Five till five I'm up to bat.
Suddenly, there was a very long line behind me. It was very hectic. They were calling for extra checkers. I was hot and sweaty. My coupons were not organized. For every free coupon (there were FIVE!) the cashier had to look it up and print a little receipt, write the savings on the coupon and then enter it into the cash register. There was loose paper- everywhere. My coupons were everywhere.
And then I paid (what I thought was way too much) and he handed me my receipt. I scanned it to make sure my bread rang up for free. Nope. I thought I was supposed to get free bread with two Hillshire Farm sandwich meats? I stopped by the customer service desk and asked her. She looked at me like I had two heads. OK. Maybe I'm wrong. Never mind.
When I got home I started double checking everything. The $3.99 Crystal Light coupon did not ring up. The close-out $2.49 Brilliant Brunette shampoo rang up for $5.99.
For crying out loud. I am way too obsessive to try and do something like this. Whose idea was this anyway? Grocery Game? Who came up with that name? Game?? Doesn't that mean a winner and a looser? Here's the deal. I'm not so good a looser. And I did not get my free Crystal Light.
coffee talk
It is funny how when I was in a "stage" with my kids, I couldn't imagine life outside of my box. There were those very long days when I thought I would ALWAYS be washing diapers (I'm not kidding) and later, I dreamed of how I would spend that money I was spending on Pampers.
There were all those long nights, too. What I wouldn't give to sleep through the night. Without a kid in my bed!
There was a time when I couldn't even begin to imagine going somewhere without the stroller.
And then I thought I would forever be running my kids all over town for this and that.
And once upon a time I thought I would never ever survive those middleschool years and all those middleschool tears.
And then I wondered if those girls would ever get the hang of a stick shift. They will thank for me forever for forcing them to learn.
These days I find myself wondering if anything will ever stay the same.
Saturday was Annie's last day at the coffee shop. Pam and I joked that we were going to have find a new place for our coffee. Will it ever be my "happy place" again? Will I ever go to that counter and not long for Annie's smile? One thing I know for sure is that I won't be able to pop in and grab a cup of coffee and a hug. I don't think hugs are in Tracy or Jenny's job description. I'll never again have my barista plop down beside me at the table just to chat.
In other life changing news - I'm gearing up for the big college move this weekend. That is a post all by itself.
There were all those long nights, too. What I wouldn't give to sleep through the night. Without a kid in my bed!
There was a time when I couldn't even begin to imagine going somewhere without the stroller.
And then I thought I would forever be running my kids all over town for this and that.
And once upon a time I thought I would never ever survive those middleschool years and all those middleschool tears.
And then I wondered if those girls would ever get the hang of a stick shift. They will thank for me forever for forcing them to learn.
These days I find myself wondering if anything will ever stay the same.
Saturday was Annie's last day at the coffee shop. Pam and I joked that we were going to have find a new place for our coffee. Will it ever be my "happy place" again? Will I ever go to that counter and not long for Annie's smile? One thing I know for sure is that I won't be able to pop in and grab a cup of coffee and a hug. I don't think hugs are in Tracy or Jenny's job description. I'll never again have my barista plop down beside me at the table just to chat.
In other life changing news - I'm gearing up for the big college move this weekend. That is a post all by itself.
Friday, August 15, 2008
a little bit of HEART
I'm sitting at work. Listening to the local radio station. All of a sudden what do I hear but BarraaaaCUUUUDA!
And I can hardly contain myself. All I want to do is jump up on my desk and play Guitar Hero. What is stopping me? No - not what my co-workers may think. I am more worried about my poor back. (Kudos's to Pam for suggesting Aleve for my aches and pains. It worked magic)
And I can hardly contain myself. All I want to do is jump up on my desk and play Guitar Hero. What is stopping me? No - not what my co-workers may think. I am more worried about my poor back. (Kudos's to Pam for suggesting Aleve for my aches and pains. It worked magic)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
1st day of 3rd grade
Brand new tennies, adidas socks, GAP boxers, plaid shorts and NPU t-shirt. (I just realized all of this-including backpack- were purchased in Chicago with that ridiculous 25% sales tax! What was I thinking?)
I love how his backpack is as big as he is!
He was totally embarrassed by this time!I think I may be infamous at my neighborhood elementary school. Of course, everybody knows our family because both of the girls went there and then later, much much later, Abe went there. So it was no surprise when I saw Abe's kindergarten teacher today and she stopped me. She wanted me to know that she thought of me this morning. She said she will always remember how I struggled and cried on Abe's first day of kindergarten. AND I told her that I saw a survey where 37% of mommy's cry when they take their child to kindergarten. So there!
Besides, that is so old news. Today, I was perfectly fine. I'm saving those tears for next week when Annie goes to college.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
doctor doctor give me the news
I've got a bad case of doctor blues!
This summer I have been trying to become a healed person. This doesn't seem like it would be such a big deal but it has proven exhausting and frustrating. I should just go with my self diagnosis and cut out dairy. No gluten. No dairy. No big deal. NOT! I am not a milk drinker but I do enjoy yogurt (makes me sick) latte's (make me sick) and icecream (makes me sick) I see the pattern. I do. I'm going down kicking and screaming. I wouldn't be me otherwise. I know. I am a total pain in the butt. No pun intended.
I am a very discerning person. I'm not always right but I feel like my gut feeling is almost 100% right. So, when I went to the GI doctor this summer I was less than impressed. With him and with his diagnosis or lack thereof. AND I think that he liked me a little too much or he hated my guts (bad joke) because he wanted to see me again - for yet another colonoscopy. What the heck?!
As I was visiting with my family doctor (the same doc who delivered all three of my kids and I love with all my heart) he was even less impressed than me with the GI doctor. He is sending me for a second opinion. AMEN!
So today - I call the new doctors office to confirm my appointment and get their address and low and behold they could not find me in their system. I verify spelling of my last name. My first name. My date of birth. Oh.... my date of birth! That is why they could not find me. They have my year of birth as 1954!!! They have added 11 years to my age. If they can't get my date of birth correct then what about me and my precious innards? Oh! ye of little faith. Got that right.
This summer I have been trying to become a healed person. This doesn't seem like it would be such a big deal but it has proven exhausting and frustrating. I should just go with my self diagnosis and cut out dairy. No gluten. No dairy. No big deal. NOT! I am not a milk drinker but I do enjoy yogurt (makes me sick) latte's (make me sick) and icecream (makes me sick) I see the pattern. I do. I'm going down kicking and screaming. I wouldn't be me otherwise. I know. I am a total pain in the butt. No pun intended.
I am a very discerning person. I'm not always right but I feel like my gut feeling is almost 100% right. So, when I went to the GI doctor this summer I was less than impressed. With him and with his diagnosis or lack thereof. AND I think that he liked me a little too much or he hated my guts (bad joke) because he wanted to see me again - for yet another colonoscopy. What the heck?!
As I was visiting with my family doctor (the same doc who delivered all three of my kids and I love with all my heart) he was even less impressed than me with the GI doctor. He is sending me for a second opinion. AMEN!
So today - I call the new doctors office to confirm my appointment and get their address and low and behold they could not find me in their system. I verify spelling of my last name. My first name. My date of birth. Oh.... my date of birth! That is why they could not find me. They have my year of birth as 1954!!! They have added 11 years to my age. If they can't get my date of birth correct then what about me and my precious innards? Oh! ye of little faith. Got that right.
Monday, August 11, 2008
because I am getting on in years
My life has been preempted from it's regularly scheduled programing by a mid-life crisis. I have felt it coming on for some time now and shrugged it off because, honestly, I never gave credit to that kind of stuff. Now that I am living it, however, I think I do believe that yes indeed, they do exist. I have had several "triggers" as of late. One of them being a very stupid class reunion with a very stupid questionnaire. My secret from high school is that I WAS Pat Benatar (think Hannah Montana) and I am one of the billionaire partners of Google. Randy thinks people will know I am making this stuff up. I think not.
Don't men do really stupid things, like buy a Corvette, when they are my age? I've been working on my own list. I have several options.
Tall, Dark and Handsome. (just kidding!)
A bright red, fully restored VW Bug convertible. An old one - not a new one. Circa 1966. One that the wheels don't fall off.
A tattoo. This won't happen because you know how I am about changing my mind. I would have horrible buyers remorse and be reminded every time I saw the flower that I wished was a butterfly.
An entire new wardrobe from Gap. All in petite. All in a size smaller than I am in now.
Wild and crazy hair color. Maybe bleach blond on top and black underneath.
A tummy tuck.
A 7 day cruise. Nothing less but maybe longer. I would want a bunch of people that I like really well to go along with us.
Lasik eye surgery. I can't see worth a hill of beans in my contacts and I'm not so thrilled with my glasses.
A purse that I that I can but WITHOUT looking at the price tag. The sky's the limit here. Two or three hundred dollars. No biggie.
Don't men do really stupid things, like buy a Corvette, when they are my age? I've been working on my own list. I have several options.
Tall, Dark and Handsome. (just kidding!)
A bright red, fully restored VW Bug convertible. An old one - not a new one. Circa 1966. One that the wheels don't fall off.
A tattoo. This won't happen because you know how I am about changing my mind. I would have horrible buyers remorse and be reminded every time I saw the flower that I wished was a butterfly.
An entire new wardrobe from Gap. All in petite. All in a size smaller than I am in now.
Wild and crazy hair color. Maybe bleach blond on top and black underneath.
A tummy tuck.
A 7 day cruise. Nothing less but maybe longer. I would want a bunch of people that I like really well to go along with us.
Lasik eye surgery. I can't see worth a hill of beans in my contacts and I'm not so thrilled with my glasses.
A purse that I that I can but WITHOUT looking at the price tag. The sky's the limit here. Two or three hundred dollars. No biggie.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
a picture is worth a thousand words
12 hours in the car!
One of these things doesn't belong here, one of these things just isn't the same....
Hangin' out...
Friday, August 8, 2008
There's No Place Like Home
We're home. Car is unpacked. Suitcases empty and put away. Laundry going and going and going.
When I catch my breath I will post pictures and fill you in on all the juicy details.
When I catch my breath I will post pictures and fill you in on all the juicy details.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Hello! Good-Bye!
Hello Vacation!
My vacation to-do list is ridiculous. It involves moving all of Abe's pets all around town. The fish. The 2 rabbits (and their cage) and the dog. Not to mention the watering of all those flowers I thought I needed in May. And then the vegetable garden. Good Grief!
I'm not even dreading the 12 hour ride in the car at all. I have two books packed, which I hope to finish. I have all my gluten free dining out menu's printed off the internet. The GPS is all set. We have the portable DVD player charged (thank goodness for Red Box!). We finally found the car charger for the gameboy. It was in the exact same place we found it last time we couldn't find it. I-pods are ready to go. Car chargers for cell phones are ready. We have snacks for ride. Camera is charging.
Tonight I will be cleaning my house top to bottom. Doing all my laundry. It is an absolute must that I come home to a sparkling clean house.
Vacations when I was a kid didn't seem near as complicated. I think it involved a new coloring book and a new box of crayons. Mom and Dad had the paper map and our car had no air conditioning or seat belts. No need for snacks because we weren't allowed to eat or drink in the car. Once we hit the city nobody could say a word because mom was nervous about driving in all that traffic. We didn't talk to one person from back home the entire time we were gone. We found cool local radio stations to listen to. Times sure have changed.
Bye-Bye work!
My vacation to-do list is ridiculous. It involves moving all of Abe's pets all around town. The fish. The 2 rabbits (and their cage) and the dog. Not to mention the watering of all those flowers I thought I needed in May. And then the vegetable garden. Good Grief!
I'm not even dreading the 12 hour ride in the car at all. I have two books packed, which I hope to finish. I have all my gluten free dining out menu's printed off the internet. The GPS is all set. We have the portable DVD player charged (thank goodness for Red Box!). We finally found the car charger for the gameboy. It was in the exact same place we found it last time we couldn't find it. I-pods are ready to go. Car chargers for cell phones are ready. We have snacks for ride. Camera is charging.
Tonight I will be cleaning my house top to bottom. Doing all my laundry. It is an absolute must that I come home to a sparkling clean house.
Vacations when I was a kid didn't seem near as complicated. I think it involved a new coloring book and a new box of crayons. Mom and Dad had the paper map and our car had no air conditioning or seat belts. No need for snacks because we weren't allowed to eat or drink in the car. Once we hit the city nobody could say a word because mom was nervous about driving in all that traffic. We didn't talk to one person from back home the entire time we were gone. We found cool local radio stations to listen to. Times sure have changed.
Bye-Bye work!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)