Bill is an avid mountain biker. He heads for the mountains most Saturday mornings and tears up and down alpine trails until mid afternoon. He will go on afternoon and night rides, too, if he can squeeze them in. There are several other enthusiasts that he goes out with. There is a camaraderie amongst the cyclists that he also enjoys, I think.
One of the other riders owns a bike store and keeps a blog of all the rides he attends. He mentions other riders, many times by their 'nicknames'.
Bill is "Retro Bill".
He has been dubbed that because his bicycle is considered an 'antique' by the other riders. It is 13 years old. The other guys ride the newest and the best. Bill would love a new bike, but makes do with his old one because it still works and saves us money by not updating. He can still kick their trash on it, too!
From what I have read, Bill is considered 'hard core' and can out ride most anyone. It seems to burn the pride of the younger riders. He is acknowledged as someone who doesn't do a ride that is "under 20 miles".
I already knew that.
Random Sampler
I am full of lots of small comments tonight, but no prevailing theme, so I thought the title apropos.
The first full week of school is over and I am already looking forward to being done with 1st graders. They are just too young! The activities I do with them feel too much like babysitting and not enough like fine art. I understand completely why mom refused to teach me how to sew and hired someone else for that inglorious task. Mom is a master seamstress and I was the proverbial 1st grader when it came to sewing. I feel like I have so much to offer that they can't possibly understand that it is suffocating to try to keep myself to a level they can understand. I really can't wait for the term when I get to teach 7 kindergarten classes (heavy sarcasm).
My next-door-neighbor-teacher (meaning her classroom is next to mine) is a good friend who is going through a bitter divorce. She has not allotted time for herself in her schedule for many years. Now, however, she is ready for that to change. She has been meeting with me at the gym 3 days a week for workout/weight training sessions. I claim I am doing it to help her and be her 'personal trainer', passing on all the info my trainer taught me 2 years ago. The truth is, I need someone to expect me at the gym, or else I let my lazy self talk me out of going.
Will and Helena both seem to be doing great at school... who wouldn't be with only one week under their belts? Seriously, though, Will asked to stay after once this week to work on a science lab just because he wanted to, not because he had to. And Helena stayed after one day to retake a math quiz because she wasn't happy with the B she got on it the first time (the teacher allows ONE retake before the next class session). That was a B in Honors Alg. II, now an A in Honors Alg. II! Can you hear the pride in my voice?
Helena is very happy sans ballet! She is so much more relaxed and able to focus on school work. She has been able to go to school events, too. She went to a pre-season football game, followed by a school dance at the high school tonight and had such a good time that now her back is sore and her voice is hoarse.
Tomorrow Helena will be attending her first 2 hour observation session in driver's ed. That means she spends 2 hours in the back seat of the driver's ed car and 'observes' another student driving. Should be a snoozer. Friends told her to bring a 'note-taking pad' and color.
I need to take Will to the music store tomorrow and try to find some sort of dolly for his baritone so he can wheel it home whenever there is band on a Monday. The kids get out of school an hour early on Mondays, but I don't get off work early, so he is guaranteed a long walk every Monday, rain, sleet, or snow. Yup, definitely big wheels on the dolly. If you think I am dooming my boy to complete geekdom by doing this, you should know that
The first full week of school is over and I am already looking forward to being done with 1st graders. They are just too young! The activities I do with them feel too much like babysitting and not enough like fine art. I understand completely why mom refused to teach me how to sew and hired someone else for that inglorious task. Mom is a master seamstress and I was the proverbial 1st grader when it came to sewing. I feel like I have so much to offer that they can't possibly understand that it is suffocating to try to keep myself to a level they can understand. I really can't wait for the term when I get to teach 7 kindergarten classes (heavy sarcasm).
My next-door-neighbor-teacher (meaning her classroom is next to mine) is a good friend who is going through a bitter divorce. She has not allotted time for herself in her schedule for many years. Now, however, she is ready for that to change. She has been meeting with me at the gym 3 days a week for workout/weight training sessions. I claim I am doing it to help her and be her 'personal trainer', passing on all the info my trainer taught me 2 years ago. The truth is, I need someone to expect me at the gym, or else I let my lazy self talk me out of going.
Will and Helena both seem to be doing great at school... who wouldn't be with only one week under their belts? Seriously, though, Will asked to stay after once this week to work on a science lab just because he wanted to, not because he had to. And Helena stayed after one day to retake a math quiz because she wasn't happy with the B she got on it the first time (the teacher allows ONE retake before the next class session). That was a B in Honors Alg. II, now an A in Honors Alg. II! Can you hear the pride in my voice?
Helena is very happy sans ballet! She is so much more relaxed and able to focus on school work. She has been able to go to school events, too. She went to a pre-season football game, followed by a school dance at the high school tonight and had such a good time that now her back is sore and her voice is hoarse.
Tomorrow Helena will be attending her first 2 hour observation session in driver's ed. That means she spends 2 hours in the back seat of the driver's ed car and 'observes' another student driving. Should be a snoozer. Friends told her to bring a 'note-taking pad' and color.
I need to take Will to the music store tomorrow and try to find some sort of dolly for his baritone so he can wheel it home whenever there is band on a Monday. The kids get out of school an hour early on Mondays, but I don't get off work early, so he is guaranteed a long walk every Monday, rain, sleet, or snow. Yup, definitely big wheels on the dolly. If you think I am dooming my boy to complete geekdom by doing this, you should know that
- the schools here are over the top when it comes to band. It is not as geekish to be in band since the band program is so overwhelming amazing.
- He is well known as one of the (former) football players and now one of the lacrosse players. Somehow, playing a sport balances out the band thing.
There you have it. Tons to say and none of it related. Good night!
Tigger the Trouble-finder
THAT STUPID CAT!!!
He insists on going outside all the time, but he can't seem to stay out of trouble!
He came in this evening walking funny. His whole back half seemed bent sideways, somehow. Pepper was also very interested in sniffing Tigger all over; another sure sign he's been into mischief. Bill inspected him and found that he was covered in dust and has a bite wound on his left flank. Heavy sigh. DARN CAT!
We've had these problems with a cat that I am pretty sure 'belongs' to the neighbors (meaning that they feed strays and their feral litters) for a little while now.
Bill gave him some pain meds (left over from the last fight/vet visit), then combed him down (he was shedding like none other) and I bathed him. Yeah. That went over about as well as you could imagine. Not what I wanted to do at 10:30 at night!
STUPID, STUPID CAT!
He insists on going outside all the time, but he can't seem to stay out of trouble!
He came in this evening walking funny. His whole back half seemed bent sideways, somehow. Pepper was also very interested in sniffing Tigger all over; another sure sign he's been into mischief. Bill inspected him and found that he was covered in dust and has a bite wound on his left flank. Heavy sigh. DARN CAT!
We've had these problems with a cat that I am pretty sure 'belongs' to the neighbors (meaning that they feed strays and their feral litters) for a little while now.
Bill gave him some pain meds (left over from the last fight/vet visit), then combed him down (he was shedding like none other) and I bathed him. Yeah. That went over about as well as you could imagine. Not what I wanted to do at 10:30 at night!
STUPID, STUPID CAT!
Thoughts on a Studious House
I know it has only been a few days.
I think it is going to be a VERY good year!
Okay, we are having issues with getting to school on time, already. I get to drive Helena at 7:30 am and Will at 8:00 am, effectively chopping my own morning prep into two sections. If they don't get up on time the whole schedule gets messed up!
However, after school is just wonderful! The kids and I unwind with 1/2 an hour of conversation and brain rot (a.k.a. TV), then switch to having a quiet house for the rest of the afternoon! I read and make myself available for homework help, if needed, and they do their homework!
I know, earth shattering, isn't it? This is probably the standard routine in households all over the world. It is a novelty for me. In the past, Helena wouldn't get home until evening and needed to do homework, but didn't want to because everyone else in the house was done with study time and was in entertainment mode. It caused a lot of friction in the house.
Now everyone is on the same page at the same time. My stress level has dropped to practically nothing!
I think it is going to be a VERY good year!
Okay, we are having issues with getting to school on time, already. I get to drive Helena at 7:30 am and Will at 8:00 am, effectively chopping my own morning prep into two sections. If they don't get up on time the whole schedule gets messed up!
However, after school is just wonderful! The kids and I unwind with 1/2 an hour of conversation and brain rot (a.k.a. TV), then switch to having a quiet house for the rest of the afternoon! I read and make myself available for homework help, if needed, and they do their homework!
I know, earth shattering, isn't it? This is probably the standard routine in households all over the world. It is a novelty for me. In the past, Helena wouldn't get home until evening and needed to do homework, but didn't want to because everyone else in the house was done with study time and was in entertainment mode. It caused a lot of friction in the house.
Now everyone is on the same page at the same time. My stress level has dropped to practically nothing!
The Second Day of School
For the kids, the second day (called a B day) holds a different set of classes than the first. There are 4 one hour classes classes on A day and 4 one hour classes on B day. When I was in school, we had 6 45 min. classes daily. This way the kids can cram 2 extra courses in each year and have an easier time managing their homework since each assignment has 2 days to complete. I like this system.
Helena's B day looks like this;
Helena's B day looks like this;
- B1 Honors English 10 (she is nervous because it will be hard)
- B2 Honors Algebra II (she is excited because she really likes the teacher)
- Orchestra (she'd really rather not do it, but made a deal with me for one more year)
- Seminary
Yes, Seminary is release time and is worked right into their schedule. This is a unique feature in Utah that you will not find anywhere else. I really think this is probably why the A/B day schedule was adopted, so that kids could have Seminary and still get all their graduation requirements in.
We built Helena's schedule very carefully to balance out both days. Last year the Jr. High piled all her tough academic classes on the same day. It made for a very heavy backpack. The High School registration works just like college registration, with individuals selecting course, time, and teacher. I really like this system! She got exactly what she wanted! And since you are in so much control of your own schedule, the school locks out changes on July 27th. I am okay with that, too.
Will's schedule;
- B1 English (no comment)
- B2 Algebra (he's glad he has the same teacher he had last year)
- B3 Symphonic Band
- B4 Communications (this was supposed to be Tech Metal, but the school messed up his schedule and put him in the 9th grade section. The 8th grade section happens during Band, which can't be moved, of course, so they emergency switched him to the Communications class yesterday. They are going to be designing web pages? I'm not really sure what the class is about, but Will seems fine with it, so we'll go with it.)
As you can see, their B day schedules are surprisingly similar. How weird is that?
My second day of work was really laid back. There was a school wide 'Safety Day' with classes going to stations throughout the day to learn rules and procedures for the lunchroom, bathrooms, library, buses, playground, gym, etc. I had no students. Instead, I stopped by WalMart and picked up 10 yards of dark blue denim and spent the day installing it on the bulletin boards in my classroom. I usually put up blue paper, but that fades and I have to replace it every year. Many teachers are converting to fabric because it doesn't fade or tear and can be left up for many years! It looks FABULOUS!
Oh. And after spending the whole summer with teenagers my students all look LITTLE! Even the sixth graders. Ha! I am starting the year with 1st through 3rd graders. Six year olds are tiny!
And they're off!
School is in session once again!
Helena had a bad case of nerves last night, but had a fantastic day today. Isn't that how it is? I'd be more worried about her if she DIDN'T have a case of nerves the night before going to a new school!
Will loves his science and history teachers, so he is off to a good start, too!
Their A days are as follows:
Helena...
Helena had a bad case of nerves last night, but had a fantastic day today. Isn't that how it is? I'd be more worried about her if she DIDN'T have a case of nerves the night before going to a new school!
Will loves his science and history teachers, so he is off to a good start, too!
Their A days are as follows:
Helena...
A1 French 3 (didn't give me an impression of it)
A2 Computer Tech (required and probably lame)
A3 Chemistry (she has a good feeling about it)
A4 Ancient world civ. (likes the teacher)
Will...
A1 Science (awesome)
A2 US History (ditto)
A3 Woods shop
A4 Tech Ed (more shop)
Will gets to spend two class periods in the same classroom with the same teacher after lunch on A days. That leaves Math, English, and their music on B days.
Helena has managed to arrange rides home from school, which will help me out tremendously. The school decided to solve the parking problems on the school campus by denying parking passes to the Sophomore class, so she will have to wait until she is a Junior to have the convenience of driving herself to and from school. Heavy sigh.
The day before the first day of school
This is the day I wish I could be home with my kids. It is the last day of summer for them. I have been back to work since Monday and they have been entertaining themselves however they can for the last 3 days of summer.
Helena has found ways and means to go to friends' houses every day. She went to Wendy's with her friend, Kim. She went to the High School end of summer pool party. Just having a great time.
Will has stayed home making messes and playing video games. He also rode his bike all over the place. Today I came home at 7:30 after my school's back to school night to discover that Will was not home, and no one seemed to know where he was. Grrrr. He had left a message on my voicemail that he would be at a particular friend's house, but when I called there I was told that he had not been there for several hours! I thought that perhaps he could be at scouts. Finally he came bursting in the door in swim trunks and a towel saying, "sorry, sorry, sorry!"
He had been at the pool. Hmm.
Today there were nearly 75 new registrations at my school! Talk about putting it off until the last minute. That puts the school population back up to nearly 1100 students. This is despite a new school opening up nearby to take the pressure off. They just keep building new schools out there and it doesn't seem to even make a dent! It is just incredible!
Helena has found ways and means to go to friends' houses every day. She went to Wendy's with her friend, Kim. She went to the High School end of summer pool party. Just having a great time.
Will has stayed home making messes and playing video games. He also rode his bike all over the place. Today I came home at 7:30 after my school's back to school night to discover that Will was not home, and no one seemed to know where he was. Grrrr. He had left a message on my voicemail that he would be at a particular friend's house, but when I called there I was told that he had not been there for several hours! I thought that perhaps he could be at scouts. Finally he came bursting in the door in swim trunks and a towel saying, "sorry, sorry, sorry!"
He had been at the pool. Hmm.
Today there were nearly 75 new registrations at my school! Talk about putting it off until the last minute. That puts the school population back up to nearly 1100 students. This is despite a new school opening up nearby to take the pressure off. They just keep building new schools out there and it doesn't seem to even make a dent! It is just incredible!
A New Era
Yesterday we received the registration materials for Helena's ballet school. It is summarized below.
Pre-Professional level : 15+ hours per week - $973 per semester (of 12 weeks)
Class Schedule
2:30-6:30 M&W
2:30-6:00 T,Th, & F
9:00-1:00 Saturdays (when needed)
This is an overwhelming schedule! High School lets out at 2:15 and it is a 10 min. drive to the ballet studio! That puts her on the go from 7:30 am until 6:30 at night... and then she would still have to deal with homework, chores, and her church calling (she is the Mia maids president). That is really stressful! That would be stressful even for an adult! Helena has been feeling more and more stressed with every passing year to succeed in school, succeed in ballet, and have a happy, well adjusted family and social life.
She has come to the realization that she doesn't want to be a professional ballerina. She wants to take a break from dancing. She will not return to ballet this fall. She says she wants to take a year off to focus on academics and then re-evaluate the decision next year.
This is a huge deal because dance has been such a big part of who she is for such a long time that I have feared she may lose her sense of identity without it. When we (meaning she with my support) came to this decision yesterday, she actually cried out of relief. She has been dreading/fearing school because she has feared she couldn't possibly succeed. She was stretched too thin and couldn't recognize the source of her distress until the pressure was removed.
I have also come to the realization that she has to make this decision for herself and I need to support her in it. I have wanted her to stay in ballet for selfish reasons. I love the bragging rights that come with a super talented child. This really should be about her needs, though, not my expectations or desires. It is unsupportable to keep pushing such an extreme schedule when she does not have the passion to make it her career.
So, that is it. This will be the first time in YEARS that I will have my daughter home after school and I won't have to be rushing my own schedule to keep up with hers. I think this will make a huge difference in the mood and tone of the house and our relationship; and I look forward to getting to spend more time with her!
Pre-Professional level : 15+ hours per week - $973 per semester (of 12 weeks)
Class Schedule
2:30-6:30 M&W
2:30-6:00 T,Th, & F
9:00-1:00 Saturdays (when needed)
This is an overwhelming schedule! High School lets out at 2:15 and it is a 10 min. drive to the ballet studio! That puts her on the go from 7:30 am until 6:30 at night... and then she would still have to deal with homework, chores, and her church calling (she is the Mia maids president). That is really stressful! That would be stressful even for an adult! Helena has been feeling more and more stressed with every passing year to succeed in school, succeed in ballet, and have a happy, well adjusted family and social life.
She has come to the realization that she doesn't want to be a professional ballerina. She wants to take a break from dancing. She will not return to ballet this fall. She says she wants to take a year off to focus on academics and then re-evaluate the decision next year.
This is a huge deal because dance has been such a big part of who she is for such a long time that I have feared she may lose her sense of identity without it. When we (meaning she with my support) came to this decision yesterday, she actually cried out of relief. She has been dreading/fearing school because she has feared she couldn't possibly succeed. She was stretched too thin and couldn't recognize the source of her distress until the pressure was removed.
I have also come to the realization that she has to make this decision for herself and I need to support her in it. I have wanted her to stay in ballet for selfish reasons. I love the bragging rights that come with a super talented child. This really should be about her needs, though, not my expectations or desires. It is unsupportable to keep pushing such an extreme schedule when she does not have the passion to make it her career.
So, that is it. This will be the first time in YEARS that I will have my daughter home after school and I won't have to be rushing my own schedule to keep up with hers. I think this will make a huge difference in the mood and tone of the house and our relationship; and I look forward to getting to spend more time with her!
Exhausting meetings
Today was my first day back to work. The first 3 days are teacher meeting to go over procedures and schedules. I don't know why, but sitting in meetings all day wears me out more than anything else I can think of. I got home from work today and just collapsed on the couch in the family room. I had no energy left for anything. I couldn't even keep my eyes open enough to play solitaire on my phone.
The first half of the day was spent going over the same policies and procedures we cover every year. They have to be gone over year after year because there are always new teachers on the faculty that haven't heard it yet. There was breakfast stuff to eat, and after a while chocolate, salty snacks, and soda were added to the fare.
For lunch we were served hamburgers and chips with more soda.
After lunch, we headed down to Sage Hills Elementary to lend a hand. It is the newest elementary school in Saratoga Springs. In fact, it is so new that they are still putting the finishing touches on it and the teachers weren't allowed in the building until TODAY! They are actually expecting to be able to start up on the first day of school on Thursday!
I went to help the art teacher there, and I have to say, that I am really appreciative of my situation! I really thought the school was ugly and so was her classroom! Not that she had any control over that. However, the most distressing thing to me was the fact that she had not one article of supplies!!! Not even on pencil for students! I don't know how they think they will be able to start up in three days. I do not envy them in the slightest and I really am grateful for my much more relaxed start to the school year.
Now to get to bed and get the sleep I need to make it through another gruelling day of meetings tomorrow.
The first half of the day was spent going over the same policies and procedures we cover every year. They have to be gone over year after year because there are always new teachers on the faculty that haven't heard it yet. There was breakfast stuff to eat, and after a while chocolate, salty snacks, and soda were added to the fare.
For lunch we were served hamburgers and chips with more soda.
After lunch, we headed down to Sage Hills Elementary to lend a hand. It is the newest elementary school in Saratoga Springs. In fact, it is so new that they are still putting the finishing touches on it and the teachers weren't allowed in the building until TODAY! They are actually expecting to be able to start up on the first day of school on Thursday!
I went to help the art teacher there, and I have to say, that I am really appreciative of my situation! I really thought the school was ugly and so was her classroom! Not that she had any control over that. However, the most distressing thing to me was the fact that she had not one article of supplies!!! Not even on pencil for students! I don't know how they think they will be able to start up in three days. I do not envy them in the slightest and I really am grateful for my much more relaxed start to the school year.
Now to get to bed and get the sleep I need to make it through another gruelling day of meetings tomorrow.
Summer Goals, Revisited
Tomorrow I go back to work. Summer is over for me. That means it is time to look at the goals I set for myself and evaluate how I did on them...
(DONE!) send Will to Lacrosse camp, June 1-4
(DONE!) take Helena to ballet rehearsals, June 5 &6
(DONE!) clean house and set up guest room for Michelle (Matt's girlfriend), June 5-7
(DONE!) take Helena to ballet intensive and rehearsals June 8-12
(DONE!) help Helena pack for and send her to Europe, June 13-26
(DONE!) help Will pack and send him to Washington, June 15-22
(DONE!) while kids are gone, take down their doors, strip them and re-stain them
(DONE!) take Will to Band Camp, June 23-26
(DONE!) help Helena pack and send her to Girl's Camp, June 27ish
(1/2 WAY DONE) sign Helena up for Driver's Ed and take her
(DONE!) send Will to Scout Camp July 20th-25th
(DONE!) trade in Will's trumpet for a Euphonium
(DONE!) get furniture for the family room
(DONE!) get dining room table and chairs
(HAVEN'T FOUND ANY I LIKE, YET) find a hutch and sideboard
(1/4 WAY DONE) strip and stain remaining doors downstairs
(DONE!) set up study schedule for kids in July/early August to get ready for school
(NOPE) EXERCISE!!! 30-45 min. cardio each day
(NOPE) EXERCISE!!! Sit-ups and push ups every morning (increase reps over time)
(NOPE) EXERCISE!!! Swim laps at least twice a week
(DONE!) cut down portion sizes on luxury foods
(SO-SO) eat more protein, fruits, and veggies
(DONE!) read 4 books off my book list
(SOME) yard landscaping done (okay, this is really Bill, not me, but I will help where ever I can)
LOOK AT THAT!!! It makes me feel really good about myself to see how many of my goals I accomplished completely! I let myself down a bit in the exercise department, but I did go to the gym quite often, even if it wasn't as gung ho as I had planned at the outset.
I know some people don't like to set goals to paper (or computer screen in this case), but I find it very helpful to see what I have done! It really boosts my self esteem.
The pergola
Here is the first view of the new pergola on the back of the house, and the red door with dark brown trim. I love the colors and the pergola makes the back yard feel like a very different place! As you can see, I still have to finish painting the trim on the bathroom window and the basement windows. Next step is to lay down the flagstones on the patio. I need to start looking at plants to start deciding what I want growing in this yard, too. I think I am going to keep an eye out for cool pots to place next to the outside posts so I can plant a climbing something or other on the pergola. I also need to watch for screaming sales on lawn furniture, now.
G.I. Joe
Remember the comic?
Remember the cartoon?
Now here is the live action movie!
Will was SO excited when he saw the previews last Spring! I thought it would be an appropriate end of the summer movie. We went this afternoon and watched it.
If you can leave reality at the door, it is a very fun film. The special effects are great and the cast is so much eye candy.
The main comic/cartoon characters are all there.
The end of the movie sets up for a sequel and it was so fun to hear a young boy's voice in the theater ring out with an "Oh, no!" at just the right moment. The whole audience laughed! I hope he wasn't too embarrassed.
For me, the most fun part was watching my son watch the movie. He has been a big G.I. Joe fan for a long time. I don't mean a fan of the comic, or of the cartoon (which he has never seen). I mean that he grew up playing with the 12" Hasbro action figures. He owned several and their accessories could fill a medium sized bin. My personal favorite is the paratrooper with parachute. He has been launched off the roof several times.
I can't tell you how many times I have come into Will's empty room, only to discover that G.I. Joe has staged a battle in there. Will would leave them all frozen in the heat of battle. There would be Joes shooting at the enemy behind overturned jeeps. More Joes would be rappelling down from the top bunk, one hand on the rope, the other training an automatic rifle at the enemies. Once or twice the battle would spill out of Will's room into the rest of the house, even! I have a photo somewhere of several Joes rappelling on the blinds cords in the living room!
In fact, over the years, my daughter's Barbies often dumped Ken in favor of a boyfriend in uniform! Yo Joe! Poor Ken looks like a country club sissy pants next to bulkier Joe.
As Will got older, Joes battles got more bloody and grizzly. Many of his Joes are maimed war veterans now... missing limbs and coated in permanent marker blood. I am not thrilled about that, because now I can't save them for my grandsons to play with. But I understand the workings of a pre-teen boy's mind and don't find it as disturbing as my sister, Kirsten, does. What he has done to the Joes reflects a lot of what I see in the artwork of many of my male students at that same stage in life.
Fortunately, paratrooper Joe survived all the battles unscathed and has returned from war whole.
Finally the fence guy shows up!
GOOD GRIEF!
I have been waiting all day!
Don't you just hate waiting for a contractor because they just can't give you a specific time they will be at your house? I have to go work on my classroom today, but haven't been able to set out because I have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting!
Hopefully he'll be able to get the work done quickly so I can get out to my classroom soon!
To be honest, though, there is not much that I need to do to have my classroom ready. Just a little more tidying and some paperwork and I'm all set!
I am gong to pick up the red paint today and paint the doors tomorrow. Soon I'll have some pictures to post for you. The pergola is done and looks great! Can't wait to show you!
I have been waiting all day!
Don't you just hate waiting for a contractor because they just can't give you a specific time they will be at your house? I have to go work on my classroom today, but haven't been able to set out because I have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting!
Hopefully he'll be able to get the work done quickly so I can get out to my classroom soon!
To be honest, though, there is not much that I need to do to have my classroom ready. Just a little more tidying and some paperwork and I'm all set!
I am gong to pick up the red paint today and paint the doors tomorrow. Soon I'll have some pictures to post for you. The pergola is done and looks great! Can't wait to show you!
A forgetful girl, an awesome phone, and an efficient hotel
When Helena got back from Europe, she left her unpacking for a long time. I can understand that. There is something very anti-climactic about unpacking from an amazing journey; besides, she left for girl's camp just days after returning home, so she didn't really have time to do much anyway.
When she finally did unpack, she discovered that she had left her glasses in a hotel in Austria. So much for that pair. Too much time had passed by then to hope for a recovery, so we went to America's Best Eyeglasses last week to replace them. She picked out two pair for less than the original pair cost. You gotta love discount shops!
When Helena unpacked last night after her Idaho adventure, she discovered that she had left her cell phone charger in the hotel room in Riggins! Oi!
Fortunately, she had made her discovery quickly, this time. I even though it was late (11:00 p.m.), I decided to call the hotel to see if they had found it during cleaning. Here's where I have to mention the second topic of this posting...
I have an AWESOME phone!!!
When she finally did unpack, she discovered that she had left her glasses in a hotel in Austria. So much for that pair. Too much time had passed by then to hope for a recovery, so we went to America's Best Eyeglasses last week to replace them. She picked out two pair for less than the original pair cost. You gotta love discount shops!
When Helena unpacked last night after her Idaho adventure, she discovered that she had left her cell phone charger in the hotel room in Riggins! Oi!
Fortunately, she had made her discovery quickly, this time. I even though it was late (11:00 p.m.), I decided to call the hotel to see if they had found it during cleaning. Here's where I have to mention the second topic of this posting...
I have an AWESOME phone!!!
It is called the Verizon Hub. We bought it at the beginning of the summer. I have Verizon cell phone service and noticed when we upgraded our cell phones that they had this nifty device for home phone service. Besides local and long distance service, it has movie trailers, show times, and locations. In fact, you can purchase your tickets right on the phone. It has extended forecast weather both locally and any location you choose to look up. I have it set to instantly see the weather everywhere I have family. There is also visual voice mail, a clock, a calendar (with the option of automated text reminders to event attenders), a directory and more! All of this for $35/month! Our old Qwest land line was $45/month for basic local service only!
It is the directory that plays a factor in this story. I needed to call the Best Western in Riggins, but didn't know the number. I know you can call 411, but it was even easier to use the directory on the phone to look up lodgings in Riggins, Idaho. The phone listed every known hotel along with the options to directly dial it, map it, or send driving directions directly to a cell phone.
Anyway, back to the story. I reached the night desk attendant at the hotel and she verified that, yes, they had found a cell phone charger... along with a cell phone! The cell phone turned out to belong to her cousin, David. I guess I don't have the only forgetful teenager.
So here is the final topic of this posting: the hotel had already boxed it and planned to mail it to Crystal's house today. What awesome customer service! So if you ever need lodgings in po-dunk Riggins, ID, I recommend the Best Western on the Salmon River!
Self inflicted insomnia
I couldn't sleep last night. I blame it completely on the Dr. Pepper I had with dinner and the ice cream I had for dessert. The caffeine in the drink kept me awake, and the ice cream kept me congested. Dairy fats clog my sinuses. That is why I drink non-fat milk. I just can't resist ice cream from time to time, though.
Why do we (as Americans) do this to ourselves? We consume stuff that we know will harm us, but we do it anyway because it just tastes so darn good! Where is the self control? I really think self control, or self discipline if you want to call it that, is the root of all the problems we face as a country. Somehow, my generation as a whole failed to acquire it. Lack of self control has lead us into the financial crisis we are currently in. Lack of self control is the reason we are the fattest country in the world.
Despite a poor night sleep, I did manage to get up early and get to the gym. Since it is my last week of vacation, I need to get my body back on schedule. It makes the first weeks run much more smoothly if my body rhythms are where they should be.
Why do we (as Americans) do this to ourselves? We consume stuff that we know will harm us, but we do it anyway because it just tastes so darn good! Where is the self control? I really think self control, or self discipline if you want to call it that, is the root of all the problems we face as a country. Somehow, my generation as a whole failed to acquire it. Lack of self control has lead us into the financial crisis we are currently in. Lack of self control is the reason we are the fattest country in the world.
Despite a poor night sleep, I did manage to get up early and get to the gym. Since it is my last week of vacation, I need to get my body back on schedule. It makes the first weeks run much more smoothly if my body rhythms are where they should be.
6 days to go
Helena got home from Idaho at 4:15 this morning. Boy was she tired! I sent her to bed and promised we wouldn't wake her until noon, but she was up by 10:00 a.m. and ready for the day! Yes, she did obey and stayed in the hotel room. They chose to sleep on the floor. Hooray for Helena! She had a mostly fabulous time, with just the typical frustrations of traveling with family in a crowded car. I hope she'll share her photos soon. It is good to have everyone home!
Back yard trim is done to the point that the workers can install the pergola now. I am going to scrape, seal, and paint the trim on the garage side door to match the house trim. Tomorrow I think I'll go buy the red paint for the doors!
Back to school shopping today. This evening Helena did a fashion show for me. I am glad she is excited (though a little nervous) for school to start.
We had family photos this evening. There is a professional photographer in our ward who sold severely discounted photos ($20 8X10 and no sitting fee) as a fund raiser for the young women's girls camp. I think the photo will turn out really fabulous! I'll meet with them on Saturday to select the pose that worked the best.
We watched 12 Rounds and Knowing over the weekend. I liked Knowing the better of the two. I plan to watch Passengers tomorrow.
I don't have a book to read on the porch, because the book I wanted to read is unavailable at the library. I put a hold on it.
I didn't make it to the pool this evening, because of the family photo shoot, but I will definitely go tomorrow!
Back yard trim is done to the point that the workers can install the pergola now. I am going to scrape, seal, and paint the trim on the garage side door to match the house trim. Tomorrow I think I'll go buy the red paint for the doors!
Back to school shopping today. This evening Helena did a fashion show for me. I am glad she is excited (though a little nervous) for school to start.
We had family photos this evening. There is a professional photographer in our ward who sold severely discounted photos ($20 8X10 and no sitting fee) as a fund raiser for the young women's girls camp. I think the photo will turn out really fabulous! I'll meet with them on Saturday to select the pose that worked the best.
We watched 12 Rounds and Knowing over the weekend. I liked Knowing the better of the two. I plan to watch Passengers tomorrow.
I don't have a book to read on the porch, because the book I wanted to read is unavailable at the library. I put a hold on it.
I didn't make it to the pool this evening, because of the family photo shoot, but I will definitely go tomorrow!
One week left
This is my last week of summer. I have lots of plans.
First, I absolutely HAVE to finish painting the window trim in the back yard. The fence company came last week and installed the posts for the pergola and said they'd be back this coming week to finish it. I have to get the trim done before they come back because the pergola will butt up against the back of the house and make the trim fairly inaccessible once it is installed. However, I am very excited to have the pergola, because it will give us some severely needed shade against the house in the south facing back yard! It can get very uncomfortable back there in high summer.
Second, I am going to make time for the gym every day! I always drag my feet getting there, but I always feel absolutely amazing afterward! I know one workout alone won't do much for my figure, but I feel skinnier each time I go!
Third, I am going to get my house clean, clean, CLEAN! before school starts up. I know it'll only last 1/2 a day, but I can't help trying.
Fourth, I am going to watch lots of movies and read a book on the front porch. I haven't done enough lounging on patio furniture this summer.
And finally, I am going to spend every late afternoon/early evening at the pool!
Oh, yeah. And I will probably go to yoga T-Th, too. Yoga is another way to feel really great! I like that Bill goes, so it is something we can do together!
First, I absolutely HAVE to finish painting the window trim in the back yard. The fence company came last week and installed the posts for the pergola and said they'd be back this coming week to finish it. I have to get the trim done before they come back because the pergola will butt up against the back of the house and make the trim fairly inaccessible once it is installed. However, I am very excited to have the pergola, because it will give us some severely needed shade against the house in the south facing back yard! It can get very uncomfortable back there in high summer.
Second, I am going to make time for the gym every day! I always drag my feet getting there, but I always feel absolutely amazing afterward! I know one workout alone won't do much for my figure, but I feel skinnier each time I go!
Third, I am going to get my house clean, clean, CLEAN! before school starts up. I know it'll only last 1/2 a day, but I can't help trying.
Fourth, I am going to watch lots of movies and read a book on the front porch. I haven't done enough lounging on patio furniture this summer.
And finally, I am going to spend every late afternoon/early evening at the pool!
Oh, yeah. And I will probably go to yoga T-Th, too. Yoga is another way to feel really great! I like that Bill goes, so it is something we can do together!
Long distance parenting
Helena has gone with Crystal (Bill's sister) and her family to Idaho for a river rafting adventure. Also on the trip are my mother in law, another niece (Steven and Becky's daughter, Aspen), and Necia (another of Bill's sisters) and at least two of her kids. They are all staying in a hotel in a po-dunk, one stop sign sort of town that the Watson family spent some growing up years in called Riggins.
Last night I received a phone call from Helena. Apparently the sleeping arrangements are somewhat crowded in the hotel room and she was too hot and uncomfortable sharing a bed with young girl cousins. She was calling for permission to sleep in an upstairs lobby on the couches with her cousin, Jacqueline. Jacqueline is Necia's teen aged daughter who is Helena's same age.
I am glad Crystal insisted that Helena call and check with me first, because it is NOT okay with me... of course not! I am frankly astonished that Necia would consider letting her teen aged daughter do such a thing! Well, maybe not that astonished. We'll just leave it at that.
Let's put aside safety considerations for a moment and just talk etiquette. The lobbies (upstairs or down) are public use facilities. No one should feel like they cannot go into them and use them at any time. If two teenagers have taken them over as an impromptu bedroom, it would put other hotel guests in an uncomfortable situation! Not okay.
Of course, safety trumps etiquette any day, and safety was my biggest concern. The lobbies ARE public access! There is no lock or bolt to keep them safe while they sleep! I don't care how po-dunk the town, it is a hotel used by complete strangers and I expect my child to be protected from strangers while she is vulnerable (ie, sleeping)!
Here is the rub, though. While explaining to Helena my reasons for saying 'No', our call was cut off. I don't think she hung up on me, her tone of voice would not suggest it. I think the call was dropped because cell reception is terrible where they are. I know that from traveling there myself.
So, did she obey and remain in the uncomfortable hotel room? Did she disregard my answer and sleep in the lobby anyway? Of course, I will find out in the long run. It is just another test of Helena's integrity and I really hope and pray that she passes this one! Odds are that nothing will happen to her physically if she disobeys (at least, I pray nothing would), but I worry constantly about her spiritual strength; especially when she is away from me and in the company of people who's choices in life I might not approve. Will she honor her Mother?
Last night I received a phone call from Helena. Apparently the sleeping arrangements are somewhat crowded in the hotel room and she was too hot and uncomfortable sharing a bed with young girl cousins. She was calling for permission to sleep in an upstairs lobby on the couches with her cousin, Jacqueline. Jacqueline is Necia's teen aged daughter who is Helena's same age.
I am glad Crystal insisted that Helena call and check with me first, because it is NOT okay with me... of course not! I am frankly astonished that Necia would consider letting her teen aged daughter do such a thing! Well, maybe not that astonished. We'll just leave it at that.
Let's put aside safety considerations for a moment and just talk etiquette. The lobbies (upstairs or down) are public use facilities. No one should feel like they cannot go into them and use them at any time. If two teenagers have taken them over as an impromptu bedroom, it would put other hotel guests in an uncomfortable situation! Not okay.
Of course, safety trumps etiquette any day, and safety was my biggest concern. The lobbies ARE public access! There is no lock or bolt to keep them safe while they sleep! I don't care how po-dunk the town, it is a hotel used by complete strangers and I expect my child to be protected from strangers while she is vulnerable (ie, sleeping)!
Here is the rub, though. While explaining to Helena my reasons for saying 'No', our call was cut off. I don't think she hung up on me, her tone of voice would not suggest it. I think the call was dropped because cell reception is terrible where they are. I know that from traveling there myself.
So, did she obey and remain in the uncomfortable hotel room? Did she disregard my answer and sleep in the lobby anyway? Of course, I will find out in the long run. It is just another test of Helena's integrity and I really hope and pray that she passes this one! Odds are that nothing will happen to her physically if she disobeys (at least, I pray nothing would), but I worry constantly about her spiritual strength; especially when she is away from me and in the company of people who's choices in life I might not approve. Will she honor her Mother?
Home alone, again
Helena is in Idaho with Crystal and Jeff. They are going to raft down the Salmon River. Will is at Youth Conference. Bill is, of course, at work.
I am home alone, again.
I have realized that I will be very grateful for my job when the kids are grown and gone. The house is a lonely place to spend too much time in!
I am off to the gym!
I am home alone, again.
I have realized that I will be very grateful for my job when the kids are grown and gone. The house is a lonely place to spend too much time in!
I am off to the gym!
Eating out
Bill took me out to dinner for my birthday. Originally we were going to go to Tucanos, since I have a birthday coupon. Bill asked me to choose where I would really like to go, so I chose to go to La Vigna, a local Italian restaurant that I enjoy immensely. THEY WERE CLOSED! I am sad, but not really surprised. I knew they couldn't compete with the new Olive Garden that was built in the same shopping complex recently. Olive Garden is the WalMart of Italian dining. A massive chain with instant name recognition. People are willing to put up with long lines and wait times to eat there.
Since La Vigna was no longer an option, we ended up joining the masses and went to Olive Garden. Bill got off work quite early, so we were there before the crowds and were seated right away.
As the booths around us filled, we began to notice that everyone else around us was receiving more prompt service than we were. In fact, the girls right behind us received their food, ate it and left before we even got our food!
Bill and I were both frustrated and it must have shown on our faces, because our waitress kept apologizing and brought the manager out to see us. Though we hadn't made a scene about it, he apologized profusely and offered to cut our bill in half to make up for the delay. In the end our dinner ended up costing no more than eating fast food!
That brings me to another thing. Every time we eat at a sit down restaurant, we end up meeting the head chef, the manager, or the owner! Every time!
At Carraba's, the head chef came out to meet the family that ordered the mussels appetizer because it is such a rare order and his personal favorite!
At Texas Steakhouse, both owner and manager came out to greet us and assure us that they would see to our order personally. Why? Because Bill requested a gluten free menu and it rattled them. They had only been open for less than a week and he was the first special diet need they had encountered. They wanted to make sure their staff didn't screw it up.
Most of the special attention comes from Bill's special dietary needs. I am not complaining! We have seen a great upswing in personal attention and service ever since his diagnosis. So, if you want special service in a restaurant, claim a food allergy!
Happy Birthday to me
It is my 39th birthday today. Yippee.
I stopped celebrating my birthdays a long time ago. I think birthday celebrations are a childhood thing. I guess.
Maybe I just live in a family that doesn't do birthdays well.
Besides, who wants to celebrate getting another year older when getting older just means you are getting old? As a child, each year gained brings new adventures, new horizons, new possibilities! As an adult, each year passes more and more quickly until you wish you could grab hold of time and slow it down! Each year brings you closer to an end. The end of your youth. The end of your beauty. The end of the time your children look to you as their first and foremost confidante and advisor. The end of the time your children live with you and can be called truly yours. The end of life.
Boy, what a depressing birthday blog post! I am not down. I am having a lazy, relaxing day, that is going to turn into a fun night with my husband and son! Life is good and I am truly blessed to have it so easy!
Many happy returns of the day, everyone!
The last gasp of summer
Here we are, facing the last week of summer. I made a goal last week to go to the pool every afternoon/evening until summer vacation is over. So far I have kept that goal. The pool is absolutely packed with people trying to escape the heat, but there is a local's secret to uncrowded pool time and easy access to lounge chairs... Wait!
Most people go to the pool in the middle of the day when the sun is strongest and the heat intense. When dinnertime approaches, they pack up their kids and sunscreen and go home. THAT IS THE MOMENT! For those of us just a block from the pool, dinnertime is pretty fluid. Eat a little early or eat a little late! Either way, the pool is much less crowded and available lounge chairs easy to find. The fact that the sun is less intense (so we are less likely to burn) is an added bonus.
Murder on a grand scale, hopefully
Lately, we have been having problems with spiders in the basement. I know, hard to believe, huh? Not the basement! (if you can't hear the sarcasm, you don't know me very well)When Bill and I had our room downstairs, we trekked through all the unfinished parts of the basement and turned a not so blind eye on all the spiders. Live and let live was the unspoken motto.
Now that the kids live down there, it is a different story.
First of all, there are no longer any unfinished parts to the basement, so there is no spot where spiders would be remotely tolerated. It's not like it used to be when I thought to myself, 'that's okay, that corner is dark and creepy anyway, if they stay in that corner, they can live.'
Second of all, neither of the kids is lion hearted when it comes to spiders, even when the spiders are little ones. The spiders we have been dealing with the past couple of weeks are not little. Nope. These are on the big side of scary. Helena found one on her bed and wouldn't sleep on it for the rest of the week. One afternoon we killed four largish spiders within 30 seconds of coming down the stairs. Will found one on his clothes hamper in his closet.
It was time for action.
Fortunately, I had some Raid foggers in the cupboard upstairs. We set four of them off in the basement and left the house for the day to let the killing fog work its magic! After lunch at McD's, some work in my classroom, some shopping at WalMart, a visit to Kirsten, and some relaxing time at the pool, it was time to assess the damage.
I vacuumed up at least 10 dead spiders, and I hope there are many more in places less accessible! If nothing else, it has restored the kids' sense of security in the basement... for the time being!
Uinta National Forrest
On Sunday afternoon, we took a family outing to Uinta National Forest in the Diamond Fork of Spanish Fork Canyon. Bill had gone on a mountain bike ride up (or down) this trail the day before and really wanted to share it with the rest of us. The plan was to ride bikes, but Bill ended up being the only one to ride, the rest of us hiked the 2 miles to the falls and hot springs. The photos look great, but they can't convey the heat and sweat of the climb up, the smell of sulphur at the hot springs, or the pain in my knees on the hike down! Did you know that sulphur smell remains in your skin even after you shower?
It was really fun, though, and we are hoping to go again when the weather cools down. Wouldn't it be awesome to sit in hot springs when the air is cool?
Helena at the hot springs
Helena didn't want to go on this family outing. At all. We had to bribe her with Wendys for dinner. At the outset of the hike, a horse fly was biting and harassing her. She was adamant that she was DONE and would go wait in the car, thank you very much! Fortunately, Bill offered to have her ride on the back of his bike, and that cheered her up. The passenger situation didn't last long, and the crash that ended it left a scratch on her shoulder, but I think Bill's kindness uplifted her and made her want to try to make it for her dad's sake.
Once we got there, she had a great time!
Will at the hot springs
Will is an excellent hiker! He out paced us the whole way up and would have on the hike down, too, but I asked him to stay with us. He enjoyed playing in the water, too.
at 5th water
While we stayed at the hot springs, Bill and Forrest spent a lot of time reinforcing the walls of the 'hot tub' and channeling the water. You can control the temperature of the tub by diverting the cooler water from the falls into the basin to mix with the hot water from the spring. The water at the surface was quite hot, but the water below the surface was cool. It was very weird! The boys managed to increase the water depth by about 4", too!
The upper falls
After we had spent a couple of hours at the lower falls and hot springs, we agreed to go with Bill to see the upper falls, which were a triple fall. Along the way, there were more hot springs on a side trail. We followed them and found these hot springs to be occupied by a group of naked men! Nudity is not prohibited on National Parks land, but the sign at the trail head encourages 'discretion' since families and scout troops often hike to the falls. Amazing to find public nudity so close to home!
There was not one else at the triple falls, though. I think it is probably because they are off the beaten track and rather difficult to get to...the trail was steep and slippery with scree. It was a beautiful place! So secluded and lush! It really didn't look like Utah at all! In fact, from the pictures, you could almost imagine we are in Hawaii or something!
All in all, it was an amazingly fun family outing, one that we hope to do again soon!
Scenic hike images
Bill wanted the family to go on a bike ride up to a hot spring and waterfalls up Diamond Fork of the Spanish Fork Canyon. He loaded up the bikes and we set out (against Helena's wishes). When we arrived there, however, it became quickly apparent that Bill would the the only one riding a bike that day. The trail was too difficult for a bunch of greenies like us.
I took lots of scenic shots. Boring for other people to look at, I suppose, but fun for me. It helps me remember the beauty, and not just the heat, smells, and sweat of the climb.
Testing the underwater feature of the camcorder
As you can see, the underwater feature works great! The water has to be really clear, though. This shot was taken in the local swimming pool. I imagine that sparkling tropical water would work, too! I can't wait to try it out someplace exotic!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)