Friday Morning vs. Monday Morning

Friday morning:
DH is at home. Little boy wakes up and wants to play on the computer. The bus leaves in 50 minutes. I try and distract him..."Let's go watch cartoons. I'll fix you some french toast sticks." I get him dressed and give him breakfast, then go shower.
After my shower, I ask DH, "Is Little Boy eating his breakfast?"
"No, he said they were too crunchy. I gave him some cereal. "
"Is he watching TV?"
"No, he's playing on the computer."

Uh oh.

Little boy hadn't touched his cereal. Little boy had a meltdown. He didn't want to eat. He wanted to play on the computer. I would not let him. He needed breakfast. The bus would be here in five minutes. He would not eat. He would not go brush his teeth. I went in to the room where he was crouched between a bookcase and the sofa. I picked him up to carry him into the bathroom. I caught my heel on the step going down into my (slightly sunken) family. My arms were full of little boy. I could not catch my balance. I fell. Hard. On my left knee.

I started to scream. "Ow, ow, oh, my knee, my knee, ow, oh, my knee." Really, really loud. DH came running in from the bedroom. I lay there and screamed for 2-3 minutes. The pain started to subside (endorphins, I guess). I was unable to catch my breath. I thought I was going to throw up. I told DH, "This morning has been just awful, and it's all your fault. I mean, I know you left your mind reading hat at work, and I didn't tell you the morning routine, but he simply doesn't have time to play on the computer." I got up. I could walk. DH fixed breakfast. I drove little boy to school.

Monday morning:
Sunday night, I had carefully explained to little boy what we had to do in the morning. He woke up smiling and giggling at 6:25, after having a good night's sleep the night before. He got dressed right away. I fixed him frozen waffles. He watched cartoons while he ate. I showered. He came running in after the first segment of Rug Rats was over: "I have to go now! The bus will be coming!" DH walked him to the bus stop.

Moral of the story: It's not enough to have routines, and for me to know them. All the people involved have to know them.

I was going to write about my terrible morning yesterday

But instead, I will write about this.

A robotic lawnmower.

I want it. Bad.

Tonight was Open House

We went to open house at little boy's school. It was informative and brief. Snacks were provided. The only reason for the snacks was to sample the wares for the upcoming (tomorrow) fund raiser. Cookie dough, cheesecakes, and lemon bars. I had a sample of each. They were very good.

Little boy will bring home a folder every day, and we will send it back every morning. It's called his FISH folder. I suppose I could go look up what FISH stands for, but I'm comfy here at my desk. Today, it contains papers to fill out, and poems about letting go, and play. Oh, and homework. HOMEWORK. Mostly it will be art projects. Tonight, I have homework, too. I have to write down everything I would like Mrs. S. to know about my little boy.

We received a checklist of activities we can volunteer to help with. One of them is cutting things out. I LOVE cutting things out. It's so relaxing. I can get into a very tranquil place when cutting. I can even do it from home. So I think I will volunteer to do cutting.

When older son was doing the Egg Drop for physics class, we had to encase the egg in an origami box. I also enjoyed doing that. It wasn't quite as peaceful as cutting, though.

First day of school, part deux

Miranda asked in a comment how I was doing with my youngest child starting off to kindergarten today. Since this is my third (and last!) child, I'm an old hat at this sort of thing. Old, in more ways than one...

Little boy has been bored silly the last month at home. I'm not a very engaged parent, unfortunately. I like having focused bursts of time together, rather than hours and hours that stretch on and on, seemingly without end.

So, we were both very glad that he started school. He seemed to have a good day. He rode the bus to school, and rode the bus home. I don't want him to get started thinking he's going to get a ride all the time! Mr. Rick, the bus driver put him right in the front. To make sure he gets on the right bus, and gets off at the right place, each kindergartener leaves each day wearing a large headband, with his name, bus number, and address. It probably won't be at all necessary within a couple of weeks. In the meantime, though, I think it's a good tool for helping the parents feel comfortable that their kids won't get "lost."

As for me, I spent the morning working on some web pages, and then had a nice lunch with a friend, and went shopping at a local consignment shop. It was so quiet! No TV, all day. Gosh, it was nice.

When little boy came home, we made a dirt cake. According to him, we made it all wrong, but it came out OK, I thought. A little went a long way, though...I wonder what I'm going to do with the leftovers.

When older son left for school, I was not upset really at all. That's because my use of time is in the future, and I sort of had a meltdown about him leaving back in February. Which was kind of nice, because he got to see it and all, because he was still here! So, when it came time for him to go, I had already had my cathartic weeping session.


Here's my little guy, patiently waiting for the bus on his first day of school.

Today is my seventh wedding anniversary (audio)

Now everybody can tell what I sound like. No pictures though...

I think it's cool that blogger has these kind of fun gimmicks.

I forgot to mention when I was talking that the seventh anniversary is cotton or wool (traditional) or desk sets (modern).

How to pay for your child's college education

Borrow. Maybe next year we'll be able to keep him in school without borrowing money, but this year, there's no way. So, we took out a PLUS loan. Excellent rates, and good terms. And the money can just sit there in a savings account, calling out to me, while we slowly continue to spiral deeper and deeper into debt, with no apparent way out. The check arrived yesterday, and it's SO tempting to just go to Europe or something with the money.

Unless...I had an interview yesterday. It went very well. It's a good job. I'm hopeful.

Little boy spent the night Tuesday at Older Son's bachelor pad in Baton Rouge. He got home last night, with Older Son and Roommate. Older Son and I went shopping, and he spent the night here. He's still sleeping on the couch. Just like old times!

School starts for him on Monday, and for Small Son on Tuesday.

My New Mexican Reader

Pretty much every Monday, I get a couple of hits from a reader in Carlsbad, NM. And if that's Lori, then you should comment, friend. I'd love to hear from you.

If it's not Lori...well, hello, whoever you are.

This is downright creepy

This is an Op-Ed in today's New York Times, about an investigation into voting irregularities among absentee votes in Florida.

Scares the hell out of me.

Thanks to Jesus' General (not for the easily offended) for the link.

Movin' movin' movin'...

This is my 2nd try at this post. Lost it when I tried to "post" last time. Grrr...

It has been a very busy couple of days chez nous. Yesterday, a friend from The Folk of the Fringe stopped to visit on his way from Northern California to Northern Florida for graduate school. We had never met in Real Life. The couple of times I have met people in Real Life that I only know from the 'net, I have always enjoyed it.

I fed him some dinner (nothing notable) and then we went in to the French Quarter to look around. We had some beignets at Cafe du Monde and then walked around a bit. It was night by then, so most of the action was concentrated on Bourbon Street. We did see a couple of statue performers, and quickly browsed at a souvenir shop. We gazed at Bourbon Street, which was quite jumping. Many hundreds of people, probably celebrating the Saints pre-season win over the Jets. I decided (and I guess he agreed) that we would forego wading into the crowd, mostly because I thought I was less likely to get puked on that way. We were there for a couple of hours. Because my DH is a king among men, who remembers what it was like to be an impoverished graduate student, he agreed that my 'net friend could crash at our place.

Every time I go to the Quarter, I see places that I would love to explore, like the Art Tile gallery and the custom jewelry stores, and the Voodoo Museum. They are all closed at night, though, and DH hates that sort of thing. I need a once-a-month French Quarter shopping buddy, who won't just want to hang out and drink, and who likes to shop in the daytime!

This morning we got up fairly early, but my houseguest was already gone. Good thing he remembered his bike, which we had put in the garage for safekeeping! We got up early so we could pick up the moving truck. Older Son moved today, to Big State University. We were on our way with most of his earthly possessions (and some of ours which are now his) by 11:45 a.m., and got done unloading before 3:00. We went to a late lunch with Older Son's roommate and his family. We had a nice visit with them - good people!

After unloading, my son and his roommate had to come back to pick up a car. They didn't know if they were going to be able to stay in their apartment, because they didn't have the power switched into their names (sigh). They did have power, though, so they drove back this evening.
It's going to be strange not having him here. An adult fills a lot of space, and there's a lot of empty space where that particular adult used to be. I'm happy for him to be starting on such a fine adventure. But I'm going to miss him.

I did not get the job I interviewed for earlier in the week. That is probably a good thing...the money was lousy, and wouldn't have stopped the downward financial spiral, but would only slow it down. I still have a ball in the air for a technical job that would pay much better. Not great hours, but I can live with not great hours for great money.

Rain, rain, rain

It's raining. Hard. A lot. Much thunder and lightening. I like thunder and lightening.

Our (late) dog hated thunderstorms. She would totally freak, and couldn't figure out why we didn't make it stop! make it stop!

I do miss her. But not during thunderstorms. Well, that's not quite accurate. I think of her during thunderstorms, and miss her. But I enjoy the thunderstorms more now.

Interview Today

I had an interview today for an Administrative Assistant position at the university where DH is a professor. It went very well. There was another candidate yesterday who also did very well, and they have one more candidate to interview tomorrow. They will decide by noon on Friday. I don't want to start until Small Son is in school, and they are OK with that.

I am taking what comes to me. If they offer me the job, I will take it. I will keep looking, in case they don't offer me the job. Whatever comes along, I will accept.

I am doing a better job of following up after applying for jobs. Hopefully, that will get me more interviews (though it hasn't so far).

I'm not going to agonize over this stuff. Whatever happens, happens. It's all good.

The Nest is going to have one less chick

My Older Son will be leaving for college next week. August 14th. Yes, indeed, in just seven short days he has to be packed and out of here. Freshman Orientation is the following week. Classes start the 23rd, the same day they start for me.

He is nowhere near ready to go (unless I am silly for thinking he should have started packing by now). He has several things he needs to get done before he can leave (like, make sure a rental truck is reserved, etc.) and none of it has happened yet. He needs to go shopping, big time. I'm a bit frustrated, but I don't want to nag.

He's been spending most of his time hanging out with his friends lately. Younger Son asked the other day, "Does [older son] still live with us?" It's nice of him to give us time to get used to doing without him before he actually leaves.

Gosh, I'm going to miss him. Maybe I can get him to read and comment on my blog.

Someone pointed me long ago to the song "The Hardest Part of Love," from the musical "Children of Eden." Here are the lyrics that I've been musing over the last couple of days:

And it's only in Eden grows a rose without a thorn
And your children start to leave you on the day that they are born
They will leave you there to cheer for them, they will leave you there to mourn ever so
Like an ark on uncharted seas their lives will be tossed
And the deeper is your love for them, the crueler is the cost
And just when they start to find themselves is when you fear they're lost...

On top of this, Little Boy starts kindergarten this year, also on the 23rd. So many transitions, in such a short time. It's a good thing I'm adaptable.

My Sink is Shiny

Miranda's recent reference to FlyLady motivated me to go check it out. Another friend had recommended it (hmmmm...) so I thought maybe I might learn something. It's an interesting program, one that might just work at helping me get my house in order. Today, I followed all the First Day baby steps - Get dressed all the way to your shoes, make your bed, and shine your kitchen sink. Tonight, I will spend 20 minutes straightening up, pick out my clothes for tomorrow, make sure the sink is shiny, and get ready for bed. Tomorrow, I will add one item to the "morning routine;" probably doing a load of laundry.

It's a start. Too soon to commit, but it's a start. And I do like my shiny sink.

Vote For Change

I'm excited about the Vote For Change concerts. I'm trying to figure out if there's a way in my severely unemployed state that I can actually go see Springsteen and R.E.M. in Orlando. I'll probably have to sell something.

I've read a lot about what Mr. Springsteen has to say about why he's doing this. He says that the political situation is such that he felt obligated to expend some of the goodwill he has from his fans to affect change in the election this fall. I think that his presence adds some gravitas to the events - Bonnie Raitt is always at these sorts of affairs, but Bruce has never participated in partisan politics before. He's always been very issue oriented - Second Harvest and other food banks are always a presence at his concerts, and he always mentions them and urges the fans to donate.

But all this political stuff is just a cover for me, really. 'Cause I just really, really want to see Bruce and the band play again.

A little thing that made me cheerful today

While at Walmart in Meridian, MS on Sunday, I spilled a Diet Coke in my purse. The purse was a cloth and vinyl affair, a couple of years old, and probably ruined. I was unable to find a replacement I liked at Walmart (go figure!)

My ideal purse will be spacious, but not overly so. It will close with a zipper, and will not look like leather unless it really is. It will also have a shoulder strap, vs. handbag straps, or a single adjustable strap that can function as either.

I went to lunch and shopping with a friend today. We went to Target. I didn't really find a purse that I liked there, either. But I did find a purse that I can live with. Normally, I wouldn't spend money on something that I find only acceptable - but this was $3.25! For that price, I can learn to live with it. Maybe I'll even grow to like it.

The Trip Home, or, What a Night(mare)

The boys and I headed back from Ohio to Louisiana on Saturday. We made a late start, because we went to Ada first to have lunch with my daughter and son-in-law (and their beautiful baby girl). It was 3:00 before we actually got on the road, taking I-75 South toward Nashville.

We didn't stop even one single time until we got to Nashville, where we went to Sam's Club and gassed up, and bought dinner. It was about 8:30 Central Time when we headed for Birmingham. We were planning on staying at a Motel 6 there, then heading home in the morning.

The Motel 6 in Birmingham is actually in Bessemer, about 30 miles west of Birmingham. From there, it's only about 35 more miles to Tuscaloosa. We got there about midnight, and decided to push on to Tuscaloosa (more miles behind us, and a Sam's Club for gassing up in the morning). We stopped at the Motel 6 there, and there was no room in the inn. I guess we should've stopped in Birmingham. After determining that something was Going On (perhaps Orientation at U of A), we headed for Meridian, Mississippi.

About 40 miles from the Mississippi border, at 1:00 a.m., we got a flat. At first, the cell phone wouldn't work. Then, when I got out of the car, it did. Neither my older son nor I knew how to change a flat tire. Fortunately, when we signed up for our new cell phone service, we got a free month of Mobile Assist. Like AAA, except it goes with the phone. About 2:00, a very large man showed up and changed our tire. He also advised us where we might be able to find a hotel room. DH worked the internet at home and found us a room in Livingston, Alabama, 17 miles from the Mississippi border. We got there about 2:45 Sunday a.m. It was $75. I was delighted to pay it.

We left the next morning about 10:30, taking U.S. Highway 11 to Meridian. We were driving on one of those stupid 50 mph donut spares, so it was slow going. Also, everything about the Wal-mart owned enterprises in Meridian in our road atlas was wrong. One of the locations was closed and replaced; the other did not have a tire & lube express. We found the Super Wal-mart (with the express tire & lube) at about 12:30. It took them until 3:00 to get our new tire on ("express" is a relative term, I guess). We finally got home about 6:30.

I don't remember the last time I have been away from home for so long. I was gone for over two weeks. It's really, really good to be back.

Today, DH and I took Little Boy to the Louisiana Children's Museum. It was a pretty fun place. I was kind of surprised at the number of broken things, but Little Boy was very excited to be there and had a wonderful time. An annual membership for the whole family would only be $60; especially if we relocate cityside, I think it would be a worthwhile investment.