We are in Virginia Beach, VA! Mensa Boy is working here this week and so Taylor and I came up to see what he does and to just hang out. Nate is at his buddy Ryan's house for the weekend.
I'm pretty lucky. Most moms get to hear about puke and snot and motocross and stuff when they travel with their young sons. I get to hear detailed descriptions of SpongeBob episodes and am asked questions that make me wonder at the creativity of this young person that is my spawn.
Yesterday's first question was, "how far is long distance?"
From there we discussed cruise control, RPM, cooling lights and those little prongy things that stick out under the 0 mph and the 120 mgh. If they got snapped off somehow, could you go faster?
We took a wrong turn when entering the city last night and ended up in a rather scary section of town with just about no gas. And no map. So we stopped in at a gas station and bought a map and discovered we were quite close to a major intersection. Taylor was obviously concerned at first, but seemed to appreciate my navigating skills.
We found out hotel, which turned out to be somewhat of a resort and spa. We were escorted to our room by a bellman who also works at EB Games. Lucky Taylor! But after we were all checked in, he said "I think I'd rather stay at cheaper hotels. I'm more comfortable when I'm treated like dirt!"
Today he gets to choose what we do for sightseeing. I mentioned the naval shipyards and he jumped at that.
Then I mentioned Jamestown.
And he immediately touched my heart by choosing that. Maybe there's a history major in there somewhere?
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Family Communications
I always tell someone where I'm going and when I anticipate being back.
It's just polite.
But often not effective.
My friends tell me that, when they call for me and I'm not here, the answer is usually "I don't know where she is. I don't know when she'll be back." or "She's at the farm."
It doesn't matter what day or time of the day, they often will tell callers I'm at the farm. I have no idea why.
I left this note for Nate one day when the three of us scattered in all directions and no one knew when they'd be back.
He didn't seem to appreciate it.
It's just polite.
But often not effective.
My friends tell me that, when they call for me and I'm not here, the answer is usually "I don't know where she is. I don't know when she'll be back." or "She's at the farm."
It doesn't matter what day or time of the day, they often will tell callers I'm at the farm. I have no idea why.
I left this note for Nate one day when the three of us scattered in all directions and no one knew when they'd be back.
He didn't seem to appreciate it.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Pleasant Surprises
Several weeks ago older son Nate was selected by the school to be sent to The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Seminar at Erskine College this summer. The seminar lasts a week. The Indian Land Rotary is sponsoring him, paying his tuition and they have offered to drive him there. I'll probably take care of that.
I have not known anything at all about the rotary before. Our Indian Land rotary is a brand new group, chartering just a few months ago. Several of my friends are members. They are business and community leaders. Just by virtue of the fact that these wonderful people belong, I've considered that this must be a great organization.
I knew that each person who attends RYLA will receive a $1000 scholarship to Erskine.
I did not know that Nate would be presented this gift at the high school awards ceremony on Monday. In fact, I didn't know about the awards ceremony itself until that morning.
I walked into the ceremony and one of Nate's teachers said, "Oh hey! You just missed it?"
"Missed what?" I asked.
"They gave Nate his award." she replied.
"What award?" I asked. And she told me.
I asked Nate why he didn't tell me he would be presented that morning.
"I didn't know about it," he said. "I was sitting there, and [the counselor] started talking about the next award. He was describing it, and I thought, 'hmmm...that sounds like what I'm doing.' And then he called my name!"
Then last night the Indian Land guy called to ask if I'd received the packet of info about the conference. We talked for a few minutes and he said, "You know, there is a lot of scholarship money out there for these kids that go to RYLA. Full ride scholarships. And lots of them go to Erskine."
He also said the local rotary would like Nate to speak their breakfast when he comes back, and they would like him to help them start a youth chapter at the school next year.
This is so exciting! I can barely stand it!
I have not known anything at all about the rotary before. Our Indian Land rotary is a brand new group, chartering just a few months ago. Several of my friends are members. They are business and community leaders. Just by virtue of the fact that these wonderful people belong, I've considered that this must be a great organization.
I knew that each person who attends RYLA will receive a $1000 scholarship to Erskine.
I did not know that Nate would be presented this gift at the high school awards ceremony on Monday. In fact, I didn't know about the awards ceremony itself until that morning.
I walked into the ceremony and one of Nate's teachers said, "Oh hey! You just missed it?"
"Missed what?" I asked.
"They gave Nate his award." she replied.
"What award?" I asked. And she told me.
I asked Nate why he didn't tell me he would be presented that morning.
"I didn't know about it," he said. "I was sitting there, and [the counselor] started talking about the next award. He was describing it, and I thought, 'hmmm...that sounds like what I'm doing.' And then he called my name!"
Then last night the Indian Land guy called to ask if I'd received the packet of info about the conference. We talked for a few minutes and he said, "You know, there is a lot of scholarship money out there for these kids that go to RYLA. Full ride scholarships. And lots of them go to Erskine."
He also said the local rotary would like Nate to speak their breakfast when he comes back, and they would like him to help them start a youth chapter at the school next year.
This is so exciting! I can barely stand it!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
The Graduate
My baby brother finished his college degree this spring. It was a long haul for him. He went into the Air Force out of high school and, after a 4-year hitch, he got out and worked for a while.
After a couple of years of that, and accumulating a wonderful wife, a cute house, and two Australian Shepherds, he went to college part time.
And in true Ted style, none of us found out he'd completed the degree until a bit after it all happened. Unlike my sister and I, Ted did not call up everyone and crow about his accomplishment. I wasn't there when my parents found out, but I imagine it probably just slipped into casual conversation one day.
Congratulations Ted-reeko!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
The Meal That Doesn't Want to Be
Every once in a while, the best intentions just go awry.
It's 7:08 and we have still not eaten supper.
I started the fire at 5:30. But I waited to put the pork chops on until the potatoes were nearly done.
By the time I decided to put the chops on, the fire had completely burned up.
Re-started the fire.
I just put the chops on.
The potatoes are very close to being burnt.
It's 7:08 and we have still not eaten supper.
I started the fire at 5:30. But I waited to put the pork chops on until the potatoes were nearly done.
By the time I decided to put the chops on, the fire had completely burned up.
Re-started the fire.
I just put the chops on.
The potatoes are very close to being burnt.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Table Conversation
"Talk about the pot calling the kettle black," I said.
"Well, now...that doesn't make sense. What if the pot isn't black?" Nate wanted to know.
And from there it all degenerated.
One thing I will definitely miss about having Taylor in 6th grade is his constant references to his two male teachers.
"Mr. B-- says this,"
"Mr. B--thinks that."
"I think Mr. P plays 'Warcraft' when we are all doing our deskwork."
"I'm worried that Mr. B--is addicted to caffeine."
"Mr. P--is always saying we should think outside the box."
I sure do hope he gets 7th grade teachers that are half as good as the team he had this year. He struggled in math and gotten a little lazy periodically in Social Studies, but for the most part he's had a great year.
"Well, now...that doesn't make sense. What if the pot isn't black?" Nate wanted to know.
And from there it all degenerated.
One thing I will definitely miss about having Taylor in 6th grade is his constant references to his two male teachers.
"Mr. B-- says this,"
"Mr. B--thinks that."
"I think Mr. P plays 'Warcraft' when we are all doing our deskwork."
"I'm worried that Mr. B--is addicted to caffeine."
"Mr. P--is always saying we should think outside the box."
I sure do hope he gets 7th grade teachers that are half as good as the team he had this year. He struggled in math and gotten a little lazy periodically in Social Studies, but for the most part he's had a great year.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
New 7 Wonders of the World
So we've all heard about the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World:
The commonly known Seven Ancient Wonders of the World were all man-made monuments, selected by Philon of Byzantium in 200 B.C. Today, only the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt remain.His selection of wonders was essentially a travel guide for fellow Athenians, and the stunning sites were all located around the Mediterranean basin, the then-known world.
The monuments he chose, to be remembered in perpetuity, were:
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Temple of Artemis
The Statue of Zeus
The Colossus of Rhodes
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
The Pyramids of Egypt
All had been built between 2,500 B.C. and 200 B.C.
The commonly known Seven Ancient Wonders of the World were all man-made monuments, selected by Philon of Byzantium in 200 B.C. Today, only the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt remain.His selection of wonders was essentially a travel guide for fellow Athenians, and the stunning sites were all located around the Mediterranean basin, the then-known world.
The monuments he chose, to be remembered in perpetuity, were:
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Temple of Artemis
The Statue of Zeus
The Colossus of Rhodes
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
The Pyramids of Egypt
All had been built between 2,500 B.C. and 200 B.C.
Well, since only the Pyramids remain, there is an organization now that has decided it would be good if new wonders were selected. But rather than having the sites chosen by only one guy, they have launched a project enabling people from all over the world to vote on them.
21 sites are listed on their website. Votes will be collected until July 7.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Bed Perspectives
3:11 a.m.
ME: "Hey!"
HE: "You've got all the covers!"
6:07 a.m.
ME: "Yeah...look. I don't have hardly any covers."
HE: "You gave 'em to me."
ME: "Hey!"
HE: "You've got all the covers!"
6:07 a.m.
ME: "Yeah...look. I don't have hardly any covers."
HE: "You gave 'em to me."
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
I've Been Remiss
I haven't posted since late April. And here it is almost the middle of May.
School is winding down and so of course there is stuff going on over there. Now we are in the middle of standardized tests, so I'm helping monitor test-takers each day. 5 days in all. It's not too bad. I take a book and just glance around. There are two adults for each group. Each day it's about 3 hours.
Mensa Boy has done quite a bit of traveling these past few weeks and there will be more coming up. I think things won't die down until the second week of June.
Nate needs to find a job for the summer. I suggested to him last night that he list a few places he'd like to work. He mentioned Lowe's Home Improvement, but that would be a bit of a drive. I'd like to see him within 10 minutes of home, since I'll be taking him to and from work most of the time.
Taylor does not have plans for the summer at this point. Our boy Freddy, who comes here after school, will be with us most of the summer and they will have a good time. We've also talked about Taylor taking some pottery lessons from a friend of mine, and he may also go to Minnesota for a week-long visit before we go up there.
I do not have summer plans. The school stories will of course fall away, so I'll be hoping to pick up some other interesting things to write about. But I would also like to do some painting here at the house. We still have a few rooms that have not any paint at all. Still the contractor's flat cream color from 2002. Yeah, we are slow about stuff like that.
So this is a dull post. Sorry about that. Perhaps one of these days I'll post a message full of righteous indignation that my least favorite people won "The Amazing Race." Maybe I'll save that for when "American Idol" and "Survivor" all wind up.
Oh. The snake. I didn't mention the 12-foot python.
There are not too many people who can get me to stuff like this. Best friend Rena was able to talk me into going to her brother's to take a photo of the 12-foot, dead python they found in their shed. My photos did not turn out...as it was all crawling with MAGGOTS! The assumption is that someone had it for a pet and could not care for it any longer, releasing it outside.
hmpf. Just tried to put Eric's photo on here and it won't upload.
School is winding down and so of course there is stuff going on over there. Now we are in the middle of standardized tests, so I'm helping monitor test-takers each day. 5 days in all. It's not too bad. I take a book and just glance around. There are two adults for each group. Each day it's about 3 hours.
Mensa Boy has done quite a bit of traveling these past few weeks and there will be more coming up. I think things won't die down until the second week of June.
Nate needs to find a job for the summer. I suggested to him last night that he list a few places he'd like to work. He mentioned Lowe's Home Improvement, but that would be a bit of a drive. I'd like to see him within 10 minutes of home, since I'll be taking him to and from work most of the time.
Taylor does not have plans for the summer at this point. Our boy Freddy, who comes here after school, will be with us most of the summer and they will have a good time. We've also talked about Taylor taking some pottery lessons from a friend of mine, and he may also go to Minnesota for a week-long visit before we go up there.
I do not have summer plans. The school stories will of course fall away, so I'll be hoping to pick up some other interesting things to write about. But I would also like to do some painting here at the house. We still have a few rooms that have not any paint at all. Still the contractor's flat cream color from 2002. Yeah, we are slow about stuff like that.
So this is a dull post. Sorry about that. Perhaps one of these days I'll post a message full of righteous indignation that my least favorite people won "The Amazing Race." Maybe I'll save that for when "American Idol" and "Survivor" all wind up.
Oh. The snake. I didn't mention the 12-foot python.
There are not too many people who can get me to stuff like this. Best friend Rena was able to talk me into going to her brother's to take a photo of the 12-foot, dead python they found in their shed. My photos did not turn out...as it was all crawling with MAGGOTS! The assumption is that someone had it for a pet and could not care for it any longer, releasing it outside.
hmpf. Just tried to put Eric's photo on here and it won't upload.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Pushed Over the Edge
The bread I normally buy was not available at the grocery store the other day. So I bought some different stuff.
Let me just say that I always buy whole wheat bread. I never buy white bread.
But apparently Taylor took exception to this particular brand of bread that I bought the other day. Yesterday he left me this note.
This morning Mensa Boy took the offending loaf out of the bread drawer and said, "Is this the bread that pushed Taylor over the edge?"
(In very tiny print on the lower left side of this note, Mensa Boy put a comment: "Whole wheat bread is really fun." Taylor is not amused)
Friday, April 20, 2007
Evidence
Found this in Taylor's room this morning when I went in to wake him up.
How do you suppose he so neatly got the tops off all these cans?
PERHAPS WITH A CAN OPENER???
How do you suppose he so neatly got the tops off all these cans?
PERHAPS WITH A CAN OPENER???
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Disappearing and Reappearing
Yesterday I made goulash, a family favorite. It requires opening a can or two of tomatoes.
I searched high and low for the can opener. I pulled everything out of the drawer...which is no mean feat. That drawer is very very large and is the standard kitchen catch-all drawer.
Fleeting through my mind was that Mom and Dad had walked off with it.
Of course they wouldn't have done that.
I was so desperate that I called Mensa Boy. He's out of town.
"Have you seen the can opener?"
"No. It's not in the...."
"Of course not."
"Of course not."
(drives me crazy when he asks me if whatever I'm looking for isn't in the place it belongs...)
So after a minute or so of questioning (I thought perhaps he'd used it for a project a while back), We hung up. I got the opener from the camping box, finished supper.
After supper I did the dishes.
And dropped the carrot peeler back into the drawer.
Right on top of the can opener.
No one is fessing up.
I searched high and low for the can opener. I pulled everything out of the drawer...which is no mean feat. That drawer is very very large and is the standard kitchen catch-all drawer.
Fleeting through my mind was that Mom and Dad had walked off with it.
Of course they wouldn't have done that.
I was so desperate that I called Mensa Boy. He's out of town.
"Have you seen the can opener?"
"No. It's not in the...."
"Of course not."
"Of course not."
(drives me crazy when he asks me if whatever I'm looking for isn't in the place it belongs...)
So after a minute or so of questioning (I thought perhaps he'd used it for a project a while back), We hung up. I got the opener from the camping box, finished supper.
After supper I did the dishes.
And dropped the carrot peeler back into the drawer.
Right on top of the can opener.
No one is fessing up.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Snotty
Mensa Boy is being very snotty.
He has a terrible cold and has blown his way through two boxes of kleenex. So there are little trash cans around that are totally full of used kleenex.
I feel bad for him. But I don't want to be around him!
He has a terrible cold and has blown his way through two boxes of kleenex. So there are little trash cans around that are totally full of used kleenex.
I feel bad for him. But I don't want to be around him!
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Great Big Vegetable Challenge
Many many thanks to my buddy Chris for sending me the link to this blog. It is fantastic!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut has died. It's hard to imagine. The first thing that pops into my mind is a ratty paperback copy of "Breakfast of Champions."
His first novel was published in 1952 ("Player Piano") and his last in 1972 ("Timequake"). The only one I remember reading was "Breakfast" (1973). Just about anyone born between 1940 and now has undoubtably read at least one of his books.
The write-up in today's paper mentions "Dog-eared paperback copies of his books could be found in the back pockets of blue jeans and in dorm rooms on campuses throughout the United States."
How true.
His first novel was published in 1952 ("Player Piano") and his last in 1972 ("Timequake"). The only one I remember reading was "Breakfast" (1973). Just about anyone born between 1940 and now has undoubtably read at least one of his books.
The write-up in today's paper mentions "Dog-eared paperback copies of his books could be found in the back pockets of blue jeans and in dorm rooms on campuses throughout the United States."
How true.
"New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth. The more truth we have to work with, the richer we become."
Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions
Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
A Poem by Taylor
A book is a human
It can say anything
A book is a game
But you can never fail
A book is a friend
You can have a lot
A book is a feeling
It can make you feel different
A book is life
Anything can happen
A book is a human
It can say anything
It can say anything
A book is a game
But you can never fail
A book is a friend
You can have a lot
A book is a feeling
It can make you feel different
A book is life
Anything can happen
A book is a human
It can say anything
Monday, April 09, 2007
Churchin' Around
Yesterday morning I hit the road at 6:30 to go to a sunrise service at the local state park.
It was 23-freakin'-degrees out, by the way. Cold even by my standards.
The service was in an ampitheatre in the woods at the park, so there was obviously not going to be any opportunity to get any actual sunrise shots. I stayed just a few minutes, shooting the pastor on stage with his microphone, all decked out in his "tobaggan" (stocking cap) and mittens, his wife wrapped in a huge coat, playing the keyboard.
I decided to run back up the road to my own church's sunrise service, held at our sister church. (the Dodge Gr. Caravan really cruises along smoothly at 85 mph)
The sissies had all wimped out and taken their service inside. Moreover, cars were parked in front of the lawn cross, so there was no chance of getting a decent photo of that with the sun coming up behind it.
So I decided to go further up the road to my favorite Lutheran church.
But on the way, I glanced over to the little Baptist Church and lo! There were a dozen hardy souls out in the backyard having a little service. Whipped in there and joined them, shooting away.
Their service ended around 7:15 so, declining their offer of a donut and coffee, I jumped back into Big Greenie and beat it up the highway to the Lutherans.
They were inside as well. By this time I was thoroughly chilled and feeling more charitable about sissies. I stopped in there and shot a few photos of the children doing a project.
Then went to our church in time for the dual-church breakfast. Shot some photos of that crowd and thawed out while rubbing elbows. And teasing the two preachers about being inside while the pentecostals and Baptists were gutting out the cold.
I was home by 8:15. It was a good morning. I got some decent shots I think, which I sent in to the paper. I hope they use some of them. But this is one time when I hardly care. I had a lot of fun, so it was well worth the effort.
It was 23-freakin'-degrees out, by the way. Cold even by my standards.
The service was in an ampitheatre in the woods at the park, so there was obviously not going to be any opportunity to get any actual sunrise shots. I stayed just a few minutes, shooting the pastor on stage with his microphone, all decked out in his "tobaggan" (stocking cap) and mittens, his wife wrapped in a huge coat, playing the keyboard.
I decided to run back up the road to my own church's sunrise service, held at our sister church. (the Dodge Gr. Caravan really cruises along smoothly at 85 mph)
The sissies had all wimped out and taken their service inside. Moreover, cars were parked in front of the lawn cross, so there was no chance of getting a decent photo of that with the sun coming up behind it.
So I decided to go further up the road to my favorite Lutheran church.
But on the way, I glanced over to the little Baptist Church and lo! There were a dozen hardy souls out in the backyard having a little service. Whipped in there and joined them, shooting away.
Their service ended around 7:15 so, declining their offer of a donut and coffee, I jumped back into Big Greenie and beat it up the highway to the Lutherans.
They were inside as well. By this time I was thoroughly chilled and feeling more charitable about sissies. I stopped in there and shot a few photos of the children doing a project.
Then went to our church in time for the dual-church breakfast. Shot some photos of that crowd and thawed out while rubbing elbows. And teasing the two preachers about being inside while the pentecostals and Baptists were gutting out the cold.
I was home by 8:15. It was a good morning. I got some decent shots I think, which I sent in to the paper. I hope they use some of them. But this is one time when I hardly care. I had a lot of fun, so it was well worth the effort.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Eagles
Check out this Eagle cam...if you have a high-speed internet connection. (thanks Julie!)
http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html
Mom and Dad arrived yesterday and will stay for the next two weeks at the local state park. We had a nice meal last night of cornish game hens, green beans and tomatoes (a Giada deLaurentiis recipe), and wild rice with cranberries and almonds. Topped it all off with chocolate chip cookies.
Everyone was dragged out from a busy day, so they pretty much left right after giving the dog a bath. I teased Mom about us just being a dog-washing depot for them. They give that dog a bath first thing every time they get here.
Mensa Boy and Taylor painted Taylor's room yesterday. It's a very shocking blue. Kind of a post-it note blue, actually. Today they will do a second coat and then they've been talking about going on a hike.
Mom and I need to find something for me to wear. I have no spring/summer clothes that fit. So I should get started and Easter seems like a logical time.
OH YEAH...AND! How much screwier is "American Idol" going to get? Gina Glocksen is gone now?
http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html
Mom and Dad arrived yesterday and will stay for the next two weeks at the local state park. We had a nice meal last night of cornish game hens, green beans and tomatoes (a Giada deLaurentiis recipe), and wild rice with cranberries and almonds. Topped it all off with chocolate chip cookies.
Everyone was dragged out from a busy day, so they pretty much left right after giving the dog a bath. I teased Mom about us just being a dog-washing depot for them. They give that dog a bath first thing every time they get here.
Mensa Boy and Taylor painted Taylor's room yesterday. It's a very shocking blue. Kind of a post-it note blue, actually. Today they will do a second coat and then they've been talking about going on a hike.
Mom and I need to find something for me to wear. I have no spring/summer clothes that fit. So I should get started and Easter seems like a logical time.
OH YEAH...AND! How much screwier is "American Idol" going to get? Gina Glocksen is gone now?
Monday, April 02, 2007
Concern/Unconcern
A new medication I'm taking lists "lack of concern" as a potential side effect.
Apparently a "lack of concern" is considered to be a more serious side effect, because you are supposed to contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing it.
hmmmmm
[Do I need to spell out my snarky comment on that? Or Kristen, would you like to?]
Apparently a "lack of concern" is considered to be a more serious side effect, because you are supposed to contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing it.
hmmmmm
[Do I need to spell out my snarky comment on that? Or Kristen, would you like to?]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)