Getting ready

Today, Saturday, I had the boys up and out of the house by 9am. We were on our way to help my sister mow her lawn. She couldn't get her lawn mower started and the grass was getting long. By the time we got to her house though, she was already gone to take my niece to karate. That didn't slow us down. She had left her mower out in case we came while she was gone.



Trev and I had brought our mower just in case we couldn't get hers started. We had also brought gas. I helped Trev get our mower to the back yard so he could get started. Her back yard is big so its a good place to begin as it takes longer. Riley and I checked out her mower in the front yard. Hers has a choke on it. The knob is broken so it is really hard to get the knob bar into the choke position to start the mower. We added gas, then while I held the choke down in place with my gloved hands to give me more leverage, Riley pulled the starter cable. Between the two of us we got the mower running.



Riley mowed the front while I hoed the weeds. I had brought our hoe, since last time we were there we broke the old wooden handle off the hoe Tory had. Between the three of us we got the yard done in about a half hour. It was in pretty good condition as she had hired someone to spread mulch and tidy up the yard about a month ago. Looking at it now I realize I need to mulch my yard desperately.



We were done well before I anticipated being done. That meant I had extra time in our day. I wanted to buy the boys shoes from my new job at the employee discount, but I had needed their feet to be present. Even though it was my day off, we headed to the shoe store. I fitted them in some really great shoes called Beast, made by Brooks. These shoes are top of the line for athletic wear and foot problems. Trevor has been wailing about his feet hurting him. He needed a 4E width which he could not get in the last pair he had.



We had bought his shoes at the Nike store at the airport. I had asked for their widest shoe, but it really was just a regular size. They cost as much as the Beast, but the width made Trevor's feet hurt. I was pleased we had the boy's size in stock, 12 4E for Trevor and 13 2E for Riley. The store wasn't too busy either so we weren't in the way.



Both boys could feel the difference in their feet immediately. Trevor was sad he couldn't get cleats for football in the same width. I may have to order on line his cleats next year. Hopefully someone must make 4E, as he can't be the only big line man with wide feet.



We had lunch at Subway, just down the mall from the shoe store. Then I told the boys they would be getting their hair professionally cut, so they would look good for our trip that is coming up to meet Dale Earnhart Jr. There will be pictures taken and I didn't want the boys to look shaggy like their mother cut their hair, which I did before school started.



Riley has side burns and shaggy eye brows and a mustache he is very proud of, and hair growing down his neck, even though it is just a shadow. It is more than any other freshman in high school. Trevor just needed a clean up.



This was a real Barber shop with the cool spinning sign post outside. The woman cuts Trevor's hair, layering it beautifully, as I could never do, both because I don't know how and secondly that my children will not sit still for me that long. Riley gets his cut by a man. His eyes get really huge when the man pulls out one of those old fashioned grooming knives to get a clean scrape on Riley's neck.



Wow, what a difference a professional cut makes. The boys looked so spiffy when they were done. The guy that cut Riley's hair even trimmed up the bushy eye brows. He noted how Riley flinched when he got close to the ears though and asked if I had nicked Riley's ears in the past. "Yep". The cuts were $20 each including the tip. You get what you pay for, and I am free.



Both boys looked so sharp with shiny new shoes and new hair cuts. Now I just need the wardrobe check, and we are ready to meet Junior, without looking like ... Well, people that need a make over.



I am having my nails and toes done and I have an appointment to have my hair colored and styled professionally next week. I usually color my own hair, but it never quite covers the gray all the way. I want a really good job, just like the boys received.



I told Tom I was still feeling a little guilty about the trip. We could do this ourselves, but probably wouldn't. Tom pointed out that we are in no way out of the woods yet. We have a long way to go, at least another 6 months and only if all goes well. Once we are done with this adventure of Riley's, we will make American Cancer society and Make a Wish two of our main charities to repay this wonderful opportunity and services they provide.



American Cancer society has asked me to send out a post card from me to 17 neighbors asking for support. I told them I would do it. They give me the postcards and I just have to personalize them. I appreciate so much more now how much they do to help people at all levels of need.



The extent of work it takes to collect blood from volunteers or the assistance in a crisis, They do a little of everything, including the summer camp the boys attended this summer. Riley would not have been able to do camp at all without those nurses and doctors and councilors giving their time, let alone the funds needed to run that camp.