A day of rest has helped. I forced fluids on Riley and he is vastly improved. I am home with him today and I will do the fluids again. Its Sunday. The house is quiet. It is 9:45 am and everyone but me is still sleeping. I have been up for an hour, showered and dressed, working quietly at my computer. I check my Facebook and the bills. Eventually, I will have to start making noise.
What is nice is I do not hear Riley coughing. I heard him get up and go downstairs to open his pills to air. He then went back upstairs, back to bed. The pills stink in the package, so he airs them out before taking them. It helps to not gag as he swallows them, if they don't have that fresh out of the package smell. I think we will all be happy when he stops taking the pills.
I did run into a friend at work, who's brother, age 42, has cancer. His bone marrow transplant has not run smoothly. He is still on drugs and fighting the battle. I did not like to hear that news. On the other hand he did not have what Riley has. He also is not Riley's age.
Meanwhile as usual Tom is stressing enough for all of us. He says I pretend everything is normal. He is so wrong. I just know that stressing weeks before there is need only creates an unhealthy environment for everyone. I am not going to act like Riley is a freak we need to watch. He knows he is sick. He knows when he needs rest.
Riley is not the one staying up until the wee hours of the night trying to distract himself with books or TV or computers. Riley, other than sports, is living as he is supposed to, going to school, playing with friends, doing video games on the computer, but not at unreasonable times. He knows when it is bed time or when he is tired.
Trevor is hanging with his father until late, when I get up from bed and yell at them both that it is a school night or the fact that Trevor needs a regular sleep schedule and it is not 4 hours. I remind myself that this is temporary. We are coming up on Tom Seniors one year anniversary of his death and Riley's illness. Life is too short already to dwell in the past or the what ifs. We need to live in the present and look to the future.
Two weeks left until the next stage. I will not get mad. I will hold my tongue. Some people handle stress better than others is all I can say.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Riley's cold
Riley is home sick today. I had him to the local doctor Wednesday after school. They x-rayed his chest, but didn't see anything at that time. His cough is worse this week. Evenings are bad. Tom tells Riley to cover his mouth. I bring Riley water. I don't think Riley drinks enough during the day to flush the germs out. I will flood him with water today, keep him hydrated. He was stable for a week, but the lingering cough is slowly getting stronger this week. Its been two weeks.
Tom is stressing. We are approaching February 10. We are also approaching the one year anniversary of the death of Tom's father, January 26. Tom has never done well with family stress. Riley's cough is not helping the stress level. It is hard to know when to take the cold seriously and have the doctor look at him. Tom would like me to have the doctor run a CBC, blood panel, to see what the white cells are doing. If Riley doesn't begin to improve with my giving him fluids and food, I will take him in again. Meanwhile, Riley wanted waffles and whip cream fro breakfast. He is not so sick that his appetite is suppressed.
Everything is about food these days.
Tom is stressing. We are approaching February 10. We are also approaching the one year anniversary of the death of Tom's father, January 26. Tom has never done well with family stress. Riley's cough is not helping the stress level. It is hard to know when to take the cold seriously and have the doctor look at him. Tom would like me to have the doctor run a CBC, blood panel, to see what the white cells are doing. If Riley doesn't begin to improve with my giving him fluids and food, I will take him in again. Meanwhile, Riley wanted waffles and whip cream fro breakfast. He is not so sick that his appetite is suppressed.
Everything is about food these days.
Fs
I don't know if this is a good thing or not, but Trevor ran out of lunch money this week. he remembered to ask me for a check three times during the evening. I thought about it, how he can remember that he needs to bring lunch money, but he can't remember to hand in his homework on time.
We are a month and a half into the trimester. He now has three F's in his core classes Humanities, Science, and math. The law prohibits us from beating him. Angry lectures don't seem to be helping. The punishments I have used didn't work. tom can't live without TV or with the whining. The financial encouragements were no use. I offered Trevor $500 if he could make honor roll this trimester, just Bs would have been fine. Tom offered him money just for a week of no late assignments.
So, this morning I opted not to pay Trevor's lunch bill as that is something he does remember and care about. I told him he could make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from home. To start I handed him a granola bar, one of my healthy ones, as he headed out the door. Perhaps gnawing hunger pains will jog his homework memories, like a string around his finger.
I promised Tom I would not fight. Tom was dreading coming home from work to the fights. So this is a little passive aggressive approach. The teachers aren't able to help Trevor remember, I can't walk him to each class all day, every day. I can't do it for him. Food might be the in to his mind. He'll need to learn sooner or later, no work, no food on the table.
I just hope he doesn't turn into some sort of bully at lunch, taking food from others.
The other day I got a call from Tom. The school had been unable to contact me. Trevor had sat in gum and coated his pants with a sticky blue mess. He needed to come home and change. They had called Tom when they couldn't get me. Tom gave permission for them to contact my neighbor, my sweet wonderful thoughtful neighbor. The one that has the small children that play with my boys. She was home and available to come to school, pick Trevor up and deliver him home for clean pants, then take him back to school. All this happened while I was at work with a customer and not picking up my phone, oblivious to the crisis.
I am told he was appropriately grateful and thanked her for her time and effort. The next day I sent Trevor to deliver her flowers as my thank you. I also called to let her know how much I appreciated the help. The pants had to be thrown away, the gum was so extensive, it was just not worth the effort. I didn't mind too much. There is a reason why I like to pay less than $5 for a pair of pants at the thrift store. It is a lot less painful when the pants tear out at the knee, or someone spills paint or tar on them, or sits in gum, and they have to be thrown out.
Sometimes if the knee tears, I cut off both legs and hem them on my sewing machine, creating a new pair of shorts for golfing. The pants get a second life. In this case there was nothing I could do. It also reminded me that no one is indispensable. Trevor was able to handle the crisis without any help from me. He came up with the solution all on his own, when I was unavailable. I know he can function in the world, I know he can do what is required. Perhaps if I tighten the purse strings and do not help him at all, he will learn what it takes to succeed on his own. Perhaps I have been over helpful.
He can make his own lunch and take it to school. He must learn to get his homework in on time, and do the work in the time provided. He reads every night in bed for hours, yet he doesn't hand in the time sheet to the teacher showing how much he has been reading. He carries the finished math to school and doesn't put it in the basket, or he brings the work home and doesn't bother doing it until after it is late. Late work is not accepted by this math teacher. He is failing his classes, not because he doesn't know or understand, but because of his disorganization, his inability to complete the assignment, sign his name, and hand in the $*%^%&^% work on time.
I am off to my work. What I learned is Trevor thinks for himself and functions better if I don't lift a finger to help. No lunch money, he can make his own lunch until his grades improve and maybe even after that, if that is what works for him.
We are a month and a half into the trimester. He now has three F's in his core classes Humanities, Science, and math. The law prohibits us from beating him. Angry lectures don't seem to be helping. The punishments I have used didn't work. tom can't live without TV or with the whining. The financial encouragements were no use. I offered Trevor $500 if he could make honor roll this trimester, just Bs would have been fine. Tom offered him money just for a week of no late assignments.
So, this morning I opted not to pay Trevor's lunch bill as that is something he does remember and care about. I told him he could make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from home. To start I handed him a granola bar, one of my healthy ones, as he headed out the door. Perhaps gnawing hunger pains will jog his homework memories, like a string around his finger.
I promised Tom I would not fight. Tom was dreading coming home from work to the fights. So this is a little passive aggressive approach. The teachers aren't able to help Trevor remember, I can't walk him to each class all day, every day. I can't do it for him. Food might be the in to his mind. He'll need to learn sooner or later, no work, no food on the table.
I just hope he doesn't turn into some sort of bully at lunch, taking food from others.
The other day I got a call from Tom. The school had been unable to contact me. Trevor had sat in gum and coated his pants with a sticky blue mess. He needed to come home and change. They had called Tom when they couldn't get me. Tom gave permission for them to contact my neighbor, my sweet wonderful thoughtful neighbor. The one that has the small children that play with my boys. She was home and available to come to school, pick Trevor up and deliver him home for clean pants, then take him back to school. All this happened while I was at work with a customer and not picking up my phone, oblivious to the crisis.
I am told he was appropriately grateful and thanked her for her time and effort. The next day I sent Trevor to deliver her flowers as my thank you. I also called to let her know how much I appreciated the help. The pants had to be thrown away, the gum was so extensive, it was just not worth the effort. I didn't mind too much. There is a reason why I like to pay less than $5 for a pair of pants at the thrift store. It is a lot less painful when the pants tear out at the knee, or someone spills paint or tar on them, or sits in gum, and they have to be thrown out.
Sometimes if the knee tears, I cut off both legs and hem them on my sewing machine, creating a new pair of shorts for golfing. The pants get a second life. In this case there was nothing I could do. It also reminded me that no one is indispensable. Trevor was able to handle the crisis without any help from me. He came up with the solution all on his own, when I was unavailable. I know he can function in the world, I know he can do what is required. Perhaps if I tighten the purse strings and do not help him at all, he will learn what it takes to succeed on his own. Perhaps I have been over helpful.
He can make his own lunch and take it to school. He must learn to get his homework in on time, and do the work in the time provided. He reads every night in bed for hours, yet he doesn't hand in the time sheet to the teacher showing how much he has been reading. He carries the finished math to school and doesn't put it in the basket, or he brings the work home and doesn't bother doing it until after it is late. Late work is not accepted by this math teacher. He is failing his classes, not because he doesn't know or understand, but because of his disorganization, his inability to complete the assignment, sign his name, and hand in the $*%^%&^% work on time.
I am off to my work. What I learned is Trevor thinks for himself and functions better if I don't lift a finger to help. No lunch money, he can make his own lunch until his grades improve and maybe even after that, if that is what works for him.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Birthday month
The fun just keeps coming. Today I woke up to argue with Trevor. It turns out he has been hiding the clean laundry in his dirty laundry basket. I found out when I asked him to dump the full basket in the laundry room because it looked full. What came out was the clean load from two days ago that was supposed to be put away. I know this was clean and hidden because included in the load was my clean lace top.
He lied and said he had not been hiding it to avoid putting it away. I got mad. Even the underwear smelled clean and felt fresh. I swore. It just makes me have to do it all over again. You can imagine my frustration and anger.
He accused me of not doing chores, that he did all the work around the house. Yesterday I spent three hours at his school volunteering for PTA during the school lunch hours. He saw me there and was excited with the project, yet this morning he has the gall to tell me I do nothing and he does all the work. I told him this is why I don't come out of my room until after they leave for school. I get angry at six in the morning to find yesterdays chores still waiting, the hiding of clean laundry so it looks like it was put away and then dumped back in the laundry room for rewashing.
The dishes were not unloaded either, so Riley did not escape from my anger. He kept out of the way knowing there was no use arguing, quickly got dressed and left for the bus, while I went back to my room and shut the door, fuming at the extra work I was going to do once they had left the house.
The day improved. Gigi had asked what I wanted for my birthday. I had told her lunch at the Town club. The Town club is an exclusive women only club that was started in the 192o's. A gorgeous old brick building located in one of the nicest areas in town, filled with incredibly beautiful antiques and art donated by some of the wealthiest women in the community. I have attended weddings and lunches over the years at the Town club. It is like walking into the Great Gatsby and I am Daisie for the day, no stress no worries.
Gigi was asked if she wanted to join years ago. She was thrilled by the honor of the invitation, and enthusiastically joined various committees that help keep the club going. The house committee oversees the dining room and menus for the month. The historic committee keeps the old photo albums and records safe.
Tory and I learned a new word, ephemera or papers and photos, that is what the historic committee cares for. Gigi takes care of the ephemera. She showed us a scrap book from the first years that had the name of her Grandmother as a member, our great Grandmother.
We had cocktails in front of a gas fire in a small sitting room off the main lobby. The Club is set up in the style of a Mansion with beautiful fret work and paneling. The ceiling has gold leaf medallions set in between huge beams. One foot moldings encase the ceilings and walls. It is all glamorous.
I even dressed up and curled my hair in anticipation of the event. I wore an appropriate black dress with red jacket and pearls. I made more of an effort and dressed nicer than I have for recent dates with Tom, all because we were going to The Town Club. The understated elegance demands respect.
When I was younger and a little more rebellious, I wore a short leather skirt with my Christmas sweater to a winter event. I could see my mom wince when I showed up. We had one of my bridal showers in a private "garden room", with mural wall paper hand painted on the walls, showing English country sides.
So when I want to feel rich and pampered and elegant, nothing catches the spirit more than lunch at the Town Club with best manners. Fine china and silver glitter and sparkle on the tables. We must remember which is the salad fork and not clatter our tea cups.
Our waitress came by our little sitting room and asked if we would like cocktails. Mom ordered a drink I hadn't heard of. Tory and I ordered coffee nudges. Margaret was coming from work so did not arrive in time for cocktails. Gigi asked that the fire be lit. Being an old building, the window had to be cracked open and both sides of the fireplace had to be lit to create enough draft to start the fire going up the chimney. Once started the window was closed and the fire quickly warmed us with a cheery glow.
After cocktails we descended to the dining area, where pink table cloths graced the tables and waitresses dressed in black skirts and white blouses with french aprons waited to serve our lunch. Endive salad with grapes and rasberry vinaigrette arrived first. Followed by crab kitsch cooked to perfection. The waitresses anticipated our every need, filling our water glasses and coffee mugs quickly out of sterling silver dispensers. Our dessert was peppermint ice cream with chocolate sauce.
Conversation flowed effortlessly. Gigi had even provided party favors, little medal notebooks with pens attached, so we could look glamorous even when jotting down thoughts. It was all lovely, a moment out of time, that had to end all too soon. Tory was due back at work and the lunch ended. We had to leave the lovely mansion on the hill and return to our real lives of dealing with children and chores. I will Cherish the memories of lunch today, until next year when I can ask again for a visit to the Town Club, that time capsule of grace and elegance and pampering.
I turned on the radio to the classical music station for the drive home just to keep the mood as long as possible.
Thanks Mom, it was a lovely afternoon
He lied and said he had not been hiding it to avoid putting it away. I got mad. Even the underwear smelled clean and felt fresh. I swore. It just makes me have to do it all over again. You can imagine my frustration and anger.
He accused me of not doing chores, that he did all the work around the house. Yesterday I spent three hours at his school volunteering for PTA during the school lunch hours. He saw me there and was excited with the project, yet this morning he has the gall to tell me I do nothing and he does all the work. I told him this is why I don't come out of my room until after they leave for school. I get angry at six in the morning to find yesterdays chores still waiting, the hiding of clean laundry so it looks like it was put away and then dumped back in the laundry room for rewashing.
The dishes were not unloaded either, so Riley did not escape from my anger. He kept out of the way knowing there was no use arguing, quickly got dressed and left for the bus, while I went back to my room and shut the door, fuming at the extra work I was going to do once they had left the house.
The day improved. Gigi had asked what I wanted for my birthday. I had told her lunch at the Town club. The Town club is an exclusive women only club that was started in the 192o's. A gorgeous old brick building located in one of the nicest areas in town, filled with incredibly beautiful antiques and art donated by some of the wealthiest women in the community. I have attended weddings and lunches over the years at the Town club. It is like walking into the Great Gatsby and I am Daisie for the day, no stress no worries.
Gigi was asked if she wanted to join years ago. She was thrilled by the honor of the invitation, and enthusiastically joined various committees that help keep the club going. The house committee oversees the dining room and menus for the month. The historic committee keeps the old photo albums and records safe.
Tory and I learned a new word, ephemera or papers and photos, that is what the historic committee cares for. Gigi takes care of the ephemera. She showed us a scrap book from the first years that had the name of her Grandmother as a member, our great Grandmother.
We had cocktails in front of a gas fire in a small sitting room off the main lobby. The Club is set up in the style of a Mansion with beautiful fret work and paneling. The ceiling has gold leaf medallions set in between huge beams. One foot moldings encase the ceilings and walls. It is all glamorous.
I even dressed up and curled my hair in anticipation of the event. I wore an appropriate black dress with red jacket and pearls. I made more of an effort and dressed nicer than I have for recent dates with Tom, all because we were going to The Town Club. The understated elegance demands respect.
When I was younger and a little more rebellious, I wore a short leather skirt with my Christmas sweater to a winter event. I could see my mom wince when I showed up. We had one of my bridal showers in a private "garden room", with mural wall paper hand painted on the walls, showing English country sides.
So when I want to feel rich and pampered and elegant, nothing catches the spirit more than lunch at the Town Club with best manners. Fine china and silver glitter and sparkle on the tables. We must remember which is the salad fork and not clatter our tea cups.
Our waitress came by our little sitting room and asked if we would like cocktails. Mom ordered a drink I hadn't heard of. Tory and I ordered coffee nudges. Margaret was coming from work so did not arrive in time for cocktails. Gigi asked that the fire be lit. Being an old building, the window had to be cracked open and both sides of the fireplace had to be lit to create enough draft to start the fire going up the chimney. Once started the window was closed and the fire quickly warmed us with a cheery glow.
After cocktails we descended to the dining area, where pink table cloths graced the tables and waitresses dressed in black skirts and white blouses with french aprons waited to serve our lunch. Endive salad with grapes and rasberry vinaigrette arrived first. Followed by crab kitsch cooked to perfection. The waitresses anticipated our every need, filling our water glasses and coffee mugs quickly out of sterling silver dispensers. Our dessert was peppermint ice cream with chocolate sauce.
Conversation flowed effortlessly. Gigi had even provided party favors, little medal notebooks with pens attached, so we could look glamorous even when jotting down thoughts. It was all lovely, a moment out of time, that had to end all too soon. Tory was due back at work and the lunch ended. We had to leave the lovely mansion on the hill and return to our real lives of dealing with children and chores. I will Cherish the memories of lunch today, until next year when I can ask again for a visit to the Town Club, that time capsule of grace and elegance and pampering.
I turned on the radio to the classical music station for the drive home just to keep the mood as long as possible.
Thanks Mom, it was a lovely afternoon
Monday, January 17, 2011
Crankie chores
I was getting a little fed up with the lack of help with the projects I could not get done myself. fixing the sound on the computer and getting the instant hot installed. Sunday morning got later and later. At 11 am I finally had enough. If I didn't get started myself I could not get these thing accomplished before going to the symphony tonight.
So, in my passive aggressive way I pounded on Trevor's door loudly waking him and everyone else in the family to roust them out of bed. I threw the new computer and accessories into their boxes, which were still sitting about. I asked Trevor to help carry everything downstairs. we were returning the computer today to Fry's.
Trevor is a little cranky at the abrupt awakening and rush out the door. Tom crawls out of bed not happy either, but he doesn't complain as I am doing something that needs to be taken care of, fixing the computer one way or another.
I was going to take the lap top also, but he says he will have someone at work look at it first. I just want to "get her done". My patience has worn out. Tom gets the message. He begins the install on the instant hot after I leave the house with Trevor and the computer.
Fry's as usual is an issue. Unless there is something wrong with the computer, and they tell me the sound works just fine, there is a 15% restocking fee. Tom spent almost $1000. they want $150 for me to return this computer. I stay calm. I have found falling apart is not efficient use of my emotions. I had gone into this trip with heart palpitations. I knew when packing up the computer it would not be easy. I have dealt with Fry's before.
First I had left the mouse at home so I have to call Tom and ask him to quickly deliver it to Fry's or they wont take the computer back at all. By the time he arrives, I have found out it is not broken. they are going to charge me for the return. I am shown the proper hole for the sound system, and opt to keep the computer rather than pay them $150. I am guessing while they were waiting they down loaded what ever was needed to get the sound working.
I do return the unopened photo printer that was part of the package deal. We don't need it and they are ink hogs. I get $30 in store credit that must be used that day. I buy extension cables and a slitter for the headsets. With our open floor plan it is nice to have the sound on headsets and not speakers competing with the TV sound. They allow me to keep the change.
I track Trevor down at the game station, checking out a road racing game in HD. It makes me nausiated just watching. Having at least gotten the sound fixed and knowing Tom is home installing the instant hot, I opt to give him a little more time to finish and take Trevor out to lunch as a treat for being my gopher today.
We are having breakfast on Tuesday for work at a restaurant in West Linn. I don't know where it is so I tell Trevor that is where we are going for lunch. I will locate it today and then I wont get lost on my way to the meeting and end up being late. Good choice, as the restaurant turns out to be on the other side of the freeway from where I thought it was. We locate it after having to ask for directions from a gas station attendant. Had I waited until Tuesday, I would have been lost and late.
Lunch was great. Trevor does his usual double cheese burger with soup. I convince him to hold off on the fries as we are going out again in a few hours for dinner. I give him most of my hash browns to stave off the complaining. I have the Rancho Huervos, which are just as they should be.
We get back to the house. Tom has the old leaky instant hot out but the new one is still not installed. I open the casing on the old box to see the damage. The whole thing is a mess of rusted out copper. No wonder it had been leaking. Tom is having difficulty with the install of the new instant hot. I knew this was a two man operation, which is why I had not addressed it myself.
I make a trip to Ace to get a couple of pieces that might help with the install. I love Ace. You walk in the door, and hold up what you have brought and say "Help". The clerk calls over an employee who walks with you to the right aisle and helps pick out the items you need. Five minutes, in and out, with exactly what Tom wanted.
Tom crawls back under the sink. It is a scene out of the movie A Christmas Story, when the father faces off with the furnace in the basement. The swear words fly. Tom's helper is Riley. Riley likes to toss out pithy comments that to me that would only aggravate me further had they been directed at me rather than his father, About how "we should have hired a plumber, the job would have been done more easily. A plumber would know what to do." I am guessing with Tom's head under the sink, he was missing the commentary above, Because had he heard the comments, Riley would have not looked so blissful. As it was Tom would call out crankily for Riley to hold the nozzle still so Tom could tighten it down under the sink as he swore and dropped the screw behind his head.
Riley would lose interest and try to wonder off back upstairs. With me home though, I stood and watched and every time Riley began to step away from our vigil by the sink, I would murmur "Not until your father is done installing". No wonder it wasn't finished until after I got home. Tom's helper kept drifting off to other areas, and Tom needed a runner to Ace for those little parts to make his job easier.
I made another trip to Ace for a copper pressure clamp and then the instant hot was working. It only took two trips to Ace. It is worth the extra miles as they are so helpful and walk you through the store to exactly what you need.
If you have ever had a home with an instant hot, you know you can't live without them. You just don't know what you are missing if you haven't had one. Of course you need to know we are instant coffee drinkers, and hot cocoa for the boys, too impatient in the mornings to do the whole grind and percolate. Instant hot is just that, instant hot. The hole was already built into our kitchen sink so why not.
So my two biggest irritants are taken care of today. The computer has sound and the instant hot is installed and working. I still need word processing, but I will do that another day. Now Trevor and I are off to the symphony while Tom gets to watch uninterrupted playoff football. Riley gets to relax and do what ever.
So, in my passive aggressive way I pounded on Trevor's door loudly waking him and everyone else in the family to roust them out of bed. I threw the new computer and accessories into their boxes, which were still sitting about. I asked Trevor to help carry everything downstairs. we were returning the computer today to Fry's.
Trevor is a little cranky at the abrupt awakening and rush out the door. Tom crawls out of bed not happy either, but he doesn't complain as I am doing something that needs to be taken care of, fixing the computer one way or another.
I was going to take the lap top also, but he says he will have someone at work look at it first. I just want to "get her done". My patience has worn out. Tom gets the message. He begins the install on the instant hot after I leave the house with Trevor and the computer.
Fry's as usual is an issue. Unless there is something wrong with the computer, and they tell me the sound works just fine, there is a 15% restocking fee. Tom spent almost $1000. they want $150 for me to return this computer. I stay calm. I have found falling apart is not efficient use of my emotions. I had gone into this trip with heart palpitations. I knew when packing up the computer it would not be easy. I have dealt with Fry's before.
First I had left the mouse at home so I have to call Tom and ask him to quickly deliver it to Fry's or they wont take the computer back at all. By the time he arrives, I have found out it is not broken. they are going to charge me for the return. I am shown the proper hole for the sound system, and opt to keep the computer rather than pay them $150. I am guessing while they were waiting they down loaded what ever was needed to get the sound working.
I do return the unopened photo printer that was part of the package deal. We don't need it and they are ink hogs. I get $30 in store credit that must be used that day. I buy extension cables and a slitter for the headsets. With our open floor plan it is nice to have the sound on headsets and not speakers competing with the TV sound. They allow me to keep the change.
I track Trevor down at the game station, checking out a road racing game in HD. It makes me nausiated just watching. Having at least gotten the sound fixed and knowing Tom is home installing the instant hot, I opt to give him a little more time to finish and take Trevor out to lunch as a treat for being my gopher today.
We are having breakfast on Tuesday for work at a restaurant in West Linn. I don't know where it is so I tell Trevor that is where we are going for lunch. I will locate it today and then I wont get lost on my way to the meeting and end up being late. Good choice, as the restaurant turns out to be on the other side of the freeway from where I thought it was. We locate it after having to ask for directions from a gas station attendant. Had I waited until Tuesday, I would have been lost and late.
Lunch was great. Trevor does his usual double cheese burger with soup. I convince him to hold off on the fries as we are going out again in a few hours for dinner. I give him most of my hash browns to stave off the complaining. I have the Rancho Huervos, which are just as they should be.
We get back to the house. Tom has the old leaky instant hot out but the new one is still not installed. I open the casing on the old box to see the damage. The whole thing is a mess of rusted out copper. No wonder it had been leaking. Tom is having difficulty with the install of the new instant hot. I knew this was a two man operation, which is why I had not addressed it myself.
I make a trip to Ace to get a couple of pieces that might help with the install. I love Ace. You walk in the door, and hold up what you have brought and say "Help". The clerk calls over an employee who walks with you to the right aisle and helps pick out the items you need. Five minutes, in and out, with exactly what Tom wanted.
Tom crawls back under the sink. It is a scene out of the movie A Christmas Story, when the father faces off with the furnace in the basement. The swear words fly. Tom's helper is Riley. Riley likes to toss out pithy comments that to me that would only aggravate me further had they been directed at me rather than his father, About how "we should have hired a plumber, the job would have been done more easily. A plumber would know what to do." I am guessing with Tom's head under the sink, he was missing the commentary above, Because had he heard the comments, Riley would have not looked so blissful. As it was Tom would call out crankily for Riley to hold the nozzle still so Tom could tighten it down under the sink as he swore and dropped the screw behind his head.
Riley would lose interest and try to wonder off back upstairs. With me home though, I stood and watched and every time Riley began to step away from our vigil by the sink, I would murmur "Not until your father is done installing". No wonder it wasn't finished until after I got home. Tom's helper kept drifting off to other areas, and Tom needed a runner to Ace for those little parts to make his job easier.
I made another trip to Ace for a copper pressure clamp and then the instant hot was working. It only took two trips to Ace. It is worth the extra miles as they are so helpful and walk you through the store to exactly what you need.
If you have ever had a home with an instant hot, you know you can't live without them. You just don't know what you are missing if you haven't had one. Of course you need to know we are instant coffee drinkers, and hot cocoa for the boys, too impatient in the mornings to do the whole grind and percolate. Instant hot is just that, instant hot. The hole was already built into our kitchen sink so why not.
So my two biggest irritants are taken care of today. The computer has sound and the instant hot is installed and working. I still need word processing, but I will do that another day. Now Trevor and I are off to the symphony while Tom gets to watch uninterrupted playoff football. Riley gets to relax and do what ever.
Music
Weber, DelBavie, Brahms, last night was the symphony. Trevor went with me. Riley still has a lingering cough that is really loud and irritating. I opted not to take him with us. We had dinner at my step mom's favorite spot on the hill. Trevor always orders the personal pizza which is really big enough for two. He eats the whole thing himself slathered with Parmesan, emptied half the bottle on his pizza. I had a Thia salad.
Webber was a short delightful overture, which is the introduction piece to a big opera or show, just the opening. DelBavie is a French composer, still living. His piece, color, was all about the notes hanging in the air as long as possible. It caused the music to be incredibly suspenseful. It sounded like a scene from a thriller movie, waiting for the scary guy to make his appearance. You held your breath as each note appeared and wrapped itself around the last note still lingering.
Brahms was a wonderful piano accompany piece . It was Brahms, upbeat and fun to listen. You can always tell the new to the symphony audience. They clap between each movement. I grabbed Trevor's hand to prevent him from feeling pressured to join in. Remember you only clap at the very end of a piece, count the movements. The pauses between are like rest spots or ends of a chapter in a book. It is not over until the end. The musicians are always really polite about it nodding their heads, but it does show a little ignorance of the clappers for the music, if they don't understand where the end of the piece is.
My favorite was really DelBavie as I found it so interesting. The conductor gave a short speech explaining what we would be listening to before he started. That helped tremendously. They give a lecture an hour before the program, but we were at dinner. This time he took the mike to introduce the piece before he started.
Trevor sat mesmerized as usual. He dressed up again for me. I gave him some money at intermission. He bought a bag of skittles that he wolfed down in the time provided. You would think the whole pizza would have held him, but that meal was only good until intermission.
Our tickets we bought at the door, as Trevor can get in for $10 as a student. He didn't bring his ID but the ticket clerk agreed he looked like a student. We were mid way back just under the balcony on the orchestra level, in the middle. Next time we will do first balcony as Trevor want to be able to see percussion, way in the back. The only way to do that is by getting balcony seats. Margaret is on orchestra level, but we can see her at intermission.
Hugh was out of town so she had given her spare ticket to a friend. That meant she was driving alone to the performance. We had parked in the same car lot she uses. Trevor and I walked her to her car and said our goodbyes. As we pulled out of the lot she raced over and banged on my window. She had left her lights on during the performance and her car battery was dead.
I could not leave her on the downtown streets in the rain in the dark waiting for help. I have jumpers in my trunk. Having jumped my own car just a few short months ago, I knew what to do. I pull my car up to hers and pop the hoods on them both, hook up the cables with Trevor's assistance. He is loving it. What boy would not want to assist a damsel in distress. Especially when we know what to do.
I have Trevor attach the cable on my car, in order, while I do Margaret's. She is nervous about the battery dieing so after she gets her car started, without any problem, we follow her home. Safely delivered we head to our own home ourselves.
I was glad I was there. I am sure she would have managed, gotten some stranger to help. But I am so glad I was there. I shudder to think what if I hadn't been. We sure miss Hugh when he is not around to escort her.
Trevor loved the whole night's adventures, from a delicious dinner to fine music to helping jump start a car. It could not have been a more perfect evening. Nor a better escort for me. Trevor has really nice manners and made no comment about women drivers or anything derogatory that I might have heard from my other son. Trevor was a gentleman escorting his mother. I will take him to the symphony any time.
Webber was a short delightful overture, which is the introduction piece to a big opera or show, just the opening. DelBavie is a French composer, still living. His piece, color, was all about the notes hanging in the air as long as possible. It caused the music to be incredibly suspenseful. It sounded like a scene from a thriller movie, waiting for the scary guy to make his appearance. You held your breath as each note appeared and wrapped itself around the last note still lingering.
Brahms was a wonderful piano accompany piece . It was Brahms, upbeat and fun to listen. You can always tell the new to the symphony audience. They clap between each movement. I grabbed Trevor's hand to prevent him from feeling pressured to join in. Remember you only clap at the very end of a piece, count the movements. The pauses between are like rest spots or ends of a chapter in a book. It is not over until the end. The musicians are always really polite about it nodding their heads, but it does show a little ignorance of the clappers for the music, if they don't understand where the end of the piece is.
My favorite was really DelBavie as I found it so interesting. The conductor gave a short speech explaining what we would be listening to before he started. That helped tremendously. They give a lecture an hour before the program, but we were at dinner. This time he took the mike to introduce the piece before he started.
Trevor sat mesmerized as usual. He dressed up again for me. I gave him some money at intermission. He bought a bag of skittles that he wolfed down in the time provided. You would think the whole pizza would have held him, but that meal was only good until intermission.
Our tickets we bought at the door, as Trevor can get in for $10 as a student. He didn't bring his ID but the ticket clerk agreed he looked like a student. We were mid way back just under the balcony on the orchestra level, in the middle. Next time we will do first balcony as Trevor want to be able to see percussion, way in the back. The only way to do that is by getting balcony seats. Margaret is on orchestra level, but we can see her at intermission.
Hugh was out of town so she had given her spare ticket to a friend. That meant she was driving alone to the performance. We had parked in the same car lot she uses. Trevor and I walked her to her car and said our goodbyes. As we pulled out of the lot she raced over and banged on my window. She had left her lights on during the performance and her car battery was dead.
I could not leave her on the downtown streets in the rain in the dark waiting for help. I have jumpers in my trunk. Having jumped my own car just a few short months ago, I knew what to do. I pull my car up to hers and pop the hoods on them both, hook up the cables with Trevor's assistance. He is loving it. What boy would not want to assist a damsel in distress. Especially when we know what to do.
I have Trevor attach the cable on my car, in order, while I do Margaret's. She is nervous about the battery dieing so after she gets her car started, without any problem, we follow her home. Safely delivered we head to our own home ourselves.
I was glad I was there. I am sure she would have managed, gotten some stranger to help. But I am so glad I was there. I shudder to think what if I hadn't been. We sure miss Hugh when he is not around to escort her.
Trevor loved the whole night's adventures, from a delicious dinner to fine music to helping jump start a car. It could not have been a more perfect evening. Nor a better escort for me. Trevor has really nice manners and made no comment about women drivers or anything derogatory that I might have heard from my other son. Trevor was a gentleman escorting his mother. I will take him to the symphony any time.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Bills
The new year started off with bills. I open the mail each day and more bills role in. We were so good at Christmas, but still ended up with credit card charges. Our house and auto insurance started over for the new year. Our regular utilities came rolling in on schedule. A couple of medical expenses from December from Tom and Trevor caught up with us.
For the next two months I will be playing catch up and being good. Tom hasn't golfed enough in the last year to have a handicap, so he wont be able to participate in our annual winter golf trip to Gerhardt, at the coast. Besides, right around that time we will be seeing how Riley's system is reacting to no more immuno suppressants.
It was just that time last year that we began this long journey. I had sent Tom off to golf because he dwells so badly on the negatives and what ifs, that I needed to get him out of town for a few days, while we were in the thick of hospital living and treatments. He came back refreshed and ready for what ever we had to do next, which turned out to be waiting and waiting and more waiting.
Over this whole year, we have had to wait. Patience has never been Tom's or my strong point. These last few weeks for me have been a little more difficult as we approach the anniversary of February 10, when we landed in the hospital for the first time.
The original appointment was scheduled for February 17, but the Doctor will be unavailable that day. Thursdays are his clinic day, but that is a long holiday weekend. He is probably doing something fun with his family. The hospital wanted to push our appointment out to the 24Th. I called back and said lets do the tenth. I wanted to get it done as soon as possible. I know Tom would concur. He didn't like waiting another two months when we were in for our visit in November.
Riley has been sick this week with a cold. No fever, just a constant runny nose and a persistent cough. The key is no fever. As long as Riley doesn't spike a temperature, even a mild one, there is no cause for alarm. Treat the symptoms was what we were told. Try not to give him anything that might mask a temperature.
I have been giving him Benedryl to help dry out his sinuses and keep his nose clear. He takes it in the evening. Benedryl makes him sleepy so I don't like giving it to him before school. It really helps him sleep. No post nasal drip to make him cough. He sleeps soundly through the night.
Riley missed school Monday, but his math teacher called in the evening, offering to have him come in early before school on Tuesday to catch up on his missed work. I thought it was so generous that the teacher took the time to call. He left a long message regarding school work. I wanted to make the effort on our part to get Riley to school. Since he was accommodating Riley, I wanted to reciprocate and show we appreciated the effort. Riley could always come home later if he felt the need, but he made it through the day. After that I figured we would just push through the cold and the rest of the week. It is a long weekend coming up. He could sleep and rest at that point.
If I let Riley miss school every time he has a cold, he would probably miss a third the year, not an option. The school year is already short enough. I am loving the extra long weekends the children are getting. I think they could have spread them around even more. Four day school weeks are great. The boys get rest but not too much down time.
We start over on our deductible for medical insurance. Another $5000 minimum this year for Riley. The rest of us cost under $1000 each by the end of the year with our usual visits for the common place illness. I didn't even have any prescriptions filled last year for myself. I was completely healthy all year.
Well, I did put off some medical things. I someday need to have my ACL fixed in my knee. The knee has an "x" of tendons and ligaments in the back that keep it stable. They work as rubberbands pulling the knee back into place. One of mine snapped and is missing, giving me an unstable knee. I am thinking I may just live without it. I am getting too old to be skiing and Tom wont ski with us.
Trevor loves skiing so I will still drive him up to the mountain. I might take him on Monday as it is a school holiday for him. I kind of think both my knees are shot. I get funny kinks in them upon occasion. I want to strengthen them, which was one reason I bought the boys the resistance trainer. It has a great knee lift I could use. I just have to motivate.
I am also approaching the age of the colonoscopy. With our family history, my doctor recommends that I do it earlier rather than wait until 50. I had an appointment scheduled, but I canceled it. I can wait.
Meanwhile, I have to start paying the medical co pays again as another year starts. I looked into joining the local golf club, but I realize now, Tom had already pointed it out, that we need to get Riley well. The $5000 deductible is the money I would otherwise use to spend on the club.
We have also been talking about the new Cadillac CTS-V. It is a beauty. Again it is something we need to put on hold. The medical deductibles each year are what we would us on fun frivolous stuff. I think of all the unemployed people in America and how lucky we are to be able to even think about frivolous purchases; club memberships or new cars. We would love to do our part to consume and push our economy forward. We will just need to wait a little longer. It is fun to dream about what we will do when all of this medical stuff is over.
I did tell Tom I wanted him to pick five stocks. I would pick five stocks. We would then compare our choices and purchase those stocks for the year. Having sat on the side line of 2009 except for a few stocks, I think it is time to dabble again. We wont do a whole lot, but five diversified stocks is a good well balanced plan. Tom wants to wait until the froth of January passes and pick up the stocks in February. That gives us a few weeks to pick our selections, come up with our reasons for these in particular. I kind of like the under performers with a lot of cash on their balance sheets. Retail, booze, construction or manufacturing, high tech, mining, I am trying to pick my sectors.
I told the boys they could play also if they wanted. Perhaps not with real money, but I could offer a prize of money to the best performing fake portfolio at the end of the year. I could set up a watch list for each boy. They might even direct me toward a company I might otherwise overlook.
Anyway I need to get back to bill paying and really picking my 5 stocks. I have always liked ATand T. I already have it in my portfolio. Ideas are welcome.
For the next two months I will be playing catch up and being good. Tom hasn't golfed enough in the last year to have a handicap, so he wont be able to participate in our annual winter golf trip to Gerhardt, at the coast. Besides, right around that time we will be seeing how Riley's system is reacting to no more immuno suppressants.
It was just that time last year that we began this long journey. I had sent Tom off to golf because he dwells so badly on the negatives and what ifs, that I needed to get him out of town for a few days, while we were in the thick of hospital living and treatments. He came back refreshed and ready for what ever we had to do next, which turned out to be waiting and waiting and more waiting.
Over this whole year, we have had to wait. Patience has never been Tom's or my strong point. These last few weeks for me have been a little more difficult as we approach the anniversary of February 10, when we landed in the hospital for the first time.
The original appointment was scheduled for February 17, but the Doctor will be unavailable that day. Thursdays are his clinic day, but that is a long holiday weekend. He is probably doing something fun with his family. The hospital wanted to push our appointment out to the 24Th. I called back and said lets do the tenth. I wanted to get it done as soon as possible. I know Tom would concur. He didn't like waiting another two months when we were in for our visit in November.
Riley has been sick this week with a cold. No fever, just a constant runny nose and a persistent cough. The key is no fever. As long as Riley doesn't spike a temperature, even a mild one, there is no cause for alarm. Treat the symptoms was what we were told. Try not to give him anything that might mask a temperature.
I have been giving him Benedryl to help dry out his sinuses and keep his nose clear. He takes it in the evening. Benedryl makes him sleepy so I don't like giving it to him before school. It really helps him sleep. No post nasal drip to make him cough. He sleeps soundly through the night.
Riley missed school Monday, but his math teacher called in the evening, offering to have him come in early before school on Tuesday to catch up on his missed work. I thought it was so generous that the teacher took the time to call. He left a long message regarding school work. I wanted to make the effort on our part to get Riley to school. Since he was accommodating Riley, I wanted to reciprocate and show we appreciated the effort. Riley could always come home later if he felt the need, but he made it through the day. After that I figured we would just push through the cold and the rest of the week. It is a long weekend coming up. He could sleep and rest at that point.
If I let Riley miss school every time he has a cold, he would probably miss a third the year, not an option. The school year is already short enough. I am loving the extra long weekends the children are getting. I think they could have spread them around even more. Four day school weeks are great. The boys get rest but not too much down time.
We start over on our deductible for medical insurance. Another $5000 minimum this year for Riley. The rest of us cost under $1000 each by the end of the year with our usual visits for the common place illness. I didn't even have any prescriptions filled last year for myself. I was completely healthy all year.
Well, I did put off some medical things. I someday need to have my ACL fixed in my knee. The knee has an "x" of tendons and ligaments in the back that keep it stable. They work as rubberbands pulling the knee back into place. One of mine snapped and is missing, giving me an unstable knee. I am thinking I may just live without it. I am getting too old to be skiing and Tom wont ski with us.
Trevor loves skiing so I will still drive him up to the mountain. I might take him on Monday as it is a school holiday for him. I kind of think both my knees are shot. I get funny kinks in them upon occasion. I want to strengthen them, which was one reason I bought the boys the resistance trainer. It has a great knee lift I could use. I just have to motivate.
I am also approaching the age of the colonoscopy. With our family history, my doctor recommends that I do it earlier rather than wait until 50. I had an appointment scheduled, but I canceled it. I can wait.
Meanwhile, I have to start paying the medical co pays again as another year starts. I looked into joining the local golf club, but I realize now, Tom had already pointed it out, that we need to get Riley well. The $5000 deductible is the money I would otherwise use to spend on the club.
We have also been talking about the new Cadillac CTS-V. It is a beauty. Again it is something we need to put on hold. The medical deductibles each year are what we would us on fun frivolous stuff. I think of all the unemployed people in America and how lucky we are to be able to even think about frivolous purchases; club memberships or new cars. We would love to do our part to consume and push our economy forward. We will just need to wait a little longer. It is fun to dream about what we will do when all of this medical stuff is over.
I did tell Tom I wanted him to pick five stocks. I would pick five stocks. We would then compare our choices and purchase those stocks for the year. Having sat on the side line of 2009 except for a few stocks, I think it is time to dabble again. We wont do a whole lot, but five diversified stocks is a good well balanced plan. Tom wants to wait until the froth of January passes and pick up the stocks in February. That gives us a few weeks to pick our selections, come up with our reasons for these in particular. I kind of like the under performers with a lot of cash on their balance sheets. Retail, booze, construction or manufacturing, high tech, mining, I am trying to pick my sectors.
I told the boys they could play also if they wanted. Perhaps not with real money, but I could offer a prize of money to the best performing fake portfolio at the end of the year. I could set up a watch list for each boy. They might even direct me toward a company I might otherwise overlook.
Anyway I need to get back to bill paying and really picking my 5 stocks. I have always liked ATand T. I already have it in my portfolio. Ideas are welcome.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The cold
Well, I sealed the sun roof. No problem finding the fuse under the hood. It was dedicated to just the sun roof so pulling it didn't cause anything else to go out. The problem is it has been too cold. The caulk is roofing and window caulk, the stuff you use on sky lights. It wont set below 40 degrees. We haven't been above 40 degrees in days. Now I have this goopy caulk on my roof that wont set. It is supposed to be clear once it sets. I have it covered with plastic at the moment to keep the rain off.
I wonder how long I will need to wait. It crosses my mind to take my blow drier outside and try that for an hour just to get it started. It wasn't a complete waste of time. I was standing over the kitchen sink noticing the missing or damaged areas of caulk. I pulled out a flat screw driver from the drawer and removed the damaged areas, quickly resealing them with some of the left over caulk in my bottle. This is heavy duty stuff. It should hold up to kitchen abuse without a problem. It is probably overkill.
It's Sunday, everyone is sleeping in except me. I can hear Tom's snoring. Riley made an appearance to take his morning pills, but then went back to his room. Trevor growled at me when I tried to wake him, mumbling it's the weekend, he doesn't have to get up.
I could barely find a way to Trevor's bed as it was, with the clothes and blankets strewn across the floor like an obstacle course. But I promised Tom no fighting with the boys. I have decided I can only mention the issues, then I have to let them go. Thank God for work so I can shut the door and leave the mess behind. I am even loving Saturdays working, when the whole family is home making messes.
Tom has given up Copenhagen, again. He is doing the gum. He likes Rite Aid's gum better than Kroger. It has a hard shell to bite through. My job will be to keep the gum in the house and pick up the little piles of used wrappers. Anything to make this transition a success. I am hopeful the cigarettes will also be cut out, but one step at a time. I have always told the boys that we could go to Disney Land every year on their Daddy's tobacco expenses. I was hoping that they might convince their father to give it up. No one can do that but Tom and he is so stubborn.
Tom has never smoked in the house. It will be snowing outside and he will be huddled in the corner outside on the patio, trying to light the cigarette in the wind. His collar turned up on his jacket, shivering. I have little sympathy. I get up from my warm bed and shut the window so the smoke doesn't drift back into the house.
We keep our window open in our bedroom so we can hear the wind blow or the rain fall. It helps Tom and me sleep. It was one of the reasons we knew we were compatible. We like to have the window open year round and have that cold air blow across our faces at night. We even have a little fan set up to encourage the circulation of the cold air into the room.
This house with its open floor plan makes the upstairs really warm. I turn down the heat to 60, but upstairs will still be 70 degrees. Trevor also sleeps with his window open some of the time. Riley doesn't like the thought of bugs getting in so he keeps his windows closed.
In this age of modern construction, I do find the air in the house needs to be changed out periodically with fresh air from outside. Especially after it rains and the air is so clean smelling outside. A friend of mine has a big, monstrous, cedar in her yard. Her house smell so fresh and clean. The air around her house is so pristine. Its like an extra kick of oxygen in the air. I love to just stand and fill my lungs with that earthy, rich air.
I planted trees in my yard, but only half are evergreen. They get so big, there aren't a lot of spots you can plant a tree that is going to be huge. I do look forward to the day when I can stand under them and take a big breath of clean air. They are a natural filter. They wont be big for years. That is the problem with housing developments, they bull doze everything so there are no big trees or established plants. The first thing people need to do is plant trees. Trees take so long to grow that if you don't get them in the ground immediately, you will never see them when they are established.
Tom and I have had three houses, moving every eight years or so. Just as the fruit trees start producing or the evergreens get established, we move. At least I know someone else will enjoy the fruits of my trees, or the good clean air under the branches of the giant fir I planted as a seedling. I will keep planting every time. I like doing it and know that it is worth the effort.
I wonder how long I will need to wait. It crosses my mind to take my blow drier outside and try that for an hour just to get it started. It wasn't a complete waste of time. I was standing over the kitchen sink noticing the missing or damaged areas of caulk. I pulled out a flat screw driver from the drawer and removed the damaged areas, quickly resealing them with some of the left over caulk in my bottle. This is heavy duty stuff. It should hold up to kitchen abuse without a problem. It is probably overkill.
It's Sunday, everyone is sleeping in except me. I can hear Tom's snoring. Riley made an appearance to take his morning pills, but then went back to his room. Trevor growled at me when I tried to wake him, mumbling it's the weekend, he doesn't have to get up.
I could barely find a way to Trevor's bed as it was, with the clothes and blankets strewn across the floor like an obstacle course. But I promised Tom no fighting with the boys. I have decided I can only mention the issues, then I have to let them go. Thank God for work so I can shut the door and leave the mess behind. I am even loving Saturdays working, when the whole family is home making messes.
Tom has given up Copenhagen, again. He is doing the gum. He likes Rite Aid's gum better than Kroger. It has a hard shell to bite through. My job will be to keep the gum in the house and pick up the little piles of used wrappers. Anything to make this transition a success. I am hopeful the cigarettes will also be cut out, but one step at a time. I have always told the boys that we could go to Disney Land every year on their Daddy's tobacco expenses. I was hoping that they might convince their father to give it up. No one can do that but Tom and he is so stubborn.
Tom has never smoked in the house. It will be snowing outside and he will be huddled in the corner outside on the patio, trying to light the cigarette in the wind. His collar turned up on his jacket, shivering. I have little sympathy. I get up from my warm bed and shut the window so the smoke doesn't drift back into the house.
We keep our window open in our bedroom so we can hear the wind blow or the rain fall. It helps Tom and me sleep. It was one of the reasons we knew we were compatible. We like to have the window open year round and have that cold air blow across our faces at night. We even have a little fan set up to encourage the circulation of the cold air into the room.
This house with its open floor plan makes the upstairs really warm. I turn down the heat to 60, but upstairs will still be 70 degrees. Trevor also sleeps with his window open some of the time. Riley doesn't like the thought of bugs getting in so he keeps his windows closed.
In this age of modern construction, I do find the air in the house needs to be changed out periodically with fresh air from outside. Especially after it rains and the air is so clean smelling outside. A friend of mine has a big, monstrous, cedar in her yard. Her house smell so fresh and clean. The air around her house is so pristine. Its like an extra kick of oxygen in the air. I love to just stand and fill my lungs with that earthy, rich air.
I planted trees in my yard, but only half are evergreen. They get so big, there aren't a lot of spots you can plant a tree that is going to be huge. I do look forward to the day when I can stand under them and take a big breath of clean air. They are a natural filter. They wont be big for years. That is the problem with housing developments, they bull doze everything so there are no big trees or established plants. The first thing people need to do is plant trees. Trees take so long to grow that if you don't get them in the ground immediately, you will never see them when they are established.
Tom and I have had three houses, moving every eight years or so. Just as the fruit trees start producing or the evergreens get established, we move. At least I know someone else will enjoy the fruits of my trees, or the good clean air under the branches of the giant fir I planted as a seedling. I will keep planting every time. I like doing it and know that it is worth the effort.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
new computers
Setting up a new computer is a pain. Tom even hired a guy to come out and set up the router for us. The whole new computer idea came about because the old router seemed to have died on us, which meant Tom had to take a trip out to Fry's for a new router.
I try never to send Tom to a computer store. We end up with unnecessary purchases of flat screen TVs or the latest upgraded game system. He was good this time. All he came home with was a desk top computer for me.
The problem is we can't get the sound to work. No Net flicks streaming without sound. I know I will have to figure it out. Tom got the thing plugged in and turned on. He probably thinks his job is complete. I also don't have office or windows. I have to decide if I want to buy it for the new computer. Riley doesn't have it on his computer yet either. We added it to my lap top last year and the mini Tom bought. It was supposed to have three downloads, but I could only get the two before it said it was used up. Maybe we loaded it on my old lap top computer that had 2003 to upgrade, that would have used all three downloads. Anyway we need two more Office systems.
Last year I paid $20 on line and received a year for Riley. That year is now expiring. I dislike immensely the thought of my going to Fry's to get the new discs and answers to the sound issue. Computers are worse than fine china, they are so delicate and fragile in some ways. Their systems chip at the slightest provocation.
I told Tom I really needed the word processing capacity. He wanted to know why. I told him that there are things that don't make my blog.
"Really? There are things you don't tell the world?" My vent sessions stay at home. Then he wanted to know when he could read my vents, my private diary thoughts. Well, its all old stuff mostly or stuff he knows about but has asked me not to make public. I don't mind his reading as it might give him insight as to why I was pissed off about something. Anyway, I think I will just have to go buy another CD of office so I can continue my private vent sessions.
I thought about keeping written diaries, but those can truly fall into the wrong hands IE my children or other family. They can be way too accessible. My mom read my diary when I lived at home. Being able to vent my thoughts and frustrations has saved me huge therapy bills. I can also review my thoughts later to see if I was being unreasonable.
So I guess I have delayed long enough my errands. Time to hit the road and solve some problems.
The sun roof still leaks on the jeep. I am going to pull the fuse and seal the opening so it will now be a moon roof. The dealer ship I use to do the oil changes said to just drop by and they would pull the proper fuse for me. In the cold of last week, I opened the cover to find ice cycles had formed between the solid cover and the glass. I vacuumed out well over a gallon of water from the back seat floors due to the heavy rains recently. More appeared as I finished. I have to wait until it is warm as the pool has been freezing and I can't vacuum out frozen water. The water got into the $400 radio and shot the system. It poured out of the dome light onto the dash. I wont do a sun roof again.
We haven't had good success with sun roofs. You have to keep the drain ducts clear at all times. My old car used to dump water on Tom all the time when he drove it. Tom took it as a personal insult that the car didn't like him. He would have to lay a towel in his lap before starting the car to prevent himself from getting soaked while driving. So, at the suggestion of another friend, I will just seal the frame with roofing caulk and be done. I didn't like it blowing on me anyway. It would lift my hair up and make a nasty knot in the wind. Pulling the fuse will prevent an accidental opening after being permanently sealed.
The boys also need new school supplies; graph paper, lined paper, pens and pencils for the next phase of school. Perhaps I can find the office program at Fred Meyers and save me that trip to Fry's. We will see.
The instant hot water still has to be installed. Dang I miss my project friends.
I try never to send Tom to a computer store. We end up with unnecessary purchases of flat screen TVs or the latest upgraded game system. He was good this time. All he came home with was a desk top computer for me.
The problem is we can't get the sound to work. No Net flicks streaming without sound. I know I will have to figure it out. Tom got the thing plugged in and turned on. He probably thinks his job is complete. I also don't have office or windows. I have to decide if I want to buy it for the new computer. Riley doesn't have it on his computer yet either. We added it to my lap top last year and the mini Tom bought. It was supposed to have three downloads, but I could only get the two before it said it was used up. Maybe we loaded it on my old lap top computer that had 2003 to upgrade, that would have used all three downloads. Anyway we need two more Office systems.
Last year I paid $20 on line and received a year for Riley. That year is now expiring. I dislike immensely the thought of my going to Fry's to get the new discs and answers to the sound issue. Computers are worse than fine china, they are so delicate and fragile in some ways. Their systems chip at the slightest provocation.
I told Tom I really needed the word processing capacity. He wanted to know why. I told him that there are things that don't make my blog.
"Really? There are things you don't tell the world?" My vent sessions stay at home. Then he wanted to know when he could read my vents, my private diary thoughts. Well, its all old stuff mostly or stuff he knows about but has asked me not to make public. I don't mind his reading as it might give him insight as to why I was pissed off about something. Anyway, I think I will just have to go buy another CD of office so I can continue my private vent sessions.
I thought about keeping written diaries, but those can truly fall into the wrong hands IE my children or other family. They can be way too accessible. My mom read my diary when I lived at home. Being able to vent my thoughts and frustrations has saved me huge therapy bills. I can also review my thoughts later to see if I was being unreasonable.
So I guess I have delayed long enough my errands. Time to hit the road and solve some problems.
The sun roof still leaks on the jeep. I am going to pull the fuse and seal the opening so it will now be a moon roof. The dealer ship I use to do the oil changes said to just drop by and they would pull the proper fuse for me. In the cold of last week, I opened the cover to find ice cycles had formed between the solid cover and the glass. I vacuumed out well over a gallon of water from the back seat floors due to the heavy rains recently. More appeared as I finished. I have to wait until it is warm as the pool has been freezing and I can't vacuum out frozen water. The water got into the $400 radio and shot the system. It poured out of the dome light onto the dash. I wont do a sun roof again.
We haven't had good success with sun roofs. You have to keep the drain ducts clear at all times. My old car used to dump water on Tom all the time when he drove it. Tom took it as a personal insult that the car didn't like him. He would have to lay a towel in his lap before starting the car to prevent himself from getting soaked while driving. So, at the suggestion of another friend, I will just seal the frame with roofing caulk and be done. I didn't like it blowing on me anyway. It would lift my hair up and make a nasty knot in the wind. Pulling the fuse will prevent an accidental opening after being permanently sealed.
The boys also need new school supplies; graph paper, lined paper, pens and pencils for the next phase of school. Perhaps I can find the office program at Fred Meyers and save me that trip to Fry's. We will see.
The instant hot water still has to be installed. Dang I miss my project friends.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Our faVORITE nEW yEARS
We used to party at the club. Get all dressed up, drink heavily and take the golf cart home. But the best new years was a couple of years ago when I invited friends with children to come and spend the night and hang with us, parents and kids.
We had a great dinner, but around six Tom realized the house was full of excited children that would be staying up until midnight. He had the brilliant thought of changing all the clocks by three hours. We had been following the New Years party in New York on TV. The ball would fall at nine our time. If we could convince all the kids that it was midnight at nine we could put them to bed.
One parent wasn't sure he liked the idea of lying to the kids, but we convinced him they would not know the difference and he didn't have to say anything. It went off without a hitch. About 10 minutes before the ball was to fall in New York, we called everyone together in front of the TV with our toasting glasses. We watched the New York celebration and toasted in the new year. Tom ordered everyone off to bed. All the kids went without complaint since they thought they had stayed up past midnight.
The kids were asleep by ten. The adults popped a movie into the DVD player, and tried to stay up until midnight ourselves. We toasted in the new year with a calm house and calm parents and no whining over stimulated or over tired children. Tom's suggestion had been brilliant.
Now our kids go out to their own parties and we are still home watching TV until it is time to toast in the new year. Hopefully, this new year will be much less eventful and bring more cheer than the previous couple.
We had a great dinner, but around six Tom realized the house was full of excited children that would be staying up until midnight. He had the brilliant thought of changing all the clocks by three hours. We had been following the New Years party in New York on TV. The ball would fall at nine our time. If we could convince all the kids that it was midnight at nine we could put them to bed.
One parent wasn't sure he liked the idea of lying to the kids, but we convinced him they would not know the difference and he didn't have to say anything. It went off without a hitch. About 10 minutes before the ball was to fall in New York, we called everyone together in front of the TV with our toasting glasses. We watched the New York celebration and toasted in the new year. Tom ordered everyone off to bed. All the kids went without complaint since they thought they had stayed up past midnight.
The kids were asleep by ten. The adults popped a movie into the DVD player, and tried to stay up until midnight ourselves. We toasted in the new year with a calm house and calm parents and no whining over stimulated or over tired children. Tom's suggestion had been brilliant.
Now our kids go out to their own parties and we are still home watching TV until it is time to toast in the new year. Hopefully, this new year will be much less eventful and bring more cheer than the previous couple.
Christmas
My sister did not make it for Christmas Eve as originally planned. Her daughter wanted to party with her friends from school instead. We will be keeping my niece after Christmas for a few days anyway.
I gave money to my niece for Christmas. A crisp new $50 that she could spend however she saw fit. The boys received a couple of remote control cars. Trevor received a camera he asked for. He has yet to use it. Luckily I did not spend a lot on it. Riley received a recorder. They both love to hear themselves talk. It will be useful at school. I was pretty frugal this year. I even think next year I can do even better. They are reaching the age where they want cash and to buy what they want.
My Dad used to write us checks for $200 for Christmas and birthday. My sisters and I loved those checks. One year I bought a leather jacket I wanted that I would never have purchased or received otherwise. I wore that jacket for years. Or I would use the money on a ski weekend or just to pay off my holiday bills. I will miss those checks. I am told that people don't remember what they received each year, but I remember those checks. He also gave everyone books, but I can't remember the titles. He always gave Tom a sports book, something along the lines of the best sports articles of that year, or a famous athlete who might have done a memoir that year. We stayed away from political writers as Tom and my family somewhat disagree on politics.
Tom and I exchanged gifts. Our instant hot water was broken on our sink. I have had the cold water turned off as the heater box leaks under the sink. It has been unplugged for over a month. I know Tom has been missing it. I burn my hands doing dishes without the cold tap. My brilliant gift was a new instant hot water for that sink. Tom hands me a big box to open. Its an instant hot water heater for the kitchen sink. Ack, we have given each other the same gift. I make him open mine. They are the same brand and exactly the same. One of them will have to be returned. I laugh that we both had the same thought.
Tom had the brilliant idea of buying me another new computer. This one is a desk top, I was getting so mad every time I would go into the office to use my computer and it wouldn't be there. The kids had swiped it to play games. I would have to hunt to see where it had been left. I hesitated over the new computer, but the desk top was a very thoughtful gift. The big screen is nicer than the lap top's screen.
Tom loved the books I picked out for him. He dug into one right away. Later in the day my family arrived for our second Christmas. Tory and Mom received shoes from me. They had been to my store to pick them out, so the shoes were just what they wanted.
I was happily surprised by the drop in of one of my sister-in - laws and her family. She and her husband stopped by. They said they might but were not sure with many obligations that day. Her oldest daughter had recently been married. the new husband had grown up in our town and surprised us with a visit. We played a game and partied late. After they left some friends dropped by who had been visiting their family in the area. We watched A Christmas Carol with George C Scott playing Scrooge. My girlfriend fell asleep in her husband's arms on the couch during the movie. Their youngest child slept through the whole visit on the couch in my front room. My boys played upstairs with their friend and the new games their father had given them for Christmas.
I tidied up the kitchen and put away most of the fancy dishes we had brought out for the table. Tom had cooked a 21 pound Turkey he had received from work. My mom had brought some delicious side dishes; baked green beans with french onions, candied yams, and a ribbon salad made of a rainbow of different colored jellos, fruit, and cream cheese filling. We had provided sides also of baked broccoli and cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing and Tom's perfect gravy. There was enough food to feed twice the company we received. Mom even brought her home made eggnog already spiked with bourbon. I live for that eggnog.
My sister had called the day before for the eggnog recipe. she was going to serve it up at her family party in New York. It is worth the potential heart attack, it is that good. Whole milk, half and half, whipped heavy cream, whipped egg whites, sugar blended into the yolks, then add the booze. I feel my arteries shrink with every Divine sip.
Thanks to my mom washing the fancy dishes and silver, the kitchen was in good order at the end of the night. I just had to put everything back in storage for another year. The tree which has been up since before Thanksgiving with no water, came down a day later. The branches snapped off as I removed the ornaments, it was so dry. I will need to tackle the storage of ornaments issue this week. Right now they ornaments are in Christmas boxes sitting on the pool table waiting to find a more permanent location.
I dwell again on putting in a pull down stair to the attic to get some storage for Christmas, not in the garage. I would need flooring to cover the rafters. I miss my friends that would help me with these projects and knew what they were doing.
Riley was swept away again by his friend for a few days of play. It is so nice to have friends that take my children for the entertainment of their own kids. Riley and his budy will play computer games and never be sick of them. Tom wanted Riley back, but I was content to have peace in the house. I picked up a friend for Trevor so both boys had overnight playdates. I had to deliver extra meds for Riley to stay longer at his playdate, but we met at home depot where I bought more lightbulbs for the house. I didn't have to drive all the way out to the country where he was staying to deliver his pills. Trevor was delighted to have his old friend visiting. I barely saw the boys, only when they made an appearence to raid the kitchen for food. Otherwise they camped out in the game room, or in front of the TV while I was at work.
Because the boys were gone most of the vacation, or had friends, peace reigned over the holiday. The house looks like we have had a breakin with the piles everywhere of new toys, empty boxes, and Christmas cards, but work has given me a place to go and escape the mess. Tom took two weeks vacation during the holiday and loved just being able to vegitate and be left in peace also.
New years was quiet. Riley was still with his friend in the country. They were going to a youth group New Years party at a church. Trevor's friend was picked up in the afternoon by his family. One of my friends asked if she could come and hang with us. We watched a House marathon on TV until midnight when we swithced channels to see a rerun of the ball drop in New York three hours earlier. We toasted the year, then turned the TV back to the House marathon for another hour, when I finally had to go to bed.
On New Years day we hung out watching NCIS marathon and White Collar. Around Three I called to see what the plan was for Riley. They wanted to meet us at church the next morning, Sunday. I loved that plan. Tom was mad that I didn't want to jump up and go get him that instant. He hadn't really wanted Riley gone, but from the plans I knew Riley would have more fun at the Teen party than hanging out watching TV with his old fuddy duddy parents.
We met after church at a local Krispi Kremes for the child exchange. I could tell Riley had enjoyed himself. He was in a good mood and said thank you and gave the parents a hug without complaint. They asked if they could keep him longer, but it was time for him to come home and their son starts school in the morning. Riley and Trevor still have three more days of vacation.
They both have a little homework to do before they go back to school.
I gave money to my niece for Christmas. A crisp new $50 that she could spend however she saw fit. The boys received a couple of remote control cars. Trevor received a camera he asked for. He has yet to use it. Luckily I did not spend a lot on it. Riley received a recorder. They both love to hear themselves talk. It will be useful at school. I was pretty frugal this year. I even think next year I can do even better. They are reaching the age where they want cash and to buy what they want.
My Dad used to write us checks for $200 for Christmas and birthday. My sisters and I loved those checks. One year I bought a leather jacket I wanted that I would never have purchased or received otherwise. I wore that jacket for years. Or I would use the money on a ski weekend or just to pay off my holiday bills. I will miss those checks. I am told that people don't remember what they received each year, but I remember those checks. He also gave everyone books, but I can't remember the titles. He always gave Tom a sports book, something along the lines of the best sports articles of that year, or a famous athlete who might have done a memoir that year. We stayed away from political writers as Tom and my family somewhat disagree on politics.
Tom and I exchanged gifts. Our instant hot water was broken on our sink. I have had the cold water turned off as the heater box leaks under the sink. It has been unplugged for over a month. I know Tom has been missing it. I burn my hands doing dishes without the cold tap. My brilliant gift was a new instant hot water for that sink. Tom hands me a big box to open. Its an instant hot water heater for the kitchen sink. Ack, we have given each other the same gift. I make him open mine. They are the same brand and exactly the same. One of them will have to be returned. I laugh that we both had the same thought.
Tom had the brilliant idea of buying me another new computer. This one is a desk top, I was getting so mad every time I would go into the office to use my computer and it wouldn't be there. The kids had swiped it to play games. I would have to hunt to see where it had been left. I hesitated over the new computer, but the desk top was a very thoughtful gift. The big screen is nicer than the lap top's screen.
Tom loved the books I picked out for him. He dug into one right away. Later in the day my family arrived for our second Christmas. Tory and Mom received shoes from me. They had been to my store to pick them out, so the shoes were just what they wanted.
I was happily surprised by the drop in of one of my sister-in - laws and her family. She and her husband stopped by. They said they might but were not sure with many obligations that day. Her oldest daughter had recently been married. the new husband had grown up in our town and surprised us with a visit. We played a game and partied late. After they left some friends dropped by who had been visiting their family in the area. We watched A Christmas Carol with George C Scott playing Scrooge. My girlfriend fell asleep in her husband's arms on the couch during the movie. Their youngest child slept through the whole visit on the couch in my front room. My boys played upstairs with their friend and the new games their father had given them for Christmas.
I tidied up the kitchen and put away most of the fancy dishes we had brought out for the table. Tom had cooked a 21 pound Turkey he had received from work. My mom had brought some delicious side dishes; baked green beans with french onions, candied yams, and a ribbon salad made of a rainbow of different colored jellos, fruit, and cream cheese filling. We had provided sides also of baked broccoli and cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing and Tom's perfect gravy. There was enough food to feed twice the company we received. Mom even brought her home made eggnog already spiked with bourbon. I live for that eggnog.
My sister had called the day before for the eggnog recipe. she was going to serve it up at her family party in New York. It is worth the potential heart attack, it is that good. Whole milk, half and half, whipped heavy cream, whipped egg whites, sugar blended into the yolks, then add the booze. I feel my arteries shrink with every Divine sip.
Thanks to my mom washing the fancy dishes and silver, the kitchen was in good order at the end of the night. I just had to put everything back in storage for another year. The tree which has been up since before Thanksgiving with no water, came down a day later. The branches snapped off as I removed the ornaments, it was so dry. I will need to tackle the storage of ornaments issue this week. Right now they ornaments are in Christmas boxes sitting on the pool table waiting to find a more permanent location.
I dwell again on putting in a pull down stair to the attic to get some storage for Christmas, not in the garage. I would need flooring to cover the rafters. I miss my friends that would help me with these projects and knew what they were doing.
Riley was swept away again by his friend for a few days of play. It is so nice to have friends that take my children for the entertainment of their own kids. Riley and his budy will play computer games and never be sick of them. Tom wanted Riley back, but I was content to have peace in the house. I picked up a friend for Trevor so both boys had overnight playdates. I had to deliver extra meds for Riley to stay longer at his playdate, but we met at home depot where I bought more lightbulbs for the house. I didn't have to drive all the way out to the country where he was staying to deliver his pills. Trevor was delighted to have his old friend visiting. I barely saw the boys, only when they made an appearence to raid the kitchen for food. Otherwise they camped out in the game room, or in front of the TV while I was at work.
Because the boys were gone most of the vacation, or had friends, peace reigned over the holiday. The house looks like we have had a breakin with the piles everywhere of new toys, empty boxes, and Christmas cards, but work has given me a place to go and escape the mess. Tom took two weeks vacation during the holiday and loved just being able to vegitate and be left in peace also.
New years was quiet. Riley was still with his friend in the country. They were going to a youth group New Years party at a church. Trevor's friend was picked up in the afternoon by his family. One of my friends asked if she could come and hang with us. We watched a House marathon on TV until midnight when we swithced channels to see a rerun of the ball drop in New York three hours earlier. We toasted the year, then turned the TV back to the House marathon for another hour, when I finally had to go to bed.
On New Years day we hung out watching NCIS marathon and White Collar. Around Three I called to see what the plan was for Riley. They wanted to meet us at church the next morning, Sunday. I loved that plan. Tom was mad that I didn't want to jump up and go get him that instant. He hadn't really wanted Riley gone, but from the plans I knew Riley would have more fun at the Teen party than hanging out watching TV with his old fuddy duddy parents.
We met after church at a local Krispi Kremes for the child exchange. I could tell Riley had enjoyed himself. He was in a good mood and said thank you and gave the parents a hug without complaint. They asked if they could keep him longer, but it was time for him to come home and their son starts school in the morning. Riley and Trevor still have three more days of vacation.
They both have a little homework to do before they go back to school.
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