I just got back from a delightful ride on the Springwater trail. I went with a girlfriend who is a dedicated biker. Last time we road together she crashed and broke her collar bone really bad.
Last fall we did this same area of Springwater Trail. We headed towards Gresham. When we ran out of trail and got to the road, she tried to stop and slid on gravel crashing hard. She hit her helmet on the concrete, denting it and slammed her shoulder into the ground. A homeless guy who appeared out of the brush, tried to help thinking it was dislocated shoulder and mangled the area trying to force the bone back in place. I flagged down a police car for help, while I returned for my car. The officer took her to the hospital where I eventually reconnected with her. She ended up with a plate in her shoulder and we hadn't gone biking since.
When she called to see if I was available I was thrilled and concerned. I said I would only go if she promised not to crash again. We started at Oaks Park and road in to past OMSI. It was loud in town by the Freeways and bridges. There was also a homeless "town" under one of the bridges. I suggested heading back the other way. Before reaching town the Springwater trail follows the Willamette river on a quiet peaceful stretch. That is the part I like best.
Once back in the Sellwood area we meander through the neighborhoods admiring the craftsman houses and beautiful landscaped yards. We stop to have lunch at the Grand Central Bakery on 13th. We talk for over an hour. Women can sit and talk about anything and it recharges the battery of the soul.
The sun came out and I knew it was time to head home. I picked up a couple of sweet treats to bribe the boys. We loaded our bikes up and headed in opposite directions. I feel so refreshed from exercise and good conversation. This morning crawling out of bed I wasn't sure I had the energy. I kept putting off getting up. Exercise makes energy. Now I am going out to mow the lawn.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
TV
Today the boys slept in then had a big breakfast of bacon and blueberry waffles. We watched a show they both love. The door bell rang. It was a good friend of Trevor's. we have been gone for a month now so he wasn't sure we were back yet. He was happy when Riley opened the door.
He had brought an X-box game. I told the boys they could play as it had been so long since they had seen this friend. I am working away on the computer when I start to tune in on the sounds down stairs. Its a violent shoot em up game. I call down and ask the rating. M for mature, 17 and up. "How old are you Trevor?" . "13". "Not Yet. Pick another game". They whine a little but turn off the violence.
What they end up doing is running around the house with unloaded nerf guns, shooting at each other in play. Tell me that is not directly related to just turning off a game in which they run around shooting each other. Hmm.
They probably didn't want to load the guns because I am making them pick up the orange bullets afterwards. Either that or they couldn't find the bullets from the last time they played.
Boys!!
He had brought an X-box game. I told the boys they could play as it had been so long since they had seen this friend. I am working away on the computer when I start to tune in on the sounds down stairs. Its a violent shoot em up game. I call down and ask the rating. M for mature, 17 and up. "How old are you Trevor?" . "13". "Not Yet. Pick another game". They whine a little but turn off the violence.
What they end up doing is running around the house with unloaded nerf guns, shooting at each other in play. Tell me that is not directly related to just turning off a game in which they run around shooting each other. Hmm.
They probably didn't want to load the guns because I am making them pick up the orange bullets afterwards. Either that or they couldn't find the bullets from the last time they played.
Boys!!
Whoosh
Lets list the crisis in the last year. My Dad, Tom's Dad, Riley getting sick, Tory's Loss, Evelyn's house. I wont even mention Trevor's final grades this year. A tree does fall in the woods when a butterfly flaps its wings in this household.
I just had a call from a company I interviewed with last December, before major crisis mode. They just called back. They want to interview me again. Big sigh, I don't know what I should do. I have been wanting to go back to work for ages now. I needed something to fill my days while the boys were at school. It is part time work in that it is not all week. Just two to three days a week to start, but full days. It is a specialty shoe store for medical shoes and people that are really into comfortable and expensive shoes. I would need to be trained, as proper fit is all important for this particular store.
In my first interview I was told my job would be to convince the customer that their views on looks and fashion need to change. They come to this store because they have foot or leg pain issues. They are looking for solutions not stilettos. The shoes on display cross the spectrum of tastes from wholesome to attractive flats, and walking shoes, and boots. No pointy toed dress shoes allowed.
I thought it might be something not quite ordinary and potentially interesting when I interviewed back in December. A friend works there part time and said there might be an opening. I wanted something not too demanding of my time and energies, but still hold my interest. I look forward to finding out what they are looking for in an employee.
I went into my closet to find an appropriate pair of shoes first for this interview. Something conservative and comfortable, no sexy summer sling backs. I'll match the clothes to the shoes for this interview.
My mother in law may be coming to visit for a while and this could be a nice foil. I could work and she would be home with the kids. I raise my brow in thought. This could work well. Last time she came the house was kept cleaner than it has since I had the high school student next door coming to clean, when the boys were small.
Back then our expenses were less. The club hadn't taken such a huge bite out of our income. I liked the company in the country, and so did the girl who came over. Her parents often weren't home from work when she cleaned. We did great projects. She helped me move furniture and paint walls. She vacuumed and picked up. What ever I wanted done she was game, and as bored as I, without a social life. I could afford her because she didn't ask for much money, since I was about the only business in the neighborhood, and she liked to hang out with me and the boys. Often she would just drop by to see what I was doing, what project I had going, and stay to help. I would pay her after the fact because I was so grateful for her help. Sometimes we would just sit on the stools in the kitchen and talk. She would tell me her thoughts and I would give her my opinions.
Her mother was a dear friend of mine. We had become acquainted when they moved next door. She had become pregnant shortly after I did. She had ended up on bed rest towards the end of her pregnancy so we would hang out together and just talk to keep her occupied. Her daughter loved being included in such an adult environment, hanging with the "women".
I am looking at my mother in law now from that perspective. Her bad knees prevent her from being too active, but she is easy company. She can also fill that supervisory void with the boys if I am working. Trevor may even become organized and a good student. Anyway, I will put a positive spin on it all regardless. Tom and I had been thinking she would be a great asset if Riley has to go to the hospital. Trevor would not be neglected. There would be someone here for him 24/7. After December Riley should be well and Evelyn could find her own place close by.
December to December, what a strange year for us. It truly has been one disaster after another. But we are resilient and bounce right back at every challenge. I like the thought of extra income. Mother in Law moving in for a while is perfect timing for me to take a part time job. Now I just have to give a good impression at the interview and get the job.
For all those job hunters out there, Tom says just walk in to the store. That is what I did. I did not call first, I just dressed up and took my resume with me. I also did my resume Real Estate style with my picture in the upper corner so they could put a face to the name, like they have on some business cards. That wont work for some jobs. Photos aren't allowed on government applications or the school district. But for a small store it is appreciated. My sister told me she had 1300 applications for a receptionist position she advertised. I am thrilled that after six months, the owner of the store called. I probably need to thank my girlfriend that already works there for keeping my name alive.
Life is not dull.
I just had a call from a company I interviewed with last December, before major crisis mode. They just called back. They want to interview me again. Big sigh, I don't know what I should do. I have been wanting to go back to work for ages now. I needed something to fill my days while the boys were at school. It is part time work in that it is not all week. Just two to three days a week to start, but full days. It is a specialty shoe store for medical shoes and people that are really into comfortable and expensive shoes. I would need to be trained, as proper fit is all important for this particular store.
In my first interview I was told my job would be to convince the customer that their views on looks and fashion need to change. They come to this store because they have foot or leg pain issues. They are looking for solutions not stilettos. The shoes on display cross the spectrum of tastes from wholesome to attractive flats, and walking shoes, and boots. No pointy toed dress shoes allowed.
I thought it might be something not quite ordinary and potentially interesting when I interviewed back in December. A friend works there part time and said there might be an opening. I wanted something not too demanding of my time and energies, but still hold my interest. I look forward to finding out what they are looking for in an employee.
I went into my closet to find an appropriate pair of shoes first for this interview. Something conservative and comfortable, no sexy summer sling backs. I'll match the clothes to the shoes for this interview.
My mother in law may be coming to visit for a while and this could be a nice foil. I could work and she would be home with the kids. I raise my brow in thought. This could work well. Last time she came the house was kept cleaner than it has since I had the high school student next door coming to clean, when the boys were small.
Back then our expenses were less. The club hadn't taken such a huge bite out of our income. I liked the company in the country, and so did the girl who came over. Her parents often weren't home from work when she cleaned. We did great projects. She helped me move furniture and paint walls. She vacuumed and picked up. What ever I wanted done she was game, and as bored as I, without a social life. I could afford her because she didn't ask for much money, since I was about the only business in the neighborhood, and she liked to hang out with me and the boys. Often she would just drop by to see what I was doing, what project I had going, and stay to help. I would pay her after the fact because I was so grateful for her help. Sometimes we would just sit on the stools in the kitchen and talk. She would tell me her thoughts and I would give her my opinions.
Her mother was a dear friend of mine. We had become acquainted when they moved next door. She had become pregnant shortly after I did. She had ended up on bed rest towards the end of her pregnancy so we would hang out together and just talk to keep her occupied. Her daughter loved being included in such an adult environment, hanging with the "women".
I am looking at my mother in law now from that perspective. Her bad knees prevent her from being too active, but she is easy company. She can also fill that supervisory void with the boys if I am working. Trevor may even become organized and a good student. Anyway, I will put a positive spin on it all regardless. Tom and I had been thinking she would be a great asset if Riley has to go to the hospital. Trevor would not be neglected. There would be someone here for him 24/7. After December Riley should be well and Evelyn could find her own place close by.
December to December, what a strange year for us. It truly has been one disaster after another. But we are resilient and bounce right back at every challenge. I like the thought of extra income. Mother in Law moving in for a while is perfect timing for me to take a part time job. Now I just have to give a good impression at the interview and get the job.
For all those job hunters out there, Tom says just walk in to the store. That is what I did. I did not call first, I just dressed up and took my resume with me. I also did my resume Real Estate style with my picture in the upper corner so they could put a face to the name, like they have on some business cards. That wont work for some jobs. Photos aren't allowed on government applications or the school district. But for a small store it is appreciated. My sister told me she had 1300 applications for a receptionist position she advertised. I am thrilled that after six months, the owner of the store called. I probably need to thank my girlfriend that already works there for keeping my name alive.
Life is not dull.
Stuffy nose
One of the toddlers at the beach began to have a stuffy nose while we were down there. Luckily the boys were in the tent and the babes were in the house. By Friday morning the running nose had turned into a full blown attack of coughs and difficulty breathing. My girlfriend got up at 5:00am to give the boy a nebulizer treatment to see if that would help.
When she got up, I got up. I couldn't sleep with that poor child coughing. This particular child has given them lots of health issues to deal with, so his mom was calm about the wheezing and coughing. She was worried on our account because of Riley. Coughing is a big no no. So, at 5:00 am I get up and strip my bed. It's the last day and clean up day. I toss on the first load of laundry and catch a shower. I figure I might as well get started on the house cleaning because it takes hours with the laundry.
My dear friend is really very understanding about it all. I tell her I want that boy closer to a hospital than we are at the end of the peninsula. She calls and gets an appointment with the child's doctor for that morning. She can drive straight to his office, without stopping at home first. She is packed and out the door by 7:00 am.
I start wiping down surfaces in hopes of containing any germs. I am not very good at it. All my good cleaning friends have left. Its just me this trip. I do get all the beds done and made, which is huge. There are three doubles and three twins in the loft. My girlfriend who left the day before had done the beds her family had used, but I still had the other half plus toy clean up.
My mom tells me she spent a day and a half cleaning up after I cleaned up. She always comes down the day after my visit to check things out. I did not get the toys put away properly and I had not mopped the floors and swept well downstairs. This is why I love the cleaning service and I leave cash. Had she but seen it before I made my effort. Maybe it's best not to have seen it.
We did have fun, but I realize I am not in the toddler faze any more. These boys were work. That cabin is a booby trap. They would dump out blocks and legos and mix them up. Mom has everything sorted and categorized. In the sorted toy box, things were not sorted anymore, by the end of the week. There is no place to hide the toys to prevent the toddlers from getting into everything at once. It is just a wide open room with open buckets of colorful toys.
So, I rush my friend with her sick child out of the house and on the road to the doctor and home. The poor woman says she hasn't been up this early in years. Rise and shine. Tom gets up this early every day for work, I reason with myself that it isn't that early.
One day later Riley has a stuffy nose. I am pushing fluids, lots of water. I would like to flush what ever is in his system out. I don't want Riley's stuffy nose to become anything more than that, a stuffy nose.
His energy level has been down, also. Sleeping in really late, but it is summer and Trevor has been sleeping in. It is nice to have another teen age gage in the house. Is this normal teen age summer sleeps or something more? Hard to tell. He gets up for his pills then goes back to bed for another couple of hours. Thursday is the blood draw.
When she got up, I got up. I couldn't sleep with that poor child coughing. This particular child has given them lots of health issues to deal with, so his mom was calm about the wheezing and coughing. She was worried on our account because of Riley. Coughing is a big no no. So, at 5:00 am I get up and strip my bed. It's the last day and clean up day. I toss on the first load of laundry and catch a shower. I figure I might as well get started on the house cleaning because it takes hours with the laundry.
My dear friend is really very understanding about it all. I tell her I want that boy closer to a hospital than we are at the end of the peninsula. She calls and gets an appointment with the child's doctor for that morning. She can drive straight to his office, without stopping at home first. She is packed and out the door by 7:00 am.
I start wiping down surfaces in hopes of containing any germs. I am not very good at it. All my good cleaning friends have left. Its just me this trip. I do get all the beds done and made, which is huge. There are three doubles and three twins in the loft. My girlfriend who left the day before had done the beds her family had used, but I still had the other half plus toy clean up.
My mom tells me she spent a day and a half cleaning up after I cleaned up. She always comes down the day after my visit to check things out. I did not get the toys put away properly and I had not mopped the floors and swept well downstairs. This is why I love the cleaning service and I leave cash. Had she but seen it before I made my effort. Maybe it's best not to have seen it.
We did have fun, but I realize I am not in the toddler faze any more. These boys were work. That cabin is a booby trap. They would dump out blocks and legos and mix them up. Mom has everything sorted and categorized. In the sorted toy box, things were not sorted anymore, by the end of the week. There is no place to hide the toys to prevent the toddlers from getting into everything at once. It is just a wide open room with open buckets of colorful toys.
So, I rush my friend with her sick child out of the house and on the road to the doctor and home. The poor woman says she hasn't been up this early in years. Rise and shine. Tom gets up this early every day for work, I reason with myself that it isn't that early.
One day later Riley has a stuffy nose. I am pushing fluids, lots of water. I would like to flush what ever is in his system out. I don't want Riley's stuffy nose to become anything more than that, a stuffy nose.
His energy level has been down, also. Sleeping in really late, but it is summer and Trevor has been sleeping in. It is nice to have another teen age gage in the house. Is this normal teen age summer sleeps or something more? Hard to tell. He gets up for his pills then goes back to bed for another couple of hours. Thursday is the blood draw.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Home Sunday night
At 11:00 am Tom came into the bedroom and asked if I could make him my special cheese omelet. I felt so tired, but I rolled out of bed. I was also trying to avoid the disaster of my house. Having been virtually on the road for 3 weeks between our DC NY trip and the beach, the house and laundry is overwhelming.
My first routine each morning is to flip a load of laundry. In our house we do at least two loads a day. It was more before we bought the front loader, which holds at least half again as much as a top loader. Without the agitator in the way, you can fit a lot more in each load. I call the boys upstairs, tearing them away from TV and ask them to help. They bring pant hangers and coat hangers. I show Trevor again how to properly hang pants. We get most of the balcony cleared of laundry needing to be put away.
I also clean up the garbage and the spilled cat food from last night. I had seen it going to bed, but at 1:30 am I opted to walk by the mess. I knew it would still be there the next day and it was. By the time I get the dishes going and the counters cleaned an hour has passed. I make Tom that omelet he has patiently been waiting for.
Trevor goes out to mow the lawn and Riley gets the mail. The mail stack takes two trips. It has not been picked up in a while. I spend time sorting through it and tossing. I love the tossing. Move it out of the house as quickly as possible, before it becomes more clutter. I can't figure out how people can keep that paper clutter hidden. I am barely down to a dull roar.
I worked in the yard a little weeding. I also found a box of garbage tucked around the side of the house. Out of sight out of mind. I finally dragged it to the cans out front to be disposed of this week. The cans are full though, since we weren't around last week to take them to the street on garbage day. We wont forget this week.
I have to figure out how to adjust my sprinklers. A couple of plants are being missed and suffering. Just tackling what I did today though feels like an accomplishment. I can tell that my energy since giving blood is sapped. I will need to spread out my donations a few more months.
Riley and Trevor play on the computer in the afternoon. We are out of bread so Tom gives Trevor money to go to Fred Meyer on his bike and buy bread to go with spaghetti dinner. I put bratwurst in the spaghetti which Tom loves and the boys hate. I give the boys the option of Alfredo sauce instead.
Now it is a lovely Sunday evening and I am going to bed early so I can get up early and tackle more of this mess in the house. I am about ready to just start tossing these half made model sets just to have them gone. Maybe I will ban the boys from computer use until the models are finished. That sounds like a plan.
My first routine each morning is to flip a load of laundry. In our house we do at least two loads a day. It was more before we bought the front loader, which holds at least half again as much as a top loader. Without the agitator in the way, you can fit a lot more in each load. I call the boys upstairs, tearing them away from TV and ask them to help. They bring pant hangers and coat hangers. I show Trevor again how to properly hang pants. We get most of the balcony cleared of laundry needing to be put away.
I also clean up the garbage and the spilled cat food from last night. I had seen it going to bed, but at 1:30 am I opted to walk by the mess. I knew it would still be there the next day and it was. By the time I get the dishes going and the counters cleaned an hour has passed. I make Tom that omelet he has patiently been waiting for.
Trevor goes out to mow the lawn and Riley gets the mail. The mail stack takes two trips. It has not been picked up in a while. I spend time sorting through it and tossing. I love the tossing. Move it out of the house as quickly as possible, before it becomes more clutter. I can't figure out how people can keep that paper clutter hidden. I am barely down to a dull roar.
I worked in the yard a little weeding. I also found a box of garbage tucked around the side of the house. Out of sight out of mind. I finally dragged it to the cans out front to be disposed of this week. The cans are full though, since we weren't around last week to take them to the street on garbage day. We wont forget this week.
I have to figure out how to adjust my sprinklers. A couple of plants are being missed and suffering. Just tackling what I did today though feels like an accomplishment. I can tell that my energy since giving blood is sapped. I will need to spread out my donations a few more months.
Riley and Trevor play on the computer in the afternoon. We are out of bread so Tom gives Trevor money to go to Fred Meyer on his bike and buy bread to go with spaghetti dinner. I put bratwurst in the spaghetti which Tom loves and the boys hate. I give the boys the option of Alfredo sauce instead.
Now it is a lovely Sunday evening and I am going to bed early so I can get up early and tackle more of this mess in the house. I am about ready to just start tossing these half made model sets just to have them gone. Maybe I will ban the boys from computer use until the models are finished. That sounds like a plan.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
slip
Today one of Tom's relatives got married. It was a lovely wedding set at the new husband's family home, on a hill overlooking the valley and the family's the filbert orchards. The young couple look so content.
I drive home and all three men need to use the bathroom. The drive is over an hour, but we make it. As I am unloading dishes in the kitchen I hear the thump of someone sliding on the stairs. I turn in time to see Riley bounce down several stairs.
I can't stop the scream that rises in my throat. He has slipped in his white socks. He catches the rail, but he has bounced on at least four or five stairs. No bumps or bruises the doctor said. My heart is in my throat. He sees my expression and his own fear is reflected. He gets up and comes down the rest of the stairs and gives me a hug. I shudder.
"It's OK Mom" he says.
I ask where he hit and he says just his Butt. I check him over for bruises. A couple of welts are appearing but so far nothing serious. I will check again later.
Tom wants us all to stay up and watch a movie. I think that is a good idea. At least then I can see if Riley did do something serious internally without being obvious. Though I think he is fine. No serious organs in his butt, just pride and a tearfully over reacting and apologetic mom.
I drive home and all three men need to use the bathroom. The drive is over an hour, but we make it. As I am unloading dishes in the kitchen I hear the thump of someone sliding on the stairs. I turn in time to see Riley bounce down several stairs.
I can't stop the scream that rises in my throat. He has slipped in his white socks. He catches the rail, but he has bounced on at least four or five stairs. No bumps or bruises the doctor said. My heart is in my throat. He sees my expression and his own fear is reflected. He gets up and comes down the rest of the stairs and gives me a hug. I shudder.
"It's OK Mom" he says.
I ask where he hit and he says just his Butt. I check him over for bruises. A couple of welts are appearing but so far nothing serious. I will check again later.
Tom wants us all to stay up and watch a movie. I think that is a good idea. At least then I can see if Riley did do something serious internally without being obvious. Though I think he is fine. No serious organs in his butt, just pride and a tearfully over reacting and apologetic mom.
Oysterville
Our friend paces around the house outside waiting for his mother. We don't normally go into Longbeach. I am all about moms putting up their feet and the children going off on their bikes exploring or reading quietly. This one is a busy boy needing constant entertaining. he wants his mother to drive him into town and supply funds for entertainment. Once his mom arrives she takes him into town with the other children and parents.
One day of town for me is plenty. the next day I opt to stay home and nap. Riley also opts out one day. The other teen agers go horse back riding and do race cars. They do laser tag on the day Riley goes with them so Riley is able to participate.
My favorite activities though, are the hours at the beach; the hide and seek in the dunes and watching the sunset. One evening Trevor puts on a life jacket and goes wading in the cold surf. This area is prone to drowning incidents so any water time is with life jackets. I allow them to get wetter and deeper when they wear the life jackets. Trevor is terrifying otherwise.
Trevor and I set up the tent the second day and agree that our more experienced camping friend Janae, who moved away, is sorely missed. The tent is up but it has a droopy appearance we never can solve. The boys are out in the tent all week. They run a power cord from the barn so they can watch Red Box movies late at night on the computer. I get up to go to the bathroom at 2:00am and I can hear them giggling and talking.
Riley knows where a stack of old Sports Illustrated swim suit additions from past years is stored. Riley has brought them out to the tent to share. Well, it could be worse. The other moms don't mind.
The children have a lovely week but it is more activity than I am used to for my quiet beach vacation. I have to come home to rest.
This trip though I am smart when unloading the car. I back onto the grass so the unload occurs near the front door with no chance of running over things left behind the car by accident in the dark. I am so disappointed we lost that cool pull cart within days by leaving it under the tires in the dark, the night we got home.
My tiredness could also be attributed to donating blood last week. I am just beat. The house looks like an explosion hit it and I am too tired to deal with it. I tell the boys some things that need to get done and get Tom's help. Then I go to bed exhausted from my relaxing vacation.
One day of town for me is plenty. the next day I opt to stay home and nap. Riley also opts out one day. The other teen agers go horse back riding and do race cars. They do laser tag on the day Riley goes with them so Riley is able to participate.
My favorite activities though, are the hours at the beach; the hide and seek in the dunes and watching the sunset. One evening Trevor puts on a life jacket and goes wading in the cold surf. This area is prone to drowning incidents so any water time is with life jackets. I allow them to get wetter and deeper when they wear the life jackets. Trevor is terrifying otherwise.
Trevor and I set up the tent the second day and agree that our more experienced camping friend Janae, who moved away, is sorely missed. The tent is up but it has a droopy appearance we never can solve. The boys are out in the tent all week. They run a power cord from the barn so they can watch Red Box movies late at night on the computer. I get up to go to the bathroom at 2:00am and I can hear them giggling and talking.
Riley knows where a stack of old Sports Illustrated swim suit additions from past years is stored. Riley has brought them out to the tent to share. Well, it could be worse. The other moms don't mind.
The children have a lovely week but it is more activity than I am used to for my quiet beach vacation. I have to come home to rest.
This trip though I am smart when unloading the car. I back onto the grass so the unload occurs near the front door with no chance of running over things left behind the car by accident in the dark. I am so disappointed we lost that cool pull cart within days by leaving it under the tires in the dark, the night we got home.
My tiredness could also be attributed to donating blood last week. I am just beat. The house looks like an explosion hit it and I am too tired to deal with it. I tell the boys some things that need to get done and get Tom's help. Then I go to bed exhausted from my relaxing vacation.
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