She loves her new school! It's full of her "peeps"! We still have some paperwork and testing to complete this week, but it looks like she's going to be happy there. I'm thrilled. And now I can look into schooling for myself.
This week has been a major milestone -- I'm feeling like we're finally starting to settle in. TJ told me he loves having a "home momma" this morning. I met with a chiropractor yesterday, and my back is feeling a bit better.
Hope is on the horizon....I hope we can say the same once the election results are in.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
New School, Take 2
I've been shopping around for private schools for several weeks now, and as a public school kid, I have to say I've learned an awful lot about how difficult it can be to make the right choice.
Hopefully, the one we've selected for Bri will suit her learning and social style. It's a small school -- 85 students total (from k-12th grade), and only 8 students in her grade. She's not nearly as nervous as she was the first time around. She just seems relieved to be making a change.
Tomorrow will be the first day of a two-day trial -- the instructors and other students will be evaluating her to make sure she'll be a good fit for the school. If she makes the cut, she'll be riding in every day with Ryan -- his job is just two blocks away.
Crossing fingers. Please stand by.
Hopefully, the one we've selected for Bri will suit her learning and social style. It's a small school -- 85 students total (from k-12th grade), and only 8 students in her grade. She's not nearly as nervous as she was the first time around. She just seems relieved to be making a change.
Tomorrow will be the first day of a two-day trial -- the instructors and other students will be evaluating her to make sure she'll be a good fit for the school. If she makes the cut, she'll be riding in every day with Ryan -- his job is just two blocks away.
Crossing fingers. Please stand by.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Ode to Meesh
In the span of two days, I've discovered my first gray hair, thrown out my back and sprained my knee. I thought this sort of thing was supposed to start happening in my 40's, but it looks like I'm just "lucky."
It probably doesn't help that I told my kids I don't feel like dressing up for Halloween. I am SO not following in the footsteps of my girlfriend, Meesh. I don't know her exact age (and I really don't care), but she's by far the youngest soul I know. She's the most energetic cheerleader at her kids' high school performances, she takes regular tap dancing lessons every week, and she shops for sexy lingerie with her co-workers. She's a risk-taker and an adventurer, and she's every bit as youthful as my 20-something friends.
She's an inspiration for so many reasons -- this is just one that's particularly meaningful to me right now. She's going through a rough patch right now with both work and family, yet she manages to push herself through even the worst of times. I'm not sure what she'd say her secret is, but I've noticed she's a stickler for going out on a limb. Trying new things, even when it's uncomfortable. Just being around her makes me feel a bit braver and a whole lot better. Since the first day I met her more than five years ago, she's become a dear friend and a mentor.
On second thought, maybe I'll don the Halloween costume after all.
It probably doesn't help that I told my kids I don't feel like dressing up for Halloween. I am SO not following in the footsteps of my girlfriend, Meesh. I don't know her exact age (and I really don't care), but she's by far the youngest soul I know. She's the most energetic cheerleader at her kids' high school performances, she takes regular tap dancing lessons every week, and she shops for sexy lingerie with her co-workers. She's a risk-taker and an adventurer, and she's every bit as youthful as my 20-something friends.
She's an inspiration for so many reasons -- this is just one that's particularly meaningful to me right now. She's going through a rough patch right now with both work and family, yet she manages to push herself through even the worst of times. I'm not sure what she'd say her secret is, but I've noticed she's a stickler for going out on a limb. Trying new things, even when it's uncomfortable. Just being around her makes me feel a bit braver and a whole lot better. Since the first day I met her more than five years ago, she's become a dear friend and a mentor.
On second thought, maybe I'll don the Halloween costume after all.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Lazy
My butt has been stuck to the couch for a while. I've been an Internet addict since I discovered two sites that scan the rest of the web and then share the day's best sales, discounts, etc. I'm a sucker for a good deal, and now I'm hooked.
Yesterday, though, I did something different.
A friend invited me to go for a 7-mile hike in her favorite "forest." The leaves are so beautiful here, the birds are still chirping -- it was absolutely blissful. We were walking at a good clip -- enough to make it uncomfortable to talk. And there were lots of hills. My face was purple at the end of the trip.
And I feel victorious! It was so energizing just to get out into nature -- when I'm walking (or, in the old days, running) and not talking, the creative thoughts and ideas start flowing again. So that's why I've been so creatively constipated -- body and mind need to work together to make great things happen.
Peace out -- I'm off for another hike.
Yesterday, though, I did something different.
A friend invited me to go for a 7-mile hike in her favorite "forest." The leaves are so beautiful here, the birds are still chirping -- it was absolutely blissful. We were walking at a good clip -- enough to make it uncomfortable to talk. And there were lots of hills. My face was purple at the end of the trip.
And I feel victorious! It was so energizing just to get out into nature -- when I'm walking (or, in the old days, running) and not talking, the creative thoughts and ideas start flowing again. So that's why I've been so creatively constipated -- body and mind need to work together to make great things happen.
Peace out -- I'm off for another hike.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Pee Tee Ayy
I attended my first PTA meeting this week. I figured since I'm not working right now, it was my duty.
Now I know why I avoided it in the past....and I've got to find a way to get out of this.
The President likes to run things in military fashion -- no one is allowed to speak unless spoken to, and he makes sure that if someone drops the ball, they'll be punished.
The first meeting lasted 3 1/2 hours. 45 minutes of that was spend discussing whether or not the school needed a new popcorn machine. I seriously considered grabbing the pen out of his hand and stabbing myself in the eye with it, just so I could excuse myself from the meeting.
It finally ended at 10:30 p.m. (hello, don't any other parents have kids to put to bed on a school night?), and I darted out of there as fast as my legs could carry me.
The next morning, the deluge of emails began....and it hasn't stopped. The subject? PTA Prez's son has had diarrhea for three days straight, so he won't be able to fulfill his own assignments. Umm...just wondering if he'll get after himself for dropping the ball or not. And his poor kid -- can you imagine knowing that dozens of adults know every detail of your bowel movements? Dontcha think they might make some comments around their kids, and that it might get back to the poor diarrhea-havin' kid? Sheesh. Sometimes parents are so stupid -- even if they are 'community leaders'. I think I liked it better when I was irresponsible and ignorant about the daily happenings at school.
Now I know why I avoided it in the past....and I've got to find a way to get out of this.
The President likes to run things in military fashion -- no one is allowed to speak unless spoken to, and he makes sure that if someone drops the ball, they'll be punished.
The first meeting lasted 3 1/2 hours. 45 minutes of that was spend discussing whether or not the school needed a new popcorn machine. I seriously considered grabbing the pen out of his hand and stabbing myself in the eye with it, just so I could excuse myself from the meeting.
It finally ended at 10:30 p.m. (hello, don't any other parents have kids to put to bed on a school night?), and I darted out of there as fast as my legs could carry me.
The next morning, the deluge of emails began....and it hasn't stopped. The subject? PTA Prez's son has had diarrhea for three days straight, so he won't be able to fulfill his own assignments. Umm...just wondering if he'll get after himself for dropping the ball or not. And his poor kid -- can you imagine knowing that dozens of adults know every detail of your bowel movements? Dontcha think they might make some comments around their kids, and that it might get back to the poor diarrhea-havin' kid? Sheesh. Sometimes parents are so stupid -- even if they are 'community leaders'. I think I liked it better when I was irresponsible and ignorant about the daily happenings at school.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Road Kill
It's been a while since I've posted -- bad, bad girl. I'll do better. I figured there wasn't anything interesting enough going on to write about. Then I showed up at a recent football practice.
I'm not really a football mom. I don't understand the game at all. I just know to cheer when my kid is running with the ball. That's the extent of my expertise. Which makes me the oddball when surrounded by other moms and dads who live to watch their babies kill each other on the field.
My kid hasn't been getting the ball a lot lately, so I've been doing a lot of people watching. And eavesdropping
So far, the best conversation I've overheard was a discussion between a player's older brother and one of his neighbors. The two were debating the best ways to skin roadkill (this, I learned, includes squirrels, raccoons, turtles -- just about any animal that crosses the road). The kid was bragging about how his dog had caught a squirrel the night before, except he didn't like the way his mom cooked it.
I'm not kidding.
"Sheet," the father offered. "Yer mom prolly dint skin it rat." He then proceeded to offer step-by-step advice on how to best prepare all manner of roadkill. "If yer huntin dog catches 'em, yer lucky. But you gotta git in the house and cut it up quick, before it spools. And you gotta make sure you use yer sharpest naf. It's reel good in a stew."
He didn't stop there. "If you kilt it, be careful for the bb's when yer cuttin it. You can't never pick 'em all out. Ma cuzzin broke his tooth out from not watchin' fer the bb's close enough."
On and on he went in glorious detail. I couldn't believe what I'd stumbled upon.
The hubby had warned me that we were moving to the sticks, but I had no idea our new home would be this....sticky.
We're still adjusting to the cultural isms of this place. It's different from anywhere else I've ever lived, and in a weird sort of way, the people are growing on me. Between football and the PTA, I've met all kinds of people. For the most part, they're nass. Reel nass.
But I'm going to be careful about accepting dinner invitations. With all of my new social obligations, I can't afford to lose a tooth.
I'm not really a football mom. I don't understand the game at all. I just know to cheer when my kid is running with the ball. That's the extent of my expertise. Which makes me the oddball when surrounded by other moms and dads who live to watch their babies kill each other on the field.
My kid hasn't been getting the ball a lot lately, so I've been doing a lot of people watching. And eavesdropping
So far, the best conversation I've overheard was a discussion between a player's older brother and one of his neighbors. The two were debating the best ways to skin roadkill (this, I learned, includes squirrels, raccoons, turtles -- just about any animal that crosses the road). The kid was bragging about how his dog had caught a squirrel the night before, except he didn't like the way his mom cooked it.
I'm not kidding.
"Sheet," the father offered. "Yer mom prolly dint skin it rat." He then proceeded to offer step-by-step advice on how to best prepare all manner of roadkill. "If yer huntin dog catches 'em, yer lucky. But you gotta git in the house and cut it up quick, before it spools. And you gotta make sure you use yer sharpest naf. It's reel good in a stew."
He didn't stop there. "If you kilt it, be careful for the bb's when yer cuttin it. You can't never pick 'em all out. Ma cuzzin broke his tooth out from not watchin' fer the bb's close enough."
On and on he went in glorious detail. I couldn't believe what I'd stumbled upon.
The hubby had warned me that we were moving to the sticks, but I had no idea our new home would be this....sticky.
We're still adjusting to the cultural isms of this place. It's different from anywhere else I've ever lived, and in a weird sort of way, the people are growing on me. Between football and the PTA, I've met all kinds of people. For the most part, they're nass. Reel nass.
But I'm going to be careful about accepting dinner invitations. With all of my new social obligations, I can't afford to lose a tooth.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Back in Session
I just returned from dropping the kids off for their first day of school -- another beginning!!
We had the greatest night last night: Ryan made his special Greek dinner (always a hit), we had a nice bottle of wine, and spent the evening talking about new beginnings.
Both kids are a little nervous about starting at their new school, but somehow talking it out and describing how they'd like for things to go made it a little easier to go to bed, sleep and get up in the morning.
These are the days when I wish I could be right by their side, pushing away the bullies and making school life a little easier for them.
But alas -- it's not to be. I just have to sit back and hope that they've developed the life skills to be resilient. And cross my fingers for them. And push back the tears -- my own.
We had the greatest night last night: Ryan made his special Greek dinner (always a hit), we had a nice bottle of wine, and spent the evening talking about new beginnings.
Both kids are a little nervous about starting at their new school, but somehow talking it out and describing how they'd like for things to go made it a little easier to go to bed, sleep and get up in the morning.
These are the days when I wish I could be right by their side, pushing away the bullies and making school life a little easier for them.
But alas -- it's not to be. I just have to sit back and hope that they've developed the life skills to be resilient. And cross my fingers for them. And push back the tears -- my own.
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