Piles

As soon as she was up, it was clear she had a plan. Out the door and into the front yard she flew. Rake in hand . . . . . . and supervisor at the ready. Being an only child, and living where we do, there aren't any other kids around to jump in the leaf pile after a couple hours of work.

But, Holli, she'll stay until she's released. And suffer through all the piling on of leaves that other kids normally wouldn't put up with!

Yeah - it was a good day off.
A damn fine good day off! I just can't bare to tell Kathryn that we have a leaf blower and that the pile actually makes it much harder for Jon to blow the leaves. And for God's sake - don't any of you tell her either. It'll wreck the whole day!

Two Days

Here in Minnesota, after a whopping 6 weeks of school, 31 days to be precise, the teachers have two days off to attend the MEA (Minnesota Education Association) Conference. I have never met a teacher who actually attends this conference but I'm sure it's a fine thing - if that's your deal. Most years I'm fairly vocal about these two wasted days of learning time. But this year I find that I need them. I'm still recovering from the weekend and I find that the extra time I'm volunteering at school is taking it's toll on me in other ways.It's a beautiful, crisp, clear fall day so I feel as if we should embrace it and do beautiful, crisp, clear, fall day-like things. I'm up and ready to go.

And so is companion number 1. In fact, she has been in and out four times already. She knows something is afoot today.Oops. I'm just going to guess that companion number 2 might have needed a little bit more notice than 10 minutes. Learning (and late night TV watching) is taking its toll on her as well. Not to worry - we have tomorrow off as well!

T

. . . is for tresses.

While "tresses" generally refers to long locks or curls of hair, when I've missed two appointments with my hairdresser, that's how my hair starts to feel to me. Long. And in the way. Of everything.

After two missed appointments, the tresses can also start to look like an experiment in dyeing self-striping yarn. And you all thought these tresses were naturally bright and blond. My tresses are both my favorite and least favorite feature. While they require a lot of maintenance, mostly because they are short and can't just be thrown back in a ponytail, with one trip to the salon (and a tidy sum!!) all is better with the world.

Or at least I can see it better!

T is for tresses.

One More Timing

Here in the Upper Midwest we take weather watching to a new level. A few weeks ago when the daytime temperatures dipped into the 50's and I began sleeping at night with hooded sweatshirts AND my bathrobe, I began to worry about Oktoberfest and how cold it might be. I knew I had my feet covered, in spades. Hands would be no problem either. But I'm not warm unless my neck is warm. I have scarves but, those will just get in the way of thinks like the Duck Pond and Water Wars and Cotton Candy and Prezels. So in between ticket packeting and 8 gozillion other things, I began this little knitting project:

Cap'n Crunch in a "matchy-matchy to my jacket" shade of green Malabrigo. I've gotten this far in just two evenings of late-night knitting. That includes one morning of chasing it up and down the steps in a game of "Catch Me if You Can" with Sammy!

I expect to have this done tonight or tomorrow night and to have it warming my neck all day on Saturday. And won't it look lovely and feel lovely against my skin?

When it's 75 and sunny? I'm so lucky!

More on Timing

Our Oktoberfest is this coming weekend and everyone is working feverishly to pull things together for a fun and successful fundraiser for the school and parish.. There's just so much to do. Some people are busy dotting the "i"s and crossing the "t"s.

Some people have been sent off in search of the elusive "t"s. Others of us, not in charge of spelling, have been tasked with the responsibility for bundling tickets into little packets of ten.

Ten is a good number when you're selling and when you're buying the tickets ...

25 rolls of 3000 tickets is not such a good number when you're the ticket packager. But because time is of the essence, I've hired some good, cheap help.

"I can haz a prezel wit cheez for how meny tiketz?"

Blessings

My timing is just so off these days. For instance, this post was in my head and ready to be worked on bright and early Monday morning. As was my hair - ready to be worked on later on Monday morning. Instead here it is Tuesday morning (when I have WAY less time) all because I answered the phone on Sunday night and accepted an opportunity to sub for the 3rd grade teacher. I can barely think straight I'm still so tired and I look like the long-lost, half-blond Beatle - but here I am. On with the story.

This past Saturday was the Feast Day of St. Francis. You probably don't even have to be catholic to know that Francis is the patron saint of the animals. Like many churches, we have a Blessing of the Animals to celebrate St. Francis' day.

They animals all bring their owners and stand quietly awaiting further instruction.

This Golden (not Holli!) needed to be reminded several times to ignore the camera and pay attention to the man up front.

Holli, having run a 5k race earlier in the morning, was very obedient. Mostly she was laughing at the fact that the kitties had to be in their cages.

Ah - but not for the actual blessing rite. We wanted to make sure both kitties got a good dose of Holy Water. In fact, we asked for an extra helping for Sammy.

OK - truth be told, we asked for an exorcism for Sammy but that request may have to be taken up to a higher level.

"CSI: Deephaven" Dog!.

This little guy never met a camera he didn't like. He followed me around everywhere and when the camera came up, he sat down and posed. I almost stole him. Then I remembered the whole church thing.

"Thanks for bringing me here mom. I feel all goodness and light inside."

Booky

Reading stack on the bedside table. These are to "go to" books at the end of the day; they are the quick browse through reads before the lights go out and the one "big book". In this case "War and Remembrance" is filling that role right now.

These are the books over by the comfy chair in the sunny spot in the bedroom. They are either on their way to the bedside table or have been there but needed a time-out for a while.

These lucky books have been moved to "finished" shelf in the other corner of the bedroom. Here they languish comfortably until a final disposition is decided. Aw - who am I kidding? They just stay here forever because by now, I know them and they're like friends.

So what do books tell you about a person? You can tell some things about me and my reading habits but not a lot. If you really want books to tell you something, you have to look at what's in them; really in them. Like at the book marks. Because all books should have book marks at all times in their history. And that's where you can learn a lot about a person.

This book mark says "A knitter read this book; a knitter with excellent taste in yarn!" I know exactly what I was knitting while I was reading this.

Looks as if "Cholera" was purchased for last year's trip to Sanibel. All that time, all that illness!

Ooooh - looks like we didn't make it very far through the love or the cholera.

This book mark is torn from a page of the video rental sheet from our condo in Sanibel. Trust me; I've seen it for 10 years. Looks like starving in the Alaskan wilderness beats cholera while you're on vacation! Rented the movie too! Cried like a baby.WHAT?? No book mark? How could this be?I read it in one sitting. It was that good and I was too scared to stop reading.

So, tell me. What do my books (or book marks) tell you about me?.

S

. . . is for SMILES

Taken during yesterday's "Tell me all about your day" session. Last year this would have been like pulling teeth. Not to mention, empty photos because she wouldn't have participated in either the talk or the pictures.

Now, we spend up to an hour some days talking about her day (and mine). It's a lively and animated discourse on all sorts of topics.

One of us usually succumbs to fits of giggles over something very silly.
There is usually a proud moment or twenty which need to be recognized.

And always something gross that boys still do at this age - thankfully!
S is for SMILES!

Regular Broadcasting Resumes?

Or at least an attempt. Just like I'm attempting to feed the family. Take-out counts I'm told. So by way way of bullet point, here's an update.

• So far, worries about Kathryn and school have proven to be a wasted effort. She is the happiest I have ever seen her! EVER! She started the year in 7th grade Spanish (a year ahead) and has moved to 8th grade Spanish. While this alone is great news, it also puts her with older students and is giving her a chance to be around new faces and is really helping ease the blow of "the loss". She loves school. I'm resisting the temptation to over analyze this situation and wonder how long it will last and wait for the bubble to burst. I'm simply watching and living in the moment.


• I've been volunteering at school quite a bit as the year has been getting underway but now I've kind of settled into a routine that's more manageable and fun. I'll be helping the Middle School on Fridays with the Writing Labs and Gym and whatever else they can throw my way. It's a blast. I was a sub for 1st grade on Monday - if any of you have ever taught 1st grade, you have my undying appreciation for what you have been through.


• The Tuesday Morning Knitting Group took a field trip to go See Annie Modesitt at our local Barnes & Noble for a talk and book signing. Thankfully I had forewarned them of the possibility of her not showing up or being incredibly late as that is indeed what happened. The B&N folks were very gracious and told us that she simply had the wrong time written down. Hmmmmmmm??


• The school Athletics gig is reaching its apex. We are coming toward the end of the fall sports season and are well into registrations for the "always controversial" basketball season. Parents should not be allowed to enter in to any aspect of a child's desire to play a sport. 'Nuff said.


• My Thursday morning class has begun except for we have today off. OK - it's a Bible study class but for some reason I have a really hard time telling you guys that for fear that you will all think I'm some kind of freak. I'm not. I just want to learn about Bible history. OK?


• Just about two weeks to Oktoberfest. We are very nervous about this thing. Our silent auction donations just are not coming in like they used to. I put together a "Friday Night Knitting Club" basket with yarn, needles, the book, and wine. So you would bid on a package that allows you to gather three friends, and have a night of knitting, wine, appetizers, and "expert" knitting (me and my friend Brenda) for four hours. Wouldn't you bid like $6000.00 on that!!!


• Jon's travelling is picking up again. We are three ships that pass on the weekends at volleyball games or while mowing the lawn.


• I am only this much farther along on the Ice Cream Sock:

Thanks for hanging in this far. Both in reading this far and for reading this long.

Where in the World Was Jon?

. . . or, my dad went to Disney World, had an all access pass, behind the scenes tours, private screenings and fireworks show . . .

. . . and all I got were these stupid ears. But damn, ain't I cute? Mouse, schmouse!

Sorry

I guess it wasn't until I got emails from Carole and Chris inquiring after my well-being that it occurred to me that I'd completely forgotten to blog or even read blogs. That's like forgetting to brush my teeth or put on deodorant. I knew something was missing but just couldn't remember what it was. Just like every other mom of school aged kids, I'm really swamped with crap right now. It's all fine and good and I'm sincerely happy to be able to be doing the things I'm doing. But one more 13-hour day at the school and seriously - I'm going to ask for a tuition break.

A few things on my "Sure, I can help get the athletics program organized and running" plate will be finishing up soon. And then my "Jon and I are honored to be asked to chair the parish-wide fundraiser, the largest one we have, not like there's any pressure on us" plate becomes REALLY full. But by gosh - after October 12 when that hing is in the can for another year - I'm getting drunk.

If I'm away for a few days here and there - trust me, I'm missing you guys WAY more than you're missing me. I've become quite dull lately - unless you really want to know how to keep the score book in volleyball. I know how to do that now.

Bits

I had an inclination to climb back into bed after the school drop off this morning.
Apparently - someone else had plans for that space! I decided the grab the paper and a blanket and head for the couch out on the sunny porch.
Denied again! Perhaps I should just take a shower and get the day started!!
Note the left side of the piano. That's where my piano books usually reside. In an effort to lighten my load, I have let piano go for now. Notice how I can't say "I've quit piano"! It was piano or you guys. I'm sure you'd say I made the right call. I am also letting go of quitting Plurk.

We have had three good days at school this week. There have been no tears. Well, just a few last night with some word problems from Pre-Algebra. But once I understood some of the basic concepts, I settled down and tried again and got them. Math is tough I remembered. Children are tougher.
I am working on a plain old sock - but every time I pick it up I want to run to the grocery store for a gallon of "three strip" ice cream - Kathryn's name for Neapolitan Ice Cream. Can you blame me?

Scheduled

I'm a schedule person. If it's not on the schedule, I don't do it. If I do something that's not on the schedule (against my rule number one) I put in on the schedule to show that I did it. Lately my schedule has been jammed with things in preparation for school, fall activities, and the like as I also keep Kathryn's schedule on mine.

Middle School being what it is, Kathryn now has her own "Daily Schedule".
I've decided (against all my mothering instincts) that I don't need to keep this schedule on my electronic calendar or PDA. I do, however, have a paper copy in my purse and on my desk and on Jon's desk and I'll give Jon a copy for his office. Just in case they don't know where she is at school. What?? You think they'll know - look how complicated the thing is!!

Now that I've taken "her" things off "my" calendar - funny thing is ....
... mine seems to have opened up a bit! What's that - you can't read today's activity?
Yeah - I'm busy today.

And So We Go*

Off to Middle School. Without her best friend, but bolstered by the best pep talks that both Mr. and I could give her about "making your own destiny" and "creating your own future".
So now I'm at home, with my box of Kleenex wondering if I needed the lectures more than she did. Wish her the best with me.


* I'll be off tomorrow - the "procedure". So wish me luck today.