Smooooth

At her last check up, Kathryn was reminded of the need to eat more fruits and vegetables. Note that I put this responsibility on her, not on - - say, her parents. No matter what fruits I buy, I eat some, but the rest usually sits around until it's time to toss them. Except for bananas. So yesterday morning I decided to try a new way to entice her with my own version of a fruit smoothie.


Fresh strawberries, raspberries, orange juice and mint blended with ice (no yogurt here!). If it was dessert, I might be inclined to throw in some ice cream.


Truth be told, she might have preferred the yogurt and didn't like the mint, but she persevered and drank it all. Later, after she left for an afternoon at the racetrack with her Nanee and Poppa (an annual occurrence; alas, she lost $6.00) I came upon a great idea on how to use up the left over smoothie.
I added more raspberries, more strawberries, some fresh frozen blueberries, more OJ, ginger ale, more mint. I had a vague notion of adding the Ruby Red Vodka to the concoction; but cooler heads prevailed. I just didn't want to ruin all the goodness - of the vodka.

Beer Me

Yesterday, while working VERY hard golf tournament (fund raiser - what else!), I did something I haven't done in almost 5 years . . .

. . . I drank a beer. OK - I drank this one and a small one at lunch. Perhaps this explains why when bidding on an awesome liquor package during the live auction later that evening, I bid against myself by and paid $250 instead of the $200 I had just bid. Well - it WAS a fund raiser!

Shhhh!

Please don't tell Kathryn! But while she was away at a friend's cabin for the long holiday weekend, her parents acted just like grownups . . .
. . . with a fancy day and night in downtown Minneapolis. And then followed up by acting just like kids when we . . .


. . . slept out on the porch the next night. The animals thought this was a hoot! What did you guys do over the long weekend?

*Just so you know - "Nap" really does means "nap"!

Vision

In between treating me like royalty on Sunday, Jon was busy all day working in the yard. As I think I've told you before, he's in charge of all things gardening and landscaping. I don't possess the skills to do these things. Last week I ventured out to the front garden to pull some weeds. I was joined soon afterward by Jon. He came out under the guise of smoothing over the spat which sent me to the garden. But it was really to make sure I wasn't pulling up anything which was meant to be there - again.

After dinner on Sunday he took me out to show me the latest project - the "East Side Beautification Project" Wow!

Now when I work on a knitting project and show it to someone, it's "something" even when it's in progress. Like "Look at the heel on this sock!" Sure, it's not a sock yet, but it is something!
I'm having a hard time putting this into knitting terms.

Flower Drills

Finally some blossoms to play with! And yes, I got in trouble for "chopping them out" of his garden!

Daffodils - Line up!

Peek-a-boo!

Line up!

Flowers - to the left!

Flowers - to the right!

Show us your butts!

Group hug!

Stimulating

Guess what momma got this weekend?

Jon, being VERY brand loyal (every once in a while, just for grins, we play count the SONY A/V components) having done due diligence upon the expiration of the lease on momma's former car (of the same make and model) took the family to the car store. And then momma, being the spoiled baby that she is, got to bring this home.

There was great debate as to the interior color. Black or beige? The old interior was beige and showed every dirty paw print on both the seat and carpet. Plus, every spill of a kid-nature. So, black then. Today however, when Holli and I exited the car after the morning trek to school, I discovered the fatal flaw in this decision. Anyone??

So - we stimulated the economy this weekend. And by the way - the car store was packed with people. Go figure!

On My Way To School Every Day . . .

. . . I pass this street sign.

And then, just around corner, a block or so away, I pass this street sign.

I think we should get these two together!

From the Bottom Up

I've got a new plan. Sinuses still stuffed, ears still hurt, body still fatigued. But I'm gonna knock this infection out by working from the opposite end.

The way I see it, if my feet look good, then they'll feel good. If they feel good, that will start a whole chair reaction of "good feelingness" that will eventually send this sinus thing packin'.

Maybe I'll sleep in them.

Think you've seen this before? Having a strange sense of deja vu? She said it was OK to copy her.

Running

Today begins the third week of medication for what began as preventive care following my dental surgery. I thought I had a routine cold. Turns out, it's neither routine, nor a cold. However, the fact that I was on an antibiotic and had recently had dental surgery kept me from thinking I was any sicker and therefore, I suffered. Until last Thursday when the jaw pain, ear pain and pain in my upper teeth just about sent me through the roof. Off to Urgent Care to discover I had sinus and ear infections. A change of antibiotic to one that targets sinus and ear infections (who knew that certain antibiotics only worked on certain things?)Flash forward to yesterday when the above enumerated symptoms are still hanging on tightly and have not receded. A sobbing mess of Deb comes home from knitting group and collapses into Jon's lap and says "I'm calling the real doctor." The real doctor agrees that symptoms should be easing by this point and that I'm doing everything I should be (nasal rinse, fluids, blah, blah, blah!!). We agree that one more week of the new antibiotic is called for but if I'm not feeling SIGNIFICANTLY better by Friday, I'm to call real doctor again.

You know how you go along loving your hair and then you get to that one day where you just hate it. And you hate it for several days. Then you call your hairdresser and make an appointment. And everyday up until that appointment you hate your hair. On the morning of your appointment you wake up, look in the mirror and - you love your hair. Sometime in the middle of the night last night, the damn broke. There isn't a horizontal surface in the house without a tissue on it. I believe the end is in sight. But sorry KMKat - these tissues will be experience a burial at sea or be burned in the nice fire I have going this morning as no one would wish to handle them again.

There is at least one member of the household sharing in my misery as we compete in a sneezing contest. I however, use tissues to clean up after myself!

Do You Remember?

Do you remember (or know) what happened 50 years ago today? It sparked a lively conversation in the car on the way to school this morning when Kathryn started singing along to "American Pie". I asked her how she knew the song. "Madonna sings it!" I didn't kick her out of the car, but she was subjected to 10 minutes of music history, the significance of the death of these three performers and its impact on other performers at that time.

I remembered how I used to play the song over and over again as a young girl, probably about her age. We'd listen to the lyrics and try to figure out what they all meant. We wrote them all down, line by line, and thought we had it all figured out - the whole thing. Life! Figured out there on paper, through the lyrics of a song.

And then, I wished I was young again.

Toothy

** Fair warning: if you don't want to see the inside of my mouth - move along!! **

About four years ago, after two failed root canals and a somewhat traumatic extraction, I lost a tooth. There was no tooth fairy, no money under the pillow (at least not my pillow but I can name two dentists and an endodontist who may have felt a bit of a lump under theirs.) Just a big, gaping hole on the right side of my mouth, my chewing side, in the back, where the heavy "crunching" happens. This, as you might imagine, has been quite problematic for your Cap'n Crunch, potato chip, cracker lovin' friend here. It seems that I cannot easily crunch on the left side without tearing my cheek to shreds. It's been a long four years.

Which all leads me to the announcement that I may be off the blogs and interwebs for the next few days. Tomorrow, Dr. Andy will drive a titanium rod into my jaw bone and this will begin the process of getting my tooth back. Since the procedure will require sedation, I will be out tomorrow (could someone please check on Kathryn for me!) and Wednesday could be just a yucky, jaw-hurty day. But I'm thinking positive thoughts. Because in 6 - 9 short months, "cruncher tooth" will be back.

Oh - Jon is in Australia. I just told him I was having implant surgery while he was gone but not what kind. He told me to have both done.

Hard Not

Even this hardened, cynical heart knows it. It's hard not to feel that a change is coming.

And soon it will be spring in places other than my kitchen corner.

But if winter lasts too long, I will have these to look at and sniff until spring.

Box Redux

An very observant now-blogless-formerly-K3Tog-Jeanne noticed an really important "other box" in the background of yesterday's picture. See it . . . there underneath the attack guard kitty. Yeah, I know he's asleep, but he'd snap to attention if you came REALLY close to that box.So that was "the BIG" present. Not the one just sort of shoved at him as an afterthought. A nice, big, shiny, SONY BluRay disc player. Now, it should be noted that I am not an authorized electronics purchased for the household. I am only allowed to purchase said items when given a web url and told to point, click, pay, ship. This one was a no-brainer though. Until we I got it home. Where to put it, where to put it?? Well, under here looks like a good starting point. Ya got yer TV and ya got yer cabinet for yer TV stuff.

Yeah - no room. Full up with other electronic stuff. All of which makes it very complicated to actually watch TV or a movie or something you recorded yesterday. Sometimes, I have to call him during the day and ask how to do one of these things. Totally blows my cover.

The bedroom cabinet could have been an option but looks like were plum outta space here too. Ah, that's ok. Who needs HD movies in the bedroom anyway?

Looks like something in the basement "Tower of Power" has got to go. It's probably best that it goes here. I think a TV this size, really needs HD movies.

Dog added for size comparison. And because well - she's a dog!

Yeah - he REALLY needed that BluRay! Because as you can see, he has all the other crap!

Payback . . .

. . . is a box. Conversation while shopping for Jon's birthday gifts:

Clerk: Would you like a box?
Me: No, thank you. I had a bad box experience recently.

Clerk: Our boxes are very easy to make. And they are just the right size.
Me: OK.

Me: It is a conspiracy. Sure wish I had saved the other boxes!!

Really Random

Just a couple of little things on my mind today:

I got called to substitute for the music teacher (out with laryngitis) at school on Tuesday. Great, I thought, I LOVE music. I can sing and be happy all day with the kids. Wrong. Apparently, when you substitute in music, you have the kids watch videos. Which begs the question, if all you have is laryngitis, can't you just press the play button?

What do the items in this picture have in common? Give up? 7th graders. I've been spending time reinforcing the bindings on all the new books for our Middle School curriculum. What happened to hard backed books?I'm always a little nervous when this t-shirt gets to the top of the PJ rotation. It bothers me for a couple of reasons. Why wasn't he chosen for Team 1? What kind of "teams" are we talking about here? Are the members of Team 1 still out there - looking for Team 2 people? Am I safe here - sleeping with a Team 2 member? What does this mean for Kathryn? Maybe I should just do some laundry today.This is the equivalent of "stash-diving" for dogs. She went looking for "just the right something" and in the process had to take almost everything out of the bone box. She chewed each one for about a minute then went looking for something else. Finally, she settled on "Genie in a Bottle".

"Mom, just put the rest of these in my Bone-ery queue!"

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.

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?

Week In Review and Preview

. . . . (or, I got nothin' - you decide!)

• The smell emanating from Holli's ears (which caused a spontaneous hurl episode, mine, not hers) finally sent us to the vet. Yeast infections - double. Yippee. Drops for four weeks. Please don't feel sorry for her. It's much worse for us I promise you.
• Kathryn and I did all the school supply and uniform shopping in one day. I don't recommend this as a general rule. We were doing fine until I was brought to understand that middle schoolers had to "accessorize" their lockers. This nearly broke the magic spell of spending the whole day together.
• I would very much like to participate in the "interview your husband" blog game that has been seen on several of my favorites. Toward that end, I have drafted a memo with the questions,and sent it in an e-mail to Mr. at his work address. He is working from home today (about 15 feet away from me as you read this). He will prioritize this with his other work and get back to us when it hits the top of his "to-do" list. This is how he works.
• I have foolishly volunteered myself for the school's Athletic Committee. I am the Asst. Director and Communications Director. There are probably more parents on the board than athletes. We meet a lot and make terribly important decisions that mean nothing - - all of which have to be documented and sent out to the people who were sitting there when the decisions were made. This is why I left the corporate world. But ... it's for the kids!
• Likewise, Mr. and I are co-chairs for the parish / school annual fundraiser, Oktoberfest, which as you might guess is in October. Much of that work starts, like now. Most of the athletics work has started and will continue until March.
• The planets are beginning to line up for a big collision.
• My sister and her girls are coming next Thursday for 10 days! Yay!
• Mr. wants to go to his aunt's cabin for three days over Labor day! It's 4 hours away - we will have only one full day there. And then drive 4 hours to come home.
• I haven't had a cup of coffee in nearly four years. This morning, I have gulped down two already. Is this screen shaking or are we in Southern California?

• I can't tell for sure - but I think he's working on my memo! Which means there may be a blog post on Monday.