Breaking news. Dave is pretty sure one of his pumpkins has disappeared from the display. He thinks he had 12 out there and now we are down to 11. I showed him the picture in the paper of our pumpkins (yes there’s a picture in the paper) and counted 11 pumpkins in the picture. But he’s still skeptical. Maybe the picture was taken AFTER the pumpkin “disappeared.” Personally I feel that anyone who would steal a pumpkin, probably NEEDS a pumpkin. Kind of like stealing a Bible, don’t you think?
And breaking news on the basement. They poured the floor yesterday…so when Dave forced me to go down there tonight to look around, I had to admit that this might actually be happening. And besides seeing some progress, I’ve also noted that the diesel fumes and ominous noises have stopped. Of course, while I’m in my bathroom, I usually overhear the men conversing down there (and that’s not creepy at all). But since they’re talking in Spanish, I don’t understand too much of what they say. Sometimes I like to make up stuff they might be saying. Like, “Hey Fidel, let’s stand under this vent and talk Spanish to scare that lady in the house.” And Fidel replies, “Yeah, and then let’s drink some Orange Crush.” Because I’ve seen the empty bottles. But that’s probably not what they’re saying.
Sorry I have nothing on the children today. They have been very normal and well-behaved of late. Little Stepford children really. Maybe knowing that their every quirky move will show up in this blog is having a chilling effect on them.
I probably need to go to bed anyway. But I wanted you to know I had a grilled chicken sandwich and Pringles for lunch today.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Hello.
So the girls and I went to OKC this weekend for fall visit at OC. We left after the game Friday night so Emily could take the history scholarship test scheduled for Saturday morning. The girls insisted they would stay awake WORKING IN SHIFTS IF NEED BE to keep me awake for the five hour drive. We left at 9:45 p.m. They were both sound asleep by 11 p.m. So a seriously cheesy book-on-tape was forced to keep me awake, and us alive.
On the plus side, I had my GPS up and running and noticed that randomly the map would show a designation of "United States of America". So at least while I was driving through the back roads of Oklahoma and Kansas trying to stay awake, I could be confident that I hadn’t veered off into Canada or Mexico.
As for the scholarship test, we had high hopes early on when my niece Mary called to say Emily was the only one who went in to take the history test. But our excitement was short-lived. A short while later Mary called to report that another four kids showed up for the test. Rats. And then still later, Emily calls and informs me that she only knew the answers to 3 of the 50 questions AND one of her fellow test-takers looked really, really smart. Sure enough, the smart looking guy got the scholarship and Emily got nothing. Plus she lost a sweater (we think the waitress at Buffalo Wild Wings might have taken it) so we really came out behind.
And speaking of Buffalo Wild Wings, has this ever happened to you? We had lunch there Sunday and due to a mix-up with the orders, I didn’t get my food when everyone else did. So the waitress apologizes, and brings me a big dish of CELERY and actually says to me...I’m sorry for the mix-up but I’ve brought you extra CELERY to make up for it. I thought surely she must be joking. But no, she was serious. I’m pretty sure that place won’t be in business long.
So then we are heading home from OKC, and by now I’m sort of into this cheesy book-on-tape and would like to finish it, but no. The girls are doing homework and can’t concentrate with my book playing. So Emily offers to read aloud to me from her book but it’s Schindler’s List and I’d already had a depressing enough weekend, what with the lost scholarship and the celery caper. So then I had to listen to Rachel read a story to me in Spanish, which was mercifully short. And finally it got dark, and they drifted off to sleep again, because that’s what they do in cars, and I was once again alone with the cheesy tape. And we made it home safe and sound.
I don’t have much on Dave and David since they stayed home this weekend and apparently stayed out of trouble.
And I had some peach yogurt, and salsa and chips for lunch.
So the girls and I went to OKC this weekend for fall visit at OC. We left after the game Friday night so Emily could take the history scholarship test scheduled for Saturday morning. The girls insisted they would stay awake WORKING IN SHIFTS IF NEED BE to keep me awake for the five hour drive. We left at 9:45 p.m. They were both sound asleep by 11 p.m. So a seriously cheesy book-on-tape was forced to keep me awake, and us alive.
On the plus side, I had my GPS up and running and noticed that randomly the map would show a designation of "United States of America". So at least while I was driving through the back roads of Oklahoma and Kansas trying to stay awake, I could be confident that I hadn’t veered off into Canada or Mexico.
As for the scholarship test, we had high hopes early on when my niece Mary called to say Emily was the only one who went in to take the history test. But our excitement was short-lived. A short while later Mary called to report that another four kids showed up for the test. Rats. And then still later, Emily calls and informs me that she only knew the answers to 3 of the 50 questions AND one of her fellow test-takers looked really, really smart. Sure enough, the smart looking guy got the scholarship and Emily got nothing. Plus she lost a sweater (we think the waitress at Buffalo Wild Wings might have taken it) so we really came out behind.
And speaking of Buffalo Wild Wings, has this ever happened to you? We had lunch there Sunday and due to a mix-up with the orders, I didn’t get my food when everyone else did. So the waitress apologizes, and brings me a big dish of CELERY and actually says to me...I’m sorry for the mix-up but I’ve brought you extra CELERY to make up for it. I thought surely she must be joking. But no, she was serious. I’m pretty sure that place won’t be in business long.
So then we are heading home from OKC, and by now I’m sort of into this cheesy book-on-tape and would like to finish it, but no. The girls are doing homework and can’t concentrate with my book playing. So Emily offers to read aloud to me from her book but it’s Schindler’s List and I’d already had a depressing enough weekend, what with the lost scholarship and the celery caper. So then I had to listen to Rachel read a story to me in Spanish, which was mercifully short. And finally it got dark, and they drifted off to sleep again, because that’s what they do in cars, and I was once again alone with the cheesy tape. And we made it home safe and sound.
I don’t have much on Dave and David since they stayed home this weekend and apparently stayed out of trouble.
And I had some peach yogurt, and salsa and chips for lunch.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Is this better?
Hello.
So my goal is shorter posts, but more frequent ones. Of course, I can’t promise anything.
Here’s my news:
Emily got a "recruitment" call from one of the history professors at her college of choice the other night. I listened in on her side of the conversation (of course) and noticed her replies consisted of "yeah" or "I don’t know", with an occasional "cool" thrown in for good measure. She also did a fair amount of giggling. After she hung up, I told her she sounded like a total bimbo and I don’t think she appreciated my candor. But to give her credit, I think the call caught her off guard and she’ll do better next time. And hopefully, scholarships aren’t based on these phone calls.
Rachel is taking perky to a whole new level these days. I could blame it on a lot of interesting happenings in her life right now...new texting contacts, additional stunting opportunities, cute new scrubs from Walmart...to name a few. But I really think it’s because she’s had an inordinate amount of good hair days lately.
David won a medal in his cross country meet yesterday...for placing 13th! I think I could totally embrace this sport were it not for the weather thing. It was so cold and windy at this meet that I stayed in the car most of the afternoon, telling Dave to call me only when David was literally taking off his sweats at the starting line. And then of course I felt totally ashamed when I saw other parents out there supporting the team, even though their kids had already run. And I hoped they hadn’t seen me huddled in my car and munching on my Cheezits while their kids were running. But seriously, I’m pretty sure I have some kind of disorder that makes me colder than most people.
Dave keeps asking me where I want this and where I want that in the basement. And I hate it...and he knows it. But I do try to be cooperative. So I will say, okay I want the bathroom here. And he says well that’s a bad place because the vents are there. So I say, okay how about over here. And he says no because we don’t want the window well in the bathroom. So I say, okay what about over there, and he says the staircase will be in the way. So I say, and by this time I’m frustrated but who wouldn’t be, why don’t you just decide? And that frustrates him for some reason. So that’s some fun stuff.
And finally, I’m doing pretty good except for my eye waters all the time. And I’ve been wondering why the nails on my left hand grow so much faster than the nails on my right hand.
And I had a cheap chicken pot pie for lunch. But I picked the chicken out.
So my goal is shorter posts, but more frequent ones. Of course, I can’t promise anything.
Here’s my news:
Emily got a "recruitment" call from one of the history professors at her college of choice the other night. I listened in on her side of the conversation (of course) and noticed her replies consisted of "yeah" or "I don’t know", with an occasional "cool" thrown in for good measure. She also did a fair amount of giggling. After she hung up, I told her she sounded like a total bimbo and I don’t think she appreciated my candor. But to give her credit, I think the call caught her off guard and she’ll do better next time. And hopefully, scholarships aren’t based on these phone calls.
Rachel is taking perky to a whole new level these days. I could blame it on a lot of interesting happenings in her life right now...new texting contacts, additional stunting opportunities, cute new scrubs from Walmart...to name a few. But I really think it’s because she’s had an inordinate amount of good hair days lately.
David won a medal in his cross country meet yesterday...for placing 13th! I think I could totally embrace this sport were it not for the weather thing. It was so cold and windy at this meet that I stayed in the car most of the afternoon, telling Dave to call me only when David was literally taking off his sweats at the starting line. And then of course I felt totally ashamed when I saw other parents out there supporting the team, even though their kids had already run. And I hoped they hadn’t seen me huddled in my car and munching on my Cheezits while their kids were running. But seriously, I’m pretty sure I have some kind of disorder that makes me colder than most people.
Dave keeps asking me where I want this and where I want that in the basement. And I hate it...and he knows it. But I do try to be cooperative. So I will say, okay I want the bathroom here. And he says well that’s a bad place because the vents are there. So I say, okay how about over here. And he says no because we don’t want the window well in the bathroom. So I say, okay what about over there, and he says the staircase will be in the way. So I say, and by this time I’m frustrated but who wouldn’t be, why don’t you just decide? And that frustrates him for some reason. So that’s some fun stuff.
And finally, I’m doing pretty good except for my eye waters all the time. And I’ve been wondering why the nails on my left hand grow so much faster than the nails on my right hand.
And I had a cheap chicken pot pie for lunch. But I picked the chicken out.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Do you remember where you were 22 years ago today?
I have so many trivial items to report this week that it's difficult to know where to begin. I mean seriously, I’m thinking this post will be more like a book. I do apologize in advance.
Chapter One:
I guess we can start with the progress of the excavation work "down under". This phase of the project was slated to last a week. We are now into our 3rd week with no sign of the end. I believe this is normal? One of the difficulties with this kind of project is that you have no reference points. Because how often do you dig a big hole under your two-story house? So we wonder...are our walls supposed to be developing those serious cracks? Should the floors shake this much? (I’m banning those informal cheer sessions in the house until further notice.) And what about those ominous noises and smells drifting up from below while the crew is at work? Should the sound of shattering glass worry me? I just don’t know.
Meanwhile, Dave reports that the crew members seem inordinately interested in his pumpkin patch. One even took a picture of one of the pumpkins and showed it to Dave. You can imagine his distress over this development. Are they planning a raid some dark night? Even if they aren't that unscrupulous, are they showing the picture to others who are? Or are they just hinting that Dave SHARE his bounty with them? If they only understood the emotional bond he has with his produce, they would surely stop torturing him.
Chapter Two:
So Emily and I spent Labor Day weekend with some friends out in Durango and Pagosa Springs. While there, our friends hinted at doing some sightseeing, like going out to Purgatory or exploring some ruins. But we managed to dodge their attempts to schedule anything more strenuous than shopping and eating. Definitely my kind of vacation.
Unfortunately, my relaxation was interrupted every time I called home and heard how Dave was faring with the management of the household and my other two children. Here is only a partial listing of the disturbing things that happened while I was gone: (1) David lost his phone and had a girl in his bedroom; (2) Rachel and David hosted a wild party with youth rally boys from out of town; (3) they watched Zoolander (which we all know is trash); and (4) they let the clothes in the washing machine mildew. I’m not sure I can ever leave them alone again.
Chapter Three:
Then last weekend we headed to the Kansas State Fair with a random mix of family members...my sister and brother and some assorted nieces and nephews. My brother always plans this outing...I think for the nostalgia factor because we always went as kids. The rest of us go for the food and free stuff. We scored the usual wooden nickels, yardsticks and toothpick dispensers. But new freebies this year included FULL SIZE PACKAGES OF CRACKERS, DODGE T-SHIRTS, and SALT BLOCKS. Needless to say, we had a good time.
Chapter Four:
David continues to burn the candle at both ends by running cross country AND playing football. In high school, he'll have to choose one or the other and we are leaning toward the cross country career. Because let's face it...you gotta love a sport where you come in 11th and everyone thinks you did great, And football is losing points with us because even when he does something good, like catch a pass, the announcer says it was Luis Sanchez. And he looks nothing like Luis Sanchez.
Socially I worry about the boy, even though he tries to reassure me that my fears are ungrounded. For instance, when he told me the other day that he was invited to a party for next weekend, naturally I asked if it was a drinking party. And he said, "Mom, they don't pass out polk-a-dotted invitations to drinking parties." And I felt relieved, but still.
In band-related news, David and Rachel co-wrote their first song in the car the other night, and I believe it's called "Firenze." And David asked us to buy him a capo. So even though they still haven't had a practice, I believe the band is alive and well.
Chapter Five:
Rachel has spent this weekend taking our blood pressure and checking our pulse and respirations. This is homework for her CNA class. While she was taking my blood pressure, she asked me to hold the gauge. I told her no nurse had ever asked me to hold something while taking my blood pressure and she said they were taught to do that with old people because old people like to have something to do. I was slightly offended. And my blood pressure was 110 over 70. Oddly enough, she then took Dave's and his was...that's right..110 over 70. Quite the coincidence, eh? And was it my imagination or did she leave the cuff on me a bit long just to see if I'd crack under the pressure? I mean I'm pretty sure I lost the feeling in my hand and she giggled (somewhat sadistically) when I asked her about it. But I guess they have to practice on someone, and I'm sure she'll make a fine CNA.
And we're all breathing a sigh of relief around here because she might have found a guy willing to do the Nutcracker dance with her. The search has been difficult because not only does she need someone willing, but he also has to be able to lift a 115 pound girl over his head without looking unduly strained. And strangely enough, most guys who can do that kind of lifting are a bit skittish about agreeing to be in a ballet. What's up with that?
Chapter Six:
Emily has had a busy day. She worked from 10-2 at the dress shop, came home and designed a lovely fall yard scene with some of Dave's pumpkins, three hay bales, and my potted geraniums, and worked on her Africa power point. Then she left for a birthday slumber party, but she's already returned, dressed in a strange sort of toga, asking for a brown egg for a scavenger hunt. I asked no questions, and fortunately I have lots of brown eggs because I buy them from a friend who has chickens.
Also, Emily has been enjoying her weights class, where they just finished a unit on Sweatin' to the Oldies with Richard Simmons. Education has certainly changed sinced my days in PE where we just did situps and pushups and jumping jacks.
As you may be able to guess, I don't have much on Emily today. Mainly because her love life, or really her texting love life, has slowed down lately. She is only sustained by Mary's weekly calls with questions from OC boys who are thinking of dating her next year. If you think this is strange, you are like me.
Chapter Seven:
Dave gave me a Currier & Ives gravy bowl for our anniversary...which is today by the way. And I love it. He also wrote me a poem, which he does every year, but this time he changed it up a bit and didn't try to rhyme anything. Which was a neat twist...and a welcome one. I have not quite finished my shopping for him, which is unfortunate because the stores in our small town are all closed. Sadly, this will not bother Dave. He is just happy to have me. Perhaps I should get him a gift certificate for some counseling?
Chapter Eight:
And finally, me. I have been eating a lot of fried zucchini lately. And sometimes I fry it up in bacon grease. I'm no nutritionist but I feel there's a chance my recent weight gain is tied to my diet. And I guess I might have high cholesterol...if you can put any faith in those blood tests. So every night now, Dave brings me two giant frozen fish oil pills and 3 other large white capsules (unidentified), and makes me swallow them. He says they will help with the cholesterol thing, and I hope he's right because I don't think I can kick the zucchini habit. At least not until he stops bringing in bags of it from our garden.
Chapter Nine:
I had a turkey and cheese sandwich on sourdough bread for lunch.
Chapter One:
I guess we can start with the progress of the excavation work "down under". This phase of the project was slated to last a week. We are now into our 3rd week with no sign of the end. I believe this is normal? One of the difficulties with this kind of project is that you have no reference points. Because how often do you dig a big hole under your two-story house? So we wonder...are our walls supposed to be developing those serious cracks? Should the floors shake this much? (I’m banning those informal cheer sessions in the house until further notice.) And what about those ominous noises and smells drifting up from below while the crew is at work? Should the sound of shattering glass worry me? I just don’t know.
Meanwhile, Dave reports that the crew members seem inordinately interested in his pumpkin patch. One even took a picture of one of the pumpkins and showed it to Dave. You can imagine his distress over this development. Are they planning a raid some dark night? Even if they aren't that unscrupulous, are they showing the picture to others who are? Or are they just hinting that Dave SHARE his bounty with them? If they only understood the emotional bond he has with his produce, they would surely stop torturing him.
Chapter Two:
So Emily and I spent Labor Day weekend with some friends out in Durango and Pagosa Springs. While there, our friends hinted at doing some sightseeing, like going out to Purgatory or exploring some ruins. But we managed to dodge their attempts to schedule anything more strenuous than shopping and eating. Definitely my kind of vacation.
Unfortunately, my relaxation was interrupted every time I called home and heard how Dave was faring with the management of the household and my other two children. Here is only a partial listing of the disturbing things that happened while I was gone: (1) David lost his phone and had a girl in his bedroom; (2) Rachel and David hosted a wild party with youth rally boys from out of town; (3) they watched Zoolander (which we all know is trash); and (4) they let the clothes in the washing machine mildew. I’m not sure I can ever leave them alone again.
Chapter Three:
Then last weekend we headed to the Kansas State Fair with a random mix of family members...my sister and brother and some assorted nieces and nephews. My brother always plans this outing...I think for the nostalgia factor because we always went as kids. The rest of us go for the food and free stuff. We scored the usual wooden nickels, yardsticks and toothpick dispensers. But new freebies this year included FULL SIZE PACKAGES OF CRACKERS, DODGE T-SHIRTS, and SALT BLOCKS. Needless to say, we had a good time.
Chapter Four:
David continues to burn the candle at both ends by running cross country AND playing football. In high school, he'll have to choose one or the other and we are leaning toward the cross country career. Because let's face it...you gotta love a sport where you come in 11th and everyone thinks you did great, And football is losing points with us because even when he does something good, like catch a pass, the announcer says it was Luis Sanchez. And he looks nothing like Luis Sanchez.
Socially I worry about the boy, even though he tries to reassure me that my fears are ungrounded. For instance, when he told me the other day that he was invited to a party for next weekend, naturally I asked if it was a drinking party. And he said, "Mom, they don't pass out polk-a-dotted invitations to drinking parties." And I felt relieved, but still.
In band-related news, David and Rachel co-wrote their first song in the car the other night, and I believe it's called "Firenze." And David asked us to buy him a capo. So even though they still haven't had a practice, I believe the band is alive and well.
Chapter Five:
Rachel has spent this weekend taking our blood pressure and checking our pulse and respirations. This is homework for her CNA class. While she was taking my blood pressure, she asked me to hold the gauge. I told her no nurse had ever asked me to hold something while taking my blood pressure and she said they were taught to do that with old people because old people like to have something to do. I was slightly offended. And my blood pressure was 110 over 70. Oddly enough, she then took Dave's and his was...that's right..110 over 70. Quite the coincidence, eh? And was it my imagination or did she leave the cuff on me a bit long just to see if I'd crack under the pressure? I mean I'm pretty sure I lost the feeling in my hand and she giggled (somewhat sadistically) when I asked her about it. But I guess they have to practice on someone, and I'm sure she'll make a fine CNA.
And we're all breathing a sigh of relief around here because she might have found a guy willing to do the Nutcracker dance with her. The search has been difficult because not only does she need someone willing, but he also has to be able to lift a 115 pound girl over his head without looking unduly strained. And strangely enough, most guys who can do that kind of lifting are a bit skittish about agreeing to be in a ballet. What's up with that?
Chapter Six:
Emily has had a busy day. She worked from 10-2 at the dress shop, came home and designed a lovely fall yard scene with some of Dave's pumpkins, three hay bales, and my potted geraniums, and worked on her Africa power point. Then she left for a birthday slumber party, but she's already returned, dressed in a strange sort of toga, asking for a brown egg for a scavenger hunt. I asked no questions, and fortunately I have lots of brown eggs because I buy them from a friend who has chickens.
Also, Emily has been enjoying her weights class, where they just finished a unit on Sweatin' to the Oldies with Richard Simmons. Education has certainly changed sinced my days in PE where we just did situps and pushups and jumping jacks.
As you may be able to guess, I don't have much on Emily today. Mainly because her love life, or really her texting love life, has slowed down lately. She is only sustained by Mary's weekly calls with questions from OC boys who are thinking of dating her next year. If you think this is strange, you are like me.
Chapter Seven:
Dave gave me a Currier & Ives gravy bowl for our anniversary...which is today by the way. And I love it. He also wrote me a poem, which he does every year, but this time he changed it up a bit and didn't try to rhyme anything. Which was a neat twist...and a welcome one. I have not quite finished my shopping for him, which is unfortunate because the stores in our small town are all closed. Sadly, this will not bother Dave. He is just happy to have me. Perhaps I should get him a gift certificate for some counseling?
Chapter Eight:
And finally, me. I have been eating a lot of fried zucchini lately. And sometimes I fry it up in bacon grease. I'm no nutritionist but I feel there's a chance my recent weight gain is tied to my diet. And I guess I might have high cholesterol...if you can put any faith in those blood tests. So every night now, Dave brings me two giant frozen fish oil pills and 3 other large white capsules (unidentified), and makes me swallow them. He says they will help with the cholesterol thing, and I hope he's right because I don't think I can kick the zucchini habit. At least not until he stops bringing in bags of it from our garden.
Chapter Nine:
I had a turkey and cheese sandwich on sourdough bread for lunch.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Here at last, here at last...
Hello.
So one of the reasons I thought the time was ripe for me to blog is that we are having a basement dug under our house...and our contracter's name is Fidel. So I'm pretty sure everything is in place for an extemely messy adventure that will be worth writing about. For example, in typical contracter fashion, Fidel tells us he'll be here Monday...but he and his crew don't show up until Wednesday around noon. Then by 2:15 they've broken through a water line. But did we care about his tardiness or the little water leak? Don't be silly. We were still too giddy over the fact that he'd shown up at all! Oh, our dear Fidel! We already love him so!
As for the family news...Emily has not been herself lately. Last night she cooked supper for us...chicken fajitas, rotel, guacamole. Then she cleaned up the kitchen. Even David wondered aloud what might be wrong with her. Maybe she's just growing up...getting ready for being out on her own. Of course earlier this week, I sent her to the store for a head of lettuce and she came back with a head of cabbage. So I think I still have a few things to teach her before she heads off into the world.
Rachel asked me the other night what I thought my top three parenting skills were. She said she had to write a paper about someone she admires, and apparently she admires me...or at least my parenting skills. Which might have been flattering, except that she didn't know what those skills were that she admired. So then I had to think and think and think and think to come up with a list of things I might have done right. One thing I told her was that I was always brutally honest with her. Like when she showed me an "art" project in first grade...I would never just say, oh that's beautiful. I always said, hmm that's interesting. And just last night I demonstrated this parenting skill for her again...while she was practicing her violin. Apparently, I was wincing a lot. At least that's what she said, and I couldn't deny it...because, well...I had to be brutally honest with her, of course.
Planning (not to be confused with practicing) for the band continues to occupy David's thoughts and time. He seems to be leaning towards "The Happy Coconut Club" for the band name, which was what his little band of brothers in elementary school called themselves. And the other day he pondered aloud whether girls liked guitar players or piano players more. So I guess the project is moving right along.
As for Dave, he is spending more and more time in our backyard. It has long been his favorite place to while away the hours...tending to his beloved garden, his precious fruit trees, and his carefully stacked wood piles. But now the place has a new source of fascination. Because of Fidel of course...and his earth moving equipment and the giant hole being dug under our house. It's a veritable smorgasbord of fun for a man like Dave...and I'm fine with it as long as he leaves me out of it. But no. He wants me to go out there, climb down into the hole with him, and look at the fine footers on our house. Seriously. I mean it's like he doesn't know me at all.
I wish I had something interesting to report about me personally. But I have nothing. Unless you count the dream I had last night where I discovered that I'd packed far too many pens and pencils for an international flight. But I know some people don't like to hear about dreams.
And I haven't had lunch yet today...but I had two slices of leftover taco pizza for lunch yesterday.
Much love,
Shelley
So one of the reasons I thought the time was ripe for me to blog is that we are having a basement dug under our house...and our contracter's name is Fidel. So I'm pretty sure everything is in place for an extemely messy adventure that will be worth writing about. For example, in typical contracter fashion, Fidel tells us he'll be here Monday...but he and his crew don't show up until Wednesday around noon. Then by 2:15 they've broken through a water line. But did we care about his tardiness or the little water leak? Don't be silly. We were still too giddy over the fact that he'd shown up at all! Oh, our dear Fidel! We already love him so!
As for the family news...Emily has not been herself lately. Last night she cooked supper for us...chicken fajitas, rotel, guacamole. Then she cleaned up the kitchen. Even David wondered aloud what might be wrong with her. Maybe she's just growing up...getting ready for being out on her own. Of course earlier this week, I sent her to the store for a head of lettuce and she came back with a head of cabbage. So I think I still have a few things to teach her before she heads off into the world.
Rachel asked me the other night what I thought my top three parenting skills were. She said she had to write a paper about someone she admires, and apparently she admires me...or at least my parenting skills. Which might have been flattering, except that she didn't know what those skills were that she admired. So then I had to think and think and think and think to come up with a list of things I might have done right. One thing I told her was that I was always brutally honest with her. Like when she showed me an "art" project in first grade...I would never just say, oh that's beautiful. I always said, hmm that's interesting. And just last night I demonstrated this parenting skill for her again...while she was practicing her violin. Apparently, I was wincing a lot. At least that's what she said, and I couldn't deny it...because, well...I had to be brutally honest with her, of course.
Planning (not to be confused with practicing) for the band continues to occupy David's thoughts and time. He seems to be leaning towards "The Happy Coconut Club" for the band name, which was what his little band of brothers in elementary school called themselves. And the other day he pondered aloud whether girls liked guitar players or piano players more. So I guess the project is moving right along.
As for Dave, he is spending more and more time in our backyard. It has long been his favorite place to while away the hours...tending to his beloved garden, his precious fruit trees, and his carefully stacked wood piles. But now the place has a new source of fascination. Because of Fidel of course...and his earth moving equipment and the giant hole being dug under our house. It's a veritable smorgasbord of fun for a man like Dave...and I'm fine with it as long as he leaves me out of it. But no. He wants me to go out there, climb down into the hole with him, and look at the fine footers on our house. Seriously. I mean it's like he doesn't know me at all.
I wish I had something interesting to report about me personally. But I have nothing. Unless you count the dream I had last night where I discovered that I'd packed far too many pens and pencils for an international flight. But I know some people don't like to hear about dreams.
And I haven't had lunch yet today...but I had two slices of leftover taco pizza for lunch yesterday.
Much love,
Shelley
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