Friday, March 31, 2006

 

Playing

Brillant blue skies and temperatures in the 70’s made perfect weather for play.


Farmington River

Out on the Farmington River in the noonday sun.

Railroad bridge

Thursday, March 30, 2006

 

Sports Night


Tonight the swim team was honored as champions. It was great to see so many wonderful students.

champions

After a long day it is time to rest.

resting

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

 

Madness and Mayhem

I totally forgot that with Spring comes the sports schedule: Tennis, Special Olympic swimming, and Challenger baseball. And now my youngest is going to become an Assistant Aquatics coach for Special Olympic swimming in our town. At least both boys will be in the same place at the same time for the swimming.

Along with all that comes with S. turning eighteen: Probate court, Social Security, etc., my calendar is getting rather full.

Needless to say I am not bored and my car will be getting a workout.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

 

Paper, paper


Pushing paper has been my main activity lately. More stuff is completed. College search has begun. Deciding where my youngest would like to go is a bit of a challenge. First we narrowed it by geography, definitely East Coast. Now we will look at programs within that area.

Paper does not make for interesting photographs, so I will spare you.

Monday, March 27, 2006

 

Marvelous Monday


Things are coming together. Finally one IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is done and the school system and I agree and my son will be able to graduate. That process only took almost two months. Passport pictures of the boys were taken although it was challenging. No plans to go anywhere, though I am trying to talk my youngest into going to Spain next year. Soon a passport will be needed to just go to Canada. Many things are lined up for S. turning eighteen, Probate court is next week, and Social Security is mid-April.

It is welcoming when things go well and you make progress. It is gratifying when tasks are finally complete or finally moving toward completion. It is all too often that I feel like I am spinning my wheels, so I am truly enjoying this feeling.

Sunday, March 26, 2006

 

Today's lesson

My youngest and I sat down to do his taxes. It seems that the 1040EZ, which I seem to recall was only a half page when it first started, has now gotten more complicated. The instruction booklet for the 2005 1040EZ is 34 pages long.

We enjoyed a good laugh as I mentioned, "This is why they have word problems in Math." It is strange that quality time with my son included doing his taxes.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

 

Manual Labor


Sometimes delegating does not work. Depending on others, at least in this house, leaves me waiting and waiting. Promises to do something usually end up with nothing being done. A case in point, my husband has been painting the house for the last 17 years, he still has not gotten to the North side. The normal response for when he is asked about something is “I’ll do it.” I have learned not to hold my breath.

The street was recently repaved in November and all the town did was just throw some topsoil behind the curb. It looked terrible so rather than waiting for my husband (or the town), I decided to take action. I pulled out the shovel and rake and managed to get some help from the boys. The boys were great with the wheelbarrow. The extra top soil is being used to fill in the area of the mini lake that develops when snow melts.

So after all this physical labor, it was time to be kind to myself. I treated myself to a soothing Honey and Milk foot soak.

Honey and milk foot soak

Milk and Honey Foot Soak

Ingredients:

o 3 Tablespoons honey

o 1 Cup whole milk

o 6 Drops of sweet almond oil

Fill Footbath with hot water. Add honey and mix. Add milk and almond oil. Soak feet for fifteen minutes. Pat dry.

Friday, March 24, 2006

 

March Buds

Though a dreary day, these buds must push through. The swollen buds have received signals that it is time to open. They start to open with no regard for snow storms, hard frosts, or ice that may be yet to come.

March buds

It is like that in life too. Sometimes we must push forward also, taking risk. We know that there is risk, the plants and trees do not. Is ignorance truly bliss?

Thursday, March 23, 2006

 

Getting Technical

We set things up and then get comfortable with them. Often there are things we would like to change, but due to time or lack of knowledge, we leave things as they are.

I decided to play with my blog a bit today. Right now I'm testing the results. More adjustments have to be made inregard to formatting the template, but that can wait until I have more downtime.

For now budgetary issues are more pressing. Like how to come up with the tax money for the IRS and State.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

 
College stuff

Well it’s that time again when information is due for financial aid. Mind you it would have been easier to attend to this when he was home. But nooooooo! He waits until he gets back. Oh well, that’s life and that’s him.

His roommate spent just under three days in the ICU. There is another surgery scheduled for today on his shoulder. His left arm is in a cast and he is badly bruised. Another surgery needs to be done on his knee. With all this going on he still plans on going back and finishing the semester.

I was told that the pictures of his car are horrific and it is a miracle that anyone survived. You can barely tell that the car was a red wagon.

What impressed me is the compassion that my son is showing. From campus he drove three hours, one way, just to visit his roommate in the hospital. He is talking about moving a bed downstairs and helping his roommate around when he gets back to campus. This is when your heart feels full.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

 
Spring has sprung

While out running errands I was greeted by these lovely gems.

3/21/06 purple and white crocus

It is a welcome sight to see the burst of color break through the brown.

3/21/06 purple crocus

Monday, March 20, 2006

 
Vernal Equinox

Spring is finally here. Someone please let Mother Nature in on this. The brisk breezy temperature requires a warm coat. Even the bulbs seem reluctant to break through the earth.

Spring pushes through

Somewhere in my journey on the web, I read about Spring is a time for renewal. Spring cleaning is to get rid of the old and negative to make way for the new and the positive.

So it appears we have two opportunities to begin anew; Spring and the New Year. But in reality, the opportunity to begin anew is present every moment.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

 
Spring Break

As it turned out my eldest did not leave early and it is still snowing in the Adirondacks. It is a long drive and I asked him to call me when he got there. His roommate was still in the ICU, so it would be impossible to see him. He is expected to make a full recovery, however the during the knee surgery they could not totally repair the damage. There is only has 6 weeks left of this semester.

After my son left this afternoon, I took the time to pamper myself. I painted my toes, did a face mask, etc. It was wonderful to take a break and have some time for me. Tomorrow it is back to the daily grind, but my spirit has been renewed.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

 
Maps

“I’m going to get the oil changed.”
“Know where you are going?”
“Yes I looked on Google maps”
“Okay, bye.”

Even with maps on Google, I get a call for directions.
“I cannot find this place”
“Give me a sec, Where are you?”

As I bring up the map, I sense the frustration in his voice. I give him the route numbers and directions from where he is.
He returns home, saying that he could not find the place, so I show him the map.
“That’s where I was when I called you.”
“You told me that you were in Bristol, that’s not Bristol.”
He insinuated that my directions were off. I suggested that his sense of direction was off.

So today I take his car and find the place. I make a point of knowing where I am going and what route will be taken using Google maps. Granted the signage was not what I would have expected, but I did find the place and did not get lost. However I acknowledged that the establishment only had a big Goodyear sign out front, not their name.

“Crap, I drove past that place.”

PI5Send1.Jpg

Friday, March 17, 2006

 
Finally a Break

The meeting with the attorney went about as I had expected. S. was a bit shy, but otherwise just as charming as usual.

We had a good laugh as S. repeated answered “No” to all questions posed to him, even when it was not a yes or no question. Thankfully the attorney was accustomed to young children.

I’m looking forward to taking a break this weekend and spending time with my eldest son. Unfortunately he will be returning earlier that expected because he is going to stop by the hospital to visit his roommate. There was an accident early this morning. On his way back to the University, a driver fell asleep and crossed the center line and hit him head on. Rescuers used the Jaws of Life to get him out, and then he was airlifted out of the Adirondacks.

My son says that he does not want to drive through the mountains at night anymore. I do not blame him.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

 
Cleaning Continues

The cleaning is coming along. I just wish I had more time. There always seems to be something else to do. It seems to be a never ending chore. How is it that there is no end?

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

 
Fanatasies

Oh how I hate spring cleaning. While I do like the results and changes that are taking place, I wonder how it is that some people actually like to clean. Continuing on with this project, sometimes I wish that the fantasies I saw as a child would come true. Right now I feel more like Cinderella, but where is my fairy godmother. No, I am not looking for my Prince Charming. What I am looking for is found on Bewitched. If only I could be like Samantha and just twitch my nose and my home would be clean.

Alas, there will not be a fairy godmother waving her magic wand or any other kind of magic to brighten my life and rescue me from this arduous chore.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

 
Ok, So Shoot Me

You would think that after 25 years of marriage, I would know what works. Today’s efforts were more successful and less frustrating. Perhaps that was due to the fact that I did not have other commitments and I gave my husband specific tasks, duh! Even the fact that the vacuum died, did not get me flustered. The up side is one room is finished.

My muscles are rebelling today, so more wall washing was postponed until tomorrow. It takes forever to wash the walls because of the many breaks so I do not stress my back. As long as I do not do anything stupid, my back should be okay.

Monday, March 13, 2006

 
Early Spring Cleaning

After a full day of stretching while washing walls, I continued stretching while in the pool. It is very rewarding to have a sense of accomplishment. Progress is being made.

This morning was a tad frustrating. Apparently I do not have much in the way of patience and this morning my husband and I did not work well together. Some tasks require full attention in order to make progress. I had deadlines and was focused. When he was helping me, instead of staying focused with the task at hand, he was getting me bogged down with petty stuff that could be dealt with later. It was
distracting and exasperating to keep reminding him what our main task was.

Thankfully I had an appointment so I had to leave. When I returned it was back to work, this time without help. I accomplished what I had planned for today.

Setting spring cleaning to be done for this Friday is a bit ambitious, but I guess I like the pressure.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

 
Contradictions?

With so many changes going on, sometimes it is difficult to keep up. (Apparently it is also difficult to sleep.) There are changes that have to be made. Comfort comes with the familiar, yet sometimes we get bored with the familiar.

Changes for me:
Hormones
Semi-retired husband
Two adult children instead of one
Youngest is now driving


Resisting the inevitable is futile, but still I cling to the old. Yes, it is time to move on; however my many of past visions have not been fulfilled. Being dependant on others to assist with my dreams has been a great source of disappointment. Perhaps I have been too passive, trying not to be a shrew. This has resulted in harboring resentment and anger. Ah, the stress.

There are numerous things that I do on my own. The success is intoxicating, inspiring me to move forward, generating new visions and goals.

Perhaps it is the lack of a shared vision. I am willing to alter my plans, anything to move forward. It is the lack of progress that infuriates me the most.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

 
Mud Season

Last night was very warm. Temperatures hovered in the low sixties and upper fifties. I was enjoying the fresh air with the windows still being open late in the evening. A call came just before 10 p.m. He would be home in about 40 minutes.
“Ok, love you.”
“See you soon”

Darn, I forgot to warn him about mud season. Hopefully he will just park in the driveway.
I heard splashing as he drove with great enthusiasm into the yard. I ran out telling him that he needed to move his car to the driveway or his car would sink. Standing in the mud, he moved and heard the water beneath his feet, and agreed to move his car. Slowly his car moved in reverse, then wheels started to spin.

This is the scene I awoke to this morning....

mud season

Needless to say there will be some yard work done today.

Friday, March 10, 2006

 
Changes

It feels good not to drive the 650 mile roundtrip to get my precious first born. It made for a very long day. Now I just sit home and await his return for Spring break. Soon this will no longer be his home. My nest is beginning to empty.

The good news is that after spending all those years taking care of my family, I’m beginning to get a life again. This is good because my husband is now semi-retired.

Having the children gone and having more time to spend with my husband is quite a change. You tend to find the things that you were able to let go of, now have become irritating. It’s like a pair of ill fitting shoes; it is fine if you just wear them for a short period of time, but if you wear them all day walking around the city you will end up with blisters.

Changes, adjustments must be made. The old is gone. The new is now and in the present which is what must be dealt with and think of the future.

Where do you want to go? Where do you want to be?

Thursday, March 09, 2006

 
Recharging

The one time I take out my camera and the batteries are dead. So are the back-up batteries, which should have replaced with charged ones. Digital cameras seem to suck the life right out of the battery very quickly. I use the view finder, not the screen when I take pictures, otherwise the batteries would go dead quicker. Thankfully I use rechargeable batteries; otherwise all those dead batteries would be in the trash.

Now that the batteries are fully charged, my current projects need my attention, so taking pictures are put on the back burner. I miss seeing the sights.

There are times like this, when I should recharge my own batteries. I have been trying on a daily small scale but it appears that I need something more. Perhaps it is because I am doing something that I do not really enjoy, it seems to suck the life out of me. Who does enjoy cleaning and purging? However I do enjoy the results. Perhaps I just need a change in my mindset.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

 
Spring is nearing

It is with great anticipation that I await the arrival of mud season. Though I hate the mud, it signals a change. So I am getting things planned for the up coming season and am still working on the purging in my home.

I am looking forward to the newness of the season, sprouting leaves and flowers on the trees, and flowers poking through the ground. The fragrances will replace the crisp winter air.

It is time for winter to take leave. The naked branches need some color. Spring arrives March 20th. I cannot wait for the fresh start of the plants.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

 
In loco parentis

This Latin phrase means to act in place of a parent or as a parent. Parents can search their child’s belongings without a warrant and Public schools do the same everyday.

Apparently the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution does not apply to children. Also, students are considered guilty until proven innocent. Escorted out of your classroom and not being told why. Being told that your backpack is going to be searched. Your locker and coat are also searched. Then the school nurse shows up and sees that an upset and confused student. She is the one who finally tells you why you are in the security office, as she takes your blood pressure. The blood pressure is high, but due to the stress of the situation the results were considered inconclusive. Yes, there was a search… but there was nothing there to be seized.

Granted schools need to be kept safe, but to remove students from a classroom when they are not being disruptive? Not telling them why they are being removed, interrupting their education, needless to say I am more than annoyed. He had not broken any rules.

He now feels that school has created a state of marshal law, where the student’s rights are overlooked. This is an abysmal environment to gain an education; however is it promoting imaginative thinking. “Why did I get hauled out of the middle of class?” “What did I do wrong?” “What’s going on?”

Yes, get the critical thinking into gear. Do research on student rights, find out about In loco parentis and have lengthy discussion with mother about Fourth Amendment. He is dismayed to find that out that he does not have much in the way of rights. He is consoled by the fact that he is almost done with high school.

Monday, March 06, 2006

 
After 26 years...

... in the same home, illness and raising three boys, there has been quite an accumulation of clutter. My current campaign is to purge as much as I can. I need some clearing. Today was productive two full paper grocery bags and two full shredders. This stuff is now banished from my home forever. My efforts to curb the influx stuff and paper are paying off also.

I am trying to empty my nest in more than one way. Granted my eldest will be on break soon and will bring home things he does not need at school anymore. Hopefully this is just a temporary situation. My mindset is against incoming things.

Tomorrow, I’ll be back to the long and arduous process of purging.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

 
Little straws

Those little petty annoyances seem to be the cause of breakdowns. When in reality it is just the last in a series. While I did not have a breakdown, I was plenty annoyed.

Maybe it would help if I stood up and yelled: 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!'

These stresses take their toll, I see it in my face and feel it in my body. Perhaps if I had continued with the margaritas over the weekend it would have helped. ;-)

Saturday, March 04, 2006

 
Strawberry Margaritas…

… and a nice soothing facial eases the tension that permeated this week. I did not realize all the tension that was in my body and mind. My job is getting closer to being done. The baby is driving. The precious first born is almost done with college.

You would think now that they are older that I would be less concerned. Soon the nest will be empty; perhaps that is why I’m fretting so much.

Time to relax.

Friday, March 03, 2006

 
Road Conditions

Wet. Icy. Snowy.
Traffic conditions – Light.
Weather conditions – clear.

Last night the plows were out at 11 p.m. after the snow storm of 6 inches. I was very concerned about the morning road conditions since my youngest was going for his driving test.

He drove to the test. The interstate was clear but wet. The highways were wet and slushy in spots. The side roads were snowy, slushy and icy. The sun shone brightly, reflecting off the freshly fallen snow.

There were many mothers and sons going though the same thing we were. I wondered where the fathers are.
I was nervous enough for the both of us during our two hour visit to the Department of Motor Vehicles. He was calm and collected and passed the written test. “Did you know that a can of beer has the same alcohol content as a shot of vodka?” (A sixteen year old needs to know this?) We got to see the checklist the inspector uses for the road test. We laughed about the Attitude/Emotions - “No road rage or giving someone the finger.” Then he was off for the road test, impatiently I awaited his return. The road conditions had improved slightly, but I was still worried. I paced for what seemed like an eternity.


Finally he returns with a smile on his face.


Thursday, March 02, 2006

 
Fine examples

Years ago, it was Clinton and the blue dress. Now it is the blame game about Katrina. At least the government has provided me with ample opportunity to discuss morals and accountability and what not to do with my sons. Serving the public is a privilege; some public officials seem to forget that.

Surely we Americans must look foolish to the rest of the world. In addition, there are foreigners that can speak English better than our President.

Recently the former governor of Connecticut was released from federal prison and is now wearing a lovely ankle bracelet and is under house arrest. He is serving his sentence for the corruption charge, but his “good” name is no more.

Oh the lessons to be learned from our public officials. Yes there are good public officials, but it is the notorious that get the headlines. The media tends to focus on bad news, as it is more dramatic. Drama gets better ratings.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

 
Finally...

Some flowers that Mizti will not eat. This springy looking pot is cheering everyone up with those bright colors. It is wonderful not to see half eaten leaves and blooms.

potted gerbera

I hope this brightens your day!

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