Pages

Monday, August 3, 2015

Hot. It's Hot. It's Really Hot.

Well, there you have it. No shocker; it's August. But it's hot out there.

Baboos are at L3g0 Camp (yes, it's a thing) every morning this week, so that should help my mood considerably.

What are the whines from you, pixies? Spill the beans. And send some ice cubes.

48 comments:

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Is it a L3g0 robot camp, or a regular camp? That's the kind of robot camp that Mr. Q just ran. Fun!

AW: great improvements on the concussion front.

W: but I still get dizzy by the end of the day, if I overdo it, which I always do. And I made a broom fall and hit me in the forehead yesterday. And E screamed like a banshee for a total of two hours yesterday (one hour in lieu of naptime, and one hour while we tried to get her ready for bed).

AW: thankful for upstairs cousin. I was taking a break and letting Mr. Q deal with the little screamer, and I texted UC to say "Sorry about all the screaming tonight!" And she asked if I needed anything, and I had the idea that maybe if there was three of us, we'd finally be able to get E into her pyjamas. (My suspicion was right: E was so tired that she didn't know how to calm herself down until she was tucked into her bed with the lights out. Asleep right away.)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh, the other good part of yesterday was that, after E was asleep, my parents came over so that Mr. Q and I could go to a friend's 40th birthday for a little while. And even though E woke back up and cried for a while, my mom was able to go and calm her down. Without E freaking out that we weren't there, and without my parents calling us for backup. That's a big deal for me.

esperanza said...

The little kids are doing L3g0 "pre-engineering." I think there are a couple of choices for the older kids, including a solar l3g0 class, which sounds really fun. Mr E's church is hosting it. There are not many camps around here targeted to the non-athletes, so we decided it was worth doing. It's super easy from the sponsors end--provide space and tables and pay for lodging for the teachers.

Glad you're on the mend QWP. And sorry about the sleep woes.

Anonymous said...

QWP-- glad you are healing!
and, esperanza, that camp sounds fun (for them, and you!).

W: I have stuff to do for an online course I am taking. And I don't wanna.
W: And, once I finish that, I have to start thinking about next year's lessons already. I don't wanna.
W: Please make the back to school commercials stop. I might cry. We didn't get done til the end of June, people. It's been slightly over 5 weeks. Not ready to go back yet.
W: 4 weeks from today I go back
AW: still have 4 weeks!
And, Neighbor Boy loved his science camp last week. But now has a cold. But still, it's all good.
Neighbor Girl is at painting camp.

W: And now I must stop procrastinating. I don't wanna.

--Neighbor Lady

kathy a. said...

Yay for L3g0 camp! Boo on hot hot hot.

QWP, glad the concussion is improving -- and that you got to go out!

NL, not enough summer! And it is also weird that the start/end dates of various schools can be so wildly different that the "back to school" pushes begin shortly after some people just started summer. But glad the camps are working out.

esperanza said...

Sorry about the "don't wanna" NL. I saw pictures of kids starting school today, which seems ridiculously early, even to someone who really really really is ready for her kids to go back to school.

esperanza said...

Did I already mention that I'm really really really ready for the Baboos to go back to school?

kathy a. said...

One of the reasons we love our town is that the city rec department offers a ton of decently priced summer camps, and school break camps. Not that my own kids have needed that in a while, but -- the whole "takes a village" thought makes a lot of sense.

esperanza said...

You would think L3g0 camp for 3 hours a day would have helped my attitude a bit. Apparently not.

kathy a. said...

Three hours a day doesn't seem like quite the ticket... Even though you aren't driving 3 hours a day this week... Are there parents of similarly aged kids who might be willing to do occasional trade-offs? Four kids sounds worse than 2, but they tend to all amuse one another, and the other kids tend to be more polite with non-parents (modeling good behavior). Just an idea, but that worked for us on a number of occasions.

KLee said...

Teachers in my city went back to work today. I was hoping that I would be employed elsewhere by now, but it didn't work out, so I'm back at school. I got moved to work with a new teacher (new to our area, but a veteran teacher) and I'm going to think of it as a chance to start fresh, a new year, and a chance to get it right.

Mom is still in the hospital. She was supposed to be moved to the rehab hospital yesterday, but her platelets were too low, so they kept her another day. I hoping that she goes tomorrow. I am praying that she is on the mend. She has a new Oncologist, who we hope is on the case to solve what her problem is. She is more than ready to be on the road to recovery.

That's pretty much all I have to report. Hope all the Pixies are well.

kathy a. said...

KLee, sounds like it will be a fresh start with a new teacher and new kids.

Good your mom has been safely improving, and hope she gets to move along tomorrow. xoxo

Jenevieve said...



Hello, friends! A tiny whine today:
Had an amazing day today with my family and some of my eldest's BFFs. All in all, great!

But: it is my bday on Weds. I have no qualms about aging, but I am currently experiencing pimples, wrinkles, and a yeast infection, all for the first time. Is aging always this crappy? :)

Also, the grandmother of H'a BFFs is a flaky, argumentative, sulky person who makes planning anything with them realllly frustrating.

Also, I'll be working 16-18 hours on my birthday. Sigh.

That is all!

esperanza said...

KLee, I'll be optimistic about both the new school year and your mom's progress. Sounds like things are moving in the right direction.

Jenevieve! Good to see you over here! Happy Birthday tomorrow! Sorry about the aging symptoms and the grumpy grandma and especially the long shift on your birthday.

W: Being a mature grownup, I decided to put my grumpy, tired self to bed at 8:30 pm last night (side note: Mini was still awake). I slept crappily until midnight, then quite well from midnight till 5 am. 5 am being when Sweet woke me up because she was wheezing. Three Albuterol treatments later, it's down to tolerable levels, and I think she can go to L3g0 camp, with a word to the director to call me if needed. In case you're not noticing, 5 am is a wee bit early to get up, when you're trying to catch up on sleep. Sigh.

Anonymous said...

Oh, esperanza, ugh.
Glad the treatments helped and she was able to go to camp.

KLee, glad you have a new work arrangement, at least. Hoping you have a much better year this year! Sounds like a fresh start is just what was needed! Also, yay on the new oncologist. Hoping a fresh start is helpful there too, and your mom is out of the hospital soon.

--Neighbor Lady

kathy a. said...

Hi, Jenevieve! Happy birthday! Sounds like such a wonderful time with the kids (if not the grandma).

Poor Sweet. Poor Esperanza.

W: Ants, return of.

Knocking wood: Daughter has shaky hands, and lately they have felt a little numb. Doc says probably carpel tunnel; she got splints to use at night; but also they did blood work to see if it is a thyroid problem.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Jenevieve!!
--Neighbor Lady

esperanza said...

A well-oxygenated (ruby red lips), energetic Sweet greeted me after L3g0 camp. Good. But puzzling. I guess we'll see what the afternoon and evening bring.

esperanza said...

In case you need a funny: I asked the Baboos what they built at L3g0 Camp today. Answer: "a grocery store machine." Hmm. OK. We ran into one of their fellow campers, who informed me that he had built a conveyer belt. I think I now know what a "grocery store machine" is. :)

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Happy birthday, Jeni! I hope you manage to have a happy birthday, in spite of the ridiculously long shift and the yeast infection et al.

KLee, I'm relieved to hear that your mom has a new oncologist. I'm sorry that no other work has come up before the school year started, but I really hope that the new teacher and students help to make things better.

Kathy a: carpal tunnel is bad enough, and I hope that nothing else shows up in the tests.

Esperanza: that "grocery store machine" story is adorable.

I'm at the "almost better but impatient that it's still not perfect" stage of concussion recovery.

Anonymous said...

AW: Done with online course (assuming no revisions needed to my latest submissions)!!!!! Yay!!!!!!
And, done with huge licensing test I spent the first half of summer studying for!

Now I can get on with prepping for next school year. Though, I might take a few minutes to sit outside and read a book first!

:) Neighbor Lady

esperanza said...

Yay for finishing online courses, NL! And YES, sit down and read a book. (I can't bring myself to say go outside and read a book because it is horribly hot here for the 1000th day in a row).

W: 3:39 AM. That's when Mini woke up this morning. It turns out she's even worse at putting herself back to sleep than she is going to sleep in the first place. She's been awake since then. I took a restless nap during L3g0 camp. 3:39 AM. In no one's world is that "morning."

kathy a. said...

Was writing congrats to NL this morning, and my internet went out. So the phone tech people said my modem went out, and I had to go trade it for a new one, so I did -- and that one doesn't work either, it is something on the street. And they won't be sending a tech until MONDAY. Gaaahhhh.

Uck, Esperanza.

esperanza said...

oh, no internet till Monday sounds terrible!

kathy a. said...

I lasted about 7 hours, and am back at the supermarket deli with wifi, eating bad chinese food. Am going to cave on the smartphone, because I can't do this.

kathy a. said...

Came home, went to open a window in the little-used room where the modem lives, and all the modem lights were on. Mystery!

esperanza said...

No whining pixies today?

Kathy, did the internet quit again?

W: tomorrow is the last day of L3g0 camp. They have really enjoyed it, and 3 hours, though insufficient, has been a nice break.

W: Daddy leaves town Saturday-Wednesday. He's going to accompany his brother to St@nford for medical tests. He (the brother) has an evil mixture of pituitary tumor (definitely), ALS symptoms (maybe), and mental illness (oh yes, most definitely). Hoping they can come up with a conclusive diagnosis. Baboo whining will commence as soon as we tell them he's going on a trip.

kathy a. said...

Internet is on!

((( Esperanza ))) Oh, man. I am so sorry about your brother in law's mix of stuff. That is a long stretch without Daddy, but it is really good he is going along to tell the parts his brother won't or can't. xoxoxo

Liz Miller said...

(((Esperanza)))
Happy birthday, Jenevieve, one day late!!

W: the guy who's putting together things for us to mail out in the next few days wanted me to send him pix of me at ages 10, 16, and 26. I sent him some and he asked for something different. Specifically, he asked for class pictures from 5th grade.

Well, my elementary school was particularly hippy, so we didn't have such things. Except...

AW: I found pictures of me IN MY FIFTH GRADE CLASS ROOM. With my classmates!

They were used for advertising that year, or something.

Also AW: while looking for aforesaid pix, I found one I'd utterly forgotten about of me at work at 26. Which is absolutely perfect for what he wants.

YAY!

kathy a. said...

What with one thing and another -- too many kids in our family, most of my dad's photos going missing, my photos being arranged in approximately 35 different places -- fat chance I could come up with a 5th grade photo! Good work, Liz. Go go go!

Liz Miller said...

It wasn't in any of the albums. I had to go digging through a box of school papers my mom sent me from when I applied to go to GMU in 2006, with my HS diploma and my SAT scores.

esperanza said...

W: Outdoor wedding. 6 pm. August. Texas. So much sweating, by everyone. So. Much. Sweat.

KLee said...

First week back to work went fairly well. I like my new teacher -- seems like it will be a good match for me, and we think the same on a lot of issues.

Not very happy with my admins -- we got a nasty "fun facts" sheet in our staff mailboxes that was basically a list of all the things we can't do, and cell phone use was a big one. We are not supposed to use our personal cells to call parents, and they are to remain on silent or vibrate and "not visible to students. I ask for permission to keep mine on while my Mother's in the hospital, and was told no. Lovely.

kathy a. said...

Esperanza, feeling the sweat and love all the way out here. Hoping there is copious ice on hand for the reception. Do you need some folding hand-fans for such occasions, because the local Japanese variety store has some pretty ones.

Yay about the good teacher, KLee! Um, that sounds heavy-handed about calls while your mom is in the hospital. (But vibrate might work OK.)

Liz, your mom's amazing!

Last night, the entire cat contingent of 3 was on the bed with me. And the super-shy one who won't let anyone touch her? She touched my toes with her shy little nose and a gentle paw. Progress, baby!

esperanza said...

The wedding programs were fans (of the type I call "funeral home fans" but that may be regional), which moved the hot air around. Paper parasols were provided for the sunny section. Also little bottles of cold water. All nice, but still sweaty.

kathy a. said...

Oh, I've heard of and seen funeral home fans! Well, it's something, but I bet everyone went home to a cool shower.

esperanza said...

KLee, the "we're not willing to bend a rule even for a very good reason" is tiring, to say the least. Hugs.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

KLee, that rule about cell phone use is ridiculous. (And it would upset Mr. Q so much! Not only has he kept his phone out during an emergency a lot of times, but he also uses his phone as a tiny computer, hooking it up to the projector, and using apps on it for things his robotics stuff.)

Esperanza, do you mean that people were using the programs as fans, or were the programs printed on fans?

AW: even though my home is still messy, my laundry is entirely folded, and my kitchen is as clean as I can get it. I have to commemorate those rare occasions when it happens.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I asked Mr. Q what he would do if his school implemented that cell policy, and he said, "I'd give the hospital the school number and have them call me there." And I said, "This seems like admin that would be also grumpy about personal calls, even for emergencies," and he said, "Hm."

esperanza said...

The programs were printed on fans. Very untraditionally worded, though all the information was there. I will keep my opinion of the sermon to myself, though Mr E walked around for the rest of the night pretending he was the "head" of our family. The sermon's major positive feature was that it was short, so not too much extra sweating.

kathy a. said...

Well, Esperanza. Interesting sermon review. Sending ice and ice cream and good sleepytime vibes and -- dunno, sedatives? xoxo

Liz Miller said...

Large mosquito or other bug bite on my left shoulder.
Large mosquito or other bug bite just under my c-section scar.

ITCHY!!! ITCHY ITCHY ITCHY!!!

kathy a. said...

Aaacckkk! Hate skeeters. What helped when I lived in the South and got bitten all the time was bactine, which probably nobody thinks of anymore, but it has a topical painkiller plus is antibacterial. (And it doesn't show, unlike the ocean of calamine lotion, which is also really soothing but makes you look like you have the plague or something.)

kathy a. said...

Liz, hope the campaigning is going well!

KLee, hope your mom is gaining her strength back.

Whinety whine whine: This newish person in the support group for my SIL's brain condition continues to be a self-absorbed, self-righteous PITA. She makes uninformed pronouncements about all manner of things, positing her opinions as facts. Also, in her world the only caregivers who count are the poor wives whose dreams have been shattered (the group also contains husbands, parents, children, siblings, in-laws, and friends). Annoying.As.Heck.

esperanza said...

Oh brother. That is PITA material for sure.

Anonymous said...

sheesh! Cluestick posse on the way!

--NL

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Nope nope nope. A cluesticking is in order! Such an unhelpful attitude to have in a support community.

Liz: my face is frozen in horror. That is not a good placement for a mosquito bite.

W: Mr. Q upgraded his computer to a new (so-new-he's-sort-of-beta-testing-it) operating system, and now nothing works properly. He's going to be making a frustrated call to M1cr0s0ft tomorrow, and we're done fighting the computer for the night. The frustrating thing is that he can't access any of his work files until it's fixed. (Okay, it's not impossible. He could go work at the school. Or he could probably sync everything on my computer. But it's still annoying!)
AW: E wouldn't nap today, and so we went downtown to take part in the free daytime programming at the Folk Festival. It was great. It turned out that one of my favorite singers (who did an expensive evening concert, for which we did not get tickets) did a daytime free concert with a bunch of other female performers, and I got to see some of it, and then E got to do silly interpretive dance with kids.

esperanza said...

No Awards Show this week, Pixies. You are all deserving of the most fabulous prizes though!