As summer winds down, guess things have been fairly busy all around.
Took a break after the last albatross, and have decided what to do next. Although breaks are not very usual for me, I really needed this one. Daughter is off to her new job today.
Hope everyone's heads are healing from the recent spate of bonks! Miranda, fingers crossed about the visit from your dad. Sue, hope you have been enjoying your vacation.
What's new?
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Whatever Works
About Wednesday Whining
Wednesday Whining is a weekly blog with rotating hosts. Whines and Anti-Whines, both big and small, are welcome! Our purposes are mutual support and sharing a few laughs along the way.
The Wednesday Whining Community is diverse, and strives to be safe, welcoming, and supportive. To this end, comments that are personally abusive or otherwise disparaging [regarding race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation] will be deleted by moderators, along with spam and self-promotion.
The Wednesday Whining Community is diverse, and strives to be safe, welcoming, and supportive. To this end, comments that are personally abusive or otherwise disparaging [regarding race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation] will be deleted by moderators, along with spam and self-promotion.
FAQ
Q: When does Wednesday Whining appear?
A: The Whiner's Ball commences no later than Tuesday, and ends when Awards are given (usually Thursday in theory, but definitely before Monday).
Q: Awards? Really?
A: Yes, really. Traditional awards include Style [music, poetry, etc.], Old Skool [piddly little whines], and Elevated Risk of Mullet [funniest line in a whine], but other hand-crafted awards may be granted at the host's discretion, and nominations from commenters are encouraged.
Q: Can I whine about someone who just does not "get it"?
A: The Cluestick Posse is on hand for persons in need.
Q: Is there a mascot?
A: Ralph is the mascot.
Q: Are there other traditions I should know about?
A: The passing of virtual refreshments is appreciated.
Q: How did this all get started anyhow?
A: Phantom Scribbler was our muse and host for two years.
Q: What was the first prize ever awarded?
A: The Playdough Violin
A: The Whiner's Ball commences no later than Tuesday, and ends when Awards are given (usually Thursday in theory, but definitely before Monday).
Q: Awards? Really?
A: Yes, really. Traditional awards include Style [music, poetry, etc.], Old Skool [piddly little whines], and Elevated Risk of Mullet [funniest line in a whine], but other hand-crafted awards may be granted at the host's discretion, and nominations from commenters are encouraged.
Q: Can I whine about someone who just does not "get it"?
A: The Cluestick Posse is on hand for persons in need.
Q: Is there a mascot?
A: Ralph is the mascot.
Q: Are there other traditions I should know about?
A: The passing of virtual refreshments is appreciated.
Q: How did this all get started anyhow?
A: Phantom Scribbler was our muse and host for two years.
Q: What was the first prize ever awarded?
A: The Playdough Violin
61 comments:
AW: Baboos both slept well and got ready early this morning
W: About 3 minutes before we had to be outside for the bus, Sweet lost it and couldn't stop screaming.
W: So I put Mini on the bus, and then had to go back across the street for a screaming Sweet, escort her across the street and to her seat on the bus.
W: this did not help the guilt I was already feeling for making them take the bus on the first day. There are lots of good, rational, logical reasons for doing so, but that guilt comes from a different place entirely.
AW: Bus driver is very nice. I'll have to get his name this afternoon.
AW: As I suspected, by the time they arrived at school, she was much better. The Special Ed coordinator met them at the bus, took a picture (needless to say, you won't be seeing cute "first day of school" pictures of our Baboos on the book of faces today), and sent it to me. She then escorted both of them to their classrooms and helped Sweet get settled. She checked on her later and reported that she's doing fine.
AW: Five errands. No wait, six. And still time to sit and do nothing if I want to.
I'm glad that Sweet got to school and that it got better for her. Hugs for both Sweet and her mama today. (And cheering for all that time you have on your hands!)
W: I'm icing my neck and back, as a migraine-prevention method. My bad shoulder is inflamed after all this heavy work we've been doing, and now today I've noticed ringing in my ears, which frequently precedes a migraine.
AW: my phone app tells me I've now gone seven weeks migraine-free, and the ice pack is helping me lengthen that time. And we get a break from heavy work now! The backyard is finished for this year.
W: Mr. Q goes back to school in one week. I don't know if I'm ready. (E had a ridiculous meltdown this morning and Mr. Q came and rescued me, and I kept thinking, "What will I do after this week?")
((( Esperanza ))) I think the overall is -- things went OK, if not pretty well. Yes, you had good reasons to get them on the bus and let things unfold. And YES, Sweet is doing better despite the early meltdown. xoxo
QWP, good on the prevention! And that the heavy work is done. You'll be good when Mr. Q goes back to school, even though there will be bumps in getting the new routine down. xoxo
W: I yelled at a scam caller ("windows microsoft support") this morning. AW: I don't regret it.
(((Esperanza))) Those mornings suck.
(((QWP))) I hope your preventative measures work.
Kathy, I'm pretty sure I've yelled at that same variety of scammer.
W: Mr. Q went to school for the afternoon, and I went to lay down to deal with this headache. It was getting better and then I went to check on E (who was quietly colouring in the living room), and she had peed and pooped everywhere, and hadn't told me. The tension from that made my head WAY worse and I was dealing with nausea while cleaning up the kid. I told Mr. Q to keep working, but that I'd call him if things got worse. And then, an hour and a half later, she peed inside her secret hiding spot in the wall in the basement. (She told me that time.) That's when I called Mr. Q to come home an hour earlier than planned.
QWP, yuck. I forget if you have preschool plans? Because the potty stuff honestly goes better with peer pressure. (Or, peer role models.) And yeah, my head is tensing up just hearing about this.
I suspect there's a connection between the back-to-school transition (including her anxieties about starting preschool, and how she'll have to be independent), and her "I wish I was a baby" play today, and her meltdowns the past two mornings when it was time to get out of her sleeper and nighttime pullup, and her "I don't want to stop what I'm doing and go to the bathroom" stubbornness. She also seems to be a bit anxious about my laying down with a headache.
Oh, hugs. She really will be OK, fine, great! Learning to grapple with transitions is a tiny bit rocky, but she will figure out that she can do it. And, preschool is way fun.
I still have an image in my mind of one day, I must have been 3, when my classmate and I bit our graham crackers into just the same castle shape! I dunno why that has stuck with me -- we didn't plan it, but it just seemed wonderful. And of course we had to be friends after that.
Ugh, QWP! Hope today is better!
Transitions are hard, for grown-ups and kids. I am not looking forward to going back to school, myself, and can feel my tension mounting. But, new routines will eventually get sorted out, and that will be the new normal. It will all work.
W: That said, I am still sort of jet-lagged from our trip to Santa Fe recently (two hours behind our time zone). So, I am staying up way late, and have the luxury to sleep in. I am going to be in so much trouble in a week when I have to get up at 5:30 am. Am trying to slowly switch over, but ugh, I also hate to let go of the summer and have those early wakeups before I need to.
Ah, summer, where have you gone?!?!?!? But, esperanza, yay for you for errand time!
:)Neighbor Lady
AW: Happy Baboos getting on the bus today. Whew. Also two other girls at the bus stop--one is in Mini's class, so I'd say that's hopeful for neighborhood friendships.
W: NL got to go to Santa Fe, and I didn't. Love NM and haven't been in a long time.
W: Actually, I haven't been anywhere that *I* really wanted to go for a long time. Hmph.
NL -- Hope you had a wonderful time on the trip! And that the adjustment next week is smooth.
Yay about the bus, Esperanza!
It was so beautiful there! We were with part of husband's family-- his uncle and aunt live there, and his mom was out visiting too. What a beautiful state!!!
--NL
I'm so glad that you had a beautiful trip to Santa Fe, NL! And that the Baboos got onto the bus happily today, esperanza!
NL, we understand the dread regarding the transition back to the school schedule. We've been sleeping into 8am lately: even Mr. Q, who usually can't sleep past 6! And even the early-rising E! But the teachers go back next week, and so the school year schedule begins in a few days. (The preschoolers don't start until Sept 12th, but she starts at 8:45, which will be challenging!)
W: there was a severe smokey haze over our city yesterday, from wildfires south of the border. The sky is clear today, but I can still smell smoke, and am still dizzy from the smoke. Blah.
Blech on smoke dizziness!
Glad the Baboos had a better start today!
W: We have a dropped ceiling covering some plumbing in our garage, and one side of the drop continues to get slightly damp.... but when we opened up the ceiling, it was dry inside. Then, sealed it back up (our handyman, not us, as we are not handy), with a vent, and then damp again. So, not sure if we need a plumber, or to just watch it, or what. But not clear where the dampness is coming from! Arg! Is it a slow leak? from a toilet? a shower? a tub? condensation? arg! And, we are in the boat of anyone who comes needs to do it this week while I have not started back to school yet!
also, it is Neighbor Guy's birthday, and I don't think this news is a very good birthday present
--Neighbor Lady
W: to clarify, a plumber opened up the ceiling on an earlier visit about this when the plaster was flaking off the ceiling, and finding it dry inside, decided it was an old problem. Now that it has beeen closed back up.... seems not to be the case.
--NL
NL: that's a thing that happened to my parents' house, too. I think it was some kind of air flow/condensation issue? It's good news that it's dry inside the ceiling.
Condensation sounds possible. I assume the garage doesn't have AC, so the air is likely more humid than in the house, and hotter, with less air flow. If that portion of the ceiling is cooler than the surrounding air, water from the air could condense there. Not sure what to do about that, but a contractor might be a better choice than a plumber -- maybe they could recommend materials that wouldn't be damaged by moisture?
QWP, yuck about the smoke. Not liking all the wildfires this season.
AW/W? Took the plunge, and asked for another albatross. My down time ended up more absorbed in medical stuff than anticipated. Have not made a huge amount of progress on clearing the clutter around here, but have had a nice rest and am pretty bored.
AW: Not sure if I mentioned this -- we're going to Paris and Amsterdam in a couple weeks! Very excited; never been to Europe. I should be doing more planning for that, but at least am trying to walk more so I do not suffer too much while seeing the sights.
W: My dog has spent the morning barking at who knows what. Part of the time, she is rolling on her back looking happy. Now, it sounds more like her usual warning to the mailman, from behind the garage door. (The garage is her cave, and she can go out to the back yard -- unless it is mailman time, in which case She Must Do Her Duty.)
AW: Today was better at school. They both came home happy and with lots of energy. They even revealed some information under interrogation. Two recesses! They were thrilled, as was I. It looks like it's going to be much less homework, which also thrills me.
W: I wish that everyone could have schools which take the needs of kids seriously (recess, not much homework).
Two recesses and less homework! I'm so glad. (And I'm enraged that this isn't the case for all elementary kids: there's so much evidence that this is what they need!)
Kathy, I hope the dog gives you some peace! I'm so excited for you and your Europe trip: so jealous.
Young, smart relative started a new job. Leaving at the end of teh second day, a call came from the staffing agency saying that oh, the employer decided they wanted someone experienced in an entirely different set of duties, so long. GRRRR.
Petunia, that is just crappy.
Whine of the worse First World kind: In Little Town, we had a Domestic Goddess, who came and cleaned every two weeks. She didn't take care of everything, but she did floors and bathrooms and dusted. When we moved to the city (and started spending $$ on a mortgage), we decided we could clean and mow (our other indulgence). Wah. I don't like cleaning. Even though I do a better job than the Domestic Goddess, I still don't like it.
Classic whine, Esperanza! I want a domestic goddess, too.
AW: Well, now I feel victorious. My sluggishly-draining bathroom sink had been bugging me. So I cleaned it, then thought "I wonder if I can fix this?" Indeed, I could! I took it apart, cleaned out the disgusting gunk in the trap (I think that's what it's called) with a coat hanger, rinsed everything in the hose outside, and put it back together. Nary a leak! Way more satisfying than cleaning.
Well done, esperanza! I need to do the same with my kitchen sink drain, but I have been intimidated by it. (I guess I could add it to Mr. Q's endlessly long list...)
Petunia, that's awful! How on earth did they not know what kind of job and experience they wanted before they went through the hiring process? Poor young person.
W: it's a blah kind of day. I suspect I should use my SAD lamp, because I'm so drained and it's so dark outside, but I think that the bright lights would make my head hurt. (Thank goodness for caffeine, of course.) And it's COLD today! 12C/54F! My thermostat tells me that it isn't cold enough to warrant turning on the furnace, but I am shivering because this is outrageously cold for August.
AW: hmmmm. I think all of this means that I need to drag my butt off of the couch and bake. Maybe I should also blanch and freeze a bunch of these garden beans. When the warm weather comes back, I'm going to regret not using this perfect cooking/baking day. I'm also going to use the weather and my exhaustion as justification to make a second big pot of tea.
Esperanza for Plumbing Genius! (Good trade on "domestic goddess.")
QWP, been a cold summer here, too. I miss the nightly fog when it gets hot, but this month, the fog sticks around until afternoon, sometimes all day. Bleah with a side of brr. Best with the baking!
Yes, it is hard to understand how they can put out a job offer for one thing, then decide they need something else altogether. It was a temporary hire, but with the understanding that it would convert to permanent if the hiree performed well. There was no hint of deficient performance. You'd really think that professional people could figure out their needs before leading someone on like that.
Linguine (plain and spinach), creamy pesto sauce, chopped spinach, shrimp, buncha spices, some parmesan. Oh, a few chopped green onions on top, too.
AP, here's to something better coming along soon for your young person.
Chicken pot pie here last night. Let the record show that I have cooked supper 3 nights in a row.
W: I thought we had escaped the "kid puts foreign object up their nose" milestone, but no. Sweet did it this morning, tried to tell me there was a booger stuck in her nose. When I investigated further, as the bus is approaching (of course), it was a bead. With some instruction, she managed to blow it out herself AND make it to the bus stop.
Something up the nose is always prize-worthy around here.
That is 100% prize-worthy, esperanza! What a relief that she was able to blow out the bead easily.
UTI back with a vengeance. I threw in the towel and got meds. Grump grump grump.
Esperanza, so glad she was able to blow the bead out and kudos for your plumbing prowess!
(((Auntie P)))
QWP, baking is always a good idea.
AW: I'm excited! An old friend is going to be the keynote speaker at a women's retreat at a nearby beach, in a few months. A bunch of friends have all decided that we can actually get away for that weekend, and have booked a room together. (I was worried that the timing would conflict with Mr. Q's teachers' convention, but they happen on different dates.) We all registered today, and now we're all feeling a little too excited about that we're going away together.
(Small potential whine: one of the people who frequents this retreat is someone that I blocked on Book of Faces during the federal election. I was all, "I know a bunch of my friends see her at their church, but I literally never see her, and so who cares!" and now I'm going to their church's retreat this year. So, that will be a little awkward.)
YAY QWP!!! And as for the awkward, she may never have noticed you blocked her. If she did, and she asks, you can say that you have culled your facebook friends to a more manageable level (I just checked, you've got nearly 500 FB friends.) Or that you felt the need to cull during the elections to maintain your pleasant demeanor. Or something.
Sounds great, QWP! It's OK to let the worry go. If she confronts you, a culling story is good (and not untruthful) -- but probably she won't.
Liz, sorry about the UTI. But the meds work. Here, have some yogurt!
AP sounds like the dreaded "not a good fit" which is more about them than about young smart relative.
It makes my blood boil.
NO boiling of your particular blood, Miranda! You doing OK?
But yeah. Really crappy employer behavior.
I'm sorry that the UTI came back, Liz! I hope the meds knock it out of your system quickly.
Judge apparently didn't think the big disturbing inappropriate thing was all that big of a deal. She talked about doing a 50/50 week on/week off arrangement and seeing which parent did better and then giving the kids to that one, but she didn't. For now.
Kids go for 4 overnights one week and 1 the next, until a GAL gets a chance to do an evaluation and report. Toddler doesn't go for overnights yet, which means H gets lots of time with the older three without her underfoot, and doesn't have to cope with her while getting kids ready for school or preparing meals or helping with homework during his residential time, while I do. It's good for the toddler, but puts me at a huge disadvantage with the older kids . . . H has never really had to deal with all 4 kids at once, but his involvement with 1-2 kids at a time while I took care of the rest is being given HUGE weight. Because, his taking 2 hours out of his work week to take a kid to a class and helping with homework evenings and weekends somehow means he did the bulk or at least equal parts of the schooling and parenting, even though I had an average of 3 to 10 hours per week where I wasn't taking care of at least one kid, while he had at least 50-70 hours per week where he wasn't taking care of at least one kid.
So many hugs and prayer, P_K. I'm glad to hear from you, but am really troubled that the judge didn't think that the big disturbing inappropriate thing was a big deal, and has even considered giving primary custody to your Ex.
((( PK ))) OK, sister -- first breathe! This sounds like close to the arrangement that's been going on, or am I missing something? It is really good she didn't go 50/50, and really good your poor baby will not be doing overnights.
Also think it is good that the guardian ad litem (GAL -- someone supposed to represent the kids' interests) will be monitoring and assessing how all this works.
The time since the last court date, it was mostly summer, right? As you know, things get more complicated in the fall. Perhaps the judge wasn't necessarily giving his report equal weight, but seeing how his assertions pan out over the next few months? Over the day to day of school things, and somebody will get sick, and something will come up at work, and -- correct me if I'm wrong, but he might have some things to learn about stepping up for all the needs of all 4 kids. About working with their mother, even, and giving her credit where credit is due. IMO.
xoxo
(((PK))) sending all my love
Liz, are you taking baking soda to help with the discomfort from the UTI? It helps a ton. I think I did 1/4 tsp in water every half hour or hour up to the max dose, but can't remember for sure now.
((((p_k)))) I have nothing to add to the wise things already said, just sending lots of hugs and support.
liz, so sorry the UTI is back!
and auntie P, that is so frustrating! Maybe young relative is actually better off not working for such an employer, but still.... so wrong.
--Neighbor Lady
Thank you, PK!! I'm taking antibiotics for the UTI and probiotics to try to make sure the antibiotics don't encourage my C-diff to return.
And drinking plenty of fluids on general principle.
I'll try the baking soda!
Hugs to pk and Liz.
AW: first week of school is in the books.
AW: I do not have to get up at 5:55 tomorrow.
A "you did it" medal to Esperanza! All better from here, AND, not getting up so early tomorrow is great.
Maybe it's Karma, but another place with which the young relative interviewed before gave that position to an inside person -- but called today wanting young person for a new position. Also, good interview today. On the upswing, I hope!
In other news, did you know that some people are advertising for "entry level" positions, but also requiring 3 years of experience in some particular something? Do they not know the meaning of "entry level"?????
It is apparently national dog day. My dog hates cameras, so no photos of her. But here's to all the dogs who bark at random things, hog the cat food, do stupid things, and (this is the kudos part) love their humans so well.
Oh, I hope that the right position works out quickly for young person, AP! This whole "entry level not being entry level anymore" business is rank nonsense.
Got to go into 11yo's counseling appointment with her today. I'm so encouraged. 11yo did some major acting out and being disrespectful to me right in the appointment. The counselor called her out on it and worked with me on some ways to extinguish the behavior, but also recognized the dynamics and patterns of interaction right away, and seems to really get the root issues and how the overall family dynamics come into play. And, she thinks 11yo needs to come in every week, so she's going to charge us only half of the already-reduced scholarship rate they were giving us. And the GAL will be talking to the kids' counselors, so the fact that this counselor gets the dynamics and is seeing the relevant behavior and issues is huge.
Thanks for all the comments and caring, everyone. H is actually getting the same number of overnights per 2 weeks as the summer schedule, just distributed differently. But it works out to significantly less time with the toddler because the judge ruled that she will stay with me while the older kids are in school on the days he has them.
((( PK ))) I'm so sorry the 11 y.o. is having so much anxiety. But yay for the counselor, seeing that and calling it out. Yay for the judge, protecting your littlest. Much love. xoxo
PK, I think the more "outside" eyes you can get on the situation, the better. So thumbs up for counselors and guardians and judges. And hugs to you.
W: Mr. E has several, unrelated, medical things going on. Test for the most worrisome was yesterday. That came back "essentially normal." Some of the other things are manageable with medication. But we're looking at surgery for another. It's a lot to take in.
W: Medical care in rural America is not excellent, which is why all this stuff is just now being noticed.
Esperanza, hope all works out OK for Mr. E.
PK, the therapist has been on my mind. So very good she recognized the acting out was a function of the dynamics in play. And it was brilliant of her to understand that additional cost could be a roadblock, and propose a solution to that. I love it when a professional goes the extra mile just to solve a problem (even though that will cost her financially).
I feel bad for the kids, but this therapist (at least) is interested in developing tools to help your daughter with anxiety, conflicted feelings, things happening over which they don't have control. She's also reinforcing boundaries -- that behavior isn't OK, even if the child feels bad -- but I suspect the main thing is to help her name and manage emotions. Let her know that none of this is her fault. (Kids feel that way, when bad things happen.) Talking through strategies, if something challenging comes up.
xoxo
Mystery: My daughter pointed out a recently dead green grasshopper on a low shelf near the living room. Her father -- Mr. Display Odd Objects Found in Nature -- denied responsibility and blamed the cats. (Seriously? These are not very accomplished hunter cats -- and the dead bug didn't even look maimed.)
Post a Comment