Greetings pixies!
I can't quite believe it's already the last day of July. The spring/summer seems to have flown by. It's odd though, because my days on sabbatical have been an exercise in slow living...leisurely coffee on the balcony, good books, writing, long walks...you get the idea. Still, here it is - August!
Huge AW however, as August is vacation time...so let the slow living continue!!
What's new in your world? Whine away, friends!
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Sue, thanks for hosting! Oh, my; the slow living regimen sounds divine. :)
The movers are coming August 1, tomorrow; but for some reason, I had in mind that was Monday (today). Oops! The packing is proceeding, though. Wednesday, the nest will once again be empty -- she and her dad are driving up with a carload, to get the apartment keys, accept delivery of bed and sofa. According to dad, then they will take side trips to the coast and possibly the mountains! According to daughter, she needs to show him some sights in town. Anyway, they'll have fun!
We have no idea when the movers will deliver the goods! So, I'll fly up a few days before law school orientation to do my Mom thing -- laying in goods the apartment needs -- and either unpack or be there in case the stuff is delivered after her orientation starts. Not ideal, but it should work, in one situation or the other...
I really favor the mandatory orientation! This is a whole new endeavor; there are a lot of things she needs to know, and it's a chance to meet people she'll be with all the time for the next 3 years. And this looks like a really good choice of school for her.
Sign me up for slow living, Sue!
I'm reaching the limits of my summertime Baboo patience. It's been better than last summer, but....
I'm glad the packing and moving is coming along, kathy. Would be nice to have a definite drop off date, though.
When do the Baboos go back to school, esperanza? Seems to me it's sometime in August, right?
Well, *that* chief of staff didn't last long....
Home stretch on packing! I'm pretty sure items will show up to fill the 2 not-full-yet boxes. (The box fairy has filler items in mind, should the need arise.) The movers arrive between 7 and 10 a.m. tomorrow!
It is frozen lasagna night, but from a really good local Italian deli.
August 28. We have a week away planned with my brother's family. And this week is VBS at Mr E's church. Those help.
Esperanza on the phone
You're getting through this summer, esperanza! (Of course, on my end, the summer feels like it's going by too quickly. But, it's been full of major projects, and the fall will be very busy.)
I'm glad that you all had one more packing day than you expected, Kathy! It's all going so quickly.
AW: our heat wave (which esperanza would deem normal weather, as it went up to 100F here yesterday!) is over. And just in time for the fence to go up! Mr. Q had to take down some of the old fence yesterday, but the heat really held us back from getting much done. But today it was 28C/82F, which after yesterday felt quite nice. (A month ago, I would have withered at 28C!) We even had a bit of rain last night! And it's supposed to be cooler tomorrow, meaning I can bake bread, and make beet chips, and maybe do a bit of canning, and Mr. Q can tear out hedges without risking heat stroke.
W: I see the forecast predicts rain for the weekend. Don't get me wrong: we NEED all the rain we can get, with this awful drought. But Saturday? Does it have to be Saturday? If that happens, the fence project might get delayed a bit more than expected, and might not involve helpers. (But I'll take the rain! All the rain, please.)
QWP, I went out to turn on the grill last night around 5 PM, and thought, "Oh, it's nice out here!" Then I came back inside and checked the temperature, and it was 98F/37C. I actually thought, "It's *only* 98!" We get a little warped.
Today is the last day of our "heat wave" too (we were a few degrees cooler than you, QWP, but still hovering around 32C). I hope the rain holds off for you on Saturday for the fence project.
You've got this, esperanza!! School will be back in before you know it.
Frozen lasagna sounds like a perfect plan for tonight, kathy.
W: The adorable kittens decided last night was Play Time. Pretty much all night. Now they're tired. So are we.
AW: There are worse problems, I know. And I can nap later, so it's all good.
I accidentally bought the reasonably sized lasagne (4 servings), and it vanished almost instantly. My portion was 1/2 serving. Guess the others like it!
Happy to hear of the more reasonable temps, both north and south.
Espearanza, yay for the breaks!
Aww, Sue. Such kitten-ness!
The packing was finished! Little neon orange stickies are on each item or stack of boxes, so they can tell for sure what's going and what's not. Now we're just waiting. The cats are already hunkering down in the back bedroom; they know something's up.
They're here! My daughter was still in jammies, because "they were supposed to call first."
I accidentally scraped my neighbor's bumper a little, trying to get my car out of the way -- the truck didn't leave a lot of space. But that is an experienced bumper, and has seen scrapage before. Sigh.
Going to take Muffin Man for his Learner's Permit exam today. He already passed the final exam for the classroom portion he needs for his driver's license in (GOD HELP ME) nine months.
EEEK!! Yay!! It's a milestone, definitely. This was where I discovered that my nerves were not ideally suited for teaching driving...
The movers came, and are about to leave. It went really fast!
Good luck to Muffin Man! Such a milestone! And I hope the move goes smoothly, Kathy!
I suspect a few of you will have experience with this (especially Kathy): my in-laws called, and their elderly kitty (who has been sick for years) is going to have to be put down this week. They want to know the best way to approach with E: one last visit to say goodbye, or downplay it for now, and then gently let her know (and maybe look at pictures) after the fact. At the moment, my gut says option 2 is better with this particular kid (that she'll find a final visit more upsetting than finding out after the fact). Any thoughts? (We're already trying to figure out how to approach with her the fact that some of her loved ones will no longer be attending family events, and I don't know if we'll see them again, because of unbloggable life complications). Is it bad that we're doing a lot of "wait and see" with her?
I think wait and see is good. She is very young, still! And seeing a very sick cat just before the cat goes away might be a lot to process. Actually, either part is a lot to process.
I remember a book that was recommended when my kids lost their caretaker unexpectedly, when they were 3.5 and 5 -- The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst. There are some other books about loss aimed at the very young, but I don't remember any others.
The families affected (she had a family-run day care) decided to have a group picnic, and help the kids plant flowers in a planter to remember Aiyee (Auntie in chinese; what the kids called her). So they were happy and together, and people talked about why we loved Aiyee. It helped!
Kids so young do not really understand death. One blamed himself, because he had yelled at her -- which we were warned to look out for. We were also advised, correctly, that it is OK for kids to see that adults are sad, too.
xoxo
Oh, the book is about the loss of a cat! And the little boy tried to come up with 10 good things about the cat, but got stuck at 9. It might be a little over E's level, but is written simply and has pictures.
Anyway, I'm glad we were straightforward with the kids, and looking out for their reactions. There will be questions -- don't over-explain! Just answer the question as plainly as possible. "She was very old and sick. She had a very happy life." E does not need to know anything about putting the cat down.
xoxo
Went to DMV, and there was a TWO HOUR wait time. Forgot that it was the first of the month. WHOOPS.
So we're going again tomorrow, planning on arriving at 0730, to wait for the doors to open at 0800.
Muffin Man is kind of relieved because he hadn't realized they were going to take his picture today until we got there and, in his words, "this shirt makes my skin look sallow. If I'd known, I would have worn a different color".
For the record, his skin was not sallow. And the pictures are in black and white.
But he's going to pick out a better shirt for tomorrow.
In retrospect, I think that book gave us ideas how to cope. But have a nagging memory, which might not be correct, that the 10th thing was Barney returning to the earth and feeding the plants, or something, which may be too much info.
(((QWP and E)))
I vote tell her after.
LIZ! Well, a better shirt will make all the difference. Is it possible to reserve a time with your DMV? (Ours has this online thingy to do that.) Otherwise, early arrival seems prudent.
QWP, I vote tell her afterward, too. The only exception would be if her most recent visit with the kitty was somehow sad or unsatisfying. And if I took her for one last visit, I wouldn't tell her that's what it was, just make it routine and casual. (NB: this would have infuriated me as a child. But I still think it's the best idea).
Good luck to MM! With test and photo! (I recently had a photo taken for passport renewal. Worker said, "is it ok? Do you like it?" I replied, "I thought I wasn't supposed to like my passport photo."
Yikes! It is 96F in the city where daughter is moving; predicted 106F the next couple of days! Then 90's for at least the following week. No AC in her unit, because usually it is not needed. Just tossed a fan on the pile of things for the car...
It turned out that daughter still had a bunch of donations and books to drop off, plus she is donating her old eyeglasses. And she agreed to take some chunks of styrofoam, also. Our recycling center takes really a lot of stuff! It added up to half her trunk...
Yikes, Kathy!!
Muffin Man has a learner's permit. Paper one today, real one in the mail next week. He is not (emotionally) ready to get behind the wheel, yet. Our first lesson will be Friday.
Pray for us.
Teaching Baboos to drive is just going to have to be one of the things that Mr. E does. I can't. I just can't.
We did invest in a driving teacher for a set of basic lessons. That helped, some....
The car is almost loaded.
She left. As usual, I cried -- even though I'll see her next week.
Hugs, Kathy.
Hooray for Muffin Man!
AW: IT'S RAINING!
Oooh, rain!
Looks like some rain is headed our way, too! Yippee! (The temp is 20 degrees cooler today, but wowzer the humidity is high).
W: So tired. Anniversary dinner out tonight, with babysitter at home. But I'm so tired.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! xoxo
Driving instructor will be gotten, I swear, but he still has to do 45 hours. Behind the wheel. With one of us. Instructors don't count.
I'm not kidding, this is actually the law in Virginia.
Happy anniversary, Esperanza!
QWP, I too vote to tell E after the kitty has passed away.
Yay on the successful Daughter Launch, kathy! Tears are a natural part of the process.
Happy Anniversary esperanza and Mr E!!
Liz, how can MM possibly be old enough for a learner's permit????? Ack! Good luck with the driver training.
Liz, I really REALLY favor a lot of supervised time behind the wheel before somebody gets a license. And it will not, cannot happen all at once! I think you said 9 months before he can be eligible for a real license? That's an average of 5 hours per month, which is do-able. 10 minutes here, 15 there. You'll want him to do more distance after everybody's more comfortable -- and as the parent of an under-aged person, you also get to say, "you're not ready yet" if the 9 months pass and more time is needed. xoxo
Happy anniversary, esperanza and Mr. E! I hear rumour that it's a big one.
Big AW: I had good news at the doctor's office today! You know how, last week, I had an ultrasound that took FOREVER, and the tech took a ridiculous number of images, and I was starting to get nervous that something was wrong? (Keeping in mind that this was a follow-up scan, because two months ago, my cyst was looking "unusual", and it's been really big for quite a while.) It turns out that the thorough imaging was because the tech couldn't find the cyst at all! It's gone, and I didn't go through painful rupture! (I have had a dull ache in my right side for the past while, and my doctor thinks that this was the last of the cyst rupturing gradually.) Also, she didn't find my fibroids, and so they're either immeasurably small, or they've somehow gone away too. (Which, considering that I don't plan on getting pregnant again, and mine seem to only grow in response to pregnancy hormone, is functionally the same thing.) I can hardly believe it! I was prepared for specialist referrals and surgical removal, and now my doctor tells me that there is nothing in my body that requires regular tracking. I hardly remember what that's like, at this point. (I was about to claim that I even managed to leave the office without booking any follow-up appointments, but then I remembered that I actually had to book myself in for a full physical, because it's time again.)
We're getting celebratory pizza for supper.
Woot, QWP! That sounds like all around great news. xoxo
Top temp on the drive north: 113F! They are in a hotel with AC, and even though the apartment move-in is tomorrow, they may opt for a hotel tomorrow night, too. (Est. high 106F, no AC in the apartment.)
Yikes, Kathy! That is amazingly hot, especially without AC!
Definitely go for a hotel room. No one will be able to sleep when it is that hot. And drink so, so, so, so much water/Gatorade. That's dangerously hot.
Yay, QWP!
AW: 20th anniversary was nice. We went to a real restaurant with tablecloths and cloth napkins. We ordered food that required silverware. We sat and talked after we were finished eating.
HOORAY QWP!!! That's amazing and awesome!!
Mazel tov, Esperanza! That sounds lovely.
YIKES Kathy! Can they buy a window unit at the local 8est 8uy or H0m3 D3p0t?
Great news, QWP!!!
Yikes, kathy, that's hot! I concur with the window unit idea for some ac.
esperanza, that sounds like a lovely way to celebrate 20 years.
A possible AC unit is definitely in Dad's area of expertise. Not sure if that would pose security problems; she's on the first floor. The law school has AC, and is 2 blocks away, so she might could spend some time there. ;)
Esperanza, lovely dinner!
Kathy, get one of these (or cut wood to size).
Thanks, Liz -- will pass that idea along! I do not believe there is a saw in daughter's tool kit, but we did locate an array of big fat stores on the earlier trip; they ought to have something.
They got the car unloaded at the apartment. Dad likes the apartment, agrees it's a safe neighborhood, and they were heading out to see the town. Bed and sofa are arriving tomorrow, so they'll get a hotel tonight. Also, daughter brought a modem and router, but lost the power cords -- so, I guess that's on the list for today, too.
Normally, I'm the shopping parent -- but they went to tar-jay because daughter needs a microwave. But she had to call for advice about shower curtain choices, another necessity! I've still got the mom, even long distance. :)
It's wonderful that you can help out with the moving-in process, even from a distance, Kathy! It sounds like it's all going pretty well there (other than the extreme heat).
Mr. Q has hauled out quite a bit of the old hedges, which were taking over the yard, and has picked up half the lumber. Fence building begins tomorrow! (I confess that I'm a bit relieved that the pressure-treated wood is far too recently treated to stain right now. I guess that's a job for next spring!)
Go, Mr. Q! And yeah, doing the stain later sounds like a good idea. (Or, never -- that's our secret....)
It is 9 p.m., and still 101F in daughter's new town. Jeepers!
Yikes, Kathy! I hope that the temperatures get more moderate quickly.
I messed up; the temp then was actually close to 90F. Oops. But still hot hot hot! Supposed to be a little cooler today, in the 90's.
Junior cat slept on my office chair last night, and now claims she has dibs. Every time I get up, she gets on. GOOFBALL!
My husband and daughter are both learning something today -- that it is exceedingly boring and annoying to sit around all day waiting for things to be delivered.
The waiting lesson is a tough one to learn, kathy. I hope they don't have to wait long.
The bed arrived. The sofa? It is in the city someplace; should arrive anytime in the next 5 hours. There is a large grumpy factor at present.
HOW? Weren't they transported together? I really don't understand shipping companies.
My father-in-law has spent the whole day here, in my back yard, helping Mr. Q dig and put in fence posts. We have fence progress! (Can you tell I'm excited?) Also, my MIL is coming over when she's done work, and they're buying us supper.
The bed and sofa were ordered separately; not part of the stuff in the mover's van. I would have ordered from the same company [there was a perfectly good sofabed at the local mattress place, same price], but some people did not listen to me.
I think my beloved made the mistake of considering this primarily a vacation, instead of primarily a move-in. But he still has a couple full days left to go to the coast and whatever.
YAY, about your father in law! And about the gift of supper!
Ugh, the waiting on deliveries. Add in the heat, and it's really not fun.
QWP, hooray for help and supper.
W: aside--I used "supper" today, and the person on the phone acted as if it was a foreign language. "You mean the last meal of the day?" Yes, yes I do.
AW: I just got the following email from Sweet's teacher (she was her teacher in 2nd last year and will be moving up to 3rd and asked for Sweet to be in her class again):
"I remember last year at back to school night it was very overwhelming for Anna. Once I'm done unpacking all my boxes I would like Anna to come visit our new classroom. It won't be until a few weeks. But I thought since I moved classrooms I want her to see it so it won't be so overwhelming for her. :) "
She needs to be cloned. Every child should have such a caring, kind, and thoughtful teacher. And she needs a raise.
KUDOS to Sweet's wonderful teacher! How thoughtful and caring. xoxo
Apologies for boring the eyeballs out of everybody with moving adventures. The sofa finally did arrive. I'm hoping a good dinner will shake the crankies out.
Hooray for the couch arriving! I imagine that makes a big difference in terms of moving in.
And that is absolutely wonderful, about Sweet's teacher putting in so much thought to helping her transition into the school year and begin well. It's amazing: I remember how scary it was for you all to leave behind your old supports, when you moved there. I'm so glad that the girls have transitioned so well to their new home and school this year.
kathy, any moving venture is whine-worthy!! I am glad the sofa arrived.
Yay QWP - how wonderful to have help with the outdoor projects *and* a special supper.
esperanza, would supper be called dinner where you live? And yes, Sweet's teacher needs to be cloned several times over. How considerate of her, and so kind.
Sweet's teacher gets the TEACHER OF THE MILLENNIUM award.
YAY for helpful inlaws who also feed you.
And Yay for the sofa finally arriving.
Muffin Man's driving lessons are going well. Mr. Spock is taking point on this one. I reminded him that MM gets snotty when he's stressed, and reminded MM that MS gets snappish when he's stressed. I asked both of them if they can try not to let the other's stress level increase their own stress level.
Both agreed, and have been having a really successful time.
Yes, other people call the last meal of the day "dinner," but I would not have thought "supper" was so far out of fashion as to be unintelligible. Oh well.
Hooray for good driving lessons and self-awareness!
Hooray about the driving lessons, and reminding both parties to be civil! Good job, Liz.
Esperanza, I don't think anybody ever took the Last Supper to mean brunch, did they? It's not that hard; and "supper" is super common in various locations.
Apparently there was some problem with the Dad-cation idea of going to the coast ("it's closed" was what I heard), so they headed for a hike in the mountains. Everybody's in better spirits, since today does not involve waiting on guys with a truck.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I'm doing a lot of tossing and recycling, laundry, planning another donation box, and slow-cooking chicken and white bean soup with veggies. Also planning a food donation box, for excess in the cupboards.
Esperanza, around here, people use "dinner" to mean "a big meal" (lunch or supper, like "Christmas dinner" could happen at 1pm), and consider lunch versus supper to be clearer in terms of when it happened. (My grandparents were more likely to refer to their lunch as "dinner," because that's when they had their biggest meal of the day! Suppertime was second milking of the day, so they were too busy for a big meal.)
QWP, that is exactly what my older, country relatives said. I don't hear it much anymore, except for maybe "Sunday/Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner" that would take place around noon.
Here in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US, Dinner and Supper are interchangeable, with Dinner used for big meals. Lunch is generally the mid-day meal.
The periodic table! In haiku! via.sciencemag.org/chemhaiku/
Adding complication to the meaning of "lunch": that same set of grandparents (and all the old-timer farmers in the area) used to use "lunch" to mean "a small meal, or large snack, at any time of day or night." I used to joke that they are seven small meals a day, all of which they either called "lunch" or "coffee."
Isn't the hobbit diet something like 7 meals? One source describes: breakfast; elevenses; lunch; afternoon tea; dinner; supper; midnight snack. I seem to recall another version that called for "second breakfast."
Mini is a hobbit.
Yes, hobbits do have seven meals! And that's why I refer to my family's farming community as Middle Earth Canada. (Really, I should be calling it Canadian Hobbiton. After reading The Hobbit for the first time, my main reaction was "Hobbits are Norwegian?")
My beloved's flight was rather delayed, so I was expecting Mr. Crankypants, but he had a good time on Dad-cation, and I got dinner done in about 10 minutes, and he told stories, and then he went and watered everything, so all is well.
I like the several small meals concept.
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