I'm wondering why the dog is scratching herself so much. She just went to the doggie spa to take care of it. No fleas or dry skin detected. Perhaps it's just the dry weather we are having.
Halloween is today and the pumpkins are almost finished. The scary music is not in place, but the scary witch is. As an added bonus, there will be no rushing to the store at the last minute for candy because we have not eaten a single piece! Last year Andrew went trick-or-treating and Jessica stayed home. This year they are both staying home. Let's face it, they are both too old to be gallivanting around the neighborhood.
Jessica has a soccer game across town at noon. Joe will be driving her since I have a haircut/color appointment at noon as well. It takes about 3 hours to do this so I have plenty of time to read my textbook.
Setting the clocks back....
Daylight savings time begins tonight...I love daylight savings time. While the rest of the country is already feeling a bit of winter, those of us residing in Sacramento are just noticing the leaves changing color. Setting the clocks back makes the season change a reality.
Andrew just came upstairs asking for pancakes...of course, how can I resist?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
I'm the worst...
blogger that is. Brenda blogs every day, sometimes twice a day. Gail blogs at least once a week. Why can't I get it together? It feels like I have nothing interesting to say, and anyway, who wants to hear about my boring day-to-day activities?
Having said that...
Had an early day (as always, it seems). An uneventful day at work. I actually felt like I connected with a few kids so that was good. Did a little bit of homework (ok, actually a lot of homework) and then went to Andrew's last home soccer game of the season. Good thing because the wind is blowing like crazy and I was freezing my butt off.
Wednesday's are my late day (don't go in until 9ish) which gives me plenty of time to get a few miles on the treadmill in. This time of year is so nice I prefer to go after work outside with Bailey (dog) but sometimes homework gets the best of me. I suppose I can actually do that this Wed and get my flu shot instead.
Here it is, almost 8pm and I still have dishes to do. Whoever created the rule "if you make dinner you don't have to do dishes"? I hate that rule because I don't like to make dinner OR do the dishes. The kids would do them but Andrew didn't get his homework done before the game and Jessica is still working on her physics. bummer.
Having said that...
Had an early day (as always, it seems). An uneventful day at work. I actually felt like I connected with a few kids so that was good. Did a little bit of homework (ok, actually a lot of homework) and then went to Andrew's last home soccer game of the season. Good thing because the wind is blowing like crazy and I was freezing my butt off.
Wednesday's are my late day (don't go in until 9ish) which gives me plenty of time to get a few miles on the treadmill in. This time of year is so nice I prefer to go after work outside with Bailey (dog) but sometimes homework gets the best of me. I suppose I can actually do that this Wed and get my flu shot instead.
Here it is, almost 8pm and I still have dishes to do. Whoever created the rule "if you make dinner you don't have to do dishes"? I hate that rule because I don't like to make dinner OR do the dishes. The kids would do them but Andrew didn't get his homework done before the game and Jessica is still working on her physics. bummer.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Early in the morning...
It's early. I've been up since 4:30. It's not that I planned it, my body just could not sleep. And it's not like I'm not tired right now, at 6:45 am.
Since I couldn't sleep I did some treadmill time. I was going to do that anyway...and the funny thing is, I wasn't on as long as I normally would be.
The kids are asleep still. They have late start today and school doesn't start until 9:30. Although, I'll make sure they are awake before I leave.
Today is a mini day for the high school I work at. There are some errands to be run, and a paper to be finished. Andrew has a game tonight and I signed up to work the Varsity snack bar.
Saturday is our pumpkin patch time. He has a 5 hour shift starting at 9 am. I'm pretty sure the pumpkin patch doesn't get wi-fi. It would be nice, then I could work.
I gotta grab some breakfast, straighten a few things, then head out. Should be a wonderful day.
Since I couldn't sleep I did some treadmill time. I was going to do that anyway...and the funny thing is, I wasn't on as long as I normally would be.
The kids are asleep still. They have late start today and school doesn't start until 9:30. Although, I'll make sure they are awake before I leave.
Today is a mini day for the high school I work at. There are some errands to be run, and a paper to be finished. Andrew has a game tonight and I signed up to work the Varsity snack bar.
Saturday is our pumpkin patch time. He has a 5 hour shift starting at 9 am. I'm pretty sure the pumpkin patch doesn't get wi-fi. It would be nice, then I could work.
I gotta grab some breakfast, straighten a few things, then head out. Should be a wonderful day.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
No Title Post
There is no possible way I can think of any creative title for this post! It's not like I have been SO busy all weekend that my body should be giving out...but I am bone weary. Things are probably just catching up with me.
It's dark when I wake up, and dark when I go to bed. Sometimes I feel like I live in a cave all winter. We rarely see friends because the kids school activities take up so much time, and sometimes on a Saturday I just want to curl up in my sweats and relax. Although, just this evening, Joe said to me "we should have a happy hour". Of course we should. I want to. But, I'm working thirty hours a week and going to school full time. I'm too busy to plan it and too tired to care. Before I commit I have to think about how I'm going to get everything done! Certainly tasks will be assigned, however, experience tells me that the way to get it done, the way I want it done, is to do it myself. And if I rely on others I hate the fact that I will probably not like how everything has turned out..so why bother? Then I feel guilty for not giving the benefit of the doubt. Well, maybe we'll turn happy hour into a Christmas party...like we were planning on having anyway.
School is going good. I have decided that even though I like the format of choosing my own area of study for the Independent Study class I am taking, I do not like having no structure to follow. The class for Nov. is Fundamentals of Linguistics. I took a class like this several years ago and know what to expect. Should be fairly easy (yeah, like that's ever the case). I'm scheduled to take two classes in December. If everything plays out right (again, like that's ever the case) I will have one class each month, with the exceptions of Dec. and Feb (two classes those months) and graduate in May. Yeah! Now, to start thinking about my graduate degree. I'll probably start that in July. I really want June off so I can visit my folks without worrying about school.
Andrew had a Boy Scout merit badge class on Saturday morning across town. We drove out there only to discover a *snafu* with the scheduling process, and after some debate, decided he didn't want to wait for 3 hours so we came back home. He has the last two Eagle requirements he is working on right now. Once he finishes those he can start planning his Eagle project. He could start planning now, but Joe and I feel he needs to give the planning process %100 percent of his time without worrying about any other loose ends. Andrew's goal is to have his project completed by his 16th birthday, in 14 months. He wants to get a job (have to be 16 in the state of CA) and we decided it would be in his best interest to have his Eagle completed first. He will gain more in his life as an Eagle Scout than he will by having a job right at the age of 16. I have to say though, he seems pretty motivated.
Jessica played in a soccer tournament this weekend and had four games over two days. Their team placed 2nd. Not bad, considering they were just bumped down a bracket. She probably won't make practice again this rec. season because she starts her hard term tomorrow. Honors Pre-Cal, AP English 11, Physics, and her foreign language. I cannot even comprehend physics and pre-cal. The math I took was never that hard...I'm in awe of anyone whose brain functions in this manner.
Joe is still weathering the storm at AT&T. The strike threats are long over and things have quieted down. Apparently they are doing well, although layoff rumors persist. We have been down this road before...hence my desire to finish my degree quickly.
Now, I have to tell Andrew, again, to empty the dishwasher. If he is not careful he will end up with extra chores:-)
It's dark when I wake up, and dark when I go to bed. Sometimes I feel like I live in a cave all winter. We rarely see friends because the kids school activities take up so much time, and sometimes on a Saturday I just want to curl up in my sweats and relax. Although, just this evening, Joe said to me "we should have a happy hour". Of course we should. I want to. But, I'm working thirty hours a week and going to school full time. I'm too busy to plan it and too tired to care. Before I commit I have to think about how I'm going to get everything done! Certainly tasks will be assigned, however, experience tells me that the way to get it done, the way I want it done, is to do it myself. And if I rely on others I hate the fact that I will probably not like how everything has turned out..so why bother? Then I feel guilty for not giving the benefit of the doubt. Well, maybe we'll turn happy hour into a Christmas party...like we were planning on having anyway.
School is going good. I have decided that even though I like the format of choosing my own area of study for the Independent Study class I am taking, I do not like having no structure to follow. The class for Nov. is Fundamentals of Linguistics. I took a class like this several years ago and know what to expect. Should be fairly easy (yeah, like that's ever the case). I'm scheduled to take two classes in December. If everything plays out right (again, like that's ever the case) I will have one class each month, with the exceptions of Dec. and Feb (two classes those months) and graduate in May. Yeah! Now, to start thinking about my graduate degree. I'll probably start that in July. I really want June off so I can visit my folks without worrying about school.
Andrew had a Boy Scout merit badge class on Saturday morning across town. We drove out there only to discover a *snafu* with the scheduling process, and after some debate, decided he didn't want to wait for 3 hours so we came back home. He has the last two Eagle requirements he is working on right now. Once he finishes those he can start planning his Eagle project. He could start planning now, but Joe and I feel he needs to give the planning process %100 percent of his time without worrying about any other loose ends. Andrew's goal is to have his project completed by his 16th birthday, in 14 months. He wants to get a job (have to be 16 in the state of CA) and we decided it would be in his best interest to have his Eagle completed first. He will gain more in his life as an Eagle Scout than he will by having a job right at the age of 16. I have to say though, he seems pretty motivated.
Jessica played in a soccer tournament this weekend and had four games over two days. Their team placed 2nd. Not bad, considering they were just bumped down a bracket. She probably won't make practice again this rec. season because she starts her hard term tomorrow. Honors Pre-Cal, AP English 11, Physics, and her foreign language. I cannot even comprehend physics and pre-cal. The math I took was never that hard...I'm in awe of anyone whose brain functions in this manner.
Joe is still weathering the storm at AT&T. The strike threats are long over and things have quieted down. Apparently they are doing well, although layoff rumors persist. We have been down this road before...hence my desire to finish my degree quickly.
Now, I have to tell Andrew, again, to empty the dishwasher. If he is not careful he will end up with extra chores:-)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Beautiful Friday afternoon!
Looking outside one would never guess the tail of a typhoon hit us the other day. Well, with the exception of the fallen trees everywhere. I hear chainsaws humming away, something I normally do not hear in my suburban neighborhood.
Finals were today and yesterday, which means minimum days for school. Andrew had a dermatology appt yesterday so no free afternoon for us. Today he is working on a Merit Badge for a class tomorrow. I suppose I could go "do" something, but I have a paper to start...
Jessica met friends after school and is not home yet. She has no homework this weekend because they start new classes on Monday. The only thing she has to focus on is a soccer tournament and cleaning the black hole that is her bedroom.
I have not decided what to make for dinner. Although, It will probably be salmon because it's easy and has no need for defrosting. Last Saturday the local grocery store had all fresh and frozen seafood on sale for 1/2 price. Salmon ended up being $4 a pound, which is fantastic for this area! I bought as much as they would let me.
Football game tonight against the only other team in the school district that is any good. It will be a seriously great game. I'm not that much of a football fan, but it's a fun thing to do with friends on a Friday night.
Andrew's Boy Scout troop is having Christmas tree lot sign-ups in two weeks. Already? Time flies too fast for me!! Before I know it he will be planning his Eagle Project. I remember when he was a Tiger Scout.
Anyway, laundry is calling me (I'm trying to ignore it but the sound is too darn loud).
Finals were today and yesterday, which means minimum days for school. Andrew had a dermatology appt yesterday so no free afternoon for us. Today he is working on a Merit Badge for a class tomorrow. I suppose I could go "do" something, but I have a paper to start...
Jessica met friends after school and is not home yet. She has no homework this weekend because they start new classes on Monday. The only thing she has to focus on is a soccer tournament and cleaning the black hole that is her bedroom.
I have not decided what to make for dinner. Although, It will probably be salmon because it's easy and has no need for defrosting. Last Saturday the local grocery store had all fresh and frozen seafood on sale for 1/2 price. Salmon ended up being $4 a pound, which is fantastic for this area! I bought as much as they would let me.
Football game tonight against the only other team in the school district that is any good. It will be a seriously great game. I'm not that much of a football fan, but it's a fun thing to do with friends on a Friday night.
Andrew's Boy Scout troop is having Christmas tree lot sign-ups in two weeks. Already? Time flies too fast for me!! Before I know it he will be planning his Eagle Project. I remember when he was a Tiger Scout.
Anyway, laundry is calling me (I'm trying to ignore it but the sound is too darn loud).
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Making people mad...
I made someone mad at work today...I repeated something that someone else said, and a colleague said it was offensive (as in racially). Personally I did not think it was racial at all. I don't get it...as citizens we are expected to understand cultures we have never been exposed to. As I'm trying to understand all these cultures I rely on last names to give me clues to the person's background (since I'm trying to be sensitive). Yet, some names, like Gonzales for example, can originate in so many countries. No matter how hard I try I'm going to make a mistake. Especially since I'm from the most non-racially diverse state in the US. If I am expected to understand everyone else, shouldn't they try to understand me?
Off to Andrew's soccer game in a bit. Joe will be home soon and we'll go to the game together. Jessica has meetings after school (every single day). I'm thinking we're having left over Minestrone soup with grilled cheese sandwiches.
In case I forget...My dad's hip replacement surgery was successful. He'll be home on Friday. I talked to mom this morning and she said he was in pain last night, but is receiving morphine. With the new technology available he is should recover faster.
Off to Andrew's soccer game in a bit. Joe will be home soon and we'll go to the game together. Jessica has meetings after school (every single day). I'm thinking we're having left over Minestrone soup with grilled cheese sandwiches.
In case I forget...My dad's hip replacement surgery was successful. He'll be home on Friday. I talked to mom this morning and she said he was in pain last night, but is receiving morphine. With the new technology available he is should recover faster.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The new week approaches
I'm one of those people who think the week starts on Monday, not Sunday. Wonder why that is...
Andrew and Joe came back from the observatory with lots of tales to tell. It sounds like they had a great time. The weather cooperated and they were able to view planets, black holes, and asteroids. Very cool!
There was not much housecleaning going on this weekend, but there was a fair amount of scientific reading. Ecology is a great subject, but after a chapter or two my eyes start to glaze over and I end up having to re-read sections.
So dinner is in the oven (quiche) and I'm making baked apples as well. Pretty soon the house is going to smell fabulous!
As we were having our pre-dinner glass of wine, Joe and I were discussing our trip to Alaska next summer. So far the plan is all four of us spending approx. 10 days. Time is only permitting us to do one of three great side trips: Denali Park, Homer, or Seward. I'm partial to Homer, but I have been there the last 2 times I've been to Alaska. Seward sounds great, but Denali is the trip of a lifetime...and of course it will be the most expensive of the three. We might have to wait to make the decision until after we get the airline tickets. I'm hoping we have enough miles for a free ticket.
So, dinner needs checking and science questions need answering....
Andrew and Joe came back from the observatory with lots of tales to tell. It sounds like they had a great time. The weather cooperated and they were able to view planets, black holes, and asteroids. Very cool!
There was not much housecleaning going on this weekend, but there was a fair amount of scientific reading. Ecology is a great subject, but after a chapter or two my eyes start to glaze over and I end up having to re-read sections.
So dinner is in the oven (quiche) and I'm making baked apples as well. Pretty soon the house is going to smell fabulous!
As we were having our pre-dinner glass of wine, Joe and I were discussing our trip to Alaska next summer. So far the plan is all four of us spending approx. 10 days. Time is only permitting us to do one of three great side trips: Denali Park, Homer, or Seward. I'm partial to Homer, but I have been there the last 2 times I've been to Alaska. Seward sounds great, but Denali is the trip of a lifetime...and of course it will be the most expensive of the three. We might have to wait to make the decision until after we get the airline tickets. I'm hoping we have enough miles for a free ticket.
So, dinner needs checking and science questions need answering....
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Ahhh...it's Thursday night!
Almost Friday! Yeah!!
Andrew skipped his soccer game tonight because he had a ton of homework for this weekend and will be gone all weekend. He needed to get it done. Finals are next week and it's a time crunch now! Besides, he would have had 3 games this week which is way too many for normal people.
Jessica had the usual meetings after school every day this week and skipped her practice tonight. I don't know what it is with my kids, but they would rather make sure their school work is done than go play soccer :)
Andrew and Joe are camping this weekend with the Boy Scouts. They leave Friday after school and don't return until Sunday afternoon. The troop rented out Robert Ferguson Observatory near Santa Rosa. It sounds like a great trip, I know the troop has been trying to plan new outings rather than stick with the samo-samo.
So, while the boys were gone I thought..."Girl's Night". I invited a few friends who have boys in the same troop as Andrew,and whose husbands will also be gone, then realized I have NO TIME to clean or shop. Another friend could tell I was stressed and offered up her house. Thanks Cathy! I even cheated and bought the super-duper yummy artichoke-jalapeno dip that Costco sells to bring with. Plus,there is a bottle of 7 Deadly Zins just waiting to be cracked open...
One of the reasons I have no time this weekend is because I am taking Jessica up to the mall on Friday night. I have a corduroy blazer I want to return to Ann Taylor Loft. It is super cute but I"m thinking I would like it better if it was anything other than corduroy. Besides, Jessica has a gift card to spend and this is a great way to leisurely work our way through our favorite stores.
Saturday morning is reserved for swapping out t-shirts for sweaters in the closet, plus tons of reading I have to do for my ecology class. It never seems to end! My good friend Eva is lending me her new Dan Brown book and I'm picking it up right after work on Friday. Although, not sure when time to read will present itself.
I'm starting to think about Christmas a bit, and have a few ideas. We usually don't go overboard because that ruins the spirit of Christmas. I'm generally happy hanging with friends and family. I have noticed that as I have started to shed my materialistic drives I've been more content with my life. That's not to say that I don't like nice things, because I do, and I do love to shop, but it's not who I am and doesn't define me as a person. I'm lucky to be self-aware and have a clear vision of what I want in the future.
It's quiet now. Heading on towards 9pm. We skipped survivor (not that great lately) but Glee is DVR'd. I might get to it this weekend, but I doubt it. The only show I really like to watch the night of is the Amazing Race.
Most of you know that my dad's hip replacement surgery has been postponed until next Tuesday. This is one of those times I wish I lived closer to my parents.
Andrew skipped his soccer game tonight because he had a ton of homework for this weekend and will be gone all weekend. He needed to get it done. Finals are next week and it's a time crunch now! Besides, he would have had 3 games this week which is way too many for normal people.
Jessica had the usual meetings after school every day this week and skipped her practice tonight. I don't know what it is with my kids, but they would rather make sure their school work is done than go play soccer :)
Andrew and Joe are camping this weekend with the Boy Scouts. They leave Friday after school and don't return until Sunday afternoon. The troop rented out Robert Ferguson Observatory near Santa Rosa. It sounds like a great trip, I know the troop has been trying to plan new outings rather than stick with the samo-samo.
So, while the boys were gone I thought..."Girl's Night". I invited a few friends who have boys in the same troop as Andrew,and whose husbands will also be gone, then realized I have NO TIME to clean or shop. Another friend could tell I was stressed and offered up her house. Thanks Cathy! I even cheated and bought the super-duper yummy artichoke-jalapeno dip that Costco sells to bring with. Plus,there is a bottle of 7 Deadly Zins just waiting to be cracked open...
One of the reasons I have no time this weekend is because I am taking Jessica up to the mall on Friday night. I have a corduroy blazer I want to return to Ann Taylor Loft. It is super cute but I"m thinking I would like it better if it was anything other than corduroy. Besides, Jessica has a gift card to spend and this is a great way to leisurely work our way through our favorite stores.
Saturday morning is reserved for swapping out t-shirts for sweaters in the closet, plus tons of reading I have to do for my ecology class. It never seems to end! My good friend Eva is lending me her new Dan Brown book and I'm picking it up right after work on Friday. Although, not sure when time to read will present itself.
I'm starting to think about Christmas a bit, and have a few ideas. We usually don't go overboard because that ruins the spirit of Christmas. I'm generally happy hanging with friends and family. I have noticed that as I have started to shed my materialistic drives I've been more content with my life. That's not to say that I don't like nice things, because I do, and I do love to shop, but it's not who I am and doesn't define me as a person. I'm lucky to be self-aware and have a clear vision of what I want in the future.
It's quiet now. Heading on towards 9pm. We skipped survivor (not that great lately) but Glee is DVR'd. I might get to it this weekend, but I doubt it. The only show I really like to watch the night of is the Amazing Race.
Most of you know that my dad's hip replacement surgery has been postponed until next Tuesday. This is one of those times I wish I lived closer to my parents.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Glorious Saturday!
The weekend has come and it brought with it cooler temperatures. Today's high is only supposed to be in the low 70's, which is much better than last Saturday's high of 101. Even after living here for 22 years it is still hard to adjust to the loss of 4 seasons. Although, I did see a couple of trees with leaves that were starting to change...so there is hope!
The Football game was fun. Monterey Trail beat Vally in a crushing victory of 51-0. That puts the team at 3-1 for the season. It was homecoming as well...although floats are not allowed on the new all weather fields/tracks, which is disappointing.
I just got the book for my Ecology class. I'm the only one in the class, which is weird, but the professor is allowing me to create my own course of study. I"m going to focus on the San Joaquin Delta. Water rights are enveloped in historic controversy on the west coast. This is one of the most fascinating topics to study..especially since I live at the eastern most edge of the delta, and the natural phenomena of the delta breezes provide the southern part of Sacramento with cooler temperatures.
I'm wondering what I did with all my time before I went back to work and school...I'm thinking I must have wasted it. This ticks me off...people will say that time flies, but until it is actually gone there is no concept of the reality. It is obvious that a lot of my time is taken up with kid activities, but it still seems like forever before I'll get to choose more of what I want to do, versus what I have to do.
So now I'm going to think about working with weights...and if that doesn't happen then I will make Andrew a large pancake breakfast!
The Football game was fun. Monterey Trail beat Vally in a crushing victory of 51-0. That puts the team at 3-1 for the season. It was homecoming as well...although floats are not allowed on the new all weather fields/tracks, which is disappointing.
I just got the book for my Ecology class. I'm the only one in the class, which is weird, but the professor is allowing me to create my own course of study. I"m going to focus on the San Joaquin Delta. Water rights are enveloped in historic controversy on the west coast. This is one of the most fascinating topics to study..especially since I live at the eastern most edge of the delta, and the natural phenomena of the delta breezes provide the southern part of Sacramento with cooler temperatures.
I'm wondering what I did with all my time before I went back to work and school...I'm thinking I must have wasted it. This ticks me off...people will say that time flies, but until it is actually gone there is no concept of the reality. It is obvious that a lot of my time is taken up with kid activities, but it still seems like forever before I'll get to choose more of what I want to do, versus what I have to do.
So now I'm going to think about working with weights...and if that doesn't happen then I will make Andrew a large pancake breakfast!
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