Tuesday Tidbits

I missed all last week.  Where did it go?  So much happening!

AZ has finally made appointments with pain drs, dentist and the eye dr.  He says he's tired of being sick, feeling sick and sitting on the couch.  FINALLY!  He's been awake and participating in life around the house.  I'm happy but afraid to trust that it will stay this way.  Only time will tell.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy it.

Choir is done until the fall.  We had a wonderful spring concert and then sang for the local college graduation.  The place was PACKED and the ceremony was so boring.  I was able to read while they were calling the names.  Even our conductor was checking out a magazine.

Work is boring, as usual.  This is the slow time of the year for grant writing and contract making.  I'm working on researching foundations.  Boring work.  I want something challenging. 

Jakes is getting ready for 8th grade graduation.  He's excited for the end of the school year, but then what student or teacher isn't?  Now comes the fighting over the tickets for the ceremony with his father.  I hope he doesn't act like an ass for Jakes sake.

I'm getting a new camera.  A friend is letting me borrow it. I think he hopes that I will want to buy it from him.  He's probably right!  But its a VERY nice one with changeable lenses and filters and all that good stuff.  I hope he's going to include lessons with it.  But you will get to benefit from awesome pictures!  Stay tuned!

Busy Weekend

Oh my! What a busy weekend!  I was so busy I almost wished I was at work so I could relax. 

The quickie:  There was two trips to the bike repair store.  Two trips to the local college for singing in my concert.  A trip to the parents for a visit.  Grocery shopping and a little work on reclaiming my flower bed.

Details:  The concert was fun, as always.  We sang a selection from Rogers's and Hammerstein's Carousel, Braums and some other spiritual songs.  Our Director sang a solo and it was the first time many of us had heard him sing.  He has a wonderful voice!

The trips to the bike repair shop was unfortunate because some people have to borrow my bike and break it.  But of course, its never their fault and they are never made to make good on it.  But the bike is now locked up and I am the only one with the key to it.  I did make a stop at Starbucks which was almost on the way to the repair shop.  Love my Frappichinos!

Dad and ESM were having issues with some spam from their email account so I stopped over to help out with that.  Of course, it became more involved than I anticipated.

I am working on reclaiming a flower bed.  Its all grass so I have to cultivate it, scoop out the grass and roots, then cultivate it again for anything I can't get out by hand.  BUT I did find Tulips and daffodils in there which I think I will transplant.   I will work some more on that tonight after work.

Grocery shopping needs no details.  I still can't figure out why it takes 2 hours to get through the store.....  But if you are trailing a teenager that might explain some of it.

At least the sun was shining and it was warm!  Overall, a good weekend!  Tell me about yours!

Tuesday Thoughts

Who ordered the snow?  And the Uber Cold Weather?  YUCK to both!  There was probably an inch of snow last night but since it was also SO cold, it stuck.  I had to scrape my car off this morning. I can probably count on one hand how many times I've had to scrape my car this winter. Its predicted to stay in the 20's for the rest of the week!  YIKES!

But it looks like it will warm up in time for me to go swimming on SuperBowl Sunday!  Yes, Neicy and I are doing the Polar Bear Plunge again this year!  We've always had wonderful weather and such a great time!  Our crazi-plunge benefits the Special Olympics of DE and I am taking donations!  I have a website where you can securely donate.  Help make my Craziness Profitable for this wonderful Non-Profit!



Neicy, Jakes and me in 2010.

Jakes turns 14 this coming weekend! He's put in his request for dinner and he wants Mom's Homemade Meatloaf.  YUM!  I guess we will be having a full house again this weekend.  We are going to make cupcakes to take to the horse farm this weekend.  Its going to be a busy weekend!



AZ has been fighting with his BP again.  There is no reason for the meds to not work!  They are the same meds he's been taking for years.  Every once in a while, he gets this break through high BP that is scary!  We've spent some time in the ER this weekend.  He's going to his Dr tomorrow.  Hopefully, they can figure something out to keep this from happening.


With all the waiting time I've had this weekend, I've gotten a BUNCH of reading done!  Since I had four library books come available at the same time, I've had to keep my nose in the iPad.  lol  I am done two of the books and am working my way through the third.



Tonight we go back to SINGING!  I'm so excited!  We are going to be singing Spring-type songs!  I've missed seeing these people each week.




Jakes has joined Google+ and friended me.  I don't use Google+ very much but he refuses to sign up for Facebook.  But I don't know that I would friend him on facebook either.  There might be things on there I post that he doesn't need to see.  So far, I don't have to worry about it.  Maybe someday, he'll want to join the masses.

Holiday Concert

I have the best Daddy around!

He videoed this with his phone.

Its just a snipit of the concert.

Enjoy!

Unfortunately, you can't see me because I'm behind the mic.

But I am there!  It was a wonderful concert both nights.

I am going to miss gathering and singing with this wonderful group of people while we are on break.  But we will get back together at the end of January!

Its Almost Time

We were walking about the grocery store shopping for Turkey Day and remarking about how annoying the Christmas music was.  Can't we have Thanksgiving without it being over run by Christmas?

A couple of days later, I was in the car and flipping through radio stations.  So many were playing Christmas music and again we were a little annoyed by it.  I'm not ready for Christmas music every where I go.

I think its funny that I've been annoyed by the Christmas music surrounding me when I've been practicing Christmas music for the choir concert in December.  I've been singing Christmas music since September!  What right do I have to be annoyed by Christmas music in stores in November?

We practiced on stage this last week and Boy, Do We Sound GOOD!  And we are having FUN with the songs.  This is such a wonderful group of people who get together to share their love of music and their talents.  I am still blown away by the talent in this group.  I definitely made a wonderful decision to join them.



Practicing on stage.
Can you find me?
I'm there!

We have one more practice then we do it For Real.  I can't wait to see the theater full of community members coming to enjoy our sounds.  ESM will be at one of the concerts so I'll get some good pictures and maybe even some sounds to share with you.

where have i been?

Living life is the only answer I can give.  There are things going on that I can't put out here because they are not just mine to share.  I am fine and we are fine.

Choir is going wonderfully.  So far, there isn't ONE song that I do not like. Its going to be a fun concert!  I missed two weeks of singing because of Dad's heart struggles but got right back into choir last week.

Then, on my way home, AZ texted that he was in ER.  sigh......  He has high BP that is usually controlled by meds.  But when he's stressed and/or depressed, it spikes to extremely high levels.  That's what happened last week.  scary. 

We were in ER for HOURS!  The Dr "eventually" came to see him and it still took a long time to get the meds and scans completed to ensure AZ was ok.  When his BP came down enough, they sent us home.  At 3 am and I had to get up at 7 to go to work.  I couldn't take the day off because I have applications due.  sigh......

AZ will be following up with his Dr for the BP as well as for the stress and depression.  In the meantime, we are monitoring his BP and I am encouraging him to get off the couch, even for little things.  I told him Jaxon would LOVE to go for a walk up the to river, which will be good for both of them.  I also offered to let him do my housework.  giggle!

Time will tell how things go for him, for us.  Its all just life.

Spirits Soaring - WW



Spirits Soaring
Along with my Voice
Its CHOIR TIME again!



When I Feel Like a Failure

I had a lovely weekend.  Jakes was camping with my parents and they had a wonderful time.  They reported that Jakes was very well behaved, helpful and without a smart mouth.  I'm so proud that he was such a help and had a wonderful time with them.  He can't wait to go camping with them again.  Since Jakes has moved, he hasn't had much alone time with them.

ESM reported that she can see a difference in Jakes without his ADHD medication.  He's not unbearable but he had, I guess "ticks" is the best way to describe it.  He would make noises and couldn't seem to control them.  She said they weren't bad, or even too annoying but she also noticed that he didn't do them when he was on the medication.  She was very proud of how Jakes behaved and helped g-pop with setting up and taking down.  I'm very proud of Jakes too.

OH.  His father took him off the meds but didn't tell me.  Jakes told me that he wasn't on them anymore.  And yet, I have a new receipt for a refill of the medication from his father and no explanation from him as to whether Jakes is on or off the medication.  Wonderful parenting.  But that's another story.

Before my concert on Saturday evening, Kathy and I met friends from Maryland for dinner and they attended the concert.   They loved it! and I loved having them there to share my fun.

On the ride to dinner, I chatted with Kathy about needing space and wanting to live my life without having to be saddled with babysitting duties when my parents go out.  I was not THIS blunt with her and she understood. Or so I think.  She asked me to take care of her animals while she goes to FL with my parents at the end of the month.  sigh.  I think I need to move.

In the space of an hour and half, Jakes and I managed to have 4 major blow ups about various things.  Mostly me getting upset with him for his disrespectful way of treating me and other adults.  By the time I had to leave for concert #2, I was feeling so low and like such a failure, it wasn't fun to sing at all.  I just couldn't pull myself up enough to enjoy the concert.  Oh, I was on stage and sang, but there was no enthusiasm from me. booooooo

That lasted for the rest of the evening.  AZ wasn't having a very good day either.  He wasn't feeling well and there were outside forces that annoyed him.  He said he did have a good visit with his son while they were taking JR back home.  I'm glad JR cared enough to talk with his dad and get his mind off his troubles, even for a little while.  JR seems to be a good kid.  I'm looking forward to getting to know him better.

Later Sunday night, Jakes father is making threats to take me to court again.  That's all they are, threats.  And if he actually DOES take me to court, I'm not worried.  I just wish he would respect the restraints and not make those threats.  I will definitely bring that up in court if we go. SO, things in my house on Sunday night were not very pleasant.  I went to bed early.

What was a wonderful start to a weekend, ended an a pretty sour note.  Next weekend will be better.

My Weekend

Here is a little something of what I did this weekend.....  I am in the front row, second from the left.......

Monday, Monday

Its a rainy Monday and I'm a happy camper!  The rain will wash away the snow and ice and the temperatures will be warmer than they were over the weekend.  I really do not like this kind of a winter!

After Venting about my start with Jakes, things got better between us.  I had yelled at him and threatened to take him back to his fathers if he didn't change how he was treating the people at the Compound.  When I got out of the shower, he was a different kid.  He apologized to me and he worked really hard to change his attitude toward me.  On Sunday, when it was time for him to get ready to leave, he said he didn't want to go back to his Dad's.  He said it was because he didn't want to go to school on Tuesday but I think there is more going on over there then he's telling me.  The complete story will come out eventually, in dribs and drabs.

I am looking forward to singing tomorrow; I really missed singing last semester.  We have some really NEAT songs to learn; the spring concert is going to be such FUN!  doom-a-loom-a, doom-a-loom-a, doom-a-loom-a, doom-a-loom-a, doom-a-loom-a.

Jakes is turning 13 on Friday.  Everyone gets to choose where we go to dinner for their birthday, even if they want to eat at home.  Jakes let me know where he wants to go and who to invite.  Last night when he got home, he asked if he could invite a GIRL to dinner with us!  Um.... sure.... my baby is growing up!  A GIRL!  sigh..... I don't think I'm ready for this......


**I know the girl and her grandmother lives at The Compound**

The Blogging Mama Andrea put me onto a new book, Every Day a Friday, by Joel Osteen.  I read the first chapter and it really hit home for me.  I can't wait for it to be available at my local library (there's a waiting list) so I can finish reading it!  I don't know how I'm going to feel about the religious part of the book but I'm sure there are loads of ways I can apply what he's saying to my life, with or without the religious aspect.  Maybe I can even get Neicy to read it........

Dad and Renie bought a camper, henceforth named The Thing!  Its SO Nice too.  They are planning lots of weekend trips for all of us.  Should be interesting and fun!

Time to get this Monday, Monday rolling.  Have a good one!

Fabulous Friday

Its a Fabulous Friday before a 3 day weekend!  I get Jakes for Friday through Sunday and I've asked his dad if I can keep him until Monday evening since he's off school.  I'll probably regret it, considering Jakes was being bratty to me via text last night.

JF lives to annoy me.  On TUESDAY, I sent an email asking if I can keep Jakes on the following Monday.  JF read the email on Tuesday afternoon, yet he still hasn't bothered to let me know if I can keep Jakes on Monday.  Jakes said JF has talked to him about the schedule but of course, Jakes isn't supposed to get in the middle of things.  Why is it so hard to email me back to let me know what the schedule is?  I mean, you're right there reading the email, how hard is it to click "reply" and let me know what's going on?  JF does this all the time.  I think its because he doesn't want to email, he wants to text to me.  I want emails because if I have to go to court, I can use the emails as proof.  I can't easily get the text messages printed.

Or its just another way JF has to try and control me.  A$$hole.

Well, the cold that took my voice last weekend is still here in full force.  Only now its in my head.  I cannot breathe but I have snot dripping.  That is so gross.  And all the people I've talked to who have this cold say it hangs on and hangs on and hangs on.  HELP!  I need spring!

I was chatting with AZ yesterday and he said it was lovely weather out there.  He had his patio door open and was enjoying the warm.  I'm so jealous!  We had a cold front move through yesterday and this morning we had a temp of 17.  Freaking COLD. 

He's moving slowly on wrapping things up out there to move back here.  He wants to try and wait out the cold weather here before he comes back.  I don't blame him!  I'm thinking the snow-birds have the right idea; head south for the winter.  Someday......

Dad and ESM are looking for a motor home.  Dad is retired, ESM is almost ready to retire, she only has a few more years to ensure health benefits.  So they are looking for a motor home so they can tool around the country when they are both retired.  Good for them!  Of course, that would leave me in charge of Kathy.  hmmmmm.........  Maybe its time to get a life of my own............  I have a couple of years to do that!

I've cut back on my depression meds and don't seem to be experiencing too much in the way of side effects.  Life is still good.  I'm still happy.  I have been wishing I could spend more time in bed, avoiding life but I've also had this miserable cold.  When I'm sick, all I want is to curl up in bed and sleep.

This weekend with Jakes will be a good trial to see if I can be around him without depression meds.  One of my co-workers suggested that I might need something to take just when he's with me; something with quick relief and short acting.  I hope not but its definitely something I will consider if necessary.  Jakes has been my biggest stressor and depressor.  I'm hoping that we can continue to be in a good place together that I won't need the meds at all.  Fingers crossed!

My computer at work is slowly falling failing.  I've been having trouble with the 'f' and 'u' keys.  IT thinks my hard drive is going bad.  They want to swap out my laptop for a different one. sigh.  That means I have to take all my personalization stuff off this laptop and then put it back on the other laptop.  Fun stuff!  But it means I will have a laptop that will actually work and not sit and spin, doing nothing.  It is an old laptop, over 6 years old and its got a lot of hours on it.

OOOOO!  Choir practice starts on Tuesday! I can't wait!  Of course with the cold, I don't know how much singing I'll be able to do but I'll be there to start learning the songs!  Such FUN!

In February I will be starting a new part-time job.  Its going to be exciting and fun!  More info to come........

Have a wonderful weekend and stay WARM!

Hobbies

When I was growing up, my mom was the most talented person I knew.  In addition to keeping the house and raising us kids, she sewed beautiful projects, she cross-stitched, and she gardened and canned the veggies.

Since I have been out on my own, I have never found that "thing" to do to amuse myself when the housework is done and the kid is in bed.  I've typically sat in front of the TV or surfed the web looking at stupid mind-numbing stuff.  Occasionally, I will find a book to read.

I can sew a bit (mom taught me the basics) but I never fell in love with it the way she did. I certainly don't have her talent.  She could see a dress in a store, do a quick drawing of it and come home to stitch it up.  I don't have the patience for cross-stitching and just don't have the desire to learn knitting or crocheting.

At one point, I played the flute and I love just about all things associated with music.  My choir practices start up again in September.  I can't WAIT!

I am looking for hobbies to do in the evenings after the house work is done and the kid is in bed.  I am looking a hobby that won't necessarily take me out of the house but has the possibility of expanding my social base.  I would love for it to be fairly inexpensive.

What are some interesting things you do with your down time?