Joe Cool is grounded from his phone, again.Poor guy just doesn't think the ground rules apply to him, apparently. No deleting texts. No calls or texts after 9pm. No asking girls out or breaking up via text. No offensive messages or pictures from or to you.
I just don't understand how stupid kids think we adults are. I mean, in my day, my parents had no proof of secret conversations on the phone (unless the calls were long distance, and realllly long- say to that guy you were in love with that you talked to for hours on end) (what? i paid them back!). If a kid decided then to deceive her parents, it was way easier than it is today. Today, cell phones exist. Every kid has one or wants one. It doesn't fly that they can't call, didn't know what time it was, didn't hear it ring, or had the phone off. Because all parents know that the teens text constantly, check messages compulsively and never have it on ring, but they answer those vibrating tones quicker than a viper strikes.
I am not a mom that wants to snoop. I really don't want to know everything that is going on in my kids life. But when their behavior and attitude warrant it, I am not above snooping like the best blood hound on the planet. And my poor son just doesn't get it. He was shocked that his use of the cell phone/texting for multiple break-ups and renewed vows of love with the same girl over 3 days, plus the late night texts, deleted conversations, and the final straw of compulsively calling and texting another girl (who was at work and couldn't talk) to ask her out (for the Nth time) resulted in loss of phone use. Seriously? Seriously?!
So, he is phone-less and actually SPOKE on a real phone with his VOICE yesterday- to a GIRL. It was amazing. I don't know when he will get his cell phone back, but I am in no hurry- this is kinda fun...of course it would be even more nostalgic if the land-line phone he used still had a 50ft. coiled cord attached that snaked down the hallway and under his locked door....but watching his leap like a gazelle to grab the cordless was fun,too. :) I jsut wish there was a way to pick up the other cordless phone and start dialing over their conversations...LOL.
Llama girl has been busy as well. She got sick with an ear infection and tonsillitis, after regular doctors office hours, of course. Did you ever notice that a child has 10 times the energy after recovering? Well, by Sunday, my Llama was so wired with renewed health, we had to sit in the back at church because she just couldn't sit still- or rather, she wouldn't quit sitting upside down with her feet waving in the face of the people in the pew behind us. For all the wonderful technology that antibiotic medication is, what with saving lives and all- Zithromax broke my Llama's arm.
OK, so not literally. But curing her infections and all that energy made her decide that she might be Olympics bound with this. very. cartwheel. Watch Me!!!!! Nothing unusual for her, she does cartwheels and flips all the time. She took off running, planted her hands down, flipped over...and landed on her stomach because her arm broke mid-flip.
So, now we have an almost 5 year-old in a bright pink cast. For. 6-8. WEEKS.
It was a clean break, no complications. Lots of attention, gifts, cards and sympathy, poor baby girl, right? Oh, wait- we almost forgot who we are speaking of. Her name IS Llama, Llama, Girlie Drama for a REASON!!!
So, she is one-winged and acts like an invalid when it suits her, particularly when I am cooking supper, or when it is time to clean up her room. Her casted arm only itches when she is sleepy, and the new complaint last night was that the cotton lining was sticking to her hand?!
This is Day 5 of logging my slow decent into insanity. Take note so that when my trial begins, I will have a legitimate defense, please.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Procrastination
Procrastination is my middle name. I do my best work when put in a crunch. Well, that's what I used to tell myself. Then I had kids. I have since learned, slowly, that things that I put off until Scarlett O'Hara's famous "tomorr'a is anoth'a day" rarely get done. Not only that, but then I have to explain to my husband why I didn't do it. Talk about feeling like a kid caught with my hand in the cookie jar.
So, today I am procrastinating doing the last of our tax stuff. We have QuickBooks online, which links to our bank account, and has made my life 90% easier when it comes to entering expenses in the register. All too easy. So easy that I have gotten 8 months behind in entering the details of those entries. I see that the phone bill cleared the bank, and that QB logged it- but the darned QB doesn't enter the name of the bill or what category it goes under- just the amount. Sigh. SO, now I am playing avoidance with my Boss- who happens to be my husband. Are we ready to turn our taxes in yet...ummmmmmm, not quite ready, dear. This week! Promise! that was last week...
So I guess I will get it done today...I hate having to get things done, why can't I put it off until tomorrow?
I suppose I learned at an early age that procrastinating was good for me. Waiting to finish homework, especially writing book reports, almost always resulted in good grades. Not to say all my grades were good- just those that I waited to finish. I still find my self waiting, pondering, dwelling on things in my mind. I am teaching K-2 grade Bible class right now and do I spend all week planning our class activity? Have you not been reading this? So I find myself, at 20 minutes before the bell, scrounging for glue, and darting around in the rain for sticks to make a picture of Abraham & Isaac. And the project came out well and was fun!
BUT, this bad habit has resulted in me putting off serious exercise and diet habits for 10 years. Come to think of it, the last time I got serious about getting healthy was 2 years ago, when I went to a "Military brat" reunion. Again, I had a deadline- I needed to be thinner. What is my motivation now? Hmmmmmm. I was thinking of something like a jar with money in it- $1 for every pound I have to lose. I get the money back with each lost pound....but, no, that isn't motivating enough. Sigh. I am working on working toward motivating myself to do this. It is incredibly hard to change a life-long habit. So, I will think on it....perhaps tomorrow....after all....
TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY!
So, today I am procrastinating doing the last of our tax stuff. We have QuickBooks online, which links to our bank account, and has made my life 90% easier when it comes to entering expenses in the register. All too easy. So easy that I have gotten 8 months behind in entering the details of those entries. I see that the phone bill cleared the bank, and that QB logged it- but the darned QB doesn't enter the name of the bill or what category it goes under- just the amount. Sigh. SO, now I am playing avoidance with my Boss- who happens to be my husband. Are we ready to turn our taxes in yet...ummmmmmm, not quite ready, dear. This week! Promise! that was last week...
So I guess I will get it done today...I hate having to get things done, why can't I put it off until tomorrow?
I suppose I learned at an early age that procrastinating was good for me. Waiting to finish homework, especially writing book reports, almost always resulted in good grades. Not to say all my grades were good- just those that I waited to finish. I still find my self waiting, pondering, dwelling on things in my mind. I am teaching K-2 grade Bible class right now and do I spend all week planning our class activity? Have you not been reading this? So I find myself, at 20 minutes before the bell, scrounging for glue, and darting around in the rain for sticks to make a picture of Abraham & Isaac. And the project came out well and was fun!
BUT, this bad habit has resulted in me putting off serious exercise and diet habits for 10 years. Come to think of it, the last time I got serious about getting healthy was 2 years ago, when I went to a "Military brat" reunion. Again, I had a deadline- I needed to be thinner. What is my motivation now? Hmmmmmm. I was thinking of something like a jar with money in it- $1 for every pound I have to lose. I get the money back with each lost pound....but, no, that isn't motivating enough. Sigh. I am working on working toward motivating myself to do this. It is incredibly hard to change a life-long habit. So, I will think on it....perhaps tomorrow....after all....
TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Old Friends and Memories
Ok, so first let me say, it is not easy to get out of the house on a Wednesday. Alone. On time. I was late leaving, got muddy in the rain, had no time to go buy that cute top I just know was waiting for me at the store, and everyone was driving 50mph on the highway. Dropped Llama at a friends and dashed out- humidity induced frizz frizzing behind me. I was an hour late.
I was an hour late to visit my long lost BFF's, the ones I fretted about seeing. And of course, I was silly to worry. Yes, I am still fat. Yes, I still need to shop for some cuter duds- so I looked shlumpy. But as soon as the door opened- voila- a hug, a look, and we were pals again. (a bummer that one friend couldn't make it- Connie lives 4 hours away)
It had been 22 years since 2 of us moved away. Chris still lives there in the big city, Jasmine has been in Australia for 18 years, and I am in a small rural town, Population 500. Between the three of us, there was more gray, more wrinkles, 5 marriages (2,2,1) and 10 children (4,4,2). Strangers with a common past.
But the more we talked, about the past and our lives now, the more familiar we became. The faces might have changed, but the voice, the mannerisms and the things that make us quirky and unique are the same. And the eyes - I could see my memories in their eyes. I understand now exactly how effective those pictures with the eyes blacked out can be. You think you know who that is, but without the eyes, are you sure?
Oddly, we all intended to bring pictures to share and we all forgot.
I got to meet their spouses. It was great fun to talk with an Australian that has never been to America. Jazz' husband, Mark is a witty, smart man. He commented on how many restaurants we have and how unique the bright yellow school buses are to us. And, of course, that we drive on the wrong side of the road. Oh, and when are we going to go with the rest of the world to the Metric System? (I wonder that myself, my teachers lied- I don't think we're any closer to doing that since they tried to convince us that we needed to learn it!) He takes wonderful pictures. And the accent is greatness. Australians end their words on an up-note. Life sounds more pleasant when ending on an up-note.
Mindy, Chris' wife, was quiet but pleasant, and clearly loves her husband. Like so many have in this down economy, she just recently found another job after being out of work for awhile. She doesn't like her new job, but is glad to have one at all. With 4 children, I can imagine the financial strain!
Unfortunately, Jazz was in town because her father passed away recently. A sad reason to come home. She is the youngest of 6, so her 2 week visit is full of family. I am hoping they might get to come my way before she leaves. Maybe. Her family is busy trying to give them real Texas experiences. What is that? They did the rodeo and stockyards. They bought some cowboy boots. Good enough.
We shared our fleeting memories of our time together. Through the bits and pieces we had a few funny stories- the swimming pool, boys we had crushes on, music we loved. I think without the spouses we would have reminisced more, but not wanting to be rude, we didn't. 4 hours later and we are yawning. Parents with responsibilities. Bummer. I would have loved to stay up all night and get to know them all again. But alas, life happens.
So we took some pictures, we hugged and parted ways. Through the world of cyberspace, we will stay in touch. But this wonderful time was an example of what I tell my son- Facebook, MySpace, email,Texting- none of it is nearly as good as a face-to-face. There is nothing personal about talking with your keyboard. Communication is 90% body language. Our visit was relaxed and familiar. I am so glad to have gotten to see them both and meet their spouses.
Perhaps one day I will make it to Australia. I have always wanted to go. Until then, I will FB, Flikr and Skype. We forget over time how much we loved some people. We forget how important they were. We forget how influential they are in helping make us who we are. And to get the chance to remember in person is a gift. I am thankful.
I was an hour late to visit my long lost BFF's, the ones I fretted about seeing. And of course, I was silly to worry. Yes, I am still fat. Yes, I still need to shop for some cuter duds- so I looked shlumpy. But as soon as the door opened- voila- a hug, a look, and we were pals again. (a bummer that one friend couldn't make it- Connie lives 4 hours away)
It had been 22 years since 2 of us moved away. Chris still lives there in the big city, Jasmine has been in Australia for 18 years, and I am in a small rural town, Population 500. Between the three of us, there was more gray, more wrinkles, 5 marriages (2,2,1) and 10 children (4,4,2). Strangers with a common past.
But the more we talked, about the past and our lives now, the more familiar we became. The faces might have changed, but the voice, the mannerisms and the things that make us quirky and unique are the same. And the eyes - I could see my memories in their eyes. I understand now exactly how effective those pictures with the eyes blacked out can be. You think you know who that is, but without the eyes, are you sure?
Oddly, we all intended to bring pictures to share and we all forgot.
I got to meet their spouses. It was great fun to talk with an Australian that has never been to America. Jazz' husband, Mark is a witty, smart man. He commented on how many restaurants we have and how unique the bright yellow school buses are to us. And, of course, that we drive on the wrong side of the road. Oh, and when are we going to go with the rest of the world to the Metric System? (I wonder that myself, my teachers lied- I don't think we're any closer to doing that since they tried to convince us that we needed to learn it!) He takes wonderful pictures. And the accent is greatness. Australians end their words on an up-note. Life sounds more pleasant when ending on an up-note.
Mindy, Chris' wife, was quiet but pleasant, and clearly loves her husband. Like so many have in this down economy, she just recently found another job after being out of work for awhile. She doesn't like her new job, but is glad to have one at all. With 4 children, I can imagine the financial strain!
Unfortunately, Jazz was in town because her father passed away recently. A sad reason to come home. She is the youngest of 6, so her 2 week visit is full of family. I am hoping they might get to come my way before she leaves. Maybe. Her family is busy trying to give them real Texas experiences. What is that? They did the rodeo and stockyards. They bought some cowboy boots. Good enough.
We shared our fleeting memories of our time together. Through the bits and pieces we had a few funny stories- the swimming pool, boys we had crushes on, music we loved. I think without the spouses we would have reminisced more, but not wanting to be rude, we didn't. 4 hours later and we are yawning. Parents with responsibilities. Bummer. I would have loved to stay up all night and get to know them all again. But alas, life happens.
So we took some pictures, we hugged and parted ways. Through the world of cyberspace, we will stay in touch. But this wonderful time was an example of what I tell my son- Facebook, MySpace, email,Texting- none of it is nearly as good as a face-to-face. There is nothing personal about talking with your keyboard. Communication is 90% body language. Our visit was relaxed and familiar. I am so glad to have gotten to see them both and meet their spouses.
Perhaps one day I will make it to Australia. I have always wanted to go. Until then, I will FB, Flikr and Skype. We forget over time how much we loved some people. We forget how important they were. We forget how influential they are in helping make us who we are. And to get the chance to remember in person is a gift. I am thankful.
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