Waiting for the Salvation Army....

As you can see from the above picture, wee one has decided not to continue with safety patrol. Here's the deal....

Progress reports came out and although she is doing well in all of her subjects, she had a "D" in math. Not because she doesn't understand it, but because they are doing timed multiplication tests for grades. So, in three minutes they have to answer 100 multiplication questions (no pressure there!), and if you don't finish....no matter how many you answer are correct (all of the ones she finishes are)....you are graded on the amount answered. The first few tests she took were not good....she had left 47 unanswered, then 32, and so on. The last test she took she only left 17 unanswered, so she got a B.

Being that membership in safety patrol is based on grades, when she got the progress report she was put on "probation". (along with many others) Last night she took me into the bedroom and explained why she wanted to quit. She said that she is so worried about getting a good grade, that she is having a hard time concentrating on the work. She said that her worrying has gotten worse and that her ocd is kicking into high gear. So, she has decided that instead of doing poorly in math, she would rather quit the patrol and work on her grades.

I was so proud of her. It's not that she wants to quit because it is hard, or because she doesn't like standing in the heat....she wants to quit so that her school work does not suffer. I asked her if she would wait it out until report cards come out, because she will surely bring the grade up....but she insists she wants to quit at the end of the month. I am asking her to think about it, but in the end, it will be her decision. I told her that whatever she decides, I will understand....

I am sitting here waiting for the Salvation Army guys to come and take away my dining room table and a love seat. I can't wait to be able to walk through my computer room without smacking my knee on things! LOL....I managed to come up with a few bags of clothes and toys as well. John will be happy, since two of those bags have been in my car for a while now.

It was sort of cool this morning when I took Betsy to the bus stop. I actually had the windows down. It was cool....but a "humid-cool". Not the fresh, crisp cool that I am longing for....but at this point I will take what I can get. I see that we are getting a cool front though....next week it is going to be a chilly 86! Better break out the sweaters! The strange thing is that the pool water is cooler than before. All summer it stays so warm that it is almost unrefreshing....but lately it's been on the cold side....which is a sign that the nights are getting somewhat cooler.

I am going to go finish my cleaning and pick the damn dog up off the kitchen floor....he has been laying there barking for 15 minutes. Now before I get a call from PETA, I need to say that he has been fed, watered and walked....he is just too lazy to get up on his own. If I had a steak next to me, he'd find a way to pick his butt up!

A bunch of stuff....

Betsy:  The test went wonderfully. They told her that she would feel a warm sensation as the dye was injected, and a metallic taste in her mouth....neither of which happened. They told her if they saw any remaining stones she would have to stay for another test, but they did not find any. She feels pretty good today. The only lasting effect she had from the test was from the laxative she had to take beforehand....I know she is going to hate me for writing that! LOL....

Hayley: When she left today, she felt confident that she knew all about polygons, triangles and her science vocabulary words. I told her that she did really well working with me, and not to worry. Still, I said a little prayer in the shower today....

Percy: I guess I shouldn't have yelled at him for going on the rug as the vet said he had a "nasty UTI". He is on medication and hasn't had any accidents since....thank goodness. He's laying right here licking his paw....

John: Well, I don't really have an update for him. He's doing okay though. He got his pen back from the engravers yesterday....it was the gift that all the people in the shop bought him for his birthday. It's really nice and has his name engraved on it. He showed it off during a management meeting and the boss wouldn't even look at it, or comment that it was a nice thing for them to do.....he's jealous that everyone loves my hubby and can't stand him. (With good reason, but we won't go into it here....you never know who is reading!)

Me: I feel like someone pulled me through a keyhole backwards. Cough, congestion, chills one second, hot the next. I still have to wash my kitchen floor and it's 1:00! Now you KNOW I don't feel well when that happens....I am going to try and sew for a while though, as they are needing a load. The mornings here have had a slight "fall" feel to them. And I do mean slight. Just something in the air that smells like autumn. Of course, during the day it's in the 90's....which is not my idea of fall....but then, that is what I get for living here. Not for long though....

 

"It is autumn's signature color. Rust on an old farm implement, time's signature of days gone by. Leaves swirling and gliding along the forest path, crunching underfoot in a sea of orange. Harvest moon, hung low in the sky, glowing as though lit from within. It's the blazing grin of the jack-o-lantern, sanguine rays of light emiting from it's carved features. Orange is an amalgamation of energetic red and the happiness of yellow. The colors marry to create blistering images of color. Flaming tongues of fire, lapping at the heavens, trying to escape containment. It's twilight upon the horizon, as the sun sinks slowly and night emerges. It is, simply, orange."~slb

Busy day....

Today is the big day....kidney testing! Betsy went into work with her dad this morning, as the testing facility is just down the road from John's office. He is going to take her....::gasp::..I'm a little nervous, as he has never done anything like this on his own before. Don't get me wrong, he is a great dad, but this is usually something that I, or both of us take care of. I'm sure he will do just fine....Betsy has been having intermittent pain, so it will be very interesting to see what they find. I just pray the testing goes quickly and easily! (He just called me and they only left 15 minutes ago....there are three different offices listed on the paper and he wasn't sure which one to go to....I TOLD him last night which one....dear Lord....)

While they are at the testing place, I will be at the vet with Percy. He is having a problem and I'm not sure what is going on. Let's just say it involves his bladder, my carpet, and lots of paper towels. Thank God for home steam cleaning machines. He is being confined to the porch until the matter is settled....

We are getting our couch and table today....yippee! I'm so excited. I moved the dining room around yesterday, and also steam cleaned the family room for a nice, clean palette to work with. The Salvation Army is coming on Thursday to pick up the dining room table and loveseat....I should throw in the two bags of toys I have had in the back of my car for months that I've been meaning to take to Goodwill. John reminds me every time he opens the back of the van. I keep forgetting....

My back hurts so bad that it is radiating down my legs....I must have injured a disk or something. I have taken some pain medication and I hope it kicks in before I have to drag the dog to the vet. He does not do good on tile floors, which means a lot of picking him up. Wouldn't that be a scene if both of us fell on the floor....we would both just lay there and whine, waiting for someone to pick us up....although hopefully I would retain my bladder control....

I have tons of sewing to do today between movers, doctors and vet appointments. Not to mention having to help wee one study for the big "polygon quiz" tomorrow. We spent last evening going over things. I think she will do fine if she can get over her nerves. I have never seen someone so tightly wound over tests. She is one of those kids that absolutely freeze when the test is put in front of them. I could ask her questions all night long and she will answer them, but the next day the same questions can be on a test and she will forget everything. If anyone has ANY suggestions on how I can help her to get over this.....please let me know. I hate to see her nervous all the time. She has been put on Zantac because her nerves have caused her to have acid reflux. I was amazed when the doc said that lots of kids her age are on it. The funny thing is that she is such a mellow, happy child. She is so laid back most of the time....it makes me feel terrible to know she suffers like this.

Okay, time to get another half hour of sleep before the day begins....later gators....

Busy day....

Today is the big day....kidney testing! Betsy went into work with her dad this morning, as the testing facility is just down the road from John's office. He is going to take her....::gasp::..I'm a little nervous, as he has never done anything like this on his own before. Don't get me wrong, he is a great dad, but this is usually something that I, or both of us take care of. I'm sure he will do just fine....Betsy has been having intermittent pain, so it will be very interesting to see what they find. I just pray the testing goes quickly and easily! (He just called me and they only left 15 minutes ago....there are three different offices listed on the paper and he wasn't sure which one to go to....I TOLD him last night which one....dear Lord....)

While they are at the testing place, I will be at the vet with Percy. He is having a problem and I'm not sure what is going on. Let's just say it involves his bladder, my carpet, and lots of paper towels. Thank God for home steam cleaning machines. He is being confined to the porch until the matter is settled....

We are getting our couch and table today....yippee! I'm so excited. I moved the dining room around yesterday, and also steam cleaned the family room for a nice, clean palette to work with. The Salvation Army is coming on Thursday to pick up the dining room table and loveseat....I should throw in the two bags of toys I have had in the back of my car for months that I've been meaning to take to Goodwill. John reminds me every time he opens the back of the van. I keep forgetting....

My back hurts so bad that it is radiating down my legs....I must have injured a disk or something. I have taken some pain medication and I hope it kicks in before I have to drag the dog to the vet. He does not do good on tile floors, which means a lot of picking him up. Wouldn't that be a scene if both of us fell on the floor....we would both just lay there and whine, waiting for someone to pick us up....although hopefully I would retain my bladder control....

I have tons of sewing to do today between movers, doctors and vet appointments. Not to mention having to help wee one study for the big "polygon quiz" tomorrow. We spent last evening going over things. I think she will do fine if she can get over her nerves. I have never seen someone so tightly wound over tests. She is one of those kids that absolutely freeze when the test is put in front of them. I could ask her questions all night long and she will answer them, but the next day the same questions can be on a test and she will forget everything. If anyone has ANY suggestions on how I can help her to get over this.....please let me know. I hate to see her nervous all the time. She has been put on Zantac because her nerves have caused her to have acid reflux. I was amazed when the doc said that lots of kids her age are on it. The funny thing is that she is such a mellow, happy child. She is so laid back most of the time....it makes me feel terrible to know she suffers like this.

Okay, time to get another half hour of sleep before the day begins....later gators....

Waitin' for Monday....

I think I'm going to call the Salvation Army and donate another couch and my dining room set. I need to get rid of some of this furniture! I'm running out of places to put it. I have an overstuffed chair in my dining room and with the new harvest table I'm getting from my mom, I will need more room as it is bigger than the round table that's in there now. So....here's the plan:

Take the couch out of Betsy's room.
Put the overstuffed chair in there.
Give the couch and table to SA.
Drive my husband nuts asking him to move furniture again.

Sounds good to me!

Today I spent organizing and throwing things out. You just don't realize how much crud you accumulate through the years. I'm trying to get down to the nitty gritty....keeping only the things we use or may use in the near future. If I haven't unpacked it/used it since Indiana, it's outta here. I hate feeling cluttered.

I bought my new mop on Saturday. I'm very excited to try it out....it's a Rubbermaid. I went to WalMart for Pine Sol and a pool vacuum hose and came out with $180 worth of stuff. But I really needed it....I mean, who knows if they will have the 24 oz. bottle of liquid Peppermint scented potpourri in December! And Betsy really did need a faux crushed velvet body pillow cover. And I was desperate for colorful fall leaves to put in the glass pumpkin that's on my dining room table....not to metion the bill organizer/corkboard/dry erase board I needed for above my desk. See? All things I just couldn't wait to get. Of course I forgot the lip balm I was out of as well as the fabric softener. But I can remind myself to get it next time by tacking a note up on my handy-dandy corkboard!

Ahhhh, here comes Mr. B., with a romantic proposition for me....you know the kind. It's late, the kids are asleep, hubby walks up behind you, puts his hands on your shoulders and whispers in your ear...."Come to the bedroom sweetie....I need you to iron me a shirt for tomorrow."

Now, how can I resist that?

A plethora of pictures....for your pleasure....

Today the Salvation Army folks came over and picked up our sectional couch. I had to clean behind it and I came across my container of pictures. I thought I'd scan a few for your viewing pleasure....enjoy!

eBay keeps me purty....

Another winning bid on eBay....a "professional" cosmetics case, sleek and shiny in silver. Gotta love that! I was using my poor, broken down Caboodles carrier that I've had for 10 years and it needed to be replaced. So, I went on eBay and found this baby....I got it today. Wee one was happy with it too....as she took the old carrier and is now using it to house her "makeup".  Even dh had to admit it was nice....

I won another bid today....I haven't been on eBay for months and all of a sudden I'm there looking and bidding. I got a cd this time. Wee one loves listening to my Amelie soundtrack every morning on the way to school, so I got another cd by the same artist. The reviews were good....so I'm looking forward to receiving it. I also had to buy John's books for school today....I got one at eCampus and one at half.com. Boy, that is the way to go. I got both books for the price of one. I'm sorry, but $100 for a paperback textbook is ridiculous. He will learn just as much from a book that has already been opened. Sheesh.

I'm keeping my eye on Ophelia, who is hanging out on the coast....a mere 150 miles south of us. Fortunately, the hurricane centers have said that she is turning slightly east and will be headed out to sea....but then, you never know when it comes to "mother nature". It's been cloudy and rainy here for the past five days, which has been wonderful....but the seven day forecast has us sunny and in the 90's by Monday. Yuck. How about some 70's? I will even take 75....

I am up waiting for Betsy to get home from work. She had to work until close tonight, which gives her a whopping 5 1/2 hours of sleep. Me too, actually, since I wait up for her, then get up to drive her to the bus stop. I just don't feel safe letting her walk, being that it's 1/4 mile, in the dark, on a main street with cars flying by....of course, she really isn't safe walking 25 feet to the bus even if I drive her. Why? Well....

You know the crazy lady neighbor who shares all her personal woes....well, her son is a sophomore this  year and she drives him to the bus stop. She is always there before me so I park behind her to wait. She used to be there after me, and would park crooked with her lights on, which would reflect in my mirrors and blind me every morning (common courtesy? Naaaaah.). Anyway,  every morning Betsy walks past her van to get on the bus. EVERY morning. You can't miss her. Well, normal people can't. Yesterday the bus pulls up, Betsy gets out and starts walking....mind you we can't go anywhere because the bus is blocking the street and there is a stop sign....crazy lady starts pulling forward, totally oblivious to Betsy. I'm thinking, surely she will stop because Betsy is right by her window. No....I'm about to lay on the horn when she slams on her brakes and realizes she is about to crush Bets between her bumper and the bus. I'm telling you, this woman is NUTS.

WooHoo! Betsy is home safe and sound and I can go to bed....nighty night!