Busy, busy week

Sorry I have been so silent, but life has been busy here in the land of teendom.

Monday- Mom had a benefits fair after work, sheentered to win a Wii but failed. Raced home to make dinner.

Rundown interrupted for Mattism-Bad presidents are not bad because of their own fault, they happen to be president during a war they did not start, so it is not their fault.
Tuesday-Mom raced home to make dinner. Kristen had band practice from 6-9 and Matt had music lesson from 7-7:30. Kristen announced that she now has to be there at 5:45. Huh? When did that change happen? Mom needs notice for changes. Mom made mac and cheese for her but she could not eat it. Kristen has been taking me for short walk every night after dinner. I was not going to miss out on this just because Kristen had marching band practice. No leash? Ok, I can deal. Kris opened the door to leave and outI went. This was followed by lots of yelling and screaming. I did not need this. I got dragged back in the house. Mom then left with Kristen and came back grumbling that Kristen was not being nasty. I totally agree. Where is my walk.

Wednesday night-Back to school night at school,mom dragged both of them with her. Matt did not want to go. Kristen made sure I got my walk though. Thank you Kristen!
They came back several hours later with mom and Matt arguing something about a paper due the next day and Matt saying she never assigned one. Matt tends to lose these battles. It did not get as loud as usual though. Kristen did not seem too happy that she could not go on the computer though.

Thursday-Mom came home with subs.She only bought 4. Where was mine? Oh yeah, since my digestive problems I have not had one single scrap of table food-not even one grape, slice of cheese, frozen vegetable or crunchy noodle. I have been relegated to trying to trip mom as she makes dinner so she spills something. She does not seem to appreciate these efforts. Anyway, I digress. As soon as they were done eating, Mom, the Evil one and Kristen left to go to the high school-something about marching, football and cameras. Matt stayed home with me. Big Whoop. All he does is text and play video games. He did clean up the kitchen as Mom instructed. Apparently Kristen had her first marching band performance. Mom said she did great even if they have confusing uniforms. Football team lost 48-6. They were gone like 5 hours. No walk again.

Friday-Mom had to meet library friends after work, so the Evil One took Matt and Kristen to chilis. They forgot to feed me. I did not eat until like 6:30pm. I thought I was going to have to eat a chair or something. Dinner time is not as exciting as breakfast. I get my scoop of pumpkin with my food at breakfast. Seriously, have you all tried this-raw pumpkin with your kibble? IT is the best and keeps a body regular if you catch my drift?

Here Mousie, mousie, mousie

Based on the empirical evidence, The mouse or meeces are alive and well. Cleaned out cabinets under sink, bottom shelf of pantry and bottom of coat closet. This all needed to be done, but not happy about the way. Have to clean out under the vanity in the laundry room, but too tired tonight. Randy will be going to get rat poison or some such thing tomorrow. Kids have been threatened/warned about leaving food out.

It is the most wonderful time of the year

No, not Christmas, but the pitter patter(or loud stomping at the stampede decibel)of little feet down the hallways on the way to their new round of classes. Yes, school has begun once again in the SVVSD.

The Freshman:
Night before-tears and fears.
Morning of-excitement and anxiety to the point of throwing up.
After school-smiles
She has the following classes:
Day one(red day)
Band-loves it
Algebra-loves it
Biology-loves it-just wait till you dissect a pig, you won't be feeling the love then
Honors English-teacher is a spaz(replacement for original teacher who took a year off to sell insurance-go figure)

Day 2(gold day)
Band
Health-longest class ever
French-thinks this will be hard, but payoff is a trip to France in year II
World Geography-teacher is outstanding, but she will have a student teacher who is like 40 years old.

The Senior:
Day one
Recreational Games-yes this really is a class
Suspense and Mystery-thinks he may like this
Food science-yes he is taking a cooking class
Living on your own-does not think he will like this-same teacher as food science. She is talking community service projects

Day two:
symphony orchestra-hates the music, he wanted string orchestra. tough.
Weight training-no real comment
Music theory-thinks it will be boring, but will help him pursue an education in music
Stage tech-thinks he will like this, but lots of after school requirements

He still resents me beefing up his schedule. too bad, last chance for learning something for free, unless you count the taxes I pay and all the fees for these various classes.

Vacation now a staycation

Ok, we get no rain all summer. I take a day off and we have currently 52 degrees and a downpour that is supposed to last all day. We need the rain, but please just a little break so I can take the kiddos up to Estes to spend all my money at the fun park. I had no takers to go with me to Rapid City or Casper. DSon't know the plans for the day yet.

Highlights from yesterday:
steak fondue
Matt's impression of a Mexican/Canadian
Watching war games with Matt
Not working
Getting emails from my friends in NH, CA, GA, FL

I am seriously considering turning the heat on. The forcast for some areas is SNOW! yES, I said snow,snow, snow, snow.

Next FoodNetwork Star and Dental Hygiene

Conversation with Matt this evening:
Matt: It would not take too much for me to be a Food Network star.
Me: Oh?
Matt: yeah, you just need to do something simple but creative.
Me: What would be your signature dish?
Matt: Ramen with chili powder
Me THAT IS IT??
Matt: I would have to make something else like teriyaki steak with pineapple.
Me: But you do not like pineapple
Matt: I am trying to train myself to like it again.

Kristen has decided to improve the dog's dental hygiene. She bought a doggie toothbrush and poultry flavored tootbpaste. Pictures will have to be uploaded later.

Differences between my children

Today is high school orientation for Kristen. Looking back there are a few differences between Matt and Kristen

Clothes-Matt wore something probably off of the floor.
Kristen carefully selected her outfit and conferred with at least two friends and tried it on late at night.

School Supplies-Matt resisted getting any. Kristen and same friends described them on the phone to each other in great detail.

Morning of orientation-Matt was hesitant to go, had to be dragged from bed. Kristen was up at 5:20 and immediately texted friends to see if they were up. This starts at 7:30.

First day of school will seem like two star systems colliding. Can hardly wait for the explosion.

So the high school experience begins for Kristen

Today is the 1st day of bandcamp. We went shopping yesterday for water bottle(huge battle over this), sunglasses, notebook and plastic page protectors. Today, she got up at 5:30 so she could shower, dry her hair, straighten her hair and pack her lunch. She was ready by 7am so all of us are hoping we get to sleep a little later tomorrow.

Matt is scheduled for no hours at the bowling alley, so he will be calling his boss(who we all agree is an idiot) to find out what's what. He will also be applying for a part time cashier job at Budget Home Center. He and I will be seeing the batman movie this afternoon.

I am going out for lunch with a friend today. Can't wait.

Sabrina apparently has forgotten where her water bowl and food bowl are. Doggie Alzheimer's?

15,000 books later...

All the books for the new libraries have been shelved! Yes 15,000 is the correct number. It has been the single most stressful event I have been through in my library career. Being responsible for 3 new schools' libraries has been tough. I have yelled so much at freight carriers I am sick of yelling.(good news M and K). The warehouse guys have been phenomenal. They deserved every one of the 3 dozen cookies I made them. I have been so exhausted that tonight I am washing the baking sheets for these cookies that I made on 7/14.Nice thing about dealing with vendors is that they buy you stuff especially if they think you will throw business at them for the next school opening.(next summer)The complete tally is:
1 bloody mary
1 venti starbucks
1 lunch at Popeye's chicken
1 b bq lunch at Famous Dave's.

Adding to this stress is the mousie problem. Silver lining is that Randy cleaned out the floor of the pantry and vacuumed the basement. He also repaired the springs on the loveseat and rocking chair. Note to kiddies: Unless you want to buy us new furniture, the throwing yourselves into the furniture needs to cease and desist.

I am typing this on my new dell latitude laptop. It has a DVD player/burner but apparently I am more PC challenged than I realized. I can not open the DVD thing to even watch a movie. Waitng for Randy to get home from fishing.

Mamma Mia! Oh my!

Girls night out! Anita(Norm's wife) and I had dinner at Ragazzi's(stuffed canneloni) and then went to see Mamma Mia! Both of us love the songs of ABBA. Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan singing is not to be missed. The beautiful Greek scenery as a backdrop makes me want to go there this second. Randy, save those miles on United. Make sure you stay for the credits. Everyone in the theater clapped when it was over. Anyone clapping for Batman? I doubt it. I want the DVD now! I may go see it again. I will be buying the CD as soon as my furniture is delivered tomorrow! Off to download all of ABBA's songs into my playlist.

She has been "digging the ride"

Kristen has been in jazz camp all week with her favorite teacher, Mr. Carmichael. She has learned all kinds of new music but acts like she is not enjoying it. She freaks if she thinks she will be late and Doug Carmichael has told the owner of the music studio that she has been "digging the ride". He wants her to do a solo, but so far has refused. People will look at her, she says. In a good way, Kristen,in a good way. Hopefully pictures from the concert, Sat.

new furniture

Locks of love

Over the weekend Kristen donated over 10 inches of her beautiful long hair to Locks of Love.(http://www.locksoflove.org/) She was quite nervous and stressed about the whole procedure and managed to put the whammy on my camera so I did not get pictures of the actual procedure. It seemed to work just fine after it was all over. I think she looks more grown up. What do the two of you who read this blog think?

Happy Independence Day-Hour 1 of my captivity

My school district is not celebrating the 4th of July as a national holiday. They have chosen to celebrate the day after Christmas instead. Thanks Mike and Mike in Human Resources. Rather than using a vacation day, I am at work. R had yesterday and today off.

I am copying training manuals. About to start the other Boleyn Girl. Watch for a review later today.

Our weekend

First of all, I should have not been here. A. I should have been in Anaheim, but ALA showed their typical disorganization and I did not know I should have been in Anaheim. B.I should have been in Washington DC watching my cousin get married, but my son's refusal to do homework made that impossible. Thanks, Matt.

What we did was a whole lot of nothing. Except for Sabrina. She may have caught Ghiardia. She has diarrhea and the vet needs a sample. In order to get that. I had to mix uncooked pumpkin with her dog food. Gross, but apparently it is quite delectable to her.

How I will be celebrating the 4th of July

I will be working. My school district chose to celebrate it the day after Christmas so I will be here in the office working. I plan to review fiction to see if it is appropriate for the new high school. High up on my list is Catherine Coulter's new book as well as Janet Evanovich's new book and Brad Thor's new book. I also feel the need to preview the Other Bolyn Girl for its appropriateness as well as a few other DVDs. I found out this the day before I found out I was scheduled to present at Anaheim. This is where I would be staying had they only notified me:

http://tinyurl.com/amfyn

My office

Momma asked to see pictures of my office since they did not get to come over and see it while they were visiting. My plan was to wait until it was clean but that was never going to happen. So here it is in all its loveliness:

Get Smart needs to get funny

Ok, this is the second attempt at a movie based on one of my favorite TV shows growing up. The first movie bombed;this one was a little better. There were some funny moments that kids of the digital native generation would not pick up on and the cameo by one of the original stars was a highlight for me, but overall not worth the money to see in the theater. Definitely worth a rental. Steve Carrell is as close to Don Adams as you are likely to see, but proves the point that there really is only one Maxwell Smart.

Matt's Goth/Punk look

Making their own pizza seemed like a good idea

But alas, no. The ready made pizza crust in the tube was tougher than Kristen and Courtney...

It is all about the food

Kristen's favorite part of a Rockies game. She had a hot dog, fries, drink, snowcone and ended the game with cotton candy.