Sunday haiku

Sleeping in 'til nine.

Eggs benedict for breakfast.

A full day of fun.

Funny moments

Last week while on vacation, my parents came to visit for a day. During which, C-man convinced them to all play hide and seek.  Being good sports, at one point Grandpa was the seeker whiwle Grandma and C-man went to hide.  C-man went inside and hid in the shower, unable to be found for ages.  Meanwhile, Grandma hid behind the tree.  A tree downhill from where we were all standing...

I don't know what was funnier.  That she thought hiding downhill was actually hiding, or Dad's reaction:

Moments like these make me really happy my camera stays grafted to my arm.

Good days

Today, I'm working from home on a half-day. Then I'm having an early lunch at a nice restaurant with an old friend, going for a massage, and picking C-man up in the car line at 3 pm, after which I suspect we'll go swimming. Let the long weekend begin! (I could really get into these 3 day weeks.)

Thursday Thirteen Things that made me smile this week

1. Red-winged blackbirds flying over our heads and hearing C-man say, "Look, they're flying for us!"
2. Using my beautiful new washer and dryer
3. Finally getting around to reading The Book Thief and totally loving it
4. Going swimming after school
5. C-man running around the store with his new light up flame shoes to show me how fast he is
6. Eating fresh, sweet, drip-down-your-arms Michigan peaches
7. Listening to Beerman tell me about all his Harry Potter research so he could better talk to C-man about it
8. Listening to an ornery duck quack at the others every night on the river
9. Realizing I only have a half-day of work on Friday
10. Learning I could make my massage appointments online (I now have one at 1 p.m. Friday)
11. Tremblay's fudge
12. C-man telling me that I didn't have wrinkles, because my skin is so smooth
13. Making a frog with C-man on his first day hour of school

School days

C-man has been so excited about starting school again.  (Plus, he got new shoes yesterday, and he wanted to show them off!) His bus supposedly picks him up at 7:40, and he was ready and waiting by 7:15 today.  I say supposedly, because as of 7:56, the school bus hadn't come.  So I drove him today, much to his dismay.  (Apparently the driver took a wrong turn. Not to be judgmental, but the village is about 2 square miles.  You can only make a couple of wrong turns before you're right again!) There's always tomorrow for the bumpy bus, I guess.

But it got me thinking back to my own grade school years, at Grant Elementary (the "Home of the Winners"), and what I remember from them...  In short, not much.  For example:
Kindergarten (was only a half-day K5 then): Mrs. Holtz

• I went in the afternoons.  My mom didn't like this.  She wanted me to go in the mornings with Mrs. Moon like my sisters did. Which I didn't understand, because my sisters never spoke very highly of Mrs. Moon.
• We went to her dairy farm on a field trip. I was the only one in the class who would milk the cow.
• We finger painted on the tables with chocolate pudding and cool whip.
• We had to listen to a cassette tape give us instructions on what to do in a workbook. It told us to circle what made the noise. I circled the whole door, and was told it was wrong, because I should have only circled the bell on top of the door. I countered that the bell wouldn't have made noise without the door. I still got it wrong, which to this day burns me.
• I had to be Christy Lorbecki's classroom buddy. I didn't like Christy Lorbecki. She wore tennis shoes with dresses. Now that I'm older, I know that she was pretty poor, and the social awkwardness was probably due to a crappy homelife. But when you're 5, all you see is tennis shoes and a dress.
• They didn't teach me how to read like I'd wanted, but let me go to the 1st grade class to get books to read during quiet times.
• My best friend, Nicki, lived in a trailer in a trailer park and had a 4-post canopy bed. I was really jealous of her.

First grade: Mrs. Weber

• We had to rest while the Nutcracker Suite record played. To this day, I hate that music.
• Everyone had a nap mat. My mom gave me a rug. Even in 1st grade, I knew that wasn't okay.
• I was in the Lions reading group. The Bears were the slow kids.
• We had a catch-up day, and Mrs. Weber put ketchup on everyone's fingers. I hated ketchup, and she laughed at me that I wouldn't eat any.  Looking back, why would you want little kids to eat red-dyed high fructose corn syrup?
• Learning to tell time and negative numbers were really a struggle for me.
• I was in the "TAG" (talented and gifted) program. I didn't really like it, because it wasn't that fun and I had to give up a recess for it.
• I was in the school spelling bee, and they kicked me out on the word "because". Not because I couldn't spell it, but because someone made a loud noise in the middle of me spelling it and they couldn't tell if I spelled it right or not. To this day, I don't know why they couldn't let me spell it again. Seriously, I was in 1st grade!

Second grade: Mrs. Greutzmacher

• Clarence Stein wrote "I hate you" on his valentine to me
• I told a teacher that a girl in our class had bruises up and down her back from her dad.
• I made some really ugly blue painted ceramic mouse Christmas ornaments that I still have.
• I made it to the finals of the school spelling bee. I got knocked out on annual. Stupid double n. I'll never misspell it again.
• My mom started working at my school.

Third grade: Mrs. Perviski

• I was sitting in the back row of the class when Josh Lassa asked me why I was squinting. Apparently I needed glasses.
• We played a lot of Smear the *&^*& on the playground.
• We had a mock election. Ronald Reagan won. I didn't vote for Ronald Reagan, because I remembered how my parents always complained about what a stupid @$% he was.
• Todd P___ski showed everyone his junk in the sandbox.
• I was the narrator for our rendition of "Billy Goats Gruff"

Fourth grade: Mrs. Jorgenson

• I got a C on my Wisconsin project my Mom did almost all of. So much for letting her do my work.
• We went to the American Indian museum in Green Bay.  The museum sucked, but on the way back, Nathan Schrorer made up a song that we were all singing by the end. I still know every word to that song (bumper-dinker-bumper-dinker)
• Mr. Walloch was my science teacher. We used to bet a candy bar on every local basketball game.
• I got glasses.
• A kid pooped his pants.
• I went to Brazil in January with my family and got to miss 2 glorious weeks of Mrs. Jorgenson's class.

Fifth grade: Mr. Wendolech

• The teacher came from South Dakota and made us write to pen pals from his old class. I got a weird girl who couldn't spell.  I stopped writing to her.
• I got contacts.
• I started to play the trumpet in the school band
• We got "the talk" about our bodies

Sixth grade: Mr. Kulich

• He used to stop teaching us stuff just to tell funny stories.
• My geography teacher (whose first name was Brian, but I can't for the life of me remember his last name) told us that everyone in South America spoke Spanish.  When I corrected him, he sent me to the principal's office.  I wonder what Mr. Fowler thought about a 6th grader knowing more than the teacher...
• I won President of the Student Council against Amy Zimmerman. I don't think the Student Council did anything, but like all good politicians, I'm quite sure that had nothing to do with me.
• I was sat next to Bill Fisher, a former 1st grade "Bear". I think he taught me more about hockey rules than I taught him about math or reading
• My mom gave me a bra. I didn't want to wear it.Who are we kidding - I still don't need one.
• Chuck Something-or-Other (I want to say it was Schultz, but is that possible?) was my boyfriend for a few weeks.  We sat next to one another in the gym when the whole school got to watch a movie on the wall together. I was too nervous to hold his hand.
• We all wrote on one another's white Ked shoes on the last day. We all got sent to the principal's office for that. Clearly, I was a vandal who needed to learn a lesson.

First day thrills

Today, C-man went to his first day of K5.

Well, who are we kidding?  He went to an hour of K5.  Same teacher as he had in the afternoons last year, and only a handful of new kids.  So really, same drill, different year.  But we made frogs together and got to see the journal he'll have to write in throughout the year.  Tomorrow, he's back on the bus, and it's back to another year.

But my real thrill of the day?  Our new washer and dryer showed up.  Dear God, it's so sweet!  Before you start calling me lame, remember, we've been out of a washer and dryer since early July.  And I also need to let you know that it sings a little song when it's complete.  Man, I love this thing.

Vacation recap

Every day started with a spin in the hot tub

And progressed with a daily trip to play mini golf

One day we had a visit by Grandma and Grandpa

Another day we played fooseball at Alexanders,

while we waited for the glorious pizza to be ready

Each day, Harry watched over the property, ensuring no passing kayakers would attempt to board our dock.

while C-man and Beerman watched the birds and watched for the "rimples" made by surfacing fish.

C-man even eyed a turtle on a canoe trip.

He also caught some fish at the fishing jamboree. (With the help of Musky Matt, in this picture he's in the process of releasing this whopper) 

He even won a trophy. (Nevermind he was the only kid who showed up! He WON A TROPHY!)  And then he got put on the radio later that night with Musky Matt, the guide who runs the jamboree. (It's uploaded HERE, 8/29- Hour 1, minutes 47-52) After, he was talking about all the things he "should have said!" including a home-grown joke.  But the new fishing hat, fishing pole and minnow net made it all better.

We had a great time at the go-kart track.

And I, of course, took too many photos while in the canoe that you'll be subjected to in the coming days.

C-man learned how to shoot the BB gun Great-Grandpa Arnold gave him for his baptism. (Seriously, you can't make that stuff up)

And it was great, great fun. (I'd like to point out that shot in the middle of the X. You know, the one shot by yours truly.)

Beerman built a huge fire every night by which I made too many s'mores.

And we all watched the night sky make its appearance with its beautiful stars. (And even Mars)

Now it's back to reality, and C-man's first day of school. It was great while it lasted.

Happy birthday, Mom!

Hope it's a fun ride!

Wishes

As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.

-Henry David Thoreau

Serenity and Joy

A garden must combine the poetic and the mysterious with a feeling of serenity and joy.

-Luis Barrigan 

On Happiness

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Role Models

Even Harry's on vacation with us. He was freaking out when we brought out the suitcases, so it was a happy surprise when we let him go lay down and stay there on the back bench of the minivan.  So this is for him.

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.  ~Gilda Radner

Playtime

We are now officially on vacation. (WHOOT!) While I endure the long ride north, I'd like to share with you how C-man plays Washers in order to make sure he scores enough points...

Wordless Wednesday: Milwaukee Art Museum

Summer sailed by

It's our last week of summer before school starts.  And that makes me sad.  Not just because summer has come and gone; it always does that.  I'm sad because I feel like we never even had a summer this year.  Not really, anyhow.  I was huddled under blankets, it was so cold at the beginning of t-ball season.  About the time it warmed up, monsoon season started.  We've been dealing with the destruction the flooding caused ever since, and the giant red dumpster in my driveway is a constant reminder of the stress and money we're continuing to get soaked with as a result.  I've been on medication all summer; medication I was told would make me instantly better, but has done nothing but steal 3 out of every 7 days of every week. And now, the aftermath of the rain means that the mosquitos are so bad, you can't go outside without swallowing your daily allowance of protein.

In other words, I want a do-over.  And I'm going to do my damndest to get it.  We're heading on a mini-vacation this weekend, and I'm planning on cramming my entire summer into all 4 days of it.  4 days is all we could muster this time of year, but we really need it.  That's why it's going to be stress-free, relaxing, and fun.  I am going to read some books, eat some pizza, do some fishing, and soak my toes in the water.  We've got some big decisions to make, but I'm hoping getting out of our normal environment will help us do the right thing.  And for that, I can't wait.

Celebrate good times, come on!

Veterans Park Lagoon, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Today I'm celebrating:

• A 3-day workweek until our vacation. Whoot!
• Taking our laundry in for the (supposedly) last time to pay by the pound, because our newly purchased washing machine and dryer will be delivered on the 31st.
• Finally meeting with my fellow school rummage sale committee chairs tonight.  I don't know why it needs a committee to plan this thing, when what it needs is one person to create and run the project plan and another to organize the volunteers to stage and sell crap. But anyhow, it practically took an act of God to get this meeting of the chairs scheduled.  You would have thought this was a major operation and not a school rummage sale.  But, it does make about $20,000 for the school, so I'm trying to keep it all in check.  That's why I did feel a tiny bit guilty that I laughed out loud when one woman sent her "project plan" via email ahead of time. It was a Microsoft Word agenda template with some crazy clipart on it.  I know we're all volunteers, but oh, ladies... please... leave the project planning to those who do this for a living!
• Sending off a really inspired email to the Village Manager on Friday.  The jerk is now playing CYA and sending emails suggesting we pull our 4" drainage pipe to re-install a 12" pipe. (Seriously, isn't that considered a culvert at that point!)  He also suggested we add some rain barrels to our property as a real solution to the drainage problems. I'm suspecting this is all coming at us now because FEMA denied Wisconsin flood recovery money, and he doesn't know how to fix what needs to be fixed with no funds.  But Beerman and I figured out the cubic footage just of the water that was in our basement, not including what was being pumped out or drained, and discovered it would take 270 rain barrels to hold that much water each time it rained.  And since it rained like that twice in 24 hours, we would have needed at least 500 barrels!  So after 2 hours of physically shaking, I was so mad, I wrote an email that got my point across.  My final line of the email made me feel a whole lot better: We are thankful the Village has finally seen the drainage issues on our block as a problem and are making strides toward resolving it.  But please do not insult us by insinuating that further damage prevention be on our time and money, because I'm quite certain we've taken on more than enough of that on your and the Village's behalf.
• Not being a Chilean miner.
• Having it only be a 3-day workweek. (Oops, did I mention that already?)

A cause, a festival, and some tug-of-war

Today was the annual Arthritis Foundation 5K to Irish Fest. I walked it this year.  I haven't been feeling very well, so haven't been running at all.  Plus, C-man and Beerman were available to walk it with me this year, so it was a good of an excuse as any to take it slow.

It was hot and muggy, but we made it along the lake and around the lagoon.

And despite C-man claiming he was going to "absolutely die" during the walk because he was sooo tired and his tummy hurt soooo bad, he still had enough in him to run across the finish line, clocking in at a solid 50 minutes.

Afterward, we cooled off in the Milwaukee Art Museum for a bit.  And since it was noon, we got to watch the wings open and close.  We also got to see 2 weddings and 3 quincineiras getting their photos taken.  C-man always loves seeing the girls in their elaborate dresses.

And then it was time to head into Irish Fest.  Typically this is not my main festival of the year (that's State Fair, after all). But I've decided now that I have discovered my Irish roots, I needed to give it a better shot.  And there were definitely some cool things - a huge geneology tent for me, and a recreated Narnia complete with walking through the closet for C-man. The food and music are still not my thing.  (Scotch eggs and bagpipes next to tiny girls in makeup and fake curly wigs stomping dancing... Really?)

But the tug-of-war competition was a lot of fun to watch.  How do you even get on a competitive tug-of-war team anyhow?  It's not like you hear little kids saying, "When I grow up..."  But there they are.  And I found them facinating.  In fact, this team is heading to the World Championship in South Africa in September.

Overall, it was a pretty good day.  But now I'm really tired.  So if someone could just bring me my dinner and put that movie in so I don't have to get off my butt, everything would be perfect.