what to tuesday

Last night, after a lovely evening walk around the neighborhood, and putting Raine to bed, and a relaxing shower in the walk-in shower that I still love that we included in our remodel, and saying good bye to the day, it rained. Not a gentle, end of summer, pit-pat on the roof. It RAINED. Lightening and thunder. Wind gusting sheets of rain. I lay in bed with my eyes closed, listening. It wasn't the soft sleep inducing white-noise lulling me to sleep as I listened. It wasn't frightening either. It was awesome. I enjoyed listening to the movement. The life of the storm, as if it were breathing the wind into the rain. This morning, there was still a lot of water in the air. When I went outside at 7:30, there was even the smallest hint of fog. This is really not the time of year for fog, but, there it was.

Today, however, was humid all day long. and warm. and did I mention humid? Wait. Was that lightening I just saw out the window?

a day for it

Is it still only Monday? Really? I thought I saw some Wednesday in here? Tuesday at least? NO?

School started off with Picture Day! and we kept our advisory class for the morning, then, after pictures were all taken, went on with nearly our regular schedule. I'm very glad that I have seniors, and that none of us feel the need to be militant about the scheduled programing. I run through it with them, and we discuss for a bit, and then... They are a pretty good group, and I don't think I need to treat them like freshmen.

What is it about a morning like that that makes the afternoon seem LONG???

Got home in time to help Carl with dinner, and it was yummy chicken in butter sauce. Even packed some for lunch. And did the dishes. Usually Sunday is my day for catching up on kitchen chores, but this past weekend, it seemed like we were stuck at 3 cups and a spoon. It goes from that to there is a counter under there. Somewhere. And it changes in the space of walking out and back in, sometimes, it seems.

The weather of summer has finally broken, some, it seems. Temperatures have been in the 80's instead of the 90's for about a week now. Pleasant enough to walk the neighborhood this evening, so Raine and I hit the sidewalk. We saw a spider building a web, with its cast-off skin hanging in the web as well. I met one of my neighbors, and we ended up discovering that her husband had worked at White Sands with my dad. I seem to be well on my way to making my walking goal this week, and I feel pretty good about that.

boundries and guidlines

Raine started the 2nd grade this year. She's tested the boundaries of what is expected of her this week. On Wednesday, she disappeared for over an hour with no one knowing where she was. She had taken off on her scooter to play with some friends. Not her usual friends, but some further away. She didn't follow our standard protocols, like telling someone she was going, and taking her phone, etc.

We were all lucky that she was fine, and was playing with her friends. But there is always that worry, isn't there. We didn't kill her, but she did spend some time in her room. And without the computer games that she enjoys. And the TV shows she watches...

We also got a report from her teacher. She wasn't paying attention when the teacher asked her to do something. She wasn't behaving. She wasn't getting her work done. Testing the teacher, and seeing if her boundaries were going to be the same as before. She's been doing the same sort of thing at home. We had a couple of talks about those things through the end of the week, and the weekend.

The golden rule for kids, sort of goes like this... You act the way you want to be treated. If you want adults to listen to you, then you listen to them. If you want to be treated nicely (and get treats), then you act in a way that deserves it. It takes practice, but she might as well understand the behavior/treatment balance. And she is a tester. Oh, man.

And of course, I'm still her proud mama.

proud mama

I am one. I totally admit it. My child is pretty much the cutest, smartest, most talented, most creative (not to mention stubborn...) kid on the planet. I'll tell you about it at pretty much any time, and I probably have. At length. (and if I'm not careful, ad nauseum...)

Today she got in trouble for taking off and going to a friend's house without telling anyone where she was going, or any of the other procedures and safety protocols that we use around here. So, Carl and Ron roamed the neighborhood and finally found her and brought her home.

She's in trouble, but it also made me think of how she's grown. They can't stay little for ever, and they won't stay small either, but that is how we remember them, isn't it... our babies.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Raine as a toddler. On of those that you look at, and it just does your heart good. She was maybe 14 months old when this was taken.

you know i need to

Yeah, I talked to the wellness nurse on the phone this evening. I admit it. I was hedging my responses. The weight would be coming off - at least slowly - if I were doing things right, but I've hit a plateau, and it's not a pretty one. All sorts of denial and holes where willpower should be. Crud.

The bottom line is, I need to get off my butt and move. Walk, swim, whatever. More than I do now. Enough to use up some of the caloric intake. It won't take much to be more than I do now. It would make me feel better, I know it would. Somewhere in the back of my pea brain, I know it. But it's hot, and I'm emotionally drained and unmotivated when I get home. Not to mention tired of being hot and sweaty from a day in my hot and sweaty classroom.

No magic pill exists. I won't do the surgeries. You have to change your lifestyle with the surgery. I'd just as soon change my lifestyle (if only I could be more consistent with it) and do without the surgery, thank you. Least invasive for me, thank you. So, where is my free life coach? Oh, that's right, it was me! I'm doing a lousy job.

Time to set some goals, and work on meeting them. Look up some info, and get my facts straight, instead of making some up (or keeping the ones I've already made up). Time to work on getting real again. Time to work on being healthier. Easier to talk the talk than walk the walk, though. Much easier. Goal number 1: Walk for 30 minutes 4 times in the next week (Wed. to Wed.) I'll be back on Tuesday and report, and set another goal.

monday this & that

Roxanne and I worked on our pants again yesterday. I wore a pair today, and (yay for the serger, because that will make it so easy) I need to take them up on the sides a bit. We were perplexed by Roxanne's because the legs were not the same length. Three pair. Cut by the same pattern. Measure the inseam for the hem and one leg would have lots to turn up, and the other about 2/3 that amount. We couldn't figure out why.

We had inservice at school this afternoon. My car pool friend was at the point where I was a couple of years ago. Just tell me what you want me to do. Don't make me go through hoops to figure out why, or "buy in" because I know it will all change next year, and there will be something else to "buy into." Now, I just go with the flow, and try not to think too hard about it.

Now I'm going to try out a little wizard 101.

playplayplay

I've been good. I've gotten some of my work done. Not all of it, but a definite dent.

We've been on a hiatus for gaming, though. One of our regulars has been out of town for several months, but has finally returned. He started us on a Dragon Quest campaign this evening. We had two new players, but we were missing Ron, who had to work.

It took a little bit to get back into the swing of the characters, and the setting. It had actually been almost exactly two years since we had visited this particular game. It was nice to get back into it though. Sure there were things we missed (oh yeah, that sword has magic), and things that never change (argh! I still can't roll the dice worth a darn!), especially the fun we have playing.

So I get to look forward to gaming night again next week, and in the mean time... wow, I'm not used to staying up this late any more!