I was on vacation last week. I did a good job of not "working". I only sat through one conference call and checked my work email twice a day. It helped that people at work knew that I needed to take a break. Two days out of town all by my lonesome--I got through a couple of novels (this was part of my new year's resolution of setting aside some self-indulgence time, and I finally got around to meeting my goal, six months in!).
The rest of the week, I played Mom's Taxi service. With Craig in Boston, my schedule should have been light. Ha. Matt had 9 baseball games, basketball camp, and football workouts (I missed 2 baseball games) plus several incidental travel needs. Several of the games were up in Canton, Michigan, where we spent almost as much time dodging raindrops as we did watching the games. We drove up Friday for 2 games, then had to be back up there by 8 on Saturday morning. Early bedtime was beckoning on Friday night.
Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men... The call came at about 8:45 pm--the bus bringing the gang (Craig) back from Boston broke down in Fremont. They weren't going to be getting a new bus there any time soon, and there were kids from Novi and Jackson who needed to get a little closer to home. So off I went at sunset to shuttle folks back to Toledo. I finally got home as the 11:00 news came on and still had my early wake-up time.
Now I'm back to the grindstone, looking forward to my nice short work week. Maybe I'll get a chance to do some of the yard work I never got around to last week -- or catch up on my sleep. Somehow, I think not. sigh.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Dr. Mom, MD (not)
I'm not a doctor, and I don't play one on TV. However, after 25+ years of motherhood, I have some pretty well-honed instincts when it comes to my children being ill. Andrew used to run a temp of 105 when he got tonsillitis, and a 101 with an ear infection--he got boils before a viral infection. Craig used to break out in hives, which signaled a fever coming on within the hour. Now that he is a teenager, I can usually nail him when he's looking for a free day (post-nasal drip has a nasty side effect on him in the mornings; the rule is no fever, no home time).
Matt doesn't usually get too sick, so when he told his coach he didn't feel well and didn't want to play yesterday, I knew he was miserable. Even so, he was well enough for a few hours in the evening for me to go out with my friend Michelle to catch up on a few things. As we were sipping our adult beverages, we BOTH got calls that our youngest were a bit under the weather. I dropped her off and home and went in for a few minutes to chat. As she hunted for her thermometer, I used the mom-mometer on young Tyler, which pointed to a temp of about 99.5 (he was warm, but not hot).
When I got home, Matt was to the "hot" stage. Before I stuck in the thermometer, my mom-mometer said he was at 100.5. His dad scoffed at my medieval techniques. When all was said and done, the highly sensitive digital device registered Matt at 100.6. Let's hear it for the mom! I don't think Ohio or Michigan will grant me a medical license any time soon, but my maternal instincts are pretty spot on.
Matt recovered quickly--he managed to play a double header today, and smacked a BEE-YOU-TEE-FULL double over the center fielder's head in game one. A little TLC goes a long way. (And Craig, if you read this, I'm wishing you well on your trip to Boston--out of sight is not out of mind).
Now, I'm off to enjoy a couple days of rest and relaxation.
Matt doesn't usually get too sick, so when he told his coach he didn't feel well and didn't want to play yesterday, I knew he was miserable. Even so, he was well enough for a few hours in the evening for me to go out with my friend Michelle to catch up on a few things. As we were sipping our adult beverages, we BOTH got calls that our youngest were a bit under the weather. I dropped her off and home and went in for a few minutes to chat. As she hunted for her thermometer, I used the mom-mometer on young Tyler, which pointed to a temp of about 99.5 (he was warm, but not hot).
When I got home, Matt was to the "hot" stage. Before I stuck in the thermometer, my mom-mometer said he was at 100.5. His dad scoffed at my medieval techniques. When all was said and done, the highly sensitive digital device registered Matt at 100.6. Let's hear it for the mom! I don't think Ohio or Michigan will grant me a medical license any time soon, but my maternal instincts are pretty spot on.
Matt recovered quickly--he managed to play a double header today, and smacked a BEE-YOU-TEE-FULL double over the center fielder's head in game one. A little TLC goes a long way. (And Craig, if you read this, I'm wishing you well on your trip to Boston--out of sight is not out of mind).
Now, I'm off to enjoy a couple days of rest and relaxation.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad
Summer has me hopping and I have been remiss with my posts, but since most of my blogging buddies are MIA as well, I'm betting things have been slow on readership anyway.
I need to take a few minutes to wish my parents, Bob and Joan, a happy anniversary. They are celebrating 53 years of wedded bliss. Now if you know my parents, you're laughing on that one--they are the Bickersons. Deep down, though, I think there's a deep affection and they would be lost without each other. They wouldn't let us do anything for their 50th (it's just another year, after all). However, I am at a point in my life where I am supremely grateful to still have both of my parents, and to have them together.
We have a very cool video made from our childhood home movies (and some older filmstrips as well). One reel was from my parents' wedding. My mom was drop dead gorgeous, she with the Scarlet O'Hara waistline. She had a great ballerina length dress. Neither my sister nor I would have been able to wear it, although I wish I could have. (My sister also had the Scarlet waist, but she and I both would have had to have had multiple bodice alterations--my mom still hasn't figured out where that came from!). My dad was very dapper in his white coat and black slacks. It was also fun to see my grandparents (when they weren't much older than I am right now--in fact, I think my Granny was actually YOUNGER than my current age).
My mom likes to tell the story about how her reception was "dry." At some point in the evening, she noticed that all of the groomsmen (and groom) had disappeared. Any bets on where they were found?
At any rate--happy anniversary Mom and Dad. You did well.
I need to take a few minutes to wish my parents, Bob and Joan, a happy anniversary. They are celebrating 53 years of wedded bliss. Now if you know my parents, you're laughing on that one--they are the Bickersons. Deep down, though, I think there's a deep affection and they would be lost without each other. They wouldn't let us do anything for their 50th (it's just another year, after all). However, I am at a point in my life where I am supremely grateful to still have both of my parents, and to have them together.
We have a very cool video made from our childhood home movies (and some older filmstrips as well). One reel was from my parents' wedding. My mom was drop dead gorgeous, she with the Scarlet O'Hara waistline. She had a great ballerina length dress. Neither my sister nor I would have been able to wear it, although I wish I could have. (My sister also had the Scarlet waist, but she and I both would have had to have had multiple bodice alterations--my mom still hasn't figured out where that came from!). My dad was very dapper in his white coat and black slacks. It was also fun to see my grandparents (when they weren't much older than I am right now--in fact, I think my Granny was actually YOUNGER than my current age).
My mom likes to tell the story about how her reception was "dry." At some point in the evening, she noticed that all of the groomsmen (and groom) had disappeared. Any bets on where they were found?
At any rate--happy anniversary Mom and Dad. You did well.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Function over fashion (or oh my aching feet!)
Yesterday was the annual junior high music department trip to Cedar Point (the amazement park). I like to chaperone this trip, although I am not a big coaster fan. It was about 95 degrees in the shade, so I went sleeveless (and slathered the SPF 50 and 70 all over). I debated on footwear though--my funky Converse one-stars (chuck taylor-lites) or my more sensible sketchers. I opted for the Converse--BAADDD move on my part. They looked much better with my outfit than the black and tan sketchers, but I am paying for it today. I have 5 new blisters, some in places that I didn't know you could get blisters. Actually, the count may be higher--my little toe is one massive blister, or maybe it's more of a conglomeration of a dozen or so smaller blisters. Regardless, it is now swathed in bandaids, and between those and the underlying pain, walking any further than across the room is not an option. Overall, though, it was all worth it.
The kids deserted us early on--what 14 year old wants to be seen with their mother?? So the moms walked around and dared to go on a few of the rides. I am not a fan of the coasters with the really big hills, like Millennium Force or Top Thrill Dragster. Those are just not going to happen for me. But I will go on some of the loopy ones. I managed to do 4 coasters--old standards like Blue Streak and Gemini, which still provide a fun ride even if they are tame. My favorite is the Raptor, so I hit that one. Then one of the other moms and I decided to test our fate on the Maverick. It doesn't look bad. The ride is smooth. I survived it and can say I did it, but I'm not sure I'd do it again. It is fast (my son laughed when I said that--but when you're older than dirt, the speed kind of takes your breath away). It is constantly flipping you one way then another. Quite a ride--worth it, at least the once.
Off now to other summer pursuits, and hoping the boys can keep themselves occupied this summer without beating on each other. At least they'll be together at the high school next year. That's a good thing. I think.
The kids deserted us early on--what 14 year old wants to be seen with their mother?? So the moms walked around and dared to go on a few of the rides. I am not a fan of the coasters with the really big hills, like Millennium Force or Top Thrill Dragster. Those are just not going to happen for me. But I will go on some of the loopy ones. I managed to do 4 coasters--old standards like Blue Streak and Gemini, which still provide a fun ride even if they are tame. My favorite is the Raptor, so I hit that one. Then one of the other moms and I decided to test our fate on the Maverick. It doesn't look bad. The ride is smooth. I survived it and can say I did it, but I'm not sure I'd do it again. It is fast (my son laughed when I said that--but when you're older than dirt, the speed kind of takes your breath away). It is constantly flipping you one way then another. Quite a ride--worth it, at least the once.
Off now to other summer pursuits, and hoping the boys can keep themselves occupied this summer without beating on each other. At least they'll be together at the high school next year. That's a good thing. I think.
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