On Monday, Mayhem #2 tried out for a part in the school musical. This year they are doing Beauty and the Beast. It's a big deal because it's in honor of the 50th (I think.) musical the high school has produced. Even the band's marching show is in honor of the musical. The three songs for the movements are "Maria", "On the street where you live", and "The bottle dance."
Anyway, Mayhem #2 wanted to be "Babbette", the feather duster. She didn't make the call back list, but neither did the other girl who had tried out for that part. She found out yesterday that she didn't make the part, but only made the chorus. She's disappointed, but she's still gung ho. Who knows? Someone could have an accident? Her friend, who happens to be the theater teacher's daughter, did make the call back list, but not for the part she tried out for. She tried out for the Wardrobe, but got called back for Babbette. Thankfully she didn't tell Mayhem #2 this until after the cast list was posted. They are both in the chorus. Why is it that in the theater world there is a great deal of nepotism? The worst place I've seen it happen is in church. (SHOCK!!!) Choir directors are the worst at casting their own kids in the main roles, whether they're any good or put forth any effort or not.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Monday, August 22, 2005
A new chapter
The deed is done. Mayhem #1 has been delivered to college. We left early Saturday morning after Mr. Mayhem had loaded all her worldly possessions in the two cars. (Ok. It’s not really all her worldly possessions. That bedroom is still crammed full of stuff.) She seemed pretty excited.
We got to the school and checked in and found out that she was in the basement of her dorm. She was so excited! That put her in very close proximity to the piano! When we got to the room the roommate and her family was already there. There were awkward introductions all around, but everything was good. We were surprised the girls had a handicapped room. That meant their bathroom was bigger with a shower the length of one wall and no counter to put stuff on and only one towel rod. I’m going to mail her the over-the-door rack that’s in her room.
Mr. Mayhem pulled the first car up to the back of the dorm and all these eager college students started unloading. When he told them which room they were excited. Instead of having to climb flights of stairs, they only had to go down about half a dozen steps to get to the basement. Mr. Mayhem got the second car and repeated the process. The big bag I had put Mayhem #1’s shoes in broke open and dumped all her shoes down the steps. I felt sorry for the guy that had been carrying them, but he was a trooper and went back and rounded them all up for us.
Though still excited, Mayhem #1 was overwhelmed. All her stuff in that little room just seemed like way too much. She and Mr. Mayhem took her computer to have it checked out with the IT people and Mayhem #2 and I started unpacking. She wasn’t extremely helpful until she crawled under the bed to pull out some boxes that had been stashed there. Then she stayed there so she was at least out of the way. Mr. Mayhem and Mayhem #1 came back and hooked up the computer. We cleared the bed so we could make it up. Her roommate was running around buying books and such while her older sister helped with the unpacking.
Mayhem #1 is getting stressed and a little less excited. We go to lunch at the cafeteria and look at some of the many papers she has been given. We check out the schedule and see that they are kicking the family out in about three hours. After lunch, we head to the business office to take care of finishing the registration process. She picked up her id and got it loaded with her meal plan. Mayhem #1 was getting quieter by the minute. She didn’t seem to like that I was pushing her to the front to ask the questions and handle her business.
I went to the Parent Seminar while Mr. Mayhem went to finish helping with the computer stuff. It was basically the same question and answer time they had had at the weekend we had visited in the fall. I was all together until the guy prayed at the end about the changes in everyone’s lives. I thought to myself, "Don’t do this. God and I are handling things ok so far. Don’t get me started."
I went back to the dorm to find everyone so we could go to the reception at the president’s home. On the walk over there, Mayhem #2 said, "I guess I missed my chance to tape her to the door?" "Yeah," I said. We took some group pictures in front of the president’s house and a picture of Mayhem #1 and her roommate. We joked around with them and said that since the president’s house was so close to the dorm, they should drop by every once in a while and see what’s for dinner. The roommate got in the spirit of silliness and said, "My roommate and I had a fight, and she’s locked me out. Can I spend the night here?"
One the walk back to the dorm, Mayhem #1’s lip was trembling and the tears were on the edge. Actually, we were all trying not to cry. There were hugs and joking and tears. The hall director and resident assistants were there in the lobby. The RA’s saw Mayhem #1 crying and they were trying not to cry. The hall director gave her a hug and we left. We got around the corner of the building and Mr. Mayhem called her and said, "I miss you already."
Mayhem #2 kept saying it wasn’t fair that Mayhem #1 was gone. She cried half the way home until she fell asleep. We got home and she went to Mayhem #1’s room and said it looked empty. When she got ready for bed, she went back to stand in her sister’s room. I kept being silly and finally got her in bed. Mr. Mayhem and I decided that she wasn’t ready to face people at church who would talk about Mayhem #1 being gone so we stayed home. When we got up, we found her on her sister’s bed reading. We kept telling her that Mayhem #1 didn’t die. She’ll be back…in three weeks even.
Mayhem #1 called a couple of times Saturday night. Once just to talk about what she had been up to. The other time it was about 10:30 and we are all in bed. I answer the phone and she says, "Mom, where’s my toothbrush?" I hope she’s found it or bought one by now.
We got to the school and checked in and found out that she was in the basement of her dorm. She was so excited! That put her in very close proximity to the piano! When we got to the room the roommate and her family was already there. There were awkward introductions all around, but everything was good. We were surprised the girls had a handicapped room. That meant their bathroom was bigger with a shower the length of one wall and no counter to put stuff on and only one towel rod. I’m going to mail her the over-the-door rack that’s in her room.
Mr. Mayhem pulled the first car up to the back of the dorm and all these eager college students started unloading. When he told them which room they were excited. Instead of having to climb flights of stairs, they only had to go down about half a dozen steps to get to the basement. Mr. Mayhem got the second car and repeated the process. The big bag I had put Mayhem #1’s shoes in broke open and dumped all her shoes down the steps. I felt sorry for the guy that had been carrying them, but he was a trooper and went back and rounded them all up for us.
Though still excited, Mayhem #1 was overwhelmed. All her stuff in that little room just seemed like way too much. She and Mr. Mayhem took her computer to have it checked out with the IT people and Mayhem #2 and I started unpacking. She wasn’t extremely helpful until she crawled under the bed to pull out some boxes that had been stashed there. Then she stayed there so she was at least out of the way. Mr. Mayhem and Mayhem #1 came back and hooked up the computer. We cleared the bed so we could make it up. Her roommate was running around buying books and such while her older sister helped with the unpacking.
Mayhem #1 is getting stressed and a little less excited. We go to lunch at the cafeteria and look at some of the many papers she has been given. We check out the schedule and see that they are kicking the family out in about three hours. After lunch, we head to the business office to take care of finishing the registration process. She picked up her id and got it loaded with her meal plan. Mayhem #1 was getting quieter by the minute. She didn’t seem to like that I was pushing her to the front to ask the questions and handle her business.
I went to the Parent Seminar while Mr. Mayhem went to finish helping with the computer stuff. It was basically the same question and answer time they had had at the weekend we had visited in the fall. I was all together until the guy prayed at the end about the changes in everyone’s lives. I thought to myself, "Don’t do this. God and I are handling things ok so far. Don’t get me started."
I went back to the dorm to find everyone so we could go to the reception at the president’s home. On the walk over there, Mayhem #2 said, "I guess I missed my chance to tape her to the door?" "Yeah," I said. We took some group pictures in front of the president’s house and a picture of Mayhem #1 and her roommate. We joked around with them and said that since the president’s house was so close to the dorm, they should drop by every once in a while and see what’s for dinner. The roommate got in the spirit of silliness and said, "My roommate and I had a fight, and she’s locked me out. Can I spend the night here?"
One the walk back to the dorm, Mayhem #1’s lip was trembling and the tears were on the edge. Actually, we were all trying not to cry. There were hugs and joking and tears. The hall director and resident assistants were there in the lobby. The RA’s saw Mayhem #1 crying and they were trying not to cry. The hall director gave her a hug and we left. We got around the corner of the building and Mr. Mayhem called her and said, "I miss you already."
Mayhem #2 kept saying it wasn’t fair that Mayhem #1 was gone. She cried half the way home until she fell asleep. We got home and she went to Mayhem #1’s room and said it looked empty. When she got ready for bed, she went back to stand in her sister’s room. I kept being silly and finally got her in bed. Mr. Mayhem and I decided that she wasn’t ready to face people at church who would talk about Mayhem #1 being gone so we stayed home. When we got up, we found her on her sister’s bed reading. We kept telling her that Mayhem #1 didn’t die. She’ll be back…in three weeks even.
Mayhem #1 called a couple of times Saturday night. Once just to talk about what she had been up to. The other time it was about 10:30 and we are all in bed. I answer the phone and she says, "Mom, where’s my toothbrush?" I hope she’s found it or bought one by now.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Almost time
In about 25 hours we leave to take Mayhem #1 to college. If she ever finishes packing. I think putting most of her life into boxes is a bit overwhelming for her. Mr. Mayhem looked at the growing pile in the living room last night and said, "It looks like someone's moving out." I said, "Yeah. You want to cry?" "Not now," he said.
I never got her scrapbook finished, but I'm going to send what's done with her and keep working on the pages to add. I put together some pictures for some frames she got as gifts. The family pictures are pretty funny. My mom use to take a ton of pictures and sometimes it was embarrassing, but I'm glad I have them. I'm trying to pass on all the stories that go with our crazy family pictures.
I think the plan is to go out to dinner tonight and then come home and load the trunks of the cars. The rest we will put in the backseats in the morning. Then off we go into "A Whole New World."
I never got her scrapbook finished, but I'm going to send what's done with her and keep working on the pages to add. I put together some pictures for some frames she got as gifts. The family pictures are pretty funny. My mom use to take a ton of pictures and sometimes it was embarrassing, but I'm glad I have them. I'm trying to pass on all the stories that go with our crazy family pictures.
I think the plan is to go out to dinner tonight and then come home and load the trunks of the cars. The rest we will put in the backseats in the morning. Then off we go into "A Whole New World."
Friday, August 12, 2005
Stupid cold
How in the world do you get a cold in the summer? Actually, I got it from Mayhem #1. Thanks Sweetie. I keep telling the family it's really West Nile Virus. Around here West Nile gets more news coverage than the war. It's so stupid. I think that's my word for the day.
Anyway, I need to get better fast because Mr. Mayhem and I were going dancing again tonight. If we don't go tonight it will be a long time before we can go because next week we take Mayhem #1 to school and the next week high school football starts. As the parents of a band member we have to be there. We are looking into taking more lessons if it will fit into our schedule.
The girls and I have some errands to run today. We have to deliver some soup to a friend who had surgery yesterday, take my mom to pick up her prescriptions, walk Mayhem #2 through the high school so she can find her classes on Monday, take Mayhem #1 to the bank, and do a little shopping. We're looking for a Tinkerbell shirt and maybe a purse for Mayhem #2. The only reason I think she's into Tinkerbell is because everything with Tinkerbell comes with either glitter or or rhinestones. She's my bling child. Doesn't everyone have one?
Anyway, I need to get better fast because Mr. Mayhem and I were going dancing again tonight. If we don't go tonight it will be a long time before we can go because next week we take Mayhem #1 to school and the next week high school football starts. As the parents of a band member we have to be there. We are looking into taking more lessons if it will fit into our schedule.
The girls and I have some errands to run today. We have to deliver some soup to a friend who had surgery yesterday, take my mom to pick up her prescriptions, walk Mayhem #2 through the high school so she can find her classes on Monday, take Mayhem #1 to the bank, and do a little shopping. We're looking for a Tinkerbell shirt and maybe a purse for Mayhem #2. The only reason I think she's into Tinkerbell is because everything with Tinkerbell comes with either glitter or or rhinestones. She's my bling child. Doesn't everyone have one?
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Humphrey, Max, and the prom
Since I mentioned Humphrey in my last post, I guess I better explain. His story starts with the fact that we have a very old sprinkler system. It has copper pipes. I mean…it’s old. We live on a hill that is made up of about 18 inches of soil and then a bunch of rocks. Another 18 inches of soil (maybe) and then a bunch of rocks…ad infinitum. So the hill shifts, the dirt settles, and the sprinkler system doesn’t cover the whole yard anymore. It leaves brown patches. I’m sure this could be fixed somehow, but as you may recall, Mr. Mayhem isn’t the handy sort. He keeps it running for the most part, and then he tells Mayhem #2 to go water the brown patches by hand. It’s hot however. And she doesn’t really like to do something when she’s told to do it. (If I said, "Put on you swim suit and run around in the sprinklers." She’s there in a heart beat.) Anyway…the brown patches weren’t getting enough water so I decided to get a little sprinkler to set out. I just wanted a little donut looking sprinkler like the neighbor has so I could move it from brown patch to brown patch. Off to Wal-Mart we went. We looked in the gardening center and found one that was sort of like the neighbors’, but still a little fancier than I wanted. Suddenly Mayhem #2 spots a little resin figure that’s a sprinkler. It’s a hippo sitting up with a hose connector on the side of his bottom and a sprinkling device in the middle of his snout. I just wanted a little simple donut sprinkler!!!! His name was Humphrey before we got to the check out.
While all of this was going on, Mr. Mayhem and Mayhem #1 were in MO visiting Grandma and Grandpa. They finally got back and said, "We brought you something. His name is Max." They handed me the little Playmate cooler, which is half-full of dirt. After that shock, and on closer inspection, I discovered that Max was a turtle about 3 inches in diameter. Mr. Mayhem found him crossing the road one morning. He was going to name him Yertle after Dr. Seuss’s "Yertle the Turtle", but since he was so small he named him Max after the little turtle in the story who was on the bottom of the stack of turtles and didn’t like it so he made the whole stack fall down. (Now you need to go find the book and learn the rest of the story.) We decided he was too small to put in the pen with Harry and Euripides, not because they’d hurt him, but because we wouldn’t be able to find him. The grass hasn’t been mowed in the turtle pen. The St. Augustine in there has gone to seed. It’s the best grass in the whole yard. Anyway….Max now resides in our old recycle bin. It’s about 24 by 16 inches and he has a little flower pot bottom for his pond, a rock to climb on or under, an old saucer for his food dish, and all that dirt out of the cooler. The funny thing…I think he’s a girl like the other two.
I took Mr. Mayhem to the prom last Friday night. It was our graduation dance for our "Dancing for the Rhythmically Challenged" class. The dance was held at a dance studio. It’s not the tap and ballet like my girls took when they were little. They teach social dancing. We no sooner sat down at our table when our dance instructor took me out on the floor to dance a waltz. Ahem…That was not one of the dances we learned in class! Once we got going it wasn’t so bad. When I got back to the table, Mr. Mayhem was gone. HE BOLTED ALREADY?! Then one of the lady instructors brought him back. We had both learned to waltz. Woo hoo! We’ve been dancin’! We were the first ones there from our class but the others started trickling in. We had to do a waterfall dance. It’s a mixer thing. The guys make a line and the girls make a line and whoever you wind up facing you dance with down the floor. The first guy I danced with was another instructor. We had been watching him across the floor and he had some moves. We had to do a waltz, and wouldn’t you know, I just learned how to do that! I found out right quick that no two guys waltz the same way. Our merengue is our best dance and we did that several times. We were cheered by the class for our smooth moves in our swing dance. Our instructor took me out and taught me the West coast swing, and Mr. Mayhem was taught the rumba. The fox-trot is our downfall. Those dances where you have to go around the whole floor are tough. We two-stepped once and did pretty good, and another time I thought he had cut my toe off. Tonight we are having our free private lesson to see if we can fix that fox-trot so that it’s not such an aardvark stomp. The studio has these dances every Friday night and I’d like to try to go again before high school football season starts. We may even try to take some more lessons. Hey, it’s a built in date. And don’t let Mr. Mayhem try to tell you otherwise…He’s been having fun!
While all of this was going on, Mr. Mayhem and Mayhem #1 were in MO visiting Grandma and Grandpa. They finally got back and said, "We brought you something. His name is Max." They handed me the little Playmate cooler, which is half-full of dirt. After that shock, and on closer inspection, I discovered that Max was a turtle about 3 inches in diameter. Mr. Mayhem found him crossing the road one morning. He was going to name him Yertle after Dr. Seuss’s "Yertle the Turtle", but since he was so small he named him Max after the little turtle in the story who was on the bottom of the stack of turtles and didn’t like it so he made the whole stack fall down. (Now you need to go find the book and learn the rest of the story.) We decided he was too small to put in the pen with Harry and Euripides, not because they’d hurt him, but because we wouldn’t be able to find him. The grass hasn’t been mowed in the turtle pen. The St. Augustine in there has gone to seed. It’s the best grass in the whole yard. Anyway….Max now resides in our old recycle bin. It’s about 24 by 16 inches and he has a little flower pot bottom for his pond, a rock to climb on or under, an old saucer for his food dish, and all that dirt out of the cooler. The funny thing…I think he’s a girl like the other two.
I took Mr. Mayhem to the prom last Friday night. It was our graduation dance for our "Dancing for the Rhythmically Challenged" class. The dance was held at a dance studio. It’s not the tap and ballet like my girls took when they were little. They teach social dancing. We no sooner sat down at our table when our dance instructor took me out on the floor to dance a waltz. Ahem…That was not one of the dances we learned in class! Once we got going it wasn’t so bad. When I got back to the table, Mr. Mayhem was gone. HE BOLTED ALREADY?! Then one of the lady instructors brought him back. We had both learned to waltz. Woo hoo! We’ve been dancin’! We were the first ones there from our class but the others started trickling in. We had to do a waterfall dance. It’s a mixer thing. The guys make a line and the girls make a line and whoever you wind up facing you dance with down the floor. The first guy I danced with was another instructor. We had been watching him across the floor and he had some moves. We had to do a waltz, and wouldn’t you know, I just learned how to do that! I found out right quick that no two guys waltz the same way. Our merengue is our best dance and we did that several times. We were cheered by the class for our smooth moves in our swing dance. Our instructor took me out and taught me the West coast swing, and Mr. Mayhem was taught the rumba. The fox-trot is our downfall. Those dances where you have to go around the whole floor are tough. We two-stepped once and did pretty good, and another time I thought he had cut my toe off. Tonight we are having our free private lesson to see if we can fix that fox-trot so that it’s not such an aardvark stomp. The studio has these dances every Friday night and I’d like to try to go again before high school football season starts. We may even try to take some more lessons. Hey, it’s a built in date. And don’t let Mr. Mayhem try to tell you otherwise…He’s been having fun!
Friday, July 01, 2005
Excuses
Here are my excuses for not posting in a month of Sundays or more.
Mayhem #1 graduated. Her speech was a rousing success. Everyone said it was the best speech they had ever heard. The main idea was "Life is not like a movie. No rewind. No scene selection. The blooper reel is part of the movie. Just keep going." She had lots of movie quotes and references, and she made her art teacher cry when she thanked her in "whale."
The day after graduation we climbed in my little car and headed for San Marcos for state solo and ensemble competition. That was about a five hour trip. She made a one on her piano solo which was the icing on the cake she really wanted. Her ensemble also made a one, but that was incidental.
The next week the girls and I climbed in my little car and headed for UMHB in Belton to register Mayhem #1 for college. That was about at two hour trip. She's got 16 hours. Her art classes are TTH and other stuff is MWF. She got the dorm she wanted and has talked with her roommate a couple of times. She's loved shopping for college stuff because she gets to pick what she likes. It helps when you're using a bunch of gift cards and not your own money!
The next week Mayhem #2 climbed on the church bus, and Mayhem #1 and I climbed in my little car and headed for Glorieta, NM for church camp. That was about an eleven hour trip. We stopped in Amarillo for the night since we only had one driver for the bus and we didn't want him to get too tired. Camp was good. Our kids were young in terms of age and spirituality. I'll tell you more about it later. Mayhem #1 and I counted over 30 license plates from different states, one from Quebec, and at least 23 dead armadillos on the side of the road. We would like to let you know that there are no armadillos west of Amarillo, or they're smart enough to stay off the road.
The next week we all climbed in my little car and headed for Pasadena, TX to pack and move my mom to Fort Worth. That was about a five and a half hour trip. That was a very hot and interesting experience, but it's done. We still have alot of unpacking to do for her. The apartments are just for senior citizens and we hope that eventually she will get more mobile and social and stop living like a hermit.
The next week (which is this week), Mr. Mayhem and Mayhem #1 climbed in MY little car and headed for Mountain Grove, MO to visit Grandma and Grandpa. That's a ten hour trip. Mayhem #1 wanted to go because she didn't know if her school schedule would allow her to go for a visit when the rest of the family went. Mayhem #2 just wanted to be a home body. I couldn't go because of my mom. Today Mayhem #2 and I are taking a day off from unpacking to go to the zoo. We're going early because it's suppose to be 100 degrees again today. She likes hanging out with just one parent at a time. We are so blessed that our kids like us.
Well, that's about it. I'm sorry if those excuses seem a little flimsy to you, but that's my story and I'm sticking too it. I need to go move Humphrey so I'll see you later. I'll have to tell you his story later.
Mayhem #1 graduated. Her speech was a rousing success. Everyone said it was the best speech they had ever heard. The main idea was "Life is not like a movie. No rewind. No scene selection. The blooper reel is part of the movie. Just keep going." She had lots of movie quotes and references, and she made her art teacher cry when she thanked her in "whale."
The day after graduation we climbed in my little car and headed for San Marcos for state solo and ensemble competition. That was about a five hour trip. She made a one on her piano solo which was the icing on the cake she really wanted. Her ensemble also made a one, but that was incidental.
The next week the girls and I climbed in my little car and headed for UMHB in Belton to register Mayhem #1 for college. That was about at two hour trip. She's got 16 hours. Her art classes are TTH and other stuff is MWF. She got the dorm she wanted and has talked with her roommate a couple of times. She's loved shopping for college stuff because she gets to pick what she likes. It helps when you're using a bunch of gift cards and not your own money!
The next week Mayhem #2 climbed on the church bus, and Mayhem #1 and I climbed in my little car and headed for Glorieta, NM for church camp. That was about an eleven hour trip. We stopped in Amarillo for the night since we only had one driver for the bus and we didn't want him to get too tired. Camp was good. Our kids were young in terms of age and spirituality. I'll tell you more about it later. Mayhem #1 and I counted over 30 license plates from different states, one from Quebec, and at least 23 dead armadillos on the side of the road. We would like to let you know that there are no armadillos west of Amarillo, or they're smart enough to stay off the road.
The next week we all climbed in my little car and headed for Pasadena, TX to pack and move my mom to Fort Worth. That was about a five and a half hour trip. That was a very hot and interesting experience, but it's done. We still have alot of unpacking to do for her. The apartments are just for senior citizens and we hope that eventually she will get more mobile and social and stop living like a hermit.
The next week (which is this week), Mr. Mayhem and Mayhem #1 climbed in MY little car and headed for Mountain Grove, MO to visit Grandma and Grandpa. That's a ten hour trip. Mayhem #1 wanted to go because she didn't know if her school schedule would allow her to go for a visit when the rest of the family went. Mayhem #2 just wanted to be a home body. I couldn't go because of my mom. Today Mayhem #2 and I are taking a day off from unpacking to go to the zoo. We're going early because it's suppose to be 100 degrees again today. She likes hanging out with just one parent at a time. We are so blessed that our kids like us.
Well, that's about it. I'm sorry if those excuses seem a little flimsy to you, but that's my story and I'm sticking too it. I need to go move Humphrey so I'll see you later. I'll have to tell you his story later.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
2 fer
One and a half days of school left. Will I make it?
Mayhem #2 had her awards assembly last night. Or as the principal called it "8th grade graduation." To start off, the ac in the auditorium wasn't working. Add several hundred people and you have the makings of a riot. Every 8th grader got a "diploma", and the principal asked people to hold their applause until the end. That lasted until the third name was called. She even had to ask for the "side conversations" to stop so everyone could hear the names. Why can't people be a little respectful?
Mayhem #2 was recognized as a charter member of the junior thespian troop. They announced her band award even though that had been given out last week at the concert. And they announced her science fair successes. She and a bunch of others got awards for keeping at least a 90 average this year, but she didn't get a citizenship award. Go figure? Always in dress code, never written up, never had detention...Was there an evil side to my child I didn't know about?
Then they started handing out "spirit awards." They never explained what that meant, but they started listing the classes that Mayhem #2 was in. I was getting a little miffed. "If these are academic awards, why isn't my baby getting any?" Then came the "pride" awards. Once again, no explanation. The longer the list got, the more upset I got. Some of these kids were getting more that one award in the same classes as Mayhem #2. Mr. Mayhem thought he was going to have to restrain me. Finally there was a list of the Pre AP classes, and technology, and band and they finally called Mayhem #2. She also received the highest GPA for the girls. Mr. Mayhem gave her a hug as she went to collect her award, and he went to take her picture. That got an extra round of applause. The boy and girl with the highest GPA were named Mr. and Miss IMMS. (Say that real fast and see what you get.) We didn't expect that since it's usually a popularity contest.
So we got two valedictorians for the price of one. Sorry if I'm bragging too much, but I'm very proud of my girls. To celebrate...We went to Dairy Queen for ice cream! Believe me, we needed to cool off.
Mayhem #2 had her awards assembly last night. Or as the principal called it "8th grade graduation." To start off, the ac in the auditorium wasn't working. Add several hundred people and you have the makings of a riot. Every 8th grader got a "diploma", and the principal asked people to hold their applause until the end. That lasted until the third name was called. She even had to ask for the "side conversations" to stop so everyone could hear the names. Why can't people be a little respectful?
Mayhem #2 was recognized as a charter member of the junior thespian troop. They announced her band award even though that had been given out last week at the concert. And they announced her science fair successes. She and a bunch of others got awards for keeping at least a 90 average this year, but she didn't get a citizenship award. Go figure? Always in dress code, never written up, never had detention...Was there an evil side to my child I didn't know about?
Then they started handing out "spirit awards." They never explained what that meant, but they started listing the classes that Mayhem #2 was in. I was getting a little miffed. "If these are academic awards, why isn't my baby getting any?" Then came the "pride" awards. Once again, no explanation. The longer the list got, the more upset I got. Some of these kids were getting more that one award in the same classes as Mayhem #2. Mr. Mayhem thought he was going to have to restrain me. Finally there was a list of the Pre AP classes, and technology, and band and they finally called Mayhem #2. She also received the highest GPA for the girls. Mr. Mayhem gave her a hug as she went to collect her award, and he went to take her picture. That got an extra round of applause. The boy and girl with the highest GPA were named Mr. and Miss IMMS. (Say that real fast and see what you get.) We didn't expect that since it's usually a popularity contest.
So we got two valedictorians for the price of one. Sorry if I'm bragging too much, but I'm very proud of my girls. To celebrate...We went to Dairy Queen for ice cream! Believe me, we needed to cool off.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Graduation answers
Since I'm in the throes of graduation madness I thought I'd answer the Thursday Three.
1. Memorable speech?
I don't really remember the speeches, but I thought it was neat that two sisters had to give the speech in back-to-back years. There will be four years between mine. So Mayhem #2 says.
2. How many graduations?
I've had three if you count the graduation ceremony we had from elementary school. I've been to gobs of them. (How many zeros are in a gob?) We taught high school youth for a while. Plus we've gone the last three years because Mayhem #1 was in the band and had to be there to play Pomp and Circumstance.
3. Worked a retail job so that in August I could clear my bank account out to pay for that first semester of college.
Bonus: Best gift?
I was called Tigger at work so my fellow employees bought me a set of Tigger sheets.
My favorite graduation to attend was when Mr. Mayhem graduated from college. We got married at 1:30 that day and graduation was at 6:30. He had a big "Just Married" sign on the back of his gown.
Oh, I thought I'd let you know that there words to Pomp and Circumstance. At least there are around my house. Here goes:
My reindeer flies sideways.
Your reindeer flies upside down.
My reindeer flies sideways.
Your reindeer is dead.
(Bomp Bomp Bomp)
1. Memorable speech?
I don't really remember the speeches, but I thought it was neat that two sisters had to give the speech in back-to-back years. There will be four years between mine. So Mayhem #2 says.
2. How many graduations?
I've had three if you count the graduation ceremony we had from elementary school. I've been to gobs of them. (How many zeros are in a gob?) We taught high school youth for a while. Plus we've gone the last three years because Mayhem #1 was in the band and had to be there to play Pomp and Circumstance.
3. Worked a retail job so that in August I could clear my bank account out to pay for that first semester of college.
Bonus: Best gift?
I was called Tigger at work so my fellow employees bought me a set of Tigger sheets.
My favorite graduation to attend was when Mr. Mayhem graduated from college. We got married at 1:30 that day and graduation was at 6:30. He had a big "Just Married" sign on the back of his gown.
Oh, I thought I'd let you know that there words to Pomp and Circumstance. At least there are around my house. Here goes:
My reindeer flies sideways.
Your reindeer flies upside down.
My reindeer flies sideways.
Your reindeer is dead.
(Bomp Bomp Bomp)
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Busy? part 2
After getting her nails done, Mayhem #1 and I went home for some lunch. Then we were off to get her hair done. She had found some pictures on line and decided to combine two of them for the look she wanted. It was half up and half down and curly. It took an hour and a half, and she was very pleased with the results. Complete with little purple do dads added to the curls.
As she was dressing and putting on make-up, Boy calls. You have to understand that neither one of these kids knows anything about going on a date, especially a formal one. Pictures were suppose to start at the prom at 6:00. I suggested he pick her up at 5:00 and we could do the flower thing, go to the botanical gardens, take our pictures, and make the five minute trip downtown. We invited his parents to come make pictures too. He decided Friday that 5:00 was cutting it too close, so we agreed on 4:30. The phone call came at about 4:05. Maybe 4:30 was too early? They decided on 4:45.
Boy arrives in his little red Toyota. There had been talk of him borrowing a relative's Hummer, but that didn't happen. That was ok with me. The nice clean red Toyota was much easier to climb into than a Hummer. His folks were very nice and glad we had invited them. Once we got the corsage turned right, he put it on her wrist. I put his boutineer on him, because I never got around to showing Mayhem #1 how to do it, and his mom said it had been 30 years since she had done that. A couple of pictures there, and then off to the botanical gardens. We had to work our way around about three wedding parties, but we got some nice shots. After worrying whether or not it was going to be "Raining on Prom Night", it turned out to be a beautiful cloudless day. The kids kept complaining about the bright sunshine and the heat. At one point, Boy said he swallowed a gnat that flew in his mouth. Priceless. Then, hugs and handshakes and they were off.
Here's the postscript. They had a good time at prom. There was one minor mishap at the parking garage, but that was easily resolved. They didn't go anywhere afterwards. There had been talk of a group going to IHOP, but Mayhem #1 thought that was weird. Boy walked her in and we all talked for a minute or two then he went home. Mayhem #1 and I visited a little while she got ready for bed. I think it all was a good experience. She hopes her hair is still nice enough to leave up for church. I guess I better print some of the pictures so she can show them around at church.
Nine days of school left. Two weeks til graduation. I hope I make it.
As she was dressing and putting on make-up, Boy calls. You have to understand that neither one of these kids knows anything about going on a date, especially a formal one. Pictures were suppose to start at the prom at 6:00. I suggested he pick her up at 5:00 and we could do the flower thing, go to the botanical gardens, take our pictures, and make the five minute trip downtown. We invited his parents to come make pictures too. He decided Friday that 5:00 was cutting it too close, so we agreed on 4:30. The phone call came at about 4:05. Maybe 4:30 was too early? They decided on 4:45.
Boy arrives in his little red Toyota. There had been talk of him borrowing a relative's Hummer, but that didn't happen. That was ok with me. The nice clean red Toyota was much easier to climb into than a Hummer. His folks were very nice and glad we had invited them. Once we got the corsage turned right, he put it on her wrist. I put his boutineer on him, because I never got around to showing Mayhem #1 how to do it, and his mom said it had been 30 years since she had done that. A couple of pictures there, and then off to the botanical gardens. We had to work our way around about three wedding parties, but we got some nice shots. After worrying whether or not it was going to be "Raining on Prom Night", it turned out to be a beautiful cloudless day. The kids kept complaining about the bright sunshine and the heat. At one point, Boy said he swallowed a gnat that flew in his mouth. Priceless. Then, hugs and handshakes and they were off.
Here's the postscript. They had a good time at prom. There was one minor mishap at the parking garage, but that was easily resolved. They didn't go anywhere afterwards. There had been talk of a group going to IHOP, but Mayhem #1 thought that was weird. Boy walked her in and we all talked for a minute or two then he went home. Mayhem #1 and I visited a little while she got ready for bed. I think it all was a good experience. She hopes her hair is still nice enough to leave up for church. I guess I better print some of the pictures so she can show them around at church.
Nine days of school left. Two weeks til graduation. I hope I make it.
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Busy? Not me!
Tonight is an interesting night. I'm home alone because Mr. Mayhem has gone to a friend's birthday party, Mayhem #2 has gone to Six Flags with the band,(Normally I would have gone too, but this next phrase came first.) and Mayhem #1 is at the prom. I've been working on prom stuff all week. We've had to buy undergarments, a purse, jewelry, hair do-dads, and flowers. I went to the botanical gardens to see where would be a good place to make pictures. I made a second trip to the botanical gardens to check out the conservatory since rain might be in the forecast. Today I picked up the flowers, which I had to wait on because they hadn't been able to get the flowers I wanted. So instead of calling me like, oh, yesterday, they waited til I was there to pick them up to ask if these other flowers would be ok. Do I have much of a choice at this point? They looked fine.
We made it to the appointment for her nails just a little late, and then waited. This was an odd experience. The folks who worked in the shop were Asian. They didn't really talk to us too much, but they talked to each other across the room in a foreign language. I wasn't overly impressed with the manicure either. They made two of her fingers bleed because they nicked her when they were working on the cuticles. The paint job wasn't great either, but Mayhem #1 was happy so I kept my mouth shut.
I'll continue this in the morning. I have to go flocking.
We made it to the appointment for her nails just a little late, and then waited. This was an odd experience. The folks who worked in the shop were Asian. They didn't really talk to us too much, but they talked to each other across the room in a foreign language. I wasn't overly impressed with the manicure either. They made two of her fingers bleed because they nicked her when they were working on the cuticles. The paint job wasn't great either, but Mayhem #1 was happy so I kept my mouth shut.
I'll continue this in the morning. I have to go flocking.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Hittin' the road
It's early around here because Mayhem #1 and I have to be at the high school by 7:00 to leave for San Antonio on the band trip. We're driving down, touring the Alamo, going to the competition location, changing into concert attire(The kids are. I'm just a roadie.), competing, going to the hotel, changing for dinner, going to the Spaghetti Warehouse for dinner, and strolling down the river walk. Tomorrow we eat breakfast, check out of the hotel, go to Fiesta Texas, load up, drive back, and be home by about midnight. Are we having fun yet?
My calendar for May only has about 5 days with nothing scheduled on it. It was 6, but we got a letter that said Mayhem #1 was going to be recognized at the school board meeting as valedictorian. I guess that makes it official, though this is the only confirmation that we've gotten so far.
Please pray for Mayhem #1. She has 5 AP tests in the next two weeks. She says if she can get through this, it's all downhill from there. Pray I get the graduation announcements out. Pray I don't burst a blood vessel. AAAAAAUUUUGGGHHH!!!! Like I said,...Are we having fun yet?
My calendar for May only has about 5 days with nothing scheduled on it. It was 6, but we got a letter that said Mayhem #1 was going to be recognized at the school board meeting as valedictorian. I guess that makes it official, though this is the only confirmation that we've gotten so far.
Please pray for Mayhem #1. She has 5 AP tests in the next two weeks. She says if she can get through this, it's all downhill from there. Pray I get the graduation announcements out. Pray I don't burst a blood vessel. AAAAAAUUUUGGGHHH!!!! Like I said,...Are we having fun yet?
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
New Pets
To cheer myself up, I got some new pets. Well, not really, but they do have a way of cheering you up. Once again they're not your run-of-the-mill pets. I couldn't get anything "normal" to go with the turtles and fishes. I don't have to feed these guys, but I do have to take them for a walk regularly. I am now the proud owner of eight plastic yard flamingoes!
The Project Graduation group from the high school placed thirteen flamingoes in my yard last week as a fundraiser. They had decorated theirs with pink, black, and green feather boas or tufts on their head and tail. One even had bumble bees glued on its back. I thought they were a hoot. I got to keep them for 48 hours and name the person they went to next. All that was worth a donation. They had placed them in a little "flock". I strung them out in a line before they came to pick them up.
Well, I've decided that our church youth group needs to do this for camp funds. We have a little less than two months before camp and we've raised about half the money needed to go. We're going to Glorietta, New Mexico this year for Centrifuge camp. The director didn't seem too hip on the flamingo idea, but everyone else did. I don't know if I'll decorate mine. I'm afraid the feathers will get messed up if it rains. The girls and I will be the "flamingo bandits" and make the deliveries and pick ups after dark so as to remain anonymous. The church members will also be given the option of purchasing "flock insurance" if they don't want these beauties in their yard. I think I need to go get eight more so I can have two flocks going at one time.
The Project Graduation group from the high school placed thirteen flamingoes in my yard last week as a fundraiser. They had decorated theirs with pink, black, and green feather boas or tufts on their head and tail. One even had bumble bees glued on its back. I thought they were a hoot. I got to keep them for 48 hours and name the person they went to next. All that was worth a donation. They had placed them in a little "flock". I strung them out in a line before they came to pick them up.
Well, I've decided that our church youth group needs to do this for camp funds. We have a little less than two months before camp and we've raised about half the money needed to go. We're going to Glorietta, New Mexico this year for Centrifuge camp. The director didn't seem too hip on the flamingo idea, but everyone else did. I don't know if I'll decorate mine. I'm afraid the feathers will get messed up if it rains. The girls and I will be the "flamingo bandits" and make the deliveries and pick ups after dark so as to remain anonymous. The church members will also be given the option of purchasing "flock insurance" if they don't want these beauties in their yard. I think I need to go get eight more so I can have two flocks going at one time.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Depressed again
Hi guys. I tried to blog last week, but my computer froze in the middle. I was already depressed for the day so I took that as a sign that I shouldn't try again. Early last week, I was all gung ho to take on the recurring windmill of dress code enforcement and lack of discipline at the secondary campuses. I had sent an e-mail to the superintendent to that effect and he blew me off and sent my e-mail to the principals. The middle school principal has never contacted me, but the high school principal jumped me in the hall on my volunteer day. She didn't say it, but she inferred, "How dare you have a problem with my school and how I do things." All you have to do is stand in the hall to see what's wrong. I mentioned the skimpy shirts, baggy pants, and chains hanging on the pants that could be used as weapons. I did forget to mention the multiple piercings in multiple locations. I went out later that day and got prices from different stores of khaki pants and polo-type shirts so I could talk to the school board about it. In the afternoon, I heard on the radio that Dallas ISD had passed a new uniform policy. However, it said that 85% of the students would qualify for free uniforms, so the district would have to buy them! Why do I have to raise all these children? I already pay for the free lunch that most of the kids throw away and then they pull out $5 and buy junk. Then when I picked up Mayhem #2, she said that she had a sub in one of her classes. Since the district can't keep subs (I think that's because of the lack of discipline.), the other teachers have to cover classes during their off period. This sub was a regular teacher, and all she did was watch music videos on the computer. She even asked if any of the kids had gum because she wanted some. She said she wouldn't "rat" on them for having it even though that's a no no.
Now do you see why I was depressed? Why bother? Why try? No one else cares. I'm a little afraid to say much more because I fear it will be taken out on my kids. I can't mess up Mayhem #1's senior year. I can't risk them finding a way to take honors away from her. As it is, she has to fight for everything she gets. We just signed her up for 5 AP tests, and spent a ton of money at Barnes & Noble on study guides. She needs a score of 3 on four of the tests to earn the distinguished achievement graduation honor. Last year she took three tests and didn't score a 3 on any of them. She only had one teacher actually prepare her for the tests last year, and she made a 2 on that stats test. This year, only her calculus teacher is preparing her for the test. The rest she is having to do on her own. And the principal is trying to force the kids to take the tests if they are in the AP classes, but most of them don't feel like they are prepared to take the tests.
I think I'm depressed again. I'll go do some laundry and dishes (woo hoo) and try to come back later with something a little more cheerful. Maybe a little about Mr. Mayhem's new job.
Now do you see why I was depressed? Why bother? Why try? No one else cares. I'm a little afraid to say much more because I fear it will be taken out on my kids. I can't mess up Mayhem #1's senior year. I can't risk them finding a way to take honors away from her. As it is, she has to fight for everything she gets. We just signed her up for 5 AP tests, and spent a ton of money at Barnes & Noble on study guides. She needs a score of 3 on four of the tests to earn the distinguished achievement graduation honor. Last year she took three tests and didn't score a 3 on any of them. She only had one teacher actually prepare her for the tests last year, and she made a 2 on that stats test. This year, only her calculus teacher is preparing her for the test. The rest she is having to do on her own. And the principal is trying to force the kids to take the tests if they are in the AP classes, but most of them don't feel like they are prepared to take the tests.
I think I'm depressed again. I'll go do some laundry and dishes (woo hoo) and try to come back later with something a little more cheerful. Maybe a little about Mr. Mayhem's new job.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Still alive
I know. It's been awhile. Sometimes I just don't feel like blogging, and sometimes I can't think of anything cute, funny, or important to say. (Rememeber who my husband is. He's always so witty.) Actually, I usually come up with ideas to blog about when I'm driving from one errand to another. Unfortunately, the power cord on the computer isn't that long. Plus, I'm not sure I can type and drive at the same time. Anyway, here's a little of my most recent adventure. (If you can call it that.)
Last week was the girls' spring break. So, we ladies, headed for MO to visit Grandma and Grandpa. (Mr. Mayhem couldn't go since he had to give his resignation. Three and a half days to go.) The nice thing about this trip was Mayhem #1 could help me drive. I get tired driving. I let her drive from Oklahoma City to Joplin going. No problem. I had to make sure she didn't change roads in Tulsa, but she did great. On the way home, I let her take over between the MO border and Tulsa. It was the same road in reverse order. No sweat...I thought.
I'm working a puzzle in a puzzle book when she asks, "Are we on the right road?" I looked up and said, "Yeah." You have to understand that most of OK looks the same. If you've seen one field with cows, you've seen them all. I noticed a sign for the upcoming toll booth so I got out the $3.50 we normally pay. When we pulled in to the toll booth, there was not attendant and we needed to pay $.75 in change. Definitely not the right road. I didn't panic or yell. I calmly asked if she had taken an exit. She said, "Two lanes went that way and two went straight. Since I was in this lane, I went straight." Ahhh. "Don't you think you should have asked if you weren't sure?"
All the road signs said we were still going west so I wasn't too concerned. I asked Mayhem #2 to hand me the atlas that was under her feet and started looking for the towns I kept seeing listed on the signs. Mr. Mayhem had mentioned a new turnpike that went around Tulsa so I had a sneaking suspicion that she had gotten on that instead of staying on the usual road. We had to stop three times to pay the toll, which I thought was stupid. It was faster and cheaper to go through Tulsa. We finally made it back to the usual road, and we made it home ok after that.
Not much happened at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Just the usual visiting and catching up on our soaps. (It's the only time we see them.) We had a couple of good "Grandpa breakfasts" as the kids call them. Complete with the homemade hash browns that Mayhem #1 likes so well. Took Grandpa grocery shopping one day and to the post office the other. Played a little Uno and watched the Beverly Hillbillies (Possum Day episode). It snowed off and on one day. Nothing stuck, but we kept joking that they may have to send out the pug dog to dig us out.
Now we're back at this crazy pace. Mayhem #2 has been cast in a one-act version of A Midsummer's Night Dream. It's a modern version and kind of weird. Her band traveled to a competition today and Mayhem #1 has one on Thursday. I couldn't go today because I had to help out a friend, and I probably won't go Thursday because my sister-in-law and I are going to look for an apartment for my mom. I did tell the girls that I would be there for the main competitions that come up in a couple of weeks. I think Mayhem #1 also has a jazz band competition in a couple of weeks.
Now you see why I say I'm "makin' the world go round."
Last week was the girls' spring break. So, we ladies, headed for MO to visit Grandma and Grandpa. (Mr. Mayhem couldn't go since he had to give his resignation. Three and a half days to go.) The nice thing about this trip was Mayhem #1 could help me drive. I get tired driving. I let her drive from Oklahoma City to Joplin going. No problem. I had to make sure she didn't change roads in Tulsa, but she did great. On the way home, I let her take over between the MO border and Tulsa. It was the same road in reverse order. No sweat...I thought.
I'm working a puzzle in a puzzle book when she asks, "Are we on the right road?" I looked up and said, "Yeah." You have to understand that most of OK looks the same. If you've seen one field with cows, you've seen them all. I noticed a sign for the upcoming toll booth so I got out the $3.50 we normally pay. When we pulled in to the toll booth, there was not attendant and we needed to pay $.75 in change. Definitely not the right road. I didn't panic or yell. I calmly asked if she had taken an exit. She said, "Two lanes went that way and two went straight. Since I was in this lane, I went straight." Ahhh. "Don't you think you should have asked if you weren't sure?"
All the road signs said we were still going west so I wasn't too concerned. I asked Mayhem #2 to hand me the atlas that was under her feet and started looking for the towns I kept seeing listed on the signs. Mr. Mayhem had mentioned a new turnpike that went around Tulsa so I had a sneaking suspicion that she had gotten on that instead of staying on the usual road. We had to stop three times to pay the toll, which I thought was stupid. It was faster and cheaper to go through Tulsa. We finally made it back to the usual road, and we made it home ok after that.
Not much happened at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Just the usual visiting and catching up on our soaps. (It's the only time we see them.) We had a couple of good "Grandpa breakfasts" as the kids call them. Complete with the homemade hash browns that Mayhem #1 likes so well. Took Grandpa grocery shopping one day and to the post office the other. Played a little Uno and watched the Beverly Hillbillies (Possum Day episode). It snowed off and on one day. Nothing stuck, but we kept joking that they may have to send out the pug dog to dig us out.
Now we're back at this crazy pace. Mayhem #2 has been cast in a one-act version of A Midsummer's Night Dream. It's a modern version and kind of weird. Her band traveled to a competition today and Mayhem #1 has one on Thursday. I couldn't go today because I had to help out a friend, and I probably won't go Thursday because my sister-in-law and I are going to look for an apartment for my mom. I did tell the girls that I would be there for the main competitions that come up in a couple of weeks. I think Mayhem #1 also has a jazz band competition in a couple of weeks.
Now you see why I say I'm "makin' the world go round."
Friday, March 04, 2005
Dress update
I know that Mr. Mayhem alluded to the prom dress shopping that Mayhem #1 and I did last weekend, and I need to give you the details. We went to two malls and two bridal shops. It was good to hang out with her. Another t-shirt that we liked at the "Buddha shirt stand" said, "I didn't say you did it. I said I was going to blame you." Isn't that the mentality of a lot of people these days?
Anyway. The dress is leaf green with spaghetti straps. At the top of the bodice there are pink and purple embroidered flowers with beads in the center. The skirt has the same flowers and leaves in a flowing line that follows the edge of the over skirt. The back is a little longer than the front, but not much. Maybe Mr. Mayhem can help me provide a picture. The straps are a little too long, but I think we can take care of that. Now she's worried about finding shoes the right color. I told her you dye them. She was also concerned about the guy not being able to find a tux that matched. I told her it isn't suppose to match, it's suppose to complement the dress. I told her black went with everything. I know she's really thinking about the tie, or vest, or cummerbund.
Today I have a million places to go. I need money from the bank, the library books are due, Mr. Mayhem asked me to fax something for him so I can do that at the middle school, I told Mayhem #1 I'd stop at the counselor's office and pick up some scholarship applications for her, I’m meeting a friend for lunch (it's Me Day and lunch is about all I'll have time for), there is a yearbook unveiling assembly at the high school (Mayhem #1 is on staff.), I have to take Mayhem #1 shopping for a black shirt for the jazz band competition tomorrow, and finally pick up Mayhem # 2 from her band sectional at 5:00.
A little side note: Yesterday Mayhem #1 brought home her yearbook staff shirt and she was so mad about it. The shirt is black and says Yearbook Staff on the front, except it really says, "Year Book Staff". She's ranting and raving, "How could they do this? Why didn't they run it by me? I'm the copy editor! I'm going to get a white paint pen and fix my shirt and write copy editor on it!" She was just a little indignant.
Tomorrow, I'm off with Mayhem #2 to another science fair project competition. It's at Texas Women's University which is about an hour from here. It's going to take pretty much all day. Mr. Mayhem is going with Mayhem #1 to her jazz band competition in the morning and then taking her to the art competition in the afternoon. We had to divide to be able to conquer all this stuff on one day. I think Monday night is another divide and conquer time.
Anyway. The dress is leaf green with spaghetti straps. At the top of the bodice there are pink and purple embroidered flowers with beads in the center. The skirt has the same flowers and leaves in a flowing line that follows the edge of the over skirt. The back is a little longer than the front, but not much. Maybe Mr. Mayhem can help me provide a picture. The straps are a little too long, but I think we can take care of that. Now she's worried about finding shoes the right color. I told her you dye them. She was also concerned about the guy not being able to find a tux that matched. I told her it isn't suppose to match, it's suppose to complement the dress. I told her black went with everything. I know she's really thinking about the tie, or vest, or cummerbund.
Today I have a million places to go. I need money from the bank, the library books are due, Mr. Mayhem asked me to fax something for him so I can do that at the middle school, I told Mayhem #1 I'd stop at the counselor's office and pick up some scholarship applications for her, I’m meeting a friend for lunch (it's Me Day and lunch is about all I'll have time for), there is a yearbook unveiling assembly at the high school (Mayhem #1 is on staff.), I have to take Mayhem #1 shopping for a black shirt for the jazz band competition tomorrow, and finally pick up Mayhem # 2 from her band sectional at 5:00.
A little side note: Yesterday Mayhem #1 brought home her yearbook staff shirt and she was so mad about it. The shirt is black and says Yearbook Staff on the front, except it really says, "Year Book Staff". She's ranting and raving, "How could they do this? Why didn't they run it by me? I'm the copy editor! I'm going to get a white paint pen and fix my shirt and write copy editor on it!" She was just a little indignant.
Tomorrow, I'm off with Mayhem #2 to another science fair project competition. It's at Texas Women's University which is about an hour from here. It's going to take pretty much all day. Mr. Mayhem is going with Mayhem #1 to her jazz band competition in the morning and then taking her to the art competition in the afternoon. We had to divide to be able to conquer all this stuff on one day. I think Monday night is another divide and conquer time.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Need a score card?
We made it through the weekend without Mr. Mayhem, but it’s taken me this long to tell you about it. On Friday the school had a memorial service for the teacher who committed suicide. I went to be there for Mayhem #1 in case she needed me. She was doing pretty good. The service was simple and every time we were asked to pray, I had to smile at all the sniffling that was going on. I felt ok because I knew I could cry, but I didn’t feel like it. I guess that sounds kind of weird. Mayhem #1 and I made it through tearless until the band director stepped up with his trumpet and played Taps. I knew it was coming because I had seen him walk in with the horn. She told me she didn't want to go to the funeral the next day, and I was ok with that.
After that, we stopped by the band hall and picked up her horn so she would have it for solo and ensemble competition on Saturday. Then we got Mayhem #2 from the middle school and ran home long enough to drop off all their stuff. Mayhem #2’s birthday was back in October, but she never got a party because my mom was with us then. She wanted to take some friends to see Phantom of the Opera so I suggested that we take everyone out to dinner and the movie and make that her party. She thought that was cool.
We ran around picking up teenage girls until the back seat of my Accord was overloaded and Mayhem #1 and I were tucked in the front seat with the seats pulled forward. Off we went to TGIFridays for appetizers and desserts. I walked in and said we had six for the non-smoking, giggly section, where we won’t bother anyone. Mayhem #1 and I decided the waiter wasn’t as good looking as the last one we had there, but he was cute. He kept scaring Mayhem #2 every time he refilled her drink because she was too busy giggling with the other girls to be aware of what was going on.
Next, we crammed them back in the back seat, and we were off to the movie. One of the girls’ mom met us there. (I think she was too scared to come to dinner with all that silly nonsense, but she said she had to work late.) I saw that the theater had student tickets with ids (two bucks cheaper) so I asked the girls if they had their school ids. The unanimous answer was no. I decided to ask anyway. I said, "Obviously I have 5 students, but they don’t have their id." The girl behind the counter said, "I’ll take your word for it." That struck me as funny. Couldn’t she look up and see they were students? The movie was great again and the girls were just raving about it. The other mom took two of the girls home so there was no more car cramming or complaining about bony bottoms.
Once we got home, there was a message on the machine from the mom of one of the boys in Mayhem #1’s brass ensemble. He wanted to go to the teacher’s funeral the next day and asked if we could go to the competition early to see if the ensemble’s performing time could be moved from the afternoon to the morning. Mayhem #1 said yes, but she didn’t like having to miss some of her extra sleep time. We loaded her horn and keyboard and headed out about 9am Saturday morning. She took her keyboard so she could practice with the saxophone player she was accompanying.
The ensemble found a place to practice and the performed pretty quickly. They all thought it was pretty bad because the tuba player couldn’t play his part. Surprisingly they made a 1 and they will take it to state on Memorial Day. Next, Mayhem #1 had to accompany the saxophone player and that went well. She had about an hour and a half before her solo time so I went to Sonic and bought lunch. It was better than the snack bar food. She practiced while I was gone, ate lunch, marked her music(You have to number the measures for the judges.),went to go play and came right back. The judge was at lunch and running late. I hate to hurry up and wait. During the four hours we have been here, I’ve been sitting in a high school cafeteria and that is the "warm up area". That means that about 50 kids or more are all playing their different instruments and different songs at the same time. I’ve done this before so I’ve gotten smart. I have my earplugs in and a book to read. Everyone laughs at the earplugs, but they cut down on the headache.
Mayhem #1 went off again to play her solo. I’m sitting there praying she does well. Piano is her first love and it means so much to her to do well at it. She comes back with a fist pumping, "YEAH!" Now we just have to wait another hour or so for the score. (Drum roll please.) It’s a 1! And since she had it memorized, she takes it to state. It was a very good day.
I think, however, the best news came yesterday. She came out of school with this grin on her face and a spring in her step. I sort of had an idea what it might be about and I was right. One of her friends asked her to prom! I know it’s three months away, but we are so like going dress shopping this weekend! I’m not sure Mr. Mayhem knows that yet. Does now. And there was much rejoicing at our house!
After that, we stopped by the band hall and picked up her horn so she would have it for solo and ensemble competition on Saturday. Then we got Mayhem #2 from the middle school and ran home long enough to drop off all their stuff. Mayhem #2’s birthday was back in October, but she never got a party because my mom was with us then. She wanted to take some friends to see Phantom of the Opera so I suggested that we take everyone out to dinner and the movie and make that her party. She thought that was cool.
We ran around picking up teenage girls until the back seat of my Accord was overloaded and Mayhem #1 and I were tucked in the front seat with the seats pulled forward. Off we went to TGIFridays for appetizers and desserts. I walked in and said we had six for the non-smoking, giggly section, where we won’t bother anyone. Mayhem #1 and I decided the waiter wasn’t as good looking as the last one we had there, but he was cute. He kept scaring Mayhem #2 every time he refilled her drink because she was too busy giggling with the other girls to be aware of what was going on.
Next, we crammed them back in the back seat, and we were off to the movie. One of the girls’ mom met us there. (I think she was too scared to come to dinner with all that silly nonsense, but she said she had to work late.) I saw that the theater had student tickets with ids (two bucks cheaper) so I asked the girls if they had their school ids. The unanimous answer was no. I decided to ask anyway. I said, "Obviously I have 5 students, but they don’t have their id." The girl behind the counter said, "I’ll take your word for it." That struck me as funny. Couldn’t she look up and see they were students? The movie was great again and the girls were just raving about it. The other mom took two of the girls home so there was no more car cramming or complaining about bony bottoms.
Once we got home, there was a message on the machine from the mom of one of the boys in Mayhem #1’s brass ensemble. He wanted to go to the teacher’s funeral the next day and asked if we could go to the competition early to see if the ensemble’s performing time could be moved from the afternoon to the morning. Mayhem #1 said yes, but she didn’t like having to miss some of her extra sleep time. We loaded her horn and keyboard and headed out about 9am Saturday morning. She took her keyboard so she could practice with the saxophone player she was accompanying.
The ensemble found a place to practice and the performed pretty quickly. They all thought it was pretty bad because the tuba player couldn’t play his part. Surprisingly they made a 1 and they will take it to state on Memorial Day. Next, Mayhem #1 had to accompany the saxophone player and that went well. She had about an hour and a half before her solo time so I went to Sonic and bought lunch. It was better than the snack bar food. She practiced while I was gone, ate lunch, marked her music(You have to number the measures for the judges.),went to go play and came right back. The judge was at lunch and running late. I hate to hurry up and wait. During the four hours we have been here, I’ve been sitting in a high school cafeteria and that is the "warm up area". That means that about 50 kids or more are all playing their different instruments and different songs at the same time. I’ve done this before so I’ve gotten smart. I have my earplugs in and a book to read. Everyone laughs at the earplugs, but they cut down on the headache.
Mayhem #1 went off again to play her solo. I’m sitting there praying she does well. Piano is her first love and it means so much to her to do well at it. She comes back with a fist pumping, "YEAH!" Now we just have to wait another hour or so for the score. (Drum roll please.) It’s a 1! And since she had it memorized, she takes it to state. It was a very good day.
I think, however, the best news came yesterday. She came out of school with this grin on her face and a spring in her step. I sort of had an idea what it might be about and I was right. One of her friends asked her to prom! I know it’s three months away, but we are so like going dress shopping this weekend! I’m not sure Mr. Mayhem knows that yet. Does now. And there was much rejoicing at our house!
Friday, February 18, 2005
Please pray
This week has just been awful for Mayhem #1. She wasn't able to work her last two days because of her asthma, and she felt guilty about that. She is doing better now. Wednesday she found out that one of the teachers at the high school had died. She didn't have him last year, but she had him the two previous years. The kids all loved him. He had taught most of the juniors and seniors and I think he may have had some of the sophomores this year. Then they found out yesterday that he had committed suicide. He was a Vietnam vet and they said he was struggling with some memories. The kids are all in shock. One of the teachers, a friend of mine, got to Mayhem #1 and had her call me. I stayed with her for a while at school and then she decided to come home. She was concerned about messing up her exemption status for her finals. I think she made the right choice because it would have been impossible to stay composed at school. Every time she thought she had it together, someone would hug her or something and she'd lose it again. There is a service this afternoon at 3:00 in the gym. On top of all this, her solo and ensemble competition is tomorrow. And Mr. Mayhem left to see his dad this morning, so please pray for me that I can deal with all of this.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Jerks
Why is it that Mayhem #1's second boss turns out to be a jerk like her first boss? They didn't do exactly the same thing to her, but the term still applies. Remember, Mayhem #1 resigned last week, but agreed to work through this Tuesday to get through the Valentine rush. She worked last Friday. She was told that it was her turn to clean the bathroom. She hasn't done it the whole time she's been there because the chemical fumes are bad for her asthma. She has told them that. It has been ok so far. It wasn't ok Friday. Mayhem #1 said the boss was in a bad mood. I also know that Mayhem #1 was still feeling guilty for quitting. So, she cleaned the bathroom. (Remember I took her to the doctor on Monday because her asthma was causing her trouble.) She had to take her rescue inhaler several times before she got home and it didn't get any better. She took it easy Saturday afternoon after she spent the morning taking the ACT, and trying to breathe. She didn't get better, so instead of going to church Sunday morning, she and I went to the doctor's office. They put her on prednisone and told her to take it easy. I told her with all her steroids she was going to start talking like Awnold. We made sure we got a note for work saying she couldn't work that afternoon.
After lunch, I went to the store to show the boss the note and explain that Mayhem #1 may not be able to be there Monday either. As I waited to talk to the assistant manager, because I didn't see the manager, she walks out from the back room with her baby in her arms. I politely showed her the note and explained about the bathroom cleaning and the asthma attack. Mr. Mayhem told me not to jump all over the manager about the bathroom incident so I didn't.
The boss barely looked at the note and told me that Mayhem #1 is responsible to find her own replacement. She said, "It's not my policy. It's corporate policy and I told her when I hired her that that was the way it was." She sat the baby on the floor and gave me some names and numbers for Mayhem #1 to call. This is an hour and a half before she's suppose to be at work! I fumed all the way home. Mayhem #1 did find a replacement. (What were they going to do if she didn't? Fire her?)
I asked Mayhem #1 to find her employee handbook for me. In the section on attendance it says, "You will be asked to find a replacement if you are unable to work an assigned shift, except for absences due to personal illness." Well, she wasn't being sick for her sister! I think it was a personal illness. Now she doesn't want to finish her two days she said she'd work. I told her we'd see how she' feeling after school since that is more important than work. I did say that if she was feeling ok she should complete her commitment. If she's not working tonight, I may just take the handbook up and show the boss how wrong she is and say we're done.
I hate jerks. Especially when they mess with my kids.
After lunch, I went to the store to show the boss the note and explain that Mayhem #1 may not be able to be there Monday either. As I waited to talk to the assistant manager, because I didn't see the manager, she walks out from the back room with her baby in her arms. I politely showed her the note and explained about the bathroom cleaning and the asthma attack. Mr. Mayhem told me not to jump all over the manager about the bathroom incident so I didn't.
The boss barely looked at the note and told me that Mayhem #1 is responsible to find her own replacement. She said, "It's not my policy. It's corporate policy and I told her when I hired her that that was the way it was." She sat the baby on the floor and gave me some names and numbers for Mayhem #1 to call. This is an hour and a half before she's suppose to be at work! I fumed all the way home. Mayhem #1 did find a replacement. (What were they going to do if she didn't? Fire her?)
I asked Mayhem #1 to find her employee handbook for me. In the section on attendance it says, "You will be asked to find a replacement if you are unable to work an assigned shift, except for absences due to personal illness." Well, she wasn't being sick for her sister! I think it was a personal illness. Now she doesn't want to finish her two days she said she'd work. I told her we'd see how she' feeling after school since that is more important than work. I did say that if she was feeling ok she should complete her commitment. If she's not working tonight, I may just take the handbook up and show the boss how wrong she is and say we're done.
I hate jerks. Especially when they mess with my kids.
Friday, February 11, 2005
Test? Test? Is this thing on?
Is anybody there? I thought I'd check since I realized that I've been doing this silliness for one year today. I'm still not sure that I'm doing it right. I'm not as prolific as Mr. Possum and not as deep as some of you other folks. And I don't always understand LittleA's comments, but I don't always understand him in real life either. I've met some really nice folks, and some of you nice folks are pretty crazy. And that's ok too. Thanks for stopping by.
I'll ramble about something else now.
Mayhem #1 turned in her resignation last night. Instead of confronting her boss about the overloaded schedule, she just said she had too many activities coming up. This is the truth and she's a little concerned about her grades. When I picked her up, she said, "Can I cry now?" She works three more days. She's helping get past the very busy Valentine season. I told her we could come visit everyone anytime. I also suggested that she could reapply there when she was ready to look for a job this summer. I think she's looking forward to having some breathing room. And some sleeping time. Priorities!
Yesterday while I was driving from one place to the other (I do that alot.), I was listening to Paul Harvey. Between page 2 and page 3, he was doing a commercial for the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. He was talking about ordering one for your sweetheart, sending it to her at work and all her co-workers would know what a wonderful guy you are (Like that's any of their business.) He gave the phone number and said call now, "A bear counselor is waiting to talk to you."
Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Bear counselor? Like, is it too stressful to be a teddy bear? Do they need someone to unburden themselves too? Too much hugging has made them neurotic? Does the Love Bear wish he hadn't had the "Love" tattoo put on? What?
I'll ramble about something else now.
Mayhem #1 turned in her resignation last night. Instead of confronting her boss about the overloaded schedule, she just said she had too many activities coming up. This is the truth and she's a little concerned about her grades. When I picked her up, she said, "Can I cry now?" She works three more days. She's helping get past the very busy Valentine season. I told her we could come visit everyone anytime. I also suggested that she could reapply there when she was ready to look for a job this summer. I think she's looking forward to having some breathing room. And some sleeping time. Priorities!
Yesterday while I was driving from one place to the other (I do that alot.), I was listening to Paul Harvey. Between page 2 and page 3, he was doing a commercial for the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. He was talking about ordering one for your sweetheart, sending it to her at work and all her co-workers would know what a wonderful guy you are (Like that's any of their business.) He gave the phone number and said call now, "A bear counselor is waiting to talk to you."
Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Bear counselor? Like, is it too stressful to be a teddy bear? Do they need someone to unburden themselves too? Too much hugging has made them neurotic? Does the Love Bear wish he hadn't had the "Love" tattoo put on? What?
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Why doesn't your mom work?
Mayhem #1 had to field that question from her boss yesterday. Her boss is probably 10 or 12 years younger than me with an eight month old baby. Mayhem #1 told her, "Mom and dad decided that when they had kids, mom would stay home and take care of them."
Then she asked, "How can they do it?"
"My dad's an accountant." (I'm not sure exactly how that fits into the equation.) "We don't have a lot of stuff." At this point the boss probably stopped listening.
I was proud of Mayhem #1's answer. As I've told them, I didn't bring kids into this world to let other people raise them. I'm not going to get on my soap box about whether or not moms should work, but it made me feel good that she understood why I'm "just a mom." Sometimes it is kind of hard to find some self-worth when you're just a mom, but the you have to remind yourself that what you're doing is right. My girls think I'm COOL! What other endorsement do I need?
Mayhem #1 is going to have to talk to her boss about her schedule. It's tearing her up, but she may have to quit. They have her scheduled for 15 hours next week. And they have her scheduled to work on Saturday which she told them in advance she had to have off for solo and ensemble competition. The boss isn't living up to her end of the bargain. They said they would be flexible with her school schedule, and Mayhem #1 gives them plenty of notice of when she can't work. I told her that she has the rest of her life to work for a living, but you're only a high school senior once. There are too many once-in-a-lifetime things that are happening now for her to be stressed over a job. Yes, I know we wanted her to get the job, but her main job right now is school. And, yes, she'll have to get another job, but maybe in the summer. It has been a good experience for her. We'll just wait and see what happens.
Then she asked, "How can they do it?"
"My dad's an accountant." (I'm not sure exactly how that fits into the equation.) "We don't have a lot of stuff." At this point the boss probably stopped listening.
I was proud of Mayhem #1's answer. As I've told them, I didn't bring kids into this world to let other people raise them. I'm not going to get on my soap box about whether or not moms should work, but it made me feel good that she understood why I'm "just a mom." Sometimes it is kind of hard to find some self-worth when you're just a mom, but the you have to remind yourself that what you're doing is right. My girls think I'm COOL! What other endorsement do I need?
Mayhem #1 is going to have to talk to her boss about her schedule. It's tearing her up, but she may have to quit. They have her scheduled for 15 hours next week. And they have her scheduled to work on Saturday which she told them in advance she had to have off for solo and ensemble competition. The boss isn't living up to her end of the bargain. They said they would be flexible with her school schedule, and Mayhem #1 gives them plenty of notice of when she can't work. I told her that she has the rest of her life to work for a living, but you're only a high school senior once. There are too many once-in-a-lifetime things that are happening now for her to be stressed over a job. Yes, I know we wanted her to get the job, but her main job right now is school. And, yes, she'll have to get another job, but maybe in the summer. It has been a good experience for her. We'll just wait and see what happens.
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