Planning and Predicting

I had to work with my Literacy Team for the school district today. We're planning for next week's "New Teacher" inservice and training session. Today, 6 of us gathered to review the entire reading curriculum and materials, set up a plan for training, wrote a lesson plan/agenda, gathered materials, and discussed what we envision. It was very exciting, but I left at 4:00 with a headache. For the next 2 days I'll be attending a retreat with all of the district administrators for an in-depth training session that will help all of us continue to move toward excellence in working with teaching staff to create magic for children.

When I got home, after watering all of my exterior potted plants and setting up sprinklers, I had to lie down on the couch and close my eyes for a bit. I was mentally drained, and physically exhausted from SITTING all day! When I arose, I cooked a very special dinner and convinced both of my teenagers to be home at 7:00 so we could share a meal for the first time in more than a week! It was awesome! We laughed, ate, ended up playing card games, and teased the dogs, just like we used to do when they were much smaller...the kids, not the dogs.

Just a minute ago, I told my husband that I have a desire to find a way to not have to work outside the home, and instead be a full-time putterer. He's completely not supportive of my joking about this. I will always have to work. I have always had to work. I regret that I didn't stay home longer with my children when they were little. It's something I guess many of us figure out too late...

My Husband is Home...for a few hours!

Handsome Husband came home last night, after being away for the week. We had a great dinner out on the deck, with the cool breeze and quiet! I had so many stories to tell from just 5 days of being a victim of "Teenaged Terrorists," aka my children. We laughed and cried at some of the antics these 2 provide on a daily basis. I know I should be writing some of these down, but sometimes it's just easier to forget...
I told him about Carnivorous Hippy's quip re: some Sharpie pen artwork on skin that she witnessed. We laughed and laughed, with tears in our eyes. He said, "I am so lucky to be living this life."

He's right. We are VERY lucky. Yeah, I'm not very proud of my children at the moment, but they are wonderful and they do provide us with daily challenges that are probably going to result in us NOT developing Alzheimer's, since we're having to solve puzzles all of the time. I can see the headlines now on CNN: People who survive raising teenagers are found to be less likely to develop diminished mental capacity.

However, right after that story is told, we'll hear this one: Parents who survive raising teenagers found to have higher blood pressure, less hair (due to pulling it out), larger buttocks, and more furrowed brows than those who choose to let their teenagers run amok or choose to not have teens at all.
When that news breaks, please, please remember that I was the initial guinea pig for the scientific research. I'd love to receive some kind of award or cash prize. I haven't won anything in a long, long time.
Hubby is leaving again today, for another week away. Business calls. I really, really miss him when he's gone.

Look at that Old Woman Go!

I flew up hills and down hills. I walked some of the time, but rode most of the time.

I saw deer, bobcats (including a mama with 2 babes...see photo), and birds of all sorts.

I rocked out on my i-pod to The Flaming Lips, Blackalicious, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Brother Ali.

I jumped a creek on my bike! Woo-hoo! I got wet and muddy!

I found a geocache (Pick Your Fortune).

I hid 2 caches. ("Gold-on-a-Rope" and "Lost My Wallet!")

I rode more than 23 miles today...and I am TIRED!

My bike, a 1994 Trek Mountain Track, still runs like that day I bought it! I maintain it myself and even built my own GPS holder for the handle bars, using plastic and duct tape. Even my son was impressed!

I ran out of water near Jackson Creek Road, but thought I'd be fine for the rest of the ride home.

Now, I'm home with a pounding headache, from lack of water, no doubt. That last 7 miles was a doozy!

I came home to find all of the doors open and the dogs resting in the middle of the street. When I left, 4 hours ago, I told the kids to be sure and put the dogs in the backyard and lock the house if they went anywahere. My kids are flipping me out.

I passed a dude walking his dog way up on the peak of Vineyard Mountain today. As I rode by, I swear I heard him say to the Black Lab, "Look at that (old) woman go!" I bet he didn't say "old" but I heard it anyway. Now, I'm sipping possibly the BEST brew I've ever tasted, getting ready to go out and see a movie with my friend. It's from Spanich Peaks Brewing in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. It's called "Honey Raspberry Ale" and it ROCKS! I bought it at Safeway, while shopping with Handsome Husband. He picked out Moose Droul, as we visited that brewery in Montana a few years ago. I pretty much love my husband more than anyone could imagine right now...and he's out of town. :(

Well, We Said Our Good-Byes...

This photo was taken on our first weekend with Albin. We took him up to The Cameo, a favorite eatin' place in NW Portland. It was here that we discovered his passion for all things pineapple and coconut. He ate one of their famous "Acre Pancakes," covered with toasted coconut. In his honor, on his last morning breakfast in our home, I made HUGE pancakes with toasted coconut on top and fresh pineapple in little ramekans.

Albin left today. He's on a plane to Stockholm.

My son and I got up at 3 a.m. and drove him to the airport. Albin was excited because he knew he was going to get to drive part of the way. As an exchange student, he wasn't allowed to drive in the USA...but, since he was leaving today, he'd asked awhile back if he could drive.

As we said our good-byes at the airport, my son began crying. He and Albin have been best buddies for over 4 1/2 months. They'd been friends since last September, but when Alvin moved in with us in March, they became best friends. Basically, since school's been out, they've awakened each morning, scarfed down bowls of cereal, and headed out for a day of adventure! My son like having an older brother. In the car, as we were driving back he said, "I feel sorry for ___ (his sister) because she really didn't get to say good-bye." Right then, my cell phone rang. It was her. She was crying pretty hard, too, saying she wished she'd gotten to say good-bye.

As a mom, my heart hurts so much when my children cry. They were both quite attached to this Swede. Both intend to get to Europe whenever possible in order to see him again. He had quite an impact on our lives.

There were some times that I bitched about him, sort of the way we bitch about teenagers. He didn't help around the house much. He was kind of whiney to me, at times. He ate a lot of food. But, if possible, I'd agree to let him live with us forever...seriously. It got to the point of him getting up in the morning (usually around 11 a.m.!) and coming to hug me good morning. He called me, "Val-Mom" a lot and teased me constantly.

We'll miss this boy, yes indeed. But, with Skype, and a new webcam, the kids will be chatting as often as possible. However, it's not the same...

Arrgghhhh! Teenagers!

I had absolutely no idea, back in the early 90's, when I decided to have a kid, that this kid could make things so...messed up! I mean, heck, remember back in the good ol'days when you could wake up at 6 a.m., have 2 strong cups of coffee while reading the paper, go for a walk, watch a little TV, dink around for the entire day, and go to bed at night with no weird issues looming in your head?
OK...that never ever really happened in my life, either, but, well, if I wanted to, I could do that, if it weren't for the fact that I have a teenaged daughter!
I know that her frontal lobe isn't fully developed.
I know that she is amazing, beautiful, and well-liked by everyeone 100% of the time.
I know that, as she claims, I am the ONLY person she has conflict with in her entire life.
I know that, someday, she'll be out on her own, earning tons of money, travling the universe.
But, today...she just plain ol' pisses me off!

I worked in my classroom yesterday from 7:15 a.m. to 9:04 p.m. I know, I know...stupid. But, there was a very good reason. I'm going to be out of my classroom for 3 days (including today) in order to: 1. Go to a big doctor appointment with the teenager. 2. Attend a 2-day "Dual-Language Summit," which I am being forced to attend, at the district office. So, planning for 3 days worth of sub time in MY classroom requires feats of strength (if you ever want to come and observe, you will find evidence of absolute INSANITY in the room. I have a kid who poops his pants in class, for goodness sakes! Another threw a rock on the playground yesterday and hit a car driving by!)

Anyway, today I got up early, dressed, downed some coffee, and drove up to the clinic for the appoinment, planning on meeting "the teen" there. THE CHECK-IN PERSON LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS AN ABSOLUTE IDIOT! She said, I"m sorry, but your daughter doesn't have an appoinment today." I said, "Yes, she does...here's the appointment reminder card to prove it." So, the gal does some searching and says, "Well, it appears she called in and changed the date and time."
arrrrgggghhhhh! TEENAGERS!