Good Thing I'm a Wealthy Public Educator!

3 trips to PDX in 2 days.
Repeat that incomplete sentence a few times.
On Friday, I headed up to the Portland International Airport from Corvallis, dragging along my good buddy, Carnivorous Hippy. We went and got Albin! He's here visiting for 2 weeks from Sweden! Up and back, filling up with gas ($59) as we left Corn-Valley, was 1/2-a-tank. Not too bad, for a 6-cylinder Honda Accord.Here's a shot later Friday afternoon in Corvallis High School. My daughter (graduating Malory), son (Colly-Wolly-Gum-Gum), Joe, and Albin (the Swede) were so happy to be reunited after 11 months apart! Albin was our exchange student from Sweden last year. We absolutely LOVE him and are so happy that Malory will be visiting him in Sweden in less than a month!

Then, headed up again on Saturday, this time with my Handsome Husband. We swung through McMinnville to pick up my mom, who was on her way to OKC to spend time with my SAB (Stupid-Ass-Brother). Took her in, got her all settled, ate some lunch at Panda Express, and said our good-byes. Hubby and I then headed to IKEA to pick up some much-needed junk (including 4 brand-new flat sheets...it's a long story involving ghosts), then into downtown for some meandering and shopping. Oh, man! I bought some AWESOME junk at a store completely filled with cool Chinese antiques, propaganda materials, and other assorted junk! Hubby is so sweet. He'll go anywhere with me, no whining or complaining!
Then, as per usual, we ended up in a cool bar with my youngest brother, Robb. He's the cool brother, all straightened out and living an excellent life in the heart of Portland. Artwork, sales job, friends, music, writing, and more artwork fill his life, as well as nightly outings for good beer and a few cigarettes. Anyway, as we were sipping our cold Laurelwood Porters, my dad called Robb on his cell phone.

Robb: Howdy, Dad.
Dad: I don't understand. How'd you know it's me?
Robb: Ummm...caller i.d., Dad.
Dad: But I'm calling you from my cell phone. Isn't that an anonymous number?
Robb: Why are you calling me, Dad?

Me: Hi, Mom!
Mom: How'd you know it was me?
Me: Oh, good god!
Anyway, Mom had been sitting in the airplane for 4 hours, not going anywhere! The plane had electrical problems and there were no other flights heading her way until 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning! DAMN!
We paid our bill and all of us, Handsome Husband, Robb, and myself, loaded up into the car for another trip to PDX! Mom was just slightly freaking out, as she isn't much of a traveler and was planning on spending the night at the airport, despite the fact that United was offering her a room in a nearby hotel. We met her outside the Departures area (she said, "How will you know how to find me?" on her cell phone............ARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!! Get it?)
We drove her all over, after getting bad directions from the folks at the nearby Embassy Suites, an finally found Country Inn Suites. Guess what? There was a BAR downstairs. So, we got her settled in her room and the 4 of us headed down for some Widmer Hefeweizens and onion rings. I then drove Robb back into NW downtown Portland to his apartment, and filled up with gas. Ready for this? $61.00.
I set the cruise control at 76 as we hit I-5. Leaned back and chatted with Handsome Husband, listening to Led Zepplin's "Latter Days," making bets about exactly what time we'd be home. It was 8:41 as we entered the freeway. It was 9:54 when we pulled into the driveway. Yep...1 hour and 13 minutes from Portland to Corvallis....no cops, no brake lights, just a rockin' drive home. When we got out of the car, I noticed that there was 1/2-a-tank in the car. So, according to my calculations, that's approximately $90 worth of fuel.
Man, my rear-end is sore...

How Many Hours, You Ask?

Let's see:

Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and part of Thursday.

That's 4 whole days + 2/3 of a day.

So, each day, my student contact time is...oh...5.9 hours. Multiply by 4...= 23.6 hours. Now, add the additional .66 hours on Thursday...and...you get...24.26 hours.

I can handle that.

Summer, even though the weather doesn't show it, is within reach.

Good-bye, students. I'm really not going to miss many of you...

In honor of Carnivorous Hippy...

Hello, Hipster!

Had a sleepless night, huh?

Hey, Babe...no stress! That blog (that's now deleted) wasn't about your kid.

Jeez...I never realized I had so much power over you! :)

Here's something to keep you awake:

George Bush is the President of the United States of America.

Bwah-ha-ha-ha!

Ahhh...Anxiety and Home

All day, beginning at 5 a.m., I've had this nagging ache in my chest. It's indescribable, but I am very familiar with it.

I woke up thinking about Beautiful Daughter. This is her last week of high school. I'm excited and absolutely scared to death.

My intention is to have the SMOOTHEST week of our entire lives, but I know that isn't something one can really plan on. I just know I'll have to watch my P's and Q's and let things just "drift by" peacefully.

This is a very busy week, as all of you who have gone through this know. Ceremonies, visiting family, dinners, parties, and the actual last day of classes...AND...on top of it all I'll be making a run to PDX on Friday morning to pick up Albin, the Swedish-Wonder-Boy. He'll be here for about 2 1/2 weeks, so that's just one more thing on the list.

The garden is supposed to be a soothing place for work and focus, but I've just created messes everywhere today, beginning one project and starting another before I'm done. I broke a large cement base to one of my largest pots, which doesn't really upset me in itself, but with this aching chest...well, you know.

Hubby spoke sharply with me today, which was good. He reminded me to not "talk to him like dirt" when he asked questions. I guess I do that when I'm in my anxious zone, so I was glad he broke the wall down. However, there's a big part of me that's wishing I had some nice little narcotic to knock me out until it's time to get ready for work tomorrow.

One good thing...I'll be riding my bike to work on Monday and Tuesday! I fixed it all up for the adventure yesterday, lubing the chain, pumping up the tires, adjusting the seat and handlebars, and shining it all up with Windex! I bought this mountain bike in 1994 and it's still running strong!

OK, enough chit-chat...get dinner going and move on...

COOOOOOKKKKKIIIIIEEEESSSSS!

Bwaa-haa-haa-haa!

When I was a little kid, Sesame Street was my FAVORITE show! I was a 1st Grader in Columbia, South Carolina in 1969 when the show started. It came on in the evening, right after dinner, on the local "Educational TV Station." My dad was the type of guy who cared enough to shelter us from dumb TV, so he'd type up a list of shows we could watch. Honestly, I don't remember watching any TV before Sesame Street started.

Anyway, when I first met Cookie Monster, I fell in love.

F*&%ing Childhood Cancers

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bethunangst

PLEASE visit this website. This child is very dear to one of my students, being that she is his little sister. Obviously, as a 10-year old boy, he is devastated over what is

happening to his baby sister.

They'll Get You in the End...

Beautiful daughter has maintained a 4.0 GPA since she was in 6th grade. She's one of those perfectionists who can easily border on being ill in order to keep things as close to perfect as can be (there's a story behind this that's WAY bigger...but not today...)

Yesterday was her worst school day yet. She came home in tears, absolutely exhausted and tender.

She is taking an A.P. Physics course that has really stretched her brain. A.P. U.S. History, A.P. Calculus, A.P. Bio, A.P. Chemistry, A.P. College Writing...and more...were tough classes, but she gets her brain wrapped around this stuff and excels! However, for some reason, physics has her a bit overwhelmed.

So...she got back a major test yesterday. The entire class bombed it, but she really hit rock-bottom. It dropped her grade by about 8%. She had a 91% going into the test. Most of us would think, "Eh...83% is not that bad."

Well, in order to maintain the class valedictorian status, the 4.0 GPA is essential. She has 6 days of school left in this, her senior year...and suddenly has her first B ever.

Beautiful daughter rarely cries, but this has her feeling so worried and disappointed. Like she said last night, "I've been taking this course for an entire year. I've studied most nights until 2 a.m. Now, during my last week of my entire public school life, THIS happens!"

Her dad and I have never intervened in dealing with tough courses or tough teachers. Being a teacher in this district, myself, I've tended to be the one parent who stays out of it when it comes to my kids' needing support, which is how they've preferred it, actually. I feel so bad about not even attending their parent-teacher conferences, but there's really been no need, since they both ace courses and have no behavioral problems at school (we won't bring how they are at HOME into today's conversation...hee, hee!)

Anyway, Daughter and I discussed how her dad and I can support her in this venture. We've decided to meet with the school counselor to discuss the "pass-no-pass" option, even though the deadline for that option has passed.

We'll see what happens.....

Let the Sunshine In!

Spirits are soaring! Kids are leaping for joy! Cool breezes are filling the lab!

See, I work in the back portion of an elementary school computer lab. The building is 60+ years old and has no air conditioning nor insulation. When it's hot outside, it's really hot inside...especially in a computer lab with 41 old CPUs blasting out heat all day. Add an additional 35 little breathing, moving bodies and you're set for misery!

However, today the sun is shining...and the temperature is moderate.

I've noticed that children are happier little people at school when sunshine floods their classrooms and hallways. Heck, we teachers are happier little people, too!

Hooray for Spring in Oregon!

Sunday in the Garden!

The "Malory Kaye" iris is in full-bloom! They are from Collier's and truly are called my daughter's name!
After a few sprinkles...
This was my bike in college.
A few from inside my "secret" shade garden...looking out to the side yard.

She got SHOVED by a Dike!

Carnivorous Hippy was standing outside of "101," the new cool pub/bar/thingy in Corvallis, saying good-bye to Vita and me. We were chatting. A dike walked up, holding her girlfriend's hand. Rather than saying, "Excuse me, Ladies. May I walk by?" she put her hand on CH's shoulder and gave her a SHOVE! CH stumbled about and quickly droppd her head, doing all she could to appear completely submissive. Vita and I just looked at each other and started laughing. CH said, "I don't want to get in a fight...I'd lose."

We got into our cars and laughed our way away!

One "Unidentified Caller" Call I'm Glad I Took!

Taking my time getting off to work today...I worked late last night, so I feel no guilt about running late today.

While messing about with laundry, the phone rang. Caller I.D. indicated a toll-free number with "unidentified caller" text. Eh...what the heck. I'll answer it!

Good call. It was Target Visa Fraud Division, calling to let me know that there was "illegal attempted activity" on my card, which I haven't used in over a year, in Del Ray Beach, Florida! Charges were made at Office Depot, Rite Aid, Shell, and Sears. Sears are the good guys, as they noticed a glitch in the users identification and asked for additional info. The "purchaser" bailed at that time, leaving the store in a rush.

Hardy-Har-Har!

Just COULDN'T pass up stealing this baby!

Ready for Take-Off

Here are the photos from last night's prom. For me, it was not a good thing...conflict-filled and negative. However, she did "let" me take some photos prior to their dinner out...

Today is my son's 16th birthday. We took him to breakfast at one of our favorite breakfast joints, "The Broken Yolk" in downtown Corvallis. Then, as a family (I couldn't believe it!) we played Frisbee at Central Park for about 45 minutes, and headed over to Footwise to buy his birthday gift...his first pair of Birkenstocks!
My daughter, at "almost 18," has been difficult, to say the least. I'm ready for her to launch into the real world...and hopefully struggle her first hardships. Actually, I crave hearing her call me some night, saying, "Mom...I'm down at the police station with my friends. Can you come and pick us up?" The part I'm actually craving is my reply, "Gosh, I wish I could, but I'm pretty busy right now."

Arrrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!

Damn our weird neighbors! Remember when you were 20 and thought you knew everything?
He drives down the road at 90...I repeat...90 miles per hour! He ties his big dogs up in the middle of the backyard so they bark and bark and bark. He uses the "f" word with his 6- and 2-year old kids! He drinks beer standing in the middle of the road, smoking cigarette and staring at us when we work in our yard. He rolled his truck a couple of weeks ago while speeding on a back road near Lacombe...and had his 2 little boys in the back seat! He yells at his dogs. He yells at his wife. He yells at his mother-in-law!
We were so spoiled before in this "neighborhood." Now, well, it's like living in town again...
Oh, and is there any connection to the fact that they live in a manufactured home?

In the Garden...Update!

These Wild Babes are called "Picasso!"
The ChokeCherry Bush is ready to burst!
Our newest garden path...made from Tree Cookies from OSU!
Front Yard scene. We just regraveled the pathways and seating area!