Little Things That Make Me Happy  

My teenaged son, who is a wonderful, responsible, sweet human being. Likewise his friends. These kids give me hope for the future. As an example, when the kids were in France last summer, there was a huge rain storm while they were in Paris. It was the strongest storm anyone in Paris could remember. The store that the kids ran into to get out of the downpour had a roof leak. They helped the shopkeeper move all of his merchandise out from under the leak -- and they were happy to do it, according to their teachers. The kids felt it was a little way they could repay all of the kindness that had been shown them by the people they had met in France.

As far as that goes, my younger son as well. He's my little sweetheart. He rececently asked me if we could afford to give some extra money to our monthly donation to the local food bank, to help any hurricane victims who made it up here and might need help getting food.

The sheer loveliness and beauty of the colors of the autumn -- the leaves like living jewels in the sunshine, the bright orange pumpkins in the fields.

The look in my old doggy's eyes when he looks up at me. Talk about the purity of love.

The simple kindness and friendliness of nearly everyone I know, and everyone I meet. People are just so cool.

The fire and passion of live instrumental jazz.

The first flowers of spring (usually snow crocuses) popping up through the snow.

I love looking at pictures of my children, too. On a bad day, it helps remind me of what's really important in this world.

I turned 41 years old today. I feel every day of those years, and quite a few extra besides.

Dan wanted to take me out to lunch, but I just didn't feel up to it. so I stayed home and just hung out alone while the kids were at school. I did drive out to Chelsea to watch Bill play soccer in the afternoon, though. It was cold and raining and there was a parking place where I could see the field out the Jeep window, and so I did not even get out of my warm and dry vehicle.

Dan did take me out for dinner tonight, though I wasn't particularly hungry. We went to the Cracker Barrel where I got a vegetable plate.

When I got home, the kids sang birthday songs to me. They are everything sweet and good in the entire world to me. I feel a bit down right now, and a lot exhausted, and I want nothing more at this moment than to go to bed...

Had a nice day yesterday down in Indiana. Ball State University is a nice little school in a very pretty little town about an hour from Indianapolis. I have no doubts that Bill would be immediately admitted there -- and in, fact, with his grades in difficult classes he would be a Presidential Scholar and get half off of his tuition. What would be a huge question is whether or not he would be admitted to the school of architecture, which is why he is interested in that university in the first place. Its in the top ten rankings nationally, and very very picky in who it admits...

It was the most beautiful fall day you could ever imagine...perfect for football! Sunny - not a single cloud in the sky -- and in the 70s.

We had a lot of fun at the football game.  We parked in a field next to the baseball diamond, where a lot of people tailgate party. People had a great time. It wasn't all stuffy like the UM tailgates I've seen. This had people of all ages, including very young children and dogs dressed up in school colors. College kids came with as many people as they could cram in the backs of pickup trucks. People were grilling food everywhere, and lots of people were playing beanbag tossing games, where they tossed beanbags through holes in pieces of wood painted in the school colors. While there was some beer drinking, just as many people were drinking pop or bottled water. Lots of people playing music on boomboxes, and there was a live rock band playing. Instead of $200,000 land yachts and people in designer clothing so expensive just the cost of the shoes could feed a village in a third world country for a week like you see in Ann Arbor, it was just regular people of all ages and colors, dressed in tee shirts and jeans, hanging out, eating, tossing footballs and frisbees, playing with toddlers and dogs, and having a lot of fun. We thought it was great! Except for the two guys dressed up in "super sperm" costumes. That was a little too weird!!! Well, it was a lot too weird!!!

The game itself was also fun. The band was great, the atmosphere was a lot more laid back than what you could ever get at UM. Who has ever seen toddlers playing football near the fence dividing the players from the stands at the Big House? Who has ever seen a toddler at the Big House, for that matter, with tickets so hard to come by? This crowd, like the tailgate, had families with children of all ages. A real family crowd, with some families of three or more generations coming to the game together. MAC football certainly isn't up to the near professional standards you get with some of the BIG 10 teams, but the games are a lot funner to go to! Even when the team you are rooting for isn't very good and gets its butt kicked!

Bill will get his applications sent to Ball State and UM next week, and he will take his college boards (the ACT) next Saturday. Probably some pretty big decisions for him to make soon...

But in the meantime, he had a great weekend down in Indiana.  I am so glad we could do this for him!

Well, Thursday I got down to one sick child, who seemed to be on the mend. The little one was even well enough to play soccer Thursday night. Work got better , too -- everyone on both afternoon and midnight shifts made it in.

Today I thought both kids were well, as they both went in to school. I thought I could run some errands (had to go do a bit of light grocery shopping and go to the Secretary of State office to renew my driver's license and plate tags) and that I could even sleep in. Those hopes were dashed when the high school called rather early in the morning and said they were sending Bill home because he was sick. He had thrown up his breakfast.

I did buy him some ranitidine, as it was plain that regular antacids just weren't doing it for him. Now that really did seem to help, and he was able to eat some soup and some plain bread and has ben able to keep both down.

We will be heading down to Muncie, Indiana first thing in the morning. Since Bill is feeling better we will do his campus visit at Ball State University, and go to the football game there, as the admissions office is willing to give us tickets. It is the homecoming game, the weather in Indiana is supposed to be perfect, and hopefully we will have a great time.

I always like doing things for Bill because he literally never asks for anything. And Steven gets a lot of attention from the community and schools because he is a local star athlete. So I am so glad that Bill is feeling better, so we can do this for him.

 

Today was hard to get through. The kids were both home sick. I went to the store to get them crackers and juice, and while waiting in the checkout line, realized that I was running a fever. So I wasn't feeling all that hot, either.

Work was short handed, just as I had thought it might be. Luckily one person did stay after to help out. That kept me from just walking out and going AWOL.

Stayed up late to sort mail and pay bills. Dan helped, thank God! Also had to change the cat box since tomorrrow is garbage day. Yuck! Just got out of the shower, don't care how many bills are left, must go to bed and get some sleep.

I think today might be another rough one. Dan is back to work, but the kids are both home and both not feeling at all well.

I hate it so much when my babies get sick.  And even as a teen and a near teen -- when they get sick or hurt they are still my babies. I've heard that is true as long as a woman lives.

Hopefully we'll have good staffing at work...perhaps that will at least go well...

Ay yi yi!!!! What a bad day!!!

Dan was home from work with a bad cold (I think he has the same nasty one I recently got over). The high school called and asked if Bill could come home because he was throwing up this morning. Then this afternoon the middle school called and asked if we could come get Steven because he was throwing up. Got to work and we were short staffed because some of my coworkers are sick. So I got to do the work of two people, and get to do a bunch of work leftover from day shift because they had been short staffed, too.

I think I need to go have some chamomile tea and a slice of Saunder's bumpy cake.