Friday, August 24, 2007
Spelling issues
OK, I CAN spell, I just can't get the editing thing to work. Like I say "I'm a home schooler, and I can't spell."
The "Itch and *itch" blog
Well, it has been grought to my attention that there was no mention of a great time I had last Friday evening. True, I did not mention it, and I told Carey (as in "Miss-Carey-Owen's-Mom as Sarah calls her) that my blog is so far, about itching and *itching. Must put an end to that as I don't wnat everyone to think I am no longer the happy and joyful (heh heh) person I was in Iowa.
Anyway, last Friday night I went out with Carey and Andrea to "Brats on Broad" for supper and a movie. We ended up walking around downtown and talking, but not going to the movie--which put Carey in a mood. She got ove it though, and rented it on Netflix, or so she says..... It was very fun to walk around and window shop with 2 kindred souls who "get it." It was unbelievably hot, but maybe we walked off some calories? Like I said, I thinkn the local yocals are pretty great, and I'm glad I've met Miss-Carey-Owen's-Mom. By the way, that is how children address adults here, by Miss or Mrs., and Mr. It's rather nice to be called Miss Liz, and frequently, I will even hear "Yes Ma'am." Uhhhhh.....not by MY kids though. LOL
Anyway, last Friday night I went out with Carey and Andrea to "Brats on Broad" for supper and a movie. We ended up walking around downtown and talking, but not going to the movie--which put Carey in a mood. She got ove it though, and rented it on Netflix, or so she says..... It was very fun to walk around and window shop with 2 kindred souls who "get it." It was unbelievably hot, but maybe we walked off some calories? Like I said, I thinkn the local yocals are pretty great, and I'm glad I've met Miss-Carey-Owen's-Mom. By the way, that is how children address adults here, by Miss or Mrs., and Mr. It's rather nice to be called Miss Liz, and frequently, I will even hear "Yes Ma'am." Uhhhhh.....not by MY kids though. LOL
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
And I forgot to mention
that my hives are settled down and I am immensely grateful for that. I will try to remember that attitude when I am awake tonight. Oh, and just FYI, it's 11:50 pm, not 8:something like that timer says.
Some random thoughts for today
OK, I have been mulling over the shallow analogy and believe it is prudent to mention this: the true, born and bred here North Carolinians are not in this category. I've met a couple of them who are just peachy-keen, and I like them a lot. Even they say the ones who move "down south" are different. Well.....now that I've got THAT off my chest, I can sleep better.
Which, by the way, I cannot, because I am on prednisone!!! Enough said about that.
The weather man said that this has been the hottest August on record in North Carolina. Hmmm....they said that about the winter also. Well, not that it was the hottest August, but that it was the mildest winter. This makes me think that maybe we are in for it with the whole hurricane season thing. It's serious business here, and I recently was told that when the power goes out it is usually for 4-5 days. Alllllrighty then. I had better get a plan in place, or we are going to be driving north in a big hurry. No, make that west. As usual, I don't know where I am in relation to the rest of the U.S.
Hey! Cool thing happened at Barnes and Noble tonight (we were in Greensboro). Three times I was asked if I was a teacher or did we home school. The nature of my stack of books was very telling I guess. But, the great thing was that the clerk gave me a 20% discount because I'm an educator.. Even without my handy dandy NC home educator card on my person (it's not even in the mail yet) she gave it to me. What a blessing, and we saved almost $20! Man, I love books--just love them. And now I have $20 more to spend on them.
This has been Dr. week. Marty went to the ENT Monday, and yes, he will need the big ear surgery to fix his eardrum in the future. I went yesterday, and Marty goes back tomorrow to the ped. for his 6 year old well child check up. The kids do well waiting, but it gets old, I know. Thank God for Allison, who kept them yesterday when I went. We were all grateful for her generosity and willingness to change her plans for the afternoon. Next week we start speech therapy with Marty on Tues. and Thursdays, at 3pm. We will need to leave the house at 2:15, and will return around 5pm. That is going to put a crimp in everyone's style and I'm not sure how to make it better. Our insurance will pay nicley for the therapy (and I'm grateful for that) but they won't pay for home visits (bummer). I'll let you know how that goes, and how Marty does. He doesn't like to work too hard on these kinds of things, and complained at the diagnostic appointment that it was "making me tired." Yeah, looking at pictures is tough, Buddy. What a goof!
I called time and temp. in Creston (Yes, I have it on speed dial and have since moving here--a nice, familiar voice is always comforting) and the temp. was 60*. It was not 60* here. I am envious that you are getting close to fall, and I think I will miss it terribly. I wonder, can you shuffle pine needles in the gutter when you take a walk? Somehow, I think not. BUT, you can sell them for $2 per bag to your great Aunt Ruth, as the kids figured out last week. Woohoo! A home business at last!
Which, by the way, I cannot, because I am on prednisone!!! Enough said about that.
The weather man said that this has been the hottest August on record in North Carolina. Hmmm....they said that about the winter also. Well, not that it was the hottest August, but that it was the mildest winter. This makes me think that maybe we are in for it with the whole hurricane season thing. It's serious business here, and I recently was told that when the power goes out it is usually for 4-5 days. Alllllrighty then. I had better get a plan in place, or we are going to be driving north in a big hurry. No, make that west. As usual, I don't know where I am in relation to the rest of the U.S.
Hey! Cool thing happened at Barnes and Noble tonight (we were in Greensboro). Three times I was asked if I was a teacher or did we home school. The nature of my stack of books was very telling I guess. But, the great thing was that the clerk gave me a 20% discount because I'm an educator.. Even without my handy dandy NC home educator card on my person (it's not even in the mail yet) she gave it to me. What a blessing, and we saved almost $20! Man, I love books--just love them. And now I have $20 more to spend on them.
This has been Dr. week. Marty went to the ENT Monday, and yes, he will need the big ear surgery to fix his eardrum in the future. I went yesterday, and Marty goes back tomorrow to the ped. for his 6 year old well child check up. The kids do well waiting, but it gets old, I know. Thank God for Allison, who kept them yesterday when I went. We were all grateful for her generosity and willingness to change her plans for the afternoon. Next week we start speech therapy with Marty on Tues. and Thursdays, at 3pm. We will need to leave the house at 2:15, and will return around 5pm. That is going to put a crimp in everyone's style and I'm not sure how to make it better. Our insurance will pay nicley for the therapy (and I'm grateful for that) but they won't pay for home visits (bummer). I'll let you know how that goes, and how Marty does. He doesn't like to work too hard on these kinds of things, and complained at the diagnostic appointment that it was "making me tired." Yeah, looking at pictures is tough, Buddy. What a goof!
I called time and temp. in Creston (Yes, I have it on speed dial and have since moving here--a nice, familiar voice is always comforting) and the temp. was 60*. It was not 60* here. I am envious that you are getting close to fall, and I think I will miss it terribly. I wonder, can you shuffle pine needles in the gutter when you take a walk? Somehow, I think not. BUT, you can sell them for $2 per bag to your great Aunt Ruth, as the kids figured out last week. Woohoo! A home business at last!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
HIVES, HIVES go away
and don't come back another day. I have had them since July 4th. Last week on the steroids, they cleared up. Yesterday was the last dose. I sat in my chair last night to read to the girls, and this morning I was in agony. Back to the Dr. for more steroids (2 weeks worth), Zyrtec, and Zantac. In the meantime, before all the drugs wear out, I have to figure out what is causing them and rid our house of whatever it is.
Big. Sad. News. I'm almost certain it's Sunnie, the cat. He has been inside ever since moving, and we have carpet everywhere. Two factors that were not factors before. The dr. thinks I've reached saturation in referance to cat allergens. I am heartbroken. Sunnie has always been my cat, and I love him so. Love to have him sleep on me at night, love to have him on my lap when I knit, just love him. How can I not give him up? Sadly, I don't know, and even sadder, I need to find a way. Say a prayer for me, will you? Oh, and for him, too. He cannot understand why I won't give him loves anymore.
Big. Sad. News. I'm almost certain it's Sunnie, the cat. He has been inside ever since moving, and we have carpet everywhere. Two factors that were not factors before. The dr. thinks I've reached saturation in referance to cat allergens. I am heartbroken. Sunnie has always been my cat, and I love him so. Love to have him sleep on me at night, love to have him on my lap when I knit, just love him. How can I not give him up? Sadly, I don't know, and even sadder, I need to find a way. Say a prayer for me, will you? Oh, and for him, too. He cannot understand why I won't give him loves anymore.
Monday, August 20, 2007
An idea is starting to form....
and that is always dangerous! No, I've been thinking a lot about what is so different about this area (besides the OBVIOUS) and today came up with a good anology. Ready?
It's shallow. In so many ways. Hmmmm...the roots of these long leaf pines are shallow. While driving to and fro, I often see whole trees uprooted, and there aren't many roots. How do they stay upright? They are like really tall people with tiny little feet.
The dirt is shallow. Well, not the dirt, really, the covering over it is shallow. As in; pine needles. Brush them back and you get sand. There is no deep, rich, black earth that smells sweet and cool when you dig into it. I miss that more than I ever imagined I would. As a matter of fact, I never imagined missing dirt, because, foolishly, I thought it was every where. I have never seen so much sand in a place that isn't a beach. Some of you who know me from waaaayyyyy back know how much I detest sand. Hate it on my feet--hate it. I'm really uncomfortable at the beach. My backyard is like a beach. Only uglier, and with more trees. People are always talking about "going to the beach" and I get the willies thinking about spending a whole week in sand.
The colors are shallow. All vegetation is a shade of green with a tinge of brown. No rich emerald green deciduous leaves rustling in the wind. Hindsight is 20/20, and I can now say that I regret all those days when the wind blew on the farm and I complained about it. Such a sweet melody would (truly) be music to my ears now.
On another front, school will have to start someday. Books are not ordered, and plans are not concrete, but sooner or later, we will have to "start" with a daily routine. I admit, I am happy that I was not at Wal Mart buying school supplies and backpacks and the usual paraphenlia. This year, if we were enrolled in a bricks-and-mortar school, all four kids would be going, and I would have all day to myself. Honestly, I can say that I have no desire anymore to have the day to myself everyday. We would all miss each other and all the fun things we do way too much, but we wouldn't learn anymore than we do now. If they were at "school" all day, how would we have caught Carolina Anoles (lizards) and studdied them for our nature notebooks? How would we have written a poem at lunch together (about dinosaurs) just because we started rhyming words with "more?" How would we have time to read a story at breakfast and discuss how a covenant is a "forever promise, just like adoption?"
Indeed. How would we have time to learn if we were at "school" all day?
It's shallow. In so many ways. Hmmmm...the roots of these long leaf pines are shallow. While driving to and fro, I often see whole trees uprooted, and there aren't many roots. How do they stay upright? They are like really tall people with tiny little feet.
The dirt is shallow. Well, not the dirt, really, the covering over it is shallow. As in; pine needles. Brush them back and you get sand. There is no deep, rich, black earth that smells sweet and cool when you dig into it. I miss that more than I ever imagined I would. As a matter of fact, I never imagined missing dirt, because, foolishly, I thought it was every where. I have never seen so much sand in a place that isn't a beach. Some of you who know me from waaaayyyyy back know how much I detest sand. Hate it on my feet--hate it. I'm really uncomfortable at the beach. My backyard is like a beach. Only uglier, and with more trees. People are always talking about "going to the beach" and I get the willies thinking about spending a whole week in sand.
The colors are shallow. All vegetation is a shade of green with a tinge of brown. No rich emerald green deciduous leaves rustling in the wind. Hindsight is 20/20, and I can now say that I regret all those days when the wind blew on the farm and I complained about it. Such a sweet melody would (truly) be music to my ears now.
On another front, school will have to start someday. Books are not ordered, and plans are not concrete, but sooner or later, we will have to "start" with a daily routine. I admit, I am happy that I was not at Wal Mart buying school supplies and backpacks and the usual paraphenlia. This year, if we were enrolled in a bricks-and-mortar school, all four kids would be going, and I would have all day to myself. Honestly, I can say that I have no desire anymore to have the day to myself everyday. We would all miss each other and all the fun things we do way too much, but we wouldn't learn anymore than we do now. If they were at "school" all day, how would we have caught Carolina Anoles (lizards) and studdied them for our nature notebooks? How would we have written a poem at lunch together (about dinosaurs) just because we started rhyming words with "more?" How would we have time to read a story at breakfast and discuss how a covenant is a "forever promise, just like adoption?"
Indeed. How would we have time to learn if we were at "school" all day?
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Hot, hot, REALLY hot
It has been HOT this week. Hot as in 106*. Last night at 11pm it was still 90* with a heat index of 98*. I truly can say it is hotter than Iowa, but not as humid. And when people say, "Yes, but it's a dry heat" like that makes it less hot, I can say "Yes, it is dry, but so is an oven." That is what this heat feels like; the oven when you have it at 500* and open it to a face full of heat.
About humidity--some people here think it is humid at 55% humidity. (You have to look that percentage up, they don't give it on the weather--what does that tell you Iowejuns?) I still say that standing in our yard on 238th St., surrounded by cornfields on a 95* day feels hotter than the usual 98* here.
The weather people call the heat index "feels like tempuratures." As in "Tomorrow will be 104* with feels-like-tempuratures of 112*. Doesn't that sound kind of ignorant after listening to Johnny-Mac on TV 8? I find it interesting that Iowa has top-notch meteorologists and people (here) call Iowa the sticks. That's one of those things that make you go "hmmmmmmmmmmm".
Anyway, I'm going to start calling this kind of weather "Stupid hot" because that's just what it is. Stupid.
About humidity--some people here think it is humid at 55% humidity. (You have to look that percentage up, they don't give it on the weather--what does that tell you Iowejuns?) I still say that standing in our yard on 238th St., surrounded by cornfields on a 95* day feels hotter than the usual 98* here.
The weather people call the heat index "feels like tempuratures." As in "Tomorrow will be 104* with feels-like-tempuratures of 112*. Doesn't that sound kind of ignorant after listening to Johnny-Mac on TV 8? I find it interesting that Iowa has top-notch meteorologists and people (here) call Iowa the sticks. That's one of those things that make you go "hmmmmmmmmmmm".
Anyway, I'm going to start calling this kind of weather "Stupid hot" because that's just what it is. Stupid.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
We are not in real time
Hey, I just noticed that when I post, it gives a time. The time is wrong however. As in , it shows I posted that last post at 9:08 pm. Right, those who know me know I never get this stuff done until at least 11 pm. Disregard the time part. I'll try to get it fixed.
Well, so far this is quite booooorrrring
I thought this would be so great--write everyday and be brilliant. Alas, just like surfing the net, I can't think of subjects. Hmmmmm.....OK, well, I'll just give you random thoughts:
I must have something going on with my sense of balance or depth perception lately. I've burned myself twice in a week. Once on the iron, once on the oven rack. Both burns look the same, swollen and red at first; ugly and brown later. I presently have one in each stage.
I still have hives ( or whatever they are), and I've had them since the week of July 4th. I'm leaning toward saying it's chiggers, but how the heck are they getting me? I have them every morning, around elastic lines, and on my legs. The thought occurred to me that the cat sleeps on my legs and maybe that was it, but the cat doesn't go outside. The dog does go outside, but is not allowed in our room, let alone on the bed. The itching is gettng very old.
M is excited about his birthday, T is uptight and very jealous about M's birthday. T has had 2 meltdowns about it already. Boy, this makes me really look forward to the present opening. Yeah, right.
HOT, as in 100* of hot. This was the second day of triple digit heat. Our house AC can't keep up, and around mid-afternoon, the living areas are very warm. Being very warm makes me cranky, and prone to postpone dinner preparations. Postponing dinner makes the kids cranky. I guess we are living in a "crank house." Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! I kill me.
We spent about $350 on our pool and junk for it. Every last dime has been worth not having to sit on concrete at a public pool and try to keep track of 4 kids who are not good swimmers. They are becoming good swimmers this summer. Yeah! I thought the novelty and pleadings of "When can we go swimming?" would lesson as the summer went by. However, the kids are just as excited everyday as they were the first day the pool was ready. Cheap entertainment, that's what I call it. Or maybe "sanity saver" is more accurate.
Sandhills Cinemas has free movies this summer and we went to the last one last week. It was Night at the Museum, which we had not seen. All of us, myself included, sat there for the full 1.75 hours totally engrossed. That is saying a lot since I hate to sit for a whole movie. Really, it was an awesome show! I kept thinking "This is the greatest home school movie ever! Every home school family should see it." Naturally, the kids have been play acting it and reciting the script ever since. We will surely buy this movie for our movie shelf.
I must have something going on with my sense of balance or depth perception lately. I've burned myself twice in a week. Once on the iron, once on the oven rack. Both burns look the same, swollen and red at first; ugly and brown later. I presently have one in each stage.
I still have hives ( or whatever they are), and I've had them since the week of July 4th. I'm leaning toward saying it's chiggers, but how the heck are they getting me? I have them every morning, around elastic lines, and on my legs. The thought occurred to me that the cat sleeps on my legs and maybe that was it, but the cat doesn't go outside. The dog does go outside, but is not allowed in our room, let alone on the bed. The itching is gettng very old.
M is excited about his birthday, T is uptight and very jealous about M's birthday. T has had 2 meltdowns about it already. Boy, this makes me really look forward to the present opening. Yeah, right.
HOT, as in 100* of hot. This was the second day of triple digit heat. Our house AC can't keep up, and around mid-afternoon, the living areas are very warm. Being very warm makes me cranky, and prone to postpone dinner preparations. Postponing dinner makes the kids cranky. I guess we are living in a "crank house." Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! I kill me.
We spent about $350 on our pool and junk for it. Every last dime has been worth not having to sit on concrete at a public pool and try to keep track of 4 kids who are not good swimmers. They are becoming good swimmers this summer. Yeah! I thought the novelty and pleadings of "When can we go swimming?" would lesson as the summer went by. However, the kids are just as excited everyday as they were the first day the pool was ready. Cheap entertainment, that's what I call it. Or maybe "sanity saver" is more accurate.
Sandhills Cinemas has free movies this summer and we went to the last one last week. It was Night at the Museum, which we had not seen. All of us, myself included, sat there for the full 1.75 hours totally engrossed. That is saying a lot since I hate to sit for a whole movie. Really, it was an awesome show! I kept thinking "This is the greatest home school movie ever! Every home school family should see it." Naturally, the kids have been play acting it and reciting the script ever since. We will surely buy this movie for our movie shelf.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
lost in space
OK, I just lost a great post about all of S's funny sayings. Hmmm....so far this blog thing is frustrating.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Taking the blog plunge
I have been thinking for a long time that a blog would be a good place to journal, since I have so many journals that have gone the way of the "kids' art paper supply." I also thought that I could keep some of my long-lost Iowejun friends up to date on our lives as "Yankees" here in the land of collard greens (aka: North Carolina). We'll see how this goes.
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