I thought there were 24 hours in EVERY day?! A Travelog

I don't seem to know what happens to me every day. Each day I make myself a little "To-Do" list, either on paper or in my head, and set to work on it. Being a list-maker, lets me see just what I am accomplishing each day, even if no one else does.

Today was like all the other days. I got kids off to school, with lunches, notebooks, folders, PE clothes, etc. Then on Fridays I head to our Dear Friend Tammy's.

[By way of explanation, Tammy is the wife of Genius Golfer's best friends from High School. They live in the town next to ours with their three girls. Tammy has ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, and has been declining steadily since her diagnosis almost a year and a half ago. She is stuck in a hospital bed, on a CPAP mask, and can only move her middle finger on her left hand on her own. She can't even bend her elbow to lift her hand to scratch her own face. GG's friend, Mr. Rick is her full time care giver and has been working from home for months now. On Fridays he needs to attend meetings, etc. at his corporate office--plus I think the break and change of scenery is good for him--but he can't leave his sweet wife alone now. So there is a small army of friends and neighbors who take shifts to care for her. My shift is as soon as I get The Boy off to school on Fridays until about lunch time.]

So today, I got to their place and began with a chat with Tammy and then got some laundry started for her family ( 3 loads in all today), fed her some lunch, cared for her while the Hospice social worker came to check on her and basically did what I could to make her feel more comfortable. It was pretty good day today, as she was in good spirits and this little social worker was very pleasant.

About noon the nurse's aid came so I was relieved of my spot and I headed back home where I made some lunch, read the mail--thanks for the letter and newspaper articles from home, mom--took a potty break. Then I headed over to the Junior High.

Each Friday at the junior high, the PTSA sells suckers during the two lunch periods to the students. Dear Friend Lisa has taken my first lunch shift while I am helping at Tammy's place, so I just come over for the second lunch period. The Girl has the second lunch this year, so she has lunch at the table with me and we chat a bit between "customers". It was crazy busy today selling candy to hormonal 'tweens and pubescents, but the time when by quickly.

From there I ran to the friendly local Macey's grocery store where I had earlier in the week ordered 13 dozen cookies for our Stake Youth Sports Day tomorrow. (I know. It is sports day and yet the treats we have are so not healthy snacks. But the youth council chose the treats; I am just the delivery lady.) I picked them up along with 6 watermelons.

While at the store, I also picked up milk, bread and eggs that our family needed. I looked like a one cart circus! In fact, I was! One of our former elemaentary school lunch ladies was in line behind me while the cashier was ringing up my stuff. As he was going, the giant box of cookies got wedged between the scanner and his register. But the conveyor belt kept going, which in turn started the watermelons rolling--all six of them. Each of us at the check out line was trying to get a hold of either the cookie box, a watermelon or the box of donuts. We all failed. These were big melons and are quite heavy, as you know, and before we could finally pull the giant box of cookies out of the wedged spot, the 6 watermelons had basically steamrolled this little lunch lady's box of glazed donuts!!! They looked like a dozen flattened glazed snickerdoodles with holes in the center. The cashier, the lunch lady and I were laughing so loudly that other customers in the other check out lines were staring at us. I was so grateful that the lady behind me a.) knew me and liked me anyway, and b.) had a sense of humor about the whole things, and c.) was very patient throughout the entire thing!

Then I schlepped all the cookies, watermelons, milk, eggs and bread home where it was unloaded. Then I turned around again and headed out to pick up boys from the elementary school. I got everyone home from school and The Boy began his last minute packing for his scout camp out tonight which included a quick run to Walgreen's for , you know, those really important items--treats! He "needed" three packages of Jolly Ranchers for the hike and camp out. He spent his own money, so I couldn't really argue with him.

We got him packed while The Girl and her BFF, Christine, got ready for soccer practice. But not their team's soccer practice, but they were invited to join a co-ed junior high indoor team, so it was the new team's practice. Luckily BFF's mom took them while I took The Boy to the church to meet up with the scout group.

I got him off and on his way--sugary candy at the ready--and came home to find The Girl already home. So here we sit just long enough to write a quick (or not so quick, as it turns out) entry for all of you before I take her to her REAL soccer practice tonight.

Did I mention, that Genius Golfer is away at his work's convention this week?! Whew...not wonder I am tired.

When the saying says, "No rest for the wicked" I think I understand. I am dog-tired today. Luckily, no one is looking for a real sit-down kind of dinner tonight. Maybe I should have just grabbed some of The Boy's Jolly Ranchers. At least I can eat those on the run.

Six Things and 3 People: I've Been Tagged

Dear Friend Amy, a fellow aficionado of Monty Python and Harry Potter, plus the biggest Disney Fan I have ever met, awarded me this Kreativ Blogger Award. A certain honor, to be sure. But in receiving this recognition, I am obliged to follow the Award Winner Rules, that is, I must share 6 things that make me happy with all of you, and then bestow this same award on 3 unsuspecting other blogger friends. So I acquiesce to Miss Amy and the award rules, and submit today the Six Things that Make Me Happy.

You would think that just listing 6 things would be easy. But I feel as if I have to go beyond the basics--my children, my Genius Golfer, my sippy CNG car (you've all heard about THAT already), even deeper than yesterday's big Albies sale. So, why do I have trouble here?

Numero Uno (Spanish)-- The feel of freshly shaved legs in a set of just laundered cotton sheets. Crisp and clean. Can't really beat that feeling.

Numéro Deux (French)--The smell of the air after a long, hot summer where the pollution and gunk was washed right away by a thorough rain. Kind of like Monday night, after all that downpour here.

Nummer Tre (Dannish)--The taste of really good chocolate--like those little red Lindor balls that are hard chocolate on the outside and really, really creamy on the inside. Especially if it is washed down with a cold, icy, LARGE, diet coke. Anyone need something from the gas 'n sip yet this morning?! I am sensing a craving...

Nummer Vier (German)--The sound of honest to goodness giggling kids--not the giggling that come from kids who are doing something naughty and are just nervous about being caught--but the sound from little kids, especially, who are getting tickled by dog kisses, or their dad's bedtime routine or something they find hilarious on YouTube that they can't wait to share with you. That kind of giggling.

Numero Cinque (Italian)--The sight of kindness. This is harder to describe because it happens so often, yet so differently. It could be just a little assistance in loading groceries into an elderly man's trunk, or a grandma giving a child a warm cookie, or a teacher's smile after a student worked through something hard and finally got it, or a friend who sees the tears welling up and says nothing but opens her arms to hold you while you cry for a minute. It can take many forms. But the feeling I get as I observe that kind of care and compassion makes me smile from the inside out.

Число Шесть (Russian)--The knowledge I have that my family is more than just a convenient living situation here on the Earth. If I didn't really KNOW that I don't think a lot of the junk-ola we go through together would be worth it. Why bother if you're done at the door of death? There is much to be gained, if we gain it together. If not, it will feel like a loss even if we gain it alone. Everything I do, I hope this is obvious to others watching me, comes from this knowledge. We can be together forever and that is what makes it all worthwhile. Nothing makes me happier than that.

Now, I am to "Pay it Forward" to three friends whose blogs I enjoy. (Drum roll please....) Will the following please stand as their names are called, and wait for a sustaining vote: My lovely friends....

KAREN at My Life as a Single--who made me laugh at the thought of her relief at the luckily-no-pressure-of-dating-these-old-fogies and also her concern for the 90-year-old deacons passing sacrament in her St. George ward, (I would have guessed they pass other things too) and.....

MICHEALE at Bringing Up Boys--for her use of the word "Cap'n" in reference to her husband--this being his role in the fire department and not to equalize him to Whitman's Oh Captain, My Captain poem regarding Abe Lincoln, (yet given the chance she COULD potentially wax poetic over her hubby, if she thought a while on it) and one for....

ANGI at Better Late Than Never-- who does so much to describe her struggles as a mom, especially with her sweet Ian, that she can forget just how fantastic she is generally to everyone around her (and who still finds motivation to train to run a marathon with everything else she has going on!).

There you go, girls. The same rules apply. Please tell us six things that make you happy and then pass this to 3 friends to do the same. Can't wait to hear from you. By the way, the voting was unanimous.

What's in YOUR Pantry?

I love a good sale! I mean the ones for things you REALLY use and then you have coupons for that stuff and then there is a discount on top of all that too. Sadly, these kinds of sales are getting fewer and farther between.

Today was the first day of the big Box Tops for Education sale (read: General Mills, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker brands) at our local Albies. I don't usually shop at this particular store because I can always find the everyday stuff much cheaper at my friendly, local, neighborhood Macey's, but for at least the Box Tops sale, I do find my way to Albies.

I bought 66 items. These were not the same types of items that you could/should pick up at the Dry Pack Cannery because they are staples, but rather the kind of things that come in handy as treats for soccer halftime, or in kids' lunches for school, or when the classroom coordinator sends home a note that says they need 31 individually wrapped, store bought, manufactured and factory sealed items for a snack during testing at school. The kind of stuff I bought today fits in those kind of parameters.

As always, I used coupons and matched coupons with the items Ablies had on sale. I came away having saved $158. In years past, that number was over $300. This tells me again prices have gone, up, up, up. In years past, I would do that "Happy Dance" in the Albertson's lobby without caring who saw me. Today I am still happy for my savings, but I am more happy that I can fill my family's pantry and stock pile the items we use when they are cheapER and not have to feel pressured to buy something because we "need" it NOW.

I realize that I still spent money today at the store, but I used my resources wisely and planned ahead and thought through what I was purchasing--not just impulse buying because "That would be easy," or "Oh, I forgot I was supposed to bring that tonight," or even "Mom, THAT is what I want to take!"

As my family's ultimate comptroller, seeing that savings circled on MY bottom line makes me feel like I had a productive day and did right by my family. Dang, that just feels good.

The Local FEMA: Friend's Emergency Management Agency

Littlest Brother, who got to stay with me this morning while Dear Friend Micheale was at school.

Today my Dear Friend Micheale had school and her hubby was working and her mother and mother in law were also at work--a perfect storm of childcare disaster if there ever was one. So I took all the kids to the elementary school this morning for classes and held on to her 2 1/2 year old for the morning, then we picked up his Preschool Brother and played until mom got back from school just after lunch time.

Whew! I am tired! They are great little guys, but I am not in preschool shape anymore.

I don't mind this kind of service as opposed to the "service" that I give grudgingly to people I don't know but who call because I am not a work-for-a-paycheck mom and I happen to live in their ward or because the RS president give them my number and tells them "Oh, she's home in the daytime. Give her a call". When actual friends call, I am grateful to be able to do something to help them. In this case, I knew that Micheale would have exhausted all her other avenues before she called, so she must really need me.

Genius Golfer trying to move the shed over the weekend with the floor jacks!

So I let the entertainment begin. Littlest Brother was here while a giant crane truck came today and got our shed moved about 1.5 feet from the property line, per a city ordinance we were written up for in May. (However lame I think the ordinance is, we still felt like we needed to move the stupid shed and get in compliance.) So we hired the crane guys to come do it for us--in about 10 minutes. Sure beats the hours Genius Golfer spent with four floor jacks over the weekend trying to move it himself. Come to find out, the dumb thing weighs 6,000 pounds! No wonder we could not do it ourselves. The whole adventure made for fun distraction for the little boy, who otherwise was stuck with me and my really lame and very old toys.

The Crane Guys are ready to hoist that bab boy of a shed into the RIGHT place!

So the Crane Guys saved my muscles, GG's sanity, Littlest Brother's interest, and my grief with the city. Meanwhile, I was "saving" Micheale's peace of mind so she can go to class, take the test, and be a good example to all of us about life long learning. Save a little there, save a little here.

I suppose both or either of these systems is sensationally better the FEMA plan after Hurricane Katrina 3 years ago. Maybe if we just stick together and do the saving locally, we can avoid most disasters we would need the actual FEMA for after all. That sounds better to me. Plus the crane project was pretty cool to watch! Even if I a little older than 2 1/2 years old.

Bipidi--Bopidi--BOO!

It is a raining and windy day here in the cul-de-sac. Genius Golfer has taken The Boy with one of his Brothers-in-Law to tile SIL Brenda's basement bathroom. She has been remodeling--actually finishing--her basement for a while and it is so close to being done she can taste it. So the men went to do the tile today.

The Girl, meanwhile, has spent all of the weekend at her Grandmama's place with Auntie Brenda's two girls, Cousins McKay and Holland. Luckily for us, Grandmama is so good with these girls when they get together. We got wind that The Girl had already baked Lemon Poppy seed muffins Saturday morning with her cousins and they had more baking on the menu for the rest of the weekend. She loves cooking, and in this case, she can learn from Grandmama and then teach her younger cousins. Either way, we haven't seen hide nor hair of her since Friday after school. Grandmama was taking the girls back to Brenda's place later today where The Girl will catch up with her dad and he'll bring the whole crew home tonight.

So I have had the day to myself, in an empty house with nothing on the "to do list". I had no PTA or YW stuff to get done today, aside from an email I needed to already have sent last week to schedule some training we want to do for the Council PTA meeting coming up in a few weeks. But that took two minutes. Really, my day has been my own. I love it when that happens. I feel like I get more done when I don't HAVE to do it.

For example, I slept in until 7:30 or so today. Felt great. I started laundry as soon as the boys left. I had three bathrooms and two loads of laundry done by 9 AM when I left to take something back to Target that I have been toting around in the car for almost 2 weeks. Then I got home and vacuumed the entire house--including the unsuspecting kids' rooms. I am already on my last load of laundry for today. I emptied the dishwasher and have dug back into the pile of unfinished scrapbook pages that need some journaling to finish them off. And it isn't quite noon yet. I love when I get so much done so quickly.

I'm sure I'll burn out this afternoon, but with no one hanging one me for food, rides, help, etc. I can get a diet coke and veg out to my heart's content. Ironic, isn't it, that I am getting this kind of work done around here and it is a Labor Day holiday? Yeah, that didn't pass my attention. But I'll take it when my house smells and looks clean, even if it is only until the crew comes home.

Parenting is not for whimps

I remember those old commercials for the Air Force or the Army or the Peace Corp where the tag line was "The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love". While I have never been in the Army or Air Force or Peace Corp, the only job I can think of like that is the job of PARENT.

I know that you don't get a lot of immediate gratification for your efforts as a mom or dad. In fact, it usually takes years to see any results from your work. But every once in a while you get a little glimpse of what your payout might be like. More often, you are knee deep in the trenches of life and covered in spit/poo/dirt/snot, but you keep on keeping on.

Once in a while your kids get themselves into a problem and have to learn from it and you have nothing to do but watch them learn it. They might not be ready to listen to your advice, or they might have listened but still have to learn it for themselves, the hard way. As a parent who tries to do your part, that is the worst. It is heartbreaking to see your kids mess up when you know they are so much better than the choice they made.

I think the only way to get through those rough bits is to think about what the difficult experiences will help them become down the road. It is still not easy, but you can pacify yourself by thinking they will be stronger for the experience and you just have to love them through it.

At least, this is what I tell myself when my kids make choices I don't necessarily agree with. I know this is part of them growing up, but I wish there was some magic trick to whisk them through the tough parts and still be able to learn the lessons that come from that. So far, I haven't found that magic. If I did, I would gladly share it all with you.

I know that you are trying your best with your kids too. I have seen you struggle with your own children and their choices sometimes. I have seen the tears in your eyes as you explain how they have grown from the choices they made and consequences that followed. Thanks for the love you continually show the children in your lives. Thanks for the example you set in following through with consequences that are hard to dole out. And thanks for the support you give me as I try to be a good parent too. It is a tough job, but I do love it.